Seven Days, October 30, 2024 by Seven Days

REFINANCE YOUR AUTO LOAN & SAVE

1% Cash Back up to $200* No payments for 90 days*

At Vermont Federal Credit Union, we can’t plan your next road trip, but we CAN help keep you rolling by refinancing your auto loan at a great rate!

Apply now and you’ll make no payments for the first 90 days. And no worries, our loan process is as smooth as the open road! It’s one of the many benefits of joining our credit union.

emoji that

BLOWN OFF COURSE

Hurricane Helene damaged a factory that makes IV ﬂuid, and the resulting shortage has delayed some surgeries in Vermont. Everything is connected…

SAY WHAT?!

11.9 percent

That’s how much health care premiums are expected to rise next year for schools in the state, Vermont Public reported.

TOPFIVE

VOTE!

State ofﬁcials are assuring Vermonters that the upcoming election will be both fair and secure.

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, a Democrat, and Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, appeared together in Montpelier on Tuesday to urge people to keep divisive rhetoric in check, treat election ofﬁcials with respect and, most importantly, to vote.

“Our democracy depends on people being able to safely and securely cast their ballots on or before Election Day,” Copeland Hanzas said.

A handful of “angry interactions” between voters and town clerks in recent weeks signal that emotions are running high, she said. “We’re lucky in Vermont to have a little less vitriol than they do in some parts of this country, but we are not immune to it,” Copeland Hanzas said.

Ballot drop-box ﬁres in Washington and Oregon destroyed hundreds of ballots on Monday and have been characterized as coordinated efforts to disrupt the election.

In Vermont, more than 150,000 people have already voted by mail, about 45 percent of the 2020 turnout. Scott said his ofﬁce has been working closely with Copeland Hanzas’ staff and law enforcement to address any possible disruptions.

“We have to be ready for anything,” Scott said.

He echoed concerns about divisive political rhetoric, and urged anyone with questions to seek out trusted sources of information, such as their town clerk or the Secretary of State’s Ofﬁce.

“Although we may not agree on every policy issue or the candidates we’re casting our vote for, it is essential we do our part to strengthen our democracy, treat each other with respect, and tamp down the polarization we’re seeing across the country and, unfortunately, even here in Vermont,” Scott said.

Copeland Hanzas said her ofﬁce has been made aware of fewer than a dozen incidents of town and city clerks reporting “really negative interactions” with people who “appear to have been agitated by something they saw on social media.”

Every registered voter in Vermont was mailed a ballot. It is now too late to return the ballot through the mail, so voters should either place it in a drop box or take it to the polls on Election Day, even if they mean to vote in person. If they do not, they’ll have to sign a form attesting that they have requested a replacement ballot, which “might be a source of irritation for some,” Scott said.

Read Kevin McCallum’s full story and follow election news at sevendaysvt.com.

The Vermont Air National Guard will study increasing the use of afterburners on its F-35 jets to lower the racket for some residents. Whatever it takes!

CASH FOR CLASS

This election, Colchester residents are voting on a $115 million school construction bond. Tough year for such a big ask.

SNUFFED OUT

Amid a stretch of dry, windy weather and reports of wildﬁres, Vermont o cials issued a statewide burn ban. Stay safe out there.

4. “ e Tropically Flavored Pawpaw Fruit rives in Burlington’s Intervale” by Melissa Pasanen. e hardy, ﬂood-resilient pawpaw tree shows promise, but growers must sell Vermonters on the unfamiliar fruit.

5. “‘Vicious’ Burlington Dog Is Moved, Must Undergo Training” by Courtney Lamdin. A court order says Diane Wheeler could eventually regain custody of her dog, Moose — but only with the City of Burlington’s approval.

@OldHollowTree

It is stick season here in Vermont. A fell wind came through with the frost and killed all the leaves.

Some ﬁnd it a sad time, but the good green and grey of the hills signify the beginning of feast season to me. Halloween, anksgiving, Christmas. Hospitality reigns.

PUMPKIN PADDLE

Josh Hummel has been fascinated by the idea of steering a giant gourd down a waterway ever since he saw a pumpkin regatta in Burlington about a decade ago.

“I love adventure sports,” Hummel said. “But what I love even more than that is goofy adventure sports.”

Hummel also just happens to be a member of the Vermont Giant Pumpkin Growers Association. He and another member, Ethan Bruce Nelson, hatched a plan to make the vision a reality. ey recruited fellow giant vegetable enthusiast Aaron Messier of Randolph to grow the plump pumpkin and Chris Snieckus to steer it. rough “genetic

happenstance,” the 802-pound white pumpkin formed a triangle-shaped bottom — ideal for holding a passenger, Nelson said.

ey decided they’d launch in Vergennes with the aim of traveling four miles down Otter Creek to Lake Champlain on October 18. Getting the pumpkin to the launching point was the hardest part, Nelson said.

“It was like moving a piano, but the piano was spherical and slippery,” he said.

Once on solid ground, the team sawed a hole in the pumpkin and scooped out the insides. en Snieckus took off, with support people both on land and in kayaks and canoes. He stood upright for most of the journey, bracing against the wobbles and turns of the pumpkin boat, which had a tendency to spin in circles.

“ at was an athletic accomplishment on Chris’ part,” Nelson said. e group ﬁrst attempted a pumpkin paddle in 2021, when they rode down the Otter Creek Gorge in New Haven. In 2022, they paddled down the Mad River.

Hummel and Nelson have dreams of beating the world record for longest journey in a pumpkin — 46 miles — next season. But it will require ﬁnding a body of water with enough velocity to carry the pumpkin, and a person willing to stand in it for many hours.

“It’s not about the pumpkin, though,” Nelson insisted. “It’s about getting together, having fun and being weird.”

RACHEL HELLMAN

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and Gov. Phil Scott on Tuesday

Chris Snieckus in his giant pumpkin boat

WITCH, PLEASE.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Goldstein

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Bryan Parmelee

Eva Sollberger

James Buck

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron

& MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Carolann Whitesell ADMINISTRATION

Marcy Stabile

Matt Weiner

Andy Watts

Gillian English CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Bear Cieri, Sarah Cronin, Jim Duval, Steve Legge, Marc Nadel, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly CIRCULATION: 35,000

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

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS

Harry Applegate, Joe Bou ard, Pat Bou ard, Colin Clary, Julie Copley, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Becky Gates, Matt Hagen, Russ Hagy, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Liam Mulqueen-Duquette, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Matt Perry, Mike VanTassel, Andy Watts, Tracey Young

With additional circulation support from PP&D.

SUBSCRIPTIONS 6-

STAY INFORMED AND VOTE

Just after Town Meeting Day, Alison Novak reported on the unusually large number of school budgets that didn’t pass muster with the voters [“Vermont Voters Reject School Budgets in 29 Districts,” March 6]. This, as we all know, was driven by another unusually large number: the increase in property tax rates, which was largely driven by school budgets.

Shortly thereafter, a small group of longtime school board members — most former, one current — decided to start a grassroots e ort to clear up some of the misinformation, and lack of information, surrounding use of tax dollars for education in Vermont. We call ourselves Friends of Vermont Public Education, and our mission statement is clear — that any institutions using public monies must comply with the Vermont Constitution and be transparent about how those tax dollars are spent.

Friends sent a three-question survey to Vermont candidates for legislature regarding the use of public funds for private schools. You can ﬁnd candidate responses at savevtpubliced.org.

See where your candidates stand, or if they didn’t respond to our survey, ask them why not.

Late in the last session, our legislature drafted a statute to form the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont to look at how we could provide education, and how we could fund it, differently. We at Friends have been following the work of this commission and will continue to do so. The early focus is on property tax relief, but that can and must go hand in hand with student achievement in the long haul.

Please stay informed, and vote.

Ken Fredette WALLINGFORD

$250.

Please call 802-865-1020, ext. 132 with your credit card, contact circ@sevendaysvt.com or mail your check to: Seven Days, c/o Subscriptions, 255 S. Champlain St., Ste. 5, Burlington, VT 05401

Seven

PRO POLICE

Disappointed to see Seven Days’ take on the police oversight board [“Déjà Vote: Burlington’s Police Oversight Proposal Gets Support From Councilors — and Pushback From Cops,” October 16]. It’s not only the police department, as your article suggests, but many people who oppose this proposal. To use Burlington City Council President Ben Traverse’s analogy, it’s like putting all of your e ort,

time and money into putting snow tires on a car in Virginia when the AC is broken and the engine won’t start.

Our police department needs us to demonstrate our support. Whether the independent oversight board is rarely used is not the issue; it’s the statement it makes about how our community feels about policing. Coming on the heels of the city council’s disastrous decision to defund the police, it sends the wrong message at a critical time, when we are trying to rebuild our police force.

Carolyn Hanson BURLINGTON

SAFE TRIP

[Re “Vermont’s Studying Psychedelic Therapy, but Approval Would Take Time,” October 2]: I commend Vermont’s legislature for its thoughtful, cautious approach toward considering psilocybin for therapeutic use. However, in light of the recent controversy surrounding the death of actor Matthew Perry, I feel compelled to voice deep concerns.

to the recent coverage of the mistreatment inflicted upon Tyeastia Green by Burlington city officials, wouldn’t paying her be the actual “restorative practice” or “restorative process” counteroffered by the current administration? Tyeastia experienced, and continues to experience, great harms caused by municipal government leaders. She has asked for what she is owed. Wouldn’t answering her call be the path to restoration, rather than this cityissued co-optation?

Em O’Hara SOUTH BURLINGTON

GREEN MISLED THE CITY

Objective reporting was missing from the Seven Days article about Tyeastia Green’s lawsuit against the City of Burlington

One of the central issues that must be addressed is the irrational exuberance about and widespread appropriation and misuse of spiritual practices by Western facilitators who lack the training, cultural grounding and understanding to safely integrate these traditions and practices. More problematically, these substances produce great susceptibility and vulnerability to ideas, emotions and epiphanic experiences. Too many people are being exploited in various harmful ways simply because they are literally “under the influence” during treatment. In other words, we need better screening of so-called “psychedelic coaches and guides.” These substances are, by nature, unpredictable, leaving vulnerable clients susceptible to coercion or cultic behaviors.

My personal concern, rooted in decades of spiritual practice and significant familiarity with ayahuasca, is the undeniable rise of monied opportunism in these settings. When practitioners allow money to cloud their judgment, they put both their clients and their professional integrity at risk.

I urge lawmakers and practitioners alike to prioritize not only scientific research but also ethical and cultural safeguards.

L. Roen LoPresti WALDEN

‘PATH

TO RESTORATION’

[Re “Racial Reckoning: A Black Former Burlington Department Head Says the City Owes Her Millions for a Long List of Indignities,” October 1]: In response

[“Racial Reckoning: A Black Former Burlington Department Head Says the City Owes Her Millions for a Long List of Indignities,” October 1]. Only her supporters’ descriptions of the critical audit were used. In sections V, VI and VII, the

18-page document makes it brutally clear that Green and some of her staff knowingly misled the City of Burlington. There were over $100,000 in cost overruns due to their willful deception. They also failed to follow the basic financial procedures that were part of their jobs. The fact

SAY SOMETHING!

Seven Days wants to publish your rants and raves.

Your feedback must... be 250 words or fewer;

• respond to Seven Days content;

• include your full name, town and a daytime phone number.

Seven Days reserves the right to edit for accuracy, length and readability.

Your submission options include: sevendaysvt.com/feedback

• feedback@sevendaysvt.com

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

Tyeastia Green

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Farmers’ Feud

e candidates for lieutenant governor, David Zuckerman and John Rodgers, are slinging mud in this year’s campaign Burlington City Council to Study Needle-Exchange Program

The Longest Shot

Democrat Esther Charlestin, a newcomer to state politics, takes on Republican Gov. Phil Scott Prison Appeal

With a ﬁrst-ever candidate forum inside a correctional facility, the state looks to improve voting access for inmates

UVM to Raise Tuition Next Year

FEATURES 26

The Accused Why Vermont’s only documented witch trial still has relevance today

‘The Last Feature’

A short story by Margot Harrison

The Lost Ladies of Lakeview Cemetery

Holli Bushnell is on a mission to give dead women back their names

of all ages at Little Bird Sewing Studio in Williston

‘Rocky Horror’ Shadow Cast Time Warps Into Bellows Falls

Phantom Feelings

Author Amber Roberts discusses her new book and the joy of writing in cemeteries

What Lies Beneath

Sage Tucker-Ketcham on “Under the Water & Into the Woods”

Schoolhouse Rocked: ‘Mictlan Overdrive’ in East Montpelier

Enosburgh-based

Find a new job in the classiﬁeds section on page 77 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

Sadie Chamberlain, a senior at Saint Michael’s College, wrote a fantastical play about her life with a disability. Chamberlain has cerebral palsy,

REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPILED BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

WEDNESDAY 30

WORK IT, WITCHES

e Halloween Costume Runway Show at Junction Arts & Media in White River Junction spotlights creative kiddos’ frightening frocks and macabre makeup — à la New York Fashion Week. Hosted by Valley Improv’s Tatum Barnes, the haute affair invites imaginative trickor-treaters to strut their stuff down the catwalk for beaming audience members, both on-site and at home via live stream.

Yasss, ghouls!

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

ONGOING Matter of Time

Eternal Harvest exhibition at K. Grant Fine Art in Vergennes highlights the works of three New England artists: Neil Berger, Clark Derbes and Lydia Jenkins Musco. e show reﬂects on the transformation of landscapes and the indomitable forces — both natural and industrial — that contribute to it. Using diverse mediums ranging from concrete to driftwood, the artists deftly explore their shape-shifting surroundings.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

at the historic Lebanon Opera House is the same deliciously dark offcontent. (Parents, note: e PG-13 scenes are still inﬁltrates her high school’s most powerful clique.

Lakeview Cemetery through the restored Victorian church and its

listeners

of his death. For authenticity, the performance

stagecraft. By the end, you might be crying to “Danny Boy,” too.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

e Music of Gabriel Fauré

Tour at the Louisa Howard Chapel ushers guests

Teen Spirit

“Sight 15- 02 2024” by Lydia Jenkins Musco

Celtic under Odyssey”

entranced

with an impressive classical music repertoire spanning centuries. “Requiem: ,” at the Cathedral

Green Mountain Book Festival is a literary mecca for lovers of the written word,

notable locals Stephen Cramer, Neil Shepard, Alison

CHILD CARE.

LEARN HOW PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE INCREASES SCHOOL READINESS FOR VERMONT KIDS: It all starts with

PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE HELPS PREPARE OUR LITTLEST VERMONTERS TO DO BIG THINGS – STARTING ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN.

PAID FOR BY LET’S GROW KIDS

GoPro Bro

Local leaders are wringing their hands over a deeply unﬂattering video about Burlington that dropped two weeks ago on YouTube and has since racked up almost 2 million views. While numerous readers have shared the link and encouraged Seven Days to report on it, we have been debating how to cover Peter Santenello’s sensationalized stroll through the city in which he was born but clearly hadn’t visited for a while. The piece, headlined “They Ruined My Hometown — Don’t Let This Happen to Yours (Burlington, VT),” contrasts his fond, nostalgic memories of the place with the signiﬁcant social problems on display today.

Was it a coincidence that Fox News sent its own camera crew north last week to document the scene Santenello portrays, of a once-beautiful burg now plagued by public drug use, rampant homelessness and crime?

A New York Post story followed. From across the pond, the UK-based right-wing tabloid Daily Mail took notice, publishing an online story over the weekend with the headline: “The idyllic northeastern state being ravaged by drugs, crime and homelessness: ‘People don’t feel safe.’” It quotes Fox and the Burlington business owners in Santenello’s piece, along with some local Republican candidates hoping to use the negative coverage to their advantage in the November 5 election.

A big part of what made the original 105-minute video so compelling was Santenello’s ﬁrst interviewee, “Asah.” Those of us who live in Burlington and report on it regularly know her as Asah Lauren, an administrator of the volunteer entity BTV Stolen Bike Report and Recovery Group. She led Santenello through downtown Burlington the way Virgil guided Dante through the nine circles of hell. In and around Church Street, she pointed out some of the city’s problem spots as the camera showed distant groups of itinerant people at the Cherry Street parking garage, the area outside the Fletcher Free Library and on the steps of the First Congregational Church. Egged on by Santenello, she called out illegal behavior — “That was a drug deal right there!” she exclaimed — and identiﬁed pushers and users by name and drug of choice.

A screenshot from Peter Santenello’s online video

Her 15 minutes of fame stretched to 40.

A week after it was posted, Santenello’s video disappeared. When it resurfaced three days later, all the footage of Lauren was gone. A note below the new version leads to another half-hour video, “Why My Video Was Removed From YouTube (Burlington, VT),” in which Santenello explains what happened. He doesn’t use last names, but he makes it clear that Lauren asked him to edit out her part — and he complied.

“Rough” as he said it was to lose his best streetlevel source, he reassembled the video without her. Any points missing from the main piece he now makes himself in the addendum. Addressing the camera selﬁe-style, he weighs in on safe injection sites, Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, “destructive empathy,” Black Lives Matter, cancel culture and the “doom loop,” to name a few issues about which he has very strong opinions.

A former resident of San Francisco, Santenello observes: “People are so afraid to speak up that they’ll let terrible policy tank their city. So bizarre.” His YouTube channel has 3.6 million subscribers and hosts more than 350 videos. They follow a similar format — Santenello drops in on a location around the world and talks with people who live there. The videos are free to watch, but he invites fans to pay to join his “inner circle” or purchase branded T-shirts, hats and mugs.

Lauren was unpleasantly surprised by her portrayal in Santenello’s original Burlington video — the way her contributions were “clipped and manipulated.” She told me that Santenello had agreed in advance to bleep anything she said that might be incriminating or put her in harm’s way. That’s a lot to ask of a GoPro bro. In fact, Santenello both baited and interrupted Lauren while “interviewing” her. He shared his own views, leading her to say more than she should have and

THE EASE WITH WHICH SANTENELLO HAS BEEN ABLE TO SENSATIONALIZE AND CAPITALIZE ON WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BURLINGTON IS DISTURBING — AND, ARGUABLY, A LOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN WALKING AT NIGHT IN THE QUEEN CITY.

make unsubstantiated claims that would get a newspaper sued.

On his YouTube bio, Santenello promises: “I make videos showing you a world that the media fails to capture. No BS polarization or political angle — just pure authentic interactions with the locals.”

This, after saying “they” ruined his hometown. No angle there.

As for the media’s “failures”: The New York Times published a photo-ﬁlled news feature on November 12, 2022, called “The Bike Thieves of Burlington, Vermont” that detailed the city’s problems with crime and policing. Numerous local media outlets including Seven Days have written consistently and responsibly about every aspect of what ails Burlington, from politics and public safety to “The Fight for Decker Towers,” as Derek Brouwer’s February 14, 2024, cover story was headlined. Santenello actually toured the public housing complex for his video and, after telling his audience that no one is reporting on this story, ﬁnds a copy of that issue still lying around and holds it up

in front of the camera. “Hey, you made the paper,” he quips.

I called Santenello twice on a 415 number, asking if he would be willing to answer a few questions, such as “Did you promise to protect Asah Lauren?” and “Who are ‘They’?” Half an hour before our deadline, he texted to say that he was “o the radar” shooting a video in San Francisco. Signed: “Good luck with the story and I hope you’ve got what you need.” Oh, the irony.

Santenello is a provocateur out to make a buck and score political points. If you want real reporting from real journalists who live here, do their research, gather facts without bias and verify the information they collect, you know where to ﬁnd it.

The ease with which Santenello has been able to sensationalize and capitalize on what’s happening in Burlington is disturbing — and, arguably, a lot more dangerous than walking at night in the Queen City. On the eve of a consequential election, that’s the last thing we the people need

Paula Routly

If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, become a Super Reader!

Look for the “Give Now” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to:

SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

For more information on making a ﬁnancial contribution to Seven Days, please contact Gillian English:

VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Burlington City Council to Study Needle-Exchange Program

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN courtney@sevendaysvt.com

As Burlington contends with a worsening drug crisis, city councilors are looking for ways to address one of its most visible symptoms: syringe litter.

e council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution that asks the city’s Board of Health to study the issue of improperly discarded needles, including whether a long-running needle-exchange program is working as intended.

Farmers’ Feud

e candidates for lieutenant governor, David Zuckerman and John Rodgers, are slinging mud in this year’s campaign

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

The two leading candidates to be Vermont’s lieutenant governor are, on the surface, strikingly similar in many ways.

Incumbent David Zuckerman and challenger John Rodgers are both farmers. Both are white, middle-aged married men and fathers. And both have spent a signiﬁcant part of their adult lives as Democratic politicians, with similar views on marriage equality, reproductive freedom and cannabis regulation.

Despite that, the candidates in the most competitive statewide election this year say they couldn’t be more di erent from one another.

Zuckerman, who runs as a Progressive and a Democrat, has taken Rodgers to task in emails, debates and interviews for seeking o ce as a Republican and has sought to link him to the party’s national leaders, who are deeply unpopular in Vermont. Before running this year under his new party banner, Rodgers spent 16 years in the Statehouse as a Democrat, though he represented a conservative Northeast

Kingdom district and often expressed a strong Libertarian streak.

“Choosing to run as a Republican right now means you are OK with a label for a party that is owned lock, stock and barrel by Donald Trump and his angry, lying rhetoric,” Zuckerman told Seven Days.

dollars,” Rodgers said. “He can’t understand how these policies are hitting the ground because he lives in a different world than the rest of us.”

In Vermont, the role of the lieutenant governor is largely ceremonial, with little inﬂuence on legislation. The o ceholder

City Councilor Evan Litwin (D-Ward 7), the resolution’s lead sponsor, said the study is a step toward addressing safety concerns among custodial workers, landscapers and trash haulers who are at risk of needle sticks. He noted that several city entities, including the parks commission, have already started researching the issue in other places.

“What we’re hoping to achieve here is to centralize a lot of the good work that’s already been happening,” Litwin said. “I know our mayor, my Progressive colleagues, my Democratic colleagues, all share a desire to see a clean, safe Burlington.”

Considered a barometer of the city’s drug crisis, needle litter has caused increasing concern in Burlington. From 2012 to 2020, the city-run app SeeClickFix counted roughly 40 complaints per year about discarded needles. at number skyrocketed to 300 in 2021 — and to nearly 750 in the ﬁrst nine months of 2023.

e majority of syringes come from Howard Center’s Safe Recovery, a syringe-exchange program that hands out 20,000 clean needles per month. Such programs help curb the spread of transmissible disease such as HIV and hepatitis. But Howard Center staff are seeing fewer needles returned in recent years.

Rodgers, 59, has tried to paint Zuckerman as a wealthy gentleman farmer and professional politician who is disconnected from the struggles of common Vermonters and perpetually eyeing his next run for higher o ce.

“He grew up in privilege in a family of millionaires and inherited millions of

presides over the Senate and steps in if the governor can no longer serve.

Yet in a year with few compelling statewide races, this matchup has become something of a referendum on the state’s rising cost of living and whether

e resolution directs the Board of Health to research how Burlington’s current syringe exchange could be improved, possibly by mirroring programs in other cities, such as Boston’s. A proposal there would offer payment and job training to people with substance-use disorder who turn in dirty needles. A similar buyback initiative was approved last week by city councilors in Portland, Maine.

e study is due back to the council in February 2025. ➆

David Zuckerman

Debris in a parking garage in Burlington

The Longest Shot

Democrat Esther Charlestin, a newcomer to state politics, takes on Republican Gov. Phil Scott

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN • anne@sevendaysvt.com

Esther Charlestin had never heard of the Middlebury Selectboard when a friend told her about an opening and suggested she run.

“I was like, ‘Selectboard? What’s that?’” Charlestin recalled. But she was game. She won a seat that had been vacated midterm in 2021 and then was elected to a second term.

That can-do spirit has propelled Charlestin, a political newcomer, into the race for Vermont governor. The diversity and inclusion consultant handily defeated Underhill sailing instructor and substitute teacher Peter Duval in the August Democratic primary, taking 70 percent of the vote. She’s the ﬁrst Black candidate ever to secure a major party nomination for Vermont governor.

time around politics or policy but has been pointedly critical of what she sees as Scott’s policy weaknesses.

“Eight years of overpromises and underdelivery” is how she characterized Scott’s work during last week’s press conference. She noted Scott’s record of vetoes — 55 since he took o ce in 2017 — and his habit of blaming lawmakers for the state’s failure to address critical issues, particularly since the Democrats achieved a veto-proof majority in 2022.

“He refuses to collaborate, and that refusal has hurt Vermonters,” Charlestin said.

Former governor Howard Dean is backing Charlestin, after he ﬂirted last spring with the notion of taking on Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican seeking a ﬁfth

Charlestin’s journey to a Montpelier podium began in Bridgeport, Conn., where she was the oldest of ﬁve children born to a pair of Haitian immigrants. Her mom works as a nurse’s aide; her dad, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was not a consistent presence when she was growing up.

Charlestin says the source of her political ambition is her mother’s unwavering faith in her.

“I was raised with, ‘You’re made for such a time as this. You’re here for a purpose,’” she said.

At Christian Heritage School in Trumbull, Conn., Charlestin said, she searched for that purpose. Asked if any academic topic had appealed to her, she couldn’t think of one. But when a pastor chose her to deliver a guest sermon, the warm and personable Charlestin discovered she loves public speaking.

term. Dean, who also ran for president and chaired the Democratic National Committee, said he concluded that unseating the popular Vermont leader would require an intense, scorched-earth campaign and declined to run.

On October 23, Dean showed up at a press conference Charlestin held at the Statehouse to encourage voters to support her.

“I’m convinced she would be a terriﬁc governor,” he said. “What I like about Esther is she’s thoughtful, she listens to people carefully, and she’s not afraid to make a decision.”

Apart from her stint on the selectboard, Charlestin, 34, hasn’t spent much

Following the tradition of her church culture, Charlestin said, she married at 21 and had two kids, now 7 and 9. She left her husband after eight years of marriage, moving to Middlebury College to take a job as a resident director; it came with housing for her family of three. Her mom lent her a car, and her great-aunt stayed with her for two months to help with the transition. She had worked in a similar role at Bryant University in Rhode Island, she said.

Cast o by church friends who disapproved of divorce, she left her conservative faith and started attending the Unitarian Universalist church.

Commuter Punch

Democratic policies are making the situation better or worse. The contest, for an office that comes with an $89,000 annual salary, has become the costliest campaign in Vermont this year. It has also gotten unusually personal, with each lobbing attacks about the other’s honesty and integrity.

“It’s really ugly,” Rodgers acknowledged.

Both men have had long legislative careers. Zuckerman, 53, served in the Vermont House from 1997 to 2013, when he started the first of his two terms in the state Senate. He won election as LG in 2016, then mounted an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2020. After two years out of office, Zuckerman was elected lieutenant governor again in 2022.

As a lawmaker, Zuckerman focused on bills to address climate change, label food that contains GMOs, and legalize cannabis for recreational use. As LG, he went on a “banned book tour” last year and visited libraries around the state to stress the importance of free speech. He read excerpts from books that had been banned in other states, including one about gay penguins.

Zuckerman grew up in Brookline, Mass., the son of a lung and heart surgeon. His family was well-off, but his father died of stomach cancer when he was 13, which changed their circumstances, he said.

Thanks to an inheritance, Zuckerman graduated debt-free from the University of Vermont in 1995 and was able to buy a modest duplex in Burlington, where he lived while farming on rented land in the Intervale.

Zuckerman and his wife, Rachel Nevitt, purchased a 151-acre conserved property in Hinesburg in 2008 and have run their Full Moon Farm there ever since. They have a daughter and actively farm about 25 of the acres in a community supported agriculture model. Zuckerman is a fixture at Burlington’s weekly summertime farmers market.

Despite Zuckerman’s more than 30 years in Vermont and his bona fides as an organic vegetable farmer, Rodgers has tried to paint him as an outsider. At a Vermont Public debate earlier this month, Rodgers asked his opponent which cow breed produces the best milk for chocolate milk. The question was reminiscent of a Vermont U.S. Senate debate in 1998, when Tunbridge dairy farmer Fred Tuttle famously asked his opponent, businessman Jack McMullen, “How many tits does a Holstein have, and how many does a Jersey have?”

McMullen didn’t pass the test, but Zuckerman appeared ready for the moment. “Jersey or Guernsey,” he responded, because of the high fat content

in the milk of both breeds. Rodgers, with a smile, seemed to grudgingly accept the answer.

“You gotta have Jersey. It’s all about the milk solids, the protein and the butter fat,” he replied.

It was a lighthearted exchange, but one that underscored Rodgers’ strategy. He grew up on a dairy farm in West Glover that has been in his family for more than 200 years. He’s said his parents couldn’t afford to send him to a four-year college, so he attended a two-year technical college in New Hampshire and became a stonemason.

“I graduated pretty much with nothing and started my first business with a $750 rusty Chevy Blazer, some hand tools and some ladders,” Rodgers recalled.

He served in the Vermont House from 2003 to 2011 and in the Senate from 2013 to 2021. In 2018, he ran unsuccessfully as a write-in candidate for governor. He and his wife, Brenda, have two adult sons and live on the 500-acre farm he grew up on, where they raise hemp and cannabis.

As a lawmaker, Rodgers supported efforts to help grow the craft beer market and also sought to legalize cannabis, which he acknowledges he grew before it was legal. He has strongly opposed any new restrictions on gun ownership and has argued that efforts to restrict certain kinds of hunting and trapping amount to an assault on the rural way of life.

HE GREW UP IN PRIVILEGE IN A FAMILY OF MILLIONAIRES AND INHERITED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. HE CAN’T UNDERSTAND HOW THESE POLICIES ARE HITTING THE GROUND BECAUSE HE LIVES IN A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN THE REST OF US. JOHN RODGERS

Rodgers has repeatedly contrasted his upbringing with Zuckerman’s in an attempt to appeal to the working Vermonters he thinks aren’t being heard. Many tell Rodgers that they plan to leave the state when they retire or finish raising their kids because of how unaffordable it has become. Those departures, Rodgers said, will only deepen the state’s demographic and workforce crises.

“Regular Vermonters like me that are out there doing a trade or working as a nurse or a teacher, they’re opening their tax bill and going, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” Rodgers said.

That’s a message echoed by Gov. Phil Scott, who is cruising to reelection and has spent more time this year campaigning for moderates who he hopes will join him in Montpelier. Rodgers is one of the candidates Scott has endorsed; the two men have even released a television campaign ad together.

As LG, Rodgers thinks he could more effectively advocate for policies that help

regular people, in contrast to how Zuckerman has served in the position.

“He’s traveled around and annoyed a lot of librarians, but other than that, he hasn’t really been using the office to the benefit of Vermonters,” Rodgers said.

Questions about Zuckerman’s finances have dogged him for years. He admits he is more “privileged” than most people, and certainly most farmers. But he has also stressed his hard work and long hours on the farm, in Montpelier and on the campaign trail as just as important to his success.

“I will acknowledge we were very comfortable. I don’t think there is any shame in anybody’s circumstances that they are born into,” Zuckerman said. What’s more important is “the values that you are raised with and how you treat other people,” Zuckerman said, adding that he was taught to work hard and lift other people up.

“Both John and I work our tails off,” Zuckerman said. “Both of us love this state.

John Rodgers

One of us was born here, one of us has chosen to be here.”

After his mother died five years ago, Zuckerman inherited additional money, but he declined to give the amount. Financial disclosures show that in 2023, he and Nevitt earned $310,000. More than $200,000 was from dividends, interest and capital gains from investments.

Rodgers’ disclosures are more complicated and include profits from his cannabis business but steep losses on his hemp business. He reported that he and his wife, a nurse, earned $190,000 in 2023.

Rodgers noted that while the cannabis business did well, high taxes and a steep mortgage on the farm, a shoulder injury, and crop damage have left him financially stressed.

Zuckerman said he respects Rodgers’ work ethic but finds it noteworthy that his opponent attacks him as privileged while having significant family land holdings himself.

“He didn’t come from nothing, either,” Zuckerman said. “If you grew up on owned land, that is already an advantage that 35 to 40 percent of the population doesn’t enjoy.”

The debate about wealth and class has spilled over into the policy arena. Zuckerman stresses that he supported a larger increase in the minimum wage than Rodgers. But Rodgers argues that Zuckerman supports energy policies, such as the Clean Heat Standard, that are regressive and could hit low-income people hardest.

Rodgers has called for an overhaul of the education system to address property tax increases that he says the legislature has failed to rein in. Zuckerman agrees major reform is needed but criticizes Rodgers’ call to “start over” as impractical.

On housing, Zuckerman supported a bill that would have imposed a 3 percent tax on people making over $500,000 per year for 10 years. It would have raised $70 million for affordable housing, but the measure died in the Senate. Rodgers says he’s open to new taxes on the wealthy but thinks making it easier to build homes is a better place to start.

With such long legislative careers, both candidates have also accumulated some baggage. Zuckerman was chastised earlier this year by House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) for mentioning in meetings with female lawmakers that his office provided free feminine hygiene products. Rodgers also got in hot water in 2020 for responding to criticism about his attendance by referring to a colleague as a “snippy little bitch.”

The policy debates have been overshadowed, however, by the animosity

that has been building between the two as they draw sharp distinctions between one another.

In a recent fundraising email, Zuckerman’s campaign claimed that Rodgers had “stepped out of a reality-based world where people can work together to handle the big issues and into a world of anger, distortion, and ... well ... concepts of plans instead of actual solutions.”

Another email observed that the Republican party was “dominated by toxic men these days” and linked Rodgers to Trump’s “degrading comments against women, record of sexual assault, and horrifically dangerous policies.”

As fundraising tools, the emails appear to be effective. Zuckerman has raised $207,000, mostly from smaller donors, to Rodgers’ $143,000. Zuckerman’s donors include Marielle Blais of Brandon, who appeared as a placeholder on the Progressive primary ballot for governor; the Vermont Public Interest Research Group’s political action committee; and unions.

Most of Rodgers’ cash came in big checks from well-known wealthy Republican donors, including Bruce Lisman, a retired Wall Street executive; the family of Jerry Tarrant, businessman and son of former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Tarrant; and Mark Bove, one of Chittenden County’s biggest landlords.

Rodgers hasn’t appreciated Zuckerman’s emails one bit, calling them “lies.”

“Do you think I’m a toxic male?” he asked his opponent directly during the Vermont Public debate earlier this month.

Zuckerman said he didn’t call Rodgers that explicitly but then went on to note his “angry energy.”

“Part of toxicity is just pointing fingers as opposed to presenting reasonable ideas and thoughts and solutions, which is the Vermont way that I have come to know,” Zuckerman replied.

Rodgers, who said he left the Democratic party because it became too liberal, has said he, like Gov. Scott, does not support Trump. He has blasted Zuckerman as dishonest for insinuating otherwise and said the emails have been hurtful.

“It is so disturbing to me that Dave has stooped to that level because for years, even though he and I disagreed on a lot of policy, I considered him a friend,” Rodgers said in an interview. “When I look at his emails, I say, ‘No friend would ever say things like that about me.’”

It’s unclear whether their friendship will survive the campaign. But they’ll have some distance afterward: One is headed to Montpelier, while the other will be back on the farm, full time. ➆

Prison Appeal

With a ﬁrst-ever candidate forum inside a correctional facility, the state looks to improve voting access for inmates

STORY & PHOTOS BY DEREK BROUWER

At the first-ever election forum held inside a Vermont prison, the moderator wanted to know: How would the candidates take on the opioid crisis?

Gerald Malloy, the Republican hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on November 5, answered ﬁrst. Dressed in a white collared shirt and black blazer, he looked out of place in the painted cinder-block room at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springﬁeld. Prison o cials had pushed aside the wooden carrel desks used for family visits to make space for 22 prisoners and about as many sta , advocates and local media.

Restoring public safety, Malloy explained, would be his top priority. He would vote in Congress to secure the country’s borders. Malloy would also support law enforcement and seek to end the “progressive prosecution” that aims to reduce the country’s high incarceration rate but which Malloy contends is failing to hold criminals accountable.

“There has to be a deterrence for folks who are actually committing crimes,” he said.

Malloy’s audience, wearing blue prison garb with labels such as “WORK CREW” and “KITCHEN” across their backs, listened politely. A few nodded in agreement.

Unlike most people in the U.S. who are incarcerated, Vermont prisoners can still cast ballots. The state is one of two, along with Maine, where criminal prosecution has no legal bearing on any resident’s voting rights. But candidates running for o ce have rarely, if ever, asked for their support. It’s one of the many reasons that turnout among incarcerated people is extremely low.

Last Friday’s forum at Southern State marked the beginning of an e ort to help the state’s roughly 1,400 prisoners better exercise their voting rights, according to Corrections Commissioner Nicholas Deml.

“It is our job to make sure that they have access to that opportunity,” he said.

Deml also acknowledged that the forum fell short of that goal. It drew only three candidates and was held so close to Election Day that prisoners who waited until the forum to vote by mail don’t know for sure whether their absentee ballots will arrive in time to be counted. And the

• derek@sevendaysvt.com

2024 ELECTION

UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO ARE INCARCERATED, VERMONT PRISONERS CAN STILL CAST BALLOTS.

department didn’t provide a way for prisoners at other facilities to tune in.

Malloy was joined by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Esther Charlestin and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.). Their respective opponents — Sen. Sanders, Republican Gov. Phil Scott and long-shot GOP House challenger Mark Coester — did not attend.

little earlier in the cycle, so that there is opportunity for voting afterwards.”

Just 8 percent of Vermonters imprisoned on felony convictions cast ballots in the 2018 midterm elections, according to an analysis by Massachusetts Institute of Technology political scientist Ariel White — far below the statewide turnout of 55 percent that year.

Outside advocacy groups have spent decades trying to raise that number by informing prisoners of their voting rights and helping them register to vote. This year, Tina Hagen of Disability Rights Vermont has helped 50 or so inmates at Southern State obtain ballots. Prisoners must register using their last community residence, then request a ballot be sent to their prison mailing address.

Hagen said the department has “come a long way” in ensuring prisoners understand their voting rights and the cumbersome logistics, but many prisoners tell her they don’t know enough about the candidates. Prisoners aren’t bombarded with campaign mail, nor do they have access to candidates’ websites or online news sources.

“Probably one of the biggest concerns and issues we hear is just having that information to make informed decisions while they’re incarcerated,” Hagen said.

Holding candidate debates inside prisons can help bridge that information gap, according to academic experts who study disenfranchisement. University of Vermont political scientist Alec Ewald, who is currently surveying Vermont prisoners about their political attitudes, said direct appeals from candidates may help counter the sense of civic alienation that often accompanies incarceration.

“It’s saying quite directly to the incarcerated people that their experiences matter and their ideas matter and that their voices and their votes matter,” Ewald said.

White, the MIT researcher, said prisoners who are able to maintain ties to civic life while behind bars could also have an easier time transitioning back to life outside.

Asked why the governor skipped the event, Scott campaign manager Jason

cited “substantial time commitments for his day job.”

Prison system o cials cast the forum as a kind of trial run for what they hope will become a more prominent electionyear tradition. Deml said he’d like to host forums at more than one prison and “a

A county jail in Flint, Mich., has hosted numerous election forums in recent years. Organized by a nonprofit advocacy group, the events have provided inmates a chance to hold the microphone and pose questions directly to mayoral candidates. At one earlier this year, attendees vocally complained when a sitting U.S. congresswoman sent a surrogate instead of showing up, according to local media coverage.

The Vermont forum was closely controlled. The Department of Corrections allowed prisoners in Southern State’s

Maulucci

An inmate facing (from left) candidates Esther Charlestin, Rep. Becca Balint and Gerald Malloy

general population units to sign up to attend, a spokesperson said, and solicited questions through inmates’ prison-issued tablet computers. The forum was moderated by Deputy Secretary of State Lauren Hibbert, a former public defender in New York City.

The questions, officials said, were drawn from topics that Southern State prisoners submitted. Hibbert asked broadly about mental health care access and affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and strategies for keeping young people out of prison.

Asked how the candidates would expand voting access for incarcerated people, gubernatorial hopeful Charlestin told the audience that she’d like to set up polling places inside the prisons.

“That would be incredible,” she said.

Malloy stuck to his law-and-order message, criticizing the “defund the police” movement as a “big step back.”

Balint pitched herself as a public servant on a mission to “alleviate suffering at all different levels.” She called for more diversion programs that keep offenders out of prison, as well as investments in housing and school services.

The congresswoman’s comments intrigued an attendee named Jeffrey, whom Seven Days agreed to identify only by first name as a condition of attending the forum.

Jeffrey, who has been detained at Southern State since September, blamed his criminal behavior on drug addiction and a lack of stable housing. He said he wants to get treatment and feels that the prison environment is only making his problems worse.

“A lot of people are sitting here [in prison] who should not be here,” he said.

Jeffrey hadn’t cast his ballot as of last Friday afternoon but said he still intended to do so.

The candidates’ closing statements were met with applause, and Deml, standing in front of a Prison Rape Elimination Act poster, closed by saying he was grateful to get the candidates “in front of some Vermont voters.” Afterward, some of the prisoners shook the candidates’ hands and chatted with them for a few minutes.

As prisoners returned to their units, Charlestin retrieved her driver’s license from the same check-in station that family visitors use each day. The forum, she said, felt “super formal.” She wondered whether it could be structured differently, in a way that meets prisoners on their terms.

“Instead of asking them to enter our world, how do we go into theirs?” she said. “How do we make it so we are uncomfortable?” ➆

EDUCATION

UVM to Raise Tuition Next Year

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

University of Vermont undergraduate tuition rates will increase 2 percent for state residents and 4.5 percent for out-of-staters next year.

At a meeting last Friday, a UVM Board of Trustees committee approved the increase, as well as a 3.5 percent bump in room and board, for the 2025-26 academic year.

Interim President Patricia Prelock said she initially viewed a proposed 4.5 percent increase as a “nonstarter.” But rising costs, including for health care and personnel, led her to change her mind. The board will spend the next several months looking for places to cut costs; it’s not yet clear where.

“It pains me,” Prelock said at the meeting.

Tuition for out-of-state undergrads, now $42,724, will go up to $44,647. Tuition for Vermonters will increase from $16,280 to $16,606. Medical school tuition will cost 4.5 percent more: $38,738 for Vermont students and $69,404 for out-of-staters.

About 20 percent of UVM’s students are from Vermont. The tuition price hike for these students could be worse, said Donald McCree, chair of the budget committee.

“Not to diminish $400, but when you look at the dollars that this generates ... when you boil it down to the dollars, it’s a lot, but it’s not $5,000,” he said.

Former president Suresh Garimella froze in-state tuition for undergraduates in 2019, and next year’s hike will be the first since then. Last fall, trustees approved a 3.5 percent increase for out-of-state undergrads for the current academic year.

UVM is short $10 million in its $941 million budget this year — though Richard Cate, the university’s vice president for finance and administration, said UVM can close that gap with discretionary funds. Cate blames skyrocketing health insurance costs for the red ink and said the tuition increase won’t be nearly enough to address future deficits. ➆

UVM campus

The Longest Shot

Charlestin liked her job at Middlebury but found that living in Vermont is tough. Childcare is expensive. Her supporters often emphasize her struggle when comparing her to the relatively affluent Scott, who owned a construction company.

Charlestin lost her housing when she left Middlebury College for a job in a local public school. She couldn’t find an affordable place in Middlebury and landed in Bridport. After serving as dean of climate and culture at Middlebury Union Middle School for a year, Charlestin started her consulting business, working with schools and other organizations on equity and diversity.

At the suggestion of state Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison), Charlestin pursued training in 2022 through Emerge Vermont, a program that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. That’s when Charlestin started thinking about taking her public speaking skills to a bigger stage.

Asked what she learned at Emerge, Charlestin mentioned the importance of fundraising and of remembering details. She added that she was moved by a presentation on the late U.S. representative Shirley Chisholm of New York, who in 1968 served as the first Black woman in Congress and later sought the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

“I carry that with me all the time,” Charlestin said. “The boldness, the courage.”

Charlestin doesn’t shy away from new experiences. In 2023, she said, an acquaintance in the Vermont Senate invited her to join the board of the Vermont Commission on Women. She hadn’t heard of the group, which advances rights and opportunities for women and girls.

“They said, ‘Hey, this is interesting. You should check it out,’” recalled Charlestin, who was appointed to the 16-member board in January 2023 and is now its chair. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, for sure.’”

These days, Charlestin is fielding queries about her own solutions to the problems plaguing Vermont, including floods, the housing crisis and rising taxes. Her policy proposals are similar to those of Progressives who would like to raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for the crippling costs of education and other public programs. Charlestin favors the 3 percent tax surcharge that was proposed last year on households earning more than $500,000 annually. She also wants to raise property taxes on second-home owners.

Charlestin knows that explaining her policy ideas isn’t her strong suit. Asked during an interview about her goals on the

selectboard, she picked up her phone and searched unsuccessfully for an Instagram post from that time.

“I think it was education,” she said.

Pressed for unscripted details on her goals as governor, Charlestin was equally at a loss. If elected, she said, she plans to hire people who can handle the policy work.

“I’m really good at getting experts together,” she said. She has a future chief of staff picked out, though she won’t say who it is.

“She’s super type A organized and really personable,” Charlestin said of the person, whom she described as a Democrat in the Middlebury area. “She’s the one who could say, ‘We need to leverage this federal grant or that program in order to make this happen.’ She knows that stuff.”

Charlestin has remarried and now lives with her husband, Jesse Norford, and two kids in South Burlington, although she said she prefers that people think she lives in Middlebury. That’s the town listed with her name on the Vermont ballot. When she buys a house, she added, she plans to put it in a blind trust so her name won’t appear on public land records. Her kids are in private school.

“I’m a Black woman in a dominant white space,” she said. “For me to act like safety is not an issue, or think that I’m the same as the white men before me, would

be a misstep and could lead me to serious danger.”

At the October 23 press conference, Rep. Conor Casey (D-Montpelier) read aloud a statement from Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak that outlined at length some of Charlestin’s policy positions.

“Esther knows that a healthy economy requires us not to ignore the stagnant nature of wages in our state,” MulvaneyStanak said. “Esther supports policies that bolster labor standards and support workers.”

Mulvaney-Stanak noted in her statement that if elected, Charlestin would be Vermont’s first Black governor.

“Electing people who hold marginalized identities, whether it is gender identity, racial identity, or someone from a working-class background, immediately means the individual walks in with a shared experience with the majority of Vermonters,” she said.

In an interview, Dean questioned the scrutiny that Charlestin is facing over her lack of experience. He wondered whether a white male candidate with a similar background would face the same questions, and he noted that Republican governor Deane Davis, who in 1970 passed Vermont’s major land use law, Act 250, hadn’t worked in politics, either.

“If you’re smart and willing to listen to people, you can learn this job pretty

quickly,” Dean said. Early in his own administration, Dean related, he relied on the staff of his predecessor, Republican governor Richard Snelling. Snelling died suddenly when Dean, a Democrat, was lieutenant governor. “You have people around you who know the nuts and bolts,” he said.

Some of Charlestin’s supporters have said privately that they don’t think she has much of a chance against the popular governor. Her campaign has raised just $40,000 in donations to Scott’s $300,000, but her backers say they are rallying behind her to send a message. Jim Dandeneau, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party, acknowledged that it would be tough for any Democrat to defeat Scott.

“The first thing you’ve got to do is convince people the incumbent deserves to lose, and that costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time,” Dandeneau said. “Nobody else stepped up who was willing to take that shot.”

Charlestin is doing so despite skeptical feedback. Her time on the road meeting voters hasn’t been easy on her or on her family, but she wants to “speak for the people.”

“I do believe if we’re not at the table, decisions will be made about us and for us,” she said in an interview. “Whatever sacrifices I have to make to be part of that legacy are important.” ➆

« P.15

Esther Charlestin at a Williston school candidate forum

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Joanne Dawson Granai

MAY 5, 1932OCTOBER 22, 2024 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Joanne Dawson Granai, age 92, died peacefully on October 22, 2024, taking her conﬁdent selﬂessness, compassion, empathy, tolerance, sharp mind and sharper wit with her to reunite with her husband, Ed, almost 10 years to the day that he made his journey, following their 60 years of marriage.

Joanne was born on May 5, 1932, in Rockville, Md., to Henry and Jessamine Dawson. She graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville and received her RN in 1953 from the Union Memorial School of Nursing in Baltimore. While training as a nurse, she met Ed. ey married in 1954 and proceeded to follow Ed’s early career, ultimately settling in Ed’s home state of Vermont with their three children in 1969.

Joanne lived on Killarney Drive in Burlington until 2018, when she chose to relocate to the Harborview Retirement Community in South Burlington, where she enjoyed the company of many old and new friends.

Joanne liked travel, cooking, baking, sewing, reading, the Celtics, the Red Sox, UVM basketball, hiking, crosscountry skiing, canoeing, sailing, ﬁshing, British sitcoms, “Jeopardy” and the “Carol Burnett Show.”

Some of the places Ed and Joanne visited were Italy, Alaska, Guadeloupe, Maine, Florida, the Rockies, England,

Switzerland and France. Holding a special meaning to Joanne was the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where she lived for a year as a school-age child and returned to visit as an adult.

Most sacred to Joanne were her family, her friends, the family’s Camp Hesitate in South Hero, and the communities of Killarney Drive and Christ Church Presbyterian.

Joanne volunteered in many ways, including with Meals on Wheels and JUMP and by tutoring and helping out in various capacities at her kids’ and grandkids’ schools. And no words, except possibly faith, can describe how much her Christ Church Presbyterian family meant to her.

Joanne was predeceased by her sister, Janet Kirby; Janet’s husband, Parker; niece Jody (Kirby) Pugh; brother-in-law Cornelius Granai II (Kio); Kio’s wife, Loraine; nephew Cornelius Granai III (Skip); and brotherin-law Norman Vercoe.

Joanne is survived by her children and their spouses, Janet Granai-Benway and Gary Benway of Port

Jacob Didyoung

MAY 22, 1977OCTOBER 13, 2024

BURLINGTON, VT.

Jacob Didyoung passed unexpectedly on October 13, 2024. He was deeply loved by friends and family. To see the full obituary, go to gregorycremation.com.

Juan Mier Jr.

AUGUST 22, 1934-OCTOBER 27, 2024 HARDWICK AND BURLINGTON, VT.

Juan Mier Jr., 90, of Hardwick and Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on October 27, 2024, at his home.

Charlotte, Fla., Judith Granai Martin and David Martin of Troy, N.Y., and Matthew and Kathryn Granai of Colchester, Vt; seven grandchildren, David Dussault (Sarah), Loni Branon (Kyle), Jordan Martin (Jennifer), Benjamin Martin (Katarina), Hayley Martin (Humberto Mestre), Anthony Granai and Michael Granai; ﬁve great-grandchildren, Lyla and Eli Dussault, Declan and Kassidy Branon, and Ana Soﬁa Mestre Martin; and her dear sister-in-law, Carolyn Vercoe; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition, Joanne leaves friends from all over, including those from Killarney Drive, YDS, the Fat Seals and her beloved Christ Church Presbyterian family.

Joanne’s family would like to thank the staff at Harbor Village Senior Communities, BAYADA Home Health Care, Home Instead Senior Care, Silver Leaf In-Home Care, Dr. Suzanna ach, and Stephen C. Gregory and Son Cremation Service for their compassionate services.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, 3 p.m., at St. Paul’s Cathedral, lower level, 2 Cherry St., Burlington, VT. Parking in the Cherry Street garage across from the church is recommended for those without mobility issues. ere will be no calling hours. Burial will be private.

In lieu of ﬂowers, charitable contributions may be made to the Pine Ridge Reservation at friendsofpineridge reservation.org, and/or Christ Church Presbyterian at christchurchburlington.org.

He was born in Hardwick, the son of Juan Sr. and Justa (Canales), who immigrated from Spain as part of the skilled immigrant labor force from Europe for the granite industry and started their own dairy farm in Hardwick, where he grew up. He was a longtime member of the Caspian Lake Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Angela (Zorilla), 90; children, Juan III and wife Holly (LaFrance), and Angelo and wife Barbara (Warrender); grandchildren, Victoria Mier and Rebecca Mier; sister, Pilar Canales, and her son, Dionisio Canales.

to large-scale construction projects, both in the U.S. and overseas, including the Bahamas, Libya, Algeria, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and to projects that included the construction of a portion of Interstate 89 in Vermont from Richmond to Jonesville and the Alaskan pipeline. His ﬁnal job before retirement was as a truck mechanic with Fitzpatrick’s GMC on Pine Street in Burlington, where he worked for 13 years.

He met and married his wife, Angela, in Spain and brought her back to the U.S., where they eventually settled in Burlington, Vt.

After high school, he attended Norwich University for a semester, where he studied agriculture, but later developed a passion for large-scale construction equipment and pursued a career in the maintenance of such equipment. is career took him

Bettejayne Whitcomb

JULY 7, 1930-OCTOBER 21, 2024

JERICHO, VT.

Bettejayne Whitcomb died peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., after a brief stay. She was born on July 7, 1930, in Newburgh, N.Y., to Florence and Arthur Farr. She grew up in Newburgh and Ware, Mass., where she swam competitively throughout her high school years. She graduated salutatorian of her high school class in 1948 and went on to get a BS in zoology at UMass Amherst. She met her ﬁrst husband, Ed Bacon (d.2004), while they were both attending college there and got married in 1953.

He loved to tinker and could fix or build just about anything in his workshop in their basement, which over the course of 50-plus years he had turned into its own machine shop and hardware store, as he salvaged, sorted and saved every nut, bolt and brass fitting he could find. He was an avid gun enthusiast and collector and loved hunting, target shooting and reloading his own bullets. He also loved sharing these hobbies with friends. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made to BAYADA Hospice for making his last weeks at home humane and comfortable and for all the support provided to the family. e family would also like to thank the support provided by the Mansfield Place staff during that time, as well.

Funeral services will be held on ursday, October 31, 11 a.m., at des Groseilliers Funeral Home, 97 Church St., Hardwick, followed by a burial at the Hardwick Main Street Cemetery.

Bettejayne worked at Cornell University and then the University of Connecticut. In 1960 they had a son, Stephen. Two years later they moved to Jericho, Vt., and she raised Stephen while Ed worked at the University of Vermont. Tragically, Stephen died in 1967 due to melanoma of the brain. Seth was born in 1968 and Susan in 1970. She and Ed later divorced.

She went on to work at UVM in the gastroenterology department for more than 20 years before retiring in 1995.

In 1978 she married Eugene Chastenay (d.1989). He was an avid pilot and encouraged her to take ﬂying lessons and get her private pilot’s license a couple years later.

ey had several planes over the years, and she loved sharing her passion. She was a member of the local Experimental Aircraft Association. She also volunteered to ﬂy patients to hospitals as part of AirLifeLine. She married John (Jack) Whitcomb in 1994 (d. 2017), and together they enjoyed time with their families and grandchildren and dogs. ey loved to travel and went to many amazing destinations all over the world. She lived a full and amazing life. She had a lifelong love of swimming and reading. She also liked to knit and sew and loved to reﬁnish old furniture. She was also involved in the local Mary C. Burdick Order of the Eastern Star, was a member of Jericho and Westford Congregational churches, and served on the Jericho Cemetery Board.

She is survived by her son Seth; daughter, Susan, her husband, Darren; grandchildren, Steven, Aiyana, Trever and Colleen; nieces, Cheryl Shaskan, Heather Benedict and Holly Ross; and cousin, Linda Mitchell.

A memorial service will be held on November 1, 1 p.m., at the Mt. Mansﬁeld Lodge #26 F&AM in Jericho, with a small interment ceremony following in the Jericho Corners Cemetery. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations to the Order of the Eastern Star Temple Chapter #75 (Sue Mullen, Secretary, 93 Gravella Rd., Milton, VT 05468) are appreciated.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Denton

Edward “Ned” MacCarty, MD

JULY 25, 1931OCTOBER 13, 2024

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Denton Edward “Ned” MacCarty, MD, age 93, of South Burlington, Vt., died peacefully on October 13, 2024. Ned was born in Brighton, Mass., on July 25, 1931, the only child of Marion Helen Corley and Denton S. MacCarty. He was named after his grandfathers, Denton Marston MacCarty of Rutland, Vt., and Edward B. Corley, longtime Burlington, Vt., city clerk.

Ned was raised in Burlington, Vt., and graduated from Cathedral High School (now Rice Memorial High School), class of 1949; Saint Michael’s College, class of 1953; and the University of Vermont Medical School, in 1957.

On September 1, 1956, he married Mary Jacquelyn “Jackie” Ireland in St. Mark’s Church in Burlington.

Following graduation, Dr. MacCarty completed an internship at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va., then served aboard the USS Monrovia, followed by a residency in radiology and nuclear medicine at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., and a fellowship in radiation oncology at the University of Chicago Hospitals.

Dr. MacCarty was certiﬁed by the American Board of Radiology in 1964 and served in the Department of Radiology at Bethesda Naval Hospital, attaining the rank of commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps.

After leaving the Navy in 1968, Dr. MacCarty joined the staff of the Waltham Hospital, Waltham, Mass., where he was named chief of radiology and also served as president of the medical staff, chairman of the medical staff executive committee and member of the board of trustees. He retired from practice in 1996.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Ned and Jackie, in their years in Maryland, were avid square dancers, belonging to several clubs and returning annually to attend festivals with friends.

After moving to Massachusetts, they made their ﬁrst trip to Ireland, meeting relatives of Jackie’s family, as well as two other families who became lifelong friends with whom they exchanged visits and had wonderful experiences on their 11 subsequent visits to “the old sod.”

Ned also enjoyed traveling with Jackie in the U.S. and Europe, gardening, photography, collecting Irish and New England art and antiques, and spending time with his beloved golden retrievers.

Ned greatly enjoyed sports, especially high school and college basketball. He also was an ardent fan of pro sports, beginning with the Washington Redskins and then the New England Patriots, as well as the Boston Red Sox. Despite a busy professional career, Ned still managed to ﬁnd time to coach Little League and took great pleasure in cheering on his children and grandsons from the sidelines.

Following retirement, Ned and Jackie returned to their roots and built their dream home at Appletree Point on Lake Champlain in Burlington, where they would eventually live year-round.

In 2019, Ned and Jackie moved to the Residence at Quarry Hill in South Burlington, where they made many wonderful new friends and where Ned discovered his talent and passion for painting.

Ned was a loyal alumnus of St. Michael’s College,

serving as president of the associate trustees and as an ex-ofﬁcio member of the board of trustees.

Ned was predeceased by Jackie, his beloved wife of 65 years. He was also predeceased by his parents and his three cousins, all also only children and thus more like siblings, Janice Bacon Cody (Robert), Mary Jessica Corley and Edward Corley Langley (Karlene).

Ned is survived by his son John (Karen) of Billerica, Mass.; daughter, Kelly M. Doherty (Dr. William) of Andover, Mass., and son Michael (Dorothy) of Nashua, N.H. He is also survived by ﬁve grandsons, Matthew Doherty (Megan) of Hopkinton, N.H., Liam Doherty of Andover, Mass., Paul MacCarty (Alexandra) of Denver, Colo., Brendan MacCarty of Fitchburg, Mass., and Sean MacCarty of Pepperell, Mass.; and by one great-grandson, Casey MacCarty of Denver.

Ned is also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Virginia “Dee Dee” and Michael O’Brien of Burlington.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, November 3, 3 to 5 p.m., at Ready Funeral & Cremation Services, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on November 4, 11 a.m., at St. Mark’s Catholic Church on North Avenue, Burlington. Interment will follow at Resurrection Park Cemetery, 200 Hinesburg Rd., South Burlington.

In lieu of ﬂowers, gifts can be made to the Dr. Ned ‘49 and Jackie Ireland ‘51 MacCarty Tuition Assistance Fund for Rice Memorial High School students.

To give online, visit vtcatholicfoundation.org/donate-rice and select the Dr. Ned MacCarty Fund from the list, or make a check out to the VT Catholic Community Foundation (memo: Dr. Ned MacCarty TAF) and mail it to Rice Memorial High School, 99 Proctor Ave., South Burlington, VT 05403.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Richard C. Blum

MARCH 18, 1934-SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 ENOSBURGH, VT.

Richard C. Blum, 90, of Enosburgh, Vt., died suddenly on September 22, 2024, at the Northwestern Medical Center in Saint Albans, Vt.

Richard Clarke Blum was born on March 18, 1934, the eldest of three children. His father, Harry, was a pharmacist who became part owner of the Blum Folding Box Company. During World War II, Harry started as a U.S. Navy pharmacist mate and ended up as chief health inspector for the Port of Bermuda, where he was responsible for inspecting South American food supply ships before they convoyed to Europe. Richard’s mother, Beryl (Clarke) Blum, was a nurse, homemaker and expert knitter.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Roslyn, N.Y., Richard graduated from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., attending through the GI Bill, and received a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Later in life, he furthered his studies by doing graduate coursework in biology at Harvard University.

Moving to Vermont in 1964, Richard was a well-known and, occasionally, polarizing lawyer in Burlington for more than 30 years. When he first came to Vermont, he clerked for and worked at the law firm of Latham and Eastman in Burlington. He worked for the Vermont Consumer Protection Agency, was the first director of Vermont Legal Aid and had a law

Margaret Davison

OCTOBER 13, 1960-OCTOBER 23, 2024 BURLINGTON, VT. AND GREENVILLE, R.I.

Margaret Mary Davison left us on October 23, 2024, enveloped in the love of her family and with her sister, Helen, at her side. Little with her Big, as always.

Margaret, always known as Marg, was born on October 13, 1960, in Brattleboro, Vt., to Joseph H. and Betty Lou Martel Davison. As a child, she moved to and grew up in Burlington, Vt., where she made plenty of fond memories.

Following graduation from Burlington High School, Marg completed the Fanny Allen nursing program. For the rest of her life, even with career changes and entrepreneurial ventures, Marg would consider herself a nurse and caregiver, ﬁrst and foremost. Her care for her parents, her siblings, her cats, and a large circle of family and friends will be her true legacy.

partnership with Paul Jarvis for many years. He was known for being unselﬁsh in his efforts to help people in need. Toward the end of his career, Richard developed something of a specialty, representing other attorneys in professional disciplinary matters. Richard was a oneof-a kind man. He was a storyteller known for his quick wit, irreverent humor and love of the English language. Richard was a great cook, loved parties, and was an excellent deep-sea fisherman, especially for grouper out of Islamorada, Fla. He cut firewood and was an avid gardener known for his garlic. As part owner of Esox bar in Burlington, Vt., he authored and published the Esox Fables newsletter and was very briefly a weekend talk show host on WDOT radio. He once donated a copy of the full Oxford English Dictionary to the Fletcher Free Library so others could enjoy looking up an obscure word. Richard spent the last 20-plus years in peace and harmony at a beautiful spot with gorgeous mountain views in northeastern Vermont with his longtime consort, Elizabeth Trotter.

In addition to Elizabeth, Richard is survived by his two sons, Alexander (Kim) and Lorenzo; former wife, Anne Kreisel; granddaughters, Emily and Amelia; and sister Doris and brother Andrew.

Please raise a glass to this amazing man. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at a later date.

where she met Richard Berg, the love of her life. Together they created several successful businesses. As a resident of Greenville, R.I., for more than 30 years, Marg and Rich created a beautiful home, which she landscaped herself and cared for with talent and dedication. It was a special place, where many nieces and nephews spent fun-ﬁlled weeks every summer, while being treated to the time of their lives by Aunt Marg, and included baseball games, trips to the zoo and beach, and lots of video games.

She is survived by the large, extended family that has been made richer and more complete by having known her endless love.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 2, 11 a.m., at Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction, VT. A gathering with refreshments will follow at the same location.

In 1987, Marg relocated to Rhode Island,

To see Marg’s entire obituary, please go to vtfuneralhomes.com.

Nina Gumpert Parris

SEPTEMBER 11, 1927OCTOBER 21, 2024

BURLINGTON, VT.

Nina Gumpert Parris, a longtime resident of Burlington Vt., passed away peacefully on October 21, 2024, after a year in hospice at the Arbors in Shelburne, Vt.

Nina was born in 1927 in Berlin, Germany. Her father was Dr. Martin Gumpert, a German poet, writer, doctor, and pioneer in public health and gerontology. Her mother, Dr. Charlotte Blaschko, was also a physician. Nina’s mother died of tuberculosis when she was 6 years old, and in 1937, at the age of 10, she fled the rise of Nazism in Germany and emigrated to the U.S. She frequently talked about the dangers and stress she experienced as a Jewish child under Hitler and the challenges of being an outsider and not speaking the language in her new country.

Raised in New York City by her father, she went to the Dalton School, with a strong interest in art, drama and political activism. After a brief

Kenneth Marsh Stone

FEBRUARY 15, 1942OCTOBER 21, 2024

WILLISTON, VT.

Ken Stone passed away on October 21, 2024, at the age of 82 with his wife, Nancy, by his side. He was embraced by a loving God, hospice and the care team at Maple Ridge.

Born in Bellows Falls, Vt., Ken graduated from Brattleboro High School and earned a bachelor of civil engineering degree from Union College in 1964; he was active in the ROTC and president of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Family lore relates that Ken’s parents were introduced to Nancy’s parents in 1961; over the bridge table, they agreed to an “arranged marriage”!

After the 1965 wedding in West Springfield, Mass., Nancy joined Captain Ken, who was working as a bioenvironmental engineer stationed at the U.S. Air Force base in Grand Forks, N.D. In 1968 he earned a master of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan. Son Eric was born that year.

The family moved from the frigid North to sweltering San Antonio, Texas, where Ken served at Brooks Air Force

stint at the Yale Drama School and studying stage design that included apprenticeships on Broadway, she joined the Caravans performance troupe, which entertained audiences prior to campaign speeches by then-presidential candidate Henry Wallace in 1948. It was there that she met her husband, Arthur Parris, a pianist. Later they spent a year in Paris, where Nina studied art while Arthur studied music at the Paris Conservatory. After returning to the U.S., Nina started working as activities director at the Home for the Jewish Aged in Philadelphia, while raising her first son, Carl. In this job, she was given leeway to innovate

Base. He was responsible for the operation of high-altitude chambers as part of NASA research.

With the imminent birth of daughter Laurel, they moved to Vermont in 1971, when Ken became director of environmental health for the Vermont Department of Health, specializing in clean drinking water. The young family bought a home in Williston, working the land, harvesting wood, and raising pigs and chickens. After leaving state service, he joined Lamoureux, Stone and O’Leary Consulting Engineers in Essex Junction. Among many projects, Ken was proud to have designed the Williston recreation path.

Ken had a quiet, joyful spirit and made people “feel

with activities that encouraged residents to build upon their life skills and interests — an early example of her ability to blaze new paths in many of her endeavors.

Nina returned to college while Carl and her second son, Tom, were attending junior high and elementary school. At Bryn Mawr, where she was a McBride Scholar and Wilson Fellowship recipient, she received her bachelor’s degree in art history. She completed her master’s and PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, with a specialty in 20th-century German painters. She returned to Germany as part of her dissertation research, where

happy just having him around”. With family, friends and even strangers, he offered kindness, encouragement, and a sense of humor that was quickwitted in words or goofy with physical play.

He was active in his community through acts of generosity and civic engagement, striving to lift up those in need. He was a member of the town selectboard and served as health officer. He was active in the Williston Federated Church, where he and Nancy found deep friendship and community. He was board chair, a tall tenor in the choir, frequently donned an apron at the July 4th chicken barbecue, and was dedicated to the men’s Bible study group, where he didn’t hesitate to raise questions and discuss his faith. He was a longtime member of the Williston/Richmond Rotary, served as president and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for Service Above Self, a motto he lived by. He was a scout leader with Boy Scout Troop 692 and was recognized with the Order of the Arrow.

Ken served others beyond his community, building homes with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity and with HFH International. He served on Jimmy Carter blitz builds

she was able to revisit the famous Berlin art museums of her childhood and observe the postwar changes in the younger German mindset. After her divorce, she and Tom moved to Burlington, Vt., where she became the curator of the Robert Hull Fleming Museum at the University of Vermont. There she led a multiyear effort to restore, reframe and catalog more than 1,500 pieces of artwork in the attic of the museum; produced numerous exhibits; and taught museum studies and art history. She worked to highlight the work of Vermont and northern New England artists, making the museum a focal point for contemporary regional art and crafts.

Shortly after Tom left for college, she became curator of the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina. Again, she led efforts to modernize the museum infrastructure and facilities, while growing the focus on Southern artists, with particular attention to reaching out to African American artists and the crafts community. She also became very involved in national and international

in Kentucky and Georgia and went on hurricane-rebuilding missions to Connecticut, Georgia and Texas. He and Nancy joined friends in building homes in Guatemala. This man was drawn to nature and loved being active outdoors. Ever adventurous, he led his family in canoe camping, hiking, crosscountry and downhill skiing, and visiting national parks. He loved biking with friends, including riding the perimeter of Vermont. He was thrilled to join a friend’s sail racing team on Lake Champlain and enjoyed Caribbean sailing trips with that crew and son Eric. After his early retirement, he set out to complete the Appalachian Trail in 2001. This was a life-changing, affirming experience! He made it from Georgia to Pennsylvania, where he realized his body needed a break. He continued to complete sections over the ensuing years and reached the end of the trail atop Maine’s Mount Katahdin, joined by his kids, in October 2004. He also completed Vermont’s Long Trail and joined a friend to walk the last 220 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He and Nancy tented through Alaska, traveled to Europe and especially enjoyed

museum organizations and was the chair of the Curators Committee of the American Association of Museums, leading an effort to write a curators’ code of ethics.

Upon retirement, Nina returned to her house on South Union Street and became deeply engaged in the Burlington community, where she served on the board of the Fletcher Free Library and the Telecommunications Advisory Committee. She continued teaching art history and fine art at Burlington College and the Vermont College of Fine Arts, while mentoring many graduate students into her eighties. During this period, she was a forceful advocate, seeking dignity, selfdetermination and justice for Palestinians. She was a voracious reader on a wide range of topics and pursued her love of photography.

Nina was a founding resident of Burlington Cohousing on East Avenue — an intentional, multigenerational community, committed to sustainable living and supporting the local community.

Nina used her understanding of history to imagine a

their 2.5 years as members of the 251 Club, visiting each town in Vermont. An avid Alpine skier in his younger years, he tried snowboarding in his fifties and became an instructor at Smuggler’s Notch, helping young and old learn to love to ride.

Ken loved being a grandfather, delighting in the children’s joy, goofing off in the hammock, and cuddling on the couch to watch videos of fire trucks and “Bob the Builder.”

Ken leaves his beloved wife, Nancy, of 59 years; brother Paul Stone (wife Amelia); son, Eric Stone (wife Elke Reichelt) of Richmond; daughter Laurel Omland (husband Kristian) of Jericho; and grandchildren, Kai Stone and Phoebe and Aron Omland; as well other family members. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Alma Stone of Wilmington, Vt., and his brother Alan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Williston Federated Church, WillistonRichmond Rotary or the Alzheimer’s Association.

The celebration of life will take place on January 11, 2025, 1 p.m., at Williston Federated Church. Live streaming will be available.

Share memories at awrfh.com.

better future. She was not a wallflower. She did not bite her tongue. She did not hesitate to share her opinion when she had one, and she usually had one! Her passion could not be missed, and she passed these traits onto her children, friends, students and colleagues.

She is survived by her sons, Carl J. Parris (wife Ann Moring) and Thomas M. Parris (wife Victoria Tamas); grandchildren, Daniel, Riana, David and Noah; and four great-grandchildren.

Donations can be made to the Fletcher Free Library or the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund at pcrf.net, in memory of Nina Parris.

A green burial will take place on November 2, 3 p.m., at Burlington Cohousing (180 East Ave., Burlington, VT), followed by a reception with a catered meal in the cohousing dining room on the same property. All friends, neighbors and colleagues are welcome to attend. Bring stories, anecdotes and special memories to share.

Please RSVP to Peter Lackowski at petervt3@gmail. com.

MAY 2, 1940OCTOBER 26, 2024 RICHMOND, VT.

Peter E. Thomas, 84, of Richmond, Vt., peacefully entered into life with God on Saturday, October 26, 2024, with family at his side.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 4, 2024, 11 a.m., at his longtime parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Richmond, with burial to follow at Holy Rosary Cemetery. Gifts in Peter’s honor may be made to the Knights of Columbus, Rosary Council, PO Box 71, Richmond, VT 05477.

Peter E. Thomas

FEEDback

« P.7

that it was not financial fraud to benefit themselves but deception so the city would support their plans does not make it any better. As far as many of the other charges in the article, it is hard to read the document and see Green as someone who worries about getting her facts right.

Carl Wermer ESSEX JUNCTION

‘GREEN HAS BEEN HARMED’

[Re “Racial Reckoning: A Black Former Burlington Department Head Says the City Owes Her Millions for a Long List of Indignities,” October 1]: Racist treatment of Burlington’s former racial equity, inclusion and belonging director Tyeastia Green continues as the mayor’s office is challenged to apologize and make amends. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak inherited this grievance, and she is the one to make it right. I’m counting on her now to bring enlightened leadership to the table.

When $16.9 million in taxpayer dollars went missing from the general fund, Mayor Miro Weinberger blocked an audit by refusing to release the records. But when Green’s financial management in her next job came under scrutiny, he jumped right in to order an investigation of a past REIB-sponsored Juneteenth celebration. The only objective was to smear Green’s name.

Large city events routinely have cost overruns and accounting errors. Burlington City Arts experiences this with the many events it sponsors to keep Church Street hopping. The difference is: The city treasurer and BCA are protected, errors are quietly corrected, and missing money is replaced with little or no fanfare.

Green has been harmed, and the city has to make this right. Grievances presented to the city by Green in a 14-page letter deserve a full airing. The press has to do a better job of reporting the facts, starting with release of Green’s letter.

Press reports on issues surrounding Green’s resignation, and later when REIB finances were questioned, left the impression of wrongdoing. I’m sorry that Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak has inherited this, but I’m depending on her to make it right. The city’s response can be a turning point in racial equity.

Leanora Terhune BURLINGTON

MAKE MAYOR ACCOUNTABLE

I noted that several commenters in [“Readers Weigh in on ‘Bad News Burlington,’” September 4] wrote something like, “Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak cannot solve this problem alone.” I also noted

that Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak herself said recently: “There are no single fixes; otherwise they would have been tried already.”

Is our standard for elected officials really so low? Aren’t ideas and accountability for solving city problems the whole point of electing a mayor with a bully pulpit and executive powers?

Voters and media (looking at you, Seven Days!) must hold the mayor accountable for action and, yes, results. Ask tough questions, demand concrete action and don’t accept vague answers. If the mayor prefers to blame others or circumstances for failure to solve Burlington’s problems, then she is unworthy of the office.

Chris Harvey ESSEX TOWN

discouraging. But last month, three of our guests moved out of our shelter into permanent housing. It’s one person at a time, one day at a time, one small success at a time.

How has this changed me? I care more deeply and love more inclusively. I see our common humanity and need for encouragement and support.

Get involved. If you can’t offer time, offer financial help. There are numerous groups working hard: COTS, Cathedral Square, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and housing authorities, just to name a few. ANEW Place has given me an opportunity to be involved and to offer hope.

Bobbe Pennington SOUTH BURLINGTON

HOW TO HELP

In [From the Publisher: “Bad News Burlington,” August 28], you asked, “What can we do as a community?” to fix things.

Back in the ’80s, I became engaged with the faith-based Burlington Emergency Shelter, involving my church community in providing weeks of evening meals for the residents there. Eventually, more than 10 years ago, the shelter was rebranded ANEW Place. The executive director at the time, Valerie Brosseau, led the board in asking what could be done differently to help people move out of homelessness and into permanent housing. My husband and I became reengaged in this place.

Under then-executive director Kevin Pounds, I began volunteering one evening a week, and then I became a board member. I continue in these capacities. I love that ANEW works with people who are ready for a change, in a sober environment, and that when a guest moves into permanent housing, he or she is followed for two years. It is hard work and, at times,

ease, is a visual deterrent to these types of people and allows for near-immediate response to problems. It is known as community-oriented policing. I saw zero police presence during my two visits. I realize recruitment, staffing and retention are huge issues around the country, so good pay, benefits and community support are crucial in keeping these staffing issues from becoming dire.

Jail is not the final solution, but it usually is the first step in public safety. Then the courts, probation officers, and various mental health and drug counselors can chart a course to help these people … after the law-abiding public is kept safe first.

Doug Marshall NAPLES, FL

‘OUT-OF-THE-BOX’ HOUSING

[Re “Cities and Towns Plead for State Help in Handling Homelessness,” September 18]: Here is an alternative to the $400-persquare-foot so-called “affordable housing”: Modify climate-controlled storage buildings by swapping out the roll-up-type door with a swing door that includes a window. These modular units can meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Single Room Occupancy guidelines and be built in as little as two weeks. And they can be attractive.

Climate-controlled storage typically rents for approximately $1 a square foot. The units are heated, with humidity and fire monitoring, and typically rent for $150 for a 10-by-15-foot space.

RETIRED COP ON BURLINGTON [Re “Readers Weigh In on ‘Bad News Burlington,’” September 4]: I grew up in Connecticut. Burlington was always known to me as a nice destination city and safe college town. I just retired after a 25-year law enforcement career in southwest Florida and decided to relax for two months in northern Vermont, one of my favorite states.

During two recent daytime visits, I had four negative encounters with street people. These types of encounters, as well as locals who tell me they will not go downtown at night, indicate there is a problem that needs fixing or risks worsening crime and stores closing due to lack of people willing to spend time and money downtown. I personally have no plans on visiting again for a while due to these encounters, which I have retired from dealing with, or so I thought.

I am a huge police supporter, but it starts with more cops on foot patrol downtown, day and night. This puts visitors at

Vermont can shelter 3,000 people affordably and quickly before winter using municipal or privately owned land or empty retail spaces. Multistory storage units can increase capacity. Combine HUD SRO modified climate-controlled storage with portable facilities for kitchen, shower and bath in mobile facilities.

Here are some other out-of-the-box ideas:

1) Since COVID-19, thousands of primary residences have been lost to the second-home and short-term rental markets. Vermont has no policies for a sustainable source of income to promote affordable housing — only a new onetime property transfer tax. Let’s promote homeownership with sustainable policies.

2) Sixty years ago, Singapore made a commitment to mixed-income affordable housing. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund castigated it. Singapore is now considered the most successful program out there for affordable housing.

We can do this.

Lori Barg COLCHESTER

FILE: JAMES BUCK

GRID LOCK

[Nest: “Weathering the Storm: Experts O er Tips for Making Your Home More Resilient to Vermont’s Changing Climate,” October 1] covered a lot of ground in a small space. But it lacked important information. For instance, author Ken Picard explained the program that Green Mountain Power has begun in o ering to install grid-tied batteries in homes, and these could provide backup power during an electric outage. That is an appealing idea, and the price is fairly reasonable. But it’s an even better deal for GMP, because these batteries are mainly for it to use to help run the grid.

I’ve lived o the grid, using a system I installed myself, for 10 years. I would not describe myself as an expert in solar technology, which is constantly evolving.

Vermont has its own barriers to solar expansion. In Vermont, if it is not tied to the grid, it simply does not exist. I have to buy the components I need from a business in Massachusetts because I can’t ﬁnd anyone who sells such things in Vermont. Considering the cost of buying and running a generator, or installing a system for GMP, a simple stand-alone system with batteries could well be cheaper if the equipment were available here. In short, Vermonters are not close to being properly informed about the realities of solar power. It won’t be enough to leave the future to a number of big projects that we can only access through a problematic grid system.

Brian Carter SALISBURY

DON’T

BLAME POOR PEOPLE

How anyone can read [“Canaries in a Hospital: Some UVM Medical Center Workers Say They Can’t Afford Its Health Insurance Coverage,” August 21] and think to blame the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society is hard to fathom [Feedback: “Middle-Class

Lament,” October 9]. The unraveling of our health care system is not a result of immigrants, who make up less than 4 percent of the U.S. population. It is a result of the unrivaled greed at the heart of capitalism.

The current number of undocumented people in the U.S. is not even at an all-time high. An insurance system that is supposed to use market systems to keep costs low only serves to funnel the proﬁts to a select few. Corporate overlords seek to eke out every drop of proﬁt, squeezing the people lower down the line.

We all live on the same planet, borders are imaginary, and, until we stop blaming immigrant people for our woes, we will never be able to fix the problem. You don’t blame poorer people for your problems; you blame rich people. At the heart of capitalism is greed and a significantly smaller percentage of our population who have unimaginable wealth and use it to mold the world to their benefit. They try to convince as many people as possible that they are not the problem but instead the problem is people who have so little and come from such a hard place that they are willing to risk their lives to cross an imaginary border into a country that doesn’t even want them.

James Guerriero UNDERHILL

‘VALUE OF PARTICIPATION’

Jack Scully’s concerns about legal Burlington residents who aren’t citizens voting on local ballot items stuck me as odd in couple of ways [Feedback: “Who’s Voting?” October 23]. First o , the fact they want to vote shows me that they are concerned about local issues that a ect them as well as citizen-residents.

Secondly, the thought process that considers those folks uninformed simply because English isn’t their first language is flat-out idiotic. Consider the citizen-voters who vote in every election and only use Fox “News” as their go-to for “information.” That’s willful ignorance.

I value everyone who wants to cast a vote in the community they live in. Those noncitizens show me they know the value of participation even though it’s more di cult for them to understand some issues because of the language barrier. Those noncitizens are probably more cognizant of the privilege of being able to be heard. It’s a birthright the “natives” here abuse and disregard regularly.

If Scully is worried about uninformed

voters, perhaps he could help out the clerk’s o ce or the local election o cial in assisting those folks. Or at least crack a book and learn some American history about why these rights were created to beneﬁt the current occupants of the U.S.

Christopher Maloney WASHINGTON

ADIEU, BUXTON’S STORE

Not that anyone would expect you to know Buxton’s Store, o Route 22A in Orwell. Unless you lived here. In Vermont. Even then, you might be lucky enough to have stopped. Driving through. Needing worms, hooks, a paper-wrapped sandwich. A neighbor weighing a doe, a buck on a chain. Hanging, by the door, at the weigh station. One stop, once a year, it’s more than likely you’d become friends, dear acquaintances, with everyone working there. At the deli.

Behind the counter. A thirdgeneration, native Vermonter. Wearing his blood-stained, venison apron. Even Andy and Mary, the owners.

Who are chagrined to tell you, their store is closing. There’s no other way around it. These days. Sell enough product. Keep good help.

When there are markets marketing online. Making it easier to drive by, stay home. Not have to know the names of their workers and neighbors.

What it is they are really selling. Which here, across the road from the school, the church, the town green is more than a convenience.

Call it time for talking. Knowing who you might bump into. Who knows who died. Who’s deployed. Who’s having her baby

this November. Who, in this state, is still working. Stopping for lunch. Grabbing a few things, they’ll need for later.

The Accused

Why

Vermont’s only documented witch trial still has relevance today

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

In 1785 or thereabouts, Margaret Krieger stood accused of a most heinous and ungodly offense. In the vernacular of 18th-century New Englanders, she was “an extraordinary woman” — or, in modern parlance, a witch. For the crime of being strong, capable and independent in an age when women were treated as chattel, the widow from North Pownal was given a Hobson’s choice: She could either climb to the top of a tall tree that would be chopped down with her in it or be thrust through a hole in the ice on the Hoosic River.

If Krieger survived either ordeal, a town safety committee ordained, then it proved she was in league with the devil — a witch. If she died, her soul was pure and her name would be absolved.

Forced to choose between two unpalatable fates, Krieger took the icy plunge — and lived to tell the tale. An episode of the PBS show “New England Legends” featuring a segment on Krieger and the Pownal witch trial airs this Thursday, October 31, on Vermont Public television.

Vermont’s only documented witch trial is but one of countless injustices perpetrated on women through history. In the past year, though, the story of the Pownal witch trial has found a modern audience, in part because of new discoveries about its victim. In a season when misogynistic politics are playing out at the national level and candidates casually toss out accusations of “witch hunts,” Krieger’s story serves as another reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Margaret Schumacher Krieger would have remained a footnote in Vermont history had her identity not been unearthed by another Pownal woman: Joyce Held, an amateur historian and genealogist. A member of the Pownal Historical Society for the past 30 years, Held spent more than a decade trying to identify Krieger, find her grave and piece together the story of her life.

“It was like an awakening,” Held told Seven Days , recalling the moment on September 16, 2023, when she and Jamie Franklin, director of collections and exhibitions at the Bennington Museum, unveiled a new historical marker commemorating the Pownal witch trial. “People were like, ‘My gosh! That really

happened.’ And it’s still happening in its own way today.’”

Virtually everything we know about Krieger’s trial comes from a one-paragraph account, written more than 80 years after the fact by T.E. Brownell in an 1867 edition of Vermont Historical Gazetteer . The Pownal attorney and historian noted that a “Widow Krieger” had been accused of being a witch, tested by the townspeople and judged innocent after she was pulled from the bottom of the river, still alive.

Krieger’s cruel ordeal is noteworthy in that it happened nearly a century after the more famous Salem witch trials, when the popular belief in witches was already in decline. In fact, the state’s sole documented witch trial — technically, Vermont was an independent republic at the time — is also the last recorded witch trial to occur in New England.

The historical record suggests that the accusations against Krieger had no relation to the Wiccan faith or other pagan

practices, which provided the pretext for many persecutions of witches through the centuries. Krieger was targeted not for her religious beliefs but because she was an outsider and a financially independent and vulnerable widow. As Carol F. Karlsen writes in her 1987 book The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England, “The story of witchcraft is primarily the story of women.”

Krieger was born Margarete Schumacher in Williamstown, Mass., in 1725 to German immigrants. In 1741, at the age of 16, she married Johann Juri Krieger of New York, who moved them to a sparsely populated settlement in what is now Pownal. The English settlers there referred to the family as Dutch, an error that, Franklin explained, was likely due to the fact that the German word for German is Deutsch.

Krieger had three sons by the age of 21, two of whom predeceased her, including William, who was killed in the Battle of Bennington. Though the Kriegers were considered foreign squatters by the English who chartered Pownal in 1760, Held said, they were allowed to

stay because they had built a grist mill on the Hoosic River, which the settlers needed.

Johann died in 1785, leaving Margaret alone, as her sons had moved back to Williamstown to open mills of their

KRIEGER’S CRUEL ORDEAL IS NOTEWORTHY IN THAT IT HAPPENED NEARLY A CENTURY AFTER THE MORE FAMOUS SALEM WITCH TRIALS.

own. The widow continued to operate the business herself — which, according to Brownell’s account, “brought upon her the envy and suspicion” of her neighbors. Held and Franklin believe that Krieger was accused of witchcraft soon after her husband died, either because the community feared she would become a

financial burden or, more likely, because the townspeople wanted her mill.

Historically, such trumped-up charges weren’t uncommon. According to Karlsen, New England women accused of witchcraft typically had no living male heirs and often owned or were about to inherit property. In the deeply patriarchal society of the time, a woman’s successful management of her own affairs was considered an “extraordinary power” — another charge leveled against Krieger — explainable only by evil supernatural forces.

For more than a century after Brownell wrote his account of the Pownal witch trial, no one knew or cared who Widow Krieger was. Then, in the early 2000s, Held came across the passage and was intrigued. Though she knew of a rocky hillside feature in North Pownal called Krieger’s Rocks or Witch’s Rocks, she had found nothing in the historical record about the name’s origin. Complicating her search was the absence of Widow Krieger’s full name from the account.

“If they had used Margaret,” she said, “I would have been able to find her in a heartbeat.”

Once she had identified Krieger’s husband — the spelling of Johann Juri had been anglicized to “John George” — she was “on a roll.” She eventually tracked down the couple’s marriage certificate in New York, Margaret’s family records in Williamstown and even her will, which Margaret marked with a single letter M Evidently, she could neither read nor write.

In spring 2022, Franklin and Held began working together to create a Legends & Lore historical marker for the Pownal witch trial. The previous year, Vermont Folklife had joined forces with the New York-based William G. Pomeroy Foundation, which administers the marker program nationally, to erect a similar one to commemorate the Manchester Vampire.

According to that 18th-century Vermont legend, Revolutionary War veteran captain Isaac Burton believed that his deceased first wife, Rachel, was a vampire who had returned from the grave to kill her successor. Both women had died of consumption, or tuberculosis, which gives patients coughing fits that can leave blood on their lips. The family exhumed Rachel’s body and burned it in a public spectacle in 1793. Historians now believe that captain Burton was actually an asymptomatic TB carrier.

The foundation granted Franklin and Held’s request to commemorate Krieger, and a marker was established at 50 Dean Road in North Pownal. A week before the unveiling ceremony in 2023, Held and her husband were searching the Westlawn Cemetery in Williamstown for Krieger’s grave. After previous attempts had come up empty, Held said, she closed her eyes and asked aloud, “Where are you?”

Then she looked to her right and spotted an M on a nearby gravestone. “And there she was.” She had found Krieger’s grave, alongside her husband’s.

“When I saw that stone,” Held said, “I thought, What would I have done if I’d lived in Pownal at that time when this woman was being accused? Would I have kept my mouth shut? Would I have helped her?”

Held said she did the only thing she could think of: She hugged the gravestone and started to cry. She had her answer.

Blaming witches for crop failures, livestock deaths and unexplained sicknesses may seem like a practice from a bygone era, but deadly witch hunts still happen today.

Between 2009 and 2019, at least 20,000 “witches” were killed in 60 countries, according to a 2020 United Nations report. The true number is likely much higher.

In Pownal, Krieger’s historical marker has become the center of an annual September event that features music, games, costumes and a “witches’ walk” on a bridge that crosses the Hoosic River. At its dedication ceremony, Franklin said, “We seek to remind ourselves and future generations of the dangers of seeking to harass and harm our neighbors, literal and figurative, simply because they may be different than us. Let us be wiser and better than those who came before us.” ➆

“New England Legends” airs Thursday, October 31, 8:30 p.m., on Vermont Public television. Learn more at vermontpublic.org and

Joyce Held at Margaret Krieger’s grave

The Last Feature

A short story BY MARGOT HARRISON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

Almost nobody sees movies at the Grand Nine. On fine summer nights, you can have the whole place to yourself.

That’s why we go there, with vodka in water bottles and joints tucked in our wallets. Zeb the manager knows us, and we buy buckets of stale popcorn to help keep the place in business. “All part of the retro experience,” we say. “How’s Peggy? Restless tonight? Does she like this one?”

Somehow we started calling the ghost Peggy, though nobody knows her name. Legend says that if you hear a cough behind you in Theater 1, don’t turn around.

Of course the Grand Nine has a ghost. It is a ghost, with its marquee trumpeting DIGITAL 3-D!, although the theater has been digital for years now. On the night Zeb tells us the story of Peggy, the marquee also reads: Hear No Bev Shudder Uninvited Social Ext Toy 3 Blood Just Go.

Waiting in the lobby for the 6:10 to let out, we pester Zeb for more info, like always: “Have you seen Peggy? How did she die, anyway?”

Zeb was a projectionist back when there were projectionists. Normally he shakes his head when we bug him about Peggy. But tonight we wear him down, and he says, “You’ll never see her — you’re too young. It’s too late.”

We’re on him like gnats, and he says, “OK. I’ll tell you.”

Five years ago, on the Grand Nine’s first fully digital weekend, Zeb entered Theater 1 with his flashlight to take a head count. He kept thinking he should be upstairs in the booth building the platters, but the platters had been retired. The new setup ran itself at the push of a button, transforming him into a grunt with a skill that no one needed.

It was the opening night of a thriller, and on the screen, a tough-outside-softinside female FBI profiler was interviewing a witness. Zeb counted seven people in the biggest theater. As he was about to go, he heard a soft gasp over his shoulder. “Help me.”

It sounded like a woman who was in too much pain to make herself heard. Expecting to find an elderly patron in distress, Zeb ran his flashlight over the nearest row.

A shape reared up in the aisle seat. It looked like a coat somebody had left behind, only it was moving, and then it had a head, and it turned its head, and it had a face.

Or maybe nothing turned, and a piece of darkness teemed with something and became a face. Zeb can’t say.

The face was wide and pale, with anxious dark eyes. Black hair framed it, pulled back in one of those terry-cloth bands girls used to wear.

“Help me,” the mouth whispered, sucking in air with an ugly sound.

Zeb turned off his flashlight. “What’s wrong, ma’am?”

As he spoke, he noticed the body below the face.

He turned on his heel and fled to the projection booth to calm his nerves, his breath crunched into a tiny space in his throat. I didn’t just see that. But the thing had reached the booth before him.

He will not describe the body. Was it mangled? No. Transparent? No. Floating? No.

When pressed, the best word he finds is muddled . As if a human form had grown into the Grand Nine like a parasitic vine on a tree, embedding itself in the dingy carpets and the cinder block booth walls.

“I want to make a complaint,” the specter said, and now its voice sounded almost

normal. “The movie isn’t running. There’s a blank screen down there!”

Zeb decided that if he didn’t respond, the apparition would vanish. The movie was running just fine below. The massive rotating platters had been carted away to a corner of his dusty domain, taking their flickering and clattering with them, but the silent black box that had replaced them still emitted a steady beam of light.

The ghost kept lamenting and wringing its hands until he tried to explain.

“If it’s running, then why can’t I see it?” Panic in the voice now. “Please let me watch the film.”

A compassionate instinct, too fast for his conscious mind, made Zeb turn and look directly into the shade’s eyes. They were its most human feature: alert, sensitive.

He said, “The killer’s with the heroine now. He’s running a knife around her jawline, trying to scare her.”

The shade raised a muddled fingertip toward the projector beam. “But there’s no flicker.”

“No, there’s no flicker anymore. There’s no film.”

The shade stared at him. “No film,” she said — that was when, for Zeb, the thing became a she. “How?”

Zeb wasn’t sure how to explain to a ghost about ones and zeroes crowded onto hard drives. “How long have you been here?” he asked.

And she told him her story.

The ghost remembered her last evening in the world outside the theater. A June evening, verge of the solstice, bright as the sun’s heart. Light refusing to relinquish the white pines. Wind whistling in the cattails. The limestone ledges by the lake were still cold to the touch, as if the snow had just melted.

An evening when time itself seemed to hover suspended above the earth.

She and a man had made a date to see the summer’s first would-be blockbuster, a horror film about a child who bore the number 666. “It’ll suck, but so what,” the man said. “Meet you there.”

The ghost couldn’t remember if he was a boyfriend, a husband, a fiancé, or just a friend she’d once hoped would be a boyfriend. What mattered was that he never showed.

Outside, daylight stretched to its breaking point. Inside the dark theater, she sat waiting as the trailers began and ended. The logo of the distributor. The logo of the production company.

The film began, and she knew he wouldn’t come.

She was not young anymore. That man might have been the last person who ever sat beside her at a movie. I will always be alone now, she thought, tears stinging her cheeks.

But no, she couldn’t be alone. No one at a movie ever is. Desperate for company, she turned her attention from herself to the audience — their reactions, thoughts, feelings.

As the demonic child claimed his first victim, vibrations of dread and excitement grew in the theater like ripples in long grass. She heard a swell of incredulous

HE WILL NOT DESCRIBE THE BODY.

WAS IT MANGLED? NO. TRANSPARENT? NO. FLOATING? NO.

laughter as someone was decapitated by a runaway lawn mower. A chuckle of Oh, poor bastard for a doomed character actor. Each individual vibration built on the others till the whole room pulsed in time with the flickering from the projector above.

She realized then that people at movies only think they’re alone with the story unfolding on the screen. They don’t consciously hear the collective inhale, like a bird beating its wings at dusk, or the mass exhale as a hero narrowly escapes. Like late sleepers, they dream on, oblivious to their companions.

But she heard now. She knew she was not alone.

She heard him. The fifty-ish man sitting in the seventh seat of the thirty-first row, with well-shaven cheeks and neat cuffs, who had come here wanting to kill a woman. He had killed before, and he knew to target the ones who were already struggling with their will to live.

If she stayed, they would meet. But she couldn’t go back to her empty apartment and face the silence on the phone machine.

After the movie was over and everyone else had left, she crept to the end of the row and lay down on the floor, smelling

filth, sweat, somebody’s long-discarded gum. She closed her eyes.

“Excuse me, miss?”

She sat up and looked into the polite face of the killer. “I know why you’re really here,” she said. “You weren’t watching the movie. You were waiting to meet someone like me.”

He stared at her, not pleased to have his intentions known. “Someone like you?”

“Yes,” she said, an infinite weariness creeping over her. How nice it would be to watch the movie again. “Someone who wants to stay here forever. Never to be alone.”

Then he killed her.

How? Where? How did he dispose of the remains? She didn’t remember any of that, she informed Zeb, and it didn’t matter. The killer was a pathetic waste of space, and this wasn’t his story. Only the movies mattered.

Every Friday there were new movies. Trailers. Distributor logo. Production company logo. The silence of flawless, naïve anticipation. The opening shot breaking like dawn over a virgin landscape.

She’d always preferred movies to life. When she was a child, she used to imagine her life was one, with painstaking direction and mesmerizing story arcs: Now it begins. The Story of Me, Starring Me

When she grew up, she learned that her story was mesmerizing to no one but her, and things often happened for no reason at all.

Her dying, for instance. Her being dead. But she’d made her choice: to remain where hope never died and another movie was always starting.

Most of the week she hibernated in the walls, a mute creature in a lightless den. But every Friday night, she saw the new releases along with things no one else saw, things that happened in the audience.

No two people experienced a movie the same way, she learned. Older people often asked questions aloud; they needed the story explained and justified to them when evil triumphed. Younger people often craved something violent, profane, mean, unreasonable.

Some people wanted righteous violence to cheer for. Others wanted to feel like they were falling, falling, falling into a stranger’s arms at a wedding reception where they’d had too much champagne. The glowing screen set them free to dream awake.

The ghost only ever bothered people who disrupted the experience. Men who groped the women beside them and refused to take no for an answer — she took special pleasure in laying her cold, warning fingers on the backs of their necks. People who used their phones during the film might glimpse her reflected in their

screens. Mid-film talkers shivered as they felt her breath. Only children could cause trouble in Theater 1 with impunity.

This pleasant afterlife of hers lasted for years — until tonight, when the flickering stopped. She could still see light on the screen, she told Zeb, as if an old-style reel had spooled to the end, but no movie.

And no ripples of thought and feeling from the audience — only silence, as if they’d all become ghosts, too. After all these years, she truly was alone.

Maybe she’d chosen wrong, so long ago. Maybe she should have found a way to live instead of just watching.

“I’m sorry,” Zeb said when the ghost’s story was over. His shaking fingers reached into the depths of his backpack and closed on the pack of American Spirits. “The shift to digital must have changed something.”

“You can’t bring the movies back? You can’t make them work?”

“They are working. Just not for you.”

The ghost refused to believe it. “When I was young, there were still double features. I counted movies I’d seen the way I counted states I’d visited. Three, four, five. The sixth was just a star on the horizon.”

Zeb didn’t remember the days of double features, but he wasn’t young anymore, either. “I’m sorry,” he said. “But the digital thing is permanent. At least until they close us down altogether.”

“So why are you still here?”

Why the hell was Zeb still at the Grand Nine? It was a question he tended to shove into the basement of his mind and slam the door. Over the years, routine had settled into his bones. He’d set aside a host of dreams — road tripping to California, starting a band. He looked forward to each Friday’s new releases, too, because there wasn’t much else to look forward to.

The words “Go into the light” popped into his mind, and suddenly he thought he had the solution. Maybe the ghost needed an exit sign telling her there was still somewhere else to go.

He yanked the cigs from his pack and said, “Come outside. It’s time for you to be free.”

“Well? Did she go into the light? Did you ever see her again?” we demand to know, pleading with him like the ghost must have pleaded, because we don’t want to

believe we’ve been looking for her all these years in vain.

Zeb turns away and applies his attention to cleaning the Slurpee machine. “Hurry,” he says, “or you’ll miss the show.”

We file into Theater 1. After five or six trailers, the room goes black. We glug from our vodka bottles and hook our knees over the seats.

We are watching a remake of the 666 movie. Some of us gasp and yip when a bloody kill happens. Some of us hold hands.

But some of us can’t forget the ghost, and we twist around to look up at the projection booth. A shadow crosses the light — Zeb at his post? Or her?

Two of us — never mind who — tiptoe out of the theater and up the stairs to the booth. It’s a long, curving room jammed with junk, including the platters Zeb mentioned. We spot him by the Theater 1 projector, leaning over to watch the movie playing below.

He doesn’t notice us. He speaks quietly, as if to someone beside him: “The young priest is googling the quote from Revelation. Six cases of bloody graffiti match it in the past six days. He looks scared.”

We glance at each other, wondering if Zeb has lost it — or if he’s narrating the movie to Peggy. Like a storyteller by a campfire, bringing it alive with his words so she will never have to miss a thing.

And then, in silent agreement, we creep back downstairs so we won’t interrupt them.

Back in the theater, ripples of reaction build around us. One day, we suspect, we will be sick of movies. They will stop making us happy, ashamed, scared, snared, titillated, eager, suspicious, stern, provoked, silly, delighted.

One day, people will stop coming to Theater 1. The marquee will fall. We will tell our kids about this place. In the old days, people used to come together in dark rooms, and it meant something.

Someday soon, war news and thrillers and medical dramas will be streamed directly into our heads, and we will be islanded ghosts, all of us. But not yet. The ripples still spread. Do you feel it, too? ➆

INFO

Margot Harrison is a film reviewer and consulting editor at Seven Days. Her latest novel is The Midnight Club. She will speak on the Green Mountain Book Festival panel “Spooky Season: The Ins-and-Outs of Writing Horror” on Saturday, November 2, 1:45 p.m., at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

The Lost Ladies of Lakeview Cemetery

Holli Bushnell is on a mission to give dead women back their names

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

In addition to selling cemetery lots, scheduling burials and maintaining paperwork for Burlington’s three city-owned cemeteries, sexton Holli Bushnell is digitizing cemetery records, which date back to the early 1800s. Her predecessors and volunteers had chipped away at the task, entering information from alphabetized burial cards into a computer database. They’d gotten as far as the Ms when Bushnell took over early last year.

She soon noticed a fairly common practice. Some women’s first names didn’t appear on the cards. They were recorded only as their husbands’ wives: Mrs. Hiram Wilkins, Mrs. David Anderson, Mrs. Clifford P. Bacon.

“I got mad,” Bushnell said. And she got to work, delving into Vermont vital records, findagrave.com, newspapers.com and ancestry.com to retrieve the names, update the records and cement each woman’s place in history. A flurry of typing can usually turn up a first name — sometimes middle and maiden names as well. Bushnell, who is still working on the project, enters them all into the database and then handwrites them onto the cards. “These women existed,” Bushnell said. “Even if their information is on a stone, they deserve to exist in our paperwork, too.”

Bushnell calls them the Lost Ladies of Lakeview, though her project also includes those buried in the much-smaller Greenmount and Elmwood cemeteries. She has completed the 20,000 burial cards — including updating the work of her predecessors — and moved on to the cards recording the ownership of burial lots, many of which have the same problem.

So far, she’s identified nearly 100 women. In addition to adding their full names to city records, she calls them out on her Facebook page and in TikTok videos, reintroducing them to society in a fashion they never could have fathomed.

“Eva Phyllis Yandeau Bean, no longer just Mrs. John Bean,” she posted on Facebook on March 8, International Women’s Day, “you’re a person with a name again and you’re remembered.”

“Capitola E Rabideau Blow and Theodorah Capitola Blow Kingman,” began another post, “a mother and

daughter who are no longer only their husbands’ wives.”

Still another: “Hannah Wilson Woodbury and Pauline Livona Darling Woodbury, you were more than the wives of powerful men.” Pauline’s husband was a Vermont governor in the late 1800s, Bushnell noted. “You can google it if you want to know what his name was.”

Most women’s first names do appear on their grave markers, but Bushnell said

THIS IS MY OWN WAY OF STICKING IT TO THE PATRIARCHY.

HOLLI BUSHNELL

looking there is a last resort. Lakeview Cemetery on North Avenue, where her office is located, has more than 15,000 graves on 30 acres. She has to drive around the cemetery to check the stones, a time-consuming and sometimes futile endeavor. When her efforts fail, Bushnell crowdsources on Facebook, where her friends include avid researchers. Including full names in city records is an important aid for genealogical research.

Bushnell gets one or two calls a week from people looking for their ancestors. “If I don’t have that information on a burial card or in my database,” she said, “I can’t help them.”

Records are incomplete for Burlington’s two older cemeteries: Greenmount, established in 1764 on what is now Colchester Avenue, and Elmwood in the Old North End, which was started as the “poor lot” around 1800.

Bushnell, 40, has never lived more than a mile from a cemetery. Growing up in Rochester, Vt., she practiced choir songs in the cemetery next to her home, built fairy forts near its gravestones and listened to music on her Walkman while balancing on the narrow stone borders that outline family lots.

Holli Bushnell is still searching for Mrs. Nathaniel Wallis Bell’s first name.

Holli Bushnell

PHOTOS: MARY ANN LICKTEIG

“I come from a long line of strong women,” Bushnell said. “My mom was the main breadwinner for my family growing up.” Before becoming a teacher, her mother, Susan Bushnell, was the only woman among 12 Whirlpool appliance sales reps whose territory spanned five states. She was the Vermont manager. Holli’s dad, Russell, was the stay-athome parent. Her maternal grandmother “raised six kids on no money in rural Maine,” according to Holli. One of her great-grandmothers lived on Matinicus Rock, an isolated lighthouse station 25 miles off the coast of Rockland, Maine, and another was likely the first woman to cast a vote in Maine. “So I’m pretty passionate about women’s rights,” Holli said.

She earned a degree in ethnomusicology and worked for 13 years for a

woman-owned clothing company, where she became director of operations.

In 2018, Bushnell started working for the City of Burlington. She calls it “the dream job I never knew existed.” It was advertised as a full-time position, split between the city clerk’s office and the cemetery. “And I’m pretty sure most of the people who interviewed for the job were interested in the clerk’s office part of it,” she said.

Bushnell tolerated that part of her role for a few years but now works solely for city cemeteries. The job allows her to indulge her interest in historic cemetery restoration. Lakeview, established in 1871, is a Victorian lawn park cemetery, designed to look like a park with purposefully placed trees and shrubs. Families used to arrive by carriage or trolley for Sunday picnics amid its 90 species of trees and drooping

hydrangeas heavy with rose-gold blooms. The cemetery’s recently restored Louisa Howard Chapel is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bushnell still records new burials on paper — in the city’s clothbound “burial book,” and on cards stored in a six-by10-foot fireproof room steps away from her desk. Between appointments, she pulls old lot cards and enters their information into the database. Many lot owners were women, Bushnell said. “The men died first,” she explained. “Some of these women survived the death of several husbands who were buried in their lots, and they’re still just known as Mrs. Their

Husband’s Wife.” She’s seen such entries made as late as the 1980s.

Spotting so many recorded that way sends her online to vent. “I’ve had almost a dozen nameless ladies today,” she wrote on Facebook on February 23. “So many I haven’t even been able to keep track to post them. I realize there was a time when being known as Mrs. So-and-So was respectable and even desirable, but the crushing, casual misogyny of this female erasure gives me serious rage. THE WOMEN OWN THE DAMN LOTS! WHY DIDN’T WE RECORD THEIR NAMES?!?!?”

Card by card, Bushnell sets the record straight. “This is my own way of sticking it to the patriarchy,” she said, softening the language she uses on Facebook. She recounts her particularly long and winding searches in TikTok videos, which typically end the way she concluded the one about Mrs. Ernest M. Center: “Welcome back, Lila, we’re glad to have you.”

But Bushnell can’t find them all. Mrs. Nathaniel Wallis Bell, for one, continues to elude her. She purchased a lot at Lakeview in 1915 or before.

Mrs. Ross Elliott Adams’ case required significant sleuthing. She died in 1937. Even her death certificate identified her as Mrs. Ross E. Adams. “That one really hurt,” Bushnell said.

So she headed to Lakeview Section C, Lot 57, where she found Adams’ marker, a small rectangular stone, nearly flush with the ground, inscribed: “Love that cannot die.”

Her name was Truth — Truth Cathell Adams. ➆

Lakeview Cemetery

Street Teams

He had worked with the residents and local oﬃcials to bring safety to a block that was experiencing more harm than most in Burlington, and he felt he could do the same for the greater downtown. Devine saw potential in the idea and worked with him to make it happen.

Earlier this year, Devine approached some of the city’s largest commercial property owners and asked them to fund the Downtown Ambassador Project as a pilot. The Pomerleau Family Foundation is the lead contributor and now an important strategic partner. The project oﬃcially launched in June.

Devine said she worked closely with LeStourgeon to introduce him to BBA member businesses. “He’s been a good study. He gets it,” she said.

It’s a critical moment for downtown Burlington. Viral videos have documented open drug use, people pushing shopping carts through the streets or sleeping in tents on city greenbelts, groups loitering on the steps of downtown churches. Merchants say shoplifting has increased. In response to the problems plaguing the city, two diﬀerent but interconnected initiatives sponsored in part by the Pomerleau Family Foundation are oﬀering reasons for hope: the Downtown

Two community-backed initiatives work to make downtown Burlington safer for all

Ambassador Project and the Downtown Health Project.

The former is working to create a sense of community and security among downtown business owners and employees; the latter oﬀers low-barrier access to medical care and recovery support — backed by caring case managers with street cred.

All of these people are working night and day to make the state’s largest city safer for everyone who lives and works there.

An unusual ambassador supports downtown businesses

Andrew LeStourgeon is Burlington’s Downtown Ambassador, a new position funded via the Burlington Business Association by members of the local business community, with lead funding through the Pomerleau Family Foundation.

The aﬀable 41-year-old can talk to anybody. He spends his time chatting up the people who live and work downtown — employees at local stores and restaurants, business owners, cops, and city councilors, as well as people living on the street. He connects them to each other, or to whatever services they might need.

According to local merchants, the Downtown Ambassador Project is working.

“We feel so much better with Andrew around,” said Jana Qualey of Home & Garden Vermont, echoing a

sentiment shared by many downtown workers.

Mark Bouchett, owner of Homeport, has witnessed the ambassador’s impact ﬁrsthand. “Andrew’s presence alone has served to prevent many situations from escalating,” he noted. “I’ve seen potential thieves have a change of heart when they realize store clerks aren’t alone.” It probably helps that LeStourgeon is six foot ﬁve.

The ambassador project has an oﬃce on the top block of Church Street, but LeStourgeon is more often out and about. On a recent fall morning, he could be found leaning up against a lamppost at the corner of Cherry and Church streets, talking with Mills, a homeless downtown dweller. They exchanged a friendly handshake before Mills walked oﬀ to join some friends.

A few minutes later, LeStourgeon’s

phone buzzed. A well-known shoplifter had just been spotted walking toward the Church Street Marketplace. Someone had posted a photo of her to the downtown workers’ and business owners’ group chat — “She’s one of the largest shoplifters in the state,” LeStourgeon explained.

He hustled over to Golden Hour and tipped oﬀ the young woman staﬃng the store’s outdoor display. She knew who he was talking about immediately and was on alert. “Thank you so much,” she replied. “I appreciate it.”

Kelly Devine, executive director of the Burlington Business Association, said making young people working in the city feel safe and supported was “the number one reason” the Downtown Ambassador Project was created. It started to take shape after a meeting during the winter at Decker Towers. Elected oﬃcials and public safety leaders came to the building to hear about challenges residents were facing. That’s where Devine met LeStourgeon.

On paper, he doesn’t seem like an obvious ﬁt for the job. Though he studied at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, afterward LeStourgeon worked in upscale New York City restaurants, then moved to Vermont in 2012 and became the pastry chef for highly regarded Hen of the Wood and eventually for his own business, Monarch & the Milkweed.

His culinary skills don’t exactly translate to this new role, but his experience in hospitality and his entrepreneurial drive have helped. He’s also personally invested in the work. He lives on lower Church Street and has seen the increase in homelessness and open drug use — along with the criminal activity it brings — up close.

LeStourgeon has also been a resource for people actively using drugs who are interested in ﬁnding treatment and others who need medical care. He’s directed numerous people to the Downtown Health Project on Bank Street, which operates a walk-in clinic and provides case management services.

LeStourgeon has received testimonials from the homeless community downtown, too. “Andrew helps us in many ways,” Mills said. “He is blunt and to the point and truthful. He’s helping many recovering addicts and some who have relapsed and people who are inside of active addiction and desperate to change.”

LeStourgeon is also focused on collecting data. For example, downtown businesses say that retail theft has skyrocketed in recent years, but Burlington’s oﬃcial crime statistics don’t reﬂect the increase. That’s because merchants don’t report the thefts due to the cumbersome reporting process, Devine said.

LeStourgeon is now advocating for the city to create an easier way to report retail theft by having clerks ﬁll out a prepopulated online form on their phones.

Andrew LeStourgeon (center), head of the Downtown Ambassador Project, talking with employees from a local business in Burlington

He regularly texts with city councilors and staﬀers in the mayor’s oﬃce. LeStourgeon also consults with business owners on ways to increase security, making their properties safer for all.

“I think I’m in a good routine. I think I’ve found my niche,” LeStourgeon said. The next step for the Downtown Ambassador Project is ﬁnding the money to support it for another year. Devine would like to add another position — someone who would focus on collecting relevant data so that LeStourgeon could get out and talk to people more.

Devine is pleased with LeStourgeon’s progress and eager to build on his success. “If we can commit to the ambassador project, it will really make a diﬀerence downtown,” she said.

Compassionate caseworkers and a walk-in clinic build trust and oﬀer a pathway to recovery

There’s an ambitious eﬀort under way at the corner of Bank and St. Paul streets in Burlington that’s helping to stabilize the city’s downtown district. It’s not the 10-story building going up where the mall used to be — it’s the Downtown Health Project, a collaboration between Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform and the Johnson Health Center. The initiative provides recovery services, robust case management and a walk-in clinic serving people downtown who lack stable housing. Many of their clients are actively using opioids or stimulants — or both.

Patricia Pomerleau, a Pomerleau Foundation trustee and former hospital administrator, sees great promise in the program. “I’m particularly proud of the way it has come together,” she said.

Tom Dalton, executive director of Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform, explained its approach: “We’re helping people transition from active, chaotic use to stable, sustained recovery. If you won’t work with people in active use, how are you going to help them transition?”

Dalton has decades of experience in this ﬁeld. He founded the Safe Recovery program, run by Howard Center, which provides a needle exchange and other support for those with substance-use disorder. In fact, Safe Recovery is where he met Jess Kirby, now client services

director for Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform; Kirby ﬁrst came to the recovery program as a client. Through it, she was able to achieve and maintain her own recovery, and she spent eight years as a staﬀ member. She left Safe Recovery two years ago to work with Dalton as a case manager. Their team now includes case manager Sarah Ashley Simmons.

Kirby’s experience gives her credibility among those she works with. A bulletin board in the oﬃce is covered with notes from people she serves: “I love you Jess. You have helped me through so much,” reads one.

That help could be anything from giving someone a ride to a court date or therapist appointment to being present with a client in the emergency room after a traumatic event. Kirby helps them understand the systems they’re caught up in and helps health care workers and other professionals better understand her clients’ needs. She describes her work as “ﬁlling the very big gaps” in the social service infrastructure.

know how important it is for patients to get the care they need quickly,” she said. “Jess, Sarah Ashley and Tom are amazing at making sure our patients get connected fast.”

That not only helps their clients, but it also helps the rest of downtown, too. For example, Butler might be able to renew a prescription for a client suﬀering from psychosis or schizophrenia. If that individual can’t pick up the medication themselves because they’ve previously been barred from entering local pharmacies, Kirby can get it for them. Often they don’t have anyone else to help. “We are the go-to people for so many people,” Kirby said.

compassionate, trauma-informed care and addiction services in Johnson. It started its work in Burlington by running pop-up clinics at the Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform oﬃce to help with the rising incidence of wounds caused by the use of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer.

The health center’s work in Burlington has grown organically since. It has now established a full medical oﬃce at 117 Bank Street, next door to Kirby and Dalton’s building, which provides a wide range of medical services, from lowbarrier access to medications that treat opioid-use disorder to comprehensive preventative care and help managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. Caroline can write prescriptions. She can start or update an electronic health record connected to the same system used by the University of Vermont Medical Center, so other medical professionals don’t have to start over with a patient in the ER.

Helping someone stay on their meds cuts down on calls to police or ﬁrst responders. “Giving people treatment for psychosis is really important for the community,” Kirby said. It can also help lead them into drug treatment, housing and stable employment. That’s the goal.

“Jess and Tom are passionate experts in what they do and connected to more resources than any provider that I know”, LeStourgeon, the downtown ambassador, said. “I trust that clients I bring to them have the best chance possible to start on a healthier path.”

The Downtown Health Project got oﬀ the ground this spring with a $300,000 grant from the Pomerleau Family Foundation. It allowed Dalton and Kirby to hire another caseworker. The Butlers have recently hired a nurse practitioner and are hoping to hire more in the future.

Pomerleau sees the Downtown Health Project as a good investment because it builds on an existing framework and has the focus of caring for the entire downtown community through comprehensive physical and social care for the city’s population with opioid-use disorder. “Our goal is to get individuals oﬀ the streets and into longterm treatment. It won’t be easy, but I believe the Downtown Health Project has the formula we need — caring for the health of the entire community, including our Marketplace, through focus on comprehensive care for those with substance-use disorders.”

The most optimistic sign, Dalton said, is that they’re seeing clients returning. “We’re having a lot of regular contact,” he said. Helping clients stabilize their health is critical to saving lives — and improving the quality of life downtown. 

The Johnson Health Center is a key partner in that work. Started by Caroline Butler, a nurse practitioner, and her husband, Geoﬀ, the center oﬀers

Caroline is presently in Burlington two days a week but is available for telemedicine consultation on days when she’s not there. Her hours on Bank Street will expand soon with the addition of a new nurse practitioner. “We

COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR BY

DARIA BISHOP

Geoff Butler, Eva Casey, Tom Dalton, Sarah Ashley Simmons, Caroline Butler and Jess Kirby in Burlington

food+drink Lunch With Leo

A new café and market brings creative convenience to daytime dining at the Essex Experience

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Idid not expect to ﬁnd the best storebought matzo ball soup I’ve ever tasted in a mall in Essex. May my Jewish grandmothers and mother forgive me, but Leo & Co.’s version even beats most homemade ones I’ve sipped.

With every spoonful, the rich, savory broth served at the new café and market felt like it was infusing restorative roasted-chicken and vegetable goodness deep into my bones. The $6 serving boasted abundant diced carrots and celery and two plump matzo balls. Tender but with a springy bounce, those traditional dumplings are made from Manischewitz gluten-free matzo ball mix elevated by a not-so-secret home cook trick.

Dallas for many years, and he relished ﬁne foods, Silver said. “He ﬁrmly believed if it wasn’t good, if it wasn’t tasty, don’t eat it.”

Uncle Leo’s spirit is well represented in his grand-niece’s bright, friendly and decidedly tasty counter-service café and market.

Leo & Co. opened in July in the large space vacated when Sweet Clover Market ended its 17-year run. With a comfy couch area and farmhouse-style tables set on area rugs, the café invites customers to settle in.

CAFÉS

“We add seltzer to the batter, just like every good Jew,” said Leo & Co. proprietor Kayla Silver, who opened Salt & Bubbles Wine Bar and Market in summer 2021 in the same Essex Experience building as her latest venture.

Going gluten-free makes the soup accessible to more people, Silver added. Surprisingly, the matzo balls don’t su er — and Leo & Co.’s 31-year-old New York City-raised owner knows from matzo balls.

They are the only clue to Silver’s heritage on the menu of creative sandwiches, baked goods, soups and salads, although she did name the business after a beloved great-uncle, Leo Keiles.

Despite the tragedy he endured, including surviving the Holocaust and later losing his only child, “Leo was just brightness. He was like light in a room,” Silver said. “The man never left anywhere without making a friend.”

Keiles and his wife ran a candy store in

On any given day, Leo & Co. might host colleagues discussing projects over excellent co ee (from $3), brewed from nearby Uncommon Coffee’s freshly roasted beans; or eating breakfast sandwiches made with ﬂu y, cream-enriched local eggs on house-baked English mu ns. The $7 meaty sandwich option comes with bacon and onion jam, but I preferred the $6 veggie for its punchy sun-dried tomato relish and pesto spread.

Friends meeting up for lunch will face the tough decision between the best-selling Dirt Candy Crunch sandwich ($13), featuring slabs of roasted beets layered with whipped herb chèvre, arugula, pepita crunch and sun-dried tomato relish; and a new fall veggie option called Cauli Back Gurl ($14), starring curried cauliﬂower, tangy black lime yogurt, spinach, pickled fennel and golden raisin chutney. My advice: Order both and go halfsies.

Or customers might come to enjoy a well-earned break over Leo & Co.’s carnivorous options, as Alex Trudeau and Elvis Salkic did while working on a house renovation in Essex last week.

IT’S NICE TO BREAK FREE FROM GAS-STATION SANDWICHES.

ALEX TRUDEAU

Friggitelli sandwich with a smoothie

Diego Treviño and Kayla Silver

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Fig Cocktail Bar Opens in Mirror Mirror’s New Shelburne Shop

A third location of beauty store and day spa Mirror Mirror has opened in the former Peg & Ter’s restaurant at 5573 Shelburne Road, joining the original in Burlington and an outpost in Stowe. Similar to the Stowe setup, the Shelburne version includes an upscale cocktail bar for sipping while you shop.

Called FIG, the cocktail bar occupies the previous restaurant’s bar and dining room, while the rest of the space has been renovated to house Mirror Mirror’s retail shelves and spa rooms. Bar director NICK ROY — an alum of Peg & Ter’s as well as Ferrisburgh’s STARRY NIGHT CAFÉ and Burlington’s HOTEL VERMONT and Monarch & the Milkweed — leads the team.

“We’re offering high-end cocktails in a beautiful space in Shelburne’s main hub,” said Roy, a Shelburne resident, noting that the business model Mirror Mirror founder LINDSAY CHISHOLM has created in Stowe with cocktail lounge APRÈS “really works.”

“And Shelburne is going to be even more exciting,” he continued, “because we’re catering to our local community as a place to come and hang and enjoy.”

The bar currently opens at noon and features a thoughtful menu of nonalcoholic drinks along with its cocktails, including a pear flip with housemade pear shrub and egg white. The modest food menu will expand with time but is focused on snacks such as Vermont meats and cheeses, local breads, and “a nice warm soup” for now, Roy said.

Fig’s cocktail menu includes houseblended whiskeys and infused spirits. The bar opened in mid-October, after Montpelier distillery BARR HILL’s nationwide Bee’s Knees Week, but one of its

early staples is a riff on that classic: The gin is infused with chamomile tea and brown butter sauce, then clarified and combined with lemon juice and honey.

East West Café Returns in a Different Burlington Spot

Three years after its original location closed on the corner of North Winooski Avenue and Pearl Street in Burlington, EAST WEST CAFÉ is back in a new, larger space at 169 Church Street.

Chef SAMRAN KAEWKOET-RICHLAND and her husband, BRETT RICHLAND, operated East West Café for six years before Brett suffered a stroke caused by genetic mitochondrial disease, leading to the Thai restaurant’s closure in 2021. Now Kaewkoet-Richland is back in the kitchen, and Brett’s brother, SPENCER RICHLAND, has joined her as co-owner and manager. In addition to the chef’s classic Thai dishes — available for lunch and dinner — the café will soon roll out a separate morning menu with breakfast sandwiches, Parmesan potatoes, and fruit and yogurt bowls.

“We’ll have endless coffee and Wi-Fi, a real morning café,” Spencer told Seven Days. “I’m trying to add the East-West contrast, doing the Western breakfast. That’s my thing.”

Formerly home to El Gato Cantina — and currently separated from the rest of Church Street by Main Street construction — the restaurant can seat up to 85

CONNECT

The bar at Fig

Trudeau, 26, is a repeat customer whose favorite sandwich so far is the Cubano ($15), made with mojo-braised pork and housemade pickles. Last Tuesday, he ordered a new fall item, the Parisian ($15), which features prosciutto cotto with grilled pears, Brie, Mike’s Hot Honey and arugula. The Essex resident deemed it good — though it didn’t replace his ﬁrst choice — and “good value for the money.”

By contrast, the young man said he opted for a canned iced tea because the $13 juices, though appealing, seemed pricey. Silver later explained that each freshly made juice contains “a shocking amount” of produce, organic and local if available.

Trudeau called Leo & Co. a great addition to his hometown. “It’s nice to break free from gas-station sandwiches,” he said, observing that Essex o ers few quick lunch options. He also noted approvingly that the former outlet mall, where he worked as a teen, has evolved to include more locally owned stores and food and drink destinations.

As an Essex resident and business owner, Silver likewise said she’s been delighted to “watch this whole complex really blossom,” especially with many woman-owned establishments. Those include Uncommon Co ee and L’ivresse Lingerie, both in the same building as her two businesses.

Although Salt & Bubbles is open several days a week for lunch, Silver said she often wanted a quicker midday meal — “a sandwich that was better sourced, locally sourced and creatively made” — and knew she was not alone.

When the Sweet Clover space became available, she said, “It was just, like, go time. We knew it was a good ﬁt.”

Silver is not a kitchen professional, but she knows what she likes. A manager at Honey Road in Burlington before becoming an entrepreneur, she invited two former colleagues from that restaurant’s kitchen, Diego Treviño and Quinn Gervia, to join her new endeavor as executive chef and sous/ pastry chef, respectively. She gave them “creative autonomy,” she said.

Gervia, 28, is a top-notch baker. “I am literally living on [her] vegan blueberry mu n,” Silver said of the moist, seed-studded o ering ($4).

I would drive back to Essex in a heartbeat for Gervia’s outstanding brown butter-chocolate chip cookie ($3) and black sesame-cream cheese frosted pumpkin mu n ($5), which tasted more like a not-overly-sweet cupcake. I wasn’t quibbling over its identity, however, as I snarfed it down.

Silver and Treviño, 28, created the savory menu by scrawling ideas all over a large roll of brown kraft paper in the empty café space, Silver recalled. “We love a creative sandwich with di erent ingredients that people have not seen together before or not had in a sandwich,” she said. “But we also didn’t want to get too weird.”

The goal was a mix of classics and novelties, with many housemade garnishes and sauces. Treviño’s must-haves were the Cubano and an “amazing Italian,” Silver said.

With the Paulie ($15), the chef has nailed the latter. A seeded hoagie roll plentifully stu ed with meats and cheese delivered just

the right measures of salty, vinegary, spicy spunk, thanks to Calabrian pepper relish, olives and a red wine vinegar dressing.

The vegetarian options are equally compelling. I especially enjoyed the smokysweet Friggitelli ($14), which combines charred broccolini, roasted red pepper aioli, mozzarella, balsamic glaze and caramelized onions. Silver said it exempliﬁes “Diego’s creative genius” through the use of toum, a creamy garlic sauce from the Middle East. “It really transformed the sandwich,” she said.

Salads include the satisfying Notch ($15), greens with shredded Brussels sprouts, roasted delicata squash, crunchy chickpeas and a delightful herb-tahini dressing that I’d love to see bottled in the market coolers.

Sweet Clover. She said demand has been a little sluggish, but she believes it will grow, diversifying her cash ﬂow while beneﬁting her neighbors.

Among the producers from which Silver buys direct for the café and market is 4-year-old Dandelion Farm in Westford. “Kayla reached out and said, ‘I’d love to source stu hyperlocal,’” recalled Amanda Adams, 29, who farms with her husband, Mike Bickley. “She’s very community-oriented, and that shines through in her business.”

Those coolers and one long shelf in the back corner of Leo & Co. hold a small grab-and-go section of premade sandwiches and salads, along with a careful selection of farm-fresh produce, locally baked breads, Vermontraised meats and eggs, and frozen desserts from local businesses.

Leo & Co. is hosting pickup for the farm’s CSA share this fall. Adams said she’s “scheming” with Silver to grow some vegetables speciﬁcally for the café next year. As the weather cools and local produce o erings taper off, Silver expects the graband-go section of the market to expand. She’s thinking of adding a small selection of soups and prepared meals, where customers could find containers of matzo ball magic to take home — if I don’t eat it all ﬁrst. ➆

A retail market wasn’t part of Silver’s original vision for the café, she said, but she had the space, and locals missed the convenience of picking up Vermont products at

Quinn Gervia

Paulie sandwich

e market at Leo & Co.

Lunch With Leo « P.34

diners. That’s signiﬁcantly more than the original East West Café, which had only a few tables, Spencer said. The owners have kept the former restaurant’s bar, but the new operation is currently BYOB.

Kaewkoet-Richland’s Thai menu is “very similar” to her previous iteration, Spencer said, including larb gai salad, tom yum soup, pad kra pow, a rainbow of curries, and classic noodle dishes such as pad Thai and drunken noodles. The breakfast menu will be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thai o erings start at 11 a.m.

Dedalus Wine Shop Closes in Burlington and Stowe

The remaining locations of Dedalus Wine Shop, including its Burlington ﬂagship retail store, market and wine bar on Pine Street and a retail store in Stowe, have permanently closed. The closures come several months after previous cutbacks at Dedalus locations, including the abrupt end of its Boulder, Colo., shop and what was billed as a “brief 45-day pause” at Burlington

sister biz Paradiso Hi-Fi in early August. (Paradiso remains closed.) The small retail location inside Middlebury’s STONE MILL PUBLIC MARKET closed in early September.

Founder JASON ZULIANI announced the news in an October 23 press release, which cited “ongoing workforce and business growth challenges” and said sta were “informed today and o ered severance to ease the transition back into the job market.” Both stores closed for good that day. Zuliani has not replied to requests to conﬁrm how many sta members were a ected by the closure.

Zuliani founded Dedalus in 2007 on Burlington’s College Street; the wine shop, market and bar on Pine Street opened in 2017. Dedalus expanded to Middlebury in 2019, and its Stowe location opened the following year.

In an email to sta obtained by Seven Days this summer, Zuliani said the ﬁrst round of cutbacks came “from a place of necessity as we work to get Dedalus back on track ﬁnancially by the end of 2024.”

In last week’s release, Zuliani said, “we are no longer able to manage the head winds we face.” ➆

Spooky Sweets

Enosburgh-based Mamas Kitchen delivers Halloween treats and viral candies

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Kayla Beaudoin is making all sorts of sweets for Halloween: Frankenstein mini cakes, eyeball cupcakes, graveyard brownies, candy and caramel apples, party platters with candy grapes, and cheesecake-stuffed strawberries decorated with slightly inappropriate sayings. She bakes them all in her Enosburgh home, but you don’t have to come trick-or-treating to get the goodies: With her business, Mamas Kitchen, Beaudoin delivers to customers in Chittenden and Franklin counties.

Beaudoin, 30, started baking 11 years ago, when she was pregnant with her first child.

“I craved cupcakes,” she said with a laugh.

She soon turned that self-taught interest into a small business but struggled to balance the demands of a new company with those of a young family. So she took a few years off, during which time she developed her baking skills with the help of YouTube and reflected on how she could improve her customer service.

When her younger child was born in 2020, childcare was hard to find, and she resumed her baking business in order to be home regularly. She got her home kitchen certified and launched Mamas Kitchen in 2022, specializing in cupcakes with ambitious flair, topped with little cookies or mini pies.

Now, Mamas Kitchen’s menu of treats has grown to include an astonishing variety of cheesecakes (in classic, cup and stuffed forms), dessert bars for weddings, and wild-and-crazy TikTok candy trends. (Prices range from $5 for individual cookies and cupcakes to $30 for a pound of homemade candy gushers; party platters start at $40.)

Beaudoin switches her offerings weekly based on “whatever my heart desires,” she said. She makes a particularly large selection for Halloween, since it’s her favorite holiday. Customers — 90 percent of whom are in Chittenden County, where she grew up — place orders on her website for Wednesday or Friday delivery.

“I wouldn’t be in business if I didn’t deliver, because it’s not nearly as populated around Enosburgh,” Beaudoin said, noting that she usually fills at least 20 orders per week.

One of her five sisters suggested she make candied fruit after seeing ASMR-style TikToks of people making, eating and tapping on skewers of shiny, sugar-coated grapes. Some of those videos have garnered tens of millions of views, popularizing the ancient Chinese treat called tanghulu — and “Americanizing” it. Some influencers swap crystal-clear sugar for melted Jolly Ranchers.

Beaudoin doesn’t love making the candied fruit, but she keeps up with the trends, despite the fact that these viral fads have resulted in new burn scars on her hands. She makes her own sugar syrups from scratch, adds a variety of flavor extracts and rolls them into bright candies. The resulting confections are electric blue, hot pink or neon green.

“I always tell people, ‘I hope you have a good dentist,’” Beaudoin said. “I bit into one and thought my tooth was going to crack. But people really love it.”

Dentists might also need to be on call for her more classic seasonal treats: candy and caramel apples. Beaudoin coats local apples in a thin layer of caramel, chocolate or a bit of both and rolls them in salty peanuts. She also makes a bright-red candy apple, of course, and a cotton candy one that’s almost galactic in color and shine.

“I’m just playing around and seeing what people like,” she said.

Beaudoin will soon move on to cheesecakes for Thanksgiving, in flavors such as white chocolate-raspberry, strawberry crunch, pumpkin or apple crisp. But Halloween baking is the most fun, she said, especially when customers give her creative freedom. Last year, she topped three dozen cupcakes for one party with shards of glassy sugar dripping with liquid candy blood.

They were almost too spooky to eat. ➆

INFO

Learn more at mamaskitchenvt.com.

Halloween-themed cupcakes

Chocolate apple with peanuts

Cotton candy-flavored candy apples

Chocolate chip cookies with candy eyeballs

Sour green apple candy grapes

Kayla Beaudoin (right) and her family

Halloween-themed chocolate-covered strawberries

SNAP PICS, WIN PRIZES!

• A Winter Getaway at Killington Resort

• an Athletic Brewing Co. Mini-fridge

• Passes to Vermont Brewers Festival

To enter, post a photo* of yourself enjoying the burger love at any oﬃcial Burger Week location with #7dburgerweek *one photo per restaurant. not on instagram? submit your pics at burgerweekvt.com.

Piecasso, Stowe

Positive Pie, Montpelier

Shelburne Tap House

The Skinny Pancake (Burlington, Montpelier, Quechee, Stowe)

Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington

Diner, South Burlington

Shakedown Street BBQ & Grill at Stowe Cider

South Mountain Tavern, Bristol

Upper Deck Pub, South Burlington

Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington

The Village Tavern, North Ferrisburgh

Three Penny Taproom, Montpelier Tourterelle, New Haven

Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury

Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall

Restaurant and Main Dining Room at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe

Wayside Restaurant & Bakery, Berlin

Worthy Burger, South Royalton

Sewing instructor Sophie Hood has always made her own Halloween costumes. From kindergarten in California through high school at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont, she and her parents and younger brother came up with and executed new designs for themselves, and Hood has continued to do so every year. Nine days before All Hallows’ Eve, she was assembling her 31st original costume on a dress form in the Williston atelier she opened a year ago, Little Bird Sewing Studio.

Hood, 37, is petite, with short hair dyed a seasonal orange, round glasses and a constant smile. Her studio décor echoes her calm warmth. Colorful bunting she sewed from leftover scraps crisscrosses the ceiling. Yellow midcentury-inspired chairs, stationed at each of her six sewing machines, pop against blue- and rust-colored walls adorned with Bread and Puppet prints. On a shelf sits a little bird sculpture she made in college — an adorable, ﬁst-size blue oblong ball with a yellow beak and long metal legs and feet — that inspired her studio name.

Over the years, Hood has dressed up for her favorite holiday as everything from a wavy American ﬂag in second grade to a hot-pink Marie Antoinette last year. This year’s costume is a 1950s-inspired dress that resembles a pumpkin, which she’ll top with a “really goofy” pumpkin hat she found on a recent trip to Japan. She made the black A-line petticoat on the form; on her cutting table, she was working on the orange corduroy dress, sewing vertical lines of wavy, light-orange rickrack on the material to imitate the lines on a pumpkin. Around the waistline, she will hang large green pumpkin leaves — forms she cut from thick batting, covered in nubbly lime fabric and outlined in dark green rickrack. She picked up two leaves and demonstrated how she’ll attach them in a kind of bunched assemblage.

That sculptural touch is a mark of Hood’s unorthodox training. While she majored in Asian and Middle Eastern studies at Dartmouth College, she minored in studio art and focused on sculpture, making wearable art for performance pieces she did around campus. During her senior year, she took a class in costume design and was introduced to costume production — the art of turning a designer’s rendering into a 3D creation. “I thought, That’s what I want,” she recalled. Hood went on to earn a master’s in costume production at Carnegie Mellon University, where she learned to integrate technology into costumes.

For her 2014 thesis project, a blue costume called “Bird Creature,” she ironed

Sew Spooky

Sophie Hood teaches aspiring sewers of all ages at Little Bird Sewing Studio in Williston

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

reams of plastic grocery store bags into giant scales and attached them to a hooped understructure, made from wire and PVC pipes. In response to nearby sounds, a microphone built into the beaked head activated LED lights sewn under the scales; coils of electroluminescent wire lit up the creature’s legs and hanging tentacles.

Costume production specialists usually end up in theater or ﬁlm, and Hood has done both. While working for the renowned

costume technology ﬁrm Krostyne Studio in Pittsburgh after her master’s, she made costumes for the Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker and worked on prototypes for the Disney’s Animal Kingdom show Rivers of Light Carnegie Mellon, the higher-education partner of the Tony Awards, tapped Hood in 2017 to make a costume for a university representative. An alumna walked the red carpet wearing one of Hood’s creations: a pink floor-length gown with a laser-cut

design illuminated by lights activated by the wearer’s heartbeat.

While working in the commercial world, Hood also pursued her dream of teaching sewing — something her grandmother, a former seamstress, taught her as a child. In Berkeley, Calif., where she and her partner moved after he completed his doctorate at Carnegie Mellon, Hood founded the ﬁrst iteration of Little Bird Sewing Studio in her basement. She made costumes for Berkeley Repertory Theater and California Shakespeare Festival on the side. Then the pandemic hit, theaters closed, and Hood decided to dedicate herself to teaching. The couple moved back to Vermont last year.

In addition to costumes, Hood makes “a good chunk” of her own clothes. “I’ve always loved making things in any form,” she explained, “and with sewing, the things you’re making are totally usable; you can wear them or tell a story with them.”

“It’s a worldwide cultural thing, clothes,” she continued with a laugh. “It’s fascinating to learn these techniques that were around hundreds of years ago and that we’re still using.”

At Little Bird, Hood teaches private and small group classes for kids and adults. Adult classes range from introductory lessons in sewing reversible tote bags to sweater-, stu e- and underpants-making classes. If students need help with a project already under way, they can attend an assisted open studio session.

Williston Central School third grader Spencer Ashley, age 8, began learning how to sew last summer in Hood’s half-day summer camps.

“He would have preferred full day — he never wanted to leave,” Ashley’s mother, Julia Steen, said. She subsequently enrolled him in private lessons “because he desperately wanted to keep going.” He now attends the kids’ weekly sewing group, a two-hour afterschool program.

Steen, who doesn’t sew, is impressed with her son’s progress, from tote bags to a stu e to an ankle snack pouch he invented. Most recently, he made a bomber jacket.

“He wanted to make a leather jacket, so Sophie found a jacket pattern and said ‘Let’s start with an easier material: ﬂeece,’” Steen recalled. “She’s really gentle and warm and supportive, and she’s patient helping [the children] execute their vision.” Ashley ﬁnished the jacket in two weeks and plans to make pants to match.

“It has kind of surprised me because he’s very active, but he talks about sewing as his

Sophie Hood’s take on a classic witch costume

‘Rocky Horror’ Shadow Cast Time Warps Into Bellows Falls

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

ere are feature films. ere are cult classics. And then there’s e Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you’ve never attended a live screening of the 1975 sci-fi musical extravaganza — during which costumed audience members throw props, shouting in unison at the screen and dancing the “Time Warp” in the aisles — you can experience it all for the first time this weekend.

For nearly 50 years, Rocky Horror has been a worldwide cultural phenomenon that celebrates sexual liberation, gender ambiguity and LGBTQ identity. Initially released to terrible reviews and abysmal box office sales, the movie, which was intended as a send-up of Hollywood’s schlocky sci-fi B movies, quickly gained a cult following through midnight showings on college campuses and in art house theaters. It’s now considered the longest-running film release in cinema history.

In the years since the movie came out, so-called “shadow casts” have emerged, whereby live performers arrive dressed as speciﬁc characters and mimic the onscreen action through singing, dance numbers and irreverent audience participation. On Saturday, November 2, Ones From the Vaults, a 13-member professional shadow-cast troupe based in Brattleboro, will bring its bawdy version to the Bellows Falls Opera House for a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) show.

As is often the case with Rocky Horror shadow casts, the name Ones From the Vaults was taken from a line in the movie — in this case, the scene after crossdressing scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) kills Eddie (Meat Loaf) and refers to him as “one from the vaults.”

“We are the ones from the vaults, which means we’re the bad kids who get put in the corner,” said Stephanie Abrams, the Brattleboro company’s producer, director and emcee. She described Rocky Horror as “a place for the misﬁts and the dark side ... the epitome of counterculture and nonconformity.”

A Los Angeles transplant and longtime circus artist, Abrams founded Ones From the Vaults in April with fellow circus artists and students from the Brattleboro area.

ey’ve been doing sold-out performances at Brattleboro’s Latchis eatre ever since. e pre-show in Bellows Falls, which includes comedy, vaudeville and burlesque acts (though no circus-like stunts) will include a primer on Rocky Horror audience participation beginning at 10 p.m., followed by the screening and shadow-cast performance at 11. ough audience involvement is

strictly voluntary, it’s actively encouraged and includes many of the traditional “callbacks” that have evolved over the years, such as shouting “Asshole!” and “Slut!” whenever characters Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) appear onscreen, respectively.

e Brattleboro troupe maintains a master list of callbacks, Abrams said, though some are tailored to Vermont and New Hampshire audiences. Audience ad libs and creativity are always welcome, too.

Ones From the Vaults also sells prop kits — containing newspapers, party hats, rubber gloves, bubbles and the like — for role-playing speciﬁc scenes. (As Abrams explained, their troupe uses bubbles rather than the traditional rice because the latter makes a huge mess for theaters to clean up.)

Rocky Horror newbies shouldn’t feel intimidated; Abrams said she’s never attended a screening where there weren’t first-timers in the audience. In fact, the 10 p.m. pre-show will include a voluntary “Rocky virgin sacrifice game,” where first-time attendees who are 18 and older will get the, um, lay of the land.

“We want people to be transported when they come into the theater,” Abrams added, “and realize, Oh, my gosh! is is a whole different world that I didn’t know existed.” ➆

INFO

Rocky Horror Picture Show, Saturday, November 2, pre-show, 10 p.m.; ﬁlm/live show, 11 p.m. at Bellows Falls Opera House. $20-25. bellowsfallsoperahouse.org

Ones From the Vaults cast member Camille Echeverri

COURTESY OF HENRY KOSKI

During bouts of writer’s block, romance author Amber Roberts turns to an unexpected place for inspiration: graveyards.

The 39-year-old Arlington resident wrote parts of her newest book, Haunt Your Heart Out , while sitting in burial grounds, including the Evergreen and Saint James Episcopal Church cemeteries in Arlington, Old Yard Cemetery in Stowe, and Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier. These haunts provided ﬁtting scenery for the novel, a steamy romance that draws inspiration from Vermont’s ghost stories.

The story is told from the perspective of Lex McCall, a bookstore employee in Stowe, who ﬁnds herself falling for James, a handsome out-of-towner making a documentary about local hauntings. For the ﬁlm, James draws on Lex’s old vlogs chronicling local ghost stories. The problem? James doesn’t know that Lex’s paranormal encounters were staged with special e ects.

And James isn’t the only believer. Lex’s boss becomes convinced the bookstore is haunted and o ers her a bargain price to buy the store. Now, both her budding romance and career hinge on her ability to prove the ghost stories are real.

Published earlier this month, the book weaves in the tales of two real-life Stowe legends: Emily, who supposedly haunts the Gold Brook Covered Bridge — aka “Emily’s Bridge” — and Boots Berry, said to lurk around the Green Mountain Inn.

Phantom Feelings

Author

Amber Roberts discusses her new book and the joy of writing in cemeteries

BY HANNAH FEUER • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

What gave you the idea for Haunt Your Heart Out?

I grew up near Stowe and ended up spending a lot of time in the Stowe area. When I was about 19 or 20, I worked at a bookstore, and some friends I met through the bookstore wanted to show me Emily’s Bridge. We went there and checked out the cemeteries and all kinds of spooky locations. I was trying to show them that I was brave and cool. I could go to a haunted place, and it wouldn’t scare me at all. I was totally terriﬁed the entire time.

When the pandemic started, I was really missing that experience I had all those years ago. So I started writing about this ﬁctional person in this ﬁctional bookstore, and then it just poured out of me. I kept writing, and it turned into this book.

You wrote parts of the book while sitting in a cemetery. What kind of inspiration did that give you?

I’ve loved cemeteries for decades. I used to actually take my lunch breaks in the Hope Cemetery in Barre because it was very close to where I worked, and it was quiet and peaceful. I liked looking at the gravestones and reading the inscriptions and poetry. It was a really calming and grounding place for me to be.

According to legend, Emily was in love with a man of whom her family disapproved, and the two agreed to elope at the bridge. When he failed to show, Emily hung herself in despair. She allegedly still lingers at the bridge, waiting for her lover to arrive. Meanwhile, Boots Berry’s spirit is rumored to tap dance on the roof of the Green Mountain Inn, from where he fell to his death after saving a little girl stranded there during a snowstorm.

When I was writing this book and my previous book, I needed somewhere quiet to go. I couldn’t go to a café because I can’t handle all the noise and the people buzzing around. So I just started going [to the cemetery] and picked a nice spot under a pretty little tree, and it became my space. If I’m stuck on a writing project, I’ll go sit in the cemetery. Nine times out of 10, I can work out my problem while I’m there.

Seven Days spoke with Roberts via Zoom about her new book.

Roberts, who works a day job in copywriting, describes herself as a writer of “contemporary romance about unabashedly nerdy characters in ridiculous situations,” and she specializes in plots with elements of absurdity. In her debut novel, Text Appeal , a woman takes up text message–based sex work after losing her job as a computer programmer. In Haunt Your Heart Out , Lex meets James after her car gets stuck in the snow, and the stud also just so happens to be the driver who picks her up while she’s hitchhiking.

My favorite moments in the book were the ﬂirty banter between Lex and James. Do you have any strategies for making the dialogue feel authentic?

I talk to myself in the shower, when I’m washing dishes or when I’m driving. People must see me when I’m driving and wonder what I’m doing because I’ll be having a conversation with myself in the car. Anytime I have a quiet moment, I chat back and forth as my characters and get a feel for how things might sound. That said, I always end up having to tone down my banter from my first draft to my final draft because it usually starts out sounding too mean. I have to turn it into banter instead of just an argument.

What do you think is the enduring appeal of ghost stories?

People like to have an explanation for

Amber Roberts

VERMONT’S A PRETTY OLD, SPOOKY PLACE.

AMBER ROBERTS

things, even when there isn’t one. Sometimes having an explanation that’s a little fantastical or too spooky to believe brings a little bit of fun into the world. There are also people who very strongly believe they’ve had an experience with a ghost, and whether or not there’s an actual ghost involved

is not for me to say. It’s also a great way to connect with people. Every time I tell somebody I wrote a book that has ghost stories, they want to tell me about their experience with a ghost.

Vermont’s a pretty old, spooky place. We’ve got all kinds of possibilities for ghost stories in this area. And it doesn’t matter which part of the state you’re in; there are tales no matter where you go. ➆

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

BOOK BONANZA

Keep the Halloween spirit alive this weekend at the third annual Green Mountain Book Festival in Burlington, where several of the 29 participating authors will showcase their spine-tingling tales.

The festivities kick off on Friday, November 1, at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, where mystery writer Archer Mayor will receive the inaugural Phoenix Books Lifetime Achievement Award. Mayor is renowned for his 33-book series following detective Joe Gunther of the Brattleboro police. Currently a death investigator for Vermont’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Mayor bases his fictional books on real-life field experience as a detective.

The evening will also feature music, light refreshments and a silent auction to support the festival. One of the items available for purchase: Chris Bohjalian will use your name for a character in his next novel. Bids start at $500.

On Saturday, November 2, head over to the Fletcher Free Library for a day of panels, workshops and poetry readings.

Kenneth Cadow, the subject of a November 2023 Seven Days cover story, will discuss his book Gather, a 2023 National Book

Award Finalist and 2024 Kirkus Prize winner. The novel, inspired by Cadow’s experiences as coprincipal of Oxbow High School in Bradford, follows a resilient teen navigating life in rural Vermont.

At 11 a.m., head to Burlington City Arts for a tour of the exhibit “Between the Covers: Works by Jane Kent.” The collection features artwork that incorporates text from various poets and writers.

Back at the library, a trio of panel discussions with Vermont authors closes out the afternoon. Daniel Mills leads “Spooky Season: The Ins-and-Outs of Writing Horror” with Margot Harrison, Brian Staveley and Kristin Dearborn. Amber Roberts moderates “Romantasy: An Emerging Genre,” about the hybrid of romance and fantasy, with Katherine Arden, Laurie Forest and Madison Rene. And Sean Prentiss heads “The Craft of Memoir” with Thomas Christopher Greene, Rob Mermin and Adrie Kusserow.

In the evening, head to Muddy Waters for poetry readings by poet laureate Bianca Stone and members of the Burlington Writers Workshop and Poetry Society of Vermont. The night will also pay tribute to the late poet Reuben Jackson, who died in February. His final works were published posthumously in the collection My Specific Awe and Wonder in August.

Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts, Alcove Press, 304 pages. $29.99.

Archer Mayor

TRIO BOHÉMO

culture

passion,” Steen said. “He’s so much more confident now. What else can a parent ask for?”

Jess Lamorey of Williston has taken private lessons with Hood since last winter to make her teenager’s cosplay costumes for K-pop concerts and comic con conventions. Lamorey, already a sewer, said her confidence has increased since Hood taught her pattern drafting — the process of draping a dress form and marking the lines before cutting the material.

“She can figure out anything,” including how to make a puffy sleeve or use foam to create a circular skirt, Lamorey said.

Hood often collaborates with Robin Blodgett, founding owner of Stash in Burlington — the area’s only garment fabric store. Blodgett hosted Hood’s first classes in her Pine Street space, and she now assembles kits for Hood’s classes.

When Blodgett, who also sews, started her business three years ago, there were plenty of quilting and crafting classes in Burlington but no garment-sewing classes. (Since then, clothing manufacturer Fourbital Factory opened on Pine Street and now offers classes in its education center, Continuing ThrED.) Blodgett offered some adult classes but found they took up all her time. After giving a few lessons to her friends’ children, she found she “lacked the patience and skill set,” she said. She happily ceded those efforts to Hood.

“Sophie does everything with a smile,” Blodgett said.

The need for instruction is growing, she added. Sewing classes appeal to a wide range of people, including recent retirees with resources and time; young people with environmental concerns, particularly about fast fashion; and people who want to express their identities through clothing, according to Blodgett.

Hood, who lives in Colchester, had plans to wear her Halloween costume at the Burnham Memorial Library’s Trunkor-Treat. During the event on Monday, community members park their cars in the library lot, open their often elaborately decorated trunks, and give candy to trickor-treating children.

Hood always notices the homemade costumes. She hopes to increase their number by offering a monthlong class in

Halloween costume making next year. Other ideas under consideration: offering more types of classes and hiring other teachers to do classes of their own.

“Sewing is something everyone can do,” Hood said. “Of course, it takes practice to make it look really nice, but you can learn really fast.”

Learn more at littlebirdsewing.com and sophiehood.com.

Hood as the “Metallic Fairy Godmother”

Hood in a hot pink Marie Antoinetteinspired costume Hood in this year’s pumpkin costume Sew Spooky

on screen

We Live in Time ★★★★ REVIEW

My instant reaction to the poster for We Live in Time was “A24 did a weepie?” The title and image alone are enough to convey that the movie is a romantic tearjerker, part of a lineage that stretches from Now, Voyager to Love Story and beyond. Audiences used to line up to cry for an illfated couple, but today most such ﬁlms are relegated to streaming.

If We Live in Time is on the big screen, that’s due to the cachet of the stars, the director — John Crowley, who made the Oscar-nominated Brooklyn — and the distributor, which is known for its “elevated horror” and edgy art house fare. The big question: Can A24 make the weepie relevant to a new generation?

The deal

I didn’t just spoil the movie by calling it a weepie, because Crowley and writer Nick Payne tell the story out of order. In the ﬁrst scene, corporate IT guy Tobias (Andrew Garﬁeld) and Bavarian-fusion chef Almut (Florence Pugh) are living bucolically in the countryside, where she whips him up breakfast from fresh-laid eggs. In the second scene, they’re in a doctor’s o ce,

learning that Almut’s cancer has returned and needs aggressive treatment.

From there, the ﬁlm jumps back years to show us the beginning of the relationship.

The couple’s ﬁrst “meet” is indeed cute, or at least memorable: Almut nearly runs over Tobias while he’s on a madcap quest for a pen to sign his divorce papers. After a meal at her newly opened restaurant, they succumb to mutual passion.

As years pass, youthful infatuation deepens into commitment, and the pair confront life-altering decisions with their young daughter (Grace Delaney). The whole story prepares them to face the grave questions presented in the second scene: How much time does an older Almut have left? And how can she and her family spend it best?

Will you like it?

Weepies tend to take place in a rareﬁed version of reality where everyone is beautiful, has a glamorous job (or a photogenic working-class one), and lives in a home that belongs in a magazine spread. A cushy setting makes it easier to swallow the medicine of the inevitable ending.

We Live in Time follows that pattern to an extent. No one ever worries about

money in this movie, both parents and their kid couldn’t be cuter, and even in her younger and scrappier days, Almut always has a gorgeous kitchen.

But the movie also has a fair bit of grit and humor. More than a gimmick, the nonlinear storytelling emphasizes the power of chance and chaos in the couple’s lives. Tobias is a meticulous planner whose plans keep going awry, sometimes spectacularly so. Mercifully, however, the ﬁlm’s whimsy remains at bearable levels; no one speechiﬁes about the inexorability of time or uses quantum physics as a metaphor for human life.

Payne and Crowley update the weepie in an even more radical way by giving Almut ambitions that go beyond her idyllic family life — along with a competitive streak. When the couple meet, she doesn’t want children. Even after changing her mind, she doesn’t slow down, participating in the international Bocuse d’Or cooking competition even as she undergoes chemo.

The couple have ﬂeshed-out backstories and palpable chemistry, especially when they bond over comfort food. Pugh is noticeably young for the role — we watch Almut age from 34 to perhaps around 40

— but she gives the character a fierce energy that underscores the agency the story grants her. Almut is no passive dying swan, and regardless of whether we agree with her choices, they’re clearly hers. Garfield also delivers a nuanced and moving performance, drawing on the talent for pathos that he showed in films such as Never Let Me Go.

A bit too much screen time is wasted on jokes about Tobias’ employer, the cereal Weetabix, which lose something in their translation to American viewers. And some plot points are forced to the point of unbelievability, especially one involving Almut’s withholding of information from Tobias.

But if We Live in Time sometimes loses us, it wins us back with scenes that feel painfully real, such as one in which Almut’s doctor o ers the couple candy to give them a little space to process bad news. Food isn’t just a trendy accessory here. It’s the stu of life and normalcy, an attempted bulwark against the fate that awaits us all.

While We Live in Time doesn’t use its time-jumping format as innovatively or as heartbreakingly as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind — a modern classic of the genre — it does make us believe in the strength of this millennial couple. We root for them, and yes, our tears might ﬂow.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

SUPERNOVA (2021; Paramount+, rentable): Time is also running out for Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth in this drama about a couple who take a road trip in the wake of a disturbing diagnosis.

BLUE VALENTINE (2010; PLEX, Roku Channel, Tubi, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Director Derek Cianfrance alternates between two timelines — courtship and breakup — to depict the passionate but troubled romance of a couple played by Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling.

BROOKLYN (2015; Max, rentable): To raise your spirits after We Live in Time, try Crowley’s period piece about an Irish immigrant (Saoirse Ronan) in the 1950s, which has the retro charm and gentleness of a Hallmark movie without the saccharine.

Andrew Garﬁeld and Florence Pugh play a young couple battling time to build a life together in this effectively updated weepie.

NEW IN THEATERS

ABSOLUTION: Liam Neeson stars in this crime thriller as an aging gangster trying to right past wrongs. Hans Petter Moland (Cold Pursuit) directed. (112 min, R. Essex, Majestic)

HERE: The latest from director Robert Zemeckis follows the events on a single plot of land as time passes and different people make it a home. Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Paul Bettany star. (104 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

HITPIG: Berkeley Breathed is among the writers of this animated comedy about a porcine bounty hunter (voice of Jason Sudeikis) pursuing a dancing elephant. With Andy Serkis and Rainn Wilson. (86 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount)

LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE: Based on a true story, this adventure drama from director Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger is the riveting survival tale of a 12-year-old (Luke David Blumm) who becomes stranded on Mount Katahdin. (98 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Roxy)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

THE APPRENTICEHHH Sebastian Stan plays the young Donald Trump in this biopic about his real estate dealings; Maria Bakalova is Ivana. Ali Abbasi (Border) directed. (120 min, R. Roxy)

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICEHHH1/2 A grown-up Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) must save her daughter in this Tim Burton fantasy sequel, partially shot in Vermont. (104 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 9/11)

CONCLAVEHHHH A conspiracy interferes with the selection of a new pope in this thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, directed by Edward Berger. (120 min, PG. Majestic)

DAYTIME REVOLUTIONHHH1/2 Erik Nelson’s documentary revisits what happened when John Lennon and Yoko Ono hosted “The Mike Douglas Show” for a week in 1972. (108 min, NR. Catamount)

A DIFFERENT MANHHHH An aspiring actor (Sebastian Stan) regrets his drastic plastic surgery and fixates on his old face in this Golden Berlin Bear nominee from director Aaron Schimberg. (112 min, R. Savoy)

EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS: An artist faces a reckoning with his estranged father in this Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee, directed by Titus Kaphar and starring André Holland and John Earl Jelks. (117 min, R. Savoy)

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUXHHH Gotham City’s notorious institutionalized spree killer (Joaquin Phoenix) finds love (Lady Gaga) in Todd Phillips’ comic-bookadjacent musical sequel. (138 min, R. Playhouse; reviewed 10/9)

THE OUTRUNHHH1/2 Saoirse Ronan plays a woman who returns to her Orkney Island birthplace to confront her past in this festival fave drama from Nora Fingscheidt. (188 min, R. Savoy)

RUMOURSHHH1/2 Canadian experimentalist Guy Maddin codirected this dark comedy about a G7 summit turned weird. Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander and Charles Dance play world leaders. (103 min, R. Savoy)

SATURDAY NIGHTHHH1/2 Jason Reitman’s comedy-drama chronicles the 90 minutes before the 1975 premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” Gabriel LaBelle and Rachel Sennott star. (109 min, R. Big Picture, Essex, Majestic, Playhouse, Roxy; reviewed 10/16)

SMILE 2HHH1/2 In the sequel to the horror hit, a pop star (Naomi Scott) is stalked by … a cheery expression? With Kyle Gallner and Drew Barrymore; Parker Finn again directed. (127 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Sunset, Welden)

THE SUBSTANCEHHHH1/2 Coralie Fargeat (Revenge) wrote and directed this horror drama about a celebrity (Demi Moore) seeking the fountain of youth, also starring Margaret Qualley. (140 min, R. Roxy; reviewed 9/25)

TERRIFIER 3HHH Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) gets his own holiday movie in the third installment of this cult gore-fest. “Unrated” means don’t bring kids. Damien Leone directed. (125 min, NR. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Stowe, Sunset)

VENOM: THE LAST DANCEHH Tom Hardy returns as the Marvel Comics character in a complicated relationship with an alien symbiote. Kelly Marcel directed. (109 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

WE LIVE IN TIMEHHH1/2 John Crowley (Brooklyn) directed this romance starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, with the nonlinear action spanning decades. (107 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Savoy, Star; reviewed 10/30)

WHITE BIRDHH1/2 A boy learns life lessons from his grandmother’s story of escaping Nazi-occupied France in this family drama. (120 min, PG-13. Big Picture)

THE WILD ROBOTHHHH1/2 A shipwrecked robot becomes caretaker to an orphaned gosling in this animated family adventure from Chris Sanders, with the voices of Lupita Nyong’o and Pedro Pascal. (101 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (Essex, Star; Sat only)

ELF (Sunset)

GOODBOY (Savoy, Sat only)

HOCUS POCUS (Majestic, Welden, Sunset)

JOHN WICK: 10TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun only)

KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (Essex, Wed 30 only)

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Sunset)

NOVEMBER (Catamount, Wed 30 only)

PUPPY LOVE (Savoy, Wed 6 only)

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Roxy, Savoy)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HAT SPONSOR

Almartin Volvo

Appletree Bay PT

AstenJohnson

Baker Distributing

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont

Carpet Warehouse

Cedar Ridge Sprinkler Corp

Champlain Cable

Champlain Valley Dinner Train

Collins Aerospace

Crossroads Electric

Dealer.com

Farrell Distributing Goss Cars

Green Mountain Power

Green Mountain Surgery Center

Grunts Move Junk

Hilton Garden Inn

Home Care Assistance Greater Burlington

Hornet Watersports

Larkin Hospitality

Maple Ridge Memory Care

Northeast Delta Dental

Northﬁeld Savings Bank

Price Chopper PT360

Queen City Steel

Rowley Fuels

Runway Auto

Sweeney Design Build

University of Vermont

UVM Medical Center

Vermont Surrogacy Network

Casella Waste

Chocolate Thunder Security Services

Cole's Cookie Co Costco

Danforth Pewter Fast Signs

FOAM Brewers

Gordon Stamp and Engraving

Got that Rental

Green Mountain Bagels

Hannafords Essex Center

Hannafords North Ave. Icon Promotions

Jeff Ferland

Jericho Market

Jersey Mike's

Last Resort Farm

Linda Potvin

McKenzie Country Classics

Main Street Landing

Milton Rental

Morning Light Bakery MS

Septic

Myers Wood Fired PawPrint

Penni and Jim Cross

Pete's RV

Radio North

Regina Patterson and fellow Zumba Instructors

REMAX North Professionals

U-Haul Riverside Ave.

Zach Rhoads

TALKING ART

What Lies Beneath

BY ALICE DODGE •

There is nothing quite so spooky as plunging into dark water. Airlessness, pressure, disorientation. Alien creatures lurk in dark kelp forests, waiting to lure victims with a single bioluminescent point of light.

This is the world Sage Tucker-Ketcham explores in “Under the Water & Into the Woods,” on view at Soapbox Arts in Burlington through November 16. The new body of work is a departure for the Charlotte painter; viewers may know her earlier paintings of friendly, blocky houses in bold colors.

There are no such refuges in this show. It’s all wild and weird, the viewer an interloper in a strange, tangled landscape. The paintings explore subtle variations in hue to great e ect: Tucker-Ketcham mostly sticks to deep blues and emerald greens.

An occasional jolt such as the scarlet leaf in “Detail of a Thing in the Jungle” makes its own light in a dark scene.

Tucker-Ketcham hasn’t totally abandoned stylized forms — they appear here as plants with flat leaves and gracefully bent stalks. But they overlap and accumulate on the canvas, so that works such as “Wild Flower Farm” give the impression of walking into a dense field; the way the plants wave suggests the field is underwater, surrounded by a miasma of glowing green algae.

Immersive works such as the 4-by-6foot triptych “Tree Trunk With Chandelier Vines” invite the viewer into a jungle where there is gravity but no ground. Vines drip from the darkness overhead, individual leaves lending speciﬁcity to an otherwise amorphous cloud of green.

Works such as “There’s a Full Moon Somewhere” di erentiate only very subtly between plant forms in shades of midnight blue: Tucker-Ketcham captures the uncertainty of a moonless night, when it’s hard to tell if something is there or not.

One of the show’s most refreshing aspects is its loose, dripping layers of oil paint glazes and sprays. Everything feels watery and in motion, especially in works such as “What Lies Under the Lake” 1 and 2, a pair of 60-by-40-inch blue canvases at the far end of the gallery. They beautifully capture the feeling of being on the lake ﬂoor, particles falling like snow and partially obscuring the deep, dark scene ahead.

After seeing the exhibition, this reporter spoke with Tucker-Ketcham in her tiny space upstairs from Soapbox Arts

— one she’s moving out of soon to a much larger South End studio.

How did you come to this work?

I originally was an abstract painter and made large abstract paintings using house paint and boat resin. I got really into the chemistry of it, the mixing, all that fun stu — and then that got really gross.

I broke my foot and couldn’t walk for about six months. I ended up regrouping, getting grounded, and started painting with oil. That was about eight years ago. I painted little house paintings and landscapes, slowly getting bigger and bigger. And then about two years ago, I started painting grass.

They were still pretty tight, and then I thought, I miss being messy. So then I started pulling out my old tricks: I make my own sprays; I work on the ground. I just kind of loosened up again, which felt really great: to have fun again, because I got so tight with oil paint. Now I’m letting the process lead the painting.

Tell me about the watery, woodsy theme.

I look at the lake all the time. Under the water is this fascinating thing: I realized there’s woods under the water, and

Clockwise from left: "Wild Flower Farm"; “Deep Forest Ferns”; “Detail of a ing in the Jungle”

In some of the paintings, there’s very little difference in tonality between the shades of dark blue. You really have to be present with the painting, instead of seeing it in a photograph. Yes. They’re hard to photograph. But if you want to spend time with it, there’s a lot you can dive into. My older work was much more graphic, and I think I was trying to make a pretty picture more. Now, I’m making the picture and then if you want to spend time with it, you can find what you want to inside of it. I feel like they do need to be experienced, more than just seen as a flat image.

The paintings in the show are mainly green and blue — but here’s a red one! What’s that about?

I did a big red one, and it happened to sell right away. Red can be really challenging for people. It was during those crazy fires, a year and a half ago, and everything looked pink. That’s what I was thinking, and then people read other meanings into it — I was like, Sure, I guess maybe it means femininity, I don’t know. But I actually was thinking about the color, because I’m a color person. I was thinking about the colors that red produces: all the different shades of red in our atmosphere.

We connect you to beneﬁts and

SAGE TUCKER-KETCHAM

there’s water in the woods. I went to the rainforest last year in Costa Rica. I was literally in the forest but surrounded by water. It was all kind of together. The theme for the show just came to me one day: I’m going under the water, but I’m going into the woods. So it’s this experience of the balance of the water and the woods — both need each other to exist.

It seems like it’s a scary place but maybe also a comforting place. Is that how you think of it?

Totally! I started painting these jungle paintings last year, and then we just decided to go to Costa Rica. A friend said, “The jungle is so dangerous but can give you life.” I had never even thought of it that way — but now I’m thinking that all the time. The process that I’m doing again is allowing for those layers of experience, without protecting or covering it up too much. It’s letting the dark scariness occur, while also continuing to keep painting it and bringing it to life.

There’s a lot in the natural world that’s somewhere between red and green, or weirdly both, that we don’t think of as red.

I’m so grateful that I get to see those things. I focus a lot on looking. I’m pretty quiet — I just like to look at things and think, What can I see? How many colors are in that thing? The red is probably being completely induced by fall and seeing all these crazy red leaves out there.

Are titles important to you?

No, I think the work should say its thing on its own. Because I feel like I enter my work as a color person, the meaning and the depth of it is really up to the viewer. I can analyze my work after, but I’m not trying to say much. I think that’s the beauty of art: It is what comes out of it. It unveils itself as it goes.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

“Under the Water & Into the Woods” by Sage Tucker-Ketcham, on view through November 16 at Soapbox Arts in Burlington. soapboxarts.com

Job of the Week

Meal Production Coordinator

Feeding Champlain Valley is looking for a Meal Production Coordinator to join our team! The Meal Production Coordinator is responsible for food preparation, cooking, and packaging meals; planning and organizing production schedules as well as administrative duties including reporting. This role collaborates with volunteers and coordinates with culinary teams; instructs and delegates job tasks to community service workers and volunteers; produces and prepares meals from available donated and purchased food items, and maintains clean, safe, and sanitary food preparation areas as mandated by VT State Department of Health Codes. Requirements: High School diploma, or equivalent, required and a minimum of two years’ culinary experience preferred. Experience working with volunteers as well as working with diverse and low-income populations

The Scoop on Feeding Champlain Valley

Rob Meehan, Program Director, Feeding Champlain Valley

Why is this job important?

Providing meals for people who are unhoused and vulnerable is critical work for an unfortunate, growing problem in our region. e meal production coordinator works alongside a dedicated culinary team to prepare and deliver thousands of meals each month to a hunger-relief network, including people in temporary shelters in our surrounding area. Food is a basic human right. People experiencing homelessness often face limited choices for when and where to eat. e Feeding Champlain Valley culinary team is providing regular, nutritious meals that help mitigate health risks and promote overall health and well-being.

What is unique about Feeding Champlain Valley?

Feeding Champlain Valley is a 50-year-old network comprising four food shelves, three food hubs, an online delivery service, meal production and a food truck. As a program of CVOEO, hunger-relief efforts coordinate with community resources and outreach, Community Action ofﬁces, Head Start programs, housing advocates, and more, providing comprehensive care for people experiencing poverty. Feeding Champlain Valley also works with health care providers to utilize online ordering and delivery, as well as with agricultural groups to partner with local growers.

Schoolhouse Rocked: ‘Mictlan Overdrive’ in East Montpelier

STORY & PHOTOS BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Night falls at the crossroads. The last of the sunset reflects off the windows of the old one-room schoolhouse, glowing red and blue in the growing darkness. Leaves crunch underfoot; a tractor harvesting late-season corn groans through the field across the dirt road. Other sounds escape the building: someone drumming on a hollow log, a sharp note from a cello, shrill electronic feedback, a sustained low drone.

The scene isn’t the opening of a Halloween thriller. It’s what visitors might experience at “Mictlan Overdrive,” Glenn Weyant’s sound installation at the historic Four Corners Schoolhouse in East Montpelier on Saturday, November 2 — the Day of the Dead.

Weyant, who moved to East Montpelier from Tucson, Ariz., in 2018, gained international attention from press outlets including NPR’s “All Things Considered” and the Guardian 10 years ago for turning the U.S.-Mexico border fence into a musical instrument by playing its metal slats with a bow. A trio of Seven Days music editors past and present puzzled over his 2021 album MOWED MUSIC, which features a Toro lawn mower as its only instrument. It’s safe to say that Weyant’s works are “not going to be everybody’s cup of tea,” as he put it during a recent visit to his attic sound studio. But they are intriguing and a welcome reminder that rural places can be fantastically weird.

Weyant is fascinated by the acoustic architecture of historic buildings such as the schoolhouse, whose single classroom offers a mountain view through large windows. For “Mictlan Overdrive,” he plans to set up a circle of five amplifiers, likely pointing outward from the center to bounce sound off different walls and surfaces. Instruments include a cello, guitar, oscillator, an amplified log and an “electric Ferris box,” which he made from a bicycle wheel, springs and barbed wire from an old Mexican border fence.

Demonstrating for a reporter, Weyant played his instruments with a bow, sampling the sounds and leaving them to loop. He propped the guitar against its amplifier, creating a feedback hum. An oscillator produced wobbling tones that evoked metal springs.

The layered noise functions more as sculpture than as music. Listeners moving around the room will hear the sounds change as the high and low frequencies probe chalkboards and rebound from the floor and ceiling. It’s a way

CALLS TO ARTISTS

ARTFUL ICE SHANTIES ENTRIES: Artists, ice fishing enthusiasts and builders of all ages and experience levels are invited to enter the 2025 outdoor exhibition, which takes place at Retreat Farm from February 15 to 23. Deadline December 16. Register at brattleboromuseum. org. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Info, 257-0124.

SOLO SHOW PROGRAM: A new program of eight-week shows open to all artists.

of highlighting spatial dimension, allowing visitors to locate themselves acoustically, like bats.

The installation incorporates drones — long, sustained sounds — which Weyant associates with traditions such as Halloween and the Day of the Dead. This is a time of year when “the space between life and death, birth and rebirth” is thinner, Weyant said. “I think a drone bridges those gaps.”

The composition will be somewhat improvisational, and Weyant is even inviting musicians to bring instruments to add during the second half. More than aiming for a harmonic composition, he’s setting up an experiment in a place that has “a lot of mojo,” he said, at a time he feels is liminal — and not only as it relates to the spirit world.

The “Mictlan” referred to in the installation’s title is the Aztec underworld through which the dead travel before

Submissions are taken on an ongoing basis; apply online at canalstreetartgallery.com. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls.

LEGO CONTEST: Inviting makers of all ages to design and build original Lego creations and display them at the 17th Annual Lego Contest and Exhibit from November 7 to 11. An awards ceremony will be held on November 6. All entries must be delivered on Monday, November 4, 4 to 6 p.m. An online entry form must be submitted before drop-off. Guidelines and entry forms are available at brattleboromuseum.org. Info, 802-257-0124.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

reaching their final resting place. Their journey, like a presidential term, lasts for four years. On the eve of a historically fraught election, Weyant’s piece heralds an epic shift.

“The whole country is about to change … one way or the other,” he said. “I think there’s a lot about to happen.” ➆

INFO

“Mictlan Overdrive” by Glenn Weyant, Saturday, November 2, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Four Corners Schoolhouse in East Montpelier. Free. sonicanta.com

EDDIE EPSTEIN: “Many Portraits of People You Most Likely Know,” paintings by the longtime portrait artist. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, through December 25. Info, 426-3581.

CRAIG WILTSE: Recent paintings, presented by Studio Place Arts. Morse Block Deli & Taps, Barre, through December 27. Info, 479-7069.

DMITRI BELIAKOV: “On the Margins of Europe: War Before the War,” a photography exhibit featuring more than 50 photos by the freelance photojournalist, who covered events in eastern Ukraine from 2014 to 2019. Reception: Wednesday, October 30, 5 p.m. Dion Family

Student Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, October 30-November 14. Info, emurray@smcvt.edu.

JULIA JENSEN: “Thereafter”, a solo exhibition featuring new paintings of Vermont and Nantucket, Mass. landscapes. Reception: Friday, November 1, 5-6:30 p.m. Edgewater Gallery on the Green, Middlebury, through December 1. Info, 989-7419.

‘SMALL AND LARGE WORKS’: An annual exhibition of works smaller than 12 and larger than 24 inches by more than 100 Vermont artists. Reception: Friday, November 1, 5-9 p.m. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington, November 1-January 3. Info, spacegalleryvt@gmail. com.

CHRISTIAN DEFILIPPO: “Growing,” an exhibition of paintings that celebrate our relationship with plants.

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

Clockwise from top left: Four Corners Schoolhouse in East Montpelier; Glenn Weyant demonstrating in the studio; score for “Mictlan Overdrive”; the electric Ferris box

Reception: Friday, November 1, 5-8 p.m. Kishka Gallery & Library, White River Junction, November 1-23. Info, info@kishka.org.

‘FINDING HOPE WITHIN’: A group exhibition of drawings, mixed media, crochet, poetry and narrative writing by incarcerated artists at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, November 1-30. Info, arevolutionarypress@gmail.com.

MICHAEL METZ: “Would You Mind If...?,” a show of recent street portraits inviting viewers to reflect on the changing nature of public space, privacy and the role of the photographer. Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne, November 1-30. Info, michaelmetz100@gmail.com.

TINA OLSEN AND SCHUYLER GOLD: “Elisions,” an exhibition of abstract expressionist paintings made over a 50-year career. During December, they will be joined by Gold’s found-object light sculptures. Reception, with musicians from Vermont Jazz Center: Friday, November 1, 5-9 p.m. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, November 1-December 31. Info, 917-860-5749.

MELORA KENNEDY: “Human Family: Works 2013-2024,” paintings and sculpture pairing domestic scenes, landscape and still life with concepts enumerated in the 1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Reception: Friday, November 1, 4-8 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, November 1-December 1, 4-8 p.m. Info, info@thefrontvt.com.

ARTIST MEMBERS’ SHOW: Works by more than 20 Vermont artists in a variety of media including painting, photography, woodcarving, pottery, collage and mixed media. Reception: Saturday, November 2, 3-5 p.m. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, November 2-December 13. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@gmail.com.

‘CELEBRATE!’: An art and craft exhibition and sale with works by more than 75 member artists. Studio Place Arts, Barre, November 6-December 27. Info, 479-7069.

LEGO EXHIBIT: The 17th annual exhibition of original Lego creations from community artists of all ages, with new award categories this year. See “Calls to Artists” for submission details. Awards ceremony: Wednesday, November 6, 5:30 p.m. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, November 6-11. Free. Info, 257-0124.

CARRIE CAOUETTE-DE LALLO: “The Sharing,” an exhibition of 15 new paintings focused on gatherings around the Chelsea artist’s kitchen table. Reception: Saturday, November 9, 3-5 p.m. The Tunbridge General Store Gallery, November 2-December 22. Info, clcdelallo@ gmail.com.

BEN CHENEY: “New Beginnings, Old Stories,” an exhibition of both functional and fine art exploring memory and change through the lens of amicable divorce. Reception and artist talk: Saturday, November 9, 5-7 p.m. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery, Waterbury, October 30-November 23. Info, 244-7801.

ART EVENTS

ARTIST TALK: ROSE-LYNN FISHER: An artist discussion of her works in the exhibition “Invitation to Awe” and her use of microscopes, cameras and mixed media, followed by a light lunch. Middlebury College Museum of Art, Friday, November 1, 12:30-2 p.m. Info, 443-5007.

ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION: ‘COLLAGE/ UNCOLLAGE’ AND E.L. SCHMIDT: A closing reception and Q&A with artists from both shows, live music and refreshments. The Phoenix, Waterbury, Friday, November 1, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, joseph@thephoenixvt. com.

ARTIST TALK: ELIZABETH POWELL: A discussion by the artist of “Bound in Abstractions,” her solo show of paintings in gouache that draw on pattern and abstract forms to suggest the body. Hexum Gallery, Montpelier, Friday, November 1, 6:30 p.m. Info, hexumgallery@ gmail.com.

COZY NOOK CRAFT FAIR: The annual event featuring artists and crafters, held in the library and in historic Memorial Hall. Essex Free Library, Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 872-8927.

FULL BOWLS POTTERY SALE AND COMMUNITY MEAL: The second annual fundraiser where visitors are invited to choose a handmade bowl and fill it with soup, bread and goodies. Proceeds benefit NCSU Pride Pottery, Voices for Vermont’s Children, Derby Elementary School Backpack Program and First Universalist Parish of Derby Line. Derby Line Village Hall, Saturday, November 2, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $25 Donation. Info, hopewellstudiovt@ gmail.com.

TOUR OF ‘BETWEEN THE COVERS: WORKS BY JANE KENT’: A tour of “Between the Covers: Works by Jane Kent” by BCA curator Heather Ferrell, including a discussion of Kent’s artist books, prints, drawings and most recent project with Major Jackson. Part of the Green Mountain Book Festival. BCA Center, Burlington, Saturday, November 2, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 865-7166.

CURATOR TALK: THERESA FAIRBANKS HARRIS AND JOSEPHINE RODGERS: A discussion of the conservation treatment and history of Edwin Austin Abbey’s (1852-1911) drawings at Yale University. Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College, Monday, November 4, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, mdavico@ middlebury.edu.

HISTORY UNFRAMED TALK: ERIC TOBIN: A discussion with the Lamoille Valley painter known for his landscapes. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, Wednesday, November 6, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 644-5100.

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, November 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 343-8172.

AUTUMN WATERCOLOR CLASS: A series taught by Pauline Nolte for experienced painters and newcomers; supplies provided for beginners. Register by email. Waterbury Public Library, Tuesday, November 5, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary. com.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR ARTISTS: A selection of free online and in-person workshops addressing the most urgent needs, challenges and opportunities facing artists in New England, presented by Assets for Artists in partnership with the Vermont Arts Council. Register online at assetsforartists.org. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier, through January 28. Info, assetsforartists@massmoca.org. ➆

nightlife

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Flight Lessons:

Hunter Paye Grapples With Grief on New Album

One could be forgiven for mistaking HUNTER PAYE’s latest music video as a sort of roots-rock episode of “Rick Steves’ Europe.” The Bradford singer-songwriter took a four-month, six-country sojourn through the Mediterranean in 2021 and ﬁlmed much of the trip. He edited the footage into the video for “Alive Again,” the ﬁrst single from his new LP, Blueprints for Flight

Midway through the video, between shots of Paye grinning behind a pair of sunglasses as he traipses through Morocco, Italy, Greece, Egypt and Turkey, he sings a particularly revealing lyric, exposing the raw nerve at the heart of his new music:

“It took a while after you left to form a smile / Or transpose death into the song that I now sing.”

Paye’s global walkabout wasn’t just a sightseeing trip: He had all but ﬂed Vermont after the May 2021 death of his mother, Tish Paye, sent him into an emotional tailspin.

“She was, and still is, my everything,” Paye told me by phone, ahead of the album release on Wednesday, October 30 — his mother’s birthday. “When she died, everything changed for me ... Maybe this is cheesy, but I had to reevaluate

health led him to quit touring and move back to the Green Mountains. A benign tumor on his pituitary gland, among other concerns, had made performing live di cult. So he returned to Bradford to care for his mother and himself. Music was on the back burner — until the darkness made it impossible for Paye to ignore his guitar.

“Songs just started pouring out of me,” he said. “I’d get back from Dartmouth every day and reach for the guitar. I wrote a lot of the album then, but those were the songs of grief because I was just hurting so badly.”

everything. And I knew I couldn’t let my grief overwhelm me.

“But it was getting dark,” he continued. “Dark enough for me to realize it was time to do something about that.”

So Paye emptied his savings account and set out on his Mediterranean odyssey. As he confronted his profound sorrow, he also returned to the life of a professional musician, continuing a path he’d started while watching his mother die over the course of six weeks at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

Paye was born and raised by his single mother on the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut River but moved to Bradford when he was 7. He launched his music career out west, however, spending two decades between Santa Barbara, Calif., and Portland, Ore. He logged 20,000 miles touring, playing with the likes of TRAIN and MICHELLE SHOCKED. He also released ﬁve studio albums, including his 2017 West Coast swan song, Arrows in Orbit

In 2018, a combination of his own medical issues and Tish’s declining

Those songs make up much of Blueprints for Flight. “Burning at Both Ends” and “Our Pandemic Song” are su used with Paye’s wounded heart, decorated with apocalyptic lyrical imagery and a sense of grim fatalism. The darker tone is especially e ective set against Paye’s folk-leaning rootsrock sound, adding an edge to otherwise tranquil and sunny sonic landscapes.

But those moments are set against what Paye calls his “phoenix songs,” the tunes he wrote after he returned from his four-month sabbatical abroad. His grief was tempered by recovery and a returning sense of longing for the wider world.

“The Old You” and “Plant Me Anywhere” display a songwriter on the mend, smiling in the face of loss and grateful for the lessons learned, no matter how painful.

That dichotomy makes Blueprints for Flight a concept album, according to Paye.

“It’s about being part of a community of people who experience this kind of loss,” Paye said. “It’s not a small community. Those in it know that kind of emotional, raw feeling of losing someone they love, and I think it’s reﬂected in the songs. And there’s nothing wrong with raw songs — they’re deep wells, and we are too.”

Blueprints for Flight is also signiﬁcant to Paye as his ﬁrst record since returning to Vermont. He recorded it all in Bradford, after building a home studio and training himself to engineer and produce his own albums.

“Honestly, I thought I had built it to record the demos for my new album,” Paye said. “I had 100 tracks laid down before it hit me: This is the record.”

Having a home studio has been a game changer for Paye, who has already written his next album. But ﬁrst he must reconcile with releasing his comeback album while not being able to tour with it or even play an album-release show.

“I’m not ready to close the book on playing live, but there’s no doubt that my

Hunter Paye

Hunter Paye at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

On the Beat

When the spookiest night of the year falls on a Thursday, All Hallows’ Eve basically turns into All Hallows’ Week. And who doesn’t love an extra run of Halloween parties? While plenty of killer events went down last weekend, there is still an abundance of bloodcurdling fun to be found. Here’s a rundown of some of the area’s coolest fright fests. Drink (blood) responsibly!

If you’re looking for the classic Burlington costume dance party, it’s hard to beat Halloween proper at the Lounge at Nectar’s (formerly Club Metronome). On Thursday, October 31, DJ MALCOLM MILLER will be on the decks, spinning jams for ghouls who would rather dance than stalk the night. On a similar tip, just around the corner, Einstein’s Tap House is running a full Halloweekend, with D JAY BARON on Thursday, DJ DAVID CHIEF on Friday, November 1, and DJ CHIA closing it out on Saturday, November 2 — aka the Day of the Dead. All three nights are costume parties, so you can either prepare multiple disguises or really get the most out of that “sexy sanitation worker” costume you thought was a good idea.

Radio Bean and Light Club Lamp Shop host the third annual BURLINGTON ELECTRONIC DEPARTMENT Halloween party on Thursday. ROOST.WORLD’s ZACK SCHUSTER has once again curated a loaded night of EDM, including Seattle’s SUCCUBASS; Providence, R.I., art rockers BABYBABY_

UNLIMITED CONSCIOUSNESS. Roost.World and Plattsburgh, N.Y.’s SSJ4WEED represent the local faction. It’s a $20 ticket, but as always, you can reduce the price by showing up in costume.

OW N i ue

Looking to laugh as well as scream? Head over to Vermont Comedy Club. The Burlington funny factory hosts a Thursday show titled “Possessed!,” which features local comics dressing up as their favorite comedians and covering their material. I haven’t seen a lineup, but I’ve got my ﬁngers crossed for a DON RICKLES impersonator who just mercilessly roasts anyone in sight. Now, that’s real terror.

But maybe you don’t want to dance or see comedy — you want to rock out on the most metal day of the year. The

EXPLORES; Massachusetts producer BARBIE. AI; and New York City’s EMMANUEL AND THE

w/ Knights of the Brown Table (30 yrs of Chocolate & Cheese) Lazer Dad, North Beach All Stars & Bathwater (Nightmare on Main St.)

11.1

w/ Big Shrimp

Monk Rage Against The Machine Tribute

w/ Joe Angello’s JGB

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “WITCH’S WINDOW” by Guthrie Galileo

2. “MY MY BABY GOODBYE” by Samantha Mae

3. “THE WOLF” by Savage Hen

4. “THE BABY OF DUNSHIRE” by Eric George, Doctor Gasp and the Eeks

5. “MARILYN’S REVENGE — LIVE” by Burly Girlies

6. “YUNG HEARTS BLEED FREE” by of Montreal

7. “FVCKING BORING” by the Leatherbound Books

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

11.2

Pharcyde w/ Mister Burns

11.8

11.22

Kweli w/Skyzoo, Landon Wordswell, Mister Burns

8v-nectars103024 1 10/28/24 5:37

Guerilla Toss

music+nightlife

On the Beat « P.55

state suffers no shortage of spooky live music this week. The folks at the Stone Church in Brattleboro have put together one hell of a Halloween lineup on Thursday with a triple bill of indie rock and punk that is not to be missed:

GUERILLA TOSS, ROUGH FRANCIS and ASPERO SAICOS

‘Show Her The Money’:

Movie Screening

WED., OCT 30

HULA, BURLINGTON

Queen City Ghostwalk Darkness Falls Tour

WED., OCT 30, THU., OCT 31

COURTHOUSE PLAZA, BURLINGTON

‘Collage/Uncollage’ + Erika Lawlor Schmidt Closing Reception

FRI., NOV 1

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE

Green Mountain Book Festival Fundraiser

FRI., NOV 1

VENETIAN COCKTAIL & SODA LOUNGE, BURLINGTON

Throwback Dance Party w/ DJ Sound Syndicate X DJ Bay 6

FRI., NOV 1

THE UNDERGROUND LISTENING ROOM, RANDOLPH

Tour of ‘Between the Covers: Works by Jane Kent’ at Burlington City Arts

SAT., NOV 2

BCA CENTER, BURLINGTON

The Katherine Arden Book Club Event

SAT., NOV 2

FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY, BURLINGTON

The Poet Within You: A Poetry Workshop with James Wyman

SAT., NOV 2

FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY, BURLINGTON

Charlie-O’s World Famous in Montpelier offers robotic surf-punk from the TSUNAMIBOTS on Thursday, while nearby Hugo’s hosts a jazzy Halloween with IRA FRIEDMAN and TIMOTHY QUIGLEY

If you’re dressing up as GWEN STEFANI or FRED DURST this year and are worried about not fitting in, never fear! Nectar’s is going all in on the ’90s with its Thursday-night Halloween party. ’90s Nightmare on Main Street is all about costumes, with BATHWATER doing a tribute to NO DOUBT, NORTH BEACH DUB ALL STARS fulfilling all your SUBLIME needs and cover kings LAZER DAD tackling the whole damn decade.

Showcase Lounge serves up a dose of the Naughty Aughties on Thursday with the slacker magic of the BROKES, a socalled “note-for-note celebration” of the STROKES. If that description were totally true, the show would involve a lot of bathroom cocaine and plenty of student loan debt, but no one needs that level of accuracy, right?

For those not wanting to travel quite that far back in time, the Higher Ground

That’s just a taste of some of the spooky delights on offer this Halloween weekend. Be sure to check our calendar and club listings for more, as well as the “Magnificent 7” on page 11. Whether you’re dancing, rocking out, laughing or just inhaling candy on your couch while watching slasher flicks, here’s hoping you spend All Hallows’ Eve in style! ➆

Eye on the Scene

Last week’s live performance highlights from photographer Luke Awtry SHINY LEOPARD GANG ‘THRILLER’ FLASH MOB, CHURCH STREET MARKETPLACE, BURLINGTON, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27: It’s almost noon on Sunday and chilly. A cold wind lashes the Church Street Marketplace, the stronger gusts provoking ripples of bright yellow through the waning foliage. Sharp and dry, these last leaves fly fast, forcing you to duck while scurrying across Cherry Street. It’s at this most vulnerable moment that the wind gets even louder, thunder claps and a wolf howls in the distance. You didn’t sign up for this. You just wanted a bagel and some caffeine to ease into a mellow Sunday. Then the beat to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” drops, and a mini mob of meandering zombies breaks into dance, nailing every MJ-inspired move. You are transfixed as grizzly ghouls from every tomb close in to seal your doom. Just then the song ends and the mob quickly disperses, as if it were never there.

Lazer

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.30

ALLEYCVT, Sharlitz Web, Capochino (electronic, indie pop) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$25.

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

Blue Northern (blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Comatose Kids, Hand in Pants, Soap (indie, funk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $12/$15.

HalloWEEN with Knights of the Brown Table (Ween tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. $13.

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

Jeff & Gina (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallﬂower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

THU.31

e Brokes (Strokes tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $12/$15.

Burlington Electronic Department Halloween Party (electronica) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15/$20.

Chicky Stoltz (rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free. Frankie & the Fuse (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Geoff Kim Organ Trio (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Halloween at ArtsRiot: New Erotics, Dogface, Night Protocol, Fossil Record (Blondie, Tears for Fears tribute) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Halloween Costume Party with Donna under (rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Ira Friedman, Timothy Quigley (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

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

‘90s Nightmare on Main Street: Lazer Dad, North Beach Dub All Stars, Bathwater (’90s tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

Megapuppies, Sam Egan and a Flawless Perenium, Austin Petrashune, Recycled Bicycles (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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.

Neighbor, LaMP (jam) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $25/$29.

Nico Suave (rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10.

Ray’s Used Cars (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Red Hot Juba (jazz) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Super Stash Bros (rock) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Tsunamibots, Jonee Earthquake Band (surf rock, punk) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Amber deLaurentis (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Andy Morse & Friends (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Bird Boombox (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 7 p.m. Free.

Chris Webby, Grieves, Ryan Oakes (hip-hop) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $30/$35.

Danny & the Parts, the Middle Ages (Americana, hip-hop) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $10.

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

Double You (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $10/$15.

People’s Court

Contrary to the title of his podcast, JOHN HODGMAN isn’t actually a judge. The comedian, who has appeared in everything from “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” to HBO’s “Bored to Death” and played a personiﬁed PC in Apple commercials, just likes to sort out people’s gripes. On his awardwinning podcast “Judge John Hodgman,” he and cohost/baili JESSE THORN ask listeners to submit their cases to be heard before Hodgman renders his judgments. The duo is taking the podcast on the road, to wield fake legal wisdom from the stage. They’ll hold court on Wednesday, November 6, at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington.

Ethereal Bloom: Ruda, Frogsynth, Burial Woods, Mobelos (electronic, ambient) at Spiral House, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Fishface, Set the Bar Low, Dead Solace, No Soul, Shine (metal, hardcore) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Grateful Dub (reggae Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $25/$30.

Jackson Garrow (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Jimkata, Big Shrimp (electronica, jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

J.J. Booth (singer-songwriter) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Justin LaPoint (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Karl Miller & the Instrumentals (acoustic) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

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

Mean Waltons (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Michael Chorney & Freeway

Clyde (psych rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Neon Ramblers (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Phil Abair Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. e Returnables (rock, blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

thayerperiod, Seamore eSeal, 99foxbeach, Tyler Serrani (hiphop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

SAT.2

Breakin’ Strings (bluegrass) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15/$18.

Burning Monk (Rage Against the Machine tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12.

Cooper (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free. Heavy Nettles (bluegrass) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Hi Fi, Syndicate Sound (electronica) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Jeff & Gina (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

Maya de Vitry (folk) at Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. $20-$25. McMaple (folk) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Minced Oats (bluegrass) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. Moondayze (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Nighthawk (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Out of Nowhere (covers) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

e Pharcyde, Mister Burns (hiphop) at the Lounge at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $40.

Radio Bean’s 24th Birthday Bash (rock, hip-hop, jazz, folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 a.m. $10. Show and Prove, D-Miinus, Mavstar (hip-hop) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

e Storm Windows (folk) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Trae Sheehan (singer-songwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Vermont Jazz Trio (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

MON.4

Saturdays at Your Place, Carpool, Harrison Gordon, TRSH (emo) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $18/$22.

TUE.5

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsﬁeld, 5 p.m. Free.

Grateful Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with John Abair & His Good Pals (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Jay Southgate (vibraphone) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 5 p.m. Free.

WED.6

Al Olender (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15/$20.

Anthony Gomes (blues, rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $28/$33.

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

Bent Nails House Band (jazz, blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Irish Night with RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallﬂower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

djs

WED.30

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Mildew (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.31

Country & Western ursdays (country, DJ) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

DJ Matty P (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Halloweekend with D Jay Baron (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Malcolm Miller (DJ) at the Lounge at Nectar’s, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Tricky Pat, Jan X, Kanganade, Mvlleus (drum and bass) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. Emo Night with Malcolm Miller (DJ) at the Lounge at Nectar’s, Burlington, 10 p.m. $5.

Halloweekend Pt. II with DJ David Chief (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. TOP2BTM (drag, Gwen Stefani tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $15/$22.

SAT.2

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Halloweekend Pt. III with DJ Chia (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

HAVEN (DJ) at MothershipVT, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

WED.6 // JUDGE JOHN HODGMAN [COMEDY]

music+nightlife

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Machine Girl, Snooper, Kill Alters (electronic) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $30/$35.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae, dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

WED.6

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Mildew (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wadada Wednesdays: Reggae

Dub Night with Satta Sound (reggae) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.30

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

THU.31

Open Mic (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8 p.m. Free.

Open Stage Night (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.4

Bluegrass Etc. Jam (bluegrass jam) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.5

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

WED.6

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Burlington St. John’s Club, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.30

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Can I Count on Your Vote? (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $7.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

THU.31

Possessed! (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

FRI.1

Comedy Night: Open Mic (comedy open mic) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 8 p.m. Free.

Vermont’s Funniest: Semis (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9:30 p.m. $20.

SAT.2

Vermont’s Funniest: Finals (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $25.

TUE.5

The Cafeteria Presents: Hot Lunch Tuesdays (comedy) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Three Leaves Comedy Showcase (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.6

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Judge John Hodgman (comedy, live podcast) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $35/$40.

Post-Election Group Hug (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.30

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Karaoke with Cam (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (music bingo) at the Depot, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (music bingo) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Queer Bar Takeover (drag) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

WRUV Scare-aoke Night (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

THU.31

Halloween Music Trivia & Karaoke Night (trivia, karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free. Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

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

SUN.3

Karaoke with DJ Coco Entertainment (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free. Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

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

MON.4

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

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

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

TUE.5

Godfather Karaoke (karaoke) at the Other Half, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Tuesdays (karaoke) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

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

Music Bingo (music bingo) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Film Studies

A man of many musical talents, Lincoln-based MICHAEL CHORNEY is a Tony Award-winning composer, bandleader, saxophonist and guitarist. He’s been part of some seminal Vermont musical projects, from the late, great local band viperHouse to producing some of Anaïs Mitchell’s early albums and collaborating with the songwriter on the music for her smash Broadway hit, Hadestown. Though his music is often rooted in jazz, sometimes Chorney veers into psych rock with his band FREEWAY CLYDE and creates soundtracks to nonexistent films. The project recently released two new albums, Plexcerpt and Blinker. To celebrate the new records, Chorney and Freeway Clyde hit the stage at Radio Bean in Burlington on Friday, November 1.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.6

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Cam (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (music bingo) at the Depot, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (music bingo) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Soundbites « P.54

health makes shows a tricky prospect,” Paye said. “It’s tough for me to say I can give a good performance next Thursday, because I don’t know how I’ll feel physically on next Thursday.”

So he’s releasing music videos for each of the album’s 11 songs, beginning with “Alive Again.” The music video for “The Piper and the Prey,” the album’s opening track, is set to drop the first week of November.

His health concerns and grief for his

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Our very own “newsies” at Seven Days are thrilled to make the “papes” for Lyric Theatre’s production November 14-17 at the Flynn.

If you support the arts and truth-seeking local journalism, get tickets to the show and become a Seven Days Super Reader!

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. ➆

mother aside, Paye has a much clearer vision of his future as a musician. He hopes his first album as a returning Vermonter helps him engage with fellow Green Mountain musicians, something he hasn’t had a chance to do since moving back home.

“This is a mom album, a Vermont album, a healing album,” Paye said. “And if it helps anyone else cope with loss and come back to the light, I’d really like that.”

Blueprints for Flight is available now on all streaming services. Check out hunterpaye.com for more information. ➆

FRI.1 // MICHAEL CHORNEY & FREEWAY CLYDE [PSYCH ROCK]

REVIEW this music+nightlife

Eyedos, A King in the Clouds

(MACHETE ISH RECORDS, DIGITAL)

Eyedos has been a staple of Vermont’s hip-hop scene for damn near two decades — and a proud outsider that whole time. Part of that is just geography: The talented performer got his start with Jynx Inc, a horrorcore duo out of southern Vermont. Back in the days before Instagram, local artists who weren’t playing shows in Burlington were basically invisible.

A far bigger factor, however, was his sound. In a state heavy on conscious lyricism and lightweight stoner rap, the product Eyedos pushed was violent,

Sheepskin, P irate Ship Playground

(LAZY SUSAN RECORDS, DIGITAL)

Mystic sigils flash on-screen during the grainy music video for northern Vermont alt-folk outfit Sheepskin’s song “Devil Owns My Eyes.” Superimposed between fleeting shots of band members Sam Tiesworth, Molly Meehan, Derrick Burt and Finn LesterNiles, the inscrutable lettering lends the song an occult sensibility.

profane and paranoid. So, like other unsung 802 legends such as Windsor’s XP or St. Albans tag team Joint Manipulation, Eyedos never got the respect his skills deserved in his home state. Rather than complain, he opted to build an underground network all on his own, expanding his skill set until he became a one-man record label, recording, mixing and mastering his relentless catalog.

His latest project, A King in the Clouds, marks his second album this year. His earlier release, Iron Kong, was the clear culmination of his hardcore era, 15 tracks of uncompromising boom bap alongside features from famous names like Canibus and the late, great Chino XL. Yet it also showcased a newfound versatility as

plucked, sweetly murmured song is homey and contemplative. The witchy motif adds a mysterious edge to the approachable sound.

Despite the demonic title, there’s no outward menace. Quite the opposite, actually. The nascent band’s gingerly

Celebrating their recently released debut album, Pirate Ship Playground, Sheepskin just concluded a northeast tour of the U.S. and Canada. Tiesworth, the band’s guitarist, formerly led Queen City jangly alt-country project No Fun Haus, which is currently on hiatus. Meehan, the group’s pianist, makes inquisitive indie rock under the moniker Vega. (Her debut, trust me, i’m trying, dropped in early summer.)

As the band’s core songwriters,

Eyedos experimented with slower ﬂow patterns, more playful rhyme schemes and even some catchy hooks. It was a sign of things to come.

The press release for his new LP claims it represents “a signiﬁcant evolution in Eyedos’s career,” and after a few spins, well, that’s a cold fact. Eyedos sounds like a new man here, delivering melodic, laid-back bars. His horizon is broader than ever, embracing the soul, rock and blues music he grew up on. The result is his most accessible album so far.

The opening suite is pure party music, spotlighting his savvy production work. Once again, Eyedos is out to prove he’s comfortable in any lane he chooses, from the woozy club anthem “Ten Blunts,” where he holds his own alongside Oakland, Calif., godfather Mistah F.A.B., to the killer trap single “Four Bands.” (There’s also plenty of throwback moments here, such as the braggadocio of posse cut “Masterminds” and the

Tiesworth and Meehan each bring to Sheepskin glimpses of what they’ve created elsewhere. Tiesworth explained via email that the band creates “a delicate and sincere combination of folk, jazz, spooky-country, and gentle slacker rock.”

Most of the album presents as prime Vermont tuneage. Clean and concise, the songs feature small towns, forest clearings, rolling pastures and cold weather. Unhurried tempos and hazy harmonies keep their sound rooted in mountain folk traditions.

But some of Sheepskin’s songs fray at the edges, revealing something darker and dirtier lurking beneath the sheen. The guitar on “River Song” crackles and splits over the thrum of Lester-Niles’ upright bass, instilling the song with a ragged, lived-in quality. A wavering organ introduces “Saint Catherine,” its tones almost imperceptibly dipping

grisly horror cinema of “Start a Riot.”)

The album’s closing, however, is a whole other animal. With no guest features in sight, Eyedos bares his soul and reﬂects on his growth. For most artists these days, this passage would have been an album unto itself, but Eyedos is oldschool, raised in the days when albums ran closer to an hour than 20 minutes. He’s also made his peace with the bumpy, winding road that brought him this far. As he concludes on standout “Ghost Malone”: “To see greatness, you’ll have to live a humbling life.”

Ambitious, unpredictable and selfassured even in its darkest moments, A King in the Clouds is an aptly named monument to tenacity and hard work. Where will Eyedos go from here? Absolutely anywhere he wants. Stay tuned.

A King in the Clouds is available on all major streaming platforms.

JUSTIN BOLAND

in and out of coherence. The same quality of uncertainty spills over into a psychedelic backdrop of guitar.

Similarly, a sense of surreality permeates the group’s visuals. The lo-ﬁ video for “Devil Owns My Eyes” strains the senses. Pirate Ship Playground’s album cover shows the band perching riverside next to sheep that seem to bleed in from another dimension. And the band’s website includes a couple of swirling, acid-trip nature GIFs.

Pirate Ship Playground is a lovely listen, but the weirdness brewing under its palatable surface is Sheepskin’s most tantalizing quality. It makes you wonder where the up-and-comers might take things if they threw caution to the wind and leaned into their riskier tendencies.

Pirate Ship Playground is available on all major streaming services.

JORDAN ADAMS

calendar

OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 6, 2024

WED.30

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS

NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. BCA Center, Burlington, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

cannabis

CANNABIS 101 SERIES: Magic Mann hosts an educational series for herb-curious folks in a welcoming, stigma-free environment. Ages 21 and up. Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 871-5810.

community

SERVICE OF LOSS & REMEMBRANCE: Community members give shape to both individual and collective grief through music, poetry and stillness. Bring a photo of a lost loved one to display. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 7-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, info@uusociety.org.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. BYO snacks and drinks. Must

Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: Andy Serkis narrates the journey of a lifetime into the realm of the world’s largest mammals and the scientists who study them. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘FROM EARTH TO EARTH: THE LOST ART OF DYING IN AMERICA’: This 2024 documentary short showcases the beauty and significance of natural burials, while exploring the contentious subject’s path to legalization in Vermont. A Q&A follows. South Burlington High School, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 234-1262.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a journey into the weird, wide world of mushrooms, which we are only just beginning to understand. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Listings and spotlights are written by Rebecca Driscoll Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

sommeliers blind-taste four wines from Vermont and beyond. Shelburne Vineyard, noon-6 p.m. $15. Info, 985-8222.

games

Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘NOTORIOUS’: Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman star in this 1946 Hitchcock classic about the daughter of a convicted German spy. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

‘NOVEMBER’: This 2017 folk horror film follows the story of Liina — a 19th-century Estonian peasant who yearns for love while her village is plagued by supernatural forces. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: Scientists dive into the planet’s least-explored habitat, from its sunny shallows to its alien depths. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: Through the power of special cameras, audiences are transported into the world of the teeniest animals on Earth. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: Aspiring

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art

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

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

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

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

language

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND 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.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE E-BIKE TOUR: Cyclists roll through a pastoral 20-mile trail ride, then enjoy artisan eats, including Vermont’s award-wining cheddar. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $115. Info, 730-0161.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: Pedal lovers cycle through scenic trails and drink in the views with stops at four local breweries. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $85. Info, 730-0161.

PEDAL TO PEEP FOLIAGE TOUR: Adventurous souls shed the car and hit the cycling trails, offering a more intimate view of Vermont’s spectacular fall color. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $80. Info, 730-0161.

politics

FILM SCREENING & VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE: Politically minded folks enjoy a short flick and discussion, then take action to help others prepare for their civic duty. Lafayette Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jheiden@ vpirg.org.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: Audiences delight in the campy chaos of this off-Broadway smash hit musical, featuring the songs of Céline Dion. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $75-80. Info, 514-739-7944.

‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: Teesri Duniya Theatre presents an intimate, candid and timely production based on the co-playwrights’ personal experiences with the complexities of privilege. Rangshala Studio, Montréal, 8 p.m. $28. Info, 514-848-0238.

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

DR. MICHAEL HANKINS: The Smithsonian curator sheds light on aviation in the Vietnam War using key objects from the museum’s collection. Lunch is included.

Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, Northfield, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 485-2183.

FALL SPEAKER SERIES: MISHA GOLFMAN: Mad River Path Association’s executive director shares pertinent details of the VT-100 corridor study and discusses how we should rethink our roadways. Yestermorrow Design/ Build School, Waitsfield, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 496-5545.

ROBERT BECK: A foreign policy expert illuminates the current state of the Russia-Ukraine war. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, 6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 917-239-8743.

theater

CIRQUE KALABANTE: ‘AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE’: Audiences are captivated by an unforgettable performance showcasing the vibrancy of African culture through acrobatics and live Afro-jazz.

Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 6 p.m. $27.50-52.75. Info, 536-1855.

words

AMBER ROBERTS & JACKSON

ELLIS: The local authors dig into conversation about their new novels — both set in Vermont. Phoenix Books, Essex, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 872-7111.

NEIL SHEPARD & CLEOPATRA

MATHIS: The poets read selections from and share the inspirations for their recent works. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

THU.31 crafts

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to tools and equipment in the makerspace. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30-4 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, lafferty1949@ gmail.com.

health & fitness

FALL MEDITATION SERIES: Practitioners of all experience levels attend this guided session seeking to cultivate positive inner qualities such as kindness, generosity and compassion. Milarepa Center, Barnet, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 633-4136.

holidays

‘GHOSTWATCH’ WITH BORDELLO COLLECTIVE: UK artists Vision 25-C and DYAD perform a new multimedia piece, followed by a screening of the once-banned 1992 English television special that triggered 30,000 horrified phone calls to the BBC. See calendar spotlight. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, 8-11 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale. Info, 251-5130.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Semi-fluent speakers practice their skills during a conversazione with others. Best for those who can speak at least basic sentences. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

THE SODA PLANT BLUEGRASS JAM: Local acts captivate audiences with crowd-pleasing toe-tappers in a welcoming environment. Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 881-0975.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.30.

québec

‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: See WED.30.

theater

‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN’: BarnArts presents the classic Mel Brooks musical replete with Halloweeny hilarity, endless puns and Transylvania mania. Barnard Town Hall, 7:30-10 p.m. $18-25. Info, info@barnarts.org.

FRI.1

bazaars

HOLIDAY ARTISAN GIFT SHOW: Folks get an early start on seasonal shopping with one-of-a-kind treasures, a make-your-own-card station and a cozy hot beverage bar. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 353-6605.

conferences

VERMONT SHORT-TERM RENTAL

CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW:

Local vacation home owners and property managers connect with vendors and national experts. Grand Summit Resort Hotel, West Dover, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. $265; preregister. Info, 829-4024.

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.

etc.

ALL-AQUARIUM CATFISH

CONVENTION: The Tropical Fish Club of Burlington hosts a weekend of ichthyophile delights — including speakers, vendors and a rare-fish raffle. Delta Hotels Burlington, South Burlington, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. $60-160. Info, banks@ together.net.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30. games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.31, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

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 bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS CAN EXERCISE: Active adults with stiffness and pain keep joints flexible, muscles strong and bodies energized with a weekly low-impact class. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

holidays

ROCK N’ RESCUE HOWL-O-WEEN BASH: Animal enthusiasts get down to toe-tappin’ tunes by the American Vinyl All-Star Band at a festive fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the Lucy MacKenzie Humane Society. Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 6:30-10 p.m. $45-100. Info, 698-2884.

language

GREEK CONVERSATION GROUP: All proficiency levels chat in the modern form of the language while sharing skills and making new friends. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 978-793-0110.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

CERUTTI-REID DUO: Pianist Alison Bruce Cerutti and violist Elizabeth Reid perform a dynamic program of captivating classical works. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $15-25; free for students and people with limited income. Info, 276-1182.

MIKAHELY: The singer-songwriter transcends musical boundaries with Malagasy rhythms played on the guitar and valiha. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8 p.m.

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.30

burlington

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK DARKNESS

FALLS TOUR: Adventurers become experts in vintage ghost-hunting techniques. Ages 10 and up. Courthouse Plaza, Burlington, 7-8 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, 324-5467.

TODDLER TIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones 12 through

Paranormal Pranksters

OCT. 31 |

HOLIDAYS

Free; reservations recommended. Info, 985-8222.

Lesley Manning’s infamous made-for-TV mockumentary, Ghostwatch, begs the question: Is there such a thing as too spooky? On Halloween night in Brattleboro, audiences at Epsilon Spires dare to find out. Before the fiendish film screens, two UK artists of the Bordello Collective present a multimedia piece inspired by the dubious pop culture phenomenon that caused quite a stir when it aired in 1992. The groundbreaking BBC special — now cited as the first television program to cause PTSD — follows presenters and a small crew through Britain’s most haunted house in an elaborate verité-style hoax that rocked a nation.

‘GHOSTWATCH’ WITH BORDELLO COLLECTIVE Thursday, October 31, 8-11 p.m., at Epsilon Spires in Brattleboro. $15. Info, 251-5130, epsilonspires.org.

24 months. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Infants and their caregivers enjoy a slow, soothing story featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. GAME ON!: Kids take turns collaborating with or competing against friends using Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAYGROUP & STORY TIME: Little ones and their caregivers listen to stories, sing songs and share toys with new friends. Richmond Free Library, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 434-3036.

rutland/killington

HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL & JACK-O’LANTERN HIKE: Families stroll through

the trail system while admiring hundreds of illuminated carved pumpkins. Edward F. Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp, Castleton, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 565-5562.

upper valley

HALLOWEEN COSTUME RUNWAY

SHOW: Upper Valley trick-or-treaters strut the catwalk in costume. Parents must accompany kids ages 14 and under. Virtual option available. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

THU.31

burlington

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

BABY TIME: Pre-walking little ones experience a story time catered to their infant interests. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads little ones ages 2 through 5 in songs, movement and other fun activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK DARKNESS

FALLS TOUR: See WED.30.

chittenden county

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides kids in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library,

SOUL ASYLUM: The Grammy Award-winning rock band takes the stage for an evening of crowd-pleasing grunge hits. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $35-55. Info, 775-0903.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.30.

québec

‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: See WED.30.

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.

barre/montpelier

HALLOWEEN TRUNK-OR-TREAT & JACK-O’-LANTERN LIGHTING: Families delight in eerie music, hot chocolate and cider, and illuminated ghoulish gourds. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier,

talks

50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT: YOUTH VOICES IN THE ARTS: Vermont Humanities and Catamount Arts mark a half-century of operation with a panel featuring local kids, followed by presentations, performances and light refreshments. 502 Railroad St., St. Johnsbury, 6:30-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626.

CHERYL CASEY: A Champlain College professor of communications sheds light on how to spot misleading information in this election cycle. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2-3 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members. Info, 343-5177.

RADICAL PAMPHLETS: PAST & PRESENT: A panel dives deep into the research, context and history of the unbound booklet and its inspiration for social change. Davis Family Library, Middlebury College, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, newperennials@middlebury.edu.

TODD LECTURE SERIES: DR. NICOLA FOX: The associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate illuminates the institution’s drive to discover the secrets of the universe. Virtual option available. Mack Hall Auditorium, Norwich University, Northfield, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 485-2633.

tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘HEATHERS THE MUSICAL: TEEN EDITION’: Audiences delight in the dark musical comedy about a brainy and beautiful teenage misfit, based on the 1989 cult-classic film. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. $5-30. Info, 603-448-0400.

‘MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’: Wild Goose Players present Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical about friendship, art and resentment, told backwards. See calendar spotlight. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $28. Info, 376-4761.

‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN’: See THU.31.

words

BORDERS POETRY SYMPOSIUM: Lit lovers from Vermont and Quebec connect for a weekend of celebrating verse and unifying French and English communities. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626.

GREEN MOUNTAIN BOOK FESTIVAL: The literary fête features engaging and diverse panels, readings, signings and workshops. Virtual options available. Various downtown Burlington locations, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, info@ greenmountainbookfestival.org.

GREEN MOUNTAIN BOOK FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER:

Community members honor author Archer Mayor with the first annual Phoenix Books Lifetime Achievement Award while enjoying music, a silent auction and light refreshments. Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $20. Info, info@ greenmountainbookfestival.org.

SAT.2

activism

VERMONT WOMEN’S RALLY:

In solidarity with the National Women’s March in Washington, D.C., activists gather for a celebration of our state’s commitment to ensuring equal rights for all. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 316-6666.

bazaars

HOLIDAY ARTISAN GIFT SHOW:

See FRI.1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. community

RAISE THE ROOF TO END HOMELESSNESS: Lamoille

Community House celebrates its annual fundraising event with live music and a silent auction. Spruce Peak at Stowe, 6-9:30 p.m. $50-100. Info, 521-7943.

conferences

VERMONT SHORT-TERM RENTAL

CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW:

See FRI.1, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. dance

CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn in an environment that encourages joy, laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See website for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $520 sliding scale. Info, 225-8921. PALAVER STRINGS & LITTLE HOUSE DANCE: ‘NOISEFLOOR’: Twelve musicians and eight dancers seamlessly blend their respective disciplines in a unique, immersive audience experience. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $32-55. Info, 760-4634. etc.

ALL-AQUARIUM CATFISH

CONVENTION: See FRI.1, 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

6TH ANNUAL ATHENA

LEADERSHIP AWARDS GALA: The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce honors local women who demonstrate excellence in community service and business. Norwich University, Northfield, 5:30 p.m. $65; preregister. Info, 229-5711.

LAKEVIEW CEMETERY TOUR: Preservation Burlington guides guests through the restored church, graveyard and historic sexton’s house. Louisa Howard Chapel, Burlington, 11 a.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 309-8665.

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather

OPENS NOV. 1 | THEATER

Back to the Future

Good news, folks — the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along has finally closed! (Apologies, Daniel Radcliffe.) Instead of paying New York prices and sitting up in the rafters, you can now enjoy the crowd-pleasing smash hit in a more intimate setting, with the Wild Goose Players at Next Stage Arts in Putney. Originally produced in 1981, Stephen Sondheim’s brilliant music and lyrics redefine the 1934 stage play about friendship, art and resentment — told backwards — into a seminal work of musical theater glory.

‘MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’

Friday, November 1, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 2, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 3, 2 p.m., at Next Stage Arts in Putney. See website for future dates. $28. Info, 376-4761, wildgooseplayers.com.

in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

fairs & festivals

COZY NOOK CRAFT FAIR: Community members peruse 40 local purveyors of special handmade wares. Essex Free Library, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 872-8927.

ELEVATE WOMEN’S EXPO:

Community members enjoy a day of shopping, connection, education and support for female-owned businesses. Rutland Recreation Community Center, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $5-10. Info, elevatevtexpo@gmail.com.

NATIONAL LIFE CRAFT FAIR: Locavores browse unique

handmade items including jewelry, pickled veggies, chocolates, dog treats and holiday decorations. National Life Building, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, nlcraftfair@gmail.com.

PENNY FAIR: Community members view donated gifts on display and make small bids for a chance to win them. St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 877-2367.

WILLISTON CRAFT SHOW: The annual event showcases more than 100 local artists and specialty food vendors. Williston Central School, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, wsdcraftshow@cvsdvt.org.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘GOODBOY’: Ashley Mosher’s poignant 2023 documentary explores the ties that bind us to our pets, even long after they’re gone. A panel discussion follows. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 1 p.m. $25. Info, 476-3811.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

games

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Dungeon master Evan Hoffman

leads new and veteran players on an epic quest in a fifth-edition campaign. Zoom option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary.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

= GET TICKETS ON

CALLING VERMONT PARENTS OF TEENS PACE

The Vermont of Health and The Institute for Nicotine & Tobacco Studies are a research study to understand the impact of state-level and communication campaigns on substance use beliefs and behaviors in Vermont teens and young adults.

EARN UP TO

IN

Fall into Relaxation

on massages, facials and body treatments

Mondays - Thursday from October 21 - December 12 (excluding November 27-28) Must mention Fall Special at time of booking. If booking online, add “Fall Special” into the notes. Based on availability. Subject to change. Reservations required.

Recruitment ends: November

Recruitment ends: November 30th, 2024

go.rutgers.edu/sevendaysprint

@pace_vt

pace.vermont@ints.rutgers.edu

LEARN TO PLAY MAH-JONGG: Expert tile trader Pauline Nolte leads players through the Chinese and American versions of the ancient game. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

holidays

DÍA DE MUERTOS CELEBRATION & PROCESSION: Community members honor their ancestors and departed loved ones with music, performance, dance and mementos. Carr Hall/Anderson Freeman Center, Middlebury College, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 443-6433.

THE ODD BALL: Goths and ghouls who already miss the spooky delights of Halloween gather for dancing and tunes by DJ Dragon. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 8 p.m.-midnight. $10 suggested donation. Info, 369-5722.

music

AYSANABEE: The multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter plays hypnotic works in an intimate solo performance. See calendar spotlight. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7 p.m. $10-40 sliding scale. Info, 728-9878, ext. 104.

CATAMOUNT ARTS BLUEGRASS

NIGHT: Bob and Sarah Amos take the stage for an evening of mesmerizing vocal harmonies and impressive guitar playing. Alexander Twilight Theatre, Vermont State University-Lyndon, Lyndonville, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

CLAIRE BLACK: ‘FORESTS & FAIRY TALES’: The pianist creates a musical space for imagination and reflection with works by Robert Schumann, Leoš Janáček and Sergei Bortkiewicz. Richmond Free Library, 7:30-9 p.m. $5-25 suggested donation. Info, claireblackconcerts@gmail.com.

THE DAVE KELLER BAND: The dynamic group plays soul, blues and roots music with contagious, upbeat energy. Vergennes Opera House, 7:30-10 p.m. $15-20. Info, 877-6737.

GAMELAN SULUKALA: A rare concert appearance by the orchestra highlights delightful Javanese and contemporary works. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 7-8 p.m. $5-15. Info, 456-1983.

JERUSALEM QUARTET: The string ensemble embodies chamber music excellence with a repertoire spanning from classical to contemporary. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9 p.m. $5-25. Info, 443-6433.

MATCHUME ZANGO: The percussionist and composer performs contemporary songs on a variety of unique African instruments. Cumbancha, Charlotte, 7-8:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, jacob@ cumbancha.com.

A NIGHT AT THE CINEMA: A CANDLELIGHT CONCERT WITH GIORGIA FUMANTI & BLUE

VIOLIN: Audiences experience a magical evening of iconic movie melodies, surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles. Flynn Space, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $36. Info, 308-4337.

RAD FOLK SONGS: Fans of the genre receive a booklet with chords, lyrics and historical context, then sing along with the traditional tunes. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

RAPHAEL GROTEN & REBECCA

KODIS: The multi-instrumentalist and the violinist share uplifting songs from their new album, Unity, in a cozy, intimate setting. Living Tree Alliance, Moretown, 7-8:30 p.m. $18. Info, 503-9774.

SHANE MURLEY TRIO: The genre-melding band takes the stage for an engaging evening of tunes that span from Americana to R&B. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8 p.m. Free; reservations recommended. Info, 985-8222.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.30.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.30.

‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: See WED.30, 2 p.m.

talks

LARRY HAMBERLIN: A professor emeritus of music sheds light on the Jerusalem Quartet in an engaging preconcert lecture. Lower Lobby, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 6:15-7:15 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3485.

theater

‘HEATHERS THE MUSICAL: TEEN EDITION’: See FRI.1.

‘MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’: See FRI.1, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘ROCKY HORROR PICTURE

SHOW’: Hot patootie! The Ones From the Vaults put a unique spin on a monthly stage adaptation of the 1975 cult-classic film about newly engaged lovebirds who encounter an unconventional scientist. Bellows Falls Opera House, 10 p.m. $20-25. Info, 463-3964, ext. 1120.

‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN’: See THU.31.

words

BORDERS POETRY SYMPOSIUM: See FRI.1.

GREEN MOUNTAIN BOOK

FESTIVAL: See FRI.1, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

KATHERINE ARDEN: Bookworms gather to hear the author discuss her latest novel, The Warm Hands of Ghosts. Virtual option available. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 12:301:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

POETRY READING: Authors Neil Shepard, Steve Cramer, Toussaint St. Negritude and Alison Prine regale listeners with selections from their works, presented

NOV. 2 | MUSIC

Origin Stories

Aysanabee brings deft fingerpicking, unflinching lyrics and soul-stirring vocals to the stage at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. Hailing from a remote fly-in community in Northwestern Ontario, the Oji-Cree multi-instrumentalist imbued his debut album, Watin, with journalistic artistry — weaving in his experience growing up in Sandy Lake First Nation. He then made history as the first Indigenous artist to win JUNO Awards for both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. The coveted accolades come as no surprise to audiences who have witnessed the musician’s mesmerizing melodic magic.

AYSANABEE

Saturday, November 2, 7 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $10-40. Info, 728-9878, ext. 104, chandler-arts.org.

by the Green Mountain Book Festival. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

PUBLISHING PANEL: Authors assemble to learn tips for publishing their first works. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. free; preregister. Info, 8633403.

WRITE NOW!: Lit lovers of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard

Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.3 bazaars

ANTIQUES MARKET: Vintage lovers scour unique treasures and timeless finds in a relaxed atmosphere. Canadian Club, Barre, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. $2-5. Info, 751-6138.

etc.

ALL-AQUARIUM CATFISH

CONVENTION: See FRI.1, 8:30 a.m.-noon.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.31, 1-4:30 p.m.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY

MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

NEW LEAF SANGHA

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE:

Newcomers and experienced meditators alike stretch their skills in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6:30-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.

music

ALICIA CHAPMAN: The acclaimed oboist plays works from the baroque period. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. $20; free for kids under 18. Info, 878-5745.

ARKAI: The electro-acoustic duo deftly blends genres for an unforgettable evening of cello and violin. Strand Center Theatre, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 3-5:30 p.m. $1737. Info, 518-563-1604.

CLAIRE BLACK: ‘FORESTS & FAIRY TALES’: The pianist creates a musical space for imagination and reflection with works by Robert Schumann, Leoš Janáček and Sergei Bortkiewicz in a live-streamed house concert. 4-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, claireblackconcerts@gmail.com.

HELIAND CONSORT: The local chamber music ensemble weaves stories through sound, blending classic and contemporary styles for a unique listening experience. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4-6 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, plainfieldartsvt@gmail.com.

community

HUMAN CONNECTION CIRCLE: Neighbors share stories from their lives and forge deep bonds. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, humanconnectioncircle@ gmail.com.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.30, 1-3 p.m.

MISSISQUOI RIVER BAND: The local bluegrass band plays catchy original tunes featuring threepart harmonies, fiddle, mandolin and dobro. Westford Common Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 933-2545.

‘REQUIEM: THE MUSIC OF GABRIEL FAURÉ’: Vermont Choral Union commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Parisian composer’s death with a period instrument orchestra. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. $40-60; free for students and kids. Info, 238-5434.

SUNDAY SESSIONS: A variety of musicians share their melodies on the patio at Tavern on the Tee. Ralph Myhre Golf Course, Middlebury, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5125.

TRIO BOHÉMO: The dynamic ensemble from Prague and Budapest kick off their U.S. tour with compositions by Franz Schubert, Dmitri Shostakovich and Johannes Brahms. South Church Hall, St. Johnsbury, 3 p.m. $6-20. Info, 748-2600.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.30, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: See WED.30.

theater

‘HEATHERS THE MUSICAL: TEEN EDITION’: See FRI.1, 3 p.m.

‘MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’: See FRI.1, 2 p.m.

‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN’: See THU.31, 2-4:30 p.m.

words

PETER MAHONEY: The Warren author launches his new novel, I Was a Hero Once — a moving memoir that chronicles his quest for truth in the face of adversity. Castlerock Pub, Warren, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, pmahoney444@gmail. com.

MON.4

crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30. games

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: Discounted wine by the glass fuels an evening of friendly competition featuring new and classic board games, card games, and cribbage. Shelburne Vineyard, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222. language

LANGUAGE LUNCH: GERMAN: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ

tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community

Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

FOSTER, CRAWFORD & SULLIVAN TRIO WITH STEVEN ROSEN: The improvisational trio and the woodwind multi-instrumentalist deliver electrifying performances in a dynamic double bill. Autumn Records, Winooski, 7-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 399-2123.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.30. ‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: See WED.30.

words

SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

TUE.5

business

INTRODUCTION TO SMALL BUSINESS

PROPERTY & CASUALTY

INSURANCE: SCORE Vermont hosts a webinar to help folks understand what coverage would be best for their specific needs. 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, scorevermont@scorevolunteer. org.

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.

dance

SWING DANCE PRACTICE

SESSION: All ages and experience levels shake a leg in this friendly, casual environment designed for learning. Bring clean shoes. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8382.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

food & drink

COOKBOOK CLUB: Cook the book! Readers share a dish and discussion inspired by Gina Homolka’s Skinnytaste Meal

Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.31.

GAMES GALORE: Library patrons of all ages gather for bouts of board and card games. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MEDITATION:

All levels and ages engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630.

language

LANGUAGE LUNCH: ITALIAN: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

MANDARIN CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH

CONVERSATION: Francophones and learners of all levels meet pour parler la belle langue Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

music

CELTIC THUNDER: The internationally acclaimed group performs their latest show, Odyssey — a fascinating synthesis of traditional and contemporary Irish music. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. $55-85. Info, 775-0903.

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

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

The

Dudley H. Davis Center Jost Room (4th floor)

www.christianscienceburlington.org fcbclerk@gmail.com

fcbclerk@gmail.com

www.christianscienceburlington.org fcbclerk@gmail.com

6h-ChristSciReadingRm103024.indd

FLOW SINGING: Singers both new and seasoned intertwine music and mindfulness while learning a sequence of five to six songs by ear. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 11:15 a.m.12:45 p.m. Free. Info, patricia@ juneberrymusic.com.

politics

ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY: Fascinated folks gather to witness the results unfold. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 8 p.m. Free; preregister; cash bar. Info, 387-0102.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.30. ‘TWO BIRDS ONE STONE’: See WED.30.

theater

‘THREE WOMEN OF SWATOW’: Centaur Theatre stages a darkly comedic drama in which three generations of Chinese Canadian women come together to resolve a bloody situation. Centaur Theatre, Montréal, 8 p.m. $22-68. Info, 514-288-3161.

words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP:

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE: New England Readers & Writers leads a seven-week dissection of The Pale King. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.

WRITE YOUR NOVEL TUESDAYS: Wordsmiths unite in the pub or parlor to share advice or put their heads down and write. Old Stagecoach Inn, Waterbury, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-5056.

WED.6

activism

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

business

AI TOOLS & TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: Axess Network CEO Andrea

FAMI LY FU N

10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAYTIME: 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

BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP:

Blocks, toys, books and songs engage little ones 24 months and younger. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. northeast kingdom

HALLOWEEN TRICKS & TREATS TRAIL: Kiddos ages 6 and under flock to the museum for silly, spooky games and Halloweeny treats. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372.

STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

FRI.1

chittenden county

MUSIC TIME: Musician Linda Bassick leads little ones and their caregivers in uplifting song and dance. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP: Students in grades 6 to 12 help plan future library programs while hanging out and enjoying lit-themed games. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

Beach teaches entrepreneurs how to get more clients and improve their offerings. Hosted by Women Business Owners Network of Vermont. 8:30-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.30.

VERMONT

WOMENPRENEURS BIZ

BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 870-0903‬.

community

LIVING WITH LOSS: A GATHERING FOR THE GRIEVING: Participants explore how ritual, connection and community sharing can aid through times of loss. 4-5:15 p.m. $5-25 suggested donation. Info, 825-8141, ritesofpassagevt@ gmail.com.

crafts

HOLIDAY SUCCULENT WREATH

WORKSHOP: Artistic souls craft a stunning centerpiece for the

SAT.2 burlington

STORIES WITH GEOFF: Little patrons of the library’s satellite location enjoy a morning of stories and songs. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. chittenden county

JURASSIC QUEST: See FRI.1, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

OUTDOOR SATURDAY STORY TIME: A special storyteller reads to little ones in front of the library. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

READ & PLAY: CAR SEAT

SAFETY: Parents and caregivers learn about a new vehicular law while kiddos play with big blocks, tunnels and hoops. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

JASON CHIN: The Caldecott medalist shares joyful illustrations from his recent work, Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall, followed by a live drawing demonstration. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 496-7280. SATURDAY STORY TIME: Stories and songs help young children develop social and

holiday season. Minifactory, Bristol, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 951-1397.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.30. etc.

HEART OF THE SHIRES

LUNCHEON: The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce celebrates local nonprofit and community leaders. Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, Manchester, noon-2 p.m. $55500. Info, erika@swvtchamber. com.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.30.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.30.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.30.

food & drink

WHAT’S THAT WINE

WEDNESDAYS: See WED.30.

games

CHESS CLUB: See WED.30. CHESS TIME: Enthusiasts of the ancient strategy game gather to practice and share in an informal setting. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

health

& fitness CHAIR YOGA: See WED.30.

language

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.30. SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their vocabulario with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.30.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.30, 1 & 7:30 p.m.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.30.

talks

FALL SPEAKER SERIES: RJ THOMPSON: Vermont Huts Association’s executive director sheds light on the Velomont — a conservation corridor that links mountain ridges to Vermont’s villages. Yestermorrow Design/ Build School, Waitsfield, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 496-5545.

theater

‘A TASTE OF FREEDOM’: Audiences enjoy student Sadie Chamberlain’s fantastical original play exploring the complexities of life with a disability. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 654-2588.

‘THREE WOMEN OF SWATOW’: See TUE.5. ➆

OF GOD

literacy skills. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

middlebury area

SATURDAY PLAYGROUP: Folks new to town or to parenting connect while their kids make friends. Vergennes Congregational Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 877-2435.

SUN.3

burlington

MASKS ON! SUNDAYS: Elderly, disabled and immunocompromised folks get the museum to themselves at a masks-mandatory morning. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-1848.

chittenden county

JURASSIC QUEST: See FRI.1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

MON.4

burlington

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy a fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary is super excited to hear kids of all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

stowe/smuggs

ART PLAY: Wee ones ages 1 to 4 and their caregivers enjoy process-based creativity and sensory exploration. The Current, Stowe, 10-11:30 a.m. $5. Info, 253-8358.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little tykes have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Ages 5 and under. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads two picture books on a different theme each week. Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.5

burlington

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

OUTDOOR STORY TIME: Youngsters enjoy a sunny session of reading, rhyming and singing with Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Birth through age 5. Williston Town Green, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

STORY TIME: See THU.31.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 years and younger learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

WED.6

burlington

TODDLER TIME: See WED.30.

chittenden county

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.

PLAYGROUP & STORY TIME: See WED.30.

mad

river valley/

waterbury

TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths 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. K

— ALBERT SCHWEITZER THEOLOGIAN, HUMANITARIAN

RadioVermont

classes

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.

Keeping an Eye On Vermont while CBS Keeps an Eye On the World

language

FRENCH CLASSES AT WINGSPAN: Warm up your French language skills with Madame Maggie! Small, dynamic, interactive classes. ree adult/teen levels: Introductory, Advanced Intro, Intermediate/ Conversation. Special Immersion Kids FRArt afterschool class on Wednesdays! Allons-y! Join our supportive, fun community of language adventurers and be ready for your next voyage. Next session kicks off Nov. 4. See website for details. Location: Wingspan Studio School, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

incl. unlimited classes 6 days/ week. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 951-8900, bpincus@burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

music

DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Learn to drum with Stuart Paton! Beginner and advanced beginner classes available. Session begins Nov. 13. Drums provided. Every Wed.: beginners, 5:30 p.m.; accelerated, 7 p.m. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. sessions; $72 for Kids & Parents classes. Location: Burlington Taiko (next to Nomad Café), 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G, Burlington. Info: Stuart Paton, 999-4255, taikoaikokai@gmail.com.

clinical psychologists serving women and parents looking for their village. See website for details. Location: It Takes A Village: Parenting Wellness Consulting and Psychotherapy, 53 Railroad St., Richmond. Info: Aubrey Carpenter, PhD, 448-0336, aubreycarpenter@ ittakesavillagevermont.com, ittakesavillagevermont.com.

shamanism

APPRENTICESHIP IN SHAMANISM: Rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition. Five weekends over a year. Location: St. Albans. Info: 369-4331.

martial arts

TAIKO TUESDAYS!: Adult classes and Kids & Parents (age 6 and up) classes available. Learn to drum with Burlington Taiko! Session begins Nov. 12. Drums provided. Every Tue: Kids & Parents, 4 p.m.; beginners, 5:30 p.m.; accelerated, 7 p.m. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 for Kids & Parents classes. Location: Burlington Taiko (next to Nomad Café), 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G, Burlington. Info: Stuart Paton, 999-4255, taikoaikokai@gmail.com.

psychology

PERINATAL AND PARENT

GROUPS: Please visit ittakesavillagevermont.com or @ittakesavillagevermont on Instagram for upcoming groups and events for pregnant and postpartum sleep education and support, dads of young children, moms on a career pause, adults looking for a self-compassion workshop, and more! We are two

AIKIDO: THE WATERCOURSE WAY: Cultivate core power, aerobic ﬁtness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Not your average “mojo dojo casa house.” Inclusive training and a safe space for all. Scholarships and intensive program are available for serious students. Visitors are always welcome! Membership rates

Humane Society

housing » APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES on the road » CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES pro services » CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING buy this stuff » APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE music »

INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Burbank

AGE/SEX: 3-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: September 23, 2024

SUMMARY: After finding the bustling energy of a young child a bit overwhelming in her previous place, Burbank is ready for a more peaceful environment where she can truly relax and be herself. She may take a moment to warm up, but once she does, Burbank is delightfully chatty and vocal, quickly becoming an engaging and endearing companion. She enjoys moments of love and connection but also cherishes her independence. When the mood strikes, you’ll find her happily socializing and soaking up attention. If you’re looking for a sweet companion who brings a touch of charm and grace to your home, Burbank is ready to join you!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: We have no history about Burbank living with dogs or other cats. Burbank would be most successful in a home with teens and adults.

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?

Many cats need time to feel comfortable in a new home. HSCC recommends introducing a new cat to your home slowly by starting them off in a small “safe room” and gradually increasing their access to the rest of the home as they build confidence.

Sponsored by:

of Chittenden County

CLASSIFIEDS

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

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classiﬁeds questions? classiﬁeds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x115

on the road

CARS/TRUCKS

2015 VW GOLF

SPORTWAGEN

Clean, low miles. ECS

Tuning Stage 1 package & boost gauge. Well maintained, ﬂuid-ﬁlmed Nov. 2023. New turbo, FWD, cold A/C, Bluetooth, CD player. Winter rims & snows incl. Text 802-578-7526 or email westwick639@ gmail.com.

FOR RENT

BURLINGTON LAKEFRONT HOME

Large 2-BR. on lake in New North End near bike path. Furnished, laundry. Rent now until Jun. 1. $2,200/mo.+. No pets. Email: selectre@ comcast.net.

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

appt. appointment

apt. apartment

BA bathroom

BR bedroom

DR dining room

DW dishwasher

HDWD hardwood

HW hot water

LR living room

NS no smoking

OBO or best offer

refs. references

sec. dep. security deposit

W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

FSBO $49,000

This business is turn-key, everything included. Owners willing to train. Located on North Main St. in Barre, VT. 14,000 cars pass daily on Route 302. Call Lydia at (802) 279-1870

Fur-ever

Sophie Shaner-McRae

2007-2024

251 Club of Vermont Pup

Sophie, who enjoyed her 15 minutes of fame in Seven Days, passed over the rainbow at home in Burlington. We miss her presence in our life every minute.

FURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT

Share condo w/ independent female w/ TBI. Help w/ cleaning, tech support & transport. W/D, Wi-Fi, utils., underground parking incl. NS, no pets. Contact 802-578-3547.

HOUSEMATES

HOMESHARE W/ TENNIS/POOL

Share townhome in Burlington’s New North End w/ active retired woman who enjoys meditation, swimming, reading & volunteering. Furnished BR, private BA, shared use of modern kitchen.

$650/mo. + $100/ mo. toward utils. No pets, NS. Avail. in Dec. W/D, parking, access

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

to tennis/pool. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

LIVE W/ LAKE VIEWS

Enjoy Grand Isle lake views by homesharing w/ gregarious senior gentleman who enjoys sports on TV, puttering in the yard, singing. Seeking housemate who can cook a few times/ week, do handyperson projects, drive him for groceries. $200/ mo. Well-behaved dog considered! Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs., background checks req. EHO.

SHARE BEAUTIFUL BTV

CONDO

Share attractive New North End Burlington condo w/ quiet woman in her 80s. Enjoys vegetarian meals, long walks, reading. Seeking housemate who is active outside the house during the day but will help w/ light cleaning, occasional cooking, light gardening/snow removal. $150/mo. Fragrance-free products preferred. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application.

Special thanks to the people who helped make her life special in so many ways: Joanne, Emma and the Doggy Styles family; and the amazing team at VCA Brown Animal Hospital, Drs. Tal, Reynolds, Averill, Wheel and Wagner, and the kind receptionists, Judy and Denise. Also the deli staff at Price Chopper on Williston Road for the extra-thin slices of Swiss cheese and liverwurst that jazzed up her cuisine in her ﬁnal weeks. And of course, her many local friends, the dogs, the kids and the many neighbors we would not have met without her. And a shout-out to family across the U.S. — and globally — who included Sophie in correspondence, holiday gifts and more. Sophie will be missed by our grandchildren, who loved to feed her treats, walk her and giggle when she snored in her sleep.

Lovingly and with gratitude, Hollie and Glenn

Share the story of your special friend.

Do you want to memorialize your pet in the pages of Seven Days? Visit sevendaysvt.com/petmemorials to submit your remembrance.

All sizes include a photo and your tribute. Short $30, Medium $50, Long $95

Print deadline: ursdays at 5 p.m. | Questions? petmemorials@sevendaysvt.com

Interview, refs., background checks req. EHO.

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

BURL. SO. END OLD

FACTORY SP

1st. ﬂ oor, 900 sq.ft. Heat & electric incl. $1,000/ mo. Concrete ﬂ oor, brick walls, shared building entrance & BA, garage door. Light industrial, good for trades, craftspeople, artists. Call 802-355-1996 or email hglaeserco@ gmail.com.

ser vices

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

PERFECT MASSAGE FOR MEN

Men, I’m Mr. G. It’s all about you relaxing. Very private, 1-on-1 moment. If you feel good, I’m happy. e massage is real; the sessions are amazing! Located in

central Vermont just off exit 7. Text now to 802-522-3932 or email motman@ymail.com.

HOME/GARDEN

PEST CONTROL

Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-237-1199. (AAN CAN)

ECO-MD Transform your dreary backyard into an exciting wildlife paradise for winter. Now installing

beaver-friendly control devices. Nov. discounts. Free no-obligation initial site visit. Email ecomd@ together.net.

3v-PetMemorials103024.indd 1 10/29/24 1:26 PM

LEO’S ROOFING Slate, shingle & metal repair & replacement. 30 years’ experience. Good refs. & fully insured. Chittenden County. Call for free estimate: 802-3436324.

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, ll the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

Sudoku

Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience.

Extra! Extra! There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

CALCOKU BY JOSH

REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

crossword

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P. 74 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

ANTIQUES/ COLLECTIBLES

ANTIQUES MARKET

FURNITURE

USED LEATHER SOFA

Used sofa from our TV room. 5 years old. Brown. Has folding end seats.

New price: $1,500. Will sacriﬁ ce for $350. Email kapalaanand@gmail. com.

BED FOR SALE

Amish-made queen walnut bookcase, no tools needed. Bunkie Board queen foundation. Sealy Stearns Foster Estate Soft 530088 queen mattress. $1,500 ﬁ rm. Email hopefulvt78@ gmail.com or call 802-495-1954.

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH FOR OLD GUITARS

1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg + Gibson mandolins & banjos. Call 877-589-0747. (AAN CAN)

SUN., NOV. 3 Sun., Nov. 3 & 17 & Dec. 8, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Canadian Club, 414 East Montpelier Rd., Route 14, Barre, VT. 8 a.m.: early buyers, $5. 9 a.m.: general buyers, $2. Vendors offering antique, midcentury & vintage toys, advertising, clothing, glassware, furniture, tools, jewelry, postcards, early American, paintings, militaria, & much more. Call Don Willis Antiques for information: 802-751-6138, montpelierantiques market.com

Legal Notices

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. e purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. e public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . e law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Administrative Rules of the Board of Dental Examiners.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P044

AGENCY: Board of Dental Examiners (via SOS).

INSTRUCTION

VOICE LESSONS

Expand your voice & grow your sound w/ Victoria Fearn. 45-min. lessons, $45; 60-min. lessons, $60. Contact: victoriafearn@gmail. com or go to victoriarosefearn.com.

CONCISE SUMMARY: ese rules generally update standards for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. e standards specify scope of practice and licensing standards for dental therapists (a new license type since the last rule update), and for public-health dental hygienists; update practice requirements for the use of anesthesia; incorporate fast-track licensure and uniform processes for licensure of internationally educated dentists; creates standards for the use of new non-invasive techniques by dental hygienists.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Emily Tredeau, Esq., Ofﬁ ce of Professional Regulation, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier, VT 05602 Tel: 802-828-1505 Email: Emily.B.Tredeau@vermont. gov.

OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

URL: https://sos.vermont.gov/dental-examiners/ statutes-rules-resources/. FOR COPIES: Gina Hruban, Ofﬁ ce of Professional Regulation, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier, VT 05602 Tel: 802-828-1505 Email: Gina.Hruban@ vermont.gov.

Vermont Criminal Justice Council Rules. Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P045 AGENCY: Vermont Criminal Justice Council CONCISE SUMMARY: e proposed amendments contain four additions to our Rule. e fi rst addition is the training requirement for law enforcement offi cers regarding Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and a mechanism to apply for an indefi nite waiver for offi cers who do not regularly engage in traffi c enforcement duty such as the head of a law enforcement agency. (Rule 22(b) and 23). e second addition are rules for the content, implementation and modifi cation of the newly legislated Law Enforcement Offi cers’ Code of Conduct (Act 124).(Rule 28). e third addition is the Council’s clarifi cation that it conducts its meetings per Robert’s Rules of Order. (Rule 4a). Lastly, the fourth amendment clarifi es that the entity that “reviews” a waiver is the same entity that “approves” the waiver within the Council’s training waiver rule.(Rule 23) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Kim McManus, Vermont Criminal Justice Council, 317 Academy Rd, Pittsford, VT 05763 Tel: 802-4832741 E-Mail: kim.mcmanus@vermont.org URL: https://vcjc.vermont.gov/council/rules.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-06148

In re ESTATE of JoAnn B. Hammond NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: JoAnn B. Hammond, late of Essex Junction.

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 ﬁ rst publication of this notice. e claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. e claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: October 22, 2024

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Dennis A. Hammond

Executor/Administrator: Dennis A. Hammond, 34 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT 05452

Phone: 802-879-6304

Email: cwood@bpﬂ egal.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/30/2024

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401

IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905.

Enforcement of Lien, West Street Rentals LLC shall host a live auction of the following unit on 11/12/24 at 04:30PM.

Location: 170 West St, Essex Jct., VT 05452

Rebecca Miller, unit #15: household goods

Amy Bell, unit #26: household goods

Contents sold as is, and need to be removed within 48 hours at no cost to West Street Rentals LLC. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. West Street Rentals LLC reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION WASHINGTON UNIT CASE NO. 23-JV-1025

Vermont Superior Court Filed 10/2 Washington Unit

In re: W.P.

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: Jesse Shaw you are hereby notifi ed that the State of Vermont has filed a petition to terminate your parental rights to W.P. (D.O.B. 07/28/2023) and that a hearing to consider the petition will be held on January 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM at the Vermont Superior Court, Washington Unit, Family Division, at 255 North Main Street, Barre, Vermont 05641. You are notifi ed to appear in connection with this case. Failure to appear at this hearing may result in the termination of your parental rights. e other parties to this action are the State of Vermont, Department for Children and Families, the child, W.P., and the mother, K.P. e State is represented by the Vermont Attorney General’s Offi ce, 280 State Drive, HC 2 North, Waterbury, Vermont 05671-2080.

Date: 10/21/2024

Kirstin Schoonover: Superior Court Judge

CITY OF BURLINGTON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

e City of Burlington is soliciting applications from community organizations and City departments for funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the 2025 program year. Funding will be targeted to the priorities identiﬁ ed in the current Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Project proposals from community organizations will be reviewed and scored competitively according to the process outlined in the NOFA.

e U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has yet to announce the appropriation for the 2025 program year, but the City is anticipating approximately $730,000 of CDBG

funds based on the City’s funding history. Funding is expected to be available on July 1, 2025.

The NOFA and application packet may be requested from the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) or online at www. burlingtonvt.gov/741/How-to-Apply-and-WhoDecides. Applicants will be invited to submit a final application by December 5th, 2024 at 4:00 pm.

A virtual workshop for applicants is scheduled for Thursday, November 7th, 2024. For more information, please contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@ burlingtonvt.gov or 802-735-7002.

TOWN OF ESSEX SPECIAL TOWN MEETING OFFICIAL WARNING NOVEMBER 5, 2024

The legal voters of the Town of Essex are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Essex Middle School, 60 Founders Road, Town of Essex, Vermont on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 7:00 a.m., at which time the polls will open until 7:00 p.m., at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot on Article I below:

ARTICLE I

Shall the voters of the Town of Essex authorize the Selectboard to borrow by issuance of bonds or notes an amount not to exceed One Million, Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000) for a term up to twenty (20) years and not to exceed an interest rate of two percent (2%) for the purpose of upgrading the Heritage Estates Pump Station and Center Road Sewer Forcemain, with debt service costs borne by the users of the Town municipal wastewater system?

The legal voters of the Town of Essex are further warned and notified that a public informational hearing on this ballot article will be conducted on November 4, 2024, at the Essex Town Offices, 81 Main Street, Essex Junction, Vermont beginning at 6:35 p.m. The public may also attend the public hearing and information session online via Zoom or by telephone by dialing (888) 788-0099 and entering Zoom meeting ID: 98785691140, passcode: 032060.

The legal voters of the Town of Essex are further notified that voter qualification, registration, and absentee voting relative to said special Town Meeting shall be as provided in Chapters 43, 51 and 55 of Title 17, Vermont Statutes Annotated.

Approved this 19th day of August 2024.

ESSEX SELECTBOARD

Tracey Delphia, Chair

Andrew J. Watts, Vice Chair

Kendall Chamberlin, Clerk

Dawn Hill-Fleury

Ethan Lawrence

Received and recorded this 30th day of August 2024

Attest: Nanette Rogers, Town Clerk

Publication dates: October 16, October 23, October 30

Posted at: Essex Town Office, Essex Middle School, Essex Free Library, Essex Post Office, Essex Public Works, and Town Website

CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT NOTICE & WARNING OF VOTE TO INCUR A BONDED DEBT

The legal voters of the City of Burlington, Vermont are hereby notified and warned to come and vote at a Special City Meeting on

Tuesday, the 5th day of November, 2024 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in their respective wards, at the voting places hereinafter named, for the following purposes:

To vote upon one bonding article placed on the ballot by request of the City Council by a resolution duly adopted and approved, said special article being as follows:

ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS FOR BURLINGTON

ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT NET ZERO ENERGY AND GRID RELIABILITY PROJECTS

“Shall the City be authorized to issue revenue bonds or notes in one or more series on behalf of the Electric Light Department, in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate, to be issued pursuant to the City Charter, as may be determined by the City Council, and payable from the net revenues of the electric system, for the purpose of paying for (i) capital additions and improvements to the City’s electric system, and energy transformation and energy efficiency projects, in furtherance of the City’s Net Zero Energy goals, including capital improvements for the distribution system, grid demand management and battery storage opportunities, generation plant upgrades, IT system/technology system upgrades, acquisition of municipal electric vehicles and support of EV charging infrastructure (the “Project”), and (ii) funding a debt service reserve funds and paying costs of issuance?”

The following are designated as polling places:

Ward One/East District: Mater Christi School, 50 Mansfield Ave.

Ward Two/Central District: O.N.E. Community Center, 20 Allen St.

Ward Three/Central District: Sustainability Academy, 123 North St.

Ward Four/North District: Elks Lodge, 925 North Ave.

Ward Five/South District: Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine St.

Ward Six/South District: Edmunds Middle School, 275 Main St.

Ward Seven/North District: Robert Miller

Community & Recreation Center, 130 Gosse Ct.

Ward Eight/East District: Fletcher Free Library, 235 College St.

The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor

Publication Dates: October 16, October 23, October 30

Burlington, Vermont

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON NOVEMBER 07, 2024 AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on November 07, 2024 at 9am EST at 681 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, VT 05151 (R02, R11/R24), and online at www. storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien

Unit #

Name

Contents

R02 Kristopher Gurney Household Goods

R11/R24 Susan Bartlett Household Goods

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PETITIONS FOR ELECTION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICT

SUPERVISOR FOR THE WINOOSKI NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION DISTRICT

To all landowners residing within the boundaries of the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD), notice is hereby given that on October 30, 2024 petitions for the position of supervisor for the conservation district will be available. An election will be held on January 10, 2025 for two supervisors for the district. Petitions must be completed and returned to the local conservation district office by close of business on November 13, 2024.

Only persons, firms and corporations who hold title in fee land and residing within such an organized district are eligible to sign a petition or vote.

Conservation districts are local subdivisions of state government established under the Soil Conservation Act of Vermont.

An eligible voter may contact Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District at (802) 778-3178 or Info@WinooskiNRCD.org for a petition. For more information, please visit https://winooskinrcd.org/ Dated: October 25, 2024

LOCAL ASSISTANCE

The Town of Colchester is a Community Rating System (CRS) Community, which gives residents a discount on flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Learn more about flood insurance by calling the NFIP help center at 1-800-427-4661 or by visiting floodsmart.gov

We are here to help! Contact the Planning & Zoning o ce for assistance with flood mapping services, flood impact reduction, and review of the building regulations required for compliance with local and federal flood standards. Request a one-on-one site visit where sta can review the site and recommend simple steps to help protect the property. To access these services or request a site visit, call our department at 802-264-5606 or email us at pzinfo@colchestervt.gov

REGISTER FOR 911 ALERTS

VT-ALERT is used by the state and local responders to notify the public of emergency situations, such as ﬂoods, via text, email or phone. For more information visit: vem.vermont.gov/vtalert

6h-TownofColchester103024.indd 1 10/24/24 1:26 PM

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227p wd=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09

Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227

Passcode: 969186

Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

1. ZP-24-445; 72-78 Lafountain St (RM, Ward 2) Paul Bonelli / Lafountain AF, LLC Request to establish a home occupation bakery.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD

PUBLIC NOTICE

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF REAL ESTATE

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Sec. 1061, the Colchester Selectboard hereby notifies the residents of Colchester of the proposed conveyance of real estate of the Town property identified as Parcel #37-051002 located on Macrae Road, to Brian Vorse.

The real property to be conveyed to Brian Vorse is more particularly described as follows:

Being all and the same land and premises conveyed to the Town of Colchester by Warranty Deed of Leo

A. Deforge and Audrey M. Deforge dated January 15, 1975 and recorded in Book 25, Page 203-204 of the Town of Colchester Land Records.

Reference is hereby made to aforesaid deed and its record and to all prior deeds and records therein referred to in further aid of this description.

The Selectboard proposes to convey the aforesaid premises to Brian Vorse with the consideration bring: 1) the purchase price of $150,000; and 2) the transfer of any interest and liabilities the Town may have in, and to, said parcel of land.

Pursuant to 24 V.SA. § 1061, this notice will be posted at three regular posting places in the Town of Colchester and will be published in the Seven Days, a newspaper of general circulation within the Town of Colchester on or before October 30, 2024.

If any persons object to the proposed conveyance of said property:

A petition of protest, signed by five percent of the legally registered voters of the Town of Colchester, must be filed with the Colchester Town Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on November 29, 2024. Upon verification of signatures necessary to meet the protest requirement, the question of the conveyance will then be put before the registered voters of Colchester for vote by Australian Ballot at Town Meeting on March 4, 2025.

The Seletboard will authorize the Town Manager to effectuate the conveyance, unless the Town receives a petition in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 1061(a).

For publication on October 30, 2024 (30 days prior to the proposed conveyance).

TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD PUBLIC NOTICE

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF REAL ESTATE

The real property to be conveyed to Jason Andreasson and Hutton Dart is more particularly described as follows:

Being all and the same land and premises conveyed to the Town of Colchester by Warranty Deed of

Legal Notices

William H. Holbrook and Constance G. Holbrook

dated January 10, 1981 and recorded in Book 67, Pages 284-287 of the Town of Colchester Land Records.

Reference is hereby made to aforesaid deed and its record and to all prior deeds and records therein referred to in further aid of this description.

The Selectboard proposes to convey the aforesaid premises to Jason Andreasson and Hutton Dart with the consideration bring: 1) the purchase price of $61,144; and 2) the transfer of any interest and liabilities the Town may have in and to said parcel of land.

Pursuant to 24 V.SA. § 1061, this notice has been posted at three regular posting places in the Town of Colchester and will be published in the Seven Days, a newspaper of general circulation within the Town of Colchester on or before October 30, 2024.

If any persons object to the proposed conveyance of said property:

The Selectboard will authorize the Town Manager to effectuate the conveyance, unless the Town receives a petition in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 1061(a).

For publication on October 30, 2024 (30 days prior to the proposed conveyance).

TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOVEMBER 14, 2024, 6:30 PM

Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: Zoom link: https://www.essexvt.org/1043/ Join-Zoom-Meeting-Essex-PC Call (audio only): 1-888-788-0099 | Meeting ID: 923 7777 6158 # | Passcode: 426269 | Public wifi is available at the Essex municipal offices, libraries, and hotspots listed here: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/ content/public-wifi-hotspots-vermont

1. CONTINUED FROM 07/25/24 Preliminary Plan - Pinewood Holdings, LLC, c/o Brian Marcotte, proposed a 32-Unit Planned Unit DevelopmentResidential (PUD-R), consisting of 17 single-family homes on individual lots; 15-triplex units on footprint lots and an approximate 88-acre open space lot for property located at 18 & 30 Timberlane Drive (parcel IDs 2-084-001-000 and 2-085-001-001) and consists of 117-acres in the Medium Density Residential (R2) Zone.

2. Sketch Review – Kenan Heco is proposing a 4-lot minor subdivision located at 9 Colonel Page Road, Parcel ID 2-014-036-000, located in the Agricultural Residential (AR), Floodplain Overlay (C2) and Scenic Resource Protection Overlay (SRPO) Districts. The proposed 4-lot subdivision consists of Lot 1 with the existing house and barns (7.76 acres); Lot 2 for a proposed single household dwelling (3.03 acres); Lot 3 for a proposed single household dwelling (4.13 acres) and Lot 4 not presently for development (45.4 acres).

Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at https://www.essexvt.org/182/ Current-Development-Applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT@ESSEX.ORG with any questions. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view the complete Agenda, at https://essexvt.portal.civicclerk.com or the office notice board before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard and other agenda items.

TOWN OF WESTFORD REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

TOWN OFFICE ADA COMPLIANT RAMP & STAIRS REPLACEMENT

Full RFP available at the Town Office & online at https://westfordvt.us/careers-rfps/

The Town of Westford is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to remove and replace the current handicapped ramp & front steps at the Westford Town Office building located at 1713 Vermont Route 128 in Westford, VT. Proposals shall include a conceptual drawing of the proposed ADA compliant ramp & stairs, and an estimated cost for removal of the current ramp & stairs as well as installation and landscaping of the new ramp & stairs.

• A site visit is recommended for Monday, November 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. at the Westford Town Office. Please enter the building to meet the Town Administrator on the first floor.

• Questions must be submitted in writing by 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 18, 2024, to Holly Delisle, Town Administrator, townadmin@westfordvt.us

Scope of Work

The selected contractor shall:

• Meet with the Town Administrator to view the current ramp, landing, and steps.

• Incorporate all applicable ADA requirements, specifications, and estimated costs.

• Select materials for durability & longevity based on location & exposure to elements.

• Work within Westford’s established T5 District Form Based Code.

• Review and refine design and estimated cost requirements w/ Town Officials

• Provide a cost estimate for building, site work & permits and a timeline for permitting & construction.

• Communicate/provide regular progress updates with the Selectboard & Town Administrator.

Rate & Fee Schedule:

The Rate & Fee Schedule should present a table including hourly and overtime rates (as applicable) for all classification of personnel who may work under this contract. The rates presented will remain in effect for the duration of the contract.

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.

Bid Submission Instructions

Proposals must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024:

• Electronically via email to townadmin@ westfordvt.us; or

• USPS/UPS/FEDEX - Town of Westford, 1713 VT Route 128, Westford, VT 05494; or

• Hand delivered to the Westford Town Office. There is a drop box available for after hours. (Proposals should be clearly labeled “Westford Town Office ADA Compliant Ramp & Stairs” with the contractor’s name.)

Insurance Requirements:

The Contractor shall at their own expense provide and maintain all applicable insurances. See the full RFP for more details: https://westfordvt.us/ wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RFP-Town-OfficeADA-Ramp-Stairs-2024.pdf

IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905. ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN,

Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC shall host an auction of the following units on or after 11/16/24:

Location: 78 Lincoln St. Essex Jct., VT

Contents: household goods

Nathan Roberts: #031

Crystal Verrastro: #299

Location: 485 Nokian Tyres Dr. Colchester, VT

Contents: household goods

Paige Mccabe: #2369

Location: 2211 Main St. Colchester, VT

Contents: household goods

Mike Thompson: #674

Alyssa Bennett: #534

Djodjo Elumba: #574

Chisoni McGrath: #545

Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register.

NOTICE FROM BRENNAN & PUNDERSON, PLLC Monkton, Vermont Office (including former clients of JOSEPH D. FALLON, ESQ., of Hinesburg, Vermont)

To all former clients of Kevin T. Brennan, Esq., of Brennan & Punderson, PLLC, (f/k/a Brennan Punderson & Donahue, PLLC), located at 1317 Davis Road, Monkton, Vermont (hereinafter “Attorney Brennan”), including former clients of Joseph D. Fallon, Esq., of Hinesburg, Vermont, transferred to Attorney Brennan effective December 1, 2018:

Effective October 31, 2024, Kevin T. Brennan, Esq., is retiring and closing his office in Monkton, Vermont. If you would like to retain your file or any portion of it, please contact Bonnie Brennan via email at bonnie@bpd.legal or by calling 802-4538400. If Attorney Brennan’s office has not heard from you by December 31, 2024, your file will be securely destroyed.

Additionally, if you believe you have an original Last Will and Testament being retained by Attorney Brennan (or which was retained by Attorney Fallon), please contact Bonnie Brennan as instructed

above to make arrangements to have your Will returned to you for safekeeping.

TOWN OF BOLTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

PUBLIC HEARING: NOVEMBER 14, 2024

The Town of Bolton’s Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on November 14, 2024 at 6:30pm.

Place: Virtual or Municipal Conference Room, 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Highway, Bolton, VT, 05676.

Time: November 14,2024 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Town of Bolton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bolton DRB

Time: Nov 14, 2024 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82735236548?pwd=T 76N3FA9Tsgjgtw624WpfBXnELnpR3.1

Meeting ID: 827 3523 6548

Passcode: 313839

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,82735236548#,,,,*313839# US (New York) +16469313860,,82735236548#,,,,*313839# US

The following applications will be reviewed:

2024-09-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: John Devine, 4387 Notch Rd., Subdivide a +/-2.11 acre parcel, Proposed Lot #4, from an existing +/-56.07 acre parcel known as Lot #1. Two parcels were previously subdivided from Lot #1; +/-2.02 acres (Lot #2) and +/-2.00 acres (Lot #3). Lot #1 contains an existing single family home with accessory buildings and Lot #4 is being proposed with a single family home, on-site septic and drilled supply well. (Tax Map #1-0044387) Final Review.

2024-15-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Lindsay DesLauriers, President & CEO, BVR, LLC, 4302 Bolton Valley Access Road, Bolton Valley, Five-lot Planned United Development subdivision with a total of 48 residential units at 3969 Bolton Valley Access Road. (Tax Map #07-105/16-000 (Span: 069-021-10090). Preliminary Review.

2024-16-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: McCain Consulting Inc./Kilpeck, 895 Duxbury Rd., a 3 lot subdivision. Two of the lots will be suitable for single family homes. The third lot will be the balance of the land. (Tax Map #01-036.000) Final Plan Review.

2024-16-DRB; FINAL SUBDIVISION REVIEW

Applicant & Property Owner: James, Kim & Jacob Kilpeck; 85 Duxbury Rd. A 3 lot subdivision. (Parcel #1-036.000)

Additional information can be obtained through email by calling 802-434-5075, or by email at zoningbolton@gmavt.net. Pursuant to 24 VSA § 4464 and § 4471, participation in this local proceeding, by written or oral comment, is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal.

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.

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

Gender Equity Services Coordinator

VWW seeks a part-time coordinator (up to 20 hrs/wk) to work with employers, gather data, create resources, and promote strategies to open pathways to employment for women with a history of involvement in the criminal justice system.

If you are inspired by our mission of promoting economic justice by advancing gender equity and supporting women and youth along their career journeys, visit bit.ly/3YzIAyM to learn more and apply.

3h-VTWorksforWomen103024.indd 1 10/25/24 11:22 AM

Beneﬁts include: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Retirement Plan, Tuition Waiver to Vermont State Colleges, Tuition Waiver to UVM* (for dependent children) Long Term Disability, 14 Paid Holidays, Paid Medical, Personal, and Vacation Leave.

Learn more and apply! vermontstate.edu/ about/careers

POSITIONS OPEN! Are you our next Guest Services Representative? Buyer? Produce Associate? Scan to see all open positions!

S Apply online at healthylivingmarket.com/careers

Rep. Becca Balint [D-VT]

The Office of Congresswoman Becca Balint is seeking eligible applicants for a two-year, full time, paid position in her Vermont office through the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program. The person selected for this position will serve as a Caseworker/ Field Representative, assisting Vermonters in navigating federal agencies and programs, attending local meetings and events on behalf of Congressman Balint, and staffing her at events around the state. The Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program provides employment opportunities for Veterans, Gold Star families, and Active-Duty Spouses within the U.S. House of Representatives. The position could be based in either of our Burlington or Brattleboro, VT offices with some flexibility for remote work.

The Green and Gold Congressional Aide Program is open to Veterans, Gold Star families, and Active-Duty Spouses. For detailed eligibility requirements and to apply: usajobs.gov/job/808604000.

Beneﬁts Specialist, Retirement Programs

We are seeking a retirement plan expert to join our team in support of our member institutions, Champlain College, Middlebury College, and St. Michael's College, as well as their employees. Our Beneﬁts Specialist, Retirement Programs is responsible for the management and administration of 12 retirement plans. This includes compliance, plan documents, vendor management, audits, employee education, customer service, business process development, and communication. This position provides hybrid work, allowing you to work at home and in our o ce in Shelburne, VT.

What you’ll bring:

• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, finance or related field • 5-8 years of benefits management experience with a concentration in Retirement Plan Administration

• PHR or SPHR a plus; CBP or CEBS a plus Apply at: gmhec.org/careers

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Do you want to work for the company voted “Best Place to Work in Vermont”?

We are seeking a responsible, organized teamplayer with a strong work ethic to join our Property Maintenance team! This position is for someone who enjoys working with their hands, has problem solving skills, attention to detail, ability to multi- task & prioritize while working with deadlines.

Do you have experience in general maintenance, painting/taping, basic plumbing & carpentry, landscaping, and snow removal?

You will have direct contact with our tenants and vendors ~ so patience, the ability to handle any situation with a smile & a calm demeanor are a must.

This position is full-time with an exceptional beneﬁts package and salary commensurate with experience. On-call and overtime are necessary. A valid driver’s license and located within a 30-minute radius to Burlington is required.

Please send letter of introduction, resume & salary history to Human Resources at: Ccobb@vermontrealestate.com

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

The Town of Ferrisburgh is seeking a Zoning Administrator. This is a part-time position, up to 32 hours a week. The position of Zoning Administrator is the town’s “Administrative Officer” as described in 24 VSA Chapter 117, responsible for processing permit applications, enforcing the Land Use Regulations, maintaining records, and supporting the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment. This position requires the ability to communicate effectively with applicants, work with office staff, multi-task, and attend two evening meetings per month. Knowledge or experience with land use planning preferred but not required. EOE. Salary range $39,000 - $52,000. Benefits available.

HVAC Industry Positions Open

Join a Winning Team in a High Demand Industry. Vermont Energy is the #1 HVAC company in VT established in 1984 and based in Williston.

Current openings are for:

HVAC Service Technician/Installers

HVAC Apprentices

Sales Positions

Locally owned and operated by a Vermonter, Vermont Energy's primary markets are residential clients.

Benefits include excellent pay, 4-day work-weeks, medical and dental, and a tool allowance. Come work for the most trusted HVAC dealer in Vermont. Join the team! vtenergy.com/careers

DENTAL HYGIENIST

- FULL TIME

We are a well established and growing general dentistry office in Jericho, Vermont seeking a full-time hygienist who is detail oriented, dependable and an excellent communicator to join our team. You must hold a current Vermont Dental Hygiene license in good standing and be radiology certified.

We offer a compensation package including; competitive pay based on experience, paid time off, 401(K) contribution, professional development assistance and discounted dental care for staff and immediate family members. We maintain a collaborative work environment, treat fantastic patients and place an emphasis on work/life balance.

Job Type: Full-time Pay: From $47.00 per hour

Expected hours: 32 – 38 per week, flexible schedule options

Send resumes to: bettersmilesvt@comcast.net

A detailed job description is available upon request to the Town offices: 802-877-3429.

To apply please e-mail cover letter and resume to TownClerk@FerrisburghVT.org. by November 8 at 4:00 p.m.

Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant to help with o ce management. Following up with clients on applications and forms. Assist Principal with daily duties.

Send resumes to: jen@beaconwealthvt.com

NOW HIRING

• Community Connect Program Coordinator

• Grants Manager

• Warehouse Material Handler/ Installation Technician (full-time)

• Chief Financial O cer (CFO)

All positions are full-time with beneﬁts. Full job descriptions can be found at nekbroadband.org/careers

We’re a small company of fewer than 20 employees, which means there’s lots of room for growth & learning. We’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where all employees feel welcomed & valued.

To apply, send resume & cover letter to careers@nekbroadband.org

JUDICIAL ASSISTANTS

VERMONT STATE COURTS

Looking to enter the legal world and make a difference? $21.32 per hour, permanent full-time positions in downtown Burlington. The Judicial branch of state government is rapidly expanding. We offer a competitive rate with top-notch health, dental, paid time off and pension. The successful candidate has 2 years’ general office experience, be a team player, good communicator, able to use technology, organized, and seeking a prestigious and professional atmosphere.

E.O.E. For a more detailed description and how to apply, vist: bit.ly/48tkl8A

2V-BeaconWealthMgmt081424.indd 1 8/6/24 3:16 PM

4t-NEKBroadband103024.indd 1 10/28/24 11:35 AM

Bookkeeper

Local independent Internet Service Provider based in Jericho, VT seeking additional bookkeeping support.

Particular help with monthend closing, reconciliations, A/R. Flexible hours and remote work possible. Can be employee or contractor.

Employees enjoy paid holidays, vacations, health, vision and dental insurance. Pay commensurate with skills and experience. Send resumes to: leslie.nulty@mcfibervt.com

2v-MansfieldCommunityFiber103024.indd 110/28/24 11:43 AM

Town

Administrator

The Town of Georgia is seeking an experienced and dedicated Town Administrator to oversee the daily operations of the town. Salary range of $70,000 to $90,000 and beneﬁts. Additional information regarding this position can be found on the Town of Georgia website: townofgeorgia.com

Youth Ministry Coordinator

Primary responsibility programming for youth in 6th-12th grade in support of the mission, vision, and values of the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction (FCCEJ). For a detailed job description, visit: fccej.org/v5/ who-we-are/work-with-us

Hourly Rate: $18-22 /hour based on experience for expected work hours of 20-25 hours/week with reduced responsibility during summer months.

Anticipated start date on or after January 2, 2025 for this position. Please email resume & cover letter: welcome@fccej.org

FCCEJ is an open and affirming church, serving all in the spirit of Christ.

Journey Carpenter

We are looking for experienced carpenters with knowledge of old and new construction to join the Lewis Creek Builders, DesignBuild team! We are a passionate group of carpenters, designers, and construction management professionals working in a supportive, collaborative environment to manage every aspect of residential building and remodeling projects.

Flexible start date! Great benefits package!

WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATE

Marion’s Place, the resale store at HOPE, has a full time opening for a warehouse associate. Duties include assisting people donating goods for resale, customer service, as well as “back of house” work preparing items for sale, keeping the warehouse clean and orderly, and more.

Must have excellent communication skills, be able to lift up to 25lbs., stand for periods of time, and pay attention to details.

Sundays & Mondays off, no evening hours. Excellent compensation including competitive wage, platinum medical coverage, matched retirement savings & more. To apply, send a basic resume to receptionist@hope-vt.org, or drop off at HOPE’s office: 282 Boardman St., Middlebury. Come join a dynamic team that works hard every day to make a difference in our community. hope-vt.org.

Hiring Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs)!

$5,000 sign-on bonus

Wake Robin in Shelburne, VT wants to support you in your career growth while working with older adults! We offer scholarships and loan forgiveness programs as well as great benefits, a pristine working environment, work/life balance, and an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in a dynamic community setting. We are currently hiring for all shifts. Pay starts at $23.50 and increases with experience!

Apply online at wakerobin.com or call 802-861-1872 to learn more! Wake Robin is an E.O.E.

Salesperson

Blodgett Supply has been a provider of quality plumbing fixtures and design solutions since 1848 and is now a division of one of the largest wholesalers in the country with over 500 locations. With a focus on customer satisfaction and a reputation for excellence, our upscale showroom offers a range of high-quality products to homeowners, contractors, and designers. We are looking for a knowledgeable and motivated Salesperson to join our team.

The ideal Salesperson will engage with customers and provide expert advice to help them choose the best products for their projects. Monday – Friday 8:00am -4:00pm. We are happy to train the right individual, and have full and part time positions available.

Key Responsibilities:

•Provide detailed product information on plumbing fixtures, including faucets, sinks, bathtubs, and related products.

•Identify customer needs and suggest appropriate products based on design, budget, and functionality.

•Build and maintain relationships with customers, including homeowners, designers, and contractors while handling quotes and sales transactions accurately and efficiently.

Events Coordinator & Program Assistant

Applications are now being accepted for a full-time Events Coordinator & Program Assistant at Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Join Camp’s mission of providing challenging, extraordinary experiences in a safe and loving environment for children who have or have had cancer and their families.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Events Coordinator & Program Assistant is responsible for overseeing Camp Ta-Kum-Ta’s fundraising events and supporting our yearround programs for children with cancer and their families. The ideal candidate will be highly detail-oriented, possess excellent verbal, written and electronic communication skills, and have the ability to flex their schedule to accommodate evening and weekend work when necessary. Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office is required to create complex spreadsheets, documents, e-mails, and database management. The successful candidate will possess previous fundraising experience, will be welcoming and respectful to all community members, and will demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusion.

Please send letters of interest and a resume to dennis@takumta.org or mail it to PO Box 459, South Hero, Vermont 05486 by November 8th for priority consideration.

For more information about Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, please visit https://www.takumta.org

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Customer Service Specialist

Would you like a career where making people smile is your top priority? Then come join our team at Champlain Dental Lab! We’re looking for a Part-Time Customer Service Specialist to work in our fast-paced office in Williston, VT.

General Description of Function:

Responsible for assisting and coordinating customer issues with customers as well as with laboratory leadership and other internal departments. Ensure accurate and timely response to customer needs by appropriate team members, answer basic case questions, and schedule services for clients. The Customer Service Specialist will be able to provide guidance to the caller by assisting with customer issues, case followup and proactive communication with customers. Will be responsible for shipping and receiving cases as well.

Hours: M-F 8:00 am to 2:30 pm - Some flexibility (paid holidays) $21.00 - $23.00 per hour based on experience

For job description and details and to apply please scan the QR Code.

Champlain Dental Laboratory

20 Winter Sport Lane, Suite 155 Williston, VT 05495

WISE is growing and we’re hiring!

Since 1971, WISE has supported survivors of gender-based violence in the Upper Valley. We encourage and cultivate a dynamic environment that requires us to be an adaptive, flexible, and innovative team.

WISE Multidisciplinary Interview and Training Center (MITC) Coordinator

Join the MITC team 15 hours a week! MITC is a unique collaboration that works to bring the lived experiences of survivors into processes across disciplines, using Forensic Experiential Trauma Interviews, providing outreach and training to law enforcement in trauma-informed approaches, and cultivating the use of expert witnesses. The Coordinator position is involved in all aspects of the project and can be tailored to individual strengths.

Youth Violence Prevention Educator

Work with students, educators, and parents throughout the Upper Valley providing prevention education, student leadership to end violence, and youth advocacy for survivors.

For more information and to apply online, visit our website wiseuv.org/how-to-join/careers

Finance Coorindator

The Finance Coordinator will oversee all financial operations for the Colchester and Rutland Field Offices, including the collection, processing, and tracking of: invoices, vendor payments, staff payroll, billing, purchases, credit card transactions, financial statements, audits, donations, office budgeting, and other duties to maintain accuracy for fee for service programs and all financial activities and reporting at USCRI VT.

Multicultural candidates encouraged to apply. USCRI is an E.O.E.

Submit applications online: refugees.org/careers

PUBLIC WORKS COORDINATOR

The Town of Jericho (VT) is looking for a full-time Public Works Coordinator. Jericho (pop. ~5,080) is a small rural community in the center of Chittenden County about 30 minutes from Burlington to the west and Mt. Mansfield to the east. The community has 3 small historic village centers surrounded by a quintessential rural landscape and abundant recreational opportunities.

Public Relations Director

Fuse

Fuse is a full-service marketing agency based in Winooski creating authentic brand engagement for clients looking to reach teens and young adults. Fuse offers a hybrid working environment, generous PTO, and great beneﬁts including wellness stipends.

Find out more and apply here: fusemarketing.com/jobs-internships

The Public Works Coordinator works under the supervision of the Town Administrator and in coordination with the Highway Department and Town Engineer to manage municipal infrastructure, and coordinate permitting and projects. The work of the Public Works Coordinator involves diverse administrative and technical tasks. Organizational, communication, and technical skills are required. The position requires a high degree of independence, initiative, sound judgment and professionalism. Salary range is commensurate with experience and will be in the range of $50-$65,000 annually.

For a complete job description, visit jerichovt.org, and find the link on our home page. To apply, please email cover letter, resume and 3 references to Linda Blasch, Assistant Town Administrator to: lblasch@jerichovt.gov or mail to: PO Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465. Review of applicants will be ongoing until filled.

The Town of Jericho is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Horse Barn Assistant

Small private horse barn located in Colchester looking for a responsible, conscientious individual to assist with horse and barn care. Responsibilities primarily include stall cleaning, bedding & sweeping.

Usual start time 12:30 or 1:00pm, approximately 3-4 hours per day. Resume or description of horse related experience required. nicholsledge@gmail.com

2v-NicholsLedge102324.indd

Part-time Retail Customer Service Rep

Pack and Send Plus provides packing, shipping and printing needs to the local community. The business is open MondayFriday, 9AM - 5:30PM. We are seeking 1-2 hires to work 20-30 hours/week.

More opportunities and/or hours available for the right candidate(s). Pay range is $20$24 per hour, depending on experience/skill.

For job description and to apply: ship@packandsendplus.com

HOMEOWNERSHIP OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) is seeking an eager and knowledgeable Homeownership Operations Specialist to join our team.

As the Homeownership Operations Specialist, you will be responsible for providing support to the Homeownership Operations Manager. Responsibilities will include data entry and information management, creating and maintaining homeownership department policies and procedures, report tracking, identifying and implementing operational efficiencies, supporting program changes and special projects and staff training. The position will also provide support to the Compliance Specialists during periods of high mortgage production.

To be considered for this position, you will need at least an associate’s degree or equivalent work experience. You must be able to demonstrate outstanding verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated technical skills, have strong organizational skills and attention to detail. You must be able to balance multiple priorities with sensitive timelines. You need to be able to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment. Experience with SharePoint and Sequel preferred.

For a detailed job description and benefits overview, please visit the Careers section of VHFA.org. To apply, send a cover letter (required; otherwise, your application will not be considered), a resume, and references to the Human Resources Department at HR@vhfa.org ideally by November 4th.

Associate Campus Operations Director

VTSU Lyndon, Lyndonville,VT

BASIC FUNCTION:

To plan, implement, evaluate, organize, and direct facilities management activities for a campus of Vermont State University, including the maintenance and operation of all physical assets.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, or other appropriate discipline, plus five to seven years of relevant technical and supervisory experience in facilities or construction management, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired (see job posting for full list).

BENEFITS PACKAGE

Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Retirement Plan, Tuition Waiver to Vermont State Colleges (see job posting for full benefits list).

Apply online at Vermontstate.edu

CVSWMD IS Hiring!

Operations Manager

The Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District is seeking a qualified candidate to join our team as an Operations Manager! Duties include: safety and permitting compliance, reporting to state solid waste program and other agencies, contract and fleet management, and oversight of daily recycling and household hazardous waste collections operations.

40 hours/week, $29.38-$37.34 per hour plus excellent benefits

For full job description and application instructions, visit cvswmd.org.

At CVSWMD, we help residents and organizations in our 19 member towns reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink waste for a more sustainable future. CVSWMD is an equal opportunity employer. Positions will remain open until filled.

Meal Production Coordinator

Requirements: High School diploma, or equivalent, required and a minimum of two years’ culinary experience preferred. Experience working with volunteers as well as working with diverse and low-income populations preferred; knowledge of nutritional content of food preferred. ServSafe certification must be obtained within sixty calendar days of employment. Effective verbal & written communication skills required; bilingual abilities are a plus! Clean driving record, valid driver’s license and access to reliable private transportation must be maintained. Travel & weekend hours as needed.

When you come to work for CVOEO you're getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. We are one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why! Apply online: https://www.cvoeo.org/careers

Revenue Accounting Manager

Red House Building is hiring a revenue accounting manager to oversee the company’s revenue recognition process. This role will lead initiatives to streamline workflows, eliminate manual tasks, and improve controls in the revenue recognition process. Requirements include 3-5 years of revenue management experience, an understanding of US GAAP revenue recognition principles, technical accounting knowledge of ASC 606, and expertise in financial analysis. CPA preferred.

WELDING INSTRUCTOR

The Northlands Job Corps center operates the most advanced technical training Welding Program in the state. We are seeking a talented Welding Instructor to join our team. The position requires three years of direct welding experience, ﬁ ve years preferred. Must possess, or obtain SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW within six months of hire. Certiﬁed Welding Instructor or Inspector highly preferred. Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes is a residential (some non-residential) technical training school for 16-24 year olds from primarily economically challenged backgrounds.

Full-time employees of Red House Building enjoy paid holidays and up to four weeks of PTO, a company 401K with a company match, health insurance contributions, merit bonuses and profit sharing, ownership share options after 3 years of employment, and more. This position has remote work benefits and schedule flexibility. Starting salary is $100K. Send cover letter and resume to info@redhousebuilding.com

More information at: redhousebuilding.com/were-hiring

Office Coordinator

gbArchitecture is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Office Coordinator to support administrative, marketing, and billing efforts in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of our busy and thriving Burlington based architecture studio. We are open to considering a half time up to a full time position. A competitive salary commensurate with experience is offered, as well as paid time off, a 401k plan, and health insurance.

We are looking for someone who enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, is comfortable navigating evolving needs and priorities, and has excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. An ideal candidate would be adept with or able to easily learn to use Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, and WordPress. Experience with graphic design and related software is a plus, as is an interest in architecture.

Please see our website to learn more about us and what we do: gbarchitecture.com. To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to contact@gbarchitecture.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS

We are currently accepting applications for

Our campus is one of the most diverse student bodies in Vermont and is a nice mix of both in and out of state students. Our welding graduates enjoy a 100% placement rate with average ﬁ rst year wages slightly above that of ﬁ rst year college graduates. If you are a talented welding professional with a passion for your craft, and an ability/desire to train new students we would like to hear from you. Apply at: bit.ly/JobCorps2024

*If you are curious about just some of the fun and community service our welders do check out the Seven Days Stuck in Vermont feature, Metal Sculptor Kat Clear Creates Public Art by visiting the QR code here

Community Advocate/ Support Staff

Legal Services Vermont is looking to fill a full-time position for a Community Advocate or Support Staff. 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 represent individual clients, participate in court clinics and staff our helpline to screen new clients and provide legal advice. Working closely with Vermont Legal Aid, we help low-income Vermonters resolve their civil legal issues.

We are seeking a Community Advocate/Support Staff member who will share responsibility for our front office, located in Burlington, as well as work on our statewide legal helpline. Duties include greeting clients and other members of the public, reviewing incoming requests for legal assistance, assessing basic legal issues, answering incoming phone calls and messages, conducting intake screenings for new cases, handling mail and other correspondence and messaging, coordinating with other staff members to support clients, supporting advocates with case activities, and assisting with other daily operations.

We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal, spoken communication and writing skills, the ability to handle a large workload, a demonstrated commitment to community engagement and public interest work, the ability to work empathetically with low-income and marginalized communities, and a collaborative work style. Qualified candidates should be proficient in Microsoft Office applications and be comfortable with online office management systems, office machines and telephone systems, have the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and be sensitive to the diverse language and cultural needs of our clients.

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 can contribute to serving our client communities.

Base starting salary is currently between $42,480 and $48,200 depending on qualifications (scheduled to increase January 1, 2025), with salary credit given for relevant experience, and an excellent benefits package. The position is in-person in our Burlington office.

Application deadline is November 8, 2024. Your application should include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references, sent as a single PDF. Send your application by e-mail to Sam Abel-Palmer at sabel-palmer@legalservicesvt.org with the subject line “LSV Hiring Opportunity.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Public Works Engineer II

$84,000 - $92,000 w/ Excellent Benefits

Seeking a FT, highly organized engineering professional, with exceptional attention-to-detail. Applies advanced principles, practices, and civil engineering standards to support the maintenance, repair and construction of Town infrastructure. BS in Civil Engineering or related field and four years of exp., including civil engineering and maintaining public infrastructure. VT Professional Engineer (PE) licensure preferred, or Engineer-InTraining (EIT) with the ability to obtain a PE required.

Public Works Engineer I

$72,000 - $78,000 w/ Excellent Benefits

Seeking a FT, highly organized self-starter, with exceptional attention-to-detail. Applies basic principles, practices, and civil engineering standards to support the maintenance, repair and construction of Town infrastructure. BS in Civil Engineering or related field. Two years of related experience preferred. Proficient with MS Office, GIS, AutoCAD.

If you’re looking for a positive and rewarding team-oriented environment that offers work/life balance, we want to hear from you! For complete job description & materials required for consideration; resume, cover letter and application, please visit: colchestervt.gov/321/Human-Resources. Open until filled. E.O.E.

5v-TownofColchesterPWengineerIII103024.indd 1

FINANCIAL COACH

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) seeks 2 full-time Financial Coaches to work with low-tomoderate income Vermonters on budgeting, saving, credit building, and financial literacy. Our ideal candidates will have an interest in personal finance and an understanding of the programs and services available to support positive change in our clients’ lives. If you have experience in coaching, counseling, or teaching and an interest in financial literacy, we’d like to hear from you! Must have the ability to work in-person within one of the identified regions: Addison County OR Franklin/Grand Isle Counties.

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership.

To apply, visit cvoeo.org/careers for a detailed job description and to submit your resume. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity and excellence. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. We are one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why!

Service Coordinator

Join our team of professionals providing case management for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. In this position you will work with individuals to create and realize goals while supporting them in maintaining a safe and healthy lifestyle.

Compensation package is $49k annually plus a generous on-call stipend, mileage compensation, and $1500 sign on bonus. Position includes comprehensive and affordable health insurance, 20 paid days off plus 12 paid holidays, retirement match, dental plan and so much more. In addition, CCS has been voted as one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont for six years in a row!

Why not have a job you love? Continue your career in human services in a compassionate & fun environment. Join us today and make a career making a difference. Send resume to Karen Ciechanowicz at staff@ccs-vt.org. ccs-vt.org

Navigate New Possibilities™ Your Career at NDI is Waiting

We are hiring for the following positions:

At NDI we are driven by our belief that advanced spatial measurement solutions can help our customers in their aim to improve medical procedures and patient lives.

Electronics Assembler Hardware Design Engineer Project Manager

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Housing Advocacy Programs Operations Manager

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) is looking for an Operations Manager to join our Housing Advocacy Programs (HAP) team! The HAP Operations Manager is responsible for the effective ongoing operations, monitoring, and evaluation of the Housing Stabilization and Retention Services program, which provides renters (tenants and mobile home residents) and landlords with assessments and referrals to resolve evictions and preserve sustainable tenancies.

Collaboration is a key part of the HAP Operations Manager position, including supervising staff, cultivating and maintaining relationships with partners from myriad organizations and federal and state agencies and actively supporting the mission of HAP and CVOEO in generally promoting inclusive, affordable housing for all.

Apply online: cvoeo.org/careers 5v-CVOEOhousingAdvocate103024.indd

GlobalFoundries U.S. 2

LLC seeks Sr Engineer Device Engineering, in Essex Junction, VT to dvlp ESD & Latch up protection device/circuit solutions for differentiated tech portfolio. Master’s or foreign equiv in Electrical Engg, or rltd, +2 yrs of exp. Less than 10% travel req’d, domestic/internat’l.

Salary Range: $105,477 – $115,500. Apply online atwww.gf.com/careers/ #JR- 2403965

Gallery Attendant and Communications Associate

The Milton Artists’ Guild is looking for a part-time (~ 21 hours/week) Gallery Attendant and Communications Associate to join their team! Saturdays are required as part of this role, from 10am to 6pm.

The Milton Artists’ Guild is an arts nonproﬁt in Milton, VT with a 6,000+ square foot gallery space displaying over 130 local artists and crafters. This membership-based nonproﬁt provides numerous workshops, programs, and community events throughout the year.

The Milton Artists’ Guild, also known as MAG, is an inclusive community arts space. Our motto is that Art is for All. Inclusion, kindness, creativity, and accessibility are at the core of what we do and our main focus is on how the arts can best beneﬁt the community. This is an organization that is currently growing and evolving. Starting hourly pay for this role is $16/hour. Send resumes to: director@miltonartistsguild.org

4t-MiltonArtistsGuild103024.indd 1 10/25/24 11:47 AM

VERMONT LEGAL AID seeks volunteer members for our Board of Trustees

Payroll & Benefits Administrator

Are you looking to:

• Work from Home

• Join a Supportive Team that Promotes Work-Life Balance

• Make a difference in the lives of hardworking staff, so they can make a difference in the lives of Vermonters?

Vermont Adult Learning is hiring a payroll and benefits coordinator to work from home 24-40 hours per week. You will report to the Director of Human Resources and will be responsible for:

• Processing bi-weekly payroll

• Audit deliverables and reporting

• Managing employee requests related to payroll and benefits

• Supporting open enrollment

• Supporting the organization in a major software transition

• Implementing process & technology improvements related to automation and digitization

• Bookkeeping and finance support Requirements:

• Associate's Degree in Accounting with 2+ years professional experience in Finance or HR; or equivalent professional experience 5 years.

• Understanding of payroll processes and HR/ Financial compliance

• Ability to work from home with reliable internet during regular business hours

Vermont Adult Learning is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates with diverse experience and identities with enthusiasm. Immediate start date. Generous benefits including retirement match, paid time off, and medical/dental/vision/life. Pay $26-28/hr. Email cover letter and resume to talent@vtadultlearning.org

We presently have two Board of Trustee openings – 1 Attorney Member and 1 Community Member. Preferred candidates have financial or development expertise, but not required. Our main board meets quarterly; subcommittees as needed.

To be eligible for the Attorney Member vacancy, a candidate must be:

• A legal Vermont resident;

• Admitted to practice law in Vermont (and in good standing);

• Appointed by the board of managers of the Vermont Bar Association.

To be eligible for the Community Member vacancy, a candidate must be:

• A legal vermont resident;

• Understand the needs of low-income Vermonters; and

• Represent an underserved community, if possible.

To apply to join the VLA Board of Trustees, please send your resume and a statement of interest (including details regarding meeting the above requirements and your reasons for wanting to join the VLA Board of Trustees) to hiring@vtlegalaid.org by Monday, November 18, 2024.

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 & individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free workplace. Please read our commitment to diversity & inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/diversity-inclusion

1 7/2/24 12:52 PM

Executive Director

The Recovery Partners of Vermont is recognized as one of the nation’s leading statewide peer-recovery support systems for individuals recovering from Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders. Our network of community recovery centers and residences offers safe and supportive environments for individuals seeking recovery, as well as their families and friends. Our dedicated recovery workers provide peer support, trauma informed evidence-based services, educational programs, and recovery coaching to help individuals rebuild their lives.

Summary:

The Executive Director will provide strong leadership, support statewide recovery organizations, and represent Recovery Partners of Vermont at various levels. The role requires a commitment to peer-based recovery-oriented and strength-based approaches. Duties must be performed in accordance with safety, legal, and regulatory standards, as well as the organization's culture and business practices.

Full time, Benefits:

• Dental and Eye Care Insurance

• Health Insurance

• Professional Development Support

If interested in this position a cover letter and resume should be sent to Gary De Carolis, Executive Director, Recovery Partners of Vermont at: gary@vtrecoverynetwork.org. For questions, please call Gary at 802-310-5255. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 8, 2024.

For a full job description go to vtrecoverynetwork.org

PROGRAMMING ASSOCIATE

Organization Overview: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is a leading not-for-profit business organization dedicated to advancing Vermont’s economy. We advocate for businesses, build community, and provide valuable resources statewide. Our enterprise includes the Vermont Chamber of Commerce 501(c)6 and the Vermont Chamber Foundation 501(c)3 dba The Vermont Futures Project, which aims to create a datainformed Economic Action Plan for the state.

Position Overview: The Programming Associate provides support for the organization’s overall strategy around programming and events, ensuring that all programs and events are executed with the Chamber’s mission and industry-specific objectives for members top of mind. This role provides businesses with tremendous value by producing content-rich events focused on policy and industry trends. We are looking for a team player with strong organizational skills who can manage many events and programs simultaneously and understands that a successful business community is important to the economic health of Vermont.

Ideal candidate will support Senior Director of Programming in the following ways:

• Assist with the development of content for events, finding inspiration and ideas from local and national news, emerging trends, and other industry events and tradeshows

• Assist with event promotion and print and digital graphics needs and web content

• Demonstrate an ability to adhere to a budget and meet expected financial targets for attendance, ticket sales, exhibitor booths and sponsorships

• Manage a calendar of events and work toward flawless execution

• Work with event and program sponsors to ensure agreements are fulfilled and executed

• Negotiate contracts with venues, service providers and other vendors as needed

• Manage the registration process and necessary database work to ensure a clear and concise customer experience

• Coordinate staff participation at events

• Manage on-site event logistics and technology and respond efficiently and effectively to challenges that may arise

• Coordinate speaker logistics to ensure content development matches the overall goal of the event

• Assist with the development and execution of all on-site branding of the organization leading up to and during the event

• Execute an effective event follow-up strategy to include surveys and other tools for continuous improvement

• Provide specific attention and support to our manufacturing industry sector by coordinating and implementing manufacturing industry related programming across the enterprise

Education and Experience:

• Experience with event management and logistics or similar field is preferred

• Experience working in or with the manufacturing sector is preferred

• Exceptional customer service, communication, and writing skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, databases, and willingness to learn new applications is required

• Demonstrated ability to be highly organized with impeccable attention to detail

Work Environment and Application:

This position is hybrid-remote with at least one day a week at the Berlin office. This position requires occasional in-state travel and will require work outside of traditional office hours to execute events. Interested candidates should send a cover letter with LinkedIn profile and resume to jobs@vtchamber.com

Mission Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to advancing the Vermont economy. Trusted by the businesses that make living, working, and thriving in Vermont possible, we prioritize collaboration and uphold the core values that define our state.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Belief

Statement: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce believes in supporting a vibrant economy through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to breaking down systemic barriers, promoting acceptance, and ensuring a welcoming business environment. Vermont’s economic growth and prosperity depend on our ability to embrace all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, geographic location, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day? Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT to continue BHA’s success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low-income families and individuals.

We are currently hiring for the following positions:

Building Operations Technician:

Performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies.

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.

Rental Assistance Specialist: Assists in the operation of all rental assistance vouchers, including tenant and project based vouchers and grant funded rental assistance programs. This position works primarily with program participants to perform annual and interim recertification of household information.

Resident Manager at South

Square: Attends to various resident requests, assisting with emergency service, and light cleaning duties. The Resident Manager is required to live on property. The Resident Manager is provided with an apartment and along with free utilities in exchange for being on call after BHA business hours and on weekends.

*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!

Find more about these career opportunities: burlingtonhousing.org.

Our robust benefit package includes premium medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short & long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer & 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 opportunity?

Send cover letter/resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org

Human Resources

Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Central Clinical Educator (CCE)

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) in St. Johnsbury is looking for a Central Clinical Educator (CCE) to help us elevate our nursing education. We want to hear from you if you’re passionate about mentoring and supporting healthcare professionals.

What You’ll Do: Manage our mandatory education programs and nursing orientation. Ensure compliance with training requirements. What We’re Looking For: An RN graduate (BSN required/MSN preferred) with at least 3 years of nursing experience. We offer competitive pay and excellent benefits, such as student loan repayment, and generous paid time off. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact in your community, apply today! We can’t wait to welcome you to our team!

Apply now at www.nvrh.org/careers.

Maintenance Technician

NG Advantage is an energy company that is looking for an experienced maintenance professional to join our team. Maintenance technicians support our operations and clients by ensuring that equipment at our Milton, Vermont compression station and our customer sites is operating effectively and efficiently on a 24/7 basis.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Hands-on maintenance of a high-pressure natural gas compression station, off-loading stations, transportation trailers and related equipment

Qualifications:

• 5 years’ experience maintaining heavy industrial equipment showing strong mechanical skills and knowledge

• A proven track record of punctuality and dependability, and the ability to work independently

• Must be able to perform duties without supervision

• Ability to read and comprehend equipment manuals and mechanical drawings, wiring, and control diagrams.

• Must be able to lift up to 75 lbs.

• NG Advantage will provide the appropriate tools and professional training on our equipment.

Full Benefit Package includes:

• Company paid Life, Long Term Disability and Vision insurance

• Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance

• Voluntary Insurance including Supplemental Life, Short Term Disability, Critical Illness and Accident

• 401(k) with match, generous combined time off, holidays and annual bonus program

Apply online: ngadvantage.bamboohr.com/ careers/92?source=aWQ9MzU

House Manager

Spruce Peak Arts is recruiting a dynamic, organized, responsible individual to serve as our House Manager. This part time hybrid role is in person for events with remote work for volunteer recruitment and communication. If you have great interpersonal skills and enjoy working with world class artists, please send your resume to Director of Services Gracie Loggins at gloggins@sprucepeakarts.org

Full job description: sprucepeakarts.org/join

Part-time positions:

Development Coordinator

Mentoring Associate

Nightly Shelter Support

2v-SprucePeakArt103024.indd

Culinary Manager

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) addresses fundamental issues of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice and works with people to achieve economic independence. Feeding Champlain Valley, a program of CVOEO, believes that access to food is a human right and works to alleviate hunger by feeding people and cultivating opportunities.

Feeding Champlain Valley has an opening for a Culinary Manager. In this position you will oversee kitchen operations, meal production and distribution, and supervise the Food Truck and Meal Production Supervisor. Ensure all food safety standards are being met, provide period reporting, and create and monitor budget and expenses for food, supplies and equipment, and maintain records of invoices for purchases.

Requirements:

An Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts or 3-5 years of professional culinary experience required, supervisory experience preferred. Current ServSafe accreditation (proctor/instructor, dual role preferred); experience including, but not limited to program management, planning and organizing projects; effective verbal and written communication skills (bilingual abilities a plus!). Occasional nights and weekends. Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, a reliable means of transportation and the ability to drive within CVOEO’s service area.

Apply online: cvoeo.org/careers

CVOEO IS AN E.O.E.

Union Representative

The Vermont State Employees’ Association Seeks Experienced Union Representative

Join Vermont’s most dynamic independent statewide union. VSEA is a democratic and increasingly activist union, where 20 dedicated union staff work hand in hand with approximately 6,000 members across Vermont to confront and combat workplace and contract injustice. The important and meaningful work is conducted in one of the nation’s most politically progressive states, and the workload is manageable. VSEA’s headquarters is located in beautiful Montpelier, Vermont.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDE:

Administration and enforcement of nine (9) collective bargaining agreements negotiated by VSEA (Non-Management, Corrections, Supervisory, State Colleges, Judiciary, Defender General, Housing Authority, State’s Attorneys office and State Transport Deputies). Position responsible for case assessment, complaint and grievance activity, representation for internal employment investigations. Handles all aspects of work relating to membership services in an assigned field area, including, but not limited to responding to phone calls and e-mail inquiries in a timely manner. Responsible for research, writing, preparation and presentation of grievances filed at Step 1, 2, and 3 of the grievance process, while ensuring that deadlines are met. Prepares cases for review by the VSEA Legal Committee.

Provides professional representation in Loudermill pre-termination hearings.

Negotiates stipulation settlement agreements on behalf of members under the direction of VSEA General Counsel and Director of Field Services.

Assigned to one or more local and/or statewide labor management committees as a staff liaison, providing advocacy and support for member run labor teams.

Responsible for regular worksite visits, and member contact in assigned territory or unit. Works with Chapter members and leadership to build union visibility and strength. Coordinates with other departments under the direction of the

Director of Field Services or Executive Director to assist with internal organizing, recruitment of members and member leader recruitment and development. May assist in internal or external organizing projects upon request of Director of Field Services or Executive Director and in collaboration with the organizing department.

Responsible for timely processing of paperwork and monthly reports, as assigned by Director, including, but not limited to monthly case review reports, timesheets, and expense reimbursements forms.

Participation in professional development opportunities to enhance labor relations expertise and knowledge as offered or required by the Director of Field Services.

Attends meetings on behalf of VSEA as directed by the Director of Field Services or Executive Director.

May be assigned to act as a staff liaison to VSEA Standing Committee(s) or Executive Committee(s).

May be required to attend local Chapter meetings as directed by the Director of Field Services or Executive Director.

Other duties as assigned by the Director of Field Services or Executive Director.

VSEA seeks to interview dynamic candidates with a track record of commitment to the labor movement and preferably two (2) years of experience as a union representative or other relevant experience. Any applicant must have reliable transportation as daily instate travel is expected. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their resume, salary requirements, and a cover letter detailing their labor or relevant experience to vsea@vsea. org. Exceptional candidates will be scheduled for an interview.

I saw an ad for this job in the “help-wanted” section of Seven Days and thought, Hmmm, I should apply for that. But I didn’t do it right away. In the following issue, the same position was highlighted as the “Job of the Week.” I had the same positive reaction, learned more from the write-up, and decided, Oh, yes, this is the job for me. ree months later, here I am, running the beautiful Barre Opera House with operations manager Katie Gilmartin.

NATHANIEL LEW

Executive Director, Barre Opera House

fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

KYLE BRAVO

JULIANNA BRAZILL

MAT BARTON

SCORPIO

(OCT. 23-NOV. 21)

Scorpio painter Pablo Picasso has been described as a “masterfully erratic pioneer.” He influenced every art movement of the 20th century. His painting “Guernica” is a renowned anti-war statement. Though he was a communist, he amassed great wealth and owned five homes. Today, his collected work is valued at over $800 million. By the way, he was the most prolific artist who ever lived, producing almost 150,000 pieces. I nominate him to be your role model in the coming weeks. You are due for a Season of Successful Excess. Halloween costume suggestion: an eccentric, charismatic genius.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Many people believe in the existence of ghosts. If you’re not yet one of them, you may be soon. The spirit world is more open than usual to your curiosity and explorations. Keep in mind, though, that the contacts you make might not be with ghosts in the usual sense of that term. They might be deceased ancestors coming to deliver clues and blessings. They could be angels, guardian spirits or shape-shifting messengers. Don’t be afraid. Some may be weird, but they’re not dangerous. Learn what you can from them, but don’t assume they’re omniscient and infal-

lible. Halloween costume suggestion: one of your ancestors.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): When you attended kindergarten, did you ever share your delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich with friends who didn’t like the broccoli and carrots in their lunch boxes? If so, you may be well primed to capitalize on the opportunities now in your vicinity. Your generous actions will be potent catalysts for good luck. Your eagerness to bestow blessings and share your resources will bring you rewards. Your skill at enhancing other people’s fortunes may attract unexpected favors. Halloween costume suggestion: philanthropist, charity worker, or an angel who gives away peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): For you, dear Gemini, the coming weeks could be the least superstitious time ever. There will be no such thing as bad luck, good luck or weird luck. Fears rooted in old misunderstandings will be irrelevant. Irrational worries about unlikely outcomes will be disproven. You will discover reasons to shed paranoid thoughts and nervous fantasies. Speaking on behalf of your higher self, I authorize you to put your supple trust in logical thinking, objective research and rational analysis. Halloween costume suggestion: a famous scientist you respect.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Which sign of the zodiac is sexiest? Smoldering Scorpios, who are so inherently seductive they don’t even have to try to be? Radiant Leos, whose charisma and commanding presence may feel irresistible? Electrifying Aries, who grab our attention with their power to excite and inspire us? In accordance with current astrological omens, I name you Cancerians as the sexiest sign for the next three weeks. Your emotional potency and nurturing intelligence will tempt us to dive into the depths with you and explore the lyrical mysteries of intimate linkage. Halloween costume suggestion: sex god, sex goddess or the nonbinary Hindu deity Ardhanarishvara.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): In ancient Egypt, onions were precious because they symbolized the many-layered nature of life. Just as some modern people swear oaths while placing a hand on a Bible, an Egyptian might have

pledged a crucial vow while holding an onion. Would you consider adopting your own personal version of their practice in the coming weeks, Leo? It is the oath-taking season for you — a time when you will be wise to consider deep commitments and sacred resolutions. Halloween costume suggestion: a spiritual initiate or devotee.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Two of the world’s most famous paintings are the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.” Both were made by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), one of the world’s most famous painters. Yet the brilliant artist left us with only 24 paintings in total, many of which were unfinished. Why? Here are two of several reasons: He worked slowly and procrastinated constantly. In the coming months, Virgo, I feel you will have resemblances to the version of da Vinci who created “The Last Supper” and the “Mona Lisa.” Some of your best, most enduring work will bloom. You will be at the peak of your unique powers. Halloween costume suggestion: Leonardo da Vinci or some great maestro.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): “When you are faced with a choice between two paths, it’s always better to take the most difficult one.” What!? No! That’s not true! A shamanic psychotherapist gave me that bad advice when I was young, and I am glad I did not heed it. My life has been so much better because I learn from joy and pleasure as much as from hardship. Yes, sometimes it’s right to choose the most challenging option, but on many occasions, we are wise to opt for what brings fun adventures and free-flowing opportunities for creative expression. That’s what I wish for you right now. Halloween costume suggestion: a hedonist, a liberator, a bliss specialist.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Keith Richards, guitar player for the Rolling Stones since 1962, is a gritty, rugged man notorious for his rowdy carousing. Lots of observers predicted he would die at a young age because of his boisterous lifestyle, yet today he is 81 years old and still partying. But here’s his confession: “I never sleep alone. If there is no one to sleep next to, I’ll sleep next to a stuffed animal. It makes me feel secure and safe. It’s a little embarrassing to admit it.

It’s important to me, though.” I bring this up, Sagittarius, because I feel that no matter how wild and free you are, you will be wise to ensure that you feel extra secure and supported for a while. Halloween costume suggestion: a stuffed animal or a lover of stuffed animals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Halloween offers us a valuable psychological opportunity. We can pretend to perform our shadowy, wounded and unripe qualities without suffering the consequences of literally acting them out. We can acknowledge them as part of our makeup, helping to ensure they won’t develop the explosive, unpredictable power that repressed qualities can acquire. We may even gently mock our immature qualities with sly humor, diminishing the possibility they will sabotage us. All that’s a preamble for my Halloween costume suggestion for you: a dictator or tyrant. If you have fun playing with your control-freak fantasies, you will be less likely to over-express them in real life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Paganism and astrology have key affinities. For instance, they both understand that our personal rhythms are connected with the Earth’s cycles. I bring this to your attention because we are in the season that pagans call Samhain, halfway between the equinox and solstice. For Aquarians, this festival marks a time when you are wise to honor and nurture your highest ambitions. You can generate fun and good fortune by focusing on lofty goals that express your finest talents and offer your most unique gifts. How might you boost your passion and capacity to make your mark on the world? Halloween costume suggestion: your dream career.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): I like how you are opening, widening and heightening! Keep up the good work, Pisces! I am cheering you on as you amplify, stretch, augment and burgeon. Here’s a small alert, though: You may be expanding so fast and so far that it’s a challenge for less expansive people to keep up — even your allies. To allay their worries, be generous in sharing the fruits of your thriving spaciousness. Let them know you don’t require them to match your rate of growth. You could also show them this horoscope. Halloween costume suggestion: a broader, brighter, bolder version of yourself.

Sadie Chamberlain, a senior at Saint Michael’s College, wrote a fantastical play about her life with a disability. Chamberlain has cerebral palsy, and in A Taste of Freedom, she sings, dances and acts. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger saw a rehearsal of the show, which runs November 6 through 9.

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com

WOMEN seeking...

WONDERING64

I live a simple life, closely connected to the Earth and wanting to make a difference in the well-being of humanity, even if in a small way. I enjoy walks in the woods, reading, music, dinner with family and friends, gardening, good food and rural Vermont life, and more. I value honest communication, open-mindedness and care for oneself. Justme63 64, seeking: M, l

WALKS UPRIGHT, LITERATE, BE REAL

Quirk-enabled, big-hearted widow of three-plus years seeking amenable companionship. Bullies, hot dogs, egotists need not apply. Scrabble maven, math wonk, always learning. Have a decent brain; not afraid to use it. Crazy for theater, music and the arts. You? Authenticity, kindness, humor and a lively curiosity are what I find attractive. Friendship, first and foremost. Looking forward to meeting you. allycat, 70, seeking: M

KIND SOUL SEEKING AFFECTIONATE RELATIONSHIP

I would love to find someone who has time for a relationship and knows how to have a good time. I like to travel and enjoy being with my friends. Bambee, 54, seeking: M, l

LAID-BACK, FUN WOMAN

Single, fun woman looking for someone to do things with. Hstwinz 46, 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

KIND WOMAN LOOKING FOR SAME

Hi, I moved to Vermont from New York last year to live near my daughter. I haven’t really met too many people. I’m kind of a homebody, especially in the winter. I’d like to spend it snuggling with someone special. Alone2Long 61, seeking: W, Cp, l

THE MERRY WIDOW

I’m a curious and fun-loving woman with a craving for deep connection through laughter and shared values, not to mention great food, lively conversation, wordplay and a mean game of pickleball. Nature is my church. I’m competent at all the usual Vermont outdoor activities. If humor and wit are your North Star, let’s talk (and laugh). Naturesoul, 66 seeking: M, l

IT’S CUFFING SEASON!

What are the rules of cuffing season? Be mindful of your desire for a relationship. Be clear about what you’re seeking in the long and short term. Define your relationship. Don’t make plans too far in advance. Prepare for the holidays. Set healthy emotional and physical boundaries. Don’t ghost the relationship. Roadtripingdestinations 66, seeking: M, l

A FORM OF PSEUDO-ANONYMOUS

CONNECTION

All humans are chaos gremlins — it’s about finding the ones who meld with you. lelapin, 37 seeking: M, l

ECHO

Companionship for an outdoor enthusiast. Hiking, bicycling, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are my go-to activities; however, I have an adventurous spirit, open to other outdoor activities. echo65 59, seeking: M, l

FUN WOMAN SEEKING PLAYMATE

Sixty and new to Vermont, looking for other fun women for hiking, kayaking, exploring; or music, films and dinner.

I live globally but am also a rooted, down-to-earth former organic farmer. Teacher, learner, avid environmentalist. In need of new buddies for fun and adventure, and if the vibes are right perhaps a lover. Friends first. Majinamwezi 61 seeking: W, l

PLAYFUL, THOUGHTFUL, OBSERVANT, HYBRID

I love cleverness and discussing ideas. I appreciate humility, wisdom and smilers. I avoid the conventional and am enlivened by those with a childlike love of learning and discovery. I love cooking, eating out, movies, biking, small-venue music, lectures, art, travel, walking my dog, Ping-Pong. I love children, animals, trees, vanishing points, windows. I value authenticity and ethical decisions. Periwinkle, 61, seeking: M, l

WOODS-LIVER WANNABE

Work hard, play hard, life is short. I want to meet people, have new experiences and adventures. I appreciate all things small, whether it is a tiny snail in the forest or a kind gesture. redrocks 44, seeking: M

WEEKDAYS RHODE ISLAND, WEEKENDS VERMONT

I live in Rhode Island and find myself in Vermont on weekends. I lived in Colorado for 19 years, and I love being in the woods. My dog is my shadow and follows me everywhere. We’re outdoors during the day and cooking or reading with tea or a hard cider at night. Commitment to community is important to me. tracyinnewengland 59, seeking: M, l

LAID-BACK, EASYGOING GRANDMA

I still have lots of life to give one special man. I enjoy my family and my grandkids. Hoping to find someone to spend some time together, to go to Maine or country towns to shop, or a country fair. The sky is the limit. I don’t need a caretaker — need a warm, loving man looking for the same. Mariond, 66, seeking: M, l

PHOTOGRAPHER/MUSICIAN, DOGS, OUTDOORS, CHILL

I am an amateur photographer looking for a guy (26-45) who is also interested in photography. Looking for someone who could go on location with me, hike trails, climb mountains and explore the better points of the state while looking for the perfect shot. And later, cracking a beer to celebrate. I am a musician, animal lover, slim, attractive blonde. Houston123m, 37 seeking: M, l

CURIOUS, ADVENTUROUS, SILLY AND OUTDOORSY!

I love being outside and exploring in nature, especially for off-the-beatenpath swimming holes. (In winter, too!) I’m a very curious and engaging person and definitely crave that in a partner. Being silly at times, dancing and singing are cool with me. At the same time, self-awareness is key! You get the idea, right? seejrun 58, seeking: M, l

NEXT CHAPTER, NEW ADVENTURES

Fit, active, outdoorsy and fun sixtysomething woman looking for male partner to share new adventures. Retired and enjoy winter snow sports, hiking, biking, riding horses, gardening and traveling. I’m game to explore new places and experience new adventures. If you are kind and compassionate, active and outdoorsy, fun and friendly, love animals, open and honest, then let’s connect. Vermont1978, 68, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

A FRIEND AND THEN

Hello. Brand new to Burlington and looking for a cool, outgoing, fun female friend. Professional, cleancut guy, outgoing, sarcastic, pretty intelligent. A friend first would be great, and if things progress, even better. Active guy, no drugs, drink very little, like my job, like new experiences. Chance05401, 50, seeking: W

MEET IN PERSON

Active, athletic, well-rounded, artistic, professional. Enjoy outdoors, hiking, biking, walks and cooking. Would meet over lunch. If all goes well, we’ll go for a dinner date and take it from there. nyu2vt 64, seeking: W, l

BIG HEART SEEKS CONNECTION

Chaotically building a life for myself. Really looking for new faces — small town southern Vermonter. I would love an excuse to leave town. Most of the action is up north. Active, funny, easygoing, gift of gab, love to talk and walk. Let’s have a good conversation and a fun connection. IDONTWANT 33 seeking: W

LAID-BACK. TRAVELER, FUN, OUTDOORS. Just looking for a connection with someone. Frenchmen15 59, seeking: W, l

PASSIONATE, LIVELY AND LOVE

LAUGHING

I love hearing stories people tell about their journey and want to learn yours. I crave emotional intimacy, hugs, sharing as many belly laughs as possible. I love the outdoors (but don’t ski). Fabulous (if somewhat immodest) cook and get great joy out of nurturing. I read. I write personal essays. I love dogs, hope to find a rescue soon.

LaughAndBeHappy 71, seeking: W, l

TAKE A CHANCE

Hope to meet someone who can carry a conversation and enjoys traveling. Hopeful, not desperate. Hopeful6559, 65, seeking: M, W

NATURE LOVER

I am an active, youngish man, who would like to meet someone for various adventures. I am funny, honest, fit and smart. A nice date would be a hike, enjoying the surroundings, then some good food, maybe look at the stars. Sense of humor and honesty are two important things in a partner. Communication skills and open-mindedness, also. niceguy123 58, seeking: W, l

SEEKING LIFELONG PARTNER

I am a young, energetic 77-y/o male. Taking care of my health is very important to me. I work out some and do not smoke or drink alcohol. My work background is in social services and college teaching. I presently teach history and human rights courses at Champlain College. My wife died of cancer two years ago. Ed609 77, seeking: W, l

OLD-SCHOOL

Honestly, did not want to try this, yet it seems all roads lead to this path. SeeksCompanion, 53, seeking: W

EASYGOING, ORGANIZED, KIND, LONELY

Looking for a woman to share good times with, watch TV, fix dinner for, share conversation and friendship. Enjoy going for rides on backcountry roads, looking for wildlife to photograph. Eaglelover 82, seeking: W, l

SENIOR CURIOUS

Hello. oreo1997 80 seeking: W, l

ADULT COMPANIONSHIP

I’m a simple guy who misses pleasuring a woman and enjoying her company. I’m easy to look at and fun and funny to be around. oneonone 60 seeking: W

OPINIONATED BUT LOVEABLE

Active, fit, outdoor/indoor type of guy. Making a difference, no matter how small, every day. Play acoustic guitar, enjoy golf as a “hike and a game,” not a religion! Travel is important. Don’t need “things.” Don’t have to be a priority, but don’t want to be an afterthought. What do you think: Give it a go?

Pastabilities18 78, seeking: W, l

EASYGOING COUNTRY BOY

I’m laid-back, easygoing. I like people to be comfortable and enjoyable without feeling pressure, besides having fun. Country445578, 46, seeking: W

SWM, 55, SEEKING FWB RELATIONSHIP

Seeking the right younger or older female for fun and pleasure. Let’s have fun and explore each other. If things go well, I’m open to a LTR. Take a chance? FWBFun802, 58, seeking: W

CRIBBAGE.YAHTZEE. HUMOR. COOKING. MUSIC. See above. Pfred71 71, seeking: W, l

OLD-SCHOOL, CHIVALROUS, LAID-BACK

I consider myself to be an honest, caring and respectful guy. I’m at the age where I do not let the little things get to me. I enjoy the life I am living and would enjoy having someone to share it with. My dog is a big part of my life, so another dog lover or owner would be great. rk65 58 seeking: W, l

ALWAYS READY FOR ENJOYABLE MOMENTS

I find it difficult to answer the question about ethnicity or ancestry in such generalized terms. To limit this to such generalized categories feels like I’m being asked to choose between my Indigenous ancestors of this continent where I am located and those of my European or African ancestors. I’m Métis. Very mixed and diverse over the past 450 years. OnTheRoad1stCousin 62, seeking: W, l

SOFT SOUL STONE BODY

Seeking new friendships with shared intent to flirt. Any intimacy only following chemistry for me, thanks. You: Kind, strong, grown woman — age and body type unimportant because we really are all beautiful. Me: Kind, emotionally and financially secure, athletic AF cis man of fabulous contradictions, educated redneck feminist, weed-smoking competitive athlete, serious and silly in turn. Hardbodysoftsoul, 47 seeking: W, l

GENDER NONCONFORMISTS seeking...

BEWARE! CHILDLESS CAT LADY AHEAD ADHDled, ailurophilic, alliterative, autodidactic acolyte of the resident demigoddesses seeks similar for socialization. Long-term, platonic friendship with humanoids is my goal. Stuff I like: gawking at the night sky; sunsets over Lake Champlain; gardening; films/TV shows about postapocalyptic, dystopian societies; Scrabble; art; music; peoplewatching on Church Street; volunteering; etc. Not looking for a sugar parent, but I am a pauper. Alas. Ailurophile 64 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Gp, l

AFFECTIONATE, CURIOUS, MELLOW TRAIL TABBY

Playful cat looking for friend(s) to purr with. This kitty likes outdoorsy stuff like hiking, camping, kayaking. Cuddling in front of a fire, dates and chilling out are faves in winter. This bicat is great with black, white, calico, torties and compatible with M/W/TW/TM/GM/ NC and curious, playful CP’s. Tall, thin kitties purrferred but good cattitude helps make this one meow. HikerKat 58 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, NC, Cp, l

COUPLES seeking...

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are an older and wiser couple discovering that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Would you be interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen, 68, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

BRUNETTE SOCIAL WORKER AT LAUNDROMAT

Saw you helping a client today with the laundry process. You seemed really nice, calm, patient, and cute! I didn’t want to try and talk to you while you were working, but I wanted to talk to you. Maybe you’ll see this and send me a message? Maybe a colleague will see this and point you in my direction? When: Monday, October 28, 2024. Where: Laundromat. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916161

BEAUTIFUL MAN WITH CAR TROUBLES

You: Beautiful man, wearing painted shorts, working on a red convertible by the chiropractor. Me: Silver fox in a ﬂowy brown dress, unable to take my eyes off you while waiting for my appointment. When you get her up and running, want to take me for a ride? When: Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Where: South Burlington, by the DMV. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916084

SISTERS AT MONKEY HOUSE

Sat at the bar and was surprised to see you again, A, after Waterworks! Always fun to live through a serendipitous moment. To your sister: Hope you had a good night with your friend. Didn’t intend to Irish exit but you seemed super involved with your friend and didn’t want to bother! When: Saturday, October 26, 2024. Where: Monkey House, Winooski. You: Group. Me: Man. #916160

BAND-AID AT THE RESERVOIR

Hi — You were eating dinner at the big table with family. You are hilarious and fun. You had a root beer ﬂoat. As you were leaving, you gave me a Band-Aid while emptying your pockets. I didn’t get a chance to give you my number. Would love to talk again. When: Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Where: e Reservoir restaurant, Waterbury. You: Woman. Me: Nonbinary person. #916159

LOOKING BACK

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

Being together was like basking in awkwardness until you’re giddy. You saw the measure of my soul. My days have been nothing more than dreams, faint impressions of living. I try to write, to read, and wonder what you would think about everything. When: Sunday, August 11, 2024. Where: everywhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916083

CUTE GUY, MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE

You looked familiar, wearing Blundstones, khaki shorts, a belt and a polo shirt. I was wearing denim booty shorts and a colorful Western-style shirt with cutouts, plus some dangly earrings. We chatted brieﬂy by the fan downstairs during the break with a couple of your friends. Would love to dance next time. When: Saturday, August 3, 2024. Where: Capital City Grange Hall. You: Man. Me: Man. #916082

TWIRLING AT DEAD SET

You: Tall, handsome man with white hair and a red(?) ball cap. Me: Short, dancing woman with sparkly pants. I bumped into you while considering a twirl. You were kind and gracious. Want to twirl with me sometime? When: Friday, October 25, 2024. Where: Higher Ground. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916158

COSTCO AFTERNOON

We smiled at each other while shopping, then left at the same time. We exchanged names as we were leaving but not numbers. Would you like to meet again?

When: Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Where: Costco. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916081

REGROUP, TRY AGAIN

Tim: You appear to be in the wrong timeline. Go back to Tuesday, November 6, 2018, 6 p.m. We’ll meet you at the Millennium sculpture. When: Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Where: Not at the drop point. You: Man. Me: Man. #916075

PEANUT BUTTER DOWN!

To the beautiful woman who saw me drop and break a jar of peanut butter in the City Market checkout line — I really hope to see your smile again. I’ll say hi next time. When: ursday, October 24, 2024. Where: City Market. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916156

RECHARGED BUT WARY

Lucy, why November 6, 2018? I am not political. Who will be meeting me? I have to warn you that I keep my cowboy hat on. A long walk and a hug would make the trip for me. Why don’t we meet on May 20, 2039? When: Saturday, August 10, 2024. Where: Halos R US. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916080

SMILES AND WINE

An early Saturday morning at Costco. I admired your car - you made a joke about going topless with three pedals. You asked about the wine in my cart. Your punny humor was contagious, and I can’t stop thinking I should have invited you to meet up to drink some of that wine with me. Maybe? When: Saturday, October 5, 2024. Where: Costco. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916155

PIZZA TOSSER

Do the ﬂames from your pizza oven scatter the blue light across your irises? Or were you born deep inside a glacier? If you’ll be my ice queen, I’ll be your white walker. When: Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Where: Mt. Ellen. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916079

GOD BLESS THE NERDS

Some of you really know how to treat a person, and that one interaction almost restored my whole faith in humanity. May you have the best surprise of your life soon! When: ursday, October 24, 2024. Where: e hole-in-the-wall. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916154

WORKING AT MINIFACTORY

You were studious and stupendous in your glasses and green sweater-vest. You caught my attention so much so that I was ready to abandon my meeting at the next table (facing you, with a beard) to come say hi. I didn’t, though, ‘cause professionalism and whatnot,

AND SHE IS LOYAL

I can think of only a handful of people I consider as loyal as I am, and you are now one of them. I am not complacent and will work on my issues. I am hopelessly in love with the “you” who communicates with me in dreams. You are my missing piece, my other half, isn’t it clear? When: Friday, August 9, 2024. Where: Atacama, NYC, Sydney, Victoria. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916077

BROOK ROAD

At 4:30 on the Brook Road in Middlesex. You had on a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants, out working in a ﬂower bed next to the road. anks for making my day. Nice to see a beautiful lady playing in the dirt. When: Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Where: Middlesex. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916153

DROPS OF JUPITER

As the storm passed, we met in the re-forming line. You wore a pink tank top and have blond hair. You told me a funny story about an event staff member. Your friend commented it was a rare night out for her. We crossed paths in the venue and enjoyed the show together. At one point my hand touched yours. When: Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Where: Train concert at Shelburne Museum. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916076

DREAMY COMMUTER GIRL

I hopped on the bus on Shelburne Road, near the motel, heading downtown. I sat up front. en two ladies with pushcarts boarded. So I moved two rows back to afford them room. As I looked to my right, I met your eyes. You had dark hair, a pair of dark-rimmed glasses that accentuated your natural beauty. When: Monday, October 21, 2024. Where: No. 6 bus. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916152

GORGEOUS DAY AT LITTLE RIVER

You were starting a hike, I was ending a hike with a friend. You said it was a gorgeous day. I said it was beautiful, but should have added that you were as well in your green jacket and tortoiseshell glasses. Let’s see each other again and go on a hike! When: Saturday, October 19, 2024. Where: Little River State Park. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916150

ALEXANDRIA THE GREAT

e most intriguing person I’ve encountered in my travels. A fascinating mind and brilliant sense of humor. You’re doing good, important work in this community and have so many unexpected, remarkable stories to tell about the life you’ve lived. Breathtakingly gorgeous and the best dancer at the show, to top it all off. I think you deserve the world. When: ursday, August 1, 2024. Where: standing in a shaft of light. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916074

FUN FRIDAY COMMUTE

We were at the red light, blue VW Tiguan, by the hospital in Berlin. Both our Friday pump-up jams going. You waved to me, white Subaru mullet guy with glasses. We shared a fun moment. You got off at exit 8 to Montpelier and we made eye contact and smiled at each other. Hit me up? (Platonic is cool, too!) When: Friday, August 2, 2024. Where: Berlin hospital/Airport intersection. You: Man. Me: Man. #916073

HOLE-IN-THE-WALL

You’re the friend of a mutual friend’s sister. I noticed you across the outdoor patio at a little hole-in-the-wall, and made it a point to talk to you that night. I ended up two-stepping with you in my living room. I spied the love of my life that night. When: Saturday, August 31, 2019. Where: At a hole-in-the-wall. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916149

CUTE “HASHER” AT KETTLE POND

Saw you at the boat launch and your friend came over to say you liked my look. I was a little shy; you were a little shy. I think you’re wicked cute, allegedly you think I am, too. Wish I got your number, but we were in the water! Let’s go for a paddle or bike ride on the causeway? When: Saturday, August 3, 2024. Where: Kettle Pond boat launch. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916072

EYE CONTACT AT LIZ COOPER

but would very much appreciate saying hi in real life. When: Monday, October 21, 2024. Where: Minifactory in Bristol. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916151

De Paul Eyana,

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Nothing is perfect. e only way to have a “perfect” life is to let go of the idea that such a thing exists. No matter what outward appearances may be, no one leads an existence of only ups and no downs. Even Beyoncé has baloney to battle with, ya dig? at doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim for getting everything you want out of life, but you need to ﬁgure out how to be happy along the way.

You: Blue denim dress, short brown hair. Me: Tall, blond. Prolonged smiley eye contact across the room. On the way out, you came over with a friend, but I was caught in conversation with another girl. Not a player, just poor timing. When: ursday, October 17, 2024. Where: Nectar’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916148

To do that, one of the most important tools to have is a sense of humor. Life can really throw some shit at you.

Being able to laugh in the face of adversity makes it much easier to get through.

You also need to take care of your body and mind. You don’t have to be crazy about it, but move yourself around once in a while. Go out for a walk. Ride a bike. Do some meditation, and be sure to get enough rest. Whatever happens, don’t freak out. Stress is a killer.

It’s also very important not to compare yourself to others. ere will always be someone smarter, richer and more handsome than you. Be grateful for what you have. Remember that at any given moment, someone out there is wishing to have a life as “perfect” as yours is right now.

Good luck and God bless,

What’s your problem? Send it to

76-y/o male seeking a female. Widower, Burlington resident, gardener, ﬁsherman and writer wants to meet you for dinner, movies, events and conversation. You: Old, kind, no issues. Possible friendship, LTR. I don’t watch football. #L1807

I’m a sweet, ﬁt, busy 48-y/o DILF type seeking a 28-68-y/oish woman who wants some more affection in her life. Let’s have a great evening together every month and share good memories and joyful anticipation in between. #L1806

T-girl? Transgender? CD? Gay? I’m a dom, so looking for subs, thanks. #L1799

I’m a GWM looking for a bisexual woman for playtime with bi male for a threesome. Good fun, easygoing, hot sex. Call or text. #L1805

SWM, bi, seeking guys for fun. Any race. I’m 6’1”, 175 lbs. Clean, safe and discreet. Love being a bottom. Respond with a phone number. #L1804

I’m a SWM seeking a Black couple, both bi. I’m clean, a nonsmoker and don’t drink. Would like a weekly meet, on weekends. My place is private. I only date Black men and women. Age no problem. Phone. Serious. #L1802

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LE ERS:

Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.

MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check (made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH

YOUR

MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above.

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

Handsome SWM, young-looking 60, yearning for a woman’s connection and intimacy. Seeking friendly relations with slim-average 45-60, kind, smart, respectful, humorous, playful. Activities indoors and outdoors — dinners, talks, walks, nature, TV, entertainment, day trips, overnights, spontaneity, hobbies, more. #L1803

Mid-60s, SWM, 6 ft., 175 lbs. Looking for a forever romance but just meeting with new friends can work, too! Extremely romantic and passionate! I stay active as I run, hike, bike; play golf, tennis and pickleball; and work out at the Edge. Full of spontaneity and love dancing, travel. I will love you snuggling in my arms always as I shower you with love and romance! #L1801

I’m a 54-y/o male seeking a 50- to 60-y/o female. Looking for an honest person. Sex is less important. I enjoy taking walks, soft rock and movies, in or out. Love to go out to eat. No drugs, no smoking. #L1800

SWM, 69, seeking a SF. I am warm, friendly, clean and respectful, seeking a LTR. Just an ordinary guy looking for same. Phone number, please. #L1798

SWM, 55, seeking Barbie with brains. FWB/NSA relationship and open to a LTR. Seeking any woman, younger or older, for fun play. Please send a picture and contact info. I’m looking for

Int net-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness le ers. DETAILS BELOW.

one woman for a special time together. #L1797

Marshmallow enthusiast, wildﬂower gazer, sort-of seamstress, ex-librarian seeks someone who enjoys literature and going outside. I’m a 37-y/o woman; you’re a person in your 30s or early 40s. I’m nerdy but cool. Are you? #L1794

I’m a male, 65, seeking a female. Respectful, warm, friendly, would like to ﬁnd a female to share some life with. Dining in as well as out. Likes music. Please send phone number. #L1790

I’m a SWM looking for a large Black man to engage in sexual copulation with. I am a humanist and very open to exploring the physical limitations of my ﬂesh suit. HIV+ OK. Males only, please. #L1792

I’m a GM, mid-60s, seeking a SM, 70s, passionate. Enjoy many activities: nature walks, camping. Let’s talk, hopefully meet. #L1791

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)

SWF, 55, seeks companionship. Former classical pianist of 13 years, well read, vegetarian, studied in Geneva, Switzerland and Paris. I have a good sense of humor. Music a must: vintage Bowie, folk, Celtic. I’m also a childless cat person! #L1788

I’m a SWF, 62 y/o, in central Vermont, seeking a SM, 57-67 y/o, for possible LT relationship. Hoping to meet someone who also loves balanced ecosystems, great food and drink, honest conversations, and the good chores of each season. #L1789

Abstract portrait artist in need of a discreet female model (18-28). #L1795

A “love letter” would infer that we have met. Love letters started in the 1800s. Love letters ended in 2002 with the success of email. Let’s turn back the clock. I’m a 63-y/o male. Physically ﬁt, healthy lifestyle, enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer. Cheers to us. #1786

Required conﬁdential info:

NAME

ADDRESS

ADDRESS (MORE)

MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402

OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

Did you make connections at last Saturday’s Tech Jam? We did!

More than 1,000 people trekked to Hula’s lakeside tech campus in Burlington last Saturday to talk with 50-plus employers. Also on o er at Tech Jam: demonstrations from Vermont’s FIRST robotics community, professional headshots from Storyworkz and resume reviews from the Targeted Resume. BETA Technologies operated flight simulators outdoors and inside, where Tech Jam attendees could try to fly the company’s signature all-electric plane, ALIA. Matty Benedetto brought a few of his Unnecessary Inventions to his noon keynote presentation, which drew a large crowd. Many stuck around for the final keynote featuring Roland Groeneveld and Lauren Lavallee of OnLogic — they came to the Tech Jam to recruit employees. Both talks will be available soon at techjamvt.com.

We hope you found what you were looking for. Thanks to all the sponsors, exhibitors and attendees who supported the Jam.

See you next fall!

Pre-Order a Local Turkey Today!

Let us help you select a fresh, locally-raised turkey that’s just right for your gathering. New! Add a brine kit to your pre-order for a perfectly-seasoned turkey!

Housemade Side Dishes

You can pre-order housemade side dishes, too!

Place your order by Sun, Nov 17