The
holiday shopping handbook
Wearables & Accessories • Food & Drink • Arts & Entertain ment Outdoors & Recreation • Home • Kids • Beauty & Body Experiences & Classes • Listening & Reading • Pets & Their Humans
V E RMO NT ’S IN DEPE NDEN T VO ICE NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021 VOL.27 NO.8 SEVENDAYSVT.COM
THAT’S A WRAP! Holiday shopping handbook inside
Market to Farm A new food waste disposal method raises fears that microplastics will taint fields BY K E VIN MC C AL L UM, PAGE 2 8
CLEARING THE AIR?
PAGE 14
New PCB guidlines cloud BHS’ future
WINTER WONDERLAND
PAGE 36
A holiday spectacle at Shelburne Museum
BIGGER IS BETTER
PAGE 44
Roomy new digs for Burlington Beer
In-Store and Online at LennyShoe.com Sale Wednesday & Friday Day Before Thanksgiving & Black Friday
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Sale in-stores and online at LennyShoe.com. No special orders, no rainchecks, limited to on hand inventory. Styles vary by store. While supplies last.
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WEEK IN REVIEW
145K
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NOVEMBER 17-23, 2021 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY
HIKER’S HAUNT
The downtown Burlington spot on which the Green Mountain Club was founded in 1910 just got a historical marker. Happy trails!
Welch to Run for U.S. Senate
FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR
HOME FREE
Rep. Peter Welch in summer 2020
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will run for the Senate seat to be vacated by retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Welch’s decision is expected to lead to a rigorous contest for his current job, occupying Vermont’s sole House seat. At 74, Welch could not build up the kind of Senate seniority that Leahy has during his 46 years in office. But Welch, who was elected to the U.S. House in 2006, asserted that his experience as a representative would serve Vermont well in these perilous times. “This is a critical moment, both for democracy and for the direction of our country,” Welch said. “We need effectiveness now. We can’t wait about addressing climate change. We can’t wait for addressing the challenges that working families face. We can’t wait to defend our democracy.” He recalled being in the House of Representatives on January 6 when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, threatening the peaceful transfer of power. What most concerned him, however,
802much
JAMES BUCK
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occurred after the restoration of order. That’s when 147 of his House colleagues voted against certifying Joe Biden’s electoral win. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) promptly endorsed Welch’s bid, saying he could “hit the ground running as a strong advocate for Vermont’s working families and to fight for a government that works for all, and not just the wealthy few.” Welch predicted “a ferocious battle” for Leahy’s seat, given that the equally divided Senate “hangs in the balance.” No likely GOP candidates have yet emerged. By running for a spot in the upper chamber, Welch is giving up his safe seat in the U.S. House. Several Democrats are expected to announce campaigns to replace him. Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint (D-Windham) and state Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden) have expressed interest in the position.
James Buck (right) with an airline employee and Afghan refugees
Vermont hasn’t had an open congressional seat since 2006. It’s the only state that has never elected a woman to Congress. Welch, a native of Springfield, Mass., is a lawyer who was first elected to the Vermont Senate in 1980 to represent Windsor County. He became Senate president pro tempore five years later. Welch ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990 against Republican governor Richard Snelling. In his 2014 memoir, The Vermont Way, former Republican governor Jim Douglas, who knew Welch as the Senate leader, describes him as someone who can work successfully with politicians from both parties. “Welch was results-oriented,” Douglas wrote. “He had strong views, but at the end of the day, he wanted to accomplish something.” Read Ann Wallace Allen and Kevin McCallum’s full report and keep up with developments at sevendaysvt. com. m
Vaccinated Canadians who stay in the U.S. for fewer than 72 hours won’t need to take a COVID-19 test to return home. Good news for border businesses.
TURKEY TROT
Burlington High School students held a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in honor of their new, temporary building — a former Macy’s. The crowd gobbled it up.
NEXT CHAPTER
That’s how much companies will pay Vermont after illegally selling e-cigarettes online directly to the state’s residents, the Attorney General’s Office announced.
TOPFIVE
MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM
1. “My Mom Doesn’t Want My Unvaccinated Partner at Thanksgiving” by the Reverend. Our in-house sage dispenses timely advice on a thorny issue. 2. “Essex Denies Development Proposal by Rick Bove, Citing History of Violations” by Derek Brouwer. The Essex Planning Commission rejected Bove’s proposal to build 60 more rental units at the Essex Town Center, citing health and safety violations at his other local buildings. 3. “What Indie Rom-Com Soulmate(s) Gets Right — and Wrong — About Vermont Culture” by Jordan Adams. Intended as a love letter to Vermont, the film’s insistence on relishing the state and its culture backfires in surprising ways. 4. “Vermont Relaxes PCB Standards, but Impact on Burlington School Project Unclear” by Alison Novak. Restrictive state guidelines led to the high school’s closure. Now that they’ve been eased, what happens? 5. “Roma’s Butchery in Royalton Cuts Distance Between Farmers and Eaters” by Melissa Pasanen. Every meaty dish — burgers, liverwurst and head cheese included — is sourced from Vermont farms via Roma’s Break Room, a meat-cutting facility right under the retail shop.
tweet of the week @les_claypilled
Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library will open a satellite location in the city’s New North End next month. Turning a page.
So excited to drive on the interstate in Vermont tomorrow. I love to be perpetually sandwiched between the biggest truck I’ve ever seen tailgating me and a Crosstrek going 66 miles an hour in front of me in the left lane FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSVT OUR TWEEPLE: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/TWITTER
THAT’S SO VERMONT
FRIENDLY SKIES James Buck has a knack for being in the right place at the right time — an important trait for a freelance photojournalist. Last Thursday, Buck, a frequent Seven Days contributor, was at it again, this time as he returned home from a Florida vacation. As he boarded a flight to BTV in Charlotte, N.C., something caught his eye: a family of two adults and five children carrying bags emblazoned with IOM, aka International Organization for Migration. “Refugees who are being re-
settled are always carrying these white IOM bags,” said Buck, who has documented humanitarian aid missions around the world, including on recent trips to Haiti, India and Turkey. The flight crew had difficulty communicating with the adults, who knew no English. So Buck, who knows a little Arabic, jumped in and offered to help translate for the refugees, who turned out to be Afghan. They spoke Pashto, a different language that shares some words. The crew reseated Buck next to the family, and they took up a stilted but fruitful backand-forth, intermittently using an app to translate. Buck learned
that they had come from eastern Afghanistan by way of El Paso, Texas. “I just used my tool kit: Hey, let’s talk to the kids, look at some pictures, try on my sunglasses,” Buck said. “We have no language in common … But I just tried the most basic, calming and kind gestures: thumbs up, being disarming, being friendly.” Once on the ground in Burlington, the family reunited with acquaintances who had also fled Afghanistan. A translator and rep from the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program were also there to help. The new arrivals were among the first of
dozens of Afghan refugees expected to resettle in Vermont. Buck tweeted about his chance encounter and gave an interview to a local TV station. All the subsequent feedback was extremely positive, Buck said. “There was so much heartfelt outpouring of support for these people,” he said. “It showed what Vermonters are feeling about wanting to welcome these people into our communities. So that felt really good.” Two days later, his new friends from the flight contacted him over Facebook Messenger. They plan to stay in touch. SASHA GOLDSTEIN
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
publisher & editor-in-chief
Paula Routly
deputy publisher Cathy Resmer AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in Burlington, South Burlington, Essex, Williston, Richmond, Montpelier.
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coeditors Dan Bolles, Elizabeth M. Seyler AssociAte editor Margot Harrison Art editor Pamela Polston consulting editor Mary Ann Lickteig Music editor Chris Farnsworth cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton speciAlty publicAtions MAnAger Carolyn Fox stAff writers Jordan Adams, Jordan Barry,
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FEEDback READER REACTION TO RECENT ARTICLES
SKI SEASON NOT SO ‘DISMAL’
I was surprised by the headline “After a Dismal 2020-21 Season, Ski Areas Report Strong Early Sales” [November 10]. Based on my 20 years of experience with the Vermont ski industry, “dismal” is not a word I would use to describe last season. If Vermont skier days were down by a lot, then there was something else in play besides just COVID-19. Québec, our neighbor to the north, closed its province to outsiders even tighter than Vermont closed its borders but still managed to exceed its 10-year skier days average. New Hampshire reported visitation that mirrored its 10-year average. Utah, a major fly-to destination that was as seriously challenged by COVID-19 as Vermont, posted its best season on record. Colorado, which is especially dependent on international travelers, was just 3.7 percent below its five-year average. And the National Ski Areas Association reported that, based on the all-important metric of skier days, the 2020-21 season was the fifth best season on record. Ski Vermont, an industry trade association, began the season with cataclysmic projections and stuck with that narrative even as the season improved. But Ski Vermont hasn’t released the number of skier days for last season. It would be interesting to get an actual number of skier days and see if that really matches the narrative of “dismal.” I’m confident that it was reported to NSAA for inclusion in its data set, but it was curiously not shared locally. If Vermont really posted a “dismal” number of skier visits, COVID-19 wasn’t to blame. Tom Buchanan
LONDONDERRY
Editor’s note: Seven Days did request details about ski visits and ski-area revenues from Bryan Rivard, the spokesperson for Ski Vermont. Rivard said ski areas report that information to the association on the condition of confidentiality.
LET’S GO … WHERE?
[Re Off Message: “New VTGOP Leaders Jump on the ‘Let’s Go Brandon!’ Bandwagon,” November 8]: When I read the news clip about the Vermont Republican Party electing Paul Dame to the chair and that he planned to celebrate by holding a
WEEK IN REVIEW
TIM NEWCOMB
Granted, there are a lot of wonderful landlords who go above and beyond and who do not take advantage of families, knowing how difficult things are for those entrenched in the system. But the reality is: Once a landlord is aware of how difficult it is for a family SUNDAYS > 10:30 P.M. to vacate, it becomes much easier for them to carry on without any regard for the mental and physical health of their renters. I am speaking from experience. I have a thick folder of photos and communications with every entity and organization 10/28/21 16t-vcam-weekly.indd 1 11/2/20 12:17 3:07 PM that I can think of to help navigate what16t-vcam112421.indd to do when faced with a landlord full of promises and zero follow-through. How long do you wait? Whom do you call? Who can help? Even when you are given an answer and your fears are substantiated, what do you do with limited time, money and resources in a market in which finding a rental in your budget is like striking gold?
REGGAE EAST SPECIALS
?
“Let’s Go Brandon” party, my first thought was: Yow! The inmates are finally running the Republican asylum. That was quickly followed by another thought: Comparing the deranged meanness of today’s Republicans to inmates is offensive and insulting to all inmates, past and present. Today’s Republicans have carved out a category of mental deficiency and vitriol for our country that puts them in a category that is unique and hard to comprehend. Does Gov. Phil Scott think we won’t notice his dallying with the sickness that infects the Republican Party? In memory of another politician named Paul, I am now chanting “Let’s Go Sarbanes” in my head. John Rouleau
BURLINGTON
‘TRICKLE-DOWN’ NURSING
I thank Seven Days for the excellent story on the University of Vermont Medical Center’s use of temporary nurses [“Health Care Premium,” November 3]. These extra millions spent on the temporary nurses come from our fee, premium and tax dollars. That money ought to support local doctors, nurses, staff and our health care — not only at UVM Medical Center but also at all our other hospitals. I found it telling that the hospital’s permanent staffers were “skeptical” about UVM chief of nursing Peg Gagne’s statement that “We really do want to get back to our own staff being a much higher percentage [of the workforce],” given that staff feels “the hospital has shown little interest in keeping them around.”
This phenomenon isn’t new. After surgery at a Vermont hospital some years ago, I was helped by nurses from Alabama, Colorado and New Jersey. Why should our money feed a raft of traveling nurses? I don’t blame the traveling nurses, and I understand why a UVM Medical Center nurse would want to join their ranks to obtain better compensation. I do think that UVM and the rest of us need to consider why things have reached this point. Has UVM been treating staff as expendable resources to support high salaries for the CEO and the growing number of other highly paid executives? Has this policy now “trickled down” to this? In the inevitable state investigations to follow, it is time to reconsider UVM’s approach and carefully devise statewide regulations to govern our health care workforce — before more bad things trickle down to us. Walter Carpenter
Kashka Orlow
BURLINGTON
PROTECT TENANTS
SUBSCRIBE AT
sevendaysvt.com/enews I’ve been a landlord in Vermont for four years and in Washington, D.C., for 15. I have 12 units and never charge more than fair market rent. I regularly witness16T-BiteClubfiller.indd 1 the struggles many people face to keep a good, affordable roof over their heads. When I started up here, I was told that Vermont is a “tenant’s state.” The excellent investigative article “Roaches and Broken Locks” [November 3] shows how FEEDBACK
[“Roaches and Broken Locks,” November 3] only scratches the surface of the issues that are associated with landlords who are systematically let off the hook for abhorrent conditions. They rent not only to those whose choices are grossly limited but also to those who are scared and unable to make better choices for themselves and their family, due to time restraints, financial burdens, language barriers, lack of know-how, and a slow and broken system.
12/21/20 6:07 PM
» P.22
CORRECTION
In the photo that accompanied last week’s news story entitled “Preventing Polio – Again,” the names of the two doctors pictured were inadvertently switched. From left, they are Dr. E. Ross Colgate and Dr. Jessica Crothers.
MONTPELIER
DON’T LET UP ON LANDLORDS
Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER for a taste of this week’s flavorful food coverage. It’ll hold you over until Wednesday.
SAY SOMETHING! Seven Days wants to publish your rants and raves. Your feedback must... • be 250 words or fewer; • respond to Seven Days content; • include your full name, town and a daytime phone number. Seven Days reserves the right to edit for accuracy, length and readability. Your submission options include: • sevendaysvt.com/feedback • feedback@sevendaysvt.com • Seven Days, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402-1164
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contents NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021 VOL.27 NO.8
COLUMNS
SECTIONS
11 26 41 56 59 60 93
24 40 46 50 56 60 62 68 69
Magnificent 7 WTF Side Dishes Soundbites Album Reviews TV Review Ask the Reverend
Life Lines Food + Drink Culture Art Music + Nightlife On Screen Calendar Classes Classifieds + Puzzles 89 Fun Stuff 92 Personals
Saving the (Turkey) Day Small Pleasures help you hack Thanksgiving
44
Market to Farm
FOOD 40
Going Big
Burlington Beer opens taproomrestaurant in its namesake city
The
g handbook
THAT’S A WRAP!
holiday shoppin
A new food waste disposal method raises fears that microplastics will taint fields
Holiday shopping handbook inside
B Y K EVI N M C C AL L UM , PA G E 2 8
tainment • Arts & Enter • Food & Drink Body • Beauty & & Accessories Wearables • Home • Kids Humans Recreation • Pets & Their Outdoors & & Reading • Listening s & Classes
Experience
COVER IMAGE LUKE AWTRY • COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN/KIRSTEN THOMPSON
STUCK IN VERMONT
15
36
48
NEWS & POLITICS 13
FEATURES 28
From the Publisher
A Full Table
Family Ghouls
Bright Side
Well Dressed
Level Best?
Parents who sought to keep BHS open feel vindicated by Vermont’s newly relaxed PCB guidance
Stone Cold
The shutdown of several sober houses leaves residents in the lurch
Bad Influence
In disconnecting from Facebook, the Retreat Farm hopes to inspire others
Milton residents help feed their neighbors for the holiday Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum is a holiday spectacle
Online Now
CULTURE 46 Book review: I Am Not Who You Think I Am, Eric Rickstad Burlington’s Slow Process reimagines menswear
Ones to Watch
At 82 years old, Bob Maritano stays moving SUPPORTED BY: and gets a lot of mileage on his car. For 35 years, he has been volunteering for local nonprofits and feeding people. Eva Sollberger recently accompanied him on his Thursday morning meal deliveries to Shelburne Rescue and Sara Holbrook Community Center.
The stars of this year’s Spectacular Spectacular on WCAX
The Empire Strikes Out Art review: Bradley Borthwick
START YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING EARLY!
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How did the Great Chicago fire of 1871
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WATERFRONT
from lakeside hotels and condominiums in the 1980s? *
Find out in Rick Sharp’s new book:
The Burlington Bike Path and Waterfront Park.
It’s the definitive account of how the Burlington waterfront was transformed from a derelict MAKES wasteland in the A GREAT HOLIDAY 1980s to the Bike Path and GIFT! park we all enjoy today. Learn how the three major plans for lakeside hotels and condominiums were defeated, resulting in a 60 acre park and a 7.5 mile bike path instead.
Now available at Phoenix Books, The Eloquent Page, online at www.burlingtonbikepath.com and in a library near you. Also the in-room libraries at Hotel Vermont. GG4t-BurlingotnSegway(BookAd)112421.indd 1
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* The short answer is rubble. The detailed story is in the book.
11/17/21 4:10 PM
11/22/21 7:48 PM
COURTESY OF MICHELLE LEFTHERIS
LOOKING FORWARD
MAGNIFICENT
SATURDAY 27
Merry Marionettes Families flock to Randolph’s Chandler Center for the Arts for Scrooge, a Christmas Carol. It’s the perfect performance for anyone who swears that The Muppet Christmas Carol is the best adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday parable. No Strings Marionette’s 18 huge puppets bring the ghosts, grouches and cherubic little children to life. Masks are required.
MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63
COMPI L E D BY E MI LY HA MI LTON
SUNDAY 28-THURSDAY 2
One for Each Night Chabad Vermont marks the first night of Hanukkah with a Public Menorah Lighting on the University of Vermont’s University Green in Burlington. The Festival of Lights continues all week with lightings in Jericho, Shelburne, St. Albans and Montpelier, leading up to a blowout car parade and LED robot show on the eighth night. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 65
TUESDAY 30
Book Who’s Talking The Norwich Public Library presents its annual fundraiser, Pages in the Pub, cohosted virtually with the Norwich Bookstore and the Book Jam. Local luminaries share curated, curious and cackleinducing book recommendations for everyone from your dad to your baby cousin. Book sales during the event benefit the library. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66
SUNDAY 28
PLAY THE CLASSICS The third installment of Scrag Mountain Music’s Virtual Composers of Color Workshop Series features special guest Dr. Matthew Evan Taylor, a musician, composer and Middlebury College assistant professor whose work focuses on decolonizing the compositional process. Taylor and other artists continue the ongoing conversation about groundbreaking, often neglected composers of color in the classical music world.
WEDNESDAY 1
Break the Silence Vermont Cares and GLAM Vermont host HIV, Then & Now on World AIDS Day at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. Intergenerational members of the HIV-positive community share their stories, attendees converse about historic and present AIDS activism, and everyone makes art together. Masks are required.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 65
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67
Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.
THURSDAY 25
ONGOING
Gobble All the Way
NES
LVIN JO
Y OF CA
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63
O Christmas Tree COURTES
On Thanksgiving Day, runners and walkers pop the bird in the oven and head on over to the Zack’s Place Turkey Trot, a morning 5K beginning and ending at Woodstock Elementary School. Registration fees benefit Zack’s Place, a community center for folks with special needs and their neighbors, and racers can bring edible donations for the Woodstock Community Food Shelf.
Local artists may not be able to slide down your chimney and decorate your tree for you, but buying a ticket to the Henry Sheldon Museum’s online Miniature Christmas Tree Raffle could be the next best thing. Nine unique trees are up for auction, decorated with everything from seashells to needlepoint. SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 52
THIS IS A SAMPLING OF VERMONT’S IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS. BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/EVENTS. SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
Thanks for Everything
It’s unsettling to be on the hook for half a million dollars. I can say as much after Seven Days received two federal Paycheck Protection Program loans for that amount since the start of the pandemic. Adding to the anxiety: No one at our bank, which distributed the funds for the U.S. Small Business Administration, could answer my questions about loan forgiveness. All communication about the emergency cash infusions took place through a customized portal. As instructed, we uploaded payroll reports and canceled checks for rent, utilities and health insurance to prove that we were using the money as intended. If we messed anything up, an email would direct us back to the portal, where a message would attempt to spell out the problem. No names or emails were exchanged. I wish I could have thanked a human being — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen? — when an email arrived two weeks ago headlined “Notice of Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Payment.” It was an official notification that Seven Days would get to keep the $443,547.50 we received in 2021 to keep everyone on our staff employed. The money, every penny of which was spent on payroll, halves this year’s revenue shortfall. I don’t know a newspaper in Vermont that would be in business today without this well-timed government assistance. The pandemic isn’t over, but 21 months into it, I’m feeling tremendous gratitude: for the local advertisers who have stuck with us through it all and those who have recently returned to our pages; for the readers who picked up the paper when it was hard to find and those who volunteered to make it easier by putting racks in their front yards. Despite challenging logistics and constant stress, our reporters have produced some of the best journalism in the paper’s history. Plus, we discovered a lifeline we never knew existed: Vermonters who appreciate our free paper enough to pay for it. At the start of the pandemic, people opened their hearts and wallets. Now the recurring monthly donations of our 2,000-plus generous Super Readers are helping to pay the bills. Philanthropy has become a reliable revenue stream — and not just for Seven Days. On November 10, I wrote about the Storm Lake Times in northwest Iowa and a documentary film about the twice-weekly newspaper’s struggle to survive. On the same day, Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Art Cullen announced that the paper had received a transformative donation from a billionaire, a Chinese immigrant who had heard Cullen interviewed on NPR’s “Fresh Air.” Cullen directed the “angel” donor to the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation, freshly formed to accept tax-deductible gifts that support independent, locally owned news operations in the region, including the “for-profit” Storm Lake Times. I’m working with another Vermont publisher to create something similar that would help community newspapers here. Another bright light in this dark month of Thanksgiving: Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa won a Nobel Peace Prize. Her fearless news site, Rappler, was a favorite target of authoritarian Philippine Interested in becoming a Super Reader? President Rodrigo Duterte, who famously said: Look for the “Give Now” buttons at the top “Your premise is: Just because you’re a journalist, of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with you can’t be killed. It’s all wrong.” your address and contact info to: I wrote about Ressa in this column a year ago, SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS when the Vermont International Film Festival P.O. BOX 1164 screened a documentary about her valiant fight for BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164 press freedom. Its title, A Thousand Cuts, could work For more information on making a financial for almost any movie about journalism these days. contribution to Seven Days, please contact Here’s to a thousand Band-Aids. Katie Hodges:
Paula Routly
VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 110 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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ESSEX SAYS NO TO BOVE PAGE 16
FORGET FACEBOOK, SOME SAY PAGE 18
FILE: LUKE AWTRY
news
MORE INSIDE
BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE
STATEHOUSE
PAGE 19
EDUCATION
Burlington High School
Level Best?
Parents who sought to keep Burlington High School open feel vindicated by Vermont’s newly relaxed PCB guidance B Y A L ISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com
A
fter Burlington High School closed in September 2020 because PCB contamination was detected inside, some concerned parents banded together to create a group called Open BHS. The members — a University of Vermont professor, a data scientist and a financial adviser among them — lobbied the school district and state officials to reopen the campus. The parents argued that the social, emotional and academic impacts of remote learning and isolation had to be weighed against what they considered very nominal health risks from exposure to the polychlorinated biphenyls, the unabbreviated name for the chemicals detected in the school’s air. Members cited the huge discrepancy between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s PCB guidelines — 500 to 600 nanograms per cubic meter for adults and older students — and Vermont’s extremely low screening level — 15 nanograms per cubic meter for people of any age. A nanogram is one billionth of a gram. 14
Yet the parents were rebuffed. At a special school board meeting late in September 2020, Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine and state toxicologist Sarah Vose gave a presenta-
I THINK THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS PUT A LOT OF
FEAR IN PEOPLE’S MINDS ABOUT PCBS. GR E G FANS L O W
tion about the health risks of PCBs, saying they stood by their recommendation that the high school stay closed. “They created the impression that the levels of PCBs at BHS were so high that we should all be worried about our kids getting cancer,” parent Caroline Beer said.
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
The call left the community “very scared,” said another member of the group, Dan Cunningham. The parents’ bid was ultimately unsuccessful. At least three parents in the 100-plusmember group transferred their children to Rice Memorial High School, a nearby private Catholic school. Meanwhile, Burlington High School students continued learning almost entirely remotely until March 2021, when they moved into a temporary school in a former Macy’s department store downtown. Because of the chemical contamination at the Institute Road campus, district officials ultimately decided to forgo a planned $70 million renovation and have chosen instead to build a new school there. So when the state last week created “action levels” that relaxed its guidance for airborne PCBs in schools, those parents felt vindicated but also dismayed. LEVEL BEST?
» P.16
Lawmakers Empower Towns to Require Masks B Y K EV I N M C C A L L U M kevin@sevendaysvt.com Vermont lawmakers on Monday grudgingly approved a bill to allow cities and towns to pass temporary local mask mandates, but only after blasting Gov. Phil Scott for leaving them little choice. The bill passed by votes of 17-10 in the Senate and 90-41 in the House. Many lawmakers said they would have preferred Scott to enact a statewide mandate. “What we need is a statewide response,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint (D-Windham). “We need our executive branch, our governor and our Department of Health to step up and protect the people of Vermont when we are facing the most challenging and difficult time of the pandemic in Vermont.” That wasn’t part of the deal, however, which frustrated lawmakers who worry that a town-by-town, patchwork response will be ineffective. Scott signed the bill on Tuesday. Republicans condemned the law; Sen. Randy Brock (R-Franklin) called it a “heavy-handed” measure that risks “hardening the attitudes” of anti-maskers. Rep. Mark Higley (R-Lowell) said residents in his area have reason to question whether governmental overreach was a real risk, citing a report of police officers threatening to arrest students for not complying with school mask policies. “This is just ludicrous in my mind,” Higley said. Critics of the bill crowded outside. Andy Loughney of Guilford stood in the rain holding a large sign that read: “It’s a quick and slippery slope to Tyranny.” Encouraging people to wear masks is fine, he said, but requiring it violates personal liberties. “This is just the start,” Loughney said as his child played on the Statehouse lawn. Vermont’s per-capita COVID-19 case rate has gone from one of the lowest in the nation to one of the highest. Infections grew by 20 percent over the last two weeks, according to state data. To address that, city councils and selectboards can now mandate facial coverings inside buildings that are open to the public. The local ordinances can go into effect on November 29 and will sunset after April 30, 2022. Burlington will consider a mask mandate at a special meeting on Wednesday, December 1. A version proposed by Mayor Miro Weinberger would exempt businesses that can prove all employees and customers are vaccinated against COVID-19. m
Stone Cold
The shutdown of several Vermont sober houses leaves residents in the lurch BY D ERE K BROU WER • derek@sevendaysvt.com
David Miner
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or residents trying to stay sober at Phoenix House, a family of group homes in Vermont, the arrival of Thanksgiving this year brings little respite. Two days afterward, many will be homeless. On November 4, the 14 or so male residents at the Elmwood Avenue location in Burlington gathered for a meeting, where on-site staff announced that their house would close for good on December 1. Later, the move-out date was pushed up to November 27, leaving the residents with barely three weeks to find a new place to live. Residents of the regional nonprofit’s two other homes, in Brattleboro, are in the same boat. Phoenix House, like many sober houses in Vermont, has long provided a landing spot for people DAVID coping with substance-use disorder when they are released from prison or inpatient treatment. The residences offer a cheap place to stay and housemates who can help one another through the early stages of recovery. Phoenix House New England, a financially troubled, Rhode Island-based nonprofit, has been the largest provider in Vermont for years, accounting for 90 of the state’s 212 beds in 2019.
Its abrupt closure is a serious setback for David Miner, a 62-year-old resident at the Elmwood Avenue house. The soft-spoken, bearded man has lived there alcohol-free since his release from prison in August after a driving-under-theinfluence conviction. He started working as a dishwasher for a mainstay Church Street restaurant and earned a discounted rent at Phoenix House by taking on a role as house resource coordinator. Since the closure was announced, several of his roommates have relapsed, according to Miner and another source who works closely with the men but was not authorized to speak to the media. “It’s not right, the way they treated their staff in MINER Burlington here,” Miner said of the organization. “It’s not right for the clients.” Phoenix House’s demise is the latest, largest and most chaotic in a string of recovery residence closures in Vermont. Together, the closures identified by Seven Days amount to roughly half of all beds that were tallied in a 2019
HEALTH
IT’S NOT RIGHT, THE WAY THEY TREATED THEIR STAFF IN BURLINGTON HERE.
IT’S NOT RIGHT FOR THE CLIENTS.
STONE COLD
» P.20
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10/14/21 11:44 AM
news Level Best? « P.14
DEVELOPMENT
Essex Denies Development Proposal by Rick Bove, Citing History of Violations B Y D EREK BR OUWE R • derek@sevendaysvt.com
DEREK BROUWER
The Essex Planning Commission has rejected a proposal by Rick Bove to build 60 more rental units at the Essex Town Center, citing health and safety violations at his existing buildings there. At a meeting last Thursday, commissioners denied Bove’s proposal, following the recommendation of Essex town officials who have been tussling with Bove over overflowing dumpsters at the property for the last four years. Bove’s mismanagement of his Vermont rental empire was the subject of a joint investigation published earlier this month by Seven Days and Vermont Public Radio. The news outlets found that maintenance needs have been neglected across the
Rick Bove
400-plus rentals that Rick and his brother Mark own in several communities, leaving low-income tenants to live in substandard conditions. The Bove brothers already own a mixed-use portion of the Essex Town Center near the intersection of Upper Main Street and Route 289. One of the complexes, the Whittier Building, had been constructed by a different developer using public subsidies, with 26 of its 44 units subject to affordability requirements. Earlier this year, Rick Bove submitted plans to construct three new buildings of mostly market-rate apartments and some commercial space. Essex town officials scrutinized the plans for not conforming to mixed-use building requirements laid out in several master plans. They noted Bove’s “long history of failing to correct outstanding zoning and fire/life safety violations” and urged the planning commission not to approve any new development unless Bove hired a fulltime, on-site manager. They also took issue with his plan, which called for ground-floor rental units instead of commercial space. “I have never, in my recollection of the time I’ve been on this commission, had so clear a statement and direct a statement,” commission chair Dustin Bruso said. The planning commission held its first hearing in June but did not vote on the proposal’s merits. At the follow-up hearing last week, Bove’s engineers with
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O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates presented a revised plan that included an agreement to add commercial space to one of the buildings and construct the first phase of an envisioned town green. They did not address their client’s code compliance issues at the adjacent property. Bove attended the hearing but did not speak. During public comment, however, a longtime resident of the Whittier Building described a litany of problems since the Bove family bought it. Traci Rochester and her daughter, Taylor, detailed broken doors, malfunctioning heating systems, “unusable” laundry facilities and leaky ceilings that destroyed their belongings. “I just feel we’re being treated as a rent check rather than humans,” Rochester said. She trembled as she addressed the commission, explaining that she feared that her landlord, who was seated behind her, would retaliate against her for speaking out. “I think that Rick needs to take care of what he already has, before he builds anything else,” she said. Bove representative Paul O’Leary told commissioners he felt that his client had been “shanghaied” because he was not invited to attend other board meetings at which the project was discussed. At one point, O’Leary implied that Bove may raise rents at the Whittier Building if the town didn’t approve his proposed development. Essex allows developers of affordable housing to construct more densely packed projects; Bove wanted his existing affordable units at the Essex Town Center to count toward the proposed buildings. “If we’re not going to get any credit for having affordable housing and get a bonus, then there’s very little reason for Mr. Bove to continue to maintain these as affordable housing,” O’Leary said. He later clarified: “There’s a possibility that we would investigate whether or not we would be better off to turn those into market rate.” That was a different tone than the one taken a week earlier by Rick’s brother and business partner, Mark Bove. Following Seven Days and VPR’s reporting, Mark issued a press release stating that the family takes responsibility for the conditions at its buildings and pledged “immediate corrective action.” “We have worked hard to try to provide a clean and safe place for every tenants [sic] regardless of income, race, or gender,” the release said. “Where we have fallen short, we are working to do the right thing.” Rochester, the Whittier resident, told commissioners that some of the issues at her building had been addressed since the news organizations published their investigation on November 3. Her daughter, however, urged town officials to remain vigilant when dealing with Rick Bove. “He’s going to go back to his old ways the second people stop actively caring,” she said. m
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
“We’ve sort of been forced down this path that, ultimately, probably wasn’t necessary,” Greg Fanslow said. “You … take a position that appears to be out on a limb, and then ultimately the powers that be basically come around to do exactly what you said they should have done all along … There’s some consolation to it, but there’s just been so much damage caused as a result of this sort of stubborn behavior that it’s hard to be happy about it.” In an interview last Friday, superintendent Tom Flanagan said the district doesn’t yet know how the state’s decision will affect the high school project. Still, Flanagan said, “it is important information for us to have for Burlington High School and all of our schools.” The district’s six elementary and two middle schools were all constructed before 1980, when building materials such as caulk, flooring adhesive and lighting ballasts commonly contained PCBs. “This certainly adds some complexity to our next steps,” Flanagan said of the new guidance. The district and its consultants met with the Department of Health and the EPA on Monday, school district spokesperson Russ Elek said in an email, “and we didn’t learn anything ... that suggests we should change course; we know that there are still PCBs in the walls, the windows, the floor, the soil, etc., so at this time we are proceeding with the plan in place.” Whether voters will support spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a new high school building is another matter. The district has proposed putting a bond on the November 2022 ballot. And the new guidance will certainly impact how other Vermont school districts deal with PCBs. The legislature allocated $4.5 million to test for the chemicals in schools statewide; that’s expected to begin in the coming months. The new state guidance notes that 15 nanograms per cubic meter “is close to the background PCB concentrations in air” and therefore could “result in frequent exceedances” during the statewide testing. Many of the approximately 450 school buildings in the state were built before 1980 and therefore will be eligible for testing, according to Vose. Schools should take action to “identify and abate” potential PCB sources inside their buildings, the guidance says, if tests show a concentration of 100 nanograms per cubic meter of air in buildings used by seventh graders to adults; 60 nanograms per cubic meter for kindergartners to sixth graders; and 30 nanograms per cubic meter for prekindergartners.
Vermont’s previous 15-nanogram screening level was far lower than that of any other state. The action levels are a new construct. Many experts who spoke to Seven Days earlier this year thought that Vermont’s screening level was way too low. “As a toxicologist, I worry about lead and other heavy metals with regard to children’s health,” Laura Green, president and senior toxicologist of Green Toxicology in Brookline, Mass., said in May. “I do not worry about PCBs, and I would never recommend demolishing the school at issue.” Vermont’s 15-nanogram screening number is “an extremely low level, and I think it’s going to be a very hard level to hit,” environmental toxicologist Jim Okun said in May. “I think the EPA goal is actually a pretty aggressive goal already.”
THERE’S NOT A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT I KNOW OF
THAT HAS MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET TO REMEDIATE FOR PCBS. J EF F F R A N C I S
The Vermont Department of Health created the screening levels eight years ago. At the time, the agency didn’t consider that it is “pretty common” to find low levels of PCBs — around 10 to 15 nanograms — in indoor air, even when no source of PCBs is nearby, Vose said. Fanslow, who worked as a water-quality regulator when he lived in California, said Vose’s statement confirms what some parents believed all along: “That the old standard was not achievable and lacked any sign of the forethought and peer review that good regulation should be based on.” And yet it never changed, Vose said, because the Department of Health didn’t revisit it from year to year. “Now that there’s a program with several hundred schools to be tested, that’s what sort of brought this more into focus,” Vose said. Trish Coppolino, senior environmental program manager with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, said the state told Burlington officials and district consultants last year that they had the option of doing a more detailed PCB assessment. Coppolino said the consultants chose not to.
FILE: BEAR CIERI
Tom Flanagan
“The school made their own decisions on the path that they wanted to take,” Coppolino said. Elek, the school district spokesperson, confirmed Coppolino’s account, noting that Burlington officials felt that they “were facing the potential of spending valuable time and money on experiments, leaving us with a building without any substantive learning environment upgrades and little assurance that the
remaining PBC levels would be below the state guidelines.” When Flanagan recommended building a new school, the guidance’s limits were still at 15 nanograms. Coppolino said that her agency was recently given oversight over PCBs in indoor air. Before last spring, she said, the EPA was in charge of regulating PCB levels — though Coppolino noted that the federal agency would typically defer to
states that had a different calculation of risk, as Vermont did. Burlington’s school board, which next meets on December 7, has already voted to abandon its contaminated school and build a new one, though the process is in its early stages. Testing in summer 2020, ahead of the planned renovation, found levels in the thousands of nanograms per cubic meter in the F building, which housed the technical center. Further testing in the other five high school buildings found much lower PCB levels: between one and 300 nanograms per cubic meter, with an average of 98 nanograms. Of 40 rooms tested in those five buildings, 28 were below 100 nanograms — the new guidance’s limit for high school students — while two were exactly 100. Three others were between 260 and 300. The remaining seven rooms were between 110 and 170 nanograms. Superintendent Flanagan told Seven Days in May that officials from the EPA and the Vermont Department of Health “said, ‘No, these are above our screening values ... Our screening values are our screening values for a reason. We are concerned about these numbers. We’re concerned about this building.’” While the new action level is higher, both Vose and Coppolino cautioned against second-guessing Burlington’s decision to build a new school. “I just don’t want it to seem like it’s something that’s a game changer for the City of Burlington, because they still have a lot of high-PCB-containing building materials in their school that need to be addressed, regardless of [changing guidance],” Coppolino said. “They still have a lot of work to do if they wanted to reuse the building.” Commissioner Levine seconded that sentiment at the governor’s weekly COVID-19 press conference on Tuesday. “I wouldn’t want the thesis [of a news story] to be that what we did, all
of a sudden, should make Burlington change everything they did, and they wasted millions of dollars and caused lots of distress to kids who couldn’t be in their school, because that’s actually not an accurate reflection of the process,” Levine said. When the legislature reconvenes in January, it must, by law, develop additional guidance for schools around PCB testing, said Jeff Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents’ Association. “If you have to remediate, what funding will you use to do it?” Francis asked. “And that consideration really is reflective of the fact that there’s not a school district that I know of that has money in their budget to remediate for PCBs.” Keri Hornbuckle, a University of Iowa professor who has researched PCBs for decades, told Seven Days in May that airborne PCBs can be addressed by removing the source, such as window caulking. After reviewing the new state guidance last week, Hornbuckle said she could tell “a lot of thought went into the decision.” “The state is clearly thinking about how to protect children and making a plan to do so,” she wrote in an email. Fanslow, whose daughter now attends Rice, said he isn’t sure what Burlington’s path forward should be. “I think this whole process has put a lot of fear in people’s minds about PCBs,” he said, “but, on the other hand, building a new school is kind of an unjustified cost in the city, so I can kind of see the district being stuck in between those two perspectives.” Beer, the Open BHS member, said state regulators should be blamed — and fired — for what she described as a “catastrophe.” “The state should compensate the students who lost an entire year of their education,” she wrote in an email. “The state must also reimburse the tax payers of Burlington for the tens of millions of dollars that their ineptitude has cost us.” m
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news
Bad Influence
In disconnecting from Facebook, the Retreat Farm hopes to inspire others B Y A NNE WAL L A CE ALLE N • anne@sevendaysvt.com DAVID SHAW
W
hen the tiny Retreat Farm nonprofit announced last month that it would stop posting updates on Facebook and Instagram, the news set off some soul-searching among its Vermont peers. The organization, a community and educational center on a 650-acre farm in Brattleboro, said Facebook’s damaging effect on community conversations and public events runs counter to its own values. Facebook and its Instagram subsidiary use algorithms that raise the profile of negative comments and posts, a practice widely seen as deepening the political polarization that has led to social strife. “Facebook’s abuse of power is so detrimental and erosive to people, communities, and our democracy that without government action, it is up to private institutions like Retreat Farm to seek new (and old) ways of communication that prioritize face-to-face connection and relationships,” the Retreat Farm said in its announcement. Facebook — which recently changed its name to Meta amid a flood of bad publicity — has been widely blamed for amplifying the tensions and false information that led to the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6; Congress and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are now investigating the company’s role. And in October, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager, testified to Congress that the company intentionally hid research that showed using its products made teenagers feel worse about themselves. Attorneys general of 10 states, including Vermont’s T.J. Donovan, said last week that they will investigate those allegations. Facebook has also been sharply criticized — and investigated — for mishandling user privacy and enabling Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. “Thanks to the whistleblower testimony, we know that Facebook has intentionally and systematically amplified some of the worst content on its platform — facilitating hate speech, extreme rhetoric, and more, especially in vulnerable parts of the world,” the Retreat Farm said of the information that Haugen shared with Congress. The organization’s announcement has prompted other nonprofits to talk about their own positions, said Christopher
TECHNOLOGY
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Lindsay Fahey and Buzz Schmidt at Retreat Farm
PERHAPS WE DON’T HAVE TO LIVE BY THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM THAT
SOCIETY IS ON THIS UNALTERABLE TRAJECTORY TOWARD TECHNOLOGICAL DYSTOPIA. BUZZ S C H MID T
Kaufman Ilstrup, executive director of Vermont Humanities. “I’ve seen that statement forwarded around to a lot of places,” Kaufman Ilstrup said. While many Vermont nonprofits and for-profit companies publicize values that run counter to those of Facebook, it’s difficult for them to get away from the company’s platforms, which have nearly 3 billion users. Facebook’s advertising and its algorithms, which target users based on past preferences, make it an efficient and affordable way to get the word out. “Social media is our biggest and strongest tool for marketing,” said Brittany Powell, marketing director at the Chill
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Foundation, a youth development nonprofit that was founded by Jake Burton Carpenter and Donna Carpenter of Burton Snowboards. It’s not that Chill wants to support Facebook — it doesn’t, for the same reasons the Retreat Farm is stepping back, Powell said. But she feels that social media, even without buying advertising, is the best way to reach donors and potential participants. “It’s really cost-effective,” she said. “We’re not going to get rid of it anytime soon.” Vital Communities, a nonprofit created to connect the upper Connecticut River Valley region, reluctantly buys ads on Facebook, according to Rob Schultz, the group’s director of development. Vital
Communities itself operates local email lists that about 30,000 people use to discuss public events and to buy, sell and trade. Some people advertise their small businesses there. But nothing matches Facebook’s reach, Schultz said. “We’re constantly wondering how long we’re going to stay in the Facebook market — and wondering if we didn’t, how we would engage the community as a whole,” he said. Civil rights groups launched a Facebook advertising boycott in June 2020, urging companies to stop buying ads for at least a month. More than 1,000 — including Ben & Jerry’s — joined, according to the New York Times, though about 80 percent of the boycotters eventually went back to buying Facebook ads. Patagonia, a global outdoor gear company, said on October 28 that it still isn’t buying ads on Facebook because the platform “spread[s] hate speech and misinformation about climate change and our democracy.” Alternatives to Facebook and Instagram have bloomed in recent years. One of the most established is Mighty Networks, a platform that charges for subscriptions
TRANSPORTATION
Federal Funding Approved for Bridge to Carry Cyclists, Pedestrians Across I-89
Essex
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BY CH EL SEA ED GAR chelsea@sevendaysvt.com
A pedestrian heading from Burlington to South Burlington
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and provides users with smaller and more targeted audiences. Burlington-based business consultant Flip Brown eschews Facebook and pays nearly $1,000 a year to be part of Mighty Networks. “Their strategy is to create a real and authentic experience, not just growth for the sake of growth,” he said. The Retreat Farm has an overall budget of less than $1 million and fewer than 5,000 Facebook followers, so its decision won’t affect the tech giant. But it’s critical to the nonprofit’s mission of fostering authentic relationships, president Buzz Schmidt said. And he’d like it to serve as inspiration. “This is just beginning days for this kind of thing,” Schmidt said. He expects future disruptions in communications will also chip away at privacy and generate discord in the future. But that’s not inevitable, he said. “Perhaps we don’t have to live by the conventional wisdom that society is on this unalterable trajectory toward technological dystopia,” he said. “We think there are still opportunities for organizations like ours to engage in back-channel actions to subvert that trajectory.” The Retreat Farm is not deleting its Facebook page altogether; instead, it will direct people who land there to contact the farm in other ways, said Lindsay Fahey, managing director of impact and community for the nonprofit. “We’re planning on having a permanent, pinned post there so people don’t think we went out of business,” Fahey said. “But we’re not going to update it, and we’re not going to reply to comments.” The organization will rely more on its mailing list; traditional “old” media such as newspapers, radio and television; and local listservs such as Front Porch Forum. It sent its announcement to an email list of 6,000 supporters and got 100 replies, 98 of them positive, Fahey said. A few nonprofit and business leaders told her they hope to learn from the Retreat Farm’s experience. “We were overwhelmed by the number of people who took the time out of their day to let us know they were supportive of this decision,” Fahey said. As a result of the announcement, the farm added 200 people to its mailing list. Kaufman Ilstrup thinks Vermont Humanities would have a hard time functioning without Facebook. The nonprofit group buys ads on the platform. “It’s, relatively speaking, affordable to advertise our events,” he said. “And at the same time, all of us have really deep misgivings about the way the Facebook algorithm and the Instagram algorithms distort information. It is a conversation we need to have as an organization.” m
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Vermont will receive nearly $9.8 million to construct a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over Interstate 89, state and federal officials announced last Friday. The project will allow pedestrians to bypass the busy Route 2 and I-89 interchange, where they now use crosswalks to navigate heavy traffic on highway ramps. It’ll enable easier and safer walking and biking from the University of Vermont campus and medical center to South Burlington’s busy business district along the Dorset Street and Williston Road corridors. South Burlington officials once envisioned using gondolas as a potential solution but opted for the bridge plan instead. During the pandemic, architectural firm Freeman French Freeman sketched out how the project could take shape, routing the pedestrians to a crossing south of the current vehicle bridge. That was part of the firm’s “Imagine This: Designing a Better Vermont” series of conceptual designs. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure With Sustainability and Equity program. Of 765 applications, only 100 projects were selected for funding, according to a statement from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). “Part of the federal strategy to limit the worst impacts of climate change must be to invest in non-vehicular transportation infrastructure,” Leahy said in the statement. “Projects like this not only improve our transportation network but strengthen Vermont’s downtowns with environmentally sustainable projects.” The delegation’s letter of support for the grant proposal, submitted in July, noted that 28 percent of all jobs in Vermont are located within a fivemile radius of this I-89 interchange and that the project would “relieve pressure on more environmentally sensitive and rural areas.” m GG3v-lakechampchoc112421 1
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needs assessment commissioned by Downstreet Housing & Community Development. The trend is worrisome at a time when substance misuse and overdoses have soared, erasing years of progress in reducing the toll. A record 157 Vermonters died from opioid overdoses last year, mostly from fentanyl, and 129 died in the first eight months of 2021 alone. The Phoenix House closures are “tied to the bigger picture of how bleak everything is,” said Cameron Lauf, interim executive director of Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, Burlington’s peer-run recovery center. Sober houses, a virtually unregulated industry, have an increasingly mixed reputation in Vermont. Historically, operators have taken a near zero-tolerance attitude toward substance use, meaning residents who relapse with drugs or alcohol can be kicked out more quickly than through a standard eviction. Some clients swear by the congregate living arrangement and the accountability it demands. But to others, the philosophical framework seems outdated and even counterproductive. In 2019, the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences created a certification process to improve quality. But a big shake-up occurred this summer, when the Vermont Department of Corrections redirected much of its grant funding away from sober house providers such as Phoenix House and instead to programs that help provide individual apartments. Stable housing is crucial for people beginning the typically rocky road to recovery, which often involves relapse. In recovery residences, tolerance for one resident’s slipups can conflict with the obligation to maintain a drug-free environment for everyone else. People who leave the houses aren’t always better off. The DOC found that in fiscal year 2020, only 40 percent of people who exited DOC-funded transitional housing programs moved into permanent housing — far short of the DOC’s goal of 60 percent. “We couldn’t justify continuing to fund programs that were accomplishing the opposite of what we wanted them to accomplish,” DOC housing administrator Emily Higgins said. All five of Phoenix House’s locations in Vermont — in Barre, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro and Burlington — relied on the state for much of their funding. The Barre and Bellows Falls locations closed in June, immediately after the DOC stopped funding them. So did Northern Lights, a Howard Center-run residence
for women in Burlington where two residents died of overdoses one morning in January. Phoenix House’s Brattleboro and Burlington residences stayed open for several more months, largely because the Vermont Department of Health agreed to nearly double its financial support once the DOC stopped. “We have heard loud and clear from our recovery partners that recovery residences are a valued part of the continuum of care,” said Megan Mitchell, director of clinical services for the health department’s alcohol and drug abuse programs. The industry’s financial struggles in Vermont are not universal, and the state’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development is preparing to distribute $1.4 million in federal block grant cash to help support recovery residences in Barre, Bennington,
WE JUST COULDN’T LOSE MONEY IN IT ANY LONGER. P ET E M U M M A
Essex and Johnson, a spokesperson said. Some other providers have been opening recovery residences in previously underserved parts of the state. They tend to be smaller and have a different operating model than Phoenix House, which had round-the-clock staff support and provided access to clinical services. But the closure of the remaining three Phoenix House locations was not unforeseeable. In January, a Rhode Island judge granted the nonprofit’s request to appoint a “special master” with the powers of a receiver who could oversee its failing financial situation. Phoenix House New England told the court that it sought to dissolve “in a manner that is as minimally disruptive to its clients and stakeholders as possible,” the Providence Journal reported at the time. In an interview last week, president and CEO Pete Mumma told Seven Days that his organization, which reported $26.5 million in revenue in 2019, has been unable to balance increasing costs with flat funding from the states it relied on for financial support. Phoenix House New England had 250 employees across programs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, Mumma said. He was paid $245,000 in 2019, according to tax filings.
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She said she gave the residents a 90-day notice to vacate. A similar timeline wasn’t possible at Phoenix House, Mumma claimed. After the organization liquidated its other assets, it no longer had the revenue to support the Vermont homes. “We just couldn’t lose money in it any longer,” he said. The person who works closely with Phoenix House residents in Burlington described the wind-down as a “fucking disaster” in which the only option for residents may be emergency motels that are known to have occupants who
OLIVER PARININ
The Vermont homes in particular have been losing money for years, even before the DOC ended its contract, Mumma said. The Burlington program was behind roughly $18,000 on rent to the Burlington Housing Authority, which owns the historic building, according to interim BHA executive director Paul Dettman. Phoenix House has found organizations to take over its residential programs in the other states, Mumma said. The Howard Center has agreed to assume Phoenix House’s outpatient treatment services in Vermont, but Phoenix House
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has not been able to find a new operator for the recovery houses here. With such short notice, Phoenix House residents said they are in crisis. Almost no affordable apartments are available, and many of the remaining recovery homes don’t have openings. The new DOC-funded programs to help formerly incarcerated people access apartments are taking time to fully develop. “Realistically, the short-term solution would be to move into the emergency motels,” Dettman said, referring to a state program for the homeless that was set up during the pandemic. Not every recovery house closure has been so sudden. A 10-bed Oxford House location in Burlington’s South End is also closing on December 1. The building’s out-of-state owner, Janet Heineken, said she decided to sell after her property tax bill increased by $5,400 during the city’s recent reappraisal. Heineken said she fully supports the program, but she was “not in the positive” financially on the arrangement. The tax hike, she said, “was really the last straw.”
actively use drugs. Such an environment amounts to “a perfect setup for relapse.” That’s a scenario that Nathan Couture, who has lived in the Brattleboro men’s house for more than a year, is trying to avoid. He’s on furlough from prison and had a meeting scheduled this week with his probation officer to discuss housing options. He’s one of eight people on DOC supervision who still lives at one of the Phoenix House locations, the department said. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” he said by phone on Monday as he walked to a therapy appointment. “I don’t want to go to the overflow shelter.” In Burlington, Miner, the dishwasher and house resource coordinator, recently got some encouraging news. With some help from social workers, he said, he’s secured an apartment near downtown that will be available in mid-December. In the interim, Miner said, he will pay more than $600 a week to stay at a hotel. He thinks he can manage the transition. It’s his roommates he worries about. m
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WEEK IN REVIEW
FEED back «
BURLINGTON HISTORY LESSON
ridiculously untrue that is. Sure, the Boves are shysters, but, from my experience, it seems that they are simply operating within Vermont’s terribly lenient or nonexistent rental regulations and enforcement. Especially compared to D.C.’s, Vermont’s laws and practices are heartless toward tenants. The most egregious to me is that, outside of Burlington and Barre, landlords are allowed to ask for first and last months’ rent and a security deposit before occupancy, which is frequently prohibitively difficult for lower-income people; the practice is illegal in D.C., as well as in New York and New Hampshire. I’ve spoken with Vermont legislators about how unfair this is, and, while they often agree with me, I’m told that the Vermont Landlord Association lobbies hard against taking away “first, last and security,” claiming that landlords need to protect themselves. Come on! If a tenant trashes your place, which is so rare, that extra deposit won’t make a real difference for the landlord. But coming up with it represents a significant hardship for tenants. And, if necessary, landlords can find redress in court. The one time I took legal action against a tenant in Vermont, I found the courts fair and responsive.
[Re Last 7: “Council Won’t Halt ‘Heartless’ Eviction,” November 17]: I am so tired of the ignorance and offensive rhetoric of some of Burlington’s city councilors. They act as if they are the only people who have any concerns about housing or those who aren’t housed. I am tired of them ignoring all the efforts this town has put into creating housing and addressing the many and various needs of the homeless. As if no one in Burlington for the past 40-plus years has ever even thought about the topic. As if there haven’t been hundreds of affordable housing units built in the city of Burlington in the past several decades. As if hundreds, if not thousands, of homeless folks haven’t become housed in the last several decades in Burlington. As if no unhoused person or family ever became homeowners in Burlington. As if no one has ever thought about or supported the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). As if no one ever thought about or supported warming shelters. As if no one in Burlington ever cared about others. Maybe the councilors don’t know the historic efforts this town has made already. Maybe they should learn that before they condemn the community and the current actions regarding Sears Lane. And it wouldn’t hurt if Seven Days remembered history, too!
Johanna Polsenberg
Brooke Hadwen
P.7
STANNARD
SWEAT, THE DETAILS
I appreciated [“Sweat Equity,” November 10], about sauna culture. I grew up in north-central Massachusetts, where there has been a large Finnish American population for about 140 years. The first house I bought was an entry-level, circa1948 bungalow home that came with a stand-alone wood-fired sauna and adjacent homemade poured-cement plunging pool, as do many homes of that vintage in that part of New England. There are public steam baths still keeping up the tradition there for folks who don’t have a sauna at home. Gardner, Mass., has what used to be the West Street Steam Bath and is now the EZ Steam Club. There may still be others in Fitchburg and environs. Thanks for the tour of sauna culture in Vermont. You lit a nostalgic fire to nudge me to install our own! Seth Hopkins
BRANDON
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BURLINGTON
HOT TOPIC
[Re “Shorter Winters, Hotter Summers,” November 10]: Seven Days’ coverage of the 2021 Vermont Climate Assessment was well timed and appropriately alarming, as the United Nations Climate Change Conference wound down with the expected chorus of apocalyptic warnings of climate disaster. Those who remain unfazed by grim accounts of current and potential future impacts on the planet and humanity should at least note the impact on their wallets. This year alone, 18 weather disasters in the U.S. have cost roughly $1 billion each — shared by all Americans, including Vermonters. Of course, Vermont must do its part to reduce its rising greenhouse gas emissions. This is an all-hands-on-deck crisis. But we must be honest with ourselves. Without bold federal action, the needle will continue to move further into the red. Despite the drone of partisan acrimony in Washington, D.C., there is some good news. The Senate Finance Committee is considering a carbon tax on polluters, with
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
“rebates for low-income taxpayers and a border-adjustment tax aimed at ensuring foreign companies don’t get an advantage.” This approach would work faster than any combination of programs to cut emissions and has bipartisan appeal. It’s also the single best tool to ensure that President Joe Biden meets his goal of reducing U.S. carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030. If you are concerned about climate change for whatever reason, please take a minute to tell Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, Rep. Peter Welch, and President Biden that it’s time our government takes decisive action by making polluters pay with a carbon fee. Beth Zigmund
SOUTH BURLINGTON
FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT
I want to thank Seven Days for the excellent reporting and article on the topic of rental housing code enforcement in Burlington and across the state [“Roaches and Broken Locks,” November 3]. When I first got into the rental housing business, I started listening to the testimony from tenants advocating for a “just cause” eviction law and realized that their need was actually for better code enforcement of existing laws, not the creation of a new law that will only fall short on enforcement, as well. So I started calling around on behalf of the tenants who had testified and was deadended in the same ways described in your article. Even when a problem is reported, there doesn’t seem to be much being done to ensure that it’s fixed. And that’s the problem. Where are the resources to support enforcement? Where are the resources to support the perpetual need for rental housing improvements and maintenance? And also, how do we better equip tenants to properly care for the homes they rent so that problems can be prevented? Julie Marks
JERICHO
LIVING WITH POLLUTION?
There are many reasons why housing on Burlington’s Barge Canal is a bad idea [“Russ Scully Wants to Rezone Part of Burlington’s South End for Housing,” November 10]. The most obvious: the impact on the people who would live there. Toxins in the soil of the private parcels include coal tar, PAHs and benzene, all potentially deadly to humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has long put “institutional controls” on the land development: no residences, no childcare centers. The feds have not changed that restriction in decades. Why would it be safe for humans to live there now?
The other impacts would be on the land and on Lake Champlain. For years, the canal and surrounding land have been slowly but steadily regenerating. The wetland is inhabited by numerous species of animals and has been recolonized by trees and understory plants. The plants and their associated microbial and fungal life serve to stabilize the soil and gradually transform toxins. Why not let nature continue her remediation of this land? Andrew Simon
BURLINGTON
‘THE CONSCIENCE’ OF THE SENATE
I am writing to commend and thank Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy for his exceptional and distinguished leadership in the U.S. Senate [Off Message: “Leahy Won’t Seek Reelection Next Year,” November 15]. We thank him for his work on the Judiciary, Appropriations and Agriculture committees, where he advanced myriad issues for farmers, protected the environment, improved nutrition for schoolchildren, expanded voting rights and worked on many other issues affecting our families’ daily lives; and for his leadership during the impeachment hearings and presiding over the trial. I thank Sen. Leahy for initiating projects in Vietnam to clean up sites at Bien Hoa and Da Nang of the dioxin Agent Orange, starting programs to help Vietnamese severely injured from the war and programs to remove land mines and unexploded bombs. He called the spraying of Agent Orange “a colossal mistake.” I honor him, too, for his vote to stop the war. Our family prayed for the tragic war to stop. My parents were deprived of seeing family for decades because of the war. My uncle, Dr. Pham Vàn Can, top graduate of the University of Saigon Dental School, never got to practice dentistry, as he was drafted into the army. He was killed by a bomb detonation in a restaurant. His young bride was severely injured; their young son, orphaned. Sen. Leahy stated, “For me, there can be no excusing the folly of that war, nor diminishing of the immense destruction and suffering that it caused.” Sen. Leahy, I stand with Vermonters and millions of Americans in thanking you and expressing our deepest gratitude for your extraordinary leadership and distinguished statesmanship and for being the conscience of the Senate. Anh Lê
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
2 0 21 T A L E N T S H O W F O R
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OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS
SEPTEMBER 18, 1937-NOVEMBER 11, 2021 ST. ALBANS, VT. Margot Hobbs (née Margot Elisabeth Renata Serowy), a painter who lived for the past 40 years in northern Vermont, died on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at age 84. The cause of death was unspecified. A resident of St. Albans, Cambridge, Essex Junction and Burlington through the years, Margot was well known among the local artist community. Margot was born on September 18, 1937, in East Prussia, a daughter of Gertrude and Ernst Serowy. She met with great misfortune at the close of World War II, when, at age 7, she and her family were forced to flee their hometown of Angerburg as the Russian army invaded East Prussia. Margot, her mother and her younger brother lived for more than two years as displaced refugees, traveling hundreds of miles by horse-drawn wagon while bearing witness to the horrors and humiliations of being caught between Nazi and Russian fire. Through a series of seemingly miraculous events, the family eventually made their way through the Iron Curtain into West Germany, where the family was reunited and life gradually improved. Margot was a star athlete as a teenager and reported winning national competitions in track and field. A strikingly beautiful young woman, she married at age 18, and she and her husband Otto emigrated to the U.S. in 1958, initially settling (as many Germans did) in the Bronx, N.Y. As a couple, they worked as building superintendents while Otto completed occupational and academic schooling. Margot, with her adventurous and bohemian spirit, was undaunted by boiler room and trash bin responsibilities, wearing pearls while fending off cockroaches. A close friend suspected that Margot had artistic talent and gave her a set of paints and brushes, igniting a lifelong spark. Margot passionately threw herself into painting, studying for years under several New York artists including the expressionist Maxim Bugzester (a student of Braque), and shortly thereafter
Kathleen “Kathi” Coane
MONTPELIER, VT. Kathleen “Kathi” Coane, 82, of Montpelier, Vt., the wife of Daniel “Danny” Coane, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at the
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Byron E. Trepanier
JANUARY 7, 1984OCTOBER 8, 2021 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.
OBITUARIES Margot Hobbs
OBITUARIES
began to exhibit her work, with her first show at Panoras Gallery on West 56th Street. Margot continued painting and exhibiting throughout her years as a mother and homemaker. The family eventually made their way to Vermont, where Margot became involved with many organizations, including the Bryan Memorial Gallery, the Chaffee Art Center and the Vermont Studio Organization. Her work continued to be featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout northern Vermont and New York City. Margot worked in an expressionist style, with oil, watercolor and woodcut as her preferred media. Her subjects range from striking and colorful Vermont landscapes to dark depictions of the ancient Greek story of Medea and Goethe’s Faust. But Margot is most well known for a collection of about 10 large canvases and woodcuts telling her story of a child refugee’s experience of war. “Refugees” is a graphic, disturbing series — scenes from hell on Earth from a 7-year-old’s perspective. “Faces no longer truly human, numbed, twisted, lost, grab the viewer’s eyes and, far more than a photo, make you see what war does to people caught in the middle. Who are they? Women, children, and the elderly — not soldiers. They are uprooted, pushed along in the wave of battle and move without plan or thought.” (Robert C. Philbrick, Jeffersonville, Vt.) Margot’s direct and personal manner of speaking about her life experiences helped her make friends everywhere she went. Margot had a deep interior life, practiced meditation, and adored the music of Schubert, Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash. Margot is survived by two daughters, Rochel and Verena; her son, Aaron; her brother Jürgen Serowy; her beloved grandchildren, Moses and Sid; and her cat, Govinda. A memorial service will be announced at the discretion of the family. Contributions in Margot’s memory may be made to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Online condolences may be shared by visiting awrichfuneralhomes.com//book-ofmemories/4784865/hobbs-margot/index.php.
Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin after a long illness since January. There are no services scheduled, but a celebration of her life will be conducted in the future. A complete obituary will be in a later edition of Seven Days. Kingston Funeral Home in Northfield is assisting the family.
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The family of Byron Elliott Trepanier, who was just 37 years old, must sadly announce that Byron left this life on October 8, 2021. He was born in Rutland, Vt., on January 7, 1984. He was a cheerful baby and grew up a typical boy: carefree, fearless and full of life. As early as 5 years old, he played town sports, including baseball and soccer. His love of sports sustained him all his life, and he and his brother, Bobby, were experts on the subject. Byron graduated in 2003 from Monadnock High School in Swanzey, N.H., where he played football and basketball. He was most recently employed at the Spot restaurant in Burlington’s South End, where he was loved for his hard work and comradeship. Byron had an easygoing nature, and he was very sweet, always friendly and a joy to all. Byron’s father, Joseph Trepanier, of West Rutland, passed away in 1992. Byron’s late grandmother, Betty Trepanier Kapitan, née Fish, grew up in Hydeville. Byron was named for Betty’s father and brother. He is survived by his devoted mother, Jane Miller-Trepanier, of West Rutland, always there for him; his wonderful older
brother, Eli, and sister-inlaw, Stephanie, of Benson, Vt.; and younger brother, Bob, who loved and looked up to his older brother. Byron especially had a mutual love with his only nephews, Tayis L’ecuyer and Elijah Sky Trepanier. Also surviving Byron are his aunts and uncles, the Gilmans of West Rutland, his uncle Ed and aunt Robin; and his cousins Courtney and Nick Loomis and Hillary Gilman. He is also survived by the patriarch and mentor of the family, uncle Gary Miller-Wade and his wife, Susan, who loved Byron so very much. The entire family loved him beyond measure. All the younger kids naturally looked to Byron for fun and attention, and he was always willing. Byron changed lives with his smile. He will be truly missed by his lifelong best friend, housemate and traveling buddy, Luke Furneaux, with whom he went on many adventures. Every year, Byron’s extended family and so many
friends head to Moose Point on Lake Bomoseen. No one misses this event, all loving the outdoor cooking, swimming, boat trips with Eli at the helm, warm friendships and family love. Byron was there every summer of his life, adding his terrific personality to the making of memories. Meet dear Floyd, Byron’s happy doggy companion. Byron’s humor led him to create “A Boy and His Dog,” a photo album on Facebook. People came to look forward to the next installment of their adventures together. The McCormack/ Furneaux family, of Clarendon, was Byron’s very close other family for all his life. Byron loved them all — Mom, Andrea, and siblings Luke, Audrey, Isabel and Ted — like his own. There are no services planned at this time, but the family will host a celebration of life for our “Sunshine Child” in the spring/summer. The details will be published then. Byron left us with so many memories and stories, and the telling has proven to be a saving grace. The family hopes that everyone who is grieving will share the events of Byron’s life, as laughter and fond memories are such good things for all. The family would like to encourage all who knew and loved Byron to hold your loved ones close and, additionally, to love the human community, as Byron did.
In loving memory of
Alexa Rose Cioffi
11/21/1985 - 04/09/2016
You are always and forever in our hearts www.allourhearts.com/ alexa-rose-cioffi/
Want to memorialize a loved one? We’re here to help. Our obituary and in memoriam services are affordable, accessible and handled with personal care. Share your loved one’s story with the local community in Lifelines.
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ermont may be famous for two of its sweetest products — maple syrup and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream — but Vermonters can also be quite salty. In the state archives, no document is likely to be more infused with sex, drugs, violence, racism and vulgarity than the Department of Motor Vehicles’ master list of rejected vanity plates. A compendium of more than 24,000 alphanumeric combinations dating back decades, the DMV’s do-not-issue list is hilarious, disturbing and bewildering. Why would anyone want a license plate that reads FEL0N, HITNRUN, IH8PIGS, IM2HI, M0LESTR or DRUNK? The do-not-issue list is also a testament to the keen eyes of the DMV employees charged with spotting offensive words and phrases, some of which are recognizable only when read backwards, upside down or in another language. As DMV Deputy Commissioner Michael Smith explained by email, personalized plate applications are reviewed manually, not by computer software. “In the 1990s I ran the telephone information unit, and all vanity plates were processed there,” Smith wrote. “At that time, we had a three-inch stack of continuous-run paper — the old green stuff — that listed all the do-not-issue plates.” Later, the DMV converted to a searchable database that allows staff to look up potentially problematic tags, then edit entries as necessary. “There are clearly some combinations that are on that list that are easily identifiable and clearly inappropriate,” Smith wrote. “However, there are also a lot that are very creative.” Indeed, evaluating the applications requires both guesswork and a dirty mind. FRMASS could be for the car of a priest — or someone with strong glutes. The DMV assumed the latter and denied the request. Though the do-not-issue list is organized alphabetically, rejected plates fall into one or more of the following categories: sexual, profane, insulting, racist, misleading, in poor taste, referring to alcohol or drugs, or violent. In some cases, the DMV explains in a separate column why the plate was rejected. For illustration, we’ve compiled a few examples in each category, with the DMV’s explanations in parentheses when appropriate.
Among the most commonly denied requests are those with NC-17 content. They range from the obvious — COCK, DYKE, GAY, LICK, PUSSY, SEX — to the clever: 4NEK8R, ALPHAQ2, MYVBTR and 0NALL4S. Some are cryptic acronyms, including TMFWIC (“the motherfucking world is crazy”), LAGNAF (“let’s all get naked and fuck”) and GTF0MT (“get the fuck off my truck”). Requests for the number 69 get deepsixed if they’re not requested for a 1969 model vehicle. They included LXIX (69 in Roman numerals) and LXIXER (50 + 10 + 9 = 69er). Some applicants tried to fly under the radar using their pets as cover. DOGSTYL, D0GNHET and RAWDOG all got put down. CATHSE and DCATSAS were also scratched. Many seemingly benign words got rejected as sexual, including GRUNT, MEAT, NUD1ST, UNCUT, FMLYJUL and WEPUCK. P1MPLE likely got popped because the DMV won’t issue tags that contain PIMP. Racial terms, derogatory or not, automatically get booted, including 02BNAZ1, ARYAN, H0NKY, any version of the N-word, W0GG (a derogatory term for a Welshman) and variants of KKK. Neither ARAB nor JEW was considered kosher. Non-English vulgarities also pinged
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the DMV’s radar, including MERDE (French for “shit”), CABR0N (Spanish for “bastard”), PUTZ and SCHMUK (Yiddish for “penis”) and ITSHAY (pig latin for “shit”). Even tame non-English words can get caught in the DMV’s dragnet. They included PISHER, Yiddish for a young, presumptuous person; PYRRHA, a Greek town on the island of Lesbos; and PUCHKE, a Hindi and Bengali name that, according to the DMV note, is also “a term for genitalia.” The DMV doesn’t allow any drug references, legal or illicit. WEED, COKE, HEROIN, M0RFEEN, OP1UM, XTC and LSD were denied, as were their resultant states: BUZZED, FRIED, STONED, WASTED and HLUCN8N. Allusions to the sale and consumption of drugs are also verboten, including 2GRAMS, KILOS, BONG and DOOBIE. Despite Vermont’s repeal of cannabis prohibition, HEMP and LEGALHI still aren’t street legal for the DMV, nor are prescription drugs PROZAC, VIAGRA and XANAX. Even deep-in-the-weeds drug references such as PSNFR0G (“poison frog”) and 1S0TEB (“in search of the eternal buzz”) got snuffed out. References to alcohol fare no better. The DMV cuts people off for applications
that allude to beer, wine or spirits, from BOURBON and BUDWISR to ZIMA and ZINFNDL. FIREH2O, 12MANY and HANG0VR also got heaved, as did REDRUM, despite its more likely reference to Stephen King’s The Shining. Speaking of words spelled backward, the DMV caught 0ITALEF, EMKCUF and U0YKCUF, as well as 773411 (“Upside down reads II HELL,” the DMV noted). Requests that encourage or condone violence got axed, including 187AC0P (slang for homicide), DIESCUM, EETLEAD, GUN4HIR, KILLHER, MAFIA, P0STAL and VYLENT. Some plates were rejected as “misleading,” including 1STLADY, COPCAR, FBI, CIA and GOV. Also considered misleading was GOD, although G0DG0D, HEYG0D, G0DIS1 and V00D00 were approved. But WARG0D was deemed too violent, and SATAN and G0DSDED were judged “in poor taste.” Neither 0HL0RD nor 1AMGOD got an amen. Applicants have the right to challenge rejections, Smith explained. The entry for P00TZ, which was deemed in poor taste, includes the following explanation: “Fart — ruled against by hearing officer.” Evidently, the applicant felt strongly enough about flatulence to appeal the denial.
Other applicants put up a legal fight. In April 2004, Vermonter Shawn Byrne applied for JN36TN, a reference to the Bible verse John 3:16. The DMV denied his request on the grounds that it violated Vermont’s ban on plates that refer to deities or religions. According to court documents, that rule aims to “avoid
District Court and lost. But in October 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals, in Byrne v. Rutledge, reversed the lower court’s decision and ruled in Byrne’s favor. In its decision, the court wrote that “Vermont’s ban on all religious messages in a forum it has otherwise broadly opened to a wide variety of subjects,
WHILE SOME PEOPLE WOULD READ QU1MBY AS A NOD TO THE FICTIONAL MAYOR ON TV’S “THE SIMPSONS,” THE DMV NOTED THAT IT ALSO MEANS
“THE MIDDLE PARTY IN A GAY THREESOME.”
disruption and distraction of drivers through controversial plates,” as well as “the perception that the government favors certain ideas.” Byrne challenged the decision in U.S.
including personal philosophy, affiliation and belief, serves not to restrict but instead to discriminate … and, as such, is impermissible.” To be clear, state statute does
indeed allow Vermonters to express their personal philosophies, tastes and affiliations. NRA, LUVGUNS and G0P have all appeared on Vermont plates, as have CH0ICE, DM0CRAT, LEFTIST, LESSOIL and TREHUGR. However, some social or political commentary got nixed as offensive or insulting, including 0JDIDIT, FTHEG0P, MYW0MB, N0NUKE and TAXSSUK. Even RU486 and SAFESEX weren’t protected from state censors. Some of the DMV’s explanations for denying an offensive plate acknowledge that the word or phrase also has an inoffensive meaning. BUGERED, a British vulgarity for anal sex and sodomy, was explained as “damned confounding,” and BIGWAD was interpreted as “a mass or lump of something.” While some people would read QU1MBY as a nod to the fictional mayor on TV’s “The Simpsons,” the DMV noted that it also means “the middle party in a gay threesome.”
Other requests fell victim to apparent misinterpretation. The DMV rejected GOYIM (Hebrew and Yiddish for “gentiles”) as “offensive to the Jews.” BTTRFLY was denied for being urban slang for genitalia, and DIVRDWN, a common scuba diving expression, was interpreted as sexual. Similarly, BLKLAB, BLKMAGC and BLKBUTY were rejected as “racial.” YT was initially issued but, according to its DMV note, was later “removed from the street.” Finally, in case you’re wondering, the DMV denied ASSMAN and ASSMANN. The accompanying notes read, “Seinfeld reference.” Gotta love Vermont’s civil servants. m
INFO You can’t get WTF on a Vermont license plate — we checked — but you can get your WTF question answered by Seven Days. Ask us! wtf@sevendaysvt.com
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PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY
Market to Farm A new food waste disposal method raises fears that microplastics will taint fields B Y K EVI N M C C ALLUM A metal spoon removed from a Green Mountain Compost pile
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undreds of pints of spoiled Ben & Jerry’s ice cream awaited their fate in a Williston warehouse this month. Unfit for sale, the sweet rejects from the company’s factories would be scooped up by a worker driving a payloader and tipped with a crash into a filthy metal hopper. Augers would funnel the mess to a monstrous red machine with powerful spinning paddles that would pummel the pints, breaking down the cardboard and plastic packaging and separating most of it from the sugary slop. Welcome to Vermont’s first waste depackaging facility, where Americone Dreams go to die. Casella Waste Systems fired up the $3 million waste-processing plant in January and, with it, a controversy about the new type of food waste it generates. The facility is designed to tackle the problem of what to do with food waste that is banned from Vermont’s only landfill, in Coventry, but still encased in boxes, plastic bottles and plastic bags. The new machinery can process thousands of tons a year of food that is thrown away by manufacturers and grocery stores while still in its plastic, metal or paper packaging. Manufacturers such as Ben & Jerry’s often need to discard batches of food and beverages that don’t meet their strict quality-control standards or are past their shelf life. The Williston facility also handles food waste from homes, 28
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream pints awaiting depackaging
restaurants, apartment complexes and institutions. While the process separates out most contaminants, it does not capture them all. That melted Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and other food slop will still contain tiny bits of plastic when it leaves Casella’s separator and is shipped to biogas plants. There, when mixed with other food or farm waste, it will decompose in huge digesters, generating methane that is turned into energy. Some of the plastic — the crucial question is how much — will still be present when the depleted material is spread on Vermont farm fields.
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The state’s nearly decade-long drive to steer all organic material — whether leaves raked off lawns, vegetables scraped off dinner plates or stale bread tossed from supermarket shelves — out of the landfill and into animal feed, healthy soil and green energy has made Vermont a leader in food waste recovery. But the solution to one problem — wasting valuable landfill space with food that simply rots — has unintentionally caused another, say critics of the new process. So far this year, more than 500 tons of material from digesters that accept this depackaged waste have likely been applied
to farmland in Vermont, according to data from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. “It’s foolish to think that we can lace our precious agricultural lands with countless bits of indestructible microplastic and not suffer the health and environmental consequences,” said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. The impact of plastic in soils is not well understood, but studies show that it can affect soil health, reduce plant vigor, and, if the particles are small enough, be absorbed by plants and end up in food for animals and people. So far, all that tonnage has gone to just three farms. But state regulators are concerned enough that they’ve instituted what amounts to a moratorium on more farms spreading the waste on fields until they learn more about what’s in it. Supporters say the Casella depackaging plant is a vital tool in the campaign to recycle more food waste and conserve landfill space. A 2018 study of Vermont’s waste stream estimated that 24 percent of all landfilled waste, or 80,000 tons a year, was organic material that could be put to better use. Of that, 38 percent was discarded still in its packaging. Surrounding states are adding depackaging capacity, supporters note. Without similar equipment, Vermont’s food and beverage businesses may be forced to haul its packaged waste out of state. Hannaford,
for example, trucks expired food from its 15 Vermont supermarkets to a depackaging and biogas power plant outside Bangor, Maine, a six-hour drive from Burlington. Depackaging food waste can also help extend the life of the Coventry landfill, boost green-energy production and provide farmers with an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. In April, Cathy Jamieson, manager of the state’s solid waste program, told lawmakers the plain truth: “We need to deal with food waste in packaging if we want to divert these materials.”
GUESSING GAME
When Casella started to search for a depackaging machine several years ago, the company sought the best technology on the market, according to the Williston facility’s general manager, Mike Casella. The firm certainly has the resources to get the best. Started by two brothers in Rutland, Casella is now a publicly traded company that operates massive waste operations from Maine to Pennsylvania. It dominates waste hauling in Vermont and owns the landfill in Coventry. Casella ultimately chose the Thor Turbo Separator, which manufacturer Scott Equipment touts as capable of processing 40 tons of organic material per hour and rendering it “99 percent clean.” “There will always be pieces of plastic, glass, or metal that scoots through our screens,” the company says on its website. “All we can share is that our system is good at keeping it to a bare minimum.” But 10 months into the new operation, Mike Casella acknowledged that the amount of nonorganic material departing the depackaging operation is little more than guesswork. “It’s definitely less than 5 percent,” he said. He later amended that to 1 percent and then “less than half a percent, or even less.” “To be honest, we don’t know,” he said finally. The more the company can learn about what contaminants get through the process, he said, the more work it can do with customers to keep them out of the food waste. One reason for the uncertainty is the great variability in the material being run through the Thor, so named to highlight the power of its spinning hammers. Discarded cans of beer from local brewers such as Frost Beer Works, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery and Fiddlehead Brewing pose virtually no risk of contamination. Workers presort the material to remove and recycle any plastic carriers and cardboard packaging, leaving just the aluminum cans to be smashed open. The cans themselves are compacted into bales and recycled.
From left: Mike Casella, Steven Collier and Anson Tebbetts examining food slurry
A bunker full of food scraps — and trash
It’s foolish to think that we can lace our precious agricultural lands with countless bits of indestructible microplastic and not suffer the health and environmental consequences. PAUL BUR NS
Other items aren’t quite so simple. In the case of single-serve coffee K-Cups, the Thor’s smashing action must separate the coffee grounds from the cardboard boxes they come in, the white plastic container cups, small plastic internal filters and foil tops. Most problematic are the tons of food scraps from green bins picked up from restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels, apartment buildings and homes. On a recent visit to the Williston facility, Mike
Casella waded into a concrete bunker full of stinking waste on its way to the Thor to find it polluted with non-compostable drink cups, straws, plastic bags and ketchup packets. He tugged on a bit of fabric and pulled out a slimy shirt. The volume of these postconsumer food scraps — and the non-compostable waste in the mix — has increased dramatically since last year. That’s because on July 1, 2020, the state law that bans food waste from being discarded as trash took full effect.
The largest compost operation in the state, the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Green Mountain Compost, is having such difficulty keeping its compost clean that it is instituting new rules on January 1. Compostable foodware such as plates and utensils will no longer be accepted, because sorting out what is actually compostable and what is plastic has become too laborintensive, CSWD officials say. Casella previously hauled most of its organic material to Green Mountain Compost, but those shipments have dropped off sharply since the depackaging facility came online. The 373 tons or so of food scraps per month that Casella was taking to CSWD started falling in January, decreased steadily to 47 tons by June and eventually flatlined to zero, according to CSWD data. Now Casella is running those food scraps through the Thor’s screens to sift out contaminants, mixing them into a slurry and sending it off to boost energy production. Tanker trucks haul the nutrient-rich goop to digesters, where microorganisms break it down in oxygen-free environments, releasing methane that’s burned for heat or to generate electricity. Vermont farms have been using digesters to make power from cow manure for several decades, and the practice is growing. It’s the depleted food waste that emerges from digesters that is the cause of current concern. PurposeEnergy of Windham, N.H., helped build the nation’s first brewery waste-to-electricity plant at the former Magic Hat Brewing in South Burlington in 2010. The company now uses it to blend the depackaged food from Casella with watery waste from multiple brewers, distillers and food manufacturers. PurposeEnergy has three more digesters in development in Vermont. Earlier this year, Vanguard Renewables of Wellesley, Mass., opened the largest digester in New England at the Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury. Much of the gas produced is sold to Middlebury College to reduce its fossil-fuel use. About 80 percent of the food slurry generated at Casella’s depackaging plant is delivered to digesters in South Burlington and Salisbury, Casella said. It’s also been trucked to a third digester at Gebbie’s Maplehurst Farm in Greensboro.
TINY SHARDS
The University of Vermont is studying Casella’s process to determine exactly what contaminants aren’t filtered from the organic waste and their potential impact on the environment. Casella and UVM’s Gund Institute for Environment MARKET TO FARM
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Market to Farm « P.29 contributed a combined $260,000 toward the research. Under the direction of Eric Roy, interim director of the college’s environmental sciences program, two graduate students are tackling the issue from different angles. Sarah Hobson, who is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental science, is reviewing the published literature on depackaged food waste, composting and plastics contamination to understand the impact of plastic in food waste. Kate Porterfield is a doctoral candidate in the engineering and math department who is studying biogas production rates. She’s also looking at microplastics contamination. “Microplastics” generally refers to tiny fragments of plastic, five millimeters or smaller. To discover how much biogas different types of food waste produce, Porterfield takes samples from the depackaging equipment, runs them through a minidigester in the UVM lab and analyzes the gas produced. She then uses a biological process to break down the waste further to help her more easily find, count and categorize the tiny bits of plastic left behind. On the counter in her lab at UVM, Porterfield showed off dozens of tiny glass vials, each containing bits of what she presumes to be plastic, labeled by their size and the dates they were collected. Additional tests are needed to confirm that the shards are, in fact, plastic, but to the untrained eye the samples look unnatural. One bore a distinct pattern of tiny green dots in neat rows on a yellow background, leaving no doubt that the material was man-made — likely a plastic film used in food packaging. Preliminary results indicate that the amount of microplastics in the Casella waste is comparable to what’s been found during studies of compost and food waste conducted elsewhere, Roy said. Researchers typically count the number of microplastic particles per kilogram. Existing studies vary widely, and most have found between 20 and 2,800 particles per kilogram, Roy said. Additional testing on a wider variety of samples from Casella is still needed. “We have more work to do to put this information into a better context,” Roy said. He expects to publish the team’s work in early 2022. Quantifying the amount of plastic headed to farm fields is one thing; understanding what risks, if any, it poses to human health and the environment is very different, Roy said. Some studies indicate that microplastics may damage soil and plant health, Roy said during a recent webinar describing the research. They may inhibit plant and root growth and cause lower germination rates 30
Kate Porterfield hunting for microplastics in food waste at UVM
We do need some more basic understanding of what’s out there already and how microplastics may be problematic. E R IC R OY
in seeds. Some suggest that microplastics could lower soil’s capacity to hold water. But other studies indicate that microplastics may improve soil aeration and drainage, he said. Plastic makes its way into agricultural soils from various sources: as mulch used to deter weed growth, irrigation systems, farm equipment and even litter, Roy said. That may make it challenging for researchers to pinpoint the sources of microplastics already in the landscape, let alone comprehend the impact of new ones. “We do need some more basic understanding of what’s out there already and how microplastics may be problematic,” Roy said. Deb Neher, a professor in the UVM Department of Plant and Soil Science, told Seven Days that a growing a body of data suggests that microplastics in soil are an increasing problem. She expects that UVM’s research will provide important data and insight into how big a problem the issue is in Vermont.
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Because plastics don’t break down easily, they accumulate in the soil and the organisms that live there. Just like aquatic creatures are harmed when they mistake microplastics for food, creatures such as earthworms ingest them and effectively starve because they’re eating material with no nutritional value, she said, noting: “The empirical evidence is mounting of detrimental impacts of microplastics to soil food webs.”
URGING CAUTION
The depackaging process “has the capacity, if not well implemented, to cause immense harm,” Sen. Chris Bray (D-Addison), chair of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, told Seven Days. Lawmakers are considering whether additional regulation is necessary. The state failed to protect residents for years from the health threats posed by perand polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, Bray said, and Vermonters deserve better.
UVM researchers Kate Porterfield (left) and Sarah Hobson
The so-called “forever chemicals” contaminated the groundwater at the Vermont Air National Guard base, as well as hundreds of private wells near a former Teflon coating plant in the Bennington area. “Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot again,” Bray said. “Let’s not poison ourselves and then be stuck dealing with the damage.” That message appears to be getting through to regulators. Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets officials have informed Casella that it can continue current operations, but the agency will not approve spreading food waste on additional farms until the issue has been further studied. Cary Giguere, director of public health and resource management for the agriculture agency, said the pause was needed to give the state time to better understand
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The Thor Turbo Separator at Casella 6h-jobfiller-career2021.indd 1
A screening machine at Green Mountain Compost
what is effectively a new, unregulated waste stream. “This is one of the unintended consequences of the Universal Recycling Law that warrants further examination,” Giguere said, referring to the 2012 legislation that phased out dumping food waste in landfills over several years. If tiny bits of plastic are seeding farmers’ fields and running off into surrounding waterways, the public is likely to blame farmers, Giguere said. As a result, the agency has informed farmers who have been accepting Casella’s material that more study is needed. “This falls along the lines of: What we don’t know is of more concern at this point than what we do know,” Giguere said. Officials from the Department of Environmental Conservation and Agency of Agriculture are developing a sampling program to help determine the extent of the problem.
If the state opts to undertake an extensive soil testing program, it may look for more than microplastics, DEC Commissioner Peter Walke said. Heavy metals and PFAS, which have been linked to the land application of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, may also merit a closer look. “If we’re going to do the work, it probably behooves us to take as broad a look as we can,” Walke said. Before touring the depackaging plant, Walke said, he had assumed that the machinery was “shredding” the pints. But he learned that the hammering process causes the same result as, say, what happens when an ice cream tub is dropped and spills its contents. “If I scooped that up, I would not have any problem putting that down the drain or in my compost,” he said. Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts also toured the depackaging plant earlier this month and came away sounding impressed. “It’s amazing technology, what is occurring here,” he said. “We have this tremendous amount of waste, and we can somehow convert it into something that could be useful, as opposed to throwing it into a landfill.” He pointed to a ketchup packet caught in the Thor’s screens as evidence that waste is captured, but he acknowledged that proved little when it comes to microplastics. “I think people are trying to figure out how much of it is making its way into the slurry,” Tebbetts said. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out. Is it 1 percent? Two percent? Ten percent?” He echoed Mike Casella: “I don’t know.”
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“It is a very unfortunate situation,” he wrote in an email. He did not elaborate. But in an email to DiPietro, he wrote that the amount of potential contamination was minuscule, given how light the packaging was compared to the food waste and the screens designed to remove it. He estimated that, even if packaging evaded all screens, it might represent 0.001 percent contamination. “Researchers at UVM are studying these materials, and it may be prudent to wait for their results so that accurate information can be shared with the farming community,” he wrote.
Dan Goossen of Green Mountain Compost
FARMERS FRET
LUKE AWTRY
The agriculture agency’s decision to put farmers on notice has some of them worried. Laura DiPietro, the agency’s deputy director of agricultural resource management, said she called the three farmers involved to provide them with information. Farmers have taken clean bulk food waste from manufacturers for years, but ag officials wanted to make certain they understood that the depackaged material is different, DiPietro said. Peter Gebbie in Greensboro started receiving shipments of waste from the depackaging operation over the summer. It went into a digester and was mixed with manure from his 250 beef cattle; the food waste, particularly when nutrient rich, increased the production of gas. That, in turn, generated electricity that he sold to utilities. The spent material flowed to his manure pit and was spread on his fields. The news that he might have inadvertently distributed plastics on his land was troubling, he said. “I wouldn’t want that any more than most people would,” Gebbie said.
If Casella can show that it can keep plastic out of the waste, Gebbie said, he’d probably take the material again, although he might not get the chance. A fire destroyed his digester in September, and he doesn’t know whether he’ll be able to rebuild. St. Albans dairy farmer Jeff Boissoneault also accepted some of Casella’s organic waste: 86 tons of leftovers from
the digester that PurposeEnergy built for Magic Hat. He is waiting for additional information before deciding whether to take more material, said his son Cody. Eric Fitch, founder and CEO of PurposeEnergy, said the information that the agriculture agency gave Boissoneault was “inaccurate and completely unrelated to our process or the materials we receive.”
ALL IN ON BIOGAS
Vanguard Renewables, the developer of the huge digester in Salisbury that is fueling Middlebury College, has made a big bet on biogas not only in Vermont but also around the nation. It has six facilities in operation, five in Massachusetts and one in Vermont, and 10 others in development, Ray Duer, vice president of sales, said in a recent webinar. Biogas is crucial to addressing climate change, he said, and Vanguard’s “aggressive” growth strategy envisions
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installing 60 digesters across the country in four years. While few farms have spread material from Casella’s depackaging facility so far, industrial depackaging is in its infancy. More and more food manufacturers are committing to zero-waste goals, Mike Casella said. The Williston facility could handle much more material than it currently does, he added. In April, Vanguard’s founder, John Hanselman, told lawmakers that Vermont should eventually have multiple depackaging operations. CSWD leaders considered partnering with Vanguard on a depackaging operation of its own, but Casella beat the waste district to the punch. Asked about microplastic contamination, Hanselman offered general reassurances to lawmakers that plastics were screened out before being spread on Goodrich Family Farm’s fields, which are located along Otter Creek. “I was less than satisfied with that response,” Rep. Kari Dolan (D-Waitsfield) told Seven Days. Dolan said the issue is similar to the environmental risk once posed by microbeads, tiny plastic particles used as abrasives in skin care products, soaps
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Let’s not poison ourselves and then be stuck dealing with the damage. S E N. C H R IS BR AY
and toothpastes. When flushed down the drain, the beads are so small that they pass through wastewater treatment system filters and into waterways, where they can accumulate in aquatic organisms. Vermont began the process of barring microbeads in 2015, before the federal government passed a national ban. Just as they do in oceans, plastics break down in soil into smaller and smaller pieces. That’s why having additional details about the type of waste screening being used is so important, Dolan said. Hanselman declined to be interviewed by Seven Days but offered a written statement.
“We recognize that plastic contamination is endemic in all forms of food recycling and utilization, whether composting or animal feed,” he wrote. “We have gone to extra lengths at our anaerobic digester facilities by adding a secondary screening process to remove as much of the residual plastic as possible prior to any land application.” UVM’s Roy said researchers have not yet been able to test the spent material going onto the Goodrich farmland. The danger of microplastic contamination is one that composters and others envisioned when the Universal Recycling Law was written, said Tom Gilbert, co-owner of Black Dirt Farm, a compost operation in Stannard. For that reason, the law contained unambiguous requirements that organic material be separated from contaminants such as plastic “at the point of generation,” which Gilbert has argued is the supermarket. When that requirement became inconvenient, state waste regulators did “an end run” around the law to permit the depackaging facility, he said. Jamieson, the state’s solid waste manager, responded to this charge in April,
telling lawmakers that the language in the law was more of a guide and that mandating businesses to separate food waste from packaging in all situations was impractical and unenforceable. The legal debate aside, Gilbert said unregulated use of depackaging facilities certainly violates the spirit of the recycling law. The law identifies compost as a higher and better use for organic waste than energy production. While there may be a role for depackaging facilities, the scale of Casella’s diversion of food scraps from compost to biogas shows that “the state is backsliding” on its commitment to those priorities, he said. It also sends mixed messages. As Gilbert put it, why should Vermonters be told that they have to separate their food waste from packaging, but supermarkets can toss stale cookies still in their plastic containers into a bin and ship it to Maine or Williston for a big machine to sort out? And if that separation process leads to polluted farmland, “that would be criminal,” Gilbert said. “Local food is a major solution to climate change,” he said. “You fuck up our soil, you fuck up our ability to pull on that lever.” m
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THANKSGIVING
Sophia Donforth
A Full Table
Milton residents help feed their neighbors for the holiday B Y SAL LY POL L A K • sally@sevendaysvt.com
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PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK
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he halls of the Milton Family Community Center were filled last week with bags packed with ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner: cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes, biscuit mix, gravy and vegetables. The nonprofit center, which houses childcare programs and a food shelf, provides Thanksgiving dinner to local families each year. Food is donated by neighbors, students, the Fraternal Order of Eagles club and residents of the Ledges, a nearby housing development. This year, about 160 families are expected to receive their Thanksgiving meal through the center, executive director Sophia Donforth said. Along with those provisions, people who picked up groceries at the center received a Hannaford gift card to purchase a turkey or other main course. “We like to think the [level of ] need is temporary, with the pandemic,” Donforth said of people seeking help to put food on the table. “When that [need] skyrockets, everything else gets put on hold.” According to researchers at the University of Vermont, roughly one in three Vermonters has faced food insecurity since the start of the pandemic. Data released on November 19 by UVM’s Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences indicate that 27 percent of Vermont households continue to experience food insecurity. The Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization. It partners with scores of food pantries and meal sites around the state, including the center in Milton. Its statewide food distribution increased from between 9 and 12
Melanie Dulude distributing food
I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY
WHO’S COME UPON HARD TIMES. JAZZ HE ATH
million pounds per year pre-pandemic to 19 million pounds during fiscal year 2020, according to Vermont Foodbank director of communications Sarah Keblin. “Rising costs, including for heating and food, as well as the ending of some federal assistance programs … mean we are headed into uncertain times,” Keblin wrote by email to Seven Days.
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
The Milton Family Community Center is located in a former doctor’s office off Route 7. Exam rooms have been converted into offices. Nonperishable food and other necessities are stored in a small room. The halls, at least in the week before Thanksgiving, became a makeshift pantry for holiday side dishes. About 30 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years, attend childcare or preschool at the center. Its food shelf provides groceries, diapers and other goods to about 60 families a week, Donforth said. During the pandemic, center staff have been packing up groceries for people, who pick up their food at scheduled appointments. Produce, bread and other items, including jackets, hats and boots, are set on
shelves outside the center, where people can help themselves. That setup will move to the lobby for the winter. The Thanksgiving meal dates back about 20 years and is made possible because “people keep showing up at the center with their van full of goodies,” Donforth said. Jazz Heath is one of those people. She organized a food drive at the Ledges, the 70-family housing development where she lives. Last year, Heath put up three signs in the neighborhood, set out a table at the end of her driveway and collected 480 pounds of food. This year, she passed out notes to inform people that the food drive was specifically for Thanksgiving meals. “My neighbors went to bat,” Heath said. “We collected over 30 full meals.” She’s a former Milton schoolteacher who currently works as a veterinary pharmaceutical representative. Through her work in the school, Heath developed “a great affection for and understanding of the needier parts of Milton,” she said. But over the past couple of years, “I think everybody knows somebody who’s come upon hard times,” Heath added. “It’s not a hard stretch to imagine someone who’s lost a job, or lost a loved one, or just had a crummy time of it lately.” Founded in 1985, the center was designed as a resource and support for parents. It provides advice about children’s nutritional needs, as well as coaching for parents on building positive relationships with babies and little kids. “People can call when parenting is stressing them out,” said Donforth, a mother of two young children. “’Cause it’s a really hard job, raising little people.” Particularly since the start of the pandemic, the center’s core function is sometimes superseded by helping people address pressing, essential needs, Donforth said. “You can’t engage in a parenting workshop if you’re worried about putting food on the table,” she said. “So that’s where our efforts and work has had to focus.” Families with kids in the daycare program, as well as other folks who use the center, could sign up for Thanksgiving dinner. But the meal was also available to people with no center affiliation. Through an outpouring of support that Donforth called “heartening,” families who might otherwise have missed the meal will be seated together at the Thanksgiving table. “Milton is a tight-knit community,” Heath said. “If you ask people to help, they’ll help.” m
INFO Learn more at miltonfamilycenter.org
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PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP
Bright Side
Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum is a holiday spectacle B Y JORD A N AD A MS • jordan@sevendaysvt.com
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t 220 feet long, the Ticonderoga is the Shelburne Museum’s central feature. Afloat on Lake Champlain for the first half of the 20th century, the imposing steamboat was moved to its current, landlocked home in 1955. Since then, it’s lived out its days in a grassy gully. But now, as part of the museum’s holiday event Winter Lights, the vessel “floats” once again. Surrounded by a ring of thousands of icy blue and white lights, the Ti appears to drift on an aqueous expanse. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Winter Lights is a technological spectacle that transforms Shelburne Museum into a beacon of holiday mirth. Director Thomas Denenberg said by phone that the installation exceeded his expectations. “This time of year, when it gets dark early, it’s fun to see the campus in a different way,” he noted. Opening on Friday, November 26, 36
Winter Lights runs through the holiday season, mostly on weekends, and concludes on Saturday, January 1. From 5 to 8 p.m., attendees can walk through a series of “environments” — sites on the 42-acre grounds that have been adorned with dazzling light and sound displays. Most of the museum’s buildings will be closed during the event, but the Weathervane Café and Museum Store at Diamond Barn will remain open. Winter Lights was originally set to open in 2020 and was heavily advertised. But, Denenberg said, given the strict capacity limits still in place then and the rising COVID-19 case counts, management decided to “pull the plug” before the public had a chance to see it. The museum was forced to eat an expenditure of around $55,000. This year’s presentation is even bigger than last year’s was meant to be, Denenberg said. The name Winter Lights is a nod to Gardens Aglow, a similar winter light
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
The Ticonderoga
show at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine. To create Winter Lights, the museum rented most of the LEDs from New Hampshire-based New England Holiday Light, with which museum staff teamed up to design the display. Using just a fraction of the power of incandescent bulbs, the LEDs align with the museum’s mission of conservation. Earlier this year, Shelburne Museum announced that it will be fully powered by solar energy by the end of 2021. One of two new solar arrays is currently generating power; the other is still under construction. During a friends and family preview of Winter Lights last Friday, director of preservation and landscape Chip Stulen talked about the process of creating the installation. “A lot of thought goes into [finding] all the different circuits to be able to make this work and not overload anything,” he said.
Leslie Wright, the museum’s director of advancement, noted that work started “way, way early because of supply chain issues.” Staffers began planning the project in midsummer 2021, and lights went up in October. Upon arrival, visitors encounter a short rainbow tunnel that ushers them in and sets the mood. Loudspeakers play the hip-hop infused “Brandenburg” from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., duo Black Violin. The track, a defamiliarized version of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, First Movement, signals a similar transformation of the bedazzled museum. Near the entrance, chairs cluster around gas-powered fires for those who want to cozy up for a spell. After the rainbow tunnel, the path splits. Folks would be wise to head left, downhill toward the carousel, which is currently nonoperational but fully lit.
RECREATION
IT’S FUN TO
SEE THE CAMPUS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. T H OMAS D ENENBERG
A pyramid outside the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education
The Bostwick Garden and the lighthouse
Just past the carousel lies the Beach Woods area, one of the most striking “environments.” Sparkling snowflake projections gently cascade down the tree trunks as Jonna Jinton’s haunting composition “The Frozen Call” emanates from unseen speakers. Children are likely to recognize the melody for its similarity to a musical motif from Disney’s Frozen II. But the tune is actually a traditional Scandinavian herding call known as a kulning. (Check out Jinton’s YouTube channel for a demonstration of how the call gets her cattle’s attention.) Emerging from the woods, spectators encounter the back side of the Ti. To get the full picture, round the path up the small ridge. Though some of the lighted areas are immersive, this one is best seen from a distance. A sea of soft lights in concentric circles envelops the ship. From there, the estate’s central pathway leads past the lighthouse. Bathed in rippling projections, the structure appears to be washed in moonlight reflecting off a calm ocean surface. Just a bit farther is the Bostwick Garden, a petite circular patch with the Turtle Baby Fountain at its center. Instead of water, cerulean lights fill its basin, ringed by stately conifers adorned with golden lights. Moby’s new-age anthem “Spirit” adds a contemplative vibe. Guests who head back up the hill toward the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education will encounter a shimmering pyramid. Tinsel-like strands of iridescent twinklers hang from metal latticework beams, while the ground around the structure shines with luminescent clusters reminiscent of Lite-Brite toys. Though the pyramid is set back from the path, guests can wander into and around it. What happens when snowfall covers the low-lying and ground-level lights, such as those near the Pizzagalli Center and surrounding the Ti? “Good question — we’ll find out,” Stulen said. He added that his staff is prepared for all terrain issues and will be ready to pour salt and sand, clear pathways, and dig out lights that get buried. Likely to please guests of all ages, this year’s Winter Lights is something of a test run, Denenberg suggested. “The plan is to grow it every year for the next couple of years,” he said. “The idea is to … make it a real winter presence.” m
INFO Winter Lights runs from Friday, November 26, through Saturday, January 1, 5 to 8 p.m., mostly on weekends. $15 for adults; $10 for ages 3 to 17; free for ages 2 and under. Visit shelburnemuseum.org for a full schedule and to purchase tickets. SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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Ones to Watch The stars of Kids VT’s Spectacular Spectacular on WCAX COMPILED BY K ATIE H O D GE S & C ATH Y R E S ME R
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he kids and teens in Kids VT’s 2021 Spectacular Spectacular talent show have big dreams. Some of the young performers in the production put on by Seven Days’ parenting publication told us that, in 10 years, they see themselves training for the Olympics, starring in a Broadway show or playing music in front of large crowds. We wish we could see them all rock out in person on the main stage at Higher Ground in South Burlington, as we have for several years, but given that the youngest performers might not have gotten their COVID-19 vaccines yet, we decided to wait until 2022 to book that show. In the meantime, we’re excited to watch them all on TV! WCAX Channel 3 will show videos of their performances during the 4 p.m. newscast, airing one on each weekday from November 29 to December 17. Find out how to stream the broadcasts after they air at sevendaysvt.com/talentshow. Thanks to everyone who submitted audition videos — and to our sponsors at McKenzie Natural Artisan Deli! Read on for a few fun facts about our finalists, who are listed in the order in which they’ll appear on TV.
1. BOJAN HARRIS
14, Starksboro, Mount Abraham Union High School, performing “Falling Large,” an original rap WHAT INSPIRES YOU? The challenges
and successes we endure, and the raw emotional responses to these experiences WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
Inspiring people around the globe through the arts WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN
VERMONT? My home at Shangri-La Farm
10
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2. FINN WILLIAM
12, Windsor, Windsor School, playing the theme from Up! on the piano
13
14
15
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Something sudden, unexpected. Laughter can be contagious. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? Back to the Future WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMER? Me — I know how much work I put into learning the songs.
3. GRAYSON ELEY
10, Duxbury, Crossett Brook Middle School, drumming a combination of two songs, “Fight on Fighter” and “Amen” by For King & Country WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU? My drum
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
teacher, Andrew Palumbo. I like his positive energy. I’ve learned so much from him, and it’s been a lot of fun! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? I love Chinese food. IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Drum all
day
4. CHARLIE SCHRAMM
13, Shelburne, Shelburne Community School, playing guitar and singing “Trillium,” an original piece inspired by the trilliums of spring WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU? My songwrit-
ing is inspired by other musicians, nature and the world around me.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS? I
picture myself playing music for large audiences and maybe being a mechanical engineer. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN VERMONT? Bolton Valley
5. JOHN WALLACE
11, Burlington, homeschooled/Champlain School, playing “The Loves of My Entire Life“ by the Caretaker on piano IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY TO DO WHATEVER YOU
WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Talk to my grandmother, play piano and make video games WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Baked ziti WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? My cat, bad puns and funny videos
6. CADY MURAD
10, Burlington, Integrated Arts Academy, singing “Watch What Happens” from Newsies IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY TO DO WHATEVER YOU
WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I would go to Disney World, get an unlimited FastPass for all the rides, drag my friends and family along with me, and visit every park ... and perhaps LEGOLAND. It would be a long day. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
Living in my parents’ basement, ha! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Sushi
7. ISABELLA CHICOINE
13, Colchester, Colchester Middle School, singing “The Chapters in My Head,” an original song WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN
VERMONT? The mall. I love shopping. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
In 10 years, I will be 23. I will have graduated college at Juilliard, and I’ll
be starring as Glinda in the popular Broadway show Wicked. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMER? Ariana Grande or Jessie Mueller
8. GRACE MICAL
10, Middlebury, Mary Hogan School, doing a contortionist act WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? My younger sister, Elise. She’s really funny! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Macaroni and cheese WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMER? Steve Perry — he’s a great singer.
9. ETHAN OSZUREK
11, St. Albans, St. Albans Town Educational Center, playing “Moon River” on the piano WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? I love SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse. WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU? My dad. He is hardworking and a great leader. He teaches me life skills. He is smart and always believes in me. IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY TO DO WHATEVER YOU
WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I would play
soccer and basketball all day!
10. ANDRE REDMOND
9, Essex Junction, Founders Memorial School, singing “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN VERMONT? My studio
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMER? It’s hard to choose. Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney are two of my favorites. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Blooper videos and my dad’s jokes. Also, when my mom tells corny jokes.
11. ADIM BENOIT
9, Montpelier, Homeschool, playing “Take a Ride on His Beach Boogie” on the piano WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU? My piano
teacher, JD Williams, continues to inspire me.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
I will be a student at a conservatory learning the piano.
IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I would
hunt for coin rolls to fill up the coin collection my brother and I have.
12. PIPER HALL
12, East Hardwick, Homeschool, playing guitar and singing “Broken,” an original song
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Tacos and
chocolate
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMER? Taylor
Swift and Harry Styles
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN VERMONT? Nichols Ledge and the Jay Peak Pump House
7 top news stories
5 days a
13. PARIS SCHOOLCRAFT
9, Duxbury, Brookside Primary School, singing “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence IF YOU HAD A FREE DAY TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I’d do some coloring, gymnastics, maybe go to a water park, go hiking, watch some TV and eat healthy foods. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
Driving, training for the Olympics, going to college WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? The Second Chance
14. RICHARD AND ANDREW JIANG
week
1 convenient email
13 and 9, South Burlington, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, performing “The Two Grenadiers” by Robert Schumann on piano and violin WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? We have a very feisty cat, Coco, at home. She likes jumping around us, and we always laugh a lot when playing with her. Andrew also likes his stuffed animals, which he plays with every day and laughs. WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU? Our violin teacher, Kathleen Kono, and Richard’s piano teacher, Paul Orgel, inspire us to work hard and always to keep trying to improve our performing skills, whether playing at home, performing onstage or in this talent show. We also encourage each other to be a better player.
15. LILAH THURSTON
13, Barre Town, Barre Town Middle & Elementary School, playing guitar and singing “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Chicken
Alfredo, definitely. Cinnamon applesauce is in a close second. I know, they’re very different from each other. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMER? Anyone on Broadway! Or any of the musicians I enjoy, like Girl in Red, Cavetown, Taylor Swift or Phoebe Bridgers. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? As an anime fan, I really like Studio Ghibli movies. m
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JORDAN BARRY
food+drink Rosemary-garlic stuffing from La Panciata
Saving the (Turkey) Day Small Pleasures help you hack Thanksgiving
T
hanksgiving dinner is by far my favorite meal to cook. Putting aside the colonialist myths attached to the holiday (or tackling them head-on in heated conversations with family members, depending on how much wine I’ve had), I look forward to the combo of turkey, root vegetables, cranberries and stuffing all year. I approach the challenge of choreographing the cooking times and temperatures with gusto: roasting a big bird; whipping up casseroles with nostalgia value; mashing, roasting and sometimes grilling vegetables; and making rich, perfectly thickened gravy from scratch. My long list of go-to seasonal and local ingredients includes cranberries from Vermont Cranberry, Nomadic Kitchen marshmallows to top the boozy sweet potatoes, cans and bottles from Eden Specialty Ciders — some to cook with, some to drink — and a turkey from Maple Wind Farm. Making everything from scratch feels like a lot for this second pandemic Thanksgiving, however. So this year, I’m embracing a bit of help. Not surprisingly, Vermont’s food and drink producers are on top of holiday-appropriate time-saving hacks. Here are three Small Pleasures to help speed up prep and lessen the stress.
FOOD LOVER?
GET YOUR FILL ONLINE...
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
BY J O R D AN BAR RY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com
THAT’S THE STUFF
Rosemary-garlic stuffing, $4.69, La Panciata, Northfield, 485-4200, lapanciata.com
My family’s Thanksgiving has always been a two-stuffing affair: one batch of the boxed stuff, and one batch that starts the day before the meal with bread loaves being ripped into tiny, craggy pieces. Letting the bread dry out ahead of time is the key to made-from-scratch stuffing. The stale-ish bread soaks up the recipe’s fat and flavor to produce a mixture that’s crunchy and chewy without veering into soggy. More than once, though, in the frenzy of Wednesday night kitchen prep, I’ve forgotten to tear the bread and leave it out on the
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counter. In the bread aisle last week, I spotted a solution: La Panciata’s stuffing mix. The Northfield bakery’s cinnamon-raisin bread has long been part of my sweet-andsavory stuffing recipe, but I’d never seen the 10-ounce burgundy stuffing bags. There they were — in rosemary-garlic and traditional sage — to save the day, or at least a whole bunch of time. La Panciata wholesales its Honey & Oats, Pane Siciliano and other Italian-style loaves from Swanton to Springfield. The stuffing mix has been around for a while, co-owner Justin Loati said, but the bakery has been slowly expanding its distribution. “The stuffing was a popular-demand
GET COOKIN’
SAVING THE (TURKEY) DAY
» P.42
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SIDEdishes COURTESY OF STONOROV WORKSHOP ARCHITECTS
SERVING UP FOOD NEWS
Artist’s rendering of the new Hugo’s Bar & Grill in Montpelier
Culinary Capital NOVELIST THOMAS CHRISTOPHER GREENE PLANS RESTAURANT FOR LANDMARK MONTPELIER BUILDING HUGO’S BAR & GRILL will
open at 118 Main Street in Montpelier in early 2022,
THOMAS CHRISTOPHER GREENE
announced on social media on November 16. The author of six novels, Greene was founding president of Vermont College of Fine Arts, an office from which he stepped down after 13 years in July 2020. In a phone interview, Greene described Hugo’s as “an affordable, accessible farm-totable restaurant — think FARMHOUSE [TAP & GRILL] crossed with LEUNIG’S [BISTRO & CAFÉ].” It will occupy the basement and first floor of the 15,000-square-foot, three-story building, which is currently undergoing major renovations, he said. The top floor will open after the main restaurant as UPSTAIRS AT HUGO’S, a piano and cocktail bar with a late-night menu. At 200 seats, Greene
said Hugo’s will be the biggest restaurant in Vermont’s capital city. The building was previously occupied by NECI on Main, a teaching restaurant for the nowshuttered New England Culinary Institute. Before the pandemic, it also briefly hosted NECI’s bakery-café, La Brioche. Greene worked in many restaurants in his youth and has a serious interest in food and cooking, he said, but this is his first major foray into the hospitality business. After leaving his position at VCFA, he was looking for a new project. “I knew that writing wasn’t going to be enough for me. I like the idea of building things,” said Greene, whose 2005 novel I’ll Never Be Long Gone is about a smalltown restaurateur. “This is more about a vision of what Montpelier needs,” he continued, “about bringing back a historic building that’s been a restaurant since 1880, and [about making] a bet on both Montpelier and what a post-pandemic world looks like.”
CONNECT Follow us for the latest food gossip! On Instagram: Seven Days: @7deatsvt; Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.
The restaurant’s executive chef will be Vermont native KEITH WALKER, who spent four years as sous chef at HEN OF THE WOOD in Waterbury and most recently worked at Smith & Wollensky and now-closed Benedetto in the Boston area. JANA MARKOW, previously of JULIO’S CANTINA and SARDUCCI’S in Montpelier, will be general manager. The restaurant is named for Greene’s 100pound red Lab, Hugo. “Nobody likes food more than he does,” Greene quipped.
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Mall Munchies EL GATO CANTINA POPS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN UNIVERSITY MALL EL GATO CANTINA will oper-
ate a pop-up in the food court of the University Mall in South Burlington for the holiday shopping season, said TREE BERTRAM, owner of the Mexican restaurant, which has branches in Burlington and Essex Junction. From Black Friday through the end of December, the satellite location will serve an SIDE DISHES
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thing,” Loati said. La Panciata offers the seasonal product from late fall until early in the New Year. “Some people stock up, though,” he added, noting that the mix has a sixmonth shelf life. Loati and his wife, Bonka Loati, purchased La Panciata in 2016 from his parents, who started the business in 1992. The elder Loatis chose the stuffing flavors. “The traditional sage was kind of a no-brainer,” Loati said. “That’s what everybody’s looking for.” The rosemary-garlic “was more of a family preference.” Eight or nine different breads go into the stuffing, providing a variety of flavors and textures. The spice comes in a separate packet within the bag so that customers can season to preference. The family’s go-to stuffing recipe — printed on the bag — calls for stove-top preparation. Loati noted that the crouton-like pieces also make a good topping for French onion soup. “I’ve also taken a wine bottle to the bag and crushed it up so you have a multi-bread bread crumb,” he said. “It makes an amazing coating for pork chops and fish.” I plan to use the mix as a base for this year’s stuffing — a compromise between boxed and from-scratch. I’ll add onion, sausage and maybe apple. And I’ll be thrilled that I didn’t have to rip up the bread myself.
EASY AS PIE
Pie dough, $6.25, Mirabelles Bakery, South Burlington, 658-3074, mirabellesbakery.com
I hate making pie dough. Something about it never quite works for me; even when it feels like it’s coming together, the final result goes poof into a million pieces. I keep trying, but I always have a bag of Mirabelles Bakery dough stashed in the freezer in case of emergency. When I stopped at Mirabelles last week, co-owner Alison Lane graciously agreed to take a break from handcrimping pie shells — hundreds per day as Thanksgiving approaches — to offer last-minute pie advice. “It’s pie dough every day right now,” Lane said as she stepped out of the production space on Williston Road in South Burlington. She and co-owner Andrew Silva moved the bakery from its longtime Main Street Burlington location to its current home in early 2020. They sold ready-to-use pie dough at the old bakery and café but nowhere near as much as they make now in the bigger, production-focused space. Packages of frozen dough, which make one doublecrust pie or two single-crust pies, are available at the bakery and its wholesale partners, including City Market, Onion River Co-op. The “pucks,” as Lane called them, are made in batches of 100 from simple ingredients: wheat flour, butter, salt and cider vinegar. She recommends letting the frozen dough thaw slowly in the fridge overnight. “Then take it out of the bag and let it sit on the counter so it’s not rock-hard,” Lane said. How long to let the dough sit depends on how warm your house is; too long, and the butter will melt. But if it’s too hard, the dough will crack as you try to roll it out. “Probably half an hour for most people’s houses,” Lane said. “Then use it. That’s the best thing. I mean, you can take it right out of the fridge and whack it, but that’s not ideal.” 42
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
PHOTOS: JORDAN BARRY
Saving the (Turkey) Day « P.40
IT’S PIE DOUGH
EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW.
ALISON LANE
Above: Pie dough from Mirabelles Bakery Below: Brio’s Calypso instant coffee
When making pies, Mirabelles par-bakes all its crusts — “Even pumpkin, a little bit,” Lane said — to prevent sogginess and to keep the sides f ro m s l u m p ing. To weigh down the crust for par-baking, the bakers line it with coffee filters filled with dried black beans. Gazing into the bakery’s glass case, I considered skipping the whole thing and just buying a pumpkin or maplebourbon pecan pie. But Mirabelles reached capacity for its Thanksgiving preorders late last week. (The bakery will be stocked with pies, cakes and plenty of dough for same-day pickup in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.) So I’ll follow Lane’s advice and be grateful I’m making only a pie or two, not the hundreds per day that Mirabelles cranks out.
INSTANT GRATIFICATION
Calypso and Guatemala La Voz instant coffees, $15 per box, Brio Coffeeworks, Burlington, 772-0070, briocoffeeworks.com
Trust me on this: Instant coffee can be good. And, during hectic holiday travel, it can really come in handy. Several of Vermont’s specialty roasters now sell instant versions of their high-quality, carefully sourced coffees. At Burlington’s Brio Coffeeworks, the slim boxes say, “This is not your grandmother’s instant (no offense grandma!).” After mixing up a few cups — both hot and cold — I agree. “Obviously, we all know the old-school instant coffee,”
Brio cofounder and president Magda Van Dusen said. “That has its place, for sure. But we were looking for something different that we could be excited about.” At first, Van Dusen opposed making instant on principle, she said. But she came around to the idea after trying other specialty roasters’ instant coffees processed by Swift Cup Coffee in Lancaster, Pa. For the past year or so, Brio has partnered with Swift Cup to produce instant, freezedried versions of its Calypso blend and Guatemala La Voz single-origin coffees. “I was proven wrong,” Van Dusen said with a laugh. “Who knew it could be so delicious?” Each box comes with six sachets of coffee. To make a cup, empty one into 10 ounces of water — hot or cold, though it takes a little more effort to dissolve the coffee in cold water — and stir. It’s about as easy as waiting in line at an airport Starbucks or finding the coffee pot in a grimy rest stop — and a coffee snob like me is much more satisfied with the result. The instant sachets are flexible, too: Reduce water for a more concentrated cup, or add it for a weaker one. Avid iced latte drinkers can swap some of the water for their milk of choice. Van Dusen usually cautions customers that the instant coffee won’t taste exactly like a traditionally brewed cup. But she sees it as another way to enjoy good coffee, like canned cold brew or flash-chilled espresso shots. “I feel like we don’t need to be such purists about really awesome coffee,” she said. A box of instant makes a great (and slightly selfish) gift for hosts who don’t share your taste in specialty coffee. And it’s a lot easier to get through TSA than an alreadybrewed cup. “I haven’t been stopped for it yet,” Van Dusen said. m Small Pleasures is an occasional column that features delicious and distinctive Vermont-made snacks or drinks that pack a punch. Send us your favorite little bites or sips with big payoff at food@sevendaysvt.com.
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« P.41 abbreviated and slightly customized menu of burritos, tacos, churros and burrito bowls. The last item is a new addition to the offerings at El Gato’s two permanent locations. Served on a base of rice and beans, the bowls include vegetarian and meat options such as grilled chicken, shrimp and seasonal vegetables topped with cotija cheese and the kitchen’s spicy Baja crema sauce. Bertram said she was disappointed not to be able to offer margaritas and beer — “People really wanted it, and I did, too.” But there was no time to obtain a new liquor license. During two test runs the week of November 15, Bertram said, mall customers and workers responded positively to the pop-up. “Right now, there is only a juice bar and an Italian place in the food court,” she said. “The workers were like, ‘Thank you, we’re so glad you’re coming.’” M.P.
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Mushroom bánh mì with a glass of Elaborate Metaphor pale ale
FIRST
BITE
I JUST HAD TO PUT MY
200-SEAT-RESTAURANT PANTS ON AND GO WITH IT. J O E L EM N A H
Going Big
Burlington Beer opens taproom-restaurant in its namesake city B Y M EL I SSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com PHOT OS BY D AR IA B ISHOP
E
verything about Burlington Beer’s new South End taproom and restaurant is big. The massive, historic, 14,000-square-foot space has thick brick walls, high ceilings and huge windows. It seats around 235 people and boasts a spacious main dining room anchored by a 46-foot bar with a row of 48 taps. Through an opening in the wall behind the bar, customers can glimpse large wooden barrels holding the brewery’s new line of sour beers that will launch in 2022. In early October, Burlington Beer closed the original taproom at its Williston brewing facility, though it will continue to brew there. The new 180 Flynn Avenue taproom and restaurant opened for daily lunch, dinner and, of course, beer on October 12. “I love watching everyone’s jaw drop when they walk in,” said bar manager Lisa Ritter. Burlington Beer owner Joe Lemnah, 39, said it was always his goal to locate his brewery in its eponymic metropolis; he simply couldn’t afford the rent in his early bootstrap days. Seven years in, with a wide portfolio of beers distributed in the Northeast and down the Atlantic Coast — and 2021 revenues projected at $7 million — Burlington Beer was ready to head to the big city. But, Lemnah admitted, he had not planned to go quite so big. 44
Beyond the main dining and bar area, side rooms include a merch-and-beerstuffed retail shop and what he called a “sunroom” with another eight taps at the north end of the building. There, at hightop tables while waiting to be seated, guests can sip the brewery’s Elaborate Metaphor New England pale ale or the unexpected Mocaccino that looks like a pale ale but tastes like a stout. (“It’s meant to be kind of a mind-fuck,” Lemnah explained with a chuckle.) Walk-ins may be lucky enough to land spots at the chef’s counter bordering the shiny, 1,100-square-foot kitchen at the rear of the building. Those seats provide a view of the 26-foot-long hood vent under which the cooks sizzle burger patties, grill beerbrined wings and crisp up hand-cut fries. Ample kitchen space allows for a dedicated area where a pair of pastry chefs turn out top-of-the-line plated desserts, such as pumpkin cheesecake with pepitaoat streusel, stout caramel and vanilla bean crème fraîche. Another duo bakes hamburger buns, hoagie rolls and tangy sourdough loaves fresh daily. The 15-member culinary team is headed by executive chef John Roettinger and sous chef Avery Buck. The two met working at Hen of the Wood in Burlington. Roettinger was most recently chef at Mule Bar in Winooski, and Buck sous cheffed at Doc Ponds in Stowe. The new restaurant is a huge upgrade
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Joe Lemnah (left) and John Roettenger of Burlington Beer
from Burlington Beer’s original industrial park taproom, which was carved out of a corner of the brewery. There, the kitchen was shoehorned into a cramped former office dubbed “the closet” and furnished with three panini presses, a tiny oven and a single induction burner. The baker worked out of a converted conference room. Burlington Beer’s city home is an imposing edifice, which most recently housed Vermont Hardware. It had been renovated by its owners, Dominique and Trey Pecor, with new HVAC and electrical systems, energy-efficient windows, updated lighting, and re-poured concrete floors. When Lemnah first came to look at the space, “I walked in and was like, Holy fucking shit,” he recalled. “This place felt so perfect and so right, I just had to put my 200-seat-restaurant pants on and go with it.” Construction took several months longer than planned and cost $1.2 million, Lemnah said. His goal was to keep some of the building’s rough-edged charm and honor its history. It was built in 1902 as the U.S. production facility of Auguste and Louis Lumière, French brothers and cinematic pioneers who also invented an early color photography process. According to the Vermont Historical Society, it is the only Lumière production building left in the world.
Those familiar with Burlington Beer’s Williston space will recognize some artistic touches by local artist Sunniva Dutcher and the brand’s New York-based creative director, Tim Fealey. But the visual impact of their work is more minimal in Burlington. “We’ll continue to add our vibe,” Lemnah said, “but I kind of wanted to celebrate the natural beauty of the building.” Open for about a month, the restaurant was still building its vibe during my two recent visits, but it showed great promise. Service was friendly though slow at the onset of both meals. I wished for a QR code ordering option, which is available at hightops in the main dining room and in some of the satellite rooms. During our first visit on a busy Thursday night, my husband and I ordered almost exclusively bar food to pair with our beers: Time of the Chimpanzee, a juicy New Zealand IPA, and Creatures of Magic, a piney New England IPA. (Beers range from $4 to $11.) The fries ($7) were superlative: slender and crisp with a rosemary-peppercorn aioli. “We’re going for the McDonald’s fry,” Roettinger told me later. “We want to do the best execution of whatever we do.” A fish sandwich ($17) starred cod from Starbird Fish, caught in Alaska by a Vermonter. The thick, moist filet was coated in crunchy batter and coddled in a freshly baked potato bun with housepickled onions, hopped honey-dressed
food+drink slaw and tartar sauce. The two-jointed grilled wings ($14) were meaty and massive — as if they were trying to match the scale of the dining room. We also ordered the beet salad ($12), a rotating seasonal offering among the trio of salads. It was excellent, with a creamy blue cheese- A Double Stack Burger and punctuated dressing Smash hand-cut fries and lots of crunch from crushed pepitas. When we visited again with a friend just ahead of the 7 p.m. Sunday evening close, the dining room was quieter. My husband and I sampled new-tous beers: Uncanny Valley, a fruit-forward New England IPA, and Petal Prophecy, a honeyed IPA. Our friend, who’s not a beer drinker, ordered a local hard cider after lingering over the intriguing cocktail list. I have a rule against reordering an item when eating out for work, but I couldn’t resist the siren call of those fries. We also indulged in a hunk of the excellent, darkcrusted house sourdough ($5), which came with a generous swirl of maple-beer butter flecked with crunchy sea salt. After carbo-loading, we forged on with the smash burger made with local beef and house beer-brined pickles ($15); the fried chicken sandwich ($15), drizzled with hop-infused honey; and the mushroom bánh mì ($14). The veggie choice was the meal’s sleeper hit. Locally farmed, crisp-roasted oyster mushrooms deep with woodsy flavor and just the right touch of Chinese five-spice powder were nestled with Pitchfork Pickle kimchi and spicy mayo in a crusty baguette-meets-hoagie roll. We sampled two salads: a creamy Napa cabbage with pickled carrots and radishes, topped with toasted bread crumbs and shaved, cured egg yolk ($14); and the seasonal house salad ($12) of baby kale with the fun addition of diced, pickled apple, as well as squash, sunflower seeds and a tangy-sweet vinaigrette. Each delivered balanced flavor and texture and was ample enough to share. As the dining room emptied, we concluded our feast with two desserts: the pumpkin cheesecake ($10) and the chocolate stout layer cake ($11). Both were beautifully presented, as one might expect from head pastry chef Sam LaCroix, who has worked at Hen of the Wood in Burlington and the Inn at Shelburne Farms. The desserts were also quite shareable,
especially the intense cake, which was drenched in dark chocolate with a solid chocolate piece on top that appeared to be sprinkled with almonds. I later learned that the restaurant is 100 percent nutfree and that toasted apricot kernels play ringer in several dishes. The cheesecake was our favorite for its rich creaminess and crunchy streusel, the sweetness balanced by c r è m e f r a î c h e, and the slightly bitter beer-infused caramel. I had been torn between the mushroom sandwich and one of the large plates on the menu — the clams and housemade chorizo ($21) with kale and an Elaborate Metaphor broth — but the dish had sold out that night. The clam delivery had yet to arrive when, during an interview, I sampled two other large plates: the birria bowl ($19) of rich braised beef deeply flavored with toasted peppers and warm spices and topped with beer-pickled red onion and Oaxacan cheese; and a grain bowl ($18) with fried whole clusters of oyster mushrooms, Pitchfork Pickle kimchi and a soft-boiled egg. Roettinger and Buck said their goal is to create a menu that is casual, approachable and inspired by local, seasonal ingredients. “What I love about Vermont,” Roettinger said, “is being able to shift food with the seasons.” As the restaurant settles in, the team has also noticed that, rather than beer driving the experience, “People are actually coming here to dine,” Buck said. “It’s less of a taproom vibe,” Roettinger added. As winter descends, the menu will include more complex, heartier dishes. Roettinger said a recent special was well received: Korean barbecue lamb ribs ($13) first confited in duck fat, then fried and paired with squash purée and Pitchfork Farm “krautchi.” In January, Burlington Beer will launch monthly prix fixe beer-and-foodpairing dinners. Lemnah said the Williston team also plans to start brewing some beer styles it doesn’t typically make, such as amber ales and pilsners, just for the Burlington restaurant. “We want to be everything for everyone,” Lemnah said. A big goal if ever there were one. m
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culture
Family Ghouls Book review: I Am Not Who You Think I Am, Eric Rickstad B Y M ARG OT HAR RI S ON • margot@sevendaysvt.com
encounter with a stranger at his father’s barbershop (see sidebar) shortly before the apparent suicide. Is a mystery afoot in Shireburne? Or is Wayland desperate for any excuse to believe that his beloved father is still alive?
BOOKS
RICKSTAD JUICES UP HIS COMING-OF-AGE TALE
GREG NESBIT
WITH THE FAST PACE AND SHOCKING TWISTS OF A THRILLER.
Eric Rickstad
W
hen Wayland Maynard is 8 years old, he comes home from school early with a stomachache and finds his dad sitting in the bedroom with a shotgun, his back to his son. One terrifying blast later, Wayland is fatherless. The only clue to his father’s state of mind is a note the boy finds on the floor. It reads, “I am not who you think I am.” This event kicks off the action of southern Vermont author Eric Rickstad’s sixth novel, a lean and mean thriller with a distinct gothic tinge. Like Rickstad’s previous books, I Am Not Who You Think I Am is set locally — this time in the town of Shireburne, which seems a lot like 46
Shelburne, down to the looming presence of the Vanders family — “the most revered and reviled name in town.” Much like the Vanderbilt Webbs at Shelburne Farms, the wealthy Vanderses built a lakeside estate and “ornamental farm” in their gilded age heyday, then “morphed their own Camelot into a nonprofit organization,” Rickstad writes. There, one can only hope, the resemblances end, because Rickstad’s fictional family of Vermont aristocrats gradually reveals a legacy worthy of spinner-rack gothic queen V.C. Andrews. Rickstad has gained a following with gritty procedurals, such as the best-selling The Silent Girls, in which small-town cops
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
chase killers. But his 2000 debut, Reap, about a Northeast Kingdom kid caught up in drug smuggling, was a more literary affair, a coming-of-age tale that evoked a darker Howard Frank Mosher. In I Am Not Who You Think I Am, set mostly in 1984, Rickstad tells another coming-of-age story. This time, however, he juices it up with the fast pace and shocking twists of a thriller. At 16, Wayland begins to suspect that his father’s death was not what it appeared. A fragmented memory leads him to the hypothesis that the man he watched shoot himself on that terrible day was not, in fact, his father. Adding fuel to the fire is his recollection of a sinister
From page one, Rickstad uses a framing device to establish Wayland as a potentially unreliable narrator. The novel opens with a letter dated 2020 from the Shireburne chief of police, who describes the story we’re about to read as a handwritten manuscript he received in the mail from “a former Shireburne citizen” who was presumed dead in a fire. Addressed to the entire town, the manuscript is Wayland’s first-person narrative, which starts on a confrontational note. He promises a tale that will shock residents into remembering a kid who was always overlooked — “the ghost boy slouched in the corner and peering out with anxious eyes.” The grown Wayland relates a story of adolescent angst and amateur detective work that reads like a young-adult novel penned by Stephen King. With the help of his gal pal and crush, Juliette, teenage Wayland combs the local library and town clerk’s office for clues to the meaning of his father’s cryptic note. There’s a corny (and nostalgia-inducing) Nancy Drew quality to their low-tech sleuthing. But what Wayland doesn’t tell Juliette is that he’s haunted by a vision he spied in a window on the Vanders estate: a man and woman engaged in what appeared to be a sexual act, the woman wearing “a masquerade mask of pink plumage.” Rickstad has crafted a tale twisty enough to foil even mystery fans. While
we may guess at the gist of the truth, we aren’t likely to pinpoint its particulars until they’re revealed in the denouement. And fans of the gothic will find those particulars satisfyingly baroque.
FROM I AM NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM The shop door opened. My father’s shears nicked my ear. I yelped. Blood trickled from my notched flesh. I pinched the lobe as blood leaked down my fingers and wrist. My father didn’t notice. His eyes were locked on the figure in the doorway. Dead leaves danced around the stranger’s feet. I felt a chill from the air that carried the tang of autumnal decay. The stranger unsnapped the top button at the throat of his long black coat, the collar pulled tight to his neck. The wind vibrated a single errant strand of his long mane of black hair, which was swept back in a wave that appeared poised to crash upon his gleaming forehead. He looked to be older than my father by a good three decades. His facial features were sharp and long and narrow, as if rendered by the same hands that wrought the Easter Island colossi. His eyes were dark and imperious. In one hand he carried a black leather bag. He held my father’s gaze without moving or making a sound. They clearly knew each other; my father’s eyes betrayed recognition and, I thought, great unease. The stranger shut the door. Blood tracked along the edge of my jaw and down my neck. “A word,” the stranger said, entirely unaware of, or perhaps just unconcerned with, my presence.
This is no slow-burn, Shirley Jacksonstyle gothic, either. As a narrator, Wayland is prone to gleefully grotesque description that puts him firmly in the King universe. Of his father’s death, he writes, “I lifted my eyes to the ceiling, to see scarlet fireworks that would have been spectacular had they not been made of gore.” Wayland’s descriptions of his single mother’s down-at-the-heels household are nearly as stomach-turning, if more mundane: “dishes barnacled with crusted food […] bales of soiled laundry, the stench of [the dog] Molly’s menstruation, and the burned, greasy odor of the TV dinners.” To escape the ugliness of this day-to-day life, Wayland is more than willing to confront the ornate horrors that lurk on the Vanders estate. But will the reader take that journey with him? While Wayland’s attitude is realistic enough for a teenage boy (or for an embittered adult recalling his teen years), Rickstad strikes the same notes of rage and self-pity so often that they become a little monotonous. Wayland seems not to have had a moment of genuine enjoyment since his father died. His clashes with his sister’s no-good boyfriend and his jealousy of his jock friend — whom he believes is his rival for Juliette — grow tiresome. Ideally, a psychological thriller tempts readers to venture into the depths of a disturbed mind and follow its twisted logic, reminding us of how close we all might be to the edge. I Am Not Who You Think I Am doesn’t entirely deliver on the complexity of character development that its title promises. Instead of getting deeper into Wayland’s head, we often watch him going in circles, both in his detective work and in his personal life. As a result, we may find ourselves taking a distance from him and viewing the horrific conclusion of his quest with a touch of amusement and schadenfreude. After all, Wayland has been warned several times not to “wreck your future trying to understand the past,” as one character portentously puts it. It’s a scenario as old as Oedipus Rex, and Rickstad doesn’t quite succeed in bringing those hoary tropes back to life. Nonetheless, the story’s irresistible hook and complex unfolding are likely to keep readers engaged to the last page. m
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Sam Zollman at Slow Process’ studio and showroom
Well Dressed Burlington’s Slow Process reimagines menswear B Y M ARG A RET G RAYSON • margaret@sevendaysvt.com
I
t started with a button-down shirt. Sam Zollman, a freshly minted Tufts University graduate from Brandon, didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. He saw himself as some kind of artist, but he hadn’t chosen a medium. He’d always liked fashion as a means of expression, so he decided to learn to sew, starting with an item of clothing that he knew and loved. “If you’re excited to make a buttondown shirt, and you make a button-down shirt — for me, it was transformative,” Zollman said. “I think it has that power for a lot of people.” Five years later, Zollman, 28, is the designer and sewist behind Slow Process, a Burlington-based clothing line with an ambitious motto: Fixing the Male Uniform. He produces high-quality basic shirts and jackets, as well as one-of-a-kind pieces made from antique textiles, and he’s thinking critically about redefining menswear and our modern relationship with clothing. “I channel the classic menswear silhouettes, but I’m trying to impart on them a 48
from handwoven coverlets from the late 19th century. Zollman’s passion for antique textiles was already apparent in the garments that dominated his spring/ summer collection: baseball jerseys sewn from bright floral tablecloths. He likes taking the sports silhouettes associated with traditional masculinity — “a literal uniform,” he said — and adding softness through drape and fabric choices. “I didn’t set out to do a lot of sportsinspired stuff,” Zollman said. “But it’s such a huge part of masculinity that it’s just rife with ways to riff … that can be a little tongue-in-cheek and can be beautiful and still feel useful to someone.” Brandon Johnston, an actor living in Los Angeles, has bought several items from Zollman, including some of those baseball jerseys. The marriage of sporty familiarity and unique textiles makes the clothes special, Johnston said by phone. “I know nothing about textile work, but I’ve always been interested in vintage textiles and vintage in general,” Johnston noted. He values Zollman’s skill: “His artistic eye is so great.” Johnston also bought a simple white Parcel Jacket from Zollman’s most recent line. “I get compliments every time I go out the door in it,” he said. Zollman’s clothing isn’t just for men. He wants it to be wearable and stylish for people of all genders. Taylor McVay, Zollman’s Massachusettsbased sewing teacher and friend, said it’s helpful to think of menswear as a set of aesthetic principles for clothing, not as a category that dictates who can wear it. “What I love about [Zollman’s] project
machines and huge beauty and a softness that I think has been bolts of fabric. In absent from mensMay of this year, wear for a long he expanded time,” Zollthe studio man said. space to include a “I think that there showroom. is a broader He has since hired desire among masculine people a part-time sewing to want something assistant. Now he’s in beautiful, but they the midst of releasdon’t really know ing a fall line, his what that looks sixth, that includes like for them.” workwear-inspired Zollman took jackets and smocksewing classes like shirts. in Vermont and In Slow Process’ first year, Zollman in Boston, where Home Field Ball Jersey sewed and sold 15 to 20 he lived for two years. There, in 2018, he designed and sewed his pieces, he recalled. Now, he can make that first clothing line. He moved to Burlington many in just a few months. But he’s trying shortly afterward and established a studio to grow at a sustainable pace, he said. in the South End’s Soda Plant in 2019, fillIn late November, he’ll launch a ing it with secondhand and vintage sewing limited line of letterman jackets made
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is, he’s creating menswear, budget. “You need a plain black T-shirt? but it’s menswear for Well, I don’t make a everyone,” McVay plain black T-shirt, said. “It’s not that so you go to H&M.” you want to negate the idea that there’s He sees the workgender in clothing. ers overseas who It’s just you want sew the clothes to free the cloththat end up in ing from strict H&M or Target stores as talented associations with a particsewists in their ular gender. own right. “The Anyone speed at which can wear they produce menswear; what they produce, and anyone can wear womens[the fact] that Indigo Parcel Jacket wear. They could it fits remotely just be these categories that could well at all, is astounding,” Zollbe embraced or worn by everyone.” man said. He hopes that, in a roundabout Zollman custom makes his more way, appreciation for his work will inspire basic items for the wearer, adjusting his appreciation for those other craftspeople patterns to fit their body. He loves the and laborers. moment when he gets the fit just right, “Through small makers, I think we he said. begin to value the craft in a larger sense,” A custom-made shirt or a jacket made he said. “We now have a better underfrom antique materials doesn’t come standing [that causes us] to pause and be cheap. Zollman’s made-to-order six- like, ‘Wait, why is that jacket at Target a button blouse, sewn from organic cotton, quarter of the price?’ Someone along the costs between $245 and $285. Though the way is getting screwed, right, if you know finished product is the the work that goes into same, shoppers select it? It’s not that [small their price from the scale makers’] pricing is exorbased on the wage that bitant. It’s that the other Zollman will receive for one is incredibly low.” making it: $20 per hour What Zollman sees on the low end, $30 per as the wastefulness of hour on the high end. the fashion industry “I found that’s been does have a fringe helpful — for people benefit: He and other SAM ZOLLMAN to contextualize and designers can source understand what goes into the pricing,” excess “dead-stock” fabric that large Zollman said. “The price I charge is brands have created but never used. directly connected to the amount of hours Those fabrics serve as a supplement to I put in. If I were talking with a business- the antique textiles he lovingly collects. person, they’d think I was insane, but “When I make a jacket out of this [type there’s truly no reason to add profit above of fabric], I’m introducing someone to a … what you’re paying yourself, as long as craft that is almost lost,” he said. you’re paying yourself a fair wage.” Lately, mainstream brands have been The more money people invest in an imitating the look of antique fabrics item of clothing, Zollman believes, the — for instance, producing coats made more likely they are to fix it when it’s from (or styled to look as though they’re damaged rather than toss it. His inten- made from) vintage quilts. Rather than tional design choices, such as roomy seam decrying the trend, Zollman sees it as an allowances — the excess fabric inside the educational opportunity. seams — make clothing easier to alter and “You get an Urban Outfitters doing repair. Fixing the Male Uniform refers not rip-offs,” he said. “And, if someone were just to the clothes themselves, he said, but to rip off an antique overshot coverlet, to encouraging wearers to be responsible maybe people would have an understanding of what makes the original so much for the care and repair of their clothing. Though he’s glad that American soci- more special, so much more durable. ety is developing a broader appreciation There is no replicating the beauty and for vintage and secondhand items, Zoll- spirit of an original.” m man doesn’t snub fast fashion. It fills a niche in many people’s wardrobes, he INFO said, especially when they’re on a limited Learn more at slow-process.com.
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art
From “Objects of Empire” installation by Bradley Borthwick
Bradley Borthwick’s mixed-media installation presents relics — or portents — of rise and decline B Y PA M EL A POL STON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com
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50
REVIEW
COURTESY OF JOHN FLANAGAN/BCA CENTER
radley Borthwick’s exhibition “Objects of Empire” conveys much more than first meets the eye. In the second-floor gallery of Burlington’s BCA Center, warm spotlights focus on two rather austere installations. The lighting is otherwise dim, lending the smallish room a secret-chamber sense of intimacy. To the left, an amphora nearly four feet long emerges half-carved from a 600-pound block of Vermont Olympian white marble, as if adorning a sarcophagus. It rests on three thick beams of Atlantic white cedar, each 24 inches long. A narrow marble tablet, or headstone, is propped against the amphora. Fifteen replicas of the tablet, cast in beeswax, lean against an opposite wall. Five of these are elevated above the others on cedar blocks. The tablets are 20.5 inches wide, 31 inches tall and 1.5 inches thick. Their elegantly carved inscription is in memory of a Mr. John Pratt, buried in 1768 in the Old Bennington Cemetery, where Borthwick first spotted the headstone. An accompanying soundscape features a relentless industrial clank paired with a melancholic piano melody. Gradually, the composition builds in intensity, then fades and builds again and again. The sound is hypnotic, simultaneously attracting and repelling.
Pratt tablets in beeswax by Bradley Borthwick
As Borthwick explained in a phone call, he recorded the hydraulic hammer in a metalworking shop near his home in Maine. He then sent the file to his brother-in-law, S.J. Kardash, a musician and producer in Saskatchewan. Kardash composed and played the piano part and synced it to the machine’s chugging rhythm. While the audio component of “Objects of Empire” sets a mood, the visual elements
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present an alluring cipher. The objects might be relics, or portents, or perhaps both. Their placement is clearly intentional but recalls the approximate order of a salvage warehouse. Visitors may wonder, What is going on here? According to the guide, written by BCA curator and director of exhibitions Heather Ferrell, “Borthwick thoughtfully ponders the shared cycles of civilization by investigating two seemingly incongruent,
manufactured objects — an 18th century Vermont headstone known as the Pratt tablet and an ancient, Roman-era amphora … [He] presents each form as a powerful signifier of memory, place, and cultural connection.” The Ontario-born artist, now an associate professor of art at Colby College, is indeed drawn to studying history, both cultural and industrial. The amphora and the tablet are “markers of a time and place,” he said. They are remnants of both rise and decline. Borthwick suggests that objects are more than just physical detritus; they can hold collective memory. “There’s a resonance that I feel when I’m carving stone,” he said. “I can’t explain it, but I know it’s there.” Found at sites around Europe and the Mediterranean region, caches of amphorae testify to the vast reaches of the Roman empire. The Pratt tablet — “one of the earliest works in Vermont marble to be placed in a cemetery,” Ferrell observes — denotes a different sort of empire: the flourishing quarries and stone-carving industries of New England. Borthwick’s juxtaposition of elements here is fascinating — and more than a little mind-tingling. The exhibit is not didactic, but it offers tantalizing mental rabbit holes.
PAMELA POLSTON
The Empire Strikes Out
A consideration of millennia-spanning time itself is one of them: The amphora exists in that distant past we call “antiquity.” The headstone is merely old — from an accessible past that is evident in cemeteries all over Vermont. What links these periods together is unfathomably primeval stone, taken from the earth and put to human use in life and death throughout the ages. 2021 is a comfortable remove from the rise and fall of ancient Rome, less so from the decline of a once-robust economy in Vermont. What is decidedly uncomfortable to contemplate is the present period of degradation — of climate, natural resources, civility, democracy. As Borthwick writes in his statement for a previous exhibition, titled simply “Amphorae”: “[W]hat might these symbols of Empire allow us to recognize in our current placement along the cycling of civilizations?” Borthwick’s use of beeswax reflects an alarming decline: that of bee colonies. “Conceptually we know that without honeybees, we don’t have much of a food supply,” he said. But the materiality of beeswax has a less-obvious significance in the exhibition, as well. “Beeswax is inert,” Borthwick explained. “The material doesn’t spoil; it doesn’t degrade.” As long as the temperature doesn’t exceed the melting point of
147 degrees Fahrenheit, those beeswax replicas will outlast his stone sculptures. As evidence, Borthwick pointed out that stone structures fall victim to abrasive elements over time — and that ancient Romans kept records on tabulae made of beeswax. Many of them remain intact to this day, he said, housed in the museums of Rome. The beeswax tablets also grace “Objects of Empire” with a pleasant aroma and a warm, earthy color — a contrast to the cold white stone. The materiality of each component, including the reddish blocks of wood, enhances the others aesthetically. As an artist, Borthwick said, he’s become more conscientious about the finite natural resources he uses. And in his sculpture classes at Colby College, where he’s taught for eight years, his students are now more likely to use reclaimed wood and remnant blocks of stone, he said. Borthwick is playing the long game, as it were, mindful of the past and future of the earth-based materials he’s used and loved for 20-plus years. “It’s not trendy,” he said of stone. “But I have an ongoing belief that marble can still speak to people.” m
INFO Bradley Borthwick’s “Objects of Empire,” on view through February 5 at BCA Center in Burlington. burlingtoncityarts.org
BORTHWICK SUGGESTS THAT OBJECTS ARE MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL DETRITUS;
THEY CAN HOLD COLLECTIVE MEMORY.
PAMELA POLSTON
Pratt tablet detail
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art NEW THIS WEEK chittenden county
JEFFREY TRUBISZ: “On the Trail: Scenes and Images,” photographs taken during hikes in New England, the Pacific Northwest and abroad; exhibited on the second-floor gallery wall. December 1-30. Info, 846-4140. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall.
stowe/smuggs
f 2021 MEMBERS’ ART SHOW: The 40th annual unjuried exhibition that showcases membersubmitted artwork alongside the Festival of Trees & Lights. Reception: Friday, December 3, 5-7 p.m. November 30-December 31. Info, 253-8358. The Current in Stowe. f BFA EXHIBIT: Students Jakob Aigeldinger, Garrison French and Caroline Loftus exhibit their artworks. Reception and artist talk: Thursday, December 2, 3-5 p.m. November 29-December 15. Info, 498-3459. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson.
middlebury area
HOLIDAY TRAIN EXHIBIT: The popular Lionel trains return with a Green Mountain backdrop and a brand-new feature: a caboose that livestreams a video of the train traveling through its layout. Book timed visits on Saturdays at henrysheldonmuseum. org. Masks are required. November 27-January 8. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury.
upper valley
JULIE CRABTREE & AMANDA ANN PALMER: Fiber-art landscapes inspired by the Scotland coast, and hand-thrown pottery, respectively. December 1-February 28. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction.
northeast kingdom
ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW: Unique creations by members, including ornaments, paintings, fiber, hand-blown glass, woodworks and more. November 26-January 8. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.
manchester/bennington
‘TRANSIENT BEAUTY’: An exhibition of work by 25 contemporary photographers in response to Vermont icon Snowflake Bentley; a closed-bid auction of the photos benefits the museum and the artists. November 26-December 31. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum.
ART EVENTS 2021 WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: Due to the ongoing pandemic, browse the 32nd annual event virtually: locally made crafts and other items by more than 100 artisans and makers at womensfestivalofcrafts.com. Online. Through December 18. MINIATURE CHRISTMAS TREE RAFFLE: Online auction of artist-decorated tiny trees for the holidays. View trees and place bids at henrysheldonmuseum.org. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury. Through December 21. $5 for one ticket; $20 for five. Info, 388-2117. ‘PANDEMIC PASSAGES’: A monthly online workshop presented by the Passing Project using art to open the unexpected gifts that the pandemic life has given us. Participants can explore their experiences through writing, drawing, dancing or other means. Details at passingproject.org. Sunday, November 18, 4-5:30 p.m. Sliding-scale donations, $10-25. Info, infopassingproject@gmail.com.
Johnine Hoehn Thirty-odd owner Moe O’Hara
has an eye for the unusual, humorous and downright quirky. Johnine Hoehn’s ceramic works tick all those boxes. So it’s not surprising that O’Hara chose to spotlight them in her Burlington shop this month. Among the hundreds of artisanmade goods in the Pine Street showroom, Hoehn’s porcelain pieces stand out — even those just a few inches high. It’s clear that the Shelburne resident, who creates her work at the Shelburne Craft School, has many ideas. In a phone interview, Hoehn said her “figurines” are a series of “little thoughts, non sequiturs”: One idea leads to another, and another. This is evident in her tiny head-and-torso pieces. Some are human, some are monsters and some are hybrids, such as a person with tentacles in place of hair. “I’ve always loved old monster movies,” Hoehn said. But her ceramic versions, she believes, are “kind of fun monsters.” Though her first foray into the medium was a class focused on making bowls and cups, Hoehn wasn’t satisfied with functional items. Experimenting with slab clay caught her imagination; she began hand-building plates and painting them, often with funny messages. “Everyone liked them, so I started doing more,” she said. Examples of her plates hang on the wall at Thirty-odd. The text is sometimes in German — for example: Alles hat eine ende, nur die Wurst hat Zwei (“Everything has an end, only the sausage has two”). Hoehn’s newer wreath series is also wall-hung. But don’t think greenery and festive ribbons. In a piece titled “Bad Hair Day,” a woman’s long blond locks enwrap her head and form a circle — the wreath — around her. One blue eye peers out, looking alarmed. Other popular series are Hoehn’s milk cartons — ceramic re-creations of the pint-size ones served to elementary schoolers — and her anthropomorphized bananas. Hoehn suggested that many of her inventions are “lighthearted but dark.” But her faux perfume bottles with labels such as “Nihilist” are about as negative as she gets. Mostly, she just loves absurdity. “I think what I try to do is make other people smile,” Hoehn said. “I really like that anyone can buy my art. It’s approachable.” Hoehn’s ceramic work is available at Thirty-odd in Burlington; the featured exhibition is on view through December 1. See more at Hoehn’s Instagram: @funf005.
ONGOING SHOWS burlington
‘ABSENCE: SEEING AND UNSEEING THE FLEMING’S COLLECTION’: Large text labels throughout the museum appear in place of artwork that had been on view for decades and whose subject matter or background was deemed hurtful to members of the community. Instead of filling the spaces with new artworks immediately, staff have left them as intentional signs of their commitments to transparency and reckoning. ‘ABSTRACTS: OPENING SPACE FOR IMAGINATION’: Paintings displayed on the Marble Court balcony that allow the museum to reconsider outdated exhibition traditions and start to envision what comes next. ‘THE LEARNING STUDIO’: Part gallery, part classroom, this exhibition space invites visitors to take part in intimate conversations about art and material culture on view from the museum’s
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:
collection. The works show how artists have always been open to documenting experiments and showing pieces in process. STORYTELLING SALON: A selection of artwork from the collection by staff that inspire thinking about the power of storytelling to enact change. The newly created space is for gathering ideas about what new kinds of stories can be told in the museum, sharing multiple perspectives and inviting new voices. Through December 10. Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, in Burlington. AL LARSEN: “Four Feet Forward: Objects, Excess & Illusion,” video and mixed-media pieces incorporating puppets and everyday objects by the Champlain College faculty member. Through November 28. Info, 865-8980. Champlain College Art Gallery in Burlington. ARTWORK AT UVMMC: Oil paintings of cows by Stephanie Bush, wood shadowboxes by Sam Macy
ART LISTINGS AND SPOTLIGHTS ARE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POLSTON. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.
and abstract butterfly paintings by Maria Angelache in the Main Street Corridor and Ambulatory Care Center 3; mixed-media paintings by Kathleen Grant in McClure 4; acrylic paintings and monotypes by Elizabeth Powell and photographs by Kristina Pentek in ACC 2. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through January 24. Info, 865-7296. University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. ‘UNBOUND’: Painting, sculpture and works on paper by Kirsten Reynolds, Rob Hitzig and Rachel Gross that explore contemporary approaches to abstraction as it relates to architecture, space and materials. BRADLEY BORTHWICK: “Objects of Empire,” sculptural installation that evolved from the artist’s research on the Dorset marble quarry and ancient Roman storehouses, and ponders shared cycles of civilization. Through February 5. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.
GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE!
PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY FRIDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.
ART SHOWS
HOWARD CENTER ARTS COLLECTIVE: “Interwoven,” works in a variety of mediums by artist-members who have lived experience with mental health challenges or addiction. Through November 30. Info, 865-7296. Burlington City Hall. JOHNINE HOEHN: Humorous ceramic works that are heavy on nostalgia, monster movies and personal foibles. Through December 1. Info, 338-7441. Thirty-odd in Burlington. MALTEX ARTISTS: Paintings by Dierdre Michelle, Judy Hawkins, Nancy Chapman and Jean Cherouny and photographs by Caleb Kenna and Michael Couture in the building’s hallways. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through March 31. Info, 865-7296. Maltex Building in Burlington. SOUTH END ART HOP JURIED SHOW: Fifty artists working in a variety of mediums on all three floors of the building. Juror Mark van Wagner chose as first-, second- and third-place winners Longina Smolinski, Suomo Snook and Kalin Thomas, respectively. Frankie Gardiner won honorable mention. Through November 30. Info, 859-9222. The Vaults in Burlington. VANESSA COMPTON: “Grandmother,” mixed-media collages inspired by the artist’s grandmothers, both artists and of different cultures. Through December 9. Info, info@krinshawstudios.com. Karma Bird House Gallery in Burlington. ‘...WILL YOU SING?’ MURAL: A 43-foot, wall-size mural, a project of Big Heavy World, features photographs of more than 200 Vermont musicians and audio clips of their music. Collaborators include photographers Luke Awtry and Jim Lockridge, design firm Solidarity of Unbridled Labour, Vermont Folklife Center and Gamma Imaging of Chicago. On view during business hours in the building’s entry hallway. Through December 31. Info, info@ bigheavyworld.com. Howard Space Center in Burlington. WOLFGANG SCHWARTZ: “Divided as One,” an exhibit of ink on paper, gel works and limited-edition screen-prints that bring together nature and the last two years of our collective, and sometimes divided, emotional roller coaster. Through December 31. Info, 406-223-1333. Flynndog Gallery in Burlington.
chittenden county
ADRIENNE GINTER & ERIKA LAWLOR SCHMIDT: Hand-cut paper works that tell stories from nature, and monotypes that reflect the natural world and the interconnectedness of all life, respectively. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through January 31. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne. ELLIOT BURG: Photographic portraits shot on the streets of Havana, Cuba. Gates 1-8. SHANNON O’CONNELL: Paintings with phosphorescent and UV-sensitive pigments mixed into the paint, allowing secondary paintings to be revealed. In the Skyway. Through December 31. Info, 8657296. Burlington International Airport in South Burlington. ‘EYESIGHT & INSIGHT: LENS ON AMERICAN ART’: An online exhibition of artworks at shelburnemuseum.org that illuminates creative responses to perceptions of vision; four sections explore themes ranging from 18th-century optical technologies to the social and historical connotations of eyeglasses in portraiture from the 19th century to the present. Through October 16. ‘IN PLAIN SIGHT: REDISCOVERING CHARLES SUMNER BUNN’S DECOYS’: An online exhibition of shorebird decoys carved by the member of the Shinnecock-Montauk Tribes, based on extensive research and resolving historic controversy. Through October 5. ‘PATTERN & PURPOSE: AMERICAN QUILTS FROM THE SHELBURNE MUSEUM’: The museum presents 20 textile masterpieces from its collection dating from the first decades of the 1800s to the turn of the 21st century, organized by associate curator Katie Wood Kirchhoff. Online only at shelburnemuseum.org. Through February 1. Info, 985-3346. Shelburne Museum. ‘THE GIFT OF ART’: An off-season exhibition featuring a changing collection of artworks. Open by appoint-
ment or during special events. Through April 30. Info, 434-2167. Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington. ‘HOMETOWN WATERCOLORISTS’: Five members of the Vermont Watercolor Society show their work in landscapes, portraits, abstract and still lifes: Joey Bibeau, Lynn Cummings, Alice Eckles, Martin Lalonde and Lauren Wooden. Through January 7. Info, 536-1722. South Burlington Public Art Gallery. JULIA HECHTMAN AND MELISSA POKORNY: “Kindred,” an artist collaboration including video, photography and sculpture, combining materials generated on research trips to Iceland and other locations. Through December 10. Info, bcollier@ smcvt.edu. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester. MAREVA MILLARC: “Drawn to the Rhythm,” bold works in oil, acrylic, ink and mixed media. Through December 15. Info, 662-4808. ArtHound Gallery in Essex. ‘ONLY MAPLE’: Watercolors by Harald Aksdal, works in wood by Carl Newton and Toby Fulwiler, and ceramics by Lucia Bragg. Through December 19. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
TOM ZENATY: “Within,” close-up, macro and creative photography. Through November 30. Info, 598-2080. Village Wine and Coffee in Shelburne.
— Melody Beattie, self-help author
barre/montpelier
‘THE CATAMOUNT IN VERMONT’: An exhibition that explores the feline symbol of Vermont through the lenses of art, science and culture. Through May 31. Info, 479-8500. Vermont History Museum in Montpelier. ‘CELEBRATE!’: An annual exhibition featuring fine art and crafts created by more than 60 SPA member artists, displayed on all three floors of the building. Masks required. Through December 29. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre. EMMA NORMAN: “In the Night of Day,” photographs of San Francisco Bay as the skies turned amber from wildfire smoke and fog on September 9, 2020. Through December 31. Info, jess@cal-vt.org. Center for Arts and Learning in Montpelier.
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JENNIFER BRYAN: “Liquid Mind,” abstract paintings by the NU alumna ’05. Through December 10. Info, 485-2183. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, in Northfield. JUDY GREENWALD: Pastel paintings by the local artist; prints of each work also available. Through December 29. Info, marab@vermontelders.org. Espresso Bueno in Barre. KASEY CHILD & KENNETH GOSS: Textural abstract acrylic paintings and original photography of the Vermont countryside, respectively. Through November 30. Info, 279-5048. ART, etc. in Northfield. MERYL LEBOWITZ: “A Way from Reality,” abstract paintings. Through November 30. Info, 479-7069. AR Market in Barre. PJ DESROCHERS: “To See & Be Seen,” an exhibition of nonbinary tarot cards. Through November 28. Info, 552-0877. The Front in Montpelier. SUSAN BULL RILEY: Three large oil and 32 watercolor paintings, from landscapes to intimate studies of plants and birds. Through December 31. Info, 229-6206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier. TUMBLING BLOCKS COMMUNITY QUILT PROJECT: Montpelier Alive exhibits the Capital City’s newest piece of public art, a project intended to help “stitch together” the community during the pandemic. More than 250 individuals, including more than 100 students, contributed designs for panels that Sabrina Fadial collated and made into a “quilt.” Through December 31. Info, 488-4303. Montpelier Transit Center. VERMONT CLAY GUILD DISPLAY: The nonprofit group of ceramic artists exhibits some of their creations in a variety of styles. Through November 30. Info, vermontclayguild@gmail.com. Capitol Region Visitors Center in Montpelier. BARRE/MONTPELIER SHOWS
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WILL C.: Vibrant original paintings by the Vermont artist. Through December 7. Info, fillingstationvt@ gmail.com. Filling Station in Middlesex.
stowe/smuggs
‘CALL AND RESPONSE’: An exhibition of images by eight members of the Photographers Workroom. KRISTINA SNOOK: “Tradition/Improvisation,” fiber works by the Vermont artist. Through January 15. Info, 888-1261. River Arts in Morrisville. CATHY CONE: “There Was Once,” hand-painted photographs and black-and-white Piezography by the Vermont artist. Through January 8. MICHAEL MAHNKE: “A River Moving in You,” a large-scale, site-specific work by the gallery cofounder, located on the Johnson Village Green, that reflects the natural environment and our relationships to one another. Through December 31. Info, 646-519-1781. Minema Gallery in Johnson. ‘GEMS AND GIANTS’: A holiday showcase featuring large and small artworks from more than 80 member artists. Through December 19. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville. THE LAMOILLE ART & JUSTICE PROJECT: LISTENING OUTSIDE THE LINES: A sound installation featuring oral histories and corresponding artists’ interpretations, focused on creating community and cultural preservation, and providing a mirror for those who have lacked reflection. Through December 17. Info, 635-2727. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson.
mad river valley/waterbury
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‘FLUID EXPRESSIONS’: The annual awards show by the Vermont Watercolor Society features 30 outstanding paintings in a variety of styles, both realistic and abstract. Through December 17. Info, 496-6682. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield.
middlebury area
HANNAH SECORD WADE: “Swamplands,” large-scale, green-dominated paintings by the Maine-based artist. Open by appointment. Through November 30. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.
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‘ITTY BITTY: TINY TEXTS IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS’: Books from the 17th to 21st centuries that measure between 1.8 and 10 centimeters, from religious manuscripts to cookbooks, children’s books to Shakespeare. Visitors are not currently allowed in the library but may view the works online at go.middlebury.edu/ tinybooks. Through May 31. Davis Family Library, Middlebury College. ‘PRIDE 1983’: Through interviews with organizers, photographs and scanned images of historic documents, the exhibit, curated by Meg Tamulonis of the Vermont Queer Archives, explores the origins and lasting legacies of Vermont’s first Pride March on June 25, 1983, in Burlington. It can also be viewed online at vtfolklife.org. Through March 25. Info, 388-4964. Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury.
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“HENRY AT 200’: An exhibit celebrating the museum founder and collector of New England history with documents, photographs, scrapbooks, autographs, Middlebury imprints, diaries, music ephemera, relics and even a lock of Napoleon’s hair. ‘SIGHTLINES’: Photographs by Caleb Kenna and paintings by Jill Madden that explore the Joseph Battell and Breadloaf Wilderness areas of the Green Mountains. Through December 31. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury.
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GINGERBREAD SHOWCASE: Original gingerbread house creations by community members. People’s choice awards are given in a variety of categories. Through December 10. Info, 775-0356. Chaffee Art Center in Rutland.
upper valley
AMY HOOK-THERRIEN & MOLLY HARPER: “Birches at the Border,” watercolors and pottery respectively, that celebrate one of New England’s most iconic tree species. Through November 30. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction.
f HOLIDAY SHOW: Prints and handmade gift cards by artist members. Reception: Friday, December 3, 5-7 p.m. Through January 29. Info, 295-5901. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction. PAULA CLOUDPAINTER: “Cloudmaps and Other Travels Through the Atmosphere,” watercolors and mixed-media paintings. Through December 31. Info, 457-2295. Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock. YUKO NISHIKAWA: “Piku Piku,” mobiles by the Brooklyn-based Japanese designer and contemporary ceramicist. Through November 28. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.
northeast kingdom
ALAN JENNINGS: “Finding the Way Home,” animated films the artist created about growing up in Vermont, including “The Northeast Kingdom,” “Dream of Deerman” and “The Bill Jennings Mysteries”; and the drawings, paintings and sculptures he uses to make them. Watch at catamountarts.org. Through December 31. Info, 748-2600. Catamount Arts Center in St. Johnsbury. ‘A LIFE IN LISTS AND NOTES’: An exhibition that celebrates the poetic, mnemonic, narrative and enumerative qualities of lists and notes. The objects on display span myriad creative, professional, bureaucratic, domestic and personal uses of lists through the ages. Through May 31. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover. ‘LOCAL COLOR’: Nature-inspired works in a variety of mediums by members of Caspian Arts. Through December 31. Info, 533-2000. Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. ‘PIECING TOGETHER’: A group exhibit of artists and makers focusing on the transitional use of “pieces” to create a whole work of art. Through December 4. Info, thesatellitegalleryvt@gmail.com. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville. STJ ART ON THE STREET: A walkable gallery of downtown storefronts and shop windows featuring fine art by Mwanga William, George Pearlman, Andrea Pearlman, Kelly Doyle, Barbara Grey and Tara Moreau. Indoor galleries along the route include work by Harlan Mack, Jackie Fox, Elizabeth Nelson, Anna Lorenzini, Keith Chamberlin, Terry Ekasala and others. Through November 30. Info, 748-2600. Downtown St. Johnsbury.
brattleboro/okemo valley
B. LYNCH: “Pull Back the Curtain,” a fantastical universe of the Reds and the Greys, disparate societal factions set in the 18th century, using puppetry, drawing, painting, linoleum block printing and digital animation. Through February 13. DELITA MARTIN: “Between Worlds,” a year-long installation in the museum’s front windows that reimagines the identities and roles of Black women in the context of Black culture and African history. Through May 31. GUILD OF VERMONT FURNITURE MAKERS: “Evolving Traditions,” contemporary works in wood crafted by members of the guild. Through February 13. MICHAEL ABRAMS: “Arcadia Rediscovered,” a luminous, misty painting installation that invites viewers to be mindfully in the world. Through March 5. NATALIE FRANK: “Painting With Paper,” abstracted portraits of imagined female figures, each accompanied by an animal, in wet pigmented cotton and linen paper pulp. Through February 13. SCOTT BOYD: “Endangered Alphabets,” sculptures that pair the ancient form of the obelisk with near-extinct languages. Through November 30. VERMONT GLASS GUILD: “Inspired by the Past,” contemporary works in glass exhibited alongside historical counterparts from the museum’s collection. Through March 5. WILLIAM RANSOM: “Keep Up/Hold Up,” mixed-media installations that speak to the current state of
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CALL TO ARTISTS ARTFUL ICE SHANTIES: BMAC and Retreat Farm invite entries to the second annual ice shanty exhibition in February. Details and registration at brattleboromuseum.org. Deadline: December 15. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Info, 257-0124. ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Artist development grants support Vermontbased artists at all stages of their careers, funding activities that enhance mastery of a craft or that increase the viability of an artist’s business. Funding may also support aspects of the creation of new work. Grant amounts range from $250 to $2,000. Details and application at vermontartscouncil.org. Deadline: February 14. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier. ‘FACE IT’: We are hardwired to look carefully at what other people’s faces reveal — the lines of age, a gamut of emotions, even an attempt to disguise what’s on their mind. We want to share portraits and selfportraits, abstract or realistic, masked or unmasked, in any medium that convey a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, emotions and expressions. Submission info at studioplacearts.com. Deadline: December 4. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10 for nonmembers; free for SPA members. Info, 479-7069. ‘LET’S COLLAGE ABOUT IT!’: Submit collage art for an opportunity to be exhibited at the center’s 2022 community exhibition, January 1 through April. Exhibition form at cal-vt.org, or email jess@cal-vt.org. Deadline: December 15. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier. Free. Info, jess@cal-vt.org. MICRO-GRANTS FOR ARTISTS: The Montpelier Public Arts Commission is offering a micro-grant program for Vermont-based artists for up to $1,500 for permanent or temporary art installations throughout the city. The request for proposals is open for an indefinite period; artists may submit at anytime during the year. The commission will review and award grants twice yearly; the next deadline is March 30. For more info and to review the RFP, visit montpelier-vt.org. Info, 522-0150.
social tension in the U.S., the reckoning with a history of white supremacy, and the potential for flare-up or collapse. Through March 5. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. ‘DEEP BLUE’: Curated by American artist Katherine Bradford, this group show examines “deep blue” as a color and as a phrase that can describe mood, the natural environment, music and even a region’s political landscape; more than 70 paintings, sculptures, photographs, works on paper and videos by 70 artists. CLARK DERBES: “Time Travelers and Portals,” illusionistic sculptures carved from blocks of wood and painted. KATHERINE BRADFORD:
“Philosophers’ Clambake,” more than a dozen luminous, dreamlike works that merge color field painting with figuration. Advance reservations recommended but not required. Through November 28. Info, 952-1056. Hall Art Foundation in Reading.
manchester/bennington
ALAN DEL VECCHIO: “Moments,” digital prints and photography. Through November 28. Info, sales2@theelectricrose.com. The Beyond Gallery in Bennington, VT. DUSTY BOYNTON: “Boundless,” new paintings and mixed-media works by the Vermont artist, curated in collaboration with Stowe’s 571 Projects. Through December 31. Info, jfranklin@benningtonmuseum. org. Bennington Museum. ‘HIROSHIGE AND THE CHANGING JAPANESE LANDSCAPE’: An exhibition of Japanese woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) that depict how the political climate of 19th-century Japan influenced its art and how the art influenced politics. Through February 27. Info, 367-1311. SVAC MEMBER EXHIBITION: Works in painting, sculpture and other mediums by member artists of the gallery. Through November 28. Info, 362-1405. Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester.
randolph/royalton
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: A wide variety of goods made by local artists, crafters and specialty vendors. Online shopping available after Friday, November 26, at chandler-arts.org. Through December 24. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph.
outside vermont
ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBITION AND SALE: “Wintry Mix,” works in a variety of mediums by member artists from Vermont and New Hampshire. Through December 30. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H.
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‘ECOLOGIES: A SONG FOR OUR PLANET’: An exhibition of installations, videos, sculptures, paintings, drawings and photographs that explore the relationship between humans and nature, and disruptions to the planet’s ecosystems caused by human intervention. Through February 27. ‘HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR ONE VOICE TO REACH ANOTHER?’: An exhibition of major works from the museum’s collection, along with new acquisitions and loans, that explore the theme of voice in both physical and metaphorical registers. Through February 13. ‘THE WORLD OF YOUSUF KARSH: A PRIVATE ESSENCE’: A showcase of 111 silver-gelatin portraits by the renowned Armenian Canadian photographer, shot and printed himself; donated by the artist’s estate and his widow. Through January 30. RAGNAR KJARTANSSON: “Sumarnótt” (“Death Is Elsewhere”), an immersive installation by the Icelandic artist, filmed under the midnight sun, consisting of a seven-channel video and musical soundscape that surround the viewer. Through January. Info, 514-285-2000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.
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HERB CARPENTER: “Photographic Images of the Night Sky’s Majesty, Beauty and Splendor,” an Untitled-19 exhibition of images by the former1businessman, policeman and educator, and longtime astronomy aficionado. Through November 26. Info, 518-5631604. Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh, N.Y. ‘THORNTON DIAL: THE TIGER CAT’: Part of a new acquisition of 10 artworks from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, the exhibition looks closely at the late artist’s work and the ways in which it broadens an understanding of American art. Through February 27. Info, 603-646-2808. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. m
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11/23/21 11/18/21 11:01 1:54 PM AM
COURTESY OF MICHAEL AARON LEVITON
music+nightlife
S UNDbites
News and views on the local music + nightlife scene B Y C HRI S FA R N S WO R TH
Death and Magic It’s been a long, winding trip since the days of gigging across Burlington for ALEX TOTH. The University of Vermont grad went from playing funk in JOHN BROWN’S BODY and jazz with the LAZYBIRDS to forming art-pop act RUBBLEBUCKET and later collaborating with artists such as KIMBRA and CUDDLE MAGIC. Though Toth and his Rubblebucket cofounder KALMIA TRAVER eventually separated as a couple, the band continues to thrive. The two have pursued solo careers, as well: Traver formed KALBELLS, and Toth started his own project, aptly titled TOTH. He released Practice Magic and Seek Professional Help When Necessary in 2019, a breakup record that is equal parts raw pain and tender reflection. You and Me and Everything followed in April of this year, a record that draped a shimmering coat of sunshine over the reflections of Practice Magic. Though still full of clever rhythms and art-rock experiments, Toth’s latest LP seems to possess an undercurrent of quiet satisfaction, if not contentment. 56
The album’s warmth is tempered by an EP that Toth released in October, a darker set of songs recorded during the same sessions as You and Me. Titled simply DEATH EP, the five-track recording chronicles the struggle that Toth — a recovering alcoholic — had when dealing with a family member’s addiction. “I’m eight years sober today, actually,” Toth told me by phone while waiting to get his tour van fixed in Nashville, Tenn. “So writing the DEATH EP came quite easily. The actual experience was painful, though.” Toth recalled his efforts to help his relative through their addiction. “I talked with them more in the last eight months of their life than I had my whole life prior to that,” he said. “So I grew very close and tried to help … but, yeah, it was too late.” That family member died the day after the Practice Magic release party. For Toth, seeing someone succumb to a disease with which he had struggled for so long was jarring. The songs on DEATH EP express Toth’s pain and confusion, but they also reveal the silver lining he discovered.
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
TOTH
“It solidified how lucky I feel to have made it to sobriety,” he admitted, “in all the ways, really. Other people I know in recovery, they struggle to find their creativity again at first. It can take a little to recalibrate.” In his first month sober, Toth wrote 21 songs in 21 days. “I realized that revealing my demons, as opposed to hiding them with alcohol, gave me plenty to work with as a songwriter,” he said. Clarity brought prolificness, and Toth’s projects began to pile up. But as he finished recording You and Me and DEATH EP, the pandemic shut everything down. With tours and recording sessions canceled, Toth adapted quickly. He worked on mixing and mastering the records he had, and he collaborated with HANNAH MOHAN of Northampton, Mass., indie-rock band AND THE KIDS. Yet the longer the lockdown continued, the more not playing live music got to him. “The way I understand music is as a live experience, human to human,” Toth explained. “There’s something about playing live that’s like climbing a
mountain. You’re pushing every faculty to the extreme, but it’s just such a dream to play these massive shows, you know? So to go almost two years cut off from that energy has been tough.” Now Tōth are back on the road, opening about a month’s worth of shows for DR. DOG before headlining their own Northeast tour, including a stop at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge in South Burlington this Tuesday, November 30. While Toth loves the polyrhythmic power of Rubblebucket, the songwriter feels that his three-piece is more of a direct line to his heart and brain, particularly because he’s the main singer. “Playing in this trio is almost effortless,” he said. “It offers freedom of movement as a musician, and you can explore. I love that aspect of it. The band is more boiled down to my essence than other projects.” He’s also excited to bring his band back to Burlington, a city that’s never far from his thoughts. “I still pop up to Burlington whenever I can,” he said. He recalled a pandemic bike ride with his dad, songwriter HENRY JAMISON, calling it “the loveliest excursion. “The town just means so much to me,” Toth continued. “So much of who I am as a musician was formed up there.” For the homecoming show, Toth will draw from each of his albums, which together form an emotional arc. “Grief is grief; loss is loss,” Toth proclaimed. “We all experience these things in microwaves and macro waves. So a thing I was feeling in 2016 when Kal and I broke up still applies today, but in a different way, you know? “There was a time when the songs on Practice Magic were too raw,” he said. “So it’s nice to play them now and have that distance. The same goes for all my work: They evolve with my emotions.”
Go Figuer Burlington’s FATHER FIGUER are back with a new single. Titled “Ghost,” the song is a dreamy, shoegazing piece of music, full of slow-burn menace and almost dissociative detachment. With a beat that seems like it could fall apart at any moment and distorted guitars stumbling over the chords like a drunkard walking home from the bar, “Ghost” is an eerie slice of indie rock. It is the second single from the band’s forthcoming sophomore LP, Jack of All Fruits, following the Halloween release of “Garden.” In an email to Seven Days, Father
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Figuer co-vocalist/guitarist ERIN WHITE described the inspiration behind the song. “This project as a whole confronts the accumulated versions of self,” she wrote. “I see myself standing in a room with a decade’s worth of accumulated artwork haphazardly pasted on the walls around me and realizing there is nowhere left for my brush to land. The space exhausted. I have to leave them behind in order to create new. This farewell is a happy one, and a tribute to those who helped me to build it.” Jack of All Fruits is the followup to the band’s excellent 2020 debut, Transitions. Judging by the two advance singles, it’s safe to say we can expect another record full of gorgeous, interwoven guitar lines; MY BLOODY VALENTINE-like excursions into post-rock; and washed-out, dreamlike vocals from White and co-singer/guitarist CAROLINE FRANKS. Check out the band’s latest at fatherfiguerband.bandcamp.com.
Fare Thee Well It’s been a tough year for Burlington in many ways. For one, we keep losing some of the best members of our community far too young. JASON PRATT passed away earlier this month after a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis. I never knew Jason
personally; I just played some shows for which he ran sound. But I saw his band DYSFUNKSHUN play a few times, right after I moved to Burlington in 2001. Despite my love of FAITH NO MORE and the DEFTONES, I generally loathe the combination of rap and rock. It so rarely does anything for me. So when the bassist in my band at the time urged me to check out “local heavy royalty,” as he called Jason Pratt Dysfunkshun, I wasn’t too enthusiastic. The band was a force, though. Its members ripped through their punk-rap set with aplomb, and it was hard not to notice the passion and talent with which Pratt played his guitar. I became a fan, so naturally they broke up the following year. Pratt’s good friend and former bandmate RICHARD BAILEY reflected on Pratt’s effect on his life in an email to me last week. “He was an intelligent and caring friend,” Bailey wrote. “The band didn’t know we were only running on six cylinders until Jason showed us what a V8 sounded like. I always felt like Dysfunkshun gained a great guitarist in Jason, while I gained a brother.” Dysfunkshun are an important piece of Burlington’s music history. Pratt is part of the city’s history now, too, and new generations of Burlington musicians should know of him, lest we forget. Rest in peace, Jason. m
4/6/21 11:32 AM
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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9/14/21 4:46 PM
music+nightlife
live music WED.24
The Jeff Salisbury Band (blues rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Jerborn & Boxbanger (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.
COURTESY OF NIGHT PROTOCOL
CLUB DATES
Find the most up-to-date listings for 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.
Raised by Hippies (jam, rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5. The Ray Vega Quartet (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 7 p.m. $5.
THU.25
American Roots Night at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free.
FRI.26
Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime with SixFoxWhiskey (Sublime tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$23. CRWD CTRL (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. The Duel (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free. Jaded Ravins (Americana) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Kippincoe (folk rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
SAT.27 // NIGHT PROTOCOL [’80S ELECTRONIC]
Back to the Future You don’t have to recall the days of Reaganomics or own a copy of Tron to be excited for a show from ’80s
Madaila with Willverine (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $15/$18.
throwbacks NIGHT PROTOCOL. The synth-loving Burlington outfit’s live show is loaded with covers from the most neon of decades, as well as with originals
Nighthawk (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m.
from the band’s 2019 debut, Tears in the Rain. With their retro-futuristic sound, Night Protocol turn Vermont’s oldest dive bar into a high-energy dance
SAT.27
Bob Gagnon Quartet (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Dead Set (Grateful Dead covers) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12. Dirty Looks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Jester Jigs (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Left Eye Jump (blues rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. Max Gregor (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Night Protocol (’80s electronic) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. Peter Wayne Burton (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free. Quadra with Phil Abair Band & Mr. French (rock covers) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15/$18. TWRP with Rich Aucoin (electronic, rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$23.
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party this Saturday, November 27, at Charlie-O’s World Famous in Montpelier. SUN.28
Zen Brunch with Tom Pearo (ambient) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.
TUE.30
Dead Set (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6 p.m. $20. Dead Set (Grateful Dead covers) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Honky Tonk Tuesday featuring Wild Leek River (bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Toth with Dari Bay (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15/$18.
WED.1
Irish Sessions (celtic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Josie’s Ring (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
The Ray Vega Band (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 7 p.m. $5.
djs WED.24
CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Wooly Wednesdays with DJ Steal Wool (eclectic) 6 p.m. Free.
FRI.26
DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Memery (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Move B*tch: 2000s Hip Hop Night (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 10 p.m. $5.
SAT.27
CRAIGLAND: One Nation, One Groove (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 10 p.m. $5.
DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free. DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. DJ Snakefoot (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. DJ Taka (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $5. Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Reign One (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.
comedy WED.24
The Comedy Lab (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5. Kendall Farrell (comedy) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. Standup Comedy Open Mic (open mic comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.
FRI.26
WED.1
Ryan Niemiller (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $30.
open mics & jams
SAT.27
TUE.30
Improv Jam (improv comedy) at Happy Place Café, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
Wooly Wednesdays with DJ Steal Wool (eclectic) 6 p.m. Free.
Lit Club (open mic poetry) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Ryan Niemiller (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $30.
MON.29
TUE.30
Standup Comedy Open Mic (open mic comedy) at Happy Place Café, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
trivia, karaoke, etc. FRI.26
Don’t Forget the Stuffing: Haus of STDs Drag Show (drag show) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.
TUE.30
Karaoke with DJ Molotov (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. m
GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
REVIEW this Poverty Line, Post Soviet Aggression (HT059) (HISTAMINE TAPES, CASSETTE, DIGITAL)
I was about 15 seconds into listening to experimental artist Poverty Line’s latest release when I remembered how Manuel Noriega was captured in 1990. Anybody else recall that? It was weird. The Panamanian military leader had taken refuge from invading American forces at the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States, a diplomatic mission of the Holy See. Since you can’t exactly roll your tanks into one of the Pope’s safe houses, U.S. forces resorted to some unorthodox tactics to dislodge Noriega. They bombarded the nunciature with music played at a
Eric Bushey, Been There a Long, Long Time (SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)
Death, God and home. It’s hard to find three stronger themes in folk music, and Eric Bushey leans into each of them on his debut album, Been There a Long, Long Time. The 11 tracks of fiddle- and banjo-heavy bluegrass and country stompers find Bushey contemplating the meaning of loss and acceptance (“Who Will Part the Waters Now?”), a family legacy of bootlegging (“Four Stalks In”), and making deals with the devil (“Robbie at the Crossroads”). It’s a true American
deafening volume, including Van Halen’s hit “Panama” from their record 1984. And after 10 days, Noriega surrendered. Now, I doubt Noriega was a Van Halen fan — 10 days of David Lee Roth whoa-ohs would get to me, too. But next time, someone in U.S. Special Forces should make a call to Poverty Line. The Burlingtonbased ambient/power electronics project is the work of Charles Garey. On his latest album, Post Soviet Aggression (HT059), Garey crafts a work so dissonant, so brutal on the ears that federal drug agents could have used it to coerce a cocaine trafficking admission from Nancy Reagan. “Intro” starts with a piercing shot of static, pitched perfectly to access some sort of childhood trauma. The sound of power tools, ground up into a plate of sonic chuck, blares out like an
alarm, while a distorted voice tells of the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the liner notes, Garey explains that his latest work is “an examination of the First Chechan War,” using Russian media war footage from 1996. He manipulates the sounds through effects pedals, weaving them throughout the drone. A twist of noise like a searching radio dial bleeds into a human scream, transmuted into a horrific warble. Second track “Chechnya ’96” is no less abrasive, featuring bursts of gunfire drenched in reverb. For those not interested in experimental music, Poverty Line is a tough listen. Even for the initiated, this is the sharp end of the genre, the sort of drone that unbalances rather than invites meditation. It brings to mind something that American avant-garde composer John Cage said in a 1957 lecture. Cage called music “a purposeless play” that is “an affirmation of life — not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply a
way of waking up to the very life we’re living.” Post Soviet Aggression is a brutal record. But as the artistic representation of what people lived during a brutal event, perhaps it should be. The album also fits nicely with the rest of the Histamine Tapes catalog. The East Montpelier label specializes in reclaiming used C30 cassette tapes and releasing carefully curated experimental music on them, complete with album art made from hand-cut photo collages. For Poverty Line, the label used photos from a church architecture book, as well as the safety brochure from a Southwest Airlines flight. The overall effect is an artistically intriguing if not pleasant-sounding piece of work. If you have a cassette player, consider picking up the physical copy, just for the art alone. But relax, non-gear collectors: You can stream the record at histaminetapes.bandcamp.com and test your noise tolerance level.
gothic record, full of tradition and weighty themes. Though Been There a Long, Long Time is Bushey’s first record, he is far from unknown in Vermont’s music scene. The guitarist, banjo player and vocalist is a member of the Blue Rock Boys, the Stragglers, and Fiddlehead Hollow, all bands specializing in folk and roots music. When he’s not gigging around the area, Bushey is also the director of instrumental music at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans. His expertise is evident in spades throughout the record. First and foremost, Bushey is a skilled composer. The melancholy arrangement on “Walnut Hollow” allows for the banjo and fiddle to sway in minor-key
movements, giving the instrumental track a sense of tonal darkness. Shoutout to Bushey’s Fiddlehead Hollow compatriot Alex “Rusty” Charpentier for the tastefully evocative violin parts. Many of Bushey’s fellow folk-scene musicians play on his debut. The Blue Rock Boys’ Cliff Crosby provides vocals and acoustic guitar, and Stragglers bassist Justin Bedell handles the low end. A host of guest vocalists join in to create harmonies that Bushey layers across his songs. “Suave Brevard (For Roger Brevard)” shows Bushey’s playful, jazz-leaning side. The album’s sequencing is handled well, balancing Bushey’s various influences. He even makes a rock excursion and trades the banjo for a Fender Telecaster on “Four Stalks In.” When he presents a more traditional number, such as “Browns River Rambler,” the contrast reveals a carefully
curated album rather than a collection of down-home yarns. On his home page, Bushey writes that the death of his mother in 2018 heavily influenced his songwriting on Been There a Long, Long Time. The reflective, even accepting nature of the lyrics on the title track reveals a man grappling with the inevitability of death. “When the wind blows hard and wins the fight / when that old tree does come down / when they cut her up to warm their stoves / I hope I’m dead and gone,” he sings. It’s a lyric that could sound overly dark, but the notion of not wanting to outlive the trees on his property, of moving on in the natural order of things, fits the spirit of the record. This is an unrelentingly mature album. Been There a Long, Long Time is available at ericbushey.com and on Spotify.
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 9/7/10 1, 2021 3:37:41 PM 59
on screen ‘The Pursuit of Love’ HHHH
T
COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS
o get in the seasonal spirit, I watched a series about a dysfunctional family of British aristocrats who know how to throw a holiday party — if you’re up for hunting, awkward dancing and wearing paper crowns to dinner. No, not the royals, but the Radletts of Alconleigh, the fictional focus of Nancy Mitford’s 1945 book The Pursuit of Love. Written and directed by Emily Mortimer — best known for her acting roles and her series “Doll & Em” — this three-episode series is the third BBC adaptation of the novel. It was released on Amazon Prime Video earlier this year.
TV REVIEW
The deal
Fanny Logan (Emily Beecham) was abandoned as an infant by her feckless mother (Mortimer), whom everyone in the family calls “the Bolter.” In 1927, teenage Fanny spends the holidays with her beloved cousin Linda Radlett (Lily James), who lives in the countryside with five siblings. While Fanny is quiet and studious, Linda is a madcap romantic itching to escape the home in which she’s been virtually imprisoned by her archconservative father (Dominic West), who doesn’t believe in education for women. When she does escape, however, her new life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We follow Linda and Fanny from the flapper era to the London Blitz — through marriages, affairs, babies, ideological conversions and family crises. Throughout, their story poses a time-honored question: Which type of person is happier, a restless “bolter” or a stable “sticker”?
Will you like it?
Perhaps the above question should be rephrased as “Which type of woman is happier?” because feminism is front and center in Mortimer’s adaptation. With her cry of “Love is my religion!” Linda defies the destiny laid out for her as a daughter of the aristocracy: marriage to a man like her father, followed by childbearing in obscurity. Fanny gives her cousin the novels of Virginia Woolf in an effort to expand her horizons. But Linda prefers to learn by 60
With her limited repertoire of expressions, James has often seemed miscast. But her childish pouts and look-at-me smiles are a good fit for Linda, a daddy’s girl who’s still figuring out how to grow up. No mere wallflower, Beecham brings a sly wistfulness to Fanny. And they both look smashing in Sinéad Kidao’s costumes, which are in themselves sufficient reason to watch. It’s easy to get caught up in the sumptuous surfaces of “The Pursuit of Love” — the sparkly flapper dresses, the lovingly detailed family holiday tableaux, the jeweltoned lighting of a scene in a Parisian boîte. Like “The Queen’s Gambit,” Mortimer’s series works as pure escapism. But it has a serious side, too, which we glimpse as Linda struggles to find meaning in her life by aiding refugees of the Spanish Civil War. Can the pursuit of love ever yield happiness, or is it a pursuit with no end? “Bolting” is one logical response to a misogynist society, the story suggests, but a rebellion like Linda’s may not stick. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com
IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY... DEFIANT DEBS Beecham and James play cousins with divergent destinies in the new BBC adaptation of a classic novel.
doing — which, for her, means repeatedly falling in and out of love. In the process, she becomes a “fallen woman” — but also, debatably, a liberated woman, exploring her potential and limits in a distinctly modern manner. Fanny, meanwhile, leads a more conventional life, but not an unreflective one, as she continually compares herself with Linda and questions her own role. It’s a familiar story, but Mortimer’s stylized approach ensures that it’s not a stale or a stodgy one. There’s some Wes Anderson DNA in this Mitford adaptation, and “The Pursuit of Love” also shows the influence of the freewheeling, postmodern approach to period drama that made The Favourite a hit. Wry captions pop up to introduce us to the large cast of quirky characters. And, starting with the appearance of the
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
“LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE” (three episodes,
bohemian Lord Merlin (Andrew Scott, aka the “hot priest” from “Fleabag”), those characters engage in surreal dance interludes set to music that postdates them. Bryan Ferry, New Order, T. Rex and Nina Simone alternate with classical selections on the soundtrack. Purists may not welcome these anachronisms or the occasional cartoonishness of the characterizations. A scene in which Linda’s first husband meets her soon-to-be second husband basically consists of the former declaring, “I’m a fascist!” and the latter riposting, “Well, I prefer Karl Marx!” The actors breathe life into these caricatures of England’s elite, however. Many supporting players make indelible comic impressions, such as the aforementioned Scott and John Heffernan as the dyspeptic Davey. Even West brings humanity to tyrannical Uncle Matthew.
2001; Passionflix, BritBox): In this previous BBC adaptation of The Pursuit of Love and its sequel, directed by Tom Hooper, Rosamund Pike plays Fanny. Judi Dench appeared in a still earlier 1980 version. (10 episodes, 2021; Netflix): Stories of female friendship through the decades are a staple of fiction. For a modern American version, try this cheesy but fun adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s best seller, starring Katherine Heigl as the wild friend and Sarah Chalke as the homebody friend. “FIREFLY LANE”
I CAPTURE THE CASTLE (2003; Kanopy,
Tubi, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, rentable): Or perhaps you seek another period piece about an eccentric English family living in a run-down castle? This enjoyable adaptation of Dodie Smith’s 1948 cult novel should fit the bill.
We are thankful for you, our loyal customers NEW IN THEATERS BELFAST: Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical film about coming of age in the turbulent Northern Ireland of the 1960s. With Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe and Judi Dench. (98 min, PG-13. Essex, Roxy, Savoy) ENCANTO: A young girl living in a charmed Colombian enclave sets out to discover her own magical powers in the latest Disney animation, cowritten by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring the voice talents of Stephanie Beatriz and John Leguizamo. (99 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden) HOUSE OF GUCCI: Lady Gaga plays a newcomer to the storied fashion family in this biographical crime drama from director Ridley Scott, also starring Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons and Salma Hayek. (157 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Welden) JULIA: Directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West (RBG) tell the story of Julia Child in this documentary. (95 min, PG-13. Savoy) RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY: This prequel to the action-horror saga based on a video-game series unveils the mysteries of Spencer Mansion. Kaya Scodelario and Robbie Amell star. Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down) directed. (107 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Sunset)
NOW PLAYING CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOGHHH The children’s books about a beloved giant pet come to the screen in a semi-live-action adventure starring Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall and John Cleese. Walt Becker directed. (97 min, PG. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset) DUNEHHH1/2 Director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) takes on the first half of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel about space colonization, political intrigue, drugs and mysticism. Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac star. (155 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Majestic, Playhouse, Sunset; reviewed 10/27) ETERNALSHH1/2 The latest Marvel adventure introduces a new group of heroes who are literally gods, played by Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Kumail Najiani and others. Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) directed. (157 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy) THE FRENCH DISPATCHHHH1/2 Wes Anderson’s latest, presented as an anthology of stories from a fictional magazine, is a love letter to the vintage New Yorker. With Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand and Bill Murray. (108 min, R. Big Picture, Majestic [ends Thu], Roxy) GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFEHH1/2 A new generation of Ghostbusters emerges as two teens (Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace) discover their grandpa’s spooky legacy. Jason Reitman directed. (124 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Playhouse, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)
VERMONT
KING RICHARDHHHH Will Smith plays the father and coach of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams in this biopic, also starring Aujanue Ellis. Reinaldo Marcus Green (Joe Bell) directed. (138 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset) NO TIME TO DIEHHH1/2 James Bond returns from retirement to tackle a villain (Rami Malek) who targets people’s DNA in Daniel Craig’s swan song as the super-spy. (163 min, PG-13. Majestic) PAPER & GLUEHHHH French street artist JR directed this documentary about his genre-bending public art. With Ladj Ly. (94 min, NR. Savoy) THE SOUVENIR: PART IIHHHH1/2 Writer-director Joanna Hogg’s autobiographical chronicle of a film student’s life in the ’80s continues with the aftermath of a toxic relationship. (107 min, R. Roxy)
Tire & Service
tires are in short supply, now is the time to buy
VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGEHH1/2 Tom Hardy returns as the Marvel super-antihero in a new adventure. Andy Serkis directed. (90 min, PG-13. Sunset)
OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Evolution Winter - Plows Through Snow - Studdable For Extreme Ice Traction - Made In The USA
ANTLERS (Sunset) CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: THE MESSENGERS (Essex, Wed 1 only)
OPEN THEATERS
DISCOVERER ENDURAMAX
(* = UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR THEATER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME)
Small/Midsize SUVs
BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com
DISCOVERER ENDURAMAX Small/Midsize SUVs
ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com *MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 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 SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com WELDEN THEATRE: 104 North Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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11/23/21 12:12 PM
calendar
NOV. 26-28 | HOLIDAYS
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
WED.24 bazaars
WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: The artisan market goes virtual, with gifts from more than 100 vendors available online. Various prices. Info, womensfestvt@ gmail.com.
community
CURRENT EVENTS OVER ZOOM: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library leads an informal discussion about what’s in the news. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.
crafts
FIRESIDE KNITTING GROUP: Needle jockeys gather to chat and work on their latest projects. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: An educational and entertaining film takes viewers on an epic adventure through some of Earth’s wildest landscapes. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: Moviegoers join scientists on a journey through a surreal world of bug-eyed giants and egg-laying mammals. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE’: A young woman cursed by a witch falls in love with a roguish magician in this Studio Ghibli classic. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600. ‘MEERKATS 3D’: A tenacious mammalian matriarch fights to protect her family in a desolate environment. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, Through 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $11.50-14.50; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a mind-bending journey from the beginning of the time through the mysteries of the universe. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
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. SPECIAL HOLIDAY DEADLINE: Listings for events taking place between Wednesday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 8, are due by noon on Wednesday, November 24. Listings and spotlights are written by Emily Hamilton. Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.
62
Farmhouse Feast The meticulous re-creation of an 1890s table setting may be the centerpiece of Thanksgiving Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, but it is far from the main attraction. Families work off their tryptophan hangovers by going on wagon rides, meeting the resident Jersey cows and following a StoryWalk through the pasture. Hands-on activities include crafting corn cob décor, baking mini apple turnovers and recording family traditions for posterity on the Sharing Wall. And, of course, hot cider, doughnuts and farm-made cheeses are up for grabs all weekend long.
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND Friday, November 26, through Sunday, November 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Regular admission, $8-16; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.
FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.
film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.
music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
= ONLINE EVENT
‘URANIUM DRIVE-IN’: Environmentalists and job-hungry locals face off when a uranium mill comes to town in this documentary. Hosted by Sustainable Woodstock and Pentangle Arts. Free; preregister. Info, 291-1003.
food & drink
SENIOR CENTER WEEKLY LUNCH: Age Well and the Kevin L. Dorn Senior Center serve a hot, sitdown lunch. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 12:30 p.m. Donations; preregister; limited space. Info, 923-5545. WEEKLY WINE TASTING: Themed in-store tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a wine region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.
health & fitness
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Those in need of an easy-on-the-joints workout gather for an hour of calming, low-impact movement. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 751-0431. AYURVEDA PROGRAM ONLINE: Maryellen Crangle and Dorothy Alling Memorial Library lead a 12-week introduction to this ancient Indian and Nepalese healing and lifestyle tradition. 2-3:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org. 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.
FALL PREVENTION SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: Humans boost their strength and balance through gentle, flowing movements. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-3322. TAI CHI SUN 73 CLASS: Practitioners enjoy a peaceful morning of movement. Ages 55 and up; prerequisite is Tai Chi for Fall’s Prevention series 1, 2 & 3. Middlebury Recreation Center, 1011:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, doreenvermont@gmail.com. TAI CHI: SUN-STYLE 73: A sequence of slow, controlled motions aids in strength and balance. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 11:20 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 223-3322.
holidays
MERCY MARKETPLACE: Mercy Connections hosts
LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT
an online holiday craft fair populated with goods from local artists. Various prices. Info, 846-7063.
montréal
JEWISH BOOK MONTH: NICOLE BEAUDRY, EDDIE STONE & EDDIE PAUL: The Jewish Public Library’s rare book workshop facilitators share stories from their research into 500 years of Jewish books. 1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 514-345-2627. SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: The Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture presents nine days of new films from the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora. See saffm.centrekabir.com/en for full schedule. Various prices; $25 for festival pass. Info, 514-620-4182.
music
DARK SHADOWS ENTERTAINMENT: HAMJOB!: Ursa & The Major Key and guitar whiz Caber Wilson join Rutland’s alternative funk trio for a Thanksgiving Eve bash. Merchants Hall, Rutland, 8-11 p.m. $10. Info, darkshadows entertainment@gmail.com.
outdoors
ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: Sales of boats, lodge stays and other outdoorsy goodies benefit the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Various prices. Info, 496-2285.
seminars
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN: Unemployed job seekers ages 55 and up learn about the Senior Community Service Employment Program, a federally funded jobs training program for
older individuals. 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, mcullen@a4td.org.
tech
HOW TO USE FACEBOOK: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE FOR OLDER ADULTS: Technology 4 Tomorrow instructors teach attendees about creating an account, posting pictures and searching for friends. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-0595.
THU.25 bazaars
WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘URANIUM DRIVE-IN’: See WED.24.
FAMILY FUN 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.24
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: Mothers-to-be build strength, stamina and a stronger connection to their baby. 5:45-6:45 p.m. $5-15. Info, 899-0339.
burlington
CRAFTERNOON: Weaving, knitting, embroidery and paper crafting supplies take over the Teen Space. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403. ITTY BITTY PUBLIC SKATE: Coaches are on hand to help the rink’s tiniest skaters stay on their feet. Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $8. Info, 865-7558.
champlain islands/ northwest
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little library patrons listen to stories, sing songs and take home a fun activity. Fairfax Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.
outside vermont
PLAYGROUP FOR AGES 0-2: Babies, toddlers and their caretakers meet new friends and play to their hearts’ content. Howe Library, Hanover, N.H., 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 603-643-4120.
FRI.26
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.24, 12:30-1:15 p.m.
stowe/smuggs
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Players ages 9 through 13 go on a fantasy adventure with Dungeon Master Andy. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 3:304:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 888-3853.
SAT.27
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.24, 8:30-9:15 a.m.
burlington
FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Kids from birth through age 5 learn and play at this school readiness program. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. SLED DOGS LIVE: October Siberians brings its impressive team of huskies for a meet and greet on the terrace. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular admission, $14.50-18; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
barre/montpelier
food & drink
SUP CON GUSTO TAKEAWAY DINNER SERIES: Philly transplants Randy Camacho and Gina Cocchiaro serve up a three-course, family-style menu of seasonal Vermont produce and meat. See supcongustovt.com for menus. Richmond Community Kitchen, 6-8 p.m. Various prices. Info, gustogastronomics@gmail.com.
holidays
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.24. FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: Local businesses deck out their display windows with quirky and captivating Christmas trees. Downtown St. Albans. Free. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@gmail.com. MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. ZACK’S PLACE TURKEY TROT: Racers walk, run or gobble their way through a Thanksgiving
randolph/royalton
‘NICK OF TIME’: An astronaut and his trusty hoverbot get sucked into a time warp in this rollicking puppet adventure from No Strings Marionette. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 11 a.m. $10. Info, 728-9878. ‘SCROOGE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: No Strings Marionette presents a puppetpopulated version of the classic holiday story. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 2 p.m. $10. Info, 728-9878.
SUN.28
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.24, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
chittenden county
SOCIAL SUNDAYS FAMILY ART: Registered families pick up take-home kits to complete with video or typed instructions. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery. Free; preregister. Info, 891-2014.
MON.29
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: THE CANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES: Teens bring their imaginations and their problem-solving skills to this weekly collaborative role-playing game. Masks required. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, anthony.taylor0731@gmail.com.
INCLUSIVE INTEGRATED ARTS FOR FAMILIES: Students integrate science, math and art in an eight-week course for homeschoolers or families looking for an online afterschool activity. Presented by Inclusive Arts Vermont. 3-5:15 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 871-5002.
stowe/smuggs
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.24.
TOUCH-A-TRUCK: TOWN TRUCK: The Elmore Highway Department surprises kids with a mystery vehicle following story time. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.
northeast kingdom
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ATHENAEUM!: Visitors of all ages celebrate the museum’s 150th anniversary with cupcakes and gift bags. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Regular admission, $5-10; free for St. Johnsbury residents and library card holders. Info, 748-8291.
burlington
ITTY BITTY PUBLIC SKATE: See WED.24. STORIES WITH MEGAN: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
outside vermont
AFTERNOON STORY TIME: Books, toys and crafts are on the docket for kids ages 3.5 through 5. Howe Library, Hanover, N.H., 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 603-643-4120. PLAYGROUP FOR AGES 0-2: See WED.24.
Day 5K benefiting Zack’s Place, a community center for those with special needs. Woodstock Elementary School, 10 a.m. $3540. Info, 457-5868.
geography — and to practice English, if needed. Zoom option available. Mercy Connections, Burlington, 9-10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-7063.
montréal
words
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See WED.24. ‘VEGA’: Four dancers contort themselves into alien and otherworldly shapes in choreographer Emmanuel Jouthe’s exploration of space. Théâtre Rouge du Conservatoire, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $24-28. Info, 514-873-4031.
outdoors
FRI.26
ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: See WED.24.
seminars
PENS & PAGES: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett serves as inspiration for discussion and writing exercises in this Mercy Connections reading group focused on Black people’s experiences. 1:30-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-7063.
bazaars
UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION: Applicants work one-on-one with tutors to study history, government and
PUTNEY CRAFT TOUR: Jewelers, glassblowers, cheesemongers and more open their studios to shoppers meandering through the area. See putneycrafts.com FRI.26
TUE.30
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. TEEN ADVISORY BOARD: Teenage Fletcher Free Library patrons vote on programs and a display idea for winter. 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
burlington
SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda out on the library lawn. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
chittenden county
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME ON THE GREEN: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library leads half an hour of stories, rhymes and songs. Masks or social distancing required. Williston Town Green, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
stowe/smuggs
FULL STEAM AHEAD TUESDAYS: Kids learn art, science and math through games and crafts, including paper airplane races, Lego competitions and origami. Ages 6 and up. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 3:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-3853. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: The 5-andunder crowd meets up for an hour of stories, songs, crafts and playtime. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.
champlain islands/ northwest
FESTIVAL OF TREES: PJ STORY TIME: Festive stories and songs fill the air as kids cuddle up for a cozy evening. Masks required. St. Albans Free Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 524-1507.
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WED.1
ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.24.
burlington
FFL YOUNG WRITERS: Budding authors, scriptwriters and graphic novelists ages 10 and up learn more about the craft via prompts and group exercises. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403. ITTY BITTY PUBLIC SKATE: See WED.24.
chittenden county
STORY TIME: Little ones from birth through age 5 learn from songs, sign language lessons, math activities and picture books. Masks required. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
stowe/smuggs
HOLIDAY COMMUNITY TOY SWAP: Kids get in the giving spirit by bringing up to five gently used playthings to trade. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 888-3853. HOLIDAY GIFT & CARD MAKING: Creative youngsters make crafts to give as presents to loved ones. Ages 6 and up. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 888-3853.
champlain islands/ northwest
FESTIVAL OF TREES: FREE HOLIDAY MOVIE: Viewers have to wait and see which festive, family-friendly film is screened this year. Masks required; proof of vaccination required for everyone 12 and older. Welden Theatre, St. Albans, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 527-7888.
outside vermont PLAYGROUP FOR AGES 0-2: See WED.24. K
upper valley
BABY STORY TIME: Librarians and finger puppet friends introduce babies 20 months and younger to the joy of reading. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295. SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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COURTESY OF GEORGE OUELLETTE
FRI.26
for participating studios. Various Putney locations, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 387-4032. WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
NOV. 27 | HOLIDAYS
‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.24. ‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.24. ‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.24. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.24. ‘WINTER STARTS NOW’: Warren Miller Entertainment presents its annual film tour focused on the winter sports scene. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 6:30 p.m. $7.5015. Info, 760-4634.
health & fitness
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.24. FALL PREVENTION SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: See WED.24, 10-10:45 a.m.
holidays
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.24, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See THU.25. MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND: Fun farm activities such as wagon rides, pie baking and cow milking make for a delightfully downhome holiday. See calendar spotlight. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular admission, $8-16; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355. WINTER LIGHTS: Warm drinks in hand, visitors take in the all-aglow museum grounds. Shelburne Museum, 5-8 p.m.
$10-15; free for kids 2 and under; preregister. Info, 985-3346.
language
CINÉ CLUB: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region hosts a virtual movie night for attendees to discuss la forme et le fond. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@aflcr.org.
montréal
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.
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See WED.24. ‘VEGA’: See THU.25.
outdoors
ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: See WED.24.
theater
‘ZOO STORY’: Two men sit in Central Park and dissect the human condition in Edward Albee’s lauded one-act play. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $12. Info, 387-0102.
words
BLACK FRIDAY CLEARANCE BOOK SALE: Donated books go for 50 cents or less, and lit lovers can buy one, get one free or fill up a bag for just $1. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Various prices. Info, 472-5948.
= ONLINE EVENT 64
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
SAT.27 bazaars
ARTISAN MARKET: Aesthetes browse artists’ stalls for pottery, paintings, woodwork, fiber arts and jewelry. Strand Center for the Arts, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 518-563-1604, ext. 101. PUTNEY CRAFT TOUR: See FRI.26. WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
business
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY: Shoppers support local businesses and score prizes and complimentary chocolate. Main St., Stowe, 8 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 253-7321.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.24. ‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.24. ‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.24. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.24.
Rockin’ Around If you believe that the Christmas season doesn’t start until the turkey’s been fully digested, St. Albans has you covered. The 14th annual Festival of Trees kicks off in style with the lighting of the giant Taylor Park Christmas Tree and a festive fireworks show. The fire department keeps crowds warm with a big bonfire, Saint Albans Community Arts and the Festival of Trees committee serve free cider and cookies, and Santa himself makes an appearance on a decked-out fire truck. But the fun doesn’t stop after just one night: Festivities during the next two weeks include a puppet show, a mystery holiday movie and a charity fun run.
FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE LIGHTING & FIREWORKS Saturday, November 27, 5-7 p.m., at Taylor Park in St. Albans. Free. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@gmail.com, vtfestivaloftrees.com.
purchase at this year-round bazaar. Middlebury VFW Hall, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, middleburyfarmersmkt@yahoo. com. SHOP & SIP: The sweet shop marks Small Business Saturday with hot chocolate tastings all afternoon. Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory Store & Café, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 864-1807.
‘WINTER STARTS NOW’: See FRI.26, 3 p.m.
WEEKLY WINE TASTING: See WED.24, Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Stowe, noon-3 p.m. Info, 585-7717.
food & drink
health & fitness
MIDDLEBURY FARMERS MARKET: Produce, prepared foods and local products are available for
FALL PREVENTION SUN STYLE TAI CHI: See WED.24. Father Lively Center, St. Johnsbury, 10-11 a.m.
holidays
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE LIGHTING & FIREWORKS: Revelers take in the lights, warm themselves by the bonfire, and enjoy hot cider and cookies. See calendar spotlight. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@ gmail.com. FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See THU.25. HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: Neighbors shop local from a rotating roster of crafters and farmers. Kraemer & Kin tasting room, GreenTARA Space, North Hero,
noon-6 p.m. Free. Info, heather@ kraemerandkin.com. MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. ‘THE NUTCRACKER’: Albany Berkshire Ballet presents its 47th annual tour of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas spectacle. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 3 p.m. $29-51. Info, 863-5966. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND: See FRI.26. VIVA MARKETPLACE HOLIDAY MARKETS: Wine tastings, magic shows and caramel apples punctuate holiday shopping. Masks required. Viva Marketplace, South Hero, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 372-6611. WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26.
LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT
montréal
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See WED.24. ‘VEGA’: See THU.25.
outdoors
NOVEMBER BIRD MONITORING WALK: Birders at every experience level join museum staff in recording all the feathery friends living on the grounds. BYO binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 8-9 a.m. Donations; preregister. Info, 434-2167. ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: See WED.24.
theater
‘ZOO STORY’: See FRI.26, 7:30 p.m.
health & fitness
SUN.28 bazaars
PUTNEY CRAFT TOUR: See FRI.26. WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators are always welcome to join this weekly class, virtually or in person. Evolution Physical Therapy & Yoga, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Donations. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.
holidays
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.24, noon-4 p.m.
‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.24. ‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.24.
FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See THU.25.
‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.24.
HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: See SAT.27.
‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.24.
MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. PUBLIC MENORAH LIGHTING: Chabad Vermont marks each
night of Hanukkah in advance of its blowout show on December 5. University Green, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 658-5770. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND: See FRI.26.
language
DIMANCHES: FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP: Parlezvous français? Speakers practice the tongue at a casual drop-in chat. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
montréal
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See WED.24. ‘SUPERDOGS: THE MUSICAL’: Musical theater meets stunt dog
spectacle to make for a barking good time for the whole family. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 2 p.m. $25-67. Info, 514-739-7944.
MON.29
‘VEGA’: See THU.25, 3 p.m.
film
music
VIRTUAL COMPOSERS OF COLOR WORKSHOP SERIES: Scrag Mountain Music hosts a packed panel of musicians to discuss the impact of composers of color on classical chamber music. 7-8:30 p.m. Donations; preregister. Info, 377-3161.
outdoors
bazaars
WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.24. ‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.24. ‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.24. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.24.
ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: See WED.24.
MON.29
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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food & drink
SAVORY BUCKWHEAT CREPES: Culinary anthropologist Anna Mays demonstrates how to make gluten-free French pancakes filled with butternut squash and mushroom ragout. Presented by City Market, Onion River Co-op. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@citymarket.coop.
health & fitness
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7/21/20 2:38 PM
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.24.
holidays
FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See THU.25. MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. PUBLIC MENORAH LIGHTING: See SUN.28. Jericho Town Green.
montréal
‘CONFESSION PUBLIQUE’: Performance artist Angélique Willkie gets metaphysical in this bilingual piece choreographed by Mélanie Demers and composed by Frannie Holder. La Chapelle, Montréal, 7 p.m. $20-30. Info, 514-843-7738. ‘SUPERDOGS: THE MUSICAL’: See SUN.28, 7 p.m.
outdoors
ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: See WED.24.
seminars
UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION: See THU.25, noon-5 p.m.
TUE.30 bazaars
WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
business
MANAGING MONEY FOR MAKERS: Christine McGowan of Vermont Sustainable Job Fund teaches crafters and artisans how to budget. Presented by Generator. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 540-0761.
crafts
KNITTERS IN PERSON: Yarn enthusiasts of all abilities bring their knitting projects and help each other out when needed. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 10:15 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 457-2295.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.24. ‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.24. ‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.24.
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.24.
food & drink
COFFEE CORNER MORNINGS: The new senior center opens its doors for tea, coffee and friendly conversation every weekday morning. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 8:3010:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4107. LET’S PLAY CHESS: Players of all ages and experience levels come together to play the king’s game. Coaching available. Feel free to BYO board. Masks required. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.
health & fitness
FALL PREVENTION SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: See WED.24, 10-11 a.m.
holidays
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.24. FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See THU.25. MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. PUBLIC MENORAH LIGHTING: See SUN.28. Shelburne Parade Ground.
language
PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATIONS: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5166.
montréal
‘CONFESSION PUBLIQUE’: See MON.29. JEWISH BOOK MONTH: FIONA DAVIS: The Jewish Public Library presents the best-selling author in conversation with Chanie Ehrentreu of the podcast Boss Maidel. 7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 514-345-2627. ‘SUPERDOGS: THE MUSICAL’: See SUN.28, 7 p.m.
music
CHROMATICATS & JAZZ VOCAL ENSEMBLE: The two student groups perform songs of hope, dreams and imagination. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040. HOT TUNA: The beloved blues rockers draw from four decades of hits, and the David Bromberg Quintet plays backup. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 8 p.m. $48.5069.50. Info, 863-5966. VERMONT’S FREEDOM & UNITY CHORUS REHEARSAL: Singers of all ages, races and genders lift their voices in songs that represent the ongoing struggle for justice. Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 6:45-8:45 p.m. $35. Info, vermontsfreedom andunitychorus@gmail.com.
outdoors
ONLINE GEAR AUCTION: See WED.24.
politics
CREATIVE ECONOMY LEGISLATION: UPDATES FROM WASHINGTON: Citizens learn the ins and outs of several creative arts-sector bills being considered by Congress. Presented by Vermont Arts Council. 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 828-3291. GIVING TUESDAY 2021: A silent auction and a program of featured speakers raise funds for the Vermont Council on World Affairs. 6-7:30 p.m. Donations; preregister. Info, info@vcwa.org.
seminars
MAP!: MAKE AN ACTION PLAN: Guest speakers and the Mercy Connections team teach students how to live their best post-pandemic lives. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 846-7063.
tech
INTERMEDIATE MICROSOFT WORD: Fletcher Free Library techies teach users how to makes their letters, résumés and flyers look extra spiffy. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.
words
JAY PARINI: The local author reads from his new memoir Borges and Me: An Encounter. Presented by Phoenix Books and the Vermont Italian Cultural Association. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350. PAGES IN THE PUB: Local luminaries list off thoughtful and hilarious book recommendations at this annual fundraiser for the Norwich Public Library. Hosted by the Book Jam and the Norwich Bookstore. 7 p.m. $20; preregister. Info, 649-1114. WORK IN PROGRESS: Members of this writing group motivate each other to put pen to paper for at least an hour, then debrief together. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.
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
LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT
WED.1 activism
© RICHARD GUNION | DREAMSTIME
HIV, THEN & NOW: Vermont Cares and GLAM Vermont mark World AIDS Day with an evening of storytelling, art and intergenerational dialogue. Masks required. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 371-6222.
The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed on the Washington Mall
bazaars
food & drink
crafts
WEEKLY WINE TASTING: See WED.24.
WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.24.
FIRESIDE KNITTING GROUP: See WED.24.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.24. ‘THE BOY WITH THE GREEN HAIR’: A boy orphaned in the blitz faces ridicule when his hair magically turns emerald in the 1948 anti-war parable. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600. ‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.24. ‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.24. ‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.24.
SENIOR CENTER WEEKLY LUNCH: See WED.24.
health & fitness ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.24.
AYURVEDA PROGRAM ONLINE: See WED.24. CHAIR YOGA: See WED.24. FALL PREVENTION SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: See WED.24. TAI CHI SUN 73 CLASS: See WED.24. TAI CHI: SUN-STYLE 73: See WED.24.
holidays
ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.24. FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See THU.25.
MERCY MARKETPLACE: See WED.24. PUBLIC MENORAH LIGHTING: See SUN.28. Taylor Park, St. Albans.
montréal
‘SUPERDOGS: THE MUSICAL’: See SUN.28, 7 p.m.
music
STUDENT PERFORMANCE RECITAL: University of Vermont music students prove their chops in a variety of genres. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040. WILD WOODS SONG CIRCLE: Singers and acoustic instrumentalists gather for an evening of music making. Zoom option available. Godnick Adult Center, Rutland, 7:15-9:15 p.m. Free. Info, 775-1182. m
SPECIAL HOLIDAY DEADLINE FOR EVENT SUBMISSIONS: Listings for events taking place between Wednesday, December 1, and Wednesday, December 8, are due by noon on Wednesday, November 24. Find our convenient event submission form and guidelines at: sevendaysvt.com/postevent. 2V-ECHO112421 1
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KeithWOKO! IS WOKO! S wood I n a Urb Under WOKO! e ton IS i r r a C e Shel Blak
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WOKO IS country
WILD BILL AND ROD HILL 5AMTHE MORNING ROUNDUP 10AM CK COIN 10AM-3PM SARAH SPENCER 3PM - 7PM LIZ SCOTT 7PM - MIDNIGHT THE SUNDAY MORNING 8AM11AM RADIO FLEA MARKET
THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.
art DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you. Now enrolling youth and adults for classes in drawing, painting and fused glass. Location: Davis Studio, 916 Shelburne Rd., South Burlington. Info: 425-2700, davisstudiovt.com.
culinary HOLIDAY GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN: Learn to make homemade, delicious gifts for family and friends to complement their holiday table from start to finish. In addition to step-by-step preparation of the recipes, Chef Emery will provide tips on presenting and shipping your homemade gifts to faraway friends and family. Preregister by Dec. 1. Sat., Dec. 4, 10-11:30 a.m. Cost: $15/person; $10/member. Location: Billings Farm & Museum, Zoom. Info: Marge Wakefield, 457-2355, mwakefield@billingsfarm.org, billingsfarm. org/classes-workshops.
p.m. Location: Generator, 40 Sears La., Burlington. Info: Sam Graulty, 540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com.
healing arts PANDEMIC PASSAGES WORKSHOP: In this monthly series, we’ll explore the landscape of our pandemic lives, opening the unexpected gifts, sadnesses, letting-go, longing and missing. We’ll utilize movement, guided meditation and storytelling. Bring your own materials for writing, drawing, music, dance — whatever you wish! Sharing what you create is optional. Drop-ins welcome! First Sun. of each mo., Nov.-Apr. at 4 p.m. Cost: $10-25 sliding scale; donations appreciated. Location: The Passing Project, Zoom. Info: passingproject.org, infopassing project@gmail.com.
Generator
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We ve Got
YOURRY NT COUOn the
BIG
MITTEN SEWING WORKSHOP: Create your own mittens from recycled sweaters (Bernie mittens, anyone?) with help from instructor Eliza West. We’ll provide materials, and you’ll leave with greater knowledge of sewing knitted fabrics and a great pair of mittens for yourself or someone on your holiday list. Basic knowledge of machine sewing is required. Wed., Dec. 15, 6-8:30
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music DJEMBE & TAIKO DRUMMING: JOIN US!: New classes (outdoor mask optional/masks indoors), starting Sep. 7, Nov. 8 and Jan. 18. Taiko: Mon., Tue., Wed. and Thu.; Djembe: Wed. and Thu.; Kids and parents: Tue., Wed. and Thu. All Thu. classes at Camp Meade Middlesex behind Red Hen! Schedule/register online. Location: Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Info: 999-4255, spaton55@gmail.com, burlingtontaiko.org.
photography language
CUSTOM PRINTED CARDS WORKSHOP: This workshop teaches participants to create hand-printed cards by editing a digital image, etching it into a woodblock using the laser machine and handprinting the block onto paper with a printing press. It’s the perfect opportunity to create thank-you notes, cards or any other type of printed materials. Mon., Dec. 6, 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Location: Generator, 40 Sears La., Burlington. Info: Sam Graulty, 540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com/workshops.
in a friendly, safe and positive environment. All are welcome; no experience required. Develop confidence, strength and endurance. Julio Cesar “Foca” Fernandez Nunes was born and raised on the shores of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Earning his black belt and representing the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, Julio “Foca” went on to become a five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion, three-time Rio de Janeiro State Champion and two-time IBJJF World JiuJitsu Champion! Julio “Foca” is the only CBJJP, USBJJF and IBJJF-certified seventh-degree coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense instructor under late grand master Carlson Gracie Sr. currently teaching in the USA. Accept no Iimitations! Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.
LEARN SPANISH LIVE & ONLINE: Broaden your world. Learn Spanish online via live videoconferencing. Highquality, affordable instruction in the Spanish language for adults, students and children. Travelers lesson package. Our 15th year. Personal, small-group and individual instruction from a native speaker. See our website for complete information or contact us for details. Location: Spanish in Waterbury Center, Waterbury Center. Info: 5851025, spanishparavos@gmail. com, spanishwaterbury center.com.
martial arts VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: This school was developed to communicate the importance of proper, legitimate and complete Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction. We cover fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a realistic approach to self-defense training skills
ADOBE LIGHTROOM 1-DAY WORKSHOP: Adobe Lightroom Classic has quickly become one of the industry’s leading photo editing software applications. Join professional photographer Kurt Budliger for this one-day workshop, where you’ll learn to harness the power of Adobe Lightroom for organizing, editing and making your images sing. Sat. Dec. 11, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cost: $225/1-day workshop. Location: Green Mountain Photographic Workshops, Montpelier. Info: Green Mountain Photographic Workshops, Kurt Budliger, 223-4022, info@ kurtbudligerphotography.com, greenmtnphotoworkshops.com.
COURTESY OF KELLY SCHULZE/MOUNTAIN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
Humane
Society of Chittenden County
Chloe & Oreo SEX: 11-month-old females
REASON HERE: They were not a good fit for their previous home. ARRIVAL DATE: August 24, 2021 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: They are a bonded duo and should be adopted together. SUMMARY: Meet the latest crew of guinea girls at HSCC: Chloe and Oreo! These two ladies enjoy cozying up underneath secure blankets, hiding out in wooden huts and snuggling up to each other. Chloe and Oreo used to be a trio here, but their sister got adopted out to a home with another pig. Now this pair is hoping for the same great luck landing a loving home! If you’re interested in taking home this dynamic duo, come visit HSCC today.
For a lim ited tim guinea e, pig pair s are
2 FOR 1!
DID YOU KNOW?
Adopt 2 guinea pigs for just $40!
Guinea pigs can be easily startled, so always let them know you’re there by speaking to them or letting them sniff your hand. To pick up your guinea pig, use one hand to support their chest and the other to support their hind end, before placing them against your chest. Visit hsccvt.org/resources or chat with a staff member for more piggy care tips!
housing »
APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES
on the road »
CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES
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CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING
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APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE Sponsored by:
Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m., or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.
NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM.
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INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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CLASSIFIEDS + util. Avail. Dec. 1 or sooner. 864-0341.
CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled: It doesn’t matter. Get free towing & same-day cash. Newer models, too. Call 1-866-5359689. (AAN CAN)
housing
FOR RENT 2-BR IN BURLINGTON FOR RENT Unfurnished 2-BR & BA upstairs. Kitchen, LR & dining area downstairs. Off-street parking. Util. not incl. $1,200/mo.
COMPUTER services
AUTO 1996 FORD F150 Garage-kept 1996 Ford F150 w/ 57,938 miles & a 5.0-L engine. Asking $1,833. More info at jsswall@tdyemail.com, 802-448-7612. SAVE MONEY ON AUTO REPAIRS Our vehicle service program can save you up to 60% off dealer prices & provide you excellent coverage! Call Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (PST) for a free quote: 866-915-2263.
BIZ OPPS BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print & distribute your work internationally. We do
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
display service ads: $25/$45 homeworks: $45 (40 words, photos, logo) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121
the work; you reap the rewards! Call for a free Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836. (AAN CAN)
on the road
CARS/TRUCKS
housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online services: $12 (25 words)
COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train online to get the skills to become a computer & help desk professional now. Grants & scholarships avail. for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-554-4616. (AAN CAN)
insured w/ solid refs. On the web at vtpainting company.com, or call Tim at 802-373-7223.
Peter Scott’s
Body Mechanics
yyyyy
WORLD CLASS, 5-STAR PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME OR OFFICE!
buy this stuff
If it's not one of the best massages in your life, you don't pay for it!
Vaccinated & masked
FURNITURE
MODERN ROCKER FOR SALE Gray fabric w/ silver metal arms. Total dimensions: 30.5” wide, 27” tall, 33” deep. See DISH TV online ad for pics. $125. PSYCHIC COUNSELING ClassyDisplay-Scott092921.indd 9/30/21 1 11:34 AM $59.99 for 190 channels 802-578-1416. Psychic counseling, & $14.95 high-speed channeling w/ Bernice internet. Free instalKelman, Underhill. 30+ lation, smart HD DVR years’ experience. Also incl. Free voice remote. energy healing, chakra Some restrictions apply. balancing, Reiki, rebirth- 4G LTE HOME INTERNET 1-855-380-2501. (AAN ing, other lives, classes Now avail.! Get GotW3 CAN) & more. 802-899-3542, w/ lightning-fast speeds kelman.b@juno.com. & take your service w/ you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo.! 1-888-519-0171. (AAN CAN) NEVER PAY FOR ATTENTION, VIAGRA & COVERED HOME MASSAGE FOR MEN CIALIS USERS! REPAIRS AGAIN! BY SERGIO A cheaper alternative to Complete Care Home The cold is here, & it’s high drugstore prices! Warranty covers all time for a massage. 50-pill special: $99 + major systems & appliGive me a call to make free shipping! 100% ances. 30-day risk-free. an appt. 802-324-7539, guaranteed. Call now: $200 off + 2 free mos.! sacllunas@gmail.com. 888-531-1192. (AAN Mon.-Thu. & Sun., 9:30 Thank you! CAN) a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 9:30 a.m.-noon. (All times BATH & SHOWER Eastern.) 1-877-673We Pick Up UPDATES 0511. (AAN CAN) In as little as 1 day! & Pay For Junk Affordable prices. No PAINTER SEEKING Automobiles! payments for 18 mos.! PROJECTS South Burlington-based Lifetime warranty & professional installs. painter seeking interior Senior & military projects. Quality work,
ENTERTAINMENT
Call or email for an appointment
802.522.3053 PsMassageVt@gmail.com
MISCELLANEOUS
HEALTH/ WELLNESS
HOME/GARDEN
print deadline: Mondays at 4:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x110
discounts avail. Call 1-877-649-5043. (AAN CAN) CABLE PRICE INCREASE AGAIN? Switch to DirecTV & save & get a $100 visa gift card! Get more channels for less money. Restrictions apply. Call now. 877-693-0625. (AAN CAN) DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting trucks, motorcycles & RVs, too! Fast, free pickup. Running or not. 24-hr. response. Max. tax donation. Call 877-2660681. (AAN CAN)
Foreclosure: 4BR Home on 1.1± Acre Fri., Dec. 17 @ 2PM
1114 Ledgewood Dr., Williston, VT
THCAuction.com 800-634-7653
HUGHESNET SATELLITE for our application & INTERNET more info about our 16t-hirchakbrothers112421 1 Finally, no hard data current puppies or limits! Call today for reserving a puppy in the speeds up to 25mbps as future: 802-777-9470, low as $59.99/mo.! $75 highcountrynewfound gift card, terms apply. lands@gmail.com. 1-844-416-7147. (AAN CAN) STILL PAYING TOO MUCH for your medication? Save up to 90 percent on Rx refill! Order today & receive free shipping on 1st order. Prescription req. Call 1-855-750-1612. (AAN CAN)
PETS NEWFOUNDLAND PUPPIES Looking for a forever, loving home for our Newfoundland puppies. Everyone is up to date on vaccinations. Please contact us
art music
INSTRUCTION GUITAR INSTRUCTION Berklee graduate w/ 30 years’ teaching experience offers lessons in guitar, music theory, music technology, ear training. Individualized, step-by-step approach. All ages, styles, levels.
Route 15, Hardwick
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
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FOR SALE IF YOU TALK OF LOVE TO ME If You Talk of Love to Me ... Letters & the New England Code: Christine Peters, Burlington, Vermont to Frank Peters, L.A., California, 1903-1909. New ebook, Vermont history. Order from B&N or Amazon: ISBN 978-1-73737-19-1-5. Martha Atwood Pike, mapike@roadrunner. com.
802-472-5100
3842 Dorset Ln., Williston
802-793-9133
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Homeshares BURLINGTON
Artistic, community-minded professional in her 50s with Old North End home to share. $650/mo. + chipping in on cleaning/yardwork. Must be dog-friendly! Shared BA.
BURLINGTON EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Rick Belford, 864-7195, 11/19/21 2:06 PM rickb@rickbelford.com.
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
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Bright woman in her 30s who loves music, plays piano, enjoys swimming & skiing, offers reduced rent of $350/mo. in exchange for weekly transportation, companionship, meal prep 1-2x/wk, & shared cleaning. No pets. Shared BA.
MORRISVILLE Share a home w/ bright senior woman, an avid reader & artist. Seeking housemate to cook occas. meals, help w/ errands & share housekeeping. $400/mo. (all inc). Shared BA.
Finding you just the right housemate for over 35 years! Call 863-5625 or visit HomeShareVermont.org for an application. Interview, refs, bg check req. EHO
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misc.
LOST & FOUND LOST PASSPORT Hi, my name is Musab Alanzee, & I lost my passport in Burlington. If you find it, please return it back to me. 802-324-3400
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DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH
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 onebox 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.
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.
crossword
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Extra! Extra!
ANSWERS ON P.72 H = MODERATE HH = CHALLENGING HHH = HOO, BOY!
CONTACT KATIE FOR A QUOTE AT 865-1020 x110 katie@sevendaysvt.com
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OVERTHINKING THINGS ANSWERS ON P.72
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Legal Notices If you have a disability for which you need accommodation in order to participate in this process (including participating in a public hearing, if one is held), please notify us as soon as possible, in order to allow us as much time as possible to accommodate your needs.
Ward Four/North District: Saint Mark’s Youth Center, 1271 North Ave.
CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT NOTICE & WARNING OF VOTE TO INCUR A BONDED DEBT The legal voters of the City of Burlington, Vermont are hereby notified and warned to come and vote at a Special City Meeting on Tuesday, the 7th day of December, 2021 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in their respective wards, at the voting places hereinafter named, and designated as polling places, viz:
Ward Six/South District: Edmunds Middle School, 275 Main St. Ward Seven/North District: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, 130 Gosse Ct. Ward Eight/East District: Fletcher Free Library, 235 College St. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. for the following purposes: To vote upon two special articles placed on the ballot by request of the City Council, said special articles being as follows: 1. APPROVAL OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR CITY CAPITAL PLAN PROJECTS “Shall the City Council be authorized to issue general obligation bonds, or notes in one or more series in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Forty Million dollars and 00/100 ($40,000,000.00) to be borrowed in increments between Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2025 for the purpose of funding capital improvement infrastructure projects of the City and its departments in furtherance of the City’s 10-Year Capital Plan?” 2. ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS FOR BURLINGTON ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT PROJECTS
FROM P.71
FROM P.71
Total Estimated Project Cost: $20,000,000 City Electric Department Share of Total Cost: $20,000,000 Miro Weinberger, Mayor Publication Dates: November 17, 24, and December 1 Burlington, Vermont NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE MALLETTS BAY SELF STORAGE, LLC 115 HEINEBERG DRIVE COLCHESTER, VT 05446 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 Edith Bessette # 98 Said sales will take place on 12/3/21, beginning at 10:00am at Malletts Bay Self Storage, LLC, (MBSS, LLC)115 Heineberg Dr, Colchester, VT 05446. 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 MBSS, LLC on the day of auction. MBSS, LLC 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.
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PRIVATE AUCTION OF STORAGE UNIT CONTENTS Sarah Ellwood, last known address of 36 Charity Street Burlington, VT 05408 has a past due balance of $1,405.00 owed to Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC since 4/19/21. To cover this debt, per lease dated 7/15/20 the contents of unit #995 will be sold at private auction on, or after November 28, 2021.
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Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register.
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“Shall the City be authorized to issue revenue bonds or notes in one or more series on behalf of the Electric Light Department, in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate, to be issued pursuant to the City Charter, as may be determined by the City Council, and payable from the net revenues of the electric system, for the purpose of paying for (i) capital additions and improvements to the City’s electric system, and energy conservation systems, in furtherance of the City’s Net Zero Energy goals, including improvements to the City’s technology systems, customer and financial information systems, electric grid upgrades, electricity generation plants and dams (the “Project”), and (ii) funding a debt service reserve fund and paying costs of issuance?”
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PUZZLE ANSWERS
Ward Five/South District: Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine St.
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Dated at Essex Junction, Vermont this 17th day of November, 2021. By: /s/Rachel Lomonaco Rachel Lomonaco, District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-879-5658 Rachel.Lomonaco@vermont.gov
Ward Three/Central District: Lawrence Barnes School (Sustainability Academy), 123 North St.
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Parties entitled to participate are the Municipality, the Municipal Planning Commission, the Regional Planning Commission, affected state agencies, and adjoining property owners and other persons to the extent that they have a particularized interest that may be affected by the proposed project under the Act 250 criteria. Non-party participants may also be allowed under 10 V.S.A. Section 6085(c)(5).
Ward Two/Central District: H.O. Wheeler School (Integrated Arts Academy), 6 Archibald St.
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No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before December 10, 2021, a person notifies the Commission of an issue or issues requiring the presentation of evidence at 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 to the address below, 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. Prior to submitting a request for a hearing, please contact the district coordinator at the telephone number listed below for more information. Prior to convening a hearing, the Commission must determine that substantive issues requiring a hearing have been raised. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.
Ward One/East District: Mater Christi School, 100 Mansfield Ave.
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The District 4 Environmental Commission is reviewing this application under Act 250 Rule 51— Minor Applications. A copy of the application and proposed permit are available for review at the office listed below. The application and a draft permit may also be viewed on the Natural Resources Board’s web site (http://nrb.vermont. gov) by clicking on “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0550-20D.”
If you feel that any of the District Commission members listed on the attached Certificate of Service under “For Your Information” may have a conflict of interest, or if there is any other reason a member should be disqualified from sitting on this case, please contact the District Coordinator as soon as possible, and by no later than December 10, 2021.
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ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION #4C0550-20D 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6093 On November 12, 2021, Compressorco LLC, 83 Dewey Farm Road, Stowe, VT 05672 and NG Advantage, 480 Hercules Drive, Colchester, VT 05446 filed application number 4C0550-20D for a project generally described as construction of a 35.5 x 49.5 foot single-story steel building within an existing parking area to be used for semi-trailer maintenance. The project is located at 121 Gonyeau Road in Milton, Vermont.
PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 110.
STATE OF VERMONT PROBATE COURT DISTRICT OF ADDISON SS. DOCKET NO. 21-PR-05863 In re the Estate of Dolores C. DeForge Late of Ferrisburgh, Vermont NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of the estate of Dolores C. DeForge late of Ferrisburgh, Vermont: I have been appointed a personal representative of the above-named estate. All creditors having claims against the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy filed with the register of the Probate Court. The claim will be forever barred if it is not presented as described above within the four (4) month deadline. Dated November 15, 2021 Signed /s/Barb DeWitt Print name: Barb DeWitt, Executor Address: c/o Little & Cicchetti, P.C., P.O. Box 907, Burlington, VT 05402-0907 Telephone: 802-862-6511
SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS
Name of Publication: Seven Days First Publication Date: 11/24/2021 Address of Probate Court: Addison Superior Court, Probate Division, 7 Mahady Ct #1, Middlebury, Vermont 05753 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-05500 In re ESTATE of Barbara Fischman NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of Barbara Fischman, late of Williston, VT. 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. Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Cheryl Fischman Executor/Administrator: Cheryl Fischman, 36 Third Street, Barre, VT 05641 cherylfischman@gmail.com 802-793-4353 Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 11/24/21 Vermont Superior Court, Probate Division 175 Main Street, P.O. Box 511 Burlington, Vermont 05402-0511 TOWN OF JERICHO - PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4444, the Jericho Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 14 at 7 pm in the Jericho Town Hall, 67 VT Route 15, Jericho, Vermont, and via Zoom to hear public comment regarding proposed amendments to the Jericho Land Use and Development Regulations. Please note that masking is required in Town Hall. Register in advance for the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZcqduqrqzkoG9NGLWMzwO62am3xIe19JnvC After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The primary purposes of the proposed amendments are update the land use regulations revise the regulations related to Planned Unit Developments, affordable housing and to meet the requirements of state planning laws (24 VSA, Chapter 117). LIST OF SECTION HEADINGS: The amendments include changes to Section 2: Definitions, specifically to amend the definition of Accessory Apartment, Dormitory/Hostel, Dwelling, Dwelling Unit, Family/Household Unit, Hotel, Inn, Low Impact Development, Motel, Residential Care Facility, Rooming House, Senior Apartment Complex, Senior Housing Development and Senior Housing Unit, and changes of Family to Household in this section and throughout the document; Section 3: specifically to include references to PUDs in the purpose of the Low Density Residential, Village, Commercial and Village Center Districts; Section 4: specifically Table of Uses 4.4; and Section 4.7 Specific Use Standards: 4.7.1: Residential Care Facilities and 4.7.3: Accessory Apartments; Section 5: specifically Section 5.6: Density; Table 5.8: Table of Dimensional Requirements for PUDs; Section 7: specifically Section: 7.2.3 Adaptive Reuse; Section 10: specifically Section 10.2: Zoning Permits; Section 10.10: Site Plan Review, Section
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10.12: Subdivision Review, and Section 10.13: Planned Unit Development Review; Section 11, specifically Section 11.1: Access–Public/Private Roads and Driveways; Section 11.2: Parking/ Loading/Circulation; Section 11.3: Pedestrian Facilities; Section 13: specifically Table 13.4.11, Building and Principal Use; Table 13.4.12 Parking Requirements. GEOGRAPHIC AREA AFFECTED: These amendments have the potential to affect all geographical areas of the Town. PLACE WHERE FULL TEXT MAY BE EXAMINED: The complete text of the amended regulations may be found at https://jerichovt.org/2021zoning-review under Town-Documents and Planning and Zoning Documents. Alternatively, a full-text copy may be examined in the Town Clerk’s office, Jericho Town Hall, 67 VT Route 15, Jericho, Vermont. PERSON TO CONTACT: Additional information pertaining to these proposed amendments may be obtained by contacting Katherine Sonnick, Planning & Development Coordinator, at the Jericho Town Hall by calling (802) 899-2287 x 103 or emailing ksonnick@jerichovt.gov during regular office hours. Susan Breese, Vice Chair Jericho Planning Commission
VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT WASHINGTON UNIT PROBATE DIVISION, SS. DOCKET NO. 21-PR-06152 IN RE THE ESTATE OF DIANCY TAYLOR ADAMS LATE OF MONTPELIER, VERMONT NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of the Estate of DIANCY TAYLOR ADAMS, late of MONTPELIER, Vermont. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within 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 forever barred if it is not presented as described above within the four [4] month period. Dated: November 18, 2021 Signed: s/ RICHARD H. BRADLEY, Executor Address: c/o David C. Buran, Esq. Law Offices of David C. Buran PC 13 Appletree Ct Milton, VT 05468-3609 Telephone: (802) 878-8588 Address of the Court: Superior Court, Washington District Probate Division 65 State Street Montpelier, VT 05602 Name of Publication: Seven Days First Publication Date: 11/24/2021
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VISIT SEVENDAYSVT. COM TO VIEW A FULL LIST OF 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 information or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt. org/family-supportprograms. 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 information or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt. org/family-supportprograms. 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 information or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt. org/family-supportprograms.
ADULT SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE LOSS - WILLISTON Adult Survivors of Suicide Loss is meeting the 3rd Thu. of the mo. via Zoom, 7-8:30 p.m., during this time of physical distancing due to the pandemic. The support group is for anyone who has been touched by suicide loss recently or long ago who wants to work through their grief in a safe, respectful environment. Please contact a co-facilitator Joanna Cole at joanna. colevt@gmail.com or 233-3299, or Maria Grindle at mariagrindle@msn. com or 879-9576. Leave a message so we can get back to you w/ a mutually satisfying time to talk. Take care to be well in this extra stressful time. AL-ANON For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom) & an al-Anon blog are available online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanon alateen.org or call 866-972-5266. ALATEEN GROUP Alateen group in Burlington on Sun. from 5-6 p.m. at the UU building at the top of Church St. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Daily meetings in various locations. Free. Info, 864-1212. Want to overcome a drinking problem? Take the 1st step of 12 & join a group in your area. ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS Support groups meet to provide assistance & information on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers
& friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm date & time. Four options: 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne; 4th Tue. of every mo., 10-11 a.m., at the Residence at Quarry Hill, 465 Quarry Hill Rd., South Burlington; 2nd Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Alzheimer’s Association Main Office, 300 Cornerstone Dr., Suite 130, Williston; 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at Milton Public Library, 39 Bombardier Rd., Milton. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900. ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION TELEPHONE SUPPORT GROUP 2nd Tue. monthly, 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is req. (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, for more information. ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS W/ DEBT? Do you spend more than you earn? Get help at Debtor’s Anonymous + Business Debtor’s Anonymous. Wed., 6:30-7:30 p.m., Methodist Church in the Rainbow Room at Buell & S. Winooski, Burlington. Contact Jennifer, 917-568-6390. BABY BUMPS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MOTHERS & PREGNANT WOMEN Pregnancy can be a wonderful time of your life. But it can also be a time of stress that is 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 the 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 1st Mon. of the mo., 11 a.m.-noon at the Godnick Center, 1 Deer St., Rutland. For more information 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 Tom Younkman at tyounkman@vcil. org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522, 802-888-2180. BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT Montpelier daytime support group meets the 3rd Thu. of the mo. at the Unitarian Church ramp entrance, 1:30-2:30 p.m. St. Johnsbury support group meets the 3rd Wed. monthly at the Grace United Methodist Church, 36 Central St., 1-2:30 p.m. Colchester evening support group meets the 1st Wed. monthly at the Fanny Allen Hospital in the Board Room Conference Room, 5:307:30 p.m. White River Jct. meets the 2nd Fri. monthly at Bugbee Sr. Ctr. from 3-4:30 p.m. Call our helpline at 877-856-1772. CANCER SUPPORT GROUP The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group will be held every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:45 p.m. via conference call. Newly diagnosed? Prostate cancer reoccurrence? General discussion & sharing among survivors & those beginning or rejoining the battle. Info, Mary L. Guyette RN, MS, ACNS-BC, 274-4990, vmary@aol.com.
SUPPORT GROUPS »
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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Support Groups [CONTINUED] CELEBRATE RECOVERY Overcome any hurt, habit or hangup in your life w/ this confidential 12-step, Christ-centered recovery program. We offer multiple support groups for both men & women, such as chemical dependency, codependency, sexual addiction & pornography, food issues, & overcoming abuse. All 18+ are welcome; sorry, no childcare. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; we begin at 7 p.m. Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Junction. Info: recovery@essex alliance.org, 878-8213. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery meetings are for anyone who struggles w/ hurt, habits and hangups, which incl. everyone in some way. We welcome everyone at Cornerstone Church in Milton, which meets every Fri. night at 7-9 p.m. We’d love to have you join us & discover how your life can start to change. Info: 893-0530, julie@ mccartycreations.com. CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m., in Montpelier. Please contact Lisa Mase for location: lisa@ harmonizecookery. com. CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDANCE Cerebral Palsy Guidance is a very comprehensive informational website broadly covering the topic of cerebral palsy & associated medical conditions. Its mission is to provide the best possible information to parents of children living w/ the complex condition of cerebral palsy. cerebralpalsy guidance.com/ cerebral-palsy. CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS CoDA is a 12-step fellowship for people whose common purpose is to develop healthy & fulfilling relationships. By actively working the program of Codependents Anonymous, we can realize a new joy, acceptance & serenity
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in our lives. Meets Sun. at noon at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. Tom, 238-3587, coda.org. DECLUTTERERS’ SUPPORT GROUP Are you ready to make improvements but find it overwhelming? Maybe 2 or 3 of us can get together to help each other simplify. 989-3234, 425-3612. DISCOVER THE POWER OF CHOICE! SMART Recovery welcomes anyone, incl. family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. It is a science-based program that encourages abstinence. Specially trained volunteer facilitators provide leadership. Sun. at 5 p.m. The meeting has moved to Zoom: smartrecovery.zoom. us/j/92925275515. Volunteer facilitator: Bert, 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org. We hope to return to face-to-face meetings in the future. DIVORCE CARE SUPPORT GROUP Divorce is a tough road. Feelings of separation, betrayal, confusion, anger & self-doubt are common. But there is life after divorce. Led by people who have already walked down that road, we’d like to share w/ you a safe place & a process that can help make the journey easier. This free 13-week group for men & women will be offered on Sun. evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m., through Dec. 1, at the North Avenue Alliance Church, 901 North Ave., Burlington. Register for class at essexalliance. churchcenter.com. For more information, call Sandy: 802-425-7053. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Steps to End Domestic Violence offers a weekly drop-in support group for female identified survivors of intimate partner violence, incl. 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. EMPLOYMENTSEEKERS SUPPORT GROUP Frustrated w/ the job search or w/ your job? You are not alone. Come check out this supportive circle. Wed. at 3 p.m., Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Abby Levinsohn, 777-8602. FAMILIES COPING W/ ADDICTIONS (FCA) GROUP (ADDICTION SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES) 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 welcoming & stigma-free forum for those living this experience in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength & insight from one another. Group meets weekly on Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m. online, using Zoom. Check Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) for ZOOM link, listed under “Family Support” (click on “What We Offer” dropdown). 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 incl. 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 with a trained facilitator. Weekly on Wed., 7-8:30 p.m.
SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Downtown Burlington. Info: Jess Horner, LICSW, 866-218-8586. FAMILY RESTORED: SUPPORT GROUP FOR FRIENDS & FAMILIES OF ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., Holy Family/St. Lawrence Parish, 4 Prospect St., Essex Junction. For further information, please visit thefamilyrestored. org or contact Lindsay Duford at 781-960-3965 or 12lindsaymarie@gmail. com. FIERCELY FLAT VT A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@ gmail.com. FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA) Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating or bulimia. Local meetings are held twice a week: Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Norwich, Vt.; and Wed, 6:30-8 p.m., at Hanover Friends Meeting House, Hanover, N.H. For more information & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. and 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 mkeasler3@ gmail.com or call 310-3301 (message says Optimum Health, but this is a private number). GRIEF & LOSS FOCUS GROUP FOR MEN Fri., 10-11:30 a.m. Continues through Mar. 27. 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 with others who know the pain of
the loss of a loved one, & healing is possible through the sharing. BAYADA Hospice’s local bereavement program coordinator will facilitate this weekly, 8-week group through discussion & activities. Everyone from the community is welcome; however, space is limited. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Kathryn Gilmond at kgilmond@bayada.com or 802-448-1610. Start date to be determined, based on registration. bayada.com. GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS Meet twice a mo.: every 2nd Mon. from 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. HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice hearing experiences as real lived experiences, which may happen to anyone at anytime. We choose to share experiences, support, and empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Weekly on Tue., 2-3 p.m. Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-777-8602, abby@ pathwaysvermont.org. HELLENBACH CANCER SUPPORT Call to verify meeting place. Info, 388-6107. People living w/ cancer & their caretakers convene for support. HELP & HEALING FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING Wed., 5:30-7 p.m. Walking w/ Grief: Sharing your sadness, finding your joy. Please join us as we learn more about our own grief & explore the things that can help us to heal. There is great power in sharing our experiences w/ others who know the pain of the loss of a loved one, & healing is possible through the sharing. BAYADA Hospice’s local bereavement support coordinator will facilitate our weekly group through
discussion & activities. Everyone from the community is welcome. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Kathryn Gilmond at kgilmond@bayada. com or 802-448-1610. Bayada Hospice, 354 Mountain View Dr., Suite 305, Colchester. 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 information. 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. KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP A support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Led by a trained representative & facilitator. Meets the 2nd Tue. monthly from 6:30-7:45 p.m. (Jan. 14, Feb. 11, Mar. 10, Apr. 14) at Milton Public Library. Free. For more information, call 802-893-4644 or email library@miltonvt.gov. Facebook.com/events/ 561452568022928. 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 information, & offer & receive support. Support groups also provide survivors an opportunity to gain information on how to better cope w/ feelings & experiences that surface because of the trauma they have experienced. Please call SafeSpace at 863-0003 if you are interested in joining. LGBTQ VETERANS GROUP This veterans group is a safe place for veterans to gather and discuss ways to help the community, have dinners, send packages & help the families of LGBTQ service people. Ideas on being helpful encouraged. Every 2nd and 4th Wed., 6-8:30 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church (The Little Red Door), 64 State St., Montpelier. RSVP, 802-825-2045. 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 and 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 with marijuana? MA is a free 12-step program where addicts help other addicts to get & stay clean. Ongoing Wed. at 7 p.m. at Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski, Suite 301, Burlington. 861-3150.
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 that have been though similar situations. 3rd Tue. of the 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 800639-6480. Connection groups are peer recovery support group programs for adults living w/ mental health challenges. NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP Weekly virtual meetings. 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. Family Support Group meetings are for family & friends of individuals living mental illness. 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 opiate painkiller 100 times more powerful than fentanyl & 1,000 times stronger than heroin. A tiny grain of it is enough to be fatal. Learn more about carfentanil abuse & how to help your loved one. You can visit narconon-suncoast. org/drug-abuse/ parents-get-help.html for more information. 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.
SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS is a group of recovering addicts who live w/ out the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Info, 862-4516 or cvana.org. Held in Burlington, Barre & St. Johnsbury. 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. Weekly on Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your babies! (Newborn through crawling stage). Located within Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., childrensroomonline. org. Contact childrens room@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@myfair point.net. 2nd Wed. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m. Winooski United Methodist Church, 24 W. Allen St., Winooski. Info: hovermann4@ comcast.net. OPEN EARS, OPEN MINDS A mutual support circle that focuses on connection & self-exploration. Fri. at 1 p.m., Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Abby Levinsohn, 777-8602. 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 with 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 802-8632655 any time! PONDERING GENDER & SEXUALITY Pondering Gender & Sexuality is a twicemonthly facilitated mutual support group for folks of any identity (whether fully formed or a work in progress) who want to engage in meaningful conversations about gender, sexuality & sexual
orientation, &/or the coming-out process. Discussions can range from the personal to the philosophical & beyond as we work together to create a compassionate, safe & courageous space to explore our experiences. The group will be held every 2nd Sun. & 4th Tue. from 1-2:30 p.m. each mo., either virtually or at the 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. QUEEN CITY MEMORY CAFÉ The Queen City Memory Café offers a social time & place for people w/ memory impairment & their fiends & family to laugh, learn & share concerns & celebrate feeling understood & connected. Enjoy coffee, tea & baked goods with entertainment & conversation. QCMC meets the 3rd Sat. of each mo., 10 a.m.-noon. Thayer Building, 1197 North Ave., Burlington. 316-3839. 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 each mo. from 6:30-8 p.m. at Outright Vermont, 241 N. Winooski Ave. This group is for adults only. For more information, email info@outrightvt. org.
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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: 802-847-7333 or quittobaccoclass@ uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops! RECOVERING FROM RELIGION Meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo. at Brownell Public Library, 6 Lincoln St., Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m., unless there’s inclement weather or the date falls on a holiday. Attendees can remain anonymous if they so choose & are not req. to tell their story if they do not wish, but everyone will be welcome to do so. The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing & personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe & anonymous places to express these doubts, fears & experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. We are here to help each other
through this journey. Free. SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND Support group meeting held 4th Tue. of the 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. Shawn, 660-2645. Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you. SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are available for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@ sover.net. 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;
And on the seventh day, we do not rest. Instead we bring you...
Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience. 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, burlington stutters@gmail.com, 656-0250. Go, Team Stuttering! SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP For those who have lost a friend or loved one through suicide. Maple Leaf Clinic, 167 N. Main St., Wallingford, 446-3577. 6:30-8 p.m. the 3rd Tue. of ea. mo. SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT Brattleboro, 2577989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 229-0591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360. SUPPORT GROUP FOR WOMEN who have experienced intimate partner abuse, facilitated by Circle (Washington County 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 the 3rd Thu. at the Faith Lighthouse Church, Route 105, Newport (105 Alderbrook), 7-9 p.m. Please call before attending. Info: Mary Butler, 744-6284.
SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE: SOUTH 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., Burlington. Info: Heather Schleupner, 301-5142445, raysoflifeyoga@ gmail.com. T.A.G. (TRANSGENDER ALLIES GROUP) 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 information, email rex@pride centervt.org or call 802-318-4746. THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP The Compassionate Friends international support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 3rd Tue. of the mo., 7-9 p.m., at Kismet Place, 363 Blair Park Rd., Williston. Call/email Jay at 802-373-1263, compassionate friendsvt@gmail.com. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) chapter meeting. Hedding United Methodist Church, Washington St., Barre. Wed.,
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5:15-6:15 p.m. For info, call David at 371-8929. TRANS & GENDERNONCONFORMING 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. from 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@pride centervt.org with any questions, comments or accessibility concerns. VEGGIE SUPPORT GROUP Want to feel supported on your vegetarian/ vegan journey? Want more info on healthy veggie diets? Want to share & socialize at veggie potlucks, & more, in the greater Burlington area? This is your opportunity to join with other like-minded folks. veggy4life@ gmail.com, 658-4991. 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.
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SEVEN DAYS NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
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76 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM CLEANING CREW (P/T positions)
RHINO FOODS IS HIRING!
Starting hourly rate of $18+/hour.
Check out our website for positions and shifts. We are growing like crazy and need to add people at our growing business--making delicious things done right!
Join our team and help us keep our brewery and taproom looking their best. Evening and weekend shifts. Experience preferred.
TAPROOM & RETAIL BEERTENDER (P/T positions): A multifaceted position providing outstanding customer service in both our taproom and retail operations.
rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers
Apply here: lawsonsfinest.com/about-us/careers
SAME DAY DELIVERIES (802) 862-7662
OPERATIONS SUPPORT
True North Wilderness Program is seeking a fullCurrently, we are seeking drivers to join our time, year-round Operations growing team. We are hiring for several full time Support person. The ideal and part time positions, as well as different shifts. candidate is an adaptable Feel free to stop in to our office at team player with a positive 54 Echo Place, Suite# 1, Williston, VT 05495 attitude who is willing to work and fill out an application. both indoors and outdoors performing a variety of tasks Or fill out an application via our website at associated with the logistics shipvds.com or email Tim a copy of your resume of running our program. Tasks at timothy@shipvds.com. including food packing and rationing, gear outfitting, transportation and facilities maintenance. Candidates 4t-GreenMountainMessenger082521.indd 1 8/24/21 must be willing to work weekends and occasional evenings. A clean and valid driver’s license is required. WE JUST RAISED SALARIES AT CCS. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits SIGNIFICANTLY. offered. Benefits include health, dental, vision and And that’s on top of being a “Best Place to Work accident insurance, an In Vermont” for three years running. employee assistance program, a Wellness Fund, student loan Great jobs in management ($45k) and direct service repayment reimbursement, ($18 per hour) at an award-winning agency and a SIMPLE IRA. All True North employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination status prior to employment. Please apply at: truenorthwilderness.com.
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PROGRAM & IMPACT DIRECTOR
MEDICAL COURIERS AND DELIVERY DRIVERS
serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities.
QUALIFICATIONS: • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree; or 5+ years experience leading in an educational field • Ability to build and lead cohesive, successful teams Interested applicants are invited to send resume, cover letter, and (3) three references to Executive Director, Meg Hammond: director@generatorvt.com. www.generatorvt.com
2:18 PM
Goddard College, a leader in non-traditional education, has the following 6 position full-time, benefit eligible openings:
• 2 ASSISTANT ACADEMIC DEANS • MAINTENANCE GENERALIST • IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST • HELP DESK HOSPITALITY MANAGER Late Shift
• HELP DESK HOSPITALITY MANAGER
Make a career making a difference. Check current openings at ccs-vt.org/current-openings.
Day Shift
Join us! Visit ccs-vt.org to apply today. ccs-vt.org
The Program & Impact Director is responsible for the development, outreach, and implementation of programs that engage and inspire our local, regional, and statewide community in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) & technical skill education, workforce development, the arts, and entrepreneurship.
E.O.E.
To view position descriptions and application instructions, please visit our website: goddard.edu/about-goddard/ employment-opportunities
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
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Wake Robin, Vermont’s premier senior living community, is seeking an Executive Assistant.You’ll provide administrative management, support and project implementation for all of the CEO’s initiatives, work directly with our Board of Directors and be a bridge between the CEO and our engaged community of residents.
Salary range: $40,000 - $42,000. This is a full time 35-hour per week position with comprehensive benefits, frequent travel, and occasional nights and weekends. Minimum 1-2 years relevant experience in the field (or combination of education and experience). Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to hiring@outrightvt.org. Heck yeah!
Holiday Cash!
11/15/19 5:13 PM
Immediate openings Full-time and flexible part-time schedules Days, early evenings, & weekend shifts
Manufacturing Call Center Order Fulfillment
The Vermont Center for Anxiety Care, a private psychotherapy practice on 11/22/21 the Burlington waterfront, 4t-Harringtons112421 1 has an opening for a licensed psychotherapist (M.A., LICSW, Ph.D, Psy.D., LCMHC) or postmaster’s degree intern. Adult therapy experience required with child therapy experience an asset. Collaborative group Colchester School District is looking to hire a Fullwith holistic approach and Time Systems Administrator in our IT department. The multiple specialties. Clinical Systems Administrator ensures the smooth operation supervision towards licensure of all computer-related systems and equipment in the provided as needed.
Send resume and cover letter describing professional interests and goals to: Paul Foxman, Ph.D., 86 Lake St., Burlington, VT 05401 or email: paulfoxman@aol.com
Colchester School District.
CSD offers employees a generous benefits package including a competitive wage and an excellent BCBS healthcare plan. Benefits also include dental insurance, long-term disability, retirement plan, life insurance, and tuition reimbursement. Apply at: SchoolSpring.com, Job #3641431
Candidates must have at least 5 years’ experience as a senior support executive, solid experience using word processing, data management, and interactive IT systems, and a desire to be immersed in Wake Robin’s friendly and engaged resident community culture. This position requires great verbal and written communication skills. Please include a resume and cover letter with your application to hr@wakerobin.com.
Media Specialist
PSYCHOTHERAPIST OPENING
SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR
Responsibilities: • Provide administrative support for the Board of Directors • Coordinate calendars and meeting logistics • Collaborate with department directors on high-level administrative initiatives and special projects • Manage/archive key documents • Oversight of reception team • Interact constantly with our residents on behalf of the President
Wake Robin is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Apply in person 210 East Main Street, Richmond, VT
Visit website: vtcenterforanxietycare.com.
77 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
The GSA Network Coordinator supports the network Gender and Sexuality Alliances that work in schools to effect positive change for LGBTQ+ youth. The ideal candidate will have the ability to center youth power and leadership, skills in experiential learning and facilitation, and organizing experience in community and school settings. Working collaboratively with youth, colleagues, community partners, and staff and faculty in schools is essential.
Are you looking to make extra money and want to work with a great, experienced team? Dakin Farm is currently seeking applicants to join our team of skilled staff for our busy upcoming holiday season.
Please stop by our retail store: 5797 Route 7, Ferrisburgh to complete an application, or call us at 1-800-99DAKIN. Email your resume to tdanyow@dakinfarm.com.
JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
GSA Network Coordinator
FULL AND PART TIME HOLIDAY POSITIONS
We have both full and part time positions in our Warehouse, Mail Order Packing Department, and Specialty Food Production. We offer competitive wages, generous employee discounts, and hours that meet your schedule.
NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!
Vermont PBS is seeking a Media Specialist to be a part of the team that brings our amazing educational, news, and entertainment programs to our viewers. You will be responsible for on-air program execution. We’re looking for someone comfortable with technology, willing to learn new things, and eager to work with the teams who create broadcast VT PBS. The ideal candidate should 4:40 PMdemonstrate the ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with co-workers and audience, supporting and enhancing a culture of belonging. The successful candidate has: • One or more years related experience in television, radio, database management and/or production company. • Technical competency operating computers and communicating with others on-site and at remote locations. • Ability to manage digital files and adhere to file naming and storage protocols • Ability to learn to use specialized applications for specific tasks • Ability to adapt to change and stay calm under pressure. • Collaborative: Ready to pitch in to help others. Demonstrate skill in understanding cultural differences. • Independent, responsible, and exercises abundant good judgment, and strong interpersonal skills. Read the full job description and find the application process at vermontpbs.org/careers. VPR/VTPBS is a proud E.O.E.
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ATTENTION RECRUITERS:
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POST YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Carpenters Wanted! Needed Immediately!
SPRUCE PEAK ARTS IS HIRING! Currently seeking:
FULLTIME CAPTAIN AND FIREFIGHTER/EMT ADMINISTRATOR The Underhill Jericho Fire Department is looking for an experienced Captain and Firefighter/EMT Administrator. These are full time positions with competitive pay and benefits. Hours, full job descriptions and requirements can be found at www.ujfd.org/employment. If you would like to join our team, please e-mail a cover letter along with your resume in .pdf format to info@ujfd.org. Positions will remain open until filled. The UJFD is a EOE.
SALES ASSOCIATE Established men’s clothing store in downtown Burlington seeking a full-time and part-time sales associate. Must be SALES motivated, good at developing customer relationships and be available to work weekends. Interested candidates should preferably drop their resumes off between 11am-5pm, Monday through Saturday. Or email: info@mk-clothing.com
SYSTEMS & SUPPORT ANALYST
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11/22/21
Burlington Electric Department, the City of Burlington’s 100% renewably powered electric utility, is seeking a Systems & Support Analyst to provide technology services in support of BED’s employees, customers, and day-to-day operations. This position supports end-users and our core line-of-business applications and servers, including Windows desktops, mobile devices, Microsoft Office 365, VoIP telephony, and Microsoft Active Directory. Our ideal candidate will have an Associate’s degree in computer science or related field with 3 years of experience in an IT role. This is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union position with potential for remote work flexibility under BED’s pilot policy. The City of Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Responsibilities and Duties: • Customer communications through email and phone. • Assisting sales department, including duties such as estimating and design layouts. • Developing and maintaining customer database. Qualifications and Skills: • Associate's degree in business preferred or equivalent combination of education and work experience. • Excellent written and verbal communications skills. • Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. • Attention to detail, team mentality and positive attitude. • Experience with QuickBooks or other related accounting software. • Working knowledge of Google Workspace or Microsoft Office Suite. Full Time, Benefits: Vacation Time, Paid Holidays, Accident Insurance Salary:$16-20/hr. Commensurate with experience Send resumes to: hello@sammelgroup.com
NFI HUMAN SERVICES CASE AIDES Case Aide Positions available for St. Albans District, Barre District, Rutland District, Springfield District, and Bennington District
Call Mike at 802-343-0089 or Morton at 802-862-7602.
NFI Case Aides provide services directly to the Family Services Division of DCF. Case Aides assist Social Workers in case management and client services. The work includes gathering information for case files, administrative support, client interaction for contact visits, and taking children and clients to appointments. 10:36 AM Duties are performed primarily in a standard office setting, but with the need for2v-MJSContracting080818.indd occasional travel within the state. Applicants will be confronted with a variety of need and care situations at which strong emotions and opinions may be present. The nature of work may require performance outside of normal office hours. This is a full time, benefited position with NFI Vermont, which includes tuition reimbursement. Two years of full time college coursework or one year of experience providing direct client services preferred.
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THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN?
11/22/21 6:40 PM Providing Innovative Mental Health and Educational Services to Vermont’s Children & Families.
RECEPTIONIST/ OFFICE ASSISTANT
11/21/21
Sign and Display company is seeking a detail-oriented and dynamic designer/administrative assistant.
Finish Carpenters, Carpenters and Carpenters Helpers. Good Pay, Full Time and Long Term! Chittenden County.
Providing Innovative Mental Health and Educational Services to Vermont’s Children & Families.
Please apply online at nfivermont.org/careers
WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. EOE.
DESIGN/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
For details visit SprucePeakArts.org to join our team!
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrate the diversity of our clients and staff.
The City of Burlington is an E.O.E. To learn more & apply for this position, please visit: governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt
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• Box Office Manager • Ticket Associates • Theatre Educators
JMM & Associates, a Colchester, VT CPA firm, is looking for a full-time receptionist/office assistant with experience in 8:01 PMMicrosoft Office; bookkeeping and HR experience a plus. The ideal candidate has a "peoplefirst" attitude with strong communication skills, is able to multitask while paying attention to details, has a good work ethic and sense of humor, possesses solid organizational skills, and the flexibility to work additional hours during busy season. JMM offers a competitive salary and 401(k), health insurance, long and short-term disability with life insurance, and other benefits. Qualified applicants should email a current resume with letter of interest to jmm@jmmcpa.net. JMM & Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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NFI Residential Programs Hiring in Chittenden and Windham Counties NFI Vermont, a leader in specialized trauma and adolescent development, is looking to expand our team of innovators. We are currently seeking candidates for the following residential positions: RESIDENTIAL COUNSELORS Full Time, Part Time, and Relief AWAKE OVERNIGHT COUNSELORS Full-Time and Part Time
Perk up! Trusted, local employers are hiring in Seven Days newspaper and online. Browse 100+ new job postings each week.
ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR Shelburne House Program CLINICIANS Hospital Diversion Programs Regular positions of 30 or more hours a week are eligible for our generous benefits package, which includes tuition reimbursement and competitive salary.
Please apply at nfivermont.org/careers We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrate the diversity of our clients and staff.
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Follow @SevenDaysJobs on Twitter for the latest job opportunities
See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com
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8/20/21 3:13 PM
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
Staff Accountant The Intervale Center seeks an enthusiastic, mission-driven Staff Accountant to join our team in Burlington, Vermont. For over 30 years, the Intervale Center has led a community food revolution that sustains farms, land, and people. The primary responsibility of this new position is to provide excellent financial support to the entire organization and support employee benefits administration. An ideal candidate has at least four years of accounting experience, enjoys evaluating and improving systems and processes, is clear in their written and verbal communications, and is excited to join an existing team of two finance professionals. Intervale Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For a full job description and instructions to apply, please visit our website: intervale.org/getinvolved/#employment
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11/19/21 11:38 AM
Marketing & Communications Manager The Intervale Center seeks an enthusiastic, mission-driven Marketing & Communications Manager to join our team in Burlington, Vermont. For over 30 years, the Intervale Center has led a community food revolution that sustains farms, land, and people. The Marketing and Communications Manager will develop, lead, and sustain comprehensive marketing and communications strategies, with strong branding and compelling storytelling via digital and print communications. They will manage social media and websites and create communications collateral. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced marketing and design professional to support the impactful programs and enterprises of the Intervale Center. Intervale Center is an Equal Opportuity Employer. For full job description and to apply, please visit our website: intervale.org/get-
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NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL
CITY OF BURLINGTON
JOB FAIR
OneCare Vermont
The incumbent will serve as the Internal Legal Counsel for OneCare Vermont, a statewide Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and as a member of the Office of General Counsel of the University of Vermont Health Network. A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, preferably including at least 3 years serving as in house counsel. Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3ccXkKP
79 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Friday, December 3rd, 1 – 4pm 645 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401 Join our team! We are hiring for multiple positions across the City! Learn more and apply online through our Government Jobs website: governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt. Onsite interviews for the Department of Public Works:
• Parking Ambassadors • Water Distribution Field Technician • Parking Maintenance Worker • Recycle Truck Driver • Fleet Maintenance Technician • Crossing Guard • Seasonal Water Construction/Maintenance Workers Submitting your application in advance of onsite interviews is highly encouraged! We offer comprehensive benefits for full time employees. The City of Burlington is proud to be an E.O.E.
PHARMACY INVENTORY/ COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST
Questions? Contact our Department of Human Resources 802.540.3057 or careers@burlingtonvt.gov.
Sign on bonus up to $3,000!
The Pharmacy Inventory/Compliance specialist is accountable for the billing, receiving, and inventory 5v-CityofBurlingtonJOBfair112421.indd activities of the pharmacy, insuring that all medications being ordered by the pharmacy buyer are properly received , stored and distributed throughout the institution for both the inpatient and outpatient use. High school graduate or equivalent required; one year of college course work with a science/chemistry Part-time background preferred.
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COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3ccXkKP
The Farm First program seeks a part-time community organizer over the next 12-18 months to work with Farm First staff to organize and build a farmer peer support network. This person will do outreach to identify and interest farmers in being trained as volunteer peers to provide support to other farmers experiencing stress.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM Info Session on December 1! The University of Vermont Health Network and the Community College of Vermont are now offering a Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Program! Applicants hired receive paid training and then a full-time position with either Central Vermont Medical Center or UVM Medical Center. Sign on bonuses are also available for qualified candidates! Receive pay of at least $15.50 an hour with pay increases upon program completion. Join us at our first informational session on Wednesday, December 1st. Learn more and apply: uvmhealth.org/pharmacytech.
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Interested parties must reply to a Request for Proposals issued by the Agency of Agriculture posted at: http://www. vermontbusinessregistry.com/BidPreview. aspx?BidID=55937. You may email Karen Crowley at: karenc@farmfirst.org for assistance.
ATTENTION RECRUITERS:
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POST YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
ONBOARDING & TRAINING COORDINATOR
DRIVER/ LABORER
• Minimum Salary $21.00/hour, more with experience • 20-25 hours a week
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER Full time
Saint Michael’s College invites applications for a full-time Public Safety Officer. This position requires the ability to deal with a wide range of individuals, often under stressful or emergency situations. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a college environment, seeking a balance between education and enforcement in the performance of duties. Maintaining a safe campus includes the performance of routine services, response to incidents and emergencies, and completion of necessary documentation and follow up. Schedule is rotating and includes nights, weekends, and holidays.
Great opportunity for a professional who likes to see people grow and succeed at a quality employer. This new position will coordinate employee recruiting, new employee orientation, and annual training requirements for Converse Home, an assisted living residence with just over 100 employees. Our coordinator will establish partnerships with employment agencies and will ensure all applicants receive a fair opportunity and response. Once they arrive, our coordinator will help ensure a smooth transition and that the new employees has the tools to succeed in their role. Previous experience in human resources, employee training, or related field is helpful, but mostly we need someone who is organized and good with people.
For more information about our generous benefits package, the full job description and to apply online, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCvtSAFETY
Please apply online & learn more about us at conversehome.com, or email kellie@conversehome.com with your resume today.
Packing and loading,
then delivery of customer household goods. Great family business with benefits. 401K, paid vacation, tips and growth opportunities. Pay starts at $17.00. After 30 days can go to $18.00. Email resumes to: frontdesk@ vermontmovers.com.
GOT A CASE OF THE
SUNDAY SCARIES?
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FACULTY OPENINGS
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PREK-8 STEM EDUCATION Saint Michael’s College invites applications for the Assistant Professor of PreK-8 STEM Education beginning in Fall 2022. Position responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate PreK-8 STEM education methods courses, Supervising student teachers, and advising undergraduate students in elementary education programs. Applicants should have an earned doctorate degree in PreK-8 STEM education with a concentration of PreK-8 mathematics education. Experience teaching PreK-8 STEM education courses at the university or college level is required. Minimum of three years teaching grades PreK-8 and a commitment to working with diverse student populations. Review of applications will begin on December 15, 2021 and continue until the position has been filled.
Find a job that makes it easier to sleep at night.
The Education Department of Saint Michael’s College is seeking an active scholar and skilled instructor for an Assistant Professor in Child and Adolescent Development beginning August 2022. Position responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate child and adolescent development, supervising student teaching internships, and advising undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants should have an earned doctorate by August 2022 with expertise and concentration in child and adolescent development. A minimum of three years teaching experience in public schools is also required, along with a demonstrated commitment of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Review of applications will begin on December 15, 2021 and continue until the position has been filled. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please go to: https://bit.ly/SMCvtAsstProfCAD.
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The Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) seeks a Staff Attorney I for its Municipal Assistance Center. VLCT is a statewide association dedicated to serving and strengthening Vermont local government. This is a professional position that provides legal assistance and training to local governments through the VLCT Municipal Assistance Center, the training, education, and professional assistance division of the League. On a daily basis, the Staff Attorney I assists member officials with a broad range of legal and topical questions. Primary responsibilities include: responding to member inquiries, drafting legal guidance and templates, reviewing policies and ordinances, delivering training and writing content for VLCT News and other publications on municipal law, regulations and government operations.
For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please go to: https://bit.ly/SMCvtAPpreK.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
STAFF ATTORNEY I
Browse 100+ new job postings each week from trusted, local employers.
Follow @SevenDaysJobs on Twitter for the latest job opportunities
See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com
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Requirements include: • Broad experience in the laws, regulations, principles, and practices of local government as well as related government administration fields • Excellent communication, presentation, research, writing, and teaching skills • The ability to work in a dynamic remote team environment • Outstanding customer service • Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline such as public administration, political science, or a government-related field • Law degree and admission to the Vermont Bar • At least one year of relevant legal experience is preferred Hiring range is $52,639 (min) - $65,797 (mid). Salary commensurate with experience. VLCT offers a generous benefits package and remote work flexibility. To apply, please visit: vlct.org/careers Resumes will be reviewed as they are received. Preferred application deadline is December 8. E.O.E.
8/25/21 12:51 PM
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81 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
NORTHEASTERN VERMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL has exciting opportunities!
Providing Innovative Mental Health and Educational Services to Vermont’s Children & Families.
OPERATIONS MANAGER Slate Valley Trails is seeking an Operations Manager to advance our mission through providing administrative and systems management across all areas of the organization. Responsibilities vary from general administration, communications, and fundraising to event coordination and trail maintenance. This full-time, salaried position is based in Poultney, VT, and offers opportunity for growth and development. Learn more and apply at slatevalleytrails.org/careers.
NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST - $500 Sign on Bonus!
St. Albans Children and Families Program
Family Engagement Specialists work directly with children and families involved with DCF, who experience multi-system issues, including substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health challenges. Responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating large meetings, teaming with community service providers, creating treatment plans through collaboration with DCF, and parent education. We are looking for candidates with strong communication and documentation skills, who work well in a team setting. Experience with Family Time Coaching, Family Safety Planning and Family Group Conferencing preferred. This full-time, 40 hour per week position requires a bachelor’s degree and/or two years’ experience in related field.
NVRH is looking for dedicated and compassionate RNs, LPNs and LNAs to join our team and provide high quality care to the communities we serve. NVRH provides a fair and compassionate workplace where all persons are valued by the organization and each other, providing ongoing growth opportunities. FT and PT employees are eligible for excellent benefits including student loan repayment, generous paid time off, health/dental/vision, 401k with company match and much more!
APPLY TODAY AT NVRH.ORG/CAREERS.
VISIT SUPERVISOR AND TRANSPORTER 2v-SlateValleyTrails112421.indd 1
St. Albans Children and Families Program
11/23/21 11:47 AM
Development and Communications Associate The Development and Communications Associate will assist with fund development and help tell the stories of communities and their exceptional leaders in line with our mission to support rural VT communities and advance policies that create a prosperous and sustainable future. We’re looking for someone who is eager to advance rural communities and work with our team in donor solicitation, grant writing and reporting; demonstrates excellent written, oral, and social media communication skills; and is a self-starter with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
CLINICAL CASE MANAGER - $300 Sign on Bonus! Community Based Services -South Burlington
CBS is seeking a Clinical Case Manager to join our amazing team of mental health professionals and our positive and supportive work environment. Responsibilities include working with children, adolescents, and families with mental health challenges both in the community and in their homes. Ideal candidates work well both autonomously and collaboratively on treatment teams, have a bachelor’s degree in mental health or social work, have related work experience, a valid driver’s license, and reliable transportation. This is a full-time, 40 hour per week position with benefits, including tuition reimbursement. Come be a part of our positive culture! NFI Vermont is also hiring for: Peer Parent Partner- St. Albans WRAP Program Community Skills Worker-St. Albans WRAP Program Apply online at www.nfivermont.org/careers
Competitive salary starting at $44,000, with potential incentives depending on skills and experience and an attractive benefit package. The position is based in the VCRD Montpelier office and remotely. Application deadline is December 9th, 2021. See the full job description and application instructions here: vtrural.org.
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The NFI CFS Program is looking to expand its team to include a person to provide transportation and supervised visits for families involved with DCF. A qualified candidate will be comfortable in giving direct feedback to families and intervene when safety is a concern. We are looking for candidates with strong communication and documentation skills, who work well in a team setting. This 30 hour per week, benefited position, requires a bachelor’s degree and/or two years experience in related field. Valid driver’s license required.
11/23/21 11:21 AM
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrate the diversity of our clients and staff.
9/24/21 2:47 PM
Financial and Energy COACHING SPECIALIST Vermont’s first Financial and Energy Coaching Initiative has launched! We need five trailblazing full-time Coaches across the state to support Vermonters living with low and moderate incomes in reducing their climate impact while improving their financial well-being. The ideal candidates will have a keen interest in personal finance and unlocking the puzzle of the programs, services, credits, and rebates that help clients transition to cleaner energy sources. Coaches will provide 1:1 counseling plus workshops in five statewide locations. Trainings in AFCPE Financial Counseling, Sage Financial Fitness Coaching, and energy programs will be provided. This three-year pilot program is overseen by Capstone Community Action with coaching positions at each of the 5 Community Action networks across the state. If you enjoy working with a team and are passionate about personal finance and want to help clients transition to cleaner energy sources for their home and transportation needs, apply now to a community action agency in your area: Capstone Community Action-Serving Washington, Orange, Lamoille Counties: https://capstonevt.org/jobs BROC-Serving Rutland and Bennington Counties : https://www.broc.org/career-opportunities/ NEKCA- Serving Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia Counties: https://www.nekcavt.org/work-with-us/ SEVCA-Serving Windham, Windsor Counties: https://www.sevca.org/employment CVOEO: Serving Chittenden, Addison, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/ Recruiting/Jobs/Details/793218 The Vermont Community Action Agencies are an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.
ATTENTION RECRUITERS:
82
POST YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity seeks applications for
VELCO DIRECTOR
CLIENT SERVICE ASSOCIATE
CrossFit COACH
Full Time—South Burlington, VT
For details & to apply:
Are you an enthusiastic, detail oriented person interested in helping Pathway fulfill our mission with a growing community of clients? Do you enjoy juggling many responsibilities and connecting with people? Pathway seeks to collaborate and grow with the right candidate for this full time position in person at our office in South Burlington, VT (working remotely is not a possibility in this role).
waterburyfunctionalfitness.com
If you meet the characteristics we seek and are excited about the prospect of joining our team, please send a concise email with your resume attached as a PDF file to jobs@pathwayadvisors.com. In your reply, we ask that you answer the following questions: no separate cover letter is needed.
Full description and how to apply:
bit.ly/VLITE2021
Questions: • What about this opportunity is the most attractive to you? (2 sentences or fewer) • Describe a moment or interaction you have had that touched or impacted another individual in a meaningful way. (3 sentences or fewer) • Name a recent book, podcast, or other medium where you recently engaged in personal development or continuing education. (1 sentence or just the title)
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES!
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10/22/21 11:34 AM
Champlain Housing Trust is growing and we need great people to join our team. One of Vermont’s Best Places to Work in 2020, CHT is a socially responsible employer offering an inclusive, friendly work environment and competitive pay commensurate with experience. Our excellent benefit package includes a generous health insurance plan, three weeks of paid vacation, 14 paid holidays, sick leave, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution after one year, disability and life insurance and more.
Be sure to follow these instructions closely; there will be chances for desirable applicants to elaborate by phone or in person. Please, do not call our office, we will contact you once we have received your submission via email. Please note: In order to protect the health and safety of our clients and employees, we do require that all candidates be fully vaccinated for COVID 19 prior to in person interviews. We thank you very much for your time and wish you well on your search, whether or not your path leads to us. 5h-PathwayFinancialAdvisors112421.indd 1
11/23/21 11:39 AM
For additional details regarding this position or to apply, please visit our career page: getahome.org/about/careers.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ASSET MANAGEMENT: This individual will play a critical role in ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of CHT’s complex real estate asset portfolio. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of real estate asset management concepts, strong financial analysis and data management skills and a keen attention to detail. Experience working with affordable housing programs including LIHTC, HUD, and USDA RD are a strong plus. Positive attitude and significant level of self-motivation a must. RENTAL APPLICATION SPECIALIST: The Rental Application Specialist will
perform a variety of data entry, administrative, and customer service functions to process applications for people who wish to find a home with CHT. As a member of the Property Management Compliance Team, this entry level position provides an excellent opportunity to learn about and grow with the organization. The ideal candidate will have work experience in customer service, data entry, or administrative roles. A positive attitude, acute attention to detail, and significant level of self-motivation are a must. Affordable housing experience is a plus, but not required.
SHARED EQUITY COORDINATOR: Position offers an opportunity to learn and grow with CHT’s signature Shared Equity Program of permanently affordable home ownership. It provides an opportunity to work with applicants and home owners from a wide variety of cultures & backgrounds to help them achieve the dream of owning a home. The ideal candidate will have experience in customer service, data entry, or administrative roles and basic understanding of real estate principles. A positive attitude, outstanding attention to detail, and significant level of self-motivation are a must. Real estate, affordable housing, mortgage lending or related experience are strongly preferred but not required. Multiple language fluency is a strong plus. MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN: Join Champlain Housing Trust’s Property Management team in Burlington and use your building maintenance and customer service skills to serve the affordable housing needs of people from numerous countries, cultures, and walks of life. Perform a variety of tasks including painting, cleaning, light maintenance, grounds maintenance and snow removal. Experience in light carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and grounds maintenance are preferred but will train the right person. The ideal candidate will also exhibit a positive attitude, self-motivation, and work well independently and as part of a team. Equal Opportunity Employer - CHT is committed to a diverse workplace and highly encourages women, persons with disabilities, Section 3 low income residents, and people from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to apply. 8t-ChamplainHousingTrust112421.indd 1
COORDINATED ENTRY SPECIALIST
You’re in good hands with...
Are you highly effective in working objectively with a diverse group of people, groups and organizations? The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) seeks a Coordinated Entry (CE) Specialist who will work to ensure that persons experiencing homelessness in our area receive consistent, appropriate, and equal access to available housing resources. Under the direction of the Coordinated Entry System Administrator, the CE Specialist serves as the initial point of contact for consumers as well as the liaison between consumers and the community partners who provide housing and services. Additionally, the CE Specialist will work closely with the CE System Administrator on procedures and trainings to help improve the CE system. S/he will participate in relevant meetings, assist with documentation gathering for chronic homelessness, and enter data into the Homeless Management Information System.
“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.”
If you’re a detail-oriented individual who is able to relate to others in a positive, confidential, and non-judgmental way; enjoy developing and maintaining organizational systems; have a Bachelor’s Degree, 2 years of relevant experience, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and access to reliable transportation, we’d like to hear from you! We offer an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. To learn more about this position please visit www.cvoeo.org/careers. Please include a cover letter and resume with your application. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity and excellence. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. CVOEO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
11/22/21 10:58 AM
CAROLYN ZELLER Intervale Center, Burlington
Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.
JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
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8/20/21 1:41 PM
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Clean Air & Water/Strategic Litigation Attorney
NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
83 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
JOB FAIR Part-Time Opportunity
DECEMBER 10 • 1-5pm
La Minita Coffee Conservation Law Foundation is looking to fill a (CLF) is seeking an Attorney to permanent, part-time join our team working to protect position. 20 hours a week New England’s environment at our Hinesburg office. for all people. The Attorney will Duties to include data Rewarding Work work with CLF’s Clean Air and entry, order processing and Water and Strategic Litigation other similar duties. Hours teams and will be based in are 10AM to 2PM M-F. the Montpelier, VT office with laminita.com some opportunity for remote and flexible work within New England. The position will be 5h-HowardCenter111721 1 either a Staff Attorney or Senior 2v-LaMinitaCoffee112421.indd 1 11/22/21 2:10 PM Attorney depending on the final candidate’s level of experience. CLF is committed to Engaging minds that change the world representing New England’s Seeking a position with a quality employer? Consider The University of Vermont, a stimulating and diverse workplace. We offer a comprehensive diversity in our staff, volunteers, benefit package including tuition remission for on-going, full-time positions. boards, and membership and Library Support Senior - Howe Library - #S3167PO - The Howe creating a positive, inclusive Library Circulation Department is seeking a Library Support Senior for our workplace culture where team. This position provides supervision of student employees and oversees security and safety during evening and weekend hours. Responsibilities all can thrive.
Please join us to learn more about Howard C enter
McClure Gymnasium 1138 Pine St., Burlington
*People of color are encouraged to apply. Salary & Benefits: CLF offers a competitive salary, an extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The base salary for the position is $60,000; actual salary will reflect experience and qualifications. To Apply: Please send your resume titled “your last name-first initial-resume” (e.g. “SMITH J RESUME”) and a thoughtful cover letter titled “your last name-first initial-cover” (e.g. “SMITH J COVER”) to careers@clf.org. Please make “Vermont Attorney” the subject line. No phone calls please. All offers to work, intern, or volunteer with CLF are conditioned on the candidate complying with CLF’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
• Flexible Schedules • Great Benefits
include overseeing public service points, assisting Library users with problems and access issues, enforcing library policy, overseeing stacks maintenance, and coordinating projects with other Library and university staff. This is a 9-month position, August 16th through May 15th. When classes are in session for the Fall and Spring semester, this positions will work Friday through Tuesday. During academic breaks, the shift changes to Monday through Friday. Candidates are required to submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three references. The search will remain open until the position is filled. For best consideration, complete applications should be received no later than December, 3 2021. Administrative Assistant - Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - #S3242PO - The University of Vermont seeks an Administrative Assistant for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the USDA, see www.northeastsare.org. This position is responsible for processing invoices for payment, entering financial data, maintaining financial spreadsheets, providing support for contracting with grantees, coordinating meeting logistics, taking minutes at a variety of meetings, and providing clerical assistance to Northeast SARE staff. This is a 12-month, full-time position with full benefits, based in the South Burlington office of UVM Extension, or possibly another UVM Extension office, available on 2/7/22. Northeast SARE is committed to engaging agricultural communities of color and others that are socially disadvantaged in our regional agricultural systems. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. Minimum qualifications: Associate’s degree plus two years of related office experience including office accounting and financial data entry. Ability to plan multiple tasks with different timelines and prioritize projects. Familiarity with standard office business applications to include spreadsheets, databases, word processing, and online forms. Excellent writing skills, effective oral communication, and organizational skills. Application review will begin on December 15, 2021 and interviews will take place in January. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
For further information on these positions and others currently available, or to apply online, please visit www.uvmjobs.com. Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm. edu for technical support with the online application. The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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11/22/21 3:03 PM
802-488-6946 howardcenter.org
802-488-6946 howardcenter.org
Seven Days Issue: 11/24 Use Your Skills to Make Due: 11/22 by 11am a Real Difference! Size: 3.83 x 7 We’re looking for a dynamic and Cost: $570.35 (with 1 week online)
11/16/21 8:52 AM
dedicated individual to enhance both the VT Youth Development Corps AmeriCorps State and VT Youth Tomorrow AmeriCorps VISTA programs.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS If you are an organized and detail-oriented person with good written and verbal communication skills, computer proficiency, administrative experience, and a positive attitude, then this may be the job for you. Prior National Service or Peace Corps experience a plus. This position is one of three Assistant Directors who help manage two statewide AmeriCorps programs. Duties: recruit, support, and manage AmeriCorps members and sites; assist with grants management and reporting on the impact members make throughout Vermont; coordinate and facilitate monthly professional development opportunities for members; implement public relations campaigns; and maintain databases and websites. Currently working remotely. Planned re-entry into office later in the winter, with a hybrid option of remote and office work. Send cover letter and resume to Hiring Committee at vydc.recruitment@wcysb.org by 2 December 2021. Position starts no later than mid-January 2022. Salary Range $37,000 – 43,000 Health Insurance & Generous Leave Policy We are an E.O.E. Background Check Required.
ATTENTION RECRUITERS:
84
POST YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
VEDA is Vermont’s premier economic development finance authority, staffed by a seasoned group of Vermont professionals. Since inception in 1974, VEDA has helped businesses and farms create jobs for Vermonters and enhance Vermont’s working landscape. The stories of VEDA’s borrowers reflect Vermont’s changing economy over the years, with VEDA playing a central role in helping business and farm owners bring their dreams and projects to fruition.
Visit VEDA.org for open job details, including Loan Closing Officer, Agricultural Loan Assistant and Director of Loan Closing. VEDA offers competitive salaries, excellent health and retirement packages, flexible work options, generous tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for professional development and networking. VEDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer, seeking to increase staff diversity. Qualified candidates should submit resume /cover letter to Cheryl Houchens: chouchens@veda.org.
The Town of Northfield, Vermont (population 6,100) is seeking to hire an Economic Development Director to support local businesses in their sustainability, growth, and expansion; to build a network within the State and region to attract potential employers and residents to Northfield; and to support the town’s vision for housing and other key development priorities. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and work experience with municipal planning and infrastructure, planning programs and processes, economic development tools and programs, and a proven successful record in economic development leadership roles. In addition, that person shall be a capable public speaker, communicate effectively with groups and individuals, engineers, architects, developers, businesses, and the general public, and capable of establishing working relationships and networks with developers, community organizations, and business professionals. This is a full-time position and includes health insurance and retirement benefits. The salary is negotiable based upon experience. Complete job description is available at northfield-vt. or by calling 802-485-9822. To apply, please E-mail cover letter and resume to jschulz@northfield.vt.us or mail to: Northfield Town Manager, 51 South Main Street, Northfield, VT 05663. Accepting applications through December 23, 2021, or until position is filled. The Town of Northfield is an equal opportunity employer.
WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER...
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LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
VEDA IS HIRING
7/14/21 4:21 PM
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8/26/21 4:56 PM
When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package. EDUCATION ASSIS TANT DIVISION DIRECTOR - MONTPELIER
S TAFF ATTORNEY – MONTPELIER
Looking for a challenging and fulfilling position? The Assistant Division Director plays a key leadership role within the AOE’s Federal & Education Support Programs Division in support of students, schools, and educators. The position requires excellent strategic planning, supervisory, budgetary, and communication skills, as well as the ability to accurately interpret and succinctly communicate federal and state regulations. For more information, contact Anne Bordonaro at anne.bordonaro@vermont.gov. Department: Agency of Education. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time: Job ID #24202. Application Deadline: November 28, 2021.
The Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) protects the public from unprofessional conduct of licensed professionals through administrative actions that restrict or remove a licensee’s ability to practice. In this role, you will serve as Deputy Chief Prosecutor for a team of four prosecuting attorneys and report directly to the Chief Prosecutor. The prosecution team represents the State of Vermont in the screening, evaluation, and prosecution of administrative complaints of unprofessional conduct in 50 professions. For more information, contact Jennifer Colin at jennifer.colin@vermont.gov. Department: Secretary of State’s Office. Location: Montpelier. Status: Exempt. Job ID #22631. Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR I – MONTPELIER
E N E R G Y & U T I L I T I E S A N A LY S T – M O N T P E L I E R
Join our forward-thinking department to oversee fiscal operations and develop financial strategies to achieve program goals. This is an exciting opportunity to advise leadership on how to achieve objectives and make more informed money management decisions. Candidates must have the ability to perform complex financial analysis, establish effective working relationships, and thrive in a fastpaced environment. MBA or CFP preferred. For more information, contact Jennifer Fitch at jennifer.fitch@ vermont.gov. Department: Buildings and General Services. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job ID #24302. Application Deadline: December 1, 2021.
IT SYSTEMS DEVELOPER III, QUALIT Y MANAGEMENT – MONTPELIER Exciting opportunity to help found the Vermont Agency of Digital Services’ new Quality Management team. This start-up team is focused on ensuring IT solutions are robust by coaching mixed business and technical teams from inception to implementation. We are seeking technologists with experience in multiple phases of project delivery and multiple technology stacks. For more information, contact Josiah Raiche at josiah.raiche@vermont.gov. Department: Agency of Digital Services. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job ID #23566. Application Deadline: November 28, 2021.
Learn more at: careers.vermont.gov 10h-VTDeptHumanResources112421 1
Are you passionate about climate and energy issues and skilled in Excel? The Public Service Department invites you to join our team analyzing energy program design and project proposals, utility power supply, rates, and regulatory compliance, and other initiatives to decarbonize electricity, heating, and transportation. This position involves significant data analysis, modeling, and visualization and testimony to the Public Utility Commission and legislature. This is a multi-level recruitment. For more information, contact Anne Margolis at anne.margolis@vermont.gov. Department: Public Service. Status: Full Time. Location: Montpelier. Job ID #19575. Application Deadline: November 28, 2021.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS MAN AGER – MONTPELIER
The Agency of Education is seeking an enthusiastic and mission-driven individual to provide statewide leadership, oversight, and support for expanded learning opportunities (ELOs), including afterschool and summer programs and the expansion of community-school models. This position will play a critical role in assisting the state’s response to addressing equity of access to quality ELOs for students and supporting districts throughout the state in developing these opportunities. For more information, contact Jess DeCarolis at jess.decarolis@vermont.gov. Department: Agency of Education. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job ID #23921. Application Deadline: December 1, 2021.
The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer 11/22/21 4:42 PM
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85 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Financial Assistant Innovative funding agency seeks a full-time Financial Assistant to join our financial team. Lead the accounts payable and grants disbursement processes and provide support in other accounting tasks, helping manage state, federal, and private funding sources for programs that support Vermonters. Never a dull moment, a supportive environment to work in, and a great mission to support! Strong attention to detail, concern for accuracy, exceptional organizational and time management skills as well as the ability to work well under pressure are essential. Qualifications include a minimum of four years’ experience in accounts payable and other bookkeeping functions. Read the full job description at www.vhcb. org/about-us/jobs. This is a 40-hour per week position with a comprehensive benefits package. EOE. Please reply with cover letter and résumé to: jobs@vhcb.org. Position open until filled.
VR DATA ANALYTICS MANAGER VocRehab is currently seeking a VR Data Analytics Manager to join a highly innovative team of professionals helping Vermonters with disabilities go to work and advance in their careers. VocRehab has a strong commitment to being a data driven organization and using quality data to drive service provision. This is an ideal position for creative thinkers who are motivated by the social mission of VocRehab and are ready to contribute their data management, research, and analytical skills to a good cause. If you delight in solving complex puzzles to bring the big picture into view, you’ll find this a great job with a great team. Reference Job Posting ID: 18610. Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time. Application Deadline: 12/5/2021
VocRehab VR DATA ANALYTICS MANAGER
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10/25/21 4:04 PM
DIRECTOR OF FAMILY COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES We are seeking a dynamic community based leader for Capstone’s Family Community Support Services (FCSS) program. FCSS offers housing and crisis utility assistance throughout Washington, Orange and Lamoille counties. The FCSS Director leads the department with passion for the mission, ability to create top notch teams, commitment to Capstone values and a standard of excellence based on data and proven impact. Other key accountabilities include grant writing, reporting to our state funders, development of strategic programming and fiscal ownership of the FCSS budget. This is a rare opportunity to advocate and innovate to lift Vermonters out of poverty into stability and security. Submit a letter of interest and resume referencing the job title and how you heard about the opportunity to: Capstone Community Action, Inc. Human Resources, 20 Gable Place, Barre, VT 05641 Or e-mail to: jobs@capstonevt.org Capstone Community Action, Inc. is an E.O.E. and Provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
11/19/21 12:42 PM
VocRehab is currently seeking a VR Data Analytics Manager. This VERMONT PUBLIC COMMISSION is an opportunity to join a highlyUTILITY innovative team of professionals VocRehab helping Vermonters with disabilities go to work and advance in VR theirDATA careers.ANALYTICS VocRehab has MANAGER a strong commitment to being a Interested in working on infrastructure siting and otherusing utility-related environmental issues for a small, data driven and dataandtoeconomic drive service VocRehab isorganization currently seeking a VRquality Data Analytics Manager. This dynamic State agency with opportunities for flexible, remote work? The Vermont Public Utility Commission is seeking to fill provision. This position plays a dynamic and central role in anisEnvironmental Analyst positionto beginning 1, 2022. The Public Utility Commission regulates electric, energy an opportunity join ona January highly innovative team of professionals efficiency, natural gas, telecommunications, and manage water utilities inthe Vermont. Issues decided AWARE by the Commission include our operations, helping to VocRehab case helping Vermonters with disabilities go to work and advance in the siting of utility facilities and non-utility renewable generation facilities; utility rates and other financial matters; and management support our 200+ users statewide renewable energy, energysystem efficiency, andand telecommunications issues.commitment their careers. VocRehab has a strong to being a through business reporting design, user The Environmental Analyst positionanalysis, offers a unique chance to participate in Vermont’s regulatory process,service implementing data driven organization and using quality data todocumentation drive policy decisions that often have statewide, regional, and national significance. See http://puc.vermont.gov/. Specific duties and training, help desk functions. provision. Thisand position plays a dynamic and role include reviewing infrastructure siting and other utility-related filings; assisting other central Commission staff within the review of environmental issues; drafting proposed rules; assisting in the development of Commission policy on environmental our operations, helping to manageinthe VocRehabcomplex AWAREdata case aspects Candidates must be experienced conducting of siting and other utility-related matters; presiding over contested cases as a quasi-judicial hearing officer, with responsibility system and support our 200+judicious users statewide tomanagement identify significant issues; conducting thorough hearings in a fair, professional, manner; preparingas comprehensive analyses using data querying and management tools such SQL, proposed decisions that resolve all critical issues; and assisting the Commission in evaluating the proposed decisions. The through business analysis, reporting design, user documentation Excel, statistical packages, MS Power Query, and Power BI. This analyst also advises the Commission in cases that the Commission hears directly, with responsibility to identify, research, and and training, and help functions. analyze (including environmental issues), manage the procedural of the cases, workby as part of a is ansignificant idealissues position for desk creative thinkers who elements are motivated the team, and draft the Commission’s orders. social mission of VocRehab and are ready to contribute Candidates must be experienced in conducting complextheir datadata Judicial temperament and excellent writing and analytical skills are required. A strong candidate will have experience management, and analytical skills to atools good cause. If analyses using data querying and management such asincluding SQL, and interest in facility sitingresearch, and permitting, environmental considerations, utility regulation, or related areas, environmental law or the industry.complex The Commission also values experience withthe andpicture public policy analysis you delight inenergy solving to bring big Excel, statistical packages, MSpuzzles Power Query, andfinancial Power BI. This and formulation. into view, you’ll find this a great job with a great team. Reference is an ideal position for creative who are motivated by the Candidates typically have a bachelor’s degree and at leastthinkers two years’ related experience. Graduate work in related fields Job Posting ID: 18610, Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time. (including be considered inand lieu of experience. socialenvironmental missionlaw)ofmayVocRehab are ready to contribute their data Application 16, 2021. Salary is commensurateDeadline: withresearch, the applicant’sAugust education experience in accordance with a the good Public Utility Commission’s management, and and analytical skills to cause. If pay plan, which can be found at humanresources.vermont.gov/sites/humanresources/files/documents/DHR-Public_ you delight solving complex puzzles tobenefits bring the big picture The State of in Vermont offers an ofexcellent compensation package. Utility_Commission_Pay_Plan_FY22.pdf. The State Vermont offers total many as part of total employee compensation. Information about benefits for State employees can be found at humanresources.vermont.gov/benefits-wellness. into view, you’ll find this a great job with a great team. Reference To apply, use the online job application at careers.vermont.gov or Tocontact apply, Posting submitthe resume, cover18610, letter, writing and listResources of references via Division, e-mail Status: to puc.businessmanager@vermont. Department ofsample, Human Recruitment Job ID: Location: Waterbury. Full Time. gov by December 10, 2021. Applicants are welcome to list their personal pronouns in their application materials. Services at (855) 828-6700 (voice) or 2021. 800-253-0191 (TTY/Relay Service). Application Deadline: August 16, The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Commission seeks to attract and retain a diverse workforce
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST
The State of Vermont an Equal Opportunity and we are committed to creating anis equitable and inclusive environment forEmployer. all employees.
The State of Vermont offers an excellent total compensation package. To apply, use the online job application at careers.vermont.gov or contact the Department of Human Resources Division, Recruitment Services at (855) 828-6700 (voice) or 800-253-0191 (TTY/Relay Service). 9t-VTPublicUtilityCommission112421.indd 11/22/21 10:20 AM The State of Vermont 1is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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ATTENTION RECRUITERS:
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POST YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
ASSISTANT TO THE TOWN MANAGER
ATTENTION RECRUITERS:
The Town of Richmond seeks an energetic, professional and well-organized person to fill the position of Assistant to the Town Manager, a permanent 30 hours per week position.
POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:
The ideal candidate will have an understanding of insurance, public policy, property management, municipal operations, grant management, project management, and some human resources functions. The full job description is posted on the Town website. Wage is dependent upon qualifications and experience; retirement and health benefits are available. Direct any questions to Josh Arneson, Richmond Town Manager, at 802-434-5170. Please email cover letter, resume, and three current references to jarneson@richmondvt.gov, or mail to:
FUND VERMONT’S FUTURE (FVF)
CAMPAIGN MANAGER The FVF Campaign aims to change how state priorities and budgets are developed and funded by centering people at every stage of the process, shifting from a scarcity mindset, and budgeting transparently with meaningful public input. FVF is a coalition-based project of Public Assets Institute. The Campaign Manager will oversee campaign development, implementation, administration, and management and help with advocacy campaign planning, expanding the FVF coalition, building partnerships, educating policymakers and the public, and shaping the public debate.
THE VERMONT JUDICIARY IS NOW HIRING POSITIONS ACROSS THE STATE
GENERAL COUNSEL
Full time permanent position reporting to the State Court Administrator providing legal advice and services. Manages public information requests, drafts contracts, review proposed legislation and consult on administrative directives. Starting salary approximately $105k annual. VT license to practice plus 5 years of related experience required.
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OUTREACH COORDINATOR (CSA)
Limited-Service position until 6/30/23 in Access & Resource Center (ARC), Language Access Program: scheduling court interpreters, planning logistics and coordination of community outreach for court interpreter certification plan, processing interpreter invoices and other activities affiliated with optimizing language access in the courts. Starting Salary $21.64 per hour. Associate’s Degree and 3 years of customer service experience.
APPLICATION SUPPORT HELPDESK (CSA)
Multiple Limited-Service positions until 6/30/23. Act as the first contact for litigants, attorneys and other customers who need assistance navigating the court’s primary software application. Will learn court procedures and deliver excellent service over phone and computer. Starting Salary $21.64 per hour. Associate’s Degree and 3 years of customer service experience.
LEGAL CLERICAL ASSISTANT
Several permanent, Limited Service and Temporary Docket Clerk positions available. Will perform specialized clerical duties including data entry customer service, multitasking, legal processing, courtroom support and record keeping. Hiring throughout Vermont. High School graduate and two years of clerical or data entry experience required. Starting at $17.49 per hour.
More information at publicassets.org/about/jobs. Review begins December 10, 2021. Job starts January, 2022.
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6/29/21 2:49 PM
For a full listing of positions available: vermontjudiciary.exacthire.com
Salary: $52,000/year. Full time, generous paid leave, additional reimbursement toward other benefits. Minimum 1 year of experience as field director on an issue campaign.
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Permanent, Limited Service offer full benefits including healthcare, sick leave, holidays, and paid time off. Temporary positions available.
Town Manager - Town of Richmond PO Box 285, Richmond, VT 05477
Find jobs on
SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
All positions are open until filled. The Vermont Judiciary is an equal opportunity employer.
11/5/19 12:25 PM
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NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!
BURLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY (BHA) in Burlington, VT is seeking candidates to continue BHA's success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of extremely low-income families and individuals. Director of Property Management oversees and directs property management activities related to the organization’s owned and managed property portfolio. This position supervises and directs activities of property management staff to ensure that our properties are well-run, safe and help to promote vibrant neighborhoods in the community. The Director of PM participates as a member of the management team working to strategize short‐range and long‐range organizational goals. Leasing Coordinator is responsible for the waitlist selection, screening for program eligibility, gathering information for Property Managers to screen for tenant suitability, processing lease ups, processing tenant move out files, monitoring vacancies and providing back up assistance to the Property Managers. Occupancy Specialist coordinates and processes annual & interim recertification for multifamily, tax credit and HOME programs. The position screens of all applicants for program eligibility for HUD Multifamily & BHA owed properties, including income eligibility, references, credit, and criminal. Makes determination on program eligibility. Providing back up assistance to the Leasing Coordinator and Property Management Specialist. Property Manager ensures established property standards are achieved; maintain occupancy at acceptable levels; perform apartment move-in and move-out inspections; review delinquent accounts; conduct regular physical site inspections; review monthly financial statements. This position ensures that all properties are operating within standards of compliance and maintain effective and positive resident and community relations. Construction Project Specialist coordinates small to medium sized renovation and repair projects at all owned and managed properties. This position also will assist in the development and preparation of construction project bid specifications, requests for proposals and project requirements, manuals, and plans, as well as other aspects of project management, which include working with contractors, interfacing with tenants, and assisting the department with capital needs planning and day to day operations in the office and out in the field. Maintenance Technician performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties, including building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Maintenance Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies. Rapid Rehousing Specialist provides assistance to community members who are without housing and have barriers to locating and securing housing in the community. This grant funded position works closely with our Rental Assistance department and Chittenden County Coordinated Entry and is a part of a skilled team that focuses on assessment, intervention, and service coordination of at-risk households.
JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM
87 NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 1, 2021
Supportive Services at Home (SASH) conducts outreach, work with a Registered Nurse and provide service coordination and direct support to residents while collaborating with many local service providers to ensure residents successfully age in place. Housing support will be provided to residents with medical, mental health, and intellectual disabilities, all with diverse needs. Offender Re-entry Housing Specialist provides housing placement and retention services to high-risk offenders returning to the community from long-term incarceration. This grant funded position works as a part of a skilled Housing Retention Team and in close collaboration with Burlington Probation and Parole and Dept. of Corrections Central Offices. Controller manages the accounting operations of the Authority. The responsibilities for this position include preparing timely and accurate accounting records and financial reports; managing operating budgets; and maintaining a comprehensive and effective system of internal controls, all of which are designed to ensure the accuracy of BHA’s reported results, mitigate risk, and ensure that resulting financial statements comply with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and the U/S/ Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements. The Controller also hires, trains, manages and retains skilled accounting staff. Rental Assistance Program Manager (RAPM) provides general oversight and management of Special Rental Assistance Programs and grants administered by the Burlington Housing Authority including Family Unification, Shelter Plus Care, HOPWA, RAD project-based vouchers and other rental assistance partnerships with social service agencies. Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator (FSS) FSS is an employment incentive program designed to support and encourage Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program participants to move towards economic self-sufficiency. The program also provides case management services in ways that are designed to help clients achieve goals in six main categories: Employment, Education, Financial Literacy, Housing, Childcare, and Health/Wellness. Office Manager manages the main office lobby and answers phones while providing great customer service, maintains all BHA brochures and materials, processes office mailings, assembles and distributes monthly board materials, and manages the office inventory. To learn more about BHA and these career opportunities, please visit our website: https://burlingtonhousing.org BHA offers a competitive salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and an excellent benefit package. If you are interested in these career opportunities, please send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org BHA is an equal Opportunity Employer HUMAN RESOURCES, BURLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY 65 MAIN STREET, BURLINGTON, VT 05401
PAULA ROUTLY
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Have a deep, dark fear of your own? Submit it to cartoonist Fran Krause at deep-dark-fears.tumblr.com, and you may see your neurosis illustrated in these pages.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1 TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author Kurt Vonnegut wrote wistfully, “I still catch myself feeling sad about things that don’t matter anymore.” If similar things are running wild in your head, dear Taurus, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to banish them. You will have extra power to purge outdated emotions and reclaim at least some of the wild innocence that is your birthright. PS: There’s nothing wrong with feeling sad. In fact, feeling sad can be healthy. But it’s important to feel sad for the right reasons. Getting clear about that is your second assignment. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I’ll walk forever
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
Poet Renée Ashley describes what she’s attracted to: “I’m drawn to what flutters nebulously at the edges, at the corner of my eye — just outside my certain sight. I want to share in what I am routinely denied or only suspect exists. I long for a glimpse of what is beginning to occur.” Although I don’t think that’s a suitable perspective for you to cultivate all the time, Sagittarius, I suspect it might be appealing and useful for you in the coming weeks. Fresh possibilities will be coalescing. New storylines will be incubating. Be alert for the oncoming delights of the unknown.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries author Chris Brogan says, “Don’t settle. Don’t finish crappy books. If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you’re not on the right path, get off it.” That’s the best possible counsel for you to hear, in my astrological opinion. As an Aries, you’re already inclined to live by that philosophy. But now and then, like now, you need a forceful nudge in that direction. So please, Aries, go in pursuit of what you want, not what you partially want. Associate with the very best, most invigorating influences, not the mediocre kind.
with stories inside me that the people I love the most can never hear.” So says the main character in Gemini author Michelle Hodkin’s novel The Evolution of Mara Dyer. If that heart-rending statement has resonance with your own personal experience, I have good news: The coming weeks will be a favorable time to transform the situation. I believe you can figure out how to share key stories and feelings that have been hard to reveal before now. Be alert for unexpected opportunities and not-at-all-obvious breakthroughs.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A study of people in 24 countries concluded that during the pandemic, over 80 percent of the population have taken action to improve their health. Are you in that group? Whether or not you are, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to go further in establishing robust self-care. The astrological omens suggest you’ll find it easier than usual to commit to good new habits. Rather than trying to do too much, I suggest you take no more than three steps. Even starting with just one might be wise. Top three: eating excellent food, having fun while exercising right and getting all the deep sleep you need. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo-born scholar Edith Hamilton loved to study ancient Greek civilization. She wrote, “To rejoice in life, to find the world beautiful and delightful to live in, was a mark of the Greek spirit which distinguished it from all that had gone before.” One sign of Greece’s devotion to joie de vivre was its love of play. “The Greeks were the first people in the world to play,” Hamilton exulted,
“and they played on a great scale. All over Greece, there were games” — for athletes, dancers, musicians and other performers. Spirited competition was an essential element of their celebration of play, as was the pursuit of fun for its own sake. In resonance with your astrological omens, Leo, I propose you regard ancient Greece as your spiritual home for the next five weeks.
authentic ideas. Emotions, on the other hand, emerge spontaneously and are hard to hide, according to Camus. They come straight from the depths. In accordance with astrological potentials, Scorpio, I urge you to keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. See if you can be more skeptical about your thoughts and more trusting in your emotions.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo singersongwriter Florence Welch of the band Florence and the Machine told an interviewer why she wrote “Hunger.” She said, “I looked for love in things that were not love.” What were those things? According to her song, they included taking drugs and performing on stage. Earlier in Florence’s life, as a teenager, “love was a kind of emptiness” she experienced through her eating disorder. What about you, Virgo? Have you looked for love in things that weren’t love? Are you doing that right now? The coming weeks will be a good time to get straight with yourself about this issue. I suggest you ask for help from your higher self. Formulate a strong intention that in the future, you will look for love in things that can genuinely offer you love.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): What could you do to diminish your suffering? Your next assignment is to take two specific steps to begin that process. You’re in a phase of your astrological cycle when you’re more likely than usual to see what’s necessary to salve your wounds and fix what’s broken. Take maximum advantage of this opportunity! I proclaim this next chapter of your life to be titled “In Quest of the Maximum Cure.” Have fun with this project, dear Capricorn. Treat it as a mandate to be imaginative and explore interesting possibilities.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): There’s a Grateful Dead song, with lyrics written by John Perry Barlow, that says, “You ain’t gonna learn what you don’t want to know.” I propose you make that your featured advice for the next two weeks. I hope you will be inspired by it to figure out what truths you might be trying hard not to know. In so doing, you will make yourself available to learn those truths. As a result, you’ll be led on a healing journey you didn’t know you needed to take. The process might sound uncomfortable, but I suspect it will ultimately be pleasurable. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio author and philosopher Albert Camus was a good thinker. At age 44, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature — the second-youngest recipient ever. And yet he made this curious statement: “Thoughts are never honest. Emotions are.” He regarded thoughts as “refined and muddy” — the result of people continually tinkering with their inner dialogue so as to come up with partially true statements designed to serve their self-image rather than reflect
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “It is a fault
to wish to be understood before we have made ourselves clear to ourselves,” wrote my favorite Aquarian philosopher, Simone Weil. I agree. It’s advice I regularly use myself. If you want to be seen and appreciated for who you really are, you should make it your priority to see and appreciate yourself for who you really are. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to make progress in this noble project. Start this way: Write a list of the five qualities about yourself that you love best.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Nigerian author Ben Okri, born under the sign of Pisces, praises our heroic instinct to rise above the forces of chaos. He writes, “The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering.” You’ve been doing a lot of that excellent work throughout 2021, dear Pisces. And I expect that you’ll be climaxing this chapter of your life story sometime soon. Thanks for being such a resourceful and resilient champion. You have bravely faced but also risen above the sometimesmessy challenges of plain old everyday life. You have inspired many of us to stay devoted to our heart’s desires.
CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES & DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES: REALASTROLOGY.COM OR 1-877-873-4888
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Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking... LOTS OF ENERGY! I’m a high-energy, highly educated person in Vermont for winter skiing and fun. I love live music and get out as much as I can to hear good acts. I am interested in making new friends but would be open to a relationship, even an LTR, if the right connections develop. Winter_friend, 55, seeking: M, l MUCH TO BRING: SEEKING COMPANION/CONNECTION Laid-back, sane, cute, emotionally and financially stable. In Rhode Island, able to move/purchase next (like, cooler hemisphere) full or semi off-grid (or not). Animal lover, DIYer, prepper, self-sufficient. Seeking 50-50 partnership. Have remote work ability and passive income (for financial stability). Have much to bring to the table. Seeking similar for mutually beneficial relationship/ partnership/life companion. nptfornow, 51, seeking: M, l WARM BBW FOR CUDDLY T-BEAR Warm BBW seeks cuddly teddy bear (or two) who’s silly, soulful, spiritual and sensual, as I am. Enjoy being near water, eating out or cooking together, drives to nowhere, plays, movies, live music. I’m polyamorous and hope you are, too; I believe it’s possible to have more than one loving relationship at once. Also please be intelligent, reflective and fun! Myzeffy, 63, seeking: M, l
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I WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH I am very interested in the arts, mainly visual and literary. I am an artist. I can be extremely lazy or extremely productive. I know how to build a house. I am handy. Not a great cook. Spend most of my time with my dogs and cat in the wilderness. Great sense of humor. Smart. Part redneck, part sophisticate. aquatica, 62, seeking: M, l
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LOYAL, LOVING, EASYGOING Hello, I just moved here to Vermont from NOLA. I am 52 y/o, a mother of 4 children and grandmother of 6. I am family oriented, Im looking for a friend, who’s honest, supportive, understanding, and loves the lord. Holiday is around the corner if anyone singles don’t want to be alone for the holidays I’m just an email away. Olletamiamay, 52, seeking: M, l
SEEKING ELUSIVE CHEMISTRY Genuine nice gal — low maintenance, avoider of negative energy. Aim for peaceful coexistence in a beautiful setting. Love nature: big view, mountains, lake and sky; birds and animals; swimming in streams, lakes and waterfalls. Seek similar male who is tall, educated, kind and upbeat. Emotionally stable. Well read. Bonus points if you like cooking garden-to-table, and yard projects. swimwstars, 65, seeking: M, l
FUN, FUNNY, MAYBE TOO HONEST Family oriented, honest, caring, analyzer, touchy-feely, funny. I crave a person like me, who likes things I do — someone I can learn from. Someone who is social, has a sense of humor, who can make me feel like I am an equal and important to them. Someone who likes to travel, likes water, and also loves music and some kitchen dancing. honestyandfunx2, 54, seeking: M DISCREET FUN AND FRIEND WITH BENEFITS I am in my early 40s, married to a wonderful man who doesn’t know I enjoy the company of a woman occasionally. Looking to find another female who would like to be a friend with benefits. Discretion is a must. If we decide, then maybe meet for dinner/drinks and get a room for the night. Send me a message. DiscreetFun, 41, seeking: W COZY, LITERATE HOMEBODY SEEKS CO-CHEF Voracious reader and creative thinker seeks winter cooking partner. If you’re someone who thinks deeply, values friendships, respects the world beyond humankind, chooses science over suspicion, and tempers your thinking with compassion and humility, let’s be in touch. I’m a SF, 55, healthy, active and COVID careful. Sanguinely, 25, seeking: M SEASONED WOMAN DESIRES SEASONED MAN 73-y/o woman who wants to meet a man who desires to have a committed relationship to find what life reveals to us. I enjoy theater, walking, hiking (short distances), reading, writing (personal journals). Working part time in the field of DD/ID MH. flynrn, 73, seeking: M YOUNG AT HEART AND ROMANTIC I am an intelligent woman who loves to be out and about and social. I enjoy nature walks, dancing, music and travel. I am very caring and loving and a good listener. I want a companion and more. I want to share love with a like-minded gentleman. Chatandc, 76, seeking: M
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LOVING AND KIND I am a very nice person who is open to love at any time. When I say “love,” I mean sharing ideas, spending time. I live a very quiet life and do not like the limelight. I love military men. I also love intelligent conversation. Some looks are necessary, but taking care of oneself is important. AnLuv, 50, seeking: M, l HOPING FOR COMPANIONSHIP Don’t need a fancy trip to France. Would enjoy the company of someone for more realistic adventures — things like breakfast. I love getting breakfast out, playing board games, day trips here and there. bluemonarch, 55, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, l WILDLY ADVENTUROUS AND INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS There are two themes to my life: courage and individuality. To quote one son: mediating biker gangs at a carnival? Working the hood in Portland? Africa? I don’t know many people who so fully defy categorization or stereotyping — class, gender, profession. I was a CPA and am a habitual college student. Basically, I embrace life. WorldTravele7570, 79, seeking: M, l LOVE TO LAUGH, KIND, AUTHENTIC Been separated for a while now and, though very happy/content to be solo during that time, I think I’m ready to meet new people. Looking for some fun social times to start. I love to go out for drinks, play darts/cards. Love watching sports on TV, especially Boston teams. Love animals, travel and new but sane adventures. Not looking for FWB. AlmostReady, 64, seeking: M, l
MEN seeking... PRESENT, OPEN, FUN I am not here with any expectations or interest in jumping into a new commitment and anything serious. Very private. It is not about the goal or destination; life is about the journey. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Something will happen. NewChapters, 58, seeking: W
READY TO SHARE LIFE AGAIN Things are going well for me! Career is on track. Family is healthy. I’m financially secure. And I have been vaccinated. (That is important these days, LOL.) What I’m missing in my life is a special friend/partner/ LTR. Someone to rejoice with our individual/together life events. And to help soften the sting when life’s little failures arises. I’m ready to share life. VTMtnAdventures, 58, seeking: W, l STING IS MY BIGGEST FAN OK, I don’t actually know Sting. Just moved up to Vermont a minute ago and would love to meet some fun folks. I’m not looking for anything serious. That part of my life is accounted for. I’m still fond of female company in all its other forms, though. PlentyOfToast, 39, seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l MINDFUL, REGULATED EMOTIONAL STATE, KIND Single father of two grown-ish girls. I hold a PhD in psychology and run a nonprofit here in Vermont. I enjoy reading, writing and binging shows. Now that my daughters are away at college, I have the time and energy to meet new people. MindOverMatter, 52, seeking: W, l LOOKING FOR FUN, INTERESTING TIMES I am an 83-y/o widower who was in a wonderfully open marriage. I am looking for companions for dining out, theater, travel and sex. I am not interested in marriage or living together, but in being close regardless. I am generous. If you are not interested in the “physical side” of a relationship, please do not respond. larrybarre69, 83, seeking: W, TW, l HAPPY BI MAN Looking to meet others for sensual experiences. Into many things, but mostly hot, lustful fun. paulccc, 61, seeking: M, Cp HONEST, SPIRITUAL, CARING, LOVING Recently relocated to Colchester and work as an RN at UVMMC in Burlington. Highly educated with BSN and BS Chem. Honest, open-minded and willing for LTR. Have faith, hope and love. Seeking female companion/soul mate to share fun times when not working. I enjoy most indoor cultural and outdoor recreational activities. No drugs or alcohol, please. Nursesteve1, 60, seeking: W, l OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST Relaxed, honest, up for adventure. outdoorenthusiast, 60, seeking: W, l HELLO THERE Family is important. I like water. I like to be out on the water. Love sailing. I make things and machines that make things. I like to draw. I would like to find someone special to spend some time with — start with dating and see how it goes. I understand it takes a while to get to know someone. datesail, 59, seeking: W, l CALM, CARING, FLEXIBLE, LOVING I’m a Black male, educated in local colleges and university; work in academia. Deeply Christian but respectful of others’ faith. Compassionate and open-minded being. Love hiking and other outdoor activities, enjoying the beauty of Vermont. Some of my favorite places are Mount Philo, the Ethan Allen Homestead and Lake Champlain. Family oriented; hope to have children in the future. Zack40, 64, seeking: W SILVER HEAD, FOR GOOD COMPANY Friendly, social guy seeks good male company with possible benefits. orion, 68, seeking: M
CURIOUS, SEEKING ACTION Looking for after-midnight hookup. If you are horny and not ugly and local, hit me up. jasper, 62, seeking: M DREAMS DO COME TRUE Independent, thoughtful friend or lover seeking authentic connection. She should be independent and have her own life but be open to spending time together. I love beautiful drives, cars, antiquing, the ocean, gardening, cooking. Listening to music after a long week is much nicer when you have someone to enjoy it with. She should be unapologetic for who she is. Blackice, 56, seeking: W SHALL WE DANCE? I hope that you will be a woman who will enjoy being held in my arms as I float you through a waltz or a foxtrot or the close embrace of a tango. My question to you is, “Shall we dance?” vt_dancing_guy, 73, seeking: W, l
TRANS WOMEN seeking... BE MY CUDDLE BUDDY? Cute 50-y/o vegan straight-edge polyam ace enby trans girl. Love my parallel polyam primary nesting partner, so I’m looking for a part-time snuggle buddy for walks and talks and handholding and kissing and romance! I fall in love really easily! I’m half in love with you already just because you’re reading this! Anyone but cis guys. EnbyTransgirl, 53, seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NBP, l T GIRL LIVE IN VT Trans girl. Offbeat sense of humor. Looking for that certain someone. I like dinner and a movie or a game at Centennial Field. I like to ride my bike on the bike path and see shows at Higher Ground. At home I spend my time listening to my record collection and taking care of my house. Luv2BaGurl, 61, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l DEPTH AND DESIRE Finding both is not easy. Active TG seeks motivated, aroused, real playmate for trysts of all sorts. Inside, outside, day, night. If you are 50ish to 60ish, very fit and hot to trot, get in touch. 2PartsofDesire, 64, seeking: M, Cp, l
COUPLES seeking... LOOKING FOR GODDESS TO SPOIL We’re a good-looking, HWP professional couple in our low 40s looking to find a bisexual woman who wants to be spoiled. We want to wine you, dine you and make you feel like a goddess both in and outside the bedroom. No experience in threesomes required, and bi-curious ladies are welcome to inquire, as well. We won’t disappoint. Likemindedfun, 44, seeking: W LOOKING FOR FUN We are looking for a man to have sex with my wife as I watch or join in. I want no interaction with the man. Just fun. No STDs, but bareback. Can be more than one man with my wife. tracker17, 66, seeking: M, l SPICING IT UP I’m a cancer survivor happily married to my husband. We’re seeking a couple or single woman to help me find my sensuality. We’ve done this before, but it’s been many years now. Anyone interested in helping out? Lookingforfun116, 53, seeking: W, Cp OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Fun, attractive, adventurous; seeking someone interested in outdoor and indoor adventures. cernowain, 38, seeking: M, W, Cp, l
i SPY
If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!
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BURKLYN/VTANTRA LAST TRY I and M: You look like a fun couple, but I never get a response from you on #Open, OkC or Feeld. I’m disappointed. Me: masculine-presenting muscular climber, polysexual, multiamorous, tatted. When: Sunday, November 21, 2021. Where: #Open/Burklyn. You: Couple. Me: Genderqueer. #915459 WORKING AT DUNKIN’ DONUTS IN MONTPELIER I only see you once or twice a week, early mornings. I would like to take you out for dinner and chat with you. When: Sunday, November 21, 2021. Where: Dunkin’ Donuts in Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915458 RICHMOND BEAUTY Came to Sweet Simone’s for the coffee but stayed for your (cinnamon) buns. Saw you next door at Hey June, too! I had coffee and a scone and was looking for holiday cards next to you. Let’s get coffee? When: Thursday, November 18, 2021. Where: Richmond. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915457 STAY GOLD, STAY YOU Let’s face it: I see you quite often, and I wish you could see in yourself what others see in you. It’s your week, so you call the shots. I’m proud of you in so many ways. Be proud of yourself. May you sleep well and feel content with the person you have become. When: Monday, November 1, 2021. Where: central Vermont. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915455 TIRED AND CONFUSED I deleted your phone number months ago. Did we cross paths yesterday? I was on my way home from work, yawning, and suddenly there you were! Headed in the opposite direction. When: Thursday, November 4, 2021. Where: black car. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915454
RE: LOST Deleting numbers is OK. Crossing paths is a sign. If you are her, we should connect. Tag! You’re it! When: Saturday, November 6, 2021. Where: crossing paths?. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915456 TRYING TO CONTACT SMARTY PANTS I’m looking to be reunited with the most amazing girl. I made a mistake, and I’ve paid dearly for it. Please reach out to me. #Sunshine #Smartypants #Montpelier When: Monday, November 1, 2021. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915453 BERLIN PLANET FITNESS You: beautiful, very curvy blond girl with black leggings, white shoes and half shirt. Me: guy admiring your amazing physique on Saturday and Sunday, October 30 and 31. When: Saturday, October 30, 2021. Where: Berlin Planet Fitness. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915452 DUNKIN’ DONUTS, EARLY 11/1 You: an adorable tiny lady, full of fire. Me: just a guy on his way to work. We both shook our heads at the garbage truck flying through the parking lot. Just wanted you to know I thought you were adorable. Be careful of those candy trucks. When: Monday, November 1, 2021. Where: Williston Dunkin’ Donuts. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915451 HOT WOMAN CHATTING WITH ME We were chatting waiting in line. Then an older lady was trying to cut, and you made it a point to tell her, “You’re behind him!” That was hot! I could be wrong, but I felt a connection. I liked what I saw; did you? I’m game if you are. Chat or even more — send you home smiling. ? When: Friday, October 29, 2021. Where: Hannaford, North Ave., in line. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915449
THREE ENCOUNTERS: TWO HEARTS The morning we met across the counter, we had a pleasant conversation and I was drawn to your quiet charm. Twice since then, I’ve visited, and each time, you’ve left hearts with my order. If you were looking to make an impression, it happened that very first time. Look me up? When: Sunday, October 3, 2021. Where: North Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915448 RANDI WITH THE GRAY CURLS I’ve always secretly admired you and like talking to you when you come into my work, but I haven’t seen you in a while. Let’s hang out sometime. Maybe I could be your winter warmth. If you see this, please respond or come see me. I hope you are doing well! When: Friday, October 1, 2021. Where: South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915447 CITY MARKET PARKING LOT SMILES Our cars were parked next to each other. You were on your phone, and I was on mine. I looked over, and you smiled; I smiled back. You waved at me as I left the store. You: wearing circular-shaped glasses and driving a gray Honda CR-V. Would love to have a simultaneous conversation in person. When: Monday, October 25, 2021. Where: City Market downtown parking lot. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915446 SHELBURNE JIFFY GINGER You: polished and so cute. Me: not so much. So glad we shared a smile. :) When: Monday, October 11, 2021. Where: Shelburne Jiffy Mart. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915445 WHERE’S THE ‘MAILMAN’? Mailman, where did you go? I was just about to send you a flirt, and you were long gone. Bummer, dude! I’d really enjoy sharing a white Russian with you sometime. When: Sunday, October 24, 2021. Where: Seven Days personals. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915444 PLANET FITNESS Saw you this morning: tall, handsome guy on the treadmill wearing the beanie! Just wanted to let you know you’re lookin’ good! I wonder if you are single? When: Monday, October 25, 2021. Where: Planet Fitness. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915443
Ask REVEREND Dear Frosty Wallet, the
Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums
Dear Reverend,
This year has been tough for me financially. My family tends to go a little overboard with holiday gifts, but I really can’t swing much this time around. How can I bow out without seeming like a Scrooge?
Frosty Wallet
(MALE, 31)
Lots of people are in the same sleigh this holiday season, and I’m sure your family will understand. Let them know (the sooner, the better) that you’re taking a break from buying presents this year, and tell them not to get you anything. They may ignore your request, but that’s their call. Is there a chance your crew would be willing to switch up its gift-giving traditions this year? You could suggest doing a Yankee Swap or drawing names so that everybody brings only one present to the party. Who knows? Your family members might appreciate the chance to lighten their holiday shopping load.
BEAUTIFUL MOM AND ADORABLE DAUGHTER You and your daughter visited me and my goats. I think we caught eyes a few times. I wanted to chat more and get your name, but I was occupied with other visitors. You: wide-brimmed green hat, cowboy boots, beautiful smile and adorable daughter. I was the goat guy. When: Friday, October 8, 2021. Where: Richmond Farmers Market. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915442
CITY MARKET SUNCATCHER You: basking like a lizard outside the downtown co-op at the table closest to the entrance. Me: finding nothing to say that could possibly enhance the pearl-perfect moment you seemed to be enjoying. Let’s have a moment like that together at my favorite sunset spot. It’s an obvious one, but few people seem to know it. When: Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Where: City Market downtown. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915436
BEAUTIFUL IN BLUE You were dressed all in blue, walking your dog, who seemed to have plans of his/her own. I watched you from another parking lot. You told me your dog was flirting. You were so beautiful. When: Friday, October 22, 2021. Where: UVM Trinity Campus. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915441
ON TAP, SATURDAY 9/25 I was sitting alone in the back corner. You and your friend were at the table in front of me. You got up and came over and introduced yourself and didn’t come back. I would love to buy you a drink and chat. When: Saturday, September 25, 2021. Where: in the back room of the bar. You: Woman. Me: Couple. #915427
STONE SOUP Me: 60 y/o. You: about the same. We caught each other’s eye at the café. I was with a friend having a piece of pie and a tea. You were with a younger woman, possibly your daughter. I would be interested in finding out more about you. When: Saturday, October 16, 2021. Where: Stone Soup café. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915439 EVERYWHERE IN MY DREAMS, MONTPELIER I’ve seen you many places. Tall, kind, carefree. When will our paths cross? My heart and soul need us to find one another for a happy journey together. Me: tall, soulful woman. You: tall, kind and looking for last love. When: Friday, October 1, 2021. Where: everywhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915438 THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW! Our paths are running next to each other. I hope they cross sooner rather than later. I hope you turn here as much as I do. When: Sunday, October 10, 2021. Where: my daily read. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915432 I MISS YOU, SUNSHINE I made a mistake, and it cost me the best woman I ever knew. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my Montpelier girl. I do wish the best for you but wish we split on better terms. You will always be in my heart, Smarty Pants. When: Monday, September 27, 2021. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915428
SHELBURNE ROAD, ADVANCED AUTO PARTS You and your guy were waiting at the counter as I walked by and wished you good luck on your project. Did I imagine it, or did you come over by me a few times and then bend over in front of the air fresheners for my benefit? If so, I’m really glad you did. Meet for a drink? When: Friday, September 24, 2021. Where: Shelburne Rd. auto parts store. You: Couple. Me: Man. #915425 BURLINGTON CUMBERLAND FARMS, GAS, SMILES You: F, light brown hair in a bun, blue Volkswagen wagon parked at the pump. Me: M, tall, salt-and-pepper hair, shorts, floral mask, held the door for you as you came in. We caught each other’s eye, smiled as you walked to the pump. I said hi. I should’ve come over to talk. Care to do that sometime? When: Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Where: Cumberland Farms, Pine St., Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915424 FOREVER, EVER? Forever never, seems that long until you’re grown / And notice that the day-by-day ruler can’t be too wrong. / I wish I could become a magician to abracadabra all the sadder / Thoughts of me, thoughts of she, asking what happened to the feeling that her and me had. When: Sunday, October 14, 2018. Where: separate ways. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915416
There are also plenty of gifts that don’t cost much, if anything. You just might need to get a little crafty. Bust out some glitter and glue and make everybody a handmade ornament. Bake a bunch of cookies and put them in festive tins that you can get for next to nothing. Take a tour of the thrift stores in your town; you may find all sorts of little treasures for cheap. Or don’t do any of those things, and just relax. Giving and receiving presents can be fun, but spending time with people you love is the best gift of all. Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
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36-y/o SWM seeking captivating pen pal. Looking to establish an upright, modest relationship with like-minded people. I’m funny, energetic, appealing and enjoy the little things. I love the beauty the outdoors bring. Open to all. Life’s too short to miss an opportunity. Can’t wait to hear from you. #L1538 I am a rural woman interested in building a romantic relationship. I follow the teachings of Dr. Pat Allen, inspired by science and Taoist philosophy. I want to be cherished by a gentleman who wants to be respected. #L1537
Woman, 56, needs simple life in the country with a gentle, caring man sharing similar values to keep the relationship healthy. Desire to engage in deep conversation, be active in nature and support good health. Must love coffee, good food and the art of cooking. Phone number, please. #L1543 SWM bi top seeks sub bottom. Enjoy fem heels, stockings, panties, painted toenails. No drugs. Clean. Vaccinated. Steady lover. Phone. #L1542 I’m a GWM, 60s, 5’9, 170 pounds, seeking a man or men into spanking and/or wearing/ using adult diapers. #L1540
Gay white male looking for gay males in the area of Tunbridge/ South Royalton. 5’10 and a half. Slender build. Dark brown hair and brown eyes. Good looking. Can be discreet. Contact me. #L1541 Bi-curious male, 40s, seeking pen pals and phone freaks. Confess your closet kinks, freaky fetishes and taboo tales. I’m open-minded and nonjudgmental. I want to know all your sexy secrets. All are welcome. I’ll reply if asked. #L1539 Slim guys 18-36 wanted. Willing to meet at any time of your calling. #L1534
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65-y/o woman, but not showing my age yet, looking to meet calm, mature, honest men. I enjoy adventures with most outdoor activities, animals, music. #L1536 49-y/o woman seeks male 55+. I love nature along with water and walking. I’m spiritual, looking for companionship with truth and honesty, building life through good and bad, and becoming stronger. I enjoy dancing, music, charity work and adventure to learn from. #L1535 GWM seeking other GM for friendship and more. Write me with name and phone number. #L1532 SWM seeks SBF for lovers. Winter is coming, and I need someone to keep me warm. Honest and clean. Phone. #L1530
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Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. I am a crossdresser (M-to-F) seeking female friends for coffee, friendship or just corresponding. Any age, race and ethnicity OK. Retired and ready. Will answer all letters. #L1531 How feral’s feral? Energetic Luddite(s) indeed, but easier to be progressively backward with a mischievous coconspirator. Artist here, resourceful cottager, surrounded by books and mason jars. Worth every penny of your $5. If you disagree, I’ll reimburse! M seeking F. #L1529 Humble, honest, loving and fun 69-y/o searching for his soul mate to enjoy life’s adventures with. Looking for that special gal who enjoys skiing, beaches, boating, biking, animals and cares for our natural environment. Someone spiritual who can “see the light.” A love of theater, music and dancing a plus. #L1528 70-y/o WM seeks mid-70s to mid-80s WF. I want to experience sensuality with a very mature WF woman. Phone number, please. #L1524
Discreet oral bottom. 54y/o SWM, 5’8, slim, dark hair, blue eyes. Seeking any well-hung guys, 18 to 55 y/o, who are a good top and last a long time for more than one around. Phone only, but text. Champlain Valley. #L1526 GM in Rutland County seeking other GM or bi for social interaction. Maybe leading to FWB or more. I’m easygoing, stable and like adventure. Phone only. Hope to hear from you. #L1523 Fit 50ish M, green-eyed, kind and witty, seeks fit F 40 to 60. Well read, rugged, capable, collected, patient. Values community, gardens, art, acts of making. Let’s cook, share absurdist humor, read together. Prefer handwritten to the screen. Simple! #L1522 I’m an older male seeking any age. It’s so enchanting in the woods. The silence, the peace and the wonderful sounds of nature. I’d love to share the caress of nature with a good friend. Lovely wonderful person, 5’9, 150 pounds, older nonsmoker. #L1521
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Vermont Symphony Orchestra presents
HOLIDAY POPS! DECEMBER 10 Barre Opera House, Barre 7:30PM
DECEMBER 11 The Flynn, Burlington 7:30PM
DECEMBER 12 Paramount Theatre, Rutland 3:00PM
Tickets at V S O. O R G *Children 12 and under FREE. Limited quantity available. Must be purchased along with at least one paying adult.
PETER ASKIM Conductor
MELISSA WIMBISH Soprano
Special guests Tom Messner (Burlington), Lt. Governor Molly Gray (Barre), and Mrs. Claus (Burlington)!
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