Seven Days, December 13, 2023 by Seven Days

LAND SAKES

Abenaki fight is a dilemma for conservation groups

VE RMO NT ’S IN DEPE NDEN T VO IC E DECEMBER 13-20, 2023 VOL.29 NO.10 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 15

A complicated Burlington businessman aims to revive Johnson Woolen Mills B Y C O L I N F L A N D ER S , PA G E 30

SHOWS ON THE ROAD

PAGE 36

Rural arts centers face unique challenges

SWEET SHAPES

PAGE 40

A cookie cutter empire in Rutland

TURNS OF THE CENTURY Looking back at lost Vermont ski areas

PAGE 46

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WEEK IN REVIEW DECEMBER 6-13, 2023 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY KEVIN MCCALLUM

NOT GOING QUIETLY A defiant Franklin County sheriff, John Grismore, appeared on Monday before the Vermont House panel that is weighing whether to impeach him and denounced its investigation as a disgrace. The elected official, who was caught on video kicking a detained man in the groin, painted himself as a victim of an anti-police media frenzy that is demoralizing officers and fueling a crime wave destroying the state. He has refused to resign. The testimony was Grismore’s first before the sevenmember committee exploring the possibility of ousting him from elected office, something that has happened only three times in Vermont history. Grismore insisted his testimony be given publicly, as opposed to the closed-door hearings that have dominated the inquiry to date. He said he has nothing to hide and does not think there was anything wrong with the way he kicked the shackled detainee in August 2022, before he was elected sheriff. Others have come to different conclusions about Grismore’s conduct. The Vermont Criminal Justice Council last week voted 14-1 to decertify Grismore as a law enforcement officer due to what its members concluded was his use of excessive force. The vote restricts Grismore to administrative duties.

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GIVING BACK

Vermont gave the most donations per capita on GoFundMe this year, according to the crowdfunding platform. Lots of natural disasters to pay for…

BLUE’S CLUES

John Grismore

Lawmakers peppered Grismore with questions about whether his actions had in any way harmed the department’s reputation or operations. He repeatedly said he felt they did not. His loss of certification didn’t matter because “99 percent” of the job is administrative, he said. Shortly before Grismore’s testimony, the Vermont Sheriffs’ Association called on him to resign. Windham County Sheriff Mark Anderson, president of the association, said Grismore has shown a lack of leadership that has eroded public trust in law enforcement in Franklin County. Lawmakers also questioned Grismore on financial matters he was not entirely able to explain. Grismore testified that, not long after joining the department as a bookkeeper in 2019, he was promoted to lieutenant and had additional significant administrative and patrol duties, as well. He got two paychecks. For his work as the department’s bookkeeper, he was paid by Franklin County. For his law enforcement work as a lieutenant and later a captain, he was paid by the sheriff’s department, he testified. In addition, he was writing checks to himself for thousands of dollars for retirement compensation. Read Kevin McCallum’s full story and keep up with developments at sevendaysvt.com.

JetBlue airline’s CEO told Vermont’s congressional delegation that its popular BTVJFK flight could be restored in the future. We’ll believe it when we see it.

ILL PUPPIES

Veterinarians are warning dog owners that a new respiratory ailment infecting dogs nationwide could be in Vermont already. Ruff stuff.

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That’s the mph at which two offduty Burlington police officers and a firefighter were allegedly driving motorcycles in a 35-mph zone. They’re facing charges.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Out of House and Home: Chittenden County Landlords Are Evicting at a Record Pace. But It’s the Sheriff Who Comes Knocking” by Derek Brouwer. Seven Days tagged along with Chittenden County Sheriff Dan Gamelin as he forcibly but compassionately removed tenants from their homes. 2. “Burlington’s Church Street Tavern Hits the Market” by Jordan Barry. The Church Street Marketplace staple will remain open for now, owner Stephen Parent said. 3. “Driven by Hate? Man Charged in Burlington Shooting Was a Volunteer With a Troubled Personal Life” by Sasha Goldstein. Jason Eaton’s shooting of three Palestinian men is being investigated as a hate crime. His views are difficult to pigeonhole. 4. “Burlington’s Devil Takes a Holiday Renovates and Reopens Kitchen” by Melissa Pasanen. The bar and restaurant has reopened in what was once the Monarch & the Milkweed. 5. “Joan Shannon Wins Democratic Nomination in Burlington Mayor’s Race” by Courtney Lamdin. A full report on Sunday’s caucus appears on page 21 of this issue.

post of the week

EATING WELL

Burlington’s Café HOT. made it onto Bon Appétit’s list of best restaurant meals of 2023 for its chicken-fried egg sandwich. And now we’re hungry.

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THAT’S SO VERMONT

COCOA CASA

This week, walkers taking in Middlebury’s holiday festivities or doing some last-minute shopping can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate for just 25 cents. The Hot Chocolate Hut, run by the Better Middlebury Partnership, sells “hot cocoa with all the fixings” in December to support downtown projects. The one-room, red-and-white shack is stationed on Main Street across from the town library and will be open on Thursday, December 14, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, December 16, noon to 4 p.m. “We could give it away rather than

sell it for 25 cents,” said Amey Ryan, a volunteer board member for the community business group. “But it’s such a little novelty, and the kids love it. It’s an easy thing for the parents to say: ‘Here’s a quarter. Go buy a hot cocoa up the street.’” While the minimum donation for a cup of hot chocolate is 25 cents, most customers give more, Ryan said. In past years, the volunteer-run stand has raised between $500 and $1,000. The hut dates back 15 years, when Elizabeth Illick and daughter Adrienne founded Very Merry Middlebury, the town’s holiday celebration. The duo had a vision of a garden shed where residents could purchase hot chocolate. Local carpenters and builders

volunteered their time and materials to construct the first shack, which is still used. Businesses including Middlebury College, Hannaford and Aubuchon Hardware donate the hot chocolate supplies. During the pandemic, the state Department of Health ran a pop-up COVID-19 test center out of the shed. “It turned into the COVID hut,” Ryan said with a laugh. The hut was refashioned for its original purpose last year. Locals seem glad to have the Hot Chocolate Hut back. Earlier this month — on the same day as a downtown visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus — the line of customers stretched around the block.

RACHEL HELLMAN

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

DYED IN THE WOOL.

publisher & editor-in-chief

Paula Routly

deputy publisher Cathy Resmer AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts NEWS & POLITICS editor Matthew Roy deputy editor Sasha Goldstein consulting editors Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page stAff writers Derek Brouwer, Colin Flanders,

Rachel Hellman, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Anne Wallace Allen A R T S & C U LT U R E coeditors Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox AssociAte editor Margot Harrison consulting editor Chelsea Edgar Art editor Pamela Polston Music editor Chris Farnsworth cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton stAff writers Jordan Barry, Hannah Feuer,

Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard proofreAders Carolyn Fox, Angela Simpson AssistAnt proofreAders

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler D I G I TA L & V I D E O 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 executive Robyn Birgisson Account executives Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka,

Kaitlin Montgomery

‘$20 PER SECOND’

I was horrified to see this statistic that was tucked away on page 7 of the Gift Guide [November 22]: “State data show that Vermonters spend $20 per second with Amazon.” That’s $20 per second! Imagine how many Vermont residents and businesses would thrive if all that money stayed in Vermont. Imagine how much air pollution would be reduced without all those USPS, UPS and FedEx trucks delivering Amazon packages all day long, not to mention the improvement to the mental health of overworked drivers. I would love to see this emphasized and maybe even magnified in the main pages of Seven Days. How about a cover story? Love this paper; keep up your great work!

events & ticKeting MAnAger Katie Olson A D M I N I S T R AT I O N business MAnAger Marcy Stabile director of circulAtion & logistics Matt Weiner circulAtion deputy Andy Watts AssistAnt to the publishers Gillian English CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Annie Cutler, Chelsea Edgar, Erik Esckilsen, Steve Goldstein, Colleen Goodhue, Margaret Grayson, Amy Lilly, Rachel Mullis, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Casey Ryan Vock CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, James Buck, Kevin Goddard, Josh Kuckens, Tim Newcomb, Jon Olender, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly C I R C U L AT I O N : 3 5 , 0 0 0 Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction and Plattsburgh, N.Y. Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec. DELIVERY TECHNICIANS Harry Applegate, Joe Bouffard, Pat Bouffard, Colin Clary, Julie Copley, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Becky Gates, Matt Hagen, Russ Hagy, Debra Leduc, Ed Lieberman, Dan Manion, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Liam Mulqueen-Duquette, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Steve Stanley, Mike VanTassel, Andy Watts With additional circulation support from PP&D. SUBSCRIPTIONS 6-Month 1st clAss: $140. 1-yeAr 1st clAss: $220. 6-Month 3rd clAss: $85. 1-yeAr 3rd clAss: $135. Please call 802-865-1020, ext. 132 with your credit card, contact circ@sevendaysvt.com or mail your check to: Seven Days, c/o Subscriptions, 255 S. Champlain St., Ste. 5, Burlington, VT 05401 Seven Days shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement. If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Seven Days may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Seven Days reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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Cynthia Liepmann

MIDDLESEX

KEEP THE PUZZLE

I feel Paula Routly’s pain [From the Publisher: “Puzzle Power,” December 6]. Each morning I awake with dread and anxiety for what awaits me. The New York Times crossword is mine to pursue — kind of like the one-armed man that David Janssen kept running after in the 1960s television show “The Fugitive.” Throughout the years, I’ve learned to live with this challenge: Some days I win; some days I lose. PS: I enjoy the weekly crossword. You should stick with it. Barry R. Barton

IRASBURG

NO MORE WIND

[Re “Stamford Wind Proposal Tests Whether Large Turbines Have a Future in Vermont,” November 22]: If Stamford Wind were a test of whether large wind turbines have a future in Vermont, with the December 7 announcement from Norwich Solar that it is not continuing with the proposal, the answer would be: “No, large wind turbines do not have a future in Vermont.” Annette Smith

DANBY

Smith is executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment.

individuals so … everyone else should continue business as usual? Where was the early morning press conference saying, “This is serious; we are putting everything we have into this. If you are able, stay off the streets and at home. If you are feeling unsafe, these resources are available to you…” All politics is local — even, maybe especially, when it feels far away. The Palestinian struggle for safety is not abstract. Islamophobia and the violent targeting of people of color in this city are not abstract. Burlington prides itself on being a progressive city, but silence on a morning laced with terror is not acceptable leadership. We needed more in those first 18 hours. We need more.

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BURLINGTON

‘GREEN’ IS GOOD

How ironic that our little green state has taken such a strong stand against wind power [“Stamford Wind Proposal Tests Whether Large Turbines Have a Future in Vermont,” November 22]. On November 26, the BBC reported on a blockade of the world’s largest coal port, in Australia. One of the 3,000 protesters, many in kayaks, was 97-year-old Alan Stuart. He said: “I am doing this for my grandchildren and future generations. I am so sorry that they will have to suffer the consequences of our inaction. So, I think it is my duty to do what I can.” As more Vermonters choose electric cars and heat pumps, we will need to get that electricity from somewhere, and wind is a natural resource our state is blessed with! Those who suggest that wind towers on our ridges will sully tourism values and the view may be confused. Visitors come to Vermont because it is green, and green means much more than just the flora! The dollars the tourists spend on their Teslas are the same dollars they spend at the EV stations, restaurants and slopes.

CORRECTIONS

Last week’s story “Virtual Vote” and the November 29 story “Safety First” misstated the percentage of votes that the Democratic candidates in Burlington’s mayoral race needed to win the party nomination. The winner needed 50 percent plus one vote. Last week’s True 802, “Hollywood Help,” misidentified the game show on which Luis Guzmán appeared. It was “Wheel of Fortune.”

We have the opportunity to offer lessguilt tourism to a huge audience who lives within just a few e-vehicle miles from our state! Doug Goodman

SOUTH BURLINGTON

Editor’s note: Find more letters to the editor regarding Kevin McCallum’s November 22 story about a proposed wind development in Stamford at sevendaysvt.com. And turn to page 14 for the latest news on the project.

UNACCEPTABLE SILENCE

[Re “Three People Shot Near UVM Campus in Burlington, Police Say,” November 25, online]: Burlington spent almost 18 hours without a message from city leadership after the shooting on Saturday, November 25. Even then, after a statement from the mayor’s office, citizens spent more than 24 hours wondering if the shooter was still at large. I’m grateful for everything leaders did behind the scenes to apprehend a suspect and prepare to address this situation as a hate crime. I was also terrified, for my own family, but even more for others: Palestinian neighbors, hijab-wearing friends, others feeling helpless in the long silence. Why was “shelter in place” called for in Lewiston, Maine, but not in Burlington? In both cases, there was a known shooter unaccounted for. Was a safety calculation made and not communicated? I’m disturbed to think that Burlington’s leaders felt this threat was toward Palestinian or visibly Muslim

DCF IS BROKEN

[Re “The Loss of Grace,” October 25]: I was not only heartbroken but outraged and sickened to read the details of what was going on at the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center and Department for Children and Families’ participation in this story. Sadly, it’s a very familiar story to me after working most of my life in human services. I worked for 28 years at the Committee on Temporary Shelter before retiring in 2015. What I heard throughout those years were countless stories from clients who had spent their youths in DCF custody, most in multiple foster care placements. When a child is removed from their family home, they experience PTSD, so imagine what a child experiences after multiple placements. They start displaying aggressive behaviors, suicidal ideation and hallucinations similar to those of war veterans. As young adults, they have attachment disorders, borderline and antisocial behaviors that lead to homelessness, addictions FEEDBACK

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contents DECEMBER 13-20, 2023 VOL.29 NO.10

COLUMNS

SECTIONS

11 Magnificent 7 13 From the Publisher 41 Side Dishes 52 Movie Review 58 Soundbites 62 Album Reviews 93 Ask the Reverend

25 Lifelines 40 Food + Drink 46 Culture 52 On Screen 54 Art 58 Music + Nightlife 64 Calendar 72 Classes 75 Classifieds + Puzzles 89 Fun Stuff 92 Personals

FOOD +DRINK 40 A Cut Above Rutland-based Ann Clark dominates — and looks beyond — the cookie cutter world

In the Zone

Post-flood, Parsons Dinner House in Barton reopens with homegrown, seasonal touches

STUCK IN VERMONT

Online Thursday

A complicated Burlington businessman aims to revive Johnson Woolen Mills BY COL IN FL ANDE RS • PAGE 30 COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE DARIA BISHOP

NEWS+POLITICS 14

‘Hard Problem to Solve’

A program for women leaving prison struggles to make the grade at Middlebury

Wind Developer Abandons Stamford Project Caught in the Cross Fire

Fighting between Québécois and Vermont Abenaki tribes puts conservation groups in a bind

Earth-Focused

Sterling College’s new president says its tiny size and emphasis on environmental studies are central to its enduring appeal

ARTS+CULTURE 46 Vertical Dropouts

A new exhibition highlights Vermont’s lost ski areas

Gray Area Off to the Races

Dirt Road Theater winds its way to a new home in a historic Northfield building

Burlington Democrats, Progressives choose candidates for mayor and city council

Big Love for Big Top

FEATURES 30

Piano and Paint

Farm to Theater

Vermont’s rural performing arts centers thrive despite unique challenges

Three questions for Circus Smirkus director Rachel Schiffer

At 81 years old, South Burlington resident SUPPORTED BY: Howard Fisher keeps busy as a volunteer for Age Well — he’s one of 800 Vermonters who deliver more than 271,000 Meals on Wheels every year to residents in the northwestern part of the state. Eva Sollberger tagged along recently and asked recipients what healthy aging means to them.

Musician Diane Huling exhibits her other passion: visual art

We have

Montpelier’s Creative Community Lifts Spirits With the Renewal Project

Find a new job in the classifieds section on page 80 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

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LOOKING FORWARD

MAGNIFICENT MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COM P IL ED BY E M I LY HA M I LT O N

WEDNESDAY 13-SUNDAY 17

Cold Wives’ Tales Audience members stomp the snow from their feet and settle in by the figurative fire for Vermont Stage’s 19th annual Winter Tales at Burlington’s Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center. Writers Audrey Cefaly, Nicole Alicea Dash, Geoffrey Gevalt and Stephen Kiernan share stories about family and community in the darkest days. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

FRIDAY 15-SUNDAY 17

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER After a five-year hiatus, beloved winter wonder Night Fires returns to Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Performers new and old mark the solstice and brighten up the longest nights of the year with an operatic pageant flush with music, dance, and the poetry of Lucille Clifton, Rumi and others. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

THURSDAY 14-SATURDAY 16

Live From New York Melissa Villaseñor, the first-ever Latina cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” graces the stage at Burlington’s Vermont Comedy Club for three nights. A master of impressions and voice work, Villaseñor busts guts everywhere she goes with her send-ups of notable people such as Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani and Miley Cyrus. SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 61

SATURDAY 16

It’s Giving Central Vermonters get their holiday shopping done while supporting the LGBTQ community at a Queer Craft Fair in Barre’s Old Labor Hall. Colorful creativity is on full display at this bustling bazaar featuring more than 60 indoor and outdoor vendor stalls, overflowing with zines, pottery, prints, upcycled treasures and herbal goodies. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

TUESDAY 19

Like the Dickens

COURTESY OF BOBBY BRUDELE

Beloved storyteller Willem Lange returns to Lost Nation Theater at Montpelier City Hall for his annual blockbuster rendition of A Christmas Carol. Reading from a script used by Charles Dickens himself, just as he has every year since 1975, Lange regales listeners with the spirited tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

SATURDAY 16

Soul in One Hometown indie-soul songstress Myra Flynn returns to Randolph’s Chandler Center for the Arts — the first stage she ever sang on — to celebrate the vinyl release of her first album in four years. Called Shadow Work, it deals in tales of motherhood, romance and self-worth. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

ONGOING

Pencil It In Self-taught New Hampshire artist Denver Ferguson presents a solo show at Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction. A native of Saint Lucia, Ferguson creates pencil drawings influenced by Caribbean culture, vintage science fiction and contemporary comic books. SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

The 25-Year Trio

spreads in the print paper every week. She also writes the “Ask the Rev” advice column, draws the Coloring Contest in Kids VT, and is the husky voice on our office voicemail system and at the beginning and end of every audio recording on Seven Days Aloud. Did I mention she’s the lead vocalist and songwriter in our company band, Enemy of the People? Tattooed and often rocking some kind of headdress or costume, Diane wears a black pleather jacket sporting the word “Badass” above a sparkly unicorn. That’s an accurate illustration of what Above: Don Eggert, Colby Roberts she brings to the and Diane Sullivan at the Seven table. Days office. Left: At Burlington’s Mardi Gras parade on March 3, 2012 Not surprisingly, Diane, Colby and Don are fast friends. In the 25 years the three of them have worked together, they have been there for each other’s marriages — Diane officiated at Don’s — the birth of Colby’s three kids, and the tragic death of Diane’s husband and fourth musketeer, Matt Thorsen, our longtime go-to photographer. Their work-life relationship is a crucial part of the company culture at Seven Days. Don brings order to everything he touches and also supplies tasty treats and washes the office dish towels. Colby keeps everybody motivated. Diane plays Santa at the holiday party and makes all the hard work we do look ... fun. All three of them are now employee-owners. They received stock from the company as my cofounder, Pamela Polston, gradually relinquished hers on the way to retirement. I knew they were a good investment. In fact, I’m not sure where Seven Days would be without them. Thank you, Don, Colby and Diane! KIRSTEN THOMPSON

FILE: MATT

HEW THOR

Seven Days passed a milestone over the Thanksgiving holiday: On Thursday, November 23, creative director and associate publisher Don Eggert marked 25 years at this newspaper. For more than half of his life, the 47-yearold graphic designer and IT guy has kept Seven Days looking fresh. A self-taught MacGyver, he has led the company through the digital revolution and almost single-handedly built our online presence. Remember Y2K? Don predates it! In January, our sales director and associate publisher Colby Roberts will join Don in the half-life club: In 1999, at age 25, Colby was selling ads for the “alternative” rock station 99.9 the Buzz, which shared our building on Burlington’s South Champlain Street. One couldn’t help but notice the snow-loving Rutland native sauntering through the halls; he was young but confident, competitive and snappily dressed. Somehow, we convinced him that an “alternative” newspaper was the cooler product, and, for the past quarter century, Colby has been part of a team of account executives who bring in the money that funds our journalism. It helped that Diane Sullivan started the same day as Colby — working alongside him, in fact, as a reluctant member of the Seven Days sales team. Although she wasn’t suited to that particular job, Diane stuck it out for a couple of years while proving her other talents. “I kinda did a little of everything,” Diane remembered, including stints as production manager and personals coordinator. “I never had training of any sort for anything ... I recall when the first classified designer was going to leave, Don asked me if I wanted to do it. I said, ‘Sure, but you’ll have to learn me how’ — I didn’t know how to turn a computer on, let alone design things.” Now the company’s award-winning art director, Diane dispatches the photographers and artists who illustrate our stories and lays out most of the article

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Wind Developer Abandons Stamford Project

PAGE 21

‘Hard Problem to Solve’ A program for women leaving prison struggles to make the grade at Middlebury B Y R A CHEL HEL L M AN • rhellman@sevendaysvt.com

t launched in early 2023 with high hopes and $300,000 in state money: a program to help formerly incarcerated Vermont women make their way back into society by providing them a job, social services and a roof over their heads. Almost a year later, the pilot program, called Building Employment and Meaning, or BEAM, is floundering. Four of its five participants have left, and the last has been told she has until spring to find her own housing in the pricey Middlebury area. Adding to the turmoil, the person overseeing day-to-day operations has gone on leave. The troubles have complicated the steep challenge of helping women rejoin society after serving their time in the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, Vermont’s only prison for women. Locking down a job is key to successful reentry, and securing housing is sometimes a condition for being freed on parole. BEAM, which began by placing participants in dining hall jobs at Middlebury College and providing living quarters in a shared home nearby, was billed as a way to accomplish both. 14

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

The program’s partners, Vermont Works for Women, the Department of Corrections and Middlebury College, attribute its early difficulties to broader statewide challenges, including an acute

MIDDLEBURY LEADERSHIP IS REALLY FOND OF SAYING, “WE’RE BUILDING THE PLANE WHILE WE’RE FLYING IT.”

THAT APPROACH, I THINK, DID A DISSERVICE TO THESE WOMEN. JAC K D O R K E Y

housing crisis and a lack of services to address mental health and addiction. Organizers say they hope to make adjustments that will allow the program to continue and perhaps expand to other parts of the state. But it is unclear what

those fixes will be and whether the subsidized housing benefit will remain a central feature. “Middlebury leadership is really fond of saying, ‘We’re building the plane while we’re flying it,’” said Jack Dorkey, a former human resources official at the college who worked on getting BEAM under way. “That approach, I think, did a disservice to these women.” From the beginning, BEAM was meant to address systemic failings. Vermont Works for Women, a statewide nonprofit, wanted to address how difficult it is for women to find safe places to live upon release from prison. Existing programs, such as a transitional housing initiative of the Department of Corrections, don’t address other challenges, such as finding employment. In 2022, the state steered $300,000 to Vermont Works for Women in a bill designed to improve workforce training. Middlebury College was chosen as the first partner because it was willing to hire people despite their criminal ‘HARD PROBLEM TO SOLVE’

» P.16

FILE: TIM NEWCOMB

FILE: CALEB KENNA

CORRECTIONS

Former BEAM participant Christina Colburn at Middlebury College last year

B Y K EV I N M C C A L L U M kevin@sevendaysvt.com

A developer has withdrawn plans to build the first utility-scale wind project in Vermont since 2017. Norwich Solar announced last week that its plan for a single 500-foot-high wind turbine in Stamford will not move forward. The renewable energy company was preparing to ask the Public Utility Commission for permission to build the 2.2-megawatt turbine on a hillside along Route 8. The turbine would have generated enough power for about 925 homes and would have been the tallest structure of any kind in Vermont. The company had alerted Stamford of its plans over the summer and faced significant pushback from the town and neighbors. Norwich had until last Friday to finalize its application. But without a key study about how much it would cost to connect to the power grid in Massachusetts, the proposal’s viability was in doubt, said Martha Staskus, the chief development officer for Norwich Solar, which was managing the project. Because of the project’s location near the Massachusetts border, the electricity from the turbine had to be routed through a substation owned by regional utility National Grid. “We still don’t know with certainty what the interconnection costs will be,” Staskus said. Opponents cheered the project’s demise. “This project is right up there at the top of the worst proposals we’ve seen,” said Annette Smith, executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment. The project violated town rules against large turbines within a mile of structures and would have required a mile-long access road be cut through a forest, Smith said. In addition, the Public Utility Commission process was about to get ugly, Smith added. Someone had already cleared trees from the top of the hill where the turbine was to be located, and the Agency of Natural Resources had begun asking tough questions, Smith said. “Let’s just say that we were ready to nail them,” she said. ➆

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Fighting between Québécois and Vermont Abenaki tribes puts conservation groups in a bind BY KEVIN MCCALLU M • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

hen environmental activists recently gathered at the Statehouse to push for cleaner energy, they began with what has become commonplace at public events in Vermont — a land acknowledgment. Earl Hatley, a member of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, strode to a podium wearing a bear-claw necklace. “Kwai,” Hatley said, using the tribe’s traditional greeting. “Today we acknowledge that we live on and share and help protect the ancestral lands of the Abenaki Nation, the Alnôbak.” The Abenaki, he said, were the traditional caretakers of Ndakinna, the tribe’s name for the territory that, before contact with Europeans, included parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, Québec, Maine and Massachusetts. “We pay our respect to our ancestors, elders, relations — past, present and emerging — and pledge our hearts to protect this land for future generations,” Hatley intoned. His presence underscored the strong ties that environmental and conservation groups in Vermont have built with the four state-recognized Abenaki tribes over the past decade. The connections range from the largely ceremonial to formal agreements allowing tribal members to hunt, fish and forage on protected lands, such as those owned by the Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Land Trust. Many of those groups now find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict between the Abenaki tribes recognized by Vermont and tribes based in Québec: the Odanak First Nation and Wôlinak First Nation. Those latter groups, recognized by the Canadian federal government, question the legitimacy of the Vermont bands. Odanak leaders have branded the Vermont groups “pretendians” and argue that most of their members are white people who have self-identified as Abenaki on scant genealogical evidence. “They are not honoring our ancestors,” Jacques Watso, an elected member of the Odanak tribal council, said at a

ENVIRONMENT

symposium in Vermont last year. “They are profiting from our culture and heritage.” The Odanak want Vermont to repeal the formal recognition it granted to the state tribes in 2011 and 2012. They invite people who have verified Abenaki ancestry to petition to join their tribe and have called on Vermont organizations that want to support Indigenous groups to work with them instead. Vermont tribes insist their tribal designations are valid and their more permissive membership rules are appropriate, given the history of Abenaki in Vermont. They express disappointment that their northern neighbors, after decades of support, have turned against them so forcefully. “We want to work with them if they want to, but we can’t when they are trying to destroy us,” Don Stevens, chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, told Seven Days. The long-simmering dispute burst into public view through provocative presentations at the University of Vermont. An event there in April 2022 featured a detailed history of the Abenaki and a summary by Watso and other tribal members from Canada of their concerns about alleged cultural appropriation. “They are erasing us by replacing us,” Watso said at the event. In April of this year, a separate UVM symposium featured scholars exploring the origins of “race-shifting,” the practice of non-Indigenous people identifying as Indigenous, and its harm to Indigenous people. This fall, Vermont Public aired a threepart series, “Recognized,” that laid out the Odanak position through in-depth reporting that was done over two years. Based on interviews with elected officials, tribal members, genealogists, historians and others, “Recognized” questions the history of what Vermont Public called the “self-proclaimed Vermont Abenaki” — and their legitimacy. VTDigger.org published a detailed report, as well. Behind the scenes, the Odanak have CAUGHT IN THE CROSS FIRE

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history, according to Rhoni Basden, executive director of Vermont Works for Women. In January, BEAM’s first participant, Christina Colburn, began a fulltime position with Middlebury’s dining services. For the first few months, she seemed to thrive. Colburn’s managers told Seven Days at the time that she was excelling at her job. But by October, for undisclosed reasons, she was asked to leave the program, according to Basden. Three other participants who joined BEAM not long after her had quit or been asked to leave by May, Basden said. She declined to state the reasons. The fifth participant, Samantha Partlow, began in August and still works in the dining hall at Middlebury. While Vermont Works for Women and Middlebury College acknowledge the bumpy start, they maintain that measuring success by head count alone ignores the obstacles that come with easing participants, who often are dealing with substance-use disorder, back into society. “This is a hard problem to solve,” said Caitlin Goss, vice president for human resources and chief people officer at Middlebury. “It’s a multifaceted, complex, gritty, personal and intersectional challenge, and we dreamed big.” The program’s most obvious setback appears to have been in housing. Besides the state funding to run the program, BEAM was awarded a $50,000 grant from Middlebury College which was used to lease a home for participants. After an unsuccessful search in the area, Vermont Works for Women took up a board member’s offer to lease their fourbedroom Middlebury house. Basden said the nonprofit took steps to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, such as by having the board member, whom she declined to name, sit out any conversations regarding BEAM. The board used a market-rate calculator to determine the cost of renting the property — $3,700 a month — which maxed out the $50,000 grant from Middlebury. The board also dipped into Vermont Works for Women’s independent funds to cover unexpected costs. Efforts by Vermont Works for Women to raise new money to cover participants’ housing for a second year of the three-year pilot program have so far been unsuccessful. Dorkey said Middlebury could have done more to help the group secure funding. He said the college offered help with grant writing but never followed up.

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Christina Colburn on Middlebury College’s campus

“It’s a pretty big thing to fall through the cracks,” Dorkey said. Goss, of Middlebury, said there was discussion with Vermont Works for Women about using the college’s grant office, but nothing specific. Colburn, the first participant in the program, said the confusion around her future housing was deeply unsettling. “I kept telling them, ‘I can’t do this not knowing where I’m going to live,’” Colburn said. “‘It’s breaking me down; I need help.’” Partlow, 37, who is the only one left in the rented house, has until April to find another place to live. Partlow said that, as called for by the program, she has contributed an increasing share of her income toward rent and now pays close to half of her earnings. (She declined to disclose her income.) BEAM’s eventual goal for participants is full self-reliance. Vermont Works for Women and Middlebury have been helping her search for a new place but found nothing in her price range. “I love working at the college, and that’s the hard part,” Partlow said. “I really don’t want to lose my job, but it’s hard to find housing around here.” BEAM’s troubles with housing could hinder other incarcerated women awaiting release from participating in the program. Under some parole conditions, inmates must have housing approved before they can be released. But housing is not the only program shortcoming cited by participants. While the rented house is only 10 minutes by foot from the Middlebury campus, some participants said walking home alone

late at night was less than ideal. Partlow, who is in recovery from substance-use disorder, said she was offered drugs on multiple occasions while commuting by bus. Besides that, so-called wraparound services that Vermont Works for Women had touted never fully materialized. Basden cites long waiting lists for mental health and recovery providers. Ashley Messier, who is on leave from her job as the agency’s reentry services program manager, declined to comment. Still, Vermont Works for Women and Middlebury see some hope for the program. “If I was to apply to Middlebury College without BEAM, I would not have been approved for a job,” Partlow said. “This type of program should exist … But I think the program would benefit by creating the right foundation to guide participants.” To date, the program has spent about $100,000, mostly to pay its sole employee, Messier. Roughly $200,000 in the original state funding remains. Vermont Works for Women is looking to spend that on bringing the program to other workplaces across the state. Middlebury officials said they plan to continue hiring formerly incarcerated women through BEAM. “I really hope that our community will understand that there were bumps,” Goss said. “Did we get it all right? Absolutely not. Are there hard lessons learned? For sure. Are there successes? Yes. But I absolutely believe it was worth every investment.” ➆

Say you saw it in...

sevendaysvt.com SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

news PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

EDUCATION

Scott Thomas

Earth-Focused

Sterling College’s new president says its tiny size and emphasis on environmental studies are central to its enduring appeal B Y A NNE WAL L A CE ALLE N • anne@sevendaysvt.com

terling College’s new president, Scott Thomas, was preparing to move his family to campus in June when his predecessor got in touch: Would Thomas be needing any chickens? The president’s house, a former blacksmith shop, has a coop in the yard. “That wasn’t one of the questions I had been prepared to answer,” said Thomas, who has worked in higher education at more conventional institutions, including as a dean at the University of Vermont. Thomas, 61, declined the poultry, assuming he’d have plenty of other responsibilities to tackle in his first year at the tiny college in Craftsbury Common. Sterling, which offers two- and four-year degrees in environmental studies, is rooted in farming and ecology, and its close connections with the land are woven into its history and curriculum. The campus includes a farm that produces a third of the food consumed in the dining hall. Thomas is the 12th president in Sterling’s 65-year history. He took over from senior vice president and COO 18

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Lori Collins-Hall, who led the college for two years after the resignation of Matthew Derr, who held the top job for 10 years. Thomas was hired to build the small school’s enrollment and endowment — both difficult tasks in an age of increased competition among colleges and universities. The number of college-age people is dropping, particularly in the Northeast. Nationwide, there is new skepticism about the value of higher education. Schools much larger than Sterling — including Vermont State University — are combining departments, shedding staff and selling off property in order to survive. Sterling can weather the storm because it offers prospective students a rare opportunity to join a small, close-knit community with an emphasis on environmental stewardship, Thomas said. With only 70 students enrolled this semester and an endowment of just $1 million, Sterling is one of the very smallest colleges in the country. Its 130-acre campus of white clapboard buildings is tiny, too. The

I CAME HERE BECAUSE I SEE A VIBRANT FUTURE FOR THE COLLEGE WHERE ENROLLMENT CAN INCREASE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ITS MISSION. S C O T T TH O MAS

swag for sale consists of several T-shirts and some hand-spun wool from the campus farm. Sterling’s 10 full-time faculty members make salaries that average in the mid$50,000s, relatively poor pay for professors, and there’s maintenance due on the campus buildings. There’s no indoor athletic facility. Four times a year, everyone turns out for an allcollege work or service day. During the most recent one, held on August 30, Thomas’ job was splitting wood.

Each Wednesday, the community’s 100 staff, faculty and students meet in the dining hall to share announcements and offer thanks to members for a job well done. Only one major, environmental studies, is offered, though students can concentrate in outdoor education, sustainable agriculture and food systems, environmental humanities, or ecology. Through seminars in areas such as financial literacy and conflict resolution, the school strives to produce graduates who can serve as effective team members and leaders in work and life. Thomas would like to increase enrollment to capacity, about 120 students — the number it hit in 2019. In the decade before the pandemic, the school’s average enrollment was about 100. Thomas said having such a small student body is critical to the sense of community on campus and not a sign that Sterling is in trouble. “Sterling’s finances are stable, and I came here because I see a vibrant future for the college where enrollment can increase within the boundaries of its mission,” he said. “Sterling College’s future is not in question in my mind.” He blames the recent enrollment drop on the pandemic and demographics. The school has always survived on fundraising, and his job will be to secure the $1.3 million in philanthropy that Sterling needs to stay in the black each year. Growing the endowment is also a top strategic priority. To do so, Thomas needs to get the word out about Sterling. “I grew up in Morrisville, and I didn’t know Sterling existed until literally I was applying,” said Theresa Snow, whose mother suggested the school, just 25 minutes away. Snow pursued sustainable agriculture studies, graduated with an associate’s degree in 2001 and founded Salvation Farms, a Morrisville nonprofit that finds markets for surplus local farm crops. Sterling students volunteer at Salvation Farms, and Snow occasionally teaches on campus. The college “really influenced my creation and direction with Salvation Farms,” Snow said. “Sterling wanted to foster productive problem solvers who were stewards of their natural and human communities.” Thomas knows Sterling’s long-term future is not assured and that the school can’t survive on tuition alone. But he has a plan to increase its chances. This fall, the college streamlined its offerings by dropping a 5-year-old degree-granting partnership with the Berry Center Farm and Forest Institute in Kentucky. Thomas plans to use the Craftsbury Common campus in all seasons, hosting workshops in areas such as writing, weaving, cheesemaking and professional development for educators. Sterling has offered

short courses in the past to raise money, he said. “With our history in outdoor education and our connection to the environment, we have a credibility and an opportunity few other campuses have,” Thomas said. He’s buoyed by the words of Brian Rosenberg, a visiting education professor at Harvard University whose 2023 book, “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”: Resistance to Change in Higher Educa-

reps and outlines the financial constraints and alternative career paths that might make college the wrong choice for some. “There are numerous honorable and rewarding career paths that do not require a degree,” Patterson writes. That’s an unusual message for a college website, a space that is often used to market the school to prospective students. Thomas said it’s a sign that Sterling is serious about finding students, faculty and Melanie Wingensiefen in the kitchen at Sterling College

age 19. Eventually, he returned to school and earned a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of California, Santa Barbara, one of the first in his family to go to college. Thomas has held several educational leadership positions since, spending five to eight years building or shoring up programs before moving on. He was at UVM from 2016 until 2021, working as dean of education and social sciences and then dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, before he left for a job as dean of education at the University of Wyoming. He’d been at Wyoming for only two years when he learned about the president’s job at Sterling early this year. “I said, ‘There are few presidencies I would really jump at, that don’t come around that often,’” he said. “I have always been intrigued by Sterling College.” Thomas made it clear in his interviews with the board that he could help Sterling www.ussherpa.com | @ussherpa focus on its commitment to the environinfo@ussherpa.com ment, outdoor activity and community, said board member Michael Tessler, who 235 Main Street #1, Winooski, was on the presidential search committee. VT 05404 Tessler, a Sterling alumnus, is an assistant biology professor at the City University of New York and has taught at Sterling as an adjunct faculty member. Tessler described Thomas as “very8v-USsherpa121323 1 12/6/23 10:28 AM aligned with Sterling’s mission,” noting that he was speaking for himself, not for the board. “He’s highly, highly capable and driven to make things happen, and that’s the type of person that Sterling needs.” Walking across the snowy campus recently, Thomas greeted everyone he encountered by name. For the benefit of this reporter, he asked each of them to describe their work. After five months on the job, he said, he was still learning the details. Adrian Owens, the director of athletics, described the hiking trip that students in his winter outdoor challenge elective Cannabis Dispensary take every December. For four days, they bushwhack through the snow in the Lowell Mountains range north of Hyde Park, carrying everything they need on their backs. The trip is tough, and Owens 10 Railroad Street, said the classmates learn to rely on each Suite B, Morrisville other, stay organized and communicate effectively — skills they can take to jobs, 802-851-8735 communities and relationships. Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-7pm Sunday 11am- 4pm “There’s a teamwork aspect to making it work,” Owens said. Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age and older or Thomas beamed as Owens described registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM the rigors. The new president said alumni CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry significant legal penalties in some often tell him about a professor or an jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of expedition that made a difference to them. the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair “They say how enabling and conficoncentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger dence-building it was, how Sterling may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is College changed their lives,” Thomas against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222. said. ➆

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tion, compares Sterling with Middlebury College. At Sterling, where tuition and board run $50,000 per year, 98 percent of the students receive some financial aid to learn practical skills on a beautiful but bare-bones campus. At Middlebury, about half of the 2,500 undergrads pay the full annual cost of more than $80,000 in a relatively luxurious setting with 44 majors and eight arts and performance venues. Middlebury has a $1.5 billion endowment. Rosenberg concludes that Sterling’s model is the one to follow. Middlebury, he wrote, “is an unobtainable fantasy for most institutions” while Sterling is focused and scalable: “Imagine how different American higher education would look if instead of having hundreds of colleges and universities trying to stretch their limited resources to offer essentially the same, extensive suite of majors and areas of study … we had more that elected to create a narrower and more problembased curriculum: perhaps one built around the study of urbanization, or sustainable democracy, or population health.” Sterling bucks the trend in other ways. On its website, an essay by a former admissions director reminds students that college isn’t for everyone. In “3 Reasons Not to Go to College,” Tim Patterson compares admissions counselors to sales

staff who, like him, are focused on environmental stewardship and community. With social bonds eroded by social media, political discord and the pandemic, Thomas said, he expects the trust and sense of purpose offered by Sterling’s small community to gain appeal among prospective students and their parents. The result, he said, will be a steady pipeline of skilled workers for Vermont’s economy. The college’s hands-on environmental focus and competency-based approach distinguish it, he said. “Sterling is built around a place with a common purpose tied to learning, to the environment. It’s pretty unique,” Thomas said. Thomas can relate to the importance of learning outside the classroom. Growing up in Florida, he was an indifferent student until his grandfather offered him flying lessons. Behind the controls of a small plane at age 16, he finally understood why it was worth paying attention to subjects such as math and physics. “Calculating fuel usage, navigating your courses … those are all things that require a lot of math,” he said. “I learned that organically by flying. I never would have had the patience for it in the classroom.” He also learned to surf, a skill that took him around the world as a professional at

Connecting people to happiness.

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news sought to drive a wedge between the staterecognized tribes and the environmental and conservation groups with which those bands have been working for years. In a June 2 letter to 30 Vermont organizations, Odanak First Nation Chief Rick O’Bomsawin and Wôlinak First Nation Chief Michel Bernard recounted how their people were displaced from their ancestral homeland after the American Revolution. The chiefs said the tribe left Vermont for Québec, though the Abenaki “have never ceded” their ancestral territory in New England. In denouncing the state-recognized groups as illegitimate, the chiefs cited a 2003 report by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office on the eligibility of the St. Francis/Sokoki Band of the Abenaki Nation of Vermont — the predecessor of the current state-recognized Missisquoi band — and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs’ rejection of that band’s petition for federal recognition in 2005. “These Vermont groups lack Abenaki ancestry as well as any historic link to a North American Indian tribe. They are not Indigenous,” the chiefs wrote. They asked the conservation groups to “pause and think about the consequence” of continuing to work with state tribes and asked them to “put a stop to such collaboration.” “We urge you to educate yourselves, and we request a timely opportunity to discuss our concerns that Vermont’s conservation organizations are complicit with cultural appropriation and fraud as well as the exclusion of the true Indigenous People of Vermont,” they wrote, offering to meet with groups. That got the attention of the progressive organizations. “Of course it gave us pause,” said Brian Shupe, the executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. “We took it seriously.” VNRC, Vermont River Conservancy and other groups took the Odanak up on their offer to learn more and met virtually with them in October. Understanding the perspective of the Abenaki and acknowledging their traditional ties to the rivers they fished and traveled on is important to the conservancy, said Kassia Randzio, its development and operations director. The group wants to work more with local Abenaki but now feels stuck. “It puts each of us in a position of having to choose and say who is right and who is wrong in a really complex scenario, and I’m not sure we’re equipped to answer that question,” she said. The letter has prompted a range of responses from the groups. 20

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

KEVIN MCCALLUM

Caught in the Cross Fire « P.15

Earl Hatley speaking at the Statehouse

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board has long helped the state tribes conserve land, including the 65-acre Nulhegan Abenaki tribal forest in Barton and a farm in Shoreham where the tribe keeps bison. The group told Seven Days that it respects the concerns raised by the Odanak and is “actively learning about these complex issues” so it can work with applicants “with sensitivity and respect.” The Green Mountain Club didn’t participate in the October Zoom call with the Odanak but is “committed to learning from Indigenous communities whose historic lands we operate on,” the group wrote in a statement. The Vermont Land Trust said it would not “rush to a position” on such a complex topic but would continue to listen. “As the conversation about Indigenous identity in Vermont unfolds, we are seeking to build relationships with members of the Odanak and to understand their perspectives,” the group wrote in response to an inquiry from Seven Days. Some organizations said they don’t work with Indigenous groups; others declined to comment or did not respond. At least two groups said they have agreed to pause their work with Vermont tribes for the time being. Emily Alger, executive director of the South Hero Land Trust, said the June letter from the Abenaki based in Québec “raises serious concerns” about the staterecognition process that “deserve careful consideration by the Vermont legislature.” “Until that happens, South Hero Land Trust will respect the request from the Odanak and Wôlinak nations to pause any partnerships or collaboration with the VT-recognized tribes,” Alger said in a written statement.

The Vermont chapter of the Nature Conservancy said it, too, will take a breather, due partly to its commitment to the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “We have honored the request of the Odanak Council to pause conservation action with Vermont state-recognized bands as we work to deepen our understanding and carefully listen to all voices,” Eve Frankel, the group’s state director, told the tribes. The June letter caught many conservation groups off guard, said Rich Holschuh, chair of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and spokesperson for the Elnu Abenaki tribe. People seem to be “on their heels” and confused about how to move forward, he said. “I think people are just sort of bewildered,” Holschuh said. “Folks are really hesitant to do something that might be seen as the wrong move.” Some educational efforts have been put on the “back burner” because of the controversy, he said. He’s reached out to the same organizations the Odanak did and offered to share the state tribes’ perspective. He’s had no takers yet, he said. By contrast, the October call with the Odanak drew dozens of participants, said Daniel Nolett, the general manager of the Odanak Council, which provides a range of services to the nearly 500 members who live on the reserve, the Canadian term for reservation. The call combined a history lesson with an overture to collaborate. The Odanak nation has experts in Abenaki history, riparian ecology, archeology and anthropology who are more qualified to collaborate with conservation groups than tribes with little or no Abenaki heritage, he said.

The Odanak effort to erode support among nonprofits for the state-recognized tribes stems in part from the realization that state lawmakers are unlikely to take on the issue anytime soon. Gov. Phil Scott initially said he would meet with the tribes but has since indicated he doesn’t want to get in the middle of it. And Rep. Tom Stevens (D-Waterbury), who worked on the state-recognition process in 2010, said it’s “highly unlikely” that his colleagues would reopen the issue this session. He defended the creation of a state-recognition process that uses less stringent standards than the exhaustive federal process, which some argue is burdensome and inconsistent. “We agreed with the notion that the state should not be telling people who they are and asking them to prove it,” Rep. Stevens said. (He is not related to Chief Don Stevens.) Vermont recognition criteria only require tribes to show that a “substantial number” of their members “trace their ancestry to a kinship group through genealogy or other methods.” Tribes need to show an “enduring community presence” but can document it in many ways, including though “history, folklore, or any other applicable scholarly research and data.” That approach is appropriate given the gaps in historical records and stark differences in how the tribes in Vermont and Québec evolved, Rep. Stevens said. The allegations regarding the state tribes are unfortunate and damaging, he added. “I’ve seen and felt the hurt in the voices and in the faces of some of the Indigenous Vermonters that I respect most,” he said. The criticism comes as the Vermont tribes have been making significant progress toward better serving their members, Chief Stevens said. He cited the recent donation of 350 acres of woodland in Wheelock to his tribe as an example. Chief Stevens said he doesn’t understand why the Odanak feel threatened by the progress Vermont tribes are making and suggested that they’re trying to position themselves to benefit from the return of lands or future reparations. “They are trying to eliminate us in order to accomplish their goals of making headway here,” he said. While no conservation groups have explicitly said they would permanently stop working with the state-recognized tribes, many said they were interested in learning more, including by visiting the reserve and its history museum in Québec, Nolett said. “We are confident that a lot of those organizations will do their due diligence and read the history and come to … believe that we are the true Abenaki, and they should be working with us,” Nolett said. ➆

Off to the Races

Burlington Democrats, Progressives choose candidates for mayor and city council COURTNEY LAMDIN

he stage is nearly set for Burlington’s mayoral showdown now that the city’s two major political parties have chosen their candidates. City Councilor Joan Shannon (South District) won the Democratic nomination on Sunday with 1,689 votes — just over the 50 percent-plus-one-vote majority she needed to take the title. She defeated both City Council President Karen Paul (Ward 6), who received 1,173 votes (35 percent), and political newcomer C D Mattison, who got 471 votes (14 percent). On Town Meeting Day, Shannon will go up against Vermont Rep. Emma MulvaneyStanak (P/D-Burlington), who ran uncontested to earn the Progressives’ backing last week. More candidates could emerge ahead of the March 5 election. The Burlington GOP is caucusing on December 19, and independents have until January 29 to get on the ballot. But the major-party nominees already have a healthy head start — and are on track to make history. Either would be the city’s first-ever woman mayor. Both Shannon and Mulvaney-Stanak have been involved in politics for decades, even serving on the city council together. Shannon, 59, has represented the South End for 20 years, including a stint as council president. She lives in the Lakeside neighborhood and is a real estate agent. Mulvaney-Stanak, 43, once chaired the state Progressive Party and now leads the party’s caucus in the Vermont House. An Old North End resident, she runs a consulting business for nonprofits and social justice organizations. The race will likely center on public safety, a topic Shannon leaned into heavily to win over Dem voters. In fact, it’s the only issue highlighted on her campaign website. During the campaign, Shannon consistently reminded voters that she opposed a Prog-led resolution in June 2020 to reduce the size of the police force. More than a dozen officers subsequently left, and some residents have connected the uptick in certain crimes to the exodus. Shannon’s stance won her endorsements from both the police and firefighter unions. “Electing a mayor who has these endorsements will help us hire the first responders we all say we need,” Shannon told a small crowd at Edmunds Middle School on Sunday before the caucus vote. “It will assure current and prospective

JAMES BUCK

BY C O UR TNE Y L AMD IN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

City Councilor Joan Shannon

officers that city leadership and the public support them performing their jobs.” Shannon also wants to bolster the city’s nonpolice emergency responses and pledges to crack down on drug dealing by working with state and federal authorities. She believes that arresting people who use drugs could help them access treatment.

THE MAJOR-PARTY NOMINEES ALREADY HAVE A HEALTHY HEAD START —

AND ARE ON TRACK TO MAKE HISTORY.

Shannon has also pledged to build more affordable housing, including “supervised housing” for people in recovery, and to “ensure Vermont has a statewide mental health system,” her website says. “We will work together with state partners to provide the statewide social safety net that people deserve,” Shannon said on Sunday, “and also work together to clean up graffiti, pick up litter and hold people accountable for illegal actions.” Mulvaney-Stanak’s platform also mentions graffiti and needle cleanup. She has called for deploying more police

city’s controversial biomass plant, the McNeil Generating Station. “We have to be more innovative and make decisions that are a deep commitment to future generations,” MulvaneyStanak said at the caucus. She issued a similar forward-looking statement after Shannon won the Dem vote on Sunday night. “In March, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether the strategies of the past decade will get us where we need to go or whether we need a new vision for Burlington,” Mulvaney-Stanak said. Voters will also elect city councilors to eight ward seats. All but three are contested. In Ward 1, Councilor Zoraya Hightower (P) isn’t running again, and Progressive Carter Neubieser hopes to succeed her. Neubieser, the lead fundraiser for climate nonprofit 350Vermont, will go up against Dem nominee Geoff Hand, an attorney and member of Burlington’s Development Review Board. The Ward 3 seat is being vacated by Councilor Joe Magee, a Progressive. Prognominated Joe Kane is running against Malik Mines, the Dems’ pick. Both are political newcomers. Ward 6, Paul’s current seat, will go to either Democrat Becca Brown McKnight or Progressive Will Anderson. McKnight is a marketing company CEO, and Anderson works as a fiscal analyst for the state. He tried to unseat Shannon in the South District race earlier this year; McKnight has never run for office. Independent Councilor Ali Dieng isn’t running for reelection in Ward 7. Dem nominee Evan Litwin, the vice chair of Burlington’s Housing Board of Review, and Progressive Lee Morrigan, a parks commissioner, will compete for the seat. Morrigan also tried to get the Dem nomination but lost to Litwin, 288-133. In Ward 8, Democratic Councilor Hannah King is being challenged by Prog-nominated Marek Broderick, a UVM junior who cochairs the college’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter. The elections in Wards 2, 4 and 5 are effectively already decided: No one is running against incumbent councilors Gene Bergman (P), Sarah Carpenter (D) or Ben Traverse (D). ➆

TOWN MEETING DAY

to “hot spots” to deter drug dealing and vandalism and, like Shannon, emphasizes sending other trained professionals to certain emergency calls. She wants to increase staffing for the Burlington Fire Department’s overdose response team, open an overdose prevention center, and offer Narcan and de-escalation trainings to local businesses. And she would immediately appoint a “special assistant to the mayor on community safety” to coordinate the city’s efforts. “Too many of our neighbors are suffering, and too many are unsafe,” MulvaneyStanak told caucusgoers at the Old North End Community Center last week. “I know that meeting people’s basic needs and creating opportunities for meaningful community engagement is the real solution for creating safer communities. We each have a role to play.” Unlike Shannon, Mulvaney-Stanak’s platform touches on other major issues, including affordability and climate policy. She wants to look into rent stabilization, switch to an income-based city tax system, and work with higher education institutions and the University of Vermont Medical Center to address housing shortages and gaps in public transportation. On climate, Mulvaney-Stanak would push for fare-free bus transit to discourage car travel; she’d also look to shut down the

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and criminal behaviors. If one is truly concerned with these issues, well, it begins with caring and protecting the most vulnerable children. DCF services are broken here in Vermont and across much of the country, and new, innovative models of care must be explored. I know for a fact that DCF caseworkers are committed, compassionate people with big caseloads and, like most human service workers, get little acknowledgement and low wages. There needs to be more federal and state money for mental health and children’s protective services. We can’t sit back any longer and watch vulnerable children suffer. Lucia Volino

SHELBURNE

A STRIP

I keep measuring in my mind a strip of land 25 miles long, 11 miles wide. Here, say in Vermont. From Middlebury to Burlington. With our lake, to the west. Of what used to be the Champlain Sea. And mountains to the east. Appearing to be green. North and south, a town or village. Of another country. In this facsimile. In my dream. Boxing me in. I’m forcing myself, too, to see two million citizens crammed under one roof of the sky. And remembering the room the poet e.e. cummings painted in his novel “The Enormous Room.”

I’m hoping to read someday. I’ve read it speaks to his and his friend Bill’s arrest for anti-war sentiments.

Late Autumn Hillside, Glover, 2023, by Paul Rogers

For e.e., an ambulance driver, sticking up for him. In the history of World War I. And then in his poetry. Without borders. Which I find difficult and fun. Seeing his words make the most of a page’s empty spaces. Breaking a grammarian’s rules. For the sake of peace and the imagination. And e.e.’s wife, who, it’s reported, asked her husband, walking upstairs from his study in their basement in Cambridge, after a full morning’s writing, whether or not he was having a good day. To which he apparently said, with a straight face, I changed a period to a comma. Which for all intents and purposes might be what the world needs to save itself from itself. For me to offer my extra room to a stranger. To begin walking from here to Burlington. And then over to the lake. And back to the mountains. To feel as much as I can for them and not in my mind. Which doesn’t stand for a strip of my heart. Gary Margolis

CORNWALL

NEW VIEW OF NOVEMBER

I’d like to thank you for writing the profile of photographer Paul Rogers [“The Novemberist,” November 22]. As an amateur photographer, I am always looking for inspiration to get outside with my camera and take pictures. November, suffice it to say, is not a month I look forward to for creative inspiration. Rogers’ beautiful photography represented in his “Stick Season” online gallery was just the nudge I needed to look at our beautiful home state in a new way and, quite literally, in a new light. Robert Coleburn

FERRISBURGH

‘INCENDIAN PROBLEM’

[Re “Chord and Discord: Odanak Musician Mali Obomsawin Talks Music, Community and Vermont’s ‘Pretendian Problem,’” September 27]: Vermont does not have a “pretendian problem” — it has an “incendian problem.” By highlighting the incendiary opinions of a few outspoken individuals — who have no legal authority whatsoever to adjudicate anyone’s Indigenous

identity — journalists are contributing to a firestorm of slander, provoking troubling conversations among Native people and the general public. As a simple point of fact, no individual holds the inherent right to determine who is or is not legally “Indian” in the United States or Canada. Nothing in any federal, provincial or state law, and nothing in any traditional Indigenous practice of governance, gives any Native American or First Nations person or tribe the legal right to judge the identity of any other Native American or First Nations person or tribe. Such determinations can only be made by and within a sovereign tribal nation, over its own citizens. Under Vermont Statute Title One, Chapter 23, the Abenaki nations in Vermont are legally recognized and identified as “Native American Indian People.” Under the United States Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, they are legally recognized as Native American artists, “defined as a member of any federally or officially State recognized tribe of the United States.” Although many Abenaki people are being slandered as a direct result of this biased reporting, they have nonetheless received personal reassurances from many respected citizens of American and Canadian tribal nations who are appalled by the recent media coverage that is causing an enormous amount of unnecessary chaos and confusion. Margaret Bruchac NORTHAMPTON, MA

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READ, POST, SHARE + COMMENT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LIFELINES

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Edward Fisette OCTOBER 5, 1944DECEMBER 8, 2023 ALBURGH, VT.

Edward “Ed” Robert Fisette, 79, of Alburgh, Vt., passed away peacefully on December 8, 2023, at his home, surrounded by the loving presence of his family, after a heartbreakingly short battle with pancreatic cancer. Ed’s life started at Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mass., with his birth to Arthur and Beatrice Fisette of Millbury, Mass., on October 5, 1944. As the youngest of four children (Walter, Doris, Normand), Ed filled his early years competing in Whist tournaments, developing strategies that saw his team clean up the prizes; participating in Drum Corps competitions, playing the bass drum; and perfecting the art of peeling potatoes at his high school job at Millbury Fish & Chips, where he developed his very strongly held opinion on what made the best fish and chips (light, crispy, airy batter on haddock only — cod would not do — and twicecooked, never-frozen fries). Ed possessed a strong character trait, consistent throughout his life, of creating additional value from modest means. This was perhaps shown significantly for the first time when, after obtaining an associate’s degree at New England School of Accounting in Worcester, he applied to become a member of the first junior class at New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University), during its expansion from a two-year to a four-year college. He married at the beginning of his senior year and, while working full time taking sports photos for the local paper, graduated cum laude with a BS in accounting. He would eventually go on to be president of the alumni board. After graduation, Ed began his 33-year career with IBM as a business controls analyst. It was interrupted

shortly after when he was drafted into the Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. The experience had a profound impact on his future. While stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, he taught himself to sail, which he fell in love with. Returning home, he convinced his wife to buy a sailboat before a house, and, ultimately, while working full time at IBM, he also launched his own business, Breakwater Yacht Sales, a sailboat dealership on Lake Champlain. The Fisettes settled in South Burlington, and Ed would sleep little, preferring to engage in all of his varied hobbies and family activities. Along the way, he leveraged his experience at IBM to obtain his CFE credentials and became a 25-year member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He was often carting his son off to early morning hockey practices, helping his daughter create fundraisers for her various activities and always looking for ways to express his love for his wife. He was often behind the lens of a camera as he documented their lives and the beauty of the world around him. Ed retired young (55) to the dream house on the lake that he had always imagined and began a new chapter of constant learning, value-making and hobbies. He continued his avid reading of mostly spy/espionage books or historical nautical fiction. He remained a season-ticket holder of UVM men’s hockey. He moored their sailboat off

the shore in front of their house. He began researching his genealogy and became a member of the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogy Society and traced his ancestry all the way back to Charlemagne. He sought ways to make use of the apples and currants growing on the property and built his own cider press, making fresh cider, hard cider and cassis, while becoming somewhat of a gentleman farmer. Ed was well known in the community for his love of bargain hunting at local yard sales and building up his collection of water toys for his children and grandchildren to enjoy on summer visits. More than anything, Ed believed in pursuing new experiences, learning new things, being kind and generous, and being thoroughly and completely committed and devoted to his family. Ed is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy (née Guilfoyle); his son, Matthew Fisette, and his children, Madeleine and Gavin, of Acworth, Ga.; and his daughter, Danielle Fisette, and her husband, Patrick Gallivan, of South Burlington, Vt. He is also survived by his older brother Walter Fisette of Manchester, Conn.; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and “chosen family” members. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother Normand Fisette and his sister, Doris Taft. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 14, 5 to 8 p.m., at Goss Life Celebration Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton, VT. A Catholic funeral mass will be held on Friday, December 15, 11 a.m., at St. Amadeus Church — Our Lady of the Lake Parish, 75 N. Main St., Alburgh, VT. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Anne’s Shrine (92 St. Anne’s Rd., Isle La Motte, VT 05463) or the Alburgh Public Library (128 S. Main St., Alburgh, VT 05440) are appreciated. Condolences, photos, and favorite memories may be shared through gossfs.com.

Gwenith Allard AUGUST 18, 1937NOVEMBER 28, 2023 MENDON, VT.

Gwen Allard was a much beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her life’s work was advocating and empowering the disabled community. She was a revolutionary in her field, and her vision was a spark that ignited commitment and momentum in the hearts of those who met and worked with her. She was contagious. Gwen’s deep love of nature, combined with her innate compassion for others, fueled her pioneering efforts in creating adaptive snow sports programs throughout the United States. Her energy and lifelong commitment to helping others painted the mountains with hope, making the thrill of skiing accessible to all. Hundreds of people called Gwen “Mom.” Her hugs were a universe of comfort, her spiritual depth and empathy as vast as the sky. Gwen used to say, “Church is sitting on a ski lift on a sunny winter’s days riding up the mountain listening to birds and seeing snow crystals sparkling on pine tree limbs!” Off the snow, Gwen loved gatherings at a family lodge at Hunt Lake in the Adirondacks, where laughter and camaraderie filled the air for decades! She was a gardener, a baker, a lover of animals and the outdoors. Of her many accomplishments, Gwen was president of the Junior League of Schenectady, received degrees from the University of Delaware and Russell Sage College, and contributed her expertise to the Wounded Warrior Project and the Special Olympics. Her pioneering adaptive sports curricula are the foundation of adaptive programs across the country and led to her induction into the Disabled

Sports USA Hall of Fame in 2001. Gwen’s determination to create ever more innovative approaches to enable any disabled person to access the sport of skiing dovetailed with her tenacious capacity to fundraise. In 1983 Gwen arrived at Ski Windham in the Catskills and formed the Adaptive Sports Foundation, a 501c3 corporation that became one of the largest programs of its type in the country. As the scope and reach of ASF programs expanded, so did its facilities. An 8,500-square-foot adaptive center is named in her honor, complete with its own chairlift. Charlie Wood and the Paul Newman Foundation contacted Gwen and challenged her to transform what had once been a small Adirondack ski area into a modern facility, welcoming seriously disabled children to enjoy winter activities, with a focus on skiing. Ski lifts, snowmaking and grooming equipment were secured, with ski patrollers, ski instructors and medical staff all volunteering their time and equipment to what is now known as the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, N.Y. In 1998 a new ski trail, Gwen’s Fun Run, was named as a tribute to her leadership. In 2021 the adaptive wing of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Museum, located in Ishpeming, Mich., was named after her. In 2022

Gwen was given skiing’s highest honor by being formally inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, in recognition of a lifetime of achievements within the snow sports industry and adaptive community. Gwen wore her heart on her sleeve and shared her wonderful energy not only with immediate family but also with devoted groups of friends, including Freddie Anderson, her dear friend, mentor and founder of the Schenectady Ski School. Their enduring relationship spanned many decades. Gwen Allard passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 28, with family by her side in her beloved state of Vermont. She leaves behind her husband, Ray Allard; son John Bevier and his wife, Lyn; son Rob Bevier and his wife, Trena; stepson Scott Allard; stepdaughter Cherie Briggs; granddaughters Isabel, Ellen and Samantha; step-granddaughters Brittney and Courtney; great-grandsons Bradley and Caleb; and her sister, Marlyn Martin. We take comfort in knowing Gwen’s spirit will live on through her legacy: the continued joy, independence and freedom her efforts have brought to so many, and so many yet to come. In lieu of flowers, please support your favorite taxdeductible adaptive sports program, such as Adaptive Sports Foundation, Vermont Adaptive or Double H Ranch. Your support changes lives for the better. We will announce a date for Gwen’s celebration of life after spring skiing ends and lifts stop carrying skiers to the tops of mountains. If you would like to receive information, please email us at gwenamemorial@gmail. com. A form will autogenerate and be sent to you so you can share your contact information, allowing us to update you with our celebratory event details.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Jerome Frederick O’Neill SEPTEMBER 24, 1946DECEMBER 3, 2023 BURLINGTON, VT.

Jerry O’Neill passed peacefully on December 3, 2023, after a long illness. He was born and died on the hills overlooking Lake Champlain and lived most of his life near the lake’s shores. But Jerry’s world was anything but small. He was a world traveler whose long life was rich with beloved family, friends and colleagues; a successful career; and a love of food, travel, photography and wine. Born in Burlington, Vt., to Phyllis (Chagnon) and Frederick O’Neill, Jerry spent his childhood in Swanton hunting, fishing and playing basketball on the St. Anne’s Academy high school team. He attended Georgetown University and Georgetown Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Journal. Jerry served as an active-duty U.S. Army officer, attaining the rank of captain, and in the Vermont National Guard for more than 20 years. In 1972, while in the military, Jerry was stuck on a plane circling through the snow above Burlington, trying to get home from Fort Knox, while his daughter Kate was born. In his early career, Jerry clerked for two federal judges before joining the Rutland U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1973. His daughter Maura was born in Rutland on a hot summer day in 1974. A year later, he was appointed first assistant U.S. attorney under his friend Bill Gray and eventually became U.S. attorney for Vermont. Since 1981, Jerry had been in private practice in Burlington. He was the senior partner at O’Neill Crawford & Green (later O’Neill Kellner & Green) for 27 years, before joining the law firm Gravel & Shea, where he worked until his passing. Among his many professional accomplishments, Jerry was most proud to help victims of childhood sexual abuse. He was one of the first lawyers in the country to hold the Catholic diocese accountable for crimes perpetrated against children, and his cases often garnered national media attention. Jerry remained humbly focused on justice for his clients, stayed close with many of them, and was honored to be a part of their recovery and lives. Whether it was weekly lunches with his best friend, Geoff Crawford; dinners with “the Lovely O’Neill Sisters,” as he referred to his daughters; or Zoom calls with his siblings, he nurtured and cherished his

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

relationships and was a devoted and generous friend, father, sibling and partner. Jerry didn’t meet his soulmate until he was in his late fifties, but Giuliana was his “wife for life,” and they made the most of their two decades together. Giules brought out a gentle and playful side of Jerry that delighted the rest of the family, and she took exquisite care of him after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2021. Jerry was an active member of myriad communities. Through the legal societies to which he belonged, he taught hundreds of classes, workshops and courses across the country. He was on the Burlington Police Commission for two decades, ultimately as the commissioner; a board member of COTS (the Committee on Temporary Shelter); and a frequent volunteer and event attendee. As you may be realizing, Jerry had a seemingly endless amount of energy and many passions. When not working, he was often traveling the world taking beautiful photographs. Through Giules, he became an avid equestrian and found great joy in galloping cross-country on his horse. He loved to cook and recently sent a copy of his favorite Melissa Clark cookbook to at least a dozen people. His family and friends were often entertained by his joyful laugh, clever sense of humor and stories. He was also known for his multiple pairs of clicky reading glasses and his love of good wine. If there is an afterlife, Jerry is at dinner, clicking together a pair of glasses as he peers over the wine list, asking to speak with the person (“It could be you!”) who knows the most about it. Jerry lived a full life and died in Giuliana’s arms, which was exactly what he wanted. He is survived by his wife, Giuliana Robertson; his daughters, Kate O’Neill and Maura O’Neill; and Maura’s husband and son, Tim Painting and Aidan O’Neill. He is also survived by his siblings, Anne O’Neill; Peter O’Neill and his wife, Renee; and Julie Campbell and her husband and son, Travis and Tyler; as well as his nephew, Sean O’Neill, and his wife, Marcy; and the mother of his children, Maureen Linsenmeir, with whom he remained close friends. He was predeceased by his parents and his brotherin-law Crawford Byers A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, 2 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) at snapnetwork. org or COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter) at cotsonline.org.

Mary Louise Smith AUGUST 25, 1930NOVEMBER 26, 2023 BURLINGTON, VT.

Mary Louise Smith passed away on November 26, 2023, at the McClure Miller Respite House. She was at peace to move on from a full life of 93 years. Mary Louise Jones was born on August 25, 1930, in Stillwater, Okla., to Fred and Ruth Jones. She had fond memories of growing up in this little town with her parents; her older brother, Lloyd; and a close circle of friends. After high school, Mary attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where she met Jim Smith, who had just returned from serving in the U.S. Army in postwar Germany. They each caught the other’s eye, and before long, Jim and a small group of friends started walking from the OSU campus to Mary’s home to serenade her from outside. They married in 1950 and went on to have four daughters, Cathy, Sara, Dana and Leslie. Life was busy with a growing family. Jim worked in marketing for Ford Motor Company, which meant occasional transfers. Mary endeavored to create a sense of home and community in each new location, and she never lost sight of completing her college education. While living in Cincinnati, Ohio, she earned a bachelor’s degree in

history from the University of Cincinnati, an accomplishment that brought her profound pride. While they lived in several locations, Mary and Jim spent a significant amount of time in Colorado, where she achieved her dream of becoming a teacher at LaSalle Elementary School while he served as the Rocky Mountain district manager for Lincoln-Mercury in Denver. They also spent 14 years in North Carolina, enjoying numerous family gatherings that included their beloved grandchildren, Daniel, Lara, Dave, Clare, Anna, Jessica, Colton and Andrew. Many celebrations and softball games took place at their home on Old Graham Road. Eventually, Mary and Jim began spending more time in Vermont. After he passed in 2008, she moved there permanently in 2010. She enjoyed autumn foliage, beautiful snowfalls, drives to Bristol,

visits to Shelburne Farms, views of Lake Champlain and walks on Church Street. She also cherished a close circle of friends in her small Burlington neighborhood. Throughout her life, Mary found satisfaction in a variety of interests and experiences. From middle age until recently, she always had a Great Dane by her side. She loved old architecture, beautiful gardens and open countryside. She valued literature, working her way through many works by Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. She also loved Italian opera, especially Verdi’s Rigoletto. Nothing, however, brought her more joy than being with family. Mary is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy and Peter Kreyling, Sara and Bruce Curtis, Dana and Mike Sutton, and Leslie and Jerry Williams, as well as her grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. We all witnessed her excitement at countless reunions and celebrations over the years. At her last Thanksgiving, on November 23, 2023, she happily set her beautiful maple dining table for a family dinner, one plate at a time. In lieu of condolences, please consider a donation to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a cause Mary deeply valued. Checks can be made out to USCRI and mailed to USCRI Development Department, 2231 Crystal Dr., Suite 350, Arlington, VA 22202.

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Larry K. Richman NOVEMBER 24, 1934NOVEMBER 17, 2023 ESSEX, VT.

Larry K. Richman died on November 17, 2023, a week short of his 89th birthday, at the Miller McClure Respite House in Colchester, Vt. Larry was born in Philadelphia in 1934 and grew up on a small Bucks County chicken farm north of the city. He attended local schools and then Colorado College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with a BA in English in 1957. From Duke University, he received an MA in 1959 and a PhD in 1970. While at Duke, Larry met Ann Fiser Peterson and her daughter, Karen. Larry and Ann were married in August 1964. Larry went on to teach English at the Beaufort and Florence Centers of the University of South Carolina, Washington & Lee University, Agnes Scott College, Virginia Intermont College, and Virginia Highlands Community College, from which he retired as professor emeritus of English

Elaine Guerrera

OCTOBER 5, 1937-DECEMBER 7, 2023 SHELBURNE, VT. Elaine Guerrera died peacefully while embraced by her family. Born in Waterbury, Conn., Elaine made her home in Vermont in 1979, where she had a long career in medical administration work leading to medical transcribing. She spent many years at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury before moving to Burlington. She was then employed for many years at Urology Associates and Aesculapius Medical Center before retiring to pursue a life of travel and art. Elaine then spent a year in St. Croix, where she has family, fulfilling her dream of living at the beach. She returned to Vermont to support the upbringing of many grandchildren. When asked what her belief system was, her answer was “family and love,” and it was apparent in every way, every day. Her talent for art started at a young age and continued throughout her life. As a new parent with young children, she encouraged art of all mediums. She continued to share this love with her

in 1998. He also served briefly as adjunct faculty for Vermont College. Larry was one of the founding editors of a nationally distributed poetry quarterly, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review. He and Ann were editor-publishers of the Sow’s Ear Press, which published 30 collections by poets from the upper South between 1994 and 2003. He was also one of the founders and the associate editor and advertising director of The Plow, an Appalachian alternative newsmagazine published by the nonprofit Appalachian Information. The magazine ran for four years in the late 1970s, producing a total of 72 issues. Larry is survived by his stepdaughter, Karen Maxon, her husband, Daniel Maxon, and Larry’s grandsons, Colin and Nathan Fletcher, of Essex, Vt.; his sister, Bonnie Richman, of Eugene, Ore., and her daughter, Laura Myers, of Rockville, Md.; and his dear friend Sandra Morningstar of North Duxbury, Vt. Plans for a memorial service are incomplete. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be sent to Vermont Foodbank, 33 Parker Rd., Barre, VT 05641 (vtfoodbank.org).

grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Art was her therapy long before “art therapy.” Elaine was the epitome of her name’s meaning, “a bright, shining light,” with a sparkling smile and a soul that would never pass judgment. Love is what she believed in, and love is what she spread. Elaine is survived by her husband, John MacFarlane; her son, Barry Vaccarelli, and his wife, Joan; her daughter Elizabeth Robbins; her daughter Susan Vaccarelli and her husband, Phil Seeley; her grandchildren, Noah, Theresa, Jennifer, Autumn, Alexandria, Cooper, Zachary and Ellie; and many greatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews, who hold her in their hearts. She is predeceased by her parents, Daniel and Phylis Guerrera; her brother, Dan “Butch” Guerrera; and her sister, Sandy Pierpont. Our family would like to thank the McClure Miller Respite House and the hospice team that comforted her and took great care of Elaine. The family will hold a celebration of life in spring 2024. “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” —Winnie the Pooh

Ferguson McKay

JUNE 21, 1932DECEMBER 2, 2023 RUTLAND, VT. Ferguson McKay, 91, devoted husband and loving father, sadly left us on December 2, 2023, after a brave battle with Parkinson’s disease. He passed peacefully in his sleep at the Meadows of East Mountain in Rutland, Vt. A Renaissance man before that was a thing, Ferg was an English professor, a delicate writer, a tender soul, a pragmatist, and a lover of classical music, good food and L.L.Bean plaid flannel shirts. He was sensitive, witty, refined, and both generous and frugal. Mostly, he devoted his life to his family and was the undisputed chief of our little family tribe, caring for our mother even with Parkinson’s and the loss of most of his eyesight from glaucoma. Born in Belmont, Mass., on June 21, 1932, Ferg loved classical music, particularly the piano and the recorder, and initially wanted to become a concert pianist. He went to Phillips Exeter Academy, attended Harvard University and graduated from Amherst College in 1957, then received a master’s degree in English from Yale University. Ferg met Jane Coyle at a church singles’ group in Cambridge, Mass. Jane had grown up in Cabot, Vt., attended Radcliffe and was teaching elementary school. They married on June 20, 1959, and moved to Albany, N.Y., where Ferg taught in the State University of New York system, then back to New Haven, Conn., where he pursued a PhD in English at Yale. The family moved to Vermont in 1967, and over a 24-year career at Lyndon State College (now Vermont State University-Lyndon), Ferg taught English and served as dean of faculty, then acting president. As dean in the 1970s, he helped bring the nationally renowned meteorology program to LSC from a defunct college in New Hampshire. As an English professor, he most wanted his students to learn to write effectively, and he got a master’s degree

in writing from Northeastern University in the early 1980s. He is fondly remembered by his students as a thorough, caring professor who taught them to express themselves fluidly through the written word. Although raised in the ivory tower of academia, Ferg had little tolerance for elitism. He judged people by their character, not by their titles or stock portfolios, and was at ease talking to tradespeople and academics alike. He could quote Shakespeare, expound upon the problems of a septic system, figure out why a car wouldn’t start and wonder aloud what astrophysicists knew about dark matter. He also loved a good dirty joke. Once in Vermont, Ferg cast aside his suits and ties, preferring white Hanes undershirts, flannel shirts and dungarees. He cultivated a huge and well-kept vegetable garden and embraced organic food decades before it was a trend. His daughters had to eat organic peanut butter sandwiches at school while their friends got marshmallow fluff. Much to his daughters’ dismay, he foraged for fiddleheads in the spring, then served them steamed with butter — the cause of a few mealtime stare-downs. Ferg stood out for his thriftiness, even by Vermont standards. He carried his lunch to work every day in the same reused Walnut Acres granola bag. During the energy crisis in the 1970s, he turned the heat down so low that even the cats were cold. “Wear a hat!” he told his wife and daughters when they complained. But he made the house feel warm, safe and secure for all of us, the greatest gift a parent and spouse can give. He installed a woodstove

in the kitchen and spent summers chopping wood. The only thing he readily spent money on was good food, and he loved cuisine from around the world. An all-you-can-eat buffet was money well spent. On Jane’s 100th birthday in November, he ate heartily at his favorite Rutland restaurant, Roots. Ferg’s biggest fix-it project was Jane’s family home in Cabot — a Victorian mansion built by her greatgrandparents. After retiring from Lyndon State in 1991, he renovated and rewired half the house and jacked up its sagging foundation, and he and Jane spent summers there for the next 26 years. They enjoyed concerts at the Adamant Music School and plays at the Unadilla Theatre in Marshfield and Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier. After living in retirement in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Brunswick, Maine, Ferg and Jane moved to the Gables at East Mountain in Rutland in 2018 to be closer to family, and finally to the Meadows. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Meadows for their love and care and the devoted caregivers of At Home Senior Care, who helped Ferg and Jane live at home as long as possible. Ferg is survived by Jane, his beloved wife of 64 years; his two daughters, Betsy McKay of Woodbridge, Conn., and Peggy (McKay) Shinn of Rutland, and their spouses, Neil Bainton and Andrew Shinn; his three grandchildren, Larisa and Andy Bainton and Sam Shinn; and his grandson-inlaw, Kevin Hernandez. He is also survived by his younger brother, Donald McKay Jr. of Decatur, Ga. He is predeceased by his parents and older sister. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, 1 p.m., at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland, with a second memorial and burial service in Cabot, Vt., this coming June. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ferg’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox. org. Arrangements are with Tossing Funeral Home in Rutland.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

lifelines lines OBITUARIES Norman Pellett

JUNE 26, 1934-DECEMBER 8, 2023 SHELBURNE, VT. Norman Eugene Pellett passed peacefully in his sleep on December 8, 2023. Norman was born to the late Melvin Ambrose Pellett and Elizabeth Louise (Dallinger) Pellett on June 26, 1934, in Atlantic, Iowa. He grew up never far from a trowel at Pellett Gardens, his family’s vegetable and fruit farm, and began his education in the nearby one-room schoolhouse. After spotting the prettiest girl on day one in Horticulture 101, he quickly nabbed her and made Dorothy Jean (Engel) his wife, and they both graduated from Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) with a bachelor’s degree in science in horticulture. They joined his parents at Pellett Gardens in 1958 to expand the business into nursery production and landscape design and installation. After a few years, Norman pursued his graduate studies and received his MS and PhD in horticultural science and plant physiology from the University of Minnesota. Norman next served two years in the U.S. Army, with 16 months in the Army Transportation Corps, serving arriving troopships in Yokohama, Japan. In 1964, Norman accepted his first position as assistant professor of horticulture at SUNY Cobleskill to teach horticulture and develop a new curriculum in nursery management. In 1967, they pulled up roots, and he accepted a position as an extension ornamental horticulturist at the University of Vermont, where he conducted outreach education for nursery and greenhouse operators, landscape architects and designers, and the gardening public, while also conducting research on plant coldhardiness, plant propagation and plant adaptation to Vermont winters. In 1980, he exchanged his extension role for an undergraduate professorship and continued his plant research, where he helped study and develop cold-hardy cultivars in rhododendron, azalea, and forsythia, such as forsythia “Vermont Sun.” The Vermont gardening world is well mulched, with many of Norman’s accomplished students who fondly remember him as a playful yet challenging professor. During his 29 years on the faculty of the University of Vermont, he published multiple professional and refereed journal articles, leaflets and books on his research and a variety of gardening topics; advised hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students; and gave frequent gardening

presentations to home gardeners and professional horticulturists. He served as vice president and president of the Northeast Region of the American Horticultural Society and as northeast representative to the American Society for Horticultural Science. Awards and honors include the American Society for Horticultural Science’s Alex Laurie Award in 1970 for the best research paper in Floriculture, Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture; the UVM Joseph E. Carrigan Award in 1985 for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; the Vermont Association of Professional Horticulturists Award for contributions to the industry in 1994; an Honorary Life Membership in the Vermont Association of Professional Horticulturists in 2000; and finally, in 2016, the University of Vermont College of Agriculture’s Sinclair Award for professional advancement in his field/ discipline of expertise, achieving special recognition, awards and honors that reflect a noteworthy and exemplary career. After retirement from UVM in 1996, he authored The Gardener’s Quiz Book, History of the University of Vermont Horticulture Research Center, The Pellett Gardens Story and The Life of Frank Chapman Pellett (his famous apiarist grandfather). He coauthored Landscape Plants for Vermont. He has served the Town of Charlotte as a member of the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Committee and the Rutter Tree Fund Committee. Norman always generously gave his love and support, access to his remarkable practical skills and know-how, and, of course, that untiring baseball-throwing arm to his sons. The twinkle in his eye, that irresistible trademark Pellett family giggle and his gentle, affectionate teasing are already terribly missed. Norman was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Jean, in September 2023; his son Dwight Allen Pellett in 1960; and his daughter, Kerri Pellett Frost, in 1994. He is survived by his sons Alden Pellett (Tara Brown) and Andrew Pellett (Rachel Smith); grandchildren, Hannah Frost and Laurel Pellett; and son-in-law, Gregory Frost. Please join us in a private memorial gathering for Norman on Saturday, January 13, 2024, between 2 and 5 p.m., at the Essex Resort & Spa, 70 Essex Way, Essex, VT. Please bring remembrances to share. In lieu of flowers, donations in Norman’s memory can be made locally to the Nature Conservancy (of Vermont), 575 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier, VT 05602.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Kathleen Smith Locke

Kathleen, always fascinated by advances in science, volunteered to be in a group of 14 pioneers chosen to participate. Her friends were unconvinced that a medical process could predict her child’s sex, but Kathleen proved them wrong. Kathleen went on to earn her MS in biochemistry at UMass Boston. After her divorce, she moved to Chicago and spent 14 years as a contract research manager in environmental air quality for the Gas Research Institute. Kathleen’s greatest love was classical music, and she played her piano to the end. Her retirement years were filled with visits to the symphony, the opera and

the Museum of Fine Arts. A voracious and eclectic reader, she maintained a keen interest in current events. Kathleen loved sewing, knitting and baking, traits shared with her daughter Alicia. She adored traveling, especially with her daughter Amy, who will fondly remember their jaunts. Her son, Stephen, will miss the simple pleasures of bingewatching “Breaking Bad” with her. Kathleen wrote to her BHS classmates upon their 50th reunion: “My life, like yours, has had its challenges and its rewards. I feel as young as ever until that moment when I look at a reflection in the store window and with sudden startling revelation realize that the familiarlooking old lady staring back is me! Then I am aware of the passing years.” Kathleen is survived by her children, Alicia L. Lorenzo of Duxbury, Vt.; and Amy S. Locke and Stephen Locke, both of Boston. The family deeply thanks John Nehme for being a caring second son. Kathleen will be interred at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington in a private ceremony.

Lawn High School and later pursued higher education at Ramapo College and William Patterson University. From age 12, she knew her calling in life was to teach. She began by becoming a swim instructor and lifeguard, followed by a position as an elite gymnastics coach. For the last 19 years of her career, she taught in Waldwick, N.J., as a second-grade schoolteacher and then as an assessment

prep teacher for grades 6 through 8. After retiring, she moved to Vermont with her mother, Norma, to be closer to her daughter and grandson. In her free time, Kathy enjoyed pursuing various hobbies. She was especially proud to have taught herself how to play the guitar at age 65. She had a talent for drawing and expressed her creativity through her artwork. Kathy also found joy in baking cookies and would share them with everyone who crossed her path. Kathy will be remembered for her outgoing personality, the impact she made on the lives of her students, and the warmth and kindness she expressed to everyone she met. She will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. In memory of Kathy, donations may be made in her name to the McClure Miller Respite House.

OCTOBER 25, 1929DECEMBER 2, 2023 BOSTON, MASS.

Kathleen Smith Locke, 94, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023, in Boston. Kathleen was born on October 25, 1929, in Burlington, Vt., to Stephen and Gladys (Pariseau Denton) Smith. Always a woman ahead of her time, Kathleen graduated from Burlington High School at age 16. She went on to earn her BA in zoology from the University of Vermont. After graduation, she taught in the Chemistry Department at UVM and took graduate courses. For several years she taught high school sciences and math. She became technical librarian for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y., where she found her lifelong friends, the late Dr. Jay Moses and Irma Smith Moses, and married her husband, the late Joseph K. Locke. They had two daughters and, after a pause, a son. At the time of her son’s birth in 1972, amniocentesis was still experimental.

Katherine Mueller

JUNE 21, 1953NOVEMBER 6, 2023 COLCHESTER, VT. Kathy Mueller, 70, of Colchester, Vt., passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House, in the early morning of November 6, 2023, while holding the hand of her daughter, Julia. She was born on July 21, 1953, in Atlantic City, N.J., to the late Norma and James Weber. Kathy was predeceased by her parents, as well as by her sisters Suzanne Williams and Joanne Weber. Kathy is survived by her sister Jane Weber; her daughter, Julia Atherton; her son-in-law, Joseph Atherton; and her grandson, Grayson Atherton. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Kathy attended Fair

Jay Kimball

previously settled to explore work in the drilling industry. Eventually, Jay and Anne settled back in Worcester. In the early ’80s, they purchased a portion of the family’s property, now known as Kimball Road, and built a home where they raised their children. Their son, Joshua Kimball, of East Montpelier, Vt., and daughter, Jessica Kimball, of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, grew up immersed in outdoor exploration and shared family responsibilities. They hauled firewood through the snow, aided in tending the family’s horses and learned practical skills at a young age. There was always an adventure on the horizon; on cue, the

kids knew to hop out of the wood truck to lock hubcaps in the winter, and at a young age they learned to navigate (with assistance) the family’s F350 diesel up the steep and intimidating driveway leading to their home. Jay wasn’t just a driven worker, he also held unique and loving characteristics as a father. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for him to show up to his kids’ holiday shows in steel-spiked logging boots, sawdust-covered denim and flannel shirts likely left over from the ’70s. He was not to be found in the neatly arranged rows of chairs next to other families but rather in the back corner of the gymnasium nearest the door. When the last note was sung by Josh or Jessie, a quick exit was made by Jay, believing it was less about his presence to others and more about his children’s performances. Jay embraced his true self without any need for external validation. Jay was known to bond with his children over the smallest of things. Identifying trees during woodland walks and memorizing back-road connections were frequent topics with his kids.

Jessie embarked upon many early-morning, sleepyturned-chatty trips to the logging mill, but never before their ritual breakfast that included two sugary cups of coffee and a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. Josh had the privilege of riding copilot with his dad, clocking many miles on tractor trailer trips all over the state. Jay’s support was present at almost all of his son’s frosty, early-morning hockey games, also many miles away from home. Still standing today is the plywood fort they built together across the Minister Brook on the family property. Jay and Anne eventually parted ways, yet he always remained a true Worcester man. Despite spending years in the village, where he was known to frequently welcome visitors to shoot the breeze and share tall tales on his front porch, he was drawn back to Kimball Road. He lived on Butch’s property for years and built a cabin behind the horse pasture where he could relish in the serenity of the Minister Brook. Jay eventually settled on his daughter’s property in Moretown. He loved life

there, tucked away in the woods, alongside nature. Jay, often engrossed in a book or meandering in the woods, found pleasure in the little things. With a fondness for gardening and animals, he took care of the roses, lilies and all things green. Any four-legged creature seeking attention found a friend in him. That world in the woods was where Jay was happiest, while feeding his spirit and his love for simplicity. Throughout his life, Jay was graced with a wealth of supportive friends from all walks of life, young and old(er), near and far. Their invaluable support meant the world to him. His dear friends, the Worcester community and his family — both immediate and extending to his many cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren — will always remember and miss Jay. However, he would nudge everyone not to cry but to celebrate life with laughter, music and a sense of contentment. In spring 2024, an outdoor celebration of Jay’s life will be held in Worcester, to be shared with friends and family.

during his happy childhood years in Minersville. He attended Minersville Area High School and graduated from Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville, Pa. After graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the Iwo Jima carrier during the Vietnam War. His service in the U.S. Navy brought him to exotic destinations around the world, but he was always looking for the perfect plate of homemade pasta during his shore leaves. He was honored as Sailor of the Quarter by the U.S. Navy during his service. Thanks to his service and the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in Goldey-Beacom College in

Wilmington, Del., where aside from being the only fraternity brother of legal drinking age, he met his future spouse and love of his life, Sandra Patochek. George and Sandra were married on November 23, 1968. A year after their union, they welcomed their daughter, Stacey, and then five years later, their son, Brandon. George finished his BS in accounting from Elmira College in 1975, while working full time with IBM. He started his career with IBM in Endicott, N.Y., in 1969. In 1977, his career brought him and his young family to Vermont, and he remained with IBM Vermont until his retirement in 2007, after 38 years of service. After retirement, he got to pursue at least three of his favorite things: golf, grandparenting and coaching. He and Sandy purchased a condo in Seven Springs, Fla., in order to escape the cold weather of Vermont winters and to perfect his golf game. If you golfed with him, you knew that he always had at least one club sitting in time-out for not performing up to his standard.

When he wasn’t golfing, he and Sandy could be found on a sideline, in the bleachers, at an ice rink, in a theater or behind a backstop, supporting the activities of their kids and, especially, their grandkids. Everyone in the family has gotten coaching tips from PopPop — even the ballerina. Over the last few years, he helped his son, Brandon, coach high school basketball. The high school boys’ basketball teams from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Va., and Windsor High School in Windsor, Va., loved the team dinners of Italian food and life advice, organized by “Pops.” His family thinks that on December 3, 2023, he was welcomed into heaven with the most spectacular, epic food festival/Christmas market/state fair/Polish picnic that has ever existed. He has been reunited with his beloved parents and probably had his mom cook him some homemade gnocchi. His family and friends will be forever grateful for his laughter and humor, his stories, his generosity, his sense of fairness, his loving

spirit, and his encyclopedic knowledge of where to eat and what to order. George is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandra, of Burlington; his daughter, Stacey Zouck, her husband, John Zouck, and their children, Alexandra and Colin Zouck, of Williston; his son Brandon, wife Michele and their daughter, Alyssa Bossick of Suffolk, Va; his sister, Marilyn Homa, of Pottsville, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of George’s life took place on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Ready Funeral South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT, with a reception following at Waterworks Food + Drink in Winooski, Vt. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to First Tee (firsttee.org), an organization devoted to impacting the lives of young people through the game of golf. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences to the family, please visit readyfuneral.com.

FEBRUARY 3,1958OCTOBER 15, 2023 WORCESTER, VT.

Jay Kimball, 65, of Worcester Vt., passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 15, 2023, in Moretown, Vt. He was the youngest of four siblings and the son of (the late) Gordon Kimball Jr. and Madelyn Maxham Kimball, of Worcester, Vt. His siblings were Gordon “Butch” Kimball Sr., Patricia Kimball-Wells Koehler and (the late) Kevin Kimball. Jay grew up on the family farm, with an early exposure to his father’s logging business and where he became an expert caretaker of horses and respected their capacity for hard work. His love for these animals remained with him throughout his life, as did the world of logging. His journeys led him to a job in South Woodstock, where he met Anne Duffy in a horse barn. The pair stuck together, and in the late ’70s, with a handful of good friends, they moved west toward vast landscapes and big skies where Jay’s brothers Butch and Kevin had

George Paul Bossick JANUARY 25, 1945DECEMBER 3, 2023 BURLINGTON, VT.

George Paul Bossick, 78, of Burlington, Vt., and New Port Richey, Fla., passed away peacefully on December 3, 2023, at his home in Florida, with his devoted wife by his side. George will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends. He will be remembered fondly for his jokes, his fashion sense, his bargain-shopping acumen, his love of music, and his devotion to food and cooking. He was fiercely proud of his family, his military service and his Pennsylvania roots. George was welcomed into this world on January 25, 1945, by George and Rose Bossick of Minersville, Pa. He and his younger sister, Marilyn, grew up in a small mining town among many aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family members. He forged his lifelong friendships with Vic Genovese and Jan Yupcavage, aka “Yuppy,”

Marilyn Weir DECEMBER 31, 1931DECEMBER 7, 2023 UNDERHILL, VT.

Marilyn Weir passed away peacefully at the age of 91 at Mansfield Place in Essex, Vt. She was born as the 11th child of 17 to the late George and Mabel (Osborn) Brown on December 31, 1931. She was raised in Foxboro, Mass., where she lived until moving to Vermont in 1968. She was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Walter, in 2020. Marilyn’s best memories were hosting a revolving door of family and friends who visited from Massachusetts after she moved to Vermont. She and Walter made lifelong friendships and remained close with her siblings and in-laws. She loved classical music and was known for her quick wit and hospitality. After high school, she and two of her sisters formed the singing group the Mel-O-Dears, touring for several months to various engagements. Marilyn so enjoyed the customers she met working at various stores in the late ’80s and ’90s. She is survived by daughters Lorinda Crowley (Jim) of Florida and Janet Carlson of Hinesburg; son Steven (Monica) of Underhill; three grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren; sister Murial Bishop of Florida; brother Donald Brown of Nevada; and a large extended family. She was also predeceased by her sons Brian and Thomas, seven sisters, and six brothers. Our family would like to thank the outstanding staff at Mansfield Place and Bayada Hospice. Services are to be held at a later date. Donations in Marilyn’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center. Arrangements are under the care of Gifford Funeral Home in Richmond, Vt.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

A complicated Burlington businessman aims to revive Johnson Woolen Mills S TO RY BY C O L IN F L AND E R S • P H O TO S BY D AR IA BIS H O P

he business is a small-town Vermont clothing company whose handmade wool pants, shirts and hunting jackets have been passed down through generations. The buyer is a 63-year-old Burlington man with a mixed record running an urban airport, who grows queasy at the thought of a gutted deer. It’s an odd pairing, but after a few difficult years for both Johnson Woolen Mills and Gene Richards, the fit may be just right. Richards purchased the nearly 200-year-old company from its fourthgeneration owner in January, a little over a year after he was fired from his job leading the Burlington International Airport following an investigation that found he ran a toxic workplace. Richards has since embarked on an uphill crusade to save the struggling business and, perhaps, redeem himself in the process. Johnson jackets rank up there with maple syrup and Darn Tough socks on the scale of products that bolster Vermont’s image as a last source of highquality, old-fashioned goods that reflect their rural roots. The Woolen Mills has a passionate following as one of the only U.S. manufacturers still producing no-frills, handmade wool clothing. But in a market filled with cheaper, foreignmade goods, the brand’s made-in-America tradition has become as much of a liability as a selling point. The Mills’ previous owner, Stacy Manosh, adapted the best she could, rolling out new products and expanding into new markets, including Japan. But the company has found it hard to stay relevant in recent years, and its payroll has dwindled. It was down to just 13 employees when Richards took over, compared to roughly 50 around the turn of the millennium. 30

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Gene Richards

Given these economic realities, Richards concedes that the rational move would have been to shut it down, “go home and let [the clothes] be built in China.” Yet he swears he never gave that idea a moment’s thought. Instead, he has vowed to turn the company around without changing its identity. “My mission is to make sure this is a better place to work and a place that makes a great product,” he said. “I want to get it ready for the next 100 years.” Richards has attacked the rescue work with a characteristic intensity that borders on the obsessive. He wakes up before 4 a.m., then makes an hourlong commute to Johnson, where he has spent every day since the sale, buzzing around like the Energizer Bunny, clad in plaid. With the help of his family, he has overhauled the inventory system, revamped the website, debuted new clothing lines and renovated the retail store, which is located next to the sewing factory in downtown Johnson. He even brought in a trio of sheep that live in a pen behind the store. “There wasn’t anything that didn’t need to be touched,” he said during a tour of the factory one day last month, during which he repeatedly paused to check in with contractors working around the property. The magnitude of the work — and the company’s questionable prognosis — have led even devoted Woolen Mills customers to wonder aloud: Why bother? “I had one guy yesterday, he said to me, ‘Maybe you should get your head checked,’” Richards recalled with a chuckle. “I don’t think people understand me, because I live in a different dimension. I live in tomorrow,” Richards said. “I know that may sound weird, but I really can see things. I know where I’m going. I know what’s happening. I know what it needs, and I can help put things together quickly.” “I have a twisted mind,” he added with a shrug. “And I really like broken things.”

DYED IN THE WOOL

What ’s now known as Johnson Woolen Mills was founded in the 1830s and originally operated as a fabric manufacturer, one of many such mills across the once sheep-grazed hills of Vermont. Local farmers would bring wool to the mill, then located in a long building that overlooked the Gihon River, and have it woven into cloth. The Woolen Mills began making clothes around the turn of the 20th century, including its iconic green wool pants, advertised as the “Best Wearing Trousers in America.” Twice as hefty as today’s “heavyweight” jeans and thicker than molasses in the middle of winter, the pants were a staple among those whose job or hobbies required them to spend long periods in the cold: loggers, sugar makers, hunters. D.A. Barrows bought the business in 1907, and the next two generations of Barrows men grew up in it. They rolled out new product lines — including the popular Jac Shirt — and opened a retail factory store. The weaving mill closed in the 1960s, prompting the company to purchase its fabrics, mainly from elsewhere in New England. Still, the business continued to thrive, a fact the owners attributed to the consistency of their product line and the superiority of their fibers. “You can’t find anything to compete with wool,” Del Barrows, D.A.’s grandson, once told the Burlington Free Press. But strong economic headwinds were gathering. U.S. textile mills began closing in the 1970s in the face of increased competition abroad. In the following decades, many clothing manufacturers would move all of their production overseas, where they could rely on cheap labor, an abundance of raw materials and the ability to mass produce. This shift helped keep clothing costs low for consumers. But it hollowed out the many factory towns that relied on these jobs. It has also made it harder for companies that needed American workers to compete. By the late 1990s, after a dozen straight years of losses, Del Barrows was looking to get out. Few buyers were lining up, and, while his daughter was interested, Barrows was reluctant to hand her the business. “My dad didn’t think women belonged running businesses,” Stacy Manosh told the Free Press in 2015. Having grown up at the Johnson headquarters, Manosh refused to accept her old-fashioned father’s decision and eventually changed his mind. In 1998, with the help of her ex-husband, Howard Manosh, she bought the company.

An oft-repeated endorsement of Johnson Woolen Mills jackets is that they last long enough to be passed down in wills.

Stacy immediately set out to drum up new business. She designed new products for women, built on her father’s attempts to take the brand national and established relationships with Japanese retailers, who would go on to represent roughly half the company’s sales. She also emphasized the company’s made-in-America tradition.

“You go to a Walmart or something like that, it’s Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines — that’s all they offer,” Manosh said in a recent interview. “When you can stand up, even though you’re standing alone, and say, ‘Here’s a product made in Johnson, Vt.,’ people love that and will pay more for that.” A typical Woolen Mills men’s jacket runs around $260, a price that factors in

the wages of the longtime seamstresses who work at the company’s sewing factory. That’s $100 more than what someone would pay for a similar coat at, say, L.L.Bean, which moved most of its production overseas several years ago after its own New England beginnings. Devoted customers say the quality of Woolen Mills’ clothing is worth paying a premium; an oft-repeated endorsement is that it lasts long enough to get passed down in wills. That also means shoppers don’t have to replace their garments as often. Rather than buy new ones, some sentimental customers will ask the company to fix up decades-old jackets by replacing sleeves or zippers. A boon for the company’s reputation, sure, but for the bottom line? Not so much. Manosh’s commitment to American manufacturing appealed to many shoppers. But some of her other convictions created problems for the business. In 2019, Manosh was invited to the White House’s third annual Made in America showcase. During the event, then-president Donald Trump ranted about four Progressive congresswomen whom he had recently told to “go back” and fix the “places from which they came.” All were women of color, and three were born in the U.S. When a Business Insider reporter emailed Manosh seeking her reaction, she said she wholeheartedly agreed with Trump’s comments. “When people come to this country LEGALLY, they should not bite the hand that is welcoming them,” she wrote in the email, which the news outlet published GLAD IN PLAID SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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« P.31 online. “I would have added, ‘if you’re not happy here, you can leave and we’ll help you.’” Her comments drew rebukes from leaders in Vermont’s business community and upset some longtime customers. They included Nils Daulaire, a retired physician from South Royalton who emailed Manosh to say that her comments made it impossible for him to wear her products without feeling ashamed. He asked for an address to return the branded clothing he had accumulated: two pairs of wool pants and a heavy shirt. “I am not looking for a refund, I simply want to get them off my hands,” he wrote in the email, which he shared with Seven Days. He got no response, so he donated the clothing. Manosh wouldn’t say whether her comments caused the business to suffer financially. But the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic — or the “plandemic,” as Manosh calls it — a year later dealt another blow to the company, and by late 2022, she was down to just 13 employees. Around that time, Manosh asked Richards, whom she met while he still worked at the airport, to perform a review of the business. She then offered to sell it to him. He initially balked, uninterested in jumping into a difficult industry. But he came around after spending time shadowing her at the factory. “I didn’t want to buy it until I saw her passion,” he said of Manosh. After crunching the numbers, he agreed to buy the company for a price neither he nor Manosh would disclose. The new ownership group includes Richards’ wife, Julie; his two sons, Stephen and Eugene, and their partners; and his longtime Burlington business associate, Erin Desautels. All are now involved in the company’s day-to-day operations. A year later, Richards said Manosh deserves credit for standing firm at a time when “all the other mills were cashing out and running for the hills, or switching to international companies and buying things for a third of what they cost us to buy here.” Manosh, meanwhile, had high praise for her successor. “When he falls in love with something, he’s committed,” she said of Richards. “And he’s fallen in love with Johnson Woolen Mills.” 32

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Kate Voorhees sewing

AN EXECUTIVE’S DOWNFALL

Richards often talks about how his mind works differently than most people’s. These snapshots of self-reflection could come across as entrepreneurial bluster, were there not kernels of truth within them. Growing up in St. Albans and Pittsford, Richards struggled to relate to his peers. He later found out that he had dyslexia. A trusted teacher helped him adapt to his diagnosis, but school would never come easy. One thing he’s always understood, though: Hard work pays off. “I grew up in a very poor family, and I have worked since a very young age,” he said, recalling days spent helping out on nearby farms. “I shoveled, I hayed, I milked — I did anything you asked me to do.” “And I loved money,” he added. Working at banks in Burlington after high school offered a new way to understand the almighty dollar. He began as a teller, then worked his way up into the mortgage department at KeyBank. By 1995, he had branched out on his own, founding Spruce Mortgage, a brokerage firm that now does business in Vermont, Florida and North Carolina. He also owns a rental company called Champlain Apartments, which once controlled roughly 20 properties across Burlington; he’s since sold many of them. The lessons Richards learned in the private sector served him well years later, when he was called to public service. After winning election in 2012, Mayor Miro Weinberger needed someone to balance the budget and build up the cash reserves at the ailing Burlington airport. So he turned to Richards, with whom he had served on the airport’s volunteer commission. He appointed Richards

interim director in 2012 and made the post permanent a year later. Weinberger would go on to credit Richards for turning around the airport’s finances. In 2014, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the airport’s bond status from “junk” to “investment grade,” allowing it to refinance some of its debt and save on interest. As he trimmed costs, landed new airlines and began major renovations, Richards earned a reputation as a handson manager who took pride in sweating the small stuff. “I’ve heard stories of him standing there with a stopwatch at the TSA checkpoint, trying to hold them accountable for getting people through,” Weinberger told Seven Days in 2016. But Richards’ aggressive approach also proved to be his downfall. In June 2021, just weeks after he was reappointed, the city launched an investigation into Richards after receiving employee complaints

about his behavior. The investigation spanned two months and included interviews with nearly a dozen former and current airport staff members. A report summarizing the findings accused Richards of “regularly” engaging in “humiliating and offensive” behavior toward workers. It characterized him as a power-wielding “big dog,” unwilling to listen, and said he called employees “useless and ungrateful to their face.” Nearly three dozen members of the local airport union submitted a petition calling on Weinberger to fire Richards after the report was made public. Weinberger, who expressed shock at the findings, asked Richards to resign. When Richards refused, Weinberger asked the city council to approve firing him. Richards chalked up the allegations mostly to misunderstandings, pointed to his nine years of dedicated service and asked for a second chance. But the city

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council upheld Weinberger’s decision. Richards sued the city to get his job back and lost. Two years later, he refers to his time at the airport as the best years of his life and says he hopes to be judged not on how it ended but on what he accomplished. “The airport speaks for itself,” he said. “It’s beautiful.” But he’s also trying to learn from the experience, at least in a small way. Shortly after his firing, one of his sons said he was glad it happened, because for nine years, Richards was rarely around.

he began investing in it, starting with the people. He gave all the employees raises, took them out to lunch a few times and began tackling a long list of maintenance upgrades, from a new sprinkler system to a full-scale kitchen in the break room. He also encouraged the workers to “have a little fun,” a welcome change of pace from Manosh’s tight-run ship, said Susie Audet, 70, who has sewed clothing at the Mills for 38 years. “He’s been great with us girls,” she said as her sister, who works at a desk across from her, nodded in agreement.

We really believe in the company — and, honestly, in Gene.

12/6/23 2:09 PM

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The comment confused Richards, who thought he had always made a point of spending time with his adult children and their families. “Yes, you’re here,” his son replied, “but you’re not here.” His point: The airport took over Richards’ life. “I am now trying to be better at being where I am,” Richards said.

‘SAY YES WHENEVER POSSIBLE’

Deb Willey, the Woolen Mills’ longtime production manager, kept an open mind when the sale was announced. She knew why Richards was fired from the airport, but she had also met him years earlier, when the Woolen Mills made jackets for BTV’s 100-year anniversary. She’d found him to be quite pleasant. “Well,” she thought to herself when the deal closed, “I guess we’ll see.” Richards won her over by showing that he had no interest in slashing and burning his way through the company. Instead,

On a tour of the factory last month, Richards stopped to chat with each of the seamstresses, asking about their weekends and what they planned to bring to the upcoming Thanksgiving potluck. “He actually makes you feel like he cares,” Willey, 67, told Seven Days. “Not only about what you’re doing for work, but about you personally.” Richards’ approach has paid off. The company has hired several part-time seamstresses, increasing the head count to 21, and hopes to bring on more in the coming months. A stable workforce won’t matter, though, if the Woolen Mills isn’t profitable in the long term. To get there, Richards has a simple recipe: be more efficient, create new products, and make the Woolen Mills a place that both locals and tourists want to visit. “I really believe there’s something here that will bring people and have them spend their money, and, in return, we will

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give them a great experience and a great product,” he said. One of the most important upgrades has been an overhaul of the company’s inventory system. Before Richards arrived, he said, rolls of wool fabric and finished clothing were stored in ways that led to wasted time and money. Customers would buy something online only to get a call notifying them that their size was out of stock. Without data to inform its decisions, the company

is also in talks to produce branded clothing for other outfitters, including a streetwear company based in New York City. And it’s rolling out some of its own new products. In August, the Woolen Mills debuted the Northwoods X 1842 collection. Produced in collaboration with a Vermont-based group of hunting hobbyists known as the Northwoods Whitetails, the line is another take on the Mills’ iconic wool pants and jackets, offering new patterns and slimmer silhouettes. Hunters prefer wool because it insulates even when wet and doesn’t make as much noise as other materials when walking or aiming for a shot.

would sometimes make more of an item than needed — a big no-no in manufacturing, Richards said. “Inventory is the devil in business,” he said. “You want enough to sell, but not enough to store.” Now, inventory is cataloged and You can turn left. You can turn right. Or if you’re behind the wheel of the BMW X5, you can decide not to turn at all. deposited in a network of storage racks, The 2016 GLA, starting atX5. just $32,500. The GLAenhanced delivers thrills from the momentdriving you hitcomfortora the ignitionsportierdriving button. WithTHE an available mighty 456-horsepowerengine, suspensionforabsolute BMW while an app on Richards’ phone keeps style, and a fully redesigned interior, themakes BMW X5 always ready, no matter challenge ahead. A racing-inspired dual-clutch transmission forissmoother shifting, while the its advanced engineering delivers up-to-the-minute data that helps inform breathtaking SUV performance no matter what road you’re on. All that inside of a sleek, muscular design makes Learn more the BMWvehicle—for X5, and enjoy exceptional offers at price. The Automaster BMW. production decisions. the 2016 GLA oneabout extraordinary an equally extraordinary MBUSA.com/GLA Efficiency is only part of the equation. The company must also attract new The Automaster BMWSTARTING AT THE 2016 You can turn left. You can turn right. Or if you’re behind the wheel of the BMW X5, you can decide not to turn at all. 3328 Shelburne Rd.$ customers — and have something unique * With anVermont available05482 mighty456-horsepowerengine, enhanced suspensionforabsolute driving comfortora sportierdriving GLA Shelburne, to offer old ones — if it hopes to survive. style, and a fully redesigned interior, the BMW X5 is always ready, no matter the challenge ahead. 802.985.8482 There’s still room to grow in the theautomasterbmw.com Learn more about the BMW X5, and enjoy exceptional offers at The Automaster BMW. Japanese market, Richards said, where ©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. many fashion-minded shoppers have come to appreciate old-fashioned, highThe Automaster BMW quality American clothing. Retailers 3328 Shelburne Rd. there will often ask for custom-made 3328 Shelburne Rd. Shelburne, Vermont 05482-6849 Shelburne, 05482 3328 Shelburne Rd.|Vermont | Shelburne, Vermont 05482-6849 802.985.8482 designs — think funky plaid skirts 802.985.8482 | TheAutomasterMercedesBenz.com 802.985.8482 | TheAutomasterBMW.com theautomasterbmw.com or vests — that would look silly on a 2016 GLA250 shown in Polar Silver metallic paint with optional equipment. *MSRP excludes all options, taxes, title, registration, transportation charge and dealer prep. Options, model availability and actual dealer price may vary. See dealer for details. ©2015 Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers For more information, call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES, or visit MBUSA.com. 50-year-old Vermont hunter but seem ©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks. cool in downtown Tokyo. The company

The new line sold well this fall, according to Richards, who declined to provide specific figures but said the company’s third-quarter revenues were higher than they’ve been in at least 10 years. He takes some of the credit, too, referencing one of his guiding edicts: “Say yes whenever possible.” The backstory: Manosh had declined to work with the Northwoods Whitetails, according to the group. In response, its members planned to launch a competing clothing line that would have rivaled the Woolen Mills’. The group was in the final stages of its business plan when Richards called to say he heard about the idea and wanted to meet. Agreeing to link up with the Woolen Mills was an easy decision, said Jamie Dragon-Davis, whose husband, Joey Davis, started the hunting group with some of his friends. “We’ve both been wearing Johnson wool products our whole lives,” she said. “We really believe in the company — and, honestly, in Gene.”

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‘JOHNSON WOOLEN MILLS IS VERMONT’

Located in a clapboard building on Johnson’s Main Street, the Woolen Mills factory store is fresh and inviting, with white walls, leather furniture and a bright, spacious showroom that feels plucked from the pages of a glossy magazine. If it weren’t for some rustic touches sprinkled throughout — old photos, retired factory tools — customers could easily forget they’re browsing the products of a company born before the Civil War. That’s largely by design. Richards wants the Woolen Mills to be a place where people feel something — a place that, he says, “feeds” them and makes them long for more. Compare that to the old factory store, which the New York Times once described as having the “feeling of a ship on which everyone is crowded for a good cause,” and it’s easy to see why Richards couldn’t wait to make changes.

Richards’ efforts have been noticed in Johnson, a small town of 3,500 undergoing its own revitalization effort. Much of that has been driven by Jenna’s Promise, a nonprofit founded by the family of Jenna Tatro following the 26-year-old’s death from an opioid overdose in 2019. In addition to a recovery house, the nonprofit now owns a coffee shop and a thrift store that employ people in recovery. Greg Tatro, who runs the nonprofit with his wife, said Richards has clearly made an effort to earn community support. After Vermont’s historic flooding over the summer, the Woolen Mills offered free weekly meals to those in need. Richards has since hung Christmas lights outside the store for the first time in years and installed a deer weighing station this fall in a nod to the company’s hunting tradition. Nearly 75 hunters brought fresh kills, including a bear, to be weighed in the factory’s parking lot.

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GE NE RICHARDS

“The younger generation wouldn’t run from it,” he said of the renovated store. The same could be said for the upgraded website, where poorly exposed product photos have been replaced with those of a quality one might expect when clicking “buy” on a $240 pair of pants. “We’ve just made the whole experience better,” Richards said. In the long term, Richards hopes to make the Woolen Mills a destination, in the manner of the Ben & Jerry’s factory or the Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury. He recalled a man from Scotland who flew into Burlington and took a taxi up to Johnson to visit the store this fall, then vowed to return as soon as he could. “I want to be that to people,” he said. It’s why he brought in the sheep, which he sometimes walks around the property, and put the “finishing touches” on a project Manosh had started: converting an old garage on the property into an Airbnb. The rental, which overlooks the river, features hardwood floors and various wool accents, from framed swatches on the walls to pillow covers, blankets and an upholstered chair. It’s also why he’s been fixing up the dilapidated old mill, which he hopes to one day bring back into use, perhaps as a community space.

“Johnson Woolen Mills is Vermont,” Tatro said. “It’s great to see somebody putting life back into it.” That feeling is shared inside the factory, where production manager Willey said she’d grown reluctant to tell people that she worked for the Woolen Mills. “I always used to be proud,” she said, misty-eyed. “And now that’s coming back.” Skeptics might view Richards’ new project as the work of an egotistical businessman, attempting to rehab his reputation on the back of an iconic company. Within 10 minutes of sitting down for an interview at the factory, he offered the following assessment: “I’ve done here what I’ve done everywhere else — and you don’t know me, but if you knew me, even at the airport — I’m an amazing guy, and I’m very kind to people, and I really pay it forward every day.” But asked the million-dollar question — Why, really, are you doing this? — Richards described a much bigger goal. The Woolen Mills, and the dwindling number of companies like it, are the lifeblood of small towns, he said. And once they’re gone, they rarely come back. “That’s why I’m pounding my head against the wall trying to figure it out,” he said. “Because there has to be a way.” ➆

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Farm to Theater Vermont’s rural performing arts centers thrive despite unique challenges

hen Keisha Luce invites nationally touring artists to perform at the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, she’s sometimes met with bewilderment. “They’re like, ‘How far is that from New York?’ ‘How far is that from Boston?’ Yeah, it’s pretty far,” said Luce, the center’s executive director, of the rural Northeast Kingdom town with roughly 800 yearround residents. “The nearest airport is going to be a few hours away.” The phrase “rural performing arts” may seem like an oxymoron elsewhere, but in Vermont, it’s not. Nonprofit performing arts centers span the state, from the Flynn in Burlington to Seven Stars Arts Center in Sharon, population 1,560. Week after week, these venues bring world-class artists to the kinds of towns where the cashier at the local convenience store knows every customer by name. In the process of hosting the likes of the Bulgarian Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury or the Swedish folk’appella group Kongero at the Highland Center, small-town theaters not only draw people out of their homes to share in live performances, they help fill tables at local restaurants, boost other area businesses and transform drive-by towns into cultural destinations. “When they bring 800 people into town, you’re talking about literally tens of thousands of dollars flowing into our local economy just for a single event,” said Jody Fried, executive director of Catamount Arts. That’s not hyperbole. According to the U.S. Arts & Economic Prosperity study published in October, Vermont nonprofit arts and culture organizations generated $158.6 million in economic activity last year and attracted 1.4 million attendees, three-quarters of whom live locally. “The economic impact is really significant,” Fried said. But in a city or the sticks, running a successful nonprofit arts center isn’t easy. Susan Evans McClure, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, said performing arts organizations still haven’t fully recovered their audiences from the pandemic. Ticket sales are never enough to cover operating costs, she said, and organizations often find themselves stretched thin between financial pressures and their artistic and educational missions. In rural areas, those issues are 36

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

BY H ANNAH F E UE R • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

previously worked as an agent for musicians and oversaw music bookings for the nonprofit BarnArts Center for the Arts and the Feast & Field music festival, both in her native Barnard. Finding the right person to lead the Chandler hasn’t been easy: The center has churned through seven executive directors over the past 10 years. Powell attributes the run of resignations to the sometimes unrealistic demands placed on leaders at small organizations. Directors at venues such as the Chandler are often in charge of everything from booking to marketing to development — duties that merit their own positions at larger centers. “It’s a really big job, and it can be overwhelming,” Powell said. She added that the Chandler has hired a new development director to help with fundraising and a full-time staffer in charge of marketing. She hopes those hires will help her buck the trend. The 38-year-old said she wants to serve as executive director until her retirement.

Natalie MacMaster at the Chandler Center for the Arts

magnified. A small population means fewer potential local hires for staff positions. Unable to rely exclusively on nearby residents to consistently fill a theater, the programming has to be alluring enough to make patrons feel it’s worth a trek across the state. And attracting national talent to venues off the beaten path isn’t easy: Vermont’s rural towns often lack a single hotel. “The financial pressures [on] these organizations are real,” McClure said. “The people who work there are wearing 10 different hats.” As winter programming heats up at venues around the state, Seven Days visited three performing arts centers in rural Vermont to discover how, despite the challenges these areas pose, the show goes on.

CENTRAL CONCERNS

Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, chandler-arts.org

Randolph is the heart of Vermont — geographically speaking, anyway. The quaint town of about 4,700 people is located precisely in the center of the state. It also serves as the commercial center for the farming communities that surround it in Orange County. It’s not the first place you’d expect to see former Rolling Stones’ backup singer Lisa Fischer. And yet the Grammy Award winner came to Randolph in November to perform

MAYBE WE COULD OR SHOULD RAISE OUR PRICES, BUT IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE’RE ACCESSIBLE. C HL O E P O WEL L

at the Chandler Center for the Arts — a two-story, Romanesque-style concrete building with arched entrances that houses a historic 575-seat theater. Built in 1906, the building was a gift of colonel Albert B. Chandler, a Randolph native who served as a telegraph operator to president Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. It’s been renovated several times since then, but the theater’s wooden chairs atop a sloped wooden floor still give the hall a colonial, antique feel. “I’m booking some things that have national recognition,” executive director Chloe Powell said. “I’m getting Chandler on the map so people know to reach out.” The Chandler hosts 40 to 50 events per year. Powell, who took the reins at the center in March, said she’s making use of her network from prior jobs. She

Powell keeps ticket prices low — most Chandler shows start at just $10. While that affordability may help fill seats, it doesn’t cover the costs of operating the theater. To break even, the center makes up the difference through donations, sponsorships from local businesses and grants from organizations such as the New England Foundation for the Arts. In 2019, more than 60 percent of the Chandler’s roughly $710,000 in revenue came from contributions and grants. “Maybe we could or should raise our prices,” Powell said, “but it’s really important to us that we’re accessible.” Community programming also means getting kids involved. Last year, about 30 students put on a production of Grease for the Chandler’s annual youth musical. And visiting artists will often put on workshops at local schools. Powell is always on the lookout for creative ways to boost revenue. For

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The crowd for musician Glen David Andrews at Next Stage Arts

example, she rents out the Chandler for conferences, noting that its central location is ideal for events expected to draw attendees from all corners of the state. For locals, the Chandler provides a third space in which to break bread, socialize and enjoy a show. Randolph residents Kathy and Michael Larkin said having access to performing arts through the Chandler influenced their decision to move to Randolph from Burlington. They fell in love with the town after attending the Chandler’s annual New World Festival of Celtic and French Canadian music. “Almost everything the Chandler does is going to guarantee you a nice night,” Kathy said. Lucas Battey also sees the Chandler as central to Randolph. He’s the co-owner of Short Notice, a restaurant about two blocks south of the theater on North Main Street. He said he sometimes sees 60 percent more business than average on nights the Chandler has a big show. “It’s creating traffic for the town, bringing people from other parts of the state that don’t necessarily have a reason to come to Randolph,” Battey said. “It’s bringing recognition to the town it wouldn’t necessarily get otherwise.”

A PORTAL IN PUTNEY

Next Stage Arts, Putney, nextstagearts.org

Putney is a town where history is alive. Located about 20 minutes north of Brattleboro, its residents grocery shop at the same Putney General Store that’s been in business since 1796. Across the street is a white building with prominent windows, green shutters and an imposing steeple that dates back to 1841.

Once the home of the Putney Federated Church, today that building houses Next Stage Arts, a performing arts center and community gathering space. In 2011, residents raised more than $1 million to transform the deteriorating church into a state-of-the-art venue. The completed space with a 200-seat theater opened in 2016. Executive director Keith Marks said he feels added social responsibility as an arts and culture leader in a town of about 2,600 people who are almost 96 percent white. “As a skinny white kid growing up in the burbs, I owe so much to arts and culture for bringing me deeper into understanding what the experience is like for somebody other than myself,” he said. “It gives you a richness of human experience that would be challenging to experience otherwise.” As a teenager in Daytona Beach, Fla., Marks got into Jamaican ska music, a genre that combines Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. He said he owes performing arts venues for exposing him to this genre of music. Now, Marks makes a point of bringing diverse performers to Putney, with about two shows per week. Earlier this month, César Lerner and Marcello Moguilevsky — a duo that plays a fusion of klezmer, tango, jazz and South American folk music — came all the way from Buenos Aires, Argentina. In January, Next Stage will host artist Lonnie Holley, whose work is inspired by his experience growing up Black in Jim Crow-era Alabama. “For me, arts are a portal to otherness,” Marks said. “Culture is an opportunity FARM TO THEATER

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Salsa orchestra LPT at Next Stage Arts

Farm to Theater « P.37 for us to enter worlds that we may not be invited into otherwise.” Marks said convincing acclaimed artists to perform in Putney at an affordable price is often about networking. In 2022, two members of Talking Heads played the theater because of a friendship with a member of Next Stage’s board of directors, Dorothy Porter. Marks can keep ticket prices low by avoiding bookings on Friday or Saturday nights. For example, the Ukrainian folk music quartet DakhaBrakha performed at Next Stage on a Thursday afternoon, a pit stop on their tour from Montréal to New York. On a Saturday night, Marks said, DakhaBrakha’s fees would have been costprohibitive. Earning roughly $300,000 in revenue in 2020, Next Stage made about $50,000 more than it spent. “Whenever I’m talking to artists or agents, I’m very transparent about what we can do and what we can’t do,” Marks said. “There’s plenty of talent in New York and Boston and further afield. The question is, do the stars align? Do the finances work?” Accommodating artists once they arrive poses a challenge, due to the high cost of local hotels. Marks has hosted artists at his house, put them up in Airbnb rentals and had community members volunteer to share their homes. Last month, French Canadian singersongwriter Geneviève Racette played guitar and sang about love, breakups and sobriety to an audience of about 30 people at Next Stage. She told the crowd she loved her accommodations — an Airbnb in the woods without Wi-Fi that helped her unplug — though she wasn’t previously familiar with the town. “How do you say it? Poot-knee?” Racette asked the crowd. “Puht-knee!” an audience member yelled back.

A GIFT IN GREENSBORO

Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, highlandartsvt.org

The Highland Center for the Arts sometimes draws more than twice as many people to its events as there are residents in the town. A summer vacation destination for second-home owners, Greensboro drops in population from a few thousand in the summer to about 800 in the winter. Yet the center’s German-style winter market in December usually draws close to 2,000 attendees, according to Keisha Luce, the executive director. To attract people from across the state, Luce tries to come up with inventive 38

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Fourth of July celebration at the Highland Center for the Arts

programming no one else offers. At the center’s annual Curds & Curling event in February, participants enjoy cheesy refreshments and compete in curling, using a wheel of cheddar as the curling stone. From January to March, the center runs its Open Air Gallery, an outdoor art show where viewers ski or snowshoe along a trail to reach different exhibits. “Being a destination location, your programming has to shine enough that you’re going to draw people in from an hour or two hours away,” said Luce, who hosts events almost every weekend. “We’ve got to remind everyone of that special quality of going to see live arts.” The center, which tracks data on its attendees, attracts residents from 52 Vermont towns, according to Luce. That includes Burlington, located about an hour and a half away. Opened in 2017, the $14 million facility was funded by a gift from the elusive businessman Andrew Brown, a longtime

THE TRADE-OFF IS THAT

THE ART HERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE BEAUTIFUL. E L IZABE TH C H AD W IC K

Greensboro resident who now lives in London and usually remains anonymous in his philanthropic ventures. The 26,400-square-foot building includes a round auditorium inspired by the Globe Theatre in London, an art gallery, office space and views of the herb farm next door. “You don’t really have facilities like this in such small corners of the world,” Luce said. “It’s such a beautiful gift that [Brown] gave to the community.” The Northeast Kingdom town near Caspian Lake earned the nickname “Deansboro” in the early 1900s because so

many deans from Princeton University had summer homes there. Today, Greensboro’s abundance of performing arts is part of the attraction for summer residents: Bread and Puppet Theater, Circus Smirkus, Vermont Vaudeville and the Craftsbury Chamber Players are all nearby. But while the center’s most popular events draw crowds, sustaining business year-round can be a challenge. The HCA Café, housed within the Highland Center building, used to be a full-service restaurant with brunch, lunch and dinner. But the restaurant closed during the pandemic and hasn’t reopened. Luce said it had always struggled to do business — especially during the winter, when Greensboro’s population shrinks. “It’s hard anywhere, the restaurant business,” Luce said. “It’s really hard in a rural location.” Now, the Highland Center uses the café to supplement events rather than as a standalone restaurant. For example, in the summertime, a chef bakes some of the desserts featured on the reality competition show “The Great British Bake Off” and hosts a tasting of sweets and tea in a tent outside. Where do artists stay in Greensboro? The Highland Lodge has just 24 rooms, Luce said, and local Airbnbs always seem to be booked. The July floods destroyed Inn by the River, a motel in nearby Hardwick, and the owners have no plans to rebuild. Luce said she sometimes has no choice but to send performers to stay in St. Johnsbury, 45 minutes away. “We’re really, really pressed for housing,” Luce said. She added that Greensboro has “a hard time housing people who live locally” — not to mention visitors. But what Greensboro lacks in endowed resources, it makes up for in community involvement. A retired local principal emceed Curds & Curling. At the center’s second annual Fairy Festival — which drew close to 1,000 people in July — a local woman volunteered her white horse to wear a horn and act as the unicorn. On slower nights, regulars keep the space alive. Along with about 30 other people, Albany resident Elizabeth Chadwick trekked to the Highland Center on a recent Thursday night to watch the psychological thriller The Prestige and eat an Argentinean feast — part of a monthly dinner and movie series featuring food from around the world. Chadwick said the strength of the community is what sustains the rural arts. “If you told me to live in New York City [with] art just right out my doorstep, I would probably say no,” Chadwick said. “The trade-off is that the art here is a little bit more beautiful. There’s soul behind it.” ➆

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A Cut Above

Rutland-based Ann Clark dominates — and looks beyond — the cookie cutter world B Y J O R D AN BAR RY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

JON OLENDER

HOLIDAY BAKING

Ben Clark holding a Christmas tree cookie cutter at Ann Clark's Rutland manufacturing facility

or many holiday bakers, the first step in the festive process is a trip into the depths of a forgotten cupboard. Behind lidless Tupperware and single-use appliances, they’ll find a jumble of gingerbread people, stars and trees. And, if those cookie cutters are good ones, there’s a high likelihood they were made in Vermont. Inconspicuously tucked into the warehouse land of Rutland’s Quality Lane, Ann Clark is the United States’ largest producer of cookie cutters, selling 4 to 5 million per year. Founded in 1989 by the

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artist for whom it is named and now led by her son, Ben Clark, the company sits behind only Chinese mega-manufacturers on the global cookie cutter scale. And as it continues to grow, the family-owned operation is expanding into all aspects of the baking biz, from food coloring to cake mixes. Cookie cutters are just one of the items that Ann’s art inspired, Ben told Seven Days on a tour of the facility in early November. Recounting the company’s history in a “quick five-minute pitch” that went on for much longer, the convivial CEO described a folksy drawing of a pig

that his mother and his business-consultant father had made into cutting boards, Christmas tree ornaments, coasters and cookie cutters to sell at trade shows. The cookie cutter, with a handmade recipe card tied to it, was the runaway hit. Soon, that pig was joined by a cow and a sheep. In those days, the family focused on selling their cookie cutters to gift stores and making custom promotional ones for businesses such as McDonald’s and Under Armour. Now, Ann Clark has an arsenal of roughly 3,500 shapes — around 700 of which are currently available — that range

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from simple numbers to holiday staples to a “fashion doll head,” which surged in sales this summer around the release of Barbie. New shapes can be made in a day, inspired by trends, pop culture moments, competitors’ products, and creative ideas from employees and bakers around the country. There’s a cookie cutter for each of the year’s “26 events,” Ben said — a list that includes Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Of all 3,500, Ann’s favorite shape is the watering can. It became Ben’s sentimental favorite, too, after they realized it was the company’s worst seller. Any shape that does worse is immediately cut. These days, Ann is semiretired, though she still comes to work more often than not, Ben said. At events such as CookieCon — an annual convention for cookie artists, who are known in the industry as “cookiers” — Ann is a celebrity. “They go gaga over her,” Ben said with a laugh. The company works with many of the top cookiers in the world, who test new shapes and send their elaborately decorated samples to Ann Clark HQ. Digital content manager Annora McGarry catalogs them in a “cookie library” and stores the physical cookies in an office closet for use in photo shoots. Ann Clark cookie cutters’ high-profile fans include the team at King Arthur Baking in Norwich. The companies have worked together “for many years, and they are a wonderful partner,” said Nathalie Morin, associate product manager at King Arthur. Cookie cutter designs should have enough detail to be easy to decipher, without small, pointy elements that will make dough stick or overbake, she A CUT ABOVE

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Onsen Ramen

BY JOR D AN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Après Owners to Launch Ondis in Montpelier The owners of APRÈS, a cocktail lounge inside Mirror Mirror in Stowe, will host a grand opening for their new Montpelier bar and restaurant, ONDIS, on Wednesday, December 27. EMMA SANFORD and CHRISTOPHER LEIGHTON, who live in Montpelier, took over the original Kismet spot at 207 Barre Street after that restaurant closed on July 30. “You’ll probably recognize our style from Après,” Leighton said. “But we’re

Emma Sanford and Christopher Leighton

137 Pearl St. #3 Essex Junction

not envisioning this as Après 2.0. It’s going to be its own entity with a totally different vibe.” The biggest difference between the two is Ondis’ full kitchen, which will serve a regular menu of snacks, shareable plates and larger dishes, plus frequent specials from head chef MAX VOGEL. The business is named for Sanford’s late mother, who was a strong proponent of local food “and sitting around the dinner table with a bunch of wine,” Sanford said. “We want to have that vibe, like it’s a big dinner party.” Both cocktail bartenders by trade, Sanford and Leighton will bring those chops to Montpelier on a smaller scale than Après’ 30-drink list. Ondis will offer “five or six really nice, wellcurated cocktails that will change seasonally,” Leighton said, plus a full bar for all the classics and a heavier focus on wine. With just 20 seats, Ondis will do mostly table service and won’t take reservations. The couple welcome folks stopping in for a snack and a drink or for a full meal, they said, and they plan to add a small bar eventually.

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Smoke and Lola’s Opens for Breakfast, Lunch and Free Soup in Bristol Bristol’s newest breakfast and lunch biz, SMOKE AND LOLA’S, opened bright and early on Saturday. The takeout spot co-owned by ABBEY LAMAY-WEST and chef WAYNE JOHNSON serves coffee, breakfast sandwiches and other traditional café foods starting at 6:30 a.m. during the week and 7:30 a.m. on weekends. The space at 28 North Street — named for Johnson and LaMay-West’s dogs —was most recently home to Jones the Boy Bake Shop, which closed its retail bakery in October to focus on wholesale. Smoke and Lola’s will continue to offer some JONES THE BOY treats, café manager JESS DENNY said. The café currently serves drip coffee from Essex’s UNCOMMON COFFEE, housemade chai and hot chocolate; espresso drinks will hit the menu in a few weeks.

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RESTAURANTS

In the Zone Post-flood, Parsons Dinner House in Barton reopens with homegrown, seasonal touches STORY & PHOTOS BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

A Long Cold Winter cocktail

Asian pear salad

COURTESY

Early signs that Parsons Dinner House is something special can be found on the Barton restaurant’s cocktail menu. In early December, the bevvies included a huckleberry cosmo ($13) with a touch of cranberry — the ruby liquid poured over crushed ice was artfully garnished with a Twizzler-style huckleberry twist candy and a slice of lime. In warmer weather, many of the drinks — including the best-selling pear martini — feature syrups made by coowner Maria Hill, using her Glover garden’s bounty of fruits, herbs and flowers. Now that the ground is coated in snow, she’ll begin whisking up a rich cooked nog using local eggs, the base for a popular eggnog martini. The Dinner House is Hill’s first restaurant venture, although she learned to cook at a young age thanks to her mother and grandparents and she’s worked in the hospitality industry on and off for decades. As mixologist, pastry chef and host, she brings to the biz her passions for homegrown ingredients, decadent cheesecakes and warm customer service. Her work and life partner, executive chef Steve Vazzano, adds his culinary skills and 20-plus years of experience owning and operating East Coast restaurants. The two previously worked together at the WilloughVale Inn and Cottages in Westmore. When that business was closed during the pandemic, the unemployed couple took a snowmobile ride to brunch at Parson’s Pub and Grill, as it was then called. During their meal, Hill and Vazzano learned that the pub’s owners were looking to sell and leaped at the opportunity. They opened Parsons Dinner House in May 2021, and the new eatery was well received by cooped-up townsfolk. “It was the middle of COVID, and, of course, we were wearing masks,” Hill recalled. “But it was almost like it was the roaring twenties. People were just tired of being inside and were so excited” to have a place to go. After a smooth launch, the business faced a threat to its existence this summer, when the Barton River jumped its banks during the July flood and damaged the building, forcing the Dinner House

Pan-fried dumplings with jalapeño candy

to stay closed throughout the summer tourist season. It was finally able to reopen in mid-November. Back at the helm, Hill and Vazzano — assisted by several of Hill’s five children, who work as bartenders, line cooks and servers — serve upscale comfort food, exciting cocktails and decadent desserts with the homey touches often unique to owner-operated businesses. The culinary offerings change seasonally — or whenever one of the owners wants to try something new. In early December, the appetizer menu featured pan-crisped chicken and shiitake mushroom dumplings with pickled cabbage and candied jalapeño ($14). The interplay of sesame oil and soy, plus the tongue-tingling heat from the pepper, made the dish sing. Panko-crusted duck croquettes with cranberry, goat cheese and celeriac purée ($14) hinted at holiday vibes, but the concept was fresh and the execution delicious. The crunchy croquettes paired perfectly with the classic Christmas music playing in the dining room, which included songs from kids’ holiday movies and sections of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. My table’s favorite starter was a New England classic: mac and cheese topped with fried, maple-glazed pork belly ($14). We interspersed bites of the decadent meat with bites of a refreshing Asian

Espresso cheesecake

pear salad ($13): kale, arugula and endive with slices of the crisp fruit in a hazelnut vinaigrette, garnished with pomegranate seeds, pumpernickel crumbs and Jasper Hill Farm’s Bayley Hazen Blue cheese. Vazzano — who loves doing special one-off dinners that highlight his interest in Italian cuisine — is well known for his tagliatelle Bolognese, but we couldn’t resist ordering some of the other dishes. After an August visit to Rome, I was drawn to the gnocchi with cured pork, housemade sausage and rich tomato sauce ($27). It transported me to scorching summer days spent seeing the Colosseum and Michelangelo’s David. A Filipinoinspired dish, pork adobo with tangy soy-laced vinegar and jasmine rice ($31), rounded out our savory choices. Stuffed after our meal, we still ordered Hill’s decadent espresso cheesecake ($10), although it was hard to pass up the sticky toffee pudding and the éclair. Later, we chatted with Hill, who had been our server for the evening. I asked about a drink called The Flood!, an oatmilky concoction of chai, vodka and brown sugar that comes with a $10 surcharge on top of the standard $13 cocktail price. Hill explained that the additional fee is part of the restaurant’s fundraising effort to move to a location outside the flood zone. Both co-owners love operating a true family business that brings joy to their neighbors, Hill explained, and they want to keep doing it — ideally in a safer space.

Maria Hill and Steve Vazzano

Their fans want the same thing. Darlene Young, who visits the restaurant for special occasions, date nights and visits with friends, is equally impressed by the food and the service. “There is a graciousness in everything they do, every detail, every interaction, that makes it so special,” she said. “I have a friend who calls it his ‘home restaurant,’ his first choice,” she added. “I agree.” ➆

INFO Parsons Dinner House, 14 Glover Rd., Barton, 525-4129, parsonsdinnerhouse.com

COURTESY OF BRADLEY CAMERON

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Smoke and Lola’s

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sandwiches, hot-pressed panini, focaccia, quiche, spanakopita and stromboli. Eventually, the team plans to add a pantry-style market selling goods from local farmers, both fresh and canned. Smoke and Lola also has a more unusual offering inspired by Johnson’s late friend Pat Peters, who gave away

Burlington’s Church Street Tavern Hits the Market

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Burlington’s CHURCH STREET TAVERN, a staple of the Church Street Marketplace since 1995, is for sale. It will remain open as usual for now, owner STEPHEN PARENT said.

Church Street Tavern

Parent started at the Tavern as a part-time bartender in 1997 and worked his way up the ladder to full-time bartender, then dining room manager, bar manager and general manager, before purchasing the business in 2014. The South Burlington resident plans to take time off to relax and enjoy his kids’ basketball games this winter, he said. “I’ve been blessed to be a member

available in person or online

soup from her home in Middlebury for many years. “[Peters] believed everybody deserved a well-cooked, homemade hot meal,” Denny said. “We’re basically paying homage to that.” Johnson will prepare one of a regular rotation of soups each day, which the café will serve at no cost (limited to one cup per person). So far, Smoke and Lola’s has secured sponsorship from community members for nine weeks of free soup.

of the Tavern team for almost 30 years, and it’s been a great ride,” Parent told Seven Days. “But owning a restaurant is more than a full-time job. I’m getting very burnt out, and I need a change. I think this might be the right time.” Known for its affordable pub fare — including burgers, cheesesteaks and chicken wings — the sports bar is a popular meeting spot, Parent said. In fact, he met his wife there. The fully equipped restaurant, with capacity for 80 indoors plus patio seating on the Marketplace, is listed for sale for $85,000. Parent hasn’t decided on a firm closing date, but he encouraged folks to shop downtown and stop in during the holiday season. ➆

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

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The “cookie library”

A Cut Above « P.40 explained. Metal cutters make the crispest cut, and rolled edges make pressing down more comfortable. “Ann Clark cutters check all the boxes,” Morin said, “and we love the fact that they’re made right here in Vermont.” The cutters’ American-made status is a selling point for many, Ben said, but not always for the most obvious reason. “We all think it’s ‘Buy America[n]’ because we want to support America,” he said. “It’s really about lead time.” When a shape runs out at the Ann Clark factory, it takes the production team just about nine minutes to change the die — a heavy metal block in the shape of a cutter’s final form — and start a replacement run. The new cutters are packaged and shipped by the following morning, whereas it could take months to import replacements from China, Ben said. During the busiest times of year, 12 to 15 employees across two shifts change dies 50 times a day, producing up to 500 cookie cutters per run. That approach, inspired by the principles of lean manufacturing, keeps just the right number of cutters on hand in the 17,000-square-foot facility. With 3,500 dies and 10 pallets of metal on hand, the factory has the materials to produce 700,000 cookie cutters at any given time, Ben said. “But we don’t have to have them [already] made.” Ann Clark’s minimalist pick-and-pack warehouse mimics the layout of King Arthur’s, which Ben toured when he was designing an efficient system. The most popular products are closest to the front, where they’re easiest to grab. When the business started, a company called Creative Products made the cookie cutters in Pennsylvania. Ann Clark slowly brought manufacturing in-house over the course of seven years, eventually acquiring Creative Products — and its accounts with stores such as Sur la Table, Williams Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel. “We realized we’d been trying to convince gift stores that a cookie cutter is a great gift,” Ben said. “Every kitchen store already knows what a cookie cutter is and why it’s great. We could barely keep up.” The increased demand from major kitchen and home stores created enough volume that it made sense to design and build a new machine to manufacture the cutters. Now on the fifth generation of machines, the factory is a one-stop cookie cutter shop. A die-casting area anchors the back of 44

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

the factory, churning out the forms that guide the company’s 3,500 shapes — and any experimental ones in the development pipeline. To one side, two roll formers shoot out curl after curl of perfect-length tin-plated steel, which is then spot-welded into a ring. Workers place those rings one by one on forming tables, which rapidly stamp the steel around the die into the desired shape. During a demonstration of the custom-built machine, a gingerbread man die — the mold for Ann Clark’s top seller — waited like a contestant stuck to a Velcro wall on a Japanese game show. Ben placed the steel ring around it and hit the machine’s glowing green button. Six strategically placed mechanical arms sprang into action and punched the steel ring into the nooks and crannies of the form. It took less than four seconds. A small number of cookie cutters are purchased directly through the Ann Clark website, but most are sold wholesale or via Amazon, a retailer that the team started focusing on six years ago. Amazon’s two-day shipping means that customers can order Sunday or Monday — the business’ busiest days — and have the cutters by Wednesday, just in time to make cookies for a weekend birthday party. Ann Clark currently lists roughly 800 products there, from a simple heart cookie cutter to an 11-piece Under the Sea set with a shark, sea turtle and mermaid tail. “Amazon opened up a whole ’nother

The shaping of a wise man cookie cutter

A display of Ann Clark baking supplies

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Founder Ann Clark and her son, CEO Ben Clark

world to what we could do,” Ben said. The Ann Clark team assumed that its food coloring was mostly destined “Now we’re in 19 countries.” That success prompted a new for that world, as a natural pairing for question: What else do people who buy the cutters. But back-end data from cookie cutters buy? Amazon revealed that 85 percent of its The team tested a host of private- food coloring customers were new to the label products, including food coloring, brand. sprinkles, icing mix and meringue “We started asking, ‘What do they do powder. The food with the food colorcoloring, like the ing?’” Ben said. The pig design that answer? “Cakes.” launched a cookie That realization — cutter empire, was and lots of tasting and NATHALIE MORIN the clear winner. It recipe tweaking — led kept selling out, and to a new line of cake the manufacturer couldn’t keep up. With mixes, set to launch in early 2024. Like the help of food scientists, the Ann Clark other cookie-adjacent baking necessities team developed its own recipe and built a Ann Clark has added over the years, such separate, food-safe facility down the road. as instant royal icing mix, piping bags and That facility now produces 3,000 parchment paper, they’re meant to make tubes of food coloring a day, along with things easy for novice bakers. products such as royal icing and fondant. “When you’re decorating cookies “The food coloring is amazing,” said and baking cakes and trying to impress Paulina Thompson, who launched her Essex someone, it almost goes beyond food,” Junction home-based biz, Paulina’s Sweets, McGarry said. “We want to help people in February 2021. “You can achieve the colors tackle those momentous occasions with really fast, especially for that Christmas red confidence.” that everybody wants. And it doesn’t end up And, McGarry pointed out, it doesn’t on my hands like other brands.” cost much to nail those occasions, even Thompson, who creates custom if you’re not a professional cookier. “You cookies and teaches decorating classes, can make really good memories for under has collaborated with Ann Clark to make $10: $2.99 for a cookie cutter and $3.99 for demonstration videos. She likes to tell a tube of food coloring,” she said. folks about Ann Clark during her classes, All you have to do is dig out the cookie because “most people in Vermont don’t cutters. ➆ know they’re right here,” she said. “In the cookier world, we definitely know about INFO them.” Learn more at annclarkcookiecutters.com.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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culture

HISTORY

Vertical Dropouts A new exhibition highlights Vermont’s lost ski areas

B Y S TEV E GOL D ST EIN • sgoldstein@sevendaysvt.com

ost: Buckturd Basin Ski Area. Last seen: 1990. Reward for finding: If you see it, ski it. Misplacing a ski area seems nearly impossible, given their typically lofty profile and the schussers and shredders dotting the landscape. But in the case of “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas,” a new exhibit at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe, “lost” refers not to “gone missing — call the hounds” but rather to the scores of Vermont sites that have shut their slopes over the years. The evocatively named Buckturd, for instance, was a privately run facility in West Townshend featuring a rope tow and a vertical drop of 350 feet. After a decade of making memories — but not snow — Buckturd is now among the lost. The Green Mountain State has a lengthy 46

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

and proud skiing history dating back to the 1930s. As such, it has lost more ski areas than most states have ever had, and the museum’s new exhibition celebrates these ghosts. Twenty years of research has uncovered a staggering 175 defunct downhills throughout the state, according to curator Poppy Gall. Some 70 of these were located in southern Vermont between the Massachusetts border and Route 4 and are featured in the first stage of the show; the second, focused on northern Vermont, will follow at a later date. The centerpiece of “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas” is a large map locating the lost areas — defined as having had a community tow or multiple lifts — as

From top: Hogback Mountain Ski Area in Marlboro; map of lost Vermont ski areas

well as the ones that died and were revived. What was lost, too, were some classic names. Besides Buckturd, Vermonters once skied Freak Peak, Hedgehog Hovel and Brushwood-by-Bradford, a moniker straight out of England’s Cotswolds. The vast majority of the lost areas are not of the Sugarbush or Bolton Valley category; they are mom-and-pop

backyard bumps that operated with a rope tow and a prayer. Bill Jenkins built one in 1951 at Green Mountain College in Poultney — a perfect bunny hill with a vertical drop of 31 feet, 6.5 inches. It operated for 28 years. The sites were identified through photos and memorabilia in the museum’s collection, historical records, and local knowledge. One such source was Jeremy Davis, who has written a series of books on abandoned ski areas in New England, New York’s Adirondack Mountains and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Davis attended Lyndon State College (now part of Vermont State University). “I’d go to antique shops and find old ski brochures,” Davis said. “I used to buy a ton of stuff on eBay.” On the evening of December 1, Davis was among the invited guests at the exhibition opening. Outside, rain morphed into puffy snowflakes, adding to the town’s snow-globe appeal. Inside, the 40 or so attendees were mostly locals who wore the weathered clothes and visages of an outdoor life. U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Famer Jan Reynolds and ski historian Greg Morrill, both of Stowe, were among the guests who viewed vintage posters, signage and other memorabilia from pistes of the past. The exhibition numbers the lost ski areas and includes a brief description of each, highlighting several in greater detail. Hogback Mountain Ski Area opened in 1947 in Marlboro and had a lot going for it, including a fantastic view from an overlook on Route 9 (the Molly Stark Highway). By the late 1950s, Hogback was seeing as many as 1,200 skiers on weekends. Unfortunately, it was the first Vermont ski area to close, in 1986, due to increased liability insurance costs. That fact was emphasized by several vintage signs in the exhibition, all of which conveyed basically the same message: “Whatever happens here is your fault!” Apart from the ruinous cost of liability insurance, what other factors cause ski areas to go belly-up? “Sometimes it’s one big reason, then there’s a lot of little reasons that can kind of add up,” Davis explained. “So the main reason could be [a lack of ] snowmaking, which was expensive then, and it’s even more expensive now.” Davis and Gall ticked off other hillkillers: aging or nonexistent infrastructure; changing vacation habits due to new interstate highways; changing family dynamics, resulting in fewer group getaways; and competition from other winter activities, such as hockey, ice fishing and skating. Still, some failures seem inexplicable.

Professional Performing Arts at the Base of Stowe Mountain

Skiers at Dutch Hill in Heartwellville in the early 1950s

JOAN OSBORNE FRIDAY

DEC 15 7:00pm

VERMONTERS ONCE SKIED FREAK PEAK, HEDGEHOG HOVEL AND BRUSHWOOD-BY-BRADFORD,

DEC 17

DEC 22

DEC 27/28

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Teton Gravity Research (ﬁlm)

3:00pm

ELF (ﬁlm)

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to the top of the mountain for skiing and snowboarding. Gall said she had high hopes that the exhibition would trigger some memories and produce more memorabilia from a bygone era, a time when a thick rope and a generator were the building blocks of a skier’s dream. “The people who are really going to remember this stuff are fewer and fewer,” Gall said. “So it’s really a call to those people who know about these places. Do they have any artifacts? What can they share with us? I think that’s going to be the fun part of the exhibit — what else do we learn?” ➆

12/8/23 4:47 PM

CLASSES Weekend s i Th

INFO “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas, Part 1,” on view through October 14, 2024, at Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe. vtssm.org

101 MAIN STREET, Btv

802-859-0100

Snow Valley in Winhall opened in 1941 and was one of the largest facilities in the East, featuring a 900-foot vertical drop, a rare T-bar lift, two rope tows and six trails. The area added snowmaking in the early 1980s and hosted the first National Snowboarding Championships in 1983. It shut down in 1984 when larger, more sophisticated facilities drew skiers away. Mount Ascutney, meanwhile, was lost but then found. A ski club cut trails on the southwest side of the Brownsville mountain in 1936. Then came a lodge, four tows and night skiing. In 1956, it added the first snowmaking system and more lifts, including a chairlift in 1963. But it went bankrupt three times between 1963 and 2010 and was sold four times. Ascutney was reborn as a community area in 2016, when the Town of West Windsor purchased it with a land trust agreement to conserve the upper part of the mountain. The nonprofit Ascutney Outdoors now operates a rope tow and a T-bar and allows backcountry access

FRIDAY

POLAR EXPRESS (ﬁlm)

The T-bar at Snow Valley in Winhall

WED/THU W ED/THU

SUNDAY

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vtcomedy.com SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

12/11/23 9:15 AM

culture

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Gray Area

least at the moment, we like being able to produce things when we’re excited about them.” The first priority, he added, is the venue itself. To introduce the community to the Gray Space and begin raising funds for renovations, Dirt Road will produce two nights of theater on Saturday and Sunday, December 16 and 17. Both evenings feature the company’s young players in “Dear World,” a retrospective arrangement of scenes and songs from the past three years of youth performances. Then the lights go up on “Customer Service 2.0,” billed as an updated version of the troupe’s March 2023 sketch comedy show, which sold out Montpelier’s Savoy Theater.

Dirt Road Theater winds its way to a new home in a historic Northfield building BY E R IK E S C K IL S E N

THEATER

Maren Langdon Spillane and Dominic Spillane in front of Northfield’s Gray Building

WE LIKE BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE THINGS

WHEN WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THEM. DOMINIC SPILLANE

ERIK ESCKILSEN

020 was an inauspicious year to launch a theater company and education program. But what could have been a false start for Northfield-based Dirt Road Theater became an exercise in resourcefulness for cofounders Maren Langdon Spillane and Dominic Spillane. Both active in New York City’s theater scene before relocating to Vermont in 2014, the couple started Dirt Road in the United Church of Northfield’s basement. When lockdown arrived, pivoting to virtual acting classes and performances was relatively easy. Their podcast, “Fairies and Dragons, Ponies and Knights,” however, was outof-the-box creative. The episodic fantasy series aimed at the under-12 crowd combines virtual gatherings and Dominic’s original storytelling informed by kids themselves (he and Maren are raising two of them), plus musical accompaniment and guest artists. Now that live performances and classes have resumed everywhere, Dirt Road is making another bold move. As of October, the enterprise occupies a second-floor room in Northfield’s Gray Building. According to the Digital Vermont history website, the tall edifice with a cupola went up in 1876 as the Northfield Graded School, earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and functioned as an elementary school into the 1990s. Perched on a hill along North Main Street, it cuts an imposing figure in the flat winter light. Nevertheless, the Gray Building is a beacon of welcome in the small community by the banks of the Dog River, housing tenants such as the Rainbow Gardens early childhood program. “Everyone in Northfield is in love with the Gray Building,” said Rebecca Pearish, youth librarian at the local Brown Public Library, whose daughter, Aurora, has taken classes with Dirt Road since before the pandemic. “It’s a magical and nostalgic space,” she added. The Spillanes call their rooms the Gray Space, a nod to the building’s name and to the undefined potential of 900 square feet of wooden floorboards framed by tall windows and high ceilings. In addition to using the venue for Dirt Road theater productions and classes, they want to throw the doors wide open to community uses such as yoga, dance and movie screenings. “If Northfield wants a Twister night in here — great, we’ll do it,” Maren said. “It’s clear to me that there’s a need for events, particularly in the winter months.”

On a recent Sunday afternoon, the former classroom crackled with the energy of six local teens playing improv games. According to Maren, theater education is at Dirt Road’s core. While the company also offers classes for adults, kids are the focus. “We have the ability and the privilege to give them the freedom that they can’t have within the school structure,” she said. “They say such beautiful things sometimes about how theater is the only place where they feel themselves or they feel safe.”

Dominic concurred: “[We’re] trying to show kids what theater can be, more so than what it is,” he said. Classes and camps anchor the endeavor financially, although Maren noted that Dirt Road uses a sliding fee scale to make its programs accessible. While the couple are eager to stage shows in the Gray Space, they plan to keep their programming flexible in the short term. “We’re hesitant to go the season route, because then you’re really committed to producing work on a regular basis,” Dominic said. “Whereas, at

After the fundraising event, which the Spillanes hope will boost the campaign toward $20,000 for the first round of renovations, the Dirt Road principals and a crew of skilled volunteers will begin transforming the open space. For both practical and aesthetic reasons, they anticipate a venue more conducive to intimate theater than to big, splashy productions. It’s a theatrical mode familiar to the couple from their New York City days and their time in Vermont. In September 2022, the company produced the world premiere of Montpelier playwright Tamar Cole’s The Ties That Bind at the First Church in Barre, Universalist, which had recently been converted into a community space not unlike what the Spillanes imagine for the Gray Space. As Pearish noted, Dirt Road isn’t starting from square one, having maintained community connections along its bumpy journey. “I think that our community is ready to embrace that. Probably this has been simmering in our community for a while,” she said. “Having people who are already really invested to anchor the space … will help.” Maren sees another vital resource at hand. “We’re scrappy,” she said. ➆

INFO The Gray Space: Fundraiser Performance, Saturday and Sunday, December 16 and 17, 6 p.m., at the Gray Space in Northfield. $15-50. dirtroadtheater.com

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3:32 PM

Enter the magical Land of the Sweets with Vermont Ballet Theater’s production of...

THE NUTCRACKER

culture CIRCUS

Big Love for Big Top Three questions for new Circus Smirkus director Rachel Schiffer

Rachel Schiffer

B Y RACHEL M U LLIS

Rachel Schiffer is no stranger to the circus. Her grandmother trained as a clown, and her grandfather took her to her first Circus Smirkus show when she was just 7 years old. During the show, Smirkus founder Rob Mermin stepped into the circus ring to ask who else wanted to join. “I kind of latched on to that idea … If Grandma can do it and I’m a gymnast, why can’t this be me, too?” Schiffer said. “That was my hook into Smirkus.” Schiffer spent the next two summers at the Greensboro organization’s campus in Bolton, first as a camper and then as a trouper for its Big Top Tour, in which she performed for a decade. She went on to tour internationally as a professional circus artist before returning to Vermont to take on a variety of roles at Smirkus, including house manager, head counselor and interim co-executive director. Earlier this month, the 39-year-old took the helm as executive artistic director, a role that incorporates strategic and artistic oversight of the organization’s education programs and performances. Seven Days spoke with Schiffer about what’s special about the organization, her vision as Smirkus rebuilds after the pandemic and whether she’d make the cut as a trouper today.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT VBTS.ORG 50

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

How does your past experience with Smirkus inform your approach to running the circus today? Smirkus is a company that is built on tradition and story that has developed over time. Being able to know what the past is and know what the stories are, and being able to build on those stories to continue them and develop them, is really important for me and how Smirkus carries its values forward. For example, campers come in for a week or two- or three-week session, and on the last night we all gather and have a circle of happiness. And the message is that everyone that’s sitting here is Smirkus. We bring our stories; we fill these tents. It’s all of us here in this moment that create the Smirkus story, so take the stories that you have, bring them out into your lives and then come back next summer. Bring your new experiences with you. Let’s build on what we have. So it’s that constant: What is Smirkus now, and what new elements come into play so that we can continue to evolve the story in a way that is still very rooted in the original nugget? How did the organization fare during the pandemic, and what do you plan to do moving forward?

Smirkus took a tour break during the pandemic, and we were working with a smaller staff. This was before I came back. The past two years have been regrowth years where we’re building back up the camp programs. Last summer the Big Top Tour was back to 14 venues as opposed to a reduced number in 2022. The plan is to continue maintaining and building the programs so that they are as powerful and meaningful as they were before but to take them in new directions. Arts organizations were hit hard. When you’ve pared down your programs, which are the heart of the organization, you’ve got to rebuild that heart before you can really push forward to have everything at full capacity. And we’ve got our heart back. What do performers get from Circus Smirkus that they can’t get from another type of performance art? There’s a huge amount of collaboration that goes into the whole process. That includes training for a show and all the preparations that go into planning the season. For youth, Smirkus is a place where they can grow and learn from their peers and older colleagues. There is, of course, a team of professional creatives that comes in to work with the troupers on the Big Top Tour in the summer — and there’s a lot of collaboration and back-and-forth during the creative process. So there’s input from all aspects of the company, with the director having a final say. But the input is also coming from the kids who are participating, which allows them to perform with an authenticity and truth in the ring that’s exaggerated by performance or a character they’ve become. I think what’s attractive about Smirkus as a program is how it allows for uninhibited growth in a place that is safe for risk-taking. It’s been fun for me to watch over time. I look at the kids at Smirkus now, and the joke is, if I auditioned now with my audition tape from then, there’s no way I would have gotten in. And that’s part of the fun, too, that we’re looking at character and personality as much as we’re looking at skill sets. The circus life is unique, and it’s a character builder. It’s finding that spark that we can see and then cultivate and bring together into a community setting. ➆ This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO

Learn more at smirkus.org.

Burlington’s Premiere Premier Burlington’s Cannabis Dispensary Shop the Best Deals in Town

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EDGEWATER GALLERY PRESENTS

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS A Group Exhibition of Small Works by Vermont Ar tists

December 7th, 2023 – January 9th, 2024 Edgewater Gallery at the Falls One Mill Street, Middlebury GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10AM – 5PM Sunday 11AM – 4PM or by appointment

One Mill St and 6 Merchant’s Row, Middlebury Vermont 802-458-0098 & 802-989-7419

A GROUP EXHIBITION OF SMALL WORKS BY VERMONT ARTISTS 2H-edgewater121323 1

edgewatergallery.com SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

12/6/23 3:28 PM

on screen REVIEW

ovelist Ottessa Moshfegh is known for her willingness — eagerness, even — to explore the messier regions of the female psyche. Director William Oldroyd made his name with Lady Macbeth, a film about a woman who isn’t afraid to embrace chaos in a repressive era. So the two of them seem like the perfect team for the adaptation of Moshfegh’s 2015 debut Eileen; the author cowrote the script with her husband, Luke Goebel. The film premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and is playing at Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas in Burlington.

The deal

In December 1964, Eileen Dunlop (Thomasin McKenzie) works as a secretary in a juvenile detention facility on a bleak stretch of the Massachusetts coast. At 24, she’s never had an opportunity to spread her wings; since her mother’s death, she’s been the caretaker of her ex-cop father (Shea Whigham), who suffers from alcoholism and is prone to waving his gun in fits of paranoia. Equally dutiful and resentful, Eileen supplies her dad with booze, then hides his shoes to make it harder for him to terrorize the neighborhood. In return, he insults her. The only respites in her day are her sexual fantasies, which center on the best-looking guard at her workplace. Then a new psychiatrist joins the staff — Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), who floors everyone with her Ivy League credentials and movie star glamour. Smitten, Eileen tries to impress Rebecca with her own unconventionality (“I don’t like things that are popular,” she practically whispers), and they become friends. But Rebecca has also grown dangerously close to one of the young inmates, notorious for his brutal crime. When Eileen accepts Rebecca’s invitation to holiday cocktails, the situation evolves in ways she never expected.

Will you like it?

If you haven’t read the book Eileen, you need to know that this is no gentle throwback that portrays the past as a simpler time. Eileen may look demure, but beneath her frumpy cardigans beats a heart full of unruly desires. When we meet her, she’s parked at the local lovers’ lane, masturbating as she watches a couple hook up from a distance. 52

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

A small-town secretary develops a dangerous obsession in this adaptation of the acclaimed Ottessa Moshfegh novel.

Even today, many writers observe a decorum when writing about female characters that Moshfegh has no use for. There’s nothing sweet or cute about Eileen’s feelings, sexual or otherwise. Trapped in postadolescent frustration, she’s self-destructive and sometimes downright gross. The movie omits the book’s digression on her use of laxatives. But there is a scene in which, after meeting Rebecca for drinks at the local dive, Eileen returns to the bar and proceeds to get smashed and very sick all by herself. Why? McKenzie conveys so much with her silence that we don’t need the novel’s first-person narration to interpret Eileen’s behavior. Her binge is the celebration of a successful first date. But it’s also a release valve for the intense stress involved in impersonating the sort of effortlessly sophisticated woman she thinks Rebecca is (wrongly, as it turns out). I’ve been waiting to see McKenzie in a role this substantial since 2018, when she earned plaudits as an unhoused teen in Leave No Trace. She’s one of those chameleon actors who can be stunning or plain, mousy or formidable, depending on the character. Her star turn in 2021’s Last Night in Soho allowed her to play both sides of those dualities, but not as fully as Eileen does.

Primarily a character study, Moshfegh’s novel shifts about two-thirds of the way through into thriller mode. The last third is gritty and gripping, reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith. But the climax isn’t entirely satisfying, because it makes Eileen something of a passenger in Rebecca’s life, which is careening out of control. Hathaway plays Rebecca with a delicious dash of camp, rocking a Marilyn Monroe hairdo and making purring pronouncements such as “Smoking is a nasty habit. That’s why I like it.” She’s fun to watch — the cover of a vintage pulp come to life. In the movie as in the book, however, we never get too far under Rebecca’s glossy, deceptive surface. As a result, Eileen’s resolution is more lurid than genuinely affecting, although the script makes one key change to give Eileen greater agency in the outcome. When the dust settles, we’re left with a sordid little yarn that sneakily satirizes the three models of femininity on offer in midcentury America: virgin, vamp and virtuous wife. (Marin Ireland plays the third archetype in a brief but indelibly disturbing turn.) We expect Eileen to be about coming of age, but it’s actually more about coming into one’s rage, accepting it as a building block of one’s being — no

matter who gets hurt. It’s the perfect film for Hallmark haters, though even they might need a more hopeful Christmastime period piece — The Holdovers, say — as a palate cleanser. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY... LADY MACBETH (2016; Hoopla, Kanopy,

Tubi, rentable): Oldroyd gave Florence Pugh her breakout role with this literary adaptation about a young woman in Victorian England who’s trapped in a loveless marriage. CAROL (2015; Netflix, rentable): If you

want to see a neo-noir period piece that more fully realizes the sapphic aspect of its central relationship, try Todd Haynes’ gorgeous adaptation of Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt. A happy Hallmark romp it is not, but it does have the holiday setting! THE KILLER INSIDE ME (2010; AMC+,

Pluto TV, Tubi, rentable): For another re-creation of gritty midcentury noir, try Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of Jim Thompson’s dark classic about a sheriff who’s also a serial killer.

COURTESY OF JEONG PARK/NEON

Eileen ★★★★

HOW’S THE RIDE FEELIN’?

COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS

SALTBURNHHH Emerald Fennell directed this dark comedy/thriller about an Oxford University student (Barry Keoghan) spending the summer with his wealthier friend’s family. (127 min, R. Essex, Roxy; reviewed 11/29)

Let us keep the wheels rolling along with your mojo! Call for an appointment today!

SILENT NIGHTHHH All a grieving father wants for Christmas is vengeance on a brutal gang in this action flick from John Woo, starring Joel Kinnaman and Catalina Sandino Moreno. (104 min, R. Majestic, Stowe) TROLLS BAND TOGETHERHH1/2 The third installment in the animated musical family series reunites Justin Timberlake’s character with his boy band brethren. (92 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Paramount) Jacob Elordi in Saltburn

NEW IN THEATERS WONKA: Did you ever think Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka needed an origin story? You’re in luck! Timothée Chalamet plays him as a young struggling chocolatier in this musical fantasy, directed by Paul King (Paddington). With Calah Lane and Keegan-Michael Key. (116 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Playhouse, Roxy, Star)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

WISHHH1/2 A young girl (voice of Ariana DeBose) calls on the power of a star to save her kingdom in this Disney animation, also starring Chris Pine and Alan Tudyk. (95 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS THE BOYS IN THE BOAT (Star, Sun only)

TOKYO GODFATHERS (20TH ANNIVERSARY) (Essex, Wed 13 only)

DREAM SCENARIOHHH1/2 Nicolas Cage plays a man who finds himself suddenly appearing in other people’s dreams in this horror-tinged comedy from director Kristoffer Borgli. With Lily Bird and Julianne Nicholson. (102 min, R. Roxy, Stowe)

Catamount Arts’ theater is currently closed until further notice. (* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKESHH1/2 This prequel to the blockbuster dystopian series explores the youth of villain-to-be Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth). (157 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star)

WAITRESS: THE MUSICAL (Essex, Sat-Wed 20)

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

DEC 16 | 7PM

NEW YEAR’S EVE

MASQUERADE BALL

Saturday, 4 | 11 AM - 3 PM DEC 31 June |December 7 PM - MIDNIGHT Saturday, 3 | 7PM Dive into a night where the Roaring 20’s come alive! Move seamlessly between eras on the dance ﬂoor, savor cocktails that laugh in the face of Prohibition and usher in a New Year with a roar!

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*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

CURDS & CURLING

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

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Holiday Market

MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com *MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

NAPOLEONHHH Joaquin Phoenix plays France’s emperor and Vanessa Kirby is his beloved Josephine in this historical epic from Ridley Scott. (158 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe)

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

THE OATH: Darin Scott (who also directed) plays the warrior prophet Moroni in this epic adaptation of the Book of Mormon, set in North America in 400 AD. (104 min, PG-13. Essex)

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

RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCEHHHH1/2 Beyoncé takes her turn with a concert film, shot on her Renaissance World Tour. (150 min, NR. Thu-Sun only: Essex, Roxy)

HIGHLAND HOLIDAY CONCERT

THE FARM BOY (Savoy, Sun only) MERRY GOOD ENOUGH (Savoy, Wed 13 only)

660-0055 girlingtongarage.com

10/27/23 3:38 PM

DIE HARD (Star)

THE BOY AND THE HERONHHHH1/2 Renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki brings us a fantasy with autobiographical elements about a boy seeking his mom in the otherworld. With the voices of Soma Santoki and Masaki Suda. (124 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Savoy)

THE HOLDOVERSHHH1/2 Paul Giamatti plays a grumpy prep school teacher forced to spend the holidays with his least favorite student in the acclaimed comedy-drama from Alexander Payne. (133 min, R. Big Picture, Capitol, Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 11/22)

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CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: HOLY NIGHT (Essex, Thu-Sun) ELF (Savoy, Sun only)

GODZILLA MINUS ONEHHHH This new Godzilla film from Japan, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, goes back to the monster’s origins in the aftermath of the atomic bomb. Minami Hamabe and Sakura Ando star. (125 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

QUALITY CAR CARE, DELIVERED WITH RESPECT.

A CHRISTMAS STORY (40TH ANNIVERSARY) (Essex, Wed 13 only)

ANIMAL: Father and son clash in this Hindi crime drama from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. (204 min, NR. Majestic)

EILEENHHHH A young woman (Thomasin McKenzie) in a dead-end job becomes obsessed with a coworker (Anne Hathaway) in this period piece adapted from Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel by William Oldroyd (Lady Macbeth). (97 min, R. Roxy; reviewed 12/13)

• diagnostics • alignments • tire repair • brake service • oil changes • exhaust systems • inspections

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

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

Wholesale inquiries: 802-249-2971 6h-PomEasy120623.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

11/30/23 2:21 PM

art

"Rosie's Story"

Piano and Paint Musician Diane Huling exhibits her other passion: visual art B Y A M Y L I L LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

How did you start painting? My mother had five children and was very busy, and she wanted to make sure we weren’t bored. She was a piano teacher, so she gave us all piano lessons and had us choose an additional instrument. I chose flute and couldn’t stand it; I went back to piano. [When I was] around age 10, she cleaned up the shed [in Connecticut] and 54

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

JOSH KUCKENS

ost people know Diane Huling as a pianist. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., Huling, 69, has performed internationally. In a parallel career, the Cabot resident — a Vermonter since age 16 — taught at Dartmouth, Lyndon State and Johnson State colleges, retiring in 2008. Huling has also painted since childhood. For the first time, that pursuit is in the spotlight, with a solo exhibition titled “Strands: Stories, Music and Meditations” at the First Congregational Church in Berlin. Some audiences may have seen Huling’s storybook-like paintings on two former occasions. For a 2012 recital, she illustrated the 11 movements of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” — an 1874 composition intended to serve as a musical tour of 10 paintings by the composer’s friend Viktor Hartmann. And in 2018, Huling made paintings of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for a production of the play at Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier. Huling met up with Seven Days at her exhibition, which includes works from both those series along with new paintings. Citing influences such as J.M.W. Turner and the contemporary trompe l’oeil painter Graham Rust, Huling paints in oil on panel or canvas in her home art studio — the same room that houses her Steinway Grand Model M piano. In an ongoing project, she’s painting her interior walls with murals in a 16th-century Florentine trompe l’oeil style in honor of her Italian-born former piano teacher. Huling later chatted by phone about her artistic background and views on art versus music.

TALKING ART Diane Huling at her home in Cabot

… made it into an art studio for me. My dad gave me paints. It was something to keep me occupied; it was that simple. Why did you want to mount this exhibition? It’s a preamble for a concert I’m giving at Barre Opera House in May or June [which will show artworks based on what she plays]. The program will include the last sonata of Beethoven, so that painting [“Beethoven, Sonata in F# Minor, Op. 111”] will be there. The rest will all be new. I have about 18 paintings to do for that. There are nine different pieces on the program. Why do you want to hang paintings about music at your recital? It’s a way of illustrating the music in a way

that might connect with a bigger audience than the audiences that normally go to a classical music concert. They’re in the form of illustrations and explanations, but they’re also a deepening of the meaning and understanding of the pieces for me. I was just reading Johann Sebastian Bach: Life and Work by Martin Geck, and this [combination of painting and music] was an absolute no-no in 1700. It was a fight back then and still is. After religious music, there was this Romantic idea of “absolute music”: People believed that music should stand alone, that illustration would make the music insignificant. But everybody absorbs things in a different way: Some people are aural; some are visual. From my teaching, I learned over and over that I could get to students in

different ways. For example, I’ve had these three young, talented siblings who were taking piano but had a wide range of interests and talents, and when I started connecting them to those things they loved doing — visual art, reading, singing — their piano playing got much better. One of them loved improvising, so then they all started improvising together at the piano. It doesn’t sound like your typical piano lesson. It never has been. Sometimes I think I scare the parents because I go off on these tangents. So, you understand music visually? It’s not that I understand music visually; I connect the emotions between the visual

ART SHOWS

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Friday, Dec. 22nd 6-11pm HAPPY VALLEY APPLE ORCHARD 217 QUARRY RD, MIDDLEBURY, VT LIVE MUSIC BY THE BAND

132 Church Street, upstairs

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Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age or older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry signiﬁcant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the inﬂuence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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12/12/23 12:06 PM

From top: "Beethoven, Sonata in F# Minor, Op. 111"; Mussorgsky Promenade"

I CONNECT THE EMOTIONS BETWEEN THE VISUAL AND THE AURAL. D I A N E HUL ING

and the aural. There’s no piece of music I don’t connect to [in that way]. There’s not a specific image that a piece drives me to. It’s the emotional connection that creates the visual. There are basics in all the different arts — light, movement, color, structure. The part I’m glorying in right now is to find all the connections between these two arts. [For example,] I’ll play the Bach C Minor partita at Barre Opera House, and right now I’m doing six paintings where different flocks of birds in flight will represent the voices of the partita. Can you talk about the small triptychs grouped on one wall? That’s a new project. I’m creating small, handle-able — I don’t know what word you’d use — triptychs based on musical works for meditation purposes. They’re portable, or small enough to fit on somebody’s meditation table or office

desk. I started with [Frédéric] Chopin’s Nocturne in D flat Major. Eventually I’ll record [myself playing] the works they represent. You’ll be able to put a triptych on your dashboard if you’re stuck in traffic and getting anxious, and look at it while listening to the music on your phone. Will painting ever take over from music in your life? Never. That’s an easy question. ➆

INFO “Strands: Stories, Music and Meditations” by Diane Huling is on view through January 31 at the First Congregational Church in Berlin. 4t-MigrantJustice121323 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

12/12/23 1:42 PM

STUFF FOR THE STOCKINGS (AND MORE!)

art DEC. 13-20 EXHIBITIONS

Montpelier’s Creative Community Lifts Spirits With the Renewal Project BY PAM EL A PO LS TO N • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

8 SO. MAIN STREET, ST. ALBANS

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For more details and to access the application form, visit:

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INFO

GRANT FUNDED BY: DHCD/ERAP-HSS

SPONSORED BY:

Most Renewal Project installations will be on view through New Year’s Eve around downtown Montpelier. montpelieralive.com/renewalproject

GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE!

PHOTOS: KEVIN GODDARD

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In July, floodwaters rose four feet throughout downtown Montpelier, laying waste to buildings along Main and State streets. Soon after, Vermonters were shocked to see images of debris piled high in the streets as shopkeepers mucked out their basements and tossed ruined inventories. Hundreds of local volunteers, as well as federal disaster-assistance teams, arrived to help clean up. Now, despite some still-empty storefronts and continuing restoration, America’s smallest state capital looks quite different. It was not the only Vermont town impacted by flooding, but its comeback strategy has been, well, Montpelier Strong. And it includes putting art just about everywhere. Montpelier Alive, whose mission is to promote the city’s business and cultural economy, issued a request for proposals for its Renewal Project in October. It sought “art to fill empty downtown storefront windows” as part of an ongoing post-flood beautification effort. And artists from kindergartners to seasoned professionals responded. Monica DiGiovanni is the director of Downtown Arts at Montpelier Alive. In a phone interview, she described the mission of the Renewal Project as “to help build a sense that the city was in repair and moving forward, and quite simply to bring a little cheer back.” Putting artwork in windows, she suggested, conveys the message “that we’re still here and getting past this.” Locals and visitors who stroll the streets during the day surely find cheerful the sunflower paintings by K-2 students at Union Elementary School, directed by art teacher Kristina Kane. Those adorn the Walgreens windows at 29 Main Street. Under the tutelage of Brian Herrick and Jess Operoski, children in grades 3 to 5 made posters with inspirational messages at Wilder Arts, on view at 40 State Street. Eleven other posters around town have an auditory component. “Montpelier Rising: Stories of the 2023 Flood” is a collaboration of Victor Guadagno and Paul Richardson of StoryWorkz and the “BorderTown” podcast. On formal color portraits of individuals who survived the flood, a QR code leads to a recording of their stories. Some contributions to the Renewal Project can only be appreciated after dark — which comes around 4:30 these days. The most dramatic is “Montpelier Lights,” an installation by Chris Jeffrey in the former TD Bank at State and Main streets. The trippy display uses optical filters, typically employed in astronomical, scientific and medical imaging, that reflect and project ever-changing colors. Other installations include documentary photography, paper assemblages and a community quilt. When the first pieces appeared in late October, “It was a huge relief — some people said it just felt like someone cared,” DiGiovanni noted. “The business owners were just so focused on opening. There’s still a sense of shock and disorientation rippling through the community.” Having art in the windows “gave people reassurance, a feeling like It’s coming back,” she said. Can we call it capital gains? ➆

From top: Sunflower still life paintings by Union Elementary School students at Walgreens on Main Street; lighting installation by Chris Jeffrey at the corner of State and Main streets; Montpelier Strong photographs by Elliot Burg at Roam Vermont on Langdon Street

PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY FRIDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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2/15/23 4:04 PM

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

ART LISTINGS ARE WRITTEN BY PAMELA POLSTON. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

FIND ALL ART SHOWS + EVENTS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

CALL TO ARTISTS ‘THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE’: For an upcoming exhibition, the Birds of Vermont Museum seeks artwork in any medium, and by artists of any age, that speaks to both humans’ and birds’ perspectives and experiences. Online, through March 18. Info, 434-2167, birdsofvermont.org.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS ‘FANCY GOODS’: An exhibition of some 30 items that date between 1850 and 1950 and were designed to serve ornamental rather than essential purposes. Curated by the Middletown Springs Historical Society. Reception: Saturday, December 16, 1-3 p.m. Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, December 16-February 24. Info, 828-1414. MC NOYES & JUDI FORMAN: Solo exhibitions of ink-wash paintings and one-of-a-kind jewelry,

But wait, there’s more!

107

additional art listings are on view at sevendaysvt.com/art. Find all the calls to artists, ongoing art shows and future events online.

! E T

respectively. Reception: Friday, December 15, 5-7 p.m. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, December 15-February 10. Info, 289-0104. SARA GRACE: Figurative paintings by the singersongwriter. Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft, Montpelier, through December 31. Info, 225-6227.

‘SELDOM SEEN’: A holiday exhibition of unique art, books and accessories by Fran Bull, Carolyn Shattuck, Tom Merwin, Sandy Mayo, Joan Curtis, Bob Hooker and Dorothea Langevin. Conant Square Gallery, Brandon, through January 5. Info, 558-0874.

E L E

A R B

ART EVENTS ARTIST TALK: ART COSTA: The Vermont sculptor discusses the work in his current exhibit of mystical underwater animals, “Sounds Deep,” with director of exhibitions Sarah Freeman. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Thursday, December 14, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124. VISITING ARTIST TALK: ANTHONY GOICOLEA: A presentation by the New York-based multidisciplinary artist who established himself in the late 1990s with a series of provocative self-portraits. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Thursday, December 14, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727. ARTIST APPRECIATION PARTY: A gathering for artists, families, friends and fans, with light refreshments. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, Friday, December 15, 3-7 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3500. BTV WINTER MARKET: A European-style outdoor market featuring a rotating group of 20 local artists, makers and food vendors. Burlington City Hall Park, Fridays, 2-6 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-6 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-4 p.m., through December 23. Info, 865-7166.

Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER for a taste of this week’s flavorful food coverage. It’ll hold you over until Wednesday.

HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIOS: Multiple artists celebrate the season with open studios featuring paintings, fiber arts, jewelry, beeswax candles, botanical soaps and other artful gift options. The Fire Exit Gallery is also open with featured holiday artwork. Greenhouse Building, Burlington, Saturdays, 1-4 p.m., through December 16. Info, wildblossomdesigns@gmail.com.

STUDIO PLACE ARTS 201 N MAIN ST • BARRE

SUBSCRIBE AT

sevendaysvt.com/enews

INFORMATION & HOURS AT STUDIOPLACEARTS.COM Thank you: National Life Group, NSB Fnd. & Wolf Kahn Fnd.

HOLIDAY ART SALE & GIFT CARD WORKSHOP: A card-making workshop with A Wink Design, a sale of local wares, and refreshments. The Gallery at Mad 8V-BiteClubfiller.indd 1 River Valley Arts, Waitsfield, Saturday, December 16, noon-5 p.m. Free. Info, 496-6682. HOLIDAY ARTS MARKET: Find handcrafted treasures by local artists while enjoying live music. Complimentary DIY art-making stations. No elevator in the building. Spiral House, Burlington, Saturday, December 16, 1-5 p.m. Info, spiral.house. collective@gmail.com.

Featuring work by more than 80 Vermont artists displayed creatively throughout the historic SPA building. Nov. 8 – Dec. 28

12/21/208v-StudioPlace121323 6:12 PM 1

11/22/23 3:09 PM

YOUR TRUSTED

ZAP FEST: A printed-matter festival featuring the creators of zines, art prints, chapbooks, broadsides, hand-printed books and comics. With DJ sets by Croque Monsieur, Disco Phantom and L’Enfant Sauvage. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, Saturday, December 16, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 503-984-7075. VANESSA COMPTON OPEN STUDIO: The Burlington artist invites the public to browse her recent mixed-media collage works. Krinshaw Studios, Greensboro, Sunday, December 17, noon-4 p.m. Info, info@krinshawstudios.com. ‘DANCE! PAINT! WRITE!': A workshop that includes movement, painting and writing while listening to an inspirational soundtrack; open to teens and adults of all mobility and skill levels. In person or via Zoom. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesdays, 6:30-9 p.m., through January 2; and Wednesday, December 20, 9:30 a.m.-noon. $25 per session. Info, 343-8172. ➆

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

ESSEX DISPENSARY www.magicmann.com 4t- magicmann121323 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

12/12/23 11:36 AM

music+nightlife State of the (Dance) Union

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

S UNDbites News and views on the local music + nightlife scene BY C H R I S FA R N S WO R TH

At Metronome, Miller runs two of the more popular dance nights in town, Emo Night and After Hours, an openformat dance night where he spins everything from modern hip-hop to No Doubt. He took off a big chunk of 2022 and early 2023, putting aside his decks to deal with personal issues and work-related demands. He stormed back in November, though, and relaunched his two series, ready not just to get the bodies back on the dance floor but also to shine a light on what he sees as a newly ascendant coalition of DJs, rappers and dance nights. “Honestly, I love where the scene is going right now,” Miller said. “I always used to think it would be this big, cohesive thing when it happened, but it’s more like these individualized places, specific to a certain vibe, and I think it’s really fascinating.”

“You’ve got NO FUN INTENDED and the NEXUS parties,” Miller went on, referencing ANDY KERSHAW’s EDM record label and Nexus Artist Management, the booking agency that holds the Sunday Night Mass series and books big touring acts such as the CRYSTAL METHOD. “So we have those two representing the house and techno scenes. And if you want bass music, just go to anything hosted by Full Melt Productions.” Miller pointed out that two Queen City bars — Orlando’s Bar & Lounge and the Cellar, in the basement of Drink — are hosting more and more hip-hop, including NASTEE and DJ KANGA’s popular Rap Night at the latter. The Other Half, which opened recently in the former SideBar space on Main Street, is the spiritual successor to the Half Lounge, which hosted many a DJ night over the years before it closed in 2020. And Red

COURTESY OF SHELBY CROSS

Let’s face it: Burlington is just about the furthest thing from a “club city.” If you’ve lived in a place with a proper dance music culture, you know the signs; you’ve seen the people heading out to dance the night away. They’re often dressed a little nicer than the rock show set or the comedy club people, and they usually have different drugs to accompany their evening — hey, if whatever floats your boat doesn’t ruin anyone else’s time, go for it, I say. That’s not a dig against Burlington, by any means. The Queen City bats well above average in terms of musical talent. It’s just not a city that has ever been known as a great place to go out dancing, despite ever-reliable institutions such as Sunday Night Mass at Club Metronome and DJ TAKA spinning weekends at Radio Bean — though even he’s down to only Friday nights as of this week. In short, it’s rare to see lines down the street to get into a dance club in B-town. But that doesn’t mean the scene doesn’t exist — you just have to know where to find it. “It’s weird, but there are little scenes popping up now,” MALCOLM MILLER, aka MALACHI, told me the other week as we shared some dim sum downtown. “There’s a spot for hip-hop. There’s a house and techno scene. I’ve got my emo nights … There’s a lot of great DJ sets in town these days; they’re just kind of stratified.” Miller is one of my go-to sources for keeping tabs on the DJ and EDM scene in Burlington. Readers with good memories will recall my chatting with him a few years back. In 2021, just as clubs were opening back up during the pandemic, we spoke about the ascendancy of the DJ. “I’m not sure exactly why it’s been this way, but it feels like, coming out of COVID … people want to hear and dance to stuff that reminds them of happy times, so they can let loose,” he told me then. Now Miller thinks the balance has shifted back to live music as the main draw at downtown clubs. But he is noticing intriguing developments in the DJ-set-and-dance nights in Burlington.

Malcolm Miller

Square remains one of the only venues with DJs booked every night they’re open. “There’s so many club killers in town right now,” Miller enthused. “Between DJ BARON, TWO SEV, CRE8, RON STOPPABLE … there’s just so many reliable, good DJs, and they’re all finding their pockets in town.” Miller himself has been discovering new areas to hold down besides his Metronome and Red Square gigs: He recently took over the marketing and booking at Einstein’s Tap House on lower Church Street. He’s excited to move into booking and promoting and take the chance to turn Einstein’s into a hot spot. “We’ve got a killer sound system, and I’m bringing in some great DJs to spin,” Miller said. “I think we can make Einstein’s one of the best places to hear a DJ in the city.” Miller has never stopped creating original music while deejaying, amassing a library of tracks that he hopes to release in 2024. But he will retire his nom de guerre of Malachi in the New Year because there are too many Malachis (Malachae?). “Apple Music was literally like, ‘No way, too many people named Malachi,’” Miller said with a laugh. “And I have huge respect for a DJ like DAVID GUETTA, who just uses his given name. So that’s what I’m doing — from here on out, it’s just DJ MALCOLM MILLER.” He’ll launch his new handle with the final Emo Night of the year at Club Metronome on Saturday, December 30, followed by a New Year’s Eve set at Red Square. “It’s exciting to me, because there are truly a number of places to go and dance and hear great music being spun, and I’m not sure that’s always been the case,” Miller said of the scene. If Burlington is on its way to becoming a clubbing city, that’s fine by me. For one, you avoid any Footloose-style scenario in which one has to dance to fight oppression, which honestly sounds exhausting to me. For another, the more late-nighters are out dancing, the more late-night food trucks will appear. I am 100 percent pulling that correlation out of my ass, but I’m telling you, it’s true.

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

On the Beat

NICK CASSARINO is returning for his now-

annual tradition of throwing a rocking Christmas party in his home state. The Vermont native is a top-level shredder, a guitar maestro capable of moving in and out of styles effortlessly, who has played with everyone from JOHN MAYER to TREY ANASTASIO to BIG DADDY KANE. Suffice it to say, the dude will bring some serious heat to holiday music. Last year’s Christmas Vacation Holiday Review show went down at Zenbarn in Waterbury Center, but this year Cassarino is headed to Chittenden County, where he’ll play at the Shelburne Vineyard tasting room loft on Friday, December 22. He’ll bring in fellow local heavy DAVE “THE TRUTH” GRIPPO, leader of the GRIPPO FUNK BAND, as a special guest. Grinches out there who’ve had just about enough of holiday music, Despacito in Burlington has you covered. The restaurant and bar is hosting the first-ever Goth Mountain Metal Fest this Saturday, December 16. “Is your blood made of lava? Has your face even been properly melted this year?” asks the press release for the fest, which features a stacked lineup of heavy-hitting bands such as LUNGBUSTER, HOBO WIZARD, the MOUNTAIN SAYS NO, METAMORPH and ASTROCAT. Now, some of our more astute readers might say, “Hey, Chris! I call bullshit. A few of those bands aren’t even metal bands. Are you a poser?” To which I say: For one, settle down there, sport.

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LiveAtNectars.com

WED 12.13

FREE

Wed. Nectar’s Comedy Show THUR 12.14

Nectar’s Trivia Night FREE FRI 12.15

Presented by Upstate Elevator FREE

Seth Yacovone Band SAT 12.16

Moondogs w/ Clive, Scram TUE 12.19

PRESENTED BY FIDDLEHEAD

Grateful Tuesdays: Dobb’s Dead FRI 12.22

Nico Suave & the Mothership Houses of the Holy Night. Led Zeppelin, etc.

SAT 12.23

Jason Corbiere's

Blue Christmas Bash

Hiroya Tsukamoto

SAT 12.30

Harmonies For Courage: Benefit for Veterans

They’re all pretty heavy in their own way; it works. And yeah, I probably am a poser at this point. The last time I attempted to headbang, I think I felt it in my sciatic nerve. Metal! Also, I wish there were an actual Goth Mountain in Vermont. The trail names could be, like, My Soul Is Black and So Is the Night or some suitably dark alternative. Though trying to hike while someone blasts BAUHAUS might be a little weird. I’ve always maintained that, per capita, Vermont is overflowing with guitarists. If you are one of that steady supply of six-

string aficionados, or just appreciate the work of a virtuoso, you should know that Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls is hosting one hell of a guitarist for a matinée on Sunday, December 17. HIROYA TSUKAMOTO is a Japan-born, New York City-based musician who channels a bit of folk, jazz and world music into his compositions, which center on his fluid and intricate fingerpicking style of acoustic guitar. If seeing a master at work isn’t enough, Tsukamoto is also holding a fingerstyle master class earlier that day at Stage 33. Pop over to stage33live.com to sign up. ➆

w/ Grippo Funk Band SUN 12.31

Diva Dynasty Countdown:

New Years Tribute to the

Women of Funk and Groove FRI 1.12

Double You SAT 1.13

Dead To The Core SAT 1.20

Brownstein Family Band w/ Marc (the Disco Biscuits), Jake (Eggy), Zach (Jon Anderson)

THUR 1.25

Mono Means One feat. John Ferrara w/ Lara Cwass

FRI 1.26

Listening In

Annie in the Water w/Fungkshui

(Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “FVCKING BORING”

by the Leatherbound Books 2. “EAST JABIP” by REDadmiral 3. “KAMBO WAMBO” by RAAR Trio

Eye on the Scene

4. “IN A FORTNIGHT” by Bison

Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

by Night Protocol

5. “BLOOD AND WHISKEY” 6. “I DON’T THINK OF YOU”

by Caitlin Canty KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW, BURLINGTON CITY HALL AUDITORIUM, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9: The last thing I expected to add this year to my what-the-world-needs-now list (RIP BURT BACHARACH) was a new Christmas song, but leave it to BRETT HUGHES and KAT WRIGHT to

prove me wrong. I popped into Burlington City Hall Auditorium on Saturday night to catch a bit of the annual Kat & Brett Holiday Show. I was about to head out to the next venue when Wright announced that Hughes had written a new song. “Dear Santa,” she began, and the house lights immediately started to flicker. It was decided that Santa was haunting the lights, and I had to stick around to see what he knew that I didn’t. Wright started again: “Dear Santa, you’re an asshole.” After accusing Santa of bullying, being overly judgmental and delivering cheap mass-produced toys, the song informs him what we really need instead of Christmas: an end to war. It finishes with the line “If you for real can help us love, that’s when I’ll believe in you.” That’s the kind of holiday spirit that even I, part Grinch, can get behind.

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music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

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.

live music

Bunny Hopping

Neil Cleary is a busy guy. The Vermont-based singer-

WED.13

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

songwriter and producer splits his time as a producer

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

latest EP All Our Favorite Bands (Are Breaking Up) — and

— he worked on longtime collaborator James Kochalka’s as DJ TAD CAUTIOUS, the host of “The Bunny” on Sirius XM’s

Dan Ryan Express (jazz) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Phish radio station, a gig that grew out of spinning at the mega jam band’s festivals. His DJ gigs now take him from

Food Not Cops Benefit with Marxist Jargon, Tall Travis, Baby Fern & the Plants (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10.

Los Angeles to New York City, but he’ll be closer to home this Friday, December 15, for the Talking Heads Dance

Jazz Jam Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Party at Club Metronome in Burlington and Saturday, December 16, for a set at the Monkey House in Winooski. FRI.15 & SAT.16 // DJ TAD CAUTIOUS [DJ]

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Luis Betancourt (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

THU.14

Dan Ryan Express (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Dave Lovald, Shanty Rats (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Dead Gowns, h.pruz, Addie Herbert, Greg Freeman (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10/$12. Frankie and the Fuse (indie rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Troy Millette and the Fire Below, the Craigs, the Owl Stars, Chris & Erica (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 6 p.m. $15/$18. Whiskey on the Windowsill (R&B) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.15

Alex Stewart, Clyde Stats, Paul Asbell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Blue Fox (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free. Breanna Elaine (singer-songwriter) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free. Coane, Rowell & Schabner, the Bar*Belles (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Dave Keller Band (blues) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Dogface, the Leatherbound Books, Jesse Taylor Band (rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15. Dr. Rick (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15. Fiddlehead Hollow (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free. Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free. The Harley Brown Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. John Daly Trio (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

SAT.16

3rd Annual Hardcore Holiday Show (metal, punk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15. Back in Black (AC/DC tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$25. C.Shreve the Professor (hip-hop) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Deep Dive (funk) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. EmmaLou and the Beat (folk) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Unruly Allies (folk rock) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

djs

MON.18

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Holiday Extravaganza (holiday) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. Red Heron, Cherry Valley (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15. Ryan Montbleau Band, Cris Jacobs (folk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25/$29. Seth Yacovone Band (blues rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Soulshine Revival (Allman Brothers Band tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 9 p.m. $15/$20.

Oaksie (folk) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. She Was Right (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free. Something Reckless (rock) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free. Staircase 24 (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Tiffany Pfeiffer (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.17

Hagen’s Haunted Hymns (folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free. Session Americana with Eleanor Buckland (Americana) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $18/$20.

open mics & jams WED.13

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at St. John’s Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

THU.14

Big Easy Tuesdays with Back Porch Revival (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Nobby Reed Project (blues) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.19

Handshake Drugs: A Wilco Experience (tribute) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

NYChillarmonic (jazz) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $15/$20.

WED.20

THU.14

Goth Mountain Metal Fest (metal) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Moondogs, Scram, Clive (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

The Mid Week Hump with DJs Fattie B and Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Justice 3 (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

No Showers on Vacation (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. $10/$15.

SUN.17

Oldtone String Band (bluegrass) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

June Morse (folk) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Mifsits (jam) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Roost.world (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

WED.13

7th Anniversary Party with the Grippo Funk Band, B3 Kings, DJ Dakota (funk) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers (soul) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Lovewhip (funk) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with the Hogtones (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. REDadmiral (rock) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

WED.20

Bent Nails House Band (rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free. Jazz Jam Sessions with Randal Pierce (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

MON.18

Copycatt, PATH, Vusive, KAZM, Warco (EDM) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$25. DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free. Open Mic Night (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.19

DJ JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Positive Pie Tap & Grill, Plainfield, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

WED.20

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at St. John’s Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.15

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. DJ four-d (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free. DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. John’s Jukebox (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free. Talking Heads Dance Party with DJ Tad Cautious (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 10 p.m. $5.

SAT.16

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

Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Mike Chapman (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 5 p.m. Free.

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

Open Mic with Artie (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. DJ Tad Cautious (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy WED.13

Claus Pod, Live! (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5. Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

THU.14

Melissa Villaseñor (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $30.

COMEDY

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

» P.63 61

music+nightlife

REVIEW this

As 2023 draws to a close, music editor Chris Farnsworth is making his list and checking it twice — for albums from Vermont musicians that came out this year and almost fell through the cracks. Some hidden diamonds are always biding their time in the queue, so here are six records that might sneak into your end-of-year lists. ➆

Jack o’ the Clock, The Warm, Dark Circus (SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

Jo Bled, 1000 Days (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

When Oakland, Calif.’s Jack o’ the Clock moved east in 2019 and relocated to Brattleboro, they added something unique to the Green Mountain music scene. After all, there was hardly a glut of avant-garde prog folk going around. Based on the songwriting of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Damon Waitkus, the sprawling, endlessly sophisticated music heard on The Warm, Dark Circus often sounds like an auditory hallucination, with surprises around every corner. The playful, free jazz-leaning “Stuck Inside of Elvis” blends seamlessly into the sedate transition of “Sage’s Song,” which moves right into the 13-minute epic “Dürer’s Rhinoceros.” Each track brings a new sonic landscape, fully realized and vividly detailed by Waitkus’ complex, evocative lyrics and the band’s fearless sense of adventure. The band had been working on some of the music on The Warm, Dark Circus since forming in 2007, leading Waitkus to call it a “musical palimpsest.” KEY TRACK: “How Are We Doing…” WHY: The proggiest of the album’s proggy cuts, the 13-minute song plays out like an impressionist painting set to music. WHERE: jackotheclock.bandcamp.com

Those who closely follow the local reviews know that the Vermont experimental and ambient music scene is thriving. Between Burlington’s Community of Sound, East Montpelier label Histamine Tapes and artists such as Glenn Weyant, the Green Mountains are alive with the sounds of weirdness, and long may they continue. One of Vermont’s most prodigious experimental musicians is Jo Bled, the free-form solo project of percussionist Jabe Ledoux. A relentless sonic experimenter, whether as a psych-jazz drummer with Nest Material and the le duo or with Jo Bled, Ledoux continues that tradition on 1000 Days. Recorded on Ledoux’s phone throughout 2023, the album is “a sort-of musical amends for all the creativity and inspiration lost to alcohol abuse disorder,” Ledoux wrote on Bandcamp. The collection of sounds made with shakers, gongs, cowbells, washboards and anything else remotely percussive within arm’s reach was released on the artist’s thousandth day of sobriety. “The album makes little sense as a whole: While this was not on purpose, it is necessary,” Ledoux writes. KEY TRACK: “Powerful Symbols of Belonging” WHY: The persistent tittering of Ledoux’s beats sounds like a rainstorm on a metal roof. WHERE: jobled.bandcamp.com

G Hanz, The Streetlight Era

Mary Esther Carter, Dust

Plattsburgh, N.Y., is already known to produce quality metal and folk acts that make the ferry trip to Burlington. But the Lake City’s burgeoning hip-hop scene has also started dropping killer jams, from classic boom-bap raps to modern drill-inspired, new-wave-influenced sounds. G Hanz’s latest, The Streetlight Era, hews closer to the former. A mostly instrumental collection of icy, synth-driven jams and massive, often distorted beats, the record feels as crisp and sweet as a freshly picked apple. G Hanz — aka Gary Travers — is clearly influenced by various genres, with hints of sonic maestro J Dilla popping up in the ultra-melodic jams. On tracks such as “Far Galaxy,” the beat is insistent, urgently pushing against the full-color blast of layers and layers of synths. Instrumental hip-hop sometimes feels like an audition or a backing track just waiting for a guest rapper, but The Streetlight Era is a selfcontained world seemingly full of neon lights and metropolises shining through the night. KEY TRACK: “Chasing Stars” WHY: G Hanz goes full M83, putting layers of washed-out synth over a stop-start beat. WHERE: Spotify

Under the radar, a steady stream of notable indie musicians have been moving to Vermont. In the past few years, the likes of singersongwriter Ryley Walker and Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker have slipped out of bigger city scenes and sought the solitude and snow of the Green Mountains. Mary Esther Carter recently made the move from the singer-songwriter and folk scenes of New York City to Burlington, recording her latest, Dust, at Colchester’s Sabi Sound studio. A former professional dancer, Carter has embarked on a second act as a honey-voiced troubadour, penning confessional, often emotionally fraught songs such as “How Many Times?” and “Rapid Heartbeat.” “You’re a checker board playing chess / You don’t know all the steps / You’re a kite runner / Losing wind,” she sings on “Sinking,” a delicately heartbroken song. Carter’s lyrical dexterity and penchant for dark, almost Appalachian folk make for a gothic, gorgeous and vulnerable record. KEY TRACK: “I Don’t Know Where to Rest My Head” WHY: Carter pushes her voice into a lower octave, crooning over an electric guitar and building intensity as she goes. WHERE: maryesthercarter.bandcamp.com

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Moondogs, Moondogs (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Despite its reputation, the Burlington jam scene does sometimes swim beyond Phish’s giant, watery shadow. The Fab Phour have undoubtedly left an imprint on other Vermont bands in the genre. But trying to copy and paste Phish’s format is an exercise in futility. So the most interesting local jam acts are the ones that go their own way, and Moondogs are a perfect example. The Burlington trio certainly fits snugly in the world of long jams, hypercompressed guitar tones and meandering middle eights. But on their self-titled sophomore album, Moondogs inject hints of southern rock and ’90s alt rock, especially on tunes such as “Switchback.” They even blast off into space funk on “Aurora.” Perhaps the album’s most surprising moment is the jazz-funk take on the Allman Brothers Band’s classic “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” KEY TRACK: “Magenta” WHY: The LP’s final track showcases singer Will Sturcke’s songwriting and the band’s ability to transcend genre. WHERE: Spotify 62

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Dave Keller, It’s Time to Shine (TASTEE-TONE RECORDS, CD, DIGITAL)

Montpelier’s Dave Keller is one of the hardest-working bluesmen on the scene. The singer-songwriter and guitarist has released seven full-length albums including his latest, It’s Time to Shine. Recorded in Chateaugay, N.Y.; Ipswich, Mass.; and Houston, Texas, Keller’s new record is a fully fleshed-out, slickly produced love letter to blues music, R&B and blue-eyed soul, well in keeping with his previous catalog. Keller isn’t here to reinvent the genre or reinterpret things for new generations: He knows what he likes, and he knows just how to get it. On tracks such as “789-0133,” Keller builds a perfect blues rocker, chock-full of tasteful guitar solos and powerful backing vocals from Annika Chambers-DesLauriers. By and large, the tracks are radio ready, highly accessible and by the numbers, focusing on soaring choruses that put a spotlight on Keller’s big voice and trusty axe. The album’s strongest moments tend to be when Keller lets his band dig in, such as on the slow-burning blues rocker “Mayor of Memory.” KEY TRACK: “Waiting for the Sunrise” WHY: Keller comes in on a killer bluesy riff that the band rides with aplomb, building a soulful rocker. WHERE: davekeller.bandcamp.com

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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children. We will match all year-end appeal donations made between Nov 15 - Dec 15, up to $5,000! www.thefamilyroomvt.org

FRI.15 // DOGFACE, THE LEATHERBOUND BOOKS, JESSE TAYLOR BAND [ROCK]

Rock Local Three of Burlington’s hottest up-and-coming bands are hitting the stage for a local rock showcase this weekend. First up is the long-awaited live debut of

DOGFACE, who released their self-titled debut back in 2021 but never got around to actually

playing it live. They’re joined by indie trio the LEATHERBOUND BOOKS, who dropped their new EP, supernormal, in October. Rounding out the bill are the JESSE TAYLOR BAND, who are driven by the songs of singer-songwriter Taylor and powered by a slick, hard-charging

rock outfit. Catch them this Friday, December 15, at Burlington’s Light Club Lamp Shop.

comedy THU.14 CONTINUED FROM P.61 Red Flags (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

FRI.15

Melissa Villaseñor (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $30.

SAT.16

Melissa Villaseñor (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $30.

SUN.17

Annual VCC Holidaygasm Party, Gift Swap and Open Mic (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

MON.18

Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.19

trivia, karaoke, etc. WED.13

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free. Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.14

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free. Music Bingo (musical bingo) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Free Stuff! (comedy) at Lincolns, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

WED.20

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

Miss Sassy: Ho-Ho-Holiday Spectacular (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $15. Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

➆➆➆

FRI.15

Karaoke (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.17

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.18

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7-9 p.m. Free. Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.19

Karaoke with Motorcade (karaoke) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke Tuesdays (karaoke) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.20

All proceeds go to supporting ECHO & science education!

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210 COLLEGE ST • (802) 391-8699 BURLINGTON • THETINKERINGTURTLE.COM SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

12/11/23 11:34 AM

calendar D E C E M B E R

WED.13 business

ADDISON COUNTY BIZ BUZZ: Local female business owners meet and chat over coffee. Lu•lu, Vergennes, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, info@vtwomenprepeurs.com. QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: AGE WELL: Seniors stop by the main reading room to ask questions and learn about programs available to them. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. 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.

crafts

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts is welcome to bring a project to this monthly meeting. Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, gmc.vt.ega@ gmail.com. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and beyond. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

dance

WESTIE WEDNESDAYS DANCE: Swing dancers lift and spin at a weekly social dance. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 802westiecollective@gmail. com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN FILM SERIES: ‘AALTO: ARCHITECT OF EMOTIONS’: A 2020 documentary paints a compelling portrait of iconic Scandic designer Alvar Aalto. Virtual option available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166. ‘FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS’: Filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera, this Gabriel García Márquezinspired work follows the story of a Brazilian soprano. Star Theatre of St. Johnsbury, 11 a.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: Viewers learn the true story behind one of our most iconic — and misunderstood — predators. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 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. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: Sparkling graphics and vibrant interviews take viewers on a journey alongside NASA astronauts as they prepare for stranger-than-science-fiction space travel. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE! All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. Listings and spotlights are written by Emily Hamilton. Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: Scientists dive into the planet’s least-explored habitat, from its sunny shallows to its alien depths. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘THIS IS SPINAL TAP’: A metal band struggles to get back on the chart in this 1984 mockumentary screened with Next Chapter Records. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 a.m.8:30 p.m. $10. Info, 451-0053. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: Through the power of special cameras, audiences are transported into the world of the teeniest animals on Earth. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 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

WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: Aspiring sommeliers blind-taste four wines from Vermont and beyond. Shelburne Vineyard, noon-6 p.m. $15. Info, 985-8222.

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: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

holidays

‘A CELTIC FAMILY CHRISTMAS: Folk music power couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy fiddle away to yuletide classics. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25-59. Info, 863-5966. ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Northern Stage brings Charles Dickens’ classic story of redemption and community to life in an original adaptation. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $19-69. Info, 296-7000. INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: Goods from Mexico, India, Nepal and beyond make for unique holiday gifts. Waitsfield Masonic Lodge, noon-6 p.m. Free. Info, 793-2205. JOINT CONCERT WITH THE SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE SINGERS: Counterpoint team up with student singers for a doubly jolly program of Christmastime favorites. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-1784. KINGDOM MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS: Local musicians play traditional wintertime tunes on uncommon string instruments. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. SENIOR HOLIDAY DINNER: Queen City residents ages 50 and up enjoy dinner and a show from the Green Mountain Chorus. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 4:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 864-0123. ‘TWO FOR CHRISTMAS’: Two acts, set during the holiday season in 1479 England and 1979 Vermont, are separated by 500 years but otherwise are strangely similar in this staged reading of the play by late Vermont writer David Budbill. Virtual option available. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7-9 p.m. $10-20. Info, 229-0492.

art

‘WINTER TALES’: Local writers and musicians tell festive tales and share seasonal songs at Vermont Stage’s annual tradition. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $24-64. Info, 862-1497.

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

language

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

= ONLINE EVENT

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celtic-curious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

Burlington, 6-9 p.m. $25. Info, 482-3131.

lgbtq

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.13.

HOLIDAY COOKIE SWAP: LGBTQ community members trade seasonal sweet treats (with allergens marked), play games, get the MPox vaccine or an HIV test, and enjoy each other’s company. Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

politics

ELECTION ISSUES & DEMOCRACY SPEAKER SERIES: SUSAN CLARK: The author of Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home leads a conversation about constructive discourse. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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.

words

AFTER HOURS BOOK CLUB: Readers spend the evening discussing I’ll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa De Los Santos. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. LIFE STORIES WE LOVE TO TELL: Prompts from group leader Maryellen Crangle inspire true tales, told either off the cuff or read from prewritten scripts. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 2-3:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918. POETRY POTLUCK: Wordsmiths and readers bring a dish and a poem (their own or others’) to share. Whirligig Brewing, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@catamountarts.org.

THU.14 crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: All ages and abilities are invited to knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. All materials are provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON’S LIFE IN THE BLUES’: A live performance featuring musicians James Montgomery, Dave Keller and Chad Hollister follows a screening of this new documentary. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center,

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.13. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.13. ‘THE RIGHT TO READ’: A panel discussion follows the screening of this new documentary about America’s literacy problems and Oakland NAACP activist Kareem Weaver’s efforts to help. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5124. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.13.

food & drink

ARE YOU THIRSTY, NEIGHBOR?: A special discount cocktail menu sparks conversations and connections over cribbage and cards. Wild Hart Distillery and Tasting Room, Shelburne, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@wildhartdistillery.com. FREE WINE TASTING: Themed wine tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368. OLD NORTH END COMMUNITY DINNER: A vegetarian meal precedes the Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 598-3139.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game with an extra wrinkle. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7223.

health & fitness

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, elizabetharms56@gmail.com.

holidays

CHAMBER HOLIDAY MIXER: Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce members and colleagues eat, drink and win prizes at a cheerful business shindig. Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Berlin, 5-6:30 p.m. $10; free for members. Info, 229-5711. ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.13, 2 & 7:30 p.m. A FOREST OF LIGHTS: The VINS forest canopy walkways and surrounding woodlands transform into a twinkling winter wonderland open for strolling. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 5-7 p.m. $7-12; free for kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000. INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13. SANTA’S LUAU: A TROPICAL HOLIDAY POP-UP: Adventure Dinner serves up island-inspired THU.14

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LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

FAMILY FUN Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages. • Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun. • Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.13

burlington

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

You Can’t Catch Me Run, run, run as fast as you can to The Gingerbread Scamp, a new family-friendly holiday show from Complications Company at Burlington’s Off Center for the Dramatic Arts. Inspired by the English tradition of panto — fast-paced retellings of folk tales that combine puppetry, slapstick comedy and audience interaction — this hilarious remix of “The Gingerbread Man” is perfect for singing and shouting along to. Vermonters of all ages are sure to spot Bernie’s mittens, Champ the lake monster and other area notables in this festive, mischievous romp.

DEC. 14-17 | FAMILY FUN

barre/montpelier

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 7 and under hear stories, sing songs and eat tasty treats. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

‘THE GINGERBREAD SCAMP’ Thursday, December 14, and Friday, December 15, 6-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 16, 2-3:30 & 6-7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 17, 2-3:30 p.m., at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts in Burlington. $6-25. Info, complicationscompany@ gmail.com, offcentervt.com.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

‘GOOD KING WENCESLAS’: See THU.14. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 6 p.m. $5-12; free for kids. Info, 533-2000. SING-ALONG WITH “MUSIC MAN” ED MORGAN: Kids of all ages take part in original and traditional songs. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

SWIFTERNOON: Taylor Swift fans of all ages celebrate the star’s birthday with trivia, crafts, refreshments and games. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

SAT.16

burlington

TODDLER TIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones 12 through 24 months. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

‘THE GINGERBREAD SCAMP’: See THU.14, 2-3:30 & 6-7:30 p.m. 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.

chittenden county

BABYTIME: Caregivers and infants from birth through age 1 gather in the Wiggle Room to explore board books and toys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

STORIES WITH GEOFF IN THE NEW NORTH END: Little patrons of the library’s new location enjoy a morning of stories and songs. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 1111:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

GAME ON: Kids and teens get together to play video games such as Mario Kart and Overcooked on the library’s Nintendo Switches. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

chittenden county

LITTLES D&D: Kiddos learn to play Dungeons & Dragons and build their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Ages 6 through 8. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

MOVIE MATINEE: Film lovers have a family-friendly afternoon at this screening of an animated favorite. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:40 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

LEGO CHALLENGE CLUB: Kids engage in a fun-filled hour of building, then leave their creations on display in the library all month long. Ages 6 through 8. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

THU.14

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: Chefs in training and their caretakers make fun meals with a trained dietitian. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and Brownell Library. 4-5 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

burlington

‘THE GINGERBREAD SCAMP’: An interactive, musical puppet show by Complications Company puts a hilarious twist on a classic holiday story. See calendar spotlight. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. $6-25. Info, complicationscompany@ gmail.com.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Emily from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads little ones in songs, movement and other fun activities. Ages 2 through 5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CHRISTMAS STORY TIME AND CRAFT: Preschoolers make festive decorations after enjoying a seasonal story. Ages 2 through 6. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. 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. PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones from birth through age 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. TEEN: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Local wizards and warlocks ages 12 and up play a collaborative game of magic and monsters. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos 3 and younger to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Games, activities, stories and songs engage 3- through 5-year-olds. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

STORY TIME: Kids 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘GOOD KING WENCESLAS’: The merry puppets and actors of Vermont Suitcase tell the Christmastime tale of a king whose good deeds cause some chaos. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 p.m. $1-10. Info, 451-0053.

FRI.15

burlington

‘THE GINGERBREAD SCAMP’: See THU.14.

chittenden county

KIDS MOVIE IN THE AUDITORIUM: Little film buffs congregate in the library for a screening of a family-friendly film. See southburlingtonlibrary.org for each week’s title. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. LEGO BUILDERS: Each week, children ages 8 and older build, explore, create and participate in challenges. Children ages 6 to 8 are welcome with an adult. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

SPECIAL GERMAN STORY TIME: Kiddos start the weekend off right with German-language stories and songs. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

WAITSFIELD HOLIDAY WALKABOUT: Shoppers of all ages are surprised by cookies, crafts, s’mores and Santa Claus around town. Mad River Green, Waitsfield, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 496-7280.

SUN.17

burlington

‘THE GINGERBREAD SCAMP’: See THU.14, 2-3:30 p.m. SANTA & SUDS: Crafts, cocoa, cotton candy and a visit from Santa delight families. Simple Roots Brewing, Burlington, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 399-2658.

MON.18 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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calendar THU.14

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DEC. 14-16 | HOLIDAYS

food and drink, from crab rangoon buns and ube crème brûlée to tahini mai tais and five-spice mulled wine. See calendar spotlight. Peg & Ter’s, Shelburne, 5-9 p.m. Prices vary. Info, 248-224-7539. ‘TWO FOR CHRISTMAS’: See WED.13. WINTER LIGHTS: Buildings and gardens glow in multicolored illuminations for the holiday season. Shelburne Museum, 5-8 p.m. $10-15; free for kids under 3; preregister. Info, 985-3346.

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: Shoppers traverse the Quartier des Spectacles in search of oneof-a-kind gifts. Grand Marché de Noël, Montréal, 3-9 p.m. Free. Info, 514-550-7646.

outdoors

DECEMBER BIRD MONITORING WALK: Community scientists watch for warblers, spy sparrows and hear hawks to contribute to Audubon’s database. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 8-10 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

FRI.15

agriculture

LIBERTY FOOD FEST: Local farmers and environmentalists discuss the problems facing our regional food system over two days of talks and panels. Joel Salatin and Winona LaDuke headline. Bellows Falls Opera House, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. $21-34; $55 for twoday pass. Info, 335-5059.

business

JOB SEARCHING FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADS: A CRASH COURSE ON MODERN DAY RÉSUMÉS FOR RECENT GRADS AND THEIR PARENTS: Participants learn valuable tips as they enter the workforce. Presented by the Targeted Resume. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sue@thetargetedresume.com.

COURTESY OF KATIE PALATUCCI

‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.13.

Christmas Island While beloved Shelburne joint Peg & Ter’s is on hiatus, there’s still plenty to celebrate: namely, Adventure Dinner’s pop-up holiday-themed tiki bar. Guests don their Hawaiian shirts and Santa hats for an evening of unbeatable tropical bites and beverages. From crab rangoon bao and winter squash spring rolls to pineapple chicken teriyaki and ube crème brûlée, everyone’s wintertime appetites are satiated. And the cocktails, such as the halo halo slushie, five-spice mulled wine and tahini mai tai, pair perfectly with every meal. Reservations are recommended for table seating, but walk-ins can always sit at the bar.

SANTA’S LUAU: A TROPICAL HOLIDAY POP-UP Thursday, December 14, through Saturday, December 16, 5-9 p.m., at Peg & Ter’s in Shelburne. See website for additional dates. Cost of food and drink. Info, 248-224-7539, adventuredinner.com. SISTERHOOD OF THE DREADED ELEVATOR PITCH: Vermont Works for Women and other local organizations help women who own or are starting a small business convey their passion and purpose. O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, rgoldstein@cvoeo.org.

crafts

LEARN HOW TO KNIT: Novices of all ages pick up a new skill. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.13. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.13. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.13.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

holidays

BARNARTS WINTER CAROLS: Friends and neighbors come together for solstice sing-alongs and performances by the community choir. First Universalist Church and Society, Barnard, 7-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, 234-1645. BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT: Perfectly balanced horns and voices make for an intimate program of carols. United Church of Newport, 7:309:30 p.m. $20-24; free for kids under 18. Info, 864-5741. CHRISTMAS AT THE GRANGE: A fun-filled evening of Christmas songs and holiday Broadway hits would even warm the heart of Ebenezer Scrooge. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. $20-25. Info, 457-3500.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.13.

games

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of

the holidays in this Just the Players Dessert Theatre production. Tickets include sweet treats from Windy Lane Bakehouse. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7 p.m. $25. Info, 728-9878.

saying hello to Santa. Homeport, Burlington, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, jgarrett@burlingtonvt.gov. SANTA’S LUAU: A TROPICAL HOLIDAY POP-UP: See THU.14.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.13.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.14.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.14.

lgbtq

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13. THE MOTH: Local tellers of tales recount true stories on the theme “It happened one holiday ...” Big Picture Theater and Café, Waitsfield, 7-9 p.m. $10. Info, 496-5997. ‘NIGHT FIRES’: Returning after a five-year hiatus, this beloved show honors the winter solstice with a multicultural pageant of song, dance and storytelling. Preshow entertainment begins 20 minutes before. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $17-32. Info, 382-9222. ‘OF MYTH & MUSHROOM’: Ancient secrets are revealed in a magical forest of old in NECCA’S annual holiday circus spectacular. New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $15-35; free for kids under 2. Info, 254-9780. SANTA ON THE MARKETPLACE: Kids get in the holiday spirit by

& City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.13.

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community gather weekly to play games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.14.

music

JOAN OSBORNE: The eight-time Grammy nominee and “What If God Was One of Us” singer plays hits from 25 years of touring. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $45-59. Info, 760-4634.

tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in oneon-one sessions. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music. Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

Creating a Community of Readers Dec 17, Jan 7+21, Feb 4+18, Mar 3+17, Apr 7+14 • 10am-2pm

O’Brien Community Center 32 Malletts Bay Ave, Winooski Farm products, hot foods, jewelry, art and more from local producers! 66

XUC PRO WRESTLING

SATURDAYS > 9:30 P.M.

We take pride in selecting and promoting books speciﬁcally for our community of readers, such as a full range of NYRB Classics including these in-house favorites. 38 Main Street | Middlebury, VT (802) 388-2061 | vermontbookshop.com

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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Visit us and see what else we have picked for you. 12/11/23 1:32 PM

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

Let us cater your holidays!

SAT.16 activism

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEETING: Activists gather online with the goal of advancing human rights. 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, champvalleyai@gmail.com.

holidays

ADVENTURE DINNER PROCRASTINATOR’S PARADISE HOLIDAY MARKET: There’s no shame in leaving your shopping ’til the last minute when it means getting to visit a decked-out makers’ fair complete with cocktails. Shelburne Town Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 248-224-7539.

sell candles, toys, paintings and ornaments at this first annual festive bazaar. Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, info@honeybeeheather.com. ‘NIGHT FIRES’: See FRI.15, 4 & 7:30 p.m. ‘OF MYTH & MUSHROOM’: See FRI.15, 3 & 7 p.m.

CHRISTMAS AT THE GRANGE: See FRI.15, .

SANTA ON THE MARKETPLACE: See FRI.15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

LIBERTY FOOD FEST: See FRI.15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.13, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

SANTA’S LUAU: A TROPICAL HOLIDAY POP-UP: See THU.14.

dance

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Spirits of Christmas past, present and future visit the miserly Mr. Scrooge in Adirondack Regional Theatre’s radio play production of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Strand Center for the Arts, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $15. Info, 518-563-1604.

VERMONT’S OWN ‘NUTCRACKER’: Vermont Ballet Theater presents a fulllength, all-ages rendition of Tchaikovsky’s holiday spectacle. The Flynn, Burlington, 2 & 7 p.m. $20.55-49. Info, 863-5966.

agriculture

MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: Dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away to live tunes by the Red Case Band and gender-neutral calling by Mary Wesley. Capital City Grange, Berlin, beginners’ lesson, 7:40 p.m.; dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.13. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.13. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.13. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.13. WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘CLOSE TO VERMEER’: A new documentary follows the curators, conservators and art historians behind the largest exhibit ever mounted of the work of Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. See calendar spotlight. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of seasonal stands overflow with produce, artisanal wares and prepared foods. Burlington Beer, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

games

BEGINNER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Waterbury Public Library game master Evan Hoffman gathers novices and veterans alike for an afternoon of virtual adventuring. Teens and adults welcome. Noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS: An all-levels session offers a weekly opportunity to relax the mind and rejuvenate the body. Wise Pines, Woodstock, 10-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 432-3126. FREE COMMUNITY STRESS RELEASE SEMINAR: Meditative movement helps attendees feel calm, steady and energized. Oom Yung Doe VT, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 309-6114.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.14. ‘GREEN MOUNTAIN NUTCRACKER’: Moving Light Dance puts a local twist on this holiday classic boasting boisterous loggers and a Maple Sugar Fairy. Barre Opera House, 7-9:30 p.m. $16-30. Info, 476-8188. HIGHLAND HOLIDAY CONCERT: Northeast Kingdom performers, including special guest Dave Mallett, get festive at a warm, joyful show. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m.; dinner, 5-7 p.m. $5-25. Info, 533-2000. HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: Neighbors shop local from a rotating roster of crafters and farmers. Kraemer & Kin, Alburgh, 3-8 p.m. Free. Info, 796-3586. HOLIDAY SALE: Calendars, cards, ornaments and books created by local artisans and writers delight shoppers. Carolyn L. Bates Photography, Burlington, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Free. Info, 238-4213. ‘HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS’: Extraordinary songwriters Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor play seasonal classics full of warmth and light. Bellows Falls Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $24-55. Info, 463-3964, ext. 1120. HONKY-TONK HOLIDAY DANCE PARTY WITH THE QUEEN CITY CUT-UPS: A cheerful blend of Cajun, country and swing music soundtracks an evening of moving and grooving. Willey Memorial Hall, Cabot, 7-9 p.m. $10-15. Info, 793-3016. INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. LUMEN: FESTIVAL OF LIGHT: A flame-filled performance by Cirque de Fuego marks the winter solstice alongside live singing, firepits, s’mores and food trucks. Bristol Town Green, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, director@ bristolcore.org. MERRIE OLDE CHRISTMAS: A HOLIDAY VARIETY SPECTACULAR: Christmas favorites from such varying sources as Bing Crosby and David Bowie ring out at this rousing, rollicking show. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, info@ mainstreetmuseum.org. NEW NORTH END HOLIDAY MARKET: Over 25 local makers

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.14. WINTER SOLSTICE CIRCLE DANCE: A potluck dinner follows candlelit movement, storytelling and ritual. Guests are invited to wear white. Bobbin Mill Community Center, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 777-4414.

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‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.13, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

lgbtq

QUEER CRAFT FAIR: Holiday shoppers celebrate creativity and LGBTQ community at a bustling bazaar featuring prints, pottery, zines and more. Old Labor Hall, Barre, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, vtqueercrafts@gmail. com.

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GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.14, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

music

AUDREY DRAKE: Angelic vocals and poetic lyrics uplift listeners. York Street Meeting House, Lyndon, 7 p.m. $15-20; free for students under 18. Info, 748-2600.

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‘DEEP MIDWINTER’: Social Band collaborates with Champlain Consort on a program of cold weather carols from the Spanish Renaissance. Richmond Free Library, 7:30-9 p.m. $18 suggested donation. Info, 355-4216. MARCIE HERNANDEZ: The Latin indie-folk singer-songwriter tugs heartstrings with her heartfelt lyrics. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222. MYRA FLYNN: The hometown indie-soul songstress throws a launch party for the vinyl edition of her first album in four years, Shadow Work. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7 p.m. $10-45. Info, 728-9878. ONION RIVER CHORUS: A program of choral works written when the composers were in their early twenties displays youthful energy and precocious virtuosity. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 7:30-9 p.m. $20. Info, 476-2541. SOPHIA SUBBAYYA VASTEK: A passionate pianist seamlessly fuses her classical training with ethereal improvisation. John SAT.16

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What’s next for your career?

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Work it out with Seven Days Jobs. Find 100+ new job postings weekly from trusted, local employers in Seven Days newspaper and online. See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

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Davis of Folk Implosion opens. Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, 8-10:30 p.m. $5-15 suggested donation. Info, info@epsilonspires.org.

theater

COURTESY OF KINO LORBER

calendar

DEC. 16 & 17 | FILM

THE GRAY SPACE FUNDRAISER PERFORMANCE: Dirt Road Theater celebrates its new home in the historic Gray Building with two evenings of performances featuring Shakespeare, songs and sketch comedy. The Gray Space, Northfield, 6 & 8 p.m. $15-50. Info, dirtroadtheater@gmail.com.

words

Studio, Montpelier, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 646-400-5882.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.13.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.13.

community

COMMUNITY CARE DAY: Volunteers hand out food, clothing and other necessities to community members in need. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.13, 1-3 p.m.

dance

Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17, 3 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. $12-15. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.13.

SUN.17

SUNDAY CLASS SERIES: NIA WITH TRACY MARTIN: Students of all ages and abilities enjoy a fun dance workout in honor of the studio’s 50th anniversary. Contemporary Dance & Fitness

When art lovers visit an exciting new exhibit at their favorite museum, they probably don’t think about the people who put the show together as much as the artists on display. The new Dutch documentary Close to Vermeer aims to change that. This film follows the historic efforts of the people behind the largest-ever exhibit of the paintings of Johannes Vermeer: from the curators at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum to the diplomats who arranged for artworks to fly in from around the world, and from the conservators who meticulously restored the centuries-old canvases to the experts using new technology to uncover the master’s techniques.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘CLOSE TO VERMEER’

GREG DELANTY: An acclaimed Irish poet reads from his new collection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. WRITERS’ WERTFREI: Authors both fledgling and published gather to share their work in a judgment-free environment. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m.noon. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

Paint of Heart

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.13. WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘CLOSE TO VERMEER’: See SAT.16.

food & drink

WINOOSKI WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Families shop for meat pies, honey, kimchi, bread and prepared foods from more local vendors at an indoor marketplace. O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, farmersmarket@downtown winooski.org.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

holidays

BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT: See FRI.15. First Congregational Church of Manchester, 4-6 p.m. $20-24; free for kids under 18. ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.13, 2 p.m. ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Perseverance Productions presents a lush musical staging of the classic Dickens tale to delight theatergoers of all ages. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 3 p.m. $30-35. Info, 775-0903. COMMUNITY CAROL SING: Community members raise their voices in song at this festive, fun event led by choir director Alan Rowe. St. Andrew’s Episcopal

Church of St. Johnsbury, 3-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

VERMONT’S OWN ‘NUTCRACKER’: See SAT.16, 1 & 6:30 p.m.

‘GREEN MOUNTAIN NUTCRACKER’: See SAT.16, 2-4:30 p.m.

‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.13, 2 p.m.

HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET: See SAT.16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13. MIDDLEBURY ‘MESSIAH’ SING: Singers and string players join in Handel’s masterpiece at this nearly 40-year-old community tradition. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 2-3:45 p.m. $1020 suggested donation. Info, 382-7493. ‘NIGHT FIRES’: See FRI.15, 4 p.m. ‘OF MYTH & MUSHROOM’: See FRI.15, 1 p.m. REINDEER RENDEZVOUS: REAL REINDEER IN WATERBURY VILLAGE: Dasher and Cupid visit the fine folks of Waterbury Village before flying off to the North Pole. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 244-1441. SANTA ON THE MARKETPLACE: See FRI.15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.14.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB: Francophones of all ages and skill levels gather over coffee for an approachable conversation. Kraemer & Kin, Alburgh, 11 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 976-3586.

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

music

‘DEEP MIDWINTER’: See SAT.16. Charlotte Congregational Church, 3-4:30 p.m. ONION RIVER CHORUS: See SAT.16, 4-5:30 p.m. SKIP GORMAN: The sought-after cowpoke balladeer impresses on the mandolin, guitar and fiddle. Westford Common Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 879-4028.

WINE & JAZZ SUNDAYS: Sixpiece band In the Pocket invite special guests to sing alongside vocalist Taryn Noelle each week. Shelburne Vineyard, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

outdoors

ANNUAL BURLINGTON WINTER BIRD COUNT: Locals join birdwatchers around the world in logging all the feathered friends they can find around town. Various Burlington locations, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, lclarfeld@gmail.com. TREE ID & LANDSCAPE HISTORY WALK: EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Naturalist Gene O. Desideraggio leads hikers through the interesting social and ecological history of the lakeside natural area. Eagle Mountain Preserve, Milton, 10 a.m.noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, info@citymarket.coop.

talks

BRECK KNAUFT & ELIOT LOTHROP: The executive director of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and the

Come Visit! THE OLD MILL CRAFT/GIFT SHOP AND THE SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY MUSEUM

GIFTS FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE GUY

2023 Snowﬂake Bentley Collection, Gifts, Pottery and more! HOLIDAY HOURS: Open Daily, 11am - 4pm 4A Red Mill Drive, Jericho

Your local one-stop shop for unique gifts for every guy on your list! 81 MERCHANTS ROW | RUTLAND, VT | 802.773.7760 SHOP ONLINE AT MCNEILANDREEDY.COM

Jerichohistoricalsociety.org SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

principal of Building Heritage discuss the restoration of the historic East Monitor Barn. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free. Info, cchsvt@gmail.com.

theater

THE GRAY SPACE FUNDRAISER PERFORMANCE: See SAT.16.

MON.18 film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.13. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.13. ‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.13.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.13.

games

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: Discounted wine by the glass fuels an evening of friendly competition featuring new and classic board games, card games and cribbage. Shelburne Vineyard, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

health & fitness

ADVANCED TAI CHI: Experienced movers build strength, improve balance and reduce stress. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@ skyrivertaichi.com. BEGINNING TAI CHI (SUN SHORT FORM): Newbies learn how gentle movement can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, 10:30-11

a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@skyrivertaichi.com. LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, chrisn@pathwaysvermont.org. YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, elizabetharms56@gmail.com.

holidays

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13.

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.14, 1-9 p.m.

words

ADDISON COUNTY WRITERS COMPANY: Poets, playwrights, novelists and memoirists of every experience level meet weekly for an MFA-style workshop. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jay@zigzaglitmag.org. WRITER TO WRITER: CHRIS MARTIN & ROWAN RIGGS: Two authors read selections from their work and discuss their craft and careers. Presented by Vermont Studio Center. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 635-2727.

TUE.19

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP:

Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

crafts

LEARN HOW TO CROCHET: Novices of all ages pick up a new skill. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

dance

MORRIS & MORE: Dancers of all abilities learn how to step, clog and even sword fight their way through medieval folk dances of all kinds. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 6 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894. SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes.

Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:309 p.m.; beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Beloved storyteller Willem Lange reads from a script used by Dickens himself, just as he has every year since 1975. Proceeds benefit the Haven TUE.19

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The Residence at Otter Creek, The Residence at Quarry Hill, and The Residence at Shelburne Bay wish you and your family a joyous holiday and happy new year!

Middlebury | 802-278-0229

S. Burlington | 802-992-8153

Shelburne | 802-231-3724

LCB Senior Living Communities: More than 25 Years of Excellence

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and other local organizations. Live stream available. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7 p.m. $10-26. Info, 229-0492. ‘A CHRISTMAS MEMORY’: “Frasier” actor Dan Butler reads Truman Capote’s 1956 autobiographical story about an unusual childhood Christmas in Alabama. Vermont Public, Colchester, 7-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 655-9451. INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13. ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: James Stewart stars in Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic about a man saved from despair by his guardian angel. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, mariah@mainstreetlanding.com.

language

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners

meet pour parler la belle langue. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.14, 1-9 p.m.

music

COMMUNITY SINGERS: A weekly choral meetup welcomes all singers to raise their voices along to traditional (and not-so-traditional) songs. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 7:30 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

seminars

SCIENCE ON TAP: Local scientists give lessons on their varying disciplines while patrons taste local beers. Burlington Beer, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, btvscienceontap@ gmail.com.

words

BANNED BOOKS TOUR: Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman hosts a reading

FAMILY FUN

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MON.18

burlington

DIY YETI PLUSHIES: No sewing skills are required at this Sasquatch crafting session. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546. 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

TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Teen Advisory Board meets over pizza to brainstorm ideas for library programming. Ages 12 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

featuring stories that have faced conservative backlash across the country. Milton Middle/High School, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 828-2226.

crafts

BOOK CLUB BUFFET ONLINE: Readers dig into To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee over lunch. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

dance

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: CÉSAR AIRA: Readers analyze four of the author’s novels over four weeks: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, Varamo, The Little Buddhist Monk and The Divorce. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.

WED.20 business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.13.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TINY TOTS STORY TIME: Tiny tykes have fun, hear stories and meet new friends with Ms. Cynthia. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

MONDAY MIXER: Little ones get energized through unstructured dancing and play. Ages 5 and under. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. STORY TIME: See THU.14, 2-2:30 p.m.

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burlington

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN!: From painting and printmaking to collage and sculpture, creative kids explore different projects and mediums. Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. ADA accessible.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.13.

WESTIE WEDNESDAYS DANCE: See WED.13.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

games

PUZZLE SWAP: Participants bring completed puzzles in a ziplock bag with an image of the puzzle and swap for a new one. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

‘FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS’: See WED.13. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 11 a.m. $12-26. Info, 382-9222.

holidays

‘GREAT WHITE SHARK 3D’: See WED.13.

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.13.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.13.

language

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See WED.13. A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.14.

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.13.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.13.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.13.

food & drink

WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: See WED.13.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. GMBA BOOK GROUP: High school-age homeschoolers discuss thoughts and themes related to this month’s book. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956. GOLDEN DOME BOOK AWARD GROUP: Homeschooled readers in grades 4 through 8 discuss the book of the month together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956. PLAYGROUP & FAMILY SUPPORT: Families with children under age 5 play and connect with others in the community. Winooski Memorial Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little ones enjoy a cozy session of reading, rhyming and singing. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. RED CLOVER AWARD BOOK GROUP: A book club for home learners in grades K through 4 discusses two nominated books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956. TODDLERTIME: Miss Alexa delights infants and toddlers ages 1 to 3 and their adult caregivers with interactive

And on the seventh day, we do not rest. Instead we bring you...

montréal

GRAND MARCHÉ DE NOËL: See THU.14, 1-9 p.m.

outdoors

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.13.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.13.

español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

TREE ID & LANDSCAPE HISTORY WALK: OAKLEDGE PARK: Naturalist Gene O. Desideraggio leads hikers through the interesting social and ecological history of one of the Queen City’s forested areas. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, info@citymarket.coop.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.13. ➆

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their

stories, songs, rhymes and more. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:159:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

stowe/smuggs

TRIP DANCE COMPANY HOLIDAY SHOWCASE: Youth dancers shine in this seasonal spectacular. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 6-7:30 p.m. $35. Info, 760-4634.

mad river valley/ waterbury

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Fans of the franchise discuss their favorite cards, games and TV episodes in this monthly activity group. Ages 6 and up. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

WED.20

burlington

ART EXPLORERS: Kids dig into art history and creative expression in this homeschooler-friendly program with an educator from Davis Studio. Ages 5 through 14. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 540-2546.

TODDLER TIME: See WED.13.

chittenden county BABYTIME: See WED.13. GAME ON: See WED.13. PLAY TIME: See WED.13. TEEN NIGHT: ‘HARRY POTTER’ MOVIE NIGHT: Fantasy fans ages 12 and up break out the popcorn for a flick in this fun franchise. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN ART CLUB: Crafty young’uns ages 12 through 18 create together. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036. TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

TWEEN BOOK CLUB: Book lovers ages 10 through 14 share their favorite recent reads at this monthly meeting. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 745-1391. K

STEAM SPACE: See WED.13.

Get the newsletter featuring notable news, arts and food stories handpicked by our editors. Sit back, relax and read up on what you may have missed. SUBSCRIBE TODAY:

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ENEWS 70

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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Education

Mentoring

Entrepreneurship

Co unity

Building a Stronger Vermont Support Mercy Connections Today

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New Nonstop Service to Florida Service to Tampa International Airport (TPA) will begin January 31, 2024 and flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO) will begin February 14, 2024 on Breeze Airways.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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GIFTS FOR EVERY

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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.

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pawsathomevt.com • 802.871.2329 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

JEWELRY AND ENAMELING CLASSES: I teach small workshops and private lessons for adults in my well-equipped personal studio. This winter, I’m offering a variety of classes using silver, in which students will learn techniques such as soldering and riveting. I’m also offering kiln-fired enamel classes. Class size is one to four students; no experience necessary. Weekends Jan.-Mar., 1- to 12-hour classes Location: Jolynn’s Workshop, Charlotte. Info: 330-599-9418, jolynnsantiago@gmail.com, jolynnsantiago.com.

astrology

language

YOUR ASTROLOGICAL MOON: Mother, Moods and Mystery: In this three-part series, explore your natal moon to gain deeper understanding of your emotional needs, including your emotional development, triggers, instincts and more. The ancient wisdom tradition of astrology offers fresh insights into your patterns, helping you develop self-acceptance and practical tools for better well-being. Wed., Jan. 10, 17 & 24, 5:30-7 p.m. Cost: $60 for all 3 classes. Location: The Wellness Collective, 875 Roosevelt Hwy., Ste. 120, Colchester. Info: Hidden Path Astrology, 802-578-3735, hiddenpathastrology@gmail.com, hiddenpathastrology.com.

ADULT LIVE SPANISH E-CLASSES: Join us for adult Spanish classes this winter, beginning to advanced, using Zoom online video conferencing. This is our 18th year! Learn from a native speaker via small group classes or individual instruction. You’ll always be participating and speaking. Note: Classes fill up fast. See our website or contact us for details. Group classes begin week of Jan. 8; private instruction avail. anytime. Location: Online. Info: 802-5851025, spanishparavos@gmail. com, spanishwaterburycenter. com.

HOLIDAY HOUSES WORKSHOP: In this workshop, we will get extra creative in decorating a holiday house. You get to decide if it will be a gingerbread or sugar cookie kit. Children must have the supervision of an adult. The ticket form includes options for plus-ones/helpers/guardians to attend without a kit. Sun., Dec. 17, 4 p.m. Cost: $60/decorator; $12 for plus-one. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com. POLISH POTATO PIEROGI WORKSHOP: In this workshop, we will learn how to make Polish pierogi just like my Babcia taught me! You’ll get the full recipe, some to eat during the class, and a package to take home and cook up that weekend or freeze for a later date. Thu., Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. Cost: $55. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm Street, Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

Mobile Veterinary Hospice & End of Life Care

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jewelry

LAYERS: A SELF-PORTRAIT WORKSHOP: This unique collage self-portrait workshop will teach you how to create a visualized self-portrait comprised of self-constructed shapes and dynamic composition using a contemporary approach. You will explore and hone your technique using materials such as paper, paint, ink, pencil, marker and glue. Ages 18-plus. Sun., Jan. 14, 11 a.m. Cost: $150. Location: The Kingdom Room, 444 S. Union St., Burlington. Info: devotion.vt@ gmail.com, sevendaystickets. com.

culinary

Paws At Home

art

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE WINTER SESSION: Join us for online or in-person adult French classes this winter. Our seven-week session starts on Jan. 8 and offers classes for participants at all levels. Please go to our website to read all about our offerings or contact Micheline. Location: Alliance Française, online or in person. Info: Micheline, education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org.

massage ABDOMINAL MASSAGE INTENSIVE: Build your abdominal bodywork tool set in addressing the root of common symptoms, taught from a Chinese medicine

perspective. You will learn to formulate your sessions to meet each client’s unique needs. Engage with students in this hands-on intensive and enjoy online access to recorded presentations and videotaped techniques. Jan. 25 & 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $360 for 2-day training w/ online materials. Location: The Wellness Collective, 875 Roosevelt Hwy., Ste. 120, Colchester. Info: Caitlin Perry, 802399-2082, coreconnectionsvt@ gmail.com, coreconnectionsvt@ gmail.com.

nature ECO-RESILIENCY GATHERING: This is a free monthly space to gather with others who are interested in exploring ecological questions, emotional elements of climate change, ideas of change, building community and creating a thriving world. Come together, share, engage and learn. Each month we center on topics related to the ecological and climate crises. Wed., Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Location: Online. Info: Ariel K. McK. Burgess, akmckb@gmail. com, sevendaystickets.com.

performing arts THEATER LAB PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP: In the six-week workshop, participants learn how to analyze a script for its greater acting potential, apply techniques from a variety of proven acting methods, and liberate body, mind and creativity in the process. For anyone who wants to have fun and for those who are serious about upping their acting chops. Tue., Jan. 16 through Feb. 20, 6:30-9 p.m. Cost: $90 for 6 weeks. Scholarships avail. Proceeds to benefit the Grange Hall Renovation Fund. Location: Grange Hall Cultural Center, 317 Howard Ave., Waterbury Center. Info: Monica Callan, 802-244-4168, info.acrossroads@gmail.com, sevendaystickets.com.

well-being PAIN MANAGEMENT CLASS: Living with chronic pain can mean much more than “toughing it out.” An experienced psychologist is offering a class to teach pain management skills and help you get back to living a more rewarding life. Tue., Jan. 9, 16, 23 & 30, 5:30-7 p.m. Cost: $200 for 4 sessions. Location: 595 Dorset St., Ste. 2, S. Burlington. Info: Judith Vanderryn, Ph.D., 802651-8999, ext. 4.

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

= TICKETED CLASS

CLASS PHOTOS + MORE INFO ONLINE SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES 9/7/23 12:05 PM

REGENERATIVE NON-SURGICAL

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Former World Cup mogul skier Dr. Kelsey Albert, has joined our team! Triple Board certified and a national & international teacher and innovator in Interventional Orthopedic Medicine, Dr. Fenton has been treating patients in Vermont for 30 years.

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November 27–December 23

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10/11/23 11:54 AM

Monday–Saturday: 9:30am–8pm | Sunday: 10am–7pm Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24: 10am–5pm 12/11/23 4:43 PM

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

11/22/23 4:40 PM

Fur-ever

Do you want to memorialize your pet in the pages of Seven Days? Visit sevendaysvt.com/petmemorials to submit your remembrance. SPONSORED BY

All sizes include a photo and your tribute. Short $30, Medium $50, Long $95

Seven Days Pet Memorials

Paws at Home Mobile Veterinary Hospice & End of Life Care

Print deadline: Thursdays at 5 p.m. Questions? petmemorials@sevendaysvt.com

Winnie • 2012-2022 To My Soul-Cat Up in Heaven It’s been a while since you’ve been gone — 2 years to be exact. And though most days, I feel okay — there are some that set me back.

Sadie Rose • 2011-2022 My Reason for Living My dearest Sadie: I love you so very much. Thanks for saving my life and for always being in my heart. I will see you on the other side. You are my first thought each morning and the last thought each night. Always in my heart. — Love, Jesse Rose

And I remember all the times I felt your velvet fur. And heard your sweet purr motor, when I walked through the door.

A relationship I treasured, right to the very end.

The bond we shared was like no other — A once-in-a-lifetime love. To you, I was your person. To me, you were my Fluff.

Until we meet again, my sweet, I’ll hold you in my heart. That way, you’ll live forever — and we’ll never be apart.

So much more than “just a cat,” You were my closest friend.

You are so missed, Winnis.

Share the story of your special friend.

Minnie • 2023-2023 She Went Too Soon — Love, L.H.

Please visit sevendaysvt.com/petmemorials or scan the QR code.

Minnie was a sweet girl who just started pointing birds and loved a good snuggle and barking at her reflection. She was tragically killed by a dangerous dog at a local doggy daycare at 5 months old. Gone but never forgotten. – Love, Beth and Jamie

deadlines DECEMBER 20 & 27 ISSUES

Per holiday tradition, Seven Days will not be published January 3, 2024. The first issue of the year will be published on January 10.

Submit your event listings early! Events taking place December 20 January 10 must be submitted no later than Tuesday, December 12, at noon at: sevendaysvt.com/postevent Deadline for classifieds, classes & jobs: Monday noon, 12/18 (in print only) sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Deadline for retail advertising: Friday noon, 12/15 802-864-5684, sales@sevendaysvt.com 74

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

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COURTESY OF KELLY SCHULZE/MOUNTAIN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

housing »

APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES

on the road »

CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES

pro services »

CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING

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APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE

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INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

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NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Humane

Zadie AGE/SEX: 7-month-old spayed female ARRIVAL DATE: November 8, 2023 SUMMARY: Sweet and adorable Zadie would love to find a family who is excited about young dog stuff like training and providing plenty of mental and physical stimulation. If you’re looking for a cuddlebug who will charm you with her antics and provide endless companionship on all your adventures, Zadie just might be the match for you!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Zadie has done well with other dogs. She can

Society of Chittenden County

DID YOU KNOW?

Dog training classes are a great resource — not just to help your dog learn but to help you learn how to communicate with your dog! From basic obedience to nose work classes, enrolling in dog training classes is great a way to engage your dog’s brain and cement your bond. Sponsored by:

sometimes be overwhelmed by dogs that are much larger than her. Zadie has no known experience with cats but may do well with a slow introduction. She has lived with children, but she may be a better fit for older children or children less likely to be overwhelmed by her energy. 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.

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

CLASSIFIEDS housing

HOUSEMATES S. BURLINGTON - RESPITE Stay w/ independent senior in her home 1 week to 1 weekend/mo. May incl. some holidays. Must pass background check. Contact Tina, 802-503-9610. WATERBURY AWAITS! Share spacious home in Waterbury Center w/ senior woman who enjoys reading, puzzles & family. Seeking some evening companionship, meal prep 4 times/week & an overnight presence. $300/mo., all incl. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs & background checks req. EHO.

WINTER/SPRING IN THE MRV Share Waitsfield home for the winter & spring seasons w/ an active 60-year-old woman. Spacious BR, private BA. Help w/ shoveling appreciated. $650/mo., all incl. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

& click on space avail. Melinda, 864-7999. SPACE FOR LEASE Join the Energy Rising team at 15 N. Main St. in Randolph. Unit 106, 1,483 sq.ft., $2,100; unit 105, 848 sq.ft., $1,200, + utils. Call 802-505-1305.

services

1,364-SQ.FT. RETAIL SPACE Camp Meade in Middlesex, near exit 9 of I-89. 3 connected rooms w/ ADA restroom. Electric incl., Rinnai propane heat by tenant. $2,730. Community, creation, collaboration. Email info@campmeade.today or call 802-496-2108.

AUTO

OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE AT MAIN STREET LANDING on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy, affordable spaces for your business. Visit mainstreetlanding.com

EDUCATION

CLASSIFIEDS KEY appt. appointment apt. apartment BA bathroom BR bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer refs. references sec. dep. security deposit W/D washer & dryer

DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY Running or not! Fast, free pickup. Maximum tax deduction. Support Patriotic Hearts. Your car donation helps veterans! 1-866-5599123. (AAN CAN)

ONLINE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN TRAINING For new students only. Financial aid avail. for those who qualify. All courses are online. Call 844-963-4157 & press 1. (AAN CAN)

ENTERTAINMENT PIANO TUNING Free in-person consultation from Sound-Signal-Power in the Burlington area. 1st tuning is half price! Get half-price tuning per referral. Info, soundsignalpower. com, 802-488-4483.

services: $12 (25 words) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

APPEAL FOR SOCIAL SECURITY Denied Social Security disability? Appeal! If you’re 50+, filed SSD & were denied, our attorneys can help. Win or pay nothing. Strong recent work history needed. Call 1-877-311-1416 to contact Steppacher Law Offices LLC. Principal office: 224 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. (AAN CAN) FIND LOWEST PRICES ON HEALTH INSURANCE Get the best rates from top companies. Call now! 866-429-3995. (AAN CAN) FREE AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES For uninsured & insured drivers. Let us show you how much you can save! Call 855-569-1909. (AAN CAN) SAVE YOUR HOME Are you behind paying your mortgage? Denied a loan modification? Threatened w/ foreclosure? Call the Homeowner’s Relief Line now for help: 855-7213269. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

master Erica. Receive link to private YouTube audio of session. Contact bella_imelda@ yahoo.com to book.

CASH FOR CANCER PATIENTS Diagnosed w/ lung cancer? You may qualify for a substantial cash award, even w/ smoking history. Call 1-888-3760595. (AAN CAN)

HOME/GARDEN

PROFESSIONAL THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE THERAPY Steamed towels/hot packs. 30 years’ experience. Gift certificates avail. Plainfield, Vt. Contact Peter Scott at 802-522-3053 or pscottmbs@gmail.com. PSYCHIC COUNSELING Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 40+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other lives, classes & more. Info, 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com. REMOTE REIKI & ORACLE $50 remote Reiki healing & intuitive oracle sessions done by Reiki

(1551) Snap On Box & Tools ONLINE AUCTION CLOSES: Monday, Dec. 18 @ 10AM

(1539) Fine Art & Household ONLINE AUCTION CLOSES: Tuesday, Dec. 18 @ 11AM

Preview: Wed., Dec. 13 - 11AM-1PM By Appt - Waterbury, VT Location 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

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

BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME Get energy-efficient windows. They will increase your home’s value & decrease your energy bills. Replace all or a few! Call 844-3352217 now to get your free, no-obligation quote. (AAN CAN) DISCOVER OXYGEN THERAPY Try Inogen portable oxygen concentrators. Free information kit. Call 866-859-0894. (AAN CAN) NEVER CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS AGAIN! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters & home from debris & leaves forever. For a free quote, call 844-947-1470. (AAN CAN) SHORT-TERM RENTAL STYLING Thoughtful, logical & creative solutions to elevate short-term rentals, allowing hosts to stay competitive & increase bookings, ratings & profi tability while

delighting & impressing guests. Visit sparkling andstill.com.

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1-866-566-1815. (AAN CAN) DARI-KOOL BULK TANK Dari-Kool 250-gallon bulk tank. It was used as a sap tank. I have the covers for the top. Asking $400 firm. Call William at 802-782-9188.

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

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)

NEW SAD THERAPY LIGHT Nature Bright BuddyLux SAD light, new in box. Too large for my space. 10K lux. You pick up in S. Burlington. $99. Call 922-0598.

MALE ENHANCEMENT PILLS Bundled network of Viagra, Cialis & Levitra alternative products for a 50-pills-for-$99 promotion. Call 888531-1192. (AAN CAN)

MISCELLANEOUS PETS BCI WALK-IN TUBS Now on sale! Be 1 of the 1st 50 callers & save $1,500. Call 844-5140123 for a free in-home consultation. (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.

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FINANCIAL/ LEGAL $10K+ IN DEBT? Be debt-free in 24-48 mos. Pay a fraction of your debt. Call National Debt Relief at 844-977-3935. (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 x115

obsessed? Find, fix and feather with Nest Notes — an e-newsletter filled with home design, Vermont real estate tips and DIY decorating inspirations. Sign up today at sevendaysvt.com/enews.

GSP PUPPIES Geman shorthaired pointer puppies, born Sep. 28. 1st shots, wormed, health certifi cates, ready to go. Come meet the gundogsvt. com crew. $1,300 each. Contact Rodger at 802-745-8599.

WANT TO BUY TOP CASH FOR OLD GUITARS 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’A ngelico & Stromberg + Gibson mandolins & banjos. Call 877-589-0747. (AAN CAN)

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. Contact Rick Belford, 864-7195, rickbelford. com.

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LEGALS »

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023 8v-hirchakbrothers121323 1

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4/13/21 4:39 PM

Show and tell. Sudoku View and post up to

Calcoku SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, fill the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

2÷

14+

13+

3÷

24x

2÷

2÷ 2÷

2÷

11+

8 4 5

5 6

1 2

5 3

9 6 8 7 2

9 3

There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES? Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

6 7

Difficulty - Hard

CALCOKU

numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

Extra! Extra!

Post & browse ads Complete the following puzzle by using theat your convenience. 6 photos per ad online.

Open 24/7/365.

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

Difficulty: Hard

No. 820

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers 6 repeated 8 3 in a2row 7 9 4 1 cannot be or column.

5 1 6 3 4 2 crossword

5 4 5 2 8 1 3 9 7 6 ANSWERS ON P.78 5 6 2★★3★ = 8HOO, BOY! 9 1 ★7★ =4CHALLENGING ★ = MODERATE 1 6 5 3 8 4 7 9 2 2 7 4 1 9 5 6 8 3 LOVE OF SOLVING ANSWERS ON P.78 » 8 3 9 6 2 7 1 5 4 7 9 6 5 3 2 8 4 1 3 4 1 7 6 8 5 2 9 5 2 8 9 4 1 3 6 7

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Legal Notices REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE, BURLINGTON VT A Request for Proposals (RFP) for Construction Management Services for a STEAM Center renovation at Champlain College is available now. Proposals from Small and Minority-Owned businesses encouraged. Proposals are due at Noon on Tuesday January 3rd, 2023. See details and RFP at champlain.edu/ construction. PROPOSED STATE RULES ===== By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members. To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible. To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231). ----Vermont Fire Service Training Council Rules. Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P048 AGENCY: Vermont Fire Service Training Council CONCISE SUMMARY: The Vermont Fire Service Training Council maintains rules pertaining to fire service training requirements, standards for

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

courses, issuance of certifications, and waivers related to the training requirements for firefighters. This rule filing makes corrections to typographical errors, clarifies the annual date by which the Council may modify recertification requirements, and eases the requirements for granting firefighter certification through reciprocity from applicants who received their certification from other states. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Michael Skaza, Chief of Training, VT Dept of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety, Vermont Fire Academy, 93 Davison Drive, Pittsford, VT 05763 Tel: 802-4832754 Fax: 802-483-2464 E-Mail: michael.skaza@ vermont.gov URL: https://firesafety.vermont.gov/ academy/vermont-fire-service-training-council. FOR COPIES: John Marcus, Vermont Fire Service Training Council, University of Vermont, 284 East Avenue, Burlington, VT 05405 Tel: 802-656-4363 E-Mail: jmarcus@uvm.edu. TOWN OF SWANTON REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR GRANT WRITING SERVICES Overview The Town of Swanton is accepting proposals for grant writing services for the proposed multigenerational community center project. Scope of Work The contracted work is to include grant research and proposals/applications for grants relevant to building and operating a multi-generational community center and also possible future projects. The Town of Swanton is seeking a grant writer or firm with a proven track record in: • Creating complex proposals from diverse funding sources. • Skills in demographic data collection and analysis. • An entrepreneurial approach to funding development. Previous experience should include: • Working in the philanthropic arena of rural areas. • Previous personal and/or professional experiences in communities with less than 10,000 people.

provide a detailed price breakdown including fees. The cost will be based on the projected hours of work provided. The contractor will invoice and be paid per application. Award The Town of Swanton plans to award the contract by January 30, 2024. The executive committee will then mutually discuss and refine the scope of work with the selected applicant and shall negotiate final conditions, compensation and performance schedule. RFP Questions and Responses All questions pertaining to the proposal must be submitted in writing via email to: Brian Savage-Town Administrator at townadmin@ swantonvermont.org Application Requirements To apply submit the following: 1) Examples of grant sources from which the applicant has successfully obtained funding (provide specific examples of grant programs, government programs agencies, or foundations, amounts and purpose grant(s). 2) An excerpt from a successful grant written by the applicant that is representative of his/her writing style. The excerpt should not exceed 2 pages and should not contain any confidential or proprietary information. 3) Schedule of proposed fees. 4) A minimum of three (3) professional references from clients for whom the applicant has successfully performed similar work. 5) Proposals must be received by 4:00 pm on January 15, 2024, in one PDF file to Brian Savage, Town Administrator, Town of Swanton at townadmin@swantonvermont.org. 6) Total proposal should not be no longer than 8 standard letter-sized pages. Proposals not meeting the criteria outlined in the RFP will not be considered. The Town of Swanton reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

Fee Schedule The fee schedule should be all-inclusive and presented on an hourly basis. Applications must

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STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION DOCKET NO. 23-ENV -00140 IN RE. HILLVIEW HEIGHTS LLC PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION APPROVAL Notice of Appeal Now Come Neighbors Bradley Holt and Jason Pelletier of 1931 Hillview Road and David Kauck of 2212 Hillview Road (“Appellants”), by and through their counsel, MSK Attorneys, and hereby appeals, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §4471 and 10 V.S.A. Ch. 220 to the Vermont Superior Court, Environmental Division, the Town of Richmond’s Development Review Board’s November 15, 2023 decision issuing final subdivision approval to Hillview Heights LLC for a 7-lot subdivision of property located at 2427 Hillview Heights Road. A copy of the DRB’s decision is attached hereto. Appellants have a right to appeal pursuant to 10 V.S.A chapter 220 as the applicants are interested persons. Appellants are neighbors to the proposed subdivision and reside in the immediate vicinity of the subdivision. They can see the proposed development and will impacted by traffic, and run-off impacts from the proposed development. Appellants participated n the Richmond proceedings. To All Interested Persons: In order to participate in this appeal, you must enter an appearance in the Vermont Environmental Court within twenty-one (21) days of receiving this Notice of Appeal. Notices of Appearance should be mailed to Jennifer Teske, Court Office Manager, Vermont Superior Court—Environmental Division, 32 Cherry Street, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401. DATED at Burlington, Vermont this 7th day of December, 2023 Respectfully submitted, MSK ATTORNEYS By: /s/ Alexander LaRosa_ Alexander LaRosa, ERN 5814 275 College Street, P.O. Box 4485 Burlington, VT 05406-4485 Phone: 802-861-7000 (x119) Fax: 802-861-7007 Email: ajlarosa@mskvt.com Attorneys for Appellants STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:23-PR-06760 In re ESTATE of Craig Chevrier NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Craig Chevrier late of Hinesburg, 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: 12/4/2023 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Laura A Carotenuto Executor/Administrator: Laura A Carotenuto, Jarrett | Hoyt, 1795 Williston Rd., Suite 125, South Burlington, Vermont, 05403 802-864-5951, gerry@vtelaw.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/13/2023 Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT PREKINDERGARTEN LOTTERY IS NOW OPEN FOR 2024-2025! The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2024-25 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week. Our school-based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS). Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2024, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery. Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program access their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program. All applications must be received by February 5, 2024, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website at: https://tinyurl.com/CVSDEarlyEd or using this QR code. Paper applications are available upon request. For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@ cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, and cognition. More information about an Early Multi-Tiered

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System of Supports is also available on the website under the Support Services tab. TOWN OF COLCHESTER PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Colchester Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 7 P.M. at the Colchester Town Offices, 781 Blakely Road, for the purpose of considering amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations. The proposed amendments are as follows: a. Modify temporary uses and structures exempt from review [§2.07-E]; b. Modify requirements for accessory buildings and add new section for accessory structures exempt from permitting [§2.09-A]; c. Align requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units with state statute [§2.09-B(1)]; d. Define permitting thresholds and requirements for heights of fences, delete duplicative text, modify exemptions, update definition [§2.10, Article 12]; e. Modify Sign Regulations [§2.18]; f. Update GD3/FBC Street Tables and add definitions [§4.03 Tables 2, 3, and 4 and Article 12]; g. Amend and restructure text pertaining to Congregate Housing Density Bonus [§9.07-D, Article 12]; h. Add new section on Temporary Certificates of Occupancy [§10.01-C, §11.04-B]; i. Remove requirement for demonstrated RV parking [§10.01-J]; j. Decrease parking requirements for Duplex and Multi-Unit Dwellings [§10.01-O, Table 10-2]; k. Remove duplicative section for landscaping screening & buffering requirements [§10.04-B]; l. Add “Emergency Shelter” as a Use and add definition [Article 12 and Table A-1]; m. Allow use 2.172, Large Equipment Sales” as a

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conditional use in the GD2 zoning district [Table A-1]; n. Change single unit and duplex residential use from Conditional use to Permitted use in the LS1 zoning district [Table A-1] o. Modify Frontage Requirements to remove dwelling unit ratio and reduce frontage requirements for each District [Table A-2]; p. Amend definition of ‘Inn” [Article 12]; q. Minor Amendments for Clarity and Consistency: i. Modify sections and definitions to change references from “Single-Family Dwelling” to “Single-Unit Dwelling,” “Two-Family Dwelling” to “Duplex,” and “Multi-Family Dwelling” to “Multi-Unit Dwelling.” Delete definitions of “Family” and “Household.” [throughout] ii. Clarify language regarding structures exempt from setback requirements [§2.05-G] iii. Update title referencing “Fire Prevention Ordinance” [§2.16] iv. Update language referencing “Sign Ordinance” [§10.13] v. Clarify language allowing extensions of Zoning Permit approvals [§11.05-A] vi. Remove Swimming Pools as an Accessory Use [Article 12] These are a summary of the proposed changes. Copies of the adopted and proposed regulations can be found at the Town Offices at 781 Blakely Road and may also be reviewed online at http:// www.colchestervt.gov. To participate in the hearing, you may 1) attend in person or 2) send written comment to the Colchester Planning Commission via USPS at the address herein or via email to Cathyann LaRose, clarose@colchestervt.gov. Colchester Planning Commission Publication date: December 13, 2023

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NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON DECEMBER 21, 2023, AT 9:00 AM Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on December 21, 2023 at 9am EST at 615 Route 7, Danby, VT 05739 (Unit D115), 681 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, VT 05151 (Units R50, R67) and 1124 Charlestown Road, Springfield, VT 05156 (Units S65, S108) and online at www. storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien Unit # 1 D115 2 R50 3 R67 4 S65 5 S108

Name Contents Leanna Snyder Household Goods Kevin Merrit Household Goods Melinda Bussino Household Goods Cynthia Colburn Household Goods Bobbie Bennett Household Goods

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE Malletts Bay Self Storage, LLC 115 Heineberg Drive, Colchester, VT 05446. Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self- storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid. Name of Occupant Storage Unit Stacy Sykas # 237. Said sales will take place on 12/15/23, beginning at 10:00am at Malletts Bay Self Storage, LLC, (MBSS, LLC) 115 Heineberg Dr., Colchester, VT 05446. Units will be opened for viewing immediately prior to auction. Sale shall be by sealed bid to the highest bidder. Contents of entire storage unit will be sold as one lot. The winning bid must remove all contents from the facility at no cost to MBSS, LLC on the day of auction. MBSS, LLC reserves the right to reject any bid lower that the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as defined by statute.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

80 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM Staff Accountant Program Assistant

Real Estate/Marketing Professional

The Vermont Historical Society seeks a part-time Program Assistant based in Montpelier. The position assists the education team in presenting school programs and with daily operations at the Vermont History Museum. Saturday work required. Bachelor’s degree and experience in education, history, museums, or related field preferred. Up to 28 hours/week. Pay starts at $17.46/hr. Full job description and details at vermonthistory.org/ career-opportunities.

S.D. Ireland Properties is looking for a real estate/marketing professional to join our team. The successful candidate must have knowledge of all aspects of real estate from lead generations to closings. Proven experience managing our digital marketing partnerships, working with our customers on custom selections as well as the ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams, including architects, vendors and other real estate professionals is required. The ability to contribute design ideas, marketing strategies for new homes and knowledge of real estate development process is a plus. This is a full time, “in house” salary-based position.

Send a cover letter and resume to eileen.corcoran@vermonthistory.org.

To apply online please visit our website at sdireland.com or simply reply to this ad. S.D. Ireland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

S.D. Ireland is family owned and operated with a reputation for excellence, innovation, and hard work. Our “can do – will do” attitude is a hallmark of our company philosophy. We offer competitive wages, great benefits, including health, dental, vision, short & long-term disability, paid time off, and 401(k) plan.

The Zero Gravity Finance department is growing! We are seeking a Staff Accountant to take responsibility for the day-to-day accounting functions, perform monthly GL reconciliations, and much more! The ideal candidate for this FT position will have two years of demonstrated, professional accounting experience and the eagerness to learn more about the craft beer industry. To learn more and to apply, visit zerogravitybeer.com/careers.

Join the Copley Lab Team At Copley Laboratory, all team members play a critical role; each opinion matters; and there is opportunity for advancement. We welcome all qualified applicants—those with many years of experience and those who are just starting their careers. We’re currently seeking:

Laboratory Supervisor Medical Lab Scientist—Night Shift

We have several exciting career opportunities available! Scan the QR code to view job descriptions & apply.

Youth Coach Youth Shelter Support Full & part-time positions

Mental Health Counselor Young Adult Navigator

Program Administrator Our Housing Advocacy Program is Growing!

For more info, visit copleyvt.org/careers or call J.T. Vize at 802-888-8329

Become a part of our Housing Advocacy team! Our Housing Advocacy program seeks a part-time, 20 hours a week, Statewide 11/16/23 9:54 AM Asylum Seekers Assistance Program (SASAP) Administrator. The 4t-Copley112223.indd 1 Administrator manages subgrants and provides support to the existing Asylum Seeker Assistance Network organizations who currently help asylum seekers gain economic independence by helping them find housing, vocational training, employment, referrals for legal support and other services that lead to long term residence and employment in Vermont. A bachelor’s The Physics Department at Saint Michael’s College invites applications for a degree in a related discipline plus three years of administrative or two-year position as a Teaching Fellow in the Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy community service experience is required. Center for the Environment starting Fall 2024. The position is not tenure-track, To apply, please visit cvoeo.org/careers to submit a cover letter but there is a possibility of conversion to tenure-track at the end of the term. and resume. We embrace the diversity of our community and This position will cover a range of undergraduate physics courses as well as staff. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to support classes for Environmental Science and Studies. The College is looking our diversity and this goal. Applicants are encouraged to include for staff cross-disciplinary undergraduate courses in Meteorology and Climate in their cover letter information about how they will further this Change, and a special interest for future courses includes climate modeling. goal. Review of applications begins immediately This position will support student-engaged activities in energy modeling and and will continue until suitable applicants are action for social impact on our campus and in collaboration with key community found. We’re one of the Best Places to Work in partners. The candidate should be prepared to demonstrate the potential to Vermont! Join us to find out why! use inclusive, experiential, and other high impact teaching practices related to the core areas of interdisciplinary work the Center stewards for our campus. CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer Complete job description, benefits, and to apply: bit.ly/3uGGPTQ.

Teaching Fellowship in Climate Modeling

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

81 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Marketing Coordinator

Finance & Research MANAGER The University of Vermont is hiring a full-time Financial and Research Manager for the Lake Champlain Sea Grant Institute. Responsibilities include developing and supporting financial administration, monitoring, and analysis; maintaining communications with PIs and financial contacts; and developing and managing research competitions.

F&W is currently seeking an experienced part-time marketing coordinator who is available 18-24 hours per week to support our marketing department. This position is hybrid with regular on-site work in our Montpelier, VT office.

Explore opportunities like:

What we are looking for:

• Experience in the real estate industry extremely beneficial. F&W understands that our people are what make our company great. We’re consultants, accountants, and real estate professionals, but moreover we are passionate about forestry. We are committed to serving our clients and communities, mixing our international perspective with a small-town community feel at all our offices. swagner@fwforestry.com.

Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years’ experience (or equivalent) in administration of complex 4t-F&WForestry121323.indd 1 program budgets; Understanding of research trends in natural resources; Proficiency with MS Word and Excel; Effective organizational and communication skills.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Seeking Live-In Home Provider

Seeking in home support for a 24-year-old young woman in her first apartment. She needs support with cooking, cleaning, and attending appointments. The individual is very sarcastic and outgoing and does well with others who share a similar sense of humor. An ideal candidate would have excellent inter-personal skills and a willingness to learn on the job. If interested, please call or text (802) 782-1588 with a summary of your experience.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

howardcenter.org • 802-488-6500

Vermont Superintendents Association The Vermont Superintendents Association (VSA) Board of Trustees is seeking highly qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the position of VSA Executive Director. Candidates should have proven leadership and administrative skills, along with a management style that is collaborative, supportive of staff and responsive to the needs of VSA members. For more information and application instructions please visit vtvsa.org or contact jwconsultvt@gmail.com.

champlain.edu/careers Scan code for more information.

12/11/23 3:49 PM

Shared Living Provider

To apply: uvmjobs.com/ postings/68624

Assistant/Associate Professor of Marketing

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Mass Communication, Business, Journalism, or a related combination of education and experience preferred.

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR Prevent Child Abuse Vermont is seeking a full time experienced Administrative Coordinator. This position requires organization, efficiency, flexibility, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Successful candidates are quick-learners, self-directed, have good attention to detail, and are skilled with using social media. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google applications, and Constant Contact a plus. Benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, IRA and paid time off. Salary commensurate with experience. PCAVT does not discriminate in the delivery of services or benefits based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. E.O.E. Please email cover letter, resume & 3 references to pcavt@pcavt.org.

OPERATIONS & HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

Maintenance Technician The Maintenance Technician will be based at Northgate Apartments a residential family community in Burlington, VT with 336 units. The Technician will be responsible for the completion of work orders, preventative maintenance, unit turnovers, janitorial, and grounds keeping. The work hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. The successful candidate will have basic knowledge of plumbing, electrical, appliance repair, carpentry, and HVAC. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills who has a strong customer service philosophy. This position includes participation in the emergency on-call service rotation and snow removal. A valid Driver’s License with access to a vehicle is required. Pay range is $22-24 per hour, DOE. Apply online: maloneyproperties.com/careers. Maloney Properties is an E.O.E. bit.ly/MaloneyMaintTech

Join our Team to nurture our shared economic prosperity, ecological health, and social connectivity for the well-being of all who live in VT. Responsible for HR, organizational development, operations, and special projects management. FT salary between $70-75k, great benefits, casual but professional hybrid work environment, and an organizational culture where people feel valued, are energized, and can support forward-thinking solutions to our economic, social and climate challenges. VSJF is an E.O.E. committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging in the workplace. Full job description: vsjf.org/about-vsjf-vermont/job-openings. Send cover letter & resume to jobs@vsjf.org by noon 1/8/24.

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12/4/23 11:15 AM

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

82 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Digital & Technical Coordinator Full Time

Year-Round

• Oversees Aquatic Maintenance Department • Assists with operational management of all aquatics facilities • Develops and coordinates daily, weekly, and seasonal reporting • Strong emphasis on safety

Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT) is looking for a Digital & Technical Coordinator to support all digital communications products, as well as analytics tracking and reporting in its Communications Program. Based in Montpelier, VT, the Coordinator will work closely with the Communications Director and Fundraising Team. Visit newildernesstrust.org/about/employment to learn more.

• $49,000 - $54,000

Massage Therapist We are looking for a part time massage therapist to join our busy wellness center. Very flexible hours, great team atmosphere, lovely clients and excellent perks. To apply send us your resume and/or a quick bio to info@bijoubluspa.com.

CITY ACCOUNTANT

annually

General tasks will include reconciliation of bank statements and other accounts, preparing for the annual audit, managing fixed assets, posting and analyzing transactions, processing payments, and regular tax and utility billing, among others. Please see the job description at stalbansvt.com/jobs for a complete list.

• 401 k

with employer match after one year

• Over 4 weeks vacation acquired in the ﬁrst year

• Resort access for you and your family

The ideal candidate will be a curious, analytical, collaborative professional with a growth mindset and excellent customer service skills. Professional accounting education or experience is required. The City of St. Albans offers a robust benefits package and a hiring range of $50,000 - $75,000 dependent on qualifications and experience.

WE’RE HIRING! Administrative Asst. Investment Desk Assoc. Compliance Asst. ONEDAYINJULY.COM/CAREERS

Cover letter/resume should be emailed to Sarah Macy, Director of Finance and Administration at s.macy@stalbansvt.com.

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12/11/23 3:13 PM

Water/Sewer Operators The Town of Essex is seeking to fill two vacancies for Water/Sewer Operators in the Water/Sewer Division of Public Works. The plan at this time is to fill these vacancies at the highest level possible. This is a full time position with Town benefits. The minimum qualifications for each level can be found in the job descriptions below. The Town welcomes candidates of all backgrounds, experience levels and skillsets to apply. The Town will provide on the job training to those who are qualified. The starting salary for this position is dependent on skills and qualifications as well as the level to which the candidate is hired. Entry level salaries for the Water/Sewer Operator Level 1 position range from $18-$21 per hour. Starting salaries for the Water/Sewer Operator Level 3 position range from $22-$27 per hour depending on the candidate’s skills and qualifications. This position requires a CDL and a Class D Water Operators License upon hire or within the first year of employment. Candidates can apply online at essexvt.bamboohr.com/jobs. If you are unable to apply online, paper applications can be picked up at 81 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452. This position has excellent health, dental, vision, retirement benefits, disability benefits, and paid leave. This position is open until filled. The Town of Essex is an equal opportunity employer.

Rhino’s hiring is hot right now! Get on 2v-OneDayinJuly121323 1 board in time for their busy season. Check out our website for all job listings, which include:

Village Trust Initiative

Director

Production 1st shift at $17.00/hr Production 3rd shift at $17.00/hr + $1.50 shift differential

Maintenance Technician II $29.50 - $33.50/hr (DOE) +$6.00 shift differential

Sanitation 2nd Shift at $17.00/hr + $1.00 shift differential

Earn some “Dough” at Rhino Foods! rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers Check out these openings and others on our career page:

12/11/23 12:29 PM

*Rhino Foods runs sex offender checks on all employees

Help support the future of Vermont's vibrant Village Centers as the VCRD Village Trust Initiative Director! The initiative will support 20 small Vermont towns in the formation and implementation of community preservation and revitalization projects. This position will oversee VCRD's portion of the initiative. Must be a team player with excellent communications skills, an eagerness to learn, a strong sense of mission in service to Vermont communities, and a strong grasp of community engagement, facilitation, and project development strategies, particularly as applicable to small, rural communities. Find job description and application information here: vtrural.org.

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Town Treasurer Collections Manager The Vermont Historical Society seeks to hire a full-time Collections Manager. The Collections Manager supports the mission of the Vermont Historical Society through the cataloging, care, preservation, and general management of the Society’s museum collections. The Collections Manager is the primary point of contact for staff, researchers, students, and the general public interested in utilizing the collections. The Collections Manager oversees all exhibit installations, loans of objects, and use of museum collections as well as conservation and appropriate storage of artifacts. Full information including complete job description is available at vermonthistory. org/career-opportunities.

The Town of Bristol is seeking an organized and motivated candidate to serve at its Town Treasurer. The 32-hour per week salaried position offers a competitive salary, benefits, flexible schedule, and opportunity to work in a vibrant community, (pop. approx. 4,000) located in the Champlain Valley in Addison County, Vermont. The Town Treasurer is responsible for keeping all of the Town’s funds, including receipt, investment, and disbursement of funds; keeping a record of taxes voted, billed, and collected; collecting delinquent taxes; collecting other funds received by the Town; and paying orders drawn on Town accounts. The Treasurer provides human resources support and manages employee benefits and payroll; supports the Water Department and Sewer Department with billing and management of accounts; works closely with auditors to annually reconcile Town accounts; adheres to internal controls; and provides support to the Recreation, Police, Public Works, Fire, Lister, and Zoning Departments, the Town Clerk, and the Town Administrator in budgeting, capital budgeting, grants management, and reporting. A detailed job description is available at bristolvt.org. Salary: $22.00 to $28.00 per hour, commensurate with experience. The position is advertised until filled. To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, resume, and three references to townadmin@bristolvt.org with Bristol Town Treasurer in the subject line or send by mail to: Bristol Town Treasurer Search, P.O. Box 249, Bristol, VT 05443 The Town of Bristol is an equal opportunity provider and employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender, or familial status.

83 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Join our team and make a positive difference in someone's life!

"Pathways came into my life and didn't stop until they found me housing, and have helped since; I have had more success with Pathways than any other organization."

Pathways Vermont's mission: to end homelessness In Vermont and provide Innovative mental health alternatives. At the core of all Pathways services and operations is a values-based philosophy that includes: • • • • •

Individual Choice and Self-Determination Trauma Informed Harm Reduction

Current Open Positions Include: Service Coordinator roles in Chittenden, Franklin, Windham and Windsor Counties.

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Peer Support

Community Integration Respect, Warmth, and Compassion

If you share these values, truly want to make a difference in your community and be a part of the solution, come Join the Pathways family! We have multiple programs, where your personal skill· set will be valued! Hiring bonuses up to $3000 for quaUfylng positions!

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Seven Days is seeking an

12/11/23 2:54 PM

Art Editor! What is that, exactly? The art editor independently manages the visual art content in print and online. Responsibilities may include

Design & Construction Project Manager Central Plant Coordinator/Campus BMS Engineer Mental Health Counselor / Peer Counseling Coordinator Director, Advancing Completion through Engagement Program For position details and application process, visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select “View Current Openings” SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

Accounting & Human Resources Manager Summary: We are an organic, non-GMO leader in the seed, farming and food community who cares deeply about the need to grow nutrient rich, healthy food for the world and each other. We are seeking an Accounting and Human Resources Manager to join our leadership team and collaborate with staff and partners to help us succeed. This role has responsibility for accounting, business and financial analysis, and identifying opportunities to improve financial management, as well as basic HR functions. Desired traits/skills: • Accounting degree and 5 years of accounting experience • Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles • Ability to analyze financial data and prepare financial reports, statements and projections To apply: Email resume, cover letter, and references to jobs@ highmowingseeds.com. Please put the job title in the subject line. No phone calls, please. High Mowing Organic Seeds believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. E.O.E.

• Planning weekly and long-term visual art coverage • Writing or assigning visual art content • Editing other visual art writers • Compiling/editing user-submitted art listings in a timely manner • Communicating and coordinating with other editors The ideal candidate: •Enjoys seeing and thinking about art and talking with artists •Has baseline knowledge of Vermont’s art communities •Can write creatively and critically for a general reader •Has access to a car and can visit art venues around the state •Is organized and detail-oriented •Can meet weekly deadlines without fail

Traveling to art venues is a must, but other duties can be handled remotely. This may be a part- or full-time position, depending on how your qualifications fit our needs. Please specify your availability in your application. Think you and this career move are the perfect fit? Then email a résumé, cover letter and three writing samples (links to published works are fine) to arteditorjob@sevendaysvt.com by January 12. Seven Days is an E.O.E. No phone calls or drop-ins, please.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

84 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist Disaster Recovery Case Managers Our Housing Advocacy Program is Growing! Become a part of our Housing Advocacy team! Our Housing Advocacy program seeks two (2) full-time Disaster Recovery Case Managers. These case managers work directly with individuals and families affected by disasters. They assess and identify unmet needs, coordinate with state and federal programs, local agencies and volunteer groups to assist with recovery efforts, and advocate on behalf of individuals being served to ensure accessibility to all resources for which they are eligible. To apply, please visit cvoeo.org/careers to submit a cover letter and resume. We embrace the diversity of our community and staff. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity and this goal. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until suitable applicants are found. We’re one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why! CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Are you an expert in digital mapping with a passion for protecting and caring for Vermont’s lands?

Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. in Burlington, VT seeks multiple positions for:

We are seeking a GIS Specialist who can: • Use their technical expertise to advance land conservation.

(E849) and (E865):

• Integrate different data streams to create GIS maps. • Collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners to deliver excellent customer service. This is a Limited-Service position, authorized for 24 months. Learn more and apply at vlt.org/employment. The position will remain open until January 12, 2024. The annual starting salary is $55,918 based on 40 hours per week, plus a cafeteria allowance of $24,344 to pay for health care and other benefits. The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We honor and invite people of all backgrounds and life experiences to apply.

• Residential Counselors & Mental Health Workers Vermont Studio Center in Johnson is seeking to fill two positions.

• Clinical & Therapeutic Case Managers

Program Coordinator

• Teachers and Special Educators

The VSC program coordinator provides support to general organization, program operations, and maintenance of VSC shops, studio spaces, and equipment. Working directly with the program directors, hosting select evening events, aiding with residents and staff using VSC equipment and studio spaces, maintaining/supervising VSC shop spaces and materials on weekends and during program director vacation hours. The starting salary is $25/hour.

Sous Chef - Full time, 40 hours. Vermont Studio Center Sous Chef provides nourishing meals for up to 40 artists-in-residence, staff and guests at our campus in Johnson, VT. The Sous Chef will work closely with the Head Chef to develop daily menus and assist with general kitchen operations. The Sous Chef will be the second in command to the Head Chef. This position will be responsible for preparing well– balanced, innovative meals while maintaining a safe and sanitary work environment. To apply: Please send a resumé and cover letter to Melanie Clark, jobs@vermonstudiocenter.org, 802-635-2727. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For full job descriptions: vermontstudiocenter.org/jobs-at-vsc.

Perform power supply integrity (PSI) analysis on ASIC designs. Telecommuting is permitted. Please send resume with reference Job Code# to: Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. Attn. HR 1.2.519 5488 Marvell Lane Santa Clara, CA 95054 Or email: Opportunities@ marvell.com. E.O.E.

WE’RE HIRING! • Program Clinicians

Part time and on-site. Permanent and non-exempt.

SENIOR ENGINEER

• Classroom Counselors & One to One Staff • Family Engagement Specialists • Administrative NFI VT is a private, nonprofit, specialized service agency within the Vermont statewide mental health system. We are a healing organization, grounded in trauma-informed care. We are hiring for Full-Time, Part-Time and Relief positions. Regular positions of 30+ hours per week are eligible for our generous benefits package, which includes competitive salary and tuition reimbursement. Please apply online at: nfivermont. org/careers. NFI VT is an E.O.E. and, as such, prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, ethnic background, disability, or other non-work-related personal trait or characteristic to the extent protected by law.

Operating Room Registered Nurse (RN) NORTHEASTERN VERMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL (NVRH): Fun, fabulous, welloiled, OR team seeks RN who’s organized, a great communicator, has excellent attention to detail - and can tell a joke or two! NVRH offers competitive wages, loan repayment, generous paid time off, career advancement and an exceptional benefits package. But, we also offer a thriving, fast-paced environment with co-workers who bring the fun, while providing exceptional care of our patients. Apply now and experience the rewards of being in a supportive and thriving environment at NVRH.

NVRH.ORG/CAREERS.

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

85 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Youth Job Coach Why not have a job you love? Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance plan with premium as low as $13 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous sign on bonus and so much more. And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for five years running. Great jobs in management, supported employment and direct support at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities.

MULTIPLE POSITIONS OPEN! Are you our next Guest Services Representative? Buyer? Produce Associate?

Job Highlight – Youth Job Coach: Work in our award-winning supported employment program and provide supports to students at their place of employment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate reliability, strong communication skills, and the ability to solve problems effectively and professionally. This full-time position offers a comprehensive training and benefits package, an opportunity to work in an innovative program, and to make a positive impact on the life of another.

Scan to see all open positions!

$20/hour, benefits package and $1,000 sign on bonus at six months. Send resume to staff@ccs-vt.org. See all our positions at ccs-vt.org/current-openings.

STAFF CURATED BENEFITS

Make a career making a difference and apply today!

Apply online at healthylivingmarket.com/careers 4t-HealthyLiving020922 1

Sales Associates Massage Envy Williston is looking for sales associates available to start right away! Help is needed this holiday season. Short term and long term positions available.

Business Office Associate/Manager Full-Time Business Office Associate or Business Office Manager Position The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) seeks a skilled, self-motivated administrative and financial professional for a full-time position. Responsibilities for this position can be adapted to your preferences with opportunities for growth. Our workplace is friendly and flexible with hybrid schedules available. Up to two evening meetings per month may be expected. This position does require some in-office hours. The successful applicant must bring enthusiasm, flexibility, creativity, and a positive attitude. Applicants should be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel. Familiarity with QuickBooks or similar software is highly preferable. We are willing to train the right person.

Call 802-879-0888 to inquire or email your resume to clinic0779@ massageenvy.com.

The position includes the following duties and responsibilities: accounts receivable, accounts payable, benefits administration, payroll administration, taking meeting minutes, maintaining office supplies and general office operations. Candidates with experience in human resources, grant administration, or contracting are encouraged to apply and could be considered for the manager role. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for the Business Office Associate/Finance Assistant position is $36,400 to $52,000. The salary range for the Business Office Manager is $52,000 to $72,800. The CCRPC is proud to offer an excellent and comprehensive benefit package.

Counter Position

Please email your letter of interest and resume (with references and contact information) to Forest Cohen, Senior Business Manager at: fcohen@ccrpcvt. org. We will begin reviewing applications on December 18, 2023. The position will remain open until filled. Please see full job description and more details at crpcvt.org/about-us/news/jobs. The CCRPC believes a diverse and culturally proficient staff are pivotal to creating an environment free of inequities. Accordingly, the CCRPC seeks to provide our membership and community with services enhanced by the professional contributions of culturally competent representatives of different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, physical ability, age, and sexual orientation. Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse community populations and expected to strengthen such capacity if hired.

Full or Part time counter position at Richmond Home Supply. Experience with building materials and general hardware, knowledge of household repairs for the do-ityourself customer helpful. Some lifting and standing. Compensation based on experience. Apply in Person: 99 Railroad St. Richmond, VT 05477

2/2/22 4:58 PM

The CCRPC is an equal opportunity employer. At the CCRPC, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Employer Account Representative Do you love working with local businesses? Come join our Chittenden County Workforce Development Team! HireAbility Vermont is looking for an Employer Account Representative to provide business outreach and employer engagement for the HireAbility Vermont Initiative within the State of Vermont’s Agency of Human Services. The Employer Account Representative will serve as a liaison between area service agencies and local/regional employers to develop relationships that will lead to employment opportunities for job candidates. The Employer Account Representative will work with employers to identify job openings and to promote the hiring of HireAbility Vermont candidates. Typical job duties would include: • Developing relationships with employers • Facilitation of the local HireAbility Workforce Partners Team • Development of workshops and presentations for employers and job candidates • Labor market analysis • Maintenance of our Salesforce CRM system to track outreach activities For more information, and to apply, please visit: careers.vermont.gov/job/Burlington-EmployerAccount-Representative-VT-05401/1102438100. Learn more about us and our work: hireabilityvt.com.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

86 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Finance Director

POST YOUR JOBS AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB

Multiple Positions Mosaic is hiring a full time Office Operations Manager and a part time Development Associate. Please visit mosaic-vt.org/about for more information.

Help us protect, care for, and connect people to the home we share using your love of numbers.

PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS)

Ideal candidates will advance our fiscal health through:

FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

• Sound budgeting, controls, and financial management • Strong attention to detail • Proven ability to lead, serve internal partners, and collaborate

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7/6/21 3:47 PM

Vermont Poverty Law Fellowship

The annual starting salary is $87,639, plus a generous benefits package to cover the cost of health insurance. We also provide 6 weeks of time off plus sick time, a 403(b) retirement plan with match, and flexible/hybrid work schedules. Learn more and apply at vlt.org/employment. The position will remain open until January 12, 2024. The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We honor and invite people of all backgrounds and life experiences to apply.

The Vermont Bar Foundation and the Vermont Access to Justice Coalition are pleased to announce the availability of a full time, two-year Vermont Poverty Law Fellowship (VPLF) beginning in August 2024. The VPLF program is looking for outstanding graduating law students and other new lawyers to help expand the reach of Vermont’s existing legal services providers. Funding for salary and benefits will be provided by the Vermont Bar Foundation.

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER...

The 2024 Fellowship will focus on the need for temporary and permanent housing for the soaring population of people experiencing homelessness in Vermont. The Fellow will represent people experiencing homelessness in emergency housing assistance appeals and address related legal issues that prevent them from meeting their basic needs and obtaining permanent housing. Vermont has one of the highest rates of substance use in the country, and people with substance use disorder disproportionately fill the ranks of people experiencing homelessness. The Fellow will work on strategies for addressing the housing needs for this growing population. Finally, the Fellow will use what they learn from individual representation of people experiencing homelessness to advocate for systemic change, consistent with our mission to advance the law to eliminate the injustice of poverty.

When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package.

EXECUTIVE ASSIS TANT– BARRE The Vermont Department of Libraries is seeking a motivated, detail oriented Executive Assistant for a full-time exempt position. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment. The position location is on-site at our Barre, VT office. For more information, contact Janette Shaffer at Janette.shaffer@vermont.gov. Department: Libraries. Location: Barre. Status: Full Time – Exempt. Job ID #48796. Application Deadline: December 17, 2023.

Fellows will work with the Vermont Bar Foundation and the Vermont Bar Association to publicize Fellowship activities, contribute to the public awareness of legal services in Vermont, and participate in the Vermont Bar Association’s continuing legal education activities.

P U B L I C H E A LT H C O M M U N I C A T I O N S P E C I A L I S T I & I I – BURLINGTON

Are you an emerging professional interested in public health communication? We are looking for a well-organized person skilled at communicating clearly who wants to ensure Vermonters live, work and play in healthy environments. The Environmental Health Division has programs covering topics such as climate change, radon, lead, drinking water and cyanobacteria. This position involves writing, editing, website analytics, campaign evaluation, graphic design, social media and emergency response. For more information, contact Amelia Bacon at amelia. bacon@vermont.gov. Department: Health. Location: Currently in Burlington (but moving to Waterbury). Status: Full Time – Limited Service. Job ID #48820 level I #48885 level II. Application Deadline: December 19, 2023.

Applicants must have excellent written and oral skills. Experience in public interest law, civil rights law, or legal services is required. Applicants must be recent law school graduates or graduating law students and should be licensed to practice law in Vermont or committed to obtaining licensure before the fellowship begins. Applicants must have a personal vehicle and some in-state travel will be required. Salary will be $62,800 with additional salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Compensation also includes four weeks paid vacation, and excellent fringe benefits. The position will be in-person, with the option of working remotely up to 3 days per week.

P U B L I C H E A LT H N U T R I T I O N I S T – B U R L I N G T O N Looking for a bright, energetic, reliable person to work in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Expertise in nutrition for women, infants, and children, and comfort using Motivational Interviewing in a culturally competent way are a plus. We are committed to building and maintaining a multicultural and diverse workforce which reflects the populations we are dedicated to serving. For more information, contact Alexandra Duquette at Alexandra.Duquette@ vermont.gov. Department: Health. Location: Burlington. Status: Full Time. Job ID #48445. Application Deadline: December 25, 2023.

The deadline to apply is December 26, 2023 by 12pm EST. Visit our website at vtlegalaid.org/vermont-poverty-law-fellow for complete application instructions. We are an equal opportunity employer. Please see our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/commitment-diversity-inclusion. VLA invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how their unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and inclusive perspective of our staff and our legal services practice. Please contact us if you require accommodation with respect to the application or interview process. 10v-VTLegalAid120623.indd 1

Learn more at :

careers.vermont.gov

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer

12/4/23 12:43 PM 6t-VTDeptHumanResources121323 1

12/8/23 4:29 PM

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

87 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Master Level Social Workers, Therapists and Mental Health Counselors

Restorative Community Connections Coordinator The Essex Community Justice Center (ECJC) is recruiting for a full-time, benefited Restorative Community Connections Coordinator. The primary responsibilities of this position include: • Providing support to people reentering their communities from incarceration in Chittenden County • Co-coordination & staffing of the Circles of Support & Accountability Program (CoSA) in Chittenden County • Recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers for the CoSA program • Coordinate a Community Conflict Assistance Program collaboratively with the Burlington CJC • Provide outreach, information and support to victims of crime The Restorative Community Connections Coordinator position requires a flexible schedule allowing for some evening/weekend hours. Training, education, course work and/or lived experience in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, domestic and sexual violence, trauma, poverty, crime, and other challenges is desirable, as well as knowledge of local resources. We are looking for someone who is great at working with all kinds of people, has experience in program coordination, enjoys working collaboratively, is passionate about restorative justice, has a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and has strong communication skills and boundaries. The Essex Community Justice Center is committed to equity, and inclusion, recognizing and respecting that diverse perspectives and experiences are valuable to our team and essential to our public service. BIPOC, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ applicants, and people from other underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Applicants with a criminal record need to be at least one year past the completion of their supervision/sentence in order to be considered. The minimum starting salary for this position will be $26.00 per hour. Applications can be submitted online at: essexvt.bamboohr.com/ careers. An application will not be considered unless it is accompanied by a cover letter outlining why you think you are a good candidate for the position and three references. This position is open until filled. Full job description: https://bit.ly/ECJCcoord. Full summary of benefits: https://bit.ly/ECJCbenefits. Town of Essex is an equal opportunity employer.

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NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

Same Day Access (SDA) Clinician: (Bradford VT & Randolph VT) Seeking full time Clinicians to provide immediate access to clinical assessments and referrals for mental health and substance use treatment for individuals, couples, children and families. This position will involve gathering information from a wide array of referral sources, scheduling and conducting clinical assessments, designing treatment plans, and conducting therapy, supportive counseling, emergency services, case management and referrals to other services as indicated. SDA Clinicians serve a pivotal role on our centralized access team, and interface with all other agency programs to assist clients in linking to needed resources. A licensable Master's degree is required; we provide clinical supervision towards licensure. LICSW, LCMHC, LADC or LMFT licensure is preferred.

Adult Psychotherapist: (Bradford VT) We have full and part time openings for dynamic and clinically talented Therapists & Social Workers to provide assessments, individual / group psychotherapy, case consultation, case management and referrals to adults with mental health and co-occurring disorders. Services are provided in a team-based environment with case managers, nursing & emergency staff. A licensable Master's degree is required; we provide clinical supervision towards licensure. LICSW, LCMHC, LADC or LMFT licensure is preferred.

Child & Family Psychotherapist: (Bradford VT & Randolph VT) Seeking a full time Master level Psychotherapist to provide assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning, group / individual / family therapy, and case management to children and adolescents. We offer a team-based environment with case managers who provide community-based work and emergency staff to assist with crisis

situations. We provide regular group and individual supervision to all clinical staff, including supervision towards licensure, and robust training & continuing education opportunities. A licensable Master's degree is required; VT licensure is preferred.

School Based Clinicians: (White River Valley SU) We have opportunities for full time Master Level Clinicians to work in a school-based setting in the WRVSU region. Our School Based Clinicians provide assessments, therapy and supports to youth experiencing emotional and/or behavioral difficulties in school and/or at home. School Based Clinicians strive to strengthen school engagement and success, as well as improving student's emotional well-being and relationships. A Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related human services field is required; experience with children in an educational setting is preferred. Licensure is preferred, but not required. This position follows the school calendar with minimal work during the summer months. Come join our team! We are an organization that is true to our mission, while taking care of our staff. If you are a team player with strong communication and organizational skills and you are looking for an Agency who values you, your family and your career goals, then we want to meet you! We offer a highly competitive salary, affordable Medical/Dental/Vision benefits, a retirement match, health savings account match, disability benefits, life insurance, and a comprehensive Wellness program to support selfcare including a generous time off package. We offer flexible schedules and support clinical staff in achieving licensure, as well as tuition assistance and loan repayment for college. Apply now by sending your resume to HR@claramartin.org, and visit claramartin.org for more information about our organization.

12/4/23 2:59 PM

New, local, scam-free jobs posted every day! jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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8/18/20 1:26 PM

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

88 DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Zoning Administrator

Experienced Residential Carpenter

Bristol, Vermont

The Town of Bristol is seeking a part-time Zoning Administrator. Duties include implementing the Town of Bristol’s Unified Development Regulations, which includes zoning and subdivision bylaws, floodplain regulations, and a downtown design review district; administering the permit and development review process; enforcement actions for non-compliance; assistance to the public; and assistance to the Planning Commission, Development Review Board, Downtown Review Commission and other Town officials. The position entails evening meetings and flexible daytime work at the Town Office, estimated at approximately 20 hours per week. A detailed job description is available at bristolvt.org. Salary: $21.00 to $25.00 per hour, commensurate with experience. The position is advertised until filled. To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, resume, and three references to townadmin@bristolvt.org with Bristol Zoning Administrator in the subject line or send by mail to: Bristol Zoning Administrator Search P.O. Box 249, Bristol, VT 05443 The Town of Bristol is an equal opportunity provider and employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender, or familial status.

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. Student Recruitment, Retention, and Events Specialist - College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) Dean’s Office - #S4798PO The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) Dean’s Office is seeking a Student Recruitment, Retention, and Events Specialist to join the Student Services team in support of enrollment management goals. Responsibilities will include coordination of college events such as orientation, open houses, academic information sessions, alumni weekend events, transfer student activities and other student-related events. The successful candidate will also provide technical and administrative support for the development and implementation of undergraduate summer programs and internship opportunities throughout the year. This position will work with the CALS Associate Dean to coordinate Commencement events, communications with Admissions, and Faculty Committee elections. Additional duties will be the coordination of branded promotional materials for student recruitment and retention, daily interaction with students and families, supporting the CALS student services email account, and administrative support to the Associate Dean and Associate Director.

Silver Maple Construction is seeking a fulltime, benefits-eligible Carpenter focused on high-level customer service & the execution of exceptional quality work.Here at Silver Maple, we want everyone to feel valued and do the work that inspires you while maintaining a work-life balance better than many others in this field. • Competitive Weekly Pay (based on experience) • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans • Paid Parental Leave • 15 days Paid Time Off

• 401k Retirement Plan + Company Match • Commuter + Mileage Reimbursement • Life, Disability And Accident Insurance & MORE!

To learn more, please visit silvermapleconstruction.com, email hr@silvermapleconstruction.com, or call our office at (802) 989-7677.

Senior Land Use Planner CVRPC is looking for a full-time senior planner with broad life experience, the capacity to pair municipal needs with available resources, and a commitment to helping Central Vermont plan for the future. The strongest candidates will have a minimum of 5 years of experience working in a planning-related field, including zoning, development, and town and city planning and have experience drafting planning and regulatory documents (such as comprehensive plans and land use Seven Days regulations). This planner will work with municipalities to identify and achieve goals in addressing the housing shortage, protecting Issue:their 12/13 forests, water and farmlands, adapting to climate change, mitigating Due: 12/11 by 11am flood impacts, and revitalizing village centers. Exceptional organizational Size: 3.83” xskills 5.25” and communication are a must.

Cost: $476.85 (with 1 week online)

A review of applications will begin January 2, 2024. For more details about this position and how to apply please visit our web site centralvtplanning.org.

Bachelor’s degree and one to three years related experience, or equivalent combination, required. Effective interpersonal, communication, editing and proofreading skills, event planning experience, as well as strong organizational skills a must. Proficient in word processing, spreadsheet required. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion required. A background check is required for this position. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until suitable candidates are found. 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.

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• 7 Paid Holidays

12/11/23 12:33 PM

(802) 862-7662

DELIVERY DRIVERS WANTED We are currently accepting applications for both part time and full time positions. We have several different shifts available. Feel free to stop in to our office at 54 Echo Place, Suite #1, Williston, VT 05495 and fill out an application. You can also apply online via our website at shipvds.com or email Ian Pomerville directly at ian@shipvds.com.

Finance Director BROC Community Action serving Rutland and Bennington Counties works to create prosperity for all. We provide hope, opportunity, and a path forward out of crisis or poverty, so our neighbors and community thrive. BROC Community Action seeks an experienced finance or accounting professional to serve as our Finance Director. The position will direct and oversee the financial activities of the organization including preparation of the annual budget, preparation of financial reports, oversee audits, create financial forecasts, and monitor and evaluate the activities of all assigned financial and administrative functions. This role supervises a team of 3 staff members and works closely with BROC Community Action’s CEO, leadership team and Program Managers. We are seeking a candidate with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or a related field and 5 years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired. Candidates should have strong supervisory and leadership skills with the ability to develop and communicate the mission, vision, and goals of BROC Community Action. Candidates should have effective verbal and written communication skills, excellent analytical & organizational skills. We offer an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, generous time off, a retirement plan and life insurance. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the mission and excellence of our organization. Please visit http://broc.org to learn more. Submit a cover letter with salary requirements, and resume to TDonahue@broc.org. BROC Community Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.77) CROSSWORD (P.77)

fun stuff HARRY BLISS

“You notice how no one ever criticizes spring?” JEN SORENSEN

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

fun stuff RACHEL LINDSAY

WANT MORE FUN STUFF? 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.

Click here for more games!

NEW EVERY DAY:

Guess today’s 5-letter word. Hint: It’s in the news! 90

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL DECEMBER 14-20

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun died over 3,300 years ago. When his mournful entourage placed him in his tomb, the treasures they left included a pot of honey, which was meant to sweeten his travels in the afterlife. In the early 20th century, archaeologists excavated the ancient site. They dared to sample the honey, finding it as tasty and fresh as if it had just been made. Amazingly, this same longevity is a characteristic of most honey. I propose we use this as a metaphor for your life. What old resources or experiences from your past might be as pure and nurturing as they were originally? And how could they be of value now?

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped from enslavement on a plantation in Maryland. She could have enjoyed her new freedom in peace but instead resolved to liberate others. During 13 bold forays into enemy territory, she rescued 70 enslaved people and ushered them to safety. She testified that she relied on her dreams and visions to help her carry out her heroic acts. They revealed to her the best escape routes to take, the best times to proceed and information about how to avoid the fiendish “slave catchers.” In alignment with astrological omens, I invite you to be like Tubman and seek practical guidance from your dreams in the coming weeks — to solve problems or seek bliss.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Jack Nicholson has often played mavericks and antiheroes in his movies. His life away from the silver screen has also been less than steady and predictable. For example, he has fathered six children with five different women. His fellow actor Carrie Fisher said Jack was “fun because he doesn’t make sense.” A person with casual knowledge of astrology might be surprised that Nicholson is a Taurus. Your tribe isn’t typically renowned for high eccentricity. But in his natal chart, Nicholson has the brash planet Uranus near his sun in Taurus, indicating he’s quirky. Aside from that, I have known plenty of Tauruses whose commitment to being uniquely themselves makes them idiosyncratic. These themes will be in play for you during the coming weeks. (PS: Taurus musician David Byrne starred in the concert film Stop Making Sense.) GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): The platitude

says that if life gives us lemons, we should make lemonade. I’ve got a variation on this theme. Consider the Neva River in northwestern Russia. It freezes every winter. During the frigid months of 1739-1740, empress Anna Ioannovna ordered her workers to cut huge blocks of ice and use them to construct a magnificent palace on the riverbank. She filled the place with furniture and art, making it a hub of festivities celebrating Russia’s triumph over the Ottoman Empire. I bring these themes to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will have substantial redemptive power. Whether you make lemonade from lemons or a palace from a frozen river is up to you.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): “If the world were

merely seductive, that would be easy,” Cancerian author E.B. White wrote. “If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” According to my astrological analysis, your fate in recent weeks has been more challenging than seductive. You’ve been pressed to work on dilemmas and make adjustments more than you might like. But this rhythm is about to change. Up ahead, life is seductive, welcom-

ing and appealing. Are you prepared to drop any unconscious attachment you have to your interesting discomfort so you can smoothly make the transition to more ease?

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): I want to prepare you for the delights of the coming days. I want to make sure you are fully alert for them and primed to appreciate them. So I give you the thoughts of Leo psychologist Carl Jung. “It is important to have a secret, a premonition of things unknown,” he said. “We must sense that we live in a mysterious world — that things happen and can be experienced that remain inexplicable; that not everything can be anticipated; that the unexpected and incredible belong in this world. Only then is life whole.” VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Have you taken a refreshing break lately? Maybe even a soothing sabbatical? Have you treated yourself to a respite from the gritty grind? If not, please do so soon. And while you are recharging your psychic batteries, I ask you to give your fantasy life ample room to wander wildly and freely. In my astrological opinion, your imagination needs to be fed and fed with gourmet food for thought. For the sake of your soul’s health, I hope you dream up fantastic, unruly, even outrageous possibilities. LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): My Uncle Ned advised me, “The best gift you can compel your ego to accept is to make it your servant instead of your master.” An early Buddhist teacher sounded a related theme when she told me, “The best things in life are most likely to come your way if you periodically shed all hope and practice being completely empty.” The girlfriend I had when I was 23 confided, “You may get more enjoyment from the witty ways I confound you if you don’t try to understand them.” I offer these three ideas to you, Libra, because you’re in a phase when the moral of your story is that there is no apparent moral to your story — at least until you surrender your notions of what the moral of your story is. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I believe you Scorpios are the zodiac sign mostly likely to benefit from being empathetic. By that I

mean you have substantial power to thrive by reading other people’s moods and feelings. You are often able to figure out angles that enable you to gather what you want while helping others to gather what they want. You are potentially a genius at doing what’s best for everyone and getting paid and rewarded for it. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, this knack of yours will soon be operating at peak levels.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Screenwriter John Patrick Shanley writes, “Life holds its miracles, good erupting from darkness chief among them.” I predict a comparable miracle for you, Capricorn, though I suspect it will arise out of confusion or inertia rather than darkness. My advice: Don’t be so bogged down in the muddle that you miss the signs that a great awakening is nigh. Start rehearsing how you will feel when deliverance arrives. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Before

he reached the height of fame as a novelist, Aquarian Charles Dickens experienced financial instability. When he was 31, the situation got desperate, and he resolved to take extreme measures. For six weeks, beginning in October 1843, he obsessively worked on writing the story A Christmas Carol. It was published on December 19 and sold out in a few days. Within a year, 13 editions were released. Dickens’ economic worries were over. Dear Aquarius, I think the near future will be a favorable time for you, too, to take dramatic, focused action to fix a problem you’re having.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Many religious people believe God can hear their prayers and intervene in worldly affairs. Other religious folks think God can hear their prayers but may not intervene. Then there are the nonreligious folks who don’t believe in God and think praying is useless. Wherever you might be on the spectrum, Pisces, I’m pleased to reveal that you will have extra access to support and benefaction in the coming weeks — whether that’s from God, fate, nature or other humans. So seek out blessings and assistance with alacrity. Be receptive to all potential helpers, even unlikely ones.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking... CLASSY, WARM, INTELLIGENT, NICE-LOOKING LADY Seeking a warm, intelligent, active, health-conscious, reasonably attractive man (70 to 80) with whom to share my beautiful home on the lake. Of course, dating relationship and love must come first! AnnieL, 75, seeking: M, l LANDSLIDE “To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” Song true to me: “Landslide.” Gentle. Sensitive. Strong image. Protective softer side. Enduring strength. Determined. Tender. Don’t let myself be pushed too far. Nonconformist. Prefer to have someone special by my side. Landslide, 59, seeking: M, l KIND, GARDENER, CURIOUS, CREATIVE, ACTIVE I love the Vermont outdoors. Spend my time with family and friends, gardening, creating, cross-country skiing, swimming, kayaking, walking my dogs, playing tennis and molding clay. I live intentionally and have a healthy, active lifestyle. I am hoping to share experiences with new friends and have good conversations. Lovesdogs, 66, seeking: M, l NOT SO DESPERATELY SEEKING Fat, funny, farty (sixtysomething) femme seeks same in a man. Must be clean, clever and kind. CatsANDdogs, 67, seeking: M

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W = Women M = Men TW = Trans women TM = Trans men Q = Genderqueer people NBP = Nonbinary people NC = Gender nonconformists Cp = Couples Gp = Groups

STARTING OVER Honest, loyal, sensitive, loving. I’ve been divorced 16 years, most of that alone. Looking to get back in the dating scene. Finding my soulmate would be a bonus! Not looking for casual sex/ hookup. I don’t tolerate lies. I’m going to be an open book; I expect the same. If you aren’t into BBW, then I’m not for you. poeticbabs, 54, seeking: M, l THIS COULD BE FUN?! Seeking a cocaptain for my zombie apocalypse fight club (crap, I just broke the first rule of zombie apocalypse fight club!). Training strategies include hiking, swimming, eating well, wining and whining about work, baking (or anything that lets me replace existential dread with frosting), and hopefully doing our part to support our community where we can. Who’s with me?! Thiscouldbefunoratleastafunnystory, 48, seeking: M, l ENTHUSIASTIC SCIENTIST AND NPR LOVER New(ish) to Vermont and love it! Am a research scientist studying shelter dogs, dog rehoming, etc. My research’s purpose is to use science to improve dog welfare. I care deeply about my work! Lover of black licorice, neatly made beds and witty banter. Very much appreciate great conversations, reliability and consistent communication. I have a strict no-hiking policy! Seeking LTR. Dog_scientist_in_VT, 40, seeking: M, l UPBEAT, CARING, KIND Raised on a farm, I’ve lived in Germany, Scotland and New York City. I’m an artist, life coach with a PhD and love to learn. I enjoy hiking, walking, being in nature and dancing to anything with a groove. Friends say I’m thoughtful, kind, calm (I don’t always feel that way!). I care for myself physically, psychologically and spirituality and spend time volunteering. Psyche, 75, seeking: M, l ADVENTUROUS WANDERER, TRUSTWORTHY LISTENER I love storytelling and always try to write down my magnificent dreams. A psychic once said, “Who is that red-bearded Scandinavian warrior standing behind you?” and I knew him well, my brave protector on this road less traveled by. Have you read John M. Gottman? Would you like a balanced relationship based on passion, commitment, courage, adventure? Me, too. seabreezes, 72, seeking: M, l LIVING LIFE HUMBLY AND LOVINGLY Would love to share what life has taught me through experiences. Traveled a lot and now like to go on long drives around Vermont hills. Looking for another soul in a physical form to laugh, eat, hike, swim, hold hands and watch the sunrise. Ahh285, 55, seeking: M, W, l LAID-BACK, OLD-SCHOOL I am a loving, caring, honest and dependable woman. I care about family and old and new friends. I would do what I can to help others. I believe in God. Looking for someone of the same, plus kind and gentle, to be someone my family would also like. sunshineCarol, 75, seeking: M, l

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

DATE MY MOM! Originally from Chicago, lived in Santa Fe for a stint and owned a ski lodge in the ’70s in Waitsfield. She loves homecooked meals and trying new recipes. Not a fan of exercise, conservatives or early mornings. Super fun to be around. “I can’t believe I’m the same age as old people!” Cora, 82, seeking: M, l HONEST, KIND, FUNNY, ADVENTUROUS, CURIOUS I’m comfortable being on my own but want to share adventures and experiences with that special someone. I love to hear people’s stories; I’ve been told I’m a good listener. I’m looking for someone who is kind, likes to laugh and loves experiencing new things; ideally starting off as a friendship that grows to a deeper and more caring relationship. Friendlysoul, 67, seeking: M, l CLASSICAL MUSIC/ATHLETE Mellow, low maintenance, self-sufficient. Love sunshine and warmth. Enjoy reading, walking, sailing, kayaking, swimming. (Gold medalist in Vermont and Tucson Senior Games.) Like to watch Netflix and PBS “Masterpiece” mysteries. My family and friends are tops with me. Thrifting is fun. Museums and history. Recumbent around BTV nowadays. Wish for a kind, cultured, good-humored man. Choralmusic83, 83, seeking: M, l LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR ALL I am very active and young for my age. You’ll usually find me outdoors, in my flower garden or with my horse. Lived in Essex for many years before moving to Utah in 2008. Retired now but work temporary jobs and in stables where I am usually with my horse. Have a dachshund and cat. Have always loved Vermont. equus, 72, seeking: M, l OPTIMISTIC, DRIVEN, BUBBLY BABE Smiles, affectionate, hardworking, passionate, emotionally intelligent. Wants to find the love of her life. You: good head on your shoulders, know what you want, motivated, emotionally intelligent and want a future with a really cute girl with a pretty smile. An affinity for old farmhouses will get you extra brownie points! Battlebeautyfarmhouse, 33, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking... FRIEND FOR CULTURE, COOKING, MORE Quick wit, info omnivore, biz experience and creative, rugged individualist, chef, handyman. Lifelong award winner in “other” category. N3Kxplorer, 64, seeking: W, l QUIET GAMER/STONER SEEKS COMPANY! Just putting myself out there. I’m looking for solid companionship, nothing complicated. I tend to shop when I’m bored. Hope you cook! I just pay my bills and sit on my PS5. That being said, I love to go out and find fun activities still left in this nature-based state! You can bring me outside ... during the summer. Doober2023, 33, seeking: W, TW, NBP, l

COMING BACK TO LIFE Awakening from suspended animation after a disastrous relationship. Usually outdoors growing vegetables or working on pollinator habitat. Retired from the USPS and financially secure. Lead a modest, frugal lifestyle. Would like someone to travel and explore with. I’m looking for a woman who is financially secure, compassionate and happy with herself. A supportive, nurturing person and would like the same in return. SleeplessInSouthHero47, 76, seeking: W, l OPEN BI GUY Looking for a FWB. Can be kinky with the right guy. Like some quiet time, relaxing and getting to have a good time. Very open but can also be a control guy, too. Biguy24, 50, seeking: M, TM, l

READY FOR NEW ADVENTURES Open-minded, physically active, hopeful, sensuous when it’s right person. Music, talk, discovery. Light a fire with honesty. Don’t hold in what needs to be let out. Patience. Music sets the tone. Let’s meet and bring something real to both our lives. Tall in shape. Have my full head of hair and a full mindset. Liambill222, 55, seeking: W, l SEXY OLDER GUY DESIRES FRIENDS I am a retired engineer/manager looking to meet some new friends. Moved back to Vermont four years ago. I hope to meet someone and meet regularly for casual and hot times together. I am 69, white, with gray hair, in decent condition and fairly good-looking. Photoman506, 68, seeking: M, TW

MAN WITH DOG FOR LOVE Shy, soft-spoken, mutable man. Heartfocused. Feeling centered. Alive and haunted. Lover of chores and work. Into ritual. Sensitive, subtle, woke to the karmic light. Quiet. The best things in life are shared. Looking for a dynamic partner in love. A lady Justice. Where we respect and honor the tender, delicate threads that weave us together. Mysticworks, 35, seeking: W, l

NICE GUY Hello, I’m a recent widower looking for a nice woman to get to spend time with and get to know. Thank you. duck, 80, seeking: W

SOFT-SPOKEN, HUMOROUS OLD SOUL Do you like to laugh and be goofy, or would describe yourself as having “gremlin” energy? Then maybe I can get some laughs out of you with bad dad jokes and puns. Or maybe talk about something more intellectual/ philosophical? I like to be authentic and not put on airs, and I’d prefer you do, too! Meat_and_Mince, 31, seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

MINX AND BOY NAMED SUE I am just this guy, ya know, although I am searching for a certain Minx with a golden voice and a gleam in her eye. Lost touch ages ago and would love to reconnect. If you know her, please pass on the message. Oh, and Phoenix says hi and misses you, too. GRIMSTOCK, 51, seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l OUTGOING, FUNNY, ATHLETIC, COMPASSIONATE, ROMANTIC Down-to-earth, funny, outgoing, compassionate, romantic, athletic, warm guy. Looking for fun, sweet lady to enjoy life’s adventures. Someone who enjoys a healthy lifestyle, nature and animals, and doing things on the spur of the moment to enjoy life and all it has to offer. Biker56, 67, seeking: W, l SEEKING BENEFICIAL FUN Calm, no-drama man wanting FWB with down-to-earth woman. I am respectful, kind and very grounded. Seeking a woman for dalliances with slenderto-average-looking man. I am curious, open-minded, a good listener with a healthy sense of humor. I’m attracted to intellect, kindheartedness, curiosity, compassion and enlightenment. Reply to this ad and receive a free complimentary massage. Thunderbolt, 50, seeking: W, l KINDNESS, LAUGHTER, FAMILY AND FRIENDS Wanting to share life is good; adventures and paths less traveled. Have gathered together a simple life filled with passionate pursuits; always aware they can become deeper in meaning with a cherished companion. I believe that wisdom and understanding are more noble than knowledge and reason. Hoping for company walking and stumbling through life and loving. Empathy is a beginning and ending. AbrahamGryphon, 56, seeking: W, Cp, l

VERY SUBMISSIVE Honestly looking for a FWB relationship with a dominant man, woman or couple. I’m very submissive and like to please. Michel, 60, seeking: M, W, Cp, Gp, l

RECENTLY RELOCATED, ADVENTUROUS, FREE SPIRIT I’m a gorgeous, white, 100 percent passable trans lady who is 57 and could pass as 30 — yes, 30! I long for love, laughter and romance, along with loving nature. I want a man who’s all man, rugged, handsome, well built but prefers a woman like myself. It’s as simple as that. We meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. Sammijo, 58, seeking: M, l

GENDER NONCONFORMISTS

seeking...

PLAYMATE WANTED, CROSS-DRESSER I love to dress, and I am looking for someone who can accept that side of me. I love the outdoors and fish and hunt. Love cars. paula69269, 73, seeking: W, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking... TRANSFEMININE PERSON LOOKING FOR FUN! Open-minded person with a good sense of humor seeks same for exploring. Hoping to meet someone who loves me for who I am. VTPyzon, 62, seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp

COUPLES seeking... 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, 43, seeking: M, W, Q, Cp 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, 67, seeking: M, TM, NC, Cp, l

i SPY

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

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WRITE! RIGHT? I spied you in my yard, restocking my wood pile. I don’t tell you thank you enough. Keep writing, my friend. Your words are good ones. When: Sunday, December 3, 2023. Where: South Suburbington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915896 HEALTHY LIVING You complimented my bag, and you seemed very sweet. IDK if you were just interested in fabric and stitching, but your words really brightened my day. When: Sunday, December 3, 2023. Where: Healthy Living. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915895 BIG POTATOES, 11/25, SHELBURNE MARKET 2 p.m. Regarding your produce, I said, “Them’s some big potatoes!” and we shared a moment of amusement. I liked you and wished to talk with you. You: black sweatshirt, white and red lettering, straw basket, white GMC truck. I waved when you brought your cart back and picked up a Seven Days. You waved back. Please write to me! When: Saturday, November 25, 2023. Where: Shelburne Market. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915894 TAKE ME INTO CUSTODY To the beautiful police officer who T-boned my car that night: I wish I got your badge number (I guess I can check the insurance papers)! The only whiplash I felt was when you came up to my window asking me if I was OK. Maybe after the claims, we could grab a bite to eat When: Friday, November 24, 2023. Where: Route 7. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915893 RE: TRUCK AROUND TOWN If it is my “truck” you are talking about, it is definitely unique. It fits me! Stop me next time and have a chat! When: Friday, December 1, 2023. Where: on the sidewalk. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915892

CURLY GIRL, OP Beautiful, curly red-haired girl: Noticed you sitting at the bar sipping on your drink. I think your boyfriend is a pool player there. I just have to say you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I lust from a distance. PS: Cute overalls. You: woman. Me: thunderbolted. When: Sunday, November 26, 2023. Where: OP bar. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915891 SPICY MERMAID UNDER THE STARS Seen wandering the woods. Your dirty blond hair and stunning smile had me from the first moment I saw you. Vibes for days I have received from you. Crossing paths many times over different lifetimes and timelines. You saw right through me from the first moment we met. If you know, you know. If not, so be it! When: Monday, December 25, 2023. Where: Calais. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915890 MIDDLEBURY CO-OP LOOK-ALIKE You: brother from another mother of my now-ex boyfriend. Me: shameless middle-aged woman, unapologetic about my type (charming, Italian). A little more conversation? When: Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Where: Middlebury co-op. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915889 TOOK MY PICTURE AT KRU We were sitting by a window, and you took a picture of me. I lost your email address somehow! Please get in touch. When: Monday, November 27, 2023. Where: Kru Coffee shop. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915888 ATTRACTIVE, ACTIVE TRACEY ON MATCH! Let’s ski! And hike and travel and paddle. We have lots in common, though I haven’t been to Croatia yet. Please say hello. Drinks or coffee or stroll? When: Monday, November 27, 2023. Where: scrolling through match.com. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915887

Ask REVEREND 

H P. When: Monday, November 27, 2023. Where: G. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915886 TRUCK AROUND TOWN I see you driving around town in your very unique truck. Sometimes we wave, since we already sort of know each other. I’d like to get to know you better. When: Monday, September 25, 2023. Where: central Vermont. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915885 VIVID PINK HAIR, BURLINGTON BOUND With neon pink hair and your starry black yoga pants, you strode toward gray-haired me and my son at the bus stop Saturday morning. You said hello. It was friendly. Perhaps that’s all it was, and that’s fine. Nevertheless, I’d like to know about you, and so, maybe coffee and a brisk winter walk? When: Saturday, November 25, 2023. Where: Middlebury College link bus stop. You: Woman. Me: Trans woman. #915884 ST. ALBANS STORE, SEPTEMBER 2022 You were chatting with a guy at Mac’s Quik Stop. I had to cross in between to get food, then came to stand next to you. You looked me up and down and said “Hi!” in a really flirtatious way. I’ve never felt energy like that from anyone, and I’d love to give you my number at the very least. When: Thursday, September 1, 2022. Where: St. Albans. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915883 HANNAFORD ICE CREAM AISLE REPLY Besides my love of ice cream, I read past issues and finally saw your iSpy. TBH, I thought it might be someone else. Cherry Garcia is one of my favorites any time of year. (Why do people stop in winter? Do they still put ice in drinks?) Even if now restocked, happy to take you up on your offer. When: Friday, September 8, 2023. Where: ice cream aisle, Hannaford, North Avenue. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915882 UVM MEDICAL CENTER, WEDNESDAY, 11/22 You: total bombshell babe who drove me home and gave me snacks. Me: dark, curly hair, drooling in my hospital bed (anesthesia). I’d love to buy you a drink. I was too shy to ask if you’re married. If so, hopefully Sean doesn’t mind if I take you out. P.S. Check this box if you like “Moesha” [ ]. When: Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Where: post-op, UVM Medical Center. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915881

Dear Noelle Hauser,

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

I’m single, childless by choice, and I don’t have family nearby — other than my two dogs and a cat. A good friend of mine has invited me to spend Christmas Day at her house. She’s married and has three young kids. I’ve been there for other occasions, and it’s usually complete chaos — mostly because the children are out of control. I think she feels bad for me, but I’m really looking forward to having a relaxing day. How do I tell her I’d rather stay home with my pets than spend time with her obnoxious offspring?

Noelle Hauser

(WOMAN, 38)

GAS STATION IN BENNINGTON, 11/18 It was early and cold. Winter hat on; going to work maybe? You grabbed coffee. I was pumping gas in a green sweatshirt. You were cute. When: Saturday, November 18, 2023. Where: Bennington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915880

BENT NAILS BAND CRUSH You were behind the drum set. I was in the audience, watching you more than any of the other band members. I wanted to say something during the break in your set but couldn’t think of how to start. I should have just said I think you’re hot! Wanna play music together sometime? When: Friday, November 10, 2023. Where: Bent Nails Bistro. You: Gender nonconformist. Me: Woman. #915874

THE MISSING MINX I am searching for a certain Minx with a golden voice and a gleam in her eye. Lost touch ages ago and would love to reconnect. If you know her, please pass on the message. Oh, and Phoenix says hi and misses you, too. When: Thursday, April 4, 2019. Where: singing the most amazing version of “A Boy Named Sue” I ever heard. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915879

CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE MARKET Chicken and cranberry wrap, two root beers. We chatted about how expensive lunch was, stopped by my PU. You had a beautiful smile and great personality. You were wearing jeans and a mauve vest, driving a black Ford. I’m interested. You? When: Sunday, November 5, 2023. Where: Cambridge. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915873

MISSED OPPORTUNITY, WILLISTON LIQUIDATION CENTER End of July. Ran into each other and chatted some. I was the idiot with dreads who failed to give you my contact info and have regretted it since. You were beautiful and bubbly with a lock of your own. A lifestyle thing, you know. I would love to finish the conversation we started. When: Monday, July 31, 2023. Where: Williston Liquidation Center. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915878 YELLOW JEANS, CUTE PINK HAT You were waiting for your coffee. I was standing in line. I was wearing a black coat and blue hat with a white key. You had a purple suitcase. We made eye contact, and you smiled at me. I was head-bobbing to “Turn the Beat Around.” My heart turned upside down. Meet at Dunkin’? When: Saturday, November 11, 2023. Where: Dunkin’ on Pearl Street, Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915877 LUNCHTIME AT KESTREL, MAPLE STREET Working at my laptop, corner table, B/W scarf. Smiling at your warm eyes and voice while you lunched with your friend. Asked about your sandwiches; should have asked for your number! When: Monday, November 13, 2023. Where: Kestrel Coffee. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915876 TRADER JOE’S GROUND CHICKEN I was looking over the meat section. You asked me if I had tried ground chicken before. I said no. You said it was different. I took a chance on the ground chicken. I said if I didn’t like it, you’d hear me hollering from Waterbury! No complaints; it was good! When: Saturday, November 11, 2023. Where: Trader Joe’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915875

I’m usually all for being 100 percent honest, but in this case a teensy twist of the truth is in order. No parent wants to hear that their kids are keeping a friend from visiting, and you don’t want to hurt your pal’s feelings — especially around the holidays. There’s no need to make up a story about having other plans. If she were to find out, that could dump a sack of coal on your friendship.

KNIGHT NURSE To Will (?) from Halloweekend. You had me at “I made my own chain mail.” My friend got the wrong number, and now I’m on a quest to find you. With your knightly sense of humor, I’m pretty sure our conversations will be “shielded” from boredom. Reply to this if you’re ready to “medieval” up our connection! When: Saturday, October 28, 2023. Where: Monkey House. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915872 RUNNER ON NORTH AVE. I spy a handsome runner most weekdays around noon. You’re fit, tall, with short hair (à la Jason Statham) and a goatee, usually running with sunglasses. I often pass you in my car and haven’t had the nerve to stop and chat yet. Want to go for a run together and see where the path takes us? When: Thursday, October 26, 2023. Where: North Ave., Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915871 HOTS FOR COTS Overheard you telling your friend you were applying for a job at COTS in Burlington. Nothing more attractive than becoming part of the solution! When: Thursday, October 26, 2023. Where: Burlington waterfront. You: Couple. Me: Man. #915870 SAMIRA, LOST YOUR INFO Samira, we were disconnected. Please reestablish contact. — Massage Man. When: Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Where: online. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915869

Spending a quiet Christmas at home with your fuzzy family is a totally valid thing to do. So when you decline her invitation, just be sure to make it about yourself and not the kids. Let her know that while you appreciate the offer, you’re excited to take a well-deserved day of self-care and cozy time with your pets. And that’s that. If you’d like to spend some festive time with your friend, suggest getting together to celebrate the holiday when it’s just the two of you. Perhaps you could invite her to your house for a little break from the chaos. For a mother of three young children, that may be a real Christmas miracle. Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

I’m a female in my 60s seeking a male, 57 to 73. I’m a very outgoing lady. I like to be treated like a queen! I want a man who likes to get out and about and do things together. Honest, kind, adventurous. #L1706 Seeking kinky individuals. Deviant desires? Yes, please! Only raunchiness needed. Have perverted tales? Hot confessions? Anything goes! No judgment. I only want your forbidden fantasies, openminded. I dare you to shock me. Replies upon request. Not looking to hook up. #L1707

I’m a male “man” seeking a female. I am a 68-y/o man seeking a woman for friendship and companionship. Age appropriate. Would like to play and spend time together. #L1713 I’m a GWM looking for some man-to-man interaction in Rutland County. Age/race not important; just be you. Call/ text. #L1712 I’m a 72-y/o man seeking a woman for friendship and companionship. Age not important. Looking for a woman who is satisfied with one special man in her life and young at heart. #L1710

55 M — tall, educated, wannabe hippie geek who’s into science fiction, creative writing and autumn in Vermont — desires to make the acquaintance of a sophisticated, demure, down-to-earth female comrade between the ages of 50 and 64 for intense discussions and companionship. #L1711 64-y/o GWM seeking new friendships with other GMs. (This is not an ad looking for sex!) Seeking in-depth conversations and sincere and real connections. Caring and fun-loving describe myself. Looking forward to hearing from you! #L1709

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LETTERS: Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number. MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters

PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check

(made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

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!

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 13-20, 2023

I’m a 64-y/o male seeking Sammijo, 59. I am a lifelong Vermonter. I am a sugar maker and retired. I like to hunt and fish and go for rides. I have a dog and a cat. No internet. #L1704

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. I’m imagining a sacred sex club dedicated to magnifying our collective orgasms to focus energetic healing to our beloved Gaia and speed transformational ascension in humanity. Goddess, 52, seeking cocreators. Desire to join? Send love letters to Gaia now. #L1703 I’m a 60s bi male seeking 60s to 70s guys for M-to-M fun. Easygoing. In the NEK. #L1699

I’m a GM looking for fun. Nice guy likes everything. Age/race not important. Also interested in a three-way. Any M/M or bi couples out there? Call/text. Rutland County. #L1700

70s sensual couple seeking other couples who enjoy convivial get-togethers over wine and fun conversation to see what possibilities of sensual pleasures might develop between us. BTV meetup? In Vermont through January, then off to follow the sun. #L1701

I’m a 43-y/o SWM seeking a 20- to 50- y/o F. My Juliet, I will be your Romeo. I am 6’1, 220 pounds with baby blue eyes that will melt your soul. Tattooed up and built for fun. Are you my baby girl? I can’t wait to love you. Write me, Angel. #L1705

I’m a class of ’84 SMC graduate seeking a true connection. I’m a local resident. Tall, attractive man who loves to swim, walk and go slow. Nondemanding, optimistic and smiling. Like to meet you. Closeness and trust are most important. #L1698

I’m a 72-y/o M who admires very mature women. I find myself sexually attracted to these ladies of distinction. I would love to meet one in her upper 70s or 80s. #L1696 I’m a very unique lady who’s seeking a gentleman. Very passionate, honest, loyal, humble. I love to garden, read, listen to music and watch a good movie. Love to walk in the beautiful nature and earth, as well. Hoping to meet a man with the same likes. #L1693 I’m a 79-y/o woman seeking a man, 70-plus y/o. Want companionship as well as a friend. Willing to stay home or travel — whichever you want. Want to help anyone who needs it. #L1691 I’m a 73-y/o woman seeking a man, 68 to 78. I am a Christian woman (look younger than I am) wanting a male companion to just live life with. Conversation, movies, dinners in or out. Someone to enjoy life with again. #L1695

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below:

Required confidential info:

(OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

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seeking a____________________________________________ ___________ AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)

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_______________________________________________________ MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402 OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

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