Seven Days, November 20, 2024 by Seven Days

Many isolated seniors struggle to care for themselves in Vermont, and resources to help them are scant BY RACHEL HELLMAN, PAGE 26

Aging Alone

emoji that

$3 million

That’s the estimated cost for the state to run two homeless family shelters for just ﬁve months, VTDigger.org reported.

COURTROOM SCOOP

Ben & Jerry’s sued parent company Unilever, alleging the multinational corporation censored its support for Palestinians. It’s out there now!

HEADING ON

TOPFIVE

NO-GUN ZONE?

Burlington ofﬁcials are reviving a decade-old effort to ban guns from city bars.

e proposal, which will appear on the Town Meeting Day ballot in 2025, is the same city charter change voters passed in 2014. But state legislators, who must authorize all charter changes, never approved it.

At their meeting on Monday — which stretched into the wee hours of Tuesday morning — councilors unanimously agreed to put the question to voters again in order to send a message to lawmakers.

“It seems very clear to me that guns and alcohol do not mix,” Councilor Gene Bergman (P-Ward 2) said.

A spate of local gun violence in recent years has spurred the council to pass various resolutions asking lawmakers to adopt stronger gun laws, to no effect. Calls to revisit the guns-in-bars issue resurfaced this summer after a fatal shooting outside Red Square on Church Street. Authorities said an altercation in Red Square led to the gunﬁre. Police have charged a woman with murder.

It’s legal in Vermont to carry concealed guns in bars, though businesses can ban them from their property. Burlington’s proposal would prohibit ﬁrearms from any venue that’s licensed to serve alcohol.

Exceptions would be made for law enforcement ofﬁcers and members of the military acting in their ofﬁcial capacities. Bar staff would also be permitted to carry guns.

In 2014, city voters approved the proposal 68 to 32 percent — more than a two-to-one margin. Bergman said he’s heard from lawmakers who believe another decisive vote could push this latest effort over the ﬁnish line.

Councilors also approved a new overtime shift for Burlington police officers during the holidays: A contract with the Burlington Police Officers’ Association will station two officers on the Church Street Marketplace at various hours between November 24 and January 1. Councilor Mark Barlow (I-North District) said the short-staffed department can’t regularly patrol downtown, where local businesses have been clamoring for a stronger police presence.

“Retail theft and public safety concerns are signiﬁcantly impacting their sales, and the impacts are getting critical for some,” Barlow said, noting the recent closures of Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas and Athleta. “Additional patrols can help this situation by responding to and deterring criminal and antisocial behavior.”

Read Courtney Lamdin’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

The UVM men’s soccer team won the America East championship and will face Iona University in the NCAA tournament. The Cats scored their seventh league title.

HELPING HAND

A new program will allow EMS workers in the Burlington Fire Department to administer the opioid medication buprenorphine to people who overdose. Hope.

ARMS AND HAMMER

U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) are calling on President Joe Biden to stop sending certain weapons to Israel. Time’s up.

4. “Ski-Town Eats: What’s New at Restaurants Near Vermont’s Slopes” by Jordan Barry & Melissa Pasanen. Our writers found four new mountain spots to try.

5. “Burlington Council Proposes Steep Fees for Vacant Buildings” by Courtney Lamdin. Councilors gave preliminary approval to a measure meant to discourage the practice of letting empty buildings languish.

did no one tell me

JUMPING FEET FIRST

Layla Hamlin has been dancing since age 2. And, since about then, she’s had a dream of performing in the Macy’s anksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

is year, her dream is becoming a reality. rough an organization called Spirit of America Productions, Layla, 13, was chosen to perform with 600 other teens during the festivities next week.

“I’m really excited to do this — and a little bit nervous to go,” Layla, who lives in Burlington, told Seven Days. “But overall, I’m excited for the entire trip.”

While the actual dance routine is just

two minutes long, the lead-up to the big day has been involved. Layla has been practicing nonstop, according to her mother, Shauncey Hamlin, and needs to leave for New York City this Friday, November 22, to practice in person with all the other teens, who are coming in from around the country. e weeklong trip also includes some downtime, Shauncey said, and the dancers will take in a Broadway show, the Rockettes, the Statue of Liberty and other tourist attractions.

Another highlight: One of the chaperones is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Layla is “over-the-moon excited for that,” Shauncey said with a laugh.

It’s a trip of a lifetime that is a culmination of years of hard work, Shauncey said. Layla dances jazz, tap, ballet and hip-hop and travels out of state many weekends for competitions. She has always had her eye on performing on the big stage, her mother said. e family has been to the anksgiving parade before — but never to watch someone they knew actually march in it. e trip is expensive; Shauncey estimated it will cost $5,000 or so. ey’ve started a GoFundMe to help pay for it. No matter what, Shauncey said, it’s worth every penny.

“It’s surreal,” she said. “It’s happening!”

SASHA GOLDSTEIN

@JacobRubashkin

Why

that the Republican who might be Vermont’s next Lieutenant Governor looks kind of like if Eric Hovde had gone to Burlington instead of Orange County?

Layla Hamlin

Red Square on Monday night

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

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

MISSING MATZOH

weak oversight of daycare in Vermont provided a ripe opportunity for a scammer.

Vermont failed trusting parents and their vulnerable children. In minimizing complaints, concerns and violations, Vermont enabled Breveleri.

How did Breveleri raise capital to start the daycare?

Why does Vermont hold early childhood educators to a far higher standard than the owner-operators of the facilities?

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

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron SALES & MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Carolann Whitesell ADMINISTRATION

Marcy Stabile

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, James Buck, Tim Newcomb, Zachary P. Stephens, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

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I’d like to add a postscript to Suzanne Podhaizer’s [“Cheddar Than Ever: The Yellow Barn Project and New Cabot Outlet Boost Tourism and Industry in Hardwick,” November 6]. In talking about some of the vendors from around the region, such as Stowe Mercantile, Sweet Rowan Farmstead and Northwoods Apiaries, she missed another local vendor. About three miles away in East Hardwick, for the past 20 years Patchwork Farm & Bakery has been baking its Everyday Matzoh, which now can be found as well at Cabot’s big Yellow Barn.

Charlie Emers EAST HARDWICK

NOVAK LISTENED

Alison Novak gave the people wronged by Scott Breveleri a voice [“Licensed to Steal? A Colchester Preschool Closed After the Owner Was Evicted — and Some Parents Say They Are Owed Thousands,” November 6].

When the state wouldn’t listen or trust the parents’ reporting, she did her due diligence and wrote a thoughtful article that captured our feelings and frustrations. I hope there is a followup now that the Morrisville center has closed, and maybe she can press the state to get answers as to how someone with a long trail of trouble can get not one but two centers open, especially after many violations [“State Shutters Troubled Childcare Center in Morrisville,” November 11].

Keep up the good work; we noticed.

Robert Couture COLCHESTER

AFTER THE ‘EXPOSÉ’

Your exposé of Scott Breveleri presents him as a swindler with a brazen ability to deceive [“Licensed to Steal? A Colchester Preschool Closed After the Owner Was Evicted — and Some Parents Say They Are Owed Thousands,” November 6].

The article mentions his high school diploma, yet there is no information on how Breveleri proved himself qualified to operate a daycare in Vermont. How does someone with a history of civil and other complaints about handyman and other work in western Massachusetts become a daycare operator in northern Vermont? The high demand for and

Why are the allegations against Breveleri considered civil instead of criminal, given his history and the scale and scope of his activities?

As a grandfather of one of the a ected children, I hope your article contributes to change, justice and restitution.

Charles Richards NEW LONDON, N.H.

EYE ON ‘COMPRISE’

I get snagged by how the word “comprise” is frequently used in Seven Days articles.

• In “Artist Melanie Brotz Has No Egrets (and Many Herons),” October 16: “Chunks of that material … comprise a few other sculptures.” I would use: constitute.

• In “Democracy 101,” October 9: “Millennials and GenZers now comprise nearly half of all eligible U.S. voters.” I say the better term is: constitute.

• In “The Ballad of Tom Banjo,” October 2: “And he still plays well enough to accompany himself on the old folk tunes and ballads that comprise Music of the Common People.” Again, my training says the term is: constitute.

In brief, my position is that the whole comprises parts, whereas parts constitute the whole.

I take issue with dictionaries that designate these words as synonymous. To the contrary, properly used, they convey di erent concepts.

Hugo

Editor’s note: Seven Days follows the guidance of Merriam-Webster, the oldest dictionary publisher in the U.S. Its definition for “comprise” includes synonyms such as “constitute.” It notes: “Although it has been in use since the late 18th century, [this sense] is still attacked as wrong,” despite the fact that “current evidence shows that it is now somewhat more common in general use than the word’s other meanings.” It warns that “you may be subject to criticism” for using it. Indeed!

Liepmann MIDDLESEX

‘CHANGED FOR THE WORSE’

Burlington has changed for the worse, yet Seven Days keeps advocating for change, as emphasized in Courtney Lamdin’s [“Downtown Dilemma: Plagued by Homelessness, Drugs and Safety Concerns, Burlington Tries to Adapt to a New Normal,” August 14.] The focus of the article is to highlight the voices of those not heard on public safety issues.

Downtown Dilemma

As a fellow Burlingtonian, it is disheartening to see an angel-guarded city become a devil drug zone. The shops I visited after school are gone faster than the eclipse; shopkeepers are unhappy, and the public does not feel heard. Public comments show concerns for public safety. A 63-year-old woman told Seven Days that she would feel unsafe downtown without a Taser. Can we blame her? A recent shooting downtown helps justify the concerns. What is concerning is that shootings are

GIFTS OF THE

• curated-gift boxes

• gift cards for jewelry making workshops & ear-piercing

• hand-crafted, Vermont-made jewelry

becoming commonplace and violence is not being addressed.

The mayor’s response amid all this chaos is focusing on areas with crime. Yet the response feels delayed; how has it taken this long to address public safety? We need to hold public leaders accountable, as they have power but refuse to work in the public interest.

Restoring Burlington’s status as Queen City is more than “adaptation.” Adapting is a temporary excuse to deflect blame; the emphasis should be on funding the police and implementing stricter laws. Choosing to adapt rather than taking accountability will inevitably lead to a failed city, as adaptability can only take us so far.

Bibek Thapa BURLINGTON

Editor’s note: The word “adapt” in the subhead of the story referenced above is neither a recommendation nor a synonym for “accept.” Publisher Paula Routly addressed this misunderstanding in an August 28 “From the Publisher” column titled “Bad News Burlington.”

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RACHEL HELLMAN

Home Run

Killington’s new independent owners include people who have skied the mountain for decades

Advocates Push to Keep Psychiatric Center Open

Beyond the Basics

Inside the classroom with Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

Weakened Senate Dems Say Property Taxes Are ‘No. 1 Priority’

Change of Command

Aging Alone

After four tumultuous years as Burlington’s top cop, Police Chief Jon Murad is leaving his post FEATURES 26

Winter Wanderland Here’s what we’re doing in Québec this season

Pros and Cons eater review: Mauritius, Moxie Productions New Community Printshop Opens in West Danville

Touring preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi’s Parsonage in Peru

Shelburne Museum Expands Winter Lights With New Installations, More Dates

Fine Print

“Diamonds and Rust” offers a posthumous survey of Bill Davison’s prints Ben Cheney at Axel’s Gallery

Find a new job in the classiﬁeds section on page 88 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE ZACHARY P. STEPHENS

SUPPORTED BY:

Preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi has restored more than 600 properties in his 60-year career. He also collects

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MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPILED BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

OPENS FRIDAY 22

Woodland Wizardry

A Forest of Lights at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee implements thousands of bulbs to turn the already impressive landscape into a whimsical winter wonderland. Folks stroll through imaginative displays, including the unmissable “snow shower tower” and jolly “mandala trees,” ending at a cozy campﬁre with hot cocoa.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

SATURDAY 23

Serenading Swifties

Swan Lake at the Flynn in Burlington and Lebanon Opera House in New Hampshire. Rooted in Russian and German folklore, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s legendary ballet sweeps audiences into the beguiling story of Odette — a cursed princess-turned-swan — through mesmeric choreography, dreamy music and decadent costuming.

craft festival at the DoubleTree hotel in South Burlington. e weekend-long event showcases stunning handmade goods, mouthwatering wines and “you don’t see that every day” specialty foods.

Tortured poets, unite! Local classical musicians take the stage for Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington for an evening of inspired pop hits. Illuminated by the lavish glow of countless candles, listeners journey through the singer-songwriter’s proliﬁc repertoire, from “Love Story” to “Fortnight.”

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

OPENS SATURDAY 23

Distilled Spirit

e Gin-ter Wonderland holiday pop-up at Barr Hill distillery in Montpelier transforms the cocktail bar into a festive paradise replete with seasonal beverages and nostalgic décor. Continuing every weekend through late January, the bar serves up a special menu of cheerful libations, including gingerbread old-fashioneds, spiced cranberry Negronis and sugar cookie-inspired punch.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

SUNDAY 24

Transcending Tradition

Laura Sánchez’s transformative one-woman show, Welcome to Holland!?, at Next Stage Arts in Putney is an immersive theatrical experience that invites viewers into a world of vulnerability and inspiration. e multidisciplinary work uses ﬂamenco dance, ﬁlm and poetry to explore themes of motherhood and immigration, while simultaneously challenging the status quo.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 71

ONGOING

Street Shots

Photographer Michael Metz’s “Would You Mind If...?” exhibition at Village Wine and Coffee in Shelburne begs reﬂection on the ever-evolving topic of privacy in public domains. e show features a captivating mix of candid portraits taken over six years — some with permission, others not so much — and toes the line between capturing authenticity and invading personal space.

schedule at the Celebrate Vermont art and

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Pepper mills by Detlev Hundsdoerfer

Newsies Unite

“Where better to escape trouble than a theater?”

So asks the charismatic Miss Medda in the musical Newsies

Where indeed? I thought to myself as I took in the Saturday matinee of Lyric Theatre’s fall production from a balcony seat at the Flynn in Burlington.

Somehow, I’d never seen the show, which was based on a musical ﬁlm and inspired by an 1899 newspaper carrier strike in New York City.

Back in those days, competition was ﬁerce between the local dailies — both for news and single-copy sales. They used armies of underage “newsboys” to hawk headlines on the street. Each would buy a stack of “papes” in the morning to sell for a penny per — or starve. Though exploitative and immoral, the arrangement was acceptable enough until New York World publisher Joseph Pulitzer decided to raise the price they paid by 20 percent.

Seven Days

NEWSIES STOP THE WORLD

That economic injustice prompted his ragtag band of independent contractors to walk o the job. Those working for the rival newspaper, William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal, joined in solidarity. During the two-week strike, circulation of both papers dropped precipitously, and in the end, the New York City newsboys negotiated a better deal.

in their stores. Their local employees have no say in the matter.

In the show, of course, they also sing and dance — a lot.

Getting Seven Days into the hands of our readers is an altogether di erent story. We still publish a print edition, with ink and paper, and the dozen-plus folks who distribute it gather at our loading dock to pick up their “papes.” But the hando happens once a week, around 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning, and everyone is a grown-up. After loading their respective cars with bundles of newspapers, they drive o in di erent directions to bring Seven Days to more than 1,000 locations across northern Vermont.

Although most of them only work one day a week for us, they are considered employees, which means they’re protected by workers’ comp insurance and subject to various payroll taxes; their names appear on the masthead on page 6. One of our most senior delivery technicians, Nat Michael, has been doing a weekly circulation route since we started the paper 29 years ago.

Perhaps most importantly: None of our delivery folks is “selling papers” — a phrase that is often hurled, cynically and erroneously, in our direction. Seven Days is free. Advertising and reader donations support our operation but don’t inﬂuence our editorial content. And, generally speaking, the places that host our racks are happy to make the paper available to their customers. If you get a chance, please thank them. And if you can’t ﬁnd Seven Days where you once did, ask a manager about it. Some grocery chains have started charging us exorbitant fees to put the paper

Seven Days produced a prop for Newsies — a four-page newsprint tabloid that showgoers picked up, along with the program, when entering the theater. On the cover, we imagined the article that Pulitzer’s ﬁctional daughter, Katherine Plumber, a leading voice in the show, might have written about the newsboy strike for the New York Sun; in Newsies she uses the power of the pen, and an underground press, to get the word out.

Our chief proofreader, Angela Simpson, created a custom crossword for the faux newspaper. And deputy publisher Cathy Resmer made a great pitch for supporting Seven Days. As she noted, circulation and logistics director Matt Weiner “doesn’t have to encourage people to take a paper — in fact, sometimes people ask him for a copy before he has had a chance to put them on the rack.”

I got a kick watching people of all ages and stripes reading the Newsies tabloid before, during and after the show. On the way out of the theater, with Plumber’s song “Something to Believe In” still ringing in my ears, I saw one young girl pluck a discarded copy out of a recycling bin.

Paula Routly

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Matt Weiner

Home Run

Killington’s new independent owners include people who have skied the mountain for decades

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN • anne@sevendaysvt.com

Dave McComb, a snowboarder who administers a Facebook group called Killington Locals+, was worried in early 2023 when he heard that POWDR, owner of Killington Resort, was selling to Alterra Mountain Company, a Denver corporation that owns 11 ski areas.

He was relieved when Killington o cials announced last summer they were headed in a di erent direction — Utah-based POWDR, a big corporation, was selling control to more than a dozen private investors, many of them locals and people who have long skied the mountain east of Rutland.

“It’s going into the hands of a few guys who really care about the mountain and want to invest in it,” said McComb, who owns vacation rentals in the Town of Killington. He’s particularly relieved the resort wasn’t purchased by Alterra, which owns Stratton and Sugarbush in Vermont, or by Vail Resorts, which owns 42 ski areas, including Vermont’s Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow.

Both Vail and Alterra have drawn complaints about overcrowding on the slopes and at parking lots, McComb noted — a situation that skiers largely blame on Alterra’s Ikon and Vail’s Epic passes, which allow skiers access to the companies’ networks of ski resorts around the world.

While Killington will continue to accept the Ikon pass, the new owners have pledged to avoid crowding problems in part by limiting use of the pass to just seven days per season, as POWDR did. Killington skiers had worried that a new corporate owner wouldn’t impose that limit.

“Great win for Vermont. Now do Stowe,” one Reddit commenter wrote of the resort’s buyers, the Killington Independence Group.

Killington opened in 1958, and S-K-I Ltd., the company formed by its founder, Preston Smith, grew to include Sunday River in Maine and Mount Snow in Vermont. In 1996, S-K-I sold Killington to the now-closed American Skiing

HEALTH CARE Advocates Push to Keep Psychiatric Center Open

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

e impending closure of a 14-person inpatient psychiatric care unit in Berlin, among other cutbacks on mental health care spending in central Vermont, will cause additional suffering for people in crisis, advocates said on Tuesday.

ey were responding to the news that the University of Vermont Health Network plans to cut tens of millions from its budget — a move that has put the psychiatric unit at Central Vermont Medical Center on the chopping block.

“People will die” as a result, said state Rep. Anne Donahue (R-Northﬁeld), who has fought for years to improve support for people with mental health conditions.

Donahue is one of ﬁve members of a psychiatric services advisory committee at CVMC who signed a letter asking the Green Mountain Care Board to stop the closure of the psychiatric unit, which is slated to happen by the end of the year.

“[It] singles out an existing health disparity group for loss of access to essential health care, all in the midst of a statewide mental health crisis,” the letter said.

Company. POWDR bought the area in 2007 and invested millions in a new lodge, new high-speed lifts, new gondola cabins and snowmaking improvements.

The ski industry has experienced years of consolidation, and it’s rare for a resort to return to private ownership.

BUSINESS

While there are still several privately owned and nonproﬁt ski areas in Vermont, including Bolton Valley Resort, Smugglers’ Notch, and Mad River Glen in Fayston, the trend has been for companies such as Alterra and Coloradobased Vail to snap up the larger resorts.

Jay Peak was sold two years ago to Paciﬁc Group Resorts in Utah.

“It bucks the trend,” David Meeker, editor in chief of the Connecticut-based Ski Area Management magazine, said of the Killington sale. Meeker lives and works in Wardsboro. “For it to go to

e move comes amid tension between the UVM Health Network, the state’s largest health care provider, and the chief health regulator, the Green Mountain Care Board. With health insurance premiums soaring, the board has been trying to ﬁnd ways to control hospital spending.

Regulators in October approved budgets for the University of Vermont Medical Center and the Central Vermont Medical Center that the network says will force it to take in about $122 million less revenue than it had proposed.

But the care board said in a statement last week that it was concerned about the announced cuts and their impact, adding that it did not approve the reductions ahead of time.

Nicole DiDomenico, a member of the psychiatric services advisory committee, said she spent eight days at the Berlin unit in 2016 and received medication and outpatient services for depression after she checked out.

“It really saved my life,” DiDomenico said.

She added that the other cuts are being phased in while the Berlin ones are happening more abruptly.

“ is is a horrible and poorly thought out decision,” she said. ➆

Rep. Anne Donahue

Killington Resort

Beyond the Basics

Inside the classroom with Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

BY ALISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver doesn’t typically teach in costume. But on Halloween morning, she arrived at Winooski High School dressed in overalls, a stuffed-animal pig sticking out of her pocket and a red bandana tied jauntily around her neck — her take on the farm girl at the center of the children’s classic Charlotte’s Web

pupils with a bright smile and a cheerful “Good morning,” then got down to business.

The day’s lesson centered on mining for cobalt — a material used in batteries that power cellphones and electric cars — and how the under-regulated industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to the depletion of the country’s natural resources and the exploitation of child laborers. It was a lesson especially meaningful to several of the students — including one from the Congo — whose families arrived in Winooski from refugee camps in Africa and Asia.

CAMP ABNAKI

Just as she goes all-in when tackling difficult subjects with her students, she had gone all-in on Halloween. Later that day she would parade across the auditorium stage as part of a schoolwide costume contest. That night, she’d wear the outfit to accompany her own two kids trick-or-treating in Moretown.

But first on the day’s agenda for Vermont’s newly named Teacher of the Year was Global Explorations, a history class of her own design. Ms. Caitlin, as her students call her, greeted her 16

Students circulated among three tables, reading a different article about the cobalt issue at each one. The tightly planned lesson — filled with opportunities to discuss, write and read — left little room for students to drift off task. And it showcased the skillful teaching that earned MacLeod-Bluver the 2025 Teacher of the Year award. The Massachusetts native, 35, has dedicated her career to educating students from a diversity of backgrounds in a way that examines and celebrates their cultures — while also helping them excel academically.

MacLeod-Bluver’s work has earned her attention and praise at the local and

company’s property portfolio, Gross said in an interview on Monday.

private ownership, and to folks who had a vested interest before owning it, it’s just different from what we have seen in Vermont in recent years.”

Killington’s 16 new partners include 14 individuals and groups, as well as POWDR, which retains a 5 percent share, and Great Gulf, a Toronto-based real estate firm that is building a large village development at Killington, according to Amy Laramie, the ski area’s VP of brand marketing and events.

The new owners have worked hard to reassure their customers and the community that the investors are all Killington skiers and snowboarders themselves and that daily operations won’t change. Killington will continue to host a Women’s World Cup event on Thanksgiving weekend and will work with Great Gulf on the plan for the village, which calls for more than 650 ski-in condominiums, stores and restaurants, two public squares, and a ski lodge to be completed by the 2027-28 ski season. The town is contributing to road and infrastructure improvements, and the resort has pledged $700,000 to help create worker housing.

Lead organizers Phill Gross and Michael Ferri, both longtime secondhome owners, said they set out to find investors in February after POWDR’s expected deal with Alterra fell through. Gross is the cofounder of the Boston-based Adage Capital Management; Ferri is board vice president at Killington Mountain School and co-owns Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchises.

POWDR was selling Killington because it didn’t fit in with the rest of the

“Killington was the least connected to their operation, being back East,” he said.

When the Alterra deal fell through, Gross called Ferri, and the two agreed they didn’t want a different corporate entity to take over.

“He didn’t need convincing,” Gross said of Ferri. “He was like, ‘We have to do this. The alternative is not good for the neighborhood, not good for the mountain, with overcrowding, and losing control of our cash flow.’”

THE SKI INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED YEARS OF CONSOLIDATION, AND IT’S RARE FOR A RESORT TO RETURN TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.

As news of the investment group spread, “we actually had to turn investors away because we raised more money than we needed,” Ferri said at an October 9 community meeting at the resort. The group has declined to say how much the deal cost.

Gross and Ferri said they raised $30 million for an array of capital improvements over the next two years, including a new base lodge, new cabins for one of Killington’s two gondolas, a new six-seat chairlift to replace an existing four-seater and 1,000 new snowmaking guns.

The two investors have repeatedly pledged to stay out of the way of the managers, including Solimano, who has been at Killington for 22 years. They plan to offer about a dozen employees some equity in the company, Gross said in an interview on Monday.

With seven mountain peaks, nearly 2,000 skiable acres and 92 miles of trails, Killington and Pico make up the largest ski resort in the East.

Like many areas, Killington has positioned itself as a four-season resort, offering mountain biking and other activities in the warmer months. Laramie declined to say how many people ski and board there annually but said the resort draws about 1 million visitors year-round and employs 1,600 people in the peak winter months.

Running a ski resort is expensive, and that’s why so many independent ski area owners have sold to corporations, Gross said on Monday.

Customers have pushed the industry to be more sustainable, and Killington is part of a state pilot project aimed at find new ways of saving energy, protecting the climate and supporting the local community.

One of the biggest ways Killington can make a difference is through replacing inefficient snowmaking equipment, Gross said. The resort is also switching out diesel equipment for electric.

The snowmaking expansion currently under way is the largest at Killington since the 1970s, resort CEO and general manager Mike Solimano said at the October 9 meeting. It’s critical at a ski area that strives to be the first to open for the season in New England and the last to close, he added.

“It helps us get open earlier and be able to move much quicker, especially early season,” Solimano said. The resort opened last week, the first in Vermont.

The investors are also putting money into the company’s smaller ski area at Pico Mountain, just a few miles from Killington. Along with the nearly 2,000 acres of ski resort property, the purchase from POWDR included the Wobbly Barn Steakhouse and nightclub, the 18-hole Killington Golf Course, the Killington Grand Hotel, and employee housing.

Ferri introduced many of the investors at the community meeting, briefly describing their long connections to Killington and pointing out a few in the crowd. He’s said he’s been skiing there since his parents bought a condo in 1970, and his three sons attended Killington Mountain School, where he has been a trustee since 2008. Gross said he first bought a Killington home in 1986 and now owns two.

“The conglomerates are a godsend to mountains that are not as profitable as Killington,” Gross said, crediting the resort’s size, snowmaking and amenities. POWDR put millions into capital improvements at the ski area, including new lodges and lifts, before giving up most of its stake.

A downside of corporate ownership is overcrowding related to the Epic and Ikon passes. Killington has that problem, too, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. The new owners are looking for ways to spread the visits out.

“If you want to ski at a private mountain, ski at Killington on a Tuesday,” Gross said.

Killington is now one of the largest privately owned ski resorts in the world, according to Steve Wright, president and general manager at Jay Peak in northern Vermont. Wright serves on the board of the National Ski Areas Association.

Solimano said many people have asked whether ticket prices will drop under the new owners. (An unlimited season pass is $1,780, and one-day tickets vary. An adult pass is $94.30 on Thanksgiving Day and $187 near Christmas. There are many deals, including some for veterans and for residents of New Hampshire and Vermont.) Prices haven’t gone up this season, but skiers shouldn’t expect them to go down, either, Solimano told the crowd at the October 9 meeting.

“The problem is we need to buy a whole bunch of things. The model doesn’t work to give stuff away,” Solimano said. But he added that the new owners are trying to find ways to make skiing a little more affordable, maybe by offering some midweek deals. They also plan to expand Killington’s free ski program for elementary school students.

“We get the ‘too expensive’ thing,” Solimano said. ➆

Killington Resort Home Run

Weakened Senate Dems Say Property Taxes Are ‘No. 1 Priority’

STORY & PHOTO BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Senate Democrats on Saturday declared soaring property taxes to be their No. 1 priority when they return to Montpelier, pledging to move Gov. Phil Scott’s ideas for fixing the problem to the top of their agenda in January.

In a morning caucus at the Statehouse, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-ChittendenCentral) told his badly weakened majority that compromising with the governor is the new name of the game this legislative biennium.

“Given where the votes are now, no one is going home without a Phil Scott-approved tax plan,” Baruth told colleagues.

The meeting was the first public gathering of Democratic leaders since the November 5 election stripped them of their supermajority in the legislature. Democrats lost 18 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate as voters angry at an average 14 percent hike in property taxes embraced Republicans who promised to make the state more affordable.

Baruth said it was “the worst election I’ve been through” and the message he took from it was clear.

“Vermonters want the property tax reduced — period,” he said.

They also want the education finance system simplified and its impacts on property taxes to be addressed, as well, he said.

He noted that the education system was designed for a population of 125,000 students. But with changing demographics, the number has dwindled to fewer than 74,000.

“I view it as a de facto emergency,” Baruth said.

This coming session, he added, he plans to give the administration the first full week to lay out its plans for fixing the education finance and property tax systems. Three key committees — Education, Finance and Appropriations — will vet the proposals, take testimony, run the numbers and see what they can agree to.

Baruth told his colleagues that they had “worked like dogs” last session to reduce the property tax burden by a combined $70 million. But he said he wanted the committees to take another look at some of the ideas the governor proposed that Democrats — including Baruth — explicitly rejected as financially irresponsible.

“I want all those back on the table, including his plan to buy down the property tax rate much further than we did,” he said.

In addition to the wake-up call, Democrats had leadership business to attend to. They nominated Baruth to another term as their leader, which needs to be formalized by the full Senate in January.

They also narrowly picked Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden-Southeast) as their majority leader over Sen. Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor), who has held the position for four years. Senators insisted the vote was not a rebuke to Clarkson’s leadership. There are now 16 Democrats and one Progressive in the 30-member Senate.

“We’re a team. We need to be united,” Ram Hinsdale said. “The alternative is failing Vermonters.”

“I think what Vermonters really told us is that they are socially liberal and they are financially hurting,” she said. “They want to see full schools, they want to see access to rural health care, and they want to see us grow the economy.”

Senators did not agree to Ram Hinsdale’s request to waive the tradition that party leaders cannot also chair committees. That means she may lose her post as chair of the Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs committee.

Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor) was selected to be assistant majority leader, known as the whip. And veteran Sen. Virginia “Ginny” Lyons (D-ChittendenSoutheast) was nominated as the third member of the powerful Committee on Committees. ➆

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Join Our WINNING TEAM!

state level. Her “ability to inspire, challenge, and uplift her students makes her an exceptional educator and a true leader in the field,” interim Education Secretary Zoie Saunders said in a statement after MacLeod-Bluver won teacher of the year. Winooski principal Jean Berthiaume described MacLeod-Bluver as a “remarkable” educator and praised her “genuine care for students, coupled with her profound knowledge of best practices and the critical importance of literacy.”

Becoming a teacher wasn’t something MacLeod-Bluver considered until one summer during college, when she worked with underserved teens in Boston. After graduating from Wesleyan University, she enrolled in the Boston Teacher Residency, an AmeriCorps-funded teacher prep program, which placed her in a classroom and paid for her to attend grad school at the same time. She ultimately landed a teaching gig at the Boston International Newcomers Academy, a high school exclusively for immigrant English learners.

generations, she said, while many others are recent arrivals from the Congo, Somalia, Bhutan and Myanmar.

“It is my job to help students develop criticality to make sense of this world, navigate this world, and ultimately create a better, more inclusive, more just world,” she said. “What is the American dream if not creating spaces for everyone to succeed?”

One benefit of Winooski is its small size, MacLeod-Bluver said. With fewer than 200 students in the high school, she’s able to really get to know kids. Often, she has them in class several years in a row. She gives out her cellphone number in case they need help after hours. She runs an afterschool boot camp on college-essay writing and advises a social-justice club and literary

I DON’T THINK YOU CAN JUST TEACH THE BASICS … WITHOUT CARING FOR THE WHOLE CHILD AND FOR THEIR WHOLE BEING.

CAITLIN MACLEOD-BLUVER

The job gave her the opportunity to “really [affirm] students’ brilliance and genius,” she said. “Yes, they are still developing English. That doesn’t mean they are any less smart. They still have so much to offer the world.” She loved figuring out ways to structure classes that would allow students to express themselves and see themselves as part of the wider community.

MacLeod-Bluver later spent a year teaching in Alaska before she and her husband settled in Vermont in 2019 to be closer to family. She applied to just one school district, Winooski, because she was attracted to teaching its immigrant students. About one-third of the district’s students are multilingual learners. Most of them arrived in Vermont as refugees; 74 percent live in poverty.

Though hired as a reading specialist, MacLeod-Bluver quickly moved into the classroom as a history and English teacher. She still coaches colleagues on ways to provide effective reading instruction and teaches a class on curriculum and instruction to University of Vermont undergrads.

Despite her busy schedule, MacLeodBluver found time to apply for the Teacher of the Year award, which required her to write several essays and give a speech to the State Board of Education.

In the speech, she talked about the role of teachers as “nurturers of the American dream.” Some of her students come from families that have been in Vermont for

magazine. And she and several other teachers recently started a club that gets students into the outdoors. Some of her students find her teaching so effective that they reach out for help with college assignments after they graduate.

A few years ago, MacLeod-Bluver designed two new classes that acknowledge the background of Winooski students. Global Explorations delves into the histories of countries — including the Congo, Somalia and Bhutan — where many students’ families are from. She invites adults from those countries to speak to the class and has students interview family members.

In another course, Challenging Systems of Oppression, students learn about social and racial injustice. They write and deliver speeches about something they think is unjust in the world today — say, mass incarceration or the rise in hate crimes against Asian people. Whatever topic she’s teaching, MacLeod-Bluver said, she always encourages students to back up their assertions with evidence and reinforces the importance of evaluating sources of information.

She’s well aware that in many places around the country, the work she does would be challenged. She sees Vermont as a “model for what true inclusive, culturally responsive teaching looks like,” a

place where students’ differences are celebrated.

“When I’ve shared some of this work outside of Vermont, teachers say, ‘We could never do that,’” she said.

But MacLeod-Bluver thinks those who push educators to focus solely on reading, writing and arithmetic are missing a big piece of what teaching is all about.

“I don’t think you can just teach the basics ... without caring for the whole child and for their whole being,” she said.

Just 12 days after Halloween, MacLeodBluver led her American literature class through a discussion about book banning. Not much time had passed since her lesson on cobalt mining, but the world felt distinctly different. The country had reelected former president Donald Trump, a politician who routinely disparaged immigrants on the campaign trail and vowed to end “wokeness” in American schools.

In a previous class, students had read two articles about parents in North Carolina who had sued a school over a lesson about the young-adult book The Poet X, arguing that it was an assault on their Christian beliefs. The Winooski students had also just read the novel, by Elizabeth Acevedo, in which the teenage protagonist struggles with what she sees as the patriarchal aspects of the Catholic church.

Students had circled up for a discussion when suddenly they were interrupted by Winooski superintendent Wilmer Chavarria. He walked in and announced that a parent had complained about The Poet X. Until the issue could be resolved, he said, he would be confiscating all copies. Then he did so, leaving the classroom with several bins of books. Students’ eyes went wide with incredulity.

A few minutes later, MacLeod-Bluver broke into a smile. She had arranged Chavarria’s visit, she told the class, to get the students thinking about how they would react to a book ban in their own school. A spirited discussion ensued. Several students said parents should have a say in what their child reads but not a whole class of students.

“Parents aren’t in this generation and don’t know what kids are going through,” one girl said.

Soon, students were back at their seats writing a literary analysis of The Poet X . MacLeod-Bluver instructed them to write a thesis statement, then go back to the book to gather evidence to support it.

“Strong planning is going to create strong writing,” she told students.

As they worked, she circulated from table to table, checking in with each writer. Making her way around the room, she passed bookshelves filled with novels organized in unconventional categories, such as “Quick and Good,” “Strong Female Leads” and “Real Talk.”

On one shelf were bound anthologies of students’ writing from previous years. One teen born in a refugee camp in Thailand had written of his mom, who worked two jobs to support their family and still found time to cook big Sunday meals. Another told of trips to a food bank in New Mexico. There were narratives about harvesting sugarcane in Tanzania, going to a grandparent’s funeral and getting caught in a gas explosion in a Nepali village.

The publications served as compelling evidence that each student who enters Ms. Caitlin’s classroom has a unique and complicated story. It’s her job to teach them all. ➆

Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver (center front) at the Teacher of the Year ceremony

Change of Command

After four tumultuous years as Burlington’s top cop, Police Chief Jon Murad is leaving his post

STORY & PHOTO BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad, who has led city cops since 2020, will resign his post early next year, giving Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak the opportunity to appoint a new top cop and set the tone at the department.

The city announced Murad’s decision in a press release on Tuesday morning. It didn’t provide a reason why he is stepping down.

“Serving the City of Burlington through the Police Department has been a privilege, and I’m proud of the women and men with whom I work every day,” Murad said in the statement. “I know more great things are ahead for this storied department.”

Contacted by Seven Days, the chief declined to comment further. “For now the Mayor’s press release will have to do,” he said in a text message.

Murad’s resignation letter was made public on Tuesday but is dated November 4. He wrote that his last day will be April 7, if not before. He pledged to “facilitate a smooth, safe, and orderly transition” as the city conducts a national search for his replacement.

City Council President Ben Traverse (D-Ward 5) said councilors only learned of Murad’s impending departure on Tuesday morning. Traverse said his primary concern is maintaining stability at the department, which has experienced significant turnover and recruitment challenges for years.

“My hope is that we stand up this search process for the next chief as soon as possible,” he said. “If I was an officer at the department, that’s what I would expect and what I would be hoping to see.”

Murad, who grew up in Underhill, joined the department in 2018 after more than a decade working for the New York City Police Department. In Burlington, he served as deputy chief until 2020, when he was promoted to acting chief. He succeeded interim chief Jennifer Morrison, who assumed command in the wake of a social media scandal that took down former chief Brandon del Pozo and a colleague. He eventually became permanent chief in 2023 over the objections of council Progressives.

The chief’s departure will present a chance for Mulvaney-Stanak to advance her vision for community safety, which emphasizes addressing the issues underlying criminal activity — an approach Murad hasn’t championed. During the mayoral campaign, Mulvaney-Stanak expressed

LAW ENFORCEMENT

reservations about Murad’s “rigid” opinions. But after she won and then took office in April, Mulvaney-Stanak reappointed Murad in June.

The mayor wasn’t available for an interview. Her deputy chief of staff, Joe Magee, wouldn’t say whether a disagreement prompted Murad to resign. The mayor didn’t ask him to step down, Magee said.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE STAND UP THIS SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE NEXT CHIEF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

TRAVERSE

In the press release, Mulvaney-Stanak thanked Murad for his years of service.

“First responders, especially those who are called to lead public safety departments, face increasingly difficult workloads and complex dynamics,” she wrote. “As such, I appreciate [Chief Murad’s] willingness to continue leading the Police department over the next several months and supporting a successful leadership transition.”

Loyal to the rank and file, Murad is admired by members of the department,

which he led through summer 2020. That’s when activists took over Burlington’s Battery Park to protest police violence and the council subsequently voted to reduce the size of his force through attrition. Since then, he successfully pushed for a police union contract that offered officers sizable raises and retention bonuses.

He’s also attempted to shield his officers from efforts to increase civilian oversight, most recently lobbying against a November ballot item meant to give the police commission more power in reviewing misconduct cases. It passed by a large margin, but the police union has vowed to fight it in Montpelier, where lawmakers must sign off on the proposal before it can become law.

In an email to staff on Tuesday morning, Murad said he’s proud of his efforts to improve data transparency, rebuild an anemic dispatch team and embed social workers in the department. He said the department has hired 22 employees this year, but only seven are police officers. The department also lost 13 officers throughout 2024, he said.

“Rebuilding has been, is, and will continue to be my number one priority, but I will not get there with you,” Murad wrote. “And yet I urge all of you to keep believing that it can be done, because the city needs you.”

Homelessness has exploded in Burlington, and the diminished police force has struggled to respond to emergency calls.

In a statement, the Burlington Police Officers’ Association said Murad’s resignation underscores the department’s staffing crisis “at all ranks.” Murad tirelessly advocated to make the city safer, the union said.

“This is a man that truly loves the City of Burlington,” the statement said. “Going ‘above and beyond’ has always been a routine workday for Chief Murad as he led the Department through its most trying time.”

Over the years, Murad has received plenty of criticism from outside of his ranks. Residents and some city councilors have objected to the way he has deployed his reduced force, and people called for his resignation following allegations in 2022 that he threatened to arrest a trauma surgeon who was treating a gunshot victim.

On Murad’s watch, officers have signed lucrative contracts to patrol a private condo development amid a staffing crisis and staged a mock shooting that terrified students and made national news. Progressives have also charged that Murad is reluctant to consider how racial bias might explain disparities in officers’ use of force.

“I felt like every day he was in place was another day that we were further away from being better,” Councilor Melo Grant (P-Central District), a vocal critic, said on Tuesday. “I do wish him the best, but I believe it’s time to start a new chapter for our police department and for our officers. I think it’s time to think about the principles of 21st century policing and truly act upon them.”

Council President Traverse praised Murad’s leadership during a challenging period and thanked him for providing a “significant window” to find the next chief — a goal he thinks could be accomplished before Murad leaves.

Traverse said he looks forward to hearing how Mulvaney-Stanak plans to engage the community, including police officers, about what qualities they want to see in the next chief.

“I do think we’ll be looking for a pretty concrete plan here pretty soon,” he said, adding, “I don’t see this as a sky-is-falling moment, but I think it is our responsibility as city leaders to ensure that we continue to bring stability to the department.”

Chief Jon Murad

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Gregory Mitchell

AUGUST 19, 1954NOVEMBER 11, 2024

ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Gregory Stuart “Mitch” Mitchell, 70, of Essex Junction, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2024, at McClure Miller Respite House following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on August 19, 1954, in Colchester, Vt., son of the late Everett and Gwendolyn (Cheney) Mitchell.

Mitch grew up in South Burlington, graduating from South Burlington High School in 1972 — a simple life ﬁlled with Patrick Street neighborhood fun such as stickball in the street,

Anne Donnis Howland

JANUARY 6, 1958OCTOBER 25, 2024 WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT.

Anne Donnis Howland, 66, of White River Junction, Vt., passed peacefully at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, following a courageous struggle with congestive heart failure. She was born on January 6, 1958, in Hatﬁeld, Mass., and grew up in Chester, Vt. Anne was predeceased by her parents, Edward J. and Helen

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

made-up games in the backyard and perfecting the fadeaway jumper in basketball — due to many blocked shots in his face from older and taller kids and siblings. Once Mitch had his two sons, he could be the shot blocker, and they, too, learned the fadeaway!

Mitch was always a sports enthusiast and loved playing most any sport. Basketball and baseball were passions growing up and during his school years and later in many adult leagues. Soccer began his senior year in high school, and amazingly he earned a soccer scholarship after just playing the one year. He married the love of his life, the former Kate Willey, in 1988.

Mitch’s college journey was filled with sports scholarships. He attended the University of Tampa with a full baseball scholarship and Champlain College with a soccer scholarship, graduating with an associate’s degree in business administration. Mitch also attended North Adams State College, where he played soccer, and then finished up his degree with a BS in business admin at Trinity College in 1986, taking a leave of absence from work to finish his degree.

His extensive career

began in 1976 when he began working in law enforcement with the Winooski Police Department. From there he went to the Burlington International Airport Police, and then joined the South Burlington Police Department from 1977 to 1991, where he rose to the position of BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigations) commander. Mitch was a qualiﬁed expert in homicide/ suicide investigations. In 1991 Mitch took his police skills to the banking industry as director of security for Bank of Boston. He continued in the security role with KeyBank and then TD Bank through 2008, when he took an early retirement. He was one of three ﬁnancial intelligence leaders for KeyBank USA in Cleveland, Ohio, heading the Terrorist Financing & Anti-Money Laundering Unit. Mitch took up golf in the ’90s, and it quickly became his favorite activity. When he joined Burlington Country Club in 2014, he soaked it all in and made lifelong friends there. Even after leaving in 2022, those friendships and amazing golf memories remained. He proudly won the 2018 BCC President’s Cup, thus making his name on the wall of the clubhouse. He also made and reconnected with

W. Donnis. She is survived by Glenn C. Howland, her loving husband of 43 years;

her beloved daughters, Alison J. Howland and her husband, Mehdi Boubiya, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mariah D. Howland of Barre, Vt.; her siblings, Mary DonnisRomanson of Ashburnham, Mass., Robert Donnis of Bristol, Vt., Edward Donnis of Bennington, Vt., Catherine Donnis of Berlin, Vt., Margo Donnis of Portland, Maine, and Rosemary Levy of Brewster, Mass.; and many beloved nieces, nephews and their families.

Anne attended the University of Nice, France,

many amazing friends after joining Kwiniaska Golf Club in 2023. He was blessed with a great game of golf, never getting frazzled and pulling out great shots just when they were needed. He had the joy of having two holes in one over his career. Spending time on the golf course with his family was one of his most treasured pastimes. Other than spending time with family and sports, he also enjoyed baseball card collecting, a hobby he shared with his sons and nephews when they were young. Being a dad was one of his ﬁnest and proudest accomplishments. With the arrival of his granddaughter, Avery, he was so thankful to have found the ultimate joy of being a “Papa,” and oh, what a Papa he was to Avery. ey had an incredibly special bond and relationship and one that his family will keep alive with stories and love.

roughout his life, he remained a sports enthusiast, coaching and volunteering with Essex Little League and Babe Ruth leagues. He loved to golf anytime, anywhere with his favorite partners, Kate and the boys, and all of his fantastic golf pals. e list is long. Once introduced to pickleball and paddle tennis, he loved playing those, too.

Mitch could often be seen making a clutch shot between his legs for the point. Mitch was a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery for several years and started driving prior to becoming a cancer patient himself in 2014. He had the ability to relate and empathize with the people he was transporting even more once he recovered and could resume his driving. He enjoyed many vacations with family and friends — always adventurous, the most epic being a three-week trip to Italy in fall 2022 just before he was diagnosed with his second cancer. Mitch was in his element on that trip, biking, hiking and olive harvesting. It was a trip of a lifetime.

Despite his health challenges, Mitch never lost his keen sense of humor or his sense of positivity. When asked recently what he would consider his motto to be, his response was, “Live life to the fullest and focus on the positive.”

Mitch is blessed to be survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Kate Mitchell; son Josh (Jen); granddaughter, Avery; and son Ryan (Micaela), the best family he could ever hope for, with Avery providing needed joy during very tough times. His family also

includes in-laws Robert and Sandy Willey, Kimberly Willey (deceased sister-in-law), Giles Willey (brother-in-law), and Laurie Valley (Tom); nieces and nephews Jessica Damon (Kyle), David and Jack Valley (Shannon), and Jordan and Taylor Willey; his siblings, Gary (deceased), Debbie, David (Darlene) and Mark Mitchell; and nieces and nephews Trevor Mitchell (Bonnie), Julia Vining (Eric), Kayla Grout, Mihaela Grout (deceased), and Nathan (Amy), Harrison and Krista Mitchell.

e family would like to extend a special thanks to Mitch’s in-home hospice and respite house team. We could not have done this without you.

Per his wishes, there will be no public visiting hours. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 11 a.m., at St. James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction, with a reception following at the Farmhouse at Sunset Pond, the Essex Resort & Spa. In lieu of ﬂowers, memorial donations can be made to UVM Health Network Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446, or online at uvmhomehealth. org/give. Please visit awrfh. com to share your memories and condolences.

and earned a BA degree in languages from the University of Vermont and an associate’s degree in computer science from Champlain College. She was a programmer analyst at National Life for many years. She was an accomplished pianist and loved to teach piano. A longtime resident of Middlesex, Vt., she loved peony ﬂowers and raised them for 33 years. She often volunteered her time and taught a generation of kids at St. Michael’s School in Montpelier how to play chess.

Anne was a ﬁerce advocate for mental health and mental health parity. In 1996, she testiﬁed before the Vermont Joint House-Senate Committee in support of Vermont’s comprehensive Mental Health Parity bill, which was subsequently passed into law and became the model throughout the nation for legislation to ensure parity in health care coverage for conditions arising from mental illness or substance addiction.

Anne will be deeply missed and forever loved.

ere will be no calling hours. A celebration of Anne’s life will be held at a later date in the spring. e family requests that, in lieu of ﬂowers, tax deductible contributions be made in Anne’s name to the Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, 1 Blanchard Ct., Montpelier, VT 05602 (vamhar.org), or to the Cardiac Transplant Program, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington St. # 231, Boston, MA 02111 (tufts medicine.org).

Michael Audet Sr.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1940OCTOBER 27, 2024

UNDERHILL, VT.

Michael Lee Audet Sr. of Underhill, Vt., 84, passed away on October 27, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center after a brief hospitalization. He was born on September 18, 1940, in Stanstead, Québec, to Lee and Olga (Martin) Audet.

Mike was a proud Vietnamera Army 101st Airborne

Harold D. Woods

AUGUST 10, 1939NOVEMBER 14, 2024

SOUTH HERO, VT.

Harold D. Woods, 85, a man of faith, lifelong student and teacher, dreamer and builder, and a heartfelt family man, departed our earthly plane on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Hal has said the journey of life is like walking the labyrinth: There is a single path we walk, and we can’t lose our way as we safely go to the center and out again. Along the paths we meet fellow travelers who either pass, follow or walk in parallel with us for a while, and when we eventually separate, say goodbye. Hal has completed his labyrinth walk and left us with memories of his unending love and a life well lived.

Hal was born Harold Dean Woods to Elmer William Earl and Edith May Bassett Woods on August 10, 1939, in Henryetta, Okla. His older brother, Ronnie, was tragically killed as a teenager when Hal was 9. This loss had a tremendous impact

Division paratrooper and went on some years later

on the lives of Hal and his younger brother, David, who was born on Christmas two years before the accident. The mention of Ronnie’s name always brought a tear to Hal’s eyes.

Hal was an Oklahoma original from Tulsa who ended up leaving his mark in “Yankee” territory. His dreams were kindled at Northwestern University and achieved in Vermont. Along the way he read any and every theological or spiritual book he could find and was ordained as a Methodist minister and as an Episcopal priest. Hal had an unquenchable passion for learning, studying the writings and teachings of Buckminster Fuller, Reinhold Niebuhr, David Hawkins and Richard Rohr, for example. He was always surrounded by books (nonfiction only) holding his current read in one hand and a yellow highlighter in the other.

Hal and his first wife, Marilyn Healy Woods, met at Drew University in Madison, N.J., where Hal completed theological school and later built a college ministry at Grace Episcopal Church. Hal

to become a U.S. citizen. He loved jumping from planes and had many military and civilian jumps. He attended the University of Vermont, graduated from Burlington College and then went on to earn an MA in counseling psychology from Antioch University New England. He was a certified master tutor and founded and operated the Back to Basics Reading Clinic. It was his passion to help youngsters and adults alike learn to read. He was active in the UnderhillJericho Boy Scout Troop 627 for many years. He was a

and Marilyn brought their two children, Paul and Anne, to Vermont and settled in Ferrisburgh in 1969. Marilyn was a remarkable and talented teacher in the Addison Northwest School District, primarily at Vergennes Union Elementary School, for 42 years. Hal and Marilyn ended their marriage in 1981, although they remained good friends and parented together. Marilyn predeceased Hal on September 10, 2023. In 1969 Hal had been hired as coordinator of fraternity affairs at the University of Vermont. The following year he became director of the Office of Volunteer Programs (OVP) just as UVM was ending its overtly racist Kake Walk tradition. The 80-year tradition was replaced by a Film and Slide Festival. At Hal’s suggestion, two students (Brian Doubleday and Jim Taylor) created a compelling film for the festival called “Do Nothing WITH Someone,” showing the potential for community service by students. It was shown in a large auditorium with thousands in attendance. The huge student response to this film

proud homesteader on his property in Underhill for 54 years, where he grew much of his own food, raised chickens and chopped wood to heat the home. You could often find him tending the property, tinkering with his chain saws or reading in his sheepskincovered chair with his dogs by his feet.

He is survived by former wife Kathleen Audet Provost of Barre, Vt.; son Patrick of East Johnson, Vt., and his sons, Alex and Parker; son Travis and his wife, Angela, of Hooksett, N.H., and their son,

gave great momentum to service learning at UVM. In 1972 OVP became the Center for Service Learning as volunteer experiences were linked with academic interests and credit. Under Hal’s leadership and with the energy of his students, in conjunction with community leaders such as then-mayor Bernie Sanders, projects such as the UVM Rescue Service, student internships in community agencies and other volunteer programs were created.

Hal and the UVM program have been recognized as pioneers in the service learning movement. Former students continued to recognize him and have raved about the community service projects they participated in under his leadership at UVM. Many have ended up with careers in public service.

Hal retired from UVM in 1990, when he was called to be rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in South Burlington. He remained as rector in that church, where he previously preached and worshiped, until he retired in 1999. Along the way he also taught the practice of personal journal writing, published the Personal Support System, and pursued other business and health-related ventures.

Hal married Stephanie Flanigan Cordner and joined her and her two children, Kristin and Geoffrey Cordner, in Burlington in 1986. They moved to Lakeview Terrace in Burlington prior to moving to South Hero, where they lived on Hochelaga Road (with a labyrinth in their backyard), and most recently with

Alden; former wife Elizabeth of Williston, Vt.; son Mike of Greenfield, Mass., and his children, Oliver, Quincy and Esme; daughter Susan and her husband, Shashwat Lal, of Marietta, Ga., and their daughters, Amayra and Annika Lal; Autumn of Williston, Vt.; Jeremy of Ossining, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Lee and Olga; brother David of British Columbia; and sisters Joyce Dickie of Newport, Vt., and Dorothy “Dot” Poutre of Burlington, Vt.

Kristin Decatur and Chris Howe on South Street. They have loved visiting Geoffrey and his beautiful family, who now reside in Killarney, Ireland.

Hal loved labyrinths as places of prayer and healing, and he led parishioners to create a unique and beautiful labyrinth during his time at All Saints Church at the corner of Swift and Spear in South Burlington. This 11-circuit Chartres labyrinth is open to the public and adjacent to the South Burlington Recreation Path.

Hal was living in the Northeast when he retired from All Saints Church, but he loved and missed the beauty of the West. Continuing their life’s journey, Hal and Stephanie decided to travel off and on for years by motor home around the U.S. Their adventures included creating labyrinths on the beaches of Hilton Head, studying at the art academy, traveling out west, visiting their Lakota family in Pine Ridge, stopping to see relatives, working, writing, painting and making friends along the way.

Hal had a big heart and an unending yearning to understand the world and teach others the spiritual reality of it, but his love for his family, whom he loved deeply and completely, was utmost to him.

When dreaming about his future in high school, Hal wrote that he wanted to explore either being a farmer; doing something in theatrics or music, nutrition and health; or doing something with a spiritual heft to it.

In retrospect, this explains

He had many special pets over the years and leaves behind his beloved dogs Riley and Uba.

The family would like to offer thanks to the incredible staff at the UVM Medical Center for their compassionate care and to Mike’s friend Matt Morse for his vigilance and concern.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, November 30, 2024, 11 a.m., at the United Church of Underhill. A private interment will take place at a later date at the Underhill Cemetery.

his love of Vermont, where he could walk his Aussies in hayfields, perform in the All Saints Church musicals (written by Bob and Marylou Sutherland), research and share secrets of good health, and be fully in love with this physical world while deeply rooted in the love of God. Hal leaves behind his beautiful children, Paul Roman Woods, his wife, Melissa Gascon Woods, and children, David and Emily, in Fishers, Ind.; and Anne Woods and her partner, Teresa Esguerra, of Albuquerque, N.M. He also leaves his wife, Stephanie; stepdaughter, Kristin Cordner Decatur, her spouse, Chris Howe, and grandchildren Joshua, Justin, Jonathan and Jacob of South Hero; stepson, Geoffrey Cordner, and grandchildren Kaytlin and Jamie of Killarney, Ireland; and his brother, David Allen Woods, and his wife, Betsy Wilber Woods, of Halifax, Mass., and their children, Joshua and wife Amy Amormino Woods and grandchildren Grant, Jayton and Gibson in Kingston Mass., and Christy Woods Redding and husband Jim and grandchildren Danielle and Elijah in Topsfield, Mass.

A celebration of Hal’s life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 1 p.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church in South Burlington. It will be followed by a small reception. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution designated to support the All Saints Community Labyrinth at All Saints Episcopal Church, 1250 Spear St., South Burlington, VT 05403.

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Sara Sussman

OCTOBER 5, 1928NOVEMBER 8, 2024 BURLINGTON, VT.

It’s us — Lewie, Betsy and Mark, your kids. You always loved when all of us could be together, so here we are.

You often spoke of wanting to celebrate your 100th birthday with us, and we have October 5, 2028, marked on our calendars. ough life had other plans, we will still honor that date and celebrate the incredible life you lived and the countless memories you gave us. You passed away on Friday, November 8, at Gardenview, the memory care center at Converse Home, at the age of 96.

Your quality of life had gradually diminished in recent years, culminating in a ﬁnal episode of ill health which commenced the last week of October.

Mary Alexandrides

DECEMBER 9, 1925NOVEMBER 13, 2024

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Mary Alexandrides of South Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. She was 98 years old.

Mary was born on December 9, 1925, in

Betsy, Margaret and Lewie remained with you, maintaining a bedside vigil and assuring your needs were addressed by the wonderful staff at Gardenview. e devoted staff, who had come to know and enjoy your feisty spirit, stopped by often to say goodbye and share stories about the things you had said and done over the years.

Mom, you revered the memory of your parents, Charles D. Cohen and Eva Y. Cohen, who welcomed you into the world on October 5, 1928, at Bishop DeGoesbriand Hospital in Burlington. You joined your older sister, Edythe, your best friend. Your love for Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Edie was sublime.

You grew up on Adams Street, enveloped by the affection of an extended Jewish family. You attended Talmud Torah, celebrated weekly Shabbat observances and all the Jewish holidays.

You attended Burlington public schools, graduating from Edmunds High School, where you played a mean clarinet in the marching band. You studied a year at Syracuse University, but after Grandpa’s heart attack, you moved back home to be closer to him and enrolled at the University of Vermont, earning a degree in secretarial science in 1950.

You met Yaesef “Joe” Sussman at Edmunds, where he was a year ahead of you. We obviously are grateful you married him in 1950 at a “fancy schmancy” affair in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. After your honeymoon, Dad continued working for the Mazel family at Mazel’s Department Store on North Street, while you tended to us: Lewis was born in March 1951, Betsy followed in December 1954 and Mark arrived on your 29th birthday — what a gift!

You worked your tail off caring for us and maintaining the home, initially our apartment on Isham Street, then one on Adams Street. In the early 1960s, you and Dad built the modest home on Dale Road, which served as the family headquarters for decades thereafter. You created a multitude of memories in that house and hosted countless celebrations: birthdays, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Shabbat dinners, anniversaries, weddings and the arrival of grandchildren. You created

a warm, welcoming and joyful home.

In the mid-1960s, you took the initiative and earned a Vermont Teacher’s Certiﬁcate, launching a 25-year career as a fourth-grade teacher at ayer School in Burlington. We have heard anecdotes from former students and their parents that your teaching style was “old school.” You required discipline and decorum, and if a student stepped out of line, they heard from you promptly and decisively.

You and Dad were the antithesis of “helicopter parents.” You created an environment of mutual trust and respect, allowing each of us to thrive in our own way and build lifelong friendships with our peers. Your generosity provided each of us with debt-free college and graduate education, gifts for which we remain eternally grateful. When retirement called, you were drawn away from Vermont, as Dad wished to work his dream job of playing golf year-round. So, in the early 1990s, you moved to Palm Beach County, Fla. ere, you easily gathered new friends and quickly adapted to the life of a snowbird, and, yes, played lots of golf. We each enjoyed visiting you in Florida and always anticipated your smiles, hugs and kisses as you greeted us and our families at the airport.

After Dad’s passing in 2015, in the 65th year of your

marriage, you chose to return to Vermont to be closer to us, ﬁrst at Allenwood in South Burlington. After a few years, you moved to the Converse Home, initially in its assisted living area, where, among other activities, you daily traveled the hallways with your walker for a two-mile trek. Later, as your eyesight deteriorated and your memory waned, you moved to Gardenview.

You often spoke of the kind and loving care provided by the folks at Gardenview, and we echo that sentiment.

us, we suggest if a reader of this letter wishes to honor your life, they consider a gift in your memory be made to the General Fund at Gardenview, 272 Church St., Burlington, VT 05401.

On November 11, 2024, we gathered to celebrate your life and lay you to rest at the Ahavath Gerim Cemetery in South Burlington. You are resting now beside Dad and next to your parents.

In addition to us, you are survived by: Lewie’s wife, Margaret Sussman; your granddaughter Jessica Langer and her husband, Josh Langer; your greatgrandchildren Noah and Anna Langer; your great-granddaughter Avery Ducharme and her mother, Laura; Betsy’s husband, Larry Bennett; your grandson, Sam Bennett, and his wife, Erin; your greatgranddaughter Eva Bennett;

your granddaughter Mariel Bennett and her husband, Dillon Groeneman; and Mark’s wife, Cathy Nguyen. You are also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and their families, as well as your cherished ﬁrst cousin, Ed Colodny.

We remember those who predeceased you with love: Dad; your parents; your grandson, Chuck Sussman; your sister, Edythe, and her husband, Bob Wool; your friend and cousin, Harriet, and her husband, Mark Rosenthal; Uncle Ralph and Aunt Mildred Sussman; Uncle Lou and Aunt Sarah Fastow; Uncle Lou And Aunt Dodo Fishman; and many beloved relatives and a bucketful of friends.

Before we close, we’d like to recognize the following people for their kind assistance: the Bayada Hospice team, Shimmy Cohen at Ready Funeral Home, Rabbi Philmus and the members of Ohavi Zedek synagogue for hosting a comfort meal after your funeral.

Mom, we are grateful for your exemplary life which established a template for living a fruitful life. ank you for being our mom. You were, are and will forever be our one and only, a blessing then, now and forever.

Shalom, sweet Sara, and Godspeed.

Love always, Mark, Betsy and Lewie

Syracuse, N.Y., where her parents settled after emigrating from Italy. She was predeceased by the love of her life, Alexander Peter Alexandrides.

Mary was a graduate of North High School and the Bryant & Stratton Business Institute, where she received her associate’s degree in computer programming.

From 1970 to 1985, Mary served as the commissioner

of licenses for the City of Syracuse.

Mary was a loving wife and mother who introduced her daughters to the arts, sewing and cooking. She had a wonderful sense of style and was an excellent seamstress, making beautiful clothing for herself, her daughters and their Barbie dolls. She adored her grandsons and her greatgranddaughters. Mary was devoted to her family and will

be remembered by the many friends she made in Vermont over the years.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Christine Faris and Rita Daley (Paul); grandsons, Alex Faris, Andrew Faris (Madeline) and omas Daley; two greatgranddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, 11 a.m., at Trinity

Episcopal Church in Shelburne, Vt. Interment will be private. In lieu of ﬂowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vt., or the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Michael John “Spike” Finnigan

MARCH 26, 1958NOVEMBER 12, 2024

BURLINGTON, VT.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael John “Spike” Finnigan on November 12, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt. Mike passed away after an eight-yearlong valiant ﬁght with multiple myeloma. He was surrounded by his loving family until the end. During this last hospitalization, he had a constant stream of family and friends stopping by to see him who shared memories of great times with him over the years.

Michael was born on March 26, 1958, in Burlington, Vt., to Charles S. and Elizabeth (Bracy) Finnigan. He graduated from Burlington High School as a member of the class of ’76. Mike was the 10th of 11 children and grew up surrounded by a tight-knit community of friends, neighbors and family. Mike married Joanne Jarvis on May 26, 1986, and the Jarvis family became his second family. Joanne and Mike remained friends despite a divorce years later. Mike was well known around town, having spent most of his life in the

restaurant and hospitality industry. He owned and operated Finnigan’s Pub, with his brother Patrick, for more than 32 years. Mike also worked at various other food and retail operations throughout the area. He was an excellent cook, and one of his specialties was Mulligan stew for St. Patrick’s Day. Mike could be counted on for his strong work ethic, great attitude and remarkable entrepreneurial spirit.

Mike’s greatest source of pride was always his daughter, Molly, and grandson, iago. He loved nothing more than attending his grandson’s soccer games. Even in his last days, he was bragging about iago’s athletic abilities. One of Mike’s last dreams was to bring his grandson to the 2026 Soccer World Cup, but we know he will be there in spirit. Mike was also a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics and New York Giants. He loved attending games at Fenway and live concerts; both were always treasured opportunities. Mike was a dreamer, always looking for and planning for the next big adventure! Especially if it was a “good deal.”

In these last eight years, he was under the care of some of the kindest and ﬁnest medical staff from DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center and the University of Vermont Medical Center,

Marjorie L. Carsen

MAY 31, 1944-NOVEMBER 12, 2024 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Marjorie Augusta Lincoln Carsen, 80, passed away on November 12, 2024, surrounded by family and friends, after succumbing to a year-long battle with cancer.

Marjorie was born in Hartford, Conn., on May 31, 1944, to Alfred and Mildred (Bostrom) Lincoln. Marjorie graduated from Smith College and earned her medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate, with a specialty in psychiatry. She was a practicing psychiatrist in both New York and Vermont. Prior to her illness, she lived in Bristol, Vt., where she was an active member of the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society. As a lover of classical music, she found tremendous joy singing with the CVUUS Choir and the Middlebury College Community Chorus.

where he spent a considerable time. He faced each treatment with enormous hope and bravery, never failing to take on the challenge of different medical trials or treatments. e medical staff became his friends, stopping by to see him even when they may have been assigned elsewhere. He loved and appreciated them all. Special gratitude goes out to Dr. Julian Sprague, MD; Anne Berkowitz, NP; Joanne Nielsen, NP; and all the wonderful staff in the hematology/oncology clinic and those on Miller Five. His family is so very grateful for the wonderful care he received. ey all knew and loved Mike!

Mike is survived by his beloved daughter, Molly, and grandson, iago; brothers Charles, Joseph and wife Sue, John and wife Bonnie, Frank, William, and Timothy and wife Charlene; sister Mary and husband John; and his former wife, Joanne Durham. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Patrick and Kevin, and sister Joan Rock. He was very close to his many nieces and nephews, who have fond memories of Uncle Spike.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations in Michael’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. Please visit readyfuneral.com to leave online condolences.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Eagles Club, 1233 Shelburne Rd., # B1, South Burlington, VT 05403.

roughout her life, she also enjoyed traveling, gardening and good meals with friends and family. She was graceful on the ski slopes and was known to ﬁnish the hardest New York Times crossword puzzles in ink, while halfwatching the news.

Marjorie is survived by her brother, John Lincoln (Jill Stevens); her sons, Daniel (Talene Yacoubian) and Adam (Jennifer Vivolo-Carsen); and four grandchildren, Jonathan, Lucine, Ryan and Mayri. Her family is deeply grateful to the nurses and staff at the Residence at Quarry Hill in South Burlington and to her care team at the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Department of Gynecologic Oncology for the dedication, professionalism and kindness they showed to Marjorie throughout her illness.

Family and friends will gather for a memorial service at the CVUUS on a future date. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

Roger Bunten

1947-2014

Ten years gone but not forgotten — still thinking of you, Dad. Still wondering how you found the time and patience for us. (We’re all frazzled dads now.) Still amazed at how much you taught us and how much we still learn from you — your mistakes, your imperfections, as much as your moral compass, sense of pride and incomparable curiosity. Still wish we had more time together. All our love, Craig, Alex and Will.

Aging Alone

BY RACHEL HELLMAN • rhellman@sevendaysvt.com

As Jim’s eyesight declined, so did his quality of life. The 84-year-old had long lived alone at the end of a dirt road in Weston, a small town in the southern Green Mountains. He spent his adult life skiing and picking up odd jobs, living mostly o -grid. He never married or had kids.

When he stopped driving two years ago, he had fewer opportunities to see people. He depended on a neighbor to give him a weekly ride to buy groceries. He struggled to prepare food for himself.

“I was a total handyman,” said Jim, a tall, gruff man who asked Seven Days not to share his last name. “But after a while, I couldn’t even change my own light bulb.”

His rural home overﬂowed with items, mostly junk that he’d collected over the years, which caused him to frequently lose his glasses and cellphone. His porch bulged with broken tables, discarded clothing and old tools. His washing machine no longer worked, so he couldn’t launder his clothing and sheets. Rats wandered freely inside his home.

Jim

Jim’s estate lawyer, who checked in on him regularly, raised concern last spring with Regina Downer, a community nurse responsible for six mountain towns in Windsor County. Downer, a health care worker and advocate, started visiting Jim in an effort to gain his trust. He was resistant to the help, though.

“I was living in a rather rough spot,” he acknowledged later. “But that did not bother me at all.”

Downer persisted. She was unwilling to enter Jim’s home because it was so difficult to navigate, so they talked in her car or at a local diner where she took him for breakfast.

Downer helped Jim get cataract surgery to improve his eyesight and to fill out an advance directive; the diner’s owner signed off as a witness. But the nurse worried about how Jim would fare in the winter. He would be dependent on his neighbor to plow him out. Further, Jim heated his home with wood. The previous winter, a chimney fire burned a hole in his roof that had yet to be fixed.

“He was going to be alone, and I was going to worry about him,” Downer said. “I was afraid his whole house would [catch] fire.”

It’s common for seniors who live alone to reach a point where they can no longer adequately care for themselves. In fact, the phenomenon is so prevalent that those working in the eldercare field have a term for it: self-neglect. It leads to more calls to adult protective services agencies nationwide than any form of elder abuse.

As rates of isolation increase among older Americans, the trend is especially worrisome in Vermont, which has the third-oldest population in the nation and the largest percentage of older people living in rural areas, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Moreover, Vermonters, particularly among older generations, have long nurtured an ethos of self-reliance and Yankee stoicism, leading many seniors to refuse help and insist on going it alone — even when it is not in their interest. The situation can be a matter of life or death. People who neglect themselves have higher rates of illness and death, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. They’re more likely to suffer from other forms of elder abuse, as well.

Vermont is also one of the most lax states in the nation when it comes to regulating, funding and managing care for adults living in potentially perilous conditions. Unlike practices in most other states, Vermont’s Adult Protective Services program does not handle cases of self-neglect. Instead, reports about these seniors are directed to area aging agencies,

Carolyn Mullett

which are social service organizations. The heads of these agencies and staff members of Vermont Adult Protective Services say the agencies aren’t adequately funded for that work.

Vermont officials have long been aware of these shortcomings. A report to the state legislature prepared two years ago by the Self-Neglect Working Group, which had been established as part of the 2020 Older Vermonters Act, spells it out clearly: “There appears to be substantial risk that selfneglecting individuals could ‘fall through the cracks’ of the current system; that is, their needs may remain unnoticed and/or unmet.”

The group penned six recommendations for developing more robust training, screening tools, oversight and resources for this population. And yet, no action has been taken, and the number of self-neglect cases directed to each area aging agency is either holding steady or increasing. Those working in the field say they’re already overwhelmed, and the silver tsunami representing the state’s aging population has yet to touch shore.

“I worry about my clients who feel like giving up,” said Downer, who visits dozens of older Vermonters weekly. She is one of a handful of community nurses in Vermont. “Unless you have access to a large amount of money, you could be forgotten, and then, in turn, you could give up on yourself.”

Old Problem

When people can no longer care for themselves, the signs can be varied.

“It’s not just the hoarding, disheveled person who is self-neglecting,” Mark Boutwell said. He’s the executive director of Senior Solutions, the area aging agency for southeastern Vermont.

The tells can be quite subtle. Boutwell recalled a client with mild dementia who had a neat home but was driving, putting her and others at risk. The agency considered this self-neglect.

Other cases are more extreme. Dena Wilkie, a community care coordinator for the Town of Sharon, recently started working with a 77-year-old diabetic man who lives alone in a rural cabin with no running water. He makes do with only a space heater, microwave and television.

His neighbor, Mary Ayer, called Wilkie when the man had a diabetic “spell” in the middle of winter. Ayer said the man could hardly walk but did not immediately seek help.

“He could’ve died, and no one would’ve known anything about it,” Ayer said. “Everyone in this neighborhood is keeping

an eye on him, but he doesn’t have an advocate.”

States approach these seniors very differently. While most adult protective services take on cases of self-neglect, the mandates of the organizations vary widely. In Florida, for instance, if a situation would cause a “prudent person” to believe that somebody is unable to care for themselves, that’s considered self-neglect.

Vermont is more libertarian. The 2020 Older Vermonters Act defines self-neglect narrowly — as the result of diminished capacity related to medical or behavioral issues. So people who choose not to meet some of their own basic needs are considered to be making a personal decision.

Joe Nusbaum, director of the Division of Licensing and Protection for the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, thinks Vermont’s focus on self-determination is largely cultural. “There’s an assumption that this is how Vermonters want to live and a desire to see that protected,” he said.

But it’s more complicated. Most Vermonters want the vulnerable adults they know to be cared for, Nusbaum said. “When people are confronted with a family member or neighbor struggling, they want someone to intervene,” he said.

The number of these isolated seniors is substantial. The volume of referrals for self-neglect to Vermont Adult Protective Services has hovered around 350 in the past three years, despite a continuous effort by APS to have people report these cases to the area agencies on aging instead.

Further, many cases are not reported. By nature, people who are unable to care for themselves are often reluctant to reach

Unless you have access to a large amount of money, you could be forgotten, and then, in turn, you could give up on yourself.

REGINA DOWNER

out for services. A study by the National Institutes of Health shows that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported to adult protective services nationwide, as many as five are not.

In extreme cases, these situations can prove fatal. Seven Days reviewed death certificates issued in Vermont between 2021 and 2023 and found 21 seniors for whom “self-neglect” or “Diogenes syndrome” — a medical disorder characterized by extreme self-neglect — was listed as a cause of death.

Elizabeth Bundock, chief medical examiner for the state, said the true scope of the problem could be larger. In order for something to be listed as a cause of death, she explained, there has to be anatomical evidence that it led to the individual’s death — a high bar. Such determinations, she said, have much to do with the judgment of individual medical examiners.

Experts say the prevalence of this problem likely reflects Vermont’s growing senior population. The number of people over age 65 has nearly doubled since 2000, and one in three people will be over 60 by

2030. Diminishing networks of community care paired with growing rates of loneliness are also factors.

“We’re definitely not as attuned to our neighbors and community members as past generations,” said Angela SmithDieng, division director for adult services at the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living. With more churches shuttering and fewer children caring for aging parents, the civic and social ties for elder Vermonters are fraying. There’s been a notable increase in hospital abandonments — the act of deserting an elderly person at a hospital waiting or emergency room — in recent years, according to Nusbaum.

“I am finding all of these adult children just shocked that they have to take care of their parents,” Wilkie said.

Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation for most seniors.

A 2020 national poll by the University of Michigan found that loneliness and social isolation increased markedly among older adults during lockdown, in some cases exacerbating underlying anxiety or depression.

Regina Downer (right) checking Carolyn Mullett’s pulse

Vermont is not well positioned to aid this growing population of lonely seniors. In a rural state with limited public transportation options, providing services and support for older adults is challenging. A workforce shortage of service providers aggravates the problem.

So, too, does the state’s housing crisis: Aging homeowners are having a hard time finding housing that suits their changing needs, whether it’s an affordable apartment without stairs or a spot in an assisted-living community. That means more older Vermonters are isolated in homes that may be dangerous for them. The result is a growing senior population at great risk of isolation and with few avenues for intervention.

Each winter, Downer, the community nurse in Weston, said she worries anew: “I think to myself: Who is going to be isolated by this particular storm? Who has a generator? Who has an electric recliner and will get stuck if we lose power?”

The Vermont Way

Vermont’s five area aging agencies take on cases of self-neglect; the biggest one, serving Chittenden County, is Age Well. And yet, noted Smith-Dieng, they operate without standardized statewide criteria or training to identify and treat self-neglect. That means the type of care that a struggling senior receives depends significantly on the approach and capacity of the agency with jurisdiction where they live and the case manager to whom they are assigned. Community nurses, who work in conjunction with area aging agencies, say there are notable differences between them.

The theory is: Outsourcing selfneglect cases to regional nonprofits

better suits older Vermonters because the groups are actually based in their communities.

“They can really connect someone struggling with different resources, and often self-neglect comes with a distrust of services,” Smith-Dieng said.

And yet, the area aging agencies receive virtually no extra funding from the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living to deal with cases of self-neglect. The $53,000 each area agency receives yearly from DAIL “isn’t even enough to cover a full-time employee,” Nusbaum said. “It’s not enough to handle what we’re looking at in the state of Vermont.”

The 2022 self-neglect report declared the limited funding to be “insufficient to support the [area aging agencies’] actual costs in responding to self-neglect.”

Boutwell, director of Senior Solutions, said an increase in self-neglect cases — without extra money from the state — is one of the reasons the organization went about 40 percent over budget last year.

“As an agency director, that’s a challenge for me,” Boutwell said. “I want to make sure people get the services they need, but I can’t run the agency into a deficit.”

No agencies in Vermont serve people under 60 who fail to care for themselves.

“There is definitely a gap in the system,” said Samantha Davis, human resources director for Community Health in Rutland. “It’s difficult to have someone who has potentially been self-neglecting for 20-plus years only come to us when they are 60 years old.”

Boutwell said his agency is scrambling because of changes to Vermont’s Choices for Care, a Medicaid-funded, long-term care program, which legislators have overhauled. Vermonters who were receiving care through home health agencies are now receiving care from an area aging agency instead. Boutwell said he’s getting funding from the state to help pay for the extra work but is still trying to hire people to manage the additional 160 clients. That’s on top of the 250 clients the agency currently is already managing.

“In a sense, these cases are competing,” he said.

The challenge of recruiting and retaining adequate staff for Vermont’s rapidly aging population has affected the ability of agencies such as Boutwell’s to do their jobs. Organizations that are often called upon to provide services — home care nurses or mental health counselors — are also having trouble finding workers. Even when an area aging agency can assist a challenged senior, resources to get them

VERMONT’S CHARM

Mark Boutwell

out of their dangerous situation might not be available.

Wilkie, the community nurse in Sharon, said she once spent months making a case to Medicaid for at-home care for an elderly woman who was living alone with severe dementia. The woman often forgot to take her meds and had mice in her home. She refused to leave. Although Wilkie eventually prevailed, the woman never got the care because of staffing shortages at the local home health agency.

“Eventually I had to send the woman to the hospital,” an exasperated Wilkie said, “and she’ll probably never come back home.”

Trusted Connections

Isolation and poor health crept up on 87-year-old Carolyn Mullett, another patient of Downer’s. She had always been proudly self-sufficient and kept her quaint Weston home neat and orderly. She listened to Vermont Public each morning and played the organ for a local church on Sundays.

“I’m pretty satisfied being by myself,” Mullett told Seven Days

But when the pandemic hit, Mullett developed isolating habits and saw few people outside of her occasional trips to the post office.

Mullett also decided to remove coverage for medications from her Medicare. She didn’t have any prescriptions at the time and figured cutting back was a smart way to save money. But about a year ago, Mullett’s back started bothering her. She had trouble cleaning her house, changing sheets and even gardening, which she loved. Mullett didn’t trust doctors and resisted making a medical appointment.

A neighbor took notice and reached out to Downer. Like Jim, Mullett was resistant at first to any help and wary of changing her lifestyle. But over months, Downer gained Mullett’s trust enough to take her to a doctor. Mullett was quickly diagnosed with a pinched nerve and received shots to treat the pain.

Since then, Mullett’s life has dramatically improved. She’s able to move about her house and complete most chores. With Downer’s encouragement, she’s made a more concerted effort to get in touch with friends and stay involved with her community.

“I’m a little bit more receptive now that Regina [Downer] is in the picture,” Mullett told Seven Days. During a recent visit by Downer, Mullett added her upcoming doctor’s appointments to a cat-themed calendar.

Beyond managing Mullett’s health care, Downer has been an advocate in negotiating her Medicare coverage. She got Mullett back on a plan that covers prescriptions. Otherwise, Mullett would’ve faced additional charges for the rest of her life. It took hours of work on Downer’s part.

“It’s been very helpful for me to have you,” Mullett told Downer with a smile.

The best treatment for self-neglect, studies show, requires building trusted relationships. A survey conducted by the authors of the 2022 study found that “repeated attempts to engage, or checkins by professionals” was an effective strategy in Vermont.

Care workers say that a foot in the door is often all that it takes to start a conversation. Case managers with the area aging agencies and community nurses — if a town has one — are able to build trust over time. That’s critically important for older Vermonters who are often wary of the health care system or too proud to accept help.

Some outright refuse. Community nurses and case managers tell of seniors who have repeatedly slammed the door on them.

“In those circumstances, you just have to eventually give up,” Davis said.

When it works, care workers connect older Vermonters with the resources that they need. Some benefit from Meals on Wheels deliveries, while others might be connected with mental health counselors. A handful require more extensive intervention, such as a deep clean of their home or even a move to an assisted living facility.

“Some clients have families that are able to help support them,” said Davis of Community Health in Rutland, “but others don’t, and I think a lot of times that’s what we run up against.”

Frustrated by the lack of resources available for clients, Davis and her colleagues decided to set up a fund this past summer to provide for the immediate needs of self-neglecting older Vermonters. So far, they’ve got $5,000.

“It’s really disheartening as a case manager to have worked with someone for many years and have nothing to offer them when they’re ready,” Davis said.

Most counties don’t have anyone like Downing, so area agencies have to triage cases, prioritizing care for individuals who are in the most dangerous situations.

“We’re asking ourselves: What happens if we don’t get back to them in two or three weeks? ” Boutwell said. Currently, Senior Solutions has about 10 cases waiting for attention. Downer said a client of hers waiting for a home health aide was told that 80 people were in line ahead of them.

For an older Vermonter living alone with dementia, or a senior who has just worked up the courage to ask for help, such a wait list can be a huge deterrent, noted Wilkie, the Sharon community nurse.

“It’s not that these people don’t have needs that couldn’t be helped,” Wilkie said. “It’s just that in this line of people, they’re not ranked as high, which is a really horrible way to look at it.”

‘Vermont Is Gray’

The number of Vermonters coping with loneliness, isolation and self-neglect will increase in the coming years. For social workers and care providers already working at full capacity, the risk of system failure is real.

“The color of Vermont is gray,” Downer said. “It’s too late to prepare. We need to deal with this in an aggressive way because it’s not going to go away anytime soon.”

Some towns and nonprofits are experimenting with relatively simple ways to keep older residents connected. The Middlebury Police Department has started making daily phone calls to at-risk seniors as part of Project Good Morning. Police Chief Jason Covey said he was inspired to launch the service after hearing about similar programs in New Hampshire. “We want to catch these people before they fall through the cracks,” he said.

Downer advocates expanding and fortifying the grassroots community nurse network she is a part of, which is currently scraping by on donations and some municipal funding.

Last year, Vermont legislators were asked to expand the community nurse model, but the bill never went anywhere. Wilkie argues that community nurses can get to people at the outskirts of society, a major asset in a rural state.

“We have the time to build trust,” she said. “This big agency is not going to be the solution.”

Nusbaum concurs. But he worries that attempts to fill the gap in Vermont might result in an “unfunded mandate for some

Carolyn Mullett

magical

entity, like APS, to take on self-neglect services.”

The states with effective interventions have designated programs and robust resources, Nusbaum said, but Vermont lacks those.

“Vermont is often very innovative in its thinking and willingness to try new things,” Nusbaum said. “I don’t think we’ve seen national solutions to this. I’d love to see Vermont give it a go.”

Jim agreed but was quick to point out that he did not like certain aspects of life in the facility. “The loss of freedom and all of that stuff,” Jim explained, sipping on cranberry juice. “But such is life.”

He understood what was at stake, remarking on his life before the move.

“Little by little, it just got worse and worse,” Jim said. “I was going downhill fast.”

We’re definitely not as attuned to our neighbors and community members as past generations.

ANGELA SMITH-DIENG

Key Assist

In the early weeks of fall — with the first overnight freeze fast approaching — Downer convinced Jim, the man in Weston, to look at Equinox Terrace, an assisted living facility in Manchester that had a rare opening. Jim could afford a room but was resistant to moving.

Begrudgingly, he toured the facility. He even joined a drumming exercise class.

Much to Downer’s surprise, Jim quickly agreed to move. In early October, a neighbor helped him lug a few boxes of possessions to his new home.

“I think Regina and the other people were amazed at how fast I accepted,” Jim said a month later, while enjoying a lunch of pork chops and mashed potatoes at Equinox Terrace. Jim’s new friend Peter had joined him for lunch. Jim was freshly shaved, Downer noted. He looked better.

20th Anniversary!

Downer said later that Jim’s move probably saved his life.

She didn’t have much time to dwell on the success, though. She had people to meet with that afternoon. And the next day, she said, she would drive a client to a doctor’s appointment. After that, if she had the time, Downer planned to check in on a man who had seemed especially depressed recently. And then maybe drop off some forms at the post office.

“Oh,” she remembered, suddenly. A board meeting of the My Community Nurse Project was coming up, too. On the agenda was to figure out how to raise enough money for her salary. ➆

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

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Winter Wanderland

From brand-new spots to old-timey Christmas nostalgia, here’s what we’re doing in Québec this season

BY JEN ROSE SMITH

Winter is a season of burrowing in for many Vermonters, but don’t get too cozy yet. As the solstice nears, we’ve been counting reasons to pry ourselves o the couch during the coldest months of the year, bundle up and head north for a little French-accented seasonal fun à la Québécoise.

Our picks include brand-new things to do and see while visiting Québec, from a restaurant made entirely of snow and ice to a gallery where Inuit artists have pride of place. In the just-acrossthe-border Eastern Townships, there’s a budget-friendly “social” sauna with cold plunges courtesy of a forest pond; to the northeast, in the Laurentian Mountains, a nonprofit aimed at protecting land access is making it easier than ever to ski inn-to-inn on historic backcountry trails.

And with the wallet-biting holiday season upon us, Montréal is planning all sorts of free December fun, including luminous art installations and choral concerts in an 18th-century chapel. Here’s what we’re doing in Québec this winter. Are you heading there, too? We’d love to hear how it goes. Drop us a line at quebec@sevendaysvt.com. ➆

is article is part of a travel series on Québec. e province’s destination marketing organization, Bonjour Québec, is a ﬁnancial underwriter of the project but has no inﬂuence over story selection or content. Find the complete series plus travel tips at sevendaysvt.com/quebec.

La Grande Roue de Montréal

Montréal Holiday Sparkle That’s (Mostly) Free

Between European-inspired Christmas markets and glittery décor in the Old Port neighborhood, Montréal goes all out for the holidays — and much of the fun is free or inexpensive. Start in the Quartier des Spectacles, where the openair GREAT CHRISTMAS MARKET runs from November 22 through December 30 on rue Jeanne-Mance (noelmontreal.ca; free; closed on Christmas day). In the village of wooden “chalets,” you’ll find free musical performances along with vendors selling mulled wine, wintry snacks and locally made gifts.

While you’re in the quartier: Check out the outdoor illuminated installations of the 15th annual arts event LUMINO (quartierdesspectacles.com; free) at the Place des Festivals November 28 through March 9, and glide around the refrigerated outdoor ice-skating rink TRANQUILLE ESPLANADE (quartierdesspectacles.com; free; CA$10.50-14.95 for skate rentals) that opens mid-November. A 15-minute walk from the Quartier des Spectacles is another Christmas favorite, nostalgic holiday window displays from department store Ogilvy exhibited November 30 through January 5 at the MCCORD STEWART MUSEUM (musee-mccord-stewart.ca; admission to the Christmas windows exhibit by donation; museum tickets CA$13-20; free for ages 17 and under).

On weekends in December, there’s additional Christmas bustle along avenue du Mont-Royal, where NOËL SUR L’AVENUE features choirs and other outdoor concerts amid decorated Christmas trees, all temptingly close to excellent vintage and boutique shopping in the stylish Plateau neighborhood (mont-royal.net; free). And in the Old Port’s 18th-century NOTRE-DAME-DEBON-SECOURS CHAPEL , choirs will sing holiday favorites during performances on December Saturdays and Sundays (margueritebourgeoys.org; free).

ALSO TRY…

CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM: Archeology and history museum POINTE-À-CALLIÈRE is staging HOLIDAYS ON THE POINTE, programming ranging from free Christmas events to holiday-themed creative kids’ workshops included in the price of admission. Museum tickets, CA$9-27; free for ages 4 and under. pacmusee.qc.ca/en

IN WITH THE NEW: After a two-year absence, traditional NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS are back this year in Montréal’s Old Port neighborhood, alongside festivities staged for the first time by the team behind popular midwinter electronic music bash Igloofest. Beyond the midnight display, there will be late-night concerts at Jacques-Cartier Quay. It all coincides with MONTRÉAL FESTIF at nearby Place Jacques-Cartier, where daytime concerts, family programming and themed events run from December 29 to 31. Free. mtl.org/en

Holiday display at the Old Port’s Place D’Armes

Ogilvy holiday exhibition at McCord Stewart Museum

Winter Wanderland « P.33

‘Social’ Wellness in the Eastern Townships

With their relaxing cycles of hot and cold, hydrothermal spas are a Québec specialty and a top draw for Vermonters. While its hushed calm can be soothing, the white bathrobe-and-whispers spa experience is not the only way to ward o winter chills. Last year, SOLSTICE SAUNA debuted a wood-ﬁred cedar sauna in the Eastern Townships’ teensy North Hatley, o ering a more social approach to wellness (solsticesauna.com; CA$29).

On a frigid January day last winter, the vibe at the public sauna was easygoing and convivial; bathers from nearby Sherbrooke shuttled between the sauna’s enveloping heat and a cold plunge hacked into the ice of adjacent Lake Massawippi. This year the sauna is moving several miles to STATION CHÊNE ROUGE, a forested glamping and cabin area with a pond for winter swimming (stationchenerouge.com). Book before visiting, as public sauna sessions sometimes ﬁll up.

A Fresh Look at Inuit Artwork

A spacious new gallery dedicated to Inuit art opened last month at the MONTRÉAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (mbam. qc.ca/en; CA$30; free for ages 25 and under), a fitting showcase for the museum’s collection of nearly 900 Inuit works, which used to live in a shadowy corner on the fourth floor. Sixty of those pieces are in the inaugural permanent exhibition “ UUMMAQUTIK: ESSENCE OF LIFE ,” guest-curated by asinnajaq, an

ALSO TRY…

A REVAMPED STANDBY: With its peaceful, forested site by Bromont’s Lac Gale, hydrothermal spa BALNÉA is a longtime favorite with a few recent updates. ere’s a new inﬁnity pool-style hot bath, as well as a beachy relaxation room where you can watch howling winter weather through plate-glass windows with your toes buried in warm sand. CA$40-95. balnea.ca/en

STAY AND SPA: A handful of Eastern Townships hotels have in-house hydrothermal spas, from North Hatley’s luxe MANOIR HOVEY (manoirhovey.com/en) to wellness retreat center SPA EASTMAN (spa-eastman.com/en). e newest is ESTELLO SUITES & SPA, a spahotel that opened this fall on the shores of Lac Mégantic. e hydrothermal spa is substantially farther than other options in the Eastern Townships — but it may be worth the trip for stargazers heading for the Mont-Mégantic Dark Sky Reserve. Spa, CA$50-62. estello.ca

Inuk artist from the northern Québec village of Inukjuak, who describes the show as an “invitation to the many ties that unite life forms.”

Just down the street at the MCCORD STEWART MUSEUM (musee-mccordstewart.ca/en; CA$13-20; free for ages 17 and under), visitors can see dozens

of pieces by legendary Inuk sculptor Manasie Akpaliapik at a new exhibit dedicated to his work. “ INUIT UNIVERSE ” includes sculptures in stone, whalebone and caribou antler that bring to life ﬁgures from oral traditions and wildlife of Akpaliapik’s native Nunavut. The show runs through March 9.

ALSO TRY…

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newly opened Creeowned gift shop WACHIYA sells works by artists from Québec’s Eeyou Istchee region at 29 rue Saint-Paul Est in the Old Port neighborhood. You can ﬁnd everything from moose-hide slippers and mittens to exquisitely beaded jewelry and traditional crooked knives. wachiya.com

Sculpture by Manasie Akpaliapik

“Iqualuullamiluuq (First Mermaid) at Can Manoeuvre on the Land (Sidecar)” by Mattiusi Iyaituk at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts

Solstice Sauna

Town-to-Town Skiing in the Laurentians

The Laurentian Mountains northwest of Montréal have been a destination for snow sports since the early 20th century, complete with special trains to whisk skiers from the city to sprawling networks of trails. Amid the Laurentians’ growing development and land privatization, nonprofit organization LES ROUTES BLANCHES (pleinairpdh.com/ lesroutesblanches/en) aims to promote backcountry skiing between the region’s inns and towns — in part, with the goal of demonstrating the value of public land access. Its recently launched website features two- and three-day ski routes ranging in length from 19 to 28 miles, which can be explored on all-inclusive guided tours or self-guided trips (BYO gear for two- to three-day guided tours, CA$765-998; CA$60 for app and information kit for selfguided options). If you choose the selfguided option, you’ll have to coordinate transport, accommodations and luggage shuttle yourself.

ALSO TRY…

A WELL-GROOMED ALTERNATIVE: During warm-weather months, the 143-mile P’TIT TRAIN DU NORD rail trail through the Laurentians is popular with cyclists and walkers. Come winter, it’s a playground that often has snow even when Vermont’s trails are bare. A popular and scenic section is the 27.5mile stretch from Saint-Jérôme to Val-David, which is groomed for both classic and skate skiing (with room for walkers and fat bikes, too). Free. ptittraindunord.com/en

Québec City Dining on Ice

North America’s first “ice restaurant” débuts on January 17 at the HÔTEL DE GLACE DE QUÉBEC , the ephemeral, sculpturefilled ice hotel rebuilt each winter in Québec City (valcartier.com/en). It’s a collaboration of the ice hotel and the culinary team from FAIRMONT LE CHÂTEAU FRONTENAC, the castle-like landmark hotel perched high above Old Québec (fairmont. fr/frontenac-quebec). On Friday and Saturday nights through March 15, the 52-seat restaurant will serve prix-fixe, three-course menus to diners seated on fur-covered ice benches around a solid ice table. Pack mittens and a warm coat for the CA$225 dinner, which includes a welcome cocktail, ice hotel tour and round-trip transport from the château.

ALSO TRY…

SMOOTH MOVES: Québec City is a gleaming archipelago of ice, from the compact skating rink at PLACE D’YOUVILLE to a mile-long skating trail winding through POINTE-AUXLIÈVRES. New this year at the city’s Old Port Agora, the refrigerated ice-skating rink ICECOTHÈQUE will feature DJs and other programming for a party atmosphere. Free; opens December 20. quebec-cite.com

THE MOST QUÉBÉCOIS SPORT: The annual ICE CANOE RACE across the semi-frozen Saint Lawrence River features teams of boaters who alternately paddle open water and sprint over floating bergs — a highlight of Québec City’s Winter Carnival that runs from February 7 to 16 (carnaval.qc.ca/en). Catch the big race on February 9 (free, or CA$55 for VIP viewing from the Lomer-Gouin ferry) or give it a whirl with Québec City’s CANOT À GLACE EXPÉRIENCE

Two-hour introductory sessions start in mid-December (or when ice conditions allow). CA$99-189. canotaglaceexperience.ca

Skiing in the Laurentians

Hôtel de Glace de Québec

In July 2023, prolonged, torrential rainfall caused catastrophic flooding across Vermont. Creeks and rivers rose, washing away roads, damaging homes and flooding fields. Paddlers in canoes and kayaks floated down State Street in Montpelier. City hall was forced to relocate, Interstate 89 closed in both directions, and Gov. Phil Scott declared a state of emergency.

So, Vermonters did what they do best: They came together and helped each other. Neighbors mucked out each other’s basements and started raising money for rebuilding e orts. Almost immediately, the Vermont Community Foundation stepped in to aggregate and distribute those donations. A public charity that’s home to hundreds of funds and individual giving accounts created by Vermonters to serve charitable goals, the community foundation was uniquely positioned for the role.

In the immediate aftermath of Vermont’s devastating ﬂoods, the VCF quickly mobilized to meet critical needs, providing rapid-response grants to ensure food, shelter and emergency assistance. Working with key partners such as the American Red Cross, community action agencies and local organizations, the organization supported temporary housing, case management, and supplies for individuals and families.

Vermont farms were hit hard — and at the height of the summer season. According to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Vermont farms su ered more than $16 million in losses across more than 27,000 acres.

“We’re already a trusted partner with organizations across Vermont. It was a natural step for us,” said Kate Neubauer, program o cer for climate and environment.

Within the ﬁrst day after the storm hit, Neubauer and her colleagues were making calls to identify who needed what and how the VCF could help. Everyone wanted to chip in — from individuals to companies to nonproﬁt organizations — and the e ort raised about $12 million for the VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund.

Then, as the anniversary of the July 2023 ﬂood approached and Vermonters were starting to get back on their feet again after a hard year, it happened again.

Planning for a Resilient Future

Through fundholders and fundraisers, Vermonters are making the Vermont Community Foundation’s work possible. Still, e orts to reduce the impacts of climate change are ongoing.

together,” Neubauer clariﬁed. “We stand with Vermont. I really love that about the community foundation. It’s not just resources but bringing people together where they can learn and connect with each other.”

Helping Close to Home

When Phoenix Books co-owner Renee Reiner saw the e ects of the ﬂooding, she was immediately motivated to help. First, she set up a fundraising day at the three Phoenix locations, which she owns with her husband, Michael DeSanto. A portion of those sales went to the VCF’s VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund. Then she matched those donations several times over with a contribution from her own giving account with the VCF.

“The need was there, and I love being one of the people who responded to it,” Reiner said.

When Renee learned about giving accounts, she knew that she would open one someday. Before she was a Vermont bookstore owner, Reiner worked in the philanthropy space herself, at the Council on Foundations in Washington, D.C. Reiner reached out to the community foundation in 2014 after her mother’s passing. Her inheritance allowed her to think more about how she could use her money to help people in her community.

On July 9, 2024, devastating ﬂoods once again swept through the state. What was supposed to be a day of reﬂection turned into a day of action. Because of what happened in 2023, the community foundation already knew what to do. Within 24 hours, it was able to get funds out to people in need.

“While the overall damage in 2024 was lower than in 2023, some communities faced even greater hardship, compounding last year’s challenges. It was a di erent kind of disaster,” Neubauer said.

People were tired. As a result, the foundation raised $2 million in 2024, signiﬁcantly less than the year prior. But there’s still so much work to be done, Neubauer said.

In addition to providing immediate relief and grants for farmers, the VCF is looking at how it can help catalyze conversations around long-term solutions to help Vermonters withstand the e ects of climate change.

“No one person can solve this challenge. It takes many people working

Because of Reiner’s work experience, she was aware of all the options for starting a donor advised fund. She said she chose the VCF because “Vermont is my home,” adding that the leadership the foundation provides in philanthropy across the state was also a huge factor for her.

Reiner regularly meets with her community foundation adviser, Martha Trombley Oakes, who both educates Reiner about current issues and pays attention to what is important to Reiner so that she can o er guidance. Reiner tells Trombley Oakes what she cares about, such as literacy, women’s issues, food insecurity and land conservation. When speciﬁc funds have opened, such as the COVID-19 Response Fund and the VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund, Reiner has given to those, too.

Trombley Oakes calls Reiner whenever there is a cause that she wants her to be aware of. Reiner is never obligated to say yes, but she appreciates knowing what the needs are and staying informed.

“The folks at the VCF are well versed in the needs of the state in a way I never will be,” Reiner said. “They have their ﬁnger on the pulse at the very heart of Vermont’s communities.”

Post-ﬂood cleanup in Barre, July 2023

Renee Reiner

COURTESY OF JOHN LAZENBY

Strike Up the Band

Though the summer flooding wasn’t as widespread in 2024, it still damaged 3,500 acres of farmland, resulting in $5 million in losses for Vermont farms. Helping them recover is a job for Hug Your Farmer, a locally grown benefit concert series.

Rich Price of the rock band the Sweet Remains helped start Hug Your Farmer on behalf of Select Design in 2011 to assist Vermont farms. It began with a benefit concert at Higher Ground in South Burlington to help Pete’s Greens after the Craftsbury farm experienced an electrical fire. Since then, the organization has held nine concerts and raised more than $400,000 for Vermont farmers. Select Design underwrites all the events so that 100 percent of ticket sales go directly to farms in need.

After the flooding last year, Hug Your Farmer made the decision to partner with the VCF. “When we wanted to raise money to help farms impacted by flooding, the VCF was the obvious choice. It’s really the leading voice and expert in areas of need in the community and how to drive meaningful impact in those areas,” Price said.

The show in September 2023 at the Flynn in Burlington had a theme: the music of Bob Dylan. The program featured a cast of Vermont all-stars including Phish bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Ray Paczkowski of the Trey Anastasio Band, soul duo Dwight + Nicole, Kat Wright, Steve Hadeka of Matthew Mercury, and Matt LaRocca of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. The lineup was lead by local musician Bob Wagner, who accompanied on guitar. The sold-out show raised more than $218,000.

“It was important to us to work with the VCF because we need continued and improved safety nets for Vermont farms in the wake of climate change,” Wagner said. “It’s scary. But at least the people at the community foundation have a plan and know what they’re doing.”

After the 2024 flooding, the Hug Your Farmer team sprang into action again, planning another memorable evening at the Flynn on Friday, November 22.

This time, they’re curating a different type of show Vermonters don’t usually see, inspired by legends of country music. Called “A Night at the Opry,” the concert will feature another starstudded lineup, including Grace Potter, Ryan Miller, Mike and Tessa Gordon, Kat Wright, Ryan Montbleau, Brett Hughes, Nicole Nelson, Dwight Ritcher, and Eric George.

“There’s such a respect and camaraderie between our two organizations,” Wagner said of the group’s partnership with the community foundation. “What I love is that everyone is doing what they’re good at together to help out. It’s going to be a great show.”

Tickets can be purchased through the Flynn box office.

Growing Resilient Communities

Once the money is raised, the VCF figures out where to direct it. Silloway Farms in Randolph is one of the recipients.

John Silloway’s grandparents bought Silloway Farms in 1940; his family raises Holstein cows for dairy production.

The difficult situation made Silloway Farm eligible for VCF’s VT Flood Relief & Recovery Fund. The fund dedicated $1.5 million to agricultural relief after the flood, awarding grants to 157 different farms. The Silloway family used the funds to offset the loss, and it enabled them to pay for things such as fuel and grain.

“It helped us get through the winter,” Silloway said. “They were really easy to work with, and it was a seamless process to get the grant.”

In addition to helping farmers, the VCF is also thinking ahead. When Neubauer took on the role of program officer for climate and environment three years ago, she was tasked with providing support to watershed organizations. These organizations consider the ability

Ready to give back?

Be the first to explore the VCF’s new Vermont Giving Guide and start making a difference in Vermont communities today: vermontcf.org/giving-guide.

Since 2017, they’ve sold their products to Organic Valley co-op. But it takes more than milk production to keep a dairy farm going these days. They’ve tried lots of side projects, such as firewood, maple syrup and hay. They have to be careful about how they spend their money and spend a lot of time strategizing how to prepare for every Vermont winter.

“Every little bit helps,” Silloway said.

A little bit can hurt, too. In July 2023, they lost 10 acres of farmland that they used to grow feed for their cows. Their fields down by the river were completely underwater. They lost about $5,000 worth of feed. Still, Silloway feels fortunate.

“It was a frustrating experience, but we were lucky not to be devastated like some of the other farms in the area. But it made us sad, and we knew it was about to make our life a lot harder,” he said.

across the state with funding, resource training, and opportunities for them all to meet and discuss solutions.

Michele Braun, Executive Director for Friends of the Winooski River, leads one of those organizations. Her group works to make all the land surrounding the river more resilient through community outreach and ecosystem restoration projects. Her job really changed after the 2023 flooding, she said.

“We didn’t have a lot of time to think about what our role in it would be because the second the floods started, our phone just started ringing off the hook with people asking for our help,” Braun said. After crisis phase ended, Friends of the Winooski River transitioned to conversations about the future and what else they could do to help.

“We’ve been having a lot of conversations about how our work can make communities safer in the future, but it’s not something that we typically had funding for,” she said. “But through the VCF, we’re able to support our communities and build more resilient systems to handle extreme weather.”

The funding that they get from VCF, Braun said, is really critical for the organization’s ability to operate — or to do things such as travel to Richmond to host an educational program for eighth graders at Camels Hump Middle School last month. “We now have the breathing room to say yes to requests like that.”

She also appreciates the time to meet with other directors of watershed organizations because when they get together, they all learn from each other. All of their organizations are small, she said, and need each other’s support to handle the challenges that they face.

of Vermont to recover easily from flooding by creating a more resilient environment. For example, many culverts, a name for pipes that carry water under roads, are too small and get washed out in heavy rain, often resulting in road closures. Watershed groups are replacing undersized culverts with ones that are big enough to withstand a flood.

“The floods brought to our attention that there is a lot of work to be done with Vermont’s watersheds,” Neubauer said. “Not just to repair the damage but to increase our resilience for the next flood.”

Neubauer describes a lot of her work as “creating a container” — making the space for important conversations to happen and work to be done. She works on the community foundation’s Healthy Watershed Initiative, which brings together 12 watershed organizations

Still, there’s a long way to go. In October, Braun learned that FEMA is sending Vermont $67 million for hazard mitigation projects, but there are well over $300 million in grant requests for hazard mitigation projects in the state.

“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” she said with a sigh. “But if we can restore our watersheds to be healthy and functioning, it will make our communities more resilient.” ■

John Silloway

food+drink

Under the Olive Tree

Sampling shawarma and saffron cake at Zaytoona in South Burlington

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

When I lived in Brooklyn, my go-to takeout order was the chicken shawarma from a Middle Eastern place called Zaytoons. The pita stu ed with chicken, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and tahini would spill out as I ate it — which I did almost weekly, despite the mess.

The tightly wrapped version at South Burlington’s similarly named new halal restaurant, Zaytoona, was inﬁnitely easier to eat. Folded like a burrito and seared shut, it was neat enough that I wolfed it in the car without spilling a bite. It was also tastier: just vibrantly spiced, succulent chicken and zingy garlic toum sauce, minus the ﬁller vegetables whose sole purpose seems to be to fall onto your lap.

“Some places add lettuce or pickles, but that’s not how it’s authentically served in the Middle East,” Zaytoona chef Mohamad Habahbeh told me.

“That’s how they make it full,” co-chef Hashem Abdallah added with a laugh.

The two Jordanian-born chefs take a hard line on that authenticity, which they deﬁne as following recipes and sourcing ingredients directly from their home region. And they serve dishes exactly

RESTAURANTS

PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP

Saffron cake at Zaytoona

Mohamad Habahbeh and Arwa Dawman at Zaytoona

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

Thingz From Yaad Kitchen to Open in South Burlington

When DONWOORI KOREAN moves from South Burlington to Winooski at the end of November, the restaurant at 2026 Williston Road will switch from Korean to Jamaican cuisine.

SHANEALL FERRON — who previously offered food to go from a former dining hall in Colchester — will open THINGZ FROM YAAD KITCHEN in late December, serving her traditional Jamaican dishes for takeout, delivery and counter service. She plans to add an adjacent café-style seating area to the otherwise turnkey space, she said.

On Friday and Saturday nights, she’ll switch to a full-service pop-up restaurant, partnering with local bartenders to serve cocktails and other beverages.

“There’s going to be good drinks, good music, good vibes,” Ferron said. “I want to give Vermonters the full experience of what it’s like dining in a Jamaican restaurant.”

The new spot will offer many of the dishes Ferron has become known for, such as ackee and saltfish, oxtails, coconut-crusted jerk corn, and jerk chicken. With an expanded kitchen, she’ll add jerk chicken sandwiches, oxtail sliders, Jamaican patties, desserts and fresh juices, as well as a line of vegan and gluten-free sauces, including her popular jerk aioli.

Adding “Kitchen” to her existing Thingz From Yaad name is Ferron’s way

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of honoring her late mother, who taught her to cook when she was 9.

“Everybody would show up in her kitchen on a Sunday for dinner,” she said. “It was a place with a lot of love and good food.”

Jordan Barry

Filling Station in Middlesex to Become Chico’s Tacos & Bar

Middlesex’s Filling Station has closed after a brief stint as a barbecue joint.

This winter, owner BRIAN LEWIS’ former sous chef, ANDREW LAY, will take over the revamped service station to open CHICO’S TACOS & BAR.

The native of Orange County, Calif., will serve what he called “Californiastyle Mexican fast food,” including burritos, carne asada, carnitas and fish tacos. The counter-service spot will have a full bar, offering margaritas plus local and Mexican beer.

Lay worked for Lewis earlier in his career in California, as well as at Filling Station and Montpelier’s FILIBUSTER RESTAURANT & BAR. He’s targeting a late December or early January opening for his first restaurant as chef-owner.

“I thought I’d bring a little piece of

CONNECT

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

Shaneall Ferron of Thingz From Yaad

SIDEdishes

home with me,” Lay told Seven Days “We’ll stick with the classics and do them really well.”

Lewis said sales had been dropping at Filling Station since May. Add staffing issues, and “the cost of keeping it open became prohibitive,” he said. Lay’s owner-operated model will “make for a more profitable business,” in his view.

Meanwhile, the second location of Lewis’ YELLOW MUSTARD deli and sandwich shop opened in the former Perky Planet space at 170 St. Paul Street in Burlington on Monday. The menu offers all the same sandwiches, panini, wraps and salads as the original in Montpelier.

Lewis plans to open a third Yellow Mustard in Williston’s Taft Corners by March and hinted at more locations to follow.

“Everyone loves a sandwich, and, especially in today’s market, people appreciate value,” Lewis said.

Offbeat Creemee Won’t Reopen Winooski Scoop Shop Next Summer

OFFBEAT CREEMEE is moving on after four seasons of serving plant-based creemees, scoops and shakes to crowds at Myers Memorial Pool at Winooski’s Landry Park. Owner AISHA BASSETT announced the news at the end of the business’ regular season in October, citing increased costs.

Offbeat’s prices have risen only twice since Bassett started at the pool in 2021, she said, for a total of 50 cents per serving. The same can’t be said for the cost of ingredients, including cups and other paper goods.

“Seeing the park alive, and the diverse community coming together to enjoy it, has been beautiful,” Bassett told Seven Days. “But this space is supposed to be for everybody, and it doesn’t feel appropriate for me to … raise prices and start to exclude people who can’t afford it.”

Bassett will continue to craft her vegan ice creams, made with a blend of coconut and oat milk, at the Burlington production facility she expanded into last year, which is not open to the public. She’ll wholesale products to local markets, including both locations of Burlington’s CITY MARKET, ONION RIVER

CO-OP, and plans to sell her popular dairy-free fudge, caramel and other toppings. Next summer, she’ll have the capacity to supply as many as five area

another scoop shop,” Bassett said, noting that she’d prefer to partner with another vegan business rather than doing it herself.

Offbeat fans have one more weekend to enjoy their favorites at the park: The scoop shop will be open for holiday pie pickup and regular service with a full menu on December 14 and 15.

Farmer’s Hand Cider House & Kitchen Pops Up in Brookfield

The farmers at 1000 STONE FARM in Brookfield launched an on-farm weekend restaurant and cider house called the FARMER’S HAND on November 15. Married co-owners BETSY SIMPSON, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, and KYLE DODA are showcasing their expertise in cooking, cidermaking and farming in the new venture at 1102 Stone Road.

They will offer a casual, mostly wood-fired and almost exclusively locally sourced menu Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 8 p.m., through the end of the year. After a January break, the restaurant will reopen for February and March with future plans dependent on interest and staffing.

Doda, 39, said the 10-year-old, four-season farm produces the vast majority of ingredients for dishes such as wood-fired chicken wings, marinated oyster mushroom skewers, cream of cauliflower soup, and goat breast roulade stuffed with shiitake mushrooms and spinach.

Diners will sit down to eat their wood-fired, smoked-chicken pizza with tomatillo sauce about 200 yards away from the pasture where the birds were raised, Doda said.

1000 Stone Farm’s hard cider, which select local bars and restaurants have been selling since 2023, will be available by the glass.

“Where can you go where the person cooking the food and the person pouring the drinks are also the people who produced the food and made the cider?” Doda asked.

He said the couple hope to continue the restaurant year-round, but that will require additional staffing, given that 1000 Stone Farm is a summer fixture at the Burlington Farmers Market. “We know we can’t be in two places at one time,” Doda said. “We’re not that insane.”

ice cream stands with Offbeat’s scoops and creemees.

“I’m always open if the right opportunity comes along to collaborate on

Reservations are recommended for dinner. Learn more at thefarmershandvt.com.

Melissa Pasanen

Mushroom panuozzo sandwich at Farmer’s Hand made with 1000 Stone Farm produce

Lemon meringue pie sundae with plant-based vanilla creemee in a cone at Offbeat Creemee

Roast beef sub at Yellow Mustard

as they’d be served at home — down to the 32 spices used to marinate the shawarma and the side of sumac-seasoned French fries that accompany it.

Owner Arwa Dawman opened Zaytoona in early September in the former Heart n Soul by Mark BBQ space in South Burlington’s burgeoning city center. The small team — just Habahbeh and Abdallah in the kitchen, occasionally recruiting Dawman to help prep — is serving by-the-book dishes that people eat every day in the Levantine area of the Middle East, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. The menu is relatively tight for now, with mezze dishes such as fattoush salad, lentil soup, tabbouleh, hummus and baba ghanoush; falafel, lamb shawarma and chicken shawarma sandwiches and bowls; and several desserts and nonalcoholic drinks such as tea, a lemonmint refresher and pomegranate lemonade. The menu will expand as soon as they find additional staff, Habahbeh said.

Dawman is new to the restaurant world. Originally from Yemen, she moved to Vermont in 1998 and previously worked as a paraeducator. Her goal with Zaytoona is to create a warm, welcoming place for Vermont’s growing Middle Eastern community, she said, and to share the region’s culture with everyone in the area.

“Having customers tell us we remind

them of their food and heritage is a very, very nice thing,” Dawman said. “That’s exactly why we are doing this.”

Sourcing halal meat, which must be slaughtered following humane processes outlined in Islamic dietary law, was initially challenging and remains expensive, Dawman said. But Zaytoona exclusively serves grass-fed, organic,

I was on the go just minutes later, sturdy sandwich in hand. As I ate, I poured the garlicky toum on alternating bites. The mayo-like sauce also made an appealing dip for the hand-cut fries.

When I returned for a late-afternoon chat with Dawman, Habahbeh and Abdallah, the trio insisted I try the saffron cake ($14.99) — with a cup of mint tea ($1.99), as is tradition. The decadent cake wouldn’t have been as easy to eat on the go as the shawarma, or to finish; it’s big enough to split with a dining companion or two. But the saffron flavor was so deep that I ate more than I’d planned, stealing bites while I scribbled notes.

halal-certified meat, now sourced from Australia. The restaurant’s halal status has been a draw for many in the Arabic and Muslim communities, she said; they even get travelers from Montréal.

I ordered the chicken shawarma ($15.99) for lunch on a busy weekday. I took a moment to appreciate the renovated restaurant’s elegant décor when I picked up my takeout order. Zaytoona means “olive tree” in Arabic, and the space is appropriately accented with green touches and small olive branches on each table.

The saffron cake is made with three types of milk, Abdallah explained, served in saffron-infused milk and topped with vanilla cream and crushed pistachios. Like 95 percent of the menu, it’s made in-house.

As we spoke, the two chefs took turns returning to the kitchen to prepare the orders starting to trickle in. I watched a table of off-hours diners eat their plates of falafel — green-tinged thanks to a healthy dose of fresh parsley — and lamb shawarma drizzled with tahini sauce and pomegranate molasses. Next time, I’ll sit and join them. ➆

Zaytoona, 155 Market St.,

ARWA DAWMAN

Clockwise from bottom: Chicken shawarma wrap with fries, fattoush salad, pita and hummus at Zaytoona

Under the Olive Tree « P.38

Raising Spirits

After 12 years in oak, an apple brandy from Shelburne Orchards comes of age

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

In 2023, when a late-spring frost devastated many Vermont apple orchards, Shelburne Orchards was among the few spared. Not so this year. The popular pick-your-own orchard lost about 80 percent of its 2024 apple crop during a May frost.

“Nobody got hurt like we did,” co-owner Nick Cowles lamented. “Most people had a bumper crop.” Cowles, 74, blames himself. Sort of. “Last year, when everybody else got frosted out and we didn’t, I gloated. It’s karma,” he said with a rueful grin. “Don’t gloat,” the tall, shaggy-haired orchardist advised.

Karma did deliver a small consolation prize to Cowles. He found it among the casks of aging Dead Bird apple brandy, which he has been distilling from the orchard’s fresh cider since 2009. Until this year, Cowles had blended every bottling, carefully tasting and combining brandy from different barrels to create an ideal flavor profile. This fall, for the first time,

released 225 bottles of an unblended, single-barrel, 12-year-cask-aged brandy.

In the spirits business, the distiller

milliliters of the spirited expression of his orchard. He’s sold about 50 bottles so far. That revenue won’t cover the harvest loss, but it underscores what Cowles and many small-scale Vermont farmers know: Market diversification can help them survive.

In a good fruit year, Cowles said, distillery sales of about $100,000 make up roughly one-eighth of the 60-acre orchard’s revenue, but he aims to increase that figure. “A big part of us making brandy is to have some income in years that we get hurt like this,” he said.

Dead Bird brandy is modeled on the famous French spirit Calvados, which can only be made in the apple region of Normandy. Prized bottles aged for several decades can fetch close to $1,000.

Don Holly, a Vermont-based sensory professional with expertise in beverages, noted that brandies have lagged behind America’s craft-distilling boom. Apple brandy, in particular, benefits from years of aging “to really harmonize the complexity of its chemistry,” Holly said. But “who can afford, as a new business, to have your inventory sitting around for years to actually become marketable?”

Cowles appreciates that he can be patient because distilling is a complement to his core business, he said.

Holly, who has informally consulted with Cowles for about a decade, said the 12-year bottling exceeded his expectations. He praised its complex apple flavors with notes of butterscotch, its “sweet, clean aftertaste with residual earthiness” and its “calm” alcohol, buffed to softness by the years in oak. The wood provides a subtle undertone, “like a standup bass,” he described.

Of the distiller, Holly said, “He is just so conscientious and so committed. Frankly, 10 years ago, the promise was there, but he’s gone well beyond that.”

For his brandy, Cowles presses cider from 30 apple varieties he grows, ranging from McIntosh to Roxbury Russet, a traditional American cider apple. After the juice ferments into hard cider, it is double-distilled in a copper pot still that resembles a burnished Russian church dome. That alcohol is aged at least five years in American, French or eastern European oak barrels — many previously used to age port — before Cowles blends his annual release of about 1,000 bottles priced at $100 each.

explained, “Occasionally you get a barrel that is just perfect by itself, that you don’t blend. It’s kind of rare.”

Cowles set a price of $267 for each 750

Dead Bird brandy, along with an aperitif combining apple brandy and fresh cider called Pommeau, is sold almost exclusively direct to consumers at the

Shelburne Orchards Distillery

Nick Cowles

Dead Bird apple brandy and Pommeau aperitif

orchard’s seasonal tasting room and online year-round for pickup only. A handful of local restaurants offer tastings.

Jackson Strayer-Benton is beverage director of the Heirloom Hospitality group, which serves Dead Bird and Pommeau at Hen of the Wood in Burlington and Waterbury and at Prohibition Pig in Waterbury. He recently visited Shelburne Orchards to taste the single-barrel release. Strayer-Benton described touring the cellar with Cowles, who excitedly delivered droppersful from different casks into his mouth like a mother bird feeding her young.

The sod-roofed, underground aging cave evokes a hobbit hole, while Cowles, in his customary broad-brimmed cowboy hat, suggests a Gandalfian wizard of distillation. The charismatic storyteller is always happy to share the tale behind the Dead Bird name. It dates back a century to Prohibition, when his grandfather’s moonshine still went up in flames on a subzero winter night.

The fire department quickly arrived, as did a liquor control agent, well aware that illegal stills often sparked fires. The firefighters, Cowles reported with a wink, “were in on the still.” Somehow the hose meant to quench the flames ended up

food+drink

drenching the liquor control agent, who was obliged to go home to change. By the time he returned, all evidence of alcohol had vanished.

The next morning, Cowles’ grandfather found a bird in the snow that had died during the commotion. “He had it bronzed and gave a copy to everyone who was there that night as a memento and a thank-you for keeping his ass out of jail,” Cowles concluded.

Strayer-Benton acknowledged that “Nick’s story, his personality, his orchard” would be enough to sell people on whatever he made, but in his view, Cowles’ brandy stands alone. “What he’s honed is a true apple brandy,” the beverage director said. “It’s the most authentic and true Vermont spirit.”

When Cowles blends, his goal is a rounded flavor that showcases the orchard’s apples without being overly fruity. He also trades small barrels back and forth with his brother-in-law, a sugar maker. A touch of the brandy aged in maple barrels adds balancing sweetness as needed.

“It would be very easy to try to mimic French Calvados,” the distiller said, “but I’m just tasting and blending and seeing what’s turning up that I like the most. This is a brandy that is unique to Vermont.”

Even Cowles was not expecting what he tasted in his cellar over the summer, however. This fall’s single-barrel vintage emerged fully formed from its Romanian oak barrel. He initially planned to blend with it, he recalled, but “the more I tasted it, the more I realized there was no way I was going to mix it. It was so good.”

Regarding the $267 price, Cowles admitted with characteristic frankness that he did some online research and “pulled a number out of my ass.” For the amount of time and resources invested, he continued more seriously, “that number felt right. I want it to be a statement. It’s going to be limited. We won’t have this particular brandy again.”

No one can replicate the singular set of factors that contribute to any one barrel, from the taste of apples in a particular season to the variables of aging over many years. Even if he tried to re-create the barrel, Cowles noted, he’d have to wait 12 years to see if it worked.

“It’s kind of a crazy business,” he said with a bemused smile, clearly relishing every part of it. ➆

Pros and Cons

eater review: Mauritius, Moxie Productions

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

In Theresa Rebeck’s clever crime story Mauritius, ﬁve characters are locked in a power struggle, ﬁghting over a rarity of potentially enormous value. But the price can’t be set for something as infrequently traded as a pair of 1847 postage stamps with a pressrun of only 500. What they’re worth is what one character will pay for them and what another will accept.

At least one person is likely to end up cheated. And simple theft is always possible when ownership is uncertain and lying comes easy. In Moxie Productions’ fast-paced staging, sharp performances carry the audience on a riveting ride. Phillip is an antiques dealer with a rich knowledge of stamps and a jaded view of humanity. His young protégé, Dennis, has acquired some of the master’s expertise but perhaps not enough. When the young,

punkish Jackie arrives at Phillip’s shop with a notebook of stamps, she hopes to be told how valuable they are and how easily they’ll make her rich.

Phillip assumes Jackie is unlikely to have anything of value and ignores her. But when Dennis takes a peek, he encounters an Inverted Jenny, the valuable air mail stamp with an upside-down plane. He lets Jackie know it’s of interest but that her version is in lousy condition. And then he spots something else, something so good he shuts the book and his mouth to avoid tipping Jackie o , coolly sending her away.

Dennis doesn’t seem to have a real job, but he has real connections to Sterling, a rich and emotionally volatile stamp collector with the demeanor of a gangster. Dennis expects to broker a sale when he says he’s just come across two “post office” stamps, the ﬁrst British stamps produced outside Great Britain, issued in the days of Queen Victoria when Britain ruled the island of Mauritius. An engraver’s error makes them exceptionally valuable. Sterling craves them. He’s reduced to one furious and funny word about his need: “Motherfucker.”

But who really gets to sell them? Jackie claims her mother gave her the stamps, but her half sister, Mary, says they’ve always been hers. With their mother recently deceased, the two have some family ties to strengthen or tear apart. For Mary, the stamps are a sentimental treasure, given to her by her grandfather, never to be sold. For Jackie, who infers their value from online history, they’re money in the bank, provided she can keep her wits around some dubious characters whose idea of a business transaction is a swindle.

The play turns on what each character knows, guesses or hopes will be the value of the stamps. Rebeck’s plot is hot grease, sizzling. As the double crosses mount, the show is exhilarating and just disorienting enough to dumbfound viewers. The characters may not be lovable, but each carries a little mystery and a lot of need.

The play premiered in 2007 and was Rebeck’s Broadway debut. Structurally and thematically, Mauritius is a bit of an homage to David Mamet’s 1975 American Bu alo, set in a pawnshop where three men conjure a very poor plan to steal a valuable coin.

Mamet’s characters create a world by talking. Rebeck’s characters also sail on currents of words, in magniﬁ cent ri s that ﬂ oat on the misty border between what’s real and what’s forged, where one may con or be conned. The characters struggle to control a volatile situation, constantly veering from belief to doubt and back. In American Bu alo, the risks are all outside. In Mauritius, the danger is in the room.

It’s ﬁlm noir written for much brighter lights. The humor is cool and clever, and director Monica Callan showcases the actors while establishing a fast but not fevered pace. Rebeck’s secret for building story tension is withholding details while hinting at past grievances, unrepaired family relationships and vague crimes. The actors have too little text to portray the past, but they make the present friction intense.

Lila Stratton, as Jackie, can lose herself in a scene, as she does in a mesmerizing showdown with Sterling and a madly oscillating tug-of-war with Dennis. Lindsay Repka gives Mary an arresting sincerity, so deep she may not be equipped for this world. Both performances are impressive, but both characters su er from a past left so vague that we can’t pin down where their sorrows originate or why their relationship is strained.

From left: Lila Stratton, Louis Bronson, G. Richard Ames, Lindsay Repka and Rob Donaldson in Mauritius

A printer can’t go to a shop-warming empty-handed. That’s why Kelly McMahon and I stopped at May Day Studio, her Montpelier letterpress shop, on our way to West Danville on November 9. She chose a piece of 30-line wooden type — a really big H — for printer Hillary Savage and the handful of artists who had just opened Hard-Pressed Community Printshop & Zine Library.

The ground floor of the new nonprofit boasts four different printing presses, a book press, cabinets of type and worktables. The star is Savage’s Vandercook SP-20, a vintage 1960s electric letterpress. Visitors at the grandopening event used it to print posters that read “The big system can be pretty overwhelming” in big red letters.

Enabling anyone to print truth to power, one letter at a time, is built into Hard-Pressed’s ethos, Savage said. As she explained, the history of printing is “people-forward.” It has always been entwined with democracy and collective action — early pamphlets and broadsides were among the first real forms of mass media.

Savage moved to Vermont from Maine in 2021 to become the director at Bread & Puppet Press; she’s no longer in that role and now lives in Cabot. Before that, she worked with the Beehive Design Collective, which acquired the Vandercook letterpress in 2012. The collective became decentralized during the pandemic, and Savage decided to relocate her efforts to Vermont. Transporting the more than 1,000-pound press and other equipment from a second story in Machias, Maine, to the Green Mountain State was no easy feat, but they finally have a home. As Savage wrote by email, “Having a solid place to land for this project is really important.”

In addition to Savage, Kate Anderson of Burke, Peter Griffin of Danville, Hayley Lewis of Sheffield, Sarah Rackliff of Burlington and Becca Perrin of Craftsbury

have been instrumental in launching Hard-Pressed. Perrin said they are looking forward to serving a wide community, from beginners to established printmakers.

The shop-warming event drew a crowd of Vermont printers and artists from far and wide, as well as curious community members. Norwich book artist Stephanie Wolff and Lydia Evans, of Letterpress by Lydia in Braintree, emphasized the importance of the facility, where experienced printers are on hand to help and to maintain the machines. Newcomers rely on the expertise of printers who know the noises of a press, the feel of its rollers and when to stop the press for a fix, Evans said. It’s a body of knowledge that exists because of community shops such as Hard-Pressed.

Upstairs, the zine library is getting off the ground, as well. The collection is partially Savage’s own, with other issues from the Beehive collective and Burdock Zine Distro in Plainfield. Visitors can flip through crates of the small-run publications and hang out in the comfy space to read. Sterling College student Ollie Quinn, who is studying the medium, was helping out at the event; she’s excited for the research possibilities the library brings to the area.

Hard-Pressed is currently open to the public on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m., and planned memberships will allow regular access. The team will offer one-on-one or small group trainings on the presses, and the printshop is open to commercial jobs printing posters, chapbooks and broadsides. Savage welcomes ideas for how to use the space, though all the details aren’t worked out yet; she described it as a place where artists can “make things in community, hang out in the library and be able to support each other creatively.” ➆

more at hardpressedvt.org.

This Old Parsonage

Touring preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi’s Parsonage in Peru

Preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi has been obsessed with old houses since he was a child. Over the past six decades, he has restored more than 600 homes, brownstones and even a few European castles. Based in New York City, Lombardi has been a pioneer in the preservation movement and is currently focused on converting unused offices into living spaces.

Throughout his career, Lombardi has also collected and conserved a number of private residences, including an apartment in Liberty Tower in Manhattan; the Armour-Stiner Octagon House in Irvington, N.Y.; and Château du Sailhant in France. The last two have been opened to the public as museums.

The Parsonage, in the tiny village of Peru, Vt., is one of Lombardi’s more humble abodes. Built in 1850 for $400, the rustic Greek Revival house was initially occupied by the parson of the Congregational Church next door (now the Peru Church). Lombardi purchased the run-down parsonage in 1976 and spent 15 years restoring the home to its former glory. Seven Days senior multimedia

producer Eva Sollberger toured the Parsonage on a warm fall day while Lombardi guided her through the postand-beam structure over the phone. She also spoke to him via Zoom about his illustrious career. Lombardi is working with a graduate student from the University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program to open the Parsonage to the public as a house museum beginning in the spring.

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about ﬁlming the episode.

How did you hear about this house?

extraordinary career, which is still going strong. It also mentioned that one of his ﬁve homes was in Vermont. What are the chances?

How did you get in touch with him?

I emailed Lombardi on a Sunday afternoon and assumed I would never hear back. I found out later that he rises at 4 a.m. and works 14-hour days, seven days a week. During the week he runs a 16-person architectural ﬁrm in New York City, and on the weekend he works on his homes.

transforming o ce spaces into apartments and breathing life into European castles. Lombardi has also written a few books, which you can read on his site. It is mindboggling to see all the properties he has touched.

When Lombardi’s career began in the 1960s, he didn’t ﬁt in. All the young architectural students wanted to build modernist skyscrapers. Lombardi wanted to celebrate old architecture, renovating and preserving it. He joked that in those days, preservation was little blue-haired old ladies and him. Luckily, the tides have turned, and there are many people who appreciate saving old structures.

What traits make Lombardi right for this work?

He is obsessed in the best sort of way. It took Lombardi 43 years to restore the Octagon House, and he joked that the owner should have ﬁ red the architect. (They were the same person, so that complicates matters.) The wide pine plank ﬂoors of the Parsonage were painted many times by each of the parsons’ wives who lived there — likewise, there were layers upon layers of wallpaper. Lombardi is like a stubborn detective, digging through paint and wallpaper to discover original colors and patterns. Why? As he said, “It’s an 1850 house, and it’s marvelous ... I think we have to give it every bit of respect that we can.”

What’s the future of the Parsonage?

Shockingly, I received an email back that same day, and we had a Zoom interview the following week. Lombardi is charming, down-to-earth and excited to talk about old houses. He even gave me some pointers on my unassuming 1890s home.

When Lombardi received my email, he started musing about opening the Parsonage to the public. His castle in France and the Octagon House attract thousands of visitors. Obviously, the Parsonage won’t bring in that many people, but it is across the street from the busy J.J. Hapgood general store, so people may wander over.

I was scrolling Instagram when I saw eye-catching photos that a friend posted from her visit to the Octagon House. Needless to say, I stopped scrolling and began a deep dive into the fantastical eight-sided domed landmark. The building is candy-colored and looks like something out of a Victorian opium trip. I needed to know more about this visually stunning house, which was based on a Roman temple. I found a recent piece in the New York Times about its owner and savior, Joseph Pell Lombardi. That piece documented the 84-year-old’s

Lombardi has had an impressive career.

Yes, and he has documented his hundreds of projects on his website — restoring boardinghouses back to brownstones, converting lofts into living spaces,

I connected Lombardi with Devin Colman, the director of UVM’s Historic Preservation Program. They are working together with a graduate student to plan public tours. I enjoyed my visit and hope others will, too. ➆

Episode 728: Joseph Pell Lombardi’s Parsonage in Peru

e Parsonage in Peru

Joseph Pell Lombardi

Shelburne Museum Expands Winter Lights With New Installations, More Dates

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

The days are getting shorter, but Shelburne Museum’s annual holiday lights spectacular is getting longer — and brighter. Winter Lights extends its run this year, presenting new installations alongside old favorites for six and a half weeks.

The event debuted in 2021 and has grown each year since. In 2023, the extravaganza attracted more than 50,000 visitors. This year’s fourth annual edition will run for 38 nights, starting this Thursday, November 21, and continuing through Sunday, January 5.

Hundreds of thousands of lights will illuminate more than half of the museum’s 45 acres, including trees, the lighthouse, the covered bridge and many other landmarks. The 220-foot steamboat Ticonderoga will glow as it appears to float on an elevated sea of light. Beach Woods will transform into an enchanted forest, and colorful LEDbedecked butterflies will delight visitors to Bostwick Garden.

New this year is a whimsical display of circus performers under a big top of lights. Several of the characters — inspired by circus posters in the museum’s collection — will come alive via a virtual reality animation video created by Burlington motion designer, animator and illustrator Devin Renca. Using Vimeo’s app, viewers can scan a QR code to watch clowns, dogs and a horse perform. They can look around the circus ring by dragging their fingers across the screen.

Sea creatures near the Ticonderoga will seem to swim the same way. The mermaid, dolphinfish and Pisces sculptures were modeled after weather vanes at the museum. A third QR code at Bostwick Garden will prompt flowers to bloom and butterflies to flit about.

While recorded music has always added ambience to the winter wonderland, live entertainment — scheduled for most weekends — is new this year. The Randal Pierce Jazz Trio, vocal ensembles from Lyric Theatre, a cappella groups from the University of Vermont and Middlebury College, and harpist-vocalist Marie Hamilton are among the performers.

Also new: a partnership with the Town of Shelburne to extend the light show along Route 7 from the museum into Shelburne Village, creating a corridor of

Pros and Cons « P.44

Louis Bronson, as Dennis, moves smoothly and speaks with easy confidence while never overdoing it. This Dennis can glide through any situation and has a neat way of earning trust by suggesting he might be overmatched. Bronson makes Dennis so good at deception that we both admire his skill and fear for his prey.

Rob Donaldson, as Phillip, is a curmudgeon’s curmudgeon. For most of the play,

light spilling into a holiday village. “We hope it creates a lot of energy and fun around coming into Shelburne and experiencing lights,” Shelburne Museum marketing and communications director Leslie Wright said. Twenty-six area merchants and six Burlington hotels will offer specials to Winter Lights ticket holders.

Ten dates are designated drive-around evenings, when the light show will be closed to pedestrians and open to anyone who wants to tour by car. Sensory-friendly evenings, on Monday, December 9, and Monday, December 16, offer guests smaller crowds and support from museum educators.

on Friday, December 6. Admission includes music and food and drink tokens. Museum exhibits remain closed, but the Weathervane Café will be open on walk-through Winter Lights evenings. Thursdays through Sundays, the museum store will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the museum store at Diamond Barn from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Winter Lights opens Thursday, November 21, and runs on select dates through Sunday, January 5, 4:30 to 8 p.m., at Shelburne Museum. $10-30; free for children under 3. $65 per car on drive-around nights, reservations required. Sensory-friendly dates on Monday, December 9 and 16. shelburnemuseum.org. MUSEUMS

The Ice Bar — a food-and-beverage event open to adults 21 and over — returns

he skillfully holds back his character’s objectives, and the audience isn’t going to be any better at deciphering him than the other characters are.

As Sterling, G. Richard Ames speaks with the menace of a mob boss but displays a stark vulnerability when it comes to stamps. Ames makes the most of Rebeck’s knotted character, and when it comes time to take control, he purrs with stunning certainty.

The set and lighting, by Peter Holm, are

As they have each of the past four years, museum staffers worked with professionals from New Hampshire-based New England Holiday Light to design the light display. Crews started stringing lights in August. Installation began in earnest in October, just after the museum closed for the season. Fifteen people from the holiday light company worked for 10 days straight.

ambitiously detailed. The action swivels between Jackie and Mary’s house, dense with their dead mother’s belongings; and Phillip’s shop with its array of antiques, stamps and coins.

Events unfold with a mix of inevitability and surprise. To the very end, viewers will be hard-pressed to say who won, if winning in this particular world is possible at all. All five characters try to preserve a refusal to trust others, and nobody “learns” anything. Yet the play is far from bleak.

Winter Lights is the largest installation the 7-year-old company creates, according to cofounder Doran Dal Pra. “It’s the highlight of the season,” he said. “We love this project.” ➆

INFO

Cynicism can only get you so far, Rebeck suggests; eventually, you have to take a risk on other people, even if all you’re making is a transaction. ➆

INFO

24: Friday and

and

Mauritius, by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Monica Callan, produced by Moxie Productions. Through November

Saturday, 7:30 p.m.;

Sunday, 2 p.m., at Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center. $20. sevendaystickets.com/events/mauritius

Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum

Stay Sane. Do Good.

LIGHTING CEREMONY

PARADE WINDOW CONTEST HOT CHOCOLATE KIDS TRAIN MENORAH PERFORMANCES SLED DOGS

Join your Burlington community in celebrating the holiday season on the Church Street Marketplace, where free events bring magic to our streets, and shopping in person helps your local businesses and downtown thrive!

VISITS NORTH POLE EXPRESS MAILBOXES FESTIVE FRIDAYS Enjoy 99¢/hr meter parking in the downtown core (zone 5803), every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day! Plus, park for 2 hours FREE at the Downtown Garage when you start a ParkMobile session. Parking is always FREE on Sundays throughout the year.

on screen

Anora ★★★★

Gold Derby, a site devoted to Oscar predictions, currently ranks Sean Baker’s Anora as the ﬁlm most likely to win Best Picture in 2025. Already recipient of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, this is the latest slice of life from a writer-director who’s devoted himself to telling nonjudgmental stories about people on the fringes of mainstream American culture — sex workers (Tangerine), unhoused families (The Florida Project), hustlers (Red Rocket). While early award predictions are hit or miss, you might want to catch Anora now at the Essex Cinemas, Majestic 10 in Williston or Savoy Theater in Montpelier.

The deal

Twenty-three-year-old Ani (Mikey Madison) spends her nights giving lap dances at a high-end Manhattan strip club and her days sleeping in the drab Brighton Beach house she shares with her sister. One night the club’s owner asks her to entertain Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the young son of a Russian oligarch, whose language Ani learned from her immigrant grandmother.

Soon Ivan is paying Ani to service him in his parents’ Brooklyn mansion, be his “girlfriend” at swanky parties and even jet to Vegas with him. When he proposes marriage to her one liquor-sodden night in Sin City, she doesn’t hesitate for long.

But the course of true love rarely runs smooth, even when you’re young, hot and abruptly rich beyond your wildest dreams. News of Ivan’s new bride reaches Russia, and his horriﬁed parents send their Stateside ﬁxer (Karren Karagulian) to get the marriage annulled. Can Ani hang on to her man and her meal ticket — even when the “man” in question is acting more like a spoiled boy?

Will you like it?

Anora is unclassifiable in modern Hollywood. Like the mostly unsung Uncut Gems , it’s a New York movie with an unfashionably pungent sense of place, and it’s rowdy, raunchy, comic and tragic. The poster pairs a photo of the rapturous Ani and Ivan in Vegas with a tagline describing the movie as “a love story,” but that juxtaposition is straight-up misdirection. Even before the strongmen arrive to break up Ani’s marriage, the audience

can see this is no fairy tale. Ivan’s idea of romance is playing video games with Ani draped over his lap, surrounded by his bong collection. He’s a wastrel heir — a character type rarely seen in today’s movies but a staple of 1930s screwball comedies. That’s the genre Anora most resembles once it hits its stride, with Madison giving a starmaking performance that evokes a foulmouthed Carole Lombard in platforms.

The ﬁlm’s ﬁrst half portrays Ani’s daily life and her whirlwind “love story” in brief scenes that show the documentary-esque restraint for which Baker is known. A naïve viewer might be forgiven for thinking they’re watching an artier version of an MTV reality show about rich kids at play. Savvier ones know that Ani’s baby-voiced sweetness is a role she plays for men, but we have no idea who she is underneath. The narrative skips lightly through time like a daydream, and only an occasional lingering shot of the servants who clean up Ivan’s messes hints at rude awakenings to come.

Most of the second half, by contrast, takes place over about a day and locks us down in an all-too-real city sunk in winter gloom. When the ﬁxer arrives, Anora shifts gears into a full-on comedy of errors, with the characters struggling haplessly to

master an ever-more-chaotic situation. What they experience as an ordeal is way more fun for the audience, as we see new sides of Ani and savor the character thumbnails of various henchmen, especially the comic timing of Yura Borisov as a laconic tough named Igor. It all leads to a masterful and surprisingly touching conclusion.

Is Anora a comedy, though? Or a tragedy? Ani remains something of a cipher, her rise and fall an absurdist reversal of the American dream. She’s mouthy and ﬁerce, like many of the heroines of Baker’s movies, but none of that gives her power in a world larger than the strip club, ruled by norms she has no clue how to navigate.

If you’ve seen screwball comedies, you know they could be darker and more irreverent than today’s rom-coms. (In Nothing Sacred , for instance, Lombard plays a grifter so desperate to escape her dull life in Vermont that she masquerades as a dying “radium girl.”) The Great Depression was no distant memory then, and the jokes often came with a whi of economic desperation.

Anora suggests an attempt to create a modern equivalent to those movies, capitalizing on our current sense of precarity. The pieces never quite gel, because Baker’s analytic distance from Ani keeps

her struggles from becoming ours. But the movie fuses enough art and crowd-pleasing elements to remind us that populist cinema can and should make us think.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

TANGERINE (2015; Hulu, Kanopy, Netﬂix, Pluto, PLEX, Redbox, Sling TV, Tubi, rentable): If you enjoyed Ani, you’ll also like the wild women of Baker’s breakout ﬁlm, shot on an iPhone, about two trans sex workers in Los Angeles having a Christmas Eve to remember.

THE FLORIDA PROJECT (2017; Kanopy, Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Baker’s next project chronicled the life of a rambunctious 6-year-old living in a seedy motel in the shadow of Disney World.

AMERICAN HONEY (2016; Kanopy, Max, rentable): Andrea Arnold’s road movie about a teen (Sasha Lane) who joins a traveling sales crew covers some similar ground to Anora but gets deeper into its protagonist’s head.

Mikey Madison is a likely Oscar nominee for her performance as a volatile Brooklyn sex worker in this comedy-drama.

NEW IN THEATERS

BONHOEFFER: PASTOR. SPY. ASSASSIN: A Lutheran minister (Jonas Dassler) joins a plot to assassinate Hitler in this historical thriller directed by Todd Komarnicki. (132 min, PG-13. Essex)

GLADIATOR II: Ridley Scott directed the sequel to his 2000 epic of ancient Rome, in which Maximus’ son (Paul Mescal) is forced to ﬁght for his life just like Dad. With Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen. (148 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Newport, Star)

WICKED: Gregory Maguire’s subversive take on e Wizard of Oz becomes a musical becomes a movie, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande playing young witches Elphaba and Glinda. Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) directed. (160 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Newport, Playhouse, Star)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

ANORA★★★★ e Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or went to this drama about the romance between a sex worker (Mikey Madison) and a Russian oligarch’s son from writer-director Sean Baker (Red Rocket). (139 min, R. Catamount, Essex, Majestic, Savoy; reviewed 11/20)

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER★★★ Six siblings known for making trouble take over the local church’s festivities in this comedy from director Dallas Jenkins, starring Lauren Graham and Judy Greer. (99 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Welden)

CONCLAVE★★★★ 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, Savoy)

HERETIC★★★★1/2 Missionaries (Sophie atcher and Chloe East) try to convert the wrong person (Hugh Grant) in this horror ﬁlm from directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. (110 min, R. Majestic; reviewed 11/13)

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

A REAL PAIN★★★★1/2 Jesse Eisenberg wrote, directed and stars with Kieran Culkin in this comedy-drama about two estranged cousins exploring their family history in Poland. (90 min, R. Majestic)

RED ONE★1/2 e North Pole’s head of security (Dwayne Johnson) joins forces with a bounty hunter (Chris Evans) to rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus in this action comedy. (123 min, PG-13. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Newport, Paramount, Star, Welden)

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE★★ Tom Hardy returns as the Marvel Comics character in a complicated relationship with an alien symbiote. (109 min, PG-13. Majestic, Stowe)

WE LIVE IN TIME★★★1/2 John Crowley (Brooklyn) directed this romance starring Andrew Garﬁeld and Florence Pugh. (107 min, R. Majestic; reviewed 10/30)

THE WILD ROBOT★★★★1/2 A shipwrecked robot becomes caretaker to an orphaned gosling in this animated family adventure. (101 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Stowe)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

ALICE’S RESTAURANT (Catamount, Wed 20 only)

THE FIFTH ELEMENT (Essex, Wed 20 only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: TOSCA (Essex, Sat only)

MOANA 2 (Capitol, Essex, Newport, Paramount, Tue only)

POM POKO 30TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun & Wed only)

THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA (Essex, Mon & Wed 27 only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.com

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

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

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

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

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

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

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

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain

REVIEW

Fine Print

“Diamonds and Rust” offers a posthumous survey of Bill Davison’s prints

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

Burlington artist Bill Davison’s 55-year career in printmaking stretched until his death at age 78 in 2020. He titled his last body of work “Diamonds and Rust,” after the Joan Baez song. It’s a curiously organic choice given the series’ geometric grids and almost architectural massing of forms — not to mention the fact that Davison never listened to music while working, according to his widow, sculptor Kathleen Schneider.

Perhaps he meant “Diamonds and Rust” to refer to life’s “di culties and contradictions,” Schneider said. “I don’t know exactly what he would have said about it as a metaphor for his life.” Having promised Davison to show the work, however, she chose the phrase as the title of his ﬁrst posthumous exhibition, which she organized and curated. It’s on view through November 29 at the Francis Colburn Gallery at the University of Vermont.

Not quite a retrospective, the show arranges nearly 50 works nonchronologically. Schneider chose selections from the “Diamonds and Rust” series (2015 to 2020) and several early works dating as far back as 1987, as well as collaborations that Davison did with Schneider; his artist daughter, Kadie Salﬁ; and several friends. Many of

the works, which are mostly titled with their dates, have never been seen in public.

Schneider chose the gallery in Williams Hall, which houses the Program in Art and Art History, to honor Davison’s 42-year career as a UVM art professor. It also honors their relationship: Schneider met Davison in 1978, when, as a returning student, she took a class from him and was inspired to pursue her own career in art.

Echoing Davison’s reference to song, the exhibition opens with three works of music, literally: Davison screen-printed orchestral scores written by composer and friend Morton Feldman on clear sheets of acetate. With John Cage, Feldman was among the past century’s most avant-garde American composers, even designing his own graph-like notation method. Davison’s collaboration places graph on grid: He sewed the acetate sheets onto his own signature grids of colored squares.

HIS WORK WENT FROM PRECISION AND PLANNING TO ACCIDENT AND CHANCE.

2-inch-square pieces of plexiglass with watercolors, lining them up in groupings on water-soaked but sturdy Rives BFK paper and running them through a press. The three works with scores, from Davison’s series “In Search of an Orchestration” (2011 to 2013), are printed with horizontal blocks of 12 by four squares on 30-by-22-inch paper.

KATHLEEN SCHNEIDER

Davison’s grids are his late-career achievement. A smoker who spent decades using toxic pigments and solvents such as oil-based inks and turpentine, he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 1999. He quickly switched to printmaking with watercolors, taking classes in New York City so he could teach his UVM students safer methods. He contended with the disease for the next 20 years.

Ickovic. Instead, Davison took up grids. A nod to 1960s minimalism and artists such as Agnes Martin and Richard Serra, who were emerging or already established when he earned his master’s in the early 1960s at the University of Michigan, Davison’s grids also allowed for chance: He chose colors at whim in the moment and relied on the monotype printing process, which often leads to unexpected results.

“His work went from precision and planning to accident and chance,” Schneider said.

Davison’s most recognizable grid may be a square made from 16 smaller ones. Schneider included 17 such grids from Davison’s “Snow and Wounds” series (2001 to 2019), each printed on 20-inch-square paper. Instead of showing the works singly in a line, Schneider hung them in a pyramid on one wall. She noted that the formation has inspired viewers to spend time examining how each compares to the others.

The latter are monotypes, or unique one-off prints, created by painting

And he changed his style away from the exacting precision of his earlier work, seen in “Cairo” (1987) and “Prague” (1991), two Robert Rauschenberg-like collages with hard-edged forms that incorporate ﬁgurative images by Czech photographer Paul

Close looking is indeed the key to appreciating these works. Each square within a composition is a miniature abstract painting, its color crisscrossed with ﬁne lines or unevenly speckled or brushed; some are incomplete. Davison cut his plexiglass tiles from sheets he had used as cutting surfaces

and reused them so often that they eventually chipped or broke.

Two of the six vertical pieces from the series “Snow and Wounds,” arranged together on one wall, also exhibit extremes of grid disintegration. Each grid of four by 12 squares is printed on 29-by-16-inch paper. Stacked like towers, they were made shortly after 9/11, Schneider said. One, nearly all black, exceeds its boundaries with billows of black ink while white smudges erase other edges. The other appears to have been run through the press twice with the squares in two different positions.

“The old Bill would have rejected these,” Schneider commented with a laugh.

While Davison chose his palette spontaneously, he balanced color within his compositions, as in a dark 9/11-era work with magenta and raspberry squares on two edges, opposite squares of yellow on the other two. Mottled grayscale grids, of which there are several, might have subdued accents in earth tones or bursts of red and yellow.

The embossed texture left behind by the press is one of the things Davison “loved” about his late-adopted process, Schneider said. Texture, or the illusion of it, is one constant across the decades: The rayon-fiber paper he used in earlier works for abstract geometric elements reappears in the 2020 collage “South Hero/ Kathleen,” an arrangement of opaque and textured bars, squares and a triangle whose forms resemble an architectural structure seen from above.

Davison also used a sparkly black paper called Carborundum in works such as “Truro” (2020), a collaboration with Schneider. The composition sets Davison’s 1990s screen print of a watercolor still life Schneider made in Truro, Mass., where the couple summered for 30 years, beside Schneider’s 2020 screen print of two roses over Davison’s monotype grid — her gesture of “saying goodbye to him,” she said.

Davison called Carborundum “diamond dust.” That, along with elements such as a shimmering gold rectangular strip in one “Diamonds and Rust” piece, led Schneider to speculate that the series title refers to the “reflective areas and flat areas” Davison created through his materials.

As an exhibition title, it also describes the sum of Davison’s work on display, from the precision-cut edges of earlier screen prints and collages to the disintegrating structures of his later, imperfectly printed monotypes. Both are part of a legacy that has landed Davison’s work in the collections of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Yale University Art Gallery, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum — and imprinted it in the mind of any viewer who encounters this dedicated artist’s oeuvre. ➆

INFO

“Diamonds and Rust,” an exhibition of work by Bill Davison, on view through November 29 at the Francis Colburn Gallery, University of Vermont, in Burlington. uvm.edu

- 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.

Untitled work from “Snow and Wounds” series

It Must Have Been Love: Ben Cheney at Axel’s Gallery

STORY & PHOTOS BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

ere’s a reason people write breakup songs. Music can convey history, shifts in tone, and complex and contradictory emotions better than most mediums. Somehow, Montpelier artist Ben Cheney has managed to do all that — not with a melody, but through furniture.

With “New Beginnings, Old Stories,” his solo show on view through November 23 at Axel’s Gallery in Waterbury, Cheney presents a collection of sculpture, furniture and lamps that speak to the amicable end of a 25-year relationship.

Cheney works primarily in steel and wood. He founded Flywheel Industrial Arts, a company that mainly builds commercial signage, custom staircases and kitchens; visitors can pop across the street to see a Flywheel-made bench and other infrastructure in the recently revitalized Stowe Street Alley. One of his new collection’s strengths is that it imparts tenderness to material that usually projects utility.

e show’s central work is “Emotions,” an interactive piece installed on a custom-built U-shaped shelf surrounding a partition wall in the gallery. Cheney has placed 22 objects on the shelf, as well as a small cabinet. Two lamps, one on each side of the wall, focus light by which viewers can examine the objects. Visitors are encouraged to pick them up, move them around or place them in the cabinet.

Most of these objects are hunks of steel — some curved, some lumpy, some crumpled like a piece of paper. Two are made from perforated steel; one is gilded and shiny. A 4-inch cube is surprisingly heavy and rattles when shaken. Some objects are uncomfortably spiky; others ﬁt satisfyingly in the palm of your hand.

One of the objects is painted jade green, or “grandma green,” as Cheney calls it. e color pops up as an accent in most of the pieces in the show, unifying sculpture and functional furniture remarkably well. Cheney said this particular green was a color he and his wife could usually agree on when making decorative decisions.

“Emotions” slips easily back and forth between material and metaphor. Placing an object in the cabinet — stamped with the phrase “what is inside you” — might seem like a literal take on hiding one’s feelings, but each “emotion” is wholly inscrutable. You don’t know what you’re hiding or, for that matter, uncovering.

Other works incorporate antiques. Cheney has combined a rounded glass-and-wood buffet cabinet with a steel table and green accents to make an imposing, 6-foot-tall piece of furniture that’s both balanced and sharply divided. A lamp fashioned from a brass ﬁre extinguisher shines its light on an eggshell in a perfectly round nest. Cheney said he noticed the absence left by the antiques the couple had collected, but which were primarily his wife’s passion. e furniture in the show is a sometimes uneasy reconciliation of their two styles.

A viewer can ﬁnd meaning in Cheney’s functional pieces, though that meaning might not be apparent outside the show’s context. A low coffee table, about two feet wide, is made from a 6-inch-thick slab of wood on a steel base: it’s so heavy that it’s simply not going anywhere. A geometric steel table lamp looks torn and peeled back, light bouncing off gold leaf on its interior surface.

e most narrative piece in the show is an oak-and-brass rack displaying 46 matchbooks. Each one’s origin — Florence, Bermuda, Kuala Lumpur, the couple’s own wedding — tells us where they’ve been but not what happened there. ese read as pieces of a private history, innocuous mementos with the potential to ignite. ➆

INFO

“New Beginnings, Old Stories” by Ben Cheney, on view through November 23 at Axel’s Gallery in Waterbury. axelsgallery.com

Above and lower left: Objects from “Emotions”

"Please Spin Me"

“Delta 4” table lamp

CALLS TO ARTISTS

2024 GINGERBREAD CONTEST: Interested bakers, schools, organizations, businesses, families, individuals and young people are invited to submit their imaginative gingerbread creations. All entries must be delivered on Wednesday, December 4, or Thursday, December 5. Preregistration required at chaffeeartcenter.org. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, November 20-December 5. Free. Info, 775-0356.

ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Now accepting applications from artists at all stages of their careers. The grants provide up to $2,000 in funding for activities that enhance mastery of a craft or skills that increase the viability of an artist’s business. This year will pilot a new method of awarding grantees, as well as flood relief funding. Apply online at vermontartscouncil.org. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier, November 20-January 28. Info, 402-4602.

‘SILVER LINING’: Seeking shiny objects and silver-colored art for inclusion in the spring show in the main floor gallery; work may be silver in its entirety or have a small but essential silver element. The show will honor SPA’s 25th anniversary. Email submissions; guidelines at studioplacearts. com. Studio Place Arts, Barre, November 20-February 8. $10, free for members. Info, submissions.studioplacearts@gmail.com.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

FINNEGAN WATSON: “Things I Hold Onto,” an MFA exhibition. For more information, see Vermont State University-Johnson Campus Art Department on social media. Reception and artist talk: Thursday, November 21, noon-2 p.m. Susan Calza Black Box Gallery, Visual Arts Center, Johnson, through November 22. Free. Info, phillip.robertson@vermontstate.edu.

ROB HITZIG: “Intuitive Cartography,” a solo show of abstract geometric art. Reception: Thursday, November 21, 4-5:30 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center Art Gallery, Berlin, through January 11. Info, kate. arslambakova@cvmc.org.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBIT AND SHOPPE: An all-member show of works by community artists. Reception features holiday music, wine, hot cocoa bar and holiday sweets. Opening Reception: Friday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, November 22-January 4. Info, 775-0356.

WINTER ART FEST 2024: A show of fine art, photography, sculpture, glass fine crafts, cards and prints presented by the artists and crafters of the Guild of Valley Arts. Reception: Friday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. Warren Public Library, Friday, November 22, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, November 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 496-3913.

PEG HARRIGAN: A show and pop-up sale of mixed-media and photographic prints of natural and industrial landscapes, enhanced with metallic and iridescent paint. Studio located in southeast corner of Chace Mill. Chace Mill, Burlington, Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, November 24, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Info, harriganpeg@gmail.com.

‘COLOR DANCE’: The second annual juried group show, featuring artists chosen from across the country by

juror Terry Norton-Wright of Moore College of Art & Design. First-, second- and third-place winners to be announced at the reception. Reception: Friday, December 6, 5-6:30 p.m. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, Middlebury, November 23-January 7. Info, 989-7419.

JANET VAN FLEET: “Movement,” a site-specific installation of creatures, vehicles and conveyances made from found and reclaimed materials. Reception: Friday, December 6, 4-8 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, November 26-January 28. Info, 262-6035. ‘10 X 10’ MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION: An exhibition of small paintings, prints, drawings and two-dimensional mixed-media works by artist supporters of the gallery. Reception: Friday, December 6, 4-8 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, November 26-January 28. Info, 262-6035.

ART EVENTS

ARTIST TALK: TINA OLSEN: An interactive discussion with participatory painting for the public exploring expressionism and abstraction. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, Sunday, November 24, 4-6 p.m. Info, 917-860-5749.

ARTIST TALK: MELORA KENNEDY: The artist discusses her solo show, “Human Family: Works 2013-2024,” which pairs domestic scenes, landscape and still life with concepts enumerated in the 1948 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The Front, Montpelier, Monday, November 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Info, info@thefrontvt.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

music+nightlife S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Unquiet Riot: Musicians and Residents Spar Over Noise at Burlington’s Pomeroy Park

As I drove into Burlington last week, MISSION OF BURMA’s “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” blaring over the stereo, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being a hypocrite.

The election was over, and the fascists had won. I know, I know — Mitch McConnell said we’re not supposed to call the fascists “fascists,” but growing up in the ’80s really prepares you to say that word with the exact right amount of venom.

As I mentally doomscrolled from one dark fantasy to the next, all ending with me overthrowing the evildoers, I recalled my ﬁrst few weeks as music editor at Seven Days, back in 2021. Donald Trump had just riled his supporters to sack the U.S. Capitol, and a handful of Vermont musicians had joined in, including former ROUGH FRANCIS bassist DAN DAVINE He was subsequently ﬁred from the punk band and left Vermont for Florida, where “insurrection” and “day of love” can more easily be confused with one another.

I roundly criticized Davine and the others, as did the majority of the local scene. But it wasn’t lost on me that, four years later, I was the one now fantasizing about bringing down the government. Like Ferris Bueller said, life moves pretty fast. It was an odd juxtaposition to feel

those urges even while pulling into the parking lot for the main o ces of the City of Burlington’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront. But for all of my Mad Max mood swings, I needed to cover a bit of local government in action.

Amid all the wreckage and fear on social media after the election, I kept seeing posts from local musicians about a hearing being held by the Parks Commission. Word was, an indie-rock show staged in Pomeroy Park in October ru ed a few residents’ feathers, largely due to noise levels.

The concert was organized by Burlington indie rockers GREASEFACE, who performed along with PEG TASSEY & THE LOUD FLOWERS. It had been set up by the book, with the musicians getting a special use permit from the city to have ampliﬁed music from 7 to 9 p.m. That didn’t stop several local residents, including former city councilor JANE KNODELL, from lodging complaints and calling on the commission to reevaluate the process by which Burlington park permits are issued. This was the topic of last week’s hearing. In other words, banning rock and roll from certain parks — in the city where a young mayor named Bernie Sanders once saved punk, no less.

In a Front Porch Forum post, Knodell

KRUGLAK, ZACK JAMES (ROBBER ROBBER) and Greaseface’s JACKSON GLOVER, got up to talk about the show itself, describing it as a community event that brought joy to the Old North End neighborhood, which is largely populated by students and younger residents.

“The reality is, there aren’t other parks where we can hold events like this without incurring heavy costs,” Glover said. Reserving a space such as Battery Park costs $200. Factoring in sound equipment, security and other expenses, some of the musicians claimed that staging a show at a bigger park could end up costing nearly a thousand dollars. Meanwhile, getting a general park permit for Pomeroy starts at $30, which helped the bands throw the free show in October.

“It’s also special to hold an event like that in a park that feels like ours,” Glover said. “We live right there. We’re there all the time, and a lot of the people who were there that night were from the neighborhood.”

wrote that Pomeroy is designated by the city as a “neighborhood park, unlike larger parks like Oakledge and Battery,” and therefore shouldn’t be hosting events such as the October rock show, which local resident SAMUEL PRESS, who spoke at the hearing, described as a “noise riot.”

Having worked for the City of Burlington in another life, I was pretty familiar with how commission meetings usually work. It was unsurprising to see the commission members seated around a largely empty table, with just a few residents waiting to speak their turn.

But within minutes, local musicians and fans started to stream in. One by one, they signed in and took their seats, turning the room into something between a Norman Rockwell painting and a crowded night at Radio Bean. And one by one, they testiﬁed.

First up was the DEAD SHAKERS’ KEVIN BLOOM, who read a prepared statement from his notebook as he faced the commission.

“I’m deeply troubled by the idea that there could be a new precedent set by retroactively revoking this permit,” Bloom said. “I grew up near Boston and watched a DIY art community get dismantled by things like this.”

Other musicians, including WILL

Many who spoke pointed out that the show was a one-o concert that lasted two hours on a Saturday night — “shorter than the sports events at the school I live nearby that keep me up some nights,” Tassey said when she addressed the commission. “But I understand events like that are for the community and bring joy, so I don’t mind tolerating the noise for a few hours. I wish other people would think like this, honestly.”

ERIN MALONE, owner of Momo’s Market on North Willard Street, close to Pomeroy, also spoke. She has hosted a community party in the park since 2021 and defended the use of the park for residents. While she did concede that the show in October was “very loud,” she didn’t see any reason to withhold permits.

“Pomeroy is a complete gem that should be available to the community,” Malone said. “Maybe the answer is to hold the events earlier, near dusk.”

“This is not really about denying access to art groups,” said Knodell, who lives near the park and appeared at the meeting remotely via Zoom. “The issue is the commission’s decision to grant a waiver to allow ampliﬁed sound up to 9 p.m., which made it seem to us that this would be a routine thing going forward.

“Pomeroy Park is a public space, but this does not mean that all members of the public can do whatever they want in that space,” she continued. “We need to acknowledge that some uses do adversely a ect other people. Not getting your sleep can have serious health impacts for some people. The role of the commission is to balance all the community’s needs.”

Peg Tassey speaking at a community forum discussing noise issues at Pomeroy Park

On the Beat

Put on some deodorant, because it’s time to hug your farmer! The all-star Hug Your Farmer fundraiser, which debuted in 2011, is set to return to the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington this Friday, November 22. All proceeds from the show go straight to the Vermont Community Foundation’s VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund.

Led by guitarist BOB WAGNER and his Hug Your Farmer house band — a who’s who of Burlington musicians — the charity performance always embraces a theme; last year’s edition was a tribute to the music of BOB DYLAN. This year, the musicians pay homage to the legends of country music and Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry. Dubbed “A Night at the Opry,” the show features performances from GRACE POTTER, RYAN MILLER of GUSTER, PHISH’s MIKE GORDON, DWIGHT + NICOLE, RYAN MONTBLEAU, and many more.

MC RICH PRICE (the SWEET REMAINS) talked about the theme in the press release: “The Opry is not just an embodiment of the heart and soul of country music; it has always been where performers and audiences cherish the artistry of music and the unique sense of community that it can create.”

Burlington honky-tonk experts WILD LEEK RIVER kick it o with an opening set. For tickets and more information, head to ﬂynnvt.org.

Speaking of charitable works, the Phab Phour are once again raising funds for their home state. Jam-band kings PHISH recently raked in more than $4 million in support of the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program, a nonproﬁt addiction recovery organization in Ludlow that was

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “BORNREADY” by Topia

2. “HOPPER DROPPER” by Forest Station

3. “I MISS WHO I THOUGHT YOU WERE” by the Twangtown Paramours

4. “MANY MOUNTAINS” by Nate Gusakov

5. “PT. 1: EVENING UNRAVELS” by Wolfhand

6. “TRANS ALIENS — LIVE” by the Champlain Shoregasm

7. “PLASTIQUE DINNER” by the Tsunamibots, Brand New Luddites

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

launched by the band’s guitarist, TREY ANASTASIO.

The band raised the money with a three-night stand in Albany, N.Y., at the MVP Arena in October. This follows its 2023 beneﬁt concerts in Saratoga Springs, where Phish brought in more than $3.5 million for ﬂood recovery.

“Because of these concerts, we will be able to help many more people take charge of their lives and recover from addictions,” Divided Sky program director and cofounder MELANIE GULDE

music+nightlife

Eye on the Scene

Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

MADAILA AT THE HIGHER GROUND SHOWCASE LOUNGE IN SOUTH BURLINGTON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16: They’re baaaaack! It’s been five years since Madaila took to the stage as a full band with new material. On Saturday, front man Mark Daly and a mix of original and new members performed Madaila’s latest album, The Suite, in its entirety. Recorded at Tank Recording Studio in Burlington and released last month, the album is full of songs that are catchy, energetic, uplifting and easy to connect with — Daly hallmarks that have only grown over time. The set also included covers that any longtime fan could’ve predicted — the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Diana Ross’ “Take Me Higher.” But what came as a surprise was a cover of the Cardigans’ “Lovefool.” It landed perfectly, not just in Daly’s impressive vocal range but in most of the crowd’s, as well. I’m looking forward to many more pop song singalongs with Madaila, but I gotta ask: Will we ever get another Madaila on Main?!

said. “It’s hard to put into words how grateful we are to Phish and their fans for this generosity.”

Valley Stage Productions has kicked off the 2024-25 season of P.M. Sundays shows at the Richmond Congregational Church. Led by promoter DON SHELDON, the group’s mission is to host nationally touring artists in less typical venues. And for seven seasons, it has done just that in the historic Richmond church.

This season kicked off on November 10 with a performance by folk singer SADIE GUSTAFSON-ZOOK. It continues on Sunday, December 8, with Canadian singer-songwriter MICHELLE WILLIS, the ALLISON LUPTON TRIO in January,

Massachusetts bluegrass act

in February and Bay Area indie-folk singer ISMAY in March. The series wraps up in April with Nashville singersongwriter ABIGAYLE KOMPST

To get tickets, visit valleystage.net. ➆

The testimonies went on for the better part of an hour, and while we all knew ahead of time that no decision would be made that night, it was strangely satisfying to see a diverse group of people interact about something they disagree on. There were no arguments or fights. Not a single speaker interrupted another. No one called anyone a liar or questioned their

intelligence. A disagreement had arisen in the community, and the community showed up to politely debate the issue. It was boring and pedantic and beautiful all at once.

As of press time, the commission hadn’t reached a decision about the future of events at Pomeroy Park — but I’ll keep you updated, so stay tuned. In the meantime, it was nice to see civilized democracy in action, at least here in our little city. ➆

Michelle Willis

Calendar events and art listings happening 12/4-12/11 are due by: Wednesday, 11/27, at noon sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Advertising reservations due by: Wednesday, 11/27, at noon 802-864-5684 or sales@sevendaysvt.com

Facing Change: Life's Transitions and Transformations

WED., NOV 20

ONLINE

Thanksgiving Cookie Decorating Class

THU., NOV 21

SHE WORKS, WILLISTON

"Pie" Cupcake Decorating Class

FRI., NOV 22

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY VILLAGE

HIFI

FRI., NOV 22

THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

Mauritius

FRI., NOV 22

GRANGE HALL CULTURAL CENTER, WATERBURY CENTER

Local Maverick's Holiday Market! At Hotel Champlain

SAT., NOV 23

HOTEL CHAMPLAIN, BURLINGTON

The Magnetica Concert

SAT., NOV 23

MAGNETICA PERFORMANCE SPACE, BURLINGTON

TRS Live: High Summer Album

Recording Session

SAT., NOV 23

TANK RECORDING STUDIO, BURLINGTON

Honky Tonk Dance

SAT., NOV 23

SHELBURNE TOWN HALL

Burlington Choral Society Concert: Birds, Byrd, and Birding to Change the World

SAT., NOV 23

ELLEY-LONG MUSIC CENTER, COLCHESTER

Mountain Spells - Performance & Book

Signing by Toussaint St. Negritude

SAT., NOV 23

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE

November Bird Monitoring Walk

SAT., NOV 30

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Mandarin Conversation Circle

TUE., DEC 3

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY

Outer Sounds ft. Berman / Wallace / Ali / Harris + Arthur Brooks Ensemble V

TUE., DEC 3

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE

The One-Night Stand: A Single-Evening Course in Bike-Care Basics by Old Spokes Home

WED., DEC 4

OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

Homemade Éclairs From Scratch

THU., DEC 5

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Polish Potato Pierogi Workshop

THU., DEC 5

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY VILLAGE

Monte Carlo Holiday Festival- A Festival of Trees Gala

FRI., DEC 6

SAINT ALBANS CITY HALL

December Cookie Decorating Class

SAT., DEC 7

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY VILLAGE

Vermont Holiday Market

SAT., DEC 7

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX JCT

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.20

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

Bent Nails House Band (blues, jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Futurebirds, Color Green (roots rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m.

$20/$25.

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

Late Night Café Jazz (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

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

Mike Mac (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

UVM Songwriter’s Circle Showcase (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, 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.21

All’s Eye Trio (jam) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $20.

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

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

JD Tolstoi (indie) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Vermont Jazz Trio (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.22

Barbacoa (surf rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Big Mountain String Band (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Bleeding Hearts Family Band (folk) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Chris Powers (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

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

e Dorado Collective (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Duncan MacLeod (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 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.

Va-et-vient (Cajun, Creole) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.26

Super Nova As one half of the massively inﬂuential hip-hop duo Black Star, TALIB KWELI helped usher conscious hip-hop up from the Brooklyn underground and into the mainstream. He and Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) released their debut in 1998, and while it was 24 years before Black Star got around to a follow-up, Kweli never slowed down. He’s worked with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and J Dilla, among many others, in a glittering career that’s established the lyrically gifted MC as one of the best to rock the mic. On Friday, November 22, Kweli takes the stage at the Lounge at Nectar’s in Burlington with support from SKYZOO, LANDON

SAT.23

Arabella, Resonator (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Bonji (acoustic) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

David Becker’s ‘Planets’ (jazz) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 7 p.m. $20.

Jess O’Brien & Paul Miller (acoustic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Jonny Mop Band (rock) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

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. e Dale and Darcy Band (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsﬁeld, 5 p.m. Free. Gnomenclature (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10. Grateful Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20.

Hayden Pedigo, Reid Parsons (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$18.

Faerie Godbrothers (Americana, roots) at Moogs Joint, Johnson, 7 p.m. Free.

Jeff Salisbury Band (blues, rock) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 7 p.m. Free.

Jon Wagar & Friends (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Karl Miller & the Instrumentals (acoustic) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Kyle Stevens (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Lazer Dad (‘90s tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10/$12.

McMaple (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Mikaela Davis, John Lee

Shannon (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$25.

Mirage (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Nico Suave & the Mothership (Led Zeppelin tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15/$18.

Phillip Hyjek Trio (jazz) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Talib Kweli, Skyzoo, Landon Wordswell, Mister Burns (hiphop) at the Lounge at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $40.

Taylor Lavalley (singer-songwriter) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Last Kid Picked (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Liam Bauman and Emilio Gonzales (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

Magic User, Soaking Wet (punk, metal) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Minced Oats (bluegrass) at Kraemer & Kin, Alburgh, 6 p.m. Free.

e Mirrors, Seakin (indie rock) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. $10.

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

Oh Gee Whiz! It’s Some Live Music! (rock) at Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 6 p.m. $10.

Queer Takeover (indie, drag, DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15.

Sam Burchﬁeld & the Scoundrels, Leon Majcen (country) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$18/$20.

Slamwich, Peacemaker, Multiple Pieces, No Soul, Corrupt World (metal, hardcore) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12.

Smokey Newﬁeld Project (bluegrass) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Steve Blair (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Talking Lake Company (Americana) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

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

SUN.24

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m. Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. Jay Southgate (vibraphone) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 5 p.m. Free.

e Last Waltz ( e Band tribute) at the Double E Lounge at Essex Experience, 7 p.m. $20/$25.

WED.27

90 Proof (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Aaron Audet (singer-songwriter) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Barbie N Bones (rock) at the Depot, St. Albans, 9 p.m. $5. BBQ and Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

Ira Friedman Band (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Irish Trad Jam (Celtic) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jamie Lee urston, Fran Briand (country) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 6 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. Night Protocol (synth rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Tom Bisson (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 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.

WED.20

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.

WORDSWELL and MISTER BURNS

FRI.22 // TALIB KWELI [HIP-HOP]

THU.21

Country & Western Thursdays (country, DJ) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.22

Blanchface (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Ara$ (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Ecstatic Dance (dance, DJ) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5-$25.

SAT.23

Crypt Goth Night (DJ) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

D Jay Baron (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.24

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae, dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

TUE. 26

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.27

Disco Night with CRWD CTRL (DJ) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Mildew (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Queer Bar Takeover (DJ) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.20

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.21

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.

SUN.24

Feedback Loops: Vermont Synthesizer Society November Meetup (synth) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.25

Open Mic (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.26

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.20

Improv Class Show (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Laugh Local VT Comedy Open Mic (comedy) at the Den, Williamstown, 7 p.m. Free.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m.

THU.21

Comedy Night (comedy) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Live, Laugh, Lava: A Comedy Showcase (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5.

Nurse Blake (comedy) at Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $40-$60.

Off The Cuff (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5/$10.

Steph Tolev (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $30.

FRI.22

Steph Tolev (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $30.

SAT.23

Steph Tolev (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $30.

WORST. SONG. EVER. (comedy) at Canadian Club, Barre, 5 p.m. Free.

TUE.26

The Cafeteria Presents: Hot Lunch Tuesdays (comedy) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.27

Thanksgiving Eve Comedy NIght Hosted by Kendall Farrell (comedy) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$12.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.20

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.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

THU.21

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Radio Bean Karaoke (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Essex Free Library, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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.22

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Weekend Karaoke (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.23

Mountain Spells: Performance & Book Signing by Toussaint St. Negritude (poetry) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. free. Info, 355-5440.

SUN.24

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.

WED.27 // THANKSGIVING EVE COMEDY NIGHT [COMEDY]

Homecoming Hilarity

The Vermont-to-

New York City comedy pipeline is well established, thanks to the likes of Carmen Lagala, Tina Friml and others, standup comics who got their starts in Vermont before leaving to forge careers in the Big Apple. To celebrate that connection, the Thanksgiving Eve Comedy Night at Foam Brewers in Burlington has become an annual tradition. Hosted by native Vermonter and NYC-based comic KENDALL FARRELL (pictured), this year’s edition features Green Mountain expatriate jokesters MAX HIGGINS, ASH DIGGS, LIAM WELSH and NIC SISK, along with New Yorker DAVE ANDERSON and the winner of the 2022 Vermont’s Funniest Comedian contest, JARED HALL. The funny business goes down on Wednesday, November 27, at the waterfront brewery.

MON.25

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.26

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 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.

WED.27

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.

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

HIGHLANDARTSVT.ORG • 2875 HARDWICK ST, GREENSBORO SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 11 AM - 3 PM 6h-HCA112024 1

Celebrate the magic of the season with a festive indoor/outdoor market with music, puppets, unique eats, and good cheer. Warm up by toasty ﬁres, revel in holiday magic and shop local for the holidays from artisans from around the region!

REVIEW this music+nightlife

Topia, KO RABWA

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Ko rabwa, for starters, means “thank you” in Kiribati. The tiny island nation in the Paciﬁc is a big part of the story behind Topia, a singersongwriter, part-time rapper and spookily talented producer who has been at the forefront of Burlington’s postpandemic new wave. He’s a proliﬁc collaborator and a stylistic chameleon, but for his third album, KO RABWA, he turns the spotlight squarely on himself, paying homage to his heritage, his family and his adopted community in Vermont.

artist, comfortable exploring both the limits of his own timbre and, well, genre itself. Like his local contemporaries Caleb Lodish and thayerperiod, he’s a musical omnivore pushing modern studio technology to the limit.

Since his 2022 debut album, Impulse, Topia has been a brazenly experimental

Luminous Crush, Bury the Rock

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

On his 2023 followup, No U in Topia, he delivered a sprawling 18-track testament to his range and ambition. The result was a decidedly mixed bag. KO RABWA is a very di erent beast: a tightly focused project with an eclectic but consistent sound.

That sound alternates between ethereal acoustic interludes and massive walls of orchestrated electronica. In practice, it’s an organic ﬁt, reminiscent of how Seal’s eponymous debut ﬂowed from stripped-

In a recent Instagram video, Luminous Crush band members Bay Campbell and Laura Molinelli have a cute disagreement: Is their new studio album, Bury the Rock, their seventh or eighth? (It depends on whether you count their currently unavailable LP Live From Lonely Highway Studio. Or their compilation Anthology.)

Given how proliﬁc the Jamaica, Vt., duo has been in the past several years, it may not even be worth it to keep track. In the same video, Campbell and Molinelli inform their followers that they’re already working on a new one.

Luminous Crush’s Bandcamp page claims they make “original bluegrass outlaw country post-punk psychedelic fusion indie dream pop searing rock metal and whatnot.” That’s a clever catchall for whatever stylistic inclinations strike them as they hunker down in their magic factory, the aforementioned Lonely Highway Studio. Indeed, Bury the Rock is a wideranging pop-rock album that constantly surprises. Luminous Crush welcomed a cast of guest contributors on 2023’s Farewell to the Rainbow Cattle

down demos into the most crushing club beats imaginable. This contrasting approach enhances the material, o ering an intimate window into Topia’s songwriting process, from rough sketches to ﬁnal print.

Along the way, there are some knockout singles. The relentless groove of “OWNHAND” and the cinematic chill of “THISMYFATE” are highlights, even on a lean, all-killer track list. Yet what’s most impressive about KO RABWA is how e ortlessly it insists upon being a singular, uninterrupted listening experience. Each track ﬂows into the next with the satisfying click of a jigsaw puzzle. A sound this cohesive is clearly the result of endless hours of hard work and outright obsession.

It’s a beautiful thing to watch young artists evolve into the monsters they were meant to be. For young local talent, Topia included, the Burlington

Company Bury the Rock is all Campbell and Molinelli. The new album isn’t stripped down, exactly, but a subdued quality permeates its 15 tracks. It’s as if the two twisted their inner dimmer switch a few degrees to the left.

Released on November 11, just days after the presidential election, Bury the Rock opens appropriately with “Breathing Song.” Over muscular bass and a rollicking beat, Molinelli instructs listeners to breathe in and out as if leading a guided meditation. A song about being connected to something larger than oneself,

Technical Center’s Make Music Club has been a key incubator in recent years.

Naturally, letting the kids ﬁgure it out for themselves is a recipe for fertile creativity — and uneven sound quality. The low end on KO RABWA is sometimes so hot it crowds out the rest of the mix. Fortunately, Topia’s sheer conviction in the booth commands center stage on every track.

In the face of such raw charisma, my audiophile quibbles are merely a footnote. KO RABWA is urgent, essential listening, 802 history in the making. This is a deeply personal project that connects on a universal level. That’s the secret sauce in any era, and Topia is a standout talent with a bright future ahead of him.

KO RABWA is available on all major streaming platforms.

JUSTIN BOLAND

it begins the record with some much-needed positivity and reassurance.

Swimming with acoustic guitar and urgent vocal harmonies, the declarative “The Internet Has Ruined Everything” laments a digitally ﬂattened world. “You used to draw / You used to paint / You used to write and read and dance and sing,” Molinelli sings, longing for a simpler time. The song doesn’t aim to solve anything, only takes stock of an unfortunate, irreversible reality.

One of Luminous Crush’s hallmarks is the way they balance seriousness with whimsy. For all their sincerity, little bits of snark always seem to ﬁnd their way into their tunes.

“You’re so pretty / But you feel shitty / And it shows,” Molinelli sings on the percussive “Disappointed Girl.” On “Joann,” a syncopated, jangle-pop number, Campbell throws some loving shade at the title character: “Singing karaoke / She’s a little pitchy,” she sings.

Dipping into beach-pop for penultimate cut “Indulging the Artist,” the duo surfs on quickly picked, dirty guitar. Campbell and Molinelli lock into ascendant harmony as they sing about the frenzy of creative inspiration.

Comforting, invigorating and imaginative, Luminous Crush never disappoint. With Bury the Rock, they prove themselves to be fearless artists with a seemingly neverending supply of colorful pop music.

Bury the Rock is available at luminouscrush. bandcamp.com and on all major streaming platforms. JORDAN ADAMS

Luminous Crush

YOUTH TALENT SHOW FOR VERMONT’S

Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM, SOUTH BURLINGTON

Come see these rising stars wow the crowd with their talents:

• Aiden Sherpa (11) of South Burlington

• Mira Biggs (11) of Underhill

• Jaya Heitkamp (10) of Jericho

• Caroline Clayton (12) of Colchester

• Norah Canavan (12) of Colchester

• Addyson Long (11) of Colchester

• Evan Benoit (16) of Montpelier

• Myla Larmond (11) of South Burlington

• Piper Hall (15) of East Hardwick

• Calise Valiska (11) of Jeffersonville/Cambridge

• Adim Benoit (12) of Montpelier

• Violet Lambert (12) of Monkton

• Eva Lambert (8) of Monkton

• Addison Minor (15) of Westford

• Claire Blais (12) of Colchester

• Emerson Leeuw (11) of Colchester

• Alyce Ayer (11) of Bolton Valley

• Georgia Kunkel (14) of Vergennes

• Robin Hart (13) of Jericho

• Alaia “AJ” Rolfe (11) of Jericho/Richmond

• Eva Terrant (13) of South Burlington

• Stella Forward (10) of Burlington

• Eli Bart (14) of Shelburne

• Jack Blazewicz (13) of Shelburne

• Frank D’Amore (13) of Shelburne

• omas Schramm (14) of Shelburne

• Charlotte Clark (14) of Lincoln

• Lily Ryersbach (15) of Starksboro

calendar

NOVEMBER 20-27, 2024

WED.20

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.

community

FACING CHANGE: LIFE’S TRANSITIONS & TRANSFORMATIONS: A small group gathers and shares resources to support one another in times of upheaval. 4-5:15 p.m. $5-25 suggested donation. Info, 825-8141.

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.

dance

DANCE COMPANY OF MIDDLEBURY: Audiences enjoy a work-in-progress showing of new performance pieces that weave together poetic text and movement. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts

Center, Middlebury College, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-6433. etc.

CHAMP MASTERS

TOASTMASTER CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual options available. Dealer. com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, champmasterstm@gmail.com.

FOOD DRIVE & TRIVIA NIGHT: Charitable community members come together for an evening of networking, raffle prizes and hors d’oeuvres to benefit Upper Valley Haven. Hanover Inn, N.H., 4:30-7 p.m. Donations of nonperishable goods accepted; preregister; cash bar. Info, 603-643-6070.

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,

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.

Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

Montréal, 1 & 7:30 p.m. $75-80. Info, 514-739-7944.

THU.21

$16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a journey into the weird, wide world of mushrooms, which we are only just beginning to understand. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater:

A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

$3-5 plus regular admission, $16.50-20; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘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

VEGAN IN VERMONT: Folks following a plant-based diet connect with others, explore recipes, and listen to guest speakers Emily and Chelsea Curtis. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch,

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

WHISKEY WEDNESDAYS: Curious novices and experienced aficionados alike learn more about the grain-to-glass process and whet their whistles with a tasting. Barr Hill, Montpelier, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10. Info, 472-8000.

games

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.

PUZZLE SWAP: Participants bring completed puzzles in a ziplock bag with an image of the puzzle and swap for a new one. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.

holidays

‘ALICE’S RESTAURANT’: Arlo Guthrie plays himself in this 1969 satirical drama based on his song about a fateful Thanksgiving dinner. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

language

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

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.

music

BLUES JAM: Musicians singin’ the blues take over the Tavern on the Tee patio for a monthly series featuring local and regional acts. Anyone with an instrument is welcome to join the jam. Ralph Myhre Golf Course, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5125.

outdoors

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.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: Audiences revel 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,

seminars

ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA

OPERATION: An informative evening examines the critical elements of photography and videography, covering topics from exposure to depth of field. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. $25 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

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

FALL SPEAKER SERIES: ROSS

MACDONALD: The VTrans public transit program manager sheds light on mobility services offered in the state. A Q&A follows.

Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 496-5545.

GRIEF & THE HOLIDAYS: Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice bereavement coordinator Diana Moore leads locals in a heartfelt discussion about navigating the complexities of loss this season. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:45-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

theater

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: Northern Stage presents the classic Disney tale as old as time about learning to look beyond appearances. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $24-94; Nov. 20 and 21 previews are pay what you can. Info, 296-7000.

‘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

NORMA WONG: A Hawaiian author discusses her latest book, When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse, presented by Phoenix Books and Vermont Network. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

‘ROBERT FROST: LIGHT & DARK’: Local actor and playwright J.T. Turner inhabits the role of the famed Vermont poet in a historical representation of his work. Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626.

business

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: Time for a new gig? The Vermont Department of Labor offers a meet and greet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000.

climate crisis

CLIMATE CAFÉ:

Community members come together in an informal, welcoming and respectful setting to safely share concerns and build resilience. Ages 18 and up. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, almacoachingusa@gmail.com.

community

SHAPE THE SHELDON: ANNUAL MEETING & COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION: Locals gather to swap strategic ideas, feedback and visions for the future of the museum. Light refreshments provided. Little Seed Coffee Roasters, Middlebury, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 388-2117.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: All ages and abilities knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials are provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries 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.

dance

‘SWAN LAKE’: The World Ballet Company presents its rendition of the tragedy of Odette, Odile and Siegfried. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $37-101. Info, 855-990-3664.

education

CVCC OPEN HOUSE & COLLEGE FAIR: Inquiring minds pop in and check out the college’s exciting programs. Central Vermont Career Center, Barre, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 476-6237.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘BURLINGTON THIS IS YOU!’: Audiences enjoy a special preview of CCTV Center for Media & Democracy’s documentary about the future of locally produced content. A discussion follows. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center,

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.20

burlington

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN: Aspiring authors ages 11 to 18 enjoy snacks and a comfortable spot to write alongside each other. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

STEAM SPACE: Kiddos in grades K to 5 explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics with fun and engaging activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

TODDLER TIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones 12 to 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.

PLAYGROUP & STORY TIME: Little ones listen to stories, sing songs and share toys with new friends. Richmond Free Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 434-3036.

READ TO A DOG: Kids of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Emma the therapy pup. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

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.

northeast kingdom

TWEEN BOOK CLUB: Bookworms ages 10 to 14 share their favorite recent reads at a monthly meeting. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

THU.21

burlington

‘WICKED’ PRE-RELEASE PARTY: Fans of the hit musical join up for sing-alongs and themed cookie decorating. Ages 10 to 14. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

NOV. 26 | FAMILY FUN

Student Spectacular

Rice Memorial High School’s annual talent competition, Stunt Nite, returns to the Flynn in Burlington for back-to-back student showstoppers. Originally dubbed Vaudeville Nite when the event launched in 1929, the entertainment consists of (you guessed it!) stunts, as well as laugh-out-loud skits, dances, songs and general performance pandemonium. Coached by alumni and parents, Rice students of all ages and experience levels are eligible to participate. Broken up into four groups, they rehearse for a mere month before showcasing the fruits of their labor in 30-minute segments of Flynn fame.

STUNT NITE

Tuesday, November 26, 4 and 8 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $30-35. Info, 863-5966, flynnvt.org.

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 to 5 in songs, movement and other fun activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

LIBRARY COUNCIL OF TEENS: Youngsters join up to plan future library events and programs in a warm and welcoming environment. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA

BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides little ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. 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,

Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

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, 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

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.22

chittenden county

LEGO BUILDERS: Mini makers explore and create new worlds with stackable blocks. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

SWITCH: Newcomers and pros alike take turns playing multiplayer games on the library’s Nintendo system. Recommended for students in grades 3 to 8. 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.

SAT.23

burlington

FAMILY ART SATURDAY: Families get creative with poetry and printmaking in an activity inspired by exhibiting artist Jane Kent. Burlington City Arts, 11 a.m.1 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Little ones and their caregivers explore a range of themes and rotating activities designed to promote school readiness and foster creativity. Ages birth to 5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

WATER PROTECTORS: Kiddos ages 3 to 8 discover the interconnectedness of our watershed through hands-on science activities, stories, art and movement. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $0-50 sliding scale. Info, 862-3966.

‘CROWDSOURCED VT HOME

ALONE’: Filmmakers from more than 30 teams premiere their remake of the 1990 holiday slapstick comedy. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:45-8 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

food & drink

TOM CAT THURSDAYS: Curious folks take a short tour and learn about the process of distilling, aging and blending, followed by a chance to taste and compare. Barr Hill, Montpelier, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10. Info, 472-8000.

games

AFTERNOON GAMES: Colchester

Peer Growth & Lifelong Learning group hosts an inviting afternoon of games, refreshments, music and connection. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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

ART YOGA: Artist Sharon Fennimore combines awareness with a child’s sense of play and curiosity. Waterbury Public Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

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, 6:307:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 633-4136.

holidays

WINTER LIGHTS: Buildings and gardens glow in multicolored illuminations for the holiday season. Shelburne Museum, 4:30-8 p.m. $10-30; free for kids 3 and under. Info, 985-3346.

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

LOCALS NIGHT: Oenophiles enjoy the vineyard’s offerings, small bites and live tunes by Vermont musicians in a cozy, intimate setting. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7368.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: Students perform rousing percussive works conducted by D. Thomas Toner. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3166.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.20.

politics

MEDIATED LIVES SERIES: VOICES OF THE VOTERS: Civic-minded locals share food and debrief the presidential election with a presentation by Valley News alum Frances Mize. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.20, 7:30 p.m.

seminars

COMPOSITION & LIGHTING: Filmmakers move beyond the basics and learn how to frame shots, light subjects and incorporate camera movements. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $25 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

talks

LIZA MORSE: A University of Vermont PhD candidate discusses the impacts of coffee cultivation on bird diversity in neotropical regions, hosted by Green Mountain Audubon Society. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 434-3068. VERMONT STORYTELLING EVENT: Brave community members take the stage to share an unscripted true story about their lives. Holley Hall, Bristol, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

theater

‘ANYTHING GOES’: Nearly 100 talented students tap, sing and shine their way through a contemporary take on the classic Broadway hit, featuring crowd-pleasing tunes by Cole Porter. Mount Abraham Union High School, Bristol, 7 p.m. $1215. Info, 377-3335.

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: See WED.20.

‘MATILDA THE MUSICAL’: Burlington High School drama presents the family-friendly Broadway delight based on the beloved Roald Dahl book of the same name. Hunt Middle School, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $6-10. Info, pbowley@bsdvt.org.

‘THREE WOMEN OF SWATOW’: See WED.20.

words

EVENING BOOK GROUP: Readers react to Kate Beaton’s

Red-Hot Blues

Profoundly expressive multi-Grammy nominee Shemekia Copeland is known for “inviting you to think and to party,” NPR Music says. The blues queen takes the stage at Barre Opera House, bringing a transcendent mix of musical styles, coupled with her fearless, commanding presence. Born and raised in 1970s Harlem, Copeland made her debut at the illustrious Cotton Club when she was only 8 years old; her first record, Turn the Heat Up, solidified her place in R&B history a decade later. Fast-forward to today, and Copeland is still turning up the heat with her instantly recognizable sound.

SHEMEKIA COPELAND

Saturday, November 23, 7:30 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $24-35. Info, 476-8188, barreoperahouse.org.

coming-of-age memoir, Ducks a 2022 New York Times Notable Book. Virtual option available. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

INQUISITIVE READERS BOOK CLUB: Lit lovers link up to discuss Erin Morgenstern’s 2019 speculative fiction novel, The Starless Sea. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6 p.m. Free;

preregister. Info, henningsmh@ yahoo.com.

NANOWRIMO SESSION:

Community members pick up a pen to start — or finally finish — that draft during National Novel Writing Month. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

POETRY SALON & OPEN MIC: Poets Glenn Etter and Julia Alter read from their works, then open up the stage for audience

VIRTUAL SPEAKER

SERIES: JO RADNER: The author of Wit and Wisdom: The Forgotten Literary Life of New England Villages sheds light on the 19th-century tradition of creating and performing handwritten newspapers. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 479-8500.

VOICES OF BUOYANCY: Listeners delight in an evening of live poetry by Molly Kirschner with improvised musical accompaniment by Mowgli Giannitti. Specs, Winooski, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3943.

FRI.22

bazaars

BTV WINTER MARKET: Locavores enjoy a European-style outdoor market featuring a rotating group of 20 local artists, makers and food vendors. Burlington City Hall Park, 2-6 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

CELEBRATE VERMONT: Holiday shoppers check off every person on their list with 125 artisans, specialty food purveyors, and Vermont wine and spirits producers. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $12-15. Info, info@starbirdevents.com. dance

SHELBURNE CONTRA DANCE: All ages and experience levels enjoy shaking a leg in a friendly, nonjudgmental environment. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. Shelburne Town Hall, 6:45-10 p.m. $12-15 sliding scale; free for kids 12 and under. Info, info@ queencitycontras.com.

‘SWAN LAKE’: See THU.21. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. $59-69. Info, 603-448-0400.

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

members to share their own short pieces. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

TURNING PAGES WITH MARY & LAUREL’S BOOK GROUP EVENT: Bibliophiles join forces in a special crossover book club to discuss Jessica Anthony’s riveting new novel, The Most. Light refreshments provided. Phoenix Books, Essex, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

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.

etc.

ALPHA FILM SERIES: Community members enjoy a meal, watch a brief video and share their perspectives on faith in an informal, friendly environment. St. John Vianney Parish Hall, South Burlington, 6:15-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-4166.

NEW FRAMEWORKS SHOP

TOUR: Curious homebuyers get a look at high-performance modular homes and learn how carbon is sequestered while creating these eco-friendly digs. New Frameworks, Essex, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 448-2206.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘JUST GETTING BY’: Vermont filmmaker Bess O’Brien offers an intimate look at the lives of locals struggling with food and housing insecurity. A Q&A follows. Fairlee Town Hall Auditorium, 7-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, contact@ fairleearts.org.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET

3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

FRIGHTFUL FIRST FILMS: ‘LAKE

MUNGO’: Series host Eric Ford presents this 2008 Australian psychological horror flick about the harrowing year that ensues after a 16-year-old’s accidental death. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-10. Info, 660-2600.

food & drink

JASPER HILL FONDUE FRIDAY

ADVENTURE DINNER: Foodies channel the ’70s retro vibe with an evening of craft cocktails, out-of-this-world cheese and platters packed with dippable goodies. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 6-9 p.m. $75. Info, sas@adventuredinner. com.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.21, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

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.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: Festive shoppers flock to a onestop gift destination featuring handmade jewelry, ceramics, paintings, fiber arts and household goods. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, noon-6

p.m. Free. Info, holidaymarket@ chandler-arts.org.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: Folks stroll through a magical landscape filled with enchanting displays, including a snow shower tower and a whimsical woodland.

Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 4:30-7 p.m. $8-13; free for kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000.

HOLIDAY EXHIBIT & SHOPPE

OPENING RECEPTION: Art patrons ignite the spirit of the season with holiday music, wine, a hot cocoa bar and sweets while exploring one-of-a-kind handmade treasures. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 775-0356.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.21.

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

HUG YOUR FARMER: ‘A NIGHT AT THE OPRY’: Audience members kick up their heels for all-star performances inspired by legends of country music. Proceeds benefit VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 8 p.m. $38.2559.25. Info, 855-990-3664.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.20.

talks

DR. RICHARD PLUMB: The president of Saint Michael’s College sheds light on the opportunities — and challenges — found within small liberal arts schools. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2-3 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members. Info, 343-5177.

tech

PHONE & TECH SUPPORT:

Perplexed patrons receive oneon-one aid from library staff on a first come, first served basis. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

theater

‘ANYTHING GOES’: See THU.21. ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: See WED.20.

‘THE CRUCIBLE’: Talented teen thespians raise the curtain on Arthur Miller’s gripping historical drama about a servant girl’s accusations in Salem, Mass. Martha Jane Rich Theater, Thetford Academy, 7-9 p.m. $510. Info, 785-4805, ext. 264.

‘MATILDA THE MUSICAL’: See THU.21.

‘MAURITIUS’: MOXIE Productions presents Theresa Rebeck’s surprisingly comedic thriller about greed, ambition and obsession. Grange Hall Cultural Center,

Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. $20. Info, 244-4168.

MIND MAGIC: A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER AND ASTONISHMENT: Dr. Steve Taubman astounds audience members with an interactive evening of comedy, mind reading, psychology and theater. Vergennes Opera House, 7:309:30 p.m. $25. Info, 236-3146.

‘THREE WOMEN OF SWATOW’: See WED.20.

SAT.23

bazaars

BTV WINTER MARKET: See FRI.22, noon-6 p.m.

CELEBRATE VERMONT: See FRI.22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

MERCY MARKETPLACE ART & CRAFT FAIR: Local shoppers sip hot cider while browsing more than 20 vendors’ art, jewelry and food. Mercy Connections, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-7338.

dance

HONKY-TONK DANCE: Party people two-step the evening away to country-and-western classics by Brett Hughes, Caleb Elder and Pat Melvin. Shelburne Town Hall, 7-9:30 p.m. $20. Info, 985-5110.

etc.

AUCTION FOR THE ARTS:

Supporters place bids on an exclusive selection of items while enjoying live music, dancing, games and refreshments. Proceeds benefit Catamount Arts. Caledonia Food Co-Op, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-10 p.m. $75; cash bar. Info, 748-2600.

DANFORTH PEWTER’S 20TH

ANNIVERSARY: Founder Judi Danforth chats with customers

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

5:00

Six hours DAILY of IN-DEPTH, LOCALLY-PRODUCED news, weather, sports and commentary:

Locally Owned and Operated Since 1931

and hand-inscribes ornaments on-site to mark the company’s two decades of business.

Danforth Pewter, Burlington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7135.

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather 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

SPIRIT OF FALL: PSYCHIC & HOLISTIC FAIR: Spiritual people connect with intuitive readers, explore practices and discover unique products from diverse vendors. North Country Union High School, Newport, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, amyrg44@ gmail.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘CEDDO’: Ousmane Sembene’s ambitious 1977 drama explores the intersection of ancient tradition and individual freedom. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $5-10. Info, 660-2600.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘LOST NATION’: History buffs watch local filmmaker Jay Craven’s Revolutionary War drama about Ethan Allen and Lucy Terry Prince, set in the early upstart Republic of Vermont. A Q&A follows. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘WARREN MILLER’S 75’: Snow sports enthusiasts get stoked for the stacked lineup of noteworthy boarders and skiers featured in the latest flick in the long-running series. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $25. Info, 652-4500.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS

MARKET: More than 40 vendors showcase their finest fresh farm produce, meats, unique crafts and baked goods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

GIN-TER WONDERLAND: Libation lovers revel in a special cocktail menu filled with holiday cheer, including gingerbread old-fashioneds and Euro-style hot chocolate. Barr Hill, Montpelier, noon-8 p.m. Free. Info, 472-8000.

games

CHESS CLUB: 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.

D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Players of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

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

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See FRI.22.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.22.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT & VENDOR FAIR: Art lovers delight in a day of crafters and vendors, a raffle and bake sale, and lunch sponsored by the school’s eighth grade class. St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, homeandschool@ sfxvt.org.

LOCAL MAVERICK’S HOLIDAY MARKET: Vermont crafters, producers and makers peddle their handmade wares. Hilton Burlington, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ localmaverickus.com.

WINOOSKI COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CRAFT & VENDOR FAIR: Community members enjoy more than 100 artists, makers and vendors, as well as a scrumptious bake sale and a raffle. Proceeds benefit the town’s schools. Winooski School District, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, winooskiptocraftfair@gmail.com.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.21.

music

‘BIRDS, BYRD, & BIRDING TO CHANGE THE WORLD’: Burlington Choral Society performs exciting music inspired by and referencing our feathered, flying friends. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30-9 p.m. $30; free for kids 18 and under. Info, 855-708-1078.

CANDLELIGHT: A TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT: Illuminated by countless candles, local musicians perform glowing classical renditions of hits by the tortured poet herself, from “Fortnight” to “All Too Well.” First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 7 p.m. $35-51. Info, 862-5630. CLUB D’ELF: Audiences lose track of time with a mesmerizing synthesis of traditional Moroccan music and electronic funk. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 387-0102.

KARIM NAGI: An Egyptian musician and educator performs highly skilled works ranging from traditional Arab to electronica. North Universalist Chapel Society, Woodstock, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale. Info, 234-1645.

THE MACHINE: A New York quartet pays homage to the musical legacy of Pink Floyd with stellar musicianship and passionate

Kingdom Come

NOV.

theater

‘ANYTHING GOES’: See THU.21, 2 & 7 p.m.

More than 2 billion viewers witnessed London’s Kingdom Choir skyrocket to global renown when the singers performed an awe-inspiring gospel rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me” at the televised royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Now, the UK’s Kingdom meets Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, as the spirited singers take the stage with joyful holiday classics at St. Johnsbury Academy’s Fuller Hall. Between their united vocal power and out-of-this-world harmonies, the British choir coaxes even the most stubborn audience members up and out of their seats.

KINGDOM CHOIR

Tuesday, November 26, 7 p.m., at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy. $15-54; free for students. Info, 748-2600, catamountarts.org.

delivery. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $32-52. Info, 603-448-0400.

THE MAGNETICA CONCERT:

Audiences experience the healing power of a sound, light and music generator built in Uruguay. The Magnetica Performance Space, Burlington, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $40. Info, events@themagnetica. com.

EXTRA STOUT: ‘A NIGHT OF CELTIC MUSIC’: Rutland County musicians Mary Barron, Marcos Levy and Helen Mango perform classic Irish tunes, from raucous drinking songs to moving ballads. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. $10. Info, 884-4100.

‘OH GEE WHIZ! IT’S SOME LIVE MUSIC!’: Four bands take the stage for a night of wild twists,

turns and Cheez Whiz. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 7 p.m.-midnight. $10 suggested donation. Info, 369-5722.

PATTI CASEY & TARYN NOELLE

QUARTET: Audiences take in a powerful double bill showcasing soulful originals and beloved jazz standards. A preconcert dinner is offered at 5 p.m. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-20. Info, 533-2000.

SHEMEKIA COPELAND: A queen of the blues brings deeply soulful sounds, honesty, fearlessness and humor to the stage for an unforgettable evening. See calendar spotlight. Barre Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $24-35. Info, 476-8188.

ALLISON MANN TRIO: The ensemble lifts listeners’ spirits

with acoustic jazz standards performed in an intimate setting. Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. $20. Info, allisonmannsings@ gmail.com.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.20.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.20, 7:30 p.m.

tech

PHONE & TECH SUPPORT:

Perplexed patrons receive aid from library staff on a first come, first served basis. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: See WED.20, 6:30 p.m.

‘THE CRUCIBLE’: See FRI.22, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art. film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section. music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

‘MATILDA THE MUSICAL’: See THU.21.

‘MAURITIUS’: See FRI.22.

‘THREE WOMEN OF SWATOW’: See WED.20.

words

JACKSON ELLIS: A local author reads from his latest novel, Black Days, about a Vermont man who crashes his car into the Mad River on Christmas Eve. Essex Free Library, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

NANOWRIMO: COME WRITE IN: Writers commit to the annual challenge of tackling a 50,000word novel in 30 days. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins

hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. 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.24 bazaars

BTV WINTER MARKET: See FRI.22, noon-4 p.m.

CELEBRATE VERMONT: See FRI.22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

WINOOSKI WINTER FARMERS

MARKET: Locavores peruse a variety of vendors’ delicious produce,

fine art and other homemade goods. Winooski Senior Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, farmers market@downtownwinooski.org.

community

COMMUNITY STORY CIRCLE: Vermont Law & Graduate School alums Angie Kaufman and Paige Wagar lead locals in a discussion focused on imagining the future of Vermont’s rivers.

BALE Community Space, South Royalton, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 915-887-1444.

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

SPIN-IN SPINNING CIRCLE: Yarn makers get together and get their wheels turning. BYO fiber and spinning device. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.20, 1-3 p.m.

dance

LAURA SÁNCHEZ: ‘WELCOME TO HOLLAND!?’: An inspirational multidisciplinary flamenco performance celebrates the resilience of caregivers. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 3 p.m. $15-20. Info, 387-0102.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘LOST NATION’: See SAT.23.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

food & drink

GINTER WONDERLAND: See SAT.23, noon-7 p.m.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.21, 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.

TURKEY TROT FUNDRAISER: Runners of all ages and abilities get moving to benefit the Hardwick Area Food Pantry.

Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury Common, 2-3 p.m. $10-50; preregister. Info, 586-7767.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See FRI.22, noon-4 p.m.

CHRISTMASTIME SINGO: Festive folks kick off the season with rousing themed bingo and live music to benefit the church’s disaster relief efforts. United Church of Ludlow, 6:30-8 p.m. $10 per card. Info, 228-4211.

THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY

HYMN SING: Local church musicians lead audience members in a spirit-lifting sing-along of traditional and contemporary worship songs. Vergennes Opera House,

3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 877-6737. WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.21.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME DAY: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 1-6 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692. CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 622-0692.

LGBTQ FIBER ARTS GROUP: A knitting, crocheting and weaving session welcomes all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations and skill levels. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. Noon-1

FAMI

chittenden county

TEEN CRAFT: DECOUPAGE JARS:

Creative kids use tissue paper and Mod Podge to create beautiful decorative vessels. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

SATURDAY MORNING STORY TIME:

Former school counselor Bobbi Rood reads Kevin Noble Maillard’s award-winning children’s book, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, followed by a tasting of homemade fry bread with toppings. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 496-7280.

upper valley

SAPLING STORY TIME: AMAZING BATS!: Wee ones hear Janell Cannon’s

p.m. Free. Info, laurie@ pridecentervt.org.

QUEER READS BOOK CLUB: Folks gather to chat about Larry Mitchell’s 1977 queer utopian fable, Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1:302:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

music

BLUEGRASS BRUNCH: Longtime local legends Brett Hughes, Pat Melvin, Caleb Elder and Beau Stapleton perform upbeat toe-tappers on the deck. Madbush Falls, Waitsfield, noon2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 496-7575.

SUNDAY SESSIONS: A variety of musicians share their melodies on the patio at Tavern on the Tee. Ralph Myhre Golf Course,

Stellaluna, followed by an echolocation game and themed crafts. MarshBillings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 457-3368.

MON.25

burlington

LIBRARY DECORA-TEEN!: Kids ages 12 to 18 spend their day off creating stunning winter decorations for the library. Program participation counts toward Burlington High School’s community service hours. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Bookworms ages 2 to 5 enjoy a fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BAKE MINI APPLE PIES: Teenage bakers ages 13 to 18 get a head start on the holidays by making their very own crusttopped treat. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

Middlebury, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5125.

UPPER VALLEY SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA: An ensemble of area musicians perform rich symphonic masterpieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Arnold Schoenberg and Felix Mendelssohn. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 3 p.m. $20 suggested donation; free for kids 18 and under. Info, 603-448-0400.

québec

‘TITANIQUE’: See WED.20, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

theater

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: See WED.20, 2 p.m.

‘THE CRUCIBLE’: See FRI.22, 3-5 p.m.

‘MAURITIUS’: See FRI.22, 2 p.m.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little tykes ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. 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.26

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.

STUNT NITE: Rice Memorial High School students compete with songs, skits and dances in this 95-year-old tradition. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 4 & 8 p.m. $30-35. Info, 863-5966.

‘THREE WOMEN OF SWATOW’: See WED.20.

words

JACKSON ELLIS: See SAT.23. Phoenix Books, Burlington, noon2 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

MON.25

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.

chittenden county

LEGO FUN: Crafty kiddos build creatively with colored blocks for display at the library. Children 9 and under must be accompanied by a caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

SCHOOL VACATION CRAFTYTOWN: Creative kids make a project based on the book they read. Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

STORY TIME: Youngsters ages birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

TODDLER TIME: Wiggly wee ones and their caregivers love this lively, interactive storybook experience featuring songs, rhymes and finger plays. Ages 1 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

STORY TIME: See THU.21.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20. language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Locals learning English as a second language gather in the Digital Lab to build vocabulary and make friends. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

LANGUAGE LUNCH: GERMAN: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard

middlebury area

STORY TIME WITH A SLED DOG: Author and husky trainer Milagro Amaya Turner reads themed books as little ones meet with a real-life pup. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 877-2211.

WED.27

burlington

NANOWRIMO WRITE-IN: See WED.20. TODDLER TIME: See WED.20.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.20.

PLAYGROUP & STORY TIME: See WED.20.

SCHOOL VACATION CRAFTYTOWN: See TUE.26. K

Who’s hiring?

Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

seminars

EDITING WITH ADOBE

PREMIERE: Participants discover how to configure their workspace, import and organize media, and create a finished program. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. $25 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

TUE.26

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

Meghan’s royal wedding brings show-stopping holiday classics to the stage. See calendar spotlight. Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 7 p.m. $15-54; free for students. Info, 748-2600.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION

GROUP: Francophones and language learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

outdoors

EZ BREEZY RIDES: FALL FORMAL: Cyclists don their finest bow ties, ball gowns and cummerbunds for a fun-filled ride around Burlington. Bring lights and reflective wear. Local Motion, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 861-2700.

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.20.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘THE ICE STORM’: Audiences take in Ang Lee’s 1997 drama about two dysfunctional upper-class families trying to deal with extreme social changes of the early ’70s. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

games

ADULT BOARD GAME NIGHT: Fun-loving folks partake in the library’s collection or bring their own to share with the group. Light refreshments provided. Essex Free Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.21.

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.

holidays

KINGDOM CHOIR: A pop-gospel group best known for its electrifying performance at Harry and

Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.20.

etc.

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this American Red Cross donation event. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 862-9622.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.20.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET

3D’: See WED.20.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.20.

games

theater

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: See WED.20.

words

BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB: Readers share thoughts on Paul Theroux’s 2016 nonfiction novel, Deep South. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Bookworms analyze Colum McCann’s 2009 National Book Award winner, Let the Great World Spin, over five weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ nereadersandwriters.com.

EARTH LOVERS BOOK CLUB: Environmentally minded folks discuss Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez over tea and homemade cookies. Virtual option available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

POETRY GROUP: A supportive drop-in group welcomes those who would like to share and listen to verse. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.27

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.20.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library,

CHESS CLUB: See WED.20. health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.20.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See FRI.22.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See WED.20.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.20.

theater

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’: See WED.20, 5 p.m. ➆

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

To the Catholic Diocese : Please, open the doors of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for the homeless this winter. It is the Christian thing to do !

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.

craft

PERFUME-MAKING EVENT WITH

BLOOM LAB: Discover the art of botanical perfumery at this Bloom Lab perfume-making event while creating your own unique perfume that is blended with intention to reﬂect your individual personality and style. For anyone interested in perfumery or simply enjoying good company while trying something new! You’ll leave with a 1.7-ounce bottle of custom eau de parfum.

gift-wrapping sessions so we can have fun doing this task together! Red Poppy Cakery will provide holiday refreshments and treats, as well as all the necessary supplies: wrapping paper, ribbons, name tags, garnishes, tape and scissors. We will not have gift bags or tissue paper. Just bring your gifts and boxes or bags to carry them in and out of the shop. Each guest will have their own table to work at. Tickets are for hour-long sessions with space for four people per hour.

BYOB optional. Tue., Dec. 17, 5-8 p.m. Cost: $25. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

Gosia Meyer Jewelry will have open studio hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for holiday shopping, so we encourage folks to come early and get sparkly with their gorgeous permanent jewelry! is is a BYOB event, so feel free to bring something to sip on. Limited spots available; reserve a spot for you and a friend today! Sun., Dec. 8, 3-5 p.m. Cost: $95.

Location: Gosia Meyer Jewelry, 1 Lawson La., Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

culinary

“PIE” CUPCAKE DECORATING CLASS: In this workshop, we will decorate a four-pack of assorted cupcakes to look like anksgiving pies. Cake kits are available in gluten-free, vegan or both. Please disclose all allergies when you register. Please note that we are not an allergen-free facility. Fri., Nov. 22, 6-7 p.m.

Cost: $50. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendays tickets.com.

GIFT WRAPPING MADE FUN!: No more last-minute gift wrapping alone in the dark! is year Red Poppy is offering community

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE WATERCOURSE

WAY: Cultivate core power, aerobic ﬁtness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Not your average “mojo dojo casa house.” Inclusive training and a safe space for

all. Scholarships and intensive program are available for serious students. Visitors are always welcome! Membership rates incl. unlimited classes 6 days/ week. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 951-8900, bpincus@burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

shamanism

APPRENTICESHIP IN SHAMANISM: Rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition. Five weekends over a year. Location: St. Albans. Info: 369-4331.

Isabella offered her recommendations of where she’ll be shopping locally this holiday season. Her contest entry was randomly selected, and she won a $500 shopping spree on Myti.com.

Get your holiday shopping done on Myti.com. They deliver locally and ship anywhere!

I love to shop locally, especially during the holidays, because I get to engage with the community, support local shop owners, pick out high-quality and unique Vermont products, and have a fun shopping experience with a story to remember!

See the list of shops that received the most reader recommendations in next week’s Seven Days Holiday Gift Guide and at sevendaysvt.com.

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

AGE/SEX: 8-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: November 8, 2024

SUMMARY : Cake is a reserved and independent kitty who thrives in an environment where she can go at her own pace. She can be shy at ﬁrst, but she does enjoy the occasional petting session when the mood strikes, and she absolutely loves treats and playtime! Cake will need a home with patience and understanding, where she can continue to blossom at her own speed. If you’re looking for a quiet, sweet and lowmaintenance feline pal, Cake might just be the one for you. Visit Cake at our adoption center to see if she could be your new best friend!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: We have no history about Cake with dogs. She lived with other cats in a previous home and tolerated them well. Cake would be most successful in a home with older 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.

FOSTER FOR HSCC!

Some animals can only thrive in a home environment. HSCC’s foster families provide a vital service for our pets in offering temporary, loving homes to animals in need. If you’re interested in becoming a foster for HSCC, visit hsccvt. org/foster to learn more and apply!

CLASSIFIEDS

housing FOR RENT

2-BR TOWN HOUSE

2-BR town house for

rent. Avail. Dec. 1. W/D in unit, natural gas. 1st mo. & sec. dep. due at lease signing. $2,000/mo. Email elizabeth jennifer4747@gmail.com for pics & info.

2-BR APT.

Newly renovated second-ﬂ oor apt. across from city park in Burlington. Gas heat/ range, new W/D, DW, shared yard, parking. Email: knittens@aol. com.

BURLINGTON 3-BR HOUSE

Avail. Dec. 1. $2,500/ mo.+ 1st mo. & sec. dep. 1-year lease. Dead-end street near UVM, hospital, Winooski. 1,655 sq.ft. 1-BA, deck, porch,

garage, yard, off-street parking, gas heat. W/D & DW optional. NS, no pets: nonnegotiable. Contact me; tell me a bit about yourself! Applications avail. upon request. Email maggieseverance@ gmail.com.

3-BR, 1-BA APT. IN MIDDLESEX

2nd story. HDWD. Separate LR & DR, renovated full BA, unﬁ nished walk-up attic for storage. Avail. to show. $2,900/mo., 1-year lease. Email info@ campmeade.today or call 802-496-2108.

HOUSEMATES

SHARE 3-BR HOUSE IN E. WINOOSKI

Share nice house w/ two young professionals. 3-BR, 2-BA. Open ﬂ oor plan, cathedral ceilings, off-street parking. Room w/ private BA. Incl.: DW, W/D, water, sewer, lawn care, trash/recycling. Near bus line. Avail. Dec. 14. Text Chris at 802-578-7526 or email westwick2014@gmail. com.

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

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

ser vices

HOME/GARDEN

24-7 LOCKSMITH

We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs! 1-833-237-1233 (AAN CAN).

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)

CLEANING

CLEANING SERVICES

Looking to have your ofﬁce or Airbnb cleaned?

Local cleaner w/ 20 years of experience w/ rare openings! Competitive rates & insured. Contact Linda at 802-825-6282 or llr082103@yahoo.com.

ANTIQUES MARKET

SUN., DEC. 8 Sun., Dec. 8., 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Canadian Club,

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact: HUD Ofﬁce of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

services: $12 (25 words) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

414 East Montpelier Rd., Route 14, Barre. Early buyers $5, 8 a.m.; general $2, 9 a.m. Vendors offering antique, midcentury & vintage toys advertising, clothing, glassware, furniture, tools, jewelry, postcards, early American, paintings, militaria & much more. Call Don Willis Antiques for info, 802-751-6138, montpelierantiques market.com.

ART

TIP TOP MAKERS MARKET

Professional artisthandmade art, ceramics, pottery & more, incl. live demonstrations. Nov. 29 & 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 85 North Main St., White River Junction, VT.

GARAGE/ESTATE SALES

DEVELOPER LIQUIDATION SALE

Log home kits selling for balance owed. Up to 50 percent off. Design plans can be modiﬁed! No time limit on delivery. Call 1-888-676-6960, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (AAN CAN)

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

SHIPPING CONTAINER HOME

Custom shipping container home designed for year-round living w/ kitchen, LR, BA & BR. Some work is still needed. $65,000 as is. Email chrissy@ yestermorrow.org or call 802-496-5087.

VANITY FOR HOME & BATHROOM

Bath vanity w/ marble sink & new faucet, 37 x 22 x 30 in. $99. Call or text 540-226-4478.

WANT TO BUY

MEN’S WATCHES WANTED

Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona,

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classiﬁeds questions?

GMT, Submariner & Speedmaster. ese brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-402-7109. (AAN CAN)

TOP CASH FOR OLD GUITARS

Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg + Gibson mandolins & banjos. ese brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-4027208. (AAN CAN)

PETS

SNORKIE PUP

Snorkie pup (Yorkie & mini schnauzer). 1 male. Avail., 9 weeks old. 2 sets of shots, health guarantee. Hypoallergenic. 8-13 pounds fully grown. Super loving. $850. Call 802-595-5345.

BANDS/MUSICIANS

HIRING A MUSIC DIRECTOR

In search of a music director for Daisy and the Wonder Weeds by Jean-Elliot Manning, running Jun. 12-22 at the Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center. Paid position! Info, acrossroads.org/ events/daisy-and-thewonder-weeds. Email, info.acrossroads@gmail. com.

Closes: Tues., Dec. 10 @ 10AM

Sudoku

CLASSIFIEDS » Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online.

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, ll the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

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.

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:

CALCOKU BY JOSH

REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

crossword

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P.82 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

Legal Notices

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Updates to the Hazard Communication Standard.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 24P046

AGENCY: Department of Labor CONCISE SUMMARY: The modifications to the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), proposed in this rule making, include revised criteria for classification of certain health and physical hazards, revised provisions for updating labels, new labeling provisions updating labels, new labeling provisions for small containers, new provisions related to trade secrets, technical amendments related to the contents of safety data sheets (SDSs), and related revisions to definitions of terms used in the standard. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dirk Anderson, Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration, P.O. Box 488 Montpelier, VT 05601-0488 Tel: 802-828-4391 Fax: 802-8280408 E-Mail: dirk.anderson@vermont.gov URL: https://labor.vermont.gov/vosha.

FOR COPIES: Karl Hayden, Vermont Occupational

Safety and Health Administration, P.O. Box 488 Montpelier, VT 05601-0488 Tel: 802-828-5084

Fax: 802-828-0408 E-Mail: karl.hayden@ vermont.gov.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-06888

In re ESTATE of Ann M. Rock

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Ann M. Rock, late of Burlington.

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: November 12, 2024

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Jennifer R. Hempey

Executor/Administrator: Jennifer R. Hempey, c/o McNeil, Leddy & Sheahan, P.C., 271 South Union Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Phone: 802-863-4531

Email: jleddy@mcneilvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 11/20/2024

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

NOTICE

To Parents, teachers, employees, other personnel or their guardians and the public:

The Champlain Valley School District composed of Allen Brook School, Charlotte Central School, Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg Community School, Shelburne Community

School, and Williston Central School hereby provide the following notice in compliance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) 40 CPR 763.93 [g.] [4] Requires that written notification be given that the following schools/buildings have Asbestos Management Plans for the safe control and maintenance of asbestos containing materials found in their buildings. These Management Plans are available and accessible to the public at the administrative office of each facility listed above.

November – 2024

INVITATION TO BID

Greenprint Partners, acting as Project Manager, seeks qualified contractors for multiple Vermont Schools Green Infrastructure Stormwater Improvements for the locations listed below. Federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Minority-Owned contractors and suppliers, and Small Businesses are strongly encouraged to submit a bid proposal.

Project Description: The project consists of stormwater improvements at various schools to meet the Vermont Stormwater Rules.

Locations of the work are as follows:

Bid Opening December 16, 2024

Missisquoi Valley High School – 175 Thunderbird, Swanton VT

Georgia Elementary & Middle School – 4416

Ethan Allen Hwy. Georgia, VT

Poultney Elementary School – 96 School Circle, Poultney, VT

Lamoille Union High School – 736 VT Rt 15 West, Hyde Park, VT

Derby Elementary School – 907 Elm St, Derby Line, VT

Newport City Elementary School – 166 Sias Ave, Newport, VT

North Country Union High School – 209 Veterans Ave, Newport, VT

Bid Opening December 17, 2024

Swanton Middle School – 24 Fourth St, Swanton, VT

Fair Haven Union High School- 33 Mechanic St. Fair Haven, VT

Rutland Town Elementary School- 1612 Post Road, Rutland, VT

Castleton Elementary – 263 Elementary School Rd, Castleton, VT

Stowe Middle & High School – 413 Barrows Rd, Stowe, VT

Twinfield Union High School – 106 Nasmith Brook Rd, Marshfield, VT

Bid Opening December 18, 2024

Colchester Middle School – 425 Blakely Rd, Colchester, VT

Colchester High School – 131 Laker Lane, Colchester, VT

Neshobe Elementary School – 17 Neshobe Circle, Brandon, VT

Enosburg Elementary School – 303 Dickinson Ave, Enosburg, VT

Crossett Brook Middle School – 5672 Vt Rt 100, Duxbury, VT

Browns River Middle School – 10 River Rd, Jericho, VT

Mount Mansfield Union High School – 211 Browns Trace, Jericho, VT

Bid Opening December 19, 2024

Rutland High School – 22 Stratton Rd, Rutland, VT

Richmond Elementary /Camels Hump School –173 School St, Richmond, VT

Champlain Valley Union High School – 369 CVU Rd, Hinesburg, VT

Middlebury Union High School – 73 Charles Ave, Middlebury, VT

Montpelier High School – 5 High School Drive, Montpelier, VT

Schedule: Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring/June 2025 and be substantially completed by October 2025.

The construction work involves the installation of various stormwater improvements including, but not limited to: wetland creation, underground storage facilities, disconnection areas, dry wells, storm sewers, paving and erosion control and landscaping, depending on the location.

These projects are subject to Davis Bacon wage rates compliance and with Build America Buy America provisions.

Any interested subcontractors and suppliers should visit the following website after November 16, 2024 for information on obtaining bidding documents: www.questcdn.com under Greenprint Partners, or https://www. greenprintpartners.com/resources and click on Bidding opportunities. For additional information please send an email to the construction project manager: Howard@greenprintpartners.com

TOWN OF ESSEX ROAD CRACK SEALING BID

The Town of Essex invites qualified contractors to prepare a bid for crack sealing select roads within the Town of Essex. A copy of the Invitation to Bids can be picked up at the Town Public Works office, 5 Jericho Road, Essex Center. A digital copy is also available upon request. Sealed Bids will be received at the Town Public Works Office, or mailed to the Town of Essex Public Works Department, 81 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452, until 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 10th, 2025. Questions and requests for electronic copies of the Request for Bids can be directed to the Town Public Works Office at (802) 878-1344.

TOWN OF ESSEX ESSEX TOWN STP MM18(9) LDS CHURCH STORMWATER RETROFIT

The Town of Essex invites qualified contractors to prepare a bid for the installation of large subsurface stormwater treatment facilities within the Town of Essex. Plans will be made available electronically by VHB by contacting Dorie Jones, Administrative Manager via email at djones@vhb.com. Sealed Bids will be received at the Essex Town Offices or mailed to the Town of Essex Public Works Department, 81 Main

Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452, until 10:00 AM on Friday, December 6, 2024. Questions can be directed to the Town Public Works Office at (802) 878-1344.

NOTICE OF HEARING

You are hearby notified that a hearing has been scheduled for August 21 at 9:30 am in Horry county family court 1301 2nd Avenue Conway South Carolina 29526.

Docket number: 2023-DR26-1995.

Summons for divorce

(One year continuous separation)

Vivienne Morales, Plaintiff vs. Eric Morales Defendant.

To the Defendant above named you are nearby notified that you have been sued by the Plaintiff for divorce in the court indicated above.

You must respond in writing to the attached complaint for Divorce and serve a copy of your answer (30)days after this summons upon you, or (35) days if you were served by certified mail return receipt requested to the plaintiff address listed below

Vivienne Morales P.O.Box 51242 Myrtle Beach South Carolina.

If you do not answer the complaint within (30) days the court may grant a Divorce and grant the relief requested in the complaint.

NOTICE OF TAX SALE

TOWN OF COLCHESTER

The resident and non-resident owners, lien holders and mortgagees of lands in the Town of Colchester in the County of Chittenden are hereby notified that the taxes and utility fees assessed by such Town remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described lands in such Town, to wit:

Amount of delinquent taxes, stormwater fees, interest, cost and penalties: $9,304.43

Property Owner: 84 South Park Hospitality LLC

Property Address: 84 South Park Drive

Parcel ID # 01-024013-0030000

All of the same improved real property conveyed to the said 84 South Park Hospitality, LLC by Contract of Sale with Maple Hotel Enterprises dated June 28, 2019 located on real property of Pizzagalli Properties, LLC by Assignment and Assumption of Sublease and Release by and among said 84 South Park Hospitality, LLC, Maple Hotel Enterprises, LLC and Pizzagalli Properties, LLC dated August 27, 2019 and recorded at Volume 860, Page 128 of the Land Records of the Town of Colchester, Vermont.

Account: 2046

Amount of delinquent wastewater fees, interest, cost and penalties: $66,044.95

Property Owner: Crystal Clear Hospitality LLC

Property Address: 38 Lower Mountain View Drive

Parcel ID # 01-020003-0000000

A portion of the lands and premises conveyed to the said Crystal Clear Hospitality LLC by Special Warranty Deed of Burlington Hotel Propco LLC dated February 2, 2018 and recorded at Volume 833, Page 24 of the Land Records of the Town of Colchester, Vermont.

Account: 2053

Amount of delinquent wastewater fees, interest, cost and penalties: $326.60

Property Owner: Crystal Clear Hospitality LLC

Property Address: 42 Lower Mountain View Drive

Parcel ID # 01-020003-0000000

Account: 2054

Amount of delinquent wastewater fees, interest, cost and penalties: $6,897.04

Reference may be made to said deeds for a more particular description of said lands and premises, as the same appear in the Town Clerk’s Office of the Town of Colchester.

So much of such lands will be sold at public

auction at the Town of Colchester, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, Vermont 05478, on the 13th day of December, 2024 at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with interest, costs and penalties, unless previously paid. Property owners, mortgagees, and lien holders may pay such taxes, interest, costs and penalties in full by cash or certified check made payable to the Town of Colchester. At tax sale, successful bidders must pay in full by cash or certified check. No other payments accepted. Any questions or inquiries regarding the above-referenced sale should be directed to the following address:

Kristen E. Shamis, Esq.

Monaghan Safar PLLC 27 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 kshamis@msvtlaw.com (802) 660-4735

Monaghan Safar PLLC, and the Town of Colchester give no opinion or certification as to the marketability of title to the above-referenced properties as held by the current owner/ taxpayer.

Dated at Colchester, Vermont, this 11th day of November, 2024.

Julie Graeter Collector of Delinquent Taxes Town of Colchester

NOTICE OF SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE CHIMNEY CORNERS SELF STORAGE 76 GONYEAU ROAD, MILTON VT 05468

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid. This sale is being held to collect unpaid storage unit occupancy fees, charges, and expenses of the sale. The entire contents of each self-storage unit listed below will be sold, with the proceeds to be distributed to Chimney Corners Self Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), late payment fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale.

Contents of each unit may be viewed on December 4th, commencing at 10:00 am. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self- storage unit. Bids will be opened one half hour after the last unit has been viewed on December 4th. The highest bidder on the storage unit must remove the entire contents of the unit within 48 hours after notification of their successful bid. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Chimney Corners Self Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

The contents of the following tenant’s selfstorage units will be included in this sale:

Alexia Metivier, Unit 331. Thomas Millette, Unit 306. Jessica Ferrecchia, Unit 633. Michael Maslack, Units 611 and 131. Leila-Jeanne Comegno, Unit 118.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0436-3D

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 4C0436-3D from Bolton Valley Community Water and Sewer, Bolton Valley Water and Community Development, and BVR, LLC, was received on October 25, 2024 and deemed complete on November 5, 2024.The project is generally described as the refurbishment of the existing wastewater treatment facility, which includes the construction of a new headworks building, a new headworks pump station, new pre-equalization tank, new Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system, new operations building with filtration and UV disinfection equipment, new chemical storage and feed system, laboratory, office, and maintenance area. The existing wastewater treatment facility infrastructure will be demolished and decommissioned. This is an American Rescue Plan Act project. The project is located at 3089 Bolton Valley Access Road in Bolton, Vermont. The application may be

viewed on the Natural Resources Board’s website (https://act250.vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0436-3D.”

No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before November 27, 2024, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this November 14, 2024.

By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes

Kaitlin

Hayes

District

Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8: AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS

On November 13, 2024, the City Council of Essex Junction, Vermont, adopted amendments to the existing Municipal Code Chapter 8: An Ordinance Relating to Motor Vehicle Regulations. This notice is published pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1972 to inform the public of these amendments and of the citizens’ right to petition for a vote to disapprove these amendments.

The Council made amendments to the ordinance to reflect changes associated with the Crescent Connector roadway and the change of traffic pattern at River Street and Park Street. The full text of the Ordinance may be examined at the City Office at 2 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452 and may be examined during regular office hours.

Title 24 V.S.A. § 1973 grants citizens the right to petition for a vote at a special or Annual Meeting to disapprove ordinance amendments adopted by the City Council. To exercise this right, citizens must present to the City Council or the City Clerk a petition for a vote on the question of disapproving the amendments signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the City’s qualified voters. The petition must be presented within forty-four (44) days following the date of the adoption of the amendments. The amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 8: An Ordinance Relating to Motor Vehicle Regulations shall become effective upon passage unless a petition requesting a vote is filed pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973.

Additional information pertaining to this Ordinance may be obtained by contacting Regina Mahony, City Manager at admin@essexjunction. org, or by calling 802-878-6944 during regular office hours.

PUBLIC HEARING

COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on December 11, 2024 at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations. Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road.

a) CU-25-04 DOUG & SHARON DENNETT AND

HVL VERMONT LLC: Conditional Use application to request an increase in the degree of encroachment of 58 square feet within 100 ft of the mean water mark of Lake Champlain for a project located within the Shoreland District as required under §7.03-D(1) of the Colchester Development Regulations. Proposed project includes the demolition and reconstruction of a year-round dwelling unit to be served by on-site wastewater and municipal water. Subject property is located at 262 White Cap Road, Account #30-002002-0220000.

November 20, 2024

TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to Title 24 Appendix VSA, Chapter 113, Sec. 105(a)(b), the Colchester Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 6:40 PM at the Colchester Town Offices at 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, Vermont in the third floor Outer Bay Conference Room. Residents are welcome to attend in person, or alternatively, send a note to TownManager@ colchestervt.gov with “Citizens to be HeardSewer Ordinance” in the Subject and their name. As with in-person Citizens to be Heard, we ask that you SHARE YOUR ADDRESS. The email will be shared with the entire Selectboard prior to the meeting and included in the information packet at the next meeting.

A summary of the proposed amendments to Colchester Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10 Sewers is as follows: Inclusion of guidance on how land development within the Malletts Bay Sewer Service Area (MBSSA) will be evaluated during construction and up to two years after, specifically around the issuance of reserve allocation; Inclusion of a table identifying allocation amounts to be assigned to existing commercial properties within the MBSSA; and inclusion of a process by which property owners can dispute the allocation assigned to their site. A complete set of the changes and a memo explaining the rationale for the proposal is available at the following link: https://clerkshq.com/Content/ Attachments/Colchester-vt/241210ph_01. pdf?clientSite=Colchester-vt

If you have questions regarding these amendments, contact the Colchester Public Works Department at 264.5620.

For publication no later than November 20, 2024 (15 days prior to Public Hearing)

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE

Burlington Self Storage, Llc 1825 Shelburne Road South Burlington, Vt 05403

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid.

Name of Occupant Storage Unit Waggoner, Unit #327 – 5x10

Said sales will take place on Friday 12/06/24, beginning at 10:00am at Burlington Self Storage (BSS), 1825 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, VT 05403. Units will be opened for viewing immediately prior to auction. Sale shall be by sealed bid to the highest bidder. Contents of entire storage unit will be sold as one lot. The winning bid must remove all contents from the facility at no cost to BSS, on the day of auction. BSS, reserves the right to reject any bid lower that the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as defined by statute.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-07090

In re ESTATE of Allen Ostroy

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Legal Notices

Dated: November 15, 2024

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Zipora Ostroy, Administratrix

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

To the creditors of: Allen Ostroy, late of Hinesburg, Vermont.

Executor/Administrator: Zipora Ostroy

c/o Harry C. Parker, Esq. 38 Community Lane South Hero, VT 05486 email: hparker@vtlawoffices.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 11/20/2024

Support Groups

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR MOTHERS OF COLOR

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Wed., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org. family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR SINGLE MOTHERS

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Fri., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS W/ LGBTQ+ CHILDREN

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Mon., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

AL-ANON For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom) & an Al-Anon blog are avail. online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanonalateen.org or call 866-972-5266.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Do you have a drinking problem? AA meeting sites are now open, & online meetings are also avail. Call our hotline at 802-864-1212 or check for in-person or online meetings at burlingtonaa. org.

AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP

VT Active Amputees is a new support group open to all amputees for connection, community & support. The group meets on the 1st Wed. of the mo. in S. Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Let’s get together & be active: running, pickleball & ultimate Frisbee. Email vtactiveamputees@ gmail.com or call Sue at 802-582-6750 for more info & location.

BABY BUMPS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MOTHERS & PREGNANT WOMEN

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time of your life. But it can also be a time of stress often compounded by hormonal swings. If you are a pregnant woman, or have recently given birth & feel you need some help w/ managing emotional bumps in the road that can come w/ motherhood, please come to this free support group led by an experienced pediatric registered nurse. Held on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Birthing Center, Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans. Info: Rhonda Desrochers, Franklin County Home Health Agency, 527-7531.

BETTER BREATHERS CLUB

American Lung Association support group for people w/ breathing issues, their loved ones or caregivers. Meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 11 a.m.-noon at the Godnick Center, 1 Deer St., Rutland. For more info, call 802-776-5508.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP

Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m. in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils 802-877-3742 or email neils@myfairpoint.net.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@gmail.com.

CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP

Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m. in Montpelier. Please contact Lisa Masé for location: lisa@ harmonizecookery.com.

ISLE OF MAN COMPANIES (TRANSFER OF DOMICILE) ACT 1998

Signature Aviation Insurance Limited (the Company) (the Company), incorporated in the Isle of Man under Company No: 036866C

NOTICE IS GIVEN pursuant to Section 8(2)(c) Companies (Transfer of Domicile) Act 1998 (as amended by the Insurance Act 2008) of the Isle

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDANCE

Cerebral Palsy Guidance is a very comprehensive informational website broadly covering the topic of cerebral palsy & associated medical conditions. Its mission is to provide the best possible info to parents of children living w/ the complex condition of cerebral palsy. Visit cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy.

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP

The Compassionate Friends international support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 4th Tue. of the mo., 7-9 p.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd, S. Burlington. Call/ email Alan at 802-233-0544 alanday88@gmail. com or Claire at 802-448-3569.

DISABILITY PEER SUPPORT GROUP

Our group is a space for mutual support, open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled, or having a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical, or cognitive, this group is for you! The group meets every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 1:15-2:15pm at 279 N. Winooski Ave, Burlington, VT and online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link and more information: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT

Steps to End Domestic Violence offers a weekly drop-in support group for female-identified survivors of intimate partner violence, including individuals who are experiencing or have been affected by domestic violence. The support group offers a safe, confidential place for survivors to connect w/ others, to heal & to recover. In support group, participants talk through their experiences & hear stories from others who have experienced abuse in their relationships. Support group is also a resource for those who are unsure of their next step, even if it involves remaining in their current relationship. Tue., 6:30-8 p.m. Childcare is provided. Info: 658-1996.

FAMILY & FRIENDS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

This support group is a dedicated meeting for family, friends & community members who are supporting a loved one through a mental health crisis. Mental health crisis might include extreme states, psychosis, depression, anxiety & other types of distress. The group is a confidential space where family & friends can discuss shared experiences & receive support in an environment free of judgment & stigma w/ a trained facilitator. Wed., 7-8:30 p.m. Downtown Burlington. Info: Jess Horner, LICSW, 866-218-8586.

of Man that the Company proposes to apply to cease to be registered in the Isle of Man and to continue in Vermont.

Interested persons may make comments to the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority PO Box 58, Finch Hill House, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1DT during the ten days following the publication of this notice.

FAMILY RESTORED: SUPPORT GROUP FOR FRIENDS & FAMILIES OF ADDICTS & ALCOHOLICS

Tue., 6-7 p.m., the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington. For further info, please visit thefamilyrestored.org or contact 207-387-0015.

FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Families Coping w/ Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling w/ the drug or alcohol addiction of a loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington), &/or via our parallel Zoom session to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”). Any questions, please send by email to thdaub1@gmail.com.

FIERCELY FLAT VT

A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@gmail.com.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held twice a week: Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Norwich, Vt.; & Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., at Hanover Friends Meeting House, Hanover, N.H. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

G.R.A.S.P. (GRIEF RECOVERY AFTER A SUBSTANCE PASSING)

Are you a family member who has lost a loved one to addiction? Find support, peer-led support group. Meets once a mo. on Mon. in Burlington. Please call for date & location. RSVP to mkeasler3@gmail.com or call 310-3301 (message says Optimum Health, but this is a private number).

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Sharing your sadness, finding your joy. Please join us as we learn more about our own grief & explore the things that can help us to heal. There is great power in sharing our experiences w/ others who know the pain of the loss of a loved one

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

& healing is possible through the sharing. BAYADA Hospice’s local bereavement support coordinator will facilitate our weekly group through discussion & activities. Everyone from the community is welcome. 1st & last Wed. of every mo. at 4 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Max Crystal, mcrystal@ bayada.com or 802-448-1610.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

Meet every 2nd Mon., 6-7:30 p.m., & every 3rd Wed. from 10-11:30 a.m., at Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice in Berlin. The group is open to the public & free of charge. More info: Diana Moore, 224-2241.

GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending, but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held twice a mo., the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo. from 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please register at allsoulsinterfaith.org. More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP

This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience &

Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online. Open 24/7/365.

stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2-3 p.m. Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-777-8602, abby@pathwaysvermont.org.

HELLENBACH CANCER SUPPORT

People living w/ cancer & their caretakers convene for support. Call to verify meeting place. Info, 388-6107.

INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/PAINFUL BLADDER

SUPPORT GROUP

Interstitial cystitis (IC) & painful bladder syndrome can result in recurring pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder/pelvic region & urinary frequency/urgency. These are often misdiagnosed & mistreated as a chronic bladder infection. If you have been diagnosed or have these symptoms, you are not alone. For Vermont-based support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail.com or call 899-4151 for more info.

INTUITIVE EATING SUPPORT GROUP

Free weekly peer-led support group for anyone struggling w/ eating &/or body image. The only requirement is a desire to make peace w/ food & your body. Meeting format is: a short reading from Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch, 4th edition, followed by open sharing & discussion. Come find community through sharing struggles, experience, strength & hope. Located at the Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Sun. 1-2:30 p.m. Contact 202-553-8953 w/ any questions.

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KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@ vcsn.net.

LAUGHTER YOGA

Spontaneous, genuine laughter & gentle breathing for physical & emotional benefit. No yoga mat needed! This group is held every Mon., 2-3 p.m., at Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Contact Chris Nial for any questions: chrisn@pathwaysvermont.org.

LGBTQ SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE

The SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program at Pride Center of Vermont offers peer-led support groups for survivors of relationship, dating, emotional &/or hate-violence. These groups give survivors a safe & supportive environment to tell their stories, share info, & offer & receive support. Support groups also provide survivors an opportunity to gain info on how to better cope w/ feelings & experiences that surface because of the trauma they have experienced. Please call SafeSpace at 863-0003 if you are interested in joining.

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LGBTQ VETERANS

Share the struggles & celebrate the joys of being a service member & LGBTQIA+ in this peer-led discussion group. Meetings are at the Rainbow Bridge Community Center in Barre on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of each mo. Visit rbccvt.org for more info.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

Gifford Medical Center is announcing the restart of its grief support group, Living Through Loss. The program is sponsored by the Gifford Volunteer Chaplaincy Program & will meet weekly on Fri., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Gifford’s Chun Chapel. Meetings will be facilitated by the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt, spiritual care coordinator, & Emily Pizzale MSW, LICSW, a Gifford social worker. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the last year or so is warmly invited to attend & should enter through the hospital’s main entrance wearing a mask on the way to the chapel. Meetings will be based on the belief that, while each of us is on a unique journey in life, we all need a safe place to pause, to tell our stories &, especially as we grieve, to receive the support & strength we need to continue along the way.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS

Do you have a problem w/ marijuana? MA is a free 12-step program where addicts help other addicts get & stay clean. Ongoing Mon., 7 p.m. at

SUPPORT GROUPS

Support Groups

First United Methodist Church of Burlington (Red Door Church) 21 Buell St., Burlington. Contact: jointsession@newenglandma.org.

MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP

Area myeloma survivors, families & caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/ people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., at the New Hope Lodge on East Ave. in Burlington. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.

NAMI CONNECTION PEER SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Weekly virtual meetings. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, program@namivt.org or 800-639-6480. Connection groups are peer recovery support group programs for adults living w/ mental health challenges.

NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Weekly virtual & in-person meetings. ASL interpreters avail. upon request. Family Support Group meetings are for family & friends of individuals living w/ mental illness. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, info@namivt.org or 800-639-6480.

NARCONON SUNCOAST DRUG & ALCOHOL REHABILITATION & EDUCATION

Narconon reminds families that overdoses due to an elephant tranquilizer known as Carfentanil have been on the rise in nearly every community nationwide. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid painkiller 100 times more powerful than fentanyl & 1,000 times stronger than heroin. A tiny grain of it is enough to be fatal. To learn more about carfentanil abuse & how to help your loved one, visit narconon-suncoast.org/drug-abuse/parentsget-help.html. Addiction screenings: Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family. Call today for a no-cost screening or referral: 1-877-841-5509.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, Barre & St. Johnsbury. Info, 862-4516 or cvana.org.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP

Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS! EVERY PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY!

The Children’s Room invites you to join our weekly drop-in support group. Come unwind & discuss your experiences & questions around infant care & development, self-care & postpartum healing, & community resources for families w/ babies. Tea & snacks provided. Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your babies! (Newborn through crawling stage.) Located in Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., childrensroomonline.org. Contact childrensroom@ wwsu.org or 244-5605.

NORTHWEST VERMONT CANCER PRAYER & SUPPORT NETWORK

A meeting of cancer patients, survivors & family members intended to comfort & support those who are currently suffering from the disease. 2nd Thu. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 11 Church St., St. Albans. Info: stpaulum@myfairpoint.net. 2nd Wed. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., Winooski United Methodist Church, 24

W. Allen St., Winooski. Info: hovermann4@comcast. net.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)

A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more; or call 802-863-2655 anytime!

PONDERING GENDER & SEXUALITY

Pondering Gender & Sexuality is a twice-monthly facilitated mutual support group for folks of any identity (whether fully formed or a work in progress) who want to engage in meaningful conversations about gender, sexuality & sexual orientation, &/or the coming-out process. Discussions can range from the personal to the philosophical & beyond as we work together to create a compassionate, safe & courageous space to explore our experiences. The group will be held on the 2nd Sun. & 4th Tue. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m., either virtually or at Pride Center of Vermont. Email pgs@pridecentervt.org for more info or w/ questions!

POTATO INTOLERANCE SUPPORT GROUP

Anyone coping w/ potato intolerance & interested in joining a support group, contact Jerry Fox, 48 Saybrook Rd., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

QUEER CARE GROUP

This support group is for adult family members & caregivers of queer &/or questioning youth. It is held on the 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., at Outright Vermont, 241 N. Winooski Ave. This group is for adults only. For more info, email info@ outrightvt.org.

READY TO BE TOBACCO-FREE GROUPS

Join a free 4-5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: call 802-847-7333 or email quittobaccoclass@ uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops!

REFUGE RECOVERY MEETING

Burlington Refuge Recovery is a Buddhist-oriented, nontheistic addiction recovery group that meets every Tue. at 6:45 p.m. at Turning Point Center, located at 179 S. Winooski Ave. in Burlington.

SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND

Support group meeting held on the 4th Tue. of every mo., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Williston Police Station. Info, Blythe Leonard, 878-0732.

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Shawn, 660-2645. Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.

SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, MONTPELIER

Do you have a problem w/ compulsive sexual behavior? A 12-step program has helped us. SAA Montpelier meets twice weekly at 6 p.m.: Mon. virtual meeting, details at saatalk.info; Thu. faceto-face at Bethany Church, Montpelier. Details at saa-recovery.org. Contact saa.vtrecovery@gmail. com or call 802-322-3701.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT

HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19,

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover. net.

SMART RECOVERY

We welcome anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. SMART Recovery is an abstinenceoriented program based on the science of addiction treatment & recovery. Online: Sun. at 5 p.m. Info: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/1868/. Face to face: Thu. at 1:15 p.m. & Fri. at 5:30 p.m. at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County. Family & Friends online, Mon. at 7 p.m. Info: meetings. smartrecovery.org/meetings/6337/ Volunteer facilitator, Bert: 802-399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

SOCIAL ANXIETY SUPPORT GROUPS

For screened adults ages 28-40. Therapist-led sessions. For more info, contact diane@ldtayeby. com.

STUTTERING SUPPORT GROUPS

If you’re a person who stutters, you are not alone! Adults, teens & school-age kids who stutter, & their families are welcome to join 1 of our 3 free National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering support groups at UVM (join by Zoom or in person). Adults: 5:30-6:30 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tue. monthly; teens (ages 13-17): 5:30-6:30 p.m., 2nd Thu. monthly; school-age children (ages 8-12) & parents (meeting separately): 4:15-5:15 p.m., 2nd Thu. monthly. Pomeroy Hall (489 Main St., UVM campus). Info: nsachapters. org/burlington, burlingtonstutters@gmail.com, 656-0250. Go, Team Stuttering!

SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP

For those who have lost a friend or loved one through suicide. 6:30-8 p.m., on the 3rd Tue. of every mo. Maple Leaf Clinic, 167 N. Main St., Wallingford. Info: 446-3577.

SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT

Brattleboro, 257-7989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 2290591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR WOMEN who have experienced intimate partner abuse. Facilitated by Circle (Washington Co. only). Please call 877-543-9498 for more info.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE

If you have lost someone to suicide & wish to have a safe place to talk, share & spend a little time w/ others who have had a similar experience, join us on the 3rd Thu. of every mo., 7-9 p.m., at the Faith Lighthouse Church, Route 105, Newport (105 Alderbrook). Please call before attending. Info: Mary Butler, 744-6284.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE: S. BURLINGTON

This group is for people experiencing the impact of the loss of a loved one to suicide. 1st Wed. of each mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at the Comfort Inn & Suites, 3 Dorset St., S. Burlington. Info: Bob Purvee at 802-922-4283 or ripurvee1@yahoo.com, or Aya Kuki at 802-881-3606 or ayakokuki@gmail.com

TRANS & GENDER-NONCONFORMING SUPPORT GROUP

As trans & GNC people in the world, we experience many things that are unique to our identities. For that reason, the Transgender Program hosts a support group for our community on the 1st & 3rd Wed. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., either virtually or at Pride Center of Vermont. The Trans & GNC Support group is for Vermonters at all stages of their gender journey to come together to socialize, discuss issues that are coming up in their lives & build community. We welcome anyone whose identity falls under the trans, GNC, intersex & nonbinary umbrellas, & folks questioning their gender identity. Email safespace@ pridecentervt.org w/ any questions, comments or accessibility concerns.

TRANSGENDER FAMILY SUPPORT

We are people w/ adult loved ones who are transgender or gender nonconforming. We meet to support each other & to learn more about issues & concerns. Our sessions are supportive, informal & confidential. Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m., the 2nd Thu. of each mo., via Zoom. Not sure if you’re ready for a meeting? We also offer 1-on-1 support. For more info, email rex@pridecentervt.org or call 802-318-4746.

TRANS PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

We will be in community w/ parents of trans kids of all ages & supporting each other w/ storytelling, listening, learning & love. If we want to protect our trans kids, our first line of defense is uplifting their parents & guardians! This is a peer-support group & will be facilitated by Alison & Shawna. 4th Tue. of every month, 5:30-7:30 p.m at Rainbow Bridge Community Center. Contact 802-622-0692 or info@rainbowbridgevt.org

WOMEN’S CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FAHC. Led by Deb Clark, RN. Every 1st & 3rd Tue., 5-6:30 p.m. Call Kathy McBeth, 847-5715.

YOUNG ADULT SUPPORT GROUP

A support group for young adults to build community & access peer support. This group meets weekly on Thu., 3-4 p.m., at Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Contact Chris Nial for any questions: chrisn@pathwaysvermont.org.

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on the BITE-CLUB

for a taste of this week’s

hold you over until Wednesday.

Readers help pay for the production of this award-winning weekly newspaper. Thousands have made one-time or recurring donations to sustain Seven Days. Their support — along with advertisers’ — allows us to keep delivering breaking news and thoughtful long-form journalism to Vermonters.

Support local journalism — make a contribution today!

If you like what we do and can a ord to help pay for it, please become a Seven Days Super Reader. Your donation will help to keep our community informed and connected.

Join the Super Readers at sevendaysvt.com/super-readers.

Or send a note (and a check) to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers PO Box 1164 Burlington, VT 05402 Contact Gillian English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

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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

Maintenance Technician

MU LTIPLE POSITIONS OPEN!

GRIND GOT YOU DOWN?

ST AFF CURATED BENEFIT S Apply online at healthylivingmarket.com/careers

Are you our next Guest Services Representative? Buyer? Produce Associate? Scan to see all open positions! 4t-HealthyLiving020922

PUBLIC WORKS COORDINATOR

Trusted, local employers are hiring in Seven Days newspaper and online. Browse 100+ new job postings each week.

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com Follow us on @SevenDaysvt for the latest job opportunities

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.

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.

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for keeping the brewery, taproom, warehouses, grounds and supporting facilities operating smoothly. This position works collaboratively with the production, distribution, taproom and maintenance teams. Apply online: bit.ly/LawsonsMaint

Join the Community Kitchen Academy!

Community Kitchen Academy (CKA) is a 9-week job training program featuring: Hands on learning, national ServSafe certification, job placement support and meaningful connections to community. Plus... the tuition is FREE and weekly stipends are provided for income eligible students! At CKA you’ll learn from professional chefs in modern commercial kitchens and graduate with the skills and knowledge to build a career in food service, food systems and other related fields. Throughout the course, you’ll develop and apply new skills by preparing food that would otherwise be wasted. The food you cook is then shared with neighbors via community food shelves and meal sites. CKA is a program of the Vermont Foodbank, operated in partnership with Capstone Community Action in Barre.

Next session starts January 6th in Barre. Apply: vtfoodbank.org/cka

Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator/Instructor

The Chemistry Department at Saint Michael’s College is excited to welcome applications for the Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator/Instructor position. The department is searching for passionate candidates who will inspire the next generation of chemists and contribute to a dynamic educational community beginning in January 2025. The Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator/Instructor plays a pivotal role in shaping the hands-on learning experience for students. This involves teaching two lab sections per semester, fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment, and overseeing the training and supervision of student lab assistants throughout the department. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCchemLab

Executive Director

The Wonderfeet Kids Museum Board of Directors is seeking an individual with a passion for children, families and learning, to launch our newly expanded museum into a future with expanded growth and opportunity for our community.

For full job description or to apply, send your cover letter and resume to: WonderfeetEvents@gmail. com and in the subject line please write: Executive Director application.

Office Assistant

Red House Building is hiring an Office Assistant to assist with data entry, accounting, payroll, and vendor coordination.

Flexible hours and generous benefits are available. The position is 30+/- hours with potential for full-time. Accounting and/or Quickbooks experience is preferred.

Send resumes to chris@ redhousebuilding.com Redhousebuilding.com

Executive Director

The Vermont Association of Conservation Districts (VACD) is seeking an experienced and passionate leader to serve as its next Executive Director. This is a unique opportunity to guide the organization’s growth and support Vermont’s 14 Natural Resources Conservation Districts (NRCDs) as they tackle climate change, water quality, and land conservation challenges. The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership, oversee financial management, advocate for conservation policies, and build partnerships across the state. This full-time, remote position requires travel throughout Vermont, including regular presence in Montpelier during the legislative session.

Starting salary is $90,000–$105,000, with a competitive benefits package. Applications are due by 5 PM, December 2, 2024.

Visit VACD.org for full job description and application details.

Carpenter

New Frameworks, a worker-owned cooperative design and construction company, is hiring a Carpenter to add to our team. We are a busy, fun, egalitarian-yet-structured, creative, kind, and mission-driven group of people working together towards the goal of developing ecological and social climate justice and regeneration practices in the building and design trades.

Our ideal candidate has 8+ yrs’ experience in construction, renovation, trades and/or energy & weatherization work, and at least 2 years’ experience managing a crew. If you’ve been looking for a way to use your carpentry skills to advance climate change response through the built environment; build with natural, local, and plant-based materials; and be an integral part of an equitable, intersectional feminist workplace with a strong team culture, we welcome you! This position is based in Essex Junction, Vermont, but we travel to job sites across northern and central Vermont. $26-30/hr depending on experience, plus paid time off, benefits, education, and profit sharing.

To apply, please submit a letter of interest and resume via email to info@newframeworks.com. People of color, trans and gender-nonconforming people, people from poor and working-class backgrounds, queer people, and women are encouraged to apply.

Director of Finance

The Chittenden Solid Waste District is seeking a full-time Director of Finance to oversee the finance department of a countywide municipal organization with an annual budget of $17 million. The successful candidate will manage computerized accounting systems, maintain financial records, and prepare and present the annual budget before a diverse supervisory board. The director will be a detail oriented, hands-on and participative manager who leads and develops an internal staff of three and supports program managers to navigate financial management.

Applicants should have: Degree in accounting or finance with seven years of experience, including three years of supervisory experience. Master’s degree and/or CPA and governmental accounting experience preferred. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and NetSuite preferred.

Competitive salary and excellent benefit package. For more information on the position and CSWD, visit cswd.net/about-cswd/job-openings. Submit cover letter/resume to Amy Jewell: ajewell@cswd.net. Deadline is November 29th.

For more information and to apply visit

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Pump Technician

We are looking for a self motivated person with a "clean" DMV record and reliable transportation. Takes pride in being on time and willing to work 40+ hrs a week. Position requires driving company vehicles. Must pass pre-employment drug test. Position is mechanical and technical, applicant will be able to, with training, pass the required certiﬁcations within 2 years of hire as a condition of employment. All training will be provided including safety training. Competitive wages and beneﬁts o ered. Please submit resume in Person to our o ce at Spa ord and Sons, 11 North Main Street, Jericho, VT. Monday through Friday between 8am and 4pm. Position to start immediately. Compensation: Health insurance and more. Info@spa ordwaterwells.com

Training & Education Manager

The Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging Training and Education Manager oversees the design, implementation, marketing, and evaluation of core curriculum and enhancement training programs for Area Agencies on Aging. Courses fulfill requirements and align with the strategic goals of our aging services network. Enhancement courses increase skills for staff, partners, and community members. The position works closely with state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to develop and update course content. Hourly rate is $24-$26/hr., 25 hrs./week, depending on experience and skills. This part-time position comes with generous paid leave and holidays with remote work possible. Must live in Vermont. Some travel for in-person meetings is required. Must have a valid driver’s license and be willing to undergo a background check.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and 3 references (w/ contact info.) to Mary Hayden, Executive Director, V4A, maryh@vermont4a.org.

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 follow-up and proactive communication with customers. Will be responsible for shipping and receiving cases as well.

Sales Associate

Tick Tock Jewelers in Downtown Burlington is looking for a parttime sales associate with excellent customer service skills and a sense of fashion. You must enjoy interacting with customers. This is a year-round, non-seasonal position.

This position includes but is not limited to:

• Assisting customers with sales and taking in repair items

• Inspecting/cleaning stock and customers’ jewelry

• Displaying merchandise

• Basic upkeep of the store floor and showcases

• Providing basic product knowledge (you will be trained)

• Saturdays are a must

This is a salary or hourly, non commission position- a team player is required. A professional appearance is important.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and send resume to TickTock, attention Beth: ticktock.shop@myfairpoint.net

Hours: M-F 8:00 am to 2:30 pm - Some flexibility (paid holidays)

$21.00 - $23.00 per hour based on experience

Send cover letter/resume to mary@champlaindentallab.com

Champlain Dental Laboratory 20 Winter Sport Lane, Suite 155, Williston, VT 05495

Qualifications:

• Associates degree in Radiation Therapy (2-year academic and affiliation program) required and 1 year experience.

Required Licensure/Certifications:

• Successful completion of Registry Exam or ARRT eligible and approved by the next ARRT examination.

• BLS required within 30 days of hire.

•

Early Childhood Program Director

Otter Creek Child Center, established in 1984 as a non-profit early care and education center located in Middlebury, VT is growing and seeks a Program Director to add to our established administration team. Otter Creek is a 5 STARS, NAEYC accredited center serving children 6 weeks to 5 years and their families.

The Program Director is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and quality of education, for all children within the center’s care. The Program Director is directly accountable for overall operational management in accordance with well-established guidelines, including curriculum development, staff and facilities management, legal and budgetary considerations, and long range planning. The Program Director works with the Teachers to ensure that they are prepared to deliver the lesson plans and that the lesson plans meet the curriculum guidelines. S/he oversees professional development plan for the center and individual teachers. The Program Director ensures that the needs of the children and the goals of the center are met appropriately.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education or related field of study

• Master’s Degree preferred

Learn more about human services positions and ﬁ nd out which program is right for you at MoreThanAJobVT.org

• Vermont Program Director Credential- Step 1- required; Step 2- preferred

Benefits:

• Dental & Vision insurance

• Employee assistance program

• Employee discount

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Professional development assistance

• Retirement plan

• Tuition reimbursement

Send cover letter and resume to: linda@ottercreekcc.org

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

VISUAL ARTS TEACHER

Lyndon Institute seeks a full-time, Visual Arts Teacher to begin in January for the 2025 spring semester. Knowledge of Studio Art skills including Introduction to Studio Art, Water-base Painting, Acrylic and Oil painting, Ceramics and sculpture, and Printmaking. Prior experience teaching Fine Arts is beneficial. Resume material may be submitted to Human Resources at kilee.willey@lyndoninstitute.org

Apprentice Line Worker

Craft Beer Delivery Driver

The Craft Beer Delivery Driver is responsible for ensuring the timely delivery of goods to predetermined customers on specific routes, reviewing orders prior to delivery, loading and unloading trucks, and providing exceptional customer service to The Beer Guy’s customer base. Apply online: bit.ly/BeerGuyDelivery

Morrisville Water and Light is seeking a qualified, reliable, safety minded individual(s) to fill an Apprentice Line Worker vacancy(s). This position will be responsible for assisting in the installation, repairing and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical lines and equipment in a safe and effective manner within the established guidelines of industry work practices.

Applicants must also be able to meet the physical demands of the position, live within 30 minutes of the office and be in an on-call rotation. More detailed description is available at mwlvt.com/job-openings

Submit cover letter and resume to Morrisville Water & Light, 857 Elmore Street, Morrisville, VT 05661 or dheller@mwlvt.com. No phone calls please. E.O.E.

“Seven Days sales rep

Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.”

CAROLYN ZELLER, Intervale Center, Burlington

You’re in good hands with...

Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS

We are currently accepting applications for ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS in several departments:

• Facilities

• Nutritional Services

• Administration

• Surgical Services

For more information, visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

Project CoordinatorRestorative Justice for Survivors Collaborative

The Vermont Network is seeking a skilled project manager who is passionate about restorative justice and creating community-based solutions to violence to join our organization as the Restorative Justice for Survivors Project Coordinator. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for effective project management of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary five-year, federally funded pilot project to deliver restorative justice services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, with a focus on the needs of refugee, immigrant, and asylumseeking communities in Chittenden County. The Coordinator will convene and facilitate the project’s key partners in their work to design and implement restorative intervention models, while ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements. Our ideal candidate is an impeccable project manager with a deep and abiding commitment to building excellent relationships with community partners. The Vermont Network is an amazing place to work – we prioritize the wellbeing of our staff, take our culture seriously, think big and orient towards what is possible. Minimum of three to five years’ experience in managing complex multi-disciplinary projects or teams. Knowledge of domestic and sexual violence and restorative models is essential. Grantdirected salary, currently budgeted to start at $65,000/annually Learn more about us at vtnetwork.org. Send cover letter/ resume to Jamie Carroll at jamie@vtnetwork.org by November 27, 2024.

Full job description is available by scanning QR code:

& apply.

of Development and Major Gifts

Age Well is seeking a Director of Development and Major Gifts to strengthen and expand its fundraising efforts in support of new strategic priorities and in preparation for a multimilliondollar comprehensive campaign. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director will develop a strategic plan for major and planned giving programs to maximize philanthropic potential to engage and inspire donors to invest in Age Well and deepen their commitment to our aging community. Key to success in this role will be building relationships with new prospects and strengthening relationships with existing donors to maximize philanthropic support. Send resumes to: hr@agewellvt.org

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.

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

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.

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

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Lead VYCC's multi-faceted fundraising, centered on authentic relationships with individuals, corporations and foundations. Develop strategies to raise visibility and secure philanthropic gifts for the annual fund, planned giving and capital campaigns.

Farm Production Manager

Maintain and improve farm infrastructure and manage vegetable production while working with young adults to address food insecurity. VYCC operates an 11-acre certified organic farm in Richmond.

Community Health Manager

Build on the success of Vermont’s oldest and largest prescription vegetable program: the Health Care Share. Nurture partnerships and manage program logistics.

VCRD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR

(LIMITED SERVICE)

The Technical Assistance Coordinator will provide direct services and/or coordinate contracted services to support rural community leaders who are driving projects forward for community and economic development, resilience, and renewal. Must be a team player with a strong grasp of municipal government, community engagement, facilitation, and project development strategies, particularly as applicable to small, rural communities; with excellent communication skills, an eagerness to learn, and a strong sense of mission in service to Vermont communities. Salary range $60,000-$72,000 based on skills and experience. The position is limited service with funding secured through the end of 2025.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ASSOCIATE

Seeking a dedicated, energetic and hardworking Community Programs Associate to support VCRD’s community programs. Must be a team player with excellent communications skills, an eagerness to learn, and a strong sense of mission in service to rural Vermont communities. Salary range $45,000$55,000 based on skills and experience.

Find job descriptions and application information here: vtrural.org/vcrd-job-openings. Deadline to apply is 12/1/2024.

GO HIRE.

Job Recruiters:

• Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

Job Seekers:

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site.

Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

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 $51k 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, tuition reimbursement 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

Director of Access & Acute Care Services

Seeking a talented & dynamic clinical leader to join our Agency as our Director of Access & Acute Care Services. This position is a key member of our Chief Operating Team, reporting to our CEO and collaborating regularly with our Medical & Clinical Directors on client situations. Scope of responsibility includes oversight & ongoing development of 24/7 crisis hotline, mobile crisis, hospital diversion & crisis beds, residential programs, same day access program & disaster response. It is essential for this position to have strong working collaborations with local law enforcement, community stakeholders & providers as well as State level leaders. In this position you will have the opportunity for program development, membership on statewide care team(s), State advocacy, cultivation of new partnerships, staff development and more. Our new Director will be joining an Agency with a long history of being mission focused and a leadership team that exemplifies quality, longevity and commitment, while embracing employee health & wellness.

Our Director must be dependable, creative, flexible & possess a positive can-do attitude, while mentoring, teaching & interacting with clinical staff across all locations & programs. This position requires some on call consultation as part of our 24/7 hotline.

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field is required; independent licensure & ability to provide licensed clinical supervision to others is strongly preferred. Previous work experience must include 5+ years of crisis work, staff supervision & progressive leadership positions.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, a matching 403b retirement plan, 3 weeks’ paid vacation time, 11 paid holidays, and 7 paid sick days to start. We offer staff flexible schedules to support work / life balance, and pride ourselves on our learning-based culture where our staff can grow & flourish both professionally & personally.

To apply, send cover letter & resume to HR@claramartin.org. To learn more about us, check out at claramartin.org

GOT A CASE OF THE SUNDAY SCARIES?

Find a job that makes it easier to sleep at night.

Browse 100+ new job postings each week from trusted, local employers.

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

NEK Delivery Driver Wanted

Want to be a hero every Wednesday? Need some cash? Get paid to drive through beautiful Vermont scenery while delivering Vermont’s most beloved newspaper! We are looking for a driver to deliver Seven Days weekly in the Orleans County (NEK) area.

Only requirements are a clean driving record (no major violations), availability on Wednesdays, a reliable vehicle (preferably station wagon style or larger), ability to lift 15 pounds and a positive attitude. If you can check all these boxes, then we want you to join the Seven Days Circulation team. Familiarity with the region is a plus. We pay hourly plus mileage reimbursement. Papers can be picked up in Newport, VT. Regular trips to Burlington not required. Email circ@sevendaysvt.com. No phone calls, please.

Seven Days is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Substance Use Disorder Clinician Opening

We have an opening for a clinician with a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or related human services; LADC licensure is preferred. This clinician will work with clients at two residential sites through our affiliate agency Collaborative Solutions Corporation.

The Second Spring Level III Community Care Homes, located in Williamstown, VT & Westford, VT are known for their recovery focused, wellness-based models of care. The applicant for this position would provide individual and group substance use counseling services to persons with serious and persistent mental illness in a recovery based & trauma sensitive environment.

Other duties include the coordination of services with community mental health providers, psychiatric providers, and other community agencies.

A minimum of 2 years’ success in motivating and encouraging individuals with co-occurring disorders is required.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, a matching 403b retirement plan, 3 weeks paid vacation time, 11 paid holidays, and 7 paid sick days to start. We offer staff flexible schedules to support work/life balance, and we pride ourselves on our learning-based culture where our staff can grow & flourish both professionally & personally.

Learn more about us at claramartin.org and collaborativesolutionsvt.org.

If you’re looking to make a change and meet the above requirements, please send your resume to HR@claramartin.org, we would love to hear from you!

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Financial Director

In this role, you will be responsible for all fiscal operations of the department. Duties include: Budget development for a department or an agency; Monthly financial reports; Department level internal control systems; Cost analysis; Posting, balancing and reconciling accounting records.

Financial Directors also direct fiscal office processes and procedures, produce financial statements, summaries and reports.

You will oversee staff performing maintenance of accounting and financial records such as budgeting, payroll and auditing as well as complex accounting activities such as: Compilation and analysis of complex data for federal reports; Reconciliation of benefits accounts: Processing payment for contractual services requiring utilization of cost distribution formulas; Coordination systems for multiple offices or departments; Analysis of accounting initiatives; Analysis and distribution of multi-program costs to appropriate funds.

The Financial Director also serves as the senior liaison with federal agencies, other state departments, or local community partners. Fiscal management of federal grants and federal program fiscal administration.

This position has offices based in Berlin, but is eligible for telework a certain amount of days once the probationary period is completed.

Apply: careers.vermont.gov/job/ Berlin-Financial-Director-II-VT/1233288800

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CLIENT SERVICES & SCHEDULING COORDINATOR

Hinesburg, VT | Full-Time Competitive Pay Based on Experience

We are a trusted water well drilling company based out of Hinesburg, VT. Our team is dedicated to providing professional water solutions, and we’re looking for a highly organized and personable Client Services and Scheduling Coordinator to join our office team.

Requirements:

• Strong customer service skills and clear communication.

• Experience with office tasks like scheduling, data entry, and ﬁle management (QuickBooks experience a plus).

• A detail-oriented, organized, and proactive attitude.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Send resume & cover letter to vtwellpump@gmavt.net

We’re looking forward to meeting you!

The position is a member of the Brattleboro District leadership team and supervises seven staff. The work involves extensive relationship-building with staff, state partners, and community partners. Duties are performed under the supervision of a Public Health Services District Director. This is a unique opportunity to have a broad impact on Vermonters’ health and well-being. Responsibilities include performance management of nursing and non-nursing staff. View the website listing for details. For more information, contact Chloe Updegraff at Chloe.Updegraff@vermont.gov. Location: Brattleboro. Department: Health. Status: Full Time: Job ID #50720. Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE SUPERVISOR – SPRINGFIELD

The Public Health Nurse Supervisor plans, supervises, organizes, coordinates, and reviews the work of staff performing a full range of professional nursing practices promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing as well as social and public health sciences, including the delivery of clinical, community, field and populationbased intervention; licensed care management; data collection and analysis; program planning. For more information, contact Mike Russell at Mike.Russell@vermont.gov. Location: Springfield. Department: Health. Status: Full Time. Job ID #50721. Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.

On Call Housing Advocate

Do you want to make a meaningful impact in our community?

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) has exciting opportunities for you to make a meaningful impact in our community by joining our team to provide housing advocacy services at the Champlain Place Shelter in Burlington, Vermont. CVOEO’s Champlain Place is a 24/7 low-barrier shelter for up to 40 (60 during the winter months) individuals experiencing homelessness. The Champlain Place offers temporary shelter, housing advocacy, educational opportunities and daily meals in a community setting with the goal of assisting people to find permanent housing.

CVOEO is looking for On-call Housing Advocates who have availability and flexibility to cover regular staff absences and unfilled positions.

On-Call Housing Advocates will provide client-centered, trauma-informed support for shelter guests and others experiencing homelessness with the goal of empowering individuals to obtain the skills needed to access safe, sustainable housing. Our On-Call Housing Advocates work with clients on in the moment life skills needs, support Staff in milieu management, crisis intervention and de-escalation. Our On-Call Housing

Advocates work in partnership with clients and full-time staff to promote a sense of community, promote programs and support referrals to appropriate services.

We are seeking candidates with relevant human services experience; effective verbal and written communication skills, crisis intervention skills, ability to give and receive feedback; demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment; be of high integrity and character as a representative of CVOEO and the people and communities we serve.

Interested in working with us? To apply please submit a cover letter and resume: https://www. cvoeo.org/careers

We embrace the diversity of our community and staff. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until suitable applicants are found.

We’re one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why!

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB

PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

RACHEL LINDSAY

PHIL JOHNSON

SCORPIO

(OCT. 23-NOV. 21)

The Greek term pharmakon has a complicated set of meanings: scapegoat, poison, remedy and recipe. According to my astrological analysis, all of these could soon be operative in your life. One surprise is that a metaphoric “poison” you are exposed to may ultimately serve as a remedy. Another curiosity is that a scapegoat may reveal a potent recipe for redemptive transformation. A further possibility: You will discover a new recipe for a very fine remedy. I’m not certain exactly how the whole story will unfold, but I’m betting the net effect will be a lot of healing.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the U.S. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as you enlarge your audience, your range of influences and your sphere of activity. It will be an excellent time to transcend previous notions of who you are and what your life’s assignments are. The frontiers are calling you to open your mind wider than ever as you leap to the next higher octave of your destiny.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” Author George Meredith said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Because you’re entering a phase when you will have maximum power to ensure that decay leads to regeneration. My advice: Instead of trying to repress your awareness of what’s decomposing, tune into it energetically. The sooner you embrace the challenging but interesting work to be done, the faster and more effective the redemption will be. Here’s your battle cry: Turn rot into splendor!

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Mercury will be your slippery but sticky companion in the coming weeks, Gemini. Whether or not you believe he is a literal god who abides in the spiritual realm, I trust you will acknowledge that he is a vivid archetype. He symbolizes forces that facilitate communication and promote connection. Since he is constantly traveling and conversing, he also represents boundary crossing and thresholds. I encourage you to summon his assistance whenever you want to lubricate links and foster combinations. He can help you unify disparate influences and strengthen your network of allies.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Utility poles and telephones poles may seem to be indestructible towers, but they have a limited life span. A prime factor in their gradual demise is woodpeckers. The birds drill holes that over time weaken the wood. Their handiwork allows moisture to seep in, causing rot, and creates access points for small animals to burrow in and cause further disintegration. I bring this to your attention because I want to encourage you to launch a woodpecker-like campaign against any seemingly impregnable structures that oppress and restrict you. It might take a while to undermine their power to interfere with your life, but now is an excellent time to begin.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): As an American, I’m jealous of how many festivals the Japanese people celebrate. By some estimates, there are over 100,000 events every year — an average of 274 per day! They may feature music, theater, dancing, entertainment, karaoke,

sumo matches, games, delicious food, colorful costumes, spiritual observances, and parades of floats and shrines. If you are a Japanese Leo, you’re in luck. The astrological indicators suggest that in the coming months, you should take extra advantage of your culture’s revels, parties and social merriment. If you’re not in Japan, do your best to fulfill your cosmic mandate to frolic and carouse. Start as soon as possible!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): “The Flintstones” was an animated TV comedy show broadcast in the U.S. from 1960 to 1966. It was colossally silly and wildly popular. It portrayed cavemen and cavewomen living suburban lives in the Stone Age with dinosaurs as pets and cars made of wood and rocks. The chirpy theme song for the show was stolen from a piano sonata written by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to steadily carry out the opposite of that conversion. Transform what’s daft or preposterous into what’s elegant and meaningful. Change superficial approaches into righteous devotions. Move away from trifling diversions and toward passionate magnificence.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you’re not a professional writer, I invite you to compose three lyrical messages in the coming days. One will be a psalm of appreciation for a person who enchants your imagination and inspires you to be your best self. Another will be a hymn of praise that you address to yourself — a gorgeous, expansive boast or an outpouring of gratitude for the marvel and mystery of you. The third salutation will be an address to a higher power, whether that’s God, Goddess, Nature, your Guardian Angel, Higher Self or Life itself. If you can find it in your brave, wild heart to sing or chant these exaltations, you will place yourself in close alignment with cosmic rhythms. (PS: In general, now is a fantastic time to identify what you love and express your feelings for what you love.)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Museum of Broken Relationships is in Zagreb, Croatia. It collects castaway objects left

behind after intimate relationships have collapsed. Among its treasures are love letters, wedding rings, jars of bitter tears, stuffed animals, feather-filled quilts and matching sweaters. Inspired by this sad spectacle, I invite you to create a very different shrine in your home: one that’s dedicated to wonderful memories from times of successful togetherness. Making this ritual gesture of hope and positivity will prepare you well for the potential relationship growth available for you in the coming months.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s the Soul Retrieval phase of your long-term cycle, Capricorn. Have there been people, either alive or dead, who wounded or pirated parts of your treasured essence? Have you experienced painful events that weakened your connection to your inner riches? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to undertake meditations in which you carry out repair and restoration. You will summon curative agents whenever you reclaim lost and missing fragments of your soul. Be aggressive in seeking helpers who can synergize your own efforts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Wistaria Vine in Sierra Madre, Calif., is the world’s biggest blooming plant. Spread over an acre, it weighs 250 tons and teems with more than 1.5 million blossoms. I propose we regard it as your inspirational symbol for the coming months. Why? I expect you will be more abundantly creative and generative than maybe ever before. Your vitality will overflow. Your vigor will be delightfully lavish and profound. Homework: Start planning how you will wield and manage all that lushness.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Piscean playwright and songwriter Robert Lopez is the only person to have won all four of the following awards more than once: Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy. He was also the youngest person to have won all four. I propose we make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks and months. According to my astrological analysis, you are primed to ascend to new levels of accomplishment in your chosen field — and to be acknowledged for your success. Think big! Then think even bigger.

Preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi has restored more than 600 properties in his 60-year career. He also collects and restores unique homes such as the Parsonage in Peru. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger got a tour of the 1850s Greek Revival house, which will be open to the public in the spring.

RESPECTFUL, TOLERANT, LAID-BACK MAN

Looking for a woman for friendship, companionship and intimacy that develops at a pace that is mutually comfortable. I am intelligent, articulate, curious and love deep conversations. I own my own home, have no debts and am financially secure. I am knowledgeable on many topics and consider myself enlightened. All else can be determined by conversation and mutual agreement. twomonts 73, seeking: W, l

WOMEN seeking...

RECENTLY RETIRED, LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

I know you’re out there. I’ve always had an incredible passion for living life to its fullest. I’m honest and compassionate and am looking for an equally positive partner who loves to try new experiences and is a great and open communicator. Suddenly realizing that retirement can be an adventure and that I wasted too much time working! Somewhere 71, seeking: M

I’M LAID-BACK, CONSERVATIVE

I have been single for a while. Looking to explore what’s out there, looking for someone who’s confident and knows what they are looking for. Myself, looking for someone who’s loyal, who shares some of the same interests I have yet has their own ideas, too. I love dancing, but it sucks dancing alone. vtgal204, 58 seeking: W, l

RESOURCEFUL DIY-ER

Introverted hillside farmer who enjoys a few deeper relationships. I’ve done my share of traveling; now very happy to listen to my land and share her fruits with special friends who love homegrown food and seasonal chores. Looking for a man with the inner strength to be cheerful even with eyes wide open, and the spark of mutual recognition. Soiltender62, 62, seeking: M, l

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

BUSYBEEDAIRYMAID

John Deere or Case? Jerseys or Holsteins? Why? Just kidding — I like cows and enjoying the day and want to share that with someone. Am looking for a thoughtful individual who can also laugh at how ridiculous life is and enjoy it together. Short hikes, picnics, theater and work days are my favorites. Really, anything can be fun with the right mindset! Dairymaid28, 28 seeking: M, l

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 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

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

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

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

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

MEN seeking...

CARING, OLD-SCHOOL VALUES

Independent spirit who loves nature. Retired from a fulfilling career but work part time now. Zero debt and currently living on Lake Hortonia with incredible view. Looking for companionship that includes conversation, cuddling and warmth. I enjoy family, children and grandchildren. I am socially active and enjoy people, volunteering and helping others. ps217 73, seeking: W, l

YOUTHFUL, CURIOUS, OPEN

I’m a widower, very unique, married to the same woman for 47 years, who passed away in 2018. I’d love another intimate relationship with a kind, strong, honest, loving woman. A woman who can understand how music is very important. Yes, I’m worth it. ihearmusic66 75, seeking: W, l

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

HELPFUL, INSIGHTFUL AND ALWAYS CURIOUS

New to Vermont. Arizonaman8, 44, seeking: W, l

YOUNG IN HEART

Always charming in life and take things day by day. Enjoy espresso coffee in the mornings; always searching for new opportunities. I explore new adventures, and I emit positive vibes to the person who will attract me. I don’t want to be used, but give me a chance to cuddle you. Very educated and happy to share paths, ideas or any other thoughts. Anas1st, 53, seeking: W, l

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

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, 54, 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

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

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

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

COMMUNITY-MINDED AND INDEFENSIBLY JOYFUL

I love writing, dancing, making music and meaningful action. My favorite conversations are about people’s passions. I like hiking, biking and paddling, but I spend a lot of time happily indoors being social or creative or productive. I’m interested in people of all genders and am seeking a connection that generates joy every day for us both. Sylph 55, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

GENDERQUEER PEOPLE seeking...

GENDERQUEER, SINGER-SONGWRITER, INTERFAITH MINISTER

It’s me, from the Cherie and Yolanda show in the ’90s. Moved to NYC in 2001, met my husband Glen, together 20 years, now in Vermont after his death. I am a transfemme genderqueer singer-songwriter and interfaith minister. Youthful looks and attitude, long gray hair, stocky build, funny, compassionate. Looking for a cisgendered man who appreciates the femininity and spirituality in me. RevYolanda, 28, seeking: M, l

BABY BUTCH SEEKS GUIDANCE

(Not sexual or romantic.) If you’re queer, an activist or anything of the like, I would love to connect! I’m a genderweird (truly) babydyke butch, and I desperately want to learn from older queers. As much research as I’ve done on gay history, I always want to learn more and connect. If there are any other butches out there, please reach out! antweed 18, seeking: TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

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, 65, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Gp, l

COUPLES seeking...

KINKY COUPLE SEEKS ADVENTUROUS PLAYMATE

We have explored each others’ boundaries and fulfilled many fantasies along the way. We are looking for new friends to bring into our sexual circle with new possibilities. Help us fulfill our desires for exploration, and we will all learn together through mutual satisfaction. kinkyvermonters, 48, seeking: M, W, Cp

SMILE

I saw you downtown doing that Elaine dance and almost fell in love. I was the lost-looking guy with a crazy eight jacket on. I will be downtown again soon. If you want to catch up and dance again, message me here. When: ursday, October 3, 2024. Where: Rí Rá Irish Pub. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916135

SHOUT-OUT REVERB

Shout-out on a literal shout-out. Route 2A headed south, Sunday night. You rolled your window down at a red light (I thought I was driving without my lights on). Instead, I received a thoughtful compliment and well wishes for tomorrow. It was unexpected, and I missed responding in kind — so a belated thank-you for making my evening. When: Sunday, November 17, 2024. Where: Route 2A in Williston. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916179

GRAND?

Are you keeping hope alive or reveling in sadistic pleasure over the perfect timing of a brief moment? I’m not strong enough right now, and you know this. is is not a concession or meeting where you’re at. is is torture, and killing my humanity isn’t helping anymore. When: Wednesday, October 2, 2024. Where: Same place, different time. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916134

BJORN, CONTINUED

I called you once when I saw a rainbow and insisted that you go outside because I knew you’d see one, too — and you did. I wanted to stop by to see how you were doing, but I only remembered that you lived by a castle. We thanked God for each other. I liked when you stood close to me. When: Sunday, May 1, 2022. Where: At a house by a castle back in 2022? Can’t remember the exact date. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916132

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

LOVELY AT LOWE’S

Went in to Lowe’s for paint and noticed you right away. You were helping another customer, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. You had a dark ponytail with bangs and a smile I’ve been dreaming about. I hope to see you again. When: ursday, November 14, 2024. Where: Lowe’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916178

CUTE DOG, CUTER HUMAN anks for the nice hello on the bike path late morning on Sunday. Your dalmatian-esque dog was carrying a stick and looking quite pleased. Your greeting brightened my day. It’s the little things, after all. When: Sunday, September 29, 2024. Where: Burlington bike path. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916133

HEY DER

I’m a history nerd who overthinks but knows how to have a good time. Hit me up. When: Saturday, November 16, 2024. Where: Online. You: Man. Me: Man. #916177

“JOYFUL” FLIRTED WITH “MALEMAN”! However, you blocked me three months ago. But “you make me want to be a better man”! We’re both dog-loving Shelburners, and winter is a good time to make new friends! Doing so may seem a threat to your joy, but nothing ventured, nothing gained? When: Friday, August 16, 2024. Where: Seven Days personals. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916176

GRAZING

You were having dinner with a group of girlfriends and passed by the table my friend and I were at while your group was heading out. When: Friday, November 15, 2024. Where: Grazers in Williston. You: Group. Me: Man. #916175

REVEREND Ask

De Rev end,

My wife and I have a really big extended family. We also have the biggest house, so we always host anksgiving. Our guests are a wide range in age and political views. I’m used to it getting rather rambunctious, but I’m worried there may be arguments about politics this year. Is there any way we can avoid that graciously?

BJORN

B, I miss the goofy faces you’d make through my peephole. You called me a badass. Insecurity got the best of me when I said we shouldn’t be friends any more, and I’m so very sorry. I miss hearing about Schrödinger’s cat and how you need more poutine in your life. I miss being part of your world. — Bro When: Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Where: Casavant Overlook in 2022 (don’t recall the exact date). You: Man. Me: Woman. #916131

BLACK T-SHIRT AT THREE PENNY

Saw you staring at me while I was chatting at the bar. You came up and said, “So you’re an Argentina fan.” I said, “You just have to have faith. Everything will work out.” ere’s nothing simple or straightforward about this, actually. Even though I still don’t know exactly what I want, I do love you. ank you for being patient. When: Sunday, July 14, 2024. Where: ree Penny Taproom. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916130

“CYCLEMEAWAY” ON FITNESS SINGLES

To the handsome guy who goes by “cyclemeaway” on Fitness Singles and 50plus club: You liked one of my photos on Fitness Singles back in June — I wasn’t available at the time. Now I am, and I’d like to be in touch. When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Where: Online. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916174

JOGGING DOWNHILL AND WATERFRONT

We crossed paths twice very quickly, near sunset. You (jogging) had vibrant blue pants ﬁt for jogging and a vibrant white T-shirt, also ﬁt, and clear, seethrough square glasses frames that I like. You waved hello to me, which was kinda hard to do. I wanted to say hi back, too — I was just slow. When: Saturday, September 28, 2024. Where: Burlington Battery hill and waterfront. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916129

JERICHO COUNTRY STORE

We talked at the Country Store, could not help noticing how caring you were with the gentleman who was with you. We talked about the museum and Norwich. I had driven to look at a camper. Might you have any interest in a walk and/or lunch? When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Where: Jericho Country Store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916173

,De Tom T key,

I’m of the view that when people come to your house, they have to play by your rules. You just need to set those rules ahead of time — especially if you don’t want political debates breaking out over the green bean casserole. Send a note to all of your guests letting them know that there will be lots of delicious food on the table but politics is off it for the day. You can keep it lighthearted and still get the point across. For a day-of reminder, hang a sign in your entryway that says something along the lines of: “Please check your politics at the door.”

TRADER JOE’S CHECKOUT

I offered to let you go ahead of me because you were only buying two lemons and some butter. I thought you were cute, and I dig your shopping list! Wish I had asked for your number, but maybe you’ll see this and we could grab coffee sometime. When: Saturday, September 28, 2024. Where: Trader Joe’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916128

MONTPELIER HUNGER MOUNTAIN COOP

CUTIE

Were you checking me out while we walked side by side to our cars, coincidentally parked next to each other? I think you drive a black Jeep? I drive a white Subaru. I was wearing Bean boots, black leggings and a black jacket. When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Where: Hunger Mountain Coop. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916172

LIGHT EYES

You knew I love the GMO and you suggested the banana pudding. Your energy is like I’ve known you forever, too. ank you to the Heybud-tender I’ve been lucky enough to smile at once or twice. When: Sunday, November 10, 2024. Where: Heybud. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916171

ORANGE METEOR

Zooming past so fast on the bike / rough Winooski with one or two tyke / So hot did you burn / Doth made these loins churn / So how do I send you a “Like”? When: Friday, September 20, 2024. Where: Winooski rotary. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916126

HARDWICK POST OFFICE

You had on an orange dress, with a reddish puff-type jacket. Believe your hair was pulled back. You were getting into a white Subaru Crosstrek. anks for putting some fashion in Hardwick. When: Friday, November 8, 2024. Where: Hardwick. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916170

TO OUR HOSTESS AT SNEAKERS

You were our hostess and helped us to a table outside in the bright sun. We swapped sitting spots on the table multiple times because of the light — sorry! We both thought you were very cute. ank you for brightening up our day, along with the sun. When: Saturday, September 21, 2024. Where: Sneakers Bistro in Williston. You: Couple. Me: Man. #916125

UVM CHEM PROF

Lady, you can’t imagine your young lez following. When: Friday, September 20, 2024. Where: Class. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916127

HEARTBROKEN

I thought we’d have a wonderful surprise due to hope in humanity restored. Turned out it was all faked to steal from me once again. Great work, nerds. anks for the pain, instead of the love claimed to be there. When: Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Where: ey see me more. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916169

WATERWORKS BAR CHAT

We met at the bar and struck up a conversation ranging from tattoos to your journey through motherhood. anks for a wonderful chat. It brightened up my evening! When: Friday, September 20, 2024. Where: Waterworks in Winooski. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916124

YOU WERE SADNESS FOR HALLOWEEN

Halloween Dance Party: You were Sadness, I was 27 club, we chatted in the bathroom line! I totally missed out on getting the deets for your band’s house concert. Will you invite me? When: Saturday, October 26, 2024. Where: East Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916168

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS

Either there are many women with similar stories, or there are women everywhere attempting to mimic energy not theirs for a feeling of “love.” is bitterness needs to subside: e ones who know, know what I’ve been asking for — even the one who is too chickenshit to open the door. When: Friday, September 20, 2024. Where: In the wind. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916123

THE MAN IN THE TOWER

I was ﬂying home from Chicago to Burlington. As I got off my plane I looked out the window and saw you standing in the tower. Your broad shoulders, big muscles, perfect mustache: My perfect man. We locked eyes, and I could feel our connection. What color was my neck pillow? (So I know it’s you.) When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Where: Burlington Airport. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916167

I once hosted a wake at my home and made a rule that if anybody cried, they had to run around the house twice. I didn’t actually have to enforce the rule, but it was a great way to lighten the mood when somebody started to get

misty-eyed. You could borrow that idea and tell your guests that anyone who brings up the election has to walk around the house twice with a serving spoon full of peas and not drop any. It may sound silly, but I’m tellin’ ya — it works.

It would be wise to have some things at the ready to keep people occupied: board games, cards, old family albums — anything that fosters friendly interactions. Have a few conversation starters in your back pocket in case you need them. Nudge people to say what they’re thankful for or ask them to tell their favorite goofy family story.

Hopefully, your fam will be too busy eating, drinking and being merry to be concerned with current affairs. But with a little forethought, you should be able to shoo off any showdowns. Good luck and God bless,

Single woman, 59. Wise, mindful. Seeking tight unit with man, friend, love. Country living, gardens, land to play on. Emotionally, intellectually engaged. Lasting chats. Appreciation for past experience. Please be kind, stable, and well established. Phone number, please. #L1813

I’m an 80-y/o man in good health. I own a ranch house on Route 110 in Tunbridge, south of fairgrounds. Never married. No children, retired. Like going out to eat and riding around. Looking for a nice lady for a long-term relationship. #L1810

GM looking for a man or men for mutual pleasure. Maybe develop into LTR or FWB. Would like regular or semi-regular visits. Fun and adventurous. #L1812

I miss the touch, the ﬂirting, the taste, the smell of a woman. I’m 69, retired and disabled. I also have many facets that make me up. NEK please, thanks. #L1811

I’m an 80-y/o woman seeking a man for companionship and friendship. I am a widow living in Burlington, VT. Love to go out to dinner and movies, and have good conversation. #L1809

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LE ERS:

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PUBLISH YOUR

MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

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

58-y/o enjoys the simple things: walks with my dogs, candlelit evenings, window shopping. I don’t have to have someone to complete me but would love to share the beauty of life with a man who also is ready to dance like nobody’s watching. #L1808

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

T-girl? Transgender? CD? Gay? I’m a dom, so looking for subs, thanks. #L1799

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

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

Int net-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness le ers. DETAILS BELOW.

Handsome SWM, younglooking 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

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

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

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)

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 one woman for a special time together. #L1797

I’m a GM, mid-60s, seeking a SM, 70s, passionate. Enjoy many activities: nature walks, camping. Let’s talk, hopefully meet. #L1791

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

Abstract portrait artist in need of a discreet female model (18-28). #L1795

(MORE)

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