BY DEREK BROUWER & LIAM ELDER-CONNORS, PAGE
Bernie becomes chief critic of Israeli gov’t
Meet BTV-born rugby star Ilona Maher
COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN
e exact same signs urging people to “Just Say No” to school budgets have popped up in three different communities — and all of the signs say they were paid for by the Chittenden County GOP.
at’s concerning to some residents in South Burlington, Essex and Milton, who think school spending is a local decision — not a political one. Among those distancing themselves from the signs is state Rep. Chris Taylor (R-Milton), an educator and selectboard member.
“I actually find them counterproductive to the civil discourse that is hoped for in Milton,” Taylor wrote in a Facebook post. “It’s important that we approach issues with thoughtful dialogue and understanding rather than through sign wars.”
Asked about the signs that their group supposedly paid for, members of the Chittenden County Republican Committee gave confusing — and sometimes conflicting — accounts of how they came to be.
Milton resident Chuck Wilton, the organization’s finance chair, said he did not authorize the purchase of the signs, nor did he know who put them up.
Vice chair Ron Lawrence, who lives in Essex Junction, told Seven Days that the party purchased the signs at the request of several “town-oriented committees”: Students, Parents and Educators for Achievement rough Knowledge and Vermont Parents Against Critical eory.
e groups were formed to counter diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the Milton and Essex Westford school districts.
Lawrence later emailed “a correction” to his original comments. e signs were first used in South Burlington, he wrote, and “not purchased specifically for SPEAK or VPACT.”
Chittenden County GOP chair Janet Metz, meanwhile, provided yet another explanation, saying the party “was not involved in the planning for or production and distribution of the ‘no’ signs.
“I was initially asked to place our information on the signs and agreed, but in the end they were paid for through private donations,” she wrote in an email. “Obviously, they went to print before that decision was made.”
Metz said she had “no idea how many signs were produced, at what cost, or where and when they were first deployed” but her understanding was that they were shared among multiple communities.
She declined to identify the private donors who paid for the signs.
“I hope we can put this issue behind us and concentrate on how to provide a high quality education to our young people at a cost that Vermonters can bear,” Metz wrote.
Read Alison Novak’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.
Search and rescues in Vermont have increased dramatically over the past several years, the Community News Service reported. More people are heading out unprepared.
A new seasonal flight from BTV to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., kicked o last week. But who’d want to leave Vermont in the summer?
Last year’s wet and humid conditions, combined with a bumper crop of nuts, have led to an increased number of rodents scurrying about, NBC 5 reported. Delightful…
Vermont’s tax revenue through April is $100 million more than what state economists predicted for this time in the fiscal year. Keep it coming!
$8.6 billion
That’s the state budget total for the coming fiscal year recently signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott.
MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM
1. “Former Vermont Teddy Bear Clothing Companies Are Leaving Vermont” by Anne Wallace Allen. PJ Acquisitions is closing its Shelburne distribution center, putting 29 people out of work. But the stuffed-toy maker is staying put.
2. “For Wake Boat Opponents, New Vermont Rules Mean New Battles” by Anne Wallace Allen. Under the new regulations, only 30 lakes are large enough to accommodate a wake sports zone, creating potential conflict on those waterways.
3. “Can’t-Miss Summer Events in Vermont” by Seven Days Staff. Make sure to put these fairs, festivals and concerts on your calendar.
4. “At Frankie’s in Burlington, Hen of the Wood Alums row a Party” by Jordan Barry. Our reviewer loved the littleneck clams at the new eatery, located in the former home of Penny Cluse Café.
5. “ e Tropic Brewing Opens in Waterbury” by Jordan Barry. e beachy new brewery on Foundry Street features sessionable loweralcohol beers.
People used to line the block in front of 457 St. Paul Street in Burlington to buy a treat at the corner gelato stand. But when the business moved out two years ago, the building started drawing a different crowd: taggers armed with spray paint.
Recently, a group of residents covered up the graffiti with a colorful display of their own.
ey’re encouraging others to fight blight the same way.
“It’s our beautiful city,” said Jill Badolato, a South Winooski Avenue resident who organized the project. “We’ve gotta all step up if we want to protect it.”
e building, at St. Paul Street’s busy inter-
section with South Winooski Avenue and Howard Street, is recognizable to anyone who’s traveled between downtown and the city’s South End. It’s also right across the street from Badolato’s home.
She started the project after she returned home one December weekend to find the building scrawled with graffiti. She asked her neighbors for help painting over it — and the building owner, Joe Handy, for permission. Everyone was on board.
chose colors from her fellow painters’ homes: her purple porch, a neighbor’s hot pink shutters, another’s dark green siding. Each person filled in a section of the building’s board-and-batten exterior, creating a colorful medley of boxes they’ve dubbed “Neighborhood Squares.” Earlier this month, a neighbor put the final touches on the project by covering the building’s once-graffitied metal sign with a blue-and-yellow geometric design.
Badolato has led beautification efforts before, a process she calls “instigating art.” A former Dealer.com employee, she worked with Burlington artist Mary Lacy in 2015 to create
the origami-inspired design that now covers the silos at the company’s Pine Street offices. She later helped Outdoor Gear Exchange hire Morrisville artist Jess Graham to spruce up its downtown building with a mural depicting Vermont’s four seasons.
For the St. Paul Street project, Badolato
“It’s nothing major, but it’s gonna bring a little smile to your face, a little pop of color,” Badolato said.
If the taggers return, the brigade will reassemble, paint cans in hand. So far, they haven’t needed to — the building has remained graffiti-free.
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Shortly after reading [“Born for Broadway: Waitsfield’s Shaina Taub Arrives in a Big Way, Starring in Her Own Musical, Suffs,” April 17], I was invited to New York for a birthday weekend to see Wicked Always willing to support one of our own, I also got tickets to Suffs.
I was not prepared for the absolute brilliance of this play! The music, the lyrics, the staging, the energy — Suffs is so much more than a theatrical experience, a musical, a history lesson; it is for anyone who has ever believed in anything. And it was fun!
Just back from Hiroshima and devastated over what humans can do to each other, I also loved this play for giving me the faith to keep working for what is most dear to me. I even bought the T-shirt, which I never, ever do!
Walk, run, drive, fly or train to New York and see this play before it closes — bring anyone, especially young women. It changes all of us. For good.
Rhonda B. Freed SOUTH BURLINGTON
The summer-in-Québec pullout listed a few of the province’s major music festivals [“Ticket North,” May 22]. However, it missed the Festival Chants de Vielles (chantsdevielles.com/en). It’s a four-day immersion in traditional music, mostly Québécois, with a generous sprinkling of other international musicians, including Vermonters like Ian Drury with Young Tradition and the group Va-et-Vient. The venue is a picturesque village with the main stage right on the historic Richelieu River.
Jessica Noyes MARSHFIELD
Despite the peace sign on the sleeve of the older man in Tim Newcomb’s cartoon about student encampments in support of Palestinians [Newcomb, May 8], the man isn’t the aged anti-Vietnam War activist he (or Mr. Newcomb) would want us to think he is. If he were, he would honor the fact that students are protesting the genocide without the direct threat of being drafted into it, not respond to the students with derisive sarcasm.
With no self-interest involved, today’s students’ pro-Palestinian protests are more purely principled than the anti-war protests of the late ’60s/early ’70s, when students feared the draft.
There is also a historic mistake in the ’toon when one young student says: “It’s Biden’s war now — he’s the new Nixon!”
No, he isn’t! Biden is the new Lyndon Baines Johnson! Johnson was facing reelection from fall 1967 to spring 1968 when he stepped down, well before the Democratic convention.
That’s the parallel! Same timeline — October to spring of an election year. Same situation — a sitting president up for reelection. Same timing of college and university protests — end of semester and graduation time prior to a November presidential election.
Kit Andrews BURLINGTONLeft in the disastrous wake of the 2023 floods are beacons of hope [“Mud, Sweat and Peers: Youth Conservation Crews Head Out to Repair Damage From 2023 Floods,” May 22]. Young people have taken it upon themselves to dedicate time to rebuild and support affected communities. What should be taken away from the article, for adults, is an understanding that further action is our responsibility. Local environmental political action is an example of how every Vermonter can help protect our beautiful state from further ecological damage. This environmental catastrophe can be mitigated and better dealt with, but it is our responsibility to do
know that. But they are common practice in the saddle-seat show world. In an issue dedicated to animals, a more rigorous investigation into the topic would have revealed the underside of this discipline.
Margaret Grant EAST MONTPELIER
so. No one in our community should have to experience the impacts of environmental disasters, let alone the next generation.
Alexandra Brkic BENNINGTONI was distressed to read the article about saddle-seat show horses with no mention of the methods employed by some trainers to achieve the desired presentation [“Reining Champions: This Manchester Center Family Is a National Show Horse Powerhouse,” April 24].
To force a horse’s head higher than is natural, a strong bit is required so that he raises his head and tucks his chin, trying to escape the bit. In saddle-seat riding, the bits may be twisted wire or metal chain.
To make the horse’s tail stand up, it is “set” whereby a crupper goes under the tail and is tightened to stretch the ventral tail muscles and raise the tail straight up. Many horses live in these harnesses 24-7. If setting is ineffective, surgery may be performed to make an incision through a muscle on the ventral side of the tail. Some trainers use ginger paste or similar irritants to inflame the rectum of the horse, causing him to hold his tail up.
Forcing the head and tail unnaturally high puts pressure on the entire spine, increasing the potential for stress, pain and spinal damage.
I grew up with horses and have been around them on and off most of my life. I am not saying the trainers profiled in this story use these methods, as I don’t
I do not agree with Robert Pearo of Rutland, who compares wake boating to snowboarding meeting resistance from ski areas in the early years of the sport [“Making Waves: For Wake Boat Opponents, New Rules Mean New Battles,” May 22]. Snowboarding was eventually accepted, Pearo noted, adding: “Every time someone finds another way to enjoy something, someone has to say, ‘You’re ruining it for everybody else.’” Snowboarding does not degrade the mountains on which it is practiced. I may conjecture that the majority of snowboarders are good stewards of the mountains and trails they use.
I would offer an analogy that is more logically sound. Let’s say Pearo owns property in the countryside outside Rutland. How would he react if powerful motocross motorcycles roared up and down just outside only one of his property lines, ripping up and gouging the earth? I live on Lake Dunmore and am a member of the Lake Dunmore Fern Lake Association, whose members are dedicated to the stewardship of the lake and its shoreline. The current dangers to the lake include phosphorus leaching, the spread of milfoil and erosion of the shoreline.
In closing, I would like to add that snowboarding is a sport open to all, the cost of which is attainable to most everyone. Wake boats are not as affordable to people on the same scale that snowboards are.
Robert Cappio LEICESTER
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Pre-Op
UVM
Longtime
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has become a leading critic of Israel’s war in Gaza Gov. Scott Vetoes Renewable Energy Bill
Blaster of Paris
Burlington-born rugby player and social media influencer Ilona Maher is headed back to the Olympics
ARTS+CULTURE 44 A Familiar Ring
Circus Smirkus founder Rob Mermin Woodstock Gets Its Pride On Morrisville Sculptor Thea Alvin Is Recognized With $100,000 Craft Award
In Season Opener, Opera Company of Middlebury Navigates the High Cs
Stranger Things
Shelburne Museum’s “New England Now” series returns to explore the otherworldly
Artist Susan Calza Illuminates the Personal and Political
Dance, shop, bask, and splash into summer with Burlington City Arts’ season-long programming in City Hall Park. Engage with hundreds of local artists while celebrating community warmth and connection.
Check burlingtoncityarts.org for the full summer schedule
City Hall Park programming is Underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation & The WaterWheel Foundation. Media Sponsor: Seven Days.
Saturdays, 1 pm June 1 – September 28
BTV’s finest DJs bring the heat while the kids cool off.
Fridays, 7:30 pm & Saturdays, 6:30 pm June 7 – September 14
Dance into the night with local luminaries.
Presented by VSECU
Saturdays, 11:30 am June 1 – September 28
Low-key local acts light up the BTV Market.
Wednesdays & Fridays, 12:30 pm June 5 – August 23
Local musicians serve the soundtrack to your lunch break.
Supported by Americian Flatbread Burlington Hearth and Ciy Market Onion River Co-op.
Sundays, 10 am July 7 – August 25
Bring your weekend to an enchanting crescendo.
Supported by Lake Champlain Chocolates and the Friendly Toast
MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPILED BY EMILY HAMILTON
Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent
MONDAY 3
e overtones are not to be missed when Culomba sings at the Old Meeting House in East Montpelier. is vocal sextet of veteran performers specializes in close harmony — an a cappella form in which everyone sings in a similar range — and performs works from the Renaissance, as well as Balkan and American folk traditions.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70
THURSDAY 30
Burlington’s Community Sailing Center kicks off the summer season on Lake Champlain with a 30th Anniversary Celebration and Waterfront . Yoga on the dock, painting by the lake, sunset cocktails and $10 boat journeys mark two massive milestones for the Queen City’s sailing hub.
Grand Opening
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69
Waterbury Public Library and Bridgeside Books host Silent Reading Party, a new monthly shindig, at the Phoenix in Waterbury. Bookworms bring their current reads to an introvert’s ideal get-together, where the only rule is that you have to read for an hour. At the end, attendees are invited but not required to describe their book in just one word. Feel free to bring cushions or camp chairs for comfort.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66
SATURDAY 1
e second annual Essex Pride Festival at Maple Street Park offers LGBTQ community members and allies of all ages a chance to paint the town ROYGBIV. e fabulous fête includes a parade, drag story hour, roller disco, fair and dance party soundtracked by DJ GAYBAR. Revelers ages 18 and up can head to the Essex Pride Afterparty at Uncommon Coffee, featuring Green Mountain Cabaret and a bevy of local drag kings and queens.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68 FIND OTHER PRIDE FESTS ON PAGE 46
SATURDAY 1 & WEDNESDAY 5
Local readers hear from Vermont author Tamara Mathieu this week at the Eloquent Page in St. Albans and Phoenix Books in Rutland. Her memoir, All Who Believed: A Memoir of Life in the Twelve Tribes, details her indoctrination into and eventual, triumphant escape from the infamous cult based in Vermont.
SEE CALENDAR LISTINGS ON PAGES 69 & 72
SUNDAY 2 & MONDAY 3
e annual Naulakha Estate and Rhododendron Tour invites Vermonters to take a self-guided tour of the Dummerston house where Rudyard Kipling wrote e Jungle Book, including its verdant grounds and famous flowering tunnel. is year, for the first time, adult guests can enjoy delicious drinks and hors d’oeuvres at a cocktail party on Sunday evening.
SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70
Barre’s Studio Place Arts marks the height of lilac season with “Violaceous,” a group show featuring works by more than 50 artists spotlighting the color purple. From indigo sculptures and periwinkle paintings to lavender collages and fuchsia photographs, this vibrant exhibit is where purple reigns.
SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART
Doors open at 10:30 am, film starts at 11:00 am Savoy Theater in Montpelier
Film followed by a hope-filled discussion with co-director, Lindsay Keys, ND of Burlington’s Stram Center, Dr. Kathryn Boulter, and local Lyme Disease advocate, Rachel Nevitt.
Share Your Story: Project in the lobby beginning at 10:30 am.
Available at the door. Suggested Sliding Scale: Free to those afflicted, Basic $10, Friend $20 (cover yourself plus someone who is sick)
Suffering the Silence, local activists and Burlington’s own Stram Center for Integrative Medicine, made this viewing possible.
Donations of any size welcomed and distributed to support Lyme education and activism.
In September 2022, when she was wanted for robbing and assaulting a man in a wheelchair who had just withdrawn cash from a Burlington ATM, Ashley Richards got plenty of media attention. Local TV stations WCAX and NBC5 both covered the violent crime.
Nineteen months later, a jury showed up for her trial, but Richards, the defendant, didn’t. The police were dispatched to find her — phoneless, living in a tent on Maple Street — and bring her to the Judge Edward J. Costello Courthouse a few blocks away on Cherry Street.
No television cameras captured the chaos that day — just two reporters: Seven Days’ Derek Brouwer and his counterpart at Vermont Public, Liam Elder-Connors. Earlier this month the duo teamed up and spent a week at the state courthouse, witnessing the roadblocks that slow the wheels of Vermont justice. Over the course of five days, the two journalists observed the effects of no-shows, technical problems, scheduling screwups and defendants in opioid withdrawal. Richards’ case, one of several they followed, checked almost every one of those boxes.
Their shared experience confirmed: “The state’s judiciary remains mired in a pandemic-era backlog that has seen the number of unresolved criminal cases swell to 15,000, double the pre-pandemic norm,” as Brouwer and Elder-Connors write in this week’s cover story, “Trials & Tribulations.” “More cases have languished, leaving the accused in limbo while frustrating victims who must wait months — or years — for their shot at justice.”
Even when the court system is functioning properly, reporting on it is not a one-person job. Things are unfolding in two or three courtrooms simultaneously while “a lot of the little dramas play out in the hallways, in the clerk’s office and down by the security desk,” Derek explained. Much of the plea dealmaking goes on behind closed doors. Schedules often change at the last minute.
In short, it’s not a tidy episode of “Law & Order.”
Today’s courts are burdened with all the social struggles on public display in our cities: homelessness, addiction, mental illness, poverty. Derek and Liam knew it would take more than a single scene, anecdote or legal case to accurately illustrate the impact of those challenges on the criminal justice system and the people trapped within it, so they spent each day chasing as many narratives as they could. The assignment required patience, empathy and expertise in the subject area; both write about public safety on their respective beats.
To the extent that the media covers the courts at all, it’s typically quick hits of arraignments and perp walks on the evening news. In this project, Derek and Liam sought to show what our beleaguered justice system looks and sounds like.
“There were dozens and dozens of hearings over the course of the week that we saw,” Derek explained. “We looked for patterns. If you’re there, watching people’s lives unfold, you’re going to encounter moments that are moving and interactions that are important and illuminating.”
Another motivation for the collaboration: Derek and Liam, who are friends, enjoy working with and learning from each other. News gathering in two mediums — print and radio — exposes them to different forms of storytelling. Ironically, Liam writes copy faster than Derek. And Derek captured the audio for one of Liam’s two radio stories that will air this week on Vermont Public.
“I don’t know that either of us could have done it on our own,” Liam said. “We got a lot for our effort.”
It’s not the first time the two writers have combined forces: In 2021, they chronicled code violations and unsafe living conditions in a joint investigation of landlords Mark and Rick Bove.
In 2019, Derek was on the team of Seven Days and then-Vermont Public Radio reporters who delivered “Worse for Care,” exposing the state’s shoddy record of inspecting eldercare homes. The series won a national Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting, and Liam and Derek followed up on eldercare issues during the pandemic.
Traditionally, news outlets don’t collaborate because the business is so competitive. But when it works, as these partnerships have, the result is a deeper understanding of what is really happening in our community.
If you like Seven Days and can afford to help pay for it, become a Super Reader! Look for the “Give Now” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to:
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The University of Vermont Medical Center may soon be able to perform thousands more surgeries each year — welcome news in a state where people with failing joints and other painful ailments often wait months for relief. All it will take is $130 million and a green light from state regulators.
The Burlington hospital is asking the Green Mountain Care Board for permission to build a state-of-theart outpatient surgery center that could accommodate up to a dozen new operating rooms. Hospital leaders say the move would allow them to shift outpatient procedures away from the outdated Fanny Allen campus and begin to chip away at persistent backlogs.
Richard “Dick” Mazza, a Colchester grocer who became one of the longest-serving and most influential members of the Vermont Senate, died on Saturday of pancreatic cancer. He was 84.
Mazza died with his family by his side at the McClure Miller Respite House, where he had spent the last several weeks after retiring from the Senate in April.
e Colchester community “sadly lost a pillar” with his passing, his family said in his obituary (see page 22).
After two terms in the House of Representatives, Mazza spent 39 years representing the residents of the Grand Isle district, the second-longest tenure in state history. During that time, the genial grocer became beloved by constituents for looking out for their best interests, respected by his colleagues for his warmth and good humor, and a close confidant to Gov. Phil Scott.
Scott, a moderate Republican, hailed Mazza, a conservative Democrat, as the rare politician who was able to transcend the divisions and rancor of party politics.
The prospect of Vermont’s largest health care system grabbing an even bigger share of the market has worried some
cash-strapped rural hospitals, which rely on revenue from outpatient surgeries to stay afloat. But UVM Medical Center execs say there’s enough business to go around.
ONCE YOU’RE IN PAIN, TIME IS CRITICAL, AND FOUR-MONTH WAITS ARE UNFATHOMABLE.
SUSAN ANDERSON
They project that by 2030, the hospital will need to perform upwards of 23,000 surgeries every year — 4,000 more than it can currently handle.
Without extra capacity, those patients will either “wait too long, travel out of state or potentially not receive care at all,” said Sunny Eappen, the UVM Health
Network’s president and CEO, at a hearing before the care board last week.
“We’re proposing this project for one reason: It meets an urgent patient need,” Eappen said. “And that need is only going to grow with every year we don’t take action.”
The plan comes amid a broader shift in America’s health care system toward providing care in nonhospital settings. Medical advancements have produced less-invasive procedures that allow patients to safely recover at home, where they’re more comfortable. That frees up hospital beds for sicker patients who need around-the-clock care.
Outpatient surgeries also limit the amount of sta time spent on each case, one of the reasons they are among a hospital’s more lucrative services.
The UVM Health Network pitched the surgical center in fall 2021 and
“In a world that has become so politically divided and full of hate, Dick Mazza stood out like a shining star – an icon of decency, hope and humor,” Scott said in a statement. “His impact will be felt for generations to come, and he will be greatly missed.”
e governor ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Mazza’s funeral, scheduled for ursday, May 30.
Statements honoring Mazza poured in from lawmakers. And tributes extended well beyond Montpelier. e Town of Colchester recently renamed the road to its new recreation center “Dick Mazza Drive.”
Seven Days explored Mazza’s deep political influence in a 2011 cover story titled “ e Adviser,” featuring an illustration of Mazza as the Godfather. “ ere’s a popular misconception that Vermont is run out of the fifthfloor governor’s office in Montpelier,” now-U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said at the time, “when in reality, it’s run out of the deli section of Mazza’s store.” ➆
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has become a leading critic of Israel’s war in Gaza
BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.comIn April, when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stepped up to the microphone on the Senate floor to denounce Israel’s war in Gaza, he brought along visual aids.
On his right was a large photograph of an infant swaddled in a white blanket, with a face gaunt from hunger. On his left, an image of a disheveled young girl on a hospital bed, her arms as thin as twigs.
“What is happening right now in Gaza is horrendous, it is inhumane, and it is a gross violation of American and international law,” Sanders thundered.
When Sanders stepped up to the same Senate dais last week, he came without photos. Instead, he used words to paint a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal.
candidate once again positioned himself in the vanguard of the left’s increasingly fierce opposition to Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
Sanders, who is Jewish, has become the U.S. Senate’s loudest and most prominent critic of the Israeli government, using his position to demand immediate measures to ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians. His recent speech used language that goes further than liberal lawmakers — including Vermont Democrats U.S. Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint — have been willing to go. Welch and Balint have called for a ceasefire and more aid to civilians, but neither has called Netanyahu a war criminal. And Sanders’ comments put him at odds with President Joe Biden, who has described the International Criminal Court’s prosecution of Netanyahu as “outrageous.”
“Let me be clear: We reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders,” Biden said last week.
Joshua Green, a Bloomberg journalist and author who has written extensively about Sanders, told Seven Days in an email, “I think Sanders’s outspokenness about the war on Gaza highlights how foreign policy, not economics, has become the new fissure point in Democratic politics.”
With prosecutorial precision and moral indignation, Sanders described the devastation of Gaza’s people, institutions and infrastructure in the seven months since Israel began military operations in response to the October 7 surprise attack by Hamas fighters. He argued that Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, was right to pursue war crimes charges against the leaders of Hamas and Israel for their atrocities.
Israel, Sanders said, had prevented humanitarian aid from reaching the starving citizens of Gaza, where famine, disease and a lack of medical care has killed thousands of civilians. Israel’s bombing campaign has killed tens of thousands more.
“People may be uncomfortable to see the prime minister of Israel charged with war crimes, but let us take a hard look at what he has done,” Sanders intoned.
With that, Vermont’s 82-year-old senior senator and former presidential
Those who know him say Sanders’ stance is consistent with his history of calling out injustice with the kind of clarity that others eventually follow.
“I’m sure he’s frustrated,” said Peter Clavelle, a longtime political ally who succeeded Sanders as mayor of Burlington in the 1980s. “But I also believe his actions are bringing others along. He is speaking with such force that it’s hard to discount what he is saying.”
The fact that Sanders is Jewish and spent time on a kibbutz in Haifa in his twenties gives him a unique ability to call attention to the plight of Palestinians, Clavelle said.
“Nobody is going to accuse Bernie of antisemitism,” Clavelle said. “As a Jewish senator whose father’s family was wiped out by the Holocaust, I think Bernie is ... inoculated from that.”
Sanders’ rhetoric has evolved during this latest eruption of violence in the
As expected, Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a bill designed to move Vermont toward 100 percent renewable power. H.289, which enjoyed strong support in the House and Senate, would require utilities to sell only renewable electricity by 2035.
Utilities, environmental groups and many businesses supported the update to the state’s renewable energy law as a way to boost green jobs and accelerate the phaseout of fossil fuel power plants in New England.
But Scott said the bill would unnecessarily increase utility bills by “hundreds of millions of dollars” while his administration offered a “much stronger plan at a fraction of the cost.”
“It would get us to where we all want to go faster, more affordably and more equitably than H.289,” Scott wrote in his veto message.
e bill’s supporters say that’s bogus. e plan proposed by the Department of Public Service called for increasing the state’s use of “clean” energy, which meant a greater reliance on nuclear energy, Peter Sterling, executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont, told Seven Days. e administration’s proposal would also have reduced the power rates paid to owners of rooftop solar systems, making them less attractive, Sterling noted.
e state’s existing renewable energy law requires utilities to get 75 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2032. In addition to moving to 100 percent renewable by 2035, utilities would also have to get 20 percent of that power from local sources, double the amount in the existing law.
Scott’s contention that the bill would cost hundreds of millions of dollars is correct, but that’s spread across the entire state over a decade. e total cost for a typical household by 2035 would be between $3.50 and $13.50 per month.
Several environmental groups issued a statement expressing dismay that Scott would try to block such a key piece of climate change legislation. ey urged lawmakers to override the veto on June 17. ➆
Pre-Op Exam « P.14
received approval from the regulatory panel to begin a $5 million planning process. A budget deficit delayed the project, but the hospital says it now has enough in its capital reserves to break ground. First, though, it must clear Vermont’s “certificate of need” process, which requires that the state board sign off on any major health care investments.
The five-member board will issue a decision this summer. It’s unclear where it might land. Although regulators have taken more aggressive steps to rein in the UVM Health Network’s growing costs in recent years, they’ve also urged the hospital group to fix its bottlenecks.
During last week’s hearing, the hospital deployed executives, physicians and even an aggrieved patient to make its case that the status quo falls short.
Many of the hospital’s 25 operating rooms aren’t big enough to perform some of the complex surgical procedures now commonly provided in outpatient settings. There are not even enough rooms to begin with, said Dr. Mark Plante, chief of the hospital’s urology department, who likened the daily task of scheduling to a game of Tetris.
The hospital called on Susan Anderson, a 73-year-old Colchester resident who recently needed a dual hip replacement, to explain how this harms patients.
Anderson, executive vice president of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, told regulators that by the time she got an appointment to see a specialist at the Burlington hospital last summer, she was in enough pain to require a walker. When she was told it would be at least four months before she could get the first hip replaced, she sought care elsewhere. She eventually landed at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in New Hampshire, where both procedures were done by year’s end.
“It would have made a world of di erence if I could have had this surgery here,” Anderson said, recalling long, uncomfortable car rides to her New Hampshire appointments. “Once you’re in pain, time is critical, and four-month waits are unfathomable.”
“We failed you,” Dr. Stephen Le er, the hospital’s president, said after her testimony. “And there’s many, many other patients that we have that could give the same, devastating story.”
A Seven Days investigation in 2021 found many similar instances of patients enduring lengthy delays for care at the Burlington
hospital. Since then, the hospital says it has improved its scheduling, increased operating hours and referred some patients to other network hospitals where they can be treated more quickly. But backlogs persist: Among them are more than 300 patients who are waiting at least three months for surgery.
WE’RE PROPOSING THIS PROJECT FOR ONE REASON: IT MEETS AN URGENT PATIENT NEED. SUNNY EAPPEN
The proposed center would be located at the hospital’s Tilley Drive campus in South Burlington and could open within the next two years. It would start with eight operating rooms and would have enough space to accommodate four more should they become needed. The five ORs at Fanny Allen would be repurposed, Le er said.
The hospital says it would aim to seek donations for about 10 percent of the $130 million cost and would finance most of the rest. The center would begin paying for itself almost immediately and, by 2030, could generate an annual net profit of at least $10 million, even after accounting for the 75 new hires that would be needed to sta the facility, hospital o cials said. The profits would then be used to bolster hospital services that operate at a loss, o cials said.
The favorable finances are one reason the health network has moved forward with this project instead of others, Eappen said. His predecessor, John Brumsted, scrapped plans
to build a new inpatient mental health unit at another UVM-a liated hospital in 2022, saying the network couldn’t absorb a projected $25 million annual deficit. But other hospitals say the UVM proposal creates a new financial risk for their operations. In a submission to the care board, Joe Woodin, CEO of Copley Hospital in Morrisville, expressed concern about the prospect of losing patients to the new surgical center. Perhaps because of its proximity to Stowe and other ski areas, Copley does a lot joint replacements, many of them for Chittenden County residents who travel there for the procedures. He argued that the project would introduce “overcapacity and redundancy” and could threaten his already-struggling hospital’s bottom line. UVM Medical Center made the same argument back in 2016, when the hospital opposed a proposal from a group of private investors to build a stand-alone surgical center in Colchester that would have added just two new operating rooms to Chittenden County. During that contentious certificate-of-need process, which dragged on for two years, a UVM Medical Center o cial asserted that the Colchester project wasn’t needed because the Burlington hospital had “substantial capacity” and could easily accommodate higher demand for surgeries in the future.
Those projections were way o , Le er, the hospital’s president, conceded last week. “We were wrong,” he said. “We should not have said that.”
Regulators ultimately approved the project but limited the types of surgeries it could o er.
The hospital is now betting on a di erent set of numbers: Vermont’s aging demographic and projected growth in population around northwestern Vermont over the next decade. Should those forecasts also prove wrong, the center could struggle to turn a profit. But Eappen encouraged regulators to consider the alternative: that Vermont’s growth will exceed expectations, and its largest hospital would end up unprepared.
“That’s a much bigger concern for me,” Eappen said, “because I’m betting on Vermont.” ➆
has served the community
The Greater Burlington YMCA since 1866 and we’re searching for our next leader.
Responsible for all aspects of the Y’s work, the principal focus is on the strategic direction, financial stability, community relations, development, and operations. This role provides leadership to establish and implement programs, policies, and goals, and in setting an institutional culture that embodies the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We look forward to welcoming our next leader who shares our dedication to community service and social impact. Apply here: tinyurl.com/Greater-Burlington-YMCA-CEO
From Noma B. Anderson, Vice Chair of the GBYMCA Board
What unique duties will your new leader tackle?
e CEO will help position the Greater Burlington YMCA as a vital partner for community change. One expectation of the CEO will be to work toward making us an organization that convenes people to discuss ideas, community needs and meaningful solutions, all to strengthen the greater Burlington community.
What would people find most intriguing about the YMCA?
People are often surprised to learn that our organization has been serving the people of Burlington for close to 160 years. Also, we are a very diverse place. People of all ages and backgrounds come here because of a shared commitment to youth development, healthy living and a sense of social responsibility.
Apply for this great local job and many more: jobs.sevendaysvt.com
Middle East. Shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack in which its soldiers killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, Sanders was vocal about Israel’s right to defend itself. But he was also one of the first U.S. lawmakers to urge the country to use restraint in its response.
“The United States has rightly offered solidarity and support to Israel in responding to Hamas’ attack,” the senator wrote in a statement on October 11. “But we must also insist on restraint from Israeli forces attacking Gaza and work to secure UN humanitarian access.”
By November, Sanders was taking flak from the left for his refusal to call for a permanent ceasefire, something Balint and Welch both eventually supported. Sanders argued instead that Hamas could not be trusted to uphold one and called for a “humanitarian pause,” a weeklong version of which took place at the end of November.
Sanders’ position confounded supporters, who argued that he was undermining efforts for a permanent ceasefire. More than 300 former Sanders staffers and Democratic National Committee delegates publicly urged him to call for one.
He didn’t then, but Sanders did increase pressure on the White House. In a December 12 letter, Sanders urged President Biden to withhold $10.1 billion in military aid to Israel, arguing that the Netanyahu government’s military offensive in Gaza was “being conducted in a deeply immoral way.”
Sanders called on Biden to restrict U.S. military aid to Israel to defensive weapons and to support the United Nations’ push for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access” to Gaza.
Sanders sharpened his line of attack in January. He forced a floor vote on whether the Senate should invoke the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act. Often referred to as the Leahy Law after amendments pushed by retired Vermont senator Patrick Leahy, the act says foreign aid cannot be given to countries that engage in a “consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”
Sanders argued that it made sense to ask the U.S. State Department to review whether Israel was guilty of human rights violations; Welch was among the supporters of the resolution. Some moderate Democrats and all Republicans voted against the measure, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) dismissed Sanders’ proposal as “little more than performative left-wing politics.”
On April 23, Sanders voted against a $95 billion package to provide aid and ammunition to Israel and Ukraine that passed in the U.S. Senate and has since become law.
THIS IS BEING DONE WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS. THAT’S WHAT UPSETS ME VERY, VERY MUCH.
U.S. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS
In an interview with Seven Days on Tuesday, Sanders said he voted against the aid after it became clear Netanyahu was defying calls for restraint and was creating an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.
“If you look at the totality of what’s going on, it is not a war against Hamas; it is a war against the Palestinian people,” Sanders said.
The U.S. is complicit in the death and devastation in Gaza, Sanders said, because of its continued willingness to supply Israel with arms. He said he has focused more on conditioning or restricting such aid than on calls for a permanent ceasefire because that’s the most effective way for the U.S. to exert the leverage necessary to end the war.
“This is being done with your tax dollars,” Sanders said. “That’s what upsets me very, very much.”
By focusing on how Israel is using American-made weapons in attacks that kill civilians, Sanders has helped turn the tide of international opinion against the war, said Kathy Shapiro, a Middlesex resident and member of the group Jewish Voice for Peace.
“The way he has stood up on the Senate floor since October 7 over and over and over again is momentous,” she said. “It’s in character for him, and it’s reflective of the horrors of what is going on in Gaza in the name of the Jewish people. All of this is making a difference.”
The mantra “Israel has a right to defend itself” has slowly been replaced by a chorus
of voices critical of the war, in Congress and abroad, Shapiro said. Last week, the International Court of Justice in the Hague ordered Israel to cease its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Other countries have cut diplomatic ties with Israel, while Norway, Ireland and Spain have formally recognized a Palestinian state. The symbolic move has only increased Israel’s international isolation.
A second local group, Jewish Action Vermont!, is more conflicted about Sanders’ rhetoric and policy positions. Burlington resident Joanna Grossman said the group was “deeply disappointed” by Sanders’ vote against the $95 billion aid package, which Welch also opposed due to the aid to Israel.
Members of her organization strongly support Israel’s right to exist, she said, although many have a hard time supporting its current leadership. Part of the challenge is that most Americans, including Sanders, “simply do not understand what it is like to live in close proximity to people regularly training to kill you,” Grossman added.
She noted, however, that Sanders has always been careful to criticize the current leadership of Israel and not its people. “I personally appreciate how Bernie specifically has held nuance in this conflict, not reducing himself to rhetoric or blaming all Jews or Israelis for the tragedies unfolding,” she wrote in an email.
Sanders has gone out of his way to single out the “extreme right-wing” members of Israel’s government that is “increasingly dominated by religious fundamentalists.” In his speech last week, he called it hypocritical for the U.S. to support war crimes charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine but to question the International Criminal Court’s decision when it involves a close ally.
Neither the U.S. nor Israel is among the 124 nations that recognize the authority of the court.
Sanders has supported the prosecution in the ICC of three Hamas leaders, as well as of Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. With the unanimous backing of an international panel of legal experts, the ICC prosecutor accused the Israeli leaders of using starvation as a weapon of war and of intentional attacks on civilians.
“It is in times like these that we most need international law,” Sanders said in his Senate speech last week. “Without it we will have an even more violent world where might makes right and war criminals can act with impunity.”
To make his case, Sanders rattled off a litany of grim statistics about the conflict in Gaza: more than 35,000 people killed and 800,000 injured; more than 250 aid workers killed; 1.7 million people driven from their homes; and more than 60 percent of the housing stock in Gaza damaged or destroyed.
Schools and hospitals have been flattened. Power, water and sanitation systems are in ruins. Raw sewage flows in the streets, spreading disease.
“Now, if that’s not an attack on civilians, I don’t know what is,” Sanders said.
Clavelle, who visited Gaza in the 1990s, said it can be difficult for Americans to imagine the suffering in Gaza. Some 2.2 million people live crammed into a “godforsaken” space a few miles wide and about the length of the stretch between Burlington and St. Albans, he noted.
Sanders has made a career of standing up for the powerless, Clavelle said, so it should be no surprise that he’s speaking for some of the most powerless people on the planet.
“I’m proud of him for providing a moral compass for this country,” Clavelle said. ➆
That’s up to you. After carefully tallying 70,913 write-in nominations, we’re excited to present this year’s Seven Daysies finalists. Voting is now open through June 9 at sevendaysvt.com/daysies-vote. The finalist with the most votes in a category wins!
Scan with your phone for quick access to the ballot!
Want to align yourself with the best in Vermont? Learn about advertising opportunities in the All the Best results magazine at sevendaysvt.com/daysies-info.
« P.7
BEE PRESENT
[Re “The ‘Out’ Crowd: At a Burlington Nature Celebration, Citizen Scientists Connect With — and Count — the City’s Nonhuman Residents,” April 24]: Burlington citizen scientists connect with the city’s nonhuman residents. Everyone can do the same: Meet your invertebrate neighbors as close as in your backyard. I have observed 98 native bee species and well over 1,000 insect species in our 1.3-acre Jericho backyard and posted photos on iNaturalist. There are over 350 native bee species in Vermont.
Observing the behavior and the life cycle of insects is like getting to know someone as an individual versus knowing them by name and infrequent contact only. Both tiny ephemerals and insects offer minute details that, when observed closely, freeze all outward distractions, suspending you in time and place.
Looking at invertebrates — what I call “inverting” — is the new birding! Both are as rewarding as a treasure hunt.
Bernie Paquette JERICHO
UNHOUSED HISTORY
[Re “Aggressive Behavior, Increased Drug Use at Burlington’s Downtown Library Prompt Calls for Help,” May 1]: The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide if being unsheltered is a crime. In a 1962 case, Robinson v. California, the court ruled that government could not make drug addiction a crime. The court recognized the moral imperative not to criminalize a status for which persons have little control.
The present court is packed with conservatives peddling revisionist history. These “history” lessons are anything but accurate (e.g., restricting guns or deference to women’s choices over pregnancy). Another misrepresentation of our past humanity is likely.
For example, few people know the full story of being “warned out of town.” Before Vermont statehood, towns could criminalize the unhoused (e.g., “Leave or go to jail”). At the same time, municipalities had a duty to care for “their” poor. This included housing. “Poorhouses” and “poor farms” existed here into the 1960s. At the crux was a belief that family, community and the town that you were raised in had a primary duty of care for your welfare. Other towns could reject responsibility for transients, but not the town of origin. The “warning” was essentially to return
to your hometown for welfare services. It was not uncommon for towns to provide one night of shelter with the expectation that afterward, the person left town.
A Burlington-size municipality with no shelters and approximately 600 unhoused persons wants the court to sustain the scheme to make it uncomfortable enough for them in our city so they will want to move on down the road. It wants to harm these individuals so they are forced to migrate to Burlington or elsewhere. This will not solve the national crisis in affordable housing. It is self-evidently cruel and historically unusual punishment. It violates international treaties.
Mark Flynn WILLISTONYour article “State Shutters Temporary Homeless Shelter in Burlington” [March 26] is making me wonder what will happen if we continue to provide homeless people places to stay. People who experience homelessness and those vulnerably housed have disproportionately high rates of drug use and associated harms. I think there should be rehabilitation centers around the most homelesspopulated cities.
I have sympathy for the people who try to get better and turn their lives around so they can work, make money and be happy again. If they actually show up and want to get help, I feel like they deserve to get aid for the effort of trying to make a change. On the other hand, people who don’t show up don’t get aid, because it looks like they don’t care that they’re homeless and can deal with it.
I understand that some people can’t control losing their homes from catastrophes or illness — and especially affordability. It’s the reasons after they lose their homes that make me feel the way I do. From personal experiences, I have seen some beg for money and food, but later on when I see them, they have alcohol in their hands. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 38 percent of homeless people abused alcohol, while 26 percent abused other drugs.
I think everyone deserves a chance to go to rehabilitation, but the most important thing is who will actually take the opportunity to change their life around and have a good future.
Matthew Plucin RUTLANDJANUARY 28, 1935MAY 25, 2024
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.
Family man, businessman, community leader and athlete Barry Stone passed away peacefully on May 25, 2024, at the age of 89, with his family by his side.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; cherished daughter, Judy Mallory, and her husband, Ben; and treasured grandsons, Mark and Andrew Mallory. He was predeceased in 2016 by his devoted sister, Pat Singer, and, tragically in 1984, by his adored son, Jeff. Barry was forever sustained by his glorious memories of sharing Jeff’s amazing 25 years.
Barry will be remembered for his exceptional generosity, superb sense of humor and legendary storytelling. He was a soughtafter master of ceremonies and public speaker who appeared frequently before local, state and national organizations.
Born in 1935, the son of Sidney and Helen Stone, Barry was raised in Woodmere, Long Island, N.Y. He graduated from Woodmere High School in 1952 and was honored as a charter member of the school’s Alumni Hall of Fame. He was a 1956 graduate of the University of Vermont, where he was a varsity basketball player. He served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, which included a stint playing basketball on the Fort Monmouth, N.J., team.
Barry and Carol were married in 1957 and celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this past year. Barry began his insurance business career in New York City. After 12 years of commuting by train from his home in Westchester County to
his Manhattan office and then driving every winter weekend with his family to Stowe, Vt., Barry, Carol, Jeff and Judy moved to South Burlington in 1970. He initially continued his life insurance career in Vermont through a valued affiliation with the Pomerleau Agency and in 1980 established the Barry Stone Agency. He achieved membership in Transamerica Life Insurance Company’s Leading Producer’s Club and was elected chairman of Transamerica’s 1990 national sales conference in Monterey, Calif. He attained the industry’s Life Member designation in the Million Dollar Round Table. In the community, Barry served as chairman of the Chittenden County United Way campaign, chairman of the board of the Stern Center for Language and Learning, director of the Franklin Lamoille Bank, director of Banknorth Investment Management Group, president of the Burlington Rotary Club, and president of the Burlington Tennis Club, where he was the 1987 recipient of the club’s Burt Kusserow/Ellen Wilkins Award. In 1995 he received the MS Society Hope Award for outstanding community service.
Barry embraced a lifelong connection to his alma mater and served as chairman of the UVM Regional Board, chairman of the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, chairman of the UVM Athletic Council, founding executive committee member of the UVM Victory Club, member of the UVM Foundation Leadership Council and key fundraiser for many university projects. He was a recipient of the UVM Distinguished Service Award and received the UVM Athletic Department Award for his contributions on behalf of his beloved UVM men’s basketball
team. He was a member of several varsity basketball head coach search committees and readily gave his physical, emotional and financial support to generations of UVM basketball from the 1950s to the 2020s.
Barry’s deep involvement in sports led to his appointment as Vermont state chairman for the United States Olympic Committee. He later became northeast regional chairman with a seat on the USOC National Finance Committee. He cofounded the USOC Olympic Ski Challenge at Stowe, which was recognized by the USOC as the most successful state-run Olympic team fundraiser in the nation during the 1990s. Barry served two terms as chairman of the state of Vermont Sports Hall of Fame and, after his retirement from the board, was honored as the recipient of the David K. Hakins Award and inducted into the state hall of fame. Along with his other many leadership positions, Barry served as chairman of the International Skiing History Association and received its Special Achievement Award in 2011. He was a longtime member of the National Voting Panel for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and was a Vermont delegate to USTA New England in the sport of tennis.
Barry and Carol were loyal Stowe skiers but also skied throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Barry’s passion was untracked deep powder snow. His favorite locale was British Columbia’s CMH network of helicopter-accessible remote lodges, where he and his buddies each skied over 1 million vertical feet. He made his final heli-skiing descent on his 80th birthday but continued lift-served skiing until age 85. In 2000, he raced in the National Senior Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., and placed fourth in the age 65 and over giant slalom and fifth in the slalom. He regularly raced in NASTAR and won gold medals in almost every senior age bracket. One of his proudest race results was in 1978, when Barry and his daughter, Judy, were bronze medalists in the Equitable
National Father-Daughter Ski Championships in Snowbird, Utah.
Barry was a competitive tennis player. He held a USTA New England senior tournament ranking up to and including the age 80 and over division. His highest ranking was No. 4 in New England age 60 and over singles. In 1991 he was the singles silver medalist in the age 55 and over division at the National Senior Games held in Syracuse, N.Y. In 2005 he represented the U.S. in master’s tennis at the Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, Israel. During the 1960s, he won several championships in the NYC suburbs and, beginning in the 1970s, numerous Burlington Tennis Club championships in singles, doubles and in mixed doubles with his favorite partner, Carol. Barry thrived doing group adventure planning. He and Carol loved skiing in the West with family and friends, especially Jeff and Judy and, in later years, grandsons Mark and Andrew, with whom he enjoyed a most exceptional bond. Many friends have great memories of skiing or bicycling with the Stones in the far reaches of the U.S., France, Austria, Switzerland and Spain, or white-water rafting the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Closer to home, they may have joined Barry and Carol on their hikes in Stowe up the Hellbrook Trail to the summit of Mount Mansfield or water-skiing at their favorite spots on Lake Champlain.
Barry’s family sincerely thanks Dr. Frank Landry for many years of professional caring and personal friendship; numerous incredible caregivers at the UVM Medical Center; and the kind and caring staff at McClure Miller Respite House. If you are considering a donation in Barry’s memory, the family would most appreciate a gift to the Jeff Stone Memorial Fund, c/o the UVM Foundation, 411 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401. A memorial service will be held in early fall.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.
MARCH 7, 1935-MARCH 1, 2024 ENGLEWOOD, FLA.
Valere Roger Dion, 88, of Englewood, Fla., passed away on March 1, 2024, at his home with his loving wife, Kay Aldrich Dion, at his side.
A graveside service will be held for his family on Saturday, June 8, 2024, 1 p.m., at New Mount Calvary Cemetery on Plattsburg Avenue in Burlington. ere will be a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Queen City Brewery at 703 Pine Street in Burlington following the burial. All are welcome to the reception.
Valere was born on his grandfather’s farm in Winooski, Vt., on March 7, 1935, to Roland (Fay) and Philip Dion. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1954. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1955 and served active duty on the USS Antietam for two years. Valere was in the U.S. Naval Reserves for six years. He married Helene Limoge in 1960, and they raised their five children in Burlington, Vt. He joined the Burlington Fire Department, where he served for 30 years as a fire marshal and later retired as the chief of personnel. He met the love of his life, Kay Aldrich, and they were married on February 14, 1986. Val and Kay had 38 wonderful years together.
Valere was predeceased by his parents; his sons omas Pierre and Stephen Paul; his sister-in-law Sally Dion, and his brotherin-law, Ray Beauchemin.
Valere is survived by his wife, Kay; son Matthew Dion, daughter Melissa Dion and her husband, Ken Carter; daughter Nicole Bauman and her husband, Todd Bauman; and his siblings, Jeannine Beauchemin, Roland and Julie Dion, and Raymond Dion. Valere had four stepdaughters, June Alvarez (Juan), Susie Miller, Stacey Miller and Ann Shimmel (Don). Val also had many grandchildren, stepgrandchildren, greatgrandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Valere enjoyed camping. Val and Kay traveled the U.S. and Canada, enjoying the outdoors and French Canadian music. Although he was proficient with many instruments, the fiddle was Val’s passion. He played with numerous musicians and was a judge at many fiddlers’ contests.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1939-MAY 25, 2024 COLCHESTER, VT.
Our community sadly lost a pillar on May 25, 2024, when Richard T. Mazza passed away from pancreatic cancer with his family by his side.
e youngest of five boys, born at home on September 4, 1939, to Joseph and Mary Mazza, Dick or Richie to all who knew him was an open-minded, generous, loyal, trustworthy and loving man.
A lifelong resident of Colchester and graduate of Winooski High School, Dick was, first and foremost, devoted to his family and cherished every moment spent together, making them his top priority. He especially loved his role as a grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was the owner of Dick Mazza’s General Store, starting alongside his father 70 years ago this month and proudly operating the store since. It is only fitting that Dick passed away on the sixth anniversary of Gov. Phil Scott’s 2019 proclamation deeming May 25, 2019, “Dick Mazza’s General Store Day.”
His lifelong philanthropic giving to the Town of Colchester, where he spent his life, was honored recently by naming the road to the new Colchester Recreation Center as “Dick Mazza Drive.”
Cars — especially Corvettes — Farmall tractors and Coca-Cola memorabilia round out Dick’s passions.
All who loved Dick dearly will never forget how he led by example. Whether it was through his friendships, contributions, work ethic or devotion to public service, he gave with kindness, enthusiasm and respect. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone Dick interacted with, as well as those he reached yet never met.
With considerable pride, Dick spent 41 years serving in the Vermont legislature and held various positions within the Statehouse throughout those years, including dean of the Senate, chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, vice chair of Senate Committee on Institutions and the third member of the Committee on Committees. Dick was often referred to as the best dressed in the Statehouse, wearing his trademark loud, colorful ties with a matching pocket scarf and a carnation on his lapel. He was known for being a relentless champion for his constituents, serving with integrity and collegiality.
Dick’s public service extended to his community involvement throughout his lifetime, including board membership at the Champlain Valley Exposition, Vermont Nurses’ Association, Colchester Senior Citizens Housing Project, Fanny Allen Hospital, Friends of the Burnham Memorial Library and others. He received many awards as well, including Vermont Grocer of the Year, Citizen of the Year and countless others.
To honor Dick’s memory, please treat everyone with compassion and be of service to others and grateful for the day’s blessings.
Dick is survived by his loyal wife of 58 years, Dorothy “Dolly” Mazza; two faithful children, Mike Mazza (Lynn) and Melissa MazzaPaquette (David Paquette); his adoring grandchildren, Erik Mazza (Emily) and MacKenzie Mazza (Blaze Vogliano); sweet greatgranddaughters, Charlotte and Caroline; and older brother John Mazza Sr. He is predeceased by his parents and three brothers, Frank, Robert and Joseph. Dick also leaves behind countless friends and family, who touched his heart immensely.
A funeral service will be on ursday, May 30, 2024, 11 a.m., at Holy Cross Church in Colchester, immediately followed by a celebration of life reception in the Miller Building at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. As Dick loved color, his favorite being purple, we invite those joining to come dressed colorfully.
Due to family floral allergies, please do not send flowers. For those wishing to do so, memorial contributions in Dick’s name may be made instead to Colchester Rescue, 687 Blakely Rd., Colchester, VT 05446, or to the McClure Miller Respite House via the Jiggety Jog team “Legacy of Love” fundraiser at give.uvmhealth. org/team/583766. Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service. To send online condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.
APRIL 12, 1928-MAY 19, 2024 MIDDLEBURY , VT.
C. Deem Schoenfeld, 96, died on May 19, 2024, at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury. He was born on April 12, 1928, in Bruin, Pa., the son of William Wayne and Mildred (Deem) Schoenfeld.
After Deem’s early years in Bruin, the family moved to Butler, Pa. Having never seen a football game prior, Deem became a captain of the football team in his senior year and lettered in golf.
His sense of adventure emerged at an early age and included an impromptu hitchhiking trip to California at age 17. He spent early years working jobs that included washing dishes at Chautauqua Institution in New York, working shifts at the Armco Steel Plant in Butler and delivering mail at Christmas.
ree days after getting a summons to join the U.S. Army in April 1946, Deem enlisted in the U.S. Navy; after high school graduation he became a hospital corpsman, stationed at naval hospitals in St. Albans, N.Y., and Oakland, Calif. In 1952 he graduated from Allegheny College, where he was a fouryear letterman in football. During college, he married J. Carol “Toots” Robb, whom he had met years earlier, when — having seen her excellent softball-throwing skills — he decided that she was the girl for him.
Deem graduated from medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and after his internship at Geisinger Hospital in Danville, Pa., he spent five years in general practice in Butler. Deciding he wanted more time with his growing family, Deem moved the
family to Jericho, Vt., where he spent three years in radiology residency at the University of Vermont before settling in Rutland. He spent 25 years at the Rutland Hospital, including several years as head of the radiology department. He took pride in the hundreds of technicians he helped train, as well as in his early specialties in mammography and nuclear medicine.
In 1990 Deem and Carol moved from Rutland to Middlebury, where Deem retired in 1994.
Deem and Carol have five children, and they spent years attending countless sports games and concerts. ey passed on to their children a love for travel, sports, music and the arts, adventure, learning, great meals, and engaged conversation. ey loved traveling, taking many trips across the United States and to Europe, Canada and Mexico. ey delighted in their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, traveling often to visit them and welcoming everyone home for beloved holiday gatherings. His immediate family includes 37 people — each of whom he delighted in gifting a book of their choice each Christmas, ardently supporting independent bookstores
by shopping exclusively at the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury.
His love of sports included years of skiing, hiking, cycling, running, tennis and, most importantly, golf, especially in his 32 years of retirement, where he was a longtime ringleader of weekly matches at the Ralph Myhre course in Middlebury and courses around Vermont and New York. He helped organize group golfing trips to Scotland and Ireland. He shot his most recent hole in one in his nineties and regularly shot his age. His competitive fervor extended to duplicate bridge, which, along with golf, he played with dedication and focus until his death.
He is predeceased by his wife. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Monfre of Butler, Pa.; children, Michael Schoenfeld (Jane Schoenfeld) of Middlebury, Vt., Susan Schoenfeld (Larry Kupferman) of South Burlington, Vt., Robin Schoenfeld-Fox (Mark Fox) of Rutland, Vt., John Schoenfeld (Laura Schoenfeld) of South Burlington, Vt., and Mary Margaret Schoenfeld (David Low) of Arlington, Va.; 10 grandchildren; and 11 greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by dear friend Pat McCafferty of Butler, Pa., and countless golfing friends who live in and around Middlebury. A memorial service will be held at a later time, and the family requests no flowers. Deem’s family is grateful for the excellent care he received from nurses at Porter Medical Center, especially Blair, Rachel, Grace and Julia. To send condolences, visit sandersonfuneralservice. com.
If you want to honor Deem, go buy a book from an independent bookstore!
JANUARY 6, 1942MAY 9, 2024
VERGENNES, VT.
Lynn took her leave of us on a beautiful Vermont spring afternoon, as quietly and calmly as she lived her life. Born in Connecticut, Lynn moved with her family to south Florida when she was 8. As an adult, Lynn lived in several places, including stints in Arizona and Bermuda, before heeding her cousins’ advice and settling in the hill country of northern Vermont in the early 1970s with her former husband and two children.
Lynn’s early career in administration and operations took her from Rossignol and Garmont to Garden Way and Harrowsmith, as well as opening and managing Chapters Bookstore and Café in Shelburne. After her
OCTOBER 15, 1948FEBRUARY 2, 2024
BURLINGTON, VT.
David Welker Leitner, MD passed away on February 2, 2024. He was born on October 15, 1948, in Ann Arbor, Mich., to Mary Helen (Jaynes) Leitner and Jack Leitner, DDS. He grew up in Grand Haven, Mich., excelling in high school sports and setting a state record in the pole vault, which he held for five years. David finished his undergrad education at the University of Michigan, then medical school at Wayne State University. Following two years of naval military service, David completed a general surgery residency in Pittsfield, Mass. David married Linda Bouchelle during those years, in 1976. ey met in Germany in 1971 while touring Europe.
children grew up and moved into their careers, Lynn took the opportunity to purchase a one-way around-the-world plane ticket, finally indulging her wanderlust. One of her favorite stops was an extended visit in Hong Kong, which allowed her to travel solo deep into mainland China, an experience she cherished. e conclusion of her trip resulted in a twoyear stay in Boston, where she worked at the Women’s
His interest in a plastic surgery residency took them to Phoenix, Ariz., for two years and then a one-year microvascular hand surgery residency in San Francisco, Calif. Burlington, Vt., became their home, with David joining the University of Vermont’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1984, retiring in 2015. He twice served as chair of the division and founded
Educational and Industrial Union before returning to Vermont.
As Lynn settled back in, she found a new home base in a lovely cottage, perfectly sized for her, on the lake outside Vergennes. Lynn then worked a series of retail jobs, often with friends, primarily in Shelburne village. is allowed her to indulge her passion for meeting new people and, more importantly, helping them. Whether it was assisting a customer in deciding on the perfect wedding gift, bringing a grieving friend a Harrington’s ham and a bottle of wine, or helping an old friend, as she aged, with dayto-day tasks, one of Lynn’s greatest strengths was her capacity to help others in ways large and small.
Lynn’s greatest pride was her children, Meghan (Andrew) and Senan, whom she supported and encouraged in all their
the UVM Medical Center Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery and Replantation Service. He played a key role in the Vermont Department of Health’s Children With Special Needs program by staffing the cleft palate and congenital hand clinics.
Dr. Leitner was recognized by his peers as a skilled clinician and exemplary teacher to medical students and residents. As a caring doctor, he put his patients’ needs and desires first, listening intently and emphatically. Relationships were paramount to him — his patients, friends, and sweetheart and wife, Linda. If you were in his orbit, you could always count on him.
David played squash on a regular basis early in the morning with his buddies before heading to the hospital. Golf became a passion for David and Linda, and they planned trips to play and explore new places. A trip to
endeavors. It brought her no small measure of joy to have her intrepid children ultimately return to their home state, where she was able to see them regularly and involve herself in their lives.
In addition to her children, Lynn is survived by her sisters, Gay (Mike) Gallagher, Diane Cooper and Karen (Irv) Rose; her cousin, Blair (Bob) Hall, and their children; several nieces and nephews; and extended family. Special thanks go to Kasie, Tim, Aria and Sebastian, for their excellent care of Lynn during her final years.
Lynn loved the arts in all forms: literature, fine arts, music, dance, performing arts, etc. In lieu of flowers, if you are so moved, a donation in Lynn’s name to your local library, museum, performing arts center or other arts foundation would be appreciated. A memorial celebration may be planned at a later date.
Mexico became an annual vacation spot.
Dr. Leitner volunteered with a humanitarian group called Interplast International. is group’s goal was to travel to countries needing help with surgical procedures, as well as teaching the host country’s medical team these skills in places like Peru, Cyprus and Vietnam. He also volunteered in Haiti and Russia.
He was dedicated to every aspect of his life. He is missed by those who knew him as a friend.
A memorial service will take place on June 18, 2024, 4 to 6 p.m. Please meet at the UVM Davis Auditorium at 4 p.m. Afterward we will join together in the Hoehl Gallery until 6 p.m.
Donations may be made to the Dr. David Leitner and Mrs. Linda Leitner Excellence Fund for the benefit of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Vermont.
FEBRUARY 13, 1929-MAY 21, 2024 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.
Marion Elizabeth (Provost) Blanchette, 95, of South Burlington died on May 21, 2024.
She was born to the late Edith (Ellwood) Provost and Daniel Provost on February 13, 1929, in Burlington. She married William George Blanchette in 1946, shortly after he returned from the war.
William and Marion spent their married lives in several towns in Chittenden County: Winooski, Burlington, Colchester and South Burlington. ey wintered for many years in Palm Bay, Fla. Marion attended Cathedral High School and worked for 35 years for the Catholic Diocese of Vermont, primarily at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saint John Vianney Church.
She was predeceased by her husband, William, and her three siblings: Danny Provost, Bob Provost and Peggy (Provost) Bostock.
Marion is survived by her son, Bradley Napoleon Blanchette, and his spouse, J. Timothy Bourne, of North Hero; and her daughter, Laurie Edith Blanchette, and her companion, Stephen Daily, of South Burlington. She is also survived by her three grandchildren: Bradley Stevens, Mason Stevens and Cole Stevens. Additionally, she is survived by many nephews, nieces, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the McClure Miller Respite House of Colchester, Vt.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on June 3, 2024, 11 a.m., at Saint John Vianney’s in South Burlington, where Marion and William were longstanding parishioners. e family has chosen not to have a viewing. Immediately following the funeral, Marion will be buried at Resurrection Park, adjacent to the church.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.
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JANUARY 6, 2002MAY 16, 2024
TUNBRIDGE, VT.
Olive Elizabeth Sedon died on May 16, 2024, in Bradford, Vt., after finally succumbing to a long and protracted illness.
Olive burst like a comet into her family’s life when she was born on January 6, 2002. Even as a baby, Olive had a fully developed personality that was by turns dramatic, hilarious, stunningly precocious and heartbreakingly sweet. Very particular in her tastes and preferences, Olive loved to lie in bed with her parents many mornings and look at books of flower photos while drinking a blueberry smoothie. Before she was a year old, she walked and talked, and she had a lot to say. She would challenge (and sometimes confound) her parents to explain things such as how the universe could possibly be limitless or why animals so often had to suffer.
Olive grew up at her family’s home on Dickerman Hill in Tunbridge. She loved to roam the gardens, fields and forests, delighting in the insects and animals she would encounter. Olive had a strong affinity and empathy for animals her entire life. She bonded with her pet mice and dogs but also with baby birds that had fallen from their nests. With
a brave, adventurous spirit and a limitless imagination, she led her little brother, Metro, on many quests and arduous journeys to discover the dragons and other strange creatures that inhabited distant woods and pastures. is spirit never left her, and whether it was living on a sailboat in the North Atlantic, climbing a challenging peak or completing an epic mountain bike ride, Olive almost never said no to an adventure. A natural athlete, Olive easily mastered difficult skills and especially enjoyed snowboarding, surfing and mountain biking. Her great physical beauty belied a fierce determination and inner strength that could, at times, lead her into and out of peril. is, combined with her intellectual and emotional intelligence and sharp wit, made Olive a unique and unforgettable person to everyone who met her. She loved street art and loud,
fast rock and roll. She loved fashion. She loved spicy food. She loved to drive. She had a special compassion for people at the margins of life and people who suffered. Olive had a full heart.
In recent years, Olive struggled with a debilitating and progressive mental illness that she and her family tried so hard to overcome. Olive lived with a great deal of pain from this. In the last months of her life, she mounted a strong effort to get better, eliminating any kind of self-medication, practicing yoga and walking, and reengaging with her formal education. She faced her challenges bravely until the very end.
Olive is survived by her mom, Allison Ericson; her dad, Daniel Sedon; and her brothers, Jon Maxwell Wright and Metro Jackson Sedon. Olive will be buried in the Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury. A remembrance of life ceremony will be held to honor Olive later this summer.
MARCH 23, 1968MAY 17, 2024
WATERBURY, VT.
Dr. Michelle Leigh Perron, “Michelle,” age 56, beloved daughter, wife, sister, aunt, friend and dedicated medical provider, passed away unexpectedly on May 17, 2024, at home in Waterbury, Vt. Michelle embodied how to live a life grounded in caring, compassion and love.
Michelle was born on March 23, 1968, in Northfield, Vt. She was the beloved daughter of Winston “Win” and Marylou Perron. Michelle grew up in Montpelier and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1986. She also graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and later from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Michelle’s greatest passion in life was being a pediatrician. Michelle was a dedicated partner in the Timberlane Pediatrics Group, providing care for many families in the community. She exemplified her passion for her work and care for others through her focus, commitment and tireless dedication.
Michelle was always driving herself to improve and succeed. In school, she stayed focused on learning; the result was good grades, the reward was knowledge. She pushed herself and
her teammates, whether on the basketball court or the softball diamond. She was inspired to follow her Grandmother Clark, “Ginn,” who lived with the family, to pursue a career in the medical field. Ginn spent her life as a nurse, serving others and baking for the family, two passions Michelle carried on in her life. She would take care of all of her patients, get home late, and still find the time to make homemade birthday cakes for her nieces and nephews or that famous Christmas tree bread for Christmas morning. ese behaviors were core to who she was, both growing up and as an adult. Who she was at heart never changed for Michelle.
On August 21, 2010, Michelle married James “Jim” Percy, and they made their home in Waterbury. Michelle and Jim shared their home with Michelle’s parents and many canine and feline “children.”
Michelle and Jim graciously offered their home as the gathering place for anksgiving and other family events. Michelle was the consummate homemaker, aka “Superwoman,” too. Over the years, many nieces, nephews and cousins from all parts of the family attended her cookie-making sessions, while elders enjoyed her rum balls. Other hobbies and interests included gardening along with her adoring pets, Booker, Brise, Bruce and Baxter. Survivors include her parents, Win and Marylou Perron; husband, Jim Percy; brother, Kevin Perron, and his wife, Christine; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held on ursday, May 30, 5 to 8 p.m., at Guare & Sons Funeral Home, 30 School St., Montpelier, VT 05602. e family will have a private interment ceremony at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting local charities that were important to Michelle. You can make memorial contributions in memory of Michelle Leigh Perron, MD, to the UVM Children’s Hospital, 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05401 (uvmhealth.org/ childrens-hospital), or to Central Vermont Humane Society, 1589 VT Route 14 S, East Montpelier, VT 05651 (centralvermonthumane. org/donate-now).
JULY 18, 1929-MAY 19, 2024 BURLINGTON, VT.
Mary E. (Fuller) Fitzgerald passed away on May 19, 2024, at the Converse Home in Burlington, Vt., three blocks from her childhood home on St. Paul Street. She was surrounded by loving family, friends and caregivers.
Mary Ellen was born at home to Helena (Mulcahy) and Adam Fuller on July 18, 1929. She attended Adams, Cathedral Grammar and Christ the King schools, graduating from Cathedral High School as salutatorian in 1947 with her future husband, John R. Fitzgerald (affectionately known as “Dick”). She earned her BS in home economics at the University of Vermont, class of 1951, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi women’s fraternity and Mortar Board. On August 4, 1951, she married Dick, and they celebrated 54 wonderful years together.
Mary worked as a dietician in the Waterman Building at UVM while Dick was in medical school. She was the first lay woman trustee of the Fanny Allen Hospital board, a longtime member and past president of the Winooski Historical Society, a Girl Scout leader, a Rice Memorial High School board member, a member of the Winooski Community Development Committee, a eucharistic minister at St. Stephen Parish, and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for many years. Mary Ellen enjoyed travel, reading, games and socializing with her many friends from Park Street, Spaldings West Shore (where she spent over 50 summers), her Lime Kiln Road apartment and Converse Home. She loved life and was a faithful Catholic role model and teacher and a shining example of the difference one person can make in a family, a community and the world.
Julia and husband Bill Crenshaw, Mary Jo and husband Gene Risi, Jeffrey and wife Lynda (Plavin), Andrew and wife Carolyn (Lee), Jane and husband Joseph Parrish, and Joseph and wife Bethany (Saulpaugh). She is also survived by 20 grandchildren: Emily, Peter, Michael, Timothy, Matthew R., Adam, Mark, Matthew F., Lydia, Daniel, Katherine, Connor, Gregory, Sarah, Margaret, Liam, Sean, Molly, Gretchen and Britta; and 12 great-grandchildren: Adeline, Jack, Ingrid, Henry, Ava, Harper, Emerson, Olivia, Alessandra, Lila, Violet and Zoe (born on May 17, 2024!). Mary Ellen is also survived by sister-in-law Carol Fitzgerald of Durham, N.H., and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceasing Mary are her husband, John R. Fitzgerald; sister, Eileen Thomas; brother, Michael Fuller, and his wife, Margaret; nephew Bill Thomas; niece Karen Fuller; brother-in-law Thomas P. Fitzgerald and his wife, Peggy; brother-in-law Robert Fitzgerald; and infant granddaughter Elizabeth A. Fitzgerald.
The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Marga Sproul, Mary’s primary care physician, and the nurses and staff of Converse Home (where she enjoyed the last 22 months of her life) for their care and kindness.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 31, 2024, 11 a.m., at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Winooski, with a reception to follow at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Service in Winooski.
To send online condolences to her family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.
SEPTEMBER 21, 1953MAY 18, 2024 BURLINGTON, VT. Marc Lawrence Jacobs, 70, of Burlington, Vt., passed away on May 18, 2024, after battling stage IV esophageal cancer since October 2023. He passed peacefully and was surrounded by loved ones.
Marc was born on September 21, 1953, to Sam and Ada Jacobs in West Hartford, Conn. Following his father’s entrepreneurial spirit, he moved to Montpelier, Vt., in the 1970s to run Charlie-O’s World Famous, “a dive for nice people,” with his brother, Jeffrey. The brothers started a business purchasing rental properties in Montpelier and, later on, in Burlington. In the mid-1980s, Marc and his wife, Jan, moved to Burlington, and with a shared love for design and architecture, they opened Expo, a furniture and décor boutique situated across from city hall. In 1990 Marc and Jan brought their daughter, Anna, into the world.
Upon his passing, some of those grieving shared the following words:
“He’s a gem and a special person who has left a beautiful mark on the world.”
“He’s a gift to those who know him.”
Mary is survived by her eight children: John M. and wife Donna (Lane), Elizabeth,
SEPTEMBER 7, 1931APRIL 17, 2024
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.
Virginia Giroux, 92, of Henry Court in South Burlington, Vt., passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
She was born on September 7, 1931, in Montague Mass., the daughter of Gordon Young and Mildred Whalley Tanner, and then later adopted by Dorson Tanner. She was a graduate of Burlington High School, class of 1950. She was the president
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Mary’s memory to Converse Home, 272 Church St., Burlington, VT 05401 (conversehome.com); Vermont Right to Life Educational Trust Fund, PO Box 1079, Montpelier, VT 05601 (vrlc. net); or Rice Memorial High School, 99 Proctor Ave., South Burlington, VT 05403, attn: Fitzgerald Fuller Scholarship Fund (vtcatholicfoundation.org/donate-rice).
of Gero Bros. Movers, the company that was founded by her husband’s family in 1929. A devout member of
St. John Vianney Catholic Church, she loved to play bingo, cards with friends and the slots at the casinos. She loved to travel, adored the color purple (especially that fuzzy hat) and always had an angel brooch on her shoulder. She was a devoted fan of Paul Newman and Elvis Presley and loved country music. She also volunteered at Fanny Allen Hospital in Colchester for many years. She was an avid duckpin and 10-pin bowler for many years.
She is survived by her daughter Sherry Giroux of Essex Junction, Vt.; daughter Deborah and her husband,
Marc’s passion was salvaging old buildings and restoring them to life as desirable rental properties while maintaining their historical integrity. The relationships he built with contractors, tenants and the community brought endless fulfillment and joy to his life. Marc will be remembered and missed by many.
Gregory Lewis, of South Burlington; daughter Robin and her husband, Joseph Robitaille, of Milton, Vt.; son, Henry J. Giroux III, of Piney Point, Md.; grandchildren, Aimee Cardinal, Jessica Deforge, Devin Lewis, Amanda Phillips, Megan Robitaille, Tyler Robitaille, Michelle Giroux, Ashley Rush and Henry J. Giroux IV; six great-grandchildren (soon to be seven); niece Audrey Kolar of Tucson, Ariz.; and many other nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Henry A.J. Giroux, on July 15,
“I loved the guy. He was a good soul with an incredible spirit. I’ll be lost without him…”
“He’s an absolute infamous legend.”
“Marc is larger than life and just a wonderful person.”
“He always brought a smile to my face.”
“He’s a good egg and will be missed here in Vermont.”
He is survived by his
1981; daughter Danielle B. Giroux on May 2, 2002; sister Shirley Brack; brother Malcolm Tanner; sister Betty Decker; and brother Robert Tanner.
Family and friends are invited to call on June 26, 2024, 4 to 6 p.m., at Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on June 27, 2024, 11 a.m., at St. John Vianney Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd., South Burlington. Burial will immediately follow at New Mount Calvary Cemetery, 76 Plattsburg Ave., Burlington.
daughter and best friend, Anna Jacobs, and her husband, Damian Schmitt; loving partner, Roslyn Brown, and her family; sister Andrea Wisneski and her husband, Kim; brother, Jeffrey Jacobs, and his wife, Jody; sister Joan Kriegstein and her husband, Henry; nieces and nephews, Vaughn and Jonah Wisneski, Adie and Sami Kriegstein, and Jesse and Ben Jacobs; and constant companion, Ziggy.
A private family graveside service was held on May 23, 2024, at Ahavat Gerim Cemetery in South Burlington, Vt.
sevendaysvt.com/ lifelines
It had taken 569 days, but Ashley Richards’ trial was finally set to begin. A dozen jurors waited to take their seats in Courtroom 3A at the Judge Edward J. Costello Courthouse. The court officer and judge’s assistant were in their places. So were attorneys for the prosecution and defense, the witnesses, and the victim.
Black-robed Superior Court Judge Kevin Griffin, a pale, soft-spoken man, looked out from the bench toward the attorneys. His eyes were trained on an empty chair at the defense table.
Where was the defendant?
Griffin asked Harley Brown, Richards’ court-appointed attorney, if he had any way to call his client. He did not.
“Do we even know where she’s living?” Griffin asked.
“We do not,” Brown said.
Yet again, justice was on the verge of delay. No one in the courtroom appeared particularly surprised. Delays have become a dismayingly common occurrence in Vermont’s court system — a system that is expected to resolve criminal allegations swiftly. The state’s judiciary remains mired in a pandemic-era backlog that has seen the number of unresolved criminal cases swell
More than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the state judiciary is still struggling with an enormous backlog of criminal cases and competing public pressures around how justice should be pursued. To better understand how the system is working, Seven Days and Vermont Public embedded two reporters at the Burlington criminal courthouse for one week. Listen to accompanying audio stories on Vermont Public, or at vermontpublic.org.
to 15,000, double the pre-pandemic norm. More cases have languished, leaving the accused in limbo while frustrating victims who must wait months — or years — for their shot at justice.
The trend threatens to undermine public trust in the justice system and the rule of law. At the same time, judges
and prosecutors face conflicting public demands to lock up repeat offenders while also finding alternatives to incarceration and addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior.
That balancing act, a topic of fierce political debate, is largely unfolding outside the public eye, across thousands of cases that are heard in open courtrooms but don’t draw media attention.
To see firsthand the barriers to timely justice, Seven Days and Vermont Public spent five days, May 6 through 10, inside the downtown Burlington courthouse, attending hearings and interviewing participants.
Time and again, across the dozens of cases heard in three courtrooms, judges and attorneys struggled to carry out even basic judicial functions through a crush of obstacles.
Hearings were marred by technical difficulties and derailed by scheduling pileups. One arraignment was scuttled when the translator, who joined by phone, couldn’t hear anyone in the courtroom, prompting the judge to complain, “This is the best we got?” Court officials scrambled to accommodate defendants who missed their court dates or arrived late.
Defendants who were high on drugs or in the midst of a mental health crisis made even low-level cases difficult or impossible to resolve on schedule.
The court process appeared by turns futile, exhausting and farcical. The intense workload prompted one defense attorney, Jason Sawyer, to announce to a judge that he was canceling his state contract to represent indigent defendants because otherwise he would “end up becoming one of my clients.”
The trial of Ashley Richards would scrutinize the actions of a homeless woman whose life had spiraled, but the
Two days earlier, on Monday, the week began with 60 Chittenden County residents seated on wooden benches inside Courtroom 3A.
The potential jurors were restless, having set aside their day to fulfill their civic duty. Some glanced out the windows at the construction cranes across the street. One older man sat quietly reading in the back. Another person dozed off.
case against her was also a case study of a confounded court system. Richards, 40, was accused of assaulting and robbing an elderly man at an ATM in Burlington in September 2022. The seemingly straightforward case proceeded only haltingly in the 19 months that followed. Richards missed court dates and accrued more than a dozen other low-level charges, including retail theft and trespassing in City Hall Park. Twice she was held in prison, and both times, others bailed her out.
Now, everyone hoped, a two-day trial would bring the case to a resolution, one way or another. But the court could not stage a trial if the accused was not present.
The prosecutor, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Sally Adams, had an idea. A Burlington Police Department detective, she explained, thought officers might know where Richards was camping in the city.
“I’m trying to see if maybe somebody can find her,” Adams said.
If the cops could get Richards to the courthouse, the trial might still be able to proceed.
“I’ll retire to chambers,” Judge Griffin said, “and begin praying that Ms. Richards shows up.”
dent in its inflated caseload of about 3,000, which is constantly being replenished by an uptick in new filings for lower-level crimes.
Each of those cases plays out on the upper floors of the four-story courthouse on Cherry Street, whose brick façade seems to disguise it as an office building. Three judges, who rotate to different counties each year, hold hearings in three criminal courtrooms. One is drab and windowless. Courtroom 3A, where jury draws were being held, offers a full wall of sunlight and views of the former department store turned city high school
as new assistants are trained on the clunky case management software, Odyssey, that has become a source of frustration and the butt of courthouse jokes.
The high volume of cases puts a strain not just on the court staff but also on prosecutors and public defenders. That means the local public defender’s office must rely more on contract attorneys such as Brown to handle overflow and take over cases when the office has a conflict of interest.
With a white goatee and his glasses often perched above his brow, Brown is a familiar presence in the courthouse. He’s been an attorney locally for more
Court officials were more excited. They were preparing to pick four juries, including the one that would decide the Richards case. This would mark the largest number of juries selected in a single month in Chittenden County since the pandemic began in March 2020 — and more than were seated in all of 2023.
Most cases never go to trial, but scheduling one provides a deadline that propels cases to settle by plea bargain. The pandemic halted trials for more than a year, causing cases to pile up. A dozen of the Vermont court system’s 37 judges have retired since then, creating vacancies that further slowed things down.
The judiciary has managed to reduce its enormous caseload by 17 percent since January 2022, and funding for three more judges is on the way. But more than a third of cases are still lingering longer than they should, according to the judiciary’s own guidelines. The most complex felonies, such as murder and aggravated assault, should take fewer than 455 days to resolve. Richards’ assault-and-robbery case was already more than 100 days beyond that.
Chittenden County, with the state’s busiest criminal docket, has scarcely put a
I’ll
across the street. The office of Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, a reform-minded progressive, is down the hall, where visitors are greeted by a Martin Luther King Jr. quote that proclaims, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
The three courtrooms are outfitted with large monitors that allow attorneys, defendants and observers to appear remotely — a pandemic innovation — though most participants are now expected to appear in person for criminal hearings. Still, reduced foot traffic has shuttered the Courthouse Café on the ground floor. The judiciary struggles with high staff turnover, which slows hearings
than three decades. Between hearings, the longtime wrestling coach for Mount Mansfield Union High School likes to sit by the front-door security checkpoint and joke with the officers. As he waited for the judge to draw jurors for Richards’ trial, Brown bent the ear of a prosecutor about the new fish-finder he’d ordered for his lake camp.
His client, Richards, had made it to court that Monday and watched as Brown helped select a jury of her peers. She sat quietly, dressed in a plaid shirt and tan pants. She had eyes set deep in her face and a thin, birdlike nose.
Richards was still homeless, as she was at the time of her alleged crime. She had been sleeping in the ATM vestibule on St. Paul Street when a 69-year-old man in a motorized wheelchair came through the doors. Richards, prosecutors alleged, waited for the man to withdraw $100, then punched him, grabbed the cash and ran. The incident made the nightly news at the time, only to be supplanted by the next headline about surging disorder downtown. By the time her May 6 jury draw arrived, local television crews had long since moved on.
Judge Griffin called Richards’ case first. Brown and Adams, the prosecutor, took turns probing potential jurors for biases. Adams spent about 15 minutes asking basic questions, such as whether any jurors recognized Richards or the victim. She also asked jurors whether they could be impartial in a case involving an older victim with a physical impairment.
Brown’s questions took less than five minutes.
“You understand that my client’s obligation was just to show up here today and show up for this trial?” he asked. Then he cracked one of his jokes: “And she showed up this morning with a slightly aging, overweight wrestling coach. Does anybody on this panel hold that against my client?”
Judge Griffin and the attorneys soon agreed on 12 jurors and two alternates who would hear Richards’ case two days later. The court broke for lunch, then picked three more juries, a tedious process that kept everyone at the courthouse half an hour past its sacrosanct closing time of 4:30 p.m.
While the day had been long, Griffin said from the bench, the successful selection of four separate juries was “awesome.”
Miller’s plea
As Richards waited for her jury to be drawn, the man seated next to her in the courtroom gallery was hunched over, plucking fuzz off the Velcro of his backpack.
Alexander Miller, 39, had chosen a different route than Richards’ to resolve his case: He was here to take a plea deal on 16 charges that he’d been accumulating for more than two years.
These deals are designed to be good for everyone. They resolve cases more efficiently and with less risk than a trial. Defendants can trade the uncertainty of
the pending charges for rules that discourage them from breaking the law and, in theory, help them get their lives on track.
Miller had had little luck on that front. His lawbreaking had been entwined with a drug addiction that began when he was a teenager. The lifelong Colchester resident had been in and out of the justice system ever since.
The path to resolve Miller’s latest charges, including driving without a license and fleeing police officers, had been circuitous. The first case was filed in December 2021, after which he missed a series of court dates. Later, an episode of apparent druginduced paranoia resulted in a trespassing charge. That prompted Miller’s attorney, Brown, to ask the court whether his client was competent to stand trial. That issue took more than a year to sort out, in part because Miller showed up “impaired” to his first psychiatric evaluation.
Now, in exchange for pleading guilty to five charges, Miller could have 11 other charges dropped, including the one for trespass. He would serve up to three years on probation but could go to prison if he violated the terms of his suspended sentence.
Miller had come to court wearing a T-shirt and bedazzled cross necklace. There were bags under his eyes, and his feet were swollen and bandaged from festering wounds caused by xylazine, an animal tranquilizer now found in opioids. He’d begun his morning with an 8 a.m. trip to the opioid-treatment clinic in South Burlington, where he took his daily dose of methadone before the hearing in Judge Griffin’s courtroom.
“Mr. Miller, is this your understanding of the agreement?” Griffin asked.
“Yes, your honor.”
“And is this what you wish to do to resolve your cases?”
“Yes, your honor.”
Miller shook his attorney’s hand, gathered his backpack and took the elevator down to the clerks’ counter to sign paperwork. Next, he hobbled outside and up Cherry Street to the state probation office.
He paused outside to smoke a Newport cigarette. Miller said he was happy to avoid prison, but he worried about slipping up.
“It looks like a great deal,” he said, “but, I mean, it doesn’t take much” to have a suspended sentence revoked. “You
piss dirty, you pick up one charge for anything...”
He had spent years inside Vermont prisons, where nearly 60 percent of inmates today receive medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. But returning to life outside isn’t easy. When Miller finished his longest stint, 27 months, his mom took him to the University Mall in South Burlington so he could buy earrings. The wide, busy corridors overwhelmed him. His heart started racing. He said he “ran out of the mall, like a bitch.”
Addiction treatment, Miller said, would help stop his lawbreaking behavior, though he acknowledged that previous stints in rehab hadn’t led to long-term sobriety. The court process offered motivation and
accountability, Miller said — yet he also felt ensnared in a system that was largely indifferent to his well-being. “Quite honestly, this is a business,” he said. And in business, cash is king: “The person who has the money is going to get less of a sentence.”
Miller stepped up to a window at the probation office that was flanked by overdose-reversal kits and a vase filled with condoms. A clerk handed him a thick packet of forms to fill out.
Nearly 45 minutes later, a woman ushered Miller through a metal detector, snapped two mug shot-style photos and led him into a dim conference room.
The woman, an intake officer, went through the lengthy list of rules that would govern Miller’s life until May 7, 2027: Stay in treatment and counseling; meet regularly with his probation officer; notify the state of any changes of address or employment. He would be charged a $15-per-month supervision fee, she explained, which would likely be deducted from Miller’s state tax refund, since he does not currently have any income. The intake officer gave Miller his next appointment date and sent him on his way.
Miller ordered an Uber back to his parents’ home in Colchester. The ride cost $15.
To hold or not to hold Long before they’re settled, most criminal cases in Chittenden County begin in a hallway on the courthouse’s second floor. Here, people charged with crimes sit on benches until a public defender calls their name.
On Tuesday morning, that task fell to attorney Sarah Varty. A few defendants were already waiting when she arrived before 8:30 a.m.
“Come on in!” she told a young man who was charged with unlawful mischief. “I’m Sarah.”
Despite Varty’s good cheer, coming to court can be “terrifying,” as one woman in court that week described it. She’d been accused of driving with a suspended license. Prosecutors had agreed to divert her case to an alternative justice program, which would keep her criminal record clean. Still, she’d convinced herself that the judge would have her hauled to prison “in handcuffs.”
That does happen, but in Vermont, it’s rare. State law limits when defendants can be detained. Judges can issue cash bail to ensure someone doesn’t flee prosecution, but George, the state’s attorney, does not ask judges to do so, on the rationale that bail tends to punish people for being poor.
The vast majority of those held in
again,
prison until trial are accused of especially violent crimes, such as aggravated assault or attempted murder, according to Department of Corrections data. Of the 1,400 or so people who are locked up, more than 400 are awaiting trial.
The question of how to restrict a defendant’s rights is a tricky, politically fraught dilemma with risks all around. Defendants either sit for weeks or months in prison, crowding the
correctional system, or walk free until trial, during which time they could accrue more charges or miss hearings, further bogging down the court system. Usually, a judge’s solution is to set conditions that govern the accused’s movement or behavior, relying on the threat of new charges or imprisonment to keep them in line.
That responsibility fell on this Tuesday morning to Navah Spero, a judge appointed to the bench last fall. After a roughly monthlong orientation, she was assigned to the state’s busiest criminal court for her initial, yearlong post.
Her Tuesday docket included some retail thefts, DUIs and charges of driving with suspended licenses — nothing
that would typically warrant pretrial detention. She’d face a tougher call on Friday, when she had to decide whether to continue detaining a man who was charged with domestic assault and unlawful restraint of a woman with whom he was living in Shelburne. Steven Van Zandt appeared by video from prison. He hung his head as Spero announced that he would remain incarcerated until another hearing could be scheduled.
“I’m a disabled vet,” Van Zandt pleaded with her. “I’d just like to go home and take care of my dog.”
For other defendants, the stakes were much lower. Chealsi Blouin, a 28-year-old woman, was in court by video to answer a charge of harassing and making threats against a caseworker at the Department for Children and Families. Blouin’s cases had been winding through the system for months already. During an April hearing, when Blouin was arraigned on a separate charge for allegedly assaulting a DCF security guard, Judge Spero had ordered her to stay away from the office complex where the state employees worked.
Then Blouin’s partner, a man who goes by Four Twenty Jake, spoke up. Blouin, he explained, loved the banana bread sold at Simply Divine Café, a coffee shop located in the same Williston office complex. He asked that Blouin be allowed to visit the café to purchase baked goods.
Spero granted the request. Deputy State’s Attorney Adams soon filed an “emergency” petition to reverse the decision. State workers ate lunch at the café every day, Adams argued, which could put them in danger if Blouin were there.
Spero held a hearing on the matter in mid-April, taking sworn testimony about the ways in and out of the café and the frequency with which caseworkers patronized the place. The hearing spilled into a second day.
At the end, Spero reversed her earlier decision, but not before arguing with Adams over who was responsible for the unusual expenditure of court time. As Adams walked out of the hearing, she remarked that she’d never experienced anything quite like it over the course of her 15-year legal career.
Banana bread didn’t come up during Blouin’s May 9 arraignment, when she was again released on conditions. The baked goods matter had been settled, apparently, once and for all.
Two Burlington police detectives approached a small blue tent on Wednesday morning and called out Richards’ name. The tent was pitched on a narrow swath of grass between the sidewalk and Maple Street in a residential area near downtown. An umbrella poked through a hole in the tent.
Richards was huddled inside, cold and wet, alongside a woman with whom she shared the shelter. She’d overslept, she
told police. She got dressed and rode with detectives to the courthouse, where she was now 30 minutes late for her felony trial. The cops gave her a package of Nutter Butter cookies during the ride.
The prosecutor, Adams, and Richards’ court-appointed attorney, Brown, were milling about the hallway when word came that Richards had arrived. A few minutes later, she turned the corner, her hair in a messy bun, wearing loose beige pants, flip-flops and a reddish-brown plaid shirt.
She waited in the hall while the attorneys went into the courtroom to speak with Judge Griffin.
Though Richards had been hauled into court, Brown told the judge, she wasn’t in any condition to stand trial. She hadn’t had any “medications” that morning, and Brown was concerned that his client would go through withdrawal, which could prejudice a jury and serve as grounds for a mistrial.
Instead, Brown said, he and Adams had just hashed out a plea deal that could avoid a trial — if he could convince Richards to accept it.
Griffin warned Brown that he would be “extremely reluctant” to consider any deal that didn’t include prison time, given Richards’ “challenges following court
Judges across the state are issuing more arrest warrants — nearly 1,600 in Chittenden County over the past 12 months.
orders.” Even if she did choose to move forward with the two-day trial, Griffin said, he planned to keep her locked up to ensure she appeared.
Brown left the courtroom to talk it over with his client.
He returned a few minutes later, sans Richards. She was outside, pacing the hallway.
“You don’t need to follow me,” she told court security.
“Fuck!” she yelled.
“She obviously does not want to go to jail today,” Brown told the judge. “She’s gonna be sick.”
“The thing is, Harley,” Adams said quietly to Brown, leaning between tables, “if she goes to jail, they’re gonna put her on medically assisted treatment.”
Just then, Richards came into the courtroom and took her seat next to Brown. She was willing to take the deal. She would plead guilty to larceny from a person, a lesser felony. At sentencing, the
state would seek six months to five years in prison.
“I’m sorry for being late this morning,” Richards told the judge. “I live in a tent. I don’t have electricity. It’s not the easiest.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be here,” she continued. “I mean, this is my freedom.
This is my life. I take this very serious.”
Griffin said he would take her guilty plea now and schedule the sentencing hearing for Friday, two days later. In the meantime, Richards would be imprisoned at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility.
“I didn’t prepare for this — this is not, I mean, this is my life,” Richards said, growing distraught.
Richards wanted more time to think. Through her attorney, she asked Griffin for permission to leave the courthouse to smoke a cigarette. Griffin agreed, but only if Richards was shackled and escorted by a sheriff’s deputy. He was still worried she might flee.
an emergency department nurse while seeking treatment for suicidal thoughts. He also faced two counts of trespassing in City Hall Park, where he’d been banned after overdosing in a bathroom there twice in the same week.
To compel Dougherty to come to court, judges had used all of their tools, ranging from a mailed summons to a full-blown arrest warrant with cash bail.
When defendants miss their court dates, their cases can’t get resolved. Spiking rates of homelessness and instability caused by drugs or mental illness have exacerbated the problem.
Judges across the state are issuing more arrest warrants — nearly 1,600 in Chittenden County over the past 12 months, a 36 percent spike. Some defense attorneys speculate that judiciary leaders, under pressure to reduce the case backlog and crack down on repeat offenders, have directed judges to be less patient with people who miss court. Chief Superior Judge Thomas Zonay insists that’s not true.
After her smoke, Richards returned. She pleaded guilty, then was taken directly to prison. The extra time before sentencing would give Adams and Brown a chance to resolve the 17 cases Richards had accumulated while her ATM robbery case was pending.
Out in the hallway, the victim, in a motorized wheelchair, had been waiting all morning to testify. Adams walked out and told the man that Richards had instead pleaded guilty. He could come back on Friday for Richards’ sentencing.
Brown went downstairs to chat with the court security officers in the lobby. He felt a little queasy about how Richards’ case had just played out. Brown wondered if he and the judicial system had done her any favors by allowing her to spiral for so long on the street.
“I don’t know what the answers are,” Brown said.
Michael Dougherty was one of 18 people due to appear before Judge Michael Harris on Wednesday afternoon.
Whether Dougherty, 30, would show up was anyone’s guess. He’d missed six hearings since being charged in May 2023 with failing to update his address on the state sex offender registry. In the meantime, Dougherty had been accused of punching
In the months before her trial, Ashley Richards had been jailed twice for missing court hearings. Both times, she’d been bailed out — once by her sister and, more recently, by the Vermont Freedom Fund. The donation-based activist group posted Richards’ $500 bail in February.
The Freedom Fund currently posts bail exclusively for women, according to Lisa Barrett, a member of the group’s steering committee. The fund tries to stay in touch with the women it helps, but Barrett said it had lost contact with Richards. On the Friday when Richards was scheduled to be sentenced, Barrett was also in the courthouse, posting bail for another woman as part of a drive in anticipation of Mother’s Day.
The people whom the Freedom Fund bails out don’t skip court hearings to flee prosecution, Barrett said. They miss court because their lives are in chaos or the judiciary doesn’t do enough to ensure they receive notice — and they are punished with imprisonment as a result.
On Wednesday afternoon, a woman wearing an unbuttoned denim jacket that exposed her breasts sat quietly waiting for her 1:30 p.m. arraignment. But her hearing, public defender Sandra Lee discovered, had been postponed because her assigned lawyer was out of the office. No one had been able to tell the defendant, Jessica Huschke, who had no fixed address and no phone.
The previous afternoon, Kimberly Concannon-Bennett had stumbled through the front doors an hour after her hearing was scheduled to begin. She fidgeted and swayed. Courthouse security
officers followed her, worrying aloud that she might overdose inside the building.
“I just wanted to come in so I didn’t get arrested,” Concannon-Bennett explained to a court clerk.
Judge Spero had already issued a $1,000 warrant for Concannon-Bennett’s arrest, but upon her arrival, the judge, the state’s attorney’s office and the public defenders scrambled to hear her case. During the hearing, Concannon-Bennett rocked back and forth and spun in her chair. She said she had a headache. She began to cry.
“She’s clearly not in any position to go forward,” Spero said, before reluctantly accepting a not-guilty plea to a cocaine possession charge. The judge postponed a more complex matter in ConcannonBennett’s docket for a date in June.
“You need to come on time,” Spero admonished. “You need to be in a better condition.”
Meanwhile, Dougherty managed to appear for his Wednesday afternoon hearing, but his cases remained on hold. He had been waiting nearly six months to meet with a psychiatrist who could evaluate whether he is competent to stand trial. Last year the state Department of Mental Health contracted with an outside agency to conduct the evaluations by video, at a cost of more than $3,000 each.
The switch has largely quashed wait times that were averaging a year or more. But the department only schedules an appointment if a defense attorney can quickly confirm a client’s availability at a proposed time.
That approach doesn’t account for someone like Dougherty, who has no phone or address and experiences memory problems.
“It’s hard for me to get to actual appointments,” Dougherty said as he left the courthouse and walked to the Church Street Marketplace. “It sucks, it really does.”
When Friday morning came around, Judge Griffin had no reason to wonder whether Richards would show up to receive her sentence. He’d put her in prison to avoid the fiasco of her trial two days earlier. He was wrong.
Brown delivered the bad news: Richards was likely “detoxing pretty severely,” so the sheriff’s office could not transport her to court.
Griffin, once again without a defendant, had no choice but to reschedule the hearing for the following week.
Richards would make it to that one, at which she would settle all of her pending cases in exchange for a sentence of six months to five years in prison.
Richards had previously served two years, from 2008 to 2010, for selling drugs. But, Griffin observed at sentencing, her record had been clean until 2022. She had only dealt drugs back then, she told Griffin. In the past few years, she started using them.
“My life’s been shit ever since,” Richards told the judge.
She asked Griffin if he’d ever spent time in prison himself.
“It’s some serious PTSD,” Richards told him. “Maybe you should look at us a little more humanely and not as just criminals.”
“All I can say is this is about as humane a sentence as I can imagine,” Griffin replied.
Despite the chaos of Richards’ case, the week of May 6 had managed to be a productive one at the Judge Edward J. Costello Courthouse. The court had disposed of 140 cases, twice as many as were filed. But court staff, attorneys and judges were tired. They hoped Friday afternoon wouldn’t bring any more surprises.
“It makes me nervous that it’s been so quiet this morning,” Judge Spero said from the bench shortly before lunch.
Sure enough, that afternoon, Essex police arrested a man named Daniel Dennis on an outstanding warrant and
Maybe you should look at us a little more humanely and not as just criminals.
ASHLEY RICHARDS
delivered him to court. But Dennis, who was accused of punching an emergency department nurse, insisted his name was not Daniel Dennis.
Officers and the public defender, Lee, suspected that Dennis was mentally ill.
The court called in a Howard Center clinician to screen him to figure out whether he needed to go to a hospital.
Two hours later, Dennis appeared in court handcuffed and shackled, wearing shorts and a hoodie. The clinician concluded that Dennis needed a full psychiatric evaluation. Judge Harris postponed the arraignment and ordered Dennis to be transferred to the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital.
The unexpected hearing left little time for the one remaining case on Harris’ docket.
A man named Neeraj Bharati arrived at the courtroom from prison, hopeful that he would not return. The night before, his attorney, John St. Francis, had reached a plea deal with the state to resolve drug and burglary charges, as well as an
allegation that he’d violated an abuseprevention order. Once a judge accepted the deal, Bharati could be released from prison, having received credit for 89 days already served.
Bharati’s family sat in the courtroom that afternoon, waiting to take him home. But the prosecutor, Kelton Olney, didn’t want to move forward. His office hadn’t yet told the victim about the deal. The case wasn’t Olney’s — he was covering for a colleague who was out of the office. The case was unfamiliar to Harris, too. Bharati required a translator, which slowed the hearing. The end of the day was drawing near.
Harris decided to reschedule the hearing for the end of the month, the earliest date available. He apologized to Bharati for the delay.
“It’s an unfortunate situation, given the volume of our docket,” Harris said. Bharati stood up and shuffled out with the deputies who’d brought him in. They took him back to prison. He’d have to wait for another day in court. ➆
Burlington-born rugby player and social media influencer Ilona Maher is headed back to the Olympics
BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN • sgoldstein@sevendaysvt.comIn their fifth game of the 2014 women’s rugby season, the Norwich University Cadets were playing the top10-ranked Quinnipiac University Bobcats in Connecticut. The home team was eating away at Norwich’s big lead until a first-year Norwich player wearing a pink scrum hat began rampaging across the field, scattering defenders like duckpins.
On the sidelines, Quinnipiac’s veteran coach, Becky Carlson, looked on with amazement and envy. “Who is that kid? She’s ridiculous,” she marveled. Her assistant shrugged. “I’d give my right arm to have that kid in the pink scrum hat,” Carlson said. Carlson kept her arm. She also got the kid, Ilona “Lo” Maher, who transferred to Quinnipiac the following year and led the team to three national championships. Maher, who now lives in San Diego but was born and raised in Vermont, where her parents still reside, had taken up rugby with a local club as a senior at Burlington High School. The other school sports in which she excelled — field hockey, basketball, softball — did not offer the, shall we say, physicality of rugby. Maher’s rare combination of size, power and speed — and a disposition to go through and not around
opposing players — has made her a force on the rugby pitch. At the end of July, barring injury — she’s recently recovered from a broken ankle suffered last year — Maher will suit up to join the Team USA Eagles at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, her second Olympic appearance.
Though Maher won’t be wearing a pink cap — the U.S. favors blue — casual fans tuning in to the games may still recognize
countries. But Maher emerged from the fray as much more than a standout rugger: She became a social media celebrity, an influencer championing body positivity for women. Her enthusiasm in her posts is palpable, effervescent.
“Dear girl with the big shoulders,” one recent Instagram post begins, “You are not undesirable. You are not built like a linebacker. You are not manly ... You
SHE’S GONE FROM STIFF-ARMING DARTMOUTH PLAYERS TO STIFF-ARMING RUSSIAN AND CHINESE PLAYERS.BECKY CARLSON
the American center. In addition to her bone-rattling on-field exploits, Maher is a certified social media star. She gained most of her 1.1 million followers during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, posting videos of her life at the games — what she ate, whom she met, the quirks of Japanese culture, her room and her experience as a first-time Olympian in a pandemic.
That year, the U.S. women’s team finished a disappointing sixth out of 12
While they may enjoy watching Maher on their phones or tablets, it’s doubtful that many of her opponents relish seeing her across the pitch. Maher is built for rugby, and in particular for the version played at the Olympics. There are several variations of the sport, but Sevens has been the only Olympic discipline since the Rio games in 2016, the same year women’s rugby became an event.
Traditional rugby features 15 players on a side and two 40-minute halves sandwiched around a 20-minute break. The Olympic version is seven players on seven for two seven-minute periods, broken up by a short halftime of one or two minutes. Sevens is generally considered more physical. Carlson noted that Maher’s strength, speed and stamina make her a good fit for the sport.
“She’s gone from stiff-arming Dartmouth players to stiff-arming Russian and Chinese players,” she said. “When she gets into gear, she has this look ... There’s no doubt Lo is going to beat the person in front of her.”
The coach learned this lesson firsthand doing wind sprints with Maher during an impromptu workout. Carlson said she threw up several times trying to catch Maher: “She was smoking me.”
It’s hard to believe there was a time when Maher didn’t fully embrace her gifts. Before her 2017 MA Sorensen Award as best women’s collegiate rugby player in the nation — and prior to her three All-American nods, the Tokyo Olympics and her TikTok fame — she was self-conscious about her size and those broad, muscular shoulders.
“I grew up in a big body like this that isn’t really thought of as feminine or ... I guess, beautiful,” she said. Middle school at the now-closed St. Joseph’s School was a painful experience.
“I was a socially awkward kid in a graduating class of nine,” she said. “I would get these comments about being masculine or manly … I did not find them funny. My saving grace was sports.”
are powerful. You are magnificent.” In a recent TikTok video captioned “Pullin-up 200lbs,” Maher’s own powerful shoulders are on display as she does ring pull-ups.
“It’s just being relatable,” Maher, 27, said, explaining her popularity in a phone interview. “I’ll do something that connects with people who feel the same. I’ll do TikToks on how much I love carbs and bread, and everyone’s like, Oh, my gosh, look at this Olympian loving bread.”
The rule in the Mahers’ New North End household was that outside of school you had to do some activity. Lo and older sibling Olivia were gifted athletes, while Adrianna, the youngest, gravitated to volunteer work. The extracurricular mandate applied to parents, too. When she wasn’t delivering babies or working the emergency room at the University of Vermont Medical Center, mom Mieneke ran a cooking club, which may explain her middle daughter’s foodie bent online. Their dad, Mike, was a rugby standout at Saint Michael’s College and the family coach. When the two older girls enrolled in Little League softball, he studied the sport as if researching a doctorate. He
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taught them windmill-style pitching and when to release the ball so it went toward home plate and not over the backstop.
One day, Olivia and Lo both had Little League games at Leddy Park. Olivia’s game finished first, and as she started walking toward her sister’s game, “there was some kind of commotion at the other field,” she recalled. A parent from the opposing team was loudly objecting to Lo’s pitching.
“post-Olympic blues,” as she put it. “You train your whole life for one moment, one quarterfinal match, and you miss a tackle and something happens, and you lose.”
Maher expects to be able to take what comes in Paris and handle the outcome di erently. Social media will again be part of her experience as she prepares for her post-athletic future.
“Lo was zinging it in there, and this guy was yelling, ‘Tell her to slow it down; no one can hit anything!’” Olivia recalled. “Then my dad spoke up.”
“It’s kind of weird because I want us to win a medal so badly, but the Olympics is also a great time to get our team out there and win in other ways,” she said. “I did so much in Tokyo without winning a medal. I’m excited to see what this does for our sport.”
So is coach Carlson.
Mike looked over at the protesting father. “No way, dude!” he yelled. “Not going to do that.”
“I know what Ilona took from that,” Olivia said: “Never tone yourself down.”
That lesson has served Maher as well on the pitch as it has off it. It helped unlock her self-esteem and allowed her to appreciate her physical gifts. And her budding social media fame has not only brought attention to her sport but also raised her own commercial profile.
“People come up to me all the time, knowing what I do,” Carlson said. “And they say, ‘Gee, I saw this woman rugby player on TikTok. She’s incredible. She’s everywhere.’ And then they pause: ‘Wait, didn’t you coach someone like that?’” ➆
e 2024 Summer Olympic Games begin on Friday, July 26, in Paris. Follow Ilona Maher on TikTok and Instagram: @ilonamaher.
“I consider social media my second job,” she said. “I’m a rugby player first, but the social aspect is such a big part of me.“
In fact, Maher is a brand. Teaming up with public relations executive Ann Ragan Kearns, a former swimming star at Penn State, she has founded Medalist, which makes skin-care products for female athletes. Maher managed to squeeze in a master’s degree in business administration, so she envisions branded products, public speaking and possibly broadcasting after her final sti -arm. No surprise there, her childhood friend Helena Marcotte said: “Lo has always been ahead, ready for the next thing.”
Right now, that’s the Paris Olympics and playing the sport she loves at the highest level.
Maher admitted that she never liked softball. And though she excelled in field hockey and basketball, it was running with an oval ball cradled in her arms at, and often over, her opponents that ticked all of her physical and emotional boxes. Rugby, she said, “gave me a new outlook on life.”
“It was truly rugby that made me feel good, because it combined all these attributes from every sport I was good at, whether it was the physicality of basketball or the vision from field hockey,” Maher said. “Not just as a sport on the field but also just the person I was in real life. Feeling how powerful I can be.”
Being named to the 2020 U.S. Olympic women’s rugby team was a mammoth high for Maher. But the low was just as dramatic. Finishing without a medal triggered the
Adeline Druart knows what diacetyl tastes like. The naturally occurring compound is what gives cultured butter its characteristic nuttiness, and over her 20 years in the butter business at Vermont Creamery — rising from cheesemaking intern to president — she worked to produce as much of it as possible.
In beer, detecting diacetyl is an important skill for the opposite reason: The buttery flavor is a defect.
“I thought I’d totally nail finding it,” Druart said. After a suspenseful pause, she shook her head and laughed. “I needed to start from scratch.”
Diacetyl detection aside, much of Druart’s skill set did translate when the 44-year-old made the leap from dairy to beer last September by becoming Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ first CEO hired from outside the company. She’s also one of a small number of women leading top craft breweries in the U.S. On an early May day in the brewery’s Waitsfield beer garden, Druart racked her brain to come up with a list. “There are five that I can think of,” she said, “and I’m one of them.”
It’s a time of growth for the brewery, cofounded in 2008 by Sean and Karen Lawson in a one-barrel brewhouse next to their Warren home. Prior to opening the Waitsfield taproom, retail store and brewery in 2018, Lawson’s Finest was a team of fi ve. In the early days, batches were so small that devotees waited at the Warren Store for Thursday morning deliveries.
Now, more than 80 employees work on the Waitsfield campus — with its cathedral-like taproom, beer garden and fully stocked retail store — and brews are more widely available. Its popular Sip of Sunshine flagship IPA is brewed at the larger-scale Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, Conn., using Lawson’s Finest’s recipe and ingredients. Year-round signature beers and limited seasonal releases are brewed on-site and distributed to nine states throughout the Northeast. In December, Lawson’s Finest was named Brewbound’s Craft Brewery of the Year.
But it’s the company behind the beer
I DIDN’T GO TO CEO SCHOOL. ADELINE DRUART
this incredible growth story at Vermont Creamery, then wondered if I’d ever find something similar.”
While searching for her next gig, she outlined her “four Ps” for a recruiter: awesome product, awesome people, awesome purpose and a profitable business. The recruiter told her she was picky and said to choose three out of four. Instead, Druart added, “Oh, yeah, I want all this in Vermont.”
She found it. Her new commute is just 30 minutes from the home in Montpelier that she shares with her husband, Marc, and their two young sons. (“Pinch me,” she said.)
that attracted Druart, who drinks beer but loves wine. After all, she’s French.
When Druart arrived at Websterville’s Vermont Creamery as a 21-year-old cheesemaking intern, she didn’t speak English. Fifteen years later, in 2017, she led the company through its acquisition by Land O’Lakes, then joined the Fortune 500 company’s leadership team as one of its youngest VPs, and the only one without an MBA, she said proudly.
“I didn’t go to CEO school,” Druart mentioned more than once through the course of an afternoon, dressed in a palepink bomber jacket, wide-leg jeans and white sneakers with sunglasses pushing back her curly bob. As this reporter
tagged along during desk visits, Druart casually rattled o each employee’s work anniversary and life story: Lab manager Julie Smith has an English degree; Kelly Putnam joined as the company’s first HR leader two and a half years ago and has recently become a mom, gotten a promotion and built a house. At a twice-weekly leadership meeting, Druart showed equal enthusiasm for a just-launched three-year strategic plan and the Olympic-themed surprise opening ceremony for the company’s summer retreat.
For a brand associated with sunshine, the e ervescent Druart is a natural fit.
The Lawson’s Finest job is a chance “to live my dream twice,” she said. “I had
Druart’s enthusiasm for Lawson’s Finest’s purpose was “completely unique” during the company’s CEO search, according to Karen Lawson. “This isn’t just about selling beer,” she said. “It was up to applicants to really do their homework about who we are, and Adeline was the one applicant that stood out as aligning with our values from the get-go.”
The four Ps were the pillars of Druart’s interview pitch, along with ideas for how to grow that purpose over the next three to five years. Everyone around the table, including the Lawsons, who still own the company, “was pretty dumbfounded,” Karen said. “We didn’t have any questions.”
Before she started as Lawson’s Finest’s CEO, Druart had more than a few questions of her own — mostly about the beer. While brewing together over the course of a day at the original brewery in Warren, Druart peppered Sean Lawson with her queries about the process, the industry and the company.
“I said, ‘Pardon me for my ignorance,’” Druart recalled, “‘but I’m going to feel vulnerable and comfortable, so that when I come in September, I’ve flushed away a little bit of that naïveté.’”
“She had to learn how to operate a tri-clamp,” Sean said with a chuckle.
The clamp, which attaches hoses and fittings in the brewery, is what allows liquid to flow through the original brewery’s very
manual system, he explained. Noting the poetry of the moment, he described how he and Druart brewed a beer called Freestyle, an approachable 6.1-percent-alcohol IPA. It was billed as “an ode to experimentation and the early days of Lawson’s Finest, when recipes were created spontaneously.”
With Druart in charge, co-owners Sean and Karen have stepped back from day-to-day operations. Both still have offices at the Waitsfield brewery and serve as the board of directors, working with Druart on big-picture, long-term strategic planning.
“We call ourselves the Sunshine Squad,” Karen said. Their goal? “We’d love to be the No. 1 IPA in the Northeast,” she said, while spreading the company’s social impact to the other states it distributes to and minimizing its environmental impact in a resource-intensive industry.
Taking over from the founders is a big deal, Druart acknowledged, and “a delicate transition.” The employees, after all, joined the busine ss to work for Sean and Karen. Druart first met the team last June and spent the summer slowly getting acquainted.
In her first 45 days on the job in the fall, Druart met with every single employee one-on-one. She asked two questions: What’s your life story? What is your advice for me as the new CEO? Now, she continues that open-door communication with regular “Coffee and Croissants With Adeline” get-togethers, featuring pastries from Birchgrove Baking or Red Hen Baking — “the good stuff,” she said.
In her first nine months on the job, she said, learning about the beer has been the hardest part, though there are similarities
between the businesses of artisanal cheese and craft beer: Both are essential to Vermont’s food identity and center on the science of fermentation. And, as Sean pointed out, there’s lots of stainless steel equipment.
Druart joins weekly quality assurance tastings with the Lawson’s Finest brewers and lab manager Julie Smith to sample recent canning runs or evaluate tweaks to a base malt. Sitting in those panels, she puts her cheesemaker’s palate to use while considering texture, aroma and defects (and still working on that diacetyl identification).
“We use different descriptors, and the product is different, but the approach is the same,” she said.
Druart grew up in a small village in eastern France, where both sets of grandparents were dairy farmers. Her mother gardened extensively, and the family made jam and ate the region’s Charolais beef.
“There were more cows than people, and it literally looks like Vermont,” she said.
But when she arrived in the Green Mountains for her internship at Vermont Creamery, it was a culture shock. The first time she bought a tomato at the supermarket, Druart called her mom in tears.
“I said, ‘What do they eat in America? I don’t know if I can survive here. You should see the size of the potato chip bags,’” she recalled.
Between the food and the language barrier, “she spent a couple of nights crying herself to sleep,” Vermont Creamery cofounder Allison Hooper recalled.
“But we got her fixed up with some cultured butter and good bread, then she felt a little more at home.”
Druart’s two-month internship was part of her master’s degree in biotechnology; it’s also where she met her future husband, a fellow cheesemaking intern. Hooper and her cofounder, Bob Reese, were in the process of expanding their creamery, and Druart’s schooling in the intricacies of dairy processing came in handy. After returning to Lyon to finish
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her degree, Druart came back to work for Vermont Creamery.
“I think she realized that, for a woman in manufacturing, there was a lot more opportunity here in the United States than in France,” Hooper said. “It was a little less hierarchical.”
Druart may not have articulated that she wanted to be president of the company from the outset, Hooper said, “but she set big goals.”
“Adeline is ambitious, has high expectations for herself, and she’s a very quick study,” she continued.
She’s also quick with ideas. At the June retreat before Druart started as CEO at Lawson’s Finest, she suggested a dish for its taproom: raclette. The gooey, melty cheese — often poured over potatoes — comes from the Alps and would make sense in the brewery’s mountain town, she said. By the first snowfall, it was on the menu.
At a recent tasting of the taproom’s summer menu — led by food curator Jenny Rodriguez Welch — Druart deemed a grilled cheese with apricot jam, speck and Vermont Farmstead Cheese’s Brie “the next era of the raclette.”
A choripán sandwich, with Argentinean-style chorizo made for the taproom by nearby 5th Quarter butcher shop, was a harder sell at first.
“How spicy?” Druart asked tentatively.
“It’s a six,” Rodriguez Welch said.
“A six?!” Druart exclaimed. “I’m French. We don’t do spicy.”
A few bites in, she changed her mind: “I can handle a six.”
As delicious as raclette is, another of Druart’s quick decisions might have a bigger impact. Not long after starting, she implemented a monthlong sabbatical for all employees who have reached five years at Lawson’s Finest. This year, members of the taproom’s opening team — and half of the leadership team, including sales director Seth Talmon, head of brewery operations Scott Shirley and CFO Jonathan Wilson — will be able to take four additional weeks of paid time off.
“We reached out to staff to find out what matters to them, and it was a very consistent chorus of work-life balance and time with family,” said Kelly Putnam, now the company’s “director of people and purpose.” “It’s not prescriptive — just time to unplug and recharge.”
The craft beer industry, after more than
ADELINE WAS THE ONE APPLICANT THAT STOOD OUT AS ALIGNING WITH OUR VALUES FROM THE GET-GO.
KAREN LAWSON
a decade-long boom, is seeing big changes. Competition from canned cocktails, nonalcoholic options and cannabis — along with changing consumer preferences — led to a production dip and roughly 1 percent nationwide decline in craft beer sales in 2023, as reported by the Brewers Association. Lawson’s Finest finished 2022 “flat from a revenue standpoint,” but total sales grew 5 percent in 2023, Brewbound reported. Things still look good: Even taking out the added traffic on April 8 for the eclipse, sales were up across the board last month, said sales director Talmon. Druart hopes to continue that growth at the taproom and in the states where Lawson’s Finest is distributed by reaching new customers, including female drinkers and those who recently hit legal drinking age.
Increasingly, younger consumers are looking to companies that treat employees well, promote sustainability and give back to their communities. Lawson’s Finest has been doing these things for years with its SIP program — something the Sunshine Squad has discussed expanding outside
Karen said, if they can hire more staff in other states where their beer is distributed.
Achieving B Corp certification in 2023 “tells the story of the good we do through our business,” Druart said. The rigorous outside assessment measures a company’s social and environmental accountability; Lawson’s Finest is one of just 18 certified breweries in the U.S.
In April, Lawson’s Finest released its first-ever Impact Report, which highlights everything from its 70 percent staff retention rate and on-site massages for employees to the recipients of the $312,025 raised by the Sunshine Fund in lieu of taproom tips in 2023, including Mad River Riders, the Intervale Center, Jenna’s Promise and Out in the Open. To make the report, the team looked at examples from companies
such as Allagash Brewing and Seventh Generation.
“And voilà!” Druart said. “Those companies are much larger, but our story is of that scale.”
As the late March recipient of the Sunshine Fund, Green Mountain Farmto-School received a check for more than $15,300, which executive director Catherine Cusack said will support the Hardwick-based nonprofit’s Green Mountain Farm Direct food hub.
“I’m so struck by how this successful, for-profit business — in a really flourishing area of the state — is doing good,” Cusack said of Lawson’s Finest. “It speaks to the leadership there and to the employees. That’s a lot of money to give up.”
Lawson’s Finest’s three-year B Corp recertification has already started, too.
Just six months after opening CASA REAL in Colchester, the owners of the Mexican restaurant have embarked on a complete renovation of the former Vermont Tap House in Williston for a second Chittenden County restaurant. EDUARDO FUENTES said he and his business partners, brothers RICARDO and FRANCISCO GUZMAN, hope to open CASA GRANDE in July Fuentes, 31, said the 200-seat Casa Grande will have a similar menu to that of Casa Real but will be “even bigger.” He said customer favorites on Casa Real’s lengthy roster include birria tacos, chimichangas, guacamole made tableside and Hawaiian fajitas served in a pineapple.
The native of Guadalajara, Mexico, described the food as Tex-Mex. “If we open with authentic Mexican, most people don’t like it — too spicy,” Fuentes said. “Our customers are you guys.”
Fuentes said the positive reception to Casa Real has exceeded his expectations, allowing the trio to add a second Vermont restaurant sooner than planned. “People really like it more than I thought, and that makes me happy,” he said.
Fuentes has had his eye on the empty Vermont Tap House space at 22 Merchants Row, across from CHILI’S GRILL & BAR and LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE, for a while. “It’s a perfect spot,” he said.
Vermont Tap House announced in August 2022 that it would close for several months for renovations and to fill empty staff positions, but it never reopened.
Fuentes came to the United States at age 15 and started his restaurant career as a dishwasher in Louisiana. As well as co-owning Casa Real and Casa Grande, he owns La Casita Mexican Restaurant in Berlin, N.H., and a construction company, which permits him to manage his own renovations. During a recent tour of the Williston restaurant, Fuentes proudly showed off its new features, including an expanded 20-seat bar.
For updates on Casa Grande, follow Casa Real on Facebook. ➆
Druart and Putnam are putting together a group of employees from across the company, nicknamed “the B Team,” to drive the process.
Supporting folks who are ready to step up and grow within the business comes naturally to Druart, who did the same herself. She’s also particularly supportive of women and nonbinary team members, who make up 51 percent of the Lawson’s Finest staff — an anomaly in the craft beer world, where only 11 percent of brewers are women. She’s instituted a quarterly get-together for that segment of the staff, covering topics from the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry to personal finance.
“Having Adeline come in and be a working mom has been awesome,” Putnam said. “We speak the same
language in homelife and in what we care about at work.”
In March, in honor of International Women’s Day, Druart and women from all departments at Lawson’s Finest brewed a special beer to benefit Pink Boots Society, an organization that supports women and nonbinary individuals in the beverage industry.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What represents the women of Lawson’s Finest right now?’” Druart said. They landed on Brewtifully Bold, a 9 percent double IPA with pineapple.
“It was a big beer,” Druart said — one that paired perfectly with her big ambitions. ➆
Essay: How a new biography deepened my understanding of the legendary editor Judith Jones
BY RUX MARTINWhen I first interviewed Judith Jones in 1984 for a newspaper story about a book on New England cooking she and her husband, Evan, were working on, she let him do the talking. Fit and petite, Jones smiled encouragingly at him as she fried milkweed pods and squash blossoms stuffed with chorizo in their cozy cottage in the Northeast Kingdom.
Though she was 60, Jones seemed girlish and had a way of dropping her voice as though sharing a delicious secret. She was so self-effacing that I didn’t realize at the time what an outsize influence she had on what America reads and eats. Like any good editor, Jones liked to stay in the background.
Working at the New York publisher Alfred A. Knopf when she was 36, she famously scooped up Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking , which another publisher had rejected. Jones believed the French approach to food was just what many Americans in the 1960s yearned for.
She edited literary giants such as Langston Hughes, John Updike and Anne Tyler, and she also published the signal cookbooks of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s in every major cuisine, including those by Black, Asian and Indian authors, such as Edna Lewis, Irene Kuo and Madhur Jaffrey. At a time when the publishing world viewed cookbooks with thinly veiled disdain, Jones edited them like works of literature.
later a book editor, Jones was my role model, the gold standard. She gave me my first taste of the glamour of publishing, introducing me to Lauren Bacall in the Knopf office and showing me around Julia Child’s Cambridge, Mass., kitchen while her PBS show was being filmed. Later, Jones became one of my authors, when I republished Knead It, Punch It, Bake It!, a book for kids that she wrote with Evan.
“My happiest memories are associated with food,” Jones told me then. “I can still remember the plop of batter as it was stirred by a wooden spoon.”
AT A TIME WHEN THE PUBLISHING WORLD VIEWED COOKBOOKS WITH THINLY VEILED DISDAIN, JUDITH JONES EDITED THEM LIKE WORKS OF LITERATURE.
of culinary experts who expanded our palates and pantries. What’s more, she made many of those books blockbusters.
How did this reserved woman, who was never happier than when she was swimming in the icy waters of the pond at her Walden cabin, develop that North Star judgment?
Edna Lewis, spent a decade overall getting to know Jones and then interviewing nearly everyone who knew her, including me. The biographer was granted access to Jones’ personal papers stretching back to her childhood. The result is an intimate but clear-eyed portrait that clips along like a fast-paced novel.
When I became a magazine editor and
For the more than 30 years that I knew her, I often wondered how Jones discovered such a sterling cast of writers, from Pulitzer Prize winners to a global roster
In The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America, a riveting biography by Sara B. Franklin, I found answers and learned just how much I didn’t know about my friend. Franklin, who is the author of a previous book on the African American chef
Jones, the daughter of a lawyer from Montpelier and a class-conscious New York City mother, grew up on Manhattan’s tony Upper East Side but from the start preferred Vermont, where the family summered.
“I used to stamp my feet and say, ‘I’m
After the war, American women had been pushed from the public realm when they were ousted en masse from paid jobs. Now, with their culinary skills recast as old-fashioned and obsolete, they were being edged out of the private space of their kitchens, too. It was almost as though women themselves were falling into disuse. Judith wanted to resist, and she understood that Julia Child did, too. While living in Paris, both women had come to see the kitchen as a place of purpose and sensual pleasure, and one of power as well. In their view, cooking wasn’t drudgery (though it certainly was work), and it wasn’t a gendered trap to be escaped. Rather, they saw the culinary arts as a gateway to the wider world and a richer, more autonomous life. Through food, Judith and Julia had found something of a shared politics, a way to express a femininity unfettered by what they saw as conservative American norms. “Food was our rebellion,” Judith told me. “It gave us the courage to see things, make things happen.” The time was ripe, Judith thought, to get their message through.
a Vermonter, not a New Yorker,’” she told Franklin. Before attending an exclusive New York City private school, she convinced her parents to let her spend eighth grade in Montpelier. “I was going to Vermont to grow up,” she confided to Franklin. Instead of a Seven Sisters college (the women’s equivalent of an Ivy League at the time), she chose Bennington College, where the poet Theodore Roethke, her professor, became her lover. For the rest of her life, Vermont was both her refuge and a tonic. After 50 years at Knopf, she retired to Walden to write books and raise grass-fed cattle until she died there in 2017 of complications from Alzheimer’s.
Those seeking clues to how Jones
became one of the great editors of the 20th century will find plenty of them in Franklin’s book. At 17, while interning at Doubleday, she edited a best-selling author with no instructions, telling Franklin, “I decided to trust my own instinct.”
The job bored her, though, so she decamped to Paris. Her adventures make for one of the book’s most intriguing chapters. The 24-year-old drank in the Sartre-Camus literary scene; hung out with novelist Gore Vidal and his lover Tennessee Williams; and started a salon-supper club with two friends, cooking for guests to bankroll her love of food and wine.
In Paris, Jones fell in love with Evan and married him. And as a mere assistant in Doubleday’s outpost in the city, she plucked a 13-year-old girl’s diary out of a slush pile of rejects and told her incredulous boss he had to publish it in English. (He later took full credit for Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.)
Franklin shows that Jones was not infallible. After publishing Sylvia Plath’s poetry at Knopf, she firmly declined her novel, The Bell Jar, saying it wasn’t believable.
Throughout the book, Franklin skillfully situates Jones’ personal and professional life in the context of women’s history. And she notes, despite all the mega bestsellers, Jones remained woefully underpaid compared to her male colleagues.
Though no book can provide a road map to genius, The Editor gave me something better: an indelible picture of the grit, guile and passion for finding the right words of the woman who inspired my career. ➆
Rux Martin is a Ferrisburgh-based freelance editor and writer. She retired from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2019 after almost two decades of editing cookbooks by Jacques Pépin, Dorie Greenspan, Pati Jinich, Mollie Katzen and Marcus Samuelsson.
The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin. Atria Books. 316 pages. $29.99.
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In 1969, at age 19, Rob Mermin literally ran o and joined the circus. While his friends were wallowing in the mud at Woodstock, attending college and protesting the Vietnam War, Mermin was getting bonked on the head by an ornery camel named Achmed at a traveling circus in Wales. For years he toured Europe with trapeze artists, jugglers and aerial acrobats; honed his skills with legendary French mime Marcel Marceau; and slept in the back of a box truck with the circus’ performing mules.
Mermin, now 74, is often asked why he chose such an itinerant and physically demanding career.
“My intention,” Mermin explained to Seven Days , “was to find an unconventional lifestyle of renewable adventure. The circus seemed to be the way.”
After decades of working in European circuses, Mermin returned to the U.S. and founded Circus Smirkus in Greensboro. A nonprofit international touring company whose performers include children and adults, Circus Smirkus is dedicated to promoting the skills, culture and traditions of European-style circuses.
Now retired and living in Montpelier, Mermin has compiled a collection of stories he’s told orally for years about his encounters with colorful characters and unruly animals in a new book, Circle of Sawdust: A Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem, and Magic.
Mermin sat down for an interview to discuss the book, his exotic career, and how his mime and clown training has helped keep his Parkinson’s disease at bay.
Circle of Sawdust begins with a quote from Burlington’s Free Press & Times from 1883: “It is with circus-going as it is with Sin. One sin is always followed by a long procession of others. He who goes to the Circus is Lost Forever.” Why use such an unflattering quote? One of the reasons I wrote this book was to o set the images that Americans have of circuses — that clowns and mimes are disreputable and that circus people are sleazy. My background in clowning is really in the European circus tradition. I’ve actually never worked in an American[-style] circus. When I came back from all my travels in Europe, I didn’t tell people I was working as a clown, because a clown here in the States still has a bad reputation. Either you’re a serial killer from a Hollywood movie or you’re a Ringling-style clown involving
BY KEN PICARD ken@sevendaysvt.com
very wild makeup with wild red wigs and using very broad slapstick and gestures, which Ringling clowns had to do because they played in arenas to 20,000 people.
How does the perception of clowns differ in Europe?
My experience with clowns in the European tradition was that the public really accepted them as artists. They were beloved. It’s the same thing with mime. I studied with Marceau in Paris, the center of great, centuries-old mime traditions. But here in the States, mime has a disreputable reputation from the street mimes imitating and mocking people.
Is the “circle of sawdust” a metaphor of your own creation?
Yes. I latched on to that from my experience with traveling, one-ring, European-style circuses. Before a circus arrives, the field is empty. Then the circus arrives, sets up, has this magical experience and then — boom! — in the middle of the night, they take the tent down and disappear. The field is left completely clean except for that faint circle of sawdust where the ring had been. If you step into that circle of sawdust two or three days later, I swear, there’s this magical cone of energy that is the aura or echo of the circus.
Did you always want to be a mime, clown or circus performer?
Mime was my first love. What attracted me to it was having watched Marcel Marceau and the power of silence. Also, I grew up watching Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, who were great mimes. I was a very quiet kid, so I was attracted to that as a means of expressing myself in the world. As Marceau would say, “The art of mime is the identification with the essence of all things.”
Another thing that attracted me to the circus is that it exists completely in the present. There’s nothing fake about it, no thinking about the past or future. You’re either doing your act or taking the tent down or doing your chores or you’re moving on to the next town.
Most modern circuses have stopped using animals, in part because of animal abuse and our shifting sensibilities about keeping wild creatures in cages. Did you ever witness mistreatment of circus animals?
A little bit. I like to say that it’s not that certain animals should be banned from the circus; I think certain animal trainers should be banned from the circus.
I witnessed, in the best animal training traditions, an immense love and care for the animals. These were the performers’ livelihood, and the communication between the animals and humans could be really remarkable. The best animal trainers took better care of their animals than they did their own families. The animals were the fi rst thing they took care of in the morning and the last thing they put to bed at night. I don’t think it’s healthy for humans to become more and more segregated from the animal kingdom. We can learn from the animals.
In a 2015 Seven Days interview, you suggested that the circus arts were at risk of extinction. Do you still feel that way today?
No. When I started Circus Smirkus in 1987, there were no circus camps, no afterschool programs or circus schools in this country. All that has changed. Smirkus was a forerunner of the youth circus movement, which has proliferated. There are now circus schools all over the country.
How has your Parkinson’s disease progressed since we last spoke in 2015?
I’m in the 11th year since my diagnosis and doing OK. My neurologist says it’s due to
my training in mime and circus, because circus is very physical, of course. Of all his patients, I’m the most aware of my movements and the movements that are not correct. So if my left hand starts to tremor a bit, once I become aware of that, I can say to myself, Let’s take a healthy neural pathway
of the day, you don’t go home to some other place. You live at the circus and work at the circus. And it’s an attitude of overcoming obstacles with a sense of humor, which is very important.
It’s a hard life. You’re on the road; you’re performing. Even if you’re the star, when the show is over, you take off the spangled costume, put on the work gloves, and you’re out there with the rest of us taking the tent down. So it’s real. There’s always something going on that you have to deal with. And that’s where the sense of humor comes in.
ROB MERMIN
and stop the tremor. It’s the awareness and observation of the movement that allows me to overcome the limitation. I’ve been teaching workshops in mime to other folks with Parkinson’s and to groups of physicians and physical therapists who work with Parkinson’s patients.
You included a quote in the book from A.H. Kober’s Circus Nights and Circus Days about traveling circuses being “an attitude to life.” What is your attitude to life?
What I love about the circus is that it’s not just a job. It’s a lifestyle. At the end
Circle of Sawdust: A Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem, and Magic by Rob Mermin, Rootstock Publishing. 340 pages. $19.99. Author talk and book launch: Wednesday, May 29, 6:30 p.m., at Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier. kellogghubbard.org MY INTENTION WAS TO
Do you ever feel sad that a young person today couldn’t do what you did and run off and join the circus?
I’ve thought about that a lot. I think they can. Some of the Smirkus students say, “Rob, we can’t do that anymore because the internet is there.” But I say, “Look, if I had the internet then, I would have gone online to find out where the circus is performing and find them easily.” Would that hold me back? I don’t know. But the basic thing is, just show up and see what happens. ➆
It’s that time of year again, the Wake Robin Tag & Book Sale is happening - rain or shine! This annual event has been held for over three decades. Books, Collectibles, Kitchenware, Jewelry, Sporting Goods, and more!
Robin Tag & Book Sale Saturday, June 8 - from 9am - 3pm Wake Robin Drive, Shelburne, Vermont
While Vermont hosts more Pride events than we can list here, read on for six other highlights this May and June. Burlington hosts its annual Pride celebration in September, when students are back in town for the fall semester. For a more comprehensive list, see gayvermont.org.
MONTPELIER PRIDE FEST: This six-day Capital City celebration includes a dance party on the Statehouse lawn, a parade, a screening of the documentary Before Stonewall and a queer erotic poetry reading. Wednesday, May 29, through Wednesday, June 5. pridecentervt.org
ESSEX PRIDE: In its second year, Essex’s fest features a parade, drag story hour with local queens Emoji Nightmare and Katniss Everqueer, and a roller skate disco party. Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1. essexvtpride.org
ST. ALBANS PRIDE WEEKEND: Catch a fireworks display at the conclusion of this inaugural three-day celebration, featuring a drag show, parade, and family-oriented picnic and barbecue. Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9. pridecentervt.org
BETHEL PRIDEFEST: Home to Babes Bar, the mecca of Green Mountain State LGBTQ nightlife, this central Vermont town will host trivia night, a “masQUEERade” dance and a drag show with Emoji Nightmare. Thursday, June 27. instagram.com/bethelpridefest
BARRE PRIDE FEST: Packed into a single day, this show of Pride includes a bake sale, bike ride, drag queen story hour and lots of rainbow flag waving. Saturday, June 8. pridecentervt.org
RUTLAND COUNTY PRIDE FESTIVAL: The party kicks off with a “Juneteenth strut” at the Rutland Free Library, followed by a celebration with food, games and drag queen performances. Saturday, June 22. rcpride.org
Vermont’s first Pride celebration took place in Burlington in June 1983. Participants faced public vitriol and marched, risking their jobs and personal safety.
Now, four decades later, more than a dozen Vermont towns, from Brattleboro to Newport, hold events for Pride Month each June. This year, Woodstock will join the ranks. Pride of Woodstock, running from Thursday, May 30, to Sunday, June 2, will include a high-heel race; drag brunch; and LGBTQ-themed trivia, movies and comedy shows.
“We have the infrastructure; we have a very progressive community,” festival cochair Gabe DeLeon said. “So why not Woodstock?”
Two movie screenings will kick off the fest on Thursday: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, a 2011 indie comedy, chosen by the Queer Straight Alliance at Woodstock Union High School, about three lesbian space aliens finding love on Earth; and The Birdcage, a 1996 film about a gay Miami drag club owner who pretends to be straight when he meets his daughter-in-law’s father, an ultraconservative Republican senator.
On Friday night, the Woodstock Inn will host cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at a welcome reception on the inn’s front lawn, followed by a dance party at the Village Inn. Both events are free, with a cash bar.
Moving into the weekend, fest-goers can strut their stuff at a high-heel race on Saturday morning. Participants are encouraged to “run, walk, saunter or sashay” the roughly 1,000-foot course. The top three finishers will win prizes, including a snowboard for the first-place winner. For those planning on wearing stilettos, fear not: There will also be awards for best hair, shoes and outfit.
DeLeon said his husband is leaning toward a more practical chunky heel — though it’s “an ill-advised seven inches.”
In the afternoon, browse arts and crafts made by 35 local vendors at the Made With Pride fair. There, the Queer Straight Alliance will host an open mic, where participants can sing, recite poetry or act out a skit.
A brunch at the Woodstock Inn on Saturday morning, for $75 per person, will feature three drag performers: Rutland queen Amy Leigh Celestial, along with Saiyohni Gray and Vicky Sparkle-Titz, both of whom are flying in from the Bay Area.
DJ Bugie, another San Francisco-based entertainer, will provide the tunes for Tea Dances at East End Park on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In New York in the 1950s and ’60s, gay singles met up at so-called “tea dances” at a time when serving alcohol to gay people was illegal. (The sober Sunday afternoon dances also allowed attendees to be ready for work on Monday morning.)
“A lot of us Vermonters are early birds,” DeLeon said. “So we can get our dancing out of the way, grab a bite and then go to sleep early.”
For those who want to stay up, the fun continues at Richardson’s Tavern at the Woodstock Inn. Jesse Plotsky and Owen Daniel-McCarter, co-owners of the LGBTQfriendly Babes Bar in Bethel, will host gay trivia.
I WANT TO SHOW THEM THAT THERE IS A COMMUNITY, AND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE JUST LIKE THEY ARE.
SETON MCILROY
Concluding the fest on Sunday, “Funny With Pride” will feature four LGBTQ comedians: Vicki Ferentinos, a top-three finalist in the 2022 Vermont’s Funniest Comedian contest; New York City comic Shawn Hollenbach; and New Hampshire comics Kevin McTaggart and Will Berman. Hollenbach created and hosts “Closet Cases,” a live show at the Stonewall
in
that launched the modern gay rights movement — where comedians share their coming out and transitioning stories.
Seton McIlroy, co-organizer of the fest and chair of the Woodstock Village Board of Trustees, said she’s proud of the message the festival will send to her nonbinary child.
“I want to show them that there is a community and that there are people out there who are just like they are,” McIlroy said. “This is something to be celebrated.”
Woodstock, the Upper Valley tourist destination with a nostalgic Americana feel, can sometimes be stereotyped as stuffy, she added. She hopes the inaugural festival can challenge those perceptions, she said, and that Pride of Woodstock will become an annual tradition. ➆
Pride of Woodstock, Thursday, May 30, to Sunday, June 2, in Woodstock. Various prices. prideofwoodstockvt.org
BY ALICE DODGE adodge@sevendaysvt.com
Morrisville sculptor ea Alvin, who works in stone and stained glass, has been awarded $100,000 through the Maxwell/Hanrahan Awards in Craft.
According to program manager Rebekah Frank, the California-based Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation aims to “support people first and foremost — rather than ideas or outcomes — to invest in creative people who explore the world and, in doing so, help uncover new meaning about how it works.”
Beginning in 2022, the foundation has granted the awards to five exceptional craftspeople annually. is year’s cohort was selected from a pool of about 50 to 60 nominees by a panel of leading curators, educators and craft practitioners.
also with the elements and time of year. As she describes it, “Most every piece has an alignment with a solar event or a day of importance to the owner. Each story is a secret kept within the structure until the day of its importance.” Alvin likes the idea that the particular story of each piece will fade with time, creating a mystery for future archaeologists.
Alvin, 56, has been working with stone for 40 years — since she was a teenager mixing mortar for her father, who was a stonemason. Since about 2000, she has focused more on artwork than on practical projects such as walls and patios.
Alvin doesn’t use mortar in her stonework, relying instead on ancient techniques and gravity to shape, fit and secure her loops and archways. Several of her sculptures and installations may be familiar to Vermonters, including “Time and Again” at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester and an arched wall in Burlington’s Intervale. She has created a sculpture park at her home in Morrisville, which is open to visitors by appointment.
Some of Alvin’s projects are largescale earthworks that interact not only with people walking through them but
Alvin has used, taught and learned about historical building techniques on sites around the world, including in the tiny village of Ghesc in northern Italy. rough the Canova Foundation, the village has become a “laboratory” for the restoration of its 15th-century buildings. Canova partners with institutions such as Waitsfield’s Yestermorrow Design/Build School, where Alvin teaches. She hopes the award will allow her to return to Ghesc.
Her other plans for the funding may include hosting visitors at her sculpture park. But one of the most unusual aspects of the award is that the artist doesn’t have to produce anything specific.
Alvin still doesn’t know who nominated her.
“It’s so unexpected. I feel so grateful, and so humbled, to be recognized for work that I’m doing,” Alvin said. “ is award allows me to take a little bit of time to breathe and to be an observer of the world around me and not just a laborer within it.” ➆
Doug Anderson, the Opera Company of Middlebury’s artistic director and founder, is at it again. With producer and stage manager Mary Longey and music director Filippo Ciabatti leading a 25-piece orchestra, Anderson will launch the company’s 21st season with Gaetano Donizetti’s comical romp La Fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment). That’s the one where the tenor sings nine high Cs in a single aria, the famously challenging “Ah, mes amis.” (The opera is in French with English supertitles.)
Anderson, who typically holds auditions in New York City and snaps up promising singers before they become unaffordable, landed two rising stars for Daughter’s leading roles: tenor Patrick Bessenbacher, who will sing Tonio, and soprano Sara LeMesh, singing Marie.
Anderson described Daughter as “effervescent.” “It’s really a rom-com,” he said. The choice contrasts with last year’s offerings of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fidelio and Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied — both serious works about prisoners.
Daughter, which premiered in 1840, is officially set in the Tyrolean Alps during the Napoleonic Wars. (Anderson is well known for his creative transpositions of operas to different times and places, though he likes to keep those choices under wraps.) Marie, abandoned as a baby and adopted by a French regiment, falls in love with Tonio, a peasant — “literally, she falls off a cliff, and he catches
her,” Anderson said with a chuckle. Tonio joins the regiment to gain their acceptance. But then Marie learns she is a noblewoman, a role for which her upbringing among soldiers has given her zero preparation. Comic plot turns and light, jaunty music follow.
This is Bessenbacher’s first time singing Tonio, he said during a phone call from his Brooklyn home. The Kansas-born tenor, 26, earned a master’s in vocal performance from the Juilliard School two years ago.
Since then, he has crossed paths a few times with his costar, LeMesh: two summers at Marlboro Music Festival, the famed Vermont chamber music fest; and last year at West Bay Opera in California, where they sang leading roles in Carlos Franzetti’s Corpus Evita. Bessenbacher, who has sung leads at Opera San José in California and the Florentine Opera in Wisconsin, will be at Marlboro again this summer.
Asked how he is preparing for the daunting Daughter aria, Bessenbacher said, “I’ve been practicing and experimenting with it for three months, so I think I have it in a good place.” One week into rehearsals, he is merely “marking” it — half-singing it — but “when we get to tech week, I’ll start really trying it out.” For performances, it’s “all about your trust in the preparation.”
But nailing “Ah, mes amis” doesn’t mean he can relax. “That aria is in the first act,” he said. “There’s a second-act aria, a trio, the
finale. It’s not just that you need to sing the nine high Cs; you have to do it and then keep singing.”
Bessenbacher also pointed out that the character of Marie may not have a showstopper, but she sings a lot more than Tonio over the course of the opera. “I want everyone to know how fantastic a soprano Sara is,” he said.
Daughter’s lively choral numbers are divided between the townspeople’s chorus and the regiment chorus. Four choral singers hail from the Youth Opera Company, led by Sarah Cullins, which merged with Opera Company of Middlebury last year. Youth Opera graduates George Lane, Wanda Sullivan and Jane Jensen-Waggoner are in the mixed chorus, and current participant Nathan Stefani will sing as a soldier in the regiment chorus as well as in the mixed chorus.
Anderson says he has been “fussing over” the cast’s comic timing and attitude. “I’m of the opinion that comic opera should be laugh-out-loud funny,” he said. This production, he promises, is “deliciously” so. ➆
Opera Company of Middlebury presents La Fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) by Gaetano Donizetti, Friday, May 31, through Saturday, June 8, at Middlebury Town Hall Theater. $61-94; free for those under 26 with reservation. ocmvermont.org
Everybody’s talking about the new Mad Max movie, but not for the right reasons. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a prequel to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road directed by George Miller, who originated the dystopian action series 45 years ago. Headlines trumpet that the movie won the Memorial Day weekend box o ce with a take of $32 million — the lowest-grossing film to win that key slot since 1995. It’s a major disappointment for the industry, especially after another recent big-budget release, The Fall Guy, flopped in theaters.
On social media, many bemoan the lure of streaming, where The Fall Guy is already available three weeks after its theatrical release. These days, the question we ask ourselves about a movie is not “Is it worth seeing?” but “Is it worth leaving the comforts of my home for?”
While we fret over such rarefied matters, a little girl named Furiosa (Alyla Browne) counts herself lucky to enjoy a homestead with water and vegetation. Her clan inhabits a “Green Place” surrounded by the Australian desert during a post-peak oil apocalypse — a wasteland ruled by brutal gangs.
After one of those gangs kidnaps Furiosa, hoping to make her lead them to the “place of abundance,” her mom (Charlee Fraser) dies attempting to rescue her. The child becomes a pet of sadistic warlord Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and then lands in the Citadel, the cli -dwelling death cult ruled by Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). To escape the fate of being used for breeding, Furiosa (now played by Anya Taylor-Joy) disguises herself as a boy and becomes a crack mechanic, accompanying Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke) on his dangerous supply runs in the War Rig.
As Dementus and Immortan Joe vie violently for power, Furiosa fights to survive and guard the secret of the star map she’s tattooed on her arm — a map of her way home.
Will you like it?
For all the benefits of streaming, it deprives you of the chance to hear an audience break into spontaneous applause when the end credits roll. There were only a handful of people at my Furiosa screening, but applaud they did — a testimony to the enduring power of Miller’s action spectacles.
Unlike most franchise flicks these days, the Mad Max movies don’t have
parachutes and grappling hooks and scaling the undersides of speeding big rigs and turning their enemies into fireballs and just generally doing awesome action stu . Miller has a gift for making all this inventive mayhem legible — “plausible” would be the wrong word — that elevates him above most modern blockbuster filmmakers. Every scene is so complex and artfully choreographed, with stunts, composition and visual e ects working in harmony, that it’s a little like watching the world’s bloodiest circus artists.
With set piece after set piece, Furiosa is as dogged as Dementus in his pursuit of power; it rarely lets us rest. Everybody on screen is visibly traumatized by their way of life, and watching the movie is a little traumatizing, too — or exhilarating, depending on your tolerance for dystopian warfare.
Taylor-Joy is a strong presence, but the dearth of other female characters removes one of the elements that made Fury Road such a welcome departure.
I found myself eagerly awaiting Dementus’ appearances because at least he has a sick sense of humor about these endless battles for dominance of oil, water and ammunition.
For lovers of action cinema, Furiosa is absolutely worth seeing on the big screen. Just try to put aside the fact that, in a world already riven by climate change, this series is starting to feel disturbingly close to home.
enough mythology to pose a barrier to casual entry. Granted, it doesn’t hurt to know that Charlize Theron played an older Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road , where she formed a testy alliance with Tom Hardy’s Max. The character’s status as a road warrior icon with a feminist agenda explains the existence of this prequel, in which Max himself appears only in a wordless cameo.
But the Mad Max movies aren’t about characters — except in the sense of larger-than-life figures such as Dementus, who wins the Batman villain prize here for most colorful getup and persona. (Released from his Marvel Cinematic Universe duties, Hemsworth chews the scenery as gleefully as any wasteland cannibal gnawing on a femur.) Nobody here has a motivation more complex than vengeance, maternal love, survival or boredom. The dialogue o ers an amusing floridness — Jack compliments Furiosa on having “a purposeful savagery about you” — without delving far into anyone’s interiority.
No, these movies aren’t primarily about people thinking or feeling or engaging in political intrigue (à la the Dune films). They’re about people driving motorcycle-powered chariots and attacking via
MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com
MAD MAX (1979; Max, Peacock, rentable): e film that started it all was a B movie partially inspired by the oil crisis of the early 1970s. It’s the only series entry to focus on the breakdown of society rather than the aftermath.
MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981; Max, rentable): Most Americans weren’t aware of the Mad Max saga until its sequel, set entirely in the postapocalyptic landscape, became a mainstream hit and turned Mel Gibson into a star.
MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (1985; Max, rentable): is very ’80s third entry, starring Tina Turner alongside Gibson, is the only film in the series to have a PG-13 rating and spawn a hit song. After that, Max went underground for 30 years and returned in the form of Hardy.
EZRA: A divorced comedian (Bobby Cannavale) goes on a road trip with his son who is on the autism spectrum in this comedy-drama from director Tony Goldwyn. With Robert De Niro and Rose Byrne. (100 min, R. Capitol, Essex)
HAIKYUU!! THE DUMPSTER BATTLE: High school volleyball teams face off in a film version of the massively popular anime and manga series. (85 min, PG-13. Essex)
ROBOT DREAMSHHHHH In 1980s Manhattan, a lonely dog orders himself a robot companion in this wordless, Oscar-nominated animation for all ages, directed by Pablo Berger. Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged. (102 min, NR. Majestic; reviewed 3/13)
SUMMER CAMP: It’s not just for kids! Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton and Alfre Woodard play childhood friends who bond all over again at their camp reunion in this comedy from Castille Landon. (96 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Star)
BABESHHH1/2 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)
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. Majestic, Roxy)
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. Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 5/1)
EVIL DOES NOT EXISTHHHH 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, Savoy)
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. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Playhouse, Roxy, Stowe, Sunset)
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGAHHH1/2 Anya Taylor-Joy plays the warrior from Mad Max: Fury Road in a postapocalyptic desert action prequel. With Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. George Miller again directed. (148 min, R. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 5/29)
THE GARFIELD MOVIEH1/2 In this animated family flick, the cartoon cat (voice of Chris Pratt) plots a heist with his long-lost alley-dwelling dad (Samuel L. Jackson). Mark Dindal directed. (101 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, 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)
Say you saw it
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. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Roxy, Sunset)
KUNG FU PANDA 4HHH Po (voice of Jack Black) must train his warrior successor in this animated adventure. (94 min, PG. Majestic)
SIGHTHH The latest from Angel Studios tells the fact-based story of an eye surgeon who escaped China during the Cultural Revolution and tried to restore a blind orphan’s sight. (100 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic)
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. 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)
WILDCATHH1/2 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)
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (Sunset)
THE MUPPET MOVIE 45TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun & Mon only)
STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 — THE PHANTOM MENACE 25TH ANNIVERSARY (Majestic)
THIRD ANNUAL QUEER FILM FESTIVAL (Savoy, Sun only)
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
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.
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Shelburne Museum’s “New England Now” series returns to explore the otherworldly
BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.comThe Diana and John Colgate Gallery, the downstairs room of the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education at Shelburne Museum, has been darkened to evoke the unsettling feel of the exhibition it houses for the summer: “New England Now: Strange States.” Dark gray walls enclose the work of 12 artists who explore resonances of New England’s tradition of ghostly and macabre tales.
Associate curator Carolyn Bauer’s introductory text sets the mood by referencing the haunting literary works of Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson and Stephen King. But visitors’ first impression of the gallery might instead be of a jewel box: The dark walls beautifully set off works such as Laura Kramer’s glittering glass-fragment sculptures, Lauren Fensterstock’s massive arrangements of shells and Jennifer McCandless’ colorful ceramic works bearing an extraordinary amount of detail. There is a quality of excess to many works in this show — but the kind that delights and draws in visitors only to reveal more disturbing ideas at play.
“Strange States” is the third exhibition in an ongoing series that began in 2018 with “New England Now,” featuring stereotypedefying landscapes, and continued with 2021’s “New England Now: People,” an
exploration of regional identities. Bauer, who curated all three, told a reporter that “the first two felt like prefaces; this one can stand alone.” It also happens to feature only female and nonbinary artists — an unplanned result she attributed to being a female curator.
Bauer’s intro states that the works don’t just open “portals to parallel worlds” but also provide “visitors with new tools and perspectives for exploring the
Rodriguez suggests, is a useful tool for overcoming pain.
Fensterstock, of Portland, Maine, created three mixed-media works, two in monotone black, that draw the eye between reflective surfaces and depthless matte ones. “Scrying 3,” a convex black oval mirror in an elaborate frame of meticulously layered and arranged shells, references two historic practices: using a Claude glass, or black mirror, to observe a landscape with one’s back to it — popular with artists and travelers beginning in the 1770s — and scrying, or telling the future using a reflective surface.
There is a too-muchness to the work — and to Fensterstock’s seven-foot-tall, rectangular “Portal” beside it, packed a foot deep with undulations of giant shells around a narrow swath of black mirror. Encapsulating humans’ problematic attempts to control nature, the works equally implicate visitors, who are reflected in the mirrors.
More humorous are Waltham, Mass., artist Sarah Meyers Brent’s packed assemblages of the familiar detritus of motherhood — the plastic toys, destroyed dolls, electronics and stu es she saved from the landfill and, in some works, heavily coated in white gesso. Visitors will spot a bra at the top of her site-specific “Wild Things,” which spills down from the top of a column. But the work’s presence contains a menace, as if people’s reliance on things might soon come crashing down on them.
Ceramicist McCandless, who lives in Burlington, uses quirky humor to alert visitors to environmental degradation, among other concerns. “After the Humans Are Gone: Fantastical Rainbow Monster” is a realistically hairy creature shaped like a rainbow that manages to strike an amusing pose. The title posits a post-human world; the work beside it, “Run Amok: Poseidon’s Toxic Fish Pile,” a colorful tower of beadyeyed sea creatures, suggests that humans would be responsible.
complexities of our reality.” The idea is most evident in Boston artist Allison Maria Rodriguez’s three video installations, part of her series “Legends Breathe.” Based on interviews Rodriguez conducted with female and nonbinary artists, the videos depict fantastical scenarios to help deal with trauma: a tent that can teleport its occupant to any environment, for instance, and a human- size nest watched over by a protective bird of prey. Imagination,
Bianca Beck’s colorful, multi-limbed sculptures — one sited inside and three more on the lawn outside — are positive, even exuberant, explorations of identity. Ri ng on the origin myth for romantic longing in Plato’s Symposium, which says humans were originally two people split apart by the gods, Beck’s creations reunite those halves abstractly, their giant legs expressively bent and joined.
A feminist nonbinary artist, Beck begins a sculpture by shaping chicken wire around a wood armature and wrapping it with papier-mâché. The surfaces, alive with unfettered gestural swaths of acrylic and oil paint, are striking. In 2018, the Portland, Maine, artist told Galerie magazine that the sculptures are meant to “convey the feeling of being doubled or enlarged through
partnership, when we become something greater than ourselves.”
It bears saying that sometimes paintings are, well, beautiful. Harpswell, Maine, artist Emilie Stark-Menneg’s translucent figures of a mother and child either blend into or become landscape; layers of different applications of acrylic — sprayed, brushed, blistered, splattered — make fore- and background indistinguishable. In “Star Kiss,” DayGlo colors and a watery atmosphere shot through with light create a dream world that also appears ghostly and anchorless.
The influence of Persian miniatures startles in Iranian American artist Arghavan Khosravi’s anti-patriarchal painting “Glass Ceiling of Underground World.” Three female figures, roped or enclosed in a crinoline-like cage — a male figure manipulates one rope — lean or stretch above a corner scene of angelic comfort trapped below two glass ceilings. The acrylic painting’s linen-and-cotton canvas becomes the 3D skirt of the foregrounded female figure facing away from the viewer, suggesting a transformation through the materiality of art.
Two more Iranian Americans, the identical twins Farzaneh and Bahareh Safarani (known as the Safarani Sisters), have contributed a “video painting” titled “Emerge.” The 51-by-102-inch horizontal oil painting in red hues depicts a woman
in a black dress lying on her back on the floor; behind her are two windows screened by a sheer red curtain. A video projection superimposes a ghostly figure on the painted one who slowly shifts her limbs, shoulders and head. The eerie, indeterminate narrative that results could be about political choice (freedom over restriction), wishfulness (action versus submission) or simply twinhood. Resembling bulbous masses encrusted with glass barnacles, Barrington, R.I., artist Kramer’s dazzling glass sculptures are problematically beautiful: three, from her “Poisonous Minerals” series, allure with their colors and material while exploring minerals that both heal and hurt. Kramer bolstered her MFA at Rhode Island School of Design with a master’s in anthropology and material culture from Columbia University, and the cultural uses of minerals such as cinnabar, tourmaline and sulfur — also the titles of the three works in the series — appear to have captured her imagination.
Red-hued cinnabar, for example, a substance used in Chinese medicine and to create vermillion pigment, also contains mercury; too much cinnabar brings a high level of toxicity. Kramer’s work suggests a warning beneath the excess that also appears to be a warning about excess.
Indeed, besides being known for its unsettling imagination, New England is often associated with a penchant for frugality. Paradoxically, “New England Now: Strange States” reveals its own embrace of the ethic of restraint through excess — of beauty, materials, and, in Bauer’s choices, the richness and diversity of art from this region. ➆
“New England Now: Strange States” is on view through October 20 at Shelburne Museum. shelburnemuseum.org
Politics and religion, it’s said, are not subjects for polite conversation. That makes them perfect subjects for Susan Calza, whose work few critics would ever call “polite.”
The Vermont artist is known for her brash, bold, wrenching takes on the issues of the moment: mass shootings, the climate crisis, homelessness, COVID-19. She employs a lot of red.
Calza opened her eponymous Montpelier gallery five years ago with an intent to focus on the political. Last year, she spent six months documenting mass shootings in the U.S., recording more than 600 of them with a digital counter and an installation of red ribbons suspended from the ceiling. (The counter is still in the gallery: 157 mass shootings so far in 2024.) The artist succeeded in bringing attention to the issue, but at a heavy emotional toll. Following that series of installations, which included collaborations with other local artists, she needed to make something quieter, more intimate and personal.
“About Face: Votives and Video” takes that turn. Calza connects more closely with her own vulnerability, and the work possesses complexity and depth.
As a visitor enters the gallery, the warm scent of 71 votive candles (Calza is 71) and dim lighting conjure a church-like atmosphere. “Our Hour,” an eight-minute looping video installation, includes shots of Sainte-Chapelle — an extraordinary, jewellike 13th-century chapel in Paris.
Calza’s video and votive installation are separate pieces but collectively lend the show a religious sensibility while avoiding religion’s baggage.
The votives, grouped on surfaces around the small gallery, don’t present familiar images of saints. Instead, Calza wrapped each in a white sheet of onionskin paper with a drawing of a face on it. Each has a different caption: “For the ones who carry us.” “For we who look away.” “For us who cross borders.” “For our mothers who did their best.”
Some of the captions are explicitly political, such as “For Alexei [Navalny].”
‘ALOFT’: A group exhibition of 18 artists whose work touches upon the ethereal. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield, through June 27. Info, 224-6878.
AMY SCHACHTER: A solo exhibition of abstracted figurative works. White River Craft Center, Randolph, through July 12. Info, 728-8912.
AMY SCHACHTER: “Hiding in Plain Sight II,” abstracted figurative works. Curated by Studio
Place Arts. Morse Block Deli & Taps, Barre, June 3-September 20. Info, 479-7069.
‘THE ART OF CREATIVE AGING’: A showcase of artworks by 25 older central Vermont artists. Reception: Friday, June 7, 4-8 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, June 5-July 22. Info, 262-6035.
BRIAN HEWITT: “Arched Vistas of New England,” acrylic paintings of landscapes in bold, saturated colors. Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery, Burlington, May 31-June 27. Info, 863-6458.
CARRIE GLESSNER: “Colors of the Kingdom,” watercolors by the Westfield artist. Reception:
GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE! PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY FRIDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.
Sunday, June 2, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Greensboro Free Library, June 2-30. Info, 533-2531.
‘COLLABORATION’: A survey of 40 prints by 37 artists from the VSC Print Archive in celebration of 40 years of VSC, curated by printmaker Sarah Amos. The prints are in auction online to benefit the VSC Fellowship Fund. Meet the curator and closing reception: Thursday, May 30, 4-6 p.m. Red Mill Gallery at Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, through May 30. Info, 635-2727.
ELIZABETH NELSON: “At the Edge of the Northern Ocean,” paintings of the changing climate and volatile landscape. Reception: Thursday, May 30,
VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS: ART LISTINGS ARE WRITTEN BY ALICE DODGE. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.
Others are more personal: “For our vague morning dread” refers to a phrase Calza attributed to a former student, whose face the artist sees in the drawing.
All the faces are drawn loosely, some almost grotesquely, but with a tender, deliberate line — they’re more like portraits than sketches. Calza said she uses her left (nondominant) hand to draw, as it forces her to be less precious. Some of the faces are adorned with earrings. Many have teeth. All of them look a bit alien, but each one is expressive. Though not distinct enough to be individual people, the faces do convey different personalities.
Calza began her votive project with a single candle, asking, “What am I trying to connect with in myself?” When she found a box of onionskin paper, the drawings kept flowing, almost obsessively. Calza said she felt an ease and directness that don’t always come from working on a larger sculpture or video project.
“Our Hour,” on the other hand, is addressed not only to herself but to us — the viewers. “We have this hour,” the narrator says calmly, “which is a short hour.” The video describes searching for and stumbling upon beauty; in addition to Sainte-Chapelle, the images include crows, a beach, city lights, an excavator. Calza said she shot the footage on different trips, as well as during an artist residency in Wales.
The video suggests snippets of memory rather than a story. It’s like a book of hours with images instead of prayers, and each is associated with a short passage of time. “Our Hour” places the viewer exactly where they are, reflecting on the present.
Calza’s video and votives don’t take on religion, advocate for it or expose its flaws. But they do use some of its shorthand to ask the question that runs through her current work: “How do people get through?” ➆
“About Face: Votives and Video” is on view through June 7 at Susan Calza Gallery in Montpelier. susancalza.com
4-5:30 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, through July 7. Info, 371-4100.
HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2024: Works by AP art students and graduating seniors. Reception: Friday, May 31, 4-6 p.m. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, May 31-June 15. Info, 457-3500.
JANA ZELLER: “A World Adjacent,” paintings of abandoned theater spaces and the spirits that haunt them. Reception: Friday, May 31, 5:30-8 p.m. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, May 31-August 11. Info, 451-0053.
EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY: The South End Arts + Business Association seeks photographic works for an upcoming exhibition at the Media Factory. Submit up to five pieces. Online. Through June 4. Info, curation@seaba.com.
‘SOUTH END BLOCK PARTY’: The South End Arts + Business Association is seeking artist vendors for an Independence Day celebration dedicated to small businesses and entrepreneurs, to be held at Hula. Online, through June 16. Info, 859-9222.
JESSE BARROWS: Abstract works by the local artist. Closing party: Friday, May 31. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, through May 31. Info, 356-2776.
JULIE A. DAVIS: “Painting the Town: Iconic Landmarks of Johnson, Vermont,” expressive oil paintings from the artist’s collection. A portion of sales benefits Johnson flood recovery. Artist talk: Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m., with Mary Jean Smith, vice president of the Johnson Historical Society. Minema Gallery, Johnson, through June 8. Info, 646-519-1781.
JUNE JURIED SHOW: The 93rd annual exhibition of the Northern Vermont Artists Association.
Reception: Sunday, June 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with a sidewalk art festival and music by the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra at 1 p.m. Visions of Vermont, Jeffersonville, June 2-29. Info, cambridgeartsvt@ gmail.com.
LIAN BREHM: “Immersed in Color: Reflections of Mexico,” paper and mixed-media constructions. Reception: Sunday, June 2, 4-7 p.m. White Water Gallery, East Hardwick, June 2-July 14. Info, 563-2037.
MARY ADMASIAN: “Scraps with Nature,” constructed paintings, sculptures and mixed-media assemblages by the Montpelier artist. Reception: Friday, June 7, 4-8 p.m., with artist talk at 6 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, June 5-July 22. Info, 262-6035.
‘PORTRAITS AND FASHION: QUÉBEC PHOTOGRAPHERS BEYOND BORDERS’: An exhibition of prints showcasing 17 Québécois photographers with international careers. McCord Stewart Museum, Montréal, May 31-September 29. Info, 514-861-6701.
‘THE QUARRY PROJECT ECHOES’: Artworks by 12 artists involved with the Quarry Project performances, created in response to their experiences. Curated by Hannah Dennison and Leslie Anderson. Reception: Friday, May 31, 3-6 p.m. Kents’ Corner State Historic Site, Calais, May 31-June 30. Info, ctgahannah@gmail.com.
‘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: Wednesday, May 29, 6 p.m., followed by discussion with former residents. Athenaeum Hall Gallery, St. Johnsbury, through June 30. Free. Info, akolovos@vtfolklife.org.
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.
ART AND AUTHOR NIGHT: Reception with artworks by Marge Pulaski and Frederick Rudi and poetry reading by Charlie Barasch. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, Friday, May 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Info, 426-3581.
‘KINDERGARTEN TO CAREER’: An exhibition of artworks by area K-12 students and Lyndon Institute alumni. Reception: Friday, May 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Satellite Gallery, Lyndonville, Friday, May 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 229-8317, melmelts@ yahoo.com.
BTV MARKET: Artworks, crafts and more from a rotating cadre of local creatives. Burlington City Hall Park, Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 865-7166.
‘LET’S TAKE IT OUTSIDE’: Opening reception for an exhibition of outdoor artworks by Sarah E. Johnson-Brown, Shannon Cleere, Patricia Meriam, Adria Zal and Jamie Zimchek that variously interpret the human condition. Juniper Sculpture Park, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Saturday, June 1, noon-5 p.m. Free. Info, 518-569-7820.
SEASON OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA: Exhibitions, granite-carving demonstrations, newly digitized historic films about Vermont’s granite industry, live music by the Vermont Bluegrass Pioneers. Vermont Granite Museum, Barre, Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 476-4605.
BIPOC MAKER NIGHTS: WOODWORKING: Hosted in partnership with the Root Social Justice Center, affinity spaces for anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous or a person of color to create community around woodworking. Bring a project to repair or make. HatchSpace, Brattleboro, Monday, June 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 552-8202. ➆
You want to know something weird? I’ve lived in Vermont for just about 30 years. And in all that time, up until earlier this month, I only passed through St. Albans once — on the way back from Montréal with my girlfriend at the time.
Taco Bell was her guilty pleasure, and the closest one was in St. Albans. So we popped in, got the taco-like substances and were gone, all in less than 15 minutes. Faster than you can say “food poisoning” (sorry, Andrea), I had experienced the town, filed it under “Nah, I’m good” and decided that was that.
In truth, I never meant to blacklist the place; I’ve heard rumors of its good diners and lively new bars for a while. Once I became a full-time music journalist and started driving from one end of the state to the other for live music, it dawned on me how odd it was that I hadn’t visited St. Albans again, even though it’s essentially two highway exits north from where I live.
To be fair, the events scene didn’t exactly have me champing at the bit. “Midgets With Attitude” wrestling — google it (or don’t, actually). Karaoke nights and open mics don’t really get me excited, either, but di erent strokes for di erent folks, I suppose.
One event that seemed di erent was Kingman Fest. The annual downtown block party on Kingman Street started in 2022, spearheaded by SHANNON SMITH, owner of the Depot nightclub.
“It was a way of coming out of the pandemic to get people back downtown in St. Albans,” Smith told me on a phone call.
What started as an idea to drum up some business for struggling local institutions turned into a proper blowout. Thousands of people now flock to the fest, which features a giant stage at the lower end of Kingman Street (closed to tra c), along with food trucks, beer tents, local artisans, kids’ games and, hell, even some tarot reading.
“Each year, we just kept hearing back from other businesses and residents how much they loved it,” said LAUREN WARSHOFSKY, the Depot’s events planner.
“So we wanted to keep refining it and making it bigger, but in a measured, intelligent way.”
Smith said she noticed how many of her friends were always driving toward Burlington for entertainment and festivals such as Waking Windows and Grand Point North.
“We wanted something that would bring that feel to Franklin County,” she said. “But unlike a lot of those other festivals, ours is totally free and familyfriendly.”
I sure do love the free part, but as a childless vagabond, I find the term “family-friendly” usually translates to “There will be overpriced IPAs you can buy while you watch your brat pick a fight in the ball pit.”
surprisingly grabbed me the instant I hit those St. Albans streets.
Walking back to my car, humming DEF LEPPARD songs the band had just played, I saw the would-be ticket scalper again, drinking some beers with friends by a bench.
“You get rocked out, bro?” he asked me, seeming genuinely curious. “Kingman Fest, baby! You better come back next year.”
You know, I think I will.
Burlington musician TYLER MAST dropped a new single last Friday. The piano and Hammond organ maestro’s latest is titled “I Could Get Used to Your Love,” a breezy roots rocker that will slot in nicely on summer playlists.
But as my interview with Smith and Warshofsky wound down, they gently chided me for not making it up to Kingman Fest in previous years. Maybe I needed a little peer pressure, maybe it was just time to take in St. Albans’ majesty, but either way, I drove up for the third-annual fest earlier this month.
It was raining a little as I parked in front of St. Albans City Hall, but the drizzle didn’t dampen the general feeling of excitement as people streamed toward Kingman Street. A guy smoking a joint in the park outside city hall asked if I wanted to scalp some tickets to the fest.
“It’s a free festival,” I replied.
He flashed a lopsided grin in return. “You got me! Hey, a dude has to try. Have a good time, brother!”
Downtown was busy, but not overly so; when I stopped to have some dinner at Los Jefes, a popular new taco spot, I didn’t have to wait for a table. The bars were hopping, but you could order a beer in pretty short order. It was like the city had figured out how to throw a party of just the right size.
I got back to Kingman Street as the evening’s musical entertainment hit the stage. Vocalist JESSE AGAN, who fronts the QUEEN tribute act that played last year’s festival, formed a sort of local all-star cover band with fellow Vermonter MORGAN MYLES, a 2022 finalist on the NBC talent show “The Voice.” The two singers attacked a playlist featuring the likes of HEART, AEROSMITH and (of course) Queen.
With its classic-rock cover band, Kingman Fest is certainly less hip than, say, Waking Windows in Winooski. But there’s no replacing vibe, and Kingman Fest had a fabulous, old-school, fuck-itcrack-that-beer-in-the-alleyway vibe that
“It’s a groovy little tune about embracing new love and driving through the mountains on a perfect day,” Mast wrote in a press release.
He initially recorded the song in 2023 but wasn’t satisfied with the arrangement and kept toiling away. Mast eventually got the take he wanted, thanks to a killer band of locals featuring drummer COTTER ELLIS, guitarist MARSHALL DOMINGUEZ, bassist JOSH WEINSTEIN and saxophonist CHRIS PETERMAN. JEREMY MENDICINO mastered the final at Lane Gibson Recording and Mastering in Charlotte.
The song is available now on Spotify.
Did you love the KENDRICK LAMAR-DRAKE beef but wish it had more Vermont in it? Hey, that’s weird, but you do you. Good news, though: Burlington rapper REAL RICKY has entered the fray, and he’s taking on … the entire Vermont rap scene?
On his new diss track, “Rick Vs Everybody (THE 802 Diss Track),” Ricky comes out swinging: “These VT rappers are 40 and can’t rap.” In short order, he takes shots at everyone from NORTH AVE JAX to JARV to JONNY WANZER. “I’m not cocky, I’m destined ... Make me lock in, I dare you,” he concludes, signing o the track with a kiss to his competitors.
Diss tracks are weird. It’s been said before, but they’re just grown men slinging angry poems at each other. It can all get a little cringe. Certainly the Kendrick-Drake thing has gone that way. Diss tracks can also get serious and even deadly — see BIGGIE SMALLS and TUPAC, for one notorious example. But there’s a classic, lighter vibe to Ricky’s “Fuck you, 802” anthem. It’s not that I don’t think he means it; it’s that I think there’s a spirit underlying the track, a hint of playful banter toward rivals.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and
see if any of the many Vermont rappers Ricky took a shot at returns fire. Check out the track on SoundCloud.
Speaking of Vermont rappers, KYLE “FATTIE B” THOMPSON hit me up recently to let me know his old outfit, ’90s Vermont stalwarts BELIZBEHA, are reuniting for the last time in September. In what Fattie describes as a “massive celebratory weekend to wrap up an extraordinary 30-year run as a band,” the group will re-form and play two back-to-back shows at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on September 27 and 28.
The band, which merged soul, hip-hop, jazz and funk, enjoyed a run of success leading into the turn of the
Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry SOUTH END GET DOWN AT THE PINERY, BURLINGTON, FRIDAY, MAY 17, AND SATURDAY, MAY 25:
century, even playing a set at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The band members went their separate ways in 2000 but have periodically reunited. That all comes to an end this fall, as Belizbeha bid a fond farewell to the scene that spawned them.
DJ extraordinaire NEIL CLEARY has launched a brand-new weekly vinyl session titled All Ears. Held every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Big Spruce restaurant in Richmond, the series focuses on what Cleary described as “otherworldly vibes.”
As he put it, “It’s a lot of heady, futuristic sounds blended with a
e South End of Burlington is once again alive with the sound of music! e Pinery beer garden is open for the summer, and the lot scene at 377 Pine is happening. Earlier this month I checked out the South End Get Down, the evolutionary cousin of the late ArtsRiot Truck Stop across the street. e weekly Friday event’s new home is much more comfortable and provides far more open space, views across the canal, a tabled seating area and 46 different food vendors. XAVIER JIMENEZ aka XAVWAX and a co-owner of Buch Spieler Records in Montpelier, spun vinyl from the sun-kissed loading dock, and the vibes paired perfectly with the copious food options. And that’s not all for you weekend warriors. Live bands are booked throughout the summer for a more mellow, single food truck-supported Saturday evening hang. Local surf-rock trio BARBACOA played this past Saturday, and music encyclopedia BILL MULLINS on lead guitar and vocals, took random
(Spotify mix of local jams)
1. “UNICORN” by McAsh
2. “OVER AND OVER AGAIN (SEARCHING FOR YOU IN THE SPACE) by Lily Seabird
3. “PRETTY THINGS” by Sarah King
4. “PEOPLE AGAINST AN EMPIRE” by Hana Zara
5. “LOVING TAKES TIME” by conswank, Oddie Strangeluv, ARIEH
6. “WANT ME DEAD” by Vallory Falls
7. “THE FEAR (ANXIOCIDE REMIX)” by Night Protocol
Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist
healthy dose of chunky, viscous stank — everything from KAMASI WASHINGTON, HIATUS KAIYOTE and SVEN WUNDER to LEE
DORSEY, EL MICHELS AFFAIR and WITCH.”
A talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Cleary also hosts the SiriusXM show “The Bunny,” an incarnation of the on-site pop-up radio station Cleary has hosted at PHISH festivals since 1997. ➆
requests from the crowd — I took the opportunity to stealthily exit during a cover of JOHNNY RIVERS’ “Secret Agent Man.” But there’s more! e Pinery is also open on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. With the beer garden, a food truck and quiet house music playing from tree-mounted speakers, the canal scene provides a great backdrop for some laid-back Sunday fun. Just don’t jump in.
WED.29
Andy Frasco & the U.N., Ryan
Dempsey & Friends (indie) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m.
$35/$40.
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.
David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.
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.
The 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.
THU.30
Andy Frasco & the U.N., Ryan Dempsey & Friends (indie) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $35/$40.
The Ballroom Thieves (pop, folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $22/$24.
Breathwork, Avi Salloway (jazz, indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.
Carol Ann Jones (singersongwriter) at Blue Paddle Bistro, South Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.
Chad Hollister (rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.
Classy Boss (bossa nova) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Come Mierda, Sophisticated Adult, Set the Bar Low, Cooked, Tired of Trying (hardcore) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 7 p.m. $20.
Devonian Hot Club (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Frankie & the Fuse (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Jesse Agan (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.
Jim Yeager (singer-songwriter) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Junestar (Americana) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
Justin Levinson & the Valcours (power pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.
Lincoln Sprague (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.
Mama Tried (folk) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
Montpelier Jazz Project (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
A Sound Space Live with Pepper & Sassafras (folk) at Merchants Hall, Rutland, 6:30 p.m. $20.
Thea Wren and Jeremy Mendicino (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Waterbury, 6 p.m. Free.
FRI.31
Ari Joshua Band (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12.
B-Town (rock, blues) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.
Bad Horsey (country, rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.
Bettenroo (acoustic) at Blue Paddle Bistro, South Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.
Blue Northern (blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.
Blues Without Borders (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Bob Gagnon (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Brandon Frenyea (singersongwriter) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6 p.m. Free.
Breanna Elaine (singer-songwriter) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.
The Bresetts (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.
Charley Crockett, Noeline Hogmann (roots) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $35/$40.
Cleary/Gagnon/Saulnier Jazz Trio with Amber Delaurentis (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30.
Damaged Goods (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.
Dave Mitchell’s Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.
David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.
Brattleboro’s own DITRANI BROTHERS know a thing or two about fusion.
The four-piece combines elements of Balkan music, ragtime, western swing, apocalyptic jazz and shades of indie rock into one heady brew of foot-stomping string music.
Their latest album, 2023’s Dust Harvest, pushed even further into their gothic rustic sound, soundtracking impending societal collapse with an off-the-rails barn party.
The band travels north to the capital as they play a just-reopened Charlie-O’s World Famous in Montpelier on Friday, May 31.
DiTrani Brothers (jazz) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.
Duncan MacLeod Trio (blues, rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.
EDW (blues, rock) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.
Hudson Freeman, Sheepskin, Addie Herbert (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10/$12.
Jerborn & Axe (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.
Jim Branca (blues) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.
John Primer and the Real Deal Band (blues) at Retro Live, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. $20.
Left Ear Trio (jazz, funk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $10.
Midwood (klezmer) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Nico Suave & the Mothership: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (tribute) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5.
Okkervil River, the Antlers (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $23/$28.
Pons, Redeye, Brunch, rabbitfoot (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10/$12.
Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.
Red Heron, Lilith, Cherry Valley (indie) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.
Reid Parsons (folk) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6 p.m. Free.
Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.
Swamp Frog (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Tallgrass Getdown (bluegrass) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 9 p.m.
$5/$10.
Will Warren Band (singersongwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.
Bob Gagnon Trio (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Burial Woods, Hexx Hedd, Starvation Wages, Snowbeasts, Semantichrist (electronic) at ArtsRiot, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10.
Champlain Daze (progressive rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.
Cleary/Gagnon/Saulnier Jazz Trio (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.
Dave Keller Band (swing, R&B) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.
The Dorado Collective (folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.
Gelatinous Muck (hip-hop) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.
In the Pocket (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Jazz Is PHSH (Phish tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $15/$20.
Jess O’Brien (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.
Lawless (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.
McAsh, Dad?! (ska, rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.
Mike Pedersen & Friends (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.
Mike Schwaner (singer-songwriter) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.
Raised by Hippies (covers) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.
REDadmiral (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.
Rockin’ Worms, Earthworm (indie rock, folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.
Steve Hartmann (singersongwriter) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.
Uncle Jimmy (Americana) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.
SUN.2
Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, noon. Free.
Guest Selector: Myra Flynn (soul, DJ) at Paradiso Hi-Fi, Burlington, 8 p.m. $30.
Red River North (country) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.
Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.
VT Jazz Ensemble (jazz) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5 p.m. $20-$35.
MON.3
Bob & Tony (jazz) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.
TUE.4
Bandit Queen of Sorrows, Lilith (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10.
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.
Grateful Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$20.
Honky Tonk Tuesday with the Hogtones (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.
Robin Gottfried Band (rock, blues) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.
WED.5
All Star Latin Jazz Jam (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 1! COME PARTY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 1! Car Contest • Free food Contests and more
BBQ and Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Bent Nails House Band (blues, jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
Bettenroo (rock, country) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.
“Big Joe’s” at VCC (jazz) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.
Carlos Truly, Monde UFO, Cal Humberto, the Rachel Ambaye & Ethan Monmany-Utton Duo (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12/$15.
Gemma Laurence, Aida O’Brien (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.
Jazz Fest (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 5 p.m. $5.
DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.
DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
HAVEN (DJ) at MothershipVT, Burlington, 10 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.2
Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.
TUE.4
The Vanguard: Jazz on Vinyl (DJ) at Paradiso Hi-Fi, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
WED.5
Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 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.
THU.30
Comedy Lottery (comedy) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5. Unrescripted (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:45 p.m. $5.
FRI.31
Laurie Kilmartin (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $30.
Vermont Comedy All Stars (comedy) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.
SAT.1
Sativa: Flower Power, CandyLand
Hybrid: Grape Gas
Indica: HeadBand, Godfather O.G, White Glue, Creamsicle, Animal Cookies, BC Jelly Tru e
Sativa: Cinderella 99, Black Cherry Soda, Purple Tangie, FrostBite
Hybrid: Birthday Cake Kush, Pink Cookies, Gelato25, Horchata, Cookiez n Cream, Lavender Kush, Pink Cookies, Tangie Dream, Milf ‘n Cookiez
Sativa: Grape God, Bruce Banner
Hybrid: Ice Cream Bean
Indica: Power Punch, Garlic Storm, Gorilla Berry, Bing Su, StarFighter, Cookie Punch, Secret Cookies
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.
Julia Parent (singer-songwriter) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.
LaMP (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$25.
Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 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.
WED.29
DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.
Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
THU.30
All Ears (DJ) at the Big Spruce, Richmond, 6 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.
THU.30
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.2
Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.
MON.3
Open Mic (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Laurie Kilmartin (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $30.
TUE.4
Free Stuff! (comedy) at Lincolns, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.
WED.5
Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.
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.
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.31
Indica: SFV OG, Sunset Sherbert, Grape Soda, OG Rolex, Cinnamon Buddha, Cotton Candy, Purple Urkle, Cherry Pie, Do-Si-Dos, Garlic Cookiez scan to see selection
Now offering a budget line: $50 OZ LINE!
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.
Vergennes City Band Rehearsal (open mic, classical) at Vergennes Opera House, 7 p.m. Free.
TUE.4
Open Mic Night (open mic) at Drink, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.
WED.5
Bluegrass Jam (open jam) at Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6:30 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.
THU.30
Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.
Open 7 days a week • 8am-10pm 227 RT. 37, HOGANSBURG (in storage compound) 518-333-8106 • exotikadispensaryakwesasne.com
DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. John’s Jukebox (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.
SAT.1
Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.
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.
The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
Karaoke with Matt Mero (karaoke) at Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free. Summer Trivia with Katy (trivia) at Highland Lodge, Greensboro, 7 p.m. Free.
Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.
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.
Last year’s Burlington Discover Jazz Festival featured hometown favorite MYRA FLYNN making good on a lifelong dream to perform at the Flynn. Now a part-time Los Angeles resident, she returns to the Green Mountains for a different kind of performance. Flynn trades the Flynn for Paradiso Hi-Fi in Burlington, where she’ll host a monthlong residency called Feelings. It kicks off on Sunday, June 2, with a listening session of her 2023 album, Shadow Work, followed by a live set with her band and special guests. Flynn then jumps on the turntables to serve as DJ for the rest of the evening, spinning a selection of her favorite soul music.
Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.
FRI.31
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.
Karaoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.
Walt Whitman’s 205th Birthday Bash (tribute) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.
SUN.2
Eleganza & Espresso: A Drag Brunch (drag) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $20.
Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.
Sunday Funday Karaoke (karaoke) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 3 p.m. Free.
Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.
MON.3
Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.
Trivia with Brain (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.
Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.
TUE.4
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.5
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. ➆
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(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)
According to a blurb on Bandcamp, When Gravity Fails is intended to conjure a “cloud-like feeling.” The album is the latest collaboration between New Hampshire MC Raw De and Vermont producer Rico James, both fixtures in the local hip-hop scene. Its eight songs are all about letting oneself be carried up, up and away.
That message is reinforced at many levels, with upbeat lyrics, mid-tempo flows and atmospheric production that, in moments, evokes the sonic equivalent of cumulus clouds, cotton candy-shaped bubbles. More elements recall those other kinds of clouds you study in grade school: wispy cirrus streaks; dormant, rainmaking nimbostratus.
This blend of sonic textures can be credited to James, whose catalog of work, including 2022’s Language of Spirits, has evinced a special knack for harnessing diverse material to create one rich, saturated product. On this project, he adorns classic East Coast boom bap with modern bells and whistles. There are horns and strings, some hard-to-trace samples, and other twinkles, trills and telephone beeps.
It doesn’t always coalesce. On “Listen Close,” for example, the intro music is repeatedly muted and unmuted — a neat experiment but too close to the sputters of a dying AirPod. Most of the time, though,
(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)
On the all-too-brief EP Baby Gear, Montréal rapper Kaya Hoax quickly IDs herself as a “rookie on the scene” and a “newbie on the scheme.” A nascent artist whose o cial introduction is a scant 17 minutes long, Hoax speeds in and out of her listeners’ heads, leaving a rainbow-colored dust cloud behind her. New she may be, but she wasn’t born yesterday. Witty rhymes and clever observations pour out of her smirking lips, lacquered atop snappy, globally sourced sounds. She fits snugly with contemporaries like switchblade-sharp New Orleans rapper Boyfriend, kaleidoscopic Brazilian Dominican artist Jarina de Marco and fellow Canadian sass-mouth Sabby Sousa.
James delivers a cohesive sound which, along with the assiduously crafted rhymes, makes When Gravity Fails a tight, enjoyable listen.
The album kicks o with “Float,” a cut with vibrantly noisy production. Over a crackling, layered track, Raw De introduces the album’s lyrical mood. He’s boastful, but he’s not out to prove he’s rich and successful. Instead, he’s eager to demonstrate his humility and maturity. “All praise to whoever I should thank / don’t really know / but they put some dough in my mental bank,” he spits. It’s like if That Guy who really wants to talk about his meditation retreat decided to rap about it instead.
De ’s virtuous confidence turns into a more thrilling arrogance on the second song, “Coast Is Clear (feat. The Aztext).” The song’s loping womps and car screeches o er an unexpectedly sumptuous backing for a clever diss track. “Most of y’all see it / I’m the one that go get it,” he asserts with bravado. But even when he’s cocky, Raw De describes things as they are. With candor, he raps later: “Those raw rhymes got me local respect / That said: no car, no hoes, no check.”
De ’s flows are boxy, ABAB constructions, but they delight in their banal references and confessions. In his lyrics, one recognizes the trappings of a regular modern life — scam emails form Saudi princes, HBO prestige TV, celebrities such as Dennis Hopper and Nic Cage. On “Gung Ho,” he o ers “a few Tums” to an addressee who “can’t stomach” his words. It’s not profound, but it’s well-observed and cleverly patterned.
One album highlight is “Summer Days,” the album’s most melodic track, which has an endearingly blithe hook reminiscent of a young Mac Miller. Another is “Platoon Groove,” the penultimate song. It’s almost seven minutes long and includes guest verses from eight local artists, among them Vermont MCs Trono and Pro Knows Music.
In general, the playful, uncomplicated spirit of When Gravity Fails makes it a decidedly Vermont rap album, perfect for the season when the state defrosts. After all, it’s harder to hustle and fret when the sun is out. Listen to When Gravity Fails at rawde andricojames. bandcamp.com.
ABIGAIL SYLVOR GREENBERGHoax has an erudite streak, as well. Inspired by a women’s studies class at her hometown’s Concordia University, she weaves her reaction to reading a frustrating police transcript between a cop and a survivor of sexual assault into her song “Kicker.”
With throat-punching bass, clanging beats and streaks of buzz-saw synths, she spits, “I heard a whistle blow / Was it a rape, though?” like a schoolgirl calling out a demented handclap game. The track heightens and intensifies the common experience of abuse victims recounting their stories over and over only to not be believed by authorities. It’s a warning that people like Hoax won’t stand for it anymore.
Hoax shares “Hot Girls with ADD” with fellow Montréal R&B artist Magi Merlin. (The arenashaking slapper’s title instantly made me think of Burlington pop queen tip/toe’s sensational 2023 album Hot Girls Don’t Trust the Government.)
The two “...hop in a limo / Rolling through the city sparking shit up like a Zippo,” sneering through tinted windows at sidewalks full of fuck bois. They hype themselves as frequently as the Beastie Boys and don’t have time for nonsense: “It’s cute you like to dance but you know I do it better / Shaking ass a plus when you’re pretty cute and clever,” breathes Merlin, while Hoax flips o thirsty dudes with “But precious no wonder why that boy is sti / The only time that he sits in a day is when he takes a shit.”
Baby Gear’s other cuts are just as vicious and delicious and reveal more of Hoax’s platform. On opener “KTD,” a bouncy coronation for her arrival on the scene, she announces she “used to think that stability was boring / Not until we’re talking mental health, darling.” On “Hot Water,” a bop thick with bass and MIDI shehnai, she declares that she’s raising herself “like my own kid,” another nod to mental health.
Hoax is equal parts swagger and social commentary, committing 100 percent to both facets. You read that right: She’s giving 200 percent.
Baby Gear is available at kayahoax.bandcamp.com and on all major streaming services.
JORDAN ADAMS
JUMPSTART EXPO & PITCH
NIGHT: Fresh off a 12-week 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: Savvy businesspeople make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.
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, patrick.mccormack@ suncommon.com.
RENEWABLE ENERGY IN VT & LEGISLATIVE RECAP: Locals learn where their electricity comes from and how they can advocate for a greener grid with their local lawmakers. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, connor@350vt.org.
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.
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.
etc.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: Online bids on pottery classes, kids’ toys, Red Sox merch and other goodies benefit early childhood care and education. Prices vary. Info, 388-9688.
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
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 are written by Emily Hamilton Spotlights were written by Angela Simpson Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.
Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.
Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 496-9715.
‘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, $16.50-20; free admission for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE
3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a journey into the weird, wide world of mushrooms, which 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, $16.50-20; free admission for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
‘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’: 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, $16.50-20; free admission 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, $16.5020; free admission for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
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.
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.
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.
lgbtq
ADULT QUEER READS: LGBTQ readers discuss Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion, a sapphic coming-of-age novel by Pakistani American author Bushra Rehman. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
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.
TOUGH CONVERSATIONS
WEBINAR: ‘THE REEL
TALK ON HUNTING AND FISHING’: Audubon Vermont hosts a virtual panel discussion on the modern challenges of these ancient practices. 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 434-3068.
FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: The annual Asian Heritage Month extravaganza includes art shows, film screenings, play readings and food tastings. See accesasie. com for full schedule. Various Montréal locations. Prices vary. Info, 514-298-0757.
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.
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.
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.
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.
etc.
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.
= ONLINE EVENT
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.
STRIKE FUND CONCERT: Chodus, Old Moon and other local acts unite to raise money for striking Dartmouth College graduate workers. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 7 p.m. Donations. Info, info@mainstreetmuseum. org.
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.
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.
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.
BLOOD DRIVE: Locals donate fluids to the American Red Cross. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 12:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
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.
PRIDE OF WOODSTOCK, VERMONT: A celebration of love, diversity and community set against a picturesque small-town backdrop has something for everybody, from drag brunch to obscure lesbian films. Various Woodstock locations, 5-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, prideofwoodstockvermont@gmail. com.
BLKBOK: A Detroit-born piano prodigy sweeps audiences away with his sensational neoclassical performances. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. $25-45. Info, 760-4634.
FEAST & FIELD MUSIC SERIES: Farm-fresh foods and live tunes are on the menu at a weekly pastoral party out in the orchard. Fable Farm, Barnard, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $5-25; $120-1,250 for season passes. Info, 234-1645.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
FREE WINE TASTING: Themed wine tastings take oenophiles on
MUSIC WITH THE MUSEUM: A silent auction and a set from the Meat Packers raise money for Rokeby Museum’s educational programming. Ferrisburgh Town Offices & Community Center, 6 p.m. $30-45; preregister. Info, 877-3406.
québec
FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.29.
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29. ‘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
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.
burlington
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.
upper valley
REUSE RUNWAY FASHION SHOW:
Tween designers from JAM’s afterschool programs show off outfits made from recycled materials. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 4:45-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, jamie@replayarts.org.
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.
NEWSPAPER FLOWER POTS: Greenthumbed 11- through 18-year-olds craft recycled containers on National Water a Flower Day. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
KIDS BOOK CLUB FOR K-2 AND THEIR PARENTS: Little bookworms and their caregivers learn to love reading together through sharing, crafts and writing activities. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.
PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
Moving Light Dance puts a fresh spin on the story of Mary Poppins, the canny caregiver who blows in on an east wind to change life forever for the Banks family with her magical mashup of firmness and fun. Fans will recognize elements from P.L. Travers’ book and the beloved film version, including Bert, the kite-selling street artist/chimney sweep. Seventy dancers, original choreography, and dazzling sets and costumes combine in a spellbinding spectacle. Get your tickets, spit spot!
‘MARY POPPINS’
Saturday, June 1, 7 p.m., and Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $15-25. Info, 476-8188, barreoperahouse.org.
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.
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.
river valley/ waterbury
PRESCHOOL PLAY & READ STORYTIME: Games, activities, stories and songs engage 3- through 5-year-olds. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
kingdom
STORY TIME: Kids 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.
chittenden county
JACKBOX.TV GAMES: Teens play hilarious trivia, word and drawing games in a friendly tournament. BYO phone, tablet or laptop. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
KIDS MOVIES IN THE AUDITORIUM: Little film buffs congregate for a screening of a G-rated film. See southburlingtonlibrary. org for each week’s title. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. LEGO BUILDERS: Aspiring architects enjoy an afternoon of imagination and play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
PRIDE PREP PARTY: Families get ready for Essex Pride by making signs and mini cardboard-box floats. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
barre/montpelier
STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy science, art and nature-themed activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.
STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.
FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Kids from birth through age 5 learn and play at this school readiness program. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
LEARN TO FISH DAY: Following a presentation by animal care specialist Olivia Baroffio, aspiring anglers of all ages practice (hook-free) casting by the water. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular admission, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.
SPLASH DANCE: Kids soak up some summer fun in the fountain while DJs spin family-friendly tracks. Burlington City Hall Park, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.
STORIES WITH GEOFF: Little patrons of the library’s new location enjoy a morning of stories and songs. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11:15-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
OUTDOOR SATURDAY STORY TIME: A special storyteller reads to little ones in front of the library. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
SATURDAY STORIES: Kiddos start the weekend off right with stories and songs. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
‘MARY POPPINS’: A brand-new ballet from Moving Light Dance reimagines the fantastical tale of everyone’s favorite magical nanny. See calendar spotlight. Barre Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-25. Info, 476-8188.
SATURDAY STORY TIME: Ms. Heather leads little readers in songs, dancing and lots of fun. Ages 5 and under. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
THIRTY YEAR BASH: Families celebrate three decades of Nick Patch’s youth boatbuilding and rowing program at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Button Bay State Park, Vergennes, 3-8:30 p.m. Regular admission, $5; donations accepted. Info, 475-2022.
MASKS ON! SUNDAYS: Elderly, disabled and immunocompromised folks get the museum to themselves at a masks-mandatory morning. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-1848.
chittenden county
HORSESHOES FUNDRAISER: Gallop to Success hosts a rootin’, tootin’ afternoon of games, face painting and best dressed cowpoke competitions. Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington, 11 a.m.2 p.m. $15; free for kids under 12. Info, sorrento.alessandra@gmail.com.
barre/montpelier
‘MARY POPPINS’: See SAT.1, 2 p.m.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
chittenden county
READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary is super excited to hear kids of all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.
mad river valley/ waterbury
TINY TOTS STORY TIME: Little tykes have fun, hear stories and meet new friends with Ms. Cynthia. Ages 3 and
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.
seminars
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. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, ecogather@ sterlingcollege.edu.
theater
‘THREE SISTERS, FOUR WOMEN’: An upbeat, modern reimagining of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters follows a family through love and conflict. See calendar spotlight. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30-9 p.m. $10-30. Info, 229-0492.
words
GARRETT M. GRAFF: The best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-nominated author launches his newest book, When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day. Presented by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.
LARISSA BABIJ: The Ukrainian American author of A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine shares her experiences. Bethany United Church of Christ, Randolph, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-726-8869.
LAUREL’S BOOK GROUP: A discussion group dedicated to paperback releases reads Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. Phoenix Books, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.
MONSTER LAB: Students learn the folkloric history of all things scary and slimy from author GennaRose Nethercott, then invent creatures of their own. John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library, Craftsbury, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 586-9692.
SILENT READING PARTY: Waterbury Public Library and Bridgeside Books host an introvert’s ideal get-together. The Phoenix, Waterbury, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
dance
THE MOON SHELLS: Old-time music from Appalachia, Louisiana and West Africa soundtracks an evening of jamming, eating and dancing. Beaver Brook Farm, Marshfield, 5-10 p.m. $10-20. Info, 793-3016.
etc.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29.
‘KEEPING IT INN’: Cindy Pierce’s one-woman show paints a picture of her mother Nancy’s life as a New Hampshire innkeeper. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $25. Info, sjcallaway@gmail.com. ‘THREE SISTERS, FOUR WOMEN’: See THU.30.
ALISON PRINE: The poet launches her Sappho’s Prize in Poetrywinning collection, Loss and Its Antonym. Burlington City Arts, 6-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 999-5935.
CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF OUR ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT: Community members cut the ribbon on a more inclusive library and celebrate with refreshments and a performance from the Plumb Bobs. Castleton Free Library, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 468-6789.
flight. All supplies provided. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 7-9 a.m. Free. Info, 229-6206.
The lives of the titular trio are upended — for better and worse — when a new sisterin-law appears on the scene in Three Sisters, Four Women, Laura Michele Erle and Samantha Haviland’s modern update of Anton Chekhov’s classic play Three Sisters Olga, Masha and Irina still battle disappointments, doubts and debts, but here their own dreams and desires take center stage: Unlike the source material, there are no men in this reimagining, and the inner lives of the women are front and center.
‘THREE SISTERS, FOUR WOMEN’
Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m., at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. See website for additional dates. $10-36. Info, 229-0492, lostnationtheater.org.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29. food & drink
BURGER NIGHT: Live music soundtracks a family-friendly meal of grass-fed burgers and seasonal sides. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 4:30-7:30 p.m. $9-35 suggested donation; $50-200 for season pass. Info, 985-9200.
RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: Vendors present a diverse selection of locally produced foods and crafts as picnickers enjoy live music. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com.
health & fitness
GUIDED MEDITATION
ONLINE: Dorothy Alling
Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.
SOCIAL HOUR: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region hosts a rendez-vous over cocktails. Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, bbrodie@aflcr.org.
lgbtq
MONTPELIER PRIDE: The Capital City overflows with a full spectrum of fun for the LGBTQ community, including film screenings, dancing, bike rides and other festivities. See pridecentervt.org for full schedule. Various Montpelier locations, 4-11 p.m. Free. Info, kell@pridecentervt.org.
PRIDE OF WOODSTOCK, VERMONT: See THU.30, 3-10 p.m. 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.
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.
GREENBUSH TRIO: Groovy tunes take audiences on a journey. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade. today.
RYAN OBER & THE ROMANS: Three folk-rocking cowpokes pick the night away. Paprika Catering serves up homemade empanadas. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 985-8222.
THE MAGNETICA CONCERT: Audiences experience the healing power of a sound, light and music generator built in Uruguay. The Magnetica Performance Space, Burlington, 5-6 p.m. $40. Info, events@themagnetica.com. outdoors
SPRING BIRDING: Folks of all interests and experience levels seek out feathered friends in
FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.29.
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29.
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.
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
CELEBRATION OF DANCE: Vermont Ballet Theater School Center for Dance students of all ages give a spectacular springtime showing. The Flynn, Burlington, 1 & 6:30 p.m. $17.7828. Info, 863-5966.
FIRST SATURDAY WESTIE SOCIAL: Beginners, new members and experienced West Coast Swing dancers are welcome. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, lessons, 7 p.m.; dance, 8-10:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 488-4789.
MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: Dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away to gender-neutral calling and live tunes by Joy Factor. Capital City Grange, Berlin, beginners’ lesson, 7:40 p.m.; dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.
‘[STRIPPED]’: A groundbreaking reinterpretation of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story score features no lights, no costumes, and plenty of audience interaction with choreographer Doug Varone and the dancers. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $51-71. Info, 760-4634.
etc.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29. fairs & festivals
15TH ANNUAL RHUBARB FESTIVAL: Foodies taste all things tart, from pies to crisps to preserves, while enjoying live tunes and browsing used books. Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Middlebury, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 388-8080.
“We booked a multimedia advertising package with Seven Days Jobs to help more young people discover the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. We got great results – there are only a handful of spots left for 2024. VYCC is excited to start working with our 39th cohort of corps members and leaders. More than 150 young people are joining us this spring, summer and fall for paid, outdoor work in conservation and farming.
Michelle Brown is great to work with. She is responsive and helped us put nearly two dozen opportunities online at a time! We intend to advertise with Seven Days again next year.”
NAOMI GALIMIDI Director of Community Engagement Vermont
Youth Conservation Corps
ADAMANT BLACKFLY FESTIVAL:
If you can’t shoo ’em, join ’em!
Adamant’s infamous fest celebrates the little buggers with a parade, grilled eats and nature walks. See calendar spotlight. Adamant Co-op, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 223-5760.
SHCC BEACH BASH: An afternoon of food, lawn games, yoga, kids’ activities and drinks from Zero Gravity raises funds for Sara Holbrook Community Center summer programs. Burlington Surf Club, 3-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-6342.
film
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘LE SAMOURAÏ’: Alain Delon’s career-defining performance as a contract killer infuses this 1967 French gangster flick with style and cool vibes. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 660-2600.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
food & drink
BRAMBLE RAMBLE ADVENTURE
DINNER: Foodies lace up their boots for a two-mile hike through verdant woods, with four fine-dining courses and paired drinks along the way. Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen, 4-7 p.m. $175; preregister; limited space. Info, 248-224-7539.
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
In an inspired bit of reverse psychology, the Adamant Blackfly Festival makes nice with the native nuisances, centering the little buggers in a day of family-friendly fun. Live music weaves throughout a celebration that includes a nature walk, a build-a-bug workshop for kids, a silent auction, plenty of classic summer grilling and a parade billed as “the Macy’s Day Parade of the Insect World.” Does all the positive attention mean the guests of honor won’t annoy you? Probably not. Pack your bug spray!
ADAMANT BLACKFLY FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Adamant Cooperative. Free. Info, 223-5760, adamantcoop.org.
Market, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 272-6249.
ROOTS 2024: A swanky outdoor tent party, stocked with natural wines and scrumptious bites to taste, benefits the Vermont
Foodbank. Strawberry Hill Farm, Stowe, 5-8 p.m. $25-250. Info, 760-6143.
BEGINNER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Waterbury Public Library game master Evan Hoffman gathers novices and
fair and a dance party with DJ GAYBAR. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, essexvtpride@gmail.com.
MONTPELIER PRIDE: See FRI.31, 11 a.m.-midnight.
PRIDE OF WOODSTOCK, VERMONT: See THU.30, 10 a.m.10 p.m.
music
ATOM & THE ORBITS: 1950s rock and roll meets Louisiana dancehall for an evening of outof-this-world grooves. Paprika Catering serves up homemade empanadas. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 985-8222.
BANDWAGON SUMMER
SERIES: MIDWOOD: Violinist Jake Shulman-Ment leads this contemporary klezmer rock supergroup. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 6 p.m. $20-25; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.
CHRISTOPHER MCWILLIAMS: Works by Rachmaninoff and original piano compositions pair perfectly with the art gallery ambiance. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, 4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 644-5100.
FOMO?
veterans alike for an afternoon of adventuring. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.
ESSEX PRIDE AFTERPARTY: Green Mountain Cabaret and a bevy of local drag kings and queens keep the festivities going after dark. Ages 18 and up. Uncommon Coffee, Essex Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $20. Info, essexvtpride@ gmail.com.
ESSEX PRIDE FESTIVAL: The Essex area’s second annual LGBTQ fête features a parade, drag story hour, roller disco, all-ages
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
FOLK MUSIC JAM: Neighbors circle up, back porch-style, and take turns choosing a song to play together. Listeners welcome. Pope Memorial Library, Danville, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 684-2256.
THE RIVER CITY REBELS: The rock band celebrates its 25th anniversary and new EP, Pop Culture Baby, around the bonfire. Also featuring the Phrogs, the Dead Street Dreamers and the Worst.
Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 7-11:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 369-5722.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
FOREST STATION: A Vermontbased bluegrass band flexes its Rocky Mountain roots. Old Round Church, Richmond, 7-9 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 434-3654.
THE MAGNETICA CONCERT: See FRI.31.
outdoors
30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND WATERFRONT GRAND OPENING!: Yoga on the dock, painting by the lake, sunset cocktails and $10 boat journeys mark two massive milestones for the Queen City’s sailing hub. Community Sailing Center, Burlington, noon-8 p.m. Free. Info, 864-2499.
SLOW BIRDING: The Bird Diva Bridget Butler teaches folks of all experience levels a mindful form of birding that prioritizes a connection to the land. Eagle
Point Wildlife Management Area, Newport, 9 a.m.-noon. $20; preregister. Info, 540-6882.
FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.29.
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29. ‘POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE’: See THU.30.
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See FRI.31.
VERMONT GREEN FC: The state’s winning men’s soccer club continues its third year with flair and a focus on environmental justice. University of Vermont Archie Post Athletic Complex, Burlington, 6 p.m. $8-15; free for kids 5 and under. Info, club@vermontgreenfc. com.
theater
‘KEEPING IT INN’: See FRI.31. ‘THREE SISTERS, FOUR WOMEN’: See THU.30.
words
FRIENDS OF ILSLEY USED BOOK SALE: Books of all genres for all ages go on sale, and all proceeds fund library programming. Cash or check only. Middlebury Town Offices, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.
under. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
upper valley
STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads two picture books on a different theme each week. Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.
TAMARA MATHIEU: The Vermont author and escapee from the infamous cult launches her memoir, All Who Believed: A Memoir of Life in the Twelve Tribes. The Eloquent Page, St. Albans, noon-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 527-7243.
BENEFIT PLANT SALE FOR THE VERMONT KIDNEY ASSOCIATION: Proceeds from sales of houseplants, perennials, annuals and seedlings go directly to supporting Vermonters living with kidney disease. Central Beverage, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, treasurervka@gmail.com.
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, 7-9 a.m. $5-15 suggested donation. Info, 434-2167. bazaars
FIRST SUNDAYS FLEA & FARMERS MARKET: Antiques and locally made goods populate a bustling, eclectic bazaar. Enosburg Opera House, Enosburg Falls, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 933-6171.
northeast kingdom
STORY TIME: See THU.30, 2-2:30 p.m.
burlington
SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1111:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. chittenden county
OUTDOOR STORY TIME: Little ones enjoy a sunny session of reading,
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.
YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.29, 1-3 p.m.
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. etc.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
rhyming and singing with Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Birth through age 5. Williston Town Green, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
northeast kingdom
LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 18 months and younger learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.
WED.5
‘SWEET DREAMS’: This 2023 Dutch Indonesian masterpiece dismantles turn-of-the-century colonialism with icy disdain and a dark sense of humor. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 3 p.m. $5-10. Info, 660-2600.
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
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.
COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS
PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators are always welcome to join this weekly practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hahn.
burlington
STEAM SPACE: See WED.29.
TODDLER TIME: See WED.29.
chittenden county
AFTERSCHOOL: LEGO & BOARD
GAMES: Blocks and boards make for a fun, creative afternoon. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
BABY TIME: Parents and caregivers bond with their pre-walking babes during this gentle playtime. Dorothy
Sangha Studio — Pine, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.
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.
MONTPELIER PRIDE: See FRI.31, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
PRIDE OF WOODSTOCK, VERMONT: See THU.30, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
THE APHASIA CHOIR OF VERMONT IN CONCERT: Singers with a language disorder caused by stroke or injury give an inspiring performance. South Burlington High School, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, kmcfeeters@aol.com.
DAVE KELLER: The triple-threat singer, songwriter and guitarist demonstrates his deep love of the blues and Southern soul. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 4-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade. today.
JOHN GORKA: More than 40 years of stage time inform the folk singer’s soulful baritone and insightful lyrics. Live stream available. Next Stage Arts Project,
Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.
BABYTIME: See WED.29.
mad river valley/ waterbury
TEEN HANGOUT: Middle and high schoolers make friends at a no-pressure meetup. Waterbury Public Library, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.
TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youth get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036. K
Putney, 7 p.m. $10-28. Info, 387-0102.
‘LET ALL THE WORLD IN EVERY CORNER SING!’: The Vermont Choral Union serenades listeners with a program of vocal music from four centuries of the Anglican tradition. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. $30-40; free for students and kids. Info, info@ vtchoralunion.org.
PLAY EVERY TOWN: Prolific pianist David Feurzeig continues a four-year, statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3819.
NAULAKHA ESTATE AND RHODODENDRON TOUR: Visitors of all ages take a self-guided tour of the house where Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book and its spectacular grounds. Naulakha, Dummerston, 1-4:45 p.m. $25-75; preregister; limited space. Info, 254-6868.
FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See WED.29.
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29. ‘POTUS, OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE’: See THU.30, 2 & 7 p.m.
SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MONTRÉAL: See FRI.31.
theater
‘KEEPING IT INN’: See FRI.31, 2-3:30 p.m.
‘THREE SISTERS, FOUR WOMEN’: See THU.30, 2-4 p.m.
‘THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE SHOW’: Bread and Puppet’s summer show, directed by Maria Schumann, takes an anti-capitalist view toward climate change and what we owe each other and the Earth. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 2 p.m. $10. Info, 525-3031.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
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.
lgbtq
BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party.
Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.
CULOMBA: A vocal sextet of veteran performers sings heavenly harmonies from the Renaissance, Balkan and American folk traditions. The Old Meeting House, East Montpelier, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15-25. Info, 760-0196.
DINE AND CONCERT — AN EXCLUSIVE MUSIC ADVENTURE!: A gourmet meal and riveting musical performance make the most of a rustic environment and the surrounding nature.
Point CounterPoint, Leicester, 6:30 p.m. $50; preregister. Info, 247-8467.
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.
NAULAKHA ESTATE AND RHODODENDRON TOUR: See SUN.2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH WITH POA MUTINO FOR GOVERNOR: Locals break bread with the Barre social worker and independent candidate and learn about his poverty-forward platform. Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 595-9801.
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29.
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
listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.
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.
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.
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.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29.
ZENTANGLE ART FOR MINDFULNESS WITH HOLLIE SHANER-MCRAE: Doodlers draw intricate patterns as a form of meditation. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
COOKBOOK CLUB: Readers choose a recipe from Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries of African American Cooking: A Cookbook by Toni Tipton-Martin to cook and share with the group. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.
health & fitness
ALL OF US TRAVELING RESEARCH EXHIBIT: Games, quizzes and other interactive activities teach locals of all ages the power of participating in health research. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.
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.
QI GONG FOR VITALITY & PEACE: Librarian Judi Byron leads
students in this ancient Chinese practice of mindful movement and breath. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com. language
MANDARIN CONVERSATION
Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art
‘TINY GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29. food & drink WHAT’S THAT WINE WEDNESDAYS: See WED.29. health & fitness
ALL OF US TRAVELING
CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.
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.
lgbtq
MONTPELIER PRIDE: See FRI.31, 6-7 p.m. music
DINE AND CONCERT — AN EXCLUSIVE MUSIC ADVENTURE!: See MON.3.
JAZZ CAFÉ: Local musicians jam the night away. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@gmail. com.
québec
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29. seminars
ECOGATHERINGS: See THU.30. words
BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: PATRICK MODIANO: Readers analyze the Nobel laureate’s novels Missing Person and Suspended Sentences over five weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY DSA GENERAL MEETING: Members of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and other left-wing activists gather to plan political activities. Democracy Creative, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, hello@ champlainvalleydsa.org.
DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA (DAARA) MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.
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
Women Business Owners Network Vermont workshop harnesses mindful movement for help in drawing boundaries around one’s work-life balance. 8:30-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.
LIVING WITH LOSS: A GATHERING FOR THE
GRIEVING: Participants explore how ritual, connection and community sharing can aid through times of loss. 4-5:15 p.m. $5-25. Info, 825-8141.
JEWELRY MAKING WITH CASEY: Crafty folks string beads together to create teardrop earrings. Ages 7 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free; limited space. Info, 878-6956.
YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.29.
WEST COAST SWING DANCING: See WED.29.
SPRING AUCTION 2024 FOR OTTER CREEK AND COLLEGE STREET: See WED.29.
BURLINGTON DISCOVER JAZZ FESTIVAL: A stellar lineup of musicians hits Queen City locales in this 41st annual celebration of jazz (and its cousins funk, soul, bounce, Afrobeat and beyond).
See flynnvt.org for full schedule. Various downtown Burlington locations. Free; fee for some activities. Info, 863-5966.
RESEARCH EXHIBIT: See TUE.4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
ANDREA GRAYSON: The local author of The Sweet Tooth Dilemma starts a conversation about sugar. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ createchangelab.com.
CHAIR YOGA: See WED.29. TAI CHI CHUAN DEMONSTRATION AND INTRODUCTORY CLASS: Newbies learn how gentle movement can help with mental clarity and range of motion. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.
BEGINNER IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.29.
ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.29.
INTERMEDIATE IRISH LANGUAGE CONVERSATION AND MUSIC: See WED.29.
SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.
BELLOWS FALLS PRIDE: ‘THE BIRDCAGE’: A gay couple scrambles to straighten up when their son brings home the daughter of a conservative senator in this 1996 classic. Bellows Falls Opera House, 7 p.m. $6. Info, 463-3964, ext. 1120. TILLIE WALDEN: The Vermont cartoonist laureate presents a look at the intersection of indie comics and LGBTQ identity. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338. music
DINE AND CONCERT — AN EXCLUSIVE MUSIC ADVENTURE!: See MON.3.
BIRD WALK: AARP Vermont and Rutland County Audubon lead a springtime stroll through an old dairy farm. Miller Hill Farm, Sudbury, 8-10 a.m. Free. Info, 866-227-7451.
québec
QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.29.
WHEN SAYING NO IS SAYING YES: EMBODIED ALIGNMENT FOR HOLISTIC DECISION MAKING AND WORK-LIFE MANAGEMENT: A
See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.
‘BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS 3D’: See WED.29.
‘FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE 3D’: See WED.29.
‘OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D’: See WED.29.
FRINGEMTL: See WED.29. sports
GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE
TENNIS CLUB: See WED.29. VERMONT GREEN FC: See SAT.1. words
TAMARA MATHIEU: See SAT.1 Phoenix Books, Rutland, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 8558078. ➆
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, Lynn Cummings, 802-598-6063, lynn.cummings@uvm.edu.
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE SUMMER SESSION: Join us for online and in-person adult French classes this summer. Our seven-week session 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.
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 incl. unlimited classes. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 802-9518900, bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.
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
AGE/SEX: 5-year-old neutered male
ARRIVAL DATE: April 15, 2024
SUMMARY: Meet Sherlock Bones! This former stray is affectionate, exuberant and oh-so-lovable. All he wants is someone to love on and play around with! He’s a goofy bundle of enthusiasm and love who would be thrilled to join an active family with adults, teens or older children to romp around with and shower with endless affection. Searching for a gentle giant to join your crew? Come meet Sherlock Bones at HSCC and see if he could be your new best friend!
DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Sherlock has no known history living with dogs, but he has made dog friends at HSCC and may benefit from a dog pal at home. He has no known history with cats or children. Due to his size, he may be most successful in a home with older kids and adults.
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.
Behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated! Training is all about bridging a communication barrier with your dog, and HSCC recommends using positive reinforcement training: Using rewards such as treats, toys and attention is always the best way to help your dog learn!
housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online
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 questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x115
2017 SUBARU
FORESTER
Silver, only 78K miles. In good condition, maintained by Subaru dealer. A few scratches but inside very good; runs well. Snow tires on car. At $12,500, we are priced at the low end of the KBB value. Email Rob at rabbinro@gmail. com
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.
BURLINGTON
Single room, furnished, in Hill Section, on bus line. No cooking. Linens furnished. Call 802-8622389. No pets.
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 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.
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
ART CAMPS AT MRV ARTS
Mad River Valley Arts offers camps in comics, mural art, shibori indigo, nature-inspired design stitching, photography & mixed media, & macrame &
appt. appointment
apartment BA bathroom
bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer
references
dep. security deposit
W/D washer & dryer
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our
readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact: HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov
fi ber arts. Register at madrivervalleyarts.org/ summer-camps. Contact executive director Sam Talbot-Kelly at 802-4966682 or email info@ madrivervalleyarts.org.
FREE AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES
For uninsured & insured drivers. Let us show you how much you can save! Call 855-569-1909. (AAN CAN)
PSYCHIC COUNSELING Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 40+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other lives, classes & more. Info, 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com.
FSBO $505,000
HOME & BATHROOM
NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energyeffi cient 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)
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!
Bath vanity w/ marble sink & new faucet, 37” x 22” x 30”. $99. Call or text 540-226-4478.
MULTIFAMILY YARD
SALE
Sat., Jun. 1, & Sun., Jun. 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Riverwatch HOA, Burlington. From Hillside Ter., turn left onto Hildred Dr. Follow the horseshoe road to fi nd your treasures!
S. BURLINGTON ESTATE
SALE
Selling the contents from the estate of Ann Goodrich of S. Burlington. We are selling a great selection of estate jewelry,
quality Oriental rugs, antiques, artwork, general household items & garden items to incl. planters, urns, birdbaths & more. Info, estatesalesofvermont. com
CORGI PUPS Well socialized, family raised. Shots, health guarantee, tail docked. $775. Ready to go on May 30. Call 802-595-5345.
MEN’S WATCHES WANTED
Men’s sport watches wanted. Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Here, Daytona, GMT, Submariner & Speedmaster. Paying cash for qualifi ed watches. Call 888-3201052. (AAN CAN)
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.
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.
SCOTT CARTER LESSONS OPEN Scott omas Carter, formally Stuart Carter, is now available for piano, voice & trombone lessons at Music & Arts, 75 Maple St., Burlington. Call 802-651-1013.
Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.
Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:
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.
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.78 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!
ANSWERS ON P. 78 »
See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.
ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0071-1 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111
Application 4C0071-1 from Charles Bissonette, 4385 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 and Charles Bissonette, 801 Webster Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 was received on May 1, 2024 and deemed complete on May 15, 2024. The project is generally described as an after-the-fact approval for the addition of a single-family residence, community pool, and an additional 18 campground lots, increasing the total number of campsites from 54 in the original LUP #4C0071, to 72. This application is an after-the-fact amendment and is a response to the Notice of Alleged Violation Letter. This application reflects the Shelburne Campground parcel as it currently exists today. No new construction is proposed or authorized under this amendment. The project is located at 4385 Shelburne Road in Shelburne, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/Act250/Details. aspx?Num=4C0071-1).
No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 17, 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 Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.
Dated this May 21, 2024.
By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes
Kaitlin Hayes
District Coordinator
111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084
kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov
CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO AN UPDATE TO CHAPTER 23, PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS, TO ACCOMMODATE BURLINGTONIANS AND VISITORS ON JUNE 15, 2024
Ordinance 7.21
Sponsor: License Committee
Public Hearing Dates:
First reading: Referred to:
Rules suspended and placed in all stages of passage: 05/20/24
Second reading: Action:
Date:
Signed by Mayor: 05/22/24
Published: 05/29/24
Effective: 06/12/24
It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows: That Chapter 23, Peddlers and Solicitors, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended to add the following: 23-17 Special 12 Hour Peddler License for June 15, 2024
Purpose. Burlington is celebrating its annual Juneteenth Celebration commemorating the emancipation of enslaved persons in the United States. A large number of visitors, residents, performers, and vendors are anticipated to participate in various events concentrated in the downtown core. To ensure sufficient amenities are available
to Burlingtonians and our visitors, and to promote and highlight vendors with racial and cultural ties to the Celebration, the provisions of this article shall be temporarily amended as follows:
(a) A special 12-hour peddler license may be issued for June 15, 2024, from the hours of 11AM-11PM authorizing peddling at any location throughout the city as permitted by Section 23-15 and designated for peddling by the City’s Director of the Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Office pursuant to Sub-Section 23-16(e), provided that the provisions of Section 23-6(a)(1)(d) related to peddling in and around city parks shall remain in place.
(b) The application requirements for 12-hour peddler certificates set forth in Section 23-15(c) (3)(b) shall apply to all applicants seeking a special 12-hour peddler license, except that applicants seeking to peddle in and around city parks, including City Hall Park, shall also obtain authorization from the Parks Commission. This shall be notwithstanding the use of the term “marketplace” throughout Section 23-15 and shall be understood to mean all applicants seeking a special 24-hour peddler license pursuant to this Section.
(c) The combined application and license fee for a special 12-hour peddler license shall be one – hundred dollars ($100). The city may also require that peddlers selling food pay the deposit required by Section 23-6(d)(3). This fee and deposit requirements shall apply regardless of a peddler’s location.
(d) All applications for special 12-hour peddler licenses shall be submitted to and subject to final review by the Department of Burlington City Arts. Upon receipt of a satisfactorily completed application, the requisite fee, and proof of insurance as required by Section 23-3(h), the Burlington City Arts staff shall issue the special 12-hour peddler license, as long as space is available as provided under this Section, and provided further that the applicant is not in violation of any applicable provision of this Code. Any denial of a special 12-hour
peddler license shall be a final determination and there shall be no administrative appeal.
(e) The Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging may designate any number of peddler sites throughout the city, including those eligible for vehicle endorsement, and any restrictions set forth herein on how far peddlers must be from each other, or a business selling similar produce or wares, may be waived. Such designations shall be submitted to the Department of Burlington City Arts forthwith for processing of applications received pursuant to this Section.
(f) The Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging may in their discretion, as needed to safely and efficiently designate peddling locations as outlined herein or otherwise carry on the business of June 15, 2024 within the City in the same manner, temporarily suspend any provision enumerated in Section 23-11, excepting that relating to discharge of grease, ash, or refuse onto any street or sidewalk.
(g) Peddlers that receive a special 12-hour peddler license may request a vehicle endorsement that authorizes the placement of a vehicle on a city street or right-of-way, regardless of the peddler’s location. If a vehicle for which an endorsement is requested exceeds thirty (30) feet in length, the Department of Burlington City Arts may only issue such endorsement after consultation with the Department of Public Works and a determination that the vehicle will not impede the free flow of safe pedestrian, vehicle, or emergency personnel passage.
(h) A peddler that has already received a peddler license or certificate under this Article may peddle on June 15, 2024 to the extent permitted by their existing license or certificate without having to apply for a separate special 12-hour peddler license.
(i) Except as set forth in this Section, all other requirements of this Article shall apply to peddlers granted a special 12-hour peddler license.
(j) This Section shall sunset in its entirety and be stricken from the Code of Ordinances effective June 16, 2024.
*Material underlined added.
LC/hm/Ordinances 2024/An Update to Chapter 23, Peddlers and Solicitors to Accommodate Burlingtonians and Visitors On June 15, 2024 May 20, 2024
IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905.
Enforcement of Lien, Stuff-It Self-Storage LLC shall host a live auction of the following unit on 06/18/2024 at 4:00 PM:
Location: 930 Main St, Fairfax, VT 05454
Desire Leroux, unit #12: household goods
Dale Bessette, unit #146: household goods
Skyler Bessette, unit #24: household goods
Michael Casey, unit #129: household goods
Contents sold as is, and need to be removed within 48 hours at no cost to Stuff-It Self-Storage LLC. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Stuff-It Self-Storage LLC reserves the right to accept or reject bids.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905.
Enforcement of Lien, West Street Rentals LLC shall host a live auction of the following unit on 6/13/2024 at 04:00 PM:
Location: 170 West St, Essex Jct., VT 05452
Jennifer Hutchins, unit #26: household goods
Christian Mas, unit #14: household goods
Contents sold as is, and need to be removed
within 48 hours at no cost to West Street Rentals LLC. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. West Street Rentals LLC reserves the right to accept or reject bids.
NOTICE OF SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE
CHIMNEY CORNERS SELF STORAGE
76 GONYEAU ROAD, MILTON VT 05403
Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid. This sale is being held to collect unpaid storage unit occupancy fees, charges, and expenses of the sale. The entire contents of each self-storage unit listed below will be sold, with the proceeds to be distributed to Chimney Corners Self Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), late payment fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale.
Contents of each unit may be viewed on June 12th, commencing at 10:00am. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self-storage unit. Bids will be opened one half hour after the last unit has been viewed on June 12th. The highest bidder on the storage unit must remove the entire contents of the unit within 48 hours after notification of their successful bid. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Chimney Corners Self Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids. The contents of the following tenant’s self-storage units will be included in this sale:
Leila-Jeanne Comegno, Unit 118. Michael Charbonneau, Unit 128. Josh Rheaume, Unit 518.
OFFICIAL WARNING
TOWN OF UNDERHILL — SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
JUNE 11, 2024
The legal voters of the Town of Underhill, in the County of Chittenden, State of Vermont, are hereby notified and warned to meet in person at the Underhill Town Hall located at 12 Pleasant Valley Road, in Underhill, Vermont on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to transact the following business by Australian Ballot. Voting will take place from 7:00 in the forenoon (7 A.M.) until 7:00 in the afternoon (7 P.M.).
The legal voters of the Town of Underhill are further notified and warned that a public informational hearing to explain and discuss the Australian ballot Articles set forth below will be held on June 5, 2024, at the Underhill Town Hall, beginning at 6 P.M. in the evening. The public may attend the informational hearing in person or virtually, virtual meeting login information will be provided on the Town’s website.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT QUESTIONS
Article 1 Shall the Town, pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §2650(b), approve terms of two years for the two additional Selectboard members, but with the persons initially elected to those positions at the June 11, 2024 special town meeting serving only until the next annual meeting, at which time the Town will again elect two additional Selectboard members to two year terms, but with one of the additional Selectboard members, when first elected, serving for one year and the other additional Selectboard member, when first elected, serving for two years to stagger the two year terms?
Article 2 To elect two Selectboard member positions. The two positions shall expire March 4, 2025.
Selectboard Members: Robert Stone, Chair
Patricia Richards, Vice Chair Dan Steinbauer
Received for record this 7 day of May, 2024 at Underhill.
ATTEST: ____, Town Clerk
The Town of Colchester is requesting bids for Colchester Town Buildings Electrical Services for all Colchester Town Buildings and facilities. The scope of work includes providing all labor, materials, tools, equipment, supplies and supervision necessary to complete the specified scope of work. The agreement will be for a period of three (3) years, with an annual adjustment in compensation to the contractor based on CPI-W, Northeast Urban, Class B/C (all items).
All questions by prospective bidders as to the interpretations of the Contract & Bidding Documents must be submitted in writing to Randy Alemy, Senior Operations Manager, ralemy@colchestervt. gov, by 4:00pm on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
Bids will be received by the Town of Colchester, at the Colchester Town Office Building at 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, Vermont until Friday, June 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.
Bidders shall have a minimum of 7 years’ experience in the electrical industry and possess a Master Electrician’s License. Personnel assigned to perform maintenance at the Town of Colchester must be journeyman level with a minimum of 5 years of experience.
Bidders should submit the Bid Form, Bid Schedule, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and other Responsibility Matter, and three (3) references from clients with preventative maintenance contracts of similar scope for the bid submission to be deemed complete.
For Full Bid & Contract Documents please visit the Town website at: https://www.colchestervt.gov/bids.aspx
TOWN OF BOLTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING: JUNE 13, 2024
The Town of Bolton’s Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on June 13, 2024 at 6:30pm.
Place: Virtual or Municipal Conference Room, 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Highway, Bolton, VT, 05676. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8 9080772339?pwd=eEJ3dFJTQk5uRCs3Z3k2VTN WdVUvdz09
Meeting ID: 890 8077 2339
Passcode: 368799
The following applications will be reviewed:
2024-04-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Jeremy and Andrea Knepper, 110 Stone Hill Rd., is seeking to amend a previously approved boundary line adjustment to modify the adjoining property line but with no change to the parcel acres from the areas prior to the 2023 decision (2023-04-DRB & 2023-05-DRB)(Tax Map #11-2120113).
2024-05-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Bolton Dome Company, Andrew Roy, 200 Champ Ln. is seeking a conditional use for the construction of three primitive cabins for limited commercial use by outdoor recreationalists (Tax Map #9-4090579).
2024-06-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Michael & Chealsea Hunter and Curt Hunter, 428 Bolton Valley Access Rd., are seeking two setback waivers to extend the roofline of an existing nonconforming structure. (Tax Map #15-3000428)
2024-07-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Rodney Pingree, 3623 Theodore Roosevelt Hwy., is seeking a conditional use to elevate existing single-family structure for the purposes of providing flood mitigation within the Flood Hazard Overlay I. (Tax Map #15-2003623)
2024-08-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Miranda Hance, 3497 Theodore Roosevelt Hwy., is a conditional use for the redevelopment of an existing lot replacing the former home with the new proposed home providing flood mitigation. (Tax Map #15-2003497)
Additional information can be obtained through email by calling 802-434-5075, or by email at zoningbolton@gmavt.net. Pursuant to 24 VSA § 4464 and § 4471, participation in this local proceeding, by written or oral comment, is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal.
PROBATE DIVISION Case No. 24-PR-01827
Estate of: Mark Sadan
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:
A Petition to Open an Estate and Appoint a Fiduciary was filed in the Probate Division of the Superior Court and a hearing on the Petition will be held remotely by WEBEX at 10:00 AM on June 5, 2024. The Petition can be viewed prior to the hearing on the Public Portal located in the Courthouse at the above address. Interested Persons may contact the court at the above phone number to receive WEBEX hearing participation instructions. If no one appears at the hearing to object, the relief requested may be granted. If you wish to receive notice of future events in this proceeding, you must notify the Court by filing a Notice of Appearance form that can be found on the Vermont Judiciary website.
It is hereby ORDERED that the notice of hearing as set forth in the Order be published in “7 Days, Vermont’s Independent Voice.”
Publication date: 5/29/2024
Electronically signed on 5/9/2024 12:07 PM pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d)
Frederick M. Glover Probate Judge
PE12 – Order or Hearing by Publication 24-PR-01827 Estate of: Mark Sadan
TOWN OF RICHMOND
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA JUNE 12TH, 2024, AT 7:00 PM
Location: 3rd floor meeting room Richmond Town Offices, 203 Bridge Street Richmond VT, 05477 Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/89057870483
Meeting ID: 890 5787 0483
Call-in: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Application materials may be viewed at http:// www.richmondvt.gov/boards-minutes/ development-review-board/ before the meeting. Please call Tyler Machia, Zoning Administrator, at 802-434-2430 or email tmachia@richmondvt.gov with any questions.
Public Hearing
Continuation of SUB2024-01 Bradley and Karen LaRose Parcel ID#WO0156
Project Location: 156 Wortheim Lane
Project Description: This is a continuation from the April 24 meeting. The Applicants, Bradley and Karen LaRose, are seeking to amend their approved subdivision in order to relocate the location of the previously approved driveway. This is intended to address ACT 250 concerns.
Other Business
1.Elect Chair and Vice Chair
2.Discussion on recruiting a new member for the Development Review Board.
3.Reviewing the Development Review Board rules and procedures document.
4.Review Municipal code of ethics.
Please take notice that Champlain Housing Trust whose mailing address is 88 King Street, Burlington, VT, is applying to the Vermont Brownfields Reuse and Environmental Liability Limitation Program (10 V.S.A. §6641 et seq.) in connection with the redevelopment of property known as the O’Brien Community Center at 32 Malletts Bay Avenue in the City of Winooski, VT. A copy of the application, which contains a preliminary environmental assessment, and a description of the proposed redevelopment project is available for public review at the Winooski City Clerk’s Office and at the Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation offices in Montpelier. Comments concerning the application and/or the above referenced documents may be directed to Caitlyn Bain at (802) 461-6204 or at Caitlyn.Bain@ Vermont.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Waste Management Division, 1 National Life Drive – Davis 1, Montpelier, VT 05620; attention: Caitlyn Bain.
ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1006-4 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111
Application 4C1006-4 from Colchester Town School District, Attn: George Trieb, P.O. Box 27, Colchester, VT 05446 was received on May 9, 2024 and deemed complete on May 15, 2024. The project is generally described as the installation of an infiltration basin and pretreatment forebay within an existing drainage swale to meet the 2017 VSMM standards as part of the 3-Acre Stormwater Permit for Colchester Middle School campus & Mallets Bay School campus. This is an ARPA Project. The project is located at 425 Blakely Road in Colchester, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb. vt.gov/ANR/Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C1006-4).
No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 17, 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 Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below. Dated this May 21, 2024. By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov
ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0139-7 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111
Application 4C0139-7 from Colchester Town School District, Attn: George Trieb, P.O. Box 27, Colchester, VT 05446 was received on May 8, 2024 and deemed complete on May 15, 2024. The project is generally described as retrofitting existing infiltration basins to meet the 2017 VSMM standards as part of the 3-Acre Stormwater Permit for Colchester High School campus. This is an ARPA Project. The project is located at 131 Laker Lane in Colchester, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/Act250/Details. aspx?Num=4C0139-7).
No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 17, 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-petition-form, 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 Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.
Dated this May 23, 2024. By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes
Kaitlin Hayes
District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084
kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov
ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C09894 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111
Application 4C0989-4 from Mount Mansfield Union High School and Mount Mansfield Union High School District, 211 Browns Trace Road, Jericho, VT 05465 was received on May 20, 2024 and deemed complete on May 22, 2024. The project is generally described as the installation of a storm trench, grass-lined swale, new catch basins and manholes, and a curtain drain section to improve stormwater runoff water quality at Mount Mansfield Union High School. The project is located at 211 Browns Trace Road in Jericho, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Natural Resources Board’s website (http://nrb. vermont.gov) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0989-4.”
No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before June 17, 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-petition-form, 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 23, 2024.
By:
Stephanie H. MonaghanDistrict Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov
NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE
JERICHO MINI STORAGE 25 NORTH MAIN STREET, JERICHO, VT 05465
The contents of the following self storage units will be sold at public auction, by sealed bid, on June 17, 2024 at 12:00 PM. George Macy #94 John Brown #253 Sean Palker #206 Geoff Conway #33 Pete Carini #146,219,239 Units will be opened for viewing for auction, sale by sealed bid to the highest bidder, cash only. Contents of entire storage unit will be sold as one lot.
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 802989-0097. 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 802-582-6750 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 802-8773742 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 802-3998754 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 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.
G.R.A.S.P. (GRIEF RECOVERY AFTER A SUBSTANCE PASSING)
Are you a family member who has lost a loved one to addiction? Find support, peer-led support group. Meets once a mo. on Mon. in Burlington. Please call for date & location. RSVP to mkeasler3@ gmail.com or call 310-3301 (message says Optimum Health, but this is a private number).
GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
Sharing your sadness, finding your joy. Please join us as we learn more about our own grief & explore the things that can help us to heal. There is great power in sharing our experiences w/ others who know the pain of the loss of a loved one & healing is possible through the sharing. BAYADA Hospice’s local bereavement support coordinator will facilitate our weekly group through discussion & activities. Everyone from the community is welcome. 1st & last Wed. of every mo. at 4 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Max Crystal, mcrystal@bayada.com or 802-448-1610.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS
Meet every 2nd Mon., 6-7:30 p.m., & every 3rd Wed. from 10-11:30 a.m., at Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice in Berlin. The group is open to the public & free of charge. More info: Diana Moore, 224-2241.
GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending, but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held twice a mo., the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo. from 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please register at allsoulsinterfaith. org. More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.
HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP
This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2-3 p.m. Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-777-8602, abby@pathways vermont.org.
HELLENBACH CANCER SUPPORT
People living w/ cancer & their caretakers convene for support. Call to verify meeting place. Info, 388-6107.
INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/PAINFUL
BLADDER SUPPORT GROUP
Interstitial cystitis (IC) & painful bladder syndrome can result in recurring pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder/pelvic region & urinary frequency/ urgency. These are often misdiagnosed & mistreated as a chronic bladder infection. If you have been diagnosed or have these symptoms, you are not alone. For Vermont-based support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail.com or call 899-4151 for more info.
INTUITIVE EATING SUPPORT GROUP
Free weekly peer-led support group for anyone struggling w/ eating &/or body image. The only requirement is a desire to make peace w/ food & your body. Meeting format is: a short reading from Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch, 4th edition, followed by open sharing & discussion. Come find community through sharing struggles, experience, strength & hope. Located at the Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Sun. 1-2:30 p.m. Contact 202-553-8953 w/ any questions.
KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS
The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@vcsn.net.
LAUGHTER YOGA
Spontaneous, genuine laughter & gentle breathing for physical & emotional benefit. No yoga mat needed! This group is held every Mon., 2-3 p.m., at Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Contact Chris Nial for any questions: chrisn@ pathwaysvermont.org.
LGBTQ SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE
The SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program at Pride Center of Vermont offers peer-led support groups for survivors of relationship, dating, emotional &/or hate-violence. These groups give survivors a safe & supportive environment to tell their stories, share info, & offer & receive support. Support groups also provide survivors an opportunity to gain info on how to better cope w/ feelings & experiences that surface because of the trauma they have experienced. Please call SafeSpace at 863-0003 if you are interested in joining.
LGBTQ VETERANS
Share the struggles & celebrate the joys of being a service member & LGBTQIA+ in this peer-led discussion group. Meetings are at the Rainbow Bridge Community Center in Barre on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of each mo. Visit rbccvt.org for more info.
LIVING THROUGH LOSS
Gifford Medical Center is announcing the restart of its grief support group, Living Through Loss. The program is sponsored by the Gifford Volunteer Chaplaincy Program & will meet weekly on Fri., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Gifford’s Chun Chapel. Meetings will be facilitated by the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt, spiritual care coordinator, & Emily Pizzale MSW, LICSW, a Gifford social worker. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss
over the last year or so is warmly invited to attend & should enter through the hospital’s main entrance wearing a mask on the way to the chapel. Meetings will be based on the belief that, while each of us is on a unique journey in life, we all need a safe place to pause, to tell our stories &, especially as we grieve, to receive the support & strength we need to continue along the way.
MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS
Do you have a problem w/ marijuana? MA is a free 12-step program where addicts help other addicts get & stay clean. Ongoing Wed., 7 p.m., at Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski, Suite 301, Burlington. Info: 861-3150.
MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP
Area myeloma survivors, families & caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/ people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., at the New Hope Lodge on East Ave. in Burlington. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.
NAMI CONNECTION PEER SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS
Weekly virtual meetings. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, program@ namivt.org or 800-639-6480. Connection groups are peer recovery support group programs for adults living w/ mental health challenges.
NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Weekly virtual & in-person meetings. ASL interpreters avail. upon request. Family Support Group meetings are for family & friends of individuals living w/ mental illness. If you have questions about a group in your area, please contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont, info@namivt.org or 800-639-6480.
NARCONON SUNCOAST DRUG & ALCOHOL REHABILITATION & EDUCATION
Narconon reminds families that overdoses due to an elephant tranquilizer known as Carfentanil have been on the rise in nearly every community nationwide. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid painkiller 100 times more powerful than fentanyl & 1,000 times stronger than heroin. A tiny grain of it is enough to be fatal. To learn more about carfentanil abuse & how to help your loved one, visit narconon-suncoast.org/drug-abuse/ parents-get-help.html. Addiction screenings: Narconon can help you take steps to overcome addiction in your family. Call today for a no-cost screening or referral: 1-877-841-5509.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, Barre & St. Johnsbury. Info, 862-4516 or cvana.org.
NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.
NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS! EVERY PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY!
The Children’s Room invites you to join our weekly drop-in support group. Come unwind & discuss your experiences & questions around infant care & development, self-care & postpartum healing, & community resources for families w/ babies. Tea & snacks provided. Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your babies! (Newborn through crawling stage.) Located in Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., childrensroom online.org. Contact childrensroom@ wwsu.org or 244-5605.
NORTHWEST VERMONT CANCER PRAYER & SUPPORT NETWORK
A meeting of cancer patients, survivors & family members intended to comfort & support those who are currently suffering from the disease. 2nd Thu. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 11 Church St., St. Albans. Info: stpaulum@myfairpoint. net. 2nd Wed. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., Winooski United Methodist Church, 24 W. Allen St., Winooski. Info: hovermann4@comcast.net.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)
A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more; or call 802-863-2655 anytime!
PONDERING GENDER & SEXUALITY
Pondering Gender & Sexuality is a twicemonthly facilitated mutual support group for folks of any identity (whether fully formed or a work in progress) who want to engage in meaningful conversations about gender, sexuality & sexual orientation, &/or the coming-out process. Discussions can range from the personal to the philosophical & beyond as we work together to create a compassionate, safe & courageous space to explore our experiences. The group will be held on the 2nd Sun. & 4th Tue. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m., either virtually or at Pride Center of Vermont. Email pgs@pridecentervt.org for more info or w/ questions!
POTATO INTOLERANCE SUPPORT GROUP
Anyone coping w/ potato intolerance & interested in joining a support group, contact Jerry Fox, 48 Saybrook Rd., Essex Junction, VT 05452.
QUEER CARE GROUP
This support group is for adult family members & caregivers of queer &/or questioning youth. It is held on the 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., at Outright Vermont, 241 N. Winooski Ave. This group is for adults only. For more info, email info@outrightvt.org.
READY TO BE TOBACCO-FREE GROUPS
Join a free 4-5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: call 802-847-7333 or email quittobaccoclass@uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops!
RECOVERING FROM RELIGION
Meets on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 6-8 p.m., at Brownell Public Library, 6 Lincoln St., Essex Jct., unless there’s inclement weather or the date falls on a holiday. Attendees can remain anonymous if they so choose & are not required to tell their story if they do not wish to, but everyone will be welcome to do so. The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing & personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe & anonymous places to express these doubts, fears & experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. We are here to help each other through this journey. Free.
RECOVERY DHARMA
Recovery Dharma uses Buddhist practices & principles to help people recover from all kinds of addictions & addictive behaviors. This peer led, non-theistic group offers opportunities to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry & connect w/ others. We meet every Wed. from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Burlington (the “Red Door” Church, 21 Buell St.). Enter through the administrative office door (at far left when viewed from Buell St.) No meditation experience req.; all are welcome. Email rd.burlington.vt@ gmail.com for more information.
REFUGE RECOVERY MEETING
Burlington Refuge Recovery is a Buddhist-oriented, nontheistic addiction recovery group that meets every Tue. at 6:45 p.m. at Turning Point Center, located at 179 S. Winooski Ave. in Burlington.
SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION NEW ENGLAND
Support group meeting held on the 4th Tue. of every mo., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Williston Police Station. Info, Blythe Leonard, 878-0732.
SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Shawn, 660-2645. Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.
SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, MONTPELIER
Do you have a problem w/ compulsive sexual behavior? A 12-step program has helped us. SAA Montpelier meets twice weekly at 6 p.m.: Mon. virtual meeting, details at saatalk.info; Thu. face-toface at Bethany Church, Montpelier. Details at saa-recovery.org. Contact saa.vtrecovery@gmail.com or call 802-322-3701.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover.net.
SOCIAL ANXIETY SUPPORT GROUPS For screened adults ages 28-40. Therapist-led sessions. For more info, contact diane@ldtayeby.com.
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
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. 4t-CathedralSquare052224.indd
• 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
The Greater Burlington YMCA has served the community since 1866 and we’re searching for our next leader.
Responsible for all aspects of the Y’s work, the principal focus is on the strategic direction, financial stability, community relations, development, and operations. This role provides leadership to establish and implement programs, policies, and goals, and in setting an institutional culture that embodies the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
We look forward to welcoming our next leader who shares our dedication to community service and social impact. Apply here: tinyurl.com/Greater-Burlington-YMCA-CEO
Please submit the following with your application: Resume, cover letter, 4 professional references and 2 personal references.
Barre Opera House – The dreams of over a century thrive on our stage. Join us and lead an enduring institution into the future! Beautifully restored to modern performance standards, the Barre Opera House has stood for over a century in celebration of the performing arts throughout Central Vermont.
We seek an Executive Director with experience in theater management to grow our reputation as a premier performing arts space. The right candidate will have at least 3 years of experience leading or in a senior position in a performing arts facility of a similar size. They will be experienced in non-profit leadership, strategic planning, fundraising and grant acquisition, community relationship building, and board collaboration. Duties include budgeting and daily operations, planning seasonal programming, creative talent acquisition, contract negotiation, rental management, and event logistics.
We offer competitive pay and benefits, a supportive board of directors, and an engaged community that welcomes all that the Barre Opera House delivers!
The Barre Opera House represents a diverse community and welcomes qualified leaders who bring a diversity of backgrounds, experience, training, and perspectives to this institution.
For full job description: www.barreoperahouse.org
To apply: Workplacestrategyconsulting@gmail.org
Both cover letter and resume required for submission
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 chocolate, use small equipment to create chocolate novelties, load centers onto the enrober for chocolate coating, and hand-decorate enrobed items with LCC's signature designs. In packaging, you'll hand-pack our specialty chocolates - assembling gift baskets, boxing or bagging chocolate confections, wrapping bars, and labeling products. This seasonal position runs from June - the holidays.
If you have a strong understanding of packaging procedures, basic computer skills, knowledge of quality control standards, and some leadership experience, we invite you to apply for the Packaging Team Lead position! In this role, you'll be responsible for meeting daily goals and assignments, keeping a close eye on product to ensure quality standards are met, keeping accurate records, and staying up on product and packaging changes. You'll train and lead a team of 2 – 8 people, ensuring your crew has direction and understanding of the product they are working with.
Ready to apply? Email your resume to employment@lakechamplainchocolates.com
Please visit our website for additional job details: https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/careers
We are actively seeking individuals to join our team as a full-time Retail Associate to work now through the end of the year. In this role you will assist customers in a helpful, positive manner, maintain the appearance of the store and assist with operational and merchandising duties.
Temporary full-time positions are available at our Ferrisburgh retail store. No experience is necessary. We o er competitive compensation, generous employee discounts, and a supportive work environment. If you are ready to be apart of a dynamic team, apply today!
For an application or more information please email: tdanyow@dakinfarm.com
You can also give us a call or stop by our retail store : 5797 Route 7, Ferrisburgh 1-800-99DAKIN
Work at Champlain Community Services and receive TUITION ASSISTANCE to go towards a degree related to this field!
In addition, CCS offers 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance plan with premium as low as $13 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous sign on bonus and so much more. And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for six years running.
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.
Want to have a job you love that also helps pay for your education? Make a career making a difference and apply today
Primarily remote with some statewide travel This role supervises Case Managers, collaborates with the SUD treatment system and DCF Family Services, and provides consultation on substance use impacts.
Learn more at lundvt.org/employment
Competitive pay and benefits, including 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off. 4t-LundCMSupervisor052924
Ourmission:Lundhelpschildrenthrivebyempowering familiestobreakcyclesofpoverty,addictionandabuse. Lundoffershopeandopportunitytofamiliesthrough education,treatment,familysupportandadoption.
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.
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
Hearing and communication is vital to connection with family and friends, work and community - and YOU have the ability to shape the lives of those in need. Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) seeks a full-time Audiologist for our ENT & Audiology practice. Work with a team of committed professionals in a mixed specialty practice offering ENT, Audiology, Allergy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Palliative Care to perform diagnostic testing for all ages. Collaborate with ENT providers and Hearing Instrument Specialist, as well as manage hearing aid services, including assessments, fittings, and repairs. Located in Vermont’s beautiful Northeast Kingdom, NVRH offers competitive wages, student loan repayment, generous paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package. Join us in providing exceptional patient-centered care that really makes a difference!
Apply now at www.nvrh.org/careers.
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Orleans County NRCD seeks a part-time Business Operations Manager to join our growing team in meeting our strategic goals. The ideal candidate is an organized, positive professional with strong financial and administration experience. With room for creativity and growth, responsibilities include: Provide operational and administrative tasks, meeting open meeting laws & working on special projects. The ideal candidate can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the organization, brings a local community network, shared passion for stewardship of natural resources and has knowledge and/or practical working landscape experiences. Learn more about the Orleans County NRCD and find the position description go to vacd.org/conservation-districts/orleanscounty. All applications submitted before June 17th will be considered. Position is open until filled.
SEEKING
To apply please send your cover letter and resume as one PDF to sarah.damsell@vt.nacdnet.net
Do you have a knack for numbers and a passion for supporting VT communities?
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.
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.
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RIGOROUS TECHNOLOGY
Design + develop robotic systems
Collaborate with other teams
Solve complex problems
Our robotics lab is located in Williston, Vt. To learn more about this role and other opportunities head to rigorous.co/careers.
• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training
• 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
5/24/24 5:38 PM
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
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• Direct patient care
• Team environment
• Full Benefits
• Dedicated support during the 5-week program
• Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam
5/20/24 10:29 AM
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.
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.
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
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.
For more information and to apply: theschoolhousevt.org/employment
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.
We are looking for an experienced electrician to join our Maintenance Team and ensure our facilities are operating smoothly. If you are based in Vermont and have at least 5 years of experience in a maintenance type position, you can learn more and apply on our Careers page! bit.ly/LawsonsElectrician
Visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu & select “View Current Openings” SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA employer committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns, a non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization that exists to serve and strengthen local government, seeks an experienced municipal operations practitioner to work one-on-one with local government officials of Vermont’s flood impacted communities to assess municipal operational capacity, determine targeted plans to address vulnerabilities, highlight opportunities and advance recovery and long-term resilience efforts. This work may include assisting municipalities in their flood recovery efforts relative to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, as well as in the development of a strategy and implementations plan for long term disaster resilience projects. The ideal candidate will enjoy working directly with legislative body members, municipal clerks and treasurers, managers, administrators, and finance staff to teach and mentor them as they navigate their disaster recovery work.
VLCT will use a USDA Rural Development grant aimed at building capacity in municipalities by strengthening municipal finance, operations, and management capabilities to ensure more municipalities can successfully and skillfully respond to future disasters.
The ideal candidate will have a degree in public or business administration, political science, or equivalent subjects and at least five years’ experience working for or with a Vermont municipality serving in an administrative role and responsible for municipal operations oversight.
VLCT offers a competitive salary (anticipated range is $75,000$90,000 depending on experience) and an extensive benefit package, which includes participation in the VMERS retirement system, a 401(a), employer paid health insurance and dental premiums, generous vacation, sick and holiday time, flexible work schedules and remote work opportunities (within Vermont). This is a full time, 3-year, limited service position.
To see the full job description and apply, please visit vlct.org/ careers. Application deadline is Friday, June 7, 2024 Applicants will be reviewed as they are received. Position is open until filled. EOE
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY
Williston and Georgia South I-89 Welcome Centers - $17.15/hr
The Williston and Georgia South I-89 Welcome Centers are looking to hire full-time, part-time and/or per diem employees with great customer service skills and a love for Vermont tourism. Duties include some custodial tasks and physical tasks including snow removal. Some weekend and holiday availability required.
Waterfront Information Booth - $14/hr
The Waterfront Information Booth is looking to hire parttime and/or per-diem employees with great customer service skills and a love for Vermont tourism. Some weekend and holiday availability required.
To apply, please email welcomecenters@vermont.org or fill out an application at the Williston Welcome Centers.
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. This is a full-time, exempt position with benefits. Salary range $60,000–$70,000. See full job description: bit.ly/APMuseumjob
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.
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jobs.sevendaysvt.com Perk up!
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
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.
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.
OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE DISTRICT OF VERMONT
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT # 2024-01, Assistant Federal Public Defender
e Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Vermont is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Federal Public Defender. e Office provides defense services to indigent persons in federal criminal cases and operates under authority of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA), 18 U.S.C. §3006A is is a full-time on-site position at our office near the beautiful shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.
e successful candidates will:
• Be an attorney in good standing of a state bar in which they are currently admitted and be a member of, or eligible for immediate admission to the bar of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. (See Local Rules, District of Vermont, 83.1(a)).
• Have at least five years of experience, preferably in federal court.
• Possess excellent courtroom skills along with strong writing and legal research skills.
• Have clearly demonstrated an aptitude for excellence in criminal defense practice.
• Be committed to the representation of indigent accused persons and demonstrate a reputation for personal integrity.
• Have the ability to effectively collaborate and reflect in a team environment.
• Preferably, though not required, have experience in federal appeals work.
Salary and Bene ts:
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications within the guidelines set by the Judiciary salary scale for Assistant Federal Public Defenders, at a scale equivalent to that of Assistant United States Attorneys. e position includes U.S. Government employment benefits—generous paid time off including annual and sick leave and 11 federal holidays; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; a retirement system; opportunities to attend national and local trainings; and professional development offerings. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit). e position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service. e successful candidate will be subject to an FBI background check as a condition of employment.
Please submit a cover letter, resume that includes a summary of trial and appellate experience, and three professional references no later than June 7, 2024 to vtfpd@fd.org with “2024-01 AFPD Application” in the subject line.
e Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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.
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.
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.
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
“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.”
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.
CAROLYN ZELLER, Intervale Center, Burlington Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.
JOB OPENING AT THE UNITARIAN CHURCH OF MONTPELIER DIRECTOR OF SPIRITUAL
The part-time DSE will direct the congregation’s spiritual programming for children, youth, and families. Annual salary of $32,500 to $35,100 ($25-27/hr) commensurate with experience with additional benefits.
2h-UnitarianChurchMontpelier052924 1 5/24/24 5:33 PM You’re
Karmê Chöling is hiring for three leadership positions at our meditation retreat center in the Northeast Kingdom. Our core staff form the heart of a community inspired to practice mindfulness and compassion.
Staff receive room and board, a modest salary, support for their meditation practice, and ample time off. While core staff 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
Are you interested in working on community scale projects that help improve water quality and the natural environment? Do you like working in the field to identify project opportunities? Are you equally comfortable collaborating with partners to ensure a project is designed well and constructed according to plans? The Northwest Regional Planning Commission is hiring a Project Manager. The Project Manager will work with municipalities and partners on project development and project implementation in water quality, stormwater, and natural resources. The Project Manager may also assist with transportation, community facilities and energy projects. The Project Manager will have a mix of education and experience that shows the ability to succeed at this position. An ideal candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and one-three years of experience.
A more detailed job description, desired qualifications and other information is available at nrpcvt.com
Please send a cover letter explaining your interest in the position, a resume and three references to Catherine Dimitruk, Executive Director at jobs@nrpcvt.com, or 75 Fairfield Street, St. Albans, VT, 05478. Please apply by June 7, 2024 for full consideration. This position will remain open until filled; interviews will begin in June, 2024.
(MAY 21-JUN. 20)
All of us periodically enjoy phases I call “Freedom From Cosmic Compulsion.” During these times, the Fates have a reduced power to shape our destinies. Our willpower has more spaciousness to work with. Our intentions get less resistance from karmic pressures that at other times might narrow our options. As I meditated on you, dear Gemini, I realized you are now in a phase of Freedom From Cosmic Compulsion. I also saw that you will have more of these phases than anyone else during the next 11 months. It might be time for you to get a “LIBERATION” tattoo or an equivalent new accessory.
ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Welcome to the future of your education, Aries! Here are actions you can take to ensure that you are exposed to all the lush lessons you need and deserve in the coming months. 1) Identify three subjects you would be excited to learn more about. 2) Shed dogmas and fixed theories that interfere with your receptivity to new information. 3) Vow to be alert for new guides or mentors. 4) Formulate a three-year plan to get the training and teachings you need most. 5) Be avidly curious.
TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Poet Emily Dickinson was skillful at invoking and manag-
ing deep feelings. One scholar described her emotions as being profoundly erotic, outlandish, sensuous, flagrant and nuanced. Another scholar said she needed and sought regular doses of ecstasy. Yet even she, maestro of passions, got overwhelmed. In one poem, she wondered “Why Floods be served to us in Bowls?” I suspect you may be having a similar experience, Taurus. It’s fun, though sometimes a bit too much. The good news is that, metaphorically speaking, you will soon be in possession of a voluminous new bowl that can accommodate the floods.
CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Bold predictions: 1) Whatever treasure you have lost or are losing will ultimately be reborn in a beautiful form. 2) Any purposeful surrender you make will hone your understanding of exactly what your soul needs next to thrive. 3) A helpful influence may fade away, but its disappearance will clear the path for new helpful influences that serve your future in ways you can’t imagine yet. 4) Wandering around without a precise sense of where you’re going will arouse a robust new understanding of what home means to you.
LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Denmark’s King Canute IV (1042-1086) wasn’t bashful about asserting his power. He claimed ownership of all the land. He insisted on the right to inherit the possessions of all foreigners and people without families. Goods from shipwrecks were automatically his property. But once, his efforts to extend his authority failed. He had his servants move his throne to a beach as the tide came in. Seated and facing the North Sea, he commanded, “Halt your advance!” The surf did not obey. “You must surrender to my superior will!” he exclaimed, but the waters did not recede. Soon, his throne was engulfed by water. Humbled, Canute departed. I bring this up not to discourage you, Leo. I believe you can and should expand your influence and clout in the coming weeks. Just be sure you know when to stop.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Virgo-born Irène Joliot-Curie craved more attention than she got from her mother, Marie Curie. Mom was zealously devoted to her career as a chemist and physicist, which is one reason she won Nobel Prizes in both fields. But she didn’t
spend sufficient time with her daughter. Fortunately, Irène’s grandfather Eugène became his granddaughter’s best friend and teacher. With his encouragement, she grew into a formidable scientist and eventually won a Nobel Prize in chemistry herself. Even if you’re not a kid, Virgo, I suspect there may be a mentor and guide akin to Eugène in your future. Go looking! To expedite the process, define what activity or skill you want help in developing.
LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): I have a fantasy that sometime in the coming months, you will slip away to a sanctuary in a pastoral paradise. There you will enjoy long hikes and immerse yourself in healing music and savor books you’ve been wanting to read. Maybe you will write your memoirs or compose deep messages to dear old friends. Here’s the title of what I hope will be a future chapter of your life story: “A Thrillingly Relaxing Getaway.” Have you been envisioning an adventure like this, Libra? Or is your imagination more inclined to yearn for a trip to an exciting city where you will exult in high culture? I like that alternative, too. Maybe you will consider doing both.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): An Instagrammer named sketchesbyboze advises us, “Re-enchant your life by making the mundane exciting. You are not ‘going to the drugstore.’ You are visiting the apothecary to buy potions. You are not ‘running an errand.’ You are undertaking an unpredictable adventure. You are not ‘feeding the birds.’ You are making an alliance with the crow queen.” I endorse this counsel for your use, Scorpio. You now have the right and duty to infuse your daily rhythm with magic and fantasy. To attract life’s best blessings, you should be epic and majestic. Treat your life as a mythic quest.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I invite you to invite new muses into your life in the coming months. Give them auditions. Interview them. Figure out which are most likely to boost your creativity, stimulate your imagination and rouse your inspiration in every area of your life, not just your art form. Tell them you’re ready to deal with unpredictable departures from the routine as long as these alternate paths lead to rich teachings. And what form might these muses take? Could be
actual humans. Could be animals or spirits. Might be ancestral voices, exciting teachings or pilgrimages to sacred sanctuaries. Expand your concept of what a muse might be so you can get as much muse-like input as possible.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Japanese have a word for a problem that plagues other countries as well as theirs: karoshi, or death from working too hard and too much. No matter how high-minded our motivations might be, no matter how interesting our jobs are, most of us cannot safely devote long hours to intense labor week after week, month after month. It’s too stressful on the mind and body. I will ask you to monitor yourself for such proclivities in the coming months. You can accomplish wonders as long as you work diligently but don’t overwork. (PS: You won’t literally expire if you relentlessly push yourself with nonstop hard exertion, but you will risk compromising your mental health. So don’t do it!)
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Typically, human fertility is strongest when the temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. But I suspect you will be an exception to the rule in the coming months. Whether it’s minus 10 or 90 in the shade, your fertility will be extra robust — literally, as well as psychologically and spiritually. If you are a heterosexual who would rather make great art or business than new babies, be very attentive to your birth control measures. No matter what your gender or sexual preference is, I advise you to formulate very clear intentions about how you want to direct all that lush fecundity. Identify which creative outlets are most likely to serve your long-term health and happiness.
PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Here’s a key assignment in the coming months: Enjoy fantasizing about your dream home. Imagine the comfortable sanctuary that would inspire you to feel utterly at home in your body, your life and the world. Even if you can’t afford to buy this ultimate haven, you will benefit from visualizing it. As you do, your subconscious mind will suggest ways you can enhance your security and stability. You may also attract influences and resources that will eventually help you live in your dream home.
Leonard Prive has spent the past four years picking up trash from the roads between Underhill and Westfield. Prive collected more than 100 bags of litter this spring, and there have been posts on Facebook thanking him for his volunteer work. Seven Days' Eva Sollberger met up with Prive in Johnson to see him in action.
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LONELY 420 SEEKER
I am a 70-y/o but 50 at heart. I am looking for a man that is 420 friendly and won’t shy from a game of bingo. Looking for a good friend and eventually more. Affectionate, caring, truthful, no game playing and honest. Like to laugh and walk, and just want similar interests. Angel420, 70, seeking: M
EASY-GOING CURMUDGEON
Looking for someone to hang out with, go to the movies and have dinner after to talk. If we like each other and want to get jiggy, bonus. 420 friendly, don’t really care for alcohol, and I do not suffer fools. I am fun and funny. No racists, antisemites, or folks who don’t get why women pick the bear. ho_hum 55 seeking: M, l
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
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
You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!
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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
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
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 61, 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
INTROVERTED EXTROVERT TO DANCE
Are you a grown-up and still curious, playful, inquisitive, ever learning? I thrive outdoors in every season and relish reflective company, solitude and togetherness, sharing ideas and inspiration, and desires to love in a way that we feel free. I see that many of us here wonder how to describe ourselves. Aren’t we all more than we can say? esmeflying, 60, seeking: M, l
SMART, SELF-AWARE, KIND SEEKS SAME
Smart, self-aware and kind seeking same. AnneShirley, 48, seeking: M
HONEST, EASYGOING, STRAIGHTFORWARD
Vermonter retired from dairy farming, looking for a friend to share lunch, to get to know each other — what likes and dislikes we have in common, and what type of relationship we are looking for together. retired70, 76 seeking: M
THIS COULD BE GREAT, RIGHT?
Calm, peaceful woman hoping to connect with a kind, smart, liberal, dog-loving guy. I work in a medical practice and also have a small business and live in northern New York. I am a widow but so ready for a great second chapter! Julie2085, 66 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
MEN seeking...
JUST LAID BACK EASY GOING
Just looking for a lady to go out to dinner once in a while and hang out and let things fall where they fall. Vt617 68, seeking: W, Cp
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
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
ACTIVE, HUMOROUS, SENSUAL, PHYSICAL
Looking for clean, good action and no trouble. Nubee69 66 seeking: M
GENTLEMAN FOR CASUAL MEETINGS
Mature for gay sexual meetings. Billydear 66, seeking: M
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 EVER EVOLVING
Keep life simple and grounded. enlightenment, 60, seeking: W
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
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
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
LAID BACK EASY GOING
I am a 61-y/o male who wants to meet a woman for coffee and some chatting, someone who is extremely sexually open-minded. You should be at least 28, someone who might have big boobs and a big bubbly butt who is into oral and open to having a FWB with a married man. Looking4sez 61, seeking: W, TM, TW
STONER DEADHEAD LIVING HIS LIFE
Been on this mountain for 25 years. Empathetic, compassionate, generous egoist. Creative tool-using lover of science, magic and humanity. Maker of music, pizza, tie-dyes and other creative oddities. Seeking a fun distraction. A muse. Growth. A dinner companion. A break from solitude. If magic happens, I am not likely to run away. MountainAnarchist, 58, seeking: W, l
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
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
EDGEWATER GALLERY
We happened to walk out of the show together. You asked if I saw the northern lights. You were wearing a blue summer dress and a lovely smile. I sensed that you wanted to continue our conversation. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Coffee? When: Saturday, May 25, 2024. Where: Edgewater Gallery. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916017
SUPER HOT GUY AT CHIPOTLE
You were with your girlfriend (or mom?) walking into Chipotle. You were in the passenger seat. Dark brown hair slicked back, black shirt, very tall. I was wearing a floral dress and sun hat. Almost ran into you walking in as you were walking out, near the door. Just wanted to say you look great. When: Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Where: Chipotle. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916016
AN ANGEL WEARING A SUIT
Andrew, we met on a Sunday last winter. I still think about you every day. Every time I looked at you as we walked on Church Street, your beauty intimidated me. I regret moving away when you tried to kiss me in the parking lot. I wasn’t expecting it and I didn’t want us bonking heads. Love, Andrea When: Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Where: VPB in Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916015
NEON JESUS IN CITY MARKET
I overheard you explaining how to make vegan ramp pasta in a strange British accent to a children’s birthday party. The next day I was delighted to see you in a yellow helmet and neon vest rollerblading through City Market. I think I saw you pocket an avocado but I won’t tell. Go on a picnic sometime? When: Sunday, May 19, 2024. Where: MetroRock. You: Man. Me: Couple. #916014
Dear Reverend,
If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!
JAZZ CAT ON GREEN BIKE
We were eating creemees on North Ave and you biked by on a handmade bicycle. Your flowing mane and handwoven suspenders caught our eye. In climbing shoes, you were playing jazz guitar with an orange cat on your shoulder. A man of many talents? A 24-y/o with a bachelor’s in arts? Call if you want to see B&P? When: Sunday, May 19, 2024. Where: North Ave. You: Man. Me: Couple. #916013
STILL WEARING THAT FLOWER
It was a good day to come off the mountain. I’ll be back to buy that orchid. When: Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Where: Pink Shutter. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916011
MUD CITY LOOP GRAVEL RIDER
Saw you biking while I was out running. You were with a friend, wearing a black top (brown hair). We shot each other a quick “hi” and a smile in passing. Would’ve made more conversation but you were throttling a hill. If you want to go biking sometime, give me a shout! When: Sunday, May 19, 2024. Where: Mud City Loop, Morrisville VT. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916010
CUTE GUY AT REI
I stopped on my way out of REI to look at knives. You showed me the new Benchmade blue knife. I have a great knife collection. Would love to have a hike and a beer with you! You: Cute thin guy, around 5’7, olive green pants, tan shirt. Me: Park ranger, blonde, denim shorts, Skida cap. When: Monday, May 20, 2024. Where: REI Williston. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916009
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
I married my first husband a second time. He believes we are soulmates. I love him but feel we are just two sad sacks who have things in common. How can I better support his beliefs without bursting his bubble?
Sadie Sachsminutes, 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: Thursday, May 16, 2024. Where: Specs Café, Winooski. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916006
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: Thursday, May 16, 2024. Where: The Whammy Bar, Calais. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916004
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
People tend to think that finding their soulmate is this mystical thing that doesn’t happen to everybody. I like to believe it’s simpler than that. Human beings are just flesh and blood with a brain that moves us around here on the Earth until we shuffle off to the next realm. During the brief time we’re here, finding someone you love who loves you back is pretty magical. However, love is not all fireworks and roses every day. Trying to hold any relationship up to a “soulmate” standard isn’t very realistic.
For a while when I was younger, I wasn’t quite sure my parents liked each other all that much. My dad was always doing something in his woodworking shop downstairs, while my mom was
and would love to flirt. When: Monday, May 13, 2024. Where: Crunch Fitness. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916003
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
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: Thursday, May 2, 2024. Where: The 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
each other. Were they soulmates? Who can say? Either way, they certainly did something right. As long as you and your husband love each other and are happy being together this time around, you have nothing to lose by keeping that going — and no reason to be a sad sack. If your husband believes you’re soulmates, what’s the harm? Maybe he’s more in tune with the mystic and is aware of something you have yet to figure out.
upstairs working on whatever crafty project she had going on. They weren’t particularly lovey-dovey with each other. But they raised eight kids, took care of each other and were married for more than 50 years. By anybody’s standards, they had a great life together.
In hindsight, it’s obvious they loved
Good luck and God bless, The Reverend
What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.
Wanting fun, creative people to write stories with, and an illustrator. “ e Grumblebums,” “ e Grumblebums Meet e RumpleMires,” “Crumble and e Grumblebums,” and a dozen more. #L1759
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
Imaginative, attractive man wanting a fun and playful kinky redhead. Let’s play connect-thefreckles on your wildly feminine body. #L1758
Mysterious wolf of a man seeks a sweet little lamb who likes her spankings. Petite or meaty, but not greedy. #L1756
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
Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.
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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
I’m a 33-y/o woman seeking a 33- to 42-y/o man for long-term 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
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
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
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
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
Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)
I’m a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)
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
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
802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM
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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
Cleary/Gagnon/Saulnier Jazz Trio in Residence, feat. Stefanie Weigand
FRI., MAY 31
THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY VILLAGE
Roots 2024
SAT., JUN 1
STRAWBERRY HILL FARM, STOWE
Early Birders Morning Walk
SUN., JUN 2, SUN., JUN 9
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
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
SATURDAYS, JUNE 1 - SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 CITY HALL PARK, DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON 11-3 pm