Seven Days, May 5, 2021 by Seven Days

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VE RMO NT ’S IN DEPE NDEN T VO IC E MAY 5-12, 2021 VOL.26 NO.31 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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Gilded Age Burlington’s property reassessment has set record-high values. What’s the cost to residents? BY SASHA GOLDSTE IN & COU RTN E Y L AMD IN, PAGE 2 6

MAY 2021 BECOMING A DOULA DURING THE PANDEMIC

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LEGISLATIVE DISAPPROVAL Vermont towns buck state oversight

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STUDENTS PROTEST SEXUAL ASSAULTS

emoji that CHURCH VACANCY

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington has lost four priests from other countries because of visa issues. The diocese will shuffle priests around to cover for them.

UNMASKED

Student demonstrators in front of UVM’s Waterman Building

Thousands of University of Vermont students staged a mass walkout on Monday afternoon and marched through campus to protest the school’s handling of sexual assault allegations. The immense crowd formed on the lawn of the Redstone Campus around noon and weaved its way toward the Waterman Building, where students took over the front steps to share their own stories of sexual assault and slam the administration for failing to protect them. “I have heard countless ‘me toos’ shouted into the dark because our university doesn’t give a damn about what their students are going through or the safety of their students,” UVM senior and event co-organizer Syd Ovitt, 21, said into a megaphone. “That should not have to fall on any one person — that should fall on the university. It is their job to keep us safe. And it is their job to hold students accountable.” The demonstration was sparked by an April 26 Instagram post from UVM junior Athena Hendrick, who uses they/them pronouns. Their post, which has been liked more than 3,000 times, described how the university responded after they reported being raped by another student in February 2020. According to Hendrick, UVM’s Title IX office took more than three weeks to respond to their initial report, and the

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investigation was then delayed when the pandemic sent students home. The investigation finally began in April 2020 and concluded four months later, Hendrick wrote, finding that there was “not enough evidence.” Hendrick’s decision to publicly share their experience inspired dozens of other UVM students to come forward with stories of sexual violence last week. Some have posted on their own social media accounts, while others have contributed to an Instagram account called @shareyourstoryuvm. Created in the wake of Hendrick’s post, it has garnered more than 2,700 followers. This was the second time in the academic year that UVM has come under fire for its handling of a Title IX investigation. Last fall, UVM swimmer Kendall Ware accused the university of pressuring her into resolving her complaint about a men’s basketball player whom she accused of raping her. Addressing the crowd, Hendrick related a range of emotions: fear that so many others on campus have had similar experiences, anger that more hasn’t been done to help them and gratitude for Monday’s strong showing. “We are here because we love ourselves and we value ourselves,” Hendrick said. “We’re here because we love survivors.” Read Colin Flanders’ full story on sevendaysvt.com.

COURTESY OF JENNY ROOKE

New guidance from Vermont means masks are no longer required outdoors, as long as people can socially distance and aren’t in a crowd. No mask tans!

BY A NEEDLE

Vermont is at the top nationally in vaccination rate per capita. A shot in the arm for morale.

NONTENURED

The president of Champlain College, on the job for less than a year, will leave the post soon. Graduating early?

TOPFIVE

Online Now

Burlington’s property reassessment has set record-high values. What’s the cost to residents? B Y SA SHA GOL D ST EIN & COURTNEY L AM DIN, PAG E 2 6 COVER IMAGE MATT MIGNANELLI • COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN

NEWS & POLITICS 11

FEATURES 34

CULTURE 46

From the Deputy Publisher

Plant Magic

Muscle Memory

Finding the Thread

World-Class Act

Sunflowers and hemp could reduce lead in Burlington soil

Nanny State?

Vermont municipalities want more leeway to make their own rules, with less legislative oversight

Newly opened Junction Fiber Mill turns sheep farmers’ wool into yarn

Flash Point

Toxic firefighting foam complicates effort to phase out “forever chemicals”

In her new graphic novel, The Secret to SUPPORTED BY: Superhuman Strength, Vermont cartoonist Alison Bechdel documents her lifelong obsession with fitness. Eva visited Alison at her home near Bolton to hear about the book and see some of her cartoon panels come to life.

Book review: The Secret to SuperHuman Strength, Alison Bechdel Vermont Symphony Orchestra and fans bid farewell to beloved conductor Jaime Laredo

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Retired UVM professor recalls his time as a Jew fighting for civil rights in Mississippi

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LOOKING FORWARD

ONGOING

Taking Shape Vermont artist Lian Brehm is a sculptor, but instead of shaping clay or stone, she transforms paper pulp into 3D organic forms. Brehm’s work, along with that of artists Martha Elmes, Carolyn Guest and James FraseWhite, is on display at the Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery as part of the exhibition “4 Visions: Paper as a Medium.”

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPI L E D BY KRISTEN RAVIN

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SATURDAY 8

FRIDAY 7-FRIDAY 14

GARDEN VARIETY

Step Up So you’re not a runner. That doesn’t have to stop you from participating in the Virtual Fun Run to benefit the McClure Miller Respite House, an inpatient hospice facility in Colchester. Individuals and teams can jog, bike, jump rope or do any activity that promotes health and wellness, then share their achievements on social media.

Cacti and veggies and rosemary, oh my! Folks looking to spruce up indoor and outdoor spaces find a wide variety of horticultural offerings at the Pride Center of VT’s TransPlants Plant Sale. Shoppers browse houseplants, vegetable and herb starts, and seed packets as the Champlain Shoregasms and Ronnie Russell provide live tunes in the Pride Center’s Burlington parking lot. Funds raised support the center’s Transgender Program.

LEARN MORE AT UVMHOMEHEALTH.ORG.

FRIDAY 7

Trail Work A through-hiker is someone who has hiked a long-distance trail from end to end. Experienced Long Trail through-hikers share their hard-earned knowledge during the Long Trail End-to-Ender’s Panel, hosted by the Green Mountain Club. Speakers in this online discussion and Q&A help hopeful hikers prepare with tips on food, equipment and planning. LEARN MORE AT GREENMOUNTAINCLUB.ORG.

SUNDAY 9

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Pull Your Weight Looking for a special way to celebrate your family’s matriarch this Mother’s Day? Consider spending the holiday at the Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, where moms get free admission for Draft Animal Day. Visitors at this working dairy farm marvel at the sheer strength as teamsters and their trained horses, steers and oxen demonstrate plowing techniques. Treat your loved one to Mexican fare from the Trail Break Taps + Tacos food truck and a refreshing beverage in the beer garden. LEARN MORE AT BILLINGSFARM.ORG.

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Tale of Two Countries The sixth annual Stowe Jewish Film Festival features four motion pictures illuminating the theme “A Virtual Tour of Modern-Day Israel.” The fest commences with an online showing of the 2016 documentary Mekonen: The Journey of an African Jew. This emotional movie follows Israeli Defense Forces commander Mekonen Abebe as he visits Ethiopia to explore his roots. LEARN MORE AT SPRUCEPEAKARTS.ORG.

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WEDNESDAY 12

With Honors Writer Paisley Rekdal has accolades to spare. The Utah poet laureate has received Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships and two Pushcart Prizes, among other honors. Fellow writers and lit lovers can listen in as the celebrated poet and essayist gives a virtual reading next Wednesday, hosted by Johnson’s Vermont Studio Center. LEARN MORE AT VERMONTSTUDIOCENTER.ORG.

THIS IS A SAMPLING OF VERMONT’S IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS. BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/EVENTS. SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

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FROM THE DEPUTY PUBLISHER

Mom Life

My kids have two moms, but only one of us gets gifts on Mother’s Day. My wife, Ann-Elise, laid claim to that holiday after giving birth to our son, Graham, 15 years ago. He and his sister, Ivy, call me Aimo, pronounced “eye-mo.” I chose that kind-of-random Scandinavian moniker, along with the date of Aimo’s Day: March 4th, the only day of the year that’s a command. On Sunday, May 9, our household will celebrate Ann-Elise. I’m fine with that. I think parents, whatever their gender, deserve a special day all to themselves, especially this year. Parenting through a pandemic has had its own special challenges. As a group, mothers arguably have had the toughest time this past year. The Center for American Progress reported that in September 2020, when kids returned to school — many of them remotely — four times as many women as men left the workforce. Both Seven Days and our monthly parenting publication, Kids VT, have documented the consequences of this gender imbalance, most recently in the March 10 Seven Days cover story, “Mother Load: A Year in the Life of Three Single Moms in Vermont.” The annual Mom & Baby Issue of Kids VT, which you’ll find inside this week’s Seven Days, has a more hopeful tone. It’s filled with advice, tips and reflections from local parents who’ve made it through turbulent times — starting with Eliana Castro, pictured on the cover with daughter Adelaide Galloway. Castro, now an associate professor of secondary education at the University of Vermont, found out she was pregnant while finishing her PhD program at Michigan State University. She and her fiancé, James Galloway, moved to Vermont last July and got married in August; Adelaide arrived days later. “I went from Ms. to Mrs. to Dr. to Mom in literally four days,” Castro told Kids VT contributor Cat Cutillo. “Saturday we got married. Monday I defended my dissertation. And then Tuesday she was born. Those were the wildest four days of our lives.” Also in Kids VT, managing editor Alison Novak — who covers K-12 education for Seven Days — recalls coming down with swine flu while pregnant with her now-11-year-old son. In “Vermont Visionaries,” Cutillo profiles 91-year-old Theresa Tomasi of Williston, a former social worker and director of Lund, who, as a single mom, adopted 27 children over the years. She might deserve her very own holiday. And Corey Grenier, marketing and events director for Kids VT and Seven Days, shares her experience as a type A mom-to-be feeling utterly overwhelmed by baby gear recommendations. Spoiler alert: She made a spreadsheet. Grenier, an event planner extraordinaire If you like what we do and can afford to help whose job has been completely disrupted by pay for it, become a Seven Days Super Reader! COVID-19, articulates one of this era’s most Look for the “Give Now” buttons at the top of important lessons in her essay: “This past year sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your has taught me that there will always be things address and contact info to: that are out of your control and you just have to SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 deal with them the best you can.” BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164 You don’t have to be a mom to empathize For more information on making a financial with that sentiment. MAY 2021

BECOMING A DOULA DURING THE PANDEMIC

A MOM-TO-BE CONTEMPLATES BABY GEAR

MOTHER TO MANY THERESA TOMASI

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE!

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

FAIR GAME

OPEN SEASON ON VERMONT POLITICS BY DAVE GRAM

Disparities Debate Is racism to blame for statistical lags? Wake up!

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

TIM NEWCOMB

hen Vermont Senate Minority Leader RANDY BROCK (R-Franklin), who is Black, spoke last Thursday to fellow senators, his words may have been music to some people’s ears, but he appeared to be out of tune with the majority of his fellow lawmakers. Brock and colleagues had just heard a speech by Sen. RUTH HARDY (D-Addison) seeking support for H.210, “An act relating to addressing disparities and promoting equity in the health care system.” Hardy, who is white, told the Senate the state’s health care system fails to meet the needs of all Vermonters, especially those who have been discriminated against in the past. To right that wrong, she said, the bill would help build a more “inclusive system.” It would create an advisory commission on health equity that would include members selected by organizations representing racial, ethnic and sexual minority groups. That group would advise on the creation of a new Office of Health Equity in the Department of Health, an upgrade from the department’s current sole minority health officer, providing more authority and resources. Brock, a former state auditor and Republican nominee for governor in 2012, expressed deep skepticism about H.210. “There’s a tremendous push … often, in which if you find a group of people who are not doing as well as others, to blame it on discriminatory conduct, on racism or similar kinds of activities. And there’s this disparity [between] … outcomes and the explanation of why those things occurred,” the Swanton resident said. Brock has led a more privileged life than many Black people — and many white people, for that matter. Educated at Middlebury College and Yale University, Brock became a high-level executive at Fidelity Investments. Before he retired, he commuted to work daily by plane from Burlington to Boston. During the recent Senate debate, he argued against dividing racial minorities, LGBTQ people or those with disabilities into discrete populations that are subject to discrimination. “Our motto as a state is ‘Freedom and Unity’; it’s not freedom and diversity,” Brock said. “I see us going down a slippery slope in which, instead of ‘Freedom and Unity,’ we are promoting freedom and the creation of a whole bunch of quote, communities, unquote, as opposed to the community that we ought to be focusing on, and that’s Vermont.”

Brock’s speech echoed sentiments expressed a day earlier by the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate in response to President JOE BIDEN’s address to Congress. “From colleges to corporations to our culture, people are making money and gaining power by pretending we haven’t made any progress, by doubling down on the divisions we’ve worked so hard to heal,” said Sen. TIM SCOTT (R-S.C.). “Hear me clearly. America is not a racist country. It’s backwards to fight discrimination with different discrimination.” After Brock spoke to his Vermont Senate colleagues, it was Sen. KESHA RAM ’s (D-Chittenden) turn. She said the need to address health disparities was demonstrated powerfully by how the COVID-19 crisis had affected Black and white Vermonters differently. “In October of 2020, at the height of the pandemic … we had a disparity in the COVID infection rate that had Black Vermonters at 10 times the infection rate of white Vermonters,” Ram said, adding soon after, “More than anything else,

the Department of Health highlighted systemic racism as underlying the disparities in this pandemic.” One factor, Ram said, was mistrust among some Black people for “a health care system that has long not just marginalized Black Americans but has experimented on them.” One notorious example was the Tuskegee Institute syphilis study. In 1932, employees of the U.S. Public Health Service recruited 400 sharecroppers with syphilis; they were denied treatment, and many died during the 40-year period the “experiment” ran, even after a cure for the disease was found. Ram, whose father emigrated from India and who has made issues affecting people of color central to her work as a senator, urged her colleagues to recognize other factors, as well: “a lack of access to health care, being more likely to work frontline jobs, and the deep disparities that have plagued our nation since it was founded on enslavement and subjugation.” Yes, enslavement and subjugation — those things and a promise of equality.

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT WOKE,

GO TAKE A NAP.

We’re still working on that last part. So it’s a good thing that, after listening to Hardy and Brock and Ram, the Senate voted to advance the bill by a voice vote. It got final approval last Friday. Now, if you’re one of those people who think the worst problem with race relations in America is “wokeness,” you should skip to the next item in this week’s column. When we spoke earlier this week, Hardy said lawmakers had been struggling with the best language to use in writing the bill. The measure repeatedly uses the term “non-White” to describe the minority groups it is designed to assist. Backers hope the new advisory commission will suggest a different term because, she said, “‘nonWhite’ centers whiteness” and implies that others deviate from the standard. Getting one’s head around this stuff may take something else the bill calls for: “cultural humility.” That, the bill says, “means the ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other-oriented, or open to the other, in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the client or patient.” The new advisory commission is directed to advise lawmakers on how “cultural competency, cultural humility and antiracism” can be incorporated into training and continuing education for health professionals.

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In other words: Hey, Doc, try to put yourself in your patient’s shoes, even if that patient has much darker skin than you or an accent that originates in a different part of the world. Some people will tell you how this stuff drives them nuts and what a burden it is to be expected to think about it. I’d say that, as impositions go, it doesn’t quite match nearly 250 years of slavery and 100 years of Jim Crow. If you don’t want to be at least a little bit woke, go take a nap. Maybe the world will be a better place when you open your eyes.

Newfane Calling?

The Burlington Free Press may not be the nation’s greatest daily newspaper, but in long-ago better days, the paper was respected and relied on by many in the community, despite its ownership by the distant Gannett. Now, the paper’s new corporate owners — Gannett merged with New Media Investment Group in 2019, though it kept the Gannett name — have stooped to the petty dishonesty of telemarketers as they try to shore up its circulation. (The Freeps, which once sold more than 50,000 newspapers a day, now sells fewer than 12,000.) A work colleague got a call last week from a number he didn’t recognize, but since his phone said the call was from Newfane, Vt., he picked up. A telemarketer said, “Hi, my name is Jane, and I’m calling on a recorded line from the Burlington Free Press.” She offered a subscription deal, which my colleague declined. And “Jane,” it turned out, wasn’t calling “from” the Burlington Free Press, or even from Vermont. When asked, she said she was dialing from St. Paul, Minn. She offered no explanation for why the call was listed as coming from an 802 number in Newfane. This is sad. The Freeps’ telemarketing strategy — fooling people into answering the phone — is a common one, but we expect more from an industry whose public service is so important that it is protected by the First Amendment. Well, at least we expect more than we do from the scam artists who call and tell me the warranty on my months-old car is about to expire. Among the expectations for a newspaper is that it tries to tell the truth, both in its journalism and its business dealings. Gannett did not reply to a request for comment sent through the Free Press.

But one thing’s clear: If the Free Press ever wants to connect with a broad swath of Vermonters again, it needs to think local and authentic.

Brady’s Bunch

When Washington, D.C., lawyer and conservative activist VICTORIA TOENSING was served with a search warrant by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation last week, her last name likely rang a bell with some Vermonters. Agents took possession of Toensing’s cellphone, part of an investigation that led to raids the same day on the New York City office and home of RUDY GIULIANI, personal lawyer to former president DONALD TRUMP. Toensing is the mother of BRADY TOENSING, who until 2019 split his time between his home in Charlotte, Vt., and Washington, D.C., where he was a partner in the law firm that bears the name of his mother and stepfather, JOSEPH DIGENOVA. In Vermont, Brady Toensing was vice chair of the state Republican Party, led Trump’s 2016 campaign in the state and for years was the scourge of Vermont liberal politicians, demanding investigations into their alleged misdeeds. Among the allegations was that JANE O’MEARA SANDERS had inflated donor pledges to the now-defunct Burlington College, of which she was president, to secure financing for the college to buy the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington’s former headquarters property. He also alleged that her husband, Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) had improperly pressured a bank to give the college the loan. Federal authorities investigated and dropped the matter without charges. In 2019, Trump’s attorney general, WILLIAM BARR, tapped Brady Toensing to be senior counsel in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy. Not much has been heard from him since then in Vermont. His LinkedIn profile shows he rejoined diGenova and Toensing in February, following the change in administrations. He did not reply to a text from Fair Game asking about the search warrant served on his mother. The New York Times described Victoria Toensing as “close to Mr. Giuliani.” Her law firm said she is not a target of the investigation involving Giuliani. But she still had to hand over her cellphone. So if anyone’s tempted to say to her son, “B.T., phone home,” it might be tough. m

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MORE INSIDE

CHECKING THE JOBLESS MATH PAGE 18

DEVELOPMENT

Dirt Church Brewing to Open in Essex County

SUIT: BAKERY CLOSURE BURNED WORKERS PAGE 19

Nanny State?

B Y A N N E WA L L A C E A L L EN anne@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont municipalities want more leeway to make their own rules, with less legislative oversight B Y CO L I N FL A ND ER S • colin@sevendaysvt.com

MARC NADEL

GOVERNMENT

municipalities, according to the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, which has spent decades lobbying for its members to have more freedom to govern themselves. Lawmakers have always resisted giving up their sway over what municipalities can and cannot do, arguing that they exercise a necessary check on local powers. But critics of this top-down approach say it fails to recognize how local officials are increasingly asked to tackle a wide range of complex problems, from the climate crisis and environmental issues to policing reforms and equity. With the pandemic once again showing how vital it is for governments to swiftly respond to challenges, many argue that the time is ripe for change. “We need to be more nimble,” said Montpelier Mayor Anne Watson. Most Vermont cities and towns simply follow state law in their local governance. But about 85 municipalities have adopted local charters that establish rules and governing structures unique to their communities. Any municipality can adopt a local charter, though those that do tend to be concentrated in areas with bigger populations where local governments offer a wider range of services. To create and amend these documents, municipalities must hold at least two public hearings and a town-wide vote. The proposals are then submitted in the form of a bill to the legislature and must go through the typical process, requiring approval from both chambers before heading to the governor’s desk. Gov. Phil Scott has not vetoed any such requests during his five years in office but has expressed concern about the noncitizen voting measures now pending in the legislature. NANNY STATE? P.18

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COURTESY OF DIRT CHURCH

couple of years ago, Winooski City Manager Jessie Baker had a frustrating problem. A staffer was performing all the duties of a human resource director, but Baker could not give her the job title because it was not in the city’s charter. Winooski would need to update the document through a lengthy process that required both a town-wide vote and legislative approval. By the time the issue came up for a vote last November, the staffer had already “left for another position where she could have access to that title,” Baker told Seven Days. Voters did ultimately support making the numerous charter changes, including the administrative one. But the Onion City is one of 10 municipalities seeking to amend their local charters this legislative session — and most are still waiting for state lawmakers’ stamp of approval. Some changes involve controversy, such as ongoing attempts to ban no-cause evictions and establish ranked-choice voting in Burlington, and proposals to allow noncitizens to vote in city elections in Winooski and Montpelier. Others are far more routine, such as the only charter change lawmakers have approved so far this session: a request from the Town of Barre to convert its elected treasurer and assessor positions into appointed ones and allow the selectboard to establish a personnel policy for town employees. Such paternalism has long defined the relationship between the legislature and

When Vermont evolved into a craftbrewing mecca, somehow Essex County, population 6,000, was left out. There doesn’t seem to be a microbrewery to be found in the state’s remote northeastern corner. But a couple from Connecticut is working hard to fix that, with plans to start serving up microbrews from their new Dirt Church Brewing in tiny East Haven on July 4. Bruce Lindsay and Anna Cronin have spent the latter half of the

Anna Cronin

pandemic renovating a 900-squarefoot church that Lindsay bought last September for $85,000. It came with a dilapidated former grange hall that the two have replaced with a post-andbeam seven-barrel brewhouse. Lindsay is a longtime homebrewer. With just 290 residents, East Haven itself isn’t a busy spot likely to draw drop-in visitors, but Dirt Church is located on Route 114, just up the road from Burke Mountain Resort and the town of East Burke, which has come to life in recent years thanks to its 100-mile mountain bike trail network, Kingdom Trails. The name of the business reflects the pair’s reverence for biking. Lindsay, 47, and Cronin, 33, first met while competing at Burke’s Circumburke Trail Challenge in 2018 and started dating after they bumped into each other at a bike event a year later. Cronin was working as a professional triathlete in New Hampshire, and Lindsay, an arborist, was a consultant tree warden for the Town of Westport, Conn. When the pandemic hit, Lindsay was able to keep doing his job remotely, but Cronin’s work as a coach and trainer disappeared. The pair had been visiting the Northeast Kingdom separately for two decades, she said, and they knew that was where they wanted to be. “We decided, ‘Let’s chase our dream,’” said Cronin. “We don’t know when this whole thing is going to end. But we know when it does end, we don’t want to be living the Connecticut rat race that is losing the mental health war.” The former Methodist church is now ready for events and its other planned use, as an art gallery. Cronin and Lindsay are lining up food trucks as they anticipate a busy summer of live music and activities. m

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Toxic firefighting foam complicates effort to phase out “forever chemicals” BY KEVIN MCCALLU M • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

any Vermont lawmakers say they are ready to ban the “forever chemicals” that have contaminated drinking water in parts of the state. They have many reasons. In Vermont’s best-known case, the chemicals known as PFAS contaminated hundreds of wells in Bennington after two former textile factories in the town baked them onto their products for years. Elsewhere in Vermont, evidence of contamination has turned up in the leachate of lined landfills because discarded rugs, furniture and clothes break down, and the PFAS-based waterproofing on fibers washes away. And in South Burlington, the foam that Vermont Air National Guard firefighters sprayed for decades on fuel fires at their base has contaminated area groundwater, sending a steady stream of PFAS pollution REP. DAN E into the Winooski River. PFAS is an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of water-resistant substances first synthesized in the 1950s. The fluorinecontaining chemicals have been widely used in products from nonstick cookware to waterrepellent clothing to cosmetics. The long chains of carbon molecules that characterize many of the substances make them durable but also resistant to breaking down and therefore persistent in the environment. They have been linked to a variety of cancers and immune and reproductive disorders and have been discovered in water systems around the nation. This includes 10 small public water systems in Vermont, where five PFAS-class chemicals were detected at levels above the state’s standard of 20 parts per trillion. But when Vermont lawmakers this year sought to get a handle on the contaminatedwater problem by banning the sale of products made with PFAS, they found their power to do so limited by an unlikely source — the federal government.

The site of some of the worst PFAS contamination — the property shared by the Air Guard and Burlington International Airport — remains beyond the state’s regulatory reach. The Air Guard follows U.S. Department of Defense guidelines that require firefighting foam to contain PFAS chemicals because they are considered better at quickly smothering fuel fires. Similarly, the Federal Aviation Administration says airports with regular commercial air service must have at least one fire truck filled with PFAS foam ready to respond to emergencies. The Air Guard provides firefighting for the entire airfield. This includes its own fleet of F-35s, helicopters flown by the Vermont Army National Guard, and commercial jets that serve Burlington International Airport, as well as charter air flights and private WHITMAN aircraft. When state and federal aviation laws conflict, courts have held that the federal law takes precedence, a legal principle known as federal preemption. So while state lawmakers are considering restrictions on the sale of PFAS-containing consumer products, such as rugs, food containers and ski wax, they have no say over substances used by the airfield’s firefighters. “As a state legislature, our hands are tied as far as telling the airport and the National Guard what to do,” said Rep. Dane Whitman (D-Bennington). Guard officials say the military is trying to phase out the PFAS-based foams by 2024, but no alternative products meet current standards to put out fuel fires in 30 seconds or less. Congress has ordered the FAA to allow the use of fluoride-free foams at commercial airports by this October, assuming they are available. That deadline doesn’t mean much for Burlington, however, since the Guard takes orders from the Department of Defense. Airport director of aviation Gene Richards says he “wholeheartedly” supports

AS A STATE LEGISLATURE, OUR HANDS ARE TIED

AS FAR AS TELLING THE AIRPORT AND THE NATIONAL GUARD WHAT TO DO.

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news Alarming Stat About Women Seeking Unemployment Was Likely Wrong B Y A NNE WAL L A C E ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com It was a startling statistic: Of the people who applied for regular unemployment in the state last fall, 73 percent were women, the Vermont legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office said. Vermont’s gender inequity appeared to be an outlier. Around much of the country, men and women had applied for unemployment last fall at about the same rate. But it looks like the number, which was widely quoted in January, was inaccurate, said Joyce Manchester, a senior economist at the Joint Fiscal Office, and Mat Barewicz, an economist at the state Department of Labor. It probably overstates the discrepancy. The figure was shared with lawmakers and by advocates for women. It prompted conversations about how to help women return to the workforce. Manchester said last week she had backed away from using the number. “I have been spreading the word that we may have been misled by data that somehow isn’t quite right,” said Manchester, who had cautioned in January that she needed to do more analysis on the data she was using. “There may be something funky in the data set.” Barewicz said his division is preparing a deeper analysis of unemployment during the pandemic. The 73 percent figure, reported in Seven Days and elsewhere, was based on a week’s snapshot of data used to estimate a quarterly figure, he said. Barewicz noted that the number of job losses doesn’t necessarily match the number of claimants. Not everybody is eligible for or chooses to claim unemployment benefits. The important thing, he said, is that research shows women have suffered more in the recession that has accompanied the pandemic. National Department of Labor data show that about 57 percent of the job losses affected women, compared to 43 percent for men, he said. That’s a widely held view. The Vermont Commission on Women’s COVID-19 dashboard says women make up 81 percent of Vermont’s tipped wage earners — the highest rate in the country. Their work was disrupted more by pandemic-related closures. The commission also says women in Vermont are more likely to hold part-time positions and account for a disproportionate share of the people earning less than $11 an hour, making them less likely to qualify for unemployment insurance. m

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Nanny State? « P.16 Known as Dillon’s Rule, Vermont’s legislative oversight system traces back to a pair of 19th-century rulings by Iowa Supreme Court justice John Dillon, who concluded that municipalities “owe their origin to, and derive their powers and rights wholly from, the legislature.” In other words: Municipalities should only be allowed to perform actions that the legislature has sanctioned. Dillon lived during a time of rampant corruption, and he harbored a great distrust of local government. He once asserted that people with the highest intelligence and moral character did not serve in local offices. Modern supporters of Dillon’s doctrine don’t go quite as far, but they do believe that the state still plays an important role in fostering uniformity — and preventing the locals from going rogue. “You don’t want one municipality to decide that they’re going to balance their town highway budget on traffic fines and decide that they’re going to lower all of their speed limits down to 15 miles an hour,” said Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D-Bradford), who chairs the House Government Operations Committee. Critics of Dillon’s Rule, on the other hand, say it gives state legislatures too much power to meddle in local issues and makes it harder for municipalities to come up with creative solutions to the buffet of problems they face. While most states still follow some form of Dillon’s Rule, a handful employ an alternative model known as home rule, which permits municipalities to pass whatever laws they see fit so long as they don’t defy the state or federal constitution. The League of Cities & Towns is not advocating for a switch to home rule, in part because it likely would never be approved here, said Karen Horn, the organization’s director of public policy and advocacy. “What we’re hoping to do is have the legislature cede some control to municipalities for decisions that affect only their community,” Horn said. According to Horn, Statehouse micromanagement has waxed and waned over the years. Some legislative sessions have taken a more laissez-faire approach to charter changes, largely accepting the will of the voters. Others, particularly the current crop of House lawmakers, are “intent on investigating every single detail,” she said, often rewriting provisions to their liking. “The biggest issue for us is that legislators who haven’t even necessarily been to a particular community are deciding what needs to happen in Colchester, or

FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

LABOR

Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas

in Winooski, or in Killington,” Horn said. “That’s a problem for people who live in that town and the people trying to govern that town.” Copeland Hanzas disputed that characterization and said she and her colleagues never judge charter proposals based on whether they would want to adopt such ideas in their communities. Rather, they look to ensure that local governing boards adequately warned and explained the proposals, then consider whether the changes conflict with state law or would result in any unintended consequences. If all three bars are met, Copeland Hanzas said, the proposal typically moves forward. “It’s not my experience that the legislature weighs in with a particularly heavy hand,” she said. Some local officials say their experience suggests otherwise. When Bennington undertook a major rewrite of its charter several years ago, the House Government Operations Committee was “terribly difficult” to work with, said Town Manager Stuart Hurd. “I mean, they were very pleasant, but they really gutted the work we did,” Hurd said. “It left a sour taste in our mouth.” The legislative committee took issue

with how Bennington warned its vote, arguing that the town erred by not listing each of the individual changes on the ballot, which included everything from a new local option tax and an expansion of the town’s downtown improvement district to attendance requirements for selectboard members. Bennington officials said that doing so would have forced them to print 10-page ballots. They instead provided a summary in each voting booth and made the new charter available to those interested — efforts the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office determined were enough. Lawmakers, though, took it upon themselves to strike out several of the changes, convinced that voters couldn’t have possibly understood what they were being asked. When the legislature finally approved Bennington’s revised charter, it looked far different from the one voters approved. “I may get shot for saying this,” Hurd said, “but it seems like [the legislature] doesn’t trust local selectboards to make decisions.” Sometimes, entire proposals are scrapped. In 2014, Burlington voters approved a series of gun-control charter

changes that would have allowed police Rep. John Gannon (D-Wilmington), to confiscate guns from suspected vice chair of the committee and a member domestic abusers, prohibited them at of his local selectboard, told Seven Days he establishments with a liquor license and thought the proposals gave municipalities required that they be stored behind a too much latitude. He wondered whether lock. The city’s attorney said at the time they would be able to pick certain words that she believed the changes cleared any from various charters and come up with constitutional hurdles. But legislative “an entirely new provision.” attorneys still questioned the proposal’s With the legislature expected to legality, and lawmakers never took action adjourn later this month, most of the on it. nine pending charter changes will not There have been a number of efforts make it to the governor’s desk this to grant municipalities more autonomy session. Four are still in the House in recent years. Sen. Jeanette White Government Operations Committee. At (D-Windham), who chairs the Senate least one of those — a request to change Government Operations Committee, the makeup of the selectboard in the Town of Essex — appears introduced a bill in 2019 that would have created a to be moot given the failure municipal self-governance of a recent merger vote pilot program. It would have there, but the rest are still allowed up to 10 towns to in play, including Burlingsend charter change requests ton’s. Meanwhile, only two to a new commission, which of the five that have cleared would have vetted the the House are expected to proposals and made recomcome up for a Senate vote mendations to the legislathis year: Winooski’s and ture. Supporters of the idea Underhill’s thought it would make the The Senate Government process less political and Operations Committee is now working with the League of hoped that the commission Cities & Towns to identify might one day have final say. The pilot was based on certain municipal changes STUART HU RD a similar program in West that could potentially skip Virginia. Lawmakers there the legislative review process. expanded it statewide after determining The organization has included more than that the program helped municipalities 20 issues on its wish list, from local option save money, time and resources. taxes and sidewalk ordinances to voting The Vermont bill passed in the Senate eligibility expansions and selectboard 21-8 but was never taken up in the House; attendance requirements. White has not reintroduced it this Both Gannon and Copeland Hanzas biennium. said they are open to the discussion. But To continue the self-governance neither seemed in any rush to let go of conversation, the League of Cities & much control. Towns has encouraged some of its “You can’t just have a group of member municipalities to pass charter five members of a legislative body changes that would allow them to adopt in a town making decisions about any provision from any other charter changing how the town is going to around the state, as long as their commu- govern itself,” Copeland Hanzas said. nity voted in favor of it. Supporters “That’s not really democracy.” She said viewed it as a rational compromise, and the legislature ensures that voters had a voters in four municipalities approved the “voice” in the process. language within the last year: Brattleboro, Such comments do little to dispel Springfield, Williston and Winooski. accusations of paternalism. Baker, “It isn’t asking the legislature to adjust the Winooski city manager, said some the calibration of Dillon’s Rule and home lawmakers seem to forget that they were rule,” said Peter Elwell, Brattleboro’s elected by the same people who elect local town manager. “It’s simply saying, ‘If you officials. have found this to be acceptable in Spring“The devaluing of local elected officials field, why shouldn’t it also be acceptable is really unfortunate,” said Baker, who will in Brattleboro?’” become South Burlington’s city manager But when the first charter containing this summer. the provision reached the House GovernSen. White agreed. She said many ment Operations Committee earlier this lawmakers previously served on local month, legislative counsel deemed it an boards before moving to the Statehouse, unconstitutional attempt to usurp the “but for some reason, when we get to legislature’s authority, and lawmakers the legislature, we suddenly don’t trust nixed it. towns.” m

IT SEEMS LIKE [THE LEGISLATURE] DOESN’T TRUST LOCAL SELECTBOARDS

TO MAKE DECISIONS.

BUSINESS

Lawsuit Claims Koffee Kup Didn’t Give Enough Notice Before Closure

START HERE GO PLACES

BY D E R E K BR O UW E R derek@sevendaysvt.com A former Koffee Kup Bakery employee has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the company, claiming that it violated federal rules by suddenly closing last week. The complaint in the U.S. District Court of Vermont alleges that the longtime doughnut and bread maker violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN Act, which requires that companies with more than 100 employees provide 60-day notice to employees — as well as local and state officials — before mass layoffs. Koffee Kup employed more than 150 people at its Burlington bakery and nearly 100 in Brattleboro, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. The company laid off about 500 people in total, including those at a third bakery in Connecticut. Plaintiff Matthew Chaney worked at the Brattleboro bakery until April 26, when the immediate closure was announced, according to the complaint. He is requesting class-action certification to represent all similarly situated employees. The closure came just weeks after the private-equity firm American Industrial Acquisition Corporation purchased Koffee Kup on April 1. An announcement of the sale described a company poised to grow, not one in danger of closing. The company filed a WARN Act notice on April 26, the day of the closure, writing to the Vermont Department of Labor that it had been losing money for years and that its lender had declined to float additional cash. The lender sent default notices last month and demanded immediate payment of outstanding loans, Jeff Sands, a Vermont-based adviser to AIAC, wrote in the filing. “Koffee Kup no longer has sufficient capital to continue operations,” he wrote. The federal WARN Act includes an exemption for “unforeseeable business circumstances” but still requires that employers give as much notice as practicable and explain the reason they provided less than 60 days’ notice, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Koffee Kup looked for other lenders to keep the company solvent, Sands wrote in last week’s filing. Earlier public notice of expected layoffs would have jeopardized those efforts, he wrote. m

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“getting rid of this crap,” meaning PFASfoams. He has no say in the matter, however. “We don’t even have a seat at the table,” Richards said. While Whitman said he’s optimistic that the federal agencies will meet upcoming targets, others are less trusting of federal promises. Veteran clean-water advocate James Ehlers says there is no reason for the military or the FAA to delay switching to fluoride-free foams and for state lawmakers not to require it. “There are other alternatives,” Ehlers told Seven Days, “as other militaries have shown us, as other airports have shown us, as experts have testified to.” The issue is a personal one for Ehlers. As a junior officer on a U.S. Navy-guided missile destroyer for two years, Ehlers was acutely aware of the dangers of a fire at sea like the one in 1967 that killed 134 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Forrestal. A power surge caused an F-4 Phantom to fire a rocket into another aircraft, causing a chain reaction of explosions that engulfed the flight deck. “It was drilled into every single one of us as a damage control officer: It was our responsibility to never, ever, ever — under any circumstances — allow that sort of scenario to proliferate,” Ehlers recalled. So while he understands the military’s need to quickly contain fuel fires at sea, Ehlers doesn’t think the same protocols should apply to a wide-open airfield, because the potential for water contamination is clear and the health risks of the chemicals have been known since the 1970s. Ehlers is far from alone in his concern. Air bases around the nation have become hot spots for PFAS pollution. Patrick Breysse, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health, has called PFAS drinking water contamination “one of the most seminal public health challenges for the next decades.” The Air Guard says it has already replaced “legacy” firefighting foams with one thought to pose a lesser health risk. That current product, when mixed with water, creates a foam that deprives a fuel fire of oxygen and extinguishes it more quickly than water alone. The product — called Phos-Chek — still contains fluorinated chemicals, however. “We know that there are fluorinefree alternatives that are used by other countries and companies,” explained Col. Adam Rice, vice commander of the 158th Fighter Wing, which flies the F-35s. “But we are limited to a military specification approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.”

The base keeps about 1,400 gallons of the foam on hand. The department needs such volume to respond not only to aircraft accidents but also to any fires at tanks containing hundreds of thousands of gallons of aviation fuel, 158th Fighter Wing fire chief Brannon Soter explained. To minimize exposure to people and the environment, Guard firefighters no longer train with the foam. When it is handled, they wear protective gear and work to prevent and contain any spills, which are rare but must be reported, Soter said. “That’s just kind of the nature of the beast,” Soter said. “You can’t get away from it all.” Despite their environmental and health risks, these foams are used in military installations around the globe. Ehlers partly blames the influence of chemical manufacturers such as 3M and their lobbyists on the U.S. military. Instead of switching to fluorine-free alternatives, the Department of Defense bought into big chemical companies’ false claims that fluorine-free foams were less effective and their newer PFAS foams were safe, he said. “This isn’t about studying the effectiveness of alternatives; this is about giving the corporations that currently control the supply chain time to profit from the transition,” Ehlers said. He rejects the idea that lawmakers are unable to pass legislation in Vermont that conflicts with federal statutes and guidelines. They do it when sufficiently motivated, he noted, citing a state law that, starting next year, legalizes the sale of cannabis, an illegal substance under federal law. The military wasn’t the only obstacle facing lawmakers who want to limit use of the chemicals. Fuel dealers have also pushed back, arguing that they shouldn’t be forced to switch to a less effective product. “At this point, it would be irresponsible to get rid of it,” Tom Keefe, of Global Partners LP, which owns a bulk fuel terminal in South Burlington and 34 gas stations, told lawmakers. Legislators are putting the finishing touches on S.20, which would ban the sale and distribution of a variety of PFAScontaining products to which people have direct exposure, such as food containers and carpets. An early draft of the bill potentially gave wholesale fuel dealers — with a waiver from the state Department of Environmental Conservation — until 2028 to comply with the ban on foam with PFAS if no suitable alternatives were identified. That timeline wasn’t fast enough for some lawmakers, who shortened the waiver period to a single year. The current bill would require they switch no later than

The Vermont Air National Guard took part in this U.S. National Guard firefighting training in Georgia in 2016

COURTESY OF U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD/ANDREW J. MERLOCK

2024. That bill advanced in a unanimous House vote on Tuesday, and it heads back to the Senate next. Among the affected products, ski wax is of particular concern. University of Vermont head Nordic coach Patrick Weaver told lawmakers that cross-country ski waxes represent a health risk to those handling them. The waxes also rub off on snow and may contribute to some of the contamination plaguing several small water systems near Killington, according to Whitman, the Bennington legislator. And while the bill may not apply to the airfield, he noted it would ensure PFAScontaining firefighting foam would soon be a thing of the past everywhere else in the state. This change would build on the work of the state Department of Environmental Conservation to gather up PFAS foams from fire departments and have them destroyed. That effort was paused, however, after neighbors of the disposal site in Cohoes, N.Y., objected, and the incineration of the material was halted, Environmental Conservation Commissioner Peter Walke explained. Balancing the public safety need to effectively fight fires with removing dangerous toxins from the environment has been a challenge, but it’s one Whitman said he thinks the bill meets. Advocates such as Ehlers say they intend to lobby federal lawmakers, too, to phase out PFAS foams more quickly. On his list is U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who was instrumental in bringing the F-35 to Vermont. “If he can bring a $1.5 trillion warplane that the Air Force didn’t even want here,” Ehlers said, “can’t he bring a foam here that everyone says they want?” m

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OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Andrea Lisle Miller FEBRUARY 26, 1949FEBRUARY 9, 2021 BURLINGTON, VT.

With sun shining through beautiful sparkling snowflakes outside the window, Andrea Westing Lisle Miller, 71, passed away at the McClure Miller Respite House on February 9, 2021. There was so much love with her daughter holding her hand, stroking her hair, and Joan Baez on the speaker. Though a fast and furious cancer diagnosis just four short weeks earlier overwhelmed her suffering body, it did not dim her warm and loving spirit in those last days. Andrea was born in New Orleans, La., to Mildred (“Midge”) Somers Westing. Shortly thereafter, Midge packed her wee infant daughter into a Model T Ford and, after a brief time in Texas where Midge babysat A.J. Foyt (yes, that A.J. Foyt!) to make money, she drove up the East Coast looking for a place to build a life for the two of them. She landed in the quaint village of Townshend, Vt. As the story goes, the small house she found to rent had a cow living in the basement that had to be evacuated before they could take up residence … a fitting start to a true Vermont existence. It just so happened that next door to the cowhouse stood the Townshend Furniture Factory, where Midge met the owner, Laurence (“Larry”) Lisle. Love sparked among the wood shavings and chair forms, as little Andrea looked on. Soon enough, they were married and Larry became Andrea’s adoptive father for the remainder of his life. Midge and Larry decided to build a home on a beautiful parcel of land in the hills of Grafton, Vt., and that was the home Andrea grew up in, running among the fields and trees in the warmer months and ice-skating on their pond and skiing the local mountains come winter. She happily welcomed her baby brother, Skip Lisle, 10

years later. Skip was always a great source of pride, joy and respite for his big sister right until her last moments. Andrea had a colorful spectrum of education. She attended high school at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, where she fell in love with the Spanish language and became fluent in its romantic tone. Upon her graduation in 1966, Andrea went on to the University of Vermont in Burlington, where she majored in English. Boy, did she love writing. Her words could draw you in until you felt every last one on the page. She was also an amazing editor for those of us who relied on her sharp wit and firm pen. It was a true gift. A bit later in life, while she was a wife and mother and working a full-time job, she embarked on a wonderful six-year certificate program of night and weekend classes at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design in Providence to further advance her abilities in several artistic mediums. She was a tremendous talent in the areas of drawing, calligraphy, painting and collage, among others. When Andrea was attending UVM in the ‘60s, she met fellow student John Miller. They fell in love to the sounds of his guitar playing, lots of laughter and John’s crazy Phi Delta Theta fraternity brothers. As she would say, “Yes, it was Animal House in real life!” Their beloved daughter, Jennifer, arrived toward the end of the college experience, and she got to participate in some

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

of the shenanigans, too ... such as little Jennifer being wrapped up in her mother’s L.L.Bean coat and snuck into the upper balcony of the Flynn theater in Burlington to take in all the glory that was B.B. King. There was always music in Andrea’s world: jazz, blues, folk. It was rarely quiet... It was wonderful. Andrea used to sing Jennifer to sleep playing the guitar and singing Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Bob Dylan. Soul filled the home they created. And though Andrea and John went their separate ways after 27 years of marriage, they remained good friends. After several years in Vermont, in 1977 the Millers moved to Rochester, N.Y., for four years, and then on to Rehoboth, Mass. In each of the places she lived, Andrea dedicated herself to a life of nonprofit work and creativity. Her career started with many years at various blood centers, recruiting blood donors through her creative marketing and communication efforts. She always said, “Though I’m in the back office, I still feel like I’m saving lives with the work that I do.” She felt so gratified with her role in these places. She also found her way to working in fundraising for the Providence Children’s Museum, as well as the Pomfret School in Connecticut. After her “big jobs” (as she liked to call them), she spent time enjoying several retail endeavors, where her gift of human connection proved to help her success in those venues, as well. Thankfully, just two years ago, Andrea moved back to her beloved Vermont after 36 years in Massachusetts to be closer to her daughter in Burlington and get back to her spirit place. Since her return, she was so happy to have such a wonderful group of people to work with at the Shelburne Museum gift shop. She loved being entrenched in such a place … a place that offered her all of the things she loved best: history, creativity and nature. Andrea’s deep love of natural wonders, combined

with an innate design sense, turned what some would see as just a stick or a feather or a stone into a wonderfully curated collection of natural objects that brought warmth and soul to her surroundings. Her generosity with her family and friends would oftentimes find us on the receiving end of one of her inspired creations: a fabulous rock-and-driftwood mobile, a watercolor inspired by Lake Champlain, a knitted hat when someone needed it most, or a poem penned by her beautiful calligraphy hand. No matter what the occasion, she always knew exactly what someone would enjoy. Thankfully, that means that her folks have many keepsakes to hold close to their hearts during this time of deep loss. To know her was to love her. Whether for friends, family or strangers, Andrea always carried with her a profound sense of curiosity and put people at ease with her warmth and inviting presence. Andrea will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her daughter, Jennifer Miller; brother Skip Lisle; sister-in-law Elise Lisle; niece Emma Lisle; nephew Forrest Lisle; and so many dear friends and wonderful cousins, near and far. A celebration of Andrea’s life will be planned for when it’s safe for family and friends to gather in her honor and enjoy each other’s warm embrace … otherwise known as a damn fun party filled with stories, laughter, hugs and music! In the meantime, her ashes are being scattered by some of those she held dear in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Washington, Maryland, the Pyrenees in France and, of course, multiple spots in Vermont: hills, lakes and yards. She wanted to be close to those she loved, and she didn’t want to miss a thing! If you are so inclined, donations can be made to the American Red Cross in Andrea’s honor to continue “saving lives.” To contact Andrea’s family, please contact Seven Days at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com.

Elaine Rae Gove AUGUST 10, 1941-MAY 1, 2021 SHELBYVILLE, KY.

Elaine Rae Gove, 79, passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Shelbyville, Ky. She was a former resident of Essex Junction, Vt. She was an avid reader and enjoyed boating, quilting, painting, riding motorcycles (as a passenger) and RV camping. She raised four boys. She was a proud nurse and EMT. She was preceded in death by her son, Lewis Gove. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, David G. Gove; her sons Peter Gove (Brenda) of Northfield, Vt., Mike Gove (Cecile) of South Hero, Vt., and Paul Gove of Indiana; her six grandchildren; her four great-grandchildren; her sisters, Donna Gessner and Jean Kury; and her brother, Ron Coffin. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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OBITUARIES Charlotte Ely MacLeay

this past season; she took special pleasure in skiing with her four grandchildren. Shortly after earning a degree in nursing from the University of Vermont, Charlotte married her high school sweetheart, Thomas MacLeay, on June 5, 1971. They moved to Denver, where she followed in her mother’s footsteps, practicing nursing in a hospital setting, and then on to Phoenix, where she enjoyed her work as a public health nurse. After a stint in New

Jersey, Charlotte and Tom returned to Vermont and settled in East Montpelier, where they raised their son, David, and daughter, Kate. With young children at home, Charlotte also started a business as a childbirth educator, a relatively new field at the time. She went on to lead the formation of a statewide professional organization for childbirth educators, and she enjoyed the role she played in the births of hundreds of babies in central Vermont As her children grew, Charlotte shifted careers and became a school librarian at the Rumney School in Middlesex, Vt., where her work schedule aligned better with her duties as a mom. An avid reader, she loved researching and selecting the latest titles for the library and sharing her passion for reading with the young students. Charlotte was always active in the community. She volunteered as a Vermont

Statehouse tour guide and served on the board of Friends of the State House. She loved introducing her beloved Vermont to visitors from around the world and teaching school groups about the state’s history. She also had a long affiliation with Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, volunteering in various roles over the years and serving on the board of directors for several terms. In recent years, she participated on the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board. All of these activities, and others, gave Charlotte a great deal of satisfaction and the joy of working alongside many friends and colleagues. Charlotte loved to travel and particularly liked planning and organizing trips with friends and family. Whether it was a domestic golf trip, a barge tour in France, walking trips in Italy, adventures with grandkids in Scotland and France, or meandering around

Europe’s less traveled regions with Tom, Charlotte joyfully attended to all the details and then reveled in the actual journey. Charlotte also loved time spent at home with family. She was, above all else, a loving mother, grandmother and spouse. As Charlotte’s health began to fail, her biggest disappointment was that “Mimi,” as she was known to her grandchildren, would not continue to be part of their lives. She cherished the experiences she shared with each of them. Charlotte was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Loree Ely; her brother, John Ely; and her brother-in-law William MacLeay. She is survived by her husband, Tom; son David and his wife, Alicia; daughter Kate Crespo and her husband, Joe; grandchildren Burke, Adelle, Amelia and Cooper; brother Eugene Ely and his partner, Lori Keenan; sisters-in-law Bunny Ely,

Sandy Bechtel and Maggie MacLeay; brothers-in-law Rick MacLeay and Hank Bechtel; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Charlotte’s many friends who filled her life with joy, laughter and comfort; her amazing in-home caregivers, who became true friends; the incredibly caring staff at the McClure Miller Respite House; and especially the team at the Arbors, where Charlotte spent her most difficult months in the embrace of an exceptional group of remarkable people. A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be planned for later in the year, when it is safe to gather. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice (cvhhh. org) or to Ascutney Outdoors (ascutneyoutdoors.org). Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at guareandsons.com.

He earned numerous awards from the Vermont Press Association for news writing, editorial writing, sports writing and music criticism. He was seven times the winner of editorial awards from the International Society of Weekly News Editors and was inducted into the New England Newspaper & Press Association’s Hall of Fame in 2015. He married Marjorie Balgooyen in 1975. The couple moved into the Drysdale family home on Labounty Road, where they have lived ever since, and raised two

sons, Robin Bruce and James Monteath Drysdale. He was treasurer of the Vermont Press Association for 25 years. He was a past president of the Randolph Chamber of Commerce and the Randolph Rotary Club. He also served on the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation. For 25 years, he directed the Randolph Singers, introducing a whole generation of singers to the great choral masterworks. An excellent tenor, he sang with the Bel Canto Chamber Singers, the Sounding Joy! vocal ensemble, Ken’s Barbershop Quartet, the Onion River Chorus and, of course, the Randolph Singers. Of Scottish heritage on his father’s side, Dickey developed a deep love for Scottish and Celtic music. Each year, he helped to plan Chandler’s New World Festival, a celebration of French Canadian and Celtic music. He served for many years on the board of the Albert B. Chandler Foundation, dedicated to the restoration of Randolph’s Chandler Music Hall. He was a lifelong member of Bethany Church in Randolph, where he enjoyed

giving children’s sermons and teaching Sunday school classes. In 2015, he and Marjorie were given the Jim Hutchinson Award for community service. In 2016, Dickey and Marjorie were asked to lead the Randolph Singers through to 2018, the chorus’ 50th anniversary, or Golden Jubilee. In December of 2018, their tenure concluded with the Singers’ traditional holiday concert, where Dickey picked up his baton for the very last time. The Drysdales were a hiking family, summiting many of the high peaks in the Adirondacks, the White Mountains, the Green Mountains and the Katahdin region of Maine. Even as his health deteriorated, Dickey tried to get outdoors every day to take a few steps around his home or to take a scenic car ride. Invariably, he would gaze at the countryside, then at his wife, and declare, “I’m so lucky.” Downhill and crosscountry skiing were lifelong passions. He learned to ski at Randolph’s Farr’s Hill and later served on the board of Randolph’s Pinnacle Skiways.

He greatly enjoyed travel, but there was no place like home. He felt that he had the best neighbors in the world. He loved to walk in his woods, swim in the pond, ski out his back door and cut wood for the winter months, saving an ample supply for March, when the Drysdale family would make maple syrup together. Dickey had enormous respect for the people in his town and surrounding communities. He featured them in editorials and essays, many of which also were published in Vermont Life and Yankee Magazine. He especially held farmers in high regard, in awe of their many skills and tireless work ethic. He wrote three books –– Vermont Moments, a book of essays and poems; Dancing in the Potato Patch, a book of poetry; and Not a Bad Seat in the House, a history of Chandler Music Hall. With his staff at the Herald, he produced The Wrath of Irene, illustrating the effects of Hurricane Irene in the White River Valley. Dickey was a beloved choral conductor, pianist, singer and fiddler. He was a

masterful wordsmith with an encyclopedic knowledge of local, state and national government. He was an eloquent poet, a vigorous hiker, a man of wit and an absolutely elegant skier. Above all, he was a kind and loving husband and father. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marjorie; his sons, Robin Bruce Drysdale of Brooklyn, N.Y., and James Monteath Drysdale of Stevensville, Mont.; his sister Ellen Drysdale and her husband, Bob Squires, of Berlin, Vt.; his sister Isobel Drysdale of Pueblo, Colo.; 10 nieces and nephews; and 13 grandnieces and -nephews. A celebration of his life will take place this summer, when it is safer for people to gather together. Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to the Chandler Center for the Arts, 71 N. Main St., Randolph, VT 05060 (chandler-arts.org/ donate-1), or to the Randolph Singers, P.O. Box 192, Randolph, VT, 05060 (randolphsingers. org/home/donate). Online condolences may be left at dayfunerals.com. Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home in Randolph, Vt.

OCTOBER 8, 1949APRIL 25, 2021 MONTPELIER, VT.

Charlotte Ely MacLeay passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., on April 25, 2021, after a difficult battle with a rapidly progressing dementia. She was a caring and communityminded nurse and educator who deeply loved her family, greatly enjoyed meeting new people, and greeted everyone with a warm and engaging smile. Born on October 8, 1949, to Robert H. and Loree C. Ely in Brownsville (West Windsor), Vt., Charlotte grew up skiing on Mount Ascutney, where her father designed and cut the trails and was the first to make snow in Vermont. Her love of skiing endured throughout her life, including

Maurice Dickey Drysdale NOVEMBER 10, 1944APRIL 28, 2021 RANDOLPH, VT.

Maurice Dickey Drysdale, 76, editor/publisher emeritus of the White River Valley Herald, died early Wednesday morning, April 28, 2021, in his home on Labounty Road in Randolph, Vt. He was born on November 10, 1944, in Concord, Mass., to John and Eleanor Drysdale. Six months later, the Drysdales moved to Randolph, Vt., where John purchased the White River Valley Herald. He was its editor/publisher for the next 30 years. Dickey graduated from Randolph Union High School in 1962 and Harvard University in 1966. He worked at the Springfield (Mass.) Union newspaper from 1966 to 1969 and earned his master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971. He then returned home to Randolph to take the reins from his father at the White River Valley Herald, where he remained as editor/publisher for the next 44 years.

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

BOTTOM LINE BY CAROLYN SHAPIRO

Dress Success

Longtime and new customers help Church Street boutique weather the pandemic

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK

hile shopping along Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace last week, Haley Moriarty spotted the perfect graduation dress on a rack at Ecco Clothes. The high school senior from Connecticut, who plans to attend the University of Vermont in the fall, fell in love with the creamy white mini with spaghetti straps and a bow across the open back. While Moriarty’s mother mulled it over, Ecco salesperson Ava Vacherot offered them the 10 percent UVM student discount, though Haley hadn’t yet started on campus. Then Vacherot slipped into the boutique’s back room and returned with a black graduation gown for Moriarty to try on over the little white dress. That clinched it. “I think it’s beautiful,” Moriarty said. Her mother, Karen Moriarty, agreed to buy the $148 dress and a pair of tan sandals for her oldest daughter to wear on graduation day. They’d dropped into Ecco before dinner on Saturday, lured by brightcolored frocks in the front windows. “I like how there’s dressy, casual, shoes and accessories,” Karen said, looking around the store. Of Haley, she added, “This is her style.” That’s the ideal shopping experience Ecco owner Lara Heath Allen yearns to give customers in her store — especially now, after an arduous year of shutdowns, apprehension and economic devastation for retailers and other businesses. Spring is generally lively at Ecco, a go-to spot for teens and grandmothers alike to find special-occasion dresses and full finery for proms, graduations and weddings. But a year ago, the coronavirus forced all nonessential businesses to close and events to cancel. Ecco, which also carries some men’s clothing, lost two months of prime-time sales. The rest of the year wasn’t much better, and Ecco ended 2020 with about 50 percent of its usual annual revenue, Allen said. In business for 29 years, Allen had worked her way through other economic ups and downs. Never before, though, had she confronted the fear she felt after locking her doors last March, she said. Her fate was suddenly out of her control. “Especially when you have a business for a long time, you develop a formula,” Allen said. “There’s a flow. Even when you go through dark times, you know you come out of them.”

A customer walking into Ecco Clothes in Burlington

EVEN WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DARK TIMES, Store manager Kate Hayes (left) and Lara Heath Allen

She had confidence in her skills as a retailer, “but this past year, it just felt like my hands were tied,” she said. “And that was a really awful feeling for somebody that has always been so driven.” Allen, 53, who lives in Shelburne, grew up in Burlington’s Old North End with a single mom and a younger brother. Money was tight, she said. During high school, Allen worked her first retail jobs — including at Magram’s department store, where Ecco resides today — and waited tables to supplement the family’s finances. After she earned an English degree from UVM, Allen went to work for a boutique on College Street that she loved. When that store closed, Allen took over the space and opened Ecco in 1992. She knew that Burlington needed a good source for reasonably priced dresses. When Allen graduated from college a few years earlier, her mom wanted her daughter to have something special to wear to celebrate the accomplishment, and options were limited. “There was a really expensive store, and she sprung for it, even though we couldn’t afford it,” Allen said.

YOU KNOW YOU COME OUT OF THEM. L AR A H E ATH ALL EN

After three years on College Street, Ecco moved to a small Church Street space, then quickly expanded into adjacent quarters. Allen began selling jeans, which became another staple of Ecco’s business; the store now features more than half a dozen coveted designer denim brands. In 2009, Allen leased a 4,300-squarefoot space in the Howard Opera House building at the corner of Church and Bank streets, with windows on two sides. That year, in the thick of the recession, traffic remained steady, and the volume that Ecco could sell in the large showroom helped it thrive, Allen said. More recently, she added a few clothing lines at lower price points to supplement sales of her more expensive brands. That boosted Ecco’s revenue to an all-time high in 2019, she said. Entering 2020, Allen saw a chance to relax a little, maybe travel with her two sons, as her business reached a safe level of stability. When the pandemic hit, Ecco benefited from those foundational years. Longtime loyal customers placed orders by phone, email and online, once Allen

updated the website for e-commerce. She continued to pay her staff, even during the store’s closure from mid-March to early June. Allen’s team homed in on social media, constantly updating the store’s Instagram feed with new inventory and curated outfits. The all-female employees — who call themselves “Ecco babes” — communicated with customers via direct message or text to pick a T-shirt in the desired shade of lavender or the right size of camouflage jogger pants. “The community that came forward to support small businesses was unbelievable,” Allen said. Financial support also provided a crucial crutch. Ecco received two rounds of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans and a state grant. Her landlord, she said, checked in regularly to see how she was doing and sat with her on the bench in front of her store many times as she cried or fretted. “He would give me pep talks,” she said. “When we were all shut down, he let rent slide. And as I started to get back on my feet, we would come up with what would keep me going, what would keep me in business. And he would let me do that. And I’m now back to paying my full rent.” It made good business sense to offer longtime tenants like Allen the flexibility to stay afloat, said Steve Schonberg, one of Howard Opera House’s owners who manages its daily operation. Ecco’s continued success in such a prominent space benefits the building and all of Church Street, he added: “She has worked really hard and has built that business.” During the throes of the pandemic, Allen said, she would invariably cross paths with someone who recognized her and shared — from a six-foot distance — what a difference Ecco has made. One woman talked about a favorite green floral dress that she had bought at Ecco for a wedding years before. “The smallest things meant the world,” Allen said. “People sharing their heart with me, as they always have, and their lives with me ... Having that thread go through this past year in a really significant way was really, really important and really pulled us through.” m

INFO Bottom Line is a series on how Vermont businesses are faring during the pandemic. Got a tip? Email bottomline@sevendaysvt.com.

Fabulous Feline Foto Contest

WINNERS!

Humane

The Humane Society of Chittenden County’s 3rd Annual Fabulous Feline Foto Contest was a big success and a whole lot of fun! HSCC received a total of 54 photo submissions, over 5,400 votes, and raised $6,800! Thank you to everyone who participated and supported HSCC with your donations. Since 1901, HSCC has been providing services for animals & humans alike in our community. Funds raised will help fulfill our mission, strengthen our programs, and care for the more than 1,000 animals that come through our doors each year.

Society of Chittenden County SPONSORED BY:

People’s Choice

JAGER

“I adopted Jäger last October from HSCC when he was only a handful of kitten. His name was given to him by the shelter and since I’m German, I decided to keep it. I nicknamed him my “Lil Hurricane.” He loves to fill my bathtub with all of his toys and empty out my cabinets (which are now taped shut) and when I set his food bowl down he gives me a high five. He has a wonderful purrsonality and likes to snuggle. He is my purrfect companion! He was also born the day after my beloved cat of 17 years passed away. It was just meant to be.”

Judges’ Pick

MR. JACKPOTS

“Mister Jackpots was found as a stray near Milton and I adopted him from HSCC when he was not quite 1 year old. He’s the sweetest goof with his curled ear, big ol’ thumbs, and penchant for tongue bleps. He is FIV+ and is proving every day that cats facing that disease can live amazing, healthy, and happy lives.”

1T-HSCC050521.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

5/3/21 10:15 AM

Gilded Age

Burlington’s property reassessment has set record-high values. What’s the cost to residents? S TO RY BY SA SHA GOLDSTE IN & COU RTN E Y L AM D IN • P H O TO S BY L UK E AW TRY

THE DATA DIVE Seven Days used data on about 10,400 taxable Burlington properties that the city provided in mid-April. These data included addresses with previous assessed values and the new, preliminary property values the city assigned during the recent reassessment. We geocoded the property addresses to obtain latitude and longitude, then used those coordinates to identify each property’s city ward. We calculated the percent increase of each property relative to its previous valuation. We then averaged the percentages overall by each Burlington land use code, of which the city has nearly two dozen, and by ward. For more data and interactive graphics, visit sevendaysvt.com.

Kelly Brigham

elly Brigham has lived her entire life in Burlington’s only mobile home park. The resident-owned North Avenue Cooperative has 114 homes, including Brigham’s gray single-wide, purchased with an inheritance from her late mother in 2016. At the time, the city assessed the home for $69,300. Brigham, 54, has since paved her parking lot, installed a privacy fence and added an entrance ramp. Still, when the results of Burlington’s first citywide reassessment in 16 years arrived in mid-April, she was one of hundreds of homeowners who gasped at the numbers on their notices. The valuation of Brigham’s home had more than doubled, rising by nearly $100,000. She wasn’t alone: Around her neighborhood, the average mobile home had doubled in value, according to the city’s data. Some valuations had more than tripled. Park residents, who are among the city’s lowest-income homeowners, worry that the new values will mean higher taxes on the city bills they’ll receive in July. 26

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

“I thought I would be here for the rest of my life, but I’m not sure I can afford it,” Brigham told Seven Days soon after receiving her notice. “I don’t have anything else.” Brigham’s panic subsided a bit the following week when a city-hired firm announced it had overvalued the park’s

values, which have been driven up by a hot housing market. The last citywide revaluation happened in 2005, though some properties have been reassessed in the years since. A Seven Days analysis of property data the city provided in mid-April found that the average value of a single-family

A Seven Days analysis of property data found that the average value of a single-family home has risen to nearly $450,000. homes. Several residents had already appealed their valuations to the city, arguing that a double-wide would never sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The city is recalculating the values this week. Other Queen City neighborhoods and homeowners are less likely to see a blanket reconsideration of their newly assessed

home — the most prevalent property type in Burlington — has risen to nearly $450,000. That’s an average increase of 56 percent. Of single-family homes, the median value, which helps eliminate outliers on the higher and lower ends of the spectrum, is now $380,200. Before the reassessment, that figure was $237,250.

Seasonal homes, duplexes and apartment buildings citywide appreciated even more than single-family homes, the analysis shows. The data did not include about 400 tax-exempt properties, including churches, the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont Medical Center. The sharpest rise in single-family home values occurred in Ward 5 in the city’s South End and in Ward 3, which contains some of downtown and the Old North End. The average Ward 5 home was valued at $518,200 — a 65 percent increase. The new median value: $448,700. Burlington’s highest-valued single-family home, a mansion on 17 acres off South Prospect Street, nearly doubled in value, from about $3.5 million to $6.4 million. Even before the reassessment, taxes on the eightbedroom, seven full-bath and four half-bath Colonial estate came in at about $108,000. Its owner, philanthropist and racehorse breeder Amy Tarrant, could not be reached for comment. On the opposite end of the spectrum, just 66 of the city’s 10,400 properties lost value since they were last assessed. Many of those were commercial properties. The Burlington Country Club, for example, dropped nearly $1 million in assessed value. Hotels, too, saw marked decreases, losing a combined $13.3 million in valuation, largely due to travel restrictions and lost business during the coronavirus pandemic, according to City Assessor John Vickery.

The total value of all taxable property in Burlington increased by 61 percent. But Vickery says that preliminary number will likely shrink substantially — to closer to 40 percent — after appeals and other adjustments. The final grand list will be calculated in late June. The potential drop seems steep, but Vickery said a single change in a commercial property’s valuation can reduce the grand list by millions of dollars. The developers of the unbuilt CityPlace Burlington project, for example, have already appealed multiple properties they own downtown, including the infamous “pit,” according to Vickery. The coming reductions are unlikely to dramatically alter most homeowners’ property values. And if Vickery’s estimate is correct, and if the city budget is the same as the current one, people whose property values increased by more than 40 percent would pay higher taxes this coming fiscal year; those with smaller increases would pay less. Property owners won’t know their tax bill until both the municipal and education tax rates are set in June. Both rates will be lower to compensate for higher property values, as the city charter dictates that the citywide reassessment be revenue neutral. This year’s process did not involve indoor visits to most residential properties. Instead, the city’s consultant, Tyler Technologies, reviewed real estate sales information from 2017 through early 2021, permit histories and other city data to calculate valuations using an algorithm that also considered location, nearby schools and other amenities. Assessors reviewed high-definition photos, taken from the ground and the air, of all homes, and only entered residences upon request. They inspected every commercial property in the city, Vickery said. “The metric here is for fairness and equity,” Vickery said. “We want people to help us make corrections.” The new assessments have been the talk of the town, with residents trading horror stories about their new valuations and the steps they have taken to try to correct errors made by the city or Tyler Technologies. Others have pestered their city councilors or passed around spreadsheets detailing the winners and losers, noting that some high-profile names — including Mayor Miro Weinberger, whose Hill Section home went up just 29 percent — would likely see their taxes decrease. A lack of communication and transparency from the city has been frustrating, said Ben Katz, a Hill Section homeowner who has had two appeal hearings to try to lower his valuation.

Dave Davidson

WARD 7 WARD 4

53%

Average value increases of single-family homes in Burlington

“When you’re talking about fair and equitable — this is a small community; our neighborhoods are really close,” Katz said. “And you don’t want to look at a neighbor and be like, ‘Why are you paying $5,500 less in taxes a year for the same house?’” Appeals are a normal part of the process, and Vickery said the city encouraged property owners to request a hearing if something didn’t look right. About 18 percent, or 1,884 properties, were appealed by the April 30 deadline. Vickery, who has been the city’s assessor for 19 years, said the number of appeals this year was more than in 2005, though he did not provide the exact number. For many homeowners, this year’s assessment simply recognizes the fact

that their homes are worth more because of Burlington’s desirability. For years, demand for housing in the city — a university town that is the state’s economic center and a tourist destination — has outpaced its supply.

WARD 2

60%

WARD 3

70%

WARD 1

59%

The pandemic, coupled with low interest rates and a strong stock market, has only tightened the squeeze. In 2020, Burlington homes sold after being listed an average of 32 days, a rate twice as fast as the average northwest Vermont home, according to a market report from Coldwell Banker earlier this year. The upward pressure on home prices has been partly driven by out-of-state buyers who flocked to Vermont during the pandemic, scooping up $1.43 billion worth of Green Mountain State property, a report from the Vermont Center for Geographic Information shows. Sales to non-Vermonters jumped 38 percent between 2019 and 2020, exacerbating problems with supply that have plagued the state and, to a greater degree, Chittenden County. New construction isn’t keeping pace with demand, according to Staige Davis, the president of South Burlington-based Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty, the state’s highest-volume brokerage. And many Vermont residents aren’t moving — in-state, anyway — because the market is too tight. Instead, they’re staying in their homes and planning renovations or other upgrades, which in turn has raised prices on goods such as lumber and made new appliances hard to find.

WARD 8 WARD 6 WARD 5

69%

56%

67%

GILDED AGE SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

» P.28 27

Gilded Age « P.27 Contractors are busy — as is Davis’ firm, which assisted sellers and buyers on $1.4 billion in transactions across Vermont and New Hampshire last year. Most listings now attract multiple offers, Davis said; some folks are sending the sellers “love letters” to explain why they deserve the home, a practice Davis doesn’t endorse. “It’s been crazy,” he said. Each year, the state reviews three years of property sales data to determine each towns’ common level of appraisal, a number that compares assessed values to market prices to determine whether a town is contributing enough to the state education fund. A single year of hot sales could be just a blip in the state’s calculations. But if prices continue to skyrocket, they could knock home values out of whack and force a municipality to reassess, said Casey Michael O’Hara, program director for the Vermont Department of Taxes’ Division of Property Valuation and Review. The state steps in whenever home values in a community dip below 85 percent or above 115 percent of their fair market value. Burlington’s common level of appraisal was 74.77 percent before its revaluation, making it one of the most under-assessed cities in the state. South Burlington recently underwent a reassessment, too. Vickery, the city assessor, acknowledged that the pandemic drove residential valuations higher and depressed some commercial buildings’ worth. Both property types could theoretically be reassessed in the coming years if their respective markets changed substantially, he said. But, he noted, “this is what the market is telling us today.” Vickery seemed confident that Burlington’s inflated home market is here to stay. The last time there was a nationwide housing bubble, in the lead-up to the Great Recession of 2008, Burlington’s balloon never really popped, he noted. In any case, the findings should not overly burden many of those whose assessments have increased, he said, which he described as “just resetting the equity.” Those with spikes in value “should be thankful that their valuation has increased their property value, because it can sell for more,” Vickery said. “They’ve been underpaying [taxes]. And the folks that have had a more modest increase technically have been subsidizing the other folks.” That’s little consolation to Dave Davidson, a real estate agent whose Pitkin Street home increased in value by 155 percent. Given the number of properties that appreciated, and significantly, 28

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Mary Manghis and Glenn Eames

I don’t see how people are going to be able to afford to live here in Burlington. GLE NN E AME S

he’s struggling to determine whose taxes wouldn’t go up. “It’s just unfathomable to me — I can’t figure out a way the math works,” he said. “It just seems, for all of these comforting reassurances that it’s somehow making it more equitable, all it really seems to be doing is favoring people who have tremendous disposable income that don’t really have to think about these things.” He continued, “Like it’s just some sort of game where [officials] can pat themselves on the back that, you know, ‘Oh, we made it more equitable.’ But, like, how? For who? Did they make it more equitable by making it more expensive for the low-income and less expensive for the high-income?” To better understand the effects that Davidson and other property owners are worried about, Seven Days analyzed city data to identify reassessment hot spots and talked with property owners across the city — in low- and middle-income neighborhoods, along a busy retail and restaurant corridor, and in a secluded community of summer homes.

Old North Enders

As redeveloper Stu McGowan’s family had dinner one night in 2006, one of his daughters, who was home for college, kept looking out the window of their Old North End home with a puzzled look on her face. Finally, she burst out, “What the hell is going on with all of these people jogging in my neighborhood?” A demographic shift was under way in the working-class bastion, one that has only accelerated in the 15 years since. Single-family homes in Ward 3 are now valued at an average of 70 percent more than when they were last assessed. In Ward 2, the increase was about 60 percent. Historically, the Old North End has been a landing spot for the city’s immigrant communities. French Canadians flocked there, as did Eastern European Jews, who created a “Little Jerusalem” many decades ago. Some owned stores along North Street, which is now dotted with Southeast Asian markets operated by New Americans who arrived after Burlington became a refugee resettlement community in 1980.

McGowan and his wife, Joan Watson, raised their kids at their Intervale Avenue home, where they still live. Stu and Joan considered themselves pioneers when they moved to the neighborhood in the late 1980s. It was a working-class and affordable place; the couple had college degrees, unlike most of their neighbors. Abandoned homes blighted some streets. The area was considered unsafe and drug-ridden; living there carried a stigma. “What they did not have,” McGowan said, referring to his kids, “what nobody in this neighborhood had, was any social capital at all. If you ever told anybody you were from the Old North End, you would be immediately shut out of everything.” Glenn Eames remembers the ribbing he received in 1991 when he told some cop friends that he and his wife had bought a home on Murray Street. “They were like, ‘You’re crazy for moving into that part of town,’” said Eames, a former partner in outdoor gear store Skirack. He later started the Old Spokes Home bike shop.

AT-HOME TIRE & CAR SERVICE He and his wife, Mary Manghis, paid about $85,000 for their three-bedroom house. “We liked the neighborhood. We liked the house,” Eames said. “And it was an opportunity. This is what we could afford.” Affordability drew the next wave of newcomers in the late 1990s, according to McGowan. Many were artists drawn to “a great neighborhood with cheap housing” who were willing to live with “leaky faucets or whatever” because they weren’t making much money. McGowan, an independent video producer at the time, began buying and rehabbing rental properties in the neighborhood around 2000. What started with a building or two turned into 15 that contained 30 total units by the time a citywide reassessment rolled around in 2005. McGowan was shocked when his tax bill increased by $80,000. He had — and still has — a policy of not raising rents for current tenants. Rather than break that promise in 2005, McGowan said he went on a buildingbuying spree. His empire of houses that he paints in neon-bright colors now numbers nearly 30 properties with approximately 80 units. “If I didn’t expand and buy more, I would have gone bankrupt real fast,” he said. The most recent tide of new residents started arriving around 2005. Many were millennials just out of college “who craved what the Old North End was,” McGowan said. “A real neighborhood, real community, real cool corner stores, really cool people,” McGowan said. “You know, it was a sea change in attitude. And it wasn’t just that they had lower rents, but they wanted to be able to walk or bike downtown. They wanted to rub shoulders with people of color and poor people. They wanted that, whereas in the past, nobody wanted that.” McGowan despises the G-word — gentrification. Instead, he calls the neighborhood changes “diversification.” New businesses soon followed the new residents. North Winooski Avenue, once lined with empty commercial spaces, became hot. The thoroughfare is now home to some of the city’s most popular restaurants, which serve cuisines from around the world and draw people from Burlington and beyond. Eames’ reassessment reflects the neighborhood’s recent revival: The city valued his Murray Street home at $422,200, a 111 percent increase from the $200,000 assessment in 2005. Using a city calculator that estimates taxes for next year, Eames found that his bill would rise about $3,000, to more than $9,000.

Eames, 68, and his wife are retired and on a fixed income. They worry about the impact the reassessment could have on their finances. “It’s not like we have an opportunity here to renovate and rent a portion of it to offset any tax increases or whatever,” he said. He also worries about his neighbors, some of whom have lived in the area longer and would be less able to afford an increase. And he said he worries about the future of the city, too. “I don’t see how people are going to be able to afford to live here in Burlington, to be able to buy, and then be able to afford the taxes,” Eames said. While he and his wife love living in Burlington, Eames said, who would move in if they left? “Take a young family in their midthirties: What sort of income would you have to generate to be able to afford paying the taxes to live here?”

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Priced Out

In the 1970s, property owners began turning the Old North End’s single-family homes into duplexes or multiunit apartment houses, making the neighborhood into a renters’ haven. The area is now home to about 1,310 rental properties, nearly 42 percent of all such properties in the city. Rental properties in Ward 3 went up in assessed value by about 72 percent; in Ward 2, about 68 percent. Some worry those increases will mean higher taxes — and higher rents. “That’s the most likely outcome,” said City Councilor Brian Pine (P-Ward 3), who is interim coordinator for the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition. Landlords “may be able to keep rents from increasing very much until some big cost hits them,” he added. “By and large, most of them will pass that cost on to tenants.” Burlington landlord Mark Porter, who owns 26 units, says he won’t hesitate to raise rents if his taxes go up dramatically — and he worries they might. Porter spent about $900,000 on an 18-unit apartment building at 71-73 Elmwood Avenue in 2018, when it was assessed at $852,700. Three years later, the property is valued at $1.8 million. Porter has appealed the valuation. “No decrease in property tax rates is going to lower this below what [I was] currently paying,” he said, adding, “If there’s an increase, I would just have to raise the rents accordingly.” Porter said he absorbs other annual costs, such as the heating bill, without GILDED AGE

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Gilded Age « P.29 raising tenants’ rents. Even when taxes go up, Porter said he considers whether collecting more rent would be worth losing a good tenant. But now that he’s retired, Porter said he depends more on his rental income. Renter Rachel Cronin said she’d understand if her landlord raised the rent for her one-bedroom apartment on Canfield Street in the Old North End — especially since the property’s valuation nearly doubled. While she could handle a moderate increase, she is concerned that lower-income renters in her neighborhood may struggle. “In one way it feels fair: This property should not be assessed at that low amount given what everything else sells for in Burlington,” Cronin said. “But on the other hand, it’s not gonna be the landlords that pay this; it’s gonna be the renters. And that sucks.” Cronin, who works at the University of Vermont, has rented in Burlington since 2010 but has been house-hunting since last summer. Though she’d like to buy in the Queen City, Cronin’s recent searches yielded disappointing results: A twobedroom, two-bathroom townhouse-style home in Burlington’s South End is listed for $459,000; an 800-square-foot condo on Main Street is the same size as Cronin’s apartment but would cost her more per month. Cronin has even made offers well above asking price on homes in Chittenden County’s outer suburbs. “It’s just not enough,” she said. “People are coming in with cash offers for these tiny places … It’s bonkers.” Laine Margolin, Cronin’s real estate agent, said she’s seen an influx of buyers who opt to skip the typical bank appraisal and home inspection to win bidding wars. They often pay in cash, pricing out her clients, who have offered up to $100,000 over the asking price just to compete. “I’m telling my buyers, ‘Really, it comes down to how badly you want it, more than what I think it’s actually worth,’ which is a strange thing to say to somebody,” she said. “That is pretty much the conversation I’m having, seemingly weekly.” Cronin’s difficulty finding a home isn’t unique, according to Maura Collins, executive director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, which finances mortgages and provides down payment assistance to first-time buyers. Not only are home prices escalating, but so are rents, Collins said, making it difficult for renters to save up for a home. Compounding the issue is the lack of housing stock, specifically starter homes in Cronin’s price range, Collins said. And buyers making cash offers aren’t helping, either. 30

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Carolyn Phelps Little and Tom Little

People are coming in with cash offers for these tiny places … It’s bonkers. RACHE L C R O NIN

One factor that’s not to blame? The reassessments, Collins argues. “The real concern here is the lack of affordable housing, the chronic shortage of units and the limited incomes that people have to be able to live near where they work,” she said. “This issue is just shining a light on a market reality.” Collins commended the steps Burlington has already taken to combat these trends, such as its inclusionary zoning policy, which requires that developers build a certain percentage of “affordable” units in larger developments. She also applauded zoning changes that streamlined the process for building accessory dwelling units — small apartments within a home or on the same lot as a single-family dwelling — and that did away with parking

minimums in some areas of the city, reducing the cost to develop more housing. Mayor Weinberger said he looks forward to discussing other policies this summer at the city’s second housing summit. The mayor, who was a housing developer before taking office, said he’s interested in the Missing Middle Housing initiative being championed by the AARP, a national nonprofit that advocates for senior citizens. The effort seeks to boost the creation of small- to midsize multiunit homes for middle-income buyers in walkable neighborhoods. While some residents may fear that new zoning rules would degrade their neighborhood’s character, Weinberger said the alternative is far worse. “More and more middle-class and lower-income households are being priced entirely out of Burlington,” he said, adding that it would be worthwhile to explore other housing models “if we are going to seriously expand homeownership opportunities in Burlington and do something about these dramatic upward market pressures.”

‘Affordable’ Housing?

For years, Champlain Housing Trust has bought, rehabbed and resold affordable housing stock, using programs that make it easier for people with lower incomes to purchase their own homes. Under one program, the trust makes the down payment for a buyer, who is

then responsible for the mortgage. When that buyer is ready to sell, they keep only a quarter of the appreciated value; the rest goes toward the down payment for the next buyer. In some cases, the trust owns the land the homes sit on and remains on the deed for each transaction to ensure the long-term affordability. Champlain Housing Trust has such resale restrictions on 243 homes in the city, including 87 in the Old North End and 58 in the South End. Fourteen percent are owned by people of color, who have purchased 25 percent of trust homes sold during the last five years, according to Chris Donnelly, the nonprofit’s spokesperson. Several homeowners have called with concerns about the new valuation, Donnelly said. “We’ve been advising people how to appeal, but we’re not representing anybody,” he said. State law limits taxing this affordable housing stock to just 60 to 70 percent of its assessed value. Despite those limits, the homeowners could receive a much bigger tax bill after the recent reassessment, which valued some of these trust-acquired properties at many times their prior worth. That’s what happened to Davidson, the Pitkin Street resident. He could not have afforded his place without assistance when he bought it in 2006, he said. The trust program put about $80,000 toward the $185,000 purchase price of the threebedroom half of a duplex. The city last

assessed it at about $91,000. This year, the assessment jumped to $232,600 — a 155 percent increase. While he understands paying his fair share, Davidson worries that what he gets for his taxes is losing value. F-35 jets scream by overhead; the city high school his daughter attended is now shuttered and could be torn down while she attends class in a former Macy’s building. “There’s nothing that anchors real estate value like a good school district,” he said. “So when word gets out that we don’t have a functional high school and real estate values start plummeting, then we’re locked into this rosy, high-peak estimation of our value. There’s a really dangerous mismatch there.” Davidson is concerned he’ll have to pay hundreds, maybe thousands, more in taxes. He didn’t file an appeal, though, because he doesn’t think he has a case, “other than, ‘It’s not fair.’” “The city councilors are quick to reassure us that, ‘Oh, it’s revenue neutral,’ which really is not the same thing as saying your taxes will not increase,” Davidson said. “What matters most to the homeowner is, What am I going to be paying? How am I going to adjust to this discomfort?” The city, however, would argue that Davidson had been underpaying his taxes for years. He bought the place for

twice the amount the city had valued it, meaning he was paying taxes based on an assessment that was lower than his home’s worth. “Will it force me out? I don’t know; it’s definitely taking a loss, and it definitely feels not good,” Davidson said. “Is it gonna break me? I don’t want to admit that anything is gonna break me. But, you know, eventually you get a little fed up.”

Trouble in Paradise

Starr Farm Beach is a world apart from the affordability struggle. Tucked away on Burlington’s lakefront in the New North End, it’s a neighborhood few know exists. Thirty-four seasonal second homes, or camps, line the shore. Built around the turn of the 20th century on land owned by the late Burlington entrepreneur John J. Flynn, the properties were summer escapes for local working-class families. While other camps on the city’s Lake Champlain shoreline have been torn down and replaced with year-round homes, Starr Farm Beach has remained seasonal, opening when the city turns on the water in late April and closing in the first week of November, according to Bill Parkhill, the president of the community’s homeowners’ GILDED AGE

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Gilded Age « P.31 association, who has spent summers there since he was a boy in the 1950s. That was one reason the owners were shocked when they received their reassessment notices. Their values jumped by an average of 488 percent — or about $434,612 compared to previous assessments. During the intervening years, some homes were torn down and replaced or underwent significant renovations, meaning their owners could expect higher assessed values. But Tom Little, whose grandfather bought their family’s camp in 1929, said he did little but paint and keep the place up. The property he and his sister own increased in value by 1,200 percent, from $43,700 to $571,900 this year — a jump of $528,200. He and other owners also pay extra taxes on the structures because they are all second homes. “People were stunned to get the bills,” said Little, an attorney and former state legislator who lives in Shelburne. He has also represented Seven Days in legal matters. Homeowners’ assessments are calculated purely on the value of their houses, according to Parkhill. The association leases the land itself, plus common areas, from Flynn’s estate and pays a separate tax bill on that — about $155,000 last year, Parkhill said. The reassessment lowered the land tax burden and raised the values of the structures themselves. The previous valuation on the association’s land was about $5.1 million; the latest is $1.1 million, a decrease of about 74.8 percent. Vickery said the decrease in the land value takes into account the fact that it is subject to the lease and therefore undevelopable for another seven decades or so. The camps, meanwhile, are very valuable, according to Vickery. The city compared them to others similarly situated around the state, including some in Colchester. And there are comparable sales on Starr Farm Beach itself. In the last three years, one home sold for about $550,000, and another for about $700,000. One four-bedroom, two-bathroom camp has been on the market for about a year, with an asking price of $425,000. It was previously assessed at $57,600, though the 2021 revaluation bumped it up to about $395,000. “We noticed that our assessments were very low, and we want to correct that problem,” Vickery said. “We’re supposed to appraise them for what they’d sell for. I think we’ve done that — there’ll probably be a couple of corrections — but I think overall we’ve done that.” Thirty-two Starr Farm Beach property owners requested appeals, Vickery said. The city now plans to take another look at the neighborhood’s data to ensure the new valuations are accurate, he added. 32

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Pat Robins, a philanthropist and retired Burlington businessman, worries the new tax hits could force families out of the community. Many “are pretty average folks” and not multimillionaires, he said. Robins’ grandfather built a camp in 1922, and Robins, now 82, bought a place of his own — Flynn’s original camp — in 1972 for $17,500. It’s now valued at $782,700. He can weather the increase. Others, some of whom go back several generations, cannot. “This will break it up. That’s the problem,” Robins said. “Not this year, but over the next few years … I’d hate to see that. I think it’s a wonderful institution.”

Johanne Yordan

‘Pint Street’

Perhaps no Burlington neighborhood has changed more in the last 15 years than the Pine Street corridor. Once an industrial area that became a haven for artists, it’s now a thriving strip, home to one of the city’s biggest employers — Dealer.com — stores, restaurants, art galleries and several breweries. The city’s well-loved farmers market sets up in a Pine Street parking lot each summer Saturday. Cementing its status as a complete neighborhood? City Market, Onion River Co-op opened a South End branch on Flynn Avenue, just off Pine, in 2017. The neighborhood’s status as a beer destination has even landed it a local nickname. “At first I giggled when I heard somebody refer to Pine Street as ‘Pint’ Street,” said Johanne Yordan, who lives on Birchcliff Parkway, less than 1,000 feet from two breweries. “There’s a lot of good things. You want all these small businesses to flourish, to thrive, but it brings a lot of tourists and it brings a lot of traffic.” Steve Conant remembers when he and other artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs flocked to the strip, which runs through the city’s South End, in the early 1980s. Former warehouses made great, cheap studio spaces where he could experiment with his now-famous metal creations. He still owns 270 Pine Street, which he bought in 1984 for $50,000. Its value now: $435,000, a 125 percent increase over its most recent valuation. His tax hit is even higher because the city taxes commercial buildings at 120 percent of their value. Conant acknowledges that the hike won’t put him out of business, though. Twenty years ago, he bought the next-door Soda Plant building, which he recently remodeled and from where he runs his business, Conant Metal & Light. He’s done well for himself. He’s tried to pay that back by keeping rents affordable for young entrepreneurs hoping to make a go of it, especially on Pine

Street, which Conant is dedicated to trying to keep funky. But he worries that the new assessments will make the area even more exclusive than it’s already become. Conant has been successful at keeping an incubator-type vibe in his buildings, but, he said, the area is “now attractive to more mature, profitable businesses and investors. “So there’s risk in what’s happened,” he said.

dozens of people at planning meetings expressed fear that new housing would jack up rents in commercial spaces and drive out artists and small businesses. A group of artists even erected an installation titled “Miroville,” a cardboard house wedged into a green space, to mock the mayor’s pro-housing agenda. The Weinberger administration had argued that the dearth of housing in the coveted area was

More and more middle-class and lower-income households are being priced entirely out of Burlington. M AYO R M I R O WEI N B ER G ER

Conant and City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) were both involved with a zoning rewrite in the early 2000s that allowed a wider variety of businesses to operate in the “enterprise zone,” an area encompassing the Pine Street strip. In 2019, the rules were modified again to allow Burton to build a planned entertainment hub featuring Higher Ground, the state’s largest performing arts venue. The South End City Market also needed a zoning change. One use that’s still not allowed in the zone? Housing. A proposal to change that touched off a heated debate in 2015, when

driving up housing costs, but the mayor eventually relented. “While we were not ready as a community to expand housing opportunities in the South End several years ago, I do think this is a conversation we will need to revisit in targeted, strategic ways in the years ahead,” Weinberger said in an emailed statement. “For housing to truly be a human right, for our community to be truly inclusive and welcoming, for us to meet our climate emergency goals, we need to create a lot more homes. The South End needs to be part of that solution.”

With no new housing developments in the pipeline, the existing stock in neighborhoods on both sides of Pine Street is in high demand. Councilor Shannon, a real estate agent, said South End homes had been selling for twice their assessed value even before the pandemic boom, which has only exacerbated the situation. Where many buyers were once looking to downsize, they’re now seeking homes with a “Zoom room” for each family member, Shannon said. Ward 6’s Hill Section, known for its larger abodes, has become more desirable as a result, she said. “Multiple kids all trying to attend school at the same time, and parents, many of whom are also working remotely — it has put a lot of pressure on the home itself,” Shannon said. “It’s happening all across the country.” Erik and Kathryn Trinkaus moved to Ward 6 from Missouri in 2019 after they both retired from Washington University in St. Louis. They rented in Colchester for a year before they bought on Cliff Street just as the pandemic began last March. They paid about $520,000 for the home, which the city had valued at $374,000 in 2005. They have since put about $100,000 in upgrades into the place. Their new valuation, though, blew them away: $876,600.

The couple later learned the city had incorrectly recorded some information that had increased the value of their home. They pleaded their case at an appeal hearing last month. The reassessment was a rude awakening for the new arrivals. “We have worried about whether it will change the nature of our neighborhood,” Kathryn said. “This is a very pleasant, family-oriented neighborhood with a mix of young families and older folks. We’d hate to see that change.” The Birchcliff Parkway area, where Yordan lives, has also become more attractive. The network of midcentury homes, arranged on streets named after tree and plant species, is trendy despite boasting less square footage than the “Sears catalog homes” of the older Five Sisters neighborhood, Shannon said. A handful have turned over to new owners during the pandemic. A three-bedroom split-level ranch near Yordan’s house, valued at $286,000 before the reassessment, sold in January for $528,500 — $65,000 more than its new assessment. That same month, another three-bedroom on nearby Bittersweet Lane, which was valued at $234,300 prior to the reassessment, sold for $431,000. Yordan’s family is one of the originals. In 1966, her father purchased the home where she still lives, one of the first to be built in the development. The working-class neighborhood was safe and isolated, Yordan said, recalling playing in the streets with her friends until dinnertime. Many of their fathers worked at the former General Electric plant on nearby Lakeside Avenue. Yordan considered selling her childhood home and met with a real estate agent last fall. She had just learned that Burlington High School, where her 16-year-old daughter was enrolled, was contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. And she’s long been frustrated by the city’s high taxes. She wanted out. But Yordan soon realized that she couldn’t compete with other buyers’ cash offers if she went in search of a new home. Her daughter will transfer to a new high school in the fall, solving one problem. The reassessment, however, has caused Yordan to reconsider staying put. Her home’s value, which she has appealed, increased by 50 percent, to $434,600. She fears that she and her neighbors will owe even more taxes. “Most of us have a really, really hard time believing that Burlington isn’t going to start taxing us a lot more,” she said. “If it’s not this next tax bill coming in, it’ll be the next one.” m

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Plant Magic

Sunflowers and hemp could reduce lead in Burlington soil B Y M ARG A RET G RAYSON • margaret@sevendaysvt.com

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

COURTESY OF LAURA HILL

hen Laura Hill bought a house in Burlington’s Old North End, she was warned about the lead. Until it was banned in the U.S. in 1978, lead paint was used in many homes. Lead remediation had been done inside the home, but Hill said there were likely still high levels of lead on and around the outside walls and in the soil. “It struck me, because it was my neighborhood and I saw people growing food in their yards next to their house,” she said. Hill is a plant biologist and senior lecturer at the University of Vermont. “I’m always looking for ways to improve life with plants,” she said. In 2019, Hill and an undergraduate student, Mariah Cronin, launched a research project to see whether phytoremediators — plants that clean up the environment around them — could successfully reduce the presence of lead and other heavy metals in soil. Sponsored by the Environmental Program at UVM, they planted sunflowers and hemp (Cannabis sativa), two known phytoremediators, at their research site in the ONE — that is, Hill’s backyard. First, they tested the soil for lead in 90 separate plots of the yard. The levels came up highly variable, from 29 to 1,600 parts per million. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines dangerous lead levels in bare soil as higher than 400 parts per million in areas where children play and higher than 1,220 parts per million elsewhere. Then Hill and Cronin planted three “treatments”: hemp, sunflowers and a combination of the two. All plants take up some amount of whatever is in the soil, but phytoremediators are particularly good at absorbing and sequestering pollution. Hemp plants were even used to remove heavy metals from soil near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster site in the 1990s. In the case of hemp and sunflowers, the metals are held in the spaces between cells, so there’s no negative impact on the plant itself. At the end of the season, if the plant is disposed of properly — removed from the site instead of composted — the metals go with it. “Plants that are known phytoremediators are plants that create a lot of biomass,” Hill said. “That just means they grow really big.” In the case of sunflowers, the metals

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are stored mainly in the stem and leaves, meaning there’s not much heightened risk to the animals that feed on the seeds. Hill and Cronin’s experiment proved successful: The hemp plots had a 48 percent decline in lead levels, sunflower plots a 70 percent decline, and the mixed plots a 68 percent decline. There was a complicating factor, though: Five hemp plants were stolen from Hill’s yard that summer. She posted social media warnings not to try to smoke the plants, because the level of THC wasn’t enough to get anyone high, plus they were likely loaded with heavy metals.

“Whoever got these plants didn’t get anything out of it and potentially could have gotten neurotoxic effects,” Hill said. At the end of the season, she and Cronin bagged up the plants and disposed of them at the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Environmental Depot, eliminating the lead they’d absorbed from Hill’s yard. Hill began working with Burlington’s Community Economic Development Office to spread the word about the power of the phytoremediators and wants to continue that outreach this summer. “We’re always trying to figure out ways to spread the word on lead poisoning prevention,” said Margaret Williams, Burlington’s Lead Program coordinator. Her team plans to distribute sunflower seeds this year. Williams said there aren’t many other options for homeowners to remove the lead from their soils. Her main recommendation is to cover bare soil with grass, stones or mulch; avoid tracking soil inside

the house; and teach kids to wash their hands. Lead is particularly dangerous to children younger than 6 and can affect the body in a variety of ways, such as stunting growth and causing learning disabilities, hearing loss and seizures. Small children are also the most likely to end up with dirt or paint in their mouths. Plants’ capacity for absorption means that people gardening in lead-heavy soils could be consuming the metals. Leafy greens such as kale and lettuce are particularly likely to absorb lead, Hill said. Williams suggested gardening in raised beds and avoiding growing food in greenbelts by the roadside, because emissions from leaded gasoline, which wasn’t phased out until 1995, deposited lead in those soils. The public can have soil tested for lead at the UVM Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab. m

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

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Finding the Thread Newly opened Junction Fiber Mill turns sheep farmers’ wool into yarn B Y M ARG A RET G RAYSON • margaret@sevendaysvt.com

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

PHOTOS: SARAH PRIESTAP

n White River Junction, among a bevy of hulking metal machines, Amanda Kievet and Peggy Allen are making yarn. In April, the pair opened Junction Fiber Mill, a boutique mill to process fleece from Vermont’s small-scale sheep farmers. The industrial space houses half a dozen large machines, some 80 years old. There’s a machine to hoist sopping bags of fleece in and out of steaming hot water, a machine to pick the fleece apart and make it fluffy, machines to comb the fibers to prep the fleece, and a machine to spin it all into skeins of yarn. Running all this equipment is new to Kievet, 29, and Allen, 63, two knitters who came to Vermont from careers in web development and broadcasting and met at a farmers market in 2019. But they believe the mill fills a gap in the state’s agricultural infrastructure. In 2017, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture farm census, there were 704 sheep farms in Vermont, 541 of which had 24 animals or fewer. “There’s a real shortage of ... cottage mills, or mini-mills, that service sheep farmers,” Allen explained. “There are some mills that have two-year wait lists.” She would know. Allen, who used to run the Live Well Network for the DisneyABC Television Group, now raises sheep at Savage Hart Farm, which she owns with her husband, Todd. One recent season, she went all the way to Harrisburg, Pa., to get her fleece processed. Last year, she had a disappointing experience at another mill where she found the quality lacking. After their meeting in 2019, Allen invited Kievet and her husband, Cody Williams, to help shear sheep at Savage Hart Farm. Before that could happen, though, Allen had an injury that landed her in the hospital for weeks. Kievet and Williams showed up to help shear in her absence and ended up moving onto the farm to help Todd with lambing season. “We knew nothing about sheep, except that they were cute, and I liked to knit,” Kievet said. On their first night, Kievet and Williams helped deliver triplets. From then on, it was a full-time job for several weeks. When Allen recovered, the farmers gifted Kievet and Williams with two ewes as thanks for their hard work. That bond laid the groundwork for their ambitious new venture: the mill.

Amanda Kievet (left) and Peggy Allen

Kievet and Allen bought their equipment from Michael Hampton, who operated a small mill in Richmond. In 2017, Hampton stopped taking custom processing orders from sheep farmers to focus on making his own yarn, leaving a gap in the market. Kievet and Allen had joked about buying Hampton’s milling equipment, but it took a pandemic-induced revelation to make Kievet really interested. “I was so excited about this idea, not knowing any of the hard work it would take to get to today. And, luckily, she wanted [to go] along,” Kievet said of Allen. In 2020, Kievet and Allen made an offer on Hampton’s mill equipment, plus training from him in its operation and maintenance. Finding a physical space was another matter. They needed a lot of square footage and cement floors that could support thousands of pounds of metal. Once they found the space and moved the machines in, they started making yarn right away

BUSINESS

Peggy Allen working in the mill

using wool from Allen’s sheep. They were thrilled with the results. “I think that this yarn that we made for [Allen] this year has been one of the finest that [she’s] had, really,” Kievet said.

“That’s been a huge confidence boost, to look at what other mills have done and just feel like we are competitive.” Kievet noted that savings from their big-city careers were vital to helping the

Get lost in the moment and find your best self. women purchase the equipment and secure the space. “It is a very nice, cute dream to have a yarn mill — but it is expensive,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for mill owners that this is a second career for them.” Kievet and Allen are confident that the demand for their services is there. Hampton, the previous owner of the machinery, told Seven Days that he oper-

IT’S OUR HONOR

TO PROCESS SOMEONE’S HARD-EARNED FLEECE. A M A N D A KIEV ET

what the end product is. But I also find it fascinating.” A few weeks ago, Kievet lost a tiny O-ring inside one of the machines, and she and Allen spent hours taking apart the greasy machinery looking for it and driving around town for a replacement part. Allen said she struggled with learning the ins and outs of the machines, which have dozens of moving parts that need incremental adjustment for an ideal result. “I’ll be honest with you,” she said. “I’m 63. What the hell am I doing learning all this equipment? I had a lot of anxiety.” But she and Kievet had experience facing hardship together after the lambing season when Allen was injured. They

Amanda Kievet holding yarn

ated on a constant six-month backlog from the moment he started processing wool in 2009. “There’s definitely a nice little niche market,” he said. Vermont has other mills, including Mad River Fiber Arts & Mill in Waitsfield, Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio in Brandon, and the Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney. But Hampton said the equipment Kievet and Allen now own and operate is unique. “They’re doing a really fantastic job,” Hampton said. He added that he’s happy “to have [the equipment] stay in Vermont and have it go to somebody else who is as passionate about it as I am.” Getting the mill running hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing. Neither woman had experience working with heavy machinery before this venture. “The goal was yarn and wool and sheep and fiber,” Kievet said, “[but] the reality is cold, hard metal, grease, heaviness, sharpness, things that could take your arm off. It’s very contrasted with

supported each other through the learning curve. “Having a partner is invaluable,” Allen said. “When there are problems to be solved, it’s good to have a partner, and when there are things to celebrate, it’s good to have a partner.” Junction Fiber Mill opened for yarn processing on May 1. Kievet and Allen have already had interest from as far away as Maine and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Kievet said that farmers need to be able to put “an immense amount of trust” in their miller. “It’s our honor to process someone’s hard-earned fleece,” she said, “because we know everything that goes into shepherding a flock through the middle of winter, when you’re out there solving a water problem because it’s freezing or you’re in the barn delivering lambs at two in the morning. There’s so much passion that goes into this stuff.” m

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

4/2/21 9:23 AM

‘Eileen Was a Doer’ EILEEN SCHILLING, April 13, 1958-March 19, 2021 BY S AL LY P O L L AK • sally@sevendaysvt.com

he daffodils are blooming along the driveway to Horsford Gardens & Nursery in Charlotte. At the edge of the greenhouses, tulips that two weeks ago were bent and obscured by spring snow have rebounded in vibrant colors. The black locust trees by the garden shop, growing side by side for a century, will soon leaf out. The two trees were in rough shape when Eileen Schilling and Charlie Proutt purchased Horsford 35 years ago. The couple planted a flower garden around the trees, built a small stone wall, and rerouted a road that ran past them. Before long, the black locusts “started growing STORIES like teenagers,” according to Proutt. Many projects “Life Stories” is a took root and monthly series grew at Horsford profiling Vermonters over the decades who have recently that Schilling and died. Know of Proutt owned and someone we should operated the busiwrite about? Email us at lifestories@ ness. They include sevendaysvt.com. the creation of propagation and display gardens, the installation of antique greenhouses, and the activities of actual teenagers — their three children — who grew up in the family’s home at the nursery. This season at Horsford is dedicated to Schilling, who died of cancer on March 19. Her death occurred a month before she was to turn 63, a mid-April birthday that coincides with the start of the gardening season. “Eileen has been the voice and tone of the nursery for decades,” Proutt wrote in a company newsletter. “We will strive to listen to her guidance in planting, in working, and in sharing plant expertise as we find a way to carry on.” Schilling was a dynamo who stood barely five feet tall and weighed about 100 pounds. She loved cosmos and zinnias and worked in every part of the nursery, driving around the grounds in a gray pickup truck, propped up in the driver’s seat with pillows. Visitors to Horsford might find her in the greenhouse, in the field of perennials or at the garden center retail shop. “Eileen was a doer,” Proutt said. “She wasn’t a manager. She was a doer.” Schilling was a student at the University of Vermont, studying early childhood

LIFE

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HORSFORD GARDENS & NURSERY

2021

Eileen Schilling watering plants at Horsford Gardens & Nursery

Eileen Schilling

education, when she and Proutt got together. They met through her roommate, who worked on the landscaping crew at Horsford with Proutt. “I ended up taking her out to the Last Chance Saloon,” Proutt recalled, referencing the long-gone basement bar on Main Street in Burlington. “We sat at the bar and drank — the way people used to meet.” Schilling and Proutt were married in 1983 at Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen.

Eileen Schilling working at Horsford

Together, they raised a son and two daughters, now in their thirties, and ran Horsford, which they purchased as young employees of the business. Schilling was a “greenhouse girl,” as the position was called 40 years ago.

“This was a big step for us to buy Horsford,” Proutt explained, adding that he and his wife borrowed the full price to purchase it — $285,000. Founded in 1893 by noted botanists Frederick Horsford and Cyrus Pringle, the business was failing when Schilling and Proutt took over. “It took a long time to make money, and we did it the best we could,” Proutt said. “You have to love horticulture, or else you can’t make it work.” Greenhouse manager Steve Davidson said he owes his career to Schilling. She taught him about plants, gave him autonomy and the opportunity to pursue his own interests, and demonstrated the drive for hard work. Schilling and Proutt created and ran an ethical workplace, he said. “I was basically being paid to learn how plants are grown,” Davidson, 33, said. “It’s invaluable. I get to spend the rest of my career teaching other people what I was given.” Schilling grew up in Middletown Township, N.J., a town near the shore at Sandy Hook. She was the third child in a family of seven kids, with grandparents and cousins nearby. Summer days were spent riding bikes, swimming in the ocean and

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her grandparents’ pool — and weeding and eating from her father’s quarter-acre vegetable garden. “I don’t think we liked it so much when were forced to [weed],” said Margy Schilling, Eileen’s older sister. “But quite a few of us are still into gardening today.” Eileen Schilling left New Jersey for a year of college in Boston and Los Angeles before winding up at UVM. En route east from California, she traveled by bus to Phoenix, and then “hitched a ride with a bunch of strangers” from Phoenix to New York City, Schilling’s son, Henri Proutt, said. She was to meet her father at the Port Authority, a bus terminal in midtown Manhattan.

Eileen Schilling at Horsford

SHE WAS JUST A FABULOUS MOTHER. NA OM I GR EEN WALD

Looking around the bus terminal, Greg Schilling didn’t see his daughter. But he did see people moving out of the way, making room for a diminutive person pushing through the crowd, an Army duffle bag slung over her shoulder. “Well, there’s my daughter!” he exclaimed, according to Henri, who recounted the story by telephone from San Francisco. “She was, pound for pound, the strongest person I know,” Henri said of his mother. “She could probably carry a 50-pound tree in each hand.” Schilling valued her kids’ individuality and encouraged their independence, according to family and friends. Her children never had a standard bedtime when they were little and were disallowed from spending the day inside. “She was just a fabulous mother,” said

Naomi Greenwald of South Burlington, a 40-year friend of Schilling’s. “She didn’t coddle her kids. She raised them to be very independent.” When Elizabeth, Schilling’s youngest, was a student at the University of Colorado, she went to Henri’s place in San Francisco for Thanksgiving break. Schilling sewed place mats and napkins for their holiday meal and mailed them to her kids with candles and little packets of spices and seasonings. “All things that a twentysomething guy would have never thought about in trying to cook a Thanksgiving,” Henri wrote in an email, “but made us feel like we were home.” Beyond the nursery, Schilling engaged in a variety of activities. She painted with watercolors; volunteered in a kindergarten class at Lawrence Barnes School in Burlington (now called the Sustainability Academy); and skied, hiked and kayaked with friends. True to her Jersey-girl roots, Schilling sought out beach life — on vacations with her family to the Jersey shore and on trips with her friend Susan Hong. The annual excursions with Hong, who also owned a Charlotte business with her husband and has three children, started 22 years ago when Schilling called Hong with a proposal: “‘My sense is that your husband, like mine, would be OK if we left them with the kids and took off,’” Hong recalled. This set in motion a late-winter trip to a sunny beach — Bonaire or Curaçao — for snorkeling and other adventures. The pair proved to be excellent travel buddies, from giving each other space to skipping lunch in favor of exploring a coral reef. Schilling made her laugh, Hong wrote in an email, “and what a gift that is in this world where it’s so easy to find strife and despair.” In her last year, Schilling found special joy in her 1.5-year-old granddaughter, Penelope, the daughter of her middle child, Catherine Jenkins. Schilling lit up when she saw Penelope, Jenkins said by email, and Penelope adored her grandmother. “She was so supportive of me during my first year of motherhood,” Jenkins wrote, “and from her I have learned countless lessons on how to be the best possible mother, daughter, and friend.” This Sunday, May 9, is Mother’s Day, traditionally a busy day at Horsford. Families mark the occasion with a trip to the nursery for lilacs, roses and hanging baskets. Talking to Schilling, who helped with purchases and offered advice on plants and flowers, has been part of that tradition. Her kids, when they were young, made their mother a bouquet, picking flowers that were blooming in the gardens by their home. m

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

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food+drink

Flour at NEK Grains

Going With the Grain Multigenerational former dairy farm charts a new path with NEK Grains B Y M E L I SSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

he “got milk?” slogan is emblazoned in big white letters across a red barn in Waterford, easily visible from Interstate 93. It was painted there in the late 1990s when Gingue Family Farm was producing plenty of milk. But by 2015, the family had sold its milking herd, joining hundreds of Vermont farmers who quit the commodity dairy business over the past two decades as a result of low milk prices. Though the Gingue family no longer milks cows, they still make a living where

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Québec natives Rosario and Marie Jeanne Gingue put down roots in 1935. Today, two generations work together to raise replacement heifers for other dairies. They sell composted manure, as well as straw, farm-grown beef and sweet corn. But the newest agricultural enterprise — NEK Grains, which grows wheat and barley for bakers and brewers — is the foundation on which Rosario’s great-grandson Shawn and his wife, Sara, hope to build a long-term future for the farm. This year, the Gingues will grow 50 acres

of wheat and 70 acres of barley. Last year’s 60-ton wheat harvest is almost sold out, Shawn said. More importantly, it is generating meaningful income, as is the barley. “We’ve been able to set our price [based] on what it cost and have a decent margin: enough to raise our family, grow crops and invest in the farm,” said Shawn. “With milk, it was so tight there was nothing left at the end of the day. It was just pennies — pennies.” Shawn grew up doing chores on the family farm. He always thought he’d be a

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dairyman like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whom he called Grandpère. He’s lived in Waterford for all of his 40 years except the seven when he and one of his brothers ran their own dairy in Fairfax. In 2014, the brothers returned to the home farm “to invest and modernize,” Shawn said. “But the milk price was just not going to support that.” It was a tough decision to sell the herd, but the reprieve

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Himalayan Heads South NEW SHELBURNE RESTAURANT OFFERS BROAD NEPALI-INDIAN MENU

Adding to the recent proliferation of Himalayan and Nepali restaurants in Chittenden County, RUP MIZAR and NEEMA TAMANG have opened HIMALAYAN KITCHEN AND BAR at 3182 Shelburne Road in Shelburne. Most recently occupied by Bella Luna, the space is best known as the longtime home of Italian restaurant Buono Appetito. The co-owners are originally from Bhutan but came to Vermont after spending years in refugee camps in Nepal, according to RANJITA MIZAR, Rup’s daughter, who added that her father is a former co-owner of FRIEND’S NEPALI in Winooski. Tamang also owns a gas station and convenience store on Riverside Avenue in Burlington. Ranjita said the location appealed to her father and his business partner because “there is no Nepali restaurant around this area,” referring to the towns immediately south of Burlington. The spacious restaurant with a bar was another draw, she added. Representing the blended cuisine of the Himalayan region, the broad menu includes traditional Nepali

dumplings known as momos, Indian-style curries and Asian-influenced noodle dishes. It also has a small section of Vietnamese dishes, something that sold well at Friend’s Nepali during her father’s time there, Ranjita noted. “Our chef cooks all kinds of dishes,” she said. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, dine-in or takeout, with delivery available through third-party services. More info is available on Facebook. Melissa Pasanen

Listen to Your Heart FAIRLEE NATIVE TO OPEN MODERN TAKE ON MIDCENTURY BURGER STAND

The Upper Valley will have a new destination for summer fun when Fairlee native and cocktail pro MATT WALKER starts serving at BROKEN HEARTS BURGER. The modern take on a classic midcentury burger stand will open at 192 Main Street in July. In March 2020, Walker, 42, was negotiating a lease on a waterfront space in Burlington. The pandemic nixed that deal, and soon he was spending more time in his Upper Valley hometown. “I’m kind of a dreamer,

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Rup Mizar (left) and Neema Tamang of Himalayan Kitchen and Bar

Matt Walker of Broken Hearts Burger

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and I started fantasizing about what it would be like to open up something really cool in my favorite small town,” Walker said. He found an affordable Main Street building and did a gut renovation. The interior is a nod to midcentury diners, complete with a vintage 200play jukebox loaded with 1960s and ’70s rock, blues, punk and rockabilly. But the building’s outdoor space will be the centerpiece, Walker said. The underutilized front parking lot will become an 1,800-square-foot dining area with 40 seats, raised garden beds, lawn games and ice cream takeout windows, all enclosed by flowers and planter boxes. Broken Hearts Burger’s savory menu will feature Glazier’s hot dogs and smash burgers, including the double-patty, doublecheese Heartbreaker and the Gordie, a vegetarian spinach-based burger from an old family recipe. Fried chicken will come regular or Nashville hot-style. Featuring ingredients from nearby farms, all burgers and sandwiches on the opening menu will be $8 or less, Walker said.

He called Broken Hearts Burger “a hyperlocalized Northeast version of In-N30 Kimball Avenue, Suite 200, Out Burger that also has South Burlington, VT beer and wine.” Twelve draft ublocal.com • 802-318-7395 lines and an extensive bottle and can list will include kdeforge@unionbankvt.com local, obscure and affordable craft beers and natural wines. 8v-unionbankkellyd050521.indd 1 4/29/21 Walker has crafted Sunday, May 9th cocktails at Nitehawk Cinema and the Richardson in Brooklyn, N.Y., and at Winooski’s MISERY LOVES CO. He’ll channel that experience into his soft-serve flavor combinations, including agave-almond, horchata, ruby chocolate and local strawberry made with fruit from Newbury’s 4 CORNERS FARM. “I want to take everything that’s good about that era of food, the honesty and the simplicity, but give people new flavors,” said Walker, who still hopes to have a Burlington space locked down by next year. Serving Dinner He sees Broken Hearts Burger as a brand, he ex11:00am – 8:00pm plained, with Fairlee as a test run. His plans for a second location include an expanded bar serving modern tropical cocktails.

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Going With the Grain « P.40

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

from nonstop chores and price pressure “gave me space to think,” he said. Seeking new opportunities, in 2018 Shawn attended the Grain Growers Conference, a joint presentation of Northern Grain Growers Association and the University of Vermont Extension’s Northwest Crops and Soils Program. “I went completely openminded, thinking, Let’s see what else we can grow,” he said. He was amazed to learn, he recalled, that “There’s people growing barley for beer! [And] wheat for bread!” At the conference, he met Andrew Peterson of Peterson Quality Malt, now based in Charlotte. Peterson convinced Shawn there was a healthy market for grain for local breweries and bought the Gingues’ first harvests of wheat and barley in 2018 and 2019. About a year after the conference, the Gingues met Blair Marvin and Andrew Heyn, the married baker-millers who own Elmore Mountain Bread. “They were on a mission to source all their grains from Vermont,” Shawn said. In 2020, after visiting the farm and running protein and milling tests on the grain, Marvin and Heyn bought 10 tons of the Gingues’ wheat harvest. They have used it to make more than 4,000 pizzas so far for the busy Fire Tower Pizza operation at the Elmore Store. “We are interested in participating in this blossoming sector of agriculture in Vermont to help [the Gingues] build their model and build the local grain economy,” Marvin said. Elmore Mountain Bread also plays the crucial role of milling flour for the Gingues to sell directly to other customers, including Local Donut in Woodbury, Trenchers Farmhouse in Lyndonville and Slowfire Bakery in Charlotte. The company goes above and beyond the function that any miller would perform. As Marvin put it, “the flour is milled by a baker who knows how to mill it and make it useful to bakers.” The Gingues also package flour, wheat berries and pancake mix for home cooks. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the packaging line ran down the kitchen island of Sara and Shawn’s tidy ranch house on Route 18. (The state highway runs between the original 1935 farm and the farm that Shawn’s grandparents, John and Fran, bought from Rosario and Marie Jeanne for $1 in 1950.) The couple’s two older daughters helped label bags of whole-wheat flour as their mom measured out ingredients for pancake mix. A fancifully decorated cake and frosting-swirled cupcakes served as tempting evidence of the versatility of their sifted whole-wheat flour. Sara, 35, started a small home-based

AS FARMERS,

WE’RE PERPETUALLY HOPEFUL. SARA GINGUE

Shawn Gingue checking on this season's wheat crop at NEK Grains

bakery, Sugar Buckets, a year ago. She joked that the kitchen island has become “prime real estate” for packaging NEK Grains products and cake orders, not to mention feeding the family of six. Two large tubs of flour, one whole wheat and one sifted whole wheat, sat nearby. Elmore Mountain Bread mills fresh batches weekly in a mill crafted by its sister business, New American Stone Mills. The Gingues grow a variety of hard red winter wheat called warthog. “It makes it through the winter well, it mills well, and it has great taste,” Shawn said. Their whole-wheat flour contains the whole milled wheat berry, including the bran and germ. For the sifted version, some bran and germ are removed — though not all. “You can still see little bits of the germ,” Sara noted, holding out a handful. “If someone wants a white cake, I always explain it’s not going to be as white as they might be used to.” When Sara launched Sugar Buckets with a Mother’s Day 2020 pop-up, she used store-bought flour. Then she started experimenting with the farm’s own grain milled by Elmore Mountain Bread. When it comes to local flour, Sara said, “A lot of people think of bread, but the

Cake and cupcakes at Sugar Buckets

sifted is great for cakes and cupcakes.” The proof was in the pudding — or rather, in her fluffy chocolate cupcakes and denser but moist and buttery white layer cake, speckled with Funfetti. “Before we met Blair and Andrew, I didn’t think that flour had a taste,” Sara

said. She saw it as a background player in recipes or a vehicle for other flavors, “not the focal point.” Now, she said, “We’re hearing firsthand from customers about the flavor.” Marvin described NEK Grains’ warthog wheat as “distinctively nutty,” unlike

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Fresh Healthy Food

The Gingue family outside their barn in Waterford, from left: Sara, Shawn, Levi, Kenna, Brooklyn and Whitney

other Vermont grains that tend to have a more “grassy, field-pea aroma.” Slowfire Bakery owner Scott Medellin uses the wheat flour in his baguettes — where, he said, it contributes a “sweet, nutty, spicy kind of aroma” and a less chewy, softer crumb. Beyond the Gingues’ product, Medellin said he also appreciates “the way they’re growing it.” Like the famous picture-book ducklings, the family waited for a break in the traffic to cross busy Route 18 and show off their fields. The kids ran ahead past a large, ramshackle red barn dating back to the early days of Gingue farming. “This is next year’s flour,” Shawn said of a field striped with grassy tufts. The fall-seeded winter wheat, now sprouting, is surrounded by straw mulch left over from the barley harvest, he explained. “The more organic matter left in the field, the more you get good, healthy soil,” Sara said. “It helps fight erosion and runoff and helps smother weeds,” Shawn continued. “My grain should have all the jazz to grow right up out of that.” The Gingues have been working closely with an agronomist on sustainable farming practices, including no-till planting and cover cropping. While the product isn’t certified organic, they use no pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. Pastured beef cows will play an important role in the crop rotation plan. “It’s about building up soil health,” Shawn said. A warm spring brought the wheat up relatively early this year, the couple said. They were looking forward to the rain forecast last week and hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s drought. “As farmers, we’re perpetually hope-

ful,” Sara said. “I guess you have to be when you’re dealing with Mother Nature as your biggest partner.” Shawn admitted that he was initially skeptical about the prospects of selling as much as they planted for 2020, but his wife pushed him. “I said, ‘God’s got a purpose for every single grain,’” Sara said with a smile. The couple is finalizing loan paperwork that will enable them to build an expanded farmstand with a “grain center” and move their packaging operation off the kitchen island. Also in their immediate plans is getting new equipment so they don’t have to rely on supportive fellow grain farmers and customers for grain storage and cleaning help. Their goal of buying the farm from Shawn’s parents is still a few years out, but it feels achievable, the couple said. They hope to branch out into custom seeding and grain processing for other farms, a way to help farmers like themselves find new markets and fill growing demand. Shawn appreciates the support that has enabled the young business to get off the ground. “Everyone’s been really receptive and helpful,” he said. “There’s a need for what we’re doing.” When he was a commodity dairy farmer, Shawn never knew exactly where his milk went. Now that he grows grains, he said, “The best part is being connected to the customers and to the product through eating the bread and pasta and doughnuts. And,” he added with a laugh, “drinking the beer.” m

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Crawfish boil from Southern Smoke

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irst of all, don’t fear.” That was Brian Stefan’s solid — if easiersaid-than-done — advice for tackling the takeout box full of tiny, alien-like crustaceans I picked up on a recent Saturday evening. Diving into a pound of crawfish is a sloppy, visceral experience. And for those of us who didn’t grow up in Louisiana eating mudbugs from a young age, it’s easy to hesitate — especially if you don’t like your food to look at you. “Just separate the head and the tail, then suck the juice out of the head,” Stefan, chef/owner of Southern Smoke Cajun & Caribbean BBQ, said nonchalantly. After a pause, he chuckled and added, “That’s usually where I lose people.”

On May 17, Stefan’s food truck business will celebrate its 10th anniversary. For about a year, Stefan, 39, has been slinging weekly to-go dinners from the truck’s home base and prep kitchen next to the original Four Quarters Brewing location on West Canal Street in Winooski. In the past, Stefan had collaborated with the brewery to host a few dinners — they’d spread the heaping piles of crawfish, potatoes, andouille sausage and corn onto barrels and tables, letting people dive right in. When the food truck’s usual slate of catering events began canceling last spring, Stefan realized the meal would work for takeout. He offered it most weekends through the middle of the summer. In mid-April, I caught Southern Smoke’s

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second crawfish boil of 2021. Crawfish season is March to July, Stefan explained. Once the yearly supply of the freshwater crustaceans is big enough for companies to begin shipping, he has them flown up from Louisiana. When the live crawfish arrive, he sets to work washing and picking through the “field run,” which includes sizes from tiny to langoustine to small lobsterlike. He prefers this to ordering only the preselected, perfect ones. “I kind of enjoy that part,” Stefan said. “I sit down on my bucket and play music and pick through my crawfish.” Stefan learned the process in New Orleans, training at restaurants on frequent trips to visit friends. One of those restaurants,

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the Three Legged Dog Tavern, is really more of a dive bar with a crawfish night, he said. “It’s like the Olde Northender [Pub, in Burlington]. The guy always let me hang out and help because he didn’t want to do all the work of picking through the crawfish.” Southern Smoke’s version is a fairly traditional take on the Louisiana staple: crawfish, potatoes, housemade andouille sausage and corn on the cob. A full meal with caramelized onion and tomato mac and cheese, braised greens, and a big hunk of cornbread, made with Nitty Gritty Grain’s cornmeal, was $21. Stefan boils the potatoes and crawfish together in the brine, separating them after cooking to make sure each serving gets an even mix. The process of eating crawfish can be intimidating to newcomers, Stefan said, but New Englanders tend to understand it. “They’re used to eating lobster and hacking into a giant, cockroachy-looking sea creature,” he explained. “That can be very otherworldly for some.” Once you jump that hurdle, it’s a lot of fun. After watching a series of YouTube videos, I decided on a pinch-and-twist method that mostly worked. Thankfully, there were at least 30 crawfish in the roughly one-pound serving, so I had room for user error. After easing in and just eating the tails of a few (with a big glass of wine), I took Stefan’s advice and went for the head. The brine concentrates there, creating a spicy, soupy juice that explodes with flavor. “It’s the best lobster-bisque-type, seafood-chowdery thing you’ve ever had,” Stefan said. “And the head is like a little shot glass. Give it a squeeze, and it’s an injection of awesome.” I imagined seafood-flavored Gushers as the juice hit the back of my throat. After a few, I picked up on Stefan’s note that each one tastes different: some more buttery, some mineral-y, others spicy. I meticulously peeled the tails,

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food+drink separating the shell from the shrimplike meat. Later, Stefan told me that the tried-and-true New England approach of squeezing the meat out — like one can do with lobster legs — also works on crawfish tails, making the meat easier to extract. Either way, it’s a sloppy endeavor. And in addition to the crawfish, I’d also ordered ribs. In both cases, I was happy to be eating the meals in the privacy of my backyard, where no one could see what a mess I was making — a true benefit of the takeout era.

In January 2021, Stefan used part of Southern Smoke’s pandemic-relief funding to purchase a used minibus. Now that the weather is warm enough for paint to stick, he’s turning it into a functional food truck. So far he’s gutted and painted the inside and paneled the blue exterior with slats of reclaimed pallet wood. The bus will be called Maple & Smoke, after Stefan’s sauce line, Vermont Maple & Smoke. His spicy maple-mustard barbecue, smoked-apple barbecue and maple-mole sauces are available statewide through specialty food distributor Vermont Roots, as well as at several Brian Stefan places Stefan stocks himself, including City Market, Onion River Co-op. The new truck’s menu will feature the sauces, along with housemade sausage and other local ingredients. “More riffs on food that’s from the North,” Stefan explained. “Southern Smoke was about coming to Vermont with something different. This is taking food that’s from Vermont and sharing it.” Adding Maple & Smoke’s bus will essentially double the business’ presence and ability to cater events, especially during the busy late-summer season. Based on Stefan’s calculations, the weather is nice enough for people to eat outside about 26 weeks of the year. Of those weeks, Friday and Saturday are the busiest days; that boils down to a food truck season of 40 to 50 days, weather permitting. Southern Smoke will stick to what it’s Good To-Go is a known for: fried chicken sandwiches, ribs series featuring and other Southern specialties. Stefan well-made takeout expects to continue the weekly takeout meals that highlights how restaurants and on West Canal Street, too. When TO-GO dinners other food establishments it’s warm enough, he’ll cook out of the VERMONT are adapting during the trailer, adding fried chicken and other COVID-19 era. Check out specials to the takeout menu. GOODTOGOVERMONT.COM to see what Stefan still hopes to open a small brickyour favorite eateries are serving up via takeout, delivery and curbside pickup. and-mortar restaurant someday. Maybe even soon, if the right situation presented itself, he said. But for now, adding a The ribs are a Southern Smoke staple, second truck was a more sustainable served with the same sides as the craw- VERMONT move for both his finances and his time. fish boil for $18. The slow-smoked pork, Stefan and his wife adopted their now which came from regional farms via Black 1-year-old son right before the pandemic River Produce, was slathered in a classic began, and he’s been soaking up their barbecue sauce. Stefan described it as the time at home together. “spicy marinara-style sauce they refer to “I’ve been watching a lot of ‘Sesame as ‘Creole sauce’ in culinary school.” He Street,’ and Cookie Monster has a food simmers onions, green peppers, celery truck,” Stefan said with a laugh. “When and chiles, then blends in molasses rather I saw the bus on Craigslist, I was like, than ketchup. ‘You know what? We can wait for these One benefit of offering these weekly other things, which are completely new, preordered, takeout-style dinners has or we can expand on what’s already in our been that customers are buying more full wheelhouse.’” m meals, Stefan said. When the Southern Smoke trailer is at events, it can be diffi- INFO cult to predict whether people will order Southern Smoke Cajun & Caribbean BBQ, sides, and they tend to opt for just a sand- 150 West Canal St., Unit 3, Winooski, wich. “This way, I get to serve a vegeta- southernsmokefoods.com. Check social ble,” he said with a laugh. media for takeout dinner dates.

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culture IMAGES COURTESY OF ALISON BECHDEL

From The Secret to Superhuman Strength

Muscle Memory

Book review: The Secret to Superhuman Strength, Alison Bechdel B Y M ARG OT HAR RI S ON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

etween Zoom fatigue and pandemic cabin fever, many of us have never wanted to get outside and exercise more than we do this spring. So it’s a propitious moment for the release of Bolton cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s third graphic memoir, the successor to 2006’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (which was adapted for a Tony Award-winning musical) and 2012’s Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama. The Secret to Superhuman Strength is about the author’s lifelong passion for physical fitness. Beyond the pursuit of “superhuman strength,” however, Bechdel takes aim at a broader human phenomenon: the quest for selfimprovement. That, too, has flourished 46

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

during quarantine, with folks embracing transformation in ways that range from finally writing that novel or baking bread for their neighbors to becoming devotees of QAnon. Bechdel’s memoir takes readers from her birth to the present, only briefly touching on the pandemic at its conclusion. But she dissects in minute detail that restless urge to become somebody different, somebody more. Her book zeroes in on the common impulse at the root of the 19th-century romantic movement, the fitness crazes of the late 20th century and the popular adoption of Buddhism in the West: the hunger for transcendence. “Join me in my quest to get out of my head and transcend my ego,” Bechdel suggests early on. Her cartoon avatar

issues this invitation while dangling upside down in a gear shed stuffed with decades’ worth of sporting equipment — and doing a full split. The Secret to Superhuman Strength is full of this sort of playful imagery, making it clear that Bechdel sees the funny side of such pronouncements. The thread of irony continues through her tale of how she “hared off after almost every new fitness fad to come down the pike for the past six decades.” The book’s title evokes the bodybuilding ads in classic comic books, for which the younger Bechdel had a wholly unironic

appreciation. As a child, she neither knew nor cared that the ads enforced rigid gender roles. “I just knew I wanted muscles like that,” she writes. “To be bigger and stronger than everyone else!” But weight training for girls was unheard of in the 1960s and ’70s, so young Alison instead became a self-taught runner. Here, as throughout the book, she uses each detailed panel to place her athletic obsession in the context of an amusingly oblivious world: the family cat, TV-watching siblings, a farmer who

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responds to the strange spectacle of a jogger with a droll “He went thataway!” Readers of Bechdel’s two previous memoirs will already be familiar with the basics of her story: her father’s death, her coming out, her blossoming in New York’s supportive lesbian community, her career drawing the weekly strip “Dykes to Watch Out For” (which this newspaper carried), and her eventual move to the wilds of Vermont. In this book, those events become a backdrop to Bechdel’s ever-evolving quest for physical and spiritual advancement. In New York, she does karate and experiences “an ecstatic feeling of union” on mushrooms. In Minnesota, she discovers yoga and mountain biking. In Vermont, she masters high-intensity interval training, but she also becomes dependent on alcohol and sleeping pills to bring her down from marathon sessions of exercise and cartooning.

BEYOND THE PURSUIT OF “SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH,” BECHDEL TAKES AIM AT A BROADER HUMAN PHENOMENON:

THE QUEST FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

It’s not a spoiler to say that Bechdel never achieves “superhuman” status. Nor, by her account, did any of the famous seekers whose stories she intersperses with her own: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Jack Kerouac, Adrienne Rich. Some of them, instead, succumbed to addiction. A second, darker thread runs through the book: The drive for transcendence sometimes becomes paired with less healthy compulsions. At one point, Bechdel depicts herself at a Vermont

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meditation center watching her teacher “suck down multiple cigarettes” during breaks; the center’s founder, she notes, had “drunk himself to death in his forties.” With models like this, is it any wonder that she can only muddle toward enlightenment? “For every step forward on the path, I took an equidistant step backward,” Bechdel admits. The Secret to Superhuman Strength reflects the cyclical, rambling nature of her quest, and some readers may be frustrated by the lack of a more definitive catharsis. But what Bechdel’s words can’t always supply, her drawing does. Each section of the book covers a decade of the author’s life and closes with a glorious two-page watercolor. In these lyrical images, the heroine recedes into the landscape, and the universality of her quest comes into sharp relief. “I see now,” Bechdel says on one of these splash pages, “that my yearning for self-transcendence is in some ways an attempt to avoid the strain of relating to other people.” As we emerge from our pandemic hibernation caves, transformed or not, some of us may be feeling that strain, too. Bechdel’s latest is funny, relatable, beautifully and expressively colored, and equipped with a hilarious illustrated rundown of the “The Semi-Sadistic 7-Minute Workout.” Fellow self-improvers won’t find the secret to superhuman strength here, but they might end up a little less sheepish about being human. m

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World-Class Act

Vermont Symphony Orchestra and fans bid farewell to beloved conductor Jaime Laredo B Y A M Y L I L LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

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n a 2017 interview on the Violin Channel, renowned violinist and conductor Jaime Laredo was asked which side of him the public never sees. “I’m very cranky, and I’m very often in a terrible mood,” he answered with a laugh. “Nobody ever sees that of me.” Indeed. As Laredo’s 20-year tenure as music director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra comes to an end this week, people around the state are remembering him as the nicest guy ever — as well as a beloved musician and mentor. “He’s so generous and so kind, and I think that vibe has become a part of who the orchestra is,” said David Ludwig, who became the VSO’s composer-in-residence in 2004 and is now the new-music adviser. “Orchestras often reflect their conductors, and this orchestra is a family.” Orchestra manager Eleanor Long, who joined the VSO as an oboist in 1974, offered a similar perspective. “I’ve heard about tension with music directors in other orchestras. Here, [VSO musicians] have found it an amazing experience because of [Jaime],” she said. “They want to do their best for him.” Realizing that the pandemic would prevent Laredo from conducting his final concerts scheduled for April 24 and 25, Long coordinated a farewell tribute that has chiefly consisted of flooding the music director with snail mail. The orchestra’s 46 contracted musicians and other players were invited to write letters to him. Characteristically, Laredo, who only recently started using email, has asked for their addresses to write each a thank-you note, Long said. Laredo also received a copy of the Vermont legislature’s joint resolution, offered by Rep. Sara Coffey (D-Guilford), honoring his career in Vermont, and a Jaime Laredo letter of congratulations from Gov. Phil Scott. The VSO board of direc48

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

tors sent a commemorative plaque adorned with a baton, and the staff sent a huge bouquet of flowers. Second flute player Anne Janson created a photo book of all the musicians with mini bios, each of which ends with “Favorite Conductor: Jaime Laredo.” More photo books came from regional Friends of the VSO groups. One, from the Central Vermont Friends, includes odes to Laredo written by members and interspersed with photos of past programs and venues where he conducted.

Laredo had just received a Jaime Laredo bobblehead from the board when Seven Days reached him at his Cleveland residence last week. (He and his wife, cellist Sharon Robinson, have taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music since 2012 but consider Guilford their home.) “It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” Laredo said of the bobblehead. “I tell you, I’ve been needing a lot of Kleenex lately.” According to Robinson, when the couple sat down to read a batch of letters the other day, both ended up “teary.” It was moving

“to know the difference he’s made to so many people in our home state,” she said. Laredo, who will turn 80 on June 7, was appointed music director in 2000. At the time, he already knew Vermont well. He and Robinson were regulars at the Marlboro Music Festival and had purchased their nearby home in 1985. Laredo even soloed in a violin concerto with the VSO in 1993. Long, the orchestra’s unofficial historian, has a signed photo from that appearance on which Laredo wrote, “To the Vermont Symphony — What a pleasure it was to make music with you, and I look forward to many more times!” “Little did he know then what the relationship would turn into!” Long joked. By the time he took up the VSO baton, Laredo had been a star for years. A violin prodigy in his native Bolivia by age 6, he debuted with the San Francisco Symphony at age 11 and gained international recognition at 17 when he won the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium. Laredo studied under such musical greats as cellist Pablo Casals and conductor George Szell. In a phone conversation, he described Szell’s conducting as his best training in the art. Laredo appeared multiple times with the Cleveland Orchestra under Szell’s baton, as well as with many other important orchestras, but has no formal training in conducting. He would go on to guest-conduct all over the world, and since 1993 he has conducted the New York String Orchestra Seminar at Carnegie Hall, a winter-break session for promising 16- to 23-year-old musicians. In addition to the Cleveland Institute of Music, Laredo taught at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia for 35 years and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music for seven years. Former students include current star violinists Leila Josefowicz, Hilary Hahn, Jennifer Koh and Bella Hristova. Laredo has collaborated with just about everybody in the classical stratosphere. An accomplished chamber musician, he played viola in a quartet with Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax for 15 years. In 1976, he cofounded the

culture

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Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio with his invited Isaac Stern and him [and Robinwife and pianist Joseph Kalichstein; they son] over to his house, and it was such a still perform around the country, includ- weird experience. ing as ensemble-in-residence at the John “The whole table went quiet; someone F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. dropped a fork. We said, ‘You mean, Frank Find, fix and feather with Part of Laredo’s legacy at the VSO is Sinatra?’ Nest Notes — an e-newsletter that he enticed many friends and former “The point of the story was not to filled with home design, students to perform in Vermont. name-drop,” Cadwallader continued. Vermont real estate tips “He brought so many artists that I “It was that Frank Sinatra was a curious and DIY decorating doubt we would have been able artist — he wanted to understand to get,” violinist Sofia Hirsch said the alchemy of making classical inspirations. — “stars like Peter Serkin, Yo-Yo music. For Jaime, that was what Sign up today at Ma, Emanuel Ax, Leon Fleisher — was so special about the guy, that sevendaysvt.com/enews. twice — and André Watts. I don’t here’s one of the greatest artists in 8 SO. MAIN STREET, know if they’re all just like this normally, history, and he still wants to learn.” ST. ALBANS SPONSORED BY but with Jaime they were just such warm, The ending of his VSO tenure is “still 524-3769 generous musicians who treated us like a sinking in,” Laredo said. But he decided great orchestra.” to step down for the orchestra’s sake. “It’s RAILCITYMARKETVT.COM “I will always be grateful for being able healthy for the orchestra to have a different to play Brahms with Peter Serkin,” princi- view, something new. Twenty years is the pal cellist John Dunlop recalled. He added maximum,” he said. 12V-Nest042821.indd 1 4/27/2112v-railcity050521.indd 4:05 PM 1 4/30/21 12:32 PM that Ma’s appearance “would never have Will Vermonters now get to see that happened without Jaime being his friend.” cranky side of him — if it exists? Yet Laredo has never “That is really true,” played up his fame. Robinson confirmed. “We “He’s just about the most call him the Grumpy Old humble, gracious human Man.” But, she added, CLASSIC HITS of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s being you’ll ever meet,” Laredo shows that side Hirsch said. “I never saw him only to her, their daughter, make any attempt to show Jennifer, and occasionally that he’s a world-class violinKalichstein. • BIGGEST PLAYLIST ist … We have been — what Locals are likelier to • FEWEST BREAKS witness more evidence would be the word? — unbelievably blessed to have the of Laredo’s well-known chance to work with him.” warmth and affection for Musicians said that, as Vermont. While the farea conductor, Laredo was well concerts would have informed by a keen musifeatured works by Ludwig cianship but was never and solo performances by demanding. As Dunlop put his wife, Hristova, Laredo SOFIA HIRSCH it, “He trusted the musisounded almost grateful cians, but he also had a clear idea of what they weren’t able to happen. “All I can say he wanted. If he asked for something more is, I’m so glad we’re not in person, because than twice, then we got the idea that we I would have made a fool of myself and really weren’t getting it yet.” broken down,” he said. Ben Cadwallader, the VSO’s former Vermont audiences will see Laredo executive director — a role now filled by again in guest appearances, though the Elise Brunelle — credits Laredo with conductor has sworn off any while the launching his career in music administra- VSO is auditioning candidates for his job, tion. Speaking from California, where he’s a process that will resume in October. now executive director of the Los Angeles Meanwhile, fans can send him letters of Chamber Orchestra, Cadwallader recalled, their own via the VSO office, post memo“I was an intern for him while I was still ries on social media and contribute in his on the path to being a professional oboist. name to the orchestra’s endowed fund At Least 50 Minutes of Music an Hour He took me aside and said, ‘You know, Ben, for senior artistic leadership. 20 Hours a Day - 10:00 AM – 6:00 AM you’re good at this, and in this industry we “It’s important to know that everyone need people like you.’ To have someone of in this business knows and loves Jaime CENTRAL VERMONT Jaime’s stature validate me in that way was Laredo,” Cadwallader said. “When I literally life-changing for me.” mention that I worked with the Vermont NORTHERN VERMONT Cadwallader remembered a postcon- Symphony Orchestra, you’ll see [people’s] CHAMPLAIN VALLEY cert dinner conversation at Burlington’s faces soften, their eyes light up: ‘Oh, Jaime Farmhouse Tap & Grill that illustrated Laredo!’ Having had him at the helm for Laredo’s reach and humility alike. “We’d so many years has been an incredible gift & STREAMING all get burgers — he loved the lamb burg- to Vermont.” m ers, and he’d have his Scotch — and a Frank Sinatra song came over the radio. 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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

GLENN RUSSELL

oward Ball is what’s known in Yiddish as a kochleffel — literally, a “pot stirrer.” He spent years fighting for civil rights and racial equality in the South and getting himself into what the late U.S. representative John Lewis called “good trouble.” Now 83, Ball has written 37 books, including several since his 2002 retirement from the University of Vermont, where he is professor emeritus of political science and a former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His latest book, Taking the Fight South: Chronicle of a Jew’s Battle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, is a memoir of 1976 to 1982, when Ball; his wife, Carol; and their three young daughters lived in Starksville, Miss. Ball’s family and friends were flabbergasted by his decision to teach at Mississippi State University. He writes that his mother called him “meshuganah” — Yiddish for “crazy” — believing that “Mississippi was an evil third-world country … where Jews were eaten after being boiled to death.” But the Bronx, N.Y., native saw the job as an opportunity to study up close what he’d spent years researching and writing about from afar. “I felt this would be a laboratory for me,” Ball told Seven Days. “I had not expected to be as involved in confronting racism as I was.” Ball got deeply involved. He recruited and traveled with Black referees to officiate high school football games, Mississippi’s other dominant religion. He did volunteer legal work for the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi and the NAACP to challenge the police treatment of Black people. In 1981, he testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee to encourage extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — which, he wrote, “did not endear me to a great many Mississippians.” Not until Ball began writing Taking the Fight South did he learn from his now-adult daughters the depth of their childhood fears of the Ku Klux Klan, fueled by years of latenight phone calls and anonymous threats. The threats weren’t always anonymous. In January 1982, after the Washington Post published Ball’s op-ed “Mississippi’s Voting

Howard Ball

Wrongs,” Mississippi’s then-U.S. senator John Stennis called MSU’s president to demand Ball’s dismissal. (Ball had tenure and kept his job.) Seven Days spoke to Ball at his Richmond home on a day when systemic racism was major news: The country awaited a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the white former Minnesota cop convicted of murdering George Floyd. SEVEN DAYS: You write that your father was overtly racist. Was he just a product of his generation? HOWARD BALL: My father was embittered because as a Jew he wasn’t allowed in the union, and union plumbers made very good wages. In his view, he wasn’t getting the benefits that the Blacks were. He was seeing the influx of minorities into cities, especially New York, and he couldn’t grapple with that. And he was frightened because of the stereotypes society had created about Blacks on television and in movies.

SD: That didn’t rub off on you as a child? HB: No. From the time I was 5, I began reading books from the public library. By the time I was 10, I was into civil rights. As I entered high school, I had friendships with Black students. One of my closest friends, the head cheerleader at Taft High School, was Black. I wanted my father to meet her and some other close friends, but he absolutely refused. He didn’t go to my high school graduation or my college graduation … because they were integrated. SD: You describe your childhood family as “Larry David Jews” — meaning, I assume, that you were culturally but not religiously Jewish? HB: Yes. But ever since I was preparing for my bar mitzvah, my rabbi was constantly pushing [the first-century Jewish scholar] Hillel’s view: “If you don’t do it, who will? If not now, when?” I didn’t need to offer arguments [against antisemitism] when

I lived in New York because I didn’t have those kinds of encounters. I was living in the Jewish ghetto. SD: Where did you first experience antisemitism? HB: In the barracks at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. I had experienced racial discrimination when I was picketing Woolworth’s [department store] as a college undergraduate, but I had never seen religious discrimination firsthand. In that 60-man group, more than half were from Alabama and Mississippi, and they just expressed their racism and antisemitism openly. SD: Margaret Cho, the Korean American actress and comedian, once said that she prefers her Klansmen “crazy and foaming at the mouth, with the Grand Wizard outfit on,” because then you see their true colors. HB: Absolutely! Because they were there,

culture and they were bad, and they did terrible things. But you weren’t surprised. You prepared yourself. SD: So is it better to see racism openly, so we can address it? Or does overt racism, especially by politicians, give it legitimacy? HB: Or the third option is to have those racial and religious prejudices within you but, given the societal pressure [not to open] up about them, they’re kept quiet. I’ve seen [Cho], and she says that you want to know the evil you’re confronting. I hope [the openness] will lead to the kind of systemic change that America needs. But I see it as a forlorn hope. SD: What surprised you most about the antisemitism in Mississippi? HB: That they were so frank and open about it. One of the religious people I spoke to said, “I know you’re Jewish, and we don’t really like many Jews. But you’re safe because the Black is the lightning rod for prejudice and discrimination. You and the Catholics are safe because you’re white.” I got used to that kind of unbelievable frankness. Every time our daughters attended a new school, we had to go in to the principal to talk about the in-class Bible readings. And we knew, after our daughters left, that they would revert back [to Bible readings]. Even when our daughters were there, it was only their HOWARD classes that had no prayers. But the Jewish community kept a low profile and didn’t stick their necks out. So when Carol and I did the stuff with prayers in the schools and all the other things that became very visible, they grew very concerned about us.

mother, to create an integrated Girl Scout troop, and we just pushed our way in. SD: You did the same to integrate football referees. HB: I remember that first year when we [Ball and a Black referee] walked around the field pregame to make sure everything was OK. It was dead quiet in the stands. There’s this bearded white guy and this Black guy talking. I loved refereeing. I was hoping that the bond we had, our love of the game, would translate into changing minds. Most of the officials were Mississippians and Alabamans. I always remember the drives our group took to the game. And I remember the first time we drove to Neshoba County, the place where the Klan killed three civil rights workers in 1964. SD: In 2005, you covered the trial of Edgar Ray Killen, the Klansman accused and later convicted of those murders. Why did you want to be there? HB: I had to see it for myself, because that kind of trial — a white man charged with murdering a Black man — had never taken place in Mississippi. There were cases in 1967 when 17 Klansmen were brought into federal court, but they weren’t charged with murder. They were found guilty, not of taking lives but of denying the due-process rights of the three civil rights workers.

WE WERE EDUCATED IN A WAY THAT

WE NEVER COULD HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE SOUTH.

SD: Did you ever wonder why the late-night death threats never led to something more serious? HB: Ten years earlier they would have. While we were in Mississippi, some of my close friends were saying, “Why the hell are you doing this? You’re just antagonizing the people you’re attacking.” Like the Girl Scouts: Our daughters were friends with Black kids, but they couldn’t get a troop organized because of the integration [issue]. So my wife just took it upon herself, with a Black

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BALL

SD: Are you glad you experienced Mississippi? HB: We were glad we were there, because we were educated in a way that we never could have been outside the South. Before, we didn’t see the hatred and the absolute dichotomy between the way the white man and Black man lived. And now you have the irony of the whole country catching up to the Mississippi outlier. I am happy we went, but we agreed that we wouldn’t want to go through it again. m This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

INFO Taking the Fight South: Chronicle of a Jew’s Battle for Civil Rights in Mississippi by Howard Ball, University of Notre Dame Press, 256 pages. $32.

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art

Timeless Art A 36-year retrospective of Bread and Puppet Theater calendars

B Y SA L LY POL L AK • PHOTOS B Y J EB WALL AC E - BR O D E UR

Elka and Peter Schumann

hirty-six years ago, Peter and Elka Schumann started making calendars. The collaboration merges the artwork of Peter, founder of Bread and Puppet Theater, and the editorial direction of Elka, his longtime partner in marriage and art. Each calendar has a theme that the two discuss and arrive at together. This is not standard-issue calendar fare but farther-reaching and original, with subjects such as Resistance, Basic Needs, Russian Proverbs, 12 Reasons to Visit Grandma, and Bread and Puppet Museum.

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Next, Elka plays a particularly crucial role “by bugging her husband to make the pictures in time, whether woodcuts or drawings,” Peter said. “And to criticize those things; to reject some and admit others into the calendar. And so forth. That’s how it goes.” The scope of that work — which literally marks the passage of time — can be seen in a retrospective at the Hardwick Inn, “1,111 Copper Nails: Bread and Puppet Calendar Prints – A 36-Year Retrospective.” The name refers to the number of nails it took to mount the exhibit.

An annex show, with four years of calendars and prints for sale, is on display at Hardwick’s Front Seat Coffee, down the street from the main exhibition. Curator Alexis Smith called this collection the exhibit’s “launching pad.” Displayed in a mazelike exhibit hung throughout the sprawling, three-story Hardwick Inn, “1,111 Copper Nails” contains every page of each Bread and Puppet calendar, as well as every year’s full calendar in bound form. Viewing the full exhibit can take more than one pass through the building; prints hang in nooks and crannies, doorways

Find exhibits, events, talks and call-to-artist listings at sevendaysvt.com/art. If you’re planning a virtual or IRL event or exhibition, submit the details for a free listing using the form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent. You may also email information to galleries@sevendaysvt.com. Accompanied, identified and credited photographs are encouraged where applicable.

and narrow hallways that dead-end at an office in the multiuse space. Peter said that when he and Elka went to the exhibit, which is dedicated to her, it felt like they were participating in a “sports event.” “For us, it was like climbing Mount Everest,” Peter, 86, said. “For Elka, to walk up the stairs, to get around corners, to peek around one stairwell that we can’t do and go into another niche, it was a really lovely sports event.” Elka, 85, uses a wheelchair and a walker. She said she’s had bad falls and a stroke, and she isn’t very mobile. The Schumanns, who worked on the calendars with print shop manager Lila Winstead, created their first calendar in 1986. The idea came from a similar project on the Lower East Side of New York, where Peter founded Bread and Puppet in 1963. The Schumanns had two close friends, described by Peter as “powerhouse” women, whose kids played with their kids. The women worked at Henry Street Settlement, a social service agency, and made woodcut calendars with kids who attended programs there. “That was so beautiful, we never forgot,” Peter said. “We remembered, and we wanted to make that also.” The resulting calendars on view feature images both simple (bread, broom, garden) and more complex (puppet parade, happiness, the “limited timespan” of a grandmother’s life). Elka paired each artwork with a calendar month. “Elka’s really aware of the fact that you can’t only put skeletons and naked ladies on a wall in a family calendar,” Peter said. The theme of the inaugural calendar is the washerwoman,

a well-known figure and character in the puppet theater and related art. She is, Smith said, “an iconic image, the Russian peasant-style woman, in the likeness of Elka.” Smith, who has curated Peter’s work for more than 25 years, conceived of the calendar exhibit. In the process of putting it together, a digital archive was made of all of the images in the calendars.

ELKA’S REALLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT YOU CAN’T ONLY PUT

SKELETONS AND NAKED LADIES ON A WALL IN A FAMILY CALENDAR. P E TE R S C H UMANN

“I thought that having a picture of the grand arc of the work that Elka had done in her lifetime on the calendar would be a really important overview of her life’s work,” Smith said. An anonymous donor contributed $3,000 to pay for printing and production costs, she noted. It took Smith a couple of years to create this exhibition. The effort involved uncovering old calendars in various places at Bread and Puppet’s home base in Glover and searching for a suitable place to mount the show. “It was my gift to [the Schumanns],” Smith said. “I searched far and wide for somebody that could help me with the project.”

The gift was well received; the Schumanns expressed their appreciation of Smith’s work and the presentation. “The hanging of the calendar pages is all Alexis Smith,” Elka said. “It was lovely and so nice to see all the calendars.” Smith said she “bought out every copper nail in every hardware store that I could get to” to hang the exhibit. “I just thought it was beautiful with these paintings, and simple,” she added. “It was me and my hammer and volunteers. Bread and Puppet does not function without volunteers.” The calendar exhibit is part of a broader initiative to show more of Peter’s art in Vermont. Another show recently opened at Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft in Montpelier titled “The In and Out Show — Off We Go — Riding Through ‘the All’ With Bed Sheet Mitigations.” The paintings are on view inside and outside the Main Street chocolate shop and café. “Peter’s been producing a tremendous amount of work,” Smith said. “He wanted all the exhibits to be in the state of Vermont and drivable for him and Elka to participate in them. He wanted Vermonters to see what he was doing.” When Peter himself saw the years of calendar art, he was reminded of “what we have found already, surprisingly already, how old we are,” he said. “It surprises us even more. My God, how did that thing come together?” m

INFO “1,111 Copper Nails: Bread and Puppet Calendar Prints – A 36-Year Retrospective,” on view through September 21 at the Hardwick Inn and Front Seat Coffee in Hardwick. breadandpuppet.org

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File Under ‘Expat’ Four new albums from formerly local artists BY J O R D AN AD AMS • jordan@sevendaysvt.com

ermont’s music community is vast compared to the state’s small population. It’s also eclectic. That means Seven Days never runs out of interesting albums to review. In fact, we get more submissions than we know what to do with. This has never been truer than now. One of the only positive things to come out of the pandemic has been a surge of creativity from homebound artists of all disciplines. Musicians have been particularly busy — including formerly local bands and artists. Though our focus tends to be hyper-local, once in a while we like to check up on some of our expatriated musicians — especially after a year like the one we just weathered. Read on for quick hits on four recently released albums from folks who used to call the Green Mountains home.

(Other Minds Records, digital)

Sonic sculptor Henry Birdsey issues a challenge to listeners with his new album, Half-Dragged. Be warned: Half-Dragged is not an easy listen. But those with inquiring minds are likely to be sucked into the four soundscapes included in this 40-minute exploration. Birdsey, a Ripton native now based in Connecticut, is the protégé of Kyle Gann, a New York City composer whose work is often classified as microtonal. Essentially, artists like Birdsey and Gann fixate on tunings — or rather, the spaces between what’s been established and venerated in Western tonality. That’s why Birdsey is referred to above as a sonic sculptor: He carves and shapes sound in palpable ways. Atonality and discord seem to be of great interest to the artist. Opener “HD - [1],” a nearly 12-minute drone, roils with tension and foreboding. Feedback and a grinding, metallic noise populate the equally monstrous “HD - [2],” while “HD - [3]” delves into spiked, tactile acoustic manipulations. Closer “HD - [4]” leans heavily into bass sounds, like a bow being dragged across a cello at a fraction of its normal speed. By giving his songs perfunctory, nondescript titles, Birdsey does little to manipulate the expectations of listeners. People will hear what they hear and make associations based on their own experiences. And that’s what the most stimulating art does. Listen to Half-Dragged at henrybirdsey.bandcamp.com.

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COURTESY OF AMANDA PICOTTE

COURTESY OF MARTIN HERTERICH

Henry Birdsey, Half-Dragged

Kalbells, Max Heart (NNA Tapes, vinyl, CD, digital)

Indie-dance band Rubblebucket were quite the Burlington party monsters when they were on the local scene in the aughts and early teens. After relocating to New York City several years ago, creative masterminds Alex Toth and Kalmia Traver each began to pursue their own solo projects. Toth became the wry singer-songwriter Tōth, while Traver delved into playful electro-pop with her band, Kalbells. The word “playful” might be overused in music writing, but it’s one of the most apt descriptors of Kalbells’ canon, including the newly released Max Heart. Just in the first few moments of opener “Red Marker,” a song whose title instantly evokes childhood art projects, Traver whispersings a skewed nursery rhyme: “One two three four / Why do we have to go to war? / Five four three / I feel peace when I’m free.” One of Kalbells’ strongest qualities is the ability to pair childlike exuberance with thought-provoking lyrics. Play is a foundational element in childhood, providing a mechanism for kids to

learn about the world and themselves. Kalbells never stopped playing, which can be heard in the group’s whimsy and experimentation. Brooklyn rapper Miss Eaves’ guest spot on the empowering “Pickles” is an album highlight. Her bars are unambiguously affirming: “So mad you can’t have this juicy pickle back / I’m a meal not a snack / Let your lips smack.” Listen to Max Heart at kalbells. bandcamp.com.

Well, they’re starting up again, and we're here to help. Find 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 jordan@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

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(Self-released, vinyl, CD, digital)

Composer Ben Cosgrove makes music that begs the listener to stop, drop and recollect. His neoclassical, instrumental compositions are immediately evocative and fully arresting. His work brims with technical mastery and emotional capital, evident in the recently released The Trouble With Wilderness. Technically Boston-based, Cosgrove is a wanderer through and through. That was true even when he was in Vermont, and a nomadic spirit runs through his music. His work sounds expansive, a sonic equivalent of vistas seen from mountaintops. Cosgrove is no stranger to nature; he’s performed in national parks all over the country. But for the new album, he wanted to find similar depth and beauty in everyday locations, “not just places ‘set aside’ for their scenic attributes,” as he states in a press release previewing the album.

The Cush, Riders in the Stardust Gold (Mad Bunny Records, digital)

Based in their home state of Texas since 2010, husband-and-wife duo Burette and Gabrielle Douglas operated their group, the Cush, in Burlington for a decade during the aughts. Their newest LP, Riders in the Stardust Gold, is their first to be released via Mad Bunny Records, an imprint founded by singer-songwriter Ben Harper. After nearly 20 years of playing music together, the Cush are more locked in and cohesive than ever. Riders in the Stardust Gold is a six-track collection of astral, shoegaze-tinged rock with a chewy Americana core. Its album art is a pastiche of Victorian-era and 1960s pop-art styles, subtly implying that time is meaningless and that history always repeats. The band doubles down on this notion through a sparse description of the album found on its website: “‘Haters,’ ‘Beneath the Lines,’ ‘Chariots of Smog,’ ‘Ajna Returns,’ ‘Fly,’ and ‘Daydream Beach’ each take you on a

COURTESY OF BEN COSGROVE

Ben Cosgrove, The Trouble With Wilderness

In addition to Cosgrove’s primary instrument, the piano, he outfits his compositions with a host of synthesizers and organs, accordion and stringed instruments. He lightly envelops his piano work with atmospheric resonance, such that the additional instrumentation creates a glowing aura of sound. Though stylistically sleek and modern, The Trouble With Wilderness incorporates flourishes of jazz, as in opener “The Machine in the Garden,” while hints of Appalachian folk dot the textured “Cairn.” Listen to The Trouble With Wilderness at bencosgrove.bandcamp.com.

journey to be returned with a new state of being before going into the stardust again.” Note the word “again” at the end of the sentence. This has all happened before… Gabrielle’s vocals are subdued and serene on the opening track, “Haters.” A percussion-laden backdrop, tempered with heavy reverb, creates an ornate tapestry for the singer’s wispy words. The spaciousness and sultry atmosphere introduced in the first song continue throughout. “Chariots of Smog” centers fat, grungy electric guitars and jingle bell spangles. Things get intensely psychedelic on the following cut, “Ajna Returns,” its gnarly riffs spiraling like distant galaxies. “Daydream Beach” erects a blaring, sizzling wall of guitars, explosive as fireworks. The song closes the album with passion and fury. Listen to Riders in the Stardust Gold on all major streaming services. m

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GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

REVIEW this Eric George, Valley of the Heart (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

“It feels strange to fit most of my creative output of the pandemic into this 5x5.5” book,” wrote Burlington singer-songwriter Eric George in a March Instagram post promoting his new album, Valley of the Heart. Is the prolific folk troubadour doing something unusual by releasing a pandemic album? Probably not. My reviewer’s instinct says a deluge of similarly themed songs and records is on the horizon. But Valley of the Heart is special due to George’s focus on the seemingly small and

Doctor Sailor, Running Over the Road (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

I wonder how many records were made because someone went west to find better fishing? I’m going to go out on a limb and say one. There’s an album that happened specifically because a fisherman, who is also an indie-rock musician, felt like hunting the icy waters off the Alaskan coast. (Note to anyone thinking of sending me a Jimmy Buffett record: 1. Gross. 2. Even if he did go fishing in Alaska and wrote a song called “King Crabs Got Me Down,” it doesn’t count. Don’t @ me.) That musician is Burlington’s Tristan Baribeau. Way back in 2013, the songwriter,

mundane — a meal of bread and butter, a cold cup of coffee, the cover of a paperback Western. These little observations stand in for big feelings. “Blue Plate Special” gets its title from the low-price diner menu option that originated during the Great Depression. It’s an apt reference in the second economic crisis of the 30-year-old musician’s lifetime and an appropriate title for this Americana accounting of quarantine blues. George’s musical style is rooted in folk, country and Delta blues. “Never You,” however, features the poppiest melody I’ve heard from the Massachusetts native. The acoustic guitar-driven tune has the feel

of Jim Croce’s “Operator” reworked as a country crossover song. “Everybody’s Got a Right to Cry” touches on shared experiences of grief and confusion. The message? Let it out, y’all. Social commentary is in George’s wheelhouse, and he gets into it here. “Pretty Things” is an ironically jaunty climate crisis PSA. “I Don’t Like Steve” describes a grade A jerk in painfully specific terms: “He’s always asking everyone around / What they think about this or that / Then he’ll tell you his opinion / Halfway through your sentence / And then says thanks for the chat.” I’m willing to bet Steve has never read Rebecca Solnit’s priceless essay, “Men Explain Things to Me.” Critiquing toxic masculinity has emerged as a theme across several of George’s recent releases. He’s addressed it in songs such as “All She’s Got” on his 2019

punk album Song of Love and now again in “Looking for a Man,” a retro rock number with Sean Preece of pop-punk band Preece on drums. An Eric George album wouldn’t be complete without folk-art-inspired presentation. Like 2017’s Not About Nightingales, Valley of the Heart comes with a hand-bound booklet. Original photo collages featuring childhood snapshots of George, as well as images of home and nature, are tucked between pages of lyrics. On his 10th full-length album, George maintains his strong track record for vision, direction and editing. There’s no navel-gazing here, just relevant and poignant expressions of his coronavirus-era reflections and experiences. Valley of the Heart is available at ericgeorge.bandcamp.com.

who also played with indie rockers Villanelles, made the trek out west in search of a better haul. Between his fishing trips and visits home, Baribeau recorded seven songs chronicling his various experiences, mishaps and oscillating emotions. Such was his level of transience at the time that at some point Baribeau seemingly forgot Running Over the Road existed. “Life happens,” he explains on the rediscovered album’s Bandcamp page. “Money and time run out. Things change. People change.” What doesn’t change is the appeal of a talented songwriter with a bruised heart, traveling and singing about the rough times. With his solo project Doctor Sailor, Baribeau wears that hat well. The record starts off with the title track, a slice of pop-infused indie rock that

breezes by like an intriguing stranger on a bike. Maybe it’s that earworm refrain of “la la la la la” that Baribeau sings, but “Running Over the Road” conveys just a hint of British psychedelic tendencies — an amuse-bouche of weird that peeks out from his robust pop sensibilities. That push/pull tension of Baribeau’s songs, the bobbing and weaving between sugary pop and his darker influences, creates its own kind of dynamism. Instead of using big guitars or sudden drum breaks to shift mood, he’ll let a playful jazz progression, such as the one that starts “Either Way,” creep into a lush, new-waveleaning chorus. “Baby, love always finds a way,” Baribeau sings, the melody all but floating over the sound. Tabi Trahan adds sumptuous harmonies throughout the song. A kind of detached awe hangs over many of the tracks on Running Over the Road. It manifests in the slow burn and yearn of “Color of Wine,” as Baribeau sings, “We worry about things like the color of wine /

but I just don’t give a shit most of the time / ’Cause it’s a long way down / Falling at the speed of sound.” The sensation is something many travelers will recognize. There’s a specific kind of feeling in finding yourself in strange lands and needing to keep your shit together, particularly in times of trouble. “Columbia River Blues” has the same vibe — that of a stiff upper lip while navigating the unknown. It lends the record an air of adventure. For an album recorded and forgotten about more than seven years ago, Running Over the Road has thematic fidelity, strong songwriting and overall great sounds. Baribeau recorded most of it himself but handed it over to Eric Maier at Future Fields to mix and master. The result is a record full of longing, discovery and, most importantly, killer songs. Download Running Over the Road at

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THE GLASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE LARGEST SELECTION OF SCIENTIFIC AND AMERICAN GLASS IN TOWN THE SMOKE SHOP WITH THE HIPPIE FLAVOR

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

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:

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

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movies

ur streaming entertainment options are overwhelming — and not always easy to sort through. Lately, everybody’s been talking about Best Summer Ever, a musical that was produced and shot in Vermont by Zeno Mountain Farm, a Lincoln nonprofit that runs retreats and camps for people with and without disabilities. Directed by Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli, the movie features Hollywood talent in front of and behind the camera. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, who have a home in Vermont, show up in cameos as TV journalists and count among several celebrity executive producers. 2638 Ethan Allen Hwy Cast and crew members are a mix of New Haven, VT 05472 pros and non-pros; more than half of them 802-453-5382 | Open 8-5 Daily have a disability. Best Summer Ever drew greenhavengardensandnursery.com big buzz at South by Southwest in March, and a recent Variety article suggests that it “Serves as Template for Disability Repre8V-greenhaven050521.indd 1 5/3/21 4:06 PM sentation in Hollywood.” It's rentable on various platforms.

TO ALL

THE MOMS!

Route 7 - Charlotte, VT

REVIEW

The deal

At a dance camp in Vermont, teens Sage (Shannon DeVido) and Tony (Rickey Alexander Wilson) meet and discover the joys of summer lovin’. But when autumn comes, both must return to their real lives, about which they haven’t been entirely frank with each other. Tony, who presented himself as a New York dance kid, is actually a football hero in a small Pennsylvania town that depends on him to break its homecoming game losing streak. Sage travels the nation in an Airstream with her free-spirited moms, who are itinerant pot growers staying one step ahead of the law. Then a breakdown strands Sage in — you guessed it — Tony’s town. Dreaming of a “normal” life, she persuades her moms to let her enroll in school (that’s Bristol’s Mount Abraham Union High School on-screen). When the two lovers reunite, worlds collide, cheerleaders fume and dance numbers take over whole streets. These kids are footloose and fancy-free, and love will lift them up where they belong.

Will you like it?

Best Summer Ever isn’t trying to push the boundaries of its genre. Dripping with golden light and bursting with 58

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COURTESY OF FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA

EXTRA LOVE

Best Summer Ever HHHH

SUMMER LOVING Wilson and DeVido play starry-eyed teens in Zeno Mountain Farm’s Vermont-shot musical.

candy colors, it’s a love letter to the feel-good teen musicals of the 1980s and beyond. Even if those aren’t your jam, it’s impossible not to like a movie with such a big helping of joy and so little cynicism. DeVido and Wilson, both pro actors, anchor the story with their winsome chemistry. Tony and Sage may not be the most complex characters, but her singing voice and his dance moves make them soar. Emily Kranking has irrepressible energy as cheerleader Nancy. Another standout is MuMu, who cowrote many of the songs and plays Nancy’s evil counterpart, a queen bee who regards Tony as her rightful property. She does her scheming in a deliciously vampy number called “The G.” The songs are hummable, and the wellchoreographed ensemble numbers are downright exhilarating. “More Than Worth the Wait” is a riff on Grease’s “Summer Nights” that isn’t afraid to make a sly nod to its inspiration. DeVido gets to show her vocal chops in the ballad “Leave Behind.” And the film’s high point could be “Ready to Ride,” in which downtown Bristol becomes the scene of a La La Land-style street ballet. If you’re wondering where disability is in this movie — there’s nothing hidden about it. DeVido uses a wheelchair. Kranking has hemiplegic cerebral palsy and dysarthria, according to her bio. Supporting characters with visible disabilities — a cop, a mechanic — blend with apparently nondisabled ones. (Disability can, of course, also be invisible.) But no one’s disability is commented on, because that’s not what the story is about. Zeno Mountain Farm codirector Will Halby told Variety that, by integrating actors of various ability levels, the filmmakers

aimed to break out of the Hollywood pattern of presenting disabilities as obstacles to overcome and disabled people as sources of inspiration for abled people. “We beg the question,” Halby said, “‘why is it not more normal, not just on film, but in the world, in general, to see this level of integration in our day to day lives?’” It’s a good question and a reminder of the power of casting decisions and other artistic choices to shape our sense of what’s possible in the world. A pure shot of fun and optimism, Best Summer Ever is just as radical as it is conventional, because it makes us ask ourselves why we haven’t been seeing characters like these in movie musicals all along. Everybody deserves a chance to sing their heart out.

If you like this, try...

• Becoming Bulletproof (2014; Tubi, rentable): Director Michael Barnett documents the making of Zeno Mountain Farm’s western “Bulletproof ” and explores the lives and friendships of its actors. The New York Times called the documentary “wonderful.” • Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020; Netflix): Nominated for an Oscar, this acclaimed doc spotlights New York’s Camp Jened, a summer camp with a countercultural flavor that nurtured many future activists for disability rights, including the film’s codirector, James Lebrecht. • Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie (2021; rentable): This documentary follows the adventures of “two badass best friends with Down syndrome” who produce a zombie flick. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

GUNDA: Calling farm fans! Viktor Kosakovskiy’s festival fave documentary takes a black-and-white deep dive into the daily life of a sow, her piglets, two cows and a one-legged chicken. (93 min, G. Savoy Theater) HERE TODAY: Billy Crystal directed and stars in this comedy about the friendship between a comedy writer and a street singer (Tiffany Haddish), also starring Sharon Stone. (117 min, PG-13; Essex Cinemas) THE RESORT: When you hear that a ghost called “Half-Faced Girl” haunts an abandoned Hawaiian resort, you should (a) steer clear, (b) be like the folks in this horror movie, written and directed by Taylor Chien. (75 min, NR. Sunset Drive-In) WRATH OF MAN: Jason Statham works for an LA cash truck company in the latest action thriller from director Guy Ritchie, also starring Holt McCallany and Josh Hartnett. (118 min, R. Essex Cinemas, Sunset Drive-In)

NOW PLAYING DEMON SLAYER THE MOVIE: MUGEN TRAINHHHH A team of demon slayers embarks on a new mission as the popular manga/anime series jumps to the big screen. Haruo Sotozaki directed. (117 min, R. Essex Cinemas [dubbed and subtitled], Sunset Drive-In) GODZILLA VS. KONGHHH Ready to go back to the theater and see giant monsters smash each other in a would-be blockbuster directed by indie horror filmmaker Adam Wingard? (113 min, PG-13. Essex Cinemas, Stowe Cinema, Sunset Drive-In)

LIMBOHHHH A group of refugees wait on a Scottish island for the results of their asylum claims in this drama from writer-director Ben Sharrock. (103 min, R. Savoy Theater)

COURTESY OF COLIN TENNANT / FOCUS FEATURES

NEW IN THEATERS

MORTAL KOMBATHH An MMA fighter competes in a high-stakes intergalactic martial-arts battle in the latest adaptation of the classic video game. Lewis Tan stars. Simon McQuoid directed. (110 min, R. Essex Cinemas, Stowe Cinema) NOBODYHHH1/2 Bob Odenkirk plays a put-upon dad who goes on a Death Wish-style vigilante spree in this action flick from director Ilya Naishuller. With Connie Nielsen and RZA. (92 min, R. Essex Cinemas) NOMADLANDHHHHH Frances McDormand plays a woman set adrift by the Great Recession to travel the country in her beat-up van in this Oscar winner directed by Chloé Zhao. (108 min, R. Sunset Drive-In) RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGONHHHH A young warrior seeks the help of the last living dragon in this Disney animated fantasy. Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada directed. (114 min, PG. Essex Cinemas, Sunset Drive-In) SEPARATIONH A bereaved child (Violet McGraw) finds solace in her creepy beloved puppets in this horror flick from William Brent Bell (The Boy). (107 min, R. Essex Cinemas, Sunset Drive-In) THE TRUFFLE HUNTERSHHHH1/2 This acclaimed documentary examines the work of a group of elderly Italians who carry on an ancient tradition. Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw directed. (84 min, PG-13. Savoy Theater) THE UNHOLYHH A girl gains supernatural powers after an apparent visitation from the Virgin in this horror flick. With Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Evan Spiliotopoulos directed. (102 min, PG-13. Sunset Drive-In)

Vikash Bhai (left) and Amir El-Masry (right) in Limbo

WALKING WITH HERB: A golfer (Edward James Olmos) embarks on a personal mission given him by God via George Lopez in this inspirational comedy directed by Ross Kagan Marks. (110 min, PG; Essex Cinemas)

OLDER FILMS 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (Essex Cinemas, Sat & Sun only) FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 30TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex Cinemas, Sun only)

OPEN THEATERS ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com THE SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com

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classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

computers

drumming

COMPTIA A+ CERTIFICATION: Get your CompTIA A+ certification without spending thousands on a costly college degree at GMTCC. We provide affordable and fast computer training services, so you can earn your CompTIA A+ certification within two to three months. CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles. It is the only industry-recognized credential with performance-based items to prove pros can think on their feet to perform critical IT support tasks in the moment. It is trusted by employers around the world to identify the go-to person in endpoint management and technical support roles. May 25Jul. 29. Tue. & Thu., 4-7 p.m. Cost: $1,400/person incl. all books/materials, certification/exam fees & tuition. Location: Green Mountain Technology & Career Center, 738 Route 15 W., Hyde Park. Info: Mallery Daudelin, 851-1575, mdaudelin@gmtcc.net, gmtccadulteducation. coursestorm.com/course/ comp-tia-a-certification.

DJEMBE & TAIKO DRUMMING: JOIN US!: New hybrid classes (Zoom and in-person) starting! Taiko Tuesday and Wednesday. Djembe Wednesday. Kids and Parents Tuesday and Wednesday. COVID-19-free rental instruments, curbside pickup, too. Private Hybrid Conga lessons by appointment. Let’s prepare for future drumming outdoors. Schedule/register online. Location: Online and in-person at Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Info: 999-4255, burlingtontaiko.org.

jewelry HAND-STAMPED JEWELRY: Local jeweler Bren Prescott instructs students on creating simple but satisfying fine metal jewelry via Zoom. Learn the basics of metal stamping to create your own unique pieces to keep or give as gifts. Class includes one hour of instruction plus all the materials you will need, in a kit. Wed., May 18, 6-7 p.m. Cost: $20. Location: BCA Studios, Online. Info: Kiersten Wlliams, 865-7157, kwilliams@burlingtoncityarts.org, burlingtoncityarts.org. WIRE EARRINGS: Local jeweler Bren Prescott instructs students on creating simple but satisfying metal wire jewelry. Learn the basics of wirework and beading to create your own unique pieces to keep or give as gifts. Class includes two hours of instruction plus all the materials you will need, in a kit. Wed., May 25, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $40. Location: BCA Studios, Zoom class. Info: Kiersten Williams, 865-7157, kwilliams@burlingtoncityarts.org, burlingtoncityarts.org.

language ADULT LIVE SPANISH E-CLASSES: Join us for adult Spanish classes this summer using Zoom online video conferencing. Our 15th year. Learn from a native speaker via small group classes and individual instruction. You’ll always be participating and speaking. Four different levels. Note: classes fill up quickly. See our website or contact us for details. Beginning week of June 7. Cost: $270/10 weekly classes of 90+ min. each. Location: Spanish in Waterbury Center, Waterbury Center. Info: 585-1025, spanishparavos@gmail.com, spanishwaterburycenter.com.

ONLINE SPANISH CLASSES FOR ALL AGES: Premier native-speaking Spanish professor Maigualida Rak is giving fun, interactive online lessons to improve comprehension and pronunciation and to achieve fluency. Audiovisual material is used. “I feel proud to say that my students have significantly improved their Spanish with my teaching approach.” -Maigualida Rak. Read reviews on our website: spanishclassesvt. com. Location: Maigualida Rak, Online. Info: Maigualida Rak, info@spanishclassesvt.com, spanishclassesvt.com.

martial arts VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: This school was developed to communicate the importance of proper, legitimate and complete Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction. We cover fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a realistic approach to self-defense training skills in a friendly, safe and positive environment. All are welcome; no experience required. Develop confidence, strength and endurance.

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Julio Cesar “Foca” Fernandez Nunes was born and raised on the shores of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Earning his black belt and representing the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, Julio “Foca” went on to become a five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion, threetime Rio de Janeiro State Champion and two-time IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Champion! Julio “Foca” is the only CBJJP, USBJJF and IBJJF-certified seventh-degree coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense instructor under late grand master Carlson Gracie Sr. currently teaching in the USA. Accept no Iimitations! Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

109, Essex Junction. Info: Scott Moylan, 288-8160, scott@ elementsofhealing.net, elements ofhealing.net.

yoga EVOLUTION YOGA: Whether you are new to yoga or have been at it for years, you’ll find the support you need to awaken your practice. Now offering outdoor in-person classes overlooking Lake Champlain! Livestream and recorded classes continue. Flexible pricing based on your needs, scholarships avail. Single class: $0-15. Weekly membership: $10-25. 10-class pass: $140. New student special: $20 for 3 classes. Location: Evolution Yoga, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: 8649642, evolutionvt.com.

psychology FAIRY TALES AND THEIR DEEPER MEANING: Discover the depth of wisdom in tales from France, Denmark, Russia and China, illustrating how archetypes can come alive in each of us. Led by Sue Mehrtens. Class taught via Zoom. Email us to register. April 28 & May 5, 12, 19, 7-9 p.m. Cost: $60. Location: Jungian Center, Zoom class. Info: Sue Mehrtens, info@ jungiancenter.org,.

well-being FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION & HEALTH: This class will have five modules that will allow students to pick the subjects they want to study, or they can take the entire five modules for the practitioner training. The modules are: Anatomy & Physiology, Essential Oils, Nutrition, Qi Gong, and SelfCare/Lifestyle. Mon., starts Sep. 13, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $2,500/120 hours; individual modules are less. Location: Elements of Healing, 21 Essex Way, Suite

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

5/3/21 9:43 AM

ai161954515629_1T-HireUp042821.pdf

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LOOKING FOR WORK? Meet the area’s top employers at:

Hire Up!

A Live Video Q&A Session Connecting Companies With Candidates Considering a new career path? Want to get back into the field you love? These sessions will help you explore your options from a safe social distance. During each 30-minute session recruiters will explain what jobs they have available and what they’re looking for in an applicant. You can ask questions or just listen in. Attend one session or all — for free!

WED., MAY 12 10 a.m.

11 a.m.

Noon

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Humane

Society of Chittenden County

housing »

Rocket AGE/SEX: 2-year-old neutered male ARRIVAL DATE: April 22, 2021

COURTESY OF KELLY SCHULZE/MOUNTAIN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

REASON HERE: He was not a good fit in his previous home. SUMMARY: Rocket is a smart, sensitive guy who has been through several transitions in his life, so now he’s looking for a place where he can get comfortable and let his true personality shine. He’ll need a patient, understanding family that’s willing to help him be his very best self. His favorite thing is playing fetch, and he could chase tennis balls all day. (His name really suits him when he’s racing around the play yard!) He’s a natural athlete and would love to join his family for lots of walks and hikes. He’s also a smart pup and eager to learn, so there’s no end to the skills he could learn with a little training. If you’re looking for a canine companion with a whole lot of potential, come meet Rocket!

DID YOU KNOW?

Rocket is this month’s Pronature Pal, which means his adoption fee is sponsored by the kind people at Pronature Canada, plus he will go home with six months of free dog food and a $50 gift card from our pals at Pet Food Warehouse to help him get settled!

Sponsored by:

CATS/DOGS/KIDS: Rocket has lived with dogs and cats and has a mixed history with them. He has limited experience with children. Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m., or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES

on the road »

CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES

pro services »

CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING

buy this stuff »

APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE

music »

INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

CLASSIFIEDS We Pick Up & Pay For Junk Automobiles!

on the road

CARS/TRUCKS

Route 15, Hardwick

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housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online services: $12 (25 words)

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OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

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MOTORCYCLES

housing

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services

AUTO

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print deadline: Mondays at 4:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x10

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ENTERTAINMENT

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FINANCIAL/LEGAL

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

6 Commercial Condos and Annex Tuesday, May 25 @ 2PM US Route 4 E, Rutland, VT

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS: List your properties here and online for only $45/week. Submit your listings by Mondays at noon to homeworks@sevendaysvt.com or 802-865-1020, x10.

NEW TO THE MARKET

RANDOLPH | 124 MEADOW LANE | 4857648

PLUS 5BR Mendon Home on 6.2± Acres at 11AM

LOOKING TO LAUNCH A BUSINESS? The Welcome to Montpelier Program offers business support & funding opportunities for new Montpelier businesses! Learn more at

Thursday, May 27: (3) Properties 11AM: 2BR Newbury Home 2PM: 0.34± Acre North Troy Parcel

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

3:30PM: 13.34± Acre Lot in Jay Constructed in 2011 for medical office use, zoned Gateway Commercial Retail. On 1.5 acres near Gifford, ample parking. Large reception area, waiting room, two bathrooms, file room, conference room, physician’s office, business manager’s office, six exam rooms, four work stations, second waiting room, employee break room, 3754 square feet. $525,000

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Tim Heney 522-5260 Tim@HeneyRealtors.com HeneyRealtors.com

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4/30/21 4:50 PM

5/3/21 9:40 AM

Show and tell. Sudoku

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.

3÷ 120x

15x

11-

8 5 2 9

12+ 2-

30x

2÷

Difficulty - Hard

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

6 8

6 2

CALCOKU

5 6 7

2÷ 1-

Open 24/7/365.

Viewfollowing and post up to Post the & browse ads Complete the puzzle by using 6 photos per ad online. at your convenience. numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

SUDOKU

9 1 4 2 3 7 7

Difficulty - Hard

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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

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

1 7 3 9 5 6 2 8 4 ANSWERS4 ON P.66 8 6 1 2 7 5 9 3 H = MODERATE HH = CHALLENGING HHH = HOO, BOY! 9 2 5 8 4 3 1 6 7 5 6 8 7 3 1 4 2 9 HANGING FRUIT 7 4 2 5 6 9 3 1 8 ANSWERS ON P.66 » 3 1 9 2 8 4 6 7 5 6 9 4 3 1 8 7 5 2 8 5 1 4 7 2 9 3 6 2 3 7 6 9 5 8 4 1

5 2 1 3 4 6 crossword 4

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1 4 7

No. 686

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

1/13/14 1:45 PM

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FROM P.65

5 3

Legal Notices PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 10. ACT 250 NOTICE APPLICATION 4C1336 SITE VISIT & PREHEARING CONFERENCE 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111 On April 7, 2021, Town of Hinesburg filed an Act 250 application for the reconstruction of the Hinesburg Wastewater Treatment Facility which will be completed in two phases. Phase I will include (a) draining and sludge removal of Lagoon #1, (b) taking Lagoon #1 out of service, (c) constructing a drainage layer and underdrain system with groundwater pumping station within the Lagoon #1 footprint, (d) installing subgrade wick drains in Lagoon #1, and (e) filling Lagoon #1 above wick drains for the purpose of consolidating the compressible soil underneath the footprint of a future infrastructure. Phase II will include (a) upgrades to the existing main pump station, (b) construction of a new headworks, (c) construction of two new sequential batch reactor tanks with pre- and post-equalization tanks, (d) construction of a new filtration and disinfection building with associated equipment, (e) construction of a new sludge storage tank and new in-plant pump station, (f) construction of a new control building, and (g) once the new treatment plant is operational Lagoons #2 and #3 will be drained, cleaned and taken out of service. The Hinesburg Wastewater Treatment Facility is located at 290 Lagoon Road in Hinesburg, Vermont. The application was deemed complete on April 27, 2021. This project will be evaluated by the District 4 Environmental Commission in accordance with the 10 environmental criteria of 10 V.S.A., § 6086(a). Under this application, the applicants are seeking findings on all 10 environmental criteria and a permit for Phase I, and partial findings on Criteria 1, 1(A), 1(C), 1(D), 1(F), 5, 6, 7, 8A, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 10 for Phase II. A copy of the application and plans are available for review online at the Natural Resources Board website (http://nrb.vermont.gov) by clicking on “Act 250 Database” and entering project number 4C1336. Pursuant to Act 250 Rules 16 and 20, the Commission is convening an online Prehearing Conference. A Prehearing Conference is designed to identify the parties and the issues. The Prehearing Conference will be followed by the issuance of a Prehearing Conference Report and Order (“PHCRO”),

1120x7 4 8 9 2 5 6 72- 4 3 1 6 9 8 5 2 3 3÷

13 1-6 5 8 30x 2 9 4 1 7

6 1-7 3 12+ 1 2-9 4 8 2 5

1 5 2 4 3 6 8 1 7 9

1 9 118 7 53 2 3 4 6

3 2 5 1 4 336 7 9 8

5 8 2÷4 9 3 6 7 2 9 1 2÷8 7 5 5 2 3 Difficulty 6 - Hard 4 1

15x

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

Calcoku

Difficulty - Hard

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

FROM P.65

PUZZLE ANSWERS

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ESSEX SPACIOUS HOME

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which will prescribe any filing requirements,

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Note to Prospective Parties: Pursuant to Vermont statute and Act 250 Rules, any person seeking to participate as a party to this proceeding MUST make such a request “on or before the first prehearing conference.” Accordingly, all prospective parties must log in or call into the Prehearing Conference scheduled below, or file a written party status petition (including email address, street address, and mailing address) in advance with the Commission at NRB.Act250Essex@ vermont.gov. Failure to timely appear on the Prehearing Conference call or video conference call, or to timely file a written request by the date of the Prehearing Conference might result in the forfeiture of your rights relative to this matter. A Prehearing Conference is hereby scheduled to convene: Date: Friday, May 14, 2021 In-Person Site Visit: 1:00PM at 290 Lagoon Road in Hinesburg Prehearing Conference: 3:00PM via Microsoft Teams (see below) Site Visit Instructions: Please visit nrb.vermont. gov/covid and click ‘Mandatory Instructions for Site Visits’ for important COVID-19 related requirements.

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Prehearing Conference Instructions: Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this Prehearing 4/26/21 FSBO1:20 mattp021021.indd PM 1 Conference will necessarily be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams video conferencing software. To receive a Microsoft Teams invitation via email, please e-mail the District Coordinator (rachel. lomonaco@vermont.gov) no later than May 12, 2014 at 4:30 PM. If you are unable to participate using the Microsoft Teams platform, you may still call in to the conference with the following information: • Dial: 802-828-7667 • Enter Conference ID: 852 669 575# If you would like further information regarding participation in this Prehearing Conference, please contact the District Coordinator (rachel. lomonaco@vermont.gov) by no later than May 12, 2021 at 4:30 PM. If you have a disability for which you need accommodation in order to participate in this process (including participating in a public hearing, if one is held), please notify us as soon as possible. Dated this 3rd day of May 2021. By: /s/Rachel Lomonaco, District Coordinator Rachel Lomonaco, District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-879-5658 rachel.lomonaco@vermont.gov

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BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD 2/8/21 FSBO-Talentino042821.indd 3:59 PM 1 TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE REMOTE MEETING Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89490816875? pwd=YTZqTXB6bUdxVWFvM0k2NEFmaEJmdz09 Webinar ID: 894 9081 6875 Password: 228291 Telephone: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 1. 21-0816SN; 65 Main Street (FD5, Ward 3C) 65 Main Condo Association, Inc Install three signs and seek alternative compliance for proposed directory sign. 2. 21-0361CU; 41 Pine Place (RM, Ward 5S) Sam Catalano Request for three-bedroom short-term rental (bed and breakfast) and two-bedroom boarding house within duplex. No construction proposed. Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

LAMOILLE NORTH SUPERVISORY UNION The Board of School Directors of the Lamoille North Modified Unified Union School District – Hyde Park Elementary invites sealed requests for proposals for the service of providing Professional Development in a research-based, school wide program that incorporates academic and social and emotional learning (SEL). For more information and to receive a full copy of the proposal request, please email sjourdan@lnsd. org, or call (802) 851-1160. Lamoille North Supervisory Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer

STATE OF VERMONT PROBATE COURT DISTRICT OF CHITTENDEN SS, DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-01401 In re ESTATE of Anne Adams

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To the creditors of the estate of Anne Adams, late of Milton, Vermont. 4/26/21 4:17 PM 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 as described above within the four (4) month period. Dated: April 30, 2021 Signed: /s/ Abigail Adams Print name: Abigail Adams 372 Bean Road Colchester, Vermont 05446 802-233-6532 Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 5/5/21 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street - PO Box 511, Burlington, VT 05402-0511 STATE OF VERMONT PROBATE COURT DISTRICT OF CHITTENDEN SS, DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-01797 In re ESTATE of James E. Little, Late of Burlington, Vermont. NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of the estate of James E. Little, late of Burlington, Vermont: I have been appointed personal representative of this estate. All creditors having claims against 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 filed with the Register of the Probate Court. The claim will be forever barred if it is not presented as described above within the four (4) month period. Dated: April 28, 2021 Signed: /s/ Thomas A. Little Print name: Thomas A. Little Address: c/o Little & Cicchetti, P.C. P.O. Box 907, Burlington, VT 05402-0907 802-862-6511 Name of Publication: Seven Days First Publication Date: 5/5/21 Second Publication Date: 5/12/21 Address of Probate Court: Chittenden District Court, 175 Main Street, PO Box 511, Burlington, VT 05401

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

LEGALS » SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Legal Notices STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-00971 In re ESTATE of Arthur J. Merchant NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Arthur J. Merchant late of South Burlington. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented as described above within the four (4) month period. Dated: April 21, 2021 Signed: /s/ David A. Merchant Executor/Administrator: David A. Merchant 110 Brosseau Lane Colchester, Vermont 05446 802-825-3808 merchand59@gmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 5/5/21 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-02135 In re ESTATE of Britt J. M. Vitols NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Britt J. M. Vitols late of Essex Junction, Vermont. I have been appointed a personal representative of the above-named 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 as described above within the four (4) month period. Dated: 05/03/2021 Signed: /s/ Steven D. Marshall, Esq., Executor PO Box 131, Swanton, VT 05488 Marshall.Law@comcast.net Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 651-1518 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT, DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-00866 In re ESTATE of Wilfred Bessette NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of Wilfred Bessette, late of Essex Junction, 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 as described within the four (4) month period. Dated: April 23, 2021

SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

Signed: /s/ Yvette Blair Fiduciary/Administrator: Yvette Blair c/o Geraldine E. Stewart, Esq., Jarrett & Luitjens, PLC 1795 Williston Rd., Suite 125 South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 864-5951 Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: May 5, 2021 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: P.O. Box 511, Burlington, VT 05402-0511

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT, DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-01603 In re ESTATE of Rosemary Yaecker NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of Rosemary Yaecker a/k/a Rosemary Elizabeth Yaecker-Chipman, late of Shelburne, Vermont. I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented as described within the four (4) month period. Dated: 4/28/21 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Maria Seiler Executor/Adminstrator: Maria Seiler c/o Jarrett & Luitjens, PLC 1795 Williston Rd., Suite 125 South Burlington, VT 05403 802-864-5951 Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: May 5, 2021 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION LAMOILLE UNIT, DOCKET NO.: 198-1020 LEPR In re ESTATE of Richard A. Parker late of Eden, Vermont. NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of Richard A. Parker late of Eden, 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 as described within the four (4) month period. Dated: May 5, 2021 Signed: /s/ Daniel R. Parker Daniel R. Parker, Executor Little & Cicchetti, P.C. P.O. Box 907, Burlington, VT 05402-0907 802-862-6511 ben.luna@lclawvt.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: May 5, 2021 Address of Probate Court: Lamoille Unit Probate Court, P.O. Box 570, Hyde Park, VT 05655

STATE OF VERMONT VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT WASHINGTON UNIT, CIVIL DIVISION DOCKET NO: 379-7-19 WNCV REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC v. LAWRENCE J. MILLER, RANDALL G. MILLER, STEVEN A. MILLER, PAMELA J. MARTIN, SUSAN L. MILLER AND SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OCCUPANTS OF: 16 North Parkside Terrace, Barre VT MORTGAGEE’S NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER 12 V.S.A. sec 4952 et seq. In accordance with the Judgment Order and Decree of Foreclosure entered January 25, 2021 in the above captioned action brought to foreclose that certain mortgage given by Sylvia D. Miller to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC, dated June 8, 2015 and recorded in Book 289 Page 154 of the land records of the City of Barre, of which mortgage the Plaintiff is the present holder, by virtue of an Assignment of Mortgage from Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC to Reverse Mortgage Funding, LLC dated May 8, 2019 and recorded in Book 351 Page330 of the land records of the City of Barre for breach of the conditions of said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same will be sold at Public Auction at 16 North Parkside Terrace, Barre, Vermont on May 28, 2021 at 9:30 AM all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, To wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON, CITY OF BARRE STATE OF VERMONT, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: IT BEING THE SAME LAND AND PREMISES AS WAS CONVEYED TO RUSSELL W. BRECHIN AND ALBERTINE M. BRECH1N BY THE WARRANTY DEED OF JEANETTE HOOKER DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 1968 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 82, PAGES 503-505 OF THE LAND RECORDS OF THE CITY OF BARRE, AND FURTHER DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE WESTERLY SIDE OF NORTH PARKSIDE TERRACE, SO-CALLED, WITH THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN LOT NO. 47 AND LOT NO. 48, AS SHOWN IN A CERTAIN PLAN OF LOTS ENTITLED: “SUB-DIVISION OF PROPERTY, LAGUE, INC. JUNE 1960, WHITE & MARTIN, SURVEYORS: THENCE RUNNING IN A GENERAL WESTERLY DIRECTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE A DISTANCE OF 81.9 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE TURNING TO THE LEFT AND RUNNING IN A GENERAL SOUTHERLY DIRECTION 1000 FEET TO THE GENERAL NORTHERLY SIDE OF A PROPOSED STREET; THENCE TURNING AN ANGLE TO THE LEFT AND RUNNING ALONG THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SAID PROPOSED STREET IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION A DISTANCE OF 56.9 FEET: THENCE TURNING AND RUNNING GENERALLY NORTHERLY AND EASTERLY A DISTANCE OF 56.9 FEET; THENCE TURNING AND RUNNING GENERALLY NORTHERLY AND EASTERLY IN A CIRCULAR DIRECTION AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID PROPOSED STREET AND NORTH PARKSIDE TERRACE TO THE WESTERLY EDGE OF NORTH PARKSIDE TERRACE; THENCE RUNNING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ALONG THE WESTERLY EDGE OF NORTH PARKSIDE TERRACE IN A GENERAL NORTHERLY DIRECTION A DISTANCE OF 75 FOOT TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. MEANING HEREBY TO CONVEY ALL OF LOT NO. 48 AS SHOWN ON THE AFOREMENTIONED PLAN, TOGETHER WITH THE BUILDINGS THEREON STANDING. PARCEL ID # 1100-0016.0000 THIS BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO GEORGE W. MILLER AND SYLVIA MILLER FROM RUSSELL W. BRECHIN AND ALBERTINE BRECHIN IN A DEED DATED JANUARY 7, 1978 AND RECORDED JANUARY 7, 1978 IN BOOK 87 PAGE 230. GEORGE W. MILLER LEFT THIS LIFE ON JULY 19, 1989 IN THE TOWN OF BERLIN, VT. TITLE NOW VESTS SOLELY IN SYLVIA MILLER.

Property Commonly Known As: 16 North Parkside Terrace, Barre, VT 05641 Reference is hereby made to the above instruments and to the records and references contained therein in further aid of this description. Terms of sale: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described. TEN THOUSAND ($10,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid by a certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid by a certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check within sixty (60) days after the date of sale. The mortgagor is entitled to redeem the premises at any time prior to the sale by paying the full amount due under the mortgage, including the costs and expenses of the sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale. DATED: April 19, 2021 By: /s/ Loraine L. Hite Loraine L. Hite, Esq. Bendett and McHugh, PC 270 Farmington Ave., Ste. 151 Farmington, CT 06032 THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 02-00225 LOCATED AT 48 INDUSTRIAL AVE, WILLISTON VT, 05495 WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT THE OF MAY 17TH 2021 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF EDWARD BROWN. Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA/PUBLIC HEARING MAY 27, 2021-6:30 P.M. This meeting will be held remotely. - Microsoft Teams https://www.essexvt.org/869/ Join-Teams-Meeting-Essex-PC - Join via conference call (audio only): (802) 377-3784 | Conference ID: 590 879 654 # - Visit our website at www.essexvt.org 1. Public Comments 2. CONSENT AGENDA: - MINOR SITE PLAN AMEND: Cabrera Properties, LLC: Proposal for a 3700SF addition & other site improvements located at 15 Corporate Dr in the RPD-I Zone. Tax Map 72, Parcel 3-15. 3. Minutes: May 13, 2021 4. Other Business: Update-Staff Work on Zoning Regulations

TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA/PUBLIC HEARING MAY 13, 2021-6:30 P.M. This meeting will be held remotely. Visit our website www.essex.org for the full agenda Minor Site Plan Amendment: Asch Enterprises, LLC: Expansion of manufacturing operations and addition of 2 exterior chillers located at 34 River Rd in the I1 Zone. Tax Map 64, Parcel 3-4.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 00-004402 LOCATED AT 28 ADAMS DRIVE , WILLISTON VT, 05495 WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT THE OF MAY 17TH 2021 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF MARK MILLINGTON. Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

69 MAY 5-12, 2021

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s, Zero Landscaper s tor Turn Opera ason. For 2021 se ark Please call M at Pleasant Valley, Inc. 820 802-343-4

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BUSSERS & COOKS NEEDED Please Apply in Person at Papa Frank’s: 13 West Center St., Winooski (802) 655-2423 4/23/21 1t-PapaFranks081419.indd 10:26 AM 1

4/30/21 5:17 PM

NORTHEAST KITCHEN

https://bit.ly/3xBGb7f 2v-SpectrumYOUTHDEV050521.indd 1

4/30/21 3:26 PM

Community Engagement Coordinator

WE’RE HIRING AM SERVERS

NORTHEAST KITCHEN

Email manager@bleuvt.com to apply bleuvt.com

Hunger Free Vermont is looking to bring on a Community Engagement Coordinator though the SerVermont VISTA program. The Community 5/3/214t-ArborTrek042821.indd 9:46 AM Work at 1 Engagement Coordinator will 4t-CourtyardMarriottBLEU050521 1 Summer Camp!! support Hunger Free Vermont’s June-August, 2021 Deep Root Organic Cooperative in Johnson, work to develop and implement Vermont is seeking a motivated and energetic Camp Kiniya is a beautiful summer a robust community engagement sales person to join our team to sell organic camp for girls located on Lake Champlain and education program. This produce that is produced by its member farms. in Colchester,VT. We are seeking summer The Sales Manager is responsible for all sales, position will support community staff who enjoy working with campers 9-14 overseeing distribution and logistics, food safety engagement activities for years old, are team oriented, and like being in a compliance, and communication with growers. Our ideal candidate is enhancing food security in Vermont community dedicated to fun, service and leadership committed to our cooperative principles and our mission. Candidates through the coordination of the development. Room-and-Board and competitive pay. should have an interest in organic produce and sustainable, regional Hunger Councils of Vermont and food production. Experience preferred but willing to train right Tennis Instructor other education activities. candidate. This position is full time at the Deep Root office with limited

SALES MANAGER

For more information and the application process, please visit hungerfreevt.org/employment. All applications (including resume and cover letter) must be completed through the AmeriCorps Portal: my.americorps.gov/ mp/listing/viewListing. do?id=81013.

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hours working remotely. Pay range is commensurate with experience.

Applicants must be able to: • Work independently as well as with the Deep Root team • Communicate effectively • Have strong organizational skills & attention to detail • Multi task and be adaptable to variable day-to-day demands of the job • Utilize Excel, Google docs, and other basic computer skills Please submit your cover letter and resume to: info@deeprootorganic.coop and jen@deeprootorganic.coop

1 4/30/214t-DeepRootOrgaicCoop050521.indd 9:11 AM

4/26/21 5:31 PM

This role includes beginner instruction of tennis, as well as being on a team of athletics staff helping with a variety of activities. Instruction experience with youth is a plus! Waterfront Staff Spend the summer lifeguarding, paddling, SUPing or sailing while supervising kids and teaching basic skills. Sailing instruction experience is a plus! Interested? Please Contact: Mollie Farnham-Stratton | Mollie@Campdudley.org

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5/4/21 10:54 AM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

pvandegraaf@diovermont.org

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

MAY 5-12, 2021

Sign Maker

POSITIONS OPEN Performance Foodservice, a division of Performance Food Group, is located in Essex, VT. We are currently hiring for Experienced Class A delivery drivers and 3rd shift order selectors in our warehouse. We also have an Associate Driving Program for people looking to pursue a career as a professional driver. Offering sign on bonuses; Class A Delivery Drivers $3000.00. Order Selectors $1500.00. Full job descriptions: www.pfgc.com/Careers

Reach out to nicole@ designsignsvt.com for more information or to submit resume.

Apply at: jobs.performancefoodservice.com Or Call 802-288-5006.

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Design Signs is seeking a highly skilled Sign Fabrication Professional to join our team. Duties include sign manufacturing from start to finish, cutting on a CNC router, painting, installation and applying vinyl. Benefits include competetive pay, paid holidays & time Off, health insurance and a fun working atmosphere. Technically minded people are encouraged to apply.

5/4/21 2v-DesignSigns042821.indd 11:01 AM 1

Hiring Super Star CAREGivers Like You! Don’t miss our

MAY GROUP INTERVIEWS!

Administrative Assistant

Visit our website:

homeinstead.com/483 Caring for seniors is a labor of love. Home Instead is awaiting your talents. Flexible scheduling. No experience necessary. P/T and F/T positions. Let’s get to know each other. Sign up today! $14-$18.50 per hour. FT starts at $15/hour.

pvandegraaf@diovermont.org

1 4/26/212v-HomeInstead050521.indd 2:05 PM

4/30/21 2v-EpsicopalDioceseofVT042821.indd 11:01 AM 1

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTORS The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Saint Michael’s College has a recurring need for Adjunct Instructors to teach one or two courses per semester. Courses include pre-calculus, calculus, elementary statistics, and other first year mathematics courses. Applications will be kept on file and reviewed as these openings occur. Requirements below: • Minimum of Master’s degree in mathematics or related fields; otherwise strong qualifications may be considered. • Skilled in teaching mathematics with success in teaching a variety of undergraduate mathematics courses as detailed above. • Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to students. An offer of employment will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. For information and to apply online: interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=130526

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY COORDINATION

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For more information and to apply: uvmjobs.com/postings/44300.

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HOSPITAL MEDICAL BILLING REPRESENTATIVE Now offering sign on bonuses for select roles! The Hospital Medical Billing Representative functions independently within a payer team environment to appropriately resolve patient accounts by performing billing and follow-up activities to effectively collect balances due on assigned accounts.

LEARN MORE & APPLY: bit.ly/3ljbDBy

4/30/214t-UVMMedCenter033121.indd 4:54 PM 1

The College of Education and Social Services at the University of Vermont seeks a Director of Community Coordination exempt-level staff member to provide management oversight, leadership, and ultimate responsibility for all placement and field-site coordination for PreK-16 coursework including practicum and student teaching, may include some service learning placement coordination and collaboration. Responsibilities for the PreK-16 Field Site Placements include collaborative work in strategic planning, budget, recruitment, management, training, data management and data dissemination for accreditation reporting and outreach to outside constituents. Administrative supervision of clinical supervisors in the Department of Education (DOE) related to selection, training, and evaluation. Administrative work related to selection, training, and evaluation of fieldbased mentors/cooperating teachers and the business support generalist. Liaison with the all DOE certification programs, Director of Licensure, and Chair/Faculty of the Department of Education. Reports to the Department Chair Department of Education.

Part-time, 20 hours/week General administrative support as part of a small collaborative office team in a pleasant work environment at Rock Point in Burlington. Must have good people skills, be attentive to detail, and have strong technical skills in all areas of administrative support including use of the Microsoft Suite and FileMaker Pro, and Apple products. Compensation based on experience and skills. Send resumes to:

Maintenance Work at Camp Keewaydin Looking for someone to help with maintenance at our two summer camps on Lake Dunmore, April-October. Work includes repairs, mowing, painting, cleaning and firewood. Great work environment and competitive pay. Contact Lee Randlett at lee@keewaydin.org.

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Love working with children and youth? Summer programs and camps across Vermont are hiring for full and part-time positions. Help youth reconnect, recharge, and have fun! Teens, college students, experiential educators, and anyone seeking a seasonal job are welcome to apply. Programs are especially keen to hire energetic, responsible, creative people who have diverse skills to share. Most jobs are in-person, and employers carefully follow COVID-19 safety protocols and health guidance. Types of roles include:

• Camp counselor • Enrichment activity leader • Outdoor educator

• Specialized tutor • Certified lifeguard • And more!

Visit VermontAfterschool.org/Recruit to easily indicate your interest in applying for an open position near you.

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UW YO

S CE

4/13/21 9:39 AM

IN LF

SUMMER PROGRAMS & CAMPS ARE HIRING!

4/27/21 9:55 AM

CRACK OPEN YOUR FUTURE...

with our new, mobile-friendly job board.

START APPLYING AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

4/23/21 2v_JobFiller_Cookie.indd 11:02 AM 1

3/20/17 5:09 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM MAY 5-12, 2021 ai16195473157_4t-MiddleburyCoOp042821.pdf 1 4/27/21

71 2:15 PM

FOOD PROGRAMS COORDINATOR HOPE, a poverty relief organization serving the Addison County area, is looking for a team member who is passionate about healthy food and food justice. Responsibilities include oversight of a large, thriving Food Shelf, farm pickups, leading volunteer groups in farm gleans, distribution of produce to other charitable food sites, implementation of pop-up food distribution events, planning and 5/3/21 coordinating food education 4t-ChamplainInvestmentPartners050521 1 events, and more. If you are detail-oriented, comfortable Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital has a working with diverse groups, variety of open positions including: able to foster successful working relationships and RNs, LNAs, love local food, we want to meet you! MT or MLT,

MULTIPLE POSITIONS OPEN

receptionist@hope-vt.org

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4/30/21 3:51 PM

9:36 AM

Administrative, Information Services and more!

Full-time, part-time and per diem schedules available. Shift differentials and per diem rates offered. FT and PT employees are eligible for excellent benefits including student loan repayment, generous paid time off, wellness reimbursement, low cost health insurance and 401k with company match!

TownePlace Suites by Marriott, located at 66 Zephyr Road in the Taft Corners area of APPLY TODAY AT NVRH.ORG/CAREERS. Williston, Vermont, offers a newly renovated all-suite hotel featuring 99 guest rooms for a comfortable extended stay hotel 4t-NVRH032421.indd 1 experience. Our spacious suites equipped with full kitchens invite guests to settle in and savor the comforts of home.

CLERICAL ASSISTANTS

We are currently interviewing for:

• Front Desk Associate • Breakfast Associate • Housekeeping Associate We have full and part employment opportunities offering competitive wages of $15 per hour, great benefits and a $500 signing bonus. Interested candidates can contact the General Manager, Tim Brahmstedt at: tim.brahmstedt@marriott.com or (802) 872-5900

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3/19/21 11:06 AM

The Vermont Judiciary is recruiting for a full-time, permanent Docket Clerk, to perform specialized clerical duties including data entry and extensive customer service over the phone.

Located in Burlington. High School graduate and two years of clerical, or data entry experience required. Starting at $17.11 per hour with excellent benefits, paid holidays and leave time. Job code # 20030. Candidates shall submit a complete and up-to-date Judicial Branch application and resume. An electronic version of the Application may be found at: vermontjudiciary.org/ employment-opportunities/staff-openings The Vermont Judiciary is an equal opportunity employer.

1 5/4/214t-OfficeCourtAdmin042821.indd 2:28 PM

4/27/21 6t-PolliConstruction042821.indd 12:11 PM 1

4/23/21 1:50 PM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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

MAY 5-12, 2021

• PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS

SHARED LIVING PROVIDER

$1000 sign-on bonus!

Final Assembly, Test, Sheet Metal, and More!

• ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS • KEY ACCOUNT MANAGERS Our Benefits Include • Health/Dental/Vision • 401k with Company Match • Short/Long-Term Disability & Life

• Paid Time Off, plus 10 Paid Holidays • Tuition Assistance up to $3500 • Flexible Schedule

Apply online at dynapower.com/about/dynapower-careers. For more information email recruiter@dynapower.com

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EXPERIENCED BIKE MECHANIC We are looking for a full-time experienced Bike Mechanic to join our team, right in the heart of Kingdom Trails! Must be able to tune bikes efficiently and work in a high volume, fast-paced work environment. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Pay is based on experience and includes industry benefits! Send cover letter with job title & resume to: info@eastburkesports.com.

For details on this job opening, please go to jobso.id/dk6g

4/30/21 2v-SchoolhouseLearning052821.indd 10:57 AM 1

4/16/21 5:12 PM

Burlington Office

Prestigious law firm seeks experienced legal assistant. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills, be able to work in a fast-paced environment, have initiative, be detail-oriented, organized, computer literate, capable of learning new technologies and show a willingness to adapt to changing priorities. Law firm experience preferred, competitive salary & benefits package. Please reply with cover letter and resume to: Nikki Stevens, Firm Administrator Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP 210 College Street, P.O. Box 721 Burlington, VT 05402-0721 Or via email to: nstevens@langrock.com www.langrock.com

NAEYC accredited early childhood program seeking:

4/19/214t-LegalAsst-LangrockSperryWool041421.indd 7:29 PM 1

Accounting Clerk

Duties include generating customer invoices, posting customer payments and creating bank deposits, paying vendor invoices, reviewing weekly time cards for submission to payroll company, taking customer phone orders, filing various documents and other duties as assigned. Knowledge of general accounting and Microsoft Office required and experience with Quickbooks a plus. Competitive salary and benefits.

Shipper

Duties include packing and shipping Company products using various shippers such as Fedex and UPS, loading and unloading boxes, other duties as assigned. Must be able to lift 75 pounds. Forklift and crane experience a must. Competitive salary and benefits.

Duties include palletizing customer orders and delivering to local trucking companies, other duties as assigned. Must be able to lift 75 pounds. Forklift and crane experience a must. Competitive salary and benefits. Apply at: granitecitytoolco@myfairpoint.net.

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For more information or to request an application, please contact Patrick Fraser at patfraser@howardcenter.org or 802-871-2902.

Seeking a Head Teacher for the older preschool classroom (ages 3 to 5) in our nature and play-based program. Candidates should enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors in all weather, hiking, exploring, and teaching children about the natural world, as well as overseeing a social-justice focused preschool curriculum. Start Date: June 21st.

Legal Assistant

We are looking for an outgoing, team oriented, full time sales and customer service person. Knowledge of bike and ski products and passion for outdoor recreation is essential. Job requires friendly customer service in person, by phone and email; assisting in the sales of retail products; and stocking and displaying inventory on our sales floor. Pay is based on experience and includes industry benefits. Housing may be available.

Warehouse Package Handler

Compensation includes a generous annual stipend and respite budget.

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SALES/CUSTOMER SERVICE

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Howard Center is seeking a Shared Living Provider (SLP) for an independent young man who enjoys playing video games and exercising. The ideal provider will have a tidy home with reliable internet, little foot traffic, no children. Homes near a bus route and pharmacy/grocery store are preferred. Pets are welcome. The provider should be comfortable assisting this individual with diabetes care and introducing him to new foods.

Preschool Head Teacher

Looking for a Sweet Job? Our mobile-friendly job board is buzzing with excitement.

Mary Johnson Children’s Center

4/12/21

Early Childhood Individual Assistant

Seeking an energetic, creative individual assistant to help facilitate the successful integration of a child into the classroom. Approximately 20 hour per week, with potential additional hours subbing. The position involves working as part of team, and the applicant should have experience and training in early childhood education.

Job seekers can: • Browse hundreds of 4:12 PM current, local positions from Vermont companies. • Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type. • Set up job alerts. • Apply for jobs directly through the site.

Full Time Teachers

Established early childhood program seeking dynamic committed teachers to join our program. Position responsibilities include curriculum development, working with families and other agencies, and general classroom responsibilities. Full time with a benefit package. BA/BS in Early Childhood or related field with an Early Education teaching certificate preferred.

Start applying at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Please send resume and 3 references, or letter of interest to Mary Johnson Children's Center, 81 Water St., Middlebury, VT 05753. E.O.E.

4/23/214t-MaryJohnsonChildrensCenter050521.indd 1:06 PM 1

1 5/3/214v-jobFiller_workerbee.indd 4:17 PM

4/14/20 2:06 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

73 MAY 5-12, 2021

Grill Chefs & Kitchen Workers Marketing & Communications Coordinator The Marketing and Communications Coordinator works closely with the Marketing and Communications Director to implement the strategic marketing and communications strategy for NOFA-VT and VOF. This includes helping to tell the story of our programs and missiondriven work, promoting the VOF certification brand, coordinating print and electronic campaigns, coordinating NOFA-VT's web and social media presence, supporting press relations, event promotion and staffing, and a coordinating production of our quarterly print newsletter and VOF’s annual producer directory. For more information and to apply please visit: nofavt.org/about-us/ join-our-team.

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Vermont Tent Company is currently accepting applications for immediate employment as well as future summer/fall employment starting in May. We have full time, part time, after school and weekend hours available for each position. Pay rates vary by position with minimum starting wage ranging from $15$20/hour depending on job skills and experience.

Archie’s Grill is on a mission to find top grill chefs and kitchen workers. We are looking for dynamic, energetic, and ambitious team members who do not simply want to earn an income, but also want to grow, learn, develop new skills, and have fun at work daily.

Opportunities include:

Archie’s Grill is more than just burgers – It is a locally sourced, freshly prepared menu designed for all ages! With our open kitchen we put on a daily show for our customers. We are part of the Shelburne community and we are growing. We have cultivated and nurtured an atmosphere of respect, dedication, and creativity and would like the right individuals to join us. Opportunities are available for advancement in our restaurant as you work to develop your career. Our goal is to provide work that you want to go to every day!

• Tent Installation/Delivery Team • Driver/Warehouse Team – Event Division • Drivers/Delivery • Linen Team • Inventory Maintenance Team – Wash Bay & Warehouse • Load Crew Team Members For job descriptions and application. vttent.com/employment

If you are energetic, goal oriented, have a passion for great creative food and giving our guest a unique dining experience, we are seeking you right now!

CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS’ HELPERS

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We offer flexible scheduling and full or part time positions. All job openings at Archies are tipped positions. Your Total starting wage and tips combined will be over $20 per hour.

3/15/21 4:30 PM

DEW Construction Corporation is seeking reliable and self-motivated Carpenters and Carpenters’ Helpers to work in the Chittenden County/Northern, VT area. Commercial construction experience is a must and an exceptional safety record is required.

E-mail us with your resume and experience: info@archiesgrill.com. Call us at 802-985-4912. Visit us at 4066 Shelburne Road, Shelburne.

DEW offers an excellent benefit package including: health and dental insurance, 401(k) with a company contribution, life insurance, short and long term disability, paid holidays, vacation and sick time. If you would like to become part of one of Northern New England’s

4/30/215v-ArchiesGrill050521.indd 10:43 AM 1

5/3/21 4:31 PMmost dynamic construction companies and a named best place to work

for 3 years in a row, please e-mail us a resume. Please also complete an application, which can be found: dewconstruction.com/about/careers/.

Gallery Sales Associate Part Time

Seeking a motivated individual who is enthusiastic about local artisan crafts. Must work well with others and accommodate a wide variety of personalities as they relate to both customers and artists. Duties include point of sales, keeping the gallery clean and tidy and any other task related to the running of a small local business. Computer skills would be great. Must be able to work at least one day on the weekends and some holidays. Employee should have reliable transportation as we are open no matter the weather! Send resume & cover letter to: info.northwoodgallery@ gmail.com

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• A SIGNING BONUS IS OFFERED • Job Type: FULL-TIME Pay: $18.00 - $28.00 per hour

IT Administrative Assistant • Year round position • Lamoille North Modified Unified Union School District • Information Technology (IT)

COVID-19 considerations: We have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place for all job sites and follow all federal and state guidelines. Employee safety is our primary concern. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

4/30/21 Lamoille North School District proudly serving the towns of Hyde Park,4t-DEW050521.indd 1 Eden, Johnson, Waterville, Belvidere, and Cambridge VT is seeking an Administrative Assistant to join our Information Technology team. The ideal candidate for this position has great organizational, computer, clerical, time management, collaboration, and inter-personal communication DRVT seeks an Office Manager skills and attention detail. The Administrative Assistant will be responsible for providing administrative support to ensure efficient operation of Disability Rights Vermont, our state’s non-profit Protection & the deparment. Supports the Director of IT and IT employees through a Advocacy system, is seeking a skilled, responsible Office Manager. variety of tasks related to organization and communication. Responsible The position includes providing assistance to the Executive Director for confidential and time sensitive material. Familiar with a variety of the in a variety of tasks and logistical support to Advocates, Attorneys, field's concepts, practices and procedures is a plus. Business Manager and the Board of Directors.

Salary is commensurate with experience and we offer an excellent benefits package. This is a grant funded 2-year full-time year round position beginning July 1, 2021. #administrative assistant To submit your application online, please visit SchoolSpring.com to apply. Applications will be attention: Brian Pena, IT Systems Manager, and will include a cover letter and three current reference letters.

4/30/215h-LamoilleNorthSU050521.indd 3:43 PM 1

Equal Opportunity Employer

1:26 PM

Applicant must have excellent communication and computer skills and be organized and detail-oriented. Light bookkeeping, general office management, IT support skills, web and graphic design experience preferred. College graduate preferred. DRVT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please send a letter of interest, résumé, and three references to: A.J. Ruben DRVT, 141 Main St., Suite 7, Montpelier, VT 05602 or email to AJ@DisabilityRightsVt.org

4/30/21 4t-DisabiltyRightsVT050521.indd 12:46 PM 1

4/30/21 9:44 AM

for more than 50 years. We’ve been Shaping Possibility for more than 50 years. 74

Will you join us?

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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

5-12, 2021 Explore job openings at:join Will youMAY us? www. hypertherm.jobs

Explore jobsign-on openings at:bonus $1,000 www. hypertherm.jobs

for manufacturing positions (Assembly, Warehouse, Machine Operator)

We are hiring positions

We are hiring positions across all shifts and taking every precaution to across all shifts. keep our Associates safe and providing job security through our over • Consistently rated one of the 50‑year history of no layoffs.

HYBRID CASE MANAGER/OPTIONS COUNSELOR

• 100% Associate-owned 100% Associate‑owned • Antoessential business • Consistently rated one of the best places work in New Hampshire An essential business • 100% Associate‑owned • Career opportunities including Career development opportunities including several USDOL registered several USDOL registered • An essentialprograms business apprenticeship We’ve been Shaping Possibility apprenticeship programs. • for more Career development opportunities including several USDOL registered than 50 years. Strong commitment to the wellbeing of our Associates, our communities, apprenticeship programs • Commitment to the wellbeing join us? and Will theyou environment • Strong commitment to the wellbeing of our Associates, our communities, of our Associates, communities and the environment and the environment. Hypertherm is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

40 hours/week, Barre, VT

We are hiring positions across all shifts and every to besttaking places to precaution work in New keep our Associates safe and providing Hampshire job security through our over • Consistently rated one of the best places to work in New Hampshire 50‑year history of no layoffs.

• • • •

Explore job openings at: www. hypertherm.jobs

and we welcome all applications. All employment decisions We are hiring positions across all shifts and taking every precaution to are based onAssociates business jobanrequirements, and our values Hypertherm is proud be Equal Opportunity Employer keep our safeneed, andto providing job security through our over 50‑year history of no layoffs. as an Associate-owned without regard to race, and we welcome allcompany applications. All employment decisions are based on one business need, job requirements, and our values color,• religion, gender, orientation, gender identity, Consistently rated ofsexual the best places to work in New Hampshire as anAssociate‑owned Associate-owned without regard to race, age, •national origin, disability,company or veteran status, or any other 100% color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, • An essential businessgender, characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. age, development national origin, disability, or several veteran status, or any other • Career opportunities including USDOL registered apprenticeship programs characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. • Strong commitment to the wellbeing of our Associates, our communities, and the environment

Hypertherm is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and we welcome all applications. All employment decisions are based on business need, job requirements, and our values as an Associate-owned company without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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5/3/21

PHYSICAL SERVICES CREW

Based in our Barre Office and currently working most hours remotely, the Hybrid Case Manager/Options Counselor will work with older persons to remain in their homes through creative connections with state and community resources. The successful applicant will have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, social service and/ or non-profit experience with vulnerable populations, ability to work independently and as part of a team, reliable transportation, experience with data entry and a working knowledge of MS Office, Excel, Word and Outlook. Experience with senior populations and public benefits programs is preferred. To apply, please send resume and cover letter to jobs@cvcoa.org by May 23.

FINANCE PROFESSIONAL

Applicants for this position should have three or more years of experience providing systems support in a fast-paced, professional environment. Technical skills should include Linux (RHEL/CentOS), Windows and MacOS; server virtualization; Google Cloud and/or AWS; bash, python or perl scripting; configuration management tools (e.g. Ansible); and TCP/IP networking including LAN, WAN, firewalls, wireless, and VPN. Knowledge of good security practices is essential. This position requires strong technical expertise along with exceptional customer service and communication skills. Some travel may be required. To learn more about PCC and benefits, please visit our website at pcc.com/careers. To apply, please submit cover letter and resume to jobs@pcc.com with “Network and Systems Administrator Position” in the subject line. This position is open until filled. No phone calls lease. AA/EOE.

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Full job description and to apply online: bit.ly/SMCPhysCrew.

Carpenters Wanted! Needed Immediately!

For more information about this position, visit our website: cvcoa.org.

PCC is growing—Join us and work in a fantastic team culture! 5v-CentralVTCouncilonAging050521.indd 1 Our friendly, informal, hardworking, and client-focused environment supports our 90+ employees to have work-life balance while delivering an industry-leading software solution to pediatricians nationwide. We are seeking a Network and Systems Administrator to join our Technical Solutions Team. The Town of Starksboro seeks Our Technical Solutions Team provides a broad range of technical services for our clients, and is an escalation point for our staff regarding client infrastructure concerns. They perform remote server and network administration, perform upgrades and preventive maintenance, and develop new tools to deploy, manage, and monitor client systems. We stay on top of technology and continuously research and develop new solutions for our clients.

Benefits include health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), generous paid time off, employee and dependent tuition benefits, and discounted gym membership.

Central Vermont Council on Aging is an innovative agency dedicated to quality services for older persons living in Central Vermont. We provide a generous benefits package. Salary is based 2v-StMichaelsCollegeLABOR050521.indd 11:18 AM on experience. Central Vermont Council on Aging is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. Applications from veterans, mature workers, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

NETWORK AND SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

Applications are invited for a full-time, Monday-Friday, position, performing landscaping tasks, moving furniture and snow removal. Training will be provided in a variety of skills in order to supplement other Physical Services crews as needed. Applicants should be flexible, dependable and motivated.

4/30/21 5:26 PM

an experienced finance professional to join its team for a part-time position (10-20 hours/week). The professional in this position will be responsible for maintaining the town’s cash accounts, investing town money, approving accounts payable and payroll, and collecting and recording tax payments and fees. This position plays a critical fiduciary role in the financial operation of the town and recordkeeping required under state law and may be also be appointed as Town Treasurer.

2v-MJSContracting080818.indd 1

Successful applicants will have 3-5 years of financial administrative oversight experience, or a comparable knowledge base and skill set. Position requires knowledge of fund accounting, excellent independent judgement and decision-making skills, and the ability to work with members of the public and outside agencies. Occasional weeknight or weekend hours may be required. Experience with NEMRC software is strongly preferred. Hourly rate of $20-23 based on experience; partial prorated benefits.

4/16/21 5v-TownofStarksboro050521.indd 12:07 PM 1

Finish Carpenters, Carpenters and Carpenters Helpers. Good Pay, Full Time and Long Term! Chittenden County. Call Mike at 802-343-0089 or Morton at 802-862-7602.

The finance professional works with the Town Auditors and the Town Clerk under the supervision of the Selectboard. Position to assist with other tasks required by the Selectboard, to assist the Town Clerk with counter service and phone coverage when necessary.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Selectboard Assistant Rebecca Elder at rebecca@starksborovt.org. Applications accepted until position is filled. EOE.

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YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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1/14/20 12:30 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Facilities Supervisor

Help Vermonters pursue their education goals!

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Paramedic/ AEMT

Accepting applications for fulltime paramedic or AEMT to serve as a crew chief for up to three 12hour day shifts per week. This may also include nights, weekends, and holidays. Duties include emergency medical services, related trainings, maintenance of equipment, apparatus, and station. The successful candidate will be NREMT certified, hold a valid VT AEMT or higher license, hold a valid driver’s license, have a minimum of 2 years as an EMS crew chief, and be willing to obtain Fire Fighter I status within 18 months of hire. Must pass a background check. Competitive compensation package based on experience and certification level. Benefits include health, dental, vision, SIMPLE IRA & generous paid time off. admin@cvfrs.org

Come join our team and help Vermonters! Vermont Student Assistance Corp (VSAC) is seeking an experienced Human Resources professional, with progressive experience in Human Resource management, to join our leadership team. In this role, you will provide positive and proactive leadership and management of VSAC’s human resources functions. This involves planning, organizing, and directing the human resources department, collaboration with the leadership team and others to develop and execute strategies regarding organizational planning and employee satisfaction including our compensation, benefits, recruitment, employee development and training, performance management and human resources policy administration and compliance. The successful candidate will have exceptional communication and leadership skills, a proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, current knowledge and usage of relevant technology, familiarity with federal and state laws and a demonstrated ability to successfully work with a team to solve complex problems. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field and minimum of 5 to 7 years in Human Resources is required.

Julie@vermontcarepartners.org

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Requirements include: 3-5 years’ experience in maintaining buildings, grounds, and equipment, preferably in a food-related industry; knowledge of HVAC or refrigeration systems preferred. Must be proficient in MS Office Suite and be able to quickly learn new programs and systems. Full job description: vtfoodbank.org/employment/current-openings and fill out an application with a resume and cover letter attached. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and seek to bring our values of diversity and inclusion to our hiring process. Beyond our commitment to non-discrimination, we encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our organization and who have lived experience of inequity.

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Apply ONLY online at www.vsac.org VERMONT STUDENT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION PO Box 2000, Winooski, VT 05404 EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled

AGRICULTURAL LOAN OFFICER

Vermont Care Partners is recruiting for the Director of Developmental Disability Services to provide statewide leadership to designated and specialized service agencies on developmental disability services and public policy including service delivery and payment reform. Duties include advocacy, development of trainings, research, technical assistance and analysis of best practices, program trends, regulation, policy, law and legislation. Preferred qualifications: MA human services, public administration, or related field; Experience in community-based disability services; managing workgroups, programs, policy initiatives; government relations and advocacy. Application due May 28, 2021. E.O.E.

The Vermont Foodbank is searching for a Facilities Supervisor. Our ideal candidate is an experienced facilities professional who is ready to lead a small team and will be responsible for professional development of their staff including training, goal setting, and regular check-ins.

4/30/21 3:35 PM

VSAC offers a dynamic, professional environment with competitive compensation and generous benefits package.

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Developmental Disability Services Director

75 MAY 5-12, 2021

100% EMPLOYEE-OWNED

4/23/21 1:28 PM

Join the team at Gardener’s Supply Company!

VEDA is looking for an experienced Agricultural Loan Officer to join our team located in our new building on Exchange Street in Middlebury, Vermont. Due to COVID-19, this position is expected to be remote based for a period of time. VEDA has a strong commitment to the Addison County agricultural community and this position will work with farm and forestry applicants and borrowers in Addison County as well as throughout the state. Responsibilities include analyzing loan requests, preparing loan writeups, servicing a diverse loan portfolio and performing annual financial analyses. In addition, the successful applicant for this position will be able and willing to mentor and teach co-workers with less experience.

We are a 100% employee-owned company and an award winning and nationally recognized socially responsible business. We work hard AND offer a fun place to work including BBQs, staff parties, employee garden plots and much more! We also offer strong cultural values, competitive wages and outstanding benefits!

Social Media Leader: This person will update

VEDA offers a very competitive salary and benefits package and is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. We are interested in increasing staff diversity and welcome job applications from all qualified candidates.

and implement our social media strategy, creating phased, macro goals and KPIs for the portfolio overall. The SML will be proficient in social media functionality and best practices, and will create differentiated strategies for all of our significant branded social properties on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo. S/he will provide analysis about all platforms and the portfolio, in cooperation with our business analysts and agency. Our ideal candidate will have 2-5yrs pertinent digital/social marketing experience; a 4-Yr college degree or equivalent life experience; be proficient in marketing/social media analysis; and able to craft and implement social marketing strategy for growth.

To apply, please email resume and cover letter to Cheryl Houchens: chouchens@veda.org

Interested? Please go to our careers page at www.gardeners.com/careers and apply online!

A high level of agricultural and/or forest industry knowledge; strong written, verbal, and computer skills; excellent customer service; and a proven team approach are required. The preferred, successful applicant will have at least 3-7 years of agricultural lending experience, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and leadership experience. This position requires travel within the State of Vermont.

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4/12/21 11:56 10:41 AM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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

MAY 5-12, 2021

YOU WILL FIND SUCCESS

NOT JUST ANOTHER NURSING POSITION!

REGIONAL SALES ASSOCIATE

Wake Robin seeks a dedicated nurse (LPN or RN) to work within our community of seniors on evening or overnight shift. We provide exceptional nursing care in a beautiful residential and long-term care setting. Wake Robin offers an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in this dynamic community. Our staffing ratios allow for you to do your finest work in a collaborative team setting. With safety protocols second to none and 90% vax rate, we celebrate a COVID-free environment since the beginning of the pandemic. Excellent compensation package and sign-on for nights!

High Mowing Organic Seeds is a leader in the organic seed, farming, and food community. We value our unique opportunity to meet the growing demand for professional-quality organic seeds. We seek an experienced sales representative to build new relationships and deepen existing relationships with customers, broaden our exposure and grow our revenue. This position is primarily focused on selling to commercial growers in the MidAtlantic region through both inbound and outbound channels.

https://www.wakerobin.com/contact-us/employment/ Wake Robin is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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5/3/21

CALL CENTER REPRESENTATIVES & SUMMER COMMUNITY BANKERS

The successful candidate will conduct outreach calls and visits to organic vegetable farms to reach or exceed sales goals, represent High Mowing at tradeshows and conferences, and assist in the development of marketing materials, blog articles and other materials in cooperation with the Marketing Department. The ideal candidate will have three to five years of experience with 9:37 AM commercial organic vegetable production or broad knowledge of commercial vegetable varieties and organic farming techniques and be a proven relationship builder and sales closer. A complete job description can be obtained on our website: highmowingseeds.com/staff-and-careers. Email your resume, cover letter, and references to jobs@highmowingseeds.com. Please put the job title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. No phone calls please.

HUNGRY TO FILL THAT

POSITION? Seven Days’ readers are locally sourced and ready to bring something new to the table. Reach them with Seven Days Jobs — our mobile-friendly, recruitment website.

JOB RECRUITERS CAN:

• Post jobs using a form Days that includes Seven Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking 5v-HighMowingSeeds050521.indd 1 4/30/21 10:30 AM key info about Issue: 5/5 institution headquartered in Vermont. We are adding to our teams! We are looking for professionals to join our Direct Banking department your company and Due: 5/3 by 11am as Call Center Representatives. Additionally, we are looking for open positions Size: 3.83 x 5.25 Temporary Summer Community Banker professionals to join our Engaging minds that change the world (location, application Cost: $476.85 (with 1 week onlin team in both Chittenden County and Central Vermont. Each position Seeking a position with a quality employer? Consider The University of will require a high school diploma or equivalent, excellent customer deadlines, video, Vermont, a stimulating and diverse workplace. We offer a comprehensive service skills, and strong written and verbal communication. images, etc.). beneﬁt package including tuition remission for on-going, full-time positions. There is no better time to join NSB’s growing team!

CALL CENTER REPRESENTATIVE

The successful candidate will be comfortable with digital and online banking systems and will be eager to provide prompt, accurate, and confidential information to our customers.

SUMMER (TEMPORARY) COMMUNITY BANKER The Summer Community Banker will consistently provide outstanding customer service, processes customers’ financial transactions, and maintain customer confidentiality. OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH NSB encourages career development and has a variety of training platforms available. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in the banking industry, this is a great place to start! WHAT NSB CAN OFFER YOU Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. 401(k) matching retirement program. Professional development. Positive work environment supported by a team culture. Weekends off! Send an NSB Application & resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com, or Northfield Savings Bank, Equal Opportunity Employer Human Resources | PO Box 7180, Barre, VT 05641

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UVM Student Financial Services Counselor - Student Financial Services - #S2774PO - The University of Vermont Office of Student Financial Services is recruiting for a Student Financial Services Counselor to provide comprehensive services and support to students and families in managing their University finances. This a professional position responsible for engaging in activities that enhance recruitment, retention, and success of the student body. Administers financial aid and support student receivables programs in compliance with applicable federal, state, and institutional laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Develops and oversees activities in support of specialized programs or student cohorts. Assist in the research and review of regulations, policies, and process assessments. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors’ degree and two to four years experience in providing complex customer service environments required. Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate through difficult and emotional interactions with students and parents regarding personal financial challenges, are required. Ability to develop and deliver presentations to large and small groups, ability to exercise independent judgment, to work independently and as part of a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment required. Experience in higher education, with student information systems, student services, and tax preparation highly desirable. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution. 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.

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our new applicant tracking tool. • Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard. Visit jobs.sevendaysvt.com to start posting!

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Afﬁrmative Action Employer.

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2/17/17 10:15 AM

Massage Therapist/ Chiropractic Assistant Immediate part-time opening for a reliable, caring and skilled massage therapist to join chiropractic office. Flexibility with schedule. Background in health care helpful.

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

TRAIN CONDUCTOR

FACILITIES MANAGER

Sara Holbrook Community Center is in search of someone to see to the care and feeding of our beautiful new building and to become part of a stellar team focused on supporting youth and families. This half-time position will be responsible for maintaining building systems officeofdrramirez@gmail.com including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, security, wi-fi systems to ensure optimal operating results, manage janitorial duties, and perform general groundskeeping. Please 1t-DrLauraRamerez050521.indd 1 5/3/21 11:47 AM go to saraholbrookcc.org/employment-opportunities to view the full job description.

TODDLER TEACHER

FULL-TIME

RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATE A fierce commitment to customer service, knowledge of and passion for Apple products, an understanding of the digital lifestyle, keen attention to detail. Our retail store is currently open Monday - Friday from 10-6. This position includes a full benefits package. Please send resumes: jobs@smalldog.com.

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Work at CCS and be a part of our mission to build a community where everyone participates and belongs. Champlain Community Services, named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for the third year in a row, wants you as part of the team! Our current openings for management and direct support offer opportunities to make a positive impact on someone’s life, and in yours. Find the job of your dreams at ccs-vt. org/currentopenings/

ccs-vt.org E.O.E.

Vermont Rail System is hiring train conductors/Locomotive Engineer to be based out of Burlington, Vermont. Job entails operating track switches, coupling rail cars, and performing other duties associated with the movement of trains. Family-owned company with a friendly working atmosphere. Healthcare, 401 K, Life Insurance, Railroad Retirement and many other benefits apply. No prior experience necessary. Requirements: Willingness and ability to work outdoors, day or night, in all weather conditions. Willingness to work overtime hours and some Holidays. Must be focused on safety and compliance to rules. Must work well with others. Must pass a drug test and a physical, including a vision and hearing test.

Sara Holbrook Community Center is in search of an Sign on bonus available for qualified applicants. experienced child care professional for the Early Head Start Toddler program. This Teacher will work closely with their Call during business hours at 802-324-5733 or email: Co-Teacher and Assistant Teacher to plan and implement fkuckovic@vrs.us.com. Creative Curriculum, utilize the Early Multi-Tiered System of Support principals, and provide a program of activities that promote the social, emotional, physical, and academic 4t-VTRail050521.indd 1 development of each child. The ideal candidate holds a current Vermont Agency of Education teaching license with an endorsement in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, or Elementary Education; or has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with at least twelve (12) months’ experience working with groups of children from 18 months - 5 years of age. This is a full-time, benefited position. Please go to saraholbrookcc.org/employment-opportunities to view the full job description.

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MANAGEMENT & DIRECT SUPPORT

77 MAY 5-12, 2021

COMMERCIAL CREDIT ANALYST

5/4/21 11:08 AM

VEDA has an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to join its Commercial Lending Team as a Commercial Credit Analyst. Due to COVID-19, this position is expected to be remote-based for a period of time, with the permanent work location being flexible. VEDA provides financing to businesses and farms across Vermont, often in partnership with private financial institutions and government agencies. This position will work under the supervision of the Director of Commercial Lending and general direction of VEDA Loan Officers, providing credit analysis and loan origination and loan servicing support. Primary responsibilities include reviewing loan applications, preparing loan narratives/credit writeups and keeping borrower financing information up-to-date. Preferred candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, accounting, business, or related field and at least three years of credit analysis experience. Duties include entering data to financial accounting software, preparing and analyzing spreadsheets, drafting credit memorandums and letters for review by the commercial lenders. VEDA offers a competitive salary and excellent health and retirement benefits packages. Other perks include a flexible work environment, opportunities for professional development and access to networking opportunities around Vermont. VEDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer and is interested in increasing staff diversity. We welcome job applications from all qualified candidates. To apply, please email resume and cover letter to Cheryl Houchens: chouchens@veda.org

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5/3/21 3:47 PM

JOIN THE TEAM AT GARDENER’S SUPPLY! Through gardening, our customers control their access to safe and affordable food, and grow food to share with their neighbors. At Gardener’s Supply, we are committed to doing everything we can to help our customers keep gardening, but we need your help. We’re hiring for SEASONAL POSITIONS AT THREE OF OUR LOCATIONS: • Pick/Pack customer orders at our DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MILTON • Provide exceptional customer service to our customers over email at our CONTACT CENTER • Help customers with their gardening needs at our WILLISTON GARDEN CENTER We are 100% employee-owned and a Certified B Corporation. We offer strong cultural values, competitive wages and outstanding benefits (including a tremendous discount!). Please go to our careers page at www.gardeners.com/careers and apply online!

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4/26/21 11:48 AM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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

MAY 5-12, 2021

New, local, scamfree jobs posted every day!

PREPARED FOOD COOK

Mirabelles Bakery, South Burlington Hiring a prepared food cook. This person should have restaurant experience, strong culinary foundation and cooking theory, and excellent knife skills. Five day work week usually Tuesday-Saturday 6a.m.- 2p.m. 2 weeks’ paid vacation. Resumes: mirabelles198@comcast.net

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4/26/21

Associate Housing Director

PATIENT ACCESS SPECIALIST Sign-on bonuses up to $4,000 are available! Make a difference and inspire others at UVM Health Nework’s Patient Access and Service Center. Join the 4:04 PM team at our bright office space in South Burlington or at our Berlin office with free on-site parking. The role includes proactive appointment scheduling, entering referrals, assisting patients with tech support, and more. Some roles may be eligible for a combination of remote work and in-office.

Learn more and apply: uvmmed.hn/sevendays

VHCB is seeking an experienced and collaborative housing professional to join our team, supporting the development of affordable housing in Vermont. Work with the housing staff on 4t-UVMMedCenter050521.indd 1 4/23/21 policy and program development, new initiatives, and delivering support and funding to VHCB’s housing partners. CoorThe Community Sailing Center (CSC) is urgently hiring for the sailing season! dinate training and technical assistance programs; evaluate Part-time and Full-time jobs are available. affordable housing applications and make recommendations for action; and support the overall effectiveness of VHCB housing proSAILING INSTRUCTOR Would you love to share your passion for grams. Qualifications: demonstrated commitment to affordable sailing with others? Do you enjoy working housing, prior experience and training in housing development, with youth and adults? If you answered financial analysis, and project underwriting, strong communication yes, check out our Sailing Instructor position. Our team of US Sailing certified skills, and a commitment to collaborative problem solving. Experience instructors spend the summer on the water providing a once in a lifetime experience to participants of all ages and abilities. Sailing instructors working with non-profit organizations, municipalities, housing develdeliver on-the-water instruction for various classes and programs and are opment groups, and state agencies is important. Experience with responsible for delivering a formal curriculum and teaching practical skills. project management and coordination of housing programs is preA US Sailing Level 1 certification or the ability to earn one is required. Full and part time positions are available. ferred. For the full job description visit: vhcb.org/about-us/jobs.

POSITIONS OPEN!

WATERFRONT COORDINATOR

Housing Program Assistant We're looking for an experienced administrative professional to provide support for our state and federal housing programs, including the HOME Program, National Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS. Duties include tracking and updating project information, compliance monitoring, database entry and reporting, and document management. Work in collaboration with VHCB housing staff to monitor and ensure regulatory compliance for various housing programs. Qualifications: Proficiency with Microsoft Office software, good communication skills, strong attention to detail, ability to learn and utilize data and file management systems. Experience with federal housing programs a plus. For the full job description visit: vhcb.org/about-us/jobs. __________________________________________________ Please reply with letter of interest and résumé to: Laurie Graves, VHCB, 58 E. State Street, Montpelier, Vt. 05602 or jobs@vhcb. org. Position open until filled. Full-time positions with competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. EOE.

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Do you prefer being out on the water? Do you have experience handling power boats and possess a valid Boater's License? Do you have an eye for detail and water safety awareness? Check out our Waterfront Coordinator positions! WCs supervise and manage the waterfront and our docks. They frequently help customers with their rentals, direct dock traffic, bring customers to moorings, and keep the waterfront flowing smoothly. Outstanding boating skills and customer service are required. A boating license or ability to acquire one is required. Full and part time positions are available.

OFFICE COORDINATOR

Do you enjoy working with guests and have a knack for excellent customer service? Do you thrive in busy environments? Do you like having different aspects to your day to day job? Check out our Office Coordinator position! We are looking for friendly and organized people to help run our office this season. Typical tasks include welcoming and registering participants, answering phones, answering program questions, booking reservations and handling transactions. Experience with Google and Office are preferred. No boating experience is needed. Full and part time positions are available. All positions offer competitive pay and staff receive a free rental pass. We are willing to train the right candidates for any position. Sign on bonuses are offered depending on the role. If you have any questions about your qualifications or how to earn certifications please contact Program Manager, Tom Tucker at tom@communitysailingcenter.org.

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jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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6/18/19 1:24 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Exterior Painters

Woodworker/Cabinet-maker & Cabinet finisher/Painter

VACATION RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGERS Warren/Ludlow

79 MAY 5-12, 2021

Small shop specializing in custom cabinetry and furniture looking to add a full-time woodworker (should be comfortable with basic shop tools such as table saw, miter saw, jointer, planer, routers, sanders, etc.) and a full-time finisher (should be comfortable with spray finishing equipment). Flexible schedule, pay dependent on experience.

W A N T E D

Green Mountain Painters is looking for talented individuals to join our growing team. Earn excellent pay working a great summer job. Plenty of room to grow and advance your career.

ben@woodenhammer.net Fast-growing Vacation Rental Please fill out application at vtpainters.com/jobs business! Independently owned by a VT native. Looking for a Leader to grow with us. Duties include 2h-WoodenHammer050521.indd 1 5/3/212h-GreenMountainPainters040616.indd 3:37 PM 1 managing rental schedule, guest Vermont Works for Women seeks two part-time services online, and in-person youth coordinators, one based in Windsor County coordination with cleaning, mainand the other in Winooski. tenance, and inspection. The job will also include housekeeping. To see the full job description and details on how to apply, Pay based on experience. Hourly visit vtworksforwomen.org/about/employment. $20-25 plus bonus structure. If reasonable accommodation is needed to apply, please contact us at Please email rachel@skyrun.com jobs@vtworksforwomen.org or 802-655-8900 x100. with your resume.

YOUTH COORDINATOR

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RESALE STORE MATERIALS HANDLER HOPE seeks a team member for our resale store warehouse. Duties include assisting people donating goods for resale, cleaning and preparing items for the sales floor, loading and unloading our box truck, general maintenance, and more. Applicants should have solid communication skills, be able to work independently and as part of a team, lift up to 25 lbs. on a regular basis and up to 40 lbs. occasionally, and stand for periods of time. Forklift experience and mechanical ability helpful. Store profits benefit our poverty relief programs. If you want a job where you can pitch in, work hard, and know that your work is making a difference in the lives of others, we’d like to talk with you!

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5/4/21

4/30/21 4:55 PM

Local (Adirondacks) premier builder seeking experienced craftsmen to join our team. Our team is growing and we’re seeking:

CABINET SHOP, CARPENTERS & FOREMEN We are fortunate enough to build the unique collaborations of our architects and customers – making their projects come to life. Our projects are anything but ordinary – and have earned us placement on the cover of Architectural Digest. We are seeking experienced shop members with a combination of cabinetry shop, custom milling and furniture building experience to join our team. We are also looking to add skilled carpenters & foremen to our field team.

PROJECT MANAGER The Project Manager is responsible for the daily management of current projects. Duties include financial, schedule and quality management, construction operations - including hands-on field work, as well as the oversight of the project team. They engage day-to-day with Owners, Architects, Engineers, Designers, Subcontractors and work alongside and closely with the company President. You will contribute to the overall operations of our company and to the future direction of our organization.

Project Manager Experience:

5-10 years’ high-end residential construction and/or project management experience, Proficiency in MS Office Suite, PlanSwift, AutoCAD, Engineering, Architecture, or Construction 2:23 PM Management degree a bonus. We have a great team, company, benefits, above average compensation for our region and trade. If you are interested in RELOCATING to the area, we would be happy to help you do so!! Our region is an outdoor lover’s paradise!

Please contact us to learn more! email: info@adirondackclassicdesigns.com office: 518-359-0073

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4/1/16 3:01 PM

INFORMATION SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR NSB’s Team is Growing!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont; we strive to serve our employees as well as our communities. Our IT Team is growing, and we are looking for a professional to join our IT department as an Information Systems Administrator in a hybrid capacity, with a flexible working schedule available. This position will train and periodically work in our Berlin Operations Center as well as have remote capabilities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES & REQUIREMENTS

• The Information Systems Administrator develops, optimizes, and maintains the bank’s client/server environment. • We are looking for someone who is a great team player that can also work well independently. • Effective communication skills and offer a high level of customer service to both internal and external customers. • An associate degree plus five or more years of service in a technical field is required.

OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH

• NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with personal development within our company. • Average Years of Service at Northfield Savings Bank is above 9! If you’d like to settle down in your career, join our team!

WHAT NSB CAN OFFER YOU

• NSB offers a competitive compensation based on experience. • Benefits package including medical, dental, combined time off, 10 paid holidays, a wellness program and more! • Profit sharing opportunity and an outstanding employer-matching 401(K) retirement program. • NSB offers professional development opportunities, and a positive work environment supported by a team culture. • Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, generally 8:00am to 5:00pm. We understand the importance of having evenings and weekends with our friends, families, and our community. Please send an NSB Application + your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com, or mail to: Northfield Savings Bank H.R. P.O. Box 7180, Barre, VT 05641-7180 Equal Opportunity Employer

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5/3/21 9:46 AM

Department of Information and Innovation

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FAST RESULTS, OR Agency ofFOR Transportation CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM Agency of Natural Resources

MAY 5-12, 2021

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER... EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD - MONTPELIER

Hayward Tyler, a leading manufacturer of industrial pumps and motors in Colchester, is seeking candidates to fill the roles of Inside Sales Representative, Assembly Technician, and Quality Assurance Engineer.

Inside Sales Representative

This candidate provides daily customer communication and is the main point of contact for activities such as preparing and maintaining accurate and complete quotes, lead times and pricing. Reviews customer requests, technical specifications, terms and conditions and works with stakeholders in collaboration to identify any exceptions or deviations. Close attention to detail and excellent communication skills are essential.

The State of Vermont is seeking an Executive Director, for appointment by the State Cannabis Control Board. The Board is newly created to equitably and effectively implement and administer the laws and rules regulating adult-use cannabis in Vermont to ensure the safety of all Vermonters and the health of our youth. The Board is responsible for establishing, administering, and regulating a cannabis regulatory system for commercial cannabis cultivators, wholesalers, product manufacturers, retailers, and testing laboratories. The Board shall also take over responsibility for the regulation of medical cannabis dispensaries and the administration of the Medical Cannabis Registry, currently administered by the Vermont Department of Public Safety. Candidates must be an attorney. Experience in legislative or regulatory matters with excellent communication skills preferred. For more information, contact James Pepper at james.pepper@vermont.gov. Job ID #15050. Status: Exempt. Application Deadline: 5/11/21.

Learn more at: careers.vermont.gov

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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5/3/21 9:15 AM

Assembly Technician

This is an entry level assembly team member who should possess the ability to follow work instructions from his/her supervisor and experienced team members. The candidate must be able to work in all areas of assembly (DCI, Build and Wind) with the ability to understand drawings and work instructions.

Quality Assurance Engineer

This position is responsible for providing a high level of quality assurance engineering work. Qualified candidates are able to plan, complete, and direct quality engineering work associated with the HTI Quality Program. Must be able to establish priorities for work assigned and Work co-operatively with all departments and suppliers to exceed customer expectations. For complete job descriptions, please visit: haywardtyler.com. We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. If you meet our requirements and are interested in an exciting opportunity, please forward your resume & salary requirements to: Hayward Tyler, Inc - Attn: HR Department 480 Roosevelt Highway - PO Box 680, Colchester, VT 05446 Email: Careers@haywardtyler.com Equal Opportunity Employer.

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COORDINATED ENTRY ADMINISTRATOR The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) seeks a Coordinated Entry (CE) Administrator who will work to ensure that persons experiencing homelessness in our area receive consistent, appropriate, and equal access to local housing and services. This role serves as a liaison between service users, outreach staff, shelters, case management/housing navigation services, and housing providers as they strive for seamless and efficient coordination of services. The CE Administrator will analyze and present data, prepare applications and grant reports, maintain the housing prioritization list, and supervise at least one other staff person. Successful applicants will have a Bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years’ relevant experience; a commitment to diversity; effective verbal and written communication skills – bilingual abilities are a plus; the ability to communicate respectfully and with compassion; knowledge of Housing First approaches, familiarity with case management principles and procedures, program management skills, database skills, staff supervision, and meeting facilitation/presentation. A clean driving record and access to reliable transportation are required. We offer an excellent benefit package, generous time off, retirement plan and discounted gym membership. To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter via email to: CEAdmin2021@cvoeo.org. CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity and excellence. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. To learn more about this position, please visit cvoeo.org/careers.

5/3/21 11:04 AM a

CVOEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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MANUFACTURING OPENINGS FULL-TIME POSITIONS 1st & 2nd Shift We continue to grow! Wearelookingtofilla number of manufacturing positions in several areas: Forge • Assembly • Weld • Finish

• Comprehensive Health Benefits • 401(k) Contribution • Shift Differential • Production Bonus • Opportunity for Skills Development In addition to Full-Time Employees (year ‘round), we are also welcoming Short Term Assignment Full-Time applicants (now ‘til Labor Day, with the potential to become Full-Time).

Apply Online: HubbardtonForge.com/careers Hubbardton Forge is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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5/3/21 3:54 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

81 MAY 5-12, 2021

NOW HIRING

Seasonal Public Works Laborer The Town of Essex Public Works Department is receiving applications for summer seasonal employees to assist in all highway and building/grounds maintenance activities. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid VT Driver’s License and a good work ethic. Contact the Public Works office for information at 878-1344 or cstoddard@essex.org. Apply online: essexvt.bamboohr.com/jobs The Town of Essex is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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MACHINE OPERATORS

Transportation Security Officers Part-time positions starting at $18.30 per hour*

Permanent, full time positions available for a variety of machine operators on all three shifts. This exciting career comes with competitive wages, incredible benefits and so much more! We offer health, dental, vision, short term disability, life insurance and 401k with employer match. Raises every 6 months. We offer on the job training with no experience necessary. Strong math skills and mechanically inclined a plus. Come join our team!

What We Do Matters

Julie.Lague@tivoly.com WHERE YOU AND 4/23/21 YOUR WORK MATTER...

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9:44 AM

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.

SUS TAIN ABILIT Y AND INNOVATION PROJECT MANAGER – BARRE You will be responsible for developing, launching, and managing programs that implement the Agency of Transportation’s sustainability and technology innovations. If you are a self-starter, thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy the challenge of building a program from scratch, this job is for you. You must have experience in project management and public administration, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and be capable of fostering positive working relationships. For more information, contact Joe Segale at joe.segale@vermont.gov or 802-477-2365. Department: Transportation Agency. Status: Full Time. Job ID #14841. Application Deadline: May 16, 2021.

TRANSPOR TATION PLANNING COORDIN ATOR – BARRE

Your experience and insight will find a welcome home at TSA. Previous work in security isn’t required. We’ll provide paid on-the-job training, along with great federal benefits. Join our team at Burlington International Airport in a mission that matters.

Apply online

at jobs.tsa.gov/TSO

VT Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has an exciting opportunity for an experienced transportation planner to work in a fast-paced innovative environment. Work collaboratively with VTrans colleagues, state, regional and municipal agencies to evaluate policies, and prepare planning documents that inform Agency investments and legislation. Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of transportation planning principles, practices, and theory, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively. For more information, contact Amy Bell at amy.bell@vermont.gov or (802) 279-0783. Department: Transportation Agency. Status: Full Time. Job ID #15045. Application Deadline: May 25, 2021.

ENSURING

SAFE TRAVELS

D I S T R I C T F A C I L I T I E S M A N A G E R – S T. J O H N S B U R Y

The District Facilities Manager (DFM) will oversee the Northeast region. This position will be responsible for administrative, planning, maintenance, and supervisory work at several locations. DFM will coordinate assignments, providing assessments and recommendations during the budget planning process for their district, and ensuring that staffing levels for all shifts are appropriately met. Will travel to various facilities and should be prepared to respond when emergencies occur. For more information, contact John Hebert at john.hebert@vermont.gov. Department: Buildings & General Services. Status: Full Time. Job ID #15041. Application Deadline: May 17, 2021.

PUBLIC GUARDIAN – HOME BASED The Office of Public Guardian seeks an independent, enthusiastic and organized person to protect and monitor the legal and human rights of individuals under court-ordered guardianship. The position is designated as home based and covers a caseload of individuals with developmental disabilities or age-related cognitive impairments in Lamoille, Orange and Washington counties who require assistance and judgment for critical decision making in several life domains. For more information, contact Sarah Nussbaum at 802.828.3622 or sarah.nussbaum@vermont. gov. Department: Disabilities Aging & Independent Living. Status: Full Time. Job ID #14761. Application Deadline: May 9, 2021.

Learn more at :

careers.vermont.gov

U.S. citizenship required. Equal opportunity employer. *Pay rate varies by location.

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

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer 3h-ContactInfo.indd 1

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SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X21, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

6/29/15 5:11 PM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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

MAY 5-12, 2021

PROGRAM ASSISTANT: WRITING Position Summary: The Program Assistant works with the Program Director and Assistant Director to organize materials and arrangements for the program and semi-annual residencies. Typical tasks include copying, filing, data entry, tracking information and forms, among numerous other program tasks. The person will assist as needed with the daily functions of the program’s residencies. The position will average 30-35 hours per week but this person will need to adapt to a varying and flexible schedule.

MATH TEACHER Burlington School District is seeking a qualified individual to teach mathematics to high school students, including planning and providing instruction and related services to all assigned students to enable them to maximize their potential as learners. This position requires teaming with other math teachers to plan a continuum of mathematical offerings aligned with the common core and to support students from diverse backgrounds finding success in high school.

The qualified applicant will possess good communication and interpersonal skills, be highly organized, technologically proficient and excellent attention to detail.

SPECIFIC DUTIES INCLUDE: • maintaining knowledge of pedagogical practices and curriculum content to mathematics; • planning instruction and classroom activities that meet the individual needs, interests and abilities of all students; • showing written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor; • establishing clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicating these objectives and their purpose to students in harmony with the parameters of district adapted curricula; • selecting a variety of instructional methods and materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated learning objectives; • meeting and instructing assigned classes in the locations and at the times designated; • assessing and recording learning for all students on an ongoing basis and adjust instruction based on the assessments; • referring students with special learning needs to appropriate staff according to district/ building/department procedures; • creating a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interest of all students; • assisting students in attaining an acceptable level of proficiency in related computer work; • collaborating with colleagues; • actively working with educational support teams, English Language Learner Teachers, and special educators to meet the needs of all students, including students with disabilities; • maintaining a safe learning environment and taking all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities; • participating productively in staff meetings and professional committees, and other teams (data, curriculum, climate, action and strategic planning); • participating in scheduled in-service days; • co-planning, coordinating, and aligning units of study, instruction, common assessments, and student support supports and monitoring student progress data with teaching colleagues; • using discretion in discussing school affairs, recognizing the value of positive school-community relations; • complying with board and administrative policies, regulations, and procedures and reinforcing students doing the same; • maintaining a high level of confidentiality; • preparing/completing appropriate reports/paperwork as requested in a timely manner; • complying with federal and state regulation, including but not limited to Vermont EQS and US DOE ESSA; • performing other tasks and duties as appropriate and/or assigned.

Candidates are encouraged to consult VCFA’s website to acquaint themselves with our distinctive academic schedule, learning processes, and educational philosophy. Please see full job description: vcfa.edu/about/jobs-at-vcfa To apply send the following to vcfacareers@vcfa.edu: • Cover Letter, CV/Resume • Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, outlining your professional skills, accomplishments, experience, and willingness to engage in activities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion. For full consideration, submit application by May 17, 2021. Position will remain open until filled.

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YOU WILL FIND

SUCCESS CRACK OPEN YOUR FUTURE... with our mobile-friendly job board. Job seekers can: • Browse hundreds of current, local positions from Vermont companies. • Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type. • Set up job alerts. • Apply for jobs directly through the site.

REQUIREMENTS: • The minimum requirements for this position are a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics or a related field, and demonstrated experience teaching courses at the high school level, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, and/or Geometry to high school students. • Must be licensed or eligible for State of Vermont teaching certification with endorsement in math.

Interested Individuals must submit their application materials to Schoolspring.com to be considered for this position. Job ID#: 3510864 12t-BurlingtonSchoolDistrict050521.indd 1

5/4/21 2:19 PM

START APPLYING AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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PAULA ROUTLY

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Have a deep, dark fear of your own? Submit it to cartoonist Fran Krause at deep-dark-fears.tumblr.com, and you may see your neurosis illustrated in these pages.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL MAY 6 -12

you opt for the “vulgar” “Mona Lisa,” not the “heavenly” one, as your metaphor of power. Favor what’s earthy, raw and unadorned over what’s spectacular, idealized and polished.

GEMINI

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20):

Taurus poet Vera Pavlova writes, “Why is the word yes so brief? It should be the longest, the hardest, so that you could not decide in an instant to say it, so that upon reflection you could stop in the middle of saying it.” I suppose it makes sense for her to express such an attitude, given the fact that she never had a happy experience until she was 20 years old and that, furthermore, this happiness was “unbearable.” (She confessed these sad truths in an interview.) But I hope you won’t adopt her hard-edged skepticism toward yes anytime soon, Taurus. In my view, it’s time for you to become a connoisseur of yes, a brave explorer of the bright mysteries of yes, an exuberant perpetrator of yes.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Created by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, the “Mona Lisa” is one of the world’s most famous paintings. It’s hanging in the Louvre museum in Paris. In that same museum is a less renowned version of the “Mona Lisa.” It depicts the same woman, but she’s unclothed. Made by da Vinci’s student, it was probably inspired by a now-lost nude “Mona Lisa” painted by the master himself. Renaissance artists commonly created “heavenly” and “vulgar” versions of the same subject. I suggest that in the coming weeks

(May 21-June 20): In Indigenous cultures from West Africa to Finland to China, folklore describes foxes as crafty tricksters with magical powers. Sometimes they’re thought of as perpetrators of pranks, but more often they are considered helpful messengers or intelligent allies. I propose that you regard the fox as your spirit creature for the foreseeable future. I think you will benefit from the influence of your inner fox — the wild part of you that is ingenious, cunning and resourceful.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): “The universe conspires in your favor,” writes author Neale Donald Walsch. “It consistently places before you the right and perfect people, circumstances, and situations with which to answer life’s only question: ‘Who are you?’” In my book Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings, I say much the same thing, although I mention two further questions that life regularly asks, which are: 1. What can you do next to liberate yourself from some of your suffering? 2. What can you do next to reduce the suffering of others, even by a little? As you enter a phase when you’ll get ample cosmic help in diminishing suffering and defining who you are, I hope you meditate on these questions every day.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The poet Anne Sexton wrote a letter to a Benedictine monk whose real identity she kept secret from the rest of us. She told him, “There are a few great souls in my life. They are not many. They are few. You are one.” In this spirit, Leo, and in accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to take an inventory of the great souls in your life: the people you admire and respect and learn from and feel grateful for, people with high integrity and noble intentions, people who are generous with their precious gifts. When you’ve compiled your list, I encourage you to do as Sexton did: Express your appreciation, perhaps even send no-strings-attached gifts. Doing these things will have a profoundly healing effect on you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “It’s a temptation for any intelligent person to try to murder the primitive, emotive, appetitive self,” writes author Donna Tartt. “But that is a mistake. Because it is dangerous to ignore the existence of the irrational.” I’m sending this message out to you, Virgo, because in the coming weeks it will be crucial for you to honor the parts of your life that can’t be managed through rational thought alone. I suggest you have sacred fun as you exult in the mysterious, welcome the numinous, explore the wildness within you, unrepress big feelings you’ve buried and marvel adoringly about your deepest yearnings. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Science writer Sharman Apt Russell provides counsel that I think you should consider adopting in the coming days. The psychospiritual healing you require probably won’t be available through the normal means, so some version of her proposal may be useful: “We may need to be cured by flowers. We may need to strip naked and let the petals fall on our shoulders, down our bellies, against our thighs. We may need to lie naked in fields of wildflowers. We may need to walk naked through beauty. We may need to walk naked through color. We may need to walk naked through scent.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): As Scorpio author Margaret Atwood reminds us, “Water is not a solid wall; it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, being like water will be an excellent strategy for you to embrace during the coming weeks. “Water is patient,” Atwood continues. “Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.” SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In a let-

ter to a friend in 1856, Sagittarian poet Emily Dickinson confessed she was feeling discombobulated because of a recent move to a new home. She hoped she would soon regain her bearings. “I am out with lanterns, looking for myself,” she quipped, adding that she couldn’t

help laughing at her disorientation. She signed the letter “From your mad Emilie,” intentionally misspelling her own name. I’d love it if you approached your current doubt and uncertainty with a similar lightheartedness and poise. (PS: Soon after writing this letter, Dickinson began her career as a poet in earnest, reading extensively and finishing an average of one poem every day for many years.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Now is a favorable time to celebrate both life’s changeableness and your own. The way we are all constantly called on to adjust to unceasing transformations can sometimes be a wearying chore, but I suspect it could be at least interesting and possibly even exhilarating for you in the coming weeks. For inspiration, study this message from the “Welcome to Night Vale” podcast: “You are never the same twice, and much of your unhappiness comes from trying to pretend that you are. Accept that you are different each day, and do so joyfully, recognizing it for the gift it is. Work within the desires and goals of the person you are currently, until you aren’t that person anymore.” AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian au-

thor Toni Morrison described two varieties of loneliness. The first “is a loneliness that can be rocked. Arms crossed, knees drawn up; holding, holding on, this motion smooths and contains the rocker.” The second “is a loneliness that roams. No rocking can hold it down. It is alive, on its own.” Neither kind is better or worse, of course, and both are sometimes necessary as a strategy for selfrenewal — as a means for deepening and finetuning one’s relationship with oneself. I recommend either or both for you in the coming weeks.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): England’s Prince Charles requires his valet to iron his shoelaces and put toothpaste on his toothbrush and wash all of his clothes by hand. I could conceivably interpret the current astrological omens to mean that you should pursue similar behavior in the coming weeks. I could, but I won’t. Instead, I will suggest that you solicit help about truly important matters, not meaningless trivia like shoelace ironing. For example, I urge you to ask for the support you need as you build bridges, seek harmony and make interesting connections.

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Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking... READY TO EXPLORE I am ready for a new adventure. I am interested in exploring a relationship with a women or couple. I enjoy being in the woods, camping and just sitting in a brook or at a waterfall. I also like to get a bit of wind in my hair. I have a good sense of humor and am attractive and fun. Newadventures2021, 47, seeking: W, Cp COUNTRY, REDNECK, CARING, FISHING, FUN I’m looking for someone to take me out to dinner and a movie. Or we can go fishing/ hiking, walk the bike path or just sit at the water. I love Vermont and the nature in it, and I’m an open-minded, caring, loving individual. Looking for new people and new things. SpringRenewal420, 31, seeking: M IRREVERENCE WELCOMED My passions are travel, food, art, music and more. I like to spend as little time being serious as possible. I’m curious about a lot of things. Do you share these passions and have others of your own? Do you like family time, being in nature or people-watching as you sit at an outdoor table on Church Street? summerplease, 64, seeking: M, l OUTDOORSY, HONEST, HEALTHY, MUSIC LOVER Vibrant, mature, independent, welltraveled person who is interested in nature, music, culture, arts, travel and enjoying life. Looking for a gent who is positive, kind, honest and enjoys the same. Bella2020, 63, seeking: M, l

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WALKING THROUGH AN OPEN DOOR I am rebuilding my life and looking for someone to stand beside me through all of life’s adventures. I am loving, devoted and hardworking. I enjoy working on outdoor projects, hiking and helping others. I would like to find a man who is hardworking, open-minded, respectful and kind. NewBeginnings21, 39, seeking: M SAPIOSEXUAL, ADVENTUROUS, WITTY, PLAYFUL Looking for people to get to know and become friends with. Go out of town for an evening of fun, go kayaking, hanging out, whatever strikes us at the moment. I am not looking for a relationship, but if it happens, it happens. I enjoy intelligent conversation, self-reflection, growing and learning about myself and others. Let’s see if we connect! BBWforFUN1234, 45, seeking: M, W, Cp, l GOOD-SPIRITED, HOPEFUL DREAMER Currently I am one of the many bored Vermonters waiting for my life to resume. Can’t wait to laugh out loud at a comedy club, crowd into a theater to see a play and just hug a stranger. I love long bike rides and good hikes, campfires, great food, raw conversations, and chocolate with red wines. oxCindyxo, 54, seeking: M, l MERGING HEARTS AND MINDS Looking to add a new best friend and partner to my beautiful tribe to share those intimate moments and maybe grow old with. I believe in great love but know those roots are in the platonic. I like to move, sit, keep it fresh. I love music and silence. Looking for a brave, messy, youthful, mature human with emotional intelligence. Overhere, 56, seeking: M, l TAKE MY BREATH AWAY At this age, I am interested in someone real, a sweet romantic, somebody all sorted out and yet ready to play, to live for ourselves (not the grandkids). My dog and my children are important but not what my life is about these days. I’m told I’m the least judgmental person others know. So give this old gal a try. Cheers! OH52, 68, seeking: M, l FRIENDLY, SOCIAL, INDEPENDENT, EASYGOING Very honest, loyal, friendly. Enjoy cooking, traveling, walking, driving with no destination, exploring the beauty of the Green Mountains. Would enjoy finding the same in my partner. dyniska, 79, seeking: M COMICMELLOW Love music, outdoors, painting, cooking, building. ComicMellow, 43, seeking: M, W, Q, l EDUCATED, SENSITIVE, ADVENTURE SEEKER Adventurous, sensitive, fit, optimistic, independent, divorced woman with two wonderful teenage sons. Enjoy walking, hiking, skiing, kayaking, swimming, biking, exploring new places (cities and ruins), connecting with the locals and learning their language. Seeking someone to share adventures. JoySeeker, 53, seeking: M, l

OPEN MIND, HEART, ACTIVE COMPANION Kind, curious, open-minded, capable, community-oriented, care-full, creative companion for activity, to ski, swim, sail slowly. Let’s meet on the bike path near Burlington sometime — or my favorite, the Colchester Causeway. 62-y/o woman. Please contact me by sending me a message — and I hope we can meet in person sooner rather than later, as companionship comes down to chemistry. openmindheart, 62, seeking: M, l CUCKOO ABOUT ADVENTURES I’m just looking for a new friend. I’m somewhat new to the area and would like to find someone who likes to talk, hike, or do anything that doesn’t involve going to the bar or lots of drinking! NDrootsNYbuds, 38, seeking: M, l COMPANIONSHIP, ADVENTURE Woman seeks honest, kind, stable, adventurous person, M or F, “friend only,” responsible for yourself, who wants to go on a practical trip south to planned destinations, R&R, or just something different to do. No specific expectations. If you’re bored or would like to get away, just because you can, no specific schedule, let’s talk about several possibilities. Life’s a journey. Live it! Quest, 59, seeking: M, l HAPPY, COMPASSIONATE AND CURIOUS I love to cook, dance, but most importantly, laugh. Favorite movie: Miracle at Morgan’s Creek; celebrity crush: Cary Grant; post-retirement dream (or if Trump gets reelected): escaping to a cottage in Connemara, Ireland. I am looking for a confident, kind, intelligent and easygoing man with a great sense of humor. Nella26, 65, seeking: M, l FAERY QUEEN Tender heart, sensual lover of earth and water, leader in life looking for strong, grounded, passionate love. FaeryQueen, 51, seeking: M, l PREFER BEING OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE Genuine, honest and an active listener. I like to cook and eat real food that is locally produced/raised. Gardening (veggies, not so much flowers), hiking, biking, running, snowshoeing, eradicating invasive plants — most anything outdoors will do. VTu4ia, 45, seeking: M, l FULL MOON ADVENTURES If I told you everything about myself here, what would we have to talk about later? If you are funny, interesting, open-hearted, enjoying life and looking for some company, me too. Who knows where a little spark may lead? Firefly57, 64, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking... SINGLE AND NEED FRIENDS I’m open-minded. Love to laugh and make people smile and laugh. I grew up in Vermont on a farm and am still living on the farm. Would like to share it with someone. Cleancut gentleman. VTsingle2021, 49, seeking: M, TM, TW, Q, Gp, l

WORK AND PLAY, TRAVEL OFTEN I’m a hardworking, real-deal, manygeneration Vermonter with strong Caribbean connections. My goal is to work for eight-ish months and travel often to warm destinations January through March. Hope to find a partner who appreciates living life and is not about retirement but living to the fullest, staying active and staying fit. I’m a man who always has projects and plans. Fungardener, 61, seeking: W, l HUMOROUS SIDEKICK Am a people person. Have a rich background with environmental ethics; this is big with me. Friendships, the basis of relationships, require osmosis. It takes time. I like to cook, especially with another. Food is important. Great films are a bonus. My preference is intelligent, humorous, an interesting life. I prefer jazz and good restaurants. Mornings I prefer sunlit places. orelprenyea, 66, seeking: W, l BREAKING OUT OF LOCKDOWN Somewhat of a homebody, though I do like an outside adventure. Ready to break out of lockdown and go traveling, or rummage through a few thrift stores in Lebanon or Estrie Aide in Sherbrooke. This follows my complete Moderna vaccination schedule. The COVID scare has kept me isolated beyond belief and devoid of a relationship. greytail2020, 70, seeking: W, Cp, Gp, l FREE SPIRIT WHO ENJOYS LIFE I enjoy skydiving, hiking, biking, photography, printing, cooking and much more. Looking for someone to share some of this life in a positive manner — friendship or more. Just turned 50 years young. jayspring, 50, seeking: W, l LET’S PLAY Submissive male looking for dominant individuals or couples. Obedient, responsive and open-minded. Into humiliation, light bondage and oral worship. Be safe and sane, and get in touch. subplay, 53, seeking: M, W, Cp, Gp GEEKY MAKER DAD, SUPER POSITIVE I’ve always pushed myself. Sometimes I do stop to reflect on why, and then, refreshed, I move forward some more. Built my own house. Adding to it now. But not married to it. Almost done with my master’s degree. I love travel and have been waiting out this pandemic to visit places again. Go visit places with me. Descanso, 53, seeking: W, l WHERE ARE YOU? I like to think of myself as kind and smart, curious and adventurous, athletic and musical, and much more. A “renaissance person” is what I’ve always considered the ideal. Many years ago, I through-hiked the Appalachian Trail, and that experience, and my many adventures since, have shaped my life and my values in profound ways. somethingdifferent, 61, seeking: W, l LONELY. COVID SUCKS. SUNBATHING NAKED. Looking for fun in the sun. Enjoy being nude. Fires outside. Cut, trimmed and shaving. Woman or a couple. Good times and laughter and sex. Toohorny11, 53, seeking: W, Cp, l TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION Moved to Vermont on a whim many years ago. Appreciate nature and animals. I am on a lifelong learning curve. NPR and live music (once upon a time). Find me at the ocean in Wellfleet, driving on Highway 1 in California or in a Chinese restaurant in NYC. I listen more than speak. Hoping to meet a kind, compatible soul. Mindfully, 67, seeking: W

PIN ME ... EROTIC WRESTLING? Hi all, I’m a discreet, masculine submissive who wants to be dominated, pinned down, tied up, used, played with, you name it. I’m very kinky with few limits, DD-free and play clean. I always have good 420 to share, too. You must host. Hit me up, and let’s party and have some kinky fun. Hlplss, 56, seeking: M, TM, TW, Q, Cp, Gp, l TATTOOS, MUSIC, WORK I am a hardworking man who has been to hell and back and is rebuilding successfully. I would like a woman who works hard and wants to build a future with someone. No games. newlife2021, 46, seeking: W, l CHIVALRY Friendly “man” looking for my sidekick/partner/friend. Bruce2016, 54, seeking: W, l SWEET, SALTY AND SPICY I consider myself fun, charming, creative and an interestingly varied individual. BKind, 29, seeking: W, Cp, l SILVER FOX ARTIST I’m creative, passionate, a problem solver, an adventurist, a respected business owner (30 years), well traveled, educated, secure. Now open to a fit, energetic, passionate female to share adventures and intimacy with. Must love animals, laughing, affection. I’m an artist who has spent the past 30 years creating custom artwork for thousands of clients around the world. Pleasant surprises in many ways! hawaiiartistinvt, 62, seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking... FOREVER SEARCHING Still looking for love. Would love to run into a beautiful dominatrix who will, through her grace, help me find the inspiration I need to flourish as a woman. I love to cook, I design board games and Lego sets, and give the best foot and back massages in the world! If this is heaven for you, come claim me! Neneveh, 24, seeking: W, l GENEROUS, OPEN, EASYGOING Active, healthy trans woman w/ partner seeks ecstatic connection for playtimes, connections, copulations, exploration and generally wonderful occasional times together. You should be fit, in good health, and available (not down low). Ideal is another couple for a foursome. But possibilities are wide-ranging: three, four, explorations and adventure. DoubleUp, 64, seeking: M, Cp, l

COUPLES seeking... FUN COUPLE FOR NEW ADVENTURES Happily married couple looking to meet single men, women or couples for friendship and playtime. Open to solo play or couple play with the right connection. Must be discreet and clean. She is adventurous, funny and always looking to try something new. He is quiet, kind and laid-back. Let’s chat and see if we connect. 802Adventures, 43, seeking: M, W, Cp, l HAPPY, RELAXED, OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES We’re a couple looking for safe, sexy adventures with likeminded individuals or couples. Bluebird, 38, seeking: M, W, Cp I WANT TO WATCH I’m looking for a guy who’s willing to let my guy go down on him while I watch. I will not be joining, just watching. Please be between 25 and 45 years of age. BJ2021, 46, seeking: W

i SPY

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

HEY 19 You: wearing purple in the sun by a dogwood in full bloom. Me: wearing a gray suit and sunglasses. Him: a cute but young interloper. We made a pledge to love each other (and him) forever. It worked! See you in the pink room. When: Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Where: a wedding. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915272 CUTE BLONDE AT HEALTHY LIVING You: blonde, white top/athletic shorts, in line across the smoothie bar. You looked as if you came from a run or workout with friends. Wearing the hell out of those shorts. ;) I would’ve stopped to talk, but I was with someone who had to leave. Maybe we can work out sometime? Me: Dark hair, black jacket over hoodie, dark pants When: Friday, April 30, 2021. Where: Healthy Living, South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915271 TABLE AT EL GATO WEDNESDAY To the five absolute legends that I served: You left me (Jamie) a phat tip and a nice handwritten note. I would love to buy you guys a drink to thank you! Will I ever see you five again? Made my night DIALED! You left a Seven Days mag on the table, so crossin’ my fingers and toes you’ll see this. When: Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Where: El Gato Cantina, Church Street. You: Group. Me: Woman. #915270 BURLINGTON BAY LIQUOR BOY You played with your hair when I got my creemee. Found an excuse to go inside while “sheltering from the rain.” I’m older, but you’re 18+. So, if it melted the creemee off your spoon the way it did mine, next time I wander in on a perfectly nice, warm day, don’t blame it on the weather. Melt my creemee. When: Friday, April 30, 2021. Where: Burlington Bay. You: Man. Me: Man. #915269

BLUE TOYOTA TACOMA Oops, is that what is meant by brake lights, brake lights: “STOP, let’s meet”? LOL! Seven Days email sent in inbox or spam folder. When: Friday, April 30, 2021. Where: Route ?. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915268 WHOOKNEW I’m not certain if you’re trying to communicate with me or not? You’ve blocked me and then reached out. If the roles were reversed, how would you feel? When: Thursday, April 29, 2021. Where: here. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915267 STOWE SHAW’S CHECKOUT LINE You smiled through your mask while behind me in the grocery line. You were tall, shaven-headed (friendly?) and seemed to have a proclivity for oranges. I had shortish curly hair, greenish/colorful glasses and an issue with a rotten carrot. If you’re single, wanna make me some OJ? Or at least go for a hike. When: Thursday, April 29, 2021. Where: Stowe Shaw’s. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915266 DENTAL DREAMS I was your 9 a.m. dental cleaning. You told me about your shark dreams. We share the same name. Were you feelin’ the vibe? I’d love hear more about your dreams. :) When: Monday, April 26, 2021. Where: dentist office. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915264 PUFFY JACKET SPORTY SPICE Spotted you slinking through the cheese section. You said I smelled divine as I swooned for your Aubrey Plaza eyes. Care for a date? I’ll bring orange tulips if you bring Earthshaking poetry. When: Friday, April 23, 2021. Where: City Market. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915263

Ask REVEREND the

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

The other day, my mother came into my bedroom without knocking and caught me masturbating. I don’t think she really saw anything because I was under the covers, but I’m pretty sure she knew what I was doing. She said something about dinner, left the room quickly and closed the door behind her. I’m so embarrassed, I might die.

Uncovered

(FEMALE, 15)

WHITE ACURA It would be nice to meet up in person one of these days instead of passing by each other on the road. When: Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Where: on the road. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915265 WITCH AT PINGALA First time at the café and was served by an incredibly kind and amazing-looking woman in a witch-inspired getup. I was carrying a giant bamboo walking stick and ordered a coffee while we smalltalked about gothic dresses. Would love to be able to talk about other cool things over a picnic lunch, if the concept isn’t too terrible! When: Saturday, April 24, 2021. Where: Pingala Café. You: Woman. Me: Trans woman. #915262 CANNONDALE SPEED DEMON ON ROUTE 2 Fast biker wearing a neon vest, green fast goggles, riding a Cannondale. I’m positive you had a mustache; I just knew even though you were moving too quickly to tell. You seem like the kind of guy to cook me a gourmet meal and chat about golf? Only reply if you’re willing to earn my respect. When: Saturday, April 3, 2021. Where: Route 2 in Bolton. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915261 BEHIND THE COUNTER AT WALGREENS You: behind the counter. Me: not. I think I could see you every day if you let me. You took care of my photos, and I appreciate it more than you know. You’re K—s-al, and I’m not. Thank you for the wonderful customer service. When: Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Where: Walgreens, Milton. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915260 HONKING LADY I saw you on the corner at a red light. You were honking your horn for an unknown reason. I pulled up next to you. We had a brief conversation, and I joined you in blaring our car horns together. I would like to see you again sometime. When: Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Where: St. Paul and Main streets in Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915259

However mortifying that may have been, it’s most likely not what will cause your demise. There are certainly worse things that could happen. When I was maybe 17, my boyfriend and I were full-on having sex in his bedroom when his mother walked in. There were no covers involved and absolutely no mistaking what was going on. I don’t quite know how I survived that godawful incident, yet here I am. Masturbating is nothing to be ashamed of.

AN EDELWEISS IN BLOOM The brunette behind the counter. We talked about the I-Spy, and you said you’ve never been spied. I’ve never spied before and thought it would be fun to send a shout-out to the awesome personality at Edelweiss in Stowe. You have a warm, welcoming and contagious “eye” smile (unfortunately a rarity these days)! So, thanks for that — and the cookies! When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Where: Edelweiss. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915257

MAN AT MEHURON’S You had on a Joe’s Pond hat in the liquor department. Your basket was scantily clad with North Country smoked hot dogs, cheese puffs and Cabot Salsa Grande Dip. Your shining silver hair didn’t distract me from the six-pack of Heineken bottles you picked up. Call me Debbie, ‘cause I won’t be late for dinner. When: Monday, March 29, 2021. Where: Mehuron’s. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915251 GREEN CAP GUY, ESSEX HANNAFORD I saw you loading groceries in your gray Nissan Altima in the Essex Hannaford parking lot. Super cute guy with a green baseball cap. Caught your gaze for a moment. I think we should meet up! Maybe in EJ on Hawthorn? AFsDay! When: Thursday, March 18, 2021. Where: Essex Hannaford. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915250 TATTOOED HOTTIE WORKING AT COSTCO I commented on your gorgeous tattoos. You told me your artist was out of Waterbury. I should have given you my number. I also have lots of ink, but I forgot your artist’s name; let’s grab a coffee and talk tattoos. When: Sunday, March 28, 2021. Where: Costco, Colchester. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915249

CO-OP KITCHEN GUY The secret is out and the deli person knows who they are, as I confessed about the ad today. I never intended to cause any trouble for partnered people, and I likely read into it too much — sorry, folks! Awkwardness of the situation aside, you seem like a cool person, and I’d enjoy a friendly hangout if you’re interested. When: Thursday, April 8, 2021. Where: Hunger Mountain Coop. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915255 CO-OP DELI GUY This has been the subject of much discussion, as nearly all the kitchen/ deli guys wear black shirts and green hats at one point. Some with partners are already in trouble for giving eyes. Can you be more specific? We do all wear name tags. Just saying. When: Thursday, March 18, 2021. Where: Hunger Mountain Coop. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915254

RUNNER BABE WITH DOG I was with six friends walking up from the bike path. You were running with your dog, and we passed you right at the bottom of Maple. You were turning onto the bike path. You have a very nice face. Email me; let’s take a walk with your dog. :) When: Sunday, March 28, 2021. Where: Maple St., Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915248

SHAMWOW And maybe when the time is right, we can meet again as strangers who know each other a little far too well. When: Sunday, April 4, 2021. Where: in my dreams. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915253

SEVEN DAYS PERSONALS We met online through Seven Days. Started making a plan to met in person, but somehow we’ve been blocked from communicating with you. Hope to see you sometime at Three Penny! When: Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Where: Seven Days Personals. You: Man. Me: Couple. #915246

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE Missing my sunshine. MSG needs his ray of light. When: Saturday, April 3, 2021. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915252

BARTENDER AT STONE CORRAL Sir. You are amazing. I was here on Saturday. I could not stop staring. When: Saturday, March 20, 2021. Where: Stone Corral. You: Man. Me: Man. #915245

Everybody does it, and it’s perfectly normal and healthy. Especially when you’re a teenager. As hard as it is to believe, your mother was once a teenager, too. And she likely engaged in sexual activity at some point in her life because, well, you’re here. Your mom is probably almost as embarrassed as you. I bet you both would be just fine acting like it never

happened and going on about your regularly scheduled programming. If you do feel the need to talk to her about it, remember the issue here is not that you were masturbating; it’s that your mother has to learn to respect your privacy. Whether you want to discuss it in person or perhaps write her a note, you don’t have to get into specifics about what happened. Just let her know that you would appreciate it if she knocked before she entered your room. You may be her kid, but you have every right to privacy in your own home.

ARCHITECT ENJOYING LAKE CHAMPLAIN I read your profile elsewhere but hope this connection will take. I won’t use your name but will respond only to you. M is closed: perhaps Leunig’s in May, a mid-Saturday afternoon? A relationship by design. When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Where: in his writing. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915256

Dear Uncovered,

RANDOMDORKY NAME Curious if you are actually interested or not, with our age differences. I am very serious in my post and what I want and am looking for on here. Are you? Not sure where you are located, but distance would never be an issue with me. Give me a clue about what the next move will be. When: Sunday, April 18, 2021. Where: Seven Days. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915258

Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com. SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

This week’s ancient as the great Madonna! Hollywood movie extra of the year. Community college art school dropout. Stop making sense. Where’s my music man? #L1497 I’m a man who’s served our country honorably, looking for a tenderhearted woman, 56 to 67, with grit. I like to travel, go out to eat, go to the movies, play golf and listen to live music. I own a home in Burlington and a camp in the mountains. I’m financially secure. I have a grateful and humble attitude for everything in my life. #L1496

I live in Rutland. I truly believe in honesty. Caring, understanding, independent, generous, easygoing, active, fit, fun, flexible. I’ve traveled the world extensively. Allergic to cats. I like to believe I’m a family man. Friends tell me I’m a clean-cut guy. #L1501 GWM, mid-60s, 5’11, slim build. Blue eyes, decent looking. Like walking, hiking, swimming. Enjoy music, movies, gardening. Mindful and kind. Looking for LTR. 420-friendly. Southwest Vermont. Seeking GM, 55 to 70, tall, intelligent, humorous, energetic with integrity. Nonsmoker who enjoys nature. #L1498

I’m a man seeking new friends for adventure. I hike Mount Philo almost every day and love to cross-country ski. #L1478 Discreet oral bottom. 54y/o SWM, 5’8, slim, dark hair, blue eyes. Seeking any well-hung guys, 18 to 55 y/o, who are a good top and last a long time for more than one around. Phone only, but text. Champlain Valley. #L1500 38-y/o SWM seeking male for LTR. Must live near the Plattsburgh, N.Y., area. I am average but cute-looking. I enjoy reading, videos and time with friends. Talking a must. Your age: 35-plus. Nonsmoker. Stability required. #L1499

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LETTERS: Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your penpal’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

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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 MAY 5-12, 2021

56-y/o SW. Humbled, thoughtful. Hoping for a safe, kind, honest relationship with a man. Calm in nature, love for nature. Morning coffees, long walks, talks, sunsets, art, music, dance, friends, family, laughs! Willing to see and resolve suffering. Unconditional love and support find me at home. Phone number, please. #L1486 64-y/o SWF seeking SM, 50 to 75 y/o, for companionship. Must be Catholic or Protestant, clean, COVID-free. Interests: the arts, teaching, cooking, watching shows, Hallmark movies. Love animals, walks, coffee, tea, sunrises, sunsets. Consider a man’s heart more important. Phone number, please. #L1494

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. GWM looking for springtime hookups or longer if all goes well. Easygoing, nice guy in Rutland County. I like to play and like everything. Respond with phone number. #L1493 Older yet still younger person seeking any age to bring back that lovin’ feeling. Long-distance runner, speed walker, hiker. 5’9, 160 pounds. Biker, aerobics lover, looking for a fine friendship or more. I love music, drawing, poetry, guitar, literature, yoga, philosophy. Mostly vegetarian looking for values, humility, kindness, smiles, even magic. #L1492 Bi male, slightly older. Live in New York but can travel. Clean, COVID-free. Slim but in good shape. 6’1, 180 pounds. Mostly a bottom; looking for a nice guy who’s a top. #L1491 I’m a 39-y/o male seeking a female 18 to 45. Looking for a friend and pen pal first. I’m an honest, loyal, loving and determined person. I’m a Pagan (Asatru). I’m also a dork. I look forward to writing you. #L1488

I’m seeking a Robert De Nirotype man: handsome, well educated, lots of fun with good manners, class and panache. I’m a 60-something blond girl. Still have my cheerleading legs. Lover of delicious. He must respect my dog. #L1490 60-y/o male seeking 40to 80-y/o male or female. Seeking other nudists for companionship in northern Vermont. #L1487 SWM, late 50s, seeking W, M, Couples roughly 30 miles from capital. Love getting off on phone fantasies. Send number and best times. Meeting or photos possible. No text. Let’s get off safe and hot! Hope to have hot fun. #L1485 Wanted: Black women, young or old. Love Black feet and butts. Nice guy. #L1484 Seeking pen pervs and phone freaks who will share their closet kinks. I’m open-minded, nonjudgmental and eager to hear all of your sexy stories. #L1483

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SEVEN DAYS MAY 5-12, 2021

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TOYO VERSADO NOIR 195/60R15...............$64.56.......8.Left 205/65R15...............$75.06.......8.Left 205/55R16...............$87.17.......18.Left 205/50R17...............$107.49......10.Left 215/55R17...............$105.21.......9.Left 235/45R17...............$121.66.......4.Left 225/65R16...............$91.70......4.Left 235/65R16...............$94.07.......6.Left 205/50VR17...............$96.81.......4.Left 205/65HR16...............$87.51.......8.Left 235/55R17..............$113.91......4.Left 235/55R18...............$128.78.....8.Left 215/60R16...............$83.36.......12.Left TOYO VERSADO LX 215/65R15............$49.86.......4.Left EXTENSA HP 275/35WR18............$124.29.......4.Left TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A/T 2 235/65R17...............$117.78.....8.Left 265/60R18...............$159.72.....8.Left 255/65R16...............$118.78.....8.Left 285/45R22...............$239.00.....4.Left TOYO OPEN COUNTRY H/T 265/70R18...............$139.49.....4.Left 235/55VR18...............$132.49.....11.Left LT255/75R17...............$139.49.....4.Left

BACK BACK

COOPER GFE 185/65R14...............$49.80.......7.Left 205/65R15...............$82.73.......8.Left COOPER ZENO SPORT A/S 205/45HR20...............$65.59.......4.Left COOPER Zeon XST 235/50WR17...............$52.59.......8.Left COOPER CS3 205/65R15...............$58.56.......4.Left COOPER DISCOVERER ATW 235/75R16...............$111.13.......4.Left LT275/75R17...............$159.17.......4.Left LT285/75R16...............$160.49......4.Left COOPER DISCOVERER A/T 3 LT245/70R16...............$125.49.......4.Left 235/70R17...............$121.66.......4.Left COOPER DISCOVERER CTS 235/70R17...............$124.70......12.Left COOPER DISCOVERER H/T 275/60R17...............$122.96.......6.Left 205/50VR17...............$96.81.......4.Left 205/65HR16...............$87.51.......8.Left 235/55R17..............$113.91......4.Left 235/55R18...............$128.78.....8.Left 215/60R16...............$83.36.......12.Left

AN ADDED BONUS OF UP TO

WHEN YOU USE THE GOODYEAR CREDIT CARD

*By online or mail-in rebate. Rebates paid by Goodyear Visa® *Prepaid Card or Virtual Account on purchases made from January 1 to March 31, 2021*

YOU USE THE GOODYEAR CREDIT CARD TrailRunner AT® • Assurance® WHEN • Wrangler All-Season

® WHEN YOU USE THE GOODYEAR CREDIT CARD ON A SET OF 4 SELECT GOODYEAR • Assurance ComfortDrive™ NEW! TIRES • Eagle® F1 SuperCar Family (including ROF)

*By online or mail-in rebate. Rebates paid by Goodyear Visa® Prepaid Card or Virtual Account on purchases made from January 1 to March 31, 2021

• Eagle Exhilarate® • Assurance ComfortDrive™

NEW!

• Eagle® ®F1 Asymmetric Family (including ROF+SCT) • Eagle F1 SuperCar Family (including ROF)

• Assurance®® ComforTred Touring • Assurance All-Season

Hakkapeliitta 9

• Eagle® F1 Asymmetric Family (including ROF+SCT)

• Eagle Exhilarate®

Nordman 7

• Wrangler TrailRunner AT®

• Assurance® ComforTred Touring

*By online or mail-in rebate. Rebates paid by Goodyear Visa® Prepaid Card or Virtual Account on purchases made from April 1 to June 30, 2021. *By online or mail-in rebate. Rebates paid by Goodyear Visa® Prepaid Card or Virtual Account on purchases made from April 1 to June 30, 2021.

ASK AN ASSOCIATE ABOUT THE GOODYEAR 30-DAY PLEDGE† ASK AN ASSOCIATE ABOUT 30-DAY PLEDGE† AltimaxTHE ArticGOODYEAR 12

OBSERVE G3-ICE

Engine Diagnostics Suspension VERMONT TIRE & SVC INC VERMONT TIRE & SVC INC Repair VERMONT TIRE & SVC INC VERMONT TIRE & SVC INC 1877 WILLISTON RD 3 MILE BRIDGE RD 1877 WILLISTON RD05403 3 MILE BRIDGE RD SOUTH BURLINGTON , VT MONTPELIER , VT 05602 Brake SOUTH BURLINGTON , VT 05403 MONTPELIER , VT 05602 802-658-1333 802-229-4941 TIRE Repair 802-658-1333 802-229-4941 LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON

Time to Change Over

OFFERS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: OFFERS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

*NEW*

ONE

$7995

ONE FOR DURABILITY ONE FOR SAFETY ONE FOR SUSTAINABILITY ONE FOR YOU

BUY NOW AND INSTALL LATER

South Burlington

Montpelier

*Get up to $75 back by online or mail-in rebate on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added rebate of up to $75 more when the purchase is made on the Goodyear Credit Card. Goodyear Credit Card is subject to credit approval. Get a $75 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $150 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance ComfortDrive™, Eagle Exhilarate®, Eagle® F1 SuperCar Family (including ROF) and Eagle® F1 Asymmetric Family (including ROF+SCT). Get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the ® ® ® ® *Get up Credit to $75 Card back of: by Assurance online or mail-in on a qualifying purchase of a ®set of 4All-Season select Goodyear with any formWrangler of payment method; Adventure plus get anwith added rebate up to $75Fortitude more when purchaseC-Type). is madeGet onathe CreditCard Card. Goodyear Credit Card subject Card to credit a $75 Visa Prepaid , Assurance WeatherReady , Eagle Sport Familytires (including ROF), All-Terrain Kevlar andofWrangler HT®the (excluding $25Goodyear Visa Prepaid with purchase or $50 Visais Prepaid withapproval. purchaseGet on the Goodyear Credit Card Goodyear MaxLiferebate ® or $150 Visa Prepaid Card purchase with purchase the Wrangler GoodyearTrailRunner Credit Card AT of:®.Assurance ComfortDrive™, Eagle Exhilarate®, Eagle® F1 SuperCar Family (including ROF) and Eagle® F1 Asymmetric Family (including ROF+SCT). Get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the All-Season, Assurance® ComforTred Touringonand of:with Assurance ® ® ® ® ® ® WeatherReady , EagleCard/Virtual Sport All-Season Family (including ROF), Wrangler All-Terrain Fortitude (excluding Getpayments. a $25 VisaPrepaid PrepaidCard Cardcan withbepurchase or $50 Visa Card with purchase Virtual on the Goodyear Credit Goodyear MaxLife ® Rebate paidCredit in ®theCard formof: of Assurance a Visa Prepaid Card, Assurance or Virtual Account. Visa Prepaid Account is issued by MetaBank , N.A., Member FDIC,Adventure pursuantwith to a Kevlar license and fromWrangler Visa U.S.A. Inc. NoHTcash access orC-Type). recurring used everywhere VisaPrepaid debit cards are accepted. Account can be Card used ® All-Season, Assurance and Wrangler TrailRunner AT®. of: Assurance everywhere Visa debit cards are acceptedComforTred online, or forTouring phone/mail orders. Prepaid Card/Virtual Account valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. MetaBank does not endorse or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer. ® , N.A., Memberwith FDIC,mailing pursuant to a license from Inc. No cash access or vehicles recurringand payments. Prepaid Card can be used everywhere Visaon debit cards purchases. are accepted. Virtual canwith be used Rebate paid in only the form of a Visa Prepaid Card or Virtual Visa Prepaid is issued by are MetaBank Offers available at participating U.S. Goodyear retailersAccount. and websites. OffersCard/Virtual valid only forAccount U.S. residents who individual consumers addresses in the U.S.Visa andU.S.A. U.S. territories. Commercial fleets are not eligible for these rebates. Not valid previous Cannot beAccount combined other everywhere debit cards are accepted online, or for phone/mail orders. valid for upbytoGoodyear, 6 months; unused willofforfeit the by valid thru date. termsisand apply. MetaBank doesterms, not endorse or sponsor theapply. Goodyear Card offer. Goodyear tire Visa rebate offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than Prepaid 7/31/21.Card/Virtual Base portionAccount of rebate offered and bonusfunds portion rebateafter offered Citibank, N.A.Card Goodyear not conditions affiliated with Visa. Additional conditions, and fees See Credit participating retailer for complete details and rebate forms. Offers available onlyisatissued participating U.S. Goodyear retailers and websites. Offers valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Commercial vehicles and fleets are not eligible for these rebates. Not valid on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with other Goodyear Credit Card by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear tireKevlar rebate ™ ® offers. Rebate forms must be postmarked no later than 7/31/21. Base portion of rebate offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered by Citibank, N.A. Goodyear is not affiliated with Visa. Additional terms, conditions, and fees apply. See participating retailer for complete details and rebate forms. and are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and affiliates. DuPont Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank, N.A. † Terms and conditions apply. See store associate for details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge. DuPont™ and Kevlar® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company used under license by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and affiliates. ©2021 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved. † Terms and conditions apply. See store associate for details, or for more information, visit https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tire-warranty/30-day-pledge. ©2021 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. All rights reserved.

1877 Williston Rd.

90 River St.

658-1333 1800-639-1901

229-4941 1800-639-1900

Mon.- Fri. 7:30am-5pm Sat. 8am-4pm Not responsible for typographical errors

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