Seven Days, October 4, 2023

Too many Vermont kids struggle to read. What went wrong — and can educators reverse a yearslong slide in literacy?

NOT FERRY NICE

Marc Gendron relies on the Lake Champlain ferry to get from his home in Plattsburgh, N.Y., to medical appointments and shopping in Burlington. Without the service between Cumberland Head and Grand Isle, Gendron would have to drive 26 miles north to cross at the Rouses Point Bridge, adding an hour to the trip.

So he was annoyed last month when he realized the Lake Champlain Transportation Company had raised the cost of a one-way ferry ticket for the second time in four months. He fired off a curt email to customer service at the company, which is owned by the Pecor family of Burlington.

“I like how you sneak increases to the ferry by 40 cents overnight. Now $12.45! We need a bridge, you evil Pecore [sic] family!” he wrote.

One-way ferry rides for a car and driver are listed as $11.75 on the company’s website, but fuel surcharges can apply. Gendron noticed that while the official fare may not have changed, the cost of a ride kept creeping up. It rose from $11.95 in May to $12.10 in June to $12.45 two weeks ago.

“I’m usually much more polite,” Gendron, 67, said. “But the ferry prices are just ridiculous!”

e company did not return calls for comment.

A few days after complaining, Gendron found a sticker

A FAIR PRICE?

One of Burlington’s most valuable properties, a 14,000-squarefoot mansion in the middle of the Burlington Country Club, was listed for sale last week for $15 million — nearly three times its assessed value.

Atop the Hill Section, tucked behind concentric rings of forest and country club fairways, the estate is insulated from the challenges of city life below — homelessness, addiction, drunken college students, leaf-peeping tourists. Across 17 acres and seven bedrooms, the property includes its own library, 16-seat movie theater, gym, billiards room and tennis court.

e luxurious retreat even has its own name: Fairholt.

“The interior finishes are like none seen in this area,” the Sotheby’s International Realty listing explains, including herringbone-laid African mahogany floors in the 60-footlong great room.

emoji that ADDED TIME

Vermont signed a new contract with private prison company CoreCivic and will continue to send inmates to Mississippi. Nothing closer?

WATER WOES

Testing found more toxic chemicals in private wells in Bennington years after contamination was first discovered. There’s a reason PFAS are called “forever chemicals.”

$4.5 million

That’s the grant amount for a new program that o ers Community College of Vermont courses to incarcerated people and correctional sta .

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Hey Bub, Citizen Cider’s New Light Beer, Brews Trouble With Staff” by Carolyn Shapiro. More than a dozen employees have departed in recent weeks, citing incidents related to the beer’s release and what they view as its offensive marketing.

2. “Plattsburgh Man Banned From Ferry for ‘Disrespectful’ Email” by Kevin McCallum. An excerpt of the story appears on this page.

3. “From the Publisher: Burlington Blues” by Paula Routly. A reader asked: Why aren’t people talking more about Burlington’s drug problems? Our publisher weighed in.

4. “A Clothing-Optional Camp Hosted a Kinky Summer Soirée. Campers Awoke to the Crack of Gunfire” by Rachel Hellman. In rural Stannard, neighbors clashed over personal freedoms.

on his door asking him to contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. He went in person and was handed an envelope. It was from the ferry company, notifying him that he was banned from riding until further notice.

e reason? His “disrespectful and accusatory” email, the ferry company’s operations manager, Heather Stewart, wrote in a letter dated September 25. “While we welcome constructive criticism and comments, we do not tolerate abusive and hostile communication,” Stewart wrote.

If he ventured onto company property, he could be arrested for trespassing, the company warned.

Lake Champlain Transportation is a private company, but its service is a vital part of the region’s transportation network. e company’s ferries make 22,000 landings and departures every year and take more than a million passengers between Grand Isle and Cumberland Head.

Another major transportation provider in the region, publicly funded Green Mountain Transit, said it only bans people for violent, intimidating conduct — not nonthreatening emails.

“If it’s just, ‘Hey, I think you suck because you raised fares,’ we’d say, ‘Welcome aboard,’” general manager Clayton Clark said.

Read Kevin McCallum’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

HOT AIR

A report from the Energy Action Network found that Vermont’s per capita emissions are the second-highest in New England. Time to buckle down.

LOCATION, LOCATION

FEMA o cials said they have temporary mobile homes for people displaced by the July flooding but few places to put them. It never ends…

5. “Burlington Officials Are Fed Up With a Notorious Church Street Apartment Building” by Courtney Lamdin. Cops have been called to 184 Church Street 1,000 times in a decade. e city is pressuring the owners, the Handy family, to finally resolve issues at the property.

@WasilenkoAlex

HOLY COW! Kelvin Helmholtz clouds are gracing our morning skies over the #ChamplainValley right now. ey are SO DARN COOL!!!

ese clouds develop when there’s strong vertical shear causing winds to blow faster at the upper level than at the lower levels.

@WVNYWFFF

ously reported. It’s currently owned by a trust connected to Amy Tarrant, a racehorse breeder.

The property has, more than once, been the subject of several tussles with the city over its assessed value, which dictates its annual property taxes. During a citywide reassessment in 2021, Fairholt was initially assessed just shy of $6.4 million, making it the priciest home in Burlington. Tarrant appealed, and her representatives supplied their own appraisal that pegged the value at just $5.2 million. The city assessor acquiesced, leaving Fairholt merely the second most valuable residence in the Queen City, with annual property taxes of $115,018.

The architect Frederick Law Olmsted, of Central Park fame, designed Fairholt more than a century ago as a summer cottage for New York publishing magnate Henry Holt. IDX Systems cofounder Richard Tarrant and his thenwife, Amy, bought the estate in 1996 for $1 million and undertook major renovations and additions,  Seven Days  previ-

No. 1 is a lakefront property on Oakledge Drive, assessed at nearly $5.4 million.

The Sotheby’s agent for Fairholt declined to answer questions. A representative for the Amy E. Tarrant Living Trust did not respond to a request for comment.

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

KEVIN MCCALLUM

Marc Gendron

READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

publisher & editor-in-chief

Paula Routly

deputy publisher Cathy Resmer

AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

editor Matthew Roy

deputy editor Sasha Goldstein

consulting editors Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

ARTS & CULTURE

coeditors Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

AssociAte editor Margot Harrison

Art editor Pamela Polston

Music editor Chris Farnsworth

cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton

stAff writers Jordan Barry, Hannah Feuer, Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard

proofreAders Carolyn Fox, Angela Simpson

AssistAnt proofreAders

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler

DIGITAL & VIDEO

digitAl production speciAlist Bryan Parmelee

senior MultiMediA producer Eva Sollberger

MultiMediA journAlist James Buck

DESIGN

creAtive director Don Eggert

Art director Rev. Diane Sullivan

production MAnAger John James

designers Jeff Baron, Kirsten Thompson

SALES & MARKETING

director of sAles Colby Roberts

Account executives

senior

Robyn Birgisson, Michael Bradshaw

Account executives Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka

events & ticKeting MAnAger Katie Olson

legAls, lifelines And super reAder coordinAtor

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ADMINISTRATION

business MAnAger Marcy Stabile

director of circulAtion & logistics Matt Weiner

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Diana Bolton, Kevin Goddard, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

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PRO PLANT

Thanks for a slice of Vermont’s favorite pastime, nitpicking public projects on the virtues of electrical power supply in “Pipe Dream?” [September 27].

I respect debate and regulatory procedures, but Seven Days gaslighted us with the cover’s nighttime file photo of the McNeil Generating Station by Matthew Thorsen (1968-2019). The editor’s choice of a fiery red glow to accent the scene was overly dramatic. It looked like Maui burning.

Burlington’s hippie force needs to consider the tangible power solution on the table. In the real world, HydroQuébec means “electric Québec,” as hydro oddly became a synonym for the mix of all power sources in Canada. Elsewhere, France’s electrical power grid is exclusively supplied by nuclear plants. Russia’s gigantomania approach was building the likes of Chernobyl. Today China still burns everything to meet electrical demand without controls.

Bill McKibben’s The End of Nature was written in 1989. Sixteen years later, McKibben wrote the introduction for the 2005 edition. He admits to spending that summer in China studying its economy while giving China’s electric power generation a pass.

McNeil Station is a success in many purposeful respects. I was employed there, but, like every citizen, I rely on affordable electrical power at home. And as that citizen, I’m compelled to quote project backers in the article: “Without the plant, Burlington — and the state — would be more dependent on electricity purchased from the grid, largely generated elsewhere in New England from fossil fuels.”

Roger Donegan HINESBURG

AS GOES PORTLAND…

[From the Publisher: “Burlington Blues,” September 27]: Having read the Sunday New York Times article about a security guard in Portland, Ore., and the challenges that city is facing, I could hear myself saying, “Let’s not let Burlington get to that point.” Perhaps if you live out of town, you are immune to our crisis, but if you live, shop or run a business in Burlington, you know what I’m talking about.

What got us and other cities here? Of course it’s a complex mix of factors, but simply talking about “our most

vulnerable” has not helped; in fact, things are worse than ever. With people sleeping on sidewalks, needles strewn about, our bike path overrun with tents, trash everywhere, graffiti covering buildings and, worst of all, people shooting up in broad daylight, we are going to lose tourists, shoppers, businesses and residents — and our vibrant, beautiful, very special city will continue to suffer.

I’ve written to Gov. Phil Scott because we cannot do it alone. We need Montpelier to clearly understand the crisis we’re facing. I’ve asked the governor to take a walk with me on the streets of Burlington. I hope he responds, and I hope you’ll join us! Stay tuned; I will let you know if he responds.

Katy Lesser BURLINGTON

DIFFERENT DOWNTOWN

Paula Routly’s September 27 “From the Publisher” letter [“Burlington Blues”] hits the nail on the head: The problem in Burlington stems back to policies that aren’t working. I recently took my daughters to downtown Burlington on a Tuesday after school to get their ears pierced. The owner of Body Art did an incredible job — so professional. It was a wonderful experience! But the walk from the parking garage to Body Art wasn’t the Burlington I’ve lived in for the past 20 years. The sidewalks were crowded with homeless people, garbage and used syringes, and we watched blatant intravenous heroin use in broad daylight. We used to enjoy the colorful fountains at City Hall Park in the summer — now this place intended to attract kids is entirely unsafe for children. What a shame. (And what a waste of money!)

Have the policy makers ever watched the documentary on Max titled What

Happened to San Francisco? We’re on the same path. The subjects in that documentary said quite clearly: “We came here because we know we can get tons of free food, free tents to sleep in, and we won’t get arrested for doing drugs on the street.”

If you build it, they will come!

Ginger Vieira ESSEX JUNCTION

NO EASY FIX

In [From the Publisher: “Burlington Blues,” September 27], the author concludes by asking: “Does anyone know what will [fix these problems]?,” alluding to behaviors associated with people using drugs in public, those with mental health challenges and the unhoused.

The answer is “Yes, we do, but the will of the people has been nullified by the power of the current administration.”

The article itself is sensationalized and a slanted depiction of the very real consequences of public health policy derelictions here in Vermont. As usual, the mistreated, prosecuted, disenfranchised and politically underserved are blamed, and the thrust of the article therefore descends morally to what “we” are going to do about “them.”

The true question is: “What are we going to do about an administration that ignores science, feigns compassion and hoards money?”

H.728, an act related to overdose responses and based in science, was vetoed by our governor in 2022, the worst year ever in Vermont, with 264 neighbors dying of accidental drug overdose.

That same year, in a transparent attempt to feign compassion for this exact same group of Vermonters, the governor declared August 31 Overdose Awareness Day.

Presently, over $15 million lies idly in Vermont’s coffers, while 2023 screams in our faces every day, sirens blasting, exhausted first responders working overtime, family after family facing the preventable death of a loved one.

We, the people, can and must elect leaders who follow proven science, demonstrate compassion and find the resources necessary to care for the most vulnerable!

Ed Baker BURLINGTON

DISAPPOINTED CITIZEN

My husband and I recently moved here from Florida, primarily for the weather and sociopolitical environment. We have consistently bragged to our Florida friends of how welcoming and progressive Vermont is — Burlington, in particular.

Last week, some cider-loving friends and I began making plans to visit the Citizen Cider brewery. But then one in our group mentioned trouble there. None of the rest of us had heard of this. With much disappointment, I read the Seven Days article [“Hey Bub, Citizen Cider’s New Light Beer, Brews Trouble with Staff,” September 25]. We are a progressiveminded bunch and would not want to support a business that is in opposition of basic rights, decency and dignity for all.

As much as I have enjoyed Citizen Cider and it helped to make me feel like I can “belong” here in Vermont, this treasure of a place compared to my home state insofar as respect and dignity for all, I will still sadly give up Citizen Cider to send a message to the owners that their Hey Bub marketing and their treatment of their on-site staff is unacceptable.

Previously, I enjoyed Citizen Cider in ignorant bliss. Now I can no longer associate myself or my wallet with this company.

Valli Van Meter MONKTON

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NEWS+POLITICS 14

Prickly Issues

Discarded needles litter Burlington. What can be done?

Plan Would Cut Programs at Vermont State U

Next Up

ere are plenty of potential successors to outgoing Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger

Beta Christens Electric Aviation Production Plant

‘Virtuous Cycle’

An abandoned Burlington laundromat rumbles back to life by embracing its neighborhood

ARTS+CULTURE 46

Once Upon a Crime

In her latest book, Burlington author ea Lewis chronicles local true crime

A Long Road eater review: Cadillac Crew Vermont Stage Center for Cartooning Studies Launches Applied Cartooning Lab

FEATURES 26

Back to the Land

A new cemetery in Roxbury lets the dead give to the living and preserve a forest

Call of the Wild Finding everything but Bigfoot at the Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest

Trunk Show

Friday, October 6th in Barre Saturday, October 7th in Williston

Pianist Paul Orgel Plays Key Works at a Rare Recital Pride of Place

A dual exhibition of the Lyman Orton Collection showcases Vermont Conant Square Gallery O ers

FOOD+ DRINK 38 Branching Out

Tree farmer Buzz Ferver aims to restore the American chestnut in Vermont — and in your kitchen

Cool Beans

Jericho’s Brew House Coffee heats up with cold-brew Women at Work

ree questions about the “Vermont Female Farmers” exhibit at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock

Colchester screen-printing business New Duds has been around almost as long as this video series! Tessa and Torrey Valyou were dating when they launched their company in 2008. Since then, they’ve gotten married, had two children and expanded to a staff of 20. Eva Sollberger got a tour of their shop before an October 14 open house and warehouse sale.

We have

Find a new job in the classifieds section on page 85 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

Fri, Oct 6

Art Walk

sponsored by Northfield Savings Bank

Sat, Oct 7

Taste of Montpelier

presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op

Live Entertainment & Sidewalk Sales!

As a celebration of resiliency and community spirit, this festival promises an unforgettable weekend of great local food and art, family fun, and world-class street performers, all coming together to offer community support to the local businesses devastated by the July floods.

montpelieralive.com/reopeningcelebration

montpelieralive.com/taste

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

COMPILED BY EMILY HAMILTON

THURSDAY 5

Atlanta Braves

e “Stop Cop City” protests in Atlanta have persisted for two years, with a broad coalition of Native American, Black Lives Matter and climate activists working to halt the construction of a police training facility on Muscogee land. Now, the Weelaunee Worldwide Mass Action Speaking Tour stops by Democracy Creative in Burlington, with organizers giving updates on the movement and inviting Vermonters to join them in a mass action in November.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

OPENS THURSDAY

Hot in Here?

FRIDAY 6

LONG LIVE THE KING

Mike Oxready and Vermont

Humanities host Drag King Night at the Telegraph Club, the Northeast Kingdom’s hottest drag show/dance party/book club, at the Catamount ArtPort in St. Johnsbury. e evening features a set list of suave, strapping performers such as King Cocktail and Sid Vixen, alongside trivia and other activities related to this year’s Vermont Reads book, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

SATURDAY 7

Denmark My Words

Middlebury music lovers may have the last visit from Dreamers’ Circus burned into their brains: It happened in March 2020, days before the beginning of lockdown. But never fear — the acclaimed Nordic trio returns to Wilson Hall in the Middlebury College McCullough Student Center to make new memories soundtracked by its inventive twist on Scandinavian roots tunes.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

5

Montpelier’s Lost Nation eater makes a triumphant return to its home stage for the first time since the July flooding with Jeanne Beckwith’s Sam & Jim in Hell. e comedic drama finds Samuel Beckett and James Joyce in the afterlife — and it’s not heavenly. e Irish writers trade barbs and match wits, discovering the truth in Jean-Paul Sartre’s famous line: “Hell is other people.”

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

OPENS FRIDAY 6 Got Ghosted

Halloween season kicks off with an un-boo-lievable bang at Hyde Park Opera House with the Lamoille County Players’ production of e Haunting of Hill House. Based on Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, this hair-raising horror follows a professor and his guests as they investigate the unnerving happenings at a menacing mansion.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

SUNDAY 8

Labor Day

Montpelier filmmaker Christopher Wiersema premieres his experimental documentary Rough Blazing Star at the Old Labor Hall in Barre. e film weaves together the history of the hall, the writings of turn-of-the-century labor activist Emma Goldman, and interviews with local elders Alba Rossi and Giuliano Cecchinelli about the Italian anarchist and socialist scenes in the early 1900s. Donations benefit the hall.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

ONGOING Heart of Stone

Barre residents looking to celebrate their resilient town flock to the Vermont Granite Museum before “Barre, Painted Fresh,” a solo collection by local painter Tracey J. Hambleton, closes next week. e plein air oil works turn a romantic eye toward the landmarks that residents know and love, from churches to quarries to Studio Place Arts, as well as lesser-known but still important sights such as train tracks and residences.

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 57

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

King Cocktail

FOOD, FILM & FRIENDSHIP LUNCH, DINNER AND FILMS

On the final day of the Vermont International Film Festival, join us for Food, Film & Friendship, a special event in partnership with Québec, our friends from north of the border.

Watch films and enjoy dishes, drinks and tasting menus inspired by the films, created by eight top chefs from Vermont and Québec.

VERMONT’S PREMIER FILM FESTIVAL

is back with top tier films from the USA and around the world — at Main Street

Landing Performing Arts Center, UVM

Recital Hall, and The Essex Resort & Spa.

10 days n Over 60 films

Filmmaker Q&As n Receptions

MORE INFO AT VTIFF.ORG

BECOME A MEMBER AND GET EARLY ACCESS TO TICKETS AND MORE!

HOST SPONSOR

WITH SUPPORT FROM

MEDIA SPONSOR

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

ESSEX RESORT & SPA

LUNCH: $50; DINNER $100

DAY PASSPORT: $125

(includes both lunch and dinner)

Learn more or buy tickets at VTIFF.

ORG/EVENTS/FFF

Seating is limited, tickets must be purchased by October 16th.

Chef Fisun Ercan

Chef Greg Lang

Chef Colleen Hunt

Chef Jean-Simon Petit

Chef Jordan Ware

Chef David Forbes

Chef Frank Pace

Chef Raphael Podiasiewicz

Bitter Brewhaha

Reporter Carolyn Shapiro spent more than six weeks chasing down last week’s Seven Days story, “Trouble Brewing,” about Citizen Cider. She thought at first that it would be a straightforward business piece about the Burlington company’s launch of a new light beer. But things got complicated when she learned that a worker had objected to the promotion of the new product, Hey Bub, and was fired soon afterward. Carolyn subsequently discovered that several LGBTQ and female employees had left as a result of the company’s marketing campaign, targeting straight, working-class men, and a launch party at which they were asked to sport T-shirts with suggestive slogans like “Keep It Trimmed,” “Get Plowed” and “Approved for Hooking Up.”

Typically, business owners selling a new product are eager to talk to the media in hopes that the resulting publicity will generate interest — and sales. But Citizen Cider’s cofounder and president, Justin Heilenbach, dodged Carolyn’s phone calls and emails for weeks, during which time more and more disgruntled workers sought her out to share their stories.

Former bartender Mo Cummings went on the record alleging she was fired for her “bad attitude” at the launch party.

Carolyn waited for Heilenbach, to give him a chance to explain the company’s marketing strategy and respond to the employee criticism — important details that would make for a fuller, more informative and balanced piece. He was clearly stalling, likely hoping the story would go away, but Carolyn kept pushing until he came around.

The resulting story, like all things that strive for fairness, is a bit of a “he said-they said” — for example, Heilenbach said Cummings was fired for “performance issues.” In the end, Carolyn reported the facts she could confirm and put everything in context — Journalism 101. Her story leaves it to the reader to decide whether Citizen Cider erred in creating a work environment that pushed some of its employees out the door or whether the exodus was an overreaction to the company’s attempt to find a new revenue stream: a beer for bros.

Well into our process of journalistic due diligence, conversations about the company began swirling on social media. When the story came out, posters on Reddit were divided, and some got busy debating another question: Did Seven Days miss the real story? On a thread called “What happened with Citizen Cider?” the platform was abuzz with anonymous confessions from people claiming to be former employees, who alleged toxic masculinity and sexual harassment at the company. Some commenters said Carolyn went too easy on its leaders. One person with the screen name “Uncle_Oji_26” made the case that by mentioning Hey Bub and its price at a store that sells it, we were endorsing the product.

On Facebook, another person floated the theory that Seven

Days held back criticism of Citizen Cider because we’re protecting an important advertiser. In fact, Citizen Cider hasn’t advertised with us for two years, and we would never allow ad dollars to influence our editorial coverage. One poster on Instagram urged followers to “tell Seven Days how much they suck.” Afterward, a few people tagged us in videos of themselves throwing issues of Seven Days in the trash.

Meanwhile, I got an email with a very different message: “How many hit pieces on local businesses will 7Days write? How many takedowns of local employers and innovators will you green light?” wrote my correspondent. “What’s it like working at your company? All Rosy and perfect and you do it all 100% right? How many local businesses has 7 Days and Digger destroyed and tainted? It’s disgusting.”

It’s true that unhappy employees tend to find each other online — often in places reporters can see. But Seven Days pursues “bad boss” stories with caution. Before we move those conversations from anything-goes internet forums to the pages of our newspaper, we look for evidence of illegal behavior, lawsuits, discrimination and proven patterns of abuse confirmed by on-the-record testimony. Carolyn interviewed almost a dozen former and current employees of Citizen Cider. None of them reported having experienced sexual harassment.

Responsible journalism takes time and care. Not only do we have an obligation to be fair and explore all sides of a story, we also want to avoid getting sued for defamation — a liability from which social media platforms are exempt. Newspaper publishers pay steep penalties for destroying someone’s reputation without proof. Not so Reddit, X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

Online forums may be useful, but they can also be hotbeds of unsubstantiated rumors and aren’t subject to the same rules traditional media outlets are. That’s why we’re detailing our methods and ethics here.

Paula Routly

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FILE: DARIA BISHOP

CAROLYN REPORTED THE FACTS SHE COULD CONFIRM AND PUT EVERYTHING IN CONTEXT — JOURNALISM 101.

Citizen Cider in Burlington

Prickly Issue

Discarded needles litter Burlington. What can be done?

BY COLIN FLANDERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

EDUCATION Plan Would Cut Programs at Vermont State U

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont State University would cut 10 academic programs and eliminate as many as 33 full-time faculty positions under a new cost-cutting plan that administrators proposed on Monday. Another 13 academic programs would be consolidated, and 11 would be moved to new campus locations.

Proposed to be closed over the next two years are the music; performance, arts & technology; photography; agriculture; forestry; landscape contracting; applied business; computer engineering technology; climate change science; and school psychology programs. Just 77 of VTSU’s 5,000 students are enrolled in those 10 programs now.

Meanwhile, music theater would be consolidated with theater arts, and fine arts would be continued with “major modification and consolidation” and offered only on the VTSU-Johnson campus, according to the draft plan. Dubbed Optimization 2.0, it was emailed on Monday to faculty, who are on fall break this week. ey will be asked to send responses to interim president Mike Smith, who will make final decisions on changes by October 31. at’s also Smith’s last day on the job.

Ted Miles begins most days behind Burlington’s derelict Memorial Auditorium, wielding a steel trash grabber and a grimy plastic container that he fills with used syringes. He then heads north, toward the abandoned former YMCA building, where a fence was recently installed to keep homeless people out. On he goes, through back alleys and hidden stairways, picking up debris from the city’s drug crisis.

HEALTH CARE

Miles, a 59-year-old code enforcement inspector and deputy health officer, has become the go-to guy for discarded needles in the Queen City. The responsibility, which he assumed a few years ago mostly because someone had to, has taken on added importance this year because of a dramatic increase in syringe litter.

The city received more than 740 citizen complaints through the first nine months of 2023 about improperly discarded syringes, including some in parks and playgrounds. Many more used needles go unreported, left behind in the crevices of the urban underbelly that Miles navi-

The sharp increase is a barometer of the city’s worsening drug crisis. And while o cials and treatment providers agree that the best solution remains getting people into treatment, they say they’re also looking for ways to reduce the litter, such as a new incentive program that rewards people who return needles.

Discarded syringes have become not only a tangible hazard but also a symbol of declining public confidence. Residents routinely complain about them and post photos online. Advocates worry that frustration over the nuisance could increase harmful stigma and erode community support for progressive treatment initiatives.

e proposal is part of a yearslong effort to reduce costs at the financially troubled system and to hone academic offerings so they’re more in line with what students and employers are seeking. e state colleges system announced last year that it would consolidate four of its campuses — in Johnson, Lyndon, Randolph and Castleton — into one unified institution, VTSU, which launched on July 1. e system ended the past fiscal year with a $22 million deficit on a budget of $134 million and is operating under a mandate to save millions of dollars over the next few years.

gates each morning. He said he picks up about 50 most days and estimated that he’s collected three times as many this year compared to last — enough to fill a 55-gallon barrel.

“Our culture has trained us to think that injection drug use is really evil, dirty and depraved,” said Tom Dalton, executive

e buyout program is expected to save as much as $3.5 million over the next two years, Smith wrote in the proposal — but he does expect some faculty members to decline buyouts and to be laid off instead. Faculty whose jobs are eliminated will continue teaching until the end of the academic year.

e faculty contract requires administrators to announce any layoffs by October 31. ➆

Vermont State University-Castleton

Ted Miles

COLIN FLANDERS

THIS ISN’T A POLITICAL ISSUE. THIS IS A PEOPLE ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO WORK ON.

TED MILES

Next Up

There are plenty of potential successors to outgoing Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

Friends, family members and city officials surrounded Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger last Thursday as he announced that he will not seek reelection in March. Among them was at least one person who is considering a run to replace him: veteran City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District).

In an interview on Monday, she said she’s heard from “a ton of people” encouraging her to seek the position. “It’s a big decision,” she said, “and I’m not making it until I am ready.”

Burlington voters have never elected a woman to the mayor’s office. At least three others are also testing the waters: Carina Driscoll, a business owner who challenged Weinberger in 2018; C D Mattison, a tech consultant; and Vermont Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (P/DBurlington), a former city councilor.

elected Republican officials, that could benefit a Democratic candidate: The party has put Progressives on the defensive ever since the now-infamous 2020 vote to reduce the size of the police force through attrition. In March, Democrats who supported hiring more police won several council elections, giving the party a functional majority on the body.

The dynamic is starkly different from that of the 2021 mayoral contest, when Weinberger defeated former council president Max Tracy, a Progressive, by just 129 votes.

Whoever wins this coming March will likely need a larger margin of victory. That’s because the city is implementing an instant-runoff voting system, in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no one gets a majority of votes, the person with the fewest is eliminated and the second-choice votes of everyone who picked that candidate are tallied. The process continues until somebody wins more than 50 percent of votes.

With no mayoral incumbent on the ballot for the first time since 2012, the pool of prospective candidates is only expected to grow. And the election comes at a pivotal time. While Weinberger has touted his work stabilizing Burlington’s finances during his tenure, a severe housing shortage, the opioid epidemic and a mental health crisis have shaken residents’ faith in city leadership.

Should they run, the potential candidates will have time to stake out positions on the big issues facing Burlington. Neither Democrats nor Progressives are expected to hold nominating caucuses before late November or even December.

But public safety will undoubtedly loom large on Town Meeting Day. In Burlington, which currently has no

The system theoretically reduces the spoiler effect, where a third-party candidate “steals” votes from similar candidates to help an opponent win. That could boost an independent such as Driscoll, who ran with Progressive backing in 2018 but lost to Weinberger in a three-way race. That year, she earned 35 percent of the vote compared to 48 percent for Weinberger. The third candidate, Infinite Culcleasure, also an independent, won 16 percent of the vote. Driscoll previously served on the Burlington School Board, the city council and in the legislature. The stepdaughter of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), she now runs Butter Bar & Kitchen, a restaurant in the New North End. On Monday, she said she hadn’t thought of entering the race until she learned that Weinberger wouldn’t. Burlington needs a mayor who will address public safety issues in a way that considers everyone, she said: people struggling with addiction, business owners and residents.

“Whether I run or I support someone else, that is the most important question,” she said.

WITH NO MAYORAL INCUMBENT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2012, THE POOL OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES IS ONLY EXPECTED TO GROW.

Building Stronger Futures

director of Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform, a nonprofit service organization with many clients who use drugs. “Solutions get dark when you don’t address things in a proactive way.”

The vast majority of needles in Burlington originate from the Howard Center’s Safe Recovery, which distributes more than half a million syringes annually through an exchange program run out of its Clarke Street offices.

Syringe exchanges are proven to reduce the spread of transmissible diseases such as HIV and hepatitis by providing people with clean needles. The programs represent the bedrock of the strategy known as harm reduction that seeks to help people consume drugs more safely.

Used needles are considered health hazards. And though research suggests that the risk of catching a transmissible disease from one is quite low, people accidentally stuck by a discarded syringe often must undergo several rounds of testing.

FALL OPEN HOUSES

Explore all Vermont State University offers you! Choose your campus, choose your program, and build your future. Learn More!

October 9: Castleton

October 21: Lyndon

October 28: Randolph

November 3: Castleton

November 4: Johnson

November 11: Williston

Burlington officials describe their needle disposal program as one of the most robust in the U.S., with at least a dozen sharps deposit boxes in public areas, including at city hall, Oakledge Park, North Beach, Fletcher Free Library, the Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center, and the waterfront. Outdoor medical waste containers have also been added to City Hall Park and Battery Park, while city staff are now handing out portable disposal boxes to unhoused people.

Dalton, who led Safe Recovery for nearly 20 years before leaving in 2017, launched a pickup program while there partly out of public health concerns. It also allowed the agency to keep closer tabs on the prevalence of use in the community, he said. But the organization ended the effort a few years ago to focus on the growing demand for its case management services.

The city has filled the void. Municipal employees, from park rangers to parking garage attendants, now pick up needles as a regular part of their job.

In addition to his morning sweeps, Miles handles all resident complaints about syringes reported through the city-run app SeeClickFix. Data from the app show the number of complaints hovered around 40 per year between 2012 and 2020, then spiked to 300 in 2021.

Last year, Miles reported each batch he personally discovered in an attempt to keep more accurate data. He stopped after some residents complained that he was “cooking the books.” Citizen reports

from 2023 are nevertheless on pace to surpass 900 this year.

Sometimes residents provide photos and precise locations of the needles they report on the app. Other complaints include only a street name. “It’s literally searching for a needle in a haystack sometimes,” Miles said.

Burlington officials have urged Safe Recovery to recover more of the syringes it hands out. Similar pleas in other cities grappling with syringe litter have led some programs to enact new restrictions, such as requiring people to return a used needle in order to receive a clean one.

Safe Recovery has no plans to go that route, said Dan Hall, director of the Howard Center’s outpatient services. Research shows that the harder it is for drug users to access exchange programs, the likelier they are to reuse needles and the likelier they are to catch and spread diseases. The Howard Center has recently interviewed people who left out-of-state exchange programs

OUR CULTURE HAS TRAINED US TO THINK THAT INJECTION DRUG USE IS REALLY EVIL, DIRTY AND DEPRAVED.

TOM DALTON

Needle disposal box at Fletcher Free Library

over frustration with new restrictions, Hall said.

The Burlington agency, whose clients typically request between 50 and 200 syringes at a time, has instead started offering incentives: People who return at least one syringe can draw a slip of paper out of a fishbowl and earn a reward, ranging from a free snack or a coffee to a recent top prize of an iPhone.

The program has been popular since it launched last month, Hall said. Half of the 32,000 needles distributed during the first two weeks of the program were returned, a sizable increase over the typical ratio. Similar rewards-based programs are being piloted in Boston and New York City.  Safe Recovery staff also try to remind clients that syringe litter upsets passersby and can harm the exchange’s reputation. That message often hits home, Hall said, as many people find Safe Recovery to be their “haven.”

“We all know the value of the exchange. We don’t want anything to jeopardize it,” he said.

It becomes harder to appeal to someone’s shared sense of community, however, when they can log online and find social media accounts blasting out

photos of drug users shooting up in Burlington, advocates said.

“They’re not doing that from any positive motivation,” Dalton said. “It’s voyeuristic and mean spirited.”

Miles, who plans to retire next year, said he must sometimes shut off the emotional part of his brain to cope with the scenes of despair he comes across on his daily sweeps. But he also tries to remember that behind each discarded needle is a person in need. It’s a mental exercise made easier by the fact that he himself was once homeless, struggling with alcoholism. Every October, he said, he buys 100 pairs of socks and distributes them to people in need around town.

Over the weekend, Miles said, he received a survey from the Burlington GOP focused on the perception of public safety in the city under Mayor Miro Weinberger, who announced last week that he won’t seek reelection. The tone worried Miles. “This isn’t a political issue,” he said of the drug crisis. “This is a people issue. This is something we all need to work on.”

“And believe me,” he said, “if you’ve got a solution, please tell us. Because we’d all like to hear it.” ➆

Debris in a parking garage in Burlington

‘Virtuous Cycle’

An abandoned Burlington laundromat rumbles back to life by embracing its neighborhood

BY DEREK BROUWER • derek@sevendaysvt.com

Eugene Blake sat by the front window of the King Street Laundry in Burlington. He wore a Houston Astros baseball cap, though he said he doesn’t particularly care for the team. His backpack and bedroll lay underfoot while his clothes tumbled in a dryer.

He was chatting with Carole Ricciuti, an employee of the nonprofit staffing agency Working Fields, about how he might get a job at a local restaurant, when a woman with a walker shuffled through the door. The man who accompanied her announced: “We’re trying to get some laundry done. She’s homeless.”

Ricciuti turned her attention. “Let’s get you started,” she said, then used an app on her phone to start Washer No. 3.

But as soon as the man had stuffed his friend’s clothes into the front-load machine, he realized they’d forgotten to bring detergent.

“Would you like some Tide pods?” Blake offered. “I have two left.”

Word had gotten around: On Wednesday afternoons, between 1 and 3 p.m., Burlington’s homeless residents can come to King Street Laundry and wash their clothes for free.

When the program began last year, the pocket-size laundromat at 72 King Street became the second place in Vermont’s largest city, along with a homeless shelter, to offer such a service. The initiative is modest in size — on this particular Wednesday, six people came through — but it signifies a remarkable turnaround at an essential neighborhood business.

For decades, King Street had been the only walkable laundromat in the neighborhood. Yet by December 2021, the typically unattended business had become a magnet for drug use during a resurgent opioid epidemic, and its frustrated owner closed up shop.

“I went down there one day and it was a bunch of vagrants hanging out, smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and you know, there was needles in the back corner,” former owner T.J. Riley told VTDigger.org at the time. “I said, ‘You know, fuck this,’ and I locked the door.”

Andrew Christiansen and his wife, Hannah, had just purchased a small apartment building down the street. Andrew asked Riley if he could buy one of the dormant machines for their tenants to use. Instead, the couple bought the building,

including the laundromat and an upstairs apartment, for $435,000.

The Christiansens, who live in Williston, didn’t know how to run a laundromat — Andrew works in marketing for a biotechnology company, and Hannah is a doula. They sensed, however, that with more active management, King Street Laundry could successfully reopen. A grant from the King Street Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation helped them get started.

Their effort began with measures Andrew described as “low-hanging fruit.” They adjusted the closing time from 11 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The couple secured a state grant to help pay for a heat pump to make the space more comfortable. New

CUMULATIVE

TRIAL-AND-ERROR

LAUNDROMAT.

security cameras allowed Andrew to watch over the laundromat from afar and even speak to patrons through its intercom system. Some customers told Andrew that the heightened surveillance was “creepy,” he said. Others reported feeling safer.

At the same time, the couple looked for ways to foster a more neighborly atmosphere. Artist Elizabeth Emmett created an outdoor mural of birds and wildflowers. Inside, Corrine Yonce, a Winooski artist, housing justice advocate and former laundromat patron, installed collage paintings that depicted the quiet intimacy of doing laundry in a shared space.

The new owners also employed the same principle that Burlington officials have been using, with limited success, at nearby City Hall Park: “A laundromat that’s filled with positive people doing good, constructive things,” Andrew said, “creates a virtuous cycle that will prevent the bad stuff from happening.”

The couple asked social services agencies to host events and programs at the laundromat during business hours. ReSOURCE, a jobs training nonprofit that

Andrew Christiansen

King Street Laundry

PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

THE

EFFECT OF THE

APPROACH HAS BEEN A BUSIER AND SAFER

does workforce development, created a six-week Hospitality 101 course last winter that three people completed. Groups such as Working Fields have hosted well-attended job fairs. Feeding Chittenden’s Good Food Truck has offered free meals on the sidewalk. On Saturday, October 7, the artist Teresa Davis will host an art class, developed with youth from the nearby King Street Center, in which participants will paint some of the laundromat’s ceiling tiles.

The events are experiments, more or less, in learning what the space is “truly capable of,” Andrew said. Occasionally no one shows up. But the cumulative effect of the trial-and-error approach has been a busier and safer laundromat. Police inves-

Working Fields’ Ricciuti was covering her first free-laundry shift when she met Blake and the woman with the walker, Tina Cusson.

Cusson, 55, was having a bad day. She’d recently been evicted from an apartment on Pine Street and was staying with a friend. In a few days, she’d have to leave his apartment, too. She was using the walker while recovering from a leg injury that had sent her to the hospital. During the summer, her daughter, Kelley, was murdered in a public park a block and a half away. As Cusson explained her situation to Ricciuti, she began to cry.

Ricciuti called the Committee on Temporary Shelter, a local homeless shel-

tigated criminal activity there more than 20 times in 2021, according to city data. In the 12 months since the laundromat reopened in June 2022, police responded to crime reports just twice.

Free laundry day for homeless patrons was one of the new owners’ first and most successful programs. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity pays for the free loads via coupon codes that can be redeemed anytime through a phone app. With a staffer on-site to help turn on the machines, the Wednesday afternoon events serve customers who don’t have a smartphone or want to connect to social services while completing their weekly chore. The program, which has cost $855 so far, is funded through the spring.

Initially, CVOEO employees worked as attendants each week. With just a handful of patrons using the service, however, the organization couldn’t justify the staff time this summer, according to homeless outreach services coordinator Adam Hall. So, in recent weeks, Andrew began tapping his growing network of partner groups to keep the afternoon events going.

ter. “There is a lady here. She’s broken her leg. She’s having a hard time, she’s not really mobile, she’s unhoused and she’s in desperate need of a place to sleep,” she said. “How can we support her?”

“You’re full?” Ricciuti said. “OK.” She relayed the disappointing news.

But Cusson, separately, had asked her caseworker to meet her at the laundromat. With her clothes sudsing in front of her, Cusson and the caseworker began completing housing applications. They had a lead on a place on Shelburne Road.

While Cusson waited, a friend of hers happened to come by with a garbage bag full of clothes. The friend leaned over and gave Cusson a long, warm embrace.

Cusson said she appreciated the laundromat, which she had used before its reopening last year. “It’s better now,” she said.

As Blake finished up, Cusson thanked him for giving her some of his detergent. He told her not to worry about it.

“We gotta take care of each other,” Blake said. He tucked his clean, dry clothes into his backpack and went on his way. ➆

VASE

VASE

presents a public lecture entitled “AI- Designed Organisms: A Case Study in the AISocial Impacts of AI”

presents a public lecture entitled “AI- Designed Organisms: A Case Study in the Social Impacts of AI”

VASE

presents a public lecture entitled “AI- Designed Organisms: A Case Study in the Social Impacts of AI”

TOANDFREEOPEN THE PUBLIC

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Josh Bongard

Keynote Speaker Dr. Josh Bongard

Professor of Computer Science, University of Vermont

Professor of Computer Science, University of Vermont

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Josh Bongard

Professor of Computer Science, University of Vermont

Josh Bongard Veinott Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont and of Morphology, Evolution & Cognition Laboratory. His work centers on the automated design manufacture of soft-, evolved-, and crowdsourced robots, as well as computer-designed organisms. Dr. Bongard is a PECASE, TR35, and Cozzarelli Prize recipient, and co-author of the book How The Body Shapes The Way We Think

Josh Bongard is the Veinott Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont and Director of the Morphology, Evolution & Cognition Laboratory. His work centers on the automated design and manufacture of soft-, evolved-, and crowdsourced robots, as well as computer-designed organisms. Dr. Bongard is a PECASE, TR35, and Cozzarelli Prize recipient, and co-author of the book How The Body Shapes The Way We Think

October 10th, 2023 at 5:00pm

Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 at 5:00pm

Middlebury College, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Room 216

Josh Bongard is the Veinott Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont and Director of the Morphology, Evolution & Cognition Laboratory. His work centers on the automated design and manufacture of soft-, evolved-, and crowdsourced robots, as well as computer-designed organisms. Dr. Bongard is a PECASE, TR35, and Cozzarelli Prize recipient, and co-author of the book How The Body Shapes The Way We Think

Middlebury College, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Room 216

Introductions of VASE’s Science Teacher of the Year and our newest inductees into the Academy will immediately precede the keynote address

Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 at 5:00pm

Introductions VASE’s Science Teacher of the Year and our newest inductees into the Academy will immediately precede the keynote address Middlebury College; University of VT, Office of Research

Middlebury College, McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Room 216

Sponsored by: Middlebury College; University of VT, Office of Research

Introductions of VASE’s Science Teacher of the Year and our newest inductees into the Academy will immediately precede the keynote address

Sponsored by: Middlebury College; University of VT, Office of Research

Beta Christens Electric Aviation Production Plant

BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com

Beta Technologies celebrated the opening of its South Burlington manufacturing center on Monday, marking the milestone with praise from politicians and a stylish flyby outside the hangar doors.

The state’s top elected leaders joined company founder and CEO Kyle Clark, its major investors, and many of its nearly 600 employees inside the sparkling 188,500-square-foot facility at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport.

“What you guys are in,” Clark told the crowd, his voice echoing across the capacious hangar, “is the first [large-]scale production facility for electric aircraft.”

The company is at the forefront of a global push to develop commercially viable electric planes that can take off and land vertically — like helicopters — and fly like jets. Though the muchhyped market for such planes remains uncertain, analysts consider Beta one of the nascent industry’s most promising startups. Since its founding in 2017, Beta has raised more than $700 million from investors, received valuations exceeding $1 billion and flown more than 26,000 miles on its prototype, dubbed Alia.

Beta says the production plant will be able to build as many as 300 aircraft per year once Alia is certified for commercial flight, a process the company hopes to complete by 2027. In the meantime, the company will use the plant to produce test aircraft needed to clear the substantial regulatory hurdles ahead.

Construction of the 40-acre manufacturing campus began in summer 2022. Last month, as build-out of the production center was nearly complete, a worker with the lead contractor, PC Construction, died in a worksite accident involving a forklift. Clark began Monday’s event by acknowledging the man’s death, calling 57-year-old Rory Gibbs “a veteran, a father and a husband,” who died “while working towards our collective mission.”

The plant features eco-friendly materials and designs, including geothermal and solar energy systems. A skylight runs the length of the hangar, and a far wall includes interior lights that adjust in intensity according to the time of day.

“We’re going to make manufacturing sexy again,” Clark said. ➆

Next Up « P.15

Driscoll would likely face stiff competition from Shannon, a Democrat who’s served as a city councilor for two decades, including a stint as the body’s president. Shannon, a real estate agent, is one of Weinberger’s staunchest allies on the council and has been resolute in her vision for public safety. She was one of three councilors who voted against cutting the city police department’s staffing.

She also supported the closure of the Sears Lane homeless encampment in 2021, a stance that made her a target of activists who wore “Fxck Jxxn Shxnnxn” T-shirts to council meetings.

But Shannon has proven extremely popular with her South End constituents. Last election cycle, she trounced challengers in the Democratic caucus, as well as Progressive and independent opponents in the general.

Mattison, another potential candidate and a Democrat, also lives in the South End. She has a more complicated relationship with Weinberger and his policies. She considered running against him in 2021, then decided not to because she thought the city needed stable leadership during the pandemic. She served as his campaign treasurer instead.

But Mattison grew disenchanted with the mayor, feeling that he divided the city by pushing a narrative that Burlington is less safe with fewer cops, she told Seven Days last year. She also criticized Weinberger when Tyeastia Green, the city’s first and former racial equity director, left her job after reportedly not feeling supported in her role.

Mattison said she’s “exploring all options and having key conversations” before deciding whether to enter the race.

Mulvaney-Stanak, who lives in the Old North End, once chaired the state Progressive party and leads the party’s caucus at the Statehouse. In Montpelier, MulvaneyStanak has sponsored bills to boost legislator pay and require safe storage of firearms — the latter a concept also supported by Weinberger. In 2022, she voted in favor of a charter change to ban no-cause evictions in Burlington, but Gov. Phil Scott vetoed it.

Mulvaney-Stanak was the first to express interest in running. Shortly after Weinberger’s announcement, she posted on X that she was “seriously considering” it. On Monday, she said she was leaning toward it more and expects to make a decision within two weeks.

“[I’ve] received quite an overwhelming response of folks who are encouraging me to really do this thing,” she said.

At least one Prog has vowed to support Mulvaney-Stanak if she runs: Tracy, the

former councilor and mayoral candidate. He said he’s not running again.

Also not running again: former city council president Kurt Wright, a Republican who lost to Weinberger in the 2012 mayoral. Wright, host of a talk radio show, said people have urged him to run, but he’s declined.

Other familiar politicians are leaning against running. Tim Ashe, the former Vermont Senate pro tempore, ran for the Democratic mayoral nomination in 2011 but lost in a close race to Weinberger. “I haven’t ruled it out,” said Ashe, who is now deputy state auditor, “but for a variety of reasons, the timing isn’t great for me.”

Councilor Ali Dieng (I-Ward 7), who lost to Weinberger in the 2021 race, said he likely won’t run again. Dieng, whose seat is up for election in March, is considering leaving elected office altogether. “I think people will need fresh blood,” said Dieng, who has served since 2017.

Others won’t say. Burlington GOP chair Christopher-Aaron Felker largely dodged questions about a possible candidacy, instead emphasizing that the city needs a strong leader. “Whether or not that’s me has yet to be determined,” he said.

Brian Pine, a former city councilor who sought the Prog nomination in the 2021 race, didn’t respond to an interview request. Nor did City Council President Karen Paul (D-Ward 6).

In interviews and press releases last week, Weinberger recalled some of his accomplishments. When he first took office in 2012, the city’s credit rating was close to junk bond status after Progressive former mayor Bob Kiss diverted city funds to save the failing Burlington Telecom. Weinberger raised the credit rating six steps during his tenure, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. He built up cash reserves, which helped the city weather unexpected costs during the pandemic.

He also completed a number of infrastructure projects, including a renovation of City Hall Park and upgrades to the bike path. Most recently, he helped kick-start construction on the longstalled Champlain Parkway.

And while Weinberger’s political career in Burlington may be ending, he hasn’t ruled out a bid for higher office.

In an interview last week, he said he remains concerned about the drug crisis, housing shortage and rising rates of homelessness.

“Those issues won’t fix themselves,” he said. “I am definitely going to explore whether there’s some way for me to have an impact.” ➆

Disclosure: Tim Ashe is the domestic partner of Seven Days publisher and editorin-chief Paula Routly.

Carina Driscoll

C

D Mattison

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak

Joan Shannon

FEEDback

one depicting Ukrainians’ struggle to defend their homeland as nothing more than a NATO “puppet state.”

The reason I and many others have loved Bread and Puppet all these years is not its politics but the poetic creativity by which it has turned politics (and much more) into beauty. The politics only had to be coherent and more or less defensible. With that no longer there, it’s fitting that Chelsea Edgar wrote an article that felt like a generous and heartfelt eulogy [“Circus of Life,” August 30]. Long live the Bread and Puppet of our memories.

Adrian Ivakhiv BARRE

‘NOT A NARCISSIST’

Have to write to thank you for the long and lovely article about Bread and Puppet Theater and especially for the writer’s focus on Peter Schumann’s artistic energy at the age of 89 [“Circus of Life,” August 30].

But I also write to assure your readers that Peter Schumann is not a narcissist. I’ve looked up the word in several dictionaries, just to be sure, and no current meaning of the word in any of my English dictionaries applies to the kind, polite, concerned man whom I have known for 50 years.

The person whom the writer quoted as saying Peter’s “a real narcissist” was speaking some kind of whimsical language applicable neither to the meaning of the word itself nor to Schumann. I think it was a mistake to quote her for saying this, at least without further explanation of why she did.

Peter has given his life to expressing concern for our planet, our need for world peace, our collective sanity and responsibility for caring for each other. Narcissists care only about themselves, if my several dictionaries have it right. Peter cares about all of us. That’s why he keeps expressing his concern for us with his art.

Sylvia Manning GLOVER

‘STALE’ BREAD

Dan Beaupré’s letter [Feedback: “Bread and Pu ery,” September 13] describing Bread and Puppet Theater’s “stale narratives, tired tropes, in-jokes and all-toosimple answers to complicated problems” resonated with me more than I would like. This year was the first in many years that I did not drive out to see Bread and Puppet’s Sunday pageant, largely because of reports from trusted friends and from seeing videos of scenes that seemed hollow and insensitive — especially the

‘SKATEBOARDING CULTIVATES COMMUNITY’

[Re “Skateboarders Cry Foul Over Bolton Valley’s Plan to Close Indoor Park,” September 20]: You wouldn’t expect a small, rural state like Vermont to be on the radar of the international skateboard community, and yet it has produced more than a few notable contributions to the wide world of skateboarding, thanks to a small number of shops, mentors and skate parks that foster what has become a thriving skateboard community. Talent Skatepark in Burlington is a fantastic example of what happens when you give folks of all ages, especially kids, a supportive place to skate year-round. Skateboarding cultivates community, culture and unique personal development benefits that kids and adults in Vermont desperately need. O ering another indoor skate park alongside Talent is a great service that Bolton has proven it can provide. If it stops, will another indoor park pop up to fill the growing need? Will the kids trade in their skateboards for pickleball rackets? Unlikely.

Evan Litsios RICHMOND

‘SUPPORT VERMONT FAMILIES’

We in Vermont have been the fortunate beneficiaries of several substantial gifts from MacKenzie Scott’s charitable giving organization, Yield Giving. The most recent gift of $20 million to the Champlain Housing Trust will make a signifi cant di erence for Vermonters [“MacKenzie Scott Donates $20 Million to Champlain Housing Trust,” September 27].

Yet, as housing trust CEO Michael Monte notes, “With housing prices escalating in Vermont and nationwide, $20 million won’t solve northwestern Vermont’s housing problems. But it helps.” The issues facing Vermonters are complex and intertwined. While substantial charitable gifts are more than welcome, they

are not enough. One powerful, e ective financial tool we already have at our disposal is the federal tax system, which can immediately reduce child poverty and promote housing stability.

In 2021, an expansion of the Child Tax Credit dramatically reduced child poverty. New census data show that child poverty more than doubled when Congress allowed the expansion to expire. Now, with families again struggling to make ends meet, expanding the Child Tax Credit must be a top priority for Congress.

In addition, millions of American renters, including many Vermonters, can’t keep up with the high cost of rent. A Renter Tax Credit for rent-burdened households (those paying more than 30 percent of their total income for rent) would result in housing stability, fewer evictions and reduced homelessness.

Our elected representatives in Congress — Rep. Becca Balint, Sen. Peter Welch and Sen. Bernie Sanders — must do all they can to support Vermont families. We can’t a ord to leave the work to others.

Julia Russell CHARLOTTE

VERMONT VS. VIRGINIA?

Reading [“Amid Soaring Construction Costs, Developers Consider Building Modular Homes,” September 6], I was amazed at the quoted costs. So I checked prices for some newly built houses in northern Virginia. They ranged between $300 and $400 per square foot. Townhouses went down to $250 per square foot. So I am curious as to why it costs so much more to build in Vermont than Virginia — and how much has to do with the building regulations in Vermont versus Virginia.

Robert Feuerstein FERRISBURGH

MILLERS’ TALE

[Re Paid Post: “How UVM Health Network — Home Health & Hospice Makes the End of Life Worth Living,” September 20]: I know that Ernie Pomerleau arranged the Seven Days “native” article on UVM Home Health & Hospice/McClure Miller Respite House as a tribute to Holly and Bobby Miller. I just wanted to thank your sta for the very fine piece, which described the work Respite House does for the terminally ill and their families.

It is so fitting that Holly spent her last days in the kind of setting she and Bobby worked so hard to create. I hope that they are at rest together.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Harlaine Dudley Miller

AUGUST 8, 1944SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

COLCHESTER, VT.

e world is a better place because of the life and countless contributions of Harlaine Dudley Miller.

Harlaine Miller, better known as Holly, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at the McClure Miller Respite House, the place of rest and comfort she helped to create in Colchester, Vt.

Holly was born in Rutland on August 8, 1944. Her name was chosen by her parents, Elaine Park and Harley E. Dudley, combining their first names to create Harlaine. She was the second of five children, having one sister and three brothers.

When Holly was 9 years old, her family moved to Burlington, where she entered fourth grade. Holly was raised in a humble home on lower North Street with the family values of love, commitment and hard work that shaped the person she was to become.

Holly’s love of books and passion for learning were born at Edmunds Middle School. With every new book she read, she wanted more. Holly became an avid reader as an adult, often reading more than 40 books a year. She was in love with words and beautiful writing. Her countless journals and exquisite crafting of letters and speeches bear testimony to this. Her pièce de résistance was the writing of her memoir, I’ll Show You How, recounting her experience of her father’s dying process. She was a loving presence in the care and comfort of both of her parents at the end of their lives.

In school, along with her passion for learning, Holly developed an unwavering work ethic. She babysat as a youngster and, in high school, worked at Del’s Pizza Parlor in her neighborhood and later as a carhop at the A&W. Importantly, she often shared her earnings with her parents.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Following her graduation from Burlington High School in 1962, she continued her formal education, pursuing evening classes at the University of Vermont and Trinity College. At the same time, she advanced from secretary to the position of office manager in the newly formed group practice University Orthopedics, a position in which she took great pride.

Holly was also passionate about travel, art and photography. Her curiosity for other cultures and countries was insatiable. e books she read as a youngster planted the seeds for many travels as an adult. In bearing witness to diverse cultures around the world, she was deeply humbled and influenced by her interactions with the people she met. She marveled that they were satisfied with so little and appreciated that their happiness came from within. is left a lasting impression.

Among Holly’s most important possessions were her mother’s paintings, the finest and most expansive being the Noah’s ark wall mural that welcomes everyone entering Respite House.

Holly was not a professional photographer, but she had an eye for capturing memorable moments. She took great pride in her travel photos. Her many albums, filled with candid shots of family celebrations as well as quiet, pensive moments, are treasured by her family.

Holly is perhaps best remembered for her goodness and generosity. Her positive impact on our community through philanthropy will be felt for generations to come.

Holly’s partner in philanthropy was the love of her life — her Buddha, as she often referred to him — Robert “Bobby” Miller. Holly and Bobby were always in perfect lockstep in their commitment to giving back. While there is a long list of organizations and groups that were recipients of their generosity, their hearts were always open when an opportunity arose to meet expanded health care needs for all, support the care and nurturing of children, and improve the quality of care at the end of life, which was Holly’s greatest passion. Honors and recognition of their achievements in these and other areas are too numerous to mention here; however, it is important to note that Holly was moved and humbled to be recognized for every one.

Bobby and Holly understood that it was important to allow their names to be used to encourage other would-be philanthropists. However, this never changed the humility that was such an intrinsic part of Holly. She was uncomfortable being put on a pedestal and often said, with a twinkle in her eye, “If you fall off, it’s a long way down!”

Armed with all that she learned from her father during his illness and death, Holly enrolled in hospice volunteer training. Little did she know the heights to which this part of her life journey would take her. She was a founding mother of Respite House, MadisonDeane Initiative and Noyana Singers. Whether sitting with a dying client, doing committee work to support the volunteer program, singing to dying individuals and their families, or traveling internationally in support of a documentary film about the pioneers of the hospice movement, Holly did it all!

And in the end, Holly gave us perhaps her greatest gift of all: With grace and dignity, she showed us how to die.

Holly was predeceased by her beloved Buddha, Bobby; her parents; and her brother Fred Graham Dudley.

Holly is survived by her daughter, Erika Montgomery; her granddaughter, Darian; her sister, Deanna Brightstar, and her children, Peter Martin and Wendy Martin; her brother Dennis Dudley (Eileen) and their children, Devon (Simone Kreiger) and Matthew; and her brother Tim Dudley (MaryBeth) and their children, Ian, Jahala and Jessica. She is also survived by her nephew, Fred Dudley Jr., and her grandnieces and nephew, Rhea Dudley, Elliott McCallister and Ariella Dudley.

Holly is also survived by her husband’s family, who have been an integral part of her life: daughter Stephanie Taylor (Mitch) and their children, Thomas Reiskin, Olivia Reiskin, Austin Taylor and Carson Taylor; and son Tim Miller (Wendy) and their children, Sarah Owen (Jason), Katie Gabree (Jeremy) and Aaron Plunkett; as well as three great-grandchildren, Eloise Owen, Madeline Owen and Reggie Gabree.

e family gives special thanks to Lauren Rosamilia, Edisa Musanovic and Linda Demar. ey cared for Holly at home during the last few years of her life. Treating Holly as if she were a member of their own families, she felt safe, secure and loved in their presence, and for that we will be forever grateful.

A private burial service will be held in early October at Lakeview Cemetery.

A celebration of Holly’s life will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023, 1 p.m., at UVM’s Davis Center, with a reception to follow. All are welcome.

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

e family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the McClure Miller Respite House by mail at 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446 or online at uvmhome health.org/donations/ make-an-online-donation.

Nancy J. Preston Sabin

APRIL 9, 1939-SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

Nancy J. Preston Sabin, a remarkable woman of determination, compassion and unwavering dedication, passed away on September 27, 2023, at the age of 84. Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, on April 9, 1939, to Roger and Doris Preston, Nancy’s life was a testament to her resilience and commitment to serving her community.

Nancy’s journey was marked by her unrelenting pursuit of perseverance, independence, education and service. She chose a unique path by not completing high school, opting instead to obtain her GED later in life, driven by her deep desire to pursue a career in social services. Her mother once offered her a tempting trip to Europe with a best friend as an incentive to finish high school, but Nancy’s heart was already taken by love, and she chose the path of marriage.

Nancy leaves behind a legacy of love and service through her loving family, including Valerie and Rob Mullin; Neil and Karen Quenneville; Nina Badger and partner Bob; Victor Quenneville and Shelly Cyr; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Derek and Chelsea Coombs and their children, Henry and Holden; Ryan Coombs and fiancée Andrea; Bryce Mullin; Jeremy and Laura Quenneville and their children, Lilly and Sophia; Danielle Murray; Jenn and Chris Bergeron and their children, Eelin and Rao; Crystal Kinsman, her partner, Leon, and children Milo and eo; Todd and Jess Badger and their daughter, Ruby; Mat Badger and partner Hailey; Cobi Badger and partner Alysia; their father, Todd Badger Sr.; Sheena Goyette and daughter Nevaeh; Lance Quenneville; Monica Quenneville and children Olivia and Dominic; and Hailey Quenneville and fiancé Dave.

Nancy’s life will be celebrated with a visitation on Friday, October 6, 2023, 4 to 7 p.m., at Ready Funeral & Cremation Services, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. A funeral service will follow at Charlotte Congregational Church on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 11 a.m.

e family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Amy’s Armoire, 114 N. Main St., Ste. 2, Barre, VT 05641 or amysarmoire.org/donate.

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

Leonard Armstrong

APRIL 2, 1935-AUGUST 31, 2023

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT.

Leonard Armstrong, 88, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., passed away peacefully at Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care on August 31, 2023, surrounded by family.

Leonard was born on April 2, 1935, in Troy, Vt., to Guy Leno Armstrong and Dorris Martha Percy Armstrong. His family moved to Newport, Vt., when Leonard was in grade school. After graduating from Newport High School in 1953, Leonard joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a C-47 crew chief and aircraft engineer. His military career brought him to stations in New York, Texas, England, Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Greece (his favorite) and Michigan. He completed missions across Europe and Northern Africa and served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966.

While stationed in England, Leonard married June Lilian Gradley on July 14, 1956, and they recently celebrated their 67th anniversary.

Leonard retired from the military in 1974 at the rank of M/SGT and moved his family to Danville, Vt. After his military career, he worked in masonry at Vemco Homes and at Vermont Tap and Die. His military service and extraordinary work ethic is an inspiration to his family.

Leonard is survived by his wife, June, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and their four children and their spouses: Russell and Sabrina Armstrong of Corpus Christi, Texas; Linda Armstrong and Bob Laird of Williston, Vt.; Allison and Jim Hill of Mission Viejo, Calif.; and Patrick and Jennifer Armstrong of Orem, Utah.

Leonard is also survived by his 16 admiring grandchildren and their spouses and by his great-grandchildren: Nathan and Mayra Armstrong with Lucas, Aydan and Calvin; Gavin and Lucia Armstrong with Leonardo and Arthur; Caleb and Gentry Armstrong with Lacey and Addie; Madisyn and Ian Nelson with Lilian and Billie; Antonia and Derek Trono with Traeson and Mia; Wesley ArmstrongLaird; Lukas Armstrong-Laird; Shenley and Brett Puterbaugh with Joshua, Eliya, Lydia and Edyn; Raegan and David Witt with Layla, Abby, Harper and June; Parker and Karoline Searing with Koa and Kai; Kyle and Emily Armstrong;

Kiara Armstrong; Keenan and Katelin Armstrong with Haven; Jessica and Nick Ulmer with Taylor, Alison and Nicholas; Katie and Ben Schultz with Ruby, Lulu, Elliott, Jimmy and Lena; and Cody and Berkeley Hill with Claudius, Francis, Johannes and Sam.

In addition, Leonard is survived by his siblings Roger Armstrong and his wife, Isabelle, and William Armstrong; sisters-in-law, May Aunchman and Doreen and her husband, Ivan Rich; Bruce Searing; many loving nieces and nephews; and his family of friends at Brightlook Apartments.

Leonard was predeceased by his parents, Guy and Dorris Armstrong; his in-laws, Richard and Rosina Gradley; his siblings and their spouses: Vera Armstrong, Gilbert and Hazel Armstrong, Barbara and Leon Judd, Beverly and Clayton Hoadley, and Lorene and Bill Graham; and his brothers-in-law Arthur Aunchman and Dick Gradley and his wife, Joan.

Whether we knew him as Leonard, Len, Dad, Grampy, Weepa or Uncle, he enriched and inspired our lives in countless ways and constantly modeled for us the importance of kindness to all. Leonard enjoyed the simple things in life, such as his daily social trip to White’s Market for the newspaper, chats and any good deals he could find; completing his daily sudoku and crossword puzzles; puttering in the garden; walking in the woods, having his hair cut every three weeks; reading westerns; and beating all comers at Scrabble. Leonard elevated the gift of gab to an art form, as he would talk with anyone, entertaining friends and strangers alike with stories and his latest jokes, some of which were actually funny.

We are saddened by Leonard’s passing but feel so lucky that he was ours to love and learn from. He is irreplaceable but lives on in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he so deeply shaped.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Leonard on October 18, 2023, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Elks Club in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Interment with military honors will take place privately at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at knightfuneralhomes.com.

Sheila Rothgart Browning

FEBRUARY 12, 1945-SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 NEW YORK, N.Y.

Sheila Esther Rothgart Browning, 78, of New York City, ended her life on September 17, 2023, overtaken by intolerable depression and anxiety.

Sheila lived a full and rich life, with so much joy and celebration, deep in relationships and reflection. She was the most loving and devoted mother to her two children, Jesse and Megan, and, in recent years, became Nonna to her granddaughter, Haddie Rose Bown, whom she absolutely adored. In her words, her children were her greatest accomplishments. Her arms were always wide open to them and to all of their friends.

Born in Brooklyn to Hadassah and Albert Rothgart, she joined an older sister, Judy. A Brooklyn girl through and through, her roots were recognizable by her circle of friends, her accent, her unique laughter, her skepticism, her outspoken nature, and her commitment to always finding a bargain — or at least the best deal.

After college in the Midwest, Sheila came back to New York. It was while living in Manhattan that she met the love of her life, Charlie Browning, affectionately known as Charl. After a romantic and fun-filled courtship, they married in 1980.

Sheila and Charlie had two children together, Jesse and Megan Browning. Her beautiful, smart son, Jesse, predeceased her in 2012. She is survived by Charlie Browning; her daughter, Megan Browning; her son-inlaw, Will Bown; granddaughter, Haddie Rose Bown; and her sister, Judy MacDonald; plus an extensive network of additional family and loving friends.

Sheila loved babies and kids. She was always quick to engage and make them smile. Sheila was warm and soft and the best person to sit next to while she read aloud one of her favorite children’s books.

That love and affinity for little ones led to her 25-year career as a New York City public school teacher. Sheila was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and earned two master’s degrees from the Bank Street College of Education, one in early education and another in computers in education. Her impact on the lives of the countless children she taught over her years as a teacher is immeasurable.

Sheila had an artistic eye and her own special flavor of fashion. She was known for her signature glasses, elegant scarves, colorful shoes and an impressive collection of pins. She curated her own home with things she loved, including her mother’s classic midcentury furniture and fixtures. She always had something to pass on to someone in need or who was starting out on their own.

Sheila had a saying for everything, songs for every occasion and always offered the perfect words (and emojis) to her friends and family. She initiated conversations easily — with anybody — and made friends wherever she went. Out of empathy and unstoppable curiosity, she learned their stories and the intricacies of their lives. She was a true friend, a great listener and a loyal supporter of everyone she loved.

Sheila was an avid theatergoer and lover of museums. She was a social activist and critic, always having an opinion on the latest play or New York Times piece. She was a natural conversationalist — extremely chatty, joyous and funny. She was a lover of good food and an excellent cook, with a passion for time spent at farmers markets in New York, Vermont or wherever she and Charlie found them. A baker at times in her life, she often had a tin of cookies, blondies or her famous lemon squares in her home.

Having studied the Italian language and spent time in Italy during college, Sheila was a true Italophile, and it was evidenced by her love of pasta and good bread.

Sheila was a caretaker of plants and a lover of beautiful flowers, especially peonies. She loved travel, reading, word games, swimming, aqua aerobics, and, most of all, spending time with her family and all her friends.

At the time of her death, Sheila lived in Greenwich Village with Charlie, in the apartment they shared for 45 years. A house in Vermont, built by her son-in-law, Will, and his father was designed as a retreat and a haven where she spent many meaningful naturefilled moments with her family.

At the end of her life, she did everything she could to overcome her impossible struggles with mental illness. She had the unwavering support and love of her family and friends during these dark times.

Sheila was truly a bright light, a deep soul who shared so much of herself with those around her. She exuded warmth and love, and her unforgettable, kind smile and open arms are imprinted on the minds of all of those who love her. Sheila was an original, deeply loved and a bright light in an often dark world. She will be deeply missed and not forgotten.

Sheila’s family and friends arranged for her brain to be donated to the Harvard Brain Bank for neurological research, where one brain can support hundreds of studies. During this time of deep heartbreak, it is our hope that Sheila’s brain may be able to help in the quest toward more effective treatments for depression and other mental illnesses.

Sheila was buried in Vermont. A celebration of her life will be held in New York City in the future. To honor Sheila’s dedication to young readers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to We Need Diverse Books at diversebooks.org and the Children’s Literacy Foundation at clifonline.org.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

David Glendinning

JULY 14, 1936-

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

David Glendinning, 87, died peacefully on September 25, 2023, after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

David was born in Lawrence, Mass., on July 14, 1936, to parents Geoffrey and Eve Glendinning. He grew up in Andover, Mass., and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, then Dartmouth College, and graduated in 1958. He attended the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1960. He married Priscilla Jackson in 1961 and raised three children in Southwest Harbor and Waterville, Maine. In 1982, he married his second wife, Dorothy, and they enjoyed 38 full and happy years together in Concord, N.H.; Freeport, Maine; and Burlington, Vt., before her death in 2020.

David’s life work and greatest passion was as an Episcopal priest. He led parishes in Southwest Harbor, Maine; Waterville, Maine; and Concord, N.H., and successfully shepherded St. Mark’s in Waterville and St. Paul’s in Concord through the building of two new churches. He served as the chaplain at Colby College in Waterville during the 1970s and ’80s. He was devoted to his parishioners and to the work of the church, and, on behalf of the Episcopal Church, he continued to visit University of Vermont Medical Center patients until 2019.

David was an avid sailor, hunter and skier. He was a proud member of the race crew on the Hinckley sailboat, Night Train, and he later spent time he loved on his own boat, sailing the coast of Maine. He could often be found out bird hunting with his beloved black lab, Molly; skiing at Saddleback Mountain with his family; and camping in Baxter State Park.

David and Dorothy retired to a farm property in Freeport, Maine, where they owned and cared for as many as seven horses, and David used his master gardener status to design and tend a huge vegetable garden. In 2013, they moved to Burlington, Vt., to be closer to family and to spend summers at their camp on Lake Willoughby.

David was a lifelong lover and supporter of the arts and

Alfred Dostie

SEPTEMBER 4, 1947AUGUST 30, 2023

ROWLETT, TEXAS

in the woods of Colchester. Fireworks at holiday gatherings and street picnics were a must.

theater. He was very active in community theater, especially with the Freeport Players and the Portland Stage Company in Maine, both acting and — together with Dorothy — designing and building the sets. He was proud of his 12-year run as part of the ensemble for the Portland Stage Company’s annual production of e Christmas Carol. David and Dorothy, an artist herself, were also avid art collectors, especially of the work of well-known Maine and New Hampshire artists.

David was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Glendinning. He leaves behind his daughters, Jennifer “Jeffy” Usher and husband Jim of Essex Vt., Deb Light and husband John of Burlington Vt.; a son, Matt Glendinning, and wife Katherine of New Haven, Conn.; and stepson Rob Macklin of Jericho, Vt.; as well as his grandchildren, Nicole Egan and husband Gerard, Colby Hamilton, and Hannah Light and Maddie Light; and his great-grandson, Desmond Egan. David is also survived by his sister, Amy Glendinning, of Andover, Mass., and her partner, Elaine Schofield; stepdaughterin-law, Stephanie Macklin, of Framingham, Mass.; and step-granddaughters, Lilly and Sophie Macklin.

e family would like to thank the staff at the Residence at Quarry Hill for their exceptional care and support, especially in the final weeks leading to David’s death, and the compassionate team at UVM Home Health & Hospice for helping him through his final days. Donations in David’s honor can be made to Episcopal Relief and Development, an organization whose work he supported himself.

A funeral service is planned for David on Friday, October 20, 4 p.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 2 Cherry St., Burlington, VT.

Alfred Clement Dostie passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at the age of 75. He was born in Augusta, Maine, on September 4, 1947, the son of Victoire Dupuis Dostie and Alfred A. Dostie. Al was a loving husband, father, pépère, son, brother, uncle, godfather and friend. He graduated from Cony High School in Augusta and matriculated to Colby College in Waterville, Maine, class of 1970. ere, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. He married Bridget Fortin on October 21, 1972, in Waterville, Maine. Soon after, they moved to Burlington, Vt. Al and Bridget welcomed three children: Alexander, Jeremy and Mikaela. ey raised their family in Colchester, Vt.

Al lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother, elder siblings and the kinship of the Franco-American coterie on Sand Hill in Augusta, who instilled in him a profound appreciation for family, friends and community.

During his years in Vermont Al devoted himself to providing an idyllic family experience for his children, nieces, nephews and the neighborhood kids. Al, being a kid at heart, encouraged the children of Young Street to embrace their imaginations. He provided guidance for the construction of ramshackle tree houses and backyard ice rinks. Inspired by the film e Goonies, Al led novice Young Street explorers on several “Goober Expeditions” in search of hidden caves and lost pirate treasure

Martha Anne Bombardier

MARCH 8, 1942-SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 RICHMOND, VT.

Martha left this world on ursday, September 28, 2023, at the University of Vermont Medical Center. She was born in Burlington, Vt., on March 8, 1942, the daughter of the late Leland and Nita (Hutchinson) Towne.

Martha was predeceased by her son, Bruce, who died in 1987. She

His enthusiasm for sports and community led him to an association with Colchester soccer and baseball leagues. He volunteered countless hours coaching teams and maintaining many area ball fields. In 1990, he skippered the Colchester Prep League All Stars to the Vermont State Championship.

Al began his career with the FDIC, following in the footsteps of his older brother and mentor, Donald. At first, this meant splitting time between Washington D.C., and Colchester, until family obligations required him to stay closer to home. His career in the banking industry continued for many years and included stints at Burlington Savings, Chittenden and Merchants Banks as an auditor, executive VP and chief loans review officer.

After nearly three decades in Vermont, he set forth overseas to pursue new adventures behind the former Iron Curtain. is led to contracts with the Asian Development Bank and trips to Russia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. ere, he helped nascent governments initiate Western banking policies to enhance communication and cooperation between East and West. Al believed in democracy and saw the expansion of commercial and cultural exchange as a pathway to world peace.

It was in Tashkent that he met Feruza, who became his wife in a ceremony on November 30, 2003. Al loved to recount his many escapades, including hiking in the foothills of the Himalayas.

leaves behind her loving husband of 60 years, Roger Bombardier, and her daughter, Roxy Bombardier, and daughter-in-law, Sarah Bombardier. She also leaves behind two cousins, Cynthia Garcia and Gary Towne; numerous nieces and nephews; her brother and sister in-law, Robert and Amanda Bombardier; and brother-in-law, Paul Bombardier.

Martha graduated from the Mary Fletcher School of Nursing in 1962. She was a wonderful and dedicated nurse. She had a long and prosperous career at the University of Vermont hospital,

Feruza and Al returned to America and settled in Augusta, where he founded Maximis Consulting. ere, he continued forging contracts with various regional financial institutions until eventually relocating to Rowlett, Texas. He completed his career in banking where it began, at the FDIC, retiring and running Maximis Enterprises until his death.

Al was a man of the world who loved music, opera, ballet, art, traveling, hiking, dancing, building and eating. He spoke French Canadian and basic Russian and always tried to learn words and phrases in foreign countries where he worked and visited. He was a gregarious person, full of energy, joy, ambition and humor. Al loved history, current events and the politics of the day, as evidenced in his many emails sent. He took great pleasure in the fierce competition for the Maxime Cup at family Risk tournaments. Al cherished the traditions of his Franco-American heritage that carried him through life and often regaled his company with sonorous renditions of Québécois songs of yore.

Al is predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Victoire Dostie, and elder siblings, Clement Dostie, Rita (Dostie) Jean, Madeline (Dostie) Dube, Donald Dostie and Louise (Dostie) Redman.

Al is survived by his loving wife, Feruza; his former wife, Bridget; his sister-in-law Bonnie Dostie; his children: Alexander James Dostie and his wife, Tracey Girdich; Jeremy Paul Dostie and his wife, Linda, and their children, Grace and Charlotte; Mikaela Bridget Dostie and her children, Safiya and Ayelevi. He leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, colleagues and friends who will miss his laughter, songs and stories.

Funeral services will be held at St. Augustine Church in Augusta, Maine, on Saturday, October 14, followed by a gathering at Le Club Calumet in Augusta.

where she cared for the sick and helped many women deliver children. Martha loved her Siamese cats and all animals. She especially enjoyed watching the many wild animals of Robbins Mountain who visited her yard. She traveled extensively and cared for so many loved ones in her life, and she raised two children to adulthood.

Martha’s desire was for a private burial service. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Humane Society of Chittenden County — where she was a constant supporter — at 142 Kindness Ct., South Burlington, VT 05403. Arrangements are in care of the Gifford Funeral Home in Richmond. To send online condolences to her family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

Sally Ann Brace

NOVEMBER 25, 1959SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

SWANTON, VT.

Sally Ann (Laughlin) Brace, age 63 and a lifelong resident of this area, passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Born in St. Albans on November 25, 1959, she was the daughter of Lois (Mercier) Wilson and the late omas Laughlin. She attended Swanton-area schools and Missisquoi Valley Union High School.

Survivors include her daughter, Amber Sullivan, and husband, Shaun, of St. Albans; her stepsons, Charles McCarty, of Poulsbo, Wash., and Tony Brace, of St. Albans; her grandchildren, Isaac Sullivan and Tamera and Tony Jr. Brace; a brother, Corey Wilson, of Burlington; four brothersin-law, Fredrick Brace and fiancée Nancy Labrie, James Brace Sr. and wife Tina, Eugene Brace Sr., and Jim Brace, all of St. Albans; her sister-in-law, Janice Lotowitz, and husband

IN MEMORIAM

Dean R. Corren

1955-2023

BURLINGTON, VT.

George Lawrence

AUGUST 19, 1934SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

TUNBRIDGE, VT.

On September 20, 2023, the Earth lost its oldest child. George Lawrence of Tunbridge, Vt., held lovingly in his wife’s heart, passed into the light. e world is a better place for all the love he sparked and grew in our hearts.

He married Nancy Lawrence, now deceased, and adopted her son, Rodney, also now deceased. Together, in 1964, they brought their wild and wonderful daughter, Romy Lynn Lawrence, into the world. She has remained one of the great loves of his life.

at Vermont Law School.  e Morrill Homestead Museum was another favorite annual show.

Michael; her mother, Lois Wilson, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her nieces, Lacy Laughlin and Nichelle Grennon.

Besides her father, she was predeceased by her husband, Charles Brace; a brother, Michael Laughlin; her sistersin-law, Eunice Locke and Helen and Ellen Brace; and a stepson, Timmy Haynes.

Per the family’s wishes, there will be no public calling hours or services.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through gossfs.com.

George was born in 1934, in Florida, spending his youngest years with his parents, Harold and Helen Lawrence, in Keystone Heights. George told many stories of going out in a boat at night with his father to hunt alligators. He grew up with a love for the outdoors.

His family moved to Port Clinton, Ohio, to support the World War II effort. He took music lessons, got his first lap steel guitar and started art lessons to foster a passion for drawing.

Two divorces later, George and Jacquelyn JiMoi met and fell into a new kind of love, the love they had believed was possible but needed each other to create. at relationship has thrived for 47 years.

In 1980, when Jacquelyn followed her passion to live in Vermont, George followed. is move set them on their lifelong course of living in love and creativity that they believed in with all of their hearts.

While Vermont was home, Jacquelyn and George made annual visits to their favorite island, Ocracoke, N.C.  ey developed many loving relationships there, playing music in their living room, sharing their art in the island galleries, riding bikes around the village and introducing many Vermont friends to island life.

George was a storyteller who enjoyed making people laugh. He loved entertaining people of all ages, especially younger folks. He was able to nurture that love for eight years teaching art at the Mountain School in Vershire. He saw the light in his students and reflected it back to them.

e family of Dean Corren invites you to join them to honor his life on Sunday October 8, 2023. e service will begin at 11 a.m. at Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church St. Please bring your fondest memories to share. Watch the livestream here: bit.ly/deancorren.

Upon graduation, George attended art school in Florida until it folded unexpectedly and he decided to enter the Army. He went to Germany, which was still shaken by WWII, and was amazed by the love of the German people for the American soldiers. He was with a reconnaissance group that scoured families’ farms, houses and barns for booby traps left by the Nazis as they pulled back through the countryside. In that work he saw limbs and lives lost.

With the help of the Veterans Administration, he returned to art school at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, later moving to Tampa to work as an art director at an ad agency.

George turned to his art full time and became an established, well-respected artist. His love of music continued to deepen, especially when joining the band Jeanne and the Hi-Tops. He loved playing the lap steel and dobro. He wrote numerous songs, many about his muse, Jacquelyn, but also about his pool-shooting abilities. He was described as a “kind but deadly pool shark.” George was a guest musician with Vermont songwriter Spencer Lewis and played with local band the Shugar Makers.

ere were many art shows in galleries, local libraries and museums.  e Tunbridge Library was particularly supportive of both George’s and Jacquelyn’s work. George was especially proud of an 80th birthday art retrospective hosted in his honor

George will be missed, but he will also live on through his art, music, stories and jokes (“I don’t worry about the aging process … It will pass”). And most of all, George will live on in the reservoirs of his friends’ and loved ones’ hearts that he helped fill to overflowing. George’s spirit will nurture us all as we pursue the true love of life in this beautiful world.

Jacquelyn would like to thank the caring physicians at the White River Junction VA and the doctors and nurses at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Jack Byrne Hospice Center, whose kindness helped ease the way.  ank you to the many friends who have supported this transition with love and compassion.

If you are moved to make donations in George’s honor, please consider the Tunbridge Library, the Vermont Foodbank, or any selfemployed musician or artisan striving to make the world a more beautiful, authentic, creative and loving place for us all.

BY ALISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

In spring 2000, former University of Vermont neuroscience professor Reid Lyon visited the Statehouse with advice on how best to teach the state’s children to read.

Lyon, then a leader at the National Institutes of Health, had recently directed a group of scientists, academics and educators — known as the National Reading Panel — to review thousands of studies that identified the ingredients of e ective literacy instruction. The group concluded that nearly all children can become skilled readers as long as they are taught using the right methods.

“The biggest impediment to kids learning to read well is how they’re taught,” Lyon told the group of lawmakers.

He said e ective teaching should begin with clear, systematic instruction in the sounds that are contained within words and how those sounds connect to print. Building a strong foundation in those two skills — known as phonemic awareness and phonics — is an essential step

to becoming a successful reader, he said. Vocabulary, comprehension and fluency, or the ability to read accurately and quickly, rounded out what the National Reading Panel called the “five pillars” of e ective reading instruction.

worse for children of color and those with disabilities or living in poverty.

Once ranked second nationally for reading achievement among fourth graders, Vermont has dropped to the middle of the pack, even though its spending

Experts in the field say Vermont — and many other places across the country — went wrong by buying into a teaching model called balanced literacy that became popular in the 1990s and was widely adopted by school districts and teacher-training programs at UVM and elsewhere.

But for more than two decades, Vermont schools pursued a very di erent approach, paying little heed to Lyon’s advice about the fundamental skills needed to crack the code of the English language. What followed was a long, gradual decline in standardized test scores. Today, only about half of Vermont third graders read proficiently. Results are far

per pupil is second highest of any state and it enjoys the relative advantage of a small, homogeneous and well-educated population.

In response to these declining scores, Vermont’s schools and teachers are rethinking how they teach reading. Many also are wondering how much damage has been done.

In recent years, the balanced-literacy approach has come under fire from parents, educators and activists who say it has failed to teach students the rules of the English language. They have pushed for science-based reading instruction, prompting some states to mandate new approaches and to provide teacher training in the methods that Lyon laid out to Vermont legislators 23 years ago.

Those reform e orts have been slower and more scattered in Vermont, which leaves it to local school boards and administrators to make their own decisions about educational policies. A number of school districts already have made sweeping changes in how they teach reading. Others

Too many Vermont kids struggle to read. What went wrong — and can educators reverse a yearslong slide in literacy?

THE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENT TO KIDS LEARNING TO READ WELL IS HOW THEY’RE TAUGHT.

REID LYON

have convened committees to phase out ineffective programs and select new reading curricula. But some lag behind — and there has been little direction from the state’s Agency of Education.

Critics say Vermont’s piecemeal approach is unlikely to produce the kind of substantive improvement in reading that will pull the state out of its 20-year slide. And even in schools where changes are under way, it could take years for improvements to translate to higher standardized test scores.

The stakes are high. Low literacy is linked to a host of negative effects, including poor health, poverty and incarceration. And there are less obvious costs. Being unable to read proficiently causes deep hurt and shame, according to Bruce Rosow, a Windham County teacher, curriculum developer and college instructor who has taught Vermont students how to read for decades.

“We’re talking about alleviating suffering for our children,” Rosow said. “That’s the heart of this whole story.”

‘A Light Bulb Went Off’

Beth Thayer, a kindergarten teacher in the Essex Westford School District, thought she knew how to teach kids to read. A veteran educator with a master’s degree in elementary education, Thayer would proudly send a weekly message to parents describing what her pupils were working on.

Then one day during the 2021-22 school year, Thayer was approached by a parent who worked at the Stern Center for Language and Learning, a nonprofit in Williston that has evaluated and taught struggling learners for four decades; it also offers literacy courses and workshops for teachers. The parent told Thayer that some of her teaching methods might actually be making it harder for her students to learn to read. She suggested Thayer take a class at the Stern Center that would help her better understand the science of reading.

Thayer put aside her pride and registered the following summer for the class, called “Introduction to OrtonGillingham,” a 90-year-old model named for neuropsychiatrist Samuel Orton and educator and psychologist Anna Gillingham. She was gobsmacked by what she learned. The parent was right: Some of her teaching was doing more harm than good.

“ I can’t believe I spent so much time doing all these things that were just getting in kids’ way,” she recalled thinking.

One of those misguided practices was telling kids that they should try to figure out words they didn’t know by looking at an accompanying picture or thinking about what word might make sense in

context. Another was having students read books independently, even if they contained a large number of words the children weren’t yet able to sound out.

Thayer didn’t invent those approaches. She had learned them as part of her graduate training and through balanced literacy, which deemphasizes the importance of sounding out words in favor of a less systematic approach that focuses on exposing kids to engaging books. Balanced literacy posits that if kids are taught comprehension skills and the habits of good readers — and given some instruction about the relationship between sounds and letters, or phonics — most will learn to read.

Though there was little evidence of the effectiveness of some balanced-literacy techniques, charismatic reading gurus such as Columbia University’s Lucy Calkins, a leading writer and teachertrainer on the subject, helped to make the model wildly popular. The downfall of balanced literacy has been precipitous, thanks to a growing awareness of reading deficits, in part due to a popular American Public Media podcast, “Sold a Story,” that laid out the ways in which the approach strays from science. Last month, Columbia announced it was dissolving Calkins’ Reading and Writing Project and planned to hire faculty with more expertise in the science of reading.

Louisa Moats, a former Fairlee resident and nationally known reading expert who worked with Lyon at the National Institutes of Health, said Vermont and other states fell victim to the “philosophical entrenchment of wrongheaded thinking” in classrooms and colleges and universities.

Before a person can understand written text, Moats said, “you have to be able to read the words. And this fundamental fact of reading psychology has never been embraced.”

Moats, who describes herself as a liberal Democrat, said she believes the politicization of literacy — with phonics often being thought of as a Republican cause — is one reason that scientific knowledge about reading hasn’t been put into practice widely.

Thayer, the Essex Westford teacher, learned where she had been going wrong during the 58-hour class at the Stern Center. Guessing a word based on pictures or context, for example, sent children the message that they didn’t need to pay attention to the letters.

Thayer learned a new approach, known as structured literacy, which holds that most students need explicit, step-bystep instruction in phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear, identify and manipulate the sounds in spoken words, and in phonics, the ability to connect those sounds to print. These principles aligned with the long-ignored findings of Lyon’s research from decades before.

When Thayer returned to her classroom in the fall, she retained some of the

Melissa Haggett teaching reading to first graders at Vergennes Union Elementary School

First-grade students in Vergennes

PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP

practices she’d used with her students, such as reading aloud, building vocabulary and teaching comprehension skills. But now she devoted more than an hour each day to phonemic awareness and phonics and helped fellow kindergarten teachers use the same approach. She got specialized, “decodable” books for her classroom that allowed kids to practice reading the words they had learned to sound out. By early spring, her students were plowing through the decodable books, and their spelling had improved, too.

“I’ve never felt as confident about a group of kindergartners I’ve sent off to first grade,” Thayer said in an interview over the summer. “Learning how to read feels so good for these kids.”

Other educators across Vermont report similar experiences. Katie Yoskowitz, a first-grade teacher at Wolcott Elementary School, took the introductory OrtonGillingham class through the Stern Center in 2020 and has taken a more advanced version since then.

“This information wasn’t part of my master’s program … All of this was new to me,” Yoskowitz said. “It was like a light bulb went off.”

‘Rita, Please Learn to Read’

Dorinne Dorfman, a former school administrator in Townshend, Burlington, Duxbury and Randolph, said she had become increasingly troubled as parent after parent told her that their kids could not read well.

Her alarm deepened when she dug into data indicating that students in one of the districts where she worked showed a significant decline in state reading scores between third and sixth grades. One graduating class, which had many students with significant behavioral issues, was only 30 percent proficient in reading, according to the state tests. During the pandemic, Dorfman enrolled in Bay Path University’s reading program, where she studied structured literacy, with many of the elements that Thayer also had learned. She now works as a reading teacher for middle school students in Barre and sits on the board of the northern New England chapter of the International Dyslexia Association.

Dorfman said it is critical to train teachers to use structured-literacy techniques during the early elementary grades, when kids’ brains are most pliable.

“You reach children who have language and reading deficits then, and that will

prevent so much heartache and hardship years forward,” Dorfman said.

Julia and Rita Spaulding, 17-year-old twins who live in Franklin County, struggled for years with reading and spelling in schools that had adopted balanced literacy. Their mother, Brittany Lovejoy, still keeps a piece of paper that Rita’s first-grade teacher sent home, with a list of random words.

“Rita, please learn to read,” it directed her — as if by staring at the words long enough, she would somehow master them.

By the time the twins were in ninth grade, they’d fallen so far behind that they were ready to drop out of school. Lovejoy was desperate. She contacted Rosow, the Newfane teacher, who had studied with Moats and other experts in the field. He had started an innovative program in structured literacy, called the Language Lab, at Leland and Gray Union Middle and High School in Townshend.

Rosow and his wife, Kate Conway, who is also trained in structured literacy, tutored Julia and Rita on Zoom, teaching them how to break words into individual sounds and to identify word parts, such as prefixes and suffixes. When the teens stumbled over a word while reading aloud, Rosow and Conway stopped them immediately and made them go back and try again, rather than letting them keep going, as other teachers had. Julia was reading on grade level in a year and a half; Rita took two and a half years to make substantial gains. The teens are now seniors in high school and enrolled in the Early College program at Community College of Vermont.

“I would hope one day that all students have the opportunity through the public education system that we had,” Julia said, and that “less kids fall behind and less parents have to worry about them.”

Average Reading Scores for Fourth Graders*

A ‘Moral Obligation’

When Michael Eppolito became curriculum director of Winooski schools three years ago, the 800-student district was using Calkins’ readers and writers workshop and other balanced-literacy materials. State testing data showed that more than three-quarters of students were not reading proficiently. Among Black students in the district, many of whom were not native English speakers, only 8 percent were proficient.

Eppolito, a special educator who also was trained in balanced literacy, had come to realize through research that many of the practices he and others had been using were not based on scientific evidence. He was determined to change the district’s approach.

In his first year, Eppolito brought in a consulting firm to study literacy teaching in the district and recommend changes.

Winooski began looking into a new curriculum and hired the Stern Center to train classroom teachers and special educators in structured literacy. At the start of the 2022-23 school year, Winooski adopted a new curriculum, called EL Education, combining it with another phonics-heavy program called Fundations in the younger grades.

So far, benchmark tests given to students throughout the school year point to gradual gains. Eppolito attributes the tentative progress to the new curriculum and teachers’ willingness to change their classroom techniques.

But, he added, “We have to undo a lot of damage that we did.”

An informal survey of superintendents by Seven Days suggests that many of Vermont’s school districts are shifting away from balanced literacy, though in varied ways.

Dorinne Dorfman

In Franklin County, the Maple Run Unified School District adopted a new structured-literacy curriculum after years of steadily declining reading scores. The district has focused on training teachers in the science of reading and increased the time devoted to reading instruction to two hours a day in the early elementary grades.

The changes represent “a total paradigm shift,” assistant superintendent John Muldoon said.

Burlington schools, which formerly used Calkins’ curriculum, adopted a new program last year after data showed that students — especially students of color and those who qualified for free and reducedcost lunch — were making only halting progress.

In Missisquoi Valley School District in Swanton, teachers for several years have received 30 hours of training in the science of reading from the Stern Center in response to data showing that many students were weak in basic skills. This

year, administrators and teachers are visiting other school districts to scout possible new programs.

Some educators blame the state’s Agency of Education for failing to provide support and clear direction when it comes to literacy instruction.

Kosha Patel, Missisquoi Valley’s director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said she and her counterparts in other districts have asked the agency for more guidance — so far, in vain.

“We keep telling them, [we’re] all doing the same work and trying to find out what the best thing is for our kids,” Patel said. A list of vetted curricula would be helpful, she said, though she doubts that the agency has the in-house expertise to produce one.

Eppolito said the education agency has delivered a muddled message, suggesting that balanced literacy and structured literacy are both valid approaches. For example, an agency document called the Blueprint for Early Literacy, which is now being

revised, contains a section titled “Balanced Literacy” and is vague in laying out an ideal approach, asserting that research supports “a range of instructional approaches” in teaching the youngest pupils to read.

“The data is telling us that what we have been doing is not working,” Eppolito said. Education leaders in the state have “the moral obligation to figure out how to do it better.”

Agency of Education officials expressed surprise at the criticisms and said they stand ready to provide feedback on curriculum materials if a school asks. They say efforts to improve literacy in the state are informed by the science of reading.

Jess DeCarolis, director of Student Pathways at the agency, said the scores “are reason for concern” but represent just “one snapshot” of how students are doing. She declined to draw a link between the use of balanced literacy in Vermont and declining standardized test scores.

DeCarolis said Vermont looked into a statewide literacy curriculum that districts could buy into but decided against it, in part because of the high cost. One company presented a proposal for $38 million, she said.

“We urge people to look at the whole student when assessing student literacy rates,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement. Test scores “are just one piece of the puzzle. We also have data on factors like housing, poverty, attendance, and mental health that affect students and families in Vermont.”

DeCarolis said the education agency is offering help to teachers. It recently launched an online course that teaches about the neuroscience of reading and classroom practice that was funded by Act 28, which allotted $3.5 million in 2021 to improve pre-K-12 literacy. The law also created a 16-member Advisory Council on Literacy that offers recommendations on

literacy to state officials but has no power to put policies into action. It is chaired by Gwen Carmolli, Colchester School District’s director of curriculum and instruction.

Julia Spaulding, the Franklin County teen who struggled to learn to read, sat on the advisory council for one year but said few members seemed to favor a structuredliteracy approach. She left the council harboring doubts that it could make real change.

Cynthia Gardner-Morse, a private literacy tutor and parent of three now-grown dyslexic children, has been on the council for two years. It is clear that the council’s members “want children to love to read,” she said, but many “do not recognize that this love comes from having learned the skills to read fluently.” She said Vermont’s work on reading improvement lacks the urgency seen in other states.

More than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have passed legislation or launched new literacy policies, most since 2019, according to Education Week. Much of that legislation requires schools to use sciencebased methods for teaching reading. Fortyone states have laws that require students to be screened for dyslexia between kindergarten and second grade.

But in Vermont, legislation related to the science of reading — including a bill calling for structured-literacy instruction in grades K to 3 and a review of the state’s teacher-preparation programs, and another to require dyslexia screening — died in committee.

Moats, the national expert, said Vermont should be more willing to “face the music about all the kids who aren’t learning” and look to states and districts that are showing reading improvement as examples.

“There has to be an expectation coming from the top on down … ‘Here’s the fiveyear plan,’” Moats said. “So that we don’t have kids going into fifth grade who can’t read.”

‘A More Scientific Approach’

In June, kindergartners in Beth Bearor’s classroom at Vergennes Union Elementary School gathered on a rug covered with colorful dots.

Bearor showed her students a series of laminated letter cards.

“J says j,” “P says p,” the kids said in unison. “X says ks ,” “Wh says wh like whisper.”

Later in the lesson, Bearor used letter magnets on a whiteboard to help the kids create and pull apart words.

“Say ing,” she directed them. Now put a W in front of it.”

*Based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test results

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

Vergennes teacher Melissa Haggett working with a student

“Wing,” the group answered.

“Say lush,” she said. “Now don’t say the L.” “Ush,” they said.

Bearor projected a sentence — “I can see a big frog” — onto the board.

Students raised their hands to read the words, one by one.

“Can,” a girl volunteered.

The whole class tapped out the letter sounds on their arms, a multisensory approach that has been shown to activate different areas of the brain: “C, A, N.”

Once all the words had been identified, the children read the sentence together.

Bearor, who became Vergennes Union’s assistant principal this fall, is relatively new to the structured-literacy approach. She, along with every other classroom teacher and special educator at the two elementary schools in her district, Addison Northwest, were trained in OrtonGillingham by the Stern Center two years ago. Teachers new to the district are also expected to take the training.

Before that, Addison Northwest was what Vergennes Union principal Matt DeBlois described as “a patchwork literacy district,” one lacking a common approach to teaching reading and spelling.

“We’re trying to use a more scientific approach to supporting all students in the classroom,” DeBlois said. “There’s a much greater sense of cohesion at this point.”

Bearor said the methodical way of teaching kids to read has led to tangible results. At the beginning of the last school year, the majority of her kindergartners knew five or fewer letter names and sounds, she said. By June, virtually the whole class knew all the letter names and sounds.

“In 15 years of teaching, I’ve never seen that happen,” Bearor said.

As kids get older, literacy instruction focuses on more difficult word patterns. In the fourth grade, for example, students learn about “R-controlled” words such as “chirp” and “lurch” — where the “bossy” letter R takes over so that the word’s vowel sound is neither long nor short. They also learn about parts of words, such as prefixes, suffixes, base words and roots.

Before the school implemented structured literacy, students didn’t understand why words were spelled the way they were, Vergennes teacher Melissa Haggett said. “We’re giving them that secret information to unlock the code. Once they have it, they have it for life.”

Seventy miles away, at Woodstock Union High School & Middle School, teens who never learned to crack that code take part in a structured-literacy program aimed at turning them into confident readers before they graduate.

The program was started nine years ago by Julie Brown, who got a master’s degree in language and literacy from Simmons College in Boston after her son struggled to learn to read in public school. His skills didn’t improve until she arranged extra tutoring and eventually enrolled him in a private school in Vermont. She said her work is driven by the belief that all students deserve high-quality reading instruction.

Brown designed the adolescent literacy program after Sherry Sousa, superintendent of Mountain Views Supervisory Union in Woodstock, decided it was time to try a new approach for the rising number of students in middle and high school who were unable to read well. During the hourlong class, five or six students of different grade levels work on the phonemic awareness and phonics skills they hadn’t mastered in the early years, with additional instruction in vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. Most students take the reading class for credit, in addition to their regular English class.

It typically takes two to three years for students to show enough improvement to stop taking the class, Brown said. The results have been striking. Of the roughly three dozen students who completed the program and were reevaluated, about

two-thirds were able to leave special education entirely and only a handful still showed signs of a reading disability.

Last year, Brown turned over the program to another teacher and began training elementary-school teachers and administrators in structured literacy. This year, Mountain Views dropped Calkins’ curriculum and is piloting a new one.

Brown hopes that as more elementary teachers use structured literacy to teach younger students, fewer older students will need the adolescent program.

Mountain Views recently set a lofty goal: that 90 percent of students become proficient readers by third grade. Brown believes it’s achievable, with the right kind of instruction.

Educators “didn’t have the tools or the training needed to teach reading in a way that brought the majority of students to proficiency,” Brown said. “It’s really exciting for our teachers to realize that better is possible.”

Shift in Practices

In April, Dorfman, the administrator turned reading teacher, made a three-day trip to Mississippi to see success in the making. The state, which has the nation’s highest childhood poverty rate, has made impressive

gains in reading after the legislature called for training thousands of teachers and principals in the science of reading and required schools to use one of five stateapproved curricula. Since 2013, Mississippi fourth graders’ reading proficiency has vaulted from among the lowest in the country to 21st — tied with Vermont.

During her visit, Dorfman was struck by the rigor in classrooms.

Each class had two hours a day of reading and writing instruction, teachers kept detailed data of students’ performance, and special-education students learned for the bulk of their day with a highly skilled classroom teacher, rather than an instructional assistant.

Dorfman came away from her trip believing that Vermont should adopt some of the practices that have shown success in Mississippi, such as devoting more time to literacy instruction and ensuring that all students spend most of their day learning from a well-trained teacher, supported by classroom aides to help with behavior issues in the early grades.

Mississippi was also the first state to train its teachers in an intensive course that was cocreated by Moats, the former Vermonter, and has since been provided in around two dozen states.

I WOULD HOPE ONE DAY THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WE HAD.

JULIA SPAULDING

Julia (left) and Rita Spaulding at home in Montgomery

New Hampshire began offering the two-year program, called Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS, to all elementary educators last year and provided a $1,000 stipend for successful completion. More than 3,000 teachers have enrolled, according to New Hampshire education commissioner Frank Edelblut.

Vermont’s colleges also have an important role to play in training the teachers on the front lines, those pushing for reform say. But an independent assessment gave poor marks to several of the state’s public universities for their treatment of scientifically based reading instruction.

In June, the National Council on Teacher Quality, a Washington, D.C.based policy group, gave a grade of F to Northern Vermont University, now part of the newly established Vermont State University, for its undergraduate and graduate teaching programs. Castleton University, which also became part of Vermont State University, and UVM received Ds for their undergraduate programs. UVM, with about 580 undergraduates in its education school, was criticized for inadequate coverage of phonemic awareness and fluency and for its teaching of several practices deemed contrary to the science of reading.

UVM Education Department chair Kimber Vannest took issue with the group’s rating, noting that the organization was evaluating programs based on written course outlines, rather than by watching professors teach their classes.

Juliet Halladay, an associate professor of education, said UVM seeks to equip students with a range of concepts to draw upon as they enter classrooms as student teachers. Just because a topic or method is on a course syllabus, Halladay added, doesn’t mean the university endorses it.

In a statement, UVM’s dean of the College of Education and Social Services Katie Shepherd wrote that “phrases such as ‘balanced’ or ‘structured’ have become politicized phrases to draw lines that have moved, and will likely continue to move, in the future. It’s most accurate to say that we are on the side of science, evidence, and equitable literacy opportunities and outcomes for all learners.”

But some who favor reforms are calling on UVM and other colleges to more fully embrace structured literacy, rather than teach a variety of approaches.

At Saint Michael’s College, which was not graded by the Council on Teacher Quality, education instructor Amy Knight teaches a required

structured-literacy class for graduate students. She leads an “inclusive education” class for undergraduates, which covers how to use structured literacy for students with reading difficulties.

Knight, whose background is in special education, said structured literacy has historically been taught as a small-group or one-on-one intervention for struggling readers. Using it as a whole-class approach is “a new way of thinking for schools,” she said.

Norwich University’s education program, which also was not evaluated by the Council on Teacher Quality, has seen a marked shift away from balanced literacy since the arrival of education program director Rommy Fuller-Young four years ago.

When Fuller-Young took on the role at Norwich, there were no classes about the science of reading. She added two required courses in language and literacy that give students a good foundation in speech sounds, the structure of the English language and how the brain learns to read.

Still, Fuller-Young said, “the problem that I run into is that I will teach my students all about science of reading … and then they go into schools and they don’t always see that stuff.” She said it’s not enough for schools, or teacherpreparation programs, to change their practices in isolation. The reform needs to be widespread.

For now, plenty of teachers across the state are experiencing individual awakenings.

Thayer, the Essex kindergarten teacher, said her shift in practices has come with much soul-searching.

“How do I live with this misunderstanding that was guiding my teaching for so long?” she’s asked herself. “How do I forgive myself?”

She’s found solace in her belief in restorative justice — the practice of acknowledging the harm one has caused and figuring out how to make repairs.

“I can’t go back into a time machine and do something different,” Thayer said. “But I’m also not going to wait around for some big initiative to come about.”

Dorfman believes that Vermont is likely to experience a similar, collective grief when more people realize the scope of the state’s reading shortfalls.

“Our schools are our pride and joy, the center of our communities,” Dorfman said. “The thought that we might actually not be reaching every student — and that our choice of methods is potentially setting kids back for years, if not for a lifetime — is going to be a period of mourning as a state.”

Wilson / Blind Spot: Aerial View / Smoke-fired stoneware with glaze

Back to the Land

A new cemetery in Roxbury lets the dead give to the living and preserve a forest

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

“We’ve now interpreted ‘well maintained’ as looking like a golf course,” Acciavatti said.

Vermont Forest Cemetery will function very differently. In conventional cemeteries, bodies are typically buried six feet deep, often in concrete or steel burial vaults. The forest cemetery will not use vaults, and graves will be no deeper than four feet. At that shallower depth, the body touches the living layers of the soil, where oxygen, moisture, bacteria and the sun’s warmth decompose it aerobically. This also enables the ground’s mycorrhizal network of fungi to absorb, filter and transport the body’s nutrients to plants and trees throughout the forest.

Those who choose green burials do so, in part, to reduce the huge environmental footprint of modern American burials. Each year, U.S. cemeteries bury more than 30 million board feet of hardwood, 90,000 tons of steel in caskets and 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete in burial vaults, according to the Funeral Consumers Alliance.

Additionally, conventionally buried bodies often contain embalming fluid with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. This largely unnecessary funeral practice contributes more than 5.3 million gallons of toxic chemicals to the environment annually.

Kate’s Way was wet and spongy underfoot as Michelle Acciavatti hiked the mulch-covered footpath to a natural clearing in the woods. Beneath a canopy of birch, spruce and towering white pines sprouted a bloom of small white surveyor’s flags, a temporary placeholder on a carpet of ferns, fallen leaves and decomposing logs.

One day soon, Acciavatti will bury a body here. She’ll dig a hole only a foot wider and longer than the biodegradable casket or shroud. She’ll record the gravesite on a map, but no tombstone or monument will mark its location. Family and friends may decorate the spot with a flat rock or other organic material — or let time, nature and the elements heal the modest scar in the ground.

This 56-acre woodland, bisected by the Third Branch of the White River in Roxbury, is Vermont Forest Cemetery. The

state’s first forest conservation cemetery, it opens on Saturday, October 7, with a mission to provide an eco-friendly and affordable alternative to conventional burials. Here, the dead will return to the

“But if we aren’t also keeping in mind the needs of the mourners, the visitors and the other people coming here ... then we’re really letting those people down.”

Even cremation, which many consider to be a more eco-friendly alternative — and one now chosen by nearly 75 percent of Vermonters — burns fossil fuels at high temperatures, emitting millions of tons of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.

Acciavatti never shames families for their end-of-life decisions. In fact, the forest cemetery includes an area designated for cremated remains. Acciavatti worked with Vermont Compost Company to create a soil amendment that reduces the ashes’ high pH.

Ultimately, though, her goal is to make a body’s final disposition as earth-friendly as possible. As she put it, “Natural burial offers people a chance to feel like they’ve done something good with their final act.”

earth and nurture the living in a multitude of ways.

“As a conservation cemetery, we have a strong desire to always do what’s best for the forest,” explained Acciavatti, 40, the founder, head cemeterian and board president of the nonprofit cemetery.

For centuries, Vermont cemeteries looked a specific way and abided by burial customs brought from Europe that were later codified into state law. Until 2015, all cemeteries had to be fenced and platted in grids of clearly marked, well-maintained graves.

Kirsten Isgro and her partner, Tom Schicker, have lived in the shadow of death longer than most. Sylvie, one of the Burlington couple’s twin daughters, was born with Krabbe disease, a rare and fatal degenerative disorder. Though 80 to 90

NATURAL BURIAL OFFERS PEOPLE A CHANCE TO FEEL LIKE THEY’VE DONE SOMETHING GOOD WITH THEIR FINAL ACT.

MICHELLE ACCIAVATTI

COURTESY OF PAUL ACCIAVATTI

percent of children with Krabbe don’t live past their third birthday, Sylvie and her sister, Uma, celebrated their 17th birthdays in January.

Sylvie has been close to death many times before. But in April, after she got extremely sick, it seemed like the end was near. Isgro and Schicker had a woven willow casket made by Mary Lauren Fraser, an artisan in Turners Falls, Mass., whom Acciavatti had recommended. Schicker and Uma then visited Vermont Forest Cemetery as a possible burial site.

“I love the whole idea of green burials,” Isgro said, “and Michelle’s philosophy totally lines up with ours in terms of low impact.”

Creating the forest conservation cemetery has been part Acciavatti’s broader mission to make the death and dying process more sustainable and rewarding for the living. She coined the term “natural death care worker” to encompass the many hats she wears, including end-oflife specialist, death doula, pregnancy loss guide, licensed mortician and cemeterian.

“The list is really long at this point,” she said with a laugh, “but it’s all around: How do we die well?”

Acciavatti’s path to natural death work actually started with her interest in the beginning of life. The 40-yearold San Diego native grew up in New England, attended Bennington College and trained as a neuroscientist. Initially, she planned to study cognitive and motor development in infants, especially those born with genetic disorders. She took a job as a research assistant in the Office of Ethics at Boston Children’s Hospital, where much of her work involved helping families decide whether to start or discontinue medical care that was keeping a child alive.

“I was watching people go through these decisions and just be absolutely miserable,” Acciavatti recalled. “Obviously, their children were dying. But there was something missing for them.”

A friend of Acciavatti’s, who was studying to be a birth midwife at the time, suggested that she become a death midwife, or death doula. It was a light-bulb moment for her. One of Acciavatti’s first clients was her aunt, Kate Van Demark — namesake of the Kate’s Way cemetery path. Acciavatti helped her die at home, then held a natural burial for her in Rochester, N.Y.

In 2015, Vermont enacted the Natural Burial Ground Act, which exempted natural cemeteries from the aesthetic rules that govern conventional cemeteries. Nevertheless, the new law didn’t change the

mandate that bodies be interred at least five feet deep — a practice that dates back to the 1800s to accommodate burial vaults, which prevented grave robbing. Today, many cemeteries still require that depth as a way to prevent graves from settling, thus keeping the ground level for lawn mowing and other maintenance.

The problem is, deep burials aren’t very earth-friendly. So Acciavatti got involved, consulting experts in soil science, geology, wildlife biology and even septic system design to write a new bill that would allow for more ecological interments. That bill passed and took effect in 2017.

Initially, Acciavatti assumed that Vermont cemeteries would embrace a hybrid model, setting aside portions of their grounds for natural burials. By 2020,

only seven of Vermont’s more than 2,000 cemeteries had done so.

After creating a conservation-minded cemetery in Essex, N.Y., Acciavatti and her husband, Paul, used money they inherited after his mother died to buy the Roxbury property in 2021. The couple then partnered with the White River Natural Resources Conservation District to turn the forest, which had been farmed and logged decades earlier, into a conservation cemetery.

“For me, the environmental impact is really, really important,” Isgro said. “Michelle’s been awesome in terms of debunking many of the myths around green burial and death.”

Indeed, it’s been a long and at times frustrating process for Acciavatti to

educate the public about green burials, especially those who are unfamiliar with and leery of them. She’s often asked whether a shallower grave leaves a body vulnerable to scavengers. It doesn’t, she explained, as long as the burial is at least two feet deep.

Another fear is that decomposing human remains will contaminate nearby bodies of water. They don’t, she assures skeptics, as long as the grave is at least 150 feet from the shore.

“I’ve even been asked about trees falling over that fling bodies through the air,” Acciavatti said. But according to several green burial groups, catapulted corpses have never been an issue.

Another motivator for Acciavatti is the economics. Simply put, funerals and burials are pricey. In New England, the median cost of a funeral with burial was $7,881 in 2021, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Acciavatti said natural burial can reduce that cost to less than $5,000. Recognizing that even that figure will be a financial hardship for some Vermonters, she hopes to eventually establish burial societies that defer the costs, perhaps by allowing members to pay over time or earn sweat equity by working in the forest.

In fact, Acciavatti envisions Vermont Forest Cemetery as a place for the living as well as the dead. The property will be open for public use from dawn ’til dusk, allowing people to hike, picnic, ski, snowshoe or walk their dogs. While some activities are prohibited — Acciavatti and her husband worked with the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers to reroute a snowmobile trail that previously crossed their property — she hopes that the forest will be used by school groups, researchers, even artists and writers. Acciavatti wants to create an artist-in-residence program at a yet-to-bebuilt sanctuary at the cemetery’s entrance.

“I want everybody to feel a sense of belonging, a sense of stewardship [and] a sense of responsibility for this land,” she said. “The more people get invested in this space, in the entirety of the forest and what it offers, the more they can take comfort in this whole experience.”

As for Isgro, she doesn’t know yet when or where Sylvie will be buried, as she’s been in hospice since the spring. But Isgro said it’s only a matter of time before the family needs the woven casket, which for now waits in their toolshed.

The idea of a natural burial in the woods, one where death isn’t sanitized, brings her a sense of comfort and peace. As she put, “It’s literally going back into the earth, dust to dust.” ➆

Learn more at cemetery.eco.

Michelle Acciavatti at a test burial plot in the Vermont Forest Cemetery

Either way,

sponsored

Call of the Wild

Finding everything but Bigfoot at the Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

The first signs of the beast popped up a few miles outside Whitehall, N.Y. He was lurking by the corner of a convenience store, his massive, hairy arms hanging low and his bloodred eyes blazing. Not four minutes later, I spied him again, this time standing proudly under the sun in the middle of a golf course fairway.

By the time I rolled into Whitehall proper, I saw the creature known to some as Bigfoot everywhere: outside a comic book shop, handing out leaflets on a street corner, wearing a Metallica T-shirt and head banging by his beat-up Toyota Tercel.

With the fearlessness of the most dedicated cryptozoologist, I pressed on, walking past these assorted bigfoots toward the downtown village and, I hoped, the truth.

To be fair, I knew what I was getting into. For one weekend each year, the tiny New York town celebrates its favorite elusive creature with the annual Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest. So I expected my share of sightings, even if all of them so far had been statues or attendees in costume.

An entire family in Sasquatch outfits, including a very confused-looking toddler, crossed the street on the way to

the amphitheater hosting the festival, just past a woman wearing a T-shirt that read “Sasquatch doesn’t believe in you, either.” Whitehall’s obsession with the Sasquatch — not to be confused with a yeti or Chewbacca, unless you want random New Yorkers yelling at you — goes back to 1976, when several local police officers reported seeing one at the Skene Valley Country Club (which explains the statue!). There have been other sightings in the area over the years, prompting Whitehall to adopt the big fella as its official animal in 2018.

“Hell, it’s illegal in Whitehall to shoot at Sasquatch,” some guy named Craig told me as I hit the outskirts of the fest, where thousands of attendees were streaming toward the merchant tables, food trucks and beer garden. I imagined some blearyeyed farmer seeing a giant man-ape trudging through his fields, grabbing his rifle and taking aim before his son yells out, “Daddy, don’t! It’s Sasquatch!”

When I expressed some skepticism about his claim, Craig responded, “You can damn well shoot just about anything in New York. But trust me, don’t nobody try and shoot Sasquatch here. We love him.”

I bumped into festival coordinator

Barbara Spoor outside the amphitheater just before the costume contest began. Between returning high fives from fellow volunteers and other locals, she explained that the festival started seven years ago and has “just grown and grown.”

“The town has really come to embrace it,” Spoor said. “It wasn’t like that at first — things were a little more fringe — but now

this looks fun and weird and totally up your alley; you should check it out.” But what I heard was “Find Bigfoot.”)

So I started asking everyone if they had seen the creature. Craig said maybe, but he was drunk at the time and couldn’t be trusted — but yeah, probably. I marked that down as a yes.

I made my way through booths of Sasquatch hunters and podcasters, asking who, if anyone, had seen the big boy.

FESTIVALS

Wes and Beth Guay, a married couple who host the supernaturalthemed podcast “Where Our Minds Wander With Wes and Beth” admitted that they had never laid eyes on a bigfoot.

“But that should never discourage scientific curiosity,” Beth pointed out.

“If we only believe what our eyes see, we wouldn’t get very far,” a man named Henry told me. A member of the New York Bigfoot Society, he identified like-minded searchers as “footers” and said, yes, a number of them had caught glimpses of a Sasquatch — though the society’s Instagram feed is mostly pictures of hiking trails notably lacking in giant, hairy bipeds.

My search for truth was derailed again as the costume contest began. It was hard to ignore the spectacle of a stage full of Sasquatch cosplayers vying for the top prize.

I was pretty sure the dude with the backward baseball hat and T-shirt that said “Who wants to drink with Darryl?” stretched across his big, brown, furry ape costume would win, especially when he started whipping the crowd into a frenzy with a series of moves lifted straight from professional wrestling. Instead, a young girl with elaborate sylvan face makeup took the prize, wowing the audience with her intricately designed costume.

When I encountered Darryl out in the wild an hour later, his mask off as he ate a sandwich beside his kids, I told him I’d expected him to take home top prize.

“I’m so glad she won, though,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow. “She deserved it! She won last year, too, but maybe next year will be my year. But wow, it’s hot in this suit today.”

“Cool. Can you put it back on for a picture?” I said, all business as I slipped back into supernatural hunter mode.

a lot of the local businesses get into it and the town sees such an influx of visitors. It’s a huge weekend for Whitehall.”

Amid all the bouncy castles full of screaming kids and the face painting and food trucks, I’d almost forgotten my assignment, handed down by one of Seven Days’ news editors, no less: Find Bigfoot. (OK, he actually said something like “Hey,

For many Sasquatch hunters, the event is as much an opportunity to move some merchandise as it is to commiserate with other believers. I tried to catch a word with Emily Fleur, a bigfoot researcher and explorer who runs a website called the Forest Fleur, dedicated not only to discovering Sasquatch but also to protecting what she calls “a likely endangered animal.” But she was swamped on all sides by people buying merchandise from her

TRUST ME, DON’T NOBODY TRY AND SHOOT SASQUATCH HERE. WE LOVE HIM.

SOME GUY NAMED CRAIG

Sasquatch family in the costume contest

table, so I had to wait for her featured talk in the amphitheater at noon.

The Out of the Box Worship Center crew gave away its products for free under a giant banner that asked an all-important question: “Was Sasquatch on Noah’s Ark?” Pastor Pamela Bolton handed out water and snacks along with a book about coming back from the dead, authored by a friend of hers.

“Do you think Sasquatch was on the ark?” I asked her. “Surely, there must have been two?”

“At least!” she replied, laughing. “Who knows? We won’t know until we see him, I suppose.”

“So you haven’t seen a Sasquatch? I have to ask,” I pressed on in my best “I’m a reporter” voice.

“I haven’t personally, but we love thinking about what’s possible,” Bolton replied. “And this is just such a lovely event for our entire community.”

As the sun beat down on nearby Champlain Canal and the festival’s house band — sadly, not named Harry and the Hendersons — ripped through Steely Dan covers in a waterside gazebo, I made peace with not finding a Sasquatch at the festival. Besides, the big event was about to kick off: the Sasquatch calling contest, where bigfoot hunters would

show off their pipes on the canal’s shores. Who knows, maybe a Sasquatch would hear the calls while roaming nearby golf courses and show up, either very horny or supremely confused.

The contestants all uttered wildly different howls and hollers. The spectacle of people in fuzzy costumes screaming strange sounds lakeside had its own sort of surreal beauty, regardless of who ended up winning.

As I made my way back to my car, a woman who had noticed me interviewing attendees stopped me to talk. She wore a hat that read “Not All Who Wander Are Squatch” atop her gray hair.

“Calling it a day? Hope you had fun in our little town,” she said.

“I really did,” I said, failing to keep the surprise out of my voice. “I was hoping against hope to catch a Sasquatch sighting, though.”

“Oh, honey,” she said with a wide grin. “Trust me, Sasquatch doesn’t want to see you.” ➆

INFO

The Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest takes place annually in late September in Whitehall, N.Y. Learn more at facebook.com/ callingthebeast.

Podcasters Wes and Beth Guay

The Sasquatch Festival

Branching Out

“I probably sell 3,000 to 7,000 chestnuts a year,” he guessed. He also o ers smaller numbers of hazelnuts, butternuts, walnuts, persimmons, mulberries, and other nut and fruit trees.

In the fall, Ferver travels around the country gathering seeds from promising plants in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Indiana and elsewhere, then brings them back to sow in Vermont. Social media, he explained, has made it easy to seek out chestnut enthusiasts who have kernels to share.

Ferver also grafts twigs — referred to as scionwood — onto hearty rootstock, seeking to create strong, healthy plants that will thrive despite Vermont’s cold winters. The ones that survive with minimal coddling are deemed appropriate to sell. “Grafted plants produce [nuts] faster but historically don’t live as long as seedling trees,” he explained.

If chestnuts are so great, why don’t we see more of them? Because of a disease.

In the 19th century, some 4 billion American chestnuts towered over eastern forests, providing shade, sustenance and rot-resistant timber. In 1904, a forester at New York’s Bronx Zoo noticed blight on certain chestnut trees. It had arrived on shipments of Chinese and Japanese chestnut trees, which were impervious to the fungus. By the 1950s, the American chestnut was all but gone.

AGRICULTURE

Allan “Buzz” Ferver, a 66-yearold with a fetching grin and an Abe Lincoln-style beard, stood at his kitchen island holding a clear plastic bag. Inside was a pale, nondescript meal, a few shades creamier in color than white flour. He spooned some into a mug, added boiling water and stirred. As the water swirled around the grounds they darkened to tan, and the steam developed a sweet, nutty aroma. “Chestnut co ee,” he said as he handed over a cup. The taste was reminiscent of Ovaltine, but earthier.

Over the next few minutes, Ferver o ered up a bowl of rich chestnut grits laced with cow butter; a slice of wheat bread spread with a thin layer of chestnut butter; and a bowl of tiny, shiny, panroasted nuts, their shells cracked to show the ivory flesh inside. We ate the nuts raw, too, cracking the shells with our teeth and biting out the nutmeats.

Ferver is excited about these unusual dishes not only for their gustatory appeal but also for the agricultural possibilities they represent. In Vermont, he

explained, “we can plant chestnuts, hickory and walnuts — trees with high food and economic value — and the crop lives between 100 and 400 years.”

He pointed out that trees can be planted without tilling the soil and disturbing its structure, and their copious seeds feed deer, birds and squirrels as well as humans.

Compare that bounty with Roundup Ready grain, grown on vast patches of otherwise bare earth, which he refers to as “corn deserts.”

At Perfect Circle Farm, located on Airport Road in Berlin, Ferver is cultivating about 15,000 chestnut saplings, which he o ers to customers through his website.

Ferver is part of a movement that is trying to bring chestnuts back to the Northeast by crossing Asian trees that aren’t susceptible to the blight with their taller American cousins. The goal is to preserve the height of the original American plant and the sweetness of its seeds, while adding in the oomph the trees need to resist the deadly fungus. When a chestnut is infected, its bark develops reddishbrown cankers that kill individual limbs and, eventually, the whole tree.

Ferver has deep roots in the plant biz. “My dad was a landscape architect and had a garden center and nursery,” he said. “My earliest memories are of being around crab apples and weeping willows.”

By the time he was 4, Ferver recalled, he spent his time catching crayfish in the brook, observing box turtles and learning to identify the plants that grew in the tiny patch of woods behind his Wilmington,

Tree farmer Buzz Ferver aims to restore the American chestnut in Vermont — and in your kitchen

STORY & PHOTOS BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

Chestnut tree

Chestnut parts

SIDEdishes

Nomad Co ee to Change Hands, Add Church Street Bakery

Seven years after opening their first mobile café in Essex Junction’s Five Corners, NOMAD COFFEE owners NICOLE GRINSTEAD and ANDREW SEPIC are selling their shops. Nomad’s head baker, CHRIS JOHNSON — who has built a following for his croissants and kouign amanns over the past two years — will buy the biz at the end of October. This winter, Johnson plans to add a bakery on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.

The sale, for an undisclosed price, includes Nomad’s existing brickand-mortar locations in Burlington’s South End and Essex Junction and a seasonal pop-up at Sugarbush resort. The new bakery will occupy 140 1/2 Church Street, the longtime home of the RED ONION CAFÉ until that business moved to Charlotte in 2020.

“My bakery dreams dough come true,” Johnson said with a laugh. “It’ll let us do more production for all our locations, so we can have more consistent offerings and more of the things I’ve been really hoping to bring to Burlington.”

Those new items might include “sweet classics” such as caramel-Twix brownies and savory treats such as breakfast sandwiches on pretzel brioche buns, Jamaican beef pattyinspired croissants and a bacon version of Nomad’s breakfast pop-tart, he said. Johnson came to Nomad in August 2021 from New York City, where he honed his pastry skills working

August

for Dominique Ansel and Thomas Keller. He’ll have support running the co ee side of the business from Nomad’s roasting partner,

Brio owners

ship stake in Nomad, Johnson said.

Grinstead and Sepic will remain in the area, pursuing work opportunities outside the food and beverage world as they prepare to welcome their first child in December, Grinstead told Seven Days. She’s most proud of the relationships they’ve built with employees during their tenure, she said, and happy that Johnson has

Nomad Coffee’s kouign amann pastry filled with housemade coffee semifreddo

From left: Andrew Sepic, Nicole Grinstead and Chris Johnson of Nomad Coffee

Cool Beans

Jericho’s Brew House Coffee heats up with cold-brew

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

I’ve been up before dawn regularly at two points in my life: a three-year stretch when I worked a 7 a.m. barista shift; and the past three months, when I’ve watched the sunrise most days with my newborn. In both instances, I relied on convenient, ready-to-drink cold-brewed coffee.

While you brew with hot water to prepare a traditional cup or regular iced coffee, the cold-brew method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for at least 12 hours. The process “pulls out all the caffeine and flavor and leaves behind the acids,” said Jay Wimette, co-owner of Jericho-based cold-brew company Brew House Coffee.

Jay and his wife, Dena, were drawn to the cold-brew method for that lower-acid result — which is less irritating to their stomachs, he explained. After several years of cold-brewing for their own consumption, the Jericho couple started fielding requests from friends who wanted to buy their coffee. In spring 2019, Brew House was born.

“We can’t just have hobbies,” Jay said with a laugh. “My wife and I met while getting our MBAs. We’re always thinking about monetizing.”

Initially, their cold-brew bottles were available via CSA-style subscriptions. Dena delivered to coworkers at her day job at Ben & Jerry’s; Jay brought the rest to customers’ doors in Jericho Village on foot, “like a 1950s milkman,” he said. That summer, they vended at the Jericho, Richmond and Winooski farmers markets.

Since January 2022, Brew House has been the “Bean” in Jericho Ale & Bean, a café and brewery in the former Jericho General Store. The “Ale” comes from the Wimettes’ longtime friend and neighbor Jesse Cronin, who started Lucy & Howe Brewing in his garage down the street in 2020. The shared space is lined with coolers of coffee and beer and features side-by-side bars.

On the Brew House side, Jay gives

every new customer a disclaimer: It isn’t an espresso shop, and he’s not a barista. The setup is more of a “coffee lab,” he said. “If somebody comes in and wants an Americano, I explain that we don’t have espresso. But I can absolutely do an Americano-ish.”

Brew House’s robust, chocolaty, darkroast flavor profile cuts through whatever it’s mixed with, whether in the eight- and 32-ounce bottles available at area retail

stores or made to order at Jericho Ale & Bean.

There, the menu offers build-your-own or staff favorite combos of coffee, milk and housemade sweeteners such as brown sugar-vanilla and seasonal pumpkin spice ($4.75 each) — all made with the cold-brew, which can also be prepared hot. On a recent visit, I sipped a refreshing Coffenade Spritzer with cold-brew, lemonade, maple syrup and seltzer at the tail end of the weekly Friday morning Cartoons, Coloring & Coffee meetup for parents and their kids.

The event finishes up as Lucy & Howe’s taps open for the day, Jay pointed out, in case parents want to keep chatting over a beer. Jericho Ale & Bean fills the community hangout gap left by its general store predecessor; at any time of day, it’s a place to catch up with neighbors over a good brew.

Since it was midmorning, I opted for Brew House’s nitro maple latte as my second. Steam from Cronin’s latest batch of beer fogged the refrigerated cases while I slowly sipped. Between the malty air and the frothy head on the nitrogen-infused latte, I almost fooled myself into thinking I had a different kind of pint. ➆

Brew House Coffee at Jericho Ale & Bean, 51 Route 15, Jericho, 858-9232, brewhousecoffeecompany.com

Brew House Coffee’s 32-ounce bottles

Jay Wimette pouring nitro cold-brew

Brew House Coffee’s nitro maple latte

stepped up to continue and grow the brand.

“This was our baby for the past

seven years, but we’re ready to scale back and be more family focused,” Sepic added. “The thought of a Nomad Coffee on Church Street is really exciting — and we don’t even have to be involved.”

Jordan Barry

Adventure Dinner Takes Up Temporary Residency at Peg & Ter’s in Shelburne

While PEG & TER’S is on hiatus following the departure of its co-chefs, ADVENTURE DINNER will use the Shelburne restaurant from late October through December to offer public dining on Thursday and Friday nights and ticketed Saturday events.

Founded in early 2020 by SAS STEWART and currently based in a Colchester kitchen, Adventure Dinner hosts themed food and drink events around Vermont. Stewart said she approached Peg and Ter’s owners JOHNNY and TINA HELZER when she heard about their planned break. “I thought it’d be a fun place to do stuff in the between season,” she said.

As previously reported in Seven Days, the Helzers closed their restaurant temporarily on October 1 to reevaluate. “It jives well with what we try to do,” Johnny Helzer said of the Adventure Dinner residency. “We didn’t want the space empty for too long while we’re trying to figure out our next move.”

The dinners start with a Great Pumpkin Spooky menu on October 26 and 27. Dishes range from charred carrots with chile crisp, honey and za’atar for $14 to porchetta with pumpkin and cider for $34, or diners can opt for a $75 four-course chef’s choice menu. Reservations can be made on Adventure Dinner’s website; some seats will be held for walk-ins.

On October 28, the team will host a ticketed Beetlejuice-themed dinner. Future themes will include the best of past Adventure Dinner menus and Santa’s Luau, Stewart said.

Melissa Pasanen

Del., home. At 12, he was a junior counselor at a nature camp for youngsters.

While Ferver was a precocious naturalist, he wasn’t a good student. “I couldn’t stand to be trapped inside,” he said. “By the end of ninth grade, I stopped doing any work. I just got stoned and tripped while I was at school.”

Instead of shipping him off to the military, Ferver’s parents opted for a nowdefunct farm school in South Woodstock. “It was the hippiest wackadoodle school,” Ferver said with a chuckle. After breakfast duty and a couple of hours in class, he was able to spend the rest of the day exploring the thousands of wooded acres that surrounded the campus.

Postgraduation, Ferver returned to Delaware. Since there “was no money in being a naturalist,” he explained, he became a builder instead: “I spent most of my life building, but I never gave up plants.”

He didn’t give up on Vermont, either. In 2004, Ferver and his wife bought a steep, rocky piece of land in Worcester. Although he continued taking building jobs for the money, he also began planting fruit trees and then expanded into nut trees. “I got bitten by the bug … a really bad one,” he said, “And I quickly realized I couldn’t grow a lot of plants on that hill.”

The Fervers moved to their current farm in Berlin in 2015 and started regenerating the worn-out soil with care and compost while building up their collection of viable nut trees.

Chestnuts are easy to grow in warmer climates, but Ferver is intent on learning what will grow well in Vermont’s cooler Zone 4 climate. There are seven to nine species of chestnut, he explained, so he “systematically started planting all of the species and all of the hybrids.” The goal: “We want trees that produce the most, tastiest chestnuts every year so we can

reinvent chestnuts as a staple food.”

The rebirth of chestnuts appeals not just to permaculture enthusiasts but to professional cooks, as well. Matthew McClure, executive chef of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, is a New England Culinary Institute graduate and a multiple James Beard Award semifinalist. He loves using candied chestnuts in sweet dishes, but he’s even more excited by the nut’s savory possibilities.

McClure was first introduced to chestnuts when he was 22 years old and interning at No. 9 Park in Boston. There, at a special event, he watched a chef roast chestnuts over an open fire. “I remember the sweet, smoky flavor,” he said.

These days, McClure enjoys pairing chestnuts with beef or game dishes. “I really like them roasted, steeped in cream and puréed,” he said. “They have a great starchy texture, and the sweetness goes really well with those gamey meats.”

Ferver noted that chestnuts have a nutritional profile similar to that of corn. He likes to look to Asian and European traditions of chestnut eating.

“Chestnuts have been used for millennia as the basis of people’s diets,” he said. “Many cultures were highly dependent on chestnuts for winter survival.”

In Europe, chestnuts are eaten fresh, but they are also dried and smoked to render them shelf-stable, then rehydrated as needed. The nuts are often used as a base for soups and stews or ground into a flour that can be used in bread or pasta. In

Buzz Ferver

Chestnuts

Buzz Ferver among the chestnuts

Asia, fresh chestnuts may be roasted and coated with sugar, ground into a paste, or braised whole with meat or mushrooms.

The chestnut “coffee” that Ferver serves is made from nuts fermented by one of his many chestnut-growing friends. He’s always looking for new ways to fold chestnuts into his diet.

A fellow Vermont grower, Nicko Rubin of East Hill Tree Farm in Plainfield, cultivates chestnuts but hardly ever eats them. “I squirrel them away. They’re precious,” Rubin said.

Unlike Ferver, who perpetually collects chestnuts from new places, Rubin grows the majority of his stock using seeds gathered from his own small orchard of mature trees, many of which

Rubin and Ferver met in the aughts on a permaculture project in Huntington and bonded over their love of plants. The two sometimes swap seeds to strengthen the genetics of their orchards.

Although they have different growing styles — Rubin is attentive to his trees to give each one a better chance at survival, while Ferver plants large quantities, neglects them and lets nature take its course — they respect and support each other.

“I admire Buzz,” Rubin said. “I admire his energy and appetite for beautiful projects, and I like sharing seeds with him.”

Although Ferver is passionate about repopulating chestnuts, he’s also hoping to find a successor to carry on his work. The long days and lots of digging have taken a toll.

But Ferver believes that the work of restoring chestnuts to the American landscape is hitting its stride. “There are lots of people [planting chestnuts], and all of the people who grow them at any scale are sold out instantly,” he said. “The movement is gigantic right now … There are hundreds of thousands of chestnut seedlings all over the country.”

That’s good news for chefs such as McClure, as well as fervid enthusiasts including Ferver. “I love chestnuts. I love to eat them. I love to grow them. I love to experiment with them,” he said with a smile and a sip of his chestnut coffee. ➆

Learn more at perfectcircle.farm.

Chestnut “coffee” grounds

Women at Work

ree questions about the “Vermont Female Farmers” exhibit at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock

BY WILL SOLOMON

Photographer JuanCarlos González had been interested in agriculture since growing up in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, where his grandmother ran a small farmstand. As the grandson of a rural farmer and the son of a woman who was one of 11 children, the majority of whom were women, he said it “was always in my mind that women can do anything.”

But he couldn’t escape the widespread assumption that farmers must be male — whether from customers in Maunabo or from diners asking where vegetables were sourced at a Vermont restaurant.

In 2020, the Plymouth resident decided to document the role of women in Vermont agriculture. What started as a relatively narrow effort grew. The resulting exhibit, “Vermont Female Farmers,” is now on display at the Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock through October 31. (A printed book of photos can be ordered from the project website.) Featuring more than 40 farmers across the state, González’s photographs show them at work in various settings: driving a tractor, working a field, or simply pausing for a moment and leaning on a fence.

Seven Days and González discussed how the project grew organically and his hopes for it. We also spoke with farmer Hannah Blackmer about her reasons for taking part.

How did you find the farmers?

The goal was to start with 10 female farmers. I started with Emily von

Trapp. We met, and she’s like, “Have you thought of maybe adding Em and Rose [of Union Brook Farm in Northfield]?”

It became one of those things. A farmer would say, “Are you including Mary Lake [of Can-Do Shearing in Tunbridge]?” And then I met Mary Lake, and she said, “Oh, my God, you need to meet Jane Pomykala [of Pomykala Farm in Grand Isle].”

What do you hope “Vermont Female Farmers” conveys?

AGRICULTURE

It was this progression of different connections. It was just so beautiful, the whole experience, almost two years of it. I wish it never ended.

Savage Gardens, up in the Champlain Islands, sent me a note saying that it was unbelievable that people went to the exhibit in Woodstock and took a trip up to North Hero to buy some of their flowers and products. This is exactly what I wanted. People learn about the farmers, how they can support them, how they can continue to amplify the industry. It’s been creating waves, people coming from southern New Hampshire, from New York, to see the exhibit. It’s a good, good feeling.

is final question was addressed to Hannah Blackmer, co-owner with her mother of Northfield’s Field Stone Farm. e small regenerative fruit and vegetable operation is located on the land where Blackmer grew up.

Why’d you participate in this project? Farming is seen, maybe superficially, as a very wholesome and special way of life. And it is. But it’s also gritty. It’s di cult. As I was wandering around the exhibit, I saw so many emotions in the photos, from a lot of people that I know. There’s tenderness in the images. There’s tenacity. There’s exhaustion.

It’s that kind of grittiness of the hard work and the labor and the love that goes into it that I want people to recognize. We have muscles, and we sweat, and we’re exhausted. But we love what we do, and we want to keep doing it, and there are so many of us.

JuanCarlos could do this project another three times over and still have just barely scratched the surface of how many women in agriculture there are across the state. ➆

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

“Vermont Female Farmers,” through October 31 at the Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. vermontfemalefarmers.com

Hannah Blackmer of Field Stone Farm

Vermont Female Farmers book cover featuring Liz Guenther of ree Cow Creamery

Amanda Gervais of Savage Gardens

Mary Lake of Can-Do Shearing

Thea Lewis is best known for leading ghost tours of Burlington and writing books about the supernatural, from Haunted Inns and Ghostly Getaways of Vermont to the children’s book There’s a Witch in My Sock Drawer! But history can sometimes be scarier than legend. So Lewis has been expanding upon her paranormal portfolio to tackle an even eerier subject: true crime.

Her new book, True Crime Stories of Burlington, Vermont, covers o enses spanning 1871 to 2011, ranging from horrific murders to the bizarre theft of garden potatoes. Published by the History Press, the book is more “factually based” than her colorful Queen City Ghostwalk tours, Lewis said.

Still, Lewis’ playful commentary makes the collection of crimes more than just the facts. For example, the 19th-century serial killer H.H. Holmes, who briefly enrolled at the University of Vermont, “was absolutely a loner, and his friend died from a fall,” Lewis writes. “(Are you suspicious? It would be hard not to be).”

Local readers will come across familiar places as the book explores the sordid side of Burlington: brothels in the Old North End, a murder at the Champlain Farms convenience store downtown and filicide at the Shalom Shuk parking lot behind Ohavi Zedek Synagogue. In the third case, a woman named Marilyn Dietl shot and killed her daughter, Judy, in 1977 after learning she was dating a Black man who was an alleged pimp. In court, Marilyn’s defense was that she had to kill her daughter to save her from a life of prostitution.

To get the full context surrounding stories such as Dietl’s, Lewis conducted extensive research. She dug through special collections at the University of Vermont, as well as newspaper clippings and court records. She interviewed former Chittenden County state’s attorney Mark Keller and victims’ family members when she could.

Lewis, a Burlington native, also pulled from her memories in a few cases. She knew convicted murderers Ellen Ducharme and Samuel Wright Jr. Those personal connections made the research process especially fascinating, Lewis said. She discussed the book with Seven Days over co ee at Speeder & Earl’s.

What draws you to true crime?

True crime is such a big thing these days. It’s kind of inescapable now. But I’ve always had an interest in that kind of darker side of the way humans function.

Once Upon a Crime

In her latest book, Burlington author ea Lewis chronicles local true crime

BY HANNAH FEUER • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

I grew up in the Old North End of Burlington, where you are often dealing with people who have fewer economic means, who sometimes turn to doing things they shouldn’t in order to make ends meet. From a sociological standpoint, it’s something I have always wondered about.

Is there one story from the book that stands out as memorable?

The Judy Dietl story. As a mother, I can’t imagine being able to justify killing or harming your own child. It’s just not something that I could ever find within me. I kept going back and saying to myself, Why would she think this was OK? Even if my kid had committed some kind of heinous crime, I’d be sitting them down and saying, “Hey, listen, we’ve got to get you help.” I would never think, This is the day she dies and then arrange to go kill her in a parking lot. It’s just crazy.

In the second chapter, you write about finding old newspaper articles about a stabbing in 1881 to be biased. How did you deal with conflicting accounts when deciding how to present the crimes?

I think most news is pretty even-handed. But back in the 1800s and early 1900s, people editorialized a lot. And in that story, I thought it was so funny that a reporter would come right out and say, “The guy doesn’t look guilty.” I’m thinking Albert Mercier [the alleged murderer] must have had a real baby face.

Now, bias in a local news story is not going to be what it would have been back in the 1860s, but it’s still something I think about. When I started doing my haunted tours, I said to myself, The idea of ghosts and whether there’s ghostly activity is so subjective anyway. And I said, I’m not going to add a story to the tour until I have five eyewitness accounts that are compelling and sound like they fit. [For the book,] there are a few decades of online resources to be able to source that stu . I have friends at Channel 3, and I could call on them.

True crime stories can sometimes inadvertently glorify violence. How did you balance focusing on the perpetrators’ stories versus the impact on victims?

That’s a tough one for me. Going back to the story of Ellen [Ducharme], I knew this person. She was a very pretty young woman who just always looked like she was on the verge of something. Her eyes

From left: Samuel Wright Jr., convicted of killing Kimberly Giroux in a 1986 robbery; the Colchester High School yearbook photo of Judy Dietl, who died in 1977; H.H. Holmes, a notorious 19th-century serial killer who briefly attended the University of Vermont

ea Lewis

had a really sad story to tell. And I just wonder, Was there something that I could have done for her? Or could I have worked with someone else to do something for her? But I was a young mother when I knew her, with two kids at the time. Sam Wright Jr., who worked in the bakery next to the candy store I managed, even though absolutely he could be a blowhard, was a charmer. He was somebody I would have conversations with.

You can’t take away from what you know about their crime, but the piece of them that’s human makes it even more intriguing. Sam was a person who was married with kids, and he went o the deep end. What is it that makes a person take that leap? So, absolutely, my heart bleeds for the victims’ families and the loss of the victim. But the perpetrators are a fascinating human study, too. I can’t say that I walk away from their

FROM TRUE CRIME STORIES OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT: “FROM THE POLICE BLOTTER”

In December 1921, local police finally caught up with a man who’d been brazenly poaching poultry in Burlington. Hildred Jones, the son of the infamous Battery Street brawler May (Jones) Bee, was nabbed in the vicinity of Cherry and South Champlain Streets. ough all his chickens had apparently gone off to roost in the stewpots of his patrons, officers were confident they had enough evidence for an arrest.

stories with absolutely no sympathy for their plights.

After writing this book, do you have any other takeaways about violent crime?

Murders are born of desperation and opportunism. I thought a lot about the whole idea of nature versus nurture, why some people who have grown up [in di cult circumstances] end up never harming anyone and why some people feel like it’s their right to be able to kill someone.

If you look at most of the cases, there are these people who just seem to not look at the world in the same way other people do. If you look at their backgrounds, there have always been these seeds of crossing the line. I think a lot of the time people who murder are people with secrets — whether they’re secrets that have been exposed little by little or big secrets that blow up all at once. ➆

INFO

Timeless style meets old school customer service

Jones, who’d hit henhouses in neighborhoods all over the city—some of them twice—had ruffled quite a few feathers, as it was thought, based on his prolific thievery, that he was actually running an entire ring of chicken thieves.

Word on the street was that he charged twenty-five cents a pound, but police had a hard time confirming that number, since Jones’s customers, feeling they’d gotten a good deal, weren’t inclined to squawk.

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MY HEART BLEEDS FOR THE VICTIMS’ FAMILIES AND THE LOSS OF THE VICTIM. BUT THE PERPETRATORS ARE A FASCINATING HUMAN STUDY, TOO.

THEA LEWIS

True Crime Stories of Burlington, Vermont by ea Lewis, the History Press, 160 pages. $24.99.

A Long Road

eater review: Cadillac Crew, Vermont Stage

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

Lost in the history of the civil rights movement are the stories of women who traveled to the newly desegregated South to campaign for equal rights. Sadly, they’re nearly lost in Vermont Stage’s production of Cadillac Crew as well, which resists using theater’s strengths to tell a story and settles for presenting a tribute. The sacrifices that have propelled Black activism since the 1960s remain vital to acknowledge, and while this show may not be strong theater, the play honors that work.

Historically, “Cadillac crews” were groups of women with the means to travel by car, not bus, advancing the same nonviolent message the Freedom Riders did. But the women sought to correct two disparities: the civil inequality of Black people and the gender inequality of women. It was dangerous work in the Deep South, and meetings with supporters were conducted in secret.

Tori Sampson’s 2019 play begins in a Virginia civil rights organization in 1963, as four women are doing the clerical tasks to support the group’s male political and church leaders. Rachel is an idealist who hopes to become a rousing public speaker. Dee believes in the power of the movement, but her 12-year-old daughter is now the only Black girl in a desegregated school. Sarah, who’s white, is drawn to the group’s goals. Abby, just out of college,

is impatient for the world around her to change and lunges between cynicism and aspiration.

Rachel has booked Rosa Parks as the first female speaker at a conference and is devastated when the male leaders cancel her appearance. Parks was going to speak about women’s issues, including rape, but the men decide that now is not the time. The four characters realize that men aren’t ever going to put women’s rights on the agenda, so Rachel suggests they form a Cadillac crew to bring the message directly to women.

After some scenes on the road, the play leaps from 1963 to 2019 to center on the most recent wave of protesters, the founders of Black Lives Matter. As valuable as it is to showcase the e orts of women organizers in the 1960s and those still at this work today, playwright Sampson’s script and director Jammie Patton’s staging neglect theater’s power to move people. They pin up a poster instead of telling a story.

Presenting abstract ideas onstage requires characters in opposition so that a concept can be the basis of an action or an

argument. Sampson builds some conflict as the characters di er on how hard to push women’s rights and how scared to be of white backlash. But these conversations are more ri s than showdowns, and no character ever stands to lose more than having the last word.

Sampson is so keen to avoid boring the audience with exposition that the storytelling is oblique. It’s hard to tell what’s at stake for each character. And much of the speech is oratory, not drama. Too often, the characters tell each other, and the audience, what all of us already know.

Patton has developed a warm camaraderie among the four actors. They sass each other, lip-synch to the radio and speak in rapid-fire bursts, usually ending with a note of mockery. A comic overtone su uses the stage. The performers seem to be enjoying themselves but don’t connect fully, unreeling their speeches instead of hearing each other and responding. Patton sets a fast pace, but it blurs the reason anything is being said.

The director’s staging uses little physical action to express the characters’ needs or

embody the play’s ideas. The first scenes are played in an o ce dense with realistic touches, yet the movement undermines this fidelity as characters don’t complete the clerical tasks they vaguely start. After that interlude of realism, Patton samples di erent theatrical styles to suit the script’s shift from dramatizing events to presenting speeches, including an all-too-faithful re-creation of a podcast with actors frozen in spotlights. Director and playwright start using presentation, not theater.

The actors show us four strong women. Ashley Nicole Baptiste captures Rachel’s idealism as a steady flame of hope. Angella Katherine, as Abby, has a defiant strut and embodies a character with her guard, and her wit, always up. As Sarah, Monica Leigh Rosenblatt portrays a woman carefully nursing past sorrow and loudly clamoring about current injustice. Starnubia gives Dee square-shouldered power, always forced to choose between fear and courage.

Scenic designer Je Modereger supplies a realistic set for the civil rights o ce and a stylization of car and highway. Sound designer Jess Wilson uses sound e ects that beautifully ground the scenes, especially a dark night on the road.

Costume designer Sarah Sophia Lidz not only captures the period but expresses each character’s self-image. Rachel’s zeal is made just nonthreatening enough in a businesslike dress and jacket. Dee’s controlled optimism glows in a green patterned dress. Abby wears a youthful, bright colors, while Sarah accentuates her curves. Topped o with well-chosen wigs, heels, gloves and handbags, the clothing transports us to 1963. And when the characters return in modern dress, they exude the power and confidence of modern Black women owning their appearance.

Cadillac Crew isn’t strong as theater, but it is a recognition of the ideals that have propelled Black activism. The play tries to convey the danger and doubt that civil rights organizers faced, and these obstacles are worth understanding. If only Sampson and Patton had made us feel them. The personal stories of underdeveloped characters have little weight, and the playwright’s rhetoric is well-worn sloganeering. In this play, no one changes. Society has, though with further to go, thanks to well-known activists and the unsung people Sampson eulogizes. The play is more essay than drama, but the subject is what matters. ➆

INFO

Cadillac Crew, by Tori Sampson, directed by Jammie Patton, produced by Vermont Stage. rough October 15: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m., at Black Box eater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, in Burlington. Pick your price: $24-64. vermontstage.org

THE PLAY TRIES TO CONVEY THE DANGER AND DOUBT THAT CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZERS FACED, AND THESE OBSTACLES ARE WORTH UNDERSTANDING.

From left: Starnubia, Angella Katherine, Ashley Nicole Baptiste and Monica Leigh Rosenblatt

Center for Cartoon Studies Launches Applied Cartooning Lab

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

James Sturm grew up “mesmerized” by Marvel Comics, so getting to write and lay out a Fantastic Four miniseries for Marvel 20 years ago “was a dream come true,” he said. Unstable Molecules: e True Story of Comics’ Greatest Foursome won an Eisner Award, the Oscar of the comic book industry.

Now Sturm harnesses his own superpowers — and those of fellow cartoonists — to change the world by making comics to promote civic engagement, empower health care consumers and explain how our brains allow us to read. Comic books about those subjects are among the many projects of the Center for Cartoon Studies’ new Applied Cartooning Lab. Sturm, cofounder of the 18-year-old White River Junction college for cartoonists, directs the lab, which has its grand opening on Friday, October 6.

e center’s work in applied cartooning — collaborating with nonartist experts and mission-driven organizations to produce comics that help readers learn about the world — isn’t new, Sturm acknowledged. e school has long been socially engaged, creating cartoons designed to explain complex topics. In those efforts, it has partnered with organizations including Vermont Humanities, the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Prison Studies Project at Harvard University.

By pulling such projects together under the auspices of the lab — giving it a name, a website and a Main Street home — Sturm hopes to expand and more easily explain the effort to potential students, partners and financial backers. “It’s almost like doubling down on that,” he said.

A host of cartoonists, many of them Center for Cartoon Studies grads, have contributed to published titles including is Is What Democracy Looks Like: A Graphic Guide to Governance, Health and Wealth: A Graphic Guide to the US Healthcare System, Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide to Mental Health, How We Read: A Graphic Guide to Literacy, and Freedom and Unity: A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont Books about climate change, sexual assault and mass incarceration are in the works.

e lab also designs public education campaigns and leads workshops. It partnered with Chicago’s Mikva Challenge to send cartoonists on a five-state midwestern tour to teach middle and high school students about government and civic engagement.

Closer to home, cartoonists visited the White River Junction VA Medical Center to talk to residents who have PTSD and substance-use disorder. eir yearslong effort produced two comic books, When I Returned and A Whole Lifetime of Firsts which have been sent to veterans’ centers around the country.

Like most of the lab’s other comic books, those can be downloaded for free on the lab’s website.

e Center for Cartoon Studies remains primarily a college for cartoonists. It offers a master of fine arts degree, one- and twoyear certificates, and a variety of workshops. Its average enrollment is 32 students.

“One of our core missions is to explore the past, present and potential of comics,” Sturm said. “ ere’s so many things that comics can do really well.” Besides creating

worlds and telling fictional and nonfictional stories, they can tease apart seemingly impenetrable topics.

By drawing comics about the health care system and federal government, “you’re taking these very intense, complicated, complex and sometimes even secretive systems, and you’re breaking them up,” Sturm said. “And you’re putting them into panels that are much more easy to understand and digest.”

Helping people understand gives them

agency, Sturm said: “With all these books, we always try to encourage people to take next steps and to give a mission of hope and promote some type of activism and advocacy for yourself or loved ones.” ➆

Applied Cartooning Lab Open House, Friday, October 6, 5 to 8 p.m., at 173 S. Main St. in White River Junction. Free. appliedcartooning.org

Flood of

An extraordinary evening hosted by Luis Guzman and Tom Calagna to help Vermont farmers recover from the flood. Performances by Central Vermont sensations Jon Gailmor, Chad Hollister, Jess O’Brien with PittCrew, and Fair Sparrow with Patti Casey, Susannah Blachly and Ally Tarwater

HOW’S THE RIDE FEELIN’?

Pianist Paul Orgel Plays

Key Works at a Rare Recital

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

If Vermonters haven’t seen Paul Orgel in concert, a rare opportunity comes this Sunday, October 8. The pianist has performed everywhere from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to major venues in China, but these days his public appearances center on his annual recital at the University of Vermont. Orgel, 68, has been an affiliate artist at the university since 1998 — making this his 25th faculty recital.

Not that he’s counting.

“The 25th anniversary was sort of an after-realization,” the Shelburne pianist said with a chuckle when asked how he chose the program for such an occasion. Instead, he had his audience in mind. “I just wanted to play things that will make people happy to be at the concert,” he said.

The early Romantic pieces that begin and end the program are a guarantee in that regard. Robert Schumann’s Arabesque in C Major, Op. 18, the opener, is a gentle, swirling piece in the soothing key of C that explores both consternation and longing. (Orgel recorded himself playing it at home; the video is on his YouTube channel.)

The finale is Frédéric Chopin’s showstopper Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante in E-flat Major, Op. 22. The piece moves from an introductory “smooth” (spianato) part to a Polish dance in triple time whose impossibly fast runs only seem to accelerate toward the end. Orgel recently finished recording all 21 of Chopin’s nocturnes for his YouTube channel — a four-year project.

The program’s anchor piece shifts to the baroque era: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830. A partita is a suite of shorter pieces, often dances; this one opens with a toccata, designed to show off the “touch” of the pianist. Bach wrote for the clavichord and

harpsichord, before the piano gained its sustaining pedal; a certain exactitude of touch is required in its absence. While Orgel is no purist — he has used the pedal sparingly in past performances of Bach — he has precision in abundance. He studied piano performance for his bachelor’s at New England Conservatory, master’s at Boston University and doctorate at Temple University.

While his teaching is limited to one-on-one coaching of UVM and private piano students rather than classes, Orgel has explored the pairing of Bach and Chopin pedagogically before.

In 2019 he collaborated with James Stewart at Vermont Public to create a mini-lecture for radio and internet, titled “Alchemy of Genius: A J.S. Bach and Chopin Pairing” — an insightful look into how both composers, a century apart, approached the same keys in complementary ways.

The program’s fourth work is Béla Bartók’s Suite, Op. 14. It was written in 1916, Orgel pointed out, “but it has the feel of something modern: It has a certain dissonant quality, and it’s intensely rhythmic.” The Hungarian composer is best known for conducting field recordings of traditional folk songs and incorporating them into his music, but the Suite is his own original composition. Orgel will give his take on each of these works at a free talk three days before the concert, both at the UVM Recital Hall. He would do it during or just before his performance, he said, but explaining and playing “use different parts of your brain.”

INFO

Faculty Piano Recital with Paul Orgel: Sunday, October 8, 3 p.m., at UVM Recital Hall in Burlington. Free. Preconcert talk: Thursday, October 5, 3:30 p.m., at UVM Recital Hall. Free. uvm.edu

Paul Orgel

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on screen

Dumb Money ★★★★

Parts of the American pandemic experience already feel like a collective hallucination. Among them is the GameStop short squeeze of January 2021, which is arguably more of a feel-good story than the rest of that grim era we’re still processing — and hence perfect movie fodder. The new comedy Dumb Money is based on a 2021 book by Ben Mezrich whose title says it all: The Antisocial Network: The GameStop Short Squeeze and the Ragtag Group of Amateur Traders That Brought Wall Street to Its Knees

Who doesn’t want to watch a bunch of regular people stick it to the hedge fund managers who thought they could make a windfall by betting on a retail chain going bankrupt? This semi-fictionalized story of the Wall Street debacle, directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), is playing in local theaters.

The deal

By day, Keith Gill (Paul Dano) is a humble financial analyst for MassMutual. Each evening he returns to the rental where he lives with his wife (Shailene Woodley) and their baby, descends into the basement, and transforms into YouTube streamer Roaring Kitty, wearer of feline-themed apparel and financial guru of the Reddit forum r/wallstreetbets. Observing that Wall Street is betting against the survival of GameStop, Keith defies the pros, touting the company to his followers as an undervalued stock.

Around the country, lockdown-weary Americans decide to join him. A single mom and essential worker (America Ferrera) wants to improve her lot in life. A college student (Talia Ryder) hopes to dig her way out from under a mountain of debt. A GameStop clerk (Anthony Ramos) sees the stock as a better route to prosperity than his dead-end job. All take advantage of the relatively new app Robinhood, which makes investment as easy as playing a game on your phone.

When the meme-driven movement sends GameStop stock soaring, fund manager Gabe Plotkin (Seth Rogen) suddenly has bigger problems than the logistics of building a private tennis court. He and his fellow financiers scramble to close ranks against the amateur investors whom they’ve always dismissed as “dumb money.”

Will you like it?

The obvious predecessor to Dumb Money

REVIEW

is Adam McKay’s The Big Short , which used e ectively simplified explanations of the stock market to demonstrate how the housing bubble of the aughts was built on sand. In this movie’s telling, the rise of GameStop stock was built on class rage and memes.

While Keith argues that the company has real value, his explanation goes by in a flash. This film’s focus isn’t on elucidating the workings of Wall Street or defending the honor of brick-and-mortar businesses. (Mall staple GameStop is no scrappy momand-pop store.) Instead, montage after montage scored to triumphant, irreverent beats celebrates the power of a mass movement armed with silly GIFs to stand up against the 1 percent.

Dumb Money is most interesting when it milks absurdist comedy from the insularity of those clashing subcultures: the Redditors and the financiers. Each group has its own lexicon, etiquette and in-jokes. The screenplay (by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo) takes a bemused, anthropological approach to both, whether it’s Keith turning a proletarian dinner of chicken tenders into a rallying cry or a billionaire pampering his pet pig.

Dano makes an e ective central presence. As he’s shown in many previous roles, he can use his unassuming moon

face to turn on a dime from a seemingly passive, guileless pawn to a conniving antagonist. The role of Keith requires a similar duality. Is he just an underachieving “nerd” with a Wall Street obsession, as his deadbeat brother (Pete Davidson) believes? Or is he a revolutionary? How does he feel about leading a popular movement that exposes the vulnerability of the American financial system?

Dumb Money never answers this question, because it doesn’t dig particularly deep into Keith or any of its characters. They remain stereotypes, albeit mostly entertaining ones. While actors such as Ferrera and Rogen deliver skilled, funny performances, nothing they do or say illuminates much beyond the film’s basic thesis. Keith conveniently voices that message toward the end of the movie: In a world of increasing economic inequality, the GameStop short squeeze o ered “hope for the little guy.”

Did it really, though? Or was the whole episode simply a surreal demonstration of what happens when an old capitalist institution (the stock market) collides with a new one (social media)? In a recent New York Times op-ed, two economists express their fear that viewers of Dumb Money “will be inspired to copy the heroes’ investment strategies, which is about as smart as

driving home at 100 miles per hour after seeing The Fast and the Furious.” They sound as prissy as the financial experts mocked in the movie. But maybe, just maybe, they have a point — that it takes a lot more than gaming the system to change it.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

“EAT THE RICH: THE GAMESTOP SAGA” (three episodes, 2022; Netflix): Want the facts behind the fiction? is miniseries is just one of several documentaries dissecting the GameStop short squeeze. Others include GameStop: Rise of the Players (2022; Hulu, rentable), “Gaming Wall St” (two episodes, 2022; Max) and MSNBC’s Diamond Hands: e Legend of WallStreetBets (2022; Peacock).

THE BIG SHORT (2015; Netflix, rentable): McKay’s dark comedy about the subprime loan crisis of 2008 remains the gold standard for movies about stock market trading.

I, TONYA (2017; Max, rentable): Gillespie made his name with this satirical take on the 1994 Olympic figure skating scandal.

Paul Dano plays a struggling “little guy” who takes on Wall Street in this comedy about the GameStop short squeeze.

COURTESY OF CLAIRE FOLGER/SONY

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BOTTOMSHHHH Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri play lovelorn high school friends who hatch a wild scheme to get close to their crushes in this comedy. (91 min, R. Roxy; reviewed 9/13)

THE CREATORHHH An ex-soldier (John David Washington) finds the perfect weapon for a war between humans and artificial intelligence in this sci-fi adventure. (133 min, PG-13. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

THE EQUALIZER 3HHH Denzel Washington is back as the former government assassin in Antoine Fuqua’s action thriller. (109 min, R. Big Picture, Palace)

DUMB MONEYHHH1/2 This comedy directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) relates the stranger-thanfiction tale of how a grassroots online movement made GameStop the hot stock. (105 min, R. Big Picture, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy; reviewed 10/4)

EXPEND4BLESH1/2 In the fourth installment of the ensemble action series, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and 50 Cent battle terrorists once again. (103 min, R. Majestic, Palace, Welden)

GOLDAHH1/2 Helen Mirren plays Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel, in this drama about the Yom Kippur War. (100 min, PG-13. Savoy)

A HAUNTING IN VENICEHHH Kenneth Branagh returns as detective Hercule Poirot in this Agatha Christie adaptation. (103 min, PG-13. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Playhouse, Sunset)

THE KILL ROOMHHH A money-laundering scheme turns a hit man into an art-world darling in this dark comedy directed by Nicol Paone, starring Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson. (98 min, R. Palace)

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Viewers vote on their favorite of 10 short films. (Roxy)

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3HH Nia Vardalos and John Corbett return as a couple bringing their grown daughter to Greece. (91 min, PG-13. Palace)

THE NUN IIHH1/2 Taissa Farmiga is back as a plucky nun chasing down a veil-wearing demon in this belated horror sequel. (110 min, R. Majestic, Palace)

OPPENHEIMERHHHHH Director Christopher Nolan tells the story of the man (Cillian Murphy) who played a key role in creating the atomic bomb. (180 min, R. Majestic; reviewed 8/2)

PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIEHH1/2 A meteor endows the titular pups with superpowers in this family animation. (92 min, PG. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden)

SAW XHHH Terminally ill Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) decides to slaughter some medical scammers in the long-running horror franchise. (118 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy, Star)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

DOLORES (Savoy, Thu only)

THE EXORCIST 50TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Wed 4 only)

HAUNTED MANSION (Sunset)

HOCUS POCUS 30TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Majestic, Sunset, starts Fri)

MOTHER TERESA AND ME (Essex, Thu only)

SKATE DREAMS (Marquis, Wed 4 only)

STOP MAKING SENSE (Essex, Roxy, Savoy)

TALK TO ME (Sunset)

OPEN THEATERS

The Capitol Showplace and Catamount Arts are currently closed until further notice. (* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PALACE 9 CINEMAS: 10 Fayette Dr., South Burlington, 864-5610, palace9.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Note: These capsule descriptions are not intended as reviews. Star ratings come from Metacritic unless we reviewed the film (noted at the end of the description). Find reviews written by Seven Days critic Margot Harrison at sevendaysvt.com/ onscreen-reviews.

Oct. 6-8, 2023

Topnotch Field 3420 Mountain Rd Stowe, VT

STOWE FOLIAGE FESTIVAL ARTS

STOWE FOLIAGE FESTIVAL ARTS

Thank you to our Festival Sponsor!

Thank you to our Festival Sponsor!

Stowe, Vermont, is the place to experience the classic New England Autumn, and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival is the perfect destination. Enjoy exquisite art and fine crafts from over 150 juried fine artists and artisans, live music and other entertainment, great food, draft beer, wine, and demonstrations of traditional craftwork. Make time to enjoy the great outdoors this autumn, and visit the

STOWEARTSFEST.COM

STOWEARTSFEST.COM

Pride of Place

A dual exhibition of the Lyman Orton Collection showcases Vermont

BY PAMELA POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

When Lyman Orton named his art exhibition “For the Love of Vermont,” it wasn’t a shallow sentiment. He declares his devotion freely and frequently, even in a phone interview. Perhaps that’s no surprise for a seventh-generation Vermonter and second-generation proprietor of the renowned Vermont Country Store.

But it might have been a revelation to some fellow Vermonters when, in July, the Bennington Museum and the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester opened concurrent exhibitions featuring the Lyman Orton Collection. Comprising more than 200 works on paper and canvas, along with related artifacts, the exhibits establish Orton, 82, as more than a successful retailer: He’s an impresario of art.

Orton has vastly expanded — now with his three adult sons — the mail-order

business that his parents, Vrest and Mildred, founded in Weston in 1946. Turns out, he’s also been avidly amassing artwork. And it’s not a random collection.

Orton’s laser focus has been to acquire pieces — initially at auctions and estate sales with a friend, art appraiser Barbara Melhado — that feature scenes in his beloved Vermont. Online, Orton and collection curator Donnel Barnum have located works that “escaped” to private or institutional holdings out of state and “repatriated” them so Vermonters can enjoy them.

“We’ve developed a cadre of sleuths to identify places in the paintings,” Orton said. While many works of art past and present imply the importance of place conceptually, Orton’s acquisitions are literally and entirely about place — and, it must be said, a place in time. A sense of nostalgia permeates the collection. The paintings suggest a simpler, unblemished Vermont of yesteryear, a

veritable Elysium, save for the hard manual labor of living o the land.

Mostly paintings, with a smattering of etchings and mixed-media pieces, the landscapes, farmscapes and small-town scenes were created predominantly in the 1920s through 1960s. That was “the golden age of Vermont art,” Orton said. “So many artists were coming here — or were born here — in that era. Some came in summer, some in winter, to paint snow scenes.” (Artists still do, of course, but Orton has intentionally centered his collection on those earlier years.)

Some of the artists were employed by the Works Progress Administration during the New Deal; others fled urban areas to vacation in the bucolic countryside. Many of the artists chose to stay, working myriad jobs to make ends meet. A loose association of primarily plein air painters became known as the Southern Vermont Artists — the

genesis, Orton said, of the Manchester arts center.

In a book about the exhibition, also titled For the Love of Vermont, coauthor Anita Rafael observes: “Whether the artists lived in the state, were just passing through, or became part-time residents, they are among the countless men and women who painted and drew Vermont because they fell in love with it.” Some became, as she put it, “incredibly famous.”

Rafael, a Wardsboro-based writer, emphasized that the book is not a conventional exhibition catalog but rather a collection of stories — about Orton and family, about artists’ “discovery” of Vermont in the early 20th century, and about some of the individual artists and paintings.

Manchester-based Orton acknowledged that he’s attracted to images that speak to his own surroundings and, in some cases, family history. There are multiple paintings, for example, of the Vermont Country Store, including a small watercolor by Harlem Renaissance painter Palmer Hayden. Harry Shokler’s “Orton House, Weston” depicts the brick house in which Orton grew up; with its blue sky, bare trees and snowy ground, the painting nearly exudes crisp winter air.

Auction scenes comprise a “collectionwithin-the-collection,” Rafael writes in the book. They also inspire Orton’s reminiscences. Bernadine Custer’s small watercolor and ink sketch, titled simply “Auction,” is accompanied by this memory of legendary New Hampshire auctioneer Richard Withington at an estate sale:

“Inevitably, at some point during the day someone would sneeze very loudly, and Richard never failed to shout out, ‘Take care of yourself or we’ll be setting up the tent in your backyard next!’”

A stark, iconic painting by Rockwell Kent titled “Puritan Church” (aka “Mother and Chicks”) also has a connection to Orton’s family. The simple steepled church looms atop a knoll surrounded by gravestones (the “chicks”); the gently humped mountains in the background and the sky are celestial blue. “[M]y ancestors on the maternal side of my mother’s family, the Hamiltons, had worshipped at the Union Church,” Orton notes in the book. “In fact, my great-grandfather helped to build it.”

For the Love of Vermont is steeped in family, state and art history. Orton’s story about finding and obtaining this Kent painting — put up for sale by a San Francisco art dealer in 2008 — is one of the personalized tales that both readers and viewers have found enthralling. (The book went into a second printing this summer.) The stories seem to turn the pictures into living things.

Orton’s exhibition strategy is democratic — organizing works not by the artists’ fame, skill or medium but in categories such as “Making a Living” and “Picture Country.”

"Sugaring" by Ruth Greene Mould

And he is adamant that the gallery-going experience be accessible and welcoming to individuals who don’t think of themselves as art viewers.

“I’m in the business of attracting customers from all walks of life,” Orton said. “A lot of people who are not artists or curators would enjoy the show if we tell them about it in everyday language, put chairs and notebooks around, and make it comfortable.”

Rafael, who wrote the text panels for the exhibition, said her goal was to “tell untold stories about the work” to visitors. “It changed the whole tone and tenor of the exhibition,” she said.

Orton isn’t certain what will happen next with his still-growing collection, but he’s optimistic about its legacy.

“Now that [the works have] been organized, with signs, I’m looking to have them remain in Vermont long after I’m dead,” he said. “I’ve been working on where they should live going forward. So, they’re not going to disappear and maybe will be even more important in 100 years.”

“I think the message is pride of place,” Rafael concluded. “Vermonters defend it, are proud of it. Visitors might walk away feeling glad they live here.” ➆

INFO

“For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection,” on view through November 5 at Southern Vermont Arts Center and Bennington Museum. fortheloveofvermont.com, svac.org, benningtonmuseum.org

"North Rupert Valley" by Wallace Weir Fahnestock

“Country Auction” by Kyra Markham

Richard Stankiewicz (American, 1922-1983), Monister, 1954, steel and found objects, 7 7/8 x 10 x 10 inches. Collection of Middlebury College Museum of Art, Vermont. Purchase with funds provided by the Christian A. Johnson Memorial Art Acquisition Fund, the Walter Cerf Art Fund, and the Memorial Art Fund, 1994.002. © Estate of Richard Stankiewicz, courtesy of Washburn Gallery

NEW THIS WEEK

burlington

CHRISTINA WATKA: “Listening to the World,” mixedmedia sculptures in mica and ceramic by the Maine artist. Reception: Thursday, October 5, 5:30-8 p.m. October 5-November 30. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington.

‘FLUXFEST’: A performative conversation with the Fluxus and avant-garde movements of the 1960s; faculty, students and guest artists are invited to create work in response to ideas presented by artistin-residence John Killacky. Reception: Friday, October 20, 4-6 p.m. October 9-29. Info, gallery@champlain. edu. Champlain College Art Gallery in Burlington.

barre/montpelier

‘INTERFACE’: A group exhibition in multiple mediums that evokes the aesthetics of science fiction, featuring Erin Murray, Charles Sommer, Kerry O. Furlani, Alexander Ney and Rodger Mack. Reception: Friday, October 6, 4-8 p.m. October 6-November 17. Info, hexumgallery@gmail.com. Hexum Gallery in Montpelier.

PAT HARRINGTON: “Removing the Mask,” paintings, puppets and storied wooden bowls by the child sexual abuse survivor. Presented by Mosaic Vermont. Reception: Friday, October 6, 4-8 p.m. Friday, October 6. Info, 479-5577. Montpelier Senior Activity Center.

stowe/smuggs

KEN LESLIE: A retrospective exhibit featuring works by the retired VTSU-Johnson faculty member.

Reception and artist talk: Thursday, October 12, 3 p.m. October 10-November 10. Info, 635-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Vermont State University-Johnson.

upper valley

MAX GLEASON: “Seasons of Self,” paintings that represent portals of archetypal worlds and cycles of life by the California-based artist. Reception: Friday, October 6, 5-8 p.m. October 6-28. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.

northeast kingdom

HEIDI BRONER: “The Works,” paintings of people at their jobs by the Vermont artist. Reception: Friday, October 13, 5-7 p.m. October 11-November 4. Info, 229-8317. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville.

PEGGY WATSON: “Vermont Outdoors,” sculptural paintings based on the natural world. Reception: Saturday, October 7, 2-4 p.m. October 5-November 11. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.

brattleboro/okemo valley

ARON NAMENWIRTH: “The Long Way,” an exhibition of new drawings focused on the circle by the artist and musician. Reception: Friday, October 6, 5-9 p.m. October 6-29. Info, 380-9072. 118 Elliot in Brattleboro.

manchester/bennington

‘VERMONT LANDSCAPES’: More than 100 paintings in oil, gouache and watercolor by regional artists Matt Chinian, James Coe, Tony Conner, Ann Larsen, John MacDonald, Robert Moylan, Eric Tobin, Mark Tougias and George Van Hook. Also, paintings and drawings by pastel master Corey Pitkin. Reception: Friday, October 6, 5:30-8:30 p.m., with live music and refreshments. October 6-December 31. Info, 318-4444. Monument Arts & Cultural Center in Bennington.

randolph/royalton

‘CURSED’ AND GRAND (RE)OPENING: The third annual group exhibition exploring the theme “cursed” marks the new location of the gallery,

CALL TO ARTISTS

2023 MEMBERS’ ART SHOW & SALE: The Current in Stowe invites member artists to submit work for the annual unjuried exhibition. All mediums welcome. Apply at thecurrentnow.org. Deadline: October 15. Online. Info, 253-8358.

2023 PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOTOUT: “Texture” is the theme of this year’s exhibition, which will be October 11 to November 11. All capture and processing methods are welcome. Drop off your entry (one or two photos) on October 7 by 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery, Waterbury. $20. Info, 244-7801.

AIAVT 75-YEAR ARCHITECTURE

AWARDS: A competition in honor of AIA Vermont’s 75th anniversary. The award will recognize buildings of architectural significance completed over the past 75 years in Vermont. Application at aiavt.org. Online. Through October 20. Free. Info, 448-2169.

BURKLYN ARTS HOLIDAY CRAFT

MARKET: Burklyn Arts invites artists to apply for a booth at the 54th annual holiday market on December 2 at Catamount Arts’ ArtPort event space. Details and application at burklyn-arts.org. Online. Through October 7. $120 per booth. Info, elly.barksdale@gmail.com.

‘CELEBRATE!’: Seeking art and craft by SPA member-artists for upcoming exhibition on all three floors of the art center. Membership is $20 to $35. Deadline: October 7. More info at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $20/35. Info, submissions.studioplacearts@ gmail.com.

HOLIDAY MARKET: Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury seeks original artworks for its annual artisan market. The theme is “Home is where the art is.” Guidelines and entrance form at sparrow-art-supply.square. site. Deadline: November 5. Online. Free to enter; $5 per category if accepted. Info, 989-7225.

HOLIDAY SHOWCASE & CRAFT FAIR: The annual sale November 18 at Bellows Free Academy benefits the BFA Fairfax baseball team’s spring training trip to Florida. Register at

tattoo studio and dark/goth clothing shop. Opening celebration: Friday, October 6, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., with artist meet and greet 5-7:30 p.m. October 6-31. Info, blackmeadowgalleryandtattoo@gmail.com. Black Meadow in Randolph.

outside vermont

JOAN FEIERABEND: “Multitudes,” 365 works inspired by the Vermont artist’s daily practice over a year.

Reception: Friday, October 6, 5-7 p.m., with artist talk at 6 p.m. October 6-November 4. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H.

ART EVENTS

24-HOUR COMICS DAY: A feverish frenzy of comicbook making around the clock for artists ages 16 and up. (Younger participants are allowed with parental permission). Bring your own supplies and snacks. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier, Saturday, October 7, 9 a.m. Free. Info, 595-5252.

APPLIED CARTOONING LAB OPEN HOUSE: A reception for the brand-new Center for Cartoon Studies program that features comic projects ranging from civics to mental health. Applied Cartooning Lab, White River Junction, Friday, October 6, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, appliedcartooning@cartoonstudies.org.

bit.ly/BFAcraftFair2023. Online. Through October 28. $75 or $50 per booth. Info, 355-0832.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ARTISTS: The Art Dames Society seeks submissions for a monthlong, nonjuried online exhibition featuring female-identifying artists of all skill levels working in any medium. Submit images of one or two artworks; for performance artists, a 2-minute video is accepted. People’s choice award opportunity. Artists receive all proceeds from any sales. Apply at theartdamessociety. com. Deadline: October 4. Online. $5 per image. Info, theartdamessociety@gmail.com.

‘MY DOG AND THE WOLF’: Radiate Arts Space is sponsoring an unjuried art exhibit about the dogwolf connection: about people and their dogs, humans’ role in the domestication of the wolf, and why and how it has resulted in such a variety of breeds. Workshops October and November; celebration in December. Email Julie Longstreth for more info. Richmond Free Library. Through November 1. Info, mauie@gmavt.net.

‘REFLECTIONS’: Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury is seeking submissions for an upcoming juried show for emerging artists. Guest jurors are John and Gillian Ross of Gallery Twist in Lexington, Mass. Deadline: October 20. More info at edgewatergallery.com. Online. $15 for three images. Info, 989-7419.

‘TREES FOR ALL SEASONS’: Artists are invited to submit one or two themebased works in any medium including photography for an upcoming exhibit at the Jericho Town Hall. Must be able to be hung on a gallery hanger system. Details at jerichovt.org. Deadline: October 6. Online. Info, catherine. mcmains@gmail.com.

‘WHO ARE WE? PIECES OF THE IDENTITY

PUZZLE’: November is a time for reflection and introspection. The gallery is seeking artwork depicting your take on identity, whether personal or as a people. All mediums accepted. Deliver work on or before Wednesday, November 8. Register at melmelts@yahoo.com. The Satellite Gallery, Lyndonville. $20. Info, 229-8317.

ART IN THE PARK: The 62nd annual fall foliage event features artist and artisan vendors, kids’ activities, refreshments, live music, and more. Main Street Park, Rutland, Saturday, October 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, October 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 775-0356.

COLLAGE COLLECTIVE: Cut, paste and create with other collage enthusiasts either in studio or over Zoom. Open to all levels. Materials available at the studio. Expressive Arts Burlington, Monday, October 9, 6:30-9 p.m. Donations. Info, info@expressiveartsburlington.com.

‘CREATIVE EXCHANGE: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FLUXUS’: Artist-in-residence John Killacky, Fluxus member Nye Ffarrabas and art collector Mark Waskow discuss the 1960s art movement as part of “FluxFest.” Champlain College Art Gallery, Burlington, Wednesday, October 11, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, gallery@champlain.edu.

DOMINO TOPPLING EXTRAVAGANZA: The 16th annual event features internationally renowned domino toppler and YouTube star Lily Hevesh and her team, who will set up thousands of dominoes next door in a former Marlboro College building at 28 Vernon Street. Event also streamed on Facebook Live. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Sunday, October 8, 5:30 p.m. $5; $3 for members; free to children 8 and under. Info, 257-0124.

FILM PREMIERE & FUNDRAISER FOR OLD LABOR

HALL: A benefit to help clean out the facility, which was breached by flooding in July, featuring films “Rough Blazing Star” by Christopher Wiersema and “Our Hour” by Susan Calza. Old Labor Hall, Barre, Sunday, October 8, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, 485-4554.

GRANITE LECTURE AND FILM SERIES: HEATHER

MILNE RITCHIE: A presentation about the professional granite memorial carver’s career and work. Vermont Granite Museum, Barre, Thursday, October 5, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 249-3897.

MONTPELIER ART WALK: Capital City shops and galleries welcome pedestrian art viewers; details at montpelieralive.com. Various Montpelier locations, Friday, October 6, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 279-2236.

OPEN STUDIO: Draw, collage, paint, move, write and explore the expressive arts however you please during this drop-in period. Available in studio and via Zoom. Most materials are available in the studio. All are welcome, no art experience necessary. Expressive Arts Burlington, Thursday, October 5, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Donations. Info, info@expressiveartsburlington.com.

PAINTING DEMONSTRATION: Carolyn Egeli shows the public how she makes her oil paintings; her final piece is being donated in a raffle to benefit the gallery. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, Saturday, October 7, 1-3 p.m. $5 per ticket or $20 for five. Info, 728-9878.

PECHAKUCHA NIGHT, VOL. 35: A rapid-fire slide-talk presentation by local creatives. Doors open at 6:30 for drinks and conversation. Tickets available at flynnvt.org. Flynn Space, Burlington, Thursday, October 5, 7 p.m. $10. Info, hello@pknburlington.com.

RUBBER DUCKY DERBY: The 20th annual event includes a duck race with prizes, tool demonstrations, a blacksmith on duty and food trucks. Ben’s Mill, Barnet, Saturday, October 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $5 per duck or $20 for five. Info, 633-0734.

VERMONT NORTH BY HAND OPEN STUDIO TOUR:

Twenty-eight artists — painters, potters, fiber artists, glass artists, jewelers, furniture makers and more — in Bradford, Corinth, Fairlee, Newbury and Topsham open their doors to visitors in this self-guided tour. Map available at vermontnorthbyhand.org. Various Upper Valley locations, Saturday, October 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, October 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 345-7867.

VISITING ARTIST TALK: NINA BUXENBAUM: The multiracial household painter and printmaker, a professor at York College, CUNY, discusses her work. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Wednesday, October 11, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

ONGOING ART SHOWS burlington

‘60 YEARS OF BREAD & PUPPET’: Puppets, prints and banners by Peter Schumann, founder of the puppet theater group based in Glover. Through December 1. Info, hello@karmabirdhouse.com. Karma Bird House Gallery in Burlington.

‘ABENAKI: FIRST PEOPLE EXHIBITION’: The council and members of Alnôbaiwi (in the Abenaki way) and the museum open a new exhibition featuring the Abenaki Year, the seasonal calendar of people who lived in the area for more than 8,000 years before Europeans arrived, as well as works by contemporary Abenaki artisans and a replica of a 19th-century Abenaki village. Through October 31. Info, 865-4556. Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington.

ADDISON BALE: New paintings whose gestural aesthetic takes inspiration from New York’s aging infrastructure, signage and detritus. Through November 5. Info, 917-846-1719. Foam Brewers in Burlington.

‘ART AND THE MATTER OF PLACE’: A small exhibition of works in the Wolcott Gallery that encourages critical thinking about place and why it matters.

‘PRAXIS’: An exhibition of recent work by more than

a dozen studio art faculty at UVM in an array of mediums. Through December 8. Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

CAROLYN BATES: “Street Murals of Burlington,” photographs from a new book by the local professional photographer. Through October 31. Info, 862-5010. First Congregational Church in Burlington.

‘HOW PEOPLE MAKE THINGS’: An installation inspired by the Mister Rogers’ factory tours includes hands-on activities in cutting, molding, deforming and assembly to show participants how certain childhood objects are manufactured. Through January 7. Info, 864-1848. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington.

KATE LONGMAID: Contemporary portraiture, still life and landscape paintings in oil and acrylic gouache by the Vermont artist. Through December 17. Info, 865-7296. BCA Center in Burlington.

KEVIN RUELLE: “Landmarks,” original large-scale watercolors for the artist’s vintage-inspired travel posters. Through October 28. Info, 863-6458. Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery in Burlington.

chittenden county

‘BUILT FROM THE EARTH’: An exhibition of masterful Pueblo pottery from the Anthony and Teressa Perry Collection of Native American art.

‘OBJECT/S OF PLAY’: An interactive exploration of the creative processes of American toy designers

Cas Holman and Karen Hewitt. ‘POP UP’: An exhibition of contemporary inflated sculptures inside and outside the museum featuring three artists and artist teams from the field of pneumatic sculpture: Claire Ashley, Pneuhaus and Tamar Ettun. (Outdoor sculptures not on view on days with excessive wind.) STEPHEN HUNECK: “Pet Friendly,” an exhibition of hand-carved and painted furniture, sculptures, relief paintings, bronze sculptures, and more by the late Vermont artist. Through October 22. Info, 985-3346. Shelburne Museum.

‘THE FALL OF ADAM’: A group photography exhibition that explores the effects of technology on art and society. Reception: Sunday, October 8, 3-5 p.m. Through October 22. Info, 777-3686. Darkroom Gallery in Essex Junction.

GABRIEL BORAY & COLOSSAL SANDERS: Acrylic paintings of Vermont with a focus on cows, and satirical digital montage illustrations, respectively. Second-floor Skywalk. Through December 5. Info,

JULIA PURINTON: Abstract oil paintings inspired by nature; in the North Concourse. Through February 29. Info, 865-7296. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in South Burlington.

JOSEPH SALERNO: “Inside & Out: Landscapes to Relics,” al fresco oil paintings by the Vermont artist. Through November 4. Info, 985-3848. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne.

LARS JERLACH AND HELEN STRINGFELLOW:

“Tectonic industries: If you had followed the directive, you wouldn’t be here,” an immersive, multimedia installation transforming the gallery with painting, audio, video and sculptural elements. Through October 13. Info, bcollier@smcvt.edu. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester.

‘LET THE LIGHT IN’: New paintings by Vermont artists Liz Hawkes deNiord, Joy Huckins-Noss, Jill Madden and Julia Purinton, curated by Essex High School student Xandra Ford. Through October 19. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov. South Burlington Public Art Gallery.

MATT LARSON & NANCY CHAPMAN: Natureinspired abstract paintings. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through October 17. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.

MICHAEL STRAUSS: Brilliantly colored paintings in acrylic and pastel. Reception: Sunday, October 15, 1-3 p.m. Through November 5. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho.

‘SPOOKY SPACE’: A display about terrifying and mind-blowing destinations in our galaxy, created by Bridget Kimsey, a Vermont solar system ambassador for NASA/JPL. PAUL BETZ: Photography by the

South Burlington artist. Through October 31. Info, 846-4140. South Burlington Public Library Art Wall.

‘SPARK: FUELING A LOVE OF BIRDS’: An exhibition of works by more than 60 artists and writers expressing avian admiration. Through October 31. Info, 434-2167. Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington.

barre/montpelier

‘ROCK SOLID XXIII’: An annual exhibition that showcases stone sculptures and assemblages by area artists, as well as other work that depicts the qualities of stone. Main-floor gallery. Through October 28. ANN YOUNG: “Autumn Pond Abstract,” oil paintings of water shield plants found in the artist’s pond in the fall. At SPA’s annex location at 159 North Main Street. Through December 30.

ELINOR RANDALL: “Deep Impressions,” a survey of the master printmaker’s work 1954 to 2013. Curated by NNEMoCA. Second-floor gallery. Through October 28. KATE ARSLAMBAKOVA: “Primordial,” paintings influenced by surrealism that bring the microscopic world into focus. Third-floor gallery. Through October 28. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre.

ART AT THE KENT: ‘TRACES’: Nearly two dozen Vermont artists present works in wax, wood, paint, clay, fabric, metal and photographs in this annual exhibition. Closing reception: Sunday, October 8, 3-5 p.m. Through October 8. Info, thekentmuseum@ gmail.com. Kents’ Corner State Historic Site in Calais.

DELIA ROBINSON: “Gravitational Reprieve,” imaginative works by the Montpelier artist, painted in response to Vermont floods. Through October 6. Info, robinson.delia@gmail.com. Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

EARL HENRY FOX: “Oblique Fixations,” a survey of recent work by the painter, woodworker and mixed-media artist. By appointment. Through November 17. Info, 720-215-9519. Grist Mill Studios in East Calais.

‘ELEMENTS OF SHELTER’: Original works in wood, metal and glass by Yestermorrow faculty members Thea Alvin, Meg Reinhold, Nick Pattis, Anna Fluri, Sophia Mickelson and Johno Landsman, in conjunction with the Waitsfield design/build school. Through May 31, 2025. Info, 828-3291. Vermont Arts Council Sculpture Garden in Montpelier.

‘ENOUGH SAID? COUNTING MASS SHOOTINGS’: An installation that addresses rampant gun violence in the U.S., featuring artworks by Susan Calza, Samantha M. Eckert and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

Reception: Friday, October 6, 5-8 p.m., including a discussion about gun violence with Conor Casey, executive director of GunSense Vermont. Through November 30. Info, 224-6827. Susan Calza Gallery in Montpelier.

ERNEST HAAS: “Lake Champlain Through Time,” paintings by the renowned Vermont maritime artist, in the Card Room and cafeteria. Reception: Wednesday, October 11, 4-6 p.m., with remarks by historian Art Cohn and others. Through October 29. Info, david.schutz@vermont.gov. Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier.

‘FRUITS OF THE FOREST FLOOR’: A juried, mushroom-themed group show with painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, fiber arts, ceramics, jewelry and more by New England artists. Through December 15. Info, chelsea@ northbranchnaturecenter.org. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

‘S.L.U.A.T.H.’: An annual crowdsourced exhibit of art rescued from yard sales, free piles, estate cleanouts, junk stores and flea markets. Many pieces up for auction. Through November 8. Info, 479-0896.

Espresso Bueno in Barre.

TRACEY HAMBLETON: “Barre, Painted Fresh,” oil paintings of the city’s landmark buildings, granite quarries and hillside houses. Through October 15. Info, 249-3897. Vermont Granite Museum in Barre.

Conant Square Gallery Offers Sweeping Views

STORY & PHOTOS BY PAMELA POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

A new gallery in Brandon is an alluring venue even without the artwork. Conant Square Gallery is tucked next to the bridge over the Neshobe River and just feet from Route 7 as it squiggles through town. Originally a gristmill in the 1860s, the handsome red-brick building later housed an auto shop, then an antique store. Tall windows give the place a storefront vibe; inside, they overlook the rushing water below. An open window lets in the river’s mesmerizing soundtrack.

Artist Sandy Mayo bought the property two years ago and, after “bringing it into 2023,” as she put it, she moved in. The building has two apartments, a guest suite and studio space. Artist Fran Bull and her partner, Robert Black, moved into the second apartment. Now they can easily meet visitors to the high-ceilinged, street-level gallery, which just happens to be showing paintings by both women and longtime Brandon artist Warren Kimble.

For Conant Square’s inaugural exhibition, the three friends conceived of a whimsical theme, announced in its title: “Broom Art.” Yes, they really did paint with a variety of small brooms. The 28 abstract works reflect that swooping energy with dramatic brushing and vivid colors. And they are for sale.

“Working with brooms gave Warren a perfect ‘out’ for abstract work,” Mayo remarked, ensconced in the gallery’s cozy sitting room and art library. Indeed, Kimble is renowned for his folk art, but it’s clear the unusual tools were liberating. In a canvas titled

“Hooked on Art,” he excavated layers of red and blue paint to produce an entirely nonrepresentational composition. Kimble’s “Wow” looks explosive — just bursts of red on white.

Bull is accustomed to working abstractly, but the broom produced simplified imagery. In “splish, splash,” strong primary colors and black fan outward like a peacock tail. Other compositions contain blocks of bold color or energetic swooshes.

Mayo’s previous works are delicate abstractions that feature subtle shifts of color and a purposeful sense of line. But with a broom, she produced chunkier pieces, such as “Taking Pictures w/Drones” — a grid of abstract blocks in gray on a pea-green field.

Trading years of living in the woods in Castleton, Mayo seems happy to be in a town filled with creative colleagues. “I think 40 percent of the people who live here are artists,” she said of Brandon. “One of the characteristics of artists is being insane,” she joked, “so it’s good to have friends.”

Her plans for the gallery include not only exhibits but also musical events and even a soup kitchen at Thanksgiving. Meantime, at Conant Square, there is art made with brooms. ➆

INFO

“Broom Art,” paintings by Sandy Mayo, Fran Bull and Warren Kimble, through November 30 at Conant Square Gallery in Brandon.

Clockwise from bottom left: Sandy Mayo and Fran Bull; “A Dollop of Orange” by Fran Bull; “Taking Pictures w/Drones” by Sandy Mayo; “Hooked on Art” by Warren Kimble

WENDY HACKETTT-MORGAN: Paintings of horses that straddle abstraction and realism. Reception: Friday, October 6, 4-8 p.m. Through November 18. Info, 262-6035. T.W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier.

stowe/smuggs

JO WEISS: “Absence/Presence,” paintings and drawings on paper. Reception: Sunday, October 15, 2-3 p.m. Through December 2. Info, 646-519-1781. Minema Gallery in Johnson.

‘LAND & LIGHT & WATER & AIR’: The 16th annual group exhibition of landscape paintings featuring more than 90 regional artists. Through December 23. ‘NATURE’S ABSTRACTION’: A group exhibition of nature-inspired paintings that transcend traditional representation. Through November 5. LEGACY COLLECTION: A showcase exhibition of paintings by gallery regulars as well as some newcomers. Through December 23. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville.

MARGARET JACOBS: New sculpture and jewelry by the multimedia artist and member of the Akwesasne Mohawk tribe. Reception: Friday, October 13, 6-7 p.m. Through November 29. Info, 635-2727. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson.

‘A PLACE OF MEMORY’: An exhibition that questions public representation and how cultures and countries define their past through monuments, memorials and sculptural objects, featuring indoor and outdoor artwork by Woody De Othello, Nicholas Galanin, Vanessa German, Deborah Kass and Nyugen E. Smith. Through October 21. Info, 253-8358. The Current in Stowe.

SCOTT LENHARDT: An exhibition of graphic designs for Burton Snowboards created since 1994 by the Vermont native. Closing party: Thursday, October 12, 6-8:30 p.m. Through October 31. Info, 253-9911. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

mad river valley/waterbury

BANNERS ON BRIDGE STREET: Colorful doublesided banners painted with repurposed house paint by nine local artists decorate the street. Through October 15. Info, 496-3639. Waitsfield Village Bridge.

GREEN MOUNTAIN PHOTO SHOW: The 33rd annual exhibition of works by professional and amateur photographers, local and national. Through October 8. Info, 496-6682. Red Barn Galleries at Lareau Farm in Waitsfield.

‘NOR’EASTER’: Paintings by Terry Ekasala, Rick Harlow and Craig Stockwell. By appointment.

Through October 5. Info, 777-2713. The Bundy Modern in Waitsfield.

TRYSTAN BATES: “The Starling Symphony,” a five-part exhibition of abstract collage, sculpture, prints and mixed media that examines the ways in which we process, assimilate and store information. Through November 17. Info, joseph@ thephoenixvt.com. The Phoenix in Waterbury.

middlebury area

CHELSEA GRANGER: “The Future Belongs to Ghosts,” a solo exhibition of paintings that grapple with grief, honor the dead and offer thanks.

Through October 31. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.

‘FINDING HOPE WITHIN’: Subtitled “Healing & Transformation Through the Making of Art Within the Carceral System,” an exhibition of artwork created by prisoners. Curated by A Revolutionary Press in partnership with Vermont Works for Women and others. Through October 14. Info, 877-3406. Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh.

‘FROM HOMESPUN TO COUTURE: FASHION IN HISTORIC MIDDLEBURY’: An exhibition featuring local advertisements, newspapers, fashion magazines, photographs, trade cards, catalogs and

other documentation from the museum’s archives; curated by Eva Garcelon-Hart. ‘STELLAR STITCHING: 19TH CENTURY VERMONT SAMPLERS’: An exhibition of needlework samplers made by young girls in the 19th century that depict alphabets, numerals and decorative elements. Through January 13. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury.

KATHRYN MILILLO: “Simple Matters,” paintings of Vermont landscapes and farm buildings. Reception: Thursday, October 5, 5-6:30 p.m. Through November 15. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury.

‘THE LIGHT OF THE LEVANT’: An exhibit of early photography in the late Ottoman Empire, which encompassed contemporary Greece, Turkey and most of the Arab world. ‘TOSSED’: Nearly 20 works that make use of found, discarded or repurposed materials, curated by museum exhibition designer Ken Pohlman. Through December 10. Info, 443-5007. Middlebury College Museum of Art.

‘MACRO | MICRO’: An exhibition of large and small works in a variety of mediums by more than 40 artists, featuring the monumental and the miniature. Through November 4. Info, 989-7225. Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury.

PENNY BILLINGS AND HOLLY FRIESEN: “Nature’s Inner Light,” paintings of the New England and Québec landscape. Reception: Thursday, October 5, 5-6:30 p.m. Through November 15. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls in Middlebury.

rutland/killington

‘THE ART OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS’: An exhibition of sculpture, photography, painting, fabric art and

illustration by Kerry Fulani, John Lehet, Amy Mosher, Judith Reilly and Ashley Wolff, respectively, as well as works by Vermont lighting design company Hubbardton Forge. Through October 8. Info, 468-2711. Stone Valley Arts in Poultney.

‘BROOM ART’: The inaugural exhibition in the new gallery features paintings and sculpture made with brooms by artists Warren Kimble, Sandy Mayo and Fran Bull. Through November 30. Info, 558-0874. Conant Square Gallery in Brandon.

NEW MEMBERS EXHIBITION: Fused-glass work by Garrett Sadler, wood crafts by Guy Rossi, landscape paintings by Brian Hewitt, pastel paintings of animals and nature by Lynn Austin, and sculpture and realist paintings by Liza Myers. Through October 31. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild.

SCULPTFEST23: New works by 10 artists are sited along the new sculpture trail in this annual celebration of the medium. Through October 22. Info, 438-2097. The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland.

SHA’AN MOULIERT: “I Am VT Too, Rutland,” photographs of Rutland-area BIPOC residents and their stories, presented by the Root Social Justice Center and Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP. Through November 4. Info, cmm02180@castleton. edu. Vermont State University-Castleton Bank Gallery in Rutland.

‘THEN AND NOW’: Works by member artists throughout the 1890s mansion. Through October 28. Info, 775-0356. Chaffee Art Center in Rutland.

upper valley

CLIMATE FARMER STORIES: A multimedia exhibit featuring the stories and portraits of 25 Upper Valley farmers who use agricultural methods that mitigate and adapt to climate change. Through October 24.

Info, 295-6688. Junction Arts & Media in White River Junction.

KUMARI PATRICIA YOUNCE: Landscape paintings in a sensory relationship with place and people. Through October 28. Info, 738-0166. Jai Studios Gallery and Gifts in Windsor.

‘LOCAL COLOR’: The 12th annual showcase of paintings, photographs, mixed-media works, sculptures and ceramics by more than 60 area artists. Through November 4. Info, 457-3500. Artistree Community Arts Center in South Pomfret.

‘SANCTUARY’: A group exhibition of prints that address the theme by 15 studio members and friends. Through October 20. Info, 295-5901. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction.

‘VERMONT FEMALE FARMERS’: Forty-five photographs by Plymouth-based JuanCarlos González that focus on the impactful contributions that women farmers are making to the state’s culture, identity and economy. Through October 31. Info, 457-2355. Carriage Barn Visitor Center, Marsh-BillingsRockefeller National Historic Park, in Woodstock.

VERMONT PASTEL SOCIETY: A juried exhibition of paintings by 19 members of the artist group. Reception: Friday, October 6, 5-7 p.m. Through November 18. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction.

northeast kingdom

ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL & RICHARD J MURPHY: “A Sense of Place,” nature-based paintings and photographs, respectively. Through November 12. Info, 533-2000. Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro.

ELIZABETH NELSON: “Iceland Dreams,” acrylic paintings inspired by the landscape of Iceland.

Through October 31. Info, 525-3366. Parker Pie in West Glover.

MERYL LEBOWITZ: “All Over the Place,” new landscape paintings by the Vermont artist. Through October 8. Info, 229-8317. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville.

PHILIP HERBISON: “Water in Motion” and “Assemblages,” photographs of large bodies of water, and wood sculptures using the scraps of other works, respectively. Through December 31. Info, 748-2600. Catamount Arts Fried Family Gallery-DTWN in St. Johnsbury.

‘WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND’: An exhibition of objects that explores the practical, spiritual and ecstatic human relationship to wheels and what they enable. Through May 31. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘GLASSTASTIC’: Glass creatures dreamed up by children in grades K-6, brought to 3D life by glass artists, and situated in a habitat designed by Cynthia Parker-Houghton. ‘PRIDE 1983’:

Photographs, artifacts and audio recordings that explore the origins and legacy of Burlington’s first Pride celebration. A production of Pride Center of Vermont and Vermont Folklife, curated by Margaret Tamulonis. ALEX EGAN: “Drawing Room,” a series of paintings that make up an imaginary house. ANINA MAJOR: “I Land Therefore I Am,” ceramic sculptures and other objects that explore self and place, belonging and identity, by the Bahamasborn artist. Closing party: Friday, October 6, 5-8 p.m., with live music by Brooklyn Ana and refreshments. AURORA ROBSON: “Human Nature Walk,” an immersive site-specific installation inspired by the natural forms of the Connecticut River and fashioned from plastic debris intercepted

from the waste stream. Visitors are invited to contribute clean plastic bottle caps in designated sections of the installation. HANNAH MORRIS: “Movable Objects,” narrative multimedia paintings in the gallery’s front windows. LELA JAACKS: Outdoor abstract sculptures by the Vermont artist. ROBERLEY BELL: “Where Things Set,” an installation of distinct but related sculptures and drawings. Through October 9. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

ANDY WARHOL: “Small Is Beautiful,” 100 of the artist’s smaller-format paintings, from the Hall collection.

RON GORCHOV: A 50-year survey of the American abstract artist’s work, featuring shaped canvases from the 1970s to large-scale paintings in his last years.

SUSAN ROTHENBERG: Nearly 30 figurative, gestural paintings by the late American artist from throughout her career. Weekends only; reservation required. Through November 26. Info, info@hallartfoundation. org. Hall Art Foundation in Reading.

FRAN BULL: “The Art Life,” paintings, prints and sculpture by the Vermont artist. Through October 15. Info, 251-8290. Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts in Brattleboro.

‘GLASS | PASTEL’: A group exhibition of blown and sculpted glass along with pastel paintings by nine local artists. Through November 4. KIM GRALL & KATHLEEN ZIMMERMAN: “One Artist Bound to Earth,” mixed-media encaustics on paper, birch bark and gourds; and “Solo Spotlight,” serigraph and intaglio prints, respectively. Through October 14. Info, 289-0104. Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls.

PHOTOGRAPHY: FOUR PERSPECTIVES: An exhibition of images in different styles and subject matter by Al Karevy, Davida Carta, Joshua Farr and Vaune Trachtman, members of the Vermont Center for

Photography in Brattleboro. Through November 12. Info, 451-0053. Next Stage Arts Project in Putney.

VAUNE TRACHTMAN AND RACHEL PORTESI: An exhibition of images by the Vermont-based alternative-process photographers. Through October 29. Info, 387-5566. Michael S. Currier Center, Putney School.

manchester/bennington

‘THE WEE WORLDS OF SALLEY MAVOR’: An exhibition of bas-relief embroideries, featured as illustrations in many children’s books, by the Massachusetts artist. ASHLEY BRYAN: “The Spirit of Joy,” an exhibition of toys, puppets, painting and photography by the late children’s book illustrator and author, who centered stories of Black life and African folk tales. Through January 7. Info, 3621405. Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester.

‘FOR THE LOVE OF VERMONT: THE LYMAN ORTON COLLECTION’: More than 200 works of art that capture Vermont’s unique character, people, traditions and landscape prior to the 1970s from the collection of the Vermont Country Store proprietor. Also displayed at Bennington Museum. Through November 5. Info, 362-1405. Yester House Galleries, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.

‘A HISTORY OF BENNINGTON’: An exhibition of artifacts that invites viewers to examine how history informs and affects our lives. Through December 31. ‘FOR THE LOVE OF VERMONT: THE LYMAN ORTON COLLECTION’: More than 200 pieces of art, primarily from the 1920s to 1960, acquired by the founder of the Vermont Country Store. Simultaneously exhibited at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester. Through November 5. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum.

NORTH BENNINGTON OUTDOOR SCULPTURE

SHOW: An outdoor exhibition featuring 77 sculptures by 59 artists, curated by Joe Chirchirillo. Through November 12. Info, nbossvt@gmail.com. Various Bennington locations.

randolph/royalton

AMY SCHACHTER & JAN FOWLER: Views of the natural landscape in acrylic and graphite on wood panels, and oil paint, respectively. Reception: Friday, October 6, 5-7 p.m. Through November 26. Info, artetcvt@gmail.com. ART, etc. in Randolph.

CAROLYN EGELI & CHRIS WILSON: Landscape oil paintings and figurative sculptures, respectively. Through November 5. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph.

‘NO PLACE LIKE HERE: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM VERMONT, PAST AND PRESENT’: Vermont photographs, 1978-98, by Peter Moriarty, main gallery; and Farm Security Administration photographs of Vermont, 1936-43, center gallery. Through October 29. Info, 767-9670. BigTown Gallery in Rochester.

TANYA LIBBY: Detailed paintings from nature. Through October 14. Info, 889-3525. The Tunbridge General Store Gallery.

outside vermont

ELLIOTT KATZ, GAAL SHEPHERD & ROGER WELLS: Three solo exhibitions by the Vermont and New Hampshire artists. Through October 6. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H.

online

FLOOD RECOVERY AUCTION: A benefit to help Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier recover from

a flood features 40 items from fine art to experiences to edible treats. Bid at new.biddingowl.com/ khl. In-person event: Saturday, October 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Through October 7. Info, 223-3338. Online.

outside vermont

‘HOMECOMING: DOMESTICITY AND KINSHIP IN GLOBAL AFRICAN ART’: More than 75 works drawn from the museum’s collection of African and African diaspora art that emphasize the role of women artists and feminine aesthetics. Through May 25. KENT MONKMAN: “The Great Mystery,” four new paintings by the Cree artist along with five works in the museum’s collection that inspired them, by Hannes Beckmann, T.C. Cannon, Cyrus Edwin Dallin, Mark Rothko and Fritz Scholder. Through December 9. Info, 603-646-2808. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H.

‘THE POP OF LIFE!’: An exhibition of 70 iconic popart works from the museum’s collection. Through March 24. Info, 514-285-2000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. ➆

music+nightlife

Valley Home Companion

A few weeks ago, I wrote a rather morbid report on the current state of the touring industry (“On the Road Again? Musicians Grapple With a Touring Industry in Flux,” September 13). Since then, a host of musicians, both local and distant, have reached out to share their thoughts, opinions and experiences. Maybe one of these days I’ll corral those tales into a follow-up piece, but most just confirmed the dire picture I painted in the article.

One reply caught my eye with a fabulous quote often attributed to the late, great HUNTER S. THOMPSON: “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”

Wilder-based musician JAKOB BREITBACH, aka “the fiddle ninja,” who sent along that quote — which Thompson may or may not have actually said — has plenty of insight into the industry. As half of the Americana duo BEECHARMER with his wife, JES RAYMOND, Breitbach toured the country relentlessly for more than a decade, playing 150-plus shows a year.

After the duo moved from Seattle back to Raymond’s home state of Vermont in 2016, the touring slowed significantly. When the pandemic struck in 2020, that trickle stopped cold, and Breitbach had to reinvent the way he interacted with music.

“I figured if I couldn’t tour, I’d start bringing the music to me,” he said by phone.

Breitbach serves as the musical director of Here in the Valley, a nonprofit performing arts organization he and Raymond founded. To reimagine his musical career, he took inspiration from one of his favorite radio programs.

“I grew up listening to ‘[A] Prairie Home Companion’ all the time,” he said. “I wanted to cross that with a sort of an NPR ‘Tiny Desk [Concerts]’ feel and host bands but talk and even play with them sometimes.”

Thus was born the Tuesday Jukebox series, a live music show and podcast taping at Hanover Strings, a music shop in Hanover, N.H. Running weekly for a month, it pairs touring bands from across the country with some of Vermont’s best and brightest.

This year’s series kicked o on October 3 with a performance from

SUNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Chicago singer-songwriter NATHAN GRAHAM and Royalton’s ALI T. Burlington singer-songwriter JESSE TAYLOR headlines this Tuesday, October 10, with Montana’s ANDREW BROZEK, followed by Missouri folk singer DANA COOPER with local ALLISON FAY BROWN on October 17, and Breitbach’s brother, Ontario-based Americana act RIVER GLEN, with Beecharmer on October 24.

“One of the things I love about hosting the jukebox series is the format of the

Listening In

show,” Breitbach said. “I host and talk to them about their songwriting process, how the road has been for them, what’s their influences, what’s next … It really allows them to open up and give our audiences these great insights into the life of these musicians.”

It’s a labor of love for Breitbach, who handles all the recording and postproduction of the podcast, as well as booking the actual shows. As the series has gained popularity over the years,

he’s found that bands now reach out to him to play. One thing that gives him an advantage in attracting touring acts: Tuesday is almost universally their o day.

“By and large, there’s just no real shows on Tuesdays,” Breitbach said. “When I was touring, Tuesdays were for playing poker in hotel rooms. So bands have no problem driving a bit to play the series. The name sure doesn’t hurt!”

The series also functions as a primer of sorts for Here in the Valley’s flagship annual event, the Riverfolk festival. Many of the bands Breitbach books for Tuesday Jukebox end up on the bill of Riverfolk, which was held in July this year.

“Riverfolk is our big-fish event, but I get really excited about Tuesday Jukebox,” Breitbach said. “I have some big hopes for what’s coming next.”

Breitbach’s long-term goal is to get the show syndicated on NPR or Vermont Public. He’s been working with musician and DJ STEVENS BLANCHARD from WRSIFM the River on ways to broaden the series’ reach.

“We’ll see where it goes,” Breitbach said. “It’s worth all the work it takes to put these shows on. We help touring bands establish audiences here, hoping they’ll come back, and they usually do. And we put some shine on local acts. What’s not to love?”

I couldn’t agree more. To learn more about the Tuesday Jukebox series, visit hereinthevalley.org.

1. “SUMMER’S END” by Narrow Shoulders

2. “A PROMISE IS FOREVER” by the Silent Mile

3. “MARROW” by the Burning Sun

4. “ALL I DO IS WIN” by Famous Letter Writer

5. “802 NEWS” by the Lynguistic Civilians

6. “SYNCOPATED HEALING” by Twiddle

7. “THE HOLOCENE HAS ENDED” by Ghastly Sound

Nathan Graham

Jakob Breitbach

On the Beat

In case none of your killjoy friends has reminded you yet, summer is over. NARROW SHOULDERS has dispelled any possible doubt by releasing the definitively titled “Summer’s End.”

The project of Charlotte-based artist and producer ZACH POLLAKOFF, Narrow Shoulders is adept at combining electronic and ambient sounds into gorgeous, often sprawling pieces of music. His latest is no exception. “Summer’s End” shimmers to life with clarinets, flute, guitars and piano before a tittering beat creeps in. Pollakoff builds out the rest of the rhythm track with field recordings of fingers striking a table or playing with a necklace.

Released just before the autumnal equinox on Twosyllable Records, the tune is on all major streaming services.

As Vermont continues to recover from the summer flood damage and local musicians strive to do their part, more benefit shows are popping up. The latest announced is the Return to Love concert on Friday, October 27, at the Alexander Twilight Theatre at Vermont State University-Lyndon. The centerpiece of the one-day fest is a performance from Tibetan musician PENPA TSERING and his collaboration with West Barnet-based singersongwriter JOHN HEARTSON from their album Tibetan Dream

“I envisioned this concert as a means of supporting Vermonters in need,” Heartson said. His idea of assembling a big band to play his and Tsering’s album predated the July floods, but he felt the recovery effort was the perfect opportunity to lend a hand.

“What began as a dream last

January has become a reality, thanks to the unwavering support of 14 talented musicians who eagerly volunteered their time to rehearse and prepare for this extraordinary event,” he said.

All proceeds from the event go to the Vermont Foodbank, St. Johnsbury nonprofit Umbrella, the H.O.P.E. agency in Lyndonville and Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to catamountarts.org.

Vermont jam band TWIDDLE recently announced an indefinite hiatus, starting in 2024. The break will follow the

Eye on the Scene

Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

quartet’s Distance Makes the Heart tour, which features a show in Burlington at the Flynn Main Stage on Saturday, October 7. It’s perhaps the last time for local jammers to catch the band before … the end?

While the band didn’t respond to Seven Days’ request for comment, guitarist and vocalist MIHALI SAVOULIDIS released a statement on social media.

“I’ve now come to a crossroads in life where I feel I’m being pulled in many different directions,” he wrote. “I need to make the right choice for me and for my family. I feel that now is the time to make a much needed change to gain a different perspective on life and focus my creative energy elsewhere.”

Fans feeling down about the announcement should remember that jam bands love coming back from a hiatus more than Jason Voorhees loves coming back from the dead in the Friday the 13th series. But who knows? Only Twiddle. ➆

PAT METHENY, FLYNN MAIN STAGE, BURLINGTON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: One might think that all-access is part of the deal for a venue’s house photographer, but for high-profile acts, it’s solely at the discretion of the artist. On September 25, legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny performed at the Flynn — where I am house photographer. I hoped to get backstage for a few portraits and into the wings for some shots of Metheny’s incredible Linda Manzer guitars, including the 42-string Pikasso. Alas, tour restrictions prevailed. However, I was approved to shoot one song from the back of the house, at a minimum of 60 feet from the stage. I would’ve loved more, but I’m always happy to oblige, because if that’s what the artist needs to feel comfortable so they can perform at their highest level, that’s exactly how I want to photograph them. Metheny was absolutely on that level during the opening nine-minute solo piece. The only challenge I had was trying to get a clean shot of his smiling face under all that glorious hair from 60 feet away.

Zach Pollakoff

CLUB DATES music+nightlife

live music

WED.4

Andy Frasco & the U.N., Cool Cool Cool (rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $25/$29.

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

Fresh Pressed Wednesday with Rabbit Foot, Hand in Pants, Dilemma (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5/$10.

Jazz Jam Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

Laura Fedele Raso (singersongwriter) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Lazy Bird (jam) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

Workingman’s Army (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

THU.5

Dogs in a Pile (jam) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $18/$20.

Duke Aeroplane & the Inflatable Gator Band (R&B) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

John Lackard Blue Duo (blues) at American Flatbread Stowe, 6 p.m.

Free.

Nathan Kalish (singer-songwriter) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

Nobby Reed Project (R&B) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m.

Free.

Northern Spy (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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

The Sound That Ends Creation, Voices of the Dead, SlugWeed, Starvation Wages (metal) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

FRI.6

Andriana Chobot with Joe’s Big Band (jazz, blues) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$22.

Grrrls to the Front

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.

Three of Burlington’s most influential women

songwriters

band together for one night at the Monkey House in Winooski on Friday, October 6. A stalwart in the local music scene for more than 30 years, Peg Tassey has fronted the Kissing Circle and the Velvet Ovum Band. She’s back with a new band, PEG TASSEY & THE LOUD FLOWERS, who headline the evening. Opening the show are singer-songwriter and member of the Smittens MISSY BLY, as well as LILY SICKLES, who fronts rockers the So n Sos. It’s a chance to catch a collection of musicians who have soundtracked the Queen City scene for decades and continue to do so.

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

Chris Powers (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Eric George (folk) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Freeway Clyde (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

The Grift (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Hit Squad (covers) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jake Shimabukuro (classical, folk) at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $45/$55.

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

Mean Waltons (rock) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Milton Busker & the Grim Work (indie folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

No Showers on Vacation (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, midnight. $10/$15.

Peg Tassey & the Loud Flowers, Missy Bly, Lily Sickles (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10/$12.

Phil Abair Band (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Rabble-Rouser Open Mic Night! (open mic) at Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co., Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Rick Carnell (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Rusty DeWees (Merle Haggard tribute) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Short Changed, Dead Solace, Torn Out, Halobyte, Geeked Out (metal) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Tiberius, Super Blue, Blueberry Betty, DJ Boggy, DJ Master Caution (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:45 p.m. $10/$15.

Tim Brick (country) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Western Terrestrials, Danny & the Parts (country) at the Underground, Randolph, 7:30 p.m. $14. Info, 431-6267.

SAT.7

Direct Hit (rock) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

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

Ginger Wade (singer-songwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Heartless (Heart tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$25.

High Summer (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jeff Geurin Family (blues) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. Knifeplay, Dari Bay, Greg Freeman (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Libations & Tribulations (country) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

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

FRI.6 // PEG TASSEY & THE LOUD FLOWERS, MISSY BLY, LILY SICKLES [INDIE ROCK]

music+nightlife

Twangtown Paramours (Americana) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Dan Cummins (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $40.

FRI.6

The Old Man Garage Band (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Space Bacon, Peak (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Start Making Sense, Sapling (Talking Heads tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$23.

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

SUN.8

Children of Divorce (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Devendra Banhart, Le Ren (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $30/$35.

Django Soulo (singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

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

MON.9

Generationals, Mmeadows (indie pop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $22/$25.

JAWNY, Adan Diaz (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $18/$20.

Matt Hagen’s Murder Ballad Mondays (folk) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

TUE.10

Big Easy Tuesdays with Back Porch Revival (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with John Abair and John Freeburn Band (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Victor Wooten & the Wooten Brothers, Rebirth Brass Band (funk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $35/$39.

WED.11

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

George Nostrand (acoustic) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Griffin William Sherry, Tall Tall Trees, Eastern Mountain Time (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$23.

Jazz Jam Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

Lazy Bird (jam) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Mariee Siou, A Box of Stars (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15/$20.

Underground Springhouse (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

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

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

djs

WED.4

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. Free. The Thrive Ball (DJ) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$25.

THU.5

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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

FRI.6

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

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. John’s Jukebox (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.7

Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

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

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

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

MON.9

Memery (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

TUE.10

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

WED.11

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.4

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

THU.5

Open Mic with Artie (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.6

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.9

Open Mic (open mic) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.10

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Positive Pie Tap & Grill, Plainfield, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.11

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 Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.4

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

Talk Show With Max Higgins (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

THU.5

Comedy Wolf: Open Mic (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Dan Cummins (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $40.

Off the Cuff (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:45 p.m. $5/$10.

FRI.6

Comedy Night: John Stork (comedy) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 8 p.m. Free.

SAT.7

Dan Cummins (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $40.

MON.9

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

WED.11

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

Talk Show With Max Higgins (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.4

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.5

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Griffin Jones (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Level 1 Freeski Film Tour (film screening) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6 p.m. $22/$25.

SAT.7

Green Mountain Cabaret (drag) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.8

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

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

MON.9

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7-9 p.m. Free.

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

TUE.10

Karaoke with Motorcade (karaoke) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9 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.11

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. ➆

REVIEW this music+nightlife

Pons, The Liquid Self

(DEDSTRANGE, CASSETTE, DIGITAL)

Pons make a great case for bands. You might not think the concept of “the band” is in such danger of disappearing that an argument needs to be made for it. But look around. Solo artists dominate the music landscape. Most bands playing arenas are legacy acts such as Phish and Duran Duran. Hardly any new groups get the chance to play for tens of thousands.

Bands still seem to thrive on smaller stages, though. And New York City’s Pons — the trio of drummer Jack Parker, guitarist and vocalist Sam Cameron, and percussionist

Sebastien Carnot, who met while students at the University of Vermont — are one of the most indefatigable and hardest-hitting outfits you’ll encounter. They’ll make you want to start your own band.

Parker, Cameron and Carnot are motherfucking rock stars. Snapshots of their live shows are staggering. Frozen in grotesque bodily contortions against gritty basement walls, they radiate fury and charisma. They dress in glammed-up, fashion-forward looks, peering sensually into the camera lens. They grind audiences to dust — and themselves in the process — with the sheer force of their songcraft. Over the past few years, they’ve progressed and tightened their jagged, no-wave style, coalescing with each ecstatic track.

Their new album, The Liquid Self, is a triumph, and not just because it’s Pons’ first LP on a label. Joining Dedstrange, they now rank with noise-rockers A Place to Bury Strangers and No Age’s drone-scape composer Randy Randall.

Though the record has been complete for years, Pons held o on releasing it until they secured it a safe home and made a name for themselves in the New York scene. Being named HardestWorking Band of 2022 by renowned

music blog and show aggregator Oh My Rockness is indisputable evidence of their impact.

Hot on the tail of Pons’ massive 2023 summer tour, which included 60-plus shows in American cities from Boston to Austin, Texas, The Liquid Self is the group’s biggest release in terms of concept. Pons’ work is always thematic and existential. But the new album is a rock opera drenched in mythical storytelling, adding new depth to the pools of paranoia in which the band so often swims.

The Liquid Self tells the story of a mariner who loses himself at sea and then loses his mind. Each track bleeds into the next in a continuous, disorienting flow. Thematically, the LP matches the through line of mental instability and anguish on Pons’ debut full-length, Intellect

Pons being Pons, you’ll hear not a tidy seafaring narrative but a torrent of tunes full of cryptic imagery, a tidal wave of sound performed by a triad of unreliable narrators. Trying to follow the story is like straining to remember a dream from which you’ve just awakened. The harder you think about it, the more it eludes your grasp.

After the quick, gurgling opener “Fish Out of Water,” “Sinking Feeling” makes a splash with a sunny disposition, despite its unnerving title. It’s surf-rock on speed, with chunky punk power chords wedged in and screamed vocals echoing in the din. Lyrically, the song sets up the protagonist as full of preoccupations (“Until you’re near / I won’t stop thinking / That you’re always on my mind”).

And then — classic Pons — the dread and self-doubt creep in on “Hooks.” Herky-jerky and punctuated by a clamoring call-and-response, the song reveals our sailor at a breaking point: “Somebody help me / I’m feeling like a problem / Somebody try me / Yeah, I can’t stop the boredom.” The track

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED:

expresses a curious mix of apathy (“Save me or break me / I don’t really care”), nihilism (“Stay back / I’m trying / To die / Inside”) and panic (“All this fear is gripping me so tight”). In other words, a recipe for a complete mental breakdown.

Pons are masters of the mid-song transformation. Without warning, their tunes speed up, slow down, change tone and otherwise hurl bewildering new elements into the metaphorical and literal mix. “Flounder” and “Queen Conch” each take a series of left turns, with the former lurching from a plod into a full rip and back again, while the latter ebbs and flows with maniacal ri s.

Instrumental interlude “Flight 19” references a real-life mystery, the disappearance of a squadron of torpedo bombers over the Bermuda Triangle in 1945. More surf-punk mayhem arrives

on “Manfish,” which alludes to the same disappearance and brings in more horror by name-dropping Frankenstein actor Boris Karlo .

By the time the record concludes with the 12-minute monster “Big River,” the story itself may not be lucid, but its themes are. The Liquid Self evokes a feeling of being unmoored and set adrift; of drowning, being crushed by immense pressure and surrendering to the darkness. On the deepest level, it’s about what happens after that. The record is a signal flare, burning red over a black void and pleading for rescue.

The Liquid Self will be available on ponsbando cial.bandcamp.com and major streaming services on Friday, October 6. Catch Pons the same day at an undisclosed location in Burlington. DM the band on Instagram for info.

JORDAN ADAMS

PLATINUM

Sativa: Peach Haze, Green

Crack, White Widow

Hybrid: Mac 11, Blue Cream, Platinum Lemon Cherry Gelato

Indica: Black Diamond, Guava Cake, Lava Cake, Slurricane #2, Deep Fried Ice Cream, Tom Cat Kush, Master Cookies

GOLD

Sativa: Cherry Diesel

CheeseCake, Jack Herer, Sour Diesel, Agent Orange

Hybrid: 3Runtz, Black Runtz, Sweet Tooth, L.A Kush Cake

Indica: Fucking Runtz, Wild Herb, Candy Cake, K.Y. Jealousy, White Truffle

SILVER:

Sativa: Train Wreck, Sour Patch Kids, Tropical Banana, Gelato #41

Hybrid: MAC, 303 Kush, Grape Haze, Petro Chem, Sundae Driver, Mandarin Kush, Blueberry Tangie

Indica: Pink Gas, Green

Gelato, Ice Cream Cake, Ice Cream Cake #7, Ice Cream

Samwich, Pink Gelato, Death

Bubba, Cookies ‘N’ Milk, Blueberry Muffin, Blueberry

Nuken, Jug, Lemon Cherry Gelato

OCTOBER 4-11, 2023

WED.4 activism

DAARA: DISABLED ACCESS AND ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability rights measures. 8:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

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.

community

EXPLORE ESSEX: Passport

Week celebrates the town’s business, entertainment and recreational opportunities. Various Essex locations. Free. Info, 878-1341.

crafts

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.

dance

WESTIE WEDNESDAYS

DANCE: Swing dancers lift and spin at a weekly social dance. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 802westiecollective@gmail. com.

film

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

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA

3D’: Antarctic scientists dig into the ancient world of bug-eyed giants and egg-laying mammals that once populated this polar landscape. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids

2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK

3D’: Viewers learn the true story behind one of our most iconic — and misunderstood — predators. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: Sparkling graphics and vibrant interviews take viewers on a journey alongside NASA astronauts as they prepare for stranger-than-sciencefiction space travel. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SKATE DREAMS’: Two screenings of this 2022 documentary about women’s skateboarding raise funds for the Middlebury Skatepark Project. Marquis Theatre & Southwest Café, Middlebury, 3-4:30 & 7-8:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, middleburyskatepark@ gmail.com.

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 and Angela Simpson Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: Viewers are plunged into the magical vistas of the continent’s deserts, jungles and savannahs. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

COMMUNITY SUPPER: Neighbors share a tasty meal at their local library. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FOOD LABELING, SOCIALIZING AND BAKING IN A GLUTEN-FREE WORLD: Celiac health coach Monica Buzzell shares tips for baking, shopping and avoiding wheat out in the world. Presented by Women Business Owners Network Vermont. 8:30-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.

THE MAPLE 100: Vermonters fill out bingo cards with a month of maple-themed activities for a chance to win prizes from local vendors. See vermontvacation.com for all events and locations. Various locations statewide. Free. Info, 828-2430.

S’MORES PIE WITH THE PIE GUY: Gary Stuard demonstrates how to make a classic treat that wouldn’t be out of place at an autumnal bonfire. Presented by City Market, Onion River Co-op. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ citymarket.coop.

games

MAH-JONGG OPEN PLAY: Weekly sessions of an ageold game promote critical

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

= ONLINE EVENT

thinking and friendly competition. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

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.

SEATED & STANDING YOGA: Beginners are welcome to grow their strength and flexibility at this supportive class. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

VERMONT SUICIDE PREVENTION

SYMPOSIUM: Online speeches and seminars address the issues affecting Vermonters’ mental health. Presented by the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center. Noon-1 p.m. $25-100; preregister. Info, 254-6590.

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 & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

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.

montréal

‘AURA’: An immersive light show and soundscape highlights the rich history and stunning architecture of the Québec church. Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, 6 & 8 p.m. $18-32; free for kids 5 and under. Info, 866-842-2925.

music

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: THE MEATPACKERS: The beloved local band serves up its signature brand of contagious bluegrass. Shelburne Orchards, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.

MARTIN BARRE: The Jethro Tull guitarist runs through the halfcentury history of the beloved band. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $40-55. Info, 775-0903.

MICHAEL FRANTI & FRIENDS: The high-energy musician plays hopeful hits to raise cash for the Vermont Flood Response and Recovery Fund. Spruce Peak at Stowe, 6 p.m. $10-40; free for kids 5 and under. Info, 760-4634.

ST. J BLUEGRASS JAM: Local musicians play together at an informal shindig, with a dessert potluck intermission halfway

through. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 6:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

seminars

MENTOR TRAINING FOR

JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: Volunteers receive training to help trauma-affected women. Mercy Connections, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 8467164, jnelson@mercyconnections. org.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

BOB BLANCHARD: The author of Lost Burlington, Vermont shares historic photos and regales listeners with the stories behind them. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘BRIGHT HALF LIFE’: Theater students present this nonlinear story of two women who meet, fall in love and grow together over the decades. Royall Tyler Theatre, University of Vermont, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $19-22. Info, theatre@ uvm.edu.

‘CADILLAC CREW’: Vermont

Stage’s latest production follows four female Civil Rights activists on the eve of a landmark Rosa Parks speech. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $24-64. Info, 862-1497.

words

MADELEINE MAY KUNIN: The former Vermont governor welcomes listeners into a world of sunshine and serenity with her second collection of poetry, Walk With Me. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3350.

SEAN HILL: An editor, teacher and the author of the poetry collection Dangerous Goods reads from his work. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

THU.5 activism

RIGHTS & BITES: ACLU of Vermont supporters and community members mingle with advocates and legal experts over refreshments at a get-together featuring prizes and giveaways. Speakeasy Café, Rutland, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ acluvt.org.

WEELAUNEE WORLDWIDE

MASS ACTION SPEAKING TOUR: Activists give updates on the effort to stop Cop City in Atlanta, share insights and invite local organizers to join them on the ground in November. Democracy

Creative, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

agriculture

CHARLIE NARDOZZI: The awardwinning garden writer teaches locals how to plant bulbs and care for their plots in the fall. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 877-2211.

business

PLAN PROTECT PROFIT

SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT: Entrepreneurs learn how to fund their business ideas, attract clients and protect their investments. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

community

EXPLORE ESSEX: See WED.4.

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. etc.

NIGHT OWL CLUB: Astronomers and space exploration experts discuss the latest in extraterrestrial news with curious attendees. Presented by Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372.

film

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

‘ANXIOUS NATION’: NAMI Vermont screens this 2022 documentary about the rise in anxiety diagnoses among youths around the country. Q&A follows. Mental health resources provided. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 876-7949.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.4.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

HIRSCHFIELD FIRST THURSDAY FILMS: ‘THE ROYAL HOTEL’: For two backpacking friends, a temp job at a pub in the Australian Outback turns tense and violent in this 2023 psychological thriller. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, 7-8:45 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5844.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

‘THE LAST LINK’: A 20th anniversary screening of this documentary, which follows Vermont father and son duo Tim and Ben Kahn as they learn about Béarnais and Basque sustainable

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.4 burlington

BABYTIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones. Pre-walkers and younger. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY: LEGO & BOARD GAMES: Blocks and boards make for a fun, creative afternoon. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABY SOCIAL TIME: Caregivers and infants from birth through age 1 gather in the Wiggle Room to explore board books and toys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

BABY TIME: Parents and caregivers bond with their pre-walking babes during this gentle playtime. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

GAMING ON!: Kids and teens get together to play video games such as Mario Kart and Overcooked on the library’s Nintendo Switches. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

JEWELRY MAKING WITH CASEY: Crafty kids string beads together to create necklaces with names. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youth get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

manchester/ bennington

MCL FILM CLUB: Teen auteurs learn how to bring stories to life on camera. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

upper valley

HARVEST CELEBRATION: Old-timey farm fun is all around with attractions including cider pressing, corn husking and square dancing. See calendar spotlight. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $10-17; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355.

manchester/ bennington

NOTORIOUS RPG: Kids 10 through 14 create characters and play a collaborative adventure game similar to Dungeons & Dragons. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 362-2607.

STEAM SATURDAY: Little ones have fun with foundational science and art. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 362-2607.

SUN.8 burlington

THU.5 chittenden county

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT WITH MISS

EMMA: The star of “Music for Sprouts” and “Mr. Chris and Friends” leads little ones 5 and younger in singing, scarf play and movement. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:15 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: Outdoor activities, stories and songs engage 3- and 4-year-olds. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

FRI.6 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.

United We Fall

Whether you’re sorry to see summer end or ready to kick this tough one to the curb, you’ll cheer the change of season at the annual Harvest Celebration at Woodstock’s Billings Farm & Museum. The two-day fall fest includes barn dancing, pumpkin bowling, wagon rides, cider pressing, live music, crafts, and plenty of apples and cheese to sample. Try your hand at shelling corn, harvesting sunflower seeds and gathering ripe produce from the farm’s gardens before enjoying classic fall foods such as mac and cheese, apple cider doughnuts, and hot spiced cider.

HARVEST CELEBRATION

Saturday, October 7, and Sunday, October 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Regular admission, $10-17; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

manchester/ bennington

YOUNG ADULT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Teens battle beasts with swords and spell books. Drop-in and recurring players are welcome. Ages 12 through 16. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 549-4574.

SAT.7 burlington

VERMONT PUBLIC KIDS DAY: Kids get a chance to have a photo taken with Daniel Tiger before checking out the museum’s “How People Make Things” exhibit.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Regular admission, $14.50-18; free for kids 2 and under. Info, events@vermontpublic.org.

chittenden county

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: New and experienced players join in a monthly

game of one-shot adventures. Ages 13 through 18. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

SATURDAY STORIES: Kiddos start the weekend off right with stories and songs. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

SCIENCE RULES: OWL PELLETS: It’s not poo, promise! Little biologists learn what their local owls eat with a fun dissection. Ages 6 through 12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

FALL FOR THE LIBRARY: While the fundraising auction concludes, library lovers of all ages enjoy a bounce house, puzzle swap, crafts, entertainment and an interactive Abenaki display. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

stowe/smuggs

MUSICAL STORY TIME: Song, dance and other tuneful activities supplement picture books for kids 2 through 5. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

FOOD FOR TALK: Kids ages 4 through 10 make a recipe from Kids Can Cook Anything! from America’s Test Kitchen and meet to compare results in this special edition of cookbook club. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt. gov.

GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender-nonconforming kiddos under 13 enjoy fun, supportive group activities while their parents and caregivers chat. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 865-9677.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, kvonderlinn@echovermont.org.

chittenden county

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: MUSIC AND MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: The star of “Music for Sprouts” and “Mr. Chris and Friends” leads little ones 5 and younger in outdoor singing and movement inspired by the changing of the seasons. Shelburne Orchards, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.

barre/montpelier

MUSHROOM FORAGING ADVENTURE: Melany Kahn, author of the kids’ foraging book Mason Goes Mushrooming, leads fun guys of all ages through the forest in search of edible fungi. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 2-4 p.m. $5; preregister. Info, sean@northbranchnaturecenter.org.

northeast kingdom

VERMONT PUBLIC KIDS DAY: See SAT.7. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury. Regular admission, $8-12; free for members and kids 4 and under.

upper valley

HARVEST CELEBRATION: See SAT.7.

agriculture, accompanies a panel discussion. Cheray Science Hall, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 654-2853.

‘NAPOLEON DYNAMITE’ LIVE:

A screening of the cult classic teen comedy is followed by a freewheeling discussion with cast members Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $27-47. Info, 863-5966.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4. food & drink

ARE YOU THIRSTY, NEIGHBOR?:

A special discount cocktail menu sparks conversations and connections over cribbage and cards. Wild Hart Distillery and Tasting Room, Shelburne, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@wildhartdistillery.com.

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4. VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET:

Local foods and crafts, live music, and hot eats spice up Thursday afternoons. Vergennes City Park, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 233-9180.

games

THE CHECK MATES: Chess players of all ages face off at this intergenerational weekly meetup.

Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

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.

health & fitness

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, elizabetharms56@gmail.com.

SIMPLIFIED TAI CHI FOR SENIORS: Eighteen easy poses help with stress reduction, fall prevention and ease of movement. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3:15-4 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, 362-2607.

TAI CHI THURSDAYS: Experienced instructor Rich Marantz teaches the first section of the Yang-style tai chi sequence. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 645-1960.

lgbtq

POP-UP HAPPY HOUR: Locals connect over drinks at a speakeasy-style bar. Hosted by OUT in the 802. Lincolns, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

montréal

‘AURA’: See WED.4.

politics

THOUGHT CLUB: Artists and activists convene to engage with Burlington’s rich tradition of radical thought and envision its future. Democracy Creative,

Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, tevan@democracycreative.com.

tech

TECH AND TEXTILES: Crafters work on their knitting or crocheting while discussing questions such as how to set up a new tablet or what cryptocurrency even is. George Peabody Library, Post Mills, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 333-9724.

theater

‘BRIGHT HALF LIFE’: See WED.4.

‘CADILLAC CREW’: See WED.4.

‘FIRST SHOW: LOOK, DREAM, BEGIN’: Student actors make their stage debut in this collection of life-affirming short plays from around the world. Hepburn Zoo, Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College, 7:30-8:45 p.m. $5. Info, 443-5601.

‘SAM & JIM IN HELL’: Authors Samuel Beckett and James Joyce discover that hell is each other in this crackling afterlife comedy. Live stream available. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30-9 p.m. $10-35. Info, 229-0492.

words

PECHAKUCHA NIGHT: Participants in this Japanese storytelling phenomenon tell a tale through 20 images, with only 20 seconds to explain each one. The Flynn, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. Info, 863-5966.

VERMONT READS 2023 OPEN

HOUSE: ‘LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB’: Chinese snacks, a rocket launcher, 1950’s jazz and Chinese calligraphy jump-start the celebration for this year’s book that all of Vermont is reading. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

FRI.6

bazaars

RUMMAGE SALE: Sales of books, toys, clothes and gifts benefit the United Church of Fairfax’s mission work. Fairfax Community Center, 1-6 p.m. Free. Info, 849-6313.

community

EXPLORE ESSEX: See WED.4.

REOPENING WEEKEND: Montpelier businesses and cultural organizations emerge from flood recovery with two days of live performances, art and food. See montpelieralive.com for full schedule. Various Montpelier locations, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Free; fee for some activities. Info, 279-2236.

crafts

FIRST FRIDAY FIBER GROUP: Fiber-arts fans make progress on projects while chatting over snacks. GRACE, Hardwick, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, info@ruralartsvt.org.

SCRAPBOOKING GROUP: Cutters and pasters make new friends at a weekly club. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 549-4574.

film

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

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.4.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

‘HEAVEN AND EARTH MAGIC’: Cellist Lori Goldston plays a new, adventurous live score to this 1962 classic of surrealist cinema. Alumni Auditorium, Champlain College, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-5467.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4.

In Good Taste

Just one of many glad gatherings marking the Capital City’s post-flood Reopening Weekend, the Taste of Montpelier Food Festival returns to downtown Montpelier with a smorgasbord of eats, drinks and street performances. The scrumptious show includes a fall harvest tasting and chef-led cooking demonstrations, where viewers can see bruschetta, tamales and cocktails constructed in real time. After the fest, stay in town for dinner and show your support for one of the reopened restaurants.

TASTE OF MONTPELIER FOOD FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 7, 1-5 p.m., at various locations in downtown Montpelier. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, 279-2236, montpelieralive.com.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY DINNER TRAIN: Travelers savor a threecourse meal and scenic landscape views during a three-hour trip in a kitchen car. Ages 5 and up. Union Station, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. $99-148.50; preregister. Info, 800-707-3530.

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: Vendors present a diverse selection of locally produced foods and crafts as picnickers enjoy music from a different local band each week. Richmond Town Park, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rfmmanager@ gmail.com.

games

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a 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

Arts Project, Putney, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 451-0053.

RAMBLIN’ DAN STEVENS: The fabulous fingerpicker transports listeners to the Mississippi Delta with his unbeatable blues stylings. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

SUMMER MUSIC AT GRACE: NOBBY REED: Sheldon’s hometown bluesman closes out a season of concerts. Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, beth.daybell@ gmail.com.

UVM LANE SERIES: ABLAYE CISSOKO & CYRILLE BROTTO: Masters of the West African kora and the French accordion bring a natural rapport to their fresh, acoustic music. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $6.50-39.50. Info, 656-4455.

seminars

COMMUNITY

JOURNALISM COURSE: Veteran freelance reporter Carolyn Shapiro teaches attendees about media literacy and how the local news industry works. Presented by AARP Vermont. 10-11:15 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 866-227-7451.

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

bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

lgbtq

DRAG KING NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH: Mike Oxready and Vermont Humanities host a combination drag show, dance party and celebration of the 2023 Vermont reads book, Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Ages 18 and up. Catamount ArtPort, St. Johnsbury, 8-11 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

montréal

‘AURA’: See WED.4.

music

BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS: The Grammy Awardwinning musician and activist plays songs that scintillate with spirit. The Flynn, Burlington, 8 p.m. $53.50-105.75. Info, 863-5966.

PRIYA DARSHINI’S PERIPHERY AND ALEJANDRO BRITTES

QUARTET: Hindustani New Age tunes meet Argentinean folk music at this eclectic double billing. Live stream available. Next Stage

‘BRIGHT HALF LIFE’: See WED.4. ‘CADILLAC CREW’: See WED.4. ‘THE DINING ROOM’: Just the Players theater troupe presents a mosaic of scenes that, together, form a complete picture of an upper middle-class WASP family. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7 p.m. $12-15. Info, 728-9878.

‘FIRST SHOW: LOOK, DREAM, BEGIN’: See THU.5, 7:30-8:45 & 10-11:15 p.m.

‘THE GLASS MENAGERIE’: A family struggles to get by in Depression-era St. Louis in this Valley Players production of the classic Tennessee Williams play. Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield, 7-9:30 p.m. $14-18. Info, 583-1674.

‘THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE’: A team of investigators confronts strange phenomena at an abandoned mansion in this Lamoille County Players production based on the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 888-4507.

‘MURDER IN THE STUDIO’: The Essex Community Players present three radio play adaptations of riveting Agatha Christie whodunits. Essex Memorial Hall, 7:309:30 p.m. $12-14. Info, tickets@ essexcommunityplayers.com.

‘SAM & JIM IN HELL’: See THU.5.

COURTESY OF PAUL RICHARDSON

words

COBLEIGH LIBRARY ANNUAL

BOOK SALE: Friends of the Cobleigh Library offer special deals on a huge selection of tomes, from picture books to mysteries and more. Proceeds benefit library programs. Lyndon Municipal Office Building, Lyndonville, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 626-5475.

JOE CITRO: The acclaimed author shares some of Vermont’s spookiest folktales and strangest historical happenings. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, 369-5722.

SAT.7

bazaars

RUMMAGE SALE: See FRI.6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

SKIRACK’S WINTER SWAP: New and lightly used winter gear changes hands in preparation for cold weather. Skirack, Burlington, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 658-3313.

community

EXPLORE ESSEX: See WED.4.

REOPENING WEEKEND: See FRI.6, 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

dance

FIRST SATURDAY WESTIE

SOCIAL: Beginners, new members and experienced West Coast Swing dancers are welcome. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, lesson, 7 p.m.; dance, 8-10:30 p.m. $15 suggested fee. Info, 488-4789.

MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE:

To live tunes and gender-neutral calling, dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away. Capital City Grange, Berlin, special waltz session, 7 p.m.; beginners’ lesson, 7:45 p.m.; contra dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-25. Info, 225-8921.

REGGAETÓN DANCE PARTY:

Movers and shakers enjoy Puerto Rican grooves from DJ Chele, hot empanadas from Nando’s Moon & Stars, and company around a bonfire. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 8 p.m. $10. Info, info@mainstreetmuseum. org. etc.

MEDITATION AND BUDDHIST

DISCUSSION: Readings and reflections follow a half hour of mindfulness. Refreshments served. Shambhala Meditation Center, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Info, 658-6795.

fairs & festivals

39TH ANNUAL VERMONT

APPLE FESTIVAL & CRAFT

SHOW: Kiddos compete in the Fastest Kid in Town Race, and adults enjoy the wine and beer tent. Everybody loves the farmers market, food and crafts. Riverside Middle School, Springfield, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 885-2779.

CIDER DAYS: A historic village overflows with live music, food, vendors, a petting zoo, a book sale and cider pressing. Belmont Village Green, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, mchavt@gmail.com.

FALL DOG PARTY 2023: Fourlegged friends and their people enjoy an afternoon of leaf-romping, raffles, dog games, tacos, maple treats and live music from Shrimp Tunes. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 800-449-2580.

FALL FOR ST. JOHNSBURY: A fabulous foliage festival features live performances, seasonal food, a Halloween costume swap, a vintage market, Oktoberfest cocktails and beyond. Various St. Johnsbury locations, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Free; fee for some activities. Info, 748-8575.

TASTE OF MONTPELIER FOOD

FESTIVAL: The Capital City fills to the brim with world-class food and entertainment. See calendar spotlight. Downtown Montpelier, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 279-2236.

film

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

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA

3D’: See WED.4.

‘THE FARM BOY’: Waterbury Center thespian George Woodard presents a feature film based on his parents’ love story, set during World War II. Bellows Falls Opera House, 2 p.m. $10. Info, 4633964, ext. 1120.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

MOTHERSHIP MONTHLY FILM

FEST SCREENING: Filmmakers screen their work based on a monthly theme. MothershipVT, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, mothershipmonthlyfilmfest@ gmail.com.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4.

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.

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. Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, montpelierfarmersmarket@ gmail.com.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY DINNER

TRAIN: See FRI.6.

DINNER ON GLASS: SOLD OUT; WAIT LIST AVAILABLE. Glass artists craft white-hot surfaces on which chefs cook oysters, beef and fish at this one-of-akind dinner. Fire Arts Vermont, Brattleboro, 5:30 p.m. $150-175; preregister. Info, 257-0124.

GESINE BULLOCK-PRADO:

The chef shares her newest cookbook full of meals for stick season through mud se ason, My Vermont Table: Recipes for All (Six) Seasons. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4. NORTHWEST FARMERS

MARKET: Locavores stock up on produce, preserves, baked goods, and arts and crafts from over 50 vendors. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 242-2729.

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.

games

BEGINNER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Waterbury

Public Library game master Evan Hoffman gathers novices and veterans alike for an afternoon of virtual adventuring. Teens and adults welcome. Noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

ST. PETER’S CEMETERY

COMMITTEE BINGO: Players vie for receive cash prizes at this weekly event to support cemetery improvements. St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Vergennes, 5-9 p.m. $5-10. Info, 877-2367.

health & fitness

WALK FOR DIABETES

AWARENESS: Walkers of all ages choose from several park trails to raise money for the JerichoUnderhill Lions Club’s programs for diabetes. Mills Riverside Park, Jericho, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, lionju2023@gmail.com.

All performances are FREE Come early and picnic before the show.

Theater reservations or info: fsmac-quarryworks.org or 802-229-6978

Quarryworks Theater Presents... Find

lgbtq

HOT BUTTER: For one night only, the Flynn’s black box theater transforms into the Queen City’s hottest LGBTQ disco, emceed by DJ Craig Mitchell. Flynn Space, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5. Info, 863-5966.

montréal

‘AURA’: See WED.4, 7 & 9 p.m.

music

CAITLIN CANTY: The musician launches her fourth studio album, Quiet Flame, a folk record full of dreamy, haunting melodies. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. $15-25 suggested donation. Info, 349-3364.

CARLI MUÑOZ: The prolific touring artist celebrates the launch of his memoir, A Fool’s Journey: To the Beach Boys and Beyond, with a concert and discussion.

North Universalist Chapel Society, Woodstock, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 234-1645.

DREAMERS’ CIRCUS: This five-time Danish Music Awardwinning trio puts an innovative, contemporary spin on the deep traditions of Nordic folk music. Wilson Hall, McCullough Student Center, Middlebury College, 7:309:30 p.m. $5-25. Info, 443-6433.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: HOT

PICKIN’ PARTY: The bluegrass band tickles the banjo strings to original tunes and classic covers. Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.

OPERATIC BENEFIT: A medley of arias and operettas are belted out by local performers. Proceeds benefit the Montpelier Strong Recovery Fund. Statehouse Lawn, Montpelier, 2:30-4 p.m. Free. Info, 828-7105.

PLAY EVERY TOWN: Prolific

pianist David Feurzeig continues a four-year, statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Gihon Valley Hall, Hyde Park, 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, playeverytown@ gmail.com.

REED FOEHL: Audiences leave this Grammy-nominated songwriter’s intimate listening room session with new earworms aplenty. Shelburne Vineyard, 8:30-10 p.m. $20. Info, 985-8222.

TWIDDLE: The Vermont jam quartet pitches a jaw-dropping show before going on indefinite hiatus. The Flynn, Burlington, 8 p.m. $43.25-53.50. Info, 863-5966.

outdoors

COMMUNITY HARVEST PARTY:

The center honors members, volunteers and staff with a day of guided hikes, a bicycle fungi foray, live music, a foraged food cooking demo and more. Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston, 3-7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 879-6001.

DEAD CREEK WILDLIFE DAY: Folks of all ages go wild for talks, nature walks, demonstrations and family activities at this celebration of the outdoors. See calendar

spotlight. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 759-2398.

talks

CHRISTINE HADSEL: Vermont’s historic theater curtains take center stage in this presentation about the artists who produced these works of art and the restoration efforts to preserve them. Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 1:30-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 878-8890.

tech

JUAN HINESTROZA: A Cornell University professor describes his work with textiles and nanotechnology. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, 2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@coldhollow sculpturepark.com.

MEDIA FACTORY ORIENTATION: Aspiring moviemakers get an overview of media equipment.

RETN & VCAM Media Factory, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, gin@mediafactory.org.

theater

‘BRIGHT HALF LIFE’: See WED.4.

‘CADILLAC CREW’: See WED.4.

‘THE DINING ROOM’: See FRI.6.

‘FIRST SHOW: LOOK, DREAM, BEGIN’: See THU.5.

‘THE GLASS MENAGERIE’: See FRI.6.

‘THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE’: See FRI.6.

‘MURDER IN THE STUDIO’: See FRI.6, 2-4 & 7:30-9:30 p.m.

‘SAM & JIM IN HELL’: See THU.5.

‘THE WOLVES OF THE WHISPERING WOODS’: The world is in disarray and wolves are on the prowl in this petrifying (but PG-rated) production.

QuarryWorks Theater, Adamant,

Wild Fling

Hunters, fishers, bird-watchers and people who simply enjoy the great outdoors answer the call of the wild at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day in Addison. Learn to band birds, set up decoys and cook deer meat over a campfire; watch working retriever and pointing dogs in action; and take guided walks to explore the forest and identify invasive species. Kids get up close and personal with live critters, build a bluebird box and carve animals from soap.

DEAD

CREEK WILDLIFE DAY

Saturday, October 7, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison. Free. Info, 759-2398, vtfishandwildlife.com.

2-3:15 & 5-6:15 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-6978.

words

COBLEIGH LIBRARY ANNUAL

BOOK SALE: See FRI.6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FLOOD RECOVERY AUCTION: Locals bid on goodies such as an autographed Taylor Swift photo, a first-edition John Steinbeck and a stay in a yurt in Maine. Proceeds benefit the library. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Prices vary. Info, cbeamish@kellogghubbard.org.

FRIENDS OF ILSLEY LIBRARY

BOOK SALE: Books of all genres for all ages go on sale, and all proceeds fund library programming. Middlebury Town Offices, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

BOOK SALE: Paperbacks and hardcovers in all subjects and genres are for sale by donation at this event supporting Island Arts during the 2023 Weekend in the Islands. Island Arts, North Hero, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 372-8889.

MIDGE GOLDBERG, ROBERT

CRAWFORD AND MARTIN

ELSTER: The editor of and two

contributors to the anthology Outer Space: 100 Poems read stanzas from the stars. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $15-25 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 748-2372.

SUN.8 community

MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF DEAN CORREN: Community members gather in remembrance of the Progressive Party founder, renewable energy advocate and former state representative. Live stream available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8382.

MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE: Visitors enjoy behind-the-scenes tours and a dramatic reading of the 1907 childhood diaries of local sisters Lucy and Hazel Grover. Middletown Springs Historical Society, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 235-2376.

Hall, Barre, 7-8:30 p.m. Donations. Info, christopher.wiersema@ gmail.com.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY DINNER

TRAIN: See FRI.6.

FRESH HOPS FEST: Ale aficionados sample beers from 12 of Vermont’s most innovative breweries while live music keeps everyone grooving. Sugarbush, Warren, noon-4 p.m. $75; limited space. Info, 583-6590.

HART’S KOREAN AND FILIPINO: Gooey hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes with local apples) and siopao (Filipino steamed meat buns) are doled out at this pop-up kitchen. Adams Apple Orchard & Farm Market, Williston, noon-5 p.m. $3-10. Info, 272-1886.

HEIRLOOM APPLE DAY: The orchard’s Apple Barn opens its doors for an exhibition of more than 130 apple varieties. Food, cider and activities for all ages abound. Scott Farm, Dummerston, 10 a.m.6 p.m. Free. Info, 490-2865.

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4. STOWE FARMERS MARKET: An appetizing assortment of fresh veggies, meats, milk, berries, herbs, beverages and crafts tempts shoppers. 2043 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, stowefarmersmarket@gmail. com.

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: Families shop for fresh produce, honey, meats, coffee and prepared foods from more 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

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.4, 1-3 p.m.

fairs & festivals

CIDER DAYS: See SAT.7, noon-4 p.m.

FALL FESTIVAL: This familyfriendly autumnal celebration boasts wagon rides, live music, food trucks and a corn maze. No pets. Isham Family Farm, Williston, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 872-1525.

film

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

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.4.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

‘ROUGH BLAZING STAR’: Montpelier filmmaker Christopher Wiersema premieres an experimental documentary about the Old Labor Hall, anarchism and Emma Goldman. Donations benefit the labor hall. Old Labor

(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.

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

music

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES: SOGGY PO’ BOYS: The Dover, N.H., band brings New Orleans to New England with an abundance of funk and spirit. West River Park, Brattleboro, 3-5 p.m. $20-25; free for kids under 12. Info, 451-0053.

DANA ROBINSON: A fixture of the folk music scene blends contemporary and traditional sound. Adamant Community Club, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 454-7103.

EMMA’S REVOLUTION: Activist duo Pat Humphries and Sandy O share songs of hope and resistance. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley, Norwich, 4 p.m. $25. Info, 649-8828.

FACULTY RECITAL: PAUL ORGEL: The professional pianist plays works by Schumann, Bach,

Bartók and Chopin. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 656-3040.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: BRETT

HUGHES TRIO: The local honky-tonk legend and his friends deliver infectious energy and affecting lyricism. Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.

MUSIC-COMP ON CHURCH

STREET: Professional musicians showcase the works of several young composers from Franklin County. First Congregational Church, St. Albans, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4555.

‘A TRIBUTE TO TIM SWANSON’: Minced Oats, the Beerworth Sisters and Sean Ryan of Hothouse Hootenanny play to raise funds for Burlington’s Me2

Orchestra. Shelburne Vineyard, 5-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

talks

HOWARD COFFIN: A historian details the myriad disasters and tragedies of 1816, Vermont’s year without a summer, and the religious revival they prompted. Pratt Hall, Montgomery, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 326-3113.

theater

‘BRIGHT HALF LIFE’: See WED.4, 2-3:30 p.m.

‘CADILLAC CREW’: See WED.4, 2 p.m.

‘THE DINING ROOM’: See FRI.6.

‘THE GLASS MENAGERIE’: See FRI.6, 2-4:30 p.m.

‘THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE’: See FRI.6, 2 p.m.

‘MURDER IN THE STUDIO’: See FRI.6, 2-4 p.m.

‘SAM & JIM IN HELL’: See THU.5, 2-4 p.m.

‘THE WOLVES OF THE WHISPERING WOODS’: See SAT.7, 2-3:15 p.m.

words

BOOK SALE: See SAT.7.

SHADIR MOHAMED, FARDUSA

A. ABDO & ABDIHAMID A.

MUHUMED: The authors of Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont discuss the new book with their editor, Brad Kessler. Tea and Somali snacks available. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 578-0886.

MON.9 crafts

KNIT WITS: Fiber-working friends get together to make progress on their quilts, knitwear and needlework. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

film

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

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.4.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4.

food & drink

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4.

games

GAME GRUMPS LIVE: Longtime YouTube stars Arin Hanson and Dan Avidan pit audience members against each other in a series of gut-busting gambits. The Flynn, Burlington, 8 p.m. $42.50136.50. Info, 863-5966.

health & fitness

ADVANCED TAI CHI: Experienced movers build strength, improve balance and reduce stress. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@ skyrivertaichi.com.

BEGINNING TAI CHI (SUN SHORT FORM): Newbies learn how gentle MON.9 » P.76

MON.9 « P.75

movement can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, 10:30-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@skyrivertaichi.com.

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, chrisn@pathwaysvermont.org.

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, elizabetharms56@gmail.com.

language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Locals learning English as a second language gather in the Digital Lab to build vocabulary and make friends. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

montréal

‘AURA’: See WED.4.

words

ADDISON COUNTY WRITERS COMPANY: Poets, playwrights, novelists and memoirists of every experience level meet weekly for an MFA-style workshop. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jay@zigzaglitmag.org.

TUE.10

activism

RIGHTS & BITES: See THU.5. Center for Cartoon Studies, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m.

business

CEDRR JULY MIXER: Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region members and friends eat, drink and win prizes at a catered shindig. Raffle benefits Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Allen Pools & Spas, Williston, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 773-2747.

community

CURRENT EVENTS

DISCUSSION GROUP:

Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

EMPTY BOWL DINNER: A lavish feast of soups from local restaurants raises funds for Spectrum Youth & Family Services. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. $30-1,250; preregister. Info, 864-7423.

conferences

MILITARY WRITERS’

SYMPOSIUM: Authors and researchers gather to discuss global special operations forces. See norwich.edu for full schedule. Norwich University, Northfield, 9:25 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister; fee for some activities. Info, 485-2000.

dance

MORRIS & MORE: Dancers of all abilities learn how to step, clog and even sword fight their way through medieval folk dances of

picture books on a different theme each week. Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

manchester/ bennington

all kinds. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 6 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. Beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:309 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

etc.

DOGS’ NIGHT OUT: Canines party down with snacks and toys while their parents get 15 percent off their bar tabs. 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 857-5318.

film

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

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.4.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little ones enjoy a cozy session of reading, rhyming and singing. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

brattleboro/okemo valley

FALL INTO WINTER FEST: Families have fun under the foliage, from hayrides and hiking to face painting and live music. Jackson Gore Inn, Okemo Mountain Resort, Ludlow, noon-5 p.m. Free. Info, 228-1400.

MON.9 upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads two

food & drink

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4.

NORTHFIELD FARMERS MARKET: A gathering place for local farmers, producers and artisans offers fresh produce, crafts and locally prepared foods. Depot Square, Northfield, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 485-8586.

OLD NORTH END FARMERS

MARKET: Fresh local produce, bread, honey and prepared food bring good vibes to the Queen City’s melting pot. Dewey Park, Burlington, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 355-3910.

health & fitness

TAI CHI TUESDAY: Patrons get an easy, informal introduction to this ancient movement practice that supports balance and strength. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 9-10:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 362-2607.

language

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: Instructor Andrea Thulin helps non-native speakers build their

manchester/ bennington

NEW MOMS’ GROUP: Local doula Kimberleigh Weiss-Lewitt facilitates a community-building weekly meetup for mothers who are new to parenting or the area. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

TUE.10 chittenden county

PLAYGROUP & FAMILY SUPPORT: Families with children under age 5 play and connect with others in the community. Winooski Memorial Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

TODDLERTIME: Miss Alexa delights infants and toddlers ages 1 to 3 and their adult caregivers with interactive stories, songs, rhymes and more. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. mad

river valley/ waterbury

HOMESCHOOL COMPUTER CLUB: Home students learn everything from basic tech techniques to graphic design in this monthly class. Waterbury Public Library, 11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

STORY TIME: Youth librarian Carrie leads little tykes in stories and songs centered on a new theme every week. Birth through age 5. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

WED.11 burlington

STEAM SPACE: See WED.4.

chittenden county

BABY SOCIAL TIME: See WED.4.

FIRE SAFETY PLAYTIME: Through stories, fire extinguisher tips and fire truck tours from the Essex Junction Fire Department, toddlers and preschoolers learn skills beyond stop, drop and roll.

vocabulary and conversation skills. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:307 p.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH

CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

SOCIAL HOUR: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region hosts a rendez-vous over Zoom. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, ellen.sholk@gmail.com.

montréal

‘AURA’: See WED.4.

music

ANDY GRAMMER: The “Honey I’m Good” singer thrills audiences with his foot-stomping stadium-pop anthems. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $39-274. Info, 863-5966.

COMMUNITY SINGERS: A weekly choral meetup welcomes all singers to raise their voices along to traditional (and

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

GAMING ON!: See WED.4.

PLAY TIME: See WED.4.

mad river valley/ waterbury

LEGO CHALLENGE CLUB: Kids engage in a fun-filled hour of building, then leave their creations on display in the library all month long. Ages 6 through 8. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

manchester/ bennington

MCL FILM CLUB: See WED.4. K

not-so-traditional) songs. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 7:30 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

talks

DAVID TABARUKA: A survivor of the Rwandan genocide and the second Republic of the Congo civil war tells his story. Temple Sinai, South Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 862-5125.

RICK WINSTON: The author of Red Scare in the Green Mountains: Vermont in the McCarthy Era digs into how this state handled the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s. Quechee Public Library, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 295-1232.

tech

AFTERNOON 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, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

JOSH BONGARD: The University of Vermont computer scientist gives a lecture titled “AI-Designed Organisms: A Case Study in the Social Impacts of AI.” McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Middlebury College, 5 p.m. Free. Info, vtscieng@gmail.com.

words

THE MOTH STORYSLAM: Local tellers of tales recount true stories in an open mic format. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $17.50; preregister. Info, susanne@ themoth.org.

POETRY GROUP: A supportive verse-writing workshop welcomes those who would like feedback on their work or who are just happy to listen. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public

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

Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

WED.11 business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS

NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL

GROUP: See WED.4.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

conferences

MILITARY WRITERS’ SYMPOSIUM: See TUE.10, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

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: See WED.4.

dance

WESTIE WEDNESDAYS DANCE: See WED.4.

film

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

‘ANXIOUS NATION’: See THU.5. Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, 6-8 p.m.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA

3D’: See WED.4.

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.4.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.4.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM

SERIES: ‘THE FILTH AND THE FURY’: Assembled from unseen archive footage, this 2000 documentary follows the entire dramatic, punk rock history of the Sex Pistols. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 451-0053.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.4.

food & drink

COMMUNITY SUPPER: See WED.4.

THE MAPLE 100: See WED.4.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Lovers of tabletop fun play classic games and new designer offerings.

Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

MAH-JONGG OPEN PLAY: See WED.4.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.4. SEATED & STANDING YOGA: See WED.4.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE

CLASS: See WED.4.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.4.

montréal

‘AURA’: See WED.4.

music

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD: THE MEATPACKERS: See WED.4. REUBEN JACKSON: A jazz archivist explores Duke Ellington’s “Far East Suite,” which was inspired by the jazz great’s tours of the Middle East, South Asia and Japan. Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 262-2626.

seminars

MEDICARE OPEN

ENROLLMENT: Age Well and New England Federal Credit Union teach online learners the ins and outs of signing up for health insurance. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 764-6940.

MENTOR TRAINING FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: See WED.4.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.4.

theater

‘CADILLAC CREW’: See WED.4.

‘SELLING KABUL’: Northern Stage presents this Pulitzer Prize-nominated thriller about a former interpreter who must choose whether to flee the Taliban or stay with his family after the withdrawal of American troops. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $19-69. Info, 296-7000.

words

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.

POETRY POTLUCK: Wordsmiths and readers bring a dish and a poem (their own or others’) to share. Whirligig Brewing, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@catamountarts. org. ➆

L king for connections?

Introduce yourself to reps from these fine local organizations at Tech Jam!

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

• BETA Technologies

• Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman

• Data Innovations

• Gallagher Flynn & Company, LLP

• Gravel & Shea

• HPI

• Hula

• KORE Power

• Marvell

• National Life Group

• Norwich University

• UVM O ce of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)

• VIP

• Vermont Technology Alliance

• WCAX

OTHER EXHIBITORS

• Burlington Bio

• Champlain Cable

• Collins Aerospace

• Concepts NREC

• Creative Micro

• Dynapower

• Fluency

• FreshAir Sensor

• Galen Healthcare Solutions

• Generator

• GlobalFoundries

• Governor’s Institutes of Vermont

• GPMS International, Inc.

• Hack Club

• Hayward Tyler, Inc.

• Hazelett Strip - Casting Corporation

• ipCapital Group

• MicroStrain by HBK

• Myti

• Northern Digital Inc. (NDI)

• Olive and Milo Social

• OnLogic

• Open Approach

• PCC (Physician’s Computer Company)

• Resonant Link

• Rigorous

• Test-Rep Associates, Inc.

• THINKMD

• UVM O ce of Engagement and Institute for Rural Partnerships

• VELCO

• VITL

• Wildlife Imaging Systems

THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

art

FIGURE DRAWING NIGHT!:

Please join us for an evening of figure drawing at Soapbox Arts in the Soda Plant, hosted by Ana Koehler of Devotion. A live nude model will be in short and long poses. Bring your own drawing supplies. Please no wet supplies such as inks or paints. All drawing levels welcome. Ages 18-plus only. Mon., Oct. 9 & 23, 6 p.m. Cost: $20. Location: Soapbox Arts at the Soda Plant, 266 Pine St., Ste. 119, Burlington. Info: 617-2905405, sevendaystickets.com.

business

HOW THEY BUILT IT: VT COMEDY CLUB: Burlington entrepreneurs on how they’ve built their businesses. Join us as we welcome some of Burlington’s most beloved business owners to share how they started and how they built their businesses to what they are today. is week we’re highlighting the founders of Vermont Comedy Club! Tue., Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Cost: $10. Location: Switchback Brewing, Burlington. Info: info@localmaverickus.com, sevendaystickets.com.

culinary

BUTTERNUT LASAGNA & PUMPKIN TIRAMISU: Join Janina of Red Poppy Cakery and Chef Stephanie for a delicious evening! Learn pasta-making and assemble butternut squash lasagna, then savor pumpkin tiramisu. Prepare these fall favorites family-style, enjoy a meal and take home the recipes. Perfect for fall food enthusiasts! Mon., Oct. 9, 5 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Center. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

COOKING WITH STEPHANIE: CHARCUTERIE BOARDS: Join Stephanie at Local Maverick for a hands-on demo charcuterie class, featuring a variety of local cheeses, meats and products. Food brings people together, creating memories that last forever. Invite your friends! Stephanie guides everyone as you create an aesthetically appealing and delicious charcuterie board. u., Oct. 19, 6 p.m. Cost: $65. Location: Maverick Market at 110, 110 Main St., Ste. 1C, Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

WORLD DRUMMING

WEDNESDAYS!: Weekly Wednesday classes for kids & parents, 4-5:30 p.m. Adult Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m. Conga Beginners, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Four-week classes start Oct. 4. Our space is next to Nomad Coffee. Location: Taiko Studio, 208 Flynn Ave, Burlington. Info: Stuart, 802-999-4255, classes@ burlingtontaiko.org.

empowerment

CAMPERVAN ARCHITECT:

“Campervan Architect: Design, Build and Wander” is a comprehensive two-day class designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to build their very own customized camper van. is immersive experience combines a lecture-style session and a hands-on workshop to guide students through the process of creating their dream mobile living space. Oct. 21-22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: $259, incl. workshop, meals, swag, VanSpace 3D subscription & informational DIY packet. Location: TBD in Burlington, dependent on class size. Info: Ozzie Vans & Top Notch Vans, Emily Koons, 802637-9033, info@ozzievans.com, topnotchvanco.com/products/ weekend-workshops-1.

well-being

HOLIDAY OPEN MEMORIAL: REMEMBERING IN COMMUNITY: Join this virtual space to come together in remembrance of those we love who have died. Join together in music, poetry, and ritual. Attendees have the option to share about the loved one they are remembering. is is not a religious memorial. People of all spiritual and secular worldviews are welcome. Wed., Dec. 13, 4 p.m. Cost: $5-25.

Location: Online. Info: 802-8258141, sevendaystickets.com.

VISION CAMP LIVE: Get a personal blueprint to get unstuck, gain clarity, build confidence and design a life you love! Gain a complete blueprint to transform your life, including a five-point test to determine your next steps, tools to dissolve resistance, a system to accelerate your results, and strategies to eliminate fear, doubt and worry. Sat., Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Location: Town Hall eater, 68 S. Pleasant St., Middlebury. Info: Coach Christal, 919-292-9305, sevendaystickets.com.

yoga

AYURVEDIC INTEGRATION

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS!:

Kids & Parents Taiko, Tue. & u., 4-5:30 p.m. Adult Intro Taiko, Tue. & u., 5:30-7 p.m. Accelerated Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided!

Four-week classes. Visit our space next to Nomad Coffee. Location: Taiko Studio, 208 Flynn Ave, Burlington. Info: Stuart, 802-9994255, classes@burlingtontaiko. org.

PROGRAM: Learn to integrate Ayurveda as lifestyle medicine that can prevent or reverse chronic disease; increase energy; promote longevity; and reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Specialized seasonal and daily Ayurvedic routines, holistic nutrition, stress-reduction techniques, and self-care will be taught. Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 2023: Oct. 14-15, Nov. 4-5, Dec. 2-3; 2024: Jan. 6-7, Feb. 3-4, Mar. 9-10, Apr. 6-7, May 4-5, Jun. 8-9, Jul. 13-14. Cost: $2,895/200-hour program. Location: e Ayurvedic Center of Vermont, 34 Oak Hill Rd., Williston. Info: Allison Morse, 802-872-8898, info@ayurvedavermont.com, ayurvedavermont.com.

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

Humane Society of Chittenden

Ace

AGE/SEX: 5-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: July 26, 2023

SUMMARY: Oh, buddy! Ace is a seasoned man, a Golden Bachelor, if you will, and he’s ready to hand out a rose to the most special family who can appreciate his senior self with his lumps and bumps, hypothyroidism, daily meds, and, you guessed it: a prescription diet for his allergies. He’s got it all, folks, combined with charm, a massive love for his people and pure joy in the kiddie pool! Ace needs to be your one and only, and tiny humans are likely too dynamic for the ol’ fella, who really just wants to relax on the couch. Come visit Ace at HSCC and see if he could be your true love!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Ace needs to be the only pet in his new home. He hasn’t lived with kids before but may do well with older kids or teens who are able to respect his space.

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?

If you’re wondering how long it usually takes for a dog to adjust to a new home, follow the “Rule of Threes”: three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routine and three months to feel at home.

Sponsored by:

County

CLASSIFIEDS

backup camera. Silver, like-new. New brakes.

Asking $8,500. Call 802-355-4099.

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

on the road

BOATS

14-FT. BOAT FOR SALE

14-ft. aluminum boat & trailer for sale. 3.5 HP 4-stroke Mercury motor. 55-pound thrust Minkota electric motor, battery & solar charger. Boat & motors are in excellent condition.

Asking $2,300/OBO. Located in Elmore.

CARS/TRUCKS

2010 GMC TERRAIN

103,500 miles.

6-cylinder. Inspected, no rust. Sunroof, heated leather seats, hitch,

3.6R

Limited, fully loaded. Heated/power everything, trailer hitch, backup camera, navigation, snow tires, remote start. Blue exterior, tan leather interior. 98K miles. $9,500. Contact Alan at 864-9128.

2013 BUICK ENCORE

AWD

1 owner, excellent condition. 110K miles, Leather, sunroof, navigation, heated seats, A/C, backup camera. $7,775 (Carfax value $8,800). Contact Nancy at 802-279-6252 or nan@wcvt.com.

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

services: $12 (25 words) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

Mon. through u. Contact 802-863-5625 or homesharevermont.org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO

housing FOR RENT

2-BR APT.

4 N. Winooski Ave. $1,600. 2-BR, 3rd fl oor, no elevator. Completed new renovation. Max 2 tenants. No pets, NS. No parking avail. Landlord refs. req. Avail now. Call 802-238-6064 between 9 a.m. & 5 p.m.

4-BR HOUSE IN SHELBURNE

4-BR, 1 full & 2 half BA. 86 Hullcrest La. $3,500/ mo. + utils. Avail. now. No pets. Email 802draco@gmail.com.

SO. BURLINGTON LARGE 1-BR Avail. now. 2nd fl oor. Convenient. 5 mins. to hospital & airport; 10 mins. to Williston/ Burlington. Parking/ garbage incl. NS. No pets. $950/mo. + utils. Call 802-238-8748.

HOMESHARE W/ LOVING PETS

So. Burlington: Mid-30s professional who enjoys horseback riding & reading seeks LGBTQfriendly housemate who would enjoy a lovable dog & cat! Shared BA. $650/mo. + utils. Contact 802-863-5625 or homesharevermont.org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO

ser vices

ELDER CARE

living. Our trusted, local advisers help fi nd solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 866-386-9005.

(AAN CAN)

FINANCIAL/LEGAL

$10K+ IN DEBT?

Be debt-free in 24-48 mos. Pay a fraction of your debt. Call National Debt Relief at 844-9773935. (AAN CAN)

FREE AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES

For uninsured & insured drivers. Let us show you how much you can save! Call 855-569-1909. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

DISCOVER OXYGEN THERAPY

Try Inogen portable oxygen concentrators. Free information kit. Call 866-859-0894. (AAN CAN)

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

sage-lotus.com or call Lauren at 802-238-5259 for a free 20-min. consult.

MASSAGE FOR MEN BY SERGIO

Time for a massage to ease those aches & pains. Deep tissue & Swedish. Contact me for an appt.: 802-324-7539, sacllunas@gmail.com.

PSYCHIC COUNSELING

Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 40+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other lives, classes & more. 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com.

HOME/GARDEN

ALL AROUND RENTAL

Large & small equipment rentals. Excavators, skid steers, boom/scissor lifts, splitters, chippers, pressure washers, concrete tools & more! Located in St. Johnsbury. Call 802-748-7841 or visit allaroundrental.com.

SECURE YOUR HOME

Secure your home w/ Vivint Smart Home technology. Call 855-621-5855 to learn how you can get a professionally installed security system w/ $0 activation. (AAN CAN)

PET

DOG BOARDING/ DAYCARE

Couple in Richmond (1 person is stay-at-home) offer dog boarding & daycare. Maximum 2 at any time. Rates: $35 for daytime; $50 overnight.

Refs. avail. Email rod@ rodcainmassage.com.

AUTO

DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY

865-1020 x115

on TV. 877-310-2472. (AAN CAN)

MALE ENHANCEMENT

PILLS

Bundled network of Viagra, Cialis & Levitra alternative products for a 50-pills-for-$99 promotion. Call 888531-1192. (AAN CAN)

PETS

AKC BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOGS

5 girls, 9 weeks old, in Potsdam, N.Y. Photos on Facebook (Burning Farm) & TikTok (theburningfarm). Call or text Chelsei at 702-339-0274.

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH FOR OLD GUITARS

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE AT MAIN STREET LANDING on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy, affordable spaces for your business. Visit mainstreetlanding.com & click on space avail. Melinda, 864-7999.

HDWD hardwood

HW hot water

LR living room

NS no smoking OBO or best offer

HOUSEMATES

HOMESHARE IN THE ‘NOOSK

W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

FIND SENIOR LIVING

My Caring Plan has helped thousands of families fi nd senior

LIFE COACHING

Looking for support navigating anxiety to regain focus & peace in these trying times? Visit

BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME

Get energy-effi cient windows. ey will increase your home’s value & decrease your energy bills. Replace all or a few! Call 844-3352217 now to get your free, no-obligation quote. (AAN CAN)

Running or not! Fast free pickup. Maximum tax deduction. Support Patriotic Hearts. Your car donation helps veterans! 1-866-5599123. (AAN CAN) buy this

1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg + Gibson mandolins & banjos. 877-589-0747. (AAN CAN)

music

NEVER CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS AGAIN! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters & home from debris & leaves forever. For a free quote, call 844-947-1470. (AAN CAN)

MISCELLANEOUS

DIRECTV SATELLITE TV Service starting at $74.99/mo.! Free install. 160+ channels avail. Call now to get the most sports & entertainment

INSTRUCTION

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

Berklee graduate w/ 30 years’ teaching experience offers lessons in guitar, music theory, music technology, ear training. Individualized, step-by-step approach. All ages, styles, levels. Rick Belford, 864-7195, rickbelford.com.

Winooski: Share an apt. w/ private BA, convenient to UVM, w/ woman in her 30s who loves “Survivor,” “ e Bachelor” & One Direction. No rent; just parking/utils. costs in exchange for once/week transportation & flexible evening companionship

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact:

HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309

— OR —

Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633

1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

Auto Auction Staff (WILLISTON, VT)

Want to make a quick buck in your free time in a fun, fast paced environment?

We’re looking for Friday & Saturday Auto Auction Staff. 8:45AM-Noon. Email eric@thcauction.com THCAuction.com

HAND-BLENDED PERFUMES

Halloween-themed perfumes from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. For sale only on Oct. 21, 3-5 p.m., at the Pierson Library in Shelburne. Email rosesontheskulls@ gmail.com for info.

Say you saw it in... sevendaysvt.com mini-sawit-black.indd 1 11/24/09 1:33:19 PM LEGALS »

With GIVE TODAY! 12v-countonyou-SR.indd 3 7/15/21 4:20 PM

CALCOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. e numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

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. e same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P.82

★ = MODERATE ★ ★ = CHALLENGING ★ ★ ★ = HOO, BOY!

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.

NEW EVERY DAY:

Guess today’s 5-letter word. Hint: It’s in the news!

Legal Notices

SEEKING COMMENT ON 2023 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT TO HUD FOR VERMONT’S RECOVERY HOUSING PROGRAM

The report is due to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year by October 30, 2023. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) staff have written the DRAFT 2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Vermont’s Recovery Housing Program (CAPER-RHP). The report is in the format required by HUD. The report includes activity from October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023.

To learn more about the 2023 CAPER-RHP go to DHCD’s website: https://accd.vermont.gov/ community-development/funding-incentives/ vcdp/recovery-housing-program. The DRAFT 2023 CAPER-RHP report will be available on October 10, 2023, on the website.

Send questions or comments to Cindy Blondin at Cindy.Blondin@vermont.gov or call 802-828-5219 or toll free at 1-866-933-6249. Written comments are due by October 25, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. Mail to DHCD, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501, ATTN: Cindy Blondin.

Solicitamos comentarios sobre el Informe de evaluación y desempeño anual consolidado de 2023 al HUD para el Programa de Vivienda de Recuperación de Vermont

El informe debe entregarse al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE. UU. (HUD) cada año antes del 30 de octubre de 2023. El personal del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario (DHCD) ha redactado el BORRADOR del Informe de evaluación y desempeño anual consolidado de 2023 para las viviendas de recuperación de Vermont. Programa (CAPER-RHP). El informe está en el formato requerido por HUD. El informe incluye la actividad desde el 1 de octubre de 2022 hasta el 30 de septiembre de 2023.

Para obtener más información sobre CAPER-RHP

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

2023, visite el sitio web del DHCD: https://accd. vermont.gov/community-development/fundingincentives/vcdp/recovery-housing-program.

El informe BORRADOR 2023 CAPER-RHP estará disponible el 10 de octubre de 2023 en el sitio web.

Envíe preguntas o comentarios a Cindy Blondin a Cindy.Blondin@vermont.gov o llame al 802-8285219 o al número gratuito 1-866-933-6249. Los comentarios por escrito deben presentarse antes del 25 de octubre de 2023 a las 4:30 p.m. Envíe por correo a DHCD, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501, ATENCIÓN: Cindy Blondin.

Sollicitation de commentaires sur le rapport annuel consolidé de performance et d’évaluation 2023 adressé au HUD pour le programme de logement de rétablissement du Vermont

Le rapport doit être remis au Département américain du logement et du développement urbain (HUD) chaque année avant le 30 octobre 2023. Le personnel du Département du logement et du développement communautaire (DHCD) a rédigé le PROJET de rapport annuel consolidé de performance et d’évaluation 2023 pour les logements de récupération du Vermont. Programme (CAPER-RHP). Le rapport est dans le format requis par HUD. Le rapport comprend les activités du 1er octobre 2022 au 30 septembre 2023.

Pour en savoir plus sur le CAPER-RHP 2023, rendez-vous sur le site Web du DHCD : https://accd. vermont.gov/community-development/fundingincentives/vcdp/recovery-housing-program. Le rapport DRAFT 2023 CAPER-RHP sera disponible le 10 octobre 2023 sur le site Internet.

Envoyez vos questions ou commentaires à Cindy Blondin à Cindy.Blondin@vermont.gov ou appelez le 802-828-5219 ou sans frais au 1-866-933-6249. Les commentaires écrits doivent être déposés avant le 25 octobre 2023 à 16h30. Courrier au DHCD, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 056200501, ATTN : Cindy Blondin.

NOTICE OF TAX SALE BUEL’S GORE

The resident and non-resident owners, lien holders and mortgagees of lands in Buel’s Gore in the County of Chittenden are hereby notified that the taxes and utility charges assessed by the Buel’s Gore Supervisor remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described lands, to wit:

Property Owner: Loren T. Palmer and David C. Palmer

Property Address: State Route 17 and Old County Road

Parcel ID #10.000

All and the same lands and premises conveyed to the said David C. Palmer by Decree of Distribution of the Estate of David Frank Palmer dated October 4, 2012 and recorded in Volume 19, Page 182, and all and the same lands and premises conveyed to the said Loren T. Palmer and David F. Palmer (now deceased) by Warranty Deed of Loren Palmer and Marjorie Palmer, dated July 2, 1992 and recorded at Volume 17, Page 150, of the Land Records of Buel’s Gore, Vermont.

Tax Years: 2011-2023

Amount of delinquent taxes, interest, cost and penalties: $9,510.38

Reference may be made to said deeds for a more particular description of said lands and premises, as the same appear in the Land Records for Buel’s Gore.

So much of such lands will be sold at public auction at the parking area at the Appalachian Gap on Route 17 in Buel’s Gore, on the 17th of October, 2023 at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes and delinquencies with interest, costs and penalties. Property owners or mortgagees may pay such taxes, interest, costs and penalties in full by cash or certified check made payable to Buel’s Gore. At tax sale, successful bidders must pay in full by cash or certified check. No other payments accepted. Any questions or inquiries regarding the above-referenced sale should be directed to the following address:

Kristen E. Shamis, Esq.

Monaghan Safar PLLC 27 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 kshamis@msvltlaw.com

Monaghan Safar PLLC, and Buel’s Gore give no opinion or certification as to the marketability of title to the above-referenced properties as held by the current owner/taxpayer.

Dated this 13th day of September, 2023.

Jacob B. Perkinson Supervisor Buel’s Gore

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-04871

In re ESTATE of Caren Quinn

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Caren Quinn, late of Essex Junction, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: September 25, 2023

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Shawn Quinn

Executor/Administrator: Shawn Quinn, PO Box 5015 Essex Junction, VT 05452 SQuinn@cvexpo.org 802-310-9104

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 10/4/2023

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511 Burlington, VT 05402

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE - SEEKING INPUT ON APPLICATION TO HUD FOR PATHWAYS TO REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HOUSING (PRO HOUSING) OCTOBER 19, 2023 AT 6PM VERMONT HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY’S OFFICES, 164 SAINT PAUL STREET; BURLINGTON, VT 05401

The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development is publicly noticing intent to apply for funding through the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) made available through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Interested parties can learn more about the funding opportunity at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/pro_housing or by accessing the Federal Register for Funding Opportunity FR-6700-N-98. Vermont’s application will be submitted with program outcomes from a consortium of Vermont agencies. The consortium includes the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, Vermont State Housing Authority, City of Burlington, Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies. The consortium of agencies and community development non-profit organizations propose to use a $8 million award from Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing for local, regional, and statewide efforts to remove barriers and increase housing opportunities across Vermont. Proposed investments include but are not limited to the following: launching regional housing navigators, supporting communities and developers seeking to create successful models for housing, supporting Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing trainings, completing a statewide Zoning Atlas, increasing data and tools available to Vermont local and state policy makers, investing in infrastructure that supports housing, and creating tools for the rehabilitation of existing housing.

A Draft of the Application will be available on

October 6, 2023 on the Agency website at https:// accd.vermont.gov/community-development/ current-intiatives

Written comments may be submitted to LBlackPlumeau@vhfa.org before October 19, 2023.

For further information or questions contact Leslie Black Plumeau @ LBlack-Plumeau@vhfa. org. For the Hearing Impaired please call (TTY) #1-800-253-0191.

To participate by remote please register to receive the link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZEldemvqD0jGdPD7jt7eLYkWfF3dvu1LYrO#/registration

PROPOSED STATE RULES

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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).

Reporting of Offender Information.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P033

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department of Corrections

CONCISE SUMMARY: The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) is proposing the repeal of the Reporting of Offender Information Rule, APA #96-18/CVR #13-130-017 because it is no longer the guiding document for this subject matter.

DOC policy, #251.01, Offender/Inmate Records and Access to Information, dated 8/18/2019, and its associated guidance documents, and APA Rule #19-035/ CVR 13-130-036, describe the procedures that the DOC shall follow when releasing, or permitting the inspection of, a record belonging to individual under the custody or supervision of the DOC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Christopher Antoine, Staff Attorney, Agency of Human Services, Department of Corrections 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-241-2442

Fax: 802-241-0020 Email: christopher.antoine@ vermont.gov URL: www.doc.vermont.gov http:// www.doc.vermont.gov.

FOR COPIES: Ana Burke, Senior Policy & Implementation Analyst, Agency of Human Services, Department of Corrections 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-241-2442 Fax: 802-241-0020 Email: ana.burke@vermont.gov.

Suitability in Annuity Transactions (Reg. I-2023-01).

Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P034

AGENCY: Department of Financial Regulation

CONCISE SUMMARY: The Department is proposing a new rule that requires producers, as defined in the rule, to act in the best interest of the consumer when making a recommendation of an annuity and to require insurers to establish and maintain a system to supervise recommendations so that the insurance needs and financial objectives of consumers at the time of the transaction are effectively addressed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stan Macel, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Financial Regulation, 89 Main Street, Third Floor, Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-272-2338 Fax: 802-828-5593 Email: stan.macel@vermont. gov URL: https://dfr.vermont.gov/about-us/ legal-general-counsel/proposed-rulesand-public-comment.

FOR COPIES: Hillary Borcherding, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Financial Regulation, 89 Main Street, Third Floor, Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-249-6512 Email: hillary.borcherding@vermont. gov.

Manufactured Food Rule. Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P035

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department of Health

CONCISE SUMMARY: The purpose of the rule is to provide the requirements for the safe and sanitary manufacturing, packing, holding, and distributing of human food offered for sale in Vermont. This rulemaking does the following: (1) Updates the rule for consistency with Title 21 Chapter I of the C.F.R. (2) Reformats, reorganizes, and clarifies the federal regulations cited in the Incorporation by Reference section. (3) Defines the scope of the Department of Health issued food manufacturing license. Specifically, the rule clarifies the prohibition of manufacturing of food containing THC under the Department of Health license. (4) Updates the information required on food labels manufactured by license exempt food manufacturers and license exempt bakeries. (5) Modifies the rule for clarity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Meg McCarthy, Department of Health, 108 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401 Tel: 802-863-7280 Fax: 802-951-1275 Email: ahs.vdhrules@vermont.gov URL: http://www.healthvermont.gov/about-us/ laws-regulations/public-comment.

FOR COPIES: Natalie Weill, Department of Health, 108 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401 Tel: 802-8637280 Fax: 802-951-1275 Email: ahs.vdhrules@ vermont.gov.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

DOCKET NO. 23-PR-04639

In re the Estate of: John H. Adams

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the Creditors of: John H. Adams, late of Essex, Vermont.

I have been appointed to administer this Estate. All creditors having claims against the Decedent or the Estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the 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: September 21, 2023

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Mary Munson

Executor/Administrator: Mary Munson, Administrator c/o Kohn Rath, LLP PO Box 340 Hinesburg, VT 05461 (802) 482-2905 anna@kohnrathlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: October 4, 2023

Name of Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit - Probate Division

Address of Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 (physical) PO Box 511, Burlington, VT 05402 (mailing)

WARNING

Policy Adoption

Champlain Valley School District

The Board of School Directors gives public notice of its intent to adopt local district policies dealing with the following at its meeting scheduled on October 17, 2023:

F38 - Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Students

Policy

Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Office of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

DOCKET NO.:23-PR-05383

In re ESTATE of Diane Duclos

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Diane Duclos., late of Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate.  All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice.  The claim must be

presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court.  The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: September 27, 2023

Signature of Fiduciary: Suzanna Miller

Executor/Administrator: Suzanna Miller, PO Box 220 N. Ferrisburg, VT 05473

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date:  10/4/2023

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division  Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05402

CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC HEARING

OCTOBER 19, 2023, 6:30 P.M. This meeting will be held in person at 2 Lincoln Street in the conference room and remotely. The meeting will be live-streamed on Town Meeting TV.

• JOIN ONLINE: Visit www.essexjunction.org for meeting connection information.

• JOIN CALLING: Join via conference call (audio only): Dial 1(888) 788-0099 (toll free) Meeting ID: 839 2599 0985

Passcode: 940993

PUBLIC HEARING

Final plan for a two lot subdivision; Lot 1 to retain existing single family dwelling, Lot 2 to be single lot at 2 River Street in the R2 District by Yuning Liu, owner. This DRAFT agenda may be amended. Any questions re: above please call Terry Hass – 802-878-6950

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-04862

In re ESTATE of Lynn G. Alcorn

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Lynn G. Alcorn., late of Town of St. Albans, Vermont I have been appointed to administer this estate.  All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice.  The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court.  The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 10/2/2023

Signature of Fiduciary: Marleen A Kimball

Executor/Administrator: Marleen A Kimball, PO Box 608, East Middlebury, Vermont, 05740 802-393-1580, mkimball46@gmail.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date:  10/4/2023

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Unit  Address of Probate Court: 17 Church St., St. Albans, VT 05478

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE: BURLINGTON

COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §4442 and §4444, notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Burlington City Council to hear comments on the following proposed amendments to the City of Burlington’s Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO):

ZA-23-03 Setbacks

ZA-23-04 Temporary Structures

ZA-23-05 168 Archibald Street

ZA-24-01 Technical Amendments

The public hearing will take place on Monday, October 23, 2023 during the Regular City Council Meeting which begins at 6:00 pm in Contois

Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, VT or you may access the hearing/ meeting as follows:

On-line: https://zoom.us/j/99213004331

By telephone: +1 929 205 6099

Webinar ID: 992 1300 4331

Pursuant to the requirements of 24 V.S.A. §4444(b):

Statement of purpose:

The purpose of the proposed amendments are as follows:

• ZA-23-03 Setbacks: This amendment modifies a limited grouping of setback standards to facilitate development and redevelopment within residential districts and to reconcile language across Articles and 5 and 14 for clarity. The amendment removes ambiguous and unnecessary standards that often create barriers to infill development.

• ZA-23-04 Temporary Structures: The proposed amendment provides for the placement of temporary structures for non-residential purposes in Civic Spaces as all enumerated City of Burlington Parks (Code of Ordinances Chapter 22-1), without review or required zoning permit for up to 60 days, provided that the structure is approved by the Burlington Fire Marshal.

• ZA-23-05 168 Archibald Street: This amendment modifies the zoning district for the property at 168 Archibald Street from RM to NMU to facilitate additional commercial uses on the property.

• ZA-24-01 Technical Amendments: This amendment corrects a number of errors in the CDO that are considered technical and will provide further clarity and consistency of administration for staff and applicants.

Geographic areas affected:

These amendments apply to the following areas of the city:

• ZA-23-03: Citywide

• ZA-23-04 Temporary Structures: Properties identified as Civic Spaces on Map 4.3.1-1 and all enumerated City of Burlington Parks (Code of Ordinances Chapter 22-1)

• ZA-23-05 168 Archibald Street: The subject property only (168 Archibald St.)

• ZA-24-01 Technical Amendments: Citywide List of section headings affected: The proposed amendments modify the following sections of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance:

• ZA-23-03: Modifies Secs. 5.2.5, Setbacks; 6.2.2, Review Standards; and 14.4.13, Urban Design Standards.

• ZA-23-04 Temporary Structures: Modifies Sec. 5.1.2, Structures.

• ZA-23-05 168 Archibald Street: Modifies Map 4.3.1-1 Base Zoning Districts, Map 4.4.2-1

Neighborhood Mixed Use Districts, and Map 4.4.5-1

Residential Zoning Districts.

• ZA-24-01 Technical Amendments: Modifies Secs. 3.1.2, Zoning Permit Required; 3.2.7, Administrative Review and Approval; 3.5.2, Applicability; 4.3.1, Base Districts Established; 4.4.1, Downtown Mixed Use Districts; 4.4.2, Neighborhood Mixed Use Districts; 4.4.5, Residential Districts; 5.1.2, Structures; 5.2.5, Setbacks; 5.2.6, Building Height Limitations; 5.2.7, Density Calculations; 5.3.5, Nonconforming Structures; 5.4.8, Historic Buildings and Sites;

5.4.13, Emergency Shelters; 7.1.3, Exemptions; 7.2.3, Band Signs; 7.2.13, Wall Sign; 9.1.8, Inclusionary Rentals Units, Rentals and Sales; 9.1.12, Additional Density and Other Development Allowances; 9.1.13 Off-Site and Payment in Lieu Options; 9.1.15, Marketing of Inclusionary Units; 10.1.5, Lot Line Adjustments; 10.1.8, Preliminary Plat Review; 10.1.9, Final Plat Approval Process; 10.1.11, Recording of Final Plats; 13.1.2, Definitions; 14.3.6, Civic Spaces; 14.4.13, Urban Design Standards; 14.7.1, Applying for a Zoning Permit: Submission Requirements and Review; 14.7.2, Non-Conformities; 14.8, Glossary; and Appendix A, Use Table—All Zoning Districts.

The full text of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance is available online at www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPI/CDO. Upon request, a hard copy of the proposed amendments can be viewed at the Clerk’s Office located on the second floor of City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or on the department’s website at https://www. burlingtonvt.gov/DPI/CDO/Amendments.

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.

ALL ARTISTS SUPPORT GROUP

Are you a frustrated artist? Have you longed for a space to “play” & work? Let’s get together & see what we can do about this! Text anytime or call 802-777-6100.

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@residence ottercreek.com or 802-989-0097. 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@residence shelburnebay.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, 800-272-3900, 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.

ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS W/ DEBT?

Do you spend more than you earn? Get help at Debtor’s Anonymous & Business Debtor’s Anonymous. Wed., 6:30-7:30 p.m., Methodist Church in the Rainbow Room at Buell & S. Winooski, Burlington. Contact Jennifer, 917-568-6390.

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.

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 with 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@drgonheartvermont.org for info.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group will be held every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:45 p.m. via conference call. Newly diagnosed? Prostate cancer reoccurrence? General discussion & sharing among survivors & those beginning or rejoining the battle.

Info, Mary L. Guyette RN, MS, ACNS-BC, 274-4990, vmary@aol.com.

CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP

Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m. in Montpelier. Please contact Lisa Mase 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 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 the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 2 Cherry St., Burlington. Call/email Alan at 802-233-0544, alanday88@ gmail.com, or Claire at 802-448-3569.

DECLUTTERERS’ SUPPORT GROUP

Are you ready to make improvements but find it overwhelming? Maybe 2 or 3 of us can get together to help each other simplify. 989-3234, 425-3612.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF CHOICE!

SMART Recovery welcomes anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. It is a science-based program that encourages abstinence. Specially trained volunteer facilitators provide leadership. Sun. at 5 p.m. The meeting has moved to Zoom: smartrecovery. zoom.us/j/92925275515. Volunteer facilitator: Bert, 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT

Steps to End Domestic Violence offers a weekly drop-in support group for female-identified 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 further info, please visit thefamilyrestored.org or contact Lindsay Duford at 781-960-3965 or 12lindsaymarie@gmail.com.

FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Families Coping w/ Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling w/ the drug or alcohol addiction of a loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington), &/or via our parallel Zoom session to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt. org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”). Any questions, please send by email to thdaub1@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).

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@pathwaysvermont.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.

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

Now Hiring at Southern State Correctional Facility.

Packaging Line Operator

Lawson’s Finest Liquids cra s and delivers the finest and freshest beer to delight our fans. We are a values-driven company with a focus on excellence, cultivating and supporting vibrant communities, and having fun. We are passionate about delivering world-class brews throughout our nine-state Northeast region and beyond. We have an exciting opportunity for someone to round out our Packaging Team by kegging & canning fresh beer. Apply: lawsonsfinest.com/ about-us/careers/

Senior Facilities Maintenance Technician

VSAC is seeking a Senior Facilities Maintenance Technician who will be responsible for the general condition of the building including overseeing routine maintenance, coordinating repair services on facility equipment, and performing weekly/monthly checks on facilities operations. Additionally, this position will process incoming/outgoing mail for VSAC and tenants, authorize payment of minor repairs, place service calls as appropriate and assist with the administration and maintenance of Building Monitor Systems.

To view the full job description and to apply online please visit: vsac.org/careers

Now Hiring at Southern State Correctional Facility.

Now Hiring at Southern State Correctional Facility.

Now Hiring at Southern State Correctional Facility.

Now Hiring at Southern State Correctional Facility.

Now Hiring

Access Librarian

Now Hiring

Now Hiring

Now Hiring

• Registered Nurses (RNs)

Now Hiring

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

• Registered Nurses (RNs)

• Registered Nurses (RNs)

• Registered Nurses (RNs)

Wellpath offers comprehensive benefits!

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

For more information, contact:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) Wellpath offers comprehensive benefits!

• Registered Nurses (RNs)

Wellpath offers comprehensive benefits!

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) Wellpath offers comprehensive benefits!

For more information, contact:

For more information, contact:

For more information, contact:

Wellpath offers comprehensive benefits!

Angela McKinzie // 678-822-1956 // amckinzie@wellpath.us

For more information, contact:

Angela McKinzie // 678-822-1956 // amckinzie@wellpath.us

Angela McKinzie // 678-822-1956 // amckinzie@wellpath.us

Angela McKinzie // 678-822-1956 // amckinzie@wellpath.us

Angela McKinzie // 678-822-1956 // amckinzie@wellpath.us

What’s your why? // wellpathcareers.com

The Access Librarian plays a central role in facilitating access to the Vermont Historical Society Library’s varied research collections, through cataloging, digitization, and building relationships with educators and scholars. For full details, visit vermonthistory.org/career-opportunities

What’s your why? // wellpathcareers.com

What’s your why? // wellpathcareers.com

What’s your why? // wellpathcareers.com

What’s your why? // wellpathcareers.com

CRM Administrator

Saint Michael’s College invites applications for a CRM Administrator position. The CRM Administrator is an influential role within the Admission Operations team. The CRM Administrator is responsible for leading the implementation, optimization, and management of the Slate CRM system, which serves as a central hub for student recruitment and enrollment activities. This role involves strategic thinking, technical expertise, collaboration, and a strong understanding of, and commitment to, achieving enrollment goals. The CRM Administrator oversees the import of datasets, and the development of applications, forms, queries and reports—with a focus on data security, integrity, and protection. The role manages CRM customization, development, cycle preparation, and user training. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCCRM

UPCOMING JOB FAIRS

Bolton Valley Job Fair Hosted at J Skis, Pre-Season Stoke and Pass Printing Party! Thursday, October 5, 4:00-8:00 at the J Skis/ Ski the East Headquarters at 247 Main Street, Burlington, VT.

Bolton Valley On-Site Job Fair:  Saturday, October 14, 11:00-3:00 in Fireside Lounge, 4302 Bolton Valley Access Road, Bolton Valley, VT.

Jobs Available in: Snowmaking • Ski Patrol • Hotel Front Desk • Lift Operations • Backcountry and Nordic Center • Rental and Retail Shop • Instruction •Food and Beverage • Guest Services • Resort Facilities Maintenance and Cleaning and more! For more information and to apply visit www.boltonvalley.com/the-resort/employment/

Sleep Technician

Goddard College, a leader in non-traditional education, has the following full-time, bene t eligible and part-time position openings:

ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

HELP DESK ASSISTANT – PT

To view position descriptions and application instructions, please visit our website: goddard.edu/about-goddard/employment-opportunities/

$60 per hour

• Flexible schedule: 2-3 nights/week (you choose!)

• 12-week contract with possible extension

• Must be RPSGT Certified

Questions? Call Jill LaRock at 802-888-8228

Send resume to: jlarock@chsi.org

86 DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

OCTOBER 4-11, 2023

Join our non-profit senior living community leadership team to chart medium- and long-term plans for EastView’s strategic growth.

EastView at Middlebury (Middlebury, VT) is seeking an experienced project development professional to support EastView in advancing its solid financial and cultural foundations through a series of smart growth priorities.

This Full-time Leadership position will initially focus on 3 areas:

• Profit & Loss management – developing market-based revenue growth initiatives and identifying operational cost efficiencies

• Collaborative affiliations or partnerships – leading an exploration of win/win relationships

• Expansion – advancing smart-growth options to expand both the capacity of the community and services provided.

To apply or for full job description: cleach@eastviewmiddlebury.com

Director of Information Technology

Lamoille North Supervisory Union (LNSU) is seeking a visionary leader when it comes to how technology can be used to transform the way students learn and how educators can provide instruction. The Director of Information Technology will maintain and leverage a high-level view across the organization and cultivate collaborative teams to transform the educational and operational technology landscape in alignment with the organization’s vision, values, regulatory obligations, and measurable outcomes. The Director will build on LNSU's mission of equity, access. and opportunity by being a creative, dynamic, and responsive leader charged with developing and implementing a strategic vision in all areas of technology that will support LNSU’s, and its school districts’ instructional and operational goals. Interested candidates can apply on-line at schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3968040 or can submit a letter of interest, resume and three current reference letters to: Deborah Clark, Business Manager at dclark@lnsd.org

Lamoille North S.U., 96 Cricket Hill Road, Hyde Park, VT 05655 Equal Opportunity Employer

OPERATIONS & HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

General Assembly

(802) 862-7662 website directly

DELIVERY DRIVERS WANTED

We are currently accepting applications for both part time and full time positions. We have several different shifts available.

Feel free to stop in to our office at 54 Echo Place, Suite# 1, Williston, VT 05495 and fill out an application.

You can also apply online via our website at shipvds.com or email Tom Knox directly at tknox@shipvds.com

Experienced Carpenter

We are hiring an Experienced Carpenter to add to our worker-owned cooperative team. We are a busy, fun, egalitarian-yet-structured, creative, kind, and missiondriven group of people working together toward the goal of developing ecological and social climate justice and regeneration practices in the building and design trades. Our ideal candidate has 8+ yrs of experience in construction, renovation, trades and/or energy & weatherization work, and at least 2 years of experience managing a crew. If you’ve been looking for a way to use your carpentry skills to advance climate change response through the built environment; build with natural, local, and plant-based materials; and be an integral part of an equitable, intersectional feminist workplace with a strong team culture, we welcome you! This position is based in Essex Jct, Vermont, but we travel to job sites across northern and central Vermont. $26-30/hr depending on experience, plus paid time off, benefits, education, and profit sharing.

To apply, please submit a letter of interest and resume via email to: info@newframeworks.com People of color, trans and gender-nonconforming people, people from poor and working-class backgrounds, queer people, and women are encouraged to apply.

Join our Team to nurture our shared economic prosperity, ecological health, and social connectivity for the well-being of all who live in VT. Responsible for HR, organizational development, operations, and special projects management .

FT salary between $70-75k, great benefits, casual but professional hybrid work environment, and an organizational culture where people feel valued, are energized, and can support forward-thinking solutions to our economic, social and climate challenges.

VSJF is an E.O.E. committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging in the workplace. Full job description: vsjf.org/about-vsjf-vermont/job-openings

Send cover letter & resume to jobs@vsjf.org by 5pm 10/20/23.

Physical Services Member, Grounds

Saint Michael’s College is seeking applications from dependable and efficient workers to fill a full-time grounds member position. This position will have a general schedule from 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Overtime and working off hours/days are expected and required throughout the year during large campus events and especially in the winter months for forecasted snowstorms. Successful candidates will join a team that maintains campus grounds throughout the year. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCPSMGS23

The Legislative support offices are currently hiring. The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work. You will be part of a highly professional and collegial team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at legislature.vermont.gov.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST OPENING

The Vermont Center for Anxiety Care (VCAC), a private psychotherapy practice on the Burlington waterfront, has an opening for a psychotherapist (licensed or post-masters or post-doctoral degree). Specialties in family therapy, adolescents, children or parenting are welcome. Clinical supervision towards licensure provided as needed. VCAC is a collaborative group with holistic approach and multiple specialties. Visit web site: vtcenterforanxietycare.com

Vermont Center for Anxiety Care. Send resume and cover letter describing professional interests and goals to Paul Foxman, Ph.D., 86 Lake Street, Burlington, VT 05401 or email: paulfoxman@aol.com.

Shared Living Provider

Seeking an SLP willing to provide complete personal care for an enjoyable and grateful 59-year-old woman. An accessible home will best meet her needs and we are willing to help with this.

She enjoys quiet time with her stuffed animals and matchbox cars, watching her favorite shows, country music, and the companionship of people and pets. Please contact Jessica Fox at jfox@howardcenter.org or 802.488.6529.

Land Use & Community Planner

YA / Desk Librarian

• Tech skills needed

• MLS or equivalent

• 30 hours/week

Circulation Supervisor

• Library experience preferred

• Must have supervisory and scheduling skills

• Full time

Both positions offer benefits including health, retirement, generous PTO. RFL is a large (by VT standards) public library serving 22,000 residents with 80,000 print and 75,000 online titles.

For details see: rutlandfree. org/join-the-library

Apply with letter & resume to randal@rutlandfree.org

Closing date Oct. 14.

Grounds Member, Full-time Winter Temp

Saint Michael’s College is seeking applications from dependable and efficient seasonal workers from November 27, 2023, through at least March 29, 2024. This is a full-time, winter temp, Monday-Friday position, and overtime and working off-days/hours are expected and required, especially during times of forecasted snowstorms. Responsibilities include but are not limited to clearing and salting parking lots, campus walks, stairs, and ramps throughout the winter using general snow/ice removal equipment; cleaning up campus grounds to include disposal of trash, recycling and compost containers; assisting with the moving and storage of all campus furniture, appliances, and equipment; and assisting with the set-up and tear-down of all special events. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCGW23

Seeking 2 Food Service Professionals

Join Our Team Fueling Student Success!

Lamoille North School District is hiring two positions on our School Nutrition Team. We are looking for dynamic people with a strong work ethic and love for cooking for Eden Elementary and Johnson Elementary Schools.

• Competitive wages that increase based on experience

• Excellent health insurance (single & family benefits)

• Monday through Friday when school is in session

• No nights, No weekends, School holidays off

• 7.5 hour shifts available

Please email Karyl Kent at kkent@lnsd.org or call Tammy Irish at 802-851-1390 to set up an interview.

Your next fulfilling job is waiting for you!

CVRPC is looking for a full-time planner or senior planner with broad life experience, the capacity to pair municipal needs with available resources, and a commitment to helping Central Vermont plan for the future. The strongest candidates will be ready to take on the responsibilities of position (see job descriptions on our website). A background in community, town and regional planning with an understanding of municipal land use planning is preferred. This planner will work with municipalities to identify and achieve their goals in addressing the housing shortage, protecting forests, water and farmlands, adapting to climate change, mitigating flood impacts, and revitalizing village centers. Exceptional organizational and communication skills are a must. Familiarity with ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro and demonstrated GIS skills will be prioritized for this hiring but are not a prerequisite.

A review of applications will begin October 16, 2023. For more details about this opportunity & how to apply please visit: centralvtplanning.org.

JOIN OUR OPERATIONS TEAM

Are you an accounting or human resources professional looking for your next adventure?

Join a high performing and collaborative team that brings passion and commitment to protecting Vermont’s farms, forests, and community lands. Two positions are now open.

THE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT will bring 3-7 years of accounting experience to support the financial health of our organization. The starting salary is $53,634 for 30 hours per week.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR will bring 3-5 years of HR experience to support the success of our employees and talent pipeline. The starting salary is $54,289 for 40 hours per week. We provide a generous cafeteria allowance to cover health care and other benefits, and:

• 6 weeks of combined time off plus sick time

• A 403b retirement plan with match

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to hr@vlt.org by November 7, 2023.

The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We honor & invite people of all backgrounds and life experiences to apply.

Brand new, state-of-the-art Residential Care program.

Clara’s Garden Memory Care is looking for caring staff to join our team. Our community is beautiful, peaceful, and purposefully designed for those living with memory loss.

Excellent work environment, competitive pay, great benefits!

ATHLETIC TRAINER

Applications are invited for the position of Athletic Trainer at Saint Michael’s College, a private Catholic liberal arts and Sciences College located in the greater Burlington area of Vermont. Saint Michael’s is an NCAA Division II institution sponsoring 21 varsity sports and is a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference, NEWHA, and the EISA. This is a full-time, 10-month position with benefits. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to addressing prevention, care, evaluation, and treatment of injuries for intercollegiate student-athletes; staffing home practices, as well as home and away contests; documenting treatment plans; assisting with ordering of equipment and supplies; and completing administrative and organizational tasks with Health Services, and the Team Physician. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCATA23

Tax & Utility Billing Clerk

The Town of Waterbury seeks a tax and utility billing clerk.  The position is responsible for accurate and timely billing and collection of taxes and water/wastewater utility charges, along with a myriad of related duties.  This position is an integral part of Town government and the work involves a substantial amount of interaction with the public.

This is a full-time, hourly position with pay up to $25/ hour depending on qualifications.  The Town offers a comprehensive and generous benefits package, including excellent health care and pension benefit plan.

The nature of this role does not allow for remote work.

For a full job description please visit: waterburyvt.com/ departments/finance

The position is open until filled.

Operations & Reporting Specialist

Coordinate systems and processes to support the Career Center operations. Work closely with the Strategic Communication Manager and the Curriculum & Assessment Specialist to foster a campus-wide ecosystem that prepares graduates in their postgraduate pursuits. Serve as the point of contact for our career platform (managing accounts, processes, data, and trainings), plan and support strategic data collection and reporting on a regular basis, and provide general tech and office support. Create a welcoming and inclusive environment. Ideal candidate is proficient in spreadsheets and data management. Learn more at uvm.edu/career/join-our-team

EXPERIENCED PAINTER

$1,000 Sign-on Bonus* for FT, Experienced Painters

STAPLETON PAINTING

is hiring interior and exterior painters for full-time/parttime/temporary work. Work is mainly in the Chittenden county area. Prefer an experienced painter, but willing to train the right person.

Very competitive hourly pay, pay commensurate with experience. Overtime often available, some benefits. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license, & a reliable vehicle.

If interested, please text Chris at (802) 363-8385 or call the o ce (802) 899-4296 between 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.

*Details available during interview.

Adolescent Literacy Teacher

The Stern Center for Language and Learning is hiring literacy teachers who are ready to make a difference at a new level in their career. If you thrive in an educational setting that shakes up the traditional school model, apply to join our team in the life-changing work of teaching reading. Work one-on-one or in small groups, with adolescents who need the support of caring educators who believe in them, in a context where social-emotional wellbeing and support is a critical part of the learning journey. We have current openings for structured literacy instructors with a background in dyslexia/special education, Orton-Gillingham, or similar qualifications. A flexible position based part-time or full-time in a Chittenden County, VT alternative high school program location is a priority hire.

The Stern Center for Language and Learning is a non-profit organization with a fortyyear history of dedication to learning for all through direct support to learners and transformative programs for educators. We invite you to learn more at sterncenter.org

To apply, email a cover letter and resume to hcastillo@sterncenter.org.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

SHARED LIVING PROVIDER

In search of a person for a shared roommate position, to live with and provide support for a young woman and her service dog. The sunny apartment is in central Winooski, recently renovated, with 2 bedrooms and bathrooms, in a secure access building and parking garage. Support would include assistance with cooking, home care, and transportation.

Requirements include:

• A safe, working, and insured automobile.

• Payment of $285/month for utilities & parking garage access.

• Passing a criminal background check

The preferred candidate would:

• Have a shared interest in music and the arts.

• Have an understanding of neurodiversity.

• Be caring and kind to all people.

Assistant or Associate Professor of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science at Saint Michael’s College is excited to invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position starting in August of 2024. Depending on qualifications and experience, the appointment could be at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level. As a member of the Computer Science faculty, you will have the chance to inspire the next generation of computer scientists. You will play a pivotal role in teaching our foundational programming courses, including Introduction to Computer Science 1, Introduction to Computer Science 2, and/or Data Structures. Choosing from a wide array of exciting topics that match your skills, you will also have an opportunity to teach upper-level computer science courses depending on your expertise. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCAPCS

Build Production Manager

We are hiring a Build Production Manager to add to the design and construction team of our worker-owned cooperative. We are a busy, fun, egalitarian-yet-structured, creative, kind, and mission-driven group of people working together toward the goal of developing ecological and social climate justice and regeneration practices in the building and design trades. Our ideal candidate has 15+ years of experience in carpentry, construction, renovation, trades and familiarity and experience with energy & weatherization work, and at least 5 years of experience supervising and managing a team on a job site and/or shop production facility. If you’ve been looking for a way to use your construction management skills to advance climate change response through the built environment; build with natural, local, and plant-based materials; and be an integral part of an equitable, intersectional feminist workplace with a strong team culture, we welcome you!

This position is based in Burlington, Vermont, but we travel to job sites across northern and central Vermont. $30-35/hr depending on experience, plus paid time off, benefits, education, and profit sharing. To apply, please submit a letter of interest and resume via email to: info@newframeworks.com People of color, trans and gender-nonconforming people, people from poor and working-class backgrounds, queer people, and women are encouraged to apply.

Compensation includes a $30,000 yearly Tax-free Stipend. Contact Rebecca at : RebeccaLO@howardcenter.org or 802-324-5729

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500

Front of House Manager

This is a full-time, benefited, in-person position. The FOH Manager is responsible for the Flynn’s customer-facing operations for all performances, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for guests, employees, artists, and patrons both across our campus and for all Flynn produced events off campus. This position will manage the team responsible for all front-of-house operations, including house managers, bartenders, and volunteers. This position also partners with operations, facilities, marketing, development, and security to provide a seamless experience that acknowledges, answers, and foresees the diverse needs of everyone who attends any Flynn event.

Visit our website for complete job details:

flynnvt.org/About-Us/

No phone calls, please. E.O.E.

Water Resources Department Staff

The Town of Richmond, VT is recruiting staff for the Water Resources Department. Open positions include Operator in Training, Lead Mechanical Operator, and Assistant Water and Wastewater Superintendent.

All interested parties are encouraged to apply and training is available for qualified applicants. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to start a career in the Water Resources Industry or for someone with current Water Resources Industry experience and certifications looking for the next step in their career.

The Richmond Water Resources department has about 500 water and wastewater accounts serving about 1000 people. The wastewater facility has a very active septage receival program.

Please send cover letter, resume & 3 current references to: Town of Richmond, P.O. Box 285, Richmond, VT, 05477. Or email to scote@richmondvt.gov. Questions directed to Steve Cote, Water and Wastewater Superintendent, at (802) 434-2178

Job Descriptions for Open Positions:

OPERATOR IN TRAINING: bit.ly/RichmondOPERATOR

LEAD MECHANICAL OPERATOR: bit.ly/RichmondLEADmechop

ASSISTANT WATER & WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT: bit.ly/RichmondWATERsuper

REGIONAL TREATMENT COURT COORDINATOR

Multiple full time grant positions funded until September 2024, 40 hours per week. Responsibilities include coordination of community stakeholders and service providers who work towards intervening and breaking the cycle of substance use and crime. Responsibilities include but are not limited to, coordination of grant activities, team oversight, facilitation of meetings, training and ensuring best practices across services, the collection of data and documentation to measure performance and outcomes, and management of the day-to-day operations of the treatment court. BA & 1 year of prior experience in criminal justice or social services settings required. Positions located in White River Junction & Barre, Vermont. Starting $25.43 per hour with excellent benefits. Open until filled. E.O.E.

For further details and how to apply:

For the White River Junction position go to vermontjudiciary.exacthire.com/job/117406.

For the Barre position go to vermontjudiciary.exacthire.com/job/117408

Finance Specialist

The Vermont Foodbank seeks a self-motivated, energetic Finance Specialist. This full time/hourly position reports to the Chief Financial Officer. The primary components of this position include maintaining A/P and A/R and assisting the staff accountant and CFO. An ideal candidate is confident, comfortable making independent decisions, able to maintain confidentiality, can provide a high level of quality customer service and problem solving, is organized, familiar with accounting procedures and accounting software, detail-oriented, accurate, tactful, and diplomatic. The ability to become proficient in Vermont Foodbank policies and procedures is required.

The selected candidate will join an energetic, empowered, collaborative team that derives joy from the work and is wholly dedicated to VF’s mission. The Vermont Foodbank’s work culture is progressive, forward thinking, and equity minded. Staff have the opportunity to fully develop their potential in a variety of ways: as organizational leaders, in shaping programs and advocacy efforts, and in working towards a future where everyone in Vermont has enough food every day.

To be considered for the position, please include a resume and cover letter with your application. The job posting can be found on our website at vtfoodbank.org/employment/current-openings. This position is a full-time hourly position with the starting pay set at $26.09 an hour ($54,270 annually) plus benefits that include options for fully employer paid health insurance, and a generous annual leave package that includes a week of at the end of the calendar year.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and seek to bring our values of diversity and inclusion to our hiring process. Beyond our commitment to non-discrimination, we encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our organization and who have lived experience of inequity.

VERMONT STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY

The VSHA is accepting applications for several positions. We are looking for people who are customerservice oriented and want to make a difference in their community. Join the VSHA where our mission is to promote and expand the supply of affordable rental and homeownership opportunities on a statewide basis.

Director of Rental Assistance

Site Managers – Central VT, St. Albans, Middlebury

Property Superintendents – St. Albans, Swanton, Milton

Field Representative - Windsor

Please visit vsha.org for complete job descriptions and to apply.

VSHA is an equal opportunity employer.

REAL ESTATE ASSISTANT

Evernorth is a nonprofit that provides affordable housing and community investments in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Our mission is for people in every community to have an affordable place to live and opportunities to thrive. We have an exciting opportunity for a Real Estate Assistant who coordinates activities between Evernorth, our partners and attorneys for our real estate development and closings in Vermont. The ideal candidate understands real estate legal documents, real estate accounting, is highly organized, has outstanding communication and proof-reading skills and works well in a team and individually. A bachelor’s degree, 3 years recent relevant work experience, and proficiency in Office 365. This position is based out of the Burlington office.

We believe in equal access to affordable housing and economic opportunities; the power of partnerships based on integrity, respect, and teamwork; and a collaborative workplace with professional, skilled and dedicated staff.

To apply, go to evernorthus.org/careers/.

EVERNORTH IS AN E.O.E.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ INTAKE COORDINATOR

Vermont Center for Anxiety Care Matrix Health Systems

Exclusive Burlington waterfront location

Duties:

• Manage online client applications for mental health services

• Telephone screening of new clients

• Health insurance verification

• Manage client wait list

• Coordinate case assignments

• Telephone and in-person patient reception

• Implement health safety protocols

• Administrative support to practice director

Required skills:

• Friendliness and effective verbal communication

Computer skills:

• Spreadsheets, JotForms, scanning, faxing, email, MS Word

• Efficiency and organization

Send resume to Alesia: alesia@ocamhs.com

District Manager

The Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD) seeks to fill its full time District Manager position. The District Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the District, ensuring adequate progress towards the goals and objectives of our 5 year strategic plan, providing oversight, mentorship & support to the other District staff, & implementing innovative projects and initiatives to advance our mission.

The District Manager position includes various components of technical and programmatic, statewide and regional coordination, administration, communication, personnel management, including direct oversight of two staff. The District Manager works closely with the bookkeeper/financial manager overseeing the budgeting and financial health of the district.

Job Type: Full-time (40 hrs/week)

Compensation: Position starts at State of Vermont Pay Grade 23 Step 1 (currently $25.43/hr). After successful completion of a six-month probationary period compensation increases to Step 2 (currently $26.62/hr). Predictable annual stepwise pay increases with satisfactory employee evaluations thereafter.

Compensation Benefits: Paid holidays, annual leave, and personal/sick leave. $6000/year health stipend. Retirement contribution to Simple IRA account.

Please e-mail info@winooskinrcd.org a short writing sample (a grant application example preferred), cover letter, and resume (PDF or Word format) with “District Manager Application” in the subject line. Deadline to submit is Monday October 23, 2023. Direct any questions to this email address. No phone calls, please.

Winooski NRCD is an equal opportunity employer.

View the full job description at: winooskinrcd.org/news-andevents/take-action/volunteer/jobs/

Phlebotomy Apprenticeship Program

INVEST IN YOURSELF

Our apprenticeship program is a paid opportunity to become a phlebotomist with NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

APPLY NOW www.iaahitec.org/phlebotomy

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

$2,000 SIGN ON BONUS

External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect gross pay, prior to applicable tax withholdings and deductions required by law. Current University of Vermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions apply.

Questions?

• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training

• Direct patient care

• Team environment

• Full Benefits

• Dedicated support during the 5-week program

• Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam

Professional Careers in WORLDWIDE TRAVEL

Join Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling Vacations, an award-winning, Vermont-based active travel company, and be part of our high performing, international team.

We have amazing opportunities for a Sales professional interested in supporting worldwide travel adventures with a leader in the industry, positively impacting established brands and working with a team of collaborative and gifted travel pros.

TOUR SALES CONSULTANT

If you’re passionate, driven by excellence, want to make a difference and are looking for balance in your quality of life – check us out! Ready to learn more?

Visit our career pages: VBT.com or countrywalkers.com & submit your resume to nvoth@vbt.com.

Food & Beverage: Line Cook/Chef

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROJECT CONSULTANT

Three-year, Part time contract beginning Fall 2023

The Vermont Judiciary is currently recruiting a Behavioral Health Project Consultant. This person will work with the Vermont Judiciary Commission on Mental Health and the Courts and its justice partners and stakeholders to assist with expanding and improving the judicial response to mental and behavioral health issues, to assist with the development and implementation of training curriculum and materials, and to facilitate and support justice partners and stakeholders in the Commission’s work. A BA in Behavioral Science, Social Services, Psychology, or related fields with 5+ years of experience in project management or policy development in areas related to mental/behavioral health treatment providers and evidence-based practices for mental/behavioral health, substance abuse disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders. EOE. For further details see vermontjudiciary.exacthire.com/job/115182

To Apply submit a resume to JUD.jobs@vermont.gov

General Stark’s Pub at Mad River Glen is looking for a year-round, part-time/ full-time Line Cook/Chef with culinary experience and an understanding of ski area culture. The ideal candidate for this position will be able to prepare and cook pub menu items in a fast paced, high volume restaurant environment. We are looking for an individual who is team oriented and can be available to prepare the occasional banquet meal as well. Food ordering and inventory experience are a plus.

This is an hourly position that comes with an employee ski pass and other benefits at Mad River Glen. Winter hours and shifts may vary. Pay is based on experience with the opportunity to grow into an Executive Chef/Kitchen Manager role for the right candidate.

Interested candidates please send a resume, cover letter, and 2 references to david@madriverglen.com or call 802-624-1882 for more information.

at the University of Vermont is seeking your talent to join our team as a Cook Senior! We're dedicated to creating flavorful, plant-based meals using fresh, local ingredients to provide healthy and diverse options for our community. Receive a $500 Sign On Bonus.

View multiple full and part-time positions, including culinary jobs, service staff, supervisors, drivers and dishwashers.

IT Support Specialist

The IT Support Specialist will administer the IT systems of the Cooperative alongside the administration team and our external IT consultant. The IT Support Specialist must be comfortable tackling a variety of IT issues from basic computing to point of sale systems. This is a brand-new role that reports to the Finance Director, is a year-round position, and includes a generous benefits package. We are seeking candidates with a variety of IT experience and backgrounds for this exciting new opportunity.

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.”

CAROLYN ZELLER Intervale Center, Burlington

On-the-job training

• Flexible scheduling

• Earn an extra $3/hr when you work Monday-Friday from 4:30pm to close or any weekend shift • Benefits start day 1 for Full Time • PTO, 401K, Health/Vision/Dental • Career advancement path from the front line to management. Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/ Female/Disability/Veteran Employer.

This position is an approximately .75 FTE with year-round variable hour work.

To apply please send a cover letter/letter of interest and resume to Andrew Snow, Finance Director, via email at andrew@madriverglen.com or mail at PO Box 1089, Waitsfield, VT 05673.

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER...

Are you a critical thinker, an excellent fundraiser, and passionate about making a di erence in the lives of Vermont women and girls?

Entering its fourth decade, the Vermont Women’s Fund seeks a new director who will be its lead voice and champion. e ideal candidate is committed to working with the VWF Council to grow the fund and build capacity to improve the economic and social conditions experienced by Vermont women and girls. e most successful candidate will be a curious and collaborative fundraiser whose vision garners robust charitable support and inspires donors, leaders, organizations, and businesses to maximize their collective impact.

If this sounds like a good t for you, visit vermontcf.org/careers for complete job descriptions and instructions for applying.

the brid ge

When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package.

PROGRAM TECHNICIAN I - TEMPORARY

HireAbility VT is seeking a team-orientated individual with very strong customer service and administrative skills to support our Barre office in a part-time, long-term temporary position. This role provides key clerical support to a vibrant team of vocational counselors & employment staff related to case documentation, development and organization of DocuSign processes, financial processes, communicating with participants and front-line support for visitor reception. For more information, contact Holli Vidal at holli.vidal@vermont.gov.

Department: Disabilities Aging & Independent Living. Location: Barre. Status: Part Time - Temporary. Job ID #48347. Application Deadline: October 11, 2023.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MFA IN FILM

Community Bankers - Chittenden County BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join NSB’s team!

Independent Non-profit Community News for Central Vermont

Independent, Non-profit Community News for Central Vermont

Ad Sales Rep.

Operations Manager

Earn money part-time and help support local journalism

Set your own hours and work from where you like.

The right candidate will be sales oriented, self-motivated and digitally savvy— ideally comfortable with Google Ad Manager, WordPress, and Google Suite.

This is a contract position with base pay plus commission and room for future growth.

Nonprofit, independent newspaper in Montpelier seeks highly organized individual with strong communication and collaboration skills to help manage operations. Familiarity with QuickBooks and WordPress a plus. Flexible hours up to 20 per week, $25 per hour with some benefits.

Vermont College of Fine Arts welcomes applications for the Assistant Director of the MFA in Film Program. This position is a part-time, administrative position reporting to the Program Director.

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all.

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Shelburne Road Branch or our Church Street location!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

• Details at: montpelierbridge.org/job-opportunities

Details at: montpelierbridge.org/ job-opportunities

2v-TheBridge090623 1 9/1/23 12:15 PM

LABORATORY PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE Half-time

The Department of Biology invites applications for a half-time position at the rank of Assistant Laboratory Professor of Biology with expertise in cell biology or genetics. Applicants should have a Ph.D. and demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching.

For details, visit: apply.interfolio.com/129524

The Assistant Director works closely with the Program Director. The Assistant Director role is characterized by administrative experience; a commitment to creating and fostering equity, inclusion, and belonging; project management and student support abilities; attention to detail; excellent writing and interpersonal communication skills; and ability to collaborate. General knowledge of and interest in the culture of film is preferred. Experience with low-residency, online, or remote education is a plus.

Successful candidates will have a customer service orientation toward various constituencies and knowledge/facility with many software applications including G suite tools, video conferencing, JotForm, WordPress, and Airtable data management software. A bachelor degree or comparable experience is required. VCFA administrative offices are in Montpelier, VT. This position can be performed in-person, hybrid, or remotely. Travel to twice-annual residencies is required, and other travel may be required as necessary.

Candidates are encouraged to consult VCFA’s website to acquaint themselves with our distinctive academic schedule, unique pedagogy, and educational philosophy. To apply, please send the following to vcfajobs@vcfa.edu with “Assistant Director, MFA in Film” in the subject line:

1. Cover Letter 2. CV/Resume 3. Statement on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, outlining your professional skills, accomplishments, experience, and willingness to engage in activities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/ Member FDIC

Direct Support Professional

Why not have a job you love?

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance plan with premium as low as $13 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous sign on bonus and so much more. And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for five years running.

Job Highlight - Direct Support Professional:

Provide one on one supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism in their home, the community or their workplace. Make a big difference in someone’s life, including yours! This is a great entry level position and for those looking to continue their work in this field. Starting wage is $20/hr with a sign on bonus of $1,000 at 6 months. Send resume to staff@ccs-vt.org. Great jobs in management ($48,000 annual), and direct support ($20-$21/hr) at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities.

See all our positions at ccs-vt.org/current-openings/ Make a career making a difference and apply today!

Director of Human Resources

STAFF ATTORNEYS AND INTAKE SPECIALIST Burlington, VT

STAFF ATTORNEY

Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont work closely together to help low-income resolve their civil legal issues.

Vermont Legal Aid seeks a 1-year, for an 80% to 100% time, Staff Attorney for our Poverty Law Project to do general poverty work and disaster relief.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual LSV are equal opportunity employers committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free

Please see our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/diversity-inclusion.

Vermont Legal Aid seeks full-time Staff Attorney for Medical-Legal Partnership: General responsibilities: interview prospective clients, assess legal problems, and identify individual and systems advocacy in a variety of forums on behalf of clients; conduct factual and analysis; legal research; prepare briefs and argue appeals; become proficient in law handled specific law project. See vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/jobs for details.

The Director of Human Resources provides leadership and strategic thinking in the areas of labor and employer relations and human resources for the Washington Central Unified Union School District. The Director develops and enforces procedures to assure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, board policies and negotiated agreements to effectively and efficiently achieve the District mission. This person must lead, coordinate, implement, supervise and provide labor relations services, personnel administration, recruitment, retention, employee development and diversification.

Bachelor’s degree or higher in an appropriate discipline plus 5 to 6 years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired. Experience must include management experience in an educational field or similar with experience administering collective bargaining agreements.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free workplace. See our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/commitment-diversity-inclusion General responsibilities: interview prospective clients, assess legal problems, and identify legal advice; individual and systems advocacy in a variety of forums on behalf of clients; conduct factual investigations and analysis; legal research; prepare briefs and argue appeals; become proficient in law handled by the specific law project. The position also includes doing disaster relief work, which may include participating in clinics and outreach activities.

Starting salary is $59,800, with additional salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. weeks paid vacation and retirement, as well as excellent health benefits. Attorney applicants licensed to practice law in Vermont, eligible for admission by waiver, or have passed the Vermont passing score. This position is based in our Burlington office. In-state travel in a

Application deadline is August 7, 2023. Your application should include a cover letter and resume, status, writing sample, and three professional references with contact information, sent as Send your application by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid.org, include in the subject line your name MLP Attorney” April 2023. Please let us know how you heard about this position.

See vtlegalaid.org/work-at-vla for job description details and vtlegalaid.org/our-projects for specific project information.

Washington Central Unified Union School District is a public school district serving over 1,400 students in preschool through grade 12 in the Central Vermont towns of Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex and Worcester with 6 schools, both elementary and middle and high school levels.

Legal Services Vermont seeks a full-time Staff Attorney and an Intake Specialist: Legal Services Vermont is an innovative non-profit law firm that provides civil legal services spectrum of low-income clients in a high-volume practice. Our advocates represent individual participate in court clinics and also staff our helpline to screen new clients and provide legal Working closely with Vermont Legal Aid, we help low-income Vermonters resolve their civil Our office is located in Burlington, VT.

Washington Central is dedicated to providing quality education to its students and is guided by three areas of focus: Academic Achievement, Safe & Healthy Schools and Humanity and Justice. Washington Central offers a variety of benefits such as competitive salaries and benefits, career growth opportunities and access to a supportive work environment.

Vermont is known for its pristine outdoors, vibrant communities, and friendly neighbors. Whether you are looking for a scenic town to raise your family or an outdoor paradise to explore on your weekends, the Green Mountain State has something for everyone. With its natural beauty and great schools, Vermont is the perfect place to live, work, and thrive. Interested candidates may apply through SchoolSpring.com, Job ID#4424486 or by sending a resume and cover letter to Susanne Gann at hrmail@u32.org

While we appreciate all interest in this exciting opportunity, only candidates most closely aligned with our search will be contacted. Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

Starting salary is $63,800+, with additional salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Four weeks paid vacation and retirement, as well as excellent health benefits. Attorney applicants must be licensed to practice law in Vermont, eligible for admission by waiver, or have passed the UBE with a Vermont passing score. In-state travel in a personal vehicle required.

Staff Attorney General Responsibilities: We are seeking an attorney advocate to work in areas, with a focus on housing and eviction cases. Job duties include individual client representation, assisting clients on our helpline, and other legal assistance projects. See legalservicesvt.org/about-lsv/ careers for job description details.

Application deadline is October 15, 2023. Your application should be sent as a single PDF and include a cover letter and resume, bar status, writing sample, and at least three professional references with contact information.

Send your application by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid.org, include in the subject line your name, and “Poverty Law Project 2023.”

Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Starting salary is $59,800, with salary credit given for relevant experience, & excellent benefits Application deadline is August 7, 2023. Your application should include a cover letter and a single PDF. Send your application by e-mail to Sara Zeno at szeno@legalservicesvt.org line “Hiring Opportunity.” Please let us know how you heard about this position Intake Specialist General Responsibilities: The Intake Specialist will work on our helpline incoming calls or online inquiries for civil legal assistance and assist our advocates and attorneys collaborative environment. The work environment is a fast-paced, high-volume setting that multi-tasking while maintaining a high level of attention to detail. The job duties include assessing

Human Resources Coordinator

$24-$28 hourly. DOQ, full-time with flexible scheduling available and excellent local government benefits.

The Town of Shelburne team has grown to require a dedicated human resources professional. Help all our staff achieve their best, and cultivate the spirit of public service in our town. This coordinator will support all of our departments in the full suite of HR routines and special projects. The ideal candidate has related education and experience in human resources work, including recruiting, benefits administration, training, and problem solving. We have opportunities to grow, and to shape this position to the skills and interests of the right candidate.

Visit shelburnevt.org/jobs to see the full job description and application. To apply, email scannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. Review of applications begins immediately. The Town of Shelburne is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CAREGIVER

Looking for dependable, compassionate, part-time overnight caregiver. If interested please call 802-864-6654 and ask for Sue.

We’re Hiring!

We offer competitive wages & a full benefits package for full time employees. No auction experience necessary.

OPEN POSITIONS:

Auto Auction Staff (WILLISTON, VT)

Want to make a quick buck in your free time in a fun, fast paced environment? We’re looking for Friday & Saturday Auto Auction Staff. 8:45AM-Noon. Email eric@thcauction.com

Auction Site Tech (MORRISVILLE, VT)

We’re seeking an energetic & motivated individual to join our auction team. Techs work an average of 40 hours per week. Email: info@thcauction.com

Thomas Hirchak Company is an at will employer. See details at: THCAuction.com

Email Us: Info@THCAuction.com

Legal Office Coordinator

SRH Law, a mission-driven Burlington law firm, seeks Legal Office Coordinator.

SRH Law PLLC (formerly Dunkiel Saunders) is seeking a motivated and skilled Legal Office Coordinator to join our mission-driven law firm. The Legal Office Coordinator is the backbone of our office and the first person that clients see when they walk in. This position provides general administrative support to attorneys and paralegals, front desk/ reception coverage, and assistance with facility management, organization, scheduling, and day-to-day office functioning.

The ideal candidate has a good eye for detail, can work eff ectively as a team member with other professionals, can prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and has strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Candidates should be conversant with Microso Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat, and be comfortable efficiently learning other cloud-based so ware and applications. Experience in office administration is strongly preferred.

SRH Law works with clients—including businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, government entities, and individuals—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, and we are looking for a team member to help us accomplish this important work.

organization, dependent

Competitive salary and benefits. 401(k) plan with employer match, dependent care account, employer-paid health insurance, free parking, paid vacation, and excellent work life balance.

Interested persons should e-mail a letter of interest and resume to applications@srhlaw.com by October 6, 2023.

ONLY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY EMAIL WILL BE CONSIDERED.

•

•

NFI VT is a private, nonprofit, specialized service agency within the Vermont statewide mental health system. We are a healing organization, grounded in trauma-informed care. We are hiring for Full-Time, Part-Time and Relief positions. Regular positions of 30+ hours per week are eligible for our generous benefits package, which includes competitive salary and tuition reimbursement. Please apply online at: nfivermont. org/careers.

NFI VT is an E.O.E. and, as such, prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, ethnic background, disability, or other non-work-related personal trait or characteristic to the extent protected by law.

Seasonal Positions & Flexible Schedules

Looking for a job for a few weeks or months? We have positions in our smokehouse, call center and warehouse. Flexible shifts to meet most schedules, paid training, a fun work environment making the World’s Finest Hams, Bacon and Smoked Meats for customers around the country.

Apply in person:

210 East Main St, Richmond (Just 15 minutes from Burlington or Waterbury)

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE/PRO BONO PROJECT COORDINATOR

Legal Services Vermont is looking to fill a full-time position for a Community Advocate/Project Coordinator for a new initiative to expand our Pro Bono legal work. We are an innovative non-profit law firm that provides civil legal services to a broad spectrum of low-income clients in a high-volume practice. Our advocates assist individual clients, participate in court clinics and also staff our helpline to screen new clients and provide legal advice. Working closely with Vermont Legal Aid, we help low-income Vermonters help themselves to resolve their civil legal issues.

This position will be funded under a two year grant that will run until September 30, 2025, with the potential for extension depending on the availability of funding.

The Project Coordinator will work with newly-licensed attorneys to connect them with volunteer opportunities to assist lowincome clients. Project duties will include working with volunteer lawyers and clients to coordinate volunteer opportunities, tracking case assignments and outcomes, developing training materials and setting up trainings, and working with partner agencies to support the project. The Project Coordinator will work under the supervision of the attorney who manages LSV’s Pro Bono program.

We are looking for candidates with strong communication skills; a demonstrated commitment to community engagement and public interest advocacy; the ability to organize a large volume of work; the ability to work with a diverse clientele; and a collaborative work style. The position is based in Burlington.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and culturally competent staff to serve our increasingly diverse client community. We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience and skills can contribute to serving our client communities.

Hiring level will depend on background and qualifications. Starting salary is $44,200, with salary credit given for relevant experience, and an excellent benefits package.

Application deadline is October 9, 2023. Your application should include a cover letter and resume, sent as a single PDF. Send your application by e-mail to Sara Zeno at szeno@legalservicesvt.org with the subject line “Hiring Opportunity.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Police Officer

The Richmond Police Department is currently accepting applications for a Full Time Police Officer. Our Department’s focus is a community based approach that encourages a collaborative effort utilizing a variety of services in problem solving. Richmond is a quiet suburb in Chittenden County, serving a population of 4,200 citizens.

The Richmond Police Department offers a competitive benefits package including take home cruiser in a 30 mile radius, Vermont Municipal Employees Retirement System Group D, paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, medical, dental, and life insurance and upon completion of mandatory training. The starting salary is $29.59 per hour, as set forth in the NEPBA (New England Police Benevolence Association) contract. Lateral transfers are eligible to receive credit for experience.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED.

• Must have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions, nor any habitual or serious traffic offenses, domestic violence or assault convictions. Other violations, which may adversely affect a law enforcement career, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Vermont State driver’s license.

• Able to pass Vermont Police Academy entrance exam.

• Pass Vermont Police Academy Physical Fitness Exam

• Pass a polygraph and comprehensive background investigation.

Entrance requirements can be found and reviewed at vcjtc.vermont.gov/training/three/entrance-standards

Please submit resumes along with a letter of interest to:

Town of Richmond

Attention: Town Manager Josh Arneson 203 Bridge Street, Richmond, VT 05477 Or email to: jarneson@richmondvt.gov

Architectural Designer

Vermont Integrated Architecture, P.C. (VIA) of Middlebury, VT seeks a designer with 1-5 years of experience with design and construction documentation for sustainable residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Position requires excellent communication skills, strong proficiency producing technical drawings with Revit, detailed knowledge of construction documentation and related systems, and a willingness to collaborate. Experience with Revit, AutoCAD, and Adobe Creative Suite programs required. Commitment to and experience with energy efficiency and sustainability strategies in buildings a plus.  Position is full-time and in-person at our Middlebury, Vermont studio. Send letter of interest, resume, and portfolio to: gwen@ vermontintegratedarchitecture.com

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.

Scholars Program Director (Staff) - Center for Academic Success#S4640PO - The Scholars Program Director provides leadership for programs that promote college access and success for students from historically underserved and under-represented communities. The role serves as the Project Director for the TRIO/Upward Bound Program, and provides broad leadership for the Scholars Program Team, including UVM’s First Scholars Program. The Program Director leads a team of 2.7 full-time professional staff, developing student-centered programming and academic success strategies for both high school and college students, manages staff hiring and budgets, and directly serves Upward Bound project participants on campus and in high schools. The Director manages federal grant requirements, identifies program outcomes, assessment measures and strategies, and authors regular reports as well as new grant proposals. As a member of the departmental leadership team of the Center for Academic Success, this leader furthers our strong commitment to equity and inclusion. Supervised by the CFAS Director.

Master’s Degree with three years experience or its equivalent working in higher education and/or secondary school environment is required. Some combination of the following required: experience working with TRIO programs; experience in curriculum design and/or program evaluation; experience working with Federal grants. Familiarity with the needs of first-generation and limited income students required. Strong interpersonal and communication skills required. Demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and evaluate complex programs, including budgeting and technology proficiencies. Ability to travel locally and nationally required. Ability to develop inclusive and equitable work environments. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The University encourages applications from all individuals who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution.

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.

Hayward Tyler is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Learn more:

Meeting the power challenges of the future with cutting edge technology

Seven Days Issue:

10/4

Due: 10/2 by 11am

Size: 3.83” x 5.25”

Marketing Director

Cost: $476.85 (with 1 week online)

The Marketing Director is responsible for leading our sponsorship program as well as developing and implementing a marketing/advertising plan to promote the Fair and special events.

Special events: Work with appropriate CVE team members to coordinate and host successful events. This includes, but is not limited to, special event promotions and assisting with hosting the events.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Demonstrated marketing, digital media, social media, paid advertising, and earned media experience

• Demonstrated marketing analytic knowledge and an ability to leverage data to further paid media efforts

• Demonstrated sales experience

• Self-motivated and comfortable in working in a small business environment where each team member fills multiple roles

• Strong and effective written and verbal communications

• Demonstrated skills in press/media relations

• Efficient with Microsoft Office

This is a year-round, full-time position.

Cover letter & resume should be submitted to info@cvexpo.org

CAREERS IN ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

Positions available in:

Hayward Tyler is a global leader in performance-critical pumps and motors, serving a range of industries, including advanced nuclear. We offer generous pay, exceptional benefits, a sought-after work environment, and career paths rich in opportunities for growth. Advance your career with us! haywardtyler.com

5v-Graystone100423 1

OFFENDER RE-ENTRY HOUSING SPECIALIST

We’re expanding our team of professionals in the Housing Retention and Services department. We’re looking for a full time Offender Re-entry Housing Specialist in our Housing Retention and Services department.

The Offender Re-entry Housing Specialist provides support to men and women under the VT Department of Corrections supervision from prison back to Chittenden County. The ORHS focuses on high-risk men and women who are being released from jail and graduating transitional housing programs and in need of permanent housing. The ORHS provides intensive retention and eviction prevention services and works collaboratively with the Burlington Probation and Parole Office. Additionally, the ORHS works with various case workers, Re-Entry staff and the Administrative Staff from the VT Department of Corrections and the broad network of COSA staff as necessary throughout Chittenden County. The ORHS works to meet program objectives and BHA obligations under its grant agreement with the Department of Corrections.

Candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and at least 2 years of experience providing direct services to diverse populations. Knowledge of the social services network is preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and internet navigation required. Excellent time-management skills, ability to work independently, as well as effective verbal and written communication skills are required.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

Our robust benefit package includes premium medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance.

We provide a generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays.

Interested in this career opportunity? Send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org.

Human Resources, BHA

65 Main Street, Suite 101

Burlington, VT 05401

burlingtonhousing.org

Burlington Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer

POLICE OFFICERS

Full-Time

Up to $15,000 Sign-On Bonus FOR VERMONT CERTIFIED OFFICERS

The Stowe Police Department is seeking full-time police officer positions to help fulfill its mission to provide quality service in a professional, respectful, and ethical manner.

Stowe is a vibrant four season resort community offering worldclass outdoor recreation. The community has 5,200 year round residents and can have over 15,000 visitors during peak periods. Stowe Police operates throughout the Town’s 72 square miles which includes over 90 miles of roadways.

Stowe Police Department is committed to excellence in law enforcement and dedicated to the people, traditions, and diversity of our town. We work in partnership with the community to preserve and improve the quality of life, making the town a safer, more pleasant place to live, work, and visit.

Up to $15,000 sign-on bonus for Vermont certified officers, with half paid upon hire and half after one year. Minimum starting pay for a certified officer is $26.05 per hour and may be higher depending on qualifications and experience.

Applicants must be 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, possess a High School diploma or equivalent, and possess a valid Driver’s License. Applicant must be able to perform all the essential functions involved with police duties. The hiring process includes a physical fitness examination, polygraph, oral board, written exam, medical exam, fingerprint check & extensive background check.

The Town of Stowe currently offers an excellent benefit package including BCBS health plans with 8% or 10% employee premium share, dental insurance, generous paid leave including 13 holidays, 11.1% employer contribution to VMERS D pension plan, life insurance and more.

If you have any questions, please call Chief Donald Hull at (802) 253-4329 or e-mail at dhull@stowevt.gov

Job descriptions & employment application can be obtained at: townofstowevt.org. Submit application, letter of interest and resume to: Town of Stowe, c/o HR Director, PO Box 730, Stowe, VT 05672 or by email recruit@stowevt.gov. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The Town of Stowe is an E.O.E.

Now hear this!

Seven Days is recording select stories from the weekly newspaper for your listening pleasure.

How does it work?

Go to sevendaysvt.com/aloud and click on the article you want to hear.

When the article loads, scroll down past the first photo and find the prompt to “Hear this article read aloud.”

Press play! You can pause at any time, skip ahead, rewind and change the speaking speed to suit your needs.

19th-Century Educator Alexander Twilight Broke Racial Barriers, but Only Long After His Death. It’s Complicated. 27MINS.

Movie Review: ‘The Unknown Country’ 8 MINS.

A Young Man’s Path Through the Mental Health Care System Led to Prison — and a Fatal Encounter 40 MINS.

Inside Bread and Puppet Theater as Founder Peter Schumann, 89, Contemplates His Final Act 39 MINS.

Movie Review: ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ 8 MINS.

Thrill Ride: Vermont Drummer Urian Hackney Is on a Wild Ride Through the Rock World 29 MINS.

Happy Days: Burlington High School Class of 1953 Holds ‘Final’ Reunion 13 MINS.

Movie Review: ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ 8 MINS.

Talking to the Hand Is a Bad Idea in the Gritty Australian Horror Flick ‘Talk to Me’ 8 MINS.

Start listening at: sevendaysvt.com/aloud

Then, tell us what you think: aloud@sevendaysvt.com

WHILE YOU WORK ON THE ROAD

fun stuff

“There will be other squirrels ... There always are.”

CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.81) CROSSWORD (P.81)

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

LIBRA

(SEP. 23-OCT. 22)

Take a few deep, slow breaths. Let your mind be a blue sky where a few high clouds float. Hum your favorite melody. Relax as if you have all the time in the world to be whoever you want to be. Fantasize that you have slipped into a phase of your cycle when you are free to act as calm and unhurried as you like. Imagine you have access to resources in your secret core that will make you stable and solid and secure. Now read this Mary Oliver poem aloud: “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): I’ve been doing interviews in support of my new book, Astrology Is Real: Revelations From My Life as an Oracle. Now and then, I’m asked this question: “Do you actually believe all that mystical woo-woo you write about?” I respond diplomatically, though inwardly I’m screaming, “How profoundly hypocritical I would be if I did not believe in the ‘mystical woo-woo’ I have spent my adult life studying and teaching!” But here’s my polite answer: I love and revere the venerable spiritual philosophies that some demean as “mystical woo-woo.” I see it as my job to translate those subtle ideas into well-grounded, practical suggestions that my readers can use to enhance their lives. Everything I just said is the prelude for your assignment, Aries: Work with

extra focus to actuate your high ideals and deep values in the ordinary events of your daily life. As the American idioms advise: Walk your talk, and practice what you preach.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): I’m happy to see the expanding use of service animals. Initially, there were guide dogs to assist humans with imperfect vision. Later there came mobility animals for those who need aid in moving around and hearing animals for those who can’t detect ringing doorbells. In recent years, emotional support animals have provided comfort for people who benefit from mental health assistance. I foresee a future in which all of us feel free and eager to call on the nurturing of companion animals. You may already have such friends, Taurus. If so, I urge you to express extra appreciation for them in the coming weeks. Ripen your relationship. And if not, now is an excellent time to explore the boost you can get from loving animals.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Gemini author Chuck Klosterman jokes, “I eat sugared cereal almost exclusively. This is because I’m the opposite of a ‘no-nonsense’ guy. I’m an ‘all-nonsense’ guy.” The coming weeks will be a constructive and liberating time for you to experiment with being an all-nonsense person, dear Gemini. How? Start by temporarily suspending any deep attachment you have to being a serious, hyperrational adult doing staid, weighty adult things. Be mischievously committed to playing a lot and having maximum fun. Dancing sex! Ice cream uproars! Renegade fantasies! Laughter orgies! Joke romps! Giddy brainstorms and euphoric heartstorms!

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Cancerian comedian Gilda Radner said, “I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn’t itch.” Let’s use that as a prime metaphor for you in the coming weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will be wise to opt for what feels good over what merely looks good. You will make the right choices if you are committed to loving yourself more than trying to figure out how to get others to love you. Celebrate highly functional beauty, dear Cancerian. Exult in the clear intuitions that

Eva Sollberger’s

arise as you circumvent self-consciousness and revel in festive self-love.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): The amazingly creative Leo singer-songwriter Tori Amos gives this testimony: “All creators go through a period where they’re dry and don’t know how to get back to the creative source. Where is that waterfall? At a certain point, you say, ‘I’ll take a rivulet.’” Her testimony is true for all of us in our quest to find what we want and need. Of course, we would prefer to have permanent, unwavering access to the waterfall. But that’s not realistic. Besides, sometimes the rivulet is sufficient. And if we follow the rivulet, it may eventually lead to the waterfall.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Do you perform experiments on yourself? I do on myself. I formulate hypotheses about what might be healthy for me, then carry out tests to gather evidence about whether they are. A recent one was: Do I feel my best if I eat five small meals per day or three bigger ones? Another: Is my sleep most rejuvenating if I go to bed at 10 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m. or if I sleep from midnight to 9 a.m.? I recommend you engage in such experiments in the coming weeks. Your body has many clues and revelations it wants to offer you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): An Oklahoma woman named Mary Clamswer used a wheelchair from ages 19 to 42 because multiple sclerosis made it hard to use her legs. Then a miracle happened. During a thunderstorm, she was hit by lightning. The blast not only didn’t kill her, but it also cured the multiple sclerosis. Over the subsequent months, she recovered her ability to walk. Now I’m not saying I hope you will be hit by a literal bolt of healing lightning, Scorpio, nor do I predict any such thing. But I suspect a comparable event or situation that may initially seem unsettling could ultimately bring you blessings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What are your favorite mind-altering substances? Coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar or tobacco? Alcohol, pot, cocaine or opioids? Psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD or MDMA? Others? All the above? Whatever they are, the coming weeks

will be a favorable time to reevaluate your relationship with them. Consider whether they are sometimes more hurtful than helpful or vice versa, whether the original reasons that led you to them are still true, and how your connection with them affects your close relationships. Ask other questions, too! PS: I don’t know what the answers are. My goal is simply to inspire you to take an inventory.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In his book Meditations for Miserable People Who Want to Stay That Way, Dan Goodman says, “It’s not that I have nothing to give, but rather that no one wants what I have.” If you have ever been tempted to entertain dour fantasies like that, I predict you will be purged of them in the coming weeks and months. Maybe more than ever before, your influence will be sought by others. Your viewpoints will be asked for. Your gifts will be desired, and your input will be invited. I trust you won’t feel overwhelmed!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): William James (1842-1910) was a paragon of reason and logic. So influential were his books about philosophy and psychology that he is regarded as a leading thinker of the 19th and 20th centuries. On the other hand, he was eager to explore the possibilities of supernatural phenomena such as telepathy. He even consulted a trance medium named Leonora Piper. James said, “If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, it is enough if you prove that one crow is white. My white crow is Mrs. Piper.” I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because I suspect you will soon discover a white crow of your own. As a result, long-standing beliefs may come into question; a certainty could become ambiguous; an incontrovertible truth may be shaken. This is a good thing!

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): If we hope to cure our wounds, we must cultivate a focused desire to be healed. A second essential is to be ingenious in gathering the resources we need to get healed. Here’s the third requirement: We must be bold and brave enough to scramble up out of our sense of defeat as we claim our right to be vigorous and whole again. I wish all these powers for you in the coming weeks.

supported by: Colchester screen-printing business New Duds has been around almost as long as this video series! Tessa and Torrey Valyou were dating when they launched their company in 2008. Since then, they've gotten married, had two children and expanded to a staff of 20. Eva Sollberger got a tour of their shop before an October 14 open house and warehouse sale.

WOMEN seeking...

LAUGH OFTEN

Single female looking to meet new friends and see where it goes. I like to be outside: bikes, walks, sunsets, camping, hiking. Hstwinz 45 seeking: M, l

LET’S SEE WHERE THIS LEADS

I’m happy, healthy and grateful for the life I have. However, it would be nice to share it with someone.

DreamerVT, 50, seeking: M

FREE SPIRIT, PLAYFUL, KINDHEARTED

I love sex and intimacy. I am in a happy, healthy, open relationship and am looking for someone to have fun with — preferably a giving and playful lover. I love the water, athletics, outdoors, books, music and movies. Hoping to find someone who loves sex, along with being a free spirit. Please message me for more. HibiscusAloha, 42 seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK AND FUN

I enjoy good food and good conversation.

I enjoy playing Scrabble. No one has beat me yet. I am competitive, but I can just have fun, too. I’m not very active these days, but my mind sure is! I love to be around people who can make me laugh and don’t take life too seriously. Cora 82, seeking: M, l

NOT SO DESPERATELY SEEKING

Fat, funny, farty (sixtysomething)

femme seeks same in a man. Must be clean, clever and kind. CatsANDdogs, 66, seeking: M

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

LAID-BACK, OLD-SCHOOL

I am a loving, caring, honest and dependable woman. I care about family and old and new friends. I would do what I can to help others. I believe in God. Looking for someone of the same, plus kind and gentle, to be someone my family would also like.

sunshineCarol, 75, seeking: M, l

HONEST, KIND, FUNNY, ADVENTUROUS, CURIOUS

I’m comfortable being on my own but want to share adventures and experiences with that special someone. I love to hear people’s stories; I’ve been told I’m a good listener. I’m looking for someone who is kind, likes to laugh and loves experiencing new things; ideally starting off as a friendship that grows to a deeper and more caring relationship. Friendlysoul 67, seeking: M, l

CLASSICAL MUSIC/ATHLETE

Mellow, low maintenance, self-sufficient. Love sunshine and warmth. Enjoy reading, walking, sailing, kayaking, swimming. (Gold medalist in Vermont and Tucson Senior Games.) Like to watch Netflix and PBS “Masterpiece” mysteries. My family and friends are tops with me. Thrifting is fun. Museums and history. Recumbent around BTV nowadays. Wish for a kind, cultured, good-humored man.

Choralmusic83 83, seeking: M, l

LIVING LIFE NOW

I am looking forward to seeing someone who is willing to explore life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Mature adult dude with laughter and excitement. GypsyPoppins 66 seeking: M, l

LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR ALL

I am very active and young for my age. You’ll usually find me outdoors, in my flower garden or with my horse. Lived in Essex for many years before moving to Utah in 2008. Retired now but work temporary jobs and in stables where I am usually with my horse. Have a dachshund and cat. Have always loved Vermont. equus 72, seeking: M, l

OPTIMISTIC, DRIVEN, BUBBLY BABE Smiles, affectionate, hardworking, passionate, emotionally intelligent. Wants to find the love of her life. You: good head on your shoulders, know what you want, motivated, emotionally intelligent and want a future with a really cute girl with a pretty smile. An affinity for old farmhouses will get you extra brownie points! Battlebeautyfarmhouse

33, seeking: M, l

ADVENTUROUS, ENJOY LIFE, SUNSHINE

I am energetic, love to try new things, adventures, short trips. I have a cat for company, live simply, low maintenance, bilingual. Seeking someone who likes to explore Vermont, Québec. A great cook would be a plus. Funny, good conversationalist, conservative in politics, but I will respect your political choices, a bit old school, a gentleman. Luvtosmile, 78, seeking: M

LIFE IS GOOD

Nice lady seeking wonderful guy. CookiesandCream, 65, seeking: M, l

WIDOW STARTING OVER

I’ve been working for the same health care provider for over 40 years and plan to retire in the next 18 months. I own my home and have worked since 16, so no “gold digger” here. I’m 5’6, some “love handles,” hazel/blue eyes and short medium brown hair with highlights. I love going to Maine on weekend getaways. Here’s to our next adventure! LilyMae23 63, seeking: M, l

QUIRKY HOMESTEADIN’ SWAMP HAG

Just your run-of-the-mill hermitess growing and cooking loads of food. I’m a cynical leftist who loves the Earth and all the critters. I’d love to meet someone with similar ideals and goals to join me on the homestead. I’m goofy, serious, quiet and loud. I have a yarn and seed addiction. Let’s go for a walk! VTHomesteader, 42, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

Fierce femme with a tender heart seeks someone sweet as baklava whose eyes I can fall into. Interests include doubleshot espresso, watching the rain fall from my front porch and discovering beauty in all forms. Must have curiosity, a heart of gold and be willing to shower me in adoration. tamaracktrees, 24, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP

NOT DEAD YET

I considered myself a high-heels, makeupat-all-times city girl until I moved to Vermont 12 years ago. I never even owned a car, and all my Boston/New York friends wondered how I would survive. Well, not only did I survive, but I learned how to fish in a lake year-round and even how to shoot a gun. CLC, 77 seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

EASYGOING AND HAPPY

Let’s see how it works out and enjoy the time. Joeyct, 47, seeking: W, Cp, Gp, l

SENSUAL POLYAMOROUS PLAYER

SEEKS SAME

What you see is what you get. No games, only action. Let’s enjoy the passage of time. HumbleGreenman 68, seeking: W, Cp, l

MATURE, BALANCED AND FUN-LOVING Semiretired pediatrician. Looking for fun nights out (music, trivia and karaoke). I love to sing, dance and act in community theater. Enjoy biking, hiking, travel, and my beloved Boston and UVM teams. Mature, witty storyteller and listener. Dependable and trustworthy (ask my friends). Concerned about how our nation has turned angry and hot. I prefer calm and kind! GoCatsGo 63, seeking: W, l

MATURE, RESPECTFUL GENTLEMAN NEEDS YOU

Are you in a sexless relationship, happily single or just need more intimacy? I am a MWM, DDF, fit, well-groomed, mature gentleman seeking the same in a woman who needs a little more excitement in life.

I am not looking to change my situation (or yours) but rather have an NSA partner for play. Must be serious and perfectly discreet. FreeSpirit58 59, seeking: W, Cp

HOPE WE CROSS PATHS

I have walked along for quite some time already. Life’s outlook gets brighter and shinier when the path is shared with positive thinkers, true friends, family and a very special better half. Looking for a decent woman with a healthy way of thinking for friendship to share time, distractions, activities, adventures, etc. Searching for mutual chemistry and attraction for dating. John_9_25 60, seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR MY FOREVER PERSON

Seeking my love, best friend and forever person. Always up for whatever. Either planned or unplanned, it’s all good with me. I’m retired, financially secure, organized, commitment-oriented, honest and caring. Love to keep healthy. Road trips, hiking, kayaking, camping, vacation/travel, concerts, music, RV. I love my bulldog, George. Respond to my ad. Seriously, I’m worth it. Robstowe 58 seeking: W, l

DEPECHE MODE, SAMHAIN, 2ND DATE?

Overeducated and overworked humanist intellectual (long compared in appearance by friends and strangers alike to a “plump Johnny Depp”) seeks woman of exceptional integrity for investigating futures capable of most pleasantly surprising us both. Objet, 51, seeking: W, l

PASSIONATE, CREATIVE, CURIOUS ARTIST

I possess strong interests in the arts and metaphysical/spiritual subjects. I feel things intensely and am a romantic. I write fiction and paint. I read literature and am devoted to classical music, especially the postRomantics. I love the ocean. I value the feminine soul and female beauty. I favor in-depth conversations. I’m a good listener. Let’s meet for coffee! RooktoQueen7 71, seeking: W, l

MELLOW, SPIRITUAL FOCUS

“Be here now.” “In the world but not of the world.” Love is all that matters. Always searching to improve that focus and honesty. Tantric love included. aroscan 73, seeking: W, l

HANDSOME AND CHARMING

Would rather share who I am face-toface! TimeAfterTime, 62, seeking: W

53-Y/O SINGLE PROFESSIONAL MALE

I’m a 53-y/o professional white male looking to start a serious relationship with the right woman. I enjoy kayaking, hiking, running, working out, music, science and history. I also enjoy mountain biking, dining out, shopping and having long, stimulating conversations. Cheeselove1979 53 seeking: W, l

POET SEEKING INTELLECTUAL FRIENDS, BOYFRIEND

I’m a poet and intellectual seeking friends to discuss poetry with. I am open to adults of any age and gender, but they must be comfortable with online communication via email or social media sites. Additional topics of conversation can be cinema, art, history, music, novels, science, handcrafts and D&D. I’m not interested in video gaming or TV shows. sea2sea 30, seeking: M, l

HEALTHY OUTDOOR LOVER

Lived in Europe and the D.C. area most of my life before retiring in Vermont, where I built my dream house for two. Bike toured in Europe, Canada and the Northeast. Enjoy day hikes and cross-country skiing. Love my garden and other people’s pets. Enjoy cooking, eating well and having pleasant, faceto-face, meaningful conversations. lovegaia, 82, seeking: W, l

OPEN, HONEST

I am honest, open and happy to answer questions. I want to have conversations and form connections. falcon, 77, seeking: W

SIMPLE, DOWN-TO-EARTH

ROCKER

We are a man and his dog. Must take the pair and not just the black furry one. I work out three times a week, love live music, festivals, road trips, lots of cuddling. Very touchy-feely. I would like a beautiful soul and amazing chemistry. How about you? AdudeinVT 56, seeking: W, l

TALKATIVE AND ADVENTUROUS

Looking for conversation and companionship and someone to share travel adventures. Was a high school history teacher. Now work on oil paintings and as a woodshop teacher at camp. Love all things physical — hiking, running, biking, swimming, etc. Also an avid reader of books, fiction and nonfiction, which make for wonderful talks. Two kids in college currently. EightBells38 68, seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

HONESTY, COMMON SENSE

A MUST

53-y/o single trans woman. Have a few pounds around the center. LOL. I’m finally ready to meet someone who will not be embarrassed to be seen in public with me. Love to get dolled up for someone. I’m easygoing. My ideal person would be female. Interesting to kinky. Do you think you could be my dominant other? Shygurl 53, seeking: TW, l

RECENTLY RELOCATED, ADVENTUROUS, FREE SPIRIT

I’m a gorgeous, white, 100 percent passable trans lady who is 57 and could pass as 30 — yes, 30! I long for love, laughter and romance, along with loving nature. I want a man who’s all man, rugged, handsome, well built but prefers a woman like myself. It’s as simple as that. We meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. Sammijo, 58, seeking: M, l FABULOUSLY FUTCH

Tall, smart trans woman looking for my people. I live in Middlebury. Any background in punk or politics is a plus — let’s make some noise! sashamarx 53 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, l

COUPLES seeking...

COUPLE LOOKING FOR FUN

We are a married couple looking for another couple or female for sexual encounters. We are clean and discreet. Would love to chat to see if we are compatible — he is muscular and 5’11; she is curvy and 5’0. New to this lifestyle. Incognito1984, 38, seeking: W, Cp SNOW AND SUN EQUAL FUN Borders and boundaries are sexy. We’re pretty cute. We like to have fun, and we bet you do, too. Happily married couple (W, 35; M, 45), open-minded and looking to explore. Love playing outdoors. Looking to meet a couple, man or woman for fun and adventure. Ideal meetup is a cottage in the mountains with great food and lots of great wine. SnownSun 46, seeking: Cp, l

LOVERS OF LIFE

We are a 40s couple, M/F, looking for adventurous encounters with openminded, respectful M/F or couples. Looking to enjoy sexy encounters, FWBs, short term or long term. sunshines, 42, seeking: M, W, Q, Cp

Y

REDHEAD IN A RED TRUCK

You, with the sparkling eyes and the red Nissan: We bobbed and weaved through Shelburne Road traffic and headed south on Route 7. I blew you a kiss at 22A, and you laughed. Any chance I could get a chance to make you laugh again? When: Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Where: Route 7 South. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915854

WOODSIDE DOG WALK

We passed each other in the parking lot as I was arriving. You were loading up. I was getting out of the car (gray fleece) with my dog. Just missed each other! Want to take the dogs for a walk together sometime? When: Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

Where: Woodside Nature Trail.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915853

WALKING ON PERU STREET

Sunday afternoon. We passed when you were walking east. You were wearing all black and have blond hair. From a distance, I had assumed you were a college student, so I wasn’t prepared for interaction. I was wearing a brown T-shirt and sunglasses and was walking the other way. We exchanged smiles. Want to go for a walk together?

When: Sunday, September 24, 2023. Where: Peru Street sidewalk.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915851

CROSSWALK COLLISION SPARKS

You had rollerblades dangled over your shoulders and smelled like a copse of firs in a November rain. I saw you careening into my path, in your Wordle world, and could have said something. at only our wrists bumped, I am forlorn. Let’s do it again sometime and maybe get our forearms involved. When: Saturday, September 23, 2023. Where: Waterfront Park. You: Man. Me: Man. #915850

YOU: GLORIOUS BALD-HEADED MAN

A gardenful of gratitude to the baldheaded Subaru driver who listened to my story and then told me I shouldn’t give up. Ever. I am stronger than I was before I met you. When: Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Where: a cemetery in Randolph.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915852

ROCKFIRE FIREWALK

I was walking in front of you. I stopped at the exit, and our eyes met. You were talking about Halloween jacko’-lantern displays with your mom (?). ere’s a great one in Jericho, and I’d love to take you. When: Saturday, September 16, 2023. Where: Rockfire.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915849

POEM BOY ON WILLARD STREET

You: pushing a bike, glasses, blondish, work in city design/planning. Me: also blondish, pink dress. We talked about the bike lane and grad school. You brought up Wendell Berry, the writer. How often does someone quote your favorite poet to you on the street? I thought you were rare and beautiful. You should buy me a drink.

When: Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Where: South Willard Street.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915848

BIKE PATH DOG PASSING

We passed each other on the bike path by the dog park. I gave your dog a treat, and you dropped the leash a few times. I was wearing a green hat. You had on a crop top. I couldn’t stop talking about how I should have asked for your number to my friend who I was with. When: Sunday, September 17, 2023. Where: Burlington bike path.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915847

REVEREND Ask

De Rev end,

My girlfriend’s best friend is a gay guy. Whenever the three of us hang out together, he often makes sexual remarks about me. He touches me a lot and has gone so far as trying to kiss me a couple of times. I’ve told my girlfriend that it makes me uncomfortable, but she says he’s just joking around and I should let it go. Other than that, I think he’s great, but it’s gotten to the point that I don’t want to be around him so much. How do I get him to stop without coming across like a homophobe?

Leif Malone

(MAN, 28)

BELVIDERE, PINK TALKING PHISH, 9/16

You glided up and asked about the munchies at the show. I just spent my last $20. Wish I could have bought you a plate. It was too quick, and I forgot your name. A quick glimmer of light is better than nothing at all. When: Saturday, September 16, 2023. Where: Belvidere.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915846

TIN QUEEN IN CENTRAL VERMONT

Hi, Tin Queen! You are very, very pretty! I want that date! Dreaming about garlic, mermaids, ants ... Can I be your Iceman? Hope you read this!

When: ursday, September 14, 2023. Where: 10 miles from Montpelier.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915845

COLCHESTER MOTORCYCLE BRS, DREAM RIDE?

DMV basic motorcycle safety weekend class. You asked me about my “dream ride.” I said I wasn’t sure, maybe a Triumph. I’ve learned more, have a better answer. Would love to chat bikes, have coffee, go for a ride. I was surprised by my perfect score on the skills test. You had an intense gaze I can’t quite forget. When: Sunday, September 10, 2023. Where: Colchester DMV.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915844

HEY NOW, KCK MATCH

You and I would get along swimmingly. Sporty: check. Grateful Dead: check. Travel: check. Looking for an LTE: check. And many more. When: ursday, September 14, 2023. Where: match.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915843

OLIVE GREEN TRIVIA GODDESS

You were the olive green goddess with straight dark hair at Tuesday night trivia. I wore the coral polo at the table between yours and the bar. We exchanged glances numerous times, but you vanished before the night was over. Where did you go? When: Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Where: Burger Bar. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915842

ICE CREAM AISLE AT HANNAFORD

We chatted briefly while looking for ice cream, but sadly our go-to flavors were out of stock. I wish I had asked for your number, but I missed the chance. Maybe we could get together sometime? Cherry Garcia’s on me! When: Friday, September 8, 2023. Where: North Ave. Hannaford. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915841

De Leif Malone,

MILTON DINER

You weren’t our assigned waitress, but we did exchange a quick laugh. I am sure you are taken but wanted to mention what an amazing smile you have. Melted me immediately. You: working. Me: with my elderly parents having breakfast. Was hoping to see you again before we left, but the sounds of broken dishes probably kept you busy. When: Sunday, September 10, 2023. Where: Milton Diner. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915839

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I spy beautiful people on Shelburne Road while I was at work. I was a bit in shock. Mac, the trained EMT with red hair. Melissa? Christine? I’m sorry, I’m getting your name wrong. Great people in line, the SBVT EMTs. anks for helping me out. I’m going to be OK, and I want to extend my thanks for caring. When: Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Where: work. You: Group. Me: Woman. #915838

CAR TROUBLES?

WILLISTON GAS STATION

You drove into the gas station. Your vehicle was making a grinding noise. When you came out, I mentioned that your wheel bearing was noisy. You had to get to Barre and asked if it would be safe to drive. I hope you get it fixed soon! Seemed like a very sweet person. Hit me up sometime. I’d like to chat again! When: Tuesday, September 5, 2023. Where: Williston gas station. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915837

MUTTS ARE THE BEST

To the tattooed woman who took the time to give Miss Tulip some love: In the moment, I resisted the urge to state the obvious, but I just can’t keep it bottled up any longer ... You are beautiful! ( ere, it’s out. I feel better now.) P.S. I hope your life is blessed with many more magical mutts. When: Sunday, September 3, 2023. Where: Gardener’s Supply, Williston.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915836

STUNNING BLONDE

ree Brothers around 1:15 p.m. You: stunning blonde driving the Audi. Me: the guy with no game eating pizza in the corner. I am sure you are taken, but I could feel your radiance. Would love to have a coffee and chat. When: ursday, August 31, 2023. Where: Colchester. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915834

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME

You were in a smokin’ black dress! You were leaving with a tall bald guy. I walked up to him (you’re leaving with the most beautiful girl!). You were flattered, I believe. Need to meet you again. If you are one of her friends reading, please tell her to answer this post. #iscrewedup When: Friday, September 1, 2023. Where: the Old Post. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915835

YOU HAD ME AT SUBLIME

I was grabbing some coffee that night. You said, “Nice shirt, miss.” We chatted about seeing Badfish live. You saw them the other week. We spotted each other once more. I should have grabbed your number! You were wearing a hat and brown shirt and had gorgeous blue eyes. Let’s go to a concert together? When: Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Where: Shaw’s, Randolph. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915833

BEAUTIFUL SMILE

You held the door for me. You were with your daughter, I believe. Even though I wanted you to enter first, you insisted. You said “Have a nice day” when I walked by. I was drawn to your smile, someone with a kind heart. Someone I would really like to get to know. When: Saturday, August 5, 2023. Where: Jiffy, Hinesburg. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915832

BERLIN PRICE CHOPPER BLONDE

You: gorgeous blonde, tan skirt with green and pink stripes. Me: guy in a red T-shirt and baseball hat. We passed each other, made eye contact and smiled. I wish I had stopped and said hi, but you were a woman on a mission. Coffee sometime? When: Sunday, August 27, 2023. Where: Berlin Price Chopper. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915831

RE: LOOKINGFORONLYYOU

ey say, “Don’t take the risk, you’re sure to fail. ere’s no ‘get out of jail free’ card in life.” But what’s the worst that could happen, end up in a coffin? Isn’t that where we’re all headed anyway? Can’t escape the madness, so you might as well embrace it. Can’t be worse than a nine-to-five cubicle jail cell. When: ursday, February 23, 2023. Where: on the run, sin amor. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915829

If a gay person is acting like a jerk and it bothers you, that’s not being homophobic. You’re upset with their behavior as a human being, not with their sexual orientation. He’s your girlfriend’s best friend, so I’d suggest that she talk to him about it. It’s not very cool of her to tell you to laugh it off. If one of your straight guy friends were always making sexual comments about her and trying to grab her ass, would she find it funny? Put it to her that way, and perhaps she’ll better understand how you’re feeling. And the next time he makes an inappropriate remark, be straight with him — pun intended — and tell him to please

knock it off. You can say that even though he thinks he’s being funny, you don’t appreciate his sense of humor. If you’re firm, taking that stand once or twice ought to do the trick.

If neither of these ideas works, you may need to remove yourself from the situation for a little bit. e next time they hang out, do something else without them. Once your girlfriend and her pal realize that his behavior is causing a rift, maybe they’ll catch on to the fact that sexual harassment isn’t funny — especially when it’s coming from someone who’s supposed to be a friend.

Good luck and God bless, The Rev end

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

From a man to a woman, / Time and again, / Now and after, / Growing fire, / Feeling desire, / Braving pain, / Surviving disaster, / Hearts love, / Hands heal, / We know, / Love real.

#L1702

70s sensual couple seeking other couples who enjoy convivial get-togethers over wine and fun conversation to see what possibilities of sensual pleasures might develop between us. BTV meetup? In Vermont through January, then off to follow the sun. #L1701

I’m a 60s bi male seeking 60s to 70s guys for for M-to-M fun. Easygoing. In the NEK. #L1699

I’m a GM looking for fun. Nice guy likes everything. Age/race not important. Also interested in a three-way. Any M/M or bi couples out there? Call/text. Rutland County. #L1700

I’m a class of ’84 SMC graduate seeking a true connection. I’m a local resident. Tall, attractive man who loves to swim, walk and go slow. Nondemanding, optimistic and smiling. Like to meet you. Closeness and trust are most important. #L1698

Handsome straight man wanting an erotic exchange with another handsome straight man, but only in a full threesome with your wife, fiancée or girlfriend. #L1692

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We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above.

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

I’m a 73-y/o woman seeking a man, 68 to 78. I am a Christian woman (look younger than I am) wanting a male companion to just live life with. Conversation, movies, dinners in or out. Someone to enjoy life with again. #L1695

I am a male seeking a female, age 50 to 65, for sensual pleasure. #L1697

I’m a 72 y/o M who admires very mature women. I find myself sexually attracted to these ladies of distinction. I would love to meet one in her upper 70s or 80s. #L1696

I’m a very unique lady who’s seeking a gentleman. Very passionate, honest, loyal, humble. I love to garden, read, listen to music and watch a good movie. Love to walk in the beautiful nature and earth, as well. Hoping to meet a man with the same likes. #L1693

I’m a 79-y/o woman seeking a man, 70-plus y/o. Want companionship as well as a friend. Willing to stay home or travel — whichever you want to. Want to help anyone who needs it. #L1691

Gracious, faithful, educated, humorous soul seeks a fit, tender and natural female counterpart (55 to 65) to bask in autumn splendor. Let’s hike, bike, frolic, listen, ponder and share! I’m a worthy companion. #L1690

Int net-Free Dating!

58-y/o SW. Humbled, thoughtful. Hoping for a safe, kind, honest relationship with a man. Calm in nature, love for nature. Morning coffees, long walks, talks, sunsets, art, music, dance, friends, family, laughs! Willing to see and resolve suffering. Unconditional love and support find me at home. Phone number, please. #L1680

Man, early 70s. Still grieving from two-plus years ago, but moving on. Funny, engaging, storyteller, listener. Interesting life (so far!). Greater MontpelierBarre area. Looking for a woman friend: have fun, eat out, do stuff. Maybe more, but maybe not. Companionship. #L1687

I’m a SWM, 38, attractive, pierced nipples, friendly tattoos, purple and blue hair and goatee. No booze, no drugs. Looking for a kindred spirit, female, 18 to 58. #L1685

I’m a working man, 33, seeking a working woman, 25 to 33, to get to know and possibly build a life together. Born in Vermont to European family. Nonsmoking; no drugs. #L1683

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)

Need an heir? Too busy on that career? Let’s meet on that. #L1684

I’m an older guy with a high libido looking to meet a woman with similar interests to hopefully develop a LTR. My interests are country living, travel, human-powered sports, music, art, gardening, etc. I’m secure and happy; very fit and healthy; a financially secure large-property owner; a curious, free-spirited adventurer; a singer and musician; a connoisseur of peace and quiet. 420-cool, friendly, compassionate, experienced and well endowed. You are your own beautiful self with a lust for life. Willing to travel for the right gal. Ability to sing, slender and body hair a plus. #LL1677

I’m a man, 72, seeking a woman, 45 to 70. Looking for a friend to go to dinner, movie, walking. I am fit for my age and seek the same in a woman. Phone number, please. #L1681

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Queen City Ghostwalk Tours

THROUGH OCTOBER: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

BURLINGTON

Living with Loss: A Gathering for the Grieving

WED., OCT. 4 ONLINE

Kabaka Pyramid

WED., OCT. 4

THE GREEN AT THE ESSEX EXPERIENCE, ESSEX

Local Maverick’s 3rd Birthday Bash!

THU., OCT. 5

NECTAR’S, BURLINGTON

True Crime

Burlington Tour

THROUGH OCTOBER: SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

COURTHOUSE PLAZA, BURLINGTON

Western Terrestrials with Danny & e Parts

FRI., OCT. 6

THE UNDERGROUND - LISTENING ROOM, RANDOLPH

Mediterranean Dinner

SAT., OCT. 7

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN, RICHMOND

Deep North Storytelling and Book Launch

SUN., OCT. 8

O.N.E. COMMUNITY CENTER, BURLINGTON

Emma’s Revolution

SUN., OCT. 8

ROOTS & WINGS COFFEEHOUSE, NORWICH

Butternut Lasagna & Pumpkin Tiramisu

Featuring Cooking With Stephanie

MON., OCT. 9

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Figure Drawing at Soapbox Arts

MON., OCT. 9

SOAPBOX ARTS, BURLINGTON

Culinary Maverick’s Flavors of Spain! A 4-Course Dining Experience

TUE., OCT. 10

MAVERICK MARKET AT 110, BURLINGTON

Eco-resiliency Gathering: Living Relationally with Death

WED., OCT. 11 ONLINE

e Village Idiots: 10th Anniversary Show

FRI., OCT. 13

THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

Morrígan

SAT., OCT. 14

PATH OF LIFE SCULPTURE GARDEN, WINDSOR

Howl-O-Ween Party

SAT., OCT. 14

THE DEPOT, ST. ALBANS

How ey Built It: Vermont Comedy Club

TUE., OCT. 17

SWITCHBACK BREWING COMPANY, BURLINGTON

Facing Change: Life’s Transitions and Transformations

WED., OCT. 18 ONLINE

Here For e Boos presented by Queen City Ghostwalk

WED., OCT. 18

THREE NEEDS, BURLINGTON

Cooking with Stephanie: Charcuterie Board Class

THU., OCT. 19

MAVERICK MARKET AT 110, BURLINGTON