Seven Days, December 7, 2022

Expensive housing is limiting who gets to live where in Vermont — and clouds the state’s future

BY DEREK BROUWER,

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Gov. Phil Scott on Tuesday announced the launch of a voluntary paid family and medical leave program that he views as friendlier to businesses than the larger, universal program Democratic lawmakers plan to push this legislative session.

Under Scott’s program, Vermont employers could offer their workers at least six weeks of paid time off to bond with a new child, recover from illness or care for a family member. Workers would receive 60 percent of their salary and could take the benefit all at once or spread it out over a year.

e program is similar to a joint one the Scott administration sought to create with New Hampshire four years ago, which went nowhere due to differences in the two states’ approaches. New Hampshire’s program is going live on January 1. Vermont never gave up on making its program a reality as well, Scott said.

After a competitive bidding process, the state inked a contract with Connecticut-based insurer the Hartford.

“ e innovative approach we are launching today gives Vermonters and employers the choice to opt in to this program,” Scott said.

His announcement comes in advance of a legislative session in which a Democratic majority is making universal paid leave a priority, signaling that the issue will likely be a contentious one in the months ahead.

Democratic leaders immediately panned the governor’s proposal and pledged to push forward with a broader benefit. House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) said in a statement that Scott’s plan “does not meet the needs of Vermonters in this moment.”

“I was happy to hear that the Governor is open to discussion on a universal, more inclusive program and I look forward to working with the Governor and his team this coming session,” Krowinski said.

Lawmakers have pushed hard to require businesses to offer paid family and medical leave funded by payroll taxes, arguing that the larger pool of workers would keep costs down. Scott said his approach accomplishes similar goals without raising payroll taxes on workers and “without a one-size-fits-all mandate” for businesses.

His program would first be open to 8,000 state workers starting in July 2023 and would cost $2 million annually. Private companies could begin opting in a year later.

Meanwhile, Krowinski and Democratic Lt. Gov. Molly Gray are hosting a “legislative summit” on paid family leave and childcare on December 8. Both issues are considered priorities for the Dems.

Read Kevin McCallum’s full story and keep up with developments at sevendaysvt.com.

BARRE GENEROUS

In October, Beth Mueller attended an event about homelessness in the Barre area.

Service providers told attendees they were worried about winter, when pandemicstrained social service groups would contend with an unprecedented number of people in need. Despite shelters and the state-run hotel program, many of them would end up sleeping in the cold.

at night, Mueller, a graphic designer, illustrator and potter, snapped into action. She emailed several sleeping bag manufacturers around the country, asking if any had spare sacks to donate.

e next morning, Mueller heard from

CEMETERY CAPER

Cops busted a man who stole brass markers from veterans’ graves and sold them. Now police need help returning them to their proper places.

LET THERE BE

Gov. Phil Scott and students helped light the Christmas tree at the Statehouse on Monday. Even some reindeer made an appearance.

That’s how many inmates have died in Vermont prisons this year, which is well above the norm.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Randy Quaid Buys a Home on Randy Lane in Burlington” by Courtney Lamdin. e film star and sometime Vermonter envisions a green energy project, his wife said.

2. “Underground Snax Opens on College Street in Burlington” by Jordan Barry. Japanese Kit Kats and Mystery Oreos from ailand are just two of the 340 products for sale in the new store.

3. “Man Stabbed to Death in Downtown Burlington” by Derek Brouwer. Abubakar Sharrif, 23, died early on Sunday after police were called to an assault at Piesanos pizza.

ANSWERED PRAYERS?

Vermont Bishop Christopher Coyne gave the daily prayer on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Along with blessings, he asked for some snow to fall back home.

4. “Vermont Folk Musician Pete Sutherland Dies at 71” by Sally Pollak. e beloved musician had cancer and ended his life using Vermont’s Death With Dignity Law.

5. “Suresh Garimella Has Helped UVM Emerge Stronger From the Pandemic. But Who Is He, Anyway?” by Chelsea Edgar. Meet the man who took over as UVM’s president just before the pandemic struck.

tweet of the week

@gracemsafford

SETTLING

IN U.S. representativeelect Becca Balint hired a chief of sta and a Vermont state director. She’s due in Washington, D.C., in about a month.

Jerry Wigutow, founder of the Coloradobased outdoor apparel manufacturer Wiggy’s. Not long afterward, three dozen sleeping bags were delivered to Mueller’s door.

“I’m so used to people saying no or not answering, but for whatever reason … we clicked and we chatted — and boom!” Mueller recalled. “He was extremely generous.”

Mueller got in touch with Rick DeAngelis, co-executive director at Good Samaritan Haven, about the bags.

“She’s kind of a rock star in my book,” DeAngelis said of Mueller, who, for the past decade, has helped run a free community breakfast at the Church of the Good Shepherd in downtown Barre.

Now, according to DeAngelis, members of

the organization’s street outreach team are giving the sleeping bags away as quickly as they can. e situation is dire. In September, officials counted 86 unsheltered people in Waterbury, Montpelier, Barre and Berlin, a number DeAngelis called “astronomical.”

Counting those who are staying in motels or homeless shelters, the number of homeless people in Washington County jumps to 435.

DeAngelis said the crisis shows how a donation such as the sleeping bags can make a world of difference.

“It can be life-saving — and probably is in many cases,” DeAngelis said. “We wish we could do better than that and that we were providing people with housing. But that’s not possible. So we do the best we can.”

SASHA GOLDSTEIN

Gov. Phil Scott

LOCKED OUT, HOMED IN.

publisher & editor-in-chief Paula Routly deputy publisher Cathy Resmer AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS editor Matthew Roy deputy editor Sasha Goldstein consulting editors Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page stAff writers Derek Brouwer, Chelsea Edgar, Colin Flanders, Rachel Hellman, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Anne Wallace Allen

ARTS & CULTURE 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 Barry, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard, Sally Pollak proofreAders Carolyn Fox, Angela Simpson AssistAnt proofreAders Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO digitAl production speciAlist Bryan Parmelee senior MultiMediA producer Eva Sollberger MultiMediA journAlist James Buck

DESIGN creAtive director Don Eggert Art director Rev. Diane Sullivan production MAnAger John James designers Jeff Baron, Kirsten Thompson

SALES & MARKETING director of sAles Colby Roberts senior Account executives Robyn Birgisson, Michael Bradshaw Account executives Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka events & ticKeting MAnAger Katie Hodges legAls, life lines And super reAder coordinAtor Kaitlin Montgomery personAls coordinAtor Jeff Baron

ADMINISTRATION

business MAnAger Marcy Carton director of circulAtion & logistics Matt Weiner circulAtion deputy Andy Watts

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Benjamin Aleshire, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Annie Cutler, Steve Goldstein, Margaret Grayson, Amy Lilly, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Travis Weedon

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Luke Awtry, James Buck, Daria Bishop, Diana Bolton, Justin Cash, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

PROBLEM WITH PROGS

[Re “Progressive Setback: The Party Label Is Losing Its Luster in Montpe lier — and Burlington May Be Partly to Blame,” November 23]: Once upon a time, the Progs meant something. Scrappy, they were grassroots. They really were an alternative.

Then they started winning, and neither U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders nor state Sen. Anthony Pollina nor anyone else seems willing to put in the neces sary guardrails. Why does Martha Abbott get to be a kingmaker, and who vets her judgments? Similarly, who audits Josh Wronski’s decisions on who gets support as they run and who gets sabotaged?

I’m all for diversity, but ultimately, it’s not about just filling seats with symbols. When highly educated, masterfully savvy white and/or older and/or dudes get shunned for the youngest among us, BIPOCs, women and the LGBTQ+ — only to see them not come back, drift away or be led as if they were puppets — you have become a machine: Dems Lite. Many do their best, and that’s nice, but that’s not authentic functional political power.

Do you really want someone who represents a significant part of our popu lation to have on-the-job training? Most Progs can’t even win anymore without a cross-endorsement. Can any? You guys didn’t smell this coming? You’re dying now. Seems like a last chance to breathe life back and possibly get it back on track. It will take more than navelgazing — more like a long, hard look in the mirror with a willingness to make hard decisions.

Frank Davis BURLINGTON

CONDUCTOR IN CHARGE

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS

Harry Applegate, Joe Bouffard, Pat Bouffard, Colin Clary, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Jason Fyfe, Matt Hagen, Peter Lind, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Niko Perez, Steve Stanley, Dan Thayer, Andy Watts With additional circulation support from PP&D.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

6-Month 1st clAss: $175. 1-yeAr 1st clAss: $275.

6-Month 3rd clAss: $85. 1-yeAr

[Re “Working on the Railroad,” November 16]: Thanks to Ken Picard for a fine piece on Vermont railroading, including his “head end” (railroad jargon!) ride from Rutland to the Burlington yards. Also his profile of the Wulfson family, so key to Vermont rail history since the 1960s.

I did miss one detail I always look for in railroad stories. Train conductors, not engineers, are the ones in sole charge of the entire trip. On the run that writer Picard took for his story, conductor Jona than Dikeman is described as having a “youthful voice” and having joined the company “last year,” at age 24.

In contrast, engineer Justin Gibbs has had many years of rail experience.

Unless Wulfson has some unique arrangement regarding federal rail regulations on his company’s short lines, conductor Dikeman had senior responsi bility for all the train movements, start to finish, that day.

The same is true of passenger trains, including Amtrak. A conductor, who may be checking your tickets at the time, also carries with him/her the role and responsibilities of “commander in chief” of your train trip, including the personnel running the locomotive up front.

Yes, it’s true! Both freight and passen ger trains all have conductors in charge!

Brendan Whittaker  BRUNSWICK

EXPLAIN EV INCENTIVES

[Re Paid Post: “Time to Switch to an Electric Vehicle? New Incentives Make It More Affordable,” November 14]: My answer is a resounding yes! I have been a dedicated EV owner since 2017 and

am on my second car. I love passing gas stations without having to stop — and looking at my plug-in hybrid dashboard to see that I’m getting 97.6 mpg. My decision to go electric was definitely influenced by the incentives available. They really help someone without enor mous resources be able to afford the technology and move us closer to our sustainability goals. Thanks for helping that effort.

‘LOUD

AND CLEAR’ CARTOON

Wow! Tim Newcomb’s [November 23] cartoon says it all, loud and clear! “NASA’s Orion Pays the Moon a Thanksgiving Week Visit” speaks to how a lot of us folks think about the space race, the rat race and the self-destructive human race.

T. Azarian PLAINFIELD

‘SLANTED’ VIEW OF CANNABIS ADS

I note that “Cannabis Censors” [Novem ber 16], and its subsequent exploration of whining and moaning from cannabis sellers, read more like an editorial than a news article. You thoroughly fleshed out what the so-called cannabis indus try wants without mentioning what the rest of us want: that is, not to repeat the egregious behavior of two other drug industries — tobacco and vaping — in their advertising directed at young and vulnerable people.

CORRECTIONS

Last week’s cover story, “Meet the President,” contained two errors. The 24 new University of Vermont faculty hires are in the College of Arts and Sciences, not the School of the Arts. And a photo caption misspelled UVM faculty member Karen Benway’s name.

A November 23 story headlined “Burlington Beauty Company to Expand” gave an incorrect location for Autumn Harp. The company is in the town of Essex.

However, there is something in the article about the federal incentives that is as misleading as the spiel I got from the salesperson who sold me my Nissan LEAF. You say the incentive is “up to $7,500 in tax credits,” but I’ll bet that most folks won’t know exactly what that means. I didn’t, and I’ve been doing my own taxes for decades. I was shocked to only receive $3,500, because that’s what I owed in federal taxes. They don’t send you a check for the other $4,000. And when, in your table about how incen tives affect monthly payments, you list the federal tax credit as $7,500, you are implying that’s what everyone will get. Except there is no way someone making less than $50,000 is going to have a federal tax bill of $7,500, so, as usual, those who make less end up saving less and will have a higher monthly payment than their wealthier neighbors.

Meg Davis PLAINFIELD

Editor’s note: The information provided in this paid advertisement came from Efficiency Vermont. The incentives vary depending on individual circumstances. As the EV owner at the end of the piece advises: “Definitely do your research; figure out exactly what you’re entitled to before you start the process.”

It seems to me that the state is taking a proactive stance toward cannabis advertising rather than having to rein in advertising excesses, as it had to do in the cases of tobacco and e-cigarettes. Includ ing a quote from your advertising sales director underlined the slanted nature of the article and left me thinking you gave yourself a bad mark on the measured news coverage report card.

John Rouleau BURLINGTON

BALINT IS A MOM

One fact of the utmost historical impor tance in your reporting on Sen. Becca Balint’s election to Congress that was left out of [Last 7: “Ms. Balint Goes to Washington,” November 9] is that she is the first mother of school-age children to ever represent Vermont in Congress and one of very few nationally who will serve in that role. FEEDBACK » P.20

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SATURDAY 10

Through the Ages

Lovers of early music, raise thy voices: Internationally acclaimed ensemble Trio Mediæval makes an appearance at St. Johnsbury’s South Church Hall for a show full of sacred and folk music through the centuries. And it’s not just Gregorian chants: The singers also lend their impeccable harmonies to contemporary Norwegian jazz and specially commissioned works.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

FAMILY MATTERS

Playwright and performer Valerie David Baggage From BaghDAD: Becoming My Father’s Daughter, a new one-woman show at Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center. It tells the story of her Iraqi Jewish family’s flight from pogroms in the 1940s and her journey toward understanding her father and overcoming generational trauma.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

FRIDAY 9 & SATURDAY 10

Nightmare Before Christmas

The central European Christmas demon Krampus presides over Bald Mountain Theater’s Krampusnacht: Stories of Light and Dark for the Winter Solstice, presented at its outdoor amphitheater in Rochester. Audiences who enjoy seasonal stories with a spooky side revel in a night of bonfires, Icelandic folktales, Georgian shape-note singing and other wild winter traditions.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

SATURDAY 10

Shake It Up

Ain’t no party like a burlesque birthday party. The Sugar Shakers of Green Mountain Cabaret celebrate a decade of body-positive dancing at their 10th Anniversary Show at the Black Box Theater in Burlington’s Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center. A raffle benefits Pride Center of Vermont.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

TUESDAY 13 & WEDNESDAY 14

For Better and Verse

The Poetry Society of Vermont’s ongoing 75th anniversary tour stops at Woodstock’s Norman Williams Public Library and the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum this week. Poets read from the latest edition of the PSOV’s journal, the Mountain Troubadour, as well as their solo work, to celebrate three-quarters of a century of wordsmithing.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

WEDNESDAY 14

Shooting Star

Quechee’s Vermont Institute of Natural Science welcomes one and all to Eyeing the Stars, an out-of-this-world viewing party for the Geminid meteor shower. Before the main event, apprentice astronomers sip hot cocoa in the StarLab observatory and learn the ancient Greek history and mythology of the Gemini constellation.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 73

ONGOING

Gnarly, Dude

Clark Derbes’ solo show at Burlington’s Safe and Sound Gallery, “Skateboarding Is Performance Art,” features color-blocked paintings, sculptures and trompe l’oeil objects. Carved by chain saw out of various species of tree, the works invoke the architecture of skate parks in shape and vibe.

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 52

Series Finale

This week’s cover story, “Green Mountain Estates,” is the last in our yearlong “Locked Out” series exploring Vermont’s housing crisis. In 12 long-form stories, Seven Days reporters have searched for answers to a pressing question that imperils the state’s economy: Why is it so difficult to find a place to live here?

Those impacted include workers who would happily move to Vermont if they had somewhere to hang their hats — a huge obstacle for businesses, including Seven Days, looking to staff up in the wake of the pandemic.

The influx of out-of-staters buying properties for top dollar is one reason for the real estate crunch. But there are many more contributing factors: exclusionary zoning, the proliferation of short-term rentals, inadequate municipal infrastructure, not-in-my-backyard attitudes and a lack of local tradespeople to do construction work, to name a few. We knew it would take more than a single story to illustrate and explain the complexity of the situation. The challenge was to do it without putting readers to sleep.

News editor Matthew Roy got a crash course on the topic when he researched and wrote the kickoff piece, published on March 9. His story was a great road map for readers. The reporting experience also helped him see the issues and shape the series, including which stories to pursue.

Following his direction, our news reporters illustrated every angle by talking with real people: individuals desperately looking for homes, landlords and tenants, mobile home park residents, seniors who would downsize and relocate if they had somewhere to go, frustrated developers, employers forced into the real estate business to provide homes for their staff. They did the legwork to ensure that each story was a compelling read.

They succeeded, according to letter writers like Greg Wallace of Plainfield. “I’ve been reading Seven Days for a couple of decades now, and I have to say ‘Upward Mobility’ [August 17] is one of the very best stories I’ve seen,” he wrote in September. “The writing and the photographs were a fantastic humanistic portrayal of some people living in the trailer parks … The article was handled in a documentary-style way that focused on the people, their lives and their challenges, all without undue editorializing, overexplanation or academic frameworks — and with great respect.”

It was easy for our writers and editors to empathize with their subjects — the housing crisis has touched nearly all of them personally. Roy, for example, started looking for a house in Burlington when he moved here, in 2014. He and his wife rented for six years — and looked at countless places — before finally closing on a house in Burlington’s Old North End. During the course of the “Locked Out” series, two of our hardworking news reporters, who are a couple, were outbid on 11 condos before they finally scored a place two weeks ago. Many Seven Days employees pay exorbitant rents — way more than a third of what they earn.

In “Green Mountain Estates,” Derek Brouwer considers how these trends, if unchecked, could turn Vermont into an exclusive playground for old, affluent white people.

Will a year of ambitious, in-depth reporting make a difference? That

RAISING HOMES

would be heartening. Not since Seven Days’ 2019 “Hooked” series — exploring the complexities of Vermont’s opioid crisis — have we dedicated so much editorial firepower to a single subject. Several tax-deductible donations of $2,000 or more that we received through our fiscal sponsor, Journalism Funding Partners, helped make it possible. Donors paid for some of our reporting and editing costs, as well as custom illustrations, photography and travel.

We know that lawmakers are paying attention to our work: Elected o cials referenced stories in our “Locked Out” series numerous times during the legislative session — including on the floor of Senate. The series came up repeatedly at last month’s Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, organized by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, according to two

Seven Days reporters who attended. Another participant, Chris Cochran, the state’s director of community planning and revitalization, credited the series for elevating conversations about local land use and zoning, now hot topics among policy makers and community leaders. “This series made me and many others believe the impossible was possible,” Cochran wrote in an email.

The “Locked Out” project may be over, but now that we’ve explored some of the problems, we’ll be watching closely and reporting on the solutions we hope will follow.

Want to help? We’re still accepting housing news tips at lockedout@sevendaysvt.com.

Paula Routly

Locked Out Series

1. House Impossible: How the Real Estate Rush and Other Factors Have Pushed Homeownership Out of Reach for Many Vermonters (March 9)

2. Obstruction Zone: How Vermont’s Land-Use Regulations Impede New Development — and Complicate the State’s Housing Crisis (April 6)

3. Cottages Industry: e Housing Crisis Complicates Hiring, Forcing Employers to Become Realtors and Builders (April 27)

4. Vermont Housing Resources Guide (April 27)

5. Gowntown Development: UVM Wants to Build Dorms on Its Trinity Campus. Would at Ease Burlington’s Housing Crisis? (May 25)

6. Raising Homes: It Takes a Village to Grow Housing. How Vermont Towns Are Trying to Make It Happen. (June 15)

7. Renters’ Prison: How a Merciless Market of Unchecked Rent Hikes Traps Vermont Tenants (July 6)

8. Upward Mobility: With Housing in Short Supply, Mobile Home Parks Are Having a Moment (August 17)

Building a Workforce: Vermont Is Trying to Bolster the Ranks of Skilled Workers to Construct Housing, but It Will Take Time (October 12)

is Old Homeowner: Aging Vermonters Who Can’t Find New Housing Are Part of the State’s Real Estate ‘Gridlock’ (November 2)

Opening Doors: BIPOC

Rates in Vermont Are Dismal. New Programs Are Meant to Change at. (November 30)

Risky Business

A sports betting proposal heads to the Vermont legislature

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

The governor supports it. A study committee recommends lawmak ers legalize it. And all of Vermont’s neighbors have already embraced it.

Nevertheless, legal sports betting faces uncertain odds in the Green Mountains, as some Democratic lawmakers in the House remain skeptical that such a major expan sion of state-permitted gambling is worth the risk.

The recommendations of a ninemember study committee — which were essentially finalized on Tuesday — may change some minds. The committee spent this fall investigating sports betting and agreed early on to recommend legalizing

the fast-growing pastime. But members also endorsed restrictions that could allay legislators’ fears, such as making transac tions online only as opposed to in person; daily and weekly wager limits; and payment by cash and debit card only — no credit cards. The committee also recommended a bidding process among betting companies that want to operate in the state to maxi mize the government’s share of the take.

With millions of dollars in tax revenue on the table, there will be intense pressure on lawmakers to at least consider legaliza tion. Since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way in 2018, legal sports betting has grown into a $7 billion industry. (It’s

estimated that illegal sports bets repre sent another $3.8 billion, according to the American Gaming Association).

OUR TOWNS

Williston-Based Dog Rescue May Be Forced to Close

BY RACHEL HELLMAN rachel@sevendaysvt.com

After operating for 25 years, the Williston-based nonprofit Vermont English Bulldog Rescue may have to close its doors. The rescue, which rehabilitates dogs from shelters in San Antonio, Texas, was denied a conditional use permit by the Williston Development Review Board on November 22.

Its neighbors on Lamplite Lane, a quiet cul-de-sac, complained to the board about barking, parking problems and traffic. The board got nearly 70 written comments regarding the rescue’s permit application.

Dawna Pederzani, who operates the rescue, said she felt blindsided by the complaints.

“The hearing was incredibly difficult for me because I had no idea all of this was brewing,” she said. “If anyone had come to me at any point and said, ‘Hey, can we sit down and have a conversation with you?’ I would’ve said, ‘Absolutely. Let’s figure out what it is and fix it.’”

It was 1998 when Pederzani learned about the high rates of euthanasia in the South and decided to open the rescue. Since 2000, she’s run it out of her Lamplite Lane home. Pederzani transports dozens of dogs each month from high-kill shelters. At first, she only took bulldogs, but now she rescues all breeds. Most are matched with an adoptive family before arriving in Vermont, but she cares for some of them briefly.

The dogs typically spend less than 48 hours with her. People usually meet their dog in her backyard. Her adoption events, though, have grown in scale in the past five years. Since 2015, the rescue has increased its annual adop tions from about 250 to 450 animals.

LEGISLATURE

To date, 36 states and Washington, D.C., have approved online or in-person betting, or passed laws allowing such betting in the future. That includes New York and all New England states except Vermont.

The state Senate supports legalizing it and has passed bills that have gone nowhere due to a “low-key standoff” with

Pederzani had not filed for an opera tional permit until this fall. She said Matt Boulanger, the town’s planning director and zoning administrator, had told her that she did not need to. Boulanger said he did not understand the scope of Pederzani’s operation when he gave her that advice.

Pederzani has looked at other loca tions in Williston, but all are well above her price range. She’s hoping, she said, “that there’s a miracle out there.” m

Moldering Debate Some

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN • anne@sevendaysvt.com

Chrissy Wade didn’t think there was anything wrong with the way her family lived on its off-grid farm in Waterville. The four — including two teenagers — inhabit a simple, woodheated yurt on 56 mostly wooded acres. They collect mushrooms and medici nal herbs and raise goats, rabbits and chickens. The family heats water on a woodstove for use in the kitchen and shower and draws its electricity from solar panels. They collect the waste from two compost toilets to be used as fertilizer on the property.

But about three and a half years ago, a state inspector — tipped off by a neighbor, Wade thinks — arrived to notify her that the family was violating state regulations because the home lacked a septic system. Wade said she was stunned.

“I couldn’t believe he gave me a citation,” Wade said. She’s proud of her homesteading skills and has worked hard to create a living space that has a minimal impact on the land. That includes the simple, bucket-based toilets, which use no water. “I said, ‘You should be giving me an award for the way I am handling my sanitation,’” Wade added.

CHRISSY

life-threatening pathogens, such as those that cause cholera and typhoid. In the United States, contaminated water has been blamed for outbreaks of disease caused by parasites such as cryptospo ridia and giardia.

But Wade is strongly opposed to the idea of throwing the waste in the trash or burying it. She said her family is committed to a sustain able way of life at their property, Wading Bear Farm & Forest, and as a responsible homeowner, she should be able to use the compost as fertilizer.

“Most of us with compost toilets are doing it because we want to be eco-friendly and we want to enrich the soils of our land,” Wade said. “We’re not creating waste. This is organic matter that we are recycling into a beneficial resource.”

That day, she learned that Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conserva tion requires any home built after 2007 to have a septic system, or some other system that keeps waste from exposure to open air, unless it is connected to a sewer system.

She also found out that under Vermont law, the waste from a home toilet can’t be used to fertilize plants. Instead, it must be buried according to the special condi tions of a permit from the state DEC — or thrown away in the trash.

Most of the developed world heavily regulates the handling of human waste, which, if left untreated, can harbor

Seeking more options, Wade contacted her local lawmaker and the Rich Earth Institute in Brattle boro, which promotes the use of human waste as a resource. Earlier this year, six members of the Vermont House — including Wade’s representative, retiring Rep. Lucy Rogers (D-Waterville) — sponsored a bill, H.586, calling for the state to create a group to study Vermont’s wastewater management rules and develop best practices. The issue has been debated for years.

The bill never got an airing, but cosponsor Rep. Mollie Burke (D-Brat tleboro) says she plans to introduce it again in the coming session. Burke said she likes the idea that compost toilets might allow people to build an afford able tiny home or yurt without the need for a septic system that can cost several thousand dollars.

“I certainly want to make sure we don’t impact the environment in any

Ryegate Power Station Shuts Down Due to Wood Supply Crunch

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com

One of Vermont’s two wood-fired power plants has temporarily shut down after loggers, fearing that they wouldn’t be paid, stopped delivering wood chips to the Ryegate Power Station.

The 20-megawatt plant ceased op erating on November 23 and intended to stay closed for at least three weeks while it tries to rebuild the supply of wood chips it needs to generate power. The plant provides about 3 percent of Vermont’s electricity.

The shutdown comes amid com plaints that the plant’s owner, Stored Solar, has failed to pay some loggers for the hundreds of tons of wood chips the plant burns daily.

The Maine-based company filed for bankruptcy protec tion in September for seven of the eight biomass power plants it owns in the Northeast. The East Ryegate plant was not among those in the filing.

Stored Solar owes money to more than 100 vendors and suppliers, includ ing some in Vermont, with a combined debt of between $10 and $50 million. Its manager, William Harrington, declined to comment on Monday.

Loggers have reported that Stored Solar has been late and unreliable in paying them for years. They also said the scale at the plant was not function ing properly.

Heath Bunnell, a logger from Kirby, told the Public Utility Commission in October that he stopped making deliveries the previous month and at one point was owed $63,000.

“They are running their business without paying for the wood that has been delivered into their Ryegate plant, as well as other plants they own,” Bunnell told the PUC, which is considering an extension of the power station’s contract.

The plant on the banks of the Connecticut River is important because it’s a stable power source that can run 24-7 if needed, said Kerrick Johnson, spokesperson for the Vermont Electric Power Company, which runs the state’s transmission grid. The plant injects power into an area of the grid that is far from other large generation sources.

“It’s a great resource to have,” Johnson said, with one important qualification. “It’s not a mission-critical resource to have.” m

the House on the issue, according to Sen. Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden).

“We feel like the delay has gone on long enough,” said Baruth, who will serve as Senate president pro tempore this coming session.

Lawmakers with doubts about legal ization are concerned that it will lead to new gambling addictions and inflict financial devastation on those who can least afford it. House Speaker Jill Krow inski (D-Burlington) has said enabling sports betting isn’t on her priority list. Nor is Rep. Tom Stevens (D-Waterbury) a fan of the proposal. Stevens chairs the House committee with jurisdiction over the Department of Liquor and Lottery, which would oversee sports betting.

“Do we want to bring casino gaming into every single Vermont home? Because that’s what a proposal for sports betting is,” he said. He promised to give the issue a fair hearing but made it clear he’ll have tough questions for proponents.

“We’re going to have to take a look at [the legalization proposal] with a micro scope and make sure it’s the right thing for the state,” Stevens told last week.

The state’s Sports Betting Study Committee held its final meeting on Tuesday; its report to lawmakers is due on December 15.

At the meeting, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden) said she understands the risk of a spike in problem gambling and feels she and her colleagues on the committee tackled the issue head-on.

“I think we have the right commissioner and the right infusion of revenue to actually be able to address problem gambling in a way that we haven’t had before,” Ram Hinsdale said.

At the moment, Vermonters can drive to casinos in New York or to sports betting lounges in New Hampshire, but they cannot place legal sports bets on their phones or computers in Vermont. That’s because online betting platforms contain safeguards that require them to confirm bettors’ identities, addresses and physi cal locations. The apps use sophisticated geolocation software to ensure that bets are placed only where they are legal.

In states where betting on sports is allowed, the use of online gaming apps has grown far more rapidly than in-person betting. And, given how rural Vermont is, the study committee has recommended initially allowing betting online only, not at retail locations, which can be expensive to maintain.

The panel made that decision after hearing testimony in October from Char lie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery. The Granite State’s three retail sports betting loca tions are popular with some high rollers but contribute just 20 percent of the state’s gambling revenue, while consuming about three-quarters of his staff’s monitoring and enforcement time, he said.

“I don’t feel like it’s something to chase right now,” Rep. Matt Birong (D-Vergennes), a member of the study committee, said to his colleagues about betting parlors.

Instead, the committee recommended that the state issue licenses to between two and six online-only sports betting operators selected through a competitive bidding process.

But a recent series of stories in the New York Times about the tactics used by the gaming industry to expand sports betting noted that most states are not meeting their optimistic revenue projec tions. One reason: The industry has been able to insert language into gaming bills that allows betting operations to deduct promotional expenses from the gross revenue that is taxed.

Such deductions, including advertis ing and offers for “free bets” meant to get people hooked on sports betting, signifi cantly lowered the tax revenue some states received, the Times found.

One story noted that in Kansas, where lobbyists plied legislators with cigars and whiskey, the state took in less than $271,000 in taxes this fall on $350 million in bets, due at least in part to deduction language inserted into legislation at the last minute.

Liquor and Lottery Commis sioner Wendy Knight, who chairs the Vermont study committee, said Times pieces with great interest but also with a sense of gratitude for what she considers Vermont’s trans parent legislative process.

“Vermont is not Kansas,” she said. “None of us on the committee, to my knowledge, have received cigars or bottles of

They have, however, received suggestions from the industry’s lobbyists about how to word a legalization law.

A key goal of the committee is to maximize the state’s gambling revenue, but figuring out how to do that has been a matter of robust debate. New Hampshire and New York require operators to turn over 51 percent of their gross revenue. In both cases, the states’ take has exceeded projections. New Hampshire, which selected a single online sports betting operator, expected about $10 million in annual tax revenue but took in $24 million last year and expects $30 million next year, McIntyre told the committee.

New York allowed nine operators to begin taking bets in January and instantly became the largest sports betting market in the nation. The state government netted $544 million in the first 10 months.

One of the industry’s larg est online gaming platforms, DraftKings, hired Montpelierbased lobbying firm MMR in 2020 to represent it at the Statehouse. Then, in 2021, DraftKings joined forces with two other large online sportsbooks, FanDuel and BetMGM, to form the Sports Betting Alliance. That group hired MMR in January of this year and has paid the firm nearly $30,000 thus far, according to disclosure records.

Chris Rice, president and founding partner at MMR, attended some of the study committee meetings and shared with Knight proposed language for a tax rate much lower than in New Hampshire or New York. His proposal called for a 20 percent cut for the state if there were five or six gaming operators and 22 percent if there were three or four operators. Rice declined to discuss his work for his client.

Andrew Winchell, director of govern ment affairs for FanDuel, told the commit tee in October that Vermont should keep its tax rate low to ensure that the payouts offered to gamblers are generous enough

to lure them away from the illegal, untaxed offshore gambling market.

If tax rates are too high, states can “stunt the market” and the big-name betting companies will choose not to participate, Winchell said. Arkansas, which has an effective 51 percent tax rate on operators, saw just $1 million in gross gaming revenue in August, while Tennes see, which has a tax rate of 20 percent, had gaming revenue of $27 million in that same period, he told the committee.

He argued that if Vermont set a lower tax rate, it would bring in more highquality operators, such as FanDuel and DraftKings. That would lead to more total

it addresses the harm it could cause for people with gambling problems. Brianne Doura-Schawohl, a lobbyist for the D.C.-based National Council on Problem Gambling, told the committee that an estimated 11,600 Vermonters, or 2.2 percent of the adult population, are problem gamblers. The state spends just 23 cents per person on services for them, she said.

“Research is very clear that any time you introduce a new form of gambling in a jurisdiction, you … will increase the number of problems,” she told the committee.

To address such concerns, the commit tee is recommending that a portion of the state’s revenues be dedicated to a Respon sible Gaming Special Fund that would provide public education and gambling addiction assistance.

The committee, however, left the exact amount up to lawmakers. The same went for whether there should be age restric tions (18 or 21?) or limits on the types of sports that people can bet on, such as basketball, horse racing or NASCAR.

“Our job was to come up with the frame work,” Knight said. “These are policy deci sions that the legislature needs to make.”

betting and an overall higher tax haul for the state, Winchell said. He also asserted that putting the tax rate in statute is important because it gives operators certainty about what to expect.

“I didn’t buy that argument, nor did anyone else on the committee,” Knight told Seven Days.

A competitive bidding process during which operators say what percentage they are willing to pay in taxes is the best way to ensure that the state can respond nimbly to the fast-moving market and maximize its revenue, she said.

Graham Campbell, an analyst with the state’s Joint Fiscal Office, told the commit tee that tax rates on sports betting vary widely, with most falling between 10 and 51 percent. Depending on the number of operators and the tax rate, the state could expect between $1.5 million and $4.8 million in the first year, and $1.3 million and $10.6 million in the second year.

The higher revenue estimates assume several operators and a tax rate of 50 percent. But Campbell warned that attracting several operators to a small state with no casinos and no professional sports teams might prove a challenge if tax rates were too high.

Meanwhile, responsible-gaming advocates urged the committee to ensure that if Vermont allows sports betting,

The study committee recommended measures to ensure that gamblers don’t lose their shirts, including banning the use of credits cards on the betting plat forms. (Only cash or debit cards would be allowed.) Other recommendations: daily and weekly wager limits; manda tory pop-up notifications that remind gamblers how long they’ve been playing; and a way for players to block themselves from using the platform for a period of time.

Such protections don’t exist in the illegal market, which is one of the reasons Gov. Phil Scott — despite the ques tions raised in the Times articles — still supports legalization, according to his spokesperson, Jason Maulucci.

“We know that Vermonters are already participating in the market, and without bringing it aboveboard, there is very little consumer protection in place,” Maulucci said.

Birong, who, like Stevens, sits on the House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs, said he decided to support legalization when he realized the arguments for doing so were essentially the same as the reasons for legalizing cannabis sales.

But he thinks that, as with cannabis, Vermont can learn from the mistakes of other states and, in doing so, sidestep many of the pitfalls.

“I am not naïve to the fact that we are opening up the door to something that has a dark side,” he said. m

Moldering Debate

negative way or be casual about disposal,” Burke said. “But why couldn’t we be more flexible about this and achieve the same thing?”

After that visit by a state inspector, Wade said she and her husband, Jason, borrowed $10,000 to install a conven tional septic system. But they didn’t connect the family’s two compost toilets to it.

And while the legislation to create a formal task force has so far languished undebated, an informal one has sprung up, led by Wade, that meets online monthly to talk about Vermont’s septic rules and how they could be altered to make life easier for homeowners with compost toilets.

The devices close a natural loop on the land, say Wade and many others who have joined her in trying to ease regulations. Proponents are passionate about making use of the product but leery of running afoul of the law, and many are hesitant to talk publicly about their own practices. Wade, who composts the organic matter in seven wooden structures near her home, said she wanted to avoid another visit from the state.

“I’m doing what I know is the safest way to handle the contents of my toilet,” she said.

The Rich Earth Institute didn’t return calls about composting, but its executive director, Ivan Ussach, wrote to several newspapers earlier this year to promote H.586. “Compost toilet systems can protect water resources, complete the nutrient cycle, and even help build climate resilience,” he wrote.

Vermont households use compost toilets. Many types are available at building supply stores, including some equipped with heated often situated in ordinary indoor bathrooms, distin guished from their porce lain counterparts mainly by the fact that the toilet seat

covered immediately with a scoop of sawdust. Ideally, it’s then moved to a larger bin to undergo the slow decomposition be used as fertilizer or dumped in the

Composting requires sophisticated management of air, moisture content and other elements, such as sawdust. Even if the composted waste looks and smells like soil, it

Homeowners who are inattentive or uninformed might dump that waste in the wrong place, imperiling the local drinking water supply, said Bruce Douglas, the programs manager at the state DEC’s Drinking Water and Groundwater Protec

“Even if someone was doing their ultimate best, you still wouldn’t know,” said Douglas, who takes part in the informal task force meetings hosted by Wade. “There are so many variables. You’re not necessarily addressing all the pathogens.”

Those contaminants can cause problems even if they’re not intro duced to a water source.

“Insects may land on it, then carry it and then land on the food at the barbecue,” Douglas said. “At the house hold level, it’s very difficult to get that quality control.”

level,

Wade agrees that the disposal has to be done right — but she said the people who

MATT

MIGNANELLI

choose compost toilets take the process seriously.

“We all want safe and healthy sanita tion systems,” she said.

Not all the compost-related challenges are limited to household toilets. John Medose, a regional facilities manager for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, has been grappling with a jumbo-size waste removal quandary since he arrived at his job in 2014. Many of the campsites in the region he manages use a type of compost toilets known as “molder

for a better way to dispose of waste from these facilities and learned that the depart ment’s remote campsites are exempt from some of DEC’s rules, so the waste can be buried without a permit. Medose worked closely with a DEC soil scientist last summer who showed him how to use a soil auger, or drill, to avoid hitting the water table when seeking a burial site.

Medose is active in the monthly compost discussion group because he’d like to help others learn to compost waste, as well. Like Wade, he thinks requiring people to throw the waste into their trash is a poor use of a potentially valuable resource. And he thinks many homestead ers would embrace safe burial practices.

“We can be a model of showing how these best practices can work,” he said.

Medose hopes to see more safe disposal options in Vermont’s wilderness areas, where, as a longtime hiker, he has been dismayed by the amount of human waste he increasingly encounters trailside. Compost toilets or other alternatives could be an answer. “People should be able to hang out at their campsites without accidentally stepping in a pile of poop,” Medose said.

POLITICS

Melo Grant to Run for Burlington Council as Perri Freeman Bows Out

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

Burlington City Councilor Perri Freeman (P-Central District) will not run for a third term in March, but a well-known candidate — Melo Grant — has announced a bid for the seat.

Grant, a Burlington police com missioner, will run as a Progressive. The longtime DJ and 23-year resident of Burlington’s Old North End told Seven Days that on the council, she wants to address issues such as housing and public safety.

“It is something I feel I need to do in order to continue to support my community and fight for what’s important for my community,” she said.

Grant is the first candidate to announce for the Central District seat, which comprises Burlington Wards 2 and 3. All four district seats are up for reelection on Town Meeting Day, as is Ward 8, which has been vacant since Progressive Ali House resigned in October.

ing” toilets, equipped with chambers that allow the waste to age.

Some of those spots are reachable only by water.

In past years, state employees have had to pack up the waste in plastic bags and ferry it out on a small motorboat. But the method isn’t viable, he said.

“For $12 an hour, people aren’t going to do that,” Medose said. He started hunting

For Wade and like-minded Vermonters, tailoring the toilet regulations is also a way to create opportunities for people who want to live simply and cheaply, as she and her family do. Burke, the Brattleboro lawmaker, said easing the waste-disposal regs could help address the state’s stark shortage of affordable housing.

“It allows for a lot more diversity in our housing, for sure,” Burke said. “It allows people to live in a more environmentally sustainable way and also a more economi cal way.” m

Freeman’s election was a watershed moment for Burlington Progs. A political newcomer in 2019, Freeman defeated party stalwart and council president Jane Knodell at the Progressive caucus and then handily unseated her in the March election.

More young Progs won election in the following years, allowing the party to exert some power on the council by holding six of the body’s 12 seats. But there are some signs that its grip on the council is slip ping, and the Town Meeting Day elections will likely be competitive.

Grant, 58, has lived in Burlington for four decades, starting as a University of

Vermont student in the 1980s. She works for a company that administers health benefits but is better known as the host of “Cultural Bunker,” a long-running hip-hop show on WRUV 90.1 FM.

Grant began her civic service as a member of the city’s Special Committee to Review Policing Practices, which was formed in 2019 after allegations of police brutality against young Black men came to light. She was appointed to the police commission the following year and has consistently pushed the department to address racial disparities in traffic stops and arrests — an issue she said she’d stick with if elected to council.

“I’m not doing this because I feel the police commission isn’t effective or can’t be effective,” Grant said. “For me, this is the next logical step.” m

•

•

HUMAN WASTE … IF LEFT UNTREATED, CAN HARBOR LIFE-THREATENING PATHOGENS, SUCH AS THOSE THAT CAUSE CHOLERA AND TYPHOID.

Melo Grant MATTHEW THORSEN

It’s critically important that we exam ine why this story has been buried below notations of her identity as a woman of Jewish descent and of the LGBTQ+ community throughout her campaign: Women — especially “ambitious” moth ers — who choose the grueling path of pursuing both the nurturing and care

Balint’s voice in Washington, D.C., means a lot to Vermonters who want to be represented by someone who values the core democratic philosophies of balance, fairness and civil discourse that have long defined this state.

But her perspective as a mother — a group long underrepresented in positions of power — should also be celebrated by Vermonters of all stripes as a win that moves us forward and something we can all be proud of.

Mary Alice Proffitt CALAIS

installed them in three different houses and, in each, was able to reduce fuel use by about 70 percent.

of their families and also their career callings are still, even in the year 2022, considered suspicious, narcissistic or self-serving in our society, whereas fathers of the same stage of life are rarely, if ever, questioned about their intentions for running.

Without a cultural change toward accepting that mothers actually deserve to live fulfilling and meaningful lives, both in their professions and at home, we can’t move toward realizing our full dream of equality in America.

COLD COMFORT

[“Heat Seeking,” Novem ber 9] provided a great overview of the challenges and changes affecting how we stay warm in our cold climate. Those reliant on heating oil are certainly taking it on the chin this year. It’s good to see Vermonters’ increased interest in burning local, sustainable wood. Modern stoves are quite efficient and release little particu late matter, and there’s no question that wood provides more local jobs than any other heating fuel.

The article discussed heat pumps but had one inaccuracy about their ability to operate in cold weather. There are plenty of models that work down to minus 10 degrees or so with only limited loss in efficiency and heat output. It’s true that few existing houses should rely solely on heat pumps, but plenty of new, highly insu lated and tight houses are being built using solely heat pumps, with electric resistance backup in the event of extreme cold. I’ve

The issue of substantial practical importance to Vermonters that wasn’t mentioned at all is the Inflation Reduc tion Act. A recent survey found that a minority of Americans even knows it was signed into law. There are substantial tax credits and, even better, discounts at the point of sale on everything from heat pumps to insulation to electrical work needed to support more home electrification. The program primarily begins on January 1, so anyone consider ing reducing their reliance on fossil fuels should wait a bit. Those earning less than 80 percent of the median income can have 100 percent of costs covered — effectively a no-brainer.

Higher-income folks still receive incen tives, but typically at about 50 percent. A simple Google search will provide calcula tors and details from many reputable sites.

Dan Gottlieb SOUTH STRAFFORD

‘THROWAWAY KIDS’

I was struck by police commissioner Melo Grant’s comment in [“Warning Shots,” November 2]: “We have these kids going through the Burlington school system and then ending up in jail. Why is that happening?”

Something I’ve been thinking about, too.

If I were forced to place blame, I’d start with the broken immigration system that overpopulates schools with non-Englishspeaking children. For the last six months, I have had the pleasure of volunteering with a large, very lovely refugee family. The children, ages 1 to 15, couldn’t be more delightful. But I’ve become concerned about the older children’s futures. Time is not on their side.

Here’s the problem: The 15-year-old, never having attended school, is classified as a first-year. Her English speaking skills aren’t even that of a first-grader yet, and she has no class specifically concentrat ing on learning to speak and understand English. So how can she possibly under stand anything she is being taught in her other classes?

The age-classification system is designed to push students out of the system.

It doesn’t make sense for any nonEnglish-speaking child to be classified at a grade level, no matter their age. The sole purpose of their school attendance should be to master English. Without it, she/he cannot integrate into school or society. Hence, increased crime.

Given the present system, how can it not be creating throwaway kids, particu larly older kids — boys?

The question is: Do we want to spend money on school systems or prison systems?

Marianne Ward BURLINGTON

REVENGE IS SWEDE

Many thanks for the excellent book review of The New Power Elite by Heather Gautney [“Less Power to Them,” November 30]. That brought to mind an incident I experienced in Stockholm, Sweden, while visiting the university there in the mid-’70s. The late Strom Thurmond, a former senator from South Carolina, gave a talk with a focus on “peace through strength.” All of a sudden, a group of students stood up and chanted, “ Du är Fascista! Du är Fascista! ” You don’t have to speak Swed ish to understand what this hawk was trying to say.

Tom MacDonald BURLINGTON

shelburne bay plaza 2989 shelburne rd 985.9909 • alittlesomethingvt.com

Sen. Becca Balint

FILE: JAMES BUCK

lifelines

OBITUARIES

David Holmes

MARCH 16, 1942-NOVEMBER 29, 2022 PANTON, VT.

David Holmes left this world on November 29, 2022, doing what he loved the most — skiing down the slopes of Sugarbush.

David was born in Rutland, Vt., on March 16, 1942, and was educated abroad in Frankfurt, Germany, and Tokyo. He graduated from Suffield Academy in Connecticut.

He was a three-sport athlete and captain of the football team at Middlebury College. He earned his master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and his PhD in education from the University of Denver.

David was a professor of higher education administration at the University of Vermont and a grants administrator at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. He served as headmaster of his alma mater, Suffield Academy, for 13 years. He was then appointed director of the Community School in Ketchum, Idaho. While at the Community School, he helped found the Sun Valley Ski Academy.

David was an outdoor enthusiast who liked skiing, mountain biking, hiking and canoeing on Lake Champlain, often with his Jack Russell, Carolina, in tow.

David leaves behind his beloved wife, Toni; his two cherished sons, Christopher and Caleb; his lovely daughter-in-law, Allison; and his adored grandchildren, Penelope, Sebastian and Madeline. He also leaves his sister, Carol; his brother-in-law, Jim Shattuck; and his niece and nephew, Megan and Matthew Shattuck. He leaves 17 Kiley nephews and nieces, all of whom he was very fond.

Colette Ghyslene Lemaire Richards

OCTOBER 17, 1938-NOVEMBER 28, 2022

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Colette Ghyslene Lemaire Richards, 84, of South Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on November 28, 2022, after suffering from a short illness.

A Christian ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 10, at Ready Funeral Home Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Dr., Essex Junction, VT. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m., with a brief service starting at 2 p.m. To view the complete obituary and send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Bruce F. Seifer

APRIL 25, 1951NOVEMBER 29, 2022 BURLINGTON, VT.

Bruce F. Seifer passed away peacefully on November 29, 2022, after a long struggle with multiple health challenges. Bruce was a loyal friend, devoted family member, mentor, marketing guru and caregiver. He was fully committed to his community, promoting the lives of others, and making the city of Burlington a great place to live, work and visit.

Bruce landed on the Burlington scene in the early 1970s and instantly set to work creating strong and enduring circles of friends. He quickly gained a solid reputation both for hosting killer Halloween parties in his turreted Victorian apartment and for amassing his coveted Rolodex. Eventually, Bruce became known as a fun, smart and dynamic powerhouse of progressive ideas. His social network helped to create a foundation for his leadership and development of many local initiatives and political campaigns. As an active member of three mayoral administrations, including former mayors Bernie Sanders and Peter Clavelle, Bruce had strong incubational instincts and a passion for the arts, small business development, market cooperatives, job training and employee ownership.

Bruce worked tirelessly in pursuit of goals, choosing to ignore the guardrails of politics, religion and long-standing local animosities. On his own steadfast and ethical path, he pushed valiantly forward in spite of many obstacles. Blessed with

a solid team of like-minded colleagues, Bruce took advantage of every opportunity to further progressive initiatives. As an avid reader of current affairs, he had a broad range of interests and valued connections with those who were expert in their field. He himself became well-known for his expert ideas and advice to local entrepreneurs. With many years of experience under his belt, Bruce knew the city better than just about anyone. If you sought to do something in Burlington and had a question, there was always the same answer: “Call Bruce.”

In his role as economic development director for the City of Burlington, Bruce was an early founder and active promoter of initiatives too numerous to list, including the local food cooperative (City Market), the South End Arts + Business Association, the annual Art Hop, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, the city’s Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, and the Employee Worker Ownership Initiative. In every role, he worked to develop cross-cultural connections and helped nurture

Kenneth Raymond Sanders

SEPTEMBER 20, 1964-OCTOBER 22, 2022 WINOOSKI, VT.

Kenneth Raymond Sanders, 58, was born on September 20, 1964, in Bronx, N.Y.

After being a longtime resident of the Burlington area, our beloved friend, father, sibling and loving parent passed away on October 22, 2022, in Winooski, Vt.

the soil necessary for several well-known businesses to succeed. Many of these accomplishments have been recited at length in books that he coauthored, including one popular in cities across the nation, titled Sustainable Communities

Bruce was also a deeply committed family man. He cherished his Long Island family and Jewish faith connections throughout the Northeast and beyond. He was a devoted father to his late son, Bentley, and a deeply caring husband, uncle, son and friend. He cultivated and nurtured scores of lifelong friendships from all walks of life, and he had a tremendous impact on all who crossed his paths in life.

e music of the Grateful Dead was of great importance to him and a healing force in his life — a journey he enjoyed with some of his most cherished friends. When in need of peace, he could be found reading, tending to his garden or dancing in the streets. Always a traveler and hiker, he enjoyed just about any activity that included people he could get to know.

In the last year of his life, when his health took a turn for the worse, Bruce refused to submit to a traditional format for home care. He insisted on relying on friends and family to serve his needs and did so without concern that they would resent him. His belief in developing community was sacrosanct, and the swirl of connections that he created in the process was a thrill and curiosity to behold. His tenacity, wisdom and strong ethical foundation were of a model citizen.

Bruce leaves behind a community crushed by his loss, including Julie Davis, his closest friend, ex-wife and partner of 30 years.

He also leaves behind his brother, Marc Seifer, and his wife, Lois, of Rhode Island; his sister, Meri Keithley, and her husband, John, of New York; his nephew Devin and niece Dara and their families; and two cousins he adored, Philip Imber of New York and Howard Seifer of Connecticut. In the great beyond, Bruce will join his beloved late son, Bentley Davis Seifer; his mother, elma; his father, Stanley; his aunts Lucille and Dottie; his uncle Sonny; and his special cousins Hilarie Gold and David Adler.

Bruce was extremely grateful for the tight-knit University of Vermont medical team that managed his many health challenges, especially during the last six months of his life, namely Dr. Mark Pitcher, Dr. Garth Garrison and Dr. Paul Unger. ere were also many other health care practitioners involved in his care, formal and informal, too numerous to mention but to whom he was especially grateful. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to your favorite charity in Bruce’s honor.

A memorial service will follow in spring 2023. A life well done, dear Bruce. We already miss your warm smile and infectious laugh.

Services have been entrusted to Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT.

Online condolences may be made at readyfuneral home.com.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, at the United Church of Colchester in Colchester, Vt.

Memorial donations may be made in Ken’s name to support the future of his youngest children (ages 5 and 10). Please contribute through gofundme.com/ donations-to-help-kens-youngest-children or by sending checks to C.J. Spirito, 2 Rock Point Rd., Burlington, VT 05408.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Daniel McDonald

DECEMBER 30, 1947NOVEMBER 26, 2022 HINESBURG, VT.

Daniel Harry McDonald passed away suddenly at his home in Hinesburg on November 26, 2022. He was 75 years old. e world has lost a loving father, son, husband and brother.

Dan was born on December 30, 1947, in Bangor, Maine, to his parents, Verne and Jean McDonald. Dan attended Paul Smith’s College in New York for a period of time, studying forestry. He was a proud veteran who served in Vietnam in the U.S. Navy on the USS Constellation, working as a meteorology and oceanography officer. Dan settled in the Burlington, Vt., area, where he worked for New England Telephone company and then for Verizon, for over 35 years.

Dan was an outdoorsman through and through. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and had extensive knowledge about the local flora and fauna of Vermont. When his

Peter Nattress

NOVEMBER 22, 1952NOVEMBER 29, 2022

SAFETY HARBOR, FLA.

Peter G. Nattress, 70, of Safety Harbor, Fla., passed away on November 29, 2022, surrounded by family, after a brief battle with ALS. He was a graduate of Winooski High School and attended the University of Vermont.

Pete’s love of sports was strong and took a special route through his dedication to coaching younger generations. He first honed his skills at the Burlington YMCA basketball program. en, for many years, he served as the head coach with the Lady Spartans of Winooski High School in Winooski, Vt.

He, along with his beloved wife, Johanna, developed a love for the Florida English Bulldog Rescue program. is is where they had the pleasure of rescuing Meatball,

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

kids were young, he would take them on a yearly camping trip to the ocean in Maine, where they made lifelong memories together. He loved the ocean. He also loved the forest. Each year, he would retreat into the woods with friends at his hunting cabin. You could often find him foraging in the woods for edible plants and mushrooms, and he also knew of secret swimming spots and fiddlehead patches. His knowledge of the natural world and his wonder for its mysteries were inspiring to those who loved him.

Dan was a devoted father who taught lessons of forgiveness and understanding to his five children. He was a quiet and patient man, never one to judge others. He always worked hard and did everything he could to help his loved ones. He was a loyal and devoted friend for all who had the privilege of knowing him. His gentle spirit will live on through his children and grandchildren.

Dan is survived by his wife of 29 years, Priscilla McDonald; his mother, Jean McDonald; his two sisters, Susan Barden and Melanie Gay; his daughters, Nara McDonald, Alyssa Rich and Ketura Rich; his son Gabriel Rich; and eight grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, Verne McDonald, and his son Justin McDonald. His ashes will be scattered both in the ocean he loved so much and in the forest he treasured. A private service will be held by the family. Please send memorial donations to Zeno Mountain Farm at zenomountainfarm.org.

James McNamara

MARCH 9, 1927-NOVEMBER 27, 2022 BURLINGTON, VT.

James Joseph McNamara, 95, a lifelong resident of Burlington, Vt., died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, November 27, 2022.

Jim was born in Colchester, Vt., on April 9, 1927, to Mary Magner and Joseph Augustine McNamara. He graduated from Cathedral High School (class of 1945), the College of the Holy Cross (class of 1950) and Cornell Law School (class of 1953). He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday and served his country during the final months of WWII, until his discharge in 1946.

faith. He was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and St. Mark parishes, where he volunteered as a lector and as a representative of the annual Bishop’s Appeal. He also served on the board of trustees of Trinity College.

Our fondest memories of Jim were those spent with the family on the patio of our Killarney Drive home, overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. He could often be heard whistling or singing a favorite tune while walking in the yard or tending to his cherry tomatoes. He and Ellie enjoyed entertaining there or simply having a glass of wine at the end of a summer day.

Stewie, Twiggy and Linus, their four lucky fur babies, past and present.

Pete spent much of his work life — more than 30 years by the time he retired — with the American Red Cross of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. He then turned to Philadelphia Phillies springtraining stadium work, along with his other interests.

His family members

include his father, George R. Nattress, and mother, Jeannette S. (Gaboriault) Nattress (both predeceased); the love of his life, wife Johanna; his sisters, Ann Sorrell and her husband, James, Mary Jane Peters and her husband, Richard, and Joyce LeTourneau; his brother, omas Nattress, and his wife, Melanie; his in-laws, Michael Marrin and Suzanne; his brother-in-law, Patrick Marrin, and his wife, Catherine; his sister-in-law, Bridgit Steele, and her husband, Chad Pauquette; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at the VFW in Winooski, Vt., on December 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. ose who wish to remember Pete in a special way can make a contribution in his memory to either the Florida English Bulldog Rescue program at florida englishbulldogresue.com or your local hospice chapter.

After graduation from law school, Jim returned to Burlington and began his law career as an assistant city attorney. He entered private practice with his father and later formed the firm of McNamara, Fitzpatrick and McCormick, where he practiced law until his retirement in 1992. Jim was a public-spirited Vermonter who held elected and appointed positions throughout his career and life. He served as a justice of the peace for over 30 years. After retiring from his law practice, he was appointed by former governor Howard Dean to fill a vacant seat in the Vermont House of Representatives, representing Burlington’s North End. He was later elected to three full terms, during which he served on the Transportation Committee.

Following his time in the state legislature, Jim was appointed to multiple terms on the Vermont District 4 Environmental Commission. He cherished his work and colleagues on the commission, so much so that he served up until the time of his death. As a longtime member of the Burlington Country Club, Jim played golf with his regular foursome for decades. He skied at Stowe and met his future bride, Ellie Brown, there in 1958. He later shared his love of the sport with his children by teaching them to ski on Mount Mansfield, and he continued to ski well into his retirement years. Jim had a beautiful tenor singing voice and was active in singing groups most of his life, including the Holy Cross Glee Club, various barbershop groups, the South Burlington Community Chorus and at Catholic mass.

A devout Catholic, Jim was guided by his

Jim lived a meaningful yet understated life. While he had many interests, he most enjoyed spending time with family and friends, listening to music and coming up with clever plays on words. He loved a good joke. Most of all, Jim will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, genuine interest in others, and unfailing kindness to friends and strangers alike.

Jim was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He was married for 44 years to Ellie, who predeceased him in 2004. He was the father of four children: Christie, who predeceased him in 2005; Joe, of Williston; Maggie (Mike), of Marblehead, Mass.; and Jamey (Penni), of Falls Church, Va. Jim had 10 grandchildren: Emilia and Jonah Sens; Caroline and Mary McNamara; Sean, Peter, Ben and Graham Jackson; and Claire and Rory McNamara. Jim did a remarkable job forging unique and joyful relationships with each of his grandchildren as the sole McNamara grandparent throughout the 18 years Ellie has been gone. We are so thankful for his enduring presence in their lives. Jim has one sister, Nancy Harris, of Needham, Mass., and was predeceased by his sisters Maureen McNamara and Martha Mahoney. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, December 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church, 1251 North Ave., Burlington. Services are in the care of Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home. Donations in Jim’s name can be made to Special Olympics Vermont, 16 Gregory Dr. #2, South Burlington, VT 05403, or at specialolympicsvermont.org.

Stephen Chant

JUNE 4, 1954-NOVEMBER 29, 2022

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Stephen J. Chant, 68, of South Burlington, Vt., died suddenly on November 29, 2022, after achieving a second remission of lymphoma in May and fighting hard to live and love his wife and family.

Besides being a loving husband, an uncon ventional dad and an enthusiastic grandfather, Steve was an artist, a writer, an avid reader, and a lover of rock and roll and all things printed. He was creative, inquisitive, a master of trivia and a rebel at heart. Known to have the big gest laugh in the room, he was also the wittiest, funniest and smartest.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Suzanne (St. Pierre) Chant; his daughter, Ariel Chant, her partner, Will Willoughby, her children, Hannah and Dalton Chagnon, and her stepdaughters, Jalyn and Peyton Willoughby; his stepson and good friend

Patrick Canavan, who lived with Steve and Sue in these last months; and stepson Gerard Canavan, his wife, Jaimee Hills, and their chil dren, Zoey and Connor.

Steve leaves six siblings and their spouses, Catherine Chant and Stephen Belitsos, Barbara and Paul Colton, Elizabeth Chant and Jill Burley, Paul and Anne Chant, Daniel and Jodie Chant, and Timothy and Kirsten Chant; nieces, Sarah, Margaret, Emily, Libby, Jacqueline and Jessica; nephews, Brady, Thomas, Luke, Drew and Ethan; and sister-in-law, Kathy Yawarski.

The light of his life was his daughter. He was a single dad to Ariel, and they had many adventures together at home and traveling. When she was 9, the two of them went to the “Top of the North,” driving until there was no more road in northern Québec. They drove to Colorado for skiing and other adventures. Most important, they shared a very special lifelong bond of single dad and only child. He was Ariel’s rock.

Patrick Tyler Metro

WESTBROOK, MAINE

Patrick Tyler Metro of Westbrook, Maine, died in Portland, Maine, on November 23, 2022, of a brain hemor rhage. He was the beloved son of William and Sally (Stockwell) Metro.

Patrick was born in Burlington, Vt., on October 25, 1985, and grew up in Williston. He attended Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg and graduated from Castleton University in Castleton, Vt. At the time of his death, he was working as a community outreach worker for Mercy Hospital in Portland. He was a certified peer counselor.

Steve met Suzanne, the love of his life, in the early 1990s, on Prodigy, where both were early personal computer users. Sue and Patrick relocated from New Jersey to Vermont to share life’s adventures with Steve and Ariel. Gerry joined in on vacations and many special times.

Steve and Sue traveled together right from the start. They were regulars for summer vacations at Moosehead Lake in Maine, enjoy ing quiet time together with good books in a beautiful place. In later years, they loved cruis ing and reveled in island-hopping. Steve took up snorkeling on his Caribbean cruises and snorkeled with Patrick along the continental shelf in Iceland.

Steve and Sue took tremen dous joy in seeing their children grown and making their ways professionally and personally, and then got the special fun of being grandparents. Just as Steve had been an active and fun father, so was he an engaged and engaging “Pops” to Hannah, Zoey, Dalton, Connor, Peyton and Jalyn.

Like many first grandkids, Hannah probably got the most fun, with special trips with her Pops to New York City and Chicago. For Steve, even trips with his 6-year-old granddaughter centered on books and bookshops.

In recent years, Steve was able to spend significant time with each of his grandchildren. As an artist, he always had the best supplies to keep kids amused, whether in the studio or in the kitchen making his mother’s pumpkin bread.

Books were the other love of his life. His reading was far-ranging and eclectic. His book shelves and reading pile overflowed. He spent many a fond hour browsing bookstores near and far, once traveling to Hay-on-Wye, Wales, a tiny town full of secondhand bookstores, for a weekend. He created books from scratch, de signing, printing and binding them by hand. An inveterate cataloger, he published with friend Douglas Campbell the definitive resource on patents earned by the U.S. Navy.

He was born on June 4, 1954, the first child

of William S. and Patricia (Brady) Chant, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Randolph and Kingston, N.Y.; Boulder, Colo.; and Moretown, Vt. The eldest of seven, he was loved and ad mired by his brothers and sisters. He was their leader, their hero and the instigator of family trips, camping at many Vermont state parks and enticing siblings to join him and Sue on a Bermuda cruise.

His eccentricity delighted his family. He showed up one holiday with blinking Christmas lights duct-taped to his old Chevy Suburban. Driving home through a blizzard, he was stopped by police. Family legend has it the police did not cite him because they couldn’t find any law he had broken.

Questioning authority was honed during his early Catholic school education, especially by the Jesuit priests in ninth grade. At Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, from which he graduated in 1972, he and his friends con tinuously provoked administrators, including putting a “For Sale” sign in front of the building late one night.

Not feeling like college was a good fit, Steve astounded everyone by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. In boot camp, he failed marching and was sent to type each day while his unit marched. He went into the Navy’s journal ism program and worked on publications at Andrews Air Force Base. Steve might be the only Navy veteran to never have set foot on a ship.

He worked many years for, and retired from, the University of Vermont, where he man aged Printing and Graphics. He had previously worked at Upper Valley Press in Bradford and at WSKI in Montpelier as a reporter.

There was a celebration of Steve’s life on Monday, December 5, at the St. John’s Club, 9 Central Ave., Burlington, VT. You can celebrate him anytime you want by reading an actual book (even better, one that’s been censored), listening to Neil Young, eating at a diner, or having a PB&J with a side of American cheese for supper.

Steve ended every letter, note, email and phone call with “Peace.” Your family and friends now return that wish: “Peace, Steve. You’ve earned it.”

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Pat was loved by family, friends and clients alike. For several years, he struggled with drug addiction, but he was finally able to get clean and sober at Hazelden Betty Ford Center in Minnesota in 2015. From there, he moved to Portland and became a peer counselor, working on the streets and in hos pitals with the homeless, mentally ill and addicted

population. He was loved and respected by all who worked with him and who received his care. He was especially cherished by his partner, Kelsey, and his best friend and business partner, Lester Gilkey. He was an avid reader and video gamer. In typical Pat fashion, he continued to give after his death, donating both kid neys and his liver to save three lives.

Pat was predeceased by his grand parents, John and Kathleen Metro. He is survived by his parents; the love of his life, Kelsey Burrell; and his brother, Hazen, and his fiancée, Katelyn McKenzie. He leaves three sets of aunts and uncles, five cousins, and more friends than we can count.

A gathering of friends and family to remember this extraordinary life will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 145 Jetport Blvd., Portland, ME, on Sunday, December 11, at noon. Anyone wishing to further Pat’s mission can make a donation in his name to Spectrum Youth & Family Services of Burlington, Vt., at spectrumvt.org; Operation Hope in Maine at portlandrecovery.org; or Milestone Recovery Center in Portland at milestonerecovery.org.

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In loving memory of Eugene F. Morrissey

BY DEREK BROUWER

Jericho, population 5,100,

doesn’t look like an exclusive place.

Along the undulating country roads that connect its triangle of small villages, visitors are more likely to encounter chicken coops, windblown barns or handpainted Black Lives Matter signs than outward displays of privilege.

Selectboard chair Catherine McMains, who has lived there for 31 years, describes her neighbors as artists, retirees and liber als — not “wealthy folks,” like those who live in Charlotte, the richest town in Chit tenden County.

“We don’t see ourselves that way,” she said.

But today, few Vermonters could afford to move to Jericho’s verdant foothills, where homes sold at a median price of $430,000 last year.

The high cost of housing in Jericho did not come about overnight.

Chuck Lacy, a curmudgeonly former farmer and president of Ben & Jerry’s who

runs a small venture capital fund, has lived in an older home in Jericho Center since 1988. A few years ago, he wanted to add another apartment to his duplex for his mother. Zoning restrictions on triplexes at the time forced Lacy, 66, to instead build a separate detached house — and to follow his curiosity to learn how his town controls land use.

Lacy started reading old documents: town plans, defunct zoning bylaws, meet ing minutes and newspaper clippings. The faded files helped illuminate Jeri cho’s decades-long evolution from a farm town to an upscale bedroom community. As white professionals moved in during the 1960s, residents erected an invisible firewall against perceived threats to their rural oasis. They drafted and adopted local zoning rules that outlawed mobile home communities and mandated large lot sizes that curtailed starter homes.

Fewer, and bigger, homes were built, commercial development was strictly controlled, property values rose, and resident incomes skewed higher.

“It was just so clear,” Lacy said, “how intentional reserving most of Jericho for people with money has been.”

Vermonters pride themselves on the idea that the Green Mountain State is a welcoming place for people of all life styles. Yet Vermont’s chronic shortage of housing is transforming swaths of its cities and towns into havens for wealthy, aging white people. The latest, pandemic-fueled price surge has disrupted the economy and affected middle-class families. Housing’s cost has become impossible to ignore.

In this “Locked Out” series of stories throughout 2022, Seven Days has traced the contours of the housing crisis. Young families have been locked out of home ownership or pushed to locations far from where they work. Costs have soared for hard-to-find rentals, displacing residents. Public schools can’t hire teachers because

Seven Days examined Vermont’s housing crisis — and what can be done about it — in our “Locked Out” series this year. Read all the stories and check out our Vermont Housing Resources Guide at sevendaysvt.com/ locked-out. Send tips to lockedout@ sevendaysvt.com.

These stories are supported by a grant from the nonprofit Journalism Funding Partners, which leverages philanthropy and fundraising to boost local reporting. For more information, contact Cathy Resmer at cathy@sevendaysvt.com or visit jfp-local.org.

JAMES

GREEN

Jericho Corners

there’s nowhere for them to live. More companies have been forced to provide employee housing. Older Vermonters are stuck in large homes that are expensive to maintain, socially isolating and physically unsafe for them. Homelessness has spiked.

Sharply rising interest rates have slowed price increases, but most homes remain too costly even for families of aver age means to afford. The median price of a home in Vermont during the first half of 2022 was $295,000; in Chittenden County, it was $424,000, property tax records compiled by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency show. Nationally, home buyers between July 2021 and June 2022 skewed “older, whiter and wealthier” than at any point in at least a generation, the New York Times recently reported.

While housing costs are subject to regional and national pressures, Vermonters have long viewed new development with skepticism. Residents are practiced at delaying, downsizing or banning denser development. The state’s postcard vistas, quaint villages and single-family homes have been zealously guarded, but communities have been less committed to ensuring the availability of modest-priced housing in accessible neighborhoods. Even in Burlington, which requires new multifamily build ings to include some lower-cost units, prices have soared and class divides remain stark.

This final installment of the series examines how the housing crisis is forc ing Vermonters to confront uncomfortable questions about the state’s future. With out a path to affordable homeownership, an already small contingent of young Vermonters and residents of color is losing out on its best shot at financial security. The dynamic threatens to shape the char acter of Vermont cities and towns more than any change to their visual landscape.

“If we don’t build a lot more hous ing and rehab a lot more housing,” said Charlie Baker, executive director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, “Vermont is going to become even more gentrified, as Vermonters can’t afford to live here and we become the vacation paradise of New England.”

Over the last couple of years, the state has dedicated unprecedented resources to create affordable housing, rehabilitate aging homes, pay rents for the unem ployed and provide emergency shelter. More towns are exploring ways to build infrastructure and reviewing their zoning rules, with an eye toward making it

possible to construct denser housing in village and town centers. Some nonprofits have launched programs to help BIPOC residents buy a home. Lawmakers are weighing a menu of demands, including tenant protections, continued state fund ing, regulatory changes and tax reform.

Altering the state’s trajectory will require a long-term commitment and difficult choices. At the same time, cities and towns have plenty of space to accom modate more housing. Vermont has room to chart a more inclusive future, noted Rachel Batterson, who directs the Housing Discrimination Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid.

“We can build — at a scale that is appro priate to Vermont’s various communities — housing affordable to a range of Vermont ers,” Batterson said, “so that Vermont does not look like the rest of the country, with poor people and people of color isolated in one section of town and other people living in other sections of town.”

The ‘Character of Jericho’

In 1959, a classified ad in the Burlington Free Press featured a small, newly built country home in Jericho. The five-room ranch on Lafayette Drive, three-quarters of a mile down the road from Joe’s Snack Bar, was offered for $14,500 — about $150,000 today.

Compact developments such as the one on Lafayette Drive, which featured lot sizes of less than half an acre, would soon become much more difficult to build in Jericho. The town selectboard passed zoning ordinances in 1961 that restricted lot sizes to at least half an acre. In a letter to taxpayers, members of the zoning committee said the new rules

Residents’ biggest concerns? Strip malls and sprawl. The 1979 plan’s stated “central purpose” was to control “the inroads of suburbia which threaten to change the existing character of Jericho.”

The town accomplished its notion of “responsible growth” through strict land

RACHEL BATTERSON

were designed to protect property values and preserve Jericho’s “unspoiled villages” from “substandard buildings.”

White-collar newcomers fueled a popu lation jump from 1,400 in 1960 to 2,300 in 1970. Jericho’s proximity to Burlingtonarea shopping centers and employers such as IBM, coupled with its rural scenery, made it an attractive place to live. By 1979, Jericho had become a wealthy “bedroom community,” a revised town plan noted. The following year, home prices in Jericho trailed only Shelburne for the highest in Chittenden County, at $65,000.

regulations, Lacy’s research suggests. In 1981, the town established a residential district that required at least three acres per single-family home, and more for multifamily residences. Its village centers still required at least an acre for each home. The zoning board even assumed oversight of home occupations such as doll making, which required a permit.

By 1989, Jericho’s town plan acknowl edged that housing was no longer afford able to median earners. A small bump in new housing permits followed, only

We can build — at a scale that is appropriate to Vermont’s various communities — housing affordable to a range of Vermonters.

JAMES BUCK

SJ Dube

to decline steadily for the following 20 years, town data show.

That makes Jericho similar to many other communities. Lacy’s citizen research illustrates the powerful role that municipalities have played in shap ing today’s housing patterns. Residents leverage land-use rules to restrict devel opment, usually so it caters to their own tastes. The Connecticut Zoning Atlas, a first-of-its-kind project launched in 2021 that analyzed zoning rules in that state, found that 70 percent of Connecticut’s primary residential districts only allowed construction of single-family dwellings without special permission.

“When you look at the practice of zoning, you realize some of that was really exclusionary,” Baker, of the regional plan ning commission, said. “A bunch of white folks moved into a town and wanted to keep it like that.”

The language in the old town plans colors how Lacy sees present-day debates about residential development.

Dearly held values — preserving wildlife habitat, scenic views and town “charac ter” — were also stated concerns in the midcentury town plans.

“We’ve invented a string of values that allow us to pursue our self-interest,” he said.

Lately, Lacy has been driving his neighbors around town in an effort to convince others of the consequences of Jericho’s historic land-use rules. He calls it “Chuck’s zoning history tour.” While touring with a selectboard member recently, Lacy said, he stopped at a small house with cars parked out front and knocked on the door. Lacy and his passenger met a young couple, he said, who told them they were paying more than $1,450 a month to rent a 400-squarefoot apartment.

They were the kind of people who, 60 years ago, might have bought the home on Lafayette Drive.

1 802 657-6847 1 800 660-3258 www.northcountry.org

‘Out of Scale’

Last month, members of Shelburne’s Development Review Board considered a permit to build 78 units of multifamily housing on six wooded acres behind an office on busy, commercial Route 7.

After listening to a presentation by the developers, board members looked out at rows of residents and invited public comment. Bob Bouchard, one in a battal ion of neighboring homeowners who objected to aspects of the project, was the first to step up to the microphone.

He wanted to talk about turkey vultures.

Seven Days wrote about the brewing conflict as part of the “Locked Out” series kickoff in March. Chiropractors Stephen Brandon and Shelley Crombach were then proposing to create more than 100 resi dential units, which was allowable within a zoning district the town adopted in 2016.

In the face of intense opposition, they’d since pared down their proposal and designated a portion of the proposed units for senior housing. Bouchard, however, who works as a development manager for Pizzagalli Properties, a real estate devel opment and property management firm, still had concerns.

Turkey vultures are “not my favorite bird,” Bouchard said to the board. But he asserted that the project threatened a nest ing area for the “federally protected species.”

In fact, the scavenger birds are not listed as an endangered species, the devel opers’ wildlife consultant, Dori Barton, replied via teleconferencing, nor did she find in the patch of woods a significant turkey vulture habitat.

Shelburne, one of the richest towns in Vermont, also has some of its highest housing prices. In the first six months of 2022, 30 homes sold for a median price of $687,500. While new housing construc tion there has jumped in recent years, the battle playing out over the Crombach development shows how, despite soaring prices, some residents continue to fiercely resist denser development — at least when it’s near their property.

Residents of the single-family-home neighborhoods adjacent to the Crombach project organized themselves under a banner called Shelburne Neighbors United for Responsible Growth. They created a website and hired a lawyer.

Such organizing by neighbors is typi cal when large projects are proposed in Vermont. The long-delayed CityPlace Burlington project, for instance, led to a

JAMES BUCK

yearslong lawsuit. Residents are exercising their rights when they speak out against a project or sue to block it, and some proj ects may in fact be too ambitious.

But builders, including those in the nonprofit housing sectors, identify local opposition as a high hurdle to completing projects. Last month, the Vermont Hous ing Finance Agency held a daylong confer ence to discuss issues affecting those trying to house struggling Vermonters. The next day, the state’s for-profit developers took

told the town it was “overly complex” and vague.

SNURG supports new and more diverse housing in Shelburne, said Robilee Smith, a retired IBM manager who helps coordinate the group’s work. On a recent drive around town, Smith pointed out other multifamily hous ing developments that she said haven’t disrupted surrounding neighborhoods, such as a large assisted-living facility next to a mobile home park.

restaurants and car dealerships, look like Winooski, where three- and fourstory apartment buildings line a small, walkable downtown. Smith asserted that larger apartment buildings like those in Winooski don’t foster community. “A simple thing I can say is that, you know, you don’t dare order something from Amazon, because your package will be stolen,” she said.

CHARLIE BAKER

over the meeting space and had their own conference. Their goals and points of views were different, but the conferences shared a common theme: Vermonters need to stop fighting tooth and nail whenever a housing project is proposed.

The Shelburne Development Review Board had not issued its decision on the Crombach project by press time, but some neighbors have already vowed to appeal if it’s approved. Meantime, they’ve notched a bigger win. Shelburne’s selectboard unani mously voted to rescind a zoning overlay district that allowed dense residential developments such as this one in parts of the Route 7 corridor after a consultant

The proposed 78-unit complex next to Smith’s house is a 10-minute drive from downtown Burlington, connected to water and sewer lines, and located next to a bus stop. But Smith considers it “out of scale.”

Smith and her husband have occupied a beautifully maintained house on Wild Rose Circle for 28 years. “Having all those apartments staring in would certainly change the feelings here,” she said from a small, sun-drenched addition with windows facing the wooded lot. “My sanc tuary would no longer be the sanctuary.”

Smith said the zoning district threat ened to make the Route 7 corridor of Shelburne, with its surfeit of chain

A second citizen group, Shelburne Alliance for the Environment, recently formed in response to development pres sures in town. Member Rowland Davis, who describes himself as a “climate warrior,” said he wants to protect the town’s “rural character” from “tickytacky boxes” — a reference to the 1960s suburban-satire lyric popularized by Pete Seeger. He argues that dense develop ment outside Shelburne’s village center would create high per-capita greenhouse gas emissions.

Based on its population, Davis said, Shelburne is already doing more than its share to meet a countywide campaign to build 3,750 market-rate housing units and 1,250 affordable units by 2025. More than 90 single-family homes and townhomes are being built on a former piece of the Kwiniaska Golf Club, and Champlain Housing Trust is redevelop ing an emergency short-term shelter on Shelburne Road into nearly 100 afford able apartments and condos.

Some residents worry that too many people still can’t afford to live in town.

“You need a diversity of people,” said Pam Brangan, chair of Shelburne’s housing subcommittee, which voted to support the

When you look at the practice of zoning, you realize that some of that was really exclusionary.

The wooded lot off Route 7 in Shelburne where neighbors have opposed a planned apartment complex

Crombach project. “I feel like we’re pric ing out the younger families, the younger generation.”

As Shelburne reconsiders its zoning rules, town manager Lee Krohn suggested that some residents may be too focused on what development they don’t want to see.

“If I could wave a magic wand,” he said, “I would ask us all to take a step back and do a clear job trying to gain consensus on what goals we’re actually trying to achieve.”

There is one big housing project in Shelburne that has not ginned up controversy. On the far side of Kwiniaska Golf Club, builders recently tore down a mansion on Governors Lane. In its place, on 53 acres of rolling meadows, an even grander house is under construction — one with five bedrooms, nine bathrooms and a seven-car garage. The place is designed to accommodate a “luxuri ous, yet relaxed living experience,” a sales listing promises. The price: $10.8 million.

Moving Forward

Michael Arnold came to Burlington in 2013 as an undergraduate at the University of Vermont, where he’s now pursuing a PhD in complex systems and data science. At age 28, he counts himself among the generation being “pushed out” by the housing crisis.

So Arnold and several others who met online decided to form their own citizen action committee. Vermont ers for People-Oriented Places, as the nascent group dubbed itself, started meeting in Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library and emailing local officials about public transit and zoning reform. The members want sustainable, affordable housing and transportation — a lot more of it.

“Who’s gonna speak up for people’s interest in having enough houses to start the next phase of their life?” Arnold said. “It kind of has to be us, right?”

Throughout the state, the void of reasonably priced housing is fueling action in ways Vermont hasn’t seen in at least a generation. Residents are forming working groups to advocate for more permissive zoning and tenants’ rights. Housing has risen to the top of the agenda for local officials and state lawmakers.

Driving the momentum has been an unprecedented pot of federal aid to fund land-use reform, infrastructure

and housing development. Vermont Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford is think ing about what will happen when the money’s gone.

“My fear is,” Hanford said, “we’ll burn through all this money, have short-term success in seeing housing built, but we haven’t actually changed the system.”

Hanford’s prescription: Treat “the right to develop housing” on par with agriculture, open space and historic villages.

Housing professionals broadly agree that addressing a chronic supply shortage must be an urgent priority. But the housing crisis extends beyond that, others say.

Homes also are increasingly commodi fied — a phenomenon that stretches far outside of Vermont. A United Nations special rapporteur called attention to the global trend in a 2017 report to the UN Human Rights Council, describing it as corrosive to the notion of housing as a human right.

Global hedge funds do not control Vermont’s housing stock, but the lucrative market has led to a spate of apartment conversions, house flips, short-term rentals on sites such as Airbnb and tenant displacements. Adding more rental housing, on its own, isn’t good enough, according to Scott Muller, a Montpelier-based environ mental engineer and urbanization expert who has consulted with governments around the world on development.

Vermont’s cities and towns should strive to create more opportunities for homeownership, as well as rental afford ability and security, he said.

Winooski has struggled to achieve those goals despite taking steps to permit denser housing in parts of its square-mile downtown, Mayor Kristine Lott said.

“We need action at the state level,” she said.

Activism around “just cause” evic tion, which bars landlords from kicking out tenants without good reason, has expanded to more towns since Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a voter-approved charter change in Burlington in May. The measure is a basic protection that

We want to be inclusive, and we want to be able to bring young families into Jericho.

JERICHO SELECTBOARD CHAIR CATHERINE MCMAINS

JAMES BUCK

would provide tenants stability in an unbalanced rental market, Rights & Democracy organizer Tom Proctor said. In 2020, the Tenants Union of Brattleboro successfully lobbied the Brattleboro Selectboard to restrict the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit. The Burlington City Council recently placed restrictions on short-term rentals.

State legislative leaders have said hous ing will be a priority when they convene in January. “It seems to be at the top of every one’s list,” said Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden). They’ll face decisions about what to do with programs that were funded through emergency COVID-19 aid and whether to compel zoning reform or tenant protections.

Second homes are likely to receive scrutiny at the Statehouse come January. Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro) said she wants to use her role as vice chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means to examine how Vermont’s second homes, which often sit vacant for entire seasons, might be taxed at a higher rate.

Absentee homeowners are using precious housing stock, she said, and

often don’t contribute to communities in the same way as full-time residents.

“The very basis of Vermont’s social infrastructure is based on volunteers and folks showing up for each other,” Korn heiser said. “When we don’t have that community diversity and folks who are able to spend time in their own communi ties, that really frays.”

The Walls Come Down?

Jericho’s most recent town plan, completed in 2020, articulates a goal that was absent from the plans of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Alongside protecting the environment and preserving “rural character,” the current plan seeks to “promote socioeconomic and demographic diversity,” in part by encouraging a wide range of housing in its village centers.

The goal, in part, recognizes a concern ing trend. Jericho, like much of Vermont, is getting older; there are fewer kids, which led to the closure of an elementary school in 2019.

“We want to be inclusive, and we want to be able to bring young families into

Jericho,” McMains, the selectboard chair, said.

Over the past two years, the town has started to make changes to its zoning, planning commission chair Susan Bresee said. Minimum lots are smaller in some districts, and duplexes can be built anywhere a single-family home is currently allowed. Triplexes and four plexes are allowed in more areas, too. The town is using a state grant to study a village wastewater system, which would enable high-density development.

During the pandemic, the town also formed an affordable housing committee. SJ Dube, a mother of two who moved to Jericho in 2013, signed up to be its volun teer chair. She didn’t bring a particular expertise in housing policy, but she was concerned about issues of equity and saw in housing “a real need to wrestle with those kinds of questions.”

In the months that followed, Dube and others on the committee looked into data on the town’s housing trends, which she and Bresee presented to town officials in August.

They found that the pace of housing construction in Jericho has doubled over the past few years but has been limited

to large, expensive single-family homes. The cost to buy a home in Jericho is higher than what a pair of Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District teachers could afford.

Dube’s conclusion: The situa tion won’t improve without further intervention.

She, Bresee and others are working on initial ideas, which will be sent to the selectboard in coming months. The town has just shy of $1.5 million in pandemic relief money that the planning commis sion recommended be earmarked for housing “inducements,” Bresee said. It could also start setting specific housing goals.

The hardest work is ahead, which is why Dube said she’s thinking a lot about how to talk about the subject with her neighbors. What would more housing look like? What might need to change “in order to make the town more equitable and an accessible place to live?”

“Honestly,” Dube said, “a lot of those interventions will take Jericho in a direc tion that it’s never really gone before — at least, not in the last 40 years.” m

Making Tracks

Pownal’s Dion and NeviTREK snowshoes get athletes of all kinds out on the trails

BY JENNIFER SUTTON

In a storage room lined with shelves of snowshoes, Bob Dion held up a pair at arm’s length and eyed it carefully. He checked the symmetry of the rivets, the angle of the aluminum frames, the curved seams on the bindings. He repeats this process with every pair of snowshoes assembled at his shop in Pownal.

That’s part of the reason the company he started more than 20 years ago, Dion Snowshoes, has attracted a cult following among racers and winter hikers seeking high-performance, customizable footwear.

of trekking in the woods. The Dions loved the adrenaline rush and cardio challenge of racing. Bob Dion won the first race he entered — which was also his first time on snowshoes — and racked up race after race, win after win. But the snowshoes banged up his ankles with every stride. “You had to heal between races,” he recalled.

The brand is small, but it’s a dominant presence in the snowshoe-racing world. Customers are drawn to Dion’s history as a championship racer and long time trail runner: He has won two gold medals, two silver and one bronze in the U.S. National Snowshoe Championships, and he has competed in hundreds of ultrarunning races.

BUSINESS

His grassroots marketing strategy doesn’t hurt, either. When he shows up at races around the country — many of which Dion Snowshoes sponsors — not only does he bring extra equipment for people to borrow, he’s also been known to take the snowshoes off his own feet so other racers can try them out. It’s this personal commitment that sets Dion apart. He makes the snowshoes he wants to run in. He has observed over the years that “a lot of [representatives from] snowshoe companies will show up at races, and they’ve never been on snowshoes before.”

Derrick Spafford, a racer and coach who owns Spafford Health and Adven ture in Yarker, Ontario, discovered Dion Snowshoes 15 years ago at a race in the U.S. “Everybody was wearing them, and I’d never seen them before, so I tried out a pair,” he recalled. “I was like, Wow! They were the most responsive and efficient snowshoes I’d ever used.”

But building a business for more than two decades takes its toll. In 2019, Dion, 67, and his wife Denise, 64, who’s also an avid snowshoer and National Championship medal winner in her age group, decided to shift gears. They sold Dion Snowshoes to NeviTREK Snowshoes, a one-person company run by Joanne Petrozzi, 65, in Delanson, N.Y., just south of the Adiron dacks. Petrozzi’s longer, wider snowshoes appeal to casual winter enthusiasts and

people who hunt and ice fish rather than high-octane competitors.

The Dions and Petrozzi had bumped into each other at snowshoe races and winter-sports trade shows, and they saw in one another the same commitment to high-quality handcrafted products — and to keeping their businesses small and focused on customer satisfaction. But Petrozzi, who’d been in business half as many years as Dion, agreed to buy Dion Snowshoes on one condition: that Bob and Denise stay on as coworkers, collaborators and unofficial partners.

As the two companies gradually consol idated their manufacturing operations

in Pownal, everyone got something they wanted: The Dions decreased their involvement in the financial management of the business, and Petrozzi got access to the Dions’ deep well of experience and knowledge.

“Suddenly, I had someone I could bounce ideas off of, which made my work much more fun,” Petrozzi said. “It made sense for us to combine because we hardly overlapped at all when it came to our customers.”

Neither of the Dions nor Petrozzi had donned a pair of snowshoes until they were adults, but each got hooked quickly. Petrozzi loved the peacefulness

Because he’d studied mechanical design and worked in drafting, technical illustration and lab instrument design, he headed into his garage to come up with a better model. He took his prototypes to races and let others try them out. “We got feedback immediately, so we learned a lot,” he said.

Sixty miles away in New York State, Petrozzi, an engineer, was still new to the sport when a work colleague mentioned that his father-in-law was selling a shop full of snowshoe-making equipment. She jumped at the opportunity.

JOANNE PETROZZI

“I grew up around machines, working with tools,” said Petrozzi, a self-described “fix-it kind of engineer,” who previously worked on repair outages for steam turbines owned by power companies. “So making snowshoes looked a lot like stuff I’d been doing all along.”

Today, NeviTREK produces a little over 200 pairs of snowshoes a year, selling most of them online. Dion Snowshoes makes between 1,500 and 2,000 pairs; roughly two-thirds are sold online, and the rest go to small bike and ski shops and directly to customers at races. All the manufactur ing takes place in a modest wooden office building on Route 7 in Pownal. There, Dion and Petrozzi work alongside Denise, when she’s not working her day job as a bookkeeper at a nonprofit, and two other employees, Tonya Van Buren and Ross Richards. Dion and Petrozzi make a point of sourcing as many of their materials and parts as possible — about 90 percent — in the U.S.

THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES YOU CAN GO SNOWSHOEING AND IT DOESN’T COST YOU A DIME.

Joanne Petrozzi and Bob Dion

When Dion was first starting out, he kept his product even more local. “I used to run 100-mile races, and I had a rule that I had to be able to run to the supplier,” he said. “It wasn’t so much about manufacturing for me. It was more like a craft. I would look at old snowshoes, with the wood frames and the lattice — that was a craft.” But he added, “The problem with craft is, it’s hard to scale. If you make 100 times more snowshoes, it takes 100 times as long.”

Dion noted, “People go to a bike shop and get asked all kinds of questions. ‘Are you mountain biking? Are you on gravel? Fat biking? Riding hills? Racing?’ It’s the same with snowshoes. The frame, the binding, the cleat — it matters. Are you running or are you walking the dog? Or are you a hunter going out in the woods? Where do you live? What kind of snow do you have? What kind of traction do you need?”

Stay Safe This Holiday Season and Throughout the Winter

Know How to Detect a Gas Leak

Smell

Natural gas is normally odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor, similar to rotten eggs, is added so that you will recognize it quickly.

See

You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason.

Hear

“We are into educat ing people,” Petrozzi said.

NeviTREK sells two lines of snow shoes for recreational walking and hiking; they run between $140 and $175. Dion snowshoes are modular, with four different models of frames assembled in advance; customers choose from three different bindings and three different cleats, depending on how and where they’ll be using the equipment. Prices range from $200 to $300.

“We get emails every day from people asking, ‘How do I choose?’” Petrozzi said. While many snowshoe makers categorize their equipment only according to the weight of the intended user, both Dion and Petrozzi say that’s not enough. There are other factors to consider: terrain, for example, and snow conditions.

That’s why she and the Dions send loaner snowshoes to every race they hear about. “Most people aren’t going to buy a $250 snowshoe until they can see if they like it,” Dion said. And when potential customers say they prefer skiing, Petrozzi points out that snowshoeing comes without high ticket prices and long lift lines. “There are so many places you can go snowshoeing and it doesn’t cost you a dime,” she said.

Spafford, who sells Dion snowshoes in Canada through his coaching business and online store, takes his cue from the Dions and Petrozzi.

“It’s about getting snowshoes on people so they can see it’s an open and fun activity for anyone,” he said. “If you can walk, you can snowshoe, and if you can run, you can run on snowshoes. It’s a heck of a lot more fun than being on an icy road or running on a treadmill all winter.” m

You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling.

If You Suspect a Leak:

Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 1-800-639-8081, or call 911, with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might ignite the gas or result in a dangerous condition.

Do not assume someone else will report the condition.

Protect Meters and Vents from Ice and Snow

Don’t push or pile deep snow around meters and ensure whoever removes snow from your property knows meter and appliance vent locations. Use extreme care when clearing snow surrounding, or large icicles above, meters and vents. If your meter gets encased in thick ice, please call us.

Ross Richards assembling bindings

Tonya Van Buren sewing

PHOTOS: JUSTIN CASH

food+drink

Shoulder to Shoulder

New chef duo revamps the menu at Shelburne’s Peg & Ter’s

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Scott Como and Derek Robert found out they were both moving to Vermont on a group Zoom call. The two chefs were living in Boston, where they’d met as young cooks during the lead-up to the opening of James Beard Award-nominated chef Matt Jennings’ hotly anticipated home town restaurant, Townsman, in early 2015.

“We worked the line next to each other for a couple of years there, shoulder to shoulder,” Robert said.

They became friends while working long hours, then went their separate ways — Como to cook in North Carolina, Robert at other restaurants in Boston. During the quarantine days of the early pandemic, both were looking for “something with a safety net,” Robert said.

“Restaurants were hard to be in then,” Como added.

Unbeknownst to each other, the two chefs reconnected with Jennings, who had moved to Vermont with his family in 2019 and was then vice president of culi nary at Healthy Living. (Jennings and his wife, Kate, now run Red Barn Kitchen in Charlotte.) Both signed on to help develop Healthy Living’s chef-driven prepared

DEREK ROBERT

POSITION: Co-chef AGE: 33

EDUCATION: Trade school and on-the-job training

EXPERIENCE: Restaurants in Boston, including Townsman, and in New York City; lots of butchery and charcuterie work

food brand. On that fateful 2020 Zoom call with a bunch of industry friends, they real ized they’d be moving to the Green Moun tains just weeks apart in August 2020.

After nearly two years at Healthy Living, both chefs felt the itch to return to restaurants. The idea of working together again was initially a joke Robert mentioned

SCOTT COMO

POSITION: Co-chef AGE: 30

EDUCATION: Culinary programs in high school and at Johnson & Wales University

EXPERIENCE: Restaurants in New Hampshire, New York City, North Carolina and the Boston area, including Townsman and Pammy’s; lots of pasta work

WHAT’S ON THE MENU: Slowly simmered pork and beef Bolognese with housemade pappardelle and ricotta; Jasper Hill Farm’s Eligo with crispy carrot, fig jam and pistachio; olive oil cake brushed with carrot juice and topped with fried carrot strings and whipped ginger frosting

in passing, wondering “How cool would it be?” he recalled. But Peg & Ter’s owners Tina and Johnny Helzer liked the idea. Since September, Como and Robert have been co-chefs at the cozy gastropub across the street from Shelburne Museum.

As Robert and Como finalized details of their new, expanded menu on a recent Thursday morning, they spoke with Seven Days about their history of work ing together, what’s on the new menu and what famous duo they most resemble.

Seven Days: It’s an unusual arrange ment to have co-chefs running a kitchen, outside of married couples. Scott Como: You might as well call us a married couple at this point. [ Both laughing]

Co-chefs Derek Robert and Scott Como

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Underground Snax Comes to College Street in Burlington

Snack fiends, rejoice! UNDERGROUND SNAX, a new shop selling rare candy, chips, drinks and other treats, held its grand opening in the former Bento space at 197 College Street in Burlington on Saturday.

The shelves are stocked with more than 340 products, including Japanese Kit Kats and HI-CHEWs, ketchupflavored Lay’s chips from Canada, Mystery Oreos from Thailand, and other specialties from around the world.

It’s the first U.S. shop for the snack biz, which operates stores in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, and sells products internationally online. Owner and Burlington resident DAVE DRISCOLL runs Underground Snax with Canadian busi ness partners TREVOR ANDREW — the artist also known as GucciGhost — EVAN HUMBER and SCOTT DOUCETTE

“I wanted to have one in my home town,” Driscoll told Seven Days. “When I was growing up, we always had candy stores in Burlington. But we haven’t had one in a number of years, so I thought it was something that was missing.”

Driscoll is quick to note that Underground Snax is a “different twist” on traditional candy stores. While the shop stocks nostalgic treats such as old-fashioned candy buttons and bottles of Moxie, the focus is on hard-to-find global sweet and savory snacks and drinks — including ones from across the Canadian border, such as Coffee Crisp chocolate bars and Clearly Canadian sparkling water.

Inventory will rotate constantly, Driscoll said, and the owners will take customer requests.

Driscoll traveled the world during a previous career in global sports marketing, bringing home snacks from Tokyo, Seoul and Europe to share with family and friends. He met Andrew, formerly a professional snowboarder, while working in that industry.

“He came to me with the idea, and we decided to go for it,” Driscoll said.

The bright shop is filled with Andrew’s signature art, from the interior walls and doors to the ghostcovered awning out front.

Trevor Andrew, aka GucciGhost (left), and Dave Driscoll of Underground Snax

COURTESY

OF JESSE LYNN DAWSON

JORDAN BARRY

SD: How do you make it work?

Derek Robert: I don’t think there’s another person that I’d be able to do it with. Chefs always want control, right? But we balance each other out so well. My ideas benefit from his brain, and I feel like his ideas benefit from my brain. We both have tendencies to go off the deep end.

SC: Or off our rocker. It’s the trust, I guess, and dependability from working next to each other for so long in the past. Staffing is still a struggle. To know that through thick and thin we’ll both be here, that’s huge.

SD: How big is the rest of your kitchen team?

DR: One other guy, Jake Vespa. That’s it.

SC: He’s great. It’s hard, because I love teaching, and I think that’s a huge part of the restaurant industry. We were both used to having a big team of cooks in Boston, but everything’s a little bit scaled down here. It’s very rare that the chefs are on the line cooking, but it’s fun for us.

SD: Thinking back to when you met at Townsman, do you remember your first impressions of each other?

DR: [Laughing] The first time we were all in the space together before the restau rant opened, we had this big meeting to introduce ourselves and meet the whole management team.

SC: We were both young, young cooks.

DR: One of the people on the opening team was a bar manager who had been running cocktail programs around the city forever. Scott, being new to Boston, didn’t quite know who he was.

As we’re going through introductions, Scott turns to this very seasoned bar manager and says, “I’m really into craft beer, so if you need any suggestions for the beer list, I can help you out.”

This guy’s face was just like, Who is this kid? And the rest of us were thinking, Who is this kid?

SC: It was not a good first look. I didn’t even realize — it was completely innocent.

SD: How long did it take to live that down?

DR: I still talk about it all the time.

SC: I worked really, really hard to show that I’m a good cook after that.

SD: When did you become friends?

SC: When we started, I was out on the

CHEFS ALWAYS WANT CONTROL, RIGHT?

DEREK ROBERT

line on sauté, and Derek was working the entremetier station — basically quick sides and little hot dishes — in the back around the corner. We didn’t really talk. I’d be in service and see these beautiful, dainty dishes coming out of the back. Imagining Derek, I just didn’t see that coming.

Eventually, he got shifted up front, and, once that happened, we were on all the busiest days together, cleaning until two or three in the morning and then going out or getting Chinese food.

SD: Since you’re such a good duo, are there any famous duos that you relate to?

DR: [Immediately] Dumb and Dumber.

SC: He’s so right. We try not to take ourselves too seriously.

SD: But your food is pretty serious! I’m a big fan of the delicata squash rings with za’atar and the charred broccoli

Caesar. How do you describe what you’re doing here at Peg & Ter’s?

SC: Being in the kitchen is about having fun. But we agree that technique is really the most important thing to us in cooking. Even if things are simple, we’re using skills we’ve learned from the great chefs we’ve worked for to accentuate flavor and texture.

DR: It took me a really long time to learn restraint. But especially being in Vermont, the food already tastes good. You just need to handle it nicely and do simple little things to it. That makes it a hell of a lot easier than trying to transform everything into something unrecognizable.

SD: How does that translate to the new menu you’re launching?

SC: We just added a dish that’s labeled “avocado toast.” It’s basically toad-in-thehole, a traditional breakfast treat for chil dren. You toast bread, cut a hole in it, flip it over, fry an egg in the center. In this case,

we’re grilling avocados on the side, tossing them in lime juice and olive oil and plat ing them on top. Then, we take tuna that Derek cured over the past few months and grate it over the top using a katsuobushi box — “tuna ham” is probably the easiest way for people to understand it.

So it’s breakfast, right? It’s light, not over done. When it comes to your table, it might not be exactly what you expected. But when you put it in your mouth, it makes sense. With this new menu — and in the future — we want to make food that makes people feel comfortable, but a little different. Something that kind of makes you think.

DR: The Bolognese is a perfect example of what we’re talking about, too. Everybody’s had a bowl of Bolognese. There’s nothing more approachable in the world, to me. We’re cooking it long, low and slow — it was on the stove for eight or nine hours yester day, just cooking through service. And we’re making fresh pasta and ricotta in-house. Just trying to show them a little technique.

SD: Everyone’s been posting their year-end Spotify Wrapped lists this week. What music are you listening to on repeat in the kitchen?

DR: That depends on who gets there first. I grew up on punk and hardcore, so that’s where I lean. But I try not to put it on all day because I know it’s an acquired taste.

SC: I’ve acquired it. It’s good! It’s one of those things where the more you listen, the more you understand. And the more you understand, the more you enjoy.

SD: What’s your go-to meal on a day off?

SC: Can I speak for both of us?

DR: Go for it.

SC: Derek and I have almost a fixation with just classic food. We went on an adventure near where he grew up in Massachusetts, and he brought me to the absolute best doughnut shop, Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts. We gorged ourselves. Then we went to this place called the Summer House and got flat-patty burgers. Then we went to the old-school Italian Balboni [Bakery], which reminded me of where I grew up in New Jersey. Those are the things that get us jazzed.

DR: We both have love for the entire spec trum of food. m

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

Peg & Ter’s, 5573 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, 489-5390, pegandters.com

Peg & Ter’s Bolognese with housemade pappardelle and ricotta

Peg & Ter’s avocado toast

PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP

Two Couples to Open Nagueños Filipino American Diner in Essex Junction

Heart n Soul by MARK BBQ left a hole in Essex Junction when the restaurant closed earlier this year. But its former space won’t be empty for long. This month, NAGUEÑOS FILIPINO AMERICAN DINER will open at 34 Park Street, Suite 8 — with plenty of heart and soul.

Married couples JERRYMAY and PAUL LOPEZ and EMMA and JR PEREZ plan to open their new restaurant on Wednesday, December 14. The menu will feature Filipino specialties and classic American dishes, all made using local ingredients.

“We want to give the people goodquality food with a twist of our Filipino culture,” JR told Seven Days

Diners can expect traditional dishes such as turon, a snack made with banana and jackfruit in a fried spring roll wrap per; Bicol Express, a spicy pork stew; palabok, stir-fried rice noodles in garlic and shrimp sauce; tortang talong, grilled eggplant dipped in egg and panfried; and Bacolod chicken inasal, a dish from Jerrymay’s native city.

“We want to show people in Vermont that we can make these dishes using the local products,” Paul said.

“And we want to make our own signature dishes to represent ourselves,” JR added.

The American side of the menu will feature burgers with a housemade

seasoning mix, New England clam chowder and classic breakfast foods.

JR and Paul are both from Naga City, Philippines; the restaurant’s name is a reference to their hometown. The two chefs came to the U.S. to work in restaurants: Paul at the LODGE AT SPRUCE PEAK in Stowe and JR as a chef-trainee at the HILTON BURLINGTON LAKE CHAMPLAIN and, later, at Burlington’s KISMAYO KITCHEN JR, Paul and Jerrymay all hold degrees in hotel and restaurant manage ment from the Philippines; Emma, who is from upstate New York and came to Burlington to attend the University of Vermont, has a background in small business.

The couples will work together to run Nagueños, offering lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday and breakfast on the weekend. m

CONNECT

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On Instagram: Seven Days: @7deatsvt; Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

Turon from Nagueños Filipino American Diner

From left: JR Perez, Áine Perez, Emma Perez, Jerrymay Lopez and Paul Lopez of Nagueños Filipino American Diner

Tortang talong

Harvests of Home

Vermont Foodbank project supports local farmers in producing African corn and halal chicken

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Asteady stream of people flowed into the first-floor community room in Burlington’s O.N.E. Community Center on the after noon of November 17. Many women wore headscarves and long, colorful skirts; one had a baby tied snugly on her back. Conviv ial chatter in several languages filled the air.

Andrea Solazzo, director of commu nity engagement at the Vermont Food bank, greeted arrivals. “How many in your family?” Solazzo asked each of them, offer ing one or two cloth shopping bags based on the response.

From several tables, people picked up frozen chickens, fresh vegetables and apples, and brown paper bags with stickers describ ing their contents: dried African cornmeal grown by Janine Ndagijimana in Colches ter and milled by Vermont Bean Crafters in Warren.

Sandwich boards in front of the commu nity center specified that the chicken was

halal, slaughtered according to Islamic law. The birds were raised in Colchester by Théogène Mahoro and his wife, Hyacinthe Mahoro Ayingeneye, and processed by Maple Wind Farm in Richmond under the supervision of imam Islam Hassan of the Islamic Society of Vermont.

The goal of the Foodbank-led project was to support Vermont farmers in rais ing staple foods that are culturally impor tant to specific communities but are not yet produced locally at scale. Over the past year, Solazzo said, the Foodbank has purchased certified halal chicken from Maine to distribute statewide. African corn, tradition ally eaten multiple times a day, had only been available imported from overseas or grown in personal garden plots.

Almost 400 Vermont-grown halal chick ens and 160 three-pound bags of cornmeal were distributed at the November 17 event.

Another 400 chickens went to families in central and southern Vermont, including

refugees from Afghanistan. More cornmeal will be distributed in January.

Lal Pradhan, 43, of Burlington was pick ing up food for his family of six. He’s origi nally from Bhutan and came to Vermont in 2012.

Informed by his past work as a Burlington School District multicultural liaison, Prad han said his community will benefit from the food distribution. “Winter is coming, and for most of the families, it is harder to go out shopping due to lack of transport and money,” he said. “Without a doubt, this is very helpful.”

The effort, Solazzo later explained, has involved a broad network collaborating on outreach, processing and distribution. A $60,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Assistance Coopera tive Agreement Program grant implemented by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets “gave us the opportunity to explore this as a special project and to

partner with small farmers,” Solazzo said. She hopes the project has laid the ground work for future similar efforts.

By phone, Hassan of the Islamic Soci ety of Vermont said he was glad to help: “It is always good to have halal meat available for our community.” Friday services draw almost 300 people of diverse backgrounds to the South Burlington mosque, he said, and many would welcome a steady supply of local halal chicken.

“We need that same amount every single week,” Hassan said. While the free food was valuable to some, “We’re happy to purchase the chicken,” he added.

Alisha Laramee was at the distribution event, presiding over a display of different corn grind levels to survey people’s pref erences. She runs the New Farms for New Americans program for AALV, a Burlington nonprofit that serves refugees and immi grants and is a project collaborator.

Laramee sees great local interest in

Théogène Mahoro and Hyacinthe Mahoro Ayingeneye feeding their chickens

African corn, which is eaten roasted fresh or cooked into several types of porridge by people who are originally from Africa or Bhutan. She had already started saving seed and seeking a farmer to raise the corn at scale when “one winter day, [Ndagijimana] walked into my office,” Laramee said. “I explained my idea, and she said, of course, ‘I will grow the corn.’”

During an early October visit to her Colchester farm, Ndagijimana proudly showed off her corn harvest drying in a hoop house. The 40-year-old was born in Rwanda to refugees from Burundi and has lived in Vermont for 15 years. Since 2015, Ndagijimana has built what she said is the largest African eggplant farm in the U.S., producing about 24,000 pounds this year and shipping to as far away as Utah.

Corn is a new opportunity, Ndagijimana explained through an interpreter. “People love it. We eat this flour for all our life,” she said.

From her 2,300-pound 2022 harvest, she is saving many pounds to seed next year’s crop. “Now, I have a market,” Ndagi jimana said happily, referring to the Food bank project, which she hopes will continue for the 2023 growing season in some form.

On that same October day, Mahoro, 47, and Mahoro Ayingeneye, 54, were feeding chickens at the Vermont Land Trust-owned Pine Island Community Farm, where they have lived and farmed since 2013. Origi nally refugees from Rwanda, the couple raise 5,000 to 6,000 birds annually and have saved enough to buy their own small farm in Williston.

Many individual customers come to Mahoro and Mahoro Ayingeneye’s opera tion to select chickens live and do their own halal slaughter on-site. But for the Food bank project, Mahoro said, Maple Wind Farm picked up the 800 birds to slaugh ter in Richmond. That efficiency and the guaranteed income helped the couple offset skyrocketing feed costs, he said.

Picking up food on November 17, Samuel Dingba, 28, of Burlington was excited to learn that people he knew had grown the corn and chicken. Local farmers “care about what they are growing and what people are eating,” he said.

“We are people who share the same culture,” he added. m

INFO

Learn more at vtfoodbank.org.

Janine Ndagijimana with her

African corn harvest in Colchester

African corn grown in Colchester

culture TIPS for You

Last Friday night, I was one of 25 people awarded a TIPS certificate of achievement, which certifies that I completed Level 1 training in Time, Infinity, Portal and Space. My fellow TIPSters and I received our diplomas in the basement of 208 Flynn Avenue in Burlington’s South End. I’m pretty sure my trainers would say it’s OK for me to call my hot-pink printed certificate a diploma. After all, they encouraged us to take risks, to be creative, and even to find new ways of perceiving and understanding.

The awards ceremony was the conclusion of an original theater piece, “TIPS: A Guide to Everywhere & the Rest,” that was conceived, created and performed by four local teenagers. And I mean original.

The students, ages 14 to 18, created the show through Epoch Generation, an afterschool program of In Tandem Arts, a Burlington-based nonprofit whose artistic director is arts educator Trish Denton.

Starting from scratch with no script, costumes or set, the ensemble developed a

project that explores the nature of creativity and collaboration, of imagination and possibility. The immersive theater piece invited audience members to consider those themes, too. If that seems like a lot to take in on a Friday night, relax: The

Teens create immersive theater piece in Burlington

BY SALLY POLLAK • sally@sevendaysvt.com

— but none had ever devised a work from its inception.

The ensemble led its audience into several rooms in the Flynn Avenue building, where we watched smaller performances that formed parts of the larger

Our travels were aided by a bag of goodies we received at the start of the show, a tool kit for realm jumping. The burlap bag held a collection of essentials, including a Tootsie Roll, a pen and a slab of clay. At one point, we were instructed to make a “totem of gratitude.”

I fished out my piece of clay, which happened to be red, and formed it into the shape of a heart. As I worked, Space walked past me and glanced at my e ort. I’m pretty sure I heard her say quietly, “I want to see more creativity than a heart.”

SHANNON ROSE KELLY

performers welcomed audience members and led them on their quest with warmth, generosity and humor.

The TIPS ensemble consisted of Shannon Rose Kelly (Time), a first-year student at the Community College of Vermont; Ella Stadecker (Infinity), a first-year student at Burlington High School; Mathieu Munaba (Portal), a junior at Winooski High School; and Dilly Siki (Space), a senior at Winooski High School. Each brought their own theater or performance experience to the project — including playwriting and ballet

piece. Besides moving to di erent settings during the performance, we also traveled to various “realms.” Or, in TIPS parlance, we went “realm jumping.”

The realms we visited included a machine realm, an outer realm and a rest realm, where we stopped for tea and reflection. (Recall the name of the play: “A Guide to Everywhere & the Rest.”) I’m not sure which realm I was in when we watched young aerialists join the show for one scene to perform with Infinity under a moony glow. But I wanted to stay in that one.

Yikes! I found a sparkly blue pipe cleaner in my bag, twisted it into a hook and made a supremely uncreative Christmas tree ornament. (Still, I got my diploma.)

The interactions between the ensemble and the audience, and the ones that the cast encouraged among audience members, made for the most interesting moments in the piece.

For example, Time seemed to intuit, correctly, that Friday was the birthday of an audience member named Margaret. (We all wore name tags.) Then she picked out another woman from the audience who

Ella Stadecker

PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

cheerfully sang Margaret a short birthday song.

As Time said in a Q&A session after the show, the ensemble wanted “the audience to form a connection with us or the show or other audience members. We wanted to have a strong piece that would pull people together.”

The TIPS performers achieved this effect in an organic way that felt almost mystical — while demonstrating a substantial amount of creative work.

We received our diplomas in a space called “the well.” As we descended into it, we each crumpled up a letter we had writ ten to our future selves and dropped it into a piece of a fabric that represented a wish ing well. I stole the core of my message to myself from an audience member named Janky, who, earlier in the show, had been asked to describe his dream day. Though only I knew of this pilfering, I sensed that similar connections were playing out else where in the theater piece. It seemed to me that Time, Infinity, Portal and Space made that possible.

Denton of In Tandem Arts said her role in the production was to provide space and guidance for the teens, who are natu rals at “breaking from traditional narra tives.” At a rehearsal a couple of weeks before the show, she told Seven Days that making this kind of theater piece can be a risky proposition.

“This is why people don’t make origi nal work,” Denton said. “It’s far more risky, because you push right up against what’s possible. But I think it’s far more meaningful.” m

Epoch Generation will host a new afterschool theater project for teenagers in February. Learn more at intandemarts.com.

Mathieu Munaba

Trish Denton

Shannon Rose Kelly

Conductor Anthony Parnther will fly from Los Angeles to Vermont this weekend to lead the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Holiday Pops” concerts. It’s not a visit to ignore, given the scale and sheer range of his work. One of the very few Black conductors in the U.S., Parnther could be the most widely experienced conductor on the scene today.

In addition to being music director of two LA-area orchestras — the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra and Southeast Symphony — Parnther regularly leads the Hollywood Studio Symphony in recording sessions for internationally released films, from Tenet to Encanto. He plays with the latter group, too; his bassoon can be heard in such movies as Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker Parnther often leads major orchestras in performances of those film scores, includ ing John Williams’ Harry Potter series scores and Ludwig Göransson’s score for Black Panther. A guest conductor with 20 orchestras a year, he crafts classical concert programs that champion the work of minority and women composers such as Florence Price and William Grant Still, alongside works by Ludwig van Beethoven and tone poems by Richard Strauss. He has conducted everyone from Frederica von Stade to Snoop Dogg in concert.

Parnther also works on a scale greater than most conductors can imagine, regu larly leading 100-piece orchestras and giant choirs in the opening ceremonies of League of Legends finals tournaments at huge venues in Barcelona, Seoul, Beijing and LA. The concerts draw between 20,000 and 60,000 fans of the video game, and millions more view them online.

When Seven Days reached Parnther on a recent late-night phone call, he had just finished conducting a studio record ing session for the third season of “The Mandalorian.” In a remarkably sonorous voice — he is also a bass who has sung opera — he explained his conducting philosophy.

“There’s not one particular genre that’s more important than another to me. It’s Beethoven one day, Beyoncé the next,” said Parnther, who studied music performance at Northwestern University and earned a master’s in orchestral conducting at Yale University.

“What’s important is the orchestra,” he continued. “Orchestral music branches into every genre. I just love putting on a great show, whether it’s a film concert or Mahler’s Second Symphony.”

A year ago he conducted the San Bernardino Symphony performance of Strauss’ tone poem Don Juan. In April,

Festive Flair

A guest conductor with worldwide acclaim helms the VSO’s “Holiday Pops” concerts

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

CLASSICAL MUSIC

he led the premiere of new work from Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste with the Gateways Music Festival orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

What brings Parnther to the VSO on one of his annual guest-conducting gigs?

“I thought it would be interesting to leave my sunny residence,” the conductor joked. Though he only “passed through” Vermont once, years ago, he lived for a decade in New York City and endured several brutal Chicago winters. So he is prepared for the cold, he promised.

VSO executive director Elise Brunelle wrote in an email that, in trying to find a

guest conductor who wasn’t participat ing in the organization’s ongoing musicdirector search, she consulted with other League of American Orchestras members for suggestions.

“Anthony was recommended, and he comes from an incredibly diverse and unique conducting world,” she wrote.

At the Pops concerts in Barre, Burl ington and Rutland, Parnther will conduct many holiday favorites but open with “Christmas Overture” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Parnther champions the work of the Black English composer, who lived from 1875 to 1912. He was “a

phenomenal composer,” the conductor said.

Parnther made Coleridge-Taylor’s “Ballade in A Minor, Op. 33” a centerpiece of the opening concert he conducted in 2018 in the newly refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall in the Southbank Centre in London. In attendance was ColeridgeTaylor’s great-great-grandson and his son, who have remained in contact with Parnther ever since, the conductor said.

At the same London concert, Parnther conducted Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony. A Guardian review noted that the work’s “high voltage interpretation ... maintained a fine balance between detail and elan,” and its finale was “edge-of-your-seat stuff.”

STORIES.

ANTHONY PARNTHER

Parnther is as enthusiastic about the “Jingle Bells Fantasie” he has chosen for the VSO concerts as he is about the Coleridge-Taylor. The former was arranged by Carmen Dragon, a 20th-century Hollywood conductor, composer and orchestrator.

Dragon is “known for taking simple tunes and orchestrating them into these very colorful and vivid works, almost like Strauss,” Parnther said. “This [‘Jingle Bells’] is a really gorgeous and entertaining rendition.”

“It’s a holiday concert,” he added. “You want people to be singing the tunes when they get back in their cars.”

They’ll also learn something about each piece. Parnther is known for skipping program notes in favor of talking directly to audiences.

“It’s really important for the conductor to provide perspective on why we’re doing this,” he explained. “How can someone go onstage and take a bow and start conduct ing with no interaction with the crowd? That feels inappropriate to me. I have a deep belief in audience engagement.

“I like to bring a lot of energy and stories,” Parnther continued. “It’s going to be fun.” m

INFO

Vermont Symphony Orchestra: “Holiday Pops”: Friday, December 9, 7:30 p.m., at the Barre Opera House. $10-30. Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Flynn in Burlington. $8.3554.23. Sunday, December 11, 3 p.m., at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland. $12-36.

I LIKE TO BRING A LOT OF ENERGY AND

Anthony Parnther

COURTESY OF TOM PEASE

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FILM

Street Sense

BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN • sgoldstein@sevendaysvt.com

Taking advantage of a perfect fall morning, Gerry Malavenda set out from his Williston home for a bicycle ride on October 15. Shortly after noon, as he rode along Hinesburg Road in South Burlington, Malavenda, 65, was struck by a car and killed. Two days later, 60-year-old Nathan Miner of Shelburne died from injuries he’d suffered five days earlier when he was hit by a car as he walked on Shelburne Road.

With its picturesque back roads and relatively light traffic, Vermont may seem like a safe haven for bicyclists, pedestrians and runners. The reality is starkly different. Law enforcement offi cers report an average of 70 to 80 major crashes involving bicyclists each year, according to the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance.

So-called “vehicle violence” is the subject of a new documentary by Emmywinning filmmaker Jennifer Boyd called The Street Project . It aims to mobilize support for road design that increases safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Burlington bike shop the Old Spokes Home hosts a free screening this Thurs day, December 8.

The film, edited by Chad Ervin of Montpelier, spotlights the movement to reverse the decades-old trend of design ing roads to accommodate cars. Studies have shown that traffic engineering improvements can reduce pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.

Protected bicycle lanes are the most emblematic — and controversial — element of so-called “complete streets.” Some cities have also introduced pauses or phases in traffic signals to stagger the starts of bicyclists and pedestrians, creat ing separation from vehicles. Trafficcalming devices such as speed tables or bumps and small rotaries are becoming more common. And then there’s the obvi ous: lowering speed limits.

In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians and 938 bicy clists were killed in motor vehicle crashes on public roadways in the U.S., and nearly 55,000 pedestrians and 39,000 bicyclists were injured, according to the U.S. Depart ment of Transportation. Pedestrians

comprised about 17 percent of all crash deaths in 2020, and bicyclists made up an additional 2.4 percent.

From 2010 through 2021, there were seven bike fatalities from car crashes in Vermont but 821 injuries, according to data provided by the Vermont Agency of Transportation. This does not reflect the significant number of less serious colli sions that occur on a more frequent basis.

According to the League of American Bicyclists, the number of people commut ing by bicycle in Vermont has increased by 70 to 100 percent since 2005. In 2017, Burlington launched planBTV, a multiproject effort to improve conditions for biking and walking in the Queen City.

The Agency of Transportation adopted a statewide advisory plan for bicyclists and pedestrians in 2021.

Boyd’s film focuses on the good, the bad and the ugly of similar efforts in cities around the U.S. Well, really the bad and the ugly. Take Phoenix, for example, where crosswalks merely serve to line up targets for oblivious drivers. The film shows fright ened pedestrians frozen in crosswalks as cars whiz past them. New York City fares somewhat better, according to Boyd, as public advocacy has advanced what she calls the “democratization of street design.”

Seven Days recently spoke with Boyd, a Connecticut resident who works out of the Space on Main in Bradford, five minutes from her second home in West Fairlee. She recalled an incident in spring 2021 when a car narrowly missed Boyd and her mother-in-law as they crossed the street in front of August First in Burlington. That near-miss made an impression on Boyd as she researched efforts to make communities safer.

SEVEN DAYS: What sparked your interest in making this film?

JENNIFER BOYD: It began as an investigation into distracted driving and walking. I finally realized that the real story isn’t people wandering into the street, staring at their phones. Over time it became this project about all sorts of other things: a global grassroots movement about street design, transportation equity and democratic streets.

SD: You’ve stated that you’re afraid to bike in Vermont. Please explain.

JB: There’s a variety of vehicles that are so much larger than a human on a bike. Drivers might not be expecting to see me. If there are safe divisions [for bikes], biking just becomes a safer and more likely experience for me.

Every year now, I see more and more people biking in Vermont — and walking on really busy roads that don’t even have sidewalks.

SD: Why is there opposition to dedi cated bike lanes?

JB: Opponents usually cite the cost and the effect on parking. Yes, you’re going to lose some parking. But you’re going to increase the [number] of people potentially that can flow down your street, which is important as we prepare for future growth in our cities.

As for cost, it’s been shown that creating bike infrastructure and better pedestrian infrastructure is actually far cheaper than building out roads, repairing them, creat ing bridges, etc.

SD: Have you found ways to improve crosswalks or otherwise make street crossings safer for walkers?

JB: What I have learned from others

JENNIFER BOYD

COURT E S Y O F J NAHTANO NOSLO

A scene from The Street Project being filmed in New York

who are experts is that, for example, jaywalking may actually be the safest way for a pedestrian to cross the street. When you think about it, if you’re at a corner you have to look across over your shoulder — let’s say on the left — you have to look across the street diagonally, and then you have to look on the right.

Narrower streets and slower speeds also make a huge difference.

SD: In what way did the pandemic actually benefit efforts to make streets safer?

JB: More and more people were using bikes for transportation, as well as exercise. I think that it very clearly helped us understand that we could redesign to meet the needs of a community. We were able to change our streets without proposed legislation and discussion and a lengthy year, two-year, three-year period of study.

Overnight, communities were able to change the streets to meet their needs.

SD: What’s been the public’s reaction to the film thus far?

JB: In September, we started what we’re calling our impact, or outreach, campaign. Even during this ramp-up period, [the film] has kind of exploded, and it has distribution on PBS and Amazon. But what I’m really excited about is that grassroots organizations are able to use it as a tool to help them do the good work that they’re already doing. m

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

The Street Project screens on Thursday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., at Old Spokes Home in Burlington. Free. thestreetproject.com

A protest for safe streets in Philadelphia in 1969

A protest for safe streets in Philadelphia in 1969

culture

In November, artists Jennifer Koch and Gregg Blasdel celebrated 17 years of matrimony and 30 years as a couple.

They both produce art independently and have been collaborating on prints since 2004. Their Burlington home is a maximalist dream, with colorful collections of work by artists from across the country. Jennifer owns and runs a frame shop, next to their house, called Frames for You and Mona Lisa Too. Gregg is a scholar and was a professor of art for nearly 30 years. In 1968, he published a seminal article in Art in America about grassroots, or self-taught, artists, and he has spent his life documenting them.

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger knows the couple well because she is their neighbor and friend. She has visited them many times and spent a recent Sunday afternoon in their studio, watching the twosome print proofs of their collaborative works, called “Marriages of Reason.”

Jennifer and Gregg’s works are on view at the new new art studio in Burlington from Wednesday, December 7, through Saturday, December 17, and also fill their guesthouse, a B&B.

Unstuck: Episode Extras With Eva

SEVEN DAYS:

EVA SOLLBERGER: I met Jennifer and Gregg about five years ago. They were admiring my cats, and we became friends. When I started building an accessory dwelling unit, I began talking to them about turning it into a short-term rental. They have had a B&B for 12 years and were a great resource. Since then, we have become good friends and have shared many meals. I love visiting their home because it’s filled with interesting works of art and they are always in the midst of new projects. They were in my pandemic pod with my mom, so we hung out during that isolating time.

As well as I thought I knew them, I learned a lot more through making this video. I didn’t realize that Gregg is a pioneer in the field of outsider [or grassroots] art. He is humble and doesn’t talk about that sort of thing. I relished learning more about them, and they got to see me at work, being super nosy and asking tons of questions.

SD: Why did you want to feature them?

ES: Jennifer and Gregg are so incredibly interesting. Every inch of their space is

filled with art and unusual bits and bobs. I often think of myself as a gleaner when I shoot because I’m trying to capture bits of everything. Of course, the video isn’t long enough to include footage of all their magical curated environments, so you probably see about 5 percent in the final cut.

They’ve both led such rich artistic lives as individuals, and then they combine their talents in collaborations. I thought it would be fascinating to talk to a couple about how they navigate the act of creating together. They are a very harmonious couple, and they make their work look easy. It is not. I was surprised by how complex and detailoriented the printmaking is. Just spending time with them in their spaces while they work is a treat. I thought other people might want to get a glimpse into their world.

SD: What was up with those Life and Death Rattles?

ES: One of Gregg’s many creations is a set of rattles made of colorful, elaborate wood shapes. Each one makes a different sound, and they are very satisfying to shake. When I was visiting one day, he showed me his growing collection. I was so impressed by them that I resolved to try to document them in a video.

SD: Is it hard making a video about your friends?

ES: It’s always nerve-racking to make a video about people you know because, if you screw it up, you could risk damaging your friendship. This is also a complex story to tell because I wanted to cover their collaborative work, their independent work and Gregg’s role as a pioneer documenting outsider art. So I rearranged the pieces many times before I found the right flow. The editing process reminded me of Jennifer and Gregg’s work, which takes lots of patience and hard work to get right.

Luckily, my neighbors are still talking to me after watching the video!

SD: ose drawings that Jennifer framed for you looked familiar.

ES: I was so excited to finally frame two drawings by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. She was generous enough to play the Great and Powerful Cartoonist of Vermont, an important character in “The 500th Stuck in Vermont,” which was also a musical inspired by The Wizard of Oz . Alison drew those during the video, and I was so happy to be able to keep them. I’m a huge fan of Alison’s work, and it motivates me. When I’m editing a di cult video like this one, I glance up at these drawings every now and again for inspiration. Jennifer did an amazing job framing them!

SD: Jennifer and Greg seem very in sync.

ES: I am forever single, so it’s really nice to spend time with a happy couple who really enjoy doing things together. They are great cooks, bake a tasty banana bread and make delicious feasts. They are gardeners, too, and their backyard is a mosaic of flowers and sculptures. They even have a secret handshake they call the “entity handshake,” which I show in the video. They are down-to-earth and tell great stories. Don’t you wish you had neighbors like mine?

INFO

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her awardwinning video series, “Stuck in Vermont,” since 2007. New episodes appear on the Seven Days website every other ursday and air the following night on the WCAX evening news. Sign up at sevendaysvt.com to receive an email alert each time a new one drops. And check these pages every other week for insights on the episodes.

How did you meet your neighbors?

Jennifer Koch and Gregg Blasdel

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Good Impressions

and teacher Susan Smereka shares the joy of printmaking

BY PAMELA POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

If you were a small snippet of paper, your humble life would not be wasted in Susan Smereka’s studio. She would find a use for you. Most likely, you’d be a piece of a hand-pulled monoprint that she had cut up and organized, more or less, in a tray according to color. If you were very lucky, you’d be assembled into an abstract collage or maybe an artist book, and the artist might consecrate you with stitches.

Smereka, who lives in Colchester, makes all these things in her Burlington studio. She also teaches others how to make them — prints, collages, books, cards and other paper-based arts. “My passion is doing monotypes, but I also teach dry point and linocut,” she said during a studio visit. “I get a few other people in here to teach, too.”

Smereka and her partner, sculptor Kevin Donegan, established their shared space at 4 Howard Street in July 2020 and named it new new art studio — lower case intentional. The name is an oblique nod to now-closed New City Galerie in downtown Burlington, where the two first met. Initially Smereka was teaching at other locations, including Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction and at Burlington City Arts, as well as teaching art and humanities for Home Base, a Queen City social services organization for developmentally disabled adults.

About a year ago, the couple decided to rebrand their space with a new logo and new sign outside the door.

“The name is integral to a place,” Smereka said. “In part it’s being able to tell people where to go — this is a confusing building.”

A sturdy metal printing press, with a 2-by-4-foot press bed, commands attention in the center of Smereka’s side of the studio; worktables, flat files and a sewing machine table surround it, fortress-like. To one side, shelves hold inks in myriad colors, and brayers — handheld tools for rolling ink onto a printing plate — hang from a pegboard.

Smereka said she picked up her handbuilt, secondhand press just as COVID-19 arrived — that is, the week the governor shut down almost everything in Vermont. The timing was fortuitous: At least the artist could spend the pandemic isolation period printing to her heart’s content.

In September 2021, Smereka began

ADY DOOMAN

offering workshops at new new art studio. Now, she’s teaching roughly nine hours a week, plus occasional weekend intensives. That does not include the time required to run the enterprise in her own space. “There’s a lot of preparation in owning a small business and marketing,” she said. “I’ve just about got 2023 [classes] ready, so I can start thinking about my own work again.”

Smereka’s students come with varying degrees of printmaking know-how — including none — but uniformly praise her workshops and teaching style.

“Susan helps shape an idea or goal into a day of serendipitous creativity,” wrote Burlington artist Ady Dooman by email. “She is a productive artist who is also a gifted educator. She teaches with joy and patience.”

Dooman had no prior printmaking experience when she signed up for a monoprinting class. Since then, she wrote, “I’ve enjoyed a card-making workshop and several days of open-studio time in new new art studio. Art students benefit not

only from Susan’s instruction but also from observation of her works in progress.”

Jim Forbes, also of Burlington, was primarily a painter before taking an intro to printmaking class from Smereka last winter. He noted that he appreciated her participation as a maker. “Susan works right alongside you on her own pieces as a way to gently demonstrate her process,” he wrote. “It was a great hands-on experience. She threw us right into ‘doing’ and was good at sharing and explaining as questions arose.”

For her part, Smereka gets something in return from her students. “Even though I’ve taught the same class over and over, I always learn something new — techniques or ways of doing things I hadn’t thought of before,” she said.

Smereka herself didn’t come to printmaking or even to art as a profession right away. She enjoyed “doing little projects” as a child, she said, and art was her best subject in school. But, she explained, “I came from a family of scientists and

mathematicians. I always thought I should find something other than art.”

Born in suburban Toronto to an American mother, she has dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship, a status that perhaps contributed to her wanderlust in younger years. She traveled to Southeast Asia, India, the Philippines, Thailand and around Europe. “I started riding my bike in France and Canada,” she said. Eventually, she settled long enough to finish a BFA at Concordia University in Montréal.

A relationship brought Smereka to Vermont, and she lived in several towns around the state before landing in Burlington. “I thought about leaving Vermont a couple of times, but it’s an amazing place,” she said. “I like the landscape, the mountains. And I love Burlington. I’ve been here 10 years.”

Smereka had focused on painting and drawing at Concordia and used the woodshop for certain projects. “So, I was always exploring other media,” she said. “When I came to printmaking, I was

Artist

Susan Smereka

PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

living in Rochester [Vt.], and Two Rivers [Printmaking Studio] opened up. I took a few classes and just found myself there a lot.”

She was drawn to monotype printing for its painterly qualities. “I took other classes there, but the monotype just resonated with me,” she said. “Then they started asking me to teach down there. It was something I just gravitated to.”

Smereka has augmented her own education with residencies or internships at the Vermont Studio Center, the Center for Book Arts in New York City and the San Francisco Center for the Book. Her interest in book art has led her to repurpose vintage volumes, replacing their printed pages with blank ones or using the printed text in her abstract collage pieces and prints.

Her collection of liberated pages is stacked on shelves in her studio. “I just love the color of old book pages,” Smereka said. “I have a hard time throwing that stuff away.”

During the early pandemic months, she began to clean up the studio, “finding all this accumulation.” For example, she turned up scraps of fabric from old shirts used in previous projects. “Soon after that, I started making little pieces,” Smereka said of her mixed-media assemblages, which often incorporate sewing. “I never thought I’d be a collage artist, but here we are.”

Teaching her craft to others “has been really rewarding because I love coming to the studio, and now it’s what I do,” she said. “It changes my thinking, my way of being; I’m now professional at this. I’m incredibly blessed and happy that it’s working.” m

INFO

“Local

Press,” an exhibition of prints by Susan Smereka, Gregg Blasdel, Jennifer Koch, Elise Whittemore, Katie Loesel and Hillary Love Glass, opens on Wednesday, December 7, 5

NEW THIS WEEK

burlington

f ‘LOCAL PRESS’: An exhibition of new hand-pulled prints by Gregg Blasdel, Jennifer Koch, Katie Loesel, Hillary Love Glass, Susan Smereka and Elise Whittemore. Suite 1-17. Reception: Wednesday, December 7, 5-8 p.m. December 7-17. Info, 373-7096. 4 Howard Street in Burlington.

f ‘UNCONSCIOUS IMAGINATION’: A dream-themed group exhibit in a variety of mediums by students Rachel Alberti, Carly Downes, Shiloh Elfman, Rosalea Hearthstone, Alia Hutchins, Jaime Klingsberg, Elizabeth Marando, Matthew Payne, Sabrina Small, Delia Williams and Alex Woessner. Stair Nook Gallery. Reception: Monday, December 12, 4-5:30 p.m. December 12-16. Info, 865-8980. Champlain College Art Gallery in Burlington.

f VANESSA COMPTON: “Come to Marlboro Country,” a solo exhibition of mixed-media collages that explore the challenges of reconciling personal narratives with collective histories of privilege, colonialism and racism. Reception: Thursday, December 8, 5:30-8 p.m. December 8-January 21. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington.

stowe/smuggs

f ANDREA PEARLMAN: “Two Thousand Light Years From Home,” abstract oil paintings, drawings and hooked rugs that express plastic space, volume and movement. Reception: Wednesday, December 7, 7 p.m. December 7-January 26. Info, 635-2727. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson.

middlebury area

f FROBERTAN (FRAN BULL AND ROBERT BLACK): “We’re All at a Party Called Life on Earth,” a carnivalesque art installation of painted sculptures that celebrates humanity, harmony and diversity. Reception: Friday, December 9, 5-7 p.m. December 9-February 18. Info, 382-9222. Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, in Middlebury.

ART EVENTS

52 KIDS FOUNDATION BENEFIT: A holiday party with fine art and crafts on display and for sale to aid the Uganda-based nonprofit. TruexCullins Architecture & Interior Design, Burlington, Thursday, December 8, 5-8 p.m. Info, rkielman@truexcullins.com.

ARTIST & CURATOR CONVERSATION: JUDITH KLAUSNER AND SARAH FREEMAN: The artist and curator discuss “(de)composed,” an exhibit of meticulously crafted versions of items com monly thought of as ruined, made with a type of clay typically considered a children’s craft product. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Friday, December 9, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124.

BTV WINTER MARKET: A European-style outdoor market featuring a rotating group of 20 local artists, makers and food vendors. Burlington City Hall Park, Friday, December 9, and Saturday, December 10, noon-6 p.m.; and Sunday, December 11, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AND STUDIO SALE: The artist presents her paintings, drawings and “feral stitching” works on fabric, along with snacks and stories about a recent Magicians Without Borders trip to Ukraine. Janet Fredericks Studio, Lincoln, Saturday, December 10, and Sunday, December 11, noon-4 p.m. Info, janetfredericks@gmavt.net.

HOLIDAY POP-UP ART SALE: Photographs, cyanotypes and photographic objects, large and small, capturing the beauty of the Winooski River. PHarrigan Fine Arts, Burlington, Friday, December 9, and Saturday, December 10, noon-5 p.m. Info, 495-6064.

‘Celebrate’

Just about every art venue in Vermont puts on group holiday shows this time of year, and Studio Place Arts is no exception. But the Barre arts center surely hosts one of the largest. From A to Z — Mary Admasian to John Zaso — a whopping 71 artists are represented.

Executive director Sue Higby couldn’t say how many items are in the show, which is titled “Celebrate,” as each artist contributes multiple works and often replaces ones that sell. She counted 18 printed pages of labels, with 14 per sheet, and that’s just for the wall-hung pieces. “When you add up the tiny stuff,” Higby said, “it’s innumerable.”

Among the smalls are petite pots and figurative sculptures, handcrafted ornaments, jewelry, felted bags, wee knitted stockings, ceramic magnets in shapes from a paw print to a pig to a bluebird, and woodblock-printed cards. There are even catnip-stuffed toys designed to put the ho ho ho in your kitty’s holidays.

The walls on all three floors of Studio Place Arts are adorned with an abundance of paintings, prints, photographs, textile works, wood assemblages, collages and more. Higby noted that many artists who

typically work in larger formats created small pieces for this show, with gift givers and burgeoning collectors in mind.

“Celebrate” is a sensory overload — in a good way — but it’s not actually the largest holiday show Studio Place Arts has run since the first in 2000. “It used to be closer to 100 artists,” Higby said. “But 70 or so is more manageable.”

That’s because she and gallery cofounder Janet Van Fleet have to pull it together with Santa-like speed.

“Janet and I curate all the material that is piled up against the wall,” Higby said of the unjuried entries. “After work is dropped off over 48 hours, we spend several hours doing the sort, and then everything goes up in 24 hours. It’s curated on the fly.

“We really give a lot of thought to the relationships of items,” Higby continued. “That’s the unnerving aspect of not knowing what’s coming in ahead of time. But we like to pull out all the stops.”

Sounds like someone could use a couple of elves.

“Celebrate” continues through December 28. Find more info at studioplacearts.com.

‘LEARNING

THROUGH LEDGERS:

HENRY SHELDON AND HIS MUSEUM’: Middlebury College students enrolled in the Vermont Collaborations Public Humanities Lab, taught by associate professor Ellery Foutch, share their methods and process of transcribing an original

Clockwise from top: Painting by Elizabeth Fram; ornament by Kristin Schuyler; painting by Larry Bowling; ceramics by Pamela Wilson

collection donation ledger. Register for Zoom link at henrysheldonmuseum.org. Online, Wednesday, December 7, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Free. Info, 388-2117.

‘MY_MOVIE.MP4’: A video art installation consisting of horrible images and noises in a dark room, by local artist Charlie. The content has been edited together and corrupted, causing visual errors. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, Thursday, December 8, and Friday, December 9, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 202-355-5330.

OPEN STUDIO: Make art alongside other artists, socialize, get feedback and try out new mediums. No experience required; art supplies provided. Hosted by the Howard Center Arts Collective, whose members have experience with mental health and/ or substance-use challenges. ONE Arts Center, Burlington, Monday, December 12, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, artscollective@howardcenter.org.

POP-UP EXHIBITION: “The Beauty of Vermont,” open house and holiday sale of oil landscape paintings by Hunter Eddy. Studio Hunter Eddy, Essex, Saturday, December 10, 1-5 p.m. Info, 871-5845.

VISITING ARTIST TALK: TOM BURCKHARDT: The New York City artist and part-time teacher at SUNY Purchase talks about his painting practice. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Thursday, December 8, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

‘WOMEN IN THE ARCHIVES’: Artists Alexa Frangos, Elaine Luther, xtine, Vicki Scheele and Nancy Bernardo, along with American studies associate professor Ellery Foutch, discuss the representation of women in the Henry Sheldon Museum archives and the role artists can play in drawing out past stories of women’s lives. Register for webinar at henrysheldonmuseum.org. Online, Wednesday, December 14, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 388-2117.

ONGOING SHOWS

burlington

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: Photographs by Greg Nicolai and Caleb Kenna (Main Street Connector, ACC 3); relief monotypes by Erika Lawlor Schmidt (Main Street Connector); acrylic paintings by Sandra Berbeco (McClure 4 and EP2); oil and mixed-media paintings by James Vogler (EP2); and oil paintings by Julia Purinton (BCC). Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through January 23. Info, 865-7296. University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

ART AT THE MALTEX: Paintings by Pievy Polyte, Shannon O’Connell, Nancy Chapman and Ashley MacWalters and photography by Brian Drourr and Robert Fahey. Through April 8. Info, 865-7296. The Maltex Building in Burlington.

ART HOP JURIED SHOW: Artwork by more than 70 artists submitted for competition in the 30th annual South End Art Hop; juried by David Griffin. Through December 10. Info, 859-9222. The Vaults in Burlington.

BILL MCDOWELL: “Roxham Road to North Elba,” color photographs that challenge viewers to consider complex ideas around borders, migration, privilege and racism. MATT LARSON: Acrylic paintings by the local artist. VALERIE HIRD: “The Garden of Absolute Truths,” small interactive theaters, hand-drawn animated videos, paintings and drawings by the Burlington artist that utilize familiar childhood stories to examine current power inequities. Through January 28. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.

‘BLACK FREEDOM, BLACK MADONNA & THE BLACK CHILD OF HOPE’: Designed by Raphaella Brice and created by Brice and Josie Bunnell, this mural installed for Burlington’s 2022 Juneteenth celebration features a Haitian-inspired image of liberation. Through June 18. Info, 865-7166. Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

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art‘CALL AND RESPONSE’: Artworks by 15 members of the Howard Arts Collective, each inspired by a piece in the museum’s collections. ‘DARK GODDESS: AN EXPLORATION OF THE SACRED FEMININE’: Largescale black-and-white photographs by Shanta Lee, based on the inquiry, “Who or what is the Goddess when she is allowed to misbehave?” ROCKWELL KENT: Prints by the iconic American artist (18821971) from the Ralf C. Nemec collection. Through December 9. Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

CLARK DERBES: “Skateboarding Is Performance Art,” trompe l’oeil objects, shaped paintings and sculptures featuring colorful grids and bands that pay homage to the architecture that skateboarding utilizes. Through January 12. Info, 233-2943. Safe and Sound Gallery in Burlington.

‘CONNECTIONS’: Howard Center Arts Collective presents an art installation of painted mailboxes and mosaics, inviting viewers to reflect on the benefits of old-fashioned mail delivery and to consider whether mailboxes have become relics of the past. Through July 31. Info, artscollective@ howardcenter.org. Howard Center in Burlington.

‘GUARDIANS OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS’: An exhibition in which young explorers can roam forests, navigate streams and become backyard adventurers while learning to become thoughtful stewards of the land. Through January 15. Info, 864-1848. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington.

‘MORE THAN A MARKET’: An exhibit celebrating local, immigrant-owned markets in Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski, featuring an instal lation that re-creates the feel of a busy market, as well as wall panels with archival and contemporary photographs. Third floor. Through December 23. Info, 989-4723, cbarrett@historicnewengland.org. O.N.E. Community Center in Burlington.

SAM WYATT: “Writing on the Wall Project,” paintings that explore graffiti as a reflection of this moment in American society and culture, curated by Burlington City Arts. Through December 7. Info, 865-7296. Burlington City Hall.

‘VOICES OF ST. JOSEPH’S ORPHANAGE’: Photographs and stories of abuse and recovery from the Catholic-run Burlington orphanage, which was home to more than 13,000 children from 1854 to 1974. Presented by the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Restorative Inquiry and the Vermont Folklife Center. Through December 16. Info, 656-2138. Billings Library, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

chittenden county

‘ABENAKI CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VERMONT COMMUNITY’: A series of murals designed by Scott Silverstein in consultation with Abenaki artists Lisa Ainsworth Plourde and Vera Longtoe Sheehan and members of Richmond Racial Equity; the 10 panels celebrate the Abenaki origins of practices still important to Vermont culture. Through May 31. Info, radiate.art.space@gmail.com. Richmond Town Hall.

BRECCA LOH & KRISTINA PENTEK: Abstracted landscape paintings and color photographs, respectively. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through February 14. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.

DEB PEATE: A solo exhibit of 20 whimsical paper animal heads featuring William Morris textile designs and vintage jewelry. Through December 31. Info, dpeate@yahoo.com. Healthy Living in South Burlington.

‘FOR THE LOVE OF ABSTRACT ART’: A curated exhibition of paintings by Vermont artists. Through December 31. Info, 662-4808. ArtHound Gallery in Essex.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP: “A Diverse View of Our Land and Our Sky,” photo graphs. Through December 22. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho.

‘OUR COLLECTION: ELECTRA HAVEMEYER WEBB, EDITH HALPERT AND FOLK ART’: A

virtual exhibition that celebrates the friendship between the museum founder and her longtime art dealer, featuring archival photographs and ephemera, a voice recording from Halpert, and quotations pulled from the women’s extensive correspondences.

Through February 9. ‘WINTER LIGHTS’: The buildings and gardens glow in multicolored illuminations for the holiday season. Purchase timed tickets at shelburnemuseum.org. Through January 1. $15 for adults; $10 for ages 3-17; free for children under 3. Info, 985-3346. Shelburne Museum.

‘SILVER GLOW’: An annual winter exhibit featuring the works of 12 regional artists. Through January 31. Info, 985-3848. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne.

SMALL WORKS: An exhibition of petite paintings by Anne Cady, Charlotte Dworshak, Maria Flores Gallindo, Edward Holland, Julia Jensen and Hannah Sessions. Through December 31. Info, 877-2173.

Northern Daughters Annex Gallery in Shelburne.

SOUTH BURLINGTON SHOWCASE: An exhibition of more than 60 paintings, photographs and mixed-media works by local artists Gin Ferrara, Jeffrey Pascoe and Michael Strauss. Through December 13. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov. South Burlington Public Art Gallery.

‘WELCOME BLANKET’: A collection of quilted, crocheted and knitted blankets handmade by community members to be gifted to new American neighbors. Immigration stories and welcoming messages from the makers are also on display. Through February 23. Info, 355-9937. Heritage Winooski Mill Museum.

barre/montpelier

ANNE DAVIS: “Fresh Paint,” new paintings by the Vermont artist. Through December 9. Info, anne@ annemadecards.com. Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

AXEL STOHLBERG: “House,” collages and sculptures that consider the concepts of dwelling and place. Through December 30. Info, 279-5558. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier.

‘CELEBRATE!’: A holiday show featuring works by more than 70 SPA member artists, displayed on all three floors. Through December 28. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre.

GROUP SHOW 52: Gallery members host a holiday market with items $100 or less. Through December 30. Info, info@thefrontvt.com. The Front in Montpelier.

MARCIA HILL & CINDY GRIFFITH: Vibrant pastels that capture the spirit, energy and intensity of the natural world. Through December 28. Info, 479-0896. Espresso Bueno in Barre.

MEMBERS SHOWCASE: An exhibition of artworks by Karen Schaefer, Preya Holland, Paul Markowtz, JC Wayne and others. Through January 31. Info, info@cal-vt.org. Center for Arts and Learning in Montpelier.

ROBIN CROFUT-BRITTINGHAM: Large-scale watercolor paintings that address themes of nature, extinction and mythology. A portion of sales support the center’s mission of connecting people with the natural world. Through December 31. Free. Info, 229-6206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

‘THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR EYES’: Watercolors and drawings by 19th-century Norwich alumni William Brenton Boggs and Truman Seymour depicting scenes in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Through December 16. Info, 485-2886. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, in Northfield.

stowe/smuggs

‘GEMS & GIANTS’: An annual exhibition of large and small artworks including landscapes, abstracts, florals, portraits and still lifes by gallery members.

2022 LEGACY COLLECTION: An exhibit of works by 16 distinguished New England landscape artists plus a selection of works by Alden Bryan and Mary Bryan. Through December 24. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville.

CALL TO ARTISTS

ARTFUL ICE SHANTIES: The museum and Retreat Farm invite artists, ice fishing enthusi asts, tiny house aficionados, design-builders, and creative groups and individuals of all ages and experience levels to enter this annual exhibition of creative shanties. Details and registration at brattleboromuseum.org. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Through December 16. Free. Info, 257-0124.

‘BEACON OF LIGHT’: This social commentary exhibit invites artists to challenge viewers to consider our day, our options and what our country represents or could embody moving forward. Show dates: March 15 to April 29. Deadline: January 28. Details at studioplacearts. com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, submissions.studioplacearts@ gmail.com.

CALL FOR EXHIBITORS: Enter your group show, traveling exhibit or new body of work for the 2022-23 season in our community gallery. We seek thought-provoking exhibits that examine the human experience. CAL is an interdisciplinary art center that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all forms. Submit artwork at cal-vt.org. Deadline: December 31. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier. Info, 595-5252.

CALL FOR MEMBERS: Become part of a thriving hub for music and art education. CAL is committed to enhancing the cultural life of central Vermont through its founding member organizations, as well as embracing individual artists, musicians and other nonprofits in a collaborative and welcoming community. Register at cal-vt.org. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier. Through December 31. $36 annually. Info, 595-5252.

GLASSTASTIC 2023: The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center invites children in grades K-6 to submit drawings for imaginary creatures, which professional glass artists from around New England will turn into 3D glass sculptures for a spring exhibit. Guidelines and entry forms can be found at brattleboromuseum. org or picked up in person at the museum. Online. Through December 16. Info, 257-0124.

GREAT STREETS: MAIN STREET

PROJECT: Burlington City Arts is issuing a request for qualifications from artists or artist teams for public art works to be incorporated into the Main Street project in downtown Burlington. Selected works will reflect the diversity of the city’s residents, explore its history, create meaningful landmarks in the built environment and connect the people, the land and the lake. Info at greatstreetsbtv.com. Online. Through December 16. Info, cstorrs@burlingtonc ityarts.org.

‘THE HEART SHOW’: Seeking submissions to an exhibition in which artists create unique works in the universal heart shape. An online auction

MARYA LOWE: “Scattered Cohesion,” contemporary wall quilts and textiles by the Vermont artist.

Through January 14. Info, 646-519-1781. Minema Gallery in Johnson.

MFA STUDENT INVITATIONAL EXHIBIT: Artworks by masters of fine arts candidates Amy Kolb Noyes, Abigail Synnestvedt, Caroline Loftus, Chelsea Pafumi, Finn Nutter Knowles, Jillian Lauren Lisitano and Katelyn Hudson. Through December 16. Info, 635-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson.

SCOTT LENHARDT: An exhibition of graphic designs for Burton Snowboards created since 1994 by the Vermont native. Through October 31. Info, 253-9911. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

‘WHEN THE WELL IS DRY: An exhibition featuring 11 artists who explore the interconnection of environ ment, climate change, culture and community. In

in February will benefit local nonprofits selected by the artists. DM or email heartshowrr@gmail. com for info and to sign up. Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne. Through December 31. $20. Info, heartshowrr@gmail.com.

‘ONE + ONE IS MORE THAN TWO’: This show is about multiple artworks by an artist that relate to each other as a group, in some cases using repetition of pattern, form, shape, color and comparative imagery. Show dates: May 10 to June 24. Deadline: March 25. Details at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, submissions. studioplacearts@gmail.com.

‘UNCONDITIONAL’: AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H., seeks artwork about dogs and other beloved pets for an exhibit January 13 to February 11. Deadline: December 19. Apply at avagallery.org. Online. $15. Info, 603-448-3117.

THE VERMONT FLOWER SHOW: The flower show returns to the Vermont Expo in March, with a display theme of “Out of Hibernation! Spring Comes to the 100-Acre Wood,” an adaptation of the world of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. Gardeners, volunteers and vendors can find more info and register at vnlavt.org. Early bird discount through December 31. Online.

VERMONT STUDENT WILDLIFE ART

CONTEST: The Vermont Wildlife Coalition’s Education Fund and Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro invite Vermont students in grades 7 to 12 to submit wildlife art in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, ink or pastel. The top 40 will be exhibited in February; prizes awarded. Details and application at vtwildlifeeducationfund.org. Deadline: December 9. Online. Free. Info, 434-3135.

‘WHAT MAKES A LAKE?’: Another Earth is seeking submissions from Vermont artists and current or former residents of photography, cyanotypes, drawings, writing, video stills, field recordings and historical images that are in some way connected to Lake Champlain. Those accepted will be included in a visual guide to what makes a lake, published in spring 2023. Details and submission instructions at another-earth.com. Online. Through January 31. Info, anotherearthsubmissions@gmail.com.

‘WHIR, CLANK, BEEP’: An upcoming show is about machines: simple levers and pulleys, farm equipment, robots, computers and AI. Kinetic sculpture, working machines, 2D and 3D depictions of real and invented machines, and sculptures made from machine parts are all welcome. Deadline: December 10. Info at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, 479-7069.

partnership with Visura. Through December 10. Info, 253-8358. The Current in Stowe.

mad river valley/waterbury

‘CELEBRATE THE SMALL’: The annual group exhibi tion of petite works by local artists; all priced at or under $100. Through December 24. Info, 244-7801. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery in Waterbury.

WATERCOLOR SOCIETY AWARDS

VERMONT

SHOW: An exhibition of paintings by society members, juried by nationally acclaimed watercolor artist Antonio Mass, president of the American Watercolor Society. Thirteen awards will be presented. Through December 16. Info, 496-6682. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield.

ROBERT

KENNEDY, APRIL 4, 1968

“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.”

F.

middlebury area

‘ADDISON COUNTY COLLECTS’: An eclectic exhibition of objects and personal stories from 36 area collec tors, celebrating the local and global community. ‘ADDISON COUNTY KIDS COLLECT’: A continually growing exhibition of photos of Addison County children with their personal collections. ‘ARTISTS IN THE ARCHIVES: COMMUNITY, HISTORY & COLLAGE’: Collage prints by 23 artists from seven countries that reflect upon the idea of community in the 21stcentury world. Curated by Kolaj Institute director Ric Kasini Kadour. ‘THE ELEPHANT IN THE ARCHIVES’: An experimental exhibit reexamining the museum’s Stewart-Swift Research Center archival collections with a critical eye toward silences, erasures and contemporary relevance. CHUCK HERRMANN: “Sculptures of Perseverance,” eight poignant works by the Shoreham wood carver created in response to the ongoing Ukrainian tragedy. Through January 7. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury.

‘DEFINE SMALL’: An annual exhibition of petite paintings, featuring new work from established gallery artists Sara Katz, Kay Flierl and Duncan Johnson, as well as work from new Edgewater artist Larry Horowitz. More works at Edgewater Gallery at the Falls. Through December 31. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury.

A MERRY LITTLE MARKET: A maker market featuring fine artwork, pottery, candles, jewelry and more by local artisans, plus handcrafted ornaments and holiday cards. Through January 14. Info, 989-7225. Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury.

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

‘NO OCEAN BETWEEN US: ART OF ASIAN DIASPORAS IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN, 1945-PRESENT’: Seventy important works in a variety of mediums by Latin American and Caribbean artists of Asian heritage that demonstrate how the work emerged from cross-directional global dialogues between artists, their cultural identities and interaction with artistic movements. Through December 11. Info, 443-5007. Middlebury College Museum of Art.

‘SOLACE’: Artworks by Anne Cady, Bonnie Baird, Jessica Parker Foley, Chelsea Granger, Julia Jensen, Hannah Sessions, Pamela Smith, Susanne Strater and Carla Weeks that respond to the question, “What do you turn to?” Through January 31. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.

‘WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?’: Digital photog raphy, ink and acrylic work by Gwilym Gibb and acrylic paintings and photocollage by Candace Slack. Through January 1. Info, 345-7327. Little Seed Coffee Roasters in Middlebury.

rutland/killington

ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBIT & SHOPPE: An allmember exhibition of items in a variety of mediums. Through December 10. Info, 775-0356. Chaffee Art Center in Rutland.

JUST IMAGINE: A HOLIDAY GIVING MARKET: Handcrafted wares including pottery, stained glass, jewelry, photography, ornaments, dolls, and original works by more than 30 Vermont artists. Through January 29. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild.

upper valley

‘FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS’: An exhibition of handmade, one-of-a-kind lamps by Ken Blaisdell, Megan Bogonovich, Rachel Jackson, Doug Johnston, Lakea Shepard, Jonah Takagi and Dave Zackin. Through January 1. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.

‘I NEVER SAW IT THAT WAY: EXPLORING SCIENCE THROUGH ART’: This self-curated exhibition of mixed-media works by artists, sculptors, photogra phers and crafters on the museum staff considers science from fresh perspectives. Through January 31. Info, 649-2200. Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich.

KATIE ROBERTS: Artworks in a variety of mediums by the nature artist, who is inspired by plants, animals and weather. Through February 28. Info, 359-5000. Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee.

MEMBERS HOLIDAY PRINT SHOW: Prints by studio members, original prints on handmade greeting cards, and small matted prints for sale. Also online at tworiversprintmaking.org. Through January 30. Info, 295-5901. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction.

northeast kingdom

‘1,111 COPPER NAILS’: A 36-year retrospective of the Bread and Puppet calendar. Through December 31. Info, breadandpuppetcuratrix@gmail.com. Hardwick Inn.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY FAIR: A variety of handmade wares by member artists and guest artisans, including jewelry, pottery, glassware, textiles, rugs

and more. Through January 6. Info, 748-0158.

Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.

‘COMING CLEAN’: An exhibition that considers bath ing practices throughout time and across cultures, including religious immersion and ritual purification, bathing as health cure, methods of washing in extreme environments, and much more. All kinds of bathing and scrubbing implements are on display. Through April 30. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover.

ELLY BARKSDALE: “The Beauty of Horses,” paintings. Through December 28. Info, 525-3366. The Parker Pie Company in West Glover.

‘TIME OF CHANGE’: A group exhibition featuring works in a variety of mediums by 21 local artists. Through January 4. Info, melmelts@yahoo.com. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville.

‘WINTER LIGHT’: An exhibition that celebrates winter in the Northeast Kingdom, as well as other cultures and traditions. Through January 7. Info, 334-1966. MAC Center for the Arts in Newport.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘WE FEEL OUR WAY THROUGH WHEN WE DON’T KNOW’: A group exhibition of works by Mariel Capanna, Oscar Rene Cornejo, Cheeny CelebradoRoyer, Vessna Scheff, Gerald Euhon Sheffield II and Lachell Workman, guest-curated by Michael Jevon Demps, that address themes of community, memory, dissonance, displacement, intimacy and loss. Through February 12. ALISON MORITSUGU: “Moons and Internment Stones,” watercolor paint ings of rocks gathered by the artist’s grandfather

VISUAL

ART IN SEVEN DAYS: ART LISTINGS AND SPOTLIGHTS ARE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POLSTON. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

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.

while he was imprisoned at the Santa Fe Internment Camp during World War II paired with oil paintings of the moon. Through February 12. JUDITH KLAUSNER: “(De)composed,” sculptures of objects usually considered ruined, meticulously crafted from a child’s modeling medium, expressing a reevaluation of the under-appreciated. Through March 4. MADGE EVERS: “The New Herbarium,” works on paper using mushroom spores and plant matter as artistic mediums. Through February 12. OASA DUVERNEY: “Black Power Wave,” a window installation of drawings by the Brooklyn artist, inspired by images of Chinese Fu dogs, the cross and the Yoruba deity Èsù. Through May 6. RENATE ALLER: “The Space Between Memory and Expectation,” an immersive installation of large-format photographs of mountains, glaciers, trees, ocean and other natural landscapes, plus an assemblage of lichen-covered rocks from the West Brattleboro home of artists Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason. Through February 12. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

f ‘ART FOR ALL SEASONAL GROUP SHOW’: More than two dozen local artists present their works in a variety of mediums, sizes and prices in celebration of the gallery’s sixth year. 3rd Friday Gallery Night: Friday, December 16, 5-7 p.m. Through January 7.

‘THE AMENDMENT XXIX RIGHT TO PRIVACY SHOW’: A collection of artworks signifying artists’ personal expression on a Right to Privacy amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Artists include: Clare Adams, Nancy Fitz-Rapalje, Corinne Greenhalgh, Yevette Hendler, Marcie Maynard, Roxy Rubell and Jeanette Staley. Through December 10. Info, 289-0104. Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls.

‘FIGURING IT OUT’: Figure drawings and paintings by John Loggia, Jason Alden, Matthew Beck, Peter Harris, Marki Sallick, Martha Werman and Tina K. Olsen. Through December 30. Info, 380-4997. 118 Elliot in Brattleboro.

JOE NORRIS: “Elemental Abstractions: Works,” paintings that explore the space between representational and abstract art using typography, collage and graphic elements. Through February 13. Info, 387-0102. Next Stage Arts Project in Putney.

‘WHERE ARE WE?’: An exhibition of works in multiple mediums by Andrea Stix Wasserman, Elizabeth Billings and Evie Lovett, the inaugural Climate Change Artists in Residence at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Through December 19. Info, 257-0124. Michael S. Currier Center, Putney School.

manchester/bennington

GAIL WINBURY: “The Girl Who Drew Memories,” large-scale abstract paintings and collage. Through February 25. Info, 367-1311. Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester.

‘PERSPECTIVES: THE STORY OF BENNINGTON THROUGH MAPS’: A collection that shows the changing roles of maps, from those made by European colonists showcasing American conquests to later versions that celebrate civic progress and historic events. ‘THE WALLOOMSAC EXHIBITION’: Objects from the historic former inn and the museum’s permanent collection. Through December 31. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum.

randolph/royalton

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: Local makers present knitwear, cards, calendars, art prints, comestibles, salves, jewelry and more for the gifting season. Through December 24. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph.

VERMONT ARTISTS GROUP SHOW: Thirteen featured artists present paintings, drawings, photography, basketry and more. Through January 29. Info, artetcvt@gmail.com. ART, etc. in Randolph.

online

‘ACTION FIGURES: OBJECTS IN MOTION’: A virtual exhibition from the Shelburne Museum that explores the theme of movement and action in art. Through April 30. Free. Info, 985-3346.

‘PRIDE 1983’: Castleton University Bank Gallery presents an online exhibition of photographs and other documents of Vermont’s first Pride March on June 25, 1983, in Burlington; organized by the Vermont Folklife Center and the Pride Center of Vermont . Through January 15. Info, 1-800-639-8521.

CAMPUS THEATER MOVIE POSTERS: The Henry Sheldon Museum Archives presents a virtual exhibit of posters and other ephemera from Middlebury’s former movie theater, which opened in 1936. It was later converted to the current Marquis Theater. Through January 7. Info, 388-2117.

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: The 33rd annual sale is virtual, featuring dozens of local artisan wares including jewelry, pottery, handmade cards and works on paper, specialty food items, skin care and aromatherapy products, knitted and sewn creations and much more. Through December 16. Online.

outside vermont

AVA MEMBERS HOLIDAY EXHIBITION: A show and sale of items by Vermont and New Hampshire artists. Through December 30. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H.

outside vermont

Together We Can-Save Winter Join the conversation with scientists, authors, athletes, business leaders, filmmakers and changemakers at the Intersection of Climate Change and Winter Sports. How to Register • Download the Mobile App • Sign-Up/ Create a free account via Whova • Reserve your Sessions •or visit https://www.lakeplacid2023.com/save-winter/

‘DIANE ARBUS: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1956-1971’: Nearly 100 black-and-white prints shot by the late American photographer primarily around New York City. Through January 29. ‘SEEING LOUD: BASQUIAT AND

MUSIC’: The first large-scale multimedia exhibition devoted to the role of music in the work of the innovative American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, organized in collaboration with the Philharmonie de Paris museum. Through February 19. ‘VIEWS OF WITHIN: PICTURING THE SPACES WE INHABIT’: More than 60 paintings, photographs, prints, installations and textile works from the museum’s collection that present one or more evocations of interior space. Through June 30. SHARY BOYLE: “Outside the Palace of Me,” a multisensory exhibition that explores how identity and personality are constructed in the age of social media. Through January 15. Info, 514-2852000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.

NELSON HENRICKS: Immersive video installations by the Montréal artist in which visual and sound editing create a musical dynamic, and which explore subjects from the history of art and culture. Through April 10. Info, 514-847-6226. Montréal Museum of Contemporary Art.

PARK DAE SUNG: “Ink Reimagined,” 23 ink paintings, some on view for the first time in the U.S., by the renowned Korean artist; curated by Sunglim Kim, Dartmouth College associate professor of art history. Through March 19. Info, 603-646-3661. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. m

vt.com

music+nightlife

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

A New Year’s to Remember (Finally)

As we get ready to close the books on 2022, all the clichés come to mind. Making resolutions, pretending to be sad about celebrities who kicked the bucket during the year and, worst of all, sharing Spotify Wrapped playlists.

Nothing makes me scratch my head quite like people who post their year-end Spotify playlists and exclaim things like, “Wow, they so get me!”

Yeeeah, that’s how data work. You’ve been telling them what you like, and they’re giving it back to you like a dog bringing back your tennis ball, only now it’s covered in saliva. Does the saliva represent Spotify CEO DANIEL EK and his musician-screwing service spitting on the artists? I’m not sure. The metaphor is already tenuous, especially when you consider that I have a Spotify account.

But, as we’ve learned from the World Cup, I can bitch about something incessantly and still consume it. That might be the most apt description of a modern American I can think of at the moment.

Another holiday staple I often lament is New Year’s Eve in Burlington. Now, I know there are many readers out there who loved the old First Night celebrations, but Seven Days pays me the moderate bucks to drop the hard truths

and the scalding hot takes. So feast on this one: New Year’s Eve has pretty much always sucked in Burlington. There, I said it.

Am I claiming there hasn’t been a single fun one in town in the near quarter-century I’ve lived here? Of course not. What I’m saying is that the Queen City has never had a reputation as a great spot for New Year’s Eve entertainment.

First, it’s always miserably cold. Things are often literally covered in ice, which, as any assortment of fables will tell you, sort of ruins the vibe.

Second, this is a college town, and a good chunk of those students are gone on holiday break. There’s a skeleton-crew feeling to the city that I quite enjoy, but it doesn’t make for great blowouts.

This year just might be different, though. The folks at BURLINGTON CITY ARTS and SIGNAL KITCHEN are throwing an absolute rager of a New Year’s Eve party. For the fifth year in a row, they’re producing Highlight,

an all-day, citywide celebration featuring music, comedy, fireworks, art installations, movie marathons and even circuses.

Let’s get right to the show that made me do a double take. “The Spirit of NYE,” presented by Highlight and local label/ collective SPIRIT OF ETHAN ALLEN RECORDS at the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is a festival within a festival and all-out sonic attack, featuring some of the best Vermont bands and killer national acts.

ROCKIN’ WORMS and GREG FREEMAN will kick things o , and then GUERILLA TOSS will take the downstairs stage at ECHO. The gloriously weird New York City indie rockers were a highlight of May’s Waking Windows fest in Winooski, where people waited in huge lines outside Waterworks Food + Drink just to catch some of the band’s set.

Following Guerilla Toss is Brattleboro’s own KING TUFF. The fuzzedout rocker, aka KYLE THOMAS, has a new record coming out in 2023 on SUB POP records. Tentatively titled Smalltown Stardust, it’s a musical love letter to

growing up in Vermont, according to a press release.

Perhaps Thomas will debut some of the new tunes at the ECHO show, where Burlington outfit ROUGH FRANCIS will back him up. The punk band, which is also working on a 2023 release, will play its own set at 11:30 p.m., after King Tu wraps.

Sandwiched into that lineup is a downstairs set by the one and only DJ DISCO PHANTOM, making for a solid block of pure musical goodness at the waterfront venue. It’s a bill to remember, made possible by the BCA and Signal Kitchen’s Bright Ideas Project.

In an email, BCA festival and event director ZACH WILLIAMSON described that initiative as “a core component of BCA and Signal Kitchen’s creation of Highlight back in 2018. With First Night closing,” he continued, “we recognized that a key component of a new NYE celebration would be to stay relevant by incorporating community ideas every year.”

So BCA and Signal Kitchen reached out to the community for proposals.

Spirit of Ethan Allen Records’ NOAH SCHNEIDMAN (IVAMAE, LILY SEABIRD) proposed the ECHO lineup, pitching it as a collection of like-minded artists who could seamlessly collaborate, like record labelmates on tour.

“I had been trying to put together a festival earlier this year,” Schneidman revealed by phone. Those plans fell through, but the Bright Ideas Project gave him another chance.

“I’m just blown away that the city would give me the resources to make this happen,” Schneidman said. “I’m young, and it’s not like I have a huge résumé of putting on shows or anything. But when these things are built around community and love, people tend to notice.”

According to Williamson, sta from BCA, Signal Kitchen and the Bright Ideas Project’s funding partner, the Vermont State Employees Credit Union, seek proposals with “complete ideas that usually involve more than one artist or the community or can serve a fair number of people.”

“Honestly, I thought of this event when I was reading the FATTIE B cover story last week,” Williamson wrote, referencing my recent piece on rapper Fattie B’s new collaboration-filled record, GUMBO. “The shared music community he speaks about is really happening at ECHO this Highlight. It’s also alive and well up at the [First] Unitarian [Universalist Society of Burlington] church with DWIGHT + NICOLE.”

Guerilla Toss

ELIF : EKUL A W T R Y

Zoë Keating

The Burlington soul duo will host its own Highlight party, “Play the Future,” at the Pearl Street church. In addition to Dwight + Nicole holding down the headliner slot, it features performances by one of their frequent collaborators, blues and soul singer ALI MCGUIRK; Burlington-via-Madagascar singersongwriter MIKAHELY; West African drum and dance troupe JEH KULU; and the man himself, Fattie B.

Earlier on New Year’s Eve, the church will host the YOUTH OPERA COMPANY OF VERMONT, singer-songwriters ISABEL PLESS and HOPE DELUCA, and avantgarde cellist ZOË KEATING

Since the fireworks happen on the Burlington waterfront, BCA has loaded

little bit of) the road this month for their ninth annual Holiday Show tour. From Bennington’s the Coffee Bar on December 7 to Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater on December 17, the pair, backed by upright bassist TYLER BOLLES, will bring the sounds of the season to five special yuletide shows.

“The melodies of so many Christmas jams are so great and feel like they’ve just always been there,” Hughes said of his love of holiday music. “You have all of the sad, dreamy wistfulness that’ll drive you to add extra bourbon to your mulled cider.”

Hughes is still trying to write what he called the “saddest-ever Christmas song.” His 2021 tune “I Thought We’d

up plenty of music at Waterfront Park, as well. Singer KAT WRIGHT will perform a tribute to BONNIE RAITT at 8:30 p.m., just after supporting sets from the ALL NIGHT BOOGIE BAND, SAMBATUCADA and DJ RICE PILAF. Indie soul singer-songwriter Ivamae will also get in the spirit of tributes on the waterfront, playing a set of songs by legendary soul singer DONNY HATHAWAY

That’s just the tip of the New Year’s Eve iceberg. More bands will be announced for Highlight in the coming weeks. Pop over to highlight.community for more information.

Bite Torrent

Speaking of Wright, she and guitarist extraordinaire BRETT HUGHES hit (a

Spend All Our Christmases Together” is his latest attempt. Be sure to catch the tour if you’re feeling the holiday spirit — or just want to see whether Hughes has achieved his goal.

Another Burlington musician who loves a good holiday tune is MATT HAGEN. The seemingly tireless guitarist (the

HIGH BREAKS, PURPLE, MATT THE GNAT) released “Pour Me a Holiday Beer” last Thursday on his GOLDEN LOAF Bandcamp page. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a tune about deserving a cold one as another tough year comes to a close.

Hagen will celebrate the release with a December 19 Holiday Hymns and Haunts show at the 126 on College Street in Burlington. m

CLUB DATES music+nightlife

live music

WED.7

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

Gallison Hill Band (rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Irish Sessions (Celtic folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jazz Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jug Jam Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Peter Wayne Burton (singersongwriter) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Quiltro (psych rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $5/$10.

Weakened Friends, Father Figuer, Lake Waves (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

THU.8

Alex Stewart Quartet and Special Guests (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Andy Pitt, Nancy Smith, Ben Burr (singer-songwriter, electronic) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Appalachian Apollo (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

The Ballroom Thieves, Griffin William Sherry (indie pop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $18/$20.

Dari Bay, Lily Seabird, Greaseface, Public Communications (indie rock) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Evan David Warner (acoustic) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jackson Garrow (singersongwriter) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Dogs in a Pile (funk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $27.50/$30.

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

Rocking the Club

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

Burlington-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zachary James is in high demand. The former drummer of the Snaz plays with an assortment of local acts these days, including the Dead Shakers and Robber Robber. He started DARI BAY in 2015 as a lo-fi indie rock solo project showcasing his unpredictable songwriting. He celebrates his latest single, “Walk on Down,” off Dari Bay’s forthcoming album, Longest Day of the Year, on Thursday, December 8, at Club Metronome in Burlington, as part of the venue’s monthly Rock Night series. Locals LILY SEABIRD, GREASEFACE and PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS provide support.

FRI.9

Almost Queen, Steve Leonard (tribute) at Strand Center for the Arts, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6:30 p.m. $52-$82.

Bailen, Troy Millette & the Fire Below (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$23.

Breanna Elaine (singersongwriter) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Bruce Sklar (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

Delta Sweet Duo (blues) at Stone’s Throw Pizza, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

The Full Cleveland (yacht rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10/$12. Info, 802244813.

The Gallison Hill Band (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

The Jeff Salisbury Band (blues) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Mal Maiz, the High Breaks (Afro-Latino orchestra, surf rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $7.

Nicolls Road (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. Free.

Night Protocol (synth rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Nighthawk (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

North Ave Jax, 99 Neighbors, Abizo, Real Ricky, Hakimxoxo, UVM Elites Dance Group (hiphop) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Peter Wayne Burton (singersongwriter) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Phil Abair Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Rhett Miller, Marcie Hernandez (alt country) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $30/$35.

Ryan Osswald (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

She Was Right (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Tim Brick (country) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Tom Gershwin, Red Hot Juba (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

Ursa & the Major Key, Mojohand (psych rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

UVM Vocal Jazz Performance featuring students of Amber deLaurentis (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Vapors of Morphine, Muddy Ruckus (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

SAT.10

The Afro-Semitic Experience (jazz) at Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $18 /$22.

All Night Boogie Band (blues) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

The Dirty Looks Band (covers) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

If You Must Know (folk) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Joe Agnello & Friends (jam) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jordan Sedwin (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Kowalski Brothers (folk) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Matt Hagen’s Hymns and Haunts (folk) at Stone’s Throw Pizza, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

Matthew Mercury, Night Protocol (rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Mckew Devitt (singer-songwriter) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Metal Night featuring Drunk Off Diesel, Keepsake, Komodo, No Son of Mine (metal) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Mirage (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

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

The Myra Flynn Band (indie soul) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$20.

Patrick Watson, Dana Gavanski (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $30/$35.

Ray Vega & Friends (jazz) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.

Saints & Liars, Wild Leek River (country) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $15.

Spencer Lewis (blues) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Toast (covers) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette (folk) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Waves of Adrenaline (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wildflower, Vhicle, Paper Castles (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10/$15.

The Wormdogs (bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.

SUN.11

Mike MacDonald (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Sessions: Mad Mojo (blues, rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 1 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

THUS LOVE, GIFT, Robber Robber (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $13/$15.

Tom Pirozzoli with Corey Wrinn (folk) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 6 p.m. $7/$10.

Vermont Blues Society Annual Meeting & Concert/Party (blues) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5 p.m. $10/$15.

TUE.13

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Dead Set (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday featuring Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

Joanna Rose (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Missy Bly (indie pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.

THU.8 // DARI BAY [INDIE ROCK]

Please contact event organizers about vaccination and mask requirements.

COURTESY OF NATE STRITZLER

Oddisee & Good Compny, Mister Burns (hip-hop) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$23.

Thursday, Cursive, Anthony Green (punk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $30/$35.

WED.14

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

Bresetts Duo (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Irish Sessions (Celtic folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jazz Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

Peter Wayne Burton (singersongwriter) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Singer Songwriter Sessions featuring Ben Cosgrove, Aneken River (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

Ween Wednesday: Knights of the Brown Table (tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

djs

WED.7

Queer Bar Takeover (DJ) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.8

Afro Fusion & Hip-Hop Night with Benny (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

FRI.9

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Kaos (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

SAT.10

DJ Briidj and Ronstappable (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Goth Night with Crypt (DJ) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

MON.12

Mo’ Monday with DJs Craig Mitchell and Fattie B (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.13

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.7

Alex Budney & Al’s Pals Family Night Open Jam (open jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.8

Open Mic (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.11

Open Mic Night with Justin at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m.

TUE.13

Open Mic Night (open mic) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with D Davis (open mic) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.14

Annual VCC Holidaygasm Party, Gift Swap and Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.7

The Corporation: Live Podcast (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

THU.8

Miss Sassy: Holiday Edition (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

Mothra! A Storytelling/ Improv Comedy Show (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.9

Jackie Fabulous (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $20.

Vermont Comedy All Stars Stand-up Comedy Holiday Spectacular! (comedy) at Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

SAT.10

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 4:45 p.m. $5/$10.

Jackie Fabulous (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $20.

TUE.13

Comedy Open Mic (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.14

Second Wednesday Comedy Jam (comedy) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

THU.8

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia & Nachos (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.9

Karaoke Fundraiser (karaoke) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. $10.

SUN.11

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.13

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Night Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. m

Night Protocol, Static

(SELF-RELEASED,

CASSETTE, CD, DIGITAL)

Burlington’s Night Protocol are the local monarchs of synthwave, a micro-genre of electronic music that cherry-picks elements from 1980s pop culture and airbrushes them into a cohesive sound and vibe.

If synthwave had a Bible, its Old Testament could be Madonna’s 1984 banger “Dress You Up,” and its New Testament would be whatever French musician and producer Kavinsky is doing right now.

Night Protocol’s original members, Matthew Binginot, Justin Goyette and Ryan Blair, painted by numbers with the genre’s calling cards: sweeping, synthbased music recalling scores to films such as Disney’s Tron and video games such as Sega’s Out Run; pink-and-purple neon album art; the audacity to include a keytar and lasers in their live act; and big, bold hooks bursting with platitudes. The quick addition of vocalist Amanda Marquis, balancing male singers Binginot and Goyette, conjured some serious “Don’t You Want Me” energy.

Night Protocol return from a pandemic pause energized and better than ever on their new album, Static. The band’s lineup has shu ed and expanded, with Blair and Goyette exiting and new players Sebastian Zervos, Erick Lattrell and Axel Handy joining. Writing collaboratively, Binginot, Marquis and Zervos unveil songs that are more melodically complex and mature than those on 2019’s Tears in the Rain. And the new LP has about 400 percent more saxophone, courtesy of Zervos.

After spoken-word opener “Converging,” which acts as a prelaunch sequence to ratchet up tension, the explosive “Heart Surge” zooms in, brandishing sharp snares and a pulsating synthscape. With the subtlety of a hydrogen bomb, Zervos’ saxophone unleashes a firestorm of smoky sex appeal. Goyette appears as a guest on this track (and one other, “Pieces of Midnight”) to deliver an overblown, near-cartoonish electric guitar solo, his signature style. See “Dress You Up” for comparison.

Loyal to the genre, Night Protocol fill their songs with sensational phrases and imagery. Marquis is histrionic when she sings, “High voltage!” in the chorus of

“Heart Surge.” A song about not being able to contain oneself, it’s Night Protocol’s brand in a nutshell.

Every track is pure drama. “What’ll it be / Cause it’s now or never,” Zervos croons on “The Fear.” One of the album’s best songs, it finds perfect balance between punctuated bass, slingshot guitar ri s, splashes of sax, and a harmonized hook that flits between major and minor chords.

The best song arrives near the album’s end. “Another Summer,” with its softly hammered bass line recalling the Cars’ moody “Drive,” is a slam dunk. A smorgasbord of synths — some with rubbery textures, others that flicker softly through arpeggios — envelop Zervos and Marquis, who trade o on lead vocals. An anti-summer jam, it’s a wistful tune about seasonal hype that has come crashing down.

My favorite thing about Night Protocol is their unabashed cheesiness in a contemporary music landscape that favors restraint. I bet Night Protocol would rather break up than tone it down. Long may they reign.

Static is available at nightprotocol. bandcamp.com. Catch the band on Saturday, December 10, at Foam Brewers in Burlington.

JORDAN ADAMS

The Discussions, Past Patterns

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Few bands are both as aptly and ironically named as the Discussions. Led by composer Greg Rothwell, the 12-piece instrumental jazz-fusion collective features some of Burlington’s top musical talent and creates songs that meld a variety of intertwining genres. One moment the band lays down some pretty straightforward Latinflavored jazz, and the next, a fuzzed-out guitar soars into the mix, pushing the song into progressive rock.

That range is on full display on Past Patterns, the notoriously hard-to-define group’s latest record. On opener “The Jogger,” the band sets the table with ominous volume swells, squeals of distorted electric guitar and amorphous, wordless vocals before a downright cheery piano figure bursts in. By the end of the song, the band is in full freak-out mode,

horns blaring over an arrangement of pure energy and joyous aggression.

Rothwell wrote all five tracks on the LP, but the tunes were arranged by him and various members of the group, including Avery Cooper, Colin Henkel, Derek Rice, Eamon Callahan and Eli Goldman. That collaborative spirit su uses an album bristling with creativity and bold choices. “C# Suite,” for example, shifts through movement after movement, from Latin to jazz to funk to ambient, yet never loses its sonic identity along the way.

If there is any unifying trait to Past Patterns, it is its unrelenting cinematic feel. Every track sounds as if it had been pulled from a di erent film score. The movement within “Eb Suite” could follow a seven-minute movie all by itself, and the labyrinthine “Mirrored Ending” is just begging to accompany the end credits of a film noir.

Much of that cinematic quality is due to the horn and string arrangements, which alternately operate in concert with and in opposition to one another. In particular,

the strings on “Double Pane” — courtesy of Matt LaRocca, Eli Goldman and Tucker Hanson — serve as a sort of light and dark contrast with Cooper’s saxophone, giving the tune rich emotional complexity.

Most thrilling are the band’s expeditions into ambient sound design. On a jazz fusion album already rife with genres such as new age and prog rock, you’d think throwing in ambient music would be a bridge too far. But the Discussions introduce the element with both precision and intention. When the music breaks apart or crumbles into soundscapes, the band is able to take all the tension and mystery of those moments and use them as a type of adhesive, bridging the various complex movements Rothwell and company have designed.

It’s a musical high-wire act, where the landscapes of the songs can shift at any moment. But it’s handled well enough by stewards who know when to let a good groove continue for a while.

Past Patterns is available now at thediscussions.bandcamp.com. Catch the band on Saturday, December 17, as part of the Holiday Extravaganza at Foam Brewers in Burlington.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Shop Local Explore Church Street Marketplace

Free parking, fun activities & friendly ambassadors

Buying at locally owned businesses keeps money close to home. For every $1.00 spent at a local business 0.67¢ is reinvested locally, compared to only 0.06¢ reinvested locally if spent online.

Enjoy a safe and fun shopping experience in Downtown Burlington.

on screen

The Wonder

If you rushed out to see Florence Pugh get cozy with Harry Styles in September’s Don’t Worry Darling (now on HBO Max and rentable), you may have found more style than substance in the movie behind the tabloid headlines.

REVIEW

But there are better showcases this year for Flo’s acting chops — such as this relatively unheralded Netflix adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s 2016 novel The Wonder, not to be confused with the films Wonder (2017) or To the Wonder (2012).

The slow-burn period drama was directed by Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, known for Gloria and A Fantastic Woman

The deal

In 1862, English nurse Lib Wright (Pugh) arrives in a small village in the Irish Midlands. She’s been hired by a council of local elders to supervise 11-year-old Anna O’Donnell (Kíla Lord Cassidy), a peasant girl who claims not to have eaten a bite for the past four months.

The pious Anna has already attracted journalists and curiosity seekers with her claim that Jesus is sustaining her on “manna from heaven.” Her priest (Ciarán Hinds) is inclined to agree, while the local doctor (Toby Jones), eager for fame, fancies that Anna might be capable of photosynthesis.

Before they commit to promoting their local “wonder,” however, the dignitaries need to make sure Anna isn’t a fraud. Lib’s job is to watch the child day and night, trading shifts with a nun, and make sure no food passes Anna’s lips.

It seems simple enough — until the nurse notices something that everyone else missed. She makes a small change in Anna’s daily routine, with disastrous consequences.

Will you like it?

The Wonder belongs to a new breed of historical fictions that don’t pretend to be neutral windows on the past. It opens in a modern warehouse full of film sets. A voice-over by Niamh Algar (who plays a supporting character) informs us that what we’re about to see is a story about the stories that people use to shape their world.

Then the camera pans in on one of the sets, the fl uorescent glare disappears, and the Victorian setting enfolds us. It’s a testament to the skills of Lelio and his crew that we quickly forget the modern framing and sink deep into the grubby world of rural Ireland in the wake of the Great Famine.

This is a decidedly un-glam version of the past, featuring interiors lit only by fitful peat fires and clothes that look genuinely handmade. Lib’s skirts drag in the mud as she goes to see Anna. A storyteller, like most of the film’s characters, she’s determined to shed light on the mystery hidden in the gloomy cottage.

Pugh shows her range in Lib’s iron resolve; this performance has none of the whimsy of her Oscar-nominated turn as Amy March. Trained by Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, Lib approaches the world with grim realism. Though each night she nurses a secret grief, she’s lived long enough to know the wisdom of keeping her feelings close to the vest.

Doubting that Anna’s survival is a miracle, Lib sets out to prove it by winning the girl’s trust — no easy task. Cassidy’s Anna may look the part of an ailing angel, but her fierce gaze expresses her absolute determination to follow through on the narrative she prefers — even at the cost of her life.

The Wonder is riveting when it’s a

chamber drama about the battle of wills — between Lib and Anna, Lib and Anna’s mother (Elaine Cassidy), and Lib and the male authorities who don’t seem to care that their zeal to prove the existence of miracles could lead to a slow murder. Some of the film’s supporting characters su er from underdevelopment, however — such as a cynical journalist (Tom Burke) whose shifting personality feels like a plot contrivance.

The metafictional framing of The Wonder o ers a provocative contrast with the film’s intimate portrait of a place and time, reminding us to question everything we see. Ultimately, though, the movie doesn’t say much that’s new about the cultural power of storytelling. When Lib finally solves the “mystery” at the heart of Anna’s motivation, the truth unsurprisingly turns out to be a tale as typical of our own time as Anna’s preferred narrative is typical of hers.

The film suggests that where the Victorians saw wonders, we see symptoms of trauma. On the flip side, where they saw insubordination and social chaos, we see self-reinvention and empowerment. (Lelio illustrates such dualities using a Victorian toy called a thaumatrope, Greek for “wonder turner,” in which two di erent pictures appear to blend into one.) While The Wonder doesn’t pack the punch it might have, it’s most potent when it

reminds us that people’s lives can depend on our ways of seeing.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

SAINT MAUD (2019; Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, YouTube Primetime, rentable): How might a wouldbe saint look in our own time? If you can stomach its disturbing elements, Rose Glass’ debut is a fascinating character study of a young hospice nurse convinced she’s on a mission from Christ.

BENEDETTA (2021; Hulu, rentable): Paul Verhoeven’s outrageous tale of a stigmata-bearing lesbian nun, based on medieval accounts, reminds us that claiming holiness is a time-honored way for women to gain power.

BRIGHT STAR (2009; Kanopy): Jane Campion pioneered the feminist period piece, paving the way for films like e Wonder. is lesserknown film of hers, about the awkward romance between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, is worth a second look.

Pugh plays a nurse hired to watch over a fasting girl in Lelio’s immersive period piece.

NEW IN THEATERS

ALL THAT BREATHES: Two brothers in Delhi devote themselves to protecting a bird species called the black kite in Shaunak Sen’s documentary, winner of a slew of prestigious festival awards. (97 min, NR. Savoy)

SPOILER ALERT: A terminal cancer diagnosis changes everything for two life partners (Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge) in this comedy-drama based on the memoir by Michael Ausiello. Michael Showalter (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) directed. (112 min, PG-13. Capitol)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

AN ACTION HERO: A star of kinetic flicks (Ayushmann Khurrana) retreats into hiding after an accident in this action film from India. Anirudh Iyer directed. (130 min, NR. Majestic)

AFTERSUNHHHHH A woman tries to reconcile memories of a childhood vacation with her dad with what she knows about him now in Charlotte Wells’ acclaimed debut feature. With Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. (102 min, R. Catamount; reviewed 11/16)

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERINHHHH1/2 The end of a long friendship between two men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) has unintended consequences in this drama from writer-director Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). (114 min, R. Roxy, Savoy)

BHEDIYA: A young man transforms into a werewolf in this Hindi-language horror comedy from Amar Kaushik. Varun Dhawan stars. (156 min, NR. Majestic)

BLACK ADAMHH The villain (Dwayne Johnson) of the D.C. Comics film Shazam! gets center stage in this showcase for his antiheroism. Jaume Collet-Serra directed. (124 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Palace)

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVERHHH1/2 In Marvel Comics’ fictional African kingdom, the Wakandans mourn King T’Challa and protect their nation from new threats. Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira star; Ryan Coogler again directed. (161 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Welden)

BONES AND ALLHHH1/2 Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet play two cannibal lovers on a road trip in the latest from Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name). (130 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy; reviewed 11/30)

DEVOTIONHHH1/2 This fact-based drama tells the story of the friendship between two U.S. Navy fighter pilots (Glen Powell and Jonathan Majors) during the Korean War. J.D. Dillard directed. (138 min, PG-13. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy, Stowe)

GOOD NIGHT OPPYHHH1/2 This documentary from Ryan White (“The Keepers”) tells the story of how NASA’s Mars Rover Opportunity roamed the planet for nearly 15 years, defying expectations. Angela Bassett narrates. (105 min, PG. Savoy)

THE MENUHHH1/2 A culinary adventure goes awry in Mark Mylod’s horror comedy about a young couple who pay for an exclusive tasting menu experience. Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes star. (106 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy)

RRR #ENCORRREHHHH Two revolutionaries fight British colonialists in the 1920s in this action epic from India, starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan and directed by S.S. Rajamouli. (187 min, R. Playhouse)

SHE SAIDHHH1/2 Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan play the New York Times reporters who broke the story of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct in Maria Schrader’s fact-based drama. (128 min, R. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Savoy)

SPIRITEDHHH Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds star in a musical version of A Christmas Carol. Sean Anders directed. (127 min, PG-13. Star)

STRANGE WORLDHHH1/2 A family of explorers ventures into an alien landscape in this Disney fam ily animation. With the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal and Jaboukie Young-White. (102 min, PG. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Welden)

TARHHHHH The Venice Film Festival honored Cate Blanchett for her performance as Lydia Tár, a prominent conductor with dark secrets, in this drama from Todd Field (Little Children). (158 min, R. Palace; reviewed 11/2)

TICKET TO PARADISEHH1/2 Julia Roberts and George Clooney play a divorced couple who join forces to sabotage their daughter’s wedding. Ol Parker directed. (104 min, PG-13. Essex, Palace)

TILLHHHH The mother (Danielle Deadwyler) of murdered teen Emmett Till fights entrenched racism to bring his killers to justice in this historical drama from Chinonye Chukwu (Clemency). (130 min, PG-13. Savoy)

UTAMAHHH1/2 A Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival went to Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s drama about an elderly Quechua pair fighting to survive a drought in the Bolivian highlands. José Calcina and Luisa Quispe star. (87 min, NR. Savoy)

VIOLENT NIGHTHHH Santa Claus (David Harbour) steps in to save a rich family from a gang of mercenaries in this holiday action comedy from Tommy Wirkola. With John Leguizamo and Beverly D’Angelo. (101 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Welden)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

AND LIFE GOES ON (Catamount, Wed 14 only)

CONAN THE BARBARIAN 40TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Mon & Tue only)

THE DARK CRYSTAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY RE-RELEASE (Essex, Wed 7 only)

EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME (Essex, Thu & Sun only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: THE HOURS (Essex, Sat only)

THE POLAR EXPRESS (Paramount, Sat only)

TOP GUN: MAVERICK (Majestic, Palace)

WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE? (Catamount, Wed 7 only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DECEMBER 7-14, 2022

WED.7

agriculture

VITINORD: The triennial wine makers’ conference brings together grape growers from the world’s colder climates for four days of talks and tastings. See vitinord.org for full sched ule. Hilton Burlington, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $60-360; preregister. Info, info@vitinord.org.

bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: The artisan market goes virtual, with gifts from more than 70 vendors available online. Prices vary. Info, womensfestvt@gmail. com.

business

EFFECTIVE GRANT WRITING TO FUND

YOUR INITIATIVE: Attendees learn how to find funding, write compelling proposals and connect more deeply with donors. Presented by Vermont Council on Rural Development. 10-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-6091.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING

INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Local professionals make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

climate crisis

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: BILL MCKIBBEN: The author, activist and 350.org leader provides an overview of the climate crisis and what changes need to be made to save the planet. Norwich Congregational Church, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1184.

dance

DANCE COMPANY OF MIDDLEBURY WORK IN PROCESS SHOWING: Undergraduate dancers perform what they’ve been working on. Talk-back follows. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 443-6433.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: Viewers experience 19thcentury explorer Henry Bates’ journey through the Amazon rainforest. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admis sion free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘THE MAGIC FLUTE’: The Metropolitan Opera’s colorful, kaleidoscopic 2006 produc tion of Mozart’s masterpiece returns to screens. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 1:30 p.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: Sparkling graph ics take viewers on a mindbending journey into phenom ena that are too slow, too fast or too small to be seen by the naked eye. 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; admis sion free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: An adventurous dolichorhyn chops travels through the most dangerous oceans in history, encountering plesiosaurs, giant turtles and the deadly mosasaur along the way. 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.

‘WHERE IS THE FRIEND’S HOUSE?’: This internationally beloved 1987 Iranian drama follows a young boy’s increas ingly determined attempts to return his friend’s notebook. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: Sandhill cranes, yellow warblers and mallard ducks make their lives along rivers, lakes and wetlands. 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.

food & drink

ARTISANAL WINE PAIRING DINNER: A five-course season al menu pairs perfectly with libations from small, artisan vineyards across California. Edson Hill, Stowe, 6 p.m. $195; preregister. Info, 253-7371.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beverlyblakeney@ gmail.com.

WHAT IS YOGA THERAPY: Local mental health professionals learn how yoga could help their clients in this webinar presented by Christine Badalamenti Smith, Lucy D’Aponte and Sarah Quinttus. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 391-9731.

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 1-2:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beverlyblakeney@gmail.com.

holidays

CELEBRATION OF TREES: Stupendously decorated Christmas trees are raffled off to raise funds for ANEW Place’s services for home less Vermonters. University Mall, South Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Free; $5 per raffle ticket. Info, eregan@anewplacevt.org.

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.

GO STOWE HOLIDAY STROLL: Local shops offer discounts, and shoppers collect stamps at participating businesses for the chance to win a fabulous prize package. Main St., Stowe. Free. Info, 800-467-8693.

HOLIDAY CRAFTING NIGHT: Crafty locals make cards, dip candles and sew dream pil lows as gifts for themselves or others. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:15-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

lgbtq

THRIVE QTPOC MOVIE NIGHT: Each month, Pride Center of Vermont virtually screens a movie centered on queer and trans people of color. 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, thrive@pridecentervt.org.

music

THE DISSIPATED EIGHT: Middlebury College’s oldest a cappella group performs songs old and new without losing sight of its barbershop roots. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $5-10. Info, 382-9222.

LUNCHTIME PIPE ORGAN SERIES: HENRY DANAHER: The Dartmouth College music director goes hard on the historic Estey organ, playing a program of vin tage works across the centuries. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 401-261-6271.

as well as various interpretations of the character over the years. Rutland Free Library, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: CHARLOTTE BARRETT: The his torical preservationist discusses the legacy of immigrant familyowned markets in Burlington and Winooski. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: JOURNALISTS CONSIDER COMMUNITY NEWS REPORTING: Center for Research on Vermont director Richard Watts heads up a panel discussion about report ing in the digital age. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STUDENT

PERFORMANCE RECITAL: University of Vermont music students prove their chops in a variety of genres. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

WILD WOODS SONG CIRCLE: Singers and acoustic instrumen talists gather for an evening of music making. Zoom option available. Godnick Adult Center, Rutland, 7:15-9:15 p.m. Free. Info, 775-1182.

ZACH NUGENT UNCORKED: The sought-after guitarist plays a weekly loft show featuring live music, storytelling and special guests. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

politics

2022 ANNUAL MEETING AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: The Vermont Council on World Affairs lets loose at a public, catered reception and silent auction. Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 557-0018.

WINTER SPEAKER SERIES: DENISE GIGANTE: The Stanford University professor welcomes listeners into the wild world of 19th-century book collectors. Presented by Vermont History. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 479-8500.

words

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: KEKLA MAGOON: The National Book Award-nominated author of Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People considers reading and collective action as tools for social change. Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 754-6660.

THU.8

bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS

BIZ BUZZ MEETUP: Local female business owners meet and chat over coffee. Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington, 10-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, info@vtwomenpreneurs. com.

crafts

LIST

YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE

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.

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

=

ONLINE

UVM STAFF COUNCIL HOLIDAY BAZAAR: University of Vermont staff, alumni, students and community members show case homemade jam, art, soap, knitwear and other striking gifts. Grand Maple Ballroom, Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 656-4493.

language

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celticcurious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: GARRETT M. GRAFF: The author of Watergate: A New History dis cusses how the infamous political scandal was even weirder than most remember. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: ARNOLD ISIDORE THOMAS: Vermont’s first Black denominational leader con siders whether one of the whitest states in the nation is prepared for changing demographics. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

FIRST WEDNESDAYS: BARRY DEITZ: The scholar looks at the life and times of Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,

DROP-IN KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: Yarnsmiths create hats and scarves to be donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf. All supplies provided. ADA acces sible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.7

REGULATING AT HOME: Caregivers of neurodivergent children learn how to create a calming routine through compassion and careful planning. Presented by Vermont Family Network. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-5315.

burlington

BABYTIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones. Pre-walkers and younger. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

CRAFTERNOON: Crafts take over the Teen Space, from origami to stickers to fireworks in a jar. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY: LEGO & BOARD GAME TIME: Blocks and boards make for a fun, creative afternoon. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABY TIME: Parents and caregivers bond with their pre-walking babes dur ing this gentle playtime. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABYTIME: Teeny-tiny library patrons enjoy a gentle, slow story time featur ing songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

CRAFTERNOON: MARBLE DROP GAME: Aspiring engineers build a Rube Goldberg-esque marble game. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

LEGO BUILDERS: Elementary-age imagi neers explore, create and participate in challenges. Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

CHESS CLUB: Kids of all skill levels get one-on-one lessons and play each other in between. Ages 6 and up. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youth get together each month to

Moving and Grooving

DEC. 11 | FAMILY FUN

Contra dancing gets the all-ages treatment at Dance, Sing and Jump Around, a family social dance that aims to welcome kids and parents into a centuries-old New England tradition. There’s no experience necessary — attendees learn every line dance, circle dance and singing game step-bystep. It’s all set to live traditional fiddle music, and healthy snacks keep dancers fueled. Caretakers are encouraged to dance and play just like the children; no one is turned away for lack of funds. And if your family can’t make it, don’t fret: The event will be back on second Sundays through April.

DANCE, SING AND JUMP AROUND

Sunday, December 11, 3-4:40 p.m., at Capital City Grange in Berlin. See website for additional dates. $5 suggested donation; free for kids. Info, 223-1509, dancesingandjumparound.weebly.com.

read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’: Based on the classic children’s novel by Edith Nesbit, this holiday musical by Northern Stage celebrates kindness and community. Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $19-69. Info, 296-7000.

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR GRADES 1-4: Students make friends over crafts and story time. George Peabody Library, Post Mills, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 333-9724.

STORY TIME!: Songs and stories are shared in the garden, or in the com munity room in inclement weather. Norwich Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1184.

THU.8

chittenden county

LEGO CLUB: Children of all ages get crafty with Legos. Adult supervision is required for kids under 10. Winooski Memorial Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

LEGO TIME: Builders in kindergarten through fourth grade enjoy an afternoon of imagination and play. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MAKERS: Students in grades 5 through 8 make delicioussmelling pomanders out of oranges and cloves. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize out on the patio. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Books, songs, rhymes, sign language lessons and math activities make for well-educated young sters. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

READ TO SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary is super excited to hear kids of all ages practice their read ing. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

SECRET SPY CHEMISTRY: Kids use sci ence to make invisible ink and write se cret messages. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-5:45 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

FUSE BEAD CRAFTERNOONS: Youngsters make pictures out of color ful, meltable doodads. Ages 8 and up. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Energetic youngsters join Miss Meliss for stories, songs and lots of silliness. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

PRESCHOOL PLAY & READ: Outdoor activities, stories and songs get 3- and 4-year-olds engaged. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’: See WED.7, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

FRI.9 burlington

VISIT SANTA: Little ones tell the big man their Christmas wishes. Homeport, Burlington, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

chittenden county

ESSEX JUNCTION TRAIN HOP & TREE LIGHTING: A map from Brownell Library leads locals on a scavenger hunt toward a tree-lighting ceremony in the village center and model train displays at local businesses. Various Essex Junction loca tions, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

KIDS MOVIE: Little film buffs congregate in the library’s Katie O’Brien Activity Room for a screening of a G-rated movie. See southburlingtonlibrary.org for each week’s title. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

LITTLE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Little ones learn to play D&D and build their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Ages 8 through 11. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

TEEN ADVISORY BOARD: Teenagers meet new friends and take an active role in their local library. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

ORIGAMI ORNAMENTS: Crafty kids fold paper into cute Christmas tree decorations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

rutland/killington

‘ANNIE JR.’: The tiny thespians of Rutland Youth Theatre present the tale of an orphan and her hard-knock life. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $1015. Info, 775-0903.

upper valley

‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’: See WED.7.

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in stories, songs and silliness. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: An authentically decorated Victorian farmhouse parlor sets a merry mood for holiday stories, candle dipping and cooking demos. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular admission, $8-17; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355.

Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $14-16; $60 for series pass. Info, 382-9222.

‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’: Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy gets an art deco refresh in this irresistible production streamed live from the National Theatre stage. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $615. Info, 748-2600.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7.

‘THE STREET PROJECT’: Emmy Award-winning director Jennifer Boyd’s new documentary follows global efforts to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Discussion and refreshments fol low. Old Spokes Home, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, vpop802@ protonmail.com.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

food & drink

ICE BAR AT WINTER LIGHTS: The twinkling winter wonderland transforms into a foodie’s dream with frosty wine and spirits and treats from local food trucks.

Shelburne Museum, 5:30-10 p.m. $70-85. Info, 985-3346.

O.N.E. COMMUNITY DINNER: A vegetarian holiday meal precedes the Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, jessicahymanvt@ gmail.com.

health & fitness

FALL PREVENTION TAI CHI: Humans boost their strength and balance through gentle, flowing movements. Levels 1 and 2, 9-10 a.m.; Level 3, 10-11 a.m. St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Vergennes, 9-10 & 10-11 a.m. Free; donations ac cepted. Info, lhfrancis839@gmail. com.

holidays

CAROLING: Pop-up merrymakers surprise shoppers with their fala-las. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington. Free. Info, 863-1648.

Joy to the World

For months, the several dozen Ukrainian refugee children living at Derby’s House of Mercy have been working with Berklee College of Music grad Theresa Cianciolo to form a choir. Now, they take to the stage alongside various Northeast Kingdom high school choirs for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday show. The young singers are joined by acclaimed folk artist David Mallett and virtually by the Dzvinochok boys’ choir and Vognyk girls’ choir in Kyiv. Audience members also enjoy an authentic Ukrainian meal of borscht and blini. All proceeds benefit Ukrainian refugees in Vermont.

‘TOGETHER: A HOLIDAY CONCERT FOR UKRAINE’

Saturday, December 10, 7 p.m., at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. $10-30. Info, 533-2000, highlandartsvt.org.

CELEBRATION OF TREES: See WED.7.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

LU LU HOLIDAY MAKERS

MARKETS: Folks discover local artists and makers, enjoy warm drinks and other sweets, and revel in the magic of a holiday season in Vermont. Lu•lu, Vergennes, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 777-3933.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: Woodstock overflows with festive fun and fare, including movies, caroling, candle dipping, sleigh rides and live music. See woodstockvt.com for full schedule. See calendar spotlight. Various Woodstock locations, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Prices vary. Info, 457-3555.

music

JAZZ GUITAR & POST BOP

ENSEMBLE: Student musicians

play tunes to jive to from Thelonius Monk, Stevie Wonder and more. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

MARTIN SEXTON: The criticallyacclaimed singer-songwriter brings his soulful voice to the stage. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 8-11 p.m. $35-55. Info, 760-4634.

SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR: South African singers celebrate the antiapartheid movement and the American Civil Rights movement with a rousing, hopeful program of works by Aretha Franklin, James Brown and more. Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 7-9 p.m. $15-52; free for kids under 18. Info, 748-2600.

outdoors

AUDUBON WEST RUTLAND

MARSH BIRD WALK: Enthusiastic ornithologists go on a gentle hike and help out with the monthly marsh monitoring. Meet at the boardwalk on Marble Street. West Rutland Marsh, 8-11 a.m. Free. Info, birding@rutlandcountyaudubon. org.

LARRY CLARFELD: A researcher flies through the history of the Burlington Christmas Bird Count. Presented by Green Mountain Audubon Society. 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, gmas@ greenmountainaudubon.org.

politics

THOUGHT CLUB: Artists and activists convene to engage with Burlington‘s rich tradition

of radical thought and envision its future. Democracy Creative, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, tevan@democracycreative.com.

words

NO PRESSURE BOOK GROUP: There are no rules and no assignments in this virtual book club, at which readers discuss old favorites, current obsessions and recent recom mendations. Presented by Waterbury Public Library. 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

FRI.9 bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY HOOP CLASSES: Hula hoopers of all ages get loopy at this weekly class. Champlain Elementary School, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Donations. Info, 355-8457.

ONLINE GUIDED MEDITATION: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

holidays

CANDY CANE MAKING DEMONSTRATION: Merry makers watch as sugar workers boil, pull, turn, roll and twist festive treats.

Laughing Moon Chocolates, Stowe, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; $6 to make a candy cane. Info, 253-9591.

CAROLING: See THU.8.

CELEBRATION OF TREES: See WED.7.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: The VINS forest canopy walkways and sur rounding woodlands transform into a twinkling winter wonder land open for strolling. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 5-7 p.m. $5-10; free for members under 17; preregister. Info, 359-5000.

HIGH SCHOOL CAROLING: Student singers from across the state bring shoppers some holiday cheer. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 3:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

‘HOLIDAY POPS’: Guest conduc tor Anthony Parnther leads the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in renditions of classic carols and music from The Nutcracker. Barre Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $10-30. Info, 476-8188.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY’: Bells ring and angels get their wings when the Valley Players bring a holiday classic to life. Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $14-18. Info, 583-1674.

‘KRAMPUSNACHT: STORIES OF LIGHT AND DARK FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: The folk loric Christmas demon Krampus presides over an evening of stories, songs and bonfires.

Bald Mountain Theater Outdoor Amphitheater, Rochester, 7:308:30 p.m. $15. Info, 767-4800.

‘MANUAL CINEMA: A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: An interdisciplinary performance collective delivers a visually inventive film adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic.

Presented by Middlebury College. 7:30 p.m.-midnight. Free; preregister. Info, 443-6433.

ST. J SPARKLES: Wagon rides, fireworks, a Christmas bazaar and handbell music make for a happy holiday weekend. See discoverstjohnsbury.com for full schedule. Various St. Johnsbury locations, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8575.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See THU.8, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: HOLIDAY SHOWCASE AT THE GRANGE THEATRE: Local performers present a festive variety show. Grange Theatre, South Pomfret, 7-9 p.m. $20. Info, 457-3500.

WINTER SOLSTICE MINI-FEST: Grammy-nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner and formidable folk act Low Lily come together for a seasonal bluegrass spectacular. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $20. Info, 382-9222.

language

ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE ITALIAN CONVERSATION: Semifluent speakers practice their skills during a slow conversazi one about the news. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

ALMOST QUEEN: Chevron mus taches and face-melting guitar solos make for a startlingly authentic Queen tribute. Strand Center for the Arts, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. $47-77. Info, 518-5631604, ext. 105.

CHAD HOLLISTER: Heartfelt lyrics propel catchy pop-rock tunes from the veteran solo act. Shelburne Vineyard, 7-9:30 p.m. $10-14. Info, 985-8222.

MUSIC JAM: Local instru mentalists of all ability levels gather to make sweet music.

BALE Community Space, South Royalton, 7-10 p.m. Free. Info, 498-8438.

outdoors

EARLY WINTER BIRD MONITORING: Community scientists watch for warblers, spy sparrows and hear hawks to con tribute to Audubon’s database. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 8-10 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

talks

JIM HAGAN: A Milarepa Center board member gives a video presentation titled “Notes on the Power Places of Tibetan Buddhism – Central Tibet.” 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 633-4136.

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: Everyone’s favorite bloodcur dling brood faces the ultimate fright: Wednesday’s nice, normal boyfriend and his parents. Presented by Very Merry Theatre. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, ben+shows@verymerrytheatre. org.

BROADWAY DIRECT: The beloved annual musical theater revue returns, featuring veterans alongside up-and-coming local performers. Vergennes Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $10-20; cash bar. Info, 877-6737.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: Bibliophiles browse thousands

of gently used page-turners, CDs, DVDs and puzzles, with proceeds benefiting library programs and collections. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

SAT.10

bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

climate crisis

VECAN CONFERENCE: The Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network hosts its 15th annual conference to work toward a more sustainable future. See vecan.net for full schedule. 9 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 223-2328, ext. 112.

crafts

29TH ANNUAL SOLIDARITY CRAFT FAIR: More than 30 vendors offer handmade and fair trade wares. A silent auction and tasty eats round out this benefit for Main Street Middle School. Unitarian Church of Montpelier & Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 793-1821.

dance

GREEN MOUNTAIN CABARET 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW: Drag performers, hilarious hosts, and past and present members of Vermont’s own neoburlesque dance troupe celebrate a decade of shaking and grooving. Raffle benefits Pride Center of Vermont. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 8 p.m. $25.-30. Info, info@greenmountaincabaret. com.

JENNI JOHNSON: The renais sance woman vocalist sings jazz standards for attendees to swing dance along to. Dress code is “Vermont semiformal.”

Champlain Club, Burlington, 8-10:30 p.m. $20. Info, 864-8382.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

‘THE HOURS’: The Metropolitan Opera streams composer Kevin Puts’ musical adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s acclaimed novel. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 12:55 p.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600. Loew Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1 p.m. $10-22. Info, 603646-2422. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 1 p.m. $10-24. Info, 382-9222.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

food & drink

FREE SATURDAY CHOCOLATE TASTINGS: A sommelier of sweet stuff leads drop-in guests through a tasting platter. Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory Store & Café, Burlington, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Free. Info, 864-1807.

games

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

holidays

BARNARTS HOLIDAY CABARET: Old friends on piano, guitar, woodwinds and more fill the Hayloft with seasonal music and cozy vibes. Artistree Community Arts Center Theatre & Gallery, South Pomfret, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $25. Info, 234-1645.

‘BOUNDLESS JOY’: Mad River Chorale celebrates its 30th an niversary with a holiday concert including Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” which the ensemble sang at its very first show. Waitsfield United Church of Christ, 7:30 p.m. $1215. Info, 496-4781.

CANDY CANE MAKING DEMONSTRATION: See FRI.9.

CAROL ANN JONES: The folk songstress and her quartet de liver an uplifting holiday concert full of sing-alongs and cheer. Saint Albans Museum, St. Albans, 7-9 p.m. $15-18. Info, 527-7933.

CAROLING: See THU.8.

CELEBRATION OF TREES: See WED.7.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE SALE: Fancy cookies, candies, Dutch goodies and other treats are sold by the pound. Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 458-7615.

‘CLARA DREAMS’: Elan Ballet Theatre presents an enchant ing, all-ages rendition of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 5:30-8 p.m. $20. Info, 760-4634.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.9.

HOLIDAY MARKETS: Wine, beer and spirit tastings punctuate hol iday shopping. Viva Marketplace, South Hero, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 373-2321.

‘HOLIDAY POPS’: See FRI.9. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $8.35-54.23. Info, 863-5966.

HOLIDAY SWEATER PARTY: Locals don their favorite festive sweater and enjoy beer specials, mulled wine and savory treats from Pie Empire. Simple Roots Brewing, Burlington, 3-9 p.m. Free. Info, 399-2658.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY’: See FRI.9, 2 & 7 p.m.

‘KRAMPUSNACHT: STORIES OF LIGHT AND DARK FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: See FRI.9.

‘MANUAL CINEMA: A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See FRI.9.

MERCY MARKETPLACE: Participants in Mercy Connections programs offer homemade crafts, art and tasty treats. Virtual options available. Mercy Connections, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-7063.

MERRY TUBA CHRISTMAS: Horn players honk out holiday classics for Church Street Marketplace shoppers. Homeport, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

ST. J SPARKLES: See FRI.9, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

‘TOGETHER: A HOLIDAY CONCERT FOR UKRAINE’: A choir made up of Ukrainian refugee kids is joined by folk singer Dave Mallett and more in this once-in-a-lifetime show. See calendar spotlight. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $10-30. Info, 533-2000.

UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER WORKSHOP: Armed with baubles and glue guns, locals deck out their plain pullovers into gaudy, light-up monstrosities. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 244-7036.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See THU.8, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION FOR

ALL: Native French speaker Romain Feuillette leads an infor mal discussion group. All ages and abilities welcome. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

music

THE BEERWORTH SISTERS: Alongside guest violinist Tim Swanson, the Beerworths make sweet music in the loft. Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

THE BLUEGRASS PIONEERS: The roots revival veterans deliver hard-driving harmonies. Adamant Community Club, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $15. Info, 454-7103.

Rising Yuletide

DEC. 8-11 | HOLIDAYS

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Woodstock. The town’s signature Christmas festival, Wassail Weekend, features four days of festive fun for all ages. If you’re into live music, there are performances by Còig, Sweet Honey in the Rock and Prydein at Town Hall Theatre, as well as a Messiah Sing at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church. If craft fairs or carriage rides are more your thing, you’re set. For the kids, there are story times at Norman Williams Public Library and puppet shows by No Strings Marionette. And the centerpiece is the Annual Wassail Parade, featuring horses, a cappella carols and a tree lighting.

WASSAIL WEEKEND

Thursday, December 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Friday, December 9, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 10, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, December 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at various Woodstock locations. Prices vary. Info, 457-3555, woodstockvt.com.

CYMBAL SOUND BATH WITH MATT SOMOLIS: A unique sonic experience soothes listeners into a relaxed state of mind. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, 4-6 p.m. Donations. Info, 401-261-6271.

TRIO MEDIÆVAL: Everything from Dark Ages hymns to contempo rary Nordic jazz is fair game with this Grammy Award-nominated Norway group. South Church Hall, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. $3042; free for kids under 18. Info, 748-2600.

VERMONT FIDDLE ORCHESTRA WINTER CONCERT: String and flute players present a fantasia of all things folk, from Scottish jigs to Appalachian reels to Shetland polkas. Barre Opera House, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, 476-8188.

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: See FRI.9, 2 & 6:30 p.m.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

HISTORY BOOK DISCUSSION

GROUP: The Marshfield Historical Society and Jaquith Public

Library lead a conversation about American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard. Old Schoolhouse Common, Marshfield, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 454-1680.

POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and shar ing circle for poets of all ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SUN.11

bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT WINE FAIR: Vino en thusiasts enjoy a day of tastings, panels and rubbing elbows with industry growers. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $35; preregister; limited space. Info, 234-1933.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

food & drink

FOOD FOR TALK COOKBOOK BOOK CLUB: Home chefs make a recipe from Cucina Siciliana: Fresh and Vibrant Recipes From a Unique Mediterranean Island by Ursula Ferrigno and meet to compare results. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DEGOESBRIAND COUNCIL 279 PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Hungry locals pile their plates with flapjacks, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and Vermont maple syrup. Cathedral of St. Joseph, Burlington, 9-11:30 a.m. $10-25. Info, 862-5109.

WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Shoppers sip a local beer while browsing local bites at this wintertime hub for local growers, bakers and crafters. Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, noon-3 p.m. Free. Info, 391-9120.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators are always welcome to join this weekly practice in the tradi tion of Thich Nhat Hahn. Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 6:30-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@ gmail.com.

KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: Participants prac tice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Donations; preregis ter. Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: Mindful folks experience sitting and walking meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Shambhala Meditation Center, Burlington, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, lungta108@gmail.com.

holidays

‘BOUNDLESS JOY’: See SAT.10. Waterbury Congregational Church.

CAROLING: See THU.8.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON: The Milton Community Band and the Colchester Community Chorus give a family-friendly holiday show. Nonperishable donations for the food shelf accepted. Milton High School, 3 p.m. Free. Info, ruthgovt@gmail.com.

CELEBRATION OF TREES: See WED.7.

CHRISTMAS ORATORIO (ORATORIO DE NOËL): Student and professional musicians perform Camille Saint-Saëns’ epic holiday cantata. First Congregational Church, Burlington, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 862-5010.

‘CLARA DREAMS’: See SAT.10.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

‘HOLIDAY POPS’: See FRI.9. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 3 p.m. $10-32. Info, 775-0903.

HOLIDAY SMATTERINGS MARKET SERIES: BTVFlea presents a fes tive bazaar featuring local mak ers, live jazz and, of course, BBCO brews for sipping. Burlington Beer Company, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2337.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY’: See FRI.9, 2 p.m.

‘MANUAL CINEMA: A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See FRI.9, .

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See THU.8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

music

GREEN MOUNTAIN YOUTH SYMPHONY WINTER CONCERT: The repertory, concert and senior orchestras present a varied pro gram of classical favorites. Barre Opera House, 2 p.m. Donations. Info, 476-8188.

HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’: The Choir of College Street Congregational Church and the ensemble

L’Harmonie des saisons usher in the holiday season with a joyful chorus of hallelujahs. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 & 7:30 p.m. $30; free for students and kids. Info, 603-557-7504.

MANELA: Violinist Marie Neige Lavigne invites audiences to dis cover her original compositions and her ensemble’s penchant for improvisation. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 3-5:30 p.m. $25. Info, 888-626-2060.

‘ORCHESTRAPALOOZA’: Hundreds of young musicians from three different Vermont Youth Orchestra Association ensembles perform masterpieces spanning classical to contemporary. The Flynn, Burlington, 4 p.m. $15-20. Info, 863-5966.

PLAY EVERY TOWN: Prolific pianist David Feurzeig continues a four-year, statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Donations benefit 350 Vermont. Richmond Free Library, 3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 321-614-0591.

theater

‘BAGGAGE FROM BAGHDAD: BECOMING MY FATHER’S

DAUGHTER’: A one-woman show by playwright and performer Valerie David tells the story of her Iraqi Jewish family as they flee pogroms, take refuge in America and survive prejudice. Grange Hall Cultural Center, Waterbury Center, 3 p.m. $15. Info, 244-4168.

MON.12

bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

business

BOOKKEEPING: BEYOND BORING: Vermont Womenpreneurs hosts a webinar that demystifies and destresses

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.

the process of balancing your business’ books. 12:30-1:30 p.m. $10; preregister. Info, info@ vtwomenpreneurs.com.

climate crisis

VECAN CONFERENCE: See SAT.10, noon-1:30 p.m.

crafts

DROP-IN KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: See THU.8.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

health & fitness

ADVANCED TAI CHI: Experienced movers build strength, improve balance and reduce stress. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@ skyrivertaichi.com.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range

FAMI LY FU N

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Kids 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and take home a fun activity. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 745-1391.

SAT.10 burlington

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Kids from birth through age 5 learn and play at this school readiness program. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

FLYNNZONE KIDS HOUR: MYRA FLYNN: The indie soul singer teaches little mu sic lovers ages 3 through 5 about the differences and similarities between Irish and Black American tunes. The Flynn, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

KIDS’ TRAIN RIDE: The North Pole Express takes kids on a joyride up and down Church Street. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

STORY TIME WITH BECCA IN THE NEW NORTH END: Little patrons of the li brary’s new location enjoy a morning of stories and songs. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 1111:30 a.m. Free. Info, 540-9176.

VISIT SANTA: See FRI.9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

chittenden county

KARMA KIDZ YOGA OPEN STUDIO

SATURDAYS: Young yogis of all ages and their caregivers drop in for some fun breathing and movement activities. Kamalika-K, Essex Junction, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Donations. Info, 871-5085.

LEGO FUN: Wee builders of all ages construct creations to be displayed in the library. Children under 8 must bring a caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

VT READS PODCAST INTERVIEWS: Friends and families in third grade and up are interviewed for a local teenproduced podcast. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, noon-1 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@ gmail.com.

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 4-6 p.m. Free; dona tions accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@ gmail.com.

holidays

BUCHE DE NOEL (YULE LOG CAKE): Underhill baker Audrey Bernstein demonstrates how to make a showstopping holiday dessert. Presented by City Market, Onion

rutland/killington

‘ANNIE JR.’: See FRI.9, 2 & 7 p.m.

upper valley

‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’: See WED.7, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See FRI.9.

northeast kingdom

‘DECK THE HALLS: A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS REVUE!’: Vermont Family Theatre presents a musical show featuring classic Christmas characters, songs and dance numbers. Orleans Municipal Building, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-8. Info, vfttheatreworks@gmail.com.

outside vermont

‘CLARA’S DREAM’: Crystalline costumes and shifting sets embellish City Center Ballet’s new version of The Nutcracker, infused with fresh choreography. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 1 & 7 p.m. $11-44. Info, 603-448-0400.

SUN.11

burlington

D&D WITH DUNGEON MASTER

ANDREW: Warlocks and warriors battle dastardly foes in a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Ages 9 and up. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

DAD GUILD: Fathers (and parents of all genders) and their kids ages 5 and un der drop in for playtime and connection.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender nonconforming kiddos under 13 enjoy fun, supportive group activities while their parents and caregivers chat.

Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 865-9677.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differ ences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, kvonderlinn@echovermont.org.

VISIT SANTA: See FRI.9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

barre/montpelier

DANCE, SING AND JUMP AROUND: Movers and shakers of all ages learn line dances and singing games set to

River Co-op. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@citymarket. coop.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Locals learning English as a sec ond language gather in the Digital Lab to build vocabulary and make friends. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

words

ADDISON COUNTY WRITERS COMPANY: Poets, playwrights, novelists and memoirists of every

joyful live music. See calendar spot light. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 3-4:40 p.m. $5 suggested donation; free for kids. Info, 223-1509.

middlebury area

‘THE POLAR EXPRESS’: In this 2004 Christmas film, Tom Hanks voices the conductor of a train bound for the North Pole. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 2 p.m. $5-10. Info, 382-9222.

upper valley

‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’: See WED.7, 2 p.m.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See FRI.9.

outside vermont

‘CLARA’S DREAM’: See SAT.10, 2:30 p.m.

MON.12

burlington

STORIES WITH SHANNON: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Imaginative players in grades 5 and up exercise their problem-solving skills in battles and adventures. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: CHARACTERIZATION: Teens prep for next month’s tabletop role-playing campaign by building a bard, wizard, cleric or fighter. Ages 12 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

POKÉMON: Pocket monster aficiona dos show off their card collections and play games together. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-4:45 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: See FRI.9, 2-2:30 p.m.

TUE.13 burlington

GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION: Teens have one hour to craft a cookie masterpiece, then vote on the best

experience level meet weekly for an MFA-style workshop. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jay@zigzaglitmag.org.

LYSLEY TENORIO: The acclaimed author of Monstress and The Son of Good Fortune reads from his prize-winning work. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

ROMANCE READER’S TEA & SWAP: Lovers of love stories trade old favorites and swap recommendations over tea time. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

TUE.13 bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

climate crisis

VECAN CONFERENCE: See SAT.10, noon-1:30 p.m.

community

CURRENT EVENTS

DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library hosts a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle.

building. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1111:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN!: From painting to printmaking and collage to sculpture, creative kids explore different projects and mediums. Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PAGES, A BOOK CLUB FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS: Neighbors discuss the highs and lows of raising tweens, guided by the book Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen by Michelle Icard. Childcare available. Essex CHIPS & Teen Center, Essex Junction, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

PLAYGROUP & FAMILY SUPPORT: Families with children under age 5 play and connect with others in the commu nity. Winooski Memorial Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: A librarian leads half an hour of stories, rhymes and songs. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

TODDLERTIME: Kids ages 1 through 3 and their caregivers join Miss Alyssa for story time. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See THU.8.

ROBIN’S NEST NATURE PLAYGROUP: Outdoor pursuits through fields and forests captivate little ones up to age 5 and their parents. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6206.

mad river valley/ waterbury

HOMESCHOOL RED CLOVER BOOK: Home-taught elementary students read and discuss a new nominee over lunch. Waterbury Public Library, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

randolph/royalton

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & ACTION: Activists ages 14 through 18 discuss

community service, climate action, LGBTQ rights and social justice. BALE Community Space, South Royalton, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 498-8438.

WED.14

burlington

BABYTIME: See WED.7.

CRAFTERNOON: See WED.7.

STEAM SPACE: See WED.7.

chittenden county

AFTERSCHOOL MOVIE: ‘SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY’: This sequel to the classic Looney Tunes basketball flick ups the ante with LeBron James’ deep dive into the Warner Bros. cinematic universe. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABYTIME: See WED.7.

LEGO BUILDERS: See WED.7.

MOVIE MATINEE: Film lovers have a family-friendly afternoon at this screen ing of an animated favorite. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

PLAY TIME: See WED.7.

barre/montpelier

CHESS CLUB: See WED.7.

mad river valley/ waterbury

LEGO CHALLENGE CLUB: Kids of all ages engage in a fun-filled hour of building, then leave their creations on display in the library all month long. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

SOUND ON: Mini musicians dance, play and try their hands at various instru ments. Ages 6 through 9. Waterbury Public Library, 3-3:45 p.m. Free; prereg ister. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’: See WED.7, 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR GRADES 1-4: See WED.7.

STORY TIME!: See WED.7. K

(802) 288-9090

Open: T-F 10-6 | Sat 10-4 www.LennyShoe.com

calendar

10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

dance

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. Beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

food & drink

COOKIE EXCHANGE: Home bak ers drop off two dozen treats on Tuesday, then pick up an as sorted basket of other neighbors’ goodies on Wednesday. Cookies must be individually wrapped; include recipe. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

health & fitness

FALL PREVENTION TAI CHI: See THU.8. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 10-11 a.m. Info, lindsayhart09@gmail.com.

holidays

CEDRR HOLIDAY MIXER: Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region members and friends eat, drink and win prizes at a sea sonal shindig. Heritage Family Credit Union, Rutland, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 773-2747.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

language

PAUSE-CAFÉ IN-PERSON FRENCH CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, pause-cafe+owner@groups.io.

music

SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR: See THU.8. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $30-50. Info, 775-0903.

VOCAL STUDIO RECITAL: Student singers perform selec tions from Into the Woods, Les Miserables and more. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

tech

TECH HELP IN FRANÇAIS, SWAHILI AND LINGALA: Fluent speakers answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in group sessions. Presented by South

Burlington Public Library. 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

words

THE MOTH STORYSLAM: Local tellers of tales recount true sto ries in the hopes of winning an appearance on NPR. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:309:30 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, susanne@themoth.org.

OLGA TOKARCZUK ‘FLIGHTS’ BOOK

DISCUSSION: The Burlington Writers Workshop Lit Group ponders the Nobel Prize winner’s novel over five weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, msevy@ burlingtonwritersworkshop.com.

POETRY GROUP: A support ive verse-writing workshop welcomes those who would like feedback on their work or who are just happy to listen. ADA ac cessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

POETRY SOCIETY OF VERMONT’S 75TH

ANNIVERSARY: Poets read from the PSOV’s journal, the Mountain Troubadour, as well as their solo work, to celebrate three-quarters of a century of wordsmith ing. Virtual option available.

Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

WRITING CRAFT TALK: LYSLEY TENORIO: The visiting author talks shop with listeners interested in the art of writing.

Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, writing@ vermontstudiocenter.org.

WED.14

bazaars

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS: See WED.7.

business

BIZ BUZZ ZOOM: Vermont Womenpreneurs hosts a virtual networking space for women business owners to meet and connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ vtwomenpreneurs.com.

A MATTER OF TIME WITH CLAIRE WHEELER: The Mercy Connections educator covers the fundamentals and best practices of time manage ment. Presented by Women Business Owners Network Vermont. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.7.

climate crisis

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE

CHANGE

ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY: A panel of environmental experts contemplates the consequences of climate change for the Vermont landscape. Presented by Kellogg-Hubbard Library. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-3338.

VECAN CONFERENCE: See SAT.10, noon-1:30 p.m.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D’: See WED.7.

AND LIFE GOES ON: A filmmaker searches for the stars of his previous film in the aftermath of the 1990 Iran earthquake in this fictionalized, autobiographical offering by the director of Where Is the Friend’s House? Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN FILM

SERIES: ‘ALBERT FREY: THE ARCHITECTURAL ENVOY — PART I’: A film explores the forma tive years of Swiss midcentury architect Frey. Virtual option available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

‘INHABITANTS’: A 2021 documentary follows five Indigenous tribes as they work to restore their traditional environmental practices. Presented by Sustainable Woodstock. Free. Info, 457-2911.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.7.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘STOP MAKING SENSE’: This 1984 Talking Heads concert film is next in this screening series from Next Stage Arts and Next Chapter Records. Q&A with Talking Heads members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth

follows. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 387-0102.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D’: See WED.7.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.7.

food & drink

COOKIE EXCHANGE: See TUE.13.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Lovers of tabletop fun play classic games and new designer offerings. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.7.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: See WED.7.

YANG 24: See WED.7.

holidays

BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT: Perfectly bal anced horns and voices make for an intimate program of carols. Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $20-30. Info, 457-3981.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.7.

language

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.7.

lgbtq

MOMENTUM MONTHLY VIRTUAL SOCIAL HOUR: LGBTQ folks ages 55 and up gather to make new friends and connect with old ones. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, eeka@pridecentervt.org.

music

ZACH NUGENT UNCORKED: See WED.7.

outdoors

EYEING THE STARS: VINS hosts an out-of-this-world viewing party for the Geminid meteor shower, featuring hot cocoa and lessons in Greek mythology. Ages 5 and up. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 7-9:30 p.m. $9.50-13.50; preregister; limited space. Info, 359-5000.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.7.

talks

deep into the history and psychology of conspiracy theories. Presented by Vermont Humanities. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, jpelletier@ vermonthumanities.org.

words

AFTER HOURS BOOK CLUB: Patrons discuss Chances Are the story of three longtime friends re visiting an old mystery, by Richard Russo. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

PHOENIX BOOKS VIRTUAL POETRY OPEN MIC: Wordsmiths read their work at an evening with local performance poet Bianca Amira Zanella. Presented by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 855-8078.

MARK DERY: An author and cultural critic dives

FFL BOOK CLUB: ‘THE RAVENMASTER: MY LIFE WITH THE RAVENS AT THE TOWER OF LONDON’: Readers break down Christopher Skaife’s memoir of his time as the Queen of England’s raven keeper. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30 p.m.

POETRY POTLUCK: Wordsmiths and readers bring a dish and a poem (their own or others’) to share. Whirligig Brewing, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@catamountarts.org.

POETRY SOCIETY OF VERMONT’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY: See TUE.13. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. m

classes

THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

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 youths and adults for classes in drawing, painting and fused glass. Location: Davis Studio, 916 Shelburne Rd., S. Burlington. Info: 802-425-2700 davisstudiovt.com

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE WAY OF HARMONY: Discover the dynamic, flowing martial art of aikido. Learn how to relax under pressure and cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. Aikido techniques emphasize throws, pinning techniques and the growth of internal power. The circular movements emphasize blending movements rather than striking. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class!

Knowledge is a

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language

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE:

Registration for winter French language classes is now open!

The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region offers French language classes from beginner through advanced levels. Winter session begins January 9. Go to our website to learn about our offerings. Register by contacting Micheline Tremblay, education@aflcr.org.

Location: Alliance Française, Burlington. Info: education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org.

Starting on Tue., Jan. 3, at 6 p.m. for adults; youths at 4:30 p.m. Membership rates incl. unlimited classes. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families.

Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington.

Info: Benjamin Pincus, 951-8900, bpincus@burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIUJITSU: We offer a legitimate Brazilian jiu-jitsu training program for men, women and children in a friendly, safe and positive environment. Julio Cesar “Foca” Fernandez Nunes; CBJJP and IBJJF seventh-degree Carlson Gracie Sr. Coral Beltcertified instructor; teaching in Vermont, born and raised in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! A two-time world masters champion, five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu national champion, three-time Rio de Janeiro state champion and Gracie Challenge champion. Accept no limita tions! 1st class is free. Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston.Info: 598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

music

DJEMBE & TAIKO DRUMMING: JOIN US!: New classes (outdoors mask optional/masks indoors). Taiko Tue. and Wed.; Djembe Wed.; Kids & Parents Tue. and Wed. Conga classes by request! Schedule/register online.

Location: Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington.Info: 999-4255, spaton55@gmail.com, burlingtontaiko.org.

wellness

SEASONAL SELF-CARE FOR WINTER: Embrace the quiet starkness of winter through movement, rest, learning and connection. Monthly Saturday a.m. gentle yoga, meditation, acupressure self-massage and more; monthly Wednesday p.m. book clubs explore Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass (recordings available). Enjoy three months of the on-demand class library, supportive virtual community, inspirational weekly emails plus other extras. $149 for the series. Live yoga classes are at 8:30 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 10; Sat., Jan. 7; & Sat., Feb. 4. Live book club meetups are at 5 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 14; Wed., Jan. 18; & Wed. Feb. 15. Recordings will be avail. Info: Jo Bregnard, 781-760-1373, jo@jobregnard.com, jobregnard. com.

865-1020, ext. 142 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

SUMMARY: Cody is a cuddly love bug who loves to be with people! In his previous home, he had lots of land to roam around on and often spent time outside. Cody’s new family will need to be patient and kind while he adjusts to a new routine. If you’re looking for a most very good boy who’d like be your one and only snuggle partner, stop by to meet Cody!

CATS/DOGS/KIDS: Cody needs to be the only dog in his new home. He has lived with a cat and with older children.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: While Cody can hang out with dogs successfully when food and toys aren’t present, he needs to be the only dog in his new home. His new family will need to be mindful of not having toys or food out if doggy friends visit.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DOG FOSTERS NEEDED!

We’re looking to expand our foster program so we can take in more animals who need our help. We provide supplies, training and resources. If you’re interested in becoming a foster, visit hsccvt.org/Foster-Care

Sponsored by:

CLASSIFIEDS

on the road CARS/TRUCKS

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)

who enjoy gardening & travel. $650/mo., all incl. No pets. 863-5625, homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs., background check req. EHO.

SPACIOUS HOME TO SHARE

Shelburne. Spacious rural home w/ lovely mountain views! Share w/ active senior who enjoys the arts & ping-pong. $400/mo. + cooking 3 times/week & sharing conversation. Private BA. Familiarity w/ memory loss is a plus. 863-5625, homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs., background check req. EHO.

LOOKING FOR ROOMMATE

housing HOUSEMATES

HOMESHARE IN DOWNTOWN BTV

Walkable to UVM/ downtown. Share a home w/ active, retired professional couple

Walkable Burlington apt. for $800/mo. I’m looking for a trans-friendly roommate. e apt. has 3-BR, 1-BA. Recently renovated! No pets. Has a patio, new W/D, DW, oven & fridge. Send me a message! My number is 343-5859.

LAND

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

FERRISBURGH LAND FOR SALE

6.8 treed & open acres. Incl. post & beam 26’x36’ barn, driveway, pond, septic design, electricity on-site. $140,500. 802-877-1529.

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

OFFICE SPACE-SOUTH END

Chiropractic offi ce interested in subletting a beautiful offi ce space. e space incl. windows, natural light, a common waiting room area & a small kitchenette. Please inquire by email to michelle@essential carechirorpactic.com or by phone 802-540-1143.

OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE AT MAIN STREET

LANDING on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy, affordable spaces for your business. Visit mainstreetlanding.com & click on space avail. Melinda, 864-7999.

services: $12 (25 words) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

5% down. 3-day workweek. Flexible hours. No weekends, no callbacks necessary. 518-312-1635.

EDUCATION

ATTN: ACTIVE DUTY & MILITARY VETS

Begin a new career & earn your degree at CTI! Online computer & medical training avail. for veterans & families. To learn more, call 866-243-5931, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET. Computer w/ internet is req. (AAN CAN)

FINANCIAL/LEGAL

CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF!

Reduce payment by up to 50%. Get 1 low affordable payment/mo. Reduce interest. Stop calls. Free no-obligation consultation. Call 1-855761-1456. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

MASSAGE FOR MEN BY SERGIO e weather is cooling off. Time for a massage to ease those aches & pains. Call me & make an appointment: 802-3247539, sacllunas@gmail. com.

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES

In as little as 1 day!

Affordable prices. No payments for 18 mos. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts avail. Call 1-866-370-2939. (AAN CAN)

COVERED HOME REPAIRS

Don’t pay for covered home repairs again! American Residential Warranty covers all major systems & appliances. 30-day risk free/$100 off popular plans. Call 855-7314403. (AAN CAN)

SAFETY UPDATES FOR BATHTUBS

BathWraps is looking for homeowners w/ older homes who want a quick safety update. ey do not remodel entire bathrooms but update bathtubs w/ new liners for safe bathing & showering. ey specialize in grab bars, nonslip surfaces & shower seats. All updates are completed in 1 day. Call 1-866-531-2432. (AAN CAN)

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x120

WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME?

Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home. Set an appt. today. Call 833-6641530. (AAN CAN)

DISH TV $64.99

$64.99 for 190 channels

+ $14.95 high-speed internet. Free installation, Smart HD DVR incl., free voice remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo expires Jan. 21, 2023. 1-866-566-1815. (AAN CAN)

WANT TO BUY

PAYING TOP CASH FOR MEN’S SPORT WATCHES

Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona, GMT, Submariner & Speedmaster. Call 888-320-1052. (AAN CAN)

buy this stuff

MISCELLANEOUS

4G LTE HOME INTERNET

Get GotW3 w/ lightningfast speeds + take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo. 1-866-5711325. (AAN CAN)

BCI WALK-IN TUBS

Now on sale! Be one of the 1st 50 callers & save $1,500! Call 844-5140123 for a free in-home consultation. (AAN CAN)

DIRECTV SATELLITE TV Service starting at $74.99/mo.! Free install. 160+ channels avail. Call now to get the most sports & entertainment on TV. 877-310-2472.

(AAN CAN)

SPECTRUM INTERNET AS LOW AS $29.99

Call to see if you qualify for ACP & free internet. No credit check. Call now! 833-955-0905. (AAN CAN)

PETS

GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES

Purebred goldens, breeding since 1967. Selected AKC, CKC & hunting lines chosen for intelligence, looks & health. Ready now. Contact gweller@ctq2. org, 819-876-2528.

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. Rick Belford, 864-7195, rickbelford.com.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

ser vices

AUTO

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE To fund the search for missing children. Fast, free pickup. 24-hour response. Running or not. Maximum tax deduction & no emission test req. Call 24-7: 855-504-1540. (AAN CAN)

BIZ OPPS

FREIHOFER’S BREAD ROUTE

Essex County, N.Y. area. $105,000. Financing available,

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

PSYCHIC COUNSELING

Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 40+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other lives, classes & more. 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com.

HOME/GARDEN

BURLINGTON WALLPAPERING

Wallpaper installer. Burlington area or within 30 min. Transform a wall or room today!

Call/text Kathleen at 919-270-7526 or email kathleenpeden@ gmail.com. 20+ years’ experience. Visit burlingtonwallpaper andmuralinstaller.com.

HOME ORGANIZER/ DECLUTTERER

Drowning in clutter? Spruce up for the holidays! Experienced & professional. Services: organizing by room/ home, packing/unpacking, selling/donating items. $45/hour, fully vaccinated. Refs. upon request. declutterbtv@ gmail.com.

CALCOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. e numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★ Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. e same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS: See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

NEW EVERY DAY:

Guess today’s 5-letter word. Hint: It’s in the news!

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, DECEMBER

20, 2022, 5:00 PM

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Remote Meeting

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227?

pwd=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09 Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227

Passcode: 969186

Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

1. ZP-22-576; 20 Pine Street (FD6, Ward 3C)

Cathedral Immaculate Conception, Parish Charitable Trust / Salvatore Matano / John Caulo Demolition and removal of existing church building, bell tower, parking lot, and impervious pathways. Planned landscape with trees will be retained.

2. ZAP-22-6; 47 Harrison Avenue (RL-W, Ward 5S) Timothy Ely

Appeal of zoning denial (ZPW-22-148) to replace existing windows with vinyl units.

3. ZAP-22-8; 89 Chestnut Terrace (RL, Ward 6S)

Janine Boix-Vives / Arline Duffy

Appeal of zoning determination (ZP-22-503) recognizing 89 Chestnut Terrace as a separate lot from 41 South Street.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prereq uisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex,

sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to ser vices, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

CITY OF BURLINGTON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

The City of Burlington is soliciting applications from community organizations and City departments for funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the 2023 program year. Funding will be targeted to the priorities identified in the current Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Project proposals from community organizations will be reviewed and scored competitively accord ing to the process outlined in the NOFA.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has yet to announce the ap propriation for the 2023 program year, but the City is anticipating approximately $700,000 of CDBG funds based on the City’s funding history. Funding is expected to be available on July 1, 2023.

The NOFA and application packet may be requested from the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) or online at www.burlingtonvt.gov/ CEDO. Applicants will be invited to submit a final application by January 19, 2023 at 4:00 pm.

A virtual workshop for applicants is scheduled for Thursday, December 15, 2022. For more informa tion, please contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@ burlingtonvt.gov or 802- 735-7002.

CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION

INVITATION TO BID MAIN STREET/VT ROUTE 15 WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

The City of Essex Junction is accepting sealed bids from pre-qualified contractors for the Main Street/ VT Route 15 Waterline Replacement Project.

The contract generally includes the following work items on Main Street/VT Route 15 in the City of Essex Junction: Supply and Install 4,200 If of 12” CL 52 Ductile Iron Waterline; Supply and Install 390 If of 8” CL 52 Ductile Iron Waterline; Supply and Install 7 New Hydrant Assemblies; Pressure Reducing Valve Vault with Associated Pipe, Valves, and Fittings; Supply and Install 1,700 If of 3/4” K Copper Water Service; Supply and Install 35 3/4” Corporation and 35 3/4” Curb Stops; Supply and Install 2,750 cy of Crushed Gravel; Supply and Install 1,925 tons of Bituminous Concrete Pavement; Cement Concrete Curb and Sidewalk; and Supply and Install 315 cy of Topsoil, 4,975 sy of Green Area Restoration.

Sealed bids on forms prepared by the Engineer will be received at the City Office, 2 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, Vermont, 05452, until 2 PM (local time) on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Bid opening will occur immediately after the bid submittal deadline. The time of receiving and opening bids may be postponed due to emergencies or unforeseen conditions. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held for the project at 2 PM (local time) on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the Municipal Parking Lot adjacent to the intersection of Main Street and Densmore Drive. All plan holders will be responsible for familiarizing themselves with the site.

Digital Drawings, Specifications, and other Contract Documents may be obtained by emailing Stephen O. Lizewski, Chief of Field Operations, of Donald L. Hamlin Consulting Engineers, Inc., at slizewski@dlhce.com. Prospective bidders will be added to the Plan Holder List and will be provided with access to a digital FTP site. All Drawings, Specifications, Contract Documents, Addendums, and other relevant project information will be

available on the FTP site. It is the responsibility of the Prospective Bidder to review relevant project information located on the FTP site. Prospective Bidders must be on the Plan Holder List to be eligible to submit a bid. The City of Essex Junction, through its Authorized Representative, reserves the right to waive any informalities in or reject any and all bids, in whole or in part, or to accept any bid deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Essex Junction.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – TOWN OF COLCHESTER, VT SMITH CREEK STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

The Town of Colchester is requesting proposals from engineering firms (Consultants) for design engineering services for the proposed Smith Creek Stormwater Improvements project. The project will involve the further evaluation of stormwater recommendations contained within the Malletts Bay Transportation & Stormwater Scoping project, and preparation of conceptual plans, final plans, and cost estimates for the improvements within three distinct watershed sub‐basins draining to Smith Creek. The improvements that were identified during the scoping process were done at a watershed planning level and the Consultant will need to determine if they fully maximize pollutant reduction opportunities. The Town is willing to consider alternatives to the improvements that were recommended as part of the scoping study so long as improvements maximize pollutant reduc tion, meet the needs of the neighborhood given the site’s existing conditions, utility and Right‐of‐Way constraints, existing infrastructure networks, soils, continuing erosion issues, consideration of the post‐construction maintenance requirements, and other project characteristics.

The Town is seeking qualified candidates with expertise in designing, engineering, and permitting a project as outlined in the Request for Proposal. We are seeking a detailed scope of work and cost proposal for each of the three project areas at this time.

Proposals will be received at the Town of Colchester Department of Public Works, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, VT until January 11, 2023 at 3:00 PM. For the complete Request for Proposal, please visit the Town website at: http://www. colchestervt.gov/bids.aspx

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 22-PR-06355 IN RE: ESTATE OF MARY JANE BARRETT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of Mary Jane Barrett, late of Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: November 7, 2022

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Laura B. Zuchowski, Executrix

Executor/Administrator: Laura B. Zuchowski,171 Slate Barn Drive Williston, VT 05495 802-598-0198 lbzuchowski@gmail.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: December, 7th 2022

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit

Address of Probate Court: P.O. Box 511, Burlington, VT 05402

To the creditors of: PAUL PERRY, late of Shelburne, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 12/2/22

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater

Executor/Administrator: Brian Perry, c/o Launa L. Slater, Wiener & Slater, PLLC 110 Main Street, Suite 4F Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 863-1836 launa@ wsvtlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: December 7, 2022

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit

Address of Probate Court: P.O. Box 511 Burlington, VT 05402-0511

STATE OF VERMONT VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CALEDONIA UNIT, CIVIL DIVISION DOCKET NO: 141-19 CACV

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF9, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF9 v.

SHON D. LACOSS AND MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN, A DIVISION OF NATIONAL CITY BANK OF INDIANA

OCCUPANTS OF: 206 Charles Street, Lyndon VT

MORTGAGEE’S NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER 12 V.S.A. sec 4952 et seq.

In accordance with the Judgment Order and Decree of Foreclosure entered April 29, 2022, in the above captioned action brought to foreclose that certain mortgage given by Shon D. Lacoss to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for First Franklin, a division of National City Bank of Indiana, dated March 7, 2006 and recorded in Book 174 Page 302 and re-recorded in Book 188 Page 153 of the land records of the Town of Lyndon, of which mortgage the Plaintiff is the present holder, by virtue of the following Assignments of Mortgage; (1) Assignment of Mortgage from Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for First Franklin, a division of City Bank of IN to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-FF9, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-FF9 dated February 1, 2008 and recorded in Book 188 Page 253; (2) Assignment of Mortgage from Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. to Deutsche Bank National Association Trust Company, as Trustees for the Holders of the First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-FF9, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-FF9 dated July 19, 2011 and recorded in Book 207 Page 171, both of the land records of the Town of Lyndon, for breach of the conditions of said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same will be sold at Public Auction at 206 Charles Street, Lyndon, Vermont on December 19, 2022 at 11:30 AM all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, To wit:

Being certain premises consisting of a lot of land with a dwelling house and improvements thereon, located in the Village of Lyndonville, known and numbered as 206 Charles Street (formerly 17 Charles Street).

Being all the same land and premise conveyed to Gene H. Before by Warranty Deed of Judy Dufour, widow, dated April 4, 1994 and recorded in Book 114, page 347 of the Lyndon Land Records.

Further described as, the premises herein conveyed are all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Roland E. Dufour (now deceased) and Judy Dufour, husband and wife, by warranty deed of Frank P. Hall and Madeline H. Hall, dated September 28, 1982 and recorded in Book 79, Page 109 of the Lyndon Land Records; and being further described

as all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Frank P. Hall and Madeline H. Hall by warranty deed of John J. Downes and Charlotte D. Downes, dated July 30, 1971 and recorded in Book 55, Page 316 of the Lyndon Land Records.

Reference is hereby made to the aforesaid deeds and their records and to all prior deeds in the chain of title and the records thereof for a further and more particular description of the lands and premises hereby conveyed.

Reference is hereby made to the above instru ments and to the records and references contained therein in further aid of this description.

Terms of sale: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described.

TEN THOUSAND ($10,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid by a certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid by a bank wire, certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check within sixty (60) days after the date the Confirmation Order is entered by the Court. All checks should be made payable to “Bendett & McHugh, PC, as Trustee”.

The mortgagor is entitled to redeem the premises at any time prior to the sale by paying the full amount due under the mortgage, including the costs and expenses of the sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale.

DATED: November 7, 2022

By: /s/ Rachel K. Ljunggren Rachel K. Ljunggren, Esq. Bendett and McHugh, PC 270 Farmington Ave., Ste. 151 Farmington, CT 06032

STATE OF VERMONT VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CALEDONIA UNIT, CIVIL DIVISION DOCKET NO: 21-CV-03311

J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE ACQUISITION CORP. v. KAREN WRIGHT AND STATE OF VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION OCCUPANTS OF: 399 US Route 2B, St. Johnsbury VT

MORTGAGEE’S NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER 12 V.S.A. sec 4952 et seq.

In accordance with the Judgment Order and Decree of Foreclosure entered April 6, 2022, in the above captioned action brought to foreclose that certain mortgage given by Karen Wright to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for MetLife Home Loans, a Division of MetLife Bank, N.A., dated October 1, 2010 and recorded in Book 350 Page 208 of the land records of the Town of St. Johnsbury, of which mortgage the Plaintiff is the present holder, by virtue of the following Assignments of Mortgage; (1) Assignment of Mortgage from Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. to MetLife Home Loans, a Division of MetLife Bank, N.A. dated September 20, 2011 and recorded in Book 356 Page 653; (2) Assignment of Mortgage from MetLife Home Loans, a Division of MetLife Bank, N.A. to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. dated February 19, 2014 and recorded in Book 382 Page 162; (3) Assignment of Mortgage from

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. S/B/M Chase Home Financial LLC S/B/M Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation to Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC dated May 31, 2017 and recorded in Book 424 Page 96; and (4) Assignment of Mortgage from Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC to J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Corp., dated October 14, 2021 and recorded in Book 476 Page 159, all of the Town of St. Johnsbury Land Records, for breach of the conditions of said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same will be sold at Public Auction at 399 US Route 2B, St. Johnsbury, Vermont on December 19, 2022 at 10:30 AM all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, To wit:

Being a parcel of land, said to contain 7.93 acres, more or less, together with a dwelling and other improvements thereon, known and numbered as 399 US Route 2B, in the Town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont; and being all and the ame lands and premises conveyed to Karen Wright by Warranty Deed of Thomas Moore and Sharon Moore, dated of even or near date and recorded prior to or simultaneously herewith in the St. Johnsbury Land Records.

And being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Thomas Moore and Sharon Moore by Limited Warranty Deed of Passumpsic Savings Bank, dated August 10, 1998, and recorded in Book 244 at Page 475 of the St. Johnsbury Land Records. And being all and the same lands and premises the subject of a foreclosure action entitled Passumpsic Savings Bank v. Carl Lewis Gamba, Jr., et al in the Caledonia Superior Court, Docket No. 203-9- 96 Cacv as follows:

1. Certificate of Non-Redemption, dated April 15, 1998, and recorded in Book 242 at Page 150 of the St. Johnsbury Land Records.

2. Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure, dated March 16, 1998, and recorded in Book 242 at Page 151 of the St. Johnsbury Land Records.

3. Amended Certificate of Non Redemption, dated June 24, 1998, and recorded in Book 244 at Page 472 of the St. Johnsbury Land Records.

4. Amended Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure, dated June 13, 1998, and recorded in Book 244 at Page 473 of the St. Johnsbury Land Records.

Reference may be had to the aforementioned deeds and the records thereof and to all prior deeds and their records for a further and more complete description of the land and premises hereby conveyed.

Reference is hereby made to the above instru ments and to the records and references contained therein in further aid of this description. Terms of sale: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described. TEN THOUSAND ($10,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid by a certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid by a bank wire, certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check within sixty (60) days after the date the Confirmation Order is entered by the Court. All checks should be made payable to “Bendett & McHugh, PC, as Trustee”.

The mortgagor is entitled to redeem the premises at any time prior to the sale by paying the full amount due under the mortgage, including the costs and expenses of the sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale.

DATED: October 20, 2022

By: /s/ Rachel K. Ljunggren Rachel K. Ljunggren, Esq.

Bendett and McHugh, PC 270 Farmington Ave., Ste. 151 Farmington, CT 06032

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-01331

LOCATED AT 28 ADAMS DRIVE, WILLISTON VT, 05495 WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT THE 15TH OF DECEMBER 2022 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF JAMIE PETERS.

Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-04910

LOCATED AT 28 ADAMS DRIVE, WILLISTON VT, 05495 WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT THE 15TH OF DECEMBER 2022 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF JENNIFER COOK.

Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-4476

LOCATED AT 28 ADAMS DRIVE, WILLISTON VT, 05495 WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT THE 15TH OF DECEMBER 2022 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF MOHAMED MOGE.

Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 02-00208

LOCATED AT 48 INDUSTRIAL AVE , WILLISTON VT, 05495, WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT THE 15TH OF DECEMBER 2022 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF DELDRICK HOWELL.

Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale.

WARNING JERICHO FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1 SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 19, 2022

The legal voters of Jericho Fire District No. 1, Vermont are hereby notified and warned to meet at Deborah Rawson Library meeting room, in the Town of Jericho on Monday, December 19, 2022, between the hours of 10 o’clock (10:00) in the forenoon (a.m.), at which time the polls will open, and seven o’clock (7:00) in the afternoon (p.m.), at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot upon the following Article of business:

ARTICLE I

Shall general obligation bonds or notes of Jericho Fire District No. 1 in amount not to exceed Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars ($66,000), subject to reduction from available state and federal construction grants-in-aid and other financial assistance, be is sued for the purpose of constructing water system transmission and distribution improvements, such improvements estimated to cost Sixty-Six Thousand Dollars ($66,000)?

The legal voters and residents of Jericho Fire District No. 1 are further warned and notified that a virtual informational hearing will be held on Monday, December 12, 2022, commencing at 7 o’clock (7 p.m.) for the purpose of explaining the subject proposed water system improvements and the financing thereof.

The legal voters of the Jericho Fire District No. 1 are further notified that voter qualification, registration and absentee voting relative to said special meeting shall be as provided in Section 2484 of Title 20, and Chapters 43, 51 and 55 of Title 17, Vermont Statutes Annotated.

Adopted and approved at a duly convened meeting of the Prudential Committee of the Jericho Fire District No. 1 held on November 15, 2022. Received for record and recorded in the records of Jericho Fire District No. 1 on November 15, 2022.

ATTEST: /s/Charles Windisch FIRE DISTRICT CLERK

JERICHO FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1 /s/Jeffrey Earl /s/Fred Lavenberg /s/Ann Lerner-Kroll Prudential Committee

WARNING POLICY ADOPTION

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Board of School Directors gives public notice of its intent to adopt local district policies dealing with the following at its meeting scheduled on December 13, 2022:

C7 - Board Commitment to Non-Discrimination

E17 - Policy on Non-Discriminatory Mascots and School Branding

Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Office of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.

Highway Maintenance Worker

The Town of Jericho is accepting applications for a Highway Maintenance Worker Level II. This is a full-time position which requires a CDL (min Class “B”) and the ability to routinely work outside of regular working hours. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience in highway maintenance, snow plowing, construction procedures and methods at the municipal level. Equipment operation experience is a plus.

The starting hourly wage is dependent on qualifications.

The Town of Jericho offers excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance and a retirement plan.

Application & job description can be downloaded from jerichovt.org

They are also available at: Jericho Town Hall 67 VT Rt. 15, Jericho Mon-Fri, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

Completed applications can be submitted to Paula Carrier in person, via email at pcarrier@ jerichovt.gov or via mail to PO Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465.

Position is open until filled.

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

HOLIDAY CASH

Are you recently retired or between careers? Just looking for something for a few weeks or months? We have seasonal positions to make The World’s Finest Ham, Bacon and Smoked Meats, as well as positions in our call center and warehouse fulfilling orders. Flexible shifts to meet most schedules, paid training, a fun work environment.

Apply in person: 210 East Main St, Richmond (Just 15 minutes from Burlington or Waterbury)

Professional Careers in Worldwide Travel

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

CGC is seeking a Program Director who has a passion for orchestrating magical moments and believes in Camp for Everyone. The Program Director is responsible for all aspects of program planning, as well as hiring, training and supervision of staff for programs throughout the year. CGC offers full health & dental benefits, 401(k) and flexible work schedule and high season childcare to employees.

Full job description here: cgcvt.org/about-us/employment/ Email resume, letter and references by December 21st to: connor@cgcvt.org

Join Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling Vacations, an awardwinning, Vermont-based active travel company, and be part of our high performing, international team.

We have amazing opportunities for Accounting and Service Professionals interested in supporting worldwide travel adventures with a leader in the industry, positively impacting established brands and working with a team of collaborative and gifted travel pros.

We’re seeking professionals for the following full-time positions:

· GUEST SERVICES AGENT

· STAFF

ACCOUNTANT

If you’re passionate, driven by excellence, want to make a difference and are looking for balance in your quality of life – check us out!

Ready to learn more? Visit our career pages at VBT.com or countrywalkers.com & submit your resume to nvoth@vbt.com

Community Kitchen Academy (CKA) is a 9-week job training program featuring: Hands on learning, national ServSafe certification, job placement support and meaningful connections to community. Plus... the tuition is FREE and weekly stipends are provided for income eligible students!

At CKA you’ll learn from professional chefs in modern commercial kitchens and graduate with the skills and knowledge to build a career in food service, food systems and other related fields. Throughout the 9-week course, you’ll develop and apply new skills by preparing food that would otherwise be wasted. The food you cook is then distributed through food shelves and meal sites throughout the community. CKA is a program of the Vermont Foodbank, operated in partnership with Capstone Community Action in Barre and Feeding Chittenden in Burlington. Next session starts in January, 2023.

APPLY ONLINE: vtfoodbank.org/cka

Equal

Tourism Specialist

Part time, per diem: $16.25/hr

The Williston I-89 Welcome Centers are looking to hire part-time and/or per diem employees with great customer service skills. Duties will include some custodial tasks and physical tasks including snow removal. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Hours of operation are 7am to 7pm. You must be able to work weekends & some holidays.

To apply or learn more about the position, email nicole@vermont.org

Housing Services & Assistance Specialist

Do you want to work for an Agency that positively impacts the lives of over 20,000 individuals?

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Housing Advocacy Programs seek a motivated problem-solver who will provide counseling, education, referral, and advocacy services to help support and stabilize low income mobile home residents’ housing conditions. This is a 40 hours/week, temporary position with possible extension contingent on funding. View our job description: recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/1423084

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. Please visit cvoeo.org/careers and include a cover letter and resume with your application. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity and excellence.

CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

CUSTODIAN

Saint Michael’s College is seeking applications from dependable and efficient workers to fill a custodial position. The shift is Monday – Friday, 5:00 AM1:30 PM. Successful candidates will join a team that cleans College buildings, including dormitories, restrooms, offices, and classrooms. Training will be provided for the right candidate. Benefits include health, dental, vision, employer-paid life and disability insurance, voluntary life, critical illness and accident insurance options, parental leave, flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent care), 401(k), generous paid time off, paid holidays, employee and dependent tuition benefits, employee and family assistance program, well-being programs and opportunities, discounted gym membership, paid volunteer time, use of the athletic facilities and the library, and countless opportunities to attend presentations, lectures, and other campus activities.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCFTCMF

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER

The Department of Public Safety at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for a full-time Public Safety Officer. This position requires the ability to deal with a wide range of individuals, often in 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 performing duties. Maintaining a safe campus includes the performance of routine services, response to incidents and emergencies, and completing necessary documentation and follow-up. The schedule is rotating and includes nights, weekends, and holidays. This position will require regular work hours, as well as evening, weekend, and holiday times.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCFTPSO

SECURITY OFFICERS

Full-Time & Per Diem positions available!

The primary responsibilities of the Security O cer are to conduct patrol duties, respond immediately to emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance, and document services provided on each shift. Each University of Vermont Medical Center Security O cer is assigned to a specific Campus. High School graduate or equivalent, valid driver’s license and safe driving record required.

Learn more and apply: uvmhealth.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/ EXTERNAL/?q=security

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

BURLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY (BHA), located 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. Join us and make a difference in our community!

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responds to referrals from Coordinated Entry to assess need for housing search services and level of support needed to secure housing

• Provides direct retention services which may include home visits, supportive counseling, making referrals on behalf of household, accompanying member(s) of household to appointments, providing/coordinating transportation when needed, coordinating services which may benefit the household, and work to stabilize the housing as necessary

• Coordinates services which are beyond scope of housing search and makes appropriate referrals back to housing retention team or other agencies when necessary

• Supports households in meeting with landlords and attending showings in BHA’s service area

• Support the household’s awareness of resources, increase overall resiliency, and promote stability and proactivity over crisis management

• Collects and maintains required data and case notes in centralized database

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree required in human services or related field. Previous experience in direct service and advocacy preferred. Exhibits effective verbal and written communication skills. Knowledge of the social services network is preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and internet navigation required. Excellent time-management skills and the ability to work independently are required.

To learn more about our organization, please visit: burlingtonhousing.org.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

BHA offers a competitive salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience. We offer a premium benefit package at a low cost to employees. Benefits include medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance and access to reduced cost continuing education. We also offer a generous time off policy including paid time off, sick, and 13 paid holidays. And sign on bonus of up to $2,000.

If interested, please submit your resume and cover letter to: HUMANRESOURCES@BURLINGTONHOUSING.ORG

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

The Vermont Historical Society seeks a full-time Director of Finance & Operations based in Barre. The DFO is responsible for management of all VHS financial functions, including financial statement preparation, personnel administration, grant accounting, and day-to-day bookkeeping. The position is also responsible for supervising and administering all operational contractors, including facilities, IT, and security. The DFO is a member of the senior management team and may be called on to supervise other staff as needed.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in accounting, bookkeeping, or finance and ten or more years of bookkeeping or accounting experience required. Expertise in non-profit and fund accounting preferred. Starting salary approximately $70,000 with generous benefits package.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to steve.perkins@vermonthistory.org Candidates will be considered as submitted.

Chef/Cook

Full Time, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

We have an opening for a Full-Time Chef/Cook for our Dining Services Department. e individual selected for this position will cook/prepare meals for 64 residents. Meals are cooked from scratch using local Vermont products. Candidate must maintain all the cleanliness and preparedness of the kitchen, will utilize the dishwasher, and will perform cleaning assignments. Clean background check required.

You can download an application at www.westviewmeadows.com, or email: hr@westviewmeadows.com, or stop by 171 Westview Meadows Road, Montpelier, VT 05602.

rough the hard work of our sta , our community has achieved the highest standards of excellence for resident care.

Program Coordinator

Yestermorrow Design/Build School is seeking a Program Coordinator to perform a variety of project support, facility maintenance and custodial services. Duties include classroom setup, material coordination, basic tool maintenance, assisting with various construction and maintenance projects and light custodial work. This position will play a critical role in ensuring that our facilities (classrooms, dormitories, etc) are prepared for the weekly turnover of programming.

The ideal candidate will have basic carpentry skills and knowledge, be enthusiastic about working on a team, flexible and self directed.

To apply, email a resume and cover letter to nick@yestermorrow.org. Please use the following format in the subject line LAST NAME Program Coordinator. For a full job description, please visit yestermorrow.org/programcoordinator

Grants

Accounting & HR Assistant

The Vermont Studio Center seeks an Accounting and HR Assistant to support the accounting and human resources team. In this role you will be responsible for all aspects of AR, AP, processing of biweekly payroll, and supporting human resources administration. Confidentiality and the ability to work with people of all cultures and backgrounds is essential. For a full job description and application instructions, please visit: vermontstudiocenter. org/jobs-at-vsc

Nursing Home Transition Advocate

Help individuals with disabilities live their best lives in the community and in their homes. Position includes one-on-one peer support and advocacy, outreach to nursing homes and community partners and systems advocacy.

This grant funded position is for 2-4 years, 37.50 hours per week @ $18.00/per hour plus great benefits.

Full job description & apply: www.vcil.org

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Family Housing Voucher Program Administrator

Do you want to work for an Agency that positively impacts the lives of over 20,000 individuals?

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Housing Advocacy Programs seek an energetic and committed individual with a high degree of initiative to join our team as the Family Housing Voucher Program Administrator. In this position you will manage the rental assistance support program for families with dependent children experiencing homelessness across Vermont. Please view our job description: recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/1422966

When you come to work for CVOEO you're getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. Please visit cvoeo.org/careers and include a cover letter and resume with your application. CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

VCIL is an EOE/affirmative action employer. 2v-VCIL120722.indd 1 11/30/22 10:18 AM

RESIDENT MANAGER

South Square

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) is seeking a Resident Manager for South Square Apartments, located in Burlington, VT. South Square Apartments is a community designated for the elderly and disabled and as such is supported by community and resident services. South Square Apartments provides communal spaces and group events that encourage engagement for our residents.

The Resident Manager is required to live at South Square and is provided with a free apartment, along with a monthly telecommunication stipend and free utilities. The Resident Manager is on-call after BHA business hours and every other weekend to attend to various resident requests, assisting with emergency service, and light cleaning duties.

Perk up!

Trusted, local employers are hiring in Seven Days newspaper and online.

Browse 100+ new job postings each week.

The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, an attention to detail, and flexibility in their role with the residents. Basic computer skills, such as Word and e-mail, are required.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

Please send a letter of interest to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org.

Human Resources, Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main St, Suite 101, Burlington, VT 05401

Burlington Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer www.burlingtonhousing.org

WHY NOT HAVE A JOB YOU LOVE?

Plus, have a benefit package that includes 29 paid days off in the first year, a comprehensive health insurance plan with your premium as low as $13 per month, up to $6,000 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, a retirement match, and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for four years running.

Great jobs in management ($46,000-$58,000 Annual) and Direct Support Professionals ($19-$20 per hour) at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities. All positions include a generous sign-on bonus. Make a career making a difference & join our team today! ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

RESOURCE ACCESS MANAGER COORDINATOR OF STUDENT ADVISING

CCV is hiring! We’re looking for dynamic, mission-driven people who want their work to make a positive difference in Vermont and for Vermonters. The Community College of Vermont is Vermont’s second largest college, serving nearly 10,000 students each year. CCV is deeply rooted in Vermont communities, providing students of all ages opportunities for academic and professional growth through flexible, innovative programs and exemplary support services.

COME JOIN OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF!

Benefits for full-time staff include 14 paid holidays, plus vacation, medical, and personal time, automatic retirement contribution, and tuition waiver at any Vermont State College for staff and their dependents (eligible dependents may apply waiver to UVM). Visit ccv.edu/about/employment/staff-positions to learn more.

CCV values individual differences that can be engaged in the service of learning. Diverse experiences from people of varied backgrounds inform and enrich our community. CCV strongly encourages applications from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations.

CCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer, in compliance with ADA requirements, and will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant.

PIANO Accompanist

First United Methodist Church, an open, accepting and grateful faith community, is looking for a piano accompanist to perform and help plan music for Sunday morning worship and some special services. The ideal person will have the ability to play traditional and contemporary pieces, a willingness to work collaboratively with the Pastor to select music for worship services.

Please send letters of interest and a resume to First United Methodist Church, 21 Buell St., Burlington, VT via email at pam@umcburlington.com or via phone at (802) 862-1151

MAINTENANCE OPERATOR

CSWD’s Maintenance Department supports operations through maintenance and transporting materials. This position will include a variety of tasks including a knowledge of basic electrical and plumbing skills, painting, sandblasting equipment, mowing, plowing, & basic vehicle maintenance.

Minimum of two years’ general maintenance experience & ability to drive a roll-off truck required. Competitive salary & excellent benefit package.

For more information on the position and CSWD, visit cswd.net/about-cswd/ job-openings. Submit application or resume to Amy Jewell: ajewell@ cswd.net by 12/19/2022.

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER

The Department of Public Safety at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for a part-time Public Safety Officer. This position requires the ability to deal with a wide range of individuals, often in 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 performing duties. Maintaining a safe campus includes the performance of routine services, response to incidents and emergencies, and completing necessary documentation and follow-up. The schedule is rotating and includes nights, weekends, and holidays. This position will require regular work hours, as well as evening, weekend, and holiday times.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: bit.ly/SMCPTPSO

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

DECEMBER 7-14, 2022

Start the New Year with a New Career at Rhino Foods!

Rhino is hiring like crazy to meet the summer demand for all our delicious products and we need you to join us! If you are hired in an hourly role for our Production, Distribution, Maintenance and Sanitation Teams, Rhino will pay YOU $2,000 on your 6-month anniversary!

Check out our website for all our job listings, which include:

Production 1st, 3rd shifts, $17-18.50 depending on shift Sanitation 2nd shift-$18/hr.

Maintenance Techs 1st shift-DOE

Make Your New Year’s Resolution to Earn some “dough” at Rhino Foods!

Please see more on these openings on our career page at rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers

*Rhino Foods does run sex offender checks on all employees

Join a growing team at an innovative, nationally-recognized organization charged with creating affordable housing, building community, preserving historic assets, and conserving our lands.

Community Development Specialist

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board supports the devel opment and preservation of housing affordable to Vermonters. Use your experience and passion to help add new rental and homeownership opportunities statewide!

Events Manager!

The Intervale Center seeks an enthusiastic Events Manager to join our growing organization. This position is a member of the Center’s Development team, providing important leadership in event management and logistics, and community engagement. An ideal candidate has at least two years of experience working in event logistics and a passion for hospitality, food, planning, and the outdoors!

Intervale Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity of experience, background, and perspective to enrich our work. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. The full job description with instructions on how to apply can be found at intervale.org/getinvolved#employment-banner

Finance Director

Work collaboratively with a highly effective finance team, over see financial operations, ensure compliance with funding sourc es, and lead budget and audit processes. Contribute

Housing Stewardship Coordinator

Evaluate, monitor, and support the long-term sustainability of housing developments across the state. Bring your excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills and assist the network of non-profit organizations creating housing for Ver monters and revitalizing our communities.

VHCB offers an excellent benefit package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. To read the job descrip tions and apply, visit vhcb.org/about-us/jobs. Positions will remain open until filled.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

POSITION STATUS: REGULAR, FULL-TIME FLSA STATUS:  EXEMPT  COMPENSATION:  SALARIED REPORTS TO:  SELECTBOARD

The Director of Public Works provides leadership and performs professional, administrative, management, and technical work in all matters relating to the town’s public works, including public facilities (buildings and outdoor sites) and the highway department. The public works director develops and proposes policies and oversees activity in accordance with general policies established by the Selectboard.

The Director of Public Works is a full-time employee of the Town of Calais and subject to all applicable policies, procedures, rules, and laws that apply to all other municipal employees of the Town of Calais.

Please submit your resume and list of references to Denise Wheeler at calaissbdenise@gmail.com

For a detailed job description and qualifications please visit our website at calaisvermont.gov and see the link on our homepage.

Calais is an equal opportunity employer

to meeting the housing needs of Vermonters and preserving our landscape!

FACILITIES MANAGER

True North Wilderness Program is seeking a full time Facilities Manager. Primary job duties include facilities and grounds maintenance, landscaping and hardscaping, chainsaw operation, vehicle maintenance, tractor work, grass cutting, wood stacking, general construction projects, latrine cleaning and barrel hauling, and canvas shelter construction. Additional responsibilities include supporting clients directly with enrollment, transportation, crisis response and logistical tasks. Offering competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, accident insurance, retirement savings plan, wellness fund, and education assistance program. The ideal candidate is an adaptable team player with a positive attitude who is willing to work both indoors and outdoors and is able to work weekends/occasional evenings. A clean and valid driver’s license is required.

True North is a nationally recognized wilderness therapy program located in the beautiful Green Mountains of Central Vermont. As a small, independently owned program, True North provides personalized therapeutic interventions and transition support for 14- to 17-year-old adolescents and 18- to 25-year-old young adults with an emphasis on assessment and family participation. We are committed to enriching the experience of our students, families, and team by celebrating an inclusive work environment. We seek to recruit a broadly diverse staff who will contribute a variety of viewpoints and experiences to ongoing program development and superior support of our clients. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups including professionals of color & diverse gender identities.

To apply: truenorthwilderness.bamboohr.com/careers/20

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNDERWRITER

Help low- and moderate-income Vermonters access affordable, decent housing. Join the Vermont Housing and Finance Agency (VHFA) as a Community Development Underwriter. This position is focused on underwriting and analysis of prospective multifamily rental housing and single-family homeownership developments. In addition, the role administers Development programs while contributing to other development related work. This is an exempt position with a pay range of $64,000 - $74,000 depending on experience and is eligible for an excellent benefits package.

The VHFA is also searching for a Research and Communications Coordinator who will collect data and conduct analysis of VHFA programs, general housing market, statewide housing needs, and community development research for use by VHFA staff, management, Board, and for external stakeholders. This position will also ensure content is accessible through VHFA’s core information platforms for internal and external use. This role includes developing and updating Agency-wide data, promoting the Agency’s programs and policies, creating informational tools for Vermont communities and policy makers, conducting research, writing reports, press releases, and social media posts as needed.

More information on these positions, please visit: bit.ly/VHFA2jobs

ACCOUNTANT

We are looking for an individual with the training, education, experience, and collaborative communication skills to support the steady execution of our accounting functions and accurate reporting of our financial performance. This position will be responsible for managing the general ledger, generating financial reports, and ensuring compliance with GAAP. Other responsibilities include timely management of revenue, credits, receivables, payables, and loan obligations, as well as tax filing in concert with the CFO and our outside accountants. While we require weekly in office work, a significant portion can be done remotely. This individual will report directly to the CFO, regularly interact with the CEO and managers/staff throughout the company and be the in house lead for other accounting staff.

For a complete job description & list of qualifications: highmowingseeds.com/staff-and-careers

To Apply: Email resume, cover letter and salary history to jobs@highmowingseeds.com. Please put the job title in subject line. No phone calls, please.

Seven Days

Issue: 12/7

Engaging minds that change the world

Seeking a position with a quality employer? Consider The University of Vermont, a stimulating and diverse workplace. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including tuition remission for on-going, full-time positions.

Administrative Coordinator Medical Clearances - Center for Health & Wellbeing - #S4023PO - The medical clearances coordinator for the Center for Health and Wellbeing (CHWB) is responsible for the medical clearance process which helps to ensure students comply with the State of Vermont immunization requirements and University of Vermont policies. This position communicates regularly with students, parents, clinical staff and other UVM departments while assisting students to meet these important requirements.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

This position is full-time, year-round, and is benefits-eligible.

SALARY: MIN $53,000 MAX $67,000.

• BCBS Health Insurance Plan

• Delta Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Tuition Remission

• 45+ days paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Retirement plan

MAIN

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the immunization compliance for first year and new transfer students and COVID-19 vaccine compliance for all UVM students.

registration holds for students who do not meet medical compliance requirements.

the CHWB laboratory order/result database with the University of Vermont Medical Center laboratory.

and sustain University and external relationships that foster health, active engagement, and student success. Promote a respectful, safe, and healthy community life for a diverse student population. For further information on this position and others currently available, or to apply online, please visit www.uvmjobs.com Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm.edu for technical support with the online application.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Due: 12/5 by 11am Size: 3.83 x 7 Cost: $570.35 (with 1 week online)

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.”

CAROLYN ZELLER Intervale Center, Burlington

Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com

You’re in good hands with...

Billing Coordinator

Dynamic chiropractic office seeking part time Billing Coordinator. Primarily work from home, although regular visits to the office are required. Medical billing experience, attention to detail and a sense of humor are required.

Administrative Coordinator

Busy Chiropractic office seeking Administrative Coordinator. Between 15-20 hours weekly. Responsibilities include overseeing general office operations, payroll, payables, banking, coordinate staff schedule, hiring new employees, and providing administrative support to Dr. as needed. Previous HR and Medical office work helpful.

Send Resumes to: officeofdrramirez@ gmail.com

Executive Director

Salary: $110,000 to $125,000

The Executive Director will serve as a dynamic and collaborative leader for the Vermont Arts Council and for the state’s creative sector to ensure everyone has access to the arts and creativity in their lives and communities. This individual will develop an inclusive strategic vision to strengthen the resiliency and sustainability of arts, cultural, and creative sector organizations and individuals across the state.

For more details visit: ArtsConsulting.com/Employment

SUPPORT & SERVICES AT HOME WELLNESS NURSE

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT seeks a part time (15 hours per week – non benefited position)

MAKING REFUGE FELLOW

Apr 1 - Oct 31, housing included.

Visit knollfarm.org to apply.

Homeless

Outreach

Services Provider

Do you want to work for an Agency that positively impacts the lives of over 20,000 individuals?

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity has an exciting opportunity to help individuals who are most in need at our Community Resource Center in Burlington. We are looking for compassionate advocates to help individuals who are experiencing homelessness and who have low income to find or maintain suitable housing, employment and other social and health supports, and connect clients with local social service agencies organizations, landlords, and funding sources. Please view our job description: recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/1423239

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. Please visit cvoeo.org/careers. Include a cover letter & resume with your application.

CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Training Coordinator

The Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging (V4A) is hiring a Training Coordinator to manage its highly successful education program serving the training needs of Vermont’s Area Agencies on Aging staff, community partners, and individuals who support improving the quality of life for older Vermonters. This part-time position comes with generous paid leave and paid holidays. The V4A Training Coordinator must live in Vermont and may work remotely, but travel is required within the state. Maximum number of hours per week is 25. Hourly rate is $24/ hr.-$26/hr. For consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references (with contact info.) by December 16, 2022, to Mary Hayden, Executive Director, maryh@vermont4a.org

For the full job description please visit vermont4a.org

Support and Services at Home (SASH) Wellness Nurse  to provide oversight of wellness care and coaching for SASH participants in accordance with Vermont’s Nurse Practice Act.  The Wellness Nurse is responsible for overseeing the well-being of participants and in coordinating health services with other members of the SASH team and other community providers. The Wellness Nurse supports a philosophy of aging in-place consistent with the mission of SASH.  This position also works with the SASH team on developing individual participant healthy living plans as well as community healthy living plans for the enrolled community at large.

Candidate must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Vermont.  Must possess at least two years of experience in a clinical setting, demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment.  Must also have knowledge of standard record keeping procedures (i.e., progress notes, HIPAA guidelines), excellent verbal and written communication skills, be able to work independently and as part of a team and possess strong organizational and time management skills.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

If you are interested in this career opportunity, please send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org

Human Resources, Burlington Housing Authority

65 Main St, Suite 101, Burlington, VT 05401

Burlington Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer www.burlingtonhousing.org

Health Care Advocate

Vermont Legal Aid seeks candidates for a full-time legal helpline position within the Office of the Health Care Advocate (HCA) in our Burlington office. The advocate will provide legal help over the phone to Vermonters with health care or health insurance problems.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace.

Responsibilities include advising consumers on their rights, investigating and resolving problems, and maintaining a high caseload and detailed case records. The successful candidate must be able to work on a team and have excellent communication and research skills. Four years’ professional work experience or bachelor’s degree, or a comparable mix of education and experience desired.

Experience in advocacy, health care, health insurance, or human services is desirable but not required. Prior legal experience is not required. See website for additional information: vtlegalaid.org/hca-december-2022.

Base salary is $41,281 with salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Four weeks paid vacation, retirement, and excellent health benefits.

Application deadline is Sunday, December 11th. Your application should include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references combined into one pdf, sent by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid.org with “HCA Position” in the subject line. Please let us know how you heard about this position.

RECRUITERS:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Specialist

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Chittenden Community Action Program seeks an individual to coordinate the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which offers free tax preparation services to low-to-moderate income Vermonters, as well as help with rent rebates and homestead property declarations. Please view our job description: recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/1424185

If you have a Bachelor degree in an appropriate discipline, 2 years of community service experience (accounting and/or income tax preparation experience highly desirable); effective verbal and written communication skills (bilingual abilities are a plus); proficiency in Microsoft Word, e-mail and internet; exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail; a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and access to reliable transportation; we’d like to hear from you!

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership. Please visit cvoeo.org/careers and 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

Highway Maintenance/ Mechanic Worker

The Town of Jericho is accepting applications for a Highway Maintenance/ Mechanic Worker Level 3.

This is a full-time position which requires a CDL (min. Class “B”) and the ability to respond to emergencies and snow removal outside of regular working hours.

OPERATIONS/GRANTS MANAGER

THE VERMONT INDIGENOUS HERITAGE CENTER

The operations manager portion of the job includes oversight and management of all the finances, classes, workshops, programs, and events at the Vermont Indigenous Heritage Center. They will work with the Alnôbaiwi Council in their mission to teach and learn Abenaki heritage.

The grants management portion of this position will include managing overall grant efforts, optimizing the grant administration process, overseeing fund-raising, preparing progress reports, ensuring compliance with grant regulations, reviewing grant proposals, managing grant databases, and preparing financial reports. Your skills and expertise in successful grants management will aid our organization in serving the public by securing continuous funding, improving business opportunities through effective funding programs, and executing meaningful projects.

The ideal candidate for this role should have superior organizational skills, great leadership qualities, and exceptional budgeting and monitoring skills. The outstanding grants manager should ensure that grant programs operate efficiently, streamline grant administration, and keep our organization fiscally sound. The grants manager should also exhibit interpersonal skills as they navigate between the Alnôbaiwi Council, other bands, volunteers, and the broader community.

OFFICE OF THE DEFENDER GENERAL

Financial Director – Montpelier

The Office of the Defender General is seeking a Financial Director & Administrative Services Manager to lead the department’s financial operations. This management position operates with considerable independence, reporting directly to the Defender General, and is responsible for all financial functions for the department.

In this role, you will be responsible for the department’s budget development and maintenance, including preparing annual budget projections, analyzing special patterns, advising the DG about needed adjustments, and projecting future needs.

You will also serve as the primary financial liaison for the department, including responding to inquiries from legislators and members of the criminal justice system. You will also have a significant supervisory role and will further support the department by taking responsibility for contract administration, property management, and overseeing procurement of goods and services, among other tasks.

The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills and is positive, self-motivated, assertive, and able to handle a diverse community of personalities and opinions. Prior management experience is preferred. This is an exempt, full-time position with excellent State benefits. Salary: $61,963 - $97,156. EOE.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Gina Puls, HR & Special Counsel, at gina.puls@vermont.gov.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in highway maintenance, construction procedures and methods and the operation of large trucks, graders and excavators, preferably at the municipal level. Supervisory experience is a plus. Work includes general laboring duties, heavy lifting, physical work, equipment operation, and on-call duty (nights, weekends and holidays).

The starting hourly wage is dependent on qualifications. The Town of Jericho offers excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, and a retirement plan.

Application & job description can be downloaded from jerichovt.org

They are also available at: Jericho Town Hall 67 VT Rt. 15, Jericho Mon-Fri, 8:00 am–3:00 pm

Completed applications can be submitted to Paula Carrier in person, via email at pcarrier@jerichovt.gov or via mail to PO Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465.

Position is open until filled.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Degree in business administration or equivalent experience.

· Good communication/interpersonal skills. · Project management skills.

· Excellent organizational skills. · Budgeting and accounting experience. · Computer literacy. · Strong writing skills.

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

Do you want to work for an Agency that positively impacts the lives of over 20,000 individuals?

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER

COMMISSION ON WOMEN COMMUNICATIONS, OUTREACH, & PROJECT COORDINATOR – MONTPELIER

The Vermont Commission on Women seeks an energetic, skilled, and resourceful person who is dedicated to gender equity and social justice to join our tight-knit, highly collaborative team. This position contributes to our mission of advancing rights and opportunities for women, girls, and gender-expansive people in Vermont through day-to-day communications management and strategic public relations and marketing; & developing and implementing public education initiatives, materials, and campaigns. For more information, contact Cary Brown at Cary.Brown@vermont.gov. Department: Vermont Commission on Women. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job Id #44382. Application Deadline: December 18, 2022.

GRANTS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST - MONTPELIER

Do you care about creating equitable, thriving places where Vermonters want to come together to live, work and play? Do you see yourself on a mission-driven team working to revitalize Vermont’s community centers alongside a diverse group of community and program partners? The Department of Housing and Community Development seeks a dynamic team player with hands-on organizational, administrative, and management skills to oversee $20 million in grants that revitalize our villages and downtowns and create vibrant community centers, including an exciting $10 million opportunity to expand the network of electric vehicle charging stations across the state. DHCD is remote work friendly; excellent benefits are included. For more information, contact chris.cochran@ vermont.gov. Department: Commerce & Community Development. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job Id #38341. Application Deadline: December 18, 2022.

Seeking Shared Living Provider

for 2 older adults (male & female) with intellectual disabilities who have lived together for the past 22 yrs. Minimal personal care for both-female is beginning dementia. No mobility concerns, no violent behavior, good with children & animals. A budget to pay others for time in the community for walks & seasonal activities. They assist with household chores & do puzzles. Clients cannot be left home alone but can be independent within the home. Must have 2 available bedrooms. Compensation: Combined annual tax-free stipend is over $81,000.00 plus monthly room and board and contracted supports. Contact Sheila Spencer at sheilas@howardcenter.org or 802-343-3974

Seeking Shared Living Provider

SEASONAL HOLIDAY POSITIONS

Are you looking to make some extra money around the holidays? Dakin Farm is currently seeking applicants to join our holiday team for a fast-paced exciting work environment. No experience is required. These seasonal positions are available from the middle of November through early January.

We have both full and part time positions available in our Warehouse Department. We o er competitive wages, generous employee discounts, and hours that meet your schedule.

For an application or more information please email: tdanyow@dakinfarm.com or jims@dakinfarm.com You can also give us a call or stop by our retail store : 5797 Route 7, Ferrisburgh 1-800-99DAKIN

Administrative Officer

The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Northeast Area, Food Systems Research Unit in Burlington, VT is seeking a perma nent full-time Administrative Officer GS-9;11. The salary for this position is $55,395.00 to $87,126.00 per year plus benefits. U.S. Citizenship is required. The candidate chosen for this position will work closely with the location’s management team to carry out all administrative operations efficiently and effectively. The incumbent will be expected to provide management advisory services in the areas of budget, human resources, purchasing and contracting, facilities, property, and safety and health.

The ideal candidate would be an organized individual with strong management and administrative skills. We are seeking an individual with a diverse background who would use these skills to advise management officials and staff regarding procurement and contracting regulations, procedures, alternatives, and avail ability of funds. The incumbent will also need to promote sound safety and health management practices, implement agency policies and regulations, monitor accident and injury reporting, and assure compliance with regulations. The incumbent contrib utes to the efficient and effective administrative program opera tion and provides recommendations that are used as a basis for management decisions affecting the location.

The opening date of the announcement is December 2, 2022. To view the announcement and/or to apply, please go to usajobs. gov and search for announcement ARS-S23Y-11748678-MDK.

USDA/ARS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Part Time in Chittenden County for a woman in her 30’s. Ideal candidate will be able to provide clear boundaries, clinical support while helping the client develop independent living skills and integrate into the community. Ideal candidate does not have young children. Compensation: $50,000 tax free annual stipend for part-time schedule plus room and board. Contact mgeary@howardcenter.org or 802-488-6553

Seeking Shared Living Provider

for a 33-year-old man who loves video games and Magic the Gathering. He requires all day supervision but can be alone in his room or left at home for up to an hour. This position will require daily supervision and helping the client with meal preparation, some transportation, and emotional support. The ideal placement would be a person or couple without children in the home, but pets are fine. Compensation: $40,000 tax-free annual stipend plus room and board and contracted supports. Contact ahornyak@howardcenter.org or 802-373-1144.

MAIN STREET BARBERS

GO HIRE.

Director of Finance and Operations

The Intervale Center seeks a dynamic, mission-driven Director of Finance and Operations to join our team in Burlington, Vermont and help carry forward the community food revolution sustaining farms, land, and people that we began over 30 years ago! This position is responsible for all financial matters and effective operations of the Intervale Center. The Director of Finance and Operations works closely with the Executive Director, Program Director, Development Director, and the Board of Directors to develop and implement strategies across the organization.

Intervale Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity of experience, background, and perspective to enrich our work. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

For a full job description and how to apply, visit: intervale.org/ get-involved# employment-banner

True North Wilderness Program is seeking a fulltime, year-round Operations Support person. The ideal candidate is an adaptable team player with a positive attitude who is willing to work both indoors and outdoors performing a variety of tasks associated with the logistics of running our program. Tasks including food packing and rationing, gear outfitting, transportation and facilities maintenance.

Candidates must be willing to work weekends and occasional evenings.

A clean and valid driver’s license is required.

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits offered. Benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, a Wellness Fund, student loan repayment reimbursement, and a SIMPLE IRA.

Please apply at: truenorthwilderness.com

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Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Vermont is facing a public health crisis.

Holiday Houses

fun stuff

HARRY BLISS

CALCOKU

JEN SORENSEN

JULIANNA BRAZILL

RYAN RIDDLE

SAGITTARIUS

(NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Sagit tarians are least likely to stay in one location for extended periods. Many of you enjoy the need to move around from place to place. Doing so may be crucial in satisfying your quest for everfresh knowledge and stimulation. You understand that it’s risky to get too fixed in your habits and too dogmatic in your beliefs. So you feel an imperative to keep disrupting routines before they become deadening. When you are successful in this endeavor, it’s often due to a special talent you have: your capacity for creat ing an inner sense of home that enables you to feel stable and grounded as you ramble free. I believe this superpower will be extra strong during the coming months.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Aries filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky wrote, “To be free, you sim ply have to be so, without asking permission. You must have your own hypothesis about what you are called to do, and follow it, not giving in to circumstances or complying with them. But that sort of freedom demands powerful inner resources, a high degree of

self-awareness, and a consciousness of your responsibility to yourself and therefore to other people.” That last element is where some freedom-seekers falter. They neglect their obligation to care for and serve their fellow humans. I want to make sure you don’t do that, Aries, as you launch a new phase of your liberation process. Authentic freedom is conscientious.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): The term “neu rodiversity” refers to the fact that the human brain functions in a wide variety of ways. There are not just a few versions of mental health and learning styles that are better than all the others. Taurus musician David Byrne believes he is neurodiverse because he is on the autism spectrum. That’s an advantage, he feels, giving him the power to focus with extra intensity on his creative pursuits. I consider myself neurodiverse because my life in the imaginal realm is just as important to me as my life in the material world. I suspect that most of us are neurodiverse in some sense — deviating from “normal” mental functioning. What about you, Taurus? The coming months will be an excellent time to explore and cel ebrate your own neurodiversity.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Poet Jane Hirsh field says Zen Buddhism is built on three prin ciples: 1) Everything changes. 2) Everything is connected. 3) Pay attention. Even if you are not a Zen practitioner, Gemini, I hope you will focus on the last two precepts in the coming weeks. If I had to summarize the formula that will bring you the most interesting experi ences and feelings, it would be, “Pay attention to how everything is connected.” I hope you will intensify your intention to see how all the apparent fragments are interwoven. Here’s my secret agenda: I think it will help you register the truth that your life has a higher purpose than you’re usually aware of — and that the whole world is conspiring to help you fulfill that purpose.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Author Flan nery O’Connor wrote, “You have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.” I will add a further thought: “You have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it and strive to

transform it into a better place.” Let’s make this one of your inspirational meditations in the coming months, Cancerian. I suspect you will have more power than usual to transform the world into a better place. Get started! (PS: Doing so will enhance your ability to endure and cherish.)

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Many sports journal ists will tell you that while they may root for their favorite teams, they also “root for the story.” They want a compelling tale to tell. They yearn for dramatic plot twists that reveal entertaining details about interesting charac ters performing unique feats. That’s how I’m going to be in the coming months Leo, at least in relation to you. I hope to see you engaged in epic sagas, creating yourself with verve as you weave your way through fun challenges and intriguing adventures. I predict my hope will be realized.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Venus is too hot and dry for humans to live on. But if travel ers from Earth could figure out a way to feel comfortable there, they would enjoy a marvel ous perk. The planet rotates very slowly. One complete day and night lasts for 243 Earth days and nights. That means you and a special friend could take a romantic stroll toward the sunset for as long as you wanted and never see the sun go down. I invite you to dream up equally lyrical adventures in togetherness here on Earth during the coming months, Virgo. Your intimate alliances will thrive as you get imaginative and creative about nurturing togetherness.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): As far as I’m concerned, Libran Buddhist monk and author Thích Nhat Hanh was one of the finest hu mans who ever lived. “Where do you seek the spiritual?” he asked. His answer: “You seek the spiritual in every ordinary thing that you do every day. Sweeping the floor, watering the vegetables, and washing the dishes become sacred if mindfulness is there.” In the coming weeks, Libra, you will have exceptional power to live like this: to regard every event, however mundane or routine, as an opportunity to express your soulful love and gratitude for the privilege of being alive. Act as if the whole world is your precious sanctuary.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A reader named Elisa Jean tells me, “We Scorpio allies admire how Scorpios can be so solicitous and welcom ing: the best party hosts. They know how to foster social situations that bring out the best in everyone and provide convivial entertain ment. Yet Scorpios also know everyone’s secrets. They are connoisseurs of the skeletons in the closets. So they have the power to spawn discordant commotions and wreak havoc on people’s reputations. But they rarely do. Instead, they keep the secrets. They use their covert knowledge to weave deep connections.” Everything Elisa Jean described will be your specialties in the coming weeks, Scorpio.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn author Edgar Allan Poe made this mysterious statement: “We can, at any time, double the true beauty of an actual landscape by half closing our eyes as we look at it.” What did he mean? He was referring to how crucial it is to see life “through the veil of the soul.” Merely using our physical vision gives us only half the story. To be receptive to the full glory of the world, our deepest self must also participate in the vision. Of course, this is always true. But it’s even more extra especially true than usual for you right now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian theologian Henri Nouwen wrote, “I have dis covered that the gifts of life are often hidden in the places that hurt most.” Yikes! Really? I don’t like that idea. But I will say this: If Nouwen’s theory has a grain of truth, you will capitalize on that fact in the coming weeks. Amazingly enough, a wound or pain you expe rienced in the past could reveal a redemptive possibility that inspires and heals you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Piscean novel ist Viet Thanh Nguyen says it’s wise to talk to yourself. No other conversational partner is more fascinating. No one else listens as well. I offer you his advice in the hope of encourag ing you to upgrade the intensity and fre quency of your dialogues with yourself. It’s an excellent astrological time to go deeper with the questions you pose and to be braver in formulating your responses. Make the coming weeks be the time when you find out much more about what you truly think and feel.

supported by:

Eva Sollberger’s

Burlington artists

Jennifer Koch and Gregg Blasdel recently celebrated 17 years of matrimony. Jennifer owns and runs a frame shop; Gregg was a scholar and a professor of art for 30 years. Eva spent an afternoon watching them print proofs of their collaborative works, called “Marriages of Reason.”

WOMEN seeking...

PROFILE WRITER LOOKING TO RETIRE

I like men who see what they like and don’t fuck around. Tall. Brown-eyed. Womanly figure. Heels or hiking boots. Athletic. Active. Golfer. Skier. Artist. Unconventional. Non-vanilla. Bored. Wine. Neat Scotch. 420. Hot tubs. Flowers. Gardening. Chivalry. Talk to me about your thoughts on life, not your neighbors. D333 54 seeking: M, l

ARTSY, ACTIVE, SOCIAL, INTROVERT

Looking for a man who loves Vermont, is grounded and enjoys meaningful conversations. Youthful, educated, community-minded, endlessly curious, I love to dance, make music, watch indie and foreign films, attend live performances of all kinds, and laugh with friends. I’m in the woods daily to walk the dog, hike, snowshoe, ski, meditate. You? NEKdancerdrummer, 61, seeking: M, l

HARDWORKING THINKER SEEKING COMPANION

I’d love a few thought-provoking companions to hang with now and again. If more develops, I’ll consider more. I work hard but would like to socialize more. Stimulating conversation is top of mind. Prefer someone who lives relatively close to the Burlington area. BornHere, 68 seeking: M, l

FRIENDLY, KIND, CARING

I am looking for someone who can make me laugh and just wants to hang out. Alicat30 30, seeking: M, l

FLOWER GIRL FOREVER

Eternal optimist and explorer, playful realist, and retired teacher seeks friends, companions and lover for dances, dates, discussions and explorations. International travel is a joy, deep discussions, painting and cooking, gardening, hiking, biking, sailing, kayaking with picnics! Playful, fun, average-size brunette with an easy smile and cheerful talk. Speak five languages. Love all cultures and the arts! Flowersgalore 61, seeking: M, l

MONTRÉAL WIFE IN OPEN RELATIONSHIP

Longtime married, very attractive, in open relationship. Desire playmate in Burlington area. I like confident, experienced, athletic, smart, welleducated, charming men. I am not looking to develop a relationship. Would like a regular playmate who is very discreet. My wonderful husband may be around for first meet, so need to be comfortable with that. He does not participate. MontrealWife 53, seeking: M, l

HONEST, KIND, RELAXED, STRAIGHTFORWARD

I love my family. I prefer genuine honesty and kindness. I’m looking for someone to spend time with and who enjoys family time. My interests: camping, road trips, nights at home, cooking for family, gardening, cuddling my grandchildren. I am sweet, loving and compassionate. I like to go dancing and to social events or have fun nights at home. Bluebird, 55, seeking: M, l

I NEED LOVE

I am proud of myself, honestly. I treat others the way I want to be treated, and I need a man who is going to love me and give me joy. elizabethlove, 28, seeking: M, l

MELLOW, CREATIVE OLD HIPPIE

I love myself. Happy with my own company and in a crowd of people. I have many good friends and hobbies. The last time I remember being bored, I was 9! I consider it a really good day when I have learned something new and had a good laugh. Full-blown Libran. Prefer cultured, educated company. Versatility is a must. Zenbabe, 61, seeking: M, l

INTUITIVE, CARING, LOVE BEING OUTSIDE

I am a passionate, fit, caring, downto-earth woman looking to share adventures. I love to be active — hiking, skiing, running, yoga. I love to travel, as I am fascinated by the different ways people live their lives. I hope to have honest, interesting, authentic conversations where we really get to know each other. Let’s meet for coffee or a drink! lovemountains 57, seeking: M, l

SEEKING SIMILAR

I’m an out-of-practice romantic with a small but enthusiastic fan club wasted on cooking for one — a lover of books, art and trivia brimming with unrealized potential and hungry for lively conversation. Possibly in need of a copy editor. Pearly_Sweetcake 41, seeking: M, l

ENERGETIC, CREATIVE, HONEST, INDEPENDENT

I am a combination of outdoorswoman, ballroom dancer and retired application developer. Hardworking, honest, funloving, romantic. Family is important to me. I have a log cabin in the NEK that I love. Hoping to find someone to laugh, learn and explore with. Friends first. College grad, Caucasian. Cabingirl 66, seeking: M, l

ENJOY LIFE BEFORE I’M DEAD

Looking for someone to share time with. Traveling is one of my passions. I enjoy the outdoors, camping, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, music, dancing and playing cards. I love spending time with family and friends and my little dog. ladyinvt 66 seeking: M, l

NATURE-LOVING ARTIST

Looking for new friends for local hikes, bikes, boating, concerts. Would love a travel partner, especially to warmer climes in the winter, and if love grows, that would be fabulous. I am widely traveled. Creative lifelong learner. I prefer a phone chat or FaceTime rather than lots of typing! Also love to just be at home, cooking, gardening, watching movies. Artfulllife, 65 seeking: M, W, l

GOOFY BOOKWORM SEEKING LIFE PARTNER

I giggle a lot and have a tendency to talk fast. I love to read, write, explore new towns, travel, grow flowers, dance and spend time with my dogs. I am looking for a man who will appreciate me, make me feel safe, be patient and kind — someone not afraid of honesty and who can communicate his feelings well; someone who knows himself. _bluesky_kindofday 36, seeking: M, l

LAID-BACK

I’m looking for the one to settle down with, to have a family with. I’m a sweet, caring, loving, compassionate, bighearted woman who will do anything to make anyone happy. I do have a threedate rule. Cassh9883 23, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

MESSENGER IN A BOTTLE

Looking for a woman who likes herself, has a kind tongue, intelligence, a sense of humor, and wants someone with imperfections like mine. I tend to like movies that have character development, rather than special effects and gratuitous action. I avoid junk food as much as I can and get enough exercise but am not overboard with it. Outdoor tendencies. Victor58, 58, seeking: W

WORTHLESSLY OVERQUALIFIED AND HOPELESSLY HOPEFUL

Long-retired college professor who has also worked his PhD into employment as a canine home-care provider, public school kitchen helper and medical assistant to hospital physicians. I currently travel mostly by bicycle, walking, bus and once — so far — “rented” Sparky from CarShare Vermont. I am otherwise still finding my path with the Dao through tai chi and music. HippieHeart 73, seeking: W, l

GREAT ATTITUDE

Hello. I am interested in great attitudes, kids, animals, hard workers, sports, fishing, etc. booboo 53, seeking: W, l

JUST LOOKING

We will see. jasorro, 30, seeking: W

WISE, VIBRANT, YOUNG AT HEART

Excellent generalist, language lover, witty conversationalist. I also live deep in my head and soul, a nature lover, and wish for a man to share the physical to probe the mind and heart. I am a practiced masseur with high potential for sensual abandon. SageOne, 69, seeking: M, l

CAPTIVATING CONVERSATION

Tell me about your passions, your inner thoughts that get you through the day. What drives you to be you? Lifeis2short 53, seeking: W

CARPE DIEM. EXPLORE!

Active lifestyle. Curious about all things! Humor and laughter are important. Creating, building, hands-on. Good food with great conversation. DeNe, 65 seeking: W

GRINNING GRANOLA GLAMPER

Currently single in central Vermont/ New Hampshire, seeking compatible peeps for fun and friendship (possible LTR and/or FWB). Clean, energetic, love to laugh, create new projects/events and volunteer. Yoga, meditation and sound/ vibrations connect me to Source (or your preferred name for It). ShivaShakti 61, seeking: M, W, TW, NC, NBP, l

WHITE BOAT CUMMIN’ UP RIVER

I’m into Neil Young, B. Traven, Passivhaus, wilderness, water, Alexander Berkman, John Prine, writing, saving the world, silence, the stars, German beer, etc. I have no idea who I’m looking for. I’ve probably not learned the lessons I should have. Ragged heart is still on the sleeve. Stilgar 71, seeking: W, l

LOVE

I am a decent and hardworking man. People love to see the moon and stars in the sky, but my eyes just love to see my love’s happy and smiling face! abelfirm 65, seeking: W, l

OLDER FUN LOVER

LOOKING FOR GOOD TIMES

Tall, a little fluffy, experimental, clean and mostly smooth. Looking to meet other fun people. weldon72 75, seeking: M

CONTENT IN THE NEK

I’ve relocated to Vermont as part of several very positive changes in my life. Glad and grateful for how things are shaking out up here in the Kingdom. Still, I’d like to meet someone as keen as I am for conversation, exploring the state/region and seeing what might develop. NeitherFoldedNorSpindled 56, seeking: W, l

JUST A GUY FISHING

First, I work weekends, Thursday evening to Sunday morning. I spend my free time traveling. I don’t have a type. There is something beautiful in all, but it would be nice if you could ride with me or beside me on a motorcycle — not a deal breaker. Skinny or voluptuous, it’s your mind that makes you attractive and sexy. Gs1250a, 64, seeking: W, l

OLD-SCHOOL, READY TO PLAY

I am looking for a fun-loving, beachloving activity partner. I love playing in water; you should, too. I enjoy some good humor. I can laugh at myself. I enjoy cards and board games when the weather chases me indoors. vtswimmer 54, seeking: W

I am a pastor and the executive director of ELOI Ministries, a nonprofit organization promoting human rights in Africa. I live in Colchester and am a donor impact and relationship manager for the DREAM Program. I am looking for a serious relationship. I love getting together with friends, traveling and growing vegetables in my garden. Originally from Uganda. STENDO, 38 seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK GUY

I’m laid-back and respectful. My interests include retro video games, drums, the outdoors, music, retro/vintage. A curious mind. Pmiller, 30, seeking: W, l

EASYGOING

I am a happy, adventurous person who likes to get out and have fun. I love exploring new places and new adventures. I like dancing, hiking, being outdoors, spending time with friends! I’m open-minded. I can find fun in most everything. I am young at heart and enjoy being active. Love listening to rain falling! Like swimming, canoeing, kayaking. Happy63, 63, seeking: W, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

REALIST WHO IS OPEN-MINDED

I’m an honest, down-to-earth person who has been through a lot in life and is looking for companionship since I’m new to the area. I’m not like most people in that I feel people are afraid to talk to me. I don’t go out of my way to make friends. I wait for them to come to me. BreBri2022, 37 seeking: M, W, Cp

COUPLES seeking...

EASYGOING COUPLE LOOKING FUN Married couple looking to spice it up with other like-minded people. Jandjsovt, 52, seeking: Cp

LOVERS OF LIFE

We are a 40s couple, M/F, looking for adventurous encounters with openminded, respectful M/F or couples. Looking to enjoy sexy encounters, FWBs, short term or long term. sunshines 42, seeking: M, W, Q, Cp

LOOKING FOR OUR MAN!

Ideally hoping for a throuple/FWB situation. Us: established M/F couple. DD-free. (She: 44, straight BBW; he: 46, bi MWM). Drinks, 420-friendly, fires, get outside, music, Netflix and chill, always horny. You: DD-free, clean, masculine bi male (30ish to 50ish) who works and knows how to enjoy life! A little rough/hard (top, real man, etc.) with a compassionate heart and a bit of a snuggler. Connection is key. Let’s chat and get to know each other, then play! ginganddaddy 46, seeking: M

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are an older and wiser couple discovering that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Would you be interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen 66 seeking: M, TM, NC, Cp, l

VT COUPLE SEEKING A FEMALE/COUPLE

Fun married couple in their 30s looking for a female or couples for casual dates. We like the outdoors. 3inthevt, 36, seeking: W, Cp, Gp

MVISLANDDREAMIN

I SPY

Saw your profile in the personals; sent a message. Please read and hopefully get back to me. When: Sunday, October 30, 2022. Where: Personals. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915665

WHATCHYA READIN’?

dating.sevendaysvt.com

CYCLING ON PINE

We passed each other in the dark on Pine, near Flynn. You nodded, and I smiled. I appreciated that simple acknowledgment that we weren’t out in the cold alone. Safe travels, fellow commuter! When: Monday, November 28, 2022. Where: Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915674

HANNAFORD SUPERMARKET

Evening. Enjoyed talking with you about horses, blueberries and kids in the checkout line. You were wearing a black hoodie. Are you single? Do you want have a tea or coffee together and chat sometime? When: ursday, November 17, 2022. Where: Hannaford. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915673

WHO HAS THE REMOTE?

Older gentleman wondering who had the remote for the TV at Handy’s Toyota waiting room. We started talking about downtown Burlington, and then my car was ready. When: ursday, November 10, 2022. Where: Handy’s Toyota, St. Albans. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915672

WHY KNOT BE THEIR SQUARED?

My GPS brought me to your location twice. I didn’t catch your name, and I bet you can’t guess mine! When: Saturday, November 13, 2021. Where: in the eyes of the world. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915671

SHAMWOW

Two and a half years, and you still visit my dreams and almost every thought day-to-day! When: Saturday, June 6, 2020. Where: in my dreams. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915670

HELLO, SLOWWALKER

I saw your message a month after you posted it. Sorry for the late reply. I bet Ruby is out of treats; should I bring some more? When: Saturday, September 24, 2022. Where: Shelburne Bay Park. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915669

You finished your ride and loaded up your orange mountain bike onto your black Subaru. ere were numerous glances between us while I stood chatting with my friends. As you drove away, you gave a very friendly smile and wave. It would be great to say hello, maybe do a bike ride or hike, or even just have a drink sometime. When: Sunday, November 6, 2022. Where: Saxon Hill Rd. parking lot. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915668

HAVE WE MET?

Maybe, or in another life? Like me, you’re weary of running away from, running to catch up, running in circles. Let’s be still, be patient and have faith; we will be together soon. en let’s practice those qualities in our union every day. How will we know we have found each other? Love, it will be love that feels right. When: Saturday, November 5, 2022. Where: to be destined by summer 2023. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915667

BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE, VFCU

I was in a black truck at the teller window at lunchtime, in South Burlington. You are a stunning brunette with a great smile! You helped me with a shared branch banking transaction. Wanna grab a coffee sometime? When: ursday, October 27, 2022. Where: VFCU. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915666

HELP WITH CROSSWORD?

I was with someone else when we met at the movie theater — unfortunately. We’re fellow alumni, and you were wearing ... maybe a reddish sweater? Dressed like a professor? I dashed out to the nearest pile of Seven Days specifically for the puzzles, since you didn’t have one to share. I haven’t finished the crossword yet; I thought maybe you’d like to help? When: ursday, October 27, 2022. Where: the Marquis. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915663

You were walking up Church Street with a bag from Phoenix and an iced matcha. I am envious of your afternoon with new books and a sweet drink. If you’d be interested in having company next time, I’d be thrilled to join you. When: Saturday, October 29, 2022. Where: top block of Church St. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915664

FILM FESTIVAL BEAUTY

We spoke at the festival at the entrance of Alcarràs (7 p.m.). While I was fussing about being late, I sensed signs of attraction. It’s mutual. I noticed your gorgeous face and long, curly dark hair. I’m a woman (seeking a woman), mixed race, with long curly hair. Let’s create our own story. When: Saturday, October 22, 2022. Where: Vermont International Film Festival. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915662

MORE KELLBEL

I was going to message you, but it looks like you are now off this site. If you see this message, holler back. I, too, like to take long car rides. When: Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Where: Seven Days Personals. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915661

JUST A STONE’S THROW AWAY You know when you meet someone, still remember their name months later, run into them again and only say “hi” but not their name because you don’t want them to feel uncomfortable? at was the case when I saw you and your dog in the woods by the creek. e pool’s closed, so how about a walk? When: Friday, October 21, 2022. Where: Essex Junction. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915660

BLUE ADIDAS AT COMEDY CLUB

If your name is James, you wear blue Adidas sneakers, like brown boots and have half a brain, maybe we could finish that conversation face-to-face? When: Friday, October 21, 2022. Where: Comedy Club. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915659

De Al Anon,

De Rev end,

I’m in love with my BFF, and we’ve slept together a few times. She’s an alcoholic who is trying to quit drinking, but it’s hard for her. Should we put our relationship on hold until she gets sober, or should I be there to support her? We really love each other, and it would be very hard not to see each other.

Quitting drinking is a difficult thing for anyone to do, but for an alcoholic, it can be damn near impossible —and, in some cases, dangerous.

If your friend quits cold turkey, she may experience significant withdrawal symptoms. If she hasn’t already consulted a physician, it would be wise for her to do so.

ere are also plenty of sites online that can help her find the resources she needs to quit successfully.

You should absolutely be there for your friend while she goes through this tough transition. at’s what best

HIKER PLAYING ‘WOULD YOU RATHER’

“Would you rather fart all day or have a booger hanging out?” I mean, what guy can resist a line like that? Your smile almost stopped my heart. Also, no ring on your left hand. I hope someone in your hiking group sees this. Would you like to get together for a few friendly rounds of “Would you rather”? When: Saturday, October 22, 2022. Where: on the trail of Stowe Pinnacle. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915658

SAW YOU AT SHAW’S

You are very beautiful, and I would like to date you. Some of my interests include reading, working out, bicycle riding and other things. I can cook, too! I would like to find out your interests, as well. I live across from the store. Please get back to me. I want to see you! Sincerely, Jay. When: Monday, October 10, 2022. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915657

CROSSING PATHS AT PRESTON POND

I was surfing on a rock, trying to cross a puddle at Preston Pond with my pup during peak foliage, and you were hiking solo. In our brief encounter, you pointed out the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Want to hike together sometime? When: Saturday, October 8, 2022. Where: Preston Pond trail. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915656

BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE IN BLUE VAN

I see you in Essex driving in your blue van. You have gorgeous dark hair and a pretty face. Sometimes you leave Dunkin’ in your scrubs. People are fortunate to be in your care. If you have a family, they must be very lucky. You may see me waving at you from my red Jeep. I hope you wave back. When: ursday, October 20, 2022. Where: Essex. You: Man. Me: Man. #915655

I spied a dude with longish hair working behind the counter. I glanced at you and then again — awkwardly (sorry). I was wearing a Carhartt beanie and clear glasses. I thought you were super cute and am wondering if you’re single. If so, coffee sometime? When: Sunday, October 16, 2022. Where: South Burlington Bagel Bakery. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915650

PIKMIN DEBATE SATURDAY NIGHT

Your car group pulled up next to me at a red light in SB and asked if the sprout I had was a Pikmin reference. Just wanted to say it made my night to hear you were debating about a little sprout decoration and to have another fun game reference for my car. When: Saturday, October 15, 2022. Where: South Burlington near Staples. You: Group. Me: Woman. #915649

ARCHIE’S IN SHELBURNE

I saw you being sweet with your kids and wished I could have joined in your Frisbee game. I was in a yellow puffy coat at the next table with my parents. ere was excited talk of the playoffs. Something in your smile and presence struck me, and I wish I knew your name. When: Friday, October 14, 2022. Where: Archie’s Grill. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915648

I WISH...

You’re in my thoughts constantly. I want to reach out to tell you how much I miss you, but we made a deal. I wish our circumstances were different, but here we are, pining over what could have been. I miss our banter and texting you photos of the sunrise, wishing you a good morning. I miss you. When: Saturday, October 26, 2019. Where: Grazers. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915647

COLORFUL

LIGHT, MAIN STREET LANDING

Your orange puffy coat was the perfect match for the light made pink by the trees. When: Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Where: Main Street Landing. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915654

WE SAW EACH OTHER AT SHAW’S

Hello. You are very beautiful. If you were here, I would invite you into my life. When: Monday, October 10, 2022. Where: Shaw’s. You: Man. Me: Man. #915653

GEORGIA MARKET, SUNDAY 10/9/22

It was near 2 p.m. We were waiting to check out. You had two bags of sugar, and you were wearing a black coat and jeans. I was also in a black coat and wearing shorts in the cold weather. If by chance you’re single, I would enjoy getting to know you. Hope your Sunday (and assumed baking) went well. When: Sunday, October 9, 2022. Where: Georgia Market. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915646

friends do for each other. But — and that’s a big “but” — if the two of you are in love and have been having sex, you’re

more than just BFFs.

I’m wondering how much her drinking had to do with your intimacy. If you were both sober when you had sex, then it would seem OK to continue with that aspect of the relationship. If you feel that alcohol blurred the lines between friendship and romance, it would be a good idea to put the physical relations

on pause.

at doesn’t mean you have to stop seeing each other altogether, but don’t see each other again until she’s gotten a handle on her drinking and the two of you can assess your relationship through a sober lens.

Good luck and God bless,

What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

SAXON MOUNTAIN BIKER, GREAT SMILE

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

Irreverent

BURLY BAGEL BAKERY & CAFÉ

I’m a male, 70, seeking a female, 50-plus. I am single and looking for a good friend and possible partner. Chittenden County. Phone, please. #1621

I’m a 57-y/o woman. Not married, no children. I stay as healthy as I can. Educated, mostly by deep life experience. Need a dedicated relationship with a man who understands me and treats our unit as No. 1. Need to live in the country. Calm, gardens, sounds of nature, sunset. Please be honest, thoughtful and kind. Be able to relate well to others and be well liked. Phone number, please. #1620

I’m a 70-y/o WF seeking a 70-plus WM. (#1604, I’m interested.) Was widowed 10 years ago and am lonely and seeking a companion. I love being outdoors and seeing birds and animals. Car travel is fun for me. #1618

Young-looking baby boomer woman seeks the same in a male partner. Time is precious. I’m a humanist looking for a nonsmoking, honest, good person. Seeking an occasional drinker without drug or anger issues. Ninety-five percent Democrat and young-at-heart woman who doesn’t drink is looking for a partner, not a serial dater (aka bachelor). #1619

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MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check (made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1

Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above.

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

Calling all bottom fem guys, trans into stockings, high heels, painted fingers, toenails. Any race, young or old. Gay, bi, straight. Always horny. Spend the weekend together. No drugs or smoke. Clean. Phone. #1617

Along life’s highway: 1967 Canadian traditional sedan, high mileage but good steelbelted radials and rust-free, AM/FM radio, power steering, child’s car seat, seeks lightly used sporty 2000 Christian, low-maintenance family van (no child seat), 8-track a plus, for shared travel. #1614

Discreet oral bottom. 54-y/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 round. Phone only, but text. Champlain Valley. #L1615

I am a SWM, young-looking 52y/o in search of a trans woman. Not into drugs or 420 and not into a lot of drinking. Someone who wants to be treated like a lady in public and freaky in private. I am very respectful, romantic, physically passionate and enjoy some kinky situations. I enjoy a lot of outdoor activities, like swimming (sometimes skinny-dipping), camping, fishing, walks and bike rides. I also like quiet nights at home, snuggling and watching movies. If you want to know more about me, please write. #1616

I’m a GMW (59 y/o) looking for younger guys who like to have fun with older men. I’m very adventurous, like everything and am in need of a good workover. Rutland area. Call or text. #1613

Happily married older couples who’ve enjoyed some wonderful sensual encounters with other single M/F and couples. Seeking sensual encounters. Chat, sensual massage for starters. Well traveled, fun and outdoorsy. #1612

I’m a male, 78, seeking a female, 50-plus, to come live with me and do cooking and house cleaning. I have two dogs to take care of. I like outdoor work and hunting. I need someone to be with me to love. #1611

I’m a female seeking the person who waved at me (almost two months ago) by the liquor warehouse in Winooski. You were interested in me, but I told you I had someone else. Now I realize I’m interested in you. You drove a newer-model gray truck. #1610

41-y/o male, formerly moderately handsome, now world-weary, depressed and socially isolated, looking for 30- to 50-y/o female to share time with. I’m über friendly and considerate, but years of depression and self-doubt have rendered me something of a self-hating loner. Interested to hear about you and your story. #1609

I’m a SWM seeking a SBF. Kinkier the better. Love women’s clothes, high heels and stockings. Very clean. Phone. #1605

Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a fit, tender and natural female counterpart (52 to 65) to bask in autumn splendor. I prefer simplicity over complexity, quiescence over commotion and creativity over conformity. Hot cider and ginger cookies await! #1607

Female, 60, seeks an intelligent, curious and open man to ponder/ explore things like the perfect bite of a meal, the wonder of the stars, the meaning behind a piece of art, the answers to a crossword puzzle and more. #1606