Seven Days, August 14, 2024

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN,

OSCAR-WINNING DIRECTOR & WRITER

OSCAR, TONY & PULITZER WINNER

OSCAR-NOMINATED COSTUME DESIGNER

AWARD-WINNING VT FILMMAKER BESS O'BRIEN 4X EMMY-WINNING VT FILMMAKER ANDY MITCHELL

Back to School!

emoji that

FINAL PAYMENT

$14 MILLION

That’s how much flood aid Vermont o cials approved last week for mobile homes, farms and businesses that su ered damage.

Shelburne’s cemetery commissioner interrupted a graveside burial to demand payment from the family, the Shelburne News reported. Sad.

ABOVE PAR

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Rod Stewart Double Who Charmed Vermont Meets the Real Deal” by Dan Bolles. Some guys have all the luck, and some guys, such as Bolles, spend weeks fact-checking a story.

2. “Leunig’s Bistro and Café Is Under Contract With New Owners” by Jordan Barry. Employee Amy Bernhardt will be managing member and co-owner with investor Veaceslav Scripnic.

3. “McGee’s Pub & Grill in Winooski to Close” by Ian Dartley. Owners say increasing costs and construction projects in Winooski led to the decision to shutter the downtown establishment.

CHARLESTIN MAKES HISTORY

Vermont Democrats for the first time chose a Black woman as the party’s standard-bearer for the state’s top job, as former Middlebury Selectboard member Esther Charlestin handily won the gubernatorial primary on Monday.

Charlestin defeated controversial former Underhill Selectboard member Peter Duval to become the party’s nominee. Political observers say Charlestin, who has never run for statewide office before, faces long odds in November against popular incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who did not face a primary challenger this year.

Charlestin told Seven Days she was excited not only to become the first Black woman chosen as a major party’s nominee for governor in Vermont but also the second in the nation.

As for the challenge of taking on Scott in the fall, she said she’s not worried. “I will show up as myself and let the people decide,” she said.

comer to the statewide political stage who nevertheless had support from influential Democratic figures.

Zuckerman prevailed despite an August 6 story in VTDigger.org describing complaints from female lawmakers. It detailed how Zuckerman made them uncomfortable by offering free menstrual products he was keeping in his Statehouse office.

e lieutenant governor’s race was more competitive. Incumbent David Zuckerman, a Progressive who also runs as a Democrat, fended off a challenge in the Democratic primary from Winooski City Council member omas Renner. He’s a new-

e lieutenant governor said he was just trying to be helpful.

Zuckerman will face off in November against Northeast Kingdom cannabis farmer and former senator John Rodgers, who won the Republican primary. Rodgers, who was a Democrat when he served in the House and Senate, switched parties, saying Democrats have become too liberal. He easily beat Rutland accountant Gregory ayer, a supporter of Donald Trump.

ere were no competitive primaries for the three other statewide races — attorney general, treasurer and auditor — nor any for the state’s three congressional seats.

Read Kevin McCallum’s full coverage of primary elections at sevendaysvt.com.

Bystanders, emergency responders and State Trooper Mae Murdock performed CPR on a 68-yearold woman at a Waterbury golf course, saving her life, police said. Good drive, team!

CANINE CAMERA

An e ort to set a world record in Middlebury for the most dogs at a film screening appears to have fallen short of the goal of 220 by 10 or so pooches, the Addison Independent reported. Within a whisker.

AURORA MORE-EALIS

Once again, Vermont was treated to a brilliant late-night light show. You snooze, you lose!

4. “Six Spots for Late-Night Food in Burlington and Winooski” by Seven Days staff. You can still get fed after most restaurants go dark.

5. “UVM President Suresh Garimella to Leave for University of Arizona” by Anne Wallace Allen. UVM’s leader since 2019 is leaving the school. Story on page 16.

but gets slammed by destructive winds.

TEMPORARY TOYS

As every parent knows, the cost of toys adds up fast. And it feels silly to invest in pricey playthings that kids will tire of in a few weeks.

at’s where Playscape Vermont comes in. e Burlington biz, launched in July, rents out kiddie items — high chairs, strollers, marble runs and Legos — by the day, week and month. Weekly prices range from $4 for a Little Tikes T-ball set to $40 for a souped-up stroller wagon for two.

e business is the brainchild of Burlington resident Alia Liberatore, who became well versed in kids’ toys and gear as an early childhood educator and social worker, followed by a stint pricing items for Williston kids’ consignment store Boho Baby. She also has a 3-year-old daughter.

Liberatore got Playscape off the ground with $15,000 in funding from Community Capital of Vermont, a small-business lender based in Barre that helped her create a business plan and come up with financial projections, free of charge.

For now, Liberatore is focused on renting to locals. Customers can pick up items in Burlington or pay a fee for delivery within 20 miles of the Queen City. Down the road, she’s hoping to partner with local Airbnb owners to supply out-oftowners.

Ericka Behrsing of Fairfax recently rented a gymnastics bar for her daughters, ages 4 and 6, while the Summer Olympics aired. Burlington mom Julie Garwood said her 3- and 5-year-olds loved their rentals: a science-themed toy called Air Toobz and an updated version of the classic game Twister.

“We were amazed that such a fantastic local resource hadn’t existed before,” Garwood wrote in an email. “We can’t wait to rent again!” For more information, visit playscapevermont.com.

@mattalltradesb

Matt’s Weather Rapport: #Debby does damage: #Vermont avoids most flooding,

David Zuckerman

John Rodgers

A child with toys from Playscape Vermont

A child playing with toys

Esther Charlestin

AUGUS

JULY-

VERMONT on the Marketplace

C o m e c e l e b r a t e s u m m e r w i t h u s o n

t h e C h u r c h S t r e e t M a r k e t p l a c e !

Music on the Bricks

WORDS ON THE STREET.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paula Routly

DEPUTY PUBLISHER Cathy Resmer

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

EDITOR Matthew Roy

DEPUTY EDITOR Sasha Goldstein

CONSULTING EDITORS Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

ARTS & CULTURE

COEDITORS Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

CONSULTING EDITORS

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

VISUAL ART EDITOR Alice Dodge

MUSIC EDITOR Chris Farnsworth

CALENDAR WRITER Emily Hamilton

STAFF WRITERS Jordan Barry, Hannah Feuer, Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard

PROOFREADERS Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

ASSISTANT PROOFREADERS

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler

INTERNS Ian Dartley, Leah Krason

DIGITAL & VIDEO

DIGITAL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Bryan Parmelee

SENIOR MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER Eva Sollberger

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST James Buck

AUDIO/ALOUD PRODUCTION Je Baron

DESIGN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Don Eggert

ART DIRECTOR Rev. Diane Sullivan

PRODUCTION MANAGER John James

DESIGNER Je Baron

INTERN Olivia White

SALES & MARKETING

DIRECTOR OF SALES Colby Roberts

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Robyn Birgisson

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

EVENTS, PROMOTIONS & TICKETING MANAGER Carolann Whitesell

ADMINISTRATION

BUSINESS MANAGER Marcy Stabile

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION & LOGISTICS Matt Weiner

CIRCULATION DEPUTY Andy Watts

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHERS Gillian English

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MORE THAN CHITTENDEN COUNTY

Wow, we don’t need to be reminded again that areas outside Chittenden County barely exist [All the Best, July 31]; we get this message time and again. I had expected better of Seven Days. Your Daysies issue is allegedly the locals’ guide to Vermont. More accurately, it is a guide to Chittenden County with some inclusion for the Milton, Stowe and Montpelier areas. I counted on one hand any mention of “bests” in the southern Vermont counties, the Upper Valley, the Northeast Kingdom: one in Middlebury, one in Windsor, one in Manchester, one for Jay Peak. Do you honestly think there are no “bests” in the rest of Vermont? Yes, you distribute Seven Days in these areas, but based on the responses, how do you justify the claim to be the locals’ guide to (all of) Vermont? You need to apologize to the rest of Vermont and do better in the future.

Pam Douglass BRANDON

Editor’s note: The Daysies are chosen by our readers. All the Best is a reflection of their picks, not ours.

W E D N E S D A Y S , 5 : 3 0 - 7 p m @ 3 r d B l o c k

P r e s e n t e d b y :

A U G U S T 1 4

d l

A U G U S T 2 1

E M A L O U & T H E B E A T M A L M A I Z

A U G U S T 2 3 ( F R I )

R Y A N S W E E Z E Y & T H E M I D N I G H T W A L K E R S

A U G U S T 2 8

G R E E N K E T T L E B A N D

K e e p t h e h e a r t o f C h u r c h S t r e e t

M a r k e t p l a c e s h i n i n g b r i g h t .

S h o p l o c a l .

G e t a l l t h e

d e t a i l s o n l i n e !

M e d i a S p o n s o r s

e t m a r k e t p l a c e . c o m / s u m m e r

Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Chelsea Edgar, Erik Esckilsen, Steve Goldstein, Amy Lilly, Rachel Mullis, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Casey Ryan Vock

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, James Buck, Steve Legge, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction and Plattsburgh, N.Y. Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec.

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‘CONGRATS, MATE’

[Re “Rod Stewart Double Who Charmed Vermont Meets the Real Deal,” August 9, online]: Dan Bolles may have come up with the best/worst pun, “Maggie mea culpa,” in Seven Days history. Congrats, mate.

Patrick Mullikin CLAREMONT, CALIF.

CORRECTIONS

“From Room 37 to Cell 17,” a September 6, 2023, story about Robbie Mafuta — the man accused of killing his prison cellmate, Jeff Hall — misidentified the Department of Corrections employee and trained EMT who inspected Hall’s pupils after the attack. The employee was correctional officer Dan Bennett, according to a revised Vermont State Police affidavit. Our story relied on the original affidavit for this information, which was inaccurate.

In last week’s cover story, “A Baker’s 100,” Jules Rabin’s military service was described inaccurately. He was active duty but not deployed overseas.

MAPLE IS MAPLE

[Re “Creemee Confidential: What it Takes to Create Vermont’s Treasured Summer Treat,” July 16]: There are three kinds of maple creemees: maple creemees that have no maple syrup in them and are entirely fake maple flavored, ones that have some maple syrup in them but also fake maple flavoring, and those that have no flavoring other than maple syrup.

VSA Title 6, Chapter 32 sections 492 and 493 make a few things clear. A product may call itself “maple flavored” only if 100 percent of the flavoring comes from maple syrup or sugar. If not, it must say “artificially flavored.” Further, if the product has the word “maple” on it, you are required to clearly state how much maple is in it — as in “0.001 percent maple syrup.”

The fake flavoring dramatically reduces the amount of syrup in the creemee itself — stealing from Vermont farmers — and gives tourists an incorrect idea of what maple syrup tastes like. How could you not love the smooth, delicious flavor of maple syrup? Unfortunately, that’s not the one many people associate with maple, and combating that perception is an unfair, expensive burden to put on those of us trying to sell actual, real maple syrup.

Let’s fix this! The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets could enforce two simple rules. If the creemee contains flavoring other than pure maple syrup, it is labeled as an “artificially flavored maple creemee.” Second, if the creemee is advertised as “made with pure maple syrup,” it lists how much syrup is in the creemee. For example: If you put a quart in per five gallons, you would list “5 percent maple syrup.”

Roger Brown WILLISTON

INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES

Thank you for covering this important issue that affects the health care of all Vermonters. I wanted to highlight some very important points that I feel were missed in [“Payback Time: Vermont Medicaid Overpaid Some Health Care Providers. Now It Wants the Money Back,” August 7].

This repayment demand places an enormous financial burden on psychiatric nurse practitioners who already operate with limited resources and serve some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.

The reimbursement inconsistency highlights a broader issue: Psychiatric NPs are reimbursed at 90 percent of the physician rate, despite providing essential mental health services.

Vermont relies heavily on psychiatric NPs due to a shortage of psychiatrists, especially in serving Medicaid patients who can have complex needs.

Vermont is already facing a mental health crisis, with increasing rates of trauma, substance abuse, poverty and isolation among Medicaid patients who are more severely ill and require more intensive support.

The current Medicaid reimbursement policies are inconsistent, as the general billing manual states that psychiatric NPs should receive 100 percent of the allowed fee, similar to psychiatrists.

These clawbacks and reimbursement disparities threaten the viability of psychiatric NPs’ practices, potentially leading to a reduction in services for Vermont’s most vulnerable populations.

Addressing these issues is crucial to addressing the mental health crisis

in Vermont and ensuring that patients continue to receive the mental health care they need without interruption.

Katie Whitaker MONTPELIER

PONDERING RETIREMENT

Paula’s “Aging Out?” [From the Publisher, July 10] was compelling reading as she ponders retirement.

First, Paula has played more than a vital role in our community and state, working around the clock to preserve, protect and defend the need for community and the need to have a thriving free press in Vermont.

Paula’s pondering brought two old movies to mind: The Best Years of Our Lives and About Schmidt. Both shine a light toward the sometimes dark and hard transition into transition itself — and retirement.

There are two camps: those with jobs that challenge us and allow us to grow, and those with jobs that are indeed work and a grind — employment as a life sentence.

The hardest reality going forward: What is now my validity in the world? What is my sense of purpose?

I’m confident Paula will stay on the balance beam of life and continue to contribute for the benefit of all of us. Knowing, too, the adjustment into retirement can be an occasional cliff walk in introspection.

On Sen. Peter Welch: He’s nearing past Vermont legends senators George Aiken and Ralph Flanders in taking brave stands alone at critical moments in our history (Flanders during McCarthyism and Aiken on the Vietnam War).

I often disagree with Sen. Welch and on the role of government intervention in our lives, but bravo to Welch for being the Democratic’s Senate sacrificial lamb in voicing President Joe Biden’s serious decline physically and mentally.

Robert “Bob” Devost JERICHO

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• Seven Days, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402-1164

Anonymous (Indian), Ragini Madhumahari [detail], c. 1700, gouache on paper, 8 ½ x 6 inches. Collection of Middlebury College Museum of Art. Purchase with funds provided by the Friends of Art Acquisition Fund, 1971.002.

Downtown Dilemma

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Uninsured and Underwater

As flooding increases and the cost of coverage rises, many Vermonters are left high and dry.

iSun Likely to Sell for $10 Million

Burning Cash

Opponents of Burlington’s biomass power plant zero in on steep financial losses

UVM President Garimella to Leave for University of Arizona

Mosquito-Borne Virus Detected in Chittenden County

FEATURES 24

Second Act

At the Burlington Vintage Market and across the city, resale popups flourish

Face to Face

Rod Stewart look-alike who charmed Vermont last December meets the real deal

ARTS+CULTURE 40

That’s All Folk e Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival embraces one of classical music’s global influences

Bennington College

Rescues University of the Arts Dance Programs

Light My Fire

their

Vermont Folklife to Sell Its Middlebury Building

How Does Your Garden Grow? “Soft Openings” blooms at new Vergennes gallery

FOOD+ DRINK 34

Switching It Up

Beyond Bagels Myer’s Wood Fired

COLUMNS

11 Magnificent 7

From the Deputy Publisher

the Reverend SECTIONS

Since

MAGNIFICENT

WEDNESDAY 21

Swing for the Fences

e award-winning, seven-piece jazz band

Danny Jonokuchi & the Revisionists back a Swing Dance and Jazz Concert at Shelburne Town Hall.

With a beginners’ lesson preceding the main event and brassy bops playing all night long, dancers of any experience level can hop, step and rock.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SATURDAY 17

To Your Art’s Content

Rural LGBTQ artisans and creators get their time to shine at the annual Queer Arts Festival at Plainfield Recreation Field.

THURSDAY 15-SUNDAY 18

Banjo Jamboree

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 60

More than 80 vendors showcase and sell their work among other rad activities, including live music, activist opportunities, craft demonstrations, fun for kids and community art projects.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 58

Fiddle fans from all over the state flock to the annual Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival in Manchester Center’s Hunter Park for a four-day Americana extravaganza. Festivalgoers can camp, glamp or stay in town to join this hootenanny for the ages, featuring such acts as Twisted Pine, Aoife O’Donovan, Watchhouse, and Viv & Riley.

SATURDAY 17

Circus Maximus

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 60

Community arts organization Grimm’s Domain hosts Vaudeville Vortex, a spellbinding variety show at Burlington Beer’s Lumière Hall. Glamorous drag, burlesque and circus performances, from graceful aerial dancing to death-defying carnival acts, dazzle audience members’ minds and delight the senses.

SATURDAY 17

Petal to the Metal

Woodstock is in full bloom at Garden Day 2024, a celebration of three verdant locales across town. Sunflowers stun and herbal teas tickle the taste buds at Billings Farm & Museum; park rangers give tours and the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra performs at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park; and the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Kelly Way Gardens hosts its annual Great Tomato Tasting.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 59

SUNDAY 18

Sing It On

Summer’s free Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series continues at Dog Mountain with an outdoor performance by Jillian Dawn. Pups and picnickers of all ages are welcome to pack a blanket or a lawn chair and revel in the TikTok indie-pop artist’s anthemic sounds infused with catchy country-rock vibes.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 60

ONGOING

Photo Finish

“Women on the Edge: Alternative Processes in New England,” the current main gallery exhibit at the Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro, features the work of several regional female photographers, including Vermont’s own Rachel Portesi. All the artists work in historic or nontraditional methods to create experimental works.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

An ‘I Voted’ Upgrade

Grace Gillman

Lyle Johnson

Marion Laporte

Ruthie Frietze

Sophia Coco

Willa Saunders

SKEETERS TEST POSITIVE FOR DISEASE

Uninsured and Underwater

As flooding increases and the cost of coverage rises, many Vermonters are left high and dry.

BY RACHEL HELLMAN • rhellman@sevendaysvt.com

Rich Beck lives nowhere near a river.

The Colonial Revival-style house that he has called home for more than 20 years sits on high ground in downtown St. Johnsbury. The nearest running water is a small creek that “you can just step across,” he said.

Beck, a 75-year-old retiree, never worried about his home flooding, let alone whether he needed flood insurance. But on July 30, when record-breaking rainfall inundated St. Johnsbury and other places in the Northeast Kingdom, Beck awoke to find his basement brimming with more than eight feet of water. The torrent had streamed down the street leading to Beck’s home.

Beck’s boiler and water heater were destroyed, as was the model railroad track he had been working on for two decades,

meticulously adding miniature figurines and landscapes during his spare time.

as flood-prone, were never required to purchase flood insurance in the first place.

iSun Likely to Sell for $10 Million

BY COLIN FLANDERS colin@sevendaysvt.com

A federal bankruptcy judge cleared the way on Tuesday for the sale of the Williston solar installer iSun to a private energy investment firm for $10 million.

Clean Royalties, an affiliate of the Texas-based Siltstone Capital, was the only bidder at an auction in a federal bankruptcy court vying to purchase iSun after the Vermont company declared bankruptcy in June.

e proposed sale faced a slew of objections from the numerous companies to which iSun owes money. But after a flurry of closed-door dealmaking delayed a court hearing, the list of objections was whittled down to just a few, and a judge said that he’s ready to sign off on the deal once they are resolved.

Exactly what the sale will mean for iSun’s operation is unclear. Siltstone Capital has not laid out any plans for the company and its assets, which were reported as $66.7 million in 2023.

“We believe that Clean Royalties is much better capitalized, with a better platform, and better situated, to continue serving [iSun’s] customers and business partners,” said Michael Busenkell, an attorney representing the Vermont company, at Tuesday’s hearing.

iSun is by far Vermont’s largest solar installer and among only a handful of the state’s publicly traded companies.

Beck already has run up a $2,300 bill from a plumber for immediate repairs. But he still needs to purchase new appliances and deal with the structural damage to his home.

“I’m going to be so financially wiped out from this thing,” Beck said. “I had not been planning on anything like this.”

As a succession of catastrophic rains and flooding have battered the state during the past two years, a growing number of Vermonters are getting caught short when it comes to insurance protection. Some home and business owners lack adequate coverage. Others, like Beck, who live outside areas o cially designated

At a time when flood insurance rates are surging nationally, outdated floodplain maps and inadequate disclosure laws are making it increasingly di cult for residents to determine how best to protect their homes or businesses without breaking the bank.

“Climate change is making insurance less a ordable and accessible across the country, and that’s going to be a huge problem for your average owner or renter,” said Joel Scata, senior attorney for environmental health at the Natural

Originally a family-owned electrical contractor known as Peck Electric, iSun went public in 2019 and, two years later, purchased Vermont residential solar installer SunCommon for $40 million. e move brought millions in new investment capital and helped the company expand rapidly.

But the growth did not translate to profits, and iSun posted losses of $73.2 million over 2022-2023. By the time it filed for bankruptcy protection, iSun was losing $250,000 per week and on the verge of shutting down.

e company’s problems may not be over. A whistleblower complaint made to the federal Securities and Exchange Commission has accused its leaders of misleading shareholders and engaging in “extensive” wrongdoing. And a bonding company has sued iSun CEO Jeffrey Peck personally, seeking to find him liable for millions in losses linked to fumbled industrial-scale projects. ➆

Burning Cash

Opponents of Burlington’s biomass power plant zero in on steep financial losses

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

For years a growing chorus of scientists and environmental activists in Vermont has argued that while trees are a renewable resource, burning wood to generate electricity is inefficient and bad for the climate. Now they’re focusing on another inconvenient truth about biomass energy — its high cost.

Critics of Burlington’s Joseph C. McNeil Generating Station are asking regulators to take note of the 40-year-old power plant’s deepening financial losses before signing off on the city’s plans to operate it for another 20 years.

McNeil is on track to lose $8 million this year, according to testimony submitted to the Public Utility Commission last month. McNeil has operated in the red in all but two of the past nine years, racking up a total of $29.2 million in losses.

“Any rational business owner seeing those losses would question whether you should keep running the plant or whether you should be looking at alternatives,” said Nick Persampieri, a retired environmental lawyer from Burlington.

Persampieri and another Burlington climate activist, Pike Porter, have asked energy regulators to require the Burlington Electric Department to study decommissioning McNeil and switching to cheaper, lower-carbon energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro. BED operates and co-owns the plant.

Biomass energy plants in neighboring states have closed in recent years as public opposition to them increased, the cost of other renewable energy options dropped and the public subsidies on which they depend evaporated.

“New York and New Hampshire have closed biomass plants, not for environmental reasons but for economic reasons,” Porter said. “But in Vermont we’re meant to believe we’re somehow different and immune to actual economic conditions, that McNeil burns fairy dust with no environmental or economic consequences.”

Vermont’s two biomass power plants, the 50-megawatt McNeil and the

20-megawatt Ryegate Power Station, continue to burn hundreds of thousands of tons of wood chips each year from trees harvested in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire. Proponents say they generate local, reliable, renewable power without burning fossil fuels, especially in winter when power demand is high and other renewables, such as solar, produce less energy.

Ryegate has struggled financially. Its parent company, Stored Solar, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022. That year, Vermont lawmakers questioned the wisdom of the $5 million annual state subsidies the plant receives.

McNeil’s finances are more complex. The plant is jointly owned by BED (50 percent), Green Mountain Power (31 percent) and the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (19 percent). While utilities in Vermont are required to buy the power Ryegate produces, McNeil sells its energy on the wholesale market, leaving it more exposed to fluctuating prices and demand.

After holding city electric rates steady for 12 years, BED has raised rates each year since 2021. The latest 5.5 percent rate increase request filed with the PUC cites factors including the cost of a turbine upgrade at McNeil and low energy prices that have depressed McNeil’s sales and left the utility in “a relatively weak cash position.”

To explain the financial challenges facing McNeil, Persampieri and Porter tapped a veteran energy consultant, Paul Messerschmidt. He didn’t mince words.

“McNeil’s financial outlook for the future is dismal,” Messerschmidt told regulators last month in written testimony.

The low cost of natural gas, which is used to produce much of the power in New England, means McNeil is unlikely to be cost-competitive anytime soon, he wrote.

In winter months when wholesale prices are higher, McNeil can run profitably, he noted, but that is not enough to

EDUCATION

UVM President Garimella to Leave for University of Arizona

BY ANNE WALLLACE ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

University of Vermont president

Suresh Garimella has been hired as president at the University of Arizona, the school’s board of regents announced last Friday.

He’s expected to start later this fall. Cecilia Mata, chair of the Arizona Board of Regents, described Garimella as a valuable addition to the university and to the state.

“First and foremost, Dr. Garimella is student-focused and considers himself a faculty member,” Mata said on Friday during a live-streamed board meeting.

“Beyond his nearly 30-year career in higher education, Suresh is engaging, a great listener and a collaborative leader,” Mata said.

When he was hired as UVM’s 27th president in 2019, Garimella set about working to raise the university’s profile as a major research institution. UVM’s Office of Research budget has grown 23 percent during Garimella’s tenure, according to school officials.

That will continue, said Ron Lumbra, chair of UVM’s Board of Trustees.

“We’re not interested in taking a step back from all the momentum we’ve built around our research mission,” Lumbra said in an interview last Friday. “That will inevitably be a core part of what we look for in a president.”

In Arizona, Garimella will lead an institution with 53,000 students and nearly $1 billion in annual research expenditures — about four times the amount at UVM.

Phil Baruth, a UVM professor who is the Vermont Senate’s president pro tempore, said he hoped that the process for choosing a successor will be more collaborative than the one used to hire Garimella. At that time, the UVM Board of Trustees brought only one candidate, Garimella, to campus to meet with stakeholders.

That’s not going to happen, Lumbra said last Friday. He said potential candidates would ignore a job opportunity that required a public interview because they prefer not to reveal their search to their current employers. That’s why the Arizona Board of Regents waited to reveal Garimella’s name until they had decided to offer him the job, Lumbra said.

Lumbra expects the search for a new UVM president to take six to eight months. ➆

Uninsured and Underwater « P.14

Resources Defense Council’s office in Chicago. “People who are living outside those federally mapped flood zones aren’t getting the information they need about their flood risk.”

In fact, nearly a third of damage claims following calamitous flooding last year was from properties outside federally recognized flood zones, according to Kevin Gaffney, commissioner of the state’s Department of Financial Regulation, whose purview includes the insurance industry.

Nancy Tirozzi, co-owner of Papa Tirozzi Bakery & Pizza in downtown St. Johnsbury, has been flooded twice this summer already. On July 30, water rushed from a small, seemingly benign brook behind her popular eatery and carried inches of silt-laden floodwater into the dining room. Luckily for Tirozzi, the kitchen was spared. Friends rushed to help with the cleanup, but Tirozzi expects that repairing the floor and replacing equipment will be costly.

Tirozzi assumed that her insurance would cover the damage, but her broker informed her that she did not, in fact, have flood insurance. The broker never mentioned flood coverage when Tirozzi bought insurance because her business isn’t in a federally designated floodplain, she said.

“That was shocking to me,” Tirozzi said. “I’ve always gotten all the insurance that I need, and I wasn’t offered this.”

Julie Marshall, a paralegal with Legal Services Vermont, said dozens of Vermonters have been seeking legal counsel since their properties were swamped. Their situations vary: Some have conventional homeowner insurance that doesn’t cover flooding, others have flood insurance with coverage gaps, while still others lack any coverage, despite intense flooding in their areas. Just last week, Marshall spoke with a client who was dismayed to learn that their flood insurance didn’t cover their basement.

“There’s a gap of information and a gap of knowledge for everyday Vermonters about what insurance they need and what it will actually cover, especially in light of all the flooding last summer and this year,” Marshall said.

Unlike homeowners’ insurance, which typically does not cover flooding, flood insurance is distributed through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program, which was established in 1968, at a time when few private companies offered flood coverage because it was viewed as too risky.

The program, which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, enables property owners and renters in participating communities to purchase flood insurance as long as those communities adopt and enforce regulations aimed at reducing flood damage. Nearly 90 percent of towns and cities in Vermont participate in the NFIP.

Private insurance companies sell NFIP policies directly to consumers and manage them, while FEMA retains responsibility for underwriting that coverage.

Nationally, more than half of homes covered by NFIP policies are in “Special Flood Hazard Areas,” which are assigned a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year. Homes in these areas that are financed with a federally backed mortgage are required to have flood insurance.

Flood insurance rates are determined based on the characteristics of each property, including its elevation and distance from a water source. In 2021, the NFIP modified its formula for determining flood insurance ratings to consider other factors besides FEMA’s floodplain maps, which many experts say are outdated and incomplete. Still, the new calculations increase the cost of flood insurance for most people.

The average cost of residential flood insurance in a flood zone in Vermont is around $2,700 to $3,000 a year, according to Gaffney, but the sum can vary greatly depending on location, deductible levels and other factors. And as the frequency and severity of flooding increase each year across the country, that number is going up for average consumers and those in high-risk homes.

That added cost is bad news in a state already experiencing a shortage

Rich Beck by the creek that overflowed

Sandbags on Cliff Street in St. Johnsbury

Suresh Garimella FILE: MOLLY WALSH

of affordable housing. The true cost of purchasing a home at risk of flooding — a growing share of the housing stock in Vermont — is significantly higher, say those in the field.

The cost of flood coverage “takes so much of the buying power from the purchaser,” said Peter Tucker, advocacy and public policy director for the Vermont Association of Realtors. “Your total cost of ownership is driven up dramatically.”

Some Vermonters who are required to have flood insurance simply cannot afford it. That includes older Vermonters whose mortgages are paid off and who may never have been required to carry flood coverage but suddenly find that their property is in a floodplain.

disclose whether the property was ever required to carry flood insurance. That’s especially important, he and other advocates assert, because once a home has received FEMA assistance, the owner is required to carry flood insurance forever. Failure to do so can result in FEMA refusing to help in a future disaster.

For renters and homeowners wondering how best to prepare for flooding, Scata recommends looking at propertylevel projections put out by First Street Foundation, a nonprofit that calculates climate risk. Its data, available for free at firststreet.org, account for the more recent effects of climate change in making projections — unlike FEMA’s.

Gaffney, of the state’s financial regulation department, also warns Vermonters against making insurance decisions based on statistical projections that place storm frequency in the hundred- or thousandyear time frame.

“These statistical monikers give a false sense of security that this happened and it won’t happen again in our lifetime, and the reality is, we don’t know,” he said.

RICH BECK

According to Gaffney, the share of Vermont households with flood insurance policies hovers around 2 to 4 percent, which mirrors the national rate. Gaffney hopes the state’s take-up rate increases to 5 to 10 percent.

Vermont did see the second-highest surge in the country last year in the number of active flood insurance policies, with a 7 percent increase.

Meanwhile, there has been a statelevel push to sharpen Vermont’s flood disclosure laws. In March, legislators approved a bill that requires homeowners and landlords to disclose if their property has been previously damaged by flooding or is located in a federally designated hazardous floodplain. The Democrat-controlled legislature later overrode a veto of the bill by Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican.

“If someone is told that the house they’re about to buy has flooded, even if it’s not in a federally designated floodplain, that gives them a very integrated indication of the risk that they might be facing,” said Scata, of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

However, Scata thinks that’s still not enough. Vermont’s flood disclosure rating — as calculated by the council — bumped up from an F to just a C+.

Scata says the new law should also require homeowners and landlords to

Gaffney recommends that Vermonters compare costs of flood insurance. For properties outside a floodplain, the rate could be relatively low. He also suggested looking at rates from Lloyd’s of London, a marketplace for insurance and reinsurance that sometimes offers flood insurance at a lower rate than the NFIP.

Finally, experts urge Vermonters with flood insurance to examine the details of their policy to make sure it covers what they think it does. Assistance from legal professionals can help.

“If something is covered or not can hinge on what may seem like, frankly, ridiculous details, like whether water entered the house because it was winddriven or through the ground,” Daniel Schmidt, an attorney with Vermont Legal Aid, said.

Beck, the St. Johnsbury homeowner, has been mucking out his basement with the help of neighbors and friends. Supporters created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his expenses. Still, he is unsure whether he’ll purchase flood insurance or be able to recover financially from the flooding. He said adding a monthly flood insurance payment feels out of reach right now.

“It’s very expensive, as I understand,” Beck said. “Plus, I don’t plan on living another thousand years.” ➆

Rachel Hellman covers Vermont’s small towns for Seven Days. She is a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Find out more at reportforamerica.org.

Mosquito-Borne Virus Detected in Chittenden County

BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com

A Chittenden County man was recently hospitalized with life-threatening eastern equine encephalitis, the first confirmed human case in Vermont since 2012, the state health department said last Friday.

EEE, as it is sometimes called, spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. It has been detected in bugs collected in Colchester, Alburgh and Swanton over the past few weeks. The Vermont Department of Health says people in Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin counties should take extra precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

“Please take mosquito prevention seriously as we continue monitoring this risk,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said.

The rare virus typically causes mild symptoms in humans, such as fever, chills and aches, according to public health officials. But it can also lead to more serious disease, including brain inflammation. Roughly one in three people who develop serious illness will die from it, and many who recover are left with disabilities.

The virus killed two people who contracted it in Vermont a dozen years ago. Last year, an unvaccinated horse was infected and killed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an average of 11 human infections are reported in the U.S. annually. As of August 6, the agency’s online database showed no confirmed infections in 2024.

The Chittenden County man who fell ill is in his forties, according to the health department. He was admitted to the hospital on July 16 and discharged a week later. The health department said it submitted a related specimen to the CDC and confirmed the infection on August 8.

State officials are boosting efforts to collect and test mosquitoes, the agency said. The state may begin spraying pesticides in areas where infected mosquitoes are identified “should that be deemed the best course of action to protect public health,” the health department said in the release.

The state health department recommends protecting yourself from mosquitoes by limiting time outside when they are most active, using repellent, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. ➆

Burning Cash « P.15

offset its losses during the rest of the year. McNeil sits idle approximately half the year for maintenance or because it’s not profitable to run.

“Based on the prices for wholesale electricity futures, it is likely that McNeil will generate substantial losses through 2029,” Messerschmidt predicted.

Another key source of revenue for McNeil is also in jeopardy, he said.

Beginning in 2025, Connecticut utilities are expected to halve their purchases of renewable energy credits, or RECs, associated with the power McNeil generates. The Connecticut buyers pay a premium for the RECs. Since 2016, McNeil has earned $7 million to $12 million a year from the sale of the credits.

BED is exploring options, but the utility is likely to face a substantial revenue cut, Messerschmidt said. That, coupled with low wholesale power costs, means McNeil’s losses “will likely continue to be substantial and in most years will likely exceed the more than $8 million net loss incurred in Fiscal Year 2024,” the consultant wrote.

BED officials declined to comment, citing the ongoing case before the PUC.

In the past, however, they have pointed to environmental and financial benefits to justify the plant’s continued operations. These include the jobs of loggers, truckers and 34 workers at McNeil and the economic benefit to forestland owners. They also have said McNeil protects ratepayers from seasonal spikes in power prices by allowing Burlington

to generate electricity instead of buying it on the wholesale market. McNeil has fulfilled about 40 percent of the city’s power needs.

But Persampieri and Porter say it is impossible for the public to assess just how much McNeil is costing ratepayers without a focused analysis comparing its costs with those of options, including wind, solar and purchasing power from the grid.

Every three years, utilities in Vermont have to submit to regulators a 20-year plan for safely delivering natural gas or electricity to their customers at the lowest environmentally responsible cost. The dense regulatory filings usually attract little attention. When Persampieri read the 353-page plan that BED submitted last fall, he said, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Despite increasing scientific consensus about the perils of burning wood for electricity and calls for McNeil to be shut down, the long-range plan assumed McNeil would operate for at least the next 20 years, he said.

“To me, that’s just appalling,” he said.

So, he and Porter decided to formally challenge BED’s plan and asked for intervenor status in the PUC case. That means they’d be able to ask direct questions and submit expert testimony.

BED fought their request, arguing that the men didn’t have an interest different from any other ratepayers. BED also argued that their intervention would drag out the process, cost ratepayers money and give the men a forum to air concerns better addressed to the Burlington City Council.

The hearing officer in the case disagreed and granted the request, with limits.

Now the two men are in the thick of a quasi-judicial proceeding, trading requests for information with BED and submitting their own testimony. The case has a long way to go, with a decision not expected until next year. But the activists’ involvement already seems to have had an effect. The Department of Public Service, which advocates for ratepayers and the administration in utility cases, has agreed with some of their positions.

TJ Poor, director of the department’s utility planning division, testified that BED’s plan lacks sufficient cost analysis of various sources of electricity. In addition to McNeil, BED owns a hydroelectric plant on the Winooski River and a handful of solar arrays and also buys power from numerous wind, solar and hydroelectric facilities.

Poor told commissioners that BED’s plan doesn’t assess a “full range of potential futures associated with McNeil.” He recommended that BED be required to better analyze the costs and benefits of its various power sources so that the public will have the comparison.

“We want to see the analysis of all of BED resources, including biomass, so we can see how they all stack up,” Poor told Seven Days

The department is recommending BED be required to complete the study six months before it submits its 2026 plan. That’s not soon enough for Persampieri and Porter, who said the report should be conducted now. It makes little sense to

McNeil Generating Station

require the utility to study options years from now when crucial decisions about McNeil are imminent, they maintain.

Last fall, BED won approval from the city council to pursue construction of a $43 million district energy project that would pipe steam from McNeil to the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Persampieri and Porter argue that investing in an aging plant with a poor economic outlook would lock in financial and environmental damages for decades. BED officials disagree and have said the project makes financial and environmental sense even if McNeil were to shut down and the steam were generated by an electric boiler. The complex project remains in limbo.

The future of McNeil could come down to politics.

On the campaign trail last year, Emma Mulvaney-Stanak pledged to “develop a responsible transition plan to close the McNeil plant.” She was elected mayor in March, five months after BED submitted its plan to regulators. Now some supporters think she needs to make good on those promises.

Ashley Adams participated in a small protest in front of McNeil earlier this month. She and others argue that the power plant is far from carbon neutral, despite BED’s claims to the contrary.

Adams supported Mulvaney-Stanak because she represented a “reset on McNeil” and a “turn toward honesty in climate policy.” It makes no sense for the city’s electric department to ask regulators to approve a plan that contains no discussion of retiring the plant when the mayor has called for exactly that, Adams contends.

“It flies in the face of the commitments she made to voters who worked their tails off to get her elected,” Adams said.

Mulvaney-Stanak was not available for an interview. Her spokesperson, Joe McGee, noted that the plan would not bind the city to any project. A $20 million revenue bond that the city council approved on Monday night will fund upgrades to the plant, including a chip drier designed to make McNeil more efficient.

McGee did not answer follow-up questions about whether the mayor still supports a “transition plan to close” the plant or supports the proposed district energy project.

“The Mayor will continue to work in partnership with BED to pursue innovation, increase efficiency, and reduce emissions at the McNeil Plant,” he wrote. ➆

lifelines

OBITUARIES

James “Mark” Kalbfleisch Jr.

JUNE 24, 1972-JULY 25, 2024 FAIRFAX, VT.

James “Mark” Kalbfleisch Jr. passed away unexpectedly at home on July 25, 2024, after a long battle with alcoholism that his body could no longer sustain. He leaves behind his wife, Jennifer Prinz Kalbfleisch; three cherished sons, James, Alden and Nevan Kalbfleisch; their adoring huskies, Ember and Wynter; his sister, Mary Martha Kalbfleisch; his nephew, Joshua James; and many cousins and their families.

Mark was born in La Grange, Ill., on June 24, 1972, to the late Mary Bell “Pinky” Kalbfleisch and James Marcus “Jim” Kalbfleisch Sr. He spent his early years in

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Hinsdale, Ill., where he was active in Boy Scouts, music and swimming. In 1984 he moved to Shelburne, Vt., and was captivated by this beautiful state and Lake Champlain. roughout middle and high school, he was passionate about the arts, participating in multiple drama productions, playing piano in the Champlain Valley Union High School Stage Band, and singing with the All-State Chorus and CVU Madrigal Singers. He was incredibly proud of participating in Project Harmony, which involved a student exchange trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. He graduated from CVU in 1990, then moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music. ere he continued to develop his vocal and piano-playing talents while majoring in music production and engineering.

Mark’s entrepreneurial flair took flight at Berklee, and he began his career in live event technical services by providing sound reproduction support to numerous student shows. It is also where he met his wife, Jennifer. Upon moving back to Burlington, he continued to grow his business and became an integral part of the music and corporate events scene. During that time, Mark was involved in numerous events and festivals, including

First Night Burlington, Discover Jazz Festival, the Mozart Festival, the Polar Express, Festival of Fools, the International Film Festival, and Ben & Jerry’s One World One Heart Festival, just to name a few. rough his work with Parlatto Productions and other regional production companies, Mark used his expertise to support a multitude of corporate events. He relished the opportunity to travel and took pride in his ability to anticipate the client’s needs.

In addition to his passion for the arts and dedication to his work, Mark enjoyed spending time with his family and pups, traveling, boating, swimming, having family game night, eating eclectic foods, and discussing music. He had a sweet tooth and loved sharing candy and Ben & Jerry’s with his boys. Although the insidious nature of alcoholism was challenging and took its toll on all aspects of his life, he loved and was loved deeply and will be sorely missed.

A celebration of life will be held on October 12, 2024. Details will be determined at a later date. All are welcome to join us in sharing stories and memories as we honor Mark’s life. e family also invites you to share your memories by visiting awrfh.com.

Ruth Ann (McSweeney) Pichler

JULY 17, 1931AUGUST 10, 2024 BURLINGTON, VT.

Ruth Ann (McSweeney) Pichler passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2024. She was born in Burlington, Vt., on July 17, 1931, the fourth of 10 children.

Ruth Ann had fond memories of growing up on South Willard Street at the Club 28, summers at Starr Farm, Camp Kiniya and Lost Cove. Ruthie loved Lake Champlain, the mountains and all that nature had to offer. She delighted in a patch of blue sky, robins nesting and the first flowers of spring.

elderly and everybody in between. e breadth of her work spanned from home nursing on back dirt roads to staff nursing in various hospitals. e greatest joy of her career was taking care of Bishop Joyce during the last years of his life. She was predeceased by her husband, Franz. She is survived by her son, Tom; daughter in-law, Heather; and daughter, Maria. She is also survived by her sister, Martha; her sisters-in-law, Marilyn and Anne; and brothers in-law, Ned, Hank and Dean; plus two dear friends, Ellen and Connie.

Early in her nursing career, her independent spirit led her to Boston, Pittsburgh and Montréal. On a trip back home, she took a wrong turn and ended up in Montgomery Center, where she met Franz, her future husband. She left Montréal and never looked back, thus beginning their 50 years together. Franz built their family home, where they raised Tom and Maria, their two children.

Ruth’s nursing career spanned over 40 years. She worked with children, the

Amy Miller

MAY 22, 1981MARCH 22, 2024 BURLINGTON, VT.

Amy Kathleen Miller, born on May 22, 1981, was the third child of Albert Miller and Colleen Miller Hale. She is survived by her mother, Colleen, and stepfather, David Hale; her brother, Jeffrey, his wife, Jennifer, and their daughter, Charlotte Miller; and her brother, Peter, and his daughter, Maddalena Miller.

She outlived eight of her siblings, Doug, Marie, Father John, Margaret, Kitty, Billy, Louise and Elizabeth, all of whom she loved and missed dearly. We would like to thank Mom’s Edgemoor neighbors. She so enjoyed going out for her walks, admiring the day and sharing a conversation with all of you. Ruth was guided by her faith and her spirit was light; she was a kind and gentle soul. Her world revolved around her family. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 16, in St. Mark’s Catholic Church on North Avenue in Burlington.

Growing up as the youngest of three, Amy honed a unique, razor-sharp wit and a lightning-fast sense of humor. In a family of fast talkers, she learned that she needed to have something to say, had to get it out quickly, and, most importantly, it had to be funny. ese skills led her to the theater while she was at Burlington High School, where she thrived in the limelight and never shied away from center stage. She went on to attend Marymount Manhattan and completed her studies in writing for film and television at

the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Later, she lived in Philadelphia, where she managed various restaurants, and in Chicago, where she practiced stand-up comedy. ose who knew her will remember laughing in her presence, laughing at the world around us and our human lives within it. It could have been her love for the rush that other people’s laughter brought her that led Amy down what sadly proved to be an irretrievable path of addiction. She met her husband, Dale Austin, in recovery, and cared for him as he passed away from cancer. Dale and Amy’s lives will be celebrated in Burlington, Vt., in August 2024. If you knew her, you remember laughing. You remember her laughter, punctuated by that smile, relishing what she could make happen in other people just by using words. You also remember your own laughter, sounds of utter joy coming from deep inside you, far beyond your control, but not beyond hers.

OBITUARIES

Thomas F. Haraden

AUGUST 21, 1944-AUGUST 5, 2024 WILLISTON, VT.

Thomas F. Haraden Jr., of Williston, Vt., passed away at home in the early morning of August 5, 2024.

Tom was born in Amityville, N.Y., on August 21, 1944, to Thomas and Helen (Rinesh) Haraden Sr. During his youth, Tom worked for his father at the family-owned Esso service station in Lindenhurst, Long Island, where he learned the skills that made him an excellent car mechanic. He graduated from Farmingdale High School on Long Island.

Tom had many great stories from his days in Farmingdale, with friends such as Sal and Ralph, among many others. Many of the stories involved hot cars and specifically drag racing, of which Tom participated in and had very fond memories.

Tom used his exceptional mechanical skills as a member of the Clutch Masters, a group of young men from Farmingdale who helped motorists who were broken down on the highway. His maroon and white Clutch Masters club coat was cherished and worn by family members long after he left the club.

Tom met the love of his life, Barbara Payette, of South Burlington, Vt., in 1964, while Barbara was at Castleton State College. Tom proposed, and they were married on April 3, 1965, at St. John Vianny Church in South Burlington. Initially, Barb and Tom

lived on Long Island, where Tom continued to help his father at the family service station. They eventu ally relocated to Vermont to raise their two beautiful children, which were the pride of his life.

Tom said once he never thought Barb would say yes to marrying him, but when she did, they truly became one, as it was always “Barb and Tom” or “Tom and Barb.” Rarely would one name be men tioned without the other.

Tom was an exceptional driver and could literally drive anything and drive it well. Whether it be heavy equipment, a foreign car that no one had heard of, a motor home or heavy truck, Tom could get in and drive it like that was the only thing he had ever driven. As a commercial truck driver, he took first in the Vermont Truck Driving Championships in 1988 and drove over two million accident-free miles over the span of 50 years.

Tom drove for the Vermont Reds semi-professional baseball team, Merrill Transport, Bouyea-Fassett’s Bakery and DDA Transport, among others. Tom rarely, if ever, took a sick day and could always be counted on if the company ever needed a last-

In his later years, Tom and Barb enjoyed the RV world of traveling and camping, always willing to bring family members and friends along with them on their

Tom had a sense of humor rarely found and could tell life stories that would make a whole room laugh. Even after the third or fourth time hearing them, they were still funny. Many family gatherings included someone asking Tom to, “Tell the one about ....” He would share the story and leave everyone with a smile.

Tom taught his children and many of his young relatives how to drive. You knew that when he told you how to do something behind the wheel, it was expert advice from someone who really knew what they were doing and had a love for driving.

Tom lived from 1944-2024. The most important part of those dates is the little dash between the numbers. That little dash represents the time we had to enjoy Tom, but it’s far too small to measure the impact Tom had on everyone who knew and now misses him.

Life should be measured in impact, what a person means to

others. If Tom’s life was measured by impact, that little dash would stretch further than his two million miles of safe driving. Tom would drop everything to help someone, and having him around when a problem arose just made things a little easier and more joyful. There will truly never be another person like Tom Haraden. Everyone who knew him was better for it, and it is why losing him is so difficult for his family and friends.

Tom is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara, of Williston; his daughter, Melissa Daly, and her husband, Kevin, of Milton; and his son, Jonathan “Jay,” and his wife, Amy, of Burlington. In his later years, Tom worked with Jay for DDA Transport, and they became the best of friends because of their many similar interests.

Tom also leaves his grandson, Nathaniel Haraden, of Essex, and several dear relatives. While the list of relatives is long, each one was special to Tom, and each one possesses very fond memories of him.

Tom is survived by his only sibling, sister Carol Lilja, of Long Island.

Tom also leaves a dear family friend of over 50 years, Carol Pepin, with whom Tom and Barb had many laughs and camping adventures.

A celebration of life will be held and announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage donations be made to the Williston Food Shelf (802-578 0586) at willistonfoodshelf.com.

Norbert G. Vogl

MAY 23, 1932AUGUST 7, 2024 ESSEX, VT.

Norbert G. Vogl, Jr., 92, of Essex, died on August 7, 2024, at his home. Visiting hours were held Monday, August 12, at LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Service, Winooski. A mass of Christian burial was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Colchester, with interment services at New Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Burlington, on Tuesday, August 13.

To view the complete obituary and send online condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneral homes.com.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

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Share your loved one’s story with the local community in Life Lines.

Post your obituary or in memoriam online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/lifelines Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com or 865-1020 ext. 121.

OBITUARIES

Kathy Jo Dupuis

SEPTEMBER 1, 1955MAY 24, 2024 WINOOSKI, VT.

Kathy Jo (Stearns) Dupuis, 68, died on May 24, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center, following a brief illness. She was born on

IN MEMORIAM

September 1, 1955, in Burlington, the daughter of the late Clifton and Gloria (Gibson) Stearns. Kathy grew up in South Burlington and attended South Burlington High School and the University of Vermont. She married Peter Dupuis and raised two daughters, in Colchester, who were her pride and joy. She was involved in PTO and book fairs and threw the best birthday parties for her girls. As a process planner in the engineering department at Preci Manufacturing for over three decades, Kathy will be remembered for her commitment to the team she led for so many years. With numerous hobbies and interests, she enjoyed gardening, photography, time by the ocean, traveling with family and friends and detective shows. Kathy shared an inseparable bond with her beloved dog,

Chip, who was more than just a pet: a loyal companion and confidant.

Kathy is survived by her daughters, Danielle (Robert) and Erin Dupuis; their father, Peter Dupuis; her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Lew Rafsky; brother and sister-in-law, William and Mary Stearns; niece and greatnephew, Jennifer and Noah Lemieux; nephew and niece, Will and Megan Stearns; her beloved dog, Chip; and many friends.

Kathy is predeceased by her parents, Clifton and Gloria (Gibson) Stearns, and her niece Lizzie Stearns.

A celebration of life will be held at Waterworks in Winooski on August 31, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kathy’s name to the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

Ed White 1934-2023

Remembering Ed White, father, grandfather and friend. Born in New York City but found his home in 1967 in the Green Mountains, leaving only to travel. Hunter, trapper, forager, carver, woodsman. Also a sailor, carpenter, machinist, craftsman and teacher. Missed since his passing in July 2023 at age 89.

Ron Finch 1965-2023

A celebration of life for Ron Finch will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, 1 p.m., at Texaco Beach in Burlington, Vt. We hope all who loved Ron can attend.

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Downtown Dilemma

Plagued by homelessness, drugs and safety concerns, Burlington tries to adapt to a new normal

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN

Downtown Burlington straddles two realities. Its green spaces are hangouts for yogis and young professionals but also dens of open drug use. Locally owned shops outnumber chain stores but are falling victim to brazen theft. The Flynn theater attracts top-tier performers, but at night, unhoused people seek refuge under its brightly lit marquee.

The economic engine of Vermont, the Queen City has never been spared from homelessness, addiction and crime, but the challenges have worsened in recent years. More than 300 people are living rough in the greater Burlington area, more than ever before. Record overdose rates, fueled by fentanyl, have overwhelmed first responders.

“I’m not going anywhere near downtown without my Taser,” a 63-year-old woman told Seven Days, referring to a handheld device that shocks a person on contact. She was struck in the back of her head by a woman one May evening on

South Winooski Avenue, where, earlier that day, an 82-year-old man had been assaulted.

People living outside share these safety concerns, too. Rebecca, who didn’t provide a last name, recounted being kicked and urinated on while sleeping recently.

“In the old days, nobody would do

that,” Rebecca said. “I feel very concerned for my safety. I feel like somebody could really hurt me.”

Reality has set in: There are no quick solutions. While Burlington pursues long-term ones, residents and workers are learning to live with the new normal.

City leaders are creating programs and positions to help people on the margins. Clergy are praying about how they can both be charitable and keep their congregants safe. With cops shorthanded, businesses are taking matters of theft into their own hands. Newly elected Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, who ran on a platform of community safety, said on Monday that the city will focus on hot spots as her administration continues to strategize.

The mayor recently convened a team of advisers to help address Burlington’s woes. Most of their suggestions are shortterm steps, but other parts of the mayor’s plan will take years to bear fruit.

“There’s no one thing that would solve any of this, because it would have been done already,” she said. “Continuing to adapt is one of the things that we’re going to need to do.”

Several entities are working to solve these problems. The nonprofit Howard Center, for instance, runs a needle exchange. For more than 20 years, its

People in the Cherry Street parking garage

Street Outreach team has helped people in mental health crises. The Burlington Business Association advocates for merchants worried about crime and disorder. Volunteers serve meals and provide social opportunities for the city’s most vulnerable.

The groups’ interests and approaches don’t always align, but they share the same goal: to keep Burlington the same safe, welcoming and weird city it’s always been.

Burlington isn’t alone in its challenges. In June, 300 people attended a forum in St. Albans to discuss shoplifting and drug activity. A similar event in Morristown in January drew 100 people after a rash of retail thefts. Homeless encampments, of course, exist in Vermont outside of Burlington, too.

State lawmakers have responded by passing stronger drug-dealing laws and increasing penalties for retail theft. There are also more compassionate responses in the pipeline, such as plans to open the state’s first-ever overdose-prevention center in Burlington and build hundreds of housing units, many for formerly homeless people. A drop-in mental health clinic is expected to open in the Queen City this fall. These approaches may make a di erence in time, but for now, Burlington is in the thick of it. Its people are starting to adapt.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Amid the bustle of tourists on the Church Street Marketplace one steamy July afternoon, a man on a bench was turning blue. His head lolled back, and his arms were splayed as if welcoming the emergency medical technicians rushing his way. Kneeling at the man’s side, EMTs injected medication into his arm, and onlookers waited for it to take e ect.

The man came to in seconds. He stood up, his eyes wide and searching as if he didn’t know where he was or how he’d gotten there. Perhaps he didn’t.

“We’re gonna help you, man,” an EMT said calmly, rubbing his arm. “We’re the fire department.”

The crew had already responded to eight similar calls that day, and it was only 4 p.m.

The drug and homelessness crises have put significant strain on virtually every arm of city government. Workers who investigate housing code violations are spending their mornings picking up discarded needles. Librarians are banning disruptive patrons from the stacks. Park rangers are connecting unhoused people to social services.

But perhaps none has a closer view of the city’s challenges than emergency responders. To adjust to the new reality, they’re being more thoughtful about who they send to calls. Instead of a fire engine,

There’s no one thing that would solve any of this, because it would have been done already.

a two-person team in a pickup is often dispatched to suspected overdoses. Social workers, not just armed police o cers, are helping people in a mental health crisis.

“How do we make sure Burlington’s a modern-day city that can rise to the occasion of the realities of living with modern-day city challenges?” Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak asked. “We are trying things. We are being proactive.”

A surge in emergency calls coincided with a shrinking of Burlington police ranks. In 2021, Police Chief Jon Murad created a “priority response plan,” which says when two or fewer cops are available, they’ll only show up for the most serious calls, such as robbery and assault. The system is still in e ect, but a cadre of civilians is helping to fill the gap for less serious incidents.

Social workers known as “community support liaisons” visit encampments, bring people to appointments and hang out at King Street Laundry on Wednesdays, when unhoused people can wash their clothes for free.

“Community service officers,” who wear uniforms but not guns, take complaints about noise, property damage and other quality-of-life concerns. They also serve subpoenas, direct traffic at crash scenes and log foot patrols — more than 600 of them just this year, mostly on Church Street. This year, they’ve handled 13 percent of dispatched emergency calls.

On a recent afternoon, Lacey Smith and Anna Wageling, civilians who both help run a crisis-intervention program under the police department, walked Church Street, toting a fanny pack stu ed with snacks and

Gatorade powder to hand out. Back at their o ce at police headquarters, they keep a filing cabinet with clothes, toiletries and even kids’ toys. A handwritten chart on a whiteboard keeps track of where the team has checked in that day.

“We’ve gained a lot of trust with folks who are wary of any type of authority figure,” Wageling said. “We’ve been able to really bridge that and show ... we’re really just here to help.”

Police don’t have time to sit with people for hours. “But we can,” Smith said, “so they call us.”

Firefighters, too, are spending more time with the people they serve, through an overdose detail organized last fall. The members, who are EMTs, had noticed how

MAYOR EMMA MULVANEY-STANAK

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak

Anna Wageling and Lacey Smith on Church Street

Downtown Dilemma

much time they were spending racing to scenes in ambulances and fire engines. They suggested dedicating a smaller crew to the task, and within a month, the Community Response Team was born. The two-person squad zips around in a pickup truck stocked with drug test strips, doses of Narcan and supplies to treat the persistent wounds caused by the animal tranquilizer xylazine, a common additive to illicit drugs. Run as an overtime shift, the team averages 50 hours on duty each week.

Without the pressure of getting a fully staffed ambulance to the hospital and back in service quickly, team members often have time to get to know the people they treat, who tend to be open to conversation after being revived. Firefighters say it’s making a difference, both for patients and squad members who, faced with treating people again and again for overdosing, are battling compassion fatigue.

“The difference is that personal connection,” said Josh Kirtlink, president of the Burlington Firefighters’ Association and an occasional response team member. Hearing people’s stories “changes your outlook on what you can do to help them,” he said.

The department is leveraging that sentiment to launch another effort, which would provide patients with immediate addiction treatment. Called PREVENT, the state protocol allows paramedics to offer buprenorphine to people in withdrawal after treating them for overdosing; Burlington has asked the state to allow its emergency medical technicians to do so, too. Bupe, a drug that curbs opioid cravings, is only available to people with a prescription.

The state is still reviewing Burlington’s request, but Fire Chief Mike LaChance said it would help people who refuse to go to the hospital after overdosing — which happens about a third of the time.

“[Bupe] brings them back toward normal,” he said. “Maybe they will be in a mental space to say, ‘OK, yes, I will accept some help.’”

Burlington’s ever-growing menu of services can be difficult to navigate — so much so that the city recently created a “Downtown Safety and Security Guide,” a flowchart-like handout that advises workers on whom to contact in the event of various emergencies.

The services aren’t always available. None of the police department’s unarmed workers is on duty 24 hours a day, though they do work every day of the week. The

fire department’s overdose team only runs when EMTs sign up for shifts, and it’s been harder to fill them during the summer vacation season.

The city has also struggled with hiring. The police department is budgeted to have 10 community service officers, but only five are on the payroll — partly because some have been hired and then gone on to become full-fledged Burlington cops. The department has been trying to create a mental health response team for months but hasn’t found enough clinicians to launch it.

Despite the efforts, some people aren’t ready to accept the help.

Back on Church Street, the man revived by EMTs threw up on the brick walkway as people strolled by with shopping bags and ice cream cones. A stretcher waited to whisk him to the hospital. When he declined to go, EMTs gave him a pouch with more Narcan and headed back to the station.

The man took a jug of water offered by employees from the nearby Urban Outfitters store. Then he got up and walked down the street, leaving the bag of supplies on the bench.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESSES

Homeport had only been open for a few hours one July afternoon when a man beelined for the back of the store, stuffed items into a backpack and left. The store’s security guard, Connor, grabbed his cellphone and furiously texted a message, attaching a clip of surveillance footage.

“The guy with the green backpack just stole from us,” wrote Connor, who didn’t want his last name published due to security concerns. “We’re looking for them now.”

His phone buzzed: Someone had spotted the man near the Fletcher Free Library. Within minutes, Connor and another person who works downtown bounded down Church Street in pursuit.

They caught up to the man, who eventually surrendered the goods. Later that day, two canvas shoulder bags — priced at $30 apiece — were back on the shelf.

Driven by desperation, addiction or both, thieves have become bolder and more aggressive. Merchants, no longer able to rely on police for help, have had to get creative. Workers exchange information on a WhatsApp group chat about

suspicious behavior. Some have hired private security, while jewelry dealer Von Bargen’s keeps its doors locked during business hours, admitting customers only after they ring a doorbell.

The Burlington Business Association, meanwhile, has hired someone to help workers who run into trouble with patrons. The org has also teamed up with the University of Vermont Medical Center to train employees on how to lower the temperature when dealing with rowdy or intoxicated people.

“We could potentially be close to a tipping point if, in fact, we don’t address this,” said Patricia Pomerleau, whose prominent family owns plenty of downtown real estate. The Pomerleau Family Foundation is helping pay for one of the programs. “Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Business owners have long been vocal about the state of downtown. They’ve lobbied legislators for stronger anti-loitering laws and city councilors for private security on Church Street. A handful have relocated or downsized their stores in recent years, some because of theft and a perception that downtown is unsafe. Earlier this year, an international brand backed out of a lease deal for a Church Street space due to safety concerns.

Data, though, show that people are still drawn to the Queen City. Two million people visited Church Street in 2023, on par with pre-pandemic numbers, cellphone data show. That same year, shoppers spent 2.4 percent more in retail stores than they did in 2019, before the pandemic hit, according to city tax data. Hotels, meantime, showed an 8.3 percent increase, though restaurant receipts dipped 10.3 percent.

Most of the empty storefronts on the Marketplace are filled now or have tenants lined up. Businesspeople who had been heralding Burlington’s demise are now publicly projecting optimism, perhaps realizing that their previous messaging could actually be to their detriment.

“I just decided a few months ago that I didn’t know how helpful it was to continue to be raising the red flag,” said Kelly Devine, who, as executive director of the Burlington Business Association, has been one of the most outspoken about the state of downtown. “[I’m focusing] less on the problem, more on solutions.”

The WhatsApp group is one such strategy. Merchants use the app to share photos and descriptions of suspects. Other times, workers will ask someone to come stand in their shop to let would-be thieves know they’re being watched. In other cases, they’ve chased down criminals who stole

Homeport security guard Connor and owner Mark Bouchett

Marsha McCombie (left) and Lacey Smith (center) meeting with Debbie on Main Street

I am boldly saying the drug is the devil. In my world, it absolutely is.

PASTOR KERRY CAMERON

stuff. The group operates much like BTV Stolen Bike Report and Recovery, a Facebook page whose 4,400 members have tracked down hundreds of boosted bikes since it formed in 2022.

Ryan Nick, a property manager for Nick & Morrissey Development, helps moderate the private chat for downtown businesses.

“If no one else is coming, it’s up to us to fend for ourselves,” he said. “We’re all trying to support the street and trying to make the street a safe and fun place to be.”

Things can get hairy. In June, someone posted on WhatsApp that a woman was stealing from lululemon, a high-end yoga clothing retailer that rents from Nick and is a popular target for thieves. Nick and his father, Nick & Morrissey Development partner Jeff Nick, responded and confronted the woman. The ensuing scene was caught on camera: Jeff latched on to the bag of goods while a bystander gripped the woman’s arm. She pushed and pulled until she broke free, losing a sneaker but getting away with the bag. Police were too busy to respond.

A new pilot program may bring some relief. Using the same WhatsApp group, workers can summon a “downtown ambassador” for help. Stationed in a closet-size office next to the Church Street CVS, Andrew LeStourgeon is the face of the program, which will run at least through September. The former owner of the now-closed Monarch & the Milkweed café is on call to help workers file police reports and to escort them to their cars at night.

He also gets to know people with substance-use disorder and, if they’re willing, refers them to the “Downtown Health Project,” a collaboration between two agencies focused on harm reduction: the low-barrier Johnson Health Center on Bank Street and Vermonters for Criminal

So far, merchants are reporting that his presence has deterred theft, including at lululemon, Devine said.

“This is definitely experimental at this point,” she said. “I’m happy to try things out and see if they stick.”

MORAL QUANDARY

Lisa and Kim had an hour to pack up and leave.

The two women had spread a down comforter under a tree at First Congregational Church, where, 20 feet away, a sign warned that camping isn’t allowed. That hadn’t stopped Lisa, Kim or a half dozen other people from sleeping outside the sprawling brick building on South Winooski Avenue that July morning.

At 11 a.m., church staffer Ava Bilton was about to rouse the women for the last time when two men approached her. Lisa had just overdosed, they said.

Outside, Lisa was on all fours, retching on Kim’s white blanket. EMTs helped her up and took her to the hospital. Bilton surveyed the scene, which had attracted a small crowd, and spotted a man digging a baggie of white powder from his pocket.

“You can’t do drugs here, Mike,” Bilton warned. “We just had an overdose.”

“I don’t do nothin’,” he said.

“I just saw the needle out!” Bilton said, exasperated. “Is that for your diabetes?”

Bilton began cleaning up the campsite. Once she looked away, Mike prepared a syringe, found a vein in his hand and pressed the plunger.

Justice Reform, a nonprofit that helps people find housing and get drug treatment. The Pomerleaus recently donated $300,000 to the organizations to support their work.

“My goal is to be a supportive presence downtown and to connect people with the help they need,” LeStourgeon wrote in an email. “I have never loved Burlington more than in the last three months of doing this important work on the streets.”

Devine acknowledged that LeStourgeon’s two roles could be at odds, when he’s asked to build trust with the very people he could be helping report to the police. His background in hospitality will help, Devine said. And LeStourgeon won’t forcibly take stolen goods from shoplifters’ hands, according to Devine.

This was a typical morning at First Congregational, which has long dealt with illegal camping and drug use. But the activity has become harder to manage, and now, other houses of worship are seeing the same. As a result, local clergy are wrestling with how to balance compassion and security. Sometimes, that means asking people to leave; others, it’s offering them food and inviting them in to talk.

“We’re trying to figure out what our call is in this moment,” Pastor Ken White of the College Street Congregational Church said. “It’s gotta be more than, ‘Get off our lawn.’”

White can pinpoint when things got worse. One June morning, the city strung tape across a bus shelter next to the Fletcher Free Library, preparing to remove it after complaints about people sleeping, fighting and using drugs there. That afternoon, the crowd moved a few hundred feet up College Street — to White’s church.

The pastor had hoped to allow people to hang out, but not sleep, on church property, as long as they were respectful.

Pastor Kerry Cameron

Volunteers serving a free meal at First United Methodist Church

Downtown Dilemma

But after a woman screamed at him, drug dealers set up shop in the parking lot and police responded there, all in a span of hours, White realized the situation was too much for him to manage. Anyone loitering is asked to leave.

“Kicking people out who are down is soul killing,” White said. “We’re having to turn the church into something we never wanted to be: ... a no-public zone.”

White realizes, of course, that if people aren’t on his lawn, they’re on someone else’s. Lately, it’s the grass at the First Congregational and First United Methodist churches.

The buildings are on either side of Buell Street, which has become a hot spot in its own right. In late July, Burlington police arrested a 37-year-old Hartford, Conn., man for dealing drugs there, but the trade has continued unabated. The morning of Lisa’s overdose — just days after the drug bust — three people were passed out in a black BMW, including the driver. A person was unconscious in a tent on the greenbelt. A man rolled up on a bicycle and asked an unhoused man and a Seven Days reporter if they were looking to buy some Percocet.

At First Congregational, staff spend much of their workday policing such behavior, as well as counseling people and giving them wound care kits. After hearing about violent incidents that occurred once employees had left for the day, Rev. Elissa Johnk was weighing whether to hire overnight security. “A lot of people have nowhere to go,” she said. “It’s this really hard call. We have to keep the space safe.”  Misbehavior is increasingly problematic at the Methodist church next door. Two years ago, a man pulled a knife on the church’s pastor, Kerry Cameron, and earlier this year, threatened to kill her entire congregation. Last fall, someone took a sledgehammer to the church’s front steps, causing $30,000 in damage. In June, the building’s copper downspouts, worth $7,000, went missing. Cameron recently put up no-trespassing signs around the property.

Word is getting around. One recent afternoon, an unhoused woman who goes by Tammy confronted Cameron about the trespass rule, saying all unhoused people were being punished for the actions of a few. “People are angry because they don’t know what to do,” Tammy said.

Cameron feels similarly flummoxed. Churches are called to perform acts of kindness, she said, noting that hers hosts 30 12-step programs and a thrift shop. She’s baptized homeless people and even threw a wedding for an unhoused couple.

But a beleaguered church can’t help anyone, she said.

To remind herself of that, Cameron printed out a stack of yellow note cards and put them on her office coffee table.

“You can still be a kind person if you set boundaries, if you protect your time and space,” they read. “If you say no.”

Scripture guides her thinking, including Ephesians 6:11, a verse that speaks of drawing on God’s strength to stand against evil. “I am boldly saying the drug is the devil,” Cameron said. “In my world, it absolutely is.”

The clergy have been in touch with the city, which has sent more police officers and social workers to patrol the block. And some church members have started programs that they hope will enable them to forge better relationships with the unhoused people congregating on their grounds.

Sunday Morning Breakfast, at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, invites people for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice, and coffee every week, even on holidays. About 35 people came to the first breakfast last fall, but

attendance has swelled to more than 100 in recent weeks.

The Methodist church started a similar event, the Share, around the same time. Instead of just grabbing a meal, guests are asked to stay and tell their stories.

On a recent Sunday evening, volunteers scooped homemade egg salad onto slices of wheat bread and poured steaming-hot vats of kielbasa and chicken noodle soups into slow cookers. Just before opening the doors, the kitchen crew clasped hands and prayed that their guests would leave full and satisfied.

People trickled in from the church lawn, grabbing packets of mayo and mustard for their ham sandwiches. A woman let her pet bunny, Benjamin, roam as she tucked into her meal. A tattooed man with a pierced septum thanked Pastor Cameron for the food.

At another table was James, scruffy and soft-spoken in a T-shirt streaked with dried paint. Declining to share his last name, James said he’s in recovery and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the church basement. He said it’s difficult to walk past people using drugs on the lawn when he’s trying to stay clean.

“You can’t have money in your pocket and a weak moment,” he said. “You may not make it in the doors.”

That night, however, James was focused. He finished his soup and went to change, not wanting to show up at an AA meeting in a dirty shirt.

JAMES BUCK

Kim at First Congregational Church

A tent on Buell Street

THE LONG VIEW

With no obvious solutions to Burlington’s problems, those charged with addressing them are tossing around ideas. Some could quickly show results while others will require more time — a hard truth when the status quo feels untenable.

At city hall, Mulvaney-Stanak has conferred with a panel of advisers to discuss safety issues. The group, including business leaders, housing experts and attorneys, met four times over the past three months. Mulvaney-Stanak outlined some of their recommendations at Monday’s city council meeting.

The mayor first plans to address hot spots for crime and misbehavior, work that started with closing the library bus shelter. Besides church lawns, the activity has migrated to a city-owned parking garage on Cherry Street, where officials are considering hiring sheriffs to patrol. The extra security could allow the city to reopen two stairwells it closed in June to counter rampant drug use.

Buell Street is also on the list. Police and social workers have upped their patrols of the area, the mayor said, and the city has been in close contact with church leaders.

Those efforts don’t seem to be working, some city councilors said on Monday, noting that people are arrested and released only to reoffend. They suggested hourly police patrols of the neighborhood and that the mayor pressure county prosecutors to crack down on criminal behavior.

“Although these problems are difficult, there are some aspects that are not,” Councilor Tim Doherty (D-East District), a former federal prosecutor, said. “It shouldn’t be that difficult to prevent people from, at 11 o’clock on a Tuesday morning, just parking in the middle of Buell Street and dealing bundles of fentanyl out the window.”

Councilor Melo Grant (P-Central District), meantime, said she appreciates the mayor’s approach — and recognizes it will take time to work.

“We didn’t get here overnight, so we’re not going to get out of it overnight,” she said, “but for the first time, I have hope.”

Mulvaney-Stanak also announced on Monday that retired Vermont State Police commander Ingrid Jonas will serve as her senior community safety adviser, a temporary position she had proposed during the campaign. Jonas is charged with streamlining the city’s response to homelessness and crime, work that’s currently spread out among several city departments. It will take time to hire more police, another part of the mayor’s plan. The city’s current budget would pay for up to 75 officers, but recent hiring trends suggest that the city won’t have that many

officers anytime soon; currently, 66 are on the payroll.

At a recent meeting of the council’s Public Safety Committee, recruitment officer Cpl. Carolynne Erwin said 26 people applied for police jobs this year, compared to 112 in 2023. Eleven advanced in the hiring process, but only three made it through a physical, poly-

We’re really going to need a few years in order to move out of this situation we’re in right now.

MICHAEL MONTE

graph test, interview and background check. “This trajectory is insanely low,” Erwin said.

The most buzz this year has been around opening the state’s first-ever overdose-prevention center. In June, the Vermont legislature freed up $1.1 million to create a center in Burlington, where people could use drugs under supervision. City officials hope that would reduce outdoor drug use and help, eventually, to get people into treatment.

But questions remain, chiefly who will

this month showcased views of Lake Champlain and ample treatment rooms that will be painted calming shades of blue. Eschewing the sterile feel of a traditional doctor’s office, the waiting room will mimic a modern living space with white furniture and a recessed television.

The center will relieve pressure on the University of Vermont Medical Center emergency room, a common but inadequate landing spot for people in crisis. But it will only be open weekdays and is a bit of a walk from downtown.

Regardless, “this is going to fill that gap in a way we just haven’t had,” said Stephen Leffler, president of the hospital, one of several organizations involved in the project. “I’m really excited for the service this is going to be for our patients.”

operate it and where it will go. MulvaneyStanak says the center shouldn’t be located near schools or addiction recovery services. She also suggested that her neighborhood of the Old North End already has its fair share of services and shouldn’t have to host more.

The city will have a “robust community engagement process” about the location, Mulvaney-Stanak said. Meantime, officials are looking into zoning hurdles and consulting a heat map of overdose calls to see where people are already using.

Mulvaney-Stanak hopes the center could be open within a year. But “this needs to be done well,” she said. “Many eyes are on us.”

Some residents want more urgency.

Rachel Furnari, who lives on Orchard Terrace, has been emailing city officials, Gov. Phil Scott and Vermont’s congressional delegation about the situation on nearby Buell Street, saying she can no longer walk there with her small children. The mayor’s office responded with what seemed to Furnari like a policy memo that lacked any new information.

“Everyone you call says there are no immediate solutions,” she said. “No one’s even throwing out creative ideas or providing any hope to us in our little neighborhood. No one. I think that’s the part that has me really down right now.”

Some new initiatives are on the way, however.

A light-filled office on South Prospect Street is currently being renovated to become the county’s first-ever urgent care center for people in mental health crisis. Operated by Howard Center, the clinic will offer mental health assessments and medical care for walk-in patients, mostly at no cost. It’s funded for the next three years.

A hard-hat tour of the space earlier

Housing is also part of the puzzle, including units for people transitioning from homelessness. Nine such apartments will be available in a 38-unit complex that affordable housing developer Champlain Housing Trust is building on South Winooski Avenue. More than half of the 51 apartments built by the housing trust in the past year were leased to formerly unhoused people, data show.

Still, it will be more than a year before the Burlington units are ready for move-in, housing trust CEO Michael Monte said. In the meantime, the nonprofit is in talks with the city about opening another homeless shelter, at the former Social Security office on Pearl Street.

“We’re really going to need a few years in order to move out of this situation we’re in right now,” Monte said.

That’s precisely what Furnari, the Orchard Terrace resident, fears most.

She has always seen drug use in the neighborhood and people congregating at the aptly nicknamed “Beer Tree,” a handsome linden on Buell Street that provides shelter to revelers after dark. But the misbehavior and lack of a real plan to address it worries her. The day she emailed local and state officials, she’d watched as people injected drugs into each other’s necks. It was miserable to witness, Furnari said, and likely worse for the people involved.

“The community has changed,” she said.

And yet, she’s adapted to it. On a recent Friday afternoon, during a phone interview with a Seven Days reporter, Furnari was taking in the sights of the annual Festival of Fools on Church Street, where crowds had gathered to watch street performers entertain. She paid little mind to the sirens that got louder and louder in the background.

The emergency responders, it turned out, were headed straight for her neighborhood. ➆

Howard Center’s Cathie Buscaglia at the future mental health urgent care center in Burlington

Second Act

At the Burlington Vintage Market and

across the

STORY & PHOTOS BY LEAH KRASON • lkrason@sevendaysvt.com

On summer Saturdays, shoppers stroll Burlington’s Pine Street with their haul from the farmers market: fresh bunches of kale, iced lattes, juicy berries in blue-green cartons. But you might also catch them coming from a different kind of market with some unexpected sartorial scores: a patterned wool “grandpa” sweater, a pair of perfectly worn-in Carhartts, a Pulp Fiction tee sporting Uma Thurman’s unbothered expression.

Since 2022, the Burlington Vintage Market has been popping up every other Saturday from June through October just south of the farmers market, on the gravel lot outside the Barge Canal Market antiques store. It makes other appearances, too, including at Foam Brewers in Burlington and the University Mall in South Burlington. Music by the likes of Kendrick Lamar and MF DOOM sets the tone for these secondhand socials, organized by 26-year-old Avery Cyr and brought to life by a network of 40 rotating vendors.

RETAIL

The Burlington Vintage Market draws a bigger buzz with each weekend it runs. At least 1,000 shoppers meander through the Pine Street stalls on any given Saturday, according to Cyr. The energy is infectious — pieces flying off the racks and people sharing excitement over their new-old denim shorts or $5 finds. And these aren’t the only vintage pop-ups in the city: Stu Sporko, 31, hosts the occasional Strange Little Market at various venues, and the Wallflower Collective holds near-monthly flea markets on South Union Street.

Together, these events offer an array of styles and price points that appeal to a broad range of buyers, from college students to locals to visitors ready to spend. Shoppers will find $5 to $10 piles at nearly every stall, as well as rarer pieces: a $70 cherry-red Prada skirt sourced from Japan, say, or a $200 Gunne Sax princessy prairie dress, cult-classic vintage from the later 20th century. The options at pop-ups are seemingly endless. And their proliferation since the pandemic is its own kind of fashion trend.

Worldwide, the secondhand apparel market is expected to grow 127 percent by 2026, to $218 billion, a rate three times faster than the apparel market overall, according to a 2023 study by online resale platform ThredUp. With brick-and-mortar mainstays such as Old Gold, Battery Street

city, resale pop-ups flourish

Jeans, Project Object Vintage and the Vault Collective, Burlington has long been a strong thrifting city. The pop-ups are the clearest sign of an increased demand for secondhand.

Cyr follows in the footsteps of Queen City Bazaar, which once held lively popups at the Barge Canal Market location. Those shut down with the pandemic, and Cyr saw a need to keep the spirit going. “There was a real lack [of] a communal space for vintage clothing in Burlington and greater Vermont,” he explained, emphasizing the community inherent at these events as central to pop-up culture.

On a recent Saturday, Olivia Welford strolled over to the Burlington Vintage Market from the farmers market. New to the pop-up, she was already a fan, appreciating the confluence of people, pieces and prices. “It’s a variety,” she said, holding up a skirt in the mirror, “and you can meet the people who have a specific style.”

These pop-ups connect shoppers with items they “wouldn’t know where to find otherwise,” according to second-time browser Tori McCormack.

Around her, resellers stuffed bags with $60 JNCO jeans and $10 tees alike. The StyleBidder stall, run by Ken Pickart, 32, and Dan Hazard, 33, peddled vintage Ivy League sweaters and crisp button-downs. Nearby, Sporko’s stall carried quite a different collection: Pop culture ruled the racks, all 2010s Twilight tees and anime apparel.

“Sell what you know,” Sporko said, suggesting that success in resale comes down to a mix of knowledge and intuition. To source clothes, he scours sites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, trades with fellow sellers, thrifts constantly at Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores and Goodwill, and even does the occasional dumpster dive on the streets of Burlington. Sporko doesn’t have a car, so he sticks to the immediate area. Others,

such as Pickart and Hazard, road trip across the Northeast, hitting estate sales and thrift stores.

As the former owner of Battery Street Jeans, Sporko said store management took up time that could be better spent scouting deals. And the lease demanded much of his profit.

“Rent is too damn high,” Sporko said, explaining his transition from a brickand-mortar to a pop-up operation. His Strange Little Market has made sporadic appearances throughout the city over the past year, from the lawn of the First Unitarian Universalist Society to Radio Bean nightclub. Its stalls are a mix of vintage finds, altered and handmade items, and artwork.

According to Sporko, pop-ups mitigate sellers’ issues of time and money. Outside of vendor fees, there’s no cost to setting up shop. At events such as the Burlington Vintage Market, run by sellers, there’s an

Burlington Vintage Market

effort to keep fees low, currently $100 per week for a 10-by-10-foot stall. “I try to keep it as accessible as possible,” Cyr explained, noting that overhead fees are often double or even triple that in a larger city such as Boston.

Location matters, too. The foot traffic from the Burlington Farmers Market helps make the pop-up worth vendors’ time. Pickart of StyleBidder pointed out that these secondhand sellers don’t have to pull Church Street boutique shoppers into their storefront; the pop-up populace comes to them.

The Burlington Vintage Market’s Instagram has grown to more than 7,000 followers, an indicator of local interest. “I think it’s gonna continue to grow,” Peyton Ceppetelli, 23, said of the market. He runs Cepp’s Closet with his girlfriend, 22-yearold Hannah Asbury.

Burlington buyers aren’t typically looking for super-old, super-pricey items, Ceppetelli explained. His passion is for pre-World War II-era work wear — think worn-in coveralls and jeans splattered in century-old paint. But he typically saves those items for fairs and the online market, where antiquers pay big bucks for his niche collection. At the pop-ups, Ceppetelli sells affordable tees, along with Carhartts, flannels and quirky sweaters. As he put it: “Stuff you’d expect a Vermonter to wear.”

Organizer Cyr has signs tacked up on his stall that read, “Everything under $25.” The affordability gets old clothes into new hands, rather than the dumpster. In retail, low prices are indicative of fast fashion; in resale, low prices are simply a good deal. This aspect of secondhand is what attracts shopper Welford, who called the clothing industry an “evil business,” referencing sweatshop labor and environmental destruction.

Beyond ethical concerns, shoppers at the Burlington Vintage Market expressed interest in supporting the local community and finding unique fashions. College students make up a large portion of this demographic, but Queen City citizens young and old mill about the market.

This diversity keeps the eclectic mix of sellers in business. There’s room for each to have their own niche, leaving little concern for competition. Many pop-up vendors who travel to bigger cities find the culture in Burlington to be refreshingly friendly.

“Since we all have our own thing, there’s community,” Pickart said. “We know how to look out for each other.” ➆

INFO

Follow @burlingtonvintagemarket, @strangelittlemarket

The

Face to Face

Rod Stewart look-alike who charmed Vermont last December meets the real deal

BY DAN BOLLES • dan@sevendaysvt.com

People have been telling Drew Smith that he looks like Rod Stewart since he was a young, spiky-haired kid growing up in the English countryside. For his entire adult life, fans of the iconic pop star have stopped Smith on the street — and at restaurants and bars and airports — wanting an autograph or a photo. Smith often obliges, even as he insists he’s not the famous singer.

Sometimes people just refuse to believe him. Sometimes they want the photo anyway. And sometimes those encounters take on a life of their own. As Stewart himself once sang, “Every picture tells a story.” The one here marks the epilogue to a winding tale of mistaken identity, journalistic malpractice and great hair.

Last December, Seven Days received a tip that Stewart and his wife, model Penny Lancaster, were visiting Vermont for Christmas. Based on several eyewitness accounts around Addison County, I wrote an online story about the glamorouslooking couple’s afternoon in Vergennes (“Dreaming of a White Christmas, Rod Stewart Visits Vermont, Scores Sweet Leather Jacket,” December 15, 2023), where they hit up thrift stores, ate at 3 Squares Café and inspired the quote of the year from café manager Andrea Lalumiere: “Leather pants on a Thursday is a lot for Vergennes.”

The story went Vermont-viral and was even briefly picked up overseas by a London tabloid.

There was only one problem: It wasn’t Rod Stewart.

On the day he and Lancaster were purported to be in Vergennes, Stewart played a sold-out Christmas concert in Madrid, Spain. The following day, the couple hosted their annual Christmas gala in London. Meanwhile, back in Vermont, a veteran writer and editor saw his journalistic career flash before his eyes.

We quickly published a follow-up post owning up to the mistake [“Someone Like You: Vermont Sightings of Rod Stewart Were False (but Also Awesome),” December 17, 2023]. While my “Maggie mea culpa” offered an explanation for how the error happened, it did little to dampen the attention on “Not Rod” and “Not Penny,” who were just trying to enjoy a holiday in Vermont and maybe have a white

Christmas. They caused a stir wherever they went.

And the question has remained ever since: Who were that mystery couple with the charming British accents?

The married couple are Drew and Angie Smith. They are indeed from England — Dover and Kent, respectively — but currently live in southwestern France. Drew, 67, is an auto mechanic and musician. Angie, 57, is a complementary therapist. They’ve been married for 17 years but have been together much longer. And in June, for the first time, they met the real Rod Stewart.

As they recounted in a July Zoom interview with Seven Days, the couple had seen Stewart, 79, perform a June 25 show at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The next day, they got a tip that he was flying out of the Cologne airport on a private jet

around the same time they were heading home.

“So we took a chance and said, ‘Let’s go and see,’” Drew said. “And lo and behold, there he was, just sitting in an armchair with a couple of his mates.”

“So I walked straight up to him — nobody stopped me,” Angie recalled. “And I said, ‘I just wanted to say that we saw you last night, and you were fantastic.’” Then she gestured to her partner: “And this is my husband, Drew.”

Stewart turned to Drew and quipped, “Nice hair, mate.”

The Smiths chatted briefly with the singer before posing for a picture.

“I was dead chuffed to have a photo,” Drew said. “Made my day.”

“It was his dream,” Angie added.

A representative of Stewart in the United Kingdom confirmed last week that

Stewart and the couple did meet and take a photo together at the Cologne airport in June.

Drew has wanted to meet Stewart since starting to learn his songs on guitar as a kid, he said. Yes, he does play a handful of Stewart’s tunes with his two bands, an acoustic trio called the Fingersmiths and a classic-rock band, Rat Salad. In fact, he performed Stewart’s 1975 hit “Sailing” at a 2017 New Year’s Eve show with the German band Bläck Fööss — at the same Cologne arena Stewart played in June, no less.

CELEBRITIES

Drew said he was once asked to front a Stewart tribute band but declined.

“It’s too cheesy,” he said, wincing.

While Drew’s artistic integrity is admirable, he may be missing out on a lucrative calling given his eerie resemblance to the “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” singer. Drew said he’s been told he looks like Stewart since he was 13 or 14. People mistake him for the pop star all the time.

“Everywhere we go, people want a photo,” Angie said.

The couple said the misguided celeb treatment can sometimes be overwhelming, though it occasionally has perks. A few years ago, Drew and Angie were in Prague for another Stewart concert and went out to dinner. Shortly after being seated at a table, a manager approached and asked if they wanted to move to a much nicer, more private section of the restaurant.

“It was like, Wait a minute. What’s going on here?” Drew said.

At the same restaurant, a group of American women were convinced Drew was Stewart, despite his protestations.

“The only way I could get them to leave was to sign something,” Drew said.

When the couple left the restaurant, Drew looked across the street. “And I said, excuse my French, ‘We’re fucked.’” Across from the restaurant was a throng of paparazzi, armed with cameras. “They followed us all around Prague,” Drew said. As it turns out, I wasn’t the first journalist to confuse Stewart and Drew. Later that night, Drew said, “We were on the evening news.”

The Smiths said they were as charmed by Vermont as Vermont was by them, praising the people, scenery and beer. The couple were here for just over three

Rod Stewart (left) with Drew and Angie Smith

weeks and visited every corner of the state, following a detailed itinerary Angie devised from a Vermont travel book — Burlington to Middlebury to Stowe to the Northeast Kingdom and

STEWART TURNED TO DREW AND QUIPPED, “NICE HAIR, MATE.”

beyond, in vain search of a white Christmas. They chose the Green Mountain State because Angie’s “addicted to Christmas,” she said, and all of their favorite TV Christmas movies are set in Vermont.

But as the trip wore on and a certain article made the rounds, the Smiths’ relaxing Christmas vacation took on a different tone. A friend sent them the Seven Days story, and the couple “just got more and more and more and more” attention, Drew said.

And that’s when they bumped into Anthony Hopkins — or rather, a Hopkins look-alike.

At a party at the Middlebury Snowbowl in Hancock, Drew and Angie met a man who bore a striking resemblance to the famous actor. Perhaps commiserating with Drew’s plight, the man later posted

a plea on social media for Vermonters to leave the couple alone. They did not.

Throughout their vacation, the couple were hounded by people thinking they were Stewart and Lancaster. Even after the Seven Days follow-up clarifying that they weren’t the famous couple, the Smiths were still bombarded by locals and tourists who wanted a photo with “Not Rod.”

“That’s the part I couldn’t get over,” Drew said. “People still wanting photos with me when they know I’m not Rod Stewart.”

For the most part, though, the couple rolled with it.

“We weren’t cross at all,” Angie said. “It was quite funny for us, and as long as [people] were getting joy out of us being there, then we’re happy.”

Now having met Stewart, Drew understands why the confusion persists — and likely always will. “We really do look very similar,” he said.

“It’s quite uncanny,” Angie agreed. “Separated at birth.”

After the Smiths bid Stewart goodbye, they walked back out into the airport and encountered an excited Stewart fan.

“This bloke came running up and asked me to sign something,” Drew recalled, adding that a member of Stewart’s entourage witnessed the scene and was “killing himself laughing.”

“And I said, ‘No, mate, I’m not him.’” ➆

Drew Smith at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, on New Year’s Eve 2017

food+drink

Switching It Up

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Switchback Brewing goes ale in on new beer garden and tap house in Burlington

For its first 10 years, Switchback Ale was only available on draft. When the unfiltered flagship beer from Burlington’s Switchback Brewing finally made its way into 22-ounce bottles in 2012, people went nuts.

The local staple ale hasn’t changed much — it made the news again in 2015, when it came out in stubby six-packs of blue-labeled bottles — but the brewery itself has changed more than a casual fan may realize. Employee-owned since cofounders Bill Cherry and Je Neiblum sold the company to its workers in 2017, Switchback is starting another new era: one that involves running a restaurant. Switchback’s Beer Garden & Tap House held its grand opening on July 12, anchoring the biz firmly in its South End spot. While Switchback opened a tucked-away tasting room in 2014, the new 20-tap bar is on a

much more visible side of the 120-year-old brick building. With more than twice the space indoors and an extensive outdoor patio, the tap house gives the team space to show o what else they can do.

“It’s reflective of what Switchback is now,” plant engineer Gretchen Langfeldt said. “Ale and a lot of other things.”

Everything’s bigger, even the pretzels. Those jumbo Bavarian-style twists are served dangling on a hook, and they’re roughly one and a half times the size of a toddler’s head, according to my measurements.

The pretzels are one of a few items customers will recognize from the former tasting room, which was hidden behind

the brewery and only visible to drivers and walkers continuing down Flynn Avenue to Oakledge Park. It had a dedicated following for its McKenzie hot dogs — and for actual dogs, which were welcome inside.

Because the new Beer Garden & Tap House has a full kitchen, dogs (other than service animals) are only allowed outside in the beer garden. But the Switchback team now owns the whole property and plans to host “dog parties” there in the future, marketing manager Abbe Carroll said. The former tasting room will also be a venue for private and public events such as dinners with brewery tours, which are not otherwise o ered.

In the new tap house, longtime regulars

will also recognize the McKenzie Switchbrat, an ale-infused bratwurst ($12) that you can top with the same housemade mustard. The rest of the fare, head chef Chris Cantrell said, is all new.

A native of Knoxville, Tenn., and a 2008 New England Culinary Institute grad, Cantrell has cooked all over the country, most recently for Burlington’s Farmhouse Group. At Switchback, he has assembled a German- and Southern-influenced menu of beer food at its best.

Early on a recent Wednesday evening, I stopped in with my family to meet friends headed back from the playground at Oakledge, the aforementioned toddler among them. I know, we’re those bringyour-kid-to-a-brewery people. But the

From left: Chicken Schnitzel Sandy, fries, E-Z Betty Spaghett, BLT and Switchback Ale

IAN DARTLEY

Goodwater Brewery’s Pint & Plate Launches in Williston

In Williston, GOODWATER

BREWERY has a new attraction for hungry patrons. Its full-service restaurant at 740 Marshall Avenue, the PINT & PLATE, has been gearing up for launch since the beginning of the year under the stewardship of front-ofhouse manager ANDY BONNEAU — owner MARTY BONNEAU’s son — and assistant manager and seasoned head chef BARBARA LESLIE. Last month, they officially rolled out their new menu.

industrial park, presents some challenges in attracting people, but Leslie said the taproom’s crew has seen a steady volume of customers since opening their doors after a renovation. The new dining area is spacious and cool — think high tables and soaring ceilings.

A veteran of Burlington spots such as SUGARSNAP CATERING and the nowclosed Sweetwaters, Leslie has also

Goodwater’s location, snuggled in an

Barbara Leslie

Andy Bonneau

Beyond Bagels

Myer’s Wood Fired heats up for Friday-night pizzas

BY MELISSA PASANEN pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

In April 2023, Myer’s Bagels became Myer’s Wood Fired when it moved from Burlington’s Pine Street to its new Shelburne Road location, just over the South Burlington border. The name change foreshadowed co-owners Chris Conn and Adam Jones’ plan to expand beyond bagels and more regularly serve the pizza they had offered weekly during summers off and on since 2013.

It took a year, but on May 31, Myer’s officially launched Friday pizza nights, adding a worthy new option to the area’s pizza panoply. Lightly tangy, chewy, blistered crusts provide a satisfying base for toppings that range from classic pepperoni ($20) to the swirls of housemade red sauce, spicy Calabrian vodka sauce, fresh mozzarella and special touch of Myer’s signature Montréal spice that grace the Tie Dye Pie ($22).

The bakery’s Montréal spice takes that city’s classic meat seasoning blend of garlic, black pepper, cayenne, dill and salt and adds seven Italian herbs. It has a long history at Myer’s, and so does pizza, said Jones, 51.

He and Conn, 58, started working there together in 2012 and bought the business from founding owner Lloyd Squires in 2020. Squires had opened the Montréal-style bagel shop in 1996. He named it after his teacher and mentor, Myer Lewkowicz, founder of St-Viateur Bagel — one of two beloved bagel bakeries in Squires’ native Montréal.

According to Jones, Squires made pizzas out of bagel dough in the wee morning hours, aka the late-night hours for college kids who knew he was up and baking at 4 a.m.

Tasty as those probably were after hours of partying, Myer’s bagel dough, which contains no salt or fat, does not make for ideal pizza. The current dough is based on a recipe developed by two Myer’s bakers, Dan Johnson and Ian Price, who took it on as a “pet project” back when Myer’s started summer pizza nights, Jones said. This spring, Conn and Jones contracted with chef Zach Toensing, formerly of Deep City, to create a pizza process for them.

The yeasted dough is made with a blend of high-gluten King Arthur Baking flour and double-zero Italian-style flour, plus extra virgin olive oil and salt. The light tang develops during a 50-hour ferment, Jones explained.

The tomato sauce relies on a brand of crushed tomatoes that Johnson and Price landed on after trying at least a dozen kinds. It also has a touch of Montréal spice.

“That’s our Emeril ‘Bam!’” Jones said. My tastes lean to white pies. I can recommend the mushroom pizza ($22) with the kitchen’s signature blend of mozzarella and aged provolone cheese, plus some fresh ricotta, under chewy, savory roasted mushrooms seasoned well with garlic and basil. Also very good was the Figgy Piggy special ($24), spread with housemade fig preserves, strewn with French brie, then topped with prosciutto, arugula and a generous lacing of balsamic glaze.

Late on a recent Friday afternoon, Conn stoked the fire with kiln-dried hardwood and marshaled a series of pizzas in and out of the oven. The pair said they will add more pizza nights when staffing allows.

To the left of the wood-fired oven, a smaller brick cubby was filled with equipment and large bags of what Conn called “cowboy charcoal.” It was a grill, not yet in use.

“That’s his Christmas present,” Jones quipped, nodding toward his business partner.

Conn plans one day to fire up the unique charcoal-grilled pizzas that he learned to make at the pioneering Al Forno in Providence, R.I., in the late 1980s, after earning his culinary degree from nearby Johnson & Wales University.

Yet another addition to the Burlington area’s pizzapalooza that I can get behind. ➆

INFO

Myer’s Wood Fired, 408 Shelburne Rd., South Burlington, 863-5013, myersbagels.com

Pizza in the oven at Myer’s Wood Fired

Mushroom pizza

Adam Jones and Chris Conn

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS « P.35

worked as a private chef for celebrities, she said.

“We spent so much time on this menu,” she said. “We’ve really put bits and pieces of ourselves into it.” The mac and cheese-filled burger, Off the Grid, was inspired by Leslie’s time working in the Virgin Islands.

But the decision to expand came from owner Bonneau, who decided Williston needed a full-service restaurant to fill its pub void, according to Andy. Before, Goodwater served mostly cold-cut sandwiches. Now, diners can pair their New Day IPA or Hoppy Side of Pale ale with fan-favorite potato skins and pulled-pork and Hawaiian chicken sandwiches.

“We’re excited to establish ourselves as a fully formed place,” Andy said. “We just want to continue shining a light on what we have to offer.”

McKee’s Pub & Grill in Winooski to Close

MCKEE’S PUB & GRILL in Winooski is permanently closing. In a shared social media statement on Friday, owners RYAN JOHNSTON and JAMIE LACOURSE cited increased costs, rising insurance rates and taxes, and issues related to ongoing construction in downtown Winooski as primary reasons for shuttering the East Allen Street bar barely 18 months after they bought it.

“It was my dream to own and operate McKee’s Pub,” the statement read. “That dream has come to an unfortunate end.”

Johnston, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment, started working for the McKee family in 2001; he has owned MCKEE’S ISLAND PUB & PIZZA in South Hero since 2016.

The Winooski pub has been an Onion City staple for more than 35 years. In January 2023, Johnston and Lacourse, his aunt, purchased the bar from LANCE MCKEE, owner of PAPA MCKEE’S PIZZERIA in Richmond, with plans to expand the menu and entertainment offerings. Trouble followed the excitement, however, as sales have since dropped more than 70 percent, according to the statement.

The new owners tried to stop the bleeding by doing away with unprofitable lunches. Trivia and karaoke nights provided a brief lift, but ultimately the pub could not withstand the financial hurdles.

“We had one hell of a first year! We were hoping for another 20!” Johnston and Lacourse wrote. “We played our hand the best we could.”

McKee’s last day of operations will be Saturday, August 17. ➆

CONNECT

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

From left: Ryan Johnston, Lance McKee and Jamie Lacourse

spacious restaurant gave us plenty of room to be chaotic away from other diners.

A friendly server stopped to take our drink order and pointed us to the counter for food. I ordered a pretzel ($12) and tangy, pickle-brined chicken wings ($16) to share. Two of my dining companions opted for the juicy smash burger ($18), which features Cabot cheddar and Wickles Pickles, one of Cantrell’s nods to his Southern roots (another being Duke’s mayo). I chose the perfectly thin, crispy Chicken Schnitzel Sandy ($18), which came topped with peppers, onions and tomato aioli. The kids were satisfied with the pretzel and bites scavenged from their parents’ plates.

Cantrell plans to change 90 percent of the menu seasonally, both to take advantage of local ingredients and to keep things exciting for the cooks, he said.

“I want the food to reflect the brewery in flavor,” he added. “It’s approachable, but with a little more craft to it.”

SWITCHBACK DIDN’T GET MADE OVERNIGHT, YOU KNOW?

GRETCHEN LANGFELDT

The beer is an ingredient in some of the food, such as the E-Z blond ale-battered zucchini and squash ($14) and the Karsten Premium Lager-infused Cabot cheddar sauce, which is an add-on for the pretzel ($4) or a topping for fries ($14). There’s also E-Z in the broth of the mussels ($18) and, most surprisingly, a Citra Vista lager wort reduction is folded into the Wicked Whoopie Pie filling ($10).

opted for a classic Switchback Ale ($6), which tasted exactly as it always has.

Rime and Reason, a cold IPA — are available at a few places around town. But managing partner Weber has been hoarding Secret Handshake for the new tap house, he said.

“We’re working with the brewers to get byproducts from the brewing process,” Cantrell explained. The wort — the unfermented starter of barley and sugar that kick-starts the yeast — gets reduced to a sort of simple syrup.

“It tastes almost like a sweetened oatmeal,” he said. “It’s got a different earthiness to it.”

The extensive tap lineup had me wishing we could stay for a second drink. It was packed with Switchback’s sleeper hits, including four from the smoky Flynn on Fire series. And it featured two beers from the brewery’s exciting new employee-led side project, Askew Beer.

Appropriately for a brewery, beer is also infused into the short and sweet cocktail menu, which features whiskey and gin from Switchback’s Essential Spirits collaboration with Middlebury’s Appalachian Gap Distillery. Managing partner Josh Weber, who comes to Switchback from Burlington’s Rí Rá Irish Pub and the Whiskey Room, has transformed Zaboo Hazy IPA into a grapefruit-agave paloma, Karsten Premium Lager into a tomatoey michelada with a Tajín rim, and E-Z blond ale into the E-Z Betty Spaghett.

The latter was my drink of choice. A classic Spaghett involves pouring Aperol and lemon juice directly into a Miller High Life bottle; Switchback’s version ($12) had

The Askew tent was a highlight of the recent Vermont Brewers Festival, where I wasn’t the only one buzzing about its Secret Handshake, a grapefruit Kölsch. Started a year ago and supported by the company’s employee stock ownership plan, Askew gives Switchback’s employee-owners a chance to go a little wild, Langfeldt said.

That beer was brewed in collaboration with Waterbury’s Prohibition Pig. The team hopes the new space will give them room to work with other local breweries and businesses, said Amy Lieblein, who handles Switchback’s digital marketing and communications.

“There’s a lot of restrictions when it comes to the Switchback brand and staying true to it,” Carroll added.

Weber wants to celebrate those collaborations, and he hopes a convivial scene will draw folks to the South End’s many breweries — and to Switchback’s new event lawn, visible from next-door Burlington Beer.

“This lets our brewers put all their ideas into the world in easier, smaller batches. It’s the same quality, but it’s not so rigid.”

That grassy area has recently served as an uno cial dog park, but it was a race track in the 1800s when the property was a fairgrounds, before the brick building was erected, Langfeldt explained.

even more flavor (thanks to a better beer) and came blushing pink in a pint glass. My husband, in a “when in Rome” moment,

While brewers Morgan Capron and Tony Morse and director of sales and business development Sean Pagano spearhead Askew, everyone on sta can contribute their own ideas, which are collected on a whiteboard hung up on a cooler. The zanier the better, Langfeldt said, even if they’re not all hits.

As the Champlain Parkway heads into its final stages of construction, it’s a good time to be part of Burlington’s South End — a neighborhood that has grown and changed a lot over the past 22 years.

“And we’ve grown up with it,” Langfeldt said.

“We’ve certainly had some that I was like, ‘Yep, no. Not that,’” she said with a laugh. “That’s the fun part, the experimenting. Switchback didn’t get made overnight, you know?”

Two Askew beers — Askew IPA and

The shiny tap house, accented with classic Switchback blue, is just the right mix of old and new. ➆

Switchback Brewing’s Beer Garden & Tap House, 160 Flynn Ave., Burlington, 651-4114, switchbackvt.com

PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP

Jumbo soft pretzel with housemade mustard and Karsten Premium Lager-infused Cabot cheddar sauce

Josh Weber pouring a Switchback Ale

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The Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival is largely based at Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester, but this Saturday, August 17, it will begin a whirlwind global tour. Over eight days, concerts and talks will explore classical music influenced by folk traditions from South American countries such as Peru and Argentina; Asian locales such as Iran, Azerbaijan and India; Africa’s Madagascar and Nigeria; and a swath of Europe from Hungary to France. A tabla — a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent — will be slapped and marimbas struck, alongside the usual sounds of violin, viola, cello, piano, harp, flute, clarinet and voice.

“Folklore,” the theme of the festival’s 16th season, is an idea Soovin Kim said he “scribbled down in year one.” The violinist founded the festival and is co-artistic director with his wife, pianist Gloria Chien. He described folk traditions as both basic for audiences and central to classical music.

“Folk music is the music that we all know without studying anything,” Kim said. “It’s almost in our bones, I think. And we also learn it from our environment after we’re born. This is really at our core as human beings.”

As musicians, he added, “The influence of folk music on so-called ‘formal’ classical compositions is something that is staring at us every single day. When we’re playing Brahms, we’re constantly trying to think about what folk music influences he had. Also, Bach dances: What is a minuet; what were the steps; how did the body move? This is just all day, every day being a musician.”

Some of the programming is expected for a folk-themed festival, including Johannes Brahms’ ever-popular Romainspired Hungarian Dances (1869); Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 4 (1890), echoing Bohemian and Czech folk music; and two works by Béla Bartók, who recorded disappearing Hungarian and Romanian peasant songs on a phonograph in the early 1900s.

Other music may be “unfamiliar” to audiences, Kim said. The second concert, “Stories From Asia,” at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne, features Japanese children’s songs and Korean folk songs, both played on a marimba; “Rhythms of India” played on a tabla — one of the world’s most difficult instruments to master, according to festival notes; and a 2019 piece for violin and tabla by Indian American composer Reena Esmail.

Because folk music is often learned in childhood and helps form identity, much of the program is “very personal,” Kim said.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

That’s All Folk

e Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival embraces one of classical music’s global influences

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

The most personal moment of the festival may well be an opening-day talk by Kim’s father, Jin Kim, titled “The Power of Folklore.” The elder Kim was born in Korea and is a professor emeritus of communication studies at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

When Kim first asked his father to speak, he protested, Kim recalled with a laugh. “He said, ‘I don’t know anything about music.’” They eventually arrived at a subject Jin could feel comfortable talking about: “how Korean folk traditions and intercultural communication have shaped the experience of his children, grandchildren and American popular culture,” according to the festival program.

Such a presentation makes sense only at Kim and Chien’s Vermont festival, Kim said, “because of this lifelong relationship so many of our audience have had with us, and with my parents.” The couple are also co-artistic directors of Chamber Music Northwest in Portland, Ore., and Chien founded String Theory, a chamber music series in Chattanooga, Tenn. But Kim played for the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association while growing up in Plattsburgh, N.Y., and his parents have attended every festival.

Kim added, “My father also happens to be a great speaker. He’s going to steal the show.”

Marimba player Ji Hye Jung’s performance will also be personal. Jung was born in Korea, moved to the U.S. at 19 to attend the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University and lives in Nashville, where she directs the percussion program at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. She’ll play selections from Korean Songs for Marimba , a collection of 10 études that she cowrote with a friend. Jung’s inspiration was her daughter, who is now 6, she said, and to whom she used to sing one of the songs regularly.

Like Kim, Jung was not from a musical family. She first heard a marimba in kindergarten at age 4. “I would lie on the ground and feel the resonance of this instrument,” she recalled; she dedicated herself to it at age 11.

Jung will play a modern concert version of the instrument, with a rosewood keyboard and aluminum resonators, that’s very di erent from the centuries-old marimbas of Colombia and parts of Africa, she said. The program’s other marimba player, Keiko Abe, 87, a Japanese composer and performer, developed the instrument’s now-standard five-octave range.

The festival is called “Folklore” rather than “Folk Music” for a reason: Many

Sandeep Das playing the tabla

Soovin Kim and Gloria Chien

other folk arts influenced the programmed works. American composer Gabriela Lena Frank, for example, whose mother is of Peruvian and Chinese heritage, based “Cinco Danzas de Chambi for Viola and Piano” (2006) on photographs by Martín Chambi (1891-1973), a Peruvian who spent his life photographing Indigenous traditions and celebrations. Argentinean-born composer Pablo Ortiz set his compatriot Maria Negroni’s poems to music in “Los Cementerios de Paris,” for soprano and piano. Both works will be played in the opening-day Spotlight Concert.

Not all folk influences go back to the source. For instance, Maurice Ravel based

FOLK MUSIC IS THE MUSIC THAT WE ALL KNOW WITHOUT STUDYING ANYTHING. IT’S ALMOST IN OUR BONES.

SOOVIN KIM

his Chansons madécasses (1925-1926) on fellow Frenchman Évariste de Parny’s poems, which were Eurocentric interpretations of folk songs from Madagascar. When is a folk influence a romanticized appropriation? The festival’s resident composer, David Serkin Ludwig, will address this issue during his series of three talks, “Inside Pitch.” Ludwig’s piece “Berakhah” (2020), for solo clarinet, will be played at a concert titled “East to West” and derives its melodies from Jewish cantorial practices.

The Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival has such a high level of programming and musicianship that it has generated outsize expectations among attendees — the numbers of which surpassed pre-pandemic levels last year. Speaking off the record recently, some audience members said this year’s theme didn’t excite them.

Kim, however, noted that he hears similar comments every year. “Then they come, and they say, ‘Wow, how are you going to top this next year?’” ➆

INFO

Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival: “Folklore,” Saturday, August 17, through Sunday, August 25, at Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester and other Chittenden County locations. $5-45; some events are free. lccmf.org

Bennington College Rescues University of the Arts Dance Programs

BY ERIK ESCKILSEN

Following the sudden closure of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts in June, Bennington College has enrolled 37 undergraduate and 28 graduate students formerly in UArts dance programs. The arrangement enables the students to continue their studies as planned in new BFA and low-residence MFA programs that will run alongside Bennington’s BA program in dance.

Donna Faye Burchfield, former dean of the UArts School of Dance, will direct the new programs at the small Vermont liberal arts college. She recalled that news broke about UArts’ closure with about one week’s notice, just as the school was poised to send MFA dance students to a residency in France.

“I had the wind in the sails, ready to go, but suddenly we had no university,” Burchfield said. “So, you can imagine how fast this had to happen.”

Burchfield reached out to Shelton Walker, who was then chief of staff and vice president for strategic initiatives at Bennington College — a role similar to one she had held at UArts. Walker set up a meeting with Bennington president Laura Walker (no relation). “We began to talk about a way to quite literally rescue those programs and imagine them anew,” Burchfield said.

Those conversations — buoyed by a $1 million donation from Barbara and Sebastian Scripps, $250,000 from the Ford Foundation, and additional funds from the Transformational Partnerships

Fund, according to a Bennington College press release — created a path forward for UArts dance students. They applied and were admitted to Bennington, said Jeffrey Perkins, the college’s vice president of communications and marketing. In an email, he added that the college also committed to matching students’ costs to attend.

Longtime Bennington prof Dana Reitz, a choreographer, dancer and visual artist, noted that college faculty and curriculum developers have also worked to preserve UArts’ BFA courses “so the students aren’t so freaked out about having to change everything,” she said. Still, Reitz added, “They’re calling it ‘study abroad.’”

A key component in making the academically displaced students feel at home will be the availability of 14 UArts faculty, by Burchfield’s estimate, to teach them. Varied scheduling models, such as co-teaching and short-term residencies, will “accommodate all that complexity in terms of [allowing faculty to maintain] their livelihood and also their connection to their students,” Reitz said.

Burchfield agreed that such continuity is vital to the student experience. “[The students], too, had a dream about their own futures. With dancers, a lot of that gets woven into who they’re studying with,” she said. “We designed [the program] so that students can still see their beloved faculty.”

What’s more, the BFA program in Bennington is designed to lead back to Philadelphia and a potential Bennington

satellite campus there in 2025. The approaching academic year will buy time “to imagine a way to get us back to Philadelphia … and how that impacts and intermingles with the way that our school had been running,” Burchfield said.

When the semester kicks off, two prestigious dance programs will move in concert — and in contrast. Reitz observed that the UArts curriculum has stressed technical training to a different degree than Bennington’s, which is marked by interdisciplinarity and an emphasis on making new work. The BFA and BA students may have opportunities to collaborate on dance pieces and take each other’s courses. “It’ll be interesting to see how those things feed each other,” Reitz said.

For Burchfield, the dynamic is alive with possibility. “That in-between is where the kind of magic exists,” she said. “It’s going to be like a kind of alchemy where the potential is huge for what can happen.”

Burchfield’s optimism may owe something to her past tenure as dean of the prestigious American Dance Festival in North Carolina, which has roots in Bennington’s legendary summer dance program. Images of Bennington’s pioneering program, which launched in 1934, adorned her office walls.

“History wrapped itself around a possible future,” she said of the next steps. Or, as she has been reassuring the former UArts students, “It’s not just anywhere. It’s Bennington.” ➆

INFO

Learn more at bennington.edu.

BACKTOSCHOOL

Donna Faye Burchfield and Laura Walker

Light My Fire

Since 2019, Burlington Burn Club has been lighting up the night and sparking a scene. During the warm months, fire spinners and “Burners” connected to the Burning Man festival trade skills and build community at the Battery Park band shell in Burlington. A few people artfully dance with flaming Hula-Hoops and clubs, sometimes tossing them high into the air, delighting onlookers. Members of the collective share props and fuel and aim to inspire newcomers.

The group emphasizes safety at all times and has a permit from the Burlington Fire Department for its outdoor burns. Anyone is welcome to watch or participate, but those under 18 need a parent’s permission to spin fire.

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger met up with the crew on a sweltering Wednesday evening to see fire spinning in action. She even borrowed some flaming

props and gave it a whirl — after signing a waiver.

Burlington Burn Club’s remaining outdoor burns at the band shell this year are on August 21; September 4 and 18; and October 2, 16 and 23, from 7 to 10 p.m. The group holds fire-free indoor spin jams at Aikido of Champlain Valley from December through early May.

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.

What drew you to Burlington Burn Club?

THERE IS SOMETHING SO ELEMENTAL ABOUT HUMANS’ LOVE OF FIRE.

very safety-conscious. Everyone signs a waiver, and there is no smoking or alcohol allowed. There is also someone standing by at all times with a Kevlar blanket to extinguish the flames.

I was advised to start slow, with small props. I spent some time playing with various items that were not on fire to see which felt best. I settled on a pair of small sticks that are generally used by fire swallowers. They had little loops at the end and were easy to make circles with. From the moment I set them on fire, I felt completely present and aware. My fire-spinning session probably only lasted five minutes, but it felt meditative, and I found my flow.

Was everyone there a pro?

I met experienced fire spinners and people relatively new to the art. Two young women tried out flaming Hula-Hoops and looked really comfortable with them. The organizers showed them how to fuel up and spin carefully. Justin Quenneville has been juggling balls for a few years but only recently started juggling burning clubs; Sandoval is mentoring him. And not everyone spins fire — some people just come to watch and enjoy the show.

What is a fire kiss?

In the video, Kayla “Maple” Steen shows us a spot on her elbow that was “kissed” by fire — a burn. First it was blackened from her prop; later it turned red and bumpy. She said a lot of fire spinners don’t have any arm hair left, and I can see why. It’s amazing how fearless they are with their flaming props.

fire spinning and other movement-based disciplines, so the club attracts a wide variety of artists. Ethan Fontneau is a dancer and athlete, Maïz Vargas Sandoval is a former circus performer from Costa Rica who fronts the local band Mal Maïz, Elise Turcketta designs fire-safe clothing for spinning, and Will Jeffries enjoys contra and swing dancing. All of them use a variety of props and di erent movements to find their flow. And the best part is that they are all very welcoming and happy to share their knowledge. The group does ask for donations to pay for fuel and the space rental.

How can people outside Burlington see these artists?

There is something so elemental about humans’ love of fire. It provides warmth, sustenance and entertainment. I love sitting around a campfire and watching the stars. I made a video back in 2014 about a winter burn at Chris and Kim Cleary’s home in Jericho Center. It was very magical watching a large wooden sculpture go up in flames that frigid evening. Burlington doesn’t permit open fires, which made me very curious about the Burn Club.

How was your experience spinning fire?

is seems like an eclectic club. The flow arts encompass dance, juggling,

I must admit, I was a little nervous about trying this for myself. But this crew is

The group’s videographer, Joshua Miner, posts videos of the burns to Facebook and Instagram (@burlingtonburnclub). But it’s more fun to be there in person and watch the sun go down over the lake as flames are tossed high in the air. As night fell, I couldn’t help but think of our ancestors, who were also drawn to fire and gathered together for safety. There was something mesmerizing and memorable about the evening that stuck with me weeks later.

spinners find their flow at Battery Park

Episode 721: Burlington Burn Club

Elise Turcketta spinning fire at Burlington Burn Club

Vermont Folklife to Sell Its Middlebury Building

BY HANNAH FEUER • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont Folklife, a nonprofit that documents Vermont’s culture and history primarily through audio recordings, plans to sell the Middlebury building that has served as its headquarters since 2006.

Contributing to the decision to sell were high maintenance costs for the historic building, greater emphasis on having a statewide presence and the rise in remote work, according to executive director Kate Haughey.

Built in the early 1800s, the John Warren House at 88 Main Street has undergone multiple restorations, including a $1.4 million project with funding from Preservation Trust of Vermont in 2007. Devoting resources to maintaining the building ultimately wasn’t in service of the organization’s mission, Haughey said.

“Surely, there are other people around who could be much better stewards than we are of a historic building,” she said. “[The sale] represents a shift in our priorities and our commitment to really being in collaboration with communities across the state.”

The nonprofit had already de-emphasized its on-site programming, closing its Middlebury gallery in spring 2020. Instead of reopening after the pandemic, the center brought its exhibits to cultural institutions around the state, from the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum.

Traveling exhibits include “The Golden Cage,” photos of and interviews with Vermont dairy farmers and Mexican migrant workers; “Voices of Home,” audio recordings and painted portraits that explore the experiences of Vermonters living in affordable housing; and “Pride

1983,” interviews with those who participated in Burlington’s first Pride march.

More challenging to relocate is a vast collection of photographs, manuscripts and audio recordings stored in the Middlebury building’s basement — what Haughey describes as “the collective memory of the state.”

Vermont Folklife intends to negotiate with the building’s buyers to keep the collection in Middlebury until a new storage solution is secured. The archives require 1,200 square feet of climate-controlled space, ideally maintained at 65 degrees with 40 percent relative humidity.

“We’re definitely open to creative ideas,” Haughey said. “We want to ensure people know that we’re not gonna just move it anywhere; we want to be careful stewards.”

Vermont Folklife has been based in Middlebury since its founding in 1984. Its prior locations include the Gamaliel Painter House and Masonic Hall, both on Court Street in Middlebury.

Its employees will continue to operate on a hybrid basis out of a small office space at 74 Main Street in Burlington, which is not open to the public. Haughey stressed that despite having a physical office in Burlington, the organization’s focus remains statewide.

“We found it a lot more effective to be meeting people where they are, rather than expecting them to come to us,” Haughey said. “That’s no different in Burlington than it was in Middlebury.” ➆

Learn more at vtfolklife.org.

Last year, Vermonters threw away 71,113 tons of food scraps which ended up in our only landfill.

Equal to 242 pounds of food scraps per person per year.

CSWD’s Organic Recycling Facility (ORF) and our six Drop-Off Centers accept food scraps from residents and businesses to keep them out of Vermont’s only landfill.

For information scan or visit cswd.net/a-to-z/food-scraps

88 Main Street in Middlebury

on screen

Cuckoo ★★★★

My grandparents are Swiss, so I can attest that cuckoo clocks are inherently unsettling devices, especially when the little bird wakes you from a sound sleep with its whirring cries of “Cuc-KOO!” But they’re particularly disturbing in Cuckoo, the second feature from German director Tilman Singer. This art-house piece of Alpine horror, shot on 35mm film, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and is playing at the Majestic 10 in Williston and Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas in Burlington as of press time.

REVIEW

The deal

Still grieving her mom, 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer of “Euphoria”) isn’t happy about being forced to accompany her dad (Marton Csokas), stepmother (Jessica Henwick) and halfsister (Mila Lieu) to a run-down resort in the Bavarian Alps. The couple are building a new hotel for resort owner Herr König (Dan Stevens), an odd fellow who plays bird calls on a flute and cautions Gretchen against nocturnal wanderings.

Gretchen takes a job at the resort’s front desk, where she learns that women who stay in the honeymoon cottage (known as the Lovers’ Nest) have a tendency to become violently ill. When she disobeys Herr König’s instructions and bikes home at night, something chases her. Mysterious shrieks and vibrations rend the clean mountain air. Her half-sister, who communicates using sign language, begins having seizures. Gretchen is already plotting her escape, but the local wildlife may have other plans for her.

Will you like it?

Cuckoo is the rare movie whose name is also the best descriptor for it. While it lacks the emotional impact that gives the best horror films staying power, its sheer kookiness makes it a fun watch.

Viewers will inevitably compare Singer’s film to Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs, the horror hit of the summer, because both have more style than substance. But what style! Like Longlegs, Cuckoo boasts a decidedly retro aesthetic. The use of cellphones, however, indicates that this movie takes place not in the past but just in a corner of the world where home décor hasn’t been updated in decades. Where

Longlegs is elegantly monochrome, Cuckoo is all saturated hard-candy hues. Paul Faltz’s cinematography brings out shades of mint green and Pepto Bismol pink as only real film can do, activating all our nostalgia pleasure centers.

Thanks to the immaculate production design, Cuckoo plays like Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel if it were a creature feature. In an early, well-paced scene, an unseen something follows Gretchen into a public restroom, where even the grimy tiles speak eloquently of a getaway that’s seen better days.

Also Anderson-esque is Stevens’ mannered performance as the master of this demented domain. As he showed in The Guest and the recent Abigail, the “Downton Abbey” actor has a fl air for campy villainy. Here, neither his German accent nor his character’s motivations hold up to scrutiny, but every imperious line reading is entertaining. When Herr König describes himself as a “preservationist,” that’s all you need to know about the roots of his behavior: He’s the monstermovie equivalent of an obsessed birder, and no mere human will stand in his way.

Cuckoo is essentially a duel between König and Gretchen, with most of the other characters sketched in bold strokes. Singer has assembled a memorable cast and given it little to do other than look

creepy, but Schafer’s performance as a surly, bristling teen e ectively anchors the film. Gretchen isn’t interested in tugging on anyone’s heartstrings; her initial plan is to empty the hotel’s cash register and light out for Paris. Given that she’s trapped in a Lynchian backwater and menaced by Cronenbergian horrors on top of weathering the pangs of everyday grief, we can’t blame her.

Gretchen is out of place in her father’s family, much like the eggs that cuckoos lay in other birds’ nests to hatch, cunningly outsourcing the nurturance of their o spring. Viewers who have some familiarity with the brood parasitism of European cuckoos and the metaphor of the “cuckoo’s egg” will find the story more logically coherent than those who don’t. But “logic” and “coherence” are relative terms here. The menace in Cuckoo protects and perpetuates itself by deranging human beings’ senses, sending them into dizzy time loops, and Singer clearly aims to do the same to the viewer — with some success.

But is Cuckoo just outré, or is it scary? Mileage will vary. I got genuine chills from scenes such as the one in which Gretchen, pedaling home at night, glances back and realizes she’s followed by a shadow that isn’t her own. Your reaction to the movie may depend on whether you can laugh at

absurdities without losing your healthy dread of them. Never send to know for whom the cuckoo tolls; it tolls for thee.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

LUZ (2018; AMC+, Philo, Tubi, rentable): Singer’s low-budget first feature, a horror film about a cab driver fleeing a possessed woman, received mixed reviews along with attention for its oddness.

A CURE FOR WELLNESS (2016; rentable): If, like me, you’re a fan of the tiny subgenre of Alpine horror, you’ve probably already seen Gore Verbinski’s wild folly set in a spa in the Swiss Alps, which kicked Mia Goth’s career as a scream queen into high gear.

TYFELSTEI: AN ALPINE HORROR TALE (2014; Prime Video): A young man survives a car crash only to find himself stranded in a creepy mountain village in this low-budget folk horror film from Switzerland. For yet more Alpine scares, read omas Olde Heuvelt’s 2022 novel Echo.

All is not well in a rustic Bavarian resort in Tilman Singer’s retro-styled horror flick.

NEW IN THEATERS

ALIEN: ROMULUS: In this “interquel” set between the events of Alien and Aliens, young colonists get a nasty surprise when they explore an abandoned space station. Fede Alvarez (Don’t Breathe) directed the sci-fi horror flick, starring Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. (119 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Sunset)

DIDI: Sean Wang’s coming-of-age comedy-drama follows a Taiwanese American boy in his last month before the start of high school. Izaac Wang and Joan Chen star. (93 min, R. Roxy)

MY PENGUIN FRIEND: A rescued penguin brings new joy to the life of a disenchanted fisherman in this family drama from director David Schurmann, starring Jean Reno and Adriana Barraza. (97 min, PG. Savoy)

STREE 2: A team of friends must save a town from a “terrifying headless entity” in this Hindi comedyhorror film directed by Amar Kaushik. (147 min, NR. Majestic)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIEHH1/2 Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as maverick Miami police officers in this action-comedy. (115 min, R. Sunset)

BORDERLANDSH1/2 A motley crew (including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Jamie Lee Curtis) races to save a missing girl in this sci-fi action flick based on the video game. Eli Roth directed. (102 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

CUCKOOHHHH Ready for some Alpine horror? Hunter Schafer plays a teen who suspects bad things are happening at the mountain resort where her dad works in this chiller from Tilman Singer (Luz). (102 min, R. Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 8/14)

DANCE FIRSTHH1/2 Fionn O’Shea and Gabriel Byrne play avant-garde author Samuel Beckett in this biographical drama from director James Marsh (The Theory of Everything). (100 min, NR. Savoy)

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Two superheroes — one unkillable, one un-shut-up-able — team up in the latest Marvel flick, starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Emma Corrin. Shawn Levy (Free Guy) directed. (127 min, R. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Playhouse, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

DESPICABLE ME 4HH1/2 Gru Jr. joins the lovable villain’s family in the fourth installment of the animated family franchise, with the voice talents of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Joey King. (95 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset)

GREEN BORDERHHHH1/2 The humanitarian crisis in Belarus brings together Syrian refugees and other displaced people in this award-winning drama from Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa). (152 min, NR. Catamount, Savoy)

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYONH1/2 This “sequel” to the beloved picture book imagines the adult life of a boy who can draw things into reality. Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery and Zooey Deschanel star. (92 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Stowe, Welden)

HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS: In this award-winning absurdist action comedy, set in the 19th century, a drunk applejack salesman (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) faces off against … hundreds of beavers. Mike Cheslik directed. (108 min, NR. Savoy)

INSIDE OUT 2HHH1/2 The anthropomorphized emotions from Pixar’s animated hit are back. With Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black. (96 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Sunset)

IT ENDS WITH USHH1/2 Blake Lively plays a florist struggling to avoid repeating her family’s pattern of abusive relationships in this adaptation of the Colleen Hoover bestseller. With Justin Baldoni (who also directed) and Jenny Slate. (130 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Welden)

KNEECAPHHHH A Belfast-based hip-hop trio raps in the Irish language in this comedy-drama from director Rich Peppiatt, starring Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provaí as themselves. (105 min, R. Roxy)

LONGLEGSHHH1/2 An FBI agent (Maika Monroe) chases a serial killer with disturbing connections to her in this horror film from Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter), with Nicolas Cage and Blair Underwood. (101 min, R. Paramount, Sunset; reviewed 7/17)

THELMAHHHH A nonagenarian (June Squibb) seeks vengeance on a phone scammer in this action-comedy from debut director Josh Margolin. (97 min, PG-13. Catamount [ends Thu])

TRAPHHH Attending a pop star’s concert can be murder in this serial killer thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, starring Josh Hartnett and Hayley Mills. (105 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Stowe; reviewed 8/7)

TWISTERSHHH Two competing teams of storm chasers harness their ambitions to Oklahoma’s tornados. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos star. Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) directed. (117 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 7/31)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

BABETTE’S FEAST (Catamount, Wed 14 only)

CORALINE: 15TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Thu only)

INCREDIBLES 2 (Catamount, Thu only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA ENCORE: PORGY AND BESS (Essex, Wed 14 only)

PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY (Playhouse, Sat only)

TWISTER (Sunset)

OPEN THEATERS

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

BETHEL DRIVE-IN: 36 Bethel Dr., Bethel, 728-3740, betheldrivein.com (temporarily closed)

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

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

*CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com

CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org

*ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com

MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com

MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net

*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

RAISE THE BARN!

Concert Series

Help us restore the Knoll Farm barn and make refuge for another century!

Tickets available at knollfarm.org/music 4t-KnollFarm073124 1

Pick from 25 fun civics activities — each one you do is another chance to win the grand prize.

Open to K-8 students who want to learn about and improve their communities. The deadline is September 2, but enter often to qualify for weekly drawings. Win a trip to Washington!

Participating on Primary Day

Noah Hiatt of Addison, age 7, accompanied his mom to their polling place on Primary Election Day for Activity No. 16, Find Your Polling Place. “I helped put the unused ballots in the correct place, and watched my mom put her ballot into the machine,” he wrote.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

“Soft Openings” blooms at new Vergennes gallery K. Grant Fine Art

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

At this stage of the summer, fuchsia bee balm battles goldenrod for a corner of the garden; a mass of plume poppies, with their plate-size leaves, rises 12 feet tall. No flower is exactly a shrinking violet. The same is true of the images in “Soft Openings,” the strong inaugural show at K. Grant Fine Art in Vergennes.

The loosely flower-themed exhibition features works by Arista Alanis, Megan Bogonovich, Cameron Davis, Pamela Fraser and Wylie Garcia. Curator Kristen Grant, 32, grew up in Addison and went to school in Vergennes, which her family has called home for generations. Looking out from the porch of her new business, Grant said, “My grandpa went to high school across the street.”

REVIEW

After spending time in New York and almost a decade in New Orleans, Grant moved back to Vergennes about a year ago with plans to start an art consulting business. She’s happy to be “closer to family, closer to roots,” she said. “It’s just such a beautiful place, and I care about this city.”

In New Orleans, where she was deeply involved in the art community, Grant learned the ropes of running a commercial exhibition space at Martine Chaisson Gallery. Just a few months after Grant returned to Vergennes, local gallery Northern Daughters closed — a big loss for the Little City that left a “void,” she said. A week after her consulting LLC was ocial, artist Ross Sheehan’s studio on Green Street became available.

“It all just felt too good to be true,” Grant said. “They were looking for a gallerist to take over … I was like, ‘I can do that. I want to do that. I love the artists here.’”

Grant’s goal is to show primarily Vermont artists who are emerging, overlooked or doing interesting work without local gallery representation. She aims for an inclusive, welcoming vibe, she said.

She has achieved that with “Soft Openings.” A former carriage house, the gallery has a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams and

I WANTED IT TO BE VIBRANT, LOUD, BRIGHT AND POWERFUL AND POTENT.

KRISTEN GRANT

tilting floorboards that give it historic charm.

Grant is swiftly learning which walls aren’t flat, she said, and not to measure from the floor. She has managed to squeeze in works by all five artists while allowing each of them room to breathe and comfortably hold their own. The gallery is, frankly, adorable. That said, serious

skill and complexity come across in the artworks on display.

Alanis paints with electric colors and patterns, creating 6-by-6-inch worlds that have moments of depth. In “Joy #9,” a sunset reflects on water, blocked by patterns of leaves and (let’s call them) fish, which interrupt the scene yet coax the viewer through it. It’s a contained chaos

that, as the title suggests, is purely joyful. The e ect is even more pronounced in the 30-by-24-inch “The Ocean Isn’t a Color,” which adds dripping paint and broad yellow brushwork to great e ect.

Fraser’s paintings, which also employ a square format but at a larger scale — most are 20 by 20 inches — are thoroughly intriguing, with strange, well-balanced palettes. In “Drama,” she uses two di erent shades of burgundy behind pink and yellow flowers with complementary green highlights that make them pop.

A professor at the University of Vermont, Fraser authored a book on color theory, and that level of investigation comes through in her work. Stylized and flat, her blooms nonetheless have weight. They bend toward each other, resting gently in clusters against saturated backgrounds.

Tension — physical rather than spectrum-based — is even more pronounced in her ceramic sculptures, which are eight inches high. Grant has paired “Rest,” a blue-glazed, flaccid form that barely leans on a more rectilinear volume, with “Rest II,” an orange blob that stands a twinge apart from its smaller, pyramidal companion. Chunky and geometric, Fraser’s ceramics approach anthropomorphism

— as in the charming “Friend,” whose title conjures a whole story involving arrangements of leaning shapes.

The show also features three ceramic sculptures by Bogonovich. These intricate, fragile, cartoonish creations suggest organisms halfway between plants and underwater corals. One spouts a gold, light bulb-shaped appendage; another, mushroomlike growths. These are dangerous flowers.

A dark undercurrent similarly runs through Wiley Garcia’s luscious paintings. Even when presented as still lifes in vases, Garcia’s flowers come across as a blizzard of blossoms sinking into blackness. This aspect is especially apparent in “A Clear Night Sky Reflected in a Garden Puddle,” a 10-by-20-inch vertical painting in which white blooms highlighted with neon green and pink surround glimpses of space. It was the first work Grant hung in the show.

“What I like about it,” she said, “is that the void is the subject.”

Davis’ 50-by-48-inch painting “Lilac Memorial” anchors the show, o ering a wild, green and gold abstract jungle. Carefully drawn passages that recall crinkled leaves play against broad swipes of semitransparent gold paint and bigger oblong shapes. Pinks and turquoises peek out, interspersed with blue and black drips.

So much is going on in this one painting that it almost makes up for the absence of other works by Davis on the wall. Visitors shouldn’t hesitate to ask Grant to see more; when asked, she brought out a portfolio of smaller works on paper whose composition and palette echo and expand on Davis’ large canvas. They would make a great addition to the show, if only there were more walls.

Within a few weeks, Grant has assembled a remarkable first exhibition with a clear and unusual vision. “I wanted an allwomen show to open with, and I wanted it to be a group show,” she said. “I wanted it to be vibrant, loud, bright and powerful and potent, and I think it succeeded in being all of those things.” ➆

Embrace Your Inner Artist

Clockwise from top left: “Lilac Memorial” by Cameron Davis; Kristen Grant; "Drama" by Pamela Fraser; “Rest II” by Pamela Fraser

A Muralist Stops in Morristown on Her Journey to Paint in Every State

BY LEAH KRASON • lkrason@sevendaysvt.com

Cheyenne Renee Marcus has traveled north, south, east and west across the U.S., bestowing vibrant murals on buildings and billboards as she goes. From Twin Falls, Idaho, to Lee, Mass., the 24-year-old is leaving a mark: Her bright color palette and expressive brushstrokes showcase the small towns that inspire her work. Marcus’ eventual goal? “50 in 50,” a mural in each U.S. state by the end of 2025. For her 13th work, Marcus found her place in Morristown, Vt.

The 24-by-8-foot mural will be installed in late August on the exterior of Manufacturing Solutions’ warehouse, next to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. After a Morrisville resident proposed the town on Marcus’ website, the artist connected with River Arts, a local nonprofit that enriches the community through programs ranging from exhibitions to classes to summer camps. River Arts saw an opportunity to combine public art and education, inviting Marcus to spend her week in Vermont not just as a muralist but also as a camp counselor.

CALLS TO ARTISTS

2024 FLOOD RELIEF RESIDENCY: Inspired by Grace Potter’s fundraising musical event, Grand Point North, and in partnership with Vermont Crafts Council, Thea Alvin offers three Vermont artists one week of respite, reclamation and rejuvenation alongside her in her Morrisville studio. Apply at myearthwork.com through August 31.

From August 4 through 11, Marcus taught mural making to a group of young Lamoille County residents. The campers helped her paint the mural on six aluminum panels, which will soon be visible from the rail trail.

“I want the kids at the end to be able to point out … ‘I did those brushstrokes!’” Marcus said.

Her work is centered on community; raised in the small town of Covington, Va., Marcus recognizes the roots that develop in tiny, tight-knit places. She began painting at age 13 with encouragement from her grandmother and by her late teens was selling her art on the farmers market circuit, where she saw for herself the ties that hold small towns together. The mural project is an opportunity for Marcus to mesh her appreciation of rural America with her artistry. She is also filming a documentary of her journey, which she said will “highlight the community members” at each stop.

Working with local kids strengthens the place-based aspect of her painting, as their ideas and talents make it into the mural. Through the project, the campers learned to work on a large scale, got their hands dirty and gave Marcus their input as Vermonters.

“It will be cool to see everything put together with our creative touches,” said camper Olive Mahnke, 14, whose parents own Minemå gallery in Johnson.

Elias Burke, 12, was excited to brag to his friends about the finished product, which depicts the historic railway that once connected small towns across the Northeast. “That’s why these towns are here, because of the railway system,” River Arts executive director Stephanie

ARTS SO WONDERFUL MURAL: Seeking artists to design and help paint multiple murals in the alley. Painters and community members welcome to join; designers can contact Arts So Wonderful via email. Thorsen Way, Burlington, Saturday, August 17, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Info, artssowonderful2@gmail.com.

BRIGHT IDEAS PROJECT APPLICATIONS

NOW OPEN: Apply to earn up to $8,000 to bring your New Year’s Eve event to life at Highlight,

Drews-Sheldon said, “so I love that the mural harkened back to that.”

The railroad winds through Green Mountain scenery that Marcus said she simply couldn’t leave out of the tribute to rural Vermont. Per the campers’ insights, the mural includes some red clover, the Vermont state flower. Marcus has worked with a variety of groups across the country to get her murals up, from arts organizations to chambers of commerce. In Morrisville, the community has gathered behind her work. In addition to River Arts’ help producing the mural and Manufacturing Solutions’ donation of a site, the project was supported by town funding, the Morrisville Alliance for Culture and Commerce, and the Country Home Center, a small business that supplied painting tools.

“It’s like a stone soup,” Drews-Sheldon said.

Marcus’ mural shows a deep gratitude for small towns and what their communities can accomplish. Of the Vermonters who have supported her, she said, “their encouragement and excitement makes me feel like I’m in the right place. ➆

Learn more at cheyennerenee.com and riverartsvt.org.

Burlington’s official NYE celebration. Apply online at highlightbtv.org. BCA Center, Burlington, through September 10. Info, bca@burlingtoncityarts.org.

‘SCAFFOLD’: Inviting proposals for a unique site-specific exhibition. As we repair our gallery flooring, we’re thinking creatively about how to utilize the historic mill building to its fullest potential. Apply at avagallery.org. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon N.H., through October 1. Info, info@avagallery.org.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

CHIP HAGGERTY: “We Just Came for the Pizza,” colorful paintings with words and images on paper bags. Parker Pie, West Glover, through September 10. Info, 525-3366. HOWARD

PUBLIC ART

From left: Cheyenne Renee Marcus with her mural for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail at River Arts in Morrisville; campers helping with the mural

engaged in healing. Flynndog Gallery, Burlington, through September 30. Info, artscollective@howardcenter.org.

JOANN DINICOLA AND CHRIS JONES: Paintings that portray a subject’s personality, and abstract works inspired by icons of saints, respectively. ART, etc., Randolph, through September 28. Info, 279-5048.

SIENNA MARTZ: “Echoes of Earth,” an exhibition of abstract textile sculptures that address dissonance between humanity and nature. Reception: Thursday, August 15, 5-8 p.m. Soapbox Arts, Burlington, August 15-September 28. Info, info@soapboxarts.com.

HANNAH HARVESTER: Landscapes in oils and soft pastels. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, August 17-November 17. Info, 387-0102.

CYNTHIA CHRISTENSEN: Detailed marker and pen drawings representing beings of land, sea and sky. Espresso Bueno, Barre, August 20-September 24. Info, 479-0896.

JANE DAVIES: “Re-Assembly,” a collection of new abstract mixed-media paintings by the Rupert artist. Reception: Thursday, August 22, 5-6:30 p.m. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, Middlebury, August 16-September 29. Info, 458-0098.

ART EVENTS

‘ COME AND GET IT!’: An online and in-person auction of more than 50 pieces of lost artwork from past shows at SEABA and RL Photo. On August 21 and 22, an additional 100-plus works starting at $5 will be available for bids at instagram. com/seabavt. The Vaults, Burlington, August 14-27. Info, director@seaba.com.

AFTERNOON FOR EDUCATORS: Teachers are invited for a guided tour of current exhibitions, followed by a discussion forum. Participants will receive a certificate of completion that they can submit for 2.5 hours of relicensure credit. Space is limited, and registration is required. Hall Art Foundation, Reading, Thursday, August 15, 2-4:30 p.m. Free; register online by August 9.

CURRENTLY SPEAKING: ‘OVERLOOKED WOMEN IN ART’: A lecture celebrating forgotten female artists, presented by London curator Carrie Scott. The Current, Stowe, Thursday, August 15, 5-6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 253-8358.

ARTIST TALK: SUSAN BREAREY AND DUANE SLICK: The artists discuss their first collaborative exhibit, “The In Between,” along with guest curator DJ Hellerman. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Thursday, August 15, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124. ART OF THE PIG AUCTION: A silent auction to benefit the Brandon Artists Guild and local schools, featuring pig-shaped cutting boards painted by artists. Brandon Town Hall, Friday, August 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, August 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, August 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 247-4956.

ARTIST TALK: VIRGINIA BEAHAN, JIM DOW AND CASSANDRA KLOS: A conversation with the artists about the nature of photography, moderated by Peter Moriarty. BigTown Gallery, Rochester, Friday, August 16, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 565-0324.

DH CHILDREN’S EVENT: SAMUEL NEUSTADT: A special event with Dartmouth Health Children’s guests, in conjunction with the artist’s exhibition, “Across the Road.” Proceeds benefit DH Children’s Oncology. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon N.H., Friday, August 16, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 603-448-3117.

ARTIST TALK: LYNN AUSTIN: A discussion about using vibrant color to portray nature in acrylic and pastel. Brandon Artists Guild, Friday, August 16, 7-8:30 p.m. Info, 247-4956.

GREEN MOUNTAIN WOODCARVERS: The 51st annual exhibition showcasing carving styles, techniques and methods, including demonstrations and soap carving for kids. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, Saturday, August 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 434-2167.

BTV MARKET: Artworks and crafts from a rotating cadre of local creatives. Burlington City Hall Park, Saturday, August 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 865-7166.

‘CYCLES’ INCLUSIVE FAMILY PROGRAMS: Families of children with and without disabilities make art, connect and explore the “Cycles” exhibition. Registration required. All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, West Brattleboro, Saturday, August 17, 1 p.m. Free; register online. Info, 556-3668.

‘THE ILLUMINATED ATRAMENTARIUM SYMPATHETIC MEDICINE SHOW’: An artist talk and magic show focused on Thomas Little’s process of making writing ink from firearms. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, Sunday, August 18, 5-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. Putney Public Library, Tuesday, August 20, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, hello@ insitupolyculture.org.

BIPOC MAKER NIGHTS: WOODWORKING: Hosted in partnership with the Root Social Justice Center, affinity spaces for anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous or a person of color to create community around woodworking. Bring a project to repair or make. HatchSpace, Brattleboro, Monday, August 19, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 552-8202.

AUTUMN WATERCOLOR CLASS: A series taught by Pauline Nolte for experienced painters and newcomers; supplies provided for beginners. Register by email. Waterbury Public Library, Tuesday, August 20, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.

ARTIST TALK: PAMELA NOLTE: “You Can Get Here From There!” a discussion of the artist’s path from public housing to the hilltop chalet where she now paints with watercolor. Waterbury Public Library, Tuesday, August 20, 6:30 p.m. Info, 244-7036. ➆

Job of the Week

Facilities Operator

The Town of Fairfax is seeking to fill the full-time position of Facilities Operator. This position maintains and repairs the Town’s facilities, water/ sewer system, and roads. The successful applicant will be a team player willing to do their best and learn along the way. Candidates are required to hold a VT Driver’s License, be able to respond to Town facilities within 30 minutes of being called-in, successfully pass a background check, and participate in drug testing. Applicants should possess Class 3 Certification for Public Water System Operator and Domestic I for Pollution Abatement Facility Operator or have the ability to acquire within one year of hire. Training is available. Anticipated pay range starts at $22 with pay commensurate with experience. The position is eligible for overtime. This position has excellent benefits including VT Municipal Retirement and a competitive compensation

Sarah Hadd, Town Manager

What are the challenges of this job?

The Scoop on the Town of Fairfax

Fairfax is one of the faster-growing towns in Vermont. Our population has more than doubled since the 1980s, and so have the challenges facing our residents and visitors. No two days are alike. Some involve prepping for a park event, while others will be spent responding to a snowstorm and making sure things are dug out, or managing the complex and seasonal changeovers at our lagoons and wastewater treatment plant. Our topography is very diverse and requires some infrastructure usually only seen in larger towns.

What is special about the culture working in Fairfax?

Our motto is “small town, big heart.” is is a public sector job with tangible rewards. We provide the essential services that keep things running and witness the direct results our work has on the people who live, work and visit Fairfax.

music+nightlife

At the Movies: The Forgotten Genius of Garland Je reys

GARLAND JEFFREYS was a man of many worlds. The songwriter was born in 1943 and raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, with a mix of Black, Puerto Rican and white heritage. His music was similarly diverse, fusing disparate styles long before that became the norm and earning the admiration of some of the most influential artists of his era, including LOU REED. Still, while Je reys straddled myriad genres, from rock to reggae, he didn’t belong to any of them. Audiences and record companies didn’t know what to do with him. So the misfit musician dubbed himself “the King of In Between.”

Throughout his long career, which started in 1970 with the band GRINDER’S SWITCH, Je reys struggled to find acceptance for his music. In addition to pushing stylistic boundaries, his songs touched on subject matter that often made mainstream listeners uncomfortable — most notably racism, as on 1992’s Don’t Call Me Buckwheat On the album’s lead single, “Hail Hail Rock ’N’ Roll,” he sang, “Take it from me but don’t you take away my liberty / Father of coal, mother of pearl / Never too Black to blush to pick up a white girl / The color of you, the color of me / You can’t judge a man by looking at the marquee.”

Given his talent and renown among other artists, Je reys should have been a star. But his refusal to play it safe, musically or lyrically, meant he was destined to be an underground legend but never more. He was a songwriter’s songwriter loved by the likes of Reed and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN but utterly unknown to the casual music fan.

Je reys retired in 2019, but his wife and former manager, CLAIRE JEFFREYS, is hoping to shine a spotlight on his life and music with a new documentary she directed. Garland Je reys: The King of In Between makes its New England debut at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival on Friday, August 23.

“To be honest, sometimes it really upset Garland that he wasn’t finding this higher level of success, whatever that was,” Claire said in a phone call from their New York City home. “He wanted that stardom, and there were times when

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

he would get really down and talk about giving up on his music.”

One of the key themes of The King

of In Between is Garland’s perseverance in the face of commercial apathy. He was too Black and too radical for white

stations, but neither was he getting played on Black radio. Which isn’t to say he wasn’t on anyone’s radar: His 1973 self-titled debut record made a lifelong fan out of then-Village Voice music critic ROBERT CHRISTGAU, who appears in the doc.

“Is he streetwise?” Christgau wondered in his review of the album. “Damn right — wise enough to find the streets a little scary.”

Garland was also named the best new artist of 1977 by Rolling Stone after releasing his album Ghost Writer. While his gritty, no-bullshit takes on racial disparity in America and the violence of New York City in the ’70s impressed critics, they didn’t soar on the Billboard charts. However, his songs did sometimes find their audiences — or the other way around. His tune “Wild in the Streets,” about a brutal rape and murder that happened in the Bronx in 1977, found new life as a punk and skate anthem after the CIRCLE JERKS covered it for the 1986 cult film Thrashin’.

“One of the things this film asks that I think is important is this: What actually defines success?” Claire said. “Everyone in the business these days is obsessed with tour revenues and social media followers as opposed to, well, the music itself. With someone like Garland, a highly autobiographical songwriter holding a mirror up to American society, the metric is always going to be di erent.”

Recent history has shown there are few better ways to reexpose forgotten musicians than a documentary. From films such as Searching for Sugar Man, which tracked the elusive Detroit singer-songwriter RODRIGUEZ, to A Band Called Death, the 2012 documentary that reintroduced the world to the Black punk band DEATH, the doc treatment has become a surefire way to get the word out about underground artists. That doesn’t mean they’re easy to make, however.

“I wasn’t too sure about the whole thing initially, but I took a meeting with SAM POLLARD, a professor at NYU and a very highly regarded documentarian,” Claire recalled. “That was something Garland taught me: Always take a meeting. Because you just never know! So I did, thankfully.”

Much to Claire’s surprise, Pollard suggested she direct the documentary, even though she had never made a film in her life. He urged her to find a good editor but was clear that she could do this herself.

Garland Jeffreys

Clockwise from top left: Chuck D and Garland Jeffreys; Jeffreys with Bob Marley; Charles Mingus with Jeffreys

“I had always heard that documentaries take forever to make and cost so much,” she said. “And, being really naïve on this, I thought to myself, What’s the big deal? How long could it take? I have a lot of the archival footage already.

“Oh, my goodness, they were so right,” she continued. “It was one setback after another — sometimes it took years to get an interview.”

After much toil and trial and error, Claire finished her debut film, complete with interviews from songwriters who achieved the sort of fame Garland always strived for. Hearing musicians such as GRAHAM PARKER, VERNON REID and LAURIE ANDERSON talk about her husband’s achievements helped her come to peace with his career, now that it’s over.

“Hearing Bruce Springsteen say in the film that [Don’t Call Me Buckwheat] may have come out 30 years ago but could have come out 30 minutes ago was really powerful,” she recounted. “He said no one was talking about race like Garland was, and I think that’s true.”

There is still one part of the film Claire isn’t sure about, even though the edit is done and The King of In Between is screening and actively searching for distribution. Garland is currently su ering from late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, which is why neither he nor Claire will attend the Middlebury screening.

“We weren’t sure whether or not to include his illness,” Claire said. “Towards the end of the film, there’s a scene where Garland is sitting on a bench, and anyone who’s had to deal with Alzheimer’s in their life will likely look at that scene and intuit what’s happening.”

In the end, however, Claire decided not to cover Garland’s health in the film.

“Garland had such a long career, and there are so many themes that go along with all that, which the film covers,” she said. “Introducing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, it just becomes a very di erent film.”

In the end, Garland’s story is about bravery and self-belief, Claire maintains.

“He was a biracial man living in America during a time of great tumult,” she said. “But he never stopped being true to who he was and the kind of music he felt he needed to make.”

To learn more about Garland and the documentary, check out kingofinbetween. com and middfilmfest.org. ➆

On the Beat

Vermont singer-songwriter

BREANNA ELAINE recently lost a close friend to a drug overdose. Elaine did what any good songwriter would do and channeled her pain and sorrow into a new song. It’s called “Where the Snakes Live” and hits streaming services this Saturday, August 17.

Elaine has gone a step beyond just releasing music in honor of her late friend. The Brandon musician has teamed up with the Turning Point Center of Rutland, a nonprofit substance-use recovery center, to stage an all-ages benefit concert on Saturday at Merchants Hall in the Marble City. Half of all profits will be donated to recovery e orts. The event features a headlining set from BREANNA & THE BOYS, Elaine’s full-band folk-rock outfit, with special guest EMMA

JEANNE HOOPS, a flow arts performer from Brandon.

Head over to breannaelaine. com for more information and to purchase tickets. ➆

Eye on the Scene

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “LIFE ON THE OCEAN” by Caution Horse

2. “MONUMENTS” by Last Pages

3. “TRIGGERFINGER” by Brunch

4. “FLOWER TO THE SUN” by

5.

6.

OF A

by Breana Elaine

7. “HAVE MERCY” by Freddie Losambe, Caleb Lail

Scan to listen

sevendaysvt. com/playlist

Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry AUGRAH AT THE CELLAR, BURLINGTON, SUNDAY, AUGUST 11: A dreary Sunday evening is good for one thing: doing nothing. Yet this weekend I found myself walking to the Cellar, below the Burlington bar called Drink, for a hardcore/metal show featuring Vermont’s LUNGBUSTER and AUGRAH. A light fog blanketed everything in glistening tranquility, leaving the streets quiet and calm. After a long day lacking in both, I had my moment of Zen. And not a moment more. As I passed Trattoria Delia, a hint of the chaos to come became audible, growing to an indiscernible wall of noise by the Main Street intersection. e post-storm quietude had fully succumbed to Augrah’s frantic mincecore/powerviolence blast beats. I left my newly acquired serenity at the door, and the energy inside brought back the hardcore band days of my past, when I learned what it really meant to be part of a scene. And this little scene felt good, too. I stuck around for Lungbuster’s set, was home by 10 p.m. and still had plenty of time to do nothing.

Billy Wylder

“HOW WE BALL” by Robber Robber

“BELLY

WHALE”

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.14

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

Bent Nails House Band (blues, jazz, rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Cooie’s Trio (blues, pop) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

ERSATZ, Kiley Latham, Rachel Ambaye (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Live Music Wednesdays & Tacos (weekly music series) at the Tillerman, Bristol, 5 p.m. Free.

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

Sanctuary Muttz (rock) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Tall Travis, Otter Creek (folk, bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Third Shift (covers) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Trae Sheehan, Nick Granelle (folk) at Despacito, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Tropidelic, Crooked Coast, Quasi Kings (reggae, hip-hop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$25.

Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

THU.15

The Butterfields (folk) at Blue Paddle Bistro, South Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Charlotte Rae Duo (pop, R&B) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Christie Woods-Lucas (singersongwriter) at Stone’s Throw, Waterbury, 6 p.m. Free.

The Fabulous Wrecks (Americana) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Frankie & the Fuse (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Karl Lucas (folk) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

Matt Hagen (acoustic) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

McMaple (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Mihali (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $30/$35.

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

He’s With the Band

Comedian FRED ARMISEN is renowned for his 11-season run on “Saturday Night Live,” the hit IFC show “Portlandia” and Netflix’s “Wednesday,” but he started his career as a musician. He was originally the drummer for Chicago post-punk outfit Trenchmouth and even pounded the skins in the ’90s for performance-art collective Blue Man Group before deciding he’d rather make people laugh. Armisen transitioned to comedy in 1998 but never quite abandoned his original passion. Most visibly, he was the bandleader of the 8G Band on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” His current tour, dubbed “Comedy for Musicians but Everyone Is Welcome,” is all about that dichotomy. Armisen swings through Burlington on Friday, August 16, for a performance at the Flynn Main Stage.

The Old Soul House Band (indie) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

Pons, Good Looks, Dick Richard, Community Breakfast (indie rock, post-punk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10/$12. Radio Bean Karaoke (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Siamese Bikes, Low Echo, Jesse Taylor Band (indie rock) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10. SOOL (experimental pop) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 6 p.m. $10. Wild Blue Yonder, Small Talk (funk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

FRI.16

Adirondack Jazz Ensemble (jazz) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free. Bad Luck Bliss (alt-country) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Bella & Bob (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Birdfeeders, Bailey Paugh, Go Outside & Petals (ambient) at Spiral House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.

Briar Rats, Monday Ze Music, Rose Asteroid (Celtic, funk rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

Broken String Band (bluegrass) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Camila Meza (folk, jazz) at the Mill ADK, Westport, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $28.52.

The Celestials (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Chicky Stoltz (Americana) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

George Murtie (singer-songwriter) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

George Nostrand (acoustic) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Good Trees River Band (jam) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Jesse Leone & Brendan Casey (blues) at von Trapp Brewing Bierhall, Stowe, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Josh Panda, Joe’s Big Band (big band, funk) at the Green at Essex Experience, Essex Junction, 7:30 p.m. $20.

Karl Miller and the Instrumentals (solo guitar) at Arts Riot, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

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

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

L&M Rhythm Kings (R&B, swing) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Lowell Thompson (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Myra Flynn (soul, R&B) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9:30 p.m. $25.

The Natural Selection (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

The North Beach Dub All Stars (Sublime tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.

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

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

Ruby Lou, Whip Appeal, Ivamae, Brenden & the Trout (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 7 p.m. Free.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Swamp Frog (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Tim Brick (country) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Fairfax, 6 p.m. Free.

Wild Couch, Connor Lin Frost, Cady Ternity (pop, classic rock, jazz) at the Underground, Randolph, 7:30 p.m. $14-17. Info, 431-6267.

Will Keeper, LEANDER, JuJu (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.17

Ali McGuirk (R&B, soul) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Ali T (singer-songwriter) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

All Without the Bass (pop) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

Anterra & Peter Stone (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Blue Northern (blues) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Calcifer (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. Free.

Canyon Dreams (folk, pop) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Claire Byrne & the Celestials (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10.

Dan Parks (singer-songwriter) at Twiggs — An American Gastropub, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Get Up With It (jazz, funk) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Jaded Ravins (Americana) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Justice 3 (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Kowalski Brothers (acoustic) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

Moondust & Chemtrails (hard rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Sarah Cannon (singer-songwriter) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

She Was Right (pop, rock) at von Trapp Brewing Bierhall, Stowe, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Smokey Lonesome & the Sweet Potatoes (Americana) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Workingman’s Army, edw (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10. Yes Ma’am, Noble Hobo, Eric George (blues, rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

SUN.18

Ali T (singer-songwriter) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Bettenroo (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free. Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, noon. Free.

Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at Madbush Falls, Waitsfield, noon. Free.

Bywater Call (roots, soul) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $18/$23.

Donna Thunder (acoustic) at Blue Paddle Bistro, South Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Jim Branca Quartet (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Paul Asbell Quartet (jazz) at Red Square, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Tusk: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute (tribute) at the Green at Essex Experience, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. $30/$45.

MON.19

3rd Wheel (rock, country) at von Trapp Brewing Bierhall, Stowe, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Milton Busker & the Grim Work (Americana) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Renaissance Noise Restoration, Claude & Ola, Jo Bled (ambient, experimental) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 7 p.m. Donation.

Roger Giroux (rock, country) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

TUE.20

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free. The Discussions (jazz fusion) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Doyle Turner (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Galen Clark & Kirstie Lynn, Fern Maddie (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

Grateful Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

FRI.16 // FRED ARMISEN [COMEDY]

Last Pages, Monuments

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Rock music tends to be obsessed with two things: sex and anger. On their debut EP, Plattsburgh’s Last Pages are much more concerned with the latter. Monuments is a record full of righteous fury; foot-stomping, dynamic hard rock; and sneering commentary on the continuing decline of American society. It also happens to be a joyous, nigh reverential blast of expertly executed bangers.

you belong with Robert E. Lee down on the ground.”

Political rage powers all four tracks on Monuments. “Lost Nation Road” takes it back to the OG crime of white American settlers as it laments the slaughter and displacement of Native Americans. Dolan’s voice hovers on the verge of breaking as he bellows, “Tell me how the West was won,” an indictment as raw as it is savage.

The EP opens on the title track, with guitarists Larry Dolan and Will Harp unleashing a barrage of snarling chords over a frenetic, punk-leaning groove. “Staring at our history / another monument to misery,” Dolan roars. The tune makes no attempt at subtlety as it clarifies the band’s feelings about those who still fly the Confederate flag: “If their lost cause still makes you proud /

Caution Horse, Wykyk

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Some debuts don’t sound like debuts. Take Wykyk, the new LP from New Hampshire project Caution Horse, which is surprisingly slick for a first-time act. Though Mike Mooney, the band’s principal singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, is a new face on the scene, his Caution Horse partner is well known to Vermonters: singersongwriter Mark Daly, who fronts the indie-rock/pop project Madaila.

“Graveside Service” channels the anger of dealing with a selfdestructive friend headed for death’s door. The lyrics aim disappointment and impotent fury at a relapsed addict, as Dolan promises, “Soon now the day will come / when your parents will bury their son / and I’m not going to say a word at your graveside service.”

Completing the tetralogy of gripes is the perfectly named “Hard Working Selfish Prick.” Because what set of modern problems is complete without a song about the crushing weight of latestage capitalism?

If this all makes it sound like

a documentary about the band. Mooney and Daly checked into the latter’s Charlotte recording studio to lay down the tracks for Wykyk

Monuments might be a drag, fear not. With a sound somewhere between the harder edge of indie rock and a powerful, post-punk thrust, courtesy of the rhythm section of drummer Gordy Sheer and bassist Trevor Cole, Last Pages achieve an impressive balance of energy and hooks for a band founded in 2023.

Like any rock band worth their weight in amps, the members of Last Pages have deep connections ... and some unexpected ones. All except Cole formerly belonged to the psych-rock band Dos En Uno, which released the album Jaguar in 2022, mixed and mastered (like Monuments) by producer

catchiness, showing how adept Mooney and Daly are at bringing songs to a pop summit.

The two have been friends and collaborators for years; Mooney directed many of Madaila’s music videos and even

Whether the credit goes to Daly’s studio expertise, Mooney’s songwriting prowess or both, Wykyk is as fully formed as any local debut in recent memory. From the folksy grandeur of opening track “Steam Train” to the synthaccentuated indierock number “Straight Shooter,” the album displays a confident and distinctive songwriter in Mooney.

Track by track, he channels di erent troubadour modes. “Long Way Down” fucks around with an alt-country groove sprinkled with pedal steel guitar as Mooney leans into the gravelly side of his voice. The chorus opens up with supreme

Songs such as “Crazy Love” map out the partnership clearly. You can hear Mooney’s country and folk instincts rub up against Daly’s proclivity for pop production, with his programmed beats and subtle stabs of synthesizer. The collaboration bears all the hallmarks of a long friendship in that it even sounds easy At times that’s a good thing, but there’s no getting around the fact that Wykyk is missing a sense of danger or risk.

The writing and production are handled with expert care. As a purveyor of tranquil vibes, the record is a home run. It pairs well with sunsets on the lake; a cold, overpriced IPA; and a really mellow strain of indica.

But, with few exceptions, Wykyk doesn’t stray out of safe zones. Take “Ruby Got a Job.” A mid-tempo folk-rock tune reminiscent of Blitzen Trapper, the song has some big hooks, a killer octave guitar

Jack Endino (Soundgarden, Nirvana). Dolan and Sheer go back even further: The two were teammates on the U.S. Olympic luge team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Sheer took home a silver medal in doubles and even played on the luge team’s o cial song, “Mojo Balls,” written and sung by psychobilly pioneer Mojo Nixon. It all makes for a “new” band with an enormous upside and plenty of history to build on. And if Monuments is any indication, the future is bright for Last Pages. Find the album now on all major streaming services.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

solo and clever lyrical wordplay. The production is spotless; Daly has mastered his home studio. Yet there’s a lingering sensation throughout that the song could go somewhere more interesting — maybe a strange bridge, maybe a key change — and it just never does.

It’s not the only example. “Straight Shooter” starts an interesting conversation that doesn’t expand from its initial premise. It settles into a midtempo groove, begging for a bigger takeo that never comes, like a race car with the governor on.

The album closes on “Life on the Ocean,” its most promising number. Mooney’s and Daly’s voices harmonize gorgeously over a soft rocker that ends with the line “I dream of you by my side,” like an invitation to the listener. Caution Horse want to chill with you — no surprises, please.

Wykyk is available on all major streaming services.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Last Pages

live music

Jay Southgate (vibraphone) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 5 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Zach Nugent (Grateful Dead tribute) at Madbush Falls, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $10 suggested donation.

WED.21

Andriana & the Bananas (indie pop) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Dana Lyn + Kyle Sanna, Seamus Egan (Irish) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-30. Info, 355-5440.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Jim Branca & Tom Buckley (blues, rock) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Live Music Wednesdays & Tacos (weekly music series) at the Tillerman, Bristol, 5 p.m. Free.

The Lunar Year, Lahnah, rabbitfoot, Community Breakfast (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Stewart Foster (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

WED.14

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Mildew (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. Free.

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

The Mid Week Hump with DJs Fattie B and Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Salsa Night with DJ Charlango, DJ Tarzana (DJ) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.15

All Ears (DJ) at the Big Spruce, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

Country & Western Thursdays (country, DJ) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

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

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

SAT.17 // YES MA’AM [BLUES, ROCK]

True Grit

Led by singer-songwriter Matthew Bracken, YES MA’AM play anachronistic rock and roll and ragtime blues straight from the streets of New Orleans. Though if you scratch the sepia-toned surface, there’s a beating punk heart at the center of the band’s ragged, 1920s-inspired music. They drop their brand-spanking-new record, How Many People How Many Dogs, this week, followed by an album-release party at Radio Bean in Burlington on Saturday, August 17. They’re joined by Detroit folk artist NOBLE HOBO and Burlington troubadour ERIC GEORGE

FRI.16

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. Surge (DJ) at Arts Riot, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

SAT.17

Aquatic Underground (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10.

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. 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. Drum & Björk (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:59 p.m. $10.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Nastee (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.18

JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae, dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

MON.19

Plattsburgh Queer Collective’s Dyke Night (DJ) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.20

The Vanguard — Jazz on Vinyl (DJ) at Paradiso Hi-Fi, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.21

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Mildew (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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

open mics & jams

WED.14

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

THU.15

Open Mic (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Stage Night (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Portal: Community Improvisational Music & Art (improv) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.18

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

Live Standup Comedy (comedy) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Welcome Adventurers! (comedy, D&D) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5.

FRI.16

Fred Armisen (comedy) at Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 8 p.m. $27.50 - $37.50.

Shane Torres (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $25.

Standup Comedy Night (comedy) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.17

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5 p.m. $5/$10.

Shane Torres (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $25.

TUE.20

Hot Lunch Tuesday — Improv Comedy (comedy) at Arts Riot, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Three Leaves Comedy Showcase (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.21

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

MON.19

Open Mic (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.20

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Venetian Soda Open Mic (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.21

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass open jam) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

comedy

WED.14

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Comedy Jam (comedy) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

THU.15

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

Live Laugh Lava: A Comedy Showcase (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5-$10.

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

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.16

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

SUN.18

Karaoke with DJ Coco Entertainment (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

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

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

MON.19

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

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

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

TUE.20

Godfather Karaoke (karaoke) at the Other Half, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Tuesdays (karaoke) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

trivia,

karaoke, etc.

WED.14

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (music bingo) at the Depot, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (trivia) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

THU.15

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Music Trivia (music trivia) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Summer Trivia with Katy (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

Music Bingo (music bingo) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 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 Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.21

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (music bingo) at the Depot, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free. Musical Bingo (trivia) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Office Trivia (trivia) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish

Pub Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. ➆

calendar

AUGUST 14-21, 2024

WED.14

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

climate crisis

THEORY OF CHANGE: AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: 350VT leads a discussion on how grassroots organizers and community members can respond to the climate crisis.

Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, socannon@ gmail.com.

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: Townsfolk put on their detective caps, grab a map at the library and search Stowe for stickers. Prizes include hotel stays and goods from local merchants. Stowe Free Library. Free. Info, 253-6145.

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.

JAM ANNUAL MEETING: Community members get updates, then enjoy a potluck

cookout and outdoor movie screening. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

crafts

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts is welcome to bring a project to this monthly meeting. Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, gmc.vt.ega@gmail.com.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and beyond. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780. etc.

CHAMP MASTERS

TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools at a regular meeting. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 338-2305.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT STATE FAIR: Crowds converge on the midway for carnival amusements, horticultural displays, equine events and live music. Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland, 8 a.m.-11

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Listings and spotlights are written by 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.

album. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 p.m. $10. Info, 387-0102.

p.m. $5-12; free for uniformed military and kids 5 and under. Info, vermontstatefair@ outlook.com.

WINOOSKI WEDNESDAYS: Vendors, live music, free food and fun for party people of all ages bring neighbors together. Rotary Park, Winooski, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@downtownwinooski.org.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: Andy Serkis narrates the journey of a lifetime into the realm of the world’s largest mammals and the scientists who study them. 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, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a journey into the weird, wide world of mushrooms, which we are only just beginning to understand. 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, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘AMAZING GRACE’: This 2018 documentary captures the transformative experience of the two-night Aretha Franklin concert at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in 1972, which resulted in the soul singer’s classic live gospel

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: Scientists dive into the planet’s least-explored habitat, from its sunny shallows to its alien depths. 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, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: Through the power of special cameras, audiences are transported into the world of the teeniest animals on Earth. 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, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

CIDER TERRA: A rotating lineup of Vermont cider makers talk about the art of pressing apples and offer tastings, with Collin Cope and Chris Page of the Tenderbellies providing the soundtrack.

Shelburne Vineyard, 5-8 p.m. Cost of food and drink; preregister. Info, 985-8222.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: Villagers shop local from various vendors handing out fruits, veggies and prepared foods. Danville Village Green, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, cfmamanager@gmail.com.

SCOTT FARM CRÊPE NIGHT: Foodies enjoy sweet and savory French pancakes picnic-style at this monthly community meal benefiting local nonprofits. Scott Farm Orchard, Dummerston, 5:307:30 p.m. $20. Info, 356-8265.

WEDNESDAY’S GRILL & CHILL: Live music soundtracks a big community picnic. Essex Experience, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4200. WHAT’S THAT WINE

WEDNESDAYS: Aspiring sommeliers blind-taste four wines from Vermont and beyond. Shelburne Vineyard, noon-6 p.m. $15. Info, 985-8222.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

INTERMEDIATE IRISH LANGUAGE CONVERSATION AND MUSIC: Speakers with some experience increase their fluency through conversation and song. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

lgbtq

QUEER WRITER’S GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly to discuss their work, write from prompts, and give each other advice and feedback. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

BILLY WYLDER: The globally inspired art-rock outfit brings the groovy tunes to picnickers enjoying food from Woodbelly Pizza and LL Cool Pops. Martha Pellerin & Andy Shapiro Memorial Bandstand, Middlesex, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 461-7702.

CRAFTSBURY CHAMBER

PLAYERS: The classical music ensemble continues its 58th season performing music by an array of composers from various eras. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30-9 p.m. $10-25; season passes $90-140; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 586-0616.

MUSIC ON THE BRICKS: EMALOU & THE BEAT: An acoustic trio draws a crowd on the pedestrian thoroughfare with its three-part harmonies, guitar and percussion. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648, abacher@burlingtonvt. gov.

SALLY FOX JAZZ TRIO: Three musicians perform jazz tunes on the patio as part of a summer series at the distillery. Barr Hill, Montpelier, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 472-8000.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

outdoors

BEAVER SCAVENGER HUNT: A presentation precedes a dam fun adventure to Kettle Pond and back. Call to confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 584-3827.

BOREAL FOREST WALK: A master naturalist leads a trek through one of Vermont’s most remote wild spaces. Call to confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 584-3827.

sports

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

theater

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’: The beloved musical comedy stars a foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivorous plant that torments a floral assistant named Seymour. Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln, N.H., 2 p.m. $38-45. Info, 603-745-6032.

‘PIPPIN’: Weston Theater tells the story of a young prince who longs for an extraordinary life. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 2-4:30 & 7:30-10 p.m. $59-79. Info, 824-5288.

words

BOOK CLUB: ‘THE SHADOW OF THE WIND’: An antiquarian book dealer’s son stumbles upon a story of murder, madness and doomed love in the latest selection by Carlos Ruiz Zafón for fiction fans. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE: Readings and lectures by the likes of Rebecca Makkai, Garth Greenwell, Xochitl Gonzalez and Dinaw Mengestu are open to the public every day of this storied colloquium. See calendar spotlight. Bread Loaf Campus, Ripton, 8:15 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5286.

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.

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11. = ONLINE EVENT

MINDFUL MOVEMENT YOGA ON THE LAWN: Attendees soothe their sore swimming, hiking and gardening muscles with mindful stretching. BYO mat. Waterbury Public Library, noon. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celtic-curious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice

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

THU.15

business

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: Job seekers get a chance to meet with employers from around the state, thanks to the Vermont Department of Labor. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000. community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14.

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.14

burlington

DISCOVERY WORKSHOP: ELECTRICITY

SCULPTURES: Little electricians ages 4 and up learn how circuits work and build a moving or light-up contraption together. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 2, 3 & 4 p.m. Regular admission, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

IMAGINATION STATION: Giant Jenga, blocks and tic-tac-toe entertain shoppers of all ages in between stops. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

INTERNATIONAL BOOK CLUB: Lit lovers ages 11 through 18 discuss recent reads written by foreign authors or taking place in another country. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

TODDLER TIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones 12 through 24 months. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

VR NATIONAL PARKS: Teens take virtual tours of the Grand Canyon, Hawaii’s volcanoes, Death Valley and other locales. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

GAME ON!: Young competitors vie in Nintendo Switch games, including Mario Kart, Super Mario Party and Overcooked, on the big screen. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

SUMMER BABYTIME: Infants gather for a gentle, slow story time. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. upper valley

FOREST DISCOVERY CENTER: Interactive learning stations, demonstrations and crafts give kids hands-on nature experiences. Ages 8 and under. MarshBillings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3368.

THU.15

burlington

BABYTIME: Pre-walking little ones experience a story time catered to their infant interests. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads little ones ages 2 through 5 in songs, movement and other fun activities.

demonstrations and scavenger hunts. See calendar spotlight. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com.

barre/montpelier

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy science, art and nature-themed activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

middlebury area

‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: See THU.15.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

SAT.17

burlington

AUG. 16 | FAMILY FUN

Veggie or Not

This week, the Richmond Farmers Market throws a special Kids Day for little foodies and aspiring agriculturists. Richmond’s youngest market-goers try out a real stone flour mill, use a Lego printing press, play mini golf, have their faces painted like their favorite farm animals, choose produce-themed temporary tattoos and get crafty. The first 70 children to complete the market-wide scavenger hunt win a $5 token for treats including free cotton candy and ice cream. Emma Cook of the PBS show “Mister Chris and Friends” and the senior center’s Ukes R Us play live tunes.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: KIDS DAY

Friday, August 16, 3-6:30 p.m., at Volunteers Green in Richmond. Free. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com, richmondfarmers-market.square.site.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden

county

BABYTIME: Caregivers and infants from birth through age 1 gather to explore board books and toys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.

STORY TIME: Little ones from birth through age 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

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 STORY TIME: Games, activities, stories and songs engage 3- through 5-year-olds. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

middlebury area

‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: An absurdist tragicomedy, performed by the Town Hall Theater Young Company, turns Hamlet on its head by giving two goofy side characters their time in the spotlight. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $10-25. Info, 382-9222.

northeast kingdom

STORY TIME: Kids 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

TRACKS, SKINS & SKULLS: Crafters meet local furry friends and make plaster casts of paw prints to take home. Call to confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 584-3827.

FRI.16

burlington

IMAGINATION STATION: See WED.14.

chittenden county

LEGO BUILDERS: Each week, children ages 8 and older build, explore, create and participate in challenges. Children ages 6 to 8 are welcome with an adult. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: KIDS DAY: Little foodies enjoy an extra special afternoon of crafts, games,

CARDBOARD TO COSTUME WORKSHOP: Local 13-year-old artist Natalie Walton teaches teens how to turn a used box into wearable art. Ages 12 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

HISTORICAL REENACTMENT: Visitors of all ages witness historically accurate cooking over a fire and artisan crafting. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular admission, $7-15; free for kids under 5. Info, 865-4556.

LITTLEST GUPPIES: Kids grow their fins with water activities including dock play, sailboat exploration, paddleboarding and on-land science games. Community Sailing Center, Burlington, 9-10 & 11 a.m.noon. $10 per class. Info, 864-2499.

SPLASH DANCE: Kids soak up some summer fun in the fountain while DJs spin family-friendly tracks. Burlington City Hall Park, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

STORIES WITH GEOFF: Little patrons of the library’s satellite location enjoy a morning of stories and songs. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

GO WILD! SUMMER PARTY: Creatures great and small enjoy food trucks, face painting, outdoor activities and raffles. Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Shelburne, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 985-1319.

middlebury area

BIRD CRAFTING FOR KIDS: Little ones learn all about their local feathered friends while drawing and making colorful crafts. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 759-2398.

upper valley

FOREST DISCOVERY CENTER: See WED.14.

northeast kingdom

THE BIRD DIVA AND VINS RAPTORS UP CLOSE: Bridget Butler leads a slow, accessible birding walk, and Vermont Institute of Natural Science staff introduce fans of falcons, hawks and owls to real live

Aapeli Green

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: All ages and abilities are invited to knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. All materials are provided.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries experiment, collaborate, create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to tools and equipment in the maker space. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50 drop-in fee. Info, 382-1012.

environment

SPENCER HARDY: A biologist discusses the more than 350 species of wild bees that make Vermont their home. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 276-3181.

fairs & festivals

GREEN MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS & ROOTS FESTIVAL: A four-day hootenanny hosts a variety of bluegrass, roots and Americana icons and up-and-comers. Hunter Park, Manchester Center, 4-11:30 p.m. $30-400. Info, 824-3575.

SUMMERVALE: Locavores fête farms and farmers at a weekly festival centered on food, music, community and conservation. Intervale Center, Burlington, 5:308 p.m. Free. Info, 660-0440.

VERMONT STATE FAIR: See WED.14.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14. food & drink

FREE WINE TASTING: Themed wine tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game with an extra wrinkle. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7223.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Donations. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

health & fitness

AARP VT SOCIAL BIKE RIDE:

Bikers age 50-plus convene for a one-hour ride on the Burlington bike path and wrap up with social time at a local bar. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 951-1397.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP:

Semi-fluent speakers practice their skills during a conversazione with others. Best for those who can speak at least basic sentences. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

FEAST & FIELD MUSIC SERIES:

Farm-fresh foods and live tunes are on the menu at a weekly pastoral party out in the orchard. Fable Farm, Barnard, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $5-25; $120-1,250 for season passes. Info, 234-1645.

THE GREAT VERMONT BARN

DANCE SHOW: Pete Seeger fans step back in time and boogie at a 1940s radio-style variety show featuring music, comedy and clog dancing. Isham Family Farm, Williston, 5:30-10 p.m. $15. Info, 872-1525.

RAINBOW GIRLS: The quirky folk trio pairs heavenly harmonies with eclectic instrumentals. Children of Divorce open. Live stream available. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 p.m. $10-25. Info, 387-0102.

THEA WREN: Powerful rhythms and soulful lyrics engage picnickers when the retro-pop artist takes the stage. Maple Tree Place, Williston, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 316-1544.

outdoors

AUGUST BIRD-MONITORING

WALK: Community scientists watch for warblers, spy sparrows and hear hawks to contribute to an online database. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 7-9 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

ROCKIN’ GROTON GEOLOGY

TOUR: A field trip along the trails proves how magma deposits deep underground have shaped Groton’s landscape. Call to confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 584-3827.

WOMEN’S RIDE AT BOLTON

VALLEY: Women riders form breakout groups of all abilities and enjoy a mountain bike ride, with snacks to follow. Bolton Valley Resort, 5:30-7:30 p.m. free. Info, info@fotwheel.org.

theater

‘BURIED CHILD’: An Illinois farm family hides a terrible secret in this 1978 Sam Shepard play that includes sprinkles of dark comedy amid the gothic mystery. Eclipse Grange Theater, Thetford, 7:309:30 p.m. $15-25. Info, 785-4344.

2024 BIG TOP TOUR: THE IMAGINARIUM: Young performers ages 10 through 18 pull off daring and dazzling acts in this acrobatic extravaganza. Circus Smirkus Barn, Greensboro, 6-8 p.m. $25-40. Info, tour@smirkus.org.

STARTS

AUG. 14 | WORDS

Book It

The 2024 edition of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference is one for the storybooks. For 10 days, bibliophiles of all stripes attend a bevy of readings and lectures by literary luminaries, hosted by Middlebury College. The table of contents includes Rebecca Makkai, the award-winning author of The Great Believers and I Have Some Questions for You; Garth Greenwell, the novelist behind Cleanness and the forthcoming Small Rain; the New York Times-bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming, Xochitl Gonzalez; and the acclaimed speculative novelist behind The School for Good Mothers, Jessamine Chan.

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE

Wednesday, August 14, through Wednesday, August 21, at Bread Loaf Campus in Ripton. See website for full schedule and additional dates. Free. Info, 443-5286, middlebury.edu.

‘DRACULA’: This stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s horror classic tethers an eerie atmosphere to an unrequited love story in an outdoor setting. QuarryWorks Theater, Adamant, 7:30-10 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6978.

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’: See WED.14, 7:30 p.m.

‘PIPPIN’: See WED.14.

‘RETURNING TO HAIFA’: A Palestinian couple return to the home they were forced out of during the Nakba in this powerful family drama. Unadilla Theatre, Marshfield, 7:30 p.m. $15-30. Info, 456-8968.

TENFEST 2024: FREEDOM AND UNITY: The Vermont Playwrights Circle serves up a smorgasbord of 10-minute one-acts at this bite-size festival. Valley Players

Theater, Waitsfield, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $12-14. Info, 583-1674.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 9 a.m., 4:15 & 8:15 p.m.

FRI.16

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14. dance

‘THE JUNIPER TREE’: Multiple forms of dance convey a beautiful but sometimes violent Victorian horror story about the young children in a family slowly falling apart under the watch of a majestic tree. Black Box Theater, Main Street

Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 363-7790.

fairs & festivals

GREEN MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS & ROOTS FESTIVAL: See THU.15, 8:45-midnight.

VERMONT STATE FAIR: See WED.14.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

FOLK HORROR OF THE BRITISH ISLES FILM FESTIVAL: ‘THE WICKER MAN’: The old gods demand a sacrifice in this 1973 thriller set around May Day.

Beverly Ketch & Friends open.

Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, 8-11

p.m. $10-20 suggested donation. Info, info@epsilonspires.org.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘KING CREOLE’: Elvis Presley plays a young singer who accidentally gets wrapped up in mob drama in this 1958 musical caper. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

SILENT MOVIE NIGHT: ‘THE FRESHMAN’: Harold Lloyd plays a first-year student who dreams of being a football hero in a 1925 silent film that became a blockbuster hit. BYO lawn chairs or blankets. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 672-1195.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14. food & drink

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: Vendors present a diverse selection of locally produced foods and crafts as picnickers enjoy live music. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com.

SOUTH END GET DOWN: Food trucks dish out mouthwatering meals and libations. Live DJs and outdoor entertainment add to the fun. 377 Pine St., Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, orleanseventsvt@ gmail.com.

games

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a

LIST YOUR

game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION

ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS CAN

EXERCISE: Active adults with stiffness and pain keep joints flexible, muscles strong and bodies energized with a weekly low-impact class. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community gather weekly to play games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

THE ANDERSON BROTHERS PLAY

COLE PORTER: The virtuoso saxophonists — and twin brothers — play iconic works including “Night and Day” and “Anything Goes.” Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 8-9 p.m. $20. Info, tracy@ madriver.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC: BRETT

HUGHES: The local-favorite crooner and guitarist honkytonks his way into the weekly series, with a rotating roster of food trucks for hungry listeners. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7368.

HIGH SUMMER: Brassy horns, sultry vocals and rock-solid rhythms combine to form a visceral, dynamic groove. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

JOSH PANDA & JOE’S BIG BAND: The “American Song Contest” showman teams up with a 17-piece Queen City jazz ensemble for a night of funky fun. Essex Experience, 7:30-10:30 p.m. $20. Info, 878-4200.

TUSK: This Fleetwood Mac tribute band excites fans with note-for-note renditions of the beloved rock band’s greatest hits. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $32-52. Info, 603-448-0400.

UNPLUGGED: SUNBEAM: The local Americana act conjures rustic melodies full of hope and resilience. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

‘THE WELL TREE’: Folk trio Heartwood present an all-ages musical experience illustrated by a “crankie” — a hand-cranked scroll of intricate paper carvings. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7-9 p.m. $5-30. Info, 595-4331.

tech

MORNING 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, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘BURIED CHILD’: See THU.15.

‘DRACULA’: See THU.15.

‘GUNS & CHOCOLATE’: Playwright Shoshannah Boray presents a staged reading of a slice of American society’s response to domestic gun violence and other political factors dominating the landscape of society. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7-10 p.m. $15;$10 for students. Info, 310-1861.

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’: See WED.14, 7:30 p.m.

‘PIPPIN’: See WED.14, 7:30-10 p.m.

‘RETURNING TO HAIFA’: See THU.15.

TENFEST 2024: FREEDOM AND UNITY: See THU.15.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’

CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 9 a.m., 4:15 & 8:15 p.m.

SAT.17

agriculture

GARDEN DAY 2024: An idyllic day outdoors features herbal tea, sunflower strolls, fiddle tunes and tomato tasting at Billings Farm & Museum, Marsh-BillingsRockefeller National Historical Park, and the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Kelly Way Gardens. Various Woodstock locations, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; fee for admission to Billings Farm & Museum. Info, 457-2355.

bazaars

ARNOLD’S RESCUE CENTER COMMUNITY MARKET: Visitors peruse a variety of food, crafts and other items to benefit the animals at the refuge. Arnold’s Rescue Center, Brownington,

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.

9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 239-872-7333.

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14.

dance

‘THE JUNIPER TREE’: See FRI.16. MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: Dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away to gender-neutral calling and live tunes. Capital City Grange, Berlin, beginners’ lesson, 7:40 p.m.; dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.

ROUND BARN, BIG DANCE!:

Townsfolk don their back-road best for an evening of line dancing, live music by Lowell Thompson, and plenty of food and drink. Proceeds support education programs. The Round Barn at Shelburne Museum, 6-10 p.m. $125-250; preregister. Info, 985-3346.

‘SUBTLE RAGE’: Six eclectic performers tell a story of anger, sensuality and forgiveness in this powerful work by Millie Heckler. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $20. Info, info@vermontdance.org.

fairs & festivals

GREEN MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS & ROOTS FESTIVAL: See THU.15, 8:45-midnight.

VERMONT STATE FAIR: See WED.14.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

‘UNDERDOG’: A Vermont dairy farmer risks everything to pursue his dogsledding dreams in Alaska in this locally made 2021 documentary. Q&A with the filmmaker follows. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, abelisle2@ comcast.net.

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS

MARKET: Dozens of stands overflow with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

CAPITAL CITY FARMERS

MARKET: Meats and cheeses join farm-fresh produce, baked goods, locally made arts and crafts, and live music. 133 State St., Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 272-6249.

ST. JOHNSBURY FARMERS

MARKET: Growers and crafters gather weekly at booths centered on local eats. Pearl St. & Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, cfmamanager@gmail. com.

= ONLINE EVENT SAT.17 » P.60

JUST A COUPLE OLD GUYS

TUESDAYS > 7:00 P.M.

16t-vcamWEEKLY23.indd 1 9:24

16t-vcam-weekly.indd 1 11/2/20 3:07 PM

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.

MORSE CODE BINGO: Game players learn why the Montpelier-Wells River Railroad was a vital communication link across Vermont. Call to confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 584-3827.

lgbtq

QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL: More than 80 vendors showcase their work among other rad activities, including live performances, activist opportunities, craft demonstrations, fun for kids and community art projects. Plainfield Recreation Field, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, vtqueercrafts@gmail.com.

VAUDEVILLE VORTEX: Grimm’s Domain hosts an unforgettable evening of glamorous drag, burlesque and circus. Lumière Hall, Burlington Beer, 7-10 p.m. $20. Info, 216-9099.

music

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES:

MYRA FLYNN: The award-winning new-soul singer croons the night away. Cooper Field, Putney, 6 p.m. $20-25; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.

HAIDUCK & HECKENDORN

PLAY THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK: Special guests J.D. Haenni and Dan Ryan make four at this evening of classic tunes for clarinet, piano, bass and drums. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 7-8:30 p.m. $25. Info, 372-8889.

KAT WRIGHT: The Queen City songbird turns heads with soulful vocal stylings. Knoll Farm, Fayston, 6:30 p.m. $30; free for kids under 5. Info, info@knollfarm.org.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: Master classes, performances and talks by musicians tantalize the ears of classical listeners. See lccmf.org for full schedule. Various Chittenden County locations, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $15-245 for festival pass; prices vary for individual events. Info, 846-2175.

THE MAGNETICA CONCERT:

Audiences experience the healing power of a sound, light and music generator built in Uruguay. The Magnetica Performance Space, Burlington, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $40. Info, events@themagnetica.com.

‘TRIO: YEARNING’: Virtuosic chamber choir Ampersand explore themes of desire and devotion through sacred and secular vocal works. Old Round Church, Richmond, 5-6:15 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, ampersandchambermusic@gmail.com.

‘THE WELL TREE’: See FRI.16. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m.

theater

‘THE BEGINNING AFTER THE END OF HUMANITY CIRCUS’: Bread and Puppet’s summer show incorporates puppetry, dancing and acrobatics to explore themes of grief, death, genocide and — ultimately — hope. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 3 p.m. $10; by donation for kids under 6; preregister. Info, 525-3031.

‘BURIED CHILD’: See THU.15.

‘DRACULA’: See THU.15, 2-4:30 & 7:30-10 p.m.

GUNS & CHOCOLATE: See FRI.16.

‘HAPPY DAYS’: Pamela Rickard stars in playwright Samuel Beckett’s one-woman show about a woman who has a lot to say despite being buried up to her neck. Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 8-9 p.m. $20. Info, tracy@ madriver.com.

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’: See WED.14, 7:30 p.m.

‘PIPPIN’: See WED.14, 2-4:30 p.m.

‘RETURNING TO HAIFA’: See THU.15.

TENFEST 2024: FREEDOM AND UNITY: See THU.15.

THIRD ANNUAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: Middlebury Acting Company presents staged readings of three new scripts by Vermont playwrights. See calendar spotlight. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 1 p.m. $15; $20-40 for festival pass. Info, 382-9222.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 9 a.m., 4:30 & 8:15 p.m.

SOPHIE KIM: A meet and greet with the author of The God and the Gumiho marks Bookstore Romance Day. Phoenix Books, Essex, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

WRITERS’ WERTFREI: Authors both fledgling and published gather to share their work in a judgment-free environment. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.

SUN.18

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14. COMMUNITY CARE DAY: Volunteers hand out food, clothing and other necessities to community members in need. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

HUMAN CONNECTION CIRCLE: Neighbors share stories from their lives and forge deep connections. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, humanconnectioncircle@ gmail.com.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.14, 1-3 p.m.

AUG. 17 & 18 | THEATER

New Kids on the Block

Theater lovers eager to get in on the ground floor of the next big thing flock to Middlebury Acting Company’s annual New Play Festival. The weekend-long series of staged readings — moved this year to the air-conditioned A.R.T. Black Box Theater at the Hannaford Career Center — features three brand-spanking-new works by Vermont playwrights: Hands of the Mother by Karina Jutzi, a modern retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth; Watershed by Susan Palmer, which takes place during the July 2023 flood; and Aristotle’s King by Dana Yeaton and Colston Merrell, in which the titular philosopher reckons with the death of Alexander the Great.

THIRD ANNUAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

Saturday, August 17, 1 p.m.; and Sunday, August 18, 1 & 4 p.m., at Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury. $15; $20-40 for festival pass. Info, 382-9222, townhalltheater.org.

dance

‘THE JUNIPER TREE’: See FRI.16, 7-8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY SERVICE: Local DJs bring their own unique styles to a biweekly outdoor dance party. Rotary Park, Winooski, 2-7 p.m. Free. Info, info@downtownwinooski.org. etc.

‘EAT MY ART OUT’: Artists of all stripes, from dancers to actors to poets, perform works in progress and receive constructive feedback. Michele and Martin Cohen Hall for the Integrated Arts, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, pbesaw@ uvm.edu.

fairs & festivals

GREEN MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS & ROOTS FESTIVAL: See THU.15, 8:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

food & drink

STOWE FARMERS MARKET: An appetizing assortment of fresh veggies, meats, milk, berries, herbs, beverages and crafts tempts shoppers. Stowe Farmers Market, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, stowefarmersmarket@gmail. com.

VERSHIRE ARTISAN & FARMERS MARKET: Foodies, farmers and their friends buy and sell freshgrown produce and handmade

treasures. Vershire Town Center, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, vershiremarket@gmail.com.

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: Families shop for fresh produce, honey, meats, coffee and prepared foods from a gathering of seasonal vendors at an outdoor marketplace. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 655-6410.

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.

music

GREEN MOUNTAIN SWING:

Music lovers take a trip aboard a musical time machine with classic

big-band melodies. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 4-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: See SAT.17, 2:15-5 p.m.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY MUSIC SERIES: JILLIAN DAWN: The TikTok indie-pop artist infuses anthemic sounds with catchy country-rock vibes. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

SUNDAY SESSIONS: The patio at Tavern on the Tee restaurant

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

hosts tunes from a variety of musicians. Open to the public. Ralph Myhre Golf Course, Middlebury, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5125.

TUSK: See FRI.16. Essex Experience, 8-11 p.m. $30-45. Info, 878-4200.

VERMONT JAZZ ENSEMBLE: The big band gets picnickers swing dancing out on the lawn. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 4-5:30 p.m. $25. Info, 372-8889.

WESTFORD SUMMER CONCERT

SERIES: STEPH PAPPAS: The founding guitarist of Miss Bliss, a 1980s Burlington alt-punk girl group, rocks out with her Experience Band. Westford Common, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 363-0930.

outdoors

HERE BE DRAGONFLIES: Entomology enthusiasts capture and identify species during this basic introduction to the winged insects. Call to confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 584-3827.

sports

VERMONT SUN TRIATHLON: Athletes swim 600 yards, bike 14 miles and run 3.1 miles amid the mountains, lakes and streams of Central Vermont. Branbury State Park, Salisbury, 8 a.m. $170. Info, 388-6888.

talks

THOMAS VISSER: A University of Vermont professor dives into the fascinating history of a proposed chocolate factory

in 1917 Burlington. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 865-4556.

theater

‘THE BEGINNING AFTER THE END OF HUMANITY CIRCUS’: See SAT.17.

‘BURIED CHILD’: See THU.15, 3-5 p.m.

‘DRACULA’: See THU.15, 2-4:30 p.m.

‘HAPPY DAYS’: See SAT.17.

‘RETURNING TO HAIFA’: See THU.15, 2 p.m.

TENFEST 2024: FREEDOM AND UNITY: See THU.15, 2-4 p.m.

THIRD ANNUAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: See SAT.17, 1 & 4 p.m.

CARE YOU CAN COUNT

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 9 a.m., 4:15 & 8:15 p.m.

PHOENIX FABLES FANTASY BOOK CLUB: Lovers of magical myths discuss the Vermont-set fantasy novel Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs. Phoenix Books, Rutland, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 855-8078.

MON.19

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14.

crafts

HAND-STITCHING GROUP: Embroiderers, cross-stitchers and

other needlework aficionados chat over their latest projects.

Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, northwaringa@gmail. com.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

food & drink

PIE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL: The Vergennes City Band soundtracks this feast of homemade treats.

Vergennes City Park, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 417-4300.

games

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: Discounted wine by the glass fuels an evening of friendly competition featuring new and classic board games, card games, and cribbage. Shelburne Vineyard, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

health & fitness

FARM & FOREST YOGA FLOW: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park ranger and yoga teacher Jen Jackson leads a balanced asana practice. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 5:156:30 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3368.

YOGA CLASS: Yogis gather for poses and downward dogs amid the bookshelves. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: See SAT.17, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

SAMBATUCADA OPEN

REHEARSAL: Burlington’s own samba street percussion band welcomes new members. No experience or instruments required. 8 Space Studio Collective, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 862-5017.

ST. JOHNSBURY BAND: The nation’s third-oldest community band regales locals during a weekly ice cream social. Caledonia County Courthouse, St. Johnsbury, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, manager@ stjohnsburyband.org.

VERGENNES CITY BAND SUMMER

CONCERTS: An all-volunteer community ensemble makes music on the green all summer long. Vergennes City Park, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, sodaniel27@gmail.com.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’

CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 10 a.m. & 8:15 p.m.

TUE.20 agriculture

WORKING WOODLANDS

WORKSHOP — CONSERVING

LEGACIES: PLANT PRESSING: Crafters and gardeners alike learn how to press and conserve greens and flowers. Marsh-BillingsRockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 5-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 457-3368.

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14.

CURRENT EVENTS

DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

dance

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

education

UNPACKING VERMONT’S NEW LITERACY LAW: Parents and teachers learn what Act 139 means for young readers. Presented by Vermont Family Network. 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-5315.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

language

MANDARIN CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency.

ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH

CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

FAMI LY FU N

birds of prey. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 533-2000.

brattleboro/okemo valley

HENRY FORD, THOMAS EDISON, CALVIN

COOLIDGE REENACTMENT: Actors bring the president’s 1924 meeting with the titans of industry to life outside the Coolidge homestead. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 672-1195.

SUN.18

northeast kingdom

BIRDS ON THE MOVE: Dolls, exhibits and an interactive lawn game teach avian enthusiasts all about migration. Call to

music

FAIRLEE SUMMER CONCERT

SERIES: Outdoor audience members take in a show from a new band each week. Fairlee Town Common, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, contact@fairleearts.org.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: See SAT.17, noon & 4 p.m.

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE: THE SHADY TREES: A jam band plays original tunes spanning genres as far-flung as reggae, twang and rock. Legion Field, Johnson, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 730-2943.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’

CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 9 a.m., 4:15 & 8:15 p.m.

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Readers analyze two novels by Iris Murdoch, Under the Net and The Black Prince, over 10 weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.

WINE & STORY: Lovers of libations and tellers of tales gather for an evening of good company. Shelburne Vineyard, 6:45-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, rhamrell@together. net.

WED.21

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.14.

climate crisis

PAUL BIERMAN: The University of Vermont geologist unpacks his lab’s work using soil in Greenland to learn about climate change. Worthen Library, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 372-6209.

confirm. Nature Center, Groton State Forest, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 584-3827. TRACKS, SKINS & SKULLS: See THU.15, 11 a.m.

MON.19

burlington

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 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

NATURE PLAYGROUP: Kids and their caregivers explore fields and trails for 90 minutes with an Audubon guide. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TINY TOTS STORY TIME: Little tykes have fun, hear stories and meet new friends with Ms. Cynthia. Ages 3 and under. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

community

2024 SCAVENGER HUNT IN STOWE: See WED.14.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: SAFE HARBOR: Representatives post up in the main reading room to answer questions and provide resources. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.14.

dance

DANNY JONOKUCHI & THE REVISIONISTS SWING DANCE AND JAZZ CONCERT: The award-winning jazz band backs a night of swing dancing. Shelburne Town Hall, beginner lesson, 6:30 p.m.; dance, 7-9:30 p.m. $25. Info, 864-8382.

ECSTATIC DANCE FUNDRAISER: An evening of intuitive movement and prayer offerings supports Dreamland Sanctuary’s flood repairs. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 7-9 p.m. Donations. Info, fearnessence@ gmail.com.

etc.

CHAMP MASTERS TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: See WED.14.

fairs & festivals

CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR: Vermont’s oldest agricultural fair features rides, live music and entertainment, livestock events, demolition derbies, and fair food. Mountain View Park, Lyndonville, 4-11 p.m. $15-25; free for kids under 36 inches. Info, 427-4404.

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL: It’s a film fanatic’s paradise when more than 125 features, high-profile panelists and lively festivities roll into town for this 10th annual fest. See middfilmfest.org for full schedule. Various

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads two picture books on a different theme each week. Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

northeast kingdom

STORY TIME: See THU.15, 2-2:30 p.m.

randolph/royalton

HANDS-ON SCIENCE PROGRAM: Elementary students learn how circuits work and design their own. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, abelisle2@comcast.net.

TUE.20

burlington

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.

Middlebury locations, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. $17-72; $55-143 for festival pass. Info, 382-9222.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA OPERATION: Aspiring photographers and cinematographers learn how to shoot like the pros.

The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.14.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.14.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.14.

food & drink

CIDER TERRA: See WED.14.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: See WED.14.

WHAT’S THAT WINE

WEDNESDAYS: See WED.14.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.14.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.14.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.14.

INTERMEDIATE IRISH LANGUAGE CONVERSATION AND MUSIC: See WED.14.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

chittenden

county

FAMILY STORY TIME: Lively little ones gather for short stories, familiar songs, rhymes and fingerplays. Ages 5 and under. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

OUTDOOR STORY TIME: Youngsters enjoy a sunny session of reading, rhyming and singing with Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Birth through age 5. Williston Town Green, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

HOMESCHOOL FAMILY MEET-UP: Kids who learn at home and their caregivers bond over crafts and games. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, info@kellogghubbard.org.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 18 months and younger learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

music

BLUES JAM: Musicians singin’ the blues take over the Tavern on the Tee patio for a monthly series featuring local and regional acts. Anyone with an instrument is welcome to join the jam. Ralph Myhre Golf Course, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5125.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: See SAT.17, 1-7 p.m.

MUSIC ON THE BRICKS: MAL MAÏZ: The psychedelic Latin outfit captivates audience members with a blend of traditional and modern Central and South American tunes. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

POINTE NOIR CAJUN BAND: The Louisiana dance outfit brings the beats of the bayou to Vermont. Martha Pellerin & Andy Shapiro Memorial Bandstand, Middlesex, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 461-7702.

outdoors

BEAVER SCAVENGER HUNT: See WED.14.

BOREAL FOREST WALK: See WED.14.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.14.

theater

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: Shakespeare goes radical with unconventional and modern productions of Macbeth and Twelfth Night presented outdoors on the Taconic Lawn. The Equinox Resort & Spa, Manchester, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $12-20. Info, shakespeareinthewoodsvt@ gmail.com.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE: See WED.14, 9 a.m. & 4:15 p.m. ➆

WED.21

burlington

ART EXPLORERS: Young creatives learn about art history and self-expression at this homeschooler-friendly program from Davis Studio. Ages 5 through 14. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

IMAGINATION STATION: See WED.14. TODDLER TIME: See WED.14.

chittenden county

GAME ON!: See WED.14.

SUMMER BABYTIME: See WED.14.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

FOREST DISCOVERY CENTER: See WED.14. K

Fur-ever

Seven Days Pet Memorials

J zy Richer

2011-2024

Our Furry Star, Jeezy

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved Jeezy, who has embarked on his final cosmic adventure.

Our gentle giant, who fancied himself the size of a Chihuahua, leaves behind a legacy of joy and unconditional love that touched the lives of all who knew him. A true cosmopolitan, Jeezy never met a stranger. His life philosophy was simple: spread joy like peanut butter on a bone. With his departure, our home is filled with the ache of his absence. He has crossed the rainbow bridge, leaving us only with cherished memories of his goofy antics, warm snuggles and the unconditional love he so freely gave.

Rest easy, our dear sweet Jeezy. We’ll forever hold dear the laughter and love you brought to life. You were, and always will be, the brightest star in our sky.

With cosmic-size hugs and kisses, we love you furever.

(A special thank-you to Peak Veterinary Center, Dr. Courtney Zwahlen, and the team who loved, cared for and treated Jeezy during his cancer. We love you all).

— Love, Mommy & Daddy, the Richers

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.

culinary

PEACHES, PLUMS, & PLUOTS: In this class, use seasonal stone fruits to make three magnificent but easy-to-puttogether desserts: peach and frangipane toast, plum torte, and pluot galette. Aug. 17, 1-3 p.m. Cost: $75. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com.

gardening

CUT FLOWER GARDENING & ARRANGING: Join us for a two-part class on cut flower gardening and arranging. e first half of the class will be a talk and Q&A about cut flower gardening, while the second half will be a hands-on lesson in floral arranging. Bring your own vase; flowers are provided. Aug. 22 or Aug. 29, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $35. Location: Horsford Gardens & Nursery, 2111 Greenbush Road, Charlotte. Info: 802-425-2811, sevendaystickets.com.

kids

SUMMER DAY CAMP AT CAMP

Info: Benjamin Pincus, 802-9518900, bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

meditation

EXPERIENCE ABUNDANCE

SWIM LESSONS AT UVM: e Vermont Swim School offers both youth and adult swimmers the opportunity to learn and develop aquatic skills in a nurturing and friendly environment. Lessons take place in the University of Vermont Athletic/Recreation Complex in the Forbush Natatorium. Both group and private lessons are offered. Sun. a.m. Location: 97 Spear St., Burlington. Info: Campus Recreation, 802-656-3070, campus.recreation@uvm. edu, uvmcampusrec.com/ sports/2017/7/5/ lesson-types.aspx.

tai chi

Do you want to memorialize your pet in the pages of Seven Days? Visit sevendaysvt.com/petmemorials to submit your remembrance.

All sizes include a photo and your tribute. Short $30, Medium $50, Long $100

Print deadline: ursdays at 5 p.m. Questions? petmemorials@sevendaysvt.com

MEADE: Weeklong, half-day camp. 5-day camp tuition. Supervised after-camp activities are available until 5 p.m. Visit campmeade.today for more details! Glassmaking Camp: Aug. 19-23. Practice the mesmerizing art of glassmaking! Location: Camp Meade, 961 Rte. 2, Middlesex. Info: Jarret Dury-Agri, 802-828-7121, hello@planetary artinstitute.org, campmeade. today/art-and-music-programs.

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE WATERCOURSE WAY: Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Not your average “mojo dojo casa house.” Inclusive training and a safe space for all. Scholarships and intensive program are available for serious students. Visitors are always welcome! Basic classes 5 days/week. Introductory classes begin Aug. 27/Sep. 10 at 6 p.m. Membership rates incl. unlimited classes 6 days/week. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families.

Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington.

MEDITATION: Celeste Hartwell will guide you on your journey to removing your blocks to abundance and help you receive more of your good during this meditation and healing class. e relaxing atmosphere and glow of salt lamps in the Purple Sage salt cave create the ideal environment for releasing negative energy to help you move forward to receiving what you desire. Tue., Aug. 20, 7-8 p.m. Cost: $70. Location: Purple Sage, 21 Essex Way Suite 224, Essex. Info: 802-316-8885, sevendaystickets.com.

sports

BIKE CARE BASICS: is one-night workshop will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you confidence in either getting what you need at the bike shop or figuring out how to deal with it on your own. Every Wed., starting Aug. 14, 6-7:30 p.m.

Cost: $50. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, Info: 802-863-4475, sevendaystickets.com.

NEW BEGINNER TAI CHI CLASS: We practice Cheng Man-ch’ing’s “simplified” 37-posture Yangstyle form. e course will be taught by Patrick Cavanaugh, a longtime student and assistant to Wolfe Lowenthal; Wolfe is a direct student of Cheng Manch’ing and founder of Long River Tai Chi Circle. Opportunities for learning online are also available! Starts Oct. 2, 9-10 a.m.; registration open until Oct. 30. Cost: $65/mo. Location: Gym at St. Anthony’s Church, 305 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: Long River Tai Chi Circle, Patrick Cavanaugh, 802-490-6405, patrick@longrivertaichi.org, longrivertaichi.org.

and purchase tickets for

classes at

housing » APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES on the road » CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES pro services » CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING

buy this stuff »

APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE music »

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NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Penny Humane Society of Chittenden County

AGE/SEX: 3-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: July 1, 2024

SUMMARY: A spunky girl with lots of personality, this brindle beauty will be an amazing companion for a lucky adopter! Penny came to HSCC when her guardian was moving and could not take her along. She’s whip-smart (she knows “sit,” “stay,” “paw” and more!) and loves going on adventures. Hiking, swimming, walks on the pier — she’s up for anything. But her greatest love in life? Tennis balls! Penny loves, loves, loves her tennis balls and playtime. She’s hesitant to share her favorite balls and toys, so potential adopters should be open to understanding her play preferences. Could this gorgeous gal be your new best friend? Visit Penny at HSCC to learn more about her!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Penny is generally tolerant of dogs but would like to be the only dog in her new home. Penny is looking for a home without cats or young children.

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?

Dogs are creatures of habit and feel most comfortable when their schedule is predictable. You don’t need to change your schedule to fit their needs but try to keep mealtime, exercise and bedtime as consistent as possible.

Sponsored by:

CALCOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

crossword

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P.68 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

ENDING IN FIVE DIGITS

ANSWERS ON P. 68 »

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

➆➆➆

Legal Notices

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Prior Authorization.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P030

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services

CONCISE SUMMARY: This rule sets forth the criteria for Vermont Medicaid’s prior authorization process. It amends current prior authorization Rule 7102 titled “Prior Authorization.” Revisions include:(1) align the rule with 42 CFR 438.210(d) (2) that requires that expedited prior authorizations be decided within 72 hours of request, (2) provide that standard prior authorizations must be decided within seven days of request, (3) add clarity regarding the prior authorization process for pharmacy requests, and (4) add prior authorization requirements for the routine patient costs of a beneficiary when they are related to a clinical trial.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Ashley Berliner, Agency of Human Services, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1000 Tel: 802-5789305 Fax: 802-241-0450

E-Mail: AHS.MedicaidPolicy@vermont.gov

URL: https://humanservices.vermont. gov/rules-policies/health-care-rules/ health-care-administrative-rules-hcar.

FOR COPIES: Linda Narrow McLemore, Agency of Human Services, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1000 Tel: 802-779-3258 Fax: 802-241-0450

E-Mail: Linda.McLemore@Vermont.gov.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION ORLEANS UNIT DOCKET NO.:24-PR-01559

In re ESTATE of Frederic Oliver Diette NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Frederic Oliver Diette, late of Balitmore City, Maryland.

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: February 6, 2024

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Gregory Bruce Diette

Executor/Administrator: Gregory Bruce Diette, c/o Laura E. Gorsky, Esq., PO Box 471, Richmond, VT 05477 phone: 802-434-3344 email: laura@vtgorsky.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 08/14/2024

Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont - Orleans Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 247 Main St., Newport, VT 05855

HOWARD CENTER

If you received services from Howard Center and would like a copy of your record, please contact Howard Center’s Health Information Department

at 488-6000. In order to protect individuals’ privacy, the agency routinely destroys healthcare records after retaining them for the number of years required by law.

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON AUGUST 22, 2024 AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on August 22, 2024 at 9am EST at 1124 Charlestown Road, Springfield, VT 05156 (Units S38, S81, S86, S118), 681 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, VT 05151 (Unit R81), 615 Route 7, Danby VT 05739 (Unit D45) 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

D45 Jennifer Kerson Household Goods

R81 Rebecca Richmond Household Goods

S38 Martha Ouellette Household Goods

S86 Joshua Schulenberger Household Goods

S118 Ashley Dawson Household Goods

S81 Alexis Roldan Household Goods

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES

The Cooperative Development Institute’s Water Infrastructure Support Program is seeking Statements of Qualifications from qualified engineering firms on behalf of the Westbury Homeowners’ Association, Inc. (WHAI) for the redevelopment of their electrical, drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Required professional services will include but are not limited to: engineering assessments, additional preliminary engineering services, design-and construction-relations services, preparation of bidding and contracting documents, participation in evaluating bids received, and construction administration to ensure compliance with plans and specifications.

Procurement of said services will be in accordance with 40 U.S.C. § 1101- 1104. Qualified entities interested in being considered must submit: (1) letter of interest; (2) statement of qualifications

and experience of firm and associates to be involved with the project; (3)references; (4) related prior experience; and (5) experience with federal funding sources.

Submit the requested information to wisp@cdi. coop no later than 5 pm Friday, September 6th 2024 to be considered.

Please visit https://cdi.coop/rfqcolchestervt/ to view the full Request for Qualifications.

PUBLIC NOTICE – REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Town of Shelburne is seeking proposals for an outdoor court resurfacing project. The deadline to submit bids is Aug. 23, 2024 at 3:00 PM EST at which time bids will be opened. Information for bidders and the complete RFP can be found on the Town of Shelburne website: https://www. shelburnevt.org/398/Bids-RFQs-RFPs. For more information contact Betsy Cieplicki, Parks and Recreation Director, at bcieplicki@shelburnevt.org.

ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION (as required by the 1979 Guidelines for Elimination Discrimination in Vocational Education Programs [34 CFR part 100., App. B, IV-O])

Burlington Technical Center/Burlington School District 150 Colchester Ave Burlington, VT 05401

Burlington Technical Center is pleased to announce that we are offering the following Career and Technical Education Programs of Studies for the 2024-2025 school year:

Automotive Science and Technology Aviation and Aerospace Technology Design, Fabrication, and Engineering Design and Illustration

Digital Media Lab

Health Sciences Academy

Homeland Security & Criminal Justice Introduction to Health Care

Pre-Technical Exploratory Education Training and Leadership Adult and Continuing Education Programs

More information can be found on the BTC Website: https://btc.bsdvt.org/programs

Admissions process:

Tour: In conjunction with the student’s sending school, plan a visit to BTC’s programs.

Apply: Fill out the online application on the BTC website https://btc.bsdvt.org/application/. Interview: Meet with the teacher/s of the desired program/s.

Decision: Grade level, attendance records, prerequisite skills for desired program, willingness to follow safety instructions, and ability to learn in a respectful and inclusive environment are all considered in the admissions decision. A determination will be made about admission to BTC in a timely manner.

Burlington Technical Center and Burlington School District do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or marital status in the admission process, access to activities, nor in access to employment. Burlington Technical Center and Burlington School District offer additional services to students with limited English language skills and those with disabilities to ensure they have access to these programs. Individuals wishing to obtain information about the existence and location of accessible services and facilities should contact the 504 Coordinator (information below).

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Title IX Coordinator:

Sparks, Director of Equity

Burlington School District

150 Colchester Avenue

Burlington, VT 05401

504 Coordinator: Kellie Klason, Executive Director of Student Support Services

Burlington School District

150 Colchester Avenue

Burlington, VT 05401

*Please note that marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity are protected classes that are required by VT State law, not Federal Law.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-02412

In re ESTATE of Arthur D. Norcross

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Arthur D. Norcross, late of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

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: August 12, 2024

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater

Executor/Administrator: Thomas Norcross, c/o Launa L. Slater, Wiener & Slater, PLLC, 110 Main St., Suite 4F, Burlington, VT 05401 phone: 802-863-1836 email: launa@wsvtlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 08/14/2024

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401

Support Groups

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR MOTHERS OF COLOR

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Wed., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR SINGLE MOTHERS

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Fri., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS W/ LGBTQ+ CHILDREN

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Mon., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/family-support-programs.

AL-ANON

For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom) & an Al-Anon blog are avail. online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanonalateen.org or call 866-972-5266.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Do you have a drinking problem? AA meeting sites are now open, & online meetings are also avail. Call our hotline at 802-864-1212 or check for in-person or online meetings at burlingtonaa.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.

Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston Caregiver Support Group meets in person on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston; this meeting also has a virtual option at the same time; contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@ burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury Support Group for Individuals w/ Early Stage Dementia meets the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury; contact Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@ residenceottercreek.com or 802-9890097. The Shelburne Support Group for Individuals w/ Early Stage Dementia meets the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne; contact support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@residenceshelburnebay.com. The Telephone Support Group meets the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Prereg. is req. (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-2723900, for more info. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP

VT Active Amputees is a new support group open to all amputees for connection, community & support. The group meets on the 1st Wed. of the mo. in S. Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Let’s get together & be active: running, pickleball & ultimate Frisbee. Email vtactiveamputees@gmail.com or call Sue at 802-582-6750 for more info & location.

BABY BUMPS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MOTHERS & PREGNANT WOMEN

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time of your life. But it can also be a time of stress often compounded by hormonal swings. If you are a pregnant woman, or have recently given birth & feel you need some help w/ managing emotional bumps in the road that can come w/ motherhood, please come to this free support group led by an experienced pediatric registered nurse. Held on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Birthing Center, Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans. Info: Rhonda Desrochers, Franklin County Home Health Agency, 527-7531.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

I represent Rush Meadow Consulting, LLC. The company sold substantially all of its assets on April 29, 2024 and is currently in the process of winding up its business. I have been authorized by the company to administer that winding up. If you would like to submit a claim for amounts due to you from Rush Meadow Consulting, LLC, you may do so by sending your claim in writing to: Pease Mountain Law PLLC P.O. Box 279 Hinesburg, VT 05461-0279

Your claim must commence within 5 years after publication of this notice. If your claim is not received within that 5-year period it will be barred pursuant to 11 V.S.A. §4108.

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

BETTER BREATHERS CLUB

American Lung Association support group for people w/ breathing issues, their loved ones or caregivers. Meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 11 a.m.-noon at the Godnick Center, 1 Deer St., Rutland. For more info, call 802-776-5508.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@ vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@ dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m. in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils 802-877-3742 or email neils@ myfairpoint.net.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@gmail. com.

CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP

Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m. in Montpelier. Please contact Lisa Masé for location: lisa@harmonizecookery.com.

CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDANCE

Cerebral Palsy Guidance is a very comprehensive informational website broadly covering the topic of cerebral palsy & associated medical conditions. Its mission is to provide the best possible info to parents of children living w/ the complex condition of cerebral

Your claim must include copies of all billing documents in support of your claim.

Dated: August 12, 2024

Michael T. Russell Pease Mountain Law PO Box 279 Hinesburg, VT 05461-0279

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: August 14, 2024

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-4443, Located at 28 Adams Drive Williston, VT 05495 Will be sold on or about the 29th of August, 2024 to satisfy the debt of Susan Waters. Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

palsy. Visit cerebralpalsyguidance.com/ cerebral-palsy.

CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS

CoDA is a 12-step fellowship for people whose common purpose is to develop healthy & fulfilling relationships. By actively working the program of Codependents Anonymous, we can realize a new joy, acceptance & serenity in our lives. Meets Sun. at noon at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. Info: Tom, 238-3587, coda.org.

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP

The Compassionate Friends international support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 4th Tue. of the mo., 7-9 p.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd, S. Burlington. Call/email Alan at 802-233-0544 alanday88@ gmail.com or Claire at 802-448-3569.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF CHOICE!

We welcome anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. This is an abstinence-oriented program based on the science of addiction treatment & recovery. Meets are online Sun. at 5 p.m. at the link: meetings.smartrecovery. org/meetings/1868. Face-to-face meetings are 1st & 3rd Sun. at 3 p.m. at the Turning Point of Chittenden County. Meetings for family & friends are online on Mon. at 7 p.m. at the link: meetings/ smartrecovery.org/meetings/6337. Contact volunteer facilitator Bert at 802-399-8754 w/ questions. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Steps to End Domestic Violence offers a weekly drop-in support group for femaleidentified survivors of intimate partner violence, including individuals who are experiencing or have been affected by domestic violence. The support group offers a safe, confidential place for survivors to connect w/ others, to heal & to recover. In support group, participants talk through their experiences & hear stories from others who have experienced abuse in their relationships. Support group is also a resource for those who are unsure of their next step, even if it involves remaining in their current relationship. Tue., 6:30-8 p.m. Childcare is provided. Info: 658-1996.

FAMILY & FRIENDS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

This support group is a dedicated meeting for family, friends & community members who are supporting a loved one through a mental health crisis. Mental health crisis might include extreme states, psychosis, depression, anxiety & other types of distress. The group is a confidential space where family & friends can discuss shared experiences & receive support in an environment free of judgment & stigma w/ a trained facilitator. Wed., 7-8:30 p.m. Downtown Burlington. Info: Jess Horner, LICSW, 866-218-8586.

FAMILY RESTORED: SUPPORT GROUP FOR FRIENDS & FAMILIES OF ADDICTS & ALCOHOLICS

Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., Holy Family/St. Lawrence Parish, 4 Prospect St., Essex Jct. For info, please visit thefamilyrestored.org or contact Lindsay Duford at 781-960-3965 or 12lindsaymarie@ gmail.com.

FIERCELY FLAT VT

A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@gmail.com.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held twice a week: Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Norwich, Vt.; & Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., at Hanover Friends Meeting House, Hanover, N.H. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

G.R.A.S.P. (GRIEF RECOVERY AFTER A SUBSTANCE PASSING)

Are you a family member who has lost a loved one to addiction? Find support, peer-led support group. Meets once a mo. on Mon. in Burlington. Please call for date & location. RSVP to mkeasler3@gmail.com or call 310-3301 (message says Optimum Health, but this is a private number).

Support Groups

[CONTINUED]

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Sharing your sadness, finding your joy. Please join us as we learn more about our own grief & explore the things that can help us to heal. There is great power in sharing our experiences w/ others who know the pain of the loss of a loved one & healing is possible through the sharing. BAYADA Hospice’s local bereavement support coordinator will facilitate our weekly group through discussion & activities. Everyone from the community is welcome. 1st & last Wed. of every mo. at 4 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Max Crystal, mcrystal@bayada.com or 802-448-1610.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

Meet every 2nd Mon., 6-7:30 p.m., & every 3rd Wed. from 10-11:30 a.m., at Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice in Berlin. The group is open to the public & free of charge. More info: Diana Moore, 224-2241.

GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending, but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held twice a mo., the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo. from 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please register at allsoulsinterfaith. org. More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP

This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2-3 p.m. Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-777-8602, abby@pathways vermont.org.

HELLENBACH CANCER SUPPORT

People living w/ cancer & their caretakers convene for support. Call to verify meeting place. Info, 388-6107.

INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/PAINFUL BLADDER SUPPORT GROUP

Interstitial cystitis (IC) & painful bladder syndrome can result in recurring pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder/pelvic region & urinary frequency/ urgency. These are often misdiagnosed & mistreated as a chronic bladder infection. If you have been diagnosed or have these symptoms, you are not alone. For Vermont-based support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail.com or call 899-4151 for more info.

INTUITIVE EATING SUPPORT GROUP

Free weekly peer-led support group for anyone struggling w/ eating &/or body image. The only requirement is a desire to make peace w/ food & your body. Meeting format is: a short reading from Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch, 4th edition, followed by open sharing & discussion. Come find community through sharing struggles, experience, strength & hope. Located at the Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Sun. 1-2:30 p.m. Contact 202-553-8953 w/ any questions.

KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM

OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@vcsn.net.

LAUGHTER YOGA

Spontaneous, genuine laughter & gentle breathing for physical & emotional benefit. No yoga mat needed! This group is held every Mon., 2-3 p.m., at Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Contact Chris Nial for any questions: chrisn@ pathwaysvermont.org.

LGBTQ SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE

The SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program at Pride Center of Vermont offers peer-led support groups for survivors of relationship, dating, emotional &/or hate-violence. These groups give survivors a safe & supportive environment to tell their stories, share info, & offer & receive support. Support groups also provide survivors an opportunity to gain info on how to better cope w/ feelings & experiences that surface because of the trauma they have experienced. Please call SafeSpace at 863-0003 if you are interested in joining.

LGBTQ VETERANS

Share the struggles & celebrate the joys of being a service member & LGBTQIA+ in this peer-led discussion group. Meetings are at the Rainbow Bridge Community Center in Barre on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of each mo. Visit rbccvt.org for more info.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

Gifford Medical Center is announcing the restart of its grief support group, Living Through Loss. The program is sponsored by the Gifford Volunteer Chaplaincy Program & will meet weekly on Fri., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Gifford’s Chun Chapel. Meetings will be facilitated by the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt, spiritual care coordinator, & Emily Pizzale MSW, LICSW, a Gifford social worker. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the last year or so is warmly invited to attend & should enter through the hospital’s main entrance wearing a mask on the way to the chapel. Meetings will be based on the belief that, while each of us is on a unique journey in life, we all need a safe place to pause, to tell our stories &, especially as we grieve, to receive the support & strength we need to continue along the way.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS

Do you have a problem w/ marijuana? MA is a free 12-step program where addicts help other addicts get & stay clean. Ongoing Mon., 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Burlington (Red Door Church) 21 Buell St., Burlington. Contact: jointsession@ newenglandma.org.

MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP

Area myeloma survivors, families & caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., at the New Hope Lodge on East Ave. in Burlington. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.

NAMI CONNECTION PEER SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Weekly virtual meetings. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, program@namivt.org or 800-6396480. Connection groups are peer recovery support group programs for adults living w/ mental health challenges.

NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Weekly virtual & in-person meetings. ASL interpreters avail. upon request. Family Support Group meetings are for family & friends of individuals living w/ mental illness. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, info@namivt.org or 800-639-6480.

NARCONON SUNCOAST DRUG & ALCOHOL REHABILITATION & EDUCATION

Narconon reminds families that overdoses due to an elephant tranquilizer known as Carfentanil have been on the rise in nearly every community nationwide. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid painkiller 100 times more powerful than fentanyl & 1,000 times stronger than heroin. A tiny grain of it is enough to be fatal. To learn more about carfentanil abuse & how to help your loved one, visit narconon-suncoast.org/drug-abuse/ parents-get-help.html. Addiction screenings: Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family. Call today for a no-cost screening or referral: 1-877-841-5509.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, Barre & St. Johnsbury. Info, 862-4516 or cvana.org.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP

Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS! EVERY PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY!

The Children’s Room invites you to join our weekly drop-in support group. Come unwind & discuss your experiences & questions around infant care & development, self-care & postpartum healing, & community resources for families w/ babies. Tea & snacks provided. Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your babies!

(Newborn through crawling stage.)

Located in Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., childrensroomonline.org. Contact childrensroom@wwsu. org or 244-5605.

NORTHWEST VERMONT CANCER PRAYER & SUPPORT NETWORK

A meeting of cancer patients, survivors & family members intended to comfort & support those who are currently suffering from the disease.

2nd Thu. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 11 Church St., St. Albans. Info: stpaulum@ myfairpoint.net. 2nd Wed. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., Winooski United Methodist

Church, 24 W. Allen St., Winooski. Info: hovermann4@comcast.net.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)

A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/ meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more; or call 802-863-2655 anytime!

PONDERING GENDER & SEXUALITY

Pondering Gender & Sexuality is a twicemonthly facilitated mutual support group for folks of any identity (whether fully formed or a work in progress) who want to engage in meaningful conversations about gender, sexuality & sexual orientation, &/or the coming-out process. Discussions can range from the personal to the philosophical & beyond as we work together to create a compassionate, safe & courageous space to explore our experiences. The group will be held on the 2nd Sun. & 4th Tue. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m., either virtually or at Pride Center of Vermont. Email pgs@pridecentervt.org for more info or w/ questions!

POTATO INTOLERANCE SUPPORT GROUP

Anyone coping w/ potato intolerance & interested in joining a support group, contact Jerry Fox, 48 Saybrook Rd., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

QUEER CARE GROUP

This support group is for adult family members & caregivers of queer &/or questioning youth. It is held on the 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., at Outright Vermont, 241 N. Winooski Ave. This group is for adults only. For more info, email info@outrightvt.org.

READY TO BE TOBACCO-FREE GROUPS

Join a free 4-5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: call 802-847-7333 or email quittobaccoclass@uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops!

RECOVERING FROM RELIGION

Meets on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 6-8 p.m., at Brownell Public Library, 6 Lincoln St., Essex Jct., unless there’s inclement weather or the date falls on a holiday. Attendees can remain anonymous if they so choose & are not required to tell their story if they do not wish to, but everyone will be welcome to do so. The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing & personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe & anonymous places to express these doubts, fears & experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. We are here to help each other through this journey. Free.

RECOVERY DHARMA

Recovery Dharma uses Buddhist practices & principles to help people recover from all kinds of addictions & addictive behaviors. This peer led, non-theistic group offers opportunities to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry & connect w/ others. We meet every Wed. from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the First

United Methodist Church in Burlington (the “Red Door” Church, 21 Buell St.). Enter through the administrative office door (at far left when viewed from Buell St.) No meditation experience req.; all are welcome. Email rd.burlington.vt@ gmail.com for more information.

REFUGE RECOVERY MEETING

Burlington Refuge Recovery is a Buddhist-oriented, nontheistic addiction recovery group that meets every Tue. at 6:45 p.m. at Turning Point Center, located at 179 S. Winooski Ave. in Burlington.

SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND

Support group meeting held on the 4th Tue. of every mo., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Williston Police Station. Info, Blythe Leonard, 878-0732.

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Shawn, 660-2645. Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.

SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, MONTPELIER

Do you have a problem w/ compulsive sexual behavior? A 12-step program has helped us. SAA Montpelier meets twice weekly at 6 p.m.: Mon. virtual meeting, details at saatalk.info; Thu. face-toface at Bethany Church, Montpelier. Details at saa-recovery.org. Contact saa.vtrecovery@gmail.com or call 802-322-3701.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover.net.

SOCIAL ANXIETY SUPPORT GROUPS For screened adults ages 28-40. Therapist-led sessions. For more info, contact diane@ldtayeby.com.

STUTTERING SUPPORT GROUPS

If you’re a person who stutters, you are not alone! Adults, teens & school-age kids who stutter, & their families are welcome to join 1 of our 3 free National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering support groups at UVM (join by Zoom or in person). Adults: 5:30-6:30 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tue. monthly; teens (ages 13-17): 5:30-6:30 p.m., 2nd Thu. monthly; school-age children (ages 8-12) & parents (meeting separately): 4:15-5:15 p.m., 2nd Thu. monthly. Pomeroy Hall (489 Main St., UVM campus). Info: nsachapters.org/burlington, burlingtonstutters@gmail.com, 656-0250. Go, Team Stuttering!

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP

For those who have lost a friend or loved one through suicide. 6:30-8 p.m., on the 3rd Tue. of every mo. Maple Leaf Clinic, 167 N. Main St., Wallingford. Info: 446-3577.

SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT

Brattleboro, 257-7989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 229-0591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360.

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

BUSINESS MANAGER

Hall Communications dba WOKO WKOL WIZN WBTZ WJOY has an opening for a Business Manager.

A formal understanding of bookkeeping needed, and must be proficient in MS Office, Excel spreadsheets, and QuickBooks. Responsibilities also include invoicing of clients, generating AR reports, bank deposits and supplying our General Manager and CFO with daily sales projections. Some additional office responsibilities may include answering phones and accepting deliveries during office hours, Monday through Friday 8:30am-4pm. Send resume and three references to General Manager Dan Dubonnet at ddubonnet@hallradio.net. Hall Communications is an EOE.

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Field Producer

Are you technically savvy, eager to learn, and passionate about civic engagement?

Record local government meetings and public events to help keep your community informed.

Evening availability required, approx. 5-15+ flexible hours/week, $18/hour.

Send your resume, cover letter, and one reference to Steven Heron: sheron@cctv.org.

MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR

Hunger Mountain Co-op seeks to hire a dependable and innovative full-time Maintenance Coordinator to ensure safe and functioning equipment, promptly respond to daily maintenance requests, work with contractors, and implement ongoing cleaning programs. Our ideal candidate will have basic refrigeration, plumbing, electrical, and carpentry skills, be comfortable with ladders and machinery, and be able to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. The Co-op offers competitive pay, a comprehensive benefits package, and a union environment.

Hunger Mountain Co-op is for everyone. Diversity, inclusion, and a culture where everybody can contribute matters to us. We aim to create an environment for all bodies. The Co-op does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of birth, age, crime victim status, physical or mental condition. Please request accommodations if you need them.

E^M MECHANICAL

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL PLUMBING & HEATING

HVAC Service Technician / Certified Plumbing

Full time service technician needed for a wide variety of commercial and residential service calls, from plumbing and heating to air conditioning. Must be knowledgeable in all aspects of the trade. Able to do Furnace, Boiler and A/C inspections. Must have own hand tools.

Company Vehicle & Cell Phone Provided. To apply: shayden@eandmvt.com or in person appointment: (802) 658-1222

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Lead Generation Specialist

The Lead Generation Specialist is crucial in prospecting and nurturing sales leads. This position involves using and managing lead database programs to prospect new customers and construction projects. Once new prospects are identified, the role's primary focus shifts to building relationships and providing excellent, knowledgeable service to all prospects until they are transferred to customer service.

Alpine SnowGuards is a 100% employee-owned snow guard manufacturer in Morrisville, VT. Enjoy a comfortable and friendly working environment, competitive wages, excellent health care benefits, paid time off, and the opportunity to financially benefit from the company's growth and strong profit margins.

You can see the full description of the job at: alpinesnowguards.com/careers

CSWD has an immediate opening for a highly organized and reliable professional who will provide customer service and oversee front lobby duties. The ideal candidate will enthusiastically answer inquiries from the public, provide routine information about CSWD programs and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. This position will lead the Wellness Program, assist with furthering DEI initiatives, and assist with various other projects, including posting material on the website and maintaining CSWD’s intranet site.

The ideal candidate will have an associate’s degree in human resources or communications with two years’ experience. Proficiency working with MS Office, WordPress, and social media platforms are recommended.

Full-time position, competitive pay ($22-$24/hour) and excellent benefit package. Submit cover letter and resume to Amy Jewell (ajewell@cswd.net) by 8/21/2024.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Early Childhood Educators

Infant, Toddler, Preschool & Support Teachers

We are looking for Early Childhood Teachers (Leads, Assistants & Floaters) to join either of our locations in South Burlington and Essex, VT. If you’re outgoing, fun-loving, nurturing, willing to be active, and have a genuine love for children, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Experience in a classroom setting is a must. All EDGE employees are required to become First Aid and CPR-certified, for which you will be reimbursed.

Job requirements will include but are not limited to:

• Curriculum planning & collaborating with colleagues

• Lots of communication with families

*Excellent benefits available. For more information about our program, visit: edgevt.com/kids/kids-and-fitness. Check us out on FB: facebook. com/edgekidsfitness. Send applications to sarahc@edgevt.com

Assistant or Associate PROFESSOR OF MARKETING

The Department of Business Administration and Accounting at Saint Michael’s College invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor of Marketing. This position is a Tenure Track position beginning in January or August of 2025. Candidates should demonstrate an active research trajectory. Teaching responsibilities include six four-credit classes per academic year from among our required and elective business administration courses. Candidates should also be interested in curriculum development, outcomes assessment, and student advising.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply, please visit: bit.ly/SaintMichaelsJob

Carpenters & Site Leads

We are looking for experienced carpenters with knowledge of old and new construction to join the Lewis Creek Builders, DesignBuild team! We are a passionate group of carpenters, designers, and construction management professionals working in a supportive, collaborative environment to manage every aspect of residential building and remodeling projects.

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Case Administrator/

Courtroom Deputy Clerk

States District Court is seeking a qualified individual with excellent

Flexible start date! Great benefits package!

Apply online today: lewiscreekcompany.com/ employment Or call 802.662.1630

Carpenter/Site Leader Pay Range: $25.00-$40.00/hr

oriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full website:

a

federal benefits apply. Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the official Position Announcement available from any U.S. District Court office (Burlington and Rutland) or the court’s

dynamic, teamoriewnted environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full federal benefits apply. Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the official Position Announcement available from court locations in Burlington and Rutland and the court’s web site: WWW.VTD.USCOURTS.GOV EOE

WWW.VTD.USCOURTS.GOV

Community Manager

EOE

You’re in good hands with...

The Terraces, a 55+ plus independent living condominium community, seeks a Community Manager to oversee day-today operations of our common areas and programs. As the Community Manager, you will be the heartbeat of our community. You will develop and execute strategies to enhance resident engagement, cultivate relationships, and drive growth. You’ll also support our Board as they manage our community in the best interests of all residents.

We’re looking for someone with a track record of successful community engagement and growth, including financial and supervisory skills. If you are excited about the opportunity to make a difference and contribute to a thriving community, visit: theterracesshelburnevt.com/careers to read more. Submit resume & cover letter detailing your experience and why you’re a perfect fit for this role to careers@theterracesshelburnevt.com Deadline for applications is August 26, 2024.

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8/8/24 11:54 AM

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of.”

CAROLYN ZELLER Intervale Center, Burlington JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com

Seasonal Employment

Weekends: Orchard store & tasting room staff, pick your own crew & tractor drivers. Also, Thurs & Fri orchard store staff. Serious inquiries only! shelburneorchards@gmail.com

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ATTORNEY

Bergeron Paradis & Fitzpatrick PC seeks a full-time associate attorney to join our general practice in Essex Junction, Vt. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of litigation experience, excellent organizational and communication skills, a very good sense of humor and the desire to be part of a team committed to providing top quality legal services to our clients.

Applicants, please email a cover letter and resumé to: rbeane@bpflegal.com.

Audiologist

Can you hear me?

Hearing and communication is vital to connection with family and friends, work and community - and YOU have the ability to shape the lives of those in need. Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) seeks a full-time Audiologist for our ENT & Audiology practice. Work with a team of committed professionals in a mixed specialty practice offering ENT, Audiology, Allergy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Palliative Care to perform diagnostic testing for all ages. Collaborate with ENT providers and Hearing Instrument Specialist, as well as manage hearing aid services, including assessments, fittings, and repairs. Located in Vermont’s beautiful Northeast Kingdom, NVRH offers competitive wages, student loan repayment, generous paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package. Join us in providing exceptional patient-centered care that really makes a difference!

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Production Manager

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Marketing Assistant

We’re seeking a full-time marketing assistant to help with content creation, socials, email marketing, digital ad design, and video creation.

Alpine SnowGuards is a 100% employee-owned snow guard manufacturer in Morrisville, VT. Enjoy a comfortable and friendly working environment, competitive wages, excellent health care benefits, paid time off, and the opportunity to financially benefit from the company's growth and strong profit margins.

You can see the full description of the job at alpinesnowguards.com/ careers

OFFICE OF THE DEFENDER GENERAL

Staff Attorney – Burlington

The Office of the Public Defender in Burlington, Vermont has an opening for a full-time criminal defense attorney. The Chittenden County Public Defender’s Office is a busy office with ten attorneys, three investigators, two legal assistants, and an administrative services coordinator. The successful candidate is required to be a member in good standing of the Vermont bar or be eligible to obtain admission by waiver. Prior relevant legal practice or background in criminal law is preferred.

Salary will be based upon qualifications and experience and will follow the Office of the Defender General Pay Plan.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Jess Martin, HR & Program Manager, at jessica.b.martin@vermont.gov This position will remain open until filled.

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General Manager

Salary $70-80,000 D.O.E.

We are looking for a visionary leader to manage our dynamic and growing cooperative. As we move into our 52nd year of operations, the co-op is in the process of purchasing a beloved local hardware/grocery store and will be moving to this new location to expand our natural foods grocery business and continue the hardware store operation.

The Plainfield Co-op General Manager will oversee the daily operations of the organization in order to achieve positive operating results. They will actively supervise and coordinate the efforts of all staff in the execution of their job duties and will oversee all parts of the store (hardware, grocery, and greenhouse). The General Manager will lead the team in providing prompt, welcoming customer service; keeping displays, coolers, and shelves fully stocked; and ensuring the presence of an effective store team. They will provide exemplary leadership and coordination of the co-op staff while offering an engaging customer experience and maintaining a positive, ethical, and productive workplace that contributes to achieving measurable progress towards the Co-op’s holistic mission. Full job description and application details at plainfieldcoop.com

AUGUST 14-21, 2024

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Administrative Services Coordinator

If you want to join an organization with a mission that is focused on continuous improvement, this is the position for you.

HireAbility Vermont is seeking a team-oriented individual with very strong customer service, interpersonal, financial and administrative skills for the HireAbility Central Office in Waterbury.

This part-time position will be part of a team that provides support to the approximately 20 CO staff as well as to the field. The Central Office is a busy office that provides support to twelve district offices, oversees programs, processes grants and contracts, develops new programs, maintains the Division budget, as well as SharePoint and the

State HireAbility website. Candidate must be able to juggle multiple priorities and perform complex tasks involving state and federal programs. This position will be responsible for processing invoices for participant service contracts involving considerable data entry, monthly mailings, as well as some financial operations. Must be a self-starter and have excellent computer and technical skills.

People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Visit the Careers Vermont website to apply at careers.vermont.gov

ORLEANS COUNTY NRCD IS HIRING

We are seeking a BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER and AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES PROGRAMS SPECIALISTS to join our team.

Ideal candidates can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the organization, bring a local community network, a shared passion for stewardship of natural resources, and have knowledge and/or practical working landscape experiences. These positions will be based out of our office in Newport VT in a hybrid, shared workspace. Bachelor’s degrees are desired but not required with a least 2-3 years of work experience in a related field. Orleans County NRCD offers staff a supportive work environment with a goal of meeting our clients’ needs as well as the wellbeing of our staff.

Vermont Housing & Conser vation Board

Housing Programs Coordinator

The Housing Programs Coordinator is a central role of the VHCB Housing team, providing administrative support to a breadth of housing programs that help ensure adequate housing and a safe place to live for all Vermonters.

VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. This position is open until filled.

To learn more, visit vhcb.org/about-us/jobs. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to: jobs@vhcb.org

GRANTS SPECIALIST - LIMITED SERVICE – BARRE

All applications submitted before August 26th will be considered, with later applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled. To apply please send your cover letter and resume as one PDF to sarah.damsell@vt.nacdnet.net.

To learn more about the Orleans County NRCD and find the position descriptions on our website,

Chorus Conductor

The Me2 Chorus in Burlington, VT is a new program launching this fall! We plan to build on the impact we have realized in our instrumental programs by inviting vocalists into our Stigma-Free Zone.  The Conductor is responsible for providing a safe and inspiring space for weekly rehearsals, as well as performances throughout the year. Full job description available at me2music.org/ job-postings

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Don’t miss this opportunity to serve in the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)! The OPR protects the public from the unprofessional conduct of licensed professionals. In this role, you will serve as Deputy Chief Prosecutor for a team of four prosecuting attorneys and report directly to the Chief Prosecutor. For more information, contact Ultan Doyle at ultan.doyle@vermont.gov. Department: Secretary of State’s Office. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job ID #50321. Application Deadline: September 5, 2024.

The Vermont Department of Libraries seeks a Grants Specialist for a limited-service position in Barre, VT. Reporting to the Library Contracts & Grants Administration Manager, this role manages $26M in federal funds for Library Capital Grants Fund projects. Responsibilities include applying federal guidelines, providing technical assistance, reviewing grant proposals, ensuring compliance, and monitoring budgets. For more information, contact Jessica Leal at jessica.leal@vermont.gov. Department: Libraries. Location: Barre. Status: Full Time, Limited Service. Job ID #49774. Application Deadline: August 28, 2024.

Christian Youth Leader

Primary responsibility is leading youth programs, 6th-12th grade, in support of the mission, vision, and values of the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction (FCCEJ).

Compensation:

$18-22 /hour based on experience for expected work hours of 20-25 hours/week with reduced responsibility during summer months. Please send resume and cover letter to: welcome@fccej.org For a detailed job description, visit fccej.org/v5/who-weare/work-with-us

FCCEJ is an open & affirming church, serving all in the spirit of Christ. 3v-FCCEJ081424.indd

CSWD is seeking a highly motivated individual to work at various busy Drop-Off Centers. Must enjoy interacting with the public, can operate a point-of-sale system (training provided) and be able to keep calm under pressure. Moderate to strenuous physical effort is required as is the ability to work outdoors year-round. Customer service experience a plus. Self-starters and those with a passion for recycling, composting, and waste reduction are strongly encouraged to apply. Full-time position (Tues-Sat 7:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.) $19.68/hour with an excellent benefit package.

For more information on the position and CSWD, visit cswd. net/about-cswd/job-openings/ Submit application or resume to Amy Jewell (ajewell@cswd.net). This position is open until filled.

NOW HIRING: Facilities Manager

If you are detail oriented, have previous experience managing warehouse environments, and an active interest in our local food system, farms, and community, we’d love to hear from you!

Full-time, 40 hrs/week

M-F in Hardwick

Salary range: $65,000$68,000

Learn more:

caevt.org/jobs

Responsibilities include the daily upkeep, physical safety, & preventative maintenance of all CAE buildings and equipment.

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Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day?

Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT to continue BHA’s success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low-income families and individuals. We are currently hiring for the following positions:

Building Operations Technician

Performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies.

Housing Retention Services – Site Based

Responsible for supporting those who have mental health and substance use challenges and/or who have moved from homelessness to Bobbin Mill, Wharf Lane, and other BHA properties. The position works closely with property management and other site-based staff to identify challenges and respond with appropriate direct service and coordination of community services, with a goal of eviction prevention and facilitating a healthy tenancy.

Find more info about these career opportunities at burlingtonhousing.org

Our robust benefit package includes premium medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance.

We provide a generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays.

Interested in our career opportunity? Send a cover letter & resume to humanresources @burlingtonhousing.org

HVAC SPECIALIST

This position is responsible for maintenance of city fountains, and assisting in the maintenance and care of public heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems within the public buildings and public park system. In addition, this position performs skilled and general maintenance in the repair, replacement, and installation of facility mechanical systems, including plumbing, and other mechanical equipment and assists in planned facility related maintenance and execution of daily, monthly, bi-annual, annual work order requests.

Our ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or equivalent required. Three (3) years’ trade experience in HVAC equipment and controls installation, repair and maintenance required, or equivalent combination of education and experience or currently enrolled in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) program.

This position pays hourly between $27.82 - $30.99 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA, and much more!

To learn more about this role and to apply visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt or scan this QR code

Burlington is the destination marketing initiative of the Lake Champlain Chamber that promotes the region as a great place for leisure travel, meetings, and events.

Social Media Manager

Assist in the development of an annual content calendar for our social channels. They will hold primary responsibility for photo and video content creation for Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok. The Manager will work closely with the Communications and Content Manager, other internal staff, stakeholder partners, and our vendor network to execute and synchronize marketing efforts across all social channels. The Social Media Manager will also be responsible for interacting with our audience on those platforms. $50,000 with benefits.

Communications & Content Manager

Lead in the development of an annual content calendar for our social channels, produce a slate of monthly newsletters for different audiences, and act as the main point of contact for social influencer and travel writer partnerships. The Manager will work closely with the VP for Tourism, the Social Media Manager, other internal staff, stakeholder partners, and our vendor network to execute and synchronize communications efforts across all social, email, and website channels. This position will supervise the Social Media Manager. $55,000 to $60,000 with benefits.

Send resumes to: hello@helloburlingtonvt.com with the job title in the subject.

Chittenden Solid Waste District Drop-Off Center Operator

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Facilities Operator

The Town of Fairfax is seeking to fill the full-time position of Facilities Operator. This position maintains and repairs the Town’s facilities, water/ sewer system, and roads. The successful applicant will be a team player willing to do their best and learn along the way. Candidates are required to hold a VT Driver’s License, be able to respond to Town facilities within 30 minutes of being called-in, successfully pass a background check, and participate in drug testing. Applicants should possess Class 3 Certification for Public Water System Operator and Domestic I for Pollution Abatement Facility Operator or have the ability to acquire within one year of hire. Training is available. Anticipated pay range starts at $22 with pay commensurate with experience. The position is eligible for overtime.

Are you a compassionate and dedicated LPN or RN looking for a meaningful career opportunity? Join our team at The Converse Home, where you'll make a difference in the lives of our residents every day.

About Us:

Our community is committed to delivering exceptional care and creating a warm, home-like atmosphere.

Qualifications:

• Valid LPN or RN license in the state of Vermont.

• Previous experience in assisted living, long-term care, or a related field preferred.

• Strong organizational and time management skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Compassionate, patient, and empathetic nature.

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

What We Offer:

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.

This position has excellent benefits including VT Municipal Retirement and a competitive compensation package. To review the entire job descriptions and download applications visit fairfax-vt.gov/jobs. Mail your cover letter, application, and resume to: Town of Fairfax, Attn. Human Resources, 12 Buck Hollow Road, Fairfax, VT 05454. Postings will remain active until the position is filled. The Town of Fairfax is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Competitive salary

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, and a retirement plan.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Supportive and collaborative work environment

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Kristen@conversehome.com or apply online at conversehome.com Converse Home is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

GO HIRE.

Job Recruiters:

• Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

Job Seekers:

• Apply for jobs directly through the site. jobs.sevendaysvt.com Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

Accounts Payable CoordinatorUVM Bookstore

- #S5132PO -

The UVM Bookstore is looking for an Accounts Payable Coordinator to perform and oversee the timely and accurate processing of accounts payables (AP) transactions for 15 department cost centers. Minimum qualifications are one to three years related experience, familiarity with retail sales, ability to identify accounting problems, and sound decision-making skills. Proficient in the use of Excel. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, social justice, and training, fostering a collaborative multicultural environment. For further information on this position and others currently available, or to apply online, please visit www. uvmjobs.com Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm.edu for technical support with the online application. The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant to help with o ce management. Following up with clients on applications and forms. Assist Principal with daily duties.

Send resumes to: jen@beaconwealthvt.com 2V-BeaconWealthMgmt081424.indd

Headquartered in Burlington, VT, Bluehouse Group is an established web agency that serves a wide range of clients regionally and nationally, including startup companies, renewable energy companies, nonprofits, and government. We care for and support our people. We recognize the needs of life and family, and we pride ourselves on having work-life balance. This includes flexibility around work schedules and work location.

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Send a cover letter along with your resume, LinkedIn profile, or a link to your portfolio to careers@ bluehousegroup.com, and put the job title in the subject line.

Associate Attorney

ohavizedek. org/about-ohavi-zedek-

Part-time research & pro-democracy writing

Reclaim Democracy!, a nonprofit democracy advocacy group, seeks strong persuasive writer to help advance our work.

Learn more about our mission and the position at reclaimdemocracy. org/part-time

SRH Law PLLC, a mission-driven law firm and Certified B Corporation®, seeks an associate attorney with at least 1 year of experience primarily to assist in the firm’s active energy, environmental, and public utilities practice areas, in addition to providing support to the firm’s other practice areas. Our energy and public utilities practice includes advising renewable energy and clean technology developers, public utilities, municipalities and others in the federal and state regulation of energy and public utilities. This includes, among other things, participating in regulatory proceedings before the Public Utility Commission. Our environmental practice includes advising clients in connection with Brownfields redevelopment, Superfund sites, Act 250, state and federal regulation of stormwater and groundwater, state and federal wetlands, water resource and air quality permitting, land conservation and historic preservation.

As a mission-driven firm, SRH Law works with clients who share our commitment to making a difference in their communities and the broader world. We take our inspiration from our clients’ good work and help them excel in their business or mission by resolving their legal issues with creativity and integrity. We strive to create a new model for legal practice that offers the ability to do important work on issues we care deeply about, while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This position offers the opportunity to join a skilled team of lawyers and build a meaningful and rewarding legal practice.

Competitive salary depending on experience and excellent benefits -- employer-paid health insurance, excellent work life balance, hybrid work model, 401(k) plan with employer match, family leave, dependent care account, free parking and paid vacation. We are an equal opportunity employer and we seek to increase diversity within our firm. Interested persons should e-mail a letter of interest and resume to applications@srhlaw.com. Applications will be considered on a

basis until the position is filled.

Security & Safety Officers

VERMONT STATE COURTS – Locations throughout the state Recruiting for a full-time Court Officer for long range assignment. The position provides security and ensures safety to courthouse occupants. Responsible for safety awareness, training and preparedness. Will take on case processing as needed.

High School graduate and two years in a responsible position required. Salary range $21.32 to $33.07 per hour. Excellent benefits, holidays and paid time off.

For a more detailed description and how to apply see Vermont Judiciary vermontjudiciary.exacthire.com.

Calendar Writer!

Must be obsessively organized, attentive to detail and accuracy, and able to distill press releases into succinct and snappy writing faster than a speeding bullet!

OK, maybe not quite that fast, but take the rest of that sentence seriously.

Seven Days provides a comprehensive community  calendar that covers more than two-thirds of Vermont. e job of maintaining it requires self-motivation to work independently, as well as accountability to the team. If you love communicating in a clear and clever way, aren’t fazed by a constant flow of information, and can meet a strict weekly deadline, let us hear from you! Ideal candidates are also computer savvy; experience with Adobe InCopy is a plus.

is is a full-time position, based in Burlington, with competitive wages and benefits. Responsibilities are writing calendar listings and three event spotlights each week, as well as the Magnificent 7 column. You’ll contribute additional content to Seven Days and our other publications as time and interest allow. Ours is an intense but fun office, with the flexibility to do some of your work remotely.

Sound like your kind of job? Send your résumé, cover letter and three short writing samples to  calendarjob@sevendaysvt.com by Friday, August 16

FULL DESCRIPTIONS FOUND AT BLUEHOUSE.GROUP/CAREERS

78

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Property Management Lead

Winooski Housing Authority anticipates an opening for a Property Management Lead. The PM Lead will be responsible for all day-to-day aspects of Property Management across our senior housing portfolio. Together with a Property Manager and a full-time Property Management Assistant, the group will manage 350+ units of affordable housing.

The right person has a balance of professionalism, compassion, and commitment to teamwork. Our team works hard to house people, some of whom have experienced trauma, and to maintain a safe environment across all of our properties.

The qualified candidate will have at least four years’ experience in property management with at least one year in a federally subsidized environment. Experience with a property management database and in the supervision and/or training of employees is a plus. Business is conducted in English, though fluency in other languages is a plus. Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications will not be considered.

We expect the following certifications to be earned or will be earned within six months: Fair Housing; Housing Quality Standards; and HCV or Certified Occupancy Specialist.

We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits including health, vision, dental, short and long term disability and retirement. We are a family-friendly employer offering a generous allowance for combined time off and a sick bank, all federal holidays, and a flexible work schedule.

The position will be open until filled.

Job Type: Full-time

Expected hours: 36 – 40 per week

Pay: From $60,320 - $64,480 annually

Benefits:

•401(k) matching

•Dental insurance

•Employee assistance program

•Flexible spending account

•Health insurance

•Health savings account

•Life insurance

•Paid time off

•Professional development assistance

•Vision insurance

Experience level:

4 years

Experience:

Property Management: 4 years (Preferred)

Weekends & holidays off

Send resumes to: dbeaulieu@winooskihousing.org

ORGANIST/PIANIST

We seek a creative, dynamic organist/pianist to support a vibrant music program that contributes to the ministry and growth of our church. The successful applicant will be skilled at creating sacred space through music, encouraging the musical gifts of others, nurturing appreciation for a variety of musical genres, and collaborating with the Music Director to lead music for the worshipping life of our church.

Rate and Hours: $100/rehearsal (Thursdays 7:00-8:30pm, Sept. through early June)

$150/service: (Sundays 9-11am –includes pre-service warmup)

Availability: Thursday evening and Sunday morning availability and special services including Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday

For inquiries or to apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to:

FCCBMusicSearch @ rstchurchburlington.org or mail to:

Minister of Music Search First Congregational Church of Burlington, United Church of Christ 38 S. Winooski Ave. Burlington, VT 05401

Are you looking for a role in Business Operations? Do you have experience with Microsoft applications and the medical field? Interested in working in Student Affairs? Join our Business Operations team. In this role, you will provide operations support for the Center for Health & Wellbeing’s (CHWB) business management team. The Center for Health and Wellbeing offers a full spectrum of medical, mental health, health promotion, and wellbeing services to keep students healthy, successful, and engaged during their time at UVM. We strive to provide welcoming, individualized, and affirming care.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

This position is full-time, year-round, and is benefits-eligible.

MIN $23.00 MAX $25.65

• BCBS Health Insurance Plan

• Delta Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Tuition Remission

• 45+ days paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Retirement plan

• Relocation stipend

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Organized and systems-minded – You seek efficiency and logical/ innovative solutions to process and organizational challenges; highly detail-oriented and organized; strong problem-solving skills.

Skilled at relationship building – You are able to develop rapport quickly, have strong interpersonal skills, value giving and receiving feedback, understand the value of community, and are good at boundary settings. You work well as part of a team.

Customer Service Oriented – You seek to help others, and are a great problem-solver.

For a complete list of desired qualifications, please see the job post at the link below!

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

There’s a place for you at UVM. Learn more about a few of UVM’s identity centers at http://go.uvm.edu/identity-centers Apply online at www.uvmjobs.com, Posting number: S5205PO

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law. The University encourages applications from all individuals who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution.

Seven Days Issue: 8/14

Engaging minds that change the world CHWB Operations Coordinator University of Vermont Division of Student Affairs

FINANCIAL LEADER

The Vermont Department of Corrections is seeking a visionary and dynamic financial leader. This candidate will play a critical role in informing Executive Leadership’s decision making, resource planning, and crafting strategic direction while ensuring the fiscal stability of the department. A successful candidate will have a track record of collaboration, complex budget development and monitoring, cost analysis, and an innovative leadership style. This candidate will lead a professional office of 13 staff and guide an extended staff of approximately 50 business professionals within the department.

Visit: careers.vermont.gov

Executive Director

We seek an Executive Director to provide overall management and vision for the organization, train volunteers on community organizing, support Issue-Based Organizing Committees, train and supervise staff, build and manage the budget, write grants and do other fundraising, develop alliances with government and like-minded organizations, implement internal and external communication, work with people of diverse faith traditions, and relate to the Faith in Action national network.

This is a full-time position with a salary range of $67,000 to $74,000 and generous benefits. More details about VIA and the position can be found at viavt.org. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to the VIA Board of Directors at EDSearch@viavt. org. Position open until filled.

Director of Access & Acute Care Services

Seeking a talented & dynamic clinical leader to join our Agency as our Director of Access & Acute Care Services. This position is a key member of our Chief Operating Team, reporting to our CEO and collaborating regularly with our Medical & Clinical Directors on client situations.

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Technology Support Specialist

Music Director

3v-VTDeptofCorrections081424.indd 1 8/13/24 5:10 PM

Executive Director

Greater Northfield Senior Center

Seeking an individual with excellent management skills and business knowledge for a PT, 25 hr/wk position. Salary starts at $31,000 and is negotiable with experience. Responsibilities include day-today operations, grant writing, fund-raising, community relations, budget oversight, advocacy programs, and development and maintenance of policies and procedures. The Executive Director supports the Board of Directors and attends all Board Meetings. Computer skills required in Word, Excel and social media websites. Non-profit experience is a plus. Associate’s Degree preferred, or equivalent work experience. A background check is required. Position is open until filled. The Greater Northfield Senior Center is an E.O.E. Please submit your resume, letter of interest and references to director@ greaternorthfieldseniors.org

Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C. · Burlington, VT

Sheehey Furlong & Behm, a Burlington based law firm, is accepting applications for a Technology Support Specialist. The Technology Support Specialist will provide technical support, tools and guidance to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the firm. Duties include end-user support, workstation deployment, AV troubleshooting, routine server and infrastructure maintenance, and vendor management. Qualified candidates will have some technical support experience and the ability to work under pressure. This position has the opportunity to grow into an IT Management role for the right candidate. If you feel like you would be a good fit and are looking to grow your career, send your resume to hiring@sheeheyvt. com. Salary will be commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

We seek a creative and faithcentered Music Director to lead a vibrant music program that contributes to the ministry and growth of our church. The successful applicant will be skilled at creating sacred space through music, cultivating the musical gifts of our congregation, inviting participation from the wider community, and collaborating as a member of the ministerial team.

Rate and Hours: 10-15 hours a week –depending on the season

$40-50/ hour depending on experience

Availability: Thursday evening rehearsals (7:00-8:30pm), Sunday morning preparation and worship (8:00am-11:00am) plus planning and preparation. Special services including Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday

For inquiries or to apply: Submit a cover letter, resume to: FCCBMusicSearch@ firstchurchburlington.org or mail to:

Minister of Music Search First Congregational Church of Burlington, United Church of Christ, 38 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 05401

Scope of responsibility includes oversight & ongoing development of 24/7 crisis hotline, mobile crisis, hospital diversion & crisis beds, residential programs, same day access program & disaster response. It is essential for this position to have strong working collaborations with local law enforcement, community stakeholders & providers as well as State level leaders. In this position you will have the opportunity for program development, membership on statewide care team(s), State advocacy, cultivation of new partnerships, staff development and more. Our new Director will be joining an Agency with a long history of being mission focused and a leadership team that exemplifies quality, longevity and commitment, while embracing employee health & wellness.

Our Director must be dependable, creative, flexible and possess a positive can-do attitude, while mentoring, teaching & interacting with clinical staff across all locations & programs. This position requires some on call consultation as part of our 24/7 hotline.

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field is required; independent licensure & ability to provide licensed clinical supervision to others is strongly preferred. Previous work experience must include 5+ years of crisis work, staff supervision & progressive leadership positions.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, a matching 403b retirement plan, 3 weeks paid vacation time, 11 paid holidays, and 7 paid sick days to start. We offer staff flexible schedules to support work / life balance, and we pride ourselves on our learning-based culture where our staff can grow & flourish both professionally and personally.

To apply, send cover letter & resume to HR@claramartin.org. To learn more about us, check out our website at claramartin.org

8-ClaraMartin081424.indd 1

Vermont Interfaith Action is a nonprofit, grassroots, faith-based community organizing federation of more than 70 member and affiliated congregations working to effect systemic change on social justice issues.

“ ere’s a lot of talent in Vermont, and we know that Seven Days Jobs is the best place to find it. I would recommend this job board to any local business looking to find qualified applicants quickly and within budget! e combination of the searchable website and the weekly print edition is a perfect package.”

KERI PIATEK Partner, Chief of Brand & Design Development, Place Creative

fun stuff

“Just distract ‘em with your pouncy dance and I’ll handle the rest.”

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

RACHEL LINDSAY

JOHN KLOSSNER

LEO

(JUL. 23-AUG. 22)

The coming weeks will be a wonderful time to waste time on the internet. If you are properly aligned with cosmic rhythms, you will spend long hours watching silly videos, interacting with friends and strangers on social media, and shopping for products you don’t really need. JUST KIDDING! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. It was designed to test your power to resist distracting influences and mediocre advice. Here’s my authentic counsel, Leo. The coming weeks will be a fantastic phase to waste as little time as possible as you intensify your focus on the few things that matter to you most.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Years ago, when I worked as a postal delivery person in Santa Cruz, Calif., I mastered my route quickly. The time allotted to complete it was six hours, but I could easily finish in four. Soon I began to goof off two hours a day, six days a week. Many great works of literature and music entertained me during that time. I joined a softball team and was able to play an entire game each Saturday while officially on the job. Was what I did unethical? I don’t think so, since I always did my work thoroughly and precisely. Is there any comparable possibility in your life, Aries? An ethical loophole? A work-around that has full integrity? An escape clause that causes no harm?

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): From an astronomer’s perspective, Uranus is huge. Sixty-

three Earths could fit inside it. It’s also weirdly unique because it rotates sideways compared to the other planets. From an astrologer’s point of view, Uranus symbolizes the talents and gifts we possess that can be beneficial to others. If we fully develop these potentials, they will express our unique genius and be useful to our fellow humans. It so happens that Uranus has been cruising through Taurus since 2018 and will mostly continue there until 2026. I regard these years as your best chance in this lifetime to fulfill the opportunities I described. The coming weeks will be especially pregnant with possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Mountaineer Edmund Hillary is renowned as the first person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. It happened in 1953. Less famous was his companion in the ascent, Gemini mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. Why did Hillary get more acclaim than Norgay, even though they were equal partners in the monumental accomplishment? Was it because one was a white New Zealander and the other a brown Nepali? In any case, I’m happy to speculate that if there’s a situation in your life that resembles Norgay’s, you will get remediation in the coming months. You will receive more of the credit you deserve. You will garner the acknowledgment and recognition that had previously been unavailable. And it all starts soon.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): As an American, I’m embarrassed by the fact that my fellow citizens and I comprise just four percent of the world’s population but generate 20 percent of its garbage. How is that possible? In any case, I vow that during the next five weeks, I will decrease the volume of trash I produce and increase the amount of dross I recycle. I encourage you, my fellow Cancerians, to make a similar promise. In ways that may not be immediately imaginable, attending to these matters will improve your mental health and maybe even inspire you to generate an array of fresh insights about how to live your life with flair and joy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Scientific research suggests that brushing and flossing your teeth not only boosts the health of your gums

but also protects your heart’s health. Other studies show that if you maintain robust microbiota in your gut, you’re more likely to avoid anxiety and depression as you nurture your mental health. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to focus on big-picture thoughts like these, Virgo. You will be wise to meditate on how each part of your life affects every other part. You will generate good fortune as you become more vividly aware and appreciative of the intimate interconnectedness that underlies all you do.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): The official term for the shape of a single piece of M&M candy is “oblate spheroid.” It’s rounded but not perfectly round. It looks like a partially squashed sphere. An Iraqi man named Ibrahim Sadeq decided to try the difficult task of arranging as many M&Ms as possible in a vertical stack. He is now the world’s record holder in that art, with seven M&Ms. I am imagining that sometime soon, Libra, you could achieve a comparable feat in your own domain. What’s challenging but not impossible?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I’ve heard many people brag about their hangovers. The stories they tell are often entertaining and humorous. One of my best laughs emerged in response to two friends describing the time they jumped on the roof of a parked Mercedes-Benz at 3 a.m. and sang songs from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Falstaff until the cops came and threw them in a jail cell with nothing to eat or drink for 10 hours. In accordance with astrological omens, Scorpio, I ask you to not get a hangover in the coming weeks, even an amusing one. Instead, I encourage you to studiously pursue extreme amounts of pleasurable experiences that have only good side effects.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Most famous musicians demand that their dressing rooms be furnished with specific amenities. Beyoncé needs rose-scented candles. Rihanna expects her preparatory sanctuary to have dark blue or black drapes topped with icy-blue chiffon. Eminem insists on a set of 25-pound dumbbells, and the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd want Super Soaker water guns. Since the coming weeks may be as close to a rock-

star phase of your cycle as you’ve ever had, I recommend you create a list of your required luxuries. This imaginative exercise will hopefully get you in the mood to ask for exactly what you need everywhere you go.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sleep deprivation is widespread. I see it as a pandemic. According to some studies, more than half the people in the world suffer from insomnia, don’t get enough sleep, or have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Most research on this subject doesn’t mention an equally important problem: that many people aren’t dreaming enough. And the fact is that dreaming is key to our psychological wellbeing. I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with sleep and dreams. I encourage you to learn all you can and do all you can to make your time in bed deeply rejuvenating.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Only 47 people live on the volcanic Pitcairn Islands, which are located in the middle of nowhere in the South Pacific Ocean. Pollution is virtually nonexistent, which is why the honey made by local bees is the purest on the planet. In accordance with astrological omens, I’d love for you to get honey like that in the coming weeks. I hope you will also seek the best and purest of everything. More than ever, you need to associate with influences that are potent, clear, genuine, raw, vibrant, natural and at full strength.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Many Indigenous people in North America picked and ate wild cranberries. But farm-grown cranberries available for commercial use didn’t appear until 1816. Here’s how it happened. In Cape Cod, Mass., a farmer discovered a secret about the wild cranberry bog on his land. Whenever big storms dumped sand on the bog, the fruit grew with more lush vigor. He tinkered with this revelation from nature and figured out how to cultivate cranberries. I recommend this as a teaching story, Pisces. Your assignment is to harness the power and wisdom provided by a metaphorical storm or disturbance. Use it to generate a practical innovation in your life.

Since 2019, Burlington Burn Club has been bringing together fire spinners and flow artists to share skills and build community. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger met up with the crew at the Battery Park Bandshell for an outdoor spin jam. She borrowed two flaming props and gave it a whirl.

OLD SCHOOL

Quick wit. I have most of my teeth and a few strands of black hair. smalltown 66, seeking: W

LONELY PROFESSIONAL PORCHER SEEKS COMPANY

WOMEN seeking...

FREELY FROLICKING AND FUN

Looking for some fun with the right guy to tickle my fancy. Hannah, 64, seeking: M

CURIOUS, ADVENTUROUS, SILLY AND OUTDOORSY!

I love being outside and exploring in nature, especially for off-the-beatenpath swimming holes. (In winter, too!)

I’m a very curious and engaging person, and definitely crave that in a partner. Being silly at times, dancing and singing is cool with me. At the same time, self-awareness is key! You get the idea, right? seejrun, 57 seeking: M, l

GENUINE

Let’s try to do this together. Open to sharing your interests and mine.

I’m outdoorsy and indoorsy, from cooking and revamping projects to fishing at the shoreline. Love all types of music but rap and heavy metal.

I’m sensitive and caring but keep boundaries, to help, not hurdle. All nature- and animal-friendly. Now I’m babbling. So an eye to eye, squat, cup of java. Katz111, 74, seeking: M, l

DOG LOVER AND ART LOVER

I am a creative soul with a love for dogs and everything crafty. I am a huge car buff. I like going to listen to live music and am game for different adventures. I love to travel and plan to do more once I retire. RescueMom0124, 61, seeking: M, l

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W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

CREATIVE AND KIND OPTIMIST

Looking for someone to have a coffee with and go for a walk, see what could be. I realize this is short and sweet, like me, but I may add more later. mystmaiden 52, seeking: M, l

SUNNY SIDE UP, NATURE GAL

A seasoned woman who is healing her karmic wounds and evolving. I love to be in the woods and I love dogs. Looking for someone to play with. Biking, hiking, dinners, music and movies. I do love to cook! If you are on a spiritual path and place honesty and trust high on your list, we should talk. Evolving 64 seeking: M, l

NEXT CHAPTER, NEW ADVENTURES

Fit, active, outdoorsy and fun sixtysomething woman looking for male partner to share new adventures. Retired and enjoy winter snow sports, hiking, biking, riding horses, gardening and traveling. I’m game to explore new places and experience new adventures. If you are kind and compassionate, active and outdoorsy, fun and friendly, love animals, open and honest, then let’s connect. Vermont1978 67, seeking: M, l

WOODS-LIVER WANNABE

Work hard, play hard, life is short.

I want to meet people, have new experiences and adventures. I appreciate all things small, whether it is a tiny snail in the forest or a kind gesture. redrocks 44, seeking: M

EXPLORING THE 802 AND BEYOND

I am an attractive, feminine, monogamous woman looking for a companion/LTR. I enjoy road trips, especially throughout beautiful Vermont, discovering wondrous hidden treasures. Member of the 251 Club of Vermont. I would love to have a compatible traveling companion to explore the world with me! I’m retired from a major airline. Come fly with me!! VermontRoadTrip 73, seeking: M, l

CURIOUS, COMPASSIONATE AND ADVENTUROUS

I think I’m pretty delightful. I care deeply about music, art, my home and the environment. I want a partner I can trust who will trust me. I sing - not so well, but don’t try to stop me! I’m curious about new things and never want to stop learning. ProfTripp, 64, seeking: M, l

ROMANTICIZING MY LIFE

New to the area and looking for camping buddies, dinner party cohosts and romantic connections if it feels right. I love reading the local news, jumping in lakes and looking for the weirdest object in an antique store. Always trying to laugh more, dance more. Help me find the best coffee in the NEK? citymouse 25, seeking: M, TM, Q, NC, NBP, l

DRAMA-FREE, NATURE/ANIMAL LOVER

Looking for someone who shares my likes and enthusiasm for things. Big on communication and humor. I love to create, and I follow craft fairs and flea markets to sell. G59VT 64, seeking: M, l

LIFE IS HERE. NOW.

I’m an active biker, hiker, gardener, musician who has adapted well to retirement (there had to be something positive about COVID!) but is ready to explore life with a companion, maybe a partner, again. Many things are better with a partner, including dining out, travel, bike rides, hikes, laughing, sharing — so I’m putting my toes back in the water! maplesong, 69 seeking: M, l

CARMEN SEEKS WALDO

Kind, loyal, funny, loves classic rock and jam bands. Am a single mom so liking kids is a must, but I have the basics taken care of on my own. JennyP42112, 41, seeking: M, l

LONELY 420 SEEKER

I am a 70 y/o but 50 at heart. I am looking for a man who is 420 friendly and won’t shy from a game of bingo. Looking for a good friend and eventually more. Affectionate, caring, truthful, no game playing and honest. Like to laugh and walk, and just want similar interests. Angel420 70, seeking: M

EASY-GOING CURMUDGEON

Looking for someone to hang out with, go to the movies and have dinner after to talk. If we like each other and want to get jiggy, bonus. 420 friendly, don’t really care for alcohol, and I do not suffer fools. I am fun and funny. No racists, antisemites, or folks who don’t get why women pick the bear. ho_hum 55, seeking: M, l

SINGING, SUMMER, AND CONVERSATION

I am real seeking real. If you are seriously seeking a relationship, we might be a fit. Please read on! Warm, thoughtful, intelligent, aware, intuitive, witty, gracious, musical and romantic woman seeks man who wants the fun, delight, challenges, mystery, awe and rewards of a long-term, committed relationship. VermontContent 63, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

INTELLIGENT, FUN, ADVENTUROUS, SENSUAL, OPEN-MINDED

Open-minded, experienced, intelligent, attractive. Thoughtful, funny, fairminded. Highly informed, high confidence, but not stuck up or arrogant: a young 69. Let’s celebrate “President Harris” together! Hoping to find a woman as open-minded and adventurous as I am (if not even more so). You definitely don’t need to be the smartest or the most beautiful, just know how to have fun. Montpelier_Man 69, seeking: W, TW, l

NATURE-LOVING, DIVERSE GUY

Sociable, highly diverse guy in desperate need of someone to check for deer ticks! Looking for an attractive, educated woman who enjoys honest and intimate communication and can teach and learn equally. Someone who loves being outside, enjoys a variety of athletics, could happily travel anywhere and maybe thrive on a carefree day in the library. jss1, 65, seeking: W, l

I have the best porch in WRJ. I cook a mean paella. My taste in wine is impeccable. I have an ear for irony, and a nose for hypocrisy. I recently moved to WRJ to care for a disabled family member, and I am thunderously lonely and lacking human touch. I’m simply ISO a porch and couch companion. Casual works. RiverWatcher1962 62, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK, EASYGOING

Just looking for some hookups here and there, maybe friends with benefits longterm. George112713, 40, seeking: W, l

NATIONAL PARK FAN

I am a fan of the West and our national parks and am interested in finding a traveling companion. I’m easy to travel with, flexible and good company. So if you have a sense of adventure and humor, and if you are happy with your life, perhaps we could could share that. Philo24 76 seeking: W, l

SEEKING ADVENTURE AS AUTUMN APPROACHES

I love the outdoors. Hiking and bicycling are good for my brain and body, and my Harley helps me explore Vermont. I can pretty much go with any flow. I love live theater, small venue concerts, and exploring the unknown. I would love to go to Thunder Road one Thursday evening. Local racing is fun to watch. Autumn_In_Vermont 60, seeking: W, l

PEOPLE-FRIENDLY, CREATIVE, OUTDOORSY

I enjoy being outdoors, fishing, painting, photography, art and coffee! StreamsideCoffee, 49, seeking: W

FRIENDS FIRST

Easy to laugh and smile. I am looking for someone to enjoy each other’s company and see where it goes. Activity partner. friendsfirst, 59, seeking: W, l

LOVE ME SOME VERMONT

I enjoy being in nature, whether that’s trail running, hiking, camping, swimming, snowshoeing or just wandering. I also enjoy eating healthy, living simply, feeling the spirit in everything, and spending time with a woman when there’s an easy and strong connection. With the right person in accompaniment, most things are enjoyable. chinaski, 54 seeking: W

HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT!?

Retired SWM, 69, progressive, prosperous, outdoorsy. Worried about the future of the planet and what’s in the refrigerator. Maleman 69, seeking: W

LOOKING FOR FUN

Easygoing, fit and bearded. Love Vt. in spring, summer and fall. The winters are getting a bit old. Looking for new relationships to explore and have fun. Would love to spend time with a wonderful woman. Love the outdoors and being active. Vegetarian. LuckyGuy 50, seeking: W

SEARCHING FOR A LTR

Divorced white man, two kids on their own, work for myself, like being outside and do a lot of skiing and some hiking but also enjoy relaxing outdoors. I like the rural/suburban lifestyle but enjoy visiting cities for culture and activities. Open to LTR, casual or friends. I don’t mind a bit of driving for the right connection. VTguy3743 59, seeking: W, l

SEASONALLY

I own a 20-acre private nature sanctuary in Gainesville, Fla., north of Paynes Prairie preserve. I live off-grid on 30 acres in Orange county, Vt. Looking for someone to share living space with plenty of room. 382tim 68, seeking: W, l

NEW TO GREEN MOUNTAINS

Transplant to Vt. seeking interesting women to connect with for friendship and possibly more. Euphemystic 47, seeking: W

FUNNY, RELAXED, RETIRED, KIND GENTLEMAN

Fresh to the market, I’m a little grey and thin on top, rounding in the middle with a great smile. I enjoy classic cars and learning to play the guitar. I’m retired with time to give someone my full attention. Not looking for a maid or a cook, just a nice lady to add to my life. I’m nice. classiccarguy64, 64, seeking: W, l

YOUNG, FIT EXPLORER

Tall nerdy man looking for some fun. I bike, ski, hike, but when I’m not doing that I’m home with my feet up. RyVermont 27, seeking: W, Cp

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

COMMUNITY-MINDED AND INDEFENSIBLY JOYFUL

I love writing, dancing, making music and meaningful action. My favorite conversations are about people’s passions. I like hiking, biking and paddling, but I spend a lot of time happily indoors being social or creative or productive. I’m interested in people of all genders and am seeking a connection that generates joy every day for us both. Sylph 55 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

GENDERQUEER PEOPLE seeking..

BABY BUTCH SEEKS GUIDANCE

(Not sexual or romantic.) If you’re queer, an activist or anything of the like, I would love to connect! I’m a genderweird (truly) babydyke butch, and I desperately want to learn from older queers. As much research as I’ve done on gay history, I always want to learn more and connect. If there are any other butches out there, please reach out! antweed, 18, seeking: TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking...

COME HAVE FUN

Looking for fun for in our marriage. And maybe a steady partner for years to come. Anh2024 39, seeking: W

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS

Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits 60, seeking: W, Cp

FUN COUPLE LOOKING FOR EXPLORATION

We are a secure couple who enjoy the outdoors, good wine, great food, playing with each other, exploring our boundaries and trying new things. We are 47 and 50, looking for a fun couple or bi man to play and explore with us. We are easygoing, and we’d love to meet you and see where our mutual adventures take us. vthappycouple, 51, seeking: M, Cp, Gp

EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW

We are a loving couple of over five years. Love to play and try new things. Spend free time at the ledges. Looking for people to play with. Perhaps dinner, night out and maybe breakfast in the morning. Looking for open-minded men, women or couples who enjoy fun times and new experiences. 2newAdventurers 56 seeking: M, W, Cp, Gp

BRUNETTE WITH CAPTIVATING SMILE

You were working, and I have been there a couple of times on Sundays when I glanced over and you gave me a smile. You are the brunette with your hair tied back, possibly a manager. I’m the tall, dark-haired, Italian-looking guy with glasses. Not sure who you are, but I’d like to know! When: Sunday, August 11, 2024. Where: Spot on the Dock. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916085

SAXON HILL MOUNTAIN BIKING

You and your friend passed a group of us guys when we were at the pond. You said a friendly “hello”. en as you were leaving in your white Jeep Cherokee, you waved goodbye. Care to meet up for a ride someday? When: Friday, May 31, 2024. Where: Saxon Hill trails. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916028

BEAUTIFUL MAN WITH CAR TROUBLES

You: Beautiful man, wearing painted shorts, working on a red convertible by the chiropractor. Me: Silver fox in a flowy brown dress, unable to take my eyes off you while waiting for my appointment. When you get her up and running, want to take me for a ride? When: Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Where: South Burlington, by the DMV. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916084

CUTE GUY, MONTPELIER CONTRADANCE

You looked familiar and were wearing Blundstones, khaki shorts, a belt, and a polo shirt. I was wearing denim booty shorts and a colorful western-style shirt with cutouts, plus some dangly earrings. We chatted briefly by the fan downstairs during the break with a couple of your friends. Would love to dance next time. When: Saturday, August 3, 2024. Where: Capital City Grange Hall. You: Man. Me: Man. #916082

De Rev end,

PIZZA TOSSER

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

NINJA TURTLE WALLET WOMAN

We ate lunch next to each other at Price Chopper and I was too hypnotized by your pretty eyes and smile to say anything more than, “I should’ve gotten a salad, too.” Let’s have lunch sitting across from each other next time. When: Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Where: Price Chopper. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916027

LOOKING BACK

Being together was like basking in awkwardness until you’re giddy. You saw the measure of my soul. My days have been nothing more than dreams, faint impressions of living. I try to write, to read, and wonder what you would think about everything. When: Sunday, August 11, 2024. Where: everywhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916083

HOT ON A TROT

I see you getting after it. Working on that 5K. Wearing that cool vest. Looking hot AF. Love you very much. XOXO When: Sunday, June 9, 2024. Where: In the streets. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916026

R. ON MATCH

Hello, R. I’m not a member of that site, but I saw your great profile. You have a terrific smile. Too bad there’s no surfing nearby. Let’s do something active in the sun anyway. Start with a SUP outing? I have a spare board. Please say hello. When: Friday, June 7, 2024. Where: Match.com. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916025

COSTCO AFTERNOON

We smiled at each other while shopping, then left at the same time. We exchanged names as we were leaving, but not numbers. Would you like to meet again? When: Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Where: Costco. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916081

I believe my boyfriend of 10 years is cheating on me. He disappears late at night, doesn’t come home until two in the morning and has his phone off the whole time he’s gone. When he comes back, he’s showered and says he was at his friend’s house. His friend lives far away and gets up really early for work, so I don’t believe his story. He does this at least five, six, seven times a month. He also disappears during the day, turns off his phone and says he was fishing. He won’t let me see his phone. He’s cheated on me before. I keep asking him if he’s cheating, and he won’t be honest about it. What do I do?

Do the flames from your pizza oven scatter the blue light across your irises? Or were you born deep inside a glacier? If you’ll be my ice queen, I’ll be your white walker. When: Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Where: Mt. Ellen. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916079

YOU IN WINOOSKI

ings were held up in Philly FedX but the Eagle landed and it’s great seeing you again face-to-face. My heart always goes “thump-thump.” Signed, the Kid. When: Friday, May 31, 2024. Where: Winooski. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916023

AND SHE IS LOYAL

I can think of only a handful of people I consider as loyal as I am, and you are now one of them. I am not complacent and will work on my issues. I am hopelessly in love with the “you” who communicates with me in dreams. You are my missing piece, my other half, isn’t it clear? When: Friday, August 9, 2024. Where: Atacama, NYC, Sydney, Victoria. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916077

KEN’S PIZZA LUNCH

You: working on your laptop at the bar. Me: blonde, having a late lunch with my son. We exchanged smiles. You had my flabbers gasted and I couldn’t get it together in time to ask for your number. When: Friday, May 31, 2024. Where: Ken’s Pizza. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916022

DROPS OF JUPITER

As the storm passed, we met in the re-forming line. You wore a pink tank top and have blonde hair. You told me a funny story about an event staff member. Your friend commented it was a rare night out for her. We crossed paths in the venue and enjoyed the show together. At one point my hand touched yours. When: Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Where: Train concert at Shelburne Museum. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916076

SUNSET SAILBOAT VIDEO

You were sitting on the end of a dock watching the sunset when my friend and I arrived on a sailboat. As we passed, you took a video. I was the one steering. When: ursday, May 30, 2024. Where: Boathouse dock. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916021

De Debbie Duped,

SOULMATE

To soulmate flash flash! Keep smiling! When: Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Where: All around. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916024

REGROUP, TRY AGAIN

Tim: you appear to be in the wrong timeline. Go back to Tuesday, November 6th, 2018, 6 p.m. We’ll meet you at the Millennium sculpture. When: Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Where: Not at the drop point. You: Man. Me: Man. #916075

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS?

I convinced myself many times that my feelings were unrequited. is “energy” that you refer to has me bewildered: perhaps I feel it too? Setting boundaries is all I can promise at this juncture. I am not ready to say “never”. We both need to acknowledge our feelings, as we will most likely be spending time together for years to come. When: Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Where: Her house. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916020

ALEXANDRIA THE GREAT

e most intriguing person I’ve encountered in my travels. A fascinating mind and brilliant sense of humor. You’re doing good, important work in this community and have so many unexpected, remarkable stories to tell about the life you’ve lived. Breathtakingly gorgeous and the best dancer at the show, to top it all off. I think you deserve the world. When: ursday, August 1, 2024. Where: standing in a shaft of light. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916074

POTENTIAL RIDING BUDDY

Craftsbury Guy, it’s Jess. We met at the little gas station outside of Hardwick. You spoke of your friend Jeff, builder, avid mountain biker and dirt bike single track maker. Should have gotten your number. Wanna ride sometime? When: Sunday, May 26, 2024. Where: Hardwick. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916019

FUN FRIDAY COMMUTE

We were at the red light, blue VW Tiguan, by the hospital in Berlin. Both our Friday pump-up jams going. You waved to me, white Subaru mullet guy with glasses. We shared a fun moment. You got off at exit 8 to Montpelier and we made eye contact and smiled at each other. Hit me up? (Platonic is cool, too!) When: Friday, August 2, 2024. Where: Berlin hospital/Airport intersection. You: Man. Me: Man. #916073

Your boyfriend’s behavior is beyond fishy. If you had nine and a half wonderful, troublefree years with this guy, it might be worth giving him the benefit of the doubt. While it’s certainly possible that he isn’t cheating on you, the fact that he’s done it before leads me to agree with your belief that he’s up to no good. On the off chance that he isn’t cheating, his actions are still simply unacceptable.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

You and what you created are beautiful. I lost my head, please forgive my cheese ball. Nobody likes that. Your energy stops by, sometimes so strong I feel like you are here or on your way. IDK why. I wish you were, but I wish I hadn’t met you now knowing you are out there. Wishing you all the best. When: Friday, May 19, 2023. Where: My house. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916018

CUTE “HASHER” AT KETTLE POND

Saw you at the boat launch and your friend came over to say you liked my look. I was a little shy, you were a little shy. I think you’re wicked cute, allegedly you think I am too. Wish I got your number but we were in the water! Let’s go for a paddle or bike ride on the causeway? When: Saturday, August 3, 2024. Where: Kettle Pond boat launch. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916072

EDGEWATER GALLERY

We happened to walk out of the show together. You asked if I saw the northern lights. You were wearing a blue summer dress and a lovely smile. I sensed that you wanted to continue our conversation. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Coffee? When: Saturday, May 25, 2024. Where: Edgewater Gallery. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916017

OMAR AT GET AIR

You ordered from Door Dash and had the driver make two stops and travel six miles. at’s not the problem though, the issue is that gas, wear and tear on the car is worth a tip. I know you’re young and probably don’t understand. If you can’t afford to tip your driver, then you probably shouldn’t order food. When: Sunday, August 4, 2024. Where: Get Air. You: Man. Me: Trans woman. #916071

SUPER HOT GUY AT CHIPOTLE

You were with your girlfriend (or mom?) walking into Chipotle. You were in the passenger seat. Dark brown hair slicked back, black shirt, very tall. I was wearing a floral dress and sun hat. Almost ran into you walking in as you were walking out, near the door. Just wanted to say you look great. When: Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Where: Chipotle. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916016

you’ve been together for so long or you don’t believe you deserve any better. Both of those ideas are just plain hooey.

Investing more time in a bad relationship just because it has already lasted a long time doesn’t make it any better. In fact, it can just make things worse. You deserve a relationship based on love and respect just as much as anybody else. Period.

Trust and honesty are two foundations of a solid relationship, and it sounds like you don’t have either one of those things with this guy. It’s time for you to cut bait. ere are plenty of other fish in the sea.

My question for you is this: Why are you staying with someone who treats you so badly? It’s either because

Good luck and God bless, The Rev end

A “Love Letter” would infer that we have met. Love letters started in the 1800s. Love letters ended in 2002 with the success of email. Let’s turn back the clock. I’m a 63-y/o male. Physically fit, healthy lifestyle, enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer. Cheers to us. #1786

I’m a 70-y/o man seeking a woman 45-70. I have money and would like to spend pleasurable time with you. I am clean, caring and considerate. I am fit for my age. Phone number, please. #1787

I’m a male seeking a woman to pleasure. #L1777

Woman, 59. Healthy, respectful, genuine. I’d like to share the last dance with a man in the country. A man who is kind, healthy and stable. A man who cares about how he treats a person and is well liked by others. Phone number, please. #1782

SWF seeks a local male companion/friend for outdoor adventures in all seasons. I’m 65, fit, intelligent and I value thoughtful conversations, laughter, challenging myself, the quiet of early mornings and authenticity. Hike, bike, kayak, more. Let’s get outside and see where the trail leads us. #L1780

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LE ERS:

Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.

MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check (made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2 Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required! 3

I’m a single white man looking for friends with benefits. Race unimportant. Love to be happy, spend time with the opposite sex and just enjoy each other. Good company always a plus. I love music, sports, being on the water. #1785

Female in early 20s. Must like cats, cheese, and crafting (C trifecta). I’m looking for a man (yes, a man, not a boy) with some mass to him. Someone who shares my distrust in big pharma would be an added bonus. #L1781

Looking for a sensitive Republican woman who would like to, at long last, experience fulfillment with an intuitive liberal man. #L1784

I’m a 63-y/o male. Married with no sex life. Bi-curious. Must be clean, safe and discreet. Send me your number and I’ll call and we can talk first. #L1783

I’m a GM looking for hookup buddies. Age/race is not important. Interested specifically in Black men to satisfy a fantasy. Fun, likeable and enthusiastic. #L1779

I’m an 80-y/o woman seeking a man, late sixties and up. I want friendship and companionship. Love the outdoors. Barbecue or grill sometimes in the summer. Wish I could travel to places I have never been. #L1775

Int net-Free Dating!

I’m a male, early 40s, single, straight. However, my life’s journey has led me to the point of becoming curious about exploring subconscious desires. Seeking cute, passable, thin-toaverage 24-45-y/o TF or TF/F couple for safe, respectable, discreet conversation or meet up. #L1776

I am a GWM seeking a gay couple who would like to add spice into their sex life with a third. I’m in my sixties, 5’7”, 150 lbs. and live in Burlington. Very clean, open and I am a bottom. If interested, send contact info. #L1774

I’m a 67-y/o SWM, 6’, 190 lbs., seeking a mid-60s bi couple for occasional get-together. I am honest and respectful and expect the same. Fairly new to this, so slow at first. No devices, only landline. #L1771

Nice guy, 5’10, 195 pounds. 74 y/o but I look younger and am new to the market. I’m seeking a good woman/partner 55 to 75 y/o to love. Very attentive and affectionate, likes to have fun and travel. 420 friendly. #L1773

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)

BELOW.

I would like to meet someone between 60 and 75 who is 5’6” or under and is a slim nondrinker/smoker. Asian heritage preferable. I’m 5’8” and drink/ smoke free. I’m a good cook. An Asian who doesn’t speak good English is acceptable. #L1770

SWM calling all guys. Seeking gay, bi, trans — I want all. Any age and race. Black men are my favorite. I’m clean, don’t smoke, drink or do drugs. I love sex. Kinky OK. I’m a nudist. Love a partner. Phone number. #L1769

I’m a 76-y/o M, seeking a F. Burlington resident, Luddite, gardener, fisherman. Into Bach, Mozart, Blake, raspberries. Catholic. You: Old, pretty, smart, conversational for dinners, possible friendship. Call. #L1764

47-y/o female looking for friendships only. Not willing to travel — I have no car. Interest in womenfolk who don’t drink or drug, vape only. Crafting and creativity a must. No liars or thieves. In search of honest and dependable friends. #L1766

Required confidential info: NAME ADDRESS

(MORE)

MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402

OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

e One-Night Stand: A Single-Evening Course in Bike-Care Basics by Old Spokes Home

WED., AUG 14

OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

e Great Vermont Barn Dance Show

THU., AUG 15

ISHAM BARN THEATRE AT ISHAM FARM, WILLISTON

Women’s Ride at Bolton Valley

THU., AUG 15

BOLTON VALLEY RESORT

Guns & Chocolate

FRI., AUG 16 & SAT., AUG 17

OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS, BURLINGTON

Wild Couch w/Connor Lin Frost and Cady Ternity

FRI., AUG 16

THE UNDERGROUND - LISTENING ROOM, RANDOLPH

Peaches, Plums & Pluots

SAT., AUG 17

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Chetfest Presents Drama Dolls with Cobalt Tolbert

SAT., AUG 17

WAYSIDE FARM, RANDOLPH CENTER

e Magnetica Concert

SAT., AUG 17

MAGNETICA PERFORMANCE SPACE, BURLINGTON

Mandarin Conversation Circle

TUE., AUG 20

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY

LOW TIX

Experience Abundance Meditation in the Salt Cave

TUE., AUG 20

PURPLE SAGE, ESSEX

WED., AUG 21

RITES OF PASSAGE, ONLINE

Facing Change: Life’s Transitions and Transformations

Coed Group Ride at Saxon Hill

WED., AUG 21

SAXON HILL TRAILHEAD, ESSEX JCT.

e One-Night Stand: A Single-Evening Course in Bike-Care Basics by Old Spokes Home

WED., AUG 21

OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

Danny Jonokuchi & the Revisionists Swing Dance and Jazz Concert

WED., AUG 21

SHELBURNE TOWN HALL

Dana Lyn + Kyle Sanna with special guest Seamus Egan

WED., AUG 21

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE

Cut Flower Gardening & Arranging

THU., AUG 22

HORSFORD GARDENS & NURSERY, CHARLOTTE

Middlebury New Filmmaker’s Festival

THU., AUG 22

WILSON HALL, MCCULLOUGH STUDENT CENTER, MIDDLEBURY

Richie Spice

FRI., AUG 23

THE GREEN AT THE ESSEX EXPERIENCE, ESSEX

Live in the Gardens Music Series with King Me & Green Mountain Grille Billie’s Food Truck

FRI., AUG 23

SNAPS AND SUNFLOWERS, CAMBRIDGE

My Testimony: Fury & Grace

FRI., AUG 23

OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS, BURLINGTON