Seven Days, May 22, 2024

Up the Grill This Memorial Day With Delicious BBQ

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DINE AND DASH

DEAN WON’T RUN FOR GOV DEAN WON’T RUN FOR GOV

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean announced on Monday that he doesn’t want his old job back.

e 75-year-old Burlington Democrat and longestserving governor in state history had floated the idea that he would to try to oust Republican Gov. Phil Scott from office in November. But on Monday, he told reporters that he didn’t want to go negative against Scott and said polling showed him 10 percentage points behind the incumbent.

e only way to close such a gap would be to run a “scorched-earth negative attack campaign” like those in other parts of the country, something he was uninterested in doing. “I don’t know if a campaign like that could get me elected, but I do know that it would be really harmful to our state and to our values,” Dean said.

e prospect of a Dean candidacy had electrified many Democratic lawmakers frustrated by Scott’s dominance in the past several gubernatorial contests. ey viewed Dean, who served as governor from 1991 to 2003 and ran for president in 2004, as having the job experience, name recognition and campaigning prowess that could enable him to topple the incumbent.

“As a Democrat, I’m disappointed he’s chosen not to move forward,” Rep. Tom Stevens (D-Waterbury) said.

Dean said the need to raise at least $2 million for a campaign also contributed to his decision. Polling showed that his focus on health care reform was popular, but the biggest issue on voters’ minds this year was taxes, he said. at plays to a core strength of Scott, who has made opposition to new taxes and concern about the cost of living his political brand. Scott, who confirmed on May 11 that he’s seeking a fifth term, is one of the most popular governors in the nation. Since his election in 2016, he has bested his Democratic rivals by ever-larger margins. He earned widespread praise for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and has won over independents and moderate Democrats with his evenkeeled demeanor, opposition to new taxes and distaste for former president Donald Trump.

Major-party candidates must file to run by May 30. So far, only former Middlebury Selectboard member Esther Charlestin, 33, has said she’s running as a Democrat. Former Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger, who had considered a run, is not entering the race.

Jim Dandeneau, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party, said it’s difficult to convince people to run against such a popular incumbent.

Read Kevin McCallum’s full story and keep up with the race on sevendaysvt.com.

Someone broke into an empty Hartland home, made a meal and slept in a bed before leaving without taking anything. No harm, no foul?

PASSING GO

Newly installed tra c barriers on the road to Smugglers’ Notch were in place for two days before a tractor trailer made it around them. What the truck?

TOTALLY BLOWS

An aeration system meant to reduce cyanobacteria in Lake Carmi actually made the blooms worse, VTDigger.org reported. Stunning setback.

CAT WALK

Vermont State University gave a Castleton campus cat named Max an honorary degree in “litterature.” Purrfect.

1,700

That’s how many times Burlington police have responded to calls involving one man, Michael Reynolds, since 2012.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “A Pop Star Falls for Anne Hathaway in the Escapist but Uninspired Rom-Com ‘ e Idea of You’” by Margot Harris. Our reviewer was not smitten.

2. “Stuck in Vermont: A Ford Model A Named Lizzie Has Been Driven by the Aubin Family for Five Generations” by Eva Sollberger. e boxy 1931 car with a distinctive ahoogah! horn just won’t quit.

3. “Burlington’s Racial Equity Director Resigns, and Her Position Won’t Be Filled” by Sasha Goldstein. Kimberly Carson has left after 18 months on the job to take a new position in North Carolina.

4. “Mulvaney-Stanak Outlines Steps to Close Burlington’s Budget Gap” by Courtney Lamdin. e new mayor has a $13 million hole to plug.

5. “Growing Pains: How Warmer, Wetter, Wilder Weather Is Compelling Vermont Farmers to Adapt” by Melissa Pasanen. In recent years, floods, freezes and drought have cost Vermont growers tens of millions of dollars in crop damage.

@Jedlight

OMG I just told someone “I know a bit about manure.” Welcome to #Vermont

FRONT PORCH

ART SHOW

A Burlington woman has turned the enclosed porch of her South End home into a revolving art gallery.

Beth Kellc’s latest exhibit is an array of Barbie-size garments hanging on two miniature clotheslines: cuffed denim overalls, a sleeveless jumpsuit in a bright floral print, flannel pajamas, a linen apron and a flouncy summer dress like the one she recently made for her daughter.

A seamstress since the fourth grade, 73-year-old Kellc incorporated darts, top

stitching, buttons and trim. She sewed a pocket onto the pajama top, pink rickrack around the hems of flared denim pants, green bias tape around the neckline of the jumpsuit and yellow blanket stitches around its armholes.

e clothes fasten with buttons and Velcro. “I thought we should probably make them work,” Kellc said.

e smallest admirers, a line of preschoolers who file past Kellc’s house holding onto a rope, stopped one day recently to discuss what they saw on the porch. Fairies might live there, they said. Kellc’s friends have jokingly asked her to make the overalls or that swinging ’70s jumpsuit in their size.

Kellc started the show a year and a

half ago, when she hung a flock of handsewn, stuffed felt birds in the windows as a winter decoration. is past December, she displayed the birds again. When she took them down, she decided to put up eggs, which she and her now-adult children had blown out and dyed over the years. e objets d’art — including pysanky, intricate Ukranian eggs — dangled in the porch windows in the earliest days of spring.

en Kellc decided it was clothesline season, so she pulled out her fabric stash and whipped up a laundry load. She hasn’t figured out what to do next. “Maybe something with sand,” Kellc said. Preschoolers will be waiting.

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

Beth Kellc’s front porch

Howard Dean

Bloom Time Festival

MAY 25, 2022 • 10 AM-2 PM

UVM Horticulture Farm, South Burlington, Vt.

SPEAKER TOPICS

Deer Tick Management: What can YOU do for Protection and Prevention

Saffron: A Medicinal Plant, Culinary Herb and Beautiful Garden Flower Creating a Mini Meadow

MEET THE CURATORS

Hort Farm lilacs, rhododendrons, Pollinator Garden and Cary Garden.

FUN FOR THE KIDS

Discovery Walk with Mr. K, making seed bombs, building terrariums and fairy houses, flower garlands, and “Little Artsy Faces” face painter

GUEST EXHIBITORS

Branch Out Burlington, NOFA-VT, Urban and Community Forest Program, Grow Wild, Master Gardeners and SoilSHOP

AND MORE: Plein Air Artists, tractor hay rides, The Town Hollers fun music. Bring a picnic to enjoy under the trees. Rain or shine.

publisher & editor-in-chief

Paula Routly

deputy publisher Cathy Resmer

AssociAte

publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

editor Matthew Roy

deputy editor Sasha Goldstein

consulting editors Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

stAff writers Derek Brouwer, Colin Flanders, Rachel Hellman, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Anne Wallace Allen

ARTS & CULTURE

coeditors Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

AssociAte editor Margot Harrison

consulting editors Chelsea Edgar, Pamela Polston

VisuAl Art editor Alice Dodge

Music editor Chris Farnsworth

cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton

stAff writers Jordan Barry, Hannah Feuer, Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard

proofreAders Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

AssistAnt proofreAders

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler

DIGITAL & VIDEO

digitAl production speciAlist Bryan Parmelee

senior MultiMediA producer Eva Sollberger

MultiMediA journAlist James Buck

Audio/Aloud production Jeff Baron

DESIGN

creAtiVe director Don Eggert

Art director Rev. Diane Sullivan

production MAnAger John James

designer Jeff Baron

SALES & MARKETING

director of sAles Colby Roberts

senior Account executiVe Robyn Birgisson

Account executiVes Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

eVents, proMotions & ticketing MAnAger Carolann Whitesell

ADMINISTRATION

‘IT IS DIFFERENT NOW’

Last week’s cover story [“Growing Pains,” May 15] captured what we farmers have been going through the past few years, day after day. Wow.

For a brief time, based on a couple of back-to-back sunny growing seasons, I had the delusion that maybe Vermont could slide through the climate catastrophe that the world may be headed for.

No. I’ve farmed Shelburne Vineyard for 25 years. It is different now. We have to rethink almost everything.

Thank you for this article, and thanks to the wonderful staff that keeps Seven Days so vital.

Ken Albert SHELBURNE

FREE RIDE

Johnson and Morrisville. Their web page is lamoilleneighbors.org.

Elaine McCrate UNDERHILL

ZUCKERMAN’S CHALLENGER?

[Re “Winooski City Councilor to Challenge Zuckerman for Lieutenant Governor,” May 16, online]: If Winooski Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner wants to become lieutenant governor, he’s going to have to do a lot better than praising the incumbent. In his campaign announcement, Renner said Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman “has done some great work.” Other than that, Renner couldn’t think of any policy differences he has with Zuckerman.

The obvious question is: Why are you running, sir?

What Renner should have done — at the very least — is pointed out Zuckerman’s abysmal record, including:

• By his own admission, no less, padding his taxpayer-financed expense account when he was in the legislature.

• Apologizing for criticizing the “do-nothing” work of the Vermont Air National Guard on 9/11.

Live music every Friday and Saturday night 6-Spm Lakeview outdoor deck seating

business MAnAger Marcy Stabile

director of circulAtion & logistics Matt Weiner

circulAtion deputy Andy Watts

AssistAnt to the publishers Gillian English

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Chelsea Edgar, Erik Esckilsen, Steve Goldstein, Amy Lilly, Rachel Mullis, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Casey Ryan Vock

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Bear Cieri, Caleb Kenna, Steve Legge, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction and Plattsburgh, N.Y. Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec.

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Thank you for your article on the unmet needs of Vermonters who no longer drive [“You Can’t Get There,” May 8]. Residents of Underhill, Jericho and Cambridge who are over 50 years old should be aware that there is a volunteer service to meet many of those needs. Mount Mansfield Villages is a social network providing members the support they need to stay in their homes while getting older. We help members remain active, socially connected and independent for as long as possible by linking volunteers to neighbors who need services, such as running errands, shopping, local transportation, small home repairs, friendly visits, daily phone checks and technical assistance, to name a few. We also provide opportunities for members to connect with their community, fellow members and volunteers through social and educational activities.

Mount Mansfield Villages is part of the Village to Village Network, a network of “villages” across the country. MMV currently has 64 members and 64 volunteers. We are growing, and we welcome new participants. All volunteers have attended an orientation session and passed a background check.

There is a modest annual fee for members, who then have access to all MMV services and social activities. However, no one who needs MMV’s services will be turned away. For more information, see mountmansfield.helpfulvillage.com.

Lamoille Neighbors is a similar organization that serves Hyde Park,

• Being forced to admit that he incorrectly criticized the reputation of the governor’s nominee for education secretary.

A trained seal could make a campaign out of those three things alone. Renner has some serious learning to do if he expects to move from Winooski to the Statehouse.

When it comes to politics, Zuckerman is no slouch, having successfully adopted Vermont’s rural traditions to transform his image from a Massachusetts native — which he is — into an aw-shucks Green Mountain boy.

Although the press downplays the lieutenant governor’s position as merely ceremonial, in fact it’s an important slot in state government. The incumbent takes over if the governor is incapacitated, and that’s happened more than once in Vermont history.

Ted Cohen BURLINGTON

VERMONT NEEDS NEW — OLD — LEADERSHIP

[Re “Dean’s Potential Run for Governor Buoys Dems Eager for a Competitive Race,” May 10; “Gov. Phil Scott Announces He’ll Run for Reelection,” May 11, online]: If Phil Scott is indeed the most popular sitting GOP governor in the U.S., then that bar must be set very low. His middle name is “Veto.” At 72, I miss the “old Vermont,” too. I’m also a realist who understands

that the state needs a dynamic leader spearheading a balanced approach to mitigating the challenges of today’s Vermont, as ably reported in your paper. Run, Howard, run!

Larry Lewis SPENCER, MA

Editor’s note: On Monday, Howard Dean announced he won’t run for governor of Vermont. We covered the announcement on sevendaysvt.com.

HELPFUL LINK

Thanks for your recent article about Chip Piper’s journey surviving and living with grief over his stepson’s death [“Mourning Run,” May 8]. I was interested in the support group Team Sharing that was mentioned for parents who have lost a child to overdose. Including a link or contact info would be helpful to those of us looking for support. Many thanks for your dedication to providing the community continued news and resources.

Rachel Lyons SHELBURNE

Editor’s note: The online story now includes a link to this resource.

‘WEEKLY INSPIRATION’

I typically enjoy most of Seven Days ’ content, this week particularly “The Mourning Run” [May 8]. Ten marathons in 10 days seems like a hefty challenge, much more than I would ever contemplate. Kudos, Chip Piper, for your dedication. I hope you are able to complete all 10 marathons in memory of your stepson,

Michael. I made a donation after reading about it.

I also loved the story about the Trash Tramps [“Zen and the Art of Trash Collection: A Group of Montpelier Residents Spruces Up the City, One Cigarette Butt at a Time,” May 8]. We need more of this type of community engagement to replace the rancor and discord surging through our society these days. Sometimes I go out in my neighborhood and pick up trash that accumulates, while grumbling about people being too lazy to throw it where it belongs. Your story inspires me to be more Zen about it.

Thanks, Seven Days, for bringing us weekly inspiration!

Louise Goodrich ESSEX

MY SHARE

In the opening paragraph of [From the Publisher: “Accounting for Seven Days,” March 27], Paula Routly writes: “Some people have more than they deserve;

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HOMES TOUR

MAKING A SPLASH

12:00–4:00 PM

Saturday, June 8, 2024

As in years past, our tour features an eclectic mix of Burlington properties ranging from the grand Willard Street mansion now operating as Blind Tiger boutique hotel, a recently restored and reimagined Greek Revival home that was saved from a re and near demolition, to a South End home that once served as a neighborhood market. e tour, which consists of six homes, nely decorated interiors, and inspiring landscapes and gardens, is self-guided with the help of numerous volunteers from the community. Light refreshments will be served.

e Homes Tour is Preservation Burlington’s biggest annual fundraising event. Proceeds go towards the organization’s many advocacy and educational programs. For more information: Tickets are available starting May 1.

The morning Seven Days published its annual Summer Preview last year, Vermont was walloped by a freak frost that wreaked havoc on fruit trees and crops — and frustrated gardeners who got cute and planted before Memorial Day. This year, the weather gods have been kinder, and the issue hits streets with summer in full bloom — for now. This is Vermont, after all.

With temps creeping into the 80s this week, the pull to get outside has been strong. In Burlington, you could take a peaceful stroll at ROCK POINT. Long o -limits to casual visitors, the oasis of green in the city’s New North End has gradually opened up in recent years (page 15).

More adventuresome types will flock to the mountains, where most hiking trails o cially open this weekend. Youth conservation crews have been hard at work REPAIRING TRAILS damaged in last year’s floods (page 14). Thrill seekers may head to Lyndon, where residents hope a new link to the epic Kingdom Trails mountain biking network will revitalize the town (page 20).

While you’re there, you could pedal over to nearby Greensboro. Our new series, “THREE TO SIX HOURS” — a Vermont-scale ri on the New York Times’ “36 Hours” travelogue — o ers a day-trip itinerary to suit a range of tastes (page 35).

If speedboating is more your, well, speed, options abound on lakes large and small. But wakeboarders take heed: Several lake associations are seeking to BAN WAKE BOATS (page 18).

For fitness bu s, marathon season is in full swing. This weekend, the Vermont City Marathon & Relay in Burlington will award its first cash prize to NONBINARY RUNNERS (page 39).

Those who prefer to be spectators should check out our GUIDE TO SUMMER EVENTS for everything from outdoor concerts to fairs to sports to one festival devoted entirely to garlic (page 30). Or you could head to the cineplex to catch the new Disney flick Young Woman

Jump into the Summer Preview

and the Sea, in limited release on May 31. Starring Daisy Ridley, it’s based on a 2009 book by Vermont author Glenn Stout (page 50).

Finally, wind down after an epic summer day at the hot new restaurant FRANKIE’S in Burlington. Helmed by Hen of the Wood alums in the old Penny Cluse Café space, it’s one of several new local restos opening this summer (page 44).

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Mud, Sweat and Peers

Youth conservation crews head out to repair damage from 2023 floods

Burlington’s Racial Equity Director Resigns

Urban Oasis

Once off-limits, Burlington’s Rock Point is gradually welcoming the public

Making Waves

For wake boat opponents, new rules mean new battles

PCB Testing Will Continue After ‘Pause’ Bill Fizzles

Path to Prosperity?

Lyndon hopes a new bike route will help the town tap into the popularity of Kingdom Trails

Resignations Signal Change Is Coming to the Vermont Senate

Plan to Sort Vermont’s Mail in Connecticut Is Suspended FEATURES 30

The Big To-Do

Can’t-miss summer events in Vermont

Bikes, Brews and Unspoiled Beauty ree to six hours in Greensboro

A Run for Their Money

For the first time, Vermont City Marathon will offer a cash prize to nonbinary runners

ARTS+CULTURE 50

Swimming to Hollywood

Vermont author Glenn Stout hits the big screen with Disney’s Young Woman and the Sea

Vermont Film & Folklore Festival Launches in Manchester

Car Talk

Five generations of the Aubin family have been driving a Ford Model A named Lizzie

Ephemeral Immersion

Plex Arts Fest brings delight and chaos to the Old North End

Lydia Kern Receives Fourth Annual Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award

e Aubins have lived in Lyndonville for seven generations, and Lizzie — a Ford Model A — has been driven by their family for five of them. Over the years, Lizzie has been a familiar sight in parades and around town. Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger visited Aubin Electric to meet Lizzie’s current caretaker, C.J. Aubin, and his kids, Zak and Ali.

Find a new job in the classifieds section on page 90 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE (BARTLETT FALLS, BRISTOL) CALEB KENNA

MAGNIFICENT

SATURDAY 25-MONDAY 27

THE UMPIRE STRIKES BACK

e Vermont Lake Monsters are back for another season of balls, bats and boogying with Champ. Spectators at Burlington’s Centennial Field buy some peanuts and Cracker Jack to watch the Green Mountain State’s own Futures Collegiate Baseball League team face off against the Brockton Rox in three Memorial Day weekend games.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 76

FRIDAY 24-SUNDAY 26

Page to Stage

WEDNESDAY 29

Earth Day

Both cinephiles and environmentalists find something to love at SunCommon’s Climate Action Film Festival at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center Film House in Burlington. e annual screening soirée features stories of activism and resilience from around the world, and proceeds benefit 350Vermont.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 78

e Parish Players present Deaf Republic, a oneweekend-only staged reading of Ilya Kaminsky’s acclaimed poem cycle of the same name, at etford’s Eclipse Grange eatre. Featuring puppetry and set work by Ria Blaas and a cast packed with local talent, the production tells the allegorical story of a town under a brutal occupation, where all the villagers lose their hearing after soldiers kill a deaf boy.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 73

SATURDAY 25 & SUNDAY 26

New Kid on the Flock

People and sheep alike shed their winter coats at Family Sheep and Wool Weekend, a lamb-themed jamboree at Woodstock’s Billings Farm & Museum. e springtime fun includes weaving and spinning demonstrations, woolly fiber crafts, and an up-close look at the workaday lives of the herding border collies.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 79

MONDAY 27

Don’t Rain on My Parade

Party people of all ages take a break from flipping burgers and eating hot dogs to line the streets for the annual Vergennes Memorial Day Parade Kicking off the festivities at Vergennes Union Middle & High School, American Legion Post 14 hosts a patriotic march through downtown to honor Vermonters who have served in the armed forces, followed by a chicken barbecue.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 76

TUESDAY 28

American Ukrainian

Larissa Babij discusses her new, straight-from-theheadlines memoir, A Kind of Refugee: e Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine, with University of Vermont professor Adrian Ivakhiv at Richmond Free Library. Collected partially from Babij’s ongoing Substack dispatches, the book tells the story of the terrifying first days of war from the perspective of the Ukrainian American writer and translator.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 78

ONGOING Seasons of Love

Russian-born, Vermont-based artist Anna Yakubovskaya’s newest solo show at Burlington’s Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery, “Embracing the Ephemeral,” celebrates the Vermont seasons in all their beauty and brevity. Painted on paper and silk, her watercolors capture sunrises over the mountains, mist over lakes and the moment the leaves begin to change.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Bonjour, Summer

Technically, summer begins on the June solstice, still a month away.

Try telling that to the vacationers who’ve already set up camp at Burlington’s North Beach — the place filled up overnight when it opened on May 15 — and the grass growing in my backyard. As I write these words, next to an open window, I can hear the whine of a lawn mower, birds chirping and the baritone horn of the Spirit of Ethan Allen as it departs Waterfront Park on its nightly sunset cruise.

After a long, chilly spring, I’ve relegated my 60-degree jacket to the closet. On Saturday, for the first time since October, I swam outdoors.

In other words, it’s time for the Seven Days Summer Preview, in which our writers remind readers why we live here. The next three months offer up so many reasons, from music festivals to seasonal snack bars, to get out and explore Vermont.

a pro, and we’re lucky she agreed to assign, edit and find photos for all the other stories in this collection, which was timed with summer vacation planning in mind.

As part of a yearlong series on Québec travel, Jen has directed our Canada coverage since December — an article drops every six weeks or so. You can find everything we published last year and since on the “The Vermonters’ Guide to Visiting Québec” landing page at sevendaysvt.com/quebec — not to mention links to current border wait times and a currency exchange rate calculator that confirms: The U.S. dollar still goes a long way up there.

SUMMER PREVIEW

But why stop there? For the first time in this annual issue, we’ve crossed the border to report on some unique summer travel destinations in the Canadian province of Québec. Last June we devoted an entire issue to reacquainting Vermonters with our northern neighbor after many of us paused international travel during the pandemic. In the meantime, a new highway has almost replaced the old three-lane road, Route 133, between the U.S.-Canada border and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Now, for most residents of Chittenden County, it’s quicker to get to Montréal than Rutland.

But there’s more to Québec than Montréal. Way more. Canada’s largest province, which extends north of the arctic circle, has whales, fjords, cowboys, Nordic spas, polar bears and 11 Indigenous Nations. Simply put, it’s got a lot of things that Vermont doesn’t.

This year our Summer in Québec supplement focuses on extraordinary events and destinations up there. Anticosti Island, for example, is a paleontological paradise at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River — the best place in the world to study the Late Ordovician mass extinction, which happened roughly 450 million years ago. Fossils are everywhere. The island is also home to a large population of whitetailed deer.

Vermont-based travel writer Jen Rose Smith wrote this week’s piece about Anticosti, a place she’s “dreamed about going for ages.” She also contributed a more practical guide to navigating Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, aka YUL. Jen is

A few weeks ago, my partner, Tim, and I went up to Montréal for a Sunday night show at MTELUS Montréal, formerly the Metropolis. He’d wanted to see the band Belle & Sebastian live for years; they were booked to play Higher Ground in 2023 but canceled. Although I had some old-lady concerns about parking, standing for the duration of the concert and driving back that night in the dark, I needn’t have worried. We found a safe, free spot to leave the car, grabbed a dumpling dinner in Chinatown and walked through the dazzling downtown Quartier des Spectacles to the venue. It was jammed with people of all ages and races with a shared appreciation of Scottish indie pop.

Guided by Québec’s new highway streetlights, we easily navigated the Champlain Bridge and the wait-free U.S. border crossing to make it home by 1 a.m. It’s not Paris, but pretty close.

Paula Routly

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LYNDON SPRUCES UP FOR CYCLISTS

VT SENATE SHAKEUP

Mud, Sweat and Peers

Youth conservation crews head out to repair damage from 2023 floods

BY RACHEL HELLMAN • rhellman@sevendaysvt.com

The crew had been building a set of stairs on a beach access trail in Groton State Forest for nearly two weeks. A 32-foot section of the pathway next to a small stream had washed away during last July’s flooding, and the six team members were installing wooden steps on the slope to restore the trail.

As the sweaty crew members huddled together, calculating the rise and fall of

the stairs for what felt like the umpteenth time, Saoirse Rain, a 23-year-old from Wisconsin, let out a chuckle.

“There are people who have been vacationing here for, like, 50 years,” she said. “But I don’t think anyone’s spent as much time as we have on these steps.”

Rain and her fellow crew members described that scene to Seven Days . All in their twenties, they work for the

Richmond-based Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, which has long employed young people for seasonal maintenance projects in the state’s natural spaces — building trails, removing invasive vegetation and repairing man-made improvements. But in the wake of last year’s catastrophic flooding across Vermont, VYCC crews are more focused than ever on remedying flood damage in ways that will minimize destruction by future storms.

For the young people involved in the arduous work of flood repair, the shift in focus is an opportunity to take action in the face of their climate anxiety.

YOU ARE IN A REMOTE PLACE, STUCK TOGETHER DOING THINGS THAT OFTEN KIND OF SUCK … AND YET, THAT SOMEHOW BECOMES A GOOD MEMORY.

KATIE VARTENIGIAN

“There’s a lot of youth who feel like there’s nothing to be done and everything’s crashing around them,” said Alexandria Thomas Tutt, a 27-year-old member of the Groton crew who hails from Florida. “For me, at least, getting into this line of work and being able to help even a little bit allows me to deal with that feeling.”

Each year, nearly 150 teens and twen tysomethings participate in 80,000 hours of paid service through the nonprofit VYCC, learning new skills, building character and forging bonds through often difficult outdoor work. Though most of the work is seasonal, the Groton crew is a first-of-its-kind year-round workforce.

Most teams are composed of six to eight members and two leaders. They carry out service projects, often in state parks, but also for municipalities, conservation districts and private groups such as the Green Mountain Club. Many crew members spend the season living in tents near projects in remote locations.

Among a dozen or more flood recovery projects this year, VYCC crews will

Burlington’s Racial Equity Director Resigns

BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN sasha@sevendaysvt.com

Kimberly Carson, Burlington’s director of racial equity, inclusion and belonging, has resigned after 18 months on the job to take a new position in North Carolina.

Her $131,624 position won’t be filled as officials try to find $13.1 million to pay for next year’s $107.8 million city budget. Another five positions in the Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Office will also remain unfilled. e city estimates those vacancies will save $650,000. Mayor Emma MulvaneyStanak has proposed leaving nearly two dozen vacant positions across city government unfilled next year to reduce the deficit.

Kerin Durfee, the city’s human resources director, is temporarily serving as interim director of the racial equity office. But she is leaving both positions in the coming weeks, Mulvaney-Stanak told councilors at a meeting on Monday. e mayor plans to meet with racial equity staff to discuss a “redesign” and “new leadership opportunities” for the office.

Many of the positions were paid for with one-time federal coronavirus relief aid. e department currently has three staffers, though the city plans to add one more this coming fiscal year.

“Equity work is a priority of this administration,” Joe Magee, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, told Seven Days “[ ere will be a] collaborative process with the staff to ensure that equity work is built into the structural budget.”

Carson, who was hired in November 2022, told Seven Days last week that she’s been on medical leave since “late January or early February” and “is still healing.” She said she’s accepted an offer to do similar work in North Carolina.

Because of her medical leave, Carson had not interacted with Mulvaney-Stanak, who won election in March and took office on April 1. Asked about her experience working in Burlington, Carson described it as “a mixed bag.”

“ ere was a lot of transition and change and things going on when I walked in, but overall, I had a pretty good experience,” she said. “What I’d say is, I really learned a lot.” ➆

Miro Weinberger with Kimberly Carson

Alexandria omas Tutt

Urban Oasis

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

For all its stunning scenery, Burlington’s Rock Point seldom draws a crowd of visitors. It’s not advertising the fact that the public can glimpse the peninsula’s rare plants or hike the trails that wind around shoreline cli s on Lake Champlain. The parking lot is intentionally small, forcing people to come early or trek in by using the Burlington bike path, which runs through the property. Experiencing Rock Point’s beauty takes e ort, which is perhaps why you can spend an entire morning there and not see another soul.

property. “It’s exciting to be a part of it at this stage as we figure this out.”

Rock Point juts into the lake just north of the city’s North Beach. Its high cli s are a geologic marvel, clearly displaying the 400-million-year-old Champlain Thrust Fault, in which a thick band of ancient rock lies on top of younger rock.

Long off-limits to casual visitors, the oasis of green in the city’s New North End has slowly opened up in recent years. Visitors can now traverse two miles of improved trails or attend workshops on maple sugaring and beekeeping. This spring, Rock Point is renovating its modest conference center to make space for Burlington High School’s alternative programs, creating a long-term home for public school students alongside a private boarding school that has existed on the property for decades.

The stewards of Rock Point say they’re trying to share the land while maintaining the sense of sanctuary that’s long made it a special place. It’s a delicate balancing act, one they hope to pull o by helping visitors to feel connected to, and appreciate, the land.

“It’s an experiment,” said Kelly Kimball, executive director of Rock Point Commons, the nonprofit that manages the

Since the 1850s, the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont has owned the 130-acre property, which includes open fields as well as the wooded point. The diocesan bishop still lives on the land and, most of the year, so do the 30 students who attend the private Rock Point School, designed for kids who don’t fit into the traditional education system. In 2015, the diocese created Rock Point Commons to manage the grounds, which host a community garden, outdoor chapel and a few bare-bones rental cabins.

Bordered by the city-owned Arms Forest to the northeast, Rock Point connects with both the bike path and the Burlington Wildway Trail, which runs from the city’s New North End to Winooski. Much of the property was closed to the public until five years ago, although college students had nevertheless made jumping from Rock Point’s cli s a rite of passage. Not only have people died on the cli s but getting to them meant trampling on rare plants such as the harsh sunflower, which is on the state’s list of threatened species.

Rock Point land steward Tyler Pastorok feeding a sheep

Mud, Sweat and Peers « P.14

fix treadways and install trail drainage on Spruce Mountain in Plainfield; repair damage along the Lake Elmore shoreline; and rebuild flood-ravaged lean-tos on trails around the state. This fall, a crew focused on improving water quality will plant 6,000 willow trees along riverbanks. The trees, which soak up plenty of water, can help river corridors better absorb heavy rainfall.

The 2023 floods have also led VYCC to expand into housing recovery. The organization has dispatched a carpentry crew to Barre to help fix flood-damaged homes. The aim is twofold: to preserve much-needed housing and to spark crew members’ interest in the trades. While corps members have done conservation work on private property before, the Barre project is the first of its kind.

“Getting involved in this initiative was sort of a no-brainer,” said Stephen Cohen, conservation build project manager. “We can put people to work on service-based projects where they’re not only learning applicable skills but also directly impacting Vermonters’ ability to access housing.”

As they tackle their flood restoration projects in Vermont’s woods, crews will do so in ways designed to help trails stand up to future storms. Such work is familiar to VYCC, according to Jenn Krebs, conservation senior operations manager for the corps. Over the past few years, crew work has shifted from building new trails to improving existing ones. With heavier rains, mud season is longer than ever, Krebs said, requiring greater floodmitigation efforts.

“Our partners are not asking for new trails,” Krebs said. “They’re trying to shed water from their existing trails.”

Crew members build culverts and install stone stairwells that divert rainwater and prevent erosion, often hiking with all the tools and supplies they’ll need for the day. Trail work is arduous, requiring hours of manual labor and a commitment to teamwork. Some crews will spend days just moving rocks. Other times, book smarts are necessary: Members might need to use geometry or algebra to calculate the rise of a new set of stairs or figure out the ideal dimensions of a moldering toilet, a type of backwoods privy.

And at the end of the workday, VYCC members find there’s no escaping one another. Most crews live and work together, returning to a makeshift tent camp to make dinner and prepare for tomorrow’s work. At night, temperatures can drop into the teens.

“You are in a remote place, stuck together doing things that often kind of suck. There’s bugs in your face, and

it’s really hot,” said Katie Vartenigian, a 25-year-old Marylander on the Groton crew. “And yet, that somehow becomes a good memory.”

Despite the drudgery, “We are seeing demand from young people who are wanting to do this work,” Krebs said, adding that some of this year’s applicants were motivated by the 2023 flooding and hope to help reduce the effect of future storms. Some corps members hail from

other states and learn about the program through AmeriCorps, which the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps partners with on some positions.

On the trails, too, corps members will learn high-demand skills that also contribute to flood recovery. According to Reuben Allen, the chief of operations for Vermont State Parks, their work has become invaluable.

“If we didn’t have assistance from the

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps trail crews, it would be a stretch to think that we would get all the work done that we critically need to get done,” Allen said. Thomas Tutt and the other members of the yearlong conservation crew said they hope most Vermonters fail to notice their weeks of labor on the beach access trail. As they took a lunch break around a picnic table, they said they want their work to allow walkers to focus on the beauty around them, not the footing.

“As much as I would appreciate someone saying thank you for this hard work, I’m just thankful if they think the trail looks nice or feels nice under their feet or if it hasn’t washed out by the time they get there,” said Hank Kelly, 22, a New Jerseyite.

“We’ll know we did a good job if no one notices what we did,” Vartenigian agreed with a chuckle.

With that, the conservation crew members packed up their lunch and readied their tools. There was work to be done before the end of the day. ➆

Disclosure: Rachel Hellman was a member of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps in fall 2020. Now she’s a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Hellman covers small towns for Seven Days. Find out more at reportforamerica.org.

Saoirse Rain and Alexandria Thomas Tutt working on a lean-to at Little River State Park in Waterbury

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps members

In 2019, the diocese worked with the Lake Champlain Land Trust and other partners to conserve nearly 100 acres and then upgrade trails with boardwalks, kiosks and fencing. Walkers are now welcomed (and encouraged to give a $2 donation for a day pass.) There’s no official tally, but Rock Point’s stewards say visitation has increased since the trails were improved.

Opening up the space has put more strain on its caretakers, who pick up trash and remind hikers to keep their dogs leashed. They can’t prevent all misbehavior — an unknown person, for example, sawed off the branches of a 200-year-old cedar tree. Rock Point’s trail steward program is helping. Trained volunteers patrol the site, using an app to report problems.

Ecological concerns were paramount when Rock Point Commons considered whether to let the high school open classrooms there. The OnTop program, which serves 30 students with emotional and behavioral challenges, has been using the property’s conference center since 2020, when Burlington High School’s Institute Road building closed after the discovery of toxic chemicals. In 2023, the district proposed merging OnTop with its other alternative program, Horizons, and locating the consolidated program in new classroom space at Rock Point, more than tripling the students on the property, from 30 to 100. After lengthy discussions about whether the growing student census would threaten its conservation efforts, the diocese agreed to the plan.

One afternoon earlier this month, heavy trucks bumped along the dirt roads to Rock Point’s conference center, where the classrooms are under construction. The district will pay for the $4.5 million project through lease payments over the next 15 years. A ribbon cutting is planned for September. Next school year, students will learn about Rock Point’s natural history while being able to experience it.

Bobby Riley, the programs’ principal, said this “project-based learning” will help students who struggle in a typical classroom.

“In its very nature, that environment is therapeutic,” Riley said of Rock Point. “We’re going to be two minutes from the [new] high school but feel like we’re a million miles away.”

As it grows, Rock Point Commons is promoting that same ethos with programs that bring people closer to the land. Students there have tapped maple trees for years, but for the first time last spring, the nonprofit invited the public to help. They boiled 30 gallons of syrup, though Kimball, the director, was quick to say that maximizing production was never the point.

“Maybe you live in a condo, and you don’t have a sugar shack,” she said. “Even if you come and do it a couple of times, it’s really special to be able to participate in that type of work.”

The idea of a shared harvest appeals to Tyler Pastorok, Rock Point’s land steward and programs coordinator, who’s involved in the mutual aid group Food Not Bombs. Rock Point donates some of its produce to the group, which distributes the goods via the “People’s Fridge,” a volunteer-run pantry on Hungerford Terrace. Pastorok and another staffer led the sugaring program, and this fall they’ll teach the art of cider making using apples from Rock Point’s orchards. A beekeeping class is also on the calendar.

“This is, and has been, a homestead,” Pastorok said. “There’s a lot of land here. We can share it rather than producing a product and selling it.”

This month, livestock were added to the mix. The nonprofit has harnessed the appetites of five sheep, including two fuzzy lambs, to trim the abundant grass in place of gas-powered lawn mowers. A volunteer shepherd will tend the flock, and students studying animal science at the University of Vermont will offer checkups.

At the end of the season, the sheep will be slaughtered for a community feast — news that startled some preschool students whose class is based at Rock Point. But to Kimball and Pastorok, the program is a chance to teach the next generation about the land’s bounty and why it should be protected.

For now, the experiment seems to be working. Since rerouting the trails away from the cliffs a few years back, Rock Point’s caretakers have noticed ferns and wildflowers cropping up where there were once well-worn pathways. The forest is regenerating. ➆

Students visiting Rock Point

Making Waves

For wake boat opponents, new rules mean new battles

STORY & PHOTOS BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN

Vermonters seeking to limit the use of powerful wake boats on the state’s lakes and ponds made it partway to their goal this year. A new rule limits where the motorized craft can be used for surfing, and it’s the most restrictive in the country.

The Department of Environmental Conservation’s rule, which went into e ect on April 15, restricts wake sports to lakes that have a surface area of at least 50 acres and a depth of 20 feet. Even then, surfing must be undertaken at least 500 feet from shore.

Only 30 of the several hundred lakes and ponds in Vermont are large enough to accommodate a wake sports zone. Now people who live or boat on some of those lakes are looking for other ways to limit the sport.

“The situation is now potentially worse than it was before,” said Meg Handler, who lives in Hinesburg on 229-acre Lake Iroquois. “Now wake sports are explicitly welcomed onto what is a tiny lake. The

potential for abuse is there, and there is no enforcement.”

Wake boat opponents unsuccessfully sought to ban them in 2019, but the issue didn’t gain much attention until 2022, when people alarmed by the impact of the relatively new sport formed the group Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes. They asked the state to regulate how and where the craft could be used, with many saying the boats should be restricted to only the largest bodies of water, such as Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog.

Dozens of lake users testified at public hearings organized by the DEC that wake boat waves had capsized smaller vessels and damaged shorelines. Wake boats use powerful motors, V-shaped hulls and ballast tanks weighted with water to generate large waves used for surfing or wake board riding.

Many opponents voiced concerns that the ballast water would spread invasive species as the boats were transported from

one lake to the next. That’s why the new rule includes a “home lake” provision that requires a wake boat to remain in one body of water for a calendar year; the boats must be decontaminated before being moved to another body of water.

The DEC’s guidelines represent the first statewide rule change for lakes and ponds since 1995, when the department limited the use of personal watercraft — Jet Skis and the like — to lakes that are larger than 300 acres.

While opponents had sought an even stricter limit that would keep wake boats 1,000 feet from shore, their owners and others say the rule already goes too far.

“I’m equating it to way back when snowboarding was introduced,” wake surfer Robert Pearo of Rutland said. In the 1990s, several ski areas banned snowboards; Mad River Glen in Waitsfield still doesn’t allow them. “Every time someone finds another way to enjoy something, someone has to say, ‘You’re ruining it for everybody else.’”

The issue has caused deep divisions among homeowners along Lake Iroquois, where the lake association has declined to take a position on the issue, association vice president Jane Cli ord said. That puts the association at odds with homeowners such as Handler and Dani Sharpe, a summer resident who wants to keep the boats o the lake. The two say the new rule doesn’t go far enough.

“We’re not finished with this,” Sharpe said. “We really disagree with it.”

The only recourse for homeowner associations on the 30 lakes is to petition the DEC to have a body of water stricken from the list. Several lakes took that step in the early 2000s to keep personal watercraft away. So far, about half a dozen lake associations seeking to block wake boats have submitted petitions to the DEC, according to Laura Dlugolecki, an environmental analyst who works in the DEC’s lakes and ponds program.

Greensboro, home to Caspian Lake, submitted a petition with 1,200 signatures last summer, before it was clear what the rule would say. Greensboro successfully petitioned to keep personal watercraft o the lake 20 years ago.

“Caspian Lake’s outstanding tranquility, beauty, and water quality face an existential threat from wake boats,” the petition says. Other petitions involve Lake Fairlee, Great Averill Pond, Little Averill Lake, Shadow Lake in Glover, and Echo Lake in Charleston. Another petition is on its way to the DEC from Friends of Waterbury Reservoir.

The new limits on wake sports could actually make things worse for kayakers, canoeists and swimmers on that 860-acre reservoir, group member Steve Brownlee said. His Stowe business, Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, sets up shop at the reservoir each summer to rent small craft to visitors. Before the rule, wake boaters could go anywhere on the lake. Now, because they will be confined to a wake boat zone, “they’ll all be concentrated in one area,” Brownlee said — one that kayakers, canoeists and standup paddleboarders traverse. Friends of Waterbury Reservoir is petitioning to keep wake boats o the lake altogether.

Brownlee is concerned about safety and the potential for invasive species at the popular reservoir, which hosts water-skiers, a motorboat slalom course, and thousands of swimmers and small craft users. About 67,000 people visit the reservoir and adjacent Little River State Park in the summer. Despite that, he said, Waterbury Reservoir has so far stayed free of Eurasian watermilfoil. The invasive plant forms dense mats on the surface and interferes with lake ecology and recreation on a ected bodies of water, including Lake Champlain.

Steve Brownlee of Umiak Outdoor Outfitters in Stowe

Like many other lakes, Waterbury Reservoir has volunteer greeters at its boat launches to keep an eye out for invasive species clinging to the propellers of visiting craft. But the greeters — often high school students — don’t have the authority to ask wake boat owners if they emptied or decontaminated their ballast tanks.

Wake boat tanks must be sanitized by a qualified service preapproved by the Agency of Natural Resources. The one closest to Waterbury Reservoir is in Burlington, Brownlee noted.

SO FAR, HALF A DOZEN LAKE ASSOCIATIONS HAVE ASKED THE STATE TO BAN WAKE SPORTS FROM THEIR WATERS.

The new wake boat regulations were approved on February 15 by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, but support was tepid. Several members said they only voted yes because that body cannot amend rules, only approve or deny them — and they wanted to get some form of regulation on the books.

“I vote for this with a heavy heart, because I really don’t like it,” Rep. Seth Bongartz (D-Manchester) said. “What I see is the less than 1 percent of people who might have a wake boat imposing that on the other 99 percent in a way that I think is destructive.”

“I think we can do better than this,” said Rep. Carol Ode (D-Burlington). “I hope this does not end here.”

The summer outlook is murky. Dlugolecki said the DEC is understaffed, and review of the petitions — a process

that includes public hearings — will proceed slowly. The DEC doesn’t have time to create a process for proving “home lake” or decontamination status in time for this year’s boating season. Owners will be on an honor system when it comes to where they use their craft and what’s in the tanks.

Meanwhile, more powerful wake boats are coming. Manufacturers this year are touting luxury models that weigh 8,000 pounds and hold 15 people.

“The future is bigger,” said Brownlee, brandishing a flyer for an electric boat called the Gigawave that boasts “the largest wave ever created.”

“Five years from now, 10 years from now, who knows what kind of technology is going to be out there?” Brownlee said. “They’re just not going to be safe on a small body of water like Waterbury Reservoir.”

Handler faulted the DEC for shifting the wake boat debate into the hands of individual homeowners at the 30 lakes. The Lake Iroquois Association has decided not to petition to keep the reservoir free of wake boats. But Handler and Sharpe want to keep fighting. They say the presence of a tiny island in the lake should disqualify Lake Iroquois from wake sports, and both worry about the impact on safety and ecology. But the discussion, they said, is a difficult one.

“I have wake boat people living on either side of me, and they’re the nicest, loveliest people in the world, and I don’t want to offend them,” Handler said. “It’s kind of agonizing, to be honest.”

Pearo wake surfs on Lake Bomoseen, one of the lakes deemed suitable by the DEC. Like many of the wake boat owners who participated in the hearings, he said he thinks opponents of wake surfing won’t be satisfied until the sport is banned from all of Vermont’s lakes. ➆

People surfing behind a wake boat

STATEHOUSE

School PCB Testing Will Continue After ‘Pause’ Bill Fizzles

BY ALISON NOVAK alison@sevendaysvt.com

A bill that would have triggered a pause of Vermont’s costly, time-intensive and disruptive program to test for and remove toxic PCB chemicals from older school buildings has died in the legislature.

The news dismayed House Education Committee chair Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall), who pushed for a pause, as well as some school administrators dealing with the fallout from elevated PCB levels in their schools. The state is paying for the work, which is continuing at a time when increased cost pressures on schools are causing property taxes to spike across the state.

The Vermont House passed the bill, and it also cleared the Senate Education Committee. But Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) chose not to bring it up for a vote before the legislature adjourned in the early hours of May 11. He told Seven Days that sunsetting the program without a complete accounting of the number of schools affected by the chemicals could hurt an ongoing lawsuit against PCB manufacturer Monsanto.

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, who filed the lawsuit last year, testified about the testing program before the Senate Education Committee last month. She said she believed the program should continue to protect the health of students and staff and to ensure equality among school districts.

Of the 153 schools that have been tested, 54 have airborne PCB levels that require further action under state guidelines. But the state Department of Environmental Conservation has only approved three “corrective action plans,” which are needed for remediation work to begin.

Another 171 schools still need to be tested.

Meanwhile, money for the program is dwindling. Of the original $4.5 million set aside for air testing in 2021, only $183,000 remains. Several months ago, the state moved another $3.5 million into the testing fund to continue the work. e state has distributed $11 million to schools for mitigation and remediation and earmarked another $6.3 million to be distributed. ➆

Path to Prosperity?

Lyndon hopes a new bike route will help the town tap into the popularity of Kingdom Trails

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN • anne@sevendaysvt.com

For years, out-of-state visitors have stocked up on groceries and gas in Lyndon before moving on to spend their time and money in neighboring East Burke, a recreation hub in the Northeast Kingdom.

Now, community boosters are working with the Kingdom Trails bicycle network to steer some of those visitors back, hoping a greater infusion of tourist dollars will help revive Lyndonville, the town’s historic shopping area.

A new path would make it easier for bicyclists to reach the town center without getting back into their cars. And residents such as retired art teacher Martha Elmes are trying to make the downtown more appealing for those visitors by creating public art and pushing for sidewalk improvements.

“We have a lot of potential,” said Elmes, who recently helped start a local group called Lyndon Downtown Revitalization. She used grants to commission a large mural and start a downtown art gallery.

“We are going to link to the whole vibe” of the trail network, she added.

Both Burke and Lyndon have benefited from the presence of the Burke Mountain Resort ski area, which has been drawing visitors for more than a century. Over

the past three decades, Kingdom Trails, a 100-mile network of bicycle routes, has drawn thousands of visitors to the Northeast Kingdom and fueled the growth of restaurants, campgrounds and other amenities near its trails in East Burke, Lyndon, East Haven and Kirby.

The trail network, based in East Burke, has built relationships with more than 100 private landowners who allow

WE’D ALL LOVE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE VIBRANCY. WE’VE GOT RECREATION UP HERE, AND WE’RE NOT CAPITALIZING ON IT.

LORALEE TESTER

bikers on their property. Riders can buy trail passes, which the organization calls memberships, that are good for anywhere from one day to a year.

Spreading out the positive economic impact of visits by the network’s 22,000 members is a strategic priority for Kingdom Trails. About five years ago,

conflicts between bikers and homeowners led some property owners to revoke access to their land. Around the same time, the nonprofit trails group commissioned a study of the area’s capacity to accommodate the popular attraction and identified ways of better distributing bicyclists on the trail network and adding more parking areas.

Kingdom Trails has since helped pay for the creation of the 103-acre Burke Town Forest and started a grant program for outdoor recreation-related projects in neighboring towns. The nonprofit also purchased two historic buildings in East Burke that it plans to use as o ces and sta housing.

Last summer, it finished a three-mile loop around the privately owned Kingdom Campground in Lyndonville, where many bikers stay. This year, it’s working on a two-mile loop to help riders get from the campground to downtown.

Lyndon is preparing for a potential influx of visitors. It’s spending $1 million from grants and other funding to spruce up its 1872 Sanborn Covered Bridge over the Passumpsic River, where bicyclists from the trails network will roll into town.

Martha Elmes

Resignations Signal Change Is Coming to the Vermont Senate

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Sen. Brian Campion (D-Bennington) and Sen. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) have announced they are not seeking reelection, ensuring at least five of the Dems on the 30-member body won’t return in the next session.

The departures signal another shift in the legislative landscape, one coming on the heels of a pandemic-inspired exodus of one-third of lawmakers just two years ago.

Kitchel, 78, a farm girl from Danville who rose through the ranks of state government to become one of the most powerful members of the Senate, is retiring after 20 years in office. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee since 2011, the Democrat has wielded significant influence over which legislative initiatives get the green light and which are curtailed for lack of funding.

She demonstrated a tireless work ethic during budget battles. Her longtime colleagues noted her sharp, dry wit and empathy. Before she became a legislator, Kitchel served as secretary of the Agency of Human Services under then-governor Howard Dean.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) said Kitchel’s knowledge about state government and the legislative processes is so deep that he would often answer questions with a simple “Ask Jane.”

“I owe a great deal of gratitude to the many people who helped and supported me along the way,” Kitchel said. “Leaving office was a difficult decision, but the time has come.”

Campion announced on Monday that he will not seek reelection after serving in Montpelier for 14 years. He’d recently voted to support Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s choice for secretary of education, Zoie Saunders. That put him at odds with most of the other members of his party, who said the former charter school executive lacked sufficient experience for the job.

Campion chaired the Senate Education Committee, which held a hearing on Saunders’ appointment. He sided with two Republican committee members in a 3-2

vote that advanced her to the full Senate. In unusually blunt remarks on the Senate floor, he expressed sadness at the animosity her appointment had generated. After the full Senate declined to support her, Scott named her interim secretary, which requires no Senate approval.

“This has been an incredibly contentious few weeks … and personally I have never witnessed, in my 14 years in the building, character attacks toward what I consider a very, very good person,” Campion said.

Campion was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 before moving to the Senate in 2014. Serving as a legislator has been “the honor of my life,” he wrote in a statement.

Sen. Bobby Starr (D-Orleans), 81, and Sen. Dick McCormack (D-Windsor), 76, had previously announced they were not planning to run for reelection. Grand Isle Democrat Dick Mazza, 84, retired in April after 40 years in the chamber because he has cancer.

On Tuesday, Gov. Scott appointed Andy Julow, a North Hero economic development official, to complete Mazza’s term. Julow, 46, who has unsuccessfully run for the Vermont House of Representatives, previously owned a computer software business focused on the insurance industry. He is now the executive director of the Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation, which supports business on the islands.

His appointment takes effect immediately and means the Democrat will have the chance to vote on whether to override vetoes by Scott when lawmakers reconvene on June 17.

He told Seven Days he hasn’t yet decided how he’d vote on any possible override attempts, nor on whether or not he’ll run for the seat, which is, like all legislative seats in Vermont, up for election this fall. The filing deadline for major party primaries is May 30. He said he must decide whether serving in Montpelier is a good fit for him.

“It’s a lifestyle decision,” he said. ➆

Sen. Brian Campion

Sen. Jane Kitchel

KEVIN MCCALLUM

Laser

Neuromodulators

Dermal

Biostimulators

Facial

Laser

Microneedling

Facials

Diamond

BUSINESS Plan to Sort Vermont’s Mail in Connecticut Is Suspended

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

The U.S. Postal Service has suspended its plan to relocate Vermont’s mail sorting to Connecticut — a move that many feared would only worsen delays in a troubled system.

“I am encouraged USPS listened to the concerns we raised from our constituents, and finally paused these misguided facility reviews,” Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said in a prepared statement after the suspension was announced last week. “I will keep fighting to improve mail delivery in Vermont, which has been terribly deteriorated,” Welch added.

The postal service had proposed reorganizing its mail sorting hubs in Essex Junction and White River Junction. Local letters mailed in Vermont would have been diverted for sorting in Hartford, Conn., 230 miles south of Burlington; some were already showing up at Vermont destinations with Hartford postmarks. The postal service intended to consolidate hundreds of distribution locations into about 60 large centers around the country.

The postal service has been looking to cut costs. It hasn’t been able to cover its expenses for more than 15 years, mostly because of declining demand for first-class mail, its most profitable product.

Long before the consolidation plan was announced, members of Congress were vowing to take action to improve service, particularly in rural areas, where complaints about missing and late mail are legion.

“It made absolutely no sense to me on many levels, climate change being one of them,” said Joseph Gainza, a Marshfield activist who hosts “Gathering Peace,” a social justice program on WGDR radio. “If you’re going to be delivering mail down to Hartford and bringing it all the way back up to Vermont by truck, your carbon footprint gets larger.”

In April, Welch and 25 other members of Congress from both sides of the aisle sent Postmaster General Louis DeJoy a letter urging him to reconsider. Steve Hutkins, who runs a website called Save the Post Office, said he thinks their letter influenced DeJoy’s decision to halt the consolidation. ➆

Path to Prosperity?

A new park there will serve as a small welcome center.

The town is moving its farmers market, which was relocated to a Lyndonville side street in recent years, back to a more visible location, Bandstand Park. The local public library acquired electric bikes that can be checked out, and it furnishes bicycle tools so visitors can do quick repairs right in the yard. Also: This summer, the 55-year-old Burklyn Arts Council is moving its summer craft fair from Bandstand Park to the Wildflower Inn on picturesque Darling Hill Road, a favorite spot for cyclists. The event will be held on July 1 — Canada Day — when riders from north of the border traditionally converge on the trails.

Elmes’ group is hoping to create a state-designated downtown area in Lyndonville, which would make more grant funding available for road and sidewalk improvements.

“I feel like it’s an uphill battle sometimes, but it’s a worthy battle,” she said. “I think everyone in Lyndon recognizes the importance of biking and recreation to our community.”

The new collaboration is more than an effort to help Lyndon thrive. It’s part of a larger plan to spread out visitors so that they don’t overwhelm Burke, said Elise Lawson, chair of the Kingdom Trails board and a landowner whose property is host to some of the bicycle trails.

“It’s a win-win to bring riders into Lyndonville to use the restaurants and grocery stores and the farmers market,” Lawson said.

While many small Vermont towns have trouble sustaining even one general store, East Burke has two and is home to a number of restaurants and a busy coffee shop. In recent years, vacation rentals have sprouted up around town. Local roads are crowded at peak times of ski, foliage and biking seasons. While Caledonia County has a median home sales price of $209,000, Burke’s is $309,000, according to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency.

Lyndon, in contrast, has seen its downtown fade as fast-food places, chain drugstores and big-box stores have proliferated about a mile away, just off Interstate 91. The town of about 5,700 has been hit hard by the gradual withdrawal of the former Lyndon State College, a dwindling institution that is now part of Vermont State University. A large machine tool manufacturer, Kennametal, closed its downtown plant in 2014. The investorowned Bag Balm, which was founded in 1899, now has just seven employees in Lyndon.

The town’s median household income is about $53,000, on par with the county’s and well below the state average. At $62,800, Burke’s median income is much closer to Vermont’s, according to the VHFA.

Frustrated locals say Lyndon has long lacked a planning director who would be tasked with carrying out the recommendations in a municipal plan adopted in 2020 and a downtown master plan completed last year.

“We’d all love to see a little more vibrancy,” said Loralee Tester, who was hired in April as the executive director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve got recreation up here, and we’re not capitalizing on it.”

Kingdom Trails is navigating some obstacles. Local bikers have a multitude of choices, including Québec’s Route Verte, one of the longest posted cycling networks in North America. The newly completed Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is a straight shot across northern Vermont, and even closer to home, the state- and federally funded NEK Gravel project features a website with dozens of local routes on back roads.

Kingdom Trails’ membership numbers dropped steeply during the pandemic — the organization declined to say how much — and haven’t recovered. That’s because in 2019, about 40 percent of the network’s visitors were from Québec, executive director Abby Long said. Since the pandemic temporarily closed the border to them, Québec residents now make up just 15 percent of visits. Long doesn’t know if that number will ever rebound

“They built a lot of trail networks up there, and the exchange rate is killing them, we’ve been told,” Long said. Membership numbers overall have risen 6 percent since last year, but Long said the goal isn’t simply more visitors.

“We want people to fall in love with not just the trails but our region, and want them to come back year after year, and maybe eventually make this their home,” Long said.

Locals in Lyndon — which has its own tiny municipal ski area, operated by the 90-year-old Lyndon Outing Club — see hope in St. Johnsbury, where strong support from arts and recreation groups has spurred investment in the oncedormant downtown.

Gravel cyclist and primary care physician Deborah Harrigan discovered Kingdom Trails when attending a women’s mountain bike weekend in Burke a few years before the pandemic. She likes the area’s geology, which provides dirt trails with fewer of the roots and rocks so common in most of northern New England. And she was wowed by Darling Ridge, with its 360-degree views.

“I didn’t know a place could be so beautiful,” she said.

To be nearer to the trails, Harrigan took a job with Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury. She now splits her time between coastal New Hampshire, where her husband and son live, and a condo in the Northeast Kingdom. ➆

FEEDback

others never get their fair share.” Who decides that those who have much have more than their fair share? If they have worked for and earned it, it is rightfully theirs. Those who don’t have their fair share perhaps haven’t toiled to achieve it.

Planting the thought in those not willing to work — that they deserve a share from those who worked — seems to be growing roots and taking hold. I object to this kind of thinking, not because of my standing in life. I am certainly not in the category of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who rails against the rich while he himself has never held a regular job and owns three homes, one of which he refers to as a camp. What I have, I earned, and don’t tell me I need to share it with anyone except as I choose to do so. Forced volunteerism is growing, and it stinks.

Joyce Coutu ESSEX JUNCTION

LIBRARY SHOULD BE PEACEFUL

[Re “Aggressive Behavior, Increased Drug Use at Burlington’s Downtown Library Prompt Calls for Help,” May 1]: Burlington’s drug addiction and

mental health crisis has descended into yet another public place where people should be calm and peaceful: Fletcher Free Library.

To protect the public good, this should not be tolerated, let alone condoned. Under no circumstances, as has been suggested, should the library set aside a room where patrons with problems “could meet with social workers and health care providers.”

Yes, the library should be welcoming to all. Until recently, the vast majority of patrons respected the social contract that a library is a friendly, safe and respectful place. Today, however, staff and visitors are often confronted by aggressive, manic and threatening behavior. And even physical abuse.

Fletcher Free Library’s predicament is just another hot spot in Vermont’s continuing battle with the dire effects of homelessness (200 to 300 unhoused alone in the Burlington area) that won’t be fixed until there is a long-term solution to illegal drug use and untreated mental disorders.

As public health experts and some states, such as California, are finally

realizing, the problem will only worsen until governments commit to a comprehensive solution. In Vermont, this includes reopening a statewide campus with extended-stay, humane-treatment facilities for uncontrollable addictions and severe mental disabilities.

Jack Scully COLCHESTER

ANOTHER LOOK AT RAM HINSDALE

The legislature erred in [“Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaint Against Ram Hinsdale,” April 11, online]. Last year’s Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone Act, sponsored by Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, is a win-win for her. Ram Hinsdale knows that the University of Vermont is increasing enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs. The act aids Hinsdale Properties to financially benefit from increased student rental housing demands above the approximately 5,000 students renting in Burlington. This benefits her family business. Ram Hinsdale made no statement to encourage UVM to

Memorial Day Weekend at Edgewater Gallery

build more campus housing. Students may easily fill the additional housing spurred by new zoning.

For over 50 years, my family has experienced the breakup of older homes into student rentals. A neighboring singlefamily home is a Hinsdale rental. It used to house three students; now four students have separate rooms. It could be a starter home for a couple. Ram Hinsdale’s Airbnb nearby would be a good rental for grad students.

Ram Hinsdale held a listening session on Zoom in 2022 about the housing crisis. I spoke about living in an area being taken over by student rentals. She quickly muted me in front of many legislators who did not defend my right to speak.

I called Sen. Phil Baruth later, concerned about her expected appointment as chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. My concern was the perception of a conflict of interest for the owner of a rental property company chairing a housing committee.

Keith Pillsbury BURLINGTON

BORDERS & BOUNDARIES

RORY JACKSON ALEXIS SERIO

Homer Wells, enjoy coffee

brunch fare.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Nadine Berrini

MARCH 3, 1973-MAY 10, 2024 WATERBURY CENTER, VT.

Nadine Berrini died on May 10, 2024, in Waterbury Center, Vt., at age 51. Picture her at a table she built, in a home she designed, with a glass of Bordeaux wine in one hand, a cracker with goat cheese in the other. She has a point to make, so she’s talking and gesturing a little broadly and the wine is threatening to spill. Sitting across from her is her husband, or one of her beloved family members or a friend. ere are so many of us, friends and family, who sat at her table. Her parents met hitchhiking at a Massachusetts Turnpike on-ramp. Her father had been dropped off by a police officer after being picked up for attempting the same activity in a neighboring town. Her mother was returning to ballet school. Any suggestion that ties Nadine’s lifelong skepticism of authority and obsession with travel to her origin story is both implausible and probably true.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

dreams: to design and build a house, her home, and to flee the winter months to warmer climes. She got a job with the Vermont Land Trust, where she would work for the next 17 years. ere she met her husband, Chris Moore, who aided and abetted her in home building, winter fleeing and the leisurely enjoyment of meals. She was proud of her Italian heritage and treasured her visits to southern Europe, especially Italy and Greece, where she felt very much at home. She loved snorkeling and clear water and rocky beaches.

Accompanied by a new-wave soundtrack, she grew up in western Massachusetts, within the sphere of influence of the five colleges’ radio stations and their ambient activism. at she convinced her high school to discontinue the tradition of having female graduates wear pink graduation gowns is a matter of record. e incident with the flag on the town common is now only a matter of conjecture.

She majored in labor studies at the University of Massachusetts while working the evening shift in a gas station. She volunteered at the college feminist newsletter, worked on political and labor campaigns, marched and read and argued. After being tear-gassed one too many times, she focused on less stressful pursuits. She obtained a master’s degree in creative writing and spent a summer abroad in Cambridge, England, reading Joyce’s Ulysses In 2007 she came to Vermont with two

e home was built, slowly, over a decade. It sits on a hill, surrounded by gardens she created. Nadine’s family and friends would come to be with her, and they filled the home with talk and gestures, the preparation of meals, and the eating of so much food, and they would hug and part and promise to do it again.

In colder months the home would sit quiet while Nadine and Chris would trek through the Mediterranean or across the American South and West. Years filled in this way, and not enough of them.

Nadine was predeceased by her birth father, James Berrini.

In addition to her husband, Nadine’s loved ones include her parents, Patricia and Simon James; sister Gwen D’Angelo and Gwen’s husband, Michael, and their children, Bowie and Luna; sister Angela James and Angela’s fiancé, Kevin Gardiner; and numerous extended family members. She also leaves behind enough close friends to fill several large Italian villas. She wished she could have taken them all on a trip.

In lieu of flowers, please tell a friend or family member that you love them. Please also consider a contribution to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Rd., Barre, VT 05641, or to the hospice organization in your area.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. If you would like email updates as they become available, please sign up at nadinememorial.com.

Henry Francis Tutt

OCTOBER 21, 1941MAY 10, 2024

WEATHERSFIELD, VT.

Henry Francis Tutt, age 82, of Weathersfield, Vt., was called to eternal rest on May 10, 2024, in Lebanon, N.H.

Joseph J. LaCroix Jr.

JUNE 26, 1952-MAY 8, 2024 MILTON, VT.

Joseph J. LaCroix Jr., affectionately known as “Joey,” departed this world on May 8, 2024, surrounded by the love of his family, after a courageous battle with Huntington’s disease, a testament to his extraordinary courage and resilience. He graced this world on June 26, 1952, and his journey was one filled with love, passion and remarkable achievements.

Joe’s tenure at IBM was marked by unwavering dedication and a profound sense of professionalism. As a worker, he not only excelled in his role but also touched the lives of his colleagues with his kindness and commitment. Beyond the confines of his profession, Joe found fulfillment as a volunteer firefighter in Milton, where he designed and engineered the utility 1 truck. He embodied the wspirit of selflessness in service to his community. His interests were as diverse as they were enriching; from his love for photography to his deep connection with nature and his cherished Saint Bernards, Joe found joy in every moment.

great-grandfather. His family was his anchor, and he took immense joy in sharing his wisdom and passions with each generation.

Joe leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness that will continue to inspire all who were touched by his presence. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Linda Godin LaCroix, and his children, Sean LaCroix and his partner, Brenda; Scott LaCroix and his wife, Angelina; Chad LaCroix and his wife, Michelle; and stepson Henry Jerome and his partner, Sheri. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Chelsea, Avery, Kiley, Dartanyon, Marlee, Sam, Braden and Colby; six greatgrandchildren; siblings Raymond, Donald, Leonard, Timothy and Joann; many nieces and nephews; and brothers-in-law, Paul Godin and Jim Godin. He is now reunited with his parents, Fabia and Joseph J. LaCroix Sr., and siblings Reggie, Jerry, Peggy and Pauline, in eternal peace.

A skilled woodworker, Joe handcrafted furniture, intricate clocks and ornaments, each piece a testament to his creativity and passion. He relished finding outdoor projects to do with his tractor, a symbol of his love for both nature and handson work. Yet, amid his achievements, Joe’s greatest pride was reserved for his family. His love knew no bounds as he embraced his role as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and

A visitation to celebrate Joe’s remarkable life was held on May 18, 2024, at Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton, Vt. is gathering provided an opportunity for family and friends to come together and honor the memory of Joseph J. LaCroix, a beacon of light whose legacy will endure in the hearts of all who knew him. e family would like to thank the University of Vermont Home Health & Hospice team, especially Sarah, Jean, Stephanie and Joan, for all their loving care and support.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.

Born on October 21, 1941, in Meredith, N.H., Henry was a product of Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., and he rendered honorable service to the U.S. Navy as a submariner from 1959 until 1967.

owner and driver of the No. 55 stock car.

In his professional endeavors, Henry was a respected businessman, having cofounded Valley Carpet & Tile in Springfield, Vt. His craftsmanship in custom flooring and tile installation was unparalleled, and his zeal for motorsports was evident as the respected

e loss of Henry will be profoundly felt by his beloved spouse, Cheryl Card Tutt; sons, Michael John Tutt (Freda Tutt) and Christopher Alan Tutt (Julie Tutt); sister Shirleen French; cherished grandchildren, Jordan Tutt, Savannah Tutt, Christopher Tutt Jr. and Jon Passaretti; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him

in death were his father, Delmar Tutt; mother, Shirley Anderson; brother, Robert Tutt; and sister Roberta Simmons.

A man of varied interests, Henry relished the thrill of NASCAR, the taste of fine craft beers and the joy of country line dancing. His faith was an integral part of his life as a member of the Ascutney Union Church in Ascutney, Vt.

A memorial service to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Henry Francis Tutt will be held on a date to be announced. His unwavering commitment to his family, his tenacious spirit and his lifelong passions have left an indelible mark on those who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy is one of love, perseverance and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

AUGUST 2, 1954APRIL 23, 2024

SHELBURNE, VT.

With profound sadness and grief, we share that Sally Ginsberg Tannen died from lung cancer at the age of 69. Sally was the warmest, kindest and most universally beloved person we knew. We are devastated that she left us too soon and grateful we were able to spend her final days holding her hands and telling her how much we loved her.

She leaves behind her husband, Arnie; sister, Anne; children, Michael, Rob, Jon and Elizabeth; and grandchildren, Grace, Stella, Nora, Cedar, Shepard, Ralph and Shirley.

Until recently, Sally was a lifelong New Yorker: She grew up in a Midtown East apartment with Anne and parents Susan and Stephen; their cousins, Mary and Nina, who happened to be the same age, lived next door. According to Mary, Sally was “the nicest of us four — the warmest and shiniest.” She and Anne attended the (nowshuttered) New Lincoln School, where she was introduced to the values of progressive education that shaped her almost-50-year career in the field.

Sally knew from an early age that she wanted to teach and received her master’s in early childhood from Bank Street College of Education in New York after majoring

in English at Washington University in St. Louis. Despite her deceptively mild demeanor, she had a lifelong passion for adventure. During college she led groups of young people on hiking and biking tours through the Alps, and her favorite part of school was the time she spent living with a family in rural England. During the 43 years she and Arnie were married, they enjoyed abundant travel together.

In her mid-twenties, while teaching first grade at Village Community School, lifelong friends of her parents — Margie and Peter Rogatz — set her up on a blind date with our dad, Arnie, recently widowed and the father of three young boys. A year later, they were married. By all accounts, everyone who knew Sally thought it was a crazy undertaking and that if anyone could handle it, it was her. They were right about both. A few years later, they had a daughter. Sally brought life, light and nurturing to the family.

So that she could work part time and spend more of her days being a mom, she stepped back from teaching and pivoted to admissions, a role she held at several downtown schools before stepping into a new challenge as director of the Parenting Center at the 92nd Street Y, where she stayed for 20 years and from where she eventually (mostly) retired. She hosted podcasts such as “You Got This” and “Ask Sally Tannen,” dispensing advice on all areas of parenting. Sally was known as a “legend” and “the baby guru” at the Y. Her favorite activity was running a regular drop-in group for new moms, who marveled at her ability to calm the fussiest of babies. (They reluctantly obeyed her only rule: no hot coffee near the babies!) She also loved leading a class on grandparenting and continued to do so virtually as recently as last month.

Sally was a true host: She expressed her love through

physical affection and food, traits she shared with her husband. Together, they loved to have family and friends over for holidays and dinners and eat at their favorite restaurants (for years, every Friday evening at the Gramercy Tavern bar). She had the ability to prepare restaurant-quality food without recipes or apparent effort and to make everyone who crossed her path feel warmly welcomed.

In 2021, she and Arnie moved from New York City to Shelburne, Vt., to pursue their retirement dream of leaving “the city” and enjoying “the country.” There, Sally found another dream job arranging flowers at the Inn at Shelburne Farms. She delighted in cultivating a home flower and vegetable garden, enjoying Vermont’s spectacular scenery, building community with new neighbors and friends, and — most of all — hosting her seven grandchildren.

Sally was most devoted to her role as grandmother, or “Gigi.” From bath time to making Play-Doh to reading and more reading, she did everything she could to be a playmate and caretaker for the little ones whom she adored and who adored her back. Her love for literature fostered the imaginations of her grandchildren, and for that we will be forever grateful. We wish more than anything that she could have had more time with them.

Arnie speaks of Sally (his “bride”) as the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and none of us expected him to outlive her. It rocked our world when she received a diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer in December 2022; we’re fortunate that she stayed mostly healthy and free from the cancer’s effects until her last weeks.

We welcome your warm wishes and thoughts as we grieve this terrible loss. If you want to make a donation in Sally’s name, Arnie invites you to do so to the Cancer Center at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Rodgers

1944-2024

We invite family and friends to celebrate the life of Robert Rodgers on Friday, May 24, 1:30 p.m., at his home at 2284 South Street in New Haven. Come taste some of his favorite food and see the fruits of his work: building projects, artistic and scholarly endeavors, and perhaps a sip of his dandelion wine.

Joe Moore

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE

FRIDAY, MAY 24

All are invited to a celebration of life service for Joe Moore on Friday, May 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Church (top of Church Street), 152 Pearl St., Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Vermont Blues Society, 1696 Maple St., Waltham, VT 05491, or online at vermontbluessociety.org.

Donations in Joe’s name will be used to aid in the formation of the Joe Moore Music for Youth Scholarship Fund, dedicated to supporting musical development of youth.

Lolita Anger-Leggett

1925-2024

A mass of Christian burial for Lolita Anger-Leggett, 98, who passed away peacefully on January 4, 2024, will be celebrated on Friday, May 24, 11 a.m., at Christ the King Church in Burlington. Burial will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Winooski. Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Service.

Sally Ginsberg Tannen

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Samuel “Sam” James Hill

OCTOBER 26, 1990MAY 13, 2024 ESSEX, VT.

Samuel “Sam” James Hill, age 33, passed away on May 13, 2024, at his home in Essex, Vt.

Sam was born to Ann Gookin Hill and Michael “Mike” Hill of Hinesburg, Vt., on October 26, 1990. With his older brother, Nathan “Nate” Hill, Sam grew up playing in the woods and fields of Hinesburg. Sam relished looking for wildlife in the woods around his childhood home; in particular, he had a knack for tracking down salamanders in a nearby stream. From a young age, Sam was dear to friends and family for his bright humor, sensitivity, kindness and intuitiveness.

In his younger years, Sam enjoyed skiing with family and friends and could often be found at Bolton Valley or Sugarbush. Sam was also an active soccer player and represented many teams, from Hinesburg Rec to Nordic Spirit Soccer to Champlain Valley Union High School’s JV team. In

school, Sam was always friendly and known to classmates and teachers for his goofy, fun personality, even if it got in the way of the lesson plan.

In 2009, Sam left Hinesburg to go to Keene State College, where he created a close-knit friend group that has kept in touch over the years through games and shared adventures, despite decades and time zones between them.

After his graduation in 2013, Sam returned to the greater Burlington, Vt., area and continued to make friends and touch lives. With each new job, Sam made a new best friend and brought them along for his next chapter, even after he moved on to the next job. While living in Burlington in his twenties, Sam could often be found relaxing with friends at ree Needs.

In 2014, he met the love of his life, Michael “Mike” Schiffer, and together they enjoyed 10 years of partnership and lived with their dogs, Charlie and Breakfast.

Sam was a fiercely loyal and protective friend who cared deeply for his born and chosen families. He would go along with the plan even if he didn’t want to. When childhood best friend eresa “Tess” Keller begged Sam to sign up for adult kickball one spring, Sam agreed. As luck would have it, they were placed on a team full of wonderful people who became dear friends. Together with Sam, the group celebrated weddings, game nights, holidays, trips and movie

nights often over the next nine years.

Sam’s large extended family was a constant support to him over his life: summer visits to his grandmother Barb’s house on Cape Cod, Thanksgivings spent with his Papa and Grandma in Nashua, N.H., the Hill family Christmas parties in the “boiler room” at his uncle and aunt’s home in Milton, and Boxing Day brunch at his uncle and aunt’s home in Essex.

Sam is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Lyman and Barbara Hill; maternal grandfather, Daniel Gookin; uncles Craig Hill and Ernest Gratton; aunt Karen Dattilio; and cousin Ryan Vetters.

Sam is survived by his parents, Ann and Mike Hill, of Hinesburg; brother, Nathan Hill, of Boston, Mass.; partner, Michael Schiffer, of Essex; grandmother Carol Gookin of Nashua, N.H.; Dan and eresa Gookin of Essex and their children, Jacob and Mila; Christopher Gookin and Amy Kimball and their son, Emmett, of Georgia; Judy Hill and Kathy Gratton of South Burlington; cousin Sara Bell and family of Bolton, Conn.; cousin Ernest Gratton and family of St. Albans; Rod and Elizabeth Hill of Milton; Eric and Kim Hill of Williston; and cousin Bryce Lambert and family of Fairfax.

ere will be a celebration of life on Saturday, May 25, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Eagles Club, 1233 Shelburne Rd., South Burlington, VT, and a small private ceremony at a later date to bury his ashes.

Paul R. Philbrook

NOVEMBER 6, 1931MARCH 3, 2024 VENICE, FLA.

Paul R. Philbrook, born on November 6, 1931, in Norwich, Vt., peacefully passed away on March 3, 2024. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Sarah Cobb Philbrook. Paul’s life was marked by remarkable service and achievements. He bravely served in the Korean War as a radio operator in the U.S. ASA branch, a chapter of his life that he rarely discussed. Paul pursued his education diligently, earning a master’s degree from Indiana University following his undergraduate studies at Indiana State Teachers College.

For three decades, Paul dedicated his career to the State of Vermont, holding numerous prestigious positions. He served as commissioner of the State Police in the Department of Public Safety; commissioner of the Department of Employment Security, director of Judicial Administrative Services; and commissioner of the Department of Social Welfare, where he started his career

Juliet Maria Weed

MAY 20, 1960-APRIL 27, 2024 BRANFORD, CONN.

Juliet Maria Weed of Branford died on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. She passed peacefully after years of health battles.

She was born on May 20, 1960, in New Haven, Conn., a daughter of Joan Northrop Weed of Charlotte, Vt., and the late Richard L. Weed. She was a 1979 graduate of Branford High School and attended Johnson & Wales University. She worked as a baker for Friends and Company until retiring.

with various positions. He also held several interim jobs prior to his retirement.

In his leisure time, Paul enjoyed sailing and cycling, indulged his passion for reading mysteries and biographies, and always kept abreast of current events through the daily newspaper. He explored the world alongside his beloved wife, Sarah. Together, they traveled to all 50 states and over 25 foreign countries, creating cherished memories along the way.

Paul’s commitment to community extended beyond his professional life. Together with Sarah, he volunteered for C.I.D.E.R. in South Hero, Vt., offering over 288 transportation rides to neighbors in need. After currently resided. Paul is survived by his daughter, Sherry; his son Alan and his wife; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Contributions can be made to C.I.D.E.R., PO Box 13, South Hero, VT (cidervt.org). For further information and to leave contact details for Paul’s future celebration of life to be held in Vermont, please email r5links@comcast.net. e obituary can also be viewed on legacy.com, where memories and condolences can be shared in honor of Paul’s life.

Breen, Franny Weed, Georgia Weed and Lilah Weed and nephew Jack Breen held a special place in her heart. Our entire family wishes to extend deep gratitude to Karla Erickson, whose friendship and kindness will always be remembered. Julie loved baking and cooking shows, and she volunteered at Branford’s food shelf lunch when she was able. Please consider donating to Feeding America or the food bank of your choice.

A celebration of

at a later date to be announced. Arrangements

Besides her mother, Juliet is survived by her brother, Geoffrey Weed, of Chicago, Ill., and her sister, Janet W. Breen, of Burlington, Vt. Nieces Hannah Breen, Molly

Juliet’s life will be held

are in the care of the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home of Branford.

Robert N. Essman

FEBRUARY 6, 1937MAY 1, 2024

SHELBURNE, VT.

Robert N. Essman, 87, died of natural causes on May 1, 2024, at home in Shelburne, Vt.

Want to memorialize a loved one?

Bob hailed from St. Louis, Mo., the youngest of three brothers. He earned a BFA degree at the University of Iowa, took his credentials to New York City and landed at Life magazine in 1962 as art assistant, then art director. He produced Life layouts for Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965, the Beatles in 1968, and the “To the Moon and Back” lunar landing in 1969, among others. He was art director at Business Week, then founding art director for People magazine from 1974 to 1982. He designed many logos, including the 1976 New York City Bicentennial logo that adorned posters, flags and memorabilia. He was active in organizations including the League for the Hard of Hearing, the Players, the Dutch Treat Club and the Overseas Press Club.

After retiring from People, Bob moved to California, then Vermont, to be closer to his niece’s family. He stayed active as designer of the Dutch Treat Club Yearbook, the Time Life Alumni Society newsletter, and posters and flyers for various organizations. Bob volunteered for the Vermont Mozart Festival, Vermont Gay Social Alternatives, the Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

Bob’s survivors include his beloved grandnephews, Adam and Zac Franz, and grandniece Janet Franz (Paul); nephews, Richard Essman (Vicki) and Douglas Essman; nieces, Barbara Essman and Nicole Khalfadir (Kibir); and grandnieces Elizabeth Ogden (J.C.) and Natalie Berich (Alex). He is predeceased by his brothers, Earl and Noel, and parents, Paul and Rose Essman. Bob leaves behind many friends in Vermont, New York, California and beyond.

A celebration of life will be held on June 1, 2024, 11 a.m., at Wright House, 75 Harrington Ave., Shelburne. All are welcome. Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to Center for Hearing and Communication, 50 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

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Share your loved one’s story with the local community in Lifelines.

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The Big To-Do

Can’t-miss summer events in Vermont

BY SEVEN DAYS STAFF

Fourteen weeks separate Memorial Day and Labor Day, the uno cial start and end of summer, respectively. That sounds like a lot of time, but don’t be fooled: Summer will go by in a flash. It always does.

Best, then, to take full advantage and pack your days with everything that makes summer in Vermont great: creemees, swimming holes, cookouts and, of course, summer fairs, festivals, concerts and

GARLIC TOWN USA

Saturday, August 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Bennington. $7-35. garlictownusa.com

The safest place in the world from vampires is Garlic Town USA, the annual celebration of all things allium in Bennington’s downtown. Founded in 1995 as a small market called the Garlic and Herb Festival, this stinky shindig has since ballooned into a world-renowned bulbous blowout that draws nearly 10,000 patrons every Labor Day weekend.

The centerpiece of every Garlic Town USA is the gigantic growers’ market, where vendors from across the region gather to sell their savory stock. This includes garlic in every variety under the sun, both fresh and twisted into dried wreaths and garlands; every garlic-flavored treat you can imagine (and some you can’t), from popcorn to bread to ice cream to hot sauce; and crafty creations such as candles, woodwork and décor for the garden.

Rounding out the festivities are activities for the kids, from magic shows to crafts at Bennington Museum; live tunes from

local acts; and interactive demonstrations (last year’s lineup included master classes in making salad dressing and demystifying garlic ice cream). And you can sample all the eats and libations a body could want, from crab cakes and fried pickles to garlic margaritas and Bloody Marys for the grown-ups. Breath mints not included.

EMILY HAMILTON

ALSO TRY…

Vermont Open Farm Week: If you’ve ever wanted to milk a cow or drive a tractor, this 10th annual hands-on celebration of Vermont agriculture is for you. August 4 to 11, various locations. Prices TBA. diginvt.com

BBQ & Brew: e state’s best brewers and barbecue chefs — and an AC/DC tribute band — converge for a weekend of artery-clogging fun. June 22 and 23, Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland. $10-15; free for kids 12 and under. bbqandbrewvt.com

Killington Wine Festival: Class it up with world-famous wine and gourmet food in the scenic splendor of the Green Mountains. July 19 and 20, various locations, Killington. $30-220. killingtonpico.org

other events that keep us breezin’ through the season.

Vermont’s summer calendar is loaded with fun fare for fans of sports, music, food, thrill rides and just about anything else you can think of. Don’t believe us?

There’s a whole festival devoted to garlic.

Read on for that and more summer highlights you won’t want to miss. ➆

SPORTS

ELEVATE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL

Friday, June 14, to Sunday, June 16, Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center, East Burke. $170-215. elevatemtb.com

Want to pedal faster on a single track, step up your downhill cornering or catch some big air o your knobby tires?

Elevate Mountain Bike Festival o ers three days of bike clinics, group rides, equipment demos and socializing on some of Vermont’s tastiest mountain bike trails — all at an event tailored for women and gender-expansive riders. Why a gender-specific mountain bike fest? Though women currently make up 46 percent of participants in the sport, many mountain biking events still cater predominantly to male riders. In an e ort to shift gears on that paradigm, three local nonprofits — the New England Mountain Bike Association, Kingdom Trails and the Vermont Mountain Bike Association — joined forces in 2023 to launch the first Elevate Mountain Bike Festival. Its aim is to help women and nonbinary cyclists step up their riding skills, build community and foster a lifelong love of the sport, all in a supportive and noncompetitive environment.

Over the weekend event in the Northeast Kingdom, participants of all persuasions and abilities can attend workshops on topics ranging from fixing flats on the trail to doing jumps and drops to maximizing performance with strength training, hydration and nutrition. The ticket price includes three days of coaching, clinics, group rides, meals and ra e entries. Get ready to soar in the saddle!

KEN PICARD

ALSO TRY…

Vermont Green FC: Fútbol is life for this local semipro soccer club with an environmental and social justice mission. Home games from May 25 to July 10 at Virtue Field, Burlington. $8-15; free for kids 5 and under. vermontgreenfc.com

Vermont Lake Monsters: e onetime minor-league franchise is now a collegiate summer-league team. But the gameplay — and antics from mascot Champ — remain top-notch. Home games from May 25 to August 4, Centennial Field, Burlington. $6-17. vermontlakemonsters.com

Missisquoi Paddle-Pedal: Can’t decide whether to bike or kayak? How about both! is community-oriented race combines 6.5 miles of river paddling and a five-mile bike ride. July 13, Davis Park, Richford. $10-30. northernforestcanoetrail.org

Elevate Mountain Bike Festival

A booth at Garlic Town USA

VERMONT RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. $5-30; free for kids under 6. vtgatherings.com

Don your corsets and chain mail, grab your swords and turkey legs, and start practicing your best spells and sonnets now, because the Vermont Renaissance Faire is back in town — er, towne. Pirates, princesses, jesters and jokers of every age find all sorts of medieval merriment over two days of revelry presented by Vermont Gatherings at the Champlain Valley Exposition.

ALSO TRY…

Every installment of this annual festival draws entertainments such as music, dancing, acrobatics, historical demonstrations, an artisan alley of authentic craftspeople and merchants, and samples of mead and cider made all over the state. Last year’s lineup featured the real live jousting of Equus Nobilis; the comedic stylings of the Ladies of Integrity, Aristocracy, Repute, and Society (L.I.A.R.S.); ancient Celtic drumming from Cu Dubh; mischievous antics and stunts by the Pirates of Fortune’s Folly; readings from father-daughter psychic duo Lord Fafnir & Spawn;

OUTDOOR CONCERTS

GRAND POINT NORTH

Thursday, July 25, to Sunday, July 28, Waterfront Park, Burlington. $52-92. grandpointnorth.com

Waitsfield’s own Grace Potter has always been one to remember her roots. Even as the singer-songwriter started finding fame on a national scale — singing onstage with the Rolling Stones and performing duets with the likes of country star Kenny Chesney — she stayed a vital part of the local music scene. There was no better proof than her leadership of the wildly popular Grand Point North festival, an annual showcase of top touring talent mixed with local acts often handpicked by Potter herself.

Fans feared the worst after Grand Point North was canceled in 2020 and failed to return in ensuing years. Potter herself expressed skepticism about whether her fest would come back. But this year, in partnership with Cabot Creamery, she once again hosts a long weekend of top-tier music from the Green Mountains and beyond.

Now framed as a four-day concert series, GPN has a stacked lineup, starting with Seattle indie act the Head

and demonstrations of sword fighting, armor repair, camp cooking and fiber arts from the Brotherhood of the Arrow and Sword. Costumes are far from required, but they sure are fun. Whether you’ve had a tunic handsewn by your local seamstress or just plan to dig your old Lord of the Rings costume out of the closet, the whole family can enjoy hopping back in time for a weekend at the faire.

E.H.

Waterbury Arts Fest: The quaint town of Waterbury transforms into an open-air gallery and street fair at this annual familyfriendly festival. July 12 and 13, downtown Waterbury. Free. waterburyartsfest.com

Festival of Fools: Musicians, acrobats, circus performers and others descend on the Queen City for a raucous street festival featuring more than 100 live performances. August 2 to 4, downtown Burlington. Free. vermontfestivaloffools.com

Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival: Beat the heat with cool new films by first- and second-time filmmakers. August 21 to 25, various locations, Middlebury. $14-143. middfilmfest.org

SUMMER THEATER

DORSET THEATRE FESTIVAL

Friday, June 21, to Saturday, September 7, Dorset Playhouse. $58-198. dorsettheatrefestival.org Summer is show season in Dorset. The Dorset Theatre Festival has been bringing professional summer theater to the southern Vermont hamlet since 1977, catapulting new works to other theaters, even those in New York.

The company kicks off its 2024 run at the historic Dorset Playhouse with the darkly comic, Tony Award-winning Irish tale The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh. Resident playwright Theresa Rebeck directs. Ireland native and Manchester resident Maxine Linehan stars as Maureen, a 40-year-old virgin stuck in her childhood home caring for her housebound mother, Mag (Tony nominee Kristine Nielsen). Then Maureen’s first, and possibly last, shot at love appears.

Cultures clash and hilarity ensues in the festival’s second offering, Native Gardens. Meticulous gardeners feel their chances of winning a horticultural award wilt when neighbors move in next door and plan to plant a native garden. A border dispute erupts, “and no one comes out smelling like a rose when good intentions and bad manners bloom in Karen Zacarias’s brilliant comedy,” according to the festival’s online description.

and the Heart on Thursday, July 25. Athens, Ga., singersongwriter Phosphorescent opens the show. Friday, July 26, features psychedelic rockers the Flaming Lips performing their 2002 smash hit album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in its entirety.

Potter takes center stage for the weekend, headlining both Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28. Saturday’s support acts include Ohio singer-songwriter Michael Marcagi, Boston’s Copilot and a strong Vermont contingent: folk singer Henry Jamison, singer-songwriter Sarah King and rockers the Bubs. Sunday’s openers are Nashville roots rocker Anderson East and another full slate of Vermont musicians, including soul outfit Acqua Mossa, blues act All Night Boogie Band and singer-songwriters Ali McGuirk and Marcie Hernandez.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

ALSO TRY…

Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum: Big-name acts such as Greensky Bluegrass, Guster and Lake Street Dive headline this summer-long series on the scenic AF Shelburne Museum lawn. Season begins June 13, Shelburne Museum. Prices vary. highergroundmusic.com

Maple Roots Festival: Founded in 2021, this down-home fest is a music locavore’s paradise, featuring Vermont favorites in jazz, folk, rock and more. July 27, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier. Free; $25 parking fee per car. maplerootsfest.com

Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots: Genre legends such as the Jerry Douglas Band and the Travelin’ McCourys pick and grin alongside the next generation of bluegrass stars, including Vermont’s Carling & Will. August 15 to 18, Hunter Park, Manchester Center. $30-400. greenmountainbluegrass.com

Veteran actor Kelly McAndrew returns to the Dorset stage to star as Vivian Vance in Kim Powers’ one-woman comedy Sidekicked. The entire play is set in Vance’s Hollywood dressing room as she prepares to play Lucille Ball’s sidekick, Ethel Mertz, for the last time. Jackson Gay directs.

Closing the season is the world premiere of Jessica Provenz’s suspenseful comedy True Art According to New Play Exchange, the plot concerns an art history major who takes a job at a prominent museum and “finds herself swimming with sharks masked as art curators, directors, boards, and dealers.” Michelle Joyner directs. Casts for True Art and Native Gardens have not yet been announced.

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

ALSO TRY…

Weston Theater: This beloved company has been bringing professional theater to Windsor County for more than 85 years. Season begins June 12, Weston Playhouse. $25-79. westontheater.org

Vermont Theatre Festival: Founded by Bill Blachly and Ann O’Brien in 1979, the spunky and funky Unadilla Theatre is Vermont’s quintessential theater experience. Blachly turned 100 in April. Season begins June 27, Unadilla Theatre, Marshfield. $15-30. unadilla.org

Depot Theatre: Just across the lake in Westport, N.Y., this nonprofit theater company delivers big-city talent on a small-town budget. Season begins June 28, Depot Theatre, Westport, N.Y. $34-40. depottheatre.org

Jackson Browne, Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter at Grand Point North in 2018

A little princess at Vermont Renaissance Faire

FAIRS

VERMONT STATE FAIR

Tuesday, August 13, to Saturday, August 17, Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland. Admission TBA. vermontstatefair.org

Vermonters build some of the world’s most high-tech products, from electric airplanes to semiconductors to satellite propulsion systems. But come summer, the state fair is a reminder of the Green Mountain industry with the deepest roots: agriculture.

Beginning on August 13, rural Vermonters will show off their prize pigs, heavenly horses and blue-ribbon bovines at one of the oldest agricultural events in the country: the Vermont State Fair in Rutland. Now in its 178th year, the fair will feature a rodeo, motorcycle racing, a demolition derby, and a horse-mounted shooting competition with local cowboys and cowgirls. Toss in a heaping portion of sausages, fries, maple creemees and whirly carnival rides — not necessarily

in that order — and you’ve got all the makings of timeless summer fun. Headlining this year is country singer-songwriter Tyler Hubbard, of Florida Georgia Line fame. Also on the bill is a Back to the Future -like throwback to the quainter yesteryear of neon clothes, big hair and synth pop: “Abducted by the ’80s,” featuring musical guests Wang Chung, A Flock of Seagulls, Naked Eyes and Animotion. If, like many of us, you’re old enough to remember the ’80s, there is always something there to remind you.

K.P.

ALSO TRY…

Franklin County Field Days: For a true agricultural fair experience, head to the county with the most farmland in Vermont. Don’t worry: You’ll find plenty of rides and fair food, too. August 1 to 4, Franklin County Fair Grounds in Highgate. $15. franklincountyfielddays.org

Champlain Valley Fair: Come for the pig races, giant gourds and fried dough; stay for the demolition derby and concerts by the likes of Flo Rida, the Gin Blossoms and Cole Swindell. Beware the Ring of Fire. August 23 to September 1, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. $6-185. champlainvalleyfair.org

Tunbridge World’s Fair: Country fairs don’t get much more authentic than this Orange County classic. September 12 to 15, Tunbridge Fairgrounds. $15-50; free for kids under 12. tunbridgeworldsfair.com

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday, August 17, to Sunday, August 25, various locations, Burlington, Shelburne and Colchester. $15-245. lccmf.org

Entering its 16th year of bringing world-class chamber music to Chittenden County, the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival is returning to the roots of the genre. This year’s festival is called Folklore, a nod to great folk traditions laced through the history of chamber music.

“Folklore lies deep within each of our hearts,” Gloria Chien and Soovin Kim, the festival’s artistic codirectors, write in a press release. “During this festival week, we will explore how classical musicians celebrate their love of folk music from around the world.”

Chien and Kim point out that famous composers such as Antonín Dvořák and Béla Bartók incorporated the folk styles of Bohemia and Hungary, respectively; Luciano Berio composed folk music in tribute to cultures ranging from his native Italy to Azerbaijan.

“We are shaped by our own heritages as well as by an appreciation of the folklore of other peoples,” they write.

The festival stretches for more than a week, with performances by world-renowned players and ensembles at the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington.

As always, the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival is as dedicated to education and cultivating fresh interest in classical music as it is to presenting live performances. The festival features more than 20 free public events, including lectures from composer-in-residence David Serkin Ludwig and other guest composers and performers. Students enrolled in the Young Composers Seminar will work with Ludwig directly, and a young professional ensemble, mentored by some of the festival artists, will perform throughout the week.

C.F.

ALSO TRY…

Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival Tour: Can’t make it to Tanglewood? The VSO has you covered with its annual outdoor summer tour around the state and a program ranging from John Williams to Sufjan Stevens. July 2 to 7, various locations. $5-35; free for kids 5 and under. vso.org

Marlboro Music Festival: Some of the best young classical instrumentalists and vocalists in the country spend three weeks training for a monthlong run of free concerts. July 13 to August 11, Persons Auditorium, Marlboro. $20-40. marlboromusic.org

Central Vermont Chamber

Music Festival: This communityoriented celebration features world-class chamber performances, a children’s concert, radio programming and open rehearsals. August 5 to 10, Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph. Free to $20. Sunday, August 11, Woodstock Unitarian Universalist Church. Free. cvcmf.org

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Vermont State Fair Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival

COURTESY OF DONNA WILKINS

Image: Hunter Barnes (American, b. 1977), Local Mafia [detail], 2006. © Hunter Barnes.

Bikes, Brews and Unspoiled Beauty

ree to six hours in Greensboro

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

Greensboro, the southernmost town in Orleans County, lies just inside the boundaries of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Long before that royal moniker was attached to the state’s three northeastern counties, a glacier lumbered through here and carved out Caspian Lake, a jewel in a bucolic setting that made Greensboro a magic kingdom.

Ninety minutes — and a world — away from Burlington, the town remains a tranquil haven. Dew dapples ferns, pine perfumes the air, and loons’ mournful calls pierce the dark, starry nights. The intoxicating combination has drawn visitors for decades.

They stream into town for the summer, tripling the population, many of them fi fth- or sixth-generation visitors. The late U.S. chief justice William Rehnquist had a house here, as did travel writer John Gunther. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Wallace Stegner summered in Greensboro for more than 50 years and immortalized the town in his novel Crossing to Safety Greensboro is lucky, he wrote in the foreword to a 1990 volume of town history, that its first summer visitors “were quiet and responsive, academics and preachers mainly, rather than entrepreneurs and exploiters.” (Professors from Harvard, Princeton and other universities were so common, the town history recounted, that one of the challenges in a 1920s scavenger hunt was to collect the most signatures of academic deans. One teen produced 17.)

Despite the seasonal influx, the town remains unspoiled. There’s no Starbucks; you can pick up co ee for $1.25 at Smith’s Grocery. Nor is there a shopping mall. The commercial hub is Willey’s Store, the rambling general store where the fifth generation of the Willey family sells groceries, hardware, clothes, shoes, sewing notions, swim toys and fishing poles. And you’ll su er no tra c jams, though only novices try to park at Willey’s at four o’clock on a summer afternoon. That’s just before happy hour, Town Clerk Kim Greaves said, “and everyone’s getting their wine and things.”

Long a magnet for writers, scholars and artists, Greensboro is home to the awardwinning Jasper Hill Farm cheese; the

SUMMER PREVIEW

IF YOU GO

Smith’s Grocery 767 Main St., 533-2631, Facebook

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, railtrails.vermont.gov

world-renowned Hill Farmstead Brewery; Circus Smirkus; Highland Center for the Arts; and painters, glassblowers and ceramists, who tuck their studios into barns and old houses.

The best way to see the town has still got to be moving in for the summer. But those of us rooted elsewhere aren’t out of luck. Greensboro has so much culture and outdoor recreation within its 39 square miles that popping in for a day trip packs rich rewards.

With that in mind — and with a nod to the New York Times ’ “36 Hours” travel series — we’ve resurrected our “threeto-six-hour” itineraries, a time frame more befitting most Vermont locales. Scenic, serene Greensboro kicks off our 2024 summer series. Whether you spend a few hours at morning, noon or night, you’ll leave relaxed and restored. But be warned: It’s a little like breaking a cookie in two and eating half. You’ll be back for more.

Greensboro Garage, 103 Breezy Ave., 533-7007, greensborogarage.com

Barr Hill Natural Area, 1521 Barr Hill Rd., 229-4425, nature.org

Willey’s Store, 7 Breezy Ave., 533-2621, Facebook

Caspian Lake Public Beach 125 Beach Rd., greensborovt.gov

Highland Lodge, 1608 Craftsbury Rd., 322-4456, highlandlodge.com

e Miller’s umb, 14 Breezy Ave., 533-2045, millersthumbgallery.com

Borealis Studios, 42 Wilson St., 793-3177, borealisstudios.com

Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., 533-2000, highlandartsvt.org

Wilson Farm, 2747 Hardwick St., 533-2233, wilsonherbfarm.com

Turning Stone Farm, 491 Country Club Rd., 533-9281, turningstonefarm.com

Hill Farmstead Brewery, 403 Hill Rd., 533-7450, hillfarmstead.com

Circus Smirkus, 1 Circus Rd., 533-7443, smirkus.org

9 a.m.

to noon

Jump-start your day with a breakfast sandwich or burrito at SMITH’S GROCERY — or a grinder, pizza or poutine, if that’s more your speed. Jennifer and Landon Thompson will dish up anything on their menu — and anything else, if they have the ingredients — whenever the store is open (6 a.m. to 9 p.m., 365 days a year).

On one May morning, a boy who was 6 or 7 preordered a hot dog pizza to eat after school, Jennifer said. “So at 3:30, he’s picking up his hot dog pizza.”

An inside table seats four. Assorted picnic tables and Adirondack chairs accommodate al fresco diners. Burn o whatever calories you consume with a hike, walk or bike ride on the LAMOILLE VALLEY RAIL TRAIL. The 93-mile recreation corridor is the longest in New England, spanning northern Vermont to connect St. Johnsbury and Swanton. Catch it at Smith’s. If you want to borrow a bike, the Thompsons have 20 to lend — kids’ bikes,

A family of ducks at sunset on Caspian Lake

Barr Hill trail

too — for no charge. They don’t even sign them out. If you want to take it a little easy — it is vacation, after all — GREENSBORO GARAGE rents e-bikes in addition to the traditional kind.

Get a workout, then pedal back to Smith’s for a creemee at the grocery’s “shack out back.”

For a different perspective, head to one of the town’s highest points to walk the trails at Barr Hill, immortalized as Folsom Hill in Crossing to Safety. Now owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, BARR HILL NATURAL AREA offers sweeping mountain views from Killington to Canada. Choose the 0.3- or 0.8-mile loop. Both are easy and suitable for kids. Fern glades, woods, thick sphagnum moss and fairy houses line the trail. (Follow posted sustainable building guidelines if you choose to add to the housing stock.)

Three picnic areas with stone fire rings offer idyllic lunch settings.

Noon to 6 p.m.

If you hiked back hungry, pick up a sandwich and a bag of chips at WILLEY’S STORE and head to the beach. Or take it up a notch and opt for a baguette and Jasper Hill cheese, four-time winner of the American Cheese Society’s best-in-show award. As the cheesemaker’s official retail store, Willey’s offers the lowest prices, the largest selection available anywhere and varietal descriptions: “Bayley Hazen Blue … Toasted-nut sweetness and anise spice character … with a mild peppery finish.”

Admission to the CASPIAN LAKE PUBLIC BEACH, across the street, is free. Nearby Greensboro Garage rents kayaks and paddleboards. Caspian Lake is clean and clear, so be sure to wade or swim, then relax in a beach chair, though you’ll have to bring your own.

Read, take a snooze, then head back into the village for some shopping. Wander through the MILLER’S THUMB , a gallery that sells the work of 80 Vermont artists — along with new and vintage clothing — in a former gristmill. Find the mill chute that’s still in the building and look down it to see Greensboro Brook roiling below.

Diagonally across the street is BOREALIS STUDIOS, where glassblower Devin Burgess and his wife, ceramic artist Jerilyn Virden, work. Text, call or email to make an appointment to visit their small gallery or pop in if the “open” sign is hanging by the mailbox.

quarter-mile art trail and play mini golf on an artist-created course.

HIGHLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS features a different Vermont artist in its gallery every six weeks. Admission is free. Outside, giant sculptures rise from the lawn in the open-air gallery, where visitors can stroll a

Continue a third of a mile down Hardwick Street to Wilson Farm, where Lindsay and Brenden Beer are churning ice cream made with their organic medicinal herbs. Rosemary-maple-sea salt is their flagship. That and other flavors are available by the scoop or the pint at the on-site farmstand.

On nearby Country Club Road is TURNING STONE FARM, where Jennifer Ranz has converted an 1880 barn into her home, studio and an art gallery that’s open “by chance or by appointment.” If the barn doors are open — they are most of the time — the gallery is open. The barn itself, crowned by whimsical weather vanes on its two cupolas, is beautiful. “I call it an agricultural cathedral,” Ranz said.

The entire gallery is stocked with her work: porcelain jewelry; decorative, functional, one-of-a-kind pottery; and watercolor paintings that depict the area. All that art got you thinking of crafts? Find the drinkable kind on tap at HILL FARMSTEAD BREWERY. Since 2010, Shaun Hill has been brewing the world’s best beer on the farm where he grew up and naming it after his ancestors. RateBeer has annually ranked Hill Farmstead the No. 1 brewer in the world eight times.

Sip, linger and admire the mountain views, then stop at the retail store to take home Edward, Abner, Anna, Florence, Dorothy or Charlie.

6 p.m. to midnight

While Smith’s Grocery serves sandwiches and hot food until it closes every night, the only bar and only restaurant in town are at HIGHLAND LODGE , which serves dinner Thursday through Sunday. Reservations are recommended. Diners at the classic old inn can eat inside or out. Little beats dinner on the front porch, with views of the lake as the sun goes down. Trout cakes, pea pesto risotto and pan-roasted duck grace the menu. A brownie sundae called Ishkabibble is the signature dessert.

The beer garden offers a more limited, laid-back menu, no reservation needed. The inn’s Margarita Mondays bring live music and food vendors — Caja Madera, MexiRico Auténtico and Wilson Farm ice cream among them — to the lawn.

Without a nightclub, Greensboro’s after-dark entertainment generally includes Thursday trivia night at Highland Lodge; movie nights at Smith’s Grocery; and periodic comedy, music and theatrical performances at Highland Center for the Arts. CIRCUS SMIRKUS opens and closes its tour in Greensboro, with two shows on June 29 and four from August 15 to 17.

“It’s not nightlife central,” a 39-year-old local carpenter said. His recommendation: Sit by a fire with friends. ➆ Bikes,

From left: Cinnamon-basil, sage-strawberry and rosemary-maple-sea salt ice cream at Wilson Farm

Devin Burgess at Borealis Studios

Highland Lodge

4T-LakeMonsters051524 1 5/13/24 5:24 PM

A WEEKEND OF EVENTS

HIGH HEEL RACE

Saturday, June 1: 10am

Sign up to strut, sashay, or sprint 1 8 mile through the Village of Woodstock!

“Made With Pride”

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

Saturday, June 1: 10am - 3pm

Local vendors on the Village Green! DJ at East End Park! May 30 - June 2, 2024

Small Town, Big Love!

TEA DANCES

Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, June 2 3pm - 6pm &

Woodstock, Vermont | prideofwoodstockvt.org

4T-WoodstockInn052224 1 5/20/24 8:37 AM

A Run for Their Money

For the first time, Vermont City Marathon will offer a cash prize to nonbinary runners

RUNNING AHEAD

e Vermont City Marathon kicks off race season in the Green Mountains. While there are more footraces — of all distances — than we can round up here, read on for seven scenic highlights of the summer.

In 2022, Kae Ravichandran was the first of 117 runners to cross the finish line at the Green Mountain Marathon in South Hero. She won by a wide margin, more than 13 minutes ahead of the second-place runner.

But Ravichandran, who lives in Burlington, didn’t receive a prize for finishing first. The reason? She had registered for the marathon as nonbinary, and at the time, the race gave awards only to top men’s and women’s competitors.

The experience led Ravichandran, 26, to work with local race o cials toward the goal of o ering equitable prizes to nonbinary runners. Fast-forward two years, and the largest race in Vermont is making that a reality. The M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay will award $2,400 to the first nonbinary runner to cross the finish line this Sunday, May 26 — the first cash prize the race has o ered to the winner of a nonbinary division in its 35-year history.

The Vermont City Marathon has allowed runners to register as nonbinary or decline to share their gender since 2022. Now, in addition to racing in a category that encompasses their gender expression, nonbinary athletes will compete for prize money equal to that awarded to the firstplace men’s and women’s competitors.

The change positions Vermont as a leader in a global movement for greater gender inclusivity in running. An increasing number of races, including five of the six World Marathon Majors — all but Tokyo — have begun o ering nonbinary divisions in recent years. But prize money for the category, which typically draws far fewer runners than the men’s or women’s divisions, is still rare.

Ravichandran made national headlines after winning the Boston Marathon’s inaugural nonbinary division in 2023. She received only a trophy.

“It felt very hand-wavy to just put in the category without that extra thought behind it,” Ravichandran said. “Equal prize money [provides] that incentive for folks to be able to compete as themselves.”

Nine runners are registered to compete in the nonbinary division of this year’s Vermont City Marathon, according to Joe

BY HANNAH FEUER • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

Connelly, executive director of RunVermont, which organizes the race. The event typically draws around 5,000 runners, including those who participate in the marathon relay, which offers no prize money to any gender.

While second- and third-place prizes are awarded in the men’s and women’s divisions, the race will not grant cash prizes to runners-up in the nonbinary division, given the smaller field of runners there. Connelly said he worked with Pride Center of Vermont and Outright Vermont to craft an appropriate policy.

“At the top levels of the sport, you just don’t want an award or prize money because you showed up,” Connelly said. “You want it because you ran the best race of all the people you are directly competing against.”

That’s the case for Z Goodwin of St. Albans, who placed second — out of two runners — in the nonbinary division of their age group at the Half Marathon Unplugged along Burlington’s bike path

in April. While Goodwin said they were thrilled to be able to run in a nonbinary division, they wished it had been more competitive.

“I look forward to the day when I’m not in the top in anything,” Goodwin said, “when there’s just a lot more runners in my category, beating me as they should.”

For Ravichandran, that dream is starting to materialize. After winning Boston’s nonbinary division in a field of 27 runners in 2023, Ravichandran placed sixth in a field almost twice that size this year. In a way, she said, the lower placement was a victory, because the larger pool of nonbinary athletes meant more runners were comfortable expressing their gender identity.

Local opportunities for nonbinary runners are also expanding. RunVermont o ers nonbinary registration at all 15 races it organizes annually. The Green Mountain Athletic Association — which hosts the

Lake City Running Festival (5K, 10K and half marathon): In its second year, this race offers a course with minimal hills along the shores of Lake Champlain. Saturday, May 25, in Plattsburgh, N.Y. $30-65. lakecityrunningfestival.com

Causeway Race (5K, 10K and 15K): Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Champlain while racing along the gravel bike path that stretches out onto the causeway. Saturday, June 1, in Colchester. $35. colchestervt.gov

Vermont Dairy Festival Milk Run (10K for walkers and runners): At a festival with baking and milking competitions, runners loop along the Missisquoi River on a course with moderate hills. Not recommended for those with lactose intolerance — unless you want the runs. Sunday, June 2, in Enosburg Falls. $25. vermontdairyfestival.com

Capital City Stampede (5K power walk and 10K run): If running’s not your thing, give power walking a whirl at this race, organized by Central Vermont Runners and the Vermont Senior Games Association. Saturday, June 8, in Montpelier. $15-25. vermontseniorgames.org

Crowley Road Race (1 mile, 5K, 10K, 10K relay and half marathon): Join four-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers and Kathrine Switzer, the first woman officially to run the Boston Marathon, as they race in this event dating back to the 1920s. Proceeds support soldiers, wounded veterans and their families. Sunday, June 9, in Rutland. $5-110. crowleyroadrace.com

F.I.T. Sun Mountain Challenge (5K, 10K, 25K and 50K): is trail race promises a novel experience for both runners and spectators; the latter can witness the action from the comfort of Bromley Mountain Ski Resort’s chairlift. Race participants get free entry to the resort’s Mountain Adventure Park. Saturday, July 6, in Peru. $45-120. bromley.com

Race to the Top of Vermont (4.3 miles): Feel like the king of the world after running, biking or hiking up 2,564 feet to reach the summit ridge of Mount Mansfield in this grueling trail race. Proceeds support the Catamount Trail Association. Sunday, August 25, in Stowe. $60-90. racetothetopvt.weebly.com

Kae Ravichandran running the Boston Marathon

A Run for Their Money «

Champlain Islands Marathon, formerly known as the Green Mountain Marathon, and eight other annual races — started offering equitable prizes for nonbinary runners in 2023, the year after Ravichandran won in South Hero.

Affinity groups have also emerged. Ibby Maruca leads the Burlington-based Bolters Run Club, which recently started hosting a monthly night exclusively for women, nonbinary and transgender runners. About 20 people attended the first meetup earlier this month.

“Marginalized genders haven’t necessarily always been able to feel as comfortable in athletics and outdoor spaces,” Maruca said. “I wanted to carve out that time for us as a group so we could connect in a really individualized, close-knit way.”

Ravichandran said she has yet to encounter a Vermont race that doesn’t either offer a nonbinary division or respond positively when asked about including one.

Will Robens is the founder of Ironwood Adventure Works, which organizes six races, including the Trapp Lodge Mountain Marathon in Stowe. He said he views

the Vermont City Marathon’s new award for nonbinary runners as aspirational.

Ironwood’s trail races allow for nonbinary registration but haven’t yet offered a prize for the division due to low participation, Robens said.

The Vermont 100 Endurance Race, among the oldest 100-milers in the country, has a unique approach to prizes. Nonbinary athletes can register as they identify while also retaining eligibility to win awards in the men’s or women’s categories based on biological attributes. The policy was implemented by race director Amy Rusiecki, who was inspired by a friend’s desire to register as nonbinary

without sacrificing the chance to be recognized for competitive success in a large field. Rusiecki said she would consider creating a separate prize for nonbinary runners in the future.

“It’s a continual conversation,” she said. “But the important thing to me is that people are talking about it, even if it takes a little bit for us all to come up with an industry standard.”

LB Gunderson of St. Albans said affirmation of their gender has helped them feel included in Vermont’s running communities. Gunderson has competed in about six local nonbinary divisions and is registered for the Vermont City Marathon this week.

“Representation is super important,” Gunderson said. “Not only just runners, but spectators looking at results ... They’re like, Wow, OK, there’s a group where I fit in.” For a time, Ravichandran worried that participating in competitive running and being outside the gender binary were incompatible. In college, she postponed gender-affirming treatment due to concerns about its impact on her status as an athlete on the men’s cross-country and track teams at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She planned to quit running after graduation.

But with the introduction of nonbinary divisions, Ravichandran decided to keep running. It still hasn’t been easy: After the Boston Marathon propelled her to the national stage, she started regularly receiving hate mail, including death threats.

She tries not to let it faze her. This Sunday, she’ll take to the starting line for the Vermont City Marathon, competing as nonbinary. That, she said, will be a victory in itself. ➆

INFO

M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, Sunday, May 26, in Burlington. $200-325 to register; free to watch. runvermont.org

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food+drink

Flying the Coop

Hen of the Wood alums throw a party at Frankie’s in Burlington

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

There’s a celebratory energy bubbling in the Burlington food scene right now. After a tough few years, this spring and summer will usher in a wave of new restaurants, bringing the town Roman-style pizza, biscuits, Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian fare, an oyster bar and small plates in a former car rental spot.

Among the most anticipated newcomers is Frankie’s, which opened in April. Its owners, chef Jordan Ware and general manager Cindi Kozak, struck out on their own after long tenures at Hen of the Wood. They’ve revamped the home of beloved Penny Cluse Café at the corner of Cherry Street and South Winooski Avenue. It’s a serious spot, but it’s also seriously fun.

I rarely spend my first meal at a new restaurant with a large group or in a private dining room. When a gaggle of gals asked if I’d like to tag along for dinner at Frankie’s in early May, though, I instantly agreed. Certain places inspire confidence before you even set foot inside, and I knew we were in for a treat.

FIRST BITES

Walking into Frankie’s feels like walking into Penny Cluse: The layout is roughly the same, and the space is lively, warm and welcoming. But the vibe has shifted: Think Penny’s younger sister who went away to live in the big city and came back with a black-andwhite capsule wardrobe. The place is cool, and I dare you not to drool over the bold new bar, with its graphic swirls of white, gray and black marbled through its stone top. Kozak traveled to New Jersey to pick it out.

“It’s fancy, I guess,” she said. “But there’s something about it that reminds me of the lake when it’s frozen.”

With the addition of a new lounge area where the server’s station at Penny Cluse used to be, Frankie’s has room for 70 people. When you walk in, you can steal a glimpse into the kitchen downstairs. My party of eight was destined for the private dining room upstairs, which seats up to 12. A few of my friends were already discussing bar manager Max Pogacar’s cocktail menu when I arrived, and a round of drinks was our first move.

Clarified milk punches are everywhere right now, in accordance with the usual three to five years it takes for beverage trends to migrate to Burlington from New York and other cities. A headline in digital media brand Punch described the drink as having “lost its mind” in 2021, when bars

Cindi Kozak

Agnolotti, scallop crudo and littleneck clams

Jordan Ware plating little neck clams

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Café Mamajuana’s Maria Lara-Bregatta Competes on Food Network

CAFÉ MAMAJUANA chef-owner MARIA LARABREGATTA is one of 12 chefs competing on Season 2 of Food Network’s “Ciao House,” which premiered on Sunday, May 19.

The culinary competition show — hosted and judged by Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini — gathers the chefs in a villa in Puglia, Italy, where they “live and cook together, fusing their own culinary styles with Italian cuisine,” according to Food Network’s description.

That premise is what drew LaraBregatta to the show. The chef, who currently offers catering and preordered Friday takeout in the Burlington area, has long fused her Dominican and Italian roots.

“I cook Dominican food, and my father is first generation, but my mother is South Philly Italian,” Lara-Bregatta told Seven Days while prepping last Thursday in the Colchester kitchen she shares with SHANEALL FERRON of THINGZ FROM YAAD

“I think it’s a part of me that people don’t really know and are just starting to learn,” she said of that Italian inspiration.

Lara-Bregatta spent a month in Italy last fall to tape the show, while her husband, mother and sister took care of her young daughter. On social media, she described herself as working a private chef gig to avoid spoiling the news.

Only she and one other chef had no previous television experience, LaraBregatta said. Learning the ropes was “wild and scary.”

“People think I’m a confident, outgoing person,” she continued. “But I was really, really nervous the whole time.”

To prepare, she studied all types of Italian cuisine, including dishes from Puglia, which sits at the southern tip of Italy’s bootheel, facing Greece across the Adriatic Sea. The region’s food differs from what many think of when they picture Italian cuisine, LaraBregatta said.

“I did a ton of research, read a ton of recipes, wrote a ton of recipes,” she said. “But it all leaves your head the second you’re in front of cameras.”

Lara-Bregatta couldn’t say much about the outcome of the show, but she

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Maria Lara-Bregatta in her garden

RESTAURANTS

Tacos on Target

Hardwick’s Caja Taqueria spices it up with hot sauce and axe throwing

For the past several years, chef-owner Bryan Palilonis has filled a niche in Hardwick for Mexican cuisine, first through his Caja Madera food truck and then his Caja Taqueria restaurant. He has now upped the ante by adding an unusual recreation opportunity.

Palilonis, 46, opened Caja Taqueria last year in the former auto shop where he used to park his taco truck. This spring, he tacked on a small bar and axe-throwing venue. Patrons can enjoy their tacos and other Mexican dishes while tossing axes at bull’s-eyes painted on wood targets.

Master Fin’s Axe Throwing is named for Palilonis’ 5-year-old son. In addition to four axe-throwing lanes, the outpost includes more tables, bar seats, and beer and canned cocktails.

The evening my husband, daughter and I visited, a guitarist was playing in the axe-throwing space, which entertained us as we moved quickly through the line to order. The scent of meats sizzling on the grill mixed with the sting of peppers and the earthiness of freshly cut wood from the axe-throwing lanes.

We settled at one of a handful of indoor tables. Outside, under a shed roof, picnic tables provided plenty of seating for the small crowd.

The standard menu offers eight fillings of meat, seafood or beans, which can be ordered as tacos ($4 to $5), quesadillas ($12 to $14), burritos ($12 to $14) or nachos ($14 to $16).

We started with nachos bearing grilled chicken in spicy tinga sauce ($14). The generous pile was topped with tangy queso blanco and grilled onions and poblanos. The chips held their crunch, and the cubed

INFO

Caja Taqueria, 154 Route 15, Hardwick, 607-765-6576, cajamaderatacotrucks.com

chicken was moist in a rich tomatoey sauce. Thanks to chiles in adobo, it was the spiciest offering we tried that night.

Then we ordered as many fillings in taco form as we could. From the specials menu ($6 each), tender ancho garlic flank steak with mushrooms was a winner. Ditto the pork belly, with a hint of sweetness from a guajillo chile and honey sauce. My favorite was the flaky battered-and-fried cod, with its crunchy exterior and bright pineapple salsa.

Considering the sauces, the corn tortillas held together nicely until the last bite.

Palilonis gives them a spray of oil before warming them on a traditional comal griddle, which makes them slightly crispy.

From the regular taco menu, we chose peppery housemade chorizo ($4) and beer-battered shrimp ($5) with citrus slaw. We also ordered two vegetarian fillings ($4 each): black beans and plantains with pico de gallo; and pinto beans with nopales (prickly pear cactus), poblano and avocado lime crema. Not as flavorful as the others, both benefited from a dash of house hot sauce.

Caja Madera hot sauces are also available by the bottle ($8). The red sauce, made with arbol and ancho chiles, added medium-high heat, acidity from apple cider vinegar and a punch of garlic. Palilonis described his green jalapeño and honey sauce, made with vinegar, garlic and carrots, as “a sweet first hit, then a lovely jalapeño bite.”

He said his customers generally prefer milder food, so he shoots for flavor combos

that don’t need spiciness to pack a punch. His hot sauces bring the heat.

After 30 years of professional cooking, the chef knows how to play to his audience. “We want to keep it dialed for the palates that we feed,” Palilonis said.

Caja Taqueria also serves tlayudas ($17), a Oaxacan classic, with toppings scattered pizza-like on a bean purée spread over a crisp tortilla. That’s top of my list to try next. I might even do it while hefting an axe. ➆

STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY KOLB NOYES

Assorted tacos and nachos at Caja Taqueria

Lanes at Master Fin’s Axe Throwing

Bryan Palilonis and son Fin

noted that the other chefs — who came from all over the country and shared two bathrooms in the villa — were “awesome” and “brought the drama.”

“The season’s fiery,” she added with a laugh.

Since taping, Lara-Bregatta has incorporated even more Italian influences into her menus, she said.

On Wednesday, May 29, she’ll host a four-course outdoor meal at her kitchen at 261 Mountain View Drive in Colchester. Dishes will reflect the concept of the show, including a Dominican Caesar salad and porchetta relleno de mofongo. Tickets are available at cafemamajuana.com.

The Tropic Brewing Opens in Waterbury

Just in time for summer, a beachy new brewery has joined Waterbury’s beer scene. On Friday, May 17, the TROPIC BREWING opened its taproom at 40 Foundry Street for full pours, bar snacks and 12-ounce to-go cans of its sessionable lower-alcohol beers.

Brothers MATT and ZACK GORDON brainstormed the biz while on a trip to Puerto Rico, Matt said. “I love Vermont’s four seasons, but there’s something so fun about that part of the world.”

The name also nods to the etymology of trópos — Greek for “a turn or change.” Running the Tropic is a career change for brewer Matt, 41, who has lived in Waterbury since 2012 and previously worked for agricultural industry groups, including the VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR MAKERS’ ASSOCIATION

Matt has been homebrewing since age 21, when he purchased a copy of Greg Noonan’s New Brewing Lager Beer: The Most Comprehensive Book for

Home- and Microbrewers and considered the hobby a creative outlet, he said. He picked it back up in earnest a few years ago, focusing on lagers and sessionable beers, which were harder to find at the time.

Those styles make up the bulk of his brews on the Tropic’s four-barrel system. Early favorites include the Dorado Mexican-style lager and Oceania cold IPA; most of the lineup contains 5 percent alcohol or less.

“They don’t crush you the next day, but they retain a lot of flavor and a lot of interest,” Matt said.

The Gordons opted to sell their beer in 12-ounce cans to differentiate the Tropic further from breweries that use the more common 16-ounce tallboys. The brothers prefer the smaller format, Matt said, “because you can finish a beer before it gets warm.”

The bright 21-seat tasting room serves full and half pours to pair with bar snacks such as plantain chips, chips and salsa, and tinned fish. It’s currently open Friday and Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m.

POND

started serving clear versions of White Russians and caprese-inspired cocktails. But I hadn’t seen a creemee punch until Frankie’s.

Pogacar’s take, with Earl Grey-infused Old Grand-Dad bourbon, lemon, vanilla, Italicus bergamot liqueur and a housemade creemee wash ($16), was tart and as silky smooth as the best of them. The crystal-clear drink didn’t look or taste like a creemee; the dairy is curdled and strained out of the finished drink, taking its cloudiness with it. But it got me excited for dessert before I’d even looked at the food menu.

Kozak described the cocktail menu as “classic without being stuffy.” Elsewhere around the long wooden table, friends had ordered proper gin martinis ($16) — served with a sidecar on ice and all the garnishes — and a stunning zero-proof drink made with Prince of Thieves oxymel from Morrisville-based Wolfpeach.

Early on, we surveyed the wine list, which one restaurant-industry friend described as having “a personality that’s unique for Burlington,” leaning toward sustainably produced bottles ($40-165). I let her take the reins, and she ordered a Crémant du Jura and a Corsican rosé.

Both wines were chosen to go with Frankie’s seafood-heavy, ever-changing menu. The kitchen team, led by Ware and sous chef Johnny Capitanelli, works closely with Ethan Wood of Wood Mountain Fish. When I visited, they were playing with the last of the winter’s storage crops and the first spring ingredients, including baby gem lettuce, rhubarb, wild leeks and asparagus.

Frankie’s isn’t just farm-to-table, but farmer-at-table. In its first month, the restaurant has hosted a who’s who of area chefs and many of the folks who grew the produce on its plates. Days after early asparagus from Grand Isle’s Pomykala Farm hit the menu — with blue crab, green-garlic vinaigrette and crème fraîche — Ben Pomykala and his family came to dine.

“It was so special to have them in here,” Ware said. “It’s not just about the product. It’s about the farmers.”

The menu has featured repeat dishes in the restaurant’s first month but nothing Ware would describe as a staple. Those will come, the chef said. I’d tend to avoid repeats, though, because Frankie’s is the kind of place that encourages adventurous eating.

One thing I would get every time: the littleneck clams ($18). The mountain of mollusks boasts crème fraîche and pickled carrots that perfectly echo their brininess, all served with wild leek focaccia that we used to sop up every drop of broth from the bowl. These clams have prompted me to

TAKE THE EGO OUT OF ALL THIS. LET’S JUST HAVE FUN.

JORDAN WARE

send several texts and emails that simply say, “the clams!!”

“They slap,” one friend said at the meal.

Really, though, it all slapped. We dined on hunks of rye brioche swiped in fluffy whipped butter ($7); pork croquettes with a pickled rhubarb sauce that I’d like to drink ($17); electric-green scallop crudo with delicate cucumbers and fermented fennel ($18); and a crunchy endive “hand salad” (our table’s term for the grabbable boats, not the menu’s; $15) with pistachio gremolata, citrus vinaigrette and housemade ricotta.

For larger plates, we ordered black bass with wild leek soubise, red Russian kale and claytonia ($35); and a New York strip steak special ($45), along with two each of the veggie sides: baby bok choy with anchovy butter ($8) and creamed spinach with Dijon breadcrumbs ($8). The only thing lacking was starch. We all left satisfied, but had we been hungrier, the filled pasta or potato side sometimes featured on the menu would have gone a long way.

The food at Frankie’s tends to be light, and the whole experience feels almost

— and a dessert I’m stealing for my own dinner parties: affogato all’Amaro ($12). A mug of the luscious vanilla creemee arrived at the table with a carafe of bittersweet orange-and-vanilla Amaro Montenegro, which we promptly poured over the creemee and devoured.

In the near future, Kozak hopes to add an amaro cart so that diners can choose from an array of liqueurs. (Sign me up.)

The team is also working on a chef’s choice party menu for the private dining room. (Ditto.)

The owners encourage servers to be playful, Ware said, which we appreciated. Our server patiently put up with our group chatter and taught us to say “whiskey” instead of “cheese” to capture better smiles when we cheers’ed for a photo.

“Take the ego out of all this,” Ware said of the pair’s approach. “Let’s just have fun.”

The chef acknowledged that the menu is fairly pricey, citing the cost of ingredients. To keep Frankie’s approachable, the team has included touches such as a $10 Negroni, and they encourage folks to walk in for a drink and a snack at the bar.

As I dined with my industry friends, we got on the subject of next-generation restaurants. One described Ware and Kozak’s leap from Hen of the Wood as “a very city moment.” Longtime employees stepping out on their own feels like something that happens more often in bigger, busier places than it does here.

feminine compared with the industrial, farmhouse-inspired spaces and chef-bro attitude that still dominate the restaurant industry. Kozak said that easy elegance is intentional.

So was the redesign. In a very Penny Cluse way, all the art on the walls is by local artists — including Brooke Monte, the contractor who renovated the restaurant. The space needed certain changes to transform it from a day spot into a night one, Kozak said — for instance, the upstairs carpet had to go. She and Ware wanted to respect the building’s 19th-century quirks, she said, “taking care of it and bring[ing] it into its next life.” (The floors upstairs are still slightly sloped.)

The dessert menu nods to a pre-Penny Cluse chapter of the building’s history, when it was a Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop. Pastry chef Jackie Freeman makes creemees in-house from scratch, using Monument Farms Dairy. Besides the cocktail wash, the creemee base goes into a sundae ($12) — topped with elderberry compote and lemon shortbread the night we dined

When I discussed that phenomenon with Ware, he pointed to the team at Montréal’s Mon Lapin as an inspiration. Coming from one of their city’s best-known restaurant groups, Joe Beef, they opened a restaurant that has been named the best in Canada two years in a row.

With Frankie’s, Ware and Kozak are building on what they learned a few blocks away. That’s clear in every aspect of the business, from their treatment of employees — tips are pooled between front and back of house to ensure fair compensation — to a hospitality model that bridges casual and fine dining.

Toward the end of our evening in the upstairs dining room, after tons of food and a final round of digestifs, a silver, octopus-shaped punch bowl may or may not have ended up on someone’s head. When I reached out to Kozak and Ware to schedule an interview, I somewhat ruefully wrote, “I hope we weren’t too rowdy up there.”

“I don’t think you guys were rowdy enough,” Ware replied. “We want friends in and partying.”

Heard, chef. ➆

INFO

Frankie’s, 169 Cherry St., Burlington, 264-7094, frankiesvt.com

Frankie’s

Something Fun cocktail

culture

To write about Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle, who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, in 1926, at the age of 20, Glenn Stout wanted to understand how it felt to be alone in the middle of a large body of water. “You want to occupy that headspace,” the Vermont author, editor and historian said, “not so you can make things up but so you can feel like you’re in the pocket of your subject.”

Stout is a longtime athlete, a distance runner who played competitive baseball as an adult. But he was never an avid swimmer, so he simulated the activity by kayaking for up to eight hours at a clip in Lake Champlain. “I’m glad I was in my forties when I thought of it and not in my sixties,” he joked.

The experience proved enlightening. “You have to get back to shore,” Stout, now 65, said. “It’s all on you. Being in your head for 14 hours, like Trudy, you’re singing songs to yourself, automatically doing the physical activity but playing tricks to stay on task. Writing is the same way.”

A mental endurance game is something Stout can speak about with expertise. He’s authored or edited more than 100 books, including The Pats: An Illustrated History of the New England Patriots, The Selling of the Babe: The Deal That Changed Baseball and Created a Legend, and, most recently in 2021, Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid: America’s Original Gangster Couple. But his 2009 biography of Ederle, Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World, is one of his most powerful stories. It’s also his first book to be optioned by Hollywood.

For writers, getting a film project greenlit, produced and distributed is as improbable a journey as swimming a treacherous body of water. In the age of streaming, it’s just as unlikely for an adaptation to receive a theatrical release. But that’s exactly what’s happening for Stout as Young Woman and the Sea, starring Daisy Ridley as Ederle and produced by Hollywood legend Jerry Bruckheimer, hits the big screen in a limited release starting on Friday, May 31. The movie will arrive later this summer on Disney+, in time for the Olympic Games in Paris, which begin in late July.

A lot had to go right for Stout’s story to make the leap from the page to the silver screen. Stout’s agent contacted him in 2015 with news that screenwriter Je Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can, The Lion

Swimming to Hollywood

Vermont author Glenn Stout hits the big screen with Disney’s Young Woman and the Sea

BY ALEX BELTH

Glenn Stout at the world premiere of Young Woman and the Sea

King) wanted to option the book; while the agent cautioned that the chance of the film being produced was one in a thousand, he nevertheless had a good feeling. “I had to table my enthusiasm,” Stout said, “which I did sometimes better than others. I hoped for it but never counted on it.”

Things rarely happen fast in Hollywood, and Stout’s faith was tested. “As it turned out,” he said, “COVID is probably the reason we were able to make it.”

For one thing, the pandemic stopped a lot of other projects. Stout related that Disney execs wanted Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) to direct and Ridley, who starred in the latest Star Wars trilogy, to lead the film. The odds of the director and star you want being available at the same time are about as long as those Stout’s agent gave the film of happening. “But, because of COVID, they were both free,” Stout said. “It just worked out.”

Turmoil was in the movie’s favor again last year, when the actors’ and writers’ strikes in Hollywood stalled more releases.

following year. In the film, both attempts occur in the same year.

“For her brief period of time,” Stout said, “she was as well known as any woman in America.”

Ederle cashed in on her fame to some extent, briefly touring in a vaudeville water show and appearing in a silent film. But “she discovered the limelight was something she didn’t enjoy,” Stout said. “Today, the goal is to be a super-celebrity. For her, the goal was doing what she wanted to do. Once she swam the English Channel, she’d done just that.”

I’VE DONE A LOT OF

Young Woman and the Sea was originally intended as a streamingonly release. But encouraging test screenings — “the best test scores of any movie Bruckheimer has ever done,” according to Stout — coupled with a smaller roster of films ready for the summer led studio execs to rethink that plan.

GLENN STOUT

“All of a sudden, it was ‘We think this might go theatrical,’ Stout recalled. “Sometimes, waiting nine years is a good thing!” Stout got a firsthand glimpse of the production during a visit to the set at Nu Boyana Film Studios in Bulgaria in May 2022. He was duly impressed with the entire operation, the diversity of the crew and how hard they worked, especially Ridley. “She was extraordinary in her commitment to swim and swim well for hours and hours in the scenes I got to witness,” he recalled. “That’s hard to do in four- and five-foot waves, battering you around like you’re in a washing machine.”

The movie centers on New York native Ederle’s early life and her heroic first failed attempt to swim the channel in 1925, followed by her triumph the

In his book, Stout carries Ederle’s story beyond the ticker-tape parade she received upon her return to the U.S. It covers the nervous breakdown she su ered due to the pressures of celebrity and a severe fall that left her bedridden with a bad back. Out of the public eye, she taught deaf children to swim, worked in a factory during World War II and lived to be 98. “She seemed to be relatively content out of the spotlight,” Stout said.

Stout, who attended the film’s premiere in Los Angeles last week, is thrilled that Ederle’s tale, of all the ones he’s told, is the one to become a movie.

“I’ve done a lot of fun and entertaining stories, but this one is consequential,” he said.

“It’s the kind of story you can encounter when you’re young and it will make an impression — it might change the way you think and open your horizons. For young women, of course, but also for boys who might think, Oh, women can do anything I can do and some things better than me Which is just as important.

“The book has inspired people to swim the channel who’d never done it,” he continued. “Young girls decided to swim and went on to have collegiate swimming careers.”

This story is not just about swimming, Stout said, “but a metaphor for doing things people say you can’t do. Like writing a book.”

Or having a book made into a movie. ➆

Birthday Bash. 8/3 11 3p

Open for the Season Memorial Day weekend December

Vermont Film & Folklore Festival Launches in Manchester

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

The Vermont Film & Folklore Festival, a new, four-day event celebrating the art of storytelling, begins on Thursday, May 23, in Manchester. Its lineup of 45 award-winning movies includes documentaries, shorts, and new and classic narrative features made in Vermont and around the world.

The inaugural event is the brainchild of two film industry veterans and former rivals in entertainment publishing who both moved to Vermont with their respective families: Tim Rhys, founder of MovieMaker, an international magazine for independent filmmakers; and Karol Martesko-Fenster, cofounder of Filmmaker Magazine. The competing publications launched within six months of each other in 1992, though the publishers, who for decades were based on opposite coasts, never met or spoke.

That is, until the early days of the pandemic, when they met outside a Jamaican food truck in Manchester, recognized each other from photos and struck up a conversation.

Over dinner one night, Rhys and Martesko-Fenster got to talking about Vermont — what they liked and found lacking. Since both were independent film enthusiasts and regular jurors at international film festivals, they remarked on the absence of a comparable event in southern Vermont. The Vermont Film & Folklore Festival was born from their conversation.

Why “folklore”? As Rhys explained in an interview, the founders don’t want their Manchester event to be just another of the roughly 6,000 film festivals held worldwide every year. They envision it as a celebration of storytelling in all of its written and oral forms.

This year’s fest features a seminar on traditional Vermont storytelling with local author and folklorist Joe Citro. In future years, Rhys said, they hope also to delve into poetry, music and spoken word.

An initial challenge for the festival was the lack of a cinema in Manchester; the town’s only movie house, Village Picture Shows Cinema, closed in 2019.

In its place, the Vermont Film & Folklore Festival will screen movies at four venues in Manchester: Southern Vermont Arts Center, Riley Center for the Performing Arts at Burr & Burton Academy, Manchester Community Library, and Wheelwrite Imaginarium.

The last venue, a small bookshop and coffeehouse owned by Rhys and his wife, Jessica, will offer limited-seating showings of such cinematic classics as White Heat (1949), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), On the Waterfront (1954) and Criss Cross (1949), all on 16-millimeter film.

The now-rare format was popular in the decades before home videos, Rhys explained. When movies such as La Strada (1954) or Double Indemnity (1944) — both also being screened — didn’t come to a nearby theater, film buffs could order a 16-millimeter print and watch it at home. Collectors have since restored those old prints, some of which Rhys obtained for the festival. For viewers who’ve never watched a film on celluloid, he added, “It’s just a warmer ... magical experience.”

The festival will highlight Vermonter-made films such as “Lia: A Bodybuilding Story” (2023) by director Susan Weiss and “Love of the Land” (2024), a short animated film by Travis Van Alstyne based on the tragic tale of Vermont farmer Romaine Tenney. “Steve’s Chapel: Building a Sacred Space” (2023), by Gail Osherenko, tells the true story of an 80-year-old man’s quest to build a chapel similar to those of northern Europe on his property, while Bess O’Brien’s 2024 documentary Just Getting By follows the day-to-day challenges of low-income Vermonters.

One bit of kismet from the festival: When Rhys was 12, his aunt gave him a book for Christmas titled Mischief in the Mountains: Strange Tales of Vermont and Vermonters Among the short stories in the 1970 book was one that Rhys used years later as the basis for a movie script, which was never filmed. Bizarrely, one of the first submissions for the festival was a 16-minute short, made in 2023 by Vermonters Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple, called “The Thaw.” It was based on that same story. You can’t script that kind of serendipity. ➆

Vermont Film & Folklore Festival, Thursday, May 23, through Sunday, May 26, at various locations in Manchester. $50 festival pass; $5-10 per individual event. vermontfilmandfolklorefestival.com.

Car Talk

The Aubins have lived in Lyndonville for seven generations, and their 1931 Ford Model A has been driven by their family for five. In the 1940s, Alphonse Aubin bought the car and named her Lizzie. Alphonse was a postal carrier in Lyndonville for two decades and used Lizzie to deliver the mail. Over the years, she became a familiar sight in parades and at Bandstand Park during the summer for Wednesday night military band concerts. But Lizzie hadn’t been seen in Lyndonville for the past 35 years.

Alphonse’s great-grandson C.J. Aubin inherited the car from his cousin Bryan, who kept her with him in Burlington; before that, she’d spent some time with his uncle Ricky in Wallingford, Vt., and Clifton Park, N.Y. Two years ago, C.J. brought Lizzie home to Lyndonville on a trailer, and many Aubins were glad to see

Five generations of the Aubin family have been driving a Ford Model A named Lizzie

guy” until Lizzie came into his possession, has been restoring her with some help from his children, Zak and Ali. In the past year, they have logged 915 miles around town. Last fall, C.J. drove his kids to their first day of school in Lizzie, and she’s ferried them to baseball and softball games at the high school and Fisher Field.

Seven Days

senior multimedia

producer Eva Sollberger visited C.J. at Aubin Electric shop in Lyndonville on a sunny Saturday to meet members of the Aubin family, hear some stories and hitch a ride with Lizzie. Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.

and he also made a short video with C.J., which included old photos of the different Aubins who have owned Lizzie over the years. Last fall, a retiring postal worker in Lyndonville asked C.J. to give her a lift in Lizzie to deliver the mail along his great-grandfather’s old route in her last few weeks on the job. That would have made a great video, but the timing didn’t work out. So I got in touch with C.J. again this spring, and we made a date for filming.

It’s amazing how long Lizzie has been in the Aubin family.

title, and Ali was adamant that I should. You can tell how much pride they all take in this car. If you include C.J.’s brother’s grandson Phoenix, who is two years old, six generations of Aubins have taken rides in Lizzie. And I am sure there will be many more to come.

e Aubins are an interesting family. C.J. talked about how the Aubins are very handy. In addition to keeping Lizzie running over the years, they have a go-kart miniature train that is a replica of a diesel locomotive that ran in Lyndonville in the 1950s. I would also say the Aubins are excellent storytellers. Each of them told great tales about Lizzie and their family memories. I could not include all of them in the video, but it really helped bring the past to life.

PEOPLE NOTICE YOU WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN LIZZIE.

What was it like driving in Lizzie?

My first reaction when I got in was, “Where are the seat belts?” Spoiler alert: There are none. Lizzie also doesn’t have a radio, air conditioning or automatic windows. But as family friend Peter Hopkins says in the video, “She purrs.” And she does. The sounds she makes are very interesting. And of course, the ahooga horn is a ton of fun. People notice you when you are driving in Lizzie. We got lots of waves from townsfolk. Lizzie feels very substantial. She keeps up with traffic and has a lot of pep. I’m still not entirely sure how C.J. starts her, but I think it may have involved magic.

Why did you cover this story?

How did you hear about Lizzie?

C.J., who said he never considered himself a “car

I got an email from C.J.’s cousin Jay Collier last fall. Collier shared the story of Lizzie and the Aubin family with me,

C.J. is the fifth owner of this car and the fourth generation of Aubins to own her. His children have helped a lot in the past year restoring Lizzie and getting her road ready. I asked Zak and Ali if I should include their generation in the

My maternal grandfather was an engineer at Ford Motor Company in Detroit around when the Model As were being made. My paternal grandfather was a Ford mechanic, so I think they both would have been tickled to hear about my adventure with Lizzie. The Aubins are a tight-knit family, and I knew this would be an interesting story. Zak will be learning how to drive this summer in Lizzie, and he will probably inherit her eventually — although he joked that his dad might take her to his grave. ➆

himself

Episode 715: Driving Miss Lizzie

From left: Ali, C.J. and Zak Aubin with Lizzie, a 1931 Ford Model A

Scriver Studio

Kim Eng Yeo N3 Pottery, Shannon Morrison

on screen

I Saw the TV Glow ★★★★★

The pandemic wasn’t good for indie film. With cinemas closed, many festival favorites jumped straight to streaming and languished in obscurity there. Among them was Jane Schoenbrun’s We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, which premiered at the all-virtual 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Schoenbrun’s follow-up, the equally creepy and hypnotic I Saw the TV Glow, fared better. See it currently at Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas in Burlington.

The deal

In 1996, middle schooler Owen (Ian Foreman) is captivated by a promo for a show called “The Pink Opaque” on the Young Adult Network. When he spots an older outcast teen named Maddy (Brigitte Lundy-Paine) reading an episode guide for the show, he overcomes his extreme shyness to approach her.

Maddy invites him over for a secret sleepover, where Owen is sucked into the show’s story of two psychically bonded teens battling paranormal monsters. His dad (Fred Durst) declares the show “for girls,” so as Owen grows older (now played by Justice Smith), he watches on the sly, with Maddy passing him VHS tapes of each episode. She confides that she “likes girls” and that her abusive home life is unbearable.

Just before “The Pink Opaque” is unceremoniously canceled, Maddy begs Owen to run away with her. Fearful, he backs out — a decision that will haunt him well into adulthood, as will the imagery of their beloved show.

Will you like it?

“This isn’t the Midnight Realm,” Owen tells Maddy at a pivotal point in the film. “This is the suburbs.” He’s referring to a domain of evil on “The Pink Opaque,” but the joke is on him. I Saw the TV Glow belongs to a genre of homespun surrealism in which the suburbs are always the Midnight Realm. In Blue Velvet or Donnie Darko or even as far back as “The Twilight Zone,” everything that makes bedroom communities safe and cozy also makes them dangerous after nightfall. And if anyone’s going to seek out that danger, it’s restless teenagers chafing against their parents’ definitions of “safety.”

Rather than the horror film that some of its marketing suggests, I Saw the TV Glow is an indie drama through and through, with

slow pacing that may frustrate viewers who don’t relate to its nostalgic setting and themes. Those who do, however, will be riveted — and moved.

The first shot establishes both mood and color scheme: blue-shadowed pavement decorated with phosphorescent pink gra ti. The pink shimmer will appear again in the matching tattoos on the girls in “The Pink Opaque” and in the titular TV glow that illuminates many scenes. Its otherworldly promise clashes with the homely details of suburbia: paneled basement rec rooms, giant fish tanks, drab high school hallways.

With its themes of magic and sapphically tinged friendship, “The Pink Opaque” o ers young viewers a vision of transcendence and liberation. That’s especially meaningful to Owen, who’s so deeply inhibited that every word he speaks sounds like a prisoner’s strangled cry for help.

The show is clearly inspired by “Bu y the Vampire Slayer,” which had a passionate teen (and adult) following in the late ’90s. While mainstream culture dismissed it as teen fare, fans avidly followed its mythology. Some undoubtedly felt, as Maddy says of “The Pink Opaque,” that the show was more real than their lives.

What marks this as a millennial film is that Schoenbrun doesn’t treat the

characters’ fixation ironically. When I was growing up, filmmakers almost universally depicted television as the enemy of art — a soulless, brain-numbing medium driven by advertising. (Think of the disdainful remarks about “TV babies” in Gus Van Sant’s 1989 Drugstore Cowboy.) But the ’90s saw the rise of serialized “prestige TV.”

And today, with the boundaries between film and television blurring and “content” streaming on every device, the family TV set feels like a charming artifact of the past.

So perhaps now younger filmmakers can admit how much those “boob tubes” shaped them. When Maddy asks Owen whether he likes boys or girls romantically, he replies seriously, “I like TV shows.”

Later, as an adult, Owen streams the longcanceled show and realizes it was tamer and tackier than he remembered. (We’ve all been there.) But the yearning for escape aroused by “The Pink Opaque” remains.

And Schoenbrun treats this yearning as something good, the kids’ way of straining toward an authenticity they can never find in the suburbs. For Maddy, the show becomes an avenue to express her sexuality; for Owen, it could be a pathway to true identity. (Visual cues suggest that Owen is trans, while Maddy’s shifting selfpresentation hints at gender fluidity.) By projecting their feelings onto the show,

these characters use fiction to explore their own midnight realms — until adulthood forces them to decide whether to live their truths in the harsh light of day.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR (2021; Kanopy, Max, rentable): Like I Saw the TV Glow, Schoenbrun’s previous film is about the hidden late-night worlds of teenagers, with a protagonist who participates in a creepy online challenge.

DONNIE DARKO (2001; AMC+, the CW, Peacock, PLEX, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Sling TV, Tubi, rentable): Richard Kelly’s cult film kicked off a new millennial generation of David Lynchesque cinema, often with suburban and self-consciously retro settings.

IT FOLLOWS (2014; Netflix, Prime, rentable): David Robert Mitchell is another indie director exploring the suburban midnight realm. While this horror allegory was his biggest success, e Myth of the American Sleepover (2010; AMC+, Kanopy, rentable) is also well worth seeking out.

Two outcast teens find solace in a cult TV show in Jane Schoenbrun’s atmospheric indie drama.

NEW IN THEATERS

BABES: A single woman (Ilana Glazer) dealing with an unexpected pregnancy seeks help from her best friend (Michelle Buteau) in this comedy from Pamela Adlon. (104 min, R. Roxy)

EVIL DOES NOT EXIST: A widower (Hitoshi Omika) and his daughter are dismayed when a glamping development threatens their small town in this drama from Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car). (106 min, NR. Roxy)

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA: Anya Taylor-Joy plays the warrior from Mad Max: Fury Road in a postapocalyptic desert action epic that explores her backstory. With Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. George Miller again directed. (148 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Sunset)

THE GARFIELD MOVIE: The lazy cartoon cat returns in an animated family flick in which Garfield (voice of Chris Pratt) plots a heist with his long-lost alley-cat dad (Samuel L. Jackson). Mark Dindal directed. (101 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset)

SIGHT: The latest from Angel Studios tells the factbased story of an eye surgeon who escaped China during the Cultural Revolution and tried to restore a blind orphan’s sight. Andrew Hyatt directed. (100 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic)

WILDCAT: Ethan Hawke directed this drama about the early struggles of southern gothic writer Flannery O’Connor — played by his daughter Maya Hawke. With Laura Linney. (103 min, NR. Savoy)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

BACK TO BLACKHH Marisa Abela plays Amy Winehouse in this biopic about the making of her best-selling album, directed by Sam TaylorJohnson. (122 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Savoy)

CHALLENGERSHHHH1/2 A love triangle among three tennis pros (Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor) makes sparks fly when two of them face off years later in this drama from Luca Guadagnino. (131 min, R. Big Picture, Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 5/1)

CIVIL WARHHHH Journalists race toward a Washington, D.C., threatened by rebels in this dystopian action thriller from Alex Garland, starring Kirsten Dunst and Wagner Moura. (109 min, R. Roxy; reviewed 4/17)

DRAGONKEEPER: A girl must find a dragon’s egg to save ancient China from an evil emperor in this animation. (99 min, PG. Welden)

THE FALL GUYHHH1/2 Ryan Gosling plays an injured Hollywood stuntman who must track down a missing movie star in this action comedy from David Leitch, also starring Emily Blunt. (126 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Playhouse, Roxy, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIREHH1/2 A new generation of ghostbusters joins the old one to fight an evil force that threatens Earth with a new ice age. (115 min, PG-13. Majestic, Sunset)

IFHH1/2 A kid finds out what happens to imaginary friends when their people grow up in this family comedy-drama written and directed by John Krasinski, who costars with Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming. (104 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

I SAW THE TV GLOWHHHH1/2 A supernatural late-night show alters two teens’ view of reality in this A24 drama from Jane Schoenbrun (We’re All Going to the World’s Fair), starring Justice Smith and Brigitte Lundy-Paine. (101 min, PG-13. Roxy; reviewed 5/22)

KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APESHHH1/2

On an Earth that has been ruled by apes for 300 years, a young chimp goes on a life-changing road trip in the latest series entry. (145 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

KUNG FU PANDA 4HHH Po (voice of Jack Black) must train his warrior successor in this animated adventure. (94 min, PG. Majestic)

NOWHERE SPECIALHHHH A terminally ill single dad (James Norton) seeks a new home for his young son in this drama from director Uberto Pasolini. (96 min, NR. Roxy)

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1HH A couple make the mistake of taking refuge in a remote cabin in this horror prequel. Renny Harlin directed. (91 min, R. Essex, Majestic)

TAROTHH Those tarot readings you thought were an innocent and enlightening pastime? In this horror flick, they can unleash evil. (92 min, PG-13. Majestic, Sunset)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (Sunset)

LOVE OF THE LAND (Essex, Thu only)

NORTH BY NORTHWEST 65TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Wed 22 only)

STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 — THE PHANTOM MENACE 25TH ANNIVERSARY (Majestic)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com

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

*CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org

ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

*MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com

MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com

MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net

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

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

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 2290598, savoytheater.com

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

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

SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com

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

3D TECH CAMP

Note: These capsule descriptions are not intended as reviews. Star ratings come from Metacritic unless we reviewed the film (noted at the end of the description). Find reviews written by Seven Days critic Margot Harrison at sevendaysvt.com/ onscreen-reviews. June 23 to July 5 - 3D

vermont-state/

art

Ephemeral Immersion

Plex Arts Fest brings delight and chaos to the Old North End

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

This Saturday night, May 25, Old North Enders in Burlington can see something lighting up the horizon. No, not the aurora borealis but an event that promises its own kind of spectacle: the Plex Arts Fest.

Some 120 indie artists will present art, film, video, installation, music, performance and interdisciplinary works from about 5 p.m. until after midnight. The festival’s venues around Archibald Street and North Winooski Avenue include Junktiques, Tank Recording Studio, Despacito Bar and Kitchen, and the parking lot of Ratsmission; part of Archibald Street will be closed to tra c for the event.

IT APPEARS IN AN ORDINARY SPACE AND THEN DISAPPEARS IN THIS DREAMLIKE, MAGICAL WAY.

SAM KANN

supports the creativity and energy artists bring to the Old North End.

Last year’s Plex “was just amazing,” Kann said. “The festival went even better than we had planned, in that we had 440 people come and it was really alive and just, like, super joyful.”

The Plex fest, which debuted last year, was born out of what organizer Sam Kann and others thought was a lack of venues for emerging artists to show experimental work in Burlington. In 2018, Kann cofounded Nocturne, a now-annual event at Middlebury College she described as “a night for the weird kids that also welcomed in everyone.” Both Nocturne and Plex are inspired by Nuit Blanche (White Night), which began in Europe in the 1990s. Those citywide events typically involve all-night access to arts venues, outdoor projections and performances.

PREVIEW

Because of that success, Plex organizers received more applications this year and have added venues, but they’re staying true to their roots as a DIY contemporary art festival. In selecting projects, they tried to prioritize work that isn’t suited to typical galleries. “A big priority for us is platforming arts that wouldn’t otherwise have a space in Burlington or Vermont,” Kann said. Plex 2024 will include some well-established artists, such as Renee Greenlee and Lydia Kern. Greenlee’s piece, titled “Suspended,” is a cyanotype of water on silk. Kern’s sculpture “Double Sorrow Double Joy” incorporates a sunflower planted after last year’s floods. The Burlington sculptor was recently awarded the Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award (see page 60).

Envisioning something similar in the Queen City last year, Kann asked Paddy Reagan, a cofounder of Winooski’s Waking Windows music festival, for advice. Reagan thought the arts fest sounded like a great idea. He connected Kann with Old North End business owners including Junktiques purveyor Phinn “Jamba” Sonin, who will participate again this year. A neighborhood fixture himself, Sonin enthusiastically

Musicians include Chilean singersongwriter Pia Zapata and Lincoln-based Michael Chorney’s psychedelic jazzrock band Freeway Clyde, which plays “soundtracks for films that have never been made,” according to Chorney’s website.

Some of the most intriguing work may be the least expected.

Linus Owens, an associate professor of sociology at Middlebury College, will play a washing machine. Aidan Lodge will show “Bogwoman,” a sculpture investigating trans ecology that contains and projects sounds from a bog. C. Green will present “I Promise Never Again to Write Plays About

Clockwise from left: “Suspended” by Renee Greenlee (detail); Kevin Donegan; Pia Zapata

Asians…”, a reading of a play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins filmed like an Instagram apology video.

Katie Gorson and Betsy McGavisk will present an interactive, glowing jellyfish that viewers can walk underneath. Kevin Donegan, pushing a cart, will wear a white suit and invite visitors to paint him. Marek Zajac’s project honors the first 25,000 victims of the war in Gaza, creating a sculptural landscape with their names.

While much of this work hasn’t been created yet — or even started — one already complete showstopper will be part of the festival’s infrastructure: Fluffy the Floating Cloud Bank. Made for the Burning Man festival by some 100 Vermonters, Fluffy is a bus featuring a flamethrower, 14,000 colored LEDs and 70 welded cloud forms. It has its own sound system and stage and, parked at Ratsmission, will provide a venue for some of the performances.

Visitors may see some pieces inside the former Ahavath Gerim Synagogue. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is under renovation by new owner Kitter Spater, but he has offered it to Plex as a rain space or a venue for some quieter works. Visitors will have

the opportunity to admire the building’s stunning pressed-tin ceiling, beautiful light fixtures and remaining stained glass.

At a recent planning walk-through of venues, festival organizers clarified details including working electrical outlets, structural stability, the location for food vendors, and balancing sound and lighting needs among different stages. Tank Recording Studio will host some indoor installations, as well as performances that visitors may want to watch from beginning to end. The Junktiques outdoor stage will be festive, encouraging visitors to drop in any time.

Visual art will be on view in Despacito, Junktiques and outdoor sites. And festivalgoers just might see performances on the roof of Ratsmission (a former auto shop for which Sonin said he has great plans).

An online Plex program will be available before Saturday, and on-site signage will orient visitors to performances and to wheelchair-accessible locations.

Planning aside, Plex organizers recommend that visitors just remain open to the immersive experience. “The idea is, you can wander and discover new things along the way,” Kann said. Plex is less a curated collection than a collage, with “chaos as the frame.”

Last year’s festival covered some costs with a $400 grant from the Wards 2 and 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly, but organizers decided against applying for outside funding this year. The goal is to preserve artistic freedom.

“We really believe in having Plex be as outside of capitalism as possible,” Kann said. Festival admission is $15, but those who can’t pay will not be turned away. Events in the Ratsmission parking lot and at Despacito are free for everyone. Ticket sales will help cover costs, and any proceeds will be divided among the artists and organizers.

Plex and events like it help to foster new ideas yet are fleeting. Visitors get to see artwork that can’t hang over their couch, that many galleries aren’t equipped to show and that doesn’t conform to expectations. The festival itself is tenuous, relying on venues that may not be available in the future, and young artist-organizers will likely move on to other things.

“Something I love about Plex is that it appears in an ordinary space and then disappears in this dreamlike, magical way,” Kann said. “There’s a parking lot you drive past every day, and all of a sudden there’s a gorgeous sculpture and a dance piece, and then the next day it’s gone. That ephemerality is really beautiful.” ➆

INFO

Plex Arts Fest is Saturday, May 25, 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Archibald Street and North Winooski Avenue in Burlington. instagram.com/plexartsfest

Winooski Wednesdays: Juneteenth | Jun 19, 5-8pm

Winooski Wednesdays: Summer Breeze | Jul 10, 5-8pm

Winooski Wednesdays: Rock n’ Roll | Aug 14, 5-8pm

Winooski Wednesdays: Pride | Sep 11, 5-8pm

“Bogwoman” by Aidan Lodge

Vincent Goldmine at Plex 2023

Lydia Kern Receives Fourth Annual Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award

BY HANNAH FEUER • hfeuer@sevendaysvt.com

Earlier this month, Burlington sculptor Lydia Kern received this year’s Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award, with a cash prize of $5,000 and a $1,000 credit to access Burlington City Arts studios.

e award aims to support emerging artists who exhibit high skill, a willingness to experiment and a commitment to innovation.

Kern, 31, sculpts pieces exploring the relationship between life and death; her work is often framed in devices resembling windows or tombstones. Her sculptures incorporate an eclectic array of materials: the shell of a double-yolked egg, a robin’s nest flattened by a rainstorm, discarded whistles salvaged from a dumpster. A jury of four selected Kern from 69 applicants.

“It’s not something that you would say, ‘Oh, I saw that somewhere else,’” said Heather Ferrell, Burlington City Arts curator and director of exhibitions. “She’s really developing an original vision.”

Gabriel, the prize’s namesake, was a prolific Vermont artist who died in 2017 at the age of 70. Her family created the award in collaboration with Burlington City Arts in 2021, when portrait artist and photographer Crystal Stokes took home the inaugural $1,500 prize.

Ferrell said she’s advocated for increasing the prize money over the years to support artists trying to make it full time. e prize money doubled this year, up from $2,500 in 2023.

Kern said she plans to use the money to purchase materials and will continue experimenting with unconventional objects.

One particularly memorable item she’s used: a deer’s spinal column that a friend of hers happened upon in the woods. Kern turned the bones into a piece she titled “Fleet,” animal vertebrae suspended in the air to resemble birds.

Her next project, a 9-by-11-foot archway to be installed on the perimeter of Burlington’s City Hall Park, will feature preserved flowers suspended in resin. Kern collected the flowers after posting on the neighborhood social network Front Porch Forum that she was hosting “flower drop-off hours” in the space where the sculpture will eventually be installed. e City of Burlington commissioned the piece as part of its Great Streets BTV initiative to revitalize public spaces.

“It feels good to be working on a piece that can give back to the community that has supported me,” Kern said. ➆

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘BETWEEN WATER AND SUN’: AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H., invites artists to participate in an upcoming group exhibition that asks, “What lies between water and the sun?” Info and application at avagallery.org. Online, through July 22. $20. Info, 603-448-3117.

RIVERLEDGE FARM POP-UP ARTS & CRAFT SHOW: 802ARTs seeks vendors for an August 24 market in Grafton. Details and application at 802artshouse.org. Online, through August 10. $75. Info, 734-6332.

Reception in celebration of Lydia Kern: Friday, July 12, 5 to 7 p.m., at the BCA Center in Burlington. burlingtoncityarts.org, lydiakern.com

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

ALEXIS SERIO & HOMER WELLS:

“Borders & Boundaries,” abstracted landscapes and paintings on aluminum, respectively. Brunch reception with Homer Wells: Saturday, May 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, Middlebury, through June 25. Info, 458-0098.

‘JOURNEYS IN PASTEL’:

A juried group exhibition featuring members of the Vermont Pastel Society of Central Vermont. Reception: ursday, May 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. River

Arts, Morrisville, May 23-August 22. Info, 888-1261.

LEE WILLIAMS: “ e Wounding,” an earth-based sculpture on the gallery’s front lawn. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, through November 3. Info, 257-0124.

LYNN CUMMINGS: “From Representational to Abstraction,” watercolor paintings and acrylic collages. Reception with artist talk: Sunday, May 26, 3-4:30 p.m. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, through June 30. Info, lynn.cummings@uvm.edu.

MIDDLEBURY STUDIO SCHOOL FUNDRAISER: “Get the Picture,” a virtual auction in which donors bid on the chance to commission a work from a local artist. All proceeds benefit school programs.

Online, May 25-June 9. Info, 458-8979.

‘NATURE’S PALETTE’: A group exhibition of 2D and 3D works by local artists featuring colors and textures found in nature. Chandler Gallery, Randolph, through July 6. Info, 728-9878.

‘THE PIGEON COMES TO BURLINGTON!’: An interactive play-and-learn exhibit based on characters created by children’s book author and illustrator Mo Willems. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, May 25-January 5. Info, 864-1848.

RORY AND WOODY JACKSON: “Uncle Woody and Me: Family Ties,” paintings by Woody Jackson and his nephew Rory Jackson, on the 50th anniversary of Woody’s first art exhibition. Reception with

Clockwise from top left: "Greening Force"; “Ghost Twin”; “Clanging Symbols”; “Huddled Under the Large Place”

artist talk by Woody Jackson, introduced by Rory Jackson: Friday, May 24, 5-6:30 p.m. Edgewater Gallery on the Green, Middlebury, through June 11. Info, 989-7419.

SUSAN WAHLRAB: “Fragile Resilience,” watercolors of flowers and the natural world. Reception and artist talk: Saturday, May 25, 5-7 p.m. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, May 25-June 23. Info, 253-2000.

VANESSA COMPTON: “A Night at the Garden,” large-scale collages by the Vermont artist, exhibited outside the gallery. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, through April 30, 2025. Info, 257-0124.

‘VOICES OF ST. JOSEPH’S ORPHANAGE’: An exhibition telling the story of former orphans and their accomplishments, presented by Vermont Folklife and the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Restorative Inquiry. Reception followed by discussion with former residents: Wednesday, May 29, 6 p.m. Athenaeum Hall Gallery, St. Johnsbury, through June 30. Free. Info, akolovos@vtfolklife.org.

ART EVENTS

SCULPTURE UNVEILING: A celebration of the 12th monument on the Rutland Sculpture Trail, honoring late Rutland resident Ernie Royal, a national leader in the food service industry and the first Black restaurateur in Vermont, and his wife, Willa. Designed by Amanda Sisk and sculpted by Don Ramey. 89 Merchants Row, Rutland, Wednesday, May 22, noon. Info, 793-4031.

ARTIST TALK: ELISE WHITTEMORE: A conversation with the exhibiting printmaker, moderated by fellow Soapbox artist Vanessa Compton. RSVP; space is limited. Soapbox Arts, Burlington, Thursday, May 23, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, info@ soapboxarts.com.

PALETTE PERSPECTIVES: JIM BRUCE: An artist talk and demonstration by the mixed-media painter featured in current exhibit “Green Gold.” Reservations required. Sparrow Art Supply, Middlebury, Thursday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 989-7225.

‘ARTFUL ESCAPES’: An exhibition of paintings, ceramics, monoprints, felted sculptures and mixed-media works presented by the Panton Art League. Panton Town Hall, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, nvanzandt.art@gmail.com.

OPEN STUDIOS: Artist market, demonstrations and tours featuring jeweler Melle Finelli, printmaker Janet Cathey, and photographers Matt Gustafson and Bailey Masi-Wood, in conjunction with the statewide Open Studio Weekend. White River Craft Center, Randolph, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, May 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 728-8912.

PEG HARRIGAN OPEN STUDIO: Composite imagery, cyanotypes and ceramic objects, part of Vermont’s Open Studios Weekend. PHarrigan Fine Arts, Burlington, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, May 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 495-6068.

PLEX ARTS FESTIVAL 2024: A showcase of contemporary and experimental art, music and performance with more than 100 projects. At the intersection of Archibald Street and North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, Saturday, May 25, 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $15, sliding scale. Info, 203-247-6047.

SPRING OPEN STUDIO: The artist invites visitors to view more than 50 outdoor sculptures as part of Vermont Open Studio Weekend. Gerald K. Stoner Sculpture, Underhill, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, May 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 324-3897.

VERMONT OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND: Vermont Crafts Council presents 136 sites and 147 artists across the state. See vermontcrafts.com for map and details. Various Vermont locations, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, May 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 279-9495.

WALK & TALK: MIRA CABRERA: A demonstration of using natural pigments in paintings, which are displayed along a trail open to self-guided tours. In conjunction with Open Studio weekend. Wright Park, Middlebury, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, growing.in.process@gmail.com.

VISITING ARTIST TALK: MIGUEL LUCIANO: The visual artist discusses his sculpture, painting and public art, which explores themes of history, popular culture and social justice. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Wednesday, May 29, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727. ➆

“I do call myself a bit of a renegade, because I go against a lot of the classical norms,” Wilson said. There still aren’t many classical musicians out there who look or sound like him — a Black composer with the Detroit royal “D” tattooed on his chest who favors gold rings and painted fingernails.

“My whole life has been climbing gates and breaking ceilings,” he said. “To this day, it’s very challenging, and I know there are still certain gates I’ve yet to conquer that lie ahead, but it doesn’t bother me as long as I feel I’m being true to who I am.”

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

The New

Classics:

Merging Chopin and Busta Rhymes with BLKBOK

At the tender age of 4, CHARLES WILSON III began a lifelong relationship with music. His mother wanted to instill a sense of discipline in him and his sister, so she started them both on piano lessons.

“I come from a long line of entertainers and artists on my mother’s side, so she knew I had that in my blood,” said Wilson, known professionally as BLKBOK, by phone ahead of his scheduled performance at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe on Thursday, May 30. “I played sports and all that, but the piano was my real constant. From age 4 to 16, I knew I had lessons every Sunday.”

While most of the kids his age were listening to pop, hip-hop or rock, Wilson was taking it all in and cataloging music as only a nascent composer could do.

“I don’t think I was too aware of genre, to be honest,” he said. “I’d listen to ICE CUBE, the ALLMAN BROTHERS, TCHAIKOVSKY, all of it. There’s truly no di erence — music is either good or it isn’t.”

Recognized as a prodigy by the time he was 8 years old, Wilson chose the name BLKBOK (pronounced “Black Bach,” as in the composer

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH) to showcase his connection to both rap and classical music. It didn’t take long for his talents to be noticed in his native Detroit. Eventually tapped to play with the likes of pop stars RIHANNA, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and JOHN MAYER, he blew up on TikTok in 2021 after releasing a classical remix of CARDI B’s song “Up.”

That same year, Wilson released his debut album, Black Book, the 2022 rerelease of which the New York Times shouted out as one of “5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now.”

Last year, he dropped 9, a tribute to the Little Rock Nine, the Black teenagers who were the first students to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., during the first days of desegregation in 1957.

It all makes BLKBOK something of outlier in classical music: a composer who is as versed in N.W.A as he is in SERGEI RACHMANINOFF

“It all leaks and seeps into my compositions,” Wilson said of his disparate influences. “When I set out to write a piece, it’s a blank canvas for me: What colors will I use? And a lot of my influences from my days touring with pop acts might sneak in; I’ll use a prechorus here or a bridge there.”

He loves to sneak in hints of other genres, as well. Wilson pointed out a

section in his new song “Shadows and Light” that delves into jazzier terrains and chord choices.

“Having this lush, jazzy section at the end of a classical piece is like a little Easter egg I get to leave, just a hint of my love of jazz,” he said.

The secret to composing a successful piece lies not so much in techniques or layering in genre, Wilson said, as in being willing to put yourself out there.

“The most important thing for a composer, as far as I’m concerned, is to be vulnerable and transparent,” he said. “You want to show people your perspective as a songwriter? Well, vulnerability is your No. 1 tool. To show people that I have these feelings, it gives the audience the agency to feel them as well.”

On tunes such as “George Floyd & the Struggle For Equality” and “Toddlers Don’t Care About Race,” Wilson uses classical music to delve into some of the driving issues of modern American society. It’s music that sets the table for a longer, harder conversation, even as, he observed, it “serves as a vehicle for a deeper, more spiritual connection between artist and audience.”

That connection matters because, in many ways, BLKBOK is swimming against the current when it comes to modern classical music.

Less than 2 percent of all classical composers are non-white. Staying true to himself in an onstage, visible way is of utmost importance to Wilson, given that need for representation.

“I want to show people that you don’t need a conservatory education, that you just need to work hard, and you don’t have to look or sound like anyone else,” he said. He hopes that Black audience members — particularly young people — who see him performing classical music from his own authentic standpoint will use his musical career as a blueprint to launch their own.

“And when you do that, you can surprise the audience,” he said. “Which is where the real power is: taking away people’s expectations and showing them there is so much more.”

For tickets and more information about BLKBOK’s upcoming performance in Stowe, visit sprucepeakarts.org. ➆

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “ALL OUR FAVORITE BANDS (ARE BREAKING UP)” James Kochalka Superstar, Frankie Cosmos, Francis Macdonald

2. “CHARMED I’M SURE” by Ben Roque

3. “TOO SHORT ENOUGH” WiseAcres

4. “TAKE ME RIDING (LIVE)” by Linda Bassick

5. “HANDSOME” by Heady Betty

6. “BUSY SIGNAL AT THE SUICIDE HOTLINE” by Drowningman

7. “WOLFSONG” by Rik Palieri Scan to listen

On the Beat

Summer is here, and so are the fests!

As you’ll have noticed in this very issue, all sorts of events are coming to Vermont during our brief window of sunshine and warmth, from GRACE POTTER’s returning Grand Point North to the Maple Roots Festival to the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival. This week also features a special insert devoted to Québec and all the fun to be had with our Canadian neighbors. So in that spirit, I figured I’d take this opportunity to gush about POP Montréal.

Before they found success, bands such as ARCADE FIRE and WOLF PARADE played POP. Founded in 2002 by creative

director DANIEL SELIGMAN, it’s the indie fest to find your next favorite band. As cool as the bigger names on the bill often are, discovery is the name of the game at the five-day festival of music, film and art.

Going down from September 25 to 29, POP Montréal announced a stacked lineup of music last week, including performances by two of Montréal’s best and brightest, STARS and the DEARS Both will be celebrating the 20th anniversaries of their breakout albums. Folk singer IRIS DEMENT; Parisian newwave legends EDITH NYLON; London punks BOB VYLAN; and an all-star tribute to American Canadian singer LHASA DE SELA, featuring FEIST, CALEXICO and LA FORCE, are other highlights of the stacked schedule.

Montréal offers a ton of killer fests

every year — don’t sleep on Distorsion Psych Fest or M for Montréal — but I’m not sure there’s a better way to experience the city than wandering from venue to venue at POP Montréal. Head to popmontreal.com for tickets and more information.

Looking to refresh those playlists? Good news: We’ve got a ton of new releases from Vermont artists to pop on your summer mixes.

First up is the Burlington indie-rock outfit ROBBER ROBBER, which is preparing to drop its debut full-length album, Wild Guess, in late July. The advance single “Backup Plan” is a jittery, almost krautrock-leaning track that has me psyched to hear the album, which was recorded by ROUGH FRANCIS/the ARMED/ IGGY POP drummer URIAN HACKNEY and mixed by BENNY YURCO.

Singer-songwriter RYAN SWEEZEY has a new single out on Friday, June 7: “Bartender,” which he initially released on his 2020 record Meadowlark Sessions Vol. I. Dissatisfied with his previous attempts to record the song, the pop music-loving Sweezey said he’s finally captured the spirit of the track.

Vermont hardcore stalwarts DROWNINGMAN, active from the late ’90s to 2005, have largely re-formed as a new band. Featuring guitarists MATT ROY and JAVIN LEONARD, TJ MAYNARD on bass, drummer WILLIAM MOLLEUR, and vocalist TY GURWICZ, the band convened as a new iteration of Drowningman but decided to debut a new project instead. It’s called MILES OF FIRE, and its first single, “Conditional,” is streaming now.

ANDREW CONNELLY, a member of folkrock act BLACKWATER, has released a solo track under the name YONDERS. A gentle acoustic number, “Bluebird” features Connelly singing over a soft bed of slide guitar and whistles before a shuffling beat creeps in. It’s a tender, impressive debut that’s streaming on Spotify.

Local sax legend JOE MOORE, who died of cancer in April, will be honored on Friday, May 24, with a celebration of life service at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington. Featuring more than 15 speakers, including PHISH drummer JON FISHMAN, who was Moore’s PORK TORNADO bandmate, the ceremony also serves as the launch of the Joseph Moore Jr. Music for Youth Scholarship Fund. It will benefit students at C.P. Smith Elementary School, where Moore volunteered.

Moore will also be honored during this year’s Burlington Discover Jazz Festival with a blowout concert by the Vermont Blues Society on June 9. ➆

Thurs 7/11 - Better than Ezra

Thurs 7/18 - UPROOTED ft. Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Thurs 7/25 - Tab Benoit & Anders Osborne w/ Special Guest Mike Zito Band

Thurs 8/1 - The Record Company

Sat 8/3 - Yonder Mountain String Band

Thurs 8/8 - Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band

Thurs 8/15 - G.Love & Special Sauce

Thurs 8/22* - Enter the Haggis

Sun 9/1*- Larkin Poe

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.22

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

Greenbush (bluegrass) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

Laura Fedele-Rasco (acoustic) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Queen City Rounders (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

THU.23

Andriana Chobot (singersongwriter) at Stone’s Throw, Waterbury, 6 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

EVNGwear (jazz fusion) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

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

Freedom Seeds (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Friedman and Quigley Duo (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

The Hot Mess (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Lincoln Sprague (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Red Hot Juba (jazz) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Sergio Torres (singer-songwriter) at Blue Paddle Bistro, South Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Sneezy (funk) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

Tom Bisson (singer-songwriter) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.24

Alex Stewart (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Bastardbastardbastard, EOUI, No Soul, Melkor, No Son of Mine (metal) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

The Walking Shred

It’s no easy feat making a name for yourself as a virtuoso guitarist in a crowded field. Throw on a Michael Myers-style Halloween mask and a KFC bucket atop your head, however, and people stop to listen. Donning that signature getup, the fleet-fingered enigma BUCKETHEAD has done it all, from playing in Guns N’ Roses to performing on the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Ninja to collaborating with Viggo Mortensen and Noam Chomsky. Considered one of the fastest and most eclectic six-string slingers out there, Buckethead incorporates metal, prog rock and bluegrass into his sound and can even shade into the experimental. See him get weird on Sunday, May 26, at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington.

Bent Nails House Band (rock, blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Blue Rock Boys (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free. Blues & Beyond, Bull & Prairie, Derek Sensale (blues, indie rock) at the Underground, Randolph, 7:30 p.m. $14-$17.

Brandon Frenyea (singersongwriter) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6 p.m. Free.

Brothers Miller (folk) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. Comatose Kids (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10. Corner Junction Bluegrass Band (bluegrass) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Emalou & the Beat (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

Embers in Umbra (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

The Faux Paws (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m. $15.

Grace Palmer (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Grateful for Biggie (Grateful Dead, Notorious B.I.G. tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Japhy Ryder (jam) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jon Wagar & Friends (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

Lloyd Tyler Band (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Mirage (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Monachino Stats Jarrett Trio (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Patrick Sargent (singersongwriter) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Q1 (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Slightly Used (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

The Strictly Hip (Tragically Hip tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$23.

Tiny Heart Explosions (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

tip/toe, Tyler Serrani, poetryclub, Leander (pop, indie) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.25

Andy Pitt, Mark Greenberg (acoustic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Bella and the Notables (jazz) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Burlington Electronic Department 2-Year Anniversary Party (electronic) at Radio Bean and Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m. $15.

Cleary/Gagnon/Saulnier Jazz Trio, Amber Delaurentis (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30.

D Davis & Django (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Glass Onion (Beatles tribute) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Hot Buttered Rum (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $27 - $32.

JD Tolstoi (synth) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Jessica Leone & Brendan Casey, Lara Cwass (blues) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Jontan, Will Davis (indie) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Last Kid Picked (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

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

Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

McMaple (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free. OnomatoParty (rock) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Paul Asbell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone Band (rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10. Slow Cookers (folk) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Stargazer (covers) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Vallory Falls, Doom Service, Assorted Fruit, Divide by Zero, Sturgeon (metal) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

SUN.26

Bettenroo (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, noon. Free.

Buckethead (rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $39/$45. Grocer, Rebecca Ryskalczyk, Paper Castles, Rockin’ Worms (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. $10.

Lang and I (folk) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Marc Ford, Joe Adler, Eric Segalstad (rock, blues) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$25. Nobby Reed Project (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free.

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

TUE.28

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free. Bob Recupero (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

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

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. Marisa Anderson, Footings (jazz, folk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$18. Westelaken, Young Laidy, Cosmic the Cowboy (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $15.

WED.29

Andy Frasco & the U.N., Ryan Dempsey & Friends (indie) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $35/$40.

SUN.26 // BUCKETHEAD [ROCK]

music+nightlife

live music

WED.29 CONTINUED FROM P.65

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

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (blues) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $39/$45.

Ethan Sawyer (singer-songwriter) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Jamie + the Guarded Heart, Andriana Chobot (indie) at Despacito, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

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

e Loonz (Americana) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

MONSOON, Hand in Pants, Community Breakfast (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Queen City Rounders (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Stewart Foster (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5. Willverine (electronic) at the Wallflower Collective, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

djs

WED.22

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

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

THU.23

All Ears (DJ) at the Big Spruce, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

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

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

FRI.24

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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

DJ LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Skippy (DJ) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

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

SAT.25

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

Meter Made

For the past two years, ROOST.WORLD’s Zack Schuster has been working to bring in top, nationally touring DJs and electronic musicians to Vermont as part of his BURLINGTON ELECTRONIC DEPARTMENT series. The BED quickly established itself as one of the premier electronic music events in the area. To celebrate the series’ second anniversary, Schuster is throwing a rager for the books: BURIAL WOODS, APALLED EAGLES, BONE BONE, XEN CHRON, OUZKXQLZN, SILENCE CASTOR and many, many others (including Roost.World, of course) take over Radio Bean and Light Club Lamp Shop in Burlington for a cross-club throwdown on Saturday, May 25.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

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

FRI.24

Karaoke (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

SUN.26

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

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

Crypt Goth Night (DJ) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

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

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

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

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

SUN.26

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

Sunday Night Mass with Magda, Darciidarka, Harder ey Come, Anxiocide, Justin REM (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 9 p.m. $25.

TUE.28

e Vanguard: Jazz on Vinyl (DJ) at Paradiso Hi-Fi, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.29

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

open mics & jams

WED.22

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

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

THU.23

Old Time Jam (open jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Open Stage Night (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

SUN.26

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

VT Synth Society Meetup - May Edition (open mic, electronic) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.27

Open Mic (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.28

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Venetian Soda Open Mic (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.29

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

Music Open Mic (open mic) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

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

comedy

WED.22

Kingdom Kids (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5. Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

Whale Tales: An Evening of Comedic Storytelling (comedy) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.23

Michelle Buteau (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $35. Unrescripted (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

FRI.24

Michelle Buteau (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $35.

SAT.25

Michelle Buteau (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $35.

SUN.26

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.

TUE.28

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

WED.29

Improv Class Show (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.22

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (trivia) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

THU.23

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 6 p.m. Free.

Karaoke & Open Mic (karaoke and open mic) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Matt Mero (karaoke) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

MON.27

Trivia (trivia) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.28

Godfather Karaoke (karaoke) at the Other Half, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Tuesdays (karaoke) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Motorcade (karaoke) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Music Bingo (music bingo) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.29

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Musical Bingo (trivia) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Queer Bar Takeover and Drag Show (drag) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Team Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. ➆

REVIEW

Ben Roque, Mad Andalusia

(SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

Ben Roque admits to an insatiable desire to roam. And by learning to harness his own curiosity and risk tolerance, he’s evolving as a musician, author and visual artist.

On Mad Andalusia, the fifth album he’s recorded and released on his own, the Vermont native presents an alluring collection of original songs that, like his previous recordings, showcase his fascination with collage and the dexterity with which he applies the art form’s principles to music.

Each of the 10 tracks is an assemblage, and together they testify to his abilities on piano, bass and guitar. Roque plays all the instruments on the record, conjoining sounds to beguiling e ect. He’s more assured and bolder than on previous albums, and his cagey vocals are the perfect complement to

WiseAcres, Anchor

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Music writers might be thinning out more quickly than glaciers, but we do occasionally still congregate. Not so long ago at a music festival, a contemporary from another market asked me, “What’s going on with the jam bands these days?”

I replied with a polite version of How the fuck should I know?

“Well, Burlington is on the front lines for that genre, isn’t it?” the other writer said. “I figure if anyone is going to know what’s happening with it, it’s you.”

A sort of panic came over me, not unlike the feeling of blanking on a homework assignment. Jesus, was I supposed to be paying attention to the jam bands for signs of evolution? The jam crowd know what they like and like what they know. Right?

Nature abhors an uninformed critic, however. Vermont jam bands have been submitting so much music lately that

jams that groove, lurk and search for trouble.

The album’s clamorous opener, “Charmed I’m Sure,” marches on ritualistic drum patterns. His tone is evasive as he evokes imagery drawn from his time as a nomad, wandering and hunting unusual influences.

“Spilled Perfume” longs with regret, though the emotions are fleeting, and it features Roque’s tender hand on the piano, along with some of his most careful vocals on the record.

Exhilarating and transportive, “Spanish Burgundy” uses acoustic guitar strums to stride to far-o space. “Bishop’s Night Cap,” a mischievous, frisky instrumental number, uses ambient sounds to set the scene of a bustling nearby gathering.

An intoxicating strut and another standout on Mad Andalusia, “Hatchetfish” features Roque at his most cunning and backed by vocalist Chris Avetta, the lone musician to join him on this endeavor. Together, they unnerve us as they harmonize on one of the most lasting lines of the album: “You never know without certain light.”

I’ve been worried someone dosed our o ce co ee. (Now there’s a theme issue I can get behind: The Seven Days Trips Balls Issue.) But, on the plus side, the trend helped solve the admittedly minor existential crisis spurred by that other music writer’s query.

My usual complaint about the genre isn’t so much that I think it sucks as that it tends to be predictable. Lately, though, I’ve seen some jam records on the opposite end of the spectrum: progressive, surprising, artistically crafted records that just might show the face of jam to come.

True to form, Roque recorded Mad Andalusia in three of his favorite places across the country: Albuquerque, N.M.; St. Louis, Mo., and Burlington. The album’s title track pronounces this theme ever so clearly: “I keep on moving.”

Long inspired by noir and lo-fi music, Roque is also an author with three books under his belt, including novels and the 2016 story collection Living Paint. In words as in music, he compiles fanciful episodes colored by observations from his endless searches, suggesting that he and his art are amalgams of his experiences.

(drums, vocals), Pat McGinn (keys, vocals) and Seth Vaczy (guitar, vocals) does away with most of the genre’s conventions. Not a single song tops the six-minute mark, there’s nary a bass solo, and the only tune with food in its title (“Pitted Olive”) is borderline death metal.

The debut LP from Burlington’s WiseAcres, Anchor, is just such a record. Granted, I’m not entirely sure it is a jam band album. The quartet of Ben Gamache (bass, vocals), Isaac Chadwick

But Anchor does flit between genres like a bee on pollen parade.

The band dabbles in white-dude reggaeadjacent music (a telltale jam trait) on tunes such as “How It Makes You Feel,” but that song has a stronger line of prog rock running through it than the arrangements favored by crunchier bands. WiseAcres touch on new wave-leaning neo-soul with “Bone Bread” and access space funk and jazz on “Adjust the Angles.”

Listening to “Save It Up,” which

Roque has grown more selective of his material since releasing There’s Been a Murder, his 2015 debut. As he’s said in interviews, he shifted his songwriting from first to third person beginning with his 2019 album, Amuser, and following suit for 2020’s The Old Hush. He used the cross-country tours supporting both of those albums as opportunities to find shadowy spaces and mysteries to ponder — the impetus for the recordings that followed each trip and a crucial aspect of a creative process with no end point.

Roque’s latest is his most compelling sonic montage to date. Mad Andalusia exhibits the bravery required to sojourn in unfamiliar places and spotlights his propensity to thrive as an instinctive songwriter, one who regularly steps out of his comfort zone and finds motivation for songs in situations where others might see none.

Mad Andalusia is streaming now on all platforms.

CASEY RYAN VOCK

jumps in and out of jazz and indie rock seamlessly, you realize that WiseAcres actually do what most jam bands only claim to. Let me explain.

Often, jam bands don’t want to identify as such — and, really, I get that. So they describe themselves as a funk band or a soul-meets-reggaemeets-bluegrass act. But as soon as the album starts to spin, you realize it’s just an 11-minute song called “Coaxial Fibrillation Meatball Comedown, Pt. II.”

WiseAcres, by contrast, cram all of their influences into a Cuisinart and actually do produce original results. It’s enough to give a music critic yet another existential crisis. If the new wave of jam bands follows the example of WiseAcres with Anchor and synthesizes its influences into something shiny and new instead of fetishizing its predecessors, we just might be on to something.

Anchor is streaming now on Spotify. CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Did you know?

Sun Safety Tips

Cover up

skin

Vermont has the second highest incident rate of melanoma in the U.S.A.

Most skin cancer is preventable! Reduce your skin cancer risk by limiting sun exposure.

Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunprotective clothing and sunglasses.

Stay Indoors

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun's UV rays are strongest.

Wear Sunscreen

With a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. The higher, the better.

calendar

MAY

WED.22

agriculture

GREENING SMALL SPACES: Green thumbs with limited square footage learn how to buff up their container gardens. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:45-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS

NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and beyond. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

22-29, 2024

dance

WEST COAST SWING DANCING: People pair up for a partner dance and move to every genre of music. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, lessons, 7 p.m.; dance, 8-9:30 p.m. Donations. Info, team@802westiecollective. org.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: Andy Serkis narrates the journey of a lifetime into the world of the world’s largest mammals and the scientists who study them. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA OPERATION: Aspiring photographers and cinematographers learn how to shoot like the pros. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a journey into the weird, wide world of mushrooms, which

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Listings and spotlights are written by Emily Hamilton Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

health & fitness

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

we are only just beginning to understand. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET

3D’: Scientists dive into the planet’s least-explored habitat, from its sunny shallows to its alien depths. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: Through the power of special cameras, audiences are transported into the world of the teeniest animals on Earth. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

LISA MASÉ: The author of The Culinary Pharmacy: Intuitive Eating, Ancestral Healing and Your Personal Nutrition Plan discusses her cookbook. Phoenix Books, Rutland, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 855-8078.

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

theater

& T-Rex Theater, 6-7 p.m. $7. Info, 399-5794.

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11. = ONLINE EVENT

COMMUNITY FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT CLASS: TUNING INTO FUNCTION: Attendees learn proven techniques for releasing tension and improving posture. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 9:30-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 355-1227.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celtic-curious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS:

Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

INTERMEDIATE IRISH LANGUAGE

CONVERSATION AND MUSIC: Speakers with some experience increase their fluency through conversation and song. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

MOIRA SMILEY & THE RHIZOME QUARTET WITH COMMUNITY CHOIR: The singer and composer performs folk song arrangements for voice and string quartet. Richmond Congregational Church, 7:30-8:30 p.m. $22. Info, 355-5440.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: The annual Asian Heritage Month extravaganza features art shows, film screenings, play readings, food tastings and more. See accesasie. com for full schedule. Various Montréal locations. Prices vary. Info, 514-298-0757.

seminars

THE DILEMMA OF RETIREMENT INCOME: Specialists demystify pensions, Social Security and other types of saving plans. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 825-1976.

ECOGATHERINGS: Sterling College hosts online learning sessions digging into big ideas such as joy, rage, climate change, mutual aid, food and art. See ce.sterlingcollege.edu for upcoming topics. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, ecogather@ sterlingcollege.edu.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS

CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

‘TICK, TICK... BOOM!’: Vermont Stage presents an autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the late creator of Rent Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-64. Info, 862-1497.

THU.23 community

COMMUNITY RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CENTER: A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE WHO’VE LIVED IT: Locals share their experiences with neighborhood associations and alternatives to the prison system. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. ST. ALBANS COMMUNITY PICNIC AND LISTENING SESSION: The first 150 guests get free food and drinks at this town gathering to discuss local news, business and politics. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 4-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 655-9451.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR: All ages and abilities are invited to knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. All materials are provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT FILM & FOLKLORE FESTIVAL: Four days of screenings, seminars and soirées give the Southern Vermont creative community plenty to celebrate. See vermontfilmandfolklore festival.com for full schedule.

Various Manchester locations, 1 p.m.-midnight. Prices vary; $50-150 for festival passes. Info, vermontfilmandfolklorefestival@ gmail.com.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘THE CIRCUS’: Cinephiles ooh and ahh at this 1928 comedy, Charlie Chaplin’s last film of the silent era. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 533-2000.

FILMING IN THE STUDIO: Aspiring television DPs practice setting up and filming an interview show. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

‘LOVE OF THE LAND’: Based on the true story of Vermont farmer Romaine Tenney, this short animated film tells the bittersweet story of the last year of a man’s life. Q&A follows. Essex Cinemas

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22. food & drink

FREE WINE TASTING: Themed wine tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.

games

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

ROTARY SPELLING BEE: Dictionary die-hards compete in corporate, collegiate and high school heats. Tickets include food and one free drink. Champlain Room & Terrace at Champlain College, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. $35. Info, 730-6200.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Donations. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Semi-fluent speakers practice their skills during a conversazione with others. Best for those who can speak at least basic sentences. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

outdoors

BIRDS, TRAILS AND FORESTRY MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE: Audubon Vermont‘s Steve Hagenbuch leads a fearless (and educational) pedal through the woods. Intermediate cyclists and up. Cady Hill Forest,

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11. = ONLINE EVENT

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun

Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.22

burlington

ANI-MAY: An anime-themed party entices teen fans with games, snacks, VR adventures and crafts. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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

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

chittenden county

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

PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

LEGO CHALLENGE CLUB: Kids engage in a fun-filled hour of building, then leave their creations on display in the library all month long. Ages 9 through 11. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

THU.23 burlington

BABYTIME: Pre-walking little ones experience a story time catered to their infant interests. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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

chittenden county

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones from birth through age 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

stowe/smuggs

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

Harper, age 11 THU.23» P.79

Future of Fashion

Reduce, reuse, recycle hits the runway at a fashion show produced entirely by tweens. The brilliant middle schoolers of rePlay Arts and Junction Arts & Media’s afterschool programs model their own haute couture creations — created from clothing and other materials that were destined for the landfill — on the red carpet. Kids also run the lights, cameras and sound system. Over the program’s eight weeks, these Upper Valley students have visited local reuse organizations and learned the fundamentals of sewing and fashion design.

REUSE RUNWAY FASHION SHOW

Wednesday, May 29, 4:45-5:30 p.m., at Junction Arts & Media in White River Junction. Free. Info, jamie@ replayarts.org, uvjam.org.

Stowe, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

WOMEN’S RIDE AT SAXON HILL: This recurring group ride is open to women of all abilities. The larger group is split by experience level with a ride leader and sweep. Snacks to follow. Saxon Hill Trailhead, Essex Junction, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, info@ fotwheel.org.

politics

INTERNATIONAL

SPEAKER SERIES: ERIC A.

SMITH & ILAN MANOR: Two experts dive into the topic of diplomacy in the digital age and the effects of AI on international relations. Presented by the Vermont Council on World Affairs.

Noon-1 p.m. $25; $20-75 for series passes; free for members; preregister. Info, 557-0018.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

‘POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN

WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM

ALIVE’: Veep fans laugh their pantsuits off at this comedy about an incompetent president and the beleaguered White House staffers who have to repair his blunder of global proportions. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 8 p.m. $25-68. Info, 514-739-7944.

theater

‘TICK, TICK... BOOM!’: See WED.22.

words

BRINDA CHARRY: The author shares her debut novel, The East Indian, a historical tale about the first Indian indentured servant in North America. Norwich Bookstore, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

EVENING BOOK GROUP: Readers discuss When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka in a relaxed round-robin. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

JEN SORIANO: The award-winning author of Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing reads from their work. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

FRI.24 agriculture

FRIENDS OF THE COBLEIGH LIBRARY PLANT SALE: Gardeners and green thumbs stock up for the season. Donations of bare root garden plants, seedlings in solarized soil and houseplants accepted through May 23. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Free. Info, 626-5475.

GRANITE CENTER GARDEN CLUB

ANNUAL PLANT SALE: It’s first come, first served at this leafy bazaar benefiting planting projects throughout Barre. Vermont Granite Museum, Barre, 6:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, allyraheflint@ gmail.com.

community

VOLUNTEER WEEKEND: THOUSANDS OF DAFFODILS

AWAIT YOU: Locals help out with projects around the grounds and facilities to help the animal rescue get ready for summer. Willoughby Farm Animal Rescue, Fairlee, noon6 p.m. Free. Info, 727-0279.

dance

CONTRA DANCE: Mary Wesley calls the steps and Red Dog Riley plays the tunes at this all-levels party. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. Shelburne Town Hall, beginners’ lesson, 6:45 p.m.; dance, 7-10 p.m. $5-12; free for kids under 12. Info, info@queencitycontras.com.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT FILM & FOLKLORE

FESTIVAL: See THU.23, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

WRJOLLYWOOD SHORTS:

Junction Arts & Media unveils its outdoor movie setup for a sunset screening of seven eclectic shorts by local auteurs. BYO blankets, lawn chairs and bug spray.

George Ratcliffe Park, White River Junction, 8:15-10 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION

Déjà Brew

For passport-toting beer lovers, it’s just a hop, skip and jump to Mondial de la Bière, Montréal’s annual ale extravaganza. The festival raises the bar for its 30th anniversary, transforming Windsor Station in Ville-Marie into a yeasty paradise for three days straight. Once attendees have their official glasses in hand — which could be any edition, from 1994 to 2024 — they can sample more than 400 beers from 107 breweries in Québec and abroad, including 27 sips brewed specially for the fest. Santé!

MONDIAL DE LA BIÈRE

Friday, May 24, through Sunday, May 26, at Windsor Station in Montréal. $10-20. Info, 514-7229640, festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca.

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

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the

LGBTQ community gather weekly to play games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow

Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

BECKY TRACY AND KEITH MURPHY: A dynamic duo plays traditional Celtic tunes for the fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Bring a dessert to share at intermission. Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, 233-5293.

BRETT HUGHES & THAT BLUEGRASS BAND: The local honky-tonk legend and friends deliver infectious energy and affecting lyricism. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

FAIR SPARROW: Beloved central Vermont folk artists Patti Casey, Ally Tarwater and Susannah Blachly blend their voices and instrumental talents. Adamant Community Club, 7-9 p.m. $15. Info, 454-7103.

FRIDAY NIGHT PIANO: A performance of piano rolls from the 1900s through the present — and from ABBA to Led Zeppelin — entertains as audiences eat snacks around the firepit. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 5-10 p.m. Free. Info, info@ mainstreetmuseum.org.

TRANSCONTINENTAL PIANO DUO: Four hands dance across 88 keys in a concert by Elaine Greenfield and Janice Meyer Thompson. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $25. Info, 864-0471.

outdoors

BIKE FERRY OPENING DAY RIDE: Cyclists fuel up on coffee and muffins before pedaling together to celebrate the opening of Lake Champlain’s most bike-friendly boat. Local Motion, Burlington, 8 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, christina@localmotion.org.

SPRING BIRDING: Folks of all interests and experience levels seek out feathered friends in flight. All supplies provided. Berlin Pond, 7-9 a.m. Free. Info, 229-6206.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

MONDIAL DE LA BIÈRE: Beer lovers flock to this threeday festival featuring samples from countless international breweries. See festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca for details. See calendar spotlight. Various Montréal locations. $10-30. Info, 514-722-9640.

SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL:

The Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture presents two weekends of new films from the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora. Virtual options available. See saffm. centrekabir.com for full schedule. Various Montréal locations. Prices vary. Info, 514-620-4182.

theater

‘DEAF REPUBLIC’: The Parish Players present a staged reading of Ilya Kaminsky’s acclaimed poem cycle, featuring puppets by Ria Blaas and a cast packed with local talent. Eclipse Grange Theater, Thetford, 7-8:45 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 785-4344. ‘TICK, TICK... BOOM!’: See WED.22.

SAT.25

agriculture

FRIENDS OF THE COBLEIGH LIBRARY PLANT SALE: See FRI.24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

MAY BIRD MONITORING WALK: Novice and expert birders record wildlife along museum grounds. Bring binoculars, tick repellent, and water. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7:30-9 a.m. $5-15 suggested donation. Info, 434-2167.

community

MARSHFIELD MEMORIES ROUNDTABLE: Townsfolk help identify the people and locations in the Marshfield Historical Society’s vintage photo collection and bring their own to share. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 426-3581. VOLUNTEER WEEKEND: THOUSANDS OF DAFFODILS AWAIT YOU: See FRI.24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO BREWERS FESTIVAL: This 15th annual beer lover’s bash features live music, games and food plus ales, lagers and ciders from across New England. School for International Training Graduate Institute, Brattleboro, 12:30-4:30 p.m. $33.50. Info, 254-4577.

VERMONT FILM & FOLKLORE

FESTIVAL: See THU.23, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22.

STUDIO PRODUCTION TOUR:

Members explore the TV studio and its cameras, microphones and lights. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

TRAIL RUNNING FILM FESTIVAL:

ActiveVT pregames the marathon with a showing of eight short flicks spotlighting the spectacular world of ragged running. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-9:30 p.m. $20. Info, 523-2330.

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET:

Dozens of stands overflow with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

CAPITAL CITY FARMERS MARKET:

Meats and cheeses join farm-fresh produce, baked goods, locally made arts and crafts, and live music. Capital City Farmers Market, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 272-6249.

games

BOARD GAME BRUNCH: The Friendly Tabletop Gamers of Essex and Beyond host a morning game-play session for anyone 18 and up. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info,

health & fitness

COMMUNITY YOGA CLASS: An all-levels session offers a weekly opportunity to relax the mind and rejuvenate the body. Wise Pines, Woodstock, 10-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 432-3126.

holidays

PRESERVATION BURLINGTON

LAKEVIEW CEMETERY TOUR:

A Memorial Day tour highlights the lives of local veterans and home-front supporters buried in the cemetery. Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, 9 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, 309-8665.

lgbtq

QUEER READS BOOK CLUB

SERIES: Lovers of LGBTQ literature lead a colorful discussion of Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

music

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES: YASSER TEJEDA: The award-winning Dominican guitarist and composer celebrates his jazz, rock

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11. = ONLINE EVENT

MAY 25 & 28 | SPORTS

Kick Off

Fresh off its historic showing at the U.S. Open, the Green Mountain State’s beloved men’s soccer team plays two home games this week against Pathfinder FC and Black Rock FC. Founded in 2022 and competing in the men’s USL League Two, the Vermont Green FC has two goals: the one you’re thinking of, and environmental justice. The club has built climate crisis work into its DNA, from its plans to become a net-zero carbon emissions organization to its commitment to anti-racism. And those stunning jerseys? Made from recycled plastic bottles.

VERMONT GREEN FC

Saturday, May 25, 2 p.m., and Tuesday, May 28, 7 p.m., at Virtue Field, Archie Post Athletic Complex, University of Vermont, in Burlington. See website for additional dates. $8-15; free for kids 5 and under. Info, club@vermontgreenfc.com, vermontgreenfc.com.

Vermont Green

WEDNESDAY,

Embers

WEDNESDAY,

Job of the Week Museum Education Manager

The American Precision Museum in Windsor, VT,  is seeking a skilled, experienced, and passionate STEM educator to broaden its portfolio of pro grams for youth and adults. The successful candidate has strong project manage ment experience and cares-

The Scoop on the American Precision Museum

From Molly Holleran, Education Specialist

What are the unique duties of this job?

MH: e education manager will be responsible for creating engaging and interactive programming around science, technology, engineering and mathematics in our maker spaces. e person will also work directly with our exhibit planners, schools and the community to manage events at the museum.

How was the American Precision Museum started?

MH: APM is housed in the old Robbins and Lawrence Armory, built in Windsor in 1846. e building was converted to the museum in 1966, primarily for former machinists and engineers interested in the history of precision instrument making. Today its goal is to inspire a new generation of young tinkerers and technology enthusiasts. Apply for this great local job and many more: jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Field, Putney, 6 p.m. $20-25; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

MONDIAL DE LA BIÈRE: See FRI.24. ‘POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE’: See THU.23.

SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See FRI.24.

sports

BOCCE ROOKIE DAY: Newcomers and novices lob brightly colored balls at a target with the help of seasoned players. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 441-4604.

VERMONT GREEN FC: The state’s winning men’s soccer club continues its third year with flair and a focus on environmental justice. See calendar spotlight. University of Vermont Archie Post Athletic Complex, Burlington, 2 p.m. $8-15; free for kids 5 and under. Info, club@vermontgreenfc.com.

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: Spectators buy some peanuts and Cracker Jack to watch the Green Mountain State’s own Futures Collegiate Baseball League team face off against new opponents each night. Centennial Field, Burlington, 6:05 p.m. $6-17; $125-418 for season passes. Info, 655-4200.

theater

‘DEAF REPUBLIC’: See FRI.24, 7:307:45 p.m.

‘TICK, TICK... BOOM!’: See WED.22.

words

THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SUN.26

agriculture

EARLY BIRDERS MORNING WALK:

Led by various experts, birders amble through museum grounds in search of native birds. Bring tick repellent and binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7-8:30 a.m. $5-15 suggested donation. Info, 434-2167.

PLANT AND PIE SALE: Veggie starts and flowers go on sale alongside homemade desserts. The Old Meeting House, East Montpelier, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, admin@oldmeetinghouse.org.

PLANT SWAP: From fruits to flowers, cultivators exchange garden starters at a horticultural happening hosted by the Swap Sisters. Caledonia Grange, East Hardwick, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 755-6336.

community

HUMAN CONNECTION CIRCLE: Neighbors share stories from their lives and forge deep connections. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, humanconnectioncircle@ gmail.com.

VOLUNTEER WEEKEND: THOUSANDS OF DAFFODILS

AWAIT YOU: See FRI.24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.22, 1-3 p.m.

dance

‘THE FINAL BOW’: White River Ballet Academy caps off its closing season with student performances from Carnival of the Animals and Paquita. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 2:30 & 6:30 p.m. $1520. Info, 603-448-0400.

environment

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS:

Volunteers learn how to remove invasive plants in an environmentally friendly way. No experience necessary. Shelburne Farms, 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, breezybeegardens@gmail.com.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT FILM & FOLKLORE

FESTIVAL: See THU.23, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

food & drink

STOWE FARMERS MARKET: An appetizing assortment of fresh veggies, meats, milk, berries, herbs, beverages and crafts tempts shoppers. Stowe Farmers Market, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, stowefarmersmarket@gmail. com.

VERSHIRE ARTISAN & FARMERS

MARKET: Foodies, farmers and their friends buy and sell freshgrown produce and handmade finds. Vershire Town Center, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, vershiremarket@gmail.com.

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET:

Families shop for fresh produce, honey, meats, coffee and prepared foods from more seasonal vendors at an outdoor marketplace. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 655-6410.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY

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

holidays

MEMORIAL DAY DINNER: Medal of Honor awardee William D. Swenson is the guest of honor at this touching event. The Pitcher Inn, Warren, 6 p.m. Cost of food and drink; preregister; limited space. Info, 496-6350.

lgbtq

CRAFT CLUB: Crafty queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 622-0692.

LGBTQ FIBER ARTS GROUP: A knitting, crocheting and weaving session welcomes all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations and skill levels. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. Noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, laurie@pridecentervt. org.

music

THE BENT NAILS HOUSE BAND: The Montpelier favorites take audiences on a journey from rock to funk and back again. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 4-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

‘PSALMS, SUITES AND SONATAS: UNUSUAL MUSIC FROM THE FRENCH BAROQUE’: A program of chamber selections from Cameo Baroque benefits the Reading-West Windsor Community Resiliency Fund. Hall Art Foundation, Reading, 4-5:30 p.m. Donations. Info, vermont@ hallartfoundation.org.

outdoors

VINS RAPTORS CLOSE UP: A special workshop in honor of bird migration season features a birding hike and firsthand encounters with falcons, hawks and owls. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, savannah_ spannaus@partner.nps.gov.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

MONDIAL DE LA BIÈRE: See FRI.24. SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See FRI.24.

sports

VERMONT CITY MARATHON & RELAY: The 35th annual race winds through Burlington and along Lake Champlain. Waterfront Park, Burlington, 7:15 a.m. $200325; preregister. Info, 863-8412.

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See SAT.25, 5:05 p.m.

theater

‘DEAF REPUBLIC’: See FRI.24, 3-4:45 p.m.

‘TICK, TICK... BOOM!’: See WED.22, 2 p.m.

MON.27

environment

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS: See SUN.26.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

food & drink

WEST ASIAN & MEDITERRANEAN FUSION POP-UPS WITH THE HEALER CHEF: Foodies delight in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors of hummus, Iranian stew, seitan kebabs and more. Pickup or dine-in options available. Stowe Street Café, Waterbury, 5-9 p.m. $8-32. Info, 882-8229.

games

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

holidays

VERGENNES MEMORIAL DAY

PARADE: American Legion Post 14 hosts a patriotic parade and chicken barbecue. Vergennes Union Middle & High School, 11 a.m. Free; preregister to participate. Info, 877-3216.

language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Locals learning English as a second language gather in the Digital Lab to build vocabulary and make friends. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

music

SAMBATUCADA OPEN

REHEARSAL: Burlington’s own samba street percussion band welcomes new members. No experience or instruments required. 8 Space Studio Collective, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 862-5017.

politics

LEGISLATIVE FORUM: State representatives discuss issues with their constituents. Virtual option available. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

FRINGEMTL: The world’s most offbeat performers convene for live music, theater performances and everything in between. See montrealfringe.ca for full schedule. Various Montréal locations. Prices vary. Info, 514-849-3378. ‘POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE’: See THU.23, 7 p.m.

sports

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See SAT.25, 1:05 p.m.

TUE.28

community

CURRENT EVENTS

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

TUE.28 » P.78

crafts

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

dance

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m.; dance, 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

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

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22.

‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

health & fitness

BICYCLING BASICS FOR FUN AND SAFE RIDING:

Cycling students learn skills such as proper helmet wearing, road safety and tire patching over six weeks. BYO bike and helmet. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, saddleshoes2@gmail.com.

language

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION:

Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

music

WED.29

business

JUMPSTART EXPO & PITCH NIGHT: Fresh off a 12week accelerator program, 10 startup teams pitch their products to judges and audience members. Generator, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar; preregister. Info, greg@generatorvt.com.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.22.

climate crisis

CLIMATE ACTION FILM FESTIVAL: The annual fest features stories of activism and resilience from around the world. Proceeds benefit 350Vermont. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. $10-20 suggested donation; preregister; limited space. Info, tavit. geudelekian@suncommon.com.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.22.

dance

WEST COAST SWING DANCING: See WED.22.

film

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

‘ANXIOUS NATION’: Hannah’s House screens this 2022 documentary about the rise in anxiety diagnoses among youths around the country. Q&A with therapists follows. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 496-9715.

‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.22.

STOMP: Using anything but traditional drums, this troupe of percussionists keeps the beat with unconventional items such as brooms and hubcaps. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $35-55. Info, 775-0903.

outdoors

EZ BREEZE BIKE RIDE: SUNSET CHASERS EDITION: Groovy tunes motivate cyclists along a route through downtown and the Old North End. Costumes encouraged. Local Motion, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 861-2700.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

FRINGEMTL: See MON.27.

‘POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE’: See THU.23.

sports

VERMONT GREEN FC: See SAT.25, 7 p.m.

words

BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB: Readers digest The Barbizon by Paulina Bren over lunch. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

LARISSA BABIJ: The Ukrainian American author of A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine shares her experiences. Richmond Free Library, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

POETRY GROUP: A supportive drop-in group welcomes those who would like to share and listen to poetry. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TURNING PAGES WITH MARY — LIVE!: Radio host Mary Cenci leads an in-depth discussion of The Women by Kristin Hannah. Phoenix Books, Essex, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

‘MADAMA BUTTERFLY’: Soprano Asmik Grigorian takes the title role in the Metropolitan Opera’s filmed production of Puccini’s classic about the disastrous love between a geisha and an American lieutenant. Star Theatre of St. Johnsbury, 11 a.m. $16-25. Info, 748-2600.

‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.22. ‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.22.

food & drink

WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: See WED.22.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.22.

language

BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.22. ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.22.

INTERMEDIATE IRISH LANGUAGE CONVERSATION AND MUSIC: See WED.22.

lgbtq

DRAG SHOW: Performers Rhedd Rhumm, Sasha Sriracha and Luci Furr-Matrix kick off Montpelier Pride with a bang. Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8-10 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 223-6820. music

STOMP: See TUE.28.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.22.

FRINGEMTL: See MON.27.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.22.

words

ROB MERMIN: The Circus Smirkus founder launches his flipping spectacular memoir, Circle of Sawdust: A Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem and Magic. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338. ➆

classes

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

art

ACRYLICS/COLLAGE: A super-fun class for nonartists and artists! You’ll have a blast creating unique papers using acrylics, stencils and stamps, then tearing or cutting them to create a collage (representational or abstract). No drawing or painting skills necessary. Some supplies provided. Get supply list upon registration and payment. Come join us! Jun. 11, 9:30 a.m.3:30 p.m. Cost: $110; $15 early-bird discount if check is received before Jun. 4. Location: Snow Farm Vineyard, 190 W. Shore Rd., So. Hero. Info: Trillium Designs, 802-598-6063, lynn.cummings@uvm.edu.

language

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE SUMMER

SESSION: Join us for online and in-person adult French classes this summer. Our seven-week session starts on Jun. 17 and offers classes for participants at all levels. Please visit our website to read about all of our offerings or contact Micheline by email for more information. Classes begin on Jun. 17, online or in person. Location: Alliance Francaise, 43 King St., Burlington. Info: Micheline, education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org.

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE WAY OF HARMONY: Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Not your average “mojo dojo casa house”; inclusive training and a safe space for all. Scholarships and intensive program are available for serious students. Visitors are always welcome! Free workshops for adults: Jun. 4; youths: Jun. 8. Membership rates include unlimited classes. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 802-951-8900, bpincus@ burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido. org.

culinary

BUTTERCREAM CAKE DECORATING: You’ll learn the basics of filling and crumb-coating a cake and styles of buttercream piping, with lots of fun colors to make your cake special. You’ll go home with some great new techniques and a six-inch cake that serves 12. Select your flavor in the questionnaire section when you register. u., May 30, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: $85. SOLD OUT. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village Historic District. Info: 203-4000700, sevendaystickets.com.

housing » APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES on the road » CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES pro services » CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING buy this stuff » APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE music »

INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

County

Julius Humane Society of Chittenden

AGE/SEX: 1-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: March 18, 2024

SUMMARY: Julius is a goofy, affectionate, jaunty boy who loves spending his time soaking up all the attention from his favorite people! He loves romping around in the play yard with dog friends following his nose. Julius is happiest when he’s with his people, and he’d love to find a new family to join as soon as possible. Whenever you’re having a bad day, he will be sure to put a smile on your face. Come visit Julius at HSCC and see if he could be your new best friend!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Julius has no known history living with dogs, but he has done well playing with other dogs while at HSCC. He has no known history with cats or children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

High-value treats are the best reward for dog training! You can experiment with a variety of treats to find out what your dog likes best, but cheese and jerky treats are usually popular options. Give small pieces of treats so your dog gets the yummy reward but doesn’t gain unwanted weight.

Sponsored by:

CLASSIFIEDS

on the road

CARS/TRUCKS

2011 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT

59,022 miles. 2-door, dark green w/ black interior & soft top. A beauty on the road! Manual transmission, 4WD, new inspection.

2 sets of tires & rims, winch, fog lights, 2.5-in. Fox lift kit, undercoated w/ Land Rover rust protection. Vergennes area. $19,000. Contact Dan, 802-349-2921.

housing FOR RENT

2-BR ON CHURCH ST.

Bright, spacious & clean, in Burlington. Tenant pays for heat & electric. No pets, NS. Rent is $1,700/mo., 1-year lease. Call 802-922-8518.

ELEGANT 1-BR FOR RENT

Enjoy over 1,300 sq.ft. of downtown living!

Our family-owned & managed apt. house is less than a block from Church St. in Burlington & offers premium features for someone looking to live w/ convenience & comfort. In this giant 5-room apt., you’ll enjoy A/C, central heating, gas fi replace, DW, W/D, attached garage parking, screened porch, soaking tub, HDWD & tile fl ooring, granite countertops, walk-in

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

pantry, beautiful bay windows, mudroom, & dry basement for storage. e space incl. a large BR, dressing room, full BA, LR, den/DR & a full eat-in kitchen. Highspeed Wi-Fi is already set up & ready to use. Our rent is $2,500/mo. & incl. all utils. & services. Pay 1 bill/mo. & relax, letting us take care of the rest all year long. To view or inquire, please email Julie at jlmarks@ gmail.com.

ROOMY 3-BR OR 1-BR

AVAIL. NOW 1-, 2-, 3-BR avail. now. Great locations in Burlington, Vt. From $1,000-$1,900/mo. Call Joe’s cell: 802-318-8916.

HOUSEMATES

2-ROOM SHELBURNE

HOMESHARE

2 rooms & private BA avail. in rural house w/ mountain views. Shared kitchen. Active woman in her 80s who enjoys classical music seeks female housemate who can lend a hand w/ spring & fall yardwork. $650/mo. + utils./ internet. No pets. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

HOMESHARE IN HINESBURG

Senior man enjoys cribbage, nature shows & NASCAR on TV. Seeking housemate to cook 4 evening meals/ week in exchange for no rent, just the cost of internet. Must be OK w/ outdoor smoking. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

OFFICE TO SHARE

Beautiful offi ce to share for up to 3 days/week in

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

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

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds

modern offi ce building. Lots of natural light. ADA compliant, plenty of parking. Currently used for mental health counseling. $35 per day. Email megcat77@gmail. com

CREATIVE

ART CAMPS AT MRV ARTS

lives, classes & more. Info, 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com.

HOME/GARDEN

LEO’S ROOFING Slate, shingle & metal repair & replacement. Brick repair. 30 years’ experience. Good refs. & fully insured. Chittenden County. Free estimate: 802-343-6324.

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

OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE AT MAIN STREET LANDING on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy, affordable spaces for your business. Visit mainstreetlanding.com & click on space avail. Call Owiso, 338-7641

Mad River Valley Arts offers camps in comics, mural art, shibori indigo, nature-inspired design stitching, photography & mixed media, & macrame & fiber arts. Register at madrivervalleyarts.org/ summer-camps. Contact executive director Sam Talbot-Kelly at 802-4966682 or email info@ madrivervalleyarts.org.

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

PSYCHIC COUNSELING

Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 40+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other

NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energyefficient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today. 1-877248-9944. You will be asked for the zip code of the property when connecting. (AAN CAN)

MOVING/HAULING

MARKOSKI’S MOVE & HAUL

Started in Aug. 2023, Markoski’s has quickly established a reputation for being a team of friendly professionals who treat their customers like family. Based out of Chittenden County, we go across Vermont & out of state. Contact Rick at rickmarkoski@gmail. com. Jobs posted weekly on Facebook!

CALCOKU BY JOSH

REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

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

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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

ANSWERS ON P.86 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

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

Speedmaster. Paying cash for qualifi ed watches. Call 888-3201052. (AAN CAN)

PORSCHE WANTED

Old & rusty OK! Don’t ship to Germany; keep in Vermont! I’ll buy anything & restore. Parts, panels, engines, cars. Any year, 1950-1998. Contact 802-391-0882.

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

BLUE FOLDING CAMP CHAIR

New blue folding camp chair w/ cupholder, armrest, carrying bag w/ strap. Supports 300 lbs. Asking $5. Call 802-578-4160.

WANT TO BUY

MEN’S WATCHES WANTED

Men’s sport watches wanted. Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Here, Daytona, GMT, Submariner &

music

INSTRUCTION

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

Berklee graduate w/ 30 years’ teaching experience offers lessons in guitar, music theory, music technology, ear training. Individualized, step-by-step approach.

All ages, styles, levels. Rick Belford, 864-7195, rickbelford.com.

STUDIO/ REHEARSAL

VERMONT MUSIC LAB

Fully equipped recording studio & backlined rehearsal spaces booking now. For rates or to schedule a visit, contact info@vtmusiclab.com or connect w/ us on Instagram @vtmusiclab for more details.

Legal Notices

AUDITIONS/ CASTING

GIRLS NITE OUT AUDITIONS!

Auditions for multiple roles in hilarious murder mystery/comedy. May 22 & 23, 6-9 p.m., at Main St. Landing in Burlington. Details at girlsniteoutvt.com or contact Kyla Waldron, events.kyla@gmail.com.

CREATIVE SPACE

2 ARTIST STUDIOS SPACES

Shelburne Pond Studios has 2 artist studios for lease as of June 1. Email kastockman@aol.com.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 300002-3 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 300002-3 from Browns River Middle School, Attn: Phil Graff, 10 & 20 River Road, Jericho, VT 05465 and Chittenden East School District, P.O. Box 282, Richmond, VT 05477 was received on April 29, 2024 and deemed complete on May 9, 2024. e project is generally described as construction of a proprietary infiltration chamber system with 3 rows of 8 SC-740-StormTechChambers and an Isolator row as pretreatment to manage stormwater on site. Additionally, runoff from the library and primary school areas will be treated with pretreatment forebay and an infiltration basin that will be installed to improve stormwater runoff water quality. e project is located at Underhill ID Elementary School and Browns River Middle School (10 & 20 River Road) in Jericho, Vermont. is application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/Act250/Details. aspx?Num=300002-3).

No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 3, 2024, a party notifi es the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defi ned in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or subcriteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://nrb. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Offi ce at: NRB. Act250Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this May 14, 2024.

By: Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944

stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0742-4 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C0742-4 from Mark Koob and Bianca Moses, 2510 Diaz Street, Austin, TX 78702, and Church Hill Homeowners Association, Inc., P.O. Box 267, Charlotte, VT 05445 was received on March 1, 2024 and deemed complete on May 14, 2024. e project is generally described as relocation of the approved building envelope for Lot 4 and realignment of the Lot 4 driveway, within the approved right-of-way. Additionally, this application seeks approval for construction of one three-bedroom residence, the necessary blasting, and the construction of two subsurface gravel stormwater treatment wetlands. e project is located on Homestead Drive in Charlotte, Vermont. is application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/ Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C0742-4).

No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 4, 2024, a party notifi es the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defi ned in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or subcriteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://nrb. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Offi ce at: NRB. Act250Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this May 14, 2024.

By: Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944

stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098:

Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien, Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC shall host an auction of the following unit on or after 6/1/24:

Location: 78 Lincoln St. Essex Jct., VT

Contents: household goods

Tricia Worthen: #108

Location: 2211 Main St., Colchester vt 05446

Contents: household goods

Hannah Smith: #686

Angie Bell: #535

Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION

RUTLAND UNIT CASE NO. 24-CV-01875

In Re: Abandoned Mobile Home of Roberta E. Pratt & Ralph R. Minard

NOTICE OF HEARING

A hearing on The Housing Foundation, Inc.’s Verified Complaint to declare abandoned and uninhabitable the mobile home of Roberta E. Pratt & Ralph R. Minard located at the Coburn Mobile Home Park, Lot #46, 107 Fire Lane 3B Coburn Court in North Clarendon, Vermont has been set for June 3, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Unit, Civil Division located at 83 Center Street, Suite 3 in Rutland, Vermont. To participate in this hearing, the WEBEX Login Information is as follows: App: Cisco Webex Meeting Website: https://vtcourts.webex.com Meeting Number: 179 381 8436 Password: civilonhill

If you do not have a computer or sufficient bandwidth, you may call (802) 636-1108 to appear by phone. (This is not a tollfree number). When prompted enter the meeting ID number listed above, followed by the pound symbol (#). You will be prompted to enter your attendee number (which you do not have). Instead, press pound (#). If you have technical difficulties, call the Court at (802) 775-4394.

Date: May 14, 2024

Nichol McKeighan, Judicial Assistant

VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR ABANDONMENT

PURSUANT TO 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i) (Uninhabitable)

NOW COMES the Housing Foundation, Inc. (“HFI”), by and through its counsel Nadine L. Scibek, and hereby complains as follows:

1. HFI, a Vermont non-profit corporation with a principal place of business in Montpelier, County of Washington, State of Vermont, is the record owner of a mobile home park known as the Coburn Mobile Home Park (the “Park”), located in the Town of North Clarendon, Vermont. HFI purchased the Park from the Vermont State Housing Authority (“VSHA”) on December 31, 2023. VSHA manages the Park.

2. Roberta E. Pratt (“Pratt”) and Ralph R. Minard (“Minard”) are the record owners of a certain mobile home described as a 1986 Champion Titan, 14’ x 66’, bearing Serial #19-6-880-2191 (the “Mobile Home”) located on Lot #46, Coburn Mobile Home Park, 107 Fire Lane, 3B Coburn Court in North Clarendon, Vermont. See attached Bill of Sale.

3. Pratt leased a lot in the Park for her mobile home from VSHA pursuant to a written lease. Pratt paid a security deposit in the amount of $250.00 to VSHA. See attached Lease.

4. Pratt and Minard are both deceased. Pratt’s date of death is December 8, 2023 and Minard’s date of death is November 4, 2021. See attached Death Certificates.

5. No petition to open a probate estate has been filed for either Pratt or Minard per the Rutland County Probate Court.

6. The last known resident of the mobile home was Pratt. The mobile home has been abandoned and is unoccupied. The Mobile Home is in poor condition and Pratt’s daughter indicated to HFI that she was walking away from the Mobile Home.

7. The following security interests, mortgages, liens and encumbrances appear of record with respect to the mobile home:

a. Pratt is in arrears on obligations to pay property taxes to the Town of Clarendon, Vermont in the aggregate amount of $125.79, plus interest and penalties. The delinquent property taxes are now a lien on the property. See attached Tax Bill & Delinquent Tax Report.

8. Mobile home storage fees continue to accrue at the rate of $463.00 per month. Rent, storage fees and late charges due HFI as of May, 2024 total $2,778.00. Court costs and attorney’s fees from this action to date exceed $750.00. See attached Account History.

9. HFI sent written notice by certified mail to the Town of Clarendon on March 11, 2024 of HFI’s intent to commence this abandonment action as required by statute. See attached.

10. The mobile home is uninhabitable. Thomas Young, Property Manager and duly authorized

agent for the Park owner will testify under oath as to the poor and unlivable condition of this mobile home at the abandonment hearing. WHEREFORE, VSHA respectfully requests that the Honorable Court enter an order as follows:

1. Declare that the mobile home has been abandoned;

2. Transfer the mobile home that is unfit for human habitation to Park owner VSHA without a public auction so that it may be removed and disposed of accordingly.

3. Order pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(j) that the mobile home and any security deposit paid be conveyed to the Park Owner in “as is” condition, and free from all liens and other encumbrances of record.

DATED May 10, 2024. The Housing Foundation, Inc.

BY: Nadine L. Scibek Attorney

for HFI

I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of perjury or other sanctions in the discretion of the Court.

May 10, 2024 BY: Thomas Young Duly Authorized Agent for HFI

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT CASE NO. 24-CV-01745

In Re: Abandoned Mobile Home Of Lana Weidner (F/K/A Lana Long Hoang) & Hung Nguyen

NOTICE OF HEARING

A hearing on CDI Development Fund, Inc.’s Verified Complaint to declare as abandoned the mobile home of Lana Weidner (f/k/a Lana Long Hoang) and Hung Nguyen located at the North Avenue Co-op, 21 Avenue C in Burlington, Vermont and to authorize the sale by auction has been set for Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. You may participate in the hearing either in person at the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Civil Division located at 175 Main Street in Burlington, Vermont or remotely via WEBEX video. The WEBEX Login Information is as follows: App: Cisco Webex Meetings

Website: https://vtcourts.webex.com

Meeting Number: 129 647 6521

Password: CIVIL2

If you do not have a computer or sufficient bandwidth, you may call (802) 636-1108 to appear by phone. (This is not a tollfree number). When prompted enter the meeting ID number listed above, followed by the pound symbol (#). You will be prompted to enter your attendee number (which you do not have). Instead, press pound (#). If you have technical difficulties, call the Court at (802) 863-3467.

Date: May 7, 2024

Nancy L. Bean, Judicial Assistant

VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR ABANDONMENT

PURSUANT TO 10 V.S.A. § 6249(h) (Auction)

NOW COMES NOW COMES CDI Development Fund, Inc. (“CDI”), by and through its counsel Nadine L. Scibek, and hereby complains as follows:

1. CDI, a foreign non-profit corporation with a principal place of business in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts is the record owner of a mobile home park located on North Avenue in Burlington, Vermont. This Park which was formerly known as Farrington’s Mobile Home Park is now known as the North Avenue Co-op (the “Park”). CDI purchased the Park in November, 2015.

2. Lana Weidner (f/k/a Lana Long Hoang) (“Weidner”) and Hung Nguyen (“Nguyen”) are the record owners of a certain mobile home described as a 1982 Windsor, 14’ x 70’, bearing serial No. CWT 7014 16023 (the “Mobile Home”), located at the North Avenue Co-op, 21 Avenue C in Burlington, Vermont. See attached Vermont Mobile Home Uniform Bill of Sale.

3. Weidner leased the Lot in the Park for her mobile home pursuant to an written lease. No security

deposit was paid. See attached Member Occupancy Agreement.

4. Weidner’s last known mailing address is 3 Avenue E, Burlington, VT 05408.

5. Nguyen’s last known mailing address was 21 Avenue C, Burlington, VT 05408. It is believed that Nguyen now resides with Weidner at 3 Avenue E, Burlington, VT 05408.

6. The mobile home has been abandoned and is empty. The last known authorized resident of the mobile home was Nguyen. Nguyen was evicted from the Park for material breach of lease on or about December 12, 2023. Judgment was entered against Weidner on October 20, 2023 in the amount of $2,451.93. See CDI Development Fund, Inc. v. Weidner, Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Civil Unit, Case No. 23-CV-03572. See attached Judgment Order, Writ of Possession & Sheriff’s Returns of Service.

7. Park’s Counsel communicated in writing with Weidner on November 28, 2023 regarding her intentions with the Mobile Home. On April 2, 2024 Park’s Counsel was contacted by Attorney Beth Demas on behalf of Weidner’s son-in-law who wanted to purchase the Mobile Home. Park’s Counsel informed Atty. Demas that Weidner’s son-in-law would not be approved by the Co-op to buy the Mobile Home due to prior history. Park’s Counsel advised Atty. Demas that Weidner must make an effort to sell the Mobile Home or the Park would be proceeding with the court abandonment process. There has been no further communication. The Park has not received any applications from prospective purchasers. See attached.

8. The following security interests, mortgages, liens and encumbrances appear of record with respect to the mobile home:

a. Property taxes to the City of Burlington are current and paid in full through June 30, 2024 according to the City Clerk. See attached Tax Bill.

9. Licensed auctioneer Uriah Wallace is a person disinterested in the mobile home and the mobile home park who is able to sell the Mobile Home at a public auction.

10. Mobile home storage fees continue to accrue at the rate of $426.00 per month. Rent due CDI as of May, 2024 totals $1,704.00, plus $1,500.00 for lot cleanup charges. See attached accounting. Court costs and attorney’s fees incurred by CDI exceed $3,000.00.

11. CDI sent written notice by certified mail to the City of Burlington on February 23, 2024 of Plaintiff’s intent to commence this action. See attached.

WHEREFORE, CDI respectfully requests that the Honorable Court enter an order as follows:

1. Declare that the Mobile Home has been abandoned;

2. Approve the sale of the Mobile Home at a public auction to be held within fifteen (15) days of the date of judgment, pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(h); and

3. Grant judgment in favor of CDI and against the Mobile Home for past due rent and mobile home storage charges through the date of judgment, together with the Park’s court costs, attorney’s fees, publication and mailing costs, auctioneer’s costs, winterization costs, lot cleanup charges incurred in connection with this matter and any other costs incurred by Park herein.

DATED this 6th day of May, 2024.

CDI DEVELOPMENT FUND, INC. BY: Nadine L. Scibek Attorney for CDI

I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of perjury or other sanctions in the discretion of the Court.

May 6, 2024 By: Silvia Iannetta, Duly Authorized Agent for CDI

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0938-7 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C0938-7 from Champlain Valley Union High School District, Attn: Chris Giard, 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg, VT 05461 and Champlain Valley School District, 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 was received on May 9, 2024 and deemed complete on May 13, 2024. The project is generally

described as a stormwater upgrade consisting of the installation of a pretreatment swale along the southern end of the CVU property, an upland diversion swale just to the north of the pretreatment swale, a gravel wetland on the western side of the school site, and new HDPE pipe. The project is located at 369 CVU Road in Hinesburg, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ ANR/Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C0938-7).

No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 5, 2024, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or subcriteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://nrb. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Office at: NRB. Act250Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this May 15, 2024.

By: Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944

stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

RFP FOR ESSEX MIDDLE SCHOOL RE-ROOFING The Essex Westford School District is seeking bids for Re-Roofing at Essex Middle School. Bids shall be delivered no later than Thursday, May 30th, 2024 at 2:00 pm.

To read the full RFP, go to (see News section): https://www.ewsd.org/o/ewsd/page/ purchasing-bids

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C1358

10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C1358 from Laurel Hill Apartments, LLC 232 Mount Philo Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 was received on April 3, 2024 and deemed complete on May 15, 2024. The project is generally described as Redevelopment of an existing multi-tenant commercial building into a mixed-use building to host six (6) 1-bedroom/studio units, one (1) studio unit, four (4) 2-bedroom units, in addition to two (2) commercial suites. The commercial suites are not authorized for use or occupation until allocations and a Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Permit has been issued by the ANR Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division. The project is located at 4 Laurel Hill Drive in South Burlington, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/ Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C1358).

No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 10, 2024 a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or subcriteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request

Legal Notices

party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://nrb. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Offi ce at: NRB. Act250Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this May 16, 2024.

By: Kaitlin Hayes

District

Coordinator

111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084

kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

STARTING MAY 17, 2024, THE VERMONT STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY SEEKS COMMENTS ON ITS FY2025 ANNUAL PLAN, 2024-2028 FIVE YEAR PLAN AND SUBSTANTIVE UPDATES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN.

ese documents can be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the VSHA Administrative Offi ce located at One Prospect Street, in Montpelier, VT or on VSHA’s website at www.vsha.org. You may also request a copy of these documents be sent via email, fax or USPS mail by contacting Jennifer Gray at jennifer.gray@ vsha.org or 802-828-3020.

Written comments on these documents can be emailed to elizabeth.whitmore@vsha.org or mailed to VSHA, Attn: Liz Whitmore at One Prospect Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.

A public hearing and opportunity to comment will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 1:00pm. is public hearing will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Meeting ID: 284 757 385 965

Passcode: g38KzD or Call: 1-469-998-7644

Conference ID: 190 401 756#

For additional details, please contact Robert Abbott at (802) 828-4154.

Equal Housing Opportunity

PUBLIC HEARING

COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on June 12, 2024 at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations. Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road.

a) CU-24-04 NOAH CROWTHER: Conditional Use Application in conjunction with Site Plan Application SP-24-29 to expand and extend the Automotive Service & Repair (Use 3.310) business in the GD1 and GD1C Overlay Districts as required under §8.10-C of the Colchester Development Regulations. Subject property is located at 96 Elm Court, Account #40-063012-0000000.

b) FP-24-12: GARDNER REVOCABLE TRUST, BRADLEY C. & CHARLOTTE B.: Final Plat application for a minor Planned Unit Development in the GD1 District to construct 4 new single-unit dwellings on footprints lots accessed via a new private driveway. Proposed dwellings units to be served by municipal water and a new shared in-ground

wastewater system. Subject property is located at 740 Main Street, Account #24-010003-0000000.

May 22, 2024

TOWN OF ESSEX

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 6, 2024 - 6:00 PM

Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85378709951?pwd=U WRTQnU0Nllod1FZVUU3b2pXWXlsQT09

Call (audio only): (305) 224 1968, Meeting ID: 853 7870 9951, Passcode 708118

Public Wifi is available at the Essex Municipal Offi ces, libraries, and hotspot listed here: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/ public-wifi -hotspots-vermont

VARIANCE: Gabe Handy d/b/a Franklin South LLC, is proposing a variance to reduce the front yard setback from 50’ to 16.5’ to accommodate a 50’x60’ commercial building on an existing nonconforming lot located at 108 Colchester Road in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) and Floodplain Overlay (C2) Districts. Tax Map 48, Parcel 3.

Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at https://www.essexvt.org/182/ Current-Development-Applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email skelley@essex.org with any questions. is may not be the fi nal order in which items will be heard. Please view the complete Agenda, at https://essexvt.portal.civicclerk.com or the offi ce notice board before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard and other agenda items.

INVITATION TO BID

Greenprint Partners, acting as Project Manager, seeks qualifi ed contractors for several Vermont Schools Green Infrastructure Stormwater Improvements for the locations listed below. Federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Minority-Owned

contractors and suppliers, and Small Businesses are strongly encouraged to submit a bid proposal.

Project Description: e project consists of stormwater improvements at various schools to meet the Vermont Stormwater Rules.

Locations of the work are as follows:

Allen Brook School - 497 Talcott Road, Williston VT Fair Haven Union High School - 33 Mechanic St. Fair Haven VT

Bellows Free Academy Fairfax - 75 Hunt Street, Fairfax, VT

Rutland Town Elementary - 1612 Post Road, Rutland, VT Jericho Elementary - 90 VT Route 15, Jericho, VT

Schedule: Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2024 and be substantially completed by October 2024.

e construction work involves the installation of various stormwater improvements including, but not limited to: wetland creation, underground storage facilities, disconnection areas, dry wells, storm sewers, paving and erosion control and landscaping, depending on the location.

ese projects are subject to Davis Bacon wage rates compliance and with Build America Buy America provisions.

Any interested subcontractors and suppliers should visit the following website for information on obtaining bidding documents: https://www. greenprintpartners.com/resources and click on Bidding opportunities For additional information please send an email to the construction project manager: Howard@greenprintpartners.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING – SETTING COMMON AREA FEES FY25

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024, NO EARLIER THAN 6:00 PM BURLINGTON CITY HALL

A public hearing will be held during the regular meeting of Burlington City Council on Monday, June 10, 2024 no earlier than 6:00PM, in person at Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 2nd

floor, 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401 or by video conference, accessible by link on the City’s website, to be posted no less than 48 hours prior to the hearing on the standards to aid in the determination of common area fees and on the annual common area fees for properties in the Church Street Marketplace District proposed by the Church Street Marketplace Commission.

The Marketplace Commission is proposing a continuation of the current standards, which include a per-square-foot cost based on a building’s ground floor square footage, and for that cost to remain at $3.02 per-square-foot for all properties, along with the recommendation Common Area Fee spreadsheet: https://churchstmarketplace.com/client_media/ files/Rules%20and%20Regs/CS%20Common%20 Area%20Fees%20FY%2025_Attachment%20A.pdf

(www.churchstmarketplace.com/marketplacecommission “Common Area Fees FY25”)

The provisions applicable to common area fees can be found in the Burlington City Charter, Title VIII, Section 326, which can be located on the City website.

Any assessed party who feels aggrieved by this proposal may appeal the assessment to the City Council by delivering the appeal, in writing, to the City Clerk at City Hall, 149 Church St., Burlington, Vermont. The written appeal may be delivered by any means, but must be received by the City Clerk prior to the public hearing to be considered. Following the public hearing, the Council will make a final determination of the common area fees to be assessed.

For further information please contact: Kara Alnasrawi

Director of Business & Workforce Development kara@burlingtonvt.gov 802-238-1910

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-00209

In re ESTATE of Carol Ann Gamsby

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Carol Ann Gamsby, late of South Burlington, Vermont.

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 5-20-2024

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Christopher Wheeler

Executor/Administrator: Christopher Wheeler, c/o Laura E. Gorsky, Esq. Attorney for Executor, PO Box 471 Richmond, VT 05477 phone: 802-434-3344 email: laura@vtgorskylaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 05/22/2024

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Town of Bolton will hold a hybrid Public Hearing at the Town Offices, 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Highway (US Route 2), Bolton, VT 05676 and via Zoom on June 3rd, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The purpose of the public hearing is to furnish information and obtain the views of citizens concerning the range of economic development and public facilities development activities that have been undertaken under the Vermont Community Development Program, Grant ID: 07110-IG-2018-Bolton-16.

Should you require reasonable special accommodation to participate in this public hearing, please contact the Town Administrator at 802-434-5075 at least 5 business days prior to the hearing.

Further information and Zoom meeting details can be found on the Town website: https:// boltonvt.com/

Support Groups

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR MOTHERS OF COLOR

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes!

Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Wed., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS

FOR SINGLE MOTHERS

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes!

Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Fri., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt. org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS W/ LGBTQ+ CHILDREN

Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Mon., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt. org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

AL-ANON

For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom) & an Al-Anon blog are avail. online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanonalateen.org or call 866-972-5266.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Do you have a drinking problem?

AA meeting sites are now open, & online meetings are also avail. Call our hotline at 802-864-1212 or check for in-person or online meetings at burlingtonaa.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston Caregiver Support Group meets in person on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston; this meeting also has a virtual option at the same time; contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@ cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury Support Group for Individuals w/ Early Stage Dementia meets the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury; contact Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@residenceottercreek.com or 802-989-0097. The Shelburne Support Group for Individuals w/

Early Stage Dementia meets the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne; contact support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@ residenceshelburnebay.com. The Telephone Support Group meets the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Prereg. is req. (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, for more info. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP

VT Active Amputees is a new support group open to all amputees for connection, community & support. The group meets on the 1st Wed. of the mo. in S. Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Let’s get together & be active: running, pickleball & ultimate Frisbee. Email vtactiveamputees@ gmail.com or call Sue at 802-5826750 for more info & location.

ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS W/ DEBT?

Do you spend more than you earn? Get help at Debtor’s Anonymous & Business Debtor’s Anonymous. Wed., 6:30-7:30 p.m., Methodist Church in the Rainbow Room at Buell & S. Winooski, Burlington. Contact Jennifer, 917-568-6390.

BABY BUMPS SUPPORT GROUP FOR MOTHERS & PREGNANT WOMEN

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time of your life. But it can also be a time of stress often compounded by hormonal swings. If you are a pregnant woman, or have recently given birth & feel you need some help w/ managing emotional bumps in the road that can come w/ motherhood, please come to this free support group led by an experienced pediatric registered nurse. Held on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Birthing Center, Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans. Info: Rhonda Desrochers, Franklin County Home Health Agency, 527-7531.

BETTER BREATHERS CLUB

American Lung Association support group for people w/ breathing issues, their loved ones or caregivers. Meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 11 a.m.-noon at the Godnick Center, 1 Deer St., Rutland. For more info, call 802-776-5508.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP

Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m. in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils 802-877-3742 or email neils@ myfairpoint.net.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@ gmail.com.

CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP

Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m. in Montpelier. Please contact Lisa Masé for location: lisa@harmonize cookery.com.

CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDANCE

Cerebral Palsy Guidance is a very comprehensive informational website broadly covering the topic of cerebral palsy & associated medical conditions. Its mission is to provide the best possible info to parents of children living w/ the complex condition of cerebral palsy. Visit cerebralpalsyguidance.com/ cerebral-palsy.

CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS

CoDA is a 12-step fellowship for people whose common purpose is to develop healthy & fulfilling relationships. By actively working the program of Codependents Anonymous, we can realize a new joy, acceptance & serenity in our lives. Meets Sun. at noon at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. Info: Tom, 238-3587, coda.org.

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP

The Compassionate Friends international support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 4th Tue. of the mo., 7-9 p.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd, S. Burlington. Call/email Alan at 802-233-0544 alanday88@gmail. com or Claire at 802-448-3569.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF CHOICE!

We welcome anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. This is an abstinence-oriented program based on the science of addiction treatment & recovery. Meets are online Sun. at 5 p.m. at the link: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/1868. Face-to-face meetings are 1st & 3rd Sun. at 3 p.m. at the Turning Point of Chittenden County. Meetings for family & friends are online on Mon. at 7 p.m. at the link: meetings/smartrecovery.org/ meetings/6337. Contact volunteer facilitator Bert at 802-399-8754 w/ questions. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT Steps to End Domestic Violence offers a weekly drop-in support group for female-identified survivors of intimate partner violence, including individuals who are experiencing or have been affected by domestic violence. The support group offers a safe, confidential place for survivors to connect w/ others, to heal & to recover. In support

group, participants talk through their experiences & hear stories from others who have experienced abuse in their relationships. Support group is also a resource for those who are unsure of their next step, even if it involves remaining in their current relationship. Tue., 6:30-8 p.m. Childcare is provided. Info: 658-1996.

FAMILY & FRIENDS OF THOSE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

This support group is a dedicated meeting for family, friends & community members who are supporting a loved one through a mental health crisis. Mental health crisis might include extreme states, psychosis, depression, anxiety & other types of distress. The group is a confidential space where family & friends can discuss shared experiences & receive support in an environment free of judgment & stigma w/ a trained facilitator. Wed., 7-8:30 p.m. Downtown Burlington. Info: Jess Horner, LICSW, 866-218-8586.

FAMILY RESTORED: SUPPORT GROUP FOR FRIENDS & FAMILIES OF ADDICTS & ALCOHOLICS

Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., Holy Family/ St. Lawrence Parish, 4 Prospect St., Essex Jct. For info, please visit thefamilyrestored.org or contact Lindsay Duford at 781-960-3965 or 12lindsaymarie@gmail.com.

FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP Families Coping w/ Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling w/ the drug or alcohol addiction of a loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington), &/or via our parallel Zoom session to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”). Any questions, please send by email to thdaub1@ gmail.com.

FIERCELY FLAT VT

A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@gmail. com.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held twice a week: Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Norwich, Vt.; & Wed., 6:30-8 p.m., at Hanover Friends Meeting House, Hanover, N.H. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-6301495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

Planning & Zoning Assistant

The Town of Stowe is seeking a tech-savvy Planning & Zoning Assistant who is dedicated, friendly, customer service oriented with exceptional attention to detail and who has a keen interest in innovative technology. This position serves as the first point of contact for visitors and those seeking planning and zoning assistance. The individual selected will be self-motivated with the ability to work independently and will have demonstrated sound judgement and a high degree of professionalism. We are especially interested in someone who can advance the department with their proficiency in various technology tools and cloud-based platforms. Attendance at regular evening meetings will be required.

Associate or para-legal degree preferred; supplemented by one to three years of progressively responsible experience in an office, real estate, or regulatory setting, or any equivalent combination of education, training, or experience. If you are excited about this opportunity and your experience does not align perfectly with qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Pay is in the $26.21 to $31.10 per hour range, dependent upon education and experience. Although the position is currently budgeted as a full-time position, those seeking part-time employment will be considered and are encouraged to apply. Come grow with Stowe!

The Town of Stowe currently offers an excellent benefit package including BCBS health plans with low employee premium share, dental insurance, generous paid leave, VMERS pension plan, life insurance and more.

Job description and employment application can be obtained at: townofstowevt.org. Submit letter of interest, resume and employment application to: Town of Stowe, c/o HR Director, PO Box 730, Stowe, VT 05672 or by email recruit@stowevt.gov. Applications will be reviewed beginning June 17, 2024.

The Town of Stowe is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Social Media Coordinator

New Media:

• Develop and incorporate new media strategies and social media into campaigns being conducted by VSEA Departments.

• Develop/implement targeting and placement of paid advertisements (Google and Facebook, advertisements, etc.) to support various VSEA campaigns and political action.

• Help administer, design, and troubleshoot website and mobile App.

• Coordinate production of member/outreach/ communications bulletins, action alerts, event announcements, special appeals, and electronic newsletters.

• Assist in design of attractive and inviting electronic and hard copy communications to the membership.

• Keep VSEA’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and other social media accounts current through postings, photos, video content, creative work, and links.

• Work directly with VSEA leaders and Organizing, Legislative and Communications staff to get pictures, quotes, and video clips that bring public employees’ voices into campaign materials.

• Ability to meet what are sometimes tight deadlines.

• Capture and edit photos and video for inhouse materials and productions; and

• Perform other duties as required to support VSEA and its mission.

• Regular Travel to worksites, meetings, and the State House to capture video content for social media and other purposes that promote the members of the VSEA and the work of their union.

• Train members of the VSEA and the VSEA Staff on the use of social media, communications, communications software, and website management

• Create and manage a regular paid social media paid advertising campaign.

• Assist members and retirees with website and social media log-in, data transfer or other issues.

• Serve as liaison between VSEA and Massachusetts Website Administrator, Prometheus Labor.

The successful candidate will have:

• One year or more of experience working in communications for a labor union; preferably to include communications work on an organizing campaign or other high-profile union issues or campaigns.

• Proven experience in developing social & new media campaign strategies and programs.

• Reliable transportation

• A commitment to use communications strategies to bring working people’s voices and issues to influence statewide debate on public services.

• Must possess working knowledge of WordPress, Final Cut Pro, InDesign (or similar software program), Microsoft Office and Excel and Photoshop (or similar software program), as well as experience working with email management systems (e.g. MailChimp);

• Working knowledge of how to operate digital cameras, both photo and video.

• Excellent writing, editing, design and interpersonal communication skills.

• Degree in media, communications, marketing, writing, or related area; and

• A commitment to justice for working Vermonters.

Cover letters and resumes can be sent to vsea@vsea.org

Public Safety Officer - Part Time

Are you looking to make a difference in people’s lives? The Department of Public Safety at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for a part-time Public Safety Officer from those looking to enhance their skills. This position requires the flexibility to problem-solve in a wide range of situations, both demanding and rewarding. A successful candidate will possess the ability to work effectively in a college environment seeking a balance between education and enforcement. This position allows the employee to make their own pre-tax contributions to a 401(k) account, paid time off, paid holidays, employee and family assistance program, well-being programs and opportunities, discounted gym membership, paid volunteer time, use of the campus athletic facilities and the library, and countless opportunities to attend presentations, lectures, and other campus activities.

The starting pay for this position is $20 per hour.

For job description, benefits and to apply, visit: bit.ly/SMCF24PTPSO

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Phlebotomy Apprenticeship Program

• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training

• Direct patient care

• No experience required APPLY NOW www.iaahitec.org/ phlebotomy REGISTRATION DEADLINE Wednesday, June 12, 2024

$2,000 SIGN-ON BONUS External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign-on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect gross pay, prior to applicable tax withholdings and deductions required by law. Current University of Vermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions apply.

Questions? Call or Email 802-399-8243 lida.hope@vthitec.org

• Team environment

• Full Benefits

• Dedicated support during the 5-week program

• Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam

Alpine SnowGuards is a 100% employee-owned company based in Morrisville, VT, specializing in designing, engineering, and manufacturing snow and solar snow management systems for all roof types. We are known for our patented products, including the first and only solar snow management system on the market. Our performance-tested solutions are highly regarded by roofing experts, architectural firms, developers, and roofing manufacturers.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

This is a full-time on-site role for a Mechanical Engineer. As a Mechanical Engineer at Alpine SnowGuards, you will be responsible for tasks such as machine design, computer-aided design (CAD), product testing, and research and development (R&D) activities. You will collaborate with a team of talented individuals to create innovative snow and solar snow management systems.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

This is a full-time, on-site Marketing Coordinator role. The Marketing Coordinator will be responsible for communication, sales support, and lead generation management. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams and supporting the marketing team in various initiatives. The Marketing Coordinator will work closely with roofing professionals, contractors, and architects.

For full job descriptions and to apply, visit: alpinesnowguards.com

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Long-Term Care OMBUDSMAN

5/21/24 5:55 PM

DRIVER WANTED

Driver wanted for contracted transportation.

$20 - $25/hour including health benefits, 401K and profit sharing plans. We provide vehicles, maintenance, fuel & insurance. Must be reliable, have a clean driver’s license and must be able to pass a background check.

Respond to info@ vtridenetwork.com, subject: DRIVER WANTED

Vermont Legal Aid seeks two full-time, Long-Term Care Ombudsmen: one for Chittenden and one for Bennington county, VT.

General responsibilities: Advocate for long-term care recipients. Identify, investigate, and help resolve complaints made by, or for, individuals receiving long-term care services in long-term care facilities and in the community through Vermont’s Choices for Care Medicaid program. Visit long-term care facilities to talk with residents and monitor conditions. Empower long-term care recipients to direct their own care. See vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/jobs for details.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace. Please visit: vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/diversity-inclusion

Starting salary is $48,200, with additional salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Four weeks’ paid vacation and retirement, as well as excellent health benefits.

One position will focus on Chittenden County, the other will focus on Bennington County. Significant in-state travel in a personal vehicle required (with travel reimbursement).

Application deadline is May 27, 2024. Your application should include a cover letter (specify location preference), resume, writing sample, and three professional references with contact information, sent as a single PDF. Applicants must be able to pass conflict of interest review and background check. Email your application to hiring@vtlegalaid.org; include in the subject line your name and “VOP Ombudsman May 2024.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Vermont Tent Company is currently accepting applications for the following positions for immediate employment and future summer/fall employment starting in May. Full time, part time, after school and weekend hours available for each position. Pay rates vary by position with minimum starting wage ranging from $19-$23/hour depending on job skills and experience. We also offer retention and referral bonuses.

Tent Maintenance

Tent Installation

Drivers/Delivery

Load Crew Team

Interested candidates submit application online: vttent.com/ employment

No phone calls, please.

Marketing Administration Manager

BARRE AREA DEVELOPMENT, INC. (BADC) is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting opportunities for economic development, housing, employment, strengthening the tax base, and increasing private and municipal investment in Barre, Vermont. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Marketing Administration Manager will contribute to implementing marketing and administrative activities for the organization.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Duties:

• Assists with monthly administrative and financial tasks relating to Board and Board committee work.

• Responsible for database management for stakeholder contacts of available commercial real estate.

• Tracks budget for programs/projects.

• Compiles data and metrics for input into measuring Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for BADC.

• Interacts and engages with BADC Board and community to market the Barre area.

• Coordinates planning of Annual Economic Development Summit.

• Manages/orders supplies for organization.

Marketing Duties:

• Assists with creation and implementation of overall marketing strategy, including serving as a representative and ambassador to BADC for internal and external audiences (ex., businesses, organizations, etc.)

• Writes, edits, and develops creative branding, marketing, and collaterals content and for internal and external audiences, including developing, formatting, and editing presentations for meetings.

• Responsible for editorial design, production and distribution of BADC’s publications for routine and non-routine activities for items such as website, newsletters, advertising campaigns, promotions, etc.

• Develops content for print and digital communications and campaigns across multi-media.

• Identifies and organizes projects and events including logistics and materials.

• Responsible for the websites of both programs, creates content for, manages and oversees BADC’s social media accounts (FB, LinkedIn, Instagram).

• Interacts with stakeholders and vendors to ensure that deadlines are met with quality expectation.

• Research marketing content and recommends areas to explore in developing original content.

• Provides recommendations on new standards, technologies, and trends in online communities.

• Monitors trends and tracks outcomes in web content and social media and reports findings to leadership.

• Manages marketing files including editing, distribution, and archiving.

• Presents at meetings as required.

• Performs other duties as required or deemed appropriate.

Core skills:

• Market research practice and techniques

• Analyzing data

• Budget and cost analysis

• Proficiency with programs such as Google docs, MS Word, Excel and Power Point

• Website and Social media platforms

• Proven experience in marketing and/or sales

• Background in creating marketing, promotional and/or educational content

• Excellent verbal and written skills

• Effective project management skills

• Excellent organizational skills, such as time and project management and prioritization

• Ability to manage personal workflow to meet deadlines, and work autonomously

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain professional relationships

• A good team player and collaborator who meets and exceeds team goals

• Self-motivated, confident, energetic, and creative

• Ability to research and clearly document information

• A clear, concise writing style

• An eye for detail and the ability to maintain a very high level of accuracy

• Ability and willingness to be positive, contributing, and adaptable member of a team.

•Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Send resumes to: aimee.green@badc.com

Museum Education Manager

The American Precision Museum in Windsor, VT,  is seeking a skilled, experienced, and passionate STEM educator to broaden its portfolio of programs for youth and adults. The successful candidate has strong project management experience and cares deeply about creating inclusive experiences for all.

Are you looking for an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative place to work?

Are you looking for an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative place to work?

This is a full-time, exempt position with benefits. Salary range $60,000–$70,000.

See full job description: bit.ly/APMuseumjob

Veterinary Receptionist/ Patient Care Coordinator

Qi Veterinary Clinic

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate

• A strong communicator in person, via email and phone

• Loves animals and the people who care for them

This is a full-time position consisting of four 10 hour shifts per week. Pay range is $18-$25 and includes the following benefits:

• 40 hours paid personal/sick time per year

• 80 hours paid vacation time/year

• 52 hours paid major Holidays per year

• $2,600 contribution towards healthcare premium per year

• Simple IRA with matching up to 3%

• Staff Lunches 2-3 times/week

Serious applicants must submit a resume, include a cover letter telling us why you're the right person for us and 3 references. One reference must be from a direct supervisor. Send resumes: therese@Qivet.com

Join us at Lake Champlain Waldorf School to deliver a holistic and developmental approach to education.

POSITION:

We are seeking a teacher for our rising fourth grade, a cheerful, enthusiastic group of children. Base salary of $42,000 plus additional increments for years of experience up to $72,000+. Employees also receive a benefit payment of $8,400 annually in lieu of health insurance and other benefits including a signing bonus for qualified candidates.

Full-time K/1 Teacher ‘24-25

Rare opportunity to join a team of skilled educators in a progressive academic environment. Multi-age preK, K, 1st grade class. Should have confidence to collaborate with colleagues as well as design/ implement your own classroom curriculum in literacy, social studies and science. Located in South Burlington.

www.lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org

www.lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org

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Hiring!

Employees enjoy competitive pay and benefits, including 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off.

Food Service Specialists

Full-time and part-time positions available

For more information and to apply: theschoolhousevt.org/employment

Do you have a knack for numbers and a passion for supporting VT communities?

SEEKING AN ASSISTANT CONTROLLER TO JOIN THE FINANCE TEAM

The Assistant Controller will play a key role in managing and reconciling our finances, ensuring GAAP compliance, and supporting a high-growth environment. A successful candidate will have at least 5 years of relevant experience and enjoy working collaboratively on a cohesive team.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, visit VERMONTCF.ORG/CAREERS for a complete job description and instructions for applying.

FINANCE MANAGER

Hunger Mountain Co-op is seeking to hire a skilled Finance Manager. Our ideal candidate will manage the Co-op’s finances and accounting in accordance with GAAP, oversee the preparation of business plans and budgets, and manage, analyze, and protect the assets of the Co-op.

Hunger Mountain Co-op is for everyone. Diversity, inclusion, and a culture where everybody can contribute matters to us. We aim to create an environment for all bodies. The Co-op does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of birth, age, crime victim status, physical or mental condition. Please request accommodations if you need them.

Please visit: apply.workable.com/ gallagher-flynnand-company/j/F7022A941B.

Administrative Associate

The Town of Hardwick Electric Department (HED) is looking for fully qualified First-Class Lineworkers to fill vacancies within our operations team. With 325 miles of overhead/ underground power facilities, we serve over 4,000 customers in 11 Vermont towns.

Applicants must be proficient in performing all overhead/underground transmission and distribution operations, construction, maintenance, and restoration duties in accordance with industry standard safe work practices for both energized and de-energized equipment. Successful candidates will be in the on-call rotation for after-hours outage response. Successful candidates will possess and maintain a Vermont Class A Commercial Driver's License. Position requires probationary period of six months. In addition to a competitive wage, HED offers an excellent benefits package.

The Administrative Associate is responsible for performing a variety of administrative functions and support relating to Community Action in order to ensure that services are provided in an effective and efficient manner. Duties may include fielding telephone calls, receiving and directing visitors, word processing, data entry, creating spreadsheets and presentations, filing, and faxing. Extensive software skills are required, as well as Internet research abilities and strong communication skills.

If you have an Associate’s degree in business or human services or related education and experience; effective verbal and written communication skills - bilingual abilities are a plus; excellent organizational, interpersonal and collaborative skills; self-motivated, energetic and have the ability to perform multiple tasks in a visible and often fast paced environment, we’d like to hear from you!

To apply, please include a cover letter and resume. We are one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why! cvoeo.org/careers

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

NEW GRAD NURSES: RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Apply today for our annual evidence-based Registered Nurse Residency Program

Be part of a six-month bridge program for RNs with less than one year of nursing experience to transition into professional hospital nursing positions. Work with a preceptor and improve skills through hands-on experiences and simulations. Estimated start date is in mid-July.

For more information visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

Human Service Coordinator

The primary function of the Support and Services at Home (SASH) Coordinator is to build trusting relationships with participants in SASH in order to develop a thorough knowledge of each SASH participant’s strengths and challenges as they pertain to remaining safely in his or her home. The SASH Coordinator (SC) convenes the on-site SASH team on a regular basis to coordinate care and services to meet the needs of SASH participants. The SC identifies and proactively responds to the underlying causes of any resident or community problems and/or issues and involves their Supervisor as needed. The SC organizes and facilitates resident meetings on a monthly basis and serves as key on-site contact for issues relating to housekeeping, noise, site disturbances, etc. The pay range for these positions starts at $18 per hour and increases based on experience.

Send resumes to: jobs@cathedralsquare.org

Cathedral Square is a nonprofit, equal-opportunity employer. Our organization & communities are welcoming and inclusive, embracing diversity in all its forms.

Administrative Coordinator

Work in collaboration with Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (VCBH) Director and Principal Investigators. Responsible for personnel, operations, financial and business activities and services for the research grant portfolio. Perform budget management, lab procurement and management, as well as operational and protocol development/oversight for research centers. Coordinate with the Psychiatry Department Administrator, or the HR Specialist position, to manage needs for personnel, effort reporting, institutional cost sharing, and salary distribution changes. Work closely with UVMMC and Psychiatry department to ensure consistency of changing aims, research effort and other administrative activities that cross institutions. Administratively supervise team and functionally supervise and approve time/schedules and purchasing cards for multiple trainee associates and research staff. Apply at uvmjobs.com/postings/71674

Public Policy Manager

Locations: Remote plus regular in-person business in Burlington and Montpelier, VT.

Salary: $60,000 - $70,000

Benefits: Health and dental insurance; SIMPLE retirement plan contribution; Unlimited Paid Time Off; $1000 Professional/ Personal Development Stipend; Flexible schedule; Reimbursement for remote work expenses; Strong organizational culture supporting work-life balance.

For more than 30 years, VBSR has recognized that what is good for people, communities, and the environment is also good for business. From our beginnings as a small group of progressive businesses to today’s network of thousands, VBSR members have continued to prove themselves leaders, innovators, and influencers. Our members have shaped the Vermont brand, advanced leading-edge policy, and fueled the social responsibility movement.

VBSR’s Public Policy Manager gives our members a voice on issues related to environmental sustainability, social justice, and sustainable economic development; advancing VBSR’s policy priorities through legislative lobbying and strategies, research, outreach, and education. This work is collective and collaborative in nature, involving active consultation of VBSR’s members, staff, Board of Directors, Public Policy Committee, study committees, coalition partners, and issue groups. Apply online: https://vbsr.org/vbsr-public-policy-manager Applicants who identify as women and non-binary, Black, Indigenous and People of Color, First- or Second-Generation American, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, veterans, justice-involved, or other historically marginalized and underrepresented identities are strongly encouraged to apply. A college degree is not required to be successful in this position.

Forest Preschool Aftercare & Robin’s

Nest Teacher

NBNC is hiring for a Forest Preschool (FPS) Aftercare & Robin’s Nest Teacher. This part-time position works collaboratively with the FPS Director and other FPS teachers to facilitate child-centered play and learning with nature, and is responsible for a regular aftercare teaching schedule and leading Robin’s Nest Playgroup once a week. The FPS Aftercare & Robin’s Nest Teacher helps nurture student growth through aftercare activities including outdoor and indoor free play, snack, reading time, cooking, games, and crafts; and works with the rest of the FPS team to manage risks, indoor and outdoor spaces, and materials.  Learn more and apply at  northbranchnaturecenter.org/ employment. This position will start in August 2024.

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New GRAD RN program helps ensure success!

Kick-start your nursing career at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) with our innovative Nurse Residency Program. Designed for passionate new grads, the program offers wrap-a-round support for long-term career excellence. Beginning in summer 2024, full-time positions will be available in departments such as Med Surg, Emergency and more. Applicants need a Vermont or multi-state RN licenses, BLS certification, and to be a graduate of an accredited nursing program. Program pillars include Leadership, Patient Outcomes, and Professional Roles. New grads are provided daily support and collaborative guidance. Join NVRH for competitive compensation, benefits, and a supportive environment where patients, community and employees thrive. St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Apply now at www.nvrh.org/careers.

Hospitality Coordinator

Responsible for assisting in all aspects of hospitality operations. This includes ensuring exceptional guest experiences, effective staff management, efficient operations, and financial success. Assist with weekly events, housekeeping, tours, managing inventory, provide meal prep and provide excellent customer service. You must be available to work a 10-hour shift (between 8:00am-1:00am) at a minimum of 3 days per week, weekends and holidays. Salary $45k with an onsite housing option available and company benefits. Send resumes to: hrmanager@bhaktaspirits.com

Fire Chief - Town of Hinesburg

The Town of Hinesburg, Vermont is actively seeking a full-time Fire Chief. The current part-time Fire Chief will be stepping down once a qualified replacement is found, and will remain on the department as a paid on-call member. The current Chief will assist in onboarding the new Chief, and is open to accepting any role within the department moving forward. This is a Department Head position which reports directly to the Town Manager.

The Hinesburg Fire Department is an all hazards, combination department comprised of 3 full-time employees (including the Chief), 30 paid on call members and a FY25 budget of $628,898.00. HFD operates two engines, one mini-pumper, one tanker, one light rescue and one command car. In 2023, HFD responded to 558 emergency calls. HFD possesses a Vermont AEMT non-transport EMS license. HFD provides contracted emergency services coverage to the Town of St George.

The Chief will be part of the direct response team on emergency calls on a routine basis, and is expected to participate in fire suppression, emergency medical services and any other services as needed. The ideal candidate will have experience in fire suppression, incident command, EMS, fire prevention, supervision, and other aspects of departmental operation including public engagement, budgeting, purchasing, strategic planning, equipment management, and personnel management.

The successful candidate will have strong communication and public presentation skills, demonstrated ability to track multiple priorities and activities, the ability to work with tight budgets for the best public value, and effective leadership skills. A full list of minimum and desired qualifications can be found within the job description.

The Town of Hinesburg offers a comprehensive benefit package, including VMERS Defined Benefit Plan Group D, health insurance (or health insurance opt-out payment of 73% of town’s contribution to a single-plan if eligible), dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, combined time off and sick leave. A detailed benefits overview is available upon request. Annual salary range is $79,000 - $86,000 based on qualifications and experience. Send letters of interest, resume and 3 references to:

Todd Odit, Town Manager 10632 Route 116 Hinesburg, Vermont 05461

Or emailed to todit@hinesburg.org on or before June 17, 2024.

The Town of Hinesburg is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. The Town of Hinesburg makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

SEASONAL CHOCOLATE MAKER & PACKAGING SPECIALIST

We are looking for motivated team players to join our community of chocolate makers and packagers at our factory in Williston, Vermont. When working on the production side, you'll fill molds with

PACKAGING TEAM LEAD

If

understanding of the product they are working with.

Union Organizer

The Vermont State Employees’ Association Seeks Experienced Union Organizer

Join Vermont’s most dynamic independent statewide union. VSEA is a democratic and increasingly activist union, where 18 dedicated union staff work hand in hand with more than 6,000 members across Vermont to confront and combat workplace and contract injustice. The important and meaningful work is conducted in one of the nation’s most politically progressive states, and the workload is manageable. VSEA’s headquarters is located in beautiful Montpelier, Vermont.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDE:

Leadership Development:

Production & Warehouse Manager

Manager - BHAKTA Spirits is looking for an experienced production and warehouse manager to own, manage and optimize the production, shipping and inventory of the distillery and bottling line. Salary - $50k based on experience, benefits and bonus.

Apply at: hrmanager@bhaktaspirits.com.

CARE PROVIDERS

Currently, we are seeking part-time care providers for morning and afternoon shifts three to four days a week in Chittenden County

Please call Patty Bergeron directly at 802-355-3790

Employees receive incentive bonuses of appreciation, referral fees and Holiday bonuses. All applicants must be able to pass a background check. silverleafcare@gmail.com

Identify existing leaders within VSEA and build relationships with those members through the work of building the union; Identify and recruit members to fill leadership roles within the structure of VSEA; Educate members on ways in which they can talk to their colleagues about: the union, effective strategies for identifying issues, and using direct action to make workplace improvements

Support VSEA’s Broader Organizational Goals and Activities:

Facilitate turnout to events, trainings and meetings; Support key legislative, political, and community or workplace actions as outlined by the VSEA Strategic Plan

Identify Issues with Members and Move a Plan of Action:

Meet with members to discuss current issues that are of importance; Work to develop and execute a clear work plan around the issues

Increase Union Membership:

Demonstrate success in signing up non-members and new employees as VSEA members while engaging union activists and leaders in the recruitment process

Communication with Members:

Have a regular and frequent presence in worksites, holding face-to-face conversations with VSEA leaders, activists, and rank-and-file members; Provide the VSEA Communications Department with regular updates on internal and external organizing efforts; Update VSEA bulletin boards in worksites by providing activists and leaders with updated materials as often as possible.

VSEA seeks to interview dynamic candidates with a track record of commitment to the labor movement and preferably two (2) years of experience as a union or political organizer. Any applicant must have reliable transportation as daily instate travel is expected.

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their resume, salary requirements, and a cover letter detailing their labor or political experience to vsea@vsea.org. Exceptional candidates will be scheduled for an interview.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB

PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Pasture Manager

Part-time

A mountain farm in Chittenden County is seeking to immediately hire a part-time pasture manager. Some occasional light fencing repairs will also be needed. Using the farm’s 20 hp DR Mower, the applicant will be responsible for mowing three acres of pasture two times during the summer and early fall. Training will be provided by us and will be required. You arrange your own schedule. The pay is excellent! Your working environment is stunningly beautiful and we encourage your awareness—and protection of—all wildlife, including nesting birds, birthing fawns, reptiles, and amphibians.

To schedule an interview, we need you to email us at hickoryvt@yahoo.com and provide your telephone number so that we may call you back. Please give us the best time to reach you. Sorry, all correspondence will be conducted by phone and in person. References will be required. Knowledge of equipment maintenance is essential. Contact us right away as we are looking to hire someone by June 1.

Trusted, local employers are hiring in Seven Days newspaper and online. Browse 100+ new job postings each week.

who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com Follow @SevenDaysJobs on Twitter for the latest job opportunities

Dispatch Switchboard Operator - Part Time

The Public Safety/Fire & Rescue Departments at Saint Michael’s College are inviting applications for a Part-Time Dispatch Switchboard Operator to dispatch radio calls and operate the College switchboard. The successful candidate will be responsible for answering all incoming calls and directing calls to the appropriate party quickly, accurately, and professionally. This role receives all emergency calls for SMC campus and the surrounding community and dispatches emergency personnel accordingly. Dispatch, switchboard, and emergency services experience desirable, but we will provide training for a motivated and dependable person with demonstrated aptitude. The rate of pay is $17.25 per hour.

For job description, benefits and to apply, please visit: bit.ly/SMCF24PTPSO

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Director of Finance

JOB SUMMARY: This is a highly responsible position in the Town’s finance department, which involves planning, directing, and implementing accounting and economic planning activities. Work is performed under the primary supervision and direction of the Town Manager. The Director of Finance is a crucial part of the Town’s leadership team and oversees all aspects of the finance department. The Director is responsible for various tasks such as budget preparation and monitoring, financial reporting, investment of public funds, annual audits, purchasing, cash management, bank relations, accounts payable and receivable, debt management, and coordination of assigned activities with other Town departments and outside agencies. These duties and responsibilities require attention to detail, accuracy, and time management skills. In addition, the employee must have strong organizational, documentation, economic, and accounting skills.

Please go to the Town of Shelburne website, Human Resources page, and look under “Current Employment Opportunities” to view the entire job description, benefits, and application forms.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit your resume and completed employment application at: shelburnevt.org/237/Human-Resources to Adam Backus, Town of Shelburne HR Assistant, abackus@shelburnevt.org Equal Opportunity Employer

Phone Reception

Be the first friendly and welcoming contact on phone and via email to customers calling to ask about the small passenger boat “Buttercup” which offers cruises departing from Burlington. Learn Buttercup’s online reservation system to make bookings for customers. Work from home, as long as you can answer calls immediately.

Two positions. Full time or part time. About a few hours of work per day but paid $16/ hour for entire time you are on standby for calls. Perk: Free cruises for you and friends or family. Seasonal job from May through Oct. 15.

For information and to apply, please call Buttercup Captain Mathias at 802-373-1284

No email applications please.

Wilderness Therapy Guide

Direct Support Professional

Why not have a job you love?

Provide direct supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism in their home, the community or their workplace. This is a great entry level position to human services and for those looking to continue their work in this field. Starting wage is $20/hr with a sign on bonus of $1,000 at 6 months.

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance plan with premium as low as $13 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous signon bonus and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for six years running. Make a career making a difference and apply today: staff@ccs-vt.org

Are you motivated and energized? Do you have a desire to mentor youth and young adults? Minimal outdoor experience necessary. We are looking for individuals who are empathic and caring, and natural leaders and strong communicators. The Guide role is perfect for someone who is eager to learn and enhance their therapeutic skill set. Guiding is a full-time, year-round position with seasonal opportunities available. Guides work a 4 day on/ 3 day off schedule. Guides work in teams of two to provide supervision for a group of up to 7 students. A day in the field can include: facilitating/participating in daily activities (hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, games, art, yoga, disc golf, movie nights), teaching outdoor skills (camping, firebuilding, outdoor cooking, map and compass navigation), and helping students achieve therapeutic goals. Must be 21 years or older. Bachelor’s degree preferred. Average starting pay is $1,050 per 4 day shift. Comprehensive benefits include health insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement and an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

Program Manager

True North is seeking a Program Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate is an adaptable team player, with a positive attitude and leadership skills who is

willing to work both indoors and outdoors. The Program Manager will be working closely with all departments at True North to help facilitate daily programming for the students, coordinate and execute schedules, supervise and train guides (direct care staff), and support the therapeutic goals for students. Candidates must be willing to work weekends and occasional evenings. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits offered. Benefits include health, dental, vision, accident insurance, an employee assistance program, SIMPLE IRA, access to an employee wellness fund, and opportunity for student loan reimbursement.

Office & Medication Administrator

True North is actively hiring for an Office and Medication Administrator who can assist in day-today office administrative tasks, organize and pack student medications, and effectively communicate and collaborate with parents, doctors, and various True North departments. The ideal candidate is an organized, flexible team player with a warm and friendly personality. This is an in-person, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. position. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits offered. Benefits include health, dental, vision, accident insurance, an employee assistance program, SIMPLE IRA, access to an employee wellness fund, and the opportunity for student loan payment reimbursement.

For more information: truenorthevolution.com/careers Relocation stipends available on a case by case basis.

Leadership positions at meditation retreat center:

Karmê Chöling is hiring for three leadership positions at our meditation retreat center in the Northeast Kingdom. Our core sta form the heart of a community inspired to practice mindfulness and compassion.

Guest Services Director

Personnel Director

Finance Director

In addition to room and board and a modest salary, sta receive support for their meditation practice and ample time o . While core sta are encouraged to live at Karmê Chöling, commuting is an option for some positions.

For more information and to apply: karmecholing.org/about/ jobs-volunteer/job-opportunities

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER...

Executive Secretary – Montpelier

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

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS COORDINATOR –MONTPELIER

The Transportation Board & Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board have an immediate opening for an exempt Executive Secretary. This position will work 32 hours per week with full benefits. The position is responsible for assuring the efficient administration of the two quasi-judicial Boards in all their duties – judicial, regulatory, and policy-making/advisory. A law degree is beneficial but not mandatory. Public Administration experience desired. For more information, contact John Zicconi at john. zicconi@vermont.gov. Department: Transportation Board. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time, Exempt. Job ID #50105. Application Deadline: June 6, 2024.

Office Manager/ Executive Administrative Assistant

Retirement Research and Policy Manager – Montpelier

The AOE Student Pathways Division seeks an Education Coordinator II to provide statewide leadership, oversight, and support to supervisory unions and districts for education technology, computer science, and digital infrastructure. We’re looking for someone with experience in contracting, technological and digital infrastructure, web and cloud-based platforms, and the theory and application of integrating technology, digital literacy, and computer science into effective instructional practices. For more information, contact Lisa Helme at lisa.helme@vermont. gov. Department: Education. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job Id #49870. Application Deadline: May 19, 2024.

HISTORIC SITES SECTION CHIEF – MONTPELIER

The Retirement Division of the State's Treasurer's Office is looking for a Retirement Research and Policy Manager. Duties include staffing the defined contribution and deferred compensation plans, work with defined benefit system actuaries and retiree health plans, and analysis of legislative proposals. This position will also serve as secretary of the three defined benefit retirement boards. This position reports directly to the Director of the Vermont Retirement Systems. For more information, contact Tim Duggan at tim.duggan@vermont.gov. Department: State Treasurer’s Office. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job ID #49945. Application Deadline: May 27, 2024.

VR Counselor I, II & Assoc Counselor – Springfield

The Division for Historic Preservation seeks an energetic Sites Chief with a passion for history and interpretation to join our hardworking State Historic Sites Program. The Sites Chief is responsible for the administration, operations, curation, and marketing of 22 historic sites with 74 buildings, shops, museums, archives, collections, and trails. Become a part of Vermont’s heritage at the places where state and national history happened, stretching from Bennington to Fairfield, Windsor to Orwell. For information, contact Laura Trieschmann at laura.trieschmann@vermont.gov. Department: Commerce & Community Development. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job ID #50064. Application Deadline: May 19, 2024.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY – MONTPELIER

The Springfield Office of HireAbility Vermont is recruiting for a skilled rehabilitation/career counselor with an ability to support high school students and young adults with physical, psychological, or cognitive disabilities. The VR counselor would assist individuals in preparing for employment through surveying their interests and skills and facilitate career exploratory activities and work experiences. The position involves a close working relationship with local area high schools. For more information, contact Alicia White at alicia.l.white@vermont. gov. Department: Disabilities Aging & Independent Living. Location: Springfield. Status: Full Time. Job ID # 50106 for Associate Counselor, #50106 for VR Counselor I and #50125 for VR Counselor II. Application Deadline: May 29, 2024.

The Transportation Board & Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board have an immediate opening for an exempt Executive Secretary. This position will work 32 hours per week with full benefits. The position is responsible for assuring the efficient administration of the two quasi-judicial Boards in all their duties – judicial, regulatory, and policy-making/advisory. A law degree is beneficial but not mandatory. Public Administration experience desired. For more information, contact John Zicconi at john.zicconi@vermont. gov. Department: Transportation Board. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time, Exempt. Job ID #50105. Application Deadline: June 6, 2024.

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Office Manager/Executive Administrative Assistant to join our team. In this position, you will provide essential support to ensure the smooth operation of our South Burlington based office. This is a part-time to full-time position. It affords the opportunity to perform some work from home, if desired.

We offer competitive pay based on experience and qualifications. Additionally, we provide opportunities for professional growth and development within our organization.

Requirements:

• Excellent computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong accounting background with experience in office management

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field Benefits Include:

• 401(k), Paid time off

• Dental & Health insurance

If you are a motivated individual with excellent organizational skills and a passion for providing exceptional executive administrative support, we encourage you to apply for this position. Please submit your resume along with a cover letter detailing your relevant experience to: HR@lionht.com

About us: We are a professional, agile family office providing comprehensive financial, accounting, tax, administration, investment, and transportation services. The company culture is based on mutual respect and delegation of authority and responsibility. We seek to create a highly professional environment where each team member takes pride in doing their job and doing it well. While we are doing this, we also strive to grow, learn, improve, and have fun.

5h-StMichaelsCollegePublicSafetyTEAM052224 1

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THANKS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL JOURNALISM!

Seven Days’ spring Report for America fundraising campaign ended on Friday, May 17, and we’re thrilled to announce that we crushed our $20,000 goal, bringing in $21,255 to support RFA corps member Rachel Hellman’s third year of rural reporting. Readers sent in donations that ranged from $10 to $2,000. These will supplement our three major gifts and the funds Seven Days receives from RFA. Thank you to the 189 generous donors who contributed — we appreciate your support!

—2024 SUPPORTERS INCLUDE —

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Sarah Albert

Rachel Andreyev

Nancy Banks

Nancy Baron

Susan Bartlett

Alison Bechdel

Christopher Beeson

Jeff Bernstein

Zail Berry & Gary Ward

Donna Bourne

Deborah Bouton

Katherine Brandeis

Erika Bruner

George Cady

Ann Carper

Dianne Carter

Jeffrey Cartwright

Sherry Chang

Carl Cloutier

Peter Colgan

Jeffrey Connor

Jan Copithorne

Carmen Cormier

Grace Cothalis

Anne Cramer

Cynthia Cross

Steve Cummins

Polly Darnell

Steven Darwin

Bosworth Dewey

Lee Diamond

Siobhan Donegan

Samuel Dorrance

Zoe Elliston

Nancy Flinn

Elizabeth Forrester

Gillian Franks

Shelly Gage

Neil A Gerdes

Keith Gerritt

Rebecca Golden

Kelley Goulette

Matt Grady

Hope Green

Michael Grundhauser

Rob Gurwitt

Noah Harrison

Ginger Hobbs

Jane & Clyde Holt

Tom Hubbs

James Hudson

Michael Ialeggio

Geoffrey Ibbott

Susan Kavanagh

Paula Kelley

JoAnne Kenyon

Lindsey Kerr

Maureen Kirk

John & Rhonda Kjos

Larry Kupferman

Chuck Lacy

Jim Laskarzewski

Cheryl Lees

Lucie Lehmann

Patricia Levi

Robin Lloyd

Brian Lowe

Kevin Lumpkin

Kristina MacKulin

Peter Macone

Raymond Mainer

Philip Marshall

Rux Martin

Ruth & Bob McCullough

Kathryn McCurdy

Alain McMurtrie

Maureen Mccarthy

Emily H Merrill

Sarah Merritt

Sophia Mesler

Paula Moore

Rita Mullin

Phyl Newbeck

Patricia & Tom Norton

Susan Oldenberg

Patti Padua

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Katie Peck

Bryan Pfeiffer

Susan & Richard Phillip

Diane Post

Norm Potoksky

Alison Pyott

Paul Ralston

Connie Ramsey

Judith Raven

Gloria Rice

Gene Richards

Patricia Rivers

Andrew Robinson

James Rooney

Emily Rose

Leslie Rubman

Patricia Ruddy

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Jan Salzman

Barbara Saylor Rodgers

Bill & Kate Schubart

Elizabeth Schwartz

Catherine Seward

Natalie Sherman

Sandra Simpson

Gretchen Singh

Jennifer Sprague

Tim Swartz

Shawn Sweeney

Anna Sykas

Carla Taymans

Eric omas

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Sue Trainor

Jason van Driesche

Katharine Veerman

Shari Walcott

Charles Webster

Jacqueline Weinstock

Valerie Wise

Bruce Wyatt

Alan Yandow

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fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS & STEVE MARTIN

How much did last year’s weather end up costing Vermont farmers?

Answer topical questions like these in our weekly news quiz. It’s quick, fun and informative. Take a new quiz each Friday at sevendaysvt.com/quiz.

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RACHEL LINDSAY

GEMINI

(MAY 21-JUN. 20)

When I first got my job writing a horoscope column, I wasn’t looking for it. It found me. My bike had been stolen, and I was looking for a new one in the classified ads of Good Times, the local Santa Cruz newspaper. There I serendipitously spied a “Help Wanted” ad. The publisher of Good Times was hiring a new astrology writer to replace Robert Cole, who had just quit. I quickly applied for the gig and got it. Ever since, Robert Cole has been a symbol for me of an accidental and unexpected opportunity appearing out of nowhere. I mention this, Gemini, because when I meditate on you lately, I see the face of Robert Cole.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In the coming weeks, you will experience uncomfortable weirdness if you do the following: 1) Meander without focus or purpose; 2) give yourself permission to postpone, procrastinate and engage in avoidance behavior; 3) ignore the interesting though challenging truths that are right in front of you; 4) hang out with people with mediocre ambitions. But you will experience healthy, uplifting oddness if you do the following: 1) Trust your instincts and intuitions; 2) authorize your spontaneity to invigorate and guide you; 3) take the straightforward path that gets you to the destination most efficiently; 4) be crisp and nimble.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Mysterious energies will soon begin healing at least some of the wounds in your financial genius. As a result, I predict new powers of attraction will awaken in you, making it likely you will add to your wealth in the coming months. To synergize these happy developments, I recommend you give yourself permission to have joyous fun as you lust for more cash. More good news: I will supplement your good fortune by casting a benevolent spell to boost the flow of riches into your bank account.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): In myths and legends, the consummate spiritual goal has various names: the Holy Grail, philosopher’s stone, pearl of great price, nirvana, alchemical gold, key of life and many others. I appreciate this profusion of sacred symbols. It encourages us to not be too literal about identifying the highest reward. The old fables are equally equivocal about where the prize can be found. Is it in an empty desert or dark forest? In the deepest abyss, on a mountaintop or in the backyard? I bring these thoughts to your attention, Cancerian, because the coming months will be an excellent time to conduct a quest for the marvelous treasure. What do you need most right now? What’s the best way to begin your search?

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): I have good news for any Leos who are devoted to pragmatism and rational analysis. Just this once, my horoscope will offer no lyrical teasers or mystical riddles. Your pressing need for no-nonsense grit has moved me to offer straightforward, unembellished counsel. Here it is, dear: Cultivate connections that will serve your passionate ambitions. Make vigorous use of your network and community to gather information that will serve your passionate ambitions. Meditate on what course corrections might be necessary to serve your passionate ambitions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): For many of you Virgos, your health seems chronically unsettled. You may be constantly hypervigilant about the next glitch that could possibly affect your well-being. There’s a problem with that approach: It may intensify your fear of frailty, which in turn saps your vigor. But I’m

happy to report that in the coming months, you will have an enhanced power to break out of this pattern. To get started, try this: Every morning for four minutes, picture yourself overflowing with vitality. Visualize every part of your body working with joyful heartiness. Send streams of love and gratitude to all your organs. Do this for the next 21 days.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Many people regard the word “faith” as referring to delusional hope or wishful thinking. But I ask you to rethink its meaning — and consider the possibility that it could be an empowering force in the coming months. How? Imagine a faith that’s earthy and robust. You actually feel it vibrating in your heart and gut. It literally alters your brain chemistry, fortifying your natural talents and attracting needed resources. It liberates you to feel pragmatically excited as you pursue your goal of fulfilling your soul’s code.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): When I was born, my parents gave me the name “Robert.” It’s derived from an Old North French word meaning “shining” and “bright with glory.” In Middle English, though, “robert” was a designation for “a wastrel, a marauder, a good-for-nothing.” I use this dichotomy as a reminder that my own nature is a mix of brightness and darkness. A lot of me is shining and inspirational, but there’s also a part that’s ignorant and confused. And what’s true about me is true about everyone else, including you: We are blends of the best and the not-so-best. Now is a good time to draw strength and wisdom from meditating on this reality. Your shadowy aspects have important and interesting truths to reveal to your brilliant aspects — and vice versa.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Here are some meditations on emotions. They are as key to our intelligence as our thoughts! But it’s crucial that we distinguish between emotions generated by delusions and emotions that are responses to true perceptions. Let’s say I get angry because I imagine a friend stole money from my room while visiting, but then later I put on my vest and find the supposedly stolen cash in the vest pocket. That is a delusional emotion. But if I am sad because my friend’s beloved dog is sick, that is emotion based on

an accurate perception. I bring this to your attention, Sagittarius, because I believe it is essential that in the coming weeks you discern between the two types.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): As an adjunct to the Ten Commandments, I have formulated the Ten Suggestions. Here’s Suggestion No. 1: Wash your own brain at least three times a year. I’m speaking metaphorically, of course. What I mean is that like me and everyone else, you are always accumulating junky thoughts and useless feelings. Some are generated by our old, conditioned responses, and some pour into us from the media and entertainment industries. And it’s best to be proactive about the toxic buildup — not allow it to become monumental. In my astrological opinion, now is an excellent time for a regular mind cleanse.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): So many writers have said terrible things about our existence on planet Earth. “Life is a disease,” George Bernard Shaw wrote. “Life is a bad dream,” Eugene O’Neill declared. Life is “a vast cold junkpile,” according to Stephen King. There are thousands more of these unnuanced disparagements. Why? Here are the facts, as I see them: As tough as it can be to navigate through problems and pain, being alive in our miraculous bodies with our dazzling awareness is a sublime gift. We are all blessed with a mysterious and fascinating destiny. In accordance with the astrological omens, Aquarius, I invite you to celebrate being alive with extra gratitude and ebullience. Begin the jubilee by feeling amazement and awe for your mysterious and fascinating destiny. Second step: Identify five sublime gifts in your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In the coming weeks, I ask you to refrain from indulging in extreme nostalgia. On the other hand, I encourage you to explore the past and sift through memories with the intention of clarifying what really happened back then. Pluck new lessons from the old days that will help you forge smart decisions in the near future. Use your history as a resource while you redefine the meanings of pivotal events. For extra credit, create a new title for the book you may someday write about your life story.

Sollberger’s

e Aubins have lived in Lyndonville for seven generations, and Lizzie — a Ford Model A — has been driven by their family for five of them. Over the years, Lizzie has been a familiar sight in parades and around town. Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger visited Aubin Electric to meet Lizzie's current caretaker, C.J. Aubin, and his kids, Zak and Ali.

WOMEN seeking...

LOVE GOOD CONVERSATION

Would love to find another who enjoys honest, good conversation, has a busy life of their own but likes a good adventure. About me: I love, love, love to travel. But I also enjoy working on my home, cooking for the joy of cooking’s sake, dressing up some days, working hard, and napping in the sun. Lovetotalk 51 seeking: M, l

SINGING, SPRINGTIME, AND GREAT CONVERSATIONS

Warm, thoughtful, intelligent, aware, intuitive, witty, gracious, earthy, musical, earnest, enthusiastic and romantic woman seeks man who seriously wants the fun, delight, challenges, mystery, awe and rewards of a long-term, committed relationship. VermontContent 62, seeking: M, l

EMBRACING THE LAYERS OF LIFE

I laugh and love with gusto and have a skeptic’s mind. Very comfortable living in the depths and layers and do not thrive in the shallows. I value intellect and humility. I love color, being in the beauty of our world and experiencing the gifts that can be found in joy, grief, laughter, intimacy and the complexities of being human. LoveBlueReds 55, seeking: M

SMART, SELF-AWARE, KIND SEEKS

SAME

Smart, self-aware and kind seeking same. AnneShirley 48, seeking: M

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

GENUINELY HAPPY, SEEKING SAME

Easygoing, life-loving sixtysomething in search of a man comfortable in his own skin who loves deep conversations. All the usuals apply: Must love dogs. It’s the way to my heart, for sure. Must also love the outdoors, and not in a fanatic way. Enjoy being in nature. And finally, for now anyway, must love a good belly laugh. Joyful 64, seeking: M, l

GENUINE, THOUGHTFUL, PASSIONATE

Solo tiny-farming in the hills is sublime, but this unscripted homesteading comedy could use more characters: a partner in permaculture, a paddling companion, a cross-country/backcountry ski buddy, a Scrabble challenger. Some other favored pastimes: sailing, reading, Champlain Islands camping in fall, vegetarian cookery, making you laugh. Life is good. Just missing someone special to share the journey. nordicbette242 53, seeking: M, l

CUTE OLD CHICK!

I am compassionate, still a thrill seeker (I just zip-lined in Costa Rica), curious about the world and using the Google machine to search for answers. My bucket list is long. Get your passport out and let’s go! 70 years young, originally from Vermont, retired, enjoys long walks, gardening, biking, anything on water, eating sushi. ExoldVermonter 70, seeking: M, l

LIVING THE NEXT CHAPTER

Hello. I am looking for someone to spend this next chapter of life with. I enjoy taking walks, going for rides on the back roads with no destination in mind. I love the ocean. It’s my happy place. I enjoy going out for a meal now and then but am just as content to stay in. My grandchildren are my joy. Ajb, 60 seeking: M, l

A FRESH START

I’m smart, work hard and want someone who can help me play hard. I’m not looking to meet “soon,” nor do I want an instant relationship (I just got out of one), but I am open to it if the right person comes along. I feel like I just woke up from a long nap — entertain me! Freshstart 58, seeking: M, l

CREATIVE WOMAN SEEKS LIBERATED MALE

I want a guy who was raised by a liberated mother. I am creative, witty, talented, graceful and devilish. Someone once said I think out of both sides of my brain — organized and artistic. I once auditioned for and was selected to sing backup for the Shirelles. People think I’m fun to be with. Maybe you will, too. San2Lus 74 seeking: M, l

BIODYNAMIC, SAGACIOUS ARTIST

I desire meaningful conversation, companionship, laughter and love. I am family- and community-minded with philanthropic tendencies; broadly studied in history, art, science and spirituality; well traveled and influenced by world cultures. I lead a conscientious, healthy lifestyle and keep a clean home, hands and heart. Retired, actively pursuing my passions and enjoying my grandchildren. Are you similarly inclined? Eruditee, 60, seeking: M, l

LOYAL, DEPENDABLE, DIFFERENT, LOVING

I am a mature, single woman of color who is open-minded, real and comfortable in my uniqueness. I am looking for a white mature man for companionship and friendship. I value peace and joy and am not interested in any drama. Mami8 40 seeking: M

SOUND MIND AND SOUND BODY

This international type prioritizes friendship because it’s more easily achieved than romance, and because some of the most rewarding romances emerge unexpectedly when people get to know each other in a relaxed manner, over time. I’m drawn to cerebral, ethical people with a sense of humor who want to share athletics, a love of nature, culture and/or thoughtful, spirited debate. Mireya, 63, seeking: M, l

CURIOUS, ADVENTUROUS SEEKER

Let’s get all bundled up, put on our snowshoes and head for the road less traveled by! Yes, it’s 5 below zero! Yes, the wind may find a way to sneak under our neck gaiters, seeking the warmth of our well-protected hearts! What an incredible gift to share this experience that so few will ever know. Let’s get started! seabreezes, 72, seeking: M, l

HONEST, KIND, FUNNY, ADVENTUROUS, CURIOUS

I’m comfortable being on my own but want to share adventures and experiences with that special someone. I love to hear people’s stories; I’ve been told I’m a good listener. I’m looking for someone who is kind, likes to laugh and loves experiencing new things; ideally starting off as a friendship that grows to a deeper and more caring relationship. Friendlysoul, 67, seeking: M, l

CLASSICAL MUSIC/ATHLETE

Mellow, low maintenance, self-sufficient. Love sunshine and warmth. Enjoy reading, walking, sailing, kayaking, swimming. (Gold medalist in Vermont and Tucson Senior Games.) Like to watch Netflix and PBS “Masterpiece” mysteries. My family and friends are tops with me. Thrifting is fun. Museums and history. Ride recumbent trike with electric assist nowadays. Wish for a kind, cultured, good-humored man. Choralmusic83 83, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

SOBER, ACTIVE AND VITAL

I am an active, well educated, interested and interesting 86-year-old who is vital. I am looking for a woman who is similar and does not think that physical intimacy is no longer of interest. I enjoy dining out, live theater and concerts. I especially enjoy choral music. I am flexible and very few things get my shorts in a bunch. barreloves 86, seeking: W, TW, Cp, l

OUTGOING

Someone that I can trust and just have fun with. Petlover 65 seeking: W

GENTLEMAN FOR CASUAL MEETINGS Mature for gay sexual meetings. Billydear, 66 seeking: M

ACTIVE, HUMOROUS, SENSUAL, PHYSICAL

Looking for clean, good action and no trouble. Nubee69, 66, seeking: M

FREE MASSAGES

I enjoy helping women relax in this stressful world with a nice massage. Neck, shoulders and back, or more. I come to your place and I’m a gentleman with no funny business. I only do what you want! DBY123 69, seeking: W

HARDWORKING, EASYGOING, MUSICAL

I am a happy, peaceful human who enjoys working on my land, playing banjo, biking, and being creative. Would love to find that special woman, and I wouldn’t mind making love again. BanjoDave 68, seeking: W, l

IMPULSIVE, GOOFY, ROMANTIC BALD GUY

I’m a Sagittarius, Rabbit, 9w8, INFP. If any of that means something to you, then we should talk. I like to have fun and am a bit goofy. I make up songs and dance spontaneously. I also like to relax with a book on the sofa. I like walks in the woods. I’m romantic and like holding hands and kissing. Autumn63, 60 seeking: W, l

OLD SCHOOL

I’m the cool guy. The one after you go, “That needs to happen again.” NEKlove 27, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK, OLD-SCHOOL AND LOVING LIFE!

I’m a man with many interests who never likes to be bored, and I’m looking for a partner or new friend to share my life with and experience new things together. New foods, new sights, new sounds and new conversation topics. I have a lot of love to give, so I hope we can meet and see where things go. Edb9432, 42, seeking: W, l

FIT, KIND, RETIRED ADVENTURER

Recently widowed retiree looking for adventure. I am completely housebroken — cooking, washing, ironing, sometimes picking up. Looking to travel to the 13 states I haven’t been to and the Canadian Maritimes. I am involved in city board activities and military service orgs. Love dining out and theater or a good movie. arbycow, 82, seeking: W, l

NERDY GUY, GREAT DAD JOKES

Newly single guy in Chittenden County looking for great banter, inside jokes and amazing sex. A romantic at heart, I thrive on spontaneity and getting lost in our intimacy, if only for a night. Chad724, 25, seeking: W, Cp, l

CASUAL BUT RESPECTFUL, FUNNY

You will always find me making plans as if my life were eternal, at the grocery store choosing my fresh products or enjoying a red wine, the aroma of garlic and basil while I cook. I don’t participate in any social network. My private life is exactly that: private. I want to receive what I give: sincerity and respect. Azzurro60 63 seeking: W, l

OLD-SCHOOL

Looking for wife-material woman who enjoys outdoors and helps around the house. I am honest and loyal. Someone who is not religious but desires to grow spiritually. Hockeyman 42, seeking: M

RETRO GROUCH

Quiet, more than a bit worn at the edges and lost inside my own head at times but warm, kind and thoughtful inside. My tolerance does run out with hypocrisy and mean-spiritedness. I am by no means the stereotypical male, and I never got the attraction of team sports. wanderling 67 seeking: W, NC, l

SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE

I have built a new house, new life in the NEK. I’m a young 67, active and always busy doing something, whether it’s work or play. Now that the house is done, it’s time to be outdoors creating my gardens and yard. I’m looking for a positive, happy, possibly nude gardener and creator who complements my own creative energy. MRO67, 67 seeking: W, l

DOWN-TO-EARTH

Hi. I’m looking for someone who likes to smile. I enjoy gardening, riding motorcycles, metal detecting, boating. I enjoy a cozy night at home with that special someone, maybe sitting around a fire. brian69 55, seeking: TW, l

GENDER NONCONFORMISTS seeking...

BABY BUTCH SEEKS GUIDANCE

(Not sexual or romantic.) If you’re queer, an activist or anything of the like, I would love to connect! I’m a genderweird (truly) babydyke butch, and I desperately want to learn from older queers. As much research as I’ve done on gay history, I always want to learn more and connect. If there are any other butches out there, please reach out! antweed, 18, seeking: TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

LET ME WRITE YOUR STORY

Truly just here to explore everyone else. Dating weirds me out, and sex is so intimidating, so just let me be your friend. I promise I’m actually kinda cool. orion_nebula 28, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking...

VERY VERY OLD SCHOOL

Looking for a couple who are open and honest. My taste is very open. My wife wants nothing to do with me seeing others but is ok with it. Discretion, openness, and cleanliness. Jimdandy 59 seeking: Cp

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS

Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits, 60, seeking: W, Cp

FUN COUPLE LOOKING FOR EXPLORATION

We are a secure couple who enjoy the outdoors, good wine, great food, playing with each other, exploring our boundaries and trying new things. We are 47 and 50, looking for a fun couple or bi man to play and explore with us. We are easygoing, and we’d love to meet you and see where our mutual adventures take us. vthappycouple, 51 seeking: M, Cp, Gp

LOVERS OF LIFE

We are a 40s couple, M/F, looking for adventurous encounters with openminded, respectful M/F or couples. Looking to enjoy sexy encounters, FWBs, short term or long term. sunshines 43, seeking: M, W, Q, Cp

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are an older and wiser couple discovering that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Would you be interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen 67, seeking: M, TM, NC, Cp, l

DOG FOOD AT COSTCO

Saturday afternoon in the self-checkout line. You saw me struggling with my dog food and graciously let me put it in your cart. We chatted for a few minutes, then parted ways. Let me buy you a drink for being so chivalrous? (To confirm it’s you, tell me what kind of dog you said you had!) When: Saturday, May 18, 2024. Where: Costco. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916008

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

“You dazzled me,” I told you. I don’t know why, but I think you feel it: your energy won’t leave. I didn’t want to work with you — it was too much. If something happens to your rainbow, nothing would make me happier than to open my door and find you, “because when I am in a room with you that missing piece is found,” and I would love to see what that feels like! When: Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Where: My house. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916007

SMILES AT SPECS

You smiled at me through the window while I was having tea with a neighbor. I had curly hair and glasses, smiled back. Once inside, I checked out your work boots and we quickly met each other’s gaze. You got impatient, left without a drink, but gave me one last smile. Can we meet for a real drink? On me. When: ursday, May 16, 2024. Where: Specs Café, Winooski. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916006

MORNING WORKOUT AT CRUNCH

Hi. You’re fit, dedicated, and have black ink. You have a TLM sticker on your water bottle. I’m new to the gym and you always catch my eye. It’s been tough to find the right moment to say “hi” and I don’t want to interrupt you, so thought I’d start here. I’m mid-40s, in shape and would love to flirt. When: Monday, May 13, 2024. Where: Crunch Fitness. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916003

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

LANDSLIDE EARLY 2024

A landslide knocked on my door early on, bad timing then, but now you are gone. I hope your search is over, but if it’s not, would you like to give it a try? When: Saturday, January 20, 2024. Where: Flirts. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916005

WILD WOMAN SEDUCTRESS AND CHIC

What a woman! So Parisian in your blue and white dress, with red lips. Such a classic beauty; approachable, too, and so well-spoken. You have an accent, too. I love your accent - it’s so sexy! Hope you enjoyed your red wine. You were surrounded by so many busy-bee men. Could I tempt you, turn your head, entice you? When: ursday, May 16, 2024. Where: e Whammy Bar, Calais. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916004

SPICIEST MOONLIT MERMAID

Fate, an enigmatic force guiding life’s course, entwines destiny with chance. It weaves intricate patterns, shaping moments into narratives both profound and unexpected. Love lost is a haunting melody, echoing the ache of separation. It leaves hearts adrift in a sea of memories, yearning for what once was, mourning the beauty now gone. I will forever love you, Babe! When: Saturday, May 11, 2024. Where: Calais. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916002

YOU CHANGED MY LIFE

You: male, mid-twenties, dark hair. Stacking wood 27 inches high under a mirage of stage lights. You may not have won the round, but you won my heart. Me: local game show enthusiast with a passion for romance who knows how to have a good time. I’m also a skilled stacker. I’d love to help you handle your wood pile. When: Friday, May 10, 2024. Where: Hardwick Town House. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916001

LIVNLIFE?

I have read your personal ad several times and keep coming back to it. I would love to meet you, but do not want to have to post a personal ad. I have seen you around St. Albans but didn’t want to come off too strong. I love antiquing and thrifting and would love company. When: Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Where: Walmart. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916000

NEON GREEN AND BLACK DRESS

Wow, did you catch my eye, bright and beautiful, with earrings to match. Wish I was able to talk to you in the moment, but this will have to do. Any interest in meeting someone new? I’d like the opportunity to talk to you. If so, let me know! When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Where: South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915999

I SEE YOU

I wonder if you also come here hoping that someone noticed you. I wonder if when someone notices you, you lose interest in them. I wonder if you will ever be content. When: Saturday, May 4, 2024. Where: Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915998

18TH HOLE AT KWINIASKA

Very attractive blonde, finishing play on the 18th in the afternoon. I was coming off the fifth hole. Red striped shirt. We shared a hello and a smile. Would you like to play a round together? Nine or 18? When: Saturday, May 4, 2024. Where: Kwiniaska Golf Club. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915997

SPARKS FLYING AT LAMP SHOP

Eyes catch from across the bar, your smile illuminates my heart. Such a fleeting yet very memorable moment. I hope to see you soon, Michelle. When: Friday, May 3, 2024. Where: Lamp Shop. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915996

DID YOU FEEL A SPARK

...by the bulk lentils? (You were wearing a light blue shirt, maybe in your late 20s, early 30s. You were also closer to the garbanzo beans.) I hope you did because you’re beautiful, it’s spring, and I’d love to meet again. When: Saturday, May 4, 2024. Where: Hunger Mountain Co-op. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915995

De Vicky Tem,

De Rev end,

My wife is obsessed with everything true crime. It started with some documentaries during the pandemic, but now she’s listening to podcasts, reading books and joining online groups. She has even mentioned wanting to go to a CrimeCon convention. It’s like she’s becoming a murder expert. I have no interest in the stuff and find it all a little creepy. Sometimes I halfwonder if she may be plotting my demise. Should I be worried that she’s gone too far?

SUPER SMILING SWIMMER

You were in the masters’ swim. I was in the next lane, admiring your speed (and your cool blue suit). When I stopped to stretch, you paused in a turn to smile and say hello. For a swimming pool, that’s a long conversation. Care to try one on dry land? When: ursday, May 2, 2024. Where: e Edge, South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915994

HANDSOME BY THE BEVERAGE COOLER

I was standing by the beverage cooler near the produce department and checking out the new flavors of GT’s kombucha while the woman beside me stocked drinks. You were the handsome fella smiling at me when I turned around. Had I known my ride would be running late, I might have tarried a bit longer to enjoy the moment. When: Sunday, April 28, 2024. Where: Dorset St. Hannaford. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915993

ORB OF IMMEASURABLE BEAUTY

I’ve seen you around, but when you passed in front of a mass of incandescent plasma, I felt an alignment and harmony of bodies like never before and I saw you in a new light. I’ve been thinking of you ever since. Hit me up if you want to grab a sandwich together sometime. When: Monday, April 8, 2024. Where: in the sky. You: Gender non-conformist. Me: Man. #915992

STOWE SKI INSTRUCTOR AND REMOTE

We rode Valley House because Super Bravo stopped running. You were hoping to get to Blueberry Hill to ride your bike. You: from Waterbury, went to American U. Me: Annapolis, Guilford in Greensboro, worked at Green Mountain Club. Guy to my right on quad very loud persistent annoying talker. Are you “Sharon” the love? I want to know more. When: Saturday, April 27, 2024. Where: Sugarbush Valley House lift. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915991

MICHAEL HURLEY DISTRACTION

You: gorgeous butch(?) with alive eyes offering food at the show. Me: nonbinary queer in Carhartt jacket taken by your smile and attention. Do you eye-gaze all the gays? I was prepared with a handful of verbal inanities after the show to linger in your presence, but you had disappeared! Wanna try and linger longer sometime? When: Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Where: Michael Hurley show, East Fairfield. You: Group. Me: Non-binary person. #915990

Human beings love salacious stories, and truecrime tales have been told for centuries. eir popularity has exploded recently because — with the internet and all sorts of streaming services — there are so many ways in which these stories can be delivered.

RED HEAD AND TIGER BODY

Devastating, darling, just one of kind. At comedy improv, you sat so close but had someone else sit on your lap. We drank; we sang. We got up to play improv games together. at sparkle in the eye, echoes of an Irish wild ancestress! You know I know. I know you know. We know we know. Remembering the good times. When: Saturday, March 30, 2024. Where: Hugo’s, Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915989

APARTMENT CLEANING

I cleaned your apartment in 2023. You were moving out of it. I ripped out your carpet on the stairs. Super rainy day. I thought you were both very cute but didn’t want to be forward and tell you that I’d love to be your third wheel. When: Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Where: Pearl. You: Couple. Me: Man. #915987

ARANDAS IN MONTPELIER

I was running late for work; you were paying for your gas. Gazes met; quick and charming smile. I got to the counter to pay; you came back in and sheepishly said a once-in-a-lifetime thing just happened: You tried to take the pump with you. I like to think our brief connection flummoxed you into your first pump drive-away. Single? When: Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Where: Arandas in downtown Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915986

CHARLIE AT THE CO-OP

You might build floating shelves for your tiny kitchen, and you liked my smile. My kitchen is big and in need of a sous chef (though maybe we could take turns being head chef). Let’s make scrumptious meals together and fend off the crudeness of reality with the culinary arts. Bon appétit! When: Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Where: City Market. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915984

SAILING ON WITHOUT A WORD

I noticed you early in the cruise: tall, gray hair, dark jacket, 60s-ish. You sat on the deck in the stern, middle section, for a few minutes. I wish I had been braver and chatted with you. I was wearing a teal Patagonia jacket, gray hair in a ponytail and solar glasses. When: Monday, April 8, 2024. Where: Spirit of Ethan Allen eclipse cruise. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915983

2017. It attracts thousands of people every year, 75 percent of them women.

ere are many theories about why women are so attracted to true-crime stories. One is that, unfortunately, women are more concerned about becoming victims of violent crime. By learning about the motivations and methods of a criminal, they may learn how to avoid them.

According to the website Podchaser, as of March, there were over 23,000 podcasts in the category of true crime. Other data, from the Pew Research Center, show that women are more than twice as likely as men to listen to true-crime podcasts. CrimeCon, which hosts speakers and crime experts from around the world, started in

So, your wife isn’t doing anything that a whole lot of other people — mostly women — aren’t doing. Unless you seriously have a reason to think she has ill intent toward you, her obsession is most likely a harmless, and possibly educational, form of entertainment.

Good luck and God bless, The Rev end

Imaginative, attractive man wanting a fun and playful kinky redhead. Let’s play connect-thefreckles on your wildly feminine body. #L1758

Sensual older couple who enjoy travel — international and domestic — are outdoorsy: camping (love the Islands), gardening, live music and more. Looking to meet preferably another couple open to the possibilities of exploring gentle consensual sensual activities. Meet for a chat-up? #L1757

Mysterious wolf of a man seeks a sweet little lamb who likes her spankings. Petite or meaty, but not greedy. #L1756

TO

80-y/o woman seeking a man 70- to 80-y/o. I like to travel and eat out occasionally. Am easy to get to know. Like to knit, crochet, cross stitch and play card games also. #L1754

Tall, handsome, straight man looking for same for first-time erotic exploration. #L1755

Female, 22, seeking a toxic relationship with unhealthy boundaries, dating for marriage. I love taxidermy, specifically fish. You catch ’em; I’ll tax ’em. Please respond. I’m so lonely. #L1752

I’m a GM, early 60s, looking for playtime friends. Can be long- or short-term. Nice guy, easygoing and fun to be with. #L1745

ERS:

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YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

I’m a 33-y/o woman seeking a 33- to 42-y/o man for longterm companionship. Want a strong, confident, self-aware and caring man. Someone not afraid to provide and protect but also to express his softer side. Bonus if you love gardening and have a diverse background. #L1753

Anyone able to liven up away from this state? SWF, mid-60s, NS, DD-free, seeks guy(s) or gal(s) set to haul off Vermont’s phonies map! Love radical, non-predator people and pets. #L1750

24-y/o independently wealthy male looking for two young partners of any kind for some double ramming. Bipolar but will do my best to treat you amazingly. #L1751

Come dance with me in the gazebo. Nice guy, 5’10, 195 pounds. 74 y/o but looks younger, new to the market. Seeks a good woman/partner 55 to 75 y/o to love and be loved by. Very attentive and affectionate, likes to have fun and travel. 420 friendly. #L1749

I’m a gay male, 65 y/o, seeking gay men for new friendships. Outgoing, fun, loving person seeking meaningful connections. “Best friend” kinda guy here! is is not an ad for sex; friendship only. Looking forward to hearing from you. #L1746

Int net-Free Dating!

He needs it bad, and she needs it more: ISO ideal M/F couple in need of attentive oral assistance to complete their lovemaking pleasure. Mature M welcomes your thoughts. #L1747

I’m a man in my late 60s, seeking a female. Seek female with some desire and passion for a relationship. Many interests. Let’s talk. See phone number, please. #L1748

70, young-looking, good shape. Enjoy karaoke, singing, comedy. Seek female, 45 to young 70s. I am 5’9, hazel eyes, 163 pounds, black hair. #L1743

I’m a 73-y/o male desiring a woman in her 70s or 80s to experience together the joys of a sensuous relationship. Phone number, please. #L1741

I’m a SWM seeking a bi male and bi female for fun times. Clean, nonsmoking, drink ok. Any age, race. Nudist, movies, porn. Send phone number. #L1739

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

Woman, 63. NEK, single, work full time. Healthy, adventurous, curious, kind. Seek male friend to hang out with, explore, share conversation, meals. Not into divisive politics. Definitely into nature/beautiful surroundings. If romance happens, that would be wonderful. #L1744

I’m a SWM, early 60s, island dweller seeking a SF. Do you like shots of tequila and getting caught in the rain? Do you like walks in the islands and the taste of Champagne? Do you like making love at midnight in a sweet summer sweat? Do you like any of these items? Come with me and escape. Active. Athletic. Adventurous. #L1742

Active, elderly gent who lives alone seeks a lady with similar interests to share his lovely home. Splendid views, huge deck, paved highway, free TV and Wi-Fi. I enjoy snowmobiling, antiques, classic cars, parades, eating out, and community involvement. Seeking woman who enjoys the same. #L1738

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) Required confidential info: NAME

(MORE)

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THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

e Dilemma of Retirement Income

WED., MAY 22

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY

Moira Smiley & the Rhizome Quartet with Community Choir

WED., MAY 22

RICHMOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Women’s Ride at Saxon Hill

THU., MAY 23

SAXON HILL TRAILHEAD, ESSEX

Transcontinental Piano Duo - Elaine Greenfield and Janice Meyer ompson

FRI., MAY 24

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON

EDNA: e Residency, Night Four

FRI., MAY 24

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE

Blues & Beyond w/ Bull & Prairie and Derek Sensale

FRI., MAY 24

THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

May Bird Monitoring Walk

SAT., MAY 25

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Cleary/Gagnon/Saulnier Jazz Trio in Residence, feat. Matt Davide

SAT., MAY 25

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE

Early Birders Morning Walk

SUN., MAY 26

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Wacky Buttercream Piping Cake

Decorating Class

THU., MAY 30

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

e Magnetica Concert

FRI., MAY 31, SAT., JUN 1

MAGNETICA PERFORMANCE SPACE, BURLINGTON

John Primer and the Real Deal Band

FRI., MAY 31

RETRO LIVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY

Roots 2024

SAT., JUN 1

STRAWBERRY HILL FARM, STOWE

Early Birders Morning Walk

SUN., JUN 2

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Gallop to Success Horseshoes Fundraiser

SUN., JUN 2

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, SOUTH BURLINGTON

Mandarin Conversation Circle

TUE., JUN 4

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza Workshop

TUE., JUN 4

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Living with Loss: A Gathering for the Grieving

WED., JUN 5 ONLINE

Beginning Your First Garden

THU., JUN 6

HORSFORD GARDENS AND NURSERY, CHARLOTTE

Ethiopian/Eritrean Cooking

Class- Meat & Veggie Sauces

FRI., JUN 7

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

TRUCK LOAD