Seven Days, August 6, 2025 by Seven Days

VIOLATION OF TRUST

Sisters filmed while undressing describe the harm it caused

Dead-icated

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH ,

SEASON

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN

Burlington Boosts Ride-Share Fee, Extends Higher Meals Tax

Burlington city councilors on Monday voted to increase a fee and maintain a higher tax as they continue to search for revenue to ﬁll persistent budget gaps.

FLEET OF FOOTIE

11,000

That’s how many acres will be open for timber harvesting under the U.S. Forest Service’s Telephone Gap logging plan in the Green Mountain National Forest.

TOPFIVE

FREE FLOW

1. “No Encore: Nectar’s Closes for Good” by Chris Farnsworth. e popular downtown Burlington venue, a live-music ﬁxture for nearly half a century, will not reopen.

2. “Gardener’s Supply Lays Off Workers Ahead of Sale” by Courtney Lamdin. e company, which sprouted in Burlington, is shuttering its call center and warehouse as part of its $9 million sale to an Indiana-based competitor, Gardens Alive!

In ﬁscal year 2024, the city raised $100,791 from about 420,000 rides on platforms such as Uber and Lyft. e higher fee would roughly double the revenue. e fee on rides starting or ending at Burlington International Airport, which is actually in South Burlington, will remain at $2.

Councilors also voted to keep the city meals and alcohol tax at 2.5 percent until next July. at’s half a percentage point more than it was last year, when councilors ﬁrst voted to increase the tax. Unless there are further changes, the tax will revert to 2 percent on July 1, 2026.

Before the vote, several councilors described discomfort with continuing the increase.

INSTRUCTIVE CONSTRUCTION

increase as a way to avoid raising property taxes.

“ is is a consumption tax,” Grant said. “Businesses should not be absorbing this tax. ey should be passing it on. And, most likely next year, when we get to looking at this, we will probably still have to keep it. I don’t think we should pretend.”

3. “Joe’s Snack Bar in Jericho Is for Sale” by Melissa Pasanen. e seasonal local institution that turns out fried clams, creemees and more is listed for $475,000.

A dam removal project has begun along Brandy Brook in Ripton. The infrastructure was once used to supply water to Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf Campus.

CHIEF SHUFFLE

4. “Sisters Unwittingly Filmed While Undressing Describe the Harm It Caused” by Colin Flanders. Two women who were teens when Bill Simmon secretly ﬁlmed them describe the harm they suffered when their images were posted to porn sites.

5. “UVM Health Network Announces Layoffs as Part of Effort to Save $185 Million” by Sam Hartnett. e health network is under pressure to reduce its spending.

Ultimately, only Councilor Becca Brown McKnight (D-Ward 6) voted against the measure.

“I don’t see the point in continuing a tax that, by all forecasts, is going to decline in the future unless there was some comprehensive

South Burlington hired a new police chief, William Breault, who held the same job in Dover, N.H. He replaces Shawn Burke, now the Burlington chief.

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

ALL WET

Downtown Burlington has no shortage of construction this summer. Neon yellow vests and hard hats are the season’s hottest look, and “Road Closed” signs are popping up like rodents in a Whac-A-Mole game.

e old Burlington YMCA is in the process of being converted into apartments. A block away, the hulking, decaying Memorial Auditorium awaits its fate. And between the two, the 1904 portion of Fletcher Free Library is undergoing exterior renovations. All three are surrounded by chain-link fences.

economic plan for

the city, which we have not seen,” she said.

Police in Windsor are searching for a suspect who has been chucking water balloons at other drivers. A tough case to pop when the evidence explodes.

Brattleboro, Hinsdale Remain at Odds Over Fate of Two Bridges Town ofﬁcials in Brattleboro and Hinsdale, N.H., disagree about what to do with two bridges over the Connecticut River that connect the two states with an island in the middle, the Commons reported. Brattleboro, which owns just 7 percent of the bridges, wants to preserve the spans for pedestrians and cyclists at a cost of about $9 million, while Hinsdale would rather demolish them. A new bridge for vehicles opened last November just downriver.

DELICIOUS TIP

A few months ago, you had an article about Bumblebee Bistro in Enosburg Falls [“Homegrown Honey: Franklin County Is Abuzz Over Bumblebee Bistro’s Gifted Young Chef,” April 29]. Yesterday my wife and I met some good friends there for lunch, and it was excellent. Thanks for the tip.

Bob Vacca NEWPORT

PROBLEM WITH GMT

Marcy Stabile

Matt Weiner

Andy Watts

Gillian English

Anthony Cinquina 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

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

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly CIRCULATION: 35,000

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

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It’s a real shame that such a good bus service covering our county and surrounding towns has to be severely cut back [“Out of Service?” July 16]. The routes have been streamlined to serve the most people possible and to hit the most key destinations. And yet ... and yet, people just do not want to take the bus! I live in Essex Junction. Whenever I have an obligation to be in Burlington, I check into using the bus ﬁrst. You don’t have to pay for parking; you don’t have to sit idle at the Five Corners intersection. It leaves every 20 minutes, and you land in the middle of town or at the medical center in a half hour. They even have internet on the bus, so you don’t have to give up the phone! The buses are newish and comfortable. For a senior (60-plus years), it only costs a dollar per ride. Otherwise, $2.

The practice of driving a car everywhere is so ingrained and is such an American concept of independence and entitlement, it’s no wonder ridership has been reduced to those who otherwise can’t drive their own car. But I also fault Green Mountain Transit for not pumping more money into advertising and promoting the beneﬁts. There is absolutely no poster or ad to be found to promote using public transport, with all the advantages I’ve mentioned. Lack of a creative promotional campaign to attract riders has contributed to the system’s demise. It will continue downhill unless GMT hires a creative salesperson to get out the message.

Cecilia Polansky ESSEX JUNCTION

CORRECTION

Last week’s story “Seeking Big Brothers” misidentiﬁed Kate Vetter’s title with King Street Center. She’s the director of philanthropic partnerships and communications.

‘REAL CONNECTIONS’

Kudos on your Connections Issue [July 23], covering big and small ways that Vermonters help each other out. Retired now, I tell seniors with free time to contact their local schools for volunteer possibilities. From K through middle school, I’ve found real connections working with kids from 5 to 15.

What you give will be returned in many ways, with smiles each time you meet, bringing fulﬁllment to all involved!

Joe Ryan WILLISTON

GROUND RULES

Thanks to Sam Hartnett and the team at Seven Days for [“Green Mountain ‘Angels’: Vermonters From Both Sides of the Political Aisle Are Fostering Respectful Conversations About the Issues,” July 23]. It takes courage and openness to listen and respond to those you disagree with. In addition to the ground rules that Sam mentions in the article, we only talk from the personal (how I feel or what I believe or think), not in the general (“all Democrats” or “all Vermonters”). I notice that we tend to talk in generalities to be more powerful. Being personal keeps us speciﬁc and honest.

Another ground rule is to only ask a question we genuinely want to know the answer to. Not “You really believe that?!” but instead: “I didn’t think of that. Can you tell me more?” The ground rules require us to make conscious choices when we communicate, while also sharing how we feel.

A minor correction in the article: I was the note taker for a year or so with the St.

group. If you are interested in joining, please email equality-caucus-info@ braverangels.org. Most members are LGBT themselves, but all are welcome.

An observation: All the people proﬁled in this piece are in their sixties or seventies, something I have noticed at in-person Braver Angels events as well. I am in my twenties, and my peers in Vermont are heavily engaged in protests and politics these days, but they are generally lacking in empathy or understanding for those who disagree with them. I hope as Braver Angels gains recognition, other younger people will join as well!

Margaret Riley RICHMOND

BORDERLINE CRAZY

Albans alliance but was never a member. I currently facilitate the only active alliance in Vermont, which is in Chittenden County. I applaud those who take the step to listen and engage with those they disagree with. When I do, I learn a lot about them and also about myself. I really feel this can change our country.

Nancy Sugarman SOUTH BURLINGTON

CALLING YOUNG ‘ANGELS’

Love the recent article on Braver Angels [“Green Mountain ‘Angels’: Vermonters From Both Sides of the Political Aisle Are Fostering Respectful Conversations About the Issues,” July 23]! I am a “red” cochair of the Braver Angels Equality Caucus, a relatively new chapter of Braver Angels focused on discussing LGBT issues, that right now meets via Zoom monthly. Given the large LGBT presence in Vermont, I wanted to highlight this

I read with great interest about the Winooski superintendent being detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection ocials while attempting to return to the U.S. and being advised that he had no civil rights upon returning to this country [“Winooski Superintendent Detained, Questioned by Border O cials,” July 22]. As much as I hate to admit it, it is in fact the truth.

During the mid-’80s and into the early ’90s while living in Vermont, I was making frequent trips to Canada and intentionally crossing at the same border crossing into Québec from my hometown in Franklin County. On one return trip from the Eastern Townships, I had an encounter with a CBP agent who was convinced I was doing something illegal. I was detained for several hours as my vehicle was thoroughly searched inside and out. I was strip-searched in the lobby of the customs house.

Once I was released, I called my friend and lawyer, relayed the story to him, and was advised that, upon returning to my country, it was up to the discretion of the particular agent as to whether or not I would be allowed back. Once you leave the country, you relinquish all civil rights, and returning can be denied.

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Dead-icated

It's been 30 years since the Grateful Dead's demise. But for fans and tribute bands in Vermont, the music never stopped.

NEWS+POLITICS 14

‘He Took Everything’

Two young women go public about how a Burlington ﬁlm professor secretly recorded them undressing — and upended their lives

Vermont Gives Feds Food Aid Data

Filed and Forgotten Years after trying to cut back on the number of reports it commissions, Vermont’s legislature is ordering up more than ever

ICE Detains Lumberyard Workers in Raid

Gardener’s Supply Lays O Workers Ahead of Sale

FEATURES

Dead-icated

It’s been 30 years since the Grateful Dead’s demise. But for fans and tribute bands in Vermont, the music never stopped.

Di erent Strokes

In historically accurate boats, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum rowing clubs share a niche passion

Back in the Game Retro Realm presses “play” on old-school arcade entertainment in Middlebury

ARTS+CULTURE 44

Found in Translation Book review: Last Day of My Face, James Shea

Structural Integrity

A new book celebrates Craftsbury’s historic buildings and beneﬁts the town’s public library

New Doc Gone Guys

Spotlights the Struggles of Boys and Young Men

Zephyr Teachout

Discusses Her New Role at Unadilla Theatre

The Placemakers

A group show at the Supreme Court Gallery articulates the spatial

A Heart of Stone: Art Project Pictures Barre’s Recovery

Burlington’s Boba Bubble

Sampling four bubble tea spots in and around the Queen City COLUMNS

11 Magniﬁcent 7

12 From the Publisher

39 Side Dishes

50 Movie Review

56 Soundbites

62 Album Review

93 Ask the Reverend SECTIONS

23 Life Lines

38 Food + Drink

44 Culture

50 On Screen

52 Art

56 Music + Nightlife

64 Calendar 74 Classes

75 Classiﬁeds + Puzzles

89 Fun Stuff

92 Personals

We have

Find a new job in the classiﬁeds section on page 81 and online at

We are a family owned and operated gift/flower shop, which we opened in 2018, six months after we moved here from Hilton Head Island. We are so glad to be here in downtown Burlington at 206 College St.! We love being able to meet with and help visitors to our city, and are so thankful for the support and friendship of all of our local customers! Come see us to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Jana - owner and florist - can put together a wrapped bouquet or arrangement for every special occasion.

Jana, Jack & Megan

Seven Days Eva Sollberger caught a ride on the four-hour cruise to Canada and met the crew.

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.

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPILED BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

ALL IN THE FAMILY

e sounds of stringed instruments and heartfelt harmonies ﬁll a starry sky when play at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. e London pop-folk trio continues its Railroad Revival tour with its all-star “house band,” including Nathaniel Rateliff and Trombone Shorty, and a guest appearance by Vermont’s own superstar Noah Kahan.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

FRIDAY 8-SUNDAY 10

Kings of the Road

Vermont Antique at Farr’s Field in Waterbury for

Motorheads make a pit stop at the and Classic Car Meet some old-timey, fueled-up fun. Exhibitors don costumes matching their model’s era for a turbocharged fashion show, and a parade of vintage vehicles kicks things into overdrive. A ﬂea market, Hot Wheels racing, awards and cash prizes push the weekend past the ﬁnish line.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SATURDAY 9

In Crust We Trust

Baird Farm hosts the fourth annual Great North American Maple Pie Contest in North Chittenden, where local baking dreams crumb true. Celebrity judges nosh their way through samples of gooey goodness before awarding a year’s supply of maple syrup to this year’s top pastry master. Picnickers line up for a pie throwing contest and, of course, their own servings of pie and ice cream.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 71

SATURDAY 9

J Walkers

e Cambridge Arts Council presents the Jeffersonville Art Jam, ﬁlling the quaint mountainside village’s main drag with a bevy of local talent. e annual sidewalk showcase features gallery shows, food vendors, activities for little ones, artist demonstrations, workshops and live tunes for a day that’s picture-perfect.

SEE ART LISTING ON PAGE 55

SUNDAY 10

Good Ol’ Chaps

Hyperlocal arts and literature magazine Zig Zag Lit Mag beckons bookworms to a Chapbook Release Party at Tourterelle in New Haven, where an afternoon of literary love and cocktails awaits. e event marks the publication of four chapbooks — small booklets of poetry or stories — by Addison County writers, whose fresh work and vibrant voices take center stage.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

OPENS WEDNESDAY 13

Saddle Up

e wavin’ wheat can sure smell sweet in Stowe, where the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Lyric eatre team up to perform “Oklahoma! in Concert” at the von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort Concert Meadow. e Rodgers and Hammerstein cowboy musical comes to life via the virtuosity of a dazzling full orchestra, showstopping soloists and an incomparable chorus.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 73

OPENS WEDNESDAY 13

Will of the Wood

Outdoor theater company Shakespeare in the Woods brings bold theatrical experimentation to eager audiences at the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester. Two of the Bard’s lesser-known tales — Richard II and Love’s Labour’s Lost — get genderqueer makeovers through unconventional and modern reimaginings, shepherding themes of the past into the here and now.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 73

Mumford & Sons and Friends

‘Ripple’ Effect

“Rock ’n’ roll” music was prohibited in my house growing up. I remember watching news coverage of the Beatles’ first U.S. tour on our family’s black-and-white television. My parents — especially my dad — were horrified by the footage of young women screaming, crying and, in some cases, passing out during the concerts. Nothing like that was going to happen to their girls.

Somehow my older sister got hold of the White Album, and we secretly listened to it on a record player that looked like a toy. I got a palm-size transistor radio, too, through which I grooved in private to the sounds of Herman’s Hermits, Petula Clark and the Monkees.

I remember hearing the Doors’ “Light My Fire” before a show of fireworks at Princeton Stadium — performed by a cover band, no doubt — while my dad fumed and tried to cover our ears.

Meanwhile, the living room “hi-fi,” which he alone was allowed to touch, played only classical music — and, occasionally, Herb Alpert. His Whipped Cream album came out in 1965, the same year the Warlocks became the Grateful Dead.

Because of my strict upbringing, and almost a decade studying ballet, I didn’t actually hear their music until I got to college, in 1978. By then I had discovered Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Tom Waits. The summer before my freshman year, I worked as a chambermaid in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. I brought a tape player with me from cabin to cabin. As long as I had my music, I didn’t mind making beds and cleaning toilets.

I WOULD HAVE ANOTHER HALF CENTURY TO LEARN TO LOVE JERRY GARCIA’S LOOSE AND LAZY GUITAR LICKS AND PONDER THEIR SIREN APPEAL.

I adored these musical artists. But my devotion paled in comparison to that of my classmates at Middlebury College who followed — nay, worshipped — the Grateful Dead. These 19-year-olds had been to hundreds of the band’s shows all over the country — how was it possible? — and some had recorded the live concerts, assembling massive collections of cassette tapes. Listening to them talk ecstatically about venues and songs and jams and dates was like deciphering a foreign language — though not the kind for which Middlebury is known.

Attaining some fluency seemed very important at the time. Little did I know that I would have another half century to learn to love Jerry Garcia’s loose and lazy guitar licks and ponder their siren appeal.

I saw the band once — in Highgate — in June 1995. Frankly, the music sounded better emanating from vehicles in the epic traffic jam en route to the show than at it, and Garcia died two months later.

But experiencing the scene did clarify the attraction, and like so many, over time I came to equate the band’s blood pressure-lowering groove with carefree youth, road trips and endless summer. That is to say: the soundtrack of happier times. A sonic madeleine.

Weirdly, the Dead seem to have the same effect on younger listeners who never saw the original band and associate their music with cultural milestones other than the Summer of Love or the Vietnam War.

My memories of the Grateful Dead were starting to fade when my partner, Tim, rediscovered the band around 2010. He had been

to Highgate, too, though we didn’t yet know each other. Fifteen years later, he started playing the band obsessively — at home in the morning, in the car, on his earbuds during long runs. When my late mom lived in Burlington, she’d come to our house for dinner. Tim liked to drive her back to the Converse Home, Grateful Dead blaring (usually “Bertha” or “Terrapin Station,” he recalled). Ever tolerant, Mom never complained. I could hear him returning to our place, singing along with his windows open, long before the crunch of his tires in our dirt driveway.

Following his bliss, Tim went to live shows in Vermont featuring members of the original band, and last summer we watched the video of what was supposed to be the all-time final concert of Dead & Company — a configuration of the band with vocalist and guitarist John Mayer — in San Francisco. As I write, Dead & Company are playing in Golden Gate Park in celebration of the band’s 60th year.

The next best thing? Tribute acts. In this week’s cover story, music editor Chris Farnsworth examines the growing number and popularity of bands seeking to replicate one that, despite its morbid name, won’t die. Or fade away.

“Thirty years after Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead played their final concert, rock music’s first jam band is living a robust afterlife in Vermont and elsewhere,” Farnsworth writes. Of some 800 Dead cover bands across the country, at least 15 are in the Green Mountain State. His piece, “Dead-icated,” aims to find out why. As the band sings in “Scarlet Begonias”: “Once in a while, you get shown the light / in the strangest of places if you look at it right.”

Paula Routly

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LUKE AWTRY

Grateful Dead fans dancing to Dobbs’ Dead at Einstein’s Tap House in Burlington

ICE TARGETS LUMBERYARD WORKERS

GARDENER’S MESSY GOODBYE

‘He Took Everything’

Two young women go public about how a Burlington ﬁlm professor secretly recorded them undressing — and upended their lives

BY COLIN FLANDERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

Ciara Kilburn had received plenty of praise from ﬁlm professor Bill Simmon, yet the encouragement did not seem to translate into good grades. So, when Simmon o ered a somewhat unconventional way for her to earn extra credit, the 19-year-old college student took him up on it.

Simmon wanted Ciara to star in a promotional video for what was then known as Vermont Community Access Media, a public-access television station in Burlington that he helped run. He explained that the spot would feature Ciara in a variety of outﬁts meant to show that VCAM was “good for any occasion.”

Then a respected local filmmaker, Simmon had taught at local colleges for years and had produced several well-received documentaries, such as a retrospective look at the beloved yet short-lived band the Pants, who were

popular in the Burlington music scene in the mid-1990s. Ciara, a University of Vermont student, had enrolled in Simmon’s Community College of Vermont ﬁlmmaking class on a whim and had found him to be a kind and knowledgeable professor.

She was a little nervous about coming to the studio alone, though, so she asked to bring her 17-year-old sister, Brona. Simmon agreed, and on the evening of November 10, 2012, he steered the teens toward a cluttered storage closet where they changed outﬁts between takes of silly dancing and goofy faces.

The shoot would later feel to the sisters like nothing more than a slightly awkward way to spend a Saturday night, and they forgot all about it. But years later, they learned that the professor had betrayed them in ways that could never be undone.

In September 2018, Ciara was at work when her phone lit up.

A close friend had texted a link to a porn website that featured a screenshot

Vermont Gives Feds Food Aid Data

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont has turned over sensitive information to the federal government about tens of thousands of people who receive food assistance, a move state ofﬁcials say was required but others called a breach of trust.

e Vermont Agency of Human Services shared data about more than 64,000 participants in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, after the Trump administration demanded it by July 30. e program, known locally as 3SquaresVT, provides low-income people money for food each month. e state complied with the request from the Department of Agriculture, which runs the program, even though 20 states are suing to block the move.

Vermont Public ﬁrst reported the story.

e USDA issued a letter to states in May titled “stopping waste, fraud, and abuse” by eliminating “information silos” in the SNAP program. It requested the “names, dates of birth, personal addresses used, and Social Security numbers” and the sum total of beneﬁts received by all SNAP recipients since 2020.

of the two sisters half-undressed. Ciara, then 25, went numb as she watched a video showing her 19-year-old self and an underage Brona unwittingly reveal themselves to a hidden camera again and again. Ciara instantly recognized the VCAM storage closet. She frantically called the station to ask for Simmon, who returned her call later that day.

Someone from the station — one of your colleagues, maybe even a former intern — secretly filmed us during our shoot, she told Simmon. She expected him to be horrified. Instead, he was oddly quiet, as if not quite sure what to say.

She told Simmon that she planned to go to the Burlington police. Within the hour, she was describing for two detectives the 2012 shoot and the secret recording. When she mentioned she’d called Simmon, the detectives perked up.

Critics called the demand a violation of privacy and part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to collect personal data for political purposes, including possible immigrationenforcement efforts.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s administration viewed the move differently. “ e federal government requested information related to the SNAP program, so we as a state complied with the federal law,” Scott’s spokesperson, Amanda Wheeler, said in a statement. “ is is information the federal government can already access through the routine auditing process.”

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, a Democrat, has sued the Trump administration 26 times to try to prevent the federal government from withholding money for everything from schools to Planned Parenthood. Clark was unavailable for an interview on Tuesday, but her chief of staff, Lauren Jandl, issued a statement. The state’s response, she wrote, “prevented the Attorney General from being able to sue.” ➆

Filed and Forgotten

Years after trying to cut back on the number of reports it commissions, Vermont’s legislature is ordering up more than ever

BY HANNAH BASSETT • hbassett@sevendaysvt.com

Earlier this year, Vermont lawmakers took up a monumental task: reshaping how the state governs and finances schools. With precision and clarity, the General Assembly tackled some of the leading reforms in the marquee education bill. But for many of the thornier decisions, legislators deferred to a familiar solution: more reports.

Lawmakers delegated key questions — such as how new, consolidated school districts could be structured — to a redistricting task force that will submit a report before legislators reconvene in January. The education bill, which Gov. Phil Scott signed into law early last month, also created two additional study groups and called for more than 20 additional reports or studies due in coming months and years.

Legislative reports and study groups can play a vital role in Vermont’s resource-strapped citizen legislature, allowing policy making to advance yearround, outside the limited legislative session. The legislature often doesn’t just commission a report from staff; instead, it sets up special groups of lawmakers and subject matter experts to research an issue.

But studies also impose costs on taxpayers and strain lawmakers, state employees, consultants and others who must meet the legislature’s demands. Sometimes these reports, and associated working groups, have little effect on future policy decisions, leading legislators and issue advocates to question whether the practice wastes time and resources.

Efforts to scale back have done little. In 2024, 313 reports were submitted to the General Assembly —the most in a decade. In total, this year’s 73 new laws created more than 15 study groups and called for an additional 100 reports — adding to the more than 250 reports that already flood the legislature in a typical year, according to an analysis

by Seven Days and data released by the governor’s office.

The legislature’s proclivity for working groups and reports is nothing new.

“It’s almost like a disease,” said Jeanette White, who represented Windham County in the state Senate for two decades before her retirement in 2023.

“They love to set up study committees and love to set up reports.”

Reports vary in length and complexity, from monthly updates to one-time studies. The vast majority are prepared annually, usually by the executive branch, according to data from the Office of Legislative Counsel.

Many of the onetime reports ordered up each year are authored by a mix of lawmakers, agency staff and outside advocates. Their makeup can make or break the efficacy of a group or its final report, said Austin Davis, director of government affairs for the Lake Champlain Chamber.

“It all comes down to what are the timelines, what are the deliverables, who’s included in the process,” Davis said. “At the end of the day, it’s just like so much else: If it’s garbage in, it’s garbage out.”

Reports run the gamut from highly anticipated and impactful, like the one expected from the redistricting task force before the end of the year, to irrelevant. They can slow a conversation during a session, restart it after a roadblock or initiate it during the off-session.

Publishing an impotent report can be its own strategy, according to Davis. If a legislator doesn’t want a policy to move forward, he said, relegating an issue to a working group with a report people are unlikely to read can sometimes effectively end the conversation.

But Davis cautioned against dismissing working groups or reports since it’s tricky to know what their long-term impact could be.

“You spoke with him?” they asked. “What was his affect? What did he say?”

Slowly it began to click for Ciara: Simmon had staged the shoot. He was the one who suggested they change in the storage closet. He must have filmed them. And because Ciara had trusted him, he knew they were onto him.

By then, the video of the sisters had spread across the internet, amassing hundreds of thousands of views while placing them among the untold number of girls and young women who have been secretly filmed in private moments. This modern form of sexual exploitation has become so entangled with the commercial porn industry that some of the most popular videos on free websites such as Pornhub and XVideos were produced through criminal means.

Victims often don’t learn what happened until years later, making these cases difficult to investigate. In recognition of this — and of the permanent nature of the internet — Tennessee lawmakers recently passed a state law pinning the statute of limitations for voyeurism to the date the videos are discovered, rather than when they are filmed.

In Vermont and many other states, however, the clock starts ticking the moment the perpetrator stops recording. By the time the Kilburns found out what Simmon had done, it was already too late. Simmon eventually had no choice but to admit to creating the video: Detectives later discovered a longer, uncut version that captured him setting up the camera before the Kilburns arrived.

But he was never criminally charged, and his conduct would continue to fly largely under the radar for years, even after the Kilburns filed a lawsuit against him and VCAM in 2020. He was able to continue finding jobs in the video field, too. As of just a few weeks ago, he was employed as a digital specialist for the state Agency of Education, a job that involved filming in schools.

It was only when the Vermont Supreme Court issued a ruling on the lawsuit in June that Simmon’s conduct spilled into public view.

Nearly 13 years after their privacy was first violated, Ciara and Brona have decided to tell their story. In an interview with Seven Days last week, the sisters, now in their early thirties, described how Simmon’s betrayal continues to follow them.

“It’s affected our relationships with each other, with our partners, with our friends,” Ciara said. “It’s the feeling like we can’t talk to anyone about this, because no one understands it.”

“Our privacy, our sense of safety,” Brona added. “He took everything.”

During their 2018 investigation, detectives quickly determined that the video had been posted first to a membership-only porn website as part of a series that included voyeuristic clips of women filmed in private spaces such as changing areas or bathrooms.

The detectives drove to VCAM and confirmed that the storage room matched the background in the video. They also spoke to Simmon, who recalled the 2012 promotional shoot but denied secretly filming the sisters during it.

Detectives knew any incriminating footage would likely be stored on Simmon’s devices. But seizing the equipment without his consent would require police to establish probable cause. They felt they couldn’t, because the three-year statute of limitations for the underlying crimes — voyeurism and the disclosure of sexually explicit material without consent — had already expired.

The state’s child pornography laws have a much longer statute of limitations: 40 years. But they apply only to victims

In May 2019, investigators seized his cellphone, thumb drives, hard drives and a computer.

Police found the Texas video and another on the external hard drives. But they were unable to get past the encryption on Simmon’s personal computer. They eventually sent the device to a forensic lab in Massachusetts, which ran a program that tried 90 billion possible passwords, to no avail.

Over time, the sisters heard from more people who had stumbled on the video. Most were sympathetic, aware that what they had seen was wrong. But one day, Ciara opened her Facebook account to find a message from a former high school classmate who had sent her a link to the video along with a photo of his genitals.

In early 2020, Ciara was notified by a friend of a friend that the video had been reposted on Pornhub, one of the most popular websites in the world, after the site had previously removed the clip. The video began with a montage of photos that Ciara had posted on her private Facebook page in 2017.

Investigators concluded that the person who uploaded the video this time not only knew the Kilburns personally but was friends with Ciara on Facebook — a group that included Simmon. Police subpoenaed Pornhub in an attempt to track down the uploader but eventually hit a dead end.

15 and under. Brona was 17 when she was filmed.

In discussions with the local state’s attorney’s office, investigators determined that they needed more recent evidence of wrongdoing in order to charge Simmon with a crime.

So, with VCAM’s consent, they searched his work devices and found more concerning videos. One had been taken in 2013 and showed an unknown college-age woman changing in what appeared to be a restaurant bathroom.

Investigators also found videos Simmon had taken with a VCAM GoPro while serving as a chaperone for a Burlington College class trip to Austin, Texas, in 2015. Simmon, who also taught classes at the now-defunct college, can be seen setting up the camera above a toilet, then using a plastic cover to hide the lens, before three Burlington College students are seen changing and showering.

Again, these videos fell outside the statute of limitations. But further evidence of Simmon’s pattern of behavior helped convince a judge to grant a search warrant for Simmon’s Burlington apartment.

Without further leads, detectives closed their criminal investigation in June 2020. In an affidavit outlining his findings, then-Burlington detective Thomas Chenette wrote that it was clear Simmon had “lured” Ciara to the station, taken the video and distributed it online.

“Unfortunately, due to the viral, global nature of the distribution, it is impossible to remove the video entirely from the internet,” wrote Chenette, who recently retired. “It will exist forever.”

Simmon was fired from VCAM shortly after the nonprofit learned about the allegations against him, according to court records, but he soon found a job at a marketing agency, Mt. Mansfield Media.

As the reality set in that Simmon had gotten away with what he’d done to them, the Kilburns decided to sue Simmon and VCAM, seeking damages for the emotional stress they’d endured.

The claims against Simmon were straightforward. But to prove that VCAM should also be held liable, the sisters needed to show that the media company knew or should have known that Simmon posed a risk. They pointed to a disclosure from one of Simmon’s colleagues, who, in the early days of the criminal investigation,

Bill Simmon at VCAM in 2013

went to police to get something off his chest.

The employee recalled how Simmon had returned a hard drive in 2011 that contained about 40 gigs of data still in the trash bin. When the employee opened the first file, he said, he saw what appeared to be a girl of about age 12 sitting naked. When he opened a second image and found a girl who appeared to be even younger, the employee panicked, he said, and cleared the drive’s trash bin.

The employee told police that he was “dead sure” Simmon had placed the images on the drive but could not prove it. (Simmon has consistently denied the allegation, saying the hard drives were also used by the public.)

Rather than report the incident, the employee decided to subtly raise the issue at a staff meeting, describing how he had found some “disturbing images” on a recently returned flash drive. He told detectives that, in hindsight, he deeply regretted not reporting the photos to the police.

The lawsuit offered a chance for the sisters to confront Simmon directly and hold him to account. It also drove a wedge between the siblings at times.

Ciara, fueled by anger and a nagging sense of guilt, leaned into the process. She couldn’t help but blame herself for getting her younger sister involved. Working to hold Simmon and the station responsible felt like one way to take back control.

“Me, I just completely shut down,” Brona said.

The younger Kilburn had been living for years with the constant fear that friends, family and even people she bumped into on the street might have seen her in that vulnerable state. She learned to cope by pretending that it had never happened, but the lawsuit forced her to acknowledge the video’s existence. She avoided their attorney’s calls, much to Ciara’s frustration, and she had recurring nightmares.

The depositions added a new layer of trauma. Opposing attorneys asked questions that the young women felt insinuated that they secretly liked the video and hoped to get famous and that the then-teenagers should have known better.

“To have these two powerful men come at us like that was really hard,” Ciara said.

Simmon had no choice but to admit he had taken the video when it came time for his own deposition in late 2022. A year prior, someone he’d worked with at VCAM had discovered an uncut version of the video clearly showing he’d set up the camera.

Simmon said under oath that he had stored the video on his personal computer — the one police were never able to crack. But he maintained that he did not post the video online. Instead, Simmon claimed he sent the footage to someone he had met in an online forum in exchange for other voyeuristic images.

Simmon said he stumbled on the Kilburn video a few years later while browsing a pornographic website, at which point he decided to delete the video from his computer.

“It became clear that I was not in control of the video images,” he said when asked why he deleted the video. “And it made me decide to stop having any material like that in my life.”

UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE VIRAL, GLOBAL NATURE OF THE DISTRIBUTION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE VIDEO ENTIRELY FROM THE INTERNET. IT WILL EXIST FOREVER.

“Did you delete any other similar material at that time?” asked the sisters’ attorney, Stephanie Greenlees.

“Yeah, I — I deleted a whole bunch of stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Other material that I had collected from, you know, the web and so on.”

He said he did not recall whether any of that deleted material included other footage that he had taken himself.

Any nerves Ciara felt in the days leading up to the February 2024 trial gave way to rage upon seeing Simmon walk into a Burlington courtroom. Twelve years had passed since she’d seen him.

She resisted the urge to tell him off from the stand, and when he tried to apologize during his own testimony, she shook her head in disgust.

Brona, meanwhile, stared him “dead in the eyes” as he testified, she said, thinking to herself the whole time: You fucking look at what you did. Own it.

The sisters wanted to shelter their family and friends from the trial, so they chose not to invite anyone. Their mother came each day anyway.

The 10-person jury needed just a couple of hours to rule in their favor. Simmon was ordered to pay $7.5 million in damages, while VCAM would need to pay $3.5 million for its failure to properly supervise him.

Defense attorneys asked that the jurors be polled individually to ensure the announced verdict matched what they felt — a common tactic from the losing party in a civil case. Many of the jurors looked at the sisters as they affirmed the verdict one by one. Each time, Ciara nodded and mouthed, “Thank you.”

VCAM’s attorneys appealed the decision, resulting in the recently published Supreme Court decision. The nonprofit, now known as the Media Factory, is now waging a complicated legal battle with its insurance company over who should pay. The nonprofit declined an interview request.

Simmon, who rents an apartment in Burlington, likely has nowhere near enough money to cover the damages he personally owes.

He was fired from Mt. Mansfield Media after he informed his supervisor of last year’s verdict but went on to land a job with the state Agency of Education. He was hired in December 2024 and worked there until last month, when education agency officials were notified of the Supreme Court decision and placed him on leave. He has since resigned.

Simmon declined to be interviewed for this story. A statement provided by his attorney said he “greatly regrets his actions and the harm he caused to the Kilburns.”

The Agency of Education, in a statement of its own, said it was unaware of Simmon’s conduct when it hired him. State policies prohibit the agency from conducting background checks for the role he was hired for, the statement said. A criminal background check likely wouldn’t have turned up anything anyway, because Simmon was never charged with a crime.

For years, the Kilburn sisters said they have been reluctant to speak publicly about what happened to them, in part because any attention drawn to the case could lead more people to the video.

“We’ve spent all these years living in shame because of something that somebody else did to us,” Brona said, wiping away tears during an interview.

“I’m done being ashamed.”

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DET. THOMAS CHENETTE

ICE Detains Lumberyard Workers in Raid

BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

After months of investigation, federal immigration agents arrested employees of Lamell Lumber in Essex in a targeted raid early Saturday.

e lumberyard had been the scene of a protest in February, during which migrant workers said they had been ﬁred for demanding higher wages.

Seven Days and other media outlets covered the protest, which drew local police to help move the crowd off the lumberyard’s property.

According to federal court records, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security arrested two lumberyard employees from Mexico on Saturday. e men were taken to Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. Afﬁdavits say both workers had previously been deported from the U.S. for entering without permission and had not returned legally.

While immigration enforcement has ramped up under the Trump administration, this kind of targeted workplace enforcement has not been commonplace in Vermont, where it is widely known that the dairy industry, and, increasingly, the construction industry, rely on migrant workers.

It’s unclear whether more workers were also detained in the raid. ICE ofﬁcials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Agents first became aware of Lamell Lumber in February — the same month as the protest — when they “received information” that the company regularly employs its workers using a Rochester, N.Y.-based employment agency called Agri-Placement Services. e following month, records show that federal officials subpoenaed Lamell Lumber, requesting detailed records on its employees and payroll. Following an audit, the feds identified several lumberyard workers with allegedly fraudulent “A-Numbers” — the unique identification number assigned to noncitizens.

After looking into their backgrounds, agents found that those workers had been deported previously and returned without permission.

Lamell Lumber could not be reached for comment. ➆

Filed and Forgotten

This summer, Davis is working on a study committee exploring the potential development of a convention center and performance venue. The task force will report its recommendations to the legislature’s housing and economic development committees by mid-November.

another study group, the Sunset Advisory Commission. With White as its chair, the commission set out to identify outdated or duplicative groups and right-size pay for study participants, though it did not evaluate overall costs of working groups. Commission members interviewed committees about their purpose, expenses and membership to identify any that were unnecessary.

than 300 existing groups. One body, the Champion Land Transaction Citizen Advisory Council, hadn’t met in more than 10 years, Collamore recalled.

But the legislature’s appetite for new working groups and more reports largely outpaced the commission’s efforts. In 2022, VTDigger reported that the legislature dissolved six groups but created 31 more.

Rep. Alice Emmons (D-Springﬁeld), whose 42 years in the House make her its longest-tenured member, said reports often help breathe life into policy making, particularly when time runs short during the session. Emmons pointed to the 2023 State School Construction Aid Task Force, whose summer work provided the basis for legislation that was introduced when members reconvened the following year. Summer studies like these enable legislators to extend important policy discussions, she said.

Sen. Brian Collamore (R-Rutland), who served on the Sunset Advisory Commission, said it dissolved 40 to 50 of more

The commission itself sunsetted at the start of 2023. White said legislators need to continue its work by ensuring that new

Many of the reports come due in the late fall and early winter, just before legislators return to Montpelier. That gives them time to brush up before the session resumes and can provide the basis for future legislation.

But as helpful as a study or extra committee can be, Emmons said, she is still careful to weigh the costs and beneﬁts before deciding if creating one is in order. Emmons noted that school construction was one issue that met that threshold in recent years. Several of the task force’s recommendations were included in this year’s education bill.

The state does not track the overall costs of legislative reports and working groups. Groups typically pay their members a per diem for their work. While payments can vary, legislators typically get $168 per day, and others receive at least $50.

These expenses are often drawn from agencies’ appropriated funds, though the legislature can designate additional money to cover costs such as hiring outside consultants and facilitators, as it has done for the redistricting task force, to the tune of $150,000. The legislature set aside another $215,000 to cover contracting and software expenses for a separate working group that will create new school district voting wards, in coordination with the redistricting task force.

On at least one occasion, the legislature recognized that study groups have proliferated and, in 2017, set out to address the trend. The strategy: setting up

Nerio Jimenez

groups and their associated reports have expiration dates.

“If they’re not doing that, then the whole exercise was for naught,” White said.

Collamore said it’s a perpetual challenge for legislators to stay focused on minimizing studies and reports.

“Human nature being what it is, rather than sometimes having to make a tough decision and then defend it later, it’s easier to just say, ‘Well, why don’t we study it?’” Collamore said.

But the legislature’s tendency to kick the can down the road often results in a longer, heavier lift for executive branch agencies, which bear much of the downstream strain.

Over the past decade, the Agency of Human Services alone has filed more than 600 reports — far more than any other entity. That workload has a cost, said Janet McLaughlin, deputy commissioner of the agency’s Department for Children and Families.

“Time and effort is money,” McLaughlin said.

This year, DCF will produce nearly 60 legislative reports, according to Nellie Marvel, a senior adviser with the department. One monthly housing report, submitted in late July, consumed nearly two days of staff time, she said. At that rate, over the course of a year, this one report would consume the equivalent of an entire month of one employee’s work time.

“It’s important to keep in mind that every hour that our staff spends working on a legislative report is an hour that’s not spent on things like, in DCF’s case, investigating child maltreatment cases or making sure that a family that receives SNAP benefits gets them so they can buy their groceries,” Marvel said.

Other agencies face similar burdens.

Administration Secretary Sarah Clark said impact often hangs on the scope and type of research requested, with larger reports typically garnering greater policy development than annual filings.

One particularly comprehensive report submitted by the Agency of Administration’s Department of Libraries on the status of libraries in Vermont required the formation of a working group and took an estimated five weeks of staff hours to complete.

The legislature does not alert agencies when they are tasked to produce a report, so staff must track Statehouse discussions and comb through new laws to identify reporting requirements. And after investments of time and resources to draft and submit a report, there’s no guarantee the legislature will make use of it.

“More often than we’d like, there are reports assigned simply to appease a particular policy interest group or legislator, and those frequently have little impact,” Clark said.

Rep. Matthew Birong (D-Vergennes), chair of the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, estimated that he reads or reviews 15 reports in a given session, all of which are specific to his committee’s subject area.

“We’ve got a digital shelf of them, like three-ring binders in the cloud,” Birong said. “As we need to understand more about a policy we’re considering, that’s when we ask for a report to be reviewed by the committee, legislative council, stakeholders, et cetera.”

Birong said that each year, committee chairs receive a list of reports relevant to

IT’S ALMOST LIKE A DISEASE. THEY LOVE TO SET UP STUDY COMMITTEES AND LOVE TO SET UP REPORTS.

JEANETTE

WHITE

their committee. They’re asked to flag any that are no longer useful and to lift the reporting requirement.

Still, the legislature has solicited reports on policy dilemmas such as universal pre-K and a second-home taxes again and again, even when it’s unclear how their questions or research needs may have changed.

“It can be frustrating when our staff spend all of this time to come up with something, and then that advice is simply not taken, or they go in the opposite direction,” DCF’s Marvel said.

Those frustrations surfaced during the education reform debate. The legislature had established the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont to develop recommendations for reforming the state’s public school system. The 13-member group, composed of legislators, agency staff and education advocates, has met 20 times since July 2024 to grapple with complex questions about the education system. Supported by $200,000 appropriated by the General Assembly and shared with a school-construction task force, the commission will submit a report to the

legislature with proposed policy answers by this December, and then the commission will cease to exist.

But this year, much of the commission’s work was preempted by a sweeping education reform proposal from the Scott administration, which became the foundation for the bill passed by lawmakers.

This summer, the commission’s chair, Meghan Roy, and another member resigned, voicing objections to how the commission was “undercut” and its work was never embraced. Roy wrote in her resignation letter that it was not clear that the group’s work would be “legitimately part of the [legislature’s] process moving fworward.”

Agency staff also resent the wasted time. Mike Snyder, who served as commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation from 2011 to 2022, said the legislature effectively requested the same report on forest health three times in five years without appearing to seriously consider the department’s recommendations.

“Why do we have to have all these reports if we’re just going to have more reports and they don’t actually lead to any policy change?” Snyder said.

Despite such concerns, state officials understand that working groups and the reports they generate can hold value.

“We really are all on the same team, trying to figure out how to make the best decisions for Vermonters,” said McLaughlin, the deputy commissioner of DCF.

Though the Sunset Advisory Committee no longer exists, Collamore said he is still pushing to reduce the volume of study groups and reports. Fewer of both, he argues, would give lawmakers more time to focus on what matters most.

“If you’re going to ask people to go ahead and invest their time and energy in making a report,” Collamore said, “then you want to make sure that you agree to read it, at least.”

The redistricting task force’s highly anticipated proposal for new school district maps will be one of many reports delivered to lawmakers before they reconvene in January.

That report, Collamore said, should be required reading for every member of the legislature. ➆

The “Ways and Means” project details the inner workings of the Vermont legislature and explores how well it represents the interests of citizens. The yearlong series is funded by Vermont philanthropists through the nonprofits GroundTruth Project and Journalism Funding Partners.

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BUSINESS

Gardener’s Supply Lays Off Workers Ahead of Sale

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

Burlington-based Gardener’s Supply has laid off about 40 workers amid its sale to an Indiana competitor.

Gardens Alive! will pay $9 million for the company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. As part of the deal, Gardener’s will pay a combined $7.8 million to Bank of America and Northfield Savings Bank to resolve liens on its assets and properties.

By Wednesday, the company was planning to shutter both its customer contact center in Burlington’s Intervale and its warehouse in Milton, which employ about 20 workers apiece, according to four workers who spoke to Seven Days on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

None of the fired workers will receive severance, they said, though they will be paid out some unused vacation time, according to an email obtained by Seven Days. They were given less than two weeks’ notice to find another job.

It’s unclear what the deal means for Gardener’s retail stores. Last Thursday, the company sent out a promotional email announcing the seasonal closure of its Shelburne garden center, noting that the Burlington and Williston locations are open year-round. “See you again soon!” the email reads.

Neither CEO Rebecca Gray nor attorneys for either company responded to interview requests.

Meantime, the affected employees are left feeling bitter and betrayed by a company where some have worked for decades. They worry both about their own futures and that of an iconic Vermont brand that once prided itself on being employee-owned.

“It’s like the end times of Gardener’s Supply, and it feels pretty terrible,” one longtime call center worker said. “I have no idea what I’m going to do.”

Gardener’s was founded in 1983 by a group of green thumbs including the late Will Raap, an entrepreneur who also started Burlington’s beloved Intervale Center. One of the state’s first employeeowned companies, Gardener’s became a go-to spot for plants, seeds and tools both

online and at six retail stores in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The company has won the coveted Seven Daysies award for “Best Garden Center” nearly every year since at least 2004, including this year’s contest, the results of which were announced last week.

A gardening boom during the pandemic boosted the company’s bottom line, but sales dropped as life slowly returned to normal. Layoffs ensued, bringing the head count to the present-day 126 full-time workers and close to 300 part-timers. Employees are offered stock options as part of the company’s ownership structure, but as revenue tanked, so, too, have their earnings.

In June, Gardener’s filed for bankruptcy in Delaware, indicating it wished to sell its assets to Gardens Alive! Based in Lawrenceburg, Ind., the company has acquired at least nine gardening businesses since its founding in 1984.

On July 24, Gardener’s sent a letter to employees warning them that they may be terminated as soon as August 1. Obtained by Seven Days, the letter didn’t specify which departments would be affected.

Four days later, workers at the call center and warehouse were called into separate virtual meetings and told their departments would cease operations by Wednesday, August 6, the expected date of the sale closing, they told Seven Days

One longtime warehouse employee, who wasn’t at work that day, said she only learned about the layoffs after a colleague texted her. She returned to work the following day to an email from Gray, the CEO, announcing that another executive had been named general manager and would help through the transition. The email, provided to Seven Days, didn’t acknowledge the layoffs.

“There’s a lot of anger. There’s a lot of disappointment. There’s a lot of tears,” she said. “There are employees in this building that have been here 20-plus years, and they’re getting nothing.”

Three call center employees interviewed by Seven Days reported similar sentiments among their colleagues, a handful of whom are near retirement age. One lamented how Gardener’s boasts about being 100 percent employee-owned — on its website, on T-shirts and in email signatures — only to dismiss workers unceremoniously and with little notice.

“It never occurred to me that this would be the end of it, that this would be how it would go down, because everybody was so dedicated,” another worker said, summing up her reaction succinctly: “It feels like shit.” ➆

Seeds for sale at Gardener’s Supply

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« P.7

Unfortunately, in this Trumpian world we live in today, I doubt I would cross the border with the ease I once enjoyed, and it appears that it will get worse.

Fred Elliott PUNTA GORDA, FL

‘GET IT TOGETHER, BURLINGTON’

Get it together, Burlington [“Burlington’s Main Street Will Reopen for Two-Way Traffic on Nights, Weekends,” June 23, online]. Look, I am sympathetic to balancing the needs of a diverse municipality. Maintaining and upgrading infrastructure while allowing for traffic flows that keep residents and businesses happy is difficult.

This — and oligarchs getting privatejet rich off of partially functioning public utilities — is what drives people away from progressive government. Let’s have more competent delivery of basic services and less signaling how much we are committed to philosophical causes.

Roger Brown RICHMOND

VERMONT, THE 11TH PROVINCE

Thanks to Seven Days for [“Burlington’s Church Street Temporarily Renamed ‘Rue Canada’” July 16]. While it smacks of a great gesture toward a close ally and friend, wronged by a sociopathic leader and administration chosen by a nation that

But what if we upgraded the sewage treatment facility to clean up the lake instead of taking several years to change stormwater collection and crushing local businesses’ walk-up traffic at the same time? Could we avoid our now-annual open sewage dump in the lake?

Vermont no longer seems a part of, it also reeks of hypocrisy, since it’s really all about the money. I wonder if the more sincere gesture would be to petition our northern neighbor to join it as its 11th province.

And can we really not cut the ribbon on the I-189/Champlain Parkway/Little Dig for a year? My 6-year-old can paint the lines, and we can make the investment work for us for a whole year! Just move the Jersey barriers!

And why in God’s name did we pick mid-July to close the bike path for bridge demolition? We really couldn’t have done that in a season when it has a little less traffic?

People are tolerant of paying taxes and working for the common good, while people in charge are using these investments of taxes and inconvenience, instead of just acting like they are spending other people’s money, bankrupting other people’s businesses and creating traffic headaches in other people’s neighborhoods.

Yes, I know that the logistics of this would not be easy and that some in Vermont would certainly oppose this idea. Yet the benefits would far outweigh the improbable logistics or the potential opposition. Canada still has a functioning democracy that cares about its people. It is not grinding them into dust like we are to serve the oligarchs or throwing the homeless into gutters to fend for themselves or die trying, because they dare to be poor and homeless. Canada does not have our tragic history of racism and slavery that underpinned this oligarchy, which we seem to be desperately trying to get back to.

There are so many more pluses that it makes far greater sense economically and physically to go beyond just naming a single street Rue Canada but to go all the way and become its Province du Vermont.

Walter Carpenter

lifelines

OBITUARIES

David Alan Tilton

JULY 31, 1955-JULY 22, 2025 WESTFORD, VT.

David Alan Tilton, age 69, passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House on July 22, 2025, following a heroic and decadelong battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Dave leaves behind his beloved wife and best friend of nearly 50 years, Linda Tilton; his two children, who were endless sources of pride, Allison (Allie) and John (Jay); his daughter-in-law, Heather Szilagyi; and his sister-in-law, Pamela Tilton. Dave was preceded in death by his father and mother, John and Clyda Tilton, and by his older brother, John Tilton. Dave had an impactful 31year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which included 22 years as a supervisory ﬁsh and wildlife biologist in the Lake Champlain Basin. When Dave began work on Lake Champlain in 1993, invasive sea lamprey were devastating native ﬁsh populations. His work and

Frank J. Watson

MAY 9, 1936-JULY 7, 2025 UNDERHILL, VT.

Frank J. Watson passed away peacefully on July 7, 2025, surrounded by love and family. Born on May 9, 1936, he was the only child of Mary (Galloway) Watson and Harry T. Watson. From an early age, Frank’s inquisitive mind and love for learning were evident traits that would shape a lifetime dedicated to education, science and discovery.

Frank grew up in Kenmore, N.Y., where he graduated from the local school system with honors. He went on to pursue undergraduate studies at SUNY Cortland and earned a master’s degree in education from Michigan State University. It was in those early academic years that he found not only his calling but also the deep intellectual passion that

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

leadership was pivotal in establishing a sea lamprey control program in Lake Champlain, which helped restore the lake’s fishery to its best in living memory and became a national model for fish restoration. Also of note, following the destruction of the White River National Fish Hatchery by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, Dave worked to build a new research and fish restoration mission for the hatchery, allowing it to avoid permanent closure. ese efforts resulted in the first documented river-run natural reproduction of landlocked Atlantic salmon in Lake

would guide his professional journey.

His career in education began as a science coordinator at Wheatland-Chili, but Frank quickly moved into broader, transformative work. At the Educational Development Center in Newtonville, Mass., he trained educators to use ESS science materials, eventually becoming director of the program. His expertise

Champlain since the early 1800s. His long career was driven by a desire to preserve the natural wonders of the ecosystems of Vermont, Lake Champlain and the entire surrounding region for generations to come. Dave accomplished much due to his focus on establishing trusting and long-lasting partnerships, having compassion, and enjoying the beauty of the world around him.

Dave, born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., on July 31, 1955, had a life that took him all over the world: living in Japan as the youngest son of a U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant, living in New Hampshire to complete a bachelor’s degree in zoology at the University of New Hampshire, and living in Texas to complete a master’s degree in wildlife and ﬁshery sciences from Texas A&M University. However, it was Westford, Vt., which he proudly called home. He and Linda purchased the family home together in 1993, and Dave spent decades slowly but surely renovating (and completing a master’s degree

and leadership caught the attention of the University of Vermont’s College of Education, prompting a move to Underhill, Vt., with his young family — a place they would come to call home.

At UVM, Frank played a pivotal role in launching APEX (the American Primary Experience Program), a nationally recognized and award-winning initiative that brought innovation and excellence to early education for more than 15 years. Frank’s work was not just about science — it was about sparking wonder, nurturing curiosity and making learning come alive.

His love for the natural world led him to explore fossils and geodes across New York, Montana and beyond. Travel, for Frank, was always woven with purpose. He journeyed to California, England and Papua New

in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School). rough these home and self-improvements he taught his children, who often helped and observed, ingenuity and conﬁdence. e renovations were not always done perfectly, but they were always done with love and pride.

Dave was also deeply involved in his community. He served on the Westford Selectboard for more than six years and as its chairman in 2009 and 2012. He was a long-standing representative on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and founded the Westford Conservation Commission in 1996. Following retirement, he volunteered locally through Meals on Wheels and worked as a boat launch steward to continue preventing the spread of invasive species in Lake Champlain.

ose who knew Dave knew of his love and appreciation of nature. Dave always found joy in the outdoors, including tending

Guinea, where he served as director of a groundbreaking radio science program in Port Moresby. ere, he helped schools build science curricula through radio-based teaching, traveling extensively across the country to support educators.

Later, as technology became an increasingly vital part of education, Frank dove in wholeheartedly. At UVM, he helped usher in a new era of computer-based learning and later led VISMT (the Vermont Institute of Science, Math and Technology), where he championed the integration of computers into classrooms across the state. e Watson home was often an extension of his classroom — ﬁlled with computers, student gatherings and APEX potluck dinners. Love, laughter and learning were constant features in their lives.

When he and Anne retired,

to his “hobby farm” animals, hiking the Green Mountains, hunting and ﬁshing, and just sitting outside and enjoying the view. All of these joys he routinely shared with his family and friends.

Whether it was through his work protecting Vermont’s ecosystems, his community service to the town and state he loved, or the cherished relationships he built with friends and family, Dave spent his life working to leave this world a better place. In his later years, he was fond of telling his friends, and especially his children, that it was their turn to “ﬁx it.” at is a legacy we will all carry forward in his memory.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, 1 p.m., at the Westford Common Hall, 21 White Church Ln., Westford, Vt. In lieu of ﬂowers, the family is requesting donations in memory of Dave be made to one of the following organizations that were very important to him.

e University of Vermont Medical Center Dementia

they split their time between the warm sands of St. George Island, Fla., and the charming town of Cheraw, S.C. In Cheraw, Frank embraced the local arts and served on the committee for the South Carolina Jazz Festival, celebrating the legacy of Dizzy Gillespie. Wherever he went, Frank built community — through music, science, education and joy.

In 2014, Frank and Anne returned to Vermont full time. at June, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Yet even in the face of illness, Frank remained deeply engaged with life. He continued to cook, garden, enjoy his family, and make others laugh with his sharp wit and gentle humor. He was, always, a man who loved learning and sharing the world’s wonders with others.

Frank is survived by his

Family Caregiver Center, Donations in Memory of David Tilton, University of Vermont Medical Center Foundation, 1 St. Joseph’s, 5th Floor, 1 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401 Vermont Land Trust, 8 Bailey Ave., Montpelier, VT 05602

Vermont Foodbank, 33 Parker Rd., Barre, VT 05641 e Tilton family would like to thank Dr. William Pendlebury of the University of Vermont Medical Center, Memory Program; and Dr. Scott Neary and Dr. Gordon Powers of the University of Vermont Medical Center, Milton Family Medicine. ese individuals showed outstanding kindness and medical care for Dave during his decade-long journey with Alzheimer’s disease. We are very grateful for the compassionate care provided to Dave and his family by the nurses and staff of Maple Ridge Memory Care Center and of McClure Miller Respite House. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

beloved wife of 58 years, Anne (Mason) Watson, and his loving children: Christian Watson and Jaclyn Baybrook Watson, Lauri Anne and Mark Boyden, and Matthew Watson and Deanna Stoppler. He will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Emily, Lucy, Rachel, Edie and Tiller, and all who were lucky to know him.

A celebration of life will be held for Frank on August 13, 2025, 2 to 5 p.m., at the Essex Resort at the Farmhouse by the Pond.

In lieu of ﬂowers, the family asks that donations be made in Frank’s name to the University of Vermont’s Binter Center for Parkinson’s Disease, 1 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401.

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

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Linda Lyon Hunter

JULY 5, 1947-JULY 30, 2025

MONTPELIER, VT.

Linda Lyon Hunter, a devoted wife, mother and educator, passed away at the age of 78 in her home in Montpelier, Vt., on July 30, 2025.

Born in 1947 to Rudolph and Ilda Lyon in Albany, N.Y., Linda spent her formative years in Nassau, N.Y., living with her parents on one side of a Victorian home and her grandparents on the other. She enjoyed a carefree childhood that involved learning to play the piano, watching her father collect antiques and selling zinnias from the yard to passersby. Her love of music was sparked early by hearing her mother’s piano playing and her father’s classical records, which she fondly remembered as being “loud enough for the neighbors to hear.”

She studied at Columbia High School, where her mother also taught English literature, before attending Drew University and majoring in psychology. In 1967, she met her beloved husband, David, who was enrolled in the theological program at

Suzanne LeGault

APRIL 22, 1953JUNE 26, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Suzanne LeGault (Suzanne LeGault-Bouton) passed away on June 26, 2025, surrounded by her immediate family. She was 72 years old and had gracefully battled bile duct cancer for nearly three years.

Suzy was an artist and illustrator who was known for her many extraordinary silk-screen prints. ese were often inspired by locations in the Champlain Valley but mostly sprang from her rich

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

the university. While serving food in the college’s cafeteria, Linda noticed Dave’s SUNY Albany sweatshirt, and they struck up a conversation on their shared connection to the city — sowing the seeds for a lifelong relationship — a “magical moment,” as Dave described it many years later.

Linda earned her master’s degree in education from Goucher College, where she completed her student teaching in Baltimore, Md., and launched a teaching career that would span half a century.

She married David Hunter on August 8, 1970, in Nassau, N.Y., and the two honeymooned on the beautiful coast of Wells, Maine. In 1972

and colorful imagination. ey now adorn the walls of homes and workplaces around the world.

Suzy was born in St. Louis,

David was appointed to his ﬁrst congregation at the United Methodist Church in Port Henry, N.Y. By the late 1970s, they were blessed with two children, Jason and Julie, and soon settled in Vermont.

Linda led a full and vibrant life — balancing a demanding teaching schedule, church participation, taking her kids to endless sports practices and music lessons, and socializing with her many friends. She earned a second master’s degree from Saint Michael’s College, which led to her work as a special educator at Morristown Elementary School in Morrisville, Vt. For more than three decades, she worked tirelessly, drawing on her vast skill set to provide specialized educational training to struggling students at the school. At home, she would wake up at 5 a.m. every morning, do her exercise routine, work on IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) for her students and then make the long drive from Worcester (later Montpelier) to Morrisville.

Her exemplary work was honored in 2009 when she was recognized as a Vermont Outstanding Teacher by the

Mo., on April 22, 1953, to Dorothy Marshall LeGault and Philip LeGault. She grew up in various parts of the northeastern U.S.

University of Vermont College of Education and Social Services. As further evidence of her passion for teaching, Linda helped to create a graduate-level course, centered on reading instruction, at Saint Michael’s College, which she offered for many summers to the next generation of teachers entering the workforce.

Even in retirement, she continued her legacy as a leader in the field of education by completing the rigorous Orton-Gillingham Academy training. First an associate, she later achieved the advanced level of certified literacy instructor. In the classroom — and via Zoom during the pandemic — Linda had an uncanny ability to connect with her students and teach them essential literary skills to pave the way for successful careers. Even the most challenging students, who in some cases refused to work with other teachers, were open to learning under her kind and supportive approach.

Linda shared a close bond with her mother, Ilda, and together they made special trips in the summer

and spent summers at a family cottage in Ontario. She was co-valedictorian of her high school class, spent two years at Northwestern University and then ﬁnished her academic career at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1979, she married Mark Bouton. ey spent a year in Seattle, Wash., before moving to Burlington in 1980. ere she began her freelance career, making art in various media for clients such as Gardener’s Supply, the University of Vermont and National Life, and selling her prints in local galleries. She designed the original Vermont state conservation license plate.

to Tanglewood to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Linda also loved the opera, and she and her mother began traveling to New York City multiple times a year to attend the Metropolitan Opera. Boarding a train in Albany early in the morning, they would peacefully ride alongside the Hudson River to Penn Station, before enjoying operas such as La Bohème, Don Giovanni, Aida, Akhnaten and e Magic Flute. After her mother’s passing, she continued the tradition by traveling the same route with her friends and sitting in the same seats at the famous opera house. Her love of travel took her around the world — to Bermuda, Block Island, Puerto Vallarta, England, Ghana, Europe and Egypt. In 2023 she embarked on a once-in-alifetime Road Scholar journey to the Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu, where she snorkeled with sea turtles and explored ancient Incan ruins.

Linda always lit up the room and brought together people from all walks of life. Her warm presence, loving nature and impressive work ethic were just some of her

Suzy and Mark raised two daughters, of whom she was very proud. She was a grounded and loving mother, wife, sister and friend. She was generous, talented and fun. She loved skiing, biking, golf and Quiddler and was always ready for an adventure. In her last month alone, she traveled to England with her sisters, visited friends and family in Canada, took her grandchildren to the zoo in Boston, played golf, and hosted a group of friends for high tea. Over the years, she contributed to several community activities, including the South Cove neighborhood in Burlington and the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

enduring traits throughout her life. She was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by her family, friends and the broader educational community.

After a courageous battle with advanced esophageal cancer, Linda passed away at home, surrounded by her loving husband and children. e family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to her caregivers — especially the team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the staff at Central Vermont Medical Center and her hospice nurses — for their compassion and care.

Linda was predeceased by her parents, Rudolph and Ilda (Kirkpatrick) Lyon. She is survived by her beloved husband, David Hunter, and her cherished children and their partners, Jason Hunter (Lorette Murray) and Julie Hunter (Martin Obeng).

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, 3 p.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main St., Montpelier, Vt.

In honor of Linda’s life and legacy, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or Doctors Without Borders.

Suzy is survived by her husband, Mark; daughters, Lindsay Bouton (Bryan Wagenknecht) and Grace Bouton; two grandchildren (Anna and Mabel Wagenknecht); three siblings (Sandy LeGault, Mark LeGault and Lauren Chapman [David]); two cousins, two nieces, three nephews, and many, many friends. ere will be an informal gathering to celebrate her life on September 20, 2025, 3:30 to 6 p.m., at the Silver Pavilion of the University of Vermont Alumni House. Donations may be made in her honor to Hope Lodge of Boston and to the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

Linda Danziger

MAY 18, 1943-JULY 18, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Linda Jan (Lanser) Danziger died peacefully at home on July 18, 2025, at the age of 82, in Burlington, Vt.

She was born in Fort Bragg, N.C., on May 18, 1943, and grew up in Littleton, Colo. She received a bachelor’s degree in art education with a minor in math and a master’s in art education from the University of Denver. After marriage she moved to Plainfield, Vt., and bought a house and 30 acres on East Hill Road with her former husband, Jeff Danziger. She loved Vermont. She taught art for 48 years at Twinfield Union School. For 30 years she was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority for educators. In 1986 she received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Vermont College of Education. She coached Destination Imagination for 30 years and won the Pat Dilego Award in 2024. She was the treasurer for the Plainfield library for many years. Jan touched the heart and soul of everyone

she met and inspired many of her students to pursue careers as artists. She enjoyed reading, painting portraits, playing cards with friends, teaching photography, and drama. She loved being in the Gilbert and Sullivan plays performed at the Plainfield Town Hall. Jan was also a gardener, proud of her beautiful, fully landscaped gardens wherever she lived. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Jan is survived by her daughter, Kim Chanthany Danziger, and partner Alex Shepard; sister, Susan, and Jerry Voluvka; sister-in-law, Pam Lanser; and her daughter-in-law, Kiyomi Danziger. She was predeceased by her son, Matthew Danziger; brother, Randy Lanser; and parents, Vivian and Roland Lanser.

A celebration of life will be on August 29, 2025, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Plainfield Town Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Humane Society of Chittenden County, where Jan adopted her beloved cat Chloe.

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

Joan Mary (Lovejoy) Coady

MAY 22, 1934-JULY 28, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Joan Mary (Lovejoy) Coady, 91, of South Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025, with her daughters by her side.

Born in Burlington, Vt., on May 22, 1934, Joan was the only daughter of Robert F. Lovejoy and Olive (Goodhue) Lovejoy. Raised in a large, loving family on Lakeview Terrace, she remained close and connected to her five brothers throughout her life.

Joan graduated from Cathedral High School in 1952 and immediately began working at General Electric in Burlington. With her strong work ethic, she was reliable, dedicated, and respected by her peers and employers, including those at Aetna, the Vermont Home Builders of Northern Vermont, University Orthopedics and her favorite of all, IBM, from which she retired in 1993. Graced with natural beauty, Joan also modeled for a variety of clothing stores in her younger years.

as Mimi to her eight grandchildren and many of their friends, she played a significant and meaningful role in their lives, and we just can’t imagine the days ahead without her. Our mom never tired of telling us how much she loved each and every one of us, and we couldn’t possibly put into words the deep love we will always feel for her.

Our mom was a lifelong Catholic, her faith an important facet of her life. She was especially devoted and generous to organizations that benefited children and those with few resources.

She married Jack Barry of Waterbury, Vt., in April 1955. Married for more than 20 years, their three daughters were the center of her world. Joan later spent 32 years with her companion, Wendell Carr of South Burlington.

Joan, our beloved mother, cherished her time with her family, never missing an opportunity to gather, even spontaneously. She reveled in each and every family celebration throughout the year, usually entertaining us with her humor and her hilarious dance moves! Known affectionately

Nicholas Shepard

APRIL 11, 1991-JULY 22, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

Nicholas Patrick Shepard passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by his family, on July 22, 2025, at the age of 34.

Nick’s time with us was far too short, and his family and friends are devastated by his passing. He will be forever missed and forever remembered for his warmth, passion, loyalty, humor and the fullness with which he embraced life.

Born on April 11, 1991, in Burlington, Vt., Nick graduated from Burlington High School in 2009. He was an exceptional lacrosse player and team captain who set several scoring records and helped to lead his team to the 2007 Division 2 Vermont state championship. After high school, Nick worked a variety of associate and management positions for Shaw’s grocery stores, where he was admired by his colleagues and customers. His generosity and compassion will provide hope and healing to countless families after his passing, thanks to his lifesaving organ and tissue donations.

embracing a variety of new challenges such as AI voice-over work, soap and candle making, and most recently beekeeping and honeybee preservation. Nick cherished the outdoors from a young age and could be found snowboarding, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, golfing and playing softball in his beloved Green Mountain State. His memory will live on in those who knew and loved him: his mother, Kristine Flynn; father, Jan Shepard; and older brother, Alexander Shepard, and his partner, Kim Danziger. Nick will be dearly missed by his many aunts, uncles, cousins and large extended family, as well as the many close friends he made wherever his life’s adventures took him.

A Celebration of Life will be held on September 6, 2025, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the Champlain Room at 375 Maple St., Burlington, Vt., on the Champlain College campus. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Center for Donation & Transplant or the Vermont Beekeepers Association in Nick’s honor.

Joan is survived by her three daughters, Kathleen Marecek and her husband, John; Maureen Post and her husband, Bill; and Bridget Barry Caswell and her husband, Wright. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Elisabeth Yagley, Laura Smith, Matthew Yagley (Sherri), Jill Ravey Dolan (Patrick), Carly Caswell, Jack Caswell, Hank Caswell and Grace Caswell; and her eight great-grandchildren, Logan and McKenna Giacche; Abby Bennett; Leos, Celeste, Noah and Skye Yagley; and Sylvie Dolan. In addition, she leaves behind two brothers, Gerald Lovejoy and his wife, Sandy, and Reginald Lovejoy and his wife, Fran; her sister-in-law Carole Lovejoy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her parents; by her brothers Robert, Michael and Bernard Lovejoy; by her sister-in-law Patricia Lovejoy; and by her longtime companion, Wendell Carr.

Per Joan’s request, a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the convenience of the family with interment to follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.

Nick was a lifelong learner, enthusiastically

Karen Boisvert Lapan

JULY 7, 1960-JULY 31, 2025 WINOOSKI, VT.

Karen Boisvert Lapan passed away on July 31, 2025, at the age of 65. She was surrounded by a dozen of her loved ones and had been visited by countless friends and family members over the last few weeks of her life.

Karen was born in Burlington, Vt., on July 7, 1960, to Marie and André Boisvert. She described herself as studious and quiet as a child, loving art and her dolls, and one of her earliest jobs as a young teen was teaching kids in her neighborhood how to read. She attended Burlington High School and pursued higher education at Johnson State College, Community College of Vermont and Burlington College, eventually earning an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s. With Richard Lapan, she raised three children in Winooski and took on the role of mother to many more throughout her life. One of Karen’s greatest joys and sources of pride was her work at Burlington College. Through 14 years of that work, she helped students from all walks of life find a path to fulfilling their dreams and gaining confidence in themselves. She was a tirelessly active member of her community elsewhere, too, supporting her children and their peers as they participated in organizations such as the Boy Scouts, the DREAM mentoring program and the Winooski School District.

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

collect antiques and watch documentaries. She was an avid historian and student of folkways and herbal medicine. A highlight of her last few years was her relationship with her grandson, Bill, born in 2019. That year, Karen traveled out to the Pacific Northwest twice and got to spend cherished early days with baby Bill while visiting the Cascades, Portland and sites along the rugged Oregon coast such as Cannon Beach. Even as her health worsened, she made every effort to be present for Bill, celebrating three of his first five Christmases with him and enriching his life in ways he will appreciate for years to come.

If you knew Karen, you know how impossible it is to convey the generosity, patience and compassion with which she treated everyone in her life. She had a capacity to see the good in people and to understand their shortcomings, which, in turn, encouraged everyone around her to act more kindly toward each other. That reputation spread from Winooski and Burlington to corners all over Vermont and beyond, and it will live on in the memories we hold and the stories we tell about her.

In her free time, Karen loved to read, cook,

She is survived by her children, Devon, Kaitlyn, Connor and Kateland; the father of her children, Richard; her brother, Raymond, and his wife, Teresa; her mother, Marie; her son-in-law, Ross; and her grandson, Bill. A special thanks to the staff of the McClure Miller Respite House, who took exceptional care of her in her final days. The celebration of Karen’s life was privately held.

James Carroll

JULY 14, 1944-JULY 28, 2025 SOUTH HERO, VT.

James (“Michael”) Powers Carroll, of South Hero, Vt., died gently in his sleep after a brief illness on July 28, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Raised in Scarsdale, N.Y., the youngest of three boys, Michael came to Vermont for college in 1963 and fell in love with the state, spending the next 60 years trying to become a Vermonter.

years working in construction and living a solitary life.

Always one for a complex project, Michael was proud of his lasting impact on buildings around the state and beyond, including the Mahaney Arts Center at Middlebury College, the Vermont Pub & Brewery, and countless home renovations on the East Coast. He specialized in ﬁnish work and historic restoration.

He married Pamela Surprenant in 1966 and welcomed a son, Ian, later that year and a daughter, Caitlin, in 1970. Divorced in 1974, Michael spent the next 20

Doris Tillotson

APRIL 19, 1945-JULY 25, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Doris Elaine Tillotson was born at the beginning of spring at Barre City Hospital on April 19, 1945. She passed peacefully at the height of summer in Burlington, Vt., on July 25, 2025. She was 80 years old. She was born the ﬁrst child of Jeanette and Raymond Tillotson and grew up in Waits River, Vt.

Doris was a giver and a helper. She obtained her license in clinical social work in 1982 and was employed at the University of Vermont Medical Center, the

On December 25, 1988, Michael committed to a sober life and over the next two years found his way back to his children and extended family. He never took for granted the joy he found in being allowed back into and connecting with family. He moved to South Hero in 2017

Visiting Nurse Association and later on as a psychotherapist in private practice.

Listening and understanding people’s challenges came easily to Doris. Her empathy was without end, and her advice was always straightforward, clear and compassionate.

Doris had many talents and interests: Reading, sewing, cooking, camping, gardening, languages, genealogy, classical music and travel were some of the ways she embraced life.

Doris had many friends, but the most dear to her was her lifelong companion, former Chittenden County senator Janet S. Munt. ey shared

into a house that he and Pamela shared, finding renewed purpose in volunteering with the South Hero Bicentennial Museum and the restoration of the Old White Meeting House in South Hero. He was the current president of the South Hero Foundation. He loved the beauty of the islands and the generosity of spirit he found in their residents.

Michael was a lover of words, crosswords, puzzles, sports, music of all kinds (preferably played loudly!), snack food, chocolate, ice cream and, with a devotion unmatched by truly anyone else, Busch NA beer. More than anything, however, he loved people. He had a gift for forming genuine connections and collected friends wherever he went.

Above all, he was deeply proud of his children and found immense joy in their lives, partners and families. As the seriousness of his illness became clear, he reﬂected on a lifetime of building projects and found

adventures and escapades too numerous to mention.

Doris and Janet had a very special bond, a friendship for the ages, lasting close to 50 years. Doris shared in the delights of Janet’s family, attending weddings and welcoming grandchildren as her own.

Over 20 years of annual camping at Grand Isle State Park and many trips to Racquette Lake; vacations to Saint John and Wareham, Mass.; and the trip of a lifetime to England, they created an abundance of happy memories.

Doris will be remembered for her loud laughter, her quick wit, her love of fun and adventure, her deep well of empathy and compassion, and her big soft hugs.

Doris was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Tillotson, and her mother, Jeanette (Batten) Tillotson, and her dear friend Janet Munt.

Doris is survived by her siblings, Steve Tillotson and Linda (Salomaa) Tillotson of East Corinth, Vt., and

comfort in the idea that he would know when his project was complete. In his ﬁnal days, he listened to his favorite pieces of music, watched baseball, lamented the news, talked about important books, expressed his love clearly, and passed away peacefully, with his son and daughter by his side.

Michael is survived by Pamela; his son, Ian Carroll, wife Tammy (Rowe), and their children, Savannah (Sam) and Isabella (Izzy); and his daughter, Caitlin Oppenheimer, husband Chad, and their children, Eliza, Adam and Charlotte. He was predeceased by his beloved granddaughter Addison Carroll and his two older brothers, Richard (“Dick”) and Vincent.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Donations in his name may be made to the South Hero Foundation, PO Box 441, South Hero, VT 05486-0441. Or you may make an online donation at southheromeetinghouse.org/donate.

Rachel Tillotson and Charlie Schaufus of Florida; her daughter, Sara Katherine Hunter of Minnesota; three grandchildren, Cassy, Heather and Hunter; and six great-grandchildren, Amelia, Nora, Jordyn, Jamier, India and Jayden.

She was the treasured aunt to three nieces: Angela Knapp of Essex, Vt., Allison (Knapp) Hawke of Hanover, N.H., and Lisa (Tillotson) Samsom of Montpelier, Vt., and a great-aunt to Justin and Micaela Clapp, Oliver and Carter Hawke, and Anja and Maaika Samsom.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, 2 p.m., at the Essex Center United Methodist Church, 119 Center Rd. in Essex Junction. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations may be made to the Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington, Vt. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services.

To share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Jyll M. P. Allen

1978-2025

Celebration of Life for Jyll M. P. Allen: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 1 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 152 Pearl St. in Burlington.

Anne Thompson

1950-2025

Anne ompson’s life will be celebrated by her family and so many friends on August 16, 2025, 1 to 4 p.m., at 557 Lincoln Gap Road, Lincoln, Vt. You are welcome to arrive early or stay after to wander to her burial site on the property.

Scott Joseph Garvey

AUGUST 21, 1969JULY 7, 2025

PUTNEY, VT.

Scott Joseph Garvey, born on August 21, 1969, in Westfield, Mass., died on July 7, 2025, in his apartment in Putney, Vt., after being shot multiple times by the Vermont State Police during a mental health crisis in which he reached out repeatedly for help. He was unarmed, alone and had recently undergone major surgery.

Scott was an inspired musician, an exceptional poet, a voracious reader, a traveler and a dreamer. He was impossibly kind, quick to laugh and slow to judge. He loved people with deep loyalty and quiet fierceness, and he lived as though beauty and art and music and human connection were all that mattered. He left behind songs and prayers, scribbled notebooks and poems on napkins, his beloved drums from around the world, and a notable generosity that was second to none. He also left behind those of us who loved him — and will never stop loving him.

Scott was full of questions. He questioned authority, yes, but also systems, stories and how we came to believe what we believe. He was intensely curious and had outright disdain for the mundane. If you knew him, you likely had a conversation with him that made you stop and think — about art, about God, about loss, about music, about meaning. He had a way of asking you something that would stay with you long after he left the room.

Scott was a devoted son, a loyal brother, and a treasured uncle to his nieces and nephews. He lived with and cared for his mother, Judy, for much of his life, needing her assistance at times in negotiating the complexities of our modern, highly impersonal world that generally has little time for those living with mental health challenges. He was someone who never fully fit into this world but never stopped trying to soften it anyway. Scott knew suffering, his own and others’, and he carried it with the strange grace of someone who saw the cracks in everything and still believed there might be light.

Scott lived, loved and played music in Boston, San

Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Austin, New Orleans and Memphis. He played drums in many bands, spanning all musical styles, always seeking musical authenticity: Rated X, Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags, Flea Circus, Aunt Beanie’s First Prize Beets, and many others. He costarred in the underground cult film I Was a Teenage Serial Killer , and he wrote dozens upon dozens of songs and poems exploring existential angst, unrequited love and, ultimately, his relationship with his own mental health. A friend noted that Scott was “a musician’s musician. He was the real thing.”

Scott was always surrounded by music and misfits, by found family and vinyl records and bad coffee and his American Spirit cigarettes. He burned bright. He always gave more than he had, preferring to spend most of his meager monthly Social Security disability checks on socks and sleeping bags and gloves for the homeless. His last request when he left Memphis in June 2025 — barely able to walk, suffering from debilitating anxiety — was for his sister to buy packages of clean socks to distribute at the local homeless shelter, which she promptly did.

In 2024, Scott wrote and composed “Still Waters,” expressing his resolve to never return to a psychiatric hospital where he reported being abused after seeking mental health help:

“I’d rather stay home than go to the lakeside I prefer oceans and rivers instead

The still waters remind me of unfulfilled potential unlike the running and vastness of my dreams.”

The circumstances of Scott’s death were not inevitable. They were a failure of those to whom he reached out for help to follow the policies meant to safeguard those suffering a mental health crisis, and a failure of the medical establishment to take the time to listen to patients who are suffering mental health pain, and of our collective lack of will to protect our most vulnerable community members from neglect and outright abuse in an absolutely and completely failed national mental health system.

Scott is survived by his mother, Judy; sister, Kara, and husband Brian; brother, Shawn, and wife Kimberly; beloved nieces and nephews, Skyler, Evan, Emma and Zeb; his aunt and uncle Sherrie and Bill Sperry, who brought him to a deep belief in the love of Jesus; his rescue dog Vinnie; and his many friends and chosen family around the country.

Scott’s large group of family and friends gathered for a powerful, loving and heartfelt celebration of his songs, poetry and wisdom at Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield, Mass., on July 21, 2025. He is buried next to his beloved grandfather, Metlei Korostynski, and beloved uncle Glenn Korostynski and with the remains of his faithful dogs Mari and Lulu.

Though his family is wrecked by grief, we will not let Scott be reduced to the worst day of his life. Like all of those suffering from mental health challenges, he was infinitely more than his diagnosis. He was a whole person whose life and spirit will be honored.

Scott’s family asks that contributions be made to a GoFundMe that will help defray the unexpected costs of his cremation and burial, the cleanup of the horrifying scene left behind by Vermont State Troopers, and the family’s ongoing efforts to reform the state’s mental health and victim assistance programs (gofundme.com/f/ support-for-mama-garveyafter-tragedy).

As Scott himself would end every one of the thousands of postcards, letters and thoughtful gifts he sent to friends and family all over the country:

“Be Well.

Dream Harder. I love you.”

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It's been 30 years since the Grateful Dead's demise. But for fans and tribute bands in Vermont, the music never stopped.

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

MARIA

It was already the third time I’d heard “Franklin’s Tower” that day, and I hadn’t even reached the festival gates. Strains of the 1975 Grateful Dead classic wafted over the hot, humid parking lot outside the Dead of Summer Music Festival last month at Hunter Park in Manchester. As I navigated a maze of Subarus, RVs and Volkswagen vans plastered with Dead stickers, my first thought was: This festival has abysmal sound.

Turning a corner, I stumbled upon the source of this anemic version of “Franklin’s Tower”: a middle-aged white dude with a mountain of dreadlocks playing a 12-string acoustic guitar. A few Deadheads redolent of patchouli and marijuana were listening as they hung out beside an old Westfalia camper van. A giant sticker across the back windshield read: “Are you kind?”

“Are you guys just watching this guy, like, play a set?” I asked the closest bystander, an older woman dragging a cooler behind her.

She gave me a perplexed but not unkind look.

“Yeah,” she replied. “We’re on the way to the grounds — Organ Fairchild is on at three in the jam tent.”

“Isn’t there an actual Grateful Dead tribute on right now?” I said, gesturing toward the gates. “At the festival?”

“Oh, yeah, probably.”

“I can hear one,” I said as a band inside the grounds kicked into some kind of jam. It sounded familiar.

“Is… Are they...?” I stammered. “They’re playing ‘Franklin’s Tower’ too, aren’t they?”

The woman pursed her lips, as if decoding the complexities of a challenging wine, then closed her eyes. After a moment, she smiled and nodded.

“I think so! Nice.”

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE GRATEFUL DEAD’S MUSIC ~ AND/OR ABOUT VERMONT ~ THAT IT CAN SUPPORT SUCH AN EVERGREEN SCENE?

I was perplexed. We were watching someone play Dead covers in the parking lot of a festival full of Dead cover bands.

“Yeah, but it’s the Dead,” my new friend said, as if that explained everything. “You get it. Trust me, you totally get it.”

In fact, I did not. But that’s precisely why I found myself at a Grateful Dead (tribute) festival on a sweltering Saturday in July.

Thirty years after Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead played their final concert, rock music’s first jam band is living a robust afterlife in Vermont and elsewhere. Like an unofficial and sprawling preservation society, a cottage industry of Grateful Dead tribute acts is flourishing across the country, playing faithful — or sometimes purposefully blasphemous — versions of the Dead’s signature improvisational sound.

According to the website Compass Rose, which tracks Dead cover bands in the U.S., there are more than 800 across the country, at least 15 of them in Vermont, where the per capita concentration is unusually dense.

Devotees say there are plenty of reasons this corner of the music world is thriving. Aging acolytes, the boomers who were the band’s first fans, haven’t lost their love of hearing the Dead’s music live. Unlike other 20th-century bands, the Dead have also attracted several new generations of fans who show equal ardor.

Given this eternally faithful fan base, playing in a Dead tribute band is a way for musicians to earn a paycheck. And club owners can count on Dead tribute nights to deliver the kind of large paying crowds that original music isn’t guaranteed to attract.

As a result, a Vermont Deadhead who is willing to travel can usually catch a Dead tribute band playing somewhere in the state just about every night of the week.

At Burlington nightclubs, rural juke joints and festivals, Dead cover acts run the gamut, from those playing note-fornote re-creations of “Scarlet Begonias” and “Ripple” to all-instrumental groups to the likes of the Grateful Dread, a reggae tribute. Most are local, but touring Dead tributes such as Dark Star Orchestra and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead are frequent visitors as well.

As someone whose job is to monitor and document Vermont’s musical ecosystem, I’ve been fascinated and alarmed in equal measure by the outbreak of Dead tribute acts. What is it about the band’s music — or about Vermont — that it can support such an evergreen scene? Do Dead tribute bands help keep venues full and open? Or does the glut of them hinder original acts looking

Dobbs’ Dead performing at Einstein’s Tap House in Burlington

Muff Parsons-Reinhardt sporting a Jerry Garcia necklace at Einstein’s Tap House

for stage time? Does it matter that you can still essentially see the Dead — albeit with John Mayer in the Garcia role — as Dead & Company, the band formed in 2015 by former members of the Grateful Dead?

The only way to get to the bottom of the mystery was to immerse myself in the history and culture of the Dead — something I’d avoided in all of my years living in Dead-loving Vermont — and to talk to Vermonters whose lives are intertwined with the band and its music.

There are a lot of them, from local musicians knighted by the surviving members of the band to a group that subjected a brewery audience to “Uncle John’s Band” on kazoo. Vermont’s Deadhead community is just as diverse, from former U.S. senator Patrick Leahy — who once took a call from president Bill Clinton at a Dead show — to everyday folks who try to see live Dead any chance they can, even if it’s in a festival parking lot.

‘Let It Grow‘

To understand Deadheads, one first has to understand the Dead. Even in the sea of innovative artists that soundtracked the 1960s — the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan — the Grateful Dead were fiercely unique.

Like the winding jams that made them famous, the Dead evolved through several stylistic stages in their 30-year run. Originally called the Warlocks, guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and drummer Bill Kreutzmann came out of the San Francisco Bay scene in 1965, melding folk, blues, and rock and roll with the improvisational spirit of a free-jazz act. Riding the counterculture wave, the Dead rose to fame as an early psychedelic phase coincided with a stint as the house band at Ken Kesey’s infamous Acid Tests parties in the late 1960s.

Next was the so-called “Pigpen era,” marked by a blues-rock sound that centered on keyboardist McKernan’s contributions. After McKernan’s death in 1973, the band moved into a more refined period of songwriting, channeling disco into its sound. The ’80s featured more synths and polish, as well as the group’s lone Top 40 hit, 1987’s “Touch of Grey.” Along the way, the likes of Mickey Hart, Brent Mydland, Donna Jean and Keith Godchaux, Vince Welnick, and lyricists Robert Hunter and John Perry Barlow joined or became rotating members of the band.

By the early ’90s, the Dead’s fan base was larger than ever, as younger

enthusiasts joined the flock, pushing the band into bigger and bigger venues. Being a Deadhead never meant sitting at home listening to the band’s studio records. No, it was essential to be present as the music was made, to be part of the dedicated community at those live shows — or at least to listen to a bootleg concert tape if you couldn’t be there in person. The Dead freely allowed and even encouraged fans to record shows for decades, much to their record label’s chagrin.

The passion of the band’s fans was on display at two locally infamous Dead performances in Vermont. In July 1994, 60,000 Deadheads descended on the Franklin County Airport in Highgate to see the band. The following June, with Dylan as the opener, the band drew more than 100,000 fans who again swamped the northern Vermont town and clogged Interstate 89.

The latter show was especially chaotic, beset by thousands of gate-crashers. The band was on its last legs, as Garcia’s lifelong

drug addiction and declining health took their toll. Eight weeks later, he died of a heart attack at 53.

Burlington radio DJ Charlie Frazier was at Highgate for both shows — he’s been a true believer almost from the beginning. Now 73, he discovered the Dead as a teenager in the late 1960s, drawn to the band in its bluesy “Pigpen era” by his own love of the blues. His fandom grew serious in college as the Dead dropped the classic albums Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty in 1970.

“We were all sitting around, hoping we wouldn’t get sent off to Vietnam,” Frazier recalled. The Dead, and the culture growing around the band, offered a respite. “You’d all meet up in Boston or Syracuse or wherever, and the tribe would get together for a few days of fun. And then you’d all disperse back to your day jobs and normal lives,” he said.

Frazier has seen the Dead and their assorted offshoots and side projects more than 300 times. A harmonica player and

singer, he is also pretty sure he formed the first Grateful Dead tribute act in Vermont, a ’70s group called the Hill Road Band.

In 1991, he formed the band he still plays with, Blues for Breakfast, named after the popular WIZN radio program he launched the same year — the longest-running show in the station’s history. That band plays a large assortment of Dead tunes, but it doesn’t slavishly re-create shows from the past.

“To me, too many bands are imitating the Dead and not interpreting them,” Frazier said. “To each their own, but it seems like they’re missing the point. I’m not sure Jerry would get why a band was re-creating note-for-note shows from a fucking tour in 1976 where he was probably off his head on heroin.”

Garcia didn’t always “get it,” according to the Grateful Dead’s longtime publicist and friend Dennis McNally.

“When it comes to the tribute acts, I don’t think Jerry really grasped the why of it all,” McNally, the author of A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead, said recently by phone from San Francisco. “I heard him say on occasion, ‘Geez, why don’t you just play your own music?’”

“I have, on a number of occasions, had just as good a time at tribute shows as I did at actual Dead shows,” McNally countered. “That’s because the Dead, and particularly Jerry, saw the audience as part of them. Everybody in the room was in the Grateful Dead, from the tapers to the guy in the back selling hot dogs. It was a wholly unique relationship with their audience. And that’s why there are 800 or whatever Dead cover bands, because everybody wants to be part of a community like that.”

He added, “Deadheads were never really in love with the band per se. They were in love with the music. And that music has now become a genre of its own. The songs are hymns, as endemic to fans as the hymns they sang in church growing up.”

Misty Blues’ Roadhouse Revival at Dead of Summer Music Festival in Manchester

Fans watching the Wheel perform at Dead of Summer

‘Playing in the Band ‘

To understand the phenomenon that is the Grateful Dead tribute scene, one must visit their various houses of worship. Thus I found myself at a downtown Burlington bar late on a Tuesday night in June, caffeinated beverage in hand, watching an anthropologically fascinating scene unfold.

Elizabeth “Muff” Parsons-Reinhardt drifted across the dimly lit nightclub, her billowing white clothes and long, silver hair catching streaks of purple from the stage lights. I did a slight double take as I noticed the college-age women in fresh tie-dye shirts who beamed at the 67-yearold and followed in her wake, courtiers to the queen. Muff told me later that she calls them her “littles” — a cadre of younger Deadheads to whom she’s become something of a jam-band den mother.

She flashed a 1,000-watt grin at a group of thirtysomething dudes. “Heyyyyy, Muff!” one called back. Then she waved toward several gray-haired men in tie-dye shirts, a few with long ponytails popping out of baseball caps. These were her people, fellow disciples in the Church of the Grateful Dead.

Muff and her 78-year-old husband, Paul Reinhardt, had come to Einstein’s Tap House to see Dobbs’ Dead, a local Grateful Dead tribute act they used to catch around the corner at Nectar’s. But that club, a temple to the Dead on Main Street, had closed earlier that month after nearly 50 years. The musical and social scene that called Nectar’s home had had to migrate, but Deadheads have always been ready to travel.

Nectar’s will forever be associated with another famous jam band, Phish. In the mid- to late 1980s, the club helped launch the Burlington quartet, widely regarded as the Dead’s spiritual, if not precisely musical, heir. But in Vermont’s Deadhead ecosystem, most long, strange trips have passed through Nectar’s at some point. Notably that includes the Vermont guitarist who leads the fundamentalist branch of local Deadheads.

Zach Nugent, 36, started listening to the Dead as a child in Royalton — his secondgrade graduation card featured the band’s iconic dancing bears. He got his first electric guitar at age 12. By 17 he had formed his first Dead tribute band, Dead Man’s Hand, with his driver’s ed instructor.

In 2010, Nugent formed a second tribute band, Cats Under the Stars, focused on the music of the Jerry Garcia Band, a side project Garcia started in the 1970s. In 2011, the Cats began a weekly Tuesday residency at Nectar’s.

In 2013, the night was rebranded as a proper Grateful Dead tribute called Dead Set. Nugent and Alex Budney, then Nectar’s

general manager, originally envisioned the evening as an open jam for local musicians who wanted to play Dead tunes. They put couches and lamps on the stage to create a welcoming environment.

“The first night totally sold out, and the band was on fire, so it immediately became a show instead of a jam,” Nugent recalled. “At set break, they were pulling the sofas off the stage, and we realized, Oh, OK. This is a concert, actually, and we’re a band.”

Garcia Band keyboardist Melvin Seals to join Seals’ band JGB, made up of Garcia’s bandmates from his solo project.

“I shook the hand that shook the hand,” Nugent said, paraphrasing the 1974 Grateful Dead song “U.S. Blues.”

WE HAVE A SAYING: THE FAMILY THAT DEADS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER. AND IT’S TRUE. MUFF PARSONS-REINHARDT

Dead Set immediately became an institution, a weekly conclave that drew Deadheads such as the Reinhardts from all over the state and beyond to hear Nugent, his band and special guests faithfully re-create the Dead’s music.

“We called it going to church,” Muff told me. “Nectar’s was our cathedral.”

Nugent’s success with Dead Set led to a 2016 invitation from original Jerry

experience for people who want to reconnect to something from their past, a show or a time that was important to them.”

Not everyone views the Dead’s songs as gospel. Take Pen Hits, a local band that dresses up in black suits like the Blues Brothers while exclusively playing Pigpen songs from the Dead’s catalog. Another Vermont band, Organized Dead, tosses out the lyrics and channels the Dead through a Hammond B-3 organ. Nonlocal hybrids such as Steely Dead — that’d be the Dead and Steely Dan — and even Grateful for Biggie, a mashup with the late rap god the Notorious B.I.G., are known to pop up on Vermont stages.

Nugent’s frequent collaborator Josh Dobbs, who took over the Tuesday night residency at Nectar’s in 2019 with Dobbs’ Dead, has no compunction about getting weird with the band’s songs. If Nugent is a fundamentalist, the 38-year-old Dobbs is a Unitarian Universalist, at the progressive end of the Dead spectrum.

“I didn’t grow up listening to the Grateful Dead,” Dobbs told me before taking the stage at Einstein’s. “If you really want to sound like the Dead, you need to listen to their influences,” he explained. “But … we grew up with bands like Medeski Martin & Wood and Phish. Jerry grew up with different records in his blood. So when I pull from my soul to improvise, it’s very different than what the Dead would pull from.”

That approach was on display when Dobbs’ Dead opened the show at Einstein’s with a sprawling rendition of “The Music Never Stopped” from the Dead’s 1975 studio album Blues for Allah. The dance floor filled up with dancing Deadheads, looking for all the world like a tent revival as the sermon begins — if someone had dosed the sacramental wine.

“Melvin vouched for me, and Jerry vouched for Melvin, so I was in the circle now that I grew up reading and studying about.”

Soon, he was sharing stages with Grateful Dead bassist Lesh, asking songwriting questions of Weir and playing some of Garcia’s own custom guitars. And Nugent’s band, rechristened Dead Set, now tours nationally.

Perhaps because he’s been baptized by Seals, Nugent doesn’t take liberties with the Dead’s songs.

“Some people want to hear a fresh take, and I totally get that,” he said. “But what’s important to me is delivering an

“They’re a band beyond description,” singer Jessica Leone belted out, as Dobbs’ crew waded into the jam. “Like Jehovah’s favorite choir / people joining hand in hand / while the music played the band / Lord, they’re setting us on fire.”

The song is a Dead staple, but the audience didn’t recognize it at first. Dobbs’ Dead waded in with a sort of spacey, folk-rock intro, sounding closer to the exploratory indie of, say, Wilco. At other times, the quintet pushed into funk, hard rock, psych-rock, and even hints of jazz and bluegrass.

Fans such as the Reinhardts say they particularly love Dobbs’ for this feature — they enjoy trying to guess which of their favorite songs is being mutated.

“When something is familiar, then unfamiliar, once you figure it out, you get a shot of serotonin,” Dobbs said later.

Zach Nugent playing Jerry Garcia’s Rosebud guitar

“Dissonance, then consonance. Tension and release. This music has been around longer than any of us, and the audience knows it so well. So when you’re in the middle of a huge jam and they realize what song it is, they just go nuts.”

Through the mass of undulating bodies, Muff danced her way across the floor to where her husband sat in a chair, grinning up at her. The couple attended hundreds of Grateful Dead shows in their younger days and now rarely miss a Dead tribute.

They clasped hands, Muff leaning down to smile at Paul, dancing in their way, as the band sang “It’s a rainbow full of sound.” They were in new environs, navigating the latest change to their grateful little world, but, as their beloved band promised, the music has never stopped.

‘Built to Last‘

The crowd was particularly blissed out on a recent Wednesday night at Zenbarn. I’d driven 45 minutes down I-89 to the restaurant and venue in Waterbury Center, curious if the scene would differ from the Burlington Dead shows I’d dropped in on. Dark Star Project, another local Dead tribute act, ran through a version of “Sugaree,” twin guitars chiming with just the right mix of Garcia’s and Weir’s tones. It was as authentic a Dead experience as I could have hoped for, a more fundamentalist take than Dobbs’ crew. A group of grinning and largely very stoned fans moved in a variety of wiggly styles that adhered to the creed “Dance like no one is watching.”

Off to the side in the back, a woman watched over a table with clothing, crystals and other Grateful Dead-adjacent knickknacks for sale — a mini version of Shakedown Street, the infamous parking lot market at Grateful Dead concerts where everything from grilled cheese to cocaine could be found.

Nearer to the front, a pair of microphones loomed above the stage lights and moving bodies. I’d seen the same at Einstein’s — a lovely, anachronistic practice from the past, when dedicated fans would tape entire live performances, huddled over their recording equipment like freerange audio engineers while the hippies and freaks spun out around them.

The tribute scene in Vermont has its own fans dedicated to recording the live music, not unlike old Irish monks trying to preserve history during the Dark Ages. I approached the bite-size tapers section, where I met Dave Kemp, a familiar sight at any live show in Burlington — he and his

I’LL TAKE A KILLER NIGHT OF DEAD MUSIC AT MOOGS IN MORRISVILLE ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, MAN.

CHARLIE FRAZIER

mics are usually out three nights a week.

The Burlington resident, who is 52 and works for a local marketing agency, got into the Dead when he was in middle school in the ’90s, which inspired a passion for taping live shows of local jam bands near his home in Pennsylvania. Many years later, when he moved to Burlington and encountered the Queen City’s vibrant music scene, he dusted off his mics.

“I have a degree in American studies,” Kemp said. “One of the things I thought I might do is become an archivist. I didn’t pursue that, but I’m doing it in my way now.”

He said he’s uploaded about 430 shows to the Vermont Tapers Collective online archive. Many of those are of local bands playing original music, but Kemp has also recorded a ton of Grateful Dead tribute acts.

“The scene gets people out and into clubs,” he said. “It’s easy for the bar, it draws people, and it’s easy for the musicians. As long as kids are turning 18 and discovering weed, I think they’ll continue getting into the Dead. Tribute acts certainly help that process.”

The Grateful Dead are not the only group getting the tribute treatment in Vermont. Sublime, Talking Heads, Phish, Ween, Led Zeppelin, Prince and No Doubt all have dedicated local bands re-creating their music.

Meanwhile, Dead tribute bands count among their number Local Strangers, Kind Buds, Shred Is Dead, Dead Sessions, Our Lighting Too, Folks Up in Treetops and more. One may have formed while you were reading that sentence. Especially since Nectar’s closed, Blues for Breakfast’s Frazier said, there are not enough places for this glut of bands to play: “We’re sort of stepping all over each other.”

The Skinny Pancake, a crêpe restaurant with a location on the Burlington waterfront, is one venue that has discovered the upside of booking tribute acts. It recently started hosting a weekly Dead series called Dancin’ in the Streets with a rotating cast of cover bands.

“There’s no parallel to this scene,” Skinny Pancake CEO Benjy Adler said. “We haven’t hosted a lot of music lately, but we had 100 people immediately in the door on the first night of the series.”

Adler noted the difficulty of making the numbers work when he books live music: The cost of insurance is rising. Younger audiences drink less, which cuts into alcohol sales. Throw in the sheer unpredictability of the market, and it’s a risk to feature live music when it’s not always clear how many customers will show up, especially for original music.

“The Dead scene is kind of magically free from most of those problems,” Adler said. “They show up, and they bring their own ecosystem.”

Lara Cwass performing at Nectar’s in Burlington in 2024

Shred Is Dead at the Skinny Pancake in Burlington

Charlie Frazier (bottom right) and Blues for Breakfast

But the competition for stages is a growing cause of frustration for some local artists who perform their own music.

“I think tribute acts in general are sort of o ensive, honestly,” said Kevin Bloom, 31, the artist behind Burlington psych-rock act the Dead Shakers — decidedly not a Grateful Dead cover band. Their 2024 album So I Guess I Keep Making Albums Until I Die? even featured a song titled “Jerry Garcia’s Corpse, Adorned With Plastic Flowers, Is On Sale Now!”

“If I see another fucking Taylor Swift DJ night, I’ll scream. And I’d rather go to a federal prison than see a Radiohead/Phish combo,” Bloom said. “Steely Dead? Come on, man. Shoot me.”

Bloom is actually a lifelong Dead fan — they said their parents played “Dark Star,” one of the band’s rambling, psychedelic pieces, when the musician was a baby. But Bloom sees the tribute scene as a crass distortion of the band’s legacy.

“I think Jerry is very misunderstood,” they said. “I truly don’t think he would give a fuck if someone was playing his guitar or learning his songs note by note.”

Other musicians see room for both tributes and original music. Guitarist Lara Cwass, 27, plays her own songs with Lara Cwass Band but also plays with Local Strangers and occasionally sits in with Dobbs’ Dead.

“I love having an open and diverse platform for improvisation, and the Dead is exactly that,” she said. “I’d love to play more original music in this city, but it’s hard sometimes,” she continued. “Covers just tend to bring out the audience. It’s easier to ﬁll the room.”

Dobbs’ Dead vocalist Leone also fronts All Night Boogie Band, an original blues and R&B outﬁt she cofounded in 2021. The band released the well-received album Angel of the Airwaves in 2023 and has established itself as a local favorite, known for a rollicking live show and Leone’s ferocious pipes.

“Playing original music is so special and vulnerable and scary,” Leone, 24, said. “Singing covers is much less stressful. Boogie Band is my child: It means everything, and that brings a lot of tension, musically, that is probably good.

“But at the same time, it’s nice to let go of the vulnerability and engage with the Dead’s music. Being part of keeping their music alive is a really special feeling to me.”

'Eyes of the World'

Mu Parsons-Reinhardt was back on the dance ﬂoor at Einstein’s, her arms raised to the sky and eyes closed tightly, her face blank as she gave herself over to the music. Joe Agnello’s fuzzed-out guitar solo in the middle of “New Speedway Boogie” soared,

Jerry Garcia with the Grateful Dead at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gymnasium in 1978

DEAD RINGERS:

A TRIBUTE BAND POP QUIZ

As of this printing, there are more than 800 Grateful Dead tribute bands playing in the U.S. alone. Given the Dead’s global appeal, that number surely climbs into the thousands worldwide. e original band’s name and those of its assorted offshoots — Furthur, RatDog, Dead & Company, etc. — lend themselves to almost unlimited punny possibilities when naming tribute acts. Below are several real Grateful Dead tributes and a few others that we made up. Can you tell them apart?

1. AMERICAN BOOTY BAND: Albany’s most funked-up Dead tribute

2. THE GRATEFUL TEDS: A Boston-area acoustic Dead tribute

3. THE JERRYATRICS: A graying Dead tribute from Eugene, Ore.

4. MEDIEVAL DEAD: A lute-forward Grateful Dead tribute

5. DAD & COMPANY: A dad-rock Dead cover band

6. I’M NOT DEAD YET: Even Brits love the Dead

7. ANOTHER TRUCKIN’ TRIBUTE BAND: What a long, strange trip

8. GARCIA LATER: Jerry’s gone but not forgotten

9. THE GRATEFUL ED SHEERAN PROJECT: A hybrid no one asked for

10. THE GRATEST STORY EVER TOLD: Retelling the tale of an American legend

11. JER BEAR STARE: A Care Bears-inspired furries tribute

12. JERRY BEAR WEEK: Always grateful in Provincetown, Mass.

13. UNCLE JAWN’S BAND: A true Philly special

14. EAT, DRINK AND BE JERRY: Upbeat Dead covers from Springﬁeld, Ill.

15. RIPPLE THREAT: Tuscaloosa, Ala.’s favorite Dead trio

16. COMPLETELY DEAD: Chicagoland’s most thorough Dead tribute

17. ALTHEA TOMORROW: A thuper-fun tribute from eattle

18. THE ’PEN IS MIGHTIER: An ode to Ron “Pigpen” McKernan

19. JERRY DUTY: Music that melts in your head

20. HATEFUL SHRED: Jerry would’ve played metal if he had 10 ﬁngers

Answers: True: 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19. False: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20.

DAN BOLLES, CHRIS FARNSWORTH & JOHN JAMES

sonically closer to something Dean Ween or Graham Coxon might summon from a guitar rather than Weir or Garcia, but Mu and the faithful were enraptured.

The music of the Grateful Dead has been at the center of her life since she and her brothers saw them at the Boston Music Hall in 1976. It was June 9, Mu said, a date she’ll never forget. Her brothers agreed to take her that night, provided she stayed

from the 16th century. Like his aunt, he’s an avowed Deadhead. He sees parallels between composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Dead.

“There are obvious di erences between how classical music is performed pretty meticulously and in the way improvisation is key to the Dead,” Parsons said. “But the Dead’s music is bigger than the band in a way. Their songs are their own Great American Songbook and will carry on in time, even after anyone who ever saw Jerry play them is long gone.”

Dobbs also sees similarities in how artists and audiences have kept the music of classical composers and the Dead alive.

“We know Beethoven used to be played much faster than it is now,” he pointed out. “Wagner concerts were parties with barbecues and beers, the 19th-century version of a Phish show.”

Innovation, he said, is the unifying thread.

“Nobody wants to see the Dead’s music being played in a dark, stu y auditorium while people fall asleep 200 years from now,” he said. “At a certain point, things just get sterile, and you have to reinvent it.”

Perhaps at the beginning of my deep dive into all things Grateful Dead, I would have rolled my eyes at the comparison between the band and classical icons. But by now I seemed to have drank the KoolAid, metaphorically speaking.

None of the passions in my life — listening to my favorite band, watching my soccer team or hiking a favorite trail — had shown me such a cross-generational, easygoing and quick-to-love community. It’s like a cult that doesn’t have any rules, doesn’t care if you understand it, doesn’t pressure anyone to believe what they believe but will welcome you with open arms every time you show up to “get on the bus,” as Deadheads like to call joining in.

“Their music is going to live on forever,” Mu said to me. “I really, truly believe that. Whether it’s Bobby [Weir] and John Mayer playing at the Sphere in Vegas or Blues for Breakfast at a club in Burlington, the magic is the same.”

Frazier went a step further. He said he often prefers local acts to the ones Deadheads can see and hear in Vegas.

home the following night to record the show, which was being broadcast on FM radio.

“We have a saying,” she said after the show: “The family that Deads together stays together. And it’s true.”

Indeed, her nephew Tim Parsons was dancing beside her at Einstein’s. Parsons is the codirector of Ampersand, a vocal chamber ensemble that performs music

“When I see Jessica Leone or Lara Cwass … up onstage playing Dead songs and making them their own, it just feels great to see these young musicians being inﬂuenced by the Dead but interpreting it in wildly di erent ways.”

“Call me crazy,” he said with a shrug, “but I think I’d rather see that than a Vegas revue. Yeah. I’ll take a killer night of Dead music at Moogs in Morrisville any night of the week, man. Because the Dead we have here is as good as anywhere in the world.” ➆

ROB SWANSON

Different Strokes

In historically accurate boats, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum rowing clubs share a niche passion

BY MADELEINE KAPTEIN

Light winds ruffled the water at North Harbor in Vergennes on a hot summer evening. Nineteen rowers set off in three wooden boats, undeterred by a few waves and intense humidity. They arranged their heavy oars and adjusted their foot braces, ready for their weekly three-mile expedition across Lake Champlain to New York.

But storm clouds were brewing over the Adirondacks. The winds picked up, spawning whitecaps that shot from the lake’s surface and splashed into the boats.

In the skiff Valkyrie , rower Carole Oglesby’s hat blew o . Easy oar strokes turned strenuous, and the creaking of wood and crashing of water drowned out instructions shouted by the coxswains, the navigators seated at the helm of each boat.

“Normally, [rowing] is pretty meditative,” said Oglesby of Shelburne, securing her orange baseball cap back on her head. “But I wouldn’t call this meditative.”

The small ﬂeet abandoned its practice, turning back to avoid the hard rain that pelted down only minutes later. But not one of the rowers reached for the life jackets by their feet, knowing that their boats were built for even rougher seas.

The craft sliding across the stormy lake were modern four- and six-seat ski s and gigs, boats based on historic vessels ﬁrst built centuries ago in the British Isles to handle the force of ocean waves. On Lake Champlain, they’re rowed by members of several adult clubs using boats built at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes.

The Tuesday night practices are for the Rowing for Fitness club, some of whose members also belong to the other two clubs: Burlington Rows!, which launches the museum’s boats from Perkins Pier on Wednesdays, and the Community Rowing Club, which rows in Vergennes on Thursdays. Some experience is recommended before joining Rowing for Fitness, but the other two clubs are open to beginners. While there is a full-season membership fee of $175 to join one club and $250 for all three, the museum offers a pay-what-you-can option and a free trial row.

Corinthia Richards helped build one of the pilot gigs at the museum about 20 years ago. After moving away from and then back to Vermont, she spotted a picture of the boat she helped build on the museum’s website in 2020. She decided to join the club and row that very same boat. A Waitsﬁeld resident, she drives an hour

each way several times a week because she ﬁnds the practice therapeutic.

“It’s this noise that the oar makes when it rocks back and forth between your tholepins,” Richards said. Sometimes, she added, the rowers practice with their eyes closed. “That’s amazing, because then it just alters which of your senses you’re actually using.”

For other club members, the boats’ history is a draw. Unlike light, speedy racing shells that slice through water, the club’s ski s and gigs are designed for historical accuracy and security.

IT’S PRETTY COOL, THE CONNECTION WITH THE PAST.

RAY PRENDERGAST

“You can launch [a ski or a gig] from the beach, go through the waves, go out and rescue people, and come back in it,” said Ray Prendergast of Addison. Prendergast has been rowing the boats with his wife, Tamzen Chapman, for almost three years. “It’s pretty cool, the connection with the past and the fact that they’re so seaworthy.”

Andrew Rainville of Hinesburg, one of the team captains, noted that skiffs were vessels “that a group of people in a community could build and then turn around and row in without it being a huge production.”

Valkyrie, for example, is a four-person St. Ayles ski , a contemporary version of the traditional Fair Isle ski s of Scotland, open fishing boats designed to handle the tumultuous seas around the Shetland Islands. Rainville said he has never seen one ﬂip — at least, not by accident. Ski s are pointed on both ends, but gigs have a ﬂat stern. While similarly secure, gigs are faster in wavy conditions.

While some members of Rowing for Fitness say they do it for the sense of community and fun rather than winning races, the team’s two-hour Tuesday practices prepare them to compete against other New England teams. Their competitors also row ski s and gigs but often modify their boats for speed. That’s not this crew’s style.

The Vermonters meet their true peers once every three years when they travel to Europe to compete in the Ski eWorlds, a championship for rowers of authentic, four-person St. Ayles ski s. In July, 17 Rowing for Fitness members raced in the competition in Stranraer, Scotland.

Rowers from the Rowing for Fitness club

They placed 55th out of 78 teams. While they don’t shy away from competition, Rainville said, attending the race is about community within their own team and among the rowers from around the world who share a niche passion for sturdy ships.

“It was, in some ways, a big party with a rowing focus,” Rainville said. “It was just a really great time to be there with everyone and celebrate being on the water.”

One week after their wavy adventure, the Tuesday night rowers reboarded their boats to meet the calm waters they’re used to. Rainville instructed his crew — audibly, this time — from the coxswain seat of a four-person gig.

“Sit ready,” he called from behind his dark sunglasses, and the rowers straightened, turning their bodies toward him. “Ready all,” he continued, and they leaned forward, their wooden oars hovering just above the water’s surface. “And ... row,” he commanded. They lowered the oars, commencing their pulling motion away from the dock.

Although the wooden oars are a challenge to control, maintaining command of them is the only way to pick up speed. It’s important to stay in sync with the other rowers, aiming to match the one

who’s sitting closest to the coxswain. The rowers face away from the direction they are going, necessitating Rainville’s exacting commands — he is the only one who can see where the boat is headed.

“Starboard, let it run,” Rainville called to initiate a turnaround. The two rowers with oars hanging from the right side of the boat abruptly paused their strokes. “Port side, keep going,” Rainville said. The rowers with left-side oars continued to pull, completing the rotation.

After about three miles of steady rowing across one of the narrow parts of

the lake known as a “keyhole,” the small fleet reached Barn Rock in New York. The rowers continued north to the Palisades, a set of rocky cliffs that tower above the water, and paused to squint up at the sky in search of something familiar. Sure enough, the screech of peregrine falcons echoed from above, their nests visible amid the tree branches poking from the stone.

At Snake Den Harbor farther north, the rowers often spy a bald eagle. Each October, the group embarks on a nighttime row, taking five or six boats across the lake to start a campfire and catch the

full moon. It’s a treasured tradition for the club’s longtime members.

But this practice was no leisurely birdwatch, though the evening’s beauty could have called for it. With the SkiffieWorlds only a few days away and the previous week’s weather mishap, Rainville was determined to keep his team on track.

“Heads up, chest out, breathing deep,” he called to his crew as its members rocked forward and backward. “Add in some strength again … Grab that water. Send it to me.”

The rowers in Rainville’s boat gazed at the Vermont skyline, identifying the tallest peaks and swapping rowing and racing stories. They pointed to Diamond Island, a dot of land still farther north.

Sometimes, they commit to rowing all the way there, adding an extra three miles to their journey. But on this night, they weren’t feeling that ambitious.

“It’s a lot farther than it looks,” Rainville said, and the rowers facing him laughed knowingly and pointed their boat back to the dock. ➆

INFO

Learn more about Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s adult rowing clubs at lcmm.org.

best bud.

Rowing for Fitness club members on Lake Champlain

Back in the Game

Retro Realm presses “play” on old-school arcade entertainment in Middlebury

STORY MADELEINE KAPTEIN | PHOTOS OLIVER PARINI

Debbie Gardner of New Haven brought her 4- and 7-year-old grandchildren to Middlebury’s Retro Realm arcade on a recent Thursday so that they could play alongside other kids. But when she spotted familiar games from the arcades of her teen years — including an original 1981 Ms. Pac-Man — she joined right in.

As the grandkids, Ander and Evelyn Dem e rs, fiddled with foosball and manipulated joysticks to grab at stuffed animals jailed in the prize-dispensing games, Gardner gripped the plastic gun tethered to the cabinet of Big Buck Hunter. Watching eerily realistic deer prance across woodsy terrain on the monitor, she zeroed in on her objective: to shoot as many bucks as possible, without shooting a doe.

“They’re too fast. I can’t get them,” she said as her fiery sequence of shots missed the bucks but annihilated another unsuspecting doe. “It’s terrible, hunting. Terrible, I tell you.”

Gardner and her grandchildren are among the area residents discovering Retro Realm, which opened in April on Washington Street. Owner Christian Bloom, 48, of Bridport — an aficionado of

20th-century arcade games — hopes the business will fill what he sees as a void of indoor entertainment in Addison County.

Retro Realm’s single-room layout and natural lighting set it apart from the typical dark, disorienting arcade. But with about 45 games, ’80s music sounding from

for two hours allow them to play any game as many times as desired. Parents don’t have to worry if their kids’ attention wanes in front of a game they’ve already fed coins to. There are also family deals: $30 for one hour or $50 for two hours for four people.

The 11 self-dispensing prize games are an exception. They charge per round, but Bloom keeps small consolation prizes, such as rubber ducks, behind the counter to comfort kids frustrated by a continually empty claw or merciless spinner.

Matt Larkins of Bridport comes to Retro Realm regularly with his two young children. He said he appreciates the flatrate pricing.

“You can kind of just go around, and you don’t have to panic about money,” he said.

Bloom’s fascination with arcade games began in the 1990s, when he was a teenager on Long Island, N.Y. He and his friends hung out at small arcades after school, playing pinball and raging over the first-ever multilevel game, Rolling Thunder. He scored his first job, at age 16, at the nearby arcade and restaurant chain Chuck E. Cheese, later going on to manage arcades for large companies in Maryland, Nevada, California, Alabama and, finally, at Spare Time Entertainment in Colchester. That’s the job that brought him to Vermont three years ago.

Now, he’s back in the little leagues — Retro Realm is the smallest arcade he has ever run. Its proximity to pizza (Green Peppers Restaurant is right next door) and residential neighborhoods reminds him of the arcades of his youth.

“I absolutely love it because there can be a much more personal approach,” Bloom said. “I get a chance to talk to every dad who comes in, every mom who comes in, every kid that comes in.”

Two of Bloom ’s own teenagers, Candace, 18, and CJ, 15, are his sole employees. CJ helps out with game maintenance and repairs, while Candace works in customer service, bustling around to assist visitors who may get overwhelmed by the maze of games before them.

its speakers, reverberating digital bleeps and bloops, and the low roll of SkeeBalls shooting up a ramp, the place is as old-school as it gets.

While larger arcades usually charge per game, customers at Retro Realm pay based on time — $10 for one hour and $15

“People have the most technical difficulties with the multicade,” Candace said, tapping on Legends Ultimate, a cabinet that lets players switch between 14 different games. These include Asteroids, a spaceship shooter game, and Crystal Castles, a game in which the player collects gems and must dodge enemies

Initially armed with his personal collection of 12 machines, Bloom then purchased another chunk of the arcade’s current selection from a Pennsylvania company that sold off most of its games after the pandemic. He and CJ lugged 60

Christian Bloom at Retro Realm in Middlebury

Candace Bloom playing Minecraft

machines, some of which were not yet in playable condition, back to Vermont from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in a moving truck It took three separate 13-hour round trips

“It was at least a good bonding experience,” Bloom said.

COME ON, CLAW MACHINE, WORK WITH ME.

Their haul brought them close to what they needed to press “play” and open Retro Realm’s doors. Bloom found the rest on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Museum of the Game, an online community dedicated to arcade games. All told, his efforts have scored him the likes of air hockey, Star Wars Trilogy Arcade, Cruis’n, Spider-Man: The Video Game, Point Blank 2 and Tekken 3.

While rarer games in pristine condition can cost thousands of dollars apiece, Bloom snags games that are dysfunctional — but restorable — for

only a couple hundred. From there, he purchases the necessary parts and either makes repairs himself or calls in experts to solve problems outside his wheelhouse.

“For us here, it’s more diamonds in the rough than anything,” Bloom said. “We’re looking for something that you know is underappreciated, underused, or something that we can definitely refurbish and fix up.”

He continually expands his collection based on requests from regulars, scouring the internet for hidden treasures.

He knew he was missing the classic carnivalesque game Whac-A-Mole, so when he spotted online its functionally identical cousin, Frog Frenzy, for sale in New York, he drove there the next morning to retrieve it. A pinball machine and a basketball hoop are recent finds, but Bloom is still on the lookout for a Q*bert

machine and classic fighting games such as Double Dragon and Street Fighter. He just bought a Meta Quest 2 virtual reality set. Currently, it only comes out at a customer’s special request

For Bloom, arcades, especially small ones, continue the social aspect of gaming he knew as a kid. Much of that experience has been lost to at-home, online video games in which kids can play “with” someone hundreds of miles away, he noted. But in an arcade, sharing the triumphs and defeats in person with fellow gamers is part of the fun.

BUSINESS

“Come on, claw machine, work with me,” 7-year-old Evelyn begged, fishing with the claw for a stuffed panda, leopard or koala. Her friend had won one of the big prizes from the block-stacking game Pile Up just the week before, she said, but her own luck, it seemed, had run out.

A consolation rubber ducky would have to do. ➆

INFO

Retro Realm, 10 Washington St., Middlebury, retrorealmarcade.com

EVELYN DEMERS

Bloom playing Ms. Pac-Man

Wait... Pêche didn’t win Best Med Spa?

SARAH’S MOM, GENUINELY SHOCKED.

DRINK UP

Burlington’s Boba Bubble

Sampling four bubble tea spots in and around the Queen City

BY MADELEINE KAPTEIN

Lava Pearl, Flamingo, Golden Glow, Icy Grape Garden — these are not shades of nail polish or strains of weed but names of bubble teas. Originally dreamed up in Taiwan, the basic bubble tea recipe consists of tiny, bouncy orbs called “boba” submerged in chilled nondairy milk or fruit-ﬂavored tea. The boba, either chewy tapioca pearls or the more novel juice-filled “popping” variety, shoot into your mouth through a wide straw as you sip. While some ﬁnd boba too slimy, many describe it as having “Q” texture, a Chinese culinary term for an ideal bounciness to food. Landing

FOOD LOVER?

somewhere between a beverage and a snack, it makes for a unique experience.

Now’s a great time to get into bubble tea around Burlington. In the past year,

Bakery — was that ordering as a newbie can be overwhelming.

With ever-expanding lists of ﬂavors, toppings, trendy TikTok-inspired concoctions and possible customizations, the menus are complicated codes to crack. But they are not designed to intimidate. Each place I visited does bubble tea a little di erently, but what they have in common are sta members who meet customers’ confusion and indecision with expertise and patience.

While plain milk tea with tapioca pearls is often recommended to beginners, it doesn’t hurt to experiment. Bubble tea frequently brings enthralling chaos, and it’s best to embrace it.

FULL OF FUN

Boba VTea at Always Full Asian Market, 179 Bank St., Burlington, 800-1818, @alwaysfullbtv on Instagram

A full year after opening just off the Church Street Marketplace, the downtown second location of Always Full Asian Market began selling bubble tea over the winter at its front café counter, Boba VTea.

Though Boba VTea boasts a relatively short, navigable bubble tea menu, I still spent an awkwardly long time gazing up at it before ordering. In addition to the standard milk- and green tea-based fruit teas, it o ers lemonades, specialty teas such as brown sugar matcha and Thai tea, and yogurt drinks inspired by Yakult, a Japanese probiotic beverage. For toppings, you can choose from tapioca pearls and a variety of fruit-ﬂavored jellies and popping boba.

I embarked on a bubble tea tasting mission with only vague notions of the drink’s peculiar properties. What I learned from visiting four bubble tea

THE MENUS ARE COMPLICATED CODES TO CRACK. BUT THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE.

two new spots have opened within boba-spitting distance of the Church Street Marketplace: Boba VTea at Always Full Asian Market and Deerly Yours at the City Hall Park kiosk.

shops in the greater Burlington area — the aforementioned two, plus the longer-established Fresh Bubble Tea & Juice in South Burlington’s University Mall and Winooski’s Morning Light

My friend Monica urged us toward her go-to, a mango milk tea with tapioca ($5.38), and general manager Corey Roesing suggested the popular lychee lime green tea with lychee popping boba ($6.13). We ordered both.

Strolling to a bench on Church Street, Monica and I decided the drinks were refreshing, true to their flavor names and not too sweet. Roesing later explained that Boba VTea goes intentionally easy on the sweeteners; on request, customers can sample their drinks and have the sweetness adjusted to taste. Mixing and matching flavors is also an option; one regular visitor always orders the brown sugar milk tea with banana flavor added, Roesing said.

Lychee lime green tea with lychee popping boba (left) and mango milk tea with tapioca at Boba VTea DARIA

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

Atla’s Conchas Starts a Sweet New Chapter in Vermont

A contemporary Oaxacan-style micro-bakery that garnered national press for its yearlong run in New York City has relocated to Randolph. ATLA’S CONCHAS will make its first public Vermont appearance at the CHELSEA FARMERS MARKET on Friday, August 29. CAROLINE ANDERS and MAURICIO LOPEZ MARTINEZ will sell Mexican pan dulces, cookies, snacking cakes, granola, freshly milled flour and other big hits from their New York days at the weekly market until its summer season ends on October 10.

The married couple moved into a 125-year-old farmhouse in Randolph in late July and are currently renovating what will become their attached bakery. They plan to build “slowly and intentionally” from their initial market run, Anders said.

Atla’s Conchas “led the New York wave” of its namesake pan dulce when it opened in Spanish Harlem in June 2024, according to Eater Boston. Lopez Martinez adapted the couple’s recipe for the traditional soft, sweet bread with a crunchy sugar topping — shell-shaped and vibrantly colored — from one he learned growing up in his family’s bakery in Mexico. The classic is flavored with anise and vanilla; the couple has also made varieties such as spiced dark chocolate, coffee, hibiscus-lime and toasted sesame-white chocolate.

Five months into their first bakery’s “fantastic year,” Anders said, “we started to realize we hit a wall.” Their rented space in a 100-year-old building had limited electrical capacity. It was fine for the convection oven they used to bake conchas, but customers were asking for other breads they couldn’t produce with their equipment. Renting a larger space would have required a level of growth the couple weren’t comfortable with. Out of the blue, they found the property in Vermont and decided to relocate. Owning their home and attached bakery is “an empowering situation for us to expand production and challenge ourselves at a slightly less stressful pace,” Anders said.

The bakery space currently has no electricity — “less than we had before,” Anders joked — but will have capacity for

“as many ovens as we would ever want” after the renovation, she said. Their full lineup of breads will likely launch for the spring farmers market season.

met while working at a bread bakery in North Carolina where they “learned all the classics,” Anders said, including baguettes, bagels and sourdough miche. A year before the couple struck out on their own, Anders started milling flour using a basic tabletop mill. Her first experiment with the completely unsifted — or “full-inclusion” — flour, a sponge cake for her grandma’s 80th birthday, “blew my mind,” she recalled.

To make that style of baking more attractive to customers who might associate it with the poor-quality whole-wheat baking of the past, she and Lopez Martinez chose conchas. Instead of white flour, they use 80 percent Appalachian white wheat and 20 percent Sonora white wheat.

At $5 each, the sweet breads were small enough that customers were “willing to gamble and try something new,” Anders said. Atla’s Conchas also sold cookies, snacking cakes and other treats in New York, but “the conchas are the star,” she said.

They’ll continue to be the star of their bakery in Vermont, where conchas are relatively rare. For updates, follow @atlasconchas on Instagram.

Jordan Barry

CONNECT

A variety of Atla’s conchas COURTESY

Manager and co-owner Wen Dong sold bubble tea when he lived in China, Roesing said, and he and his wife, Mei Yu, Always Full’s primary owner, have wanted to offer it since they opened their first location on Williston Road in 2019.

Roesing peruses social media to find inspiration for new drinks. Soon, the shop will add a lavender matcha tea he saw on TikTok.

“We’ll try everything,” Roesing said. “If people like it, we’ll stick with it.”

A constant flurry of new drinks on the menu sounds like a great excuse for more summer-evening city strolls.

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

Deerly Yours Boba, 149 College St., Burlington, deerlyyoursboba.square.site

Many Burlingtonians know that the blueand-white cloud-shaped kiosk in City Hall Park has been home to the second location of Sherpa Foods’ Himalayan D’Lite café since last summer. But fewer realize that in April, Deerly Yours Boba moved in. Partnering with Sherpa Foods, owner Dani Banh now runs the kiosk, selling her specialty drinks alongside Sherpa’s Nepalese momos and curry.

Staring at the illustrated “Top 10 Items” posted outside the kiosk evoked the same feeling as when my dad took me to get a Starbucks Frappuccino for the first time in middle school. My eyes darted between overwhelmingly flashy menu items, from a Thai cookie swirl smoothie to a Taro Ocean fresh milk to a mango matcha latte. With the help of fellow Seven Days intern Anthony and my Starbucksobsessed inner child, I chose the rich-looking crème brûlée milk tea with brown sugar boba ($6.28) and the Flamingo, a strawberry-and-lycheeflavored drink with strawberry popping boba ($6.88). Those were just two of more than 60 possible drink options. Toppings go beyond typical boba and jelly to include egg custard and Oreo pieces.

Banh returned to her home country of Cambodia to train in a bubble tea shop for a few weeks before starting Deerly Yours, she said. While she learned some of her recipes on her visit there, others are from social media and her own experimentation.

In June, she offered a special avocado-and-coconut smoothie that was less successful than she’d hoped. Most people don’t think of avocado flavor as

belonging in a sweet drink, she said. But with its layered pale blue, white and green color palette, the treat did not disappoint aesthetically.

“Every time you make [bubble tea], you put a lot of work into it,” Banh said. “When I see a drink I’ve made and see it’s pretty, I think it’s so satisfying.”

Banh asks every customer how sweet they want their drinks on a scale of zero to 100 percent, adjusting the amount of sugary syrup she adds based on their answer. Most milk teas can be made anywhere on this scale, and fruit teas start at 25 percent. She said most people prefer around 75 percent, so we chose that for both drinks, which was just right — the sugar rush I had been expecting never came.

The regular milk teas are made with nondairy milk, but the crème brûlée is topped with cold dairy milk foam and a pattern of caramelized brown sugar, like the dessert it’s named after. The sweet, chewy brown sugar boba was a good match for the drink’s creaminess.

The Flamingo was enhanced by the fresh fruit pieces submerged in it: an orange slice, strawberry bits and lychee pieces. All that in one cup with the strawberry popping boba may sound over the top. But Deerly Yours does not shy away from abundance.

Elliott Friedrichs at Boba VTea

Deerly Yours Boba and Himalayan D’Lite

A Flamingo with strawberry popping boba (left) and a crème brûlée milk tea with brown sugar boba at Deerly Yours

SIDEdishes

Burlington’s Four Corners of the Earth Deli Is for Sale — Art Not Included

Over 25 years tucked in the red stone cellar of the South End’s historic Kilburn & Gates building, FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH DELI has built a reputation for its globally monikered menu, its distinctive owner and its artistic décor. Last week, sandwich savant LADISLAV “LATZO” PANCISIN put the leased Burlington space, including kitchen equipment and furnishings,

Nap also gets credit for the deli’s name and global theme.

After arriving in Burlington as a Slovakian refugee in 1988, Pancisin worked at Bouyea-Fassetts Bakery, painted houses, became a carpenter, and studied political science and philosophy at the University of Vermont. His friend Nap suggested Four Corners of the Earth as they brainstormed deli names.

on the market for $100,000. For about double that, Pancisin will also sell the business name, recipes and his support through the transition, he said.

Not included is Pancisin’s art collection, which includes works by dug Nap, Evzen Jurasek, Tony Shull and Marc Awodey that hang densely clustered on the deli’s walls and even ceiling. “The deli’s just a cover for having a museum,” Pancisin quipped.

“That inspired the menu and everything else,” Pancisin said. “He opened the gate of imagination for me.”

For the past three years, he has worked solo, manning the panini presses to prepare sandwiches, such as Jamaican avocado loaded with fresh basil and cayenne pepper and Lebanese lamb with thin-sliced juicy meat, cabbage-carrot slaw, generous spicing and cheese.

In his early sixties, Pancisin said he’s “too old” to be on his feet all day. But until he sells, customers will still find him painstakingly building his inventive sandwiches at the cash-only deli. As always, call ahead or expect a wait.

Melissa Pasanen

NEWS « P.39

Ladislav Pancisin

Art at Four Corners of the Earth Deli

Burlington’s Boba Bubble

A LATTE PEARLS

Fresh Bubble Tea & Juice, 155 Dorset St., Suite D17, South Burlington, 387-0365, freshbubbletea.com

On a recent Wednesday evening, employees at Fresh Bubble Tea & Juice were busy serving a long line of eager customers. Located in a brightly lit alcove in South Burlington’s University Mall, the spot makes drinks that are good fuel for a shopping trip.

Fresh Bubble Tea was the ﬁrst dedicated boba place in the area when it opened in 2018 and is still the only one focused exclusively on the drink. It sells no food.

Plenty of options from the 60-plus-drink menu called out to me with their long and literal (but still somehow elusive) names. The creamy white peach oolong tea struck a chord, and several toppings — grass jelly and chia seeds, for example — intrigued me. The menu includes tea macchiatos, slushes and even chocolate milk.

But, being still in the wide-eyed and slightly risk-averse days of my bubble tea adventures, I chose a vanilla milk tea with tapioca pearls ($6.65) and a passion fruit green tea, also with tapioca ($6.90).

The vanilla had plenty of ﬂavor, and the passion fruit drink tasted like a strongly brewed, sweetened iced tea. Besides the classic bubble tea and taro milk tea, owner Ryan Chen said, the Lava Pearl latte, a tea latte with tapioca and brown sugar syrup, is most popular.

Chen grew up in southern China, a hot spot for bubble tea, and visited the drink’s original birthplace of Taiwan to pick up more inspiration before opening his store. Fresh Bubble Tea’s ingredients are imported directly from Taiwan. Noticing that grape flavor has been gaining popularity online, Chen added Icy Grape Garden, a drink of his own design made with grape juice and crystal boba.

In June, Fresh Bubble Tea opened a second location in the Champlain Centre mall in Plattsburgh, N.Y., with the same menu as the Burlington location.

“It’s great to see our drinks welcomed in a new city,” Chen said.

SHEDDING LIGHT

Morning Light Bakery, 106 E. Allen St., Winooski, 5401771, morning-light-vt.com

by taro root, with black tapioca ($6.29). White bubbles paired well with a green tea-based mango iced tea ($6.29).

When I ﬁrst visited the Asian sweettreat haven that is Morning Light Bakery in Winooski, I made the rookie mistake of going on a weekday. The bakery has a “secret menu” of milk tea that includes its own version of Hong Kong dairy milk tea, which uses a stronger tea blend; and classic-style yuenyeung, a blend of coffee, tea and milk. But prepping the required tea base is a long process that bakery owners King Liu and his wife, Lai, have time for only on weekends.

While the black bubbles are made from tapioca ﬂour cooked with brown sugar, the white ones come from the bulb of a konjac plant, another root vegetable. Nothing beats the satisfying chewiness of tapioca bubbles, but ﬁnding an alternative to popping boba that’s similarly light yet still toothsome was a score.

Although better known for its baked goods, Morning Light has sold bubble tea since opening in 2019. King and Lai’s son, Ken Liu, said the family avoids jumping on trends, limiting their menu to what they know how to make well.

“We deﬁnitely want to stick to something that brings in our value to the bubble tea scene in Vermont,” Ken said.

Luckily, the bakery had plenty of other delicious milk and fruit tea options for a Thursday visitor. I tried taro milk tea, a smooth, nutty vanilla drink tinted purple

In a niche drink landscape as dynamic as this one, not even eight di erent cups of bubble tea were enough to pop the Burlington boba bubble. Back at the bakery on a Saturday, I ordered the iced yuenyeung with tapioca ($6.99). The beverage was like the eccentric relative of my usual iced co ee: similarly milky and bitter but with the chewy pearls to shake up the texture. Like that quirky family member, boba never fails to deliver an interesting twist on an otherwise ordinary sip. ➆

Passion fruit green tea (left) and vanilla milk tea, both with tapioca pearls, at Fresh Bubble Tea & Juice

It’s

Found in Translation culture

James Shea’s new poetry collection, Last Day of My Face , progresses as if it were two books. The second begins twothirds of the way through, where the poems’ shape, style, rhythm and mode of narration change in every respect.

For the first 43 pages, the apparently characteristic Shea composition is succinct and quite solitary in vantage point, with hardly another person to be found among scenes and settings mostly vacant. Here is “Enskied” in its entirety:

BOOKS

A white soft co n neither ﬂat nor deep, only long and endless. We live side by side.

Day by day a spotless bliss, not a speck except the sun without its shine.

Shea’s shorter poems are halting, as though wary of being plainspoken. Many of them end abruptly, whittled down to a riddle. This is clearly, and carefully, deliberate: Shea writes about our common experience of ba ement in ways that may themselves be ba ing, as in “This Time of Hour,” about a speciﬁc prairie landscape in the northwest U.S.:

The Palouse can be coral green, can be endless, can be disobedient, the wind can hiss over the hills, a cloud edge can abut the horizon, John can be beside me, driving, or he can have the passenger view,

a landscape can be pregnant with elephants, dusk in a photograph can be dawn.

In dramatic contrast, the book’s far lengthier ﬁ nal poem, “Failed SelfPortrait,” runs more than 14 pages, with stretched-out, more syntactically complex lines and a warm, forthcoming manner:

I’ve made a sort of make-shift sense of ourselves, co-habiting with the cranes on the windward side of the river, coming in in waves, often in pairs, settling in a few inches of water …

Shea is the author of two previous poetry collections, The Lost Novel (2014)

and Star in the Eye (2008), and his primary residence is in Montpelier. He wrote many of the poems in Last Day of My Face in Vermont during an extended sabbatical, with support from a Vermont Arts Council Creation Grant in 2020.

Shea directs the bilingual Creative and Professional Writing Program at Hong Kong Baptist University, where he continues to teach half the year. In 2025, he became poet-in-residence at the Neafsey Lab in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Shea is also a translator of contemporary Japanese and Chinese poetry, and he coedited an international anthology, The Routledge Global Haiku Reader . A number of the shorter poems in Last Day of My Face have the concision often noted in Asian poems, with their quick glides between statement and image, willfully enigmatic.

“Extraordinary Means” concludes with what seems to be a description of stalls at a farmers’ market that elides toward an allusion to “aches” that may be the farmer’s or might be the poet’s (we can’t tell):

… it’s not for nothing I’ve arrived, it’s not for something either, it’s for some thing I will give away, celeriac, shallots, an onion with green shoots, tiny garlic, one lady had so many eggs, I bought some to make her glad, once a virgin to aches of any nature and suddenly a veteran.

This passage is an example of Shea’s frequent use of run-on phrasing in the shorter poems, which a grammarian would call comma splices — independent clauses separated by commas rather than semicolons. The technique makes many

SHEA WRITES ABOUT OUR COMMON EXPERIENCE OF BAFFLEMENT IN WAYS THAT MAY THEMSELVES BE BAFFLING.

of the pieces in the first part of the book sound like notations of a wandering mind. In “Two-Body Problem” the poet uses commas to achieve a jaunty, songlike lilt:

Toes are the last to go when you’re dead-dead, so far from the central nervous system, so far from the cerebellum that departs first, so far from the valves of the heart — toes are the last to know, and for that, I am in solidarity with my toes, the little ones who shall outlast me.

Could this be true, that toes are alive longer than the rest of a dead body? Perhaps Shea learned this in his time among the scientists at the Neafsey Lab. “Failed Self-Portrait,” the longer, concluding poem, has nine sections,

WAKE

Shirt came to mourn my chest. Shoes, the arches of my feet.

Cufflinks, my wrists. Hat, my head.

Socks, my toes, and buttons, my fingers.

Tie came to mourn the nape of my neck.

Belt, my waist. Jacket, my shoulders. Glasses, my temples and bridge of my nose.

Underwear came and cried at the casket.

Underwear, who knew me best.

each of which might be a poem in its own right. In combination they offer a breadth and continuity not found in the first part of the book. On this larger canvas, Shea foregrounds more generous description of the outside world, beyond what he calls “a kind of homelessness / of the mind” (a phrase that is aptly evocative of his bleaker, shorter poems). Maybe the “failure” referred to in the poem’s title is that his writing here escapes the constraints of self-enclosed expression, thereby failing to be only a portrait of the artist.

“Failed Self-Portrait” also brings in relationships with other people, which complicate a life in substantial, meaningful ways. In Section 4, the poet locates his new book’s most overtly tender aspiration, which serves, too, as an artistic credo: “Oh, / to // write / a // moderately / long // sentence / that // begins / in // my / mind // and / ends // in / yours.”

An individual poem might take a minute to read, brief as a comic strip, and a volume of poems may be a fraction of the length of a typical novel. Yet to explore Shea’s work perceptively, piece by piece and through the book as a whole, requires time and concentration. This poet offers insights and pleasures, but they are not easily gained. From its premonitory, elegiac title through its contrasting styles and parts, Last Day of My Face resists the kind of skimming that often passes now for reading. ➆

INFO

Last Day of My Face by James Shea, University of Iowa Press, 76 pages. $21.

Take in a movie under the stars with unique picks presented in partnership with VTIFF

August

07 Summer of Soul 14 Flow 21 Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure 28 Wonder Woman City Hall Park, 8pm Film descriptions at: burlingtoncityarts.org/events

Ages 21+

open house

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20 5:30–8 PM

Tickets on sale now

You are invited! Come check out all the new updates to ECHO’s permanent exhibits and spaces — including the newly-renovated Into the Lake exhibit and three ﬂoors of Champ: America’s Lake Monster exhibit — with the best views of the sunset on the Waterfront.

Music by A House on Fire. Refreshments and cash bar available. Ages 21+.

James Shea Underwritten by

Structural Integrity

A new book celebrates Craftsbury’s historic buildings and benefits the town’s public library

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

BOOKS

After studying a two-volume description of historic Craftsbury architecture, Tom Twetten was left wanting more. Craftsbury Historic Sites & Structures Survey of 1983, conducted to qualify sites for the Vermont State Register of Historic Places, “is beautifully done — very thorough on surrounds and roof pitches and foundations,” Twetten said. “But if you’re not a historic preservation architect, it’s terribly boring.”

His adopted hometown deserved more, he believed. And so Twetten, who moved to Craftsbury 30 years ago — “which makes me a newcomer,” he said — set out to tell the stories of the town’s historic buildings and the people who lived in them, and those who still do. He recruited another “newcomer,” 45-year resident Harry H. Miller, to take photos, and nine months later, the limited-edition, 194-page book they published to benefit Craftsbury Public Library rolled off the press.

Craftsbury Celebration: Old Homes, Barns, and Their Stories goes on sale at a book launch at the library on Friday, August 8. Five hundred signed and numbered copies are available for $49 each. There won’t be a second printing. An additional three leather-bound volumes

are priced at $1,000. If everything sells, the endeavor will raise $27,500, a hefty sum for a small-town library with an annual budget of $144,000.

Like many Vermont libraries, Craftsbury Public Library operates independently of the town. It has a small endowment, the town contributes 40 percent of its budget, and the library raises the rest. “I’m always writing grants,” director Susan O’Connell said.

Twetten and Miller each chipped in $4,000 to publish Craftsbury Celebration so that the library would receive the full cover price. Board of trustees president Alan Turnbull was floored when he learned of their project. “To have a thing like this for an organization that’s used to bringing in $800, $400 or $1,500 is really terrific,” he said.

Turnbull was one of the first to see the finished product. “It’s gorgeous,” he said.

Twetten, 90, is a retired CIA deputy director for operations, a former antiquarian book dealer and past president of the library board of trustees. Miller, 67, is a custom home builder and avid photographer who built the current library 23 years ago. Their book features 74 Craftsbury homes built in or before 1860 that remain in use, along with a handful of newer

structures significant to the town: barns, Craftsbury Academy, East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church and the public library. Twetten wrote the book’s 90 essays, and Miller photographed each building three times: this past fall, winter and spring — though in most cases, just one portrait of each is included.

Miller captured the lemon-yellow Brassknocker Farm barn — raised in a single day in 1906 — standing behind an apron of snow with a Christmas wreath on each of its sliding doors. He climbed onto a bank this spring to photograph Barbara Paterson and James Whitby’s home with a tire swing hanging from a maple tree and a magnolia bush in full bloom.

The skies cleared on Memorial Day just in time for the entire Craftsbury Academy student body to assemble in front of the school, exactly as their counterparts had done in 1890. Miller preserved the moment from the same angle, and the two photos are published side by side.

Historic photographs are scattered throughout the book, providing then-andnow images. Twetten included the 1983 survey numbers the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation assigned to buildings so that readers can learn more about their

architecture. The survey is available at the library and on the division’s website.

Twetten interviewed townspeople and relied on Betsy Davison Post’s 2006 book The Founding Families of Craftsbury, Vermont as a primary research source. Anecdotes in his essays range from historically significant to amusing. In one, he recounts the history of Sterling College’s Simpson Hall. Roger Easton, born in Craftsbury in 1921, grew up in that house. During his career at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, he invented TIMATION, the satellite navigation system that led to GPS.

On a lighter note, Twetten later tells of the time a young Rick Johnson and his best friend stole a cow and maneuvered it down the narrow stairs to the basement of Johnson’s 19th-century home, which his daughter now owns.

Many of these homes still stand because Craftsbury was spared the mid20th-century “renewal and revitalization” that bulldozed many historic structures in Vermont’s larger communities, historian J. Kevin Graffagnino writes in the foreword. They were maintained by generations of hardworking people who looked out for each other, Twetten said — a spirit, like the buildings, that remains in the town today. ➆

INFO

Craftsbury Celebration: Old Homes, Barns, and Their Stories by Thomas Twetten and Harry H. Miller, self-published, 194 pages. $49; $1,000 special edition. Book launch party, Friday, August 8, 6 p.m., at Craftsbury Public Library. Learn more and preorder a book at craftsburypubliclibrary.org.

Craftsbury Academy in 2025

COURTESY OF LINDA MIRABILE

Tom Twetten and Harry H. Miller

New Doc Gone Guys Spotlights the Struggles of Boys and Young Men

BY CECILIA LUCE

For adolescent boys in rural Vermont, finding places to express themselves and be vulnerable can take many forms. For some, that looks like going to the gym. For others, it’s joining a Boy Scout troop. At Montpelier High School, it’s taking a “Healthy Masculinity” class.

As shown in a new Vermont-made film, these are just a few ways local young men are coping with the isolation that has led to a national trend of men falling behind — in educational, career and mental health outcomes alike. Gone Guys localizes the crisis, featuring interviews about male struggles with Vermont adolescents as well as the educators, mentors and programs seeking to uplift them. The 45-minute documentary is screening across the state this summer.

averages, engage in risk-taking behavior, and even die by accidental overdose or suicide.

That may be because educational patterns among men and women have flipped over the past 50 years: In 1970, there was a 13 percent gender gap in bachelor’s degrees, favoring men; by 2020, the gap had grown to 16 percent — this time, favoring women.

The filmmakers drew on the research of Richard Reeves, the author of 2022’s Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It. Reeves, who visited the University of Vermont in 2024, is featured in the doc.

Gone Guys strives to offer solutions, Ervin said, highlighting changes that can be made on a community level. The film gives an inside look at support groups for male students, such as the “Healthy Masculinity” class in Montpelier and the “Men and Masculinities” program at UVM. It also features Dad Guild, a Vermont group that encourages male-identifying parents and their families to connect at gatherings ranging from Frisbee golf tournaments to educational events.

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“What is happening to our boys? They’re dying from suicide, from opioids. They’re not doing well in school. They’re unmotivated, generally,” director Chad Ervin said. “What can we do to help this?”

As the father of a son in middle school — which he called a “critical age range” for male mental health — Ervin has a personal stake in the issues Gone Guys explores. The Montpelier director has worked as an editor on PBS’ “Frontline” as well as on documentaries such as 2023’s Join or Die, about the decline of American community. Ervin said that journalistic background has aided him in “looking at complicated problems and thinking about how you can take practical steps.”

To that end, Gone Guys digs into data that trend in “really troubling directions” for young men, said Lauren Curry, executive director of the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation, a presenting partner on the film along with the Vermont Community Foundation. The film is full of stats that point to the need for systemic change.

For example, substance abuse, educational disengagement and mental health crises disproportionately affect men of color and men living in rural areas. Men are also more likely to have low grade point

Building community with adolescent boys was also a critical part of making the film. Ervin said working with them was one of the most rewarding aspects of the production — it gave him the chance to have genuine conversations about the problems and stereotypes young people face.

“Men and young boys are better at expressing what they’re feeling and thinking when they’re doing things shoulder-toshoulder, as opposed to face-to-face,” he explained. That translated to interviewing subjects while driving, walking, working in a garden or even cutting wood together.

While there may be no one-size-fits-all solution, Curry said she hopes audiences will walk away from the film with useful resources — and, ultimately, that Gone Guys will help people feel “a little less lonely.” ➆

INFO

Gone Guys, Thursday, August 7, and Friday, August 8, 6 p.m., at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier. Sold out. Thursday, August 21, and Friday, August 22, 6 p.m., at Briggs Opera House in White River Junction. Free. Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m., at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, Dana Auditorium, Middlebury College. $17. Visit goneguysfilm.com for more info and future screenings.

A still from Gone Guys

Chad Ervin d

THEATER Zephyr Teachout Discusses Her New Role at Unadilla Theatre

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

At the age of 101, Unadilla Theatre founder Bill Blachly decided this was the year to hand over the artistic directorship of his seasonal enterprise in Marshfield. His replacement choice was no surprise.

Since 1983, Blachly has produced scores of modern and classic plays with timeless themes in the rustic setting of a hill farm. Who better to assume his role than Zephyr Teachout, a frequent Unadilla actor and director? Her career bridges the arts, law and political activism. She was a strategist in Vermont governor Howard Dean’s campaign for president and was a candidate herself in Democratic primaries for attorney general, congress and governor of New York.

“It’s not like it’s been a clear transition,” said Teachout, who curated the plays for the 2025 season. “Bill is still there, just less involved. And he’s still sharp as a tack.”

For most of the year, Teachout lives in New York City’s East Harlem and teaches law at Fordham University in the Bronx. During the summers, the 53-year-old Norwich native lives in Montpelier and has often directed Unadilla shows, such as Heather Raffo’s critically acclaimed solo play Nine Parts of Desire, which opens on Friday, August 15.

It was Blachly who introduced Teachout to this play 20 years ago. Based on two years of interviews, it weaves together the stories of nine Iraqi women during the U.S. invasion in 2003. In addition to Anton Chekhov’s Ivanov and a collection

of shorter, lesser-known plays by Samuel Beckett, Teachout hopes this season will include Baggage From BaghDAD: Becoming My Father’s Daughter, Valerie David’s story of her father’s escape from Iraq during the 1941 Farhud pogrom. She’s currently casting a replacement for the performer of the one-person show.

Teachout recently spoke with Seven Days about Unadilla's August offerings.

I’m sensing a theme. What’s behind this year’s plays about Iraq?

Good theater that engages recent history is really important, and for me, the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was an absolutely pivotal political moment. I was out on the Statehouse lawn in the snow protesting, and it’s one of the reasons I went to work for [governor] Howard Dean at the time. So I return to the Iraq War as a key moment that we need to understand as we move forward and bomb other places.

This year’s choice of plays happened pretty organically. I wanted to have a local Iraqi actor, Safiya Jamali, in a play about Iraqi women. Her parents have been journalists all over the Middle East, including Iraq. We also have Valerie David’s one-woman show, Baggage From BaghDAD. So these two different time periods in Iraq are windows to understanding more of Middle Eastern history.

How did you decide what shows to bring?

For Bill, it’s always been something you’re not likely to see elsewhere. This is the first professional staging of Nine Parts of Desire in Vermont. Getting directors who are really excited about plays is important, too. In New York City I met a woman who curates an annual Chekhov Day. She’s passionate about Ivanov because she says this play changed her life. I love Chekhov, but I’ve never seen Ivanov, so that’s a

double win because I have an enthusiastic director, Laura Strausfeld, putting on a play that’s typically not put on outside of New York. Bill always says, “People don’t realize how funny Chekhov is.” As our society gets darker and weirder, people are getting into the dark humor of the stuck characters.

Is being Unadilla’s artistic director a long-term gig for you?

One year at a time. It is a challenge being based in New York. I won’t lie about that. And the Unadilla is still Bill and [his partner] Ann [O’Brien’s] theater.

Given where our country is right now, do you feel an added responsibility to choose plays whose messages are more timely and relevant?

I not only love theater, but I think theater is just the opposite of so much of what’s happening in our political life. The act of doing theater itself is a strange thing, to drive to a dark barn and watch people move around a small stage. One of the things theater does is give you a true capacity to imagine another life and another moment in time. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO

Ivanov by Anton Chekhov, directed by Laura Strausfeld, August 8-24: Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m. Nine Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo, directed by Zephyr Teachout and Alana Rancourt, August 15-24: Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m. Both at Unadilla Theatre in Marshfield. $30. unadilla.org

The cast of Anton Chekhov's Ivanov at Unadilla Theatre Zephyr Teachout

on screen Together

It’s nice to know classical philosophy is alive and well in pop culture. A lawsuit ﬁled in May alleges that the makers of the body horror ﬁlm Together — which was gathering festival buzz — stole their ideas from a 2023 indie rom-com called Better Half. Both movies name-check the creation story of a romantic soulmate as our lost physical half that originated in Plato’s The Symposium. And both illustrate this ancient concept with the song “2 Become 1” by the Spice Girls. (For the record, the Platonic tale also inspired “The Origin of Love” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch.)

Michael Shanks, the Australian writerdirector of Together, claims he wrote his script well before the makers of Better Half pitched their own to real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who ended up starring in Together. While the suit is pending, the latter movie hit theaters. As for Better Half, there’s currently no way to stream it.

The deal

Struggling musician Tim (Franco) and teacher Millie (Brie) have been together for a decade. But when she informally proposes to him, at a party celebrating their relocation for her new job, Tim freezes. Not ready to relinquish his dreams of touring Europe, he has mixed feelings about the move, which strands him in a picturesque country house without a driver’s license.

Unbeknownst to Tim and Millie, their new home is about to exacerbate their tensions in a big way. Another young couple recently went missing in the area, which is riddled with relics of a mysterious cult.

On a hike, Tim and Millie tumble into a cave containing a sinister pool of brackish water. After taking a drink, Tim suddenly ﬁnds himself wanting to get close to Millie again — really, really close. Now the couple must decide just how literally they’re willing to take the romantic ideal of two becoming one.

Will you like it?

Great horror movies are often based on real-life anxieties. What It Follows did for the fear of casual sex, Together aims to do for the fear of romantic commitment, and

it brings genuinely gnarly imagery to that mission.

Here, physical intimacy takes forms that would give even the most inveterate cuddler pause. When Tim and Millie wake after a night in the cave, they find their calves connected by a gauzy membrane. It’s easy enough to tear themselves free — at first. Tim soon finds separation from Millie physically painful, though, and when they have sex, things take a nightmarish turn. Their bodies now seem to have minds of their own, and those minds are bent on oneness.

Shanks combines CGI with practical effects to convey the tactility of these attempts at union, making the audience wince and cringe repeatedly. In this movie, human ﬂesh is as pliable as bread dough. A certain scene may leave you with second thoughts about deep tissue massage, while in another, eyeballs squelch toward each other, their lashes ﬂuttering like lovelorn anemones.

These are images you won’t forget. But how much emotional weight do they carry? The couple’s relationship is unconventional (on ﬁlm, anyway) in that Millie clearly dominates it without being portrayed as a harridan, and their conﬂicts have a lived-in complexity. Franco shows

us the resentment simmering under Tim’s boyish breeziness. Shanks’ screenplay links Tim’s neuroses to his backstory, which o ers a creepy emblem of the dangers of codependency.

When the movie tries to be the story of both partners, though, it loses focus and struggles to regain it. Though Brie brings her usual likable, puppyish too-muchness to the role — her failed proposal is as cute as it’s cringey — her character stays a little vague. We grasp Millie’s frustrations with Tim, but we lack insight into her feelings about relationships in general. And, perhaps because of the time spent in her perspective, we don’t get the payo from Tim’s unsettling backstory that we hope for. It ends up serving primarily as a pretext for bonus jump scares.

Because of these underdeveloped pieces, the ﬁlm’s bold denouement may not resonate as strongly with viewers as it’s intended to. Story-wise, Together feels torn in di erent directions, a rming its thesis without giving either character a full arc that plausibly lands them where they end up.

Nonetheless, marrying indelible visuals to a perennially compelling (if familiar) metaphor could be enough to secure Together a place in the horror movie canon.

Why do so many people crave and fear “becoming one” with a romantic partner? The movie gets plenty of shock value out of exploring the age-old question, but the credits roll right when it might have started to get really divisive — and interesting.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

COMPANION (2025; HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable): If you’re looking for a more cynical take on romance than Together offers, this sci-ﬁ/horror satire about an AI mate is for you, though it doesn’t stick the landing.

THE SUBSTANCE (2024; Kanopy, MUBI, rentable): One can also become two. Body horror went mainstream with Coralie Fargeat’s satirical, over-the-top Oscar nominee, in which Demi Moore plays an actress who uses an illicit drug to create a younger version of herself.

ELSE (2024; Fandor, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Talk about romantic nightmares: In this French ﬁlm, a pair is forced into pandemic lockdown after a one-night stand — then menaced by a virus that melds people together.

Real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco play a couple who ﬁnd themselves getting too close in this body horror ﬁlm.

NEW IN THEATERS

FREAKIER FRIDAY: Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles 22 years after the hit comedy about a magical mother-daughter body swap (itself a remake of a novel adaptation). With the daughter now a mother, who will be swapped this time? (111 min, PG. Bethel, Capitol, Essex, Marquis, Playhouse, Star, Sunset, Welden)

IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY: Amy Berg’s documentary offers an intimate portrait of the rising singer who died in 1997 after producing just one album. (106 min, NR. Savoy)

SKETCH: A young girl’s drawings come to life and wreak havoc in this fantasy comedy directed by Seth Worley and starring Tony Hale, D’Arcy Carden and Bianca Bell. (92 min, PG. Essex, Paramount)

TATAMI: An Iranian athlete (Arienne Mandi) faces political pressure as she competes in the Judo World Championships in this thriller codirected by Iranian Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Israeli Guy Nattiv. (105 min, NR. Catamount)

WEAPONS: 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. Essex, Paramount, Sunset)

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, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Sunset, Welden)

EDDINGTONHHHH This drama from Ari Aster (Midsommar) follows the rivalry between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) in May 2020. (148 min, R. Majestic; reviewed 7/23)

ELIOHHH1/2 An 11-year-old boy (voice of Yonas Kibreab) finds himself serving as Earth’s ambassador to aliens in this Pixar family animation. (99 min, PG. Majestic)

F1: THE MOVIEHHH1/2 A retired Formula One racer (Brad Pitt) returns to the track and mentors a rookie in this sports drama, also starring Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem. Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) directed. (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. Bethel, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGONHHH DreamWorks Animation gets into the live-action-remake business with this new take on its 2010 hit about a Viking lad (Mason Thames) who makes an unexpected friend. (125 min, PG. Majestic)

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMERHH Lois Duncan’s 1973 thriller about teens facing the consequences of a big mistake gets an update for Gen Z horror fans. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson directed. (111 min, R. Majestic, Sunset)

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTHHH1/2 In the seventh installment, a pharmaceutical research team seeks out the surviving dinosaurs on a remote island. Gareth Edwards directed; Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend star. (134 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 7/9)

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. Pamela Anderson costars. Akiva Schaffer directed. (85 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset)

SMURFSH1/2 Is Smurfette (voiced by Rihanna) a girl boss? In this musical reboot of the animated family series, she leads a mission to rescue Papa Smurf. Chris Miller directed. (92 min, PG. Bijou, Majestic)

SORRY, BABYHHHH1/2 This Sundance and Cannes Film Festival hit, written and directed by and starring Eva Victor, follows a young college professor in the aftermath of a sexual assault. With Naomi Ackie. (103 min, R. Savoy; reviewed 7/30)

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

TOGETHERHHH1/2 Dave Franco and Alison Brie play a couple who get closer to each other — really, really close — after a move to the country in this body horror festival fave, directed by Michael Shanks. (102 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Savoy; reviewed 8/6)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

1776 (Catamount, Wed 6 only)

DOG DAY AFTERNOON (Welden, Tue only)

DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT (VTIFF, Fri only)

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (Essex, Sun-Tue only)

HIGH AND LOW (Savoy, Mon only)

MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (VTIFF, Sat only)

MANON OF THE SPRING (Catamount, Wed 13 only)

NO OTHER LAND (Welden, Tue only)

SONG OF THE SEA (Catamount, Thu only)

SUMMER OF SOUL (… OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) (VTIFF, Thu 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

Untitled-1 1

The Placemakers

A group show at the Supreme Court Gallery articulates the spatial

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Shortly after justice Marilyn Skoglund was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court nearly 20 years ago, state curator David Schutz recalled, she phoned him and asked, “David, can we please get rid of the dead justices?”

After moving the paintings of late esteemed jurists upstairs — the only portrait in the entry now is of retired justice Skoglund herself — Skoglund and Schutz took the opportunity to show contemporary Vermont artists in the building’s lobby.

Two factors have made the Supreme Court Gallery arguably one of the most coveted spots in the state for artists to present their work. One is space — it is well suited to displaying large-scale paintings. The other is place. The storied building’s marble halls lend legitimacy and importance to long-established and emerging artists alike.

Appropriate, then, that Schutz and cocurator Mary Admasian have organized “Spaces & Places,” a show of paintings by Anne Davis, Jamie Rauchman and James Secor, on view through September 30. It marks the introduction of themed group shows for the institution.

Admasian is an artist and independent curator who has worked with the state curator’s o ce as a consultant for years. She said the team there, which manages artworks throughout the Capitol District, has been inspired to expand beyond the Supreme Court Gallery’s typical solo

REVIEW

exhibitions by putting together the annual Art at the Kent show — upcoming in September at the Kent Museum in Calais.

“There are so many incredible artists in Vermont that we really want to exhibit,” she said, “and we only do four shows a year.”

The “Spaces & Places” curators have adeptly managed a tricky task: including more artists while still offering enough depth to give visitors a full sense of their project and vision. More than that, the paintings play o each other beautifully, prompting the viewer to consider how each artist uses space and place in their work.

Rauchman’s canvases — which, like many of the works in the show, are quite large — make the most use of illusionistic space, often depicting the artist’s studio. But instead of presenting only the room’s

interior, we get the artist’s, as well. “The Invisible Man,” for instance, shows Rauchman, nude, standing in a room ﬁlled with paintings, boxes, laundry, a folding chair. But the background has come forward to eclipse most of the ﬁgure, making an optical illusion wherein the artist’s body frames his environment.

Other works feature strange, tentacled creatures — one oozing onto the ﬂoor while considering its own portrait in “Forbidden Self,” one lounging casually on a couch in “Odalisque.” They’re funny stand-ins for the artist, with a disturbing edge made sharper by their clear, meticulously observed surroundings.

Throughout the paintings on display, Rauchman toes the line between real and imagined spaces, interiors and exteriors.

“The Shining Cloud” shows a spectacular winter landscape through a car’s windshield. It captures the experience many Vermonters have of seeing our most stunning views while driving and seems to ask us what it is we’re looking at. Is it an interior? Is the car an extension of the body? Is the landscape fully outside the car or part of the experience of driving?

One of the show’s smart curatorial pairings is Rauchman’s “A Room Somewhere” with Secor’s “Hanging Guitar.” Both portray a view out the studio window, using a similar purplish palette, but the works are utterly di erent. Rauchman’s, immersive at 4-by-4-feet, invites the viewer to poke at the illusion. The lawn beyond the window is a deep, real space di erentiated from shallower canvases on the wall next to it. Light

“Tree (Evening Capitol)” by James Secor

“A Room Somewhere” by Jamie Rauchman

reflecting off the floor creates a hyperreal surface — the air in the studio is palpable. Secor defines his world though intense color and texture more than illusion. His palette is utterly unique, employing sherbet-orange and Pepto Bismol-pink as staple hues where other artists might use blue or green. In “Hanging Guitar,” pale yellow light spills from the view of Montpelier outside — with a coral sky and turquoise

Camel’s Hump in the background — onto the green-and-pink windowsill, illuminating just the edges of paintings leaning in a stack nearby. A lamp’s vertical pole divides the 3-by-4-foot canvas almost in half. In one section, bright blue underpainting shows through, not defining any object but creating an unexpected flare that’s crucial to the unusual composition.

Yellow light returns in “Cochran’s,”

this time falling in stripes across the ski lodge’s tables, playing against other stripes and still more stripes: diagonals right and left, a skier’s outfit, the trees outside. The 4-by-5-foot scene should be utterly dizzying, but instead the viewer is taken in by the strangely coherent geometry of the scene and the figures within it. A boy looks directly at the viewer over a sandwich; the others’ half-shadowed faces seem isolated and pensive for such a happy locale.

Across the gallery, whatever is taking place in Anne Davis’ “Only the Dog” is equally enigmatic. The large canvas shows a group of people at a bar, their features defined only barely, almost like cartoons, but with such nuance that the scene is emotional and haunting, the figures accusatory. The dog in the center of the painting stares with alarm at something we don’t see.

As Davis noted at the opening reception, she paints tables a lot: people at tables, people eating. Viewing her paintings is not dissimilar to being a guest at a dinner where everyone else has history: You might not know what’s going on, but you know that something is.

Davis’ works often veer into the surreal, as with “Fish Dinner,” in which a woman, a cat and a dog seem to have turned their

meal over to a family of bears. Until a week before the show, Davis said at the reception, the figures were human, but she was bored with them. She’d been wanting to put bears in a painting, and it was clear to her that they belonged in this one. Each of her works uses these kinds of open-ended associations to create new narrative possibilities. One of the things art does best is to present a new perspective on something familiar, and there’s a meta-version of that effect in this show. Secor’s “Tree (Evening Capitol)” pictures the Statehouse and the Supreme Court building, but they are dwarfed by a massive, multicolored tree; a teal lawn and turquoise mountain rising behind it provide an electric backdrop. It’s surprising to see such a new and different vision of the Capitol complex as much as it is welcome to see a shift in the gallery’s programming, especially if the result is shows like this one.

At the reception, Schutz told visitors to place their own red dots elsewhere: He’d already bought that piece. ➆

INFO

“Spaces & Places,” on view through September 30 at the Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier. curator.vermont.gov “Fish

A Heart of Stone: Art Project Pictures Barre’s Recovery

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Community organizer and poet Shawna Trader doesn’t love the word “community,” which she feels is overused. But she acknowledges that the thing itself is vital, especially during disasters such as the flooding that devastated Barre and other parts of Vermont the past two summers. So when painter and fellow Barre resident Dierdra Michelle approached her to help with a project highlighting their neighbors’ stories of flood recovery, Trader thought it would be a great opportunity to show what “community” really means.

Michelle’s impulse wasn’t that different from what prompted people to muck out others’ basements or hand out food and water in the wake of the flood. “When we are in the center of that kind of need, of that kind of trauma within a community,” she said, “you want to bring to the table the thing that is truly yours — and what I truly have is art.”

The resulting project is a pair of paintings with an ephemeral sprawl of stories and poems, quotes, and QR code-accessible audio clips currently on display in the windows of Nelson Ace Hardware on North Main Street in Barre. The central work, “Heart of Barre,” is a composite of 20 16-by20-inch canvases, framed as a grid, each a portrait of someone affected by the floods, from unhoused residents to politicians to those who pitched in during recovery.

Trader interviewed each of them in Michelle’s home studio while the artist took photos and listened. Then, as Michelle worked on portraits, Trader crafted poems — often using the subject’s words. In all, there are portraits of 23 individuals and more than 300 pages of transcripts.

There is former Barre mayor Peter Anthony, whose home of 46 years was destroyed. There is Garrett Grant, assistant director of the Aldrich Public Library, which he helped turn into a volunteer hub in the flood’s aftermath. There is Lucian Stamper, who has been living unhoused in Barre for 20 years and, according to the project’s bio, “lost everything he couldn’t hold in his hands.”

The second painting, another grid of canvases, pictures the river itself. Lotus blossoms form the outline of a heart, framing stones, pebbles and rippling water. Michelle said this painting was originally intended as the background of the portraits, but there was too much going on visually.

Yet its inclusion adds depth to the project, acknowledging that the river itself is a character in this story. Rather than casting it in a sinister light, the painting celebrates the waterway as the connection between neighbors and reminds the viewer

to pay attention. “When you know your environment,” Trader said, “you are capable of knowing the other people in that environment.”

The project is a little bit crowded in the windows of Nelson’s, but it was important to the artists that everyone be able to see themselves and their neighbors in the work. And it’s a perfect spot: The hardware store was critical to flood recovery, giving away supplies even as its staff bailed out their own basement. Owners Bob and Linda Nelson are pictured in the work.

From here, the piece will move to the Card Room at the Statehouse in September; at the end of January, it will be installed in its permanent home at the Aldrich Public Library in Barre. The artists are also creating a book version of the project, due out in February, with proceeds to benefit the library and nonprofit recovery group Barre Up.

and it’s the people. That’s really what the heart of Barre is.” ➆

INFO

Trader said Barre’s flood response, as grassroots and community-led as it was, has become a model for other places dealing with disaster. “What we did here was pretty amazing,” she said. “There’s a reason for that,

CALL TO ARTISTS

2026 *SNAP* FIRST PERSON ARTS

FESTIVAL: Seeking applications from solo performers from all genres for the weekend-long festival in January, which includes storytelling and solo performances by professional and emerging artists. Apply online at flynnvt.org/press-room. The Flynn, Burlington. Deadline: September 26. Info, zstark@flynnvt.org.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

AARON HURWITZ: “Goatagraphs II,” a collection of photographs taken by the South Burlington artist at New Village Farm in Shelburne. South Burlington Public Library Art Wall, through August 31. Free. Info, 846-4140.

BIG RED BARN ART SHOW: An eclectic selection of works highlighting local artists and fine craftspeople. Red Barn Galleries at Lareau Farm, Waitsfield, through August 31. Info, 846-2175.

DALE MALLETT: New work by the North Hero calligrapher and watercolorist. Island Arts South Hero Gallery, through September 1. Info, 598-6698.

CAROLE MCNAMEE: “One Artist: Many Paths,” an exhibition of prints looking at fractals in nature, from ferns to river deltas. Reception: Thursday, August 7, 4:30-6 p.m. CVMC Art Gallery, Berlin, through September 6. Info, 371-4464.

KATAMA MURRAY: “Light & Shadow: Botanical Dualities,” a collection of multidisciplinary cyanotype prints and poems inspired by seasonal plants and elements of nature. Reception: Friday, August 8, 5-7 p.m.; artist talk, 5:30 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, August 8-25. Info, 229-6206.

LIZ LESSNER: “Algorithmocene,” an exhibition of works that have emerged from the study of gestural language and glyphs and featuring forms generated by an algorithm that shapes sound. Reception: Friday, August 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Vermont State University—Castleton Bank Gallery, Rutland, through September 13. Info, cmm02180@ vermontstate.edu.

RENA DIANA: “Drawn by Nature,” 28 abstract landscape paintings by the Vergennes artist. Closing reception: Saturday, August 9, 4-6 p.m. Winemakers Gallery at Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne, through August 9. Info, rena.diana@ gmail.com.

ED KOREN: “Neighbor Ed,” an exhibition honoring the late New Yorker cartoonist, by the Brookfield Historical Society, Reception and ice cream social: Sunday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. Marvin Newton House, Brookfield, through September 30. Free; donations welcome. Info, curator@bhsvt.org.

BELVA HAYDEN: “In the Balance: Stories of Survival, Stillness, and Spirit,” an exhibition of nature and wildlife photographs captured in Madagascar, Southeast Asia, Alaska and elsewhere. Reception: Friday, August 15, 6-8 p.m. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery, Waterbury, August 13-September 6. Info, 244-7801.

ART EVENTS

“Heart of Barre,” on view through September 1 at Nelson Ace Hardware in Barre and September 2 to January 29 at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier. Learn more on Instagram: @heart_of_barre.

ASSETS FOR ARTISTS WORKSHOPS: ‘UNDERSTANDING AN ARTIST’S PERSONAL FINANCES’: An online workshop with tax specialists Amy Smith and Akeem Davis to demystify concepts and introduce artists to tools for financial decision making. Suitable for those in

“Water Heart” by Dierdra Michelle

“Heart of Barre” by Dierdra Michelle

all disciplines; participants may attend all or select sessions. Register via Zoom at assetsforartists.org/workshops. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier, Wednesday, August 6; Monday, August 11; and Wednesday, August 13, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, assetsforartists@ massmoca.org.

CURATORIAL TALK: MARTHA WILSON AND MARK WASKOW: A discussion by Wilson, founder of Brooklyn arts organization Franklin Furnace, of her career as a feminist performance artist and early champion of artists’ books with guest curator and Northern New England Museum of Contemporary Art president Mark Waskow. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Thursday, August 7, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124.

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 7, 7-9 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

‘ART IN BLOOM’: A fundraiser for both the Four Seasons Garden Club and the Memphramagog Arts Center, with a display of floral arrangements inspired by works of art. Friday evening reception includes refreshments and live music by guitarist Ben Kinsley. Memphremagog Arts Collaborative, Newport, Friday, August 8, 5-7 p.m.; and Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 on Friday, free on Saturday. Info, 334-1966.

ARTIST TALK: BONNY DUTTON: A discussion with the North Chittenden fiber artist about her process and weavings. Doors open at 6 p.m. Brandon Artists Guild, Friday, August 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 247-4956.

ORWELL ART FESTIVAL 2025: The third annual festival on the town green, featuring pottery, painting, photography and works in fiber by local artists. Orwell Town Green, Saturday, August 9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 377-0464.

JEFFERSONVILLE ART JAM: A daylong festival with artist demos, plein air painting, sidewalk art, children’s activities, live music and food trucks, as well as ongoing exhibitions at Jeffersonville venues. Downtown Jeffersonville, Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, cambridgeartsvt@ gmail.com.

ARTIST TALK: JIM SARDONIS: A discussion of monumental and smaller works by the artist who created “Reverence” and “Whale Dance,” Vermont’s iconic whale tails sculptures. Chandler Gallery, Randolph, Saturday, August 9, 4 p.m. Info, 728-9878.

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 10, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

FIGURE DRAWING: Artists at all levels of experience are invited to draw from a live model. Drawing boards and easels provided; participants bring drawing materials. 18-plus; preregistration required. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Sunday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. $15; $5 for current VSC residents. Info, 635-2727.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Monday, August 11, 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 12, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary.com.

AFTERNOON FOR EDUCATORS: A guided tour for educators of the current exhibitions, “Pop Perspectives: Ramos, Rosenquist, Ruscha,” “Joel Sternfeld,” “David Wojnarowicz,” “Gladys Nilsson” and “Outdoor Sculpture,” followed by a forum for questions and discussion with light refreshments. Register by August 6. Hall Art Foundation,

Reading, Tuesday, August 12, 2-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 952-1056.

CARVING CIRCLE: A space for printmakers to carve, glue or incise blocks together. Studio tools available; no printing takes place. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, Tuesday, August 12, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-5901.

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 13, 10 a.m.noon. Free; registration required; space limited. Info, info@themillmuseum.org. ➆

music+nightlife

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

CSI: Nectar’s

I’ve never been particularly good at biting my tongue — I’m guessing most writers share that attribute. But I needed to exercise restraint a few months ago after I reported that Nectar’s was “taking a pause,” as its owners called it, and shutting down for the summer. Amid all the social media posts about how “Burlington is ﬁnished” and the requisite playing of the blame game, lots of people had their ﬁngers crossed that the club, which had been a cornerstone of Vermont music for half a century, would magically reopen in the fall.

Yeah, that was never going to happen.

I’m not saying I was sitting on juicy, o -the-record intel that gave me some special insight. The writing was on every wall downtown, if you were paying attention — and I don’t just mean all the gra ti. So when the announcement ﬁnally came last week that Nectar’s was indeed ﬁnished at 188 Main Street — a week after landlord Joe Handy padlocked the doors — the ghost was properly given up. It was time to get real.

First, let’s just mourn together. Nectar’s is dead. “Nectar’s will no longer occupy the space that helped shape the soul of Burlington’s music scene,” read the social media statement from the owners and general manager Tyler Nettleton, who have vowed to carry on the “spirit” of the club. What that entails remains to be seen. Perhaps it means a new location for the venue. Or maybe that means leaning into the Nectar’s Presents booking agency and lining up o -site shows, a strategy used by the folks at Waking Windows. We just don’t know.

Social media was awash in tributes and memories. From locals such as bassist ARAM BEDROSIAN to ROB COMPA of Boston jam band DOPAPOD to legions of fans around the world, people recounted their favorite shows, shouted out the famous gravy fries and in general paid homage to the club that brought untold

numbers of special musical moments to its stages — both Nectar’s and the equally legendary Border and Club Metronome upstairs. Even the club’s competition chimed in. Former Higher Ground co-owner KEVIN STATESIR thanked Nectar’s for its dedication to live music, adding, “It helped inspire me to open Higher Ground in 1998.”

Along with all the eulogies came plenty of recrimination, ﬁnger-pointing and even a few conspiracy theories — never change, BTV hip-hop scene. Much anger was directed at the City of Burlington and the Great Streets BTV initiative, a plan launched in 2018 with the intention of “transforming our streets into dynamic public spaces.” Cool. Cool, cool, cool. Except that for the past year and a half or so, the downtown core has been so ripped up and under construction that you needed a fucking treasure map to ﬁnd a co ee shop.

The situation has been so fraught that more than 100 downtown business owners wrote an open letter to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak in May, saying that downtown had “reached a critical point” and was facing a crisis. As my colleague Derek Brouwer reported, businesses such as Outdoor Gear Exchange and the restaurant Honey Road have seen signiﬁcant drops in foot tra c during construction.

Nettleton veriﬁed that Main Street construction hampered the venue’s business. Walk-up tra c — a key demographic for a club whose iconic sign lit up the night as a beacon to wandering music fans — was largely erased by a maze of tra c cones and construction vehicles.

Some are blaming the owner of the building at 188 Main Street, landlord Joe Handy. Look, I’m not going to go into the whole history of the Handy family and their reputation as landlords. It’s not my beat and I’m no expert … but let’s just say that when I initially spoke with the people at Nectar’s after

e iconic Nectar’s sign

Hip-hop legends Onyx performing at Nectar’s in 2023

they announced their “summer pause” and they told me they were hoping to negotiate a lower rent, my brain went, Well, shit — so much for that.

Nectar’s is not an anomaly. Famous music venues in much bigger cities are struggling and closing. Sky-high rent, combined with increasing insurance rates, are often the main culprits in the death of a nightclub.

Some deeper thinkers pointed to the changing face of live music itself. Ticket prices are soaring, and the postCOVID-19 bump, during which music fans ravenously made up for lost time and snatched up tickets, looks to be finally receding. Market analyst site GWI announced in a survey that only 29 percent of Gen Zers report actively seeking out live music in 2025.

Then there’s the fact that the younger generations statistically drink less than older crowds. Clubs such as

Nectar’s depend on alcohol sales — a problem that’s not going to go away for other local venues, by the way.

Here’s the thing: All of those factors played a part. Nectar’s died by a thousand little cuts. And the toughest thing about it is that some of them were self-inflicted.

When the current owner, Matt Kolinski of Omni Arts Group, and his then-partner Ed Maier of ElmThree Productions, bought Nectar’s in 2022 from Noel Donnellan, Chris Walsh, Peter Picard and Jason Gelrud, they had a plan: Make Nectar’s a shrine to PHISH and the jam band world in general. Maier even highlighted his Phish fandom in the press release announcing the purchase of the club that helped launch Burlington’s most famous musical export.

Knoll Farm Summer Concert Series

Phish performing at Nectar’s

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

music+nightlife

Soundbites « P.57

“I lived in Burlington years ago, back in the early 2000s,” Maier said three years ago. “This was Mecca, this is where Phish was from.”

While all of that was true, and, indeed, Nectar’s has long been a great place to see jam bands, I thought the new owners were missing the point, as was anyone who just looked at Nectar’s as the “home of Phish.”

Nectar’s launched in 1975, almost 20 years before the Phab Phour really started to make a name for themselves. It played host to multiple music scenes and genres, from the funk of DAVE GRIPPO to the swinging strings of PINE ISLAND to the killer BTV alt-rock scene of the ’90s

with the PANTS and WIDE WAIL to the early days of GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS Reggae night, Metal Monday, Retronome ... Nectar’s and Club Metronome contained multitudes. It wasn’t just a fucking noodle factory, excuse my French.

As Nectar’s seemed to hold tighter and tighter to the notion of being jam band mecca, the club lost a key part of its soul. Local bands by and large stopped trying to play there, as touring jam acts and tribute nights ﬁlled the calendar. And many of them did well, by the way.

But that didn’t change the fact that to the local scene, Nectar’s was no longer a place to see the bands of Burlington — that was the province of Radio Bean and

Blaque Dynamite playing the last show at Nectar’s, on June 7

the Monkey House and the now-defunct ArtsRiot.

To be clear: I’m not blaming Maier and Kolinski, nor Nettleton nor former booking agent RYAN CLAUSEN, who all worked their asses o to keep the club going and return it to glory. Running a live music venue in 2025 is like trying to grow fruit in a garden overtaken by weeds. Eventually, all those invasive tendrils simply strangled Nectar’s. This loss stings; there’s no getting around it. Burlington has lost part of its history and, more practically speaking, two stages in a town hurting for venues. But for the “This city is ﬁnished” crowd: Take a deep breath, get o ine for an hour and touch some grass, and

Eye on the Scene

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “NO CARPENTER” by Cricket Blue

2. “1000WAYS2DIE” by rivan

3. “SHRINKING BRAIN” by Joe Something

4. “DYING” by Tinkerbullet

5. “RIGHT NEXT TO ME” by Abbey B.K.

6. “BELONG HERE” by Tom Gershwin

7. “THINKING OF YOU” by Jesse Taylor Band

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

then take a look around. Yes, Nectar’s is closed. That sucks; that hurts. But suddenly Einstein’s Tap House has built a stage and is hosting music again on the site of one of the city’s other legendary nightclubs, Club Toast. There’s some lovely symmetry to the space returning to live music to pick up the slack.

The Skinny Pancake and the Odd Fellows Hall are ramping up their live calendars. Yes, protect venues such as Radio Bean, Higher Ground and the Monkey House at all costs. We need them even more now. Buy tickets, go to shows, support your local bands. That will solve a big chunk of the problems facing local venues and help keep them going — even if it’s too late for Nectar’s. ➆

Last week’s highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

FOOLS BLOCK PARTY, CHURCH STREET MARKETPLACE AND CITY HALL PARK, BURLINGTON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 2: I was shocked when news broke in February that Festival of Fools, Burlington City Arts’ annual three-day street performance celebration, had been canceled this year. rough the generosity of a list of local businesses longer than my word count, the festival was revived over the weekend as the two-day Fools Block Party. ough scaled down, it still had it all. High-ﬂying, trash-talking, body-ruining feats of strength and agility? Check. e juggling of unsafe things, the balancing of unnatural things, and asking audiences for help with unsafe and unnatural things? Check. Clowns, tumblers and contortionists? Check, check and check! e musical acts were few but mighty, highlighted by WOODY KEPPEL’s HOKUM AND THE RUSSIAN STRONGMAN act. In City Hall Park, BCA’s Twilight Block Party eased revelers into the evening with a mellow set by folk duo CRICKET BLUE, followed by an absolute rocker of a set by indie band ROBBER ROBBER. Clearly, BCA is not fooling around when it comes to giving the people what they want.

Wednesday, August 6 - Sunday, August 10

Sale Sidewalk

Get ready for five days of hot deals , cool discounts, and can't-miss promotions all along the Marketplace. Check out the offers and events below —save this page for your next downtown stroll or pin it to the frid ge so you don’t miss a thing!

Bertha Church Intimates

Support you can count on—bras and select sleepwear are 50% off!

WED, AUG 6

Star 92.9 Broadcasting 11am-1pm

Imagination Station 12-2pm

una passeggiata 5-8pm

Black Cap

Coffee & Bakery

Sip & win! Enter to win a $10 gift card each day with your same-day receipt. One lucky winner drawn daily.

Brands B Good

Buy one, get one 50% off storewide! Plus: USAmade fleece, wool, and sweatshirts at 40% off, and USA-made sunglasses 20% off.

Catamount Store

Score major deals on UVM merch—tees, sweatshirts, accessories, and more at deep discounts! Get in early for best selection.

CVS

Stop by for tasty samples of CVS snacks—come hungry, leave happy!

Dear Lucy

It’s your shoe moment— find fab footwear at 50% off and up!

Designers’ Circle Jewelers

Bling it on! Enjoy 10%–50% off the entire store.

ECCO Clothes

Summer steals are on! Get up to 70% off!

FatFace

Get that effortless British style. Up to 50% off sale items!

THURS, AUG 7

Star 92.9 Broadcasting 11am-1pm

Imagination Station 12-2pm

Party on the Bricks 5:30-8pm

Golden Hour Gift Co.

Save 20%-50% on select items and catch new daily specials. Follow along @goldenhourgiftco for the scoop!

Hatley

Find women's and kids' styles from $5-$20, plus up to 70% off inside!

Helly Hansen

Up to 50% off select styles and footwear. BTV merch starting at $5!

Homeport

40-70% off Select Merchandise!

Plus, 20% off regular merchandise on a purchase of 50$ or more!

Ken’s Pizza and Pub

Score $6 off a Large Cheese Pizza on WED of Sidewalk Sale!

Kiss the Cook

30% off Staub 5qt Dutch ovens and select Zwil ling knives.

A 50% off table filled with kitchen textiles and gadgets, and $2 off knife sharpening!

Lake Champlain

Chocolates

Cool down with Frozen Hot Chocolate or indulge in an Affogato— you deserve it.

Lovermont802

Take 15% off everything (except sale items), snag a free sticker with purchases over $40, and don’t miss the sales tent. Everything inside is 50% off!

Olive & Ollie Score up to 50% off!

Imagination Station + Mini Golf 12-2pm SAT, AUG 9 FRI, AUG 8

Imagination Station 12-2pm

Media Sponsors

Star 92.9 Broadcasting 11am-1pm

Saratoga Olive Oil

Flavor your summer with 10% off six packs or grab $5 off when you buy two bottles or more. Plus—free samples while you shop!

The Optical Center

See the savings! Take 10% off everything in store!

Tradewinds Imports Jewelry & gifts up to 50% off and free henna tattoos!

Phoenix Books Book lovers rejoice! Bargain books up to 75% off their original prices.

Outdoor

Gear Exchange

Get adventure-ready with 30% off summer clothing from Outdoor Research, Prana, Kavu, and more.

MK Clothing

Select items up to 50% off!

Rí Rá Irish Pub

First 25 customers each day score a free bar swag bag. And don’t miss out - Reuben Slider Demo on Fri, 8/8 from 3-4:30pm. Cheers!

Vermont Flannel Company

Score big on must-have finds! Enjoy 20% to 50% off select merchandise.

Zinnia Shop with snacks and surprise giveaways! Plus, enjoy sweet sale items!

SUN, AUG 10

Imagination Station + Mini Golf 12-2pm

Get all the details at ChurchStreetMarketplace.com/SidewalkSale25

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.6

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

Connie Converse’s 101st Birthday Party (tribute) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

HiFi (electronica) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

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

Jamie Lee Thurston (country) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jazz Essentials (jazz) at Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 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.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10. Whitney, Folk Bitch Trio (indie) at Stone Church, Chester, 7 p.m. $43.01/$49.10.

THU.7

Alex Stewart & Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Collin Cope & Chris Page of the Tenderbellies (bluegrass) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Duncan MacLeod Trio (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 Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Joe Something, the Pyros (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Live Music Series (live music series) at Folino’s Pizza, Northfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Rick Maguire of Pile, Fisher Wagg, Andriana Chobot (indie rock) at Odd Fellows Lodge, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Sneaky Miles (indie folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10.

Tea Eater, ISTA (psych-funk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Soda Plant Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TURNmusic Presents Wrekmeister Harmonies (alternative, indie) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-40.

FRI.8

The Apollos (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

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.

SAT.9 // BURIAL WOODS [GOTH, ELECTRONIC]

Goth to Get You Into My Life

Coming straight from Burlington’s dark, goth soul, BURIAL WOODS is the darkwave, industrial project of musician Nathan Nowak-Meunier. With one foot in the new wave of ’80s bands such as the Cure and Bauhaus and the other touching the grimy, industrial sounds of Ministry and Skinny Puppy, Burial Woods is a neon-lit explosion of modular synths and beats. A queer and nonbinary artist, Meunier brings Burial Woods to the Light Club Lamp Shop in Burlington on Saturday, August 9, as part of the Queer Goth Night series with DJ DAGON and ARCHITRAVE.

Bella and the Notables (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Bent Nails House Band (jazz, folk) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Christie Woods-Lucas (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Colin McCaffrey & Patti Casey (pop, folk) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Cooper (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 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 Blues Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

D.Davis, Henry Clark (folk) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Double Truck (folk) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

The Eyetraps, the Leatherbound Books, Yabai (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

IncaHoots (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Jake Whitesell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Jeff Salisbury Band (blues, rock) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Joshua Glass (indie) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8 p.m. Free.

Kyle Stevens (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Lara Cwass Band (rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

The Maplegrove Band (country) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Mind Left Body, the Giant’s Harp (Grateful Dead tribute) at Stone Church, Chester, 7:30 p.m.

$18.62/$24.70.

The Natural Selection (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

NightHawk (rock) at Bravo Zulu Lakeside Bar, North Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Rebecca Martin & Larry Grenadier (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $30.

The Rumble with Joseph Boudreaux Jr. (funk, jazz) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. Free.

Swell (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free. Wiseacres (rock) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

SAT.9

Bad Luck Bliss (rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Bob Gagnon (Jerry Garcia tribute) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Bruce Sklar (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Burial Woods, DJ Dagon, Architrave (goth, electronic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

The Discussions (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Dueling Pianos with Joshua Glass & Andriana Chobot (dueling pianos) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Jess O’Brien & Paul Miller (folk) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Kyle Stevens (singer-songwriter) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Magnetic Horse (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Paper Prince (folk) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Plant Fight, Rockin’ Worms, Mad (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Remi Russin, Sunroom (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Saving Vice, Scarecrow Hill, Under the Horizon, Sepsis, Major Moment (metal) at Stone Church, Chester, 6:30 p.m. $24.70/$30.81.

Spike and the Gimme Gimmes, the Schizophonics, Kate Clover (punk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $39.32.

SUN.10

BettenRoo (folk) at Bravo Zulu Lakeside Bar, North Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Cooie’s Trio (folk, jazz, pop) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Daphne Gale (singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Shelburne Vineyard, 2 p.m. Free.

The Pentagram String Band, Yes Ma’am, Gipsy Rufina (bluegrass) at Stone Church, Chester, 6 p.m. $18.62/$24.70.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Them Apples (folk) at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Twilight on the Tavern Lawn: StompBoxTrio (blues, rock) at Putney Tavern Lawn, 6 p.m. Free.

MON.11

Nobby Reed Project (blues) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

TUE.12

The Arty LaVigne Band (blues, rock) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Dale and Darcy (Americana) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 3 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Emma Cook, Grace Palmer (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. Ragged Trio (rock) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

WED.13

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

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

Cooie & Friends (jazz, folk) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

David Karl Roberts (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Fruit Bats, Minor Moon (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $42.84.

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.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

djs

THU.7

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 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.

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.8

Craig Mitchell, Lucky Luc (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Big Dog (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Sulk

Fangs,

Remind Me of Who I Was

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Singer-songwriter Matt Bushlow’s folk-rock project Sulk Fangs has steadily picked up steam since debuting with 2022’s References EP. He dropped three more EPs in 2023, followed by the excellent Where the River Goes the following year.

Bushlow’s ﬁrst LP, Remind Me of Who I Was, continues a ﬁne run of songwriting and sonic experimentation. For the new record, the Burlington resident looked to his past, taking ideas, snippets and long-abandoned bones of songs and returning to them with a new vigor and focus — and plenty of help from his friends.

“I thought of myself as just beginning to write songs in 2022,” Bushlow told Seven Days in an email. “But I always remembered this phase of my life where I would document ideas

on a single track in GarageBand on my white iBook.”

Would that every songwriter had a secret backlog of sounds like Bushlow mined for Remind Me of Who I Was Starting with opener “Radio Songs,” Bushlow establishes that this is no album of casto s and unused B-sides. The song kicks into a fuzzed-out jam reminiscent of Scottish indie-rock outﬁt the Beta

Band, balancing an edge with Bushlow’s delicate, laid-back vocal delivery.

Gillian Welch’s “I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll” gets refashioned from an Americana anthem for the “A Prairie Home Companion” set to a Wilcoesque, twee country rocker. Bushlow’s hushed, playful vocals create a clever juxtaposition when he sings “I want to ’lectrify my soul.”

“Maggie Will” is a duet with Swale vocalist Amanda Gustafson, their voices harmonizing gorgeously as they sing “I know all these changes are so right / except for the ones we undertook last Friday night.” Gustafson’s Swale bandmate Tyler Bolles handles the bass, joining an impressive list of Vermont musicians guesting on the record — 16 in total. Others include drummers Steve Hadeka and Swale’s Jeremy Fredericks, Will Andrews on trumpet, pianist Adam Rabin, and Aya Inoue and Charity Clark providing harmony vocals. The record could have easily

turned into another Burlington Does Burlington compilation.

Eric Segalstad, who also coproduced Bushlow’s last EP at his Sabi Sound studio in Colchester, provides guitars throughout the record. He and Bushlow have dialed in the Sulk Fangs sound — a crisp yet folksy tone, like the ﬁrst truly cold day of autumn. On tunes such as “Where She’s Sleeping,” a ballad that stretches into a mid-tempo jam with Segalstad teasing out some chiming, hanging electric guitar notes, the band sounds simultaneously full and charmingly intimate.

By the ﬁnal track, “I Couldn’t Walk Away,” a sort of campﬁre sing-along jam that brings to mind “Iko Iko” and once again features stirring harmony vocals from Gustafson, Bushlow’s repurposed album is revealed as his best. Take it as a sign not to trash all those drafts — you never know what gold is hiding in them. Remind Me of Who I Was is streaming at sulkfangs.bandcamp.com.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.9

DJ Eric LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Habibi Funk with DJ Chia, Prince Nablus (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10.

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.6

Celtic Jam (Celtic open mic) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Writers’ Bloc Reading & Open Mic (poetry open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

THU.7

Open Mic (open mic) at Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30 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.10

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

TUE.12

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.13

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.6

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5. Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.7

Beth Stelling (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $30.

Live, Laugh, Lava: A Comedy Showcase (comedy open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.8

Beth Stelling (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $30. Wit & Wine (comedy) at Shelburne Vineyard, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.9

Beth Stelling (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. $30.

TUE.12

Open Mic Comedy with Levi Silverstein (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.13

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club,

A Window on the Scene

Burlington singer-songwriter and keyboardist JOSHUA GLASS is one busy musician. He plays in more than a few bands, including Ryan Sweezey & the Midnight Walkers, Andriana & the Bananas, and the Easy Cure, as well as a dueling piano series with Andriana Chobot. When not working as an ace sideman, Glass goes it alone. He released Smile Off the Clock in 2020, an album of indiepop bangers with a ’70s singer-songwriter vibe. The album featured what seemed like half of the Burlington music scene repaying the favor for his services. While he’s working on a new LP, Glass plays at Standing Stone Wines in Winooski on Friday, August 8.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.6

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.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.7

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) at Four Quarters

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.8

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.

Late-Night Queer Karaoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.

SAT.9

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.10

14th Star Remix Record Fair (record fair) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 11 a.m. Free.

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.11

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.12

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

‘Love Island’ Trivia Night (trivia) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5 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.

WED.13

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 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 Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

FRI.8 // JOSHUA GLASS [INDIE]

calendar

AUGUST 6-13, 2025

WED.6

activism

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

bazaars

SIDEWALK SALE: Bargain hunters scour Queen City streets for deals from area shops. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS BIZ

BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 870-0903.

community

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.

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.

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.

CRÊPE NIGHT: Foodies enjoy sweet and savory French pancakes picnic-style at a monthly community meal benefiting local nonprofits. Scott Farm Orchard, Dummerston, 5:307:30 p.m. $10-20; preregister. Info, 490-2865.

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.

the season. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

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.

music

ALICE HOWE & FREEBO: A soulful singer-songwriter and a legendary rock bassist guide listeners on a musical journey across the Americana soundscape. Grace United Methodist Church, Plainfield, 7-8:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, plainfieldartsvt@gmail.com.

BCA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SUGAR IN THE PAN: Vermont Folklife’s trad band of teen musicians plays lively tunes from New England, Québec and Scandinavia. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

CRAFTSBURY CHAMBER

PLAYERS: The classical music ensemble performs diverse music by an array of composers from various eras. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30 p.m. $10-25; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 586-0616.

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

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art. film

See what’s playing 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

JAZZ CAFÉ: Fans of the genre savor a showcase of live tunes performed by professional and up-and-coming Vermont musicians in an intimate setting. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@gmail.com.

JAZZ JAM WITH IRA FRIEDMAN TRIO: Music lovers and players find their groove in Latin-, African-, funk- and soul-inspired sounds. BYO instrument to participate. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7-8:15 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 595-4656.

LAS CAFETERAS: A bilingual band uses traditional son jarocho instruments such as the jarana, requinto, quijada and tarima to perform tunes that tell stories of modern Latinx and immigrant lives. Dartmouth Green, Hanover, N.H., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2422.

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, 5:307:30 p.m. Free. Info, ataplin@ morristownvt.org.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: TIMBERMASH: A bluegrassinspired band from the Upper Valley takes the stage for a high-energy performance packed with dynamic harmonies, driving bass lines and heartfelt solos. Middlesex Bandstand, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, middlesexbandstand@gmail. com.

SUNDAY MORNING: An eclectic band plays a rich combination of tunes ranging from soft piano jazz to banjo-driven country with an occasional Latin twist. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.

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.

WEDNESDAYS ON THE WATERFRONT: MIKE GOUDREAU

BAND: A Newport guitarist spans genres from jazz to rock with covers and originals. Newport Waterfront, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 274-3089.

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.

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.

seminars

SUSTAINING THE RENT WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity helps tenants financially prepare and access resources to meet their housing needs. 5-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456.

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.

talks

SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES:

AMANDA KAY GUSTIN: In “100 Years of Vermont in Film,” the Vermont Historical Society director of collections and access examines how Hollywood has portrayed the Green Mountain State throughout cinema history. Worthen Library, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 372-6209.

WILLIAM ELLIS: In “The Art of the Gig,” a musicologist and musician explores how posters engage in visual dialogue with bands’ music and act as historical documents of cultural movements. Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education, Shelburne Museum, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 985-3346.

theater

GREEN MOUNTAIN NEW PLAY

FESTIVAL: ‘VICTORIAN VAPE’:

Miranda Miller directs Andy Boyd’s queer coming-of-age story about a young, pre-transition trans woman named Carey. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $1042.25. Info, info@nycplaywrights. org.

‘IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE

CHRISTMAS’: Audience members feel the cheer at this stage production of the classic 1954 flick following of group of entertainers who unite to save a struggling Vermont inn. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 2-4:30 p.m. $55-92. Info, 824-5288.

THU.7

bazaars

SIDEWALK SALE: See WED.6.

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.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: Locals 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

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, Thetford, 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.

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. etc.

NIGHT OWL CLUB: Astronomers and space exploration experts discuss the latest in extraterrestrial news with curious attendees. Presented by Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372.

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 Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

FLICKS IN THE PARK: ‘SUMMER OF SOUL’: Musician and filmmaker Questlove’s 2021 documentary debut explores the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival celebrating African American music and culture. Burlington City Hall Park, 8-10 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

‘GONE GUYS’: SOLD OUT. Community members gather to watch a documentary film drawing on information from author Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 nonfiction book, Of Boys and Men A panel discussion follows. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-0598. ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the

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.6

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: GEE’S BEND

SQUARES: Creative little patrons stop by the library to get help with designing a quilt square inspired by Alabama artisans. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

BABY TIME: Infants and their caregivers enjoy a slow, soothing story featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

MYSTERY QUEST: SOLVE THE CRIME!: Little sleuths use critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills to identify who robbed Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” from the Townsburg Art Museum. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9 a.m.6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

READ TO A DOG: Kids of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Emma the therapy pup. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sbplkids@ southburlingtonvt.gov.

SCIENCE OF SOUND SERIES: UKULELE

JAM SESSION: Mini musicians learn how to strum classic tunes such as “Clementine,” “Yellow Submarine” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

SUMMER CRAFTYTOWN: Kiddos express their inner artist using mediums such as paint, print, collage and sculpture. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

WATER PLAY: Tots ages birth to 5 get wet and wild at an outdoor fest of giant blocks, hoops, chalk, bubbles, sounds and splashes. BYO towel or change of clothes. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

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, Marshfield, 10:3011:30 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.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

AUG. 9 | FAMILY FUN

String Theory

Hometown audiences implored Putney’s Sandglass Theater to perform its touring puppetry shows locally, and the beloved troupe delivered: Its new Legacy Series sparks joy and wonder for all ages with “Oma,” the third offering in the inspired five-part lineup. Conceived and performed by Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller, the intergenerational yarn centers on one family’s knitting, storytelling grandma, with puppet characters old and young embarking on the various preparations necessary to make Oma’s birthday a memorable one. To be sure, mischief ensues — but things always end well at Grandma’s house.

LEGACY SERIES: ‘OMA’ Saturday, August 9, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at Sandglass Theater in Putney. $8-12. Info, 387-4051, sandglasstheater.org.

champlain islands/ northwest

KIDS DAY & FELTING WORKSHOP: Crafty kiddos try their hand at needle felting with this fun-filled, colorful seminar led by Blue Heron Farm. South Hero St. Rose of Lima Church, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, champlainislandsfarmersmkt@ gmail.com.

northeast kingdom

COMIC BOOK CREATION: Creative kids in grades 2 to 8 join up with Vermont author Mat Heagerty to discover how graphic novels are made. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

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.

THU.7 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,

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The 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 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.

TEEN GRAB & GO: MUG PIZZA: Hungry students pop by the library to grab a kit packed with ingredients to make a custom, cheesy treat. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TEEN JEWELRY MAKING: Crafty kids ages 13 to 18 use tools, wires, string, beads and bling to create a piece to wear or gift. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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 Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-noon. $2545; preregister. Info, 475-2022.

northeast kingdom

9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

chittenden

county

KALEIDOSCOPE OF STORIES: Youngsters ages birth to 5 make merry with rhymes, songs and a colorful activity. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: Little ones and their caregivers use song and dance to explore the changing seasons and celebrate everyday joys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. MYSTERY QUEST: SOLVE THE CRIME!: See WED.6.

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.6.

outside vermont

ART’S IMPACT PROGRAM

PERFORMANCE: A touring children’s theater troupe mounts a different fairy tale each week, with script, music and lyrics written by North Country Center for the Arts executive artistic director Joel Mercier. Court Street Arts at Alumni Hall, Haverhill N.H., 10 a.m. $5. Info, 603-989-5500.

Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller

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, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘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, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘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, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

BREEDING BARN ADVENTURE

DINNER: SOLD OUT. In a showstopping historic barn, diners sit down to a multicourse celebration of local bounty. Shelburne Farms Breeding Barn, 5-8 p.m. $185. Info, sas@adventuredinner. com.

COMMUNITY PIZZA NIGHT: Foodies bring their favorite toppings, then stretch, sprinkle and bake their pizzas on-site. Live music and drinks in the courtyard follow. Baking School at King Arthur Baking, Norwich, 4:30-7 p.m. $10. Info, 649-3361.

FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP: Folks 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.

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.

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

CHESS TIME: Neighbors partake in the ancient game of strategy. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

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. e 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.

lgbtq

POP-UP HAPPY HOUR: Locals connect over drinks at a speakeasy-style bar, hosted by OUT in the 802. Lincolns, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

music

CENTRAL VERMONT CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: A week of stirring compositions for violin, viola, cello, classical guitar and piano includes works by Ludvig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Antonín Dvořák. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7 p.m. Various prices. Info, 457-3981.

CRAFTSBURY CHAMBER

PLAYERS: e classical music ensemble performs diverse music by an array of composers from various eras. Hardwick Town House, 7:30 p.m. $10-25; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 586-0616.

FAERIE GODBROTHERS: Listeners get their bodies moving at a high-energy performance of Americana, roots, bluegrass, jazz and soul. A book and bake sale completes the evening. Jaquith Public Library, Marshﬁeld, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FEAST & FIELD: MAL MAÏZ: A psychedelic Latin outﬁt captivates audience members with a blend of traditional and modern Central and South American tunes. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $5-25. Info, 234-1645.

FESTIMUSIK FESTIVAL: DANY

FLANDERS & MIKE GOUDREAU:

An acclaimed guitarist and a deft pianist reunite on stage after 30 years for a special unplugged beneﬁt concert. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7:30-9 p.m. $27.50. Info, 888-626-2060.

HIGHER GROUND PRESENTS:

MUMFORD & SONS AND FRIENDS: e lauded British

Galaxy Notes

Composer Martha Hill Duncan and astrophysicist Dr. Martin Duncan merge their respective talents to present a cross-genre space and music program titled “ e Pianist’s Guide to the Universe” at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub. e whimsical, out-of-this-world offering combines sublime slides, planetary commentary and solo piano works from Martha Hill Duncan’s astral series, including “Stories of Stars,” “Sailing on Solar Winds,” “Dark” and “Spirals in the Sky.” Come nightfall, starry-eyed music lovers and cosmic enthusiasts alike will be over the moon.

‘THE PIANIST’S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE’

ursday, August 7, 5-6:30 p.m., at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub. Free. Info, 595-4656, mpa-hub.org.

folk-rock band gets listeners pumped up with the help of fellow musicians such as Noah Kahan, Nathaniel Rateliff and Trombone Shorty. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 7:15 p.m. $119-319. Info, 652-0777.

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.

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL: GRAND FINALE: Gifted musicians dazzle audience members with a performance of cabaret songs and Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du soldat.” Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $15-60. Info, 362-1956.

MAPLE TREE PLACE

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:

BRITISHMANIA: A high-octane tribute act captures the magic, spirit and sound of the Beatles. Maple Tree Place, Williston, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, jkelley@ acadiarealty.com.

MUSIC IN THE VINEYARD

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: QUADRA: A rockin’ four-piece with decades of experience performing together gets toes a-tappin’ while local food trucks serve up tasty treats. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 372-9463.

MUSIC WHILE YOU PICK: Local bands ﬁll the air with feel-good tunes while guests pick their own blueberries and settle in for a picturesque picnic. Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm, Richmond, 5-8 p.m. $14. Info, 434-3387.

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.

‘THE PIANIST’S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE’: In this whimsical marriage of astronomy and piano, composer Martha Hill Duncan and astrophysicist Dr. Martin Duncan combine talents to celebrate the beauty of the night sky and the magic of music. See calendar spotlight. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 595-4656.

THURSDAYS BY THE LAKE: BLUES OVER EASY: Downtown listeners dance to the soulful grooves of local instrumentalists, including guitarist Paul Asbell. Union Station, Burlington, 5:307:30 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. SUNSET BIRD WALK: Not an early riser? You’re not alone! Museum staff lead birders on an evening stroll through the area’s forests and clearings. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-15 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 434-2167. seminars

STOP-MOTION ANIMATION WITH DRAGONFRAME: Media

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.

enthusiasts learn how to set up a stage, light a scene and use industry software to create smooth, well-paced shorts. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

sports

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS:

Green Mountain State batters step up to the plate while sports fans of all ages root, root, root for the home team. Centennial Field, Burlington, 6:35 p.m. $7.5019.50. Info, 655-4200.

WOMEN’S RIDE: Fellowship of the Wheel invites women cyclists of all abilities to get together and share their passion for mountain biking. Sunny Hollow Natural Area, Colchester, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, info@ fotwheel.org.

theater

GREEN MOUNTAIN NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: ‘ON TIME’: Eric Love directs Wesley Cappiello’s queer epic featuring two actors portraying 10 different characters throughout 160 years. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $10. Info, info@ nycplaywrights.org.

‘IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS’: See WED.6, 2-4 p.m. LEGACY SERIES: ‘PUPPET CRIMES’: A raucous dark comedy created by Jana Zeller highlights the glory of traditional, antiauthoritarian puppet theater performances. Sandglass Theater, Putney, 7 p.m. $18-22. Info, 387-4051.

words

ART & WRITING SHARE

GROUP FOR JEWS OF ALL STRIPES: Secular, spiritual or religious, all adult Jewish artists, writers and creators are invited to a monthly virtual meetup, presented by Jewish Communities of Vermont. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister for Zoom link. Info, alison@jcvt.org.

FRI.8

activism

DEGROWTH CAFÉ: Leadership for the Ecozoic researchers, activists and scholars guide a community conversation about a movement aimed at reducing economic growth to address

social-ecological inequities. Spiral House Art Collective, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 578-7887.

agriculture

FIELD DAY: Attendees hear from farmers Kristan Doolan and George Van Vlaanderen about their experience with soil health trials, grazing with e-collars, ripsowing and other ag-related subjects. Does’ Leap Farm, East Fairfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 582-3133.

bazaars

SIDEWALK SALE: See WED.6.

business

LABOR ON LOCATION: Vermont Department of Labor staff provide support for walk-in

job seekers, including résumé review, interview help and links to training opportunities. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

crafts

FIBER ARTS FRIDAY: Knitters, crocheters, weavers and felters chat over passion projects at this weekly meetup. Waterbury Public Library, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

dance

‘THIS IS ALSO POSSIBLE’: Modern troupe Animal Dance presents an original piece exploring how the world around us is constantly rearranging and changing. A Q&A follows. Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 8-9 p.m. $20. Info, tracy@madriver.com.

etc.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: Paranormal historian Holli Bushnell highlights haunted happenings throughout Burlington. 199 Main St., Burlington, 8 p.m. $25. Info, mail@ queencityghostwalk.com.

fairs & festivals

NEXUS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL: Lebanon Opera House invites revelers to a multiday celebration of unbridled creativity featuring live music acts, a silent disco and stunt comedy. See lebanonoperahouse.org for lineup. Downtown Lebanon, N.H. Free. Info, 603-448-0400.

ONE LOVERMONT FREEDOM & UNITY FESTIVAL: Musical acts from Jamaica and beyond soundtrack a weekend packed with artisan vendors, engaging workshops and overnight camping. Pransky Farm, Cabot. $2580; free for kids under 15. Info, onelovermont@gmail.com.

VERMONT ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAR MEET: Spectators ooh and aah at vintage vehicles between flea markets, processions and competitions. Farr’s Field, Waterbury, 7 a.m. $15; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 223-3104.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.7.

‘DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT’: In this 2024 film adaptation of Alexandra Fuller’s memoir, actor-director Embeth Davidtz examines the collapse of colonialism through the eyes of an 8-year-old. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘GONE GUYS’: See THU.7.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.7.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.7.

‘VIDEOHEAVEN’: Viewers take in Alex Ross Perry’s 2025 documentary feature examining video stores’ crucial role in film culture. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $5. Info, cinemahaskell@gmail.com.

food & drink

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.

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.7, 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.

holidays

TU B’AV SHABBAT RETREAT:

Attendees enjoy a transformative weekend celebrating the Jewish holiday of love with a special Shabbat on the farm. Living Tree Alliance, Moretown. Free; preregister. Info, 603-387-6033.

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

ALEX KAUFFMAN: Listeners enjoy their lunch outdoors while a talented duo performs everything from jazz standards to fusion to bebop. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1 p.m. Free. Info, 823-6305.

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. CENTRAL VERMONT CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: See THU.7.

COLIN MCQUILLAN & ELIZABETH

REID: A pianist and a violist take the stage to perform a stirring program of works by Frédéric Chopin, Alexander Scriabin and Johann Sebastian Bach. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $20-30. Info, 223-3631.

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.

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.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL: Pianists and artistic directors

Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss present a series of classical concerts over five weekends.

Dog Day Afternoon

The Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series heats up with explosive five-piece band Robert Jon & the Wreck at Dog Mountain. Pups and their humans howl with delight as the electrifying California group infuses classic Southern rock with an unexpectedly modern twist, setting a new standard for the genre. Through compelling lyrics, rich harmonies and captivating guitar work, the innovative ensemble brings down the house — er, hillside? — with the indomitable spirit of rock and roll. Food truck purveyors, a beer garden and acres upon acres of green space for picnicking (or jumping into ponds, if you’ve got fur and paws) complete the sprawling scene.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY MUSIC SERIES: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK Sunday, August 10, 5-7 p.m., at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury. Free. Info, 748-2600, catamountarts.org.

Persons Auditorium, Potash Hill campus, Marlboro, 8-9:30 p.m. $20-40. Info, 254-2394.

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, 3 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.

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.

TOM CLEARY: A lauded pianist joins forces with bassist Jeremy Hill and vocalist Amber deLaurentis for a gripping performance demonstrating the versatility of jazz piano. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7-8:30 p.m. $20. Info, 798-6717.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.6.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.7.

sports

FRIDAY NIGHT DINGHY RACING: Skippers with previous sailing knowledge celebrate the end

Plainfield, 2 p.m. $10. Info, info@ nycplaywrights.org.

‘GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES’: Physical scars map the history between two childhood friends in Rajiv Joseph’s drama staged by the Wild Goose Players. Wild Goose Storefront, Bellows Falls, 7:30 p.m. $20. Info, dstern@wildgooseplayers.com.

‘IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS’: See WED.6, 7:30-10 p.m.

LEGACY SERIES: ‘PUPPET CRIMES’: See THU.7.

‘OH YOU BEAST DESCENDANTS’: Audience members flock to 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.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: A broad selection of used, rare and antique titles goes on sale to benefit the library. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of books. Info, 773-1860.

SAT.9 bazaars

MAKER’S MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of items. Info, 528-7951.

SIDEWALK SALE: See WED.6.

community

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build

FOMO?

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.

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See THU.7, 6:05 p.m.

theater

GREEN MOUNTAIN NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: ‘OUT OF THE SCORPION’S NEST’: Kianna Bromley directs John Minigan’s poignant play about academia, race, power and belonging. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $10. Info, info@nycplaywrights.org.

GREEN MOUNTAIN NEW PLAY FESTIVAL: ‘POLAROIDS FROM THE APOCALYPSE’: Audience members take in Sara Alanis’ stirring play about a family facing the end of the world. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College,

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 SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

Robert Jon & the Wreck

to the loyal readers who cast 385,319 votes in the 2025 Seven Daysies awards. You know how to pick ’em!

See who won online at sevendaysvt.com/daysies or pick up an All the Best magazine on Seven Days newsstands.

SPECIAL THANKS...

to the sponsors, partners and advertisers who made it stellar:

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

The out-of-this-world team at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, including: Ava, Kelsey and Martin (Sugarsnap)

The gifted and generous caterers: Eighty9 Catering, Kona Beachside, Leonardo’s, Oﬀbeat Creemee, Samosa Man, Sugarsnap and A Taste of Abyssinia

The folks who saved our bacon on party day: Max and Louie Orleans of Food Trucks of Vermont and the South End Get Down

And all our party people: All Night Boogie Band; Claussen’s Florist, Greenhouse & Perennial Farm; Chocolate Thunder Security; Curb Your Waste; Illustrator Sean Metcalf and photographer Daria Bishop!

community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

dance

ECSTATIC DANCES: A free-form boogie session allows participants to let loose in a safe space under the full moon and around the crackling fire. Dreamland, Worcester, 7-9 p.m. $10. Info, 505-8011.

FAMI LY FU N

FRI.8

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

MUSICAL STORY TIME WITH MISS LIZ: Infants and toddlers ages 4 and under wiggle and dance along to songs and rhymes. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

MYSTERY QUEST: SOLVE THE CRIME!: See WED.6.

TEEN GRAB & GO: MUG PIZZA: See THU.7.

VERMONT SUMMER CLASSIC WIFFLE

BALL TOURNAMENT: Fans enjoy play-byplay announcing, groovy music, cornhole and loaded tater tots as players step up to the plate at a weekend of friendly competition to support children and adults with type 1 diabetes. Little Fenway Park, Essex, 4 & 8:15 p.m. Free. Info, danp@ slamt1d.org.

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.

rutland/killington

FOOD & ART FRIDAYS: KIDS & FAMILY

NIGHT: Families flock to an evening of interactive arts activities, puppet shows, groovy tunes and made-to-order pizzas by Fat Dragon Farm. Sable Project, Stockbridge, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $5-20 suggested donation. Info, bex@thesableproject.org.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

‘THIS IS ALSO POSSIBLE’: See FRI.8.

etc.

GENEALOGY DAY: Family-tree enthusiasts get amped up about ancestry and discover their roots at this annual event promoting lineage tracing. Windham Hill

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.6.

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.9 burlington

SPLASH DANCE: See FRI.8, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

TEDDY BEAR TAKEOVER: Families discover how the beloved stuffies are made, then embark on a scavenger hunt and take photos with Vermont Teddy Bear mascot, Ted. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Regular admission, $16.50-20; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

chittenden county

FRENCH STORY TIME: Kids of all ages listen and learn to native speaker Romain Feuillette raconte une histoire. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. TEEN GRAB & GO: MUG PIZZA: See THU.7.

VERMONT SUMMER CLASSIC WIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT: See FRI.8, 10 a.m.6:30 p.m.

barre/montpelier

KIDS TRADE & PLAY: Neighbors swap or shop gently used clothing, shoes, books and toys. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 337-8632.

stowe/smuggs

CHILDREN’S AFTERNOON TEA PARTY & TEA ETIQUETTE TALK: Tots don their finest dress-up outfits for a spot of history and sumptuous snacks, including mini sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and bite-size sweets. Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 2-3 p.m. $20-48; preregister. Info, 888-6888.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TRAIN CELEBRATION: All aboard! Mini conductors enjoy a themed story time, then build and play with classic wooden locomotives. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 496-7280.

middlebury area

VERMONT DAY: Horse lovers of all ages pet, watch and learn about the Morgan breed through educational activities. University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm, Weybridge, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-2011.

Inn, West Townshend, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 578-4225.

‘SAVOR THE SUMMER’:

Attendees revel in succulent barbecue offerings by the Thirsty Burger and Pine Cone, as well as live tunes and an opportunity to meet state and local representatives. Sheldon Historical Society

champlain islands/ northwest

BASH AT THE BAY: Oversized Jenga, cornhole, sack races and tug-of-war make for a memorable afternoon, enhanced by live music and tasty treats. St. Albans Bay Park, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 524-7589.

upper valley

BILLY SHARFF: A New Hampshire author enchants little listeners with a reading of his new children’s book, Joan in the Cone. The Norwich Bookstore, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.6.

SMIRKFEST: An annual communitywide celebration of circus arts offers heaps of performances, playtime, workshops and demos. Circus Smirkus Barn, Greensboro, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10; free for kids under 2. Info, boxoffice@ smirkus.org.

WEEE! DANCE PARTY: Little ones and their caregivers express themselves through movement at this free-wheeling, DJ-driven bash. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 2-3 p.m. $5 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 533-2000.

brattleboro/okemo valley

LEGACY SERIES: ‘OMA’: Little thespians ages 4 and up behold a joyful tale of celebration, generations and storytelling through yarn. See calendar spotlight. Sandglass Theater, Putney, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. $8-12. Info, 387-4051.

SUN.10

burlington

DAD GUILD PLAY GROUP: Fathers (and parents of all genders) and their kids ages 5 and under drop in for playtime and connection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Tabletop role-players ages 9 to 18 practice their craft with the library’s newest dungeon master, Andrew. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, kvonderlinn@echovermont.org.

chittenden

county

VERMONT SUMMER CLASSIC WIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT: See FRI.8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Museum, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $8-15. Info, 370-4148.

fairs & festivals

ART IN THE PARK: An annual summer festival showcases fine art, crafts, specialty foods, kids’ activities and musical entertainment. Main Street Park, Rutland, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 775-0356.

barre/montpelier

GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender-nonconforming kiddos under 13 and their families build community and make new friends at this joyful monthly gathering. Various locations statewide, 2-4 p.m. Free; contact organizer for info and to preregister. Info, 865-9677.

upper valley

MINDFUL MOVEMENT WITH INNER RHYTHMS: Tots ages 3 to 10 and their caregivers embark on a morning spent nurturing a deeper connection to self, body and breath. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9-9:45 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2355.

MON.11

chittenden county

D.E.A.R. (DROP EVERYTHING AND READ): Little patrons build cozy forts in the library and practice reading aloud with Sammy, a gentle therapy dog who’s all ears. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

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.

POKÉMON CLUB: Players trade cards and enjoy activities centered on their favorite strategic game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

TEEN GRAB & GO: MUG PIZZA: See THU.7.

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.

TUE.12 burlington

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SWAP: Local families bring gently used supplies, backpacks and gear to exchange for new-to-them items. Odd Fellows Lodge, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 829-7201.

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.

EAST POULTNEY DAY: “America’s 250th Celebration of the Revolutionary War” sets the tone for this community-driven day packed with activities, including an ice cream contest, art projects and even a Colonial photo booth.

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.

TEEN GRAB & GO: MUG PIZZA: See THU.7.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.8, 2-6 p.m.

mad river valley/ waterbury

WATERCOLOR FOR KIDS: Artist Pauline Nolte leads little painters in grades 2 to 4 in exploration and expression. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

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.8.

WED.13

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.6.

SUMMER CELEBRATION: No Strings Marionette delights attendees of all ages with a performance of “The Stinky Cheese Man Show,” featuring Vermont-made puppets in a captivating tale about the value of friendship and acceptance. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TEEN GRAB & GO: MUG PIZZA: See THU.7.

WATER PLAY: See WED.6.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.6.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.6. HOMESCHOOL BOOK GROUP: Kids ages 10 to 15 who learn at home bond over books. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338. upper valley

SENSORY STORY HOUR: TAILS ON THE FARM: Caregivers and children ages 3 to 5 explore the farm and its inhabitants through stories, songs, poetry and sensory exploration. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $10-12; preregister. Info, 457-2355.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.6. K

Various Poultney locations, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 287-9751.

NEXUS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL: See FRI.8.

ONE LOVERMONT FREEDOM & UNITY FESTIVAL: See FRI.8.

VERMONT ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAR MEET: See FRI.8.

VERMONT PSYCHIC EXPO:

Tarot card and palm readers, mediums, crystals experts, and other conjurers convene for interactive workshops, panels and performances. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $20-30; free for kids under 12. Info, 778-9178.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.7.

‘MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION’:

Douglas Sirk’s 1954 love story follows a rich playboy who falls for the woman whose husband’s death he is indirectly responsible for. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:48 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.7.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.7.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS

MARKET: More than 35 vendors showcase their farm-fresh 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, champlain islandsfarmersmkt@gmail.com.

GREAT NORTH AMERICAN MAPLE PIE CONTEST: Picnickers witness an annual bakers’ battle for the grand prize: a year’s supply of syrup. Additional activities include pie throwing and lawn games. Baird Farm, North Chittenden, 2-4:30 p.m.

Free; preregister for contest. Info, 558-8443.

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.

VEGAN STEAKHOUSE PRIX FIXE PARTY NIGHT: Foodies practicing an animal-free diet get a taste of a cuisine from a place that’s typically off-limits to them: the classic American steakhouse. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 5-9 p.m. $60. Info, sas@adventuredinner.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. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

holidays

TU B’AV SHABBAT RETREAT: See FRI.8.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION FOR ALL: Native French speaker Romain Feuillette guides an informal discussion group for all ages and abilities. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

music

ADAM TENDLER: A celebrated performer of classical and contemporary music dazzles picnickers at an outdoor concert overlooking the pond. The Frank Suchomel Memorial Arts Center, Adamant, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6978.

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.8.

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES:

TONY TRISCHKA’S EARLJAM: The banjo legend and his band trace the life of bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs through stories and songs. Robertson Paper Company Field, Bellows Falls, 6-8 a.m. $25-30; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.

CENTRAL VERMONT CHAMBER

MUSIC FESTIVAL: See THU.7, 7:30 p.m.

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.

DANIEL INAMORATO: A Brazilian American professor, pioneering queer artist and avant-garde researcher delights listeners with a gripping solo performance. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7-8:30 p.m. $20. Info, 595-4656.

JORGE GARCIA HERRANZ: A Spanish-born pianist visiting from Paris plays a passionate program of sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 7-8:30 p.m. $25. Info, 372-8889.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL: See FRI.8.

NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: See FRI.8, 9 p.m.

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: Light fare and succulent desserts fill up tanks while local bands serenade the crowd with dynamic toe-tappers. See meetinghouseonthegreen.org for lineup. Meeting House on the Green, East Fairfield, 5 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.6.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.7. FULL MOON POTLUCK & HIKE: Community members share a meal and deepen their connections, followed by a guided forest walk to celebrate and bask in the full moon’s energy. BYO dish to share. Journey Together VT, Richmond, 6-9:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 858-5576.

seminars

EDITING WITH DAVINCI RESOLVE: Media buffs learn how to configure their workspace, import and organize files, and finetune to create a finished product. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

theater

‘GRUESOME PLAYGROUND

INJURIES’: See FRI.8, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS’: See WED.6, 2-4 & 7:30-10 p.m.

words

CELEBRATE BOOKSTORE

ROMANCE DAY: Bookworms discuss People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, then shop limited-edition merch, browse curated book and lingerie pairings and take pics in a themed photo booth. L’Ivresse Lingerie, Essex Junction, 5:30 p.m. $10; preregister. Info, 872-7111.

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.8.

LIT FEST: Vermont poet laureate Bianca Stone keynotes this jubilee of the written and spoken word. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $40. Info, 215-710-5160.

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.10

bazaars

SIDEWALK SALE: See WED.6.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.6, 1-3 p.m. dance

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 SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

‘THIS IS ALSO POSSIBLE’: See FRI.8, 6-7 & 8-9 p.m. fairs & festivals

ART IN THE PARK: See SAT.9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

NEXUS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL: See FRI.8.

ONE LOVERMONT FREEDOM & UNITY FESTIVAL: See FRI.8.

VERMONT ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAR MEET: See FRI.8. VERMONT CHEESEMAKERS FESTIVAL: SOLD OUT. Fromage lovers sip vino and sample local offerings while mingling with dozens of artisan food producers at this annual festival of flavors. Shelburne Farms, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $69.50. Info, festival@ vtcheese.com.

VERMONT PSYCHIC EXPO: See SAT.9.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.7.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.7.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.7.

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, 2-3:30 p.m. $48; preregister. Info, 888-6888.

A MIDSUMMER’S FEAST: SOLD OUT. A farm-fresh dinner prepared by all-star chefs from around the state benefits local farms and sustainability efforts. Ages 21 and up. Intervale Center, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. $175; preregister. Info, 660-0440.

ROYALTON FARMERS MARKET: Local farms find support at a SUN.10 » P.72

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, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 331-0434.

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.7, 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

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.

music

BCA SUNDAY CLASSICAL: DUO

DOLCE: Violinist Laura Markowitz and cellist John Dunlop — both members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra — entertain listeners enjoying their morning coffee outdoors. Burlington City Hall Park, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

BROOKS HUBBARD: A local singer-songwriter delivers powerhouse vocals with thoughtful lyrics backed by rhythmic guitar. Haverhill Common, N.H., 4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 603-989-5500.

BURLINGTON CONCERT BAND: Local music lovers bring lawn chairs and blankets to a weekly big-band blowout. Battery Park, Burlington, 7-8:45 p.m. Free. Info, burlingtonconcertbandvt@ gmail.com.

CASPIAN MUSIC: ‘BEETHOVEN TO BOYD MEETS GIRL’: 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: 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, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

DANIEL INAMORATO: An acclaimed pianist performs a poignant tribute concert honoring the children and teachers murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as well as other victims of mass shootings and George Floyd. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 2-3:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 595-4656.

THE DIXIE SIX: A sextet performs a dynamic repertoire of New Orleans jazz tunes and Louis Armstrong hits. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 6-7:30 p.m. $25. Info, 372-8889.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY MUSIC SERIES: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK: A renowned band performs classic Southern rock with a distinctly modern edge. See calendar spotlight. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL: See FRI.8, 2:30-4 p.m. NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: See FRI.8, 11 a.m.

VERMONT PHILHARMONIC:

Listeners enjoy a picnic on the grounds while the orchestra performs a summer pops program of Broadway hits, opera favorites and classic American tunes. Moose Meadow Lodge, Duxbury, 4 p.m. $5-55. Info, 223-9855.

theater

‘GRUESOME PLAYGROUND

INJURIES’: See FRI.8, 2 p.m. ‘IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS’: See WED.6. ‘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.

words

CHAPBOOK RELEASE PARTY: Zig Zag Lit Mag hosts an afternoon of literary conversations, cocktails and live readings by voices rooted in Vermont soil. Tourterelle, New Haven, 2 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, info@zigzaglitmag.org.

MON.11 conferences

VERMONT COMMUNITY

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: Community builders from across the state convene for workshops, panels, group discussions and networking. Vermont State

University-Randolph, Randolph Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $25-75 sliding scale; preregister. Info, info@ vtrural.org.

crafts

COLLAGE COLLECTIVE: Creatives of all experience levels cut, paste and make works of wonder. Virtual options available. Expressive Arts Burlington, 6:309 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 343-8172.

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.

dance

BEGINNER LINE DANCING: No partner or experience is necessary when Sid McLam teaches learners how to step in sequence. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30-8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, abelisle2@comcast.net.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.7.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.7.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.7.

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.

lgbtq

QTPOC SUPPORT GROUP: Pride Center of Vermont 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

ST. JOHNSBURY BAND: The nation’s third-oldest community band regales locals with dynamic tunes during a weekly ice cream social. Caledonia County Courthouse, St. Johnsbury,

7:30 p.m. Free. Info, manager@ stjohnsburyband.org.

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.

talks

OLIVE BRANCH SERIES: H. BROOKE PAIGE: A Vermont historian and storyteller leads a community-driven discussion about “The Song of the Vermonters, 1779,” a poem capturing the voice of the Green Mountain Boys and their fight for independence. Pizza provided. 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, essexvtgop1@gmail.com.

words

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.12 agriculture

FARMER OLYMPICS: Growers from across the state show off their agricultural aptitude in a cornucopia of physical and cerebral challenges. High Meadows Farm, Putney, 4-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 419-0082. 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.

JAM ANNUAL MEETING: Neighbors settle in to hear updates and progress reports from the nonprofit media center, then enjoy tasty nibbles by Cappadocia Café. Virtual option available. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN MEMORY CAFÉ: Those living with dementia and their caregivers gather to make friends and have fun. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

THE MOTH STORYSLAM: Local tellers of tales recount true stories in an open-mic format. Burlington Beer, 7 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, susanne@themoth.org.

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, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

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. etc.

MILTON FARMERS MARKET & MUSIC IN THE PARK: Local purveyors sell their goodies, bands bring the beats, and the lawn fills up with cornhole players and giant Jenga tournaments at a weekly outdoor offering. Bombardier Park West, Milton, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 893-1457.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT STATE FAIR: Crowds converge on the midway for carnival amusements, horticultural displays, equine events and live music. Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland, 5-11 p.m. Various prices; free for military with ID and kids 5 and under. Info, vermontstatefair@outlook.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.7.

‘APOCALYPSE NOW’: Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 adventure epic zooms in on a U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam who is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces colonel. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

‘THE LIFE OF CHUCK’: Tom Hiddleston stars in this 2024 sci-fi drama following three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $5. Info, cinemahaskell@gmail.com.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.7.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.7.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.7.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.7.

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.

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

BLUES AND BEYOND: A jazzy, rockin’ Vermont jam band delivers a mix of heartfelt originals and reimagined classics. Fairlee Town Common, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@fairleearts.org.

CABOT ARTS SUMMER MUSIC 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. INTERPLAY JAZZ JAM NORTH: Instrumentalists tune in for a night of melodies, bringing six to eight copies of sheet music to pass around. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 578-8830. MUSIC WHILE YOU PICK: See THU.7.

OLD ROUND CHURCH CONCERT SERIES: OTTER CREEK: A Vermont group known for its blend of bluegrass, folk and Americana draws on traditional and contemporary styles to craft a sound that’s both nostalgic and original. Old Round Church, Richmond, 7-9 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 434-3654.

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE: Attendees revel in a night of groovy tunes by Mal Maïz and Steady Betty, complete with tantalizing fare from local food trucks. BYO chair or blanket. No dogs allowed. The Old Mill Park, Johnson, 5:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, tuesdaynightlive@ townofjohnson.com.

outdoors

GUIDED SHORT TRAIL HIKE: See WED.6, 10-11 a.m. seminars

ESSENTIALS OF AUDIO

RECORDING: An informative evening examines the latest audio techniques and equipment, from microphones to boom poles. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692. FINDING HOUSING

WORKSHOP: Attendees build an apartment-search tool kit with guidance from the

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456.

sports

FELLOWSHIP OF THE WHEEL

ENDURO: New and experienced mountain bike riders gather in the spirit of sportsmanship for a casual racing night. Cochran’s Ski Area, Richmond, 4:307:30 p.m. $15-20; preregister. Info, 434-2479.

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.

words

BURLINGTON

LITERATURE GROUP:

Bookworms 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.

SARAH STEWART TAYLOR & TESSA WEGERT: Two celebrated Vermont mystery writers launch their newest releases, Hunter’s Heart Ridge and Coldest Case respectively, followed by book signings. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

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.13

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.

WEEKLY PASSEGGIATA: See WED.6.

crafts

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts can bring a project to this monthly meeting. Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, gmc.vt.ega@gmail.com.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.6.

dance

BARN DANCE: Seasoned pros and beginners alike hit the dance floor for an evening of two-steppin’ feet and beats by Better in Boots. The Barn at Boyden Farm, Cambridge, 5:30-9 p.m. $15; free for kids 10 and under; cash bar. Info, 598-5509.

environment

BUTT LITTER CLEANUP: Helping hands come together to dispose of discarded cigarettes. St. Albans Bay Park, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1296. 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

VERMONT STATE FAIR: See TUE.12, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘LOST NATION’: History buffs watch local filmmaker Jay Craven’s Revolutionary War drama about Ethan Allen and Lucy Terry Prince, set in the early upstart Republic of Vermont. Peacham Congregational Church, 7:30 p.m. $15. Info, 748-2600.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.6.

health & fitness

ASPIRE NOW MOBILE CLINIC: A nonprofit clinic 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.6.

lgbtq

QUEER WRITERS’ GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly

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 SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

to discuss their work, write from prompts, and give each other advice and feedback. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

BCA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: IAN CAMPBELL: An expressive singer-songwriter plays roots, rock, folk and Americana with grit and soul. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305.

BLUEGRASS EXTRAVAGANZA: Local musicians take the genre to new heights while guests enjoy tacos and ice-cold beverages. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.

CRAFTSBURY CHAMBER

PLAYERS: See WED.6.

EVERBLUE: A musical duo enchants listeners with traditional songs and stories about travels near and far. Stone’s Throw, Richmond, 6-8 p.m. By donation. Info, 233-5293.

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP

BROWN BAG SUMMER CONCERT

SERIES: See WED.6.

JOSH PANDA: An international recording artist based in Burlington brings gospel-drenched funk and pop to the stage. Middlesex Bandstand, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, middlesexbandstand@ gmail.com.

MORRISVILLE LIVE: See WED.6.

‘OKLAHOMA! IN CONCERT’: Lyric Theatre and Vermont Symphony Orchestra present a concert version of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about a farm girl and her two rival suitors. The von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort Concert Meadow, Stowe, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $79-125. Info, 864-5741.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER

CONCERT SERIES: See WED.6.

TWISTED PINE: Dubbed “a band to watch” by NPR, the dynamic group shape-shifts across genres from funk to bluegrass. Dartmouth Green, Hanover, N.H., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2422.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.6.

sports

BIKE BUM RACE SERIES: See WED.6.

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.6.

theater

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, 7:309 p.m. $0-100 sliding scale. Info, 779-3315. ➆

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

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.

FROM THE GOOD CITIZEN HALL OF FAME

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

LEARN TO HIGHLAND DANCE!

Got a little who loves to move? Your kiddo will love hopping and burning off their extra energy through Highland dance! Find your place with us at Highland Dance Vermont. Now enrolling ages 4-plus. Mon. in Waterbury & Wed. in Hinesburg, starting Aug. 18. Info, highlanddancevt.com.

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.

movement

sports & ﬁtness

strokes, our supportive environment ensures a positive and effective learning experience. Join us and make a splash in your swim journey today! Group, private and semiprivate lessons offered. Sundays beginning Sep. 7. Location: Forbush Natatorium, 97 Spear St., Burlington. Info: UVM Campus Recreation, 802656-3070, campus.recreation@ uvm.edu, uvmcampusrec.com.

wellness

BLOOM LAB PERFUMERY AT FARM CRAFT: Gather with friends and discover the art of botanical perfumery! 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. It’s part art, part science, and a whole lot of fun and self-discovery! Wed., Aug. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $95. Location: Farm Craft VT, 6608 Route 116, Shelburne. Info: bloomlabvt@gmail.com, sevendaystickets.com.

DONATION-BASED YOGA: Pay what works for you! Reiki available by appointment. Mon., Vinyasa; Wed., gentle yoga; Fri., Vinyasa, 9-10:15 a.m. Location: 25 Rossiter St., Brandon. Info: melanieredelyoga@gmail.com, melanieredel.com.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month (Aug. 5, Sep. 9). 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.

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., Aug. 6, 20 or 27, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $50. Location: Old Spokes Home Community Workshop, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: Old Spokes Home, 802-863-4475, sevendaystickets.com.

SWIM LESSONS AT UVM: Dive into fun and skill building with Vermont Swim School! Our instructors offer personalized swim lessons for all ages and skill levels, from toddlers to adults. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to reﬁne your

and purchase tickets for

and other classes at

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Sabbath Humane Society of Chittenden County

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: July 25, 2025

SUMMARY: is bright-eyed brindle sweetheart is social, curious and oh-soplayful. He has a fun-loving spirit and big personality. Whether it’s a game of chase or tug-of-war, Sabbath is always ready to pawty. He especially loves playing with other bold, rough-and-tumble pups like himself. Sabbath would thrive in a home that loves adventures and playtime and has plenty of space for a lovable, energetic buddy. Come meet Sabbath at HSCC to see if he could be your new best friend!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Sabbath is dog-social; he would do best with a pal who has a similar personality. He has no known experience with cats but has lived with children and enjoyed their company.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

August is National Immunization Awareness Month! Routine vaccinations are essential to protecting your pets from preventable diseases. Keep your pets happy and healthy by making sure they are up to date on vaccines such as rabies and distemper.

Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classiﬁeds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classiﬁeds@sevendaysvt.com

for a person 5’5 to 5’8. Incl. operating manual & spare inner tube. $900. Info, 802-595-5757, elinton@myfairpoint. net.

nature. Forest bathing, creative projects & workshops! Explore our calendar at journeytogethervt.com.

BURLINGTON $1,500

SOUTH END 1-BR

y & Se

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

NEIGHBORHOOD YARD

SALE

Furniture, fabrics, housewares, décor, books, ceramics & more.

Multifamily street/block event! Sat., Aug. 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Marshall Dr., Burlington (NNE).

BRIDPORT, VT., TOWNWIDE YARD SALES

Sat. & Sun., Aug. 9 & 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Maps avail. at sales on the map on the sale dates & at Pratt’s Store starting on Aug. 6.

SPORTING GOODS

FOLDING BIKE FOR SALE

Bike Friday Tikit folding bicycle, purchased for $3,000 in 2012. Bike frame ideally suitable

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)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JOURNEY TOGETHER VT — UPCOMING EVENTS

Offering peace & connection within the grounding energy of

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

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

HUNTINGTON 3-BR

APT. IN DUPLEX

Lovely 3-BR, 1.5-BA apt. in duplex. 1,500 sq.ft., W/D, DW, big yard on main road. $1,800/mo. Contact 802-349-5294, amethystpeaslee@ gmail.com.

STARKSBORO, VT., 3-BR IN VICTORIAN GINGERBREAD

12A Big Hollow Rd., Starksboro, Vt. Unfurnished 3-BR, 1-BA, kitchen, LR, & DR. Freshly renovated (more photos will be avail. this week). Rent does not incl. utils (fuel oil, electric, internet). Town water. NS on the premises, incl. outdoor common areas. 15 mins. to Bristol or Hinesburg, 25 to Richmond or Williston (I-89 access). $1,600. Info, 802-5035834, karynvtparker@ gmail.com.

BURLINGTON 2-BR NOW $1,500, 3-BR AVAIL. NOW

31 South Willard 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.

Unfurnished 1-BR, 1 BA, 579 sq.ft. Private, light-fi lled, 3rd fl oor, 1-BR apt. Located very close to downtown in the South End of Burlington. Seasonal lake views, wood fl oors, claw-foot tub, storage space, laundry hookups, on-street parking. Gas heat, electric, internet paid by tenant. No pets, NS: nonnegotiable. 1-year lease, renters insurance req. w/ lease, + 1-year security deposit. Send inquires w/ details about your interest/self, & I will respond w/ the address. $1,500. anks for your interest! Email maggieseverance@ gmail.com.

HOMES FOR SALE

HUNTINGTON LOG

CABIN-STYLE HOME ON 2+ ACRES

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

129 Ross Hill, Huntington, VT. 3-BR, 2-BA, 1,372 sq.ft. on 2.71 acres of lush forest & meadows. Log cabinstyle home w/ 3 BR (2 on 2nd fl oor & 1 on 1st fl oor), 2 BA, & upstairs loft area. Semifi nished walkout basement w/ 2 windows (not incl. in the sq.ft.). Detached garage (built in 2022) w/ electric, level 2 car charger & plumbed for water/hose. Heat pumps added in 2022. Soapstone wood fi replace from Hearthstone heats entire home extremely well in winter. Other updates: all new appliances (gas stove, microwave, refrigerator, DW, W/D — electric) in 2022; installed heat pumps (1 in living space & 1 in primary BR) in 2022; installed gutters on house & garage (none before) in 2023; installed new water pressure pump in 2024; made energy-effi cient updates to basement in 2023; professionally cleaned woodstove, inspected yearly. 25 mins. to Williston shops & 40 mins. to downtown Burlington. $505,000. Info, 802-923-6439, brianpcash@icloud. com, zillow.com.

HOUSING WANTED

COLCHESTER, NORTH AVE., BURLINGTON 4-BR, 2-BA. Responsible working family seeks to rent or lease a large family home or apt. Dec. 1 while you travel abroad or vacay nearby w/

conﬁ dence your home & pets will receive the best of care. $2,500. Contact 802-373-6756, wdmagnant@aol.com.

MIND-NUMBING NOISE

HARASSMENT IN BARRE CITY

Monthslong, unbearable, 24-7 noise pollution in my neighborhood. I need a professional investigator to track down & identify the noise source so that I can effectively complain &/or bring suit. Call 802-272-2802 or email damregcomply@ outlook.com.

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 1-877-7036117. (AAN CAN)

GET DISABILITY BENEFITS

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

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)

PEST CONTROL

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)

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL SAUNA BUILDERS IN VERMONT

Peacock Design & Construction builds custom saunas, blending Finnish tradition w/ bold, modern craftsmanship. Each project is 1-of-akind, built by a local team that takes on 1 job at a time to ensure seamless communication, timely delivery & stunning results. Info, peacockindustriesllc.com.

MOVING & HAULING

MOVING

Markoski’s has established a local reputation for being a team of friendly professionals who treat their customers like family. Based out of Chittenden County, we go across Vermont & out of state. Please inquire at markoskismoving. com.

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: HH

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

SUDOKU BY JOSH

REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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

ANSWERS ON P.78 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

ANSWERS ON P. 78 »

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

[CONTINUED]

CARS & TRUCKS

2015 HONDA CR-V EX 4-DOOR SUV, AWD, 2.4L, 4CYL Gray, 70K miles. Incl. all-season & cargo mats, cargo cover, splash guards, door visors, set of studded snow tires. $16,000. Call 802-355-0256.

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR?

Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast, free pickup in all 50 states. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans ﬁnd work or start their own business. Call 24-7: 1-855-4027631. (AAN CAN)

1978 VOLKSWAGEN BUS Brown, 5K miles. New motor in 2015, less than 5K miles. 2,000cc pancake, original VW circus tent w/ 2 sets of poles, 2 batteries. Runs great, inside 90 percent rebuilt. Canvas in great shape. Additional photos avail. Asking $22,000. Info, 802-760-7782, darcy. cahill64@gmail.com.

Legal Notices

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTYFIVE AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO GROSS RECEIPTS TAX

Sponsor: Traverse Public Hearing Dates: First reading: June 23, 2025 Referred to: Ordinance Rules suspended and placed in all stages of passage:

Second reading: August 4, 2025 Action: adopted Date: 08/04/25

Signed by Mayor: Published: 08/06/25 Effective: 08/26/25

It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows:

at Chapter 21, Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended by amending Sec. 31 thereof to read as follows:

Paragraph (I), as written.

Paragraph (II)(A)-(F), as written.

(G) Temporary Tax Rate: Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the following temporary tax rates will apply for the ﬁ scal year commencing on July 1, 202 5 4 , and ending on June 30, 2026: August 31, 2025,

(1) t e restaurant, amusements, and admissions taxes on gross receipts set forth in subsections (A), (D), and (E) of this section shall be increased from two (2) percent of gross receipts to two and one-half (2.5) percent; and (2) e short term rental tax on gross receipts set forth in subsection (C) shall be divided to dedicate two (2) percent of revenues for general fund purposes, with the remaining seven (7) percent dedicated to the housing trust fund.

Commencing September 1, 2025 July 1, 2026 , said tax rates shall again be set as

set forth in subsections (A)-(E) at two (2) percent.

Remainder of section, as written.

* Material stricken out deleted.

** Material underlined added.

ER/Ordinances 2025/Gross Receipts August 2025

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. e purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. e public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/SOS/rules/ . e law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for Youth Licensing Rule.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P032

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department of Health

CONCISE SUMMARY: is rule sets forth the standards that apply to the licensing of psychiatric residential treatment

facilities for youth (PRTF) in Vermont. is rulemaking establishes the process by which a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth can apply for a license in Vermont. is rulemaking also establishes the minimum requirements a PRTF must meet in order to be eligible for licensure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jessica Schifano, Policy Director Agency of Human Services, Vermont Department of Health 280 State Drive, Building C, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-798-6756

E-mail: jessica.schifano@vermont.gov URL: http://www.healthvermont.gov/about-us/ laws-regulations/public-comment.

FOR COPIES: Natalie Weill, Policy Advisor, Agency of Human Services, Vermont Department of Health 280 State Drive, Building C, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-863-7200 E-mail: natalie.weill@ vermont.gov.

Manufactured Food Rule.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P033

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department of Health

CONCISE SUMMARY: e purpose of the rule is to provide the requirements for the safe and sanitary manufacturing, packing, holding, and distributing of human food offered for sale in Vermont. is rulemaking does the following: 1) Defi nes cottage food operation, cottage food operator, and cottage food product, non-potentially hazardous baked good, and time or temperature control for safety; 2) Substitutes the more narrow bakery product exemption for a broader exemption categorized as the cottage food exemption and raises the exemption threshold of gross annual sales to $30,000; 3) Amends the existing exemption filing requirement frequency from prior to operation to an annual filing; 4) Creates a required annual training for license-exempt food manufacturers; and 5) Creates a process for cottage

food operators to submit requests to the Department for determination whether the product they are making is a cottage food.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jessica Schifano, Policy Director Agency of Human Services, Vermont Department of Health 280 State Drive, Building C, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-798-6756 E-mail: jessica.schifano@vermont.gov URL: http://www.healthvermont.gov/about-us/ laws-regulations/public-comment.

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/832256 96227?pwd=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WW w1dzMxUT09

Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227

Passcode: 969186

Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

1. ZP-25-325; 322-324 St. Paul Street (RC, Ward 6) Champlain Housing Trust / Taryn Barrett

Proposed change of use from group home to community house including renovation of existing building and construction of addition.

2. ZP-25-306; 204 Pearl Street (RH, Ward 3) Pearl Union SRO Housing, LP / Donal Dugan Proposed change of use from apartments to family shelter with associated renovations and site improvements.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning offi ce is considered public and cannot be kept confi dential. is may not be the fi nal order in which items will be heard. Please view fi nal Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt. gov/dpi/drb/agendas or the offi ce notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

e City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious afﬁliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. e City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

e programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities.

Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

STATE OF VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF VERIFIED COMPLAINT

TRANSPORTATION PROJECT CABOT-DANVILLE FEGC F 028-3(26)C/3 CABOT

In accordance with the requirements of 5 V.S.A §652 and 19 V.S.A. §504(b)(2), the VermontAgency of Transportation (“VT rans”) hereby gives notice that it has filed a verified complaint with the Vermont Superior Court, Washington Unit, Civil Division seeking a judgment of condemnation for the taking by the State of Vermont of certain lands and rights therein located in the Town of Cabot in Washington County for transportation purposes under the protections of 19 V.S.A.Chapter 5 (Condemnation).

The proposed transportation project is described as follows:

“Cabot-Danville FEGC-F 028-3(26)C/3 is Contract 3 of the Cabot-Danville corridor reconstruction to bring the roadway up to National Highway System Standards. This project consists of the full-depth reconstruction of approximately 1.307 miles of US Route 2 beginning East of Mack Mountain Road and extending to a point just East of West Shore Road. The roadwaywill be widened to include 12-foot lanes and 8-foot shoulders. In addition, three (3) concrete box culverts will be installed as well as many drainage features.

It is anticipated construction for this project will consist of two (2) full construction seasons.

A two-way detour will be designed as part of the project though it should be anticipated that there will be times of one-lane alternating traffic.”

On December 2, 1997, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (“VTrans”) conducted a 19 V.S.A.§502 public hearing at the Cabot Town Office. After considering the objections, suggestions, and recommendations received from the public at the hearing, VTrans has determined that there is a necessity for the Project, as the term is defined in 5 V.S.A. § 653 and 19 V.S.A. § 501(1).

VTrans believes that the following persons are the owners of, or have an interest in the land and/or rights to be taken:

• Mr. Craig Cook & Mrs. Barbara Cook I 590 US Rt 2, West Danville, VT 05873; and

• Mr. Peter Danneberg 179 Elm St, Cabot, VT 05647

• Ms. Alison Joyal I 64 7 Gore Rd, Barre VT 05641

• Ms. Stephanie Miller I 9 Forest Drive, Albany, NY 12205

To the above persons and all other persons who may have an interest in the lands proposed to be taken:

1. THE STATE OF VERMONT IS PROPOSING TO CONDEMN PROPERTY IN WHICH YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST.

a. The state of Vermont, acting by and through VTrans, has filed a Verified Complaint in the Superior Court that affects your property.

2. IF YOU OBJECT TO THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT:

a. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 21 DAYS OR BY AUGUST 11, 2025 (WHICHEVER IS SOONER) TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

b. You must give or mail the Agency a written response called an Answer to the Agency’s attorney located at:

Assistant Attorney General Vermont Agency of Transportation 219 North Main Street, Suite 201 Barre, Vermont 05641

c. YOU MUST ALSO GIVE OR MAIL YOUR ANSWER TO THE COURT located at: Washington County Superior Court 65 State St, Montpelier, VT 05602

3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Agency’s Verified Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Verified Complaint. If you believe the Agency should not be granted the relief asked for in the Verified Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD IF YOU DO NOT GIVE YOUR WRITTEN ANSWER TO THE COURT. If you do not answer within 21 days or by August 13, 2025, you will lose your right to be heard on the Verified Complaint and the necessity of the taking. If so, the Court may decide against you, and grant the Agency the right to proceed with the acquisition of your property, and/or the acquisition of other easement rights to your property.

5. THE COURT WILL SCHEDULE A FINAL HEARING ON THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR NECESSITY. The Court will schedule a final hearing on the Verified Complaint if timely Answers are filed denying the necessity of the proposed taking or the public purpose of the project. The purpose of this hearing is for the Court to determine the contested issues and to hear evidence from the Agency, municipal officials, and affected property owners regarding the agency’s need to acquire the land and rights described in the Verified Complaint for the transportation project.

6. THE FINAL HEARING FOR NECESSITY IS NOT ABOUT CHALLENGINGCOMPENSATION. The Final Hearing is not about challenging compensation. This hearing is for the Court to determine the contested issues and to hear evidence from the Agency, municipal officials, and affected property owners regarding the Agency’s need to acquire the land and rights described in the Verified Complaint for the transportationproject.

7. IF THE COURT FINDS THE PROPOSED TAKING LAWFUL: If the Court finds the proposed taking lawful the Court shall issue a Judgment of Condemnation, declaring the right of the Agency to take the property by eminent domain and declaring that title to the property will be transferred to the Agency, once the Judgment of Condemnation is recorded, payment has been tendered or deposited, and a Notice of Taking has been issued to the property owners and/or interested persons named in the Verified Complaint.

8. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION OFFERED BY THE AGENCY.

Property owners who disagree with the amount of compensation offered by the Agency will have a later opportunity to be heard on the amount of compensation. A property owner who disagrees with a compensation award may appeal in the following manner:

a. If the owner’s demand exceeds the Agency’s offer of just compensation by $25,000.00 or less, the owner(s) may obtain a determination of damages by either:

i. Petitioning the Transportation Board, or ii. Filing a complaint or, if applicable, a motion to re-open a Judgment of Condemnation, in Superior Court

b. If the owner’s demand exceeds the Agency’s offer of just compensation by more than $25,000.00, the owner may obtain a determination of damages by filing acomplaint or, if applicable, a motion to re-open a Judgment of Condemnation, in Superior Court. A property owner must file a petition, complaint, or motion under subdivision (1) or (2) no later than 90 days after the date of the Notice of Taking.

9. IF YOU DO NOT OBJECT TO THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT, you do not have to respond to the Verified Complaint.

10. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you should ask the court clerk for information about places where you can get free legal help. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still give the Court and the Agency a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose your right to be heard on the Verified Complaint and the necessity of the taking.

11. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION. The Agency will publish a notice of the Verified Complaint and the substance of the Summons in the Cabot Chronicle, a newspaper having general circulation in the town or towns in which the proposed project is located. The notice will be published once a week for three consecutive weeks on the same day of the week.

12. COPIES OF THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT AND RIGHT-OF-WAY PLANS. An interested person who wishes to obtain a copy of the Verified Complaint and the right-of -way plans pertaining to the land in which the person is interested may obtain copies by contracting the following: Nick Wark Right of Way & Utilities Program Manager

Vermont Agency of Transportation 219 North Main Street, Barre VT 05641

Dated at Montpelier, Vermont on this, the 21st day of July, 2025.

DocuSigned by: Joe Flynn

Joe Flynn

Secretary

Vermont Agency of Transportation

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE

BURLINGTON SELF STORAGE, LLC 1825 SHELBURNE ROAD

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid.

Name of Occupant, Storage Unit#, unit size: Beardsley, Unit #37, 5x10

Said sales will take place on Friday 08/08/25, beginning at 10:00am at Burlington Self Storage (BSS), 1825 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, VT 05403. Units will be opened for viewing immediately prior to auction. Sale shall be by sealed bid to the highest bidder. Contents of entire storage unit will be sold as one lot. The winning bid must remove all contents from the facility at no cost to BSS, on the day of auction. BSS, reserves the right to reject any bid lower that the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as defined by statute.

TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

AUGUST 21, 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: 426269 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. Conceptual Discussion – Shenk Enterprises, LLC is proposing a 41,250 square foot warehouse and associated parking at 55 Thompson Drive (Parcel ID 2-072-011-000) located in the Resources Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I) District.

2. Conceptual Discussion – A&C Realty is requesting a conceptual discussion for the Greystone Industrial Park located at 123 Old Colchester Road (Parcel ID 2-095-001-001) in the Industrial (I1) and Agricultural Residential (AR) Districts. The discussion will center around the site plan for Phase III, which will consist of 3 proposed warehouse buildings and pump station.

3. Site Plan – Why Not, LLC is proposing to redevelop the exiting club house for the Links at Lang Farm Golf Course located at 127 Stinson Drive (Parcel ID 2-091-010-000) located in the Mixed Use Development-Planned Unit Development (MXD-PUD) District. The proposed building is approximately 3,600 square feet and will operate as a pro shop and restaurant.

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

PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-04275

In re ESTATE of Michael Ireland NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Michael Ireland, late of South Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: July 30, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Margaret Tolosky

Executor/Administrator: Margaret Tolosky, Executor c/o Corey F. Wood, Esq., 34 Pearl Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452

Phone Number: 802-879-6304

Email: cwood@bpflegal.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 08/06/2025

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 300033-14C

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 300033-14C from City of South Burlington, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403 and Champlain Water District, 403 Queen City Park Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 was received on July 23, 2025 and deemed complete on July 29, 2025. The project is generally described as the installation of a drainage swale and culverts to better support maintenance of the water storage tanks located on Dorset Street. The stone-lined swale and related drainage culverts will convey water from the water tanks to an existing swale across the street. The project is located at 1221 Dorset Street in South Burlington, 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 “300033-14C.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before August 20, 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 July 31, 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

PROPOSED INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL MEASURES

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation proposes to conduct treatments to control invasive exotic plants on properties owned

Legal Notices

by the State of Vermont in Rutland County. The proposed treatment area will not exceed 30 acres in size. Application will include foliar and cut stem methods utilizing common site-specific herbicides such as Rodeo or Roundup. Treatment will occur between 8/31/2025 and 11/30/2025, and each site will have signage displayed for additional public notice. For specific locations or more information, please contact State Lands Forester Ryan Francoeur at Ryan.Francoeur@Vermont.gov.

CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

PUBLIC HEARING

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2025

6:30 P.M.

This meeting will be held in person at Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln Street in the Kolvoord Room and remotely via Zoom. The meeting will be live-streamed on Town Meeting TV.

• JOIN ONLINE:

Visit www.essexjunction.org/DRB for meeting connection information.

• JOIN BY TELEPHONE:

Dial 1(888) 788-0099 (toll free)

Meeting ID: 839 2599 0985 Passcode: 940993

PUBLIC HEARING

Continued meeting from July 17, 2025.

Design review for the construction of a new singlefamily home at 40 Maple Street in the R2 District by Ron Bushey, owner.

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

Conditional Use review for an exterior propane gas pump for Tractor Supply Co at 70 Pearl Street in the TOD district by Cathy West, Parkway C&A, LP, and Brandon Kubik c/o Pulley Studios, Inc., agents for Handy’s Hotels & Rentals, LLC, owner.

Site plan and design review for Tractor Supply Co at 70 Pearl Street in the TOD district by Cathy West, Parkway C&A, LP, and Brandon Kubik c/o Pulley Studios, Inc., agents for Handy’s Hotels & Rentals, LLC, owner. Waiver request of TOD district standards in Section 608 of the Land Development Code.

This DRAFT agenda may be amended. Plan documents will be available on www.essexjunction.org/DRB five days prior to the meeting. Any questions re: above please call Michael Giguere or Terry Hass – 802-878-6944

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON AUGUST 21, 2025 AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on August 21, 2025 at 9am EST at 205 Route 4A West, Castleton, VT 05735 (units C42), 3466 Richville Road, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (unit 20, 86), and online at www. storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien

Unit # Name Contents C42 Kathleen Mayer Household Goods 86 Anthony Turnbo Household Goods

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.

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.

TOWN OF UNDERHILL PLANNING COMMISSION

A public hearing will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 6:10 p.m. at Underhill Town Hall, 12 Pleasant Valley Rd., Underhill VT to hear public comments regarding proposed changes to the town’s Land Use Regulations. Proposed changes address the following four current and new topics of regulation within the town’s zoning bylaw:

• Accessory Dwelling Units (revised sec. 4.15 and Table 4.3)

• Sawmill and Portable Wood Processing Operations (new Sec. 4.18)

• Event Venues (new Sec. 4.20 and rev. Sec. 4.19 and Table 3.1)

• Recreational Trails (revised Sec. 3.19 and Sec. 10.2 exemption)

… with related changes to Table 2.1 (zoning district standards) and Definitions (Chapter 11.2).

Full text of the proposed changes may be found at: https://bit.ly/Underhill_LURs_draft_amends. Comments on draft changes may be made in person at the hearing, online (meeting link will be posted on the town meeting calendar at: https:// www.underhillvt.gov/calendar no later than 8.18.25), or in writing via email to the Town Planner: pcadmin@underhillvt.gov.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-00911

In re ESTATE of Lois Griffin

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

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@pathways vermont.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

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Lois Griffin, late of Milton, Vermont

Dated: July 29, 2025 2:22 PM PDT

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Christopher Wasserbauer

Executor/Administrator: Christopher Wasserbauer

198 Hardscrabble Road

Milton, Vermont 05468

Phone Number: 802-559-2978

Email: crwmcc1234@icloud.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 08/06/2025

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401

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, undereating 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., 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 Vermont-based support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail.com or call 802-735-5735 for more info.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

RECEIVER

Hunger Mountain Co-op seeks dependable and detailoriented people to work as Receivers in our store. These individuals will be able to work early shifts, help vendors check in their products, balance invoices, and assist coworkers by getting orders ready for stocking.

Our ideal candidates will have previous experience receiving products, a solid understanding of inventory management, invoicing practices, and demonstrate excellent customer service skills. The Co-op offers competitive pay, a comprehensive benefits package, and a union environment. Please apply online: 7dvt.pub/HMCopReceiver

Food Rescue Coordinator

Feeding Champlain Valley has an immediate opening for a Food Rescue Coordinator. In this role you will be responsible for driving vehicles to coordinate food rescue; soliciting food donations and picking up food from supermarkets and food providers on a regular basis. You will work closely with a team to ensure the site remains clean and organized and that food is handled safely; utilize fork lift, pallet jacks and other warehouse equipment as required to move products.

If you have a high school diploma or equivalent; experience in a warehouse environment or food systems work; experience with fork truck (certification preferred); effective verbal and written communication skills, (bilingual abilities are a plus); a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and access to reliable transportation; we’d like to hear from you!

When you come to work for CVOEO you’re getting so much more than a paycheck! We offer a great working environment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, generous time off, a retirement plan and discounted gym membership.

Interested in working with us? To apply, please visit us at cvoeo.org/careers CVOEO is interested in candidates who can contribute to our diversity and excellence. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. We are one of the 2025 Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why!

Apply online: https://www.cvoeo.org/careers

Histotechnician

Local histology laboratory seeks well trained histotechnician for immediate opening in a friendly small lab setting. Strong technical skills, good fund of knowledge and work experience are needed. Competitive pay commensurate with experience. Hours are ﬂexible.

Please email your letter/ resume to sevendaysvt. garment739@passmail.net

Or call us at 802-316-8924. Apply today and meet our team!

Tree Care Crew

Starting Pay: $24–$29 per hour (Dependent on Experience)

Join our Tree Care Crew assisting our Certified Arborist in a full spectrum of treecare duties—from planting, pruning, cabling/ bracing to removal, climbing, and rigging.

Qualifications

• Valid driver's license with clean record

• Physically fit for manual outdoor labor

• Comfortable using power tools and climbing gear

• Flexible to work seasonal part-time hours

Preferred:

• Experience in landscaping or tree care

• Basic rigging or climbing familiarity

• Certifications (e.g. ISA, OSHA, First Aid/CPR, ANSI A300 standards)

Full description and to apply: ecotonelandscapesvt.com/jobs

Executive Director

Are you a strategic, emotionally intelligent leader with a passion for empowering individuals, fostering inclusion, and building strong communities? CSAC is a private non-profit community mental health agency in Addison County. We are seeking a dynamic Executive Director to guide the organization through the evolving landscape of behavioral health in Vermont.

CSAC serves 2,000 clients annually, providing a full spectrum of mental health, developmental, and substance use services, including outpatient therapy, residential care, case management, and 24/7 crisis response. With a $32M budget and 300 staff, CSAC is a recognized leader known for innovation and strong community partnerships.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL

Champion equity, diversity & people-centered care

Oversee programs, compliance, and financial operations

Lead strategic planning and crisis response

Cultivate relationships with lawmakers, regulators, and partners

Represent CSAC’s mission in key forums

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

Master’s degree in a relevant field

5–7 years’ senior leadership experience in human services

Strong financial & operational management skills

Familiarity with Medicaid and government-funded programs

High-level interpersonal and advocacy abilities

Knowledge of Vermont’s mental health system

or send to Alexa Euler, Director of Operations and Organizational Development, CSAC, 89 Main St., Middlebury, VT 05753.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Advertising Specialist

We are seeking an outgoing professional with sales expertise, who loves local news and seeks to support it by generating revenue through advertising.

• 32-hour/week hybrid position

• base salary plus commission

• bonus commission for reaching sales goals

• benefits include retirement, paid time off & sick leave

Apply at montpelierbridge.org/job-opportunities

Backend ENGINEER

For details and to apply: ats.rippling.com/widewail/jobs

Beertender

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Auto Technician

Feeling undervalued at your current job? Tired of working hard and coming home exhausted with no time to enjoy your life? If that sounds familiar, we’d love to introduce you to an opportunity where your skills and dedication are truly valued!

At Girlington Garage, we’ve built a strong team, maintained a wellequipped shop, and earned a loyal customer base. Our goal is to be the top choice in the industry—not just for our customers, but for our employees as well. When you join us, you can expect:

• Competitive Compensation: Enjoy a generous hourly rate plus performance bonuses that reward your hard work.

• Work-Life Balance: Work Monday through Thursday and have long weekends to relax and recharge.

• 100% COVERED Medical Beneﬁts: FREE health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family—completely paid by us.

• Retirement Savings: 3% company match on your retirement fund.

• Ongoing Training: Company-paid programs to keep your skills sharp and up-to-date. We want you to grow conﬁdently!!

• Paid Time Off: Vacation days plus 40 hours of personal time each year.

• Paid Holidays: Time off on major holidays, and if they're on a Friday we take the following Monday off—no work, just fun!

• Vacation Retention Incentive: A company-paid, all-inclusive tropical vacation after 5 years of service—and every year after!

• Team Perks: Weekly team lunches, great coworkers

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR?

If you’re an Automotive Technician with at least 3 years of experience in diagnostics and general repairs, and you can obtain a VT state inspection license and a/c certiﬁcation, we want to hear from you! ASE certiﬁcation is a big plus. Apply today! GIRLINGTONGARAGE@GMAIL.COM Or call us at 802-247-7917 and ask for Nya or Demeny if you have any questions.

We’re currently seeking a hospitality-minded individual to join our Waitsﬁeld, VT Taproom & Retail Team in a multifaceted Beertender role. This position is more than just pouring beer; it’s about creating moments that ma er. Whether it’s a ﬁrst-time visitor or a loyal regular, the Beertender sets the tone for our guest interactions, ensuring they feel welcomed, valued, and cared for from the moment they walk through our doors.

Apply: secure7.saashr.com/ ta/6204635.careers?ShowJob=537370062 2v-LawsonsFinest080625.indd

Concession Stand Workers

Looking to be part of an exciting ten-day event? Enthusiastic and friendly temporary staff are needed to help bring the Dizzy Dozen ﬂavor to the upcoming Champlain Valley Fair. Concession Stand Workers: Flexible shifts; competitive pay plus the potential for tips; free food and drink during shifts. We will train the right person(s)! Requirements: Be reliable and adaptable to a fast-paced environment; have customer service and communication skills; be a team player in a collaborative setting; possess a friendly and positive demeanor; can stand for long periods and lift up to 30 pounds. PLUS if you have prior experience in food service.

Champlain Valley Fair opens Friday, August 22 runs through until Sunday, August 31, 2025. Apply: across69@gmail.com

GO HIRE.

Job Recruiters:

• Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site.

School Based Counselor

Clinician

Youth Shelter Coaches

Respite-On Call Intake Coordinator

Scan QR code to apply.

Middle School Science Teacher

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

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Want to create change? The Vermont Progressive Party, the most successful third party in America, is seeking an Executive Director. For 25 years we have elected Progressives to the VT Legislature, the Burlington City Council, Vermont Lieutenant Governor and the Burlington City Mayor and provided support to winners of local select board and school board seats. The Executive Director carries out the Party’s priorities including candidate recruitment and support, fundraising, supporting the Progressive caucus during the Legislative session, some event planning and representing the Party before the public. Applicants should have experience in electoral politics or activist organizing. Desired skills include working with social and traditional media, fundraising and database management, knowledge of campaign finance, communication with members and overseeing committees. Total compensation starts at $56,000, inclusive of salary, health insurance stipend and travel reimbursement.

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.

Christ the King School (CKSVT. org) is searching for a Middle School Science teacher. This position will be responsible for delivering engaging & comprehensive science education to students in grades 6-8. This role involves creating a supportive learning environment, developing lesson plans, & fostering a passion for scientific inquiry among students. Additionally, within this role, the teacher must also be able to implement differentiated instructional strategies, formatively assess student progress, communicate effectively with parents/ guardians, & provide guidance to ensure success in the classroom.

Contact Principal Kelley Alderman at 802.862.6696 & see our full description in School Spring, Job ID #: 5251197

Please see full job description at progressiveparty.org/workforus. To apply, please send cover letter, resume and 3 references to: Anthony Pollina, Chair, Vermont Progressive Party at apollinavt@gmail.com. Applications are due September 1, 2025. We are open to training the right person. We are an E.O.E.

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BAR COUNSEL

VERMONT JUDICIARY

Opportunity for experienced attorney to provide guidance, education and referrals, and other information to the legal profession and the public of Vermont.

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

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.

4t-NVRH032625.indd 1 3/21/25 11:16 AM Otter Creek Awnings, a locally owned small business since 1976 is hiring! We proudly serve our clients and offer the finest shading products and impeccable service. It is with great enthusiasm that we invite qualified candidates to apply for the following positions:

Office Assistant: This position is responsible for greeting customers, answering phones, accounts receivable and other general office duties. Pay range: $19.00-$23.00 per hour.

Awning Fabricator: This role is responsible for welding and fabricating fixed frame awnings to custom design specifications in our manufacturing facility. Pay range: $22.00-$28.00 per hour. These positions include a generous health care contribution, employee paid dental, 401k plan & more! Otter Creek Awnings provides equal employment opportunities to all employees & applicants. For full descriptions and to apply, please visit: https://ottercreekawnings.com/team/jobs/

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Customer Service/ Point of Sale Coordinator

Mad River Glen is seeking a Customer Service and Point of Sale Coordinator. The Customer Service & POS Coordinator is a key member of the office team who provides front line customer service and support for the main office, all points of sale across the ski area, and the eCommerce system. This position will work closely with our guests, homeowners, shareholders and area personnel in a dynamic and fast paced environment. Candidates for the position should be detail oriented with excellent customer service and computer skills. The employee is expected to work full time from August through April and have a flexible schedule. The work schedule will include weekends and holidays during the ski season. The Customer Service & POS Coordinator will receive competitive pay and a full benefits package. Salary range is $21.00 to $25.00 per hour depending on experience. Please complete an application found at madriverglen.com and email to Vee@madriverglen.com or mail to PO Box 1089, Waitsfield, VT 05673. Contact Virginia Ferris at 802-496-3551 ext. 110 or email for more information.

DEPUTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

Join the Town of Stowe –Where Community Meets Opportunity!

Are you looking to build your career in a vibrant community celebrated for its natural beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, and strong sense of place? The Town of Stowe is seeking a Deputy Zoning Administrator - a senior-level position ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and is passionate about community planning, development review, and public service.

Fine Art & Objects Conservator

Full-time employment cleaning and restoring oil and acrylic ﬁne art paintings; picture frame restoration; and repairing and conserving miscellaneous antique objects, furniture, etc. Applicant will ideally have restored oil and acrylic paintings, but those with comparable training will be considered.

As Deputy Zoning Administrator, you’ll lead permitting and development review processes that balance growth with our shared values, working as a vital part of a high-performing, dedicated team. We’re looking for an experienced and approachable professional who brings both technical expertise and a genuine commitment to community. In this role, you’ll work directly with homeowners, builders, and neighbors to navigate land use regulations and permitting. But this role is more than just reviewing plans and issuing permits - it’s about building professional relationships and guiding thoughtful growth. Evening meetings are a regular part of the position.

What We’re Looking For:

• A background in land use planning, community development, regulatory/code enforcement, legal studies, or related field

• Strong interpersonal, listening, and communication skills

• The ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, attention to detail, and meet deadlines

• A desire to support a dynamic, engaged community

Maintenance Mechanic A

Responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repairs to machinery, equipment, physical structures, and electrical systems. Shift: Hours vary – (start time typically between 2.30am and 4am), 8hs shift, Monday through Friday.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent

• High level of demonstrated mechanical

• Experience with welding, electrical, boilers,

If you take pride in your professionalism, enjoy solving problems, and want to make a real impact in a community that values both tradition and progress, we’d love to hear from you. Even if your background doesn’t check every box, we encourage you to apply if this role excites you!

Salary range: $68,620 - $80,400 dependent on qualifications.

The Town of Stowe offers a robust benefit package including health and dental with low premium share, generous paid leave, VMERS pension, and more!

More information can be found at stowevt.gov/jobs. Submit cover letter and resume to recruit@stowevt.gov. Position open until filled.

Come join us and help shape the future of one of Vermont’s most desired communities!

The Town of Stowe is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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and aptitude

machinery, repair & PLC troubleshooting and programs preferred.

• The pay range for this position is $32.68 - $34.92 USD

HP Hood is an E.O.E. & "VERVRAA Federal Contractor"

Apply: job-boards.greenhouse.io/hoodhp/jobs/4692203008

Salary based on education, experience and skill. Position is currently available and is located in the Upper Valley. Please email your CV, contact information, and examples of previous work (if applicable) to MeetingHouseRestoration@ gmail.com

COORDINATORS needed for Everybody Wins! reading mentoring programs in these communities: Barre City Burlington West Rutland

for Chittenden, Addison, & Rutland counties.

More info & job descriptions: everybodywinsvermont.org/ about-us/openings

Everybody Wins! Vermont is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, sexual identity, color, national origin, religion, disability, class, or age in hiring, programs, or activities.

School Based Clinicians

Make a difference. Be a champion for kids. Are you passionate about supporting students in school settings by providing trauma-informed individual and group counseling and case management tailored to each student’s needs?

Bring your clinical expertise and compassion to your work. Every day is an opportunity to build resilience and foster growth in young people. Join our team that prides itself on high-quality supervision and a supportive team environment.

• Master’s degree or experience working with children and youth.

• $40-44K depending on degrees and experience.

• Comprehensive benefits package.

• Summers and school vacations off. Apply today at csac-vt.org/careers/careers.html

E.O.E.

Executive Director

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.

“This place is a constant building of relationships. I’ve never worked anywhere where the culture was like this. ”

– Matthew McClintic, Employment Specialist

Great jobs in management and direct support at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance with premium as low as $30 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous sign on bonus and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for seven years in a row. Join our team today!

5v-ChamplainCommServices072325.indd 1

Join our team and discover a fulfilling career with comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, PTO from day one, and more.

This is more than a job—it’s a meaningful opportunity to change lives, including your own.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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.

Personal Care Assistant

Morning and evening shifts available immediately

to excel in this role. For more information, contact Helen Reid at Helen.Reid@vermont. gov. Department: Health. Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time. Rate of Pay: Minimum $59.16 Maximum $93.20. Job ID #53069. Application Deadline: August 19, 2025.

CAD/Survey Technician

Aldrich + Elliott, PC (A+E) is a locally owned engineering firm based in Essex Junction, VT, which specializes in water resource engineering for municipalities in Vermont and New Hampshire. A+E offers a competitive salary and benefits package, plus a hybrid work schedule with future growth opportunities. This career will provide an opportunity to work with the A+E team and consult for municipalities in Vermont and New Hampshire to develop innovative solutions to their water resources engineering challenges. A+E is an equal opportunity employer seeking to fill the following position:

Position Summary:

Part-time PCA wanted for retired 60 year-old man with Cerebral Palsy. I need assistance with transferring with the use of a Hoyer lift, dressing/grooming, feeding, light housework, and outside activities. No experience necessary as I do three shifts of PAID TRAINING. Depending on applicant a $200 sign on bonus will be considered upon successful training.

• Starting rate $23 per hour with possible increases

• Morning shifts 8am-1pm

• Evening shifts 4pm-9pm (Priority hiring)

• Shifts available immediately

Please contact me at ewillardjr@gmail.com

A+E is seeking to fill a CAD/Survey technician position in water resource engineering for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. The successful applicant will be responsible for assisting the Project Manager and other technical staff with performing computer aided design, survey, field work, and other tasks for water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. Responsibilities will include, at a minimum, AutoCAD, GIS, field survey, data collection and analysis.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $75,000, based on experience and qualifications.

Required Education and Experience

• A.E. in Civil/Environmental Engineering (minimum)

• AutoCAD Civil3D experience

• Relevant experience with topographical surveys, layouts, and other field work

• Familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel

How to Apply: Please send your resume to Aldrich + Elliott via email to agosselin@aeengineers.com

To get a glimpse at what we do, see our website at

Visiting Assistant Professor, Management

Visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu & select “View Current Openings” SUNY Plattsburgh is

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

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 positions:

Offender Re-entry Housing Specialist: Provides support to men and women under the VT Department of Corrections supervision from prison back to living in Chittenden County. The ORHS focuses on high-risk men and women who are being released from jail and graduating transitional housing programs and in need of permanent housing. The ORHS provides intensive retention and eviction prevention services and works collaboratively with the Burlington Probation and Parole Office. Additionally, the ORHS works with various case workers, Re-Entry staff and the Administrative Staff from the VT Department of Corrections and the broad network of COSA staff, as necessary, throughout Chittenden County. Pay $25.00 to $26.00 per hour.

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.

Receptionist: Fields questions at the front desk and via the phone, while providing great customer service. This position also processes office mailings and provides administrative support.

(This position works between 32 and 40 hours weekly.) Pay $20.00 to $23.00 per hour.

Rental Assistance Specialist

II: Processes the annual & interim recertifications for tenant and projectbased vouchers and grant-funded rental assistance programs. The RAS also provides help, when needed, with other rental assistance programs administered by the Burlington Housing Authority. Pay $20.00 to $24.00 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

OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVE

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) seeks an energetic, civicminded individual to serve as an Outreach Representative on his Vermont Staff. The position is responsible for representing the senator across the state and closely collaborates with colleagues in our Vermont and DC offices to advance the senator’s priorities and improve federal programs on behalf of Vermonters. Strong writing, communication, public speaking, organizational, and interpersonal skills are required. Experience with event planning, grassroots organizing, or a familiarity with federal programs, state agencies, and local organizations is highly preferred. A successful candidate will have a keen knowledge of Vermont, a proven ability to build and maintain relationships, a desire to help others, and a commitment to creative problem-solving in a fast paced, ever-changing environment.

The Senator’s office is an equal opportunity employer. The office does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or uniformed service. The office is committed to inclusion and encourages all individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

To apply, please send your resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample to outreachjob@sanders.senate.gov by August 13, 2025.

Case Manager

The Lamoille Family Center seeks an energetic, organized, and flexible individual to provide full-time case management and crisis intervention services to 12- to 24-year-old youth and young adults. This position works as part of the Youth & Young Adult team, has significant contact with schools, social service partners and the Dept. of Children and Families. An understanding of Positive Youth Development approaches is desired.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a dynamic, supportive, and team-oriented agency which is committed to collectively integrating its core values of Integrity, Respect, Compassion, Inclusivity, Collaboration and Positivity into its work. Compensation starts at $43,500 plus $14,000 in benefits like vacation time, sick time, and single person health insurance.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree and 1 year work experience with vulnerable youth and their parents/guardians is required. Qualified candidates will have a solid understanding of positive youth development, social work, ability to organize & manage documentation, strong communication skills, and an ability to collaborate with multiple community partners. Candidates should have a knowledge of various youth focused systems of care. Travel throughout the Lamoille Valley, occasional crisis / after hours response, and some evening work required. Since travel throughout the Lamoille Valley is required, a valid Driver’s License and reliable, insured transportation are necessary.

Please send cover letter and resume to: Lamoille Family Center

480 Cady’s Falls Road Morrisville, VT 05661 or jhunsberger@lamoillefamilycenter.org

Lead Bike Mechanic

Local Motion seeks an experienced bicycle mechanic to be responsible for all aspects of our nonproﬁt’s bike repair and maintenance operations.

Also hiring for seasonal positions that run through October including Deckhand on the Bike Ferry and Bike Rentals Sta .

Please see the full job descriptions and how to apply at: localmotion.org/join_our_team

SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT

2025 (Sept-Oct) Harvest Season

Hiring weekday and weekend donut house team, orchard store crew, weekday cider jugger, weekday apple picking crew, weekend farmers market staff, Saturday farmers market staff, weekday delivery truck driver, weekend brandy tasting room staff, & weekend experienced tractor drivers.

Serious inquiries only!

shelburneorchards@gmail.com

Vermont Town Careers

2v-ShelburneOrchards073025.indd 1 7/28/25 11:24 AM

SENIOR ATTORNEY

Ocean Conservation

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a Senior Attorney to join our team working to protect New England’s environment for all people. The Senior Attorney will work with CLF’s Ocean Conservation team and will be based in one of the following CLF regional offices: Concord or Portsmouth, NH; Portland, ME; Providence, RI; or Boston, MA, with opportunity for remote work within New England. The Senior Attorney will work to advance the Ocean Conservation Program’s priorities and to promote solutions to the region’s biggest environmental challenges using litigation, policy, and legislative advocacy. Under the Ocean Conservation Program, the work will focus on sustainable fisheries management, ocean habitat protection, marine mammal protection and ocean planning.

What you’ll need: We are looking for a motivated and mature self-starter that is able to work both independently and as a productive team member. To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience practicing law and experience in ocean law and policy or other relevant area of law, however regardless of number of years of experience, candidates with direct experience in ocean law and advocacy are encouraged to apply;

• A passion and commitment to the environment, public health, and/or social justice;

• Passion for CLF’s mission;

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and

• A law degree and active bar membership in good standing in any state or the District of Columbia (New England state is preferred).

Our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. Our hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with various lived experiences. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background.

Salary & Benefits: CLF offers a competitive salary, an extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected.

The starting salary range for the position is $130,000 - $150,000 if based in Boston and $119,000-$139,000 if based in a CLF office outside of MA; actual salary will reflect experience, qualification, and where the selected candidate is based.

We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development.

To Apply: To apply for this exciting position, visit the link below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials: secure6.saashr.com/ta/6181430. careers?ShowJob=587605568

fun stuff

“She says I need male friends, but I’ve got you and you never ask to borrow money.”

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

TIM SNIFFEN

JULIANNA BRAZILL

MAT BARTON

LEO

(JUL. 23-AUG. 22)

In the Arctic, the sun shines for 24 hours a day during midsummer. There is no night, only the surreal glow of prolonged gold. The human body, confused by the unending day, may be confused about when to sleep. For some this creates disorientation and for others, a strange euphoria. In my astrological opinion, Leo, you have entered a metaphorical version of this solar dreamscape. Your creative powers are beaming like a relentless sun. There may be little darkness in sight. So how will you rest? How will you replenish under the glow of fervent possibility? Be wisely discerning with your energy. Don’t mistake illumination for invincibility. Bask in the light, yes, but protect your rhythms.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): The Tagalog word gigil refers to the urge to squeeze or pinch something adorable. It’s an ecstatic tension that verges on overflowing the container of decorum. In the coming weeks, you Aries could feel gigil for the whole world. Everything may seem almost too vivid, too raw, too marvelous and altogether too much. I advise you to welcome these surges and allow them to enhance your perceptions. Laugh hard. Cry freely. Invite goosebumps. Please note: But don’t actually squeeze anyone without their permission.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): In Japan’s Snow Country, artisans practice yuki-sarashi. It involves laying woven cloth on snow under sunlight to bleach, brighten, purify and soften the fibers through the effects of snow, sunlight, cold and ozone. Because this process doesn’t require harsh chemicals, it helps maintain the fabric’s strength and prevents it from yellowing over time. I propose you make yuki-sarashi a useful metaphor, Taurus. Something fragile and fine is ready to emerge, but it needs your gentle touch and natural methods. You are often grounded in the adept manipulation of raw material — what works, what holds, what can be relied on. But this burgeoning treasure needs maximum nuance and the blessings of sensitive care.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): When African American dancer Josephine Baker arrived in Paris in 1925 at age 19, she was seeking refuge from her home country’s racism. Her electrifying performances soon made her a celebrity. Author Ernest Hemingway said she was “the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.” As she grew wealthy, she donated generously to French charities, hospitals and schools. Her compassionate works evolved further, too. During World War II, she worked as a spy for the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation. Later, she became a civil rights activist in the U.S. Can you guess the astrological sign of this multifaceted star? Gemini! I hope you will be inspired by her in the coming weeks. May you, too, use your natural gifts and stylish flair to serve the greater good. Look for opportunities to mentor, encourage and advocate for those lacking your advantages.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): When a glacier moves, it doesn’t rush. It presses forward incrementally, reshaping mountains, carving valleys and transporting boulders. In a metaphorical sense, Cancerian, you are now in glacier time. A slow, relentless and ultimately magnificent process is afoot in your life. Others may not yet see the forward momentum. Even you may doubt it. But the shift is real and permanent. Trust the deep, inexorable push. Your soul is hauling whole landscapes into new configurations.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Now is an excellent time for you to swear sacred oaths. I sug-

gest you get less comfortable with transitory arrangements and short-term promises. The near future will also be a ripe phase to make brave commitments that require you to go farther and deeper than you’ve dared to before. I recommend you forgo the cheap thrills of skipping along from one random moment to the next. Embrace a game plan. Finally, I urge you to cast magic spells on yourself that will release your unconscious mind from old fixations that subtly drain your power to fulfill your dreams. Please, please, please surrender trivial obsessions that distract you from your life’s key goals.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): In West African traditions, griots are key figures in their communities. They serve as storytellers, oral historians, poets, genealogists and advisers. Their presence is often central to events such as weddings, funerals and ceremonies. In the coming weeks, Libra, I hope that you will embrace a role that resembles the griot. Your ability to enhance and nurture your network is at a peak. You have extra power to weave together threads that have become frayed or unraveled. Given your potential potency as a social glue, I advise you to avoid gossip and instead favor wise, kind words that foster connection.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The phrase “elegant sufficiency” is an old English expression meaning “just enough” or “a sufficient amount in a refined or tasteful way.” I am expanding it to also mean “the simplest solution that solves a problem completely without unnecessary complexity.” It’s your power phrase, Scorpio. What you need is not intricate perfection but elegant sufficiency: enoughness. I suggest you welcome this gift with enthusiasm — not in a resigned way, but with a quiet triumph. Maybe your plan doesn’t need more bullet points. Maybe the relationship doesn’t require further analysis. Maybe your offering is already thorough. Allow yourself the sweet satisfaction of having just the right amount. What you have created may be more organically whole than you realize.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): How do you become a maestro of desire? What must you do to honor your beautiful yearnings and

cull your mediocre ones? What’s the magic that will help you fulfill your life’s purpose by trusting your deepest cravings? Here are some tips. First, jettison your inessential desires and cherish the precious yearnings that are crucial. Second, dispose of outmoded goals so you can make expansive space for robust goals that steer you away from the past and guide you toward the future. These are challenging tasks! The very good news is that the coming weeks can be a turning point in your quest to claim this birthright.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m writing a fairy tale about an ancient land whose queen regards poetry as essential to the public good. She often invites poets to perform for her and her court. When they finish a stirring passage, they bow — not to the queen or other observers but to the silence they mined to access their inspiration; to the pregnant chaos from which the poem was born. The pause is a gesture of gratitude and acknowledgment. I invite you to partake in similar acts of appreciation, Capricorn. Bow toward the mysteries from which your blessings flow. Honor the quiet sources that keep you fertile. Praise the treasures in the dark that fuel your intense activities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When I advise you to get naked, I’m not necessarily suggesting that you doff your clothes. What I primarily mean is the following: Shed the armor around your heart; strip off your defense mechanisms; discard kneepads you wear while kissing butt or paying excessive homage; recycle shoes, jackets, pants and opinions that don’t fit you; and discard pride-spawned obstacles that impede your communions with those you love.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): The Finnish word sisu describes a radical, unglamorous persistence. Those who possess sisu can summon extraordinary determination, tenacity and resilience in the face of confusion or difficulty. It’s not about bravado or flair but about soulful gutsiness. I suspect it’s time for you to draw on your sisu, Pisces. It will empower you to tap into reserves of strength that have previously been unavailable. You will activate potentials that have been half-dormant.

You don’t need a passport to board the Northern Star and take one of its 13 weekly cruises on the international waters of Lake Memphremagog. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger caught a ride on the four-hour cruise to Canada and met the crew.

WOMEN seeking...

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

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

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

HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR

I am a good-looking woman who is looking for a man to spend the rest of my life with, to make him happy and to enjoy what time we have left. Life is too short to be alone in this world. Let’s talk and see how it goes. I am a high school graduate, retired, need a companion. DebbySmith 81 seeking: M

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

INTELLIGENT AND CURIOUS

Don’t be discouraged by my age. I am mature, I enjoy meaningful and intellectual conversations, and I have always preferred the company of those older than myself. Invite me over, let me cook you dinner in your kitchen, and I’ll tell you that you’re pretty and ask you a million questions about your life story. kateausten 22, seeking: W

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, l

WHY WE’RE HERE

Looking for friendship and joy. I’m a dogand cat-loving, independent, outdoorsy and indoorsy central Vermonter. I’m a busy volunteer. I love to hike, read, write, think, make things and help out. I am most comfortable with people who are confident, independent, liberal and very kind. Let’s go have some amazing adventures while we still have our marbles! FourSeasons 67, seeking: M, l

KIND, CUTE TRAVELING PUMPKIN

I am a kind person who cares deeply for those in my life. Family is very important to me. I love to cook. Take pride in taking care of my home. Love kayaking, camping. I want to find someone who loves to go on spontaneous adventures, stay up too late, get lost. I also love to travel, Netflix and chill. Rosebud47, 28, seeking: M, l

MOUNTAIN GAL

Curious, crunchy, adventurous and independent. You can find me outdoors exploring the woods, wandering up streams, saying hey to all the plants and critters. I love to learn and care deeply about community. Looking for someone who is intelligent, goofy, resourceful, engaged in their community and actively pursuing their passions — be that through work or extracurriculars. spottedsalamander, 29, seeking: M, l

RELAXING FORMER

MULTITASKER

Native Californian, Vermont resident for 10 years. Came to retire, found myself working at the college nearby. I live in a rural area outside Middlebury. Mom to two dogs. I like bird-watching. I revel in nature that is all around me on my little farmlet. Also enjoy the city, good restaurants, fine wine, nightclubs. Always happy traveling to distant lands. Chamois009, 69 seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

MUSICAL ROMANTIC SEEKING NEW FRIENDSHIPS

I have two beautiful kids (6 and 4) who live with me half the time. My ex and I split a year ago and are friendly. I spend my time hanging with my kids, getting my job done from home and playing music semiprofessionally on the weekends. Looking forward to meeting new people. No pressure, and let’s have fun. circleAC, 44, 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

LAID-BACK

Looking for that special person. Brighterdays, 65, 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

ALWAYS ON THE GO

Looking for someone who likes to go on road trips, travel to new places, and go boating on the ocean or the lake. I have large flower gardens I could show you. Get back to me, and I can tell you more. peter30 73, seeking: W, l

ADVENTUROUS, INTELLIGENT SOUL SEEKS SAME

Curiosity is a defining trait of mine.

I’ve recently moved to the area and am seeking a companion to share exploring, connection and almost anything outdoors — especially hiking and cycling. I’m an excellent cook and enjoy my own cooking. I’m a soccer fan, and checking out a Vermont Green FC game would be a fun date! I’m spiritual but not religious. Driver8, 50, 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

ALL ABOUT VIBES

All about the vibes. Papaflocka, 42, seeking: W, TW, l

HONEST, SOCIAL, COMFORTABLE WITH ME

I enjoy nature and its balance. I am a friendly person, thankful for what I have. I am comfortable in my own skin, self-reliant and enjoy sharing. I like quiet time and do not feel uncomfortable being with someone and enjoying the shared space quietly. Good listener and respectful of others’ thoughts and beliefs, even though they are not mine. orion 72, seeking: M, Q, NC, NBP

WALK IN THE WOODS

Naked camping and piercings. intheshop, 55, seeking: W

BACK TO BASICS

Looking for someone to share in life’s ups and downs and to enjoy each other along the way. kitzskier, 68, seeking: W, l

LOW-KEY

A laid-back guy who highly values open and honest communication. Searching for a deep connection. I like to live life with balance and I enjoy trying new things. I’m really dedicated to my career and enjoy learning about local ecology and how to incorporate that into our communities. eatsleepsitrepeat 31 seeking: W, l

WORKIN’ MAN

Hi, I’m an attractive, compassionate, well-built bi man who’s worked hard all my life, and now it’s time to play. Looking for a good-looking man or couple who want to explore their sensual side. If we decide we like each other, we’ll go out for a drink first to see if we’re compatible and take it from there. Sound good? justlivinit 67, seeking: Cp, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

SEEKING COMMUNITY WITH MULTIGENERATIONAL LESBIANS OK, here’s the deal. I’m trying to figure out how to build friendships with lesbians who are older than me. The dream: Lesbians of all experiences swapping stories, cracking jokes, maybe sipping beverages and learning from one another. Interested? Let’s do it! Does a group like this already exist somewhere in VT? Can I get in on it? LMK. ilovelesbians, 30 seeking: W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp

COUPLES seeking...

COUPLE WANTS COMPANY

I am a married man who is looking for a guy friend. We would love to have a top around the house that is compatible with both of us. We’re looking for an intelligent, kind man who is an enjoyer of brown guys, board games and movies with subtitles. Are you the puzzle piece we’ve been missing? BrownBiGuy, 47, seeking: M

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOOKING FOR LOVE

Am a good girl, looking for love. When: Monday, July 28, 2025. Where: friend. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916397

I work in a fairly small ofﬁce that has an open kitchen. For years, we’ve had an unwritten rule that nobody microwaves ﬁsh because it stinks up the place. A new person started about three months ago, and they have done it twice so far. Everyone has been annoyed by it, but nobody has said anything. How do we get this person to stop without making them feel bad?

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

SHAW’S COLCHESTER

Love the blond hair! Looks good on you! When: Sunday, July 27, 2025. Where: Shaw’s Colchester. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916394

TRAFFIC LIGHT JOKES

I was on my motorcycle, being silly, trying to get the light to turn green at S. Prospect and Main. I somehow managed to hit the curb and take a fall off my bike. I noticed a UVMMC name tag but didn’t see your name. anks for stopping! I’m OK. Could I say thank you for stopping with a coffee or lunch? When: Monday, July 21, 2025. Where: Burlington, Main Street and University. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916390

MY LOVE

Wishing you the happiest birthday. A year older, a year wiser and ever more handsome. I love you so much! When: Sunday, July 27, 2025. Where: once upon a dream. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916389

VERMONT GREEN FC YOUR EYES

Front row of the VTFC game on Friday. You, in a lululemon skirt, had the prettiest little face and were sitting with a friend. Me, in a Green jersey, walking past you and returning your eye contact all three times. Was chasing my kid so couldn’t respond with more than that sly smirk. Wanna know more of what’s hiding behind those eyes. When: Sunday, July 20, 2025. Where: Virtue Field. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916388

PICKING FLOWERS

You were beautiful — snipping ﬂowers at the Intervale, tucking them into a ceramic pot. I asked about your ﬂowers. You smiled and said, “Some small ones, some tall ones.” We both wished for more containers. We parted ways, but I kept sneaking glances. Want to pick up where we left off? When: ursday, July 17, 2025. Where: Intervale CSA. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916387

WALKING YOUR DOG IN WINOOSKI

HONEY ROAD WONDERFUL

You: dinner out with your kiddo, sitting at the corner of the bar, fantastically beautiful. Me: nose deep in a book, caught your eye over a birthday(?) candle. Us: Let’s meet up when we’re kidless. When: Saturday, July 19, 2025. Where: Honey Road. You: Man. Me: Man. #916386

HG PARKING LOT

After the Record Company show. You were wearing a red shirt. I was in my car cranking the Record Company music. You said, “You’re still rocking!” I went alone. Did you? Want to see what else we have in common? When: Friday, July 18, 2025. Where: Higher Ground lot. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916385

NICO SUAVE LOVE AFFAIR

We met at the Nico Suave show and danced the night away. You wrote your number on my arm, but you are clearly not a very good speller. When: ursday, July 17, 2025. Where: Higher Ground Ballroom. You: Man. Me: Group. #916375

BREAD AND PUPPET JULY 2023

At the circus this last Sunday, sitting under a shady tree, taking in the show. Reminiscing of sweet sunny Sunday kisses in the parking lot a couple of years ago. What a delightful moment in time that was. Like the Vermont summer, it was ﬂeeting, but it left delicious memories to reﬂect upon on a lazy afternoon. When: Sunday, July 30, 2023. Where: Bread and Puppet. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916374

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WORTHY BURGER

You were celebrating a birthday — mine was the next day. Hope Walter got some more burgers! Love to chat with you again. When: Sunday, July 13, 2025. Where: Worthy Burger. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916373

GREEN RIVER RESERVOIR

Beautiful evening. You in a blue kayak, me in a black bathing suit on a paddleboard. Paddle sometime? When: Saturday, July 12, 2025. Where: Green River Reservoir. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916372

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

You were walking your black dog around Richards Park. You had red hair and sunglasses with a hat. I was walking my own dog and we caught glances. I thought you were gorgeous. Coffee or a drink sometime? When: Friday, July 18, 2025. Where: Winooski. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916376

RESOURCE STORE TODAY

Regretting not introducing myself this morning while we waited for them to open. You were tall, with long hair and some funky Crocs on. I’d love to meet you. When: Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Where: ReSource store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916370 Me: Woman. #916391

Microwaving ﬁsh is high on the list of Top 10 Ofﬁce Crimes. You’d think everyone would know that by now, but apparently your new coworker missed the memo.

Why does microwaved fish smell so bad? Fish contains oils and fatty acids that can oxidize when heated. Microwaves cook things with an intensity that can speed this process and cause strong, unpleasant odors. e compounds released during heating can also cling to the inside of the microwave, leaving a lingering smell long after the fish is gone. It’s downright awful to subject innocent office workers to such a thing.

You could put up a “NO FISH” sign by the microwave, but that’s rather passiveaggressive. Your best bet is a direct yet casual approach. Don’t bring it up around a bunch of other people. Catch the new person when it’s just the two of you, and let them know that the office has “a thing” about microwaving fish. I doubt your new coworker will be upset — it’s more likely they’ll be glad to learn of this fishy faux pas.

Although it can be awkward to talk to someone about personal preferences such as food, when it affects everyone in the room, someone has to take one for the team. It ought to be a manager, boss or HR person, but if nobody in your ofﬁce falls into one of those categories, it may as well be you.

Unwritten rules aren’t rules unless everybody knows them, so while you’re at it you can ﬁll in the newcomer on other ofﬁce do’s and don’ts that may not be obvious. You know, like Joanne gets peeved if you grab a coffee and don’t ask her if she wants one. Getting the lowdown will make the new hire feel less like a newbie and more like part of the team.

Good luck and God bless,

What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

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

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

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LE ERS:

Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.

MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check (made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

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 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

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

Int net-Free Dating!

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

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, open-minded, curious to explore kinky side and fantasies. #L1870

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

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)

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

Beautiful woman looking for great guy, 60s to 70s, to go away with. Maybe Greece or another new adventure together. Sincere gentlemen, sophisticated, intellectual and sweet only, please. Handsome a plus. #L1861

I’m a 68-y/o bi male seeking a 60- to 70-y/o man. Bi guy in NEK seeking like-minded guys for relaxing fun. Enjoy being nude, BJs, BBQs, drinks. Casual, easygoing, wanting to share being gay. #L1863

M, 61, fit, tall, compassionate, mission-driven and W/E who loves music, sports, film and writing ISO confident, fun-loving sensual soul F, 45 to 65, for texting and banter in anticipation of intense mutual pleasure romps (weekend lunchtime lovers). Discrete, drama-free, HWP and D/ DF. Please be same. #L1856

Required conﬁdential info: NAME ADDRESS

ADDRESS (MORE) CITY/STATE

MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402

OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

Bloom

THU. AUG. 7

Lab Perfume

Making Class

OWL'S NEST RESORT, THORNTON, NH

FOTW Women's Ride - Sunny Hollow

THU. AUG. 7

SUNNY HOLLOW TRAILS, COLCHESTER

Sunset Bird Walk

THU. AUG. 7

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

TURNmusic presents Wrekmeister Harmonies

THU. AUG. 7

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

One LoVermont Freedom & Unity Festival

FRI. AUG. 8

PRANSKY'S FARM, CABOT

Piano Performance by Colin McQuillan with Guest Violist Elizabeth Reid

FRI. AUG. 8

CHRIST CHURCH, MONTPELIER

Darkness Falls Tour

FRI. AUG. 8

199 MAIN ST, BURLINGTON

Vermont Psychic Expo

SAT., AUG. 9

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX JCT

Thai at Home: Takeout Turned In

SAT., AUG. 9

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Drip Cake Decorating Class with Sweet Syd's

WED., AUG. 13

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Forest Sit

THU., AUG. 14

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Hula Story Sessions: Yelo

THU., AUG. 14

HULA, BURLINGTON

Gypsy Blue Revue with JP Soars and the Red Hots & Anne Harris

THU., AUG. 14

TWIN PONDS RESORT CAMPSITE, PERU, NY

Thursday Dinners at the Farm

THU., AUG. 14

367 MISSION FARM RD, KILLINGTON

Healthy Living for Your Brain & Body: A Lunch & Learn on Alzheimer's Prevention

THU., AUG. 14

HULA, BURLINGTON

FOTW Trail Clinic - Hinesburg Town Forest

SAT., AUG. 16

HINESBURG TOWN FOREST - HAYDEN HILL WEST TRAILHEAD

Tree Identification for Birders and Friends

SUN., AUG. 17

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Northwood Gallery Speaker Series: Stephen Sharon

TUE. AUG. 19

NORTHWOOD GALLERY, STOWE

Grand Opening - Bombardier Park

TUE., AUG. 19

BOMBARDIER PARK WEST, MILTON

'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

THU., AUG. 21

BRIGGS OPERA HOUSE, WHITE RIVER JCT

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