Seven Days, August 20, 2025 by Seven Days

BORN TO RUN

BY KEN PICARD, PAGE

Harvesting Happiness

WEEK IN REVIEW

AUGUST

emoji that

DOG GONE

60,000

That’s the estimated number of low-income Vermonters who will beneﬁt from a new state law that eliminates their medical debt.

People protesting on both sides of the border, which was marked by a red rope

THIN RED LINE

ey weren’t supposed to reach across the border to touch each other.

On the Vermont side of the U.S.-Canadian line, a crowd of about 40 gathered at a farmer’s ﬁeld in rural Berkshire on Saturday morning. e plan was to demonstrate their solidarity with protesters who were gathering just across the international border, in Frelighsburg, Québec.

e event was one of about 40 held along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. e North American coalition Friends Across Borders had called for demonstrators to showcase cross-border bonds. Just past a red rope marking the border in Berkshire, around 400 demonstrators assembled in Frelighsburg.

e demonstrators in Canada set up a sound system and a stage. As people gathered, they greeted their counterparts across the border warmly.

Speakers in Canada read aloud a message from Miriam Hansen, an organizer with Montpelier Indivisible. Hansen was in Berkshire, but the Canadians weren’t able to hand her their microphone.

Hansen was born in Montréal and has lived in Vermont for most of her adult life. “ e border is a real thing, but

it’s always been a friendly border,” she said in an interview.

David Rider, 55, came from Burlington to show his support. “ e real issues that we should be working on are much different than this, period,” he said. “We’re neighbors by chance, friends by choice.”

“It’s very important to not stay silent and be victim of a system or decisions taken by governments,” said Eric Edelmann, a Québec resident who spoke to Seven Days across the border. “We have to assert our freedom.”

Children were invited to the front of the stage to release butterﬂies. en the two groups met along the rope to form a human chain. ey observed ﬁve minutes of silence. And then they sang “Imagine” by John Lennon.

On both sides, people began to tear up. Soon enough, the no-contact rules gave way to their desire to connect. People began shaking hands over the red rope. Children greeted Americans from across the border; one girl handed out ﬂowers.

After the protest, American and Canadian activists parted ways. e Americans walked back through a sunny ﬁeld to their parked cars.

Read Sam Hartnett’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

Two arborists helped rescue three dogs that got stuck on a ledge near Mount Pisgah in Westmore. A cut above!

TRICKLE OR TORRENT

A broken pump prompted o cials to ask residents of Burlington and parts of Colchester to conserve water — and when it was hot, to boot!

GOING UP

Crews used a helicopter to install towers for Killington Resort’s new Superstar Six chairlift. Bring on the snow.

HAPPY TRAILS

Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott announced she’ll resign in September, 18 months before her term expires. She said she’s got a new job and a baby on the way.

TOPFIVE

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS Plainﬁeld Native Conquers Long Trail in Record Time

A Waterbury woman has set a Long Trail record for fastest time by an unsupported female hiker, completing the 272-mile trek in ﬁve days, 19 hours and 29 minutes, according to the Valley News. Tori Constantine, 29, is a nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center. To qualify as “unsupported,” she had to ﬁnish without help, carry all of her own supplies and get water from natural sources.

ESPN SHOOTS, CATS SCORE

eir season hasn’t ofﬁcially started, but already the reigning champs have managed to score a goal on national television.

ESPN visited Burlington last week to spotlight the 2024 NCAA Division 1 champion University of Vermont men’s soccer team as part of a barnstorming, 50-state tour of sports excellence for its ﬂagship show, “SportsCenter.” Host Skubie Mageza was interviewing coach Rob Dow live on air during a preseason tune-up match against Providence College when the Catamounts netted their second of four goals in a shutout win.

“We got a goal, coach!” Mageza interjected as Dow was answering a question on the sideline. “What about that? Live on TV!”

e segment underscored how quickly Vermont has transformed into a soccer state, with the Green Mountains now home to the best men’s college team in the country and the champions of the preprofessional USL League Two, Vermont Green FC.

Despite losing 13 players from last year’s Cinderella run in the

Mageza interviewing coach Rob Dow

NCAA tournament, the Catamounts snagged the preseason No. 1 ranking and appeared hungry for a repeat run.

“I think what makes us so strong,” sophomore defender Nick Lockermann told ESPN over ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s, “is that we know what it takes now.”

In prerecorded segments, Mageza donned Catamounts gear

and pretended to try out for the squad during the 13-minute piece that aired alongside Dow’s live interview on ESPN2 last Friday afternoon. He reenacted junior Max Kissel’s epic game-winning goal during the national championship match against Marshall and sat in the stands with fans who turned out for the preseason exhibition.

e ESPN host revealed that UVM has already sold roughly 1,200 season tickets — enough to ﬁll half the bleachers at Virtue Field.

“ e hype around here is real,” Mageza said.

“SportsCenter” visiting Virtue Field was “certainly a top-notch PR event for the department and program,” assistant director of athletic communications Nate Scandore said.

Now, the hard part: e Catamounts’ title defense kicks off this ursday, August 21, with a home match against Sacred Heart, followed by a matchup on Sunday, August 24, against Boston University. e women’s squad next plays at home against Yale on Friday, August 22.

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

DEREK BROUWER

Skubie

START YOUR ENGINES.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

Hannah Bassett, Derek Brouwer, Colin Flanders, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Lucy Tompkins

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

Jordan Barry, Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Bryan Parmelee

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron SALES & MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery ADMINISTRATION

Marcy Stabile

Gillian English

Sam Hartnett

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Erik Esckilsen, Anne Galloway, Steve Goldstein, Amy Lilly, Bryan Parmelee, Suzanne Podhaizer, Samantha Randlett, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Xenia Turner, Casey Ryan Vock

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

‘LUCKY TO HAVE SEVEN DAYS’ I was in Burlington recently to pick up one of my daughters and grabbed the Connections Issue of Seven Days [July 23].

A day later, I found myself sitting by my pool, reading it for over an hour and loving it!

I not only loved the idea of the issue, but it also felt so good to have a viable, interesting newspaper in my hands!

Paula Routly’s [From the Publisher: “Pen Pals”] on Ruthie Furman struck a nerve, and then it just went from there with the cool pay phone story [“Can You Hear Me Now?”], which I later saw was picked up by the Associated Press; the psychic connection piece [“Above and Beyond”]; “Van Life”; the farm sharing [“Cultivating Connection”]; etc.

RIP, RUTH

I taught with Ruthie Furman at Champlain Valley Union High School. She deﬁnitely was one of a kind and a super person in every way. I think she would quietly love the fact that you wrote about her in the Connections Issue [From the Publisher: “Pen Pals,” July 23]. Fabulous!

I always looked for her letters to the editor and searched out her name in the annual list of Super Readers. I would jot her a note — snail mail only — saying that I found her again in your pages.

Thank you for writing such a beautiful piece about my friend and colleague.

Jane B. Holt HINESBURG

MESSAGE TO THE MAYOR

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

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Glens Falls, N.Y., where I have lived since 1990, is in a bit of a news desert right now, sadly. The Post-Star, which I worked for as a reporter and editor for 15 years and contributed to consistently since 1990 until the freelance budget dried up last year, is now chain-owned and clinging to life — barely. It makes me so sad.

And the local weekly, which could ﬁll the void, isn’t really stepping up to do so, choosing to run controversial front-page letters to the editor over news content that people need.

So, reading your paper was refreshing and fun, and I wanted to send a shout-out. Keep up the good work! Vermonters are lucky to have Seven Days.

David Blow QUEENSBURY, N.Y.

Blow is a communications professor at Vermont State University-Castleton.

I was surprised to read about the relatively low annual salary that the city allots to urban park ranger Neil Preston [“Tent City,” August 13]. Given the extraordinary di culties and the dangers that he faces daily, he should be making at least as much as Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, who does not personally encounter such issues.

With his hard work, helpful manner and plain old common sense, Neil does the best possible job that anyone could do given the impossible challenges that he faces — a claim that, with certainty, I cannot make about our current mayor.

Ned Preston (no relation to Neil) BURLINGTON

ACCURATE DATA NEEDED

I’m glad Seven Days clariﬁed that there are no facts supporting the outrageous claim that the mutual aid feeding program’s move from the sidewalk by Burlington’s Marketplace Garage led to a decrease in negative behavior at the garage [“Burlington Council Debates Crime ‘Data’ From Parking Garage,” August 5]. I’m disappointed the article framed the city council debate as “bickering” and an attempt to score political points. It was not.

Progressives set the record straight to counter the false narrative, previously published in Seven Days, that implied the food program’s relocation to City Hall Park would cause negative impacts there. No evidence supports that.

The new story makes it clear the claims were made up. Progressives set the record straight because, as I said at the meeting, “The implication that the feeding program will lead to even more problems in City Hall Park than we had before they moved to the College Street sidewalk is not based on accurate and fair data. But it gets reported in the media. People tune in to our meetings.

Unwarranted fears are stoked. It reinforces the false belief that downtown is unsafe to come to. This is not what our downtown needs to attract people. Despite our problems, downtown is safe. The Festival of Fools is proof of that.”

Progressives are not bickering. We want solutions, and as I said in my unreported meeting comments, “We need accurate and fair data. Otherwise, we are apt to make policy and operational decisions that are harmful, wasteful and nonimpactful. Let’s not make that mistake with the feeding program.”

Gene Bergman BURLINGTON

Bergman is a Progressive Burlington city councilor from Ward 2.

MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

[Re “Out of Service?” July 16]: I am a senior citizen who takes buses almost every day. It was a really unpleasant surprise when Green Mountain Transit announced it was cutting down and eliminating some bus routes starting mid-June 2025. The bus I usually take, City Loop No. 8, is now running only once an hour. The other buses I take are airport bus No. 11, Essex Junction No. 2 and Williston No. 1.

CORRECTION

In last week’s “Free Will Astrology” column, we failed to run the author’s revised horoscope for Scorpio. The updated text now appears online. Our apologies for any astrological missteps this may have caused.

Riding those buses, I haven’t noticed fewer passengers. No. 1 is full or almost full when I am on board, and during the school season bus No. 8 is full with students.

The media advises us to take public transport instead of our own cars to reduce the pollution, but how can we do it if bus routes are reduced? Even when I had a car, I only used it for work and would take buses all the other times.

Having a good public transport is essential for everyone, and there shouldn’t be any cuts. On the contrary, there should be more buses driving more often and to many more destinations. For example, the South Burlington library is pretty far from the bus station. Introducing a shuttle bus would be of great help.

The elimination of buses and bus routes is not the only problem — there are many bus stations without a cover and often not even a bench to sit down. It’s very difficult in winter, when bus stations are piled up with snow. I once hurt my knee when coming out of the bus, landing on a rock that was covered in ice and snow.

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TO RUN

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Little Beneﬁt e federal budget bill will make it harder for Vermonters to qualify for food assistance. Food shelves are bracing.

STUCK IN VERMONT

Feds to Seek Death Penalty in Killing of Border Patrol Agent

Without a Trace Chris Harper vanished from the streets of Burlington. Nine months later, his parents are desperate for answers.

Vermont Business Heavyweight Rich Tarrant Dies at 83

New Owner Says Most Gardener’s Supply Stores Will Remain Open

I own Burlington Records. I've been running the store since 2010, buying and selling vinyl LPs and CDs — new and second hand — in downtown Burlington.

There is nothing I enjoy more than providing a super clean and organized storefront, while offering 15,000 items across literally every genre and niche. From Fela Kuti to Fugazi, from Bob Dylan to your newest pop sensation, there is something here for everyone.

Every day I have deep conversations with locals and visitors about every topic imaginable. There is one thing that everyone shares who comes through our doors… a passion for music.

I feel like there truly is no other place quite like Burlington and look forward to many more years here.

Days Eva Sollberger

MAGNIFICENT

SUNDAY 24

Partners in Wine

Green Mountain grit, terroir and taste assume the spotlight at the Vermont Grape & Wine Council’s pilot Vinous Rebellious at Ellison Estate Vineyard in Grand Isle. Pours and production-driven deep dives take ﬂight as local wine lovers — and those ready to be won over — sample from a broad selection curated by more than a dozen of the state’s vintners.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 65

THURSDAY 21

BIKE HIKE

Once upon a time, director Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman were just starting out. Unfathomable,

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY REBECCA DRISCOLL no? is week’s edition of Flicks in the Park brings the dynamic duo’s 1985 debut feature, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, to the big screen at Burlington’s City Hall Park. Cinephiles settle in under the stars to watch pop-culture icon Paul Reubens as the eponymous eccentric in a quirky cross-country quest to ﬁnd his stolen bicycle.

FRIDAY 22

Power to the People

Ukrainian youths lift spirits with “Voices From Ukraine: Stories of War & Hope,” an empowering original musical at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington. e poignant performance zooms in on ﬁve courageous young people as they share ﬁrsthand recollections of war’s devastating toll — and, above all, moments of resilience — told through movement, song and story.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

FRIDAY 22 & SATURDAY 23

Into the Woods

Fat Dragon Farm wood-ﬁred pizza, interactive art installations and genre-defying performances make for a memorable “Water in the Wood” weekend at the Sable Project in Stockbridge. Attendees dig into made-to-order pies and back-to-back stagings of a show collaboratively crafted by the Sable Ensemble — a company of artists who live off-grid.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SATURDAY 23

Good Vibrations

Unity and positivity abound throughout the Vermont Reggae Fest at Switchback Brewing in Burlington. A kid-friendly Bob Marley set by the Rock and Roll Playhouse kicks off the day, followed by a powerhouse lineup of acts including genre stalwarts Barrington Levy and John Brown’s Body, as well as homegrown talent Channel Two Dub Band. We hope you like jammin’, too!

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 57

ONGOING

Putter Fingers

A world of whimsical wonders awaits players at Highland Center for the Arts’ Enchanted Kingdom Mini Golf in Greensboro. e intricate nine-hole course designed and crafted by local artists closes for the season on August 31, so grab the fam and buckle up for a hole lotta fun among towering toadstools, sinister snakes and spiders, and a fantastical frog king.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 61

ONGOING

Branching Out

May the forest be with you! Acclaimed artist Bunny Harvey’s exhibit at the Tunbridge General Store Gallery showcases ethereal, abstract and even haunting works on paper. Scenes of nature rendered in stark, photo-like black and white — or conversely, in loud, gestural swaths of color — stir the senses, extracting unexpected emotion from otherwise ordinary subjects.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Sharing Is Caring

How do you turn $100 into $25,000? That vexing question, on the lips of every nonprofit board chair and development director in Vermont these days, has an answer: giving circles. Four times a year, a group called 100+ Women Who Care-Chittenden County collects a C-note from each of its members and doles out the total to three local orgs that have been nominated, vetted and chosen in a drawing.

After hearing a five-minute pitch from each one, the women vote. The winner gets $10,000, plus an additional $5,000 from a Minnesota foundation that supports this kind of philanthropy. The runnersup each get $5,000 in this version of “Shark Tank” — not bad for a consolation prize.

I know all this because Seven Days was a recipient of the group’s largesse. Specifically, it went to our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, Journalism Funding Partners, which helps pay for our investigative journalism. Earlier this year we got an email letting us know we had been selected to make a case for the funding. The winter meeting was virtual, so deputy publisher Cathy Resmer and I got five minutes on Zoom — in front of dozens of women — to explain why our local newspaper is struggling to continue its good work and how their contributions could help us.

Pitching voters on a computer screen was a little nerve-racking, but I guess they liked what they heard — enough to award us the largest check. It all happened fast, with no grant application, review of financial reports or other red tape.

I was deeply grateful, of course, but also wanted to know more about this generous group — and to personally become part of it. That’s how I found myself walking the corridors of South Burlington’s University Mall on a Wednesday evening late last month. Across from the AT&T store, I found a vacant storefront filling up with women — mostly my age and older — for a quarterly meeting of 100+ Women Who Care-Chittenden County.

100+ Women Who Care-Chittenden County

After about 15 minutes of spirited socializing, steering committee member Lynda Siegel took the mic, juggling the in-room sound system and online attendees. A former teacher at the Integrated Arts Academy at H.O. Wheeler in Burlington’s Old North End, she knows how to control a crowd.

We heard from the immediate past winner — a representative from Salvation Farms gave a brief report — before attention turned to the current contenders: the Composting Association of Vermont, Never Give Up Ever and All Brains Belong VT. The trio was chosen randomly from 77 member-nominated nonprofits.

I already knew a bit about All Brains Belong VT, which received the most votes. Seven Days reporter Ken Picard wrote a story in January about the local nonprofit redefining neurodivergent health care. But I was eager to learn more about the other two nonprofits that each got $5,000.

After the quick business of determining the lucky recipients, there was cake and Champagne to mark the fifth birthday of the group, inspired by the 100 Who Care Alliance, which has more than 650 chapters around the world. Local founder Barbara Keller had the idea before the pandemic but launched it mid-crisis, in July 2020. Thirty-five members ponied up $100 each for the first award. One recipient, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, walked away with a $3,500 check. By January 2021, membership had surpassed 100 — hence the “plus” sign.

Now 228 strong, 100+ Women Who Care has since donated $334,148 to 59 nonprofits serving Chittenden County, leveraging another $65,000 from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Franklin and Addison counties have their own giving circles.

“When you call somebody and say, ‘You’ve been nominated to potentially get a $15,000 donation,’ nobody ever hangs up the phone,” Siegel said of her gratifying volunteer job.

“Many women want to be philanthropic, and they don’t have a lot of money, necessarily, of their own to give away. There’s something about the pooled giving that’s really appealing — the fact that your money can have such a huge impact,” Siegel added.

If the group continues to grow, it will either increase the amount of the primary award or the number of runners-up — or both. All those $100 bills add up.

Join the caring crowd at 100wwcvt.com.

Paula Routly

“I REALLY ENJOY SEVEN DAYS AND TRY TO GET IT EVERY WEEK. WHILE I DON’T READ EVERY ARTICLE AND EVERY SECTION, I FIND WHAT I DO INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE, AND ALWAYS WELL WRITTEN. AND BEING NEW TO THE AREA, I APPRECIATE FINDING

Louise Roumagoux, Burlington SUPER READER SINCE JUNE 2025

Welcome, new Super Readers!

ese wonderful people made their ﬁrst donation to Seven Days this week:

Josh Baker

Marc Chartier

Katherine Coppock

Robert W. Davis

Arthur Johnson

Stephen Znamierowski

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year:

Christine Armstrong

Alison Bechdel

Lisa Coven

Mary Fasano

Rita Foley

Barbara Heilman

Jane & Clyde Holt

Barbara Johnson

Abby Kenney

Mary Longey

Maria & Dennis Mahoney

Amy McVey

Margaret Moore

Maryanne Roberts

Andrea Rosen

Lisa Scagliotti

William Stern

Christina E. Veladota

Laura Waters

Timothy Weiss

Terrance Boyle & Robin Worn

Join these generous folks and other Super Readers who donate monthly to:

Make your contribution today! sevendaysvt.com/super-readers

Or send a a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402.

Need more info? Contact Gillian English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

IDX FOUNDER TARRANT DIES

GARDENER’S SUPPLY STAYS ALIVE

Little Benefit

e federal budget bill will make it harder for Vermonters to qualify for food assistance. Food shelves are bracing.

BY COLIN FLANDERS colin@sevendaysvt.com

Thousands of Vermonters are at risk of losing federal food assistance under the sweeping domestic policy legislation signed into law last month by President Donald Trump.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides tax breaks to the wealthy while slashing social safety net programs used by some of the nation’s poorest residents. Among the law’s wide-ranging impacts are new restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, on which some 65,000 Vermonters rely.

POLITICS

CRIME Feds to Seek Death Penalty in Killing of Border Patrol Agent

BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com

e feds will seek the death penalty against the 21-year-old woman who they say shot and killed a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a Vermont trafﬁc stop in January.

e news comes after a federal grand jury last ursday indicted Teresa Youngblut of Seattle, Wash., on four new criminal counts, including the murder of border patrol agent David “Chris” Maland. Michael P. Drescher, the acting U.S. attorney for the district of Vermont, ﬁled notice with the court that the government would seek to execute Youngblut if she is convicted, in part because Maland was a law enforcement ofﬁcer.

e federal government has executed only one woman in the past 72 years. However, shortly after Maland’s death, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi lifted a moratorium on capital punishment in federal cases that had been established under former president Joe Biden. In announcing the change, Bondi directed U.S. attorneys throughout the country to pursue the death penalty under certain circumstances, including when the victim is a law enforcement ofﬁcer. Her memo speciﬁed that the directive would apply to the Vermont case.

The new law makes it harder to qualify for SNAP by imposing stricter work requirements and by revoking eligibility

for certain immigrant groups. Roughly 10 percent of people in Vermont’s SNAP program — known as 3SquaresVT — could be impacted, according to state estimates. Many of them are homeless. Vermont will also be forced to pay millions more to administer the program.

The cuts will increase pressure on local food banks, where demand has grown amid Vermont’s a ordability crisis, and could hurt small grocers and local farmers who rely on customers who buy products with the beneﬁts.

State o cials say they’re working to contact impacted residents before the stricter rules take effect in February. Some may still be exempt from the work requirements for other reasons, such as if they have a disability. Others may need to

make adjustments to meet the new rules. But the impacts could be severe.

“Congress created a policy and passed a bill that’s going to put our veterans, our parents of young children, older Vermonters, all kinds of people across the spectrum ... at risk, and that is really unconscionable,” said John Sayles, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank, at a press conference in Barre last week.

Made permanent in 1964 under president Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society program, food stamps have long served as a vital strand of the American safety net, ensuring that tens of millions of families don’t go hungry.

In Vermont, anyone earning less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level

Felix Bauckholt and Youngblut had drawn the attention of authorities in the Northeast Kingdom by donning black tactical gear. Law enforcement ofﬁcers surveilled them for days. Authorities have said that on January 20, agents stopped Youngblut and Bauckholt’s vehicle near Coventry because they believed Bauckholt’s visa was expired. (It was not.)

Youngblut allegedly drew a Glock pistol and opened ﬁre at Maland. Other border patrol agents returned ﬁre, killing Bauckholt, a German citizen. Youngblut was wounded.

e shooting brought international attention to the cultlike extremist group of philosophers known as the Zizians, who authorities have linked to murders in California and Pennsylvania. Prior to the shootout, Youngblut and Bauckholt appear to have been living with other Zizian adherents, who took special interest in veganism, gender identity, artiﬁcial intelligence and rationalist philosophy.

Youngblut has been imprisoned since the shootout. No trial date has been set. ➆

Teresa Youngblut

From left: Tyler Morrison speaking with Emmanuelle Soumeilhan and Natasha Long

Without a Trace

Chris Harper vanished from the streets of Burlington. Nine months later, his parents are desperate for answers.

BY COLIN FLANDERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

Sandy and Jesse Harper sat outside a relative’s RV at North Beach Campground in Burlington last Thursday and leafed through a thick notebook. The pages contained Sandy’s notes related to her son’s disappearance, describing things such as phone calls with a detective, a flyer she’d stapled to a community board, a visit to a Queen City homeless encampment.

“Every single thing that we have done since the beginning,” Sandy said.

The beginning dates to November 15, the last day anyone can remember seeing their 38-year-old son, Chris. He left a Burlington homeless shelter that morning carrying a hiking pack, a walking stick and a long skateboard.

A week later, he still had not contacted his family, which was unusual. So, in late November, the Harpers filed a missing person report. Since then, they have consulted with detectives assigned to the case and undertaken their own search, hanging flyers with their son’s photo, but there has been no trace of Chris. Nor have there been any tips about what may have happened to him — even after the Harpers offered a $5,000 reward. That has led police to conclude he is probably dead.

company and a recycling center. But his substance use became a constant challenge. He started with alcohol, his parents said, and moved on to harder drugs.

He struggled to hold a job and pay his bills. He was arrested several times for driving under the influence and in connection with domestic disputes.

His parents repeatedly intervened, taking him back to Delaware to help him get back on his feet. But he always returned to Vermont and to his struggles.

After living in the Jeffersonville area for roughly five years, Chris moved into a sober house in Colchester in 2023. Chittenden County didn’t appeal to him as much as the rest of Vermont, Sandy said, and he wanted to return to a more rural area after his life stabilized.

NEVER BEFORE HAD DET. KRATOCHVIL WORKED A CASE WHERE SOMEONE WAS, SUDDENLY, “JUST GONE.”

The sober house seemed to help Chris control his drinking. But his behavior became increasingly erratic, according to the house manager, who told police that Chris appeared to be misusing a different substance: kratom.

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Hi,

I'm Sipha.

The Harpers and their two other children cling to hope even as they acknowledge the likelihood of an unhappy outcome. Yet it is the not knowing that’s the worst of all for Sandy and Jesse. Not knowing whether their son is scared or suffering. Not knowing whether they’ll ever get to truly say goodbye.

“It’s eating us up inside,” Sandy said, as she sat at the picnic table where she’d laid out “Missing” posters.

Born and raised in suburban Delaware, Chris was always drawn to the outdoors. He chose to attend Johnson State College, where he studied alternative medicine and wellness, and he quickly fell in love with rural Vermont. After graduating, Chris bounced around, working a range of jobs that included gigs at a maple syrup

A powdered herbal supplement derived from the leaves of a tree in Southeast Asia, kratom is sold across the U.S. Users tout its health benefits. Many people take it to treat depression and anxiety. Others turn to it to deal with opioid withdrawal symptoms or to wean themselves off harder drugs.

Kratom is largely unregulated and little is known about its long-term effects, which is why several states, including Vermont, have banned its sale. (Chris made regular trips to Plattsburgh, N.Y., to purchase kratom.)

In small doses, it can act as a stimulant. But higher doses can produce euphoric sensations similar to an opioid high, experts say. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has reported cases of apparent psychosis resulting from prolonged heavy use.

The sober-house manager and a friend of Chris’ told police that he appeared to be suffering from hallucinations. One

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BUSINESS

Vermont Business Heavyweight Rich Tarrant

Dies at 83

BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com

Rich Tarrant, the Vermont basketball All-American, businessman, politician and philanthropist who made his fortune at IDX Systems and waged a spirited political challenge against Bernie Sanders for the U.S. Senate in 2006, died of cancer on August 12 at his home in Florida. He was 83.

Tarrant, a New Jersey child of Irish immigrants, debuted in Vermont in the 1960s as a transfer athlete at Saint Michael’s College, where he smashed most men’s basketball records on the way to becoming the college’s first and only first-team All-American. He led the team to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II national tournament in 1965. The college later retired his jersey, No. 22.

A few years later, Tarrant and several business partners, including Robert Hoehl, founded a health care information-technology company that later became IDX Systems. The University of Vermont was one of the company’s first clients, Tarrant would say. IDX became a significant player in the industry. General Electric scooped up IDX for $1.2 billion in 2006.

Tarrant used a portion of his growing fortune to buy a 2005 Bentley Coupe GT. He also self-financed a run for the U.S. Senate in 2006. His chief opponent was Sanders, who was hoping to move up from the House of Representatives. The late Seven Days political columnist Peter Freyne dubbed the Republican candidate “Richie Rich” and analyzed how his slick campaign ads hailed a new era of big-money politics in Vermont.

Sanders won nearly two-thirds of the vote.

Tarrant created the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation with his second wife in 2005. The organization donated tens of millions of dollars to various causes in Vermont, even after Tarrant moved his primary residence to Florida around 2010.

Rich Tarrant Jr. said his father made gifts throughout his life to help underprivileged kids, even before his big payday with IDX.

“It’s always been a big part of his belief structure,” his son said. “You have to give back.” ➆

— about $28,000 for a single person or roughly $59,000 for a family of four — can qualify, and the average recipient receives about $187 a month. That money gets loaded onto a debit card that can be swiped at more than 600 participating food retailers and 40 farmers markets.

The benefits provide a critical, though not entirely adequate, way for low-income people to feed themselves, said Tom Donahue, CEO of BROC Community Action, which works with many clients on SNAP across Rutland and Bennington counties. “It’s not the whole budget, and it’s far from it,” Donahue said. “People are sometimes surprised when I talk about 3Squares and how much people get; it’s not what they might have imagined.”

Currently, adults without disabilities or dependent children can access SNAP benefits for just three months every three years, unless they can verify that they’re working at least 80 hours a month. Certain groups, including veterans and homeless people, are exempt from these work requirements.

The new law eliminates those exemptions. It also requires people to work until they are 65 and requires people with children 14 and older to work. (Previously, people 55 and older and anyone with dependents were exempt.)

The changes will impact at least 4,000 Vermonters who are currently exempt from work requirements, according to state data. They include about 2,300 people with teenage dependents and about 1,600 people who are homeless. (State officials did not have data on how many people between the ages of 55 and 64 will be impacted but said many will likely remain eligible under other exemptions.)

Some people may already be working or volunteering enough hours to meet the new rules. But research shows that whenever social welfare programs create new requirements, eligible applicants get caught up in the red tape.

“There’s going to be people who meet every requirement, and then the paperwork gets messed up because they don’t have an address,” Donahue said.

The new law also cuts off benefits for certain noncitizens living in the U.S. legally. (Undocumented residents already don’t qualify.) Among the newly ineligible are refugees, people who have been granted asylum and survivors of human trafficking. State officials estimate 1,650 people will lose benefits in Vermont due to this change.

Congressional Republicans say the changes are necessary to tackle fraud and abuse and will ensure that people on social benefit programs contribute to

society. But critics argue that research on work requirements has consistently yielded mixed results, effectively reducing SNAP participation without increasing employment. This can be especially pronounced in rural states such as Vermont.

Advocates are calling on lawmakers and Gov. Phil Scott to increase support for statefunded nutritional programs in response.

THE CUTS WILL INCREASE PRESSURE ON LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND COULD HURT SMALL GROCERS AND LOCAL FARMERS WHO RELY ON CUSTOMERS WHO USE THE BENEFITS.

“Vermont has a long legacy of being a leader in bold policies that ensure food security for all,” said Ivy Enoch, director of policy and advocacy at Hunger Free Vermont. “Now is the moment to lead again.”

The state began its current fiscal year with large reserve funds that Scott and lawmakers created with federal cuts in mind. But different interests will compete for those dollars at a time when the rest of the social safety net is also fraying, and it’s unclear whether the state will be able to offset the SNAP losses.

Doing so could become even more difficult as the federal government begins offloading more of the cost. States currently split SNAP’s administrative costs with the federal government. Starting next year, though, states will need to pick up 75 percent of the tab, a shift that’s expected to cost Vermont about $8.5 million.

States with a high error rate — meaning they mistakenly pay people too much or too little — will also be required to pay a portion of the benefits themselves, which, as a result, could force them to scale back their programs. Vermont’s rate of 5 percent remains just below the 6 percent threshold, allowing the state to avoid those extra costs. But the margin for error is slim.

Among those impacted by the new federal law is Natasha Long, 35, who is currently exempt from work requirements because she is homeless. Long spent time living on the streets due to a drug addiction and has relied on SNAP benefits to get by.

Now four months sober, Long is staying at a temporary shelter in Barre and receives the maximum monthly amount: $292. But the dollars don’t go nearly as far these days. “Grocery store prices are just crazy,” she said, recalling days when a carton of large eggs used to cost less than $3. “Now it’s $5, $6 in some places.”

Complicating matters, she’s allotted only half a shelf in the shelter’s community fridge, which prevents her from buying in bulk. She’s usually exhausted her benefits within two weeks and visits a food shelf run by Capstone Community Action, a

Pantry box preparation at Burlington’s Feeding Chittenden (now Feeding Champlain Valley) in 2020

nonprofit that serves central Vermont, to feed herself the rest of the month.

People who use Capstone’s food shelf in Barre must fill out an intake form describing their situation. Most file in the fall, as the new fiscal year begins, according to Emmanuelle Soumeilhan, the shelf’s director.

But on a recent tour, Soumeilhan picked up a manila folder on her desk and flipped through its contents: dozens of forms that had been submitted in the past week alone. Typically, she’ll get no more than 10 per month.

“People that haven’t been here in ages are coming back all of a sudden,” she said. “They’re nervous. They’re stocking up. They’re taking all the canned goods and loading up their cupboards, because they’re worried SNAP’s gonna snap.”

Demand at Vermont food shelves spiked during the pandemic and has yet to subside. Ramping up to meet even higher need in the wake of SNAP cuts could be difficult for the mostly volunteer-led organizations. Some donations are down as people tighten their wallets amid a period of economic uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the Vermont Foodbank learned earlier this year that it would be receiving less food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a result of federal budget cuts.

Donahue, of BROC Community Action, said he expects his two food shelves to be “bombarded” once the SNAP cuts go into effect. He was confident that his nonprofit would be able to meet the moment, thanks in part to a robust program in which local restaurants and grocery stores donate still-good food that they would otherwise throw out.

Others aren’t so sure.

The Colchester Community Food Shelf is already struggling to stock its shelves due to lagging donations and rising grocery prices. Volunteers say meeting higher demand could force them to scale back the amount of food they provide.

“We see a lot of the same faces every month,” food shelf president Rebecca Wager said. “You get to know them. It’s hard to say, ‘We have to give you less this month.’”

Long, the Barre woman, is volunteering at Capstone’s food shelf to build up her résumé. The hours she logs should allow her to remain on SNAP until she can find a new job. But she worries about her friends still living on the streets, many of whom aren’t in stable enough situations to work or volunteer.

“We lost sight a long time ago of taking care of people,” she said. “But this is just ridiculous.” ➆

New Owner Says Most Gardener’s Supply Stores Will Remain Open

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN courtney@sevendaysvt.com

The Indiana-based firm that purchased Gardener’s Supply pledged last week to keep most of the company’s retail stores open even as it closes other operations.

That’s the first substantial update from Gardens Alive! since it acquired the iconic Vermont company through bankruptcy proceedings. The $9 million sale closed on August 8.

Gardens Alive! announced that only the seasonal garden center in Shelburne would close as part of the deal. Five other stores — in Williston, Burlington’s Intervale, New Hampshire and Massachusetts — will remain open, and all workers will keep their jobs, the release says.

Gardens Alive! CEO Felix Cooper said the Gardener’s Supply name would remain on its stores and products. “It’s a great brand,” he said.

Forty or so customer service and warehouse employees in Burlington and Milton were laid off earlier this month ahead of the sale. None of those workers — some of whom had worked at Gardener’s for decades — received any severance pay.

Founded in 1983, Gardener’s Supply was one of the state’s first employeeowned companies and became a go-to spot for plants, seeds and tools. At one time, the company had 126 full-time workers and close to 300 part-timers. But after a pandemic boom, business tanked, prompting the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. In court filings, the company indicated it wished to sell to Gardens Alive!, a competitor that has acquired at least nine other gardening businesses since its 1984 founding.

Gardens Alive! will now ship goods from a center in Fairfield, Ohio. Some products will continue to be made at a Georgia, Vt.-based manufacturing facility, the company said.

Gardens Alive! will look to hire in other, unspecified areas, the press release said, and has already started conversations with long-term vendors.

“We continue to dig in to fully understand how best to stabilize the business,” Cooper said. “We see a lot of opportunity for positive momentum.” ➆

Without

night, his parents said, Chris called his father at 3 a.m. saying that people were chasing him down a mountain and that he needed help.

“Someone was after him,” Jesse Harper said.

Sandy shook her head.

“That could’ve also been a paranoid state,” she said gently. “We just don’t know.”

What is known is that by November 2024, Chris was in a rough spot. Pushed out of the sober house, he was living at a homeless shelter in Burlington, where police say his continued kratom use was again causing tension. Meanwhile, his car had broken down.

The case eventually landed with Det. Eric Kratochvil. Over time, he came to view it as highly unusual.

That’s because missing persons cases are usually resolved quickly. Often, people are found at or near home, dead either of natural or accidental causes or by their own hand. The few cases that drag out usually involve people who don’t want to be found but eventually turn up.

Never before had Kratochvil worked a case where someone was, suddenly, “just gone,” he said.

Kratochvil figured Chris’ phone records, bank statements and email accounts might produce leads. He had a problem, though: Judges only sign off on

His parents again stepped in. They sent him money to get his car fixed and bought him plane tickets and dress clothes for his sister’s wedding in mid-December. The efforts seemed to buoy their son, who they said sounded upbeat and hopeful in the days before his disappearance.

“He was trying so hard to get his life together,” Sandy said. “He wanted to make us proud.”

At first, when they didn’t hear from him for a few days, Sandy figured he was busy or having phone problems. By the fourth day, she’d had enough: She began calling around to Chris’ friends and, several days later, contacted the Burlington Police Department.

The case was first referred to a community service officer, one of BPD’s unarmed employees tasked with responding to quality-of-life calls. That officer learned that Chris left the homeless shelter on November 15, without intending to return.

search warrants when police can show that they have reason to believe a crime has occurred.

So Kratochvil leveraged the fact that after disappearing, Chris had failed to check in with his probation officer, which had led to a warrant for his arrest. Checking his accounts would determine whether he had absconded, the detective argued.

“It was kind of a stretch,” Kratochvil conceded. “But the judge recognized what we were trying to accomplish.”

The search warrants allowed police to examine Chris’ Gmail account, including his search history. His inbox turned up nothing useful. But Google searches performed on November 15 — the day he left the shelter — offered some clues to his state of mind.

He had looked up a few car repair shops, two of which confirmed for Kratochvil that Chris had subsequently called. He looked up a roofing company, perhaps

Jesse and Sandy Harper

in pursuit of employment. And he googled whether disconnecting his phone battery would prevent it from running out of juice, suggesting to Kratochvil that Chris’ phone was dying.

The final stop on his digital trail was on November 18, when he used his debit card to make a $7 purchase from a store in the Old North End that no longer had surveillance footage from that day.

He hasn’t touched what remains in his checking account — about $500.

Kratochvil concluded that Chris likely hadn’t left town. The detective spoke to old friends, former roommates and Chris’ girlfriend, all of whom said they had no idea where Chris might be. He also followed up on a series of

visited homeless encampments, where some people recognized Chris but didn’t know what had become of him. Sandy called the coroner’s office in Plattsburgh to see if they had any John Does. She hiked along the Winooski River in search of abandoned campsites. The visits left the Harpers exhausted, and they returned home each time feeling discouraged. Yet anything was better than waiting for the phone to ring.

Sandy briefly entertained farfetched theories that could explain someone surviving off-grid this long. She suggested to Kratochvil that Chris could have gotten hurt in the woods, and someone has been nursing him back to health in a cabin somewhere. The detective gently pointed out the improbability of such a scenario.

leads that trickled in: a man walking a bike along the road in rural Vermont, another living under a bridge in New Hampshire, a Chris P. Harper who was involved in a car crash in the state of Georgia. None panned out.

Kratochvil spoke with Sandy weekly, walking her through what he’d done and what else he could try, while listening to the results of the Harpers’ own search.

The retired couple — Sandy, 65, was a paraeducator, while Jesse, 69, a proud union man, installed sprinkler systems for more than 40 years — first came to look for Chris in late November. They grew even more concerned when Chris missed his sister’s wedding the following month. They returned in January and April, spending a week each time scouring Vermont for clues.

They visited every town in which Chris had spent time during his 20 years in the state. They delivered flyers and

Last week, Kratochvil asked Chris’ parents to provide a DNA sample that could be compared with any unidentified human remains. It was a “sad moment,” Kratochvil said, a recognition that they had exhausted just about every lead.

The reward remains the best hope for finding Chris, Kratochvil said. Either someone will finally come forward with information, or they will go looking for Chris in hopes of obtaining the $5,000 reward.

The Harpers are considering whether to increase the amount offered, even though they can barely afford to pay the current reward. They would have to ask for help to increase it, perhaps through a GoFundMe campaign, an idea that makes Sandy feel uneasy.

In the absence of answers, the grieving parents have formed their own differing conclusions about what happened to their son.

Jesse is adamant that someone made Chris disappear, while Sandy believes it is just as likely that he suffered some accident, such as a fall while hiking. Kratochvil, meanwhile, suspects that Chris’ remains may eventually be discovered at some abandoned campsite in the woods.

The Harpers returned to Delaware last Friday no closer to the truth. They will likely be back in the fall, they said, and again after that — however long it takes.

LGBTQIA+ Cancer Experiences Story Listening Workshop!

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A collaboration with:

We are seeking LGBTQIA+ Vermonters with cancer experiences (and their family caregivers) who are interested in sharing their stories and listening to others. This full day workshop will include an optional paid research component where participants can complete surveys and audio record stories. Meals and snacks will be provided.

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No smartphone or email access? Register by phone at: (802) 448-5062

Chris Harper

START THE SCHOOL YEAR

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We desperately need more buses to take us where we need to go, as well as covered bus stations. So much money is spent on fireworks, space travel, firearms, etc., I am sure there must be enough money to support the public transport.

Vesna Dye BURLINGTON

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month

#PsoriasisAwarenessMonth

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that affects over 8 million people in the US.

Psoriasis is NOT contagious, but it can be confusing and isolating, especially for kids.

NECTAR, THE MAN

[Re Soundbites: “Who Killed Nectar’s?”

August 6; “No Encore: Nectar’s Closes for Good,” July 30; Soundbites: “Closing Time at Nectar’s?” June 11; “’We’ve Been Hit Hard’: Nectar’s to Close for the Summer in June,” May 8]: I have truly appreciated the excellent coverage of what Nectar’s has meant to the music

CITY-RUN NECTAR’S?

[Re Soundbites: “Who Killed Nectar’s?” August 6; “No Encore: Nectar’s Closes for Good,” July 30]: In response to the shutdown of Nectar’s, I’d like to suggest a solution: Why not have the city government take over and run Nectar’s? There’s nothing radical or unprecedented about the City of Burlington running a popular music venue, given that it owned and operated 242 Main for 30 years. And I would argue that a venue like Nectar’s, one that’s synonymous with the general idea of what Burlington is, contributes far more to the city’s bottom line than its own financial numbers would indicate.

Without venues like Nectar’s, Burlington loses its aura as a cool, desirable place to live. And if Nectar’s has seemed

This month is the perfect opportunity to help stomp out the stigma associated with this condition.

Psoriasis is NOT contagious, but it can be confusing and isolating, especially for kids.

Education is part of the cure.

At SWAE Skin we are here to help.

This month is the perfect opportunity to help stomp out the stigma associated with this condition. Education is part of the cure.

Every race can be affected by psoriasis and can look different depending on your skin type (red, pink, brown, white, etc).

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Check out the wonderful artwork of Spencer Erickson, who was 10 years old when he drew this picture of what psoriasis meant to him.

#PsoriasisAwarenessMonth

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Every race can be affected by psoriasis and it can look different depending on your skin type (red, pink, brown, white, etc).

Check out the wonderful artwork of Spencer Erickson, who was 10 years old when he drew this picture of what psoriasis meant to him.

Let's work on this condition together. Call us if we can be of service to you.

scene in Vermont, but before Nectar’s was on the radar in a big way, there was Nectar Rorris himself, behind the counter serving up hot turkey sandwiches, an anchor for Burlington.

Nectar likely helped more people than the welfare department — people who needed a job, a meal, a place to live, a loan. Nectar was there, solid, dependable and willing to lend a hand. All heart. I hope he is remembered for this, too, as well as the best place for lunch, where you could stay as long as you wanted in a comfy booth and smoke cigarettes until the law forbid it.

Nectar was Nectar’s.

Sally Ballin SOUTH BURLINGTON

Editor’s note: For more about Nectar’s, search the Seven Days archive for Dan Bolles’ November 25, 2015, cover story: “It’s All Gravy: Burlington’s Landmark Nightclub Turns 40.”

like a shadow of its former self in recent years, why not try to revitalize it under new (public) ownership? Especially since the final shutdown of Nectar’s was due to a dispute with a landlord. The city has already forced the sale of one Handy property (184 Church Street) for the greater good of the community. Surely, there’s a way to make all this happen with enough political will.

I, for one, am sick and tired of passively accepting the loss of important places and services due to “the market,” which is every bit as much a human-created institution as laws and governments. The Burlington renaissance began with then-mayor Bernie Sanders (whose administration founded 242 Main) refusing to accept the market dictating that we couldn’t have nice things. If we want Burlington’s glory days to return, we need to rediscover that energy.

David Wilcox WINOOSKI

Nectar Rorris selling his famous gravy fries from the takeout window in the 1990s

ANOTHER WORD ON SUTER

Thank you, Seven Days , for [Life Stories: “‘Nathan’s Superpower Was Connecting People’: Nathan Suter, February 14, 1973-May 13, 2025,” July 23]. Nathan was the driving force behind creating the very first Vermont State Middle School Track & Field Championship in 2024! His gift was the “superpower” ability to collaborate with anyone and anybody to create opportunities for everyone involved with Vermont track and field.

He knew how to subtly command a room and compel people to do things that they previously weren’t inclined to do — especially stuck-in-their-ways Vermont middle school coaches!

That he secured the University of Vermont as the venue for a first-ever Middle School Track & Field Championship and orchestrated a community of coaches, parents, athletic directors and athletes is exactly why the 2025 (and beyond!) state track meet championship was named after him — such a great tribute and honor!

Very fitting that Montpelier won the championship this year!

Gary Russell BRISTOL

Editor’s note: Russell is a social studies teacher and track-and-field coach at Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School and the football coach at South Burlington High School.

RECS ARE DIRTY

The July 2 issue of Seven Days had an article by Kevin McCallum about an error the Burlington Electric Department made that cost the owners of the McNeil Generating Station nearly $1 million in the missed sale of renewable energy credits [“Up in Smoke”]. More serious problems are facing Burlington Electric and McNeil than this financial loss, however.

The sale of RECs is based on the premise that burning wood is carbon neutral, and McNeil’s use of wood is one of the reasons the City of Burlington prides itself on becoming a net-zero city by 2030. Both contentions, however, are the result of a carefully crafted deception by the biomass (wood-burning) industry.

Burning wood puts lots of carbon dioxide into the air — more than coal, in fact — and all that CO2 contributes to global warming. The pollution, however, is not assigned to McNeil but, instead, to the landowners whose wood was harvested, transported to McNeil and then burned.

McNeil and the City of Burlington are made to seem clean, even though without the McNeil operation no wood would be harvested or burned.

The RECs are dirty, worse than coal, and Burlington will never be a net-zero city as long as McNeil keeps burning wood. Hiding that pollution in a clever bookkeeping scheme will not change those facts. The real problem facing Burlington Electric management is not that some RECs could not be sold; the real problem is that they can be sold at all.

Leendert Huisman SOUTH BURLINGTON

MCNEIL MALARKY

[Re “Up in Smoke: A Mistake at the McNeil Wood-Burning Plant Cost the Burlington Electric Department Nearly $1 Million,” July 2]: Kevin McCallum’s continued investigation into the McNeil Generating Station leads to the obvious conclusion: McNeil should be closed for economic and ecological reasons! Why?

1. McNeil consistently loses a lot of money. McCallum reported last year that “McNeil has operated in the red in all but two of the past nine years, racking up a total of $29.2 million in losses” [“Burning Cash: Opponents of Burlington’s Biomass Power Plant Zero In on Steep Financial Losses,” August 14].

2. McNeil is the largest single source of carbon emissions in Vermont (approximately 453,000 tons/year).

3. McNeil is the state’s largest source of industrial air pollution (per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), emitting a toxic cocktail of chemicals in addition to CO2, including ammonia, arsenic, benzene, chlorobenzene, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid. Yikes!

4. McNeil is set to lose even more money. It is very probable that McNeil will lose future renewable energy credits ($3 million to $4 million).

Burlington’s Net Zero Energy Roadmap omits McNeil from its equation (rationale: It’s renewable energy! We don’t have to count all the pollution!) But burning wood emits more greenhouse gases per kilowatt hour of energy than the dirtiest fossil fuels. It’s malarky to state that biomass is renewable “because trees regrow.” Forests are efficient carbon sinks, and it takes decades or perhaps even centuries to regain that strength if they are cut down.

I hope I am not the only one who is reading the writing on the wall: McNeil is a pollution nightmare and a money pit. Burlington can do better!

Leslie Swackhamer SOUTH BURLINGTON

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Ann Goodenough Dinse

APRIL 21, 1924-

AUGUST 10, 2025

SHELBURNE, VT.

Ann Goodenough Dinse of Shelburne, Vt., died peacefully in her sleep on August 10, 2025, age 101. She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Dinse of Warren, Maine, and her daughter, Dede Johnston of Aspen, Colo., and London, England, as well as her three grandchildren and ﬁve great-grandchildren.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Ann was born in Rochester, N.Y., on April 21, 1924, the daughter of Swayne Peters Goodenough and Ruth ompson Goodenough. She earned a degree in biochemistry from the University of Rochester in 1945. During the war, she supported the effort by volunteering and working in factories and was eventually employed by the Manhattan Project in New York City as a research associate.

Nancy King

Bou ard

DECEMBER 6, 1939AUGUST 6, 2025 MILTON, VT.

Nancy Jean King Bouffard, 85 (she’d say 58) years young, of Milton, Vt., and New Smyrna Beach, Fla., passed away unexpectedly on August 6, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt.

Nancy was born on December 6, 1939, in the Sherwood Sanatorium in St. Albans, Vt. e middle daughter of Lloyd Linwood (Red) King and Esther Story Strait King of Richford, Vt., Nancy was raised in Richford along with her two sisters on the family dairy farm. She was a 1957 graduate of Richford High School, where she was active in cheerleading, glee club, choir, band and basketball. After graduation from high school, Nancy moved to Burlington, Vt., and began working for the newly established IBM manufacturing plant in Essex Junction. It was there that she met her future husband, Richard Paul Bouffard of Winooski, Vt. Nancy and Dick were married

on November 15, 1958, at All Saints Church in Richford. ey moved to Milton in 1959, where they raised their three children, Linda, Bobbi and David.

Once her children were well established in school, Nancy fulﬁlled a lifetime dream of becoming a nurse (alternative lifetime dreams included becoming a ﬂight attendant and/or a millionaire). She graduated summa cum laude with an AS in nursing from the UVM College of Nursing. Nancy worked for many years in the Medical Center of Vermont Neonatal Intensive Care Unit before leaving the hospital setting to become a school nurse in the Milton

Ann was extremely adventurous; at 16 she hitchhiked with a girlfriend across the U.S., stopping at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show to raise funds to continue her travels.

In 1948, Ann departed on a transport ship, sailing from New York to Beirut to help establish the ﬁrst Red Cross blood bank in the Middle East at the American University of Beirut. e two years she spent in Lebanon were among the most formative and rewarding of her long and productive life. ere, Ann developed a deep passion for the Middle East — its people, their generosity and courageous spirit, the food, the mountains, and the Mediterranean Sea. She delighted in being able to hike into the snow-capped mountains, ski down and

Graded School District. For the next 21 years, she was a school nurse, beginning at Milton Elementary School and then moving to Milton High School. While working full time as a school nurse, Nancy continued her studies at UVM, eventually earning her BS in education. With a degree in education in hand, she began teaching health education in addition to her school nurse duties. Nancy developed long-lasting friendships with her students and fellow faculty and staff and maintained these connections until her last days. She retired from Milton High School in 1998. Nancy had a spirit of adventure throughout her life and loved outdoor activities and travel. She learned to downhill ski at an early age on her family’s property, on which a neighbor had fashioned a rope tow from the engine of an old tractor, creating a ski slope on a hillside pasture. She enjoyed both downhill and crosscountry skiing, skating, and bobbing in the pool. She traveled across the U.S., made multiple trips to Europe, explored Caribbean islands — car travel, trains, planes,

bathe in the sea all in one day. Ann also became a dedicated advocate for the Palestinian people, lecturing in schools and working to support their cause. She remained a lifelong supporter of both the American University of Beirut and the American Farm School in essaloniki, Greece. After returning from the Middle East, Ann married John Dinse, also of Rochester. John, who served in World War II on the European Front, completed his law degree at Cornell University. Together they traveled around the U.S. to decide where they wanted to settle. ey chose Lake Champlain for its ideal setting for their shared love of sailing and skiing. Settling in Burlington, Vt., John joined a local law ﬁrm, where he

cruises. She was always up for a trip, often accompanied by a surprise! Whether in the classroom or in the ﬁeld, Nancy had a strong desire to explore and learn. During her winter escapes to her beloved New Smyrna Beach in Florida, she became a certiﬁed Florida Master Naturalist (there are no seagulls, they are all gulls!).

Along with her commitment to learning, Nancy was committed to her community through her involvement with a number of organizations: She was a member of the Reparative Board of Chittenden County and the Milton Historical Society, an election volunteer, and a board member of the Silver Sands Condo Association (aka Boca del Vista). Nancy was a ﬁerce advocate for the rights of women and the disadvantaged and underserved. She believed in science, truth and democracy for all.

Nancy always made time for family and friends. From her neighbors to her school colleagues to her Silver Sands family to her many nieces, nephews, and grandand great-grandnieces and nephews, she was always

remained for his 65-year-long distinguished career. e ﬁrm’s name eventually became simply “Dinse,” a tribute to John’s legacy.

Following several years working in the biochemistry research lab at the University of Vermont, Ann dedicated her time to her children and to charitable causes. She was a longtime member and former president of the Klifa Club and a volunteer at the American Red Cross. Ann was involved with Planned Parenthood of Vermont and actively served on the board of the Lake Champlain Committee. An early environmentalist, she played a role in the implementation of Vermont’s billboard ban in the 1970s, supported the bottle deposit law and championed

at the ready with a card, a casserole, advice and her presence. She held a special place in her heart for her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren — always present for birthdays, school activities and graduations, no matter how near or far. Her friends and family were a source of much joy in her life, as is evidenced by her “keeping up” on all of us!

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, Red and Esther King; brother-in-law Norman Doe; nephews Randy and Jamie Doe; great-niece Kristen Doe; and her granddogs Bear, Ruby and Ginger and grand-cats Barnaby, Lovey, Baby and MK. She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Richard Bouffard; her three children and their spouses, Linda Lang, Bobbi Biron (Mark), and David Bouffard (Bill Bowick); her sisters, Elizabeth Doe and Linda Fil; brotherin-law Henry Fil Jr.; niece, Jennifer Hill (Dan and Lydia); grandchildren, Taylor Lang (Breanne), Catherine Proulx (Chris), Abigail Doria (Tony) and Andrew Biron (Bridget); great-grandchildren, Emmersyn, Lexi and soon-tocome baby Lang, Scout and

Green Up Day. She was also a devoted Friend of Shelburne Farms, volunteering with its outreach committee.

A strong advocate for higher education in Vermont, Ann served on the Board of Champlain College and volunteered at the ECHO Center in Burlington. She was also a longtime trustee of the Turrell Fund, a foundation that provides ﬁnancial support to organizations serving disadvantaged children in Vermont and New Jersey. Ann is also survived by her sister Sally Merrill of Pittsford, N.Y. She was predeceased by her sister Pat. Ann will be most remembered for her tenacious love of life and her devotion to those around her — especially her beloved family.

Bob Lang, Chara and Al Doria, and Puck Biron; and many special nieces, nephews and friends. Her companionship, friendship, humor, positive attitude and outlook will be missed.

e family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Kathy and Steve Gordon as well as to the many kind friends and neighbors in Vermont and Florida who offered help throughout the years.

In lieu of ﬂowers, please consider giving to one of the following organizations near and dear to Nancy’s heart, all of which are in need of our continued support during these, as she might say, “unprecedented” times: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Vermont Public, the National Organization for Women, Vermont Hospice Association or the Milton Family Medicine Scholarship Fund.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will take place this fall at a time, date and location to be announced in the near future.

“ e most useless day of all is that in which we have not laughed” - NJK, motto: 1957 Richford High School Searchlight

Jonathan M. Storm

APRIL 16, 1947-AUGUST 4, 2025

RED BANK, N.J.

Jonathan M. Storm, 78, an influential Philadelphia Inquirer television critic and former Rutland Herald reporter and editor, died on August 4, 2025, in Red Bank, N.J., peacefully, of complications from treatment of metastasized melanoma.

He was very funny; a kind, sardonic curmudgeon; bon vivant; gambler; devoted husband; generous mentor; and a man who loved life, his family and his many friends.

He became a TV critic at the Inquirer in the late 1980s at the dawn of reality TV and shortly before the arrival of landmark shows such as “The Simpsons”, “Seinfeld,” “Northern Exposure” and, eventually, “The Wire,” “The Sopranos” and “The West Wing.” Storm was there for all of this, espousing, with a sharp sense of humor, the belief that the art form of television deserved serious thought and criticism. He once asked a press conference panel full of Kardashians: “Who are you, and why should I care about you?”

industry on behalf of his readers, he also mentored younger TV writers and other young people who relied upon him for wisdom and fun counsel.

His first newspaper job was at the Rutland Herald in the 1970s, then considered one of America’s best small-town papers. He lived in the hills and covered selectmen’s and school board meetings and an early campaign of an upstart named Bernie Sanders.

In the newsroom, they called him “Stormy,” and he became city editor. Rutland was also where he met his future wife, Kathleen Pottick, whom he loved deeply from the start. He said the Herald was where he learned the role of the hard-nosed journalist.

His farewell column in the Inquirer in 2011 ended: “It was a tremendous pleasure serving you.”

Full obituaries are at the funeral home website (thompsonmemorial.net/ obituaries/2851-jonathan-m-storm) and at the Inquirer (inquirer.com/obituaries/ jonathan-storm-obituary-philadelphiainquirer-critic-tv-20250813.html).

Jason Crosby

JULY 15, 1976AUGUST 13, 2025

ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Jason “Moose” Edward Crosby passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at his home in Essex Junction, Vt., in the early morning of Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

Jason was born in Ohio on July 15, 1976. Jason was a die-hard Ohio Buckeyes and New England Patriots fan. A talented fisherman, he built many memories on Squam Lake in New Hampshire with his stepfather, Don Astorian. Jason was passionate about his Scots-Irish heritage and planned a trip to Scotland with his wife, Tabitha, to visit his homeland.

While he leveled his incisive gaze on the

Marc Estrin

APRIL 20, 1939-AUGUST 10, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Marc Estrin was born in Brooklyn on April 20, 1939, and died on August 10, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., peacefully and surrounded by his family.

The red-diaper baby of Jack Estrin and Vera Borax, he grew up on Pelham Parkway in the Bronx, in a Jewish neighborhood where he was the only boy not to have a Bar Mitzvah. He left New York as a young adult for California, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and, ultimately, Vermont, but a part of him was always connected to the old neighborhood.

A memorial gathering is planned for this fall in Red Bank. Check the funeral home website for details.

His lifelong interests in science, music, theater and politics led him down many paths — Marc described himself as baffled by the jobs he’d held. In addition to political activism, the ministry, and working as a college professor and theater director, he worked as a research scientist, EMT, physician assistant, puppeteer, cellist, vocalist, conductor, and a prolific and acclaimed writer. When he created Fomite Press in 2011 with his wife, Donna Bister, he became an editor and publisher. There are many more details on his Wikipedia page and the Fomite Press web page.

He helped countless people to fulfill their dreams, encouraging them to develop their ideas and challenge their expectations. He approached every phase of his life with total commitment and dedication, and he was dismayed that many of the causes he cared most about seemed to be recently turning toward injustice.

He is survived by his wife; daughter, Mario Trabulsy; son, Hans Estrin (wife Autumn Blais); grandchildren, Quinn, Abe and Milo Trabulsy, Izabel Estrin, and Darius Parker; his first wife, Nona Estrin (husband Charles Johnson); sisterin-law, Delia Robinson; and close friends and collaborators Mannie Lionni, Fred Ramey and Peter Schumann. He also leaves a large community of relatives, fellow writers, musicians, puppeteers, political activists and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Carl.

Special thanks to the UVMMC palliative care team for their wise counsel and assistance that let Marc have what he wanted in the end — a good death.

There will be a celebration of Marc’s life later in the fall. To honor Marc’s memory, please get in touch with someone you’ve not seen in a while, participate in a protest, encourage someone.

Jason was an honorable veteran, serving six years as a medic in the U.S. Army and deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2008 in Iraq, where he met his sons’ mother. He was very proud to have served his country.

He was a gentle giant who cared deeply about his family and friends. He happily lent a hand to anyone. He was a personal master trainer at the Edge Sports & Fitness for more than 12 years, with more than 23 years of experience in fitness. Jason’s passion, however, was being a powerlifting coach. Jason was highly respected in the powerlifting community. He was known for hosting

Gloria A. Davis

DECEMBER 30, 1931AUGUST 13, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

“Moose Meets,” which he held for free to give lifters a sense of what a real meet would entail. He taught them along the way about commands, technique and judging. He always made time to help someone with any questions, even if they weren’t a client.

Jason was also seen making smoothies, giving advice on supplements and “talking shop” at Greene Mountain Smoothies in Williston. Jason was employed part time at GMS for more than a decade. His smile always made customers feel welcome. Jason brought countless people together, from gathering the fellas to share stories over a glass of whiskey — “Sláinte” — to connecting various circles of people. He also loved to deejay, using his skills to elevate the love with sweet rhythms and pumping beats.

For Jason, everyone was family.

Jason leaves behind his wife, Tabitha, his Valkyrie.

Gloria A. Davis, 93, of South Burlington, Vt., died on August 13, 2025, at the Residence at Quarry Hill. She was born in Burlington, Vt., on December 30, 1931, the daughter of the late Thomas and Beatrice (Grow) Bailey. Gloria graduated from Essex Junction High School and Champlain College. She was married to Richard Davis on November 23, 1960. They lived in Colorado for 60 years before moving back to Vermont in 2020.

They were united in marriage by Joseph Porcelli. Joseph was Jason’s lifelong best friend and brother. Jason and Tabitha were looking forward to starting their lives in a new home at the end of August. There, they planned to build more amazing memories with their blended family in love. Jason also leaves his three children, daughter Marsela Dale (his Hummingbird) and sons R.J. and Mason CrosbyMcKay, and the boys’ mother, Michaelyn McKay SSG USA (Ret.). Jason also leaves behind his mother, Kathleen Astorian; his sisters, Emily and Kristen Astorian; and his stepfather and fishing buddy, Don Astorian. Jason’s passing will bring him to reunite with his deceased father, Ronald Dean Crosby. Please join us in honoring Jason’s life on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Minor Funeral Home in Milton, Vt. Calling hours will be noon to 2 p.m., followed by a celebration of life at the Jericho Café & Tavern in Jericho, Vt., from 3 to 5 p.m. We hope you will share your memories about Jason “Moose” and remember the love he had for all of us. To make a donation to support Jason’s wife, Tabby, you can contribute to the GoFundMe: gofundme. com/f/in-loving-memoryof-jason-moose-crosby. Alternatively, donations would be appreciated for joshpallottafund.org.

Gloria is survived by her husband, Richard Davis; daughter, Heidi Susan Wolne, and granddaughter, Chloe Wolne; sisters Janet Jones and Judith Bailey; and brother, Thomas Bailey. She was predeceased by her sisters Joyce and Janice Bailey and Cheryl Pitt.

A graveside service will be held later at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are in care of Champlain Cremation in South Burlington. To send condolences to her family, please visit champlaincremation.com.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Randy R. Barnes

FEBRUARY 4, 1953-AUGUST 14, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT.

Randy R. Barnes passed away on August 14, 2025, at Birchwood Terrace Rehab and Healthcare, from complications of a fall. He was 72 years old.

He was born in Burlington, Vt., on February 4, 1953, the son of Robert “Bob” and Joaquina “Jackie” (Brown) Barnes. Randy graduated from Essex High School, class of 1972.

Music was an important part of Randy’s life. He spent many of his teen and young adult years playing bass guitar in bands and attending concerts. Randy liked to brag that he once saw Led Zeppelin for ﬁve dollars.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

cherished his time with his friends and family doing what he loved.

When he wasn’t ﬁshing, Randy enjoyed spending time with his cats, tinkering with electronics, bird-watching, and watching television and ﬁlms. He especially loved Close Encounters of the ird Kind, Jaws, “Star Trek,” and all the Star Wars movies. Randy was a longtime employee at both Essex Junction High School and later at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. While he was usually a man of few words, Randy came out of his shell at work. His work ethic and the kindness he demonstrated to others earned Randy many lifelong friends and acquaintances.

In 1979 Randy became a father to his son, Dan. As a single parent, Randy worked tirelessly to ensure his son had everything he needed and wanted, often working long hours and multiple jobs. Randy and Dan had an unbreakable bond and shared many special moments together. Randy passed down to Dan his love of music and taught him how to play bass. In the summers, they rented camps together on Lake Champlain and Little Salem Pond in Derby and spent countless hours ﬁshing.

Randy’s greatest passion in life was ﬁshing. He loved to be near the water, regardless of whether the ﬁsh were biting. It brought him tranquility and joy, and he

IN MEMORIAM

Derek Schueler

1992-2013

Dear Derek,

Randy is survived by his son, Dan Barnes (Amy Lafayette) of Winooski; and his brothers, Gary Barnes of Essex, Joel Barnes of Colchester and Robbin “Rob” Barnes of Williston, and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, Bob and Jackie Barnes.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Saint John’s Club in Burlington, Vt. ere will be no other services or calling hours. e family would like to acknowledge the tremendous care and kindness Randy and his family received at Birchwood and thank all the staff.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations can be made in Randy’s memory to Age Well (agewellvt. org), an organization that played a key role for him in recent years.

It is still with broken hearts every day we remember you, but rest assured, your light still radiates all around us, your laughter still rings in our ears, and your love and affection still rest deeply and forever in our hearts. Today is like every day, yet another day without your arm around our shoulder and you suggesting something really fun to do. But on this day, now 12 years after you died, we’ll spread your

legacy a little wider by sharing the title of the article written about you after you were gone. From the UVM Vermont Cynic newspaper, “ e Lesson at Derek Schueler Taught Us”: “ e smile always came ﬁrst.” It was all about your kindness and friendliness. You lead the way into hundreds of hearts with that amazingly warm and big-hearted smile of yours. And that is just one of the many things we will be missing about you today and, as always, every day.

Love, Your Mom & Family

Sandra Geer Willey

JANUARY 31, 1935AUGUST 12, 2025 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Sandra Geer Willey, 90, of Essex Junction, Vt., passed away surrounded by loving family at the McClure Miller Respite House on August 12, 2025.

Sandy was born to Northrup and Elizabeth (Dufﬁeld) Geer in Hempstead, N.Y., on January 31, 1935. ey were kind and loving parents who molded Sandy into the loving woman she grew up to be for so many. Sandy grew up in Hempstead and later East Williston, N.Y., with her parents and siblings, John and Debbie. eir house was a loving and welcoming home, often with family or friends who were in need of a home or a helping hand. Sandy emulated this with her home on the Willey Farm, as many were welcomed during times of need.

Sandy graduated from Roslyn High School before majoring in English at the University of Vermont. After many years of doing the most important job there is, being a full-time mother, Sandy became the assistant librarian at Essex Junction High School for 10 years, from 1979 to 1989. She was loved by the students and staff, and she greatly enjoyed her time there.

Sandy met her loving husband, Robert, in 1952 while attending UVM. He was a Sigma Nu fraternity member and she a Tri Delta sorority member. ey met in the cafeteria, and it was love at ﬁrst sight.

Sandy and Bob were married for 70 years and lived a long and happy life together on the Willey Farm in Essex Junction, rearing their four children: Kimberly Willey (deceased), Giles Willey, Laura Valley (Tom) and Kate Mitchell (Greg [deceased]).

In 1974, their daughter Kim died, and this tragedy was life-changing for the whole Willey family. With Bob and Sandy’s guidance, the family survived, and Kim’s legacy of love and family unity lives on in all of us.

Being a grandmother was one of Sandy’s biggest joys. When Bob and son Giles started Vermont Systems, Inc. in the mid-’80s, two of Bob and Sandy’s daughters, Laurie and Kate, joined just a few months later. Sandy decided her biggest joy would be to become the VSI family daycare, and so for different time periods she lovingly watched as many as up to five of her grandkids at a time. She could be seen walking all over Essex Junction with her triple stroller, with the kids outfitted in the many sweaters she knit for them in her “free” time. She loved each of her grandchildren so very much. Jordan and Taylor Willey, Jessica (Kyle) Damon, David Valley, Jack (Shannon Murtha) Valley, Josh (Jen Cook) Mitchell, and Ryan (Micaela) Mitchell are all blessed to have memories of a kind and loving “Nanny.” Not only were they blessed but so were many of their friends, who were fed her legendary cookies and sandwiches “made with love” over the years. Sandy often said this was one of her greatest joys.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Wesley,

Jonathan and Bennett Valley; Avery Mitchell; and Tyler Damon.

Sandy loved gardening; Vermont and national senior games (tennis and running); St. James vestry, choir and memorial gardens; Colchester Community Chorus; knitting; line calling at USTA men’s tennis in Stowe in the ’80s; and designing and maintaining (with two of her grandsons) the Essex Junction Five Corners gardens.

Sandy will always be remembered for her caring and giving spirit. She was a mother and Nanny to not only her family but also to others whom she cherished, just as she was cherished in return.

Sandy was predeceased in death by her parents, Northrup and Elizabeth; brother, John Geer; sister, Debbie Vojt; daughter Kim; and son-in-law Greg. e family wishes to thank Home Care Assistance, UVMHN Home Health & Hospice (both in-home and the McClure Miller Respite House staff) and Palliative Care team, UVMMC Baird 3, and Birchwood Manor Memory Care for their amazing care and compassion during Sandy’s ﬁnal months and days.

Per Sandy’s wishes, there will be no public visiting hours. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction, with a reception following at the Farmhouse at Sunset Pond, at the Essex Resort & Spa. In lieu of ﬂowers, memorial donations can be made to UVM Health Network Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester VT 05446 or online at uvmhomehealth. org/give.

If unable to attend in person, the service will be on Zoom as well. Please visit the “Worship” page at stjamesvt. org for the link.

David Michael Boardman

NOVEMBER 12, 1934-AUGUST 16, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

It is with profound sorrow and deep love that we announce the passing of our incredible father and beloved husband, David Michael Boardman, on August 16, 2025, at the age of 90.

Dave lived a life defined by integrity, joy, love of his family and a relentless drive to uplift others. He never sought the spotlight, yet it found him through the quiet strength of his character. His interest in others and their lives was the hallmark of his personality. He never had an unkind word to say about anyone.

Dave was the youngest of five children, born in Burlington, Vt., to Ira Munn and Dorothy (McMahon) Boardman. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings, Jack, Munn, Bob and Marie. He leaves behind his high school sweetheart, love of his life and wife of 69 years, Joan Bugbee Boardman, and a large, loving family, including his children, Laurie Curley (Gerry), Mary Jo Brandt (Roger), Mike (Karen Belinski), Dan (Megan Bachinski) and Doug (Hillary). He was a proud “Daddo” to his 11 grandchildren: Jamie McCurdy (Patrick), David Curley (Johanna), Ryan Brandt (Elizabeth), Kylie King (Phil), Allison Bissell (Brad), Linnea Spagnoletti (Anthony), Briggs

Boardman, Quinn Boardman, Millie Boardman, Freddie Boardman and Mac Boardman. Dave and Joan have also been blessed with 17 great-grandchildren.

“Uncle Dave” also cherished his relationships with his 28 nieces and nephews and their families, as well as his two sisters-in-law, Claire Guiduli and Mary Bugbee, and one brotherin-law, Frank Maccini, that he leaves behind.

Dave graduated from Cathedral High School in 1952 and College of the Holy Cross in 1956 and enjoyed a lifelong aﬃliation with both schools. Dave joined Hickok & Boardman in 1956, selling life insurance, and was recognized by National Life of Vermont as its “Man of the Year” in 1968. Over the next 40 years of his career, Dave won several more awards as one of the top producers in the country. He formed Associates in Financial Planning in 1977, the predecessor of Hickok & Boardman Capital Management and Hickok & Boardman Group Benefits & Retirement Solutions. He cared deeply for his clients, employees and fellow industry professionals.

During his business career and well into retirement, Dave was very active in the greater Burlington community, including numerous years serving on the board of trustees of Champlain College, Chittenden Bank, Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Diabetes Association, City of Burlington Retirement Board and

Constance Perrotte

DECEMBER 8, 1931-JULY 13, 2025

LAKEWOOD, COLO.

Constance “Connie” Perrotte, 93, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2025, in Lakewood, Colo. She was born in Winooski, Vt., on December 8, 1931, the daughter of Harvey and Flora Jarvis, and was next to the youngest of nine siblings. She graduated from Winooski High School in 1950 and began work as a legal secretary before starting her true vocation as a devoted wife and mother, married to her husband, Durward “Dude” Perrotte, for 50 years. Connie’s surviving family includes her brother and childhood best friend,

Gerald Jarvis of Canyon Lake, Texas; her beloved six children, Kevin and wife Laura (Colorado), Bruce and wife Barbara (Vermont), Debra and husband Lee (Vermont), Brenda and husband Alan (Vermont), Lori (Nevada), and Jodie and husband Chad (Vermont); as well as her precious 25 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and three great-greatgrandchildren. She was called “Mom” by more people than can be counted, and this world is a better place because of her having been in it.

In many ways, Connie was known as a talented, committed, hardworking mom, multi-business owner and employee. She loved to dance, and wherever a piano was to be

the United Way. He served as board president of Fanny Allen Hospital, DeGoesbriand Hospital, GBIC and Champlain College and was the first chairman of the Burlington International Games (B.I.G.), in 1967. Dave was a hospice volunteer for 30 years and chaired numerous capital campaigns to raise money for organizations he felt passionate about.

Though Dave enjoyed a remarkable professional and philanthropic career, his family was his greatest joy. Dave was a loving, compassionate, energetic and strong role model for his family and friends. His deep Christian faith guided him throughout his life. Upon retirement, Dave and Joan wintered in Naples, Fla., where they were fortunate to make many endearing friendships.

Summers were spent at their beloved camp at Starr Farm Beach in Burlington, a longtime family tradition enjoyed by five generations.

Dave’s legacy will endure in the lives he touched, the communities he served and the family he loved so dearly.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting one of the following organizations, in memory of David Boardman: Rice Memorial High School, c/o Advancement Office, 99 Proctor Ave., So. Burlington, VT 05403 (rmhsvt.org/giveonline), or the McClure Miller Respite House, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446 (uvmhomehealth.org/donate).

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, 11 a.m., at Christ the King Church, 136 Locust St., Burlington, VT. Interment will be private.

Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

found, she was there tickling the ivories with old favorites from her youth. Above all, Connie was known for her huge open heart that unconditionally reached out to anyone in need with loving generosity and personal concern. She always had a beautiful smile and a hearty laugh, with arms wide open. With a compassion for the underdog and the downtrodden, she would literally give the shirt off her back without regard to her own consideration. Connie loved to love and be loved, especially her faith in God, her family and virtually everyone she met, and she had a special childlike affection for little animals.

God bless you, “Mom.” You are so loved and appreciated. Rest in peace and enjoy your newfound happiness with the Lord, Dad and all your loved ones who’ve been waiting for you. We’ll see you soon!

A funeral mass and burial will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, 10 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winooski, Vt.

Betty Young

SEPTEMBER 21, 1953AUGUST 15, 2025

JERICHO, VT.

Betty Jane Young, 71, passed on August 15, 2025, at Birchwood Terrace Rehab and Healthcare in Burlington, Vt., with her husband at her side. Betty had been living at Birchwood Terrace since March 2024 due to her Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2018. Betty is survived by her husband, Robert Young of Jericho, Vt.; daughter, Caitlin Bomba; son-in-law, Jared Bomba; and grandson, Luca Bomba, all of Greenville, N.C. She was predeceased by her parents and brothers, Patrick and Philip.

taught psychology classes for 20 years.

Robert and Betty were married in a small meadow on a beautiful summer day in 1974 on Robert’s parents’ property in Johnson, Vt. They lived in a small apartment in Jericho while saving money to buy a home. They eventually returned to Lamoille County in 1987, living in Johnson, where their daughter was born.

With Betty and Robert working in the Burlington area, they decided to move to Jericho in 1999.

Betty was born in Morrisville, Vt., in 1953 to Patrick Henry O’Hear and Arlean Mae (Ryea) O’Hear. She attended Lamoille Union High School, Johnson State College and eventually the University of Vermont, where she received her master’s degree in social work. She worked first as a Head Start teacher, then, after receiving her master’s, as a crisis clinician for Howard Center before finding her passion as a college professor at Community College of Vermont, where she

Ruth V. Nichols

NOVEMBER 5, 1933AUGUST 16, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT.

Ruth V. Nichols, 91, of Colchester, Vt., died on August 16, 2025, at her home.

Besides teaching, Betty enjoyed many types of crafting: beads, stamps and card making, as well as knitting and cross-stitching. She was also a superfan of Prince and Phil Collins, whose music would be played loud and often in her younger days.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on August 31, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Community Center in Jericho.

Robert and Caitlin would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Birchwood Terrace for their dedication and thoughtful care. Also, the staff at UVM Hospice who were so very helpful as Betty neared the end of her life journey.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 4 to 6 p.m., at LaVigne Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winooski. Burial will be held later at the convenience of the family. To view the complete obituary and send condolences to her family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

Mark your family’s milestones in lifelines. sevendaysvt.com/lifelines

Flagman Jason Lamoy of Plattsburgh, N.Y., ﬂying the green ﬂag at the start of a race

At under Road International Speedbowl in Barre, stock car racing is a family affair

STORY KEN PICARD | PHOTOS JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

The asphalt on pit road sizzled as a hard rain fell on Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre. Just 10 minutes before the scheduled start of last month’s 46th running of the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150, driver Taylor Hoar and her pit crew hunkered down in their car trailer and waited for the downpour to pass. For people reared on high-speed motion, idling is never comfortable.

To kill time, Taylor, 23, scrolled on her phone with her thick, ﬁre-retardant race suit peeled down to her waist, the rain providing only minimal relief from the sweltering heat. Soon enough she’d zip up the jumpsuit, tuck her chestnut ponytail into her helmet, pull gloves over her cotton candy-pink nails, and climb into her red-and-white No. 48 race car. Because temperatures inside could easily top 125 degrees Fahrenheit during the 150-lap race, succeeding at Thunder Road is as

much about the driver’s endurance as the car’s. That’s assuming she even ﬁnishes — never guaranteed in a crowded ﬁeld of 29 cars, racing bumper to bumper at 90-plus miles per hour on a quarter-mile oval.

she was one of only ﬁve drivers in North America chosen for the elite Kulwicki Driver Development Program, which helps promising stock car racers improve their skills on and o the track.

IF YOU CAN GO TO THUNDER ROAD AND WIN, YOU’VE DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

DAVE MOODY

Taylor is currently the only female driver competing in the Maplefields/Irving Late Model Series, the fastest and most competitive division at Thunder Road. She’s had six top-10 finishes this season, including two top fives and a third place. Earlier this year,

In hindsight, Taylor’s entry into racing seems preordained. Her father and coach, Brian Hoar, 53, is one of the most accomplished drivers in the history of the American Canadian Tour, the sanctioning body for Thunder Road and other tracks

throughout New England and Québec. During his 26-year career, he was the 1999 King of the Road champion at Thunder Road — meaning he accumulated more points that season than any other driver — and was an eight-time ACT champion before advancing to the NASCAR Busch Series, now called the Xﬁnity Series, the second-highest level of NASCAR competition. For several seasons in the 1990s, Brian raced against his own father, Doug Hoar. Family dynasties aren’t rare in competitive sports — think the Gri eys in baseball or the Mannings in football. In Vermont, the skiing Cochrans of Richmond and the Dreissigacker rowers and biathletes of Craftsbury produced multiple generations of world champions and Olympic medalists. But more so than nearly any other sport, stock car racing tends to run in the family, from the Earnhardts and Pettys of NASCAR to the Hoars, Dragons and others at Thunder Road.

On any given Thursday, most drivers at the Barre speedway on Quarry Hill have parents or relatives who’ve raced or worked in the pits. EastRise Credit Union’s sponsorship of Taylor is managed by Sarah Ricker, a longtime race fan whose husband works in Thunder Road’s street stocks division.

Familial connections in racing make sense, given the sport’s technical, timeconsuming and costly nature: Drivers need a crew who are willing to devote considerable time during race season to help them win — often without getting paid. On this particular night, Taylor’s half brother, Justin Prescott, and boyfriend, Tanner Woodard, whose father was also a driver, were both racing against her.

“There are probably more second- and third-generation drivers running … at Thunder Road than there are ﬁrst-generation drivers,” said Dave Moody, a senior sportscaster with Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, who grew up in Montpelier and now lives in Salisbury, N.C. Moody got his start at Thunder Road in high school, when track founder Ken Squier hired him to announce races. Moody did that for the next 30 years.

A few Thunder Road drivers have gone on to compete at the sport’s highest levels. Kevin Lepage of Shelburne raced in the NASCAR National Cup Series, and Bobby Dragon competed in the NASCAR Busch Series. Gov. Phil Scott, a three-time King of the Road and one of the track’s winningest drivers, earned national name recognition through electoral victories, not his checkered ﬂags. As Brian Hoar put it, “This is his golf game.”

The vast majority of Thunder Road drivers will never break even ﬁnancially, let alone earn a living in racing — Taylor attends Champlain College, and her father owns the Goss car dealership in South Burlington. When they’re not attending school or working day jobs in, say, construction, auto repair or the building trades, drivers typically spend a good chunk of their time and paychecks getting their cars ready for the next race.

For most, it’s not about chasing fame or prize money. Racing is a way of life, for themselves and their families. Most weeks, their only reward is the adrenaline rush of driving really fast on one of the most challenging short tracks in North America.

“We’re all super competitive,” Prescott said. “It’s in our blood.”

Once the rain subsided, pit road came alive again with the rapid-ﬁre chatter of air wrenches and the guttural growl of engines ﬁring up. As Taylor’s crew toweled her car dry, she huddled with her father and Rick Paya, her crew chief, to discuss a bolt in her exhaust system that shook loose during a practice run.

“These things are rattle traps,” Paya said, “because we’re building them as light as we can.”

As the race announcer summoned the late models to the track, Brian knelt on Taylor’s hood to settle the front suspension; the closer the car sits to the ground, the less turbulence swirls beneath it and the better it grips the track.

Taylor climbed into her custombuilt driver’s seat, which sits so close to the dashboard that she has to remove the steering wheel just to get in. Taped below her speedometer is a quote from Alan Kulwicki, the late short-track racer from Wisconsin and driver development program namesake, who went on to win NASCAR’s Winston Cup Championship in 1992: “If you don’t believe, you don’t belong.”

Parked alongside Taylor’s car, as it is every Thursday, was the black No. 04 late model that Taylor’s half brother drives. Though ostensibly her competitor, Prescott, 37, works full time as Taylor’s car chief, which means he maintains and repairs her car at the Hoar family’s shop in South Hero. But once the green ﬂag comes down to start the race, the siblings won’t cede each other an inch.

“He doesn’t make it easy on me,” Taylor said, “so I don’t make it easy on him.”

WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

In an air-conditioned skybox overlooking the track, Sandy Hoar, Prescott and Taylor’s mother, watched the Governor’s Cup with her older daughter, Rachel, 24. A hand-held radio crackled with staccato bursts of chatter between Taylor and Paya. Paya, 59, isn’t technically a member of the Hoar family but might as well be. As a car owner, he won four of his 10 ACT championships as Brian’s crew chief before retiring from the sport four years ago — or so he thought. When Taylor moved up from the street stock to the late-model division, Brian asked Paya if he would be her crew chief and spotter, too. The car she drives was custom built from scratch by Paya for a previous driver. Sporting decals for nearly two dozen local sponsors, from Regal Gymnastics to Laplante’s Plumbing & Heating, it bears No. 48 because her father’s car was 45; her grandfather’s, 46; and 47 was already taken.

With only tiny rearview mirrors inside the car, Taylor usually can’t see a competitor’s car until its hood appears in her peripheral vision. Paya, her spotter, sits high in the stands, serving as her eyes

Taylor Hoar waiting for her qualifying heat COURTESY PHOTOS

Young Taylor Hoar behind the wheel and wearing a racing suit

Brian Hoar with his family after one of his ACT victories

BORN TO RUN

and ears on the track and the voice inside her helmet telling her what’s happening around her. During the race, he might say, “Plus two all around,” meaning she’s two car lengths ahead of the racers behind her.

“No. 86 is looking inside” means that car 86 is trying to pass her low on the track; “86 is at your door” means Taylor is about to get passed.

Sandy was deeply familiar with the sport when she married a race car driver. Her father worked on a pit crew at the now-defunct Catamount Stadium in Milton, which operated from 1965 until 1987. Still, it’s very different when it’s your own kids on the track, she said.

Once the race began, Sandy could barely sit still, either leaning forward nervously or clutching her head with both hands. Watching Taylor, Prescott and Woodard race gave her plenty to stress about. What’s that like?

“Nerve-racking,” she deadpanned, not looking up from the action below.

The drama began shortly after the green flag dropped. Just three laps in, a smoky front-stretch pileup ended the night for two cars and battered several others, including Taylor’s and Prescott’s as they came out of turn four.

Sandy and Rachel erupted in loud groans. Taylor’s car spun 180 degrees, ramming nose-first into the concrete wall. She wasn’t eliminated from the race, but the wreck knocked her off her game.

“I was just kind of holding on for dear life,” she recalled later.

Getting in a wreck “can be kinda scary, especially the first time,” she added. “But we have so many safety precautions that keep us safe.” They include a mandatory collar-like head and neck restraint, adopted industry-wide after Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash in February 2001.

Back when Brian was racing full time, he said, a driver had only a tiny sheet-metal plate alongside the right side of their helmet — not for safety but as a headrest against the extreme g-forces in turns. In crashes, it was often bent. Brian considers himself lucky that his worst injury after hitting a wall at high speed was a broken finger.

The race didn’t improve for the Hoar family as the night wore on. With body damage to his own car, Prescott had to return to pit road several times, effectively ending his chances of a podium finish. Taylor’s steering was loose, and her engine ran hot due to the front-end damage. Late in the race her frustration finally boiled over, evident from a terse exchange with Paya. And when another pit crew member chimed in on the radio, she barked, “Too many people talking!”

Taylor avoided a second wreck on the

59th lap that snarled traffic and resulted in another yellow caution flag, but she was unable to claw her way back to her 10th-place starting position.

“This is going to be a race of attrition,” Sandy said with a heavy sigh, as yet another car was hauled off the track by a wrecker. “I’m glad I took my blood pressure meds.”

After 150 laps, the checkered flag went to current points leader Jason Corliss of Barre, a record-tying fourth Governor’s Cup win. Despite damage to his car, Prescott finished 13th. Taylor came in 22nd, just ahead of Gov. Scott.

For years, whenever NASCAR’s Cup Series raced at New Hampshire Motor

Speedway, one of its drivers would come to Quarry Hill to race against the Thunder Road regulars. Many of those NASCAR drivers also had trouble negotiating turn four, which is notorious for causing wrecks. Thunder Road is a small, high-banked and asymmetrical oval, with short straightaways, Moody explained, which

Sandy Hoar (second from left) watching the racing action with friends in her box seats

Taylor Hoar getting some last-minute advice from her father, Brian, before her feature race

BRIAN HOAR

makes it especially difficult to drive. At many other raceways, single-car time trials determine the drivers’ starting positions, with the fastest car going first and the slowest car last. There, a winning driver may never need to pass another car on their way to victory lane. Instead of time trials, Thunder Road uses qualifying heats, essentially mini races between several cars at a time.

“You’re not going to win a race at Thunder Road without passing a lot of cars and really breaking a sweat,” Moody said.

That’s no easy feat, given Thunder Road’s high car counts. At least two dozen late models compete on a weekly basis, compared to other short tracks that may draw 15 cars or fewer. All that traffic makes passing difficult, especially because there’s only room enough to drive two abreast.

Racing at Thunder Road also requires “an insane amount of focus,” Taylor said. With the deafening roar and vibration of engines, the broiling heat, the near-constant turns, and other cars just inches away, if not swapping paint with hers, Taylor might hear her spotter say something over the radio and react to it instantly — but later not even remember doing so.

“It’s not a track for trophy collectors,” Moody added. “If you can go to Thunder Road and win, you’ve done something special.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY

In the spectator zone on the night of the Governor’s Cup, Gordy Wood of Waterbury Center sat alone at a picnic table in clean work boots and crisp blue overalls, eating ice cream. “There are folks who love to see the crashes, but I am not one of them,” he said. Behind him in the stands, an elementary school-age boy with an impressive mullet leaned over the railing and waved a small checkered flag in a figure-eight pattern, mimicking the track’s flagman.

The 81-year-old Wood, one of the thousands of fans who got drenched that night waiting for the race to start, grew up four houses away from Squier and used to mow his father’s lawn. He’s been going to Thunder Road for more than half a century and rarely misses a race.

“I love this place,” Wood said. “It’s not only the racing. It’s the people you meet.”

In some ways, Thunder Road has changed a lot since Squier, the late Vermont radio mogul and NASCAR Hall of Fame broadcaster, opened it in 1960. In those years, stock car racing in Vermont was a more popular local pastime, with five race tracks in the Burlington area alone.

Taylor Hoar leading Justin Prescott and Kaiden Fisher during a qualifying heat

BORN TO RUN «

Today, Vermont has just two others: Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven and Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, both of which are dirt tracks. Squier, who promoted his first race at the Barton Fairgrounds at age 16, also built Catamount Stadium with a group of five other men. He scheduled Thunder Road races on Thursdays because that was the day the quarry sheds in Barre paid their stonecutters. “He wanted to get their first dollar,” Moody said.

Thunder Road’s original wooden fences have long since been replaced by metal ones. The front-stretch wall, once made of railroad ties, is now reinforced concrete. In the early days of the track, Moody noted, “If you got in trouble on turn two and went sideways off the top, it was 30 feet straight down into the trees.”

When Cris Michaud and Pat Malone bought Thunder Road from Squier and Tom Curley in 2017, they put in a new tower, skyboxes and concession stands and added new fenced-off viewing areas for fans behind turns three and four.

What hasn’t changed, Wood said, is the track’s family culture. Wood offered up a quick genealogical chart of all the race families he’s followed over the years: the Carons of Colchester, the Donahues of Graniteville, and the Dragons of Milton, including brothers Bobby and Harmon “Beaver” Dragon, who were both inducted last year into the Vermont Motorsports Hall of Fame. (Bobby’s son, Scott, was also racing that night.)

From Wood’s vantage point, he could see the pit crew of another multigenerational driver: Kaiden Fisher. Nicknamed “Tropical Storm,” the 17-year-old wunderkind from Shelburne wowed race fans last year when, at 16, he became the youngest King of the Road in the track’s 65-year history. Fisher’s previous records include being the youngest winner of a street stock division race, at 12 — three years before he could legally drive on Vermont’s public roads with a learner’s permit.

“It’s physically demanding, and you have to work the whole time, but it’s the heat that really gets you,” said Kaiden, who aspires to go on to NASCAR. “I’m fairly young, so I feel like I have a bit of an advantage over other people.”

Kaiden’s father, Jamie “Hurricane” Fisher, was the 2003 King of the Road and regularly raced against Brian Hoar and Phil Scott.

“After three decades, I’m racing against kids a third of my age. I raced against some of their grandfathers,” said Gov. Scott, 67, who also got into racing through a family connection: His uncles worked for DuBois

Construction, one of the firms that Squier hired to build Thunder Road.

When spectator Wood was asked about the Hoar family, his blue eyes lit up.

“Oh, she’s one of my favorites,” he said with a smile, referring to Taylor. “She came to my 80th birthday party.”

Though Taylor grew up at the track, she never showed much interest in

racing as a kid, her father recalled.

Before she tried her hand at the street stocks, at 17, Taylor knew next to nothing about auto maintenance, except how to change a tire. She was a competitive gymnast all through high school but finally gave it up because of the toll it was taking on her body.

“I was like a lost puppy when I had to

retire,” she said. A month later, she was at Thunder Road, helping her father and stepbrother in the pits.

New drivers typically get their feet wet in the four-cylinder Road Warriors, which are basically street cars with roll cages and no glass. From there, they can move up to the street stocks — also four cylinders but with race tires and more modifications.

Jamie Fisher talking with his son, Kaiden, before a race

Kaiden Fisher (left) waiting for his qualifying heat

EVEN WHEN YOU WIN, YOU’RE STILL LOSING MONEY.

Next are the Flying Tigers, with V8 engines, stock frames and additional chassis modifications. Finally come the late models, which are totally fabricated by chassis builders and run on larger race tires. New, a late-model can run upwards of $85,000.

Unlike NASCAR, where the sky’s the limit on how much a team can spend, Thunder Road aims to keep the sport affordable by dictating which shocks, tires and transmissions drivers can buy. Before every race, each car must run through the tech line, where inspectors spot-check the vehicle to ensure that all the seals on the engine are intact and everything else conforms to the rules.

“It keeps [drivers] coming back,” Brian said. “If they have to keep up with the Joneses and the Joneses buy new tires every week, they’ll buy new tires every week until they have no more money.”

Whether Taylor has what it takes to move on to NASCAR remains to be seen. For now, she wants to race more in the Northeast before testing her mettle down South. Brian knows people in NASCAR country, but racing there is expensive.

“People always say, the fastest way to lose money is go racing,” Taylor said.

REBUILDING BODY AND SOUL

The following Wednesday afternoon, Taylor and Prescott were back at their family’s shop off Route 2 in South Hero, which sits at the end of a long, tree-lined driveway beside a horse barn; Taylor’s sister, Rachel, works as a professional equestrian in Washington State. As Brian likes to say, “We’re into horses and horsepower.”

Lining one wall of the clean, spacious shop are shelves of trophies from Brian’s years of full-time racing. Oversize checks from big-purse races rest amid the antlers of a dozen mounted deer heads. Hanging from the ceiling are the hoods of retired race cars, including Brian’s NASCAR Busch Series car from 2002 and Taylor’s and Prescott’s hoods from their rookie seasons. One dented hood still bears the tire marks of another car.

“That one still hurts,” Prescott said. In October 2022, he was ahead in the final lap of the Milk Bowl, Thunder Road’s annual fall classic in which the winner kisses a dairy cow. Prescott, racing in the Flying Tigers division, “caught some traffic” and the driver behind him, Logan Powers, tried to pass him.

“We both held it to the floor … and crossed the line in destructive fashion,” Prescott said. “I didn’t win.”

By the time a reporter arrived, Prescott had spent hours that week rebuilding the front end of Taylor’s car. One of two identical cars sporting the logo of EastRise Credit Union, it looked in near-pristine condition for the following night’s race, including some new decals. Without

Justin Prescott (left) in the pits

multiple sponsors, most drivers couldn’t afford the sport, which is one reason race cars look like rolling billboards.

Taylor’s engine, which days earlier was caked with oil and shredded tire rubber, now looked brand-new. On average, a driver will put in 20 to 25 hours a week on the car, often holding a weekly “shop night” for the crew. Hence the tavern-like full bar at one end of the garage.

“If you have a bad week and you wreck out,” Brian said, “it’s all hands on deck.”

Prescott has plenty of experience rebuilding after serious wrecks — both in a race car and in his personal life.

“April 25, 2019, is my clean date,” he said casually. “I was as bad as they come, fullblown addicted to everything and anything.”

About the only thing uncommon about Prescott’s story of drug addiction is its successful outcome. As he told the hosts of the “Uncommon Deeds Motorsports Podcast” in August 2022, Prescott felt like a badass at age 9, he said, when his mother married a famous race car driver; though he has a different last name, everybody knew him as Brian Hoar’s son. When friends came over, they’d play video racing games wearing Brian’s helmet.

A self-described “problem child” growing up, Prescott took advantage of his stepfather’s extended absences during race season and partied heavily all through high school. Though he always wanted to race himself, he now understands why Brian didn’t let him at that age. “I was a disrespectful asshole,” he said.

During a brief stint in the U.S. Navy, which his parents hoped would provide him structure and discipline, Prescott injured his shoulder in a training exercise, for which he was prescribed a boatload of painkillers. He didn’t even realize he was hooked on them until his prescription ran out.

It wasn’t long before Prescott moved on from pills to heroin. For about a decade, he was homeless, racking up criminal convictions and burning bridges with friends and family. He went through rehab, only to relapse months later. After a 2019 overdose nearly killed him, he awoke in a hospital bed to the terrified look on his mother, Sandy’s, face.

“I knew I needed to either change everything or I was going to die. And I was OK with the thought of dying,” he said. “I didn’t have anything to live for.”

That is, until someone in recovery asked Prescott a life-changing question: What did you love to do before you got into drugs and alcohol? Without thinking about it, he said, “Racing.” But by then, he was 32 and assumed that ship had sailed.

Later that year, Prescott entered Thunder Road’s Enduro 200 Race, aka

WHEN YOU’RE IN THE CAR, NOBODY KNOWS OR CARES IF YOU’RE MALE OR FEMALE.

TAYLOR HOAR

“the People’s Race.” In it, amateurs take old beaters from the junkyard, remove all the glass, outfit them with roll cages and drive around the track as fast as they can. Prescott described it as “100 shitboxes getting smashed up.”

Though the Enduro was light-years away from the NASCAR driving that his stepfather had done, “It gave me purpose and kept me busy,” he said. On July 9, 2020, Prescott won his first real race driving in the Road Warrior division. With pandemic restrictions still in effect, there were no fans in the stands to cheer as he took his victory lap with the checkered flag.

This season, Prescott has been on a winning streak. On June 13, he picked up a $20,000 win in the Keith Morse Memorial 150 at Riverside Speedway in Northumberland, N.H. On July 11, he finished second at Thunder Road, then three days later won the Wall’s Ford Late Model 100 at White Mountain Motorsports Park, in North Woodstock, N.H., edging out his stepfather, who also raced that day.

Despite some big-purse wins, Prescott has no illusions about making a living as a full-time driver. Plus, the economics of racing are “all backwards,” he explained.

A late-model driver might spend $650 on a set of new tires each week. A normal Thursday night win pays $700. Throw in the cost of pit passes for the crew, gasoline, replacement parts and collision repairs, and the expenses quickly add up.

“Even when you win, you’re still losing money,” Prescott said. “You’re just not losing as much money.”

To be clear, Prescott wasn’t complaining. Thanks to racing, he’s clean and sober, staying busy doing something he loves and supporting his sister as she climbs the ranks.

“The reality of that dream is, I’m too old for that shit,” he said. “But Taylor’s got a real possibility.”

TAYLOR’S SWIFTIES

The following Thursday, autograph night at the Times Argus Midseason Championships at Thunder Road, the drivers emerged from pit road and lined up along the front-stretch fence to greet their fans. Though each driver had a smattering of people around them, Taylor’s fans, most of them young girls with their mothers, crowded 10 deep for her autograph.

“I like your nails,” one girl said softly.

Among those in line was 13-year-old Lindsey Moulton of East Corinth, who was sporting a Taylor Hoar T-shirt, as she does most weeks. Moulton comes to Thunder Road every Thursday. At home, she sleeps under a blanket she got for Christmas that has photos of Taylor all over it.

“She’s the first girl racer I’ve ever seen race,” said Sammy McCallum, 10, of Barre Town, as she emerged from the gaggle of fans with a coveted autograph.

Comments like McCallum’s mean a lot to Taylor, who had few female role models of her own when she started racing.

“When you’re in the car, nobody knows or cares if you’re male or female. So I try not to play the girl card,” she said. “I just want to be another racer.”

Nevertheless, she’s since established a long-distance relationship with Tracie Bellerose, the 2000 track champion and its only Queen of the Road to date. Her words of advice to Taylor: “Don’t let the boys push you around.”

They definitely didn’t that Thursday night. Taylor ran a solid, wreck-free race and finished eighth, immediately ahead of her brother. The young fans at the beginning of the night seemed to buoy her spirits.

“The kids look at us like we’re NASCAR drivers, which is pretty cool,” she said. “It’s one of those things that reminds you why you come back each week." ➆

Taylor Hoar signing an autograph for Lindsey Moulton, 13, of East Corinth

Your Sweetspot in Essex Junction

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

food+drink

Repeat Performance

“

Tell me about the risotto dish,” La Reprise owner Ari Sadri prompted customer Steve Pace. The Burlington resident had stopped by Sadri’s new South End wine shop, market and wine bar on a recent Friday for wine to serve dinner guests that evening, and Sadri was asking him questions to help guide the choices.

Sadri stepped Pace through ﬁve options in the $20 to $45 price range: from a northern Piedmontese nebbiolo blend “with bright red cherry notes and a touch of violet” to a French gamay grown in stony soil that “reminds me of the Beaujolais I fell in love with working in French bistros.”

It was the ﬁrst time Pace had been back in the space since La Reprise opened in June in the now-defunct Dedalus wine group’s ﬂagship store on Pine Street.

“This is a really beautiful building and

FOOD LOVER?

a beautiful spot,” Pace said, nodding to the brick-walled shop and the glass-enclosed wine bar. “I’m really happy to have something back here.”

Sadri, 58, managed the Burlington Dedalus for its ﬁnal few months and is also really happy to be back. This time around, he is hosting like it’s his own place — because it is. He bustles around o ering advice in the store and the wine bar, making sure no glass remains unﬁlled. Sadri jokes that he has wine radar: “I can be on the other side of the building and sense when somebody’s glass is going empty,” he said.

The a able, bearded wine nerd started his hospitality career mopping floors for free for the chance to bus tables at a Princeton, N.J., pioneer of new American cuisine called the American Diner. In Vermont, he spent a total of 26 years at a pair of high-profile destinations, working his way up to general manager at Warren’s Pitcher Inn before becoming inn and hospitality director at the Shelburne Farms Inn.

La Reprise marks Sadri’s ﬁrst ownership role. It is both thrilling and a big responsibility, he said. The seasoned professional recognized that Dedalus had done a lot right; he had no intention of ﬁxing what wasn’t broken even as he planned to add his own subtle stamp.

Customers who miss the new sign over the door might be forgiven for thinking Dedalus has reopened. The wine bar, store and market look much the same, with a gallery of charmingly illustrated tinned ﬁsh on the shelves and mostly European cured meats and cheeses in the coolers.

“At its very best, few wine and food retailers did it better than Dedalus,” Sadri said, listing the deep wine selection and store layout, sta and customer education, and the wine bar’s menu and ambience. The music conservatory dropout (he sang baritone) chose the new name with that in mind. In music, the French word reprise means “a restatement of an original theme with embellishments and changes,” Sadri explained.

During my second visit this summer to La Reprise’s wine bar, the grilled octopus ($38), with an earthy romesco sauce and sweet corn relish, and slurpable tangle of housemade pappardelle ($30) with tomatoes, herbed ricotta and mushrooms were

DARIA BISHOP

From left: Brian Popov, Ari Sadri, Anthony Saltmarsh and Elijah Taylor at La Reprise

Clockwise from left: Papardelle, Sainte Magdeleine rosé, tomato toast, Oddero “Convento” red wine, steak tartare and halibut at La Reprise in Burlington

What Ales You to Move to Former Manhattan Pizza & Pub Space

The owner of WHAT ALES YOU has announced on social media that the 54-yearold downtown Burlington college bar will move out of its St. Paul Street basement to a new spot around the block. SYD EREN said he will continue serving for another week or so in the original bar location. He conﬁrmed with Seven Days that he hopes to open in the former home of Manhattan Pizza & Pub, on the corner of Church and Main streets, the week of August 25. The bar will serve a full menu there, including pizza.

Manhattan’s, as it was commonly known, was another multi-decade downtown bar staple. It closed in January after a couple of changes in ownership and a brief stint as Rincon Pizzeria and Tapas Bar.

In his post, Eren wrote that he never expected to move What Ales You. He detailed several reasons that compelled him to do so to keep the business viable.

Among them were steep increases in general and liquor liability insurance and lower revenue from alcohol sales. Serving food and catering will grow the bar’s income and lower insurance costs, Eren explained, but it was not practical to add a kitchen in the St. Paul Street location. The former Manhattan Pizza space already has one.

Eren noted that he sees a personal beneﬁt in the move from the basement

to a ground-level space: “I thought a little bit of daylight would be good for me.”

Melissa Pasanen

Hindquarter Chef-Owner

Launches Line of Wood-Fired Grills

The HINDQUARTER team has cooked wood-ﬁred feasts for hundreds of catered events around Vermont. Now, chef-owner LUKE STONE has taken his grill game a step further: He’s selling them.

After a decade of wedding attendees asking where they could purchase one of the ﬁve-foot steel grills on which the Hindquarter team cooks, Stone and his friend and cofounder IAN WYATT o cially launched HANKSVILLE GRILLS at the beginning of August. The Hanksville OG sells at hanksvillegrills.com for $1,499, with free local pickup or nationwide shipping for $199.

At 95 pounds and three feet in diameter, the Hanksville OG is a scaleddown version of the Hindquarter’s “workhorses,” made with the same steel, Stone said. Several new safety features — including four legs for stability

CONNECT

Repeat Performance

fraternal twins to octopus and pasta dishes that my husband and I shared last September during what would turn out to be our final Dedalus meal.

At that time, I wondered aloud, “Why don’t we pop into this place more often?” A few weeks later, Dedalus closed for good.

Now I have a second chance to become a regular, drawn by both wine and food.

Sadri has kept what he believes worked at Dedalus, which included rehiring some key team members: chef Brian Popov (hence the menu déjà vu), wine bar general manager Anthony Saltmarsh and market manager Elijah Taylor, plus two wine bar staffers, Grace Walter and Dawson Engstrom.

He emphasized one major difference in his approach from that of Dedalus, which grew to four locations including one in Boulder, Colo., plus a sister Pine Street restaurant and listening bar, Paradiso Hi-Fi. “I’m not interested in growing beyond this footprint,” he said.

Popov, 32, cooked for four years under chef Steve Atkins, co-owner of the original Kitchen Table Bistro in Richmond. That mentorship shows in his on-point, restrained execution of European-accented dishes, such as a crunchy gem lettuce salad ($17) with radishes, shaved Gruyère and red wine vinaigrette; and bucatini ($28) with tomato, basil and creamy burrata. I was tickled to learn that the memorable wedge of buttermilk-braised cabbage ($25) with tomatoey lentils, crème fraiche and dill was the brainchild of La Reprise cook Gabe Atkins, the 23-year-old son of Steve and his wife, Lara, who was Kitchen Table Bistro’s pastry chef and co-owner.

Over the two meals I’ve enjoyed so far at La Reprise wine bar, friendly, knowledgeable staff advised us on wine to pair with our food. Another evening at the seasonal wine garden out front, the cook taking orders — and grilling much of the food — ably guided us through the shorter “garden wines” list to go with a spread of chicken, shrimp and veggie skewers (all $12) and salads (from $13).

During an early August wine bar meal for two, Sadri suggested we start with the Domaine Roger Neveu Sancerre ($11 for 3 ounces) and the Sainte Magdeleine rosé ($12 for 3 ounces) to accompany our shared appetizers: a mustardy, caperand-shallot-flecked beef tartare ($18) and thick slab of soft white toast topped with garlic aioli, juicy tomato pulp and ripples of jamon serrano ($15). The latter is an epic mashup of Spanish-style pan

con tomate and the midsummer dream tomato-and-mayo sandwich. I advise you not to share.

Both wines set the meal off on a perfect seasonal arc. Though I had told Sadri that I avoid sauvignon blanc because it often hits my palate like a compost pile of grapefruit pith, green tomatoes and grass, he

encouraged me to give the Sancerre a try. He was right; it bloomed tropical and fully ripe with passion fruit and guava. Swinging back through to see how we were doing, Sadri was clearly tickled that he had fractured my wine prejudice. “At the end of the day, the goal is to turn people on to new things,” he told me later.

For that reason, even though the wine bar menu does not detail this option, servers are happy to pour a 3-ounce glass for a few dollars less than the listed 5-ounce serving. To further encourage customers to experiment both in the wine bar and the shop, Sadri has doubled down on more affordable bottles. Sure, you can

The wine garden

« P.34

The cheese case at La Reprise

buy a 2017 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia for $365, but you can also pick up one of Sadri’s summer faves: a bright, minerally coastal Provençal for $32 or a refreshing Spanish albariño and godello blend for $12.

Sadri is also expanding La Reprise’s list of half bottles and launching three wine club tiers on Thursday, August 21, at the wine bar’s weekly free tasting. La Reprise will honor the remaining value of prepaid Dedalus wine club memberships at a loss in hopes that those customers continue at the new shop.

“I want to be the place that you come to for a special bottle, but it’s more important to me that I’m a place you come to put a bottle on the dinner table Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…,” Sadri said. “Well, in a perfect world, it would be both,” he added with a chuckle.

Like Burlington’s other recently opened wine bars, Wilder Wines and Bar Renée, La Reprise favors small vintners making wine from organic grapes with minimal manipulation and additives, such as commercial yeasts or added sulfur as a preservative. The resulting “natural”

THE GOAL IS TO TURN PEOPLE ON TO NEW THINGS.

ARI SADRI

wines run the gamut but can get pretty funky and unpredictable. Some people love that end of the spectrum; others, not so much.

When it comes to natural wines, Sadri said he likes them “funkier than James Taylor, but not to James Brown.”

Sadri considers himself more of a traditionalist. By way of example, he said,

“Sancerre rouge should be an expression of pinot noir in the appellation of Sancerre in a particular year.” If the winemaking approach permits volatile acidity or the wild yeast Brettanomyces to go unchecked, the off-flavors “can get in the way of that expression,” Sadri said. “That tends not to be a wine that I gravitate towards.”

Across three meals, a multiage mix of

dining companions and I found plenty of wine to gravitate towards.

In the wine garden, a chilled Cleto Chiarli lambrusco ($11 per glass; $44 per bottle) wove juicy notes of strawberry and red currant into a sweet-tart sparkler the same shade as the evening’s glorious sunset.

In the wine bar, a silky Thevenet & Fils Clos de l’Ermitage Chardonnay ($14 per glass; $62 per bottle) underscored the buttery richness of a halibut fillet ($43) with grilled zucchini, crisp fingerling potatoes and a punchy green herb sauce.

For dessert that night, Sadri suggested a honeyed Royal Tokaji, Red Label ($16 per glass; $105 per bottle) to sip between spoonfuls of silken chocolate pot de crème ($12), crunchy with candied hazelnuts and sea salt.

It all bears repeating, but most likely on my next visit I’ll do as Sadri advises and try something new. ➆

INFO

La Reprise, 388 Pine St., Burlington, 540-2891, lareprisewines.com

Server Emma Destito at La Reprise

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS « P.35

and stoppers that prevent grates from swinging all the way off — make the grills suitable for backyard use.

Cooking over a wood fire takes longer, acknowledged Wyatt, an avid home cook and owner of Wyatt Investment Research in Richmond. “But it’s more about the activity and the memories than getting food on the table as quickly as possible,” he said.

Developing Hanksville Grills took time, too — three years of discussions between Stone and Wyatt, then roughly a year of searching for the right welder. For their first run of 40 grills, they’re using a Montpelier welder and a midsize welding company outside Montréal. The Canadianproduced grills are made with American steel and hence unaffected

by tariffs, Wyatt said — a “last-minute surprise,” as they were expecting tariffs of up to 50 percent.

Cooking on a Hanksville OG grill

Ian Wyatt and Luke Stone of Hanksville Grills

Five grills sold in the first week and a half, Stone said. He and Wyatt are currently tweaking their cross-country shipping packaging and developing further attachments, including a flat-top griddle and a spit for roasting chickens.

The accessories are “to keep you going and getting creative with what you’re cooking,” Stone said, whether it’s farmers market vegetables or pans of paella.

Jordan Barry

Entrées & Exits: Filibuster Restaurant & Bar and Riko’s Pizza Close

Filibuster Restaurant & Bar, a breakfast, lunch and dinner spot at 45 State Street in Montpelier, has closed. Its final day was Sunday, August 17.

An announcement on social media last week cited “significant economic damages” from flooding, “decreased foot traffic due to remote state workers,” and recent construction as reasons for the closure. Owner BRIAN LEWIS declined to comment further when contacted by Seven Days

Lewis was wrapping up a significant renovation to the former bank when it was damaged in the July 2023 flood — days before Filibuster’s scheduled opening. The restaurant officially launched as Filibuster Café in January 2024. In October, it became Filibuster Restaurant & Bar with expanded dinner service and a new “French-style” menu, including dishes such as filet mignon and bouillabaisse.

Lewis continues to operate the PARKWAY DINER in South Burlington and YELLOW MUSTARD deli and sandwich shops in Montpelier, Burlington and Williston.

In Burlington, the first Vermont location of Riko’s Pizza permanently closed on Sunday, August 10 — less than eight months after opening.

Representatives for the “tavern-style” pizza chain founded in Stamford, Conn., confirmed the closure in a statement shared with Seven Days. The 5,000-square-foot subterranean restaurant at 83 Church Street — the original home of Pascolo Ristorante — was Riko’s eighth franchised location of 12 total. J.B.

New College Try

A

restaurant on the former Goddard campus serves up surprises

STORY & PHOTOS BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I wound through the former Goddard College campus in search of the newly opened Haybarn Restaurant and Lounge. Now called the Creative Campus at Goddard, the 130-acre property belongs to Execusuite, a New Hampshire-based developer, and is home to various youth programs, the food distribution business Farmers to You, and a whole host of theater productions and music shows.

I certainly didn’t expect to end my meal with lemon posset ($10), given the dessert’s old-timey vibes and the restaurant’s casual ones. Originally a hot drink made with milk and either beer or wine, the medieval beverage later evolved into a citrusy custard dessert, which is sometimes — as it was here — served in a frosty lemon rind.

How did posset end up on chef Zak Fugazy’s menu, alongside General Tso’s chicken wings (six for $14, 12 for $21) and birria street tacos ($6 each, three for $16)?

The chef, who previously worked at Bon Temps Gourmet in Worcester and the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, recently prepared Elizabethan dishes to coincide with a Shakespeare performance. He decided the delicate sweet deserved a regular spot on his bill of fare.

So is the Haybarn a global restaurant, a historical one, or just a relaxed place off busy Route 2 where friends can meet over plates of beer-battered fish and chips ($21) and house-ground burgers with fries ($19)?

Right now, it’s evolving, Fugazy explained. Execusuite owner Mike Davidson hired him to serve the needs of both the campus and the public. When he accepted the job, in mid-May, he had to begin by figuring out how to operate a restaurant in a space that used to be (and still sometimes is) a cafeteria. The kitchen boasted plenty of steam tables and ovens but hardly any sauté pans and not nearly enough refrigeration. He worked within those limitations.

Fugazy began with themed weekly menus (e.g., Shakespeare) but recently switched to a regular set of à la carte offerings. He plans to give the menu a seasonal upgrade in September.

Week by week, Fugazy has been figuring out what works and what doesn’t, making lists of needed supplies and reaching out to local farmers. The restaurant just received its liquor license, and the chef is excited about the prospect of moving the dining area from its current spot in the old cafeteria to a new, more intimate space with a pretty view of the grounds.

As well as serving dinner to the public Wednesday through Saturday, Fugazy is in charge of menus for special happenings across the campus, feeding retreat groups who are staying in the on-site housing and making lunches for Connected Circles, an independent school. There are free community dinners to plan, too.

“I’ve drafted a billion menus,” Fugazy said

with a chuckle. “You have to be able to adjust for all different kinds of events and budgets.”

In designing the dinner menu for the public, he said, he aimed to keep it familiar and accessible while making nearly everything from scratch. Soon, Fugazy noted, fancier dishes will show up as nightly specials; an appetizer of wild mushroom arancini ($14) and a Vermont cheese board ($19) already lean in that direction.

Despite the inherent challenges of the job, Fugazy is excited about the flurry of campus activity, citing “alternative schooling, residencies, herbalism — there’s

talk that a yoga center will be coming in at some point … [and] there are 30-something rooms available to rent if you want to see a show and crash for a night,” he said. “It could really blossom into something special.”

Whether they’re seeking comfort foods, upscale seasonal specials or the occasional historical offering, visitors will certainly have plenty of options. ➆

INFO

Haybarn Restaurant and Lounge, 123 Pitkin Rd., Plainfield, thecreativecampus.org

Wild mushroom arancini

The Haybarn building on the former Goddard College campus

Tattoo With a View

BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

Bfurther his goal of contributing to the local economy, he’s asked an artist friend to make a curated guide to area eateries and shops for out-of-towners.

Colpitts is a classically trained illustrator and painter who has been honing his craft since childhood. Growing up in the Northeast Kingdom, he was initially homeschooled alongside his brothers; at St. Johnsbury Academy, he was president of the Intaglio Society printmaking club. He began studying tattooing in 2018 and got a job at Lucky’s tattoo studio in Boston the following year.

BODY ART

Colpitts offers ink of all kinds, but his favorite type of work is large pieces sketched directly on the wearer’s skin rather than applied via stencil. “It’s illustrative blackwork tattooing with inspiration from etchings, woodcuts and engravings,” he said. Common subjects include delicate botanical drawings, creatures from fantasy and myth, and architectural ﬂourishes.

He prefers freehand illustration because “it’s really easy to make the tattoo move with the person’s body,” Colpitts explained. “It feels more collaborative. I’ll draw a layer and have them look at it. I’ll darken it and darken it as they’re watching me. It’s very intimate.”

y the ruins of an old rake factory, chanterelle mushrooms glow gold among the creek-bed shrubbery. Nearby, a wattle fence, the kind made by weaving slender branches around staves, keeps wandering chickens in line. And in a shady nook not far from a classic Vermont farmhouse and vegetable garden stands the newly built Middle Son Tattoo studio.

and restaurants,” said artist Caleb

And time-consuming. The opportunity to spend a night on the property, or several, would facilitate the intense, multi-session artworks that Colpitts most enjoys — and which, at about $200 per hour, keep the lights on and the tattoo needles humming. (He hasn’t yet set the cost of an overnight stay.)

The tucked-away location, reached solely by a narrow and bumpy Class 4 road, matters. Mostly in Peacham but partly in Danville, nearly brushing the Barnet border but with a post o ce address in St. Johnsbury, this rustic 22-acre property is intended to be an overnight destination for communitycentered tattoo tourism.

Long-haired and bespectacled, Colpitts presides over Middle Son in a Cape-style cottage built primarily with timber from the property, which he owns with his brother and sister-in-law. A goldenrodcolored door stands out from dark slats, and the paint in each room echoes shades from the William Morris wallpaper in the entryway. The studio proper is intricately tiled with black and white hexagons and features polished brass lights repurposed from ships.

Tattoo customers will be invited to stay in a yet-to-be-built cabin on the property or pitch tents near the poultry and fungi. From there, they can explore the Northeast Kingdom, visiting the “di erent shops, breweries

On Saturday, August 23, Colpitts will open Middle Son’s doors to the public with a ticketed party that includes musical performances, an art fair, self-guided trail tours, local food and beverages, and tattooists offering quick “flash” pieces. To

“He was always very meticulous in his work,” recalled Kim Darling, a St. Johnsbury Academy emeritus art teacher and multimedia artist with a focus on drawing and printmaking. “He was slow and methodical — slow in a good way.”

Each year, beginning in 2006, Darling and her husband, Bill, also a St. Johnsbury Academy art teacher and artist, took Intaglio Society members on two-week trips to Florence, Italy, where they studied the masters and created their own work. Colpitts was one of the rare students who took the trip all four years of high school. He financed the travel by working at Poulsen Lumber in Littleton, N.H., “every summer, for the whole summer, for those two weeks in Italy,” Colpitts said.

On two of those trips, Colpitts overlapped with fellow academy student Franky Cannon, now a professional artist and author. Cannon is the recipient of one of Colpitts’ tattoos: an image of a bloodroot plant, blossom to roots, on her left forearm. From 2020, it’s the most recent of her 10 tattoos.

Tattoos on Franky Cannon (left) and Rachel Luu

Caleb Colpitts working on a tattoo

“Each of my tattoos is [by] a different artist,” Cannon said. “I draw each one, and I encourage them to reinterpret or change [it].” While most artists don’t stray far from the drawing, she added, “Caleb made it his own style … a totally new drawing. It’s my most precise tattoo. It’s my favorite tattoo.”

I’M EXCITED ABOUT CREATING A GARDEN ON SOMEONE’S BODY.

For Jesse de Alva, a blacksmith, metalworker and machine shop assistant at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Colpitts tattoo was his first. And it’s a big one.

While his partner, Rachel Luu, was getting a tattoo on her thigh and hip that combines California poppies, lavender

CALEB COLPITTS

TATTOO WITH A VIEW » P.44

From top: Inside Middle Son Tattoo; Colpitts outside the studio

e Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making & Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb Garrett Graff, Avid Reader Press, 608 pages. $35.

“I do not recall ever seeing Oppie so stimulated...”

Among his colleagues, “Oppie” was the nickname for J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. is quote, from University of California-Berkeley chemist Glenn Seaborg, recalled the moment Oppenheimer ﬁrst encountered nuclear ﬁssion — “the phenomenon,” Seaborg recounts in a new oral history compiled by Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Garrett Graff, “that would play such an important role in shaping the future course of events in his life.”

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Graff has assembled — from archived recordings, memoirs, diaries, letters and news reports of the time — a history of one of the most consequential discoveries of the 20th century. e 608-page tome is Graff’s fourth oral history and follows his accounts of the D-Day invasion, 9/11 and COVID-19 in Vermont. e book offers a veritable who’s who of scientiﬁc minds, military leaders and Japanese survivors of the atomic devastation and its aftermath. Vivid, fascinating and frighteningly timely.

KEN PICARD

Short Takes on Five Vermont Books

August is hot, but also everything is starting to turn brown and die, and the only thing to do under these conditions is stare into the middle distance and sigh at intervals. We’d wager about $7 that if you drew up a little chart showing how many words the average person speaks during each month of the year, August would be rock bottom. It is our most laconic time. In that spirit, we present you with ﬁve blissfully short book summaries — a roundup of newish releases by Vermont authors featuring a single representative sentence from, yes, page 32. ➆

Phantom Border: A Personal Reconnaissance of Contemporary Germany

Kerstin Lange, ibidem Press, 363 pages, $34.

…as my friends and I approached the guard booth, passports in hand, my heart raced.

On November 9, 1989, Kerstin Lange’s friend told her to turn on the TV, because “something big is going on in Berlin.” rongs of people were crossing the Berlin Wall, even dancing on top of it. A native of West Germany, Lange had moved to the U.S. three years earlier. She had always thought of East Germany as the other Germany, “a blank shape behind the iron curtain,” she writes. What was once the most fortiﬁed border in the world is now a nature preserve and living memorial called the Green Belt. In 2016, Vermont writer and journalist Lange began a multiyear expedition on bicycle and on foot, tracing its route to learn how the former border has shaped the people and the land around it. Her compelling narrative weaves her personal memories of life in a divided country with those of the people she meets in a work Kirkus Reviews calls “an impressively erudite remembrance.”

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

Identity Church K.C. Phipps, Corsair Press, 280 pages. $16.99.

“I just want you to know that’s not how boys are dressing these days.”

Sometimes you just want to give a young protagonist a hug and an invitation to the Pink Pony Club. at’s the case for K., as they refer to themself in their debut memoir, which describes their Appalachian upbringing through anecdotes and memories both heartbreaking and hilarious.

Some stories are surreal.

Phipps describes a Christian camp performance that begins with a rendition of “ e Devil Went Down to Georgia” and ends with a boxing match between Satan and Jesus. “We hadn’t known what to expect from the antichrist,” Phipps writes, “but karaoke wasn’t even on the board.” Others veer into Southern gothic territory, as when Phipps describes their insidiously evil grandmother and the rifts she creates within the family.

And Phipps documents their mental health challenges, some of which stem from gender dysphoria, although no one in K.’s hometown seems to recognize that. To watch K. navigate their entwined family, religious and gender identities is painful at times but ultimately joyful. eir warm narrative voice makes you feel like you’d recognize them anywhere — no matter what they’re wearing.

ALICE DODGE

Hunter’s Heart Ridge Sarah Stewart Taylor, Minotaur Books, 311 pages. $29.

That was everyone who had been on the property at the time Moulton was shot.

In a meta moment halfway through Sarah Stewart Taylor’s Hunter’s Heart Ridge a character muses, “It’s like a movie, isn’t it? Or an Agatha Christie novel. Everyone snowed in and then the knife showing up.” It is, indeed. A telephone line-downing storm, a hunting lodge of cloistered suspects, and motives galore are but a few of the classic murder-mystery elements used effectively in this second book in the Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows series.

Hartland author Taylor’s atmospheric whodunit, set in 1965 in the ﬁctional town of Bethany, Vt., against a backdrop of escalating U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, conjures enough plot twists and red herrings to keep readers guessing. Secondary storylines develop recurring characters from the ﬁrst book in the series — or do they hide a murderer?

You don’t have to be familiar with opener Agony Hill to enjoy this sequel, but after reading Hunter’s Heart Ridge, you’ll want to double back to it while you wait for book three.

ANGELA SIMPSON

Decision-Making in the Age of Plastics

Rachael Zoe Miller, Green Can Press, 230 pages. $17.99.

Consider something lower shed and more sustainable than virgin polyester or virgin nylon.

As founder of the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, Rachael Zoe Miller is aware of all the ways plastic makes it into the environment. So she created a pick-your-own-adventure-style guide to reduce pollution in everyday life. Intended to meet people where they are when it comes to sustainable choices, the guide explains how to use — or not use — items based on what won’t shed plastic into the environment. It might even help you save a few bucks.

e self-illustrated 230-pager suggests practical actions to combat the sense of impending doom brought on by recent microplastic studies. A 2019 Yale University study estimated that “humans ingest between 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles annually,” a number that doubles when you account for inhalation. Using a question-based framework, Miller helps readers determine what changes they could make in their lives that will have a positive effect on the environment and their health. Maybe it’s worth ﬁnding a quality ﬂeece at the thrift store rather than buying a cheap new one?

SAM HARTNETT

and Massachusetts mayflowers, de Alva couldn’t keep his eyes off a drawing by Colpitts that hung on the wall. During Luu’s six-hour appointment, he snuck a photo of the image, and he found himself staring at it over the next few months. Finally, he called up Colpitts and booked his first session.

The resulting piece, which took about 25 hours to complete, features a bear skull surrounded by deep black ink on de Alva’s chest, with ferns skimming his collarbones and guiding the eye to intricate floral patterns on his shoulders. On his upper back is an iris, mirroring the skull and also bordered by black, surrounded by additional flowers.

“I’m excited about creating a garden on someone’s body,” Colpitts said.

Luu, an MIT PhD candidate in materials science and engineering, said she and de Alva are considering getting more of Colpitts’ tattoos and love the idea of taking a Vermont vacation in the process.

“It’s such a special and unique experience,” Luu said.

“It creates even more intimacy with Colpitts and his work,” de Alva added. “His style and personality leak through everything.”

For the moment, Colpitts is splitting his time between Vermont and Massachusetts, where his partner, Genevieve Cohn, is a visiting lecturer in art at Wellesley College and he teaches visual art at the Cambridge School of Weston, a progressive boarding school. He also continues to tattoo at Lucky’s.

“I gain energy from spending energy,”

Colpitts said. “I don’t take a lot of downtime.”

Whenever he can, he’ll be in Peacham offering his signature larger pieces, along with smaller tattoos he calls “pick-yourown.” The plan is for him to immortalize in ink what guests have foraged in the woods and fields.

Over time, Colpitts hopes to take on apprentices, perhaps other St. Johnsbury Academy alums who would prefer to stay in the area. He’ll also help his older brother, Nathan, and sisterin-law Andrea Otto, who live on-site, develop a sheep farm and orchard. Together they’re exploring the idea of opening other studios and shops on the property, which as a whole is called Rake Factory Arts.

Their efforts aim to answer a question, Colpitts said: “How do we get artists in the NEK to be in community and also [attract] artists to come to the NEK?”

With a dedicated following and gorgeous locale, Rake Factory Arts could make a mark. ➆

Grand opening of Middle Son Tattoo, Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at 1297 Rake Factory Rd. in Peacham. $35.88. Learn more on Instagram: @middlesontattoo, @calebcolpitts.

Tattoo With a View « P.41

The exterior of Middle Son Tattoo

BURLINGTON VERMONT’S SOUTH END ARTS DISTRICT

The South End Arts + Business Association (SEABA) is thrilled to usher in the 33rd Annual South End Art Hop with over a mile of locations along Pine Street in Burlington! Expect 100+ artist studios, small businesses, and family friendly activities around every corner. Free to attend with lots of opportunities to purchase artwork, take in a performance, visit a food truck, and shop the South End Arts District! STRUT! Fashion Show returns to Art Hop! Purchase your tickets now at seaba.com/strut.

Thanks for your support as we celebrate all that the district has to o er!

on screen

Three Streaming Series About Women Who Embrace Chaos

We’ve entered Hollywood’s end-of-summer doldrums, a good time to check out indie fare (don’t miss this weekend’s Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival) and catch up on TV. For me, that meant watching three recent female-created comedy series about women who are, for lack of a better term, “messy.” Not only are the heroines of these shows always seemingly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but they also embrace the chaos of their lives in outrageous, unapologetic ways.

REVIEW

In the ﬁrst episode of “Too Much” (10 episodes, 2025; Netﬂix), the new miniseries from Lena Dunham (“Girls”), a very drunk thirtysomething named Jessica (Megan Stalter) breaks into the apartment of her ex (Michael Zegen) to confront him about his recent engagement. Whether she’s being charming, whimsical or a little scary, Jessica is invariably “too much.”

Hoping to heal from her failed 10-year relationship, Jessica requests a job transfer to London. When England fails to live up to her Jane Austen fantasies, she throws herself headlong into a fling with an unemployed musician (Will Sharpe), who’s laidback enough to take her erratic behavior in stride. He doesn’t know that Jessica still regularly records video rants addressed to her ex’s fiancée (Emily Ratajkowski), a knitting influencer.

“Too Much” is a messy show, too, meandering and stu ed with cameos from the likes of Jessica Alba, Andrew Scott, Jennifer Saunders and Rita Ora. A slew of talented actors sink their teeth into playing Saltburn types, eccentric as only old money can be. Meanwhile, Jessica’s tempestuous romance with Felix lurches this way and that until it dissolves into a puddle of wish fulﬁllment.

The show has some witty dialogue and sharp insights into relationships, and the scenes of Jessica and Felix just hanging out and exploring their deepening infatuation feel fresh and real. But I couldn’t help thinking both of these talented actors deserved a more focused, less selfindulgent project.

One of the themes of “Too Much” — a jilted woman’s obsession with her replacement — reaches a hilarious apotheosis in “Such Brave Girls” (two seasons, 20232025; Disney+, Hulu), a BAFTA-winning

absurdist sitcom that takes place in a drab corner of England Jessica never imagined.

Creator Kat Sadler and her real-life sister, Lizzie Davidson, play twentysomething sisters Josie and Billie, respectively, who work crappy jobs and share a Council house with their mom (Louise Brealey). After Dad abandoned the family, each reacted in her own dysfunctional way: Mom with a frantic struggle to secure a rich replacement, Josie with a retreat into depression, Billie with an unhinged search for love.

When Billie discovers she has a romantic rival (Carla Woodcock) who’s basically her prettier clone, the two women ﬁght, then bond over their mistreatment, then fall into bed together. They soon fall out again, though, because the women of “Such Brave Girls” never feel as if they’re enough, even though the available male partners range from amiably neglectful to cruel to annoying. It’s a cartoonish downer of a show, perhaps best described as “‘Absolutely Fabulous’ without the fabulous.” But if you can get into its misanthropic groove, it’s also very funny and oddly cathartic.

Female friendship is a stronger force in “Dying for Sex” (eight episodes, 2025;

Disney+, Hulu), an Emmy-nominated miniseries created by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock and based on the podcast of the same name. New Yorker Molly (Michelle Williams) is at couples therapy, complaining that her husband (Jay Duplass) hasn’t wanted to sleep with her since her recovery from cancer, when her doctor calls. The cancer has returned, and now it’s terminal.

The first time around, Molly was a model patient. Now, staring down mortality, she realizes she doesn’t want to die without having explored her sexuality or even orgasmed with a partner. So she dumps her husband, jumps on the hookup apps and enlists her wild child best friend, Nikki (Jenny Slate), as her new caretaker/ enabler.

This may sound like a parable Samantha would tell on “Sex and the City,” and “Dying for Sex” does share some of that show’s bada-bing humor. There are zany bits involving disciplining a human pet and attending a “kink-forward play-party potluck.” Molly even has her own Mr. Big, an unnamed hot neighbor (Rob Delaney) who likes her to boss him around.

But “Dying for Sex” is a lot deeper and more touching than its one-liners and cute

raunchiness might suggest. Memories of childhood abuse complicate Molly’s mission of sexual fulﬁllment as well as her relationship with her mom (Sissy Spacek). Her initial sense of liberation fades as she realizes how deep her inhibitions go. At least she has the help of a sympathetic palliative care specialist (a wonderful Esco Jouley) who knows something about kink. Williams anchors the series with a puckishly volatile performance: Molly’s delight in receiving dick pics from strangers is so sweet and pure that it’s infectious, yet we also feel her raw pain. Gravel-voiced Slate makes an excellent partner in crime, even as we see the toll that playing that role takes on Nikki.

“Dying for Sex” puts the chaos in a meaningful context: Molly is “messy” because she’s lost any incentive to tidy up her emotions, and she doesn’t want to die without knowing who she really is. The ﬁnal episode is a sob fest, as you’d expect. Yet it also features Paula Pell’s bracingly funny — and enlightening — turn as a hospice worker who reminds the audience of core truths. What could be inherently messier than dying — or living?

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

Megan Stalter plays a heartbroken expatriate with an “iconic” dog in Lena Dunham’s new show.

NEW IN THEATERS

HONEY DON’T! A small-town private investigator (Margaret Qualley) looks into deaths related to an enigmatic church in this dark comedy from director Ethan Coen. Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans also star. (88 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

NE ZHA II: One resurrected friend must carry the other’s spirit into battle in this Chinese animated adventure sequel based on mythology, a blockbuster in its homeland. Yu Yang directed. (143 min, NR. Essex, Majestic, Savoy)

RELAY: A corporate fixer decides to help out a whistleblower who needs protection in this suspense thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water). (112 min, R. Capitol, Majestic)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

THE BAD GUYS 2HHH In the sequel to the animated animal adventure hit, a squad of reformed villains gets pulled back into the life of crime. With the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron and Craig Robinson. (104 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Sunset)

F1: THE MOVIEHHH1/2 A retired Formula One racer (Brad Pitt) returns to the track and mentors a rookie in this sports drama. (155 min, PG-13. Majestic)

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPSHHH The Marvel superhero quartet gets a second reboot set on an alternate Earth with a retro vibe, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Ebon MossBachrach. (115 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset)

FREAKIER FRIDAYHHH Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles 22 years after the hit comedy about a magical mother-daughter body swap. (111 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden)

HIGHEST 2 LOWESTHHH1/2 A music mogul deals with ethical dilemmas and a ransom plot in this crime thriller from Spike Lee, loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low and starring Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright. (133 min, R. Savoy)

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMERHH The thriller about teens facing the consequences of a big mistake gets an update for Gen Z horror fans. (111 min, R. Sunset)

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTHHH1/2 In the seventh installment, a pharmaceutical research team seeks out the surviving dinosaurs on a remote island. (134 min, PG-13. Bethel, Majestic; reviewed 7/9)

THE LAST CLASS: Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and political economist Robert Reich gives his final lecture on “Wealth and Poverty” in this documentary from Elliot Kirschner. (71 min, NR. Savoy [Sun only])

THE LIFE OF CHUCKHHH1/2 This adaptation of Stephen King’s genre-crossing novella from director Mike Flanagan follows the life of an ordinary guy in reverse chronological order. Tom Hiddleston and Jacob Tremblay star. (110 min, R. Catamount)

THE NAKED GUNHHHH Liam Neeson plays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character in a belated sequel to the action-comedy franchise about a bumbling cop. (85 min, PG-13. Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Stowe, Sunset)

NOBODY 2HHH Bob Odenkirk returns as an assassin turned suburban dad in the sequel to the 2021 action hit. Timo Tjahjanto directed. With Christopher Lloyd and Connie Nielsen. (89 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden)

SUPERMANHHHH The DC Comics superhero gets another reboot, this time directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and starring David Corenswet. (129 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Stowe, Sunset; reviewed 7/16)

WEAPONSHHHH The bizarre disappearance of every kid in an elementary school class rips their town apart in this psychological horror film from Zach Cregger (Barbarian). Julia Garner and Josh Brolin star. (128 min, R. Bethel, Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 8/13)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

76 DAYS ADRIFT (Savoy, Wed 20 only)

CLIPS & CONVERSATIONS: ANGELO MADSEN (VTIFF, Sat only)

IN THE HOUSE (Catamount, Wed 20 only)

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS SING-ALONG (Essex, Majestic, Welden, Sat & Sun only)

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL (Marquis, Wed 20 through Mon)

PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE (VTIFF, Thu only; free screening in City Hall Park)

PONYO (Essex, Sat-Mon & Wed 27 only)

SORRY, BABY (VTIFF, Fri only)

THE STING (Welden, Tue only)

A SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY (Catamount, Wed 27 only)

OPEN THEATERS

(* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

BETHEL DRIVE-IN: 36 Bethel Dr., Bethel, 728-3740, betheldrivein.com

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

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

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

*CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.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

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

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

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

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org

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

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

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

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

Cary Christopher in Weapons

Everything Is Awesome

Six photographers picture the future-present at BigTown Gallery in Rochester

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

We tend to use the word “sublime” to mean something that’s exceptionally good, as in “That maple creemee was sublime.” But like its “awesome” cousin, the word’s full deﬁnition is bigger and more complicated, encompassing both beauty and terror. To experience the sublime is to sense one’s own powerlessness in the face of an inﬁnite universe.

The phrase “Being Here Now,” the title of this summer’s exhibition at BigTown Gallery in Rochester, might seem like it conveys the opposite concept — something ordinary and prosaic — except that it is currently summer 2025, when beauty and terror are both available in abundance.

The exhibition is the third in BigTown’s series examining how photography shapes our understanding of past, present and future environments. Gallery owner and curator Anni Mackay had planned to start the series in 2020, but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, threats such as climate change seem to be accelerating.

“This technically should have been the ‘future’ segment,” she said, “but what’s future is now present.”

The six artists in the show each display works that convey the on-the-brink-ness of the current moment. They touch on the environment, scientiﬁc advancement and destruction, both violent and entropic. Some of the artists take a journalistic approach, while others are themselves integral to the work they’re documenting.

One is April Surgent, 43, who lives and works in Washington State. In 2016, she joined scientists as a field biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, which took her to the Pearl and Hermes Atoll, remote islands in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, some 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu.

Surgent’s 8-by-8-inch pinhole photographs convey both the absolute isolation of the place — the artist was one of only three people on the expedition to the uninhabited islands — and the inescapability of civilization. Photos of a sleeping sea turtle and

monk seal show the animals’ vulnerability, while pictures of trash washed up on the beach signal just how doomed their home really is.

Alongside the photos, Surgent presents cameo-etched images in glass. The process is similar to the one 19th-century jewelers used to make cameo brooches from shells. Surgent scraped back layers of white over dark glass to create a dreamy, slightly blurry, wholly tactile surface that aches with memory. The birds, people, clouds and waves pictured seem like they are already gone.

Cassandra Klos, 34, of Boston also embedded with scientists, in an even stranger and more science-ﬁctional way. Since 2015, she has taken part in multiple space analog simulations. These experiments typically involve living in habitats with other people, as one would on Mars or the moon. Klos’ photographs at sites such as Utah’s Mars Desert Research Station show her space-helmeted colleagues exploring a landscape made alien by their presence — a strange and beautiful reversal.

Photographs by Washington, D.C.’s

Jon Brack, 47, peer toward the future by documenting the e ects of past scientiﬁc disaster. He presents three panoramic photographs taken in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine in 2015 and published by National Geographic on the 30th anniversary of the nuclear disaster. In one, a Ferris wheel rusts where it stands; in another, beds in a pediatrics ward are covered in decay and dust. Workers in white uniforms stand around a midcentury nuclear control room, looking almost bored as they ﬁnally decommission the plant. The images are strange in how they position the viewer: The aftermath of one disaster is overshadowed by the war that the we know is coming, as though this debris has been thrown backward in time.

The Russia-Ukraine war gains immediacy in James Nachtwey’s black-and-white “Kyiv, Ukraine, 2022,” which pictures a woman carrying winter coats and stopped on the front steps of what is presumably her apartment building: It, and the building next door, are almost completely destroyed. Nachtwey, 77, of Hanover, N.H., is a celebrated photojournalist who has won countless awards over his nearly 50-year career, including ﬁve Robert Capa Gold Medals. The photos Nachtwey presents here balance the immediacy of disaster with its stubborn endurance as a fact of modern life across the globe. “New York World Trade Center (With Cross), 2001” is an incredible image, showing the explosive cloud of rubble as the South Tower imploded on

“Tide Above Tern” by April Surgent

“Nightly Patrol” by Cassandra Klos

9/11, its neighbor still standing; the cross on a nearby church dominates the foreground, perhaps signaling the role religion played in the attack and its aftermath. It’s an iconic split second — a contrast to his image of a man digging out from under rubble in “West Bank, 2002,” which could just as well have been taken last week.

Emmet Gowin, 84, of Newton, Pa., pictures war from an altogether different perspective. His aerial photographs of the Nevada Test Site show the craters and scars left on the desert by the 20th-century nuclear test program. The toned silver gelatin prints’ richness and warmth lend the scenes a timeless quality, as though the viewer is looking at the Nazca lines or the surface of the moon. These may be the clearest articulation of the sublime in the show: stark but beautiful landscapes

where the threat of nuclear annihilation lurks in the craters’ dark shadows.

Odette England’s images are quiet amid these dramatic neighbors. The Australian British photographer, 50, who now lectures at Brown University in Providence, R.I., presents black-and-white works from her series “Nature Is a Photograph.” In them, the natural and humanmade worlds coalesce into something new and more abstract.

In one, a sidewalk tree leans against a stark wall, its form mirrored by a highvoltage tower behind it. In another, vines curve and twist behind the grid of a fence like an organic line graph. Flowers on a woman’s dress merge with the lush greenery behind her as she talks on a phone.

With these integrated landscapes, England pictures environmental change as irreversible but not necessarily terrible.

“A lot of what she’s saying is like, ‘We’ve just got to live with what we’ve got now,’” Mackay said.

Putting together this exhibition picturing a place many of us once thought of as the future provoked a realization. “We’re here now, people,” Mackay said. She added: “These are not sensational images. Really, the thing that we have to be doing is figuring out: Where do we go?” ➆

Emmet Gowin

“Ghost Gear” by April Surgent

Marching On: New Howard Center Mural Unveiled

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

When you think of an art unveiling, you might not envision it taking place in the blazing-hot sunshine of a busy grocery store parking lot at rush hour on a Monday afternoon. But that’s exactly what happened last week, when a crowd of warm but thoroughly joyful artists and community members gathered to celebrate “Why We March,” a new mural commissioned by the nonprofit Howard Center for the side of its building facing City Market in downtown Burlington.

The mural, in three sections each about 12 feet long by 5 feet high, pictures a stylized crowd of colorful-shirted figures, many of them holding protest placards. The Vermont Statehouse is recognizable in the left panel and the Chittenden County Superior Courthouse in the right. A floating heart takes center stage at the Battery Park band shell in the middle panel, a rainbow arching over the structure. Green trees and a view of Lake Champlain unite the background as a single scene.

Howard Center serves a wide variety of clients, including people with developmental disabilities, a history of addiction or a lack of housing. Around 60 of them make up Howard Center Arts Collective — a group whose members take part in open studios, exhibitions, events, and weekly community Zoom calls to discuss their ideas and artwork.

Arts collective coordinator Kara Greenblott met artist Julio Desmont at Burlington City Arts’ BTV Market. On his website, she saw a painting with an earlier version of the mural’s imagery and shared it with Catarina Campbell, Howard’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion. They were both inspired by it and thought the constituents they serve would be, too.

“Our work in DEI is really expansive,” Campbell said. “It involves both addressing reality as it exists but also dreaming about

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

CHIP HAGGERTY: “Art You Can Count On,” a solo exhibit featuring ordinary paper bags that have been transformed into vivid reflections of daily life, mixing humor, nostalgia and raw honesty. Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne, through September 5. Info, 985-8525.

‘SPACE & PLACE’: Floral still lifes and landscapes by Tracy Everly, Philip Frey and Rachel Wilcox. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, Middlebury, through September 7. Info, 989-7419.

SUSAN ABBOTT: “Here on This Hill,” a solo exhibition of new work focused on the one-mile stretch of dirt road between the artist’s home and her studio. Edgewater

the reality we hope is possible and committing our energies to that every day.”

Like the scene pictured in the mural, its creation was a collaborative effort by a diverse group of people. Greenblott and Campbell brought in as lead artists Desmont and muralist Raphaella Brice, whose work can also be seen on the Fletcher Free Library. Desmont, 42, of Essex Junction, was born in Haiti; Brice, 27, of Montpelier, is of Haitian descent. Iraqi painter Amjed Jumaa, now of Burlington, contributed major assistance on the piece, which received $5,000 in funding from Burlington City Arts and a $10,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation.

The artists presented mockups at multiple arts collective meetings, receiving feedback on their designs. Despite the challenges of incorporating sometimes contradictory opinions, collective member Steve Tall said at the reception, “They responded to that and made the work way better.”

Altogether, more than 60 community members were involved in the project. Once the composition was set, more than 30 artists completed the piece over the course of three community paint sessions at Howard Center’s Westview House and Knight Lane facilities, as well as at ANEW Place homeless shelter in Burlington. The slogans on the placards in the mural — such as “Compassion Not Condemnation,” “Fear

Gallery on the Green, Middlebury, through September 21. Info, 989-7419.

CIERRA VIGUE: “When Time Bloomed,” a new body of ceramic works created through an embrace of meditative practice and exploring organic forms. Reception: Friday, August 22, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., August 22-September 27. Info, 603-448-3117.

CORRINE YONCE: “Longing Is Just Our Word for Knowing,” a series of fragmented, figurative works that explore the concept of home within the framework of bioregionalism. Reception: Friday, August 22, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., August 22-September 27. Info, 603-448-3117.

MIKE HOWAT: “Home, Disassembled,” an exhibition of works that use architectural forms as a framework

Less Love More” and “I Am Here” — were chosen from 95 community submissions. For Desmont, those messages are not just slogans. “They’re actually things that can happen, if we collectively make them happen,” he said. “And the most interesting ones are not up there — I mean, they’re in people’s hearts. They’re in people’s minds,” he added. “Because every day that we wake up, we march for something.” ➆

CALLS TO ARTISTS

CALL FOR “RECYCLING” ARTISTS: Seeking artists whose work includes recycled materials for “Reimagined II, The Art of Recycling,” which will be on view September 12 to October 24. Works may be for indoor or outdoor display. Please apply, with photos, via email. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland. Deadline: August 29. Free. Info, info@ chaffeeartcenter.org.

‘MADE IN THE MOUNTAINS’ ART SHOW: Seeking work in all visual mediums from artists living in the White River and Mad River Valleys. The exhibit will be open to the public on Sunday

INFO

“Why We March” is installed at 102 S. Winooski Ave. in Burlington. Learn more at howardcenter.org, raphdraws.com and juliodesmont.com.

afternoons from September 7 through midOctober. Contact Diane via email to register. Granville Corner School. Deadline: August 24. Free. Info, vtcornerschool@gmail.com.

OPEN CALL FOR RESIDENCIES: Now accepting applications for two-, three- and four-week artist and writing residencies from June 27 to December 17, 2026. Applications include fellowship opportunities. Apply online at vermontstudiocenter.org. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson. Deadline: September 30. $25. Info, 635-2727.

From top: “Why We March,” left panel; Raphaella Brice working on the mural

for personal and collective narratives. Reception: Friday, August 22, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., Fri., August 22. Info, 603-448-3117.

MISOO BANG: “Buddhist Teaching of Being Freed of Anguish and Reaching Nirvana,” an exploration of the Buddhist teaching of turning away from suffering and moving toward inner liberation. Reception: Friday, August 22, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., August 22-September 27. Info, 603-448-3117.

‘PAINTINGS BY THE FORTY-SEVEN MAIN STREET

ARTISTS GROUP’: An exhibition by Tom Merwin of works by residents of the residential program in Castleton, with whom he has been painting for 20 years. Reception: Saturday, August 23, 3-5 p.m. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, August 23-September 13. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@gmail.com.

JANET VAN FLEET: “DEI: All Kinds of People,” a collection of the artist’s assemblage sculptures featuring small, medium and large figures. Reception: Saturday, August 23, 4-6 p.m. Towle Hill Studio, Corinth, Saturday, August 23, noon-6 p.m., and Sunday, August 24, noon-3 p.m. Info, mjnart.nielsen@gmail.com.

JOHN ROBERTS: “Teacher, Artist, Friend — A Retrospective,” an exhibition celebrating the work of the beloved Rochester art teacher, who has explored many styles and media and whose work has been informed by his deafness. Reception: Wednesday, August 27, 5 p.m. Federated Church of Rochester, August 27-29, 3-6 p.m. Info, mckennakellner@gmail.com.

‘LAND & LIGHT & WATER & AIR’: The gallery’s annual flagship exhibition of traditional landscape and plein air works. Reception and award ceremony: Thursday, September 4, 5-7 p.m. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, August 27-October 26. Info, info@ bryangallery.org.

‘VISIONS IN BLUE’: A group show exploring the color blue. Reception and award ceremony: Thursday,

September 4, 5-7 p.m. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, August 27-October 26. Info, info@ bryangallery.org.

‘STARDUST’: An exhibition about the quantum world, from the behavior of photons, particles and mysterious patterns of quantum phenomena to artists’ interpretations of the immaterial and the nature of reality. Reception: Friday, September 19, 5-7 p.m. Mad River Valley Arts Gallery, Waitsfield, August 21-October 31. Info, info@madrivervalleyarts.org.

BRYCE BERGGREN: “Assemblage,” an exhibition of mixed-media works by the VTSU-Johnson faculty member. Closing reception: Thursday, October 2, noon-2 p.m. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Vermont State University-Johnson, August 26-October 3. Info, 635-1469.

‘GUIDING QUEST: GAME HISTORY’: A curated selection of artifacts, games and consoles for visitors to play while learning about the history and evolution of game design. Closing reception: Friday, October 3, 5-7 p.m. Champlain College Art Gallery, Burlington, August 25-October 3. Info, 800-570-5858.

ART EVENTS

NATURAL DYE WORKSHOPS: A workshop, produced by the Mill Museum, where participants learn to make and use natural dyes, including indigo and hapa zome processes with teaching artist Jackie Reno. Register by email. Winooski Senior Center, Wednesday, August 20, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; registration required; space limited. Info, info@themillmuseum.org.

ASSETS FOR ARTISTS WORKSHOPS: AN INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVES IN THE ARTS’: An online workshop with Daniel Park of Obvious Agency discussing the fundamentals that define cooperatives and how they differ from other types of collectives. Participants are asked to attend both

sessions. Register via Zoom at assetsforartists.org/ workshops. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier, Wednesday, August 20, 5-6:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 21, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, assetsforartists@ massmoca.org.

DRINK & DRAW: A drop-in event organized by the T.W. Wood Gallery; no experience necessary; drawing materials provided. Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, Wednesday, August 20, 5-7 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation; cash bar. Info, 262-6035.

FILM SCREENING: PAINT ME A ROAD OUT OF HERE: A screening of the documentary, which centers on Faith Ringgold’s work “For the Women’s House,” a mural created for women incarcerated on Riker’s Island, N.Y., presented alongside the exhibition “Finding Hope Within.” Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, Thursday, August 21, 2-4 p.m. Museum admission. Info, 388-2117.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Thursday, August 21, 7-9 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

GREEN MOUNTAIN WOODCARVERS 52ND ANNUAL SHOW: A display of works by local woodcarvers, with demonstrations of carving styles and methods throughout the day as well as activities and crafts for kids. Outdoors, weather permitting. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free with museum admission; free for members. Info, 802 434-2167.

TOUR OF JAPANESE HOUSE: A tour of Paul Tuller’s Japanese House in Dublin, N.H., which was originally built for the museum as part of a 1987 exhibition and restored and rebuilt in 2019. Space limited; advance registration required. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Saturday, August 23, 2 p.m. $20; free for BMAC members. Info, 257-0124.

ARTIST TALK: TODD KOSHAREK: “Symbolism in the Landscape,” a discussion and demonstration of the artist’s work and painting technique alongside the exhibition “Roots.” Emile A. Gruppe Gallery, Jericho, Sunday, August 24, 1-3 p.m. Info, 899-3211.

SOCIAL SUNDAY: An opportunity for children and caregivers to stop in and complete a 15- to 30-minute activity during the two-hour workshop. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, Sunday, August 24, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Monday, August 25, 10 a.m.noon. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035. SUMMER WATERCOLOR SERIES: A class suitable for novice and experienced painters, taught by Pauline Nolte. Supplies provided for beginners. Waterbury Public Library, Tuesday, August 26, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com. ➆

EDGEWATER GALLERY presents &

featuring PHILIP FREY, RACHEL WILCOX, & TRACY EVERLY

On view through September 7th

Edgewater Gallery at the Falls One Mill St., Middlebury

Edgewater Gallery on the Green Six Merchants Row, Middlebury SPACE & PLACE

music+nightlife

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Dead Reckoning: Deep Cuts From Vermont’s Grateful Dead Scene

I hate the fucking EAGLES, man.

Ah, you think I’m quoting The Big Lebowski? Please. I’ve been hating on the Southern California ’70s rock band since the day I was born. A born hater, if you will. I have it on suspect authority that my ﬁrst words were “GLENN FREY sucks.”

(No, no, please don’t start writing in to defend the band — I am unmovable in my hate — or to agree, which is like calling me to say you like sandwiches. This won’t be a column about the Eagles, I promise.)

So believe me, no one was more surprised, and maybe grossed out, than me when I not only watched the epic History of the Eagles documentary but also became obsessed with the two-part 2013 ﬁlm.

To be fair, I have a lifelong obsession with music docs, but up until that point, I only watched films about music that I, you know, actually enjoy. That all changed after the Eagles film. It wasn’t a hatewatch either; I was legitimately fascinated by the story of this group of men, clearly brimming with ego and intent, who created a cultural institution, even while intermittently suing one another. What a bunch of assholes! I couldn’t look away. This opened the floodgates. Suddenly I was streaming docs from just about every band or artist I previously didn’t waste a minute on, whether it was Rush:

Beyond the Lighted Stage (so good) or Wham! (even better).

I recently reminded myself of my love for the Eagles ﬁlm as I was taking on the massive August 6 cover story about the GRATEFUL DEAD tribute scene in Vermont. I’m not a Deadhead, never have been, and have largely kept the jam-band community at arm’s length as a listener. As I prepared to spend more than a month immersed in the world of Dead tribute acts, I told myself: Relax, Chris. This will be just like watching the Eagles doc.

became increasingly clear that I had underestimated just how connected the Dead and Vermont are.

I found one of the clearest examples of that connection when I spoke with former Vermont U.S. senator PATRICK LEAHY about his long love a air with the Dead. While the senator didn’t speak much about the local tribute acts, his decades-long relationship with the band — particularly with singer and guitarist JERRY GARCIA and drummer MICKEY HART — made for some incredible stories.

Like the time Leahy invited Garcia and Hart, who were playing a concert nearby in Maryland, to the U.S. Capitol building for lunch. As the rockers sat down to eat with Leahy, South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond, who infamously ﬁlibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, strode to the table.

As Leahy recalled, Thurmond seized Garcia by the shoulders and lifted him out of his chair.

“I say there, boy,” Leahy remembered Thurmond saying, putting on a pretty decent impression of the South Carolinian’s deep Southern drawl, “I hear you’re a rock star. When you get back to Texas…”

“California,” Garcia corrected him.

“Wherever,” Thurmond continued. “When you get back, you tell them you met Strom Thurmond. People will want to know you met Strom Thurmond, you hear?”

On another occasion, while waiting for the band to play a show in Washington, D.C., Leahy received a phone call from Warren Christopher, president Bill Clinton’s secretary of state.

“Pat, can you turn that radio down for a second?” an annoyed Christopher asked Leahy, who was stage-side as opener STING was playing his set.

“Now, Warren was a brilliant guy but very serious,” Leahy told me. “When I told him it wasn’t the radio and that I was at a Dead show, he sort of bristled and said, ‘I see. While you’re at your rock and roll concert, do you have time to speak with the president?’”

And in a strange way, it was. Did I uncover a secret love for the music of the Dead? Not really. Though I’ve always had plenty of admiration for what the band achieved, I still don’t have the mental patience for drum solos or PHIL LESH’s sprawling, I’ll-never-land-on-theone bass lines.

But I wasn’t looking to get into the Dead. I was trying to ﬁnd out why the band, which has been defunct for 30 years, is still such a force in the Green Mountains. As I started talking with a wide assortment of local fans, it

Leahy had Dead stories for days. And he wasn’t the only local with surprising connections.

While mulling ideas for the cover story’s art, Seven Days freelance photographer LUKE AWTRY suggested I look into artist MARIA DICHIAPPARI. A quick glance at her work was all it took for me to be convinced. She had a perfect aesthetic balance of retro-psychedelic and modern that would ﬁt the story wonderfully. And, bonus, she had already done some Dead-adjacent work.

From left: Patrick Leahy, Mickey Hart and Tom Daschle in Washington, D.C.

Melvin Seals & JGB at the Dead of Summer Music Festival

On the Beat

Do you want to be in the Guinness World Records? Better get out the dancing shoes. This Tuesday, August 26, at the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction, a host of local musicians will attempt to stage the largest square dance in history.

Led by guitarist BOB WAGNER and featuring PHISH bassist MIKE GORDON, singer-songwriter JOSH PANDA, perennial Daysies winner KAT WRIGHT, honky-tonk master BRETT HUGHES, bluegrass band WILD LEEK RIVER and tons of other area players, the “Honky Tonk Hoedown” will seek to set a new world record.

“The world record for largest square dance is only 1,600 or so people,” Wagner posted on social media. “We can DOOOO THIS YALLLL!”

While the sight of thousands of square dancers is cool in and of itself, the real aim of the show is to raise money for the nonproﬁt Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, whose mission is to build an economically viable, ecologically sound and socially just agricultural system. The organization has been heavily

a ected by Trump administration cuts, which clawed back more than $500,000 previously earmarked by Congress to help more than 55 farms across the state.

Together with Phish’s charitable arm, the WaterWheel Foundation, and Ben & Jerry’s, Wagner and his honky-tonk brigade hope to provide some muchneeded funding to NOFA-VT, while maybe putting Essex Junction on the map as the site of the largest square dance in history. Yeehaw!

To purchase tickets, head over to champlainvalleyfair.org.

Straight from the “Pearl of the Black Sea,” Odesa, Ukraine, come KOMMUNA LUX

The folk group has achieved renown across the globe for its high-energy blend of Ukrainian folk music, klezmer and Balkan swing. With a mix of reimagined traditional songs from their home, such as the klezmer standard “Odessa Bulgar,” and original bops like their 2023 single “Pan,” Kommuna Lux have a blast shouting out their culture while it is literally under attack, as

music+nightlife

the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.

Besides showcasing their country’s music, they’re aiding victims of the war through their nonproﬁt, KMLX, which has so far raised more than $50,000 for hospitals treating frontline injuries.

“Every dollar raised brings tangible relief and every note played rea rms the power of cultural preservation in times of crisis,” the band wrote in a press release ahead of its American tour.

Heading

That tour features two stops in the Green Mountains. On Friday, August 29, Kommuna Lux will perform in St. Johnsbury as part of the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series. In case you miss

them there, or just want an encore, they’ll travel to Waterbury Center on Saturday, August 30, for a show at Zenbarn.

One of my favorite Vermont music fests will return to White River Junction next month: the What Doth Rumble. Curated by the ﬁne folks from co-op/indie label WHAT DOTH LIFE, a consortium of musicians and bands that emerged from Windsor, the annual end-of-summer festival features a massive sample of Vermont’s underground indie-rock scene, as well as talent from New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “CAROL OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAERIES” by the Discussions

2. “KNOW HOW FREESTYLE SLOWED DOWN” by Big Homie Wes

3. “SUNLIGHT OF MY SKY” by Luminous Crush

4. “DIRT” by Acqua Mossa

5. “& YOU” by Tom Gershwin

6. “TRIED AND TRUE” by the Wormdogs

7. “ENGLISH ARMY” by Danny & the Parts

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

The crew is really not messing around this year, with 34 acts across three stages, including singer-songwriter ALI T, hardcore act DEAD STREET DREAMERS, Brattleboro synth rocker DUTCH EXPERTS, ska punks MCASH and much more. Completely free and open to the public, the fest also includes workshops on audio engineering and animated video production, as well as vendors and food options. It all goes down Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14, at the Main Street Museum. For more information or to donate or enter the What Doth Rumble ra e, visit mainstreetmuseum.org. ➆

SPONSORED BY:

On the Beat

Kommuna Lux

Turns out, Dichiappari, a native Californian who moved to Vermont in 2002 to study graphic design at Champlain College, didn’t just work in the style of the Dead. She literally worked for them — well, DEAD & COMPANY, the BOB WEIR-led official offshoot. She has also designed posters for the late Lesh and his project PHIL LESH & FRIENDS, as well as for jam-band titans PHISH and UMPHREY’S MCGEE

Dichiappari absolutely nailed it, crafting one of my favorite cover images ever for the paper, full stop. The fact that the artist designing tour posters for Dead & Company was already living here in Burlington rubber-stamped the connection I was writing about.

Dead-icated

It all crystallized for me as I stood inside the Jam Tent at the Dead of Summer Music Festival in Manchester — an entire weekend devoted to Dead tributes and adjacent acts — watching a gaggle of kids frolic to an acoustic version of “Eyes of the World.” I’d expected to be weirded out, or at least snarky, being surrounded by tribute bands and thousands of Deadheads. But watching the next generation of Dead fans make some of their formative memories alongside older fans who saw the band at Woodstock in 1969 felt like a perfect encapsulation of what all the Deadheads had been telling me: The music never stops. It was like the perfect ending to a music doc I’d never seen.

By the end of my reporting, I had essentially lived my own Grateful Dead tribute band documentary. Two weeks after the story dropped, I’m still listening to podcasts and reading books about a band I don’t even really like. Say what you will, but that didn’t happen with the Eagles. ➆

music+nightlife

Burial Woods, Endure

(SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

“Endure” might be the watchword for 2025 — at least for people experiencing the brunt of the nation’s welldocumented slide into authoritarianism. As vulnerable groups’ rights are stripped away, their identities erased, how much can people really take? Burlington synth aﬁcionado Nathan Meunier, who makes music as Burial Woods, ponders this question — and, perhaps, some answers — on their new EP, Endure

Meunier is an active member of the Vermont Synthesizer Society, whose regular gatherings at Winooski’s

Nastee, Current Events

(AFTERLYFE MUSIC, CD, DIGITAL)

Standing Stone Wines bring together a community of niche electronic music enthusiasts. Many of the tenebrous tracks included on Endure ﬁrst came to life at these events and now are bundled together on a scintillating EP that continues the artist’s ongoing exploration of their queer and nonbinary identities.

The EP is a reminder “that despite the uncertainty and misery in the world, especially right now, that it’s still possible to hold on and ﬁnd what sparks joy,” Meunier wrote in press materials. Endure is then a kind of Ouroboros, given that making music sparks Meunier’s joy. The questions it raises are answered by its very existence.

The transition from Burial Woods’ ﬁrst EP, 2023’s Pink Forest, to their

Current Events, the debut LP from rapper, producer, recording engineer and industry mogul Nastee, could be the single most long-awaited album in the history of Vermont hip-hop. It’s a follow-up to his mixtape The Album B4 the Album, which dropped in … 2009. That’s back when VT Union, his collective with Dakota and the late DJ A_Dog, were dominating the scene with their powerhouse live shows and a trilogy of classic mixtapes. Nastee has been around from the very beginning of the Vermont hip-hop scene and has never stopped hustling. He put in work with the legendary New York City collective Pro Era and then used that experience to start his own Vermont label, AfterLyfe Music. But Nastee’s story has been told many times over in these pages, and his music ultimately has to stand on its own.

Boy howdy, does it ever. Current Events is wallto-wall bangers, a distinctly ’90s, extremely NYC throwback that still sounds brand-new. Part of that is due to cyclical trends. “Real hip-hop” is cool again, which is great news for dinosaurs such as me who are fans of things like song structure and comprehensible lyrics.

What really brings this album to life, though, is

second, 2024’s The Collapse, was incredibly dark. Pink Forest’s synthwave and industrial styles melted and congealed into The Collapse’s cinematic, amorphous tone poems. Meunier plumbed the depths of their sorrow and rage to resurface with Endure, which snaps Meunier’s sound back into the realm of pop, gloomy as it may be.

Opener “Final Hours” is one of the brightest songs in Burial Woods’ oeuvre — “bright” being a relative term for a project that largely lurks in shadows. Moody and melancholy while still melodically optimistic, the track evokes ’80s British post-punk groups such as Ultravox or Soul Mining-era the The. Meunier sounds comfortable and conﬁdent, their butterscotch baritone smoothing out grave passages such as “into the void again” and “drowning in the darkness.”

“Erased” is as tumultuous as its title implies. Serrated bass synth underscores

how hungry Nastee sounds on every song. This is not a victory lap but an urgent manifesto from a man on ﬁre. The helpfully named “1st Album Intro” kicks it o with Nastee and Konﬂik in the studio. “This is my Illmatic,” Nastee says, referring to Nas’ 1994 solo album, before

a powerful, snare-heavy beat as synth arpeggios provide a creepy-crawly sense of anxiety. “I can see it breaking through / But we exist in spite of you,” Meunier sings, a pledge to themself and all marginalized people.

Subsequent cuts showcase di erent shades of Meunier’s tactile production: “Drag Myself Along” buzzes with glowing, chunky synths; “Tethered” is both jagged and pulsating; “For You” crackles with metallic ire; and closer “Beyond the Veil” is an ice-cold declaration of — naturally — endurance.

In a scene largely dominated by rock, funk and folk, Meunier continues to be a stylistic outlier in Burlington music. Endure is a sparkling beacon that broadcasts to all the freaky folks who come out at night.

Endure is available at burialwoods. bandcamp.com and on major streaming services.

JORDAN ADAMS

launching into a verse that name-checks dozens of other iconic debuts.

Beﬁtting the Illmatic comparisons, all the guests throughout Current Events give 110 percent. Termanology drops a burner on “No Funny,” CJ Fly pours his heart out on “Horizons,” REKS channels classic AZ on “Free,” and Konﬂik’s distinctive baritone is an essential ingredient throughout.

As a rapper, Nastee has never been better. Whether he’s asserting his place in the game (“We Here”), dropping vivid storytelling (“Knowhere”) or o ering his streetwise take on media brainwashing (“Evening News”), his pen game is on point, and his vocal takes are perfectly calibrated.

As a producer, what really sets Nastee apart is his musical ear for ﬂeshing out boom-bap compositions. He is a disciple of the Pete Rock approach: Melodic, carefully layered samples are not merely chopped and looped but reharmonized into new songs of their own.

2025 has been a high-water mark for great Vermont rap albums. Joint Manipulation gave us an all-time hardcore classic with The One You Feed; Devon Dutchmaster put the entire state on notice with his debut, Puzzle Pieces; and Asterisk (aka Burlington scene ﬁxture Greg Davis) teamed up with legends from around the world on his kaleidoscopic No School

With Current Events, Nastee has staked his claim for the top spot and once again proved himself a master craftsman of the genre. Every detail is honed to perfection. This is not just a personal statement; it’s a template for doing it right. Pay attention.

Current Events is available at nasteeluvzyou. bandcamp.com.

JUSTIN BOLAND

Nastee

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.20

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

Drumstick (reggae, funk) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Eastern Mountain Time (singersongwriter) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Irish Night with RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Kissing Other PPL (indie folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15/$20.

Nation of Language, Dari Bay (indie rock) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $34.41/$42.45.

POLKAROBICS, Lunar Static (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5/$10.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

THU.21

Alex Stewart & Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Alternate Take (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Blues Without Borders (blues, rock) at South Mountain Tavern, Bristol, 7 p.m. Free.

Burton Stonerook (country) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Colin Cope and Chris Page (bluegrass) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Dan Parks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Devon McGarry Band (folk rock) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Frankie & the Fuse (indie pop) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

GYMSHORTS, Bowling Shoes, Coven (punk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10/$15.

Keller Williams (roots) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $20.

Live Music Series (live music series) at Folino’s Pizza, Northfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Mirah, Footings (singersongwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $15/$20.

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.

In the Loop

There are one-man bands, and then there’s KELLER WILLIAMS

The Virginia native, who rose to prominence during the jam band explosion of the ’90s, is capable of producing a vast array of sounds all by his lonesome. With the use of his trusty Boss Loop Station pedal, Williams records and loops himself playing an arsenal of instruments — acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keys and synths, drum machines and percussion — all in service to his rootsy, often reggae-tinged songs. Who needs a band when you can jam with yourself? Williams released his latest record, Deer, in 2024. His tour takes him to Zenbarn in Waterbury Center on Thursday, August 21.

FRI.22

Al Olender, James Felice (singersongwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

Ali McGuirk (R&B, soul) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

B-Town (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 2:30 p.m. Free.

Billy Wylder (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & BBQ with Hard Scrabble (bluegrass) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5:30 p.m. $10.

The Co-Conspirators (folk) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8 p.m. Free.

Dancin’ in the Streets with Local Strangers (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Dogs on Shady Lane, Fowl, English Major (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

The Dream Eaters (dream pop) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Eddie 9V (blues, rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $19.84.

George Nostrand (acoustic) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Greg Bauman (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, Bhi Bhiman (singersongwriter) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $42.84. Moonbird (covers) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Moondogs (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.

Nate Michaud (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. Rhythm on 90 (rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 9 p.m. Free.

She Was Right (covers) at Bravo Zulu Lakeside Bar, North Hero, 5 p.m. Free.

Skorts, Dutch Experts, Future Party Band (rock, synth) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $11/$15.

Spafford (jam) at the Green at the Essex Experience, 7 p.m. $25.

Storm Windows (folk) at Bravo Zulu Lakeside Bar, North Hero, 5 p.m. Free.

SweetRoots (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Taylor Haskins & Ben Monder (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $30.

Tournesol (jazz) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Your Best Nightmare, Champlain Shoregasm, Vallory Falls, Dog Water (punk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Zachary DeFranco (bluegrass) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

SAT.23

Biz Turkey, the Mutant Strains, Phantom Buffalo (indie rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. Free.

Broken Locker, Dead Street Dreamers, Robbery, Short Changed (punk) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 8 p.m. $10.

Colin Nevins (singer-songwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Duncan MacLeod (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

GoldFord, Splendid Torch (Americana, soul) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

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

Julianna Luna Quartet (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Kind Bud (acoustic) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

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

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

Melissa Moorhouse (singersongwriter) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Monachino, Jarrett & Stats (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

NAILED SHUT, Halo Bite, NO SOUL, In Lieu of Flowers (metal) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15.

ok commuter (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 5 p.m. Free.

partygirl, silverlined, Brunch (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

Speak of the Witch, Sabrehound, Bitter Rival, Desert Money Run (metal) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Vermont Reggae Fest (reggae) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 2 p.m. $20-$150.

SUN.24

Granville Daze (acoustic) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Jake Shimabukuro (folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $42.84.

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Matt Hagen (acoustic) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

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

TUE.26

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Hotline TNT, Sour Widows (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20.88.

Red River North (country) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

WED.27

Acid Wash, Soundhound (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

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

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Luis Betancourt (singersongwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

djs

THU.21

Eli, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Paul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

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

For the Record (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

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

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

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.22

Burley Bear, Aiden (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. John’s Jukebox (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Latin Night: Summer Series (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5-$10. NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.23

Crypt Goth Night (DJ) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ ATAK (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

THU.21 // KELLER WILLIAMS [ROOTS]

music+nightlife

DJ Eric LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Fernetic (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Malcolm Miller (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

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

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.20

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

THU.21

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass open jam) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m. Free.

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

SUN.24

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

TUE.26

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

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.27

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

comedy

WED.20

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.21

The Kingdom Kids (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Shane Torres (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20.

FRI.22

Shane Torres (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $20.

SAT.23

Shane Torres (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $20.

TUE.26

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

WED.27

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.20

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Wyld at Heart

Vermont singer-songwriter and guitarist Avi Salloway learned from a master of Tuareg music when he played in Nigerien guitarist Bombino’s band. Taking a love of African music and rhythms and combining it with indie rock and folk music, Salloway formed his own band, BILLY WYLDER, in 2011. The group released the critically acclaimed Trying to Get Free in 2023, a record that fused Salloway’s Tuareg tendencies with Western sensibilities. A summer tour features multiple stops in the Green Mountains, starting with a performance at Foam Brewers in Burlington on Friday, August 22, followed by an appearance at the Homegrown in Vermont Music Festival at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe on Saturday, August 23.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.21

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Line Dancing and Two-Step Night (dance) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night at the Library (trivia) at Stowe Free Library, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.22

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

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

SAT.23

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.24

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

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

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

MON.25

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday (trivia) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Brain (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.26

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.27

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Live Band Karaoke (karaoke) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

Gift Basket Giveaway

FRI.22, SAT. 23 // BILLY WYLDER [INDIE]

calendar

AUGUST

WED.20

community

SHARING HOPE

CONVERSATION SERIES:

NAMI Vermont hosts a community-driven evening focusing on mental health and accessing culturally competent care, led by volunteer facilitators from Black and African communities. Light refreshments provided. 20 Allen St., Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-7949, ext. 102.

WEEKLY PASSEGGIATA:

Locals take to the streets for a community-building stroll of the pedestrian promenade based on the Italian social ritual. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, churchstmarketplace@ gmail.com.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

dance

MAMMA MIA DANCE NIGHT:

Big Handsome DJ spins danceable faves by ABBA and other ’80s icons while revelers sip and groove. Partial proceeds

20-27,

benefit ATRIA Collective. Waybury Inn, East Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $25-35; cash bar. Info, 388-4015. etc.

CHAMP MASTERS

TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Dealer. com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, champmasterstm@gmail.com.

LANE SERIES SEASON

PREVIEW: Director Natalie Neuert launches the beloved series’ 70th anniversary year with a sneak peak and a brief history. Refreshments provided. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 656-4455.

OPEN HOUSE: Attendees find much to do at an evening of mingling and music at the museum, backed by unbeatable sunset lake views. Ages 21 and up. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 5:30-8 p.m. $15; cash bar. Info, 864-1848.

fairs &

festivals

CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR: Vermont’s oldest agricultural jubilee features rides, live music and entertainment, livestock events, demolition

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Listings and spotlights are written by Rebecca Driscoll 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.

2025

derbies, and all that fabulous food. Mountain View Park, Lyndonville, 4 p.m. $15-25; free for kids under 36 inches tall. Info, 427-4404.

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL:

It’s a film fanatic’s paradise when more than 100 features, high-profile panelists and lively festivities roll into town for the 11th annual flick fête. See middfilmfest.org for full schedule. Various Middlebury locations. Various prices. Info, 382-9222.

film

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

‘76 DAYS ADRIFT’: Ang Lee produced this profoundly immersive 2024 documentary that plunges viewers into the heart of one man’s extraordinary survival story. A Q&A with filmmaker Joe Wein follows. See calendar spotlight. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 6:30-8:15 p.m. $8.50-12. Info, 229-0598.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Game lovers enjoy an evening of friendly competition with staples such as Catan, Dominion, chess and cards. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

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

See what’s playing 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

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

language

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their vocabulario with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

lgbtq

PRIDE HIKE: NORTH BRANCH NATURE CENTER: LGBTQIA+ hikers and allies find community during a two-mile trek of the center, replete with naturalist stops to explore the local flora and fauna. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 5-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sarah.hooghuis@audubon.org.

music

THE ALBANY SOUND: A local band plays a rich combination of country, folk and rock originals, paired with renditions of rarities by John Prine, Bobby Charles and other noteworthy names. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.

BCA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SARA GREY & KIERON MEANS: The mother-and-son folk duo plays tunes from the British Isles and North America, featuring tight vocal harmonies, guitar and banjo. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP

BROWN BAG SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Live music by local talent comes to the heart of downtown Montpelier, showcasing a diverse mix of artists and genres throughout the season. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604. LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘MOZARTIANA: THE CREATIVE PHENOMENON’: Nine days of master classes, performances, lectures by lauded musicians and a special film screening tantalize the ears of classical listeners. See lccmf.org for full schedule. Various locations statewide. Various prices. Info, 846-2175.

MORRISVILLE LIVE: Friends and neighbors gather for weekly live music, activities, tasty treats and family fun in the great outdoors. See morristownvt.gov for lineup. BYO chair encouraged. Oxbow Park, Morrisville, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, ataplin@morristownvt.org.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER

CONCERT SERIES: Local bands play dynamic grooves while listeners enjoy green grass, refreshments and an evening breeze. See downtownsaintalbans.com for lineup. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1500, ext. 263.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: Cyclists roll through a pastoral

20-mile trail ride, then enjoy artisan eats, including Vermont’s award-wining cheddar. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, noon4 p.m. $120. Info, 730-0161.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE:

With a new design every year, this sprawling labyrinth presents a fresh challenge for fall-time revelers. Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $15-30; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 397-8574.

GUIDED SHORT TRAIL HIKE:

Green Mountain Club staff lead hikers on a 0.7-mile trek, offering up useful tips and tricks along the way. Dogs welcome. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7037.

TREE ID & NATURAL HISTORY

TOUR: Outdoorsy folks join up with forest expert Gene O. Desideraggio for an enlightening talk and exploration of the area. Audubon Vermont Sugarhouse, Richmond, 1 p.m. $10-15; preregister. Info, info@citymarket.coop.

seminars

AUDUBON TRAINING & ENDORSEMENT WORKSHOP FOR VERMONT FORESTERS:

Attendees gain practical strategies for enhancing forest diversity and resiliency at this session covering topics such as bird habitat needs and landscape planning. BYO lunch; coffee and snacks provided. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, tim.duclos@audubon.org.

STUDIO PRODUCTION: Media enthusiasts walk through the process of conducting interviews on set while switching between cameras and utilizing chroma-keyed backgrounds. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘WHERE THE FIELD MEETS THE FOREST: TICK SAFETY ON & OFF THE FARM’: University of Vermont research assistant professor Cheryl Frank Sullivan covers pertinent tick topics such as identification, life cycle, disease-causing pathogens and bite prevention. Hosted by the University of Vermont. 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, cfrank@uvm.edu.

sports

BIKE BUM RACE SERIES: Mountain bikers of all ages tackle the trails solo or in teams, then cool down at an athlete after-party. Killington Resort, 2-5 p.m. $20-200; preregister. Info, 800-734-9435.

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: Viewers take in the regional premiere of a new play about an Iranian father and daughter — separated by

the international border — who use the Haskell Free Library & Opera House as their meeting place. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 7:30-10 p.m. $55-92. Info, 824-5288.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: The Bard gets a radical update with unconventional and modern productions of Richard II and Love’s Labour’s Lost presented outdoors. The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, Manchester, 7:30-9 p.m. $0-100 sliding scale. Info, 779-3315.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE PUBLIC EVENTS: Notable novelists and poets deliver readings and lectures on different aspects of their craft. See middlebury.edu for full schedule. Bread Loaf Campus, Ripton, 9 a.m. & 4:15 p.m. Free. Info, 443-2700.

GARRETT M. GRAFF: A best-selling, Pulitzer Prizenominated author launches his newest book, The Devil Reached Toward the Sky. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

ROBERT MACAULEY: The former medical director of clinical ethics at the University of Vermont shares his new memoir, Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul. Charlotte Library, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3999.

SILENT READING PARTY: Waterbury Public Library invites bookworms to engage their senses with a good book and bucolic surroundings. Waterbury Reservoir, Waterbury Center, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: TRISH O’KANE: A professor, author and activist shares details from her book “Birding to Change the World: A Memoir,” about the astonishing science of avian life, from migration to parenting. Worthen Library, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 372-6209.

THU.21

business

GROW YOUR BUSINESS: Shelburne BNI hosts a weekly meeting for local professionals to exchange referrals and build meaningful connections. Connect Church, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 377-3422. HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: Time for a new gig? The Vermont Department of Labor offers a meet and greet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: Neighbors connect with representatives from the Burlington Electric Department and receive answers to questions about its services. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

crafts

CRAFT & SKILL SHARE NIGHT:

Makers socialize and exchange inspiration while creating new projects. BYO supplies. Odd Fellows Lodge, Burlington, 6:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-7201.

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: All ages and abilities knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, etford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries

create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to tools and equipment in the makerspace. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.

dance

CURRENTLY SPEAKING SERIES:

POLLY MOTLEY: A professional dancer and choreographer leads attendees in a body-mind session designed to release unnecessary tension and effort. e Current, Stowe, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 253-8358.

environment

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

fairs & festivals

CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR: See WED.20, 7 a.m.

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS

FESTIVAL: See WED.20.

ﬁlm

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy

forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. Dealer.com 3D eater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

FLICKS IN THE PARK: ‘PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE’: Paul Reubens’ eccentric character embarks on a cross-country search for his stolen bicycle in Tim Burton’s 1985 comedy. Burlington City Hall Park, 8-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

‘GONE GUYS’: Community members gather to watch a documentary ﬁlm drawing on information from author Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 nonﬁction book, Of Boys and Men. A discussion follows ursday’s screening. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 800-622-1124.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Paciﬁc Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D eater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘PAINT ME A ROAD OUT OF HERE’: Attendees take in Catherine Gund’s 2024 documentary feature centered on Faith Ringgold’s 1971 artwork created for women incarcerated on Rikers Island. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 388-2117.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: Footage of paleontological digs from around the globe tells a compelling story of scientists working as detectives to answer questions about an ancient and mysterious ocean world. Dealer. com 3D eater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun

• Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.20

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library,

AUG. 22 | THEATER

Rising Chide

Politically minded Glover troupe Bread and Puppet eater journeys to Burlington’s Flynn Main Stage for a one-night-only performance of its summer show, Our Domestic Resurrection Revolution in Progress Circus! e lively original work grabs guests’ attention with familiar traditions, tropes and iconography dating back to the theater’s early days in the 1960s and ’70s, with the addition of urgent content highlighting issues of today. Expect towering stilt dancers, papier-mâché creatures of epic proportions, problem-solving grasshoppers and — of course — a charged critique of the U.S. militaryindustrial complex. Nobody says it better than founder-director Peter Schumann, who reminds us that the circus is and always will be “anti-empire art.”

‘OUR DOMESTIC RESURRECTION REVOLUTION IN PROGRESS CIRCUS!’ Friday, August 22, 7 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $22.50. Info, 863-5966, ﬂynnvt.org.

Marshﬁeld, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI

GOLF: Putters of all ages hit the artist-designed course for some lighthearted competition, whimsy and thrills. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, noon-8 p.m. $4-5. Info, 533-2000.

NOVEL ENGINEERING STEM LAB: White Mountain Science hosts two mornings of hands-on, project-based programming for students in grades 3 to 5. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 9-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 745-1391.

THU.21

burlington

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

chittenden county

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: e singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Viewers witness history in the making — from launching rockets without fuel to building the Lunar Gateway — in this 2024 documentary narrated by Chris Pine. Dealer.com 3D eater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

UPPER VALLEY DOC CLUB:

‘AMERICAN MOVIE’: Chris Smith’s 1999 documentary feature follows aspiring filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he attempts to finance his dream project — a low-budget horror film he abandoned years before. A discussion follows. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

food & drink

AFTERNOON TEA & TEA

ETIQUETTE TALK: Reﬁned guests enjoy a proper English setup — complete with warm scones and clotted cream — while learning about the tradition’s history. Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 3-4:30 p.m. $48; preregister. Info, 888-6888.

FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP: Foodies enjoy live music, craft beer and fabulous fare from local purveyors at a weekly summer gathering. Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, 5-8 p.m. $5-8. Info, 490-2270. PIZZA BY THE POND: A woodﬁred oven delivers all-you-caneat pies made of local ingredients while musicians Brett Hughes and Matt Flinner regale diners. BYOB. Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen, 5-8 p.m. $20-33; free for kids 6 and under. Info, info@ blueberryhillinn.com.

ST. ALBANS BAY FARMERS

MARKET: Local vendors’ art and crafts, live music, and a wide array of eats spice up ursday afternoons in the region. St. Albans Bay Park, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-7589.

Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORYBOOK HOUR & CRAFTS: Beachgoers ages 2 to 8 and their caregivers gather for lakeside tales, summer fun and creativity. Sand Bar State Park, Milton, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; $2-5 park entry fee. Info, 893-2825.

barre/montpelier

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos under 4 to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP: Blocks, toys, books and songs engage little ones 24 months and younger. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

middlebury area

SHIPWRECK TOURS: What lies beneath? Spectators view real-time footage of a sunken craft transmitted from a robotic camera. Lake Champlain Maritime

VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET:

Locavores delight in handmade products, live music, hot food and a new beer tent. Vergennes City Park, 3-7 p.m. Free. Info, vergennesfm@gmail.com.

games

BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER:

Katharine Bodan leads players in a thrilling social deduction game of lies and logic, in which no one is ever truly ruled out. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES:

Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30-4 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN:

Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

health & fitness COMMUNITY

MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion guides attendees in a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, andreamarion193@gmail.com.

VON TRAPP SUMMER TRAIL

SERIES: Athletes embark on a low-frills 5K race through the property’s stunning forests and soak up the area’s stellar views. The von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, Stowe, 5:30-7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 253-5719.

language

MANDARIN CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

music

CÉCILIA: A Canadian trio brings the best of musical worlds together with a performance of traditional, Celtic and Québécois music. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $5-22. Info, 533-2000.

FEAST & FIELD: BEECHARMER: Listeners settle in for an evening of playful twang, artful arrangements, tight harmonies, virtuosic fiddle and skillful flatpicking. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $525. Info, 234-1645.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘MOZARTIANA: THE CREATIVE PHENOMENON’: See WED.20.

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: ANDY GRAMMER: A multiplatinum singer-songwriter and record producer regales listeners with

original tunes about all the wild turns his life has taken. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

LITTLE RIVER SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: Sixteen weeks of dynamic performers, local food vendors, craft cocktails, beer and mingling offer the perfect escape after a hot summer day. See bluebirdhotels.com for lineup. Tälta Lodge Bluebird, Stowe, 5-8 p.m. $10-15. Info, 253-7525. MUSIC IN THE VINEYARD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: ULTRAVIOLET: The Vermont band’s tight harmonies and energetic renditions of hits get toes a-tappin’ while local food trucks serve up tasty treats. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-9463.

ON THE DOOR RADIO: A laid-back summer series features tantalizing food-truck fare and a rotating pair of local DJs backed by sunset cocktail vibes. Coal Collective, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, info@thepineryvt.com.

THURSDAYS BY THE LAKE: CDBB: A five-piece outfit captivates downtown listeners with electric Americana tunes, featuring Cooie DeFrancesco on vocals and rhythm guitar. Union Station, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: Pedal lovers cycle through scenic trails and drink in the views with stops at four local breweries. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $85. Info, 730-0161.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

seminars

MAKING MAGIC WITH COMPOSITION & LIGHTING: Filmmakers move beyond the basics and learn how to frame shots, light subjects and incorporate camera movements. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.20, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.20.

‘THE TAMING OF THE SHREW’: The Green Mountain Shakespeare Festival stages the Bard’s beloved, whimsical comedy about the dynamics of relationships. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $20. Info, 793-2092.

TENFEST: DISCOVERY: The Vermont Playwrights Circle serves up a smorgasbord of 10-minute one-acts at this bitesize festival. The Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $12-14. Info, 583-1674.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE PUBLIC EVENTS: See WED.20, 9 a.m., 4:15 & 8 p.m.

MORNINGS, MUFFINS & MYSTERIES: Lit lovers link

AUG.

20 | FILM

All at Sea

Sometimes, reality is more unbelievable than any fictitious script born of Hollywood. Joe Wein’s 2024 documentary 76 Days Adrift plunges viewers at Montpelier’s Savoy Theater into the extraordinary true story of one man’s fight for survival. It’s February 1982: Steven Callahan’s boat has just collided with a whale, leaving him stranded on a pitiful raft facing the endless horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. The immersive film, executive produced by renowned director Ang Lee, follows Callahan’s inspirational 2.5-month journey — battling starvation, dehydration and nature’s raw, unforgiving presence — aboard the fragile inflatable. Executive producer Robert Sennott answers attendees’ questions at an illuminating post-screening talk-back.

‘76 DAYS ADRIFT’

Wednesday, August 20, 6:30-8:15 p.m., at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier. $8.50-12. Info, 229-0598, savoytheater.com.

up to discuss the month’s twisty page-turner. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

OPEN BOOK: Readers join up with the shop’s book buyer for a lively discussion about Beth Ann Fennelly’s maximalist portrait of life, Heating and Cooling Phoenix Books, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

FRI.22

dance

EVE OF VERGENNES DAY STREET

DANCE: Community members groove the night away to the contagious sounds of Burlington cover band the Hitmen.

Vergennes City Park, 7-10 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7951.

‘THE FIRST ONE’: Audience members enjoy an evening of new, uplifting works by Bosse DeBelina Dance, featuring guests from the DAMC Performance Workshop. Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 8-9 p.m. $20. Info, tracy@madriver.com.

‘IN•TER•SEC•TION’: Movement for Parkinson’s teaching artist Sara McMahon premiers a stirring original work featuring dancers ages 13 to 84 with movement

disorders. Burlington City Hall Park, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

SHELBURNE CONTRA DANCE: No partner or experience is necessary when Dereck Kalish calls the steps and Guillaume Sparrow-Pepin, Helen Kuhar and Rose Jackson provide the tunes. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. Historic Shelburne Town Hall, free lesson, 6:45 p.m.; music, 7-10 p.m. $5-12 cash or check; free for kids under 12. Info, info@queencitycontras.com. etc.

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this donation event hosted by the St. Albans Knights of Columbus Council 297. St. Albans City Hall, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 800-733-2767.

MEET THE CAR & DRIVER: Sports fans flock to meet “World’s Oldest Rookie” race car driver Ron Horton and his beloved automobile Jazz Legend. Lake Effect Cannabis, South Hero, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 734-2043.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: Paranormal historian Holli Bushnell highlights haunted happenings throughout Burlington. 199 Main St., Burlington,

‘EDDINGTON’: Ari Aster’s 2025 neo-Western zooms in on a small, rural town in New Mexico during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $5. Info, cinemahaskell@gmail.com.

‘GONE GUYS’: See THU.21, 6-7:15 p.m.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.21.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.21.

‘SORRY, BABY’: Writer-director Eva Victor’s breakout Sundance Film Festival sensation follows Agnes, a young adjunct professor coming to terms with a traumatic event. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.21.

food & drink

FRIED CHICKEN & PICKIN’: A family-friendly dinner series puts smiles on faces with local food, live bluegrass bands and fun at the farm. BYO chair or blanket. Maple Wind Farm, Richmond, 5-7:30 p.m. $12.75-35; preregister. Info, hello@maplewindfarm.com.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free; cost of goods. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com.

8 p.m. $25. Info, mail@ queencityghostwalk.com.

‘WATER IN THE WOOD’: Attendees take in a collaborative performance created from scratch by the Sable Ensemble in just three weeks. Wood-fired pizza, art installations and activities complete the evening. Sable Project, Stockbridge, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $20. Info, bex@ thesableproject.org.

fairs & festivals

CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR: See WED.20, 7 a.m.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: Vermonters enjoy a smorgasbord of rides, games and fun, from the demolition derby to carousels to culinary and cooking events. See calendar spotlight. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, noon-10 p.m. $7-20; add $10 for parking; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 878-5545.

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL: See WED.20.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.21.

SOUTH END GET DOWN: Local food trucks dish out mouthwatering meals and libations while live DJs and outdoor entertainment add to the ambience. Coal Collective, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, 363-9305.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.21, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

health & fitness

THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Pauline Nolte leads participants in a low-impact, evidenced-based program that builds muscle, keeps joints flexible and helps folks stay fit. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 241-4840. GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION: Advanced and intermediate

speakers practice their skills at a conversazione based on the “News in Slow Italian” podcast. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 747-8300.

BCA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE SPRING CHICKENS: An old-time string band plays hard-driving traditional Appalachian songs and danceable, upbeat tunes while listeners enjoy their lunch outdoors. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:301:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

CONCERTS IN THE COURTYARD: Music aficionados of all ages tune in to a weekly summer series featuring live outdoor performances by noteworthy talent. See benningtonmuseum.org for lineup. Bennington Museum, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 447-1571.

CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: Guests get cozy on the grass while local legends take the stage to perform feel-good toe-tappers. See campmeade. today for lineup. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC: New vinos, hopping live tunes, tasty food truck provisions and picnic blankets make for a relaxing evening among the vines. See lincolnpeakvineyard.com for lineup. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7368.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN

CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘MOZARTIANA: THE CREATIVE PHENOMENON’: See WED.20, 11 a.m.

MIDDLEBURY CARILLON

SERIES: Bells ring out across the campus in weekly performances by a rotating cast of extraordinary carillonneurs. See middlebury.edu for lineup. Middlebury Chapel, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3168.

NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: A community-oriented music festival brings together well-known jazz musicians and local talent, creating singular opportunities for collaboration and experimentation. See 118elliot.com for lineup. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. By donation. Info, 917-239-8743.

SOHYUN AHN: A lauded concert pianist delights listeners with a stirring program of works by Frédéric Chopin. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North

Hero, 7-8:30 p.m. $20-25. Info, 372-8889.

SOUNDS GOOD: FRIDAY NIGHTS

LIVE: A family-friendly summer concert series invites music lovers of all ages to gather under the stars for exceptional entertainment, local flavor and delectable fare. BYO chairs and blankets encouraged. See svac.org for lineup. Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 5-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-1405.

STRANGEFOLK GARDEN OF EDEN FESTIVAL: The Burlingtonformed band turns up the volume for a weekend of epic jams, including supporting sets by the Seth Yacovone Band and Pink Talking Fish. Stateside Amphitheater, Jay Peak Resort, 6 p.m.-midnight. $40-65. Info, 988-2611.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.20.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.21.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

sports

FRIDAY NIGHT DINGHY RACING:

Skippers with previous sailing knowledge celebrate the end of the week with some nautical competition. Bring or borrow a boat. Community Sailing Center, Burlington, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 864-2499.

tech

TECH FREEBIES: SAVING MONEY WITH LIBRARY RESOURCES: Folks looking to cut costs join up with a digital specialist to explore the variety of free online services that the library has to offer. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.20, 7:30-9 p.m.

‘IVANOV’: Scholar Laura Strausfeld directs TV star Sam Underwood in Anton Chekhov’s four-act drama following an emotionally stranded man surrounded by others who are just as unhappy. Unadilla Theatre, Marshfield, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $1530. Info, 546-0406.

‘OH YOU BEAST DESCENDANTS’:

Audience members take in a brand-new, politically charged production of puppetry that evolves over the course of the summer. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 525-3031.

‘OUR DOMESTIC RESURRECTION REVOLUTION IN PROGRESS CIRCUS!’: Bread and Puppet’s spectacular summer show mystifies and delights with colorful puppetry, towering stilters and ferocious papier-mâché tigers. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.50. Info, 863-5966.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.20.

‘THE TAMING OF THE SHREW’: See THU.21.

TENFEST: DISCOVERY: See THU.21.

‘VOICES FROM UKRAINE: STORIES OF WAR & HOPE’:

Audience members take in a powerful original musical featuring five Ukrainian youths who bring their own experiences to life onstage. A reception follows. Proceeds benefit Common Man for Ukraine. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, jjbacevius@yahoo.com.

words

BREAD LOAF WRITERS’ CONFERENCE PUBLIC EVENTS: See WED.20, 9 a.m., 4:15 & 8 p.m.

SAT.23 agriculture

WOODSTOCK GARDEN DAY: An idyllic annual event features herbal tea, sunflower strolls, fiddle tunes, tomato tasting and lawn games at Billings Farm & Museum, Marsh-BillingsRockefeller National Historical Park, and the Kelly Way Gardens. Various Woodstock locations, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 800-448-7900. bazaars

GRAYCAT COMICS & COLLECTIBLES SHOW: Local vendors sell comic books, new and vintage toys, sports cards, and other geeky goods. 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Free. Info, 393-2051.

MAKER’S MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade treasures and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers,

Find your best self when you unwind at The Spa at Topnotch. Truly relax with a massage, facial, salon service and simply sitting poolside. Or get in shape with fitness classes or a round of tennis or pickleball. Either way, you deserve nothing less than Topnotch.

distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of items. Info, 528-7951.

community

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER

COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

dance

‘THE FIRST ONE’: See FRI.22.

OPEN HOUSE: Guests explore the studio’s spaces, meet teachers and faculty, try on new dancewear, and take part in fun challenges. Pizza provided. Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 646-400-5882.

etc.

BLOCK PARTY FUNDRAISER: Black Sheep Radio celebrates 20 years in operation with a community-driven bash featuring live music, food and activities, all in support of keeping independent, local radio alive. Waypoint Center, Bellows Falls, 2-10 p.m. $10-20. Info, info@blacksheepradio.org.

GARDEN PARTY: Master gardener Rachel Babin answers horticultural questions while guests taste the fruits of the community’s labor. Waterbury Public Library, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: See FRI.22.

ULTRA CAMP: DIRTY DANCING

EDITION: Campers ages 21 and up flock to an immersive overnight fundraiser featuring elevated arts and crafts, hiking, yoga, trivia and a screening of the classic 1987 romantic drama. Camp Thorpe, Goshen. Various prices; preregister. Info, 247-6611. ‘WATER IN THE WOOD’: See FRI.22.

fairs & festivals

BARNARD STREET DANCE: A beloved town tradition returns with a full afternoon of family fun, art-making activities, food vendors and a barn-raising lineup of live bands. Barnard Town Hall, 2-7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 234-1645.

BEST OF VERMONT SUMMER FESTIVAL: Revelers enjoy the most fabulous fine art, food, beer, wine and entertainment that the Green Mountain State has

to offer. Okemo Field, Ludlow, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $5. Info, 228-5830.

CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR: See WED.20, 7 a.m.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See FRI.22, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

FIRST AFRICAN LANDING DAY: Soul food, storytelling, music, dance and talks honor the resilience of the Black American community since 1619. Roosevelt Park, Burlington, noon-5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 391-4335.

FLEDGE FEST: Music lovers gather to celebrate more than a dozen up-and-coming musicians, local food, and artists in a two-day bash. On-site camping available. Fledgling Farmstead, Tunbridge. $20-50 sliding scale; add $10 for camping. Info, fledgefestvt@gmail.com.

LIFT FUNDRAISING FESTIVAL: Live music by the Ragged Company sets the tone for a community celebration honoring late Moretown teen Cyrus Zschau. Proceeds benefit educational travel for Harwood Union High School students. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 3-7 p.m. By donation. Info, liftcyrus@ gmail.com.

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL: See WED.20.

NULHEGAN ABENAKI HERITAGE GATHERING: Singing, drumming, dancing and traditional games for kids and adults honor Vermont’s Indigenous history.

Mount Norris Scout Reservation, Eden Mills, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 804-943-6197.

QUECHEE SCOTTISH GAMES & FESTIVAL: Bagpipe bands, sheepdog trials, Highland dancing and live music anchor a Scottish soirée. Quechee Polo Field, Hartford, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $25; free for kids 12 and under. Info, lwebster@quecheegames.org.

VERGENNES DAY: Vermont’s smallest city goes big at this annual festival, featuring live music, vendors and a bubble pit at the fire station. Vergennes City Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7951.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.21.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.21.

‘OUR HOSPITALITY’: Composer Jeff Rapsis plays a live score for this silent Buster Keaton classic following a young man unknowingly at the center of a long-running family feud. Ludlow Auditorium, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 603-236-9237.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.21.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.21.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS

MARKET: More than 35 vendors showcase their farm-fresh

OPENS AUG. 22 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Fair Well, Summer

And just like that, the Champlain Valley Fair returns to Essex Junction to herald the changing of the seasons — and allay some of that back-to-school dread. As always, the county classic delivers midway rides, monster truck shows, demolition derbies, carnival games, mind-blowing food offerings, 4-H favorites and stupendous agricultural feats. New this year is the “Honky Tonk Hoedown,” featuring local legend Bob Wagner and his posse of Vermont music icons, including Phish’s Mike Gordon and indomitable singersongwriter Kat Wright. Before the concert, join the “world’s largest square dance,” which aims to unseat the current Guinness World Record holder. Do-si-do it out of the park, y’all!

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR

Friday, August 22, and Monday, August 25, through Wednesday, August 27, noon-10 p.m.; and Saturday, August 23, and Sunday, August 24, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. See website for additional dates. $7-20; $10 for parking; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 878-5545, champlainvalleyfair.org.

veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies, backed by sets of live local music. Champlain Islands Farmers Market, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, champlainislandsfarmersmkt@gmail.com.

NORTHWEST FARMERS MARKET: Locavores stock up on produce, preserves, baked goods, and arts and crafts. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 242-2729.

ST. JOHNSBURY FARMERS

MARKET: Growers, bakers, makers and crafters gather weekly at booths centered on local eats. Pearl St. & Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, cfmamanager@gmail.com.

games

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders face off in the ancient Chinese game often compared to gin rummy and poker. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.22.

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES: RHYTHM FUTURE QUARTET & DITRANI BROTHERS: Two powerhouse ensembles push the boundaries of tradition at this double bill featuring acoustic string jazz and vibrant swing energy. The Putney Inn, 6 p.m. $22-25; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.

COOLER IN THE MOUNTAINS CONCERT SERIES: Top regional and national acts delight audience members of all stripes at a weekly summer offering backed by unparalleled views. See killington.com for lineup. K-1 Lodge, Killington, 3-5:50 p.m. Free. Info, 800-621-6867‎.

FOOD & ART FRIDAYS: See FRI.22.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘MOZARTIANA: THE CREATIVE PHENOMENON’: See WED.20, 10:30 a.m.

LOW LILY: A Brattleboro band brings its signature soundscape of fiddle, folk, bluegrass and Americana to the stage. Knoll Farm, Fayston, 6:30-10 p.m. By donation. Info, 496-5685. NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: See FRI.22.

PARKAPALOOZA: A community-driven afternoon features a giant Slip ’N Slide, tasty treats from La Bon Crêpe Cart and live music by local acts. Hubbard Park, Montpelier, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 225-8699.

SOCIAL BAND: The lively a cappella singers honor summertime with a bright program replete with songs of birds, cicadas, crickets and bees. Old Round Church, Richmond, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, 355-4216.

SPRUCE PEAK UNPLUGGED: HOMEGROWN IN VERMONT MUSIC FESTIVAL: A variety of local acts including the Jesse

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

health & fitness

THE JOURNEY WITHIN: A WELLNESS GATHERING FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS & FRIENDS: A day of health, community and connection offers lymphatic yoga, art therapy and networking opportunities. Lunch provided. Jay Peak Resort, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $99. Info, 558-3647.

RUN FOR JON: Runners and walkers make strides for the Jonathan Evans Memorial Fund, which supports North Country families with children in medical crisis. Forrence Orchards, Peru, N.Y., 5 p.m. $1-20; preregister. Info, 518-569-3225.

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.

Taylor Band, Ryan Sweezey & the Midnight Walkers, and the Tenderbellies showcase their musical prowess. The Spruce Peak Village Green, Stowe, noon. $15.70-58.50. Info, 760-4634.

STRANGEFOLK GARDEN OF EDEN FESTIVAL: See FRI.22.

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES:

HONEY AND SOUL: An indie-folk quintet takes listeners on a musical journey from quiet, soothing lullabies to fierce rockand-roll tunes. Meeting House on the Green, East Fairfield, 5-7 p.m. $10; free for kids under 12. Info, 827-6626.

SUMMER SOUNDS CONCERT SERIES: Gifted musicians from Vermont and beyond assume the spotlight to entertain and delight local listeners. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 382-9222.

SUNDOWN SESSIONS: Burlington’s best local bands take the stage for idyllic summer-evening concerts backed by Barge Canal sunsets. See thepineryvt.com for lineup. Coal Collective, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@thepineryvt.com.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.20.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.21.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

sports

TWIN STATE VIXENS V. ITHACA

LEAGUE OF WOMEN ROLLERS:

Two leagues go head-to-head in an athletic and inclusive environment that empowers all ages to discover and pursue their love for flat-track roller derby. Union Arena Community Center, Woodstock, 3:30-5:30 p.m. $5-15; free for kids under 5. Info, 457-2500.

talks

CLIPS & CONVERSATIONS:

ANGELO MADSEN: A University of Vermont associate professor of media talks with former Vermont state representative John Killacky, then shares clips from his work, including a preview of his new documentary about body modification. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $6-12 suggested donation. Info, 660-2600.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.20, 2-4:30 & 7:30-9 p.m.

‘IVANOV’: See FRI.22.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.20.

‘THE TAMING OF THE SHREW’: See THU.21.

TENFEST: DISCOVERY: See THU.21.

words

THE POETRY EXPERIENCE:

Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and

sharing circle for poets of all ages. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

WRITE NOW!: Lit lovers of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.24 crafts

FUN WITH DUCT TAPE: Art teacher Caitlin Eastman guides crafty community members in creating armor, wallets and jewelry out of tape. Ages 8 and up. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, abelisle2@comcast.net.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.20, 1-3 p.m. etc.

SUMMER PARTY: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region invites revelers to an annual shindig with cheese and charcuterie offerings, vineyard samples, and live music by local Francophone band Va-et-Vient. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, 2:30-4:30 p.m. $25; preregister; cash bar. Info, info@ aflcr.org.

ULTRA CAMP: DIRTY DANCING EDITION: See SAT.23.

fairs & festivals

BEST OF VERMONT SUMMER FESTIVAL: See SAT.23.

CALEDONIA COUNTY FAIR: See WED.20, 7 a.m.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See FRI.22, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

FLEDGE FEST: See SAT.23.

MIDDLEBURY NEW FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL: See WED.20.

NULHEGAN ABENAKI HERITAGE GATHERING: See SAT.23, 10 a.m.-noon.

UNCOMMON JAM: Live music by Dave Keller, the Party Crashers and the Faerie Godbrothers highlights an afternoon of craft beer, food truck provisions and family fun. Court Street Arts at Alumni Hall, Haverhill, N.H., 1-6 p.m. $10. Info, 603-989-5500.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.21.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.21.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.21.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.21.

food & drink

THE FRIENDS OF THE ATHENAEUM AFTERNOON TEA PARTY: Fancy folks take tea in antique china cups while sampling sweet and savory bites,

followed by a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the library’s youth and adult programming. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 1-3 p.m. $30; preregister. Info, 745-1392.

ROYALTON FARMERS MARKET:

Local farms find support at a summerlong market celebrating the most abundant season of the year. South Royalton Town Green, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, royaltonfarmersmarket@ gmail.com.

VERSHIRE ARTISAN & FARMERS MARKET: Foodies, farmers and their friends buy and sell freshgrown produce and handmade treasures at this “teaching market” that provides youth vendors with essential business skills. Vershire Town Center, 12:303:30 p.m. Free. Info, 331-0434.

VINOUS REBELLIOUS: The Vermont Grape & Wine Council presents a stellar showcase of wine and cider grown and produced in the Green Mountain State. Ellison Estate Vineyard, Grand Isle, 1-4 p.m. $45. Info, 760-9111.

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: Area growers and bakers offer ethnic fare, assorted harvests and agricultural products against a backdrop of live music. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, info@downtownwinooski.org.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.21, 1-4:30 p.m.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY

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

NEW LEAF SANGHA

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators alike practice together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME DAY: LGBTQ+ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 1-6 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 622-0692.

LGBTQ FIBER ARTS

GROUP: A knitting, crocheting and weaving session welcomes all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations and skill levels. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. Noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, laurie@ pridecentervt.org. SUN.24 » P.66

music

BCA SUNDAY CLASSICAL:

HELIAND CONSORT: A beloved summer series showcases some of the state’s most gifted classical musicians while listeners enjoy their morning coffee outdoors. Burlington City Hall Park, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

CAMEO BAROQUE: Chamber music of the 17th and 18th centuries comes to life with period instruments at a concert titled “Purcell and Telemann: Foundations and Inspirations.” Hall Art Foundation, Reading, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 952-1056.

CASPIAN MUSIC: ‘ECHOES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT’: Superstar musicians, including oboist Igor Leschishin and violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv, join forces for a night of impressive orchestral works. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7:30 p.m. $10-23; free for kids under 18. Info, 533-2000.

CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: See FRI.22, 3-6 p.m.

FAIR SPARROW: Patti Casey, Ally Tarwater and Susannah Blachly enchant listeners with

their glorious harmonies, humor and heart. Proceeds benefit the Montpelier Food Pantry. BYO lawn chair or blanket. 135 Dragonfly Lane, Calais, 4-6 p.m. By donation. Info, indivisiblecalais@pm.me.

IRIS DEMENT: Listeners file in to hear the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter with a voice John Prine described as “like you’ve heard, but not really.”

Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. $40-50. Info, 775-0903. LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘MOZARTIANA: THE CREATIVE PHENOMENON’: See WED.20, 2:15 p.m.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY MUSIC SERIES: LE WINSTON BAND: A one-of-a-kind ensemble from Montréal deftly blends its French Canadian roots with zydeco and Cajun rhythms. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

MARSH LIGHTS: A Vermont acoustic roots quintet performs original progressive bluegrass and folk songs. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 372-8889.

NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: See FRI.22, 11 a.m.

FAMI LY

Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-noon. $2545; preregister. Info, 475-2022.

upper valley

CRITTERS & CASTS: Education and conservation nonprofit Trout Unlimited leads little scientists in a midday adventure investigating the smallest creatures that can be found in local waterways. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free with admission, $18-21; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.20.

FRI.22

burlington

SPLASH DANCE: Kiddos soak up sunshine and fun in the fountain while DJs spin family-friendly tracks. Burlington City Hall Park, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, eindorato@burlingtoncityarts.org. chittenden county

LEGO BUILDERS: Mini makers explore and create new worlds with stackable blocks. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

seminars

WATERSHED SPECIES

ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP

& TRAIL HIKE: Artists of all abilities garner tricks and tips for creating naturalist drawings, then take to the trails for a halfmile hike to identify local flora and fauna. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.20, 2-3:30 p.m.

‘IVANOV’: See FRI.22, 2-4 p.m.

‘OUR DOMESTIC RESURRECTION REVOLUTION IN PROGRESS

CIRCUS!’: Bread and Puppet’s spectacular summer show features colorful puppetry, stilt dancing and acrobatics, all backed by a riotous brass band. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 3 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 525-3031.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.20.

‘THE TAMING OF THE SHREW’: See THU.21, 2 p.m.

SPANISH STORY TIME: Mini amigos learn new words at a fun and educational morning. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

STEM CHALLENGE DROP-IN: DRESSED FOR THE ELEMENTS: Creative little patrons stop by the library to get assistance making climate-savvy outfits for clothespin travelers journeying through changing global environments. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

TEEN CRAFTERNOON: Young artists get creative and make their own button pins to take home. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

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

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.20.

TENFEST: DISCOVERY: See THU.21, 2 p.m.

MON.25

crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See FRI.22.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.21.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.21.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.21.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.21.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Youngsters and their caregivers delight in beautiful books, silly songs, creative crafts and unplugged play in the library’s cozy children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

SAT.23

burlington

SPLASH DANCE: See FRI.22, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

barre/montpelier

GROUND DOWN TO RISE UP: A morning of family-focused community building and climate justice includes face painting, yoga, acupressure, nature mandala making, chalk art and refreshments. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 359-3520. WORLD SOCCER FESTIVAL: Players in grades 3 to 8 represent various countries with colorful flags and shirts while packing in three 20-minute games apiece in a round-robin format. Montpelier High School, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 498-4557.

upper valley

FAIRY FESTIVAL & HOUSE BUILDING

CONTEST: Pixies and pucks of all ages compete to build the most whimsical tiny homes in the forest. Crafts, face painting and mushroom walks round out the day. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 plus regular admission, $17-20; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.20.

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: Players grab their daubers for a competitive night of card stamping for cash prizes. Burlington Elks Lodge, 6 p.m. Various prices. Info, 862-1342.

health & fitness

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

language

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH:

Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

ITALIAN BOOK CLUB: Lovers of the language read and discuss Cristina Cassar Scalia’s Il Re Del Gelato. BYO copy. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. lgbtq

QTPOC SUPPORT GROUP: Pride Center of Vermont

SUN.24

mad river valley/ waterbury

MAD RIVER VALLEY SUMMER

CARNIVAL: Food, games, a bounce house, face painting, live animals and a dunk tank delight fun-lovers of all ages. Proceeds benefit local elementary school parent organizations. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 496-7280.

WATERSHED SPECIES ILLUSTRATION

WORKSHOP & HIKE: Artists of all abilities learn tips and tricks for creating naturalist drawings of local flora and fauna. A half-mile trail trek follows. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

MON.25 chittenden county

NATURE PLAYGROUP: Budding nature lovers ages birth to 5 and their caregivers trek the trails with an experienced educator. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3068.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little ones ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

facilitates a safe space for trans and queer folks of color to connect, share experiences, process current events and brainstorm ideas. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-0003.

music

VERGENNES CITY BAND SUMMER CONCERTS: Attendees get comfy on lawn chairs and blankets while local instrumentalists ages 12 to 90 perform rousing works. Vergennes City Park, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, sodaniel27@gmail.com.

outdoors

FUN RUN: OGExpert Kae Ravichandran leads a casual, joyful jaunt through Queen City trails. Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 888-547-4327. GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

words

MARGUERITE HOLLOWAY: A writer and educator reads from her new memoir, Take to the Trees which raises alarm bells about arboreal decline and offers hope about caring for forests and ourselves. The Norwich

TUE.26 burlington

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

chittenden county

STORY TIME: Youngsters from birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.22, 2-6 p.m.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.22.

WED.27

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.20.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.20.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.20. K

Bookstore, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

READ LIKE A WRITER:

New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for lit lovers to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-1132.

SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

TUE.26

activism

TRUTH & JUSTICE SERIES: Rev. Mark Hughes of the Vermont

Racial Justice Alliance leads a monthly conversation offering opportunities for self-reflection and practical guidance on applying just principles to personal and societal contexts. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

community

CURRENT EVENTS

DISCUSSION GROUP:

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

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: See SAT.23, 4:30-6 p.m.

CRAFTERS DROP-IN: Community members converse and connect through knitting, crocheting, mending, embroidery and other creative pursuits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

dance

SWING DANCE PRACTICE

SESSION: All ages and experience levels shake a leg in this friendly, casual environment designed for learning. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See FRI.22.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.21.

‘BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN’: Two cowboys, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, must conceal their forbidden love throughout their yearslong relationship. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

‘COMPULSIVE LIAR 2’: Protagonist Virginie’s lies become reality and create multiverses that completely disrupt her life in this 2025 comedy. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $5. Info, cinemahaskell@gmail.com.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.21.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.21.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.21.

food & drink

PIE POTLUCK: Community members bring a sweet or savory crusted delight to share with neighbors. Odd Fellows Lodge, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-7201.

PIZZA SOCIAL: Foodies scarf down dinner baked in NOFAVT’s wood-fired oven, followed by a tour of the organic farm.

Joe’s Brook Farm, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15-30 sliding scale; free for BIPOC; preregister. Info, 419-0082.

games

BOARD GAMES FOR ADULTS: Locals ages 18 and up enjoy the library’s collection or bring their own to share with the group. Light refreshments provided. Essex Free Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.21.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630.

calendar

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION

GROUP: French-speakers and learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

music

CABOT ARTS SUMMER MUSIC

repercussions of deception.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

SILENT BOOK GROUP:

Bookworms unite — but shhhh! BYO reading material to savor in peace and quiet. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

‘WOMEN IN TRANSLATION’:

Allison Markin Powell, Tess Lewis and Ellen Elias-Bursac team up for a poignant panel discussion about women writers and translators. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

language

PARLIAMO ITALIANO: The Vermont Italian Cultural Association hosts an evening for speakers — both beginner and native — to practice the language of love. Pearl Street Pizza, Barre, 5-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, vtitaliancultural assoc@gmail.com.

music

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP BROWN BAG SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.20.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.20.

outdoors

SERIES: A rotating cast of area musicians takes the stage for six weeks of sonorous entertainment, backed by mouthwatering food-truck provisions. BYO lawn chair. See cabotarts.org for lineup. Cabot Town Common, 6-7:15 p.m. Free. Info, 793-3016.

THE CONNIPTION FITS: A band voted “Best Rock Trio” by New Hampshire Magazine performs original takes on music from the ’80s, ’90s and today. Fairlee Town Common, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@fairleearts.org.

HONKY TONK HOEDOWN: Local legend Bob Wagner teams up with special guests the likes of Kat Wright, Brett Hughes, Mike Gordon and Josh Panda for an unforgettable concert benefiting NOFA-VT. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free with fair admission, $7-20. Info, erin@nofavt.org.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

GUIDED SHORT TRAIL HIKE: See WED.20, 10-11 a.m.

sports

EZ BREEZY URBAN

ADVENTURE: Cyclists take part in a casual seven-mile group ride around Burlington, complete with good tunes. A treasure hunt follows. Local Motion, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 861-2700.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP:

Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.20, 7:30-9 p.m. words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Readers analyze three short novels about life under the shadow of authoritarianism over the course of seven weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ nereadersandwriters.com.

READER’S ROUNDTABLE BOOK CLUB: Bibliophiles gather to gab about Mitch Albom’s novel The Little Liar, examining the

WRITING CIRCLE: Words pour out when participants explore creative expression in a low-pressure environment. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

WED.27

activism

OVERDOSE AWARENESS EVENT:

Nonprofit org Team Sharing hosts a gathering for allies and neighbors to honor loved ones lost to substance use. Live stream available. Burlington City Hall Park, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, decriminalizevermont@ gmail.com.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

SHARING HOPE CONVERSATION SERIES: See WED.20.

WEEKLY PASSEGGIATA: See WED.20.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.20.

etc.

TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 233-4157.

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See FRI.22.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.20.

health & fitness

ASPIRE NOW MOBILE CLINIC: A nonprofit health care provider offers ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and STI testing for community members in need. The Salvation Army, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 658-2184.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.20.

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.20.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.20.

TRAIL CLINIC: Fellowship of the Wheel teaches eager volunteers about mountain bike trail construction, including tools for the job and methods to safely execute a project. Hinesburg Town Forest, 5:307:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@fotwheel.org.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.20.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.20, 2-3:30 & 7:30-9 p.m. SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.20.

words

RUTH SMALL & MARGARET OSHA: Two writers share their unique histories, discuss their written subjects and read samples from their works. A Q&A follows. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, abelisle2@comcast.net. ➆

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

= GET TICKETS ON

Pick from 25 fun civics activities — each one you do is another chance to win the grand prize.

Submit entries all summer to qualify for prize drawings every Thursday on “Channel 3 This Morning” — you could win a $50 gift card to Phoenix Books or a Vermont State Parks pass!

Complete all 25 activities to be honored as a “Distinguished Citizen” at the Vermont Statehouse.

FINAL DEADLINE: September 1

TRIP DRAWING: SEPTEMBER 4

classes

THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $21.25/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE).

NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

dance

BEGINNING SWING DANCE CLASS SERIES: Learn the basics of swing dancing to big band and swing music! Learn basic footwork, how to lead and follow, and fun moves. No experience and no partner necessary. Class fee includes free admission to Practice Dance after each class. is is a series class. Please plan to come the whole month! Preregister online at vermontswings.com/ event/september-beginningswing. Four Tuesdays, Sep. 2-23, 7-8 p.m. Cost: $50 for the 4-week series; $40 for students. Location: North Star Community Hall, 20 Crowley St., Burlington. Info: Jessie & Eric, 802-8648382, jessieblakevt@gmail.com, vermontswings.com/event/ september-beginning-swing.

kids

Take Control of Your Tech Use

Julia Nunnelly of Montpelier completed activity No. 25, “Take Control of Your Tech Use” by changing her iPad to grayscale. Making the change ensures that “I will not be sucked into using my iPad,” Julia said.

EARTH CARE HOMESCHOOL FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS While stacking functions at a permaculture homestead, the student-centered, inquiry-based curriculum includes nature awareness, earth science, biology, botany, chemistry, natural history, mycology, art, writing, math, physics, ecological restoration, and sociology oriented to justice and equity. Mondays, Sep. 1-Nov. 10, 10 a.m.3 p.m. Cost: $1,000; sliding scale. Location: Life Cycling Homestead & a local farm, East Montpelier & Shelburne. Info: Jess Rubin, 802-839-8286, mycoevolve.net. Email yepeth@gmail.com for “Earth Care Course Registration.” Registration closes on Aug. 25.

martial arts

NEW TAI CHI BEGINNERS CLASS IN BURLINGTON Long River Tai Chi Circle is the school of Wolfe Lowenthal, student of professor Cheng Man Ching and author of three classic works on Tai Chi Chaun. Patrick Cavanaugh is a longtime student and assistant of Wolfe’s and a senior instructor at Long River Tai Chi Circle in Vermont and New Hampshire and will be teaching the class in Burlington. Starts Oct. 1, ongoing on Wed. mornings, 9-10 a.m. Registration will remain open until Oct. 29. Cost: $65/ mo. Location: Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church (in the gym). 305 Flynn Ave, Burlington. Info: Patrick Cavanaugh, 802-4906405, patricklrtcc@gmail.com, longrivertaichinewengland.com.

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Cultivate core power, aerobic ﬁtness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and ﬁnd resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/ bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

movement

DONATION-BASED YOGA: Pay what works for you! Mon.: Vinyasa; Wed.: Gentle Yoga; Fri.: Vinyasa, 9-10:15 a.m. Reiki also available ($25-$75). Location: 25 Rossiter St., Brandon. Info: melanieredelyoga@gmail.com, melanieredel.com.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE

WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

spirituality

JOURNEY INTO ANCIENT

SHAMANISM: A rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition. Meet in St.

Albans, Vt., five weekends over a year. e first weekend is 0ct. 24-26. To learn more about this offer, go to heartofthehealer. org. Dates: Oct. 24-26, Jan. 16-18, Apr. 3-5, Jul. 10-12 & Sep. 25-27; first day: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Cost: $1,375, incl. attendance at five 3-day weekend sessions. Location: Northwest TV access station, 616 Franklin Park W., St. Albans, Vt. Info: thomas. mock1444@gmail.com or text 802-369-4331.

sports & ﬁ tness

THE ONE-NIGHT STAND: BIKE CARE BASICS: Having a basic understanding of your bike and knowing how to care for it is empowering! e One-Night Stand at Old Spokes Home will cause neither regret nor shame; instead, it will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you conﬁdence in either getting what you need at the bike shop or ﬁguring out how to deal with it on your own. Wed., Sep. 18, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $50. Location: Old SpokesHome Community Workshop, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: 802-863-4475, sevendays tickets.com.

wellness

PERFUME BLENDING

WORKSHOP: Gather with friends and discover the art of botanical perfumery at this Bloom Lab botanical perfume blending event! During this two-hour class you will learn the basics of perfumery while creating your own custom botanical eau de parfum that is hand-blended to reflect your unique personality. Sun., Aug. 24, noon-2 p.m. Cost: $95.

Location: Maquam Barn & Winery, 125 Duffy Rd., Milton. Info: bloomlabvt@gmail.com, sevendaystickets.com.

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

= TICKETED CLASS

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

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CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Jasper

AGE/SEX: 8-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: August 13, 2025

SUMMARY: Jasper is a sweet boy who is quick to make friends, especially when food is involved, and knows how to sit on cue like a pro. He is also quite active and playful for a senior dog. Hikes, adventures, sniffy walks in the woods — he’s up for all of it! Once he gets his energy out, he also enjoys simply hanging out by your side, soaking up all of the snuggles. Jasper is affectionate and loves lots of pets and praise. With a little patience, a kind heart and someone to toss his favorite tennis ball, Jasper will surely blossom into a loyal and loving canine companion. Is there room in your heart and home for Jasper?

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Jasper is seeking a home without other dogs. We have no history of Jasper with cats or children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

Puppies are great, but there’s nothing like the life-changing love of an older dog. One of the many perks of having a senior pet is that they don’t need as much training and supervision as their younger counterparts. Consider opening your heart to a senior dog such as Jasper!

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

MONKTON MAN CAVE

SALE

Huge man cave items, hunting, ﬁ shing, camping, outdoors, vintage items, traps, auto-related. 2 days only! Items priced to sell. Watch Craigslist for more up-to-date info. Sat., Aug. 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sun., Aug. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Rain day if needed will be Sep. 1. Bennett Rd.

HOME & GARDEN

DR Garland 60” restaurant range, 6 burners, 24” griddle w/ salamander broiler, 2 x 27” ovens, propane fuel. Only used in my home since

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

1-877-703-6117. (AAN CAN)

GET DISABILITY BENEFITS

PEST CONTROL

Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg guitars + Gibson mandolins & banjos. ese brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN) M & Ar t ists

MUSIC LESSONS

MUSIC LESSONS — PLAY THE DRUMS! Learn to play the drums today! Precision Percussion can teach you snare drum, drum set & mallet instruments; I can provide the lessons you want. I am experienced, well versed, & educated w/ more than 35 years of teaching & performing experience. Learn how to read music, snare drum techniques, drumming styles (rock, jazz, blues, Latin, funk), how to improve overall techniques, mallet instruments (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, bells). Most importantly, have fun playing & performing music! Start lessons today: $35 for a 45-min. session; $45 for 60-min. session. New student special: After 8 paid lessons, get one lesson free. Contact me: Dave Pacheco, 802-383-8048 or email teachdrums2u@gmail.com, teachdrums2u.wixsite. com/precisionpercussion.

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

All styles/levels. Emphasis on building strong technique, thorough musicianship, developing personal style. Paul Asbell (Big Joe Burrell, Kilimanjaro, UVM & Middlebury College faculty, Seven Daysies winner). Info, 802-233-7731, pasbell@ paulasbell.com.

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

ent als &

R R eal Estate

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

BURLINGTON 2-BR NOW $1,500, 3-BR AVAIL. NOW

31 South Willlard St. Unfurnished 2-BR, 1-BA, 950 sq.ft. Good size 2-BR in Burlington, heated, $1,500/mo. Close walking distance to everything. 2nd ﬂ oor, left upstairs, at 54 Spruce St. Also 2 separate 3-BR, avail now, $1,700, heated. Coin laundry in basement, $1 in quarters for either W/D. $1,500. Info, 802-318-8916, jcintl0369@gmail.com.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

S. BURLINGTON OFFICE/STUDIO SPACE

Approximately 700 sq.ft. of open space (rectangle-shape room), new LVT ﬂ ooring & paint. Ready-tomove-in space w/ on-site parking. $1,200, incl. rent & common area expenses (snow removal, BA, etc.). Info, 802-345-9552, burlington@dexaﬁ t. com.

You may qualify for disability beneﬁ ts if you are between 52 & 63 years old & under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now: 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

HOME & GARDEN

PROTECT YOUR HOME

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70 cents a day! Call 1-833-881-2713.

MJS CONSTRUCTION

Now accepting work or jobs for summer & fall. Homes, remodeling, additions & small excavation work. Call 802-343-0089.

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES

Beautiful bath updates in as little as 1 day! Superior quality bath & shower systems at affordable prices. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call now: 1-833-423-2558. (AAN CAN)

Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable. Call for a quote, service or an inspection today: 1-833-237-1199. (AAN CAN)

24-7 LOCKSMITH

We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs: 1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN)

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE?

You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind its work. Fast, free estimate. Financing avail. Call 1-888-292-8225. (AAN CAN)

NEED NEW WINDOWS?

Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energyefﬁcient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-2489944. (AAN CAN)

MOVING & HAULING

MOVING

CLOSES: Tues., Sept. 2 @ 10AM PREVIEW: Mon., Aug. 25 from 1PM-3PM ITEMS

THCAuction.com

of Chittenden County, we go across Vermont & out of state. Please inquire at markoskismoving. com.

Vehicles

in all 50 states. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans ﬁ nd work or start their own business. Call 24-7: 1-855-402-7631. (AAN CAN)

CARS & TRUCKS

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR?

Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast, free pickup

Markoski’s has established a local reputation for being a team of friendly professionals who treat their customers like family. Based out

2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE M-274RK 34-FT. CAMPER Camper is in excellent condition. Fireplace, stereo, 32-in. TV & much more. Comes w/ everything. $16,500. Info, 802-879-6052, kg6969@comcast.net.

ELECTRONICS

AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET

If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote & see how much you can save: 1-844-588-6579. (AAN CAN)

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

GET TAX RELIEF

Do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS or state in back taxes? Get tax relief now! We’ll ﬁght for you! Call

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

Sudoku

Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience.

Extra! Extra! There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

CALCOKU BY

JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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

3 6 4 2 3 5 6 1 1 6 2 3 5 4 3 4 1 6 2 5

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

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

ANSWERS ON P.74 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

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

Legal Notices

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 24-PR-07986

In re ESTATE of Catherine Melba Lamphere

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Catherine Melba Lamphere, late of Woodbury, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: August 13, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Peter B. Schubart

Executor/Administrator:

Peter B. Schubart

80 Midas Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403

Phone Number: 802-829-0237

Email: peter@schubartlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: August 20, 2025

Name of Probate Court: Washington County Probate Court

Address of Probate Court: 65 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

TOWN OF JERICHO

FEMA CONTRACT 1 – SNIPE IRELAND ROAD, LEARY ROAD, FITZSIMONDS ROAD

General Notice

The Town of Jericho (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project:

FEMA CONTRACT 1 – SNIPE IRELAND ROAD, LEARY ROAD, FITZSIMONDS ROAD

Bids for the construction of the Project will be received at the Town Municipal Offices located at 67 Vermont Route 15, Jericho, Vermont 05465, until September 3, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. At that time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The final decision on award will be completed by the Selectboard at a subsequent meeting.

The Project includes the following Work: Snipe Ireland Road – 10’ diameter CMP culvert and associated work. 30” diameter HDPE culvert and associated work.

Leary Road – 103”x71” polymer coated pipe arch, raising roadway elevation, and associated work. Fitzsimonds Road – Roadway embankment armoring along Mill Brook.

The Project has a contractual duration of 60 days to substantial completion (excluding structure procurement). All in-stream work completed by October 1 (Snipe Ireland and Fitzsimonds) and November 1 (Leary) with final site work completed by December 1. The construction cost estimate range is $200,000 to $400,000.

Obtaining the Bidding Documents

The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: East Engineering, PLC Richmond, Vermont

Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.

PDF sets of the Bidding Documents are available free of charge.

Pre-bid Conference

A mandatory pre-bid conference for the Project will be held on August 21, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at the Leary Road Site (44.440479, -72.913284, near #95 Leary Road). Bids will not be accepted from Bidders that do not attend the mandatory pre-bid conference.

Instructions to Bidders.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract

award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

This Advertisement is issued by: Owner: Town of Jericho Engineer: East Engineering, PLC

EJCDC® C-111, Advertisement for Bids for Construction Contract.

CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE REGULATING EARTH WORK WITHIN THE CRESCENT CONNECTOR RIGHT-OF-WAY

On August 13, 2025, the City Council of Essex Junction, Vermont, adopted an Ordinance Regulating Earth Work Within the Crescent Connector Right-of-Way. This notice is published pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1972 to inform the public of these amendments and of the citizens’ right to petition for a vote to disapprove these amendments.

The Council adopted this ordinance to set standards and conditions for any earth work activities within the Crescent Connector right-of-way.

The full text of the Ordinance may be examined at the City Office at 2 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452 and may be examined during regular office hours or on the City’s website www. essexjunction.org.

CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO PETITION FOR VOTE

Title 24 V.S.A. § 1973 grants citizens the right to petition for a vote at a special or Annual Meeting to disapprove ordinances adopted by the City Council. To exercise this right, citizens must present to the City Council or the City Clerk a petition for a vote on the question of disapproving the ordinance signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the City’s qualified voters. The petition must be presented within forty-four (44) days following the date of the adoption of the ordinance. The

Ordinance Regulating Earth Work Within the Crescent Connector Right-of-Way shall become effective upon passage unless a petition requesting a vote is filed pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973.

PERSON TO CONTACT

Additional information pertaining to this Ordinance may be obtained by contacting Regina Mahony, City Manager at admin@essexjunction. org, or by calling 802-878-6944 during regular office hours.

TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, 6:30 PM

Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: Join Online: Zoom Meeting ID: 821 7131 4999 | Passcode: 754119

Join Calling (audio only): 888-788-0099

Public wifi is available at the Essex municipal offices, libraries, and hotspots listed here: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/ public-wifi-hotspots-vermont

1. Final PUD Plan Amendment – Leclerc Woods, LLC is proposing four additional units to be added to Kodiak Lane PUD, which was approved in May 2022 for eight units. The property is located at 1 Leclerc Woods (Parcel ID 2-072-001-017) in the Agricultural Residential (AR) District.

2. Preliminary/Final Review – Ely Family, LLC is requesting a Minor Subdivision and Site Plan Amendment for 45 River Road (Parcel ID 2-024006-001) located in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) District. The minor subdivision proposes footprint lots associated with the proposed duplex and the existing commercial building. The site plan amendment proposes to construct an 18’x55’ addition to the River Road Beverage & Redemption building in the rear.

Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at https://www.essexvt.org/182/ Current-Development-Applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT@ESSEX.ORG with any questions. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view the complete Agenda, at https://essexvt.portal.civicclerk.com or the office notice board before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard and other agenda items.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION ORLEANS UNIT CASE NO. 25-CV-03224

IN RE: ABANDONED MOBILE HOME OF TAMMY COREY

NOTICE OF HEARING

A hearing on The Housing Foundation, Inc.’s Verified Complaint to declare as abandoned the mobile home of Tammy Corey located at the Derby Mobile Home Park, Lot #D-15, 2477 US Route 5 in Derby, Vermont and to authorize the sale by auction has been scheduled on September 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. You may participate in the hearing either in person at the Vermont Superior Court, Orleans Unit, Civil Division located at 247 Main Street in Newport, Vermont or remotely via WEBEX video. The WEBEX Login Information is as follows: App: Cisco Webex Meetings Website: https://vtcourts.webex.com Meeting Number: 2338 917 6288

Password: OrleansCivil

If you do not have a computer or sufficient bandwidth, you may call (802) 636-1108 to appear by phone. (This is not a tollfree number). When prompted enter the meeting ID number listed above, followed by the pound symbol (#). You will be prompted to enter your attendee number (which you do not have). Instead, press pound (#). If you have technical difficulties, call the Court at (802) 334-3305.

Date: August 5, 2025 Judicial Assistant

VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR ABANDONMENT

PURSUANT TO 10 V.S.A. § 6249(h) (Auction)

NOW COMES The Housing Foundation, Inc. (“HFI”), by and through its counsel Nadine L. Scibek, and hereby complains as follows:

1. HFI, a Vermont non-profit corporation with a principal place of business in Montpelier, County of Washington, State of Vermont, is the record owner of a mobile home park known as the Derby Mobile Home Park (the “Park”) located in the Town of Derby, Vermont. HFI purchased the Park from the Vermont State Housing Authority (“VSHA”) on December 31, 2023. The Park is managed by VSHA.

2. Tammy Corey (“Corey”) is the record owner of a certain mobile home described as a 1983 Skyline, JAY7302F, 14’ x 56’, bearing serial number 18160302T (the “Mobile Home”), located on Lot #D-15, Derby Mobile Home Park, 2477 US Route 5, Lot D-15 in Derby, Vermont (the “Lot”). See attached Vermont Mobile Home Uniform Bill of Sale.

3. Corey leased Lot #D-15 in the Park from VSHA pursuant to a written lease. Corey paid a security deposit in the amount of $332.00 to VSHA. See attached Lease.

4. Corey’s last known mailing address is 19 Upper Welden Street, Unit #2, St. Albans, VT 05478 per USPS. However, HFI was been notified that Corey has moved and left no forwarding address when HFI’s Counsel’s letter to Corey dated March 28, 2025 was returned by USPS. See attached.

5. The mobile home has been abandoned and is empty/unoccupied. The last known resident of the mobile home was Corey. Corey vacated the Mobile Home sometime in 2024. The mobile home has been unoccupied since that time.

6. HFI and HFI”s Counsel have attempted to contact Corey via first class mail, email and telephone with respect to her intentions regarding her mobile home. HFI has received no response from Corey. Corey has stopped communicating with HFI. See attached correspondence.

7. HFI’s Counsel has communicated with Corey with respect to her intentions with her mobile home via first class mail and email on March 28, 2025. Corey’s email address was valid as Corey had previously emailed HFI’s Counsel. HFI has received no response from Corey. See attached.

8. The following security interests, mortgages, liens and encumbrances appear of record with respect to the mobile home:

a. Property taxes to the Town of Derby were abated according to the Town Clerk. See attached Tax Bill.

9. Uriah Wallace, a duly licensed Vermont auctioneer, is a person disinterested in the Mobile Home and the mobile home park who is able to sell the mobile home at a public auction.

10. Mobile home storage fees continue to accrue at the rate of $455.00 per month. Rent, storage fees and late charges due the Park as of July, 2025 total $4,380.63. Court costs and attorney’s fees incurred by the Park in this action currently exceed $800.00.

11. The Park sent written notice by certified mail to the Town of Derby on March 25, 2025 of its intent to commence this abandonment action. See attached.

WHEREFORE, the Park Owner respectfully requests that the Honorable Court enter an order as follows:

1. Declare that the mobile home has been abandoned;

2. Approve the sale of the mobile home at a public auction to be held within 15 days of the date of judgment, pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(h); and

3. Grant judgment in favor of the Park Owner HFI and against the mobile home for past due and unpaid rent and mobile home storage charges through the date of judgment, together with HFI’s court costs, publication and mailing costs, auctioneer’s costs, winterization costs, lot cleanup charges, attorney’s fees incurred in connection with this matter and any other costs incurred by HFI herein.

DATED this 31st day of July, 2025. THE HOUSING FOUNDATION, INC.

BY: Nadine L. Scibek

Attorney for HFI

I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of perjury or other sanctions in the discretion of the Court.

July 31, 2025 By: Susan M. Kuegel, Duly Authorized Agent for HFI

PUBLIC HEARING COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on September 10, 2025, at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations. Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road.

a) VAR-26-01 GORDON & BEVERLY WATSON:

Variance request seeking relief under §2.09-A(7)(c) for after-the-fact approval of an accessory building in the front yard of an existing single-unit dwelling. Subject property is located at 30 Spauldings East Shore, Account #60-021012-0000000.

b) CU-26-03 CROSS CHURCH PROPERTIES:

Conditional Use application for an increase in the degree of encroachment in the Shoreland District pursuant to §7.03-D(1). Proposed increase in degree of encroachment to measure 93 sf and accommodate an expansion of a deck. No other scope of work requested for review at this time. Subject property is located at 1159 Red Rock Road, Account #77-012000-0000000.

August 20, 2025

TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD

PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Colchester Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:35 P.M. at the Colchester Town Offices, 781 Blakely Road, for the purpose of considering amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations. The proposed amendments, referred to as Supplement 48, are as follows:

a. Density Calculations [§2.04-G]

b. Replacement of non-conforming structures damaged by fire or natural disaster [§2.12-B (2)]

c. Rebuilding of unpermitted structures and non-conforming structures [§2.12-C]

d. Updates to GD3/Form-Based District [§4.03-H, Table 4-2]

i. Front building placement for ‘A’ Streets

ii. Accessory and maintenance structures

e. External PUD setback waivers [§9.07-D, Table 9-1]

f. Buffer requirements for non-residential PUDs

[§9.07-D, Table 9-2]

g. Home Businesses [§10.13-B]

h. Amendments to Table A-1, § 1.113

i. Define footprint for areas outside the Shoreland District [§12]

j. Amend definition of ‘Restaurant’ [§12]

k. Minor changes for purposes of clarity:

i. Amend references to minimum PUD size [§9.07]

ii. Clarify reference to accessory structures vs accessory buildings [§2.09-A]

iii. Clarify reference to lot coverage vs building coverage [Table A-2]

l. Miscellaneous formatting or other nonsubstantive changes in: §2.12, 4, 9, 10.13, 11.12, 12

This is a summary of the proposed changes. Copies of the adopted and proposed regulations can be reviewed at the Town Offices at 781 Blakely Road and online at http://www.colchestervt.gov. To participate in the hearing, you may 1) attend in person or 2) send written comment to the Colchester Selectboard via USPS at the address herein or via email to Cathyann LaRose, clarose@ colchestervt.gov.

COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD

Publication date

AUGUST 20, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF ABANDONMENT OF OIL, GAS AND MINERAL LEASE PURSUANT TO 29 V.S.A. §563(G) AND (H)

Name of Record Owner of Interest :

Peter Henderson Oil Company 5216 Rose Valley Farm, Crozet, VA 22932

Description of the Land: Being all and the same land and premises conveyed to Hazel Alexander LaBerge, James L. LaBerge and Dianne H. Leary by Warranty Deed of James L. LaBerge and Dianne H. Leary dated February 12, 2018 and recorded in Volume 232, Page 103 to 104 of the Town of Charlotte Land Records.

Nature of the Interest:

Oil and Gas Lease from Robert and Shirley LaBerge to Peter Henderson Oil Company dated July 11, 1957, and recorded at Book 27 Page 359 Charlotte Land Records.

Name and Address of the Person Giving Notice Hazel Alexander LaBerge, James L. LaBerge and Dianne H. Leary 4670 Greenbush Road Charlotte, VT 05445

It is presumed that the above Oil and Gas Lease is abandoned.

Dated at Hinesburg, Vermont, this 18th day of August, 2025.

Submitted by: Hazel Alexander LaBerge, James L. LaBerge and Dianne H. Leary 4670 Greenbush Road Charlotte, VT 05445

TOWN OF WESTFORD DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 and the Westford Land Use & Development Regulations, the Westford Development Review Board will hold a public hearing at the Westford Town Offices (1713 VT Route 128) & via ZOOM on Monday, September 8th at 7:00 PM to review the following application:

Application: Waiver Public Hearing – Leggett

Property

Applicants: Spencer and Kimberly Leggett

Property Location: Stoney Ridge (approx. 1.3 acres)

Zoning Districts: Rural 10 and Water Resource Overlay

The proposal is a request for a front yard setback waiver to construct accessory structures approximately 22 feet and 35 feet from the front property line.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97857713004?pwd=kE9JDeCNk OoUongKxYQYeu5nbhhADS.1

Meeting ID: 978 5771 3004

Passcode: 7ASCcC

For more information call the Town Offices at 878-4587 Monday–Thursday 8:30am–4:30pm & Friday 8:30a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Dated August 18, 2025

REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES IN BRAINTREE, VERMONT

The Cooperative Development Institute’s Water Infrastructure Support Program is seeking Statements of Qualifications from qualified engineering firms on behalf of The Housing Foundation, Inc. (HFI) to improve the drinking water infrastructure at Mobile Acres Mobile Home Park in Braintree, VT.

Required professional services will include, but are not limited to, design- and construction-related services, preparation of bidding and contracting documents, participation in evaluating bids received, and construction administration to ensure compliance with plans and specifications.

Procurement of said services will be in accordance with 40 U.S.C. § 1101-1104. Qualified entities interested in being considered must submit (1) a letter of interest; (2) a statementof qualifications and experience of the firm and associates to be involved with the project; (3) references; (4) related prior experience, including similar projects; and (5) experience with funding sources including SRF, CDBG, and RD. Please submit the requested

information to wisp@cdi.coop by 5 p.m. Friday, September 19th, 2025, to be considered.

Please visit http://cdi.coop/rfqbraintree to view the full Request for Qualifications.

REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES IN SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT

Procurement of said services will be in accordance with 40 U.S.C. § 1101-1104. Qualified entities interested in being considered must submit (1) a letter of interest; (2) a statement of qualifications and experience of the firm and associates to be involved with the project; (3) references; (4) related prior experience, including similar projects; and (5) experience with funding sources including SRF, CDBG, and RD. Please submit the requested information to wisp@cdi.coop by 5 p.m. Friday, September 19th, 2025, to be considered.

Please visit http://cdi.coop/rfqspringfield to view the full Request for Qualifications.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0619-15

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 4C0619-15 from Town of Milton, 43 Bombardier Road, Milton, VT 05468 was received on August 8, 2025 and deemed complete on August 11, 2025. The project is generally described as construction of several new ADA accessible recreational paths at Bombardier Park East and West. The project is located near Park Place in Milton, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250. vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0619-15.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before September 8, 2025, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or 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. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/documents/partystatuspetition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this August 18, 2025.

By: /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan

Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452

802-261-1944

stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

Support Groups

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS

Please join our professionally facilitated peer-led support groups 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. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

AL-ANON

For families & friends of alcoholics. Phone meetings, electronic meetings (Zoom) & an Al-Anon blog are avail. online at the Al-Anon website. For meeting info, go to vermontalanonalateen.org or call 866-972-5266.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Call the Vermont statewide anonymous hotline: 802-802-2288. Alcoholics Anonymous holds daily meetings all over Vermont, both in person & online. See burlingtonaa.org for meetings, news & events in Chittenden & Grand Isle counties. For meeting & events throughout Vermont, see aavt.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston caregiver support group meets in person on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Old Brick Church in Williston. Contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury. Contact is Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@residenceottercreek.com or 802-989-0097. The Shelburne support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne. Contact is support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@residenceshelburnebay.com. The telephone support group meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 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. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

ANXIETY RELIEF GROUP

Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing & exploring your feelings w/ others through gentle socialization & self-expression, building up what makes you centered & strong. Wed., 4-5:30 p.m. Both in-person & Zoom options avail. In-person meetings are held at the Pathways Vermont Community Center at 279 N. Winooski Ave. in Burlington. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@ dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m., in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils 802-877-3742.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE

Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality. Thu., 4-5 p.m., at Pathways Vermont Community Center, located at 279 N. Winooski Ave. in Burlington. Email us for more info: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org.

DISABILITY SUPPORT GROUP

Our group is a space for mutual support, open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled or having a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical or cognitive, this group is for you! The group meets every Mon., 1:15-2:15 p.m., at 279 N. Winooski Ave. in Burlington & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont. org.

FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Families Coping with Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling with the drug or alcohol addiction of a loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington), &/or via our parallel Zoom session to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”). Any questions, please send by email to tdauben@aol.com.

FIERCELY FLAT VT

A breast cancer support group for those who’ve had mastectomies. We are a casual online meeting group found on Facebook at Fiercely Flat VT. Info: stacy.m.burnett@gmail.com.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held on Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., via Zoom. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts. org.

FRESH START: A TOBACCO/VAPE QUIT WORKSHOP

Join a free 4- or 5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: call 802-847-7333 or email quittobaccoclass @uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops.

GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held on the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo., 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending please register at allsoulsinterfaith. org. (More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.)

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP

This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2:30-4 p.m. Pathways Vermont Community Center, 279 North Winooski Ave.,

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

Burlington. Email us for more information: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org

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 Vermontbased support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail. com or call 802-735-5735 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.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program of Gifford Medical Center sponsors a weekly meeting of its “Living Through Loss” grief support group. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the last year or so is warmly invited to attend the free weekly meetings every Friday, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. For information, contact the Rev. Tim Eberhardt, Gifford’s Spiritual Care Coordinator at 802-728-2107.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS

Are you questioning the role marijuana plays in your life? Check out Freed From Weed, a free Marijuana Anonymous 12-step group. Mon., 7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church (Red Door Church), 21 Buell St., Burlington. Contact: jointsession@newenglandma.org.

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., on Zoom. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@ aol.com.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Vermont offers several Connection Peer Support Groups & Family Support Groups that meet virtually &/or in person throughout the state. All groups are confidential, volunteer-led & 100% free. Find a group that suits your needs at namivt.org/ support-groups.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP

Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

Narcotics Anonymous is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, St Albans, Morrisville, Barre & Stowe. Info, 833-436-6166 or cvana.org.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS & EVERY

PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY

Drop-in play every day: The Children’s Room is open Mon.-Fri. for anyone w/children ages 0-6 to come & play. Starting Tue., Sep. 3! Check the TCR calendar for hours & school closure days. Caregiver & Baby Circle: Weekly drop-in on Mon., 11 a.m., at the Children’s Room. We are pleased to offer a weekly gathering for babies (0-18 mos.) & their caregivers, sponsored by Good Beginnings & hosted by the Children’s Room. Nature Explorations: Tue,,

10-11:30 a.m., at various trailheads in the area. Get outside for some fresh air & fun! Every week we go to a different trailhead or natural area to explore. Ages 0-6; carriers are helpful for little ones. Email childrensroom@huusd.org to sign up; enrollment is always open. Music & Movement: drop-in, Wed., 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We begin by singing songs & moving together & allow time at the end to play w/ instruments, as well as time for adults & kids to socialize. Ages 0-6. Exploration & Art Fridays: drop-in, Fri., anytime from 9 a.m.-noon at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We’ll be engaging in different hands-on explorations & using various mediums every week — sometimes combined. Come to TCR to explore, play & create! For info, email childrensroom@ huusd.org.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)

A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more, or call 802-863-2655 anytime!

PARKINSON’S MUTUAL AID GROUP

For individuals & caregivers dealing w/ the challenges of Parkinson’s, we meet to share resources & practical ideas for improving quality of life. This in-person group is free & open to the public. Every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Old Meeting House, 1620 Center Rd., East Montpelier. Please contact admin@oldmeetinghouse.org or 229-9593.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@gmail.com.

RECOVERY DHARMA

Recovery Dharma uses Buddhist practices & principles to help people recover from all kinds of addictions & addictive behaviors. This peer led, non-theistic group offers opportunities to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry & connect w/ others. We meet every Wed. from 6-7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Burlington (the Red Door Church, 21 Buell Street). Enter through the administrative office door (at far left when viewed from Buell St.) We also meet on Thu., 1-2 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. No meditation experience required; all are welcome. Email rd.burlington.vt@ gmail.com for more information.

SMART RECOVERY

We welcome anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. SMART Recovery is an abstinenceoriented program based on the science of addiction treatment & recovery. Online: Sun., 5 p.m. Info: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/1868. Face-to-face: Thu., 1:15 p.m., & Fri., 5:30 p.m., at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County. Family & Friends online, Mon., 7 p.m. Info: meetings. smartrecovery.org/meetings/6337. Volunteer facilitator, Bert: 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Shawn, 660-2645. Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT

HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover. net. Visit hopeworksvt.com for more information.

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

For position details and application process, visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select “View Current Openings”

SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

MU LTIPLE POSITIONS OPEN!

Are you our next Guest Services Representative? Buyer? Produce Associate?

Scan to see all open positions!

ST AFF CURATED BENEFIT S Apply online at healthylivingmarket.com/careers

JOIN OUR TEAM

CLIMBERS, GROUND PEOPLE, LANDSCAPERS

TIMBER TENDER is excited to announce that we are looking for dedicated individuals to join our team!

We are seeking candidates who possess the following:

• A valid driver’s license

• The ability to work outdoors in all seasons

• A willingness to learn and adhere to company safety standards

• A positive attitude

At Timber Tender, our mission is to provide the highest quality tree and plant care. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment and will assist employees who are eager to learn a new trade, pursue certifications, and engage in continuing education to excel in the field.

If you are interested in becoming a part of our team, please contact us for more information: info@timbertender.com or (802)234-5441 www.timbertender.com

Full-Time, Based in St. Johnsbury or Newport, VT Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) is seeking strategic and compassionate professionals to join our growing team in leadership and clinical roles:

Child, Youth & Family Services Director: Lead behavioral health services for children and families across school, home, and community settings.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a human services field; licensure preferred.

• 3–5 years of supervisory or program leadership experience.

• Strong knowledge of children’s behavioral health, special education systems, trauma-informed care, and community-based supports.

Salary: $75,000 – $112,500

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: Provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and therapy for adults and children.

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in nursing; board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Vermont certification preferred).

Willing to obtain a Suboxone waiver.

Experience working with both children and adults; minimum of 2 years’ mental health clinical experience.

Salary : $125,000 – $165,000

Benefits:

• Generous paid time off plus 12 holidays

• Health, dental, life, and disability insurance

• 403(b) with employer match

• Tuition reimbursement and loan repayment options

• Strong employee wellness program

job descriptions at PlaceVT.com resumes and links to: jobs@PlaceVT.com

Nutrition Outreach Specialist

The Nutrition Outreach Specialist will support our Nutrition Program, promote community nutrition programs, and help eligible individuals apply for 3SquaresVT.

The Nutrition Outreach Specialist will help fulfill CVCOA’s vision of “A World Where Aging is Honored” and its mission to “Support Central Vermonters to Age with Dignity and Choice.”

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in human services.

•Ability to understand the needs of older adults and to maintain client confidentiality.

• Able to work well with people in a variety of situations in local communities.

To apply, please send resume & cover letter to jobs@cvcoa.org

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Multiple Positions

Open

Lawson’s Finest Liquids is recruiting for multiple positions throughout the organization:

Digital Marketing Manager (FT)

Kitchen Team

Member (FT/PT)

Beertender (FT/PT)

Please visit our careers site to learn more and apply! lawsonsﬁnest.com/ about-us/careers

Nursery/Greenhouse Assistant

Now taking resumes and applications for immediate employment for an IN SEASON up to 40 hrs/OFF SEASON 20+ hrs per week position. Middlebury Agway is seeking an experienced, qualified and highly motivated individual to assist in a thriving retail plant sales department.

Responsibilities include Care and Sales of Greenhouse and Nursery Plants, Seeds and Bulbs, plus a genuine interest in providing knowledgeable customer service. Extensive Plant knowledge is a must! Any Cashier experience is a plus.

Qualified Candidate must have a dedicated work ethic and be able to perform physical lifting as required and work hard in the spring and summer seasons.

Excellent Perks including an Employee Discount and Flexible Schedule but ability to work weekends is also a must.

Please stop in to pick up an application or send resume and references to: Middlebury AGWAY Farm & Garden, Attn: Jennifer Jacobs 338 Exchange St. Middlebury, VT 05753 Or by email to info@middleburyagway.com

OG Structured Literacy In-Person

Instructor

The Stern Center in Williston is seeking a full-time, in-person instructor to join our highly experienced and collaborative team of teachers. If you’re a qualified educator with training and experience in structured literacy instruction, this rewarding role allows focus and impact, teaching one-on-one to make a positive difference every day.

Training in Orton-Gillingham and/or Wilson, and/or having a Special Education certification strongly preferred. Our ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, an understanding of research-based interventions, and experience in developing individualized learning plans.

Specific duties include:

• Administer and interpret pre- and post-instructional assessments

• Create specific academic goals and objectives for each student

• Communicate with parents, schools, teachers, and special educators

• Strong progress monitoring and reporting skills

The non-profit Stern Center for Language and Learning is dedicated to learning for all as we recognize that all great minds don't think alike. We invite you to learn more about us at sterncenter.org

The starting salary range for this position is $54,000 to $57,000 annually.

The Stern Center for Language & Learning is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Join the Flynn & be part of a team striving to make the community better through the arts. All backgrounds encouraged to apply. This is a part-time, non-exempt, hourly position.

SECURITY STAFF

The Flynn is looking to hire multiple Security Staff to ensure the safety of the Flynn staff, guests, patrons, & property.

For full job description and to apply, please visit: flynnvt.org/About-Us/Employment-and-InternshipOpportunities

No phone calls, please. E.O.E.

VERMONT JUDICIARY

Opportunity for experienced attorney to provide guidance, education and referrals, and other information to the legal profession and the public of Vermont.

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ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB

PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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Must have at least 10 years of relevant experience, be a member in good standing of the Vermont bar or eligible for admission by waiver.

Starting salary of $120K or higher depending upon experience.

If interested, find more information at: https:// vermontjudiciary.exacthire.com/job/182934.

TOUR COORDINATOR

Join our dynamic Burlingtonbased team! We’re a leading group tour operator specializing in international travel for performing ensembles, dragon boat teams, and special-interest groups.

Salary: 50k

For more details on the role and application process, visit: https://7dvt.pub/MusicTC

No phone calls, please.

Milton Rents in Richmond, VT is a leading provider of construction equipment and rental services, committed to delivering top-tier service and operational excellence. We are New England’s exclusive rental source for CAT equipment – plus over 70 trusted brands.

We are currently hiring:

Market Team Member

Philo Ridge Farm is seeking a warm, detail-oriented Market Team Member to support our Market by delivering exceptional customer service and high-quality food and beverages.

Production Butcher

Philo Ridge Farm is seeking a Production Butcher responsible for executing a variety of meat production and retail cutting tasks.

Full details at: philoridgefarm.org/ join-our-team

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Staff Attorney

The Vermont Network Legal Clinic

The Vermont Network Legal Clinic seeks a staff attorney to provide pro bono legal advisement and representation for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Specific responsibilities include conducting intakes, providing legal advice and representing clients in family, civil or other legal matters. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position, located at our offices in Waterbury, Vermont, with some remote work options available. The Vermont Network offers a competitive salary and benefit package including a salary range of $60k - $75K, comprehensive healthcare coverage and generous time off.

The Vermont Network is a statewide non-profit organization working to create the possibility that all Vermonters can thrive. The Vermont Network Legal Clinic is comprised of three full-time attorneys and one part-time paralegal. The clinic serves approximately 500 individuals per year. More information about the Vermont Network is available at vtnetwork.org

Candidates must be a member of the Vermont Bar and able to practice law in Vermont. Experience with family law and an understanding of domestic and sexual violence is preferred but not necessary. Candidates should send a cover letter, resume and sample of legal writing to Jamie@vtnetwork.org. This position will be open until it is filled.

Executive Director

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The Vermont Bar Association is seeking candidates for the position of Executive Director. This is a leadership, policy & administrative position responsible for leading, managing, and executing the affairs of the 2,250-member Vermont Bar Association under the direction of the President and the Board of Bar Managers. The ideal candidate will have a JD degree or otherwise be licensed to practice law (preferred but not required), and have administrative, personnel, and budget management experience. Prior experience with the legislative process is desirable, as the Executive Director is the VBA’s voice in the legislature as well as with the other branches of Vermont state government. The ability to liaison with other professional organizations, county bar associations, civil legal service delivery agencies and the Vermont Supreme Court is required.

Interested candidates should submit a letter expressing in detail why they are interested in the position. The letter should be accompanied by a current resume, the names (and contact information for) three references, and a writing sample. Candidates with questions about the position or the process may send them to Josh Diamond at jdiamond@dinse.com

Salary Range: $100,000 - $150,000 plus benefits, range based upon successful applicant’s qualifications.

For more information and to apply, please visit: vtbar.formstack.com/forms/ed_recruitment

The deadline for applications is September 8, 2025.

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Forest & Wildlife Program Director

VNRC is seeking a passionate and mission-driven professional to oversee our program and policy work on forests, wildlife and biodiversity, land conservation, and local and state land use issues; provide technical support to members, state and regional agencies, and municipalities; and work closely with our other programs to develop integrated strategies to meet the challenges facing Vermont’s environment, communities, and people.

The ideal candidate has a practical understanding of conservation and forest management principles, including at least five years of professional experience in natural resource policy, conservation, ecology, forestry, wildlife or a related field; experience leading programs and projects from ideation to completion; the ability to manage multiple people, priorities, and projects; excellent interpersonal, facilitation and communication skills; and the skills to effectively advocate before state agencies, the Legislature, and municipal and regional boards and commissions. A law degree and/or legal experience are a plus. VNRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates whose identities have been historically underrepresented in the environmental movement. Applicants should share VNRC’s commitment to centering equity, environmental justice, diversity, and inclusion in our work.

The Forest and Wildlife Program Director is a full-time, hybrid position based at our Montpelier office with a salary range of $65,000 to $90,000, commensurate with experience, plus a $21,000 benefits stipend.

Candidates must submit a letter of interest, resume, and three professional references via email to be considered. Candidate review will begin on September 5th, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Read the full job description and apply at vnrc.org/join-our-team.

Field Producer

Video production experience for municipal meeting coverage.

Part Time, Weekday Evenings. Contact: sheron@cctv.org

Student News Media Advisor / Adjunct Instructor

Saint Michael’s College is seeking a talented Media Advisor to mentor students in the production of the Saint Michael’s College student news media. This position is part-time. This role mentors student editors and reporters as well as conducts the weekly media and publication meeting. This is an opportunity to be involved in our shift to digitally focused news media and campuswide student involvement. Compensation for this position is $5,800 for one fall semester (equivalent to one full, 4-credit course, per semester). Ideal candidates may be interested in working additional semesters indefinitely, forging long-term relationships with student editors, collaborating to build and develop news media at Saint Michael’s College over the long-term.

For a complete job description, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCSNMA

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Foundation Coordinator

Stark Mountain Foundation (SMF) seeks a Foundation Coordinator to become an integral contributor to its events, fundraising, communications, and operations.

The Foundation Coordinator will help to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and bolster organization efficiency & effectiveness to fuel SMF’s growth and evolution.

Founded in 2000, SMF is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. SMF promotes education, environmental and historic preservation, and recreation to help preserve the environment and character of General Stark Mountain in Fayston, Vermont. SMF partners with organizations including The Preservation Trust of Vermont, The Green Mountain Club, and Mad River Glen.

Part-time, flexible hours, reports to the president of SMF’s board. Visit StarkMountain.org/positions for application instructions.

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Executive Director

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired seeks a visionary Executive Director to lead our management team. Headquartered in So. Burlington, VT, VABVI is the only private, nonprofit, statewide agency providing training, services and support to infants, children and adults throughout Vermont. VABVI has an annual operating budget of $4.1 million. The successful candidate will possess a vision for the future and strive to fulfill a mission that encourages and assists blind and visually impaired people to achieve or maintain their independence and quality of life. Salary range is $120,000 to $150,000 depending on experience.

Complete details of the responsibilities and qualifications for this position, as well as the Application process is available at: Vabvi.org/careers

Application Deadline: August 31, 2025

Graduate Nurse Residency Program

Build your skills – with support.

Kickstart your nursing career with the support you need at our not-for-profit, rural critical access hospital. Apply for our Summer 2025 program on the Medical-Surgical Unit. Receive hands-on training with experienced preceptors, exposure to diverse patient populations, and education on essential nursing skills in a mentorship-driven atmosphere. Why NVRH? Collaborate with a dedicated team, gain valuable experience, and enjoy work-life balance in a welcoming rural community while making a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.

Requirements: Enthusiastic new graduates with a Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Nursing and eligibility for a Vermont or multi-state Compact RN license. Benefits Include: Competitive compensation, student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and more. About Us: Located in St. Johnsbury, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital serves over 30,000 people in a picturesque, bustling community.

Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

Join the Flynn & be part of a team striving to make the community better through the arts. All backgrounds encouraged to apply. This is a part-time, hourly ($22.50), non-exempt position.

HOUSE MANAGER

For job details and to apply, please visit: flynnvt.org/About-Us/ Employment-and-Internship-Opportunities. No phone calls, please. E.O.E.

Nurse Management Team

GO HIRE.

Join a 5-Star skilled nursing facility, Nurse Management Team at e Manor in Morrisville! We foster and support a positive organizational culture to deliver high quality care and services to residents, families, visitors, and sta .

Become part of a team that cares about residents, families, and each other. If you have a passion for senior care, a vision for clinical excellence, and a desire to be part of an elite group of nursing leadership, we want to hear from you!

Pay range: $40-$45/hour

Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day clinical operations and ensure the highest quality of care for our residents

• Supervise and support nursing sta

• Coordinate care planning and communication between healthcare providers, residents, and families

• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and company policies

• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment

Requirements:

• Current RN license (State of Vermont) in good standing

• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience in long-term care or a similar setting

• Prior experience in a supervisory or nurse manager role preferred

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills

• Commitment to resident-centered care

Apply today and become part of e Manor family!

Call: (802) 888-8755

Email: HR@themanorvt.org

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.

Job Seekers:

• 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.

Prep Cook

We are looking for kitchen help as well as servers for the fall season.

Apply: christophe@ pozecatering.com

Join our Culinary Team! Line Cooks & Prep Cooks

Line Cook hours: 2pm to close. Prep Cook hours: 8am-2/3-ish.

Part/Full-time positions available

Looking for someone who is self-motivated, focused with a positive personality. Team work oriented and not afraid of working under pressure.

$17-$25 plus tip sharing. Please send a resume to: chiuhos@asinglepebble.com

PHILO RIDGE FARM (PRF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) working farm located in Vermont’s Champlain Valley. We are currently hiring: Front

& Back of House Positions

To apply, please send your resume, 3 references & contact information to jobs@philoridgefarm.com

For full descriptions, visit: philoridgefarm.org/join-our-team

Qualified candidates will be contacted directly. No phone calls.

Office Manager

We are currently seeking an Office Manager to sustain and improve administration of CSC’s programs, event rentals, and front office.

The Office Manager is responsible for coordination of customer service staff, the overall functionality of the front desk, administrative offices, and transactional functions. This position oversees forward facing staff who interact with CSC participants, and therefore must be friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and operations of the Center. The ideal candidate possesses good organizational skills, exceptional dedication to customer service, and the ability to multitask and work in a fun, fast-paced environment.

To apply for the position, please provide a cover letter, resume, and two references to Colin Davis at colin@communitysailingcenter.org

4t-LakeChamplainCommSailingCenter081325.indd

Property Manager Receptionist / Administrative Assistant

Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day? Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT to continue BHA's success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low-income families and individuals. We are currently hiring for the following position:

Property Manager Receptionist /Administrative Assistant: Serves as first point of contact for our customers in the Property Management office. This role greets applicants and the general public at the main office, collects rent payments, provides administrative support to the Leasing Specialist, the Property Managers, and the Director of Property Management. Pay $20.00 to $22.00 per hour.

For more info about these career opportunities, our robust benefit package, and to apply, please visit: jobs.appone.com/burlingtonhousingauthority

Burlington Housing Authority Human Resources

65 Main Street Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401-8408

P: 802-864-0538

F: 802-658-1286

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

5v-BurlingtonHousingAuthority082025.indd

Family Caregiver Support Coordinator

The Family Caregiver Support Coordinator assists people providing and ensuring care of loved ones to gain information, support and access to services that promote the wellbeing of the caregiver as they see to the needs of others; they participate in activities, teams and systems discussions to promote dementia-friendly community and the expansion and improvement of services to family caregivers. With successful performance this role is intended to transition to leadership of the program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

BA preferably in human services/social services. 2-4 years’ work experience in human services, preferably with older persons or people with disabilities and their caregivers, is desirable. Supervisory experience and lived experience as a family caregiver will further distinguish candidates. Send resumes to: jobs@cvcoa.org

Screen Printing & Embroidery

Select has immediate opportunities within our screen printing and embroidery departments.

The right individual must have the ability to work well in a creative, fast paced environment and manage several tasks simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.

Qualiﬁcations: Prior experience preferred, but we will train the right candidate.

Competitive salary based on experience and capabilities. Beneﬁts include 401K, proﬁt sharing, medical and dental plans, and an exceptional work environment.

Select creates products and platforms built for ongoing consumer engagement. To learn more check out www.selectdesign.com.

Stop by our location to ﬁll out an application along with the submission of a resume. Apply:

Since we moved to Burlington in 2022, Seven Days has been our go-to source for learning about restaurants, cultural events and the community — not just in Burlington, but also around the state. Because I get the daily email updates, I am often the one suggesting to longtime Vermont friends places to go and things to do — from drinks at Fox Market in East Montpelier and the opening of Majestic in Burlington to an art gallery opening in Kents Corner and the Breeding Barn Adventure Dinner at Shelburne Farms.

Susan Gallagher with husband Sean

fun stuff

“I’ve noticed that you do this thing where you leave the room before I ﬁnish talking.”

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

fun stuff

KRISTEN SHULL

PHIL JOHNSON

LEO

(JUL. 23-AUG. 22)

In traditional Chinese medicine, the heart is the seat of joy. It’s also the sovereign that listens to the wisdom of the other organs before acting. Dear Leo, as you cross the threshold from attracting novelty to building stability, I encourage you to cultivate extra heart-centered leadership, both for yourself and for those who look to you for inspiration. What does that mean? Make decisions based on love and compassion more than on rational analysis. Be in service to wholeness rather than to whatever might bring temporary advantage.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): When glassmakers want to cool a newly blown piece, they don’t simply leave it out to harden. That would cause it to shatter from the inside. Instead, they place it in an annealing oven, where the temperature drops in measured increments over many hours. This careful cooling aligns the internal structure and strengthens the whole. Let’s invoke this as a useful metaphor, Aries. I absolutely love the heat and radiance you’ve expressed recently. But now it’s wise for you to gradually cool down: to allow your fervor to coalesce into an enduring new reservoir of power and vitality. Transform sheer intensity into vibrant clarity and cohesion.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): To paraphrase Sufi mystic poet Rumi: “Don’t get lost in your pain. Know that one day your pain will become

your cure.” In my astrological opinion, Taurus, you have arrived at this pivotal moment. A wound you’ve had to bear for a long spell is on the verge of maturing into a gift, even a blessing. A burdensome ache is ready to reveal its teachings. You may have assumed you would be forever cursed by this hurt, but that’s not true! Now it’s your sacred duty to shed that assumption and open your heart so you can harvest the healing.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): As you enter a Tibetan Buddhist temple, you may encounter statues and paintings of fierce spirits. They are guardian figures who serve as protectors, scaring away negative and destructive forces so they can’t enter the holy precincts. In accordance with astrological omens, Gemini, I invite you to be your own threshold guardian. Authorize a wise and strict part of you to defend and safeguard what truly matters. This staunch action doesn’t have to be aggressive, but it should be informed with fierce clarity. You can’t afford to let the blithe aspect of your personality compromise your overall interests by being too accommodating. Assign your protective self to stand at your gate and say: “I protect this. I cherish this. I won’t dilute this.”

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): “Dear Dr. Feelgood: Lately, you seem to be extra nice to us hypersensitive Crabs. Almost too kind. Why? Are you in love with a Cancerian woman, and you’re trying to woo her? Did you hurt a Cancerian friend’s feelings, and now you’re atoning? Please tell me you’re not just coddling us. — Permanently Drunk on a Million Feelings.”

Dear Drunk: You use your imagination to generate visions of things that don’t exist yet. It’s your main resource for creating your future. This is especially crucial right now. The coming months will be a fertile time for shaping the life you want to live for the next 10 years. If I can help you keep your imagination filled with positive expectations, you are more likely to devise marvelous self-fulfilling prophecies.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): In Mesoamerican myth, the god Quetzalcoatl journeys to the underworld not to escape death but to recover old bones needed to create new life. I propose

you draw inspiration from this story, Virgo. In recent weeks, you have been gathering pieces of the past, not out of a sense of burdensome obligation, but as a source of raw material. Now comes the time for reassembly. You won’t rebuild the same old thing. You will sculpt visionary gifts for yourself from what was lost. You will use your history to design your future. Be alert for the revelations that the bones sing.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): In the Hebrew language, the word for “face” is plural. There is no singular form for panim. I love that fact! For me, it implies that each of us has a variety of faces. Our identity is multifaceted. I think you should make a special point of celebrating this truth in the coming weeks, Libra. Now is an excellent time to explore and honor all of your many selves. Take full advantage of your inner diversity and enjoy yourself to the max as you express and reveal the full array of truths you contain.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the ancient Hindu holy texts known as the Upanishads, ananda means bliss, though not so much in the sense of physical or psychological pleasure as of deep, ecstatic knowing. I believe you are close to attracting this glorious experience into your soul, Scorpio — not just fleetingly, but for a while. I predict you will glide into alignments that feel like coming home to your eternal and perfect self. Treasure these moments as divine gifts. Immerse yourself with total welcome and gratitude. Let ananda inform your next steps.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Daoist cosmology, the nature of life is characterized by cyclical, flowing patterns rather than linear, static motions. In my study of its gorgeous teachings, I exult in how it inspires me to honor both contraction and expansion, the power of circling inward and reaching outward. With this in mind, Sagittarius, I invite you to make the spiral your symbol of power. Yes, it may sometimes feel like you’re revisiting old ground. Perhaps an ex will resurface, or an old goal will seek your attention. But I guarantee it’s not mere repetition. An interesting form of evolution is under way. You’re returning to

long-standing challenges armed with fresh wisdom. Ask yourself: What do I know now that I didn’t before? How can I meet these interesting questions from a higher point of the spiral?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Inuit artworks are often made from materials available in their environment, such as driftwood, stones, walrus ivory, whale bones, and caribou bones and antlers. Even their tools are crafted from that stuff. In part, this is evidence of their resourcefulness and, in part, a reflection of how lovingly they engage with their environment. I recommend you borrow their approach, Capricorn. Create your practical magic by relying on what’s already available. Be enterprising as you generate usefulness and fun out of scraps and leftovers. Your raw material is probably better if it’s not perfect.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The medieval alchemists had a central principle, rendered in Latin as follows: Visita interiora terrae, rectificando invenies occultum lapidem. Translated, it means, “Seek out the lower reaches of the earth, perfect them, and you will find the hidden stone.” I invite you to go on a similar underground quest, Aquarius. The purpose is not to wallow in worry or sadness but rather to retrieve a treasure. Some magnificence beneath your surface life is buried — an emotional truth, a creative impulse, a spiritual inheritance. And it’s time you went and got it. Think of it as a quest and a pilgrimage. The “hidden stone,” an emblem of spiritual riches, wants you to find it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In ancient Greece, the god Janus presided over doorways. He had two faces, one looking outward and forward, one gazing inward and backward. I believe this is your Janus phase, Pisces. Before you launch into your next fluidic quest, pause and take inventory. Peer behind you, not with regret but with curiosity and compassion. What cycle has fully ended? What wisdom has settled into your bones? Then face the future, not with shyness or foreboding but with eager intention and confidence. What goals, rooted in who you are becoming, can inspire an exciting new plot thread?

Down a dirt road in Albany, Vasilios Gletsos brews oneof-a-kind artisanal beers using a wood-ﬁred copper kettle, locally foraged ingredients and a beer cave 15 feet underground. Gletsos founded Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur in 2016, and it remains his solo project. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger toured this unique small-batch brewery.

KIND, FUNNY (LOOKING), SENSITIVE

Age 54, happy, insightful, kind, good listener, well-read, open-hearted lover of animals and nature seeks intelligent and compassionate woman for laughs, good times, friendship, connection and maybe more. I live close to the land, love to garden, hike and camp, but also go out often to restaurants, plays and art. I enjoy all things human and beautiful. 2Baldman 54, seeking: W, l

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com

WOMEN seeking...

LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

Healthy, active, hopefully soon to retire. Looking for someone who likes to hike, travel, kayak; long drives, movies, exploring, camping or just staying in and relaxing. I am easygoing. Traveling25 66, seeking: M, l YOU?

Statuesque. Celtic. Worth it.

OceanMaeve, 70, seeking: M

THIS IS ME

Moved to Burlington after many years inside the Beltway. I have secured living quarters with a balcony, procured a Subaru and an ice scraper, and taken my dog on a lot of woodsy walks. Seeking someone to have dinner with and see how it goes.

New2Subarucountry 52, seeking: M, l

LIVING MY NEW LIFE

I am recently — in the past year — living as a single woman again. My life is good but not full. There is a void. A companion, a friend maybe. It would be fun to have someone to do things with, be it a walk, go to flea markets, antiques shops, museums, road trips, movies. Newlife2025, 64, seeking: M, l

EXPLORING THIS LIFETIME MOMENT

Interested in meaningful conversations and activities. Accepting of differences. Require quality time outdoors daily. INFJ, 65, seeking: W

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

CLEVER, INTUITIVE, CREATIVE, OUTDOORSY, SENSUAL

In search of a woman with similar characteristics for outdoor and indoor play. And, if it feels right, to join me and my male playmate for discreet playdates. CompassRose 59, seeking: W

LIVING WITH PURPOSE

Seeking a true partner for the best that is to come. itry, 44, seeking: M

CURIOUS, CREATIVE, CARING, HOPEFUL

I’m a teacher soon to retire, mother to two young adults. Well traveled but at heart a homebody addicted to writing. I love swimming in the ocean, intelligent conversation, people who make me laugh, cats and wild elephants. I work out four to five days a week, eat too much ice cream, live with Lancelot. I once rode an ostrich. I hope to fall in love again. Helen, 66, seeking: M, l

FUN-LOVING, INDEPENDENT, HONEST, FUNNY, GREGARIOUS

Healthy, active, semiretired. I enjoy trying new things and seeing new places. Many interests: back roads of Vermont or New England, a foreign cruise. Lakeside with family and friends, food, and a bonfire; or festivals, farmers market, music. Quiet dinner, a movie or Scrabble. I’m game. The friendship of an equal who’s fun-loving, honest and independent. Winter breaks to warmer climates, as it’s not my favorite season. Am I missing something? MsPaisley 71, seeking: M, l

CREATIVE, DARK-HUMORED REALIST

I’m a fantastic storyteller, but it turns out describing myself here feels impossible (and a lot like torture). Meeting Vermont folks should be easy — I’m a creative looking to spend more time doing stuff outdoors with intelligent and kind people. So, here goes: getting outside my comfort zone to get closer to a life I’ve imagined for myself. GULP. itcantrainallthetime47, 47, seeking: M, l

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

I’ve lived a life outside the mainstream, guided by a belief in right-livelihood. Neurodivergent in the ADD kind of way; I am a curious, opinionated audiophile with a background as a librarian. I like to think I can laugh at myself (kindly) and look for the best in others. Looking for new friends: open to a potential long-term partnership. Kindred 58 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

HAPPY, OPTIMISTIC, INTELLIGENT, CARING, ADVENTUROUS

I’m fun, healthy, outdoorsy. Love cooking, gardening, theater, wine, music, candles. Not perfect but happy with who I am. Enjoy good, honest conversation, others’ perspectives about life. Sensitive, compassionate, attractive, very young at heart. Optimist: value others with positive energy. Appreciate the simple things in life. Looking for quality time with someone to evolve together into long-term relationship. Vizcaya7 70, seeking: M, l

OPEN-MINDED, UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE

Looking for a playmate to share adventures with. Someone who is positive and sees the glass as half full, or better yet, full. Someone who likes the outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking and, above all, laughter. And honesty is a must. Cynder, 76, seeking: M, l

SEEKING LAKE MONSTERS LOVER

I’ve got Lake Monsters season tickets, and I’m looking for a cute lady to join me for some summer fun at the ballpark. Don’t care if we make it to first, second, third or go all the way. I’m just looking for a gal who appreciates good seats, good humor and a guaranteed good time. Cracker Jack is on me. LakeMonsterLover 37, seeking: W, l

HIGH ENERGY, POSITIVE, NATURAL BLONDE

I live and play in Vermont and the D.C. metro area, splitting my time between the two when I am not chasing snow! I adore both the outdoorsy-ness of Vermont and have owned a home here for 15-plus years. Positivity and lightness run through me. Expect to laugh with me — and bring your energy. I am highly carbonated! braidsatanyage 53 seeking: M, l

FINDING JOY AND LOVE

Opening my life and heart to experiencing the joy and love that exists in between the spaces of this troubled world. Looking for a partner for traveling to amazing places, communing with the forest fairies and mycelium networks, and playing in the water. Young at heart, embraces the wonders of this life, has compassion for the difficulties facing our planet and its inhabitants. Halfpint 72, seeking: M, l

SMART FUNNY ROMANTIC SEEKS SAME

Are you an optimist? Enjoy an active, engaged lifestyle? Downhill skier a plus. Romantic, fun-loving person seeking someone who loves music, traveling, hiking, biking, concerts and comedy. I’m living a full life, but if it can be enhanced with a partner, I’m up for that. If you think the cup is half empty, do not apply! apresski711, 69, seeking: M, l

HIKING BOOTS AND FUN EARRINGS

I’m happiest when in the forest with snacks! I care about social and environmental justice and hope to leave my corner of the earth better than I found it. Outgoing introvert. I value solitude but am also fun at parties (especially if given enough caffeine). Looking for an outdoorsy guy with compassion and good sense of humor. Trailhobbit 30 seeking: M, l47, 28, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

RENAISSANCE PERSON HOPELESSLY ROMANTIC

To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with my God. Clapham 55, seeking: W, l

GIDDY UP!

Just a Clyde looking for his Bonnie in this big little state that I was born and raised in. Funnyburgereater 32, seeking: W, l

CURIOUS, COMPASSIONATE AND CONSIDERATE

Presently in an open marriage. Looking for women who like to be with a married man (who has permission). MrSteelandBrawn, 64, seeking: W, l

HAPPY AND LIVELY

Happy, easygoing, like to be active and enjoy life! Hikes, cards, rides to get ice cream, bike rides to get a brew. Kayaking to see waterfowl and swim. Love gardening, repairing things and repurposing things. Like to travel locally but have been on a few long trips. Petela 66, seeking: W, l

ADVENTURE MIXED WITH CHILL

Have fun, hang out and refuse to stop learning! Let’s grow plants, connection and much more. I love snowboarding but am nervous around people who don’t blaze or people who ski, or who ride bicycles in tight outfits. But outdoorsy adventure sports and learning and teaching about soil. Passion for Pachamama, as well. Lots of good food combined with foraging. Snowmalpickles 36, seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR A FRIEND

Looking for a friend to do outdoor adventures. Cario1965, 60, seeking: W, l

ACTIVITY PARTNER

I am looking for someone to enjoy each other’s company and see where it goes. friendfirst 60, seeking: W, l

LET TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

It’s hard to describe oneself. I’m told that I have a great sense of humor. I am well read, love to talk about history, politics and lots more. I like music: blues, rock, some classic — depends on the mood, I guess. I like swimming, kayaking, going for a ride to nowhere. In winter I like going on a walk on a bright sunny day. Vtman52, 73, seeking: W, l

OPEN AND EXPLORING

Looking for someone open to exploring some femdom stuff. GreenMnt802 34, seeking: W

MYSTERY MAN

I enjoy everything that nature has provided us. I spend 95 percent of my days outdoors. Hiking, biking, kayaking and downhill/XC skiing. My ideal partner would share in some of these activities and share with me the activities that encompass their life. It’s so important to share and grow. MisteryMan, 63, seeking: W, l

HONEST AND OPEN-MINDED

I’m a retired history teacher looking for a companion/partner to enjoy life with me. I’m in good health physically and mentally. Looking for honest, kind and intelligent woman for companionship exploring back roads and local history as well as finding the best cup of coffee, conversation and taking in local sports events. CW38, 75, seeking: W, l

ADVENTURER

Former wanderer building an off-grid homestead in Newport. Spent my time between western Mass. and NEK. Looking for an outdoor lover, skinny dipper, cuddler, star gazer, camper, movie watcher for potential LTR. Grab coffee, go for a walk and chat? Homesteader86 39, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK AND OLD-SCHOOL

Honestly, I am looking to date. Handsome99 25, seeking: W

SUMMER PARTNER

I’m open to different scenarios and just enjoy meeting new people. bski 49 seeking: W, l

CURIOUS, LOVABLE, SINCERE, CELIBATE, LONELY

I just ended (finally, yes!) an engagement to my high-school sweetheart, which just lingered on way too long! I am ready to move on. I am curious as to who is out there. I would be lying if I did not say I am bi-curious as well. A good woman would cure that fast! Hahaha. I live to please. Let me pamper you. Billy05488, 68, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, l

LAID-BACK MIND, ACTIVE BODY

I’m drawn to people with a zany sense of humor who are open to adventure. A bit of wild is attractive to me, though I’ll pass on crazy. If you are looking for a fun guy who dances to his own tune and is perhaps a standard deviation from the norm, I might be your guy. uppervalleyman 72, seeking: W, l

IN BETWEEN THE DARK AND THE LIGHT Grounded and dependable. A great sense of humor. A barrel of laughs. An excellent conversationalist. I love to meditate, practice yoga, work out, go to the beach, go for hikes, play guitar, listen to music, read and learn new things. I am hoping to meet a trustworthy and interesting person. Could it be you? Let’s get together and feel alright. Multidimensional 55, seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

TRANS WOMAN LOOKING

Hello, trans woman in my 30s simply looking for hookups and friends with benefits.If you’re a woman or trans woman and interested, message me. TransRebecca, 32 seeking: W, TW, l

COUPLES seeking...

KNOTTEE COUPLE

Complicated couple looking for woman or couple for friends with benefits. We would like to boat and grab a beverage with like-minded couple or woman and see where it goes from there. knotteecpl 66, seeking: W, Cp

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS

Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits, 61, seeking: W, Cp

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are older and wiser, discovered that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple for threesomes or foursomes. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Are you interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen 69, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

DEDICATED RECYCLER FOR HELPFUL SHOPKEEP

I stopped by your store on the way back from a bike ride and asked a question about recycling. e lights kept going out. Was it a sign? A helpful poltergeist? Maybe you were just being friendly, but on the off chance you were interested, let me know where we met and we can keep the banter going over a coffee! When: Saturday, August 16, 2025. Where: while you were working at a store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916416

HONEST, FAITHFUL, LOYAL

No offense to anyone! How you live your life is your business, but I would love to know: Are there men out there who still believe in the oldfashioned ways? Loyalty, honesty, faithfulness, and dating women your own age because you feel secure in your age and you don’t need a young girl to feel like a man. When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: everywhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916413

PIZZA AND PLAY?

A couple who loves our weekly slice at Two Brothers Pizza, where service is nice! Hey, with your charming light, join us for some fun and a magical night? If you’re down for laughter and a little spice, let’s join up after you’re done with your slice? When: Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Where: Two Brothers Pizza. You: Woman. Me: Couple. #916414

YOU TOOK A DOUBLE TAKE!

Oakledge Park, around 5:30 on Saturday. Our eyes touched. You were with someone, and I was pushing a stroller up the ramp with my awesome beard. You took a double take. I am available, and you? When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: Oakledge Park. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916403

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

TO THE RACE CAR DRIVER

To the man who helped me through a tough time: You made me laugh and actually had me believing that maybe not all guys are jerks. We talked for many months. en you just blew me off, and I heard it was because you were dating someone. Why couldn’t you just be honest? I only asked you for your friendship. Dishonesty sucks! When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: under Road. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916412

RAVENS GIRL

I saw you at JP’s this past Saturday, and we caught a glance. You smiled as you ate your French toast. You were wearing a Ravens jersey with the number 52 on it. I was sitting close to you, also wearing a Ravens jersey, and we shared a moment. Would love to catch a game with you sometime! When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: JP’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916411

FOCUSED CUTIE AT RESOURCE

BURLINGTON

Looking back at the entrance and noticed you pausing to look over your shoulder my way. OK, we’re both looking to repurpose things, or just cheap. Me: tall, gray mesh hat, gray shirt, tan pants. You: blond, red-and-white-striped halter top. Wanted to ask what you were looking for. I’d like to know if you found it. When: ursday, August 14, 2025. Where: ReSOURCE Burlington, Pine Street. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916410

SHANNON AND DWEEB

I met you and Dweeb. You walked into my life; please walk home. We miss you, T, so much. Forever barefoot. You don’t have to call 911, you can look me up. 33&3, Daddy D When: Friday, July 11, 2025. Where: Cambridge, Vt. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916400

De

BOULE CAFÉ: BIRD TATTOO GUY

You: bird tattoo (swallow?), Birkenstocks, red Honda, super cute. Me: ﬂustered laptop goblin at Boule Bakery in St. Johnsbury, too shy to say hello when you sat nearby. I kept stealing glances, wondering if you were doing the same. Felt like something there — or maybe just caffeine. Either way, if you see this: would love to meet you. When: ursday, August 14, 2025. Where: Boule Bakery in St. Johnsbury. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916409

MEMORIES OF KIND MOTORISTS

In 2020 or 2021 my nervous system had been completely destroyed by complex trauma. I was sitting on the side of the road by Community Bank in Jericho, and a kind man pulled over. He really wanted to help me and I wanted to let him, but I trusted no one. Other motorists also pulled over. ank you all! I’m safe now. When: Friday, June 5, 2020. Where: Community Bank in Jericho (can’t recall the exact date). You: Group. Me: Woman. #916408

SNOW FARM VINEYARDS

STUD MUFFIN

You were in back of me in line at Snow Farm Vineyards when my kiddo smacked my ass. You: male, blue shirt, blue hat, sunglasses, facial hair. Me: blond hair, white shirt, jeans, sassy kid. Saw you while I was dancing. You were under the white tent. Single? Going to A House On Fire on August 14? Will look for you! When: ursday, August 7, 2025. Where: Snow Farm Vinyards Wine Down. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916407

YOU MADE MY DAY!

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, he walks into mine.” Of all the grocery stores, you walked into mine! I gleamed your boyish grin, twinkling eyes and that familiar goatee standing behind me. Time froze. I embraced you in that serendipitous moment. I’ll never forget it! What a day! “As Time Goes By.” When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: Hannaford Shelburne Rd., South Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916406

LOOKING FOR LOVE

Am a good girl, looking for love. When: Monday, July 28, 2025. Where: friend. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916397

Stinky Situation,

My partner and I have been together a long time. Everything is great, and we never argue — except about one thing. Every time he poops, he lights a match. He insists that it gets rid of the odor, but I think it just makes the bathroom smell like a burnt turd. On top of that, he always leaves the used match on the toilet tank or edge of the sink. I know it’s not the worst problem to have, but how do we clear the air?

I’M STILL WAITING

You’ve asked me to keep the door open, / To just be chill and wait and see. / But I don’t know what I’m waiting for. / For you to ﬁnally see? / To see what we had was that thing people chase their whole lives? / Or for you to get lost in someone else’s eyes? / Why wait, when we have such little time? When: ursday, October 13, 2022. Where: Cambridge. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916402

HEATED

An attitude stemming from abusers within the age range: for some, “just giving a compliment” is the toxic masculinity that perpetuates the deaccession of mankind. Maybe if you complimented women your own age, they wouldn’t be siphoning the life energy of women younger and/or sexualizing themselves. When: Monday, August 4, 2025. Where: everywhere not listening. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916405

BJORN

We were supposed to be best friends and ﬁnish watching e Hobbit together. You wanted to domesticate a dinosaur. Have you changed the world yet, with your brilliant mind and chalkboard calculations? Remember the great condiment exchange? Have you danced naked in your house yet? How are your plants and ﬁsh doing? How are you? Miss having you around. — Bro When: Sunday, August 3, 2025. Where: a few years ago. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916404

IDX SECURITY MAN

You opened the door for me to let me in for my IT appointment. You: extraordinarily polite and even more handsome. Me: blond, tattoos, probably seemed extremely stressed. I just have to try to connect with you, though probably not brave enough to talk to you. Are you single? Am I crazy, thinking this could work? When: Friday, August 1, 2025. Where: South Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916401

OSCAR WILDE

Last August you were coming down Worcester Mountain wearing earphones. We talked about Oscar Wilde and the names Mary and Joseph. I didn’t have the nerve to ask if you were single. If you are and want to get in touch, I’d love to meet you somewhere! When: Friday, August 30, 2024. Where: Worcester Mountain. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916399

I’ve never understood why some people think lighting a match after dropping the kids off at the pool is a good idea. It’s hard to pinpoint when it became a common practice, but it started sometime after 1826, when friction matches were invented.

T-ROAD

You stumbled out of the pit tower. I couldn’t help blurt out, “Drink much?” You laughed, not in 25 years. Your smile melted me. I’m sure you’re taken, but it’s worth a shot. Let’s make some laps together. When: ursday, July 24, 2025. Where: Barre. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916398

CURTIS POND DOCK CYCLIST

You were biking laps to solve world problems. I was paddling my work worries away when you caught my eye. Perhaps we can be friends? I’m a pretty good cook. When: Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Where: Calais. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916396

HELPED AT PC

I felt like a damsel in distress. While attempting to self-check out, I discovered the bank had a fraud alert on my debit card. My knight in shining armor was in the next checkout and offered to help. First, thank you. Second, are you single? If so, can we meet for coffee? When: Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Where: Morrisville Price Chopper. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916395

NAKED TURTLE BARTENDER anks for your help today with my large lunch order. Enjoyed your smile and great attitude! Single, by any chance? When: ursday, July 24, 2025. Where: Plattsburgh. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916393

DARK GRAY HAIR, LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION

On the worst day of my life, I met an incredibly pretty woman, with short, dark gray hair, who had learned to speak phonetically. Asked me about library construction. I am tall and thin — looked awful that day, but you made a bad day amazing with your smile! Angel! When: Monday, July 21, 2025. Where: corner of Main and South Winooski. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916392

DMB SHIRT ENJOYING DYLAN SONGS

We IDed a mutual acquaintance (I conﬁrmed the name of your former football teammate), and your vibe made me want to make your acquaintance. Consideration for my date kept me to just a few smiles at you. Want to meet up for music together sometime? When: ursday, July 17, 2025. Where: South Hero. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916391

Farts and feces contain hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, which cause their foul odor. Striking a match produces sulfur dioxide, which gives off a stronger, perhaps slightly less disagreeable smell. It doesn’t magically get rid of the odorcausing compounds; it just creates a more pungent stench that temporarily takes the nose’s mind off the original offender. Leaving the spent match lying around adds insult to injury, but you should never flush matches down the toilet. ey don’t break down easily in water and can combine with other debris to cause blockages. Your partner should put them in an ashtray or other fireproof container or simply run the match under water for a bit before disposing of it in the trash.

Since you dislike this practice, there are luckily many other ways to dissipate bathroom odors. One of my personal favorites is the “courtesy ﬂush.” is involves a preliminary ﬂush right after you poop, then a second one after you take care of your paperwork. While it may not be the most water-conservation-friendly option, it works wonders when you feel the need to take an inconspicuous crap.

ere are also products you spritz in the bowl before you go (like Poo-Pourri and Just a Drop) and natural air fresheners. Don’t forget about good ol’ ventilation: Your guy could open the window or turn on the bathroom fan. If he just can’t quit his match-burning ways, get him some incense matches for a more pleasant scent than sulfur.

Hopefully, one of these options will help him cut the crap.

Good luck and God bless, The

I’m a 19-y/o male college student seeking a kind, curious, adventurous woman around my age. I enjoy meditating, being outside and long conversations. Looking for someone I can value and appreciate who can help me to value and appreciate life. #L1881

I’m a 43-y/o male seeking a woman, 30 to 50. Adventure seeker building an off-grid cabin in Newport. I’m 5’8”, redheaded, ﬁt, living between western Mass. and Vt. I like to cook, bathe, hike, camp and travel. Seeking ﬁt, fun-loving, cuddly companion for potential future together. #L1880

I’m a SWM, 60s, 5’7”, 165 lbs. seeking slim males who enjoy a nice, long, slow, relaxing blow job or a regular one, if desired. NSA, just pleasure. #L1882

I’m a 74-y/o male. It’s been a long, long time without feeling a woman’s touch. I miss sex. I would love to meet a single, divorced or widowed woman in her 70s or 80s. Did I mention I miss sex? Phone number, please. #L1879

I have the dreams; you have the sugar. Let us maybe travel a bit and figure out what this country needs. F, 24, seeking someone intellectual, active and financially afloat. #L1878

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I’m a 44-y/o bi male seeking a male, female or bi couple for casual sex. I am clean, easygoing and anything goes. No judgment here. Let’s talk. Call/text. #L1877

I’m 65 y/o and gay. Male, seeking my partner/lover and best friend. Gregarious and funloving. Laughter and a sense of humor are the cornerstones of my life. As Jimmy Buffet says, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!” #L1875

Divorced white female, 66 y/o. Looking for a single male, 45 to 60, who is tall, not big. Who is loving, caring and fun to be with. I like being outdoors. I am disabled and use a wheelchair. I am loving, caring and honest and don’t play games. Like animals, and I am easy to get along with. I live in Winooski. Hope to hear from someone soon. #L1876

Bist du mein B.G.G. (Big Gentle German)? 40, ehrlich, kreativ und naturluver. Suche liebevollen, bewussten DEU Mann für zweisprachiges Leben zwischen VT und DEU. Ich bin liebevoll, gesund und bereit. Du und Ich: Lass uns die Welt mit unserer Liebe verändern. #L1873

I’m a SWF, 71 y/o, seeking a man 60 to 70 y/o. I live in Woodstock, Vt. I want a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, please. Best to call after 6 p.m. Would like to meet in person. #L1874

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I’m a 72-y/o Eastern European woman with a young lifestyle. Seeking a man, age not important. I am a writer, and I like studying foreign languages. I would like to meet a man from Germany, France or Spain/South America to practice language skills. I am not expecting romance; friendship would be sufﬁcient. #L1872

Spunky couple, 70s, adventurous, love domestic and international travel, camping, and anything on or near the water. We also enjoy the great array of music in Vermont. We’ve enjoyed some M and F singles and couples involving sensual, relaxed experiences. Interested? Let’s chat. #L1871

Single M, 60, youthful blond, blue-eyed appearance, wanting mutual attraction with F, 45 to 60, for connection/intimacy. Dinners, talks, walks, nature, TV, entertainment, day trips, overnights, spontaneity, hobbies, more. Ideally seeking BDSM kinky playmate, openminded, curious to explore kinky side and fantasies. #L1870 I am looking for an 81-y/o woman. #L1882

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below:

(OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a

52-y/o male seeking a female, 40 to 50, who is lively, intellectually curious, passionate and an adventurous soul. ings I like: hiking, exploring new places, cycling, personal growth and cooking memorable meals. #L1869

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking companionship and romance. I am a widow of ﬁve years. I have one son (married). Love ﬁshing and travel. I’m good at cooking, knitting and sewing. #L1867

I’m a 68-y/o slender woman seeking a 62- to 73-y/o male. I’m a homeowner in a rural setting wanting companionship and a romantic partner to share my life and home. I work part time and enjoy many outdoor activities. #L1865

Retired male. Financially secure with stable housing and good transportation, healthy, active, and ﬁt. Seeking lively big game — female cat, lioness, tiger, black panther or cougar — for adventures in the jungle. #L1864

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Thursday Dinners at the Farm

THU., AUG. 21

367 MISSION FARM RD, KILLINGTON

'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

THU., AUG. 21

BRIGGS OPERA HOUSE, WHITE RIVER JCT

Fried Chicken & Pickin'

FRI., AUG. 22

MAPLE WIND FARM, RICHMOND

Fledge Fest 2025

SAT., AUG. 23

FLEDGLING FARMSTAND, TUNBRIDGE

Perfume Blending Workshop by Bloom Lab

SUN., AUG. 24

MAQUAM BARN & WINERY, MILTON

FOTW Trail Clinic

WED., AUG. 27

LINCOLN HILL TRAILHEAD - CARSE HILLS & HINESBURG TOWN FOREST

Another Sunset Bird Walk

THU., AUG. 28

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

ARTY BLOCK PARTY

FRI., AUG. 29

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

August Bird Monitoring Walk

SAT., AUG. 30

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Hula Story Sessions: Four Pines Fund

THU., SEP. 4

HULA, BURLINGTON

THU., SEP. 4

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Cider Donut Muffins Workshop

'STRUT!' Art Hop Fashion Show

FRI., SEP. 5

400 PINE STREET, BURLINGTON

A Taste of India

SAT., SEP. 6

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Fright by Flashlight

SAT., SEP. 6

LAKEVIEW CEMETERY, BURLINGTON

Grape to Glass: Winemaking for Home Gardeners

SUN., SEP. 7

HORSFORD GARDENS AND NURSERY, CHARLOTTE

Experience Abundance Meditation with Aromatherapy

TUE., SEP. 9

LADIES SOCIAL GROUP, ESSEX JCT

FOTW Women's Ride

THU., SEP. 11

SAXON HILL TRAILHEAD, ESSEX JCT

Cathedral Arts Presents Paul Orgel

FRI., SEP. 12

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON

Cook the Book: Melissa Clark’s 'Dinner' Workshop featuring Chef Ariel Voorhees

SAT., SEP. 13

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Mind Magic: A Night of Laughter and Astonishment

SAT., SEP. 13

OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS, BURLINGTON