Seven Days, December 22, 2021

WINTER READING ISSUE

VERMONT’S INDEPENDENT VOICE DECEMBER 22-29, 2021 VOL.27 NO.12 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

CONCERNING THE LOSS TRIUMPH

OF THE VSS CONQUEST SHORT FICTION BY AIMEE PICCHI, PAGE 30

SUCCESS STORIES

PAGE 34

Sci-fi writer thrives in DIY publishing

TIK TOXIC

PAGE 36

An author on reluctant self-promotion

BOOKING DINNER

PAGE 44

Chefs’ favorite literary meals

Do you suffer from Headaches?

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WEEK IN REVIEW DECEMBER 15-22, 2021

COLIN FLANDERS

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY A sign at the CVS on Burlington’s Church Street

emoji that CLASS DISMISSED

Some Vermont schools closed last Friday after a TikTok challenge precipitated worrisome local chatter about shootings. No joking matter.

: M E T I T O H S ’ R A THE YE ID TESTS RAP A mad rush for COVID-19 testing is under way in Vermont as residents try to decide whether it’s advisable to gather with family and friends over the holidays.

Demand for over-the-counter rapid tests has vastly outstripped supply, emptying pharmacies. And Vermont’s well-oiled state-run testing machine has been pushed to its limit: Lines are out the door at popular walk-in sites, while the most populous county was booking appointments into next week.

The arrival of the highly contagious Omicron strain has raised the stakes. If Vermont cases were to jump 50 percent after the holidays — as happened last year — the state could wind up averaging 600 new daily infections, with spikes eclipsing 1,000.

On Tuesday, state leaders urged Vermonters to take precautions.

“We don’t want the lasting memory of 2021 to be regret that our holiday gathering could have been done more safely,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine.

Officials have been urging people for weeks to get tested prior to holiday gatherings. Vermont is requiring certain health insurers to cover the cost of rapid tests; a box of two typically runs $25. But many pharmacies weren’t prepared to process insurance claims, forcing people to purchase the tests themselves and then seek reimbursement; that situation has improved, but now few stores have any tests in stock.

Calls to a dozen pharmacies across the state on Monday

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true802

yielded no available tests. A Walgreens in Montpelier had some over the weekend, but “they went fast and furious,” a worker there said. A CVS in Winooski had turned away nearly 50 people on Monday alone. The CVS on Church Street in Burlington posted handwritten signs declaring that the pharmacy had no tests left to sell. “Every two minutes, someone is looking for one,” a pharmacist there said.

The state will offer free rapid tests at various sites on December 23 and 30. But only 30,000 tests will be available for each of the two days in a state with more than 620,000 residents.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced that the federal government will start delivering 500 million free rapid tests through a website. The Biden administration is also sending medical reinforcements to six states — including Vermont — where hospitals have been hit hard by the latest surge. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent 30 paramedics to Vermont to help transport patients between hospitals and other medical facilities. An additional 20 paramedics and EMTs arrived at the University of Vermont Medical Center last Friday, and most are expected to work there for at least two weeks, helping staff COVID-19 treatment areas.

Asked whether Vermont was prepared for the storm headed its way, Gov. Phil Scott assured that it was, though he quickly added that much depends on the intensity.

“That’s the billion-dollar question,” he said. “How severe is this going to be?”

HEAVY PEDAL

The last section of the Burlington bike path has been rebuilt and reopened, wrapping up a $13 million project that began in 2014.

Wheelie great news.

THIRST TRAP

Vermont Public Radio and Lawson’s Finest Liquids teamed up to create a beer called Brave Little State Pale Ale. Can you tell we’re jealous?

SWEET SURPRISE

Adam Monette of St. Albans won the Holiday Baking Championship contest that aired on Food Network.

Piece of cake!

$15M That’s how much federal money Vermont will receive for programs to make homes more energy efficient.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Santiago’s Cuban Cuisine to Leave New North End Location” by Jordan Barry. The space in Burlington’s Ethan Allen Shopping Center will host another, yet-to-be-announced eatery.

2. “Independent Investigator to Examine Allegation of Discrimination at Frog Hollow”

by Sally Pollak. A former employee says she suffered discrimination because she is Asian.

3. “From ‘Glow Tubing’ to Snowcat Rides, Here’s What Else You Can Do at Vermont’s Ski Resorts” by Sally Pollak. Vermont’s ski resorts are also for swimming, tubing, movies, rock climbing and more.

4. “The Northeast Kingdom’s Quimby Country Resort Has New Owners” by Anne Wallace Allen. Gene and Lilly Devlin purchased 1,000 acres on Forest Lake in Averill that include 19 shoreline cottages, a lodge and a clubhouse.

5. “COVID-19 Surge Has Pushed Hospitals to Their Limit, Hurting Patients in the Process” by Colin Flanders. Hospitals have canceled hundreds of surgeries that require overnight stays.

tweet of the week @FuhhCue VERMONT DRIVERS ARE NOT BUILT FOR NEW YORK CITY STREETS !!!!

Idk how many times I have to yell “DRIVE YOUR FCKN CAR” to a mf with Vermont plates? Go back to Vermont with them bum ass Saabs and Prius hot wheels cars!

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSVT OUR TWEEPLE: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/TWITTER

THAT’S SO VERMONT

Dan Hamel (left) and Hayden Foster

FAMILY REUNION Vickie Foster received terrible news in the spring: Her 9-year-old son, Kayden, desperately needed a kidney transplant. Fearful that he wouldn’t survive a wait, Foster posted on Facebook in search of a donor.

She received a message the next morning from a stranger who was willing to see whether he might be a match. The man, Dan Hamel, also said he was her uncle.

“He told me his story, and it was amazing,” said Foster, a Pownal resident.

That story began long ago, when Hamel, who had been adopted as a baby, first set out to reunite with his biological family. Digging through records at the Bennington Town

Hall, Hamel learned that his mother had died just months earlier but that he had several siblings in the area. He tracked them down and stayed in touch over the next 35 years, eventually leading him to the Facebook post from Foster, one of his sister’s children.

As his great-nephew received daily dialysis treatments, Hamel underwent a long series of tests, each of which suggested that he would be a suitable donor. But physicians still had to determine whether he had the right type of tissue. As Hamel drove home from work one evening, his phone buzzed. “This is the best day ever,” Foster’s text said. “You’re a perfect match.”

“It was like it was meant to be,” said Hamel, a 57-year-old truck driver who lives in Hartland.

Hamel finally met Kayden at a softball tournament in late September held to raise money for his operation. The two posed for a picture wearing shirts that read, “We Match #kidneybuddies.” Surgeons transplanted the kidney a month later. The procedure was a success.

The transplant has had a major impact on both donor and recipient. Kayden, who had not grown in two years, suddenly has an appetite again — especially for pizza. Hamel, meanwhile, feels closer to his family than ever; he and Foster text almost daily, and he regularly visits Kayden.

“There’s no words that describe what this did for me as a person,” Hamel said.

COLIN FLANDERS SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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CHAPTER AND VERSE

publisher & editor-in-chief

Paula Routly

deputy publisher Cathy Resmer AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

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NEWS & POLITICS editor Matthew Roy deputy editor Sasha Goldstein consulting editor Candace Page stAff writers Derek Brouwer, Chelsea Edgar,

Colin Flanders, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Anne Wallace Allen A R T S & C U LT U R E

coeditors Dan Bolles, Elizabeth M. Seyler AssociAte editor Margot Harrison Art editor Pamela Polston consulting editor Mary Ann Lickteig Music editor Chris Farnsworth cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton speciAlty publicAtions MAnAger Carolyn Fox stAff writers Jordan Adams, Jordan Barry,

Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard, Sally Pollak

proofreAders Carolyn Fox, Frank Smecker AssistAnt proofreAders

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

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D I G I TA L & V I D E O digitAl production speciAlist Bryan Parmelee senior MultiMediA producer Eva Sollberger MultiMediA journAlist James Buck DESIGN creAtive director Don Eggert Art director Rev. Diane Sullivan production MAnAger John James designers Jeff Baron, Kirsten Thompson SALES & MARKETING director of sAles Colby Roberts senior Account executive Michael Bradshaw Account executives Robyn Birgisson,

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka

MArketing & events director Corey Barrows sAles & MArketing coordinAtor Katie Hodges A D M I N I S T R AT I O N business MAnAger Marcy Carton director of circulAtion Matt Weiner circulAtion deputy Andy Watts CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Benjamin Aleshire, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Steve Goldstein, Margaret Grayson, Amy Lilly, Kim MacQueen, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Yasmin Tayeby, Travis Weedon, Molly Zapp CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Diana Bolton, James Buck, Jim Duval, Luke Eastman, Caleb Kenna, Matt Mignanelli, Marc Nadel, Tim Newcomb, Oliver Parini, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly C I R C U L AT I O N : 3 5 , 0 0 0 Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction and Plattsburgh, N.Y. Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Laval, Québec.

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FEEDback READER REACTION TO RECENT ARTICLES

BAD DATE

Hello! I was excited to read about AO Glass’ contribution to Maya Lin’s art installation in Philadelphia [“Blown Away: AO Glass Creates Handblown Globes for Renowned Artist Maya Lin,” December 8]. However, I thought it odd that the article states the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1993. I had visited when I was a kid in 1991 and decided to check out the date. It was dedicated on November 11, 1982, according to the National Park Service’s website.

Emily Wolfe

SOUTH BURLINGTON

MAIL FAIL?

[Re “Delivery Debacles,” December 1]: I live in the Eastwoods neighborhood of South Burlington. We haven’t had reliable mail delivery for a couple of years now, since our last mailman was transferred, but it’s only been getting worse and is now to the point where delivery is nearly nonexistent.

For more than a month, we haven’t been getting mail on Fridays or Saturdays.

Both of those days would be delivered on Sundays, but from the day before Thanksgiving to December 6, we received mail exactly two days: Sunday, November 28, and Wednesday, December 1. This weekend, we didn’t even get a Sunday delivery.

I’ve had a package “out for delivery” since 6:25 on Thursday morning, and by Monday I still don’t have it. What if it contained important medication? This is simply inexcusable.

Last week, I called the Pine Street depot and spoke to a supervisor. I asked in all honesty if we’d been removed from the delivery route. He said he had a truck out that day, like he was doing us a favor, and I ended the conversation more frustrated than ever about the situation.

I understand that they’re shortstaffed, but for an entire neighborhood to be skipped day after day after day is incomprehensible. I’ve started to have packages sent to my office, because at least there’s reliable delivery there. But I shouldn’t have to do that.

Complaints seem to fall on deaf ears, but with the way the federal government is being run right now, I guess it’s not really surprising.

Melissa Lapierre

SOUTH BURLINGTON ©2021 Da Capo Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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WEEK IN REVIEW

TIM NEWCOMB

restrictions (such as New Hampshire and Utah) or receives more visits from within its own state or province (such as New York and Québec).

The national skier visit numbers were strong, as were those for surrounding states such as Massachusetts (up 13 percent) and New York (up 15 percent).

These increases were due in large part to skiers’ inability to travel to Vermont last season. While we’re always excited to see more Vermonters entering and reentering the sport, those in-state attendance numbers alone can’t offset the loss of the skiers from neighboring states who are drawn to Vermont each winter.

We are very encouraged by the positive season pass sales and pace of winter reservations for the upcoming season, which both suggest a lot of pent-up demand for Vermont skiing.

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LOVE OUR MAIL DRIVER

[Re “Delivery Debacles,” December 1]: I believe that the post office is obviously understaffed; that’s a given. But the service to my household is impeccable!

Our mail driver, Tammy, has our mail in the box within 15 minutes of 9 a.m. every day. We have never received anything that wasn’t meant to be there; nothing that we know of has been delivered to the wrong house. If I’m outside, she will always wait and have a conversation with me, ask about my family, and talk about the project I am working on. She remembers everything we talk about.

We are very appreciative of the postal service in our area, the friendly people, the great service. They’re always there to answer any questions, with smiles on their faces. It’s an all-around great experience.

Happy holidays to all!

Cooper Hodgeman FILE: MATT MIGNANELLI

DERBY

SNOW GOING

I’m hoping to offer some context to the misperceptions about Vermont’s ski industry presented in a November 24 letter to the editor [Feedback: “Ski Season Not So ‘Dismal.’”] Ski Vermont doesn’t release revenue or visitation data for individual ski areas, but I had confirmed that we provide aggregated skier visit information for the state, which would have been relevant.

Here are the skier-rider visitation numbers for the past three seasons: 2020-21: 3.5 million (16 percent below 2018-19, the last full season of operation; and 14 percent below the 10-year average of 4.1 million).

2019-20 (industry shutdown in midMarch): 3.7 million (12 percent below 2018-19).

2018-19: 4.2 million.

Skier visits alone don’t tell the whole story of COVID-19’s industry impact, since important lines of business — such as lodging, food and beverage, and ski school — were all severely disrupted.

Comparing the first five months of 202021 to the same months of 2019-20 (cut short in March), we saw lodging business off by 60 percent and food and beverage off by 70 percent. Paid skier visits also declined by 40 percent.

Because of Vermont’s draw as a top ski destination, the majority of our skier visits come from out-of-state guests, so the strict interstate travel requirements and closure of the Canadian border had a big impact on business last season.

The inability of such a large population to visit has to be factored in to compare Vermont’s numbers with those of a state that didn’t contend with similar travel

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Rivard is director of communications for Ski Vermont.

‘GAME’ ON

The Fair Game column is missed. How about a potluck version contributed by Vermont journalists statewide?

GRE AT GIFTS!

Howard Fairman

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Editor’s note: We haven’t given up on Fair Game, and we’re actively seeking a full-time columnist. Know somebody who is interested? Tell them to get in touch at columnist@sevendaysvt.com.

FEEDBACK

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CORRECTION

*For catalog gift baskets only

Last week’s news story “Second Chances” contained an error. Employment agency Working Fields is not a nonprofit organization.

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contents DECEMBER 22-29, 2021 VOL.27 NO.12

COLUMNS

SECTIONS

11 39 45 60 63 64 93

22 44 50 54 60 64 66 70 71

Magnificent 7 WTF Side Dishes Soundbites Album Reviews Movie Review Ask the Reverend

CONCERNING THE LOSS TRIUMPH OF THE VSS CONQUEST SHORT FICTION BY AIMEE PICCHI, PAGE 30

93

Life Lines Food + Drink Culture Art Music + Nightlife On Screen Calendar Classes Classifieds + Puzzles 89 Fun Stuff 92 Personals

FOOD 44 Food or Fiction?

Well-read Vermont chefs share their favorite literary meals

Buried Treasure Calais author digs into truffles around the world and surprisingly close to home

48

STUCK IN VERMONT

Online Now

COVER IMAGE JIM DUVAL • COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN

FEATURES 29 Cover to Cover

Welcome to the Winter Reading Issue

Fantastic Voyage 14

NEWS & POLITICS 13 From the Publisher Mad at Meetings

Crowds at Burlington City Council meetings are becoming increasingly uncivil

College Try

Programs help disadvantaged Vermont students achieve higher-ed goals, but inequity remains

Vermont sci-fi author Craig Alanson finds self-publishing success

BookTok Boogie

What one author learned from touting books on an addictive social media platform

Winter Poems

A collection by Leath Tonino

Resonant Reads

Seven Days reviewers share some favorite Vermont books from 2021

50

CULTURE 50 A School of Their Own

Veteran educator Tal Birdsey helps adolescents discover what ignites them

Maid and Muse

Book review: Emily’s House, Amy Belding Brown

Forty years ago, John Murray became an SUPPORTED BY: electrician in his native Ireland. In 1998, he settled in Burlington and founded Murray Electric. He is in the process of passing his business to two employees — Sylas DeMello and Ryan McLaughlin — who are more like family than coworkers.

We have

Find a new job in the classifieds section on page 78 and online at sevendaysvt.com/jobs.

Penciled In

In the new book The Heart of Drawing, artists show, tell and inspire

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LOOKING FORWARD

MAGNIFICENT

WEDNESDAY 22

Bless Us, Every One The talented thespians of Vermont Youth Theater present Old-Fashioned Christmas, a collection of carols and classic tales performed at Bethany United Church of Christ in Montpelier. The teen troupe performs scenes from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the 9 through 12 cohort puts on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Father Christmas Letters, and actors ages 5 through 8 present Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPI L E D BY E MI LY HAMI LTON

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

WEDNESDAY 22, THURSDAY 23 & SUNDAY 26

Merry and Bright Kids and caretakers pack into the family minivan for their last few chances to experience Holiday Lights! at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland.

The 15-minute drive provides views of spectacular light displays, some as tall as two and a half stories high. Those who tune in to 89.3FM enjoy a festive soundtrack and missives from Santa himself.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

OPENS ON SUNDAY 26

HIGH-FLYING HOLIDAY The New England Center for Circus Arts’ annual solstice and holiday extravaganza goes virtual with ’Twas the Night..., streaming on demand through January 2. The program features filmed performances from NECCA’s professional program and youth troupes in a gladsome, gravity-defying celebration of stunts and the season.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

TUESDAY 28

Pen to Paper Anyone whose New Year’s resolution list includes “finally write that novel” or “start writing regularly again” can make their way to the Morristown Centennial Library in Morrisville for Work in Progress. The weekly writing group encourages attendees to write for one uninterrupted hour, followed by a convivial debrief with their fellow wordsmiths.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

MONDAY 27

Reindeer Games

WEDNESDAY 29

Reindeer Live grants little ones (and the young at heart) the opportunity to meet Dasher, Prancer and Cupid in real life at Burlington’s ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Vermont Reindeer Farm brings out its antlered charges for three presentations, and curious kids learn what makes these furry friends so suited for cold weather and foggy Christmas Eves.

A Shocking Display The Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington hosts HED Talks — the acronym stands for “Humor.

Entertainment. Dumb.” — in which local comedians must give a speech based on a PowerPoint presentation they have never laid eyes on before their moment onstage. Persuasive, preposterous and, dare we say, pioneering.

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 62

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

ONGOING

COURTESY OF SHAWN SWITHENBANK

Domestic Bliss

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

Visitors to Jackson Tupper’s solo show “Mayo” at Safe and Sound Gallery in Burlington may suspect that quarantine is the artist’s happy place. His bold, blocky acrylics celebrate the idiosyncratic pleasures of life behind closed doors: doing the crossword on the toilet, making a sandwich in your underwear and playing an absolutely knock-down, drag-out game of ping-pong with your housemate.

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 55

THIS IS A SAMPLING OF VERMONT’S IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS. BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/EVENTS. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Page-Turners “It was up there on the Kuwaiti-Saudi border back on Christmas eve, 1990. Right on the goddamn border. Saudis had a big sand berm 20 feet high that ran the whole border, and every thousand feet or so in the sand berm was a big concrete fortress we called the Alamo. Saudi border guards were in the Alamo in normal times to keep out the infidels. No sign of those Saudis fuckers now. Just a dozen Third Force reconnaissance marines, spitting chew on the sand rats’ oriental rugs in the downstairs tea room of the Alamo, maybe thinking about you all back home holding hands around the Christmas tree singing hallelujah.”

So began “From Basra to Bethlehem,” Seven Days’ first published work of fiction, in the issue dated December 20, 1995. Pamela Polston and I had just started the paper; we were a dozen or so weeks into it when writer Tom Paine offered us a “short story for the season.” Both of us immediately recognized how good it was. Narrated in the voice of a disillusioned Desert Storm vet — “a clean-cut Burlington boy who joined the Marines to get money for college” — it was a taut take on modern desert warfare, a very different kind of Christmas story.

Seven Days earned a Pushcart Prize for publishing it, and the Winter Reading Issue was born.

Good writing has always been our aim at Seven Days; in the beginning, we freely mixed journalism and fiction. Our very first issue featured a trippy piece by University of Vermont English professor Phil Baruth, now also a state senator. The next year, in advance of Thanksgiving, we convened a “literary potluck,” to which David Huddle, John Engels, Peter Kurth, Bill Scheller and Abigail Stone, among others, brought “dishes.” Ron Powers wrote about “my dad and his thing with the celery stick,” a memory that “somehow stuck in the mind like a private ritual accidentally observed.” Our production manager at the time, Samantha Hunt, offered sweet potatoes and a glimpse of her impending career as a prolific, award-winning novelist.

For several years, the paper organized an Emerging Writers Competition, and the winning entry headlined our Summer Reading Issue, which has since been replaced by the annual Cartoon Issue.

More recently, two months into the pandemic, we wrangled creative writing, poetry and cartoons from local artists to create an entertaining and therapeutic “Green Mountain Quaranzine.”

While rigorously reported, fact-checked journalism serves the community, you could argue that fiction feeds the soul — especially at a time like this.

Seven Days culture critic and associate editor Margot Harrison assigned the stories for this literary issue and contributed one of her own: a humorous personal essay about navigating If you like what we do and can afford to help TikTok as an author promoting her books. pay for it, become a Seven Days Super Reader!

Margot has worked full time with us for 14 Look for the “Give Now” buttons at the top of years, reviewing countless films and books sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your while bringing her grammar lessons and address and contact info to: English PhD perfectionism to every story she

SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS edits. During that time, she has written two

P.O. BOX 1164 novels for young-adult readers. The third is

BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164 forthcoming in July from Little, Brown Books For more information on making a financial for Young Readers. contribution to Seven Days, please contact I love the title: We Made It All Up. Corey Barrows:

Paula Routly

VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 136 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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news

MORE INSIDE

IS STATEHOUSE SAFE FOR SESSION? PAGE 16

LABOR

PROPERTY OWNERS FIGHT BIG FARM PAGE 19

HOUSING PLAN FOR BURLINGTON PAGE 20

TIM NEWCOMB

Independent Investigator to Examine Allegation of Discrimination at Frog Hollow B Y S A L LY P O L L A K sally@sevendaysvt.com An independent investigator will examine allegations of workplace discrimination made against Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery, a shop on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.

Last week on social media, Misoo Bang claimed there had been “multiple incidents of discrimination” against her by a Frog Hollow supervisor. Bang, 41, also described those incidents to Seven Days, saying they occurred during the three years she worked there. She resigned in March.

MATTHEW ROY

Misoo Bang

Mad at Meetings

Crowds at Burlington City Council meetings are becoming increasingly uncivil B Y CO UR T NEY L A M DIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

A

manda Skehan felt nervous when she stepped to the microphone at the Burlington City Council meeting on October 18. The atmosphere that night was tense. Dozens of people had converged on city hall to debate two highly charged topics: the city’s plan to close a homeless encampment and a proposal to hire more police officers.

Skehan had come to ask councilors to retain the police department’s domestic violence prevention position. But as soon as she broached the topic, members of the audience booed and laughed. Skehan revealed that she was a survivor of domestic abuse and said police officers can help

POLITICS

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

victims such as herself. Then she turned to the crowd.

“Please, everyone, you know how hard it is to get up here and talk about this,” Skehan said evenly. “Please, stop booing people.”

Skehan’s experience was hardly a one-off. The crowds at Burlington council meetings have become increasingly uncivil in recent months as elected officials have confronted issues including poverty, racial justice and the coronavirus pandemic. Speakers routinely blow past their allotted time during the public forums that are a regular part of council meetings. Audience members hurl profanities at councilors despite warnings.

City hall has seen plenty of fiery debates over the years, but now incivility has become commonplace and a growing concern to those on the receiving end.

Earlier this month, longtime Councilor Chip Mason (D-Ward 5) announced that he wouldn’t seek reelection next year — in part, he said, because “it’s hard to continue to be yelled at.”

The people doing the yelling say they’re moved to speak — sometimes loudly — against injustice, and that attempts to police their tone distract from the issues at hand. But councilors say it’s hard to listen when the message is being conveyed through shouting and profanity.

MAD AT MEETINGS

» P.16

Bang, who is of Korean descent, said the alleged comments by the manager were made in a “very casual, laughing manner.”

The remarks included the supervisor telling Bang that for Halloween she dressed up as a “Chinese slut with a pregnant belly, and my boyfriend was a U.S. soldier,” according to Bang.

On another occasion, when a parade of people dressed in traditional Chinese clothing walked past the gallery, Bang said, the same supervisor got excited: “She said, ‘Misoo, it’s OK if you want to go join your people.’” Bang said the manager also suggested that Bang’s “exotic” appearance accounted for her strong gallery sales. The remark dismissed Bang’s expertise and knowledge as a painter with a master’s degree in art, Bang said.

Beth Danon, a lawyer for the nonprofit that runs the store, said that “much of what’s been alleged has been denied.” The matter is confidential because it’s a personnel issue involving employment, she said. Danon said she recommended to the board that the allegations be investigated by an independent party, Montpelier lawyer Denise Bailey, who “has no interest in the outcome.” m

College Try

Programs help disadvantaged Vermont students achieve higher-ed goals, but inequity remains

BY ALISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

S

amjana Rai knew no English when, The one based at UVM, with a staff of at age 12, she moved with her two and a budget of $312,000, supports family from Nepal to the United 63 kids from Burlington and Winooski.

States. But now, as a senior at Burlington One requirement to take part? A strong High School, Rai has applied to half a drive to succeed. dozen colleges and has a few more appli“We’re very clear with them from the cations to send in before the January 1 outset that this is a pretty big commitdeadline. ment,” Hurwitz said.

Rai’s parents don’t speak English and The program has been extremely didn’t attend high school or college, so the successful. Eighty-nine percent of teenager needed guidance to students who participated in achieve her higher-educathe program and graduated tion goals. She credits a free, in 2021 from Burlington and decades-old federal program Winooski high schools went called Upward Bound with providing directly to college. Some have gone on to her one-on-one support that led her to elite institutions. the cusp of college. Over two years, staff Key Nguyen connected with Upward helped Rai select high school courses and Bound during his first year at Winooski complete college applications, essays and High School, when he was a new arrival financial-aid forms. from Vietnam who spoke “They actually sit next little English. With the help to you, tell you what to do of his counselors, he earned and answer questions,” a full-ride scholarship to Rai said. “They’re like a UVM in 2017 and is now tutor, mentor, your friends getting his master’s degree — everything.” in nursing at the University At least three similar of Pennsylvania. federal programs operate in His classmate, Rainbow the state, providing invaluChen, also participated in able help to low-income the program, then went to students or those who Brown University. She is ADAM HU RWITZ would be the first in their now a Fulbright scholar family to attend college. studying education in The support is needed: In 2020, just 46 Europe. The program played a “monupercent of Vermont high school grads mental” role in her ability to attend a from historically marginalized groups selective college, Chen said.

— those in poverty, English language It also “creates a community … and learners, those who are BIPOC and those brings all of us together, building a place with disabilities — ultimately enrolled in where we don’t feel left out or scrutinized higher ed, compared to 62 percent of all for having the identities we have,” Chen students. Combined with the disconnect- wrote in an email. edness and uncertainty brought on by the In rural Essex County, Canaan pandemic, the divide has only deepened, Memorial High School senior Melody educators say.

Oakes has her heart set on higher ed.

“We have tons of interest … because Oakes, whose parents didn’t attend I think we’ve shown how successful college, has applied to 15 schools with students can be when they commit to help from an outreach counselor at this kind of preparation,” said Adam GEAR UP, a program through the Hurwitz, the program director for a Vermont Student Assistance Corporachapter of Upward Bound run through tion. Using federal dollars, VSAC sends the University of Vermont. “And the need mentors to some 75 middle and high is just so high. We could probably serve schools across the state through GEAR two programs’ worth of students.”

UP and another program called Talent Upward Bound is a product of federal Search, both of which have similar education reforms passed during the missions to Upward Bound.

1960s. Today, it has 960 chapters across COLLEGE TRY » P.18 the country, including four in Vermont.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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news STATEHOUSE

Statehouse Panel Drafts Safety Rules for Another Pandemic Session B Y A NNE WAL L A C E ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

City Council President Max Tracy (P-Ward 2) began presiding over contentious meetings soon after he took the gavel in March 2020. That June, hundreds of activists called in to the council’s virtual meetings to demand that the city cut police staffing and invest in communities of color.

To accommodate all the speakers, the council allowed for a record-breaking 10-hour public forum, carried out over two days.

Controversy over policing has dominated public discourse since then, drawing a host of often disruptive speakers each time the topic surfaces. In January, the Burlington Police Officers’ Association criticized Tracy’s practice of allowing Black, Indigenous and other people of color to address the council first, arguing that the method silenced opposing viewpoints.

Tracy fired back that it was racist to insinuate that all people of color are anti-police.

Still, he stopped the practice based on advice from the city attorney.

Now that councilors have resumed meeting in person, Tracy gives priority to Burlington residents who come to city hall to speak during the public forums.

Residents who call in come next; nonresidents go last. Depending on the number of sign-ups, people have two or three minutes to speak; the entire forum is limited to two hours unless councilors vote to extend it.

But even as Tracy has tried to create structure, the forums have become more difficult to control. In September, when the council debated a resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestine, groups on both sides of the issue clashed inside the council chamber with warring chants. Whenever a person representing one viewpoint spoke past the time limit, the opposition yelled at the speaker to finish.

The behavior isn’t limited to one political persuasion. While people on the far left show up more frequently for their causes, conservatives contributed to the council’s most chaotic meeting yet earlier this month when they argued against a proposed mask mandate for indoor public spaces. Not only were the anti-maskers unruly during the public forum, they also screamed at councilors during deliberations, prompting Tracy to bang his rarely used gavel.

At the following council meeting, Burlington Republican Party chair Christopher-Aaron Felker decried the “shocking degradation of civility,” though he himself had ignored the time limit when speaking about the mask policy at the previous meeting.

A former council president, Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District), presided in the past over her share of rancorous meetings, including debates on gun control

Audience members arguing at a September meeting

FILE PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

Masks will be the order of the day when Vermont lawmakers return to Montpelier on January 4 for the legislative session. Everyone, including members of the public, must wear one inside the Statehouse and some nearby buildings in the capitol complex under a draft plan approved last week by the legislature’s Joint Rules committee.

The panel also agreed to a policy that would give employees the choice of showing a vaccination card or getting regular COVID-19 tests.

Vermont is struggling to control its highest COVID-19 infection rate yet, and, on Saturday, the state reported its first case of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.

The panel’s recommendations are now being considered separately by the House and Senate Rules committees. Whatever those bodies decide, Joint Rules will reconvene on Tuesday, December 28, to review the rules.

Joint Rules has been working on the draft policy for several months. Its goal is to keep the Statehouse open for business but limit risk to lawmakers, the complex’s 100 or so employees, and the public.

Under the draft approved last week, lawmakers and their staff would be asked to get a rapid COVID-19 test the day before and the day of a return to the Statehouse. They’d also be asked to show proof of a “fully protected” vaccine status, meaning two doses for vaccines such as Pfizer’s and Moderna’s or one for Johnson & Johnson’s, or to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test every week.

The requirement does not include a booster shot.

If lawmakers and staff don’t have that proof, they could attest that they have the required shots. Religious exemptions could be made.

Members of the public, too, would be asked, but not required, to show proof of vaccination. They’d also be asked to perform a rapid COVID-19 test — provided at the Statehouse — and obtain a negative result. Visitors would be allowed into committee rooms, as they were before the pandemic.

Left unresolved was the question of how to address a lawmaker who refuses both the vaccine and testing.

It’s also not clear what would happen if a lawmaker were to test positive for COVID-19 and need to work — and vote — remotely. m

Mad at Meetings « P.14

and protections for abortion providers.

But Shannon said bad behavior at meetings has become the new normal. She’s been the target of that behavior herself, particularly for her votes to bolster the police department. At one recent meeting, activists donned homemade T-shirts with the slogan “Fxck Jxxn Shxnnxn” across the chest. Shannon suggested that these “bullying tactics” have continued because Tracy didn’t rein them in soon enough.

“Max has taken an approach of I don’t want to escalate things,” she said. “I took more of an approach of I’m not going to tolerate this.”

Shannon’s technique was apparent in one rowdy meeting in 2013, when councilors were debating the plan to base F-35 fighter jets at Burlington International Airport. When one man went over his speaking limit, Shannon pounded the gavel and chastised him for taking up others’ time. He finally relented, and Shannon lectured the entire crowd about the need for civil discourse.

Shannon is rarely allied with the council president, but she and Tracy have met a number of times to discuss ways to control the crowds.

“We’re working on it,” Shannon said.

“It’s not easy.”

Indeed, Tracy’s measured demeanor isn’t always effective and can sometimes provoke outbursts instead of tamp them down. Last week, when activists spoke out against the city’s destruction of the Sears Lane homeless encampment, many exceeded their time limit. But when Tracy asked them to “Please wrap up,” members of the audience sometimes yelled back, “Shut up, Max!” Tracy says he tries to remain calm during emotionally charged meetings, because he fears that raising his voice or taking a “paternalistic tone” would backfire

— or intimidate others who want to speak.

Tracy has taken to asking his fellow councilors for backup, a request both Shannon and Councilor Joe Magee (P-Ward 3) have heeded at recent meetings, when they reminded the crowd to be respectful.

Tracy said he’s wary of taking more forceful steps, such as removing people from the meeting or closing public forum, and has asked city attorney Dan Richardson for legal advice on how to respond to major disruptions. He’ll share Richardson’s forthcoming memo with his colleagues.

“If we’re considering taking additional steps, I think it’s important that the full council has a chance to engage around what that might look like,” Tracy said.

But Tracy said he also understands why people are upset, particularly about Sears Lane, which Mayor Miro Weinberger ordered closed in October following arrests there involving guns and drugs.

Tracy opposed the decision, and his fellow Progs tried unsuccessfully to pass several resolutions to save the encampment. But acting out doesn’t help the activists’ cause, Tracy said, adding that it’s disheartening when people ignore his “reasonable requests” to maintain order.

“It’s really upsetting to be disrespected continuously,” he said.

Tracy, a 10-year councilor who nearly won the mayor’s race in March, isn’t sure whether he’ll seek another term. Asked whether the stressful meetings are weighing on him, Tracy answered in the affirmative.

“You’ve seen what’s been going on,” he told Seven Days in an interview last week.

“It’s pretty miserable.”

Miguel Figueroa has participated in several public forums, most recently about Sears Lane. A first-year student at the University of Vermont, Figueroa said he started visiting the camp for cleanups and cookouts led by mutual aid groups. He

got to know some of the nearly 40 people who called Sears Lane home.

On December 10, Figueroa watched as bucket loaders piled campers’ belongings into a dumpster. He attended the council meeting three days later, telling officials, “I hope that you’re all goddamn ashamed of yourselves.”

Figueroa said he didn’t join in his comrades’ jeering that evening but understands those who did. The council’s attempts to police the tone that speakers employ — and the media coverage of it — distract from the real issue, he said.

“Telling somebody to calm down or to be less impassioned about something, in a sense, lessens the harm that the problem has caused,” Figueroa said. “The idea is, This isn’t big enough of a deal for you to be swearing over it. But stubbing your toe is an issue worth swearing over,

“There’s no debate to be had,” she said. “I can see why [councilors] say, ‘Don’t yell.’ But at this point, they’ve made it abundantly clear they’re not listening.”

Weinberger disagrees. Officials were listening at the mask meeting, the mayor said — they just vehemently disagreed with the arguments made by Hume and others.

As an elected official, Weinberger said he knows that being publicly criticized is part of the job. But constituents shouldn’t be ridiculed when they address the council, he said.

“Many people have expressed a reluctance to make public comments in this current atmosphere,” he said. “I think that might be the biggest casualty.”

Skehan, who was booed at the October council meeting, understands that some people speak louder when they feel

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City Council President Max Tracy (P-Ward 2) during a contentious meeting in September

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IT’S REALLY UPSETTING

TO BE DISRESPECTED CONTINUOUSLY. CI T Y COUNCIL P RESIDEN T MAX T R ACY

so destroying a homeless encampment feels like very much an issue worth swearing over.”

Burlington parent Jennifer Hume similarly defended her compatriots at the council’s mask mandate meeting. Hume, who opposed the mandate, abided by the speaking rules, but she gets why many others didn’t. She said councilors seemed to have their minds made up and weren’t willing to consider critics’ arguments against the mask requirement.

People were frustrated, Hume said, because the council’s forum isn’t set up for a conversation. People say their piece, but councilors don’t respond.

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unheard. But it was also intimidating to be heckled while discussing her personal trauma, she said. Feeling embarrassed after she finished speaking, Skehan sat on the floor of the council chamber and tried not to cry. She said she later learned that several people were attending their first-ever council meeting — and vowed not to return because the crowd was so disruptive.

Skehan emailed Tracy to suggest that the council address the civility issue using the principles of restorative justice, where the harmed parties meet with those who hurt them and find a way to move forward. Tracy said he’s open to the idea.

Meantime, Skehan says she will still speak at the council’s public forums when there’s an issue that’s important to her.

“It takes a little bit of time to … work back up the courage,” she said. “But when you’re passionate about something and you care, you do go back — just a little bit more haltingly.” m 4T-lippas122221 1

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news Though many students from her high school stay local and go into the workforce after graduation, Oakes said she wants to take a different path. Once she finds out where she’s been accepted, she’ll work with her counselor to assess the best options, both financially and academically.

“I kind of want to go out and do my own thing,” Oakes said. “I want to go to college to be able to provide for myself in the future … not only just the money but find a job that I can be in that I will enjoy.”

The 2019 college admissions scandal — in which well-off parents, including CEOs and celebrities, paid bribes to get their kids into college — made clear that the playing field isn’t level. More affluent students can afford SAT prep courses and hire tutors. Their parents, who are often college-educated, generally have an easier time navigating college applications.

Programs such as Upward Bound and GEAR UP aim to make the process more equitable. But their reach is limited — in part, by funding.

“That’s very tough,” said Matt Yu, assistant director at UVM’s Upward Bound program. “Because it’s like, Dang, I know there’s more need here. And those kids [who don’t participate], what happens to them?”

Other organizations are trying to fill in the gaps. The nonprofit King Street Center recently hired an academic and career advocate to help older teens plan for what comes after high school. Dacia Ostlund, the center’s associate director, noted that programs such as Upward Bound are “for very high fliers, students that get the best grades, and they’re sort of recruited.

“That’s not every kid,” she continued.

“But it doesn’t mean that other kids don’t deserve the same level of support and opportunity. They just need to find where their path is going to lead them.”

Filling the new position for the center is Yuol Herjok. He attended Burlington schools after moving here from Sudan and graduated from what was then Lyndon State College in 2017. Yuol credits his parents, a mentor and staff from the King Street Center with helping him on his path to higher education.

One of the most challenging aspects of the application process, especially for families who speak limited English, Yuol said, is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. Not only do students have to fill out a complicated form, but they also need to provide a long list of documents to show their financial status.

“A lot of my peers just didn’t have that strong support system compared to me, and, as a result, a lot of them didn’t end up 18

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

DARIA BISHOP

College Try « P.15

Samjana Rai discussing her college essay with Adam Hurwitz of the University of Vermont’s Upward Bound program in the Burlington High School library

going to college. And it’s not because I was smarter than them, or anything like that.

It’s just that the process was very difficult,” Yuol said.

In the face of a pandemic, sometimes even intensive support isn’t enough.

IT’S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT CHILDREN. D AC IA O S TL UND

This year, Upward Bound and similar programs saw a significant jump in the number of students who had planned to attend college in the fall but didn’t due to the financial and social disruptions of the pandemic, Upward Bound director Hurwitz said. One Burlington student, according to Hurwitz, was accepted to a top-tier university — and received $70,000 in annual scholarships and grants — but

turned down the offer so he could work to help support his family. The student currently attends the Community College of Vermont part time.

“I’ve seen instances where the pandemic did light a fire under some folks,” said Yu, Upward Bound’s assistant director, “but then I’ve also seen ... a sense of hopelessness, and then [students] feel like giving up, or they feel like nothing really matters.”

Ostlund said she’s noticed “a level of disconnect and alienation” that has affected the social-emotional wellness and drive of the primarily refugee and immigrant youth who attend the King Street Center. She attributes it to both COVID-19 and the closure of the Burlington High School campus in the fall of 2020 after toxic chemicals were found there. Students have been attending classes at a former Macy’s department store.

The mental health challenges have made the jobs of mentors and school guidance counselors all the more important.

In addition to offering academic, college and career counseling, counselors must

provide social and emotional support to students — work that has played an outsize role during the pandemic, said Meg Hughart Fugate, a guidance counselor in the South Burlington School District.

It can be difficult to keep up when counselors have about 250 students on their caseload. At Burlington High School, where 57 percent of all graduates went directly to college this year — compared to just 39 percent of lowincome students — guidance counselor Karen Prouty thinks that she and her colleagues are doing a good job reaching all kids. But she’d support hiring more counselors so they could spend more time with each student. Collaborating with outside organizations such as Upward Bound, plus tapping into volunteers and mentors, can ensure that students get the help they need, she added.

Ostlund, at the King Street Center, also believes in a collaborative approach.

“It’s about working together as a community to support children,” she said.

“It’s knowing who you can call on and who will be a partner in this work to help kids succeed.” m

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SNOWFLAKES Pollution Suit Against Large Dairy Farm Goes to Trial in Addison County

FILE: CALEB KENNA

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A closely watched civil trial that began in Addison County Superior Court last week has pitted a pair of Panton landowners against the Vorsteveld Farm, a dairy operation that farms roughly 2,400 acres and milks 1,400 cows. The trial, which had been expected to conclude last Friday, will resume in January.

The plaintiffs, Dennis and Vicki Hopper, spend about five months a year at their lakefront home on Arnold Bay Road, downhill from the cornfields where brothers Hans, Gerard and Rudy Vorsteveld grow feed for their herd. The Hoppers allege that the Vorstevelds’ crop and manure management practices have increased the flow of runoff onto their land and rendered their shoreline, on Arnold Bay in Lake Champlain, unsuitable for recreation.

In 2017, the Vorstevelds installed a tile drainage system in the cornfields. The underground network of corrugated pipes collects water and conveys it to two culverts on Arnold Bay Road, across from the Hopper property. The water flows beneath the road and into streams on the Hoppers’ land before emptying into Arnold Bay. The Hoppers, represented by Rob Woolmington and Merrill Bent, allege that since the Vorstevelds installed the drainage system and removed trees and shrubbery along the perimeter of the fields, the volume of water flowing through the Hopper property has increased, eroding streambeds and contaminating their pond. According to the Hoppers’ complaint, tests of their pond water showed “high concentrations of nitrate, phosphorus ... and other pollutants,” along with elevated levels of E. coli.

As a result of the increased volume of sediment-filled runoff, the Hoppers claim, cyanobacteria blooms have become more frequent in Arnold Bay, and algae has proliferated along their shoreline. The Hoppers also contend that the intensity of the flow has impeded the farming activities of their daughter, Annie, who leases a portion of their 140-acre parcel for the sheep farm.

The Hoppers, who have previously filed complaints against the Vorstevelds with the state Agency of Natural Resources, seek to compel the Vorstevelds to restore water flows to pre-2017 levels.

The Vorstevelds have denied allegations that their farming practices have damaged the Hopper property. The Vorstevelds’ attorney, Jim Foley, said in an interview that the Hoppers are asking the court to supersede the authority of the state regulatory agencies, which would open, as he put it, “a Pandora’s box.”

“You open that box, and you can start expecting well-to-do people living next door to farms in Vermont to start filing suit with rapid fire to shut them down and curtail their activities,” Foley said.

Woolmington, the Hoppers’ attorney, rejects what he called “the public relations narrative” that the case represents a referendum on dairy farming in Vermont.

“Nobody is attacking the Vorstevelds’ right to farm,” he told Seven Days. “The issue is, what are they going to do to stop the pollution that they’re causing to Lake Champlain and to neighboring property?”

John Roberts, executive director of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition, said farmers fear that a judgment against the Vorstevelds could deal a decisive blow to a precarious way of life. Market pressures favor big farms over small ones, he said.

“It is possibly a shock to somebody who thinks of agriculture as the farmer with a stalk of straw in his mouth, leaning on his gate and muttering about the weather,” Roberts said. “Now, these farms have become 24-hour-a-day operations, because that’s what the economy has driven them to, what food policy has driven them to. They’re doing what they have to do in order to survive.”

Earlier this month, three environmental groups called upon Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts to strengthen antipollution regulations that apply to farmers. One of those groups, the nonprofit Conservation Law Foundation, has received more than $70,000 in donations from the Hopper family since 2017. Last year, the nonprofit asked a state environmental court to consider tougher sanctions against the Vorstevelds, who had been fined $21,750 by the ANR in September 2020 for violations unrelated to the Hopper property. The foundation argued that the fine would be insufficient to deter future pollution.

On December 10, a judge upheld the state’s original penalty. m

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affordable units came up substantially short of the 700 that the campaign had sought.

Now, the pandemic, which slowed new construction and led to a spike in demand by out-of-state buyers, has “overwhelmed these green shoots of progress,” Weinberger said, noting, for instance, how Afghan refugees are being resettled in other parts of the state because housing in Chittenden County is so scarce.

The pandemic “has laid bare just how damaging this housing crisis is,” he said.

Ahead of the press conference, the housing coalition announced a new campaign to build another 5,000 units countywide over the next five years, an effort boosted by the $144 million in state COVID-19 relief funds that the Vermont legislature and Gov. Phil Scott recently allocated toward affordable housing.

Weinberger’s 1,250-unit target makes up a quarter of the county goal. He wants at least 312 of the new units to be permanently affordable.

Weinberger also announced that the University of Vermont is looking to build more student housing on the former Trinity College campus on Colchester Avenue. His administration’s housing action plan calls for zoning changes to the Trinity campus to enable the project, which Weinberger said would ease the pressure that UVM students place on the city’s broader housing market.

But to rapidly increase available housing, the city will have to look for opportunities in all neighborhoods, Weinberger said. He’s pushing for so-called “missing middle housing,” a term that refers to smaller multiunit projects in low-rise residential neighborhoods. Projects of this scale are prohibited in many residential zoning districts.

Weinberger contended that zoning reforms would allow for new developments that still “reflect the character of these beloved parts of the city.”

City Councilor Joe Magee (P-Ward 3), who watched Weinberger’s press conference, said DEREK BROUWER

Mayor Miro Weinberger is pushing for major zoning changes in Burlington’s South End and beyond in a bid to ease the housing crisis, he announced last Thursday.

Weinberger released a 10-point plan to open areas of the city to builders. The goal is to roughly double the rate of development to enable construction of 1,250 more housing units by 2027.

“Every neighborhood in the city has the potential to welcome many more households 8 SO. MAIN STREET, than they do today, while becoming even ST. ALBANS stronger and more appealing places to live than they are today,” Weinberger said at a press conference outside city hall.

R A I LC I T Y M A R K E T VT.CO M In particular, Weinberger wants to open the door to mixed-use development in a portion of the South End where housing is currently proGG12v-railcitymarket111820.indd 1 11/9/20 4:51 PM hibited. A 2015 attempt to rezone the South End failed after artists and residents vigorously opposed it over fears of gentrification.

Developer Russ Scully revived the prospect earlier this year. He hopes to build a mixed-use project where a parking lot currently exists, Seven Days reported last month.

The mayor’s announcement came less than a week after city crews dismantled a nearby homeless encampment on Sears Lane, despite a two-month battle with activists and city council Progressives who opposed evicting the nearly 40 campers. The encampment was located in a part of the South End that Scully and the Weinberger administration are seeking to rezone.

The mayor also plans to use $1 million in federal pandemic stimulus funds to reduce homelessness as part of a goal to eradicate it by 2025. Weinberger is proposing to use the American Rescue Plan Act funds to hire a city staffer dedicated to addressing the homelessness problem; to bolster a “coordinated entry” program in Chittenden County that places individuals in apartments; and to invest in 30 or so low-barrier “shelter pods.” By partnering with affordable housing developers, the city hopes to add 78 apartments for formerly homeless individuals in the coming years.

The city, as well as the state, has been working to eliminate homelessness for a number of years. With this latest effort, Weinberger said, the city is “recommitting ourselves to that goal and resourcing this effort properly so that, this time, it does fully succeed.”

Weinberger, who was first elected in 2012, has consistently campaigned on a belief that the root of Burlington’s high housing costs is a lack of supply that has been, as he said again last Thursday, “created in large part by well-intended but misguided state and local land-use policy that makes it way too hard, way too expensive and way too timeconsuming to build homes.”

Between 2016 and 2020, Burlington added 779 new housing units, all but 19 of which are in multifamily buildings, according to the Building Homes Together campaign, a public-private coalition led by the Champlain Housing Trust, Evernorth and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. Of those, about 24 percent were considered “affordable” housing.

Countywide, the number of new units conCall 1-800-622-6359 or visit structed during the same period surpassed vermontjudiciary.org/GAL the coalition’s goal of 3,500. But the 536 new

Mayor Miro Weinberger

Champlain Housing Trust CEO Michael Monte said the organization has roughly 700 new units in various stages of development across Chittenden County. About a third of the planned units are in Burlington and include affordable apartments, affordable owner-occupied homes and housing for the formerly homeless.

A new housing district in the South End would represent one of the largest opportunities for further construction. The mayor said the city had secured a memorandum of understanding with developers, including Scully and the Champlain Housing Trust, and South End stakeholders, including the South End Arts + Business Association, to jointly solicit input for the new “enterprise innovation district.”

The groups hope to put forward a zoning proposal to the Burlington Planning Commission in March, the document states.

The envisioned district, Monte said, “creates, I think, a balance between the needs of the folks and the industries that have been there for decades — the artists, the makers — and with affordable housing, as well.”

he needed to hear more about the proposed zoning changes and developments, particularly in the South End. “While I’m supportive of us making strides toward building more units and up-zoning certain areas, I want to make sure that we’re maintaining the character of our neighborhoods,” he said.

More broadly, Magee said addressing the twin problems of affordable housing and homelessness will require intervention beyond what Weinberger proposed.

“If we don’t talk seriously about how workers aren’t earning enough money to live in our city, we are going to continue to have a housing crisis that outpaces our ability to meet those needs,” he said.

Magee, who sharply criticized the Sears Lane closure, said ending homelessness also demands new investments in mental health care and substance abuse treatment, as well as no-barrier shelter options.

“We consistently find ourselves getting to winter,” he said, “without a plan for folks who are living outside when it gets cold out.” m

EDUCATION

Administrators Didn’t Stop Racial Harassment of Black Student, Complaint Says B Y A L I SON NOVAK alison@sevendaysvt.com A Black student who attended Twin Valley Middle High School in Whitingham said she was subjected to racially motivated bullying and harassment by peers, and that school administrators took no meaningful action to stop it.

The allegations were made public on Tuesday, when the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont filed a complaint with the state’s Human Rights Commission.

The complaint alleges that the student, identified by her initials, C.B., was a sophomore and the only Black student in the school during the 2020-21 year when she was targeted repeatedly by classmates.

In December 2020, a student allegedly called C.B. the N-word in front of a teacher and other students. The teacher told principal Anna Roth, and Roth started an investigation.

But the probe “resulted in no actual or tangible action,” the complaint says. The student was not punished, and C.B. was told that it was her responsibility not to talk to him.

Two months later, a group of boys yelled the N-word at C.B. and directed a Nazi salute at her — an action that became “a consistent practice,” the complaint says. A school employee who witnessed the harassment reported it to the principal, and C.B. told assistant principal Andrew Oyer about what was happening. The complaint alleges that Oyer “claimed there wasn’t enough evidence for him to take any action.”

During a meeting on March 1, principal Roth allegedly told C.B.’s mother that the Nazi salute was “just something the kids did here” and wasn’t personal.

Due to the abuse, C.B.’s health suffered and she feared for her physical safety, the complaint says. Just a few weeks before school ended, C.B. transferred to Brattleboro Union High School. She’s since left Vermont.

After the complaint was filed, the district released a response adamantly refuting the allegations, saying it “will prevail in any litigation concerning this matter.”

“We notified families, investigated and, where substantiated, took appropriate disciplinary action,” the statement says. m

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OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES John Henley McClain MARCH 5, 1950-DECEMBER 14, 2021 MIDDLEBURY, VT.

John Henley McClain passed away on December 14, 2021, in Middlebury, Vt., from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. John called Vermont home for the last 50 years and was a dear friend to many.

His powerful and loving presence will be deeply missed.

Born in Hawaii on March 5, 1950, and raised in Hicksville, Long Island, John lived a classic American childhood. He competed with his older brother Ron on and off the basketball court and soccer pitch, sang in the choir, and excelled in school. He admired his sister Pamela’s accomplishments as a distinguished organist and pianist but would also note that he, in fact, had “perfect pitch.”

John’s parents, Ernest and Mignon McClain, raised their three children with love and discipline before proudly sending them off to Harvard, Middlebury College and Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

At Middlebury, John played basketball and met close friends with whom he would share the rest of his life. His all-American trajectory was also imbued with the spirit of his time. He left Middlebury College in the early ’70s, became a vegetarian, wandered the country and bought his first guitar on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, Calif.

When he hitchhiked back east through Mississippi, he tucked his long hair up into his hat to avoid conflict.

Vermont is where John ultimately found himself and his purpose. At six-foot-three, he was an imposing yet gentle force. At first, he learned masonry and would later become a master builder, crafting some of Vermont’s nicest homes with his friends Chris Connor and Larry Buck. But his proudest projects were not for the money.

John reveled in contributing to the lives of those he loved. He cherished the memory of laying brick at Jimmy and Carol’s house, “back in the hippie days”; building the Buckminster Fuller “Dome” house in Lincoln, Vt. (yes, those friends were hippies, too); crafting a new home for his father and his wife, Augusta, in Belmont; and raising the roof to create a second story at his friend Danny’s house.

John was practical and capable to the extreme. He did not live by dogmas, but if he had a maxim, he would have said: “Be useful.” He raised three boys, Ethan

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

Ready, Owen McClain and Kevin McClain.

He spent countless hours as a ball boy during the boys’ soccer games so that he could be as close to each play as possible. When Ethan became a competitive skier, John spent the next winters trying to scramble down nearly every slope in Vermont on his first pair of skis. He was a passionate fan of Kevin’s basketball team at Mount Abe, where they would only threaten to eject him from the gym a few times. When other players were at the foul line, you would often find Kevin posted up close to his dad on the sideline so that John could convey his thoughts at a lower decibel. John sang the national anthem beautifully to honor Kevin at his last high school game.

He shared the last 30 years of his life with his loving partner, Clarisse Shechter. They made a home on Pleasant Street in Bristol, and, like at all houses John lived in, he promptly began to renovate.

He thought the world of Clarisse and was always working toward her happiness and care. He loved her children Evan and Nina, who lovingly referred to him as JB, which was shorthand for “John Boy.” When the tables turned and his health and memory declined, Clarisse stepped up and cared for John with all of her heart. He would have been proud to see her master the everyday needs of their household, and he was grateful for her love and support until the end.

Above all, John loved the youngest in his tribe. He was dubbed the “baby whisperer” when his first grandchild was born, and his grandchildren Lillian, Abraham, Willa and Annabel filled his heart. He spent countless hours following them on training wheels, pushing them on swings and watching their youth soccer and baseball games.

John was supported in the end by the same close friends he had helped so many times over the years. On a rotating schedule every week, he was joined by Danny Dinolo, Jimmy Warnock, Freddy Danforth, Billy Perta and his dear friend John Moyers.

John spent his last days in the capable and loving care of the staff and nurses in Eastview at Middlebury’s memory care home, where he inquired more than once about whether he had missed another soccer game. John’s family is grateful for the care and support of Addison County Home Health and Hospice. A celebration of John’s life will be scheduled in the summer, with more details to follow.

Lawrence Meier APRIL 14, 1956DECEMBER 11, 2021 BURLINGTON, VT.

Lawrence “Larry” H. Meier, 65, of Burlington, Vt., who lived a vibrant life of joy, kindness and adventure, passed away surrounded by family and friends on December 11, 2021.

Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Larry graduated from Miami University, where he majored in music and engineering. After a short-lived stint of growing his hair long and painting houses in Santa Barbara, Calif., he gave in to the enchantment of Vermont and enrolled at Vermont Law School.

Larry went on to become an intellectual property attorney, first working for the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., then at law firms in Boston and Seattle, as well as at IBM in Essex Junction. Larry next initiated an intellectual property practice at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington,

Vt., where he spent the rest of his career building a worldwide client base and mentoring a cohort of intellectual property lawyers. His sage counsel and friendly personality were instrumental in attracting new clients, many of whom ended up becoming close personal friends.

Always a strong athlete, Larry delighted in a host of outdoor pursuits, including running, cycling, skiing and sailing on Lake Champlain.

He loved half-caf lattes,

life IN MEMORIAM lines

local foods and dining out at many of Vermont’s great restaurants. Larry was an accomplished cellist and took great pleasure in playing with the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra. His relationships were filled with laughter and the enjoyment of shared passions, more often than not involving time outdoors with family and friends. Above all, Larry loved his children, Ian and Hannah, and was always overjoyed to spend time with them both in Vermont, on adventure-filled trips and while visiting them out West.

He is remembered by Ian and Hannah; their mother, Bonnie Christie; his sister Marcia Strobel; and his incredible group of friends.

Remembrances can be made in the form of contributions to the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra, Community Engagement Lab or Vermont Public Radio. A memorial service will be held in May of 2022 with an outdoor celebration of Larry’s life.

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David Kingsbury “Skip” Smith JUNE 23, 1946NOVEMBER 23, 2021 MIDDLEBURY, VT.

Skip, as he was known to his family and friends, died peacefully at his home in Middlebury, Vt., on November 23, 2021, after a long illness bravely borne.

Skip was born on June 23, 1946, in Boston, Mass., and grew up in Middlebury, Vt. He attended Northfield Mount Hermon School, returning to Vermont during the summers to do odd jobs, including a beloved post with the Middlebury Bread Loaf Campus grounds crew.

Skip attended Middlebury College and graduated in 1968 with a BA in U.S. and African history, though he would often later confess to focusing more on skiing than academics while there. After graduating from Middlebury, he joined the Peace Corps and did a two-year stint in Sierra Leone. His Peace Corps experience led to a lifelong commitment to working in West Africa. He was a Fulbright scholar in Nigeria and taught executive development summer programs as a visiting professor of marketing at Lagos Business School in Nigeria for 20-plus years.

Skip obtained an MBA in 1972 from Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and a PhD in marketing from the University of Minnesota in 1985. His academic career included appointments at the College of Scholastica, University of WisconsinSuperior, College of St. Thomas, Michigan State University and Southeast

Missouri State University (SEMO). At SEMO, he served as marketing chair and marketing professor for 17 years, retiring in 2009 to take up the position of dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship at American University Nigeria.

He briefly served as the director of business development and marketing at Osprey Investments Nigeria Ltd. but returned to academia in the post of dean of the faculty of Management and Social Sciences at Baze University, Nigeria, a year later.

Skip was a prolific researcher and writer, including writing the book Marketing Toolkit for Nigeria. He published more than 24 peer-reviewed case studies involving field research in the U.S., Africa, Europe and South America.

Many of these case studies focused on opportunities and challenges faced by senior executives in Africa. He served as coeditor of the Global Journal of Business Pedagogy and was affiliated with the Institute for Global Research after retiring. He had a keen interest in world affairs and a special love for education.

Skip was a passionate outdoorsman. He ran numerous marathons, completed the American Birkebiner Cross Country Ski Race and

summited many mountains, including Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mount Loma in Sierra Leone. He traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. He also loved tinkering with old cars and playing the guitar. He often could be heard singing along to his favorite bands, especially during road trips.

Skip married Katherine E. Smith in Bloomington, Minn., in 1978. They had two daughters, Sarah and Kristin.

He was later divorced. He married Teresa Petschl in Pittsford, Vt., in 2008 and enjoyed the addition of two stepchildren, Inge and Kurt, to his family.

Skip retired and returned home to Vermont in 2015, where he enjoyed striking up new friendships and rekindling old ones, skiing, hiking, canoeing, cycling, and attending cultural events in Middlebury. He devoted many hours to his position as coeditor of the Global Journal of Business Pedagogy. He will be lovingly remembered for his passion for travel and adventure, spirited quizzes, and endless curiosity. Skip ended his memoirs with Robert Frost’s famous quote — one that feels particularly suited to summarizing his very full, rich life: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Skip is survived by his wife, Teresa Petschl-Smith; daughters, Sarah Smith and Kristin Smith; sisters Lorrie Byrom, Marcy Covey and Kim Spensley; stepchildren, Ingeborg Smythe and Kurt Petschl; and five step-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the Addison County Home Health and Hospice.

Want to memorialize a loved one?

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IN MEMORIAM

Peter J. Vlahos JULY 3, 1942DECEMBER 24, 2004 “Love is love and not fade away.”

— Buddy Holly Missing you.

Love, Maury

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A TALE OF TWO TREATMENTS

XX

Regarding PFAS and Sen. Chris Bray’s comments about “Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot again” and “Let’s not poison ourselves,” why would it be OK for GlobalFoundries to discharge PFAS, cadmium, chromium, lead, copper, nickel, silver, zinc and cyanide into the Winooski River, which empties into the lake, where Burlington draws its drinking water?

The draft permit is online at enb. vermont.gov and dec.vermont. gov/permits/enb. Will anyone comment or do anything so we don’t “shoot ourselves in the foot again”?

It seems the old U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adage — “the solution to pollution is dilution” — still rings true. Good thing we have a new “environmentally friendly” administration in Washington, D.C. But despite all the money Sen. Patrick Leahy got us to throw away to clean up Lake Champlain, it’s only gotten worse. “Let’s not poison ourselves,” indeed.

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ENDEN T VOICE VERMO NT’S INDEP

Thank you for your article “The Doctor Is Out” [December 8]. My family has received care at the Cambridge Family Practice for decades. Two personal experiences (one economic, the other empathic) highlight the differences between hospital practices and private practices.

About 10 years ago, my husband visited what was then the Fletcher Allen Health Care emergency room after he cut his foot on zebra mussels in the lake.

He saw a physician’s assistant, who put two or three stitches in the wound. The bill for this service was more than $1,500. In contrast, 10 years later, I went to the Cambridge Family Practice with a leg wound. A nurse practitioner closed the wound with 13 stitches. The cost, including a tetanus shot, was $454, less than 30 percent of the hospital charge.

The second experience occurred in early 2020 before COVID-19, when my husband spiked a fever and developed significant pain.

Over a week or two and many diagnostic tests, Dr. Donald Miller and his colleagues patiently worked hard to identify the etiology of the pain. After discussing the case with a colleague, Dr. Laura Norris called on a Saturday morning to have my husband come to the clinic so she could investigate another possibility. Aware that the Saturday clinic hours were short, I asked how long she would be there. She gently responded “as long as it takes,” which seems to be the guiding principle of her empathic medical practice.

Green Mountain Care Board cartel that would remotely begin to deal with the problem.

More importantly, single-provider health care is the cause, not a symptom of skyrocketing costs (as the “small practices are not financially viable” narrative would

INSIDE

Patricia Sabalis

UNDERHILL

‘NO INCENTIVE TO IMPROVE’

[Re “The Doctor Is Out,” December 8]: When Sara Teachout from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont says that pay parity is “not realistic for our health care system.

Health care wouldn’t be affordable at all,” was that somehow fact-checked, or is that just Teachout’s opinion? Because she is frighteningly out of touch.

First, health care in Vermont is not at all affordable as it is, and there is nothing coming out of the University of Vermont Medical Center/Blue Cross Blue Shield/ 24

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

physicians are Why independent from Vermont ng ari disappe

Steve Merrill NORTH TROY

S, PAGE 26

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CLIMATE CONTROL

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mendations

Council offers recom

KEEPS ON GIVING

suggest). When the only real economy of scale that larger groups bring is insurance company negotiation and government lobbying, there is a problem.

The failure of private practices due to under-reimbursements puts more and more patients into the UVM Medical Center system, which not only has been unable to control the cost growth but also is unable to come close to reasonable wait times and chronically underpays staff. Without other options, patients, doctors and nurses are left with no other option, and the hospital has no incentive to improve.

Come on, Vermont! Health care is the progressive, publicly provided value around the world, and ours is some of the most expensive anywhere (without a commensurate position in quality).

Roger Brown

RICHMOND

CHOOSE YOUR POISON

Kudos to the teams studying the proliferation of microplastics entering our soils [“Market to Farm,” November 24], but aren’t all commercial fertilizers loaded with identification “taggants” on the micro level, as legislated after the Oklahoma City bombing?

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FRIENDS OF YEMEN

On February 4 of this year, President Joe Biden committed to ending support for the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen, which he called a “humanitarian and strategic catastrophe.” But on November 4, he announced a $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia.

This proposed sale makes no sense, flies in the face of Biden’s stated goal and will surely deepen the tragedy in Yemen.

So three cheers for Vermont U.S. Sens.

Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy, who oppose the arms move by Biden. Along with two Republican senators, Sen. Sanders introduced a joint resolution of disapproval of the sale, and Sen. Leahy recently signed on as a cosponsor. There is a resolution in the House to the same effect. Seven Days has covered earlier work by these senators to end U.S. involvement in Yemen [Off Message: “Senate Backs SandersSponsored Resolution to End Military Aid to Saudi Arabia,” December 13].

Thankfully, our Vermont senators are positive change agents. They demonstrate Congress’ decreasing support for the Saudis due to their relentless bombing of Yemen and continuing human rights violations. I appreciate and applaud our senators’ leadership.

MaryDiane Baker

BRATTLEBORO

MIRO NEEDS TO GO

[Re Off Message: “Yes and No: Burlington Voters Reject Capital Spending Plan, Approve Energy Bond,” December 7]: I voted no on the first issue, because people are sick and tired of having to pay so much for taxes in Burlington, and Mayor Miro Weinberger is always breaking his campaign promises! He says he’ll do one thing and always does another.

I agree that the streets and sidewalks need to be repaired, but the taxes should not be raised. Burlington can look for the money from the federal government. And what is being done about the homeless people? He’s just sweeping them under the rug and doesn’t care about them! And what about the supposed CityPlace Burlington that was going to be built years ago but still hasn’t been?!

He’s a typical politician and needs to go!

Ken Atwood

BURLINGTON

THE 20.4 PERCENT

There were a lot of numbers in the article covering the bond vote in Burlington [Off Message: “Yes and No: Burlington Voters Reject Capital Spending Plan, Approve Energy Bond,” December 7], in which a $40 million bond could not get 67 percent of the vote. In my assessment, the real headline should have been about the number 20.4: That’s the percentage of registered voters — 6,910 of 33,883 — who cast ballots.

How is it that, in a state with perhaps the most accessible voting system in the country, only one in five voters makes the effort to cast a ballot on a very consequential issue, either by mail or in person?

Access to the vote is being hotly contested in much of the rest of the country, and yet here the right to vote about our community’s future seems to be met with a shrug.

Rather than rework another bond vote for 20 percent of the voters to have a say on, perhaps the Burlington City Council and the administration of Mayor Miro Weinberger should start real and sustained work to increase voter participation for the good of the community. While we are a representative democracy and have high expectations of our elected officials to do good with the authority we delegate to them, our charter demands that citizens act as decision makers — not just to elect officials but also to hold them accountable and to address key financial and policy issues.

Unless we have high levels of voter engagement, Burlington will not sustain its progress toward a safe, just, environmental and equitable community.

Glenn McRae

BURLINGTON

WEEK IN REVIEW

Like the Grinch that stole Christmas, this plane steals my dreams of a pristine Vermont with its forests and streams.

I dream of clean air while these planes spit and spout, fifteen tons of carbon each hour they’re out.

I dream of clean water while PFAS fills our streams, from the Guard’s fear of fire from those ghastly machines.

I long for the quiet to work or relax but the rumble of jets breaks my calm like an axe.

ADÉ ADDITION

Thanks for the article about Memorial Auditorium [“Memorial Days,” December 1]. I have many fond memories of it, including attending some great classes in the upstairs lobby area, but my favorite is of attending a concert by Afropop giant King Sunny Adé in the late 1980s, shortly after I moved to Vermont. Although the boomy acoustics were not the greatest, Memorial’s flat, open gym floor made it the best venue for danceable music.

Much as I love the Flynn, trying to dance in the aisles in a hall with sloping floors and bolted-down seats has never been quite the same.

I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful curved brick wall in the feature

photo, while in the historical photo, it has a regular old right-angle corner.

I was sorry not to see any mention of this in the article. I’d be curious to know the story behind that change.

Heidi Champney

STARKSBORO

Editor’s note: Photographer Luke Awtry shot the December 1 cover photo of Memorial Auditorium.

It is a five-shot panorama; Awtry stood in one place, rotated 180 degrees and stitched together the photos. This gives the image the curved look that a fish-eye camera lens would produce, although the auditorium itself is not curved.

BURLINGTON

‘LOCAL’ WISDOM

New Americans in town are shocked by the blast. like war in their homelands they thought was long past.

I dream of a world where schools are for all where trains are not creaky and bridges don’t fall.

I long for a country without lead in its pipes, where hospitals don’t bankrupt, and good care stops our gripes.

I long for a country that seriously takes pandemics and climate, for all of our sakes.

“We can’t build back better No money!” sounds sour when 10 jets cost a billion, then 400,000 an hour.

Some think that these jets make the nation secure.

But they can’t fix most troubles, and that is for sure.

They can’t stop a nuke, or terrorist attacks as flying computers they’re subject to hacks.

Don’t Americans live for instant gratification? Sure! Yesterday’s tax nightmares are today’s lost memories! Yippee!

So now we have a new show! Yippee 2.0! We’re deciding who should succeed Mason based, apparently, on one quality: personality.

Taxpayers are commenting in public forums on Chip’s most prominent quality — arguably, his civility. (Everyone calls him “Chip” because, heck, “Chip” is harder to equate with painful things such as high taxes than “William.”)

Chip (a lawyer by trade) has even seemingly already anointed a successor in the name of (yup, lawyer) Ben Traverse in the same breath as his own resignation announcement.

No need for a debate or election, folks.

We’ve already got a guy lined up: “Ben.” Kinda like “Chip.” Easy on the ears, no matter how out of control city spending might be.

Ted Cohen

My ears hurt and ring, as my windows do rattle while my viscera shakes as the Guard plans for battle.

Speaking of fall…

What if they crash?

Oh, that won’t happen?

Five already are ash!

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

ODE TO THE F-35: THE GRINCH THAT STOLE VERMONT

Sure there are threats, some things we abhor. yet all could be bettered by things other than war.

CHIP V. BEN

I dream of world peace, especially this season.

These planes are the opposite beyond all I can reason.

Jobs are important, their loss would be sad.

But with this kind of money, far more jobs could be had.

I dream we had voice to have them or not.

We voted them out, yet they still are our lot.

So Patrick and Bernie We are shouting out loud.

Take this awful Grinch from us, And make us all proud.

John Reuwer

SOUTH BURLINGTON

Funny how quickly property owners in Vermont’s largest city have forgotten the alleged pain of paying taxes.

That’s what they were doing, right?

Complaining about taxes. (Taxes fund city hall’s greatest product: making you happy with new stuff.)

Politicians survive by keeping you happy, not by making tough decisions that would make you mad — even though they’d keep your taxes low.

Taxes are fleeting. We’ve already forgotten them!

Remember councilors inundated with taxpayers whining about the latest citywide property “revaluation”? How soon we forget!

Here we are today, having decided to let bygones be bygones, assessing something new and exciting: the plans of longtime Burlington politician William “Chip” Mason to give up his council seat [Off Message: “Burlington City Councilor Chip Mason Won’t Seek Reelection,” December 9].

Thank you, Brittany Nevins, for shining a light on how people from out of state are treated in Vermont [Feedback: “Flatlander Hypocrisy,” December 1]. I am a fifthgeneration Vermonter. That and $5 will get you a cup of coffee in Burlington.

For decades, Vermont has made sure that the tourism industry flourishes here; hence, people visiting from out of state spend their money, and some decide to stay.

It would be nice if Vermont would work just as hard to have businesses come here, as well, so that people living here could make a livable wage and raise their families.

When people come here from other places, besides their money, they bring diversity, talent, different ways of looking at the same things, etc. What do they get in return? Lots of labels, anger and frustration. I’m not speaking for all Vermonters, but rather from what I’ve seen personally.

Somehow people who grew up here seem cheated that they couldn’t buy the big house on the hill or drive the new Land Rover.

Really? If we are lucky enough to grow up as healthy adults, wherever that may be, we all have exposure, opportunities and the ability to make our own way in this world.

No, there is no stupid question about winter, and Vermont mountains are insignificant compared to other mountains in this world. I am embarrassed by the way some Vermonters treat people from other places but also sad that some Vermonters seem to think their way of life is threatened.

Again, as adults, aren’t we free to make our own life decisions?

Sarah Pesler

WELLS

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

25

P R O D U C E D B Y 7 D B R A N D S T U D I O — PA I D F O R B Y P O M E R L E A U R E A L E S TAT E

Families Find Refuge at Burlington’s

Ronald McDonald House

26

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

COURTESY PHOTO

I

t’s a parent’s worst nightmare: learning that your child has cancer.

When Shondra and Ryan Kingsley got the call that their 3-year-old son, Sammy, had leukemia, they rushed him to the hospital near their home in Brushton, N.Y. But the care he needed was three hours away, at the University of Vermont’s Children’s Hospital.

Figuring out where to stay while Sammy got treatment was the last thing Shondra and Ryan wanted to think about. Fortunately, they didn’t have to: The staff at the Children’s Hospital referred them to Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House, located barely a mile away, at the corner of Pearl Street and South Winooski Avenue.

The couple stayed there that first weekend. Then Ryan went home to work and be with Sammy’s three older siblings. Shondra remained with their son, sleeping at the Ronald McDonald House downtown or at the organization’s Family Room at the hospital.

On the weekends, Ryan and the other kids sometimes joined Shondra in the stately brick house, where staff and volunteers provided their meals.

While they were in Burlington, the Kingsleys got to focus on what was most important: spending time with Sammy.

Their story is not unique. The Kingsleys are one of millions of families around the world who benefit from Ronald McDonald Houses each year. The organization runs more than 675 programs that support families of children experiencing medical crises.

Despite its name, the organization is not part of the McDonald’s fastfood chain; it was founded in 1974 in partnership with McDonald’s, and it collects donations at McDonald’s restaurants. Last year, customers donated more than $126 million.

Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House opened in 1984 in the former parsonage of the First Congregational Church. It features 12 private

Sammy Kingsley at the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington

bedrooms, including four suites with private bathrooms.

Families staying there are encouraged to make themselves at home.

They have access to the lovingly decorated living room, dining room, playroom and kitchen, with homecooked meals every night. They can even come down in their pajamas

and make coffee in the morning. And though they can’t bring their own pets, they can cuddle with the house dog, an Australian labradoodle named Mike.

The two full-time employees and three part-timers deck the halls for the holidays, making it feel as homey as possible — “like a nice grandmother’s

house,” says executive director Kristine Bickford. “It’s beautiful. It’s home.”

To be eligible to stay at Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House, families must live outside of Chittenden County and have an ill or injured child age 21 or younger who’s receiving care at the hospital; medical professionals there give referrals. The patients range from women with high-risk pregnancies and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit to college students from nearby schools such as UVM and Champlain College. Many of the families hail from rural Vermont or, like the Kingsleys, northern New York. But the house has logged visitors from 39 states and several foreign countries.

Some stay for just a few nights; some move in for months. If they arrive following an accident or a sudden illness, they might not have much time to prepare, Bickford says: “Sometimes they don’t have a change of clothes. They just come here.”

Housing a family costs roughly $100 a night. The organization doesn’t require that anyone pay, though it accepts donations; the suggested amount is just $10 a night. No one is turned away.

“It doesn’t matter if you have money or if you don’t have money.

You can come,” Bickford says.

She’s helmed the organization for seven years, the last two during a pandemic. In normal times, her staff relies on volunteers to help cook for guests and check them in, but they’ve had to restrict volunteer access because of COVID-19.

An innkeeper lives on-site, so the house is staffed 24-7, but when he’s not available, “I come in and I sleep here,” Bickford says.

The pandemic has forced the cancellation of many of the house’s fundraisers, but one big, bright opportunity has arisen. In the summer, the organization announced a $2.5 million capital campaign to buy its building — the church was ready to sell the property.

The kitchen

FAST FACTS • Ronald McDonald Houses serve families of ill or injured children. The Burlington house is open to families of patients receiving treatment at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital.

• The McDonald’s company doesn’t fund Ronald McDonald Houses directly. The programs benefit from money donated by customers at McDonald’s restaurants. Many franchise owners and operators donate to and volunteer with the charity.

• Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House is seeking donations to help it purchase its building. Learn more about making a contribution at rmhcvt.org.

• Mike, an Australian labradoodle, lives at Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House. According to the staff, the certified therapy dog possesses the innate ability to sense family members who are hurting but holding in their emotions. Mike heads right to them, offering comfort, distraction and hope.

Kristine Bickford, the executive director of Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House, with Mike

THIS HOUSE IS FILLED WITH

HOPE AND LOVE. Bickford

they came to think of the staff and volunteers as their “Vermont family.”

Sammy is now 6 and is thriving as a cancer survivor.

Burlington’s Ronald McDonald House played a powerful role

in his recovery.

Though its occupants are often enduring challenging times, the house is not a sad place, Bickford says: “This house is filled with hope and love.”  COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR BY:

PHOTOS: CAT CUTILLO

By December, the campaign had nearly met its goal, raising $2.1 million from local and regional donors, including owners of McDonald’s franchises.

Kristine That’s great news for families such as the Kingsleys, who will always have a place to stay where they can enjoy meals on the porch and play on the playground. It’s a place that’s within easy walking distance of the Church Street Marketplace and close to the Burlington waterfront.

The Kingsleys’ story is part of a booklet that the organization made for the capital campaign. It explains that, during their time at the house,

The living room SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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Welcome to the Winter Reading Issue

I

n the introduction the 2020 Winter Reading Issue, I opined that winter is the best time of year to cozy up with a good book. I know, I know: That’s not exactly a hot take. But the point was to suggest that finding comfort or escape in the pages of a good book would be key to getting through the early months of 2021 “as we collectively hunker down, wait our turns for the coronavirus vaccines and for warmer, hopefully pandemic-free days ahead,” as I wrote.

BY LOCAL AUTHOR AIMEE PICCHI

(page 30) that imagines a bumbling crew of interstellar invaders descending on a city that bears a striking resemblance to Burlington.

The short story is clever and timely — and I promise you’ll never look at your cat the same way again.

If Picchi’s tale has you itching for space operas,

VERMONT’S INDEPENDEN T VOICE DECEMBER 22-29, 2021 VOL.27 NO.12 SEVENDAYS VT.COM

COVER TO COVER

WINTER READING ISSUE

CONCERNING THE LOSS TRIUMPH

OF THE VSS CONQUEST SHORT FICTION BY AIMEE PICCHI, PAGE 30

SUCCESS STORIES

PAGE 34

Sci-fi writer thrives in DIY publishing

34

Not to kick off the 2021 Winter Reading Issue on a major downer, but I could probably just cut and paste those lines into this year’s intro and call it a day. As we stare down the barrel of another pandemic winter, I’m regularly experiencing déjà vu.

Rising COVID-19 case numbers fueled by dastardly new variants and dummies who refuse to take the virus seriously are enough to make you root for an alien invasion, if only for the distraction.

Fortunately, we don’t need to be subjugated by a superior race of nonhuman overlords to experience an otherworldly diversion. The centerpiece of this year’s issue is a slice of COMEDIC SCIENCE FICTION

TIK TOXIC

PAGE 36

An author on reluctant self-promotion

BOOKING DINNER

PAGE 44

Chefs’ favorite literary meals

36

check out Andrew Liptak’s PROFILE OF SCI-FI

AUTHOR CRAIG ALANSON (page 34). That’s the

pen name of Craig Odell, a South Hero man who found success in the self-publishing world after he couldn’t get a book deal.

Seven Days associate editor and YA author Margot Harrison does have a book deal. But even with the backing of a publisher, she still has to promote herself, including on social media. In an entertaining and sometimes self-deprecating essay, she reveals how she learned to let go and love BOOKTOK (page 36).

Harrison also penned a lively review of Emily’s House, a NEW NOVEL BY UPPER VALLEY AUTHOR AMY BELDING BROWN about Margaret

Maher, a woman who played a key role in discovering Emily Dickinson’s poems (page 52).

Maybe because writers have been cooped up for most of the past 21 months, 2021 was a great year for books. Our critics chose a handful of their FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY VERMONT POETS AND AUTHORS (page 40).

Speaking of poetry, it wouldn’t be a Winter Reading Issue without some SNOWY VERSES FROM VERMONT POET LEATH TONINO (page 38).

Groundbreaking VERMONT EDUCATOR TAL published a new book in October.

Alison Novak interviewed him about Hearts of the Mountain: Adolescents, a BIRDSEY

44

Teacher, and a Living School, which chronicles a year at the North Branch School, the independent middle school he cofounded in Ripton (page 50).

Finally, nothing pairs with a good book like good food — well, except maybe good wine. Jordan Barry surveyed local chefs about their FAVORITE LITERARY MEALS (page 44). And Melissa Pasanen interviewed CALAIS AUTHOR ROWAN JACOBSEN about his new book Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, With Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs (page 48).

DAN BO LLE S

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

29

CONCERNING THE LOSS TRIUMPH OF THE VSS CONQUEST FICTION BY AIMEE PICCHI • ILLUSTRATIONS BY JIM DUVAL

OFFICIAL REPORT: Let the abject failure resounding success of

Captain Arvo and her ship, the VSS Conquest, be known.

We commissioned the VSS Conquest to travel to Planet 3 of Solar System 17,321B to make contact with the inhabitants of said planet.

Our goal, as always, was to secure rich tribute from the dominant lifeforms, as well as adulation for our superior civilization. We Vrol have defeated the galaxy’s most warlike civilizations through our Vaporizer and other superior weapons, as well as our philosophy of “Never back down!”

Yet, against our instructions, the rogue enlightened captain of the VSS Conquest insisted that “diplomacy” and “kindness” and something called “hygge” could reach the inhabitants (or “humans”) more effectively. Now we have a missing cloaked starship and a hostile misunderstood planet to contend with. [1] Aimee Picchi is a journalist by day and science fiction and fantasy writer by night. In 2021, she was a finalist for the Nebula Awards in short fiction. She lives in Burlington with her family (including a very hygge feline companion). You can find her online at aimeepicchi.com or on Twitter at @aimeepicchi.

30

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

[1] Heartfelt greetings to all on Vrol! Captain Arvo here of the VSS Conquest, waving at you from Planet 3! Actually, our mission was a grand success. So that future missions may learn from our experience, I have taken the liberty of correcting the numerous errors within the official report, via strikeouts and the insertion of accurate verbiage and detailed footnotes.

At the start of our five-year voyage to “Earth,” I was like any other newly commissioned Vrol captain: ambitious, determined, aggressive. Yet, as the ship sliced through the galaxy, racing away from our home planet, the vast emptiness of space weighed on me. Would we ever see our families on anything other than buffering video calls? When would we once again savor the annual Glowdrink festival with our loved ones, instead of in the cold chambers of a spaceship?

These worries and fears plagued me as I studied Earth’s written records and historical documents, gleaning all I could about its weapons, tactical defenses and philosophical frameworks. Among the latter was a small book — quite popular on Earth — called The Seven Secrets to a Hygge Life.

This deeply reasoned philosophical treatise moved me in ways that Vrol warcraft manuals never had, especially this sentence: “Hygge is a universal desire: to be comforted, to be safe, to be in harmony with oneself and the world.”

Of course! On Vrol, we engage in our own form of hygge — with Glowdrink. The memory of our exchange of intestinal juices made me feel happy! This book struck me as profoundly right: Hygge must be a universal, cross-life-form phenomenon. And if humans also valued warm drinks on cold nights and other creature comforts, we could tap the power of hygge to reach out to them.

Based on my research, I issued the following order to my first mate: “Officer Adirak, find the most hygge place on Earth. It is there we shall make first contact. This location must have plentiful snow; a rich availability of warm, comfortable clothing; many types of hot drinks; and such poor wireless communications that its inhabitants are frequently forced to talk face to face.”

Officer Adirak touched their tentacles to their tablet. “I have found it, Captain.” They squinted at the word. “It is a place called Vermont.”

OFFICIAL REPORT: The VSS

Conquest landed in an undeveloped piece of land in the center of a regional hub. When the crew emerged from the starship and greeted the locals with culturally appropriate greetings, the humans responded with vicious chemical attacks defensive mechanisms on the multifaceted eyestalks of our crew. [2] [2] Captain Arvo again! Before we landed, we’d prepared thoroughly. We broadened our reading to a number of popular Earth books, including The Joy of Hygge and my favorite, Hygge Nights.

First Mate Adirak chuckled with all three of their mouths. “The roots of hygge come from the word for ‘hug.’ I bet humans have never experienced anything like a Vrol hug!”

I thought about this. “Excellent point, Adirak. Our natural shape provides the ultimate in hygge — imagine how much the humans will enjoy being hugged tightly with our eight tentacles. Tell the crew there is no need to shape-shift into humanoid form.”

“True genius, ma’am,” First Mate Adirak said and handed me a mug of warm intestinal juices.

We glided down our walkway with great eagerness, tentacles outstretched for hugs. My first mate insisted on preceding me, and thus I eyestalk-witnessed the humans’ unexpected reaction. Eager to hug their first human, First Mate Adirak waved their eight tentacles toward a female human talking on a communication device.

“Man, this is sick — some alien thingy just landed in City Hall Park.

You’re breaking up — are you there?

Oh, yeah, yeah. I’m there right now.

Hold on, something’s coming out of the ship.”

Panic rose in the human’s voice as Adirak wrapped their tentacles around her. The human said something like “Argggheeugh!”

— which puzzled me, since it didn’t sound like “Ahhh” or “Oooohh” or some similar hygge reaction.

The human reached into a pouch slung around her shoulder and drew out a small canister, which she used to spray Adirak with some sort of gas. Many of the humans had gathered and displayed similar canisters. A few waved sharp, pointy items.

Our eyestalks were not feeling comforted.

At all.

Half blinded, I helped Adirak to their feet, and we retreated to the ship to rethink our introduction.

OFFICIAL REPORT: Our Vrol crew, thus repelled,

retreated to the ship to develop a second plan. Earth military forces, meanwhile, surrounded the ship, which forced the VSS Conquest to switch into stealth mode and hover above the regional hub.

The crew defied thought better of the Vrol protocol for immediate retaliation. Their records noted that they instead opted for a night operation, believing the humans would be more receptive to outreach offered under the cover of darkness.

Video footage indicates local officials attacked responded with robots and remote aircraft.

At the same time, a group of humans set up a camp at the location of the disastrous unfortunate initial encounter.

They held signs with messages such as “I BELIEVE!” and “GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACY” and “KALE THE ALIENS.” As far as we can determine, the latter has something to do with getting rid of a chewy foodstuff that is overgrown in Vermont. [3] [3] Now I really have to set the report straight. I was naturally distraught after our initial reception, fearing that Adirak and the rest of the crew would lose faith in my approach. But not a single crew member suggested we use the Vaporizer on the humans.

Adirak wrapped their tentacles around me in a comforting hug. “Our eight arms must be too much for the humans,” they said. “We miscalculated, that is all, Captain.”

The hygge-ness of that moment gave me renewed energy to develop a second attempt to reach humans. I returned to the foundational books, reminding myself that hygge is often practiced at night with nourishing drinks.

“We will return past twilight, bearing mugs of warm intestinal juices.” I sketched out how we would visit each house in this regional center, dropping off our gifts of diplomacy on their doorsteps.

Adirak’s many eyes glowed with excitement. “It’ll be just like home, Captain Arvo! How could they not love that?”

“And there are also Earth traditions involving supernatural beings leaving gifts for people in the middle of the night,” I said.

Under cover of darkness, we traveled in our cloaked ship throughout the regional hub, ringing doorbells and leaving mugs of steaming intestinal juices on each doorstep. Eagerly, we awaited their reaction.

But the humans thought the drinks were pranks, or worse! They used drones and robots to blow up our mugs of warmed intestinal juices!

Adirak blinked away their tears. “I fear we are missing something about hygge, Captain Arvo.”

I did not want to admit this to Adirak, but my faith in hygge was sorely tested.

Could this philosophy reflect a quality that these creatures aspire to but don’t actually possess? Or perhaps The Seven Secrets to a Hygge Life had omitted a secret? But what could it be?

32>> SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

31

CONCERNING THE LOSS TRIUMPH OF THE VSS CONQUEST << 31

OFFICIAL REPORT: It is our conclusion Captain Arvo failed to understand the warlike aggressive tendencies ever-shifting philosophies that drive the local race. [4] [4] I ordered Adirak to perform a new search on human philosophical treatises. They came rushing into my quarters, waving tablets in their tentacles.

“Ma’am,” they said, “we have made a mistake. A tiny one, but nonetheless an error. The books we have been studying were popular on Earth when we began our voyage five years ago! Hygge, it seems, has fallen out of favor.”

I glanced at the tablets. Indeed, the word wasn’t anywhere on the recent best-seller lists that Adirak had found. Are humans so fickle as to trash a completely valid life philosophy in less time than it takes the Vrol to reach a new planet?

But then a title on the list grabbed my attention: “Hello … what’s that about: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up?”

OFFICIAL REPORT: Captain Arvo

engaged in an effort that, for once, the Vrol empire approved of: The VSS Conquest used its Vaporizer to eliminate tidy up many of the humans’ possessions, shocking them with our strength and power thoughtfulness. [5] [5] After reading the book, my crew and I spent several days observing humans, taking note of the things they loved (smartphones, coffee, pets) and those that they moaned and groaned about (snow removal, gasoline prices and so on.) We naturally went ahead and tidied up the things the humans complained about!

The Vaporizer took care of all the snow shovels and blowers. The gas pumps, too. And, lastly, we zapped the giant pit in the center of the regional hub that everyone grumbled about but nobody apparently could fix. We replaced it with a replica of the Vrol Statue of Conquest and a note that said, “You’re welcome.”

But the humans did not receive the tidying up with joy.

People bought more snow-removal devices. And gasoline prices went up even higher because of a so-called “shortage.” A lawsuit was filed about the Vrol Statue of Conquest.

And then even the signs carried by our human supporters went negative: “ALIENS ARE ECOTERRORISTS” and “DOWN WITH ALIENS.” Life-changing magic, indeed. Pffft. Only keep that which gives you joy, the book said. The true purpose of a gift is to be received, it said.

Ha.

32

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

OFFICIAL REPORT: Sadly, we lost contact with

the VSS Conquest after their valiant attempt to overcome the aggressive confusing humans with our advanced weaponry the magic of tidying up. We can only surmise that the humans have fiercer defenses than our intelligence had indicated.

May it be a lesson to Vrol missions that notions like “diplomacy” and “hygge” are for the foolish persistent and wise — only attacking patience will bring glory to the Vrol empire. [6] [6] After our third defeat, I questioned myself, my motives and my mission.

“Perhaps I should have listened to Vrol command,” I told Adirak, “and relied on force from the start.”

My first mate wrapped their tentacles around me. “This whole misadventure has made me feel even more alone, Captain.

We’re years from home, and there’s no knowing when we’ll experience a real Glowdrink festival again.”

My tentacles hovered over the Vaporizer. With a quick flick, I could simply eliminate the problem. The humans had treated our gifts with hostility; surely I had every right to get rid of the entire ungrateful planet.

“Never back down,” I whispered. The Vrol way.

In a moment of clarity, I understood the true meaning of our philosophy. It’s about staying true to your heart, even if things haven’t gone the way you expected.

I couldn’t give up.

We got some things wrong, I admit.

Hygge and tidying up only went so far.

Gifts that a Vrol would appreciate clearly didn’t hold the same appeal for humans. And maybe taking things away — even items that humans grumble about — wasn’t the key either.

But deep within my two hearts, I was certain that the Vrol could form a bond with the humans, despite our differences. A true cross-life-form alliance was within our grasp, but I had to push myself to understand what the humans would value.

A true gift, after all, is one that the recipient desires, not one that is only valued by the giver.

Our research taught us that humans value comfort. They also love their pets — some even like them more than other humans. And they don’t want things taken away from them.

From these data I devised our new strategy: We used our Vrol shape-shifting abilities to transform ourselves into the ultimate hygge companions.

Now, my crew sparks joy amongst all who meet us. Our fur is soft, our throats purr when we cuddle with humans and we sleep in the sun, demonstrating the hygge value of making the most of the moment! Plus, we are hypoallergenic, unlike many Earth companions.

So far, we have made alliances with dozens of Earth households, and it’s only a matter of time before the entire planet is under the sway of the Vrol Federation.

We receive copious amounts of tribute throughout the day — food, treats and objects stuffed with a magical plant called Nepeta cataria — and have secured complete adulation from the humans.

As Adirak put it, “Hygge is universal, Captain. Just like you said.”

I urge you to rewrite this report to reflect the success of our ongoing operation. And send more ships to Earth; humans have more need for Vrol companions than our crew alone can supply.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

33

Fantastic Voyage

WINTER READING ISSUE

Vermont sci-fi author Craig Alanson finds self-publishing success B Y A ND REW L I PTA K

34

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

ANDREW LIPTAK

M

ost every writer who’s ever put pen to paper has had the same dream at some point: walking into work and giving notice. They’re going to write full time, supporting their existence on the weight of their imagination.

It’s not an easy goal to achieve. Aspiring writers face plenty of obstacles: Will their book make it to shelves or into an online store? Will supply chain issues push back the release date? Even if they make it through that gauntlet, will audiences like what they’ve written?

Since 2016, Craig Alanson (the pen name for Craig Odell) has carved out a comfortable living as a self-published author. This month, his Expeditionary Force, a military science fiction adventure series, hit its 13th installment, Fallout. His success as an author is notable not only because he releases books at a blistering pace but also because he’s on the frontier of an industry that’s undergoing considerable changes in how it delivers stories to readers.

For decades, a novel’s progress toward publication followed a standard path: An author toils away on a book, finishes it and submits it to literary agents. If an agent likes it, they take on the author as a client and submit the book to publishers on their behalf. If a publisher likes it, they make an offer and begin editing. From beginning to end, the process can take years.

New alternatives emerged with the rise of online publishing, thanks in no small part to Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

Launched in 2007, the platform allows authors to upload their manuscripts to Amazon and sell them in its storefront, keeping a sizable royalty. Many competing online bookstores have followed the same model.

Such platforms gave rise to a new literary ecosystem in which Alanson and others have found enormous success.

Writers who have, for whatever reason, struck out with traditional publishers can now easily and cheaply put their work before an audience.

Alanson, 59, has an origin story that begins like that of many science fiction authors. Growing up in Springfield, Mass., he read and watched classics such as Dune, The Lord of the Rings and “Star Trek,” and he met Isaac Asimov when the legendary author spoke at a local school.

Craig Alanson

From there, Alanson embarked on a decidedly atypical career trajectory for a future writer. Right out of high school, he was hired by Connecticut-based aerospace firm United Technologies to work on a new “mechanical inspection computer that could measure components for aircraft.”

Speaking to this reporter from his house in South Hero, Alanson explained that the company had no employees eager to work on the newfangled system. As the only student in his graduating class to have taken the right courses — metal shop, drafting, computer science, algebra and calculus — he interviewed with the company and ended up getting the job — once he’d turned 18.

At United Technologies, Alanson worked on components for space suits that would later fly on the space shuttles. He went on to work on rockets and missiles at another factory in Gainesville, Va., then drifted into finance and budgeting, eventually landing at Hewlett-Packard.

But the science fiction bug never left him. “I always wanted to be a writer,” Alanson said, and in 2005, the urge reared its head. On vacation in the Caribbean, he tore into a book he’d picked up at the airport. “It was horrible,” Alanson recalled. “I thought, This book has to get better, and it actually got worse.”

That book convinced Alanson that “if that can get published, I can get published.” From 2006 to 2015, he used his

spare time to write three novels: a military science fiction novel called Columbus Day, a YA adventure called Aces and an epic fantasy called Ascendant.

Writing them was the easy part. But agents and publishers weren’t interested in the long manuscripts, so “I could not get them published,” Alanson recalled.

Eventually, his wife, Irene Odell, suggested that he look into KDP. “Part of the reason for saying that was to support me,” Alanson said, “and part of it was, If you do that, you’ll shut up and stop talking about it.”

On January 11, 2016, Alanson uploaded his books to Amazon and bought a couple of ads, not sure whether his work would attract a readership. Columbus Day took off. “The first month we got a check for $409.10,” he recalled. “The next month was, like, $3,500, and then it was, like, $5,000 each month and kept going.”

He was surprised: Of all three books, he’d expected Ascendant to do the best. Epic fantasy was in, with “Game of Thrones” going strong on HBO. By contrast, Columbus Day is a humorinfused military story set in the aftermath of an alien invasion, following a group of soldiers who sign up with the aliens who saved humanity from its aggressors.

Alanson had already begun work on a sequel to Ascendant, but he ended up putting it aside to continue the story he’d begun in Columbus Day. He released the

second and third books of that series, SpecOps and Paradise, in June and October 2016, respectively. (Transcendent, his sequel to Ascendant, saw release later that year.)

Alanson was writing at a furious pace.

That summer, he and Irene discussed shifting careers. She had just retired, and, based on the trajectory of his writing income, Alanson was able to leave his job at HP and write full time.

Digital publication has changed the ways in which people read. While Alanson sells plenty of ebooks and print-ondemand copies, sales of audiobooks have become a major chunk of his revenue in the past couple of years, he said, as the medium’s popularity has grown by double digits. Many of his fans are long-haul truckers seeking entertainment for their hours on the road.

If the KDP model has opened up new opportunities for writers, it has also changed how they tell their stories. In his recent book Everything and Less: The Novel in the Age of Amazon, Mark McGurl observes that, in this online environment, “authors should consider themselves a kind of entrepreneur and service provider.”

That attitude is readily apparent in how Alanson and his peers approach their writing. As sales of his first two books steadily grew, he said, he and Irene wrote a fiveyear business plan that outlined what he’d write and publish down to the weekly word count. He opted to keep his books exclusively on Amazon to take advantage of the Kindle Unlimited subscription program, even though that means most brick-and-mortar indie bookstores will pass on selling them. Such stores “understandably do not want to do business with an ‘Amazon author,’” he explained.

“In the indie publishing cadence, you publish three to four books a year,” Alanson said. Authors must continually produce content to keep their audiences from moving on.

Alanson said he received a key piece of advice from Craig Martell, an author who runs a Facebook group called 20 Books to 50k. Martell sees writing a blockbuster novel as a rare feat that isn’t critical to an author’s success. By contrast, a steadily selling back catalog will generate a reliable income: 20 books, each earning about $7 a day, bring in around $50,000 annually.

The trick is to build up that back catalog.

That’s a sentiment echoed by local indie authors Nick Crawford and Christine Mancuso, who write romance and paranormal fiction jointly as C.N. Crawford. Christine explained that genre fiction — romance, sci-fi, horror, crime, etc. — is a cornerstone of the selfpublishing world, in part because it lends itself to series featuring a central group of characters that readers can follow from book to book. The Crawfords have written dozens of books in long arcs of three to four books per series.

IN THE INDIE PUBLISHING CADENCE,

YOU PUBLISH THREE TO FOUR BOOKS A YEAR. CR A I G A L ANSON

To publish three books a year, Alanson writes at a grueling pace. In the trade publishing industry, a manuscript might take months to be edited and printed, but indie publishers have no such constraints.

“I put my time and effort into the story, not the prose,” Alanson explained. “I will get 180,000 words done, edited and ready to go in four months. Now, that means that I’ll basically publish by [the] second — or, in some cases, my first — draft, but I don’t do a lot of rewrites, especially for dialogue.”

Once he’s done with a book, Alanson sends it to a fan whom he hired to oversee a group of beta readers, who in turn read the book and make notes. The group leader addresses the obvious errors in the copy or continuity before sending him the more serious questions or comments to handle. After that, he puts the book into production, sends the draft off to his

longtime audiobook narrator, R.C. Bray, and begins the process again.

That process might make critics and fellow authors cringe, but Alanson believes that his early attempts to second-guess his writing simply made his books worse. He opted to plow forward. His readers don’t seem to mind: Since the New York Times launched a separate audio fiction best-seller list, his books have consistently landed on it, one hitting as high as second place.

Since the rise of online bookselling and ebooks, we’ve heard no shortage of cries of alarm over the inevitable decline of books.

In fact, book sales have hung in there, even as the fortunes of major booksellers such as Borders (now defunct) and Barnes & Noble have waned. Digital reading and listening have shown authors such as Alanson that they can not only bring their stories to audiences but also thrive in doing so. It just takes a lot of work, planning and time behind a keyboard.

Alanson has put in plenty of that.

2022 will see the last installment of Expeditionary Force come out in December, but just before he brings that series to a close, he’ll release the first installment in a new urban fantasy series. “It’s a bit of a risk,” he admitted, to jump into a new genre. But, because “My brand is my writing style,” he hopes his readers will be ready and willing to follow him into his next new world. m

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12/17/21 9:38 AM

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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12/16/21 11:28 AM

BookTok Boogie

What one author learned from touting books on an addictive social media platform B Y M ARG OT HAR RI S ON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

WINTER READING ISSUE

LUKE EASTMAN

I

knew I was in trouble when I found myself trying to render the lyrics from Regina Spektor’s song “Two Birds” into American Sign Language. In my sleep.

I don’t know ASL. I’m a casual fan of Spektor’s at best. But I’m on TikTok, and “Two Birds” was trending over Thanksgiving weekend. Someone’s attempt to sign the song went viral, provoking thousands of copycat videos and bemused corrections from the ASL-fluent community.

I know what you’re thinking. What is a middle-aged person doing on TikTok? I resisted joining the video-based social platform for months because I’d heard all the same things you’ve heard — that it’s addictive, that it compromises your privacy, that old folks don’t belong there, that it rots your attention span.

And then, in early October, I opened an account for one simple reason: I write novels, and, counterintuitive as it may seem, there are readers on TikTok. A lot of them.

In March, the New York Times reported on how “‘BookTok’ videos are starting to 36

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

influence publishers and best-seller lists.” (#BookTok is TikTok users’ preferred hashtag for everything book related.)

Fan-created BookTok videos have put older novels back on best-seller lists and inspired Barnes & Noble to create special TikTok-themed displays.

“We haven’t seen these types of crazy sales — I mean tens of thousands of copies a month — with other social media formats,” Barnes & Noble’s director of books, Shannon DeVito, told the Times. Those words were an irresistible lure to every author desperate for notice in today’s crowded attention economy — including me.

I know what you’re thinking: Jonathan Franzen and Joyce Carol Oates would never stoop to lip-synching pop songs on a tiny phone screen. Well, no — but they don’t need to. These days, most authors do at least some of their own promotion. Why not try every possible avenue?

I write novels for teens, an obviously TikTok-friendly demographic. In Facebook groups for authors, I’ve seen people

touting their amazing sales boosts from TikTok. I’ve even heard of publishers running workshops for authors on using the platform. My publisher doesn’t do that, but it does make cool, teen-savvy TikTok videos to promote its books.

So I gave in. I became a BookToker. And I learned a terrible secret about myself: I love making TikTok videos.

BookTok is a gigantic virtual gathering of readers and writers eager to talk about books — their favorite, their least favorite and everything in between. Some people do earnest or witty reviews. Others weep on camera over sad endings. Others find visually clever ways to display their book collections, or they create games for other bibliophiles to play.

Bookstores, libraries and publishers are all getting in on the act. On the TikTok feed of Vermont chain Phoenix Books, you can watch “60-second book recs” from a masked bookseller named Sam who dashes around the store grabbing favorite titles from shelves. (Videos created in the

TikTok app can’t exceed 60 seconds — hence the name and the frenzied pace.)

The Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury offers book recommendations from the owner and a tour of the store’s Christmas supplies to a Nat King Cole score.

I was eager to get started and take advantage of TikTok’s enormous music library, too. With its intuitive interface, the platform encourages learning by doing, so that’s what I did.

My first video was a few seconds of my cat and a book, with some text slapped on the screen. It quickly garnered more than 400 views. So did my next video. My eyes boggled, until I remembered that social media platforms hook new users by rewarding their early efforts.

Sure enough, my next video — in which I daringly used the Green Screen effect — was a bust. Besides no longer being new, I’d committed one of the cardinal sins of TikTok: My video was long. I soon learned that between 10 and 30 seconds is the sweet spot, giving my effort a better

chance to be elevated to the For You Page — TikTok’s algorithm-curated feed, personalized to each viewer.

Since I’m a reviewer and voracious reader, I wanted at least half of my videos to be about the books I read — and, in a house overflowing with books, there’s no shortage of material.

My first video with 1,000-plus views was an outdoor display of my favorite horror titles, scored to my own found sound — the creepy melody of a distant ice cream truck. A David Bowie-scored montage of books from my teen years quickly soared to 2,000 views, and strangers commented on their own favorite nostalgic reads.

These aren’t remotely high numbers for TikTok, where popular videos routinely get millions of views. After the trickle of engagement I get on other platforms, though, the flood went to my head.

I was reaching readers at last. When I posted a video that compared one of my own books to the trending Netflix show “Squid Game,” a few people expressed actual interest in reading it!

For a month or so, I became TikTok obsessed. Once I’d started to explore the app’s myriad features — captions, filters, digital effects, the vast library of music and user-created sounds — I wanted to create more, bigger, better!

In the shower, I dreamed up new video ideas. Online, I pored over tips and techniques. Hunched over my phone, I experienced an addictive form of joy that I hadn’t felt since I was a toddler with a box of 64 crayons, a stack of paper, glitter, glue and an appreciative parental audience.

Though I didn’t allow TikTok to do push notifications, the urge to check the app still sometimes troubled my sleep. Whenever the almighty algorithm decided, in its inscrutable wisdom, to show one of my videos to thousands of people, I experienced a dizzy dopamine high followed by an inevitable crash.

I’ve had unhealthy relationships with social media before (hello, Twitterinduced stress). But it was TikTok that finally made me understand why people feed coins into slot machines, over and over. When a video did well, I felt like a star. When an elaborate video fell flat, so did my self-esteem.

TikTok rewards users who jump on trends — music, sounds, dances, hashtags — which makes it tricky to tout original work there. The more I posted about my own books, the less the algorithm liked me: From getting a few thousand views, I

plummeted to around 200. For each video that unexpectedly took off, there were many more that didn’t. Furthermore, while I was having a ball making video teasers for my next book, I wasn’t seeing any increase in sales of the two that were already published.

My experience isn’t universal. The fickle algorithm is a source of complaint for everyone who creates on TikTok. But some writers — particularly self-publishers — seem to have book promo on the platform down to a science, with sales figures to prove it.

In a Facebook group for authors using TikTok, I met New Hampshire resident Marcus Kusi, who writes contemporary romance novels with his wife, Ash, under the name A.M. Kusi.

They’ve been on TikTok since mid-2020 and have more than 6,000 followers, who leave enthusiastic likes on videos that spotlight quotes and plot points from their books.

“Want to read a romance novel with a curvy woman who is confident, independent and runs her own successful business?” one video asks the viewer. “Can their marriage survive this?” another inquires.

Marcus Kusi wrote to me in a Facebook message that, on TikTok, “We’ve discovered new readers who love our books, and when a video about our books gains a lot of views, we can instantly see the sales of that book spike on our sales dashboard.”

I have yet to witness any such sales spikes. But TikTok isn’t much of an investment: I create most of my videos in 20 minutes using props I find around the house. Spending hours with third-party video-editing software would yield a more professional product, but TikTok’s built-in limitations are part of the fun.

And, as a theater kid who hasn’t done theater in ages, I’ve rediscovered my love of hamming it up with the silly skits I do on camera.

So, yes, the platform hooked me — on creating, anyway. Unless I’m seeking inspiration for my next video, watching TikTok is something I can take or leave. To further safeguard my peace of mind, I’ve learned to check my notifications less often and steer clear of the madness of crowds — that is, following mega-popular trends that have zero relevance to my work.

So, with regret, I came to my senses and put aside any thoughts of signing “Two Birds.” The song remains on repeat in my head, however, in the rare moments when I’m not hearing other TikTok earworms such as “Grace Kelly” by Mika.

Ring-light challenge, anyone? Oh, and please buy my books? m

COUNTERINTUITIVE AS IT MAY SEEM,

THERE ARE READERS ON TIKTOK. A LOT OF THEM.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

37

7/15/21 4:45 PM

Winter Poems

WINTER READING ISSUE

BY L EAT H T ON INO

i know many people who wouldn’t spend all sunday afternoon by a creek in the woods waiting for a glimpse of muskrat or nuthatch wondering in the meantime over falling snowflakes how they melt against a clear pool’s surface yet do not make the water wet sure i know these people but i haven’t seen much of them lately

on a big-moon night the snow throws sparks and both eyes leap to catch what can’t be caught

in snowstorms for some reason trees are more like people

instantly the instant disappears

which is to say people appear

here not-here on a big-moon night

which is to say borders blur why i wonder in snowstorms what is it about crystals falling from the depths of sky that makes my i just another i

for what feels to me like a long three minutes the tiny black spider explores my bootprint one thousand miles ten thousand miles one hundred thousand miles blank snow everywhere i do not doubt the significance of this life in this endless white but neither do i understand

that tells me don’t miss the forest for the trees

© NADEZDA KOSTINA | DREAMSTIME.COM

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT BY KEN PICARD

KEN PICARD

E

ach year, Seven Days receives dozens of emails and messages through its website asking us to solve mysteries that have confounded our readers. But with only 26 “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” columns per year, we can’t answer them all. So it may be helpful to know what factors go into determining which questions we take on and why.

In other words, WTF makes a good WTF column?

First, the question posed must be one that other readers are asking, too. That’s why “Where did I leave my car keys?” rarely makes the cut.

Second, the question should have an interesting, unexpected or unusual answer. If you found your lost car keys between the couch cushions, it wouldn’t be especially exciting to anyone but you.

If, however, you lost the car keys 20 years ago during a fishing trip on Lake Champlain, only to find them in the belly of a largemouth bass you caught this summer, please call or email us immediately — and include a high-resolution photo of you, the keys and the fish.

Finally, your WTF question needs to be answerable. Often that’s not possible — at least, not by us.

For instance, earlier this year one reader wrote: “For over a year now, someone has been throwing books on the entire stretch of the Beltline, from the Old North End to the Colchester line. It’s frustrating to see these otherwise fine books go from readable to unrecognizable lumps after each rainstorm. [Why] is this happening?”

Sorry, but we haven’t a clue. However, if you’re the Beltline Book Fairy, please give us a shout, and we’ll unravel this mystery for our reader and help you find a more eco-friendly way of disposing of all those tomes.

Speaking of trash in the breakdown lanes, “Peebles the Guinea Pig” wrote to us a few months ago and asked, “Why do people in Burlington use the dedicated bike lanes as driving lanes in the winter?”

That question seemed related to another one we received earlier this year from a Winooski resident, who asked about drivers who modify their cars to make them intentionally backfire.

“I understand that this may be part of car culture and an interest and hobby for some,” the reader wrote, essentially answering the question. “I’m just tired of being woken up in the middle of the night by this, and it is terrifying my dog.”

What WTF Questions Didn’t or Couldn’t We Answer in 2021?

Roadside litter from Bud Light, Vermont’s “cheap beer of choice”

While we can’t confirm answers to either question, we suspect that they share a theme: Some drivers are inconsiderate and believe that the sun rises and sets on them and their aftermarket exhaust systems.

Among questions whose answers amount to little more than “Uh, no” is one we received a few weeks ago: “Is it possible I saw a black panther in Vermont? Had green emerald eyes also!”

Answer: If the Black Panther to which you refer was associated with the 2018 Marvel superhero movie of the same name or with ’60s civil rights activists Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, then possibly.

However, if that “black panther” was actually a black-coated leopard, which is native to Africa and Asia, or a blackfurred jaguar, which lives in Central and South America, it’s unlikely you spotted one in the Green Mountains without the aid of virtual reality goggles or psychedelics.

Among the wild felines native to Vermont, neither the eastern bobcat nor the Canada lynx is all black. The “emerald eyes” may have been the animal’s tapetum lucidum, the reflective surface behind the retinas of vertebrates, including cats, that increases its sensitivity to light and appears to glow green when illuminated.

Here’s another question that, until recently, we assumed was unanswerable:

“Why are the beer cans and bottles found along Vermont roads almost always Bud Lite?”

If one assumes a benevolent explanation for why said beer containers end up along Vermont roadsides — that is, the empties accidentally roll or blow out of pickup truck beds before their owners can recycle them — then the actual question is: What is the most popular brand of beer sold in Vermont?

We got an answer earlier this year, when the market research agency TOP Data released the results of a nationwide survey of Americans’ beer-consumption habits since the start of the pandemic.

Coming as a shock to virtually no one, the survey found that American beer consumption rose by nearly 9 percent.

About the only surprise was that it wasn’t higher.

According to the TOP Data survey, the most popular “cheap beer of choice” in 23 states was Budweiser. However, in Vermont and five other states, the No. 1 lowbrow brew was Bud Lite. But craft beer aficionados should be heartened to learn that, coming in at No. 2, the Alchemist cracked Vermont’s top five. It’s the Stowebased brewery that makes Heady Topper and other hoppy suds.

The ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is another heady place a reader wondered about. Last summer, a woman

wrote in to sound off about one particular aspect of the science museum.

ECHO, she wrote, “is a wonderful addition to Burlington’s waterfront for so many reasons: the museum exhibits, programs, and mission. One aspect that I’m not in love with — and after calling them a few weeks ago, I’m apparently not the only one — is the interactive doorbell game they have installed outside their facility.

It’s really loud, even for folks who are quite a distance away, and I believe it detracts from the quiet serenity of the waterfront.”

Ouch! A science museum dedicated to environmental stewardship doesn’t like getting dinged for noise pollution, even in the interest of keeping kids engaged and stimulated.

“We did receive a note from a person who asked us to temper the sound of the bell,” explained Phelan Fretz, executive director of ECHO, in an email. “We did dampen the bell and responded to their inquiry, but have not heard back. We pride ourselves on encouraging children to find the joy and wonder of science every day and we applaud their enthusiasm.”

And we applaud Seven Days readers for their WTF questions. Please keep ’em coming in 2022! m

INFO Got a Vermont-based mystery that you can’t untangle? Ask us! wtf@sevendaysvt.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

39

Resonant Reads Seven Days reviewers share some favorite Vermont books from 2021

WINTER READING ISSUE

BY JORDAN ADAMS, BENJAMIN ALESHIRE, DAN BOLLES, MARGOT HARRISON, MELISSA PASANEN & JIM SCHLEY

T

he dozens of books that arrive at the Seven Days office in a year span a wide range of topics and genres.

We receive critically acclaimed novels, poetry collections, historical studies and heartfelt memoirs. We review as many as space allows — as long as the author lives in or very near Vermont.

Just as they did in 2020, scribes have kept on writing despite the vagaries of a pernicious pandemic. What follow are six of our reviewers’ favorites from 2021. It’s neither a best-of list nor a ranking — just a window into what we read, enjoyed and highly recommend this year, presented alphabetically by author.

The Secret to Superhuman Strength Alison Bechdel, with coloring collaboration

by Holly Rae Taylor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 240 pages. $24.

I’m doing more running for exercise these days, and it’s all thanks to Alison Bechdel.

Don’t get the wrong idea: Despite its playful title, the Bolton cartoonist’s third graphic memoir is not an exercise manual full of exhortations to burn those calories. It’s a thoughtful, meticulously illustrated history of Bechdel’s own attempts to transcend her physical being by pushing it to its limits.

The author-artist applies a critical eye to that quest, even as she shows how the drive toward self-improvement has defined her life from childhood on. She explores how exercise can become an addiction — and foster other addictions. “I see now,” Bechdel writes, “that my yearning for selftranscendence is in some ways an attempt to avoid the strain of relating to other people.”

It’s no surprise that Bechdel’s book recently won the annual Publishers Weekly Graphic Novel Critics Poll — even sedentary folks like me can relate to its insights.

For us, though, The Secret to Superhuman Strength may also offer inspiration to leave the couch and find out how on Earth anyone gets addicted to exercise in the first place.

M.H.

The Most Costly Journey: Stories of Migrant Farmworkers in Vermont, Drawn by New England Cartoonists Edited by Marek Bennett, Julia Grand Doucet, Andy Kolovos and Teresa Mares, Vermont Folklife Center, 252 pages. $19.95.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

When I started writing about food and agriculture 20 years ago, few locals would speak on record about the migrant farmworkers who kept many of Vermont’s iconic dairies going. Today, these workers are less hidden, though their lives remain precarious and difficult. Their heightened profile can render them more vulnerable, but some have told me they find strength in openly sharing their experiences.

Two dozen migrant community members collaborated with regional cartoonists to convey their struggles and accomplishments in The Most Costly Journey: Stories of Migrant Farmworkers in Vermont, Drawn by New England Cartoonists. The Vermont Folklife Center published the English-language compilation in May, but the stories were originally distributed all over the state as booklets in Spanish.

Called “El Viaje Más Caro,” the project was conceived by Julia Grand Doucet, an outreach nurse for Middlebury’s Open Door Clinic, to help farmworkers feel heard and support one another. Book sales help fund the nonprofit’s work: providing free health care to uninsured and underinsured Addison County residents, about half of whom are migrant workers.

What I appreciate most about the project is that its primary purpose was not to educate those beyond the farmworker community; it was created by and for those to whom the stories belong.

M . P.

the blue-collar sun Lucas Farrell, Green Writers Press, 78 pages. $16.95.

One of the gifts of poems is that they change over time, the way songs do. While we’re not looking, their meanings rearrange themselves — because we ourselves have changed. Our parents die, we fall in love, we move far enough out of town to see the stars at night. Books that barely provoke a shrug when we read them at age 24 might slaughter us at 34 — and vice versa.

It’s only been nine months since I reviewed Lucas Farrell’s the blue-collar sun, but I already love it more. I texted a photo of the first poem, “Ice Storm,” to a friend, who immediately responded, “This is gorgeous.” On page 19, an erasure poem that reads simply, “finally / a / poem about / the weather,” made me laugh out loud, again.

Certain lines continue to produce a covetousness in me because I wish I’d

written them myself: “I want you egregiously” or “Like fireflies we excused ourselves horizontally through the fields.”

And I understand “Landscaping” more intimately. “Pull the starter cord eight times, in succession, jesus, mary, and joseph, FUCK—FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. / Curse the way my dad might’ve.” Sure, I had used a Weedwacker when I read this for the first time — but I’d never ruined someone else’s by forgetting to mix the gas with oil. (Sorry, Josh!)

Farrell’s the blue-collar sun is a book I’ll be coming back to; I wonder what it’ll teach me next time.

B.A.

American Wake Kerrin McCadden, Black Sparrow Press, 104 pages. $16.95.

I was impressed by Kerrin McCadden’s poetry collection American Wake when I reviewed it, but I lamented what struck me as ineffective sequencing of the poems.

I argued that interspersing poems about a brother’s overdose death with ones about an ancestral, ongoing relationship to Ireland was disorienting — and at times diminished the book’s cumulative impact.

I thought that grouping together pieces by related setting and theme would have been more dramatic and powerful.

Yet I kept thinking about American Wake through the year, as Vermonters experienced a devastating surge of opioidrelated fatalities. In August, there were 129, up from 104 in the same month last year, according to the state Department of Health.

This emergency became ever more acute for me when I reviewed Brett Ann Stanciu’s memoir Unstitched: My Journey to Understand Opioid Addiction and How People and Communities Can Heal. Moved by the power of gifted writers to transcend cold, grim statistics with the stories of real people, I found my earlier objections to American Wake’s organizational strategies now beside the point.

Most people probably don’t read poems in a collection consecutively. Nor have I done so as I’ve returned to the book. What strikes me now is McCadden’s eloquence in expressing anguish. The fluency of her phrasing and her plangent details give voice to a stern yet ardent empathy.

There’s pain in caring this much, but these poems never stop caring.

J.S .

WE'VE GOT A GIFT FOR YOU! settings and grotesque imagery literally gave me nightmares — an impressive feat, considering how desensitized I am to horror.

New Englanders may find Mills’ stories especially affecting, given that nearly all take place in Vermont and nearby states. Try not to look at your town differently after reading “Lucilla Barton (1857-1880).” The story of a family torn apart by malevolent forces beyond their understanding, it delivers terror through faux yet thoroughly realistic historical documents and court testimony.

Every tale made me shudder. “Below the Falls” blurs the line between mental illness and supernatural disturbance. Neo-noir “Dream Children” casts contemporary Burlington as a mysterious place hiding a monstrous secret. And “The Account of David Stonehouse, Exile” is part haunting and part survival horror wrapped in layers of biblical allegory.

Mills’ affinity for historical accuracy is evident throughout. There’s truth on every page in the form of period-correct language, regionally specific details and incisive commentary on the human psyche.

J. A .

Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid: America’s Original Gangster Couple

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Among the Lilies Daniel Mills, Undertow Publications, 260 pages. $19.99.

I read more books in 2021 than in any other year of my life. Of the 50-plus volumes I consumed, Hinesburg author Daniel Mills’ Among the Lilies is unequivocally one of the best and most memorable. The writer’s 12 short stories and novellas, mostly gothic fiction, are insidious in the best way.

His compelling characters, unnerving

D.B.

11/19/21 11:59 AM

SMOOTH HOLIDAY

RETURNS Tip #1

Glenn Stout, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 384 pages. $27.

My two favorite books by Vermont authors this year had a funny thing in common: Both were nonfiction books written by renowned sportswriters, and neither had anything to do with sports. The first was Endpapers: A Family Story of Books, War, Escape, and Home by Addison County’s Alexander Wolff. Poignant, dramatic and often humorous, it’s the longtime Sports Illustrated scribe’s most moving work and deserves a place on your nightstand.

But, for the purposes of this list, I’m going with another gripping read by a sportswriter playing outside the lines: Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid: America’s Original Gangster Couple by Glenn Stout. Employing meticulous research skills and a gift for storytelling, the Alburgh author renders a vivid account of Margaret and Richard Whittemore, aka Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid, the gangster couple whose sometimes brutal exploits captivated America in the 1920s — about a decade before Bonnie and Clyde.

Drawn primarily from newspaper accounts, Stout’s story is rich with historical detail related to the Whittemores, their gang and America in the Jazz Age. If the book sings, though, that’s because it moves with the swiftness and scope of a good crime novel — or perhaps the gritty gangster film it seems destined to become.

660-0055 girlingtongarage.com

Make stock from your turkey and bring the bones to a CSWD Drop-Off Center for composting.

Tip #2

Recycle burned out string lights as scrap metal but don’t put them in your recycling bin.

Tip #3

Take your natural Christmas tree to CSWD’s Williston, Essex, or Milton Drop-Off Centers to be chipped for composting.

For holiday waste and recycling tips even a Grinch will love, visit cswd.net. Happy waste-free holidays from CSWD!

LEARN MORE:

(802) 872-8100 www.cswd.net

475x746-Holiday-7DAYS_SNAP.indd 3v-CSWD122221 1 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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12/9/21 3:39 8:56 PM AM

JENNIFER A CIARDELLI • JAN & HARRIS ABBOTT • NAN ABBOTT-HOURIGAN • ELISE ACHILLES • BONNIE ACKER & JOHN DAVIS • JAMES ADAMS • JANE ADAMS • ANNE ADLER • RICHARD AHRENS • CURT ALBEE • SARAH ALBERT • TISH ALDOM • JASON ALDOUS • JOAN ALESHIRE • ANNE ALESHIRE • STUART ALEXANDER M.D. & EMILIE ALEXANDER • DANA ALLEN • JANE ALLEN • CRAIG ALLEN • BREN ALVAREZ • HEIDI ANDERSON • KRISTIN ANDERSON • RUTH ANNE FURMAN • MARY ANTANAVICA • JOHN ANTHONY • BRIAN APPLEBERRY • JENNIFER ARBUCKLE • CATHY ARCHER • JESSICA ARENDT • CHRISTINE ARMSTRONG • CELIA ASBELL • BEKI AUCLAIR • JEREMY AUDET • ERIC AVILDSEN • CLAIRE AYER • TANIA AZAR • DALE AZARIA • GUY BABB • KATHLEEN BACHUS • ELYSSA BACK • BARBARA BAKER • DANIEL BAKER • KATHLEEN & SCOTT BALDWIN • ROBERT BALEWICZ • IRIS BANKS • NANCY BANKS • PHEOBE BARASH & ROBERT DONNIS • ALISA BARBA • ANNE BARBANO • DAVID BARDAGLIO • ERIC BARENDSE • JIMMY BARKER • NANCY BARON • MARIA & FREDERICK BARRETT • TIM BARRITT • SUSAN BARTLETT • G. BARTON GRIFFIN • ROB BAST • CAROLYN BATES • CHARLES BATES • ALAN BAUMAN • JOE BEAIRD • DOROTHY BEANE • MICHAEL BEATTIE • LOIS BEATTY • MARCEL BEAUDIN • ALISON BECHDEL • JERI BELISLE • KANDACE BENEDINI • NANCY BERCAW • NANCY BERGER • PAULINE BERGERON & RONALD WILSON • JANET BIEHL • ROBERT & ANNE BIRKETT • JANE BISHOP • THOMAS BISSON • JUDITH BLACKMER • ANNE BLACKMER • ROLAND BLAIS • RICK BLOUNT • LESLI BLOUNT • JOHN BLUMGART • ELIZABETH BLUTO • PAUL BOGAARDS • BECKY BOGGESS & BOB RAWLS • CARL BOHLEN • AMY BOLGER • JOCELYN BOLICK • ARIEL BOLLES • BOB BOLYARD • KIM BOMBARD • PAULA BONHOMME • PETER BOOTH • LOUIS & KATHLEEN BORIE • NAOMI BOSSOM • JIM BOSTROM • ANDREW BOUCHARD • BRENDA BOUCHARD • RON BOUDREAU • BROOKE BOUSQUET • STEVEN BOUTCHER • DEB BOUTON • SHARON BOVAIRD • KATIR BOYNTON • PATRICIA BRANLEY • JAMES BRANNEN • WENDY BRAUER • DOT & ANITA BRAUER LONG • CHRISTOPHER BRAY • LISA BRIDGE • BEVERLY BRIGGS • ANN BROEKHUIZEN • CAROLYN BRONZ • TIM BROOKES • BERNE BROUDY • ALEX BROWN • SANDY BROWN • MARTHA BROWN • DAVID BROWN • CHESS BROWNELL • BRADFORD BROYLES • JESSICA BRUMSTED • CHARLES BRUNETTO • LORI BRYANT • THOMAS BUCK • TOM BUCKLEY • JACOB BUDIN • LEIGH BULLOCK • LIZABETH BURRELL • ROBERT BURROWS • LYNN BURSELL • CHRISTINE BURT • ELLEN BUTLER • JEFF BUZAS • JOHN BYRNE • HANA CADIEUX • ALDEN CADWELL • MICHAEL CALDWELL • NAT CALDWELL • WILLIAM CALFEE • MARIALISA CALTA • GRAHAM CAMPBELL • SARAH CAMPBELL • ELLEN CAMPBELL • KAROL CANNON • ANNA CAREY • L. DIANA CARLISLE • MEGAN CARMICHAEL • PATRICK CARNEY • HARLOW CARPENTER • NICOLE CARPENTER • THERESA CARROLL • MARCY CARTON • JEFFREY CARTWRIGHT • TERESA CASEY • JENNIFER CASSIDY • MICHAEL CASSIN • DONALD CATALANO • JEANNIE CATMULL • DEB CAULO • DAVE & SHARON CAVANAGH & WEBSTER • DAVID & PATRICIA CAWLEY • RICHARD CENGERI • WILLIAM CHABOT • THORA CHADWICK • JUDITH CHALMER • CATHY CHAMBERLAIN • ANDREA & JAMES CHANDLER • CAROL CHAPMAN • ANGIE CHAPPLE-SOKOL • CAROL CHERIN • THOMAS CHITTENDEN • JOSEPH CHOQUETTE • NATALIE CHURCHILL • BOB CIERI • ROGER CLAPP • CLAYTON CLARK • PETER CLARK • CHARITY CLARK • WILLIAM CLARK • SUSAN CLARK • ABIGAIL CLAY • MAGGIE CLEARY • AUSTIN CLEAVES • THERESE CLEVELAND • LYNN & GREG CLUFF • WENDY COE • SUSAN COFFEY • RICH COHEN • JANIE COHEN • MIKE COLBOURN • PETER COLGAN • MAUREEN COLLINS • CHUCK COLLINS • DOROTHY COMMO • SAM CONANT • BEACH CONGER • MIRIAM CONLON • PAUL CONNER • BRADFORD COOK • EVAN COOPER • REBECCA COPANS • RUTH COPPERSMITH • BRIAN CORCORAN • DOUGLAS & BIRGITTA CORRIGAN

• KEVIN COSGROVE • BLAISE COTE • KIM COTNOIR • ANDY COTTON • LISA COVEN • ERIC COVEY • JOHN COX • E. DAVID CRANE • DAVID CRAY • TREVOR CRIST • RICHARD CROCKER • DARYL CRONIN • DONALD & LYNN CUMMINGS • TIMOTHY CUMMINGS • EVI CUNDIFF • ANN CURRAN • CELIA CURTIS • CHARLES CYR • JACK DAGGITT & ANNE STELLWAGEN • JUDITH DALY • RICHARD DANA • JAMES DANDENEAU • MICHAELA DAVICO • ALEX DAVID PERKINS • JOAN MARIE DAVIDSON, PH.D • MAUREEN & MICHAEL DAVIN • ALLISON DAVIS • MARIE DAVIS • JOHN DAVIS • MARK DAVIS • STAIGE DAVIS • LOREI DAWSON • BECKY DAYTON • GARY DE CAROLIS • HOWARD DEAN • MARGO DEARBHAIL • MELITA DEBELLIS • JESSICA DEBIASIO • PASCHAL DEBLASIO & JO ANN BEAUDIN • KATHERINE DECARREAU • DAVID DEEN • DANIELLE DEMARSE • MATTHEW DENDINGER • GREGORY DENNIS • NANCY DENNIS • STEVE & MARYK DENNISON • KAREN DETTERMAN • FRANCIS DEVLIN • ROBERT B. DEVOST • LEE DIAMOND • JOSHUA DICKERSON • JEFF DICKSON • DREW DIEMAR • ERIC DIETRICH • TAYLOR DOBBS • JON DODD • HEATHER DODGE • CINDY DODGE • LOVEJOY DOLE • LEIGH DOLIN • SIOBHAN DONEGAN • LUKE DONFORTH • KERRY DONNELLY • CHRISTOPHER DONNELLY • JUDY DONOFRIO • RICHARD DONOVAN • SANDRA DOOLEY • ANGELO DORTA • SYLVIE DOUBLIE • ALAN B. DOUGLAS • SUSAN DRECHNEY • DONALD DRESSER & BARBARA WINTERS • WILLIAM DRISLANE • DANIEL DRORBAUGH • SARAHJANE DUBE • KATHLEEN DUCLOS • WAYNE & NANCY DUERINCK • LOLA DUFFORT • CHRISTINE DUNBAR • WESLEY DUNN • NATALIE DUVAL • EBEN DUVAL • SUSAN DWELLE • JAMES DWINELL • JASMINE EASTER • BRIAN ECKERT • WILLIAM EDGERTON • CAROL EGGERT • JEFF & ROBERT EGGERTPELUSO • WILL EICK • JO ELLEN & PETER SWAINE • ANNE & DAVID ELSTON • MEGAN EPLER WOOD • HENRY EPP • CHRISTINA ERICKSON • DAVID EVANS • B EVANS • DWIGHT EVEREST • BRIDGET EVERTS • MINDY EVNIN • JANE EWING • MICHAEL FABER • FRANK & LOUISE FARKAS • ROBYN FARNSWORTH • KALOB FARRAR • GARY FARRELL • MARY FASANO • GLYNNIS FAWKES • JESSICA FEDDERSEN • RICH FEELEY • KATHY FELDER • WILLIAM FELLINGER • GAY FELLOWS • CARRIE FENN • ERIN FERRARA • IRENE FERTIK • MARY ANN FICOCIELLO • KAREN FIEBIG • ALICE FIFIELD • ANNE FINLAYSON • SCOTT FINN • JOHN FISHER & LAURA LYLE • HEATHER FITZGERALD • BRIAN FITZGERALD • DAVID FITZGERALD • PAMELA FITZGERALD • MARTHA FLANIGAN • HEIDI FLETCHER • ROBERT & JOANNE FLYNN • KERSTIN FOLEY • MARCIA FOLEY • JEFF FORWARD • LINSEY E. FOSTERMASON • CARL FOWLER • SUSAN LEE FOWLER • ROGER FOX • SHERYL FOXMAN • WILLIAM FRANK • CARRIE FREDETTE • RYAN FREEBERN • AUDREE FREY • CARY FRIBERG • ALEXANDER FRIEND • MAUREEN FRY • KATHARINE FRY • JESSE FULTON • REBECCA GAINSBURG • LEONARD GARAMELLA • RYAN GARDNER • KRIS GARNJOST • MICHAEL GASKIN • GORDON GEBAUER • KAREN GEIGER • MICHELLE GEOFFRION • ALLISON GERGELY • ELLEN GERSHUN • TINA & LAURIE GIANGRANDE-OHANLON • SETH GIBSON • JONATHAN GIBSON & ELIZA MABRY • DARIN GILLIES • ROGER GILLIM • ROBERT GILLMORE • NEIL GLASSMAN • LAWRENCE & SARA JANE GLUCKMAN • HARRY GOLDHAGEN • MAUREEN GOLDRING • CHARLES & DEBRA GOLLER • GEORGE & CLAUDIA GONDA • KAREN GONNET • DAVID GOODMAN • NANCY GOODRICH • CHRISTINA GOODWIN • WENDY GOODWIN • DANIEL GOODYEAR & AMY SEIDL GOODYEAR • SUE & RICKEY GORDON • STEVE GORMAN • BOBBY & BILLI GOSH • SHEILA GOULD • KAREN GRACE • MATT GRADY • NAOMI GRAHAM & EVELYN SPRAGUE • GRETCHEN GRANER • SHERYL GRAVES • ANDREA GRAY • ROSANNE GRECO • ROBIN GREGG • AMY GREGORY • ELIZABETH GRIBKOFF • JACQUELINE GRIFFIN • KATHY GRISE • KEITH GROSS • MARY LOU GROSS • KEN GROSSMAN • KATHY GRUBER • AMY GUALA • W.C GUENTHER • SALLY GULLION • RICHARD GUTTMAN • JILL & TED HAAS • ROBERT HALE

• KAREN HALVERSON • MARY HAMILTON • RICHARD HAMMER • RECILLE HAMRELL • AMANDA HANANFORD • ELAINE HANEY • ERIN HANLEY • KERSTIN HANSON • DANITA HANSON • ERIC HANSON • JENNIFER HANUSSAK • RICHARD HARBUS • BETSY HARPER & JEFF SPARKS • JOSHUA HARRIS • PATRICIA HART • FAGAN HART • JAMES HARVEY • GABRIEL HARWOOD • SABINA HASKELL • CHRISTINE HAUSLEIN • RICK & MARCIA HAWKINS • WILLIAM HAYES • BILLIE MARIE HAYES • HELEN HEAD • DEB HEALEY • DAN HEATH • PATRICIA HEATHER-LEA • JONATHAN HEATON • LISANNE HEGMAN • JOANNE HEIDKAMP • SARAH HEIL • PAUL HEINTZ • ADALINE HERBERT • ROBERT HERENDEEN • STEPHANIE HERRICK • DAVID & JUDITH HERSHBERG • SUSAN HETMAN • MAURICE & JANNAN HEVEY • KATHLEEN HEYER • PATRICIA HICKCOX • WILLIAM HICKSON • CAMERON HIGBY-NAQUIN • KATHARINE HIKEL • BRUCE HILAND • JAN HILBORN • BARBARA HILL • JIM HINCKS • VALERIE HIRD • MICHELLE HOBBS • SARA HOBSON • DOROTHY HODSON • ROBERT HOFFMAN • PAUL HOFFMAN • MARGARET HOISINGTON • STEPH HOLDRIDGE • KELLY HOLT • KIM HOLTAN • SUSAN HONG • JOHN HOPKINS • JEFFREY & IRENE HORBAR • CHARLES HORVATH • ERICA HOUSKEEPER • OLGA HOWARD • STACY HUFFSTETLER • LISA HUGHES • SUSAN HULLINGER • STEVE M. HULSEY • ELIZABETH HUMSTONE • PAMELA HUNT • ANYA HUNTER • SUSAN HURD • KATHARINE HUTCHINSON • EMMA HUVOS • KAREN HUYCK • PHILIP HYJEK • JESSICA HYMAN • GEOFFREY IBBOTT • PETER IRION • CAROL IRISH • MIKE IVES • MAJOR & DIDI JACKSON • CYNTHIA JACKSON • ROBERT G. JACOB • NINA JAFFE • ALI JALILI • MEGAN JAMES • AMY JELEN & JOSH GIVENS • SUSAN JENAL & MARK GALLAGHER • MATTHEW JENNINGS • BRIAN JENNISON • KARL JENSEN • ALYSSA JOHNSON • BARBARA JOHNSON • MARIE JOHNSON • DOUGLAS JOHNSON & VIOLA HAARMANN • TIMOTHY JOHNSTON • NICHOLE JOLLY • GRAY JONES • JUDI JOY • THOMAS JR. & LORRIE O'DONOVAN • WALTER JUDGE & JEAN O'NEILL • STEVE JUSTIS • KURT KAFFENBERGER • R. KANE • KIRK KARDASHIAN • TOM KASTNER • SUSAN KAVANAGH • CHAPIN KAYNOR • MARY KEATOR • PAMELA KEEFE • CHRISTOPHER KEELER • FRANCES KEENAN • LARA KEENAN • SAKSHI KEETON • CAROLYN KEHLER • BOB KELLER • JEANNE KELLER • MICHELLE KELLER • KEVIN KELLEY • SARAH KENNEY • ABBY KENNEY • CHRISTOPHER KENT • JOANNE KENYON • CATHERINE KENYON • BILL KEOGH • CATHLEEN KEOGH • TRINKA KERR • MARC KESSLER • KRISTINA KIARSIS • ROLF KIELMAN • RENEE & DOUG KIEVIT-KYLAR • WILLIAM KIGHT • MARSHA KINCHELOE & PETER ANTHONY • SHAUN KING • SHIRLEY KING & MARY FRYE • LISA KINGSBURY • BRENDAN KINNEY • ERIN KIRKPATRICK • PAULA KITCHEL • CHRIS KLYZA • JARED KNEPPER • WENDY KNIGHT • ELIZABETH KNOX • OLIVIER KNOX • RAMA KOCHERLAKOTA • BARBARA KOHN • KARJALA KOPONEN • TOM KOSIBA • MAURY KOST • KEVIN KOURI • DOREEN KRAFT • RYAN KRIGER • KATE KRUESI • CHRISTINA KRUPP • JULIAN KULSKI • MADELEINE KUNIN • LARRY KUPFERMAN • LISA KUSEL • GEORGE L. CADY JR. & SUSAN CADY • LINNEA LACHMAN • CHUCK LACY • FRED LAGER • MARTHA LAING • MARTIN LALONDE • PAUL LAMBERSON • MOLLY LAMBERT • JOSEPH LAMBERT • LISA LAMDIN • ELEANOR LANAHAN • JODY LANDON • ANDREA LANDSBERG • RICHARD LANDSMAN • EVAN LANGFELDT • KEVIN LANPHEAR • JAMES LANTZ • BILL LARAMEE • HEIDEH LARIJANI • NANCY LAROWE • JENNIFER LARSEN • LYN LAUFFER • MARY KIM LAVERY • TOM LAW • BARBARA LAWRENCE • JUD LAWRIE • LARRY LAWSON • JAMES LAYMAN • KAREN LEARY • CHERYL LEES • DONALD & KAREN LEFEBVRE • CHARLIE LEFRAK • LUCIE LEHMANN • PAULA LELACHEUR KELLEY • SYLVIE LEONARD • MIKE LEONARD • JULIE LERMAN • JILL LEVIS • IAN LEVY • MILDRED LEWIS • BETH LIBERMAN • NICOLE LIBRANDI • CYNTHIA & HUGO LIEPMANN • JENNIFER LIGUORI • KARIN LIME • SHEILA LIMING • JOHN LINCOLN •

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

ALI LINDBERG • BRUCE LINDWALL • LOUIS LIONNI • ARTHUR M. LISKOWSKY • BARRY LIVINGSTON • ANN LIVINGSTON • JOSH LOBE • JENNIFER LOISEAU • PATRICIA LOLLER • ANITA LONG & DOT BRAUER • CALVIN LONGE • MARY LONGEY • JED LOOMIS • LINDA LOONEY • RONNI LOPEZ • MARY LOU LORD • PETER LORRAIN & MARIE SEGERSTEEN-LORRAIN, RN, CCM • MELANIE LOSCHIAVO • PAMELA LOVE • ROB LOWE • SAM LUCCI • KEVIN LUMPKIN • LISA LUMPKIN • SAMUEL LURIE • IAN LUTZ • CHRISTOPHER LYON • DEMIE LYONS • JANE MACAN • DR. DENTON MACCARTY & KELLY DOHERTY • BENJAMIN MACE • TYLER MACHADO • COREY MACK • MARIA & DENNIS MAHONEY • CHRISTOPHER MALONEY • GIULIANA MAMMUCARI • ROBERT MANN • JUSTIN MARSH • RUX MARTIN • DUNCAN MARTIN • ALEX MARTIN • BRIGID MARY CHICK • JEFF MASTERS • ALAN MATSON • JEAN MATTHEW • CHRISTIAN MATTHEWS • CARROLL MAXWELL • ALLAN MAYBERRY GREENBERG & ELISA FOLEY • MARK MCATEER • CHRISTINE MCBRIDE • VICKY MCCAFFERTY • LD MCCALLUM • KELLY MCCANN • WINIFRED MCCARTHY • MARIAN MCCUE • CHARLIE MCDONOUGH • MAUREEN MCELANEY • RICK MCCRAW • BARBARA MCGREW • BARBARA MCGUIRE • FRAN MCKAY • ELLEN MCKAY • JAMES MCKEE • RYAN MCLAREN • SUSAN MCMILLAN • LYNN MCMILLAN • JONATHAN MCNALLY • HOLLIE MCRAE • EDWARD MCSWEENEY & DEBRA CHERSON • KIRKE MCVAY • AMY MCVEY • STEPHEN MEASE • JENN MEGYESI • BRENDA MEIERDIERCKS • SENA MEILLEUR • CHARLIE MENARD • HARRY & DIANE MERCER • ROBERT MERCHANT • SARAH MERRITT • CHARLES MESSING • IAN METCALF • MEGHAN METZLER • ROXANNE MEUSE • MELANIE MEYER • KATHERINE MEYER • MUFFIE MILENS • BILLIE MILES • HOLLY MILLER • JESSICA MILLER • JERRILYN MILLER • ERIC MILLER • JEFFREY MILLER • MAVIS MILNE • RAYMOND MITCHELL • DEBORAH MIUCCIO • ELSBETH MODE • MK MONLEY • ELIZABETH MONLEY • MICHAEL MONTE • ORAH MOORE • PAULA MOORE • ANNE MOORE • MARGARET MOORE • NANCY MORGAN • SHERRY MORIN BARTON • BONNIE MORRISSEY • JAN MORSE • BETTY-ANN MORSE • DANIEL & MARGARET MOSELEY • DAWN MOSKOWITZ • PATRICIA MOTCH • RALPH MUECKENHEIM • JULIE MUELLER • DEBRA MUNN • JACQUELINE MURPHY • SHARON MURRAY • JAN MURRAY • SHERRILL MUSTY • JOHN MYERS • PATRICIA MYETTE • JENNIFER NACHBUR • MATTHEW NADLER • JANICE NADWORNY • MARK NASH • MARC NATANAGARA • CHLOE NATHAN • DORSEY NAYLOR • JOANNE NECRASON • PAUL & JENNIFER NELSON • RADETTA NEMCOSKY • PAT NESTORK • JESSICA NEVILLE • JONATHAN NEWHOUSE • ALAN NEWMAN • TAYLOR NEWTON • TSERING NGUDU • JOHANNA NICHOLS • SHARON NICOLAS KOLLER & STEPHEN KOLLER • ERIK NIELSEN • KARLA NOBOA • WILLIAM NORTHUP • HUBERT NORTON • SPENCER NOWAK • MARY O'BRIEN & MARK LUCAS • JILL O'CONNELL • MEGHAN O'CONNOR • JOHN O'CONNOR • LINDA OATS • SYLVIA OBLAK • SUSAN OGDEN • SUSAN OHANIAN • JOHN OLSEN • SETH OLSON • JOHN OLSON • BILL ORLEANS • JESSICA OSKI • MARY OTTO • JAMES & SUSAN OVERFIELD • STEPHEN OVERTON • JOHN & ANN OWEN • MIEKO A. OZEKI • DARLENE PALOLA • ED PAQUIN • SHIRLEY PARFITT • LARRY PARKER • JACQUELINE PARKS • DEB PARRELLA • KEVIN PASKIET • NANCY PATTERSON • CHRIS PATTON • FRANKLIN PAULINO • JED PAULS • LISA PAWLIK • WILLIAM & ELIZABETH PEABODY • DON PEABODY • CHRISTOPHER PEARSON • MARIAN PEARSON • BONNIE PEASE • JAMES PEEBLES • KATHLEEN PELLETT • HEATHER PEMBROOK • EAMON PENNEY • CRAIG PEPPER • THOMAS PERRY • WILLIAM PERTA • ERIN PETENKO • MILES PETERLE • RICHARD & JAN PETERSON • DUANE PETERSON • TIFFANY PFEIFFER CARR • STEPHANIE PHILLIPS • LISA PHINNEY • AIMEE PICCHI • RANDAL PIERCE • DIANE PIERCE • GREG PIERCE & PAULA KANE • ANNE PILBIN • KEITH PILLSBURY • JANE PINCUS • GEOFFREY PIZZUTILLO

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

43

food+drink

WINTER READING ISSUE

Food or Fiction?

Well-read Vermont chefs share their favorite literary meals B Y J O R D AN BAR RY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

I

still remember my favorite assignment from high school. It was for Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition my junior year.

After the intense AP exam, my classmates and I competed in a lighthearted literary bake-off.

We could choose to create food from any of the books or plays we’d read that year, which included Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, George Orwell’s 1984,

Vladimir Nabokov’s Pnin, works by William Shakespeare, and Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

I convinced my bake-off teammate that we should reference Stoppard’s absurdist play and its source material, Hamlet, wherein Shakespeare deploys the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to represent the notion that things aren’t always as they seem.

That theme in mind, we baked two batches of cupcakes: One was chocolate with vanilla frosting; the other, meatloaf with mashed-potato frosting. The two were nearly identical, at least at first glance. The day of the bake-off, we blithely handed them out at random — with no mention of meatloaf — and watched as half of our classmates made the unsettling discovery.

While I haven’t made meatloaf cup-

cakes since, the idea that food and literature could intersect stuck with me. I notice whenever a mention of food or drink appears in what I’m reading, whether it’s an argument about “proper Champagne glasses” over an outdoor meal of pasta in Sally Rooney’s Normal People, a rice sandwich eaten in the school canteen in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street or FOOD OR FICTION?

» P.46

A Breakfast of Champions gin martini on a bookshelf

JORDAN BARRY

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SIDEdishes

they’ll expand their offerings to include a buffet and traditional churrascoSERVING UP FOOD NEWS style barbecued meats.

The couple, who are both Brazilian, moved to Vermont from New Jersey in January to open their first restaurant.

“I was doing construction jobs before — not even close to a restaurant,” Marques said. “But my V Smiley girlfriend [Bortoletto] cooks really well. She TANDEM, the commissary knew the owner of this kitchen that Smiley shares building, and she saw the V SMILEY PRESERVES with several other food opportunity.”

BUYS BRISTOL BAKERY and drink entrepreneurs.

The current menu V SMILEY PRESERVES has For four years, Smiley offers traditional dishes bought Bristol Cliffs said, she had been seeking a for lunch and dinner, such Café at 16 Main Street dedicated space to accomas Brazilian Stroganoff. modate her fast-growing as the new home for her A “special plate” comes award-winning V SMILEY preserves business. “We with picanha steak; rice business. It will also house were just out of bounds: or pinto or black beans; MINIFACTORY, her new taking more space, more tomato vinaigrette salad; coffee shop-eatery that hours and more stove-top and farofa, a side dish space,” she said. will serve breakfast and made with toasted cassava When it opens, lunch — and dinner, twice flour that Marques called a week, initially — starting Minifactory will offer an “Brazilian stuffing.” in February. all-day breakfast-andPicanha steak is a sirloin In June, Seven Days lunch menu five days cap cut that is popular in a week, plus a Sunday reported that V Smiley Brazil but not often served Preserves was planning to community supper and in the United States, he move its production to the a Monday night “veg explained. sesh” riff on meatless first floor of SHACKSBURY The “classic plate” feaMondays. The daytime turing rice, pinto or black CIDER’s Kennedy Brothers facility in Vergennes and menu will include freshly beans, beef or chicken, baked biscuits served open Minifactory there. and salad is “what The pandemic derailed with butter and preserves, Brazilians eat every day,” labneh-ricotta whip or a that project when conMarques said. “There’s a six-minute egg; sweet and struction costs doubled. lot on the plate — a lot of By the end of September, savory yogurt bowls; and colors, a lot of nutrients salads.

Smiley said, she had and a lot of different types to walk away from the Melissa Pasanen of food.”

Vergennes space after she The buffet will feature failed to secure additional similar dishes, along with a bank loans on top of the salad bar. The steak house $32,000 she had successofferings, prepared on a fully crowdfunded. traditional churrasqueira MADE IN BRAZIL TO BRING Around the same time, charcoal grill, will include CHURRASCO-STYLE STEAK Smiley learned that the various cuts of beef, HOUSE AND BUFFET bakery-café in Bristol was chicken and pork.

TO BARRE for sale. “It was a miracle Once the buffet opens, in a certain sense,” she ISA BORTOLETTO and VICTOR Made in Brazil’s hours said. Although, she added, MARQUES opened MADE will expand to include “It’s a different ball of breakfast, Marques said.

IN BRAZIL at 81 North wax to move into a legacy Main Street in Barre on The restaurant is currently business.”

September 3, serving open Wednesday through The landmark Main classic Brazilian dishes Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Street bakery was known for indoor dining, takeout and is BYOB. as Bristol Bakery & and delivery. Next month, Jordan Barry Café from the late 1970s until 2018, when it was CONNECT purchased by longtime Follow us for the latest food gossip! On Instagram: manager CELINA ELLISON. It Seven Days: @7deatsvt; Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; is five doors down from Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

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Meg’s disastrous attempt to make currant jelly in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

“What I’ve found is that almost all literature, if you open it up and you look for the food in it, it’s there,” said local chef, caterer and food historian Richard Witting. “And it usually carries meaning and has a story with it.”

Witting hosts themed meals in the Burlington area through Isole Dinner Club, which he founded a decade ago. In 2016, he offered an English literature-themed series, serving foods described in Beowulf and in works by Geoffrey Chaucer, Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter and Shakespeare.

I asked both Witting and Honey Road pastry chef Amanda Wildermuth, an avid reader and self-proclaimed “sci-fi/fantasy nerd,” to share their favorite fictional meals.

As I scanned my bookshelves in search of my favorite, I realized it was a tough assignment. Eventually, I settled on Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions, which extols the House of Lords gin martini with a lemon twist.

World-Building

Wildermuth’s incredible doughnuts have a secret ingredient: audiobooks. They were the pastry chef’s soundtrack at 3 a.m. on weekend mornings while she made the maple-fenugreek, salted chocolate-Urfa and passion fruit-olive oil delights that lines of customers waited for outside Honey Road’s walk-up window, from September 2020 through August 2021.

“I would ... listen to hours and hours of audiobooks by myself in the kitchen,” Wildermuth wrote by email. “Kind of a dream job.”

The ones she liked best during that span were Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian and Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. All of them, she reflected, mention or include themes of food and drink.

Richard Witting preparing food for an event in 2018

— “the first and ultimate truth of my entire life.” Spoiler: It turns out to be choux pastries from the supermarket.

“I appreciate that his most poignant memory was such a humble dish,” Wildermuth wrote. “Despite having eaten many incredible and memorable meals in the best restaurants across the globe, these little plastic bagged pastries he ate as a child are what moved him most.”

The critic’s memory reminded Wildermuth of boxes of fastnachts, German potato doughnuts, that her grandmother would send every year at Lent. “They may have been a little stale from the mail and are certainly not the fanciest pastry I’ve ever had, but they are one of the best things I’ve ever tasted and one of my best food memories.”

‘The Unassuming Gourmand’

Amanda Wildermuth

When she’s not multitasking, Wildermuth prefers hard-copy books and collects vintage sci-fi paperbacks. Choosing favorite reads can feel blasphemous for a booklover, but Wildermuth was game. She listed Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, which she described as “the adventures of a human emissary, on a mission among aliens on an ice planet (at its simplest).” Food isn’t central to the story, she explained, but Le Guin clearly thought about what the characters would grow and eat — including hot beer, a much appreciated post-supper drink on an ice planet.

“An author who has built a world well has thought about these details, and I definitely notice them,” Wildermuth wrote.

A more obvious setting for a fictional meal, and one of two that Wildermuth described in detail, is Muriel Barbery’s Gourmet Rhapsody. The book recounts a food critic’s deathbed reminiscences of a lifetime of memorable meals and his struggle to remember one flavor in particular

FILE: OLIVER PARINI

Food or Fiction? « P.44

ALMOST ALL LITERATURE, IF YOU OPEN IT UP AND

YOU LOOK FOR THE FOOD IN IT, IT’S THERE. R IC H AR D W IT TING

Lembas bread from Isole Dinner Club’s Tolkien dinner

Wildermuth and Witting had one author in common when sharing their top fictional meals: J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Hobbit holds a special place in Wildermuth’s heart, and she rereads it almost every year. In the first chapter, Bilbo Baggins finds himself unexpectedly hosting a throng of dwarves for tea — and seedcake, then beer, coffee, red wine, raspberry jam, apple tarts, mince pies, cheese, pork pies, salad, eggs, cold chicken and pickles.

“The dwarves trickle in slowly, raiding Bilbo’s carefully curated larder until it is nearly empty, much to his distress,” Wildermuth wrote. “Bilbo mourning every precious pantry item while he bustles around cleaning up after the dwarves is endlessly endearing and funny. And I love that this meal is the start to such a grand adventure, [with] Bilbo as the unassuming gourmand who stumbled into it.”

To re-create the meal, Wildermuth would start with breads and cakes, such as seedcake, Bilbo’s favorite. The cheese, beer and wine that he so carefully stocked would be easy to come by in Vermont, too.

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Menu from Isole Dinner Club's Tolkien dinner in 2018

Menu from Isole Dinner Club's Beatrix Potter dinner in 2017

in my pantry already,” she wrote, “so send the dwarves my way, I guess.”

When Witting hosted a Tolkien dinner in 2018, his menu included seedcake and beer, as well as “the flesh of he dared not guess what” and “grey maggoty bread.”

“It really captured my imagination,” Witting said. “And it was really freeing, because I started doing a thing where I was no longer writing menus that were necessarily true to what I was feeding you. I had an Orc course and a course designed around the Dark Land.”

For any literary meal, Witting’s menu development starts with a research phase, extracting all the food references he can find from the book. Then he turns to the author’s biography, looking at where they grew up and lived to fill in the gaps. Finally, he turns to the real world and asks, “Can I source these things?”

With Tolkien’s Lembas bread, it was a matter of invention. “There’s no realworld equivalent,” he said with a laugh.

Only the elves know its secret recipe.

Comic Relief

Witting started Isole in 2011 to explore culture through food while spicing up the Burlington food scene. He paused the supper club after a few years to return to school, earning a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in English from the University of Vermont. Isole has been on hold again for the past two years due to the pandemic and because Witting is now back at UVM, pursuing a graduate degree in history focused on Vermont’s food history.

“I used to be an avid reader for pleasure, but now I’m a graduate student,” he joked.

Recently, he shared an excerpt from a

G.I. Joe comic book on social media, crediting it with potentially launching his lifelong interest in food history. In the comic, Serpentor uses the genetic memory he possesses from famous historical leaders to recount how pizza was invented during the Roman Battle of Alesia.

“I remember reading it as a kid, not really having much context, and being like, ‘Oh, my God. That’s where pizza comes from,’” Witting said. “Looking back at that story, I realize that’s literally what I’m doing with my life — trying to find interesting tales of how food and culture and history all weave together.”

Thinking once again of literary meals, Witting recalled the oh-so-tempting Turkish delight in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from his childhood, as well as sugar on snow in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie, which he reread to his daughter not long ago.

The Beatrix Potter dinner, which was part of Isole’s English literature-themed series, made his list of favorite fictional meals for a similar reason.

“My daughter was 2 at the time, and we were reading and watching The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” Witting said. “In every one of Potter’s talking animal-filled stories, the central theme is food: Someone’s getting eaten, or someone wants to eat somebody.”

Fittingly, Witting incorporated grasshoppers into the meal — roasted, with ladybird sauce — along with pond wine with frog spawn on a lily pad, a butterfly sandwich, and a soporific grilled gem lettuce with sprats and roe. Rabbit wasn’t on the menu. m

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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Buried Treasure

WINTER READING ISSUE

Calais author digs into truffles around the world and surprisingly close to home B Y M E L I SSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Rowan Jacobsen

S

poiler alert: Author Rowan Jacobsen is sure there are wild truffles to be discovered underground in certain parts of Vermont, especially in the marble- and limestone-rich Champlain Valley. But first, he advises, you’ll need to train a dog (not a pig) to sniff them out for you.

Jacobsen, 53, has yet to find a truffle in Calais, where he has lived with his wife, poet Mary Elder Jacobsen, since 1993. But in Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, With Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs, the James Beard award-winning author does recount his failed attempt to turn Friday, their 11-year-old cockapoo, into the kind of trained truffle-hunting dog his new book celebrates.

Published in October, Jacobsen’s eighth book bounded out of the gate with starred reviews from industry arbiters Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; the latter 48

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

also named Truffle Hound among its top 25 nonfiction books of 2021.

In the book, Jacobsen sets out in search of the backstory and future prospects of the entrancing, fabled “fruiting bodies of subterranean fungi.” After taking the reader on an odiferous journey through Italy, Istria, Hungary, Spain, England and several U.S. states, he comes home. His final chapter focuses on stalking a largely unknown but reputedly delicious species called the Appalachian truffle that grows in the wild from North Carolina to eastern Canada; he lacks only a truffle dog of his own to start looking for Vermont specimens.

As Jacobsen explains in his book, humans rely on the superior smelling capacity of dogs to find buried truffles. “It’s like photography,” he writes. “Dogs have a bigger lens that captures more light, a hundred times more pixels for recording the image, and a more observant photographer at the helm.”

To lead his truffle hunt, Jacobsen recruits Friday.

When the dog enjoys initial success retrieving a trufflescented dog toy, Jacobsen ups the challenge. He hides the toy under a towel and urges his dog to “Get the truffle!”

Friday’s response? He “gazes up at me with his sad spaniel eyes. Then walks up to me, knocks over the box of my treats with his nose, and buries his head in my lap.”

This amusing anecdote is humdrum compared with many others in Truffle Hound. As Publishers Weekly raved, the book “is as potent as its subject’s intoxicating aroma, and is packed to the gills with deception, intrigue, and accounts of illegal trading.” That’s a slight oversell — it makes the book sound like a James Bond movie — but Jacobsen does effectively leverage unexpected conflict, vividly

drawn scenes and quirky characters to pull readers through his narrative.

The drama is headlined by a diverse cast of truffle species led by Tuber magnatum, the white truffle of Italy, and Tuber melanosporum, the black winter truffle associated with the Périgord region of France. Awards for best supporting actor might go to “a mild-mannered mycologist with wizardly eyebrows” who moonlights as the Grand Master of the Saint Ladislaus Order of Truffle Knights, or an old Hungarian man with piercing blue eyes and limited English. When Jacobsen asks him why he likes hunting truffles, the man “leans forward, elbows on the table, there in that collapsed town, as his country slips further into darkness, and fixes me with that stoic gaze. ‘Free.’”

I am a longtime fan of Jacobsen’s smart, witty, evocative, science-informed food writing, including his past tomes illuminating apples, oysters, honeybees and the concept of terroir, or taste of place. He is also a prolific freelance journalist who honed his serious science chops during a 2017-18 Knight Science Journalism fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

When I did a quick web search to see what Jacobsen had been up to recently besides truffles, I was intrigued to find a November 22 Newsweek article with his byline titled “How Dr. Fauci and Other Officials Withheld Information on China’s Coronavirus Experiments.”

Further digging revealed several COVID19-related stories in Scientific American, MIT Technology Review and elsewhere, addressing topics such as the controversial theory that Wuhan Institute of Virology research might have started the pandemic.

Before we talked truffles, I asked Jacobsen how he had come to focus on pandemic science. During his MIT fellowship, he

food+drink said, he concentrated on the opportuni- being sold a bunch of myths that weren’t ties and risks of gene editing, which he really true, and that got me really fascidescribed as “stuff about manipulating nated,” he said. genes for either good or bad.” Specifically, Among those myths is that of the truffle he investigated the possibility that those -seeking pig, which has not existed for technologies might accidentally create a about a century. The problem, as Jacobsen super pathogen. writes in the book, is that pigs love truffles When COVID-19 spread and people too much: “It’s difficult to stop them from raised the question of whether the virus eating the truffles they find (stories abound could have come from a lab, Jacobsen of nine-fingered truffle hunters).” Dogs, on continued, “All the authorities said, the other hand, are highly trainable and ‘Absolutely not.’ But I knew that was not more distractable with other treats. true. It just raised an eyebrow [for me], Another little-known fact is that most like, why are they over-insisting that it truffles are farmed and have been for didn’t? Then I got curious, and I went decades. While the white truffle has never deep down that rabbit hole.” been successfully propagated, Jacobsen Jacobsen still stands by what he wrote said that 95 percent of black winter truffor a September 2020 fles are cultivated, mostly Boston Magazine artiin Spain. The good news, cle: “To this day, there is he reported, is that they no definitive evidence don’t appear to lose as to whether the virus anything from being ROWAN JACOB SEN farmed. A dog’s help is occurred naturally or had its origins in a lab…” still required to hunt He has emerged from that particular down the underground mature truffles, rabbit hole, he said, to focus once again on however. food and promote Truffle Hound, which As for truffle oil and its offshoots (yes, depicts dogs digging many holes. They do truffle fries, I’m looking at you), they so at the command of their masters, who have almost never even made the passing seek the underground location of the lumpy acquaintance of an actual truffle; virtually scent bomb that, in the case of white truf- every commercial version gets its musky fles, is the world’s most expensive food. Or, aroma from chemicals. Jacobsen quotes as Jacobsen posits in his book, “You might Anthony Bourdain, who called truffle oil even say they are more mood than food.” “about as edible as Astroglide and made Jacobsen largely resists describing the from the same stuff.”

Jacobsen saves the best news in Truffle flavor of truffles, though he cites others who poetically reference newly plowed Hound — for Vermonters, especially — for soil, fall rain and “the pungent memory” last. Once Friday fails to turn into a chamof old love affairs. pion truffle dog, his master does a deep dive “Truffles have very little taste,” he online for other regional sources of Appalawrites. “Like flowers, their strength is chian truffles. In a stroke of luck, he stumtheir scent.” bles on the website of a Québec agroforestry During our phone conversation, Jacob- operation a mere 90 minutes from his home sen shared how he landed on truffles as a that claims to be cultivating the truffle. book subject. He had been invited to give a It seems too good to be true, but it talk on terroir in northern Italy to “a bunch turns out that Jacobsen has found a of wineheads,” he said. Not coincidentally, successful truffle farmer, Jérôme Quirion, the event was scheduled during the peak much closer than he ever expected. To of white truffle season, and the group was top it off, Quirion has a talented truffle treated to the best. “It was my first whiff dog named, of all things, Tofu, and the of truffle, really good truffle,” Jacobsen truffles are delicious. recalled. “And I was like, Holy cow!”

On his first visit, Jacobsen writes, Tofu In the first chapter, Jacobsen tries to does his thing, and Quirion “pops out a put into words why this smell rocked perfect little truffle the size and shape of his world. It was not mouthwatering, he a new potato, with glowing orange-russet writes. “It was hardly a food scent at all. skin. I hold it to my nose … and swoon. It It was more like catching a glimpse of a combines the nutty depth of a black truffle satyr prancing across the dining-room with the aioli bite of a white. It’s sensafloor while playing its flute and flashing tional, it’s unknown, and it lives in my its hindquarters at you. You think, What woods.” m the hell was that? And then you think, I have to know.”

INFO Once he started to dig into the world of Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most truffles, Jacobsen said, he soon saw that Seductive Scent, With Dreamers, Schemers, the subject was ripe for exploration and and Some Extraordinary Dogs by Rowan exposure, partly because reliable infor- Jacobsen, Bloomsbury Publishing, 304 pages. mation was sparse. “I realized we were $28. Learn more at rowanjacobsen.com.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

49

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culture

WINTER READING ISSUE

A School of Their Own Veteran educator Tal Birdsey helps adolescents discover what ignites them B Y A L ISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

N

50

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE KNOWING SOMETHING ESSENTIAL ABOUT THEMSELVES,

I FEEL LIKE WE’VE DONE OUR JOB. TAL B IR DS E Y

Tal Birdsey

I had a few great teachers along the way who made me find what was in me that was latent. So I see it as one of my roles to help my students locate or amplify what’s best in them — and make them feel safe enough to bring that out. And shy kids, in particular, often have the most beautiful and ornate thoughts, but they’re dispositionally not comfortable, and so they get overlooked.

A small school can kind of overcome that.

We’re all sitting around that table, and we can all hear and see each other.

SD: Why did you gravitate to teaching seventh through ninth graders?

TB: The beauty of kids this age is they’re still childlike, have all those vulnerabilities, that silliness and openness. They’re not jaded. They’re not cynical. And they have the ability to articulate and understand profound adult-level things. So, for me, it’s sort of the best of both worlds.

Also, I’m fairly juvenile, and I can be like them better than they can be them. It’s sort of like the equivalent of a kindergarten teacher sitting on the floor with students.

I can just be a knucklehead like the best of them. Nobody tells more Uranus jokes than I do. But I can also do the other side, the serious side.

ALISON NOVAK

SEVEN DAYS: What was your own educational experience like, and how did that inform the kind of school you wanted to create?

TAL BIRDSEY: I attended an independent school in Atlanta, Ga., with open classrooms, mixed-age classes, teachers called by first names — basically, your garden-variety progressive school in the early ’70s. School

was alive for me. I loved having choice. I loved being able to write about myself. I loved doing projects. I loved the teachers being interested in what I was interested in.

COURTESY OF GREEN WRITERS PRESS

othing feels sterile or institutional inside the North Branch School, an independent middle school in Ripton, surrounded by the Green Mountain National Forest.

The walls of the 1850 post-and-beam farmhouse are papered with brightly colored student artwork; cutout snowflakes; and posters depicting Nelson Mandela, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Prayer flags hang from the rafters, and a long wooden table in the room’s center is covered with binders, art supplies and water bottles. A green plastic tub on one of many crowded bookshelves is labeled “Pencils for Unprepared Jack Asses.”

Central to it all is head teacher Tal Birdsey, who cofounded the small school for seventh through ninth graders 20 years ago. Birdsey chronicled that process in his 2009 book, A Room for Learning: The Making of a School in Vermont.

The Middlebury College and Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English graduate penned a second book, Hearts of the Mountain: Adolescents, a Teacher, and a Living School, published in October by Green Writers Press. In it, he chronicles a year in the life of the North Branch School, sharing the tragedies and triumphs, written reflections, and meandering conversations of his students.

North Branch School, Birdsey writes in the book’s preface, is “a place where learning is an experience of high adventure and growing,” where “living is wild and joyful, deep and transformational, where we never know exactly what might transpire on a given day because we create it as we go.”

Birdsey recently took a break from teaching the school’s 26 students to speak with Seven Days about his new book, his unique style of instruction and the state of education today.

Interior of North Branch School

SD: After three intense years with them, is it hard to let your students go at the end of ninth grade?

TB: The last four months of ninth grade is processing their anxiety — This time is over. I’m leaving. What’s going to happen?

What they’re afraid of when they leave is not loving school anymore and not

ALISON NOVAK

Exterior of North Branch School

Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas...perhaps... means a little bit more.

— Dr. SeuSS, How tHe GrincH Stole cHriStmaS

being seen anymore, just being part of a system. But they leave here caring deeply about what happens in school. And they know, after three years here, what they actually care about — I love photography.

I love acting. I want to be a cross-country runner. When they leave here knowing something essential about themselves, I feel like we’ve done our job. Because those are the things that are going to drive them in the next place.

humor. You have to have a sense of humor when you’re dealing with middle schoolers. I mean, they’re nuts.

I love parents’ participation in terms of them helping us understand their child. [But] the idea of a bunch of lunatics shouting at teachers, telling them what to teach or not teach — that’s way off the rails. That’d be like me going to the hospital and protesting outside about how a surgeon [should] do surgery.

SD: You’ve been teaching for 31 years, so you’ve seen how social media and smartphones have pervaded kids’ lives. What are your thoughts about adolescents and technology?

TB: It is pernicious, it is destructive, and it’s complicated. It makes it harder to teach kids. It’s just unmediated, random overflow of useless information that they’re basically confronted with. The kids who are deeply involved in Instagram, Snapchat and gaming tend to have more struggles in school. They’re more socially focused, or, if they’re gaming, they’re avoiding something. There’s almost a correlation between the kids who don’t get phones, or get them later, and kids who read more.

I will say, the greatest invention [during] my teaching career [has been] Google Docs, because we can write a play, and everyone contributes right on one doc. I love Google Docs. It’s paradise.

SD: What do you believe are the biggest shortcomings of the public education system?

TB: The book wasn’t meant to be an indictment of the schools and certainly not [of ] the teachers, because I think the teachers are the most noble people there are. I do have issues with bureaucracy. I have issues with people distant from a place telling a place what to do. I have discomfort with being told what to do. [Laughing] I sometimes wish that, within a school system, couldn’t there be some experimentation inside those buildings to let different things happen? Couldn’t you have schools inside of schools, just some sort of way to let it be more of a laboratory?

It gets into all kinds of feelings I have about overcomplicating something [that] should be essentially, elementally simple, which is what I say in the book: You just need to sit them in the room, let them be seen, talk to them and listen to them. In its ideal form, that can happen, but when you start layering all these other things, it gets more and more difficult. m

SD: There’s a current national conversation about how much influence parents should have in dictating curricula. What’s your take on this?

TB: What I say to parents is, “I know what kids this age are like, what they’re capable of, what they’ll think their limitations are and how to get past them. And I can get more out of your kid than you ever dreamed possible. Now back away.” [Laughing] We have parents who are insanely trusting. Also, they have a great sense of

No matter what you are celebrating, happiest of holidays!

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RE O M MS &R 26 E T I LIDANYG DECEMBE O H ON RTI

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

STA

INFO Hearts of the Mountain: Adolescents, a Teacher, and a Living School by Tal Birdsey, Green Writers Press, 338 pages. $21.95. Learn more at northbranchschool.org

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

51

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culture

Maid and Muse

WINTER READING ISSUE

Book review: Emily’s House, Amy Belding Brown B Y M ARG OT HAR RI S ON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

I

52

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

By emphasizing this plausible source of tension between Margaret and her employers, Belding Brown steers her story clear of hagiography. Too often, fictions about famous figures draw heavily on our retrospective admiration for them, and the result is a story about a role model rather than a believably flawed person.

MARGARET MAHER PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN

THE EVENTUAL DISCOVERY OF EMILY DICKINSON’S POEMS.

COURTESY OF SAMARA N. BROWN

t’s often said that behind every great man is a great (and exhausted) woman. Sometimes, though, behind a great woman is another woman.

That’s the refreshing premise of Emily’s House, the third work of historical fiction from best-selling Upper Valley author Amy Belding Brown.

“Emily” is Emily Dickinson (18301886), and the “house” is the family home in Amherst, Mass., known as the Homestead, where the poet lived for more than 30 years. During her quiet life, Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 bold, innovative poems, of which only 10 were published in her lifetime.

Known as the “Myth of Amherst,” Dickinson favored white garments and stayed within the grounds of the Homestead.

Since the posthumous publication of her poems, her mysterious and reclusive life has inspired reams of scholarship, not to mention the 1976 play The Belle of Amherst, the recent films A Quiet Passion and Wild Nights With Emily, and even a new coming-of-age series on Apple TV+ called “Dickinson.” Its tagline describes Dickinson as “Poet. Daughter. Total rebel.”

But behind this “total rebel,” there was another woman — an Irish immigrant housekeeper who spent 30 years keeping the Homestead humming and caring for the often sickly members of the Dickinson family. Her name was Margaret Maher, and she played a key role in the eventual discovery of Dickinson’s poems, according to a later account from Dickinson’s niece, Martha Dickinson Bianchi. Without Maher’s intervention, even family members might never have read most of the poet’s work.

Margaret is the narrator of Emily’s House and, as imagined by Belding Brown, she’s every bit as spirited as Dickinson herself appears to have been. “Holding my tongue doesn’t come natural to me,” Margaret tells us early on. “It’s a rare day I’m not speaking what’s on my mind.”

The novel opens in 1916, when Margaret is in her seventies and running a boardinghouse in Amherst. She learns that Bianchi, who inherited the Homestead, has put the house on the market. Upset by the prospect of “Emily’s house” leaving

Amy Belding Brown

the Dickinson family, Margaret reminisces about her time there.

Her recollections form the bulk of this leisurely yet absorbing narrative, which marks time by the seasons and is punctuated by the private tragedies of various Dickinson family members’ deaths.

Embroidering on the known facts, Belding Brown gives Margaret small dramas and tragedies of her own. In this account, staying at the Homestead was never Margaret’s plan; she takes the job on a temporary basis, planning to join her

brothers in the California gold rush. But Emily’s father, seeing Margaret’s value as a servant, uses his power as a local employer to force her to stay.

Margaret doesn’t mince words; Edward Dickinson’s gambit makes her reflect on “corruption and wickedness and power.” In the home of these New England patricians, moreover, she regularly encounters casual anti-Irish prejudice. Emily and her sister, Vinnie, mock Margaret’s accent and call her “Maggie” against her wishes.

Seen through Margaret’s ambivalent eyes, Emily Dickinson is very human indeed. Initially, Margaret is bemused by the odd young woman, noting that “her sentences would ofttimes veer off in curious ways.”

Later, she warms to Emily, but with reservations: “She sometimes said things in a way made me think I should be writing down the words and saving them like gold coins. Other times she was outright unkind.” Despite these occasional cruelties, Margaret comes to relish her role as Emily’s protector, refusing to allow outsiders to disturb the poet’s solitude.

Margaret holds poets in high esteem, calling verse “the marrow of speaking” and seeing this appreciation as part of her Irish heritage. At one point, she wonders “if [Emily] had Irish blood, she liked playing with words so.”

Reading Emily’s poems, Margaret finds them puzzling, yet the imagery strikes a chord with her. “There was something holy in her writings,” she will conclude later in life, “hard as they were to understand.”

Daily routines and deaths in the family strengthen the bond between mistress and maid. So does their spinster status — and their temptation to change it. While Emily flirts with the widower Judge Lord, Margaret has an on-again, off-again romance with a handsome Fenian, an early fighter for Irish independence. Love and

MAKE YOUR MEMORIES LAST...

FROM EMILY’S HOUSE Standing there, I felt the house folding itself around me. It was so quiet I had the feeling nobody but myself was in it, though such a thought was nonsense, surely. I’d seen Vinnie and Mrs. Dickinson with my own eyes — and surely Emily was somewhere in the place. I waited long as I could bear, then slipped into the hallway and crept down the stairs I’d come up, quiet as I could over the creaking risers. I heard no sound except myself.

But when I stepped into the kitchen, there was a woman standing at the west windows, looking out. A woman with red hair tucked into a brown net at her neck and wearing a dress white as the snow in the yard.

To be sure, I didn’t move forward nor back, just stood like a stone watching the woman everybody’d heard of but never saw — the Myth of Amherst herself. It was like standing in a dream waiting for what would happen next, everything misty and strange.

After a minute she turned. She didn’t seem surprised to see me.

“You’re Margaret, aren’t you?” Her voice reminded me of the low notes of a fiddle.

“I am,” I said.

politics tug her away from the Homestead, but both the place and Emily exert a powerful counter-magnetism.

Margaret’s voice feels believable; Belding Brown doesn’t “break character” to put modern sentiments in the mouth of this devout 19th-century Catholic. Yet there’s a bracing feminist frankness to Margaret’s reasons for staying single. “By the time I was twenty,” she says, “I’d seen for myself how many wives were doing the same work I was as a maid and getting nothing for it but bad knees, a lame back, and a houseful of hungry children.”

Emily’s House is a quiet novel about a quiet life; don’t expect a nail-biting climax here. It’s a wonderfully cozy fireside read, though, suffused with Margaret’s earthy good sense. By making Margaret such a lively and likable narrator, Belding Brown succeeds in rendering her evolving friendship with Emily compelling in its own right, not just because a literary celebrity is involved.

Margaret notes that “sometimes it felt like I was living inside [Emily’s] life as well as my own.” Emily tells Margaret, “I need you so that I can be myself.” Their symbiotic bond endures after the poet’s death, giving Margaret an emotional claim on the Homestead.

No doubt Margaret would be pleased to know that the house still stands today, meticulously restored, as part of the Emily Dickinson Museum. For a long time, Margaret tells us, she saw Emily’s “shunning the world” as a character flaw.

But eventually she realized that the reclusive poet “wasn’t shutting out anything at all, for she carried every bit of life in with her.”

It’s a beautiful way of revising our stereotypes about this intensely private writer — and, perhaps, about shut-ins in general. In another passage, recalling the connection between Emily and her home, Margaret offers up a description worthy of a poet: “That house was filled to bursting with herself. It was as if she was in the walls and folded into the light coming through the window glass.” m

INFO Emily’s House by Amy Belding Brown, Berkley, 384 pages. $17.

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art

WINTER READING ISSUE

Penciled In

In the new book The Heart of Drawing, artists show, tell and inspire B Y PA M EL A POL ST O N • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

D

oes the world really need another art book? Michael Strauss thinks so. At least anyone interested in drawing — and drawing inspiration from other artists — would enjoy The Heart of Drawing: Stories and Images From Around the World. It’s not a how-to book, Strauss clarifies in a phone conversation; it’s about “drawing with focused attention on the moment of creation and accepting what comes.”

The “heart” of drawing, in other words, is more about the journey than the destination.

Strauss, 82, is an artist, author and retired chemistry professor at the University of Vermont. The South Burlington resident has penned 10 previous books, including 2013’s The Mind at Hand: What Drawing Reveals, reviewed in this newspaper, and taught art classes for about 20 years. Since the pandemic began, he has offered his sessions online.

Strauss’ classes aren’t exactly how-to lessons, either; they reflect a more holistic pedagogy. In The Heart of Drawing, he writes: “As an act of cognition, drawing can help you learn to write, develop eye-brain-hand coordination, conceptualize and analyze ideas, think creatively, and express yourself literally and metaphorically.” You might say drawing helps the brain learn, which in turn helps the hand draw.

The new book evolved from a Facebook group with the same name that British artist Mags Phelan Stones launched in May 2019. Strauss discovered and joined the group shortly after its inception and is now one of 4,464 members from all over the globe.

“The philosophy that Mags has has been part of my life for quite a while,” Strauss says. That is, she promotes what she calls “expressive drawing.” According to the book, that means a loose, free style, perhaps even with “elements of distortion.”

Many of the drawings chosen for The Heart of Drawing reveal lines reworked, 54

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

erasures and other marks that show the artist’s process. In the Facebook group, Strauss notes, Stones is not interested in seeing flawless finished pieces.

Strauss pitched the book idea to Stones in 2020; she agreed, and the two set about choosing members of the Facebook group to feature. They brought in Hardwick-based graphic designer Abrah Griggs to reach out to the artists and to design the book.

Strauss did most of the writing but

THIS SORT OF FLUID DRAWING IS AN ADVENTURE, AND

THE ARTISTS REPRESENTED HERE ARE EXPLORERS ON A QUEST. MIC H AE L S TR AUS S

says he engaged a former UVM colleague, Corrine Glesne, now retired in Arizona, to help shape the artists’ stories.

The Heart of Drawing consists of Strauss’ introduction, followed by brief biographical statements and two drawings apiece by artists from 22 countries. There are 59 in all, including Strauss’ and Stones’. Sixty percent of the artists are from the United Kingdom or the United States. Strauss notes that translators had to be engaged to communicate with some non-anglophone artists.

Regardless of language or country of origin, most of the artists report drawing at an early age and say that someone in their lives encouraged the practice, Strauss writes in his introduction. Others came later to art making.

What they all have in common is their approach to drawing.

Many of them reveal entering a sort of “flow state when nothing matters other than the act of putting marks on a paper or board.”

“This sort of fluid drawing is an adventure,” Strauss writes, “and the artists represented here are explorers on a quest.” That adventure is a felt experience, not an intellectual one.

Montpelier-based artist Joe Loccisano’s story suggests that the flow might

begin even before the mark making: “I keep a journal of my thoughts, a kind of reservoir for fleeting feelings and impressions where, like a primordial soup, ideas congeal and give birth to strange creatures that crawl onto the shore, discover wings, and take flight.”

Strauss chose a charcoal-andchalk-pastel work by Loccisano, titled “Vision Swimming,” for the cover of The Heart of Drawing. Both dreamlike and

ART SHOWS

exuberant, it looks like the expression of an offering.

The other Vermont-based artist included in the book is Caitlin Glaser, says Strauss. (Her bio indicates only that she grew up in an artistic family in New York City.) Now living in the Burlington area, she’s a member of the Essex Art League and a participant in Strauss’ drawing classes. Glaser writes that when she picks up a brush, “I feel the joy of being creative and the joy of being alive.”

The best thing about The Heart of Drawing is, well, the drawings. Strauss and Stones made excellent selections.

Aside from a few drawings of animals or landscapes, the vast majority are of faces and figures. How these artists materialize their subjects is as diverse as humans themselves.

And that’s the point. “It’s a whole repository of very creative people who give me ideas,” Strauss says, “and might be good for artists who are feeling stuck.” m

ART EVENTS

Burlington City Arts. Through March 31. Info, 865-7296. Maltex Building in Burlington.

ARTIST TALK: RACHEL LINDSAY: The Howard Center Arts Collective presents the Vermont cartoonist in a Zoom presentation. She’s the author of RX: A Graphic Memoir and creator of comic strip “Rachel Lives Here Now.” Online, Tuesday, December 28, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, artscollective@howardcenter.org.

‘THE SMALL WORKS’: An annual unjuried exhibition of locally made works smaller than 12 inches each.

Through January 29. Info, 578-2512. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington.

‘PANDEMIC PASSAGES’: A monthly online workshop presented by the Passing Project using art to open the unexpected gifts that the pandemic life has given us. Participants can explore their experiences through writing, drawing, dancing or other means. Sundays, 4-5:30 p.m. Sliding-scale donations, $10-25. Info, infopassingproject@gmail. com, passingproject.org.

WEAVING WEDNESDAY: Visitors can drop in to the gallery space and try out a few handlooms and weaving activities. Yarn and other materials are provided. Face masks required. Heritage Winooski Mill Museum. Wednesday, December 29, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, info@themillmuseum.org.

ONGOING SHOWS burlington

ARTWORK AT UVMMC: Oil paintings of cows by Stephanie Bush, wood shadowboxes by Sam Macy and abstract butterfly paintings by Maria Angelache in the Main Street Corridor and Ambulatory Care Center 3; mixed-media paintings by Kathleen Grant in McClure 4; acrylic paintings and monotypes by Elizabeth Powell; and photographs by Kristina Pentek in ACC 2. Curated by Burlington City Arts.

Through January 24. Info, 865-7296. University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

‘UNBOUND’: Painting, sculpture and works on paper by Kirsten Reynolds, Rob Hitzig and Rachel Gross that explore contemporary approaches to abstraction as it relates to architecture, space and materials. BRADLEY BORTHWICK: “Objects of Empire,” sculptural installation that evolved from the artist’s research on the Dorset marble quarry and ancient Roman storehouses, and ponders shared cycles of civilization. Through February 5.

Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.

JACKSON TUPPER: “Mayo,” a solo exhibition of paintings by the Vermont artist made in response to domestic isolation during pandemic lockdown.

Through March 9. Info, 233-2943. Safe and Sound Gallery in Burlington.

‘THE LARGE WORKS’: Locally made 2D works, two to six feet in size, hang in the hallway outside the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery. Through January 29. Info, 578-2512. The Soda Plant in Burlington.

MALTEX ARTISTS: Paintings by Dierdre Michelle, Judy Hawkins, Nancy Chapman and Jean Cherouny and photographs by Caleb Kenna and Michael Couture in the building’s hallways. Curated by

INFO The Heart of Drawing: Stories and Images From Around the World, by Michael Strauss, Mags Phelan Stones and Abrah Griggs, Area223, 122 pages. $24.99. Available locally at area223.com or on Amazon.

WILL GEBHARD: “So It Goes,” a solo show of vivid, graphic paintings by the Vermont artist. Through January 22. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington. ‘...WILL YOU SING?’ MURAL: A 43-foot, wall-size mural, a project of Big Heavy World, features photographs of more than 200 Vermont musicians and audio clips of their music. Collaborators include photographers Luke Awtry and Jim Lockridge, design firm Solidarity of Unbridled Labour, Vermont Folklife Center and Gamma Imaging of Chicago.

On view during business hours in the building’s entry hallway. Through December 31. Info, info@ bigheavyworld.com. Howard Space Center in Burlington.

WOLFGANG SCHWARTZ: “Divided as One,” an exhibit of ink on paper, gel works and limited-edition screen-prints that bring together nature and the last two years of our collective, and sometimes divided, emotional roller coaster. Through December 31. Info, 406-223-1333. Flynndog Gallery in Burlington.

chittenden county

ADRIENNE GINTER & ERIKA LAWLOR SCHMIDT: Hand-cut paper works that tell stories from nature, and monotypes that reflect the natural world and the interconnectedness of all life, respectively.

Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through January 31. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.

ELLIOT BURG: Photographic portraits shot on the streets of Havana, Cuba. Gates 1-8. Through December 31. ERIKA LAWLOR SCHMIDT: Relief monotypes, Skyway. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through March 31. MAREVA MILLARC: Acrylic paintings, Gates 1-8. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through March 31. SHANNON O’CONNELL: Paintings with phosphorescent and UV-sensitive pigments mixed into the paint, allowing secondary paintings to be revealed. In the Skyway.

Through December 31. Info, 865-7296. Burlington International Airport in South Burlington.

‘EYESIGHT & INSIGHT: LENS ON AMERICAN ART’: An online exhibition of artworks at shelburnemuseum.org that illuminates creative responses to perceptions of vision; four sections explore themes ranging from 18th-century optical technologies to the social and historical connotations of eyeglasses in portraiture from the 19th century to the present. Through October 16. Info, 985-3346.

CHITTENDEN COUNTY SHOWS

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CHITTENDEN COUNTY SHOWS

‘IN PLAIN SIGHT: REDISCOVERING CHARLES SUMNER BUNN’S DECOYS’: An online exhibition of shorebird decoys carved by the member of the Shinnecock-Montauk Tribes, based on extensive research and resolving historic controversy. Through October 5.

‘PATTERN & PURPOSE: AMERICAN QUILTS FROM THE SHELBURNE MUSEUM’: The museum presents 20 textile masterpieces from its collection dating from the first decades of the 1800s to the turn of the 21st century, organized by associate curator Katie Wood Kirchhoff. Online only at shelburnemuseum.org. Through February 1. WINTER LIGHTS: The museum’s buildings and grounds are bedecked with multicolored lights for this holiday extravaganza. Purchase timed tickets in advance.

Thursdays-Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. $15 for adults; $10 for children ages 3-17. Info, 985-3346. Shelburne Museum.

‘THE GIFT OF ART’: An off-season exhibition featuring a changing collection of artworks. Open by appointment or during special events. Through April 30. Info, 434-2167. Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington.

‘HOMETOWN WATERCOLORISTS’: Five members of the Vermont Watercolor Society show their work in landscapes, portraits, abstract and still lifes: Joey Bibeau, Lynn Cummings, Alice Eckles, Martin Lalonde and Lauren Wooden. Through January 7.

Info, 536-1722. South Burlington Public Art Gallery.

JEFFREY TRUBISZ: “On the Trail: Scenes and Images,” photographs taken during hikes in New England, the Pacific Northwest and abroad; exhibited on the second-floor gallery wall. Through December 30. Info, 846-4140. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall.

‘WINTER COMPASS’: Works featuring Venetian plaster finishes by Sam Colt, along with works by 13 gallery artists in a variety of mediums. Through January 31. Info, 985-3848. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne.

barre/montpelier

‘THE CATAMOUNT IN VERMONT’: An exhibition that explores the feline symbol of Vermont through the lenses of art, science and culture. Through May 31. Info, 479-8500. Vermont History Museum in Montpelier.

‘CELEBRATE!’: An annual exhibition featuring fine art and crafts created by more than 60 SPA member artists, displayed on all three floors of the building.

Masks required. Through December 29. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre.

‘CLIMATE OF CHANGE’: A mixed-media, multisensory exhibition by Susan Calza and Ken Leslie that responds to this global crisis, as well as sketchbooks that reveal how the two artists respond to the world around them. Through January 16. Info, 224-6827.

Susan Calza Gallery in Montpelier.

EMMA NORMAN: “In the Night of Day,” photographs of San Francisco Bay as the skies turned amber from wildfire smoke and fog on September 9, 2020.

Through December 31. Info, jess@cal-vt.org. Center for Arts and Learning in Montpelier.

GROUP SHOW #46: Gallery members exhibit their works in this group show. There’s also a holiday sale of items less than $100 through December. Through January 9. Info, info@thefrontvt.com. The Front in Montpelier.

JASON GALLIGAN-BALDWIN: “Safety Procedures,” works incorporating acrylics, antique text, childhood books, film stills and other materials to explore American culture, or lack thereof. Curated by Studio Place Arts. Through February 26. Info, 479-7069. AR Market in Barre.

JUDY GREENWALD: Pastel paintings by the local artist; prints of each work also available. Through December 29. Info, marab@vermontelders.org.

Espresso Bueno in Barre.

Siting the sculpture "Body Politic" by David Stromeyer

Art Making on the Land: David Stromeyer at Cold Hollow Sculpture Park

stowe/smuggs

2021 MEMBERS’ ART SHOW: The 40th annual unjuried exhibition that showcases member-submitted artwork alongside the Festival of Trees & Lights.

Through December 31. Info, 253-8358. The Current in Stowe.

Anyone familiar with his work knows that David Stromeyer doesn’t

‘THE ART OF THE GRAPHIC’: Eight displays of snowboards that let viewers see the design process from initial conception to final product; featuring artists Scott Lenhardt, Mark Gonzalez, Mikey Welsh, Mishel Schwartz and more.

Through October 31. Info, 253-9911. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

think small. More than 60 gargantuan, often vividly painted metal sculptures are scattered throughout his 200-acre Enosburg property. He purchased the land in 1970; the artist and his wife, Sarah Stromeyer, turned it into a free public park in 2014. (The grounds are closed in winter.)

A recently published, full-color, 11.5-by-10.5-inch hardcover book conveys Stromeyer’s personal and artistic journey, including the realization of his lifelong dream: the marriage of art and land. In words and photographs, Stromeyer also describes the “journey” of a sculpture, from sketch to 20,000-pound finished piece. He explains, too, how such a towering work is sited.

About the park, the CHSP website touts: “Visitors have the rare opportunity to see the evolution of one artist’s vision over fifty years.” With Art Making on the Land, readers who might not be able to visit can witness it, too. The book can be ordered — for $75 plus shipping — at coldhollowsculpturepark.com.

‘ONE MORE TIME!’: Ten artists who have exhibited at the gallery in 2021 return for a group show of works in watercolor, acrylic, oils, wearable art and photography. Through January 31. Info, 279-5048.

ART, etc. in Northfield.

SUSAN BULL RILEY: Three large oil and 32 watercolor paintings, from landscapes to intimate studies of plants and birds. Through December 31. Info, 229-6206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

TUMBLING BLOCKS COMMUNITY QUILT PROJECT: Montpelier Alive exhibits the Capital City’s newest piece of public art, a project intended to help “stitch together” the community during the pandemic.

More than 250 individuals, including more than 100 students, contributed designs for panels that Sabrina Fadial collated and made into a “quilt.”

Through December 31. Info, 488-4303. Montpelier Transit Center.

‘CALL AND RESPONSE’: An exhibition of images by eight members of the Photographers Workroom. KRISTINA SNOOK: “Tradition/Improvisation,” fiber works by the Vermont artist.

Through January 15. Info, 8881261. River Arts in Morrisville.

CATHY CONE: “There Was Once,” hand-painted photographs and black-and-white Piezography by the Vermont artist. Through January 8. MICHAEL MAHNKE: “A River Moving in You,” a large-scale, site-specific work by the gallery cofounder, located on the Johnson Village Green, that reflects the natural environment and our relationships to one another. Through December 31. Info, 646-519-1781.

Minema Gallery in Johnson.

mad river valley/waterbury

SMALLS GROUP SHOW: Annual holiday exhibition of petite artworks with affordable prices. Through December 24. Info, 244-7801. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery in Waterbury.

MIDDLEBURY AREA SHOWS

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

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

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Edgewater Gallery wishes you a holiday filled with beauty and joy!

HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10AM – 5PM Sunday 11AM – 4PM Now with exhibitions and artist events at The Pitcher Inn, Warren, Vermont

HOLIDAY HOURS: * Shop in person or online for unique finds for any budget. Gift cards available.

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Dec. 20 – 23 • 10AM – 5PM Dec. 24 • 10AM – 3PM

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

edgewatergallery.com SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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middlebury area

‘HENRY AT 200’: An exhibit celebrating the museum founder and collector of New England history with documents, photographs, scrapbooks, autographs, Middlebury imprints, diaries, music ephemera, relics and even a lock of Napoleon’s hair. Through December 31. ‘SIGHTLINES’: Photographs by Caleb Kenna and paintings by Jill Madden that explore the Joseph Battell and Breadloaf Wilderness areas of the Green Mountains. Through December 31. HOLIDAY TRAIN EXHIBIT: The popular Lionel trains return with a Green Mountain backdrop and a brand-new feature: a caboose that livestreams a video of the train traveling through its layout. Book timed visits on Saturdays at henrysheldonmuseum.org. Masks are required.

Through January 8. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury.

‘ITTY BITTY: TINY TEXTS IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS’: Books from the 17th to 21st centuries that measure between 1.8 and 10 centimeters, from religious manuscripts to cookbooks, children’s books to Shakespeare. Visitors are not currently allowed in the library but may view the works online at go.middlebury.edu/tinybooks.

Through May 31. Davis Family Library, Middlebury College.

‘KNOWING DARKNESS’: A group exhibition of new work by Bonnie Baird, Christine Atkinson, Charlotte Dworshak, Julia Jensen, Hannah Morris, Hannah Sessions, Pamela Smith and Susanne Strater.

Through January 31. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.

MORE ‘SMALL WORKS, BIG IMPACT’: New small works from Julia Purinton, established gallery artists and new Edgewater artist Susan Abbott. Through December 31. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury.

‘PRIDE 1983’: Through interviews with organizers, photographs and scanned images of historic documents, the exhibit, curated by Meg Tamulonis of the Vermont Queer Archives, explores the origins and lasting legacies of Vermont’s first Pride March on June 25, 1983, in Burlington. It can also be viewed online at vtfolklife.org. Through March 25. Info, 388-4964. Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury.

‘SMALL WORKS, BIG IMPACT’: The annual exhibition features new work from established Edgewater artists Jane Davies, Sage Tucker Ketcham and Rachel Wilcox, as well as favorite pieces from gallery collections and abstracted Vermont landscapes by guest artist Barbara Greene. Through December 31. Info, 989-7419.

Edgewater Gallery at Middlebury Falls.

rutland/killington

CORRINE YONCE: “Excerpts from Estate Sale,” mixed-media works that consider the intimacies of home and the figures who share that space, on display in the venue’s windows. Through January 15.

Info, info.77ART@gmail.com. 77ART in Rutland.

upper valley

HOLIDAY SHOW: Prints and handmade gift cards by artist members. Through January 29. Info, 295-5901.

Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction.

JACOB GRAHAM: “The Creatures of Yes: Snowflake Revue,” an experimental television show by the Brooklyn-based artist about people discovering the world around them and learning to appreciate each other’s differences. Puppetry by Graham and Stoph Scheer, sets made in collaboration with the gallery.

Through January 2. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.

JUDITH VIVELL: “Meant for Each Other,” mixed-media abstractions on raw canvas. Also, jewelry by Stacy Hopkins, precious metal and volcanic bowls by Cristina Salusti and sculptural pieces by Ria Blaas.

Through February 1. Info, 603-443-3017. Scavenger Gallery in White River Junction.

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CALL TO ARTISTS ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Artist development grants support Vermont-based artists at all stages of their careers, funding activities that enhance mastery of a craft or that increase the viability of an artist’s business. Funding may also support aspects of the creation of new work. Grant amounts range from $250 to $2,000. Details and application at vermontartscouncil.org. Deadline: February 14. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier.

A CALL TO BLACK ARTISTS: Black History Month started as a time to remember vital events and people in the history of the African diaspora. Today, February is an important month of remembrance, recognition and education. The gallery invites Black artists to submit works for an exhibit that will run January 14 to February 25. Send letters of interest by January 3 to info@chaffeeartcenter.org.

Artwork drop-off: Friday, January 7, and Saturday, January 8, or by arrangement. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland. Info, info@chaffeeartcenter.org.

‘DRIP’: For an upcoming exhibition about water quality and quantity, artists are invited to consider the topics of scarcity and depletion of freshwater sources. Installations and traditional or nontraditional mediums are welcome. Details at studioplacearts.com. Deadline: February 5. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, 479-7069.

MICRO-GRANTS FOR ARTISTS: The Montpelier Public Arts Commission is offering a micro-grant program for Vermont-based artists for up to $1,500 for permanent or temporary art installations throughout the city. The request for proposals is open for an indefinite period; artists may submit at anytime during the year. The commission will review and award grants twice yearly; the next deadline is March 30. For more info and to review the RFP, visit montpelier-vt.org. Info, 522-0150.

‘STICK WITH LOVE’: Artwork submissions are welcome on themes of love, compassion and social justice for an exhibition from January 14 to February 18. Due to gallery size, not all submissions can be accepted. Details at avagallery.org. Deadline: December 27. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H. $10. Info, 603-448-3117.

‘TRACKS’: Established and emerging artists are invited to submit one or two pieces of artwork that relate to the theme. Any medium accepted. Work must be able to be hung on a gallery hanger system (not picture hanger). For registration and more info, email catherine.mcmains@gmail.com. Deadline: December 23. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery, Jericho.

JULIE CRABTREE & AMANDA ANN PALMER: Fiberart landscapes inspired by the Scotland coast, and hand-thrown pottery, respectively. Through February 28. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction.

PAULA CLOUDPAINTER: “Cloudmaps and Other Travels Through the Atmosphere,” watercolors and mixed-media paintings. Through December 31.

Info, 457-2295. Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock.

northeast kingdom

ALAN JENNINGS: “Finding the Way Home,” animated films the artist created about growing up in Vermont, including “The Northeast Kingdom,” “Dream of Deerman” and “The Bill Jennings Mysteries”; and the drawings, paintings and sculptures he uses to make them. Watch at catamountarts.org. Through December 31. Info, 748-2600. Catamount Arts Center in St. Johnsbury.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW: Unique creations by members, including ornaments, paintings, fiber, hand-blown glass, woodworks and more. Through January 8. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.

‘A LIFE IN LISTS AND NOTES’: An exhibition that celebrates the poetic, mnemonic, narrative and enumerative qualities of lists and notes. The objects on display span myriad creative, professional, bureaucratic, domestic and personal uses of lists through the ages. Through May 31. Info, 626-4409.

The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover.

‘LOCAL COLOR’: Nature-inspired works in a variety of mediums by members of Caspian Arts. Through December 31. Info, 533-2000. Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro.

STJ ART ON THE STREET WINTER SHOW: Downtown businesses exhibit artworks in storefront windows, including stained glass, lamps, paintings and mixed-media in a collaborative public art project.

Through February 25. Info, eknarey@catamountarts. org. Various St. Johnsbury locations.

SUE HAVEN TESTER: Photographs of the unspoiled landscape of the Northeast Kingdom. Through January 7. Info, 525-3366. The Parker Pie Company in West Glover.

brattleboro/okemo valley

B. LYNCH: “Pull Back the Curtain,” a fantastical universe of the Reds and the Greys, disparate societal factions set in the 18th century, using puppetry, drawing, painting, linoleum block printing and digital animation. Through February 13. DELITA MARTIN: “Between Worlds,” a year-long installation in the museum’s front windows that reimagines the identities and roles of Black women in the context of Black culture and African history. Through May 31. GUILD OF VERMONT FURNITURE MAKERS: “Evolving Traditions,” contemporary works in wood crafted by members of the guild. Through February 13. MICHAEL ABRAMS: “Arcadia Rediscovered,” a luminous, misty painting installation that invites viewers to be mindfully in the world. Through March 5. NATALIE FRANK: “Painting With Paper,” abstracted portraits of imagined female figures, each accompanied by an animal, in wet pigmented cotton and linen paper pulp. Through February 13.

VERMONT GLASS GUILD: “Inspired by the Past,” contemporary works in glass exhibited alongside historical counterparts from the museum’s collection. Through March 5. WILLIAM RANSOM: “Keep Up/Hold Up,” mixed-media installations that speak to the current state of social tension in the U.S., the reckoning with a history of white supremacy, and the potential for flare-up or collapse. Through March 5. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

‘THE CALL OF THE LOON’: Expanded exhibition of new work by local artists Roxcell Bartholomew, Schuyler Gould, Collin Leech, John Loggia, Tina Olsen, Markie Sallick and Lydia Thomson, along with holiday cards and affordable gift options. Through December 31. Info, 118elliot@gmail.com. 118 Elliot in Brattleboro.

PETER SCHUMANN: Paintings on bedsheets by the founder of Bread and Puppet theater from his “Bad Bedsheets” and “Handouts” series. Through February 28. Info, breadandpuppetcuratrix@gmail.com. Flat Iron Co-op in Bellows Falls.

SUSAN BREAREY: Paintings of animals in which primal, totemic images take the place of photorealistic details and are set against abstract surfaces.

Through February 20. Info, 387-0102. Next Stage Arts Project in Putney.

manchester/bennington

‘TRANSIENT BEAUTY’: An exhibition of work by 25 contemporary photographers in response to Vermont icon Snowflake Bentley; a closed-bid auction of the photos benefits the museum and the artists. DUSTY BOYNTON: “Boundless,” new paintings and mixed-media works by the Vermont artist, curated in collaboration with Stowe’s 571 Projects. Through December 31. Info, 447-1571, jfranklin@benningtonmuseum.org. Bennington Museum.

‘HIROSHIGE AND THE CHANGING JAPANESE LANDSCAPE’: An exhibition of Japanese woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige (17971858) that depict how the political climate of 19th-century Japan influenced its art and how the art influenced politics. Through February 27. ‘THE WORLD BETWEEN THE BLOCK AND THE PAPER’: A group exhibition of ecologically sound, sensitively produced mokuhanga prints, organized in collaboration with Japanese print collective the Mokuhanga Sisters. Through March 27. Info, 3671311. Yester House Galleries, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.

randolph/royalton

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: A wide variety of goods made by local artists, crafters and specialty vendors, available online at chandler-arts.org. Through December 24. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph.

outside vermont

ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBITION AND SALE: “Wintry Mix,” works in a variety of mediums by member artists from Vermont and New Hampshire. Through December 30. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. ‘ECOLOGIES: A SONG FOR OUR PLANET’: An exhibition of installations, videos, sculptures, paintings, drawings and photographs that explore the relationship between humans and nature, and disruptions to the planet’s ecosystems caused by human intervention. Through February 27. ‘HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR ONE VOICE TO REACH ANOTHER?’: An exhibition of major works from the museum’s collection, along with new acquisitions and loans, that explore the theme of voice in both physical and metaphorical registers. Through February 13. ‘THE WORLD OF YOUSUF KARSH: A PRIVATE ESSENCE’: A showcase of 111 silver-gelatin portraits by the renowned Armenian Canadian photographer, shot and printed himself; donated by the artist’s estate and his widow. Through January 30. RAGNAR KJARTANSSON: “Sumarnótt” (“Death Is Elsewhere”), an immersive installation by the Icelandic artist, filmed under the midnight sun, consisting of a seven-channel video and musical soundscape that surround the viewer. Through January 2. Info, mbam.qc.ca, 514-285-2000.

Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.

FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE WITH LAURA POITRAS: “Terror Contagion,” an immersive, activist exhibition by the London-based research collective in collaboration with the journalist-filmmaker. Narration

by Edward Snowden, data sonification by Brian Eno. Through April 18. Info, 514-847-6226. Montréal Museum of Contemporary Art. m

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music+nightlife

The High Breaks

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene B Y C HRI S FA R N S WO R TH

A Delayed Smirk Some records take a little extra time to hit. It’s different for everyone, but there have been countless times when I’ve picked up an album, thought it was total shit and discarded it. Then, lo and behold, six months later I love it. I was definitely one of the people who wrote off MGMT’s sophomore record, Congratulations, only to become obsessed with it three years later.

And isn’t that beautiful? Your experience of a song or album can become completely altered in your mind without any real change other than the passage of time. The song remains the same, but you’ve changed, even if just a little.

Now, that isn’t exactly what happened with my take on the HIGH BREAKS’ record Smirk of the Dolphin. Let me ’splain.

Flash back to one year ago: I received an innocuous email. “Hagen has made a concept record about a man falling in love with a dolphin,” it read.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

MATT HAGEN being Matt Hagen, I didn’t register much surprise. The everhustling local musician always seems to have a new project in his back pocket.

And more often than not, that project is gloriously weird. Falling in love with a dolphin? Sure, why not? Besides, if you watch the dolphin shenanigans on the Amazon series “The Boys,” you might find that an aquatic love affair set to surf rock is pretty tame.

Like the dutiful music writer I am, I listened to Smirk of the Dolphin a few times and, predictably, enjoyed it quite a bit. I’ve always been a fan of the High Breaks — what’s not to love about surfrock bands in landlocked states? Besides, the record was full of musical touches the band hadn’t really delved into before: vibraphones, theremins, saxophones and pedal steel. It’s a fully realized concept record, suffused with intention and songwriting that is tongue-in-cheek one moment and touching and dark the next.

So, why didn’t we cover it? Well, the

story on which Hagen based Smirk of the Dolphin is real and really fucked-up.

Here goes: A man named MALCOLM BRENNER fell in love with a bottlenose dolphin named DOLLY while working at a water park in Sarasota, Fla., in the late 1970s. Brenner published a novel in 2009 loosely based on his experiences called Wet Goddess (oof ). He then starred in a 2015 documentary called Dolphin Lover.

In that film, Brenner claimed that Dolly (who, I will remind you, was a dolphin) seduced him and that the two had a sexual and romantic relationship for a year.

Florida being Florida, bestiality wasn’t illegal there until 2011, so Brenner didn’t face criminal charges once his status as a zoophile was revealed. Brenner, a former journalist, has framed the encounter as a love affair and has since become a champion for releasing dolphins from captivity. But … yeah, you did it with a dolphin, man. No matter how you justify it, that’s animal abuse.

So, as the matter got murkier and murkier and other albums started flying into the office, any coverage of Smirk of the Dolphin was shelved. And the more I read about Brenner, the less I felt like listening to a record about his story.

Months passed, and I forgot all about it.

Flash forward to last summer, when

the Higher Ground Backside 405 series was getting going. I was psyched to see the High Breaks on the schedule and noted that the show would be a full-album performance of Smirk of the Dolphin, complete with special guests and a custom beer brewed by Foam Brewers to mark the event.

The record was even better live. The High Breaks were crisp and tight as their DICK DALE-flavored compositions echoed throughout Burlington’s South End on a gorgeous summer night. “Sea Spray” had the audience dancing as drummer TODD GEVRY dropped a frenetic beat and locked in with bassist KEVIN LYNAM. Hagen shredded on his Fender Jazzmaster.

“Love’s Twilight” bopped along, and the band, as always, was a strong instrumental force.

“Ohio Was Never Meant for Me” was even more arresting live than on record.

The crowd grew quiet as Hagen stepped to the microphone and sang “I’ve been ocean bound since I was three / I’m never going back to a landlocked life.”

By the time “You Never Came Up for Air” closed the set, there were actual tears on some faces in the crowd, which would have shocked me only an hour earlier. The protagonist of the tale, having achieved his dream of becoming a successful surf-rock guitarist, realizes he has to leave his muse, the dolphin, behind. Despondent, the dolphin disappears into the sea, never to be seen again.

I was shook by how emotional the record felt live. Despite being surf-rock about a man loving a dolphin, the songs hit with true force. Did I still look around occasionally and mutter, “I mean, he had sex with a dolphin, people”? Yes, multiple times.

Not long after the show, I had a drink with Hagen and laid out why I hadn’t written about the record, which had been out for six months: It was about Brenner and his book.

“Yeah, but it’s not actually about him,” Hagen pointed out. “His story sent me in that direction — it certainly inspired me — but the record is its own tale,” he explained. “Yeah, it has its dark moments, but it’s really about a guy who finds a muse that helps him realize his dream. But then he has to leave that muse behind, which is the kind of story that fascinates me as a songwriter.”

Life does have a tendency to be stranger than fiction, and it certainly is in this case. I’m still not going to pick up a copy of Wet Goddess anytime soon, but I’m glad I caught the live version of Smirk of the Dolphin and gave it another chance.

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

HOLIDAYS in

Montpelier

A2VT on the “I’m a Soul Survivor” video shoot

ARTS • DINING • SHOPPING

I Want My (B)MTV Some of Vermont’s best musicians and entertainers are dropping new singles this month, all with accompanying music videos. As someone raised on a diet of MTV, VH1 and MuchMusic, I love seeing bands in the local scene produce videos, no matter the budget.

Keep ’em coming!

First up is an international tagteam effort between Vermonter MOIRA SMILEY (TUNE-YARDS) and English French singer-songwriter PIERS FACCINI (BEN HARPER, CAMILLE) titled “Meeting Is Over.” The song features Smiley on the banjo and vocals and Faccini on voice, guitar and West African guembri. Irish multiinstrumentalist SEAMUS EGAN (SOLAS) joins in on the song, which features some dazzling harmony work.

“The song celebrates the cycle of life and death,” Smiley wrote by email. “It reflects on goodbyes with those we love the most, the ebb and flow of togetherness that life presents.”

Egan, Smiley’s partner, shot the video for “Meeting Is Over,” inspired by the films Roma and Babette’s Feast.

Look closely at the video, filmed along Lake Champlain, and you’ll see a slew of Vermont artists making cameos, including musician SADIE DANFORTHBRIGHTMAN and author DEBORAH FELMETH. Local lads turned big deal A2VT also have a new single and video out.

The formerly Winooski-based hiphop collective, fresh from reaching the finals of the 2021 International Songwriting Competition for “I’m a Soul Survivor,” have released “One Time Only.” A high-energy dancehallflavored pop song full of good vibes, the track is mostly sung in English with a bridge sung in Somali dialect Maay Maay.

Like Smiley, A2VT shot their video in their home state. The clip was directed by MEDIA FACTORY’s KEN FRENCH and JUDE DOMSKI. “We really wanted to get the video done quickly,” said French of the outdoor shoot, “before the weather turned colder, which in Vermont can happen Moira Smiley really fast.”

“One Time Only” is the latest single from A2VT’s latest record, Twenty Infinity.

Finally, the HOUSE OF LEMAY are back with another banger. AMBER LEMAY has released “Sweaty Balls,” an anthem to observing, um, well, sweaty balls in the hot summer days at their rural retreat Beaver Pond. The press release that accompanied the single revealed that “people are going nuts for this song.”

Award-winning director JACK QUINT shot the video, which includes members of the BEAVER POND PLAYERS, including LUCY BELLE LEMAY; cousins CRYSTAL, BONES and CRAIG; and RUSTY PEEN. You can catch it, as well as a RIVERSIDE making-of video, on YouTube. m

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VICTORY FOR YOU!

CLUB DATES

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WEDNESDAYS > 2:00 P.M.

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TUE.28 // HONKY TONK TUESDAY FEAT. WILD LEEK RIVER [COUNTRY]

Stay On the Grass Tuesday nights at Radio Bean are the closest things to sure bets that one can find these days.

The Honky Tonk Tuesday series has long been an institution, a night of smoking-hot country and Americana music. Originally hosted by guitarist BRETT HUGHES, Honky Tonk has been run by folk singer ERIC GEORGE for the last few years. Of late, he’s established a rotating roster of killer Americana acts to host, including the WORM DOGS and PONY HUSTLE. On Tuesday, December 28, Burlington bluegrass act WILD LEEK RIVER takes the stage for the final night of the series in 2021.

live music

15% OFF

WED.22

in store or online with code

“7DAYS”

LIMIT ONE USE PER PERSON

www.earthandsaltshop.com 47 Maple Street, Burlington, VT

Nick Cassarino and Erin Boyd (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

The Ray Vega Quartet (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

THU.23

AliT (singer-songwriter) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

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American Roots Night at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free.

12/16/21 4:28 PM

SUN.26

The Jim Branca Band (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

?

TUE.28

Dead Set (Grateful Dead covers) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday feat. Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

WED.29

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

sevendaysvt.com/enews SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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Like a Chainsaw (Tribute to Limp Bizkit) (Limp Bizkit tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Pink Talking Fish with Swimmer (Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20/$23.

The Ray Vega Band (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

djs WED.22

Wooly Wednesdays with DJ Steal Wool (eclectic) 6 p.m. Free.

THU.23

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

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

12/21/20 6:07 PM

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.28

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

WED.29

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Steal Wool (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wooly Wednesdays with DJ Steal Wool (eclectic) 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams TUE.28

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Lit Club (poetry open-mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Socializing for Introverts (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

comedy

SUN.26

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

MON.27

Colby Stiltz (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

SUBSCRIBE AT

62

Irish Sessions (celtic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Nth Power with Beau Sasser, The Sensi All-Stars (soul) at Zenbarn, Waterbury, 8 p.m. $20/$25.

Unrehearsed: An Underprepared Sketch Show (comedy) at Comedy Centre Comedy Club, Rutland, 6:30 p.m. $5.

THU.23

Home For the Holidays (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:15 p.m. $15.

Mothra! A Storytelling/Improv Comedy Show (improv comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

WED.29

HED Talks: Powerpoint Comedy (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

TUE.28

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free. m

WED.22

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Events may be canceled due to the coronavirus.

Please check with event organizers in advance.

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

REVIEW this Orange Rabbit, Decay: The PTSD Project DELUXE (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

A drone, not unlike a screwdriver being softly but insistently pressed against the base of the skull, issues from the speaker. Voices overtake the drone: a father and mother making excuses for their pet snake, which has just eaten their son, Zac. Slowly, the voices and drone give way to waves of sound and, eventually, to a beat, hammering away like a piston. It all breaks down into a wash of distorted guitar and chiming bells, like a canvas ripped apart rather than painted upon.

Aaron Marcus & Sam Sanders, Garden Dreams (SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

I became lost in the woods of Underhill one day, trying to find a path I knew when I was young. My decades-old recollections failed me, so I just kept hiking as my canine companion started to look at me doubtfully.

Strangely, I never really felt lost, and I didn’t care that I didn’t know where I was. I was content to stand among the frost-laden branches and watch the sun make the snow shine like pearl. I felt hyperaware of the present in that moment.

That sensation and spirit suffuses

Thus begins what might possibly be a concept album, if anyone is able to piece together the fractured narrative that experimental outfit Orange Rabbit might be presenting. Decay: The PTSD Project DELUXE is a sprawling sound collage of electronic and industrial music that is sometimes frenetically dissonant, sometimes strangely funky.

Opening track “The Death of Zac Iraiasu Nemesu: Beginning of Decay,” provides some of the only lyrical content from which to glean meaning from the album’s 18 songs. Following the tragic ending of young Zac to the jaws of his parents’ pet snake, um, Jaws, Orange Rabbit go full instrumental.

We don’t hear human voices again until the final track, “Pets or Meat.”

That song’s lyrics don’t provide many more narrative hints, however.

The sound of dogs barking gives way to another drone, a bookend to the first track, perhaps, while an audio clip plays.

This time the conversation is between a man and a woman about the rabbits she raises. “If you don’t sell them as pets, you gotta get rid of ’em as meat,” the woman says as the drone starts to splinter, like a broken shaft of light, and notes creep in. “These guys are all meat,” the woman concludes.

A ribbon of bleakness runs through Decay. Even without absurdist or horrific sound clips, the songs have a shattered feel. Beats appear and disappear seemingly at random and are often so distorted or delayed that they startle more than establish a groove. Tracks such as “Memories and Distant Realities” and “Clip His Identity, Pt. 1: Realization of Decay” have synthwave influences but without that neon, shimmering

effect one hears on a Tangerine Dream record. Orange Rabbit reside more in the territory of Darkstep, a sub-genre of drum and bass.

The album pushes on in a sort of Dante’s Inferno fashion, with songs following Zac’s passage through the afterlife. “A Moment of Peace in the Cold Arms of His Creation After Accepting Fate: Completion of Decay” seems to wrap up the boy’s journey, though six tracks remain as a sort of epilogue.

Sonically, Decay is more punishing as it progresses, culminating in the penultimate track “Full Control,” which is essentially a two-and-a-half-minute digital fart. It’s no easy-listening project, but it’s clear that Orange Rabbit are going for something. What that might be is tougher to ascertain.

Stream Decay: The PTSD Project DELUXE at orangerabbit.bandcamp.com.

Aaron Marcus’ latest collection of piano compositions, Garden Dreams, on which the Montpelier musician collaborated with former Vermont Public Radio host/ engineer Sam Sanders. The two curate a collection of work by Vermont poets — plus cameos from Emily Dickinson and Tennessee Williams — which Sanders reads in an easygoing, casually frank tone. The Montpelierbased Sanders wields the poems as if they were his own, his voice resonant with a hint of world weariness.

Marcus is a talented composer and pianist who plays with folk act Frost & Fire, a band with an emphasis on folk and contra dance music. Here, Marcus’ compositions are lighthearted, playing like a sort of summer reverie. The artist, who uses they/them pronouns, displays the ability

to move seamlessly between genres. That dynamic nature empowers Marcus to move with the moods within the selected poetry, a subtle dance between word and note.

On “The Cat’s Morning Song/Meg’s Polska — Hot Pink, Plastic Sled/Tiny Robot Dance,” Marcus and Sanders take Montpelier-based poet and musician Susan Reid’s poem about her cat and color in the margins. The song becomes a score, a soundtrack to Reid’s cat as it contemplates its salad days.

“I cry now and then / For the open door, for the young, lean days / For desire of the sweet, long-ago hunt,” Sanders reads in a wistful tone, as if looking over an old photo album. “I know you understand / I’ve heard you cry too.”

Throughout the record, Marcus expertly uses their piano to create mood. “Imagine That,” also by Reid, features some of Marcus’ most playful arrangements. Waves of piano figures pull back like low tide to allow Sanders’

voice and Reid’s words to take the spotlight. It’s a dance that Marcus and Sanders navigate tastefully.

“Let Us Imagine” features a guest orator — Ama Peyman, a local farmer and chef. Her poem is described in the album’s liner notes as “an Afrofuturist vision, filled with hope for all of our children.” As Marcus lays down an optimistic-sounding bedrock of notes, Peyman tells of her dream of restorative justice and living in peace.

Though poetry and music have often been intertwined, what Marcus and Sanders achieve with Garden Dreams is its own kind of magic. The music is composed and arranged in such a way as to draw attention to the words of the poets, yet it never comes across as background music. It feels more like documenting life as it happens.

Garden Dreams is available at aaronmarcus.bandcamp.com, or at Buch Spieler Records in Montpelier.

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED:

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

ARE YOU A VT ARTIST OR BAND? SEND US YOUR MUSIC! DIGITAL: MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM; SNAIL MAIL: MUSIC C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 S. CHAMPLAIN ST., SUITE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401

Say you saw it in...

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

63

on screen Nightmare Alley HHH COURTESY OF KERRY HAYES/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

T

alk about holiday counterprogramming! Currently in theaters, the new film from Guillermo del Toro (Oscar winner for The Shape of Water) is a starstudded slice of dark, gritty noir.

Del Toro has said Nightmare Alley is based on William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel about carny life, rather than on its classic 1947 film adaptation starring Tyrone Power. Though plenty of snow flies in the film, it’s likely to bring holiday cheer only to viewers like me who are fascinated by the lore and tactics of carnival folk.

The deal

It’s 1939, and Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) has just set fire to a house with a corpse inside. He hops a bus across the country and lands in a seedy carnival, where he makes himself at home doing dirty jobs for the owner (Willem Dafoe).

Faux clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her husband (David Strathairn) school Stan in the art of mentalism, or convincing gullible people that he can read their minds.

A quick learner, Stan soon has ambitions bigger than the carnival. With the help of fellow carny Molly (Rooney Mara), he starts performing at swanky clubs, billing himself as a conduit to the supernatural realm.

At one of those clubs, Stan meets a cold-blooded psychiatrist, Lilith (Cate Blanchett), who is unburdened by professional scruples about confidentiality. With her help, his ambitions balloon again — but the bubble is overdue to burst.

MOVIE REVIEW

Will you like it?

Is there any reason to readapt Nightmare Alley in 2021? The story belongs to another time, when fortune-tellers performed for clubbing socialites, psychotherapy was mildly disreputable, and people known as “geeks” ate live chickens rather than fixed your computer.

And yet, consider the recent resurgence of the terms “grifter” and “hustler,” both of which Stan proudly applies to himself.

Social media teem with people peddling illusions and bragging about their successful hustles. Perhaps, these days, the carnival is the world.

Viewed as part of an ongoing history of shameless con artistry, Gresham’s 64

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

CARNIVAL KNOWLEDGE Mara and Cooper play carnies turned con artists in del Toro’s flawed new adaptation of the midcentury noir novel.

character study suddenly seems more relevant. One might even wonder whether del Toro had contemporary public figures in mind as comparison points for Stan.

The film’s downfall is that it never lets us get close enough to its quasisociopathic protagonist to experience the momentary, ambivalent pleasure of rooting for him. Cooper’s performance keeps us at a distance, guessing what’s behind Stan’s eyes.

For the first 10 or so minutes of the movie, Stan has no dialogue, rendering him something of a cipher: Is this handsome fellow a little dim or just not a talker? Accordingly, we transfer our interest to the more personable supporting players. Dafoe is deliciously slimy, while Collette and Strathairn show humanity and humor as mentalists who practice within ethical bounds.

Stan is a different breed. By the time he meets Lilith, we know what he wants from life — “dough,” he says — but we still don’t know what really drives him.

Lilith herself seems intent on finding out; she strikes a deal that puts the reluctant Stan on her office couch. Cooper and Blanchett have a creepy chemistry, and Stan’s unorthodox therapy session is the movie’s most gripping scene.

Throughout, Nightmare Alley is a feast for the eyes, with top-notch costuming and production design supporting del Toro’s already sumptuous visuals. The lurid crimsons and greens of the carnival’s sideshow have the viscerality of an oil painting.

The aforementioned therapy scene makes use of falling snow and wafting cigarette smoke to create a poignant sense of unreality. Every outfit Lilith wears is a triumph and a provocation.

Yet somehow the film’s elements never click into place. Each scene is compelling on its own, but there’s no central thread strong enough to tug us toward the conclusion, which savvy noir fans will be anticipating from the outset. Instead of feeling pity and terror for Stan, we may just hope he gets his inevitable karmic payback without hurting too many other people on the way.

Perhaps the moral of Nightmare Alley is something that Dafoe’s cynical barker says early on, explaining why carnivals need freaks and geeks: “Folks pay good money to make ’emselves feel better.” The purpose of sideshows, in other words, is to make patrons feel more secure in their own so-called “normality” — an indictment of voyeurism that rings true today.

Yet, because it lacks a center, del Toro’s

film never succeeds in making us turn the prying gaze of the carnival goer back on ourselves.

MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

FREAKS (1932; rentable): One of the

original cult movies, with a scene that still generates memes today (“One of us! One of us!”), Tod Browning’s carnivalset drama is more sympathetic to the so-called “freaks” than to their “normal” counterparts.

“AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW”

(2014; Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, fuboTV, rentable): Like most seasons of the horror anthology series, this one is a guilty pleasure at best. But for fans of carny camp, watching a Germanaccented Jessica Lange lead a troupe of midcentury misfits is a must.

THE GRIFTERS (1990; HBO Max, rent-

able): Perhaps it’s time to revisit Stephen Frears’ bone-cold modern noir, nominated for four Oscars, in which Anjelica Huston and John Cusack play estranged mother-and-son con artists.

NEW IN THEATERS ON DECEMBER 22 THE KING’S MAN: In this prequel to the Kingsman action-comedy series, Ralph Fiennes plays a spy who organizes a team to defeat an evil cabal. With Gemma Arterton and Rhys Ifans. Matthew Vaughn again directed. (131 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Stowe) THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS: The reality-bending action franchise that popularized the phrase “red pill” gets a new entry, again starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. Lana Wachowski directed; novelist David Mitchell coscripted. (148 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Star, Sunset, Welden) SING 2: Show biz-loving critters return in this sequel to the animated hit, featuring the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Bono as a reclusive rock star. Garth Jennings directed. (112 min, PG. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden) THE TENDER BAR: George Clooney directed this literary adaptation about a fatherless Long Island boy (Daniel Ranieri) finding role models at his uncle’s bar.

With Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan. (106 min, R. Savoy)

STARTS DECEMBER 24 OR 25 AMERICAN UNDERDOG: This sports biopic tells the story of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi) With Anna Paquin. Andrew and Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine) directed. (112 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Star) BAD LUCK BANGING OR LOONY PORN: In this award-winning satire from Romania, a teacher (Katia Pascariu) posts her amateur sex tape online and faces spiraling consequences. Radu Jude wrote and directed. (106 min, NR. Savoy) A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN: Denzel Washington directed this fact-based drama about a U.S. soldier (Michael B. Jordan) who pens a book of guidance for his son to follow in the event of his death. (131 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic) LICORICE PIZZA: A teenager (Cooper Hoffman) pursues a woman (Alana Haim) 10 years his senior in this acclaimed coming-of-age comedy from Paul Thomas Anderson, set in 1973 Los Angeles. With Sean Penn and Tom Waits. (133 min, R. Savoy)

BENEDETTAHHHH1/2 Two nuns fall in love in 17thcentury Italy in this drama from Paul Verhoeven (Elle), starring Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling and Daphne Patakia. (131 min, R. Savoy [Thu 23 only]; reviewed 12/15) C’MON C’MONHHHH Joaquin Phoenix plays a traveling radio journalist who finds himself becoming his young nephew’s guardian in this indie drama from writer-director Mike Mills (20th Century Women). (108 min, R. Savoy [ends Thu 23]) ENCANTOHHHH A young girl living in a charmed Colombian enclave sets out to discover her own magical powers in the latest Disney animation, cowritten by Lin-Manuel Miranda. (99 min, PG. Essex [except Wed 22 & Mon 27], Majestic) GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFEHH1/2 A new generation of Ghostbusters emerges as two teens (Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace) discover their grandpa’s spooky legacy. Jason Reitman directed.

(124 min, PG-13. Star [ends Fri 24]) NIGHTMARE ALLEYHHH In Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of the 1946 noir novel, Bradley Cooper plays a carny con man who teams up with a scheming psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett). (150 min, R. Capitol, Majestic, Roxy; reviewed 12/22) SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOMEHHH1/2 Peter Parker (Tom Holland) seeks the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jon Watts returns as director. (148 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Playhouse, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden) WEST SIDE STORYHHHH1/2 Steven Spielberg directed this new adaptation of the Leonard Bernstein musical in which two young people from opposite sides of a gang war fall in love. (156 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Roxy)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS A CHRISTMAS STORY (Sunset) THE POLAR EXPRESS (Sunset)

OPEN THEATERS (* = UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR THEATER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME)

NOW PLAYING

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

BELFASTHHHH Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical film about coming of age in the turbulent Northern Ireland of the 1960s. With Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe and Judi Dench. (98 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Savoy [ends Thu 23])

BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com 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

COURTESY OF MELINDA SUE GORDONCOPYRIGHT/METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER

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

We are working hard to do our part.

Please, do yours.

Across the UVM Health Network, we are doing everything we can to respond to the ever-changing challenges of COVID-19. Today, nearly two years into this pandemic, we continue to fight the impact of this virus. Our emergency rooms are packed. Our Intensive Care Units are nearing capacity. All of our people, providing all types of care throughout our health system, are being pushed to the brink.

If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccines, you are putting yourself, your loved ones, your friends, your neighbors and your health care workers at risk.

The battle is far from over. Roughly 75% of the patients we treat in our ICUs for COVID-19-related illness are unvaccinated. In some cases, that number is much higher, and the outcomes are not always good. Similar trends prevail across Vermont and Northern New York.

What’s frustrating to all of us is that we know our best hope of ending this crisis is vaccination. The vast majority of eligible people living in Vermont (80%) and in New York (75%) have been vaccinated.

Yet, if you’ve chosen not to get vaccinated, you’re keeping the virus alive and putting everyone at risk.

We know vaccination isn’t a silver bullet against COVID-19 infection, especially with what we are learning about variants. But vaccination is the best protection we have against a severe case, and it’s the best way for you to stay out of the hospital or the ICU. Keeping you out of the hospital means we have more beds available if someone else has a heart attack, gets into a major car accident, or needs emergency surgery. It means reducing the pressure on our regional health care system and giving our workforce the relief they deserve.

It also may save your life.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about COVID-19 vaccines. It’s time to set all of that aside and focus squarely on the real-life, hard-earned lessons we’ve learned through the pandemic. With those lessons in mind, here’s what we ask of you: • • • •

If you are not vaccinated — Get Vaccinated.

If you are vaccinated — Get Your Booster.

If you know someone who is not vaccinated — Help them get a vaccine.

And regardless of your vaccination status, continue to do the things we know make a difference: Wear a mask. Clean your hands.

Get tested when necessary. Distance when you are around others.

Do not socialize when you feel ill.

Please, share this message. Together, we can save lives.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in our region at pharmacies, doctors’ offices and other places. To find a vaccine appointment near you, go to www.vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233.

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 Cooper Hoffman (left) and Alana Haim in Licorice Pizza

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

John R. Brumsted, MD President and Chief Executive Officer UVM Health Network

David W. Clauss, MD Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer UVM Health Network

Annette Macias-Hoag, DNP, MHA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CENP Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer UVM Health Network

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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WED.22 community

CURRENT EVENTS OVER ZOOM: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library leads an informal discussion about what’s in the news. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister.

Info, programs@damlvt.org.

crafts

FIRESIDE KNITTING GROUP: Needle jockeys gather to chat and work on their latest projects. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

film

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

‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: An educational and entertaining film takes viewers on an epic adventure through some of Earth’s wildest landscapes. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: Moviegoers join scientists on a journey through a surreal world of bug-eyed giants and egg-laying mammals. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘MEERKATS 3D’: A tenacious mammalian matriarch fights to protect her family in a desolate environment.

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, $11.50-14.50; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a mind-bending journey from the beginning of the time through the mysteries of the universe. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

SENIOR CENTER WEEKLY LUNCH: Age Well and the Kevin L. Dorn Senior Center serve a hot, sit-down lunch.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 12:30 p.m.

Donations; preregister; limited space. Info, 923-5545.

WEEKLY WINE TASTING: Themed in-store tastings take oenophiles on an adventure through a wine region, grape variety, style of wine or producer’s offerings. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-2368.

games

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages square off against each

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE! All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper.

Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

Listings and spotlights are written by Emily Hamilton. Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

2 0 2 1

other at every level from beginner to seasoned. Howe Library, Hanover, N.H., 6-8 p.m.

Free. Info, 603-643-4120.

health & fitness

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Those in need of an easy-on-the-joints workout gather for an hour of calming, low-impact movement. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 1:302:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 751-0431.

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.

FALL PREVENTION SUNSTYLE TAI CHI: Humans boost their strength and balance through gentle, flowing movements. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 10:3011:15 a.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 223-3322.

TAI CHI: SUN-STYLE 73: A sequence of slow, controlled motions aids in strength and balance. Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier, 11:20 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 223-3322.

holidays

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: Merrymakers dip candles, toast s’mores and snowshoe across the grounds, all while taking in traditional 19thcentury decorations. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular admission, $8-16; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 457-2355.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: Local businesses deck out

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

their display windows with quirky and captivating Christmas trees.

Downtown St. Albans. Free. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@gmail.com.

‘THE NUTCRACKER’: A doll comes to life and whisks Marie away on a whirlwind adventure in this on-screen Bolshoi Ballet production. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 6:30 p.m. $10-17. Info, 760-4634.

‘OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS’: Vermont Youth Theater presents a pageant of carols, candles and scenes from classic stories.

Masks required. Bethany Church, Montpelier, 5 & 7 p.m. $20. Info, fineartsbarn@gmail.com.

‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’: Four singers attempt to save a struggling Vermont inn with a holiday show in this 1954 classic musical. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

seminars

CITIZENSHIP TEST PREP CLASS: Adult green card holders practice English literacy and expand their civics knowledge. Winooski Memorial Library, 10-11:30 a.m.

Free; preregister. Info, 654-1704.

tech

food & drink

SUP CON GUSTO TAKEAWAY DINNER SERIES: Philly transplants Randy Camacho and Gina Cocchiaro serve up a three-course, family-style menu of seasonal Vermont produce and meat. See supcongustovt.com for menus.

Richmond Community Kitchen, 6-8 p.m. Various prices. Info, gustogastronomics@gmail.com.

games

WHIST CARD GAME CLUB: Players of all experience levels congregate for some friendly competition.

Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 12:30-3 p.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

health & fitness

LIBRARY YOGA WITH LINDA: Every week is a new adventure in movement and mindfulness at this Morristown Centennial Library virtual class.

10:15-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

holidays

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See WED.22.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GOOGLE APPS FOR OLDER ADULTS: Tech for Tomorrow gives attendees the lowdown on Drive, Gmail, Maps and the like. 12-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-0595.

‘THE NUTCRACKER’: See WED.22.

theater

theater

‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’: Four siblings discover a world of talking animals and nefarious winter witches in this C.S. Lewis classic performed

by Northern Stage student actors.

Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $19-29. Info, 296-7000.

WINTER LIGHTS: Warm drinks in hand, visitors take in the all-aglow museum grounds.

Shelburne Museum, 5-8 p.m. $10-15; free for kids 2 and under; preregister. Info, 985-3346.

‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’: See WED.22, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

FRI.24

food & drink

THU.23

COFFEE CORNER MORNINGS: The new senior center opens its doors for tea, coffee and friendly conversation. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4107.

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: The Vermont Department of Labor gives job seekers a chance to meet with employers from around the state.

11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000.

MIDDLEBURY FARMERS MARKET: Produce, prepared foods and local products are available for purchase at this year-round bazaar.

Middlebury VFW Hall, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, middleburyfarmers mkt@yahoo.com.

crafts

health & fitness

business

THURSDAY ZOOM KNITTERS: The Norman Williams Public Library fiber arts club meets virtually for conversation and crafting. 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@normanwilliams.org.

film

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

‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.22.

‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.22.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.22.

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.22.

holidays

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See WED.22.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX: Local musicians package together a jolly, joyful, virtual revue to benefit Middlebury’s Giving Fridge. See calendar spotlight. $10-25; preregister.

Info, 382-9222.

theater

‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’: See WED.22, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

SAT.25 holidays

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX: See FRI.24.

SUN.26 film

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

‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.22.

‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.22, ongoing.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.22.

food & drink

WEEKLY WINE TASTING: See WED.22. Dedalus Wine Shop, Market & Wine Bar, Stowe, noon-3 p.m. Info, 585-7717.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators are always welcome to join this weekly class, virtually or in person. Evolution Physical Therapy & Yoga, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Donations. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.

holidays

‘`TWAS THE NIGHT...’: The New England Center for Circus Arts’ annual holiday extravaganza streams online for high-flying fun from home. $15-50. Info, 254-9780.

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See WED.22.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX: See FRI.24.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.23.

language

DIMANCHES: FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP: Parlezvous français? Speakers practice the tongue at a casual drop-in chat. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celtic-curious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

theater

‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’: See WED.22, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

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LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

FAMILY FUN

stowe/smuggs

BABY & TODDLER MEETUP: Tiny tots and their caregivers come together for playtime, puzzles and picture books. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 888-3853.

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.

rutland/ killington

HOLIDAY LIGHTS!: See WED.22.

WED.22

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: Mothers-to-be build strength, stamina and a stronger connection to their baby. 5:45-6:45 p.m. $5-15.

Info, 899-0339.

PERSONAL MEETINGS & STORY TIME WITH MRS. CLAUS: Santa’s better half reads festive books over a video call in half-hour time slots. Presented by GigginVT and New Hampshire’s Christmas Farm Inn & Spa. See calendar spotlight. 5-8:30 p.m. $30; preregister.

Info, 503-0001.

burlington

CRAFTERNOON: Weaving, knitting, embroidery and paper crafting supplies take over the Teen Space. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

ITTY BITTY PUBLIC SKATE: Coaches are on hand to help the rink’s tiniest skaters stay on their feet. Gordon H. Paquette Ice Arena, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $8. Info, 865-7558.

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

AFTER SCHOOL CRAFT: SNOWFLAKE GARLANDS: Kids in grades K through 8 ring in their holiday vacation by making intricate, wintery decor. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

stowe/smuggs

HOLIDAY GIFT & CARD MAKING: Creative youngsters make crafts to give as presents to loved ones. Ages 6 and up. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 888-3853.

TEEN KARAOKE: Singers ages 12 through 18 croon, belt or scream along to their favorite jams. Masks required. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 3-4 p.m.

Free. Info, 888-3853.

rutland/killington

HOLIDAY LIGHTS!: Families pack into their cars and tune in to 89.3 FM for a journey through larger-than-life light displays, soundtracked by Saint Nick himself.

Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland, 6-9 p.m. $25-30 per car. Info, 775-0903.

champlain islands/ northwest

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little library patrons listen to stories, sing songs

© BOBBY DEAL | DREAMSTIME

upper valley

DEC. 22-24 & JAN. 2-3 | FAMILY FUN Meeting the Missus Procrastinators who haven’t yet settled on gifts for the kids in their lives, rejoice: Santa Claus’ better half herself is doling out one-on-one virtual visits. Lucky little ones cuddle up in their coziest getups, lay out some milk and cookies, and meet Mrs. Claus over video call for a special story time. Parents and caregivers surreptitiously fill out a questionnaire beforehand so the big lady can personalize the session, and kids get to choose between four festive picture books. Presented by GigginVT Productions and the Christmas Farm Inn & Spa in Jackson, N.H.

PERSONAL MEETINGS & STORY TIME WITH MRS. CLAUS Wednesday, December 22, through Friday, December 25, 5-8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, January 2, and Monday, January 3, 5:45-6:15 p.m. Online. $30.

Info, 503-0001, meetingswithmrsclaus.eventbrite.com. and take home a fun activity. Fairfax Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 849-2420.

northeast kingdom

STORYTIME BY APPOINTMENT: Kiddos get one-on-one reading and play time in 30-minute time slots, plus an activity to take home. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 745-1391.

outside vermont

PLAYGROUP FOR AGES 0-2: Babies, toddlers and their caretakers meet new friends and play to their hearts’ content.

Howe Library, Hanover, N.H., 9:30-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 603-643-4120.

THU.23

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.22, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

PERSONAL MEETINGS & STORY TIME WITH MRS. CLAUS: See WED.22.

burlington

BABYTIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones. Ages birth to 18 months.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

FFL YOUNG WRITERS: Budding authors, scriptwriters and graphic novelists ages

10 and up learn more about the craft via prompts and group exercises. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

LEGO: Builders in kindergarten through 4th grade enjoy an afternoon of imagination and play. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3-4 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Masks required for kids 2 and up.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 & 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Librarians read their favorite books and lead little ones in song and dance. Masks required for kids 2 and up. Winooski Memorial Library, 11 a.m.

Free. Info, 655-6424.

barre/montpelier

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Energetic youngsters join Miss Meliss for stories, songs and lots of silliness. Masks required for all kids 2 and up. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m.

Free; limited space. Info, 223-3338.

PARENT & CAREGIVER MEETUP & PLAYGROUP: Those with new and pre-walking babies gather to chat and sip coffee while the little ones play. Older siblings welcome.

BYO mug. Norwich Public Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, roger.arnold@ norwichlibrary.org.

TODDLER STORY TIME: Toddling tykes 20 months through 3.5 years old hear a few stories related to the theme of the week. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 10:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 457-2295.

FRI.24

Memorial Library, Williston, 10-10:30 & 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

SHAKESPEARE CLUB FOR TEENS: Burgeoning bards work together to put on a play or make a movie. Masks required.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 5:308 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

TUE.28

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.22, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

VIRTUAL TEEN WRITERS CLUB: Aspiring authors unleash their creativity through collaborative and independent writing games. Hosted by Brownell Library. 4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956.

burlington

ESCAPE HOGWARTS: A HARRY POTTER ESCAPE ROOM: Witches and wizards ages 8 through 18 use their knowledge of magic to break out of a fantastical trap. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.22, 12:30-1:15 p.m.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME ON THE GREEN: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library leads half an hour of stories, rhymes and songs. Masks or social distancing required. Williston Town Green, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PERSONAL MEETINGS & STORY TIME WITH MRS. CLAUS: See WED.22.

SAT.25

No scheduled events.

STORY TIME: See THU.23.

barre/montpelier

SUN.26

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See THU.23.

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.22, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

stowe/smuggs

chittenden county

FULL STEAM AHEAD TUESDAYS: Kids learn art, science and math through games and crafts, including paper airplane races, Lego competitions and origami. Ages 6 and up. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 3:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

rutland/killington

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: The 5-andunder crowd meets up for an hour of stories, songs, crafts and playtime.

Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

SOCIAL SUNDAYS FAMILY ART: Registered families pick up take-home kits to complete with video or typed instructions. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery. Free; preregister. Info, 891-2014.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS!: See WED.22, 6-9 p.m.

MON.27

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: Chefs in training and their caretakers make an entrée and a dessert with a trained dietitian. Grades 1 through 5.

Presented by various local libraries. 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.22.

burlington

ITTY BITTY PUBLIC SKATE: See WED.22.

REINDEER LIVE: Vermont Reindeer Farm brings its antlered charges along for an up-close visit. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 12:30 & 2 p.m. Regular admission, $14.50-18; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

chittenden county

upper valley

BABY STORY TIME: Librarians and finger puppet friends introduce babies 20 months and younger to the joy of reading. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

WED.29

ONLINE PRENATAL YOGA: See WED.22.

burlington

ITTY BITTY PUBLIC SKATE: See WED.22.

STEAM SPACE: See WED.22.

northeast kingdom STORYTIME BY APPOINTMENT: See WED.22.

INDOOR STORY TIME: Small groups enjoy a cozy session of reading, rhyming and singing. Birth through age 5. Masks required for kids 2 and up. Dorothy Alling

outside vermont PLAYGROUP FOR AGES 0-2: See WED.22. K

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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HAVE YOU

NOTICED OUR LEGAL ADS?

Turn to the Classifieds section or go to sevendaysvt.com/legals for a list of legal notices including:

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater fires up its uber-successful fundraiser Holiday Jukebox for the second year in a row. The virtual musical revue, streaming Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, features an abundance of local talent. Making an appearance, among others, are Clint Bierman; the Almendros; the Middlebury College Mamajamas; Jillian Torres and Chuck Miller; the Middlebury Congregational Church Bell Choir; 8 Cuerdas (pictured); and Lila, Carina and Sadie Brightman. Proceeds benefit the Giving Fridge, a community refrigerator stocked by local restaurants and serving Middlebury neighbors in need of warm meals.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX

SUN.26

Contact Katie for a quote at legals@sevendaysvt.com; 865-1020 x110.

2v-legals.indd 1

Come A-Caroling

Friday, December 24, through Saturday, January 1. Online. $10-25. Info, 382-9222, townhalltheater.org.

• Act 250 Permit applications • Foreclosures • Notices to creditors • Storage auctions • Planning and zoning changes

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MON.27

holidays

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

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See WED.22.

film

‘`TWAS THE NIGHT...’: See SUN.26.

‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.22.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.22.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX: See FRI.24.

‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.22.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.23.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.22.

language

health & fitness ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.22.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Locals learning English as a second language gather in the Board Room to build vocabulary and make friends. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TUE.28

community

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

crafts

FIRESIDE KNITTING GROUP: See WED.22, 6-7 p.m.

KNITTERS IN PERSON: Yarn enthusiasts of all abilities bring their knitting projects and help each other out when needed.

Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 10:15 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 457-2295.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

games

DROP IN BRIDGE: Card slingers of all experience levels enjoy an afternoon of leisurely game play.

Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

LET’S PLAY CHESS: Players of all ages and experience levels come together to play the king’s game. Coaching available. Feel free to BYO board. Masks required. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 5-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 457-2295.

MAH JONGG: The Thompson Senior Center’s biweekly games move to the library.

Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

health & fitness

FALL PREVENTION SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: See WED.22, 10-11 a.m.

holidays

‘`TWAS THE NIGHT...’: See SUN.26.

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See WED.22.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX: See FRI.24.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.23.

language film

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

ENGLISH CONVERSATION WITH USCRI: Adult English language learners expand their vocabulary by talking about a weekly topic.

Winooski Memorial Library, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 655-5424.

‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.22.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATIONS: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue.

Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5166.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.22.

music

‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.22.

food & drink

COFFEE CORNER MORNINGS: See FRI.24.

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

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

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

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

VERMONT’S FREEDOM & UNITY CHORUS REHEARSAL: Singers of all ages, races and genders lift their voices in songs that represent the ongoing struggle for justice. Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 6:45-8:45 p.m. $35. Info, vermontsfreedom andunitychorus@gmail.com.

theater

‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’: See WED.22.

words

BROWN BAG BOOK DISCUSSION: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library’s virtual book club dissects Hannah Tinti’s The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley over lunch. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Members of this writing group motivate each other to put pen to paper for at least an hour, then debrief together. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 5-7 p.m. Free.

Info, 888-3853.

SIGN UP TODAY!

WED.29

HOLIDAY LESSON

crafts

FIRESIDE KNITTING GROUP: See WED.22.

SERIES DECEMBER 26-30, 2021

film

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

‘AUSTRALIA’S GREAT WILD NORTH 3D’: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See WED.22.

$130 for 5 lessons!

‘THE MAN WITH A PLAN’: An old Vermont farmer decides to run for Congress in this cult classic satirical mockumentary.

Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘MEERKATS 3D’: See WED.22.

MOVIE NIGHT: Tim Burton’s beloved film starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder screens in the library’s auditorium.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

‘SPACE: UNRAVELING THE COSMOS’: See WED.22.

food & drink

SENIOR CENTER WEEKLY LUNCH: See WED.22.

WEEKLY WINE TASTING: See WED.22.

games

CHESS CLUB: See WED.22.

5 one-hour ski/snowboard clinics for ages 516 for just $130! Equipment rental available.

Questions? Call us at 802-443-7605 .

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health & fitness ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: See WED.22.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.22.

FALL PREVENTION SUN-STYLE TAI CHI: See WED.22.

TAI CHI: SUN-STYLE 73: See WED.22.

holidays

‘`TWAS THE NIGHT...’: See SUN.26.

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM: See WED.22.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: DOWNTOWN TREE WALK: See WED.22.

THT’S HOLIDAY JUKEBOX: See FRI.24.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.23.

seminars

CITIZENSHIP TEST PREP CLASS: See WED.22.

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN: Unemployed job seekers ages 55 and up learn about the Senior Community Service Employment Program, a federally funded jobs training program for older individuals. Last Wednesday of every month, 9-10 a.m. Free.

Info, mcullen@a4td.org.

theater

‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’: See WED.22. m

It starts local.

Wow... lookinegctory... ir through thoef dinfo there! a wealth FPF putting this I appreciart&e making us aware togethe its existence. of NDON - C. IN BRA

Vermont small businesses need your support more than ever.

Shop locally this holiday season!

Check out the FPF Directory at frontporchforum.com/directory.

4T-FPF120821.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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CLASS PHOTOS + MORE INFO ONLINE SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

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

art DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you.

Now enrolling youth and adults for classes in drawing, painting and fused glass. Location: Davis Studio, 916 Shelburne Rd., South Burlington. Info: 802-425-2700, davisstudiovt.com.

astrology ROMANCE AND YOUR STARS: Discover your potential for love and romance in this personalized course that equips you with knowledge of both your stars and your future. Provide your birth info and current location when you sign up. You will get charts and a recorded personal session. 10 students. Instructor Sue Mehrtens, teacher-astrologer.

Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26 & Feb. 2, 7-9 p.m.

Cost: $75 via Paypal or check.

Location: Jungian Center, Zoom.

Info: Sue Mehrtens, 802-2447909, info@jungiancenter.org, jungiancenter.org.

family COLLEGE/CAREER PREP TRAINING: Attention families: Join CFES Brilliant Pathways for our College and Career Readiness Training to find out how to access billions in aid and help your child get into college or find a career.

Jan. 20, 6 p.m. 4 30-min. sessions. Location: virtual or CFES Conference Center, 2303 Lake Shore Rd., Essex, N.Y. Info: CFES

Brilliant Pathways, Jon Reidel, 802-578-0447, jon@brilliantpath ways.org, brilliantpathways.org.

drumming DJEMBE & TAIKO DRUMMING: Join us! New classes (outdoor, mask optional/masks indoors), starting on Jan 10. Taiko Tue., Wed.; Djembe Wed.; Kids & Parents Tue., Wed. Conga classes by request! Info: 802-999-4255, spaton55@gmail.com, Taiko Space. 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Schedule/register online.

LIVE EDGE END TABLE: Emma Garvey will lead students through both the wood and metal shops as they build an end table composed of live edge walnut and steel tubing. They’ll cover skills including welding, preparing and finishing both wood and steel.

Plus, students will leave with a custom side table they created!

Thu., Jan. 27, Feb., 3 & 10, 6-9 p.m.

Location: Generator, 40 Sears La., Burlington. Info: Sam Graulty, 802-540-0761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com/workshops.

Generator

GENERATOR is a combination of artist studios, classroom, and business incubator at the intersection of art, science, and technology. We provide tools, expertise, education, and opportunity – to enable all members of our community to create, collaborate, and make their ideas a reality.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR SKILLS WORKSHOP: Learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator with Sam Damphousse, including the pen tool, pathfinder, image trace and more. This class will include instructor-led exercises and projects. You will leave with a strong foundation of skills that can be used to create vector graphics for laser and vinyl cutting and

Project, Zoom. Info: infopassing project@gmail.com, passingproject.org.

design. Wed., Jan. 26 & Feb. 2, 5:30-9 p.m. Location: Generator, 40 Sears La., Burlington. Info: Sam Graulty, 802-540-0761, education@generatorvt. com, generatorvt.com/ workshops.

kids

Sears La., Burlington. Info: Sam Graulty, 802-540-0761, education@generatorvt.com, generatorvt.com/workshops.

SPOON CARVING WORKSHOP: Join Eric Cannizzaro to learn one of many ways to carve a spoon using a few quintessential green woodworking tool: the drawknife, gouge and spokeshave. You will cover getting material out of a log, steam-bending the crook, using milk paint and finishing.

All skills levels are welcome.

Sat., Jan. 15-16, 9:30 a.m.noon. Location: Generator, 40 Sears La., Burlington.

Info: Sam Graulty, 802-5400761, education@ generatorvt.com, generatorvt. com/workshops.

healing arts MAKE A WOODEN BOX WORKSHOP: This workshop is a great way for folks to get more comfortable in a woodshop.

Instructor Alex Brumlik will use a simple box design that utilizes just about every tool in the woodshop to teach setup, adjustments and operation of each, including jointer, planer, router, saws and more. Mon., Jan. 31, Feb. 7 & 14, 6-9 p.m. Location: Generator, 40

PANDEMIC PASSAGES WORKSHOP: In this monthly series, we’ll explore the landscape of our pandemic lives, opening the unexpected gifts, sadnesses, letting-go, longing and missing.

We’ll utilize movement, guided meditation and storytelling.

Bring your own materials for writing, drawing, music, dance — whatever you wish! Sharing what you create is optional. Drop-ins welcome! 1st Sun. of each mo., Nov. to Apr. at 4 p.m. Cost: $1025; sliding scale; donations appreciated. Location: the Passing

And on the seventh day, we do not rest.

Instead we bring you...

LET’S SING!: Greater Burlington Children’s Chorus begins its second semester on Jan. 10. New to advanced singers in grades 1 to 8. Join us in creating something beautiful; it’s a perfect time for inspiring harmony! Mon. beginning Jan. 10. Cost: $295; generous financial assistance avail. Location: Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington.

Info: Greater Burlington Children’s Chorus, Christa Loescher, 802598-4693, gbcchorus@gmail. com, greaterburlingtonchildrens chorus.org.

language ALLIANCE FRANCAISE WINTER SESSION: Join us for online adult and children French classes this winter! Our six-week session starts on Jan. 17 and offers classes for participants at all levels. Please go to aflcr.org to read all about our offerings.

6-wk. session begins on Jan. 17. Location: Alliance Francaise, Burlington. Info: education@aflcr. org, aflcr.org.

SPANISH CLASSES STARTING SOON: Adult Spanish classes start in January, using online Zoom videoconferencing. Our 16th year. Learn from a native speaker via small group classes.

You’ll always be participating and speaking. Five different levels.

There is still some space — don’t delay. See our website or contact us for details. Beginning week of Jan. 10. Cost: $270/10 classes of 90+ min. each, 1 class/week.

Location: Spanish in Waterbury Center, Waterbury Center. Info: 802-585-1025, spanishparavos@ gmail.com, spanishwaterbury center.com.

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

Julio Cesar “Foca” Fernandez Nunes was born and raised on the shores of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Earning his black belt and representing the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, Julio “Foca” went on to become a five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion, three-time Rio de Janeiro State Champion and two-time IBJJF World JiuJitsu Champion! Julio “Foca” is the only CBJJP, USBJJF and IBJJF-certified seventh-degree coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense instructor under late grand master Carlson Gracie Sr. currently teaching in the USA. Accept no Iimitations! Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 802598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

yoga INSPIRED YOGA TEACHER TRAINING: Looking to deepen your practice and become a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certifiedqualified teacher? Inspired Yoga’s teacher training weekend sessions begin on Sat., Jan. 8. Students will study asana, anatomy, pranayama, subtle body, teaching methodology, philosophy and ethics, with an emphasis on creating classes for all ages, abilities and circumstances. Only eight spots remain. VSAC-grant eligible. Info: Casey Baraw, 802323-7911, inspiredyogavt@gmail. com, inspiredyogavt.com, Inspired Yoga, 137 Main St., Newport.

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

SUBSCRIBE TODAY:

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ENEWS 70

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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COURTESY OF KELLY SCHULZE/MOUNTAIN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

Humane

Society of Chittenden County

Reyna SEX: 7-year-old spayed female REASON HERE: She was returned due to not getting along with the resident cat.

ARRIVAL DATE: November 23, 2021 SUMMARY: This chirpy, playful princess was described by her previous family as social, friendly and cuddly. She has been sweet and friendly during her stay at HSCC, and her favorite things include chasing laser pointers, getting head pets and carrying on conversations with her humans. Reyna, much like any princess, may prefer to be the center of attention as the only feline in the home. Stop by HSCC to meet this gorgeous gray girl!

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: FIV+, litter box history

DID YOU KNOW?

housing »

APARTMENTS, CONDOS & HOMES

When cats go to the bathroom outside of the litter box, it’s usually an attempt to communicate that they’re unhappy about something. They may not be feeling well physically, or a change to their environment (a different litter or box type, a recent move, or a new addition to the family) may have caused them some stress. Visit hsccvt.org/resources for tips, and visit your vet to rule out a medical issue!

Sponsored by:

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Reyna has lived with dogs in the past but may prefer to be the only cat; she has no known experience living with children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m., or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

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

on the road »

CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES

pro services »

CHILDCARE, HEALTH/ WELLNESS, PAINTING

buy this stuff »

APPLIANCES, KID STUFF, ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE

music »

INSTRUCTION, CASTING, INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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CLASSIFIEDS

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

We Pick Up & Pay For Junk Automobiles!

on the road

Route 15, Hardwick

CARS/TRUCKS

3842 Dorset Ln., Williston

802-472-5100 802-793-9133

services

AUTO

CASH FOR CARS! SAVE MONEY ON AUTO We buy all cars! Junk, REPAIRS affordable spaces for high-end, totaled: It Our vehicle service your business. Visit doesn’t matter. Get free sm-allmetals060811.indd 7/20/15 1 5:02 PM program can save you mainstreetlanding.com towing & same-day up to 60% off dealer & click on space avail. cash. Newer models, prices & provide you Melinda, 864-7999. too. Call 1-866-535excellent coverage! Call 9689. (AAN CAN) Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

(PST) for a free quote: 866-915-2263.

SERVICES

housing

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE AT MAIN STREET LANDING on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy,

WE PAY CASH FOR PROPERTY We pay cash for land, homes & investment properties of all kinds.

Get paid in 30 days or less! No commissions.

No fees. For homes & investment properties, we will purchase “as-is.”

This means you don’t have to put another dime in repairs or move unwanted belongings out! Call us today for a fair cash offer: 802-495-6337.

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

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

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BIZ OPPS BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print & distribute your work internationally. We do the work; you reap the rewards! Call for a free Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836. (AAN CAN)

COMPUTER COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train online to get the skills to become a computer & help desk professional now.

Grants & scholarships avail. for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-554-4616.

(AAN CAN)

ENTERTAINMENT DISH TV $59.99 for 190 channels & $14.95 high-speed internet. Free installation, smart HD DVR incl. Free voice remote.

Some restrictions apply.

1-855-380-2501. (AAN CAN)

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

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

display service ads: $25/$45 homeworks: $45 (40 words, photos, logo) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

print deadline: Mondays at 4:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 x110

Foreclosure: 1.3± Acre Lot Pool House and Garage Thursday, January 6 @ 11AM

List your property here for 2 weeks for only $45!

Register & Inspect from 10AM

0 Vincent Egan Road, Castleton, VT

CONTACT KATIE, 865-1020, EXT. 110 FSBO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

HEALTH/ WELLNESS PSYCHIC COUNSELING Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 30+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other lives, classes & more. 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com.

HOME/GARDEN JOHN TURNER, HANDYMAN Fully insured. Roofs, interior or exterior painting, misc. Free estimates! Leave a message, 802-735-4009.

LEO’S ROOFING Slate, shingle & metal repair & replacement.

Snow removal & more! Free estimate: 802-503-6064. 30 years’ experience. Good refs. & fully insured.

Chittenden County

buy this stuff

APPLIANCES/ TOOLS/PARTS HUSQVARNA SEWING MACHINE Excellent condition Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 w/ touch screen, displaying 18 stitch designs for all your embroidery needs. Tuned this yr. at Vacuum City.

Discounted to $750.

Call, 802-349-0139.

MISCELLANEOUS 4G LTE HOME INTERNET Now avail.! Get GotW3 w/ lightning-fast speeds & take your service w/ you when you travel!

As low as $109.99/mo.!

1-888-519-0171. (AAN CAN) ATTENTION, VIAGRA & CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices!

50-pill special: $99 + free shipping! 100% guaranteed. Call now: 888-531-1192. (AAN CAN) BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as 1 day!

Affordable prices. No payments for 18 mos.!

Lifetime warranty & professional installs.

Senior & military discounts avail. Call 1-877-649-5043. (AAN CAN) CABLE PRICE INCREASE AGAIN? Switch to DirecTV & save & get a $100 Visa gift card! Get more channels for less money.

Restrictions apply. Call now. 877-693-0625.

(AAN CAN) DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS Your donation helps fund the search for missing children.

Accepting trucks, motorcycles & RVs, too! Fast, free pickup.

Running or not. 24-hr. response. Max. tax donation. Call 877-2660681. (AAN CAN) DIRECTV SATELLITE TV Service starting at $59.99/mo.! Free install!

160+ channels avail.

Call now to get the most sports & entertainment on TV! 877-310-2472.

(AAN CAN)

Foreclosure: 4BR Village Home on 1.7± Acre Tuesday, January 11 @ 11AM Register & Inspect from 10AM

64 Sand Hill Road, Bethel, VT

HONDA VAN LEATHER SEATS Excellent condition, 2 captains & small jump seat (8th seat). Gray, from 2011 Odyssey. $250. Photos avail.

Plattsburgh, N.Y. Call/ text, 518-563-5338.

HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET Finally, no hard data limits! Call today for speeds up to 25mbps as THCAuction.com low as $59.99/mo.! $75 gift card, terms apply.

1-844-416-7147. (AAN CAN) 8v-hirchakbrothers122221 1

 800-634-SOLD

Say you saw it in...

LEGALS »

12/17/21 9:32 AM

sevendaysvt.com

Homeshares mini-sawit-white.indd 1

11/24/09 1:32:18 PM

MONTPELIER

Share lovely home near downtown w/ active, senior gentleman looking for help w/ meals and household chores. Furnished BR, shared BA. $400/mo. all inc.

CHARLOTTE Senior interested in literature & classical music, seeking a housemate to cook a few meals/week, share companionship & help w/ snow removal. $300/mo. Private BA. Must be cat-friendly!

MILTON Seeking eco-friendly housemate to share rustic, rural home w/ nature photographer in her 70s. $450/mo. plus lawn & snow help. Shared BA.

Finding you just the right housemate for over 35 years!

Call 863-5625 or visit HomeShareVermont.org for an application. Interview, refs, bg check req. EHO

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SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

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BY JOSH REYNOLDS

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Open 24/7/365.

Post & browse ads at your convenience.

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SUDOKU

There’s no limit to ad length online.

Hosting virtual or in-person classes?

Spread the word in the Seven Days Classifieds.

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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

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

crossword

Extra! Extra!

ANSWERS ON P.74 H = MODERATE HH = CHALLENGING HHH = HOO, BOY!

CONTACT KATIE FOR A QUOTE AT 865-1020 x110 katie@sevendaysvt.com

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BROODING SEASON ANSWERS ON P.74

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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Monday, January 10, 2022 at 7:00 PM The Burlington City Council will hold a public hearing to consider approval of a ballot item on Town Meeting Day (March 1, 2022) for a bond vote for the Downtown Tax Financing District (TIF) Great Streets Project, to be serviced by tax increment financing. At this hearing, information,

COLCHESTER, VT. 05446 802-497-0404 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE SELF STORAGE UNITS LISTED BELOW WILL BE DISPOSED OF ON DECEMBER 30TH 2021 DUE TO NONPAYMENT. WE WILL NOT BE HOLDING A PUBLIC AUCTION DUE TO COVID. NAME OF OCCUPANT - SIZE SKLAR EDWARDS 10 X 10 JONATHAN WHALLEY 10 X 10 THOMAS GORDAN 5 X 10 RACHEL WELLS 5 X 10 WILLIAM TRASK 10 X 15 NICOLE BONNER 5 X 10 RICHARD LAMBDIN 10X10

NOTICE OF SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE LYMAN STORAGE 10438 Route 116

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CITY OF BURLINGTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Burlington City Council

295 RATHE RD

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Dated at Essex Junction, Vermont this 20th day of December, 2021. /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-879-5662 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN DISPOSAL OF UNPAID UNITS EXIT 16 SELF STORAGE

5

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Parties entitled to participate are the Municipality, the Municipal Planning Commission, the Regional Planning Commission, affected state agencies, and adjoining property owners and other persons to the extent that they have a particularized interest that may be affected by the proposed project under the Act 250 criteria. Non-party participants may also be allowed under 10 V.S.A. Section 6085(c)(5).

The public hearing will take place on Monday, January 10, 2022 during the Regular City Council Meeting which begins at 7:00 pm in Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, VT.

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No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 13, 2022, a person notifies the Commission of an issue or issues requiring the presentation of evidence at 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 to the address below, must state the criteria or sub-criteria 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. Prior to submitting a request for a hearing, please contact the district coordinator at the telephone number listed below for more information. Prior to convening a hearing, the Commission must determine that substantive issues requiring a hearing have been raised.

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

If you have a disability for which you need accommodation in order to participate in this process (including participating in a public hearing, if one is held), please notify us as soon as possible, in order to allow us as much time as possible to accommodate your needs.

as available, will be provided to voters on, the cumulative amount of TIF district debt incurred to date, estimated amount and type(s) of financing, related costs, whether interfund loans and/or interim financing will be used, the improvements to be financed, and any anticipated development or redevelopment outcomes expected.

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The District 4 Environmental Commission is reviewing this application under Act 250 Rule 51—Minor Applications. A copy of the application and proposed permit are available for review at the office listed below. The application and a draft permit may also be viewed on the Natural Resources Board’s web site (http://nrb.vermont. gov) by clicking on “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0331-14G.”

If you feel that any of the District Commission members listed on the attached Certificate of Service under “For Your Information” may have a conflict of interest, or if there is any other reason a member should be disqualified from sitting on this case, please contact the District Coordinator as soon as possible, and by no later than January 13, 2022.

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ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION #4C033114G 10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6093 On December 16, 2021, City of Burlington, Burlington International Airport, 1200 Airport Drive #1, South Burlington, VT 05403 filed application number 4C0331-14G for a project generally described as incorporation of an Air Pollution Control Permit for a temporary, portable crushing plant rated greater than 150 tons per hour in accordance with Condition #15 of LUP #4C0331-14F. The project is located at 1200 Airport Drive in South Burlington, Vermont.

Hinesburg VT 05461 802-482-2379 Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid at the Lyman Storage facility.

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 Lyman Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), attorney’s fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale. Any proceeds beyond the foregoing shall be returned to the unit holder.

Contents of each unit may be viewed on Saturday 01/08/2022, commencing at 10:00 a.m. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self-storage unit. Bids will be opened one-quarter of an hour after the last unit has been viewed on Saturday 01/08/2022. 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 $50.00 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Lyman Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

Unit 006; 011 ~ Christopher N Brown 82 E Allen Street Winooski VT 05404

PRIVATE AUCTION OF STORAGE UNIT CONTENTS Benjamin Kelley, last known address of 1002 Johnnie Brook Road Richmond, VT 05477 has a past due balance of $865.00 owed to Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC since 7/30/21. To cover this debt, per lease dated 7/15/20 the contents of unit #632 will be sold at private auction on, or after December 25, 2021.

Jessica Kunze, last known address of 327 Lime Kiln Rd Apt 7111 South Burlington, VT 05403 has a past due balance of $1,212.00 owed to Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC since 6/30/21. To cover this debt, per lease dated 3/22/21 the contents of unit #949 will be sold at private auction on, or after December 25, 2021.

Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register.

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Legal Notices

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 110.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) CONSTRUCTION MANAGER John Graham Housing & Services (JGHS) requests firms to submit proposals for construction management services related to the rehabilitation of properties owned by JGHS, anticipated to be developed concurrently as two projects: 1) JGHS RENTAL PROPERTIES, Addison County Supportive Housing. The project consists of several buildings it owns, with the potential of an additional property to be identified. Current properties are located at 74/76 Green Street, Vergennes (6 apartments); 3/5 East Street, Vergennes: (3 apartments); 24 Mountain Street, Bristol: (3 apartments); and 42 N Pleasant Street, Middlebury: (4 apartments). There is the possibility of the addition of another property, to-be-determined.

2) JGHS SHELTER, Addison County Emergency Shelter: The location of the property is 69 Main Street, Vergennes (9 units).

This proposal requests services to assist in determining overall project feasibility and securing funding through reviewing and refining scope with the design team and owner, and providing cost estimates. Qualified applicants will have comparable experience including historic preservation projects, knowledge of affordable housing, and experience working on publicly funded projects. JGHS’s intent is to review construction management proposals and negotiate a contract with the selected firm for pre-development work with the intent and option to contract with the

selected construction manager for construction of the project, subject to feasibility and final HUD Environmental Clearance.

To obtain a RFP and specific project information, contact Susan Whitmore, Executive Director, JGHS, at susan@johngrahamshelter.org (802) 257-6771.

Complete proposals must be submitted electronically and received by 3:00 PM, Thursday January 6, 2022. A mandatory site visit will be required, as detailed in the RFP. Minority-owned, womenowned, Section 3 businesses, and locally owned businesses are strongly encouraged to respond and should identify and document themselves as such. JGHS is an equal opportunity employer.

SEVEN DAYS NOTICE OF LEGAL SALE View Date 01/06/2022 Sale Date 01/07/2022 Jeremy Bushey Unit # D156 Easy Self Storage 46 SWIFT SOUTH BURLINGTON VT 05403 (802) 863-8300 STATE OF VERMONT CHITTENDEN COUNTY Vermont Superior Court Family Division Docket No. 506-12-19 Cnjv IN RE: E.P. ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING TO: Unknown Father of E.P. aka B.B.P. born to Melody Phillips on December 7, 2019, you are hereby notified that the State of Vermont has filed a petition to terminate your residual parental rights to E.P. aka B.B.P. and that the hearing to consider the termination of your residual parental rights will be held on January 14, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. at the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Family Division, at 32 Cherry Street, Burlington, Vermont.

You may appear remotely by contacting the clerk’s office at 802 651 1709. You are notified to appear in connection with this case. Failure to appear at this hearing may result in the termination of all your parental rights to E.P. aka B.B.P. The State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC 2 North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2080.

A copy of this order shall be mailed to Unknown Father if an address for him is known.

Kirstin K. Schoonover Superior Court Judge 11/30/2021 Date

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-04210 & 0104106 LOCATED AT 28 ADAMS DR, WILLISTON VT, 05495 WILL BE SOLD ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 30TH 2021 TO SATISFY THE DEBT OF ERYN SHEEHAN. Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA/PUBLIC HEARING JANUARY 13, 20226:30 P.M. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE ROOM, 81 MAIN ST., ESSEX JCT., VT Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: - Microsoft Teams: https://www.essexvt.org/869/ Join-Teams-Meeting-Essex-PC - Conference call: (802) 377-3784 | Conference ID: 590 879 654 # - Public wifi: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/ content/public-wifi-hotspots-vermont 1. Public Comments 2. Consent Agenda: - SITE PLAN AMENDMENT: Pidgeon Brothers, d/b/a Rail Park, LLC: Proposal to bring 287 River Rd into compliance for the continued operation of a contractor’s yard located in the I1 Zone. Tax Map 4, Parcel 7.

- BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT: Brad & Renee LaFountain: Proposal to convey 2.94 acres to 109

Brigham Hill Rd from 113 Brigham Hill Rd located in AR Zone. Tax Map 14, Parcels 15-602 & 18.

3. PRELIMINARY/FINAL & BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT: Towers Trust & Sally Fleury A Revocable Living Trust: Proposal for a 6-lot subdivision located at 108 Center Rd & 18 Towers Rd in the CTR & B-DC Overlay. Tax Map 58, Parcels 1 & 1-3.

Support Groups CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 X110 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

4. Minutes: December 9, 2021 5. Other Business Visit our website at www.essex.org.

TOWN OF JERICHO – SELECTBOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4444, the Jericho Selectboard will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 7 pm and Thursday January 20, 2022 at 7 pm in the Jericho Town Hall, 67 VT Route 15, Jericho, Vermont and via Zoom, to hear public comment regarding proposed amendments to the Jericho Land Use and Development Regulations.

Please note that masking is required in Town Hall. Join the January 6, 2022 meeting via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82143201415?pwd =NVZibFNVcmZWR3RWN3VxZTRteUhVdz09 or by phone: (646) 558 8656, Meeting ID: 821 4320 1415, passcode: 831668. Join the January 20, 2022 meeting via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83 645208224?pwd=QXVhMHRMZTRkbEQySFZpMVk 4U01Pdz09 or via phone 646 558 8656, Meeting ID: 836 4520 8224, passcode: 296433.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The primary purposes of the proposed amendments are update the land use regulations revise the regulations related to Planned Unit Developments, affordable housing and to meet the requirements of state planning laws (24 VSA, Chapter 117).

LIST OF SECTION HEADINGS: The amendments include changes to Section 2: Definitions, specifically to amend the definition of Accessory Apartment, Dormitory/Hostel, Dwelling, Dwelling Unit, Family/Household Unit, Hotel, Inn, Low Impact Development, Motel, Residential Care Facility, Rooming House, Senior Apartment Complex, Senior Housing Development and Senior Housing Unit, and changes of Family to Household in this section and throughout the document; Section 3: specifically to include references to PUDs in the purpose of the Low Density Residential, Village, Commercial and Village Center Districts; Section 4: specifically Table of Uses 4.4; and Section 4.7 Specific Use Standards: 4.7.1: Residential Care Facilities and 4.7.3: Accessory Apartments; Section 5: specifically Section 5.6: Density; Table 5.8: Table of Dimensional Requirements for PUDs; Section 7: specifically Section: 7.2.3 Adaptive Reuse; Section 10: specifically Section 10.2: Zoning Permits; Section 10.10: Site Plan Review, Section 10.12: Subdivision Review, and Section 10.13: Planned Unit Development Review; Section 11, specifically Section 11.1: Access– Public/Private Roads and Driveways; Section 11.2: Parking/Loading/Circulation; Section 11.3: Pedestrian Facilities; Section 13: specifically Table 13.4.11, Building and Principal Use; Table 13.4.12 Parking Requirements.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA AFFECTED: These amendments have the potential to affect all geographical areas of the Town.

PLACE WHERE FULL TEXT MAY BE EXAMINED: The complete text of the amended regulations may be found at https://jerichovt.org/2021-zoning-review under Town-Documents and Planning and Zoning Documents. Alternatively, a full-text copy may be examined in the Town Clerk’s office, Jericho Town Hall, 67 VT Route 15, Jericho, Vermont.

PERSON TO CONTACT: Additional information pertaining to these proposed amendments may be obtained by contacting Katherine Sonnick, Planning & Development Coordinator, at the Jericho Town Hall by calling (802) 899-2287 x 103 or emailing ksonnick@jerichovt.gov during regular office hours.

Catherine Mc Mains, Chair Jericho Selectboard

VISIT SEVENDAYSVT. COM TO VIEW A FULL LIST OF SUPPORT GROUPS A CIRCLE OF PARENTS FOR MOTHERS OF COLOR Please join our parent-led online support group designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes!

Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. We will be meeting weekly on Wed., 10-11 a.m. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt. org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/familysupport-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-supportprograms.

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/familysupport-programs.

ADULT SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE LOSS - WILLISTON Adult Survivors of Suicide Loss is meeting on the 3rd Thu. of every mo. via Zoom, 7-8:30 p.m. during this time of physical distancing due to the pandemic.

The support group is for anyone who has been touched by suicide loss recently or long ago, who wants to work through their grief in a safe, respectful environment. Please

contact cofacilitator Joanna Cole at joanna. colevt@gmail.com or 233-3299, or Maria Grindle at mariagrindle@msn. com or 879-9576. Leave a message so we can get back to you w/ a mutually satisfying time to talk. Take care to be well in this extra stressful time.

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 vermont alanonalateen.org or call 866-972-5266.

ALATEEN GROUP Alateen group in Burlington on Sun., 5-6 p.m. at the UU building at the top of Church St. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Daily meetings in various locations. Free.

Info, 864-1212. Want to overcome a drinking problem? Take the 1st step of 12 & join a group in your area.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER 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 date & time. Four options: 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne; 4th Tue. of every mo., 10-11 a.m., at the Residence at Quarry Hill, 465 Quarry Hill Rd., South Burlington; 2nd Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Alzheimer’s Association Main Office, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 130, Williston; 2nd Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at Milton Public Library, 39 Bombardier Rd., Milton. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION TELEPHONE SUPPORT GROUP 2nd Tuesday monthly, 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required (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.

ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS W/ DEBT? Do you spend more than you earn? Get help at Debtor’s Anonymous plus 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 Tom Younkman at tyounkman@vcil.

org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list.

Info: 800-639-1522, 802-888-2180.

BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT Montpelier daytime support group meets on the 3rd Thu. of every mo. at the Unitarian Church ramp entrance, 1:30-2:30 p.m. St. Johnsbury support group meets on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., at the Grace United Methodist Church, 36 Central St., 1:00-2:30 p.m. Colchester evening support group meets on the 1st Wed. of every mo., at the Fanny Allen Hospital in the Board Room Conference Room, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

White River Jct. meets on the 2nd Fri. of every mo., at Bugbee Sr. Ctr. from 3-4:30 p.m. Call our helpline at 877-856-1772.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group will be held every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:45 p.m. via conference call. Newly diagnosed? Prostate cancer reoccurrence?

General discussion & sharing among survivors & those beginning or rejoining the battle. Info, Mary L. Guyette RN, MS, ACNS-BC, 274-4990, vmary@aol.com.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Overcome any hurt, habit or hangup in your life w/ this confidential 12-Step, Christ-centered recovery program. We offer multiple support groups for both men & women, such as chemical dependency, codependency, sexual addiction & pornography, food issues, & overcoming abuse.

All 18+ are welcome; sorry, no childcare.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; we begin at 7 p.m. Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Junction.

Info: recovery@essex alliance.org, 878-8213.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery meetings are for anyone struggling w/ hurt, habits & hangups, which include everyone in some way. We welcome everyone at Cornerstone Church in Milton, which meets every Fri. at 7-9 p.m. We’d love to have you join

SUPPORT GROUPS » SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

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Support Groups [CONTINUED] us & discover how your life can start to change.

Info: 893-0530, Julie@ mccartycreations.com.

CENTRAL VERMONT CELIAC SUPPORT GROUP Last Thu. of every mo., 7:30 p.m. in Montpelier.

Please contact Lisa Mase for location: lisa@ harmonizecookery. 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. 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 So. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. Tom, 238-3587, coda.org.

DECLUTTERERS SUPPORT GROUP Are you ready to make improvements but find it overwhelming?

Maybe 2 or 3 of us can get together to help each other simplify.

989-3234, 425-3612.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF CHOICE! SMART Recovery welcomes anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. It is a science-based program that encourages abstinence. Specially trained volunteer facilitators provide leadership. Sun. at 5 p.m. The meeting has moved to Zoom: smartrecovery.zoom. us/j/92925275515.

Volunteer facilitator: Bert, 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

We hope to return to face-to-face meetings this summer.

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DIVORCE CARE SUPPORT GROUP Divorce is a tough road.

Feelings of separation, betrayal, confusion, anger & self-doubt are common. But there is life after divorce. Led by people who have already walked down that road, we’d like to share w/ you a safe place & a process that can help make the journey easier. This free 13-wk. group for men & women will be offered on Sun., 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sep. 8 through Dec. 1, at the North Avenue Alliance Church, 901 North Ave., Burlington, VT. Register for class at essexalliance. churchcenter.com. For more info, call Sandy 802-425-7053.

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.

EMPLOYMENTSEEKERS SUPPORT GROUP Frustrated w/ the job search or w/ your job?

You are not alone.

Come check out this supportive circle. Wed. at 3 p.m., Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Abby Levinsohn, 777-8602.

FAMILIES COPING W/ ADDICTIONS (FCA) GROUP (ADDICTION SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES) 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 welcoming & stigma-free forum for those living this experience, in which to develop personal

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

coping skills & to draw strength & insight from one another. Group meets weekly on Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., on Zoom. Check Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt. org) for Zoom link, listed under “Family Support” (click on “What We Offer” dropdown).

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 Junction. For further info, please visit thefamilyrestored. org or contact Lindsay Duford at 781-960-3965 or 12lindsaymarie@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, undereating or bulimia. Local meetings are held twice a wk.: 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 mkeasler3@ gmail.com or call 310-3301 (message says Optimum Health, but this is a private number).

GRIEF & LOSS FOCUS GROUP FOR MEN Fri., 10-11:30 a.m.

Continues through Mar. 27. 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 program coordinator will facilitate this weekly, 8-wk. group through discussion & activities.

Everyone from the community is welcome; however, space is limited. To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Kathryn Gilmond at kgilmond@bayada.com or 802-448-1610. Start date to be determined, based on registration. bayada.com.

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.

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 anytime. 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 North Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-777-8602, abby@ pathwaysvermont.org.

HELLENBACH CANCER SUPPORT Call to verify meeting place. Info, 388-6107.

People living w/ cancer & their caretakers convene for support.

HELP & HEALING FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING Wed., 5:30-7 p.m.

Walking W/ Grief: 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.

To register, please contact bereavement program coordinator Kathryn Gilmond at kgilmond@bayada. com or 802-448-1610.

Bayada Hospice, 354 Mountain View Dr., Ste 305, Colchester.

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.

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.

KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP A support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Led by a trained representative & facilitator. Meets on the 2nd Tue. of every mo., 6:30-7:45 p.m. (Jan. 14, Feb. 11, Mar. 10, Apr. 14), at Milton Public Library.

Free. For more info, call 802-893-4644 or email library@miltonvt.gov.

Facebook.com/events/ 561452568022928 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 GROUP This veterans group is a safe place for veterans to gather & discuss ways to help the community, have dinners, send packages & help the families of LGBTQ service people.

Ideas on being helpful encouraged. Every 2nd & 4th Wed., 6-8:30 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church (the little red door), 64 State St., Montpelier. RSVP, 802-825-2045.

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., 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Gifford’s Chun Chapel beginning on Aug. 6. 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 So. Winooski, Suite 301, Burlington. 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 meetings. 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.

Family Support Group meetings are for family & friends of individuals living w/ mental illness.

NARCONON SUNCOAST DRUG & ALCOHOL REHABILITATION & EDUCATION Narconon reminds families that overdoses due to an elephant tranquilizer known as Carfentanil has been on the rise in nearly every community nationwide. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid painkiller 100x more powerful than fentanyl & 1,000x stronger than heroin. A tiny grain of it is enough to be fatal. Click here to learn more about carfentanil abuse & how to help your loved one. You can also visit narconon-suncoast. org/drug-abuse/ parents-get-help.html

for more info. 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 w/ out the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Info, 862-4516 or cvana.org. Held in Burlington, Barre & St. Johnsbury.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 So. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, in 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 w/in Thatcher Brook Primary School, 47 Stowe St., childrensroomonline. org. Contact childrens room@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.

OPEN EARS, OPEN MINDS A mutual support circle that focuses on connection & self-exploration. Fri. at 1 p.m., Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Abby Levinsohn, 777-8602.

ai16384792069_1T-GiftGuide120821.pdf

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12/2/21

4:06 PM

Making a Holiday Shopping List?

CHECK IT TWICE — FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO GIFT LOCAL! We need to support and sustain our local economy, our friends and neighbors. Gifting local keeps folks here in business and also helps grow our Vermont economy. So many small businesses have been impacted by Covid-19, I feel that there has never been a better time to buy as local as you can whenever possible!

Kat Patterson

For every dollar you spend at a local business

67¢

stays in the local community.

When you gift local, you are supporting your community in more ways than one, and you are purchasing gifts that are thoughtful, unique and well made.

Erin Bombard

(SoUrCe: BuSiNeSsWiRe)

Shop smart and shop small — your choices will impact us all.

Vermont merchants have faced many challenges this year and need your support — especially this holiday season. Visit shoptheregister.com for all the info on shopkeepers who are selling their products online for local delivery or curbside pickup. Browse by categories ranging from jewelry to electronics, outdoor gear to apparel. Remember, when you buy a gift locally, the recipient isn’t the only one who benefits.

The entire community does!

Check out our...

The

holiday shopping

handbook

Holiday Gift Guide

for a curated roundup of local gift ideas for your friends and family. sevendaysvt.com/gift-guide-2021

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021 t & Entertainmen & Drink • Arts ssories • Food ty & Body Wearables & Acce e • Kids • Beau eation • Hom Humans • Pets & Their Outdoors & Recr ning & Reading Liste • ses Clas Experiences &

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78 DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM Cleaning Crew

NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER! Rhino Foods is hiring! Whether you are entry-level OR experienced, our Production, Sanitation & Distribution teams are growing. Training provided, plus lots of benefits and perks with a first-class company.

(P/T positions)

PROGRAM SPECIALIST VWW seeks a Program Specialist to create content and deliver trainings, coordinate speakers, and research data to enhance program initiatives.

STARTING HOURLY RATE OF $20/hour.

Join our team and help us keep our brewery and taproom looking their best. Evening and weekend shifts. Experience preferred.

Please visit our website: rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers

Apply here: lawsonsfinest.com/about-us/careers

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12/3/21 5:17 PM

NORTHEASTERN VERMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL has exciting opportunities!

Full job description and how to apply, visit vtworksforwomen. org/about/employment.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WORKER

If reasonable accommodation is needed to apply, contact us at info@vtworksforwomen.org or 802-655-8900 x100.

Now offering sign on bonuses up to $5,000!

Join The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington as an Environmental Service Worker. The EVS Worker is responsible for the cleaning of all areas of the facility with the exception of the OR. Qualifications: • High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

• Prior health care or hospitality industry cleaning experience is highly desirable.

For full description go to bit.ly/3rGOOwQ Send resumes to: haleychurchill@ fiddleheadbrewing.com

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APPLY TODAY AT NVRH.ORG/CAREERS.

Learn more and apply: bit.ly/2Xy5r0u.

The Brewery Assistant - is a Utility Player who will work throughout the brewery assisting with all processes associated with production and packaging while adhering to SOPs and safety guidelines to achieve the best possible consistency in Fiddlehead beers.

Benefits: • Fun Team • Competitive Pay • Health Insurance w/ Vision and Dental after 90 days of employment • PTO, 401K

FT and PT employees are eligible for excellent benefits including student loan repayment, generous paid time off, health/dental/vision, 401k with company match and much more!

Employees at UVM Medical Center receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental, retirement and paid time off. E.O.E.

Brewery Assistant

NVRH is looking for dedicated and compassionate RNs, LPNs and LNAs to join our team and provide high quality care to the communities we serve. NVRH provides a fair and compassionate workplace where all persons are valued by the organization and each other, providing ongoing growth opportunities.

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ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR Evenings

The EVS Supervisor coordinates all routine and project assignments and activities for EVS, maintains all schedules, training, evaluations and performance improvement plans.

Eligible for a sign on bonus up to $5,000.

Qualifications: • Associate’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience in a Health Care environment. Employees at UVM Medical Center receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental, retirement and paid time off.

12/6/21 2:37 PM

Learn more and apply: bit.ly/3b6DzUZ E.O.E.

RADIOLOGY TECH Per Diem The Radiology Tech operates a variety of x-ray equipment to perform routine radiographs and fluoroscopic procedures according to established practices under the direction of a radiologist, supervisor, and lead technologists.

Learn more and apply:

https://bit.ly/3sqc9mG

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12/20/21 5:09 PM

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ASSISTANT PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Do you like solving puzzles? Do all kinds of people find you easy to talk to? Queen City P.I is hiring an assistant private investigator for our busy PI practice in Burlington.

Hours are flexible, but you must have 2 full days per week available for fieldwork. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented critical thinker, has excellent writing skills, and has experience working with criminal defense attorneys.

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JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

WE JUST RAISED SALARIES AT CCS. SIGNIFICANTLY. And that’s on top of being a “Best Place to Work in Vermont” for three years running.

Opportunities for Direct Support Professionals ($18 per hour) and Service Coordination ($45k) at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities.

Make a career making a difference. Check current openings at ccs-vt.org/current-openings.

Join us! Visit ccs-vt.org to apply today.

You must be willing and able ccs-vt.org to travel and knock on doors throughout the state of Vermont to interview witnesses and serve subpoenas. This is not a job for the4t-ChamplainCommServicesRAISED121521.indd faint of heart, and it's not a job for someone who wants to "get the bad guys." It's a job for someone with natural curiosity who finds joy in the unexpected.

Email queencitypi@gmail.com with a resumé and cover letter if you think you are a good fit.

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

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79 DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

Real Estate DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR Evernorth is growing and hiring! Evernorth is a nonprofit organization that serves the low- and moderate-income people of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont by creating affordable housing and making community investments. We are a group of more than 45 professionals working to serve communities across Northern New England. Our staff has deep knowledge of local markets, close relationships with regional organizations, and a shared passion for affordable housing, diversity and social justice.

The Real Estate Development Coordinator is a member of the real estate development team. This individual coordinates activities E.O.E. between Evernorth and our partners to purchase, close and maintain real estate transaction records. The role encompasses broad activities 12/13/21 3:26 PMrelated to due diligence, paralegal support, research, insurance, proof reading, and many other related activities. This position requires working in a team and individually. We are looking for someone with a bachelor’s degree in a related field, paralegal skills, 3-5 years of related experience, excellent communication skills and a highly proficient user of Microsoft Office 365.

SHARED LIVING PROVIDER

Provide an accessible home for an easy-going 38-year-old gentleman who enjoys being part of a dynamic household. This individual has a comprehensive team, strong family support, along with respite and weekday supports.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to HR@evernorthus.org.

Evernorth is an equal opportunity employer.

12/20/21 5:22 PM The ideal provider will have strong interpersonal communication and 4t-evernorth1222AND122921.indd 1

12/19/21 5:38 PM

personal care skills as all aspects of ADL’s will be provided. This position includes a comprehensive training package, tax-free stipend and a handicap accessible van for transportation.

CASH MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

Contact Jennifer Wolcott at jwolcott@ccs-vt.org or 802-655-0511 x 118 for more information Join us! Visit ccs-vt.org to apply today.

IS CURRENTLY SEEKING

MULTICULTURAL YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER https://bit.ly/3skuvpn

MULTICULTURAL YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR https://bit.ly/3E3onDZ

SUPPORTED HOUSING YOUTH COACH https://bit.ly/3DhwI6B 3v-Spectrum122221AND122921.indd 1

ccs-vt.org

E.O.E.

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12/7/21

SERVICE COORDINATOR Join our team of professionals providing case management for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. Work with individuals and their team to create goals and maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle.

Compensation package is $45k annually plus mileage and on call stipend; and includes affordable health insurance, paid time off plus 12 paid holidays, retirement match, dental plan and so much more.

In addition, CCS has been voted as one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont for the third year in a row.

Continue your career in human services in a compassionate & fun environment. Join us today & make a career making a difference.

Send resume to Karen Ciechanowicz at staff@ccs-vt.org.

ccs-vt.org

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E.O.E.

We are seeking a Cash Management Accountant to join our Finance Team at Capstone Community Action. The Cash Management Accountant is responsible for managing 1:20 PM accountability and control of company bank accounts, as well as managing the accounts receivable system. This position will work closely with other members of the finance department and administrative staff.

The ideal candidate will have an Associate’s degree in a related field or prior experience in cash management. Strong interpersonal and computer skills a must.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to: Capstone Community Action, Inc. Human Resources, 20 Gable Place, Barre, VT 05641 Or e-mail to: jobs@capstonevt.org Capstone offers a generous benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid vacation, sick and personal time, 13 paid holidays, and 401k match and more.

Capstone Community Action, Inc. is an E.O.E. and Provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

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12/17/21 3:14 PM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

80

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

DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

CASE MANAGER HomeShare Vermont is a 40-year-old non-profit dedicated to promoting intergenerational homesharing to help people age in place while creating affordable housing arrangements for others. We have an opening for a Case Manager in our Montpelier office. The Case Manager will work with both those looking for housing and those considering sharing their homes and provide community outreach & education about homesharing.

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TIRED OF WORKING WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS?

Send your resume to newworlduvm@gmail.com

PROGRAM FEATURES:

➢ Starting wage of $15.78 with potential to earn $16.57 after one year

TRAIN TO BE A PHLEBOTOMIST GUARANTEED JOB IN 8 WEEKS*

➢ Performance-based salary increases

Work for Vermont’s Largest Employer!

➢ National Certification as a Phlebotomy Technician

* Employment guaranteed upon successful completion of the 8-week program.

The ITAR Program (Information Technology Apprenticeship Readiness) is a partnership of:

JOB FEATURES: ➢ Work for Vermont’s largest employer

12/9/21 3:40 PM

10:30-5:45 5:45//////$19.50 $19.50per perhour hour 10:3010:305:45 $19.50 per hour Schedule:Work Workday daybegins beginsatat at10:30 10:30am aminininsupport support Schedule: Schedule: Work day begins 10:30 am support ofbreaks breaksof ofour ourearly earlyed edprogram program(10:30am-1:00pm).

(10:30am-1:00pm). of of breaks of our early ed program (10:30am-1:00pm).

Planningtime time(for (forthe theAfter AfterSchool SchoolProgram) Program)will willbe be Planning Planning time (for the After School Program) will be availablefrom from1:00 1:00pm-2:30 pm-2:30pm. pm. available available from 1:00 pm-2:30 pm.

JobDuties: Duties:Direct Directdaily dailyAfter AfterSchool SchoolProgram Programfrom from2:30 2:30pm-5:30 pm-5:30pm pmand andhire hire Job Job Duties: Direct daily After School Program from 2:30 pm-5:30 pm and hire supportstaff, staff,set setdaily dailyactivities, activities,and andmaintain maintainaaahealthy healthyand andactive activeprogram. program. support support staff, set daily activities, and maintain healthy and active program.

Alsodirect directthe theAfter AfterSchool SchoolProgram Programduring duringthe thesummer summer(5(5 (5days daysaaaweek). week).

Also Also direct the After School Program during the summer days week).

AFTERSCHOOL SCHOOLCHILDCARE CHILDCAREPROVIDER PROVIDER AFTER AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE PROVIDER

1:30---5:30 5:30//////$15.00 $15.00per perhour hour 1:30 1:30 5:30 $15.00 per hour Responsibilities:Supervise Supervisefree freeplay playon onthe theplayground playgroundand andinininthe theschool school Responsibilities: Responsibilities: Supervise free play on the playground and the school building,implement implementactivities, activities,provide providehomework homeworksupport supportfor forgrades grades2nd-5th, 2nd-5th, building, building, implement activities, provide homework support for grades 2nd-5th, andcommunicate communicatewith withparents parentsas asneeded neededand andwith withthe theprogram programdirector directordaily. daily. and and communicate with parents as needed and with the program director daily.

Requiredhours: hours:1:30 1:30pm-5:30 pm-5:30pm, pm,and andopenings openingsare areavailable availableon onMondays, Mondays, Required Required hours: 1:30 pm-5:30 pm, and openings are available on Mondays, Tuesdays,Wednesdays, Wednesdays,Thursdays Thursdaysand andFridays.

Fridays.Candidates Candidatesmay mayapply applyfor forthe the Tuesdays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Candidates may apply for the numberof ofdays daysthat thatbest bestsuit suittheir theirschedule. schedule. number number of days that best suit their schedule.

Visit charlottenewsvt.org for the job description.

To apply, email your resumé, along with three writing samples, to John Quinney, john@thecharlottenews.org.

Deadline is Dec. 31.

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

3-CharlotteNews122221ONLY.indd 1

12/21/21 10:02 AM

Sendresumes resumesto: to:chill@sfxvt.org chill@sfxvt.org Send Send resumes to: chill@sfxvt.org

➢ Direct patient care ➢ Team environment

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➢ Rewarding work ➢ High-growth occupation ➢ Day shifts available

LEARN MORE APPLY ONLINE

iaahitec.org DEADLINE FOR WINTER 2022 SESSION: SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 2022

The ITAR Program is funded in part by a grant from the Vermont and U.S. Departments of Labor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, political affiliation or belief.

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• Planning each issue of the paper.

• Assigning stories to freelance writers.

• Ensuring coverage of key town meetings.

• Editing submitted stories.

• Producing at least two bylined stories for each paper and newsletter.

Send cover letter and resume via email ONLY to Joyce@homesharevermont.org. EOE.

AFTERSCHOOL SCHOOLDIRECTOR DIRECTOR AFTER AFTER SCHOOL DIRECTOR

➢ Guaranteed employment *

3Enrollment in a Registered Apprenticeship 3Up to 12 full-time positions available 3Guaranteed starting wages with shift differential (where applicable) 3Performance-based increases 3Full benefits, including health, dental, paid vacation, 401k, and more 3No cost for qualified VT residents

preferred candidate must have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, minimum 3-5 years experience working in housing or human services. Job includes travel throughout the Washington, Orange and Lamoille counties so must have reliable vehicle and VT driver’s license.

COVID vaccinations required. Position is 40 hours/week with benefits.

1 12/20/21 4t-HomeShareVT121521.indd 11:10 AM

➢ Dedicated student support

Over the past twenty years, Vermont HITEC educated and employed over 1,600 individuals in the healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and business services fields. We are accepting applications for our latest healthcare program. The program offers eight weeks of Phlebotomy training at no cost and immediate employment and apprenticeship as a Phlebotomist with The UVM Medical Center (up to 12 positions) upon successful completion.

The Charlotte News is a bi-weekly, nonprofit community newspaper.

We publish rigorous, in-depth, fair reporting on town affairs, as well as stories of interest from our neighbors and friends. The editor’s responsibilities include:

12/17/21 3:39 PM The

New World Tortilla at UVM is looking for a new shift supervisor. The position offered is Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm. We are closed major holidays and offer paid time off. Competitive wage based on experience.

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Editor

12/9/21 4:20 4:20PM PM 12/9/21 12/9/21 4:20 PM

SAME DAY DELIVERIES (802) 862-7662

MEDICAL COURIERS AND DELIVERY DRIVERS Currently, we are seeking drivers to join our growing team. We are hiring for several full time and part time positions, as well as different shifts.

Feel free to stop in to our office at 54 Echo Place, Suite# 1, Williston, VT 05495 and fill out an application.

Find 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers.

Or fill out an application via our website at shipvds.com or email Tim a copy of your resume at timothy@shipvds.com.

Follow @SevenDaysJobs on Twitter

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jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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8/26/21 4:56 PM

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

81 DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

Estate Planning and Probate Administration Paralegal Prominent mid-size law firm in downtown Burlington, Vermont seeks paralegal for our estate planning and probate administration practice. The successful candidate will have a strong work ethic; excellent writing and communication skills; fluency in Microsoft Office programs and adaptability to technology generally; good time management skills; and the flexibility to work with multiple attorneys. Qualified candidates must have prior estate planning and probate administration experience, including drafting estate planning documents, deeds and property transfer returns, probate court filings and other trust administration duties.

We care most about excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills and initiative. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance and other benefits.

For more information about Gravel & Shea, please visit gravelshea.com.

A qualified candidate should promptly submit a cover letter, résumé and at least one writing sample to: Flossie Miller, Office Administrator, Gravel & Shea PC P.O. Box 369, Burlington, VT 05402-0369 fmiller@gravelshea.com

<job title title here> <job here> Manager - Shared Living Program

38 and maintain a therapeutic andand stable permanent residential housing 38words. words.Establish Establish and maintain a therapeutic stable permanent residential housing The Shared Living Program is mental amental residential program that use supports individuals developmental environment for adults with health/substance challenges.

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The The 50words. words.Support Supportindividual individualand andsmall small group instruction at the Baird School.

• SupportInterventionist clinical teams will to select appropriate SLP based onwhen client needs Teaching also forplacements class coverage when the Classroom Interventionist will alsobe beresponsible responsible for class coverage the Classroom Teachers are The Baird School provides an alternative educational environment for for • Lead provider recruitment and onboarding processes (training, home inspections, contracting) Teachers areabsent. absent.

The Baird School provides an alternative educational environment children ages 5-14 (grades K-8).

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• Ensure prompt and accurate payments to contracted shared living providers • Pursue excellence through continuous improvement and quality management

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• 47 Provide supervision & professional development support to administrative teamabout members words.

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embracing each while supporting their academic eachstudent’s student’sindividuality individualityand andstrengths, strengths, while supporting their academic Qualifications: This position requires 3-5supportive years ofenvironment. human services experience Bachelor’s success inina afriendly, therapeutic, and supportive Poriandam, sedand mil success friendly, therapeutic, and environment.

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Full-time, Part-time, SubstitutePositions PositionsAvailable Available ••Flexible Schedules • Competitive Full-time, Part-time, andand Substitute Flexible Schedules • Competitive Compensation • Great Benefits,including including36 36 days Work Culture Compensation • Great Benefits, days of ofpaid paidtime timeoff off• Inclusive • Inclusive Work Culture

howardcenter.org•• 802-488-6946 howardcenter.org 802-488-6946 HowardCenter Centerisisproud proudtotobe bean an Equal Equal Opportunity Employer. The agency’s culture and Howard Opportunity Employer. and service servicedelivery deliveryisisstrengthened strengthened thediversity diversityofofits itsworkforce. workforce.Minorities, Minorities, people people of of color and persons bybythe personswith withdisabilities disabilitiesare areencouraged encouragedtotoapply. apply.

EOE/TTY.Visit Visit“About “About Us” Us” on our website EOE/TTY. website at atwww.howardcenter.org www.howardcenter.org to to review review Howard Howard Center’s Center’sEOE EOEpolicy. policy.

Gravel & Shea is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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12/21/21 10:15 AM

Now Hiring Culinary Leaders for Two New Slopeside Restaurants

5v-GravelShea121521.indd 1

12/13/21 5:07 PM

Chef de Cuisine | Banquet Chef | Assistant Pastry Chef ($5,000 signing bonus)

($5,000 signing bonus)

($3,000 signing bonus)

Spruce Peak, Vermont’s premier slopeside community at the base of Mount Mansfield, is excited to announce the completion of our $6 million restaurant renovation with the opening of two new outlets: Tipsy Trout and Alpine Hall.

We are actively interviewing culinary leaders to join our team at this pivotal time in our development! Whether you want to settle down at a premier property that will keep you engaged, or aim to build a career with Hyatt Hotels to span the globe, we have an opportunity for you.

Spruce Peak partners with regional and local farms, brewers, and producers to curate the best of Vermont and New England, including world-class events, festivals, and more year round.

Play as hard as you work: benefits include free Stowe Ski passes, discounted golf, and free hotel stays at Hyatt hotels worldwide, in addition to competitive pay, health & dental insurance, and 401k.

Professional culinarians at every level of their career are encouraged to apply now at SprucePeak.com/Careers Proud diversity advocates and EOE 10h-Lodge@SprucePeak1222AND122921 1

AT SPRUCE PEAK

12/20/21 4:29 PM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

82

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

DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

Estate Planning Litigation Parlegal

Hinesburg Community Police Department

Gravel & Shea PC, a law firm in downtown Burlington, Vermont is looking for a legal assistant for our estate planning and trust administration practice group. The ideal candidate will have experience working as a legal assistant, extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, and experience with editing and formatting estate and trust documents, experience with Juris software a plus. In addition, this position requires a strong work ethic, eagerness to learn and acquire new skills, and excellent typing skills. Communication skills are a must, as Gravel & Shea legal assistants work as a team with paralegals, lawyers and other legal assistants. Minimum qualifications include an Associate’s degree or a minimum of three years of experience as a legal assistant.

The Hinesburg Community Police Department is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Police Officer position. This community-based department focuses on law enforcement and quality of life issues for its residents.

Police Officer – Full-time

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package including health insurance, 401(k) and Profit Sharing.

E-mail cover letter, résumé & references to: fmiller@gravelshea.com www.gravelshea.com E.O.E.

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Please submit a resume and letter of interest to Chief Anthony Cambridge at the Hinesburg Community Police Department, PO Box 1, Hinesburg, Vermont 05461.

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Or send via email to Anthony.cambridge@vermont.gov.

Resumes will be reviewed as received. The position is open until filled.

WHERE YOU AND 1/14/20 YOUR WORK MATTER...

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DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR ARTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE

12:30 PM

B U I L D I N G S E N G I N E E R I I – ( M U LT I P L E ) - M O N T P E L I E R

Would you like to make a valuable contribution supporting statewide design and construction? We are currently accepting applications from all architectural and engineering candidates. Candidates should have experience associated with capital improvement and maintenance projects. In addition to project management, this position will also assist the Design and Construction Program Chief with managing technical reviews, vendor evaluations, design guidelines, standard specifications, and procedures. For more information, contact Jeremy Stephens at jeremy.stephens@ vermont.gov. Department: Buildings and General Services. Status: Full Time. Location: Montpelier. Job Id #19529. Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.

Vermont College of Fine Arts welcomes applications for the Director of the Center for Arts + Social Justice. The Director of the Center for Arts + Social Justice is a leadership and management position reporting to the VP for Institutional Advancement.

DDS IT SPECIALIS T IV – WATERBURY

An exciting and rare opportunity for an IT professional to join our team! The Vermont Disability Determination Services is seeking an individual to serve as technical expert in all aspects of DDS IT systems administration, case processing systems, LAN administration, mainframe operations and network infrastructure.

Microsoft Server 2016, Microsoft Windows 10, Active Directory, MS Exchange, laptop and server hardware and imaging, file security, SQL and basic concepts of VOIP technology preferred. For more information, contact Jack McCormack at jack. mccormack@ssa.gov. Department: Children’s and Families. Location Waterbury. Status: Full Time. Job Id #21265. Application Deadline: January 10, 2021.

The Director will guide VCFA’s newly launched Center for Arts + Social Justice into its next phase of growth, fulfilling and expanding its vision for building an ecosystem of artists and storytellers working to change the dominant narrative and inspire new realities.

Responsibilities include: In this leadership role, the Director will work collaboratively with all departments of the college and program constituencies and manage all functions of the Center for Arts + Social Justice, including creating programming, directing communications, and leading outreach and engagement efforts. Additionally, the Director will work with the Office of Institutional Advancement to identify and pursue funding opportunities. This position requires a high level of creativity and vision, administrative and interpersonal skills, as well as a deep belief and understanding of the range of ways the arts have and can influence forward movement in the quest for a more just and equitable world.

PROGRAM TECHNICIAN II – BURLINGTON

The VT Department of Health, Division of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP) is seeking an organized & detail-oriented individual to support financial activities.

ADAP supports a network of community partners to promote & deliver a wide range of substance misuse information, prevention, intervention, treatment & recovery programs, and services. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, accounts payable/accounts receivable, purchasing, financial report development & monitoring. For more information, contact Danielle Lewis at Danielle.Lewis@Vermont. gov. Department: Health. Location: Burlington. Status: Full Time. Job Id #23684.

Application Deadline: December 29, 2021.

Successful candidates will have: a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s degree or equivalent work experience in the arts, higher ed or non-profit sector; minimum 5 years of experience in program development and implementation; demonstrated aptitude for working on multiple projects; exemplary interpersonal and communication skills; high level organizational skills and capacity for attention to detail; ability to think creatively, entrepreneurially, and strategically as part of a collaborative team setting; and knowledge of equity and inclusivity practices. knowledgeable in equity and inclusivity practices.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS COORDIN ATOR - ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS – MONTPELIER

Seeking individual with experience in both English language (EL) instruction and EL program and/or assessment management to be the Agency’s English Language Learner/Title III Director. Position plays a key role on the Consolidated Federal Programs team, managing two federal grant programs related to instruction of EL students, which includes coordinating the EL assessment program. Will assist with Agency and external partners regarding instruction, civil rights requirements, and data reporting. For more information, contact Anne Bordonaro at anne.bordonaro@ vermont.gov. Department: Education. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time. Job Id #26261. Application Deadline: January 9, 2022.

Candidates are encouraged to consult VCFA’s website to acquaint themselves Candidates are encouraged to learning consult VCFA’s website to acquaint themselves with our distinctive institution, processes, educational philosophy and with our distinctive institution, learning processes, educational philosophy Statement of Community Values. Please see the full job description here. Toand apply, Statement of Community Values. Please see the full job description here. To apply, send the following to careers@vcfa.edu: send the following to careers@vcfa.edu: • Cover Letter; CV/Resume; and Statement on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, • Cover Letter; CV/Resume; skills, and Statement on Diversity, Equity, & and Inclusion, outlining your professional accomplishments, experience, willingness outlining your professional skills, accomplishments, experience, and willingness to engage in activities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

B U D G E T & M A N A G E M E N T A N A LY S T – M O N T P E L I E R

The Budget & Management Analyst is the entry level position in the Department of Finance and Management’s Budget and Management Operations Division.

The Budget and Management Division’s major responsibility is to prepare the Governor’s Recommended Budget for each fiscal year. The ideal Analyst candidate combines robust competence in financial and policy analysis with the desire to work collaboratively in a small team setting and the ability to interact professionally and communicate effectively. For more information, contact Hardy Merrill at hardy.merrill@ vermont.gov. Department: Finance & Management. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time: Job Id #25721. Application Deadline: January 2, 2021.

to engage in activities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

For full consideration, submit the application by December 31st. Position will For full consideration, submit an application by December 31, 2021. remain open until filled.

Position will remain open until filled.

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YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE.

Successful candidates will have the ability to deal with the public tactfully under difficult circumstances; to function as part of a team; possess exceptional judgment; have high moral character; be able to successfully pass a background investigation; and possess Vermont Criminal Justice Council Level III Law Enforcement Certification.

Learn more at :

careers.vermont.gov

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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12/17/21 3:32 PM

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LEGAL ASSISTANT Monaghan Safar Ducham PLLC, a downtown Burlington law firm, has an immediate opening for a full-time legal assistant position, in a fastpaced, exciting environment.

Responsibilities include supporting the firm’s litigation attorneys in producing legal filings and correspondence, proofing documents, and general office assistance.

Competitive salary and benefits including health insurance, dental, vision and 401(k).

The ideal candidate has excellent computer, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Interested persons please email a cover letter and resume to mcain@msdvt.com.

Patricia A. Hannaford Regional Technical School District is seeking a Director of School Business Management and Finance to manage and execute the fiscal and business affairs of its school district. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong background in accounting and finance with a solid understanding of a school-based chart of accounts.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, résumé, three letters of reference, and any applicable transcripts and/ or certificates via Schoolspring or mail/email to: Patrice Alexander, Admin Assistant Hannaford Career Center 51 Charles Avenue Middlebury, VT 05753 802-382-1012 palexander@pahcc.org

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

83 DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Red House Building is looking for a full-time Office Administrative Assistant.

Responsibilities will include bookkeeping, data entry, payroll assistance and other general office support. Must be detail oriented. Experience with Quickbooks and within the construction industry is helpful, but not required. This position has flexible hours and assumes 30-40 hours per week. Remote work is possible for a portion of the weekly responsibilities. Red House is an Employee-Owned, Award Winning Company with a supportive team environment and excellent benefits.

Wage dependent upon skill level.

Please send resumes to info@redhousebuilding.com.

Learn more about our work at RedHouseBuilding.com.

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Director of School Business Management and Finance

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

Multiple Positions Open!

Hayward Tyler, a leading manufacturer of industrial pumps and motors in Colchester, is seeking candidates to fill the following positions: STAFF ENGINEER I: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/staff-engineer-i/ DESIGN ENGINEER: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/design-engineer/ SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/senior-design-engineer/ ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ENGINEER: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/electro-mechanical-engineer/ MANUFACTURING ENGINEER: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/manufacturing-engineer/ QUALITY ASSURANCE ENGINEER: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/quality-assurance-engineer/ PROJECT MANAGER: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/project-manager/

General Assembly SESSION-ONLY USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST The Legislative support offices are currently hiring. The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work.

You will be part of a highly professional and collegial team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

IT ERP ADMINISTRATOR: haywardtyler.com/job_listing/it-erp-administrator/ We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. If you meet our requirements and are interested in an exciting opportunity, please forward your resume & salary requirements to: Hayward Tyler, Inc. – Attn: HR Department 480 Roosevelt Highway – PO Box 680, Colchester, VT 05446 Email: Careers@haywardtyler.com Equal Opportunity Employer 10v-HaywardTyler1222ANd122921.indd 1

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

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at

legislature.vermont.gov.

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12/15/21 1:13 PM

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

6/29/21 2:49 PM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

84

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

DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

OPERATIONS MANAGER

REGIONAL MANAGER

Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP | Cureblindness), a VTbased nonprofit, is actively seeking an Operations Manager.

Please visit our website for a complete job description: cureblindness.org/careers.

To apply, please submit resume and cover letter to: jobs@cureblindness.org 2h-HimalayanCataract121521.indd 1

12/9/21 2:56 PM

DENTAL HYGIENIST Middlebury Pediatric Dentistry is looking for a dental hygienist to join our friendly, close-knit team. Help us take care of Vermont kids’ oral health! Full or Part time. Health insurance. Paid vacation.

Please contact us and include your resume,

frontdesk@middleburypediatricdentistry.com

WAREHOUSE PACKAGE HANDLER • Includes a pay enhancement of $2 per hour for all package handlers from 9/19/21-1/08/22 • New Bonus Surge is $1 per hour from 10:00PM - 10:00AM. This location is participating in a Weekend Bonus Program from 10/21/21 to 12/25/21. If a package handler works on a Saturday or Sunday, they will receive a $50 bonus. If they work both days, they will receive a $100 bonus.

This location is participating in an Hours Worked bonus program from 8/15/21 to 1/08/21. If part-time package handlers work 25+ hours within the week, they will earn a $100 bonus. If full-time package handlers work 40+ hours within the week, they will earn a $200 bonus.

This location is participating in a Referral Program from 11/2/21 to 12/18/21.

If a package handler refers someone and they stay with the company for 45 days, they will receive a $500 bonus.

• Fast paced and physical warehouse work – why pay for a gym membership when you can get paid while working out?

• Warehouse duties include loading, unloading, and sorting of packages of various sizes.

• Part time employees work one shift a day; full time employees work two shifts.

• Shift lengths vary based on package volume – generally part time employees work between 3 and 6 hours a day. Full time employees can expect to work between 6 and 10 hours.

• Overtime paid after 40 hours per week.

• Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities.

• Excellent benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, and more.

Are you interested in making Vermont a better place for children and families? Do you believe that the best way to tackle complex social issues is to bring together a diverse group of partners to work toward a common goal? Building Bright Futures (BBF) is seeking a collaborative leader to join our team!

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

Building Bright Futures (BBF) is seeking a Regional Manager to support the Building Bright Futures regional early childhood councils in the Northern Windsor Orange, Springfield Area and Southeast Vermont regions.

The Regional Manager will promote the importance of early childhood (Prenatal through age 8) and connect people and resources. They will serve as the liaison between regional and state teams to communicate regional priorities, gaps and needs experienced by children, families and early childhood partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: • Engage partners and build trusting relationships to collectively build a seamless system experienced by families with a focus on the prenatal period through age 8 and beyond.

• Up to $20.00 /hour to start*

This location is participating in a Sign On Hours Worked bonus program from 7/4/21 to 12/25/21. If new part-time package handlers work a minimum of 100 hours in their first month, they will earn a $250 bonus.

Serving the Southeast Corner of Vermont

• Support and strengthen Regional Council operations in Northern Windsor Orange, Springfield Area and Southeast Vermont regions (i.e.: planning meetings, communications, monitoring progress toward regional action plan, grant deliverables and spending).

• Empower and elevate families as leaders and partners in the Council and across the BBF network • A resident of Orange, Windsor, or Windham county is preferred. This is one of four Regional Managers working collaboratively at BBF. Application deadline is Sunday, January 2 at midnight.

Find a full job description and how to apply here: https://bit.ly/BBFRegionalManager

True North Wilderness Program is seeking a fulltime, year-round Operations Support person. The ideal candidate is an adaptable team player with a positive attitude who is willing to work both indoors and outdoors performing a variety of tasks associated with the logistics of running our program. Tasks including food packing and rationing, gear outfitting, transportation and facilities maintenance. Candidates must be willing to work weekends and occasional evenings. A clean and valid driver’s license is required.

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits offered. Benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, a Wellness Fund, student loan repayment reimbursement, and a SIMPLE IRA. All True North employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination status prior to employment. Please apply at: truenorthwilderness.com.

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New, local, scam-free jobs posted every day!

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11/2/21 3:03 PM

jobs@sevendaysvt.com

Apply online: groundwarehousejobs.fedex.com/groundwarehousejobs/?lang=en-US&src=facbk.

635 Community Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403 5H new.indd 1

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NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

85 DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

NURSING POSITIONS EXPERIENCED COOK Experienced Cook needed for Shrine on Lake Champlain in beautiful northwestern Vermont.

Saint Anne’s Shrine, in Isle La Motte, Vermont is looking for a creative individual to prepare and serve delicious meals from scratch, using fresh local products, year-round, for retreat groups of varying sizes with an average of 30-40 guests as well as serving the public in our cafeteria on Sundays and Wednesdays during the summer pilgrimage season, plus a few special events per year.

Compensation is competitive and may include health and dental insurance, 403b retirement plan, life insurance, and paid time off.

St. Anne’s Shrine is conducted under the sponsorship of the Society of St. Edmund, a Roman Catholic religious community of priests and brothers. Visit us at saintannesshrine.org, contact Nancy at 802.928.3362 or ndulude@sse.org for more information or an application. Please see our full listing at bit.ly/3cQHwOh.

Are you a dedicated and compassionate nurse tired of working a hectic schedule? The Converse Home, an assisted living community in downtown Burlington, is looking for:

• 40 hour RCA or LNA 6:30am-3pm • 22 hour RCA or LNA 4pm-9:30pm on Memory Care Community • 27 hour RCA or LNA 4pm-9:30pm Work for our nonprofit organization and get to know our wonderful residents. The right people for these jobs will be compassionate, dedicated, team players and detail oriented nurses.

Full time positions have excellent benefits including a regular schedule, a competitive salary, medical, dental, and paid vacation time.

Please visit www.conversehome.com to learn more about our community.

Send your resume to kellie@conversehome.com and fill out an application on our website!

You must have a VT State Nursing License and be able to pass a background check.

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT Begin a career in 2022, don’t start a job! Spend your time doing work that makes a real difference. We need great people who want to help great people. Are you compassionate, kind, resilient, and adaptable?

Engaging minds that change the world

Specialized Community Care is seeking unique individuals who will act as mentors, coaches, and friends to provide support for adults in Addison, Rutland, Franklin, and Chittenden Counties with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

This is a fun and rewarding career spent “Off the Couch.”

We provide extensive training, support, professional growth and advancement opportunities in a family work environment.

We offer pay increases after a probationary period and further advancement and pay for selfpaced skill building. We want to hire your values and train the skills that will help make you successful. Let’s talk!

Please contact us at 802-388-6388 Web: www.sccvt.org Or email denise.smith@sccvt.org

Seeking a position with a quality employer? Consider The University of Vermont, a stimulating and diverse workplace. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including tuition remission for on-going, full-time positions.

Community Health Workers - Ext - Migrant Education - #S3287PO & #S3294PO - The University of Vermont Extension Program is recruiting six new positions as Community Health Workers spread across the state of Vermont. Positions may be .75 to 1.0 FTE based on assigned territory. Five bilingual Spanish/English positions will be assigned to a specific geographic region: Central West, Northwest, Northeast Kingdom, South, and Central East. One position will work exclusively with Jamaican H2A workers.

The Community Health Worker will assist in, coordinate, and implement community-based outreach activities, initiatives, and programs that contribute to health equity within designated migrant communities. Improve quality of life at an individual, household, and population level by acting as a liaison, cultural broker, educator, advocate, navigator, and interpreter between individuals and community-based organizations to promote health, reduce disparities, and improve service delivery. Coordinate clinical outreach efforts and collaborate with local health and social service organizations to assist them in addressing systemic barriers to health and social services.

Each position functions with minimal daily supervision, while working in collaboration with a statewide migrant health team to fulfill programmatic objectives. Education and experience equivalent to bachelor’s degree in social sciences or humanities and two to four years of related experience. Applicant must be bilingual in English and primary language of population served and possess a strong understanding of the community to be served either because of prior work, relationship in/to the community and/or other life experience.

Cultural agility required. Must demonstrate ability to plan, organize, and coordinate access to health and social services effectively and independently.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills required with experience and capacity to work with diverse audiences. Proficient computer and multimedia skills essential. Willingness to travel and work a flexible schedule which at times will include evenings and weekends.

Applicants may apply for a Community Health Worker I or Community Health Worker II based on level of experience. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal.

For further information on this position and others currently available, or to apply online, please visit www.uvmjobs.com. Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm. edu for technical support with the online application.

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

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Seven Days Issue: 12/22 Due: 12/20 by 11am Size: 3.83 x 7 Cost: $570.35 (with 1 week online)

12/14/21 12:35 PM

BUSINESS AND FINANCE MANAGERV

Vermont Afterschool is seeking a Business and Finance Manager to help increase our operational capacity. Demand for our work and resources continues to grow, and we would love to bring someone on board in this capacity who is interested in helping us make a difference in the world. This is a newly created, full-time position, crafted to work closely with the Executive Director and Assistant Director to manage our financial and accounting systems, support our staff and programs, and become a vital part of our team.

This is a full-time position that offers benefits and is based in our South Burlington, VT office. All staff are currently working hybrid remote/in-person schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We strongly prefer that candidates be able to work regularly from our South Burlington, VT, office when public health and safety guidelines allow. Reporting to Vermont Afterschool’s Executive Director, this position offers opportunity for growth and development, and we encourage all interested candidates to apply even if they do not meet all of the qualifications.

HOW TO APPLY • We offer a competitive compensation package and the opportunity to play a role in growing an organization.

Expected compensation for this position starts at $30/hour and depends on qualifications and experience.

• To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@vermontafterschool.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted electronically.

The position will be posted until filled and is available immediately. Vermont Afterschool is an equal opportunity employer, and we especially welcome applications from individuals who will contribute to our diversity.

Full job description: vermontafterschool.org/about/ employment

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12/7/21 1:31 PM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

86

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

DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

MULTIPLE OPENINGS! Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT is seeking candidates to continue BHA's success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of extremely low-income families and individuals.

HCV INTAKE SPECIALIST is responsible for waitlist management of federally subsidized rental assistance programs. This position works directly with program applicants and maintains applications, records and computer entries for all programs and provides administrative support to rental assistance department.

LEASING COORDINATOR is responsible for the waitlist selection, screening for program eligibility, gathering information for Property Managers to screen for tenant suitability, processing lease ups, processing tenant move out files, monitoring vacancies and providing back up assistance to the Property Managers.

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties, including building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Maintenance Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies.

OFFENDER RE-ENTRY HOUSING SPECIALIST provides housing placement and retention services to high-risk offenders returning to the community from longterm incarceration. This grant funded position works as a part of a skilled Housing Retention Team and in close collaboration with Burlington Probation and Parole and Dept. of Corrections Central Offices.

RECEPTIONIST manages the main office lobby and answers phones while providing great customer service, processes office mailings, and provides administrative support.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST assists in the operation of all rental programs, including tenant and project-based voucher and grant funded rental assistance programs. This position works with applicants, participants, and landlords to ensure that the required paperwork and annual certifications are processed timely.

STAFF ACCOUNTANT- RENTAL ASSISTANCE provides financial administration, accounting, and reporting for the various Rental Assistance and HUD Grant programs. This position is responsible for the financial administration of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Mainstream programs including the processing of monthly Housing Assistance and Utility Allowance payments by check or ACH; monthly VMS submissions to HUD; annual processing of 1099 forms for landlords; responding to periodic inquiries from landlords, Rental Assistance staff, or HUD. To learn more about BHA and these career opportunities, please visit our website: https://burlingtonhousing.org.

BHA offers a competitive salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and an excellent benefit package. If you are interested in these career opportunities, please send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org.

Human Resources , Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101, Burlington, VT 05401

GO HIRE. Job Seekers:

Job Recruiters: • Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site.

Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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7/6/21 3:48 PM

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The Williston Fire Department has full-time openings for a Career EMT/Firefighter. Applications are due by January 30, 2022 with an expected start date of April 1, 2022.

Williston Fire Department, Attn: Chief Aaron Collette 645 Talcott Road, Williston, VT 05495 Williston Fire is an E.O.E.

12/6/21 3:20 PM

Competitive pay & benefits available!

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12/14/21 11:38 AM

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Part Time (5 hours a day/4 days a week) Administrative Assistant needed for small, busy law firm in Burlington.

Primary responsibility is handling dayto-day practice management for one full time (criminal practice) and one part time (family practice) attorney.

Prior experience with family and/or criminal law practice preferred, but not necessary. Position available immediately.

Send resume and cover e-mail to rkatims@hoffcurtis.com.

PETE’S RV IS SEEKING an experienced executive assistant to become part of our fast-growing business. This person will be expected to help keep projects on track, review and analyze reports and be able to work independently. Our ideal candidate has advanced computer skills including Excel, is self-motivated, reliable, and efficient.

Requirements: • Strong research, math, and computer skills • Advanced in MS Office • Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work • Attention to detail • High school diploma or GED equivalent • Valid driver’s license • Flexibility to travel on occasion

We are looking for a friendly and hard-working Call Center Representative to join our growing team. You will be responsible for all incoming calls and emails, making outbound calls to customers, handling customer questions and complaints, and transferring potential leads to our sales team. Candidates should have an outgoing and positive demeanor, a positive work ethic, and have a track record of working well with others in a team environment. We prefer applicants who have some customer service experience, but we are willing to train the right person!

PETE’S RV WILL PROVIDE THE RIGHT PERSON THE FOLLOWING:

• Training (Immediate and ongoing)

• Health Insurance • Dental and Vision available • Paid time off • 401K with employer match • Life Insurance

Pay: $50,000+ based on experience About our Company: Pete’s RV Center is a family owned business 12:12 PMthat has been keeping New England, Northern New York, Mid-West, and Southern families enjoying the great outdoors since 1952. As the #1 RV dealership in New England, we take great pride in all six locations. The Pete’s RV dealer group consists of dealerships in the great states of Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and South Carolina. We are a growing company that values its employees and their contributions in making us successful in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace.

For full description and to apply: https://bit.ly/PetesRVexecAsst

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CALL CENTER REPRESENTATIVE

• Hourly plus BONUS with the opportunity for unlimited earning potential

7/24/20 1:28 PM Benefits:

• Cigna Health Insurance • 401K Retirement Plan with Company Match • Personal Time Off Accrual • Paid Holidays • Life Insurance • Employee Discounts • Advancement Opportunities

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Minimum requirements include National Registry - EMT certification at the time of application, with current Firefighter I, AEMT or Paramedic certification preferred. Current Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certification is required prior to employment start date. Candidates without Firefighter I certification must be willing to obtain said certification within the first 12 months of hire as required by 20 V.S.A. Chapter 179.

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

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL DECEMBER 23-29 broken time in which to feel deeply, to reach constantly for understanding.”

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

To ensure that 2022 will bring you the most interesting and useful kind of progress, take good care of your key friendships and alliances, even as you seek out excellent new friendships and alliances. For best results, heed these thoughts from author Hanya Yanagihara: “Find people who are better than you are — not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving — and then appreciate them for what they can teach you, and listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad — or good — it might be.”

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr.19): You may become a more audacious storyteller in 2022. You could ripen your ability to express the core truths about your life with entertaining narratives.

Bonus: The experiences that come your way will provide raw material for you to become even more interesting than you already are.

Now study these words by storyteller Ruth Sawyer: “To be a good storyteller, one must be gloriously alive. It is not possible to kindle fresh fires from burned-out embers. The best of the traditional storytellers are those who live close to the heart of things — to the earth, sea, wind, and weather. They have known solitude, silence. They have been given un-

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Taurus author May Sarton wrote a poem celebrating her maturation into the person she had always dreamed she would be. “Now I become myself,” she exulted. “It’s taken time, many years and places; I have been dissolved and shaken, have worn other people’s faces.” But at last, she said, “All fuses together now, falls into place from wish to action, word to silence. My work, my love, my time, my face: gathered into one intense gesture of growing like a plant.” I invite you to adopt Sarton’s poem as a primary source of inspiration in 2022. Make it your guide as you, too, become fully and richly yourself.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): In 2012, the writer

Gore Vidal died the day after Gemini writer Maeve Binchy passed away. They were both famous, though Binchy sold more books than Vidal. Vidal was interesting but problematic for me. He was fond of saying that it wasn’t enough for him to succeed; he wanted others to fail. The misery of his fellow humans intensified his satisfaction about his own accomplishments. On the other hand, Binchy had a generous wish that everyone would be a success.

She felt her magnificence was magnified by others’ magnificence. In 2022, it will be vital for your physical and mental health to cultivate Binchy’s perspective, not Vidal’s. To the degree that you celebrate and enhance the fortunes of others, your own fortunes will thrive.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Cancerian political leader Nelson Mandela was wrongly incarcerated for 27 years. After his release, he became president of South Africa and won the Nobel Peace Prize. About leaving jail in 1990, he wrote, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Although you haven’t suffered deprivation anywhere close to what Mandela did, I’m happy to report that 2022 will bring you liberations from limiting situations.

Please adopt Mandela’s approach as you make creative use of your new freedom.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): French poet André Breton wrote, “Je vous souhaite d’être folle-

ment aimée.” In English, those words can be rendered as “My wish is that you may be loved to the point of madness” or “I wish you to be loved madly.” That’s got a romantic ring to it, but it’s actually a curse. Why would we want to be loved to the point of madness? A person who “loved” you like that might be fun for a while, but would ultimately become a terrible inconvenience and ongoing disruption. So, dear Leo, I won’t wish that you will be loved to the point of madness in 2022 — even though I think the coming months will be an interesting and educational time for amour. Instead, I will wish you something more manageable and enjoyable: that you will be loved with respect, sensitivity, care and intelligence.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Many people in our culture are smart intellectually but not very smart emotionally. The wisdom of feelings is undervalued. I protest! One of my great crusades is to champion this neglected source of insight. I am counting on you to be my ally in 2022. Why? Because according to my reading of the astrological omens, you have the potential to ripen your emotional intelligence in the coming months. Do you have ideas about how to take full advantage of this lucky opportunity? Here’s a tip: Whenever you have a decision to make, tune in to what your body and heart tell you as well as to what your mind advises.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl said that a sense of meaning is crucial. It’s the key gratification that sustains people through the years: the feeling that their life has a meaning and that particular experiences have meaning. I suggest you make this your theme for 2022. The question “Are you happy?” will be a subset of the more inclusive question, “Are you pursuing a destiny that feels meaningful to you?” Here’s the other big question: “If what you’re doing doesn’t feel meaningful, what are you going to do about it?”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio guitar-

ist Rowland S. Howard spoke of “the grand occasions when love really does turn into something far greater than you had ever dreamed of, something auto-luminescent.”

Judging from the astrological configurations in 2022, I have strong hopes and expectations that you will experience prolonged periods

when love will fit that description. For best results, resolve to become more generous and ingenious in expressing love than you have ever been.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I’ve

been trying to go home my whole life,” writes poet Chelsea Dingman. I know some of you Sagittarians resist the urge to do that. It’s possible you avoid seeking a true and complete home. You may think of the whole world as your home, or you may regard a lot of different places as your homes. And you’d prefer not to narrow down the feeling and concept of “home” to one location or building or community. Whether or not you are one of those kinds of Centaurs, I suspect that 2022 will bring you unexpected new understandings of home — and maybe even give you the sense that you have finally arrived in your ultimate sanctuary.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sometime

during the Northern Song Dynasty that ruled China from 960 to 1127, an artisan made a white ceramic bowl five inches in diameter.

About a thousand years later, a family in New York bought it at a garage sale for $3. It sat on a mantel in their home for a few years until they got a hunch to have it evaluated by an art collector. A short time later, the bowl was sold at an auction for $2.2 million. I’m not saying that 2022 will bring a financial event as dramatic as that one. But I do expect that your luck with money will be at a peak.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In the Quechuan language spoken in parts of Peru, the word takanakuy means “when the blood is boiling.” Every year at this time, the community of Chumbivilcas stages a holiday called Takanakuy. People gather at the town center to fight each other, settling their differences so they can forget about them and start over fresh. If my friend and I have had a personal conflict during the previous year, we would punch and kick each other — but not too hard — until we had purged our spite and resentment. The slate between us would be clean.

Is there some humorous version of this ritual you could enact that wouldn’t involve even mild punching and kicking? I recommend you dream one up!

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FUNNY, SUBMISSIVE, VERSATILE BI GUY Looking to meet “straight“ and bi men, as well as bi couples and MW couples, for fun and sex. I’m a fun person who likes to enjoy life and am looking for new adventures. Let’s help each other expand and explore our sexual boundaries. I’m respectful and discreet, so let’s meet!

Binorth, 64, seeking: M, TW, Cp, Gp

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking...

JUST TESTING THE WATERS How do you talk about yourself? I’m kind, sweet and like to have fun but am not looking for hookups. Would love to find that missing piece to the puzzle to share all life has to offer: strolling hand in hand through town or planning our next travel adventure. Bonus points for good kissers. Nygirl620, 53, seeking: M, l JUST LOOKING FOR FUN! Fun for me is having companions to share good times. Being outdoors is essential, and I enjoy sharing my addiction for golf and skiing. My quiet side demands time too, especially for reading and cooking. People who turn me on know themselves and are honest. So good conversation, personal warmth and strong values go far with me. Welloverpar, 66, seeking: M, l MUCH TO BRING: SEEKING COMPANION/CONNECTION Laid-back, sane, cute, emotionally and financially stable. In Rhode Island, able to move/purchase next (like, cooler hemisphere) full or semi off-grid (or not). Animal lover, DIYer, prepper, selfsufficient. Seeking 50-50 partnership.

Have remote work ability and passive income (for financial stability). Have much to bring to the table. Seeking similar for mutually beneficial relationship/partnership/life companion. nptfornow, 51, seeking: M, l

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KINDNESS, CREATIVITY AND FUN I am an independent, vibrant person.

I work hard, and I play hard. I am also nurturing, and I come with excellent references. I love the outdoors, and I care about humanity, my friends and family.

I live the good life in Burlington and beyond and could use someone to share it all with! Bevviejo, 60, seeking: M, l LOOKING FOR A TRUE PARTNER Isn’t online dating a blast? OK, maybe it can be challenging at times, but it’s still exciting that you have the chance to meet someone special who you might never have met elsewhere. I’m a proud mom/grandmom, an avid rower (concept rower), a professional and, if you ask my friends, a kind (and a bit quirky at times) person. Leelady, 57, seeking: M WOMAN, HONEST, NEW CHAPTER I’m at a crossroad in life. I’m just looking for nothing serious, but if it develops into more, I’m also OK with that. I’m an open book. If you want to know anything, just ask. I’m an open-minded individual looking to develop something new with someone who will cherish my time and energy, which people have taken for granted. vtwomen31, 31, seeking: M LOTS OF ENERGY! I’m a high-energy, highly educated person in Vermont for winter skiing and fun. I love live music and get out as much as I can to hear good acts. I am interested in making new friends but would be open to a relationship, even an LTR, if the right connections develop.

Winter_friend, 55, seeking: M, l WARM BBW FOR CUDDLY T-BEAR Warm BBW seeks cuddly teddy bear (or two) who’s silly, soulful, spiritual and sensual, as I am. Enjoy being near water, eating out or cooking together, drives to nowhere, plays, movies, live music.

I’m polyamorous and hope you are, too; I believe it’s possible to have more than one loving relationship at once.

Also please be intelligent, reflective and fun! Myzeffy, 63, seeking: M, l DISCREET FUN AND FRIEND WITH BENEFITS I am in my early 40s, married to a wonderful man who doesn’t know I enjoy the company of a woman occasionally.

Looking to find another female who would like to be a friend with benefits.

Discretion is a must. If we decide, then maybe meet for dinner/drinks and get a room for the night. Send me a message. DiscreetFun, 42, seeking: W SEEKING ELUSIVE CHEMISTRY Genuine nice gal — low maintenance, avoider of negative energy. Aim for peaceful coexistence in a beautiful setting. Love nature: big view, mountains, lake and sky; birds and animals; swimming in streams, lakes and waterfalls. Seek similar male who is tall, educated, kind and upbeat. Emotionally stable. Well read. Bonus points if you like cooking garden-to-table, and yard projects. swimwstars, 65, seeking: M, l

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

COZY, LITERATE HOMEBODY SEEKS CO-CHEF Voracious reader and creative thinker seeks playmate. If you’re someone who thinks deeply, values friendships, respects the world beyond humankind, chooses science over suspicion, and tempers your thinking with compassion and humility, let’s be in touch. I’m a SF, 55, healthy, active and COVID careful. Sanguinely, 25, seeking: M SEASONED WOMAN DESIRES SEASONED MAN 73-y/o woman who wants to meet a man who desires to have a committed relationship to find what life reveals to us. I enjoy theater, walking, hiking (short distances), reading, writing (personal journals). Working part time in the field of DD/ID MH. flynrn, 73, seeking: M LOVING AND KIND I am a very nice person who is open to love at any time. When I say “love,” I mean sharing ideas, spending time. I live a very quiet life and do not like the limelight. I love military men. I also love intelligent conversation. Some looks are necessary, but taking care of oneself is important. AnLuv, 50, seeking: M, l HOPING FOR COMPANIONSHIP Don’t need a fancy trip to France. Would enjoy the company of someone for more realistic adventures — things like breakfast. I love getting breakfast out, playing board games, day trips here and there. bluemonarch, 55, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, l LOVE TO LAUGH, KIND, AUTHENTIC Been separated for a while now and, though very happy/content to be solo during that time, I think I’m ready to meet new people. Looking for some fun social times to start. I love to go out for drinks, play darts/cards. Love watching sports on TV, especially Boston teams. Love animals, travel and new but sane adventures. Not looking for FWB. AlmostReady, 64, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

CAN I MAKE YOU LAUGH? I’m tall, well put together, and I’ve got a great job that I love. I’ve been career-oriented my entire adult life, and now that I’ve come to a comfortable place in my career, ideally I’m looking for someone to talk to, then hang out with, then see where things go.

Blueeyedandbearded, 35, seeking: W, l LOOKING FOR MY DISCREET LOVER A total bottom guy who likes to go out and do things, but I always want to have extra fun with him at the end. So, if you’re the type who wants to maybe go out for a pizza and a beer on a Saturday afternoon, then end up in your bed afterward, send me a message. borpsalm69, 46, seeking: M NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE HERE I’m as normal as I am abnormal. Just looking around. No preference. Don’t be shy. Notsurewhattoputhere, 22, seeking: W

READY TO SHARE LIFE AGAIN Things are going well for me! Career is on track. Family is healthy. I’m financially secure. And I have been vaccinated. (That is important these days, LOL.) What I’m missing in my life is a special friend/partner/ LTR. Someone to rejoice with our individual/together life events. And to help soften the sting when life’s little failures arises. I’m ready to share life.

VTMtnAdventures, 58, seeking: W, l STING IS MY BIGGEST FAN OK, I don’t actually know Sting. Just moved up to Vermont a minute ago and would love to meet some fun folks.

I’m not looking for anything serious.

That part of my life is accounted for. I’m still fond of female company in all its other forms, though. PlentyOfToast, 39, seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l Y KNOT I’m looking for some NSA, discreet fun. MD515, 54, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l HAPPY BI MAN Looking to meet others for sensual experiences. Into many things, but mostly hot, lustful fun. paulccc, 61, seeking: M, Cp HONEST, SPIRITUAL, CARING, LOVING Recently relocated to Colchester and work as an RN at UVMMC in Burlington.

Highly educated with BSN and BS Chem.

Honest, open-minded and willing for LTR. Have faith, hope and love. Seeking female companion/soul mate to share fun times when not working. I enjoy most indoor cultural and outdoor recreational activities. No drugs or alcohol, please.

Nursesteve1, 60, seeking: W, l LOOKING FOR A NEW FRIEND Hello! I am looking for a new friend and looking to have more fun this winter than last winter allowed. The friendship I’m looking for may be a bit “unconventional,” but it would be a lot of fun! Who likes conventional anyway? Let’s chat or get together and see if we could be friends. Forfun802, 38, seeking: W CURIOUS, SEEKING ACTION Looking for after-midnight hookup. If you are horny and not ugly and local, hit me up. jasper, 62, seeking: M SILVER HEAD, FOR GOOD COMPANY Friendly, social guy seeks good male company with possible benefits. orion, 68, seeking: M

KANGA1 I am a pretty quiet man who has been referred to as somewhat serious and highly passionate in things that I believe in and find important, like the environment and human influence and its effects on our planet. Pretty intelligent person and very inquisitive on many fronts. Ex-massage therapist.

Many other aspects of me to discover.

Kanga1, 65, seeking: W, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

FEMININE CROSS-DRESSER SEEKS THOSE INTERESTED I’m looking for others interested in femininity and sensual possibilities. Let’s chat. Nicole123, 62, seeking: M, TW, Q, NC, NBP

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

BE MY CUDDLE BUDDY? Cute 50-y/o vegan straight-edge polyam ace enby trans girl. Love my parallel polyam primary nesting partner, so I’m looking for a part-time snuggle buddy for walks and talks and handholding and kissing and romance! I fall in love really easily! I’m half in love with you already just because you’re reading this!

Anyone but cis guys. EnbyTransgirl, 53, seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NBP, l T GIRL LIVE IN VT Trans girl. Offbeat sense of humor.

Looking for that certain someone. I like dinner and a movie or a game at Centennial Field. I like to ride my bike on the bike path and see shows at Higher Ground. At home I spend my time listening to my record collection and taking care of my house. Luv2BaGurl, 61, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l DEPTH AND DESIRE Finding both is not easy. Active TG seeks motivated, aroused, real playmate for trysts of all sorts. Inside, outside, day, night. If you are 50ish to 60ish, very fit and hot to trot, get in touch.

2PartsofDesire, 64, seeking: M, Cp, l

TRANS MEN seeking...

FRIENDLY VERMONTER, MEETING NEW PEOPLE I’m looking to meet folks in the Burlington area. I’m 28 and work at a local college. I like doing things outdoors but also like to do low-key things, too, like hang out with a dog or watch a movie. I identify as trans masculine. I’m getting into cooking and would like to make some good meals with someone. llido, 28, seeking: W, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking...

STILL LOVING CURIOSITY Creative type — still trying to figure out life. Looking for someone who questions, explores, is happy to be out of the mainstream and is looking for a partner in crime. With the right person, ready to give and get constant touch and affection. timeandtouch, 62, seeking: W

FUN 40S M/30S F COUPLE Really want to surprise my partner and make our fun fantasy a reality. Fun and mostly fit couple looking to explore some fun times with a third person or possible couple. He’s straight, but I’m a switch hitter. Let’s grab some drinks or burn one and see what happens. Clean, hygienic and good sense of humor a must. GoodTimes4All, 42, seeking: W

OLD BUT STILL HORNY At 83, I am blessed to be healthy and “vital,” and am looking for older women who are the same. I believe couples should make the rules that work for them. I am open to a variety of activities and types of relationships. I don’t judge and believe that mutual respect is most important if a relationship is going to work. barreloves, 83, seeking: W, TW, Cp, Gp, l

READY TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN My girlfriend and I want to live out our fantasies! So, we are looking for a couple or a female who we can explore and have fun with. We are both fairly attractive and clean. I can be wild, and she wants to learn how to unleash the hidden inner beast.

BigRed_Little_Tuff, 41, seeking: Cp

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YOU’RE STILL A MIRACLE I wish you the best and hope our paths cross again soon. You still mean the world to me. I don’t hate you, even if you’re still an HP fan after all the stuff JKR said. I’m sorry if I made you question the things that brought you joy. You’re still a miracle to me. Please be kind to yourself. When: Monday, November 22, 2021. Where: Burlington.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915469

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BABY YODA PAJAMAS You were a tall, handsome man walking north in Hinesburg while I was walking south. I was wearing green Baby Yoda pajamas, and you said they looked great! If you are single and interested, I’d love to hear about other fashion interests! When: Friday, December 17, 2021. Where: Route 116 in Hinesburg.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915473 FOREST IN THE EASTWOOD Two strangers meeting for a fall hike.

Two nature-loving woods wanderers. I love listening to your sexy voice, your smile and twinkling eyes, your amazing hugs and kisses. I shared my favorite spot with you. We can heal together.

You know how to reach me when you are ready to start over and give us another chance. Dang! When: Friday, October 22, 2021. Where: Mount Horrid cliffs.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915472 I MISS YOU, SUNSHINE I made a mistake, and it cost me the best woman I ever knew. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my Montpelier girl. I do wish the best for you but wish we split on better terms.

You will always be in my heart, Smarty Pants. When: Monday, September 27, 2021. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915428 SHELBURNE ROAD, ADVANCED AUTO PARTS You and your guy were waiting at the counter as I walked by and wished you good luck on your project. Did I imagine it, or did you come over by me a few times and then bend over in front of the air fresheners for my benefit? If so, I’m really glad you did. Meet for a drink? When: Friday, September 24, 2021. Where: Shelburne Rd. auto parts store. You: Couple. Me: Man. #915425

THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW! Our paths are running next to each other. I hope they cross sooner rather than later. I hope you turn here as much as I do. When: Sunday, October 10, 2021. Where: my daily read.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915432 BLOND HAIR IN THE SUN Was walking out at Kingsland Bay, sharp cold wind blowing across the water.

I walked by you going the other way and caught your smile. You smelled so nice. I love the smell of patchouli, and I can’t stop thinking about you.

I hope our paths cross again. I think they will. When: Sunday, December 12, 2021. Where: Kingsland Bay. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915471 SWEET AT DENNY’S You’re a waitress, and I kept stealing glances. You came up to compliment my son on his mask and explained you had a superhero Xmas tree at home.

He was taken aback, and my chest fluttered and my ears got warm. Your personality matched that gorgeous expression and smiling eyes. Hope I’m lucky enough to meet you again one day! When: Saturday, December 11, 2021. Where: Shelburne Road Denny’s.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915470 BURLINGTON CUMBERLAND FARMS, GAS, SMILES You: F, light brown hair in a bun, blue Volkswagen wagon parked at the pump.

Me: M, tall, salt-and-pepper hair, shorts, floral mask, held the door for you as you came in. We caught each other’s eye, smiled as you walked to the pump.

I said hi. I should’ve come over to talk.

Care to do that sometime? When: Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Where: Cumberland Farms, Pine St., Burlington.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915424

FOREVER, EVER? Forever never, seems that long until you’re grown / And notice that the day-by-day ruler can’t be too wrong. / I wish I could become a magician to abracadabra all the sadder / Thoughts of me, thoughts of she, asking what happened to the feeling that her and me had. When: Sunday, October 14, 2018. Where: separate ways.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915416 PURPLE HAIR AT CITY MARKET You rang me up in the evening. Your purple hair is awesome, and you were really friendly. I appreciated you bagging for me while I paid. Thanks for making my night brighter with the beautiful purple and with your kindness. I hope I see you at the cash register again soon. When: Wednesday, December 8, 2021. Where: City Market. You: Woman. Me: Trans man. #915468 LAUGHS AT WILLISTON CVS You asked how a fan of my team ended up here. I replied quickly, and we shared a quick laugh. You wished me a good rest of the day as you passed me at the self-checkout. I would have asked you to coffee if I had seen you outside. If anything, thanks for the smile. When: Monday, December 6, 2021. Where: Williston CVS. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915467 FOUND! GODDESS TO SPOIL Goddess V: You truly are the unicorn of unicorns! So glad you took the chance and responded to our personal ad.

One of the most epic weekends of our lives is in the books. Next up? More adventures, laughs, great conversation, cuddles on the couch, continuing to spoil you in and out of the bedroom, and contributing to your sexual awakening!

When: Sunday, November 14, 2021.

Where: Seven Days Personals. You: Woman. Me: Couple. #915466

the

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

I’m gay. I’m 49 years old, and as I get older I have less desire to be around other gay men in social settings. This also bleeds over into the guys I’m attracted to. If I meet someone, and they give off the slightest energy that they are gay, boom — the attraction is zero.

I was not this way when I was younger. I have described myself to a therapist as a homophobic gay man. I really wish I could figure out why this happened.

MEMORIES OR FEELINGS No matter how hard I tried, it wouldn’t work. Once a single imperfection is revealed, I’m toast. In the end, all I could do was run while looking back at memories of feeling alienated. In brief reflective moments, almost asleep, feelings go deep and life feels free. All that work so eternity can stay a little longer with each visit. When: Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Where: somewhere out there, somewhere near here.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915464 SWEET GIRL MAKING CONFECTIONS I am so very grateful to have initiated our conversation, which led to a first meeting, which has subsequently led to another and another, and I hope they don’t stop. You have given me the feelings I have been searching for, and I look forward to us getting to know each other more and more and being your wood stacker. When: Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Where: Montpelier.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915463 MY LOVE BURNED IT DOWN Was it because you were afraid or because you didn’t love me? Every memory is suspended here. They’re ghosts armed with knives. I could have laid my head on your chest every night ’til I was old. “You broke my heart from the start ... made me work so hard ... The last recluse ... Or was it, ‘Courage ... it didn’t come...’”? I am gutted. When: Sunday, November 21, 2021. Where: at the stupid end.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915462 WORKING AT SWEET CLOVER We chatted briefly at the Weird Meat fridge. I came in for coffee and a chance to say hello to you, but I lost my nerve.

Catch up for a cup of coffee and another chance? You: slender, long straight hair, moving with purpose, making eye contact over your shoulder. When: Monday, November 22, 2021. Where: Essex. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915461

Dear Sub Dude,

Ask REVEREND Dear Reverend,

MIDDAY SHAW’S SHOPPER To the hat-wearing bearded lunchtime grocery shopper stuck in a long checkout line: We crossed paths a few times.

Please know you were the main character in my lunchtime errand. I want to know what happens next! When: Thursday, December 2, 2021. Where: Waterbury Shaw’s. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915465

The only idea I can come up with: I lived in Provincetown, Mass., for 15 years. I did not like the things I saw there, which were pretty much every negative stereotype possible of the gay community. Just curious whether living there caused a change in my psyche and how I get along with certain gay men.

Sub Dude

(MALE, 49)

I have three cats. My love for them is beyond compare, but I don’t go for any of the “crazy cat lady” stuff. I don’t call them my “fur babies,” and my clothes and coffee cups aren’t covered in cats. I’m a bit of a feline fanatic, but I’m not waving any flags about it — and, no offense, but people who do kinda bug me. All that to say: There are a lot of different ways to be a person.

Provincetown is renowned for being a seasonal gay party town.

I know a lot of fellas who go there every year to cut loose.

I imagine that living there for 15 years would expose you to practically every possible type of gay man under the sun, but people on vacation aren’t always on their best behavior.

SAW YOU AT THE ANTIDOTE You: very cute hippie girl eating dinner with someone I assume was your boyfriend. Me: alone at the bar eating the Thursday special. I caught your eye a couple of times, and got the “I’m interested” look. I’m there every Thursday. Want a new friend?

Could get interesting! Hotter than the fried chicken! When: Thursday, November 18, 2021. Where: Vergennes.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915460 BURKLYN/VTANTRA LAST TRY I and M: You look like a fun couple, but I never get a response from you on #Open, OkC or Feeld. I’m disappointed.

Me: masculine-presenting muscular climber, polysexual, multiamorous, tatted. When: Sunday, November 21, 2021. Where: #Open/Burklyn. You: Couple. Me: Genderqueer. #915459 WORKING AT DUNKIN’ DONUTS IN MONTPELIER I only see you once or twice a week, early mornings. I would like to take you out for dinner and chat with you.

When: Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Where: Dunkin’ Donuts in Montpelier.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915458 RICHMOND BEAUTY Came to Sweet Simone’s for the coffee but stayed for your (cinnamon) buns.

Saw you next door at Hey June, too!

I had coffee and a scone and was looking for holiday cards next to you.

Let’s get coffee? When: Thursday, November 18, 2021. Where: Richmond.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915457 TRYING TO CONTACT SMARTY PANTS I’m looking to be reunited with the most amazing girl. I made a mistake, and I’ve paid dearly for it. Please reach out to me. #Sunshine #Smartypants #Montpelier When: Monday, November 1, 2021. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915453 DUNKIN’ DONUTS, EARLY 11/1 You: an adorable tiny lady, full of fire.

Me: just a guy on his way to work. We both shook our heads at the garbage truck flying through the parking lot.

Just wanted you to know I thought you were adorable. Be careful of those candy trucks. When: Monday, November 1, 2021. Where: Williston Dunkin’ Donuts.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915451

Maybe that was fun when you were younger, but you’ve matured — which isn’t a bad thing. If a person is lucky enough to make it to 50, they should know what qualities they are and are not attracted to. It doesn’t necessarily make you homophobic if you aren’t turned on by more flamboyant gay men. You like what you like, and as long as you’re not being mean to anybody, there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, if you really need to get to the bottom of your feelings, continuing therapy is a good idea.

Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend

What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

93

Bi-curious male, 40s, seeking pen pals and phone freaks.

Confess your closet kinks, freaky fetishes and taboo tales. I’m open-minded and nonjudgmental. I want to know all your sexy secrets. All are welcome. I’ll reply if asked. #L1539 36-y/o SWM seeking captivating pen pal. Looking to establish an upright, modest relationship with like-minded people. I’m funny, energetic, appealing and enjoy the little things. I love the beauty the outdoors bring. Open to all. Life’s too short to miss an opportunity. Can’t wait to hear from you. #L1538

60-y/o SWM seeking 40- to 60y/o SWW. Love to swim in clear Vermont streams. Love music.

Spiritual, honest, faithful. #L1545 Woman, 56. Need a simple life in the country with a gentle, caring man sharing similar values to keep the relationship healthy.

Desire to engage in deep conversation, be active in nature and support good health. Must love coffee, good food and the art of cooking. Phone number, please. #L1543 SWM bi top seeks sub bottom.

Enjoy fem heels, stockings, panties, painted toenails. No drugs. Clean. Vaccinated. Steady lover. Phone. #L1542

Outdoorsy 63-y/o WM looking for someone special for companionship and affection, a good movie, long walks — even bike riding and dinner with the families. Loves animals, bowling and am open-minded. If you’re between 50 and 60, give me a call. #L1544 Gay white male looking for gay males in the area of Tunbridge/ South Royalton. 5’10 and a half.

Slender build. Dark brown hair and brown eyes. Good looking. Can be discreet. Contact me. #L1541 I’m a GWM, 60s, 5’9, 170 pounds, seeking a man or men into spanking and/or wearing/ using adult diapers. #L1540

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 22-29, 2021

I am a rural woman interested in building a romantic relationship.

I follow the teachings of Dr. Pat Allen, inspired by science and Taoist philosophy. I want to be cherished by a gentleman who wants to be respected. #L1537 65-y/o woman, but not showing my age yet, looking to meet calm, mature, honest men. I enjoy adventures with most outdoor activities, animals, music. #L1536 49-y/o woman seeks male 55+. I love nature along with water and walking. I’m spiritual, looking for companionship with truth and honesty, building life through good and bad, and becoming stronger. I enjoy dancing, music, charity work and adventure to learn from. #L1535

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. Slim guys 18-36 wanted. Willing to meet at any time of your calling. #L1534 GWM seeking other GM for friendship and more. Write me with name and phone number. #L1532 SWM seeks SBF for lovers. Winter is coming, and I need someone to keep me warm. Honest and clean. Phone. #L1530 How feral’s feral? Energetic Luddite(s) indeed, but easier to be progressively backward with a mischievous coconspirator.

Artist here, resourceful cottager, surrounded by books and mason jars. Worth every penny of your $5. If you disagree, I’ll reimburse!

M seeking F. #L1529 Humble, honest, loving and fun 69-y/o searching for his soul mate to enjoy life’s adventures with. Looking for that special gal who enjoys skiing, beaches, boating, biking, animals and cares for our natural environment. Someone spiritual who can “see the light.” A love of theater, music and dancing a plus. #L1528

I am a crossdresser (M-to-F) seeking female friends for coffee, friendship or just corresponding. Any age, race and ethnicity OK. Retired and ready. Will answer all letters. #L1531 Discreet oral bottom. 54y/o SWM, 5’8, slim, dark hair, blue eyes. Seeking any wellhung guys, 18 to 55 y/o, who are a good top and last a long time for more than one around.

Phone only, but text. Champlain Valley. #L1526 GM in Rutland County seeking other GM or bi for social interaction. Maybe leading to FWB or more. I’m easygoing, stable and like adventure.

Phone only. Hope to hear from you. #L1523 Fit 50ish M, green-eyed, kind and witty, seeks fit F 40 to 60.

Well read, rugged, capable, collected, patient. Values community, gardens, art, acts of making. Let’s cook, share absurdist humor, read together.

Prefer handwritten to the screen. Simple! #L1522

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