Seven Days, December 10, 2025 by Seven Days

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Bad Connections

e Winooski School District was inundated with angry calls and threats on Monday after right-wing social media accounts posted images of students and staff hoisting a Somali ﬂag outside its pre-K through 12 school building.

Libs of TikTok ran the video on its X account along with the school district’s phone number.

“I’ve got a suggestion for ICE’s next stop,” posted podcaster Benny Johnson.

e posts received hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of comments, most of which excoriate the school district for raising a foreign ﬂag.

Winooski students and staff gathered outside the school last Friday to celebrate the raising of the baby blue ﬂag of Somalia. It was meant to ﬂy for a week as the district — which educates students from all over the globe, many of whom are refugees — planned to reassure its Somali students that they are valued in the wake of statements that President Donald Trump made last week. e president called Somali immigrants “garbage” and said he does not want them in the U.S.

Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, who is an immigrant from Nicaragua, said a deluge of phone calls from out-ofstate numbers to the district’s central ofﬁce started around 9:30 a.m. Callers yelled at staff and in some instances used the N-word, Chavarria said. e district began to route callers directly to voicemail. It also took down its website and notiﬁed the Winooski Police Department.

Chavarria said the district will continue “visibly standing up for students with actual actions.”

On its Facebook page on Monday, the Winooski School District posted a photo showing the American flag flanked by the Vermont state flag and the Somali flag.

“First, we want to assure everyone that the United States ﬂag remains in its proper place at the highest point, in full compliance with the U.S. Flag Code,” the post reads. “Winooski is a proudly diverse community, and we are committed to recognizing and uplifting the cultures and identities represented in our schools.”

Read Alison Novak’s full post at sevendaysvt.com.

CALL OF DUTY

A Brattleboro man was killed while serving as a medic in Ukraine’s war with Russia. Andrew David Mario was 33.

BEE WORRIED

More than half of 6,400 Vermont honeybee colonies examined last season were lost, a survey found. It’s a startling discovery, experts say.

MAKING TRACKS

Stowe Mountain Rescue warned that TikTok videos are drawing unprepared people to backcountry skiing. Beware the unknown!

PAY TO PLAY

Vermont Fish & Wildlife has proposed having people pay a $20 annual fee for recreating on state land. Cue the backlash…

1,100 acres

That’s how much additional backcountry terrain the ski area Mad River Glen wants to purchase.

TOPFIVE

1. “Internal Report Faults Rutland Ofﬁcers in Trainee’s Fatal Crash” by Derek Brouwer and Colin Flanders. Cops should not have initiated a pursuit that led to a 19-year-old rookie’s death, an internal report says.

2. “Students to Receive $250,000 Settlement for School Harassment” by Alison Novak. Two siblings at a Windham County middle school sued over harassment related to their race and sexual orientation.

3. “Vermonters Respond to Trump With Chalk, Lawsuits and Food Donations” by Seven Days staff. Locals are pushing back in various, sometimes creative, ways against the administration’s policies.

4. “Winooski Schools Inundated With Angry Calls, reats for Flying Somali Flag” by Alison Novak. See story on this page.

5. “Vermont Folk and Children’s Musician Jon Gailmor Dies” by Chris Farnsworth. e folk singer and radio host died in New Orleans on November 30.

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

Waitsﬁeld Wants Webcams for Town Bridges

Ofﬁcials are considering putting up webcams at the Meadow Road Bridge and the Waitsﬁeld Covered Bridge to track vehicles that are over the weight limit or damage the structures, according to the Valley Reporter. e Meadow Road Bridge has a new eight-ton limit, and the town’s covered bridge has been repeatedly damaged by drivers — including some who don’t report it.

HIGH FLIERS

In a Bennington workshop, a handful of high school students are engaged in an unconventional afterschool activity: building a small airplane. Their mentor is Jim Sharkey, a recently retired aerospace engineer who launched Bennington STEMworks, a new nonprofit aimed at sparking young people’s interest in aviation through hands-on learning.

Sharkey, an amateur pilot, is originally from Scotland but has lived in southern Vermont for three decades. In the early 2000s, he built a small plane from a kit and thought it would be fun and educational to embark on a similar project with teens.

Southwest Tech, the region’s career and technical center, offered to host the program, which ofﬁcially got off the ground in September. Students and community volunteers are fabricating plane parts from sheet metal and will eventually delve into more advanced work in electrical systems.

Sharkey estimates it will take around two years and $140,000 to build the plane, a twoseater from Van’s Aircraft, a company based in Oregon. e project is being funded by donations and grants. But once the plane is ﬁnished, inspected and tested for airworthiness, Sharkey said he hopes to sell it and use the proceeds for another plane build, making it a “self-sustaining” endeavor.

Any student from Southwest Tech’s catchment area — including Bennington, Manchester

and surrounding towns — is eligible to participate. So far, four students attend consistently, Sharkey said, but he’s trying to spread the word.

Austin Bortell, a 17-year-old senior at Mount Anthony Union High School, is a regular. He attends Southwest Tech’s manufacturing program and said the unique extracurricular opportunity piqued his interest.

“I really like working with my hands,” Bortell said, and “I’ve always been a fan of aviation.” He’s hoping the skills he develops through the program — including reading blueprints and documenting his work in a logbook — will help prepare him for a career as a machinist, or perhaps even an aircraft maintenance technician.

ALISON NOVAK

Jim Sharkey (left) and students fabricating plane parts

COLLEGE MATERIAL.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Bryan Parmelee

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron SALES & MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Marcy Stabile

Andy Watts

Gillian English

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, Sean Metcalf, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

HAIL TO MCKIBBEN

Your deeply researched article [“Star Power,” November 26] nailed both Bill McKibben’s character and his inﬂuence. He is whip-smart and humble, which makes him such a successful journalist, teacher and climate activist. His new book, Here Comes the Sun, is the ﬁrst good news we have heard concerning the climate crisis in a long time. I heartily endorse this book, a highly readable and optimistic message sorely needed at this time.

of both by changing them. Let’s transition from a deﬁned pension beneﬁt system to a 401k-like plan, as almost every other major employer has now. Most 401ks have employer contributions of 4 percent. Rutland City schools contribute 10 percent, plus 8 percent from the state. Make the change and realize a 14 percent payroll savings — for Rutland — and at least 4 percent elsewhere.

As for health insurance, ditch community rating and Obamacare, open up the market for choice, and allow people to buy a plan that suits them. For school employees, contribute a set amount, determined by the state, to an HSA-type account to purchase a plan. Signiﬁcant savings will be realized. The state could also set up a catastrophic plan — say $30,000 deductible — for all Vermonters that is funded by broad-based taxes as a catchall. That will keep the regular plans o ered much more a ordable.

Barry Beauchamp RUTLAND

‘PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION MATTERS’

Thank you for Alison Novak’s excellent recent article highlighting Vermont’s bold investment in childcare and the progress we’re seeing statewide [“Growing Gains,” November 19]. I have immense gratitude for Let’s Grow Kids and the advocacy e orts of our ﬁeld and for the lawmakers who passed Act 76.

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.

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS

Harry Applegate, James Blanchard, Joe Bou ard, Pat Bou ard, Colin Clary, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Matt Hagen, Jay Kramer, Penny Libercent, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Matt LaDuq Perry, Danielle Schneider, Andy Watts, Tracey Young With additional circulation support from PP&D.

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Seven Days shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement. If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Seven Days may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Seven Days reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.

Ten years ago, I began attending the Sunday Night Group (now the Sunday Night Environmental Group), Bill’s legacy at Middlebury College, as a member of the Addison County community. I am very impressed by how this group of students work together in a nonhierarchical manner to carry out campaigns for climate justice. During my time with them, SNEG students successfully completed a seven-year e ort to convince the college board of trustees to phase out fossil fuel companies from the college’s endowment. Current campaigns include making portable solar achievable in Vermont and working to replace the college’s aging biomass heating plant with geothermal energy. Not every campaign has been successful, but the learning that goes into being an activist is a worthwhile endeavor that has lasting e ects.

What Bill McKibben, professor Jon Isham and their students set into motion 20 years ago is still a vibrant, inspirational movement that goes far beyond the campus where it began.

Fran Putnam WEYBRIDGE

A COUPLE OF SOLUTIONS

[Re “Redistricting Task Force Recommends Phased Approach to Ed Reform,” November 20, online]: Two of the biggest drivers of our state’s education costs are pensions and health insurance, and we can signiﬁcantly lower the costs

As someone working on the ground every day, I would like to o er a perspective on the Early Childhood Education Profession Bill. I serve as the executive director of Northshire Day School in Manchester Center, where we employ 35 educators and staff and serve more than 90 young children. I helped develop workforce recommendations in the bill and support licensure wholeheartedly. Mixed feelings about change are completely understandable. But this bill is intentionally designed as a gradual, well-supported system change aimed primarily at the future workforce. For today’s educators, it o ers substantial support, multiple ﬂexible pathways and a long runway for implementation.

Professional recognition matters. Early childhood is the most critical period of human development, and positive outcomes for children are directly linked to the qualiﬁcations of the adults who teach and care for them. Licensure strengthens recruitment and retention, clariﬁes roles and expectations, and keeps children safer by ensuring accountability at both the program and individual level. With more than $125 million in public

Bill McKibben

investment for childcare and continued advocacy for future investments, accountability is coming. This bill ensures that licensure is designed by early childhood educators, reflects our career pathways and supports us in doing this important work.

Laurie Metcalfe MANCHESTER CENTER

‘CONTRADICTORY’ ARTICLE

Although I generally enjoy Seven Days’ journalism, I found that the recent article by Alison Novak on the ongoing war of words between our governor and education secretary and the School District Redistricting Task Force missed the mark substantially [“Different School of Thought: A Group Tasked With Redrawing School District Maps Has Suggested an Alternative Scenario, Rankling the Scott Administration,” November 26]. The article ultimately was an exercise in “he said, she said,” with contradictory statements presented from both sides without any evidence or data provided by the reporter to challenge either side’s assertions.

Of particular concern were the statements about the proposal for increasing use of Cooperative Education Service Areas. Saunders stated this idea would only increase costs and administrative bloat. Meanwhile, the task force asserts the opposite — that they would increase efficiency. Who are we to believe?

This is where the role of the journalist comes in. I would have expected Novak to look into the task force’s and Saunders’ claims and provide evidence or data that could help the reader determine who is closer to the truth. Crucially, as the task force notes, this is not an abstract policy

SATURDAY

10AM-12PM

question; the model has already been implemented in Vermont. It should be a simple matter of examining whether or not its implementation has resulted in cost savings.

It’s the role of the fourth estate to critically examine the statements of public officials and those in power and contextualize with outside information. Sadly, that was not present, and I am left swimming in a sea of contradictory statements.

Ethan Pepin RUTLAND CITY

Editor’s note: The story reports that the Cooperative Education Service Areas in Vermont have already resulted in a 66 percent savings on professional development costs. It also notes that Campaign for Vermont estimates “the state could eventually save up to $334 million annually if school districts share services the way the task force has suggested.”

SAY SOMETHING!

Seven Days wants to publish your rants and raves. Your feedback must... be 250 words or fewer; respond to Seven Days content; include your full name, town and a daytime phone number.

Seven Days reserves the right to edit for accuracy, length and readability. Your submission options include: • sevendaysvt.com/feedback feedback@sevendaysvt.com Seven Days, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402-1164

Keep your spirits high.

After conquering the holiday hustle, reward yourself with the best greens in Essex Junction. Whether you’re dashing through the snow or dodging in-laws, The High Bar has festive ﬂower and deals to lift your day higher than Santa’s sleigh. Bring this ad in and get 25% OFF your ﬁrst purchase when you sign up for a loyalty account. Check our website, TheHighBar.com for additional discounts.

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 patients 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.

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NEWS+POLITICS 14

Newest Americans

As Trump’s immigration crackdown intensiﬁed last week, 23 people became American citizens in a Burlington courtroom

Vermont Air National Guard to Be Mobilized — and Won’t Say Where

Pursuit of Justice?

An internal report faulted Rutland police ofﬁcers for a car chase that resulted in their colleague’s death. e chief kept it quiet.

Judge Reverses Decision to Demote Police Chief

Harassed Students to Receive $250,000 Settlement

Van Scam

A Bradford music promoter promised to build retirees the campers of their dreams. Instead, he made off with nearly $500,000.

FEATURES 28

Wild Ride

New Stowe exhibitions highlight snowboarding’s history and Hubert Schriebl’s mountain sports photography

ARTS+CULTURE 46

Mad River Macho

Nude calendar features men of the Mad River Valley

Old-School Video Store

Pops Up in White River Junction

Signed and Sealed

eater review: Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Shaker Bridge eatre

Picturesque Prose

Book review: Pastorals, Rachel Hadas

It’s a Small World, After All ree different approaches to shows of diminutive

Vermont Folk and Children’s Musician Jon Gailmor Dies

fertilizing their eggs. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger observed

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO

BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

SATURDAY 13

BROADWAY’S BEST

If the title “A Few Cheery Songs About Death” isn’t enough to reel you in, consider that eminent composer and lyricist David Yazbek has six Broadway shows under his belt — and a Tony Award to boot. Witness his musical genius in action at Next Stage Arts in Putney, where the living legend dazzles with witty banter, behindthe-scenes storytelling and selections from his oeuvre.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

THURSDAY 11-SUNDAY 14

SATURDAY 13

Guilty Pleasures

Illicit activity — in this quaint little state? Bennington Museum’s Vermont Vice Gala invites philanthropic locals in art deco duds to a showcase of the seedier side of our bucolic paradise. A peek at the spicy exhibit “Vermont Vice: Sex, Drugs, Money and Murder” provides the backdrop for an evening of hot jazz, cocktails, decadent dining and a silent auction to beneﬁt the museum.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

Kat & Brett Holiday Show continues to spread joy across the state, piquing nostalgia this week in Kat Wright and Brett Hughes helm the annual with charismatic anecdotes.

New best-selling author and illustrator Matt . Families at both the Norwich Bookstore and the season at festive, cheerful readings of his latest yuletide romp, Dasher and the Polar Bear, exploring

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

SATURDAY 13

Get Punked

Millennials: Run, don’t walk, to Higher Ground Showcase Lounge in South Burlington for pop-punk patriarchy smashers PINK 802 Unforgettable earworms by ’90s staple Blink-182 ﬁnd new life in electrifying renditions by the queer, feminist outﬁt founded by Vermont drummer Jane Boxall. Warm up those vocal cords and belt out “What’s my age again?” ’til you’re blue in the face!

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 63

SATURDAY 13 & SUNDAY 14

Hell-Raiser

“Sumptuous,” “gorgeous” and “as good as it gets” are the New York Times descriptors for the beguiling Broadway musical Hadestown. e eight-time Tony Award-winning production — straight from the imagination of Vermont singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell — returns to the Flynn Main Stage to beckon Burlington theatergoers to the haunting and soul-stirring underworld.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

SUNDAY 14

Colors of the Wind

Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph hosts acclaimed ensemble Windborne for an evening of hope, harmony and heart. In “Music of Midwinter,” the folk outﬁt counters the season’s darkest days with a bright assortment of traditional folk songs spanning continents and centuries. Unexpected instruments including the Lithuanian kanklės and the Irish bodhrán accentuate the global cornucopia.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 73

Shelburne’s Flying Pig Bookstore soak up the spirit of

Holidays on the Marketplace is back & brighter than ever!

Protect Meters and Vents from Ice and Snow

From Santa Visits and the Window Contest to free hot chocolate , your favorite traditions are here to stay. This year brings new fun too — join the Postcard Club , hunt for snowflakes , and enjoy fresh Festive Friday activations all season long. NOV 28 DEC 31, 2025 through Burlington Vermont

For all the details, visit us at ChurchStreetMarketplace.com/Holidays.

Don’t push or pile deep snow around meters and ensure whoever removes snow from your property knows meter and appliance vent locations. Use extreme caution when clearing snow and large icicles near meters and vents. If your meter gets encased in thick ice, please call us.

How

Detect a Gas Leak

If

You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying.

Natural gas is normally odorless. VGS adds an odorant similar to the smell of rotten eggs, so it can be easily recognized.

You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling. the

Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 800-6398081 or call 911 with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might result in a dangerous condition. Do not assume someone else will report the condition.

More safety information here:

If you suspect a leak: Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Deep Digger

In April I was on vacation in Mexico, on strict orders to avoid email, when I saw a message in my inbox from Anne Galloway. The subject heading: “Time sensitive freelance piece.”

Of course, I read it! Galloway wrote freelance stories for Seven Days for more than a decade in the early days of the paper — features, art reviews, profiles — and we had a productive relationship until she started VTDigger in 2009.

Like me and my cofounder, Pamela Polston, Galloway built a Vermont media outlet from scratch. Also like us, her success surprised people. Although she was soft-spoken and unassuming, Galloway turned out to be a ferocious reporter, editor and publisher who worked ceaselessly to create a nonprofit news website for Vermont.

Five years in, she single-handedly broke one of the biggest stories in state history. Her dogged reporting showed that a development project in the Northeast Kingdom, funded by foreign investors buying U.S. EB-5 visas, was a Ponzi scheme.

Galloway’s reporting put VTDigger on the national radar. Meanwhile in Vermont, the media landscape had changed: As the daily Burlington Free Press declined, Digger and Seven Days tried to fill the news void and became rival operations, competing for readers, stories, news tips, reporters, editors and, more recently, philanthropic support.

Vermonters benefit from this one-upmanship. That both outlets want to be first to report every significant story generates more and better news. Or so the theory goes.

Predictably, Galloway and I became respectful adversaries. Here’s a true story that sounds like a metaphor: One summer I was hiking around an island 10 miles off the Maine coast on a miserable, rainy day. I encountered only one other party, trekking in the opposite direction: Galloway and her husband, Patrick.

To the Vermont media’s shock, Galloway resigned from VTDigger in May 2022. “I did choose to leave,” she told me, noting that there were a lot of internal “pressures” and she probably should have moved on sooner. “It’s all-consuming when you’re in it. I definitely had a case of ‘Founder Syndrome.’”

Two weeks after her departure, on a road trip with her daughter, Galloway started having trouble with her eyesight. Back home in Vermont, she learned that both of her retinas had partially detached. She has endured multiple surgeries, with grueling recoveries, infections and redos, over the past few years but remains almost blind in one eye and sometimes walks with a white cane.

She said the experience of becoming totally reliant on others “made me a better person.” Somehow, in that same time frame, Galloway also started a consulting firm, NewzOps, that assists independent newsrooms across the country. She has worked with about 20 clients so far.

Considering all that, her email came as a surprise on that Monday morning in Mexico. “I’m writing to see if you’d be interested in the article that follows,” Galloway

wrote. “I happened to be in D.C. last week visiting my son and got an in-person interview with Peter Welch. The piece is tied to the Senate vote on the tax bill.” I could see why she wanted to publish it; what she gleaned from the sit-down was intimate and revealing — the work of a pro. Galloway even suggested headlines.

I sent the story to news editor Matthew Roy, and we scrambled the jets to get it into that week’s paper. Galloway told me later that she’d first offered the story to her former colleagues at Digger, but they turned it down. It was the first thing she’d written for publication since March 2021. The experience of working with Matthew was so good, she agreed to take on more assignments. We’ve since published half a dozen of her stories — about the Vermont Lawyers March, Burlington landlord Stu McGowan, the bankruptcy of Gardener’s Supply — all of which have been well observed and reported.

YOU START DIGGING, AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE IT’S GOING TO GO.

ANNE GALLOWAY

For this week’s cover story, Galloway turned her attention to the University of Vermont’s new president, Marlene Tromp — an unabashedly progressive and personable academic leader with a PhD in English who ruffled feathers in her last job guiding Boise State University. Galloway spent time with Tromp and interviewed plenty of others about her. But nobody wanted to discuss what happened in Idaho; in fact, an administrator for the lawyer representing BSU hung up on Galloway. When she called back, the same woman told her: “Nobody in this office is going to talk to you.”

So Galloway did what she does best: dug in. “I really had to do a lot of reporting on the BSU stuff,” she explained, though it wound up being just a small part of the story. “You start digging, and you don’t know where it’s going to go.”

Paula Routly

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WRINKLE IN WOODSTOCK

BRADFORD MUSIC MAN’S VAN SCAM

Newest Americans

As Trump’s immigration crackdown intensiﬁed last week, 23 people became American citizens in a Burlington courtroom

BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

At midmorning on December 3, a usually somber and decorous federal courtroom in downtown Burlington buzzed with celebratory energy. People packed the gallery’s wooden benches, dressed up in vibrant dresses, elegant saris, crisp suits.

Alma Chase strode into the courtroom. Twenty-six years ago, Chase had arrived in Burlington at age 9 as a Bosnian refugee. On this day, she was among 23 people from 16 countries who had reached the end of a winding path. The assembled group was prepared to take the Oath of Allegiance to become Vermont’s newest U.S. citizens, joining 262 other Vermonters sworn in this year.

All were doubtless aware that they had reached this moment amid a crackdown on immigration unprecedented in American history. Just the day before, the administration of President Donald Trump had halted all immigration applications, including naturalization ceremonies like this one, for people from 19 targeted countries. Some ceremonies have been abruptly canceled, leaving would-be citizens in limbo at the ﬁnal step in the process.

Chase, 34, dressed in a pale pink sweater and glasses, found a seat in a middle row of the courtroom. Her parents and husband — all U.S. citizens — sat several rows behind her. Chase looked around at the crowd, appearing nervous but proud. To her, this moment felt long overdue.

Vermont Air National Guard to Be Mobilized — but Won’t Say Where

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont Air National Guard troops learned over the weekend that they will be ordered on a federal mission sometime this month, but no additional details are being released.

Guard members were informed of this while they were on base in South Burlington for training over the weekend, said spokeswoman Lt. Col. Meghan Smith.

“We were federally mobilized, but we can’t talk about the location or the duration,” Smith said. Nor could she say how many people would be affected.

e Vermont Air National Guard has about 1,000 full-time and part-time members, most of whom are assigned to ﬂy, maintain and support 20 F-35s.

e Air Guard’s last overseas deployment was earlier this year when 200 members and several F-35s headed to Kadena Air Base in Japan as part of a planned rotation. ey returned in April.

Chase was just a baby when her mother fled with her from Bosnia to Macedonia after the breakup of Yugoslavia and subsequent war displaced millions.

At 5 years old, she learned that her brother and father were alive, having survived captivity in concentration camps where torture was commonplace. The family reunited and applied to be resettled in the U.S. as refugees, arriving in Burlington in the late ’90s.

Vermont has been Chase’s home ever since. She graduated from Winooski High School and studied at Community College of Vermont. A few years ago, she married her U.S.-born husband.

e news comes as President Donald Trump continues to rattle his saber at Venezuela’s leader, President Nicolás Maduro. Trump has dispatched warships to the region, and the U.S. has been striking boats that the administration claims are linked to drug trafﬁcking. e Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that two U.S. F-18 ﬁghters circled over the Gulf of Venezuela near Maracaibo for about 40 minutes, escalating tensions between the two countries.

e president also has ordered National Guard troops to American cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Many have characterized that as an abuse of power.

Vermont Air Guard Adjutant General Greg Knight was in North Macedonia and unavailable to discuss the deployment, according to spokesman Joe Brooks.

“ ey were notiﬁed that they are likely going to deploy within a short turnaround time, so sometime here in December,” Brooks said. He acknowledged that the short notice is unusual for an Air Guard deployment.

Gov. Phil Scott’s spokesperson, Amanda Wheeler, referred questions to the Pentagon. ➆

Uzima Bora

Pursuit of Justice?

An internal report faulted Rutland police officers for a car chase that resulted in their colleague’s death. The chief kept it quiet.

BY DEREK BROUWER & COLIN FLANDERS

The report rendered a startling verdict: Members of the Rutland City Police Department could have prevented the death of 19-year-old trainee Jessica Ebbighausen during a high-speed chase.

Then-commander Sam Delpha had reviewed radio logs and body camera video and interviewed the more experienced officers who were working that day in 2023. He concluded emphatically in a nine-page internal investigative report that their mistakes left Ebbighausen — and the public at large — needlessly exposed to the collateral danger of an unwarranted high-speed pursuit.

By March 10, Delpha had submitted his findings to Chief Brian Kilcullen, who told the city’s citizen police commission that he would review the report and convey its conclusions in a few weeks’ time.

That didn’t happen. Instead, Kilcullen shared the report with no one. Not the three officers whose actions the report criticized. Not Mayor Mike Doenges, who said the chief privately conveyed “bits and pieces” of the findings. Not the citizen police commission, whose job it is to

provide oversight of the department. Not even Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan, who is prosecuting the 22-yearold man, Tate Rheaume, whose pickup struck Ebbinghausen’s cruiser head-on while he was fleeing another officer.

Kilcullen told Seven Days on Monday that he decided not to disclose the findings while the aggravated murder case against Rheaume remains pending because it could “switch the focus” away from Rheaume’s conduct and toward his department.

But, in doing so, Kilcullen sat on a report that could damage the state’s case. He also shielded his department from public scrutiny and delayed, potentially for years, the chance for police agencies to learn from the mistakes that appear to have contributed to the death of a young officer.

The report did not come to light until Rheaume’s defense attorney, David Sleigh, learned of it in October when he deposed police involved in the pursuit. He then subpoenaed the document, and it’s now part of the public record in the criminal case. In an interview, Sleigh said the report undercuts the state’s case against Rheaume and argued that

Judge Reverses Decision to Demote Police Chief

BY COLIN FLANDERS colin@sevendaysvt.com

The Woodstock Village Trustees used the wrong legal standard when they decided to demote former police chief Joseph Swanson earlier this year, a judge ruled last week, kicking the employment case back to the local governing board.

Swanson, a 25-year member of the town’s police department, served as police chief for 18 months before being placed on administrative leave in October 2024 following complaints about his management style and work ethic. His attorney argued that he was the victim of a witch hunt. But after weeks of deliberation that featured a 14-hour hearing, the trustees voted in April to demote Swanson back to a police officer, citing “personnel issues.”

The village detailed its reasoning in a confidential written decision. But it did not make a formal evaluation of whether cause existed to demote Swanson.

That was a mistake, according to Judge H. Dickson Corbett, who ruled that cause must be established in Vermont to remove a municipal police chief from office.

Corbett fell short of reinstating Swanson to his old post, though, as requested. Instead, the judge said the trustees must decide whether to pursue further removal proceedings — and what to do about Swanson’s employment in the meantime.

The two sides had different takeaways from the ruling. Swanson, who is suing the village for $5 million, texted members of the department to notify them of the reversal, according to a screenshot shared with Seven Days Swanson wrote that it was unclear whether the trustees would “do the right thing” or whether they would seek to remove him again. “In the meantime call me with any questions about calls and cases,” he wrote, signing the text as “Chief Swanson.”

The village’s attorney, John Klesch, emailed Swanson’s lawyer shortly afterward to say the text had “dangerously created confusion.” Klesch wrote that the municipal manager would issue a department-wide notification explaining that Swanson continues to hold the rank of a patrol officer. ➆

Pursuit of Justice? « P.15

officials had skirted their legal obligation to disclose it. “I read it, and my jaw just went slack,” he said.

Two criminal justice experts who reviewed Delpha’s report at the request of Seven Days were critical of the city’s response. Choosing to not disclose the findings in particular reflects a “real failure of leadership,” said Christy Lopez, a Georgetown University law professor who oversaw U.S. Department of Justice investigations into police agencies during the Obama administration.

“Part of this is about accountability,” Lopez said. “But just as importantly, in my view, is making sure that you change things moving forward.”

Rheaume smashed into Ebbighausen’s cruiser on July 7, 2023, while he was being pursued by Officer Jared Dumas. Despite having worked for just several weeks, Ebbighausen was driving to assist the pursuit, accompanied by her trainer, thencorporal Richard Caravaggio. Neither Ebbighausen nor Caravaggio were wearing seat belts when Rheaume crossed the center line of heavily traveled Woodstock Avenue at roughly 80 miles per hour, according to Vermont State Police, who conducted the criminal crash investigation. Ebbighausen was thrown from the cruiser and died on the scene; Caravaggio was injured but later returned to work in the department.

Ebbighausen had dreamed of wearing a police uniform since she was a young girl. A community fundraiser for her family took in more than $55,000, and hundreds of first responders from across New England, as well as Gov. Phil Scott, attended her public funeral. Her family did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

“Words cannot express who Jessica truly was or describe the loss we are feeling right now,” Delpha said during opening remarks at the funeral. “Jessica is a hero to her family and her community, and we will always honor her sacrifice.”

The state initially charged Rheaume, of Salisbury, with felony negligent operation and attempt to elude, both with death resulting. Nearly a year later, in April 2024, Sullivan added a new charge of aggravated murder, the most severe charge under state law, which carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Rheaume has been detained in state prison since then.

Rutland police ramped up their internal investigation following Rheaume’s arraignment on the enhanced charge, Kilcullen told VTDigger at the time, though he declined to say then whether the findings would be made public.

The task of reviewing his fellow

officers’ actions on that painful day fell to Delpha, a department veteran. He has since retired, and Seven Days was unable to reach him for this story.

His report describes a series of lowlevel police calls that day in July 2023 between Rutland officers and Rheaume that centered on Rheaume’s presence at residences linked to the mother of his children. The first two calls ended peacefully with Rheaume’s departure. During those interactions, witnesses explained to police that Rheaume’s mental health had been

THE DEATH OF OFFICER EBBIGHAUSEN WAS PREVENTABLE.

RUTLAND INTERNAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

declining as he stopped taking medications.

A third caller reported Rheaume was inside another residence that he had entered without permission. Dumas went to the home and ordered Rheaume out. Dumas then called the mother of Rheaume’s children, who Rheaume claimed had given him permission to go inside, according to the internal report.

Dumas asked the woman how she wanted the police to proceed, according to a description of body camera footage included in the report. Dumas then said aloud the words “pursue charges,” at which point Rheaume ran to his truck and drove away. Dumas pursued.

The internal review scrutinized Dumas’ decision to chase Rheaume and found faults at multiple levels. Dumas radioed that he was investigating a burglary, but at that point he did not have evidence Rheaume had broken into the apartment or stolen any items, the report said.

Even if he had, burglary is not a violent felony. Under the department’s policy, it shouldn’t have prompted a chase.

Dumas turned on his lights and sirens and followed Rheaume through a parking lot and onto crowded streets, eventually

reaching Woodstock Avenue, a busy, arterial road also known as Route 4.

“Someone at any rank should have stopped this pursuit,” Delpha wrote in the report. “Dumas did not ask permission to continue the pursuit, he was pursuing for burglary only, and Dumas knew Rheaume was operating the vehicle he was pursuing and knew his recent mental health issues.”

Ebbighausen and her supervisor, Caravaggio, left the station and traveled toward the pursuit from the opposite direction.

Delpha’s conclusions were unequivocal. Other officers’ decisions were “direct contributing factors” in causing the crash that killed Ebbighausen. He tallied 16 policy violations between four officers, including one for Ebbighausen, who he faulted for not wearing her seat belt.

“The death of Officer Ebbighausen WAS preventable,” Delpha’s report states. “This incident and more specifically the pursuit should have never happened.”

Dumas left the Rutland City Police Department last year for a job with the Rutland Town Police Department, where his father, Ed, is chief. The elder Dumas declined comment on their behalf last week, citing the ongoing criminal case.

“Being a police officer is sometimes like being hitched to a whipping post,” Ed Dumas said. “You just kind of take it until everything comes out in the wash.”

Caravaggio also declined to comment, as did the local police union.

Kilcullen, in an interview on Monday, could not say when he received Delpha’s report. But meeting minutes of the Rutland City Police Commission, a citizen oversight board, note that the chief briefed the panel on the report’s submission on March 10. “The Chief will be reviewing it over the next few weeks and will report out then,” the minutes state.

Kilcullen also told the commission that Delpha had begun using accrued leave time ahead of a June 1 retirement.

In the nine months since Kilcullen received his commander’s scathing report, the chief appears to have briefed only Mayor Doenges on its contents.

Doenges told Seven Days last week that the chief had offered basic information about the internal investigation so that the mayor would not become a potential witness in the criminal case. Doenges was satisfied with that approach and said he trusts that Kilcullen has handled the report’s findings appropriately. He assumed that the police commission, which provides more detailed oversight of the department, had been more fully briefed on the investigation.

But the commission appears to have forgotten about Kilcullen’s March promise to fill them in. Chair Pat Brougham described the report in an email this week

Joseph Swanson

as “news to us.” She otherwise declined comment, citing the ongoing criminal case against Rheaume.

Another commissioner, former state senator Peg Flory, said members questioned Kilcullen about the report during a meeting on Monday. His answers didn’t allay Flory’s concerns. She said the report’s findings could have been shared in a closeddoor session if the chief was worried about litigation. “It was disturbing that we didn’t get a copy of the report,” she said.

Reached again on Tuesday, the mayor said he now planned to do a “deeper dive” on the internal investigation with the chief later this week.

Kilcullen readily acknowledged to Seven Days that he’s done nothing with the document.

“The report has been reviewed by me, and that’s that,” he said.

Kilcullen emphasized that he does not endorse all of Delpha’s findings but refused to elaborate.

Since Ebbighausen’s death, the department has conducted general, periodic reviews on its policies around high-speed chases but has not studied the fatal incident itself, Kilcullen said. He believed the last policy review was held as recently as October, though he could not cite specific dates.

He said he worried that disclosing the report publicly could jeopardize the murder case against Rheaume. “My concern is the fair trial for the defendant,” Kilcullen said. “I don’t want to do anything to compromise that.”

That didn’t make sense to Sleigh, however, who contends that the report is “exculpatory” for his client because it faults police in the crash. The police had been obligated to disclose it to him and he should not have had to subpoena it, he said. He described the police actions as “the unabated demonization of Tate to protect the police.”

The details of the report haven’t dissuaded Sullivan, the prosecutor, from pursuing the most serious charge against Rheaume.

“Based on my review of those materials and all of the other evidence in the case, I look forward to presenting this case, including the aggravated murder charge, to a jury of Mr. Rheaume’s peers,” he told Seven Days in an email.

Ebbighausen was the youngest Vermont police officer ever killed in the line of duty, but she was not the first, nor the last, person to die during a police chase in the state. Nearly a year after her death, two men were killed in Colchester after crashing their SUV while fleeing Burlington and then Colchester police.

Interim Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke recalled earlier incidents in which bystanders were injured or killed in Chittenden County. He believes departments across the state should pursue suspects sparingly, only when the danger they pose outweighs the serious public safety risks involved in a chase.

Last year, Burke pushed for the state’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board, which he then chaired, to develop a model policy for police pursuits that could be adopted by departments statewide. Burke resigned from the board when he took Burlington's interim police chief job in March, and the topic has not been deliberated since.

Current chair Trevor Whipple said the board plans to begin discussing it during its next meeting in January.

Burke said it’s imperative for police departments to learn from mistakes made during past pursuits.

“It’s really our duty to always be selfassessing and self-correcting,” he said.

Kilcullen expressed a similar message in the days after Ebbighausen’s death. Speaking at her funeral, he called for statewide improvements to mental health care and more accountability for repeat offenders.

“We have all tried to make sense of this tragedy, and we struggle with that,” Kilcullen said then. “It doesn’t make sense, but we must do everything we can to learn from this.” ➆

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De Dr. C an, My standard poodle is celebrating his 8th birthday next month. How do I keep his brain healthy as we head into the senior pet stage of his life?

Thank y , Stephanie G.

a veterinary neurologist, I often discuss cognitive health with pet owners. Maintaining brain health in aging pets requires a proactive approach, just as we would for ourselves.

To support your aging pet’s brain health, I recommend implementing the following strategies:

MENTAL STIMULATION - Keep their mind active with puzzle toys, new tricks, and varied routines. Even older pets can learn new things, and this mental exercise helps maintain neural pathways.

PHYSICAL EXERCISE - Regular, appropriate physical activity supports brain health through increased blood ﬂow and oxygen delivery. Adjust exercise to your pet’s abilities as they age.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT - Diets rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides can support cognitive function. Consider veterinary-approved senior formulas with brain-supporting nutrients.

REGULAR VETERINARY CHECK-UPS - Many underlying medical conditions can affect brain health. Regular monitoring can catch issues early.

SOCIAL INTERACTION - Continued bonding and interaction with family members helps maintain cognitive function

Harassed Students to Receive $250,000 Settlement

BY ALISON NOVAK alison@sevendaysvt.com

The Windham Central Supervisory Union and Leland & Gray Middle School have agreed to pay two siblings $250,000 to settle a pair of 2024 lawsuits alleging student-on-student harassment that the school did not adequately address.

The Vermont Human Rights Commission, which brought the suits on the students’ behalf, characterized the agreement as the largest monetary settlement in its history; the oversight body was created by the legislature in 1987 to uphold civil and human rights in housing, state government and schools through investigation and litigation.

Windham Central superintendent Bob Thibault wrote in an email to Seven Days that the supervisory union “is not interested in protracted litigation with families” and is “pleased to resolve the lawsuit on favorable terms given that it covers two students with two separate claims.”

The settlement stems from two separate lawsuits the commission filed in 2024 on behalf of a brother and sister. The suits describe the students as “an African-American male who has brown skin” and “an African-American female who has brown skin and who is attracted emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually to females” and notes that their parents are white.

Between 2019 and 2022, the male student was the only African American student in his grade, the suit says. He was subjected to “continuing unwelcome conduct, including verbal, written, visual and physical conduct” based on his and his family’s “race and color.” That included racial slurs, threats, graffiti and taunts, according to the suit.

The second lawsuit, filed on behalf of the female student, alleges that she also faced “unwelcome conduct” related to her “actual and/or perceived sex and/or sexual orientation” between 2020 and 2022. The suit describes one student threatening to beat her up because of her sexual orientation and another calling her a lesbian while taking food off her lunch tray, biting it, then putting it back on her tray.

As in her brother’s case, the school allegedly failed to stop the harassment. Like her brother, the female student transferred to a private school and received mental health treatment. ➆

But she put off pursuing her own citizenship for years because she was nervous about passing the written test. In April, though, she finally decided it was time, in part because she wanted to travel to beautiful places she had seen in photos, such as Banff National Park in Canada. She also wanted to vote.

Chase listened to YouTube videos that quizzed her on American history and civics as she drove to and from her job as a receptionist at a Burlington dental office. In September, she aced the test on the first try.

She would finally be a recognized citizen of the only home she had ever known.

A few rows in front of her, Uzima Bora, 35, sat with her 80-year-old mother. They, too, had come as refugees, after fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and living for more than 10 years in a refugee camp in Burundi. In 2018, they resettled in Vermont.

Trump has since halted the program that brought them here.

On this day, Bora was giddy, decked out in a brightly patterned blue dress and matching headwrap, gold necklaces and hoop earrings. She works as a home health aide but hopes citizenship will help her find something better. Next to her sat Zuena Marthe, 47, a friend who had lived in the same refugee camp for seven years. She was also about to be naturalized.

Sharrah LeClair, the court’s naturalization deputy, stepped to the microphone and welcomed the expectant people seated before her.

“This is the happiest day in our courtroom,” LeClair said. She encouraged people to take photos and make noise — usually a no-no in the courtroom — and set the stage for the ritual to come.

“You’re about to witness something very special and meaningful,” she said.

Everyone stood as U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle entered the courtroom through a door near the judge’s bench. From the main entrance, two uniformed men slowly marched to the front of the assembly, one bearing an unfurled American flag, the other a Vermont flag. Doyle asked everyone to sit.

“Today we will welcome as American citizens 23 people from 16 countries, a wonderful representation of countries and cultures from all over the world,” Doyle pronounced.

He ticked off the nations represented: Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, Bhutan, Russia, Canada, Jamaica, Hungary, India, Pakistan, Ireland, United Kingdom, Colombia and Nepal.

“Your journey here today has no doubt presented unique difficulties and challenges along the way,” he said. “You may have left family and friends. All of you have left familiar surroundings. You may have experienced hunger, illness or other hardships.”

“Today,” Doyle continued, “you join so many of your fellow Americans — past and present — who have made similar journeys to become part of this great American experiment.”

BEING HERE TODAY, IT FEELS LIKE FREEDOM.

ALMA

CHASE

The judge reflected on the experiences of his own parents, who emigrated from Canada and became naturalized citizens in a ceremony like this one more than 50 years ago in New York City.

“I ask you in the years ahead to hold on to the hope and anticipation — the excitement — that you feel today about this great achievement of becoming a United States citizen,” he implored. “Don’t take your wonderful freedoms for granted.”

The judge then asked each person to rise when he called their name, until all were standing together, their friends and family gazing up at them. Together, they raised their right hands and, repeating after the judge, recited the oath in unison.

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen,” the group pronounced.

When it ended, the audience broke into applause. Chase sat back down, beaming.

“Being here today, it feels like freedom,” she said.

One by one, Chase and the others walked to the front of the room to receive their citizenship certificates, shaking hands with a reception line of smiling court and immigration officials and staffers representing Vermont’s Congressional delegation.

Then the freshly minted citizens and their families and friends hugged one another and posed for photos. They waved tiny, complimentary American flags and excitedly introduced themselves to one another.

“You should come over for some Ghanaian food some time!” one woman told a couple she had just met.

Amid the short-lived revelry, there was little sign of the wider political turmoil around immigration and citizenship playing out across the country. Still, Chase acknowledged that many others seeking safe haven may never get to experience the sense of belonging she was feeling on this day.

The room was emptying, but Chase had one more chore to complete. She walked to a table just outside the courtroom and grabbed a paper form and a pen. Then, for the first time in her life, she registered to vote. ➆

Lucy Tompkins covers immigration, the border and new American communities in Vermont for Seven Days. She is a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Find out more at reportforamerica.org.

Alma Chase (left) is congratulated by Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas.

Van Scam

A Bradford music promoter promised to build retirees the campers of their dreams. Instead, he made off with nearly $500,000.

BY DEREK BROUWER • derek@sevendaysvt.com

Todd Ameden and his wife were in vacation mode. It was 2023, and the Manchester couple were camping at Ricker Pond State Park in Groton, enjoying the outdoors while their thoughts drifted to the future.

Retirement was still several years away for Ameden, then in his late fifties, but he could hardly wait.

BUSINESS

An earlier, 10-day tour of Nova Scotia had planted the idea of spending more time on the road. A camper van like the one they’d rented in Canada had become the vehicle for that dream — more convenient than an RV and more comfortable than a trailer or tent. Why not now? they thought.

Then, as they drove through nearby Bradford, they came across a gray, gabled garage on Route 5 with a sign out front: East Coast Van Builds. They stopped and met owner Matt Strong. The business owner looked the part, Ameden recalled. A white guy with dreadlocks, Strong seemed easygoing and knowledgeable. He was also a music promoter who booked reggae shows in the Upper Valley.

More importantly, Strong could help the couple acquire a Ford Transit van that he would convert into a camper outfitted with plumbing, air-conditioning and cabinetry. Ameden and his wife reasoned they could fulfill their dream while supporting a small Vermont business.

“We were all in,” Ameden said.

They had no inkling that Strong might also be the sort of person who would take $30,000 from them and never return the money or a finished van. Or that they’d eventually have to retrieve their camper and figure out how to salvage their dream.

The Manchester couple were among the customers from across the country who took their van-life dreams to Strong, only to encounter delays, excuses and deceit. The aggrieved include retirees, people with disabilities and a Massachusetts homelessness organization that was trying to build a mobile shower room. Some have reported paying Strong as much as $70,000 without a finished van to show for it, leaving them to wonder whether the hippie-like builder was a terrible businessman or a dishonest one.

“It went from, Maybe he should lay off the weed, to What is he doing with the

money?” said Sarah Deuell of Bath, N.H., who said she lost $70,000 to Strong on an unfinished van build.

The feds, for their part, have determined that Strong committed fraud. In a court filing last month, prosecutors accused the businessman of taking nearly $500,000 of his van customers’ cash for his personal use, including to pay for the music festivals he organized.

Strong plans to plead guilty to felony wire fraud for misusing funds from 10 customers in six states, according to records filed in the U.S. District Court in Burlington. The proposed plea deal calls for the Bradford man to pay restitution and forfeit any assets; he would spend no more than one year and one day in prison. A judge will consider the deal during a hearing on December 29. Strong’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

The charges came as a surprise to some in the Upper Valley, where Strong was better known for the concerts he brought to small towns in recent years. Through his music business, Rooted Entertainment, he put on a series of reggae shows at his van shop and at the Fairlee Town Hall, helping to raise money to create a local dog park.

In 2024, Strong launched the Green Mountain Reggae Festival, bringing in big-name acts from around the world. The second annual festival took place

over three days this September. At the time, according to emails that customers shared with Seven Days , the feds were already investigating his alleged misuse of down payments at the van business in response to complaints.

Bradford resident Jared Pendak, a local arts supporter who has helped Strong publicize some of his shows and volunteered at the first Reggae Fest, said he was shocked to hear of the fraud charge.

“He’s done a lot for performance arts here in Bradford and the surrounding area,” Pendak said.

Available court records provide only a partial picture of what prosecutors describe as a “scheme” to defraud customers of East Coast Van Builds. The feds claim that Strong misled clients about the status of their vans in part by sending them photos of other campers that were further along in the process. Then he used the purported progress reports to solicit more money. Charging documents say he used customers’ payments to cover “certain expenses” related to a music festival he produced in Topsham in September 2022.

Strong described the origins of his businesses in a 2023 interview with “The Full Vermonty" podcast. He came to Bradford in an RV in September 2020 from Utica, N.Y., after the pandemic quashed his efforts to grow his music business there. He didn’t intend to stay long, he said, but started a van business after a friend asked for a conversion. Strong saw an untapped market in the Northeast to serve a lifestyle that boomed during the pandemic. The opportunity seemed good enough to renege on a promise he’d made to himself not to start another business.

“If you told me three years ago I’d be building vans, I’d be like, ‘Nahhhh,’” Strong said on the podcast.

East Coast Van Builds launched a flashy website and figured out how to help customers acquire the hard-to-find vans for conversion. Strong purchased computerized machining equipment and hired as many as six employees.

But he was quickly overwhelmed. Each build, Strong told the podcasters, is “taking longer than it should.”

It was around the time of the podcast interview that Ameden and his wife put down a $10,000 deposit at East Coast Van Builds. The business helped the couple acquire their van in October 2023, but Strong explained that he would not be able to begin work on the conversion until the following June, Ameden told Seven Days

A few weeks later, however, Ameden said he got a written request from Strong asking for another $21,000. Strong

East Coast Van Builds owner Matt Strong (right) showing Linda Snyder Allen her van

An unfinished van retrieved from East Coast Van Builds

explained that he wanted to buy the electrical components immediately because he was worried they wouldn’t be available the following summer.

Ameden sent the money, then heard nothing for months. Strong didn’t return Ameden’s emails until December 2024, at which point Strong explained that he was finally ready to tackle their van.

Ameden and his wife drove to Bradford one Friday evening after work, where they sat down with Strong and a designer and discussed “all the really fun stuff,” such as fabric patterns and countertop materials. As the couple departed, Strong made another request for thousands more dollars.

Charles Allen and his wife, Linda Snyder Allen.

“He took $66,000 from us and gave us basically nothing,” Allen, 71, told Seven Days

Allen made three partial payments to East Coast Van Builds in early 2022, and the couple’s Ford Transit van arrived at the shop that May. In the months that followed, company staff repeatedly told Allen that they were planning to start work soon — first in July, then August, then October, then the end of October, according to emails shared with Seven Days . In January 2023, Allen traveled to Bradford and found that the van was mostly untouched. That May — one year after the van arrived in Bradford — Strong told Allen that the work would be finished by the last week in June.

So the Allens traveled to Vermont again in June and found that Strong had installed windows, some subflooring and wall ribs but nothing else. To their surprise, a partially finished “East Coast Van Builds” decal had been printed on the side.

CHARLES ALLEN

“I said, ‘Well, I think you actually need to do some work on the van before we give you another chunk of money,’” Ameden recalled.

That weekend, Ameden saw a post on a Facebook group for van enthusiasts. It was from another of Strong’s customers, relaying similar delays with their build.

Ameden was spooked. He drove back to Bradford and retrieved his van before Strong or his team could start work on it; other vans on the property had been disassembled to the point where they couldn’t be driven.

Ameden and his wife asked Strong to refund the roughly $32,000 they’d fronted. They agreed to a lesser amount of $24,000 or so to account for Strong’s claimed design fees, Ameden said, but the check never arrived.

Then, in February of this year, they and other East Coast Van Builds customers got an email from an attorney, notifying them that the business had dissolved.

Aggrieved customers continued to connect through a Facebook group. That’s how Ameden came to consider himself relatively lucky.

Others, he learned, were owed much more, including a Delaware couple,

The couple told Strong that they wanted their van back. When they returned to retrieve it and their agreedupon refund check, the discussion grew tense, according to a recording that Allen made without Strong’s knowledge.

“I can’t give you money until Friday,” Strong told them.

“You’re manipulative,” Snyder Allen told Strong.

When the couple returned on Friday, Strong wasn’t there.

“He is, I think, coming back with a band from Belize,” an employee told them, according to their audio recording of the visit.

The Allens still haven’t recovered any of their money. They paid another builder to finish their van. At the same time, they watched in frustration as Strong went on to launch the ambitious Green Mountain Reggae Festival in 2024. The second installment of the festival took place in September, featuring three days of acts from far-flung places, including Boston dub collective 10 Ft. Ganja Plant and Jamaican dub legend Scientist.

The most recent fest attracted a larger crowd, Pendak noticed. But staging such events isn't cheap, and traveling bands had told Pendak that Strong treated them well and sometimes provided lodging.

His van customers had an altogether different experience. ➆

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‘HEAVY’ NEWS

I used to work very closely with Jim Lockridge and Big Heavy World back in the day, when we shared communal office space. It seems a lifetime ago. I am grateful to Jim, to BHW and to Seven Days for posting this news, sad as it is [“Big Heavy World to Close Headquarters in December,” November 22, online].

I live in China now, but I still keep my finger on the pulse of the place I called home.

Chris Stecher SHANGHAI, CHINA

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Thank you for covering all the stories that matter to us and keeping us so well informed! I am writing to ask how we, as Vermont citizens, might assist this mother and son who were detained in Texas [“Winooski Second Grader in ICE Detention in Texas,” December 1, online]. Do we donate to Migrant Justice? Do we write a letter? What? I feel just writing a letter to say “Shame on you, Texas” is not enough. I just can’t imagine what it would be like to be detained as a second grader! Much less as the mother of that child.

Our country is in the dire mess we deserve right now, and I think it’s up to those of us who may hold any sway whatsoever to try to make things better.

Kim Ward MONTPELIER

Editor’s note: The December 3 Seven Days cover story, “Stepping Up,” included a piece about the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. Migrant Justice is helping, too.

PERFECT WINGS

Just wanted to say I loved Melissa Pasanen’s article on the Stone Soup wings [“Spread Those Wings: Stone Soup’s Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Wings Owe a Debt to Another Legendary Burlington Restaurant,” December 3]. I, too, love those wings, and the piece did them the justice they deserve.

Thanks for writing something so uplifting and nice about something beautiful, meaningful and small. I’m still smiling now, thinking about those wings and the people who brought them to my plate.

Charlie Dayton BURLINGTON

FIVE SPICE FOREVER

My go-to was a massaman chicken-potato curry. Fans of the former Five Spice Café might try to find their old favorites at https://fivespace.cafe. Many pages. Stone Soup co-owner Tim Elliott should have no concerns about using a recipe.

John Mitsock RICHMOND

Editor’s note: Yes, there are many dishes on the recipe archive blog Five Spice Café: Recipes From the Vault. Unfortunately, as noted in the article, those who worked at the restaurant say many of its recipes, including the one labeled Indonesian Wings, are not the actual recipes used in the kitchen.

ODE TO VERMONT SCHOOLS

Phil and Jill do lead us downhill Toward weeping and gnashing of teeth, As they push the governor’s poison pill Designed to cause public schools grief.

So I plead with you, my reps in Montpelier,

To resist your leadership’s call And listen to your constituents’ appeal for A plan that makes sense for all.

Talk with your colleagues who served on the task force;

Listen to your local school boards; We voters are asking to expand the tax source, Not to disrupt our schools with partisan discord.

Call on Vermonters experienced and wise: Educators, economists, parents and students.

Ask them to come up with a plan to revise A system streamlined, equitable and prudent.

Jim Lengel DUXBURY

LAND GRAB

A few years ago, I was in Ascutney talking with the fire department. I arrived early and had some time to spare, so I stopped at a small park near the interstate. While wandering, I noticed a small outdoor pavilion with an interpretive sign and paused to read it. It told the tragic story of Romaine Tenney, well described in your article “Tragic Tale” [November 26] and more movingly shared in the short film by Travis Van Alstyne, which recently won the Vermont Historical Society’s 2025 Richard O. Hathaway Award.

I applaud the VHS and Seven Days for bringing this story to a broader

12/1/25 12:26 PM

THE GRASS IS GREENER

[Re “Turf Wars: A Proposal to Install Artificial Grass on a CVU Playing Field Spurs Worries About ‘Forever Chemicals,’” November 26]: While on a visit last year to coastal Bergen, Norway, I attended an evening soccer game of my grandson’s, played in a cold drizzle on plastic turf. Under the bright overhead lights, it was evident that much of the turf under our feet was in tiny pieces. I commented on it to my son, who told me the pieces end up washing into the nearby ocean. Since things in the Champlain Valley drain downhill also, the turf of CVU will end up in Lake Champlain, its namesake.

Carol Clauss BRISTOL

Did anyone else see the irony in [“Turf Wars,” November 26]? The leading advocate for installing plastic grass

audience, and I encourage everyone to spend the less than 10 minutes it takes to watch Travis’ powerful presentation of this sadly tragic outcome. The film can be viewed for free at loveofthelandfilm. com. You might end up sad, but you won’t regret watching.

Art Cohn FERRISBURGH

RESISTANCE ON THE SOUTHERN

FRONT

Thank you, Seven Days, for reporting on Vermonters’ resistance to the various crimes of the Trump administration [“Stepping Up,” December 3]. Let’s hope that other large Vermont news outlets will take note and start to take resistance seriously and cover it.

I hope that you do a follow-up. Your reporters got as far south as Woodstock. Down in Windham County, there is a flurry of resistance actions and organizing to protect the Constitution and the nation.

The People’s Resistance Marching Band now enlivens and strengthens our mass rallies and marches. The 100-plusstrong Good Trouble Street Choir has been doing the same, as well as performing for fundraisers. Groups here are actively organizing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement criminality, drawing attention to the stillongoing American-supported genocidal actions of Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.

on a CVU playing field, which has the potential to leach PFAS chemicals and microplastics into the soil and groundwater, is also a co-owner and the CEO of Healthy Living.

Terry Souers BRANDON

Paving the football field at the high school in Hinesburg with plastic that contains PFAS “forever chemicals” is not in the best interest of the children [“Turf Wars,” November 26]. Every effort should be made to seek out an alternative that will exclude this proposed chemical that with time will end up in our lake and in the drinking water of thousands of our fellow Green Mountain residents. I endorse seeking an alternative that will grow grass and not be a detriment to our environment.

Karl Novak HINESBURG

Let’s let all Vermonters know that they are being seen and heard as we all work together to save our Republic.

Dan DeWalt NEWFANE

TIME TO CLOSE MCNEIL

[Re “Report IDs Options to Reduce McNeil Emissions,” November 28, online]: The recent report commissioned by the Burlington Electric Department failed to mention another way to reduce emissions from McNeil Generating Station, Vermont’s largest single stationary source of greenhouse gases, and that is to close the 40-year-old plant, eliminating all of its emissions.

BED does need to keep McNeil operational until June 2028, because of its legal commitment to ISO New England, the regional entity that manages the production and distribution of electricity in the six states. Closing McNeil in 2028 provides a three-year transition period for Burlington to plan for a future without McNeil and would align with the Burlington mayor’s 2024 campaign climate pledge “to develop a responsible transition plan to close the McNeil plant” — a pledge she has unfortunately sidelined. The city council needs to take a closer look in its own backyard, down in the Intervale, and realize the travesty being committed if it allows the longterm operation of McNeil.

Peter MacAusland BURLINGTON

This version of everyone's favorite property trading game celebrating the Vermont side of the Lake Champlain valley is a fundraiser for arts programming and education by cathedralarts.org.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Barbara Tognelli Klein

JANUARY 18, 1954DECEMBER 7, 2025

COLCHESTER, VT.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara Tognelli Klein on December 7, 2025. Barbara was born on January 18, 1954, in São Paulo, Brazil, at the exact moment of the solar eclipse. e midwife said to her mother, “Your child will have eyes for a different world.” And Barbara did! At 18 months old, she told her mom that the family would move north. When her father, Carlo, came home that evening, he said he had been transferred to Canada. She also predicted that her brother, Sergio, would be born even before her mother knew she was pregnant. e Tognelli family came to America through Chicago, then

Alice Winn

MAY 4, 1940DECEMBER 4, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT.

Alice C. Winn passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025, with her sons and reverend by her side.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Washington C. Winn Jr.; her parents, the Reverend Charles and Emily Brown Carnan; and Lida Valiant Carnan, sister; as well as Christopher Bruce Carnan, brother.

A longtime resident of Shelburne, Vt., she was very active in local government and volunteering throughout her community. She was a devoted member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, proudly serving in numerous positions, such as the vestry. She co-owned the Shelburne News for many years and worked passionately in several roles, one of her favorites being editor.

She loved being around people and cherished her sizable circle of friends she was dedicated to.

She is survived by her two sons, Washington

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

New Jersey, and then to IBM in Essex Junction, Vt., where her dad worked. ey made Burlington, Vt., their home. Barb’s desire to become a nurse started at age 9 when the family was traveling back to the U.S. from Italy on the SS Constitution. ey were in the eye of a hurricane when the recreation department made small nurse’s hats for

C. Winn III of Burlington, Conn., and his wife, Susan Cooke; and Charles M. Winn of Burlington, Vt. She leaves behind two beloved grandchildren, Erin Emily Winn and Tyler Washington Winn.

Her family wishes to offer the most heartfelt thank-you to the talented and supremely caring doctors, nurses and support staff who made her hospice care so loving for all of us.

ere will be a celebration of her life on December 20, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington, Vt., with a light reception following.

the little girls to wear. At the end of that evening Barb told her parents that she wasn’t going to be an interpreter, she was going to be a nurse, and that was her lifetime career.

Barbara graduated from Burlington High School in 1971, Fanny Allen School of Nursing in 1973 and Champlain College in 1978 with an AS degree.

She started working at Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home two days before anksgiving 1975. She completed 50 years at Birchwood Terrace. She created a special garden for the Alzheimer’s residents and won a national award for going above and beyond her nursing duties. ere is a commemorative plaque and bench in the Memory Garden at Birchwood in Barb’s honor. She met her husband, Ron Klein, through a group called Single Vermonters. ey met in January 1989 and were married in December 1989. In their 37 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling, gardening and summer days at their camp on Lake Carmi. Ron was a devoted caregiver to Barb through her ﬁnal illness.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Carlo and

Kathryn Grace (Kunzler) Reise

AUGUST 15, 1938-NOVEMBER 30, 2025 ESSEX, VT.

Kathryn Grace (Kunzler) Reise, 87, a longtime resident of Essex, Vt., passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at Maple Ridge Memory Care in Essex. She was born on August 15, 1938, in Dunkirk, N.Y., to the late Felix Philip and Margaret Mary (Kunzler) Pencek and raised by Margaret and John Kunzler.

A 1956 graduate of Cardinal Mindszenty High School in Dunkirk, N.Y., Kathy earned a degree in home economics from Buffalo State College. Early in her career, she worked at Stouffer’s Restaurant in Chicago and later held many roles in multiple Girl Scout councils before ending her career as the director of adult development for the Vermont Girl Scout Council, where she led camp programs and cookie trainings with boundless energy. After retiring, she continued sharing her love for education at the at ECHO Leahy Center and then the Shelburne Museum.

Carmen Tognelli; her only brother, Sergio; her “friend of the heart,” Nello; and several close friends, including Simone, Margaret, Marylou and Kathy, who were all near and dear to her heart.

She leaves behind her husband, Ron Klein; a sister-inlaw, Anne Tognelli; a nephew, Anthony Tognelli and family; and a niece, Jessica Tognelli Provost and family. She also acknowledges a group of nieces and nephews and a few in-laws in Iowa. Barbara was surrounded by a loving group of friends she trusted: Mel, Maureen, Sheryl, Judy, Kerry and Marcella. ey offered her comfort and support throughout her ﬁnal ordeal. ey were like sisters to her.

Barb was a Catholic and made several religious pilgrimages over the years to Lourdes, Medjugorje, Padre Pio, St. Francis, St. Bernadette,

Kathy’s life was deﬁned by joyful service. She was a devoted Girl Scout leader for decades, a lifetime member of the organization and proudly organized several Girl Scout Round-Up reunions. Her creative spirit shone in the camping adventures she taught — building igloos for winter camping at Twin Hills, as well as baking cakes in cardboard boxes and roasting turkeys in garbage cans over open campﬁres. At St. Pius X Catholic Church, she served as lector, knitted prayer shawls, hosted coffee hours and helped with funeral receptions. She taught the Four Winds nature program in her grandkids’ classroom, helped organize Essex’s Memorial Day parades and visited residents at St. Joseph’s Home in Burlington.

Kathy’s hands were never still: She gardened (ﬁrst vegetables for canning before discovering a love for tending her multiple ﬂower gardens), knitted, quilted and reupholstered furniture. Nothing made Kathy happier than feeding anyone who crossed her door — some family favorites included her apple pies, peanut brittle, cinnamon candy, Christmas cookies and seven-layer Jell-O.

In later years she became the

St. Anthony and many more. She had a natural gift of psychic ability and used these talents to help many people. Today in Gavinana, Italy, the bells will toll for Barbara as she crosses over and is going home to be reunited with her loved ones.

ere will be a wake on ursday, December 11, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025, 1 p.m., at Holy Cross Church in Malletts Bay, with burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. A reception will follow at the church hall. For anyone who desires to make a charitable contribution in Barb’s name, she requested the Alzheimer’s Memory Garden at Birchwood Terrace Rehab and Healthcare, 43 Starr Farm Rd., Burlington, VT 05408.

proudest fan at her grandchildren’s ice hockey, baseball, football and lacrosse games. She cherished serving as Hailey’s conﬁrmation sponsor. Her warmth and generosity touched countless lives. She is survived by her son, Craig Reise (Patty); three daughters, Lynn Crochetiere (Terry), Michele Brewster (Jim) and Jennifer Gaudreau (Leo); six grandchildren, Zachary and Hailey Savage, Christopher and Matthew Brewster, and omas and Jacob Crochetiere; and one great-grandchild, Palmer Savage. Her large and enduring circle of friends included her cousin, Judy Bradley.

Kathy was predeceased by her husband, omas Reise, and grandson Brian Crochetiere.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025, 5 to 8 p.m., at A.W. Rich Funeral Home –Essex Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Reverend Charles Ranges, S.S.E. ofﬁciating. Reception will follow in the church basement. A private inurnment will be held at a later date in the family plot in Mountain View Cemetery.

To honor her love of feeding everyone, memorial contributions in Kathy’s memory may be made to the Vermont Foodbank.

Please visit awrfh.com to share memories and condolences.

Randolph S. Hayward

APRIL 21, 1947DECEMBER 5, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Randolph S. “Randy” Hayward, known to some as “Scott,” passed away peacefully at 2:43 p.m. on December 5, 2025, surrounded by love and gentle care. He was born on April 21, 1947, in Randolph, Vt., the son of Lois Richardson and Harrison Hayward and the brother of Donald G. Hayward. He is reunited now with all of them, as well as his beloved partner, Joe Chartier, who predeceased him.

Randy leaves behind extended family, including nieces, cousins and their families, as well as a wide circle of neighbors and dear friends who cherished him. Among those closest to him were Chiuho and Craig Sampson and their children — Nick, CJ, Nate, Cole and Kinsley Sampson — who considered Randy a treasured part of their lives. He was also deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his neighbors across the

Mark C. DeVarney

NOVEMBER 8, 1954DECEMBER 4, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Mark C. DeVarney, 71, died peacefully after a courageous battle with ALS on December 4, 2025. Mark was born in Burlington, Vt., on November 8, 1954.

Mark graduated from Burlington High School and Vermont Technical College with honors. He was a registered architect with the state of Vermont and worked at various architecture ﬁrms, completing his career with Joseph Architects, alongside his good friend and brother of the heart, Joe Greene. His superior technical talents spanned designs for churches, restaurants, homes and commercial buildings. He was a faithful parishioner of St. Mark Church.

Mark was an avid and accomplished bowler, which led to his induction into the Vermont Bowling Hall of Fame. In earlier years he enjoyed playing baseball and golf with his brothers. He was a lifelong fan of the Boston

street, Melani and Dave Barch, who cared for him with kindness, checked on him regularly, and provided comfort and companionship over the years. eir presence brought him stability, friendship and peace.

After retiring from IBM, Randy continued to nurture his lifelong passion for antiques. He delighted in collecting, restoring and selling pieces with character and history. He had an eye for beauty in everyday objects and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and the stories objects carried with them. Randy also loved watching sports, especially football.

Red Sox, Boston Celtics and the Dallas Cowboys. Mark took pride in tending the exterior of his home and was meticulous in his work.

Mark was predeceased by his parents, Kathryn and Reginald DeVarney; his grandparents, Ethel and Raymond Gutchell and Hermine and Edward DeVarney; and his nephew, Christopher Little.

Mark is survived by his sister, Paula Little, and her husband, Frank; and his brothers: Craig DeVarney and his wife, Carol; John DeVarney and his wife, Patricia; and James DeVarney and his wife, Susan. He leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews

He enjoyed cheering on his favorite teams, and he was especially happy to see the New England Patriots beat the Giants on “Monday Night Football” just days before his passing — a small joy that brightened his ﬁnal week.

To those who knew him, Randy was a man of quiet generosity and steadfast loyalty. His warmth, humor and gentle companionship enriched the lives of friends, neighbors and family alike. He offered support without hesitation, friendship without condition, and kindness in ways both large and small — always from the heart.

Per Randy’s wishes, no services will be held. ose who knew and loved him are encouraged to remember him in their own way — through shared stories, cherished memories and the simple acts of kindness he embodied throughout his life.

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

and their families, whom he loved dearly.

e family would like to thank all the wonderful doctors, nurses, therapists and caregivers at the University of Vermont Medical Center, Fanny Allen and Elderwood who treated our brother with compassionate care during his battle with ALS. He appreciated all of your efforts on his behalf.

Family and friends are invited to call on ursday, December 11, 2025, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 12, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Mark Church, 1251 North Ave., Burlington, VT. Immediately following, the Interment will take place at New Mount Calvary Cemetery, Plattsburgh Ave., Burlington, VT.

e family respectfully requests donations be made to the ALS Association in lieu of ﬂowers.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences and/or to read the full obituary, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Frank Landry

JANUARY 27, 1960-DECEMBER 6, 2025

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Frank Landry, MD, died peacefully on Saturday, December 6, 2025 on home hospice, after suffering the effects of the acute illness Goodpasture Syndrome.

Born in Newton, Mass., to Frank and Nan Landry on January 27, 1960, Frank grew up with his beloved siblings, Joan, David, Nannette and Michael. ere he appreciated the beauty of the ocean and all it offered — swimming, ﬁshing, exploring salt marshes and clamming. With the death of his father at age 8, the family was left ﬁnancially burdened but emotionally rich. eir mother taught the family the tremendous importance of a work ethic, something Frank embraced his entire life. With his two brothers in their own neighborhood landscaping company, Frank cared for the property of the Scituate, Mass., summer residents.

Frank was proud of his excellent public education in Scituate. Combining his hard-earned savings with scholarship funds, he attended and graduated from Saint Michael’s College (1982), proud to pay his own way. He met Justine Pfeifer there, the kindest, most loving woman on the planet.

Vermont Medical School as an associate professor of medicine. He opened his own practice in Burlington’s New North End, recruiting and mentoring younger doctors, showing them the joy of an independent practice. In 2011 Frank further deﬁned his clinical practice by establishing the ﬁrst MDVIP concierge internal medicine practice in Vermont. He was always an advocate for the independent doctor.

Over the years, Frank served as medical director of Birchwood Terrace Health Care, president of Fletcher Allen Health Care Medical Staff (2004), governor of the American College of Physicians (Vermont Chapter) and president of Vermont Internal Medicine.

Frank wanted to be a doctor and follow in his brother David’s footsteps, studying medicine. ough crushed by David’s suicide, he maintained a commitment to medicine as a career. Frank graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine (1987), receiving a Health Professions Scholarship through the U.S. Army. Besides marrying Justine and adopting his children, Frank always said the 10 years serving the country was the best thing he ever did.

He completed his training in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University Medical School. He served 10 years in the Medical Corps at Walter Reed and at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash. His passion was not just doctoring but also teaching and mentoring medical students and residents. During his tenure in the service, he traveled the country and world, serving during Desert Storm, and receiving numerous awards for teaching and medical practice.

Moving to Vermont in 1996 to be closer to family, Frank joined the University of Vermont Medical Center and University of

His greatest enjoyment in life came from his family. Frank was passionate about embracing life in Vermont with Justine and their two sons, Nick and Matt. Fishing, swimming, sledding and exploring with his boys at the Pfeifer home on Molly’s Falls Pond in Cabot, Vt., was the delight of his life. He was most proud of Nick and Matt — despite all the usual struggles of growing up — for how well they have done and how well they chose their partners, Martha and Rachel.

Frank leaves his wife and friend of 40 years, Justine Pfeifer Landry, as well as his best friends — his sons and their spouses — Nick and Martha, Matt and Rachel. He is survived by his siblings and their spouses in Massachusetts: Joan (Clinton), Nannette (Paul) and Michael (Janet); as well as his sister- and brothers- in-law, Elizabeth, John (Brenda) and Martin (David). He was always grateful for the loyalty of his patients, treating them as part of his family.

Frank and his family wish to express their gratitude for the exceptional care he received from the nurses on McClure 6, as well as the staff of the dialysis unit at UVMMC.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 12, 2025, 10 a.m., in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel on the campus of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt. Interment will be private at a later date.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations may be made to the Professor Edward Pfeifer Scholarship Fund, Saint Michael’s College, 1 Winooski Park, Box 256, Colchester, VT 05439; or to Home Health & Hospice, University of Vermont Health, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.

OBITUARIES

Timothy Saunders

NOVEMBER 8, 1973NOVEMBER 18, 2025

GEORGIA, VT.

Timothy Brian Saunders, 52, passed away suddenly at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., on November 18, 2025. e day was beautiful as we said goodbye to our beloved husband and brother. It was picture-perfect: crisp blue skies and ﬂuffy clouds. It is ﬁtting that Tim would pass away at sunset, just after the golden hour, always the photographer.

Tim was born and raised in Haddam Neck, Conn., and he loved his hometown and the river that ran through it.

Larger than life to his younger brother, Tim was an avid water-skier, swimmer, boatsman, skateboarder, mountain biker and overall explorer in his youth; he never ran out of stories to tell of all the adventures he and his neighborhood friends had at the end of Rock Landing Road or at the Haddam Neck Fair. Imaginative and skillful, Tim had a childhood built on the freedom to explore with imaginative companions who would become lifelong friends. Tim carried this foundation of freedom of spirit and loyal friendship throughout his life.

the infamous “Lee House” were the topics of many stories. Tim was a wonderful storyteller and could entertain those around him for hours with the antics of his life. It was in college that he earned one of his many nicknames, MacGyver, because Tim could ﬁx just about anything with just about anything.

Tim attended college at the University of New Hampshire, studying marine biology. Tim’s time in college, spent with some of his now-lifelong friends, and living in

After college he moved to Vermont, becoming every bit a local in his appreciation for the beauty and harshness that Vermont could supply. He first lived in St. Albans, then in Essex and finally in Georgia, Vt., wearing several “hats” (although he is known for one particular knit cap) and meeting many wonderful coworkers. One of his first jobs in Vermont was working for the Pool Wizard, where he was part of the family, working for the company for 12 years, until its closing. He next went on to work for American Meadows as their seed warehouse manager for 14 years, and it is where he met his wife, Leigh. Most recently, Tim was working for Flexaseal, assisting them with understanding their current Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software so that he could help them successfully transition to their new platform. It was a job that allowed Tim to flex his brain, instead of his muscles, and it fed into his passion for problem-solving.

Tim had just married his partner of 10 years, Leigh, on July 4, 2025, on their exact 10-year anniversary.

It was a beautiful day: not too hot, not too humid, and the sun was shining. ey were able to throw the celebration in the backyard of their home, among their gardens. e guest list was small, surrounded by their family and their closest friends. Tim closed out the night most ﬁttingly by jamming with the band and friends under the moonlight. It was a happy day for all, and it is with great sadness that the family has gone from the happiest day of the couple’s life to the saddest in such a short period of time.

Tim was exceptionally brilliant and had a memory that most could only hope for, which made him almost always right. Even when the information he was giving you, whether a historical or scientiﬁc fact or a mathematical equation, seemed implausible, a quick internet search would prove to you that he retained information that he had learned almost 30 years ago.

While Tim often exhibited a tough exterior to strangers, he was someone who loved those close to him very deeply, was very thoughtful and found joy in making others happy. He was someone who always put others ﬁrst, wanting to make sure his loved ones were happy and well cared for, above his own needs. He was also a huge animal lover and had several dogs and cats throughout his life, all rescued. He was often referred to as the “dog whisperer” because he had a way of understanding their needs and ensuring they were met.

Tim had many hobbies, including a natural gift for photography. Photography was something he found a passion for in high school, and he even built his own darkroom at his childhood home. After moving

to digital cameras, he started participating in DP Challenges and was known among other artists who submitted their work each week. He had a love for creating clever, artistic photographs where Photoshop was only used for editing, not for content. As the cameras in smartphones became even more robust, he could be found capturing photographs easily from anywhere, when the shot was suitable. Tim also loved music: listening to it, going to concerts and learning how to play a variety of instruments. In fact, he acquired so many different musical instruments over the years that there is a room in his house referred to as the “music room.” He also recently developed an interest in woodworking and, after having the space to acquire the necessary equipment, built many items for family and friends.

Tim will be greatly missed, and there is already a void in the life of his loved ones from the loss of his presence. Tim is survived by his adoring wife, Leigh Couture; his mother, Janette (Pazcek) Saunders; his brother, Jeff (Kate) Saunders, and their daughters, Lillie and Tessa; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, chosen family, and his beloved pets: dogs Kita and Phoebe and cats Myszka, Beecher and Paski. Tim was predeceased by his maternal and paternal grandparents and his father, Leslie Saunders.

A celebration of life will be held for Tim in Haddam Neck, Conn., during the springtime, with details to follow. In lieu of ﬂowers, the family requests that donations be made to Vermonters Against Animal Cruelty and Abandonment (vaaca.org), an organization and a cause dear to Tim’s heart.

APRIL 12, 1970NOVEMBER 29, 2025 WINOOSKI, VT.

Edmond Joseph Tourangeau Jr., 55, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at his home in Winooski, Vt. Edmond was born on April 12, 1970, in Burlington, Vt., to Lorraine Pease and Edmond Joseph Tourangeau Sr. Edmond loved watching NASCAR, as well as hiking and playing video games in his spare time. He also worked with horses and rode trails on his ATV. He had an afﬁnity for animals and was always willing to help others. He had a great sense of humor and lived a quiet life. He worked for Loso Janitorial Services for the last 20 years. He was a great worker and never minded hard work.

Edmond is survived by his mother, Lorraine Pease; siblings, Carol and husband Michael Mcdonald, Lisa Podgwaite, Sheila Tourangeau, and Tim Tourangeau and wife Barbara. Edmond is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Edmond was predeceased by his father, Edmond J. Tourangeau Sr.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 4 to 6 p.m., at BrownMcClay Funeral Home, 48 South Maple St., Vergennes, VT. Interment will be held in a private service at a later date. Family requested that you make a donation to your local humane society in Ed’s name in lieu of ﬂowers.

Edmond Joseph Tourangeau Jr.

Stephen Cheney

1954-2025

ST. GEORGE, VT.

Stephen Cheney quietly passed away at his home in St. George, Vt., on November 25, 2025. Steve was surrounded by Judy, his wife of 52 years; daughter Krista; family; and beloved dogs. He was 71 years old.

Steve was born to Nelson and Nancy Cheney in Hartford, Conn., after their car hit a tree en route to the hospital in a blinding snowstorm. Steve lived in Connecticut throughout his childhood but considered himself to be an adopted Vermonter. His lifelong love for the Green Mountain State began with spending childhood summers at his family’s home in Newark. His summers were filled with hiking, camping and swimming in Willoughby Lake. Steve learned to say “Willoughby Lake” versus “Lake Willoughby” from Bud Chabot, an old-time Vermonter and wonderful

family friend who also taught Steve to shoot and shared many World War II stories with him.

Steve graduated from Torrington High School in 1972. He was an excellent student with a lifelong love of learning about history and reading. Steve met his future wife, Judy McLam, while both were attending Champlain College in Burlington, Vt. They later purchased a home in St. George, where they spent their life.

Steve was a hard worker

and worked many jobs through high school. Working was a means of responsibility to those he loved. After college, Steve worked at Vermont Hardware Company, St. Johnsbury Trucking, Burlington Rent-All and Vermont Tent Company. Steve also played hard. He and Judy collected saltand-pepper shakers after becoming intrigued by the numerous collectible kinds. They took many Sunday trips looking for them and went to salt-and-pepper

shaker conventions. They took trips to Las Vegas to see comedy shows, ride the roller coaster and gamble a bit. Steve camped with friends at Button Bay State Park and went to Daytona 500 parties.

His greatest passion of all, though, was fishing. Steve and Judy started fishing in a small boat and moved up to a bass boat. They went to major FLW and B.A.S.S. fishing tournaments as coanglers and as spectators at tournaments in Plattsburgh, N.Y. After winning a trip to Australia, Steve and Judy went marlin and wahoo fishing in Bermagui, New South Wales. Fishing was a means of being with friends and family and of being in nature. When asked why he loved nature, Steve replied, “In nature there is peace and quiet. In peace and quiet there is bliss.”

Steve received and gave much love and admiration from and to his wife’s family, the McLams of Waits River,

Vt. Their dedication to family, work ethic and goodness contributed much to his life. Steve learned carpentry from his father-in-law, Robert, and he saw good examples of partnership from Robert and his wife, Leota.

Steve loved dogs and shared his life with many. A sweet bluetick hound named Daisy held a special place in his heart. When asked why dogs were so special, he said, “They are pure and inspire compassion.”

Steve was a good man, intelligent, handsome, loyal, and dedicated to his family and friends. He enjoyed the outdoors, camping, fishing, animals and learning about anything historical. Steve, we’ll find you in the forests, fields, lakes and streams.

We’ll find you in the smell of warm dog fur, fall leaves and pine. We will meet you there.

Steve is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter, Krista; sister, Ellen Cheney Friedler, and her husband, Don, of Rochester, N.Y.; brother Todd

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Cheney of Lancaster, N.H.; sister-in-law Lois McLam Cote and her husband, Armand, of Burlington; sisterin-law Sue McLam; aunt, Sally Cheney of Enfield, Conn.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his mother, Nancy Cheney Rovero, and stepdad, Jim; father, Nelson Cheney; brother Scott Cheney; and uncles, Adrian Cheney and Al Scranton.

Per his wishes, there will be no visiting hours. Burial will be a private gathering in the spring at Waits River Cemetery. For those who would like to honor Steve, please consider a contribution to North Country Animal League (ncal.com) or Long Trail Canine Rescue (longtraildogs.org).

Many thanks to Home Health & Hospice for their support. Arrangements are in the care of Hale Funeral Home in Bradford. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at halefuneralhomes.com.

Post your obituary or in memoriam online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/ lifelines. Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com or 865-1020 ext. 121

The Cats Whisperer

UVM’s new president, Marlene Tromp, has been delighting students and staff simply by listening to their ideas

BY ANNE GALLOWAY

For years, editors of the Vermont Cynic had limited access to the president of the University of Vermont. Suresh Garimella, who held the job from 2019 to 2024, treated the student paper as a nuisance best ignored, its editors say. The Cynic couldn’t get an interview and seldom received statements from his office.

“He was completely unreachable,” said Liliana Mefford, a features editor.

So when Marlene Tromp, who became president of UVM in July, made herself available for an interview in early September, the Cynic staff was floored. Coeditor Maxine Thornton marveled that Tromp “was totally responsive.”

Mefford expected Tromp to give her an hour, tops. Their conversation went on for two hours. When the interview ended, the student asked Adam White, executive director of UVM communications, “Is she for real?”

Tromp followed up with “Tromp or Treat,” a first-ever Halloween party for the student journalists. More than 30 members of the Cynic staff listened to their president, a feminist scholar and expert in Victorian fiction, tell horror stories about 19th-century English freak shows, séances and Jack the Ripper.

Four of the journalists dressed up as Tromp, with blond hairdos, her signature red thick-frame glasses and knotted scarves. Tromp, clad in a black dress and spiderweb-inspired cape, posed for a photo with them. “She got a kick out of it,” Mefford said. The image was posted to the university’s Instagram account.

The Halloween event was not an anomaly. Since her arrival in July from Idaho, where she served as president of Boise State University for six years, Tromp has been highly visible. She is frequently seen striding across campus, apparently ignoring pain from a damaged nerve in her left leg. Though her daily uniform is unflashy — monochromatic skirt suits and practical footwear — her cropped blonde hair and tall, thin frame are hard to miss. In the light, a crescent of stud earrings sparkle from the helix of her left ear.

Wherever she goes, Tromp stops to talk with students, faculty and staff. While she is an adept public speaker and storyteller, mostly she listens. At a recent Faculty Senate meeting, she quietly took notes in

Wherever she goes, Tromp stops to talk with students, faculty and staff.

the back of the room. Whether she’s talking or listening, she locks eyes and smiles — a lot. White said her ability to connect with people is her superpower.

“There are no ordinary moments and no meaningless encounters,” he said.

Tromp’s approach has been described as a stark contrast to that of Garimella, an introvert by temperament and a mechanical engineer by training, who left UVM to become president of the University of Arizona. Tromp inherits

an institution reshaped by Garimella and his predecessor, Tom Sullivan, who began the painful process of tightening the university’s budget and eliminating languishing humanities courses. Garimella dropped 23 majors and minors, kept tuition frozen for five years, expanded the undergraduate student body, and introduced a tuition-free program for Vermont students. He also elevated UVM’s standing as a research institution; federal research dollars more than doubled

during his tenure, and grant income is now on par with tuition revenue. While Tromp is expected to build on Garimella’s work, she has a different mandate. As she already has shown, one focus is rebuilding relationships with faculty and students. Tromp will also have to manage the university’s response to the Trump administration’s attacks on the culture of higher education institutions — an area in which she brings battlefield experience from Idaho.

Marlene Tromp DARIA

UVM trustees described Garimella as a change agent who made the university more affordable and more competitive academically. Along the way, however, he alienated many in the UVM community.

“He let interaction with students fall by the wayside,” Thornton, the Cynic editor, said.

Longtime UVM trustee Frank Cioffi had a similar take: Garimella was strong

on research but weak on connecting with the campus community. “I saw us as not being as open and accessible as we needed to be,” Cioffi said.

Staff and faculty were incensed by the budget cuts that Garimella imposed during the pandemic. In 2021, a staff union formed, and more than 1,400 members of a student, faculty and community

opposition group signed a no-confidence petition targeting Garimella. Three years later, UVM graduate students unionized.

Susan Comerford, associate professor of social work and president of UVM United Academics, the faculty union, blames Garimella for creating operating deficits, eroding morale, and endangering what makes UVM special — the mentoring relationship between students and professors.

“If you overwork people to the point of where we are now in terms of morale and actual sustainability, you lose the magic that UVM has had for decades,” Comerford said.

Tromp’s challenge is to bring back the magic — and so far, her Vermont honeymoon shows no sign of ending. Since she arrived at UVM on July 1, she has been on a determined charm offensive, meeting with unions, alumni, students, faculty, staff, lawmakers, state officials and business leaders. Even Comerford, who has a jaundiced view of the administration, said: “I think everyone that I’ve talked to who has met her or listened to her feels good about her presence, and I think that’s a really good omen for the beginning of her term.”

Ron Lumbra, the former chair of the UVM trustees and cochair of the presidential search committee, said he believed Tromp will continue to advance research and build the university’s brand nationally.

If UVM can get faculty, staff, students, the City of Burlington, the legislature and alums “synergized and rowing in the right direction” Lumbra said, the university will have more momentum. “When you have internal friction, you know, it’s essentially like a crew boat going down the river where the rowers aren’t in sync,” he said. “It slows the boat down.”

Cohesion and solidarity are exactly what UVM needs now in order to face potential pressures from the Trump administration and a demographic cliff impacting student enrollment.

So far, Tromp “is really coming through as expected,” Lumbra said. “Her relatability, her engagement, her ability to deliver, without surprise, what we expected has been really gratifying.”

Tromp, however, is no stranger to friction. Part of her appeal as a candidate for UVM’s top job was her experience at Boise State, Idaho’s 27,000-student flagship institution. Tromp repeatedly came under political fire from Republican Idaho lawmakers over issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. They were also determined to cut the school’s budget.

In the spring, as the federal government attacked academic independence and diversity programs at universities throughout the U.S., members of UVM’s

presidential search committee viewed Tromp’s battle scars as an asset.

“There were a lot of things that were painful in Idaho, and I think there are a lot of things that are complex in the national landscape right now,” Tromp said. “I learned in a very profound way that listening to people who were angry with you or disagreed with you, you could learn so much from that.”

COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER

Tromp, who is 59, grew up in Green River, Wyo., population 12,000. The town’s claim to fame is as the world’s largest deposit of trona ore, a mineral that is used to make soda ash, which in turn is utilized to manufacture glass, paper, soap and baking soda. The nearest metropolis is Salt Lake City, 170 miles away.

Her father, a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, brought his young family there from Ohio so that he could work as a mechanic in the local trona and coal mines.

“He’s one of the smartest people I ever knew, and [college] just wasn’t an option for him,” Tromp said. Growing up, money was tight. “Often, I didn’t have the things that other kids had,” she said.

She recalls how he stood at the kitchen sink with a nail brush, scrubbing the black grease that had seeped into his cuticles and under his nails. “He really wanted for his daughters not to have to work like that. And he wanted us to be able, if we chose, to work with our minds.”

An accomplished student, Tromp was offered full rides at seven colleges as a first-generation student. But her dad thought the offers were too-good-to-betrue “hoaxes.” He urged her to go take a scholarship from Creighton University in Nebraska because it was a Jesuit school, and he thought it unlikely the priests would lie about providing financial support.

Tromp was initially premed, and her father took triple-overtime shifts to get her through college. When she told her father she wanted to become an academic, he withdrew his support. Tromp worked three jobs while managing a full course load to finish her final year.

She expressed only gratitude for her father. “I count myself very, very fortunate that he was willing to make those kinds of sacrifices for me, and I feel grateful every single day for everything I have,” she said.

After she earned a bachelor’s degree in English, she got her master’s at the University of Wyoming and a doctorate in English at the University of Florida, where she wrote her dissertation on domestic

Marlene Tromp with students dressed like her on Halloween

The president speaking at “Tromp or Treat”

The Cats Whisperer « P.29

violence in Victorian England and also earned a women’s studies certificate.

In the mid-1990s, Tromp began a peripatetic career as a professor and administrator that took her to Ohio, Arizona, California and Idaho. As an academic, she was a prolific author, specializing in a wide range of topics through the lens of the Victorian period. She wrote about the use of drugs in spiritualism, marital codes of behavior, and freak shows with attractions such as bearded ladies, dwarves and six-legged sheep.

Soon she found herself in administrative roles, even though she loved teaching. “I just kept getting called to do service, and I wanted to problem-solve, and I wanted to help people,” she said.

Each school offered its own lessons. At Denison University in Ohio, she learned how to take care of students. As a school director and later dean at Arizona State University, she became immersed in a culture of academic innovation. As provost and executive vice chancellor of the University of California Santa Cruz, she acquired new insights about academic excellence.

Tromp said her wide range of experience in executive leadership roles enabled her to solve problems. “It doesn’t mean you even use the strategy you used before,” she said. “But at least you have an idea of what kinds of challenges you might face.”

OH, BOISE

Boise State University provided some of her most difficult lessons. Idaho is a deeply conservative state, and its Republicandominated legislature was determined to cut Boise State’s budget and to purge its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Political and social conflict marked her six-year presidency, and she was under intense public scrutiny. Tromp navigated this environment by defending academic freedom and wooing legislators — and sometimes bowing to outside pressure.

Less than two weeks into her tenure, in September 2019, a group of lawmakers sent a letter demanding that Tromp abandon the university’s commitment to DEI programs. Republican State Rep. Barbara Ehardt wrote that “the drive to create a diversified and inclusive culture becomes divisive and exclusionary because it separates and segregates students.” All students, she said, should be treated “the Idaho way!” — fairly and equally. The letter took issue with multicultural programs, fellowships for minority students and time spent on pronoun protocol. Twenty-eight Republican legislators signed it.

Everyone that I’ve talked to who has met her or listened to her feels good about her presence, and that’s a really good omen.

SUSAN

Tromp drove four hours to Ehardt’s home in eastern Idaho to hear her out. “I kept asking questions to understand what it was that she was concerned about, and finally, she said, ‘I’m concerned that a kid that’s grown up in rural Idaho will make political mistakes and be shamed.’ And I said, ‘Oh, you mean a kid like I was who grew up in an environment where there were a lot of things I didn’t know.’ And she said, ‘Yeah.’ And I said, ‘I don’t want any student on campus to feel ashamed.’”

Tromp’s trek to Ehardt’s home paid off — to a point. The legislator said she developed an “excellent working relationship” with the BSU president. The two met frequently, and Ehardt fended off a legislative attack on Tromp’s salary.

“I thought President Tromp had great leadership skills,” Ehardt told Seven Days. She nevertheless later led an effort to eliminate all state funding for higher education.

Tromp’s bridge building was also evident in the Institute for Advancing

American Values, which she started at the university. The program brings 10 people with varying political points of view together to talk about what they value in front of a silent audience. Many of the events, called Idaho Listens, air on Idaho Public Television.

“What we found is that when people could see each other as actually having values, even if they disagreed, that it changed the way they talked with each other,” Tromp said, adding, “It’s critical for democracy for us to be able to talk with each other.” At some sessions, audience members wept.

Idaho, however, is an inhospitable political setting for a liberal university and an open-minded administrator. Firestorms around diversity, equity and inclusion continued to reignite. Tromp said she believes strongly in diversity efforts, but under her leadership BSU did not always defend those principles. In several cases, Ehardt said, “[Tromp] had no choice” but to capitulate because

her job was on the line. The Idaho State Board of Education, responsible for hiring and firing the president of BSU, became more conservative after hiring Tromp, Ehardt said.

In 2020, the university canceled at the last minute a speech to incoming freshmen by a Native American student acknowledging that BSU sits on Indigenous land. A former BSU official later told the investigative news outlet ProPublica that the university’s leaders considered the speech “too provocative” for Idaho’s political climate. (Tromp said the student was able to give the speech as part of her doctoral graduation ceremony.)

In spring 2021, as lawmakers and the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank, eyed diversity programs at BSU, Tromp canceled a required ethics and diversity course for 1,300 students midsemester over a rumored video of a white student being “humiliated” and “degraded” for their “beliefs and values,” according to a report from Inside Higher

COMERFORD

Marlene Tromp speaking at the Davis Center

Ed. An investigation found that the rumor could not be substantiated.

That same year, Boise State political science professor Scott Yenor gave a speech at the National Conservatism Conference in which he described women with careers as “medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome” and colleges and universities as “the citadels of our gynocracy.” The campus erupted in protests, covered by CNN. Tromp’s administration issued a statement supporting academic freedom and Yenor’s right to free speech, but Tromp personally signed a petition defending the right of women to seek an education.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, another culture clash erupted. Students objected to the presence of an on-campus coffee shop whose owner, Sarah Jo Fendley, displayed “Thin Blue Line” flags and decals in support of police officers at her separate, off-campus coffee shop. In a meeting with administrators, Fendley insisted that BSU publicly

support her business, Big City Coffee. BSU refused to do so on grounds that it would squelch student free speech. Fendley closed the campus location that day, according to BSU court filings, and claimed in her lawsuit that administrators forced her out.

A year later, Fendley sued the university for violating her freedom of speech, due process and equal protection rights; in October 2024, she won a $4 million jury award on First Amendment grounds. Later, a judge reduced the amount, then added attorneys’ fees, bringing the total to $5.5 million. The case is on appeal.

Michael Roe, Fendley’s attorney, said BSU could have settled the case for $100,000 and an apology. BSU’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite the jury verdict, Tromp continues to believe the university did the right thing.

“I feel quite strongly now, as I did then, that students have a right to express their concerns, and my team was not going

to tell students they couldn’t speak or couldn’t protest, and I think that’s right,” she said. “Nor did we ask any business owner to change their belief system in order to be on campus.”

Tromp later closed the BSU Student Equity Center and Gender Equity Center in advance of a resolution brought by the Idaho State Board of Education that mandated the elimination of all DEI programs at the university.

Despite these headwinds, Tromp and her team increased graduation rates by 39 percent. Philanthropic donations grew by 51 percent, and research awards rose 71 percent. She also created five new interdisciplinary schools and colleges and a rural community impact program.

And Tromp found an opportunity in the painful experience at Boise State. She became a regular speaker for the Crisis Leadership in Higher Education Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, where she could talk about her experiences off the record.

“I feel so proud of the work that I did there and so grateful for the people that helped make that work possible,” Tromp said.

When UVM launched its search for a new president in September 2024, trustees were looking for a proven leader who could manage the challenges facing higher education: declining enrollments, affordability and public distrust. And although UVM has so far largely escaped the Trump administration’s funding cuts and attacks on DEI programs, the new president would potentially have to manage those conflicts as well.

The search committee, composed of faculty, staff, students and trustees, sifted through an initial pool of about 100 applicants, said Cynthia Barnhart, who is the chair of the UVM Board of Trustees, a cochair of the search committee and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of

Marlene Tromp running on campus

The

Cats Whisperer « P.31

Technology. The committee interviewed 10 candidates.

Tromp emerged as the “clear best choice,” Barnhart said. “She combined empathy and engagement with deep leadership experience and a proven ability to execute on a strategic vision in especially challenging times.”

Lumbra, a cochair of the search committee, said Tromp’s experience under political pressure with financial support on the line was a major plus. “She was very seasoned on the issues we worried could really become problematic for us.” Tromp was the sole finalist when she visited UVM in February.

WHITHER UVM?

Over the summer, Tromp moved her family to the UVM president’s residence, Englesby House, settling in with her adult son, older sister and former husband, James Spearman, whom she describes as her best friend.

Tromp joined the Greater Burlington YMCA, where she has been exercising as part of her recovery from a recent hamstring surgery. A complex workout machine has since been installed at Englesby; in her office, the new president asked for a standing desk and treadmill.

Tromp has wasted no time in assembling a team and creating new initiatives. Among her top hires are two former executives from Boise State: Alice Estey, VP of student affairs, became UVM’s vice president for finance and administration; and Lauren Griswold is now UVM’s new chief communications and marketing officer. Both are trusted allies who supported Tromp’s leadership during the pandemic and were directly involved in managing the interactions with Big City Coffee. Estey was a defendant in the lawsuit.

In her first five months as president, Tromp has quickly grasped the needs of the $941 million enterprise that is UVM. She has literally hit the ground running, traveling to every county in the state, meeting with lawmakers, business groups and local schools. Tromp sees this outreach as part and parcel of UVM’s commitment to serving the state as a land grant college.

In her first week on campus, she met with United Academic leaders. Comerford, the president of the union, was impressed by her high IQ and emotional intelligence. Comerford has “qualified

hope” that over time, Tromp can dispel what Comerford called a pall of burnout hanging over the faculty.

Anticipating potential adverse actions from the federal government, Tromp has created operations teams with dozens of faculty and administrative representatives for leadership, research, international students and diversity. Their task is to prepare responses should threats to intellectual independence emerge.

Tromp said the university’s “Our Common Ground” values — respect, integrity, innovation, openness, justice

and responsibility — are the framework for decisions in the Trump era. Her main concern is protecting the university’s First Amendment rights. “I don’t think you can give up your academic freedom and be a university,” Tromp said.

Tromp also quickly launched a strategic planning initiative designed to set the stage for UVM’s work over the next five years. Since October, 1,000 people have given input. Griswold, the UVM marketing chief, said the process is similar to Tromp’s approach at BSU. A strategic planning committee, made up of faculty

Marlene Tromp speaking in her office

She’s not the type of leader who just comes in and says, “This is what we’re going to do.”

LAUREN GRISWOLD

and administrators, will write an initial draft and then hold listening sessions to solicit feedback. There are four draft “pillars”: student impact; values-driven learning and research; Vermont partnerships; and campus community, systems and infrastructure.

“The voice of the campus community is really integral to her leadership style,” Griswold said. “She’s not the type of leader who just comes in and says, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’”

Tromp said she doesn’t have a preconceived notion of where the university is headed.

Maintaining UVM’s research gains will remain a high priority. Garimella set the university on a path to receive a national R-1 designation in February from the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education Institutions. To keep that status, UVM must maintain a high level of research activity across disciplines and award a minimum number of doctoral degrees.

Going forward, UVM will invest more resources in attracting graduate students to develop a pipeline for doctoral programs. Expanding undergraduate enrollment is not part of the plan.

“We’re at a good size right now,” Tromp said. “We know that if we get too large, it’s hard for us to deliver the kind of really personalized education that we give to our students and the kind of mentorship that our faculty and staff provide.”

Jay Jacobs, the vice president of enrollment, said the undergraduate student body will level off at about 11,600 students but graduate school programs, which now have about 886 students, will grow. Jacobs

said the strategic plan will help UVM determine how to meet the demands of the market, especially in AI, STEM and virtual learning.

Tromp is also considering ways to expand tuition-free programs. The Vermont Promise scholarship, developed under Garimella, offers a free education to Vermont students whose family’s income is under $100,000 a year. Tromp is crunching the numbers to see whether out- of-state students could benefit from a similar program. Their tuition is $46,655; the in-state rate is $16,938.

Also high on Tromp’s agenda is UVM’s sometimes contentious relationship with the city of Burlington. Tromp and Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak have met several times already and communicate almost weekly. The women appear to have hit it off. Mulvaney-Stanak said they “commiserate” about leading their respective institutions through financial pressures and federal attacks.

In response to drug problems that are readily evident in Burlington, Tromp has formed two “tiger teams” to work on public safety issues in the city. UVM Police Services will assist with patrols in the Hill Section and at UVM Medical Center, and campus volunteers are helping with graffiti cleanup. A city-university joint public safety forum will be held in January. The university’s mental health team has proposed setting up a mobile opioid-treatment unit. The mayor hopes to get UVM volunteers to help with trash and syringe pickup.

Burlington’s issues call for a “multifaceted solution,” Tromp said. “We can’t

Evidence-based Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement sessions that support stress reduction, emotional resilience, and mind-body healing.

Group Medical Visits

simply say something is a problem. Let’s see what we can do to address it and learn in the process, too, and keep iterating.”

The university’s impact on Burlington’s housing availability and costs has long been a concern, and Tromp said she’s receptive to ideas.

“I’m really open to partnering with the city to problem-solve with them on housing issues, too,” Tromp said. “We can’t see ourselves as separate from the community.”

She wasn’t prepared to talk about UVM’s potential plans for the former Trinity College campus, which the university has eyed for housing development. The recently completed Catamount Run apartments in South Burlington for graduate and medical students should “help ease the stressors,” she said.

Mulvaney-Stanak hopes for a fresh start that takes into account the needs of both the city and the university. The mayor wants to focus on rental affordability and leverage both city and university assets. It’s important for people in Burlington to realize that the profile of the average student is “not necessarily all rich families from Connecticut paying exorbitant rents,” she said.

“I think to solve problems in partnership is such a profound way to meet the needs of the community, and I think the university can really show up,” Tromp said.

A COLLEGE UPON A HILL

During a recent interview in her woodpaneled office in the Waterman Building, Tromp cupped her hands around a coffee mug as she enthused about the strategic plan and building a collaborative vision for UVM. She paused to collect her thoughts about the university’s role and future.

She said she sees UVM as a valuesdriven community where students learn how to make a difference in the world. She

plans to tap the human potential of the university community and attract more staff and students who understand UVM’s zeitgeist. The strategic plan will reflect what sets UVM apart: its ideals.

“It’s the reason that our MBA program was named No. 1 in social impact in the U.S. and that we were named Princeton’s No. 1 social impact university,” Tromp said.

If it sounds corny, well, it is. Tromp is an optimist. When she reflects on difficult subjects such as the culture wars in Idaho, she focuses not on the conflict but the wisdom she gleaned from the experience. For Tromp, there seems to be no shortage of positive lessons and unlimited opportunities when a campus is aligned.

Tromp is bullish about UVM even as other schools in Vermont are getting smaller, tightening their belts and even closing. Vermont State University has consolidated four state schools. Several independent institutions have gone out of business.

Tromp said her chief interest is lowering financial barriers for students — both Vermonters but those from elsewhere, too.

Out-of-staters are important for Vermont, she said, because many of them fall in love with the place and stay after they graduate. Seven Days has reported extensively about how Vermont’s population is one of the oldest in the nation — and the profound impacts that has on its economy, education systems and culture.

“And so, we’re really helping the state thrive,” she said, “by ensuring that the state has the young people who are going to innovate and be a part of the health care system and start their small businesses here and help the communities thrive.”

Tromp said UVM is a microcosm of what is best in academia – excellence, mentorship and aspiration. Her message to high school students from St. Johnsbury to Boise is simple:

“You should try UVM.” ➆

879-6544 Ask us about all of our primary care and support therapies! We have locations in Colchester, Stowe, & Shelburne

Wild Ride

New Stowe exhibitions highlight snowboarding’s history and Hubert Schriebl’s mountain sports photography

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

Sixty years ago — long before snowboarding had entered the lexicon, much less the Olympics — Sherman Poppen had a goal: entertain his young daughters on Christmas Day. He went to his garage in Muskegon, Mich., placed two Kmart children’s skis side by side and nailed them together with wooden crossbars, then sent the girls to the backyard to play.

“I said, ‘My gosh, we’re surfing,’” Poppen recalled in a video. His wife, Nancy, combined the words “snow” and “surfer” to name the invention: the Snurfer. Poppen patented his “surf-type snow ski” and licensed it to Brunswick, which manufactured bowling equipment in Muskegon. Snurfers hit stores in 1966.

Five years later, more than 300,000 had sold.

Although people have been cobbling together contraptions to slide on snow for centuries, modern snowboarding traces its lineage directly to the Snurfer. Its colorful history, much of which happened in Vermont, is the subject of one of two new exhibitions at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

“Beginnings: Snurﬁng to Snowboarding” pairs perfectly with “From the Alps to Vermont: The Photography of Hubert Schriebl.” Stratton Mountain Resort’s photographer for 51 years, Schriebl, 89, of South Londonderry, has photographed four Olympics and documented mountain sports and culture around the world — including snowboarding’s early days.

Dave Schmidt, a museum board member who worked for Burton Snowboards from 1986 to 2003, curated both exhibits. To chronicle the evolution of snowboarding, he assembled Burton boards, Snurfers and other sliding devices as well as patents, photos, videos, ﬁrsthand accounts and memorabilia, much of it from the collection of Paul Graves, snowboarding’s ﬁrst sponsored rider and a former Vermonter who worked to legitimize the sport.

Poppen owned a string of welding supply stores and saw his invention as a toy. Its rise to the global sports world was marked by ﬁerce rivalry, wild revelry and repeated early rejections from ski resorts.

Shortly after Snurfers were introduced, people started racing — “as kids do when they have toys,” Schmidt said. The ﬁrst organized contest, dubbed the World Snurﬁng Championships, was hosted by a

SPORTS

Muskegon Community College fraternity in 1968 and drew 300 participants. “It was basically a keg party with people sliding down a hill,” Schmidt said.

In 1978, Snurfer’s manufacturer — then JEM Corporation — formed the National Snurfing Association and became the official sponsor of the National Snurfing Championships. A pivotal moment occurred in 1979, when Jake Burton Carpenter, who had started Burton Snowboards in Londonderry two years prior, showed up to compete with a board he had built. It had footstraps and a polyethylene base called P-Tex. He was denied entry because it wasn’t a Snurfer.

Graves, Snurfer’s sponsored rider, happened to be standing at the registration table at the time and argued for Carpenter’s admittance. Organizers relented and created an open category just for him.

Graves left JEM shortly after that, convinced that Snurfers should be modiﬁed and that a national championship at a ski area — as opposed to a party in the woods — was needed to grow the sport. But, he recalled in the short documentary “The Dawning,” “every direction we went, there was a ski mountain that wouldn’t let me get on their slopes with my snowboards.”

A 1982 letter from Stowe Mountain Resort’s parent company, displayed in the exhibit, summed up its stance: “We will not at this time or probably ever allow snowboarding on our slopes.”

But South Pomfret’s Suicide Six (now named Saskadena Six) welcomed the pioneering riders, and Graves held the ﬁrst National Snow Surﬁng Championship there in 1982. Competitor David Kirk, who came from Saratoga, N.Y., snagged free overnight accommodations and slept on a pool table, submitted his recollections in writing: “The downhill course was dead straight and stupid fast … The ‘slalom’ was the same as the downhill, but it had 3 gates with zero o set. It was silly fast for my board without edges! … If you stayed on you did OK. many [sic] didn’t stay on obviously.”

After one year, Graves turned the event over to Carpenter, and it became the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, held in Stratton from 1985 to 2020.

While lots of snowboards popped into the marketplace — Winterstick, Trick

Paul Graves with Sherman Poppen’s daughters Wendy (left) and Julie Poppen

Marianna Fruhmann, the ﬁrst woman to win the U.S. Open, photographed by Hubert Schriebl in 1984

From left: Jake Burton Carpenter, Sherman Poppen and Tom Sims

COURTESY

PHOTOS

Comfort Food From Our Kitchen to Yours

Stick, Flite, Hooger Booger and Apocalypse Surf among them — Carpenter’s fiercest rival, on the hill and in business, was Tom Sims, a California skateboard manufacturer who sold his first Skiboard in 1976. Carpenter “was a very, very strong competitor, no matter what he was doing,” said curator Schmidt, who worked as Burton Snowboards’ vice president of global sales. “Tom Sims was exactly the same.”

Sims tended to beat Carpenter in races, Schmidt said, but Carpenter won in the marketplace. Burton has the largest market share in the snowboard industry today.

While Carpenter and Sims were competing in those early races, Schriebl was on the hill, photographing them. His image of the Burton team and a casual shot of riders are part of the snowboard history exhibit. “From the Alps to Vermont’’ showcases more of his work.

A native Austrian, Schriebl was a ski and mountain guide with the Austrian Alpine Club who, in the early 1960s,

joined four of the club’s Alpine surveying expeditions to the Everest region of Nepal. On one of those trips, a cartographer fell ill, and Schriebl assumed his duties, which included photography. He has been making photographs ever since.

On Christmas Eve 1964, he arrived in Stratton, where fellow Austrian Emo Henrich had invited him to teach at Stratton Mountain Ski School. Schriebl took photos on the side. The resort included them in its marketing materials and, eventually, named him resort photographer.

Two months before arriving in Vermont, Schriebl was the lead guide and photographer on the first ascent of Manaslu II, a 23,000-foot peak in the Nepalese Himalayas. An image from that trip — four sherpas seated in a way that their collective shape mirrors the sharply pointed peak behind them — is one of the most arresting in the exhibit.

A 1958 black-and-white photo shows a single person silhouetted on Mont Blanc, gazing down on a sea of clouds. Another

Wild Ride « P.35

Ski jumper by Hubert Schriebl

Hubert Schriebl

image, titled “Snowdrift,” depicts a wave of pristine, deep snow sweeping toward a clutch of heavily flocked evergreens atop Stratton Mountain.

Schriebl’s sports photography is equally awe-inspiring. He captured Austrian ski instructor Franz Ploberger, tongue in the corner of his mouth and snow flying at his feet, as he carved turns at Stratton in 1968. An unnamed ski jumper, eyes fixed, mouth ajar, knifes

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

through the air, a red missile against a bluebird sky.

Other skiers pictured include Vermont’s own Billy Kidd, the Olympic medalist considered America’s greatest ski racer in the mid-’60s; Swedish Alpine racer Ingemar Stenmark at the 1978 World Cup in Stratton; and Austrian Leonhard Stock, an alternate on his country’s downhill team when he won Olympic gold at Lake Placid, N.Y., in 1980.

To get a shot of Stock’s winning run, Schriebl crawled through the woods to a steep pitch at the top of the Lake Placid course. He cut “an illegal hole” in the mesh along the run and stuck his 300-millimeter lens through it, he explains in text accompanying the photo. “I didn’t have much movement and was so close that each racer just filled this frame — this shot is uncropped,” he wrote.

Sports Illustrated published the photo. ➆

INFO

“Beginnings: Snurfing to Snowboarding” and “From the Alps to Vermont: The Photography of Hubert Schriebl” are on display through October 17, 2026, at Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe. $5 suggested donation. vtssm.org

Sherpa guides in Nepal by Hubert Schriebl

Leonhard Stock at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., by Hubert Schriebl

Art for Everyone

From public sculptures to New Year’s Eve festivities, Burlington City Arts cultivates creativity and connection

BY 7D BRAND STUDIO

There’s a new sculpture on Main Street in Burlington: a colorful, 11-foottall arch at the edge of City Hall Park. Its see-through panels contain hundreds of preserved ﬂowers, suspended in resin mid-bloom. Its name, “Anthology,” comes from the Greek word that means “a collection of ﬂowers.”

Sculptor Lydia Kern collected those ﬂowers from Burlington residents. According to her artist’s statement, the community-centered work is meant to evoke “the persistence of beauty and the certainty of change.” It’s also lovely to look at, especially on a sunny day.

This installation, unveiled last

month, is one of six new permanent sculptures coming to city streets by the end of 2026, courtesy of Burlington City Arts. Established during Sen. Bernie Sanders’ tenure as mayor, BCA has been supporting local artists and expanding access to arts-based education and experiences for more than 40 years.

A unique public/ private partnership within city government, BCA relies on both donations and city funds. But as Burlington faces mounting budget pressures, BCA is

feeling the squeeze. If you value BCA’s programs, now is the time to step up and support them.

In addition to commissioning public art, BCA contributes to the cultural life of the community in numerous ways, continuing to expand access to aﬀordable art spaces throughout the city. Most recently, it opened a new Community Room at BCA Studios, which has already hosted a range of rental events, including holiday

parties, conferences and even roller discos. And later this month, on New Year’s Eve, BCA will stage its annual Highlight festival, which includes 12 hours of concerts, dance parties, circus acts and a Moth StorySLAM, along with ﬁreworks and the burning of a handcrafted wooden sculpture of Champ, the mythical lake monster.

Want more examples? Consider Kern’s artistic career. The budding sculptor connected with BCA after moving to Burlington to attend the University of Vermont. “I saw one of my ﬁrst pieces of assemblage sculpture at the BCA Center in 2013,” she recalled in a phone interview. It helped that the gallery is free and located on Church Street.

Through the years, Kern grew her artistic practice through BCA programs, teaching a workshop

Lydia Kern with her sculpture “Anthology” in Burlington’s City Hall Park

Highlight at Waterfront Park in Burlington

during BCA’s Festival of Fools; receiving support from a BCA Community Fund grant to curate exhibits of artwork made by clients of Homebase, an organization that serves adults with developmental disabilities; and being selected for the Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award, a prize that includes a $1,000 credit toward BCA classes.

Kern used the credit to explore new mediums, taking classes in clay and photography at BCA Studios on Pine Street. That led her to incorporate photonegatives in some pieces currently on display in her solo show at Saint Michael’s College; Seven Days ran a glowing review in last week’s issue. “I wouldn’t have done that without BCA classes,” she said, adding that all these oﬀerings serve the general public, not just artists.

Michael Jager, cofounder of the Burlington-based design ﬁrm Solidarity of Unbridled Labour, sees value in all the classes, performances and exhibits BCA brings to Burlington. They “create conversations that maybe normally wouldn’t happen,” he said in a recent video interview with BCA staﬀ.

As an entrepreneur, he’s seen how BCA programs can create connections “that inevitably affect your ability to find other talented people, or to find a partner or client that you might work with,” he said. Over the years, his clients have included brands such as Burton, Xbox, Nike, Lululemon and Patagonia.

But most importantly, Jager said, “I believe in BCA because art changes everything. At least from my humble experience, art is the

Visit the gallery, register for a class or camp, or celebrate at Highlight.

When you participate in a BCA program, you not only support the organization, you aﬃrm your belief in the arts and in the vibrancy of our city. Give online at www.burlingtoncityarts.org.

Kern won the commission for “Anthology” following a public comment period during which community members voiced support for her project. She found it meaningful that people wrote in to encourage her vision. In the press release announcing the unveiling, she said, “It is a true joy and honor to give a work that belongs to all of us, to a place I love.”

In that same release, BCA executive director Doreen Kraft noted that the sculpture exempliﬁes the power of the city’s public art program. “When we create these opportunities for artists to dream big, we bring the unique story of our city to life all around us,” she said. “Lydia Kern’s ‘Anthology’ is a powerful monument to the endurance and vibrancy of Burlington’s creative community.”

While highly visible public art testiﬁes to BCA’s contribution, smaller moments matter, too.

thing that actually shapes ideas. It makes people feel things that they couldn’t ﬁnd and feel on their own.”

That’s why he’s encouraging others to support BCA. “Whether it’s a mural project or the sculptural pieces that are in and around the community and continuing to emerge, [BCA] creates a presence of creativity and just human expression that we have to really ﬁght for and protect,” he said.

BCA director Kraft put a brighter spin on that appeal in a recent fundraising letter: “Your support ensures that creativity continues to light up our town, connect our neighbors, and remind us what’s possible when a city believes in the arts.” 

A kids’ pottery class at Burlington City Arts

The Community Room at Burlington City Arts

The Festival of Fools on the Church Street Marketplace

food+drink More Seats at the Table

e chefs behind Richmond’s Kitchen Table have launched a South Burlington market and café

STORY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com | PHOTOS DARIA BISHOP

Head to the newly opened Kitchen Table Market & Café in South Burlington for a breakfast sandwich on a freshly baked English mu n or a ham-and-Brie panini with housemade fruit preserves — but be forewarned that it’ll be tough to resist the pastries. They beckon from a case by the register, gilded with caramel, swirled with chocolate and lavished with cream.

The pastry case may glitter most brightly, but the serious chops of head pastry chef Sam La Croix show up throughout the café’s all-day menu. From her house granola and preserves in the yogurt parfaits ($8) to fresh-baked honey-wheat and white breads for sandwiches (from $10) to the flaky pastry encasing take-and-bake pot pies (from $32), the from-scratch touches are just one sign of the care that La Croix and her ﬁancé, executive chef Craig Anthony, are investing in the recently hatched little sibling of their Kitchen Table restaurant in Richmond.

La Croix, 33, is a New England Culinary Institute alum who previously plied her trade at Hen of the Wood in Burlington and the original Burlington and then South Burlington locations of Mirabelles Bakery. The bakery is where she met Anthony, 39, who cooked there for 13 years before he became assistant director of operations for Winooski’s Waterworks Food + Drink.

Working for a behind-the-scenes ownership group, the couple relaunched an elevated comfort-food menu at Kitchen Table restaurant in Richmond in 2023. Anthony, the group’s director of

FOOD LOVER?

operations, also runs Chicken Charlie’s Rotisserie, Grill & BBQ in South Burlington, which the partnership bought in 2022.

The Kitchen Table Market & Café opened on November 28, a couple of months later than hoped due to construction and equipment delivery delays, Anthony said. It shares a vestibule entrance with Chicken Charlie’s and has taken over about two-thirds of the

renovated space, including the seating area. (Chicken Charlie’s now o ers only takeout and delivery.)

Anthony had firsthand experience at the chicken spot from working shifts there in 2022 on top of his full-time job at Waterworks. Chicken Charlie’s niche was becoming more crowded, he said, so he pitched the ownership group the idea of splitting the restaurant, running a shared

kitchen and extending the Kitchen Table brand into a more casual venue.

They considered it for, literally, “like, a minute,” Anthony said, before giving him an enthusiastic go-ahead.

Part of the strategy is efficiencies and cross-pollination across the three businesses. Favorite desserts from the

Above, from left: Hanhi Nguyen, Aaron Grenon, Sam La Croix and Craig Anthony at Kitchen Table Market & Café

Below, clockwise from front: Mixed-nut sticky bun, KT éclair and cherry cream bun

SIDEdishes

Stowe Street Café to Close in Waterbury

After a deal to sell the STOWE STREET CAFÉ fell through last week, owner NICOLE GRENIER announced that she will close her 10-year-old business at 29 Stowe Street in Waterbury on December 28. Grenier, 49, said she put the café on the market in September for an undisclosed price. Several potential buyers emerged, but, she acknowledged, “It’s a tough time all the way around: to start, to take over, to sustain.”

Grenier attributed her decision to “the realities [facing] all of our small businessfolk, especially in food.” In particular, she cited rising utility bills, property taxes and cost of goods, as well as the challenge of paying a living wage, to which she was committed.

“We’re not the only canary in this coal mine,” Grenier said. “It’s expensive to buy local and support local. The formula is not in any small business’ favor. It’s not sustainable.”

While many businesses face staffing challenges, Grenier had only praise for her team. Although AJ BARR, the café’s head chef of about a year, is moving out of state, she said the rest of the crew was ready to step up.

On the personal side, Grenier said she wanted to make more time for family. “The call for a different rhythm and a different pace is real,” she said.

Grenier owns the building, which includes the café, its kitchen and dining

room, and a downstairs community prep kitchen. She hopes to find a tenant for both or a “collaboration of people’s visions and dreams,” she said, “something new and wonderful that we can hopefully help support in the space.”

Tourterelle

Restaurant in New Haven Has New Owners

CHRISTINE THOMAS-SNELL and BILL SNELL have sold TOURTERELLE RESTAURANT and the five-acre property at 3629 Ethan Allen Highway in New Haven to SHELBY MOSELLO and her husband, AUSTIN PING. The new owners do not have a hospitality background but have been working at Tourterelle since September to “understand the day-to-day and to confirm we were all in,” Mosello said. They closed the deal for $2 million — with the investment support of Mosello’s father, Mark — on November 21.

The sale includes the historic building with a six-bedroom upstairs guest suite and outbuildings such as a large, all-season event barn, which is used

CONNECT

Nicole Grenier at Stowe Street Café in 2018

Richmond restaurant, such as La Croix’s signature fudgy Matilda cake, are sold by the slice ($14) or in cupcake form ($5) at the café. Chicken Charlie’s fried or grilled tenders can be added to several sandwiches or salads on the café menu, such as the Charlie’s Caesar salad wrap ($16 with chicken; $10 without). The café’s fresh salad menu will always feature the seasonal offering from the restaurant. Currently, that’s winter citrus ($15): little leaf lettuce tossed to order with blood orange and grapefruit segments, hazelnuts, crumbled goat cheese, and a citrus vinaigrette.

The café’s Shorty Mac panini ($16) brings together all three menus with the braised beef short ribs from Richmond combined with Chicken Charlie’s mac and cheese, plus pickled onions and barbecue sauce. Tender chunks of those short ribs with potatoes, carrots, peas and corn also fill a hefty pot pie ($36) from the takeand-bake freezer, where casseroles on offer include pasta bakes ($15/$28) and shepherd’s pie ($20/$38).

On my first visit, I ladled out a small cup of very good cream of mushroom soup with cheddar ($6) at the hot food station in the rear of the café, where a window provides a view into the kitchen. An employee was carefully topping chicken pot pies ($32) with pastry rounds and turned to gesture at a row of beautifully crimped pies. “We make everything from scratch here,” he said proudly.

Anthony said he had the window constructed during the renovation to provide him and his team visibility and accountability, “to make sure we’re not slacking,” he explained with a chuckle.

No one appeared to be slacking last week during two trips to sample a full day’s worth of meals.

I bypassed the breakfast sandwiches ($6 or $8 with bacon or sausage) and the yogurt parfaits ($8) for the warming sustenance of steel-cut oatmeal ($6 for 8 ounces; $10 for 16 ounces), garnished with fresh blueberries, granola (oats on oats!), brown sugar, toasted almonds and shredded coconut from the toppings bar. I also indulged in the mixed-nut sticky bun ($8) — a caramel-drenched, generously nut-topped swirl of deliciousness — and a tender-crumbed coconut-lime scone ($5).

For lunch, I ordered two sandwiches from the deli menu, which also has buildyour-own options. (A cooler holds simple sandwiches and basic salads for grab and go.) Kitchen Table Market’s version of a meaty Italian is dubbed the Gabagool ($15)

after the Americanized pronunciation of capicola — one of the sandwich’s three cured meats — as made infamous by “The Sopranos.” I ordered it on a Red Hen Baking baguette, and its well-stacked abundance provided lunch two days in a row. To sample the cross-pollination, I also tried a crunchy bite of my husband’s Patty ($15), made with Chicken Charlie’s fried chicken tenders, bacon, provolone, pickles and sriracha mayo on one of La Croix’s sesame challah rolls.

The Lobio veggie panini ($13), with tomato, arugula, Cabot cheddar, pickled red onion and housemade Georgian-style bean pâté, intrigued me, especially after Anthony explained that it’s made with red kidney beans seasoned with thyme, garlic and onion.

For an afternoon pick-me-up, I brought home a cherry cream bun ($8) from the pastry case, recalling vividly how I’d fallen for its doughnut-adjacent texture

THE SERIOUS CHOPS OF HEAD PASTRY CHEF SAM LA CROIX SHOW UP THROUGHOUT THE CAFÉ’S ALL-DAY MENU.

and fluffy filling during a Kitchen Table brunch in Richmond.

The following night, the short rib pot pie I’d bought frozen emerged from my oven fragrant and golden-crusted, providing an ample, rib-sticking meal for at least four.

Even though I didn’t mean to buy more pastries on my second trip, I felt obliged to get the novel carrot cake cup ($10) for my carrot cake-loving spouse. He happily spooned up most of the 16-ounce tub of cake between layers of frosting and declared it very good, if a little heavy on frosting.

On that visit, I carried my full bag out to my car before having second thoughts. In the day-old pastry section of the cooler (a must-check for bargain hunters), I had noticed a great deal on four Matilda cupcakes for the price of one.

Of course, I didn’t need four cupcakes. But then I remembered that three twentysomethings were on their way to Vermont for an early-season ski weekend. Three for them and one for me: How could I resist? ➆

INFO

The Kitchen Table Market & Café, 1160 Williston Rd., South Burlington, 448-3938, kitchentablemarketcafe.com

Aaron Grenon making a short rib pot pie

Clockwise from left: Glo Up panini and chips, Savouré soda, chocolate-coconut scone and raspberry muffin, Samantha sandwich with tomato soup, and a winter citrus salad

Farmstand ❆ Farm to Fork ❆ Comfort Food Friday

Use your card to buy our farm-fresh meals, use at our seasonal farmstand...and LOTS more in 2026! With this card, you create a win-win by supporting local farmers, our Farmstand, 3 local foodshelves, and 5 food education programs. We are stronger together. TO PURCHASE

Under "FOOD" TAB select Buy Flexcards. Pick-up at The Wheeler Homestead, 1100 Dorset Street, South Burlington OR email Liz@commonroots.org

Visit Cabot Creamery’s retail stores in Waterbury and Hardwick for award-winning cheeses, charcuterie favorites, limited-edition merch, and more. Some exclusions apply. Valid through Dec 31, 2025 only. Bring a nonperishable food item for our neighbors in need. 10 % OFF

Cookie Quest

A search for sweet holiday recipes coincides with the discovery of a family treasure

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Last December, feeling forlorn for lack of family holiday cookie recipes, I sent a plea to readers of our weekly Bite Club newsletter. Several responded with recipes for s’mores cookies, a homemade version of Thin Mints and a chocolate-hearted nugget called a Secret Kiss. They sounded good but didn’t quite scratch the old-timey baking itch.

My own family had yielded zilch. My mother is gone, and she was not much of a baker anyway — more of the Julia Child-influenced, chocolate-mousse generation. My mother-in-law was a fine pie baker who taught me the secrets to the flakiest crust. She grew up in practical New England kitchens where her mother and grandmother collected bacon fat in an old soup can on the stove. They sometimes used it in cookies, especially peanut butter ones, but when I asked about holiday cookies, my mother-in-law came up blank.

Right around the time of my cookie quest, I received a cryptic message on Instagram from a stranger. It read simply, “Delmonico Potatoes recipe of Polly Pasanen?”

My mother-in-law’s name is Polly, though she hasn’t gone by Pasanen for

HOME ON THE RANGE

HERMITS

Adapted from Polly Hakala as published in Kitchen Prescriptions: The Medical Wives’ Practical Guide to Cooking Makes 18 large bars

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup dark molasses

2 tablespoons water

2 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

more than 35 years, and I have never eaten her Delmonico potatoes.

My correspondent, Barb Kleh of Colchester, explained that she had found an old but undated ring-bound cookbook in a box of family mementos. Titled Kitchen Prescriptions: The Medical Wives’

TIMES HAVE CHANGED, THANKFULLY,

the days when medical school students were almost exclusively male and molded salads had their own cookbook section.

While flipping through recipes for such salads and “Continental Specialties,” Kleh noticed several attributed to a Polly Pasanen and wondered if she might be related to a local food writer with the same surname.

We narrowed the book’s vintage to 1967 to 1971, when my father-in-law, Polly’s ex-husband, attended medical school in Burlington and Kleh’s father-in-law was a local ophthalmologist.

Kleh sent me photographs of Polly’s recipes — including the cheese-and-whitesauce-smothered Delmonico potatoes — along with a shot of the hand-drawn cookbook cover of a dapper young doctorin-training smiling at the thought of the meal awaiting him at home.

1/2 cup nutmeats (Polly said this meant walnuts, the only nut they ever had in the house.)

A handful of raisins

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat the oven to 350ºF and generously grease a jelly roll pan (typically 10 x 15 inches).

2. Using an electric mixer, cream together the shortening and sugar until fluffy, then beat in the molasses and water.

3. Break the eggs into a cup and beat with a fork. Pull off 1 tablespoon of the egg for later use and beat the remaining egg into the above mixture.

4. Sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves and salt and add them to the bowl along with the nuts and raisins. Mix well to combine.

5. Press the batter into the prepared pan. Brush with the remaining egg.

6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the bars just pull away from the side of the pan. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Practical Guide to Cooking, it was sponsored by the University of Vermont Medical Students’ Wives Club and dedicated to “Our husbands, who, true to the spirit of the scientific method, have allowed us to experiment upon their stomachs.”

Times have changed, thankfully, since

I beamed similarly when I saw that one of the recipes was for the cookie bars called hermits, flavored with ginger, clove and molasses.

When I excitedly told Polly about the rediscovery of her old recipes and the answer to my heirloom holiday cookie prayers, she noted that hermits were more of an everyday treat. Despite that,

their gingerbread-spiced chewy bite tasted holiday-worthy to me, and her version’s call for “nutmeats” and “a handful of raisins” makes them just the kind of old-school recipe I yearned for.

I might even try using a little bacon fat in the batter next time. ➆

Hermit bars

SIDEdishes

for about two dozen weddings a year. Thomas-Snell will work closely with the new owners for a year as part of the agreement.

The Snells moved to Vermont from Brooklyn and opened Tourterelle in 2009. Snell, a chef, ran the kitchen while Thomas-Snell managed the front of house. He stepped back from running the kitchen about eight years ago, when chef TOM MORRIS took over. The restaurant and inn su ered a ﬁre in 2020, which entailed a major renovation. In 2022, the Snells divorced, leaving Thomas-Snell the on-site operator of the business.

Mosello, 30, and Ping, 31, met in 2018 working at a summer camp in New Hampshire. They lived brieﬂy in Winooski during the pandemic before moving to Aspen, Colo., where Mosello worked as a camp director and for a nonproﬁt and Ping was a luxury-property manager. The couple married a year ago in Vermont and sought out a Green Mountain business to run together.

Mosello said the couple do not plan any major changes at Tourterelle. Morris will continue to lead the restaurant kitchen, serving dinner ﬁve nights a week.

The Chocolate Butcher Opens a Williston Store

Food industry consultant JEFFREY MANNION, 51, opened the CHOCOLATE BUTCHER CHOP SHOP at 22 Merchants Row in Williston, next to Casa Grande restaurant, on November 22. Mannion has sold bags of what he described as “rough-cut chocolate chunks” under the Chocolate Butcher brand in grocery stores in

Boston, Connecticut and the New York metropolitan area for about a decade, but this is his ﬁrst dedicated retail outlet.

The new store sells the bagged chunks, bagged chocolate tru es and what Mannion calls snack boards: chocolate chunks packaged with salty and sweet complementary snacks, such as pretzels and candied nuts. It also stocks those snacks separately, so customers can assemble their own combinations or gift pairings.

Mannion’s small Williston production facility creates the rough-cut pieces by chopping 10- to 11-pound slabs of high-quality Belgian and domestic chocolate into irregular chunks, he said. He likened it to how a ﬁne butcher shop might break down a whole animal into steaks and roasts.

Over his years consulting in the chocolate industry, Mannion said, he often saw colleagues nibbling on small pieces from the large blocks that serve as the main ingredient for many glossy chocolate lines. The Chocolate Butcher aims to “simplify the fancy world of chocolate,” he said.

“I’ve always been drawn to the idea

of random-size pieces,” Mannion said, adding that portion choice is another advantage. “This is a very approachable and informal way to eat really good chocolate, and, the way that it’s cut, it just pairs nicely with other things as well.”

Entrées & Exits:

The

Scale Poké Bar Opens in South Burlington; Black Cap Co ee & Bakery to Close in BTV

economic environment and noted that “in the last year alone, the Burlington shop has had at least one overdose occur in the store.” In her announcement, she directly rebutted the claim by some employees of the Burlington Black Cap that the closure was related to their e orts to unionize.

In a press release sent to Seven Days the day preceding Vilalta’s statement, workers from the Church Street shop said they would launch a strike “in protest of the company’s targeting of unionized workers in mass layo s to discourage unionization and the company’s refusal to bargain a union contract.” They called the timing of the closure decision “suspicious,” noting that “we were just about ﬁnished bargaining our ﬁrst contract, and our last major hurdle was negotiating our wages.”

On the morning of December 8, Black Cap on Church Street was closed. A sign on the door read “Store on Strike” with a call for a boycott stuck below it. ➆

The SCALE POKÉ BAR will launch its third location, at 286 Market Street in South Burlington, with a soft opening on December 10, followed by a December 13 grand opening. It joins the original Williston and Essex Junction locations of the locally owned restaurant group, which has served poké and açai bowls since 2017. Co-owner PERRY FARR said the newest spot will debut morning smoothies and co ee, which will show up at the other restaurants over the winter.

Vilalta attributed the closure to “two years of steadily declining sales,” cited the “extraordinarily di cult” downtown

On December 7, owner LAURA VILALTA announced on social media that she will close BLACK CAP COFFEE & BAKERY Burlington location at 42 Church Street at the end of the year. Black Cap’s original Stowe location, which opened in 2010, and its Morrisville and Waterbury spots will remain open.

e Firecracker Bowl with tuna at the Scale Poké Bar

From left: Mark Mosello, Shelby Mosello and Austin Ping at Tourterelle Restaurant

Snack board mixes with the Chocolate Butcher’s rough-cut chocolate

Signs on the door of Black Cap Coffee & Bakery in Burlington on December 8

culture Mad River Macho

Nude calendar features men of the Mad River Valley

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Admit it: Sometimes, when you’re supposed to be scheduling out your week, you’re really daydreaming about a naked man with a really big ﬁre hose.

Do both with the Men of the Mad River Valley 2026 Calendar, billed as a “cheeky little fundraiser” for the WaitsfieldFayston and Warren fire departments, the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, and Free Wheelin’, a free ride service for seniors and others without wheels in the Mad River Valley.

The project was, um, spearheaded by Waitsﬁeld resident Nancy Emory, 83, a retired math teacher. She was visiting Vermont in 2002 when she stumbled across the famed Men of Maple Corner calendar, which pictured Calais community leaders au naturel with well-placed props. It raised more than $500,000 for the town’s community center and other local projects. Emory kept her calendar and was determined to do a similar project in the Mad River Valley, where she moved permanently in 2012. The idea finally hatched at her New Year’s Eve party last

on the mantle of taking things o for a cause. The town of Shoreham raised funds for the Platt Memorial Library with the 2009 Shoreham Uncovered calendar; scores of University of Vermont students posed for the Prudent Student and later the Water Tower calendars to raise money for extracurricular clubs starting in 2009; Chester women raised money for town Christmas decorations in 2018; and 13 authors and poets revealed more than their inner thoughts to benefit the Varnum Memorial Library in Je ersonville in 2020.

For the Mad River Valley’s iteration, Emory brought in photographers Kolleen and Bobby Kintz and Kolleen’s sister, designer Kristin Lauricella,

year, during which many locals suggested names of men who might be willing to bare it all for a good cause.

Younger readers may be unaware that it was once unremarkable to see calendars full of unironically naked women displayed in stereotypically male spaces such as mechanic’s shops or bars. It was so common that, in 1977, a group of women in Lincolnshire, England, decided to make a calendar of nude men as a feminist action, causing great controversy. They made postcards of nude images and sold them for charity; a di erent group of middleaged British women later raised money for leukemia research with a nude calendar of themselves, inspiring the movie and musical Calendar Girls

Many Vermont groups, starting with the Men of Maple Corner, have since taken

whose eye for layout, along with the Kintz’ artful black-and-white images, give the calendar a surprisingly sophisticated feel.

Lauricella wrote a bio for each participant that complements the narrative in the photo. January brings us sign maker extraordinaire Sparky Potter, who delivers a relaxed pose mirroring his own painting of a scantily clad Tolkienesque fairy on a door at his house. March’s Gamal Buhaina, a musician and son of jazz icon Art Blakey and artist Diana Pumpelly Bates, poses at the piano, showing o his well-placed saxophone. For July, sparks literally ﬂy in a portrait of metal sculptor Troy Kingsbury, whose welding apron seems ... insu cient.

Kolleen Kintz said one of the challenges of the project was scheduling shoots, especially with farmers such as Doug Kenyon, who starts work at 6 a.m. Some

laugh about it. We had to express a lot of gratitude.”

That attitude comes through in the images — not just gratitude for the models’ senses of humor but reverence for the work they do. Pete Defreest, 65, and Gordy Eurich, 85, have a combined 105 years of experience as volunteer firefighters in the Valley and are pictured together with a fire engine. Farmer Hadley Gaylord emerges from hay bales, chicken in hand. And builder Charlie Goodman flaunts all of his equipment, excavator included. More than old-school porn, this is competency porn.

“It was important that these were portraits that were really reﬂective of who these individuals are,” Kintz said. “It’s kind of like meeting legends in our town.” ➆

INFO

also have farms in full view of Route 100 motorists, so many of their photo sessions happened in the early morning. “We had to work quickly,” Kintz said. “We had to

Men of the Mad River Valley 2026 Calendar will be available at the Maker’s Market at Lawson’s Finest Liquids on Saturday, December 13, as well as at Kenyon’s Variety Store and Whippletree Designs, all in Waitsﬁeld, as well as other Mad River Valley locations. $20.

Old-School Video Store Pops Up in White River Junction

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

A community is only as strong as the families who live in it. That is why we focus on strengthening families and supporting the whole family’s mental health and wellbeing Lund meets families where they are and is with them every step of the way.

Gone are the days of Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, and Vermont independents Waterfront Video and Video King. Victims of online streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video, in-person video stores couldn’t compete on convenience, image quality, and the sheer volume and variety of movies and television shows.

But now, in a twist suggestive of a Back to the Future sequel, local video store aficionados have resurrected the old-school experience. Junction Arts & Media, a public-access television station in White River Junction, just opened Videostop II, a pop-up video store in the back of its headquarters where, through December, people can check out movies for a week, free of charge. Welcome back to the days of perusing film titles in person, then going home, popping a VHS tape into the VCR, and settling in for a night of movies and popcorn — bad tracking and poor sound quality be damned.

Named in honor of a beloved video store in West Lebanon, N.H., that closed in 2013, Videostop II has more than 1,000 movies. Most are in VHS format, though the catalog also includes a handful of DVDs, LaserDiscs, and, for a truly arcane experience, Betamax and CED video discs.

Haven’t fired up your VCR since Ronald Reagan was in the White House? No worries. Videostop II has a few of those old units on hand for you to check out, too.

Each month, JAM hosts a different in-house exhibit. The retro video store experience “is something that’s been percolating for a while,” explained Chico Eastridge, JAM’s technical director and senior producer.

Eastridge, 39, was a teen during the transition from VHS to DVD format. A bunch of his friends worked at Videostop, which he remembers as “a place to hang out, steal stuff, break things and ignore customers.”

About 15 years ago, as many of the local video stores went out of business and sold off their inventories, Eastridge started buying up movies for pennies on the dollar. In no time, he amassed quite a collection. He and his friend Ben Peberdy, a collage artist from Montpelier, began hosting a weekly movie club called Revenge of Movie Night.

“We’d try to find the weirdest tape we could,” Eastridge said. The Tuesday-night movie club is still going strong at Main Street Museum in White River Junction.

On a recent weeknight, a South Royalton resident came into Videostop II. She said she had no computer at home and only watched movies on VHS, Eastridge reported. She checked out The Cars That Ate Paris, Peter Weir’s 1974 cult-classic horror comedy; and Cane Toads: An Unnatural History, a 1988 documentary from Australia.

“I love the video store conundrum of [deciding], Where does a video live in the store?” Eastridge said. To speed such decisions, Videostop II has genre sections up the wazoo. Among them: “Dracula,” “non-Dracula vampires,” “non-vampire blood suckers” and “non-sucking blood consumers.” The store also has sections called “chain-saw duels,” “a guy with a sword” and “I can’t believe it’s not Star Wars.”

Looking at the bigger picture, why would anyone choose an unquestionably inferior video format? After all, many or most of the movies available at Videostop II can be found in digital format online.

“I think it’s fun. In some ways it’s similar to a vinyl record, where there’s this ritual to it,” Eastridge said. “But mostly, it’s this ridiculous thing.” ➆

INFO

Videostop II, at 5 S. Main St. in White River Junction, open through December: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. uvjam.org

Matt Mazur (front) and Chico Eastridge at Videostop II

Signed and Sealed

Theater review: Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Shaker Bridge Theatre

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

Warm as a cup of cocoa, Dear Jack, Dear Louise tells a love story through letters, as two performers build scenes together without getting to look each other in the eye. It’s their voices that connect. Ken Ludwig based his 2019 play on the courtship of his own parents during World War II. The show is sweet but never cloying, making a virtue of simplicity. Shaker Bridge Theatre’s production is a chance to watch the fine miracle of two people amazed to discover each other.

The correspondence begins in 1942 when Jack, a doctor, is an Army captain stationed in Oregon to treat the wounded from the Pacific and aspiring actress Louise is auditioning for Broadway roles in New York City. Their parents know each other and suggest the kids might exchange letters. These early missives are as halting and bland as penpal attempts, but something keeps them going. With the turmoil of war seeping into every aspect of domestic life, Jack and Louise could use someone to talk to.

carry a little risk. Will a dash of flirting work? Should I tell the full story? Did I go too far? Not far enough?

THEATER

The play is never not a love story, but the epistolary construction makes the character development surprisingly fresh. Ludwig energizes the exchanges by occasionally beginning a letter’s dialogue in the writer’s voice and finishing it in the recipient’s, as if the message sails between them. The audience sees both the author’s intention and the reader’s interpretation. And if losing face-to-face contact limits understanding, it can amplify reactions. When Jack reads that Louise has a plan to meet his large, odd family, it triggers the quiet man to pound his desk and wail, “No, no, no.”

To people accustomed to instant digital tools, letters seem quaint and perhaps hopeless as a means to connect. But when two people are falling in love, the medium doesn’t matter. Emotions actually grow clearer as the characters contend with all that makes communication inscrutable. Neither can see the other’s reactions, so they must summon the courage to trust.

WHEN TWO PEOPLE ARE FALLING IN LOVE, THE MEDIUM DOESN’T MATTER.

But they can’t meet face-to-face. Their correspondence has to embody their entire connection, and the stage is split, with Jack in a tidy barracks room on the left and Louise in the vigorous mess of her boardinghouse on the right. Both characters use their patch of stage actively, often taking turns reading what they wrote or received. We watch them read, write and react, and director Bill Coons steers the isolated performers so their work meshes into the beautiful cadence of two people yearning to know each other.

Ludwig builds one long conversation from letters to show the rising energy of Jack and Louise’s interest. Sometimes the letters collapse into single-sentence exchanges, as their need to connect becomes urgent. Sometimes the letters are monologues aimed at an audience of one, as their curiosity about each other slowly melts into familiarity. Always, the letters

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The feelings may be timeless, but the production uses the music and fashion of the 1940s to place viewers securely in the period. The dreams and manners of the day are endearing in their innocence. Romantic betrayal is possible, but the bounds of decorum are snug, and dancing is pretty much the limit of ecstasy.

As Louise, Allie Seibold balances exuberance with flashes of self-doubt. When Louise describes her quest for auditions to Jack, Seibold shows her shining with hope. Her sheer will to succeed is intoxicating. But the path is certainly not easy, so her keen sense of humor helps. Seibold has a special gift for voices, animating the people she describes to make little scenes in her letters. Rustling through her sheet music with starry eyes, Louise can also limp home after losing a part. Seibold gives us a practical dreamer, always worth rooting for.

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To play Jack, Tommy Crawford adopts a slight, couldn’t-hurt-a-fly physical presence, and even alone with his footlocker and cot, he defaults to polite stillness. His first shy letters make us worry he may not be interesting enough for Louise; maybe not for us, either. But the character grows steadily, like a plant blooming under Louise’s light. Of all things, his heart opens. He’s no romantic poet, but he can quote the young Winston Churchill and admit he has a hero. And when Jack is in jeopardy in Europe, Crawford ticks with fear.

Crawford and Seibold achieve exquisite timing in this duet, with Crawford the steady rhythm section and Seibold the wildly riffing soloist. If the premise limits suspense, director Coons pulls viewers into connection with the characters through pace and humor.

The play has no grand insights, but it explores love with tenderness. Obstacles are few, and a playwright using his own

parents as a template for characters probably can’t help putting the warmest filter on the photo. Unpretentious as the play is, Ludwig creates two gripping people whose heartwarming story has twists and turns on its way to happiness.

For a cozy holiday night at the theater, Dear Jack, Dear Louise offers a love story with bright humor instead of schmaltz. We can witness the affection that slowly percolates through a long exchange of letters, seeing what the two separated characters can’t as they loft words across space. ➆

INFO

Dear Jack, Dear Louise, by Ken Ludwig, directed by Bill Coons, produced by Shaker Bridge Theatre. Through December 21: Thursdays through Saturdays, 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 13, and Sundays, 2:30 p.m., at Briggs Opera House, White River Junction. $25-45. shakerbridgetheatre.org

Tommy Crawford and Allie Seibold in Dear Jack, Dear Louise

DECEMBER 17 & 24 ISSUES

Per holiday tradition, Seven Days will not be published December 31, 2025. e ﬁrst issue of 2026 will be published on January 7. e deadline for event listings has passed!

Events taking place December 17January 7 should have been submitted no later than Tuesday, December 9, at noon. Apologies!

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Cannabis Dispensary

Picturesque Prose

Book review: Pastorals, Rachel Hadas

BY DAWN SKORCZEWSKI

English poet John Keats wrote about the paradox of fall in his 1820 ode “To Autumn,” where a time of fullness to the brim is also a time of near ending. You might remember the final image — “gathering swallows twitter in the skies” — which sounds a melancholic suspension between one world and the next.

It is this world between that Rachel Hadas captures in her love poems to Vermont.

Although Hadas, 77, has written poems about Vermont for her entire career, she speaks more specifically from her perch in the Northeast Kingdom in her most recent collection, Pastorals . Hadas coaxes the reader into noticing the things that anchor us to this place.

Hadas spends the winters in New York City and summers in Vermont. She has lived for more than 40 summers in a white family farmhouse overlooking a vast valley in Danville, paying attention to all things Vermont: the insects, the birds, the fields, the houses, the neighbors, the apples, the cows, the stories. Like Keats, Hadas offers that world to us in glorious suspension.

A poet, translator and essayist, Hadas

has published 25 books of poetry and four books of prose, translated many works, and earned accolades, including the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and membership in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. For almost half a century, her poems have reveled in the details of a

moment and her small, precise observations about how a particular place might be suffused with tenderness.

An early poem, “The End of Summer,” considers the significance of a July meteor shower in Vermont:

we looked at one another in the dark, then at the milky magical debris arcing across, dwarfing our meek mortality.

There were two ways to live: get on with work,

redeem the time, ignore the imminence of cataclysm; or else take it slow, be as tranquil as the neighbors’ cow we love to tickle through the barbed wire fence

To be as tranquil as the neighbors’ cow is the preferred way, even as it is simply a fact that, as she writes in another poem, “we wear our bodies deeper/and deeper into time.” Hadas’ image of the Vermont cow anchors us in substance even as it admits its impermanence. To be tranquil as a cow is to accept the passage of time but also to cultivate a form of consciousness — to focus on a tickle rather than a cataclysm.

HADAS UNABASHEDLY CAPTURES A VERMONT THAT IS ALWAYS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING, EVEN AS IT FADES.

In her Pastorals, Hadas unabashedly captures a Vermont that is always on the verge of becoming, even as it fades. These prose poems glitter with images of vibrant growth and delicious surrender. In “Hum of the Season,” dung accumulates: phoebe poop on the house, pigeon poop on the barn and “ants … crawling over the kitchen counter.” The speaker will wipe it all up and wait for the fledglings to “venture out of the nest and stagger around the porch.” Luckily, the cats are safely indoors. “The cycle goes on,” Hadas writes.

It is also a human cycle, with flannel nightgowns distributed to new owners, pink-and-white wallpaper over a bed that collapses under the weight of a jumping

child. Things are old or falling apart but also on the verge of transformation: a bookstore named Secondhand Prose, a barn with a caved-in roof, an almostdead snake in the road. It is a cycle of generations, as in “On My Knees: Morning Messengers”: “Back to my parents. I carry them in me, with me.”

“Draw a Picture of the Iliad” ends with a one-word line: “Multiply.”

Things are becoming or hiding other things in these Vermont poems: a hillside “brimming with water, that never stays the same color” (“Summer Weather”).

The maples stand as “sentinels,” and the meadow acts as “a cover and a memory” (“Meadow”). The promise of what is underneath does not fade. But always the essential unchanging elements remain: “Stone. Moss. Fern. Shadow” (“Walking Around the Triangle: Sermon in Stone”).

Hadas frequently nods to writers whose words shape her perceptions of things, to offer solace or insight or simply companionship. Poets and writers pop up to comment on the things she notices. Some of them are from Vermont, including Galway Kinnell, whose house was a few towns over from the one Hadas invites us into in these prose poems. But there are many more: Chard deNiord, Leland Kinsey, Garrett Keizer and, of course, Robert Frost. “An hour is a year,” deNiord says in Hadas’ “Walking Around the Triangle: Sermon in Stone.”

Hadas, a brilliant translator and essayist, is an academic as well as a poet, and her drive for precision takes her deeper into her own metaphors. “Summer Variations I” asks the question we might be posing today: “What but affection feeds the fire, once summer has subsided into memory?” Later in the poem, she refines the idea: “I might be walking to the compost heap or down the driveway to the mailbox and be struck by–memory isn’t as precise a word as presence.”

“Summer Variations II” ends “And so with this house. With families.” And so small things accumulate. The forward motion continues.

Vermont is not a mythic Arcadia in these pages but a place that answers to patience, to ritual, to the accumulation of tiny observances. That patient ledger is Hadas’ gift: a model for how to live with and within a place and how to keep the small things speaking. ➆

INFO

Pastorals by Rachel Hadas, Measure Press, 88 pages. $25.

Rachel Hadas

on screen

Hamnet ★★★★★

The nominations for this year’s Golden Globe Awards, announced on Monday, included six nods for Chloé Zhao’s period drama Hamnet , adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s prize-winning novel of the same name. The Oscar predictors at Gold Derby place the film among the five likeliest to win Best Picture. Yet, as of press time, Hamnet is playing at just one Vermont theater, the Majestic 10 in Williston — one more indication of how tough it is to sell tickets to non-franchise films these days.

The deal

In 1500s England, Agnes (Jessie Buckley) lives on a farm with her brother (Joe Alwyn), flying her beloved hawk and practicing herbal remedies she learned from her late mother, who was reputedly a witch. Will (Paul Mescal), the tutor hired for Agnes’ stepmother’s sons, is instantly smitten with the free-spirited young woman. Pregnancy and marriage follow, in that order, to the consternation of Will’s mother (Emily Watson).

Destiny calls Will away to London, where he hopes to make his fortune writing for the theater. Tending the home ﬁres, Agnes ﬁnally bonds with her mother-inlaw during the di cult birth of two more children, twins Judith (Olivia Lyne) and Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe).

Agnes has always believed her dreams are prophetic; in them, she has seen two children at her deathbed, not three. As plague sweeps through Europe, the family su ers a terrible loss, which will in turn affect the development of Will’s most famous work.

Will you like it?

You’ve no doubt already deduced that “Will” is William Shakespeare, “Agnes” is Anne Hathaway and the masterwork in question is Hamlet. If I downplayed the biopic aspect, that’s because Hamnet does. For one thing, O’Farrell’s story (which she cowrote with Zhao for the screen) is mostly ﬁctional, imagining a connection between Shakespeare’s historical son, Hamnet, who died in 1596 at age 11; and Hamlet (circa 1600). (The two names were common and interchangeable in that era.)

More importantly, Hamnet isn’t primarily Will’s story. While Mescal gives a ﬁne performance, the ﬁrst shot sets the tone: Agnes alone, communing with the forest from which her mother supposedly emerged. We

REVIEW

meet Will from Agnes’ perspective, and he leaves the screen when he goes to London, where only a few scenes are set.

Zhao deﬁes our expectations in other ways, too: We get no panoramas of bustling city life, only small-scale domestic scenes. Far from dazzling Agnes with words, Will claims not to be much of a talker — though he does charm her by relating the myth of Orpheus, which preﬁgures the grief they will share. The whole story is so remote from the Bard mythos that it’s a shock to hear occasional snatches of Shakespeare’s poetry or to see the couple’s children playacting the witches in Macbeth

Zhao won an Oscar for Nomadland , a movie about wandering. Agnes is a wanderer, too, within a smaller radius, and the director makes the most of her natural settings. In the early courtship scenes, the detailed soundscape works on us almost subliminally, sucking us into an enchanted sylvan space that feels spiritually akin to some of Shakespeare’s settings.

In a clumsier ﬁlm, Agnes might have come across as an anachronism: a feminist heroine with pagan vibes. Here, though, when she insists on giving birth in the woods, we never doubt she would do that. Buckley doesn’t skimp on grief or joy, drawing us deep into Agnes’ inner world. Her facial expressions are so eloquent that

the ﬁlm’s entire climax can hinge on subtle changes in the nature of Agnes’ attention.

The children, too, are natural, with no precocious dialogue or mannerisms, and their peril is heartrending. Hamnet serves as an all-too-timely reminder that the death of children was commonplace before modern medicine. Watson delivers a beautiful monologue that drives home just how familiar parents were forced to be with their worst fears.

Familiarity doesn’t mean acceptance, however. After the worst happens, Will and Agnes struggle to cope with grief in their own ways, paving the way for a ﬁnal scene that could leave you sobbing.

I understand why people might feel tempted to skip Hamnet. No one wants to contemplate the death of a child. And it’s easy to dismiss the notion that Shakespeare wrote his loss into his masterwork as facile or maudlin.

Yet the ﬁlm’s climactic scene, in which art and life merge, is one of the most gripping cinematic moments I’ve seen in a while. While inviting us to revisit Hamlet with new eyes, the movie also reminds us of a time when people believed in the power of art, and especially of live performance, to heal differences and bring solace. The endless squabbling on social media has made that faith crumble. But

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998; Kanopy, Paramount+, rentable): You’ve probably already seen this earlier, more lighthearted ﬁctional take on Shakespeare’s love life, which won a slew of Oscars.

ALL IS TRUE (2018; Roku Channel, rentable): Kenneth Branagh directed this underseen drama in which he plays an older Shakespeare who returns to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613 to reconnect with his wife (Judi Dench) and daughters.

HAMLET (1996; Fandango at Home, Kanopy, Pluto TV, rentable): Branagh also directed and starred in the only film version that includes the play’s entire text, featuring Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Kate Winslet and Robin Williams. e many other ﬁlmed Hamlets range from Laurence Olivier’s classic turn to Ethan Hawke’s modern take to Andrew Scott’s 2018 performance.

watching Hamnet, you believe again, and you feel better for it.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

Jessie Buckley plays the Bard’s wife — who is very much her own person — in Chloé Zhao’s literary adaptation.

NEW IN THEATERS

BY THE STREAM: A guest artist at a theater festival stirs up tensions in the latest from acclaimed Korean director Hong Sang-soo, starring Kim Min-hee. (111 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

ELLA MCCAY: When a young woman (Emma Mackey) becomes her state’s governor, she must reckon with her difficult family in James Brooks’ comedy, also starring Woody Harrelson and Kumail Nanjiani. (115 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT: A new take on the 1984 slasher classic about a serial killer who dresses as Santa, directed by Mike P. Nelson. (95 min, TV-MA. Majestic)

TRIFOLE: A woman seeks a prize truffle in the Piedmont region in Gabriele Fabbro’s drama about a disappearing way of life. (101 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

BLUE MOONHHHH As Oklahoma! opens, Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), former lyricist for Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott), drinks away his sorrows in Richard Linklater’s period drama. (100 min, R. Catamount)

ETERNITYHHH Elizabeth Olsen plays a woman who must choose which of two men to spend the afterlife with in this rom-com from director David Freyne. With Miles Teller and Callum Turner. (112 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Partizanfilm, Playhouse)

FACKHAM HALLHHH British aristocrats weather myriad crises in this “Downton Abbey” spoof directed by Jim O’Hanlon and starring Tom Felton and Damian Lewis. (97 min, R. Capitol, Majestic)

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2H1/2 Animatronic monsters are still haunting a pizza spot in the sequel to the video-game-based horror hit, starring Josh Hutcherson. (104 min, PG-13. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Welden)

HAMNETHHHH1/2 William and Agnes Shakespeare (Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) grapple with loss in the acclaimed adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel, directed by Chloé Zhao (Nomadland). (125 min, PG-13. Majestic; reviewed 12/10)

HENRY FONDA FOR PRESIDENT: Alexander Horwath’s essayistic documentary examines the actor’s life and legacy through the medium of a road trip. (184 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

JUJUTSU KAISEN: EXECUTION: Demonic disaster strikes in this prescreening of Season 3 of the fantasy anime. (90 min, R. Essex, Majestic)

NOW YOU SEE ME: NOW YOU DON’THH1/2 The crew of illusionist pranksters returns for a new heist. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco star. (112 min, PG-13. Majestic, Stowe)

REBUILDINGHHHH Josh O’Connor plays a cowboy who finds community in a Federal Emergency Management Agency camp after a wildfire in Max Walker-Silverman’s drama. (96 min, PG. Savoy)

SENTIMENTAL VALUEHHHH1/2 This drama from Joachim Trier about sisters confronting their estranged father has big awards buzz. Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård star. (133 min, R. Savoy; reviewed 12/3)

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT

MYSTERYHHHH Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc for a new comic whodunit, directed by Rian Johnson. (140 min, PG-13. Majestic, Savoy)

WICKED: FOR GOODHHH Outcast witch Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flies high in the conclusion of the Broadway musical adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, with Ariana Grande. (138 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Welden)

ZOOTOPIA 2HHH1/2 Disney’s animated critters return for another mystery starring the unlikely duo of a rabbit cop (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) and a fox con (Jason Bateman). (108 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Welden)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

ANGEL’S EGG 2025 REMASTER (Partizanfilm)

AMERICAN PSYCHO (VTIFF, Sat only)

BORDERLAND: THE LINE WITHIN (Savoy, Sat only)

CRAFT AND ROM COM (Savoy, Wed 17 only)

DAVID (Essex, Sun only)

DICK VAN DYKE: 100TH CELEBRATION (Essex, Sat & Sun only)

ELF (Welden, Tue only)

FULL TIME (Catamount, Wed 10 only)

HOME ALONE (Savoy, Sun only)

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 25TH

ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Fri-Mon only; Majestic)

KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR (Essex)

KRAMPUS (Welden, Sat only)

THE LONG DAY CLOSES (Partizanfilm, Wed 10 only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: ANDREA CHENIER (Essex, Sat only)

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY 30TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, starts Fri)

THE TALE OF SILYAN (VTIFF, Thu only)

THREE COLORS: RED (Catamount, Wed 17 only)

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES (VTIFF, Fri only)

WEDDING CRASHERS 20TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Thu only)

YI YI (VTIFF, Sat only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

*PARTIZANFILM: 230 College St., Unit 13, Burlington, 276-4588, partizanfilm.org

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

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

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

art

complicated if she did restock, she said, because the show has more than 300 artworks by 56 artists from 28 Vermont towns, all in one not-very-big storefront.

Aldrich has been celebrating the smalls for about eight years, she said, and it’s her favorite show of the year: Everything is 12 inches or smaller and priced at $99 or less. Buyers and artists know what to expect and plan accordingly.

Landscape painter Cindy Maynard said she sold one piece in 2024 and all six in 2023. “Now, I have it in the back of my mind,” she said, as she makes work during the year.

A few artists attended the show with young children, including Rachel Mirus, a teaching artist whose practice is based in science. One of her works on view depicted an inky cap mushroom, drawn in ink she made herself out of mushrooms of the same species. Though it’s hard to commit to making a whole new series or large piece while juggling teaching and a young family, she said, participating in a show like this one is “a really comfortable way” to experiment with new techniques.

realistic-looking wall-mounted papiermâché bagel by Ashley Roark.

This year, many artists have contributed ornaments, which are being sold to beneﬁt Outright Vermont. Those include vintage baubles, plaster ears (disembodied à la Vincent Van Gogh), and hand-painted cardboard replicas of household objects such as Neosporin and a Band-Aid.

S.P.A.C.E.’s success with the format undoubtedly has something to do with its pricing, which starts at just a few dollars. (Someone on your list needs hand-sculpted miniature lettuce leaves by Dakin Fuller for $10.) While most works cost a little more than that, they’re certainly less expensive than a Lego set. Laxar said sales at the opening brought in about $3,000 — an impressive sum for a community-based gallery.

As at Axel’s, Laxar emphasized that the show’s participants often use the opportunity to try something new or just to take pressure o in a very busy season. Shows of small works, she said, “bring the artists a lot of joy.”

‘SMALL WORKS 2025’

It’s a Small World, After All

ree different approaches to shows of diminutive art

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

T‘SMALL WORKS’

rough December 21 at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington, spacegalleryvt.com

he theme of just about every art show right now is capitalism. As the snow begins to fall, artisan holiday markets and craft fairs spring up alongside gift-oriented members’ shows and that gallery perennial, the show of “small works.” Though the format may be ubiquitous and the selections rarely cohesive, di erent approaches to the idea make for fun and surprisingly varied experiences. The three exhibits proﬁled here and the many others across the state share a single message: For the love of all that is holy, please buy art this season!

‘CELEBRATE THE SMALLS’

rough December 24 at Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery in Waterbury, axelsgallery.com

There was a Black Friday vibe at the reception for “Celebrate the Smalls” at Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery on Small Business Saturday, November 29. As people purchased works straight o the wall, without necessarily even knowing

the artist’s name — each item has a code, rather than a full label — holes appeared in the salon-style layout, feeding shoppers’ FOMO.

Owner Whitney Aldrich said she doesn’t replace what’s on the wall when it sells. Artists have the opportunity to submit six works, and she hangs everything before the show opens. Keeping track of the inventory would be too

The show at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery and Studio Collective is all about volume and variety. Gallery director Nikki Laxar has taken full advantage of the gallery’s large footprint in the Soda Plant, showing 430 artworks, all less than 12 inches, by 110 artists. She estimates that the show has been happening annually for at least a decade.

Such a large collection might seem overwhelming — especially at the opening on November 7, when Laxar said 600 people visited. But it is less so when you stop to take in the details of scenes that range from traditional to totally out-there. Ceramic octopuses share space with block-printed fabric frogs. Comics sit alongside landscape paintings. Some of my favorite pieces include “Sea Bound,” a blue-and-green beaded embroidery by Jennifer Carusone; a haunting little square oil painting of a sunset by Jason Gorco ; dramatic birds on brightly colored backgrounds by Cynthia Cagle; and a

rough December 31 at Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury, edgewatergallery.co

What you probably don’t expect to see at a show called “Small Works” is a 6-by-8foot expanse of Montana sky. But that’s one of the pieces Rory Jackson sent when Edgewater’s management team asked the gallery’s artists for small works — or anything new and exciting. Shaena Neal and Ryan Cabrera, who took over when longtime director Theresa Harris retired

earlier this year, have expanded the show from its original focus on four artists who often paint in a smaller format — Bonnie Baird, Julia Jensen, Margaret Gerding and Julia Purinton — to include 12 of the gallery’s stable of more than 80 ﬁne artists. The show contains some 16-by-16-inch prints by Shelburne photographer Jim Westphalen — which Neal called “very

e opening of “Small Works” at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery

SHOWS OF SMALL WORKS, LAXAR SAID, “BRING THE ARTISTS A LOT OF JOY.”

small, for him” — as well as a couple of compact paintings by Kathleen Kolb. Helen Shulman’s abstract works are large but new. Dennis Sheehan and Penny Billings populate a corner with atmospheric winter landscapes, while Gerding’s and Jensen’s summer scenes are dynamic and verdant.

Neal and Cabrera said they tried to flank small works with larger ones, giving everything room and creating visual “pockets” to allow for an intimate

experience in a very large space. “If we had literally small works lined up for the entire gallery,” Cabrera said, “I mean, that’d be crazy.”

Edgewater’s selection has higher price points than the other two shows, but Neal said impulse buying still reigns: “I’m pretty sure every piece we’ve sold from the show so far has been kind of like a spontaneous decision.” And she thinks most of those purchasers chose the works for themselves, rather than as gifts.

Although Edgewater tends to sell more pieces from this kind of show than others, Neal said, the difference isn’t as much about revenue as exposure. “If five sell in a week versus selling one very, very large painting, it might be the same for us, price-wise,” she explained. “But it means that those artists are being seen more and getting out there — which is nice.” ➆

Clockwise from above: Artworks during installation at Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery; “Tulip Study II” by Margaret Gerding; “Percy Farm Gable” by Kathleen Kolb; “Wall Bagel Sm (Sesame)” by Ashley Roark

Philippe de Champaigne (French, born Belgium, 1602-1674), Christ in Glory, c. 1655, oil on canvas, 30 ¾ x 23 ¼ inches. Collection of Middlebury College Museum of Art, Vermont. Purchase with funds provided by the Christian A Johnson Memorial Art Acquisition Fund, 2001.007. (Photo: Ken Burris)

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

JARMAL WILLIAM ARNOLD: Black-and-white images by the artist, who was born in Baltimore and moved to southern Vermont at age 16. Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, through December 28. Info, 251-6051.

HOLIDAY SHOW: A holiday-themed show of works by members. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery, St. Johnsbury, through December 31. Info, 748-0158.

LEAH PETERSON: New works by the artist. Island Arts South Hero Gallery, through December 31. Info, 598-6698.

MICHAEL T. JERMYN: “Vermont, Ireland and Beyond,” a show of photographs taken locally and on trips abroad by the Montpelier artist. Cask & Cork, Waterbury, ongoing. Info, mtjpix@gmail.com.

JOHN CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: “Threshold,” a show of mixed-media sculptural works that embrace impermanence, imperfection and incompleteness and grow out of the artist’s Los Angeles roots and aesthetic. Reception: Saturday, December 13, 1-3 p.m. CX Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, through April 26. Info, 579-9008.

2025 ARTS CONNECT JURIED EXHIBITION: An annual exhibition showcasing works by 70 emerging and established artists from across the region, chosen by juror Alexa René Rivera, program coordinator at Vermont Studio Center in Johnson and founder of WOVN.COUNTRY basket company. Reception: Saturday, December 13, 2-4 p.m. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, December 13-April 5. Info, 748-2600.

ARTHUR ZORN: “Fantastic Florals and More,” an exhibition of new paintings, including deconstructed scenes of flowers, natural landscapes and abstract works. Reception: Saturday, December 13, 5:30-7 p.m. First Congregational Church of Berlin, December 13-February 1. Info, 522-7649.

CALLS TO ARTISTS

‘GARLANDS OF HOPE’: An invitation to participate in a community art project by reflecting on the future and contributing an index card, no bigger than 3-by-3 inches, with a quote, poem, artwork, wishes or goodwill for the new year. Contributions will be added to a growing chain of cards and beads at the gallery. Supplies available at the gallery, or mail to: Northwood Gallery, P.O. Box 907, Stowe, VT05672. Northwood Gallery, Stowe, through February 14. Free. Info, 760-6513.

SAINT-GAUDENS SCULPTOR-IN-RESIDENCE:

AVA’s partner, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, N.H., is now accepting applications to be the sculptor-in-residence full time from mid-May through mid-October. Open to sculptors working in a figurative style. Apply with a cover letter, resumé and digital portfolio via email. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., Deadline: January 14. Free. Info, saga_info@nps.gov.

“The Future” by Shannon Cronin

‘AMERICAN POP’: A consideration of how artists respond to, appropriate and critique popular imagery from visual culture in the U.S.. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., December 13-November 7. Info, 604-646-2808.

EXHIBITION MEMBERS ART EXPO: Works by members who have shown their work at the gallery since September 2023 and an occasion to shop for holiday gifts. Mad River Valley Arts Gallery, Waitsfield, December 16-23. Info, 496-6682.

‘THE WORLD IN OUR MIND’: A show of illustrations in a variety of media by Misoo Bang, Noah Burns, Jason Chin, Julie Dunigan, Deirdre Gill, Anne Hunter, Matt deForest Jenkins and Athena Petra Tasiopoulos, curated by Maedeh Asgharpour. Reception: Wednesday, December 17, 5-7 p.m. South Burlington Public Art Gallery, December 11-January 29. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov.

ART EVENTS

‘BODIES OF ART: LIFE DRAWING’: A self-guided sketching experience featuring pole dancers as models. Bring your own supplies and seating. Doors open at 6 p.m. Ages 18-plus. River’s Way Movement Studio, Montpelier, Thursday, December 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Admission $10-$30; additional tips for models encouraged. Info, riverswaymovement@gmail.com.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Thursday, December 11, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

‘MEND OVER MADNESS’: A mending class in which teacher and costumer Nikki Matheson teaches participants to repair garments; students bring items to repair. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m.-noon. $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

BASKET WEAVING WORKSHOP: A lesson in traditional Native American basketweaving with Nathalie Clement, who will teach participants to weave a container for their phones. Space limited; register by phone. Memphremagog Arts Collaborative, Newport, Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $30; $15 for students. Info, 334-1966.

NORTHWOODS POTTERY TOUR: A self-guided pottery studio tour through the NEK, including open studios at Uphill Pottery and Dirt Floor Studios in Hardwick, Muddy Creek Pottery and Deep Woods Pottery in Wolcott, and Borealis Studios in Greensboro. See uphillpottery.com/northwoods for

EXHIBITION

Winningest Watercolors

The verdict is in at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, where 33 painters have works on view as part of “Courting the Muse,” the Vermont Watercolor Society’s annual awards show. The evidence affirms that the state is indeed a hotbed of painterly talent. Juror Carl Purcell awarded numerous honors, among them “Best in Show” to a near-photographic rendering of a Frenchman in a blue polar fleece by Robert O’Brien; first place to a loose, gestural interpretation of pears on a table by Judith Selin; and second to Todd Anderson’s view of laundry hung out to dry in the Lisbon sun. Several paintings have won Awards of Excellence, including Shannon Cronin’s giant snakes entwined on a forest floor. The society’s members push the medium in every direction, from Jayne Ollin’s abstract experiments with magenta and green squares bleeding into textured paper to the tangibly translucent petals of Monique Dewyea’s hollyhocks. In this show, everyone on trial walks out a winner.

‘COURTING THE MUSE’

On view through December 29 at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier. curator.vermont.gov/vermont-supreme-court-gallery

addresses and details. Various Northeast Kingdom locations, Hardwick, Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 595-5961.

PAINT, SIP AND SOAR: A painting class featuring a live raptor model. Participants learn techniques in painting from life, as well as avian natural history and anatomy, and drink hot chocolate while they paint. Register at vinsweb.org. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, Saturday, December 13, 4-5:30 p.m. $20; $18 for VINS members.

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, December 14, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

EVENSTEVE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AND ARTIST

TALK: A discussion and display of the artists’ two most recent bodies of work, one characterized by intense color and an engagement with the uncanny; and the other, black-and-white imagery that investigates how meaning is constructed.

EveNSteve Studio/the Hayfield Art Gallery, Pawlet, Sunday, December 14, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 287-0287.

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, December 14, 2-4 p.m. $15; $5 for current VSC residents. Info, 635-2727.

CAROLYN EGELI OPEN STUDIO: An invitation to stop by and see works in progress as well as old favorites, with snacks and Christmas decorations. The artist will be on hand to chat about her work. Carolyn Egeli Studio, Randolph, Sunday, December 14, 2-5 p.m.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, December 15, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online.

Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, December 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 343-8172.

‘ART EXPLORERS’: A homeschooler-friendly art history and expression program with an educator from Davis Studio. Ages 5 to 14. Registration required. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Wednesday, December 17, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. ➆

COURTESY

Job of theWeek PROJECT ADVISOR

the scoop from Natalie Beckwith

What are some speciﬁc challenges of this position and why is it important?

e primary goal of this position is to connect homeowners with the right services to meet their needs and help them love their homes. To be successful, the project advisor needs to be an excellent listener. ey need to be curious, empathetic and genuinely interested in helping clients meet their goals. ey’ll learn to evaluate when the design-build team at Lewis Creek and a prospective client are a great ﬁt for one another and when they are not. is is a sales role, but what you’re selling is not a one-time transaction or a quick win. You’re selling the value of partnering with a professional design-build team — the expertise, creativity and grit of almost 40 people who all come together to provide something truly special to our community. It’s so important that the project advisor gets this and uses it to generate mutually beneﬁcial opportunities for our team and our clients.

Tell us something completely unique or interesting about Lewis Creek Builders.

People comment a lot on how many women there are in our leadership team, as well as throughout the company overall. at’s still not typical in construction. Another special thing about Lewis Creek is the diversity of skills and interests in our team, both personally and professionally. ere are very few problems we face on the jobsite or in the ofﬁce that there isn’t someone with the special skill set to tackle ... from a unique building circumstance to a killer spreadsheet formula to keeping everyone on pitch during a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

for

Lewis Creek Builders

Get

, President at Lewis Creek Builders

music+nightlife

The Next Generation

Iﬁrst met JON GAILMOR when I was 11 years old. He sat on a stool with an acoustic guitar in front of my class at Underhill Central School, smiling at us as we tried to write a song about possums (or maybe it was raccoons, I can’t quite recall). He’d just shown us how to put together a chord progression and was suggesting rhyming words, grinning from ear to ear as he observed a room full of tykes learn to write their ﬁrst song.

I didn’t see Jon again until 2024, more than three decades later, when he stopped by the Seven Days o ce for a sort of exit interview. The beloved Vermont children’s musician, educator and DJ was getting ready to move south to be closer to his family in New Orleans, following the death of his wife, Cathy Murphy, in 2022 and his recent diagnosis of leukemia.

We talked for hours about music,

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

life, the future and death. By the time I walked Jon to the door, I felt like I was seeing o a good friend on his way to a new adventure. Jon perhaps saw it di erently.

“I enjoyed seeing you again, Chris,” he told me, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “I’m not sure we’ll meet again, but I’ll remember this.”

It was the last time I saw Jon. He died on Sunday, November 30, in New Orleans. (See sidebar on page 59.) He’s the latest Green Mountain music luminary to pass into the ether this year, joining local legends such as Nectar’s soundman SERGEI USHAKOV, who died in January, and Vermont Public DJ, musician and librarian ROBERT RESNIK, who died in July.

Vermont’s music scene is small and tightly knit. When giants like Jon and Robert, people who spent their careers spreading their love of music and

instilling it in younger generations, exit the stage, I worry about the vacuum that’s created.

That thought weighed on me as I drove through the snow and ice last weekend to emcee Spectacular Spectacular, a youth talent show Seven Days hosts at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. I’d been asked to step in for my colleague JEFF BARON, the usual host, who was o touring with the indie-rock band the LADYBUG TRANSISTOR. (Break a leg out there, Je !) So there I was, bleary-eyed on a Saturday morning, surrounded by a room full of kids — and their parents — who were ready to dazzle with everything from singing and dancing to standup comedy to, my personal favorite, yo-yo tricks.

I’ve hosted my share of battle-ofthe-bands and talent shows before, but Spectacular Spectacular is a di erent beast: more than 20 di erent performers,

Jon Gailmor

Poutine at Spectacular Spectacular

Robert Resnik

Vermont Folk and Children’s Musician Jon Gailmor Dies

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

Jon Gailmor, a longtime Vermont folk musician and radio host, died in New Orleans on November 30, a year and a half after he was diagnosed with leukemia. His family announced his death on social media, noting that Gailmor died surrounded by loved ones, “with his music playing and his family singing along.” He was 77.

“Some people are described as larger than life,” read the post from Gailmor’s children. “Our dad was perfectly sized for it. If you had a conversation with him, you felt special, and you left the conversation knowing you were heard and seen.”

A former Polydor Records recording artist, Gailmor moved to Vermont from New York City in 1977 and became a staple of the Green Mountain folk scene. He was often found in those days playing at clubs such as M.J. Friday’s in Montpelier and his favorite, the R.W. Hunt Mill & Mining Company in Burlington — known colloquially as Hunt’s — where he eventually met his future wife, Cathy Murphy.

He started playing music for kids in the late ’70s and launched his own radio show called “Just Kidding” on WNCS-FM the Point and WDEV-AM. The show ran for 23 years, bringing music and lessons in songwriting to generations of Vermont kids.

“The message of ‘Just Kidding’ was that we shouldn’t lose our childishness,” Gailmor told Seven Days in 2024, shortly before he moved to New Orleans to be closer to his family. “The world does its best to complicate everything, and you have to work not to lose those secrets you inherently knew as a kid.”

Gailmor died listening to the words of “Gonna Die With a Smile If It Kills Me,” which he wrote: “I’m gonna die with a smile if it kills me / gonna guzzle life’s wine til it fills me / because today might be my last dawnbreaker / and if tonight I meet my maker, gonna dress all up and take her on the town.”

A celebration of Gailmor’s life will be held in May, according to his family. ➆

many of them taking the stage for their first time in their young lives.

Hosting can sometimes be a bit of a chore for me. For one, as longtime readers of the column can attest, I have the tendency to swear like a sailor when the mood takes me — I’m a Jersey kid, after all. I also never know how critical I’m supposed to be. There’s a fine line between giving advice and being a real bummer, especially with kids.

It’s actually made me respect what Jon and Robert did even more. Those two hugely talented musicians and educators were both so skilled at speaking to kids, at understanding their drive to make art and knowing how best to encourage them to keep creating as they grow up and the world demands more and more.

As the performers took the stage throughout the afternoon, I felt heavy stabs of emotion. Sometime between a string duo and a singer’s stirring rendition of the CRANBERRIES’ song “Zombie,” I wondered what Jon and Robert would have made of the scene. They probably would have loved hearing several of the young artists perform original compositions, from holiday songs to tributes to lost pets to a full rock band closing the show.

A few of the kids asked me if they could say something after their performance, during the brief Q&A segment between acts. Some shouted out friends and parents, but most took the chance to express gratitude to their music teachers, dance instructors and mentors. I spied a few Burlington musicians in the crowd, proudly watching their students perform.

At one point, I had to buy some time while my coworker, production manager JOHN JAMES, lived out his roadie fantasy and hastily set up a drum kit. So I started to talk about the two prominent music teachers Vermont had lost in recent months. Rather than some sad-sack tribute, it felt like a sort of victory for both of the departed. The biggest rock club in Vermont was packed with the kinds of kids Jon and Robert would have loved to teach, many of whom just might grow up to join the Green Mountain music scene of the future.

As the show ended and the audience and performers streamed out of the club, one music teacher after another approached me to thank Seven Days for putting on the talent show. And each face, still glowing with pride from watching their pupils on stage, gave me a new sense of hope.

Legends like Jon and Robert may depart, but the work goes on. Rest easy, gentlemen. ➆

Fri, Dec 12, 4–8pm | Sat, Dec 13, 11am–5pm Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street

For a full list of vendors visit loveburlington.org/btvwintermarket

On the Beat

The holiday shows are coming thick and fast as the yule approaches like a goresoaked revenant! Sorry, my bad — I’ve been on a Christmas horror-ﬁlm kick. I need to reboot and focus on tinsel and reindeer instead of psycho killers in Santa outﬁts.

Foam Brewers in Burlington has backto-back holiday events this weekend. First up is the fourth annual Holiday Extravaganza, a massive night of music featuring a slew of Vermont artists, including OSAGE ORANGE, BABY FEARN, RYAN SWEEZEY, TROY MILLETTE, FOREST STATION, and ANDRIANA AND THE BANANAS. That goes down on Saturday, December 13. The show starts early, at 4 p.m., to make room for all 26 acts.

On Sunday, December 14, MATT HAGEN bring his 2024 holiday classic album, Matt Hagen’s Christmas Bath, to the stage, joined by musicians BOB WAGNER, MIKE FRIED and TONY NAPLES. The album is getting a psychedelic wash: Hagen promises a night of “sinister, sonic, experimental” holiday music. OK, maybe I can indulge my holiday horror side after all!

Former Burlington singer-songwriter FRANCESCA BLANCHARD has released a new single. Now based in Los Angeles, the indie-pop artist has dropped “Feel

she wrote in a recent email. Thankfully, Blanchard seems to have battled back the bad thoughts — or at least channeled them into her music —and is promising a new EP in 2026. “Feel Good” is now streaming on major services.

song “Poker,” the record marks the ﬁrst release from the band since 2021’s self-titled debut. The Pyros have been missed, with their strange alchemy of ’90s slacker-indie and washed-out ’60s-rock vibes.

STEVEN YARDLEY’s Burlington indie-rock project the PYROS have returned with a new, three-song EP titled Big World. Including the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRAesque rocker

Indie-soul and R&B act DWIGHT + NICOLE are back with a new single, a cover of the YAZ song

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “BEYOND THE GRASP OF THE CLENCHED FIST” by Seth

2. “RIGHT NEXT TO ME” by Abbey

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

NICOLE NELSON to the original track.

“Light It Up,” the hard-driving title track and closing

“Only You.” The Burlington band is stepping out of its comfort zone, taking on the synth-pop classic on the recommendation of manager DENNIS WYGMANS, who introduced guitarist DWIGHT RITCHER and singer

“We worked out the tune on guitar in a di erent key and crafted a di erent ending,” Ritcher said. “Now it has a real dream-pop vibe.”

The single is an early salvo from their upcoming album Day or Night, produced by frequent collaborator and producer JOEL HAMILTON and scheduled to drop in March via WestWalk Records. “Only You” is streaming now on major services. ➆

Shows to Watch Out For

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

1. Dari Bay at Waterfront Park in Burlington, December 31

2. Kathy Grifﬁn at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington, January 31

Good,” written during the COVID-19 lockdown and after a breakup. You can bet it’s just brimming with positive vibes. Or not. Fortunately, Blanchard excels at painful, beautiful bops, and the moody, tender “Feel Good” is no exception.

“I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve considered leaving these songs behind, or leaving music behind entirely,”

3. Explosions in the Sky at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, February 2

5. Joe Jackson at éâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts, in Montréal, May 13

4. Chris Higgins at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington, February 5-7

6. Mt. Joy at the Midway Lawn at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, June 4

7. Guster’s On the Ocean Festival at ompson’s Point in Portland, Maine, August 7-9

Yacovone Band

B.K.

“TURNING RED” by the Eyetraps

“BASS PRO” by Flywlkr

“DIGGIN’ IN THE GARDEN” by Leo & the Goat, Raphael Groten

“RESTLESS” by Acqua Mossa

“GONNA DIE WITH A SMILE IF IT KILLS ME” by Jon Gailmor

Joe Jackson

Kathy Grifﬁn

Dwight + Nicole

Francesca Blanchard

e Pyros

BRAVO, KIDS!

Twenty talented acts performed their hearts out and wowed a packed house on December 6, 2025. e showcase wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our sponsors, our wonderful hosts at Higher Ground and of course, the AMAZING performers!

POLINA ALEKHINA

ULIANA ALEKHINA

ALYCE AYER ELI BART

YOUTH TALENT SHOW FOR VERMONT’S RISING STARS

ADIM BENOIT JACK BLAZEWICZ VIOLET CHAMBERLIN

LILA CROWLEY

FRANK D’AMORE

GRACE CASTILLO

HENRY LEITZ MOLLY MCCARTHY

LINDY MOYNIHAN

THEOPHILUS PARKINSON

AMELIA QUANTE

LILY RYERSBACH

THOMAS SCHRAMM

MALHAR ZACH SENGUPTA

YVETTE SHEDRICK

JENNA SWEENEY

EVA TARRANT

JULIAN TRAHAN

ELLA TWIGGS

JAX WASHBURN

JULIAN

Photos: Luke Awtry

LINDY

THEOPHILUS

POLINA

MALHAR

2025 SPRING SESSIONS

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.10

Bluegrass & BBQ with Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Cooie Sings (Americana, folk) at Green Mountain Bistro, Swanton, 6 p.m. Free.

Dark Star Project (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

Four Calling Birds (folk) at the Tillerman, Bristol, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

Mike Chapman (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Perry Donovan & Friends (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

Point of Everything (soul, funk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

THU.11

Ali McGuirk (soul, R&B) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 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.

Hayley Fountain (singersongwriter) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. Free.

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jesse Agan (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

June Morse Christmas Carol Sing-along (holiday music) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Kiley Latham, cece & her band, Saru (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Local Spotlight: Jane Boxall in Iceberg (singer-songwriter) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7 p.m. $15/$20.

Madigan Linnane (singersongwriter) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Remember Baker (bluegrass) at South Mountain Tavern, Bristol, 7 p.m. Free.

The Selkies, the Magnolias (folk) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. $10. Stewart Foster (Americana) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.12

Abi Allen (singer-songwriter) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

Ali T (singer-songwriter) at Stowe Cider, 5 p.m. Free.

Bad Horsey (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (jazz, funk) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 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.

Coming Through

Brooklyn indie-pop act the LADYBUG TRANSISTOR formed in 1995, headed by Gary Olson and a rotating cast of friends and musicians. The band was part of the famed Elephant 6 collective that included Neutral Milk Hotel and the Apples in Stereo. Its seminal 1999 record, The Albemarle Sound, a ’60 pop-infused classic, hit its 25th anniversary in 2024 and was remastered and rereleased in an expanded format. To mark the milestone, the Ladybug Transistor have been hitting the road again. Their current tour brings them to Winooski on Saturday, December 13, for a sold-out show at Standing Stone Wines. Pennsylvania art-rock duo GIANT DAY and the Essex Green’s CHRIS ZITER provide support.

Bruiser & Bicycle, Rockin’ Worms, Emerald Ground Water (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Chris von Staats Jazz Band (holiday, jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

Chris Powers (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Django Soulo (singer-songwriter) at Moogs Joint, Johnson, 7 p.m. Free.

Drivel, Collapsed Skull, Dead Street Dreamers, Void Bringer, Outnumbered (punk) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

EmaLou & the Beat Holiday Show (holiday, folk pop) at Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7 p.m. $15.

Jeff Salisbury Band (blues, jazz) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free. Jeopardy, Goblet, SLOB DROP, Woundlicker (metal) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $13/$17.

Justin LaPoint (singersongwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Konflik (hip-hop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10.

Liquid A (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10.

Mihali, Dale and the Zdubs (reggae, roots rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $37.24.

One More Time (Celtic, folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Paul Webb (piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

REDadmiral (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Ryan Osswald (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Sibling Reverie (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Sticks & Stones (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Swell (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.13

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ with the Chris von Staats Jazz Band (holiday, jazz) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Cheddar (jam) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Cooie Sings (Americana, folk) at Twiggs American Gastropub, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Cursive, AJJ (indie rock) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Duke Davis (singer-songwriter) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

Headphone Jack and the Splitters (hip-hop, funk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 5 p.m. $10.

Holiday Extravaganza (holiday music) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Jamie’s Junk Show (singersongwriter) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 4 p.m. Free.

Jeffrey Martin, Anna Tivel (singersongwriter) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $25/$30.

Joe Agnello & Tony Naples (acoustic) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Justice 3 (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

The Ladybug Transistor with Giant Day and Chris Ziter (indie) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Liquid A (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10.

Mike Mac (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Milton Busker & the Grim Work (Americana) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Mojo Dough Joe (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

PB&J Holiday Party with Angelique Francis Band at Retro Live, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. $20-25.

PINK 802, Violet Crimes, Tinkerbullet, Vallory Falls (punk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $16.16.

Queer Takeover Evening (indie, DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10.

The Stabilizers (funk, reggae) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Tim Brick (country) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Two Baseballs in Space, Tabarnak (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. $5.

SUN.14

Bloodroot Gap (bluegrass) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Cloudbelly, Jake Klar, Riverbed (indie folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. $12/$15.

Dizgo, Double You (jam band) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $16.16.

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show (holiday music) at Ransom Tavern, South Woodstock, 4 p.m. $35.

Matt Hagen’s Christmas Bath (holiday music) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

TUE.16

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

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

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Nour Harkati, Mikahely (North African folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $17.

Reid Parsons, Jeff Wilson (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

WED.17

Bluegrass & BBQ with the Tenderbellies (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Bywater Call (roots rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.95.

Compa, Colman, Cotter Trio (jam band) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

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.

Music Will Benefit with Troy Millette, CombustOmatics, Evan Jennison, Matt Schrag (benefit) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 5 p.m. Donation.

Shakey Graves, Clover County (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Sugar Shack (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

Ugly Sweater Party with Charlie Rice (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

djs

WED.10

The Mid Week Hump with DJs Fattie B and Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.11

Cole P, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Evan Warner, JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.12

DJ NewCity (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Night with Broosha, Snakefoot, Transplante, Elkamista (DJ) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 9 p.m. $10.

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.

SAT.13 // THE LADYBUG TRANSISTOR [INDIE]

LOVE SCOTCH?

music+nightlife

DJ Two Sev, JP Black, Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Eli, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Café & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.13

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJs Craig Mitchell and Fattie B. (DJ) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

John’s Jukebox (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Mr Cheng, DJ Chaston, DJ Aras (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.16

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.10

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.11

Old Time Jam (open jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m. Free.

SUN.14

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.15

Hall of Game

Rapper KONFLIK has been a mainstay of the 802 hip-hop scene for decades. From his work with MC Fattie B and the late, great DJ A_Dog in the group Eye Oh You to collaborating with the Grippo Funk Band and Belizbeha, the Roxbury, Mass., native’s signature baritone flow and growl has been all over Green Mountain rap. A storyteller with a ferocious stage presence, Konflik is back with his third LP, titled 3rd Q.T.R. Quote of the Raven, which drops on Friday, December 12. To celebrate, he’ll perform at Radio Bean in Burlington that same night.

Zach Zimmerman (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $25.

FRI.12

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.16

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.17

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.10

Holidaygasm Party (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Valley Improv Holiday Extravaganza (comedy) at Sawtooth Kitchen, Bar and Stage, Hanover, N.H., 8 p.m. $10.

THU.11

Kingdom Kids (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

$6.99.

Sex With Jenna: Dating Show at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Zach Zimmerman (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

SAT.13

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 4:30 p.m. $11.99.

Zach Zimmerman (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

SUN.14

Geoffrey Asmus (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 & 8:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

TUE.16

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.17

Bosom Buddies Birthday Bash (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $6.99.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.10

Citizen Cider Trivia Night (trivia) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 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.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.11

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Phish Trivia Night (trivia, benefit) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6 p.m. Donation.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.12

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.13

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

Sasha Sriracha (drag) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $12. Ugly Sweater Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Twiggs American Gastropub, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

SUN.14

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. Trivia (trivia) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.15

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.16

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

WED.17

Citizen Cider Trivia Night (trivia) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Nightmare Before Christmas Trivia (trivia) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 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. ➆

FRI.12 // KONFLIK [HIP-HOP]

REVIEW this

The Vermont Farm Project Cast, The Vermont Farm Project: A Farm to Stage Musical (Original Cast Recording)

(SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

Vermont’s hills are alive with the sound of musicals! In recent memory, original Green Mountain productions have included John Daly’s Spit’n Lyon, a historical account of 18th-century Vermont congressman Matthew Lyon’s opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798; Jim Thompson’s Halfway There, which took an empathetic look at people living in a central Vermont mental health facility; and a little show called Hadestown, which was born in 2006 at the Old Labor Hall in Barre before taking Broadway by storm in 2019.

Earlier this year, Northern Stage debuted The Vermont Farm Project: A Farm-to-Stage Musical, with music and lyrics by Tommy Crawford and book by Jessica Kahkoska. Developed through extensive conversations with real Vermont farmers, the folk musical depicts a day in the life of agricultural workers trying desperately to persist in the face of obstacles personal, practical, bureaucratic and political. In October, the White River Junction theater released an original cast recording of the play.

As Crawford pointed out by email, it’s almost unheard of for a small musical on a regional stage to produce a soundtrack album. In addition to singing their hearts out, cast members Raquel Chavez, Angel Lin, David M. Lutken, Emily Mikesell and Rob Morrison also play every instrument heard, which is rare in musical theater. When a character onstage picks up an instrument, the line between diegetic music and theater magic becomes wonderfully blurred.

The Vermont Farm Project is most e ective when it leans into its characters’ humanity. On the folksy waltz “Dos Años,” migrant worker Gabriela, played by Chavez, longs to reunite with her young son, who is growing up in Mexico without her.

“What is he doing this very moment in time? / Do you hear his voice on the wind?” she ponders over tear-jerking ﬁddle. Later, on “How the Seed Grows,” she o ers an empowering metaphor for human prosperity through descriptions of agricultural mettle.

At times, the show is more lighthearted. Morrison’s heel-stomping “37 Ways to Cook Kohlrabi” has a zany, “Weird Al” Yankovic-level commitment to its titular premise. Elsewhere, the show strays a bit too far into farmsplaining, such as “Plastic Is a Pest,” which details how the omnipresent material is both a blessing and a curse. Such educational diversions raise the question: Is this show destined for a revival at Burlington’s Flynn for area schoolchildren on a Tuesday morning?

Those kids would be lucky if it is. Overall, The Vermont Farm Project is a purehearted, impressive work that blends storytelling, current events and history to o er perspective on a disappearing way of life. It examines what we’ve lost and what we still have — and o ers an inkling of how we might keep it.

The Vermont Farm Project: A Farm-to-Stage Musical is available at northernstage.org and on major streaming services.

JORDAN ADAMS

I HAVE BEEN A LONGTIME READER OF SEVEN DAYS AND WANT TO SUPPORT

JOURNALISM SEVEN DAYS PROVIDES.

Becky Peterson, South Burlington SUPER READER SINCE DECEMBER 2025

Welcome, new Super Readers!

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

Anne Allen

Paul Arnot

Pamela Blake

Will Boyd

Anita Brazill

Jane Campbell

Carol Clauss

Sally and Mike Leahey

Dana Cole-Levesque

Donna Farley

Susan Gilﬁ llan

Gerardo Gutierrez

Sarah Krebs

Brandi Littleﬁ eld

Lynn Martin

Pedro Mendia Landa

David Osgood

Becky Peterson

Elke Pinn

Polly Pratt

Marcantonio Rendino

Stephen Rivard

Beth Royer

Monica Sargent

Ted Shaker

Katharine Stockman

Phyllis Tiffany

Geoff Tolzmann

Lisa Torchiano

Betsy Walkerman

Terry Zigmund

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

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

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

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

calendar

DECEMBER 10-17, 2025

WED.10

agriculture

VERMONT MAPLE

CONFERENCE: The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association and University of Vermont Extension host their annual get-together for purveyors of the beloved sweet stuff. Vermont State University-Randolph, Randolph Center. $30-75; preregister. Info, 434-4122.

business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS

BIZ BUZZ BURLINGTON: A monthly networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect over coffee and snacks. Deep City, Burlington, 9:45-11:15 a.m. $10; preregister. Info, info@ vtwomenpreneurs.com.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

SLEEPERS RIVER WATERSHED

WEIRS: Community members gather to share stories, photos and memories related to these dam-like concrete structures found around town. Danville Historical Society, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 239-4159.

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 & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 999-0516.

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.

education

CAPSTONE POSTER SESSION: Champlain College business students showcase their innovative senior projects for the community. Refreshments provided. Hula, Burlington, noon-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 651-5991. etc.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: Drawings, paintings, photographs, ceramics and other creations go on sale to benefit the artists. Vermont State

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.

University-Johnson. Free. Info, 888-398-8878.

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

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: A pop-up artisan holiday market, puppet shows, tea parties, festive storefront window displays and tiny treats at restaurants make for a memorable monthlong fest. See brattleboro.com for full schedule. Various Brattleboro locations. Free. Info, coordinator@brattleboro.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM SERIES: ‘MODERNISM, INC.: THE ELIOT NOYES DESIGN STORY’: Jason Cohn’s 2023 documentary explores the life and work of the influential midcentury architect and designer, best remembered as the man behind IBM’s landmark design program. Virtual option available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

‘KALEIDOSCOPE EYES’: Ayo Alston’s MFA film focuses the lens on themes of African dance, identity and spiritual fluidity. A Q&A follows. Vermont State UniversityJohnson, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 635-1469.

‘THE LONG DAY CLOSES’: Terence Davies’ powerful 1992 drama follows a young boy coming of age in 1950s Liverpool. Partizanfilm,

Burlington, 6:55 p.m. $9.50-12. Info, cinema@partizanfilm.org. NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘WATTSTAX’: This 1973 music documentary zooms in on the 1972 Watts Summer Festival, featuring unforgettable performances by Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Staples Singers and others. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7-9 p.m. $8. Info, 387-0102.

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.

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.

REAL TALK ABOUT SEX: A monthly Zoom gathering facilitated by certified sexuality educator Sarah Goodrich allows for frank, respectful conversations about the topic. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sarah@ goodrichsex.com.

WHOLE HEALTH CONNECT SERIES: A DIFFERENT KIND OF TASTING WORKSHOP: Food and nutrition anthropologist Melanie Narciso digs into the concept of “attentive tasting” — savoring not only the physical but also the biological, cultural and spiritual dimensions of food. Osher Center for Integrative Health, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, oshercenter@ uvm.edu.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: Festive folks flock to a one-stop gift destination featuring handmade jewelry, ceramics, paintings, fiber arts and household goods. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 728-9878, ext. 104.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: When the sun dips down, the lights come on at this synchronized illuminated display celebrating the spirit of the season. Vibrant Church, South Burlington, 4-11 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1396.

POSTCARD CLUB: A new holiday tradition invites folks to slow down and create some handcrafted snail mail joy. Completed postcards will be stamped and mailed to loved ones. Daydream Art Supply, Burlington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: Let the search begin! Participants pick up sticker boards at Homeport, then explore participating businesses to find hidden flakes. Santa ornament prizes available while supplies last. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

‘WINTER TALES’: A fresh twist on a cherished Vermont Stage tradition includes a heartwarming mix of funny, moving and unexpected stories, paired with seasonal songs. Hot cider and cookies provided. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-54 sliding scale. Info, 862-1497.

language

ELL CLASSES: Fletcher Free Library invites learners of all abilities to practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

lgbtq

QUEER WRITERS’ GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly 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.

outdoors

SHORT TRAIL HIKE: Explorers join Green Mountain Club staff on a guided trek of the center’s 0.5-mile loop, while acquiring tips and tricks along the way. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7037.

québec

talks

ALEC EWALD: In “Voting Rights and Access to the Ballot,” a University of Vermont professor illuminates the history and impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Vermont and Kellogg-Hubbard Library. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, raderca2015@gmail.com. theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: Northern Stage mounts a fresh new adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s beloved Peter Pan, guiding audiences on an unforgettable adventure to Neverland. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. $10-100. Info, 296-7000.

words

DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF THE CHAMPLAIN CANAL: Representatives from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum launch the museum’s new anthology, The Champlain Canal: Two-Hundred Years of Change exploring how the artificial waterway played a vital role in the region’s development. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3350.

FFL BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP: Readers assemble virtually to discuss Julia Alvarez’s 2024 magical realism novel, The Cemetery of Untold Stories Hosted by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: Wordsmiths who delight in nonfiction convene for company, accountability and support in achieving their writing goals. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, nathaniel.eisen@gmail.com.

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

HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET: Live music by the Ides of Marge sets the tone for this seasonal collection of handblown glass, jewelry, leather goods, prints and other unique treasures. Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free. Info, einsteins165@gmail.com.

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: A singular selection of goods from Mexico, India, Nepal and beyond makes for special holiday gifts. Waitsfield Masonic Lodge, noon-6 p.m. Free. Info, 793-2205.

KCP PRESENTS: ‘THE NUTCRACKER’: Ukraine’s Grand Kyiv Ballet presents its sparkling rendition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas spectacle. Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, 7-9 p.m. $24-58; free for students. Info, 748-2600.

‘KISSES DEEP’: A young man consumed by high fashion channels his creativity and obsession into a singular mission — to restore the tarnished reputation of his mother — in the English premiere of Michel Marc Bouchard’s poignant play. Centaur Theatre, Montréal, 8 p.m. $22-71. Info, 514-288-3161.

seminars

DRAGONFRAME STOP-MOTION

ANIMATION: Media enthusiasts learn how to set up a stage, light a scene and use industry software to create smooth, winter-themed shorts. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

POETRY POTLUCK: Folks who are well versed in meter and rhyme gather to swap dishes and words in a welcoming environment. Wandering Vine, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@ catamountarts.org.

THU.11

activism

STATE CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE

PREVIEW: Business owners and community members convene to learn about key legislative priorities for 2026 and make their voices heard. Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Berlin, 9-10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-5711.

agriculture

VERMONT MAPLE CONFERENCE: See WED.10.

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 every experience level 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 makerspace tools and equipment. 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.

MIDD NIGHT STROLL: In celebration of Very Merry Middlebury, the museum keeps its doors open late for the public to peruse the trains, exhibits, wreaths and tree raffles. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 388-2117.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.10.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10.

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,

DEC. 12-14 | HOLIDAYS

Wassail Away

The quaint village of Woodstock summons feelings of warmth and wonder at the 41st annual Wassail Weekend, where residents and visitors convene for Hallmark-level charm, live music and myriad activities befitting the season.

Highlights include an unmissable Currier & Ives-inspired procession of horse-drawn carriages, a candlelit stroll helmed by a merry bagpiper, and “A Classic Christmas” concert by chamber music stalwarts Frisson. Throughout the three-day affair, visitors can also explore an artisan market on the town green, a local craft fair at the Masonic Hall, and further festivities at Pentangle Arts, Artistree Community Arts Center, and Billings Farm & Museum.

WASSAIL WEEKEND

Friday, December 12, through Sunday, December 14, at various Woodstock locations. Free; fee for some activities. Info, 457-3555, woodstockvt.com.

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.10

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: Museumgoers embark on an immersive journey to create stories using techniques such as storyboarding, sketching and stop-motion moviemaking. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5

p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

LIBRARY LITTLES: A weekly program brings babies, toddlers and their caregivers together for songs, stories, play and community building in a nurturing environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

QUEER FAMILY PLAYGROUP: LGBTQ+ families and allies with little tykes ages birth to 5 drop in for playtime and connection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

STEAM SPACE: Youngsters in grades K through 5 explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. chittenden county

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.

GAME ON: Kids take turns collaborating with or competing against friends using Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

HAFTY CRAFTY: Kiddos ages 6 and up partake in a fun-filled hands-on activity making festive paper luminaires. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 build with giant blocks and read together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Attendees ages 6 and up make pieces of beaded jewelry with volunteer Casey. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.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, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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: CHICKENS: Little learners gather for a hands-on adventure exploring which animals lay eggs, then enjoy a farm-fresh tasting. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $10-12. Info, 457-2355.

THU.11

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

chittenden county

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: 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,

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘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 Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Astrophiles 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 Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones ages 2 to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TODDLER TIME: Wiggly wee ones ages 1 and up love this lively, interactive storybook experience featuring songs, rhymes and finger plays with Miss Valerie. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

‘THE BROTHERS GRIMM

SPECTACULATHON’: The school’s theater group presents Don Zolidis’ fast-paced, rollicking ride following overworked narrators as they attempt to combine all 209 Grimm fairy tales into one plot. Spaulding High School, Barre, 7-9 p.m. $5-10. Info, 476-4811.

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.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523.

CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all abilities select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES:

Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 233-4395.

MAHJONG PLAYING GROUP:

Cracks, dots or bamboo?

Neighbors engage in the tile-based game of skill, luck and strategy. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 985-5124.

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.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.10.

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.

DEC. 12 | MUSIC

Renaissance Man

Tudor-era composer Thomas Tallis wrote music at a time when heads would roll for just about anything, yet the elusive and prolific master of polyphony produced some of the most tranquil songs in England’s history. Modern listeners get a taste of these sacred sounds at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro when early music vocal ensemble the Tallis Scholars perform evocative works from the high Renaissance.

The Grammy-nominated group — hailed as “one of the UK’s greatest cultural exports” by BBC Radio — keeps the spirit of the 1500s alive with resonant winter intonations celebrating the Virgin Mary and the birth of Christ.

KCP PRESENTS: THE TALLIS SCHOLARS

Friday, December 12, 7 p.m., at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. $42-45. Info, 533-2000, highlandartsvt.org.

BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: A European-style outdoor market boasts handmade crafts and gifts, music, twinkling lights, spicy sausage sandwiches, hot mulled wine, and live performances. Green Park, Brandon, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 805-242-6875.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Middlebury Acting Company brings Charles Dickens’ socially conscious, heartwarming story of redemption and community to life. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. By donation. Info, 382-9222.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: A magical landscape fills up cups with enchanting illuminated displays, including a sparkle dome, a fiery tower and a dancing lights pavilion. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 4:30-7 p.m. $9-15; free for kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000.

HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET: See WED.10.

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.10.

THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW: Beloved local musicians Kat Wright and Brett Hughes present their annual extravaganza of honky-tonk holiday cheer. Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms, 6 p.m. $60. Info, 985-8686.

KCP PRESENTS: ‘THE NUTCRACKER’: See WED.10.

MERRY & BRIGHT HOLIDAY MARKET: A cozy, colorful bazaar features a talented lineup of local makers, delicious treats, twinkly lights and, of course, ice cream. lu.lu Ice Cream, Vergennes, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 777-3933.

NOONTIME ADVENT CONCERT: Joyful Christmas compositions by César Franck, Hugo Distler and Hector Berlioz ring out on an 1875 pipe organ, played by Lynette Combs. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Middlebury, noon-12:45 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7200.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10.

VERMONT SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT: Nathaniel

G. Lew conducts a festive mix of sacred and secular holiday tunes, including much-loved carols such as “Silent Night,” “Deck the Halls” and “The First Nowell.” Warren United Church of Christ, 7-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 864-5741.

WINTER LIGHTS: Bedecked buildings and gardens glow with multicolored bulbs in spectacular scenes for the holiday season.

Shelburne Museum, 4-7:30 p.m. $10-30; free for kids under 3. Info, 985-3346.

‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.10.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

DAVID FEURZEIG: In “Play Every Town,” the prolific classical pianist continues a statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Green Mountain Valley School, Waitsfield, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, playeverytown@gmail.com.

québec

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.10.

theater

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’: Shaker Bridge Theatre raises the curtain on Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig’s heartwarming drama inspired by his parents’ courtship during World War II. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 7-9 p.m. $25-45. Info, 281-6848.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.10, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

EVENING BOOK GROUP: Bookworms spend a few minutes

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.

etc.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.10.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.

‘THE VIRGIN SUICIDES’: Sofia Coppola’s luminous 1999 debut feature follows a group of young men who become obsessed with five mysterious sisters sheltered by their religious parents. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.11, 10 a.m.

health & fitness

sharing a favorite title with the group, then take notes to build up their to-read list. Essex Free Library, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

FRI.12 agriculture

VERMONT MAPLE CONFERENCE: See WED.10.

bazaars

ARTISAN MARKET ON THE GREEN: Handmade goodies from Vermont makers abound at this festive fixture of the town’s Wassail Weekend. Woodstock Village Green, 1-6 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3456.

BTV WINTER MARKET: Attendees explore a cozy showcase of wares by local artists, makers and food vendors. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

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.

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

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.10.

BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: See THU.11, 4-7 p.m.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See THU.11.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

FESTIVE FRIDAY: NOT SO SILENT NIGHT: Local choirs and a cappella groups lift their voices throughout the Queen City in the spirit of the season. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.11. HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Local artisans show off their finest crafts, artwork and jewelry, just in time for gift giving. Bugbee Senior

FAMI LY FU N

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.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

FRI.12 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.

‘THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT’: Very Merry Theatre’s rising stars mount an adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s prize-winning novel about achieving the impossible. Center of Recreation & Education, O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 355-1461.

DROP-IN: An afterschool hangout space invites teens ages 13 to 19 to relax, connect, grab a snack or browse the nonprofit’s clothing closet. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2:30 p.m. Free. Info, programs@outrightvt.org.

chittenden county

HOMESCHOOL SOCIAL: Families meet for a morning of socializing, exploring, and learning about the library’s catalog and resources. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

LEGO BUILDERS: Mini makers explore and create new worlds with stackable blocks. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

‘THE BROTHERS GRIMM

SPECTACULATHON’: See THU.11.

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. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

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.13

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10. ‘THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT’: See FRI.12, 2-3:30 & 6:30-8 p.m.

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: A range of themes and rotating activities promote school readiness and foster creativity. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

FLYNNZONE KIDS HOUR: ANNE JANSON: A flutist with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra dazzles little music lovers and their caregivers. The Flynn, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

LINDA BASSICK SING-ALONG: The local legend leads little musicians in festive songs fit for the season. BCA Center, Burlington, noon. Free. Info, 865-7166.

SANTA VISITS: Little ones tell the big man their Christmas wishes, then pose for festive photo ops. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

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, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

KINGSTON’S AUTISM SWAGGER

SQUAD VT: Neurodiverse children and their caregivers have fun, build community and support one another in a group setting. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

MATT TAVARES: The New York Times best-selling author and illustrator conjures visions of the North Pole at this holiday-themed reading of his new picture book, Dasher and the Polar Bear. Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3999; and the Norwich Bookstore, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

MODEL RAILROAD OPEN HOUSE: Families delight in a miniature locomotive layout depicting the Green Mountain State. Northwestern Vermont Model Railroad Association, Pinewood Plaza, Essex Junction, 10

a.m.-2 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 598-0905.

barre/montpelier

‘THE BROTHERS GRIMM

SPECTACULATHON’: See THU.11, 1:303:30 & 7-9 p.m.

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.

champlain islands/ northwest

DAD GUILD PLAY GROUP: Fathers (and parents of all genders) and their kids ages 5 and under drop in for playtime and connection. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 524-1507.

northeast kingdom

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.

SUN.14 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.

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.

KIDS TRAIN: All aboard the Big Blue Express! Kids — and kids at heart — take a trip around the top block’s towering tree. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

SANTA VISITS: See SAT.13.

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

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

barre/montpelier

DANCE, SING & JUMP AROUND: Traditional live music by Aaron Marcus energizes an afternoon of circle and line dances taught and called by Liz

Benjamin. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 223-1509.

GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender-nonconforming kiddos under 12 and their families build community and make new friends at this joyful monthly gathering. See outrightvt. org for full schedule. Various locations statewide, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 865-9677.

mad river valley/ waterbury

SANTA FIN: Families meet Vermont Reindeer Farm’s cohort and a unique Santa who uses an iPad to communicate his joy, love and holiday spirit. Stowe Street Café, Waterbury, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 882-8229.

MON.15

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.

STORY ARTISTS: Wee ones ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers read a selection of books by a featured author, then make art inspired by the theme. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little kids 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: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.16

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.

MINECRAFT MEETUP: Fans of the sandbox game from ages 7 to 12 gather with fellow enthusiasts to play on the library’s private server. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 5-6:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with the local musician. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN: Kiddos express their inner artist using mediums such as paint, print, collage and sculpture. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

STORY TIME: Youngsters from birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming

and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.12, 2-6 p.m.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.12.

WED.17 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.10. ‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.10.

LIBRARY LITTLES: See WED.10.

QUEER FAMILY PLAYGROUP: See WED.10.

TEEN DROP-IN: Patrons ages 12 to 18 pop by to chat with teen services librarian Miriasha, play card and board games, and build community. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 2:153:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

THERAPY DOG MICK VISIT: An English setter registered with Therapy Dogs of Vermont doles out companionship, acceptance and unconditional love. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.10.

GAME ON: See WED.10.

KIDS PUZZLE SWAP: Participants leave completed puzzles (24 to 300 pieces only) in a ziplock bag with an image of the finished product, then find something new to take home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. PLAY TIME: See WED.10.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Attendees ages 6 and up use a variety of materials to create a marble run. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.10.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.10. K

Center, White River Junction, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 295-9068.

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.10, noon-6 p.m.

THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY

SHOW: See THU.11. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7 p.m. $35. Info, 4533803.

MARKET ON MAIN: A rotating cast of regional vendors display their unique handmade wares, including pottery, jewelry, herbal goods, clothing and fiber arts. 74 Main St., Brattleboro, noon-7 p.m. Free. Info, 257-4886.

‘THE NUTCRACKER’: Ukraine’s Grand Kyiv Ballet presents its sparkling rendition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas spectacle. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7-9 p.m. $39-69. Info, 728-9878.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10.

‘SCROOGE’S CHRISTMAS’: The Lamoille County Players’ 73rd season concludes with Ken Jones’ adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale of spirits past, present and future. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 888-4507.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10.

ST. J SPARKLES HOLIDAY

WEEKEND: Dazzling activities for all ages and interests include horse-drawn wagon rides, fireworks, crafts and a petting zoo. See discoverstjohnsbury.com for full schedule. Downtown St. Johnsbury, 5-8 p.m. Free; fee for some activities. Info, 748-8575.

VERMONT SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET

& COUNTERPOINT: See THU.11. United Church of Newport, 7-9 p.m. $24-28; free for kids 18 and under.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: The quaint town overflows with festive fun and fare, including caroling, skating, sleigh rides and live music. See woodstockvt.com for full schedule. See calendar spotlight. Various Woodstock locations. Free; fee for some activities. Info, 457-3555.

WESTFORD MUSIC SERIES: FAIRFAX, FLETCHER, WESTFORD

BAND: Talented locals combine forces to perform a variety of popular and traditional holiday tunes, led by music director Aaron Doane. Westford Common Hall, 7-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 734-8177.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.11. ‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.10.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692. music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 747-8300.

THE FAUX PAWS: Joined by acclaimed bassist Chris Sartori, the genre-defying band delivers tight harmonies, soaring improvisations and captivating dance grooves. Chester Town Hall, 8 p.m. $20. Info, 875-2173.

KCP PRESENTS: THE TALLIS SCHOLARS: A renowned vocal ensemble delivers sacred Renaissance music to local listeners at this program of winter intonations. See calendar spotlight. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $42-45. Info, 533-2000.

LANE SERIES: KONGERO AND WINDBORNE: SOLD OUT. A double bill features powerful, evocative Scandinavian folk songs and a polyphonic performance highlighting different musical traditions. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Info, 656-4455.

VERMONT JAZZ CENTER BIG BAND WITH PETER ELDRIDGE: The center’s own 18-piece ensemble marks 21 years with a dynamic swing-dance performance featuring the renowned vocalist. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $40-100 sliding scale. Info, 254-9088, ext. 1.

québec

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.10.

theater

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’: See THU.11.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m. 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.13 agriculture

VERMONT MAPLE CONFERENCE: See WED.10.

bazaars

ARTISAN MARKET ON THE GREEN: See FRI.12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

BTV WINTER MARKET: See FRI.12, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

community

FOOD DRIVE: Neighbors needing help making ends meet are welcome at this Unitary America event. Plattsburgh Public Library, N.Y., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, contact@unitaryamerica.org.

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

dance

CORNWALL CONTRA DANCE:

Dancers of all ages and abilities get their bodies moving to live

13 | HOLIDAYS

Home Run

Hark, it’s a yuletide dream come true! The annual Shires’ Holiday Inn Tour beckons aesthetes to southern Vermont for a timeless, treasured tradition — and for a cause, as this year’s proceeds benefit local hunger-relief organizations at a time when their services are needed most. The region’s finest lodging properties, from historic B&Bs to charming boutique hotels, open their doors for guests to escape the cold with selfguided tours. Christmas decorations, seasonal treats and crackling fireplaces welcome guests like a warm hug, filling up cups both literal and metaphoric. Grab a mug, get cozy and linger a while in a home away from home for the holidays.

SHIRES’ HOLIDAY INN TOUR

Saturday, December 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at various southern Vermont locations. $25-40. Info, john@manchestervermont.com, exploretheshires.com.

tunes by Red Dog Riley and calling by Peter Stix. Cornwall Town Hall, 7-9:30 p.m. $5-10 sliding scale. Info, 462-3722.

LIVE BAND SWING DANCE:

Tunes by the Swingin’ Seven set the mood for an evening of movement, community spirit and joy. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, free lesson, 7 p.m.; music, 7:30-10 p.m. $10-20 sliding scale. Info, 864-8382.

etc.

NORTH POLE SPORTS CARDS & COLLECTIBLES SHOW: Collectors browse a wide array of vintage, rare and common cards, as well as action figures, records, comic books and other unique finds. Arrowhead Senior Citizen Center, Milton, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; cost of cards and collectibles. Info, 782-4500.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.10.

VERMONT VICE GALA: Philanthropic locals don art deco duds for an exploration of the new “Vermont Vice: Sex, Drugs, Money and Murder” exhibit, followed by dinner, hot jazz and a silent auction to benefit the museum. Bennington Museum, 5-9 p.m. $100-5,000. Info, 447-1571.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AMERICAN PSYCHO’: Christian Bale stars as a wealthy New York City investment banking executive hiding violent, hedonistic fantasies in Mary Harron’s 2000 psychological horror flick. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.

MET OPERA IN HD: ‘ANDREA CHÉNIER’: The silver screen lights up with the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Umberto Giordano’s verismo opera, loosely based on the French poet and political journalist’s life. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1-4:30 p.m. $10-22. Info, 603-6462422. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 1-4:30 p.m. $10-24. Info, 382-9222. ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.

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.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.10.

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: Thirteen makers display their unique wares and get seasonal shoppers in the gifting mood. GreenTARA Space, North Hero, 2-7 p.m. Free; donations of nonperishable food items and winter coats accepted. Info, 355-2150.

BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: See THU.11, 4-7 p.m.

BURLINGTON BAROQUE FESTIVAL SINGERS AND L’HARMONIE DES SAISONS: Distinguished vocalists and period instrumentalists join forces to perform George Frideric Handel’s magnificent oratorio, Messiah, as it was heard in the 18th century. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7:30 p.m. $1045; free for kids under 18. Info, 888-626-2060.

CANDLELIGHT: ‘CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS’: Listeso String Quartet perform sparking holiday hits such as “The First Noël,” “Deck the Halls” and “O Holy Night.” Ages 8 and up. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 7 p.m. $41-52. Info, 862-5630.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.

‘YI YI’: Edward Yang’s 2000 drama offers a poignant portrait of a middle-class family navigating feelings of remorse, hope and disappointment. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 3 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of vendors showcase their finest farm-fresh produce, meats, unique crafts and baked goods. Burlington Beer Company, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Preserves, meats, fresh produce and eggs sustain shoppers in search of local goods. South Hero Congregational Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, champlainislands farmersmkt@gmail.com.

games

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington

‘A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES & OTHER TALES’: Mich Kabay shares his love of dramatic reading with a performance of festive works by Dylan Thomas, Robert Frost and other influential writers. Virtual option available. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City

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

The Inn at Ormsby Hill

Hall, 2-3:15 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-0492.

CHRISTMAS BAR POP-UP: Locals make merry with holiday-themed cocktails and mocktails in the host’s cozy headquarters. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 5-9 p.m. Free; preregister; cash bar. Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See THU.11, 2 & 7 p.m.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE SALE: Hot cider and festive music set the tone for shoppers looking to satisfy their sweet tooth. Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 417-4300.

‘CHRISTMAS FOLLIES’: A holidaythemed variety show for all ages highlights the myriad talents of local singers, dancers and other

performers. The Opera House at Enosburg Falls, 7 p.m. $12-15. Info, 933-6171.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

CHRISTOPHER MCWILLIAMS: A local pianist performs “Enchanted Christmas,” a stirring program of diverse works, including “Ring Out, Solstice Bells” and “Gloucestershire Wassail.” Proceeds benefit Capstone Community Action. First Congregational Church of Berlin, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-0338.

COZY UP AT KHL: Inspired by the Danish concept of hygge, families gather for hot cocoa, stories and activities to embrace the chilly winter months. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating, horse-drawn wagon rides, and performances by local acts and St. Norbert’s Handbell Choir make for a holiday experience to remember. Various Morristown Locations, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, maccdirector@ gmail.com.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS WITH A TWIST: Families admire a seasonal display of decked-out trees, then vote for their favorite and enter a raffle to take one home. Black River Academy Museum, Ludlow, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 228-5050.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.11.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: See FRI.12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW: Fifty local artists and crafters display their

wares alongside specialty food items. Montgomery Elementary School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, montgomerypto.vt@gmail.com.

HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET

DAYS: 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, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 528-7951.

HOLIDAY MARKET: A treasurefilled boutique offers curated handcrafted wonders, from toys to tableware. Viva Marketplace, South Hero, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 373-2321.

HOLIDAY MARKET: Sleigh rides, complimentary cocoa and face painting punctuate this festive bazaar featuring vendors from Vermont and New Hampshire. Lake Morey Resort,

Fairlee, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 800-423-1211.

HOLIDAY MARKET: Craftspeople come together to display their handmade herbal medicines, jewelry, art, pottery, body products and crystals. Blossom Wellness Center, Montpelier, noon-5 p.m. Free. Info, info@blossomwellness.center.

HOLIDAY MUSIC IN THE HAYLOFT: Community members celebrate the season with a joyous evening of live tunes and togetherness. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3500.

HOLIDAY ORNAMENT MAKING: Handmade decorations add sparkle and joy to the festive season. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 10 a.m.-noon. $510. Info, 457-3500.

HOTEL VERMONT HOLIDAY MARKET: Gift hunters explore more than 30 local vendors’ wares, enjoy cocktails at the hotel bar and groove to tunes by DJ Cre8. Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 855-650-0080.

INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE: See WED.10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

KRAMPUS WALK: Costumed revelers get their diabolic frolic on at this festive annual tradition nodding to the dark companion of St. Nicholas. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 7-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7000.

LÚNASA: In “An Irish Solstice Celebration,” an influential Celtic band weaves a festive musical tapestry, transporting listeners to the Emerald Isle for the holidays.

PUPPY

CAMP

Socialization and Training for pups under 17 weeks

Let

Barre Opera House, 7:30 p.m.

$42. Info, 476-8188.

MARKET ON MAIN: See FRI.12, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

MONTPELIER COCOA CRAWL: Local shops offer chocolatethemed treats for folks to snack and sip on while soaking up the festive atmosphere. Downtown Montpelier, noon-5 p.m. Free. Info, 282-2163.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10.

REINDEER LIVE: Vermont Reindeer Farm brings its antlered charges along for an up-close visit. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m.2:30 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SCROOGE’S CHRISTMAS’: See FRI.12.

SHIRES’ HOLIDAY INN TOUR: A treasured tradition beckons revelers to explore some of Southern Vermont’s most charming and historic lodging properties, bursting with decorations and treats. Proceeds benefit local hunger-relief organizations. See calendar spotlight. Various southern Vermont locations, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $25-40. Info, john@ manchestervermont.com.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10.

SOUL SANTA SATURDAY: Merrymakers embark on a multicultural day filled with arts and crafts, photo ops, festive music, and tasty treats. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, and O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, wynea.buford@gmail.com.

ST. J SPARKLES HOLIDAY WEEKEND: See FRI.12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

TUBA CHRISTMAS: Tuba players throughout the region gather to perform festive tunes at this annual outdoor tradition. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7000.

Peak Resort, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 327-2198.

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

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.12.

DAVID YAZBEK: The Tony Awardwinning Broadway composer and lyricist shares behind-the-scenes tales and music from his remarkable career. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $30-35. Info, 387-0102.

PAUL WINTER CONSORT: A Grammy-winning ensemble takes the stage with vocalist Theresa Thomason to present “Winter Solstice Celebration,” a joyous and profound ushering in of the season. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 3-5 & 7:30-9:30 p.m. $50-75. Info, info@paulwinter.com.

THE WOOD BROTHERS: The soulful folk masters perform a high-octane combination of roots, gospel, blues and jazz tunes. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $43.50-62.50. Info, 603-448-0400.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: This five-time Tony Award-winning musical follows a teenager with a rare condition who endeavors to make sense of her family life and romantic relationships. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $75-80. Info, 514-739-7944.

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.10, 2 & 8 p.m.

seminars

EDITING WITH DAVINCI

the mountain sports community through mentorship and skill building. REI, Williston, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 233-2554.

tech

CODING CLUB: Participants put on their thinking caps and get some hands-on experience with the BBC micro:bit — a pocket-size computer that makes learning fun and interactive. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

theater

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’: See THU.11, 2:30-4:30 p.m. & 7-9 p.m.

‘HADESTOWN’: The acclaimed Broadway musical from Vermont’s own singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell pulls audiences through a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 1 & 7:30 p.m. $41-106. Info, 863-5966.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.10, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.12. 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!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.14 community

LIBRARY LOUNGE: Free coffee and tea, light refreshments, and time spent chatting with

Paul Winter's Solstice Celebration

With the Paul Winter Consort and vocalist Theresa Thomason

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT: See THU.11. Grafton Community Church, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday December 13, 2025 at 3pm and 7:30pm

Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, VT

Seven-time Grammy-winning Paul Winter Consort, with beloved vocalist Theresa Thomason, will present the timeless music of their legendary New York Winter Solstice Celebration, in a joyous and profound celebration of this season of renewal.

Tickets: cathedralarts.org

WAITSFIELD HOLIDAY

WALKABOUT WEEKEND: The town comes to life with the charm of an old-fashioned Christmas, complete with music, crafts and activities for children. Various Waitsfield locations, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 496-7280.

WASSAIL HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Attendees check off recipients on their holiday shopping list with goods from more than 25 local artisans. Woodstock Masonic Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3456.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See FRI.12

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.11.

‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.10, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

WINTERSHINE: A festival of holiday lights delivers cheer in spades with a dazzling fireworks display, live music, food truck offerings and bar specials. Jay

RESOLVE: Media buffs learn how to configure their workspace, import and organize files, and fine-tune to create a finished product. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

SEWING WORKSHOP: Generator Makerspace invites community members to craft shower bags for breast cancer patients receiving care at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 540-0761.

sports

GLOW IN THE DARK

PICKLEBALL: Picklers don neon, white or hunter orange and bask in black light while enjoying the positivity of play. Snacks provided. The Pop!, South Burlington, 6-9 p.m. $30; preregister. Info, 495-2533.

MEET THE UNLIKELY RIDERS: Attendees connect with the new Cooperative Action Fund grantee and learn more about how it’s connecting BIPOC athletes to

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

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.10, 1-3 p.m.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10. film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.11, 1 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 sit together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@ gmail.com.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.10, noon-4 p.m.

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See SAT.13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

CHANUKAH PARTY & POTLUCK: Merrymakers eat latkes, play dreidel, dig into a vegetarian spread and enjoy rousing live music by the center’s own Klezmer Band. BYO nonmeat dish to share. Rutland Jewish Center, 4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 773-3455.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

HOLIDAY CONCERT: Rufus Patrick directs the South County Chorus and the Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra in seasonal songs new and old, including a festive sing-along. Hinesburg St. Jude Catholic Church, 2 & 4:30 p.m. Free; donations of nonperishable food items accepted. Info, 373-0808.

HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING:

Backed by festive tunes, cocktails and a roaring fire, attendees ages 12 and up adorn sweet treats with frosting and other goodies. The Tillerman, Bristol, 4-7 p.m. $40. Info, 643-2237.

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY, FUN & LIGHT:

Neighbors celebrate the season with cookie decorating, card crafting and lantern making, followed by a candlelit solstice walk with Erin Barry. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET DAYS: See SAT.13.

MARKET ON MAIN: See FRI.12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

ONE ARTS WINTER

CELEBRATION: A cozy and creative afternoon includes live music, winter wonderland decorations, gingerbread house making and a hot cocoa bar. ONE Arts Center, Burlington, noon-3 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6505.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10.

RUTLAND AREA CHORUS: The singers present a festive program including George Frideric Handel’s iconic oratorio Messiah and John Tavener’s powerful Christmas proclamation “God Is With Us.” Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, 3:30-5 & 7-8:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 775-4301.

‘SCROOGE’S CHRISTMAS’: See FRI.12, 2 p.m.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10.

UGLY SWEATER 5K RUN & WALK: Racers don their most repugnant pullovers for a three-mile course through town, followed by food, music, face painting and merrymaking.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $20-35; preregister. Info, 846-4108.

THE VERMONT CHORAL UNION: Eric Milnes directs the singers in George Frideric Handel’s timeless and sacred oratorio Messiah accompanied by Montréal’s award-winning baroque ensemble L’Harmonie des saisons. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 & 7:30 p.m. $10-80. Info, info@vtchoralunion.org.

VERMONT FARMERS MARKET HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW: The big man in red makes an appearance while 60 local vendors offer up everything from CBD salves to needle-felted ornaments.

Vermont Farmers Food Center, Rutland, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 282-2163.

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRASS QUINTET & COUNTERPOINT: See THU.11. First Congregational Church of Manchester, 4-6 p.m. $24-28; free for kids under 18.

WAITSFIELD HOLIDAY WALKABOUT WEEKEND: See SAT.13.

WASSAIL HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: See SAT.13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WASSAIL WEEKEND: See FRI.12.

WINTER HOLIDAY MARKET: Vermont artisans and makers offer everything from handcrafted ornaments and blankets to locally made skincare and beeswax candles. Philo Ridge Farm, Charlotte, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 539-2163.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.11, 4-7:30 p.m.

‘WINTER TALES’: See WED.10, 2 p.m.

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

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY VOICES:

The ensemble performs “Choral Music’s Greatest Hits,” featuring a collection of must-hear works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other notable figures. Plattsburgh United Methodist Church, N.Y., 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. $10-20. Info, secretarycvv@ gmail.com.

WINDBORNE: In “Music of Midwinter,” the beloved folk outfit plays joyful songs from around the world for the darkest days of the year. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 2-4 p.m. $10-40. Info, 728-9878.

outdoors

BURLINGTON WINTER BIRD

COUNT: Locals join bird-watchers around the world in logging all the feathered friends they can find around town. Various Burlington locations. Free. Info, burlingtonwbc@gmail.com.

MT. MANSFIELD FOREHEAD

HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for a difficult, moderately paced trek in pursuit of stellar views. BYO snowshoes. Call for start time. Butler Lodge Trailhead, Underhill. Free; preregister. Info, 318-8104.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See SAT.13, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.10, 2 p.m.

seminars

SEWING WORKSHOP: See SAT.13.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Techsavvy library staff provide oneon-one guidance and support in 30-minute sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

theater

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’: See THU.11, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

‘HADESTOWN’: See SAT.13, 1 p.m.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.10, 2 p.m.

words

FOOD FOR TALK COOKBOOK

CLUB: Cooking enthusiasts chat about Lizzie Kamenetzky’s Fireside Food for Cold Winter Nights, featuring cozy recipes for creamy gratins, slow-cooked meats and deep-filled pies. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

MON.15 » P.74

MON.15

crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

HAND-STITCHING GROUP: Embroiderers, cross-stitchers and other needlework aficionados chat over their latest projects. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, northwaringa@gmail.com.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.

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

MONDAY NIGHT LIVE: The Burlington Dharma Collective hosts an inspiring monthly talk, meditation and group discussion. First United Methodist Church, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 825-1815.

holidays

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

HOLIDAY CAROLING: Lyric Theatre members sing their hearts out for shoppers along the pedestrian promenade. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7000.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10. SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10.

language

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See SAT.13.

words

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.16 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.

GRATEFUL GATHERINGS:

Trained facilitators Lori York and Mary Wentworth lead deep conversations exploring topics such as embracing mystery, creating joy and navigating grief. Waterbury Public Library, 6:307:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@waterburypubliclibrary. com.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER

COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven

Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 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.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.11.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.11.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.11.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.11.

Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 304-0836.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.10.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: James Stewart stars in Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic about a man saved from despair by his guardian angel. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN MEMORY

CAFÉ: ORNAMENT MAKING: Those living with dementia and their caregivers convene for hot cocoa, socializing and a festive craft. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10.

‘SEÁN HEELY’S CELTIC

CHRISTMAS’: A champion fiddler and a cast of acclaimed performers guide audience members on a magical holiday journey through Scotland and Ireland. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $48.34-58.50. Info, 760-4634.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10 SPECIAL COOKIE PAIRING: A joyfilled evening features a holiday card station and curated flights of beer perfectly matched with four seasonal treats. Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, 540-6965.

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

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

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

games

BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER: Katharine Bodan leads players in a thrilling social deduction game of lies and logic, in which no one is ever truly ruled out. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First

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

language

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.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH

CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See SAT.13. seminars

FINDING HOUSING WORKSHOP: Attendees build an apartment-search tool kit with guidance from the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456.

sports

EZ BREEZY SOLSTICE SPIN:

Cyclists don high-vis gear and lights to brighten up the dark December night at this casual group ride around the Queen City. Local Motion, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 861-2700.

talks

RICHARD HEINBERG: An internationally recognized expert on energy sheds light on “The Increasing Impacts of Unaffordable Electricity.” Virtual option available. Jeffords Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. Info, betternotbiggervt@gmail.com.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff answer questions about devices of all kinds in face-toface sessions. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m.

words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of seven weeks, bookworms analyze Helen DeWitt’s The Last Samurai which was named one of the New York Times “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.” 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters. com.

JODI LEW-SMITH: A Hardwick author reads from her new novel, Asa James, which follows the unlikely trajectory of a young

man raised on a farm who yearns to become a scientist. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 472-5533.

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.17 crafts

YARN & YAK: See WED.10. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.10.

environment

WINTER WEBINAR SERIES: SCRAPPING TEXTILE WASTE: Attendees discover how they can help close the loop on waste at this virtual presentation illuminating the life cycles of household clothing, linens and mattresses. Hosted by Chittenden Solid Waste District. 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 872-8100.

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, cdmvt47@yahoo.com.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.10.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

DECEMBER PRODUCER

SHOWCASE: Film buffs gather for a screening session of recently completed works by media locals. A Q&A follows. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 651-9692.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.10.

WINTER SOLSTICE YULE

ADVENTURE DINNER: Foodies honor the shortest day of the year with enchanting seasonal magic and a fourcourse, family-style feast. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 6-9 p.m. $85. Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.

games

ADULTS PUZZLE SWAP:

Participants leave completed puzzles (250-plus pieces only) in a ziplock bag with an image of the finished product, then find something new to take home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.10.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.10.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.10.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS WITH A TWIST: See SAT.13, 6-8 p.m.

HOLIDAY TRIVIA NIGHT: Participants vie for prizes at this themed family-friendly test of knowledge. Snacks provided. Stowe Free Library, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.10.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.10.

language

ELL CLASSES: See WED.10.

GREEK CONVERSATION GROUP:

People of all proficiency levels chat in the modern form of the language while sharing skills and making new friends. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 978-793-0110.

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.

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

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.10.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.10, 7:30 p.m.

words

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: See WED.10. ➆ say you saw it in

LEARN TO DANCE TANGO

THURSDAYS STARTING JAN. 8! NORTH STAR COMMUNITY HALL, BURLINGTON

LEARN TO DANCE TANGO

Thursdays

Starting Nov. 6, 2025

7:00pm: Intro to Tango

• 7:45pm: Intermediate

• 8:30pm Practica

North Star

• 7:00pm: Intro to Tango

Community Hall

• 7:45pm: Intermediate

• 8:30pm: Practica

• $10 for dropPractica

• $50 advance signup 6 week beginner series

$10 for drop-in + Practica $60 advance signup

NO PARTNER OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

8-week beginner series

*ﬁrst class is always free

Contact: tango.elcamino@gmail

NO PARTNER OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Contact: tango.elcamino@gmail

AllGreatMinds Do Not ThinkAlik e

AI meets Neurodivergence

AI is reshaping how we learn, work, and communicate — but what could that mean for neurodivergent thinkers? Join us for a conversation that explores firsthand neurodivergent experience, clinical insight, and hands-on AI tool design.

January 15, 2026, 5:30pm

Generator 40 Sears Lane

$15 advance / $20 day of (cash only) (Students free w ID)

Pizza and Soft Drinks Purchase tickets at: aivermonvt.org

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.

arts & crafts

MAKE YOUR OWN HOLIDAY CARDS AT SPECS CAFÉ: Join us for our annual card-making workshop! You will learn how to carve your own linoleum blocks and make an edition of holiday cards. Please bring a 4-by-6-inch image or decide that day what to print. Sun., Dec. 14, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $65. Location: Specs Café, 7 W. Canal St. #1, Winooski. Info: 802-4483943, sevendaystickets.com.

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you. Now enrolling youths, teens and adults. Join and restore your faith in humanity. Info: 802-4252700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

DROP-IN WINTER WORKSHOPS WITH LEAF HARBOR ARTS: Come make Arctic animals out of natural materials on Dec. 13 and lanterns to banish the darkness on Dec. 20! Held in Sarah McNamara’s studio in the New North End of Burlington, these playful and student-focused art workshops are open to all ages, from the young to the young at heart. Stop by for an hour or the whole afternoon. Hope to see you there! Dates: Sat., Dec. 13, & Dec. 20, 2-6 p.m. Cost: $25/ person. Location: Leaf Harbor Arts, 1297 North Ave., Burlington. Info: Sarah McNamara, 802-5980562, leafharborarts@gmail.com, leafharborarts.com.

DRAWING TO PAINTING: JUMPSTART YOUR CREATIVITY IN THE NEW YEAR!: A fantastic class this winter for those wanting a comprehensive painting adventure! Structured activities in color, value and form spark brainpower, building creative and technical skills. Held in the inspiring Wingspan Studio. Learn professional artist Maggie Standley’s step-by-step painting process and color-mixing secrets and create three paintings. Includes two optional Open Studio Saturdays and all materials, except you bring the sketchbook. Sign up today! Dates: Jan. 5-Feb. 9, 5:308 p.m. Cost: $425 for seven 2.5hour classes. Location: Wingspan Studio & School, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: 802-233-7676, maggiestandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

food & drink

COMFORT FOOD CLASSICS

TURNED PLANT-BASED: In this class, we will turn some of your comfort food favorites into plantbased dishes — with no flavor lost along the way! e class will start with a mocktail demo, then move on to two side dishes. We’ll finish by creating a main course and sharing a meal together to enjoy the fruits of our labor. During the class, Jessica will not only share approachable culinary tips, but she will also weave in nutrition and sustainability tidbits thanks to her background as a registered dietitian. Bring your questions, your curiosity and your appetite for a night of fun and flavorful plant-forward eats! Pomegranate-Ginger Fizz; Creamy Miso Bean Skillet; Melting Cabbage Caesar Salad; Red Wine-Lentil Ragu with Pappardelle. Date: Fri., Jan. 16, 5:30-8 p.m. Cost: $66.18, incl. fees. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, amy@ richmondcommunitykitchen. com, sevendaystickets.com.

language

AFLCR FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLASSES: Your local Alliance Française offers both traditional language and culture classes year-round, with an emphasis on speaking, as well as specialty courses. Many online and in-person options exist. Our Winter Session runs seven weeks starting Jan. 12. For a full listing, visit our classes page at aflcr.org. Dates: Jan. 12 through Feb. 27, mostly evenings & afternoons. Cost: $215; AFLCR members receive a 10 percent discount. Location: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, 43 King St., Burlington. Info: Marc Juneau, 802-777-9365, education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org.

FRENCH CLASSES: JOIN

WINGSPAN’S NEW YEAR SESSION TO BOOST YOUR LEARNING ADVENTURE!: Start the year off with bursts of brain power and support, whether you’re a newbie, brushing up or continuing your French journey! ree levels. Fantastique gift, too! Encouraging, small-group classes in person or virtually. Madame Maggie has taught hundreds of students and brings languageacquisition best practices. She attended La Sorbonne/SciPo, did graduate work in Francophone Africa and holds a Vermont French teacher license. Private lessons available. Make this the year! Allons-y! Dates: Session starts Jan 6. Cost: $275/8week session, 1.5-hour classes. Location: Wingspan School & Studio, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: Maggie Standley, 802-2337676, maggiestsandley@gmail. com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

martial arts

OOM (MIND) YUNG (BODY) DOE (HARMONY): Oom Yung Doe, the Grandmaster Iron Kim style, is “8 Complete Martial Arts Taught as One.” Essential training includes kong fu, tai chi, bagua chung, kong su (tae twon do), ship pal gae (18 weapons), kom do (samurai sword), udo (flexible way/ Korean-style jujitsu) and aikido/ hapkido. Benefits of training include stress release, improved balance, increased energy, better circulation, mental calmness, improved physical well-being and overall health, increased focus and self-discipline, and the confidence that you can go anywhere and do anything. Offering classes for children, juniors and adults, plus dedicated tai chi. Try it for free! Open 6 days/week. Location: School of Oom Yung Doe, 1127 North Ave., Burlington. Info: Wade Prescott, 802-495-6034, inst.wade@gmail.com, schools. oomyungdoe.com/vermont. Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

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Sissy

AGE/SEX: 5-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: October 27, 2025

SUMMARY: Sissy is a gentle soul who came to HSCC after her guardian had to move and couldn’t bring her along. She’s a bit shy, but once she settles in, her sweet personality shines through. She’ll seek out gentle affection and enjoy soft pets. She feels most comfortable when she has cozy hidey spots where she can retreat and recharge as she adjusts to new surroundings. Sissy’s looking for someone patient and kind. With trust and tenderness, Sissy will show you what a loyal and loving cat companion she can be!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Sissy has experience sharing her space with other cats. She has no known experience with dogs and may prefer a home without young children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

Shy cats need time to feel comfortable in a new home. HSCC recommends introducing a new cat to your home slowly by starting them off in a small “safe room” and gradually increasing their access to the rest of the home as they build conﬁdence.

BUY & SELL

Buy y Se

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS

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)

R R eal Estate

en als & APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

S. BURLINGTON, VT., NOW LEASING! 339 GARDEN STREET APTS. 339 Garden St., S. Burlington, VT 05403. Unfurnished 2-BR, 2-BA, 1,109 sq.ft. Now leasing 2-BR apts. Sign a lease today! Free on-site parking. In-unit W/D. 1st month’s rent free. Get a $250 Healthy Living gift card at move-in!

BURLINGTON SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR RENT

844 sq. ft., 7 rooms. Shaker kitchen cabinets. As is, contact Daryl, cosgrodaryl@gmail.com

ELECTRONICS SERVICES

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 SERVICES

Real Estate Foreclosure: 12,812 Sq. Ft. Warehouse on 7.30 Acres in Dummerston, VT LIVE Auction: Tues., Dec. 16 @11AM #1720 Landscaping Equipment

Rates between $2,590 & $2,641. Info, 802-3992586, catamountrun@ redstonevt.com, 339gardenst.com.

12-mo. lease. Contact john@hubglass.com to schedule a viewing.

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

M & Ar t ists

u i ians sts

BURLINGTON/ DOWNTOWN:

BHA has a low wait list for apts. w/ a subsidy in Burlington. Income limits do apply. 1-BR & efﬁ ciency apts. avail. now. Rent based on income. Parking may be available at some properties. Apply today by calling Burlington Housing Authority at 802-864-0538. “Affordable housing for all.” Equal Housing Opportunity.

MUSIC LESSONS

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

All styles/levels. Emphasis on building strong technique, thorough musicianship, developing personal style. Paul Asbell (Big Joe Burrell, Kilimanjaro, UVM & Middlebury College faculty, Seven Daysies winner). Info, 802-233-7731, pasbell@ paulasbell.com.

131 Church St. Brand-new 1- & 2-BR apts. for rent. Avail. now. Amenities: A/C, keyless entry, W/D in unit & more. Efﬁ cient & cozy. Rent starting at $2,500/mo. + utils. Call 802-391-9089.

1-, 2- & 3-BR

BURLINGTON APTS. AVAIL. NOW, NO PETS, 1-YR. LEASE

Unfurnished, 1-BR, 1-BA apt. on Hyde St., $900/mo. Tenants pay all utils.; we pay cold water, haul the trash & take care of the driveway. Heated 2nd-ﬂ oor 2-BR, $1,500/ mo. Tenants pay utils. Heated 2nd-ﬂ oor 3-BR w/ laundry, $1,700. Call 802-318-8916 or email jcintl0369@gmail.com.

NEWLY RENOVATED IN S. BURLINGTON

Nice 2-BR upstairs apt., close to everything. W/D, 2 porches, shared backyard. $2,300/ mo. incl. utils. Lease & deposit. Info, 802-7346469, carpentier2iby@ gmail.com.

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

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

1,000-SQ.FT. OPEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT, ALL-INCLUSIVE

Spacious 1,000-sq.ft. open-concept area avail. in our building. Perfect for a small business, studio or collaborative workspace. All utils. & amenities are incl. in the price — just move in & get started! Located right off I-89. $1,693. Call 802-655-3544 or email duteauc@ freedompharmacyvt. com.

WORCESTER COFFEE SHOP, BAKERY, RESTAURANT FOR LEASE. Turnkey ready! Commercial cafe/ bakery/restaurant for lease. Just 12 mins. from Montpelier, the space has large windows w/ gorgeous mountain views. It has a fully stocked kitchen w/ full-size

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

coffee brewer, espresso machine, grinder, large commercial convection oven, commercial standing mixer, prooﬁ ng oven, 5 refrigerators, 8-burner gas stove & hood. We will train the coffee side of the business if needed or rent the space to whatever you would like: bakery, restaurant, wine bar, music venue? You can rent it as is or change to your own creative endeavor. e rent is $1,800/mo. w/ a yearly lease. Additional seating on large front lawn w/ picnic tables. Great to host markets or community events. On-site parking, too. Can be seen on Instagram, Google or Facebook at Black Crow Coffee in Worcester. Info, 727254-8959, gbblue11@ yahoo.com.

PAINTING STUDIO FOR RENT IN ORWELL, VT. Serene, bright & spacious painting studio avail. Jan. 1. 20-by-30foot open ﬂ oor plan w/ 11-foot ceilings & plenty of ventilation. Located in Orwell, Vt., less than 30 mins. from Middlebury. $930/mo., heat & electric incl.

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)

Online Auction Closes: Thurs. Dec. 18th @ 10AM Preview: Tues., Dec. 16, 11AM-1PM in Colchester, VT #1723 Conex Boxes, Trailers & Construction Equipment

Online Auction Closes: Monday, Dec. 22 @ 11AM Preview: Wed., Dec. 17, 11AM-1PM in Waterbury, VT

Se e es CREATIVE SERVICES

GET DISABILITY BENEFITS

3D PRINTING RAPID PROTOTYPING/LASER ENGRAVING & CUTTING

Small, local 3D printer shop specializing in 3D printing of engineeringgrade glass-filled & carbon fiber filaments for precision-fi t components. Large-format capabilities. Laser cutting w/ 15-by-19-inch cutting area. Reasonable prices. Info, 802-3103162, jim@gmavt.net.

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)

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)

HOME & GARDEN SERVICES

NEED NEW WINDOWS?

Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energyefﬁ cient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-2489944. (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)

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)

MOVING & HAULING SERVICES

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.

Brain-teasing puzzles are one way Seven Days gets you through the week. Keep them coming by supporting your paper! Donate today and become a Super Reader: sevendaysvt.com/donate

CALCOKU BY JOSH

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

REYNOLDS

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column. ANSWERS ON P.80

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.

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The 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).

Green Mountain Care Board: Rule 5.000: Oversight of Accountable Care Organizations.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P042

AGENCY:

CONCISE SUMMARY: This rule establishes revised standards and processes, consistent with Act 62 of 2025, that the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) will use to certify Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and review, modify, and approve the budgets of ACOs. First, as of January 1, 2026, the GMCB will no longer review the budgets of all ACOs operating in Vermont, as required by the current GMCB Rule 5.000. Instead, the GMCB will only review the budgets of ACOs that contract with Vermont Medicaid and/or Vermont commercial payers. The GMCB will not review the budgets of ACOs that contract only with Medicare. Second, as of January 1, 2027, all ACOs operating in Vermont must be certified by the GMCB. This is a revision from the current GMCB Rule 5.000, which requires certification only for ACOs that contract with

Vermont Medicaid and/or Vermont commercial payers. Third, this revised rule includes revisions to ACO certification and budget review criteria, consistent with Act 62 of 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Angela Pellegrino-Wood, Green Mountain Care Board, 112 State St. 5th floor Montpelier, VT 05602 Tel: 802-461-5740 E-Mail: Angela.Pellegrino-Wood@ vermont.gov URL: https://gmcboard.vermont.gov/ aco-oversight.

FOR COPIES: Mark Hengstler, Green Mountain Care Board, 112 State St. 5th floor Montpelier, VT 05602 Tel: 802-249-0519 E-Mail: Mark.Hengstler@ vermont.gov.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 21-CV-00323

In re ESTATE of Bruce Edward Kelley

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Bruce Edward Kelley, late of Milton, 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: Monday, November 10, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Vincent Illuzzi

Executor/Administrator: Nancy L Kelley, 32 Whisper Lane, Milton, VT 05468 Email address: nanlk53@yahoo.com Phone: (802) 309-3533

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/10/2025

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF KING STREET NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CORPORATION

Pursuant to Title 11B, § 14.07 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated, notice is hereby given that articles of dissolution for King Street Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation (the “Company”) have been filed with the office of the Secretary of State for the State of Vermont.

Notice is hereby given that all unknown creditors of and claimants against the Company are requested to present their claims to the Company. Except as otherwise provided by law, claims will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years of publication of this notice.

All claims must be submitted in writing, with a description of the basis for the claim (including the amount owed, the date the debt was incurred, a description of the product or services provided to the Company) and supporting documentation, if applicable. Written claims must be mailed to the following address:

KING STREET NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CORPORATION

c/o Paul Frank + Collins P.C. One Church Street P.O. Box 1307 Burlington, VT 05402-1307

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-06602

In re ESTATE of Timothy A. Hawley

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Timothy A. Hawley, late of Charlotte.

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: December 5, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Suzanne E. Hawley

Executor/Administrator:

Suzanne E. Hawley

274 Lynrick Acres, Charlotte, VT 05445

Phone Number: 802-881-6800

Email: tahawley@gmavt.net

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/10/2025

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

CITY OF BURLINGTON

AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

The City of Burlington is soliciting applications from community organizations and City departments for funding through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the 2026 program year. Funding will be targeted to the priorities identified in the current Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Project proposals from community organizations will be reviewed and scored competitively according to the process outlined in the NOFA.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has yet to announce the appropriation for the 2026 program year, but the City is anticipating approximately $730,000 of CDBG funds based on the City’s funding history. Funding is expected to be available on July 1, 2026.

The NOFA and application packet may be requested from the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) or online at www.burlingtonvt. gov/160/CDBG-Program. Applicants will be invited to submit a final application by January 15th, 2026 at 4:00 pm.

For more information, please contact Christine Curtis at ccurtis@burlingtonvt.gov or 802-735-7002.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-07203 In re ESTATE of David McKnight NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: David McKnight, late of South Burlington, Vermont.

Dated: Monday, December 8, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Laura McKnight

Executor/Administrator: Laura McKnight

C/O Norman C. Smith Law Office, 76 Lincoln Street, PO Box 24, Essex Junction, VT 05453

Phone number: 802-288-9088

Email: john@normansmithlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/10/2025

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court Chittenden Unit

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

BURLINGTON COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §4442 and §4444, notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Burlington City Council to hear comments on the following proposed amendments to the City of Burlington’s Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO):

ZA-26-01 Technical Amendments and Minor Revisions

The public hearing will take place on Monday, January 12, 2026 during the Regular City Council

Meeting which begins at 6:00 pm in Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, VT or you may access the hearing/ meeting as follows :

On-line: https://zoom.us/j/99551944677

By telephone: +1 646 931 3860 US Webinar ID: 995 5194 4677

Pursuant to the requirements of 24 V.S.A. §4444(b):

Statement of purpose

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to support greater flexibility within current zoning

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. For meetings & 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, or visit alz. org 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 Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room in Burlington. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP

Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m., in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils, 802-877-3742.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality. Thu., 4-5 p.m., at Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, Burlington. Email us for more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

DISABILITY SUPPORT GROUP

Our group is a space for mutual support, open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled or having a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical or cognitive, this group is for you! The group meets every Mon., 1:15-2:15 p.m., at Fletcher Free Library’s Pickering Room & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held on Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., via Zoom. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

regulations to accommodate development needs and seeks to correct several errors in the CDO, enhancing clarity and consistency in administration for both staff and applicants.

Geographic areas affected

This amendment applies to all areas of the city.

List of section headings affected

The proposed amendments modify the following sections of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance: Modifies Sec 3.1.2(c); Table 3.5.2-1; Sec 3.5.3(c); Table 4.4.2-1, Sec. 4.4.2 (d) 3 B; Table 4.4.5-1; Sec. 4.4.5(d) 2 B; Sec 4.4.5 (d) 4 D; Table 4.4.5-6; 4.4.5-7; Table 4.5.6-2; Sec 4.5.6

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

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) 859-5913 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. Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, 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.

KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’

(c)-2 C; Sec 5.3.5(a); Sec 6.2.2 (m); Sec 7.1.1; Sec 7.1.3; Sec 9.1.5; Table Sec 9.1.12; Sec 9.2.10 (c); Table 11.1.5-2; Article 13; and Sec. 14.8.

The full text of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance is available online at https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPI/CDO Upon request, a hard copy of the proposed amendments can be viewed at the Clerk’s Office located on the second floor of City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or online at https://www.burlingtonvt. gov/DPI/CDO/Amendments

offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@vcsn.net.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program of Gifford Medical Center sponsors a weekly meeting of its “Living Through Loss” grief support group. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the past year or so is warmly invited to attend the free weekly meetings every Fri., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For info, contact the Rev. Tim Eberhardt, Gifford’s spiritual care coordinator, at 802-728-2107.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS

Are you questioning the role marijuana plays in your life? Check out Freed From Weed, a free Marijuana Anonymous 12step group. Mon., 7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church (Red Door Church), 21 Buell St., Burlington. Contact: jointsession@newenglandma.org.

MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP

Area myeloma survivors, families & caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/ people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., on Zoom. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Vermont offers several Connection Peer Support Groups & Family Support Groups that meet virtually &/or in person throughout the state. All groups are confidential, volunteer-led & 100% free. Find a group that suits your needs at namivt.org/ support-groups.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP

Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

Narcotics Anonymous is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, St Albans, Morrisville, Barre & Stowe. Info, 833-436-6166 or cvana.org.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS & EVERY PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY

Drop-in play every day: The Children’s Room is open Mon.-Fri. for anyone w/ children ages 0-6 to come & play. Check the TCR calendar for hours & school closure days. Caregiver & Baby Circle: Weekly drop-in on Mon., 11 a.m., at the Children’s Room. We are pleased to offer a weekly gathering for babies (0-18 mos.) & their caregivers, sponsored by Good Beginnings & hosted by the Children’s Room. Nature Explorations: Tue,, 10-11:30 a.m., at various trailheads in the area. Get outside for some fresh air & fun! Every week we go to a different trailhead or natural area to explore. Ages 0-6; carriers are helpful for little ones. Email childrensroom@huusd.org to sign up; enrollment is always open. Music & Movement: drop-in, Wed., 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We begin by singing songs & moving together & allow time at the end to play w/ instruments, as well as time for adults & kids to socialize. Ages 0-6. Exploration & Art Fridays: drop-in, Fri., anytime from 9 a.m.-noon at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We’ll be engaging in different hands-on explorations & using various mediums every week — sometimes combined. Come to TCR to explore, play & create! For info, email childrensroom@ huusd.org.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)

A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/ meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more, or call 802-863-2655 anytime!

PARKINSON’S MUTUAL AID GROUP

For individuals & caregivers dealing w/ the challenges of Parkinson’s, we meet to share resources & practical ideas for improving quality of life. This in-person group is free & open to the public. Every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Old Meeting House, 1620 Center Rd., East Montpelier. Please contact admin@ oldmeetinghouse.org or 229-9593.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@gmail.com.

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

Care Coordinator/Case Management

Case Managers support older Vermonters in the community to stay as independent as possible in the environment of their choice by promoting health, rights, independence, and economic well-being.

This position is based in our Barre CVCOA office, combined with in-home field visits.

Pay Range: $24-$26 per hour.

For the full job description and to apply, please visit: cvcoa.org/employment

INTERESTED IN LAUNCHING YOUR CAREER?

Northlands Job Corps o ers FREE hands-on skills training, education, and housing for income eligible 16-24 year olds.

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:

Co-Resident Manager at Decker

Tower: Position requires living on-site and being on-call outside of regular BHA business hours to respond to resident requests, site-based emergencies, light maintenance, cleaning of common areas, and other duties as assigned. In exchange for these duties, Resident Managers receive a free apartment with utilities included. Please note this is an unpaid, non-benefited position.

Candidates must meet the physical requirements of the position including moving in different positions to accomplish tasks, ascending or descending stairs, adjusting or moving objects up to 50 pounds, and repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and fingers. This position also works in outdoor weather conditions.

Maintenance Technician: Performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies. Current rotation is once every 6-7 weeks. Pay $24.00 to $26.00 per hour, with a $1,500 Sign On Bonus.

For more info on our benefit package and these career opportunities please visit: burlingtonhousing.org

Interested in our career opportunity? Send a cover letter & resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org

You can earn your high school diploma or GED, train in 8 di erent in-demand careers, and receive job placement assistance all right here in Vermont, for free. You can live on campus or commute from home. Our programs are self-paced with one-on-one instructor support and work-based learning to get first-hand experience in your chosen field. Your new career starts now! Reach out to Gene Woodcock at 802-877-0121 to schedule a tour of our beautiful campus and start your application today!

Northlands Site: northlands.jobcorps.gov

Housing Retention Specialist

– Site Based: Responsible for supporting those who have mental health and substance use challenges and/or who have moved from homelessness to Bobbin Mill, Wharf Lane, and other BHA properties. The position works closely with property management and other site-based staff to identify challenges and respond with appropriate direct service and coordination of community services, with a goal of eviction prevention and facilitating a healthy tenancy. Pay $24.00 to $25.00 per hour.

Burlington Housing Authority

Human Resources

65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

Human Resources Director

$87,500 - $95,500 w/ an Excellent Benefits Package

The Town of Colchester is seeking a collaborative and experienced Human Resources Director to oversee and manage the Town’s human resource functions. This position plays a key role in maintaining a positive workplace culture, supporting employee engagement, and ensuring compliance with all applicable labor laws and regulations.

The Human Resources Director will lead recruitment and hiring for full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees; administer employee benefits and insurance programs; coordinate open enrollment and claims; support collective bargaining; and manage compensation and classification studies. The position also assists with policy development, training, and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of professional human resources experience, along with a relevant bachelor’s degree or additional related work experience totaling at least nine years. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills, the ability to manage confidential information with discretion, and a commitment to supporting Town employees and management alike.

Job Description available at: colchestervt.gov/321/Human-Resources

To apply, please submit resume and cover letter to townmanager@colchestervt.gov

Position open until filled. The Town of Colchester is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Executive Director

Executive Director, Vermont Journalism Coalition (part-time)

THE VERMONT JOURNALISM COALITION IS SEEKING ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Founded in June 2025, the nonprofit coalition represents more than 40 newspapers, television stations, radio stations, and digital news organizations across the state. It seeks to support and sustain its member news outlets and advocate for the principles of journalism.

The executive director will be charged with building the coalition into a robust institution that provides educational, public policy, business, legal and logistical support to its members. The ED should be equally comfortable communicating with members and allies, testifying at the Vermont Statehouse, administering a nonprofit and securing financial support. Most importantly, the ED should bring an energetic, entrepreneurial and selfdirected approach to fighting for Vermont journalism and those who produce it.

Supervision: The ED will report to the Vermont Journalism Coalition’s nine-member board of directors, though they should be comfortable working independently to achieve the board’s goals.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of Vermont and significant experience in at least one (and preferably more) of the following fields: journalism, nonprofit administration, advocacy.

Workplace: This is a remote position, but the ED should be prepared to spend time in Montpelier, particularly during the January-May legislative session, and to travel elsewhere in Vermont, as needed.

Hours and compensation: This position is currently envisioned as 20 hours a week, paying $40,000-$45,000 a year, though this could evolve over time. The position could work well for somebody engaged in freelance journalism or other contract work.

Start date: Early January 2026.

How to apply: Please send a resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in this work to contact@vermontjournalism.com. The position will remain open until filled, but the hiring committee will begin reviewing applications Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

JOIN OUR TEAM AT CRAFTSBURY COMMUNITY CARE CENTER!

We are seeking caring, reliable individuals for TWO positions:

Bookkeeping/Payroll Clerk

(1 day/week, $22–25/hr)

Manage payroll, accounts payable/ receivable, and resident billing. Detail-oriented, team player with flexibility and a positive attitude.

Housekeeper/Personal Care Support (Per Diem, $17–19/hr)

Assist with cleaning resident rooms and common areas, laundry, and resident bathing. Daytime availability preferred. Experience a plus; training provided.

APPLY TODAY! Full job descriptions: www.craftsburycommunitycarecenter.org/ employment

Email Maryel Smith: msmith@craftsburycarecenter.com

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You’re in good hands with...

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of.”

CAROLYN ZELLER

Intervale Center, Burlington

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Registered Nurse, Infusion Therapy Department

Make a Real Difference in the Community!

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) is seeking a compassionate Registered Nurse to join our dynamic Infusion Therapy Department in St. Johnsbury, VT. The Opportunity: Provide direct patient care in a rewarding role serving 15-20 patients daily. Administer IV therapies, coordinate care, and educate patients in our collaborative, patientcentered environment.

WHAT YOU NEED:

RN License (VT or compact state)

Project Advisor

BSN degree 2+ years RN experience

Why NVRH?

Student loan repayment

Tuition reimbursement

Competitive pay/comprehensive benefits

Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

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Current BLS certification

Free gym membership 401(k) with company match

Serve 33,000+ community members

Support the Business Manager and the school’s ﬁnancial operations. This position offers broad exposure to school district ﬁnance – including accounts payable, payroll, budgeting, audit functions.

COMPENSATION: $55,000 - $70,000, commensurate with experience, plus a competitive beneﬁts package (Health, Dental, Life & Disability Insurance, and generous paid time off).

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or equivalent combination of education and 2-5 years of relevant experience. Knowledge of fund accounting and GAAP fundamentals preferred For more information, please visit www.hannafordcareercenter.org/careers

Interested candidates can apply via School Spring or by submitting a letter of interest and resume to the school’s Executive Assistant, sthurber@ pahcc.org.

Fingerprinting and Criminal Background and Child Abuse/Neglect Registry checks are required. Equal opportunity employer.

NEK Delivery Driver Wanted

Want to be a hero every Wednesday? Need some cash? Get paid to drive through beautiful Vermont scenery while delivering Vermont’s most beloved newspaper! We are looking for a driver to deliver Seven Days weekly in the Orleans County (NEK) area.

Lewis Creek Builders seeks an experienced and highly selfmotivated Project Advisor to drive new business by selling our Design-Build residential construction and remodeling services. This full-time sales role is responsible for qualifying clients, executing consultations, and successfully closing projects while acting as the primary liaison between the client and our design, development, and production teams.

Apply online today: lewiscreekcompany.com/ employment or email hr@lewiscreekbuilders.com

Compensation is a competitive base salary plus commission, with potential earnings ranging from $80,000 to $190,000.

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Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com

Only requirements are a clean driving record (no major violations), availability on Wednesdays, a reliable vehicle (preferably station wagon style or larger), ability to lift 15 pounds and a positive attitude. If you can check all these boxes, then we want you to join the Seven Days Circulation team. Familiarity with the region is a plus. We pay hourly plus mileage reimbursement. Papers can be picked up locally. Regular trips to Burlington not required. Email circ@sevendaysvt.com. No phone calls, please. Seven Days is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform (VCJR) is seeking a Service Coordinator to join our team! Provide case management and related services for people living with substance use disorders. Some driving required with mileage reimbursement provided.

Job Type: Full-time in person (Burlington, VT). Anticipated starting salary: $43,000$45,000 per year, plus benefits for full-time 40 hour per week employment. Please request a full job description or submit a cover letter and resume to Jess Kirby via email at jess@vcjr.org.

Director of Facilities & Project Management

NEKCA Mission Statement: To empower all generations in the Northeast Kingdom to grow, prosper, and thrive.

The Director of Facilities and Project Management is responsible for ensuring all facilities operate at optimal levels and for overseeing the Facilities Department. This strategic and operational leader not only manages the maintenance of existing facilities but also plans for future development, complies with legal and environmental standards, and supports the Senior Management Team in project management during major facility updates. The role requires significant interaction with various state and regional agencies and community partners to ensure grant compliance, workplace safety, efficiency, and sustainability, which are vital to the organization's success.

The ideal candidate will be an exceptional communicator and a team player, dedicated to building strong relationships. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred, 5 years of relevant experience required. Advanced training/certification in Building Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Systems preferred

The hiring range for this position is: $70,000- $77,000 annually and comes with a comprehensive benefits package.

Apply online: 7dvt.pub/NEKCAdirector

NEKCA is a proud equal-opportunity employer. We work diligently to recruit a broad pool of candidates and to hire and promote qualified individuals whose personal experiences, characteristics, and talents reasonably reflect the diversity of the communities served by NEKCA.

Maintenance Technician

• Offering a $1,000 hiring bonus

• Full Time 40 Hours Pay Rate $27.00

Are you looking to learn new skills or to start a career? Are you looking to join a supportive team and a dynamic company? We are so sure you will love it at HallKeen Management that we are offering a $1,000 hiring bonus for the right candidate. All bonuses to be paid per company policy. Will entertain employees looking to relocate to Vermont.

Responsibilities of Maintenance Technician are quite diverse including but not limited to Apartment turnovers, grounds keeping, various janitorial duties, painting, appliance, electrical, heating, plumbing and safety equipment repair and replacement and provide assistance at other company properties when needed. The qualified candidate must have reliable transportation and have the ability to assist in carrying appliances and climb ladders as needed.

Please e-mail resume to Diane Finnigan at dfinnigan@hallkeen.com.

Director of Marketing

Assistant Town Clerk/Treasurer

Town of St.

Greensea IQ is a world leader in advanced robotic solutions for the ocean. We are a dualuse technology company that has pioneered the use of autonomous systems in critical defense applications and is now transitioning that mature technology to the commercial maritime markets.

Greensea IQ is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the Research and Development of EverClean, Greensea’s innovative ship maintenance robot product. This role will work directly with the EverClean Product Manager, field service technicians, and Greensea’s production engineers to design, evolve, and constantly advance the EverClean robot system. This job is equal parts problem-solving and creative invention. EverClean is a new concept in ship maintenance and while it has been in production for a few years, Greensea strives to always be at the forefront of innovation while we advance the use of robotics to create a new paradigm of fuel efficiency and carbon reduction in maritime transportation.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience as a Mechanical Engineer working with robotics, complex machines, and mechatronics. This candidate will have experience working within a small team composed of software developers, UX designers, electrical engineers, and subject matter experts. They will have experience with many different types of materials and be familiar with designing systems for rigorous environmental requirements.

The Mechanical Engineer Research and Development will be responsible for the earlystage product design. They will focus on the next generation of product design to advance the existing product revision, solve current problems, improve efficiency, achieve new product strategies, and incorporate new features and technologies. Once prototyped, the Mechanical Engineer Research and Development will hand these early-stage product designs off to the production engineering team for final production readiness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline

• 5-7 years’ experience in mechanical design and electro-mechanical systems

• Proficient in Solidworks / PDM

• Familiar with Linux/Ubuntu

• Excellent hands-on skills (assembly, machining, 3D printing)

• Systems-integration experience (Electrical/Mechanical)

Preferred experience with:

• AUV/ROV/UUV systems

• Marine materials - 6061-T6/PEEK/Acetal/Stainless

• Electronics packaging

• Underwater cables and connectors

• Marine product testing (pressure, corrosion, temperature)

• Pressure vessel design

To apply, please send your resume, salary requirements, and cover letter to careers@ greenseaIQ.com as PDF documents. The candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. This position may require occasional travel. This position is based in Richmond, VT and cannot be performed remotely. Annual salary range: $110-130k.

Greensea IQ (www.greenseaIQ.com) is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a casual and fun work environment and provide our employees training and continuing education opportunities. Greensea IQ offers competitive salaries and a complete benefits package, including full health insurance, 401(k), and paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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.

Job Seekers:

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site.

Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

Are you looking for an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative place to work?

Join us at Lake Champlain Waldorf School to deliver a holistic and developmental approach to education.

Open Positions:

• Part Time 1:1 Support Professional

• Preschool Assistant Teacher

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sundog Poetry seeks a parttime Managing Director. This position is the sole staff role and requires a professional who can work independently while collaborating closely with the Board of Directors.

This remote, part-time position offers schedule flexibility. Full job description: sundogpoetry.org/ managing-director

Questions?

hiring@sundogpoetry.org

E.O.E.

www.lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org

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Temporary Tax Examiner

Join the Vermont Department of Taxes as temporary (January - August), full-time support this Tax Season! If you thrive in a collaborative, customer-focused environment, like to be on the phone and enjoy helping people, this seasonal position based in Montpelier may be for you.

Responsibilities: Answer taxpayer inquiries, analyze returns for accuracy and compliance.

Qualiﬁcations: 1-2 years of experience in bookkeeping, accounting, tax, or ﬁnance

Successful Temporary Tax Examiners have included recent college graduates, professionals navigating a career change, and retirees interested in temporary work. If you are enthusiastic about helping Vermonters ﬁgure out their taxes, we are interested in hearing from you! Apply today to start in January.

For full details and to apply: https://tax.vermont.gov/careers

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PHYSICAL SERVICES MEMBER

The Facilities Department at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for a full-time Physical Services Member (Grounds). Successful candidates will join a team that maintains campus grounds throughout the year. The position is Monday-Friday, 6:30am-3:00pm with the need for overtime and working off hours/days at times. Responsibilities include maintaining campus grounds throughout the year by general landscaping procedures using light and heavy tools/equipment; cleaning up campus grounds including trash, recycling, and compost; maintaining athletic fields; moving and storing all campus furniture and equipment; and setting up and tearing down all campus events. The hourly rate for this position is up to $19-$21/hr. based on experience.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit https://bit.ly/SMCPSMD25.

Leading construction company is seeking Carpenters and Lead Carpenters in the Addison & Chittenden County area.

We offer a rewarding work environment with comprehensive compensation packages ranging from $65,000/yr to $95,000/yr based on experience. Benefits include paid holidays, 3+ weeks paid time off, 401k, employer healthcare contribution, profit sharing, bi-annual bonuses, and more.

Scan the QR code below to text your contact info and experience or email us at admin@smithmcclain.com. Come build with us!

ENROLLMENT OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

The Office of Admission at Saint Michael's College invites applications for an organized and detail-oriented Enrollment Operations Assistant.

This key role will support the daily functionality of operations by managing incoming phone inquiries and performing essential data processing tasks within the Slate system.

This position will directly contribute to the management of the applicant’s lifecycle and overall office efficiency. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to incoming calls and phone support, inbox support, daily office opening and closing procedures, supply procurement, event and internal support, and mail and finance support.

The hourly range for this position is $21.00 - $24.00.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit https://bit.ly/SMCEOAD25

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Courtroom Deputy Clerk

The Clerk’s Office for the United States District Court is seeking a qualified individual with excellent analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills capable of functioning in a dynamic, teamoriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full federal benefits apply.

Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the oﬃcial Position Announcement available from any U.S. District Court oﬃce (Burlington and Rutland) or the court’s web site.

COMMUNITY LAWYERS

VERMONT LEGAL AID AND VERMONT

ASYLUM ASSISTANCE PROJECT seek fulltime Sta Attorneys in northern and southern Vermont to sta their joint Community Lawyer Initiative.

The Community Lawyering Initiative is a joint project between VLA and VAAP dedicated to delivering immigration and related legal services in places where immigrants already seek support, connection, and safety, including trusted community-based organizations, mutual aid networks, and the detention centers where ICE holds people in Vermont.

VLA SOUTHERN-BASED POSITION will be an employee of Vermont Legal Aid, based in the Springﬁeld or Rutland VLA o ce, working in close partnership with VAAP sta , and will focus on a rmative-posture immigration and related matters. This is a bargaining unit position. See www.vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/ jobs for job description details.

VAAP NORTHERN-BASED POSITION will be an employee of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, based in the VAAP Burlington o ce, and will focus substantively on detained and defensive-posture immigration matters. See www.vaapvt.org/ openings for job description details.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: interview prospective clients, assess legal problems and identify legal advice; provide trauma-informed and linguistically and otherwise accessible services; conduct factual investigations and analysis; perform legal research, prepare briefs, and argue appeals; deliver trainings and community legal orientations; engage in regular travel to and coordination with

community-based organization partner sites; become proﬁcient in immigration and related law.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and we welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free workplace.

Starting salary is $70,000-$78,000, commensurate with experience. Beneﬁts include generous paid vacation, retirement, and health beneﬁts. Attorney applicants must be licensed to practice law in Vermont, eligible for admission by waiver, or have passed the UBE with a Vermont passing score. In-state travel in a personal vehicle required. The funding for these positions is geared toward attorneys earlier in their careers, ideally 1-5 years in practice. These are one-year contracts renewable subject to funding.

Applications received by close of business on December 15, 2025, will be prioritized, but we will continue to accept applications until the positions are ﬁlled. Your application should be sent as a single PDF and include a cover letter and resume, bar status, writing sample, and at least three professional references with contact information. Please send your application by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid. org, and include in the subject line your name and “Immigrant Community Lawyer.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Since we moved to Burlington in 2022, Seven Days has been our go-to source for learning about restaurants, cultural events and the community — not just in Burlington, but around the state. Because I get the daily email updates, I am often the one suggesting to longtime Vermont friends places to go and things to do — from drinks at Fox Market in East Montpelier and the opening of The Majestic in Burlington, to an art gallery opening in Kents’ Corner and snowshoeing at Blueberry Hill in Goshen.

Susan Gallagher with husband Sean

fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

TIM SNIFFEN

SAGITTARIUS

(NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

Leonardo da Vinci painted his iconic “Mona Lisa” on a thin panel of poplar wood, which naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity. Over the centuries, this movement has caused a crack and measurable warping. One side of the classic opus is bending a bit more than the other. Let’s use this as a metaphor for you, Sagittarius. I suspect that a fine quality you are known for and proud of is changing shape. This should be liberating, not worrisome. If even the “Mona Lisa” can’t remain static, why should you? I say: Let your masterwork age. Just manage the process with grace and generosity. The central beauty may be changing, but it’s still beautiful.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Home is a building you live in. It’s also a metaphor for the inner world you carry within you. Is it an expansive and luminous place filled with windows that look out onto vast vistas? Or is it cramped, dark and in disrepair, a psychic space where it’s hard to feel comfortable? Does it have a floor plan you love and made yourself? Or was it designed according to other people’s expectations? It may be neither of those extremes, of course. My hope is that this horoscope will prod you to renovate aspects of your soul’s architecture. The coming months will be an excellent time for this sacred work.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1872, workers made an uncanny discovery: They could detect approaching storms by observing vibrations in the bridge’s cables. The massive metal structure was an inadvertent meteorological instrument. I’m predicting that your intuition will operate with comparable sensitivity in the coming months, Taurus. You will have a striking capacity to notice subtle signals in your environment. What others regard as background noise will reveal rich clues to you. Hot tip: Be extra alert for nuanced professional opportunities and social realignments. Like the bridge workers, you will be attuned to early signs of changing conditions.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Sloths are so energy-efficient they can survive on 160 calories per day: the equivalent of an apple. They’ve mastered the art of thriving on minimal intake by moving deliberately and digesting thoroughly. Life is inviting you to learn from sloths, Gemini. The coming weeks will be a good time to take an inventory of your energy strategies. Are you burning fuel frantically, or are you extracting maximum nourishment from what you already possess? However you answer that question, I urge you to experiment with being more efficient — but without depriving yourself. Try measuring your productivity not by speed and flash but by the diligence of your extraction. Dig deep and be thorough. Your nervous system and bank account will thank you.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): The Danish concept of arbejdsglæde refers to the happiness and satisfaction derived from work. It’s the joy found in labor itself, not just in its financial rewards and prestige. It’s about exulting in the self-transformations you generate as you do your job. Now is an excellent time to claim this joy more than ever, Cancerian. Meditate with relish on all the character-building and soulgrowth opportunities your work offers you and will continue to provide.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): In the deep Pacific Ocean, fields of giant tube worms thrive in total darkness around hydrothermal vents, converting toxic chemicals into life-sustaining energy. These weirdly resilient creatures

challenge our assumptions about which environments can support growth. I suspect your innovative approach to gathering resources in the coming months will display their adaptability. Situations that others find inhospitable or unmanageable will be intriguing opportunities for you. For best results, you should ruminate on how limitations could actually protect and nurture your development. You may discover that conventional sustenance isn’t your only option.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): For a long time, scientists didn’t understand why humans have an organ called the appendix. Most thought it was useless. But it turns out that the appendix is more active than anyone knew. Among other functions, it’s a safe haven for beneficial gut bacteria. If a health crisis disrupts our microbiome, this unsung hero repopulates our intestines with the helpful microbes we need. What was once considered irrelevant is actually a backup drive. With that in mind as a metaphor, here’s my question, Virgo: How many other parts of your world may be playing long games and performing unnoticed services that you haven’t understood yet? Investigate that possibility!

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): In the coming months, you’ll be asked to wield your Libran specialties more than ever. Your allies and inner circle will need you to provide wise counsel and lucid analysis. For everyone’s sake, I hope you balance compassion with clarity and generosity with discernment. Certain collaborations will need corrective measures but shouldn’t be abandoned. Your gift will lie in finding equilibrium that honors everyone’s dignity. When in doubt, ask: “What would restore harmony rather than merely appear polite?” True diplomacy is soulful, not superficial. Bonus: The equilibrium you achieve could resonate far beyond your immediate circle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Hubble Space Telescope is a school bus-size space observatory orbiting 320 miles above the Earth. There, it observes the universe free from atmospheric distortion. Its instruments and detectors need to be recalibrated continuously. Daily monitors, weekly checks and yearly updates keep the telescope’s tech sharp as it

ages. I believe it’s a good time for you Scorpios to do your own recalibrations. Subtle misalignments between your intentions and actions can now be corrected. Your basic vision and plans are sound; the adjustments required are minor. For best results, have maximum fun as you fine-tune your fundamentals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Apoptosis” is a word referring to programmed cell death. It’s a process by which your aging, damaged or obsolete cells deliberately destroy themselves for the benefit of your organism as a whole. This “cellular suicide” is carefully regulated and crucial for development, maintenance and protection against diseases. About 50 to 70 billion cells die in you every day, sacrificing themselves so you can live better. Let’s use this healthy process as a psychospiritual metaphor. What aspects of your behavior and belief system need to die off right now so as to promote your total well-being?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Which parts of your foundations are built to strengthen with age? Which are showing cracks? The coming months will be an excellent time to reinforce basic structures so they will serve you well into the future. Don’t just patch problems. Rebuild and renovate using the very best ingredients. Your enduring legacy will depend on this work, so choose materials that strengthen as they mature rather than crumble. Nothing’s permanent in life, but some things are sturdier and more lasting than others.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Along the Danube River in Europe, migrating storks return each spring to rebuild massive nests atop church steeples, roofs and trees. New generations often reuse previous bases, adding additional twigs, grass, roots, and even human-made stuff such as cloth and plastics. Some of these structures have lasted for centuries and weigh half a ton. Let’s make this a prime metaphor for you in the coming months, Pisces. I see your role as an innovator who improves and enhances good traditions. You will bring your personal genius to established beauty and value. You will blend your futuristic vision with ancestral steadiness, bridging tomorrow with yesterday.

During the fall salmon run, ﬁsh biologists and culturists at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle were busy collecting salmon and fertilizing their eggs. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger observed their spawning operations, which are helping to create more ﬁshing opportunities and restore the population of landlocked Atlantic salmon in Lake Champlain.

COLLEGE STUDENT SEEKING CONNECTION

I like hiking, gardening, reading and taking walks. I tend to take things slowly in romantic relationships, and I’m looking for something that could last. Seeking a woman around my age to have fun and share this phase of life. slithy_tove 19, seeking: W, l

SIMPLE LIFE

WOMEN seeking...

LAID-BACK AND ARTSY

I’m a positive person, love the outdoors –hiking, camping and being in the woods. I love to attend live music. I’m easygoing and also welcome deep conversations. I have a playful personality and tend to look at the bright and humorous side of life, which includes being able to laugh at myself – and that happens pretty often. blanneg 74, seeking: M

HONEST, LOYAL COUNTRY GAL

I am not into game-playing, cheaters or addicts! Looking for friendship, compatibility and honesty! I have a small homestead; looking for someone who is interested in this way of life. I also am active: I like to hike, swim, walk, ride horses, backcountry ski. outdoorwomantoo, 66, seeking: M, l

SOFT HEART. MUD EVERYWHERE. HELP.

Short, cute girl-next-door with a practical streak, a quiet wit and a small farm full of animals convinced they run the place. I love my peaceful life, but it’d be even better shared. Hoping to meet a kind, steady man who appreciates warm evenings, easy laughter, and a little mischief now and then. Leah50 50, seeking: M, l

VIBRANT, ADVENTUROUS, GROUNDED

Outside-the-box thinker with an adventurous spirit looking for a curious, open-minded, healthy man. Snowdrop14 47, seeking: M, l

WANT TO RESPOND?

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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

FUN LOVING, YOUNG AT HEART

I have been called sweet, but I hold my ground when I feel betrayed and misunderstood. Any activity near or on water fills my soul. Have traveled both in the States and abroad. Looking for fun male partner to take advantage of all things Vermont and beyond. Lifesjourney, 57 seeking: M, l

LOOKING FOR A FRIEND

I’m honest, caring and thoughtful. melriv66, 59, seeking: M, l

SEXY, FUN, ADVENTURES, CUDDLES, MORE

Sensual, fun woman looking for a partner in crime to go on adventures with and to have fun sexy times. This could lead to a long-term relationship or just someone to hang with or both. Let’s see what happens and go from there! Live music, dancing, dinners out as well as snuggles and kisses and sexual fun. Let’s explore! FunGal, 57, seeking: M, l

LET’S PLAY TOGETHER

Sixtysomething single female seeks sixtysomething male to have endless adventures. Imagining paddling on smooth waters, biking with a tailwind, skiing powder, hiking to top of Camel’s Hump at sunrise and everything in between. Indoors fine dining and indie concerts. Satisfying wanderlust with many trips across the world. Let’s have fun together. VTLOON 65, seeking: M

INSIGHTFUL, GROUNDED, STRONG, DISCERNING, COMPASSIONATE

On here for a moment to see potential connections with other men. onceuponariverjen, 36, seeking: M, l

YOUTHFUL OLD SOUL AWAKENING HEART

Youthful old soul; awakened heart, discerning mind welcomes aligned connections to nurture conscious, kind, harmonious peace promoting culture. Aiming to grow chosen beyond nuclear family with a life partner. Inquisitive, playful, kind, adventurous, content, open. Let’s drink tea, walk, watch, listen, sing, dance. Seeding mindful, low throughput, liberation oriented community. youthfuloldsoul, 50, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l THOUGHTFUL, OUTDOORSY, SWEET TOOTH!

My passions include my family and friends, a healthy lifestyle, and enjoying the great outdoors through hiking, cycling, running, XC skiing and paddling! Also love baking, volunteering, craft beer, travel, live music and dancing. Looking for an active, thoughtful guy! hikerbaker 45, seeking: M, l

SOMEWHAT FEISTY

I know the world best through reading, writing and listening; the NEK woods and trails. A clumsy but enthusiastic Nordic skier, cheerful gardener and admirer of others’ gardens, with a tendency to laugh at inappropriate moments. Petite, decently educated, cancer survivor. Maybe your way of knowing the world can widen mine? Larch, 57 seeking: M, l

PEACE-MINDED SOUL SEEKS SAME

Creative live-music lover looking for some new people to go to shows with, take a hike with, get some coffee, take a road trip or just hang with my dogs. Looking for friends to start, and if something else should spark, to just go with it. Sugarmags68 56 seeking: M, TM, l

NOT A POET

I worked on these three haiku for awhile: Friends call me JLew / I love to dance. I’ve got moves / that will split your pants // “I wish I could work / on a farm with you” is my / highest compliment. // Dragonfly days and / firefly nights, the best world / a North Woods delight. JLew, 54, seeking: M, l

ONE STITCH AT A TIME

Widow, 75, Shelburne. Warm, thoughtful and family-oriented. Retired PhD in social work, lover of gardening, knitting, books and quiet evenings by the fire. Nonsmoker, nondrinker, progressive, and active in nature and community. Seeking friendship and companionship with openness to a deeper connection. Diane50, 75, seeking: M, l

SEEKING FUN AND ADVENTURE

The world is full of adventures just waiting to be had: a long hike and walk to a waterfall, a fabulous show, a great meal, a beautiful ski. All these are adventures I like to go on. Care to join me? wildflower762 54, seeking: M, l

NOT A FAN OF FAKES

Trusting my heart to you will take some time, but if you’re patient it will be worth it. I’m a romantic woman who loves to watch sunsets. I have a big heart and tend to trust people. Honesty is what I expect and deserve. I’m a one-man woman, and I want a one-woman man, nothing less. Patty802, 67, seeking: M, l

FULL OF STARS

My friends tell me I’m the nicest and most Zen person they know. I love music, art and history. Oh, and maybe you and/or your pets. I use “y’all” in unexpected places. I do not have a Dick Cheney tattoo. Tell me about you. NotAngryMittens, 53, seeking: M

MEN seeking...

SHE’S GOTTA BE SOMEBODY’S BABY

Sixty-seven, single 20-plus years. Like pretty, slender women. Picky, I guess. tankerfa 67, seeking: W, l

WORKS WAY TOO HARD

Honest, caring and loyal! Love the outdoors! Camping, boating, bonfires, fishing, hunting, spending time at the beach. Or just cuddling on the couch and watching a good movie. drew, 61 seeking: W, l

SWEET AND QUIET

Down-to-earth, quiet man in search of a companion-for-life to warm up and spice my evenings and nights. Jeveuxdatevermont, 55 seeking: W, l

I’m undergoing the next rediscovery of life. Working on a simple, minimalist existence. Always up for a beer at one of Vermont’s great breweries and for the natural splendor the Northeast has to offer! My children are grown, live elsewhere and have babies of their own. I visit as frequently as possible, and we communicate almost daily. LifeInMotion 58 seeking: W, l

PEOPLE TELL ME THEY LIKE ME...

And that I am a lot of fun. Let’s talk, and you decide? Good looking, Fun, well-endowed/well-traveled/welleducated/ well-off former Brooklynite seeks: fun, laughter, touch of sensitivity and sexuality, and sharing good food and good stories from someone I’ve never met before. I found a new home — literally and figuratively — here. Looking for companionship and sex with chemistry. I am sweet, honest, loyal, creative, kinda weird (crush on Drew Barrymore), open-minded, looking for similar. HappyhelpfullGuywithALOTofPHONES 40, seeking: W, Cp, l

KIND, THOUGHTFUL EMPATH, LOVES NATURE

I am a true spiritual seeker and the peace that arrives with nonduality. Formerly a career and life coach, I love being outside, walking in nature. I live in a nice apartment, love writing, and have published books. SpiritCoach, 80, seeking: W

EASYGOING, CARING, KIND, LONELY

Would like to meet a woman for friendship. Go places together and do things together. Enjoy riding back roads, looking for wildlife to take pictures of. Eaglelover 83 seeking: W, l

I THINK THIS IS FREEDOM!

I am a grounded man, showing up consistently for the things that matter: my health, my kids and my spirit. Cultivating faith each day, watered with optimism. I have a full life and want to include that special person. I am looking for that someone who appreciates the inside person, with all their quirks, beauties and challenges. Into things “S”: Skiing, sobriety, stoked, sailing, sauna, skinny-dipping, soccer, sun, sensuality. waterandsky , 50 , seeking: W, l

OPEN AND HONEST

I would characterize myself as a peaceful-minded soul with positive outlooks in all things, who is not the serious type but one who looks at the dips as learning lessons and highs as a gift and who has lots of laughs and chuckles in the meantime. lookingforward 82 seeking: W, l

TIME FOR NEW FRIENDS

Time to meet other adventurers! I spend my winter days on my skis as much as possible. Alpine and Nordic. Looking to find someone to share fun with. I haven’t gone dancing in years, but I would love to find someone to converse with, laugh with and have the support of a friend. I’m quiet, observant, caring. jetalone 68, seeking: W, l

MISS ME YET?

Single dad. Been cheated on, shared custody. Show me what it’s like to be needed and to need. soloisboring 43, seeking: W, Cp, Gp, l

NEW TO BURLINGTON

Looking to find that “one” but also enjoying the journey getting there. rcg2504 49, seeking: W, l

OLD SCHOOL, KIND AND POLITE

Older guy looking for a clean, wellgroomed man who likes to have fun. I enjoy long, slow sex that feels romantic. Man with a foot fetish is a plus; willing to paint toes and any other thing that makes you freaky. Metoo 62 seeking: M, TM, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp

LOOKING FOR A KIND HEART

Male looking for a relationship or partner. I love skiing, movies and just hanging out. Jeffplace51 54, seeking: W

LAID BACK, OUTDOORSY

Back in Burlington and wondering why I ever left. Excited to spend time enjoying everything the state has to offer. I enjoy hiking, craft beer, long walks, and spending time with friends and family. I’m a genuinely nice guy and looking for someone who respects that. I am in good shape, liberal politics. Looking for an honest partner. MattyW 36, seeking: W, l

NEW TO VT

While I have owned property in Vermont for 20 years, I’m finally living here permanently. I’ve worked in a corporate environment for 30 years and looking forward to getting back to my roots. Looking to fill my house with laughter and love. NewVermonter, 52, seeking: W, l

ACTIVE, KIND, ADVENTUROUS

Looking for a long-term partner who wants to share in travel, adventure, winter sports and a healthy, positive lifestyle. funnyfarm, 53, seeking: W, l

INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS

Physically fit, intellectually curious, nature-loving, Ph.D., retired, Caucasian male with many interests looking for a woman to share a long-term relationship. Bonus if you enjoy back-country hikes, dancing or home-brewing. PerpetualCuriosity 69 , seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN

seeking...

ADVENTUROUS, WHIMSICAL AND SILLY Brand-new to Vermont living, from the West Coast! Looking for love in hopefully the right place. Always up for a good time and wanting to find someone who loves yacht rock, movies and going on the wackiest side quests. YachtRockGal , 27 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, NBP, l COUPLES seeking...

FUN COUPLE LOOKING FOR EXPLORATION

We are a secure couple who enjoy the outdoors, good wine, great food, playing with each other, exploring our boundaries and trying new things. We are 47 and 50, looking for a fun couple or bi man to play and explore with us. We are easygoing, and we’d love to meet you and see where our mutual adventures take us. vthappycouple 52, seeking: M, Cp, Gp

i SPY

BUSING FOR STRANGERS

You: whimsically stylish with your upturned hair and oversized sunglasses — having lunch with your daughter, perhaps. You’re confident, clearly not afraid to take the initiative, and you know your way around a pair of chopsticks. Me: Tomten look-alike popping in for my twice-weekly bowl of don. I generally dine alone but would happily make an exception for you. When: Friday, December 5, 2025. Where: Sakura. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916501

BEAUSOLEIL & RICHARD THOMPSON

You were sitting next to me in the balcony at the concert on November 21. You had a glass of red wine and talked about how great Louisiana is. You had a sweet voice. I was going to invite you to have dinner with me, but I lost sight of you as the theater emptied after the concert. When: Friday, November 21, 2025. Where: Lebanon Opera House. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916500

9 P.M. CHAT AT CHECKOUT

We have spoken briefly, twice, at a South Burlington grocery store. You remembered that I once lived in Connecticut, and I remembered you lived in Monkton. How was your recent climbing adventure with KT? As a fellow naturalized Vermonter, you have me curious. Snowy hike sometime? When: Monday, December 1, 2025. Where: Trader Joe’s, South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916499

ME TOO

I think about you all the time, too. Honestly, I thought you had gotten cold feet and did not want to continue with our dreams, everything we planned together last year. When: Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Where: now. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916498

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

BEER AND DOUGHNUTS

I commented on your shopping cart that was full of beer and doughnuts. You explained that you were hosting a turkey trot (and doughnut-eating contest) the next day. Enjoyed our exchange. Single? If so, beer or doughnut sometime? When: Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Where: Shelburne Rd. Hannaford. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916494

INTERESTED IN CONNECTING

You were sitting in the co-op, shortly after the latest flood. I recognized you from some GSI workshops, and we talked about the deal with dredging. You shared your email; I carried it in the back of my mind for months. Turns out, I have a dam big crush on you. Care to explore other watersheds sometime? Interested in connecting. When: Monday, July 14, 2025. Where: Hunger Mountain Coop. You: Man. Me: Gender nonconformist. #916497

PRETTY LADY AT FANNY ALLEN ENTRANCE

You were leaving. We met on the top step, where you so graciously greeted me. Thank you! You made my day! We spoke briefly and were close in age. I regret not speaking longer and asking your name and if you are single. Friend told me to try “iSpy.” So here we go. Hope you see this. When: Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Where: Fanny Allen Hospital. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916496

THINKING OF YOU

I hope that somewhere in your thoughts, you remember me and our love, and maybe, even for a moment, you miss me, too. My love for you is still pure and deeper than anything I’ve ever felt. You’ve moved on, and I’m trying, but it’s hard. I think of you day and night and will never forget what we shared. When: Saturday, November 29, 2025. Where: in my memories. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916493

JAPANESE 4RUNNER

I thought your door was broken, and you had to crawl over — turns out the steering wheel is on the right! I missed an opportunity and should have offered my number. Would appreciate a second chance! When: Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Where: Colchester Post Office. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916492

IT CAN’T RAIN ALL THE TIME

I have to say, I’m genuinely taken by your profile. I’ve found myself rereading it a few times over the past couple of weeks. I usually just browse and keep to myself, but yours made me pause, and now I’m actually contemplating paying the $7 just to say hello. LOL. When: Sunday, November 23, 2025. Where: in a different light. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916491

THE GREEN SPACE

It’s all because of Goose. Your smile melted my heart. We were both there on purpose. I didn’t run. You didn’t want me to. We still ignore what upsets us the most. You’re so bossy. I’m always late. Then you forgot me, but I still showed up. Let’s not give up on each other, please. When: Thursday, October 9, 2025. Where: the Green Space. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916490

ICE-COLD RUNNER

You: running in freezing weather, dropped in for an early morning coffee. Me: suggested you order first because I’m a mensch. Let’s go for a run together — maybe when it’s above freezing? When: Friday, November 21, 2025. Where: Kru Coffee. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916489

BEAUTIFUL SMILE AT COSTCO TONIGHT

It was closing time, and you and I passed. I smiled and said hello, and you smiled this radiant smile and said hi back. We checked out next to each other. I waited outside the store to say hello again and see about asking you out, but I missed you somehow. I would love a chance to chat! When: Thursday, November 20, 2025. Where: Costco. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916488

VIOLIN MAN MEETS VAN GIRL

I was driving my colorful van, and you were playing violin at the U-Mall stoplight. Ummm, hello, gorgeous? It was music to my ears! I rolled down my window to listen, and you yelled,

Dear Kaye Rampus,

“I like your van!” My heart thumped. We lovingly looked into each other’s eyes while you played. Gosh darn that light turning green — grrrr. Let’s get married! When: Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Where: University Mall. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916487

THAT SMILE OF YOURS

Has me thinking about you still. You: cute, black puffer vest, glasses (?) and amazing coiffed hair. Me: shy but entranced, brown hair and brown eyes. You were working but still managed to catch me looking at you a second time. I wish I’d gotten up the courage to approach you. When: Thursday, November 13, 2025. Where: Hannaford in Williston. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916486

YOU CAN STEAL MY HEART

I saw you on the news and just wanted to reach out. You were wearing a white ski mask and white gloves at the Lowell General Store around 2 a.m. Saturday. I am very curious who you are. I was wearing a state trooper outfit and driving a green SUV. Would love to connect with you. Hit me up. When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Lowell General Store. You: Man. Me: Man. #916484

SEA SHANTIES IN CALAIS

What a scene in Calais. To the man in the gray sweater: Thank you for picking up my tab, very sweet. I had no idea until after you left. The bartender passed along your card and a few kind words. But after receiving it, I misplaced it and can’t recall its contents. Figure this is worth a shot. Lowlands, away! When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Whammy Bar, Calais. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916483

I spy…

DADDY VISITING — WE CHATTED IN LINE

You were the next person after me at the checkout. You noticed all my fresh veggies; you said, “I’m coming to your place for dinner.” I wanted to invite you so badly, but I knew you were married. I waited in my car to give you my cell. I want you over for dinner! You are visiting. You were wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Market 32, Rutland. You: Man. Me: Man. #916482

CHILLING AT THE Y

You: black top and bottom, small gold hoop earrings, silver ring on your right middle finger. Where: sauna at the Y. Me: I was the hot guy. When: Sunday, November 9, 2025. Where: GBYMCA. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916481

AQUA ZUMBA CUTIE

You: young, dark-haired man, late 20s/early 30s with a beard, at the Wednesday evening aqua Zumba class at the Y. Surrounded by older women, locked in on the pulsating beats of Missy Elliot. Me: green sports bra, having my post-workout sauna session. If interested, I’d like to get to know the handsome demographic outlier in that class. When: Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Where: Burlington YMCA. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916480

ROSIE, WHERE ARE YOU?

Tell your daddy that this is his last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance! Adventuring, loving, being cared for and connected for so long. Is it not time to say someday we will look back at this and it will all seem funny? When: Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Where: everywhere. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916478

… a curious reader who is thrilled to see their neighbors connecting on these pages! Help Seven Days keep this entertaining service alive. Donate today and become a Super Reader: sevendaysvt.com/donate

As a card-carrying member of the Santa Claus Fan Club, I cannot condone any form of malicious gift giving. It’s in the bylaws.

example, if he’s always stressed, put together a package of calming teas, a stress ball and a book on meditation. Who knows? Maybe you could be the one to help him change his ways. This idea could backfire if he takes it too personally, though.

My workplace does a Secret Santa, where we pick names and exchange gifts at our holiday party. This year, I picked the name of the Office Asshole. I don’t want to give him anything, but I figure I could make it something that lets him know what a jerk he is. A lump of coal doesn’t quite suffice, but a box of dog poop probably goes against health codes. Got any ideas?

Office-wide Secret Santas can be tricky enough when you pick someone you don’t know well. Drawing the name of someone you actively dislike adds extra difficulty — but it can be handled graciously. If it’s not too late in the game, investigate the option of trading names with someone. Ask a few of your coworkers how their Secret Santa pick works for them, and perhaps you’ll find someone who is similarly stumped and willing to swap. However, this may require more effort than you’re willing to put in.

What is it that makes your guy the Office Asshole? Depending on the answer, it could be possible to poke a little fun through your gift without being straight-up mean. For

The best thing you can do is shift your focus from the person who receives the gift. Instead, think of where you’re going to spend your money to purchase it. Buy a gift card to support the little diner or café near your office or your favorite local gift shop or bookstore. I don’t imagine your Secret Santa spending limit is very much, but a little bit goes a long way when you keep it local.

Keeping good holiday karma is the best way to stay on the Nice List.

Good luck and God bless, The Reverend Dear Reverend,

Fireman seeking female friend with ﬁre down below. Feed the ﬁre — let’s burn. #L1902

If you are a gentle and kind man and would enjoy written intercourse for play and fun with a lady wordsmith, write! I have snail mail only. No strings attached! #L1901

I’m a 31-y/o man, ﬁt, 6’1” tall, dark skin, looking for a woman between 45 and 70. I like to work out, do outdoor activities, cook and craft, and learn new skills. I have a lot to teach. I’m independent and respectful. #L1898

30-y/o lady ISO independent, slightly sarcastic, progressiveminded man. Someone who can entertain complex emotional and ethical thoughts. No boys necessary: Clean up your own mess. I’m a skier, thru-hiker and nature lover. #L1897

Imagine all the wonderful things you could have spent that $5 on. Hmm, yeah, inﬂation. Might as well see what I’m all about. No sales tax. Seeking Y/O/U. #L1898

I’m a 72-y/o SWF seeking a 60- to 70-y/o man. I live in Woodstock, Vt. I want a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, would meet in person. #L1891

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.

I am a 49-y/o woman seeking a 38- to 52-y/o man. I am ready to meet a life partner to grow a kind, conscious family with. Are you ﬁt, curious, ecologically and socially attuned? Let’s meet for tea, a pedal or hike. #L1896

I’m a 70-y/o male, 6’1”, 265 lbs., seeking a woman between 60 and 79 y/o who smokes cigarettes. I am looking for a long-term relationship. Drives, meals, cuddles, watching movies. #L1893

Open-minded SWM, 60s, 170 lbs., 5’8”, seeks similar for friendship and more. Open-minded, intelligent, liberal, slim males into fun activities and exploring various types of fun. #L1894

I’m a 65-y/o woman seeking a ﬁt, 45- to 70-y/o man. I am a woman with a lot of energy! Clean houses. Love the outdoors, swimming, rides and Maine. I’m 5’2”, 130 lbs. Love to laugh! #L1892

Very discreet bi guy loves the outdoors: camping, hiking, ﬁshing, etc. Looking for other guys with similar interests to share fun times and have good times with. Hit me up! #L1890

Male looking for female, age 59 to 69. I am disabled but still get around on my own. Looking for someone to hang with, since I am all alone and hate it. My partner passed from cancer. #L1888

Int net-Free Dating!

Perverted tales. Hedonistic confessions. Bold, erotic and sensual? Titillating? Incredible and luscious? Yes, please! Extreme, deviant, obscene perversity helps incite lust. I am eager to hear from all you perverts. Conﬁdential. I dare you to shock me. #L1889

I’m a SWM, 60s, 5’7”, 165 lbs. seeking slim males who enjoy a nice, long, slow, relaxing blow job or a regular one, if desired. NSA, just pleasure. #L1882

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking a male. I am a widow of ﬁve years. Looking for companionship. Love music, reading, knitting, crocheting and playing card games, etc. #L1887

I’m a 19-y/o male college student seeking a kind, curious, adventurous woman around my age. I enjoy meditating, being outside and long conversations. Looking for someone I can value and appreciate who can help me to value and appreciate life. #L1881

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

Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a ﬁt, tender and unassuming female counterpart (58 to 68) for woodland walks, shared meals and scintillating conversation. Won’t you join me? #L1885

I’m a 43-y/o male seeking a woman, 30 to 50. Adventure seeker building an off-grid cabin in Newport. I’m 5’8”, redheaded, ﬁt, living between western Mass. and Vt. I like to cook, bathe, hike, camp and travel. Seeking ﬁt, fun-loving, cuddly companion for potential future. #L1880

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 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

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) Required conﬁdential info:

(MORE)

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Holiday Flowers and Wine with Blossom LLC

THU., DEC. 11

LEO & CO., ESSEX

Holiday House Decorating Class

FRI., DEC. 12

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show

FRI., DEC. 12

BURNHAM HALL, LINCOLN

PB&J Holiday Party with Angelique Francis Band

SAT., DEC. 13

RETRO LIVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY

Handel's 'Messiah'

presented by Burlington Baroque and L'Harmonie des saisons

SAT., DEC. 13

HASKELL OPERA HOUSE, DERBY LINE

Savory Edible Gifts featuring Chef Ariel Voorhees

SUN., DEC. 14

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show

SUN., DEC. 14

THE RANSOM TAVERN, WOODSTOCK

The Vermont Choral Union: Handel's 'Messiah'

SUN., DEC. 14, 4 P.M. (SOLD OUT) & 7:30 P.M.

COLLEGE ST. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON

Holiday Blossoms at Fig

SUN., DEC. 14

SHELBURNE FIG

Buche de Noel Class

THU., DEC. 18

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show

FRI., DEC. 19

MONTPELIER PERFORMING ARTS HUB

Handel's 'Messiah'

FRI., DEC. 19

presented by Burlington Baroque and L'Harmonie des saisons

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PLATTSBURGH, NY

TURNmusic presents Bruce Sklar

Quintet featuring vocalist Nina Sklar

FRI., DEC. 19

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

Gift Wrapping Session

SAT., DEC. 20

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Solaris Holiday Cheer

SAT., DEC. 20

WATERBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Onion River Chorus: 'A Perfect Day,' a Cantata by Dennis Murphy

SAT., DEC. 20, 7:30 P.M. & SUN., DEC. 21, 4 P.M.

UNITARIAN CHURCH OF MONTPELIER

Winter Solstice Rave

SAT., DEC. 20

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show

SUN., DEC. 21

RICHMOND FREE LIBRARY

The Vermont Choral Union: Handel's 'Messiah'

SUN., DEC. 21

HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH, ST. ALBANS CITY

Solaris Holiday Cheer

SUN., DEC. 21

COLLEGE ST. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON