Seven Days, December 17, 2025

FISH BE DAMMED

Efforts to improve spawning in Swanton

VE R MO NT ’S INDE PEN DENT VO IC E DECEMBER 17-24, 2025 VOL.31 NO.15 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 15

The Reading Issue READ THEIR THOUGHTS Recs from VT booksellers

PAGE 24

BOOK IT

PAGE 26

Reading retreats are trending

A HEARTY STEW

PAGE 34

Major Jackson’s soup and poetry book

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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WEEK IN REVIEW DECEMBER 10-17, 2025 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

SKY’S THE LIMIT

FILE: KEVIN MCCALLUM

FILE: JAMES BUCK

FILE: JAMES BUCK

After its debut on Wall Street last month, Beta Technologies said it plans to double the size of its Vermont workforce over the next 18 months.

Good news for the local economy.

STATE OF PEACE

Sen. Peter Welch

Rep. Becca Balint

Sen. Bernie Sanders

DELEGATION FRETS AS VTANG DEPLOYS All three members of Vermont’s Congressional delegation say they oppose the buildup of U.S. military personnel — including the Vermont Air National Guard — in the Caribbean as President Donald Trump increases pressure on Venezuela.

The members of the state’s 158th Fighter Wing learned earlier this month that they were being ordered by the Pentagon to Puerto Rico as part of Operation Southern Spear. An advance team of Guard members left last week for Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, a recently reopened airfield on the eastern edge of the American territory. Others are expected to fly out this week.

It’s still not clear how many of the South Burlingtonbased air wing’s 20 F-35 fighters and 1,000 Guard members will participate.

Vermont’s Congressional leaders said they oppose Trump taking military action against another country absent the approval of Congress.

“I strongly oppose President Trump’s mobilization of the Vermont Air National Guard alongside thousands of other U.S. military units in what appears to be a relentless march to war,” U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said.

COURTESY OF BEN ALESHIRE

?? ? ? ??

Caitlin Gildrien

true802

Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) vowed her “unwavering support” for Guard members who were deploying over the holidays. She was nevertheless “deeply concerned” about the Trump administration’s decision.

“While the media is reporting that VTANG will be deploying to the Caribbean to take part in Operation Southern Spear, the Vermont congressional delegation has received zero notice, information, or clarity about the location, duration, and purpose of this deployment,” Balint said. “This is not normal, nor should it be tolerated.”

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was critical of Trump’s threats in the region.

“After campaigning against ‘endless wars,’ the Trump administration is threatening a military intervention in Venezuela,” Sanders said. “I will do everything I can to prevent that conflict.”

He cited numerous domestic issues that the administration should be focusing on instead: spikes in health insurance costs, access to Medicare, and the high costs of housing and childcare.

Read Kevin McCallum’s full stories and keep up with developments at sevendaysvt.com.

Vermont generated the largest number of Peace Corps volunteers per capita of any U.S. state. Only Washington, D.C., produced more.

GREENER PASTURES?

National championshipwinning UVM men’s soccer coach Rob Dow is leaving for the same job at Penn State University.

Say it ain’t so!

16 million

That’s how many tourists visited Vermont in 2024. They spent a record $4.2 billion, according to state officials.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Vermont’s Air National Guard to Be Mobilized — and Won’t Say Where” by Kevin McCallum.

VTANG acknowledged members were being deployed later this month on short notice.

2. “Former Winooski High Girls Soccer Coach Charged With Lewd Conduct Involving an Athlete” by Kevin McCallum. Kane H. Smart, an attorney with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, was a coach for a decade.

3. “Vermont Air National Guard Is Headed to Puerto Rico to Join U.S. Buildup in the Region” by Kevin McCallum. Sources revealed that VTANG’s destination was a formerly mothballed military installation.

4. “With New South Burlington Café, the Kitchen Table Group Grows” by Melissa Pasanen. This spot has an all-day menu, but our food writer found the pastry case particularly alluring.

5. “New UVM President Tromp Gets High Grades — for Listening” by Anne Galloway.

Since starting in July, Marlene Tromp has been a visible and accessible new leader of the University of Vermont.

TOWN CRIER

L O C A L LY

SOURCED

NEWS

Hunter Saves Deer’s Life

LONG TENDRILS

Canadian wildfire smoke in 2023 worsened asthma for kids living in Vermont, a UVM study found. No escaping it.

Griffin Marquis, 19, has a hunting story to tell that doesn’t involve killing an animal, the Chronicle reported. Last month, he hopped in a canoe and rescued a deer that was struggling in the middle of Derby Pond.

Marquis pulled the doe into the canoe, but at one point, it hopped out. He eventually got it to shore, dried it off and released it safely.

Read more at bartonchronicle.com.

THAT’S SO VERMONT

PUSHING BUTTONS Customers are pleasantly surprised these days when they reach the register at the Bookstore in Brandon: by a vending machine.

It looks just like a regular one but contains pieces of art, knickknacks and even little jugs of maple syrup. In a world full of AI and virtual experiences, pushing a button and hearing the “ca-chunk” of the machine spitting out a purchase is satisfying, said Caitlin Gildrien, who created Joy & Sundry Vending.

“There’s something really appealing about being able to interact physically in that way with something sort of unexpected and delightful,” Gildrien said.

Gildrien stumbled upon the machine for

sale over the summer while perusing Facebook Marketplace. An artist, Gildrien had heard of art vending machines in places such as Chicago and Portland, Ore., and decided to drop the $200.

Gildrien cleaned and painted the machine and then figured out how to install a card reader so it could accept more than dollar bills and coins. She put out a call to artist friends who might be interested in selling work and explained the size constraints and other considerations.

“It’s been sort of a fun challenge, a different way for artists to think about their work,” Gildrien said. “It’s a different kind of packaging than if you’re at a fair or market or you have a storefront where somebody can pick something up and look at it and you can answer their questions.”

The downtown bookstore’s co-owner, Barbara Ebling, has been a wonderful partner, Gildrien said. “It felt like just a really nice fit in terms of the ethos and the aesthetic,” she said.

Inside are watercolor paintings, wooden ornaments, Matchbox cars and troll dolls. One of the hottest sellers has been the “magical mystery art box,” which are DVD cases stuffed with surprises: poems, photo prints and pieces of writing. The items range from $5 to $25.

Gildrien keeps track of what’s sold and reimburses the artists. Already, in the month since it was installed, she’s had to refill some of the spots.

The best part, Gildrien said: Only one item so far has gotten stuck.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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12/12/25 10:34 AM

‘WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS HERE’

[Re “Winooski Schools Inundated With Angry Calls, Threats for Flying Somali Flag,” December 8]: This has to be the saddest Christmas season story I have read in a very long time. The story doesn’t mention how many of the calls and threats originated locally, but hopefully those were few. When did we lose our ability to be empathetic, kind and generous to our neighbors, regardless of where they came from or the language they speak? Why is there a climate of petty bullying, vile language, vindictiveness and hate toward those who are not white, rich and male?

We are all immigrants here.

The fish rots from the head, it is said, and, truly, the current leadership of this country is proving to be as rotten as they come — and proud of it. In this season of peace on Earth, goodwill toward men, celebrating the baby who was born in a stable with “no crib for a bed,” glorious heavenly angels, and all the other tokens of peace and harmony this season brings us, it is truly ironic that the baby born in that stable and proclaimed as Savior and Lord by many would have been deported without a moment’s hesitation by too many of those same angry voices.

Our refugee communities from all countries bring so much to our lives, and hopefully the people of Vermont will stand up to this hatefulness with charity, kindness and inclusion, the regime be damned.

Louise Goodrich

ESSEX

FLAG PROTOCOL

We should not fly a foreign flag at a U.S. government school [“Winooski Schools Inundated With Angry Calls, Threats for Flying Somali Flag,” December 8].

Another country’s flag may be flown at their embassy or on private property.

Denise Hughlett

DUXBURY

WHAT BURLINGTON NEEDS

Wonderful article on David Blow [“A Bard of Burlington: Local Historian David Blow Receives the Chittenden County Historical Society’s Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award,” November 19]!

There is so much history in this town, and David’s guidebooks are a vital key to understanding Burlington.

overwhelming the system; and further burdening taxpayers.

This approach also creates serious harm. Those exiting incarceration face an elevated risk of overdose. Recidivism rates also remain high, reflecting the reality that prison often destabilizes people further and makes it harder to secure housing, employment and ongoing support. Contrary to what the governor’s counsel has stated, prisons are not a place for healing.

Additionally, shipping more incarcerated Vermonters to Mississippi will only deepen the harms by severing community ties, disrupting progress and making reentry more difficult. It is one of the most expensive and least effective approaches our state could choose.

Vermonters deserve leaders who use their power and influence to invest in effective solutions to the crises that too often result in incarceration.

More proof of how informative Seven Days is. I’m glad I can be a paying Super Reader. They need more, as you know. Seven Days is an important part of this city. We also need to revive Memorial Auditorium, not with an ugly replacement but a real brick building, a memorial to our veterans.

We also need the return of the No. 11 bus line from the waterfront up College Street to the hospital, out to the airport and also to Tilley Drive, which is becoming the location of half of the University of Vermont Medical Center! If we don’t want a lot more cars, we need the buses to connect the city to its hospital and airport!

We must find a way.

My best to all this winter season. Live long and prosper, Seven Days.

Charlie Messing

BURLINGTON

January 1. Lubricants used in the manufacture of this turf contain PFAS, measurable in parts per trillion that are a known cause of endocrine system harm and cancer. The manufacturer denies none of this.

Everyone wants kids to play and excel at sports — and for communities to celebrate that. Let’s not let well-intentioned fervor endanger the health and longevity of CVU students and Hinesburg residents.

Instead, a campaign to engineer a properly draining field of living grass would be less costly and absolutely sustainable.

Plastic turf is a recognized and colossal hazard. Lesser-Goldsmith is listening to neither the science nor the law. He says he will not abandon this effort until the “universe” tells him to. The universe has no voice. Scientists do; legislators do; people do.

[Re “Turf Wars: A Proposal to Install Artificial Grass on a CVU Playing Field Spurs Worries About ‘Forever Chemicals,’” November 26]: Champlain Valley Union High School is deciding whether to allow a playing field composed of plastic that is no way certified to be free of PFAS chemicals.

These are plastics that must be sprayed to cool down in the summer heat and are underlain with crumb rubber that disintegrates in UV light, requiring the field to be entirely replaced every eight to 10 years.

The private fundraising for this field, spearheaded by Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, co-owner of Healthy Living market, would be a direct and “forever” threat to the Source Water Protection area for the Town of Hinesburg. Once town wells are ruined, they are gone forever. The State of Vermont has recognized a zero tolerance of PFAS chemicals in a law effective on

Bella Fearn

BURLINGTON

VIEW FROM THE OVERPASS

The recent letter [Feedback: “Time to Close McNeil,” December 10] is right 1076 Williston Road, S. Burlington on. Walking recently on Main Street in 862.6585 | WindjammerRestaurant.com Winooski, I had the misfortune of seeing, via the overpass, tons of wood chips being taken via freight cars to the McNeil 10/23/25 10:52 AM Generating Station. Ever heard of global8v-Windjammer120325 1 warming and, more importantly, wind power and solar power?

An added note: The train whistle of the locomotive carting this stuff at 11:45 p.m. at the crossing on Barlow Street is also unwelcome.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS

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Tom MacDonald

WINOOSKI

Kevin Burget

HINESBURG

SAY NO TO PLASTIC TURF

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PRISON IS NOT THE ANSWER

[Re “Maxed Out: Vermont’s Prisons Are Full Again. A Crackdown on Repeat Offenders Raises the Question: Where Will They Go?” November 19]: Thank you for naming an uncomfortable reality: Vermont leaders continue to respond to crises of mental health, substance-use disorder and poverty by increasing the incarceration of Vermonters, instead of investing in the services that would meaningfully address these challenges.

Many people in our prisons are serving time for nonviolent offenses or are being held pretrial without a conviction.

The elimination of the $200 bail cap has only worsened this, creating a system that punishes poverty rather than protects public safety. The result is warehousing Vermonters struggling with mental health, substance-use disorder and poverty;

CORRECTION

Last week’s cover story about the new president of the University of Vermont, headlined “The Cats Whisperer,” gave the wrong first name for Alicia Estey and also misstated her title at Boise State University. She was chief financial and operating officer.

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contents DECEMBER 17-24, 2025 VOL.31 NO.15

READ A F*CKING BOOK H Hot take: Reading is good for you xx

ere’s a sentence I can’t believe I have to write in the year 2025: Reading is good for you.

Granted, coming from a newspaper editor, there’s some implicit bias in that statement, given that my livelihood depends on people reading. But self-preservation aside, at a time when the written word seems to be under attack, it’s an important message.

Did you know that since 2021, the nonprofit advocacy group PEN America has recorded more than 23,000 instances of book banning in the U.S.? That includes nearly 7,000 last year alone. Fortunately, Vermont schools and libraries have largely been spared the confederacy of dunces’ edicts about what you can and can’t read.

But the trend is nonetheless alarming, especially in light of declining literacy rates nationwide and a presidential administration that openly despises free speech and the press. It’s probably no coincidence that the country (the world?) is mired in a crisis of misinformation, huh?

These are complex issues. And while they require complex solutions, I’d like to suggest a simple fix to start: Read a fucking book.

Reading builds intellect and critical thinking skills. It can improve focus and reduce stress. It enhances vocabulary and communication skills. Most of all, it builds understanding of people, places and ideas that you might not encounter in your daily life. That, in turn, can create compassion, a commodity that’s in desperately short supply these days.

But where to begin? May I suggest: One of Vermont’s many excellent indie bookstores. We asked the staff at three of them for their READING RECOMMENDATIONS this year (page 24). Their suggestions ranged from epic fantasies to hard-nosed nonfiction to delightful kids’ books.

Despite what book banners would have you believe, there’s really no such thing as a dangerous book. Except in Margot Harrison’s The Library of Fates.

The Burlington author and Seven Days contributing editor pens a SHORT STORY, set in the world of her new novel, about a book that will foretell your future — for a price (page 28).

Harrison’s latest would likely be a hit at BRIDGESIDE BOOKS’ READING RETREATS,

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which bring authors and fans to cozy Vermont inns (page 26). So would THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST’S DAUGHTER, the new mystery from Norwich author Peter Orner (page 40).

October was a rough month for the local poetry scene. THREE INFLUENTIAL VERMONT POETS DIED — David Huddle, Ellen Bryant Voigt and Baron Wormser.

Critic Jim Schley reflects on the loss of those iconic voices (page 41).

But the Green Mountain poetry community remains strong thanks to folks like MAJOR JACKSON. The part-time Vermonter pairs two of his passions — poetry and soup — in his forthcoming book, A Bowl of Goodness: Nourishing Poems With a Side of Soup (page 34).

After all that reading, give your eyes and mind a rest and turn to JACK ROWELL: PHOTOGRAPHS. The Tunbridge photographer’s new collection of portraits captures a host of Vermont characters and half a century of change (page 50).

Let’s just all agree not to tell the bookbanning crowd about the nudity.

DAN BO LLE S

FOOD+ DRINK 34 Alphabet Soup

Poet Major Jackson pairs poetry with a side of soup in his forthcoming anthology

34

COLUMNS

SECTIONS

11 Magnificent 7 12 From the Deputy Publisher 35 Side Dishes 46 Movie Review 60 Album Review 93 Ask the Reverend

19 Life Lines 34 Food + Drink 40 Culture 46 On Screen 50 Art 54 Music + Nightlife

STUCK IN VERMONT

64 Calendar 76 Classes 77 Classifieds + Puzzles 89 Fun Stuff 92 Personals

Online Now

The Reading Issue

COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE ALEX MAUSS

Last Words

NEWS+POLITICS 14

FEATURES 24

End of the Road?

Next on the Nightstand

A Burlington proposal to stop maintaining certain streets caught residents by surprise

Emerge Vermont to Shut Down Amid National Restructuring Spawning Debate

A proposal has resurfaced to remove a Swanton dam and improve sturgeon habitat

Burlington Projects a Multimillion-Dollar Budget Gap Prosecutor Pleads No Contest to DUI Charge

Vermont booksellers offer recommendations for your next great read

Fully Booked

Bridgeside Books’ popular retreats bring authors and avid readers to Vermont inns

December Past, December Future A short story

ARTS+CULTURE 40 Gossip, Glamour and Grief

A writer reflects on the loss of a trio of Vermont’s major poetic and prose voices this year

Born to Run

Grand Isle’s Ed Weed Fish Culture Station is restoring Lake Champlain’s landlocked Atlantic salmon population

Face to Face

Jack Rowell’s new book of Vermont portraits captures half a century of change

Folklore and Fingerstyles

Japanese guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto synthesizes ancient folk music with modern techniques and virtuosic skill

During the fall salmon run, fish biologists and culturists at SUPPORTED BY: 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.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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COURTESY OF ROBYN VON SWANK

LOOKING FORWARD

MAGNIFICENT MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

BY RE BE CCA D R ISCOL L

FRIDAY 19

All Together Now Who doesn’t love a sing-along this time of year?

Here’s an opportunity: The vocalists of BarnArts Chorale and Youth Chorale invite friends and neighbors to join in Winter Carols at the First Universalist Church and Society of Barnard. Music director Michael Zsoldos conducts the solsticethemed offering of jolly jingles, charged with heart, harmony and the benevolent spirit of the season.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

THURSDAY 18-SUNDAY 21

LADY DYNAMITE

FRIDAY 19-SUNDAY 21

Incomparable comedy icon Maria Bamford’s seven back-to-back shows at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington sold out in a flash — no surprise there!

Lucky locals who nabbed tickets to the star’s deeply personal, self-deprecating and often experimental standup get a taste of why late-night legend Stephen Colbert dubbed Bamford his “favorite comedian on planet Earth.”

Dream Works Highly anticipated tradition Night Fires weaves a tapestry of song and story at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Since 1982, the dreamy solstice celebration has illuminated winter’s longest night with deeply moving moments of music, poetry and dance. This year’s performance imagines a first-ever Interdependence Day fête in Vermont, honoring light, darkness and community.

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 61

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

FRIDAY 19

SUNDAY 21

The Gospel Truth Long-running gospel outfit the Blind Boys of Alabama bring Southern heat to a scintillating Christmas concert at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe.

You’ll find it impossible not to clap along as revamped renditions of holiday standards ring out, coupled with soulful selections from the group’s Grammy-winning album Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Mountain

Candle in the Wind It’s gonna be lit! Revelers unite in the spirit of joyful tradition to observe the special sundown Menorah Lighting at Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.

The towering nine-foot candelabra — which has been on display since December 14 — symbolizes Judaism’s miracle of oil with illuminated branches, reminding passersby of the importance of religious freedom and, above all else, hope.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SUNDAY 21

Timeless Treasure Saint Michael’s College professor emeritus Dr. William Tortolano performs his 65th (you read that right!) Christmas concert, ““Sing We Now Noel,” at Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel in Noel Colchester. The 95-year-old organist plays carols from myriad cultures on the 1966 Casavant pipe organ, with vocal accompaniment by alum Jerry Proulx and plenty of audience participation.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

ONGOING

Media Maverick COURTESY OF COLE WEBER

Tiny space meets big art at ATM Gallery in Shelburne, where multimedia artist Abby Manock’s solo show, “The Potato and the Grassy Knoll,” turns heads. Large abstract paintings run the gamut from swirling, DNA-like bands of color to scenes of everyday life rendered in grayscale, showcasing what the artist calls the “original, yet familiar and earnestly accessible.”

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

COURTESY OF COLLEEN MONTGOMERY

THE NUTCRACKER

When I agreed in the summer to give a talk about Seven Days at Burlington’s Converse Home on December 4, I was hoping that my friend Jane Ewing would be in the audience. But she didn’t make it; Jane died on October 28 at age 98.

She was ready to go. Jane wasn’t afraid of death and was very open about it. In fact, we met in a cemetery.

In 2007, I wrote a story, “Burlington’s Burial Treasure,” directing readers to Lakeview Cemetery on North Avenue. Jane led an effort to restore the Louisa Howard Chapel there. On a tour of the grounds, she and her husband, John, pointed out noteworthy graves along the cemetery’s winding paths, including theirs — the granite obelisk in the cremation garden was already inscribed with their names, minus death dates.

She was 79 then but seemed much younger. “Age is nothing,” she told me at the time. Pointing to her head, she added: “It’s all up here.”

I thought to myself: I could be friends with this person.

Over the years we’d occasionally run into each other, but I didn’t start seeing her regularly until 2023. That March, Seven Days publisher Paula Routly gave a talk at the Converse Home, and Jane attended — she was living in Paula’s mom’s old apartment there.

A few days after, I called Jane up and arranged a visit. When I walked into Room 214 for the first time, feeling a little nervous, Jane’s face lit up — she was happy to see me! And it was so easy to talk with her. I returned every two or three weeks after that — on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. — and she always gave me that same warm welcome.

Initially, she and I connected over what we were reading. The New York Times, the New Yorker, the New York Review of Books — Jane always had a newspaper or magazine on her couch or coffee table. She read Seven Days cover to cover every week. “The highlight of Jane with some of her books my Wednesday!” she’d say.

She was a Super Reader, too.

Jane always sat in the same spot on her couch and inevitably had a small stack of books next to her. What a thrill it was to discover that we had similar tastes!

We were both devouring new nonfiction titles about current events or history that might help us make sense of the politically divided, post-pandemic world.

We both bought Oath and Honor: A Memoir and

CATHY RESMER

COURTESY OF COLLEEN MONTGOMERY

Jane Ewing and Cathy Resmer on November 5, 2024

Jane at a protest in October

a Warning by Liz Cheney; The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

by Tim Alberta; The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson. She loaned me Mark Leibovich’s humorous and smartly observed Thank You for Your Servitude: Donald Trump’s Washington and the Price of Submission and Timothy W. Ryback’s chilling Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power. Not exactly light reading.

I was thinking of Jane as we compiled this week’s Reading Issue. She was the only person in my life who read books like these and would talk with me about them. And those were just her “morning” books. In the evenings, she read novels. “I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t read,” she’d say.

She also helped me put things in perspective. World War II was ancient history to me, but Jane lived through it: Born in 1927 in Northampton, Mass., she graduated from high school in 1946 and joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, created to fill a wartime nursing shortage. It paid for her training at the Leominster Hospital School of Nursing. When the doctors — all of them men — were going up or down the stairs, the nurses had to stand to the side to let them pass.

When I visited her on Election Day in 2024, I pulled out my phone to snap a selfie of us. Jane revealed that she’d grown up without a phone. When her parents wanted to call someone, they’d use the party line at her grandparents’ house.

In March of this year, I turned 50 and told her I was feeling old. Jane scoffed. “You’re just a kid!” she said.

Jane always asked after my wife and kids. And she’d tell me stories about her beloved blended family.

One was about her mom, who dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help out at home but never stopped learning through books.

Jane got depressed about the state of the world. She missed John, who died in 2017. But she never gave up on life. “As my mother used to say, ‘Whattaya gonna do?’” she’d tell me. She kept getting up, doing her exercises, discovering and recommending things to read.

I’m so grateful our lives overlapped.

JANE INEVITABLY HAD A SMALL STACK OF BOOKS NEXT TO HER.

WHAT A THRILL IT WAS TO DISCOVER THAT WE HAD SIMILAR TASTES!

Above: Article about Jane joining the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Below: Jane as a young nurse COURTESY

Cathy Resmer If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, become a Super Reader!

Look for the “Give Now” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to: SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

13

news

MORE INSIDE

POLITICS

BURLINGTON’S BIG BUDGET GAP

PROSECUTOR’S DUI PLEA

PAGE 16

PAGE 17

A plow driving down Village Green in Burlington’s New North End

Emerge Vermont to Shut Down Amid National Restructuring B Y H A NNA H B A S S E T T hannah@sevendaysvt.com FILE: JAY ERICSON

Rally in Montpelier last year

End of the Road?

A Burlington proposal to stop maintaining certain streets caught residents by surprise S TORY & PHOT OS B Y COU RTN E Y L AMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

F

or decades, the City of Burlington has plowed snow and performed routine maintenance on some streets it doesn’t actually own.

That practice may soon come to an end.

The Department of Public Works announced late last month that it would stop servicing 54 roads, many of which are not built to city standards, by next October. Residents were given three options: bring their streets up to code, pay the city to maintain them or do the work themselves.

After city councilors said the timeline was too rushed, department officials agreed to hold off on any major changes.

But the underlying conflict remains.

“We need to have a clear, unambiguous policy on what service we’re providing,” Public Works director Chapin Spencer said. The city will work with residents “to bring forward a sensible and fair approach,” he said.

The roads in question are scattered across the city, though they are 14

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

concentrated in the New North End. Some are densely populated, and others are more like shared driveways than fullon streets. By Seven Days’ rough count, at least 600 homes line the 54 corridors.

For residents who live on the streets, the city’s proposal is neither sensible nor

WITH THE AMOUNT OF TAXES WE PAY,

THEY SHOULD BE PLOWING OUR DRIVEWAYS. D AVE H AR TNE T T

fair. They’re not keen on losing a service the city has provided for years.

“They’re just saying, ‘To hell with you,’” said Richard Wheeler, who has lived for 30-plus years on Browe Court,

BURLINGTON

a one-block residential street in the city’s New North End. “There’s going to be an enormous amount of people who are upset when they find out the consequences of this.”

The disputed streets fall into two categories. Private streets are those that were built for specific neighborhoods or developments, such as the North Avenue mobile home co-op or Deforest Heights in the Hill Section. The city has confirmed, through property records, that they’re not publicly owned.

“Unaccepted streets” are those believed to be private but whose ownership status remains unclear. Many of them were built by developers long ago but were never deeded to the city.

Roads in both categories may not meet city specifications, which require all public streets to be at least 22 feet wide and have sidewalks and curbs, among other features. At least three of the 54 END OF THE ROAD?

» P.18

Emerge Vermont, which has recruited and trained hundreds of Democratic women to run for office, will shut down at the end of the year as its parent organization restructures and eliminates state-based affiliates nationwide.

In an email announcing the change to program alumnae on December 12, Elaine Haney, executive director of the Vermont organization, wrote that Emerge America made the decision earlier this month to transition from a state-based to regional structure. The shift is intended “to better position the organization to expand its presence across the country,” Haney wrote. Emerge America currently has 27 state affiliates, including Vermont’s.

Under the new system, Vermont will be part of a regional territory that includes all of New England and New York. Emerge America will roll out the regional model next month.

The change marks a significant shift for the state program that has been credited with helping increase the number of Democratic women in elected office. Since former governor Madeleine Kunin founded Emerge Vermont in 2013, more than 230 Democratic women and nonbinary people have completed the group’s multi-month training program and shorter boot camps.

More than half of the Democratic women serving in the state legislature attended Emerge Vermont training.

Prominent alumnae include U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas.

In her message, Haney acknowledged that the closure of Emerge Vermont would come as “an unwelcome surprise.”

Haney said state directors did not have input in the restructuring, but the change was not entirely unexpected.

“We were aware of some fundraising challenges, which are frankly being experienced by Democratic organizations across the country,” Haney said.

Haney, Emerge Vermont’s sole employee, has been reassigned to work as the regional deputy training director of the newly created New England region.

Emerge America has not publicly detailed how the regional model will operate in practice or when programs, including Emerge’s signature training or campaign boot camp, may be rescheduled. ➆

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A proposal has resurfaced to remove a Swanton dam and improve sturgeon habitat

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COURTESY

Austin Galinat, a Vermont Fish & Wildlife biologist, holding a lake sturgeon near Alburgh

E

nvironmental groups are renewing calls to remove an obsolete dam on the Missisquoi River that blocks endangered lake sturgeon and other fish from reaching critical spawning grounds.

Environmentalists and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department have long eyed the 8-foot-high concrete berm in the Village of Swanton for removal. But locals like the attractive pond that would drain if the dam were taken out and argue that the structure’s an important part of the village’s industrial history — and could someday be retrofitted to generate electricity. There has been a dam at the site since the 1790s; the existing one dates to around 1940.

A push to tear out the dam stalled a decade ago in part because local residents

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resented pressure from outside groups.

The village, which owns the dam, said it was also exploring a small hydroelectric project on the site.

Despite skepticism that hydro could ever work there, the village in 2019 teamed up with developer Bill Scully of North Bennington. Scully had restored hydro power generation at the Vermont Tissue Paper dam on the Walloomsac River in 2016. He died of cancer in 2020.

Another developer, Peter Blanchfield of Connecticut, continued exploring the idea in 2022 but abandoned the project in March 2025.

With hydro development now off the table, environmental groups and state officials are again hoping the village will consider removing the dam.

The Misissquoi is one of the largest rivers in the state, meandering 80 miles through northern Vermont and southern Québec farmland. It flows past several important hydro dams and a national wildlife refuge before emptying into Lake Champlain at Missisquoi Bay. Removing the Swanton structure would open up eight miles of vital SPAWNING DEBATE

» P.16 4t-Lakechampchoc(ruleYule)112625 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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11/17/25 3:21 PM

OWEN LEAVEY

news CITY

Burlington Projects a MultimillionDollar Budget Gap STORY & PHOTO BY COURTNEY LAMDIN courtney@sevendaysvt.com

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Burlington city officials have revealed a gap of up to $12 million in next year’s budget, marking the third straight year of significant mismatches between city spending and revenues.

Rising personnel costs are largely to blame. In the past 15 years, the city has added more than 100 positions to the workforce but hasn’t brought in enough money to pay for them, a struggle highlighted in a Seven Days cover story earlier this year. The city also continues to wean itself off of one-time money that paid for people and programs.

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is proposing a 5-cent increase to the city’s police and fire tax, which would close $3 million of the $10 million to $12 million gap. If city councilors OK that plan, voters will be asked to approve the hike on the Town Meeting Day ballot.

Otherwise, officials haven’t figured out how to cover the remaining gap.

“The reality is that we have to take multiple approaches, much like we have done in the prior two budgets,” Mulvaney-Stanak said at a press conference on December 11. “There is no one big, easy solution at this point.”

Fiscal year 2027 will be the second year of “ModernGov,” the mayor’s cost-cutting initiative that aims to create a more sustainable budget. The program found $2 million in savings this year by merging two city departments and reorganizing several others into a new Department of Finance & Administration.

Layoffs were also part of the equation. Eighteen city staffers were cut, and seven positions were left vacant.

The mayor said cutting staff would be a last resort. The city could consider offering “voluntary furlough programs” or early retirement as other options, she said.

But personnel will almost certainly have to be part of the equation. Health care costs are projected to go up by 10 percent next fiscal year, and employees in the city’s police and fire unions will receive sizable cost of living increases — 4.75 and 7 percent, respectively.

Two new firefighters will be added to the crew, per an agreement with the firefighters’ union. ➆

16

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

The Swanton dam

Spawning Debate « P.15 fish-spawning habitat, including for sturgeon, a species that the state is attempting to help rebound.

“It’s a pretty incredible opportunity,” said Karina Dailey, science and restoration director for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. “It’s the biggest, highest-profile, ecologically-important dam removal project in the state.”

She stressed, however, that the effort will only succeed if the village is on board.

A decade ago, the idea of removal was “introduced in a top-down manner,” causing villagers to dig in their heels, she said.

“The community needs to want it,” she said.

It’s not clear that it does.

“I think certain residents would be hesitant to have it removed,” Village manager Bill Sheets said. “I think others clearly would support that. I don’t know what the answer is.”

The idea has resurfaced partly because of the debate about the operation of another much larger dam eight miles upstream at Highgate Falls. That dam, also owned by the village, is going through the arduous federal relicensing process, which is required every 40 years.

No one is calling for that dam to be removed. It’s a big one, capable of producing nearly 10 megawatts of power. As part of its relicensing application, however, the village proposed studying ways to improve fish passage around the smaller dam downstream. Environmental groups, as well as state fisheries biologists, want the village to also study how removing the

smaller dam altogether would impact the fish.

VNRC, the Nature Conservancy in Vermont, Trout Unlimited, the Lake Champlain Committee and the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi are now all involved in the relicensing case.

Fish ladders often help aquatic life get up and over dams. But the Swanton dam prevents so many species from heading upstream that a single fish ladder couldn’t serve them all, explained Lee Simard, a fisheries biologist with the Fish & Wildlife

REMOVING THE SWANTON DAM WOULD OPEN UP

EIGHT MILES OF VITAL FISH-SPAWNING HABITAT. Department. Plus, lake sturgeon, which can live 150 years and reach 310 pounds, have a tough time getting up the structures.

That makes removing the dam the best way to restore the connection between Lake Champlain and the prime spawning habitat between Swanton and the Highgate Falls, Simard said.

Sturgeon populations were robust in Lake Champlain in the early 1900s, but their populations plunged midcentury due to overfishing, habitat loss and predation by sea lampreys, Simard said. The state listed them as endangered in 1987.

Sturgeon need gravelly river bottom to spawn because the gaps between the

pebbles give fertilized eggs a place to nestle until the fry hatch and float downstream to the lake. There is a small spawning area just below the Swanton dam, but the eight miles above the dam would offer 300 times as much such habitat, vastly increasing their chances of reproducing, he said.

Other species that could benefit include walleye, a popular sport fish, and the endangered stonecat, a small catfish that in Vermont only lives in the Missisquoi and La Platte rivers.

But lake sturgeon capture the public’s imagination like few other species. The ancient fish have been described as living fossils. The bottom-dwellers have a pointed snout, sharklike tail and raised bony plates called scutes that line the length of their bodies. They are the largest and longest-living fish species in the state and are rarely seen anymore by anglers.

Sturgeon have historically spawned only in the Missisquoi, Lamoille and Winooski rivers, plus Otter Creek.

They are slow to reach sexual maturity, with males reaching that landmark at around 15 years and females around 25; that makes restoring the species a challenge. The population in the lake is hard to estimate, but biologists think helping their numbers grow to 2,000 mature fish could take 50 to 100 years.

For decades, Fish & Wildlife has sought to study, protect and restore the population. A recovery plan formulated in 2016 identified removal of the Swanton dam as the highest priority project.

Another strategy has been to limit how hydro dams operate. Releasing

large volumes of water stored behind dams at times of high-power demand, a practice known as “peaking,” can harm fish species, particularly when they are spawning.

At the moment, however, there’s not much peaking happening at the Highgate Falls dam. A 15-foot-high rubber bladder that increases the size of the pond behind the dam, and thus power production, split in June after a seam repair failed.

Federal regulators won’t let the village try another fix or install a replacement, according to Sheets, the village manager, so officials are exploring options. A new, alternative system could cost millions and take years to install, he said.

The dam produces low-cost electricity for the Village of Swanton and the towns of Swanton, St. Albans and Highgate. Without the bladder, its production is down about a third.

The repair and relicensing of that Highgate Falls dam is the village’s top priority at the moment, Sheets said. Sheets questions why environmentalists believe the process should require studies related to the removal of a small dam eight miles downriver.

“We truly care about the environment,” Sheets said. “We’re willing to do whatever we need to do. We would just like to know what that is.”

VNRC and other groups are willing to step in to pay for and manage removal projects, which can cost millions, Dailey said. The public has increasingly embraced removing dams because of the ecological benefits of the practice, Dailey said.

A year after four dams were taken out of the Klamath River in California and Oregon, salmon have returned faster and in far greater numbers than anyone expected. The project, decades in the making, is being hailed as an environmental triumph.

VNRC’s work is on a smaller scale, but it helped remove a record nine small dams in Vermont this past summer, reconnecting 125 miles of rivers. In addition to restoring habitat for wildlife, the removal of so-called “deadbeat dams” that have outlived their purpose is increasingly becoming a key strategy for improving water quality and flood resilience.

“My sense is, there is a rethinking about what we value about the Missisquoi, and that includes Highgate and Swanton,” Dailey said. “It’s a package deal.” ➆

CRIME

Prosecutor Pleads No Contest to DUI Charge B Y CO LIN FL AN D ERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

Eva Vekos, the embattled state’s attorney in Addison County, has received a deferred sentence of six months’ probation after pleading no contest on Tuesday to a charge of driving under the influence.

Judge John Pacht accepted Vekos’ plea and issued the deferred sentence over objections from the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, which prosecuted the case and wanted Vekos to plead guilty and serve probation. The misdemeanor can be expunged from Vekos’ record in June as long as she does not violate several conditions, including that she not allow alcohol to “interfere” with her work.

Vekos declined a chance to address the court before receiving her sentence and did not speak to reporters afterward. Her attorney, David Sleigh, called the conclusion “somewhat bittersweet,” arguing that she was treated more harshly than any other DUI suspect would have been.

“But she has an opportunity to get this off her record and expunged, so I guess it’s good that it’s behind us,” he told Seven Days.

The plea brings an end to a criminal case that has dragged on since January

2024, when Vekos was arrested on suspicion of DUI after driving to the scene of a homicide in Bridport.

Vermont State Police troopers say they asked Vekos to take a field sobriety test after noticing that she smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared to be slurring her words. Vekos, who has maintained that she only had a single drink that night, refused, resulting in her license being temporarily suspended. She has since completed the necessary steps to regain her driving privileges.

She has also continued to serve as Addison County’s top prosecutor, despite repeated calls for her resignation. That pressure has only intensified in the wake of a VTDigger story this month that described ethics complaints from crime victims who have accused Vekos of mishandling their cases and of treating them inappropriately.

Last week, Gov. Phil Scott joined the Democratic and Progressive state parties in calling for her to step down.

Vekos has disputed allegations that she has mistreated crime victims and has said she does not plan to vacate her office. ➆

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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11/17/25 9:31 AM

news End of the Road? « P.14 roads — Chase Lane, Rumsey Lane and the very end of North Avenue — are dirt.

Not all of the roads have gotten equal treatment. According to a memo, the city plows five of the 32 private roads and 14 of the 22 unaccepted ones. The document doesn’t specify which roads get other maintenance, such as pothole filling, or whether they receive any city services at all.

City officials say that inconsistency is one reason the system needs to change.

Using tax dollars to improve nonpublic assets is one concern, while there are also liability issues around working on private property.

The question of how to handle these streets has cropped up several times over the years but has never been fully addressed. Councilor Mark Barlow (D-North District) recalled learning about the issue last summer, after a constituent’s vehicle was damaged by potholes on North Cove Road. Barlow, who chairs a council committee focused on transportation, asked Spencer why the city hadn’t filled them, as it had for years. Spencer explained that the street, which is barely wide enough for two-way traffic, is an unaccepted road. He sent crews to fix the holes but said the city needed a policy going forward.

A memo presented to Barlow’s committee last month detailed the department’s position. It said crews would stop maintaining private and unaccepted streets after October 1, 2026, unless residents paid up — as much as $143 per hour for plowing, plus the cost of salt. Alternatively, residents could choose to bring their road up to code, an expensive and lengthy process.

Otherwise, they would be on their own.

Councilors pushed back, saying the situation is too complex to resolve within a year.

“Every single one of these roads, I think we need to look at,” Barlow said in a follow-up interview. “We can’t just say we’re going to abandon them and ‘Good luck to you. And if you want us to help, here’s our rate sheet.’”

In an interview with Seven Days, Spencer emphasized that the rates are estimates and that the proposal is only the first step in resolving a decades-long problem. He said it was fair for councilors to ask for more time on the issue. At a transportation committee meeting this week, Spencer said the October 2026 deadline is moveable.

“We will push that date out if we need more time,” he said. “This is a process that’s going to engage all of us: the council, the public and staff.”

Residents already have concerns.

Seven Days spoke to six homeowners on 18

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

A car on West Road in Burlington’s New North End

THE QUESTION OF HOW TO HANDLE THESE STREETS HAS CROPPED UP OVER THE YEARS BUT

HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY ADDRESSED.

Volz Street in the Old North End

four unaccepted streets, none of whom knew their road’s status until they saw the city’s list or talked to a neighbor who had. Their houses aren’t part of a homeowners’ association, which would typically pay for road improvements or be billed for municipal services. All but one homeowner said the city has plowed their street for years.

Seamus Page, a South Burlington real estate attorney, said road ownership anomalies may not turn up in title searches, which typically go back 40 years in Vermont. He said it could take a lot of research to determine who ultimately owns each road or what portion of the road each homeowner is responsible for.

Browe Court resident Jeff Ploesser said his real estate attorneys never flagged the issue when he bought his home in 1996. He plans on selling in a few years and worries that an unaccepted road could devalue his home.

“Who’s going to want to come onto a street where the city’s not taking care of it?” he said.

Wheeler, another Browe Court resident, said the city’s plan would force neighbors to form associations, which he fears could be costly. Logistics aside, he said he also objects to losing a long-standing city service when he pays taxes like everyone else.

Wheeler’s neighbor, former city councilor Dave Hartnett, agreed. “With the

amount of taxes we pay, they should be plowing our driveways,” he quipped.

John Shappy II has lived at the end of North Avenue for all of his 69 years. An enclave in the city’s northernmost reaches, the neighborhood is home to many other longtime residents who Shappy said don’t have the means to pay for road services.

Volz Street, a one-block street off Manhattan Drive, also has several older and low-income residents, some of whom are physically disabled, according to Jenna Thayer, who has lived there for nearly 20 years. When a plow didn’t show up during a big storm some years back, family members of one elderly couple helped shovel the entire street.

“We’ve been able to come together as a neighborhood and help each other out,” Thayer said. “But if folks aren’t home, or if more people are not able-bodied, that would be really hard to manage.” She hopes that her street and certain others that don’t meet city code will be exempted from future rules.

Councilor Barlow is open to creating some carve-outs, as is fellow transportation committee member Councilor Gene Bergman (P-Ward 2). But Bergman isn’t sure every road should qualify, particularly those that are in rough shape. The problems could be costly to fix.

Some of the roads have “limited lighting, no sidewalk, limited or no curbing,” he said.

“The question is: Are we OK with that?”

Barlow said he wants to know which streets, if any, have homeowners’ associations and why each road doesn’t qualify as a city street.

He also wonders whether in some instances the city might have dropped the ball. In 1975, city councilors voted to accept Franklin Square to the street grid, but the action was never properly recorded in land records, leading to disputes with the street’s former owner, the Burlington Housing Authority. It wasn’t until 2020 that the city formally, and officially, accepted the street.

“It’s going to be a bit of an untangling process,” Barlow said.

City officials last week launched a web page about the roads and mailed notices to affected residents. The department will host community meetings to hear their concerns.

Some residents got a jump on the process by speaking at Barlow’s committee meeting this week. Jake Schumann, who owns property on the unaccepted North Cove Road, said that to stop providing essential services would be an “abrogation of civic duties.”

“Heads need to roll,” he said. “It’s really messed up, and I don’t want to pay my taxes as a result.”

The other residents appeared to agree.

The room erupted into applause. ➆

lifelines Thomas Carey

FEBRUARY 1, 1934-DECEMBER 2, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT. Thomas Carey, a longtime resident of Shelburne, Vt., passed away peacefully on December 2, 2025, at the age of 91, after a period of declining health.

Tom was a devoted family man and dedicated husband. His quiet demeanor and dignity will be missed.

Tom was born on February 1, 1934, in Albany, N.Y., to Thomas and Violet Carey. He grew up in the surrounding area and graduated from Catholic Central High School in Troy, N.Y. Tom served stateside in the Navy during the Korean War and then graduated from technical college. He married his high school sweetheart, Theresa Meliti, on October 13, 1956, and they began a journey of love and joy with each other and soon, their family.

Tom joined IBM; he told the story that he attended a job fair to become a TV repairman, but this small company called International Business Machines offered him a little more money and a better career path. Tom made the right choice and had a long, successful career with IBM. Their son Kevin was born in 1959, their daughter Christine in 1962, and their son John arrived in 1968, in the middle of hurricane Claire. Tom worked on the early manned Mercury space flights of John Glenn and Alan Shepard and returned to Florida later to work on the early Apollo launches. After bringing the family to Vermont in 1968, we never

Bruce Gene Towne

OCTOBER 17, 1949-DECEMBER 11, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT. Bruce Gene Towne, 76, of Colchester, Vt., passed away on December 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family, after a long battle against pulmonary fibrosis. He was a devoted husband and father and lived his life in accordance with the Golden Rule. He was a pillar of strength, generosity and love for his family. He was born on October 17, 1949, son of Eugene and Arlene Towne, and was raised in Milton, Vt. Bruce graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis) in the class of 1971, where he excelled academically. After a grueling interview with Admiral H. Rickover, he was selected into the Nuclear Power Program, achieving the distinction of being the first foreign affairs major ever selected for that program, and graduated at the top of his class. He proudly served as an officer on the nuclear submarine John Adams. After leaving the Navy, he attended Champlain College and began his career as a certified public accountant.

Family was extremely important to Bruce. He is

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

really believed that he didn’t know that the home he bought in Shelburne in the dead of winter was next to Kwiniaska golf course. Next to his wife, family and God, golf was right up there in the pecking order! Tom loved playing in league nights with his IBM pals and joined golf couples’ leagues with Theresa. These were many of their lifelong closest friends.

Tom won the “prestigious” Caldwell Cup at Kwiniaska in 1976, a feat the family would repeat back to him in good fun from time to time over the years.

Tom volunteered to coach Little League and became a deacon at St. Catherine’s, where he taught catechism classes. Theresa worked for years at Shelburne Middle School, and together they spent countless hours attending school and sports activities and supporting their children. Together they built a home full of love and encouragement.

Tom is survived by his son Dr. Kevin Carey and his wife, Kathleen, and their children, Allison Macy and her husband, Sam, and Tom’s great-grandson, Henry; and Dr. Grace Carey and his namesake, Thomas Carey. He is also survived by his son John and his wife, Suzanna, and their sons, Emmett, Michael and Daniel. He is predeceased by his loving wife of over 67 years, Theresa, and their daughter, Christine.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Mansfield Place in Essex Junction and Bayada Hospice for their professional and compassionate attention.

A service and reception will be announced for a future date.

survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathleen Towne; sister Pamela Towne (Steve Danaher); children, Carrie Hopkins (Brant), Liza Dates, Mac Dates and Schuyler Towne (Amy); grandchildren, Eric and Nathan Roy, Alyssa Garcia, Andi and Moses Dates, Violet and Juniper Towne, and Tim and Josh Hopkins. He was predeceased by his sister Patricia Ward.

He greatly enjoyed going out to breakfast with his many cousins and friends. He loved to play cards and mah-jongg, and the Army-Navy game was a “must see.” He was an avid reader and a deep thinker with a sharp wit. In spite of his illness, he considered himself a very lucky man.

Visiting hours will be on Sunday, January 11, 2026, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center, 237 Route 7, Milton, VT. A service will be conducted on Monday, January 12, 2026, noon, at the United Church of Milton. Ashes will be interred in the spring at the Vermont Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, Vt. The family would like to thank Dr. Prema Menon for her exceptional care, the McClure Miller Respite House, and the hospice nurses for their care and kindness.

Frank Burgess Haddleton

DECEMBER 8, 1962NOVEMBER 25, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT. Frank Burgess Haddleton, of Burlington, Vt., passed away on November 25, 2025, at the age of 62, after a courageous battle with depression and other health issues.

Born in Boston, Frank grew up in Dover, Mass., and spent childhood summers on Cape Cod. After graduating from Haverford College, he earned his law degree at Northeastern University School of Law and his LLM from Boston University School of Law’s Graduate Tax program, where he was awarded the Alumni Academic Achievement Award. He had his own law practice for 30 years and was a property manager, book author and massage therapist.

Frank was an avid runner, completing two marathons in Burlington and many races on Cape Cod and in Sarasota, Fla. He loved biking and kayaking, and he began sailing as a child. He had a passion for genealogy,

Jeffrey Dion

APRIL 14, 1955-NOVEMBER 25, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT. Jeffrey F. Dion, age 70, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2025, surrounded by family, after a long illness.

He was born April 14, 1955, to Francis “Frank” E. Dion and Else M. (née Brande) Dion.

Soon after his birth in Portland, Maine, the Dion family moved to Framingham, Mass., where Jeff’s siblings Dennis and Beth were born. A final move brought the family to Burlington, Vt., and then the youngest, Chris, joined the family as they settled into the New North End. After graduating from Burlington High School, Jeff explored multiple career paths — including putting the J in DJ’s Pizza of Malletts Bay — while fathering four sons.

Eventually becoming a longtime millwright union worker, Jeff lived for the time he spent on the road for his trade and on the trail in his free time.

A motor sports enthusiast, he spent the warm months riding motorcycles and the snowy months traversing Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and Québec by snowmobile.

history, antique maps, old postcards and ephemera of all kinds. Frank appreciated well-written literature, puns and word play, and had been writing stories since he was 6 years old.

Frank was an extremely kind, compassionate man. Even as he struggled with his own health issues, he always showed concern for others, asking questions about their lives and offering encouraging words. He was an attentive listener and generous with compliments. Frank made people laugh with his quick and clever wit. He had a brilliant, perceptive mind but was unpretentious and polite. Frank was loved by many friends, clients and relatives, and every dog or cat he encountered was immediately drawn to his loving nature and gentle soul.

Frank is survived by his loving husband of 37 years, Brian Jaffarian. He is also survived by his brother and sisterin-law, Russ and Alina Haddleton, and their children.

No service is planned at this time. In memory of Frank, please consider a gift to the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

Jeff leaves behind his four sons, Eric Dion of Ferrisburgh, Vt.; Lance Dion (Sharon Rotax) of Boise, Idaho; Todd Dion of Lincoln, Vt.; and Tyler Dion (Kate Lothuko) of Essex, Vt. He also leaves his brothers, Dennis Dion (Janet) of Colchester, Vt., and Christopher Dion (Krista) of Bristol, Vt.; his sister, Beth Ann Trombly (Randy) of Lincoln, Vt.; his grandchildren, Carter and Reinette; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Else.

Jeff’s family would like to extend special gratitude to Joe Mattison and Deb Crampton for their support and unwavering friendship for their dad. It meant so much to him, and them.

A celebration of Jeff’s life for his friends and family will be held on January 10, 2026, noon to 4 p.m., at the American Legion, Post 91, 8 South St., Colchester, Vt. Per Jeff’s wishes, inurnment will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions in Jeff’s memory may be made to Newark E-Z Riders Snowmobile Club. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

AUGUST 6, 1938DECEMBER 7, 2025 WILLISTON, VT.

OBITUARIES Carol Rudavsky Sweeney OCTOBER 8, 1942NOVEMBER 25, 2025 BERLIN, VT.

Mother, wife, friend, teacher, doctor’s office manager, volunteer and homemaker extraordinaire, Carol Rudavsky Sweeney died on November 25, 2025, in Berlin, Vt. She was 83. She died peacefully with her husband, Jack Sweeney, by her side. He was able to hear the last breath Carol took before leaving this world.

After spending many vacations in a cabin on the shores of Woodbury Lake in Woodbury, Vt., Carol and her husband decided to leave New Jersey and, in summer 1971, moved into an old farmhouse in Montpelier. This was where they would raise their young family and spend the next 55 years fixing up the house, becoming part of the community, planting vegetable and flower gardens, running Jack’s painting business, and putting on incredible holiday celebrations. But most importantly, it is where she would find herself.

Carol wasted no time adapting to life in the country. She quickly became an avid gardener. Her veggies were prolific, and she absolutely loved peonies. Once a week during the summers, all of us kids had to fill two shopping bags full of weeds before we could make our way to the huge public pool, only steps away on Elm Street. She cooked, canned and froze enough veggies to make it through every winter.

An early advocate for the women’s liberation movement and the Equal Rights Amendment, you could find her on the steps of Montpelier’s capitol or in city hall, demanding that all people be treated as equals. Befriending other activists during the ’70s, she helped at campaign call centers, advocating for the first female lieutenant governor. When Madeleine Kunin won her governorship in 1984, Carol was at it again on the phone.

During this time, with four young children, she decided to go back and get a college degree. The option had been denied her after high school, but that was no longer the case. Putting her tenacity and intelligence to

20

work, she graduated from Goddard College with a degree in psychology. This led her to becoming a teacher’s assistant at Montpelier’s Main Street Middle School and Berlin Elementary. Through the state, she obtained her teaching degree based on her experience and schooling.

She then worked at both Cabot High School and U-32 High School, where she taught business classes. At U-32, she also became the teacher’s union co-representative. She was adamant about her students learning how to balance a checkbook, obtain a useful degree wherever they went to college or tech school, and save money to buy their first house. Many of these students came back to her over the years to share how her guidance had led them to continued success in their lives. She was always humble about their achievements, telling them they were the ones who did the work.

Moving on from teaching after cuts to education, she found a new beginning working as the office manager for Dr. Paul Laffal. There, she juggled the phone, patient services and billing. She was tenacious about getting invoices paid for by insurance companies, and Dr. Laffal admired her for it. They were a great team, and she enjoyed the challenge. She retired in 2010.

Carol Anne Rudavsky was born on October 8, 1942, in Jersey City, N.J., the middle child of Anne Marie (Makley) Rudavsky, a one-time AT&T overseas phone operator, and Francis Joseph Rudavsky, a trainman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. When she was in grade school, her family moved to the Jersey Shore. She graduated from Pt. Pleasant Beach High school, where she was a Manasquan majorette.

Upon graduation, she quickly found a job working as a secretary for Mayor Thomas F. Shebell Sr. at his private law firm. Carol loved everything about the beach. Shebell and his team were instrumental in building boardwalks and pavilions on the Jersey Shore.

She loved her first job.

Soon, she would meet her future husband. Against her father’s wishes, Carol was intrigued by Jack’s fast convertible and his rebellious attitude. By chance they were invited to the same wedding. There, Carol asked Jack to

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

Douglas John Corrigan

dance. Jack, being a little tipsy, was hesitant to say yes. Carol told him she would “dance him sober.” She did, and two years later, they were married at Saint Denis Church in Manasquan.

That bond would last for 63 years, until her death.

Carol also exhibited an extraordinary amount of empathy in life for everyone. A holiday didn’t go by where residents of local halfway houses wouldn’t share holiday dinners at the Sweeney home. Money was very tight in those early years, but what she had, she happily shared with all. And she could make a dollar stretch like nobody’s business. A world-renowned shopper, she could find a bargain in the most remote section of any store, especially Harry’s and Zayre’s.

Throughout her life she enjoyed and was fueled by countless hours volunteering. She was involved with school mentoring programs, running a youth group at Christ Church, being a Brownie leader, guest lecturing at Weight Watchers and participating in the Everybody Wins program, to name a few. She was an avid walker, loved cross-country skiing in Hubbard Park, painted still lifes, wrote poetry and was an accomplished bowler. She was a renaissance woman. A true people person, she could talk to almost everyone, and she did. On her many travels abroad, she always came back with stories of the folks she encountered and marveled at how she found more similarities with them than differences.

In every town, there are people who lead by example, people that help sew the fabric of a community, become part of many people’s lives, and give endless amounts of energy, love and time to make those communities a better place to live in. Carol Rudavsky Sweeney was one of those people, and all of us were better for it. She is already sorely missed.

The family would like to thank all of the nurses and nurses’ aides on the second floor of Chestnut Place. Their care, thoughtfulness and warmth made the last few days of mom’s life incredibly comfortable.

She is survived by her husband, Jack, and four children: her daughter, Shea; her son Shawn and his wife, Randy; her son Shannon and his wife, Pamela, and her son Shane; and nine grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held on January 10, 2026, 11 a.m., at Christ Church in Montpelier, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend.

Douglas John Corrigan, 87, of South Brownell Road in Williston, Vt., died on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center after a serious illness.

He was born on Roosevelt Island, New York City, on August 6, 1938, named after the pilot Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan, who famously duped authorities by taking to the air and flying to Ireland after being cleared to fly to California.

Doug was the youngest of 10 children born to Bernard and Margaret (O’Donnell) Corrigan. He grew up in Flushing, N.Y., where he made friendships in his school years that would last his lifetime. After graduating from Jamaica High School in 1956, he served in the U.S. Army at Maine’s Loring Airforce Base as a radar operator. As a veteran, he leveraged the G.I. Bill and admission to C.W. Post College to pursue his undergraduate degree. With characteristic determination, he took trains and buses, walked, and hitchhiked to get to and from school.

He was accomplished in and out of the classroom, including playing football for the Post Pioneers and drums for the Continentals, a local cover band. He graduated college in 1964, which marked a milestone to his ultimate goal: a career in the FBI. After a few characterbuilding detours, Doug graduated from Quantico in 1966. For the rest of his life, he would recount tales of his days in the North Carolina and San Francisco field offices, but his eventual posting in the midtown New York City office was not just a career summit but also a homecoming. Not long after settling back in, Doug attended a lively party in Manhattan, encountering Birgitta Mechtenburg of Essen, Germany, in the hallway. They married in April 1971 (in both the U.S. and Germany!) and raised daughters Natascha and Allana in their longtime home on Long Island. After 24 years as a special agent, he retired and applied his experience

in anti-piracy work for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and finally as a private investigator.

Alongside the FBI, Doug’s passions were travel and skiing. He skied all over the world, but perhaps his favorite place in all the world (judging by how much it occupied conversation) was Mad River Glen, where he became a founding shareholder. Visits to MRG became a routine after Doug and Birgitta’s postretirement move to Williston, Vt. After 15 years as a proud Vermonter, Doug peacefully passed away in Burlington on December 7, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Birgitta; his two daughters, Natascha Aldridge (Jeremy) and Allana Sexton (Todd); his two grandsons, William Douglas and Ethan Alexander Aldridge; and stepbrother Robert Toephert.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Bernard and Margaret; stepmother, Josephine; sisters, Rosemary (Vasko), Patricia (Visachelli) and Margaret (Tyrell); brothers, Bernard, Andrew, Thomas, James, Edward and Joseph; and stepbrother John Toephert.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, December 19, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, Burlington.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in South Burlington, with interment to follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nature Conservancy (preserve.nature.org).

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

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Jon Gailmor AUGUST 5, 1948NOVEMBER 30, 2025 LAKE ELMORE, VT.

Vermont troubadour, Elmore community icon, beloved by adults and children, Jon Gailmor died peacefully on November 30, 2025, at his son’s home in New Orleans after a courageous battle with leukemia. He left this world to the sound of his family singing by his side.

Jon was born in Manhattan on August 5, 1948, to William and Elaine Gailmor. After his early childhood in the Philadelphia area, the family moved to Westport, Conn., where Jon attended Staples High School. There, under the direction of George Weigle, Jon sang in the choir and became a member of the select singing group the Orphenians.

This gave Jon his first sense of musical camaraderie. Also formative for Jon during his teen years was the music of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Josh White. Jon developed political and social awareness

from his father, a journalist and radio news commentator, and from his mother, an astute observer of the human condition.

After high school, Jon attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he joined the renowned Penn Glee Club and was voted its president. This remained a most treasured time in his life.

After college graduation, and following the early death of his father, Jon spent months hitchhiking across Europe, singing in cafés to earn his keep. His life during this unconventional and free-spirited time

Juliane “Ann” Elisabeth Hudson (née Carter)

MAY 28, 1960-DECEMBER 8, 2025 JERICHO, VT. Juliane “Ann” Elisabeth Carter passed away on December 8, 2025, with her loving husband holding her hand, after a resurgence of cancer.

Ann was born on May 28, 1960, in Randolph, Vt., the fourth of five Julianes. Only a few weeks later, she attended her first graduation ceremony as her father, Marvin Stanley Carter, proudly accepted his valedictorian honors from Vermont Technical College. Before long, the family settled in Jericho, Vt., where Ann enjoyed countless happy times at the family camp on Maquam Shore on Lake Champlain — memories that remained dear to her throughout her life.

Ann attended Mrs. Hubbard’s kindergarten at Jericho Elementary School for grades 1 through 6 and was among the first classes at Browns River Middle School. She often

shaped his understanding of music, humanity and purpose.

Returning home in the early 1970s, Jon formed a folk duo with fellow Staples classmate Rob Carlson.

Amidst gigs in coffeehouses, clubs and colleges, their album, Peaceable Kingdom, was released by major label Polydor Records. Jon quickly realized the bright lights of commercial music didn’t fit his heart and that big fame wasn’t for him.

In 1977, Jon visited Vermont for the first time, fell in love with the sense of community and decided to stay. He met and married Cathy Murphy, settled in Elmore to raise their family, and set his energies to creating a career, not about fame and fortune, but about caring and contribution.

In the following decades, Jon became renowned as a community-centered singer, songwriter, performer and educator, focusing especially on working with children and families. Over the years, he released several solo albums filled with self-penned songs combining humor, warmth,

recalled the open classroom experiment of grades 7 and 8 — an approach she found less than ideal, leading her high school class to retake several courses. During her time at Mount Mansfield Union High School, she was a member of the MMU gymnastics team.

By her junior year, Ann was thinking seriously about college and how to support herself, so she took jobs at Big Burger in South Burlington and later at Lum’s. After graduating from MMU, she followed in her father’s footsteps and attended Vermont Technical College in the electrical engineering program, becoming part of the great Carter/ Hudson VTC legacy.

She excelled academically and earned membership in the Alpha Tau Pi Honor Society. Interestingly, both she and her father had the same English teacher — Angus Murry.

In the spring of her senior year at VTC, Ann met the love of her life, George Hudson. After graduation she began work at Digital Equipment Corporation in Williston, where she worked on the VAX-750 computer.

Throughout that time, she and George

social awareness and humanity.

In 1979, Jon launched a weekly children’s music radio show, “Just Kidding,” which aired for more than two decades on the Waterbury radio station WDEV. He also influenced generations of Vermont kids through songwriting residencies in schools and other organizations, inspiring them to create their own music, to find their voices, to believe in themselves. This gift of helping others to feel heard, seen and valued was a hallmark of Jon’s life.

In October 2024, Jon moved to New Orleans to be closer to family and to focus on his health. He continued to write music, including a tribute song to the staff at the Ochsner Cancer Center, where he was lovingly and skillfully treated.

Jon loved his late wife, Cathy, with his whole heart.

He was proud beyond words of his children — Aaron, Maya and Micaela — and never missed a soccer game, track meet or school performance.

“Papa” to his grandchildren Farrah and Cooper, Jon

maintained a long-distance relationship until George transferred from RIT to the University of Vermont so they could be together. They moved into an apartment at Dorset Commons in 1981 and were married on August 28, 1982, honeymooning in Québec City.

Ann and George moved to Jericho in January 1984 and began building their lives together. After experiencing one miscarriage, they were blessed with their first daughter, Juliane Patricia Jouanicot (née Hudson), on April 25, 1985. Ann then left her position at Digital to dedicate herself to raising their family. Their second daughter, Katelyn Patricia Carter Hudson, arrived on March 7, 1987, bringing even more joy into their home.

As their children grew, Ann and George filled their lives with nature walks and outdoor adventures around Jericho, with the Audubon Center in Huntington becoming a family favorite. Ann was also an exceptionally talented knitter. Over the years she created countless sweaters, hats, scarves and mittens.

After her experience with breast cancer, she poured her skill and empathy into knitting chemo caps and preemie hats, donating them generously to the hospital. When grandchildren arrived, she knitted baby sweaters and hats for them and extended the same love-filled gifts to her wider family.

inspired in them a love of music. Cassie, his daughterin-law, was a light in his life, and she loved him as a second father. Jon adored his older sister, Wendy, and remained close to her, along with her late husband, David, whom he loved as a brother.

Jon cherished all of his extended family and close friends.

Donations in Jon’s honor may go to music education, either to your local school’s music program or to the Integrated Arts Academy (IAA), where Jon was a regular artist-in-residence.

Checks can be sent to the IAA, 6 Archibald St., Burlington, VT 05401, with “Jon Gailmor” in the memo line.

A celebration of Jon’s life will be held in late May 2026 in Vermont, the place he loved. Details will be available later.

Jon often said: “My reason for being is music.”

Music brought him purpose, but what defined him was something deeper — love, kindness and lifting hearts.

We love you, Dad, Papa, Brother, Friend.

She was always busy with genealogy. Ann enjoyed digging into the family history and learning from the often-ignored maternal lines.

She volunteered to document the cemetery across from her home and contributed to the painting of the fence during the pandemic. Ann delighted in helping others with their family trees and was excited when her daughters brought home partners so she could start adding their family history.

Ann’s life was one of devotion — to her family, to her craft and to the many small acts of kindness she offered to others. Her legacy lives on in the warmth she created, both in the lives she touched and in the many stitches of love she left behind.

She is survived by her husband, George; Juliane P. (Hudson) Jouanicot, her husband, Marc, granddaughter Sage and grandson Wyatt; and Katelyn P. C. Hudson and her partner, John Barton. She is also survived by her mother, Juliane Carter; her brother Thomas Carter and wife Karen; and her brother M. Stanley Carter and wife Anne. She is predeceased by her father, Marvin S. Carter Jr. Arrangements are in the care of the Chittenden County Cremation Society, a division of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences please visit cremationsocietycc.com.

Janet Krumme Sisson AUGUST 5, 1930DECEMBER 10, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT.

Janet Krumme Sisson, of Shelburne Vt., died early Wednesday morning, December 10, 2025. A mass and celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Donations in her memory may be made to Home Health & Hospice, who were so helpful to Janet and her family.

“Maybe death isn’t darkness after all, but so much light, wrapping itself around — as soft as feathers.”

— Mary Oliver

Ronald E. Buxton

MARCH 17, 1933DECEMBER 10, 2025 ESSEX, VT. Ronald E. Buxton, 92, died peacefully at Mansfield Place in Essex, Vt., on December 10, 2025. A native Vermonter who lived a full and wonderful life. A full obituary can be found at gregorycremation.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Roger Gillim

where he scandalized his wife’s employer with his wild hair, horn-rimmed glasses, purple sneakers and socialist politics. He rode a motorcycle (Sandy sat side-saddle), began a career in computer science, and otherwise enjoyed the art and vibrancy of New York in the ’60s.

In 1970, Roger and Sandy traveled to Vermont to visit friends. While initially they intended to stay for a weekend, they immediately fell in love with the place: its seasons, landscape and, above all, its people. Soon thereafter, they quit their jobs and apartment in Manhattan and spent a first freezing winter in a rambling old farmhouse in Fletcher. A

year later, they purchased a “starter home” (with heat!) in Underhill, where they would live for the next 53 years.

Roger will be remembered for his animated spirit, his bawdy and often irreverent sense of humor, his passion for books and learning, and his warm, unpretentious demeanor. He played the viola for nearly 70 years, performing with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Vermont Philharmonic, his beloved Octet and more musical groups than can be named.

He was a man of many serial pursuits: baking bread and pies, brewing beer, playing handbells and attending Bible study at the United Church of Underhill, and having a ball with the Underhill/Jericho Lions Club. Life was too endlessly interesting to pin him down to any one hobby for long. A gifted public speaker and writer, he easily mixed wisdom with humor. He was beloved for his thoughtful guest sermons at the church and Memorial Day speeches, and his legendary letters excusing his children’s school absences were minor works of art. Driven by what a dear

friend called a “thirst to know and understand,” he delighted in sharing his latest discoveries in history, science, religion, politics and current events — whether you wanted to hear them or not. Above all, Roger was exceedingly kind and generous, welcoming strangers into his home (you never knew who was going to show up for breakfast), giving away more than was sensible and always putting the needs of others first.

No one made friends with strangers more easily than Rog. It didn’t matter whether you were a CEO or the janitor sweeping the floor, he wanted to know you and hear your story — so long as you were willing to hear one or two of his! Not long after he met someone, he would know their name and life story, which he would remember in fine detail the next time their paths crossed. He had a terrific sense of humor, sometimes skirting the edge of the inappropriate, often leaving his patient wife wondering what he might say next. “Roger is a man of the people,” one of his care providers recently remarked. His family could not agree more.

More than anything, Roger was devoted to his wife and sons, his extended family, and his wide circle of true friends, especially Brian and Catherine Lloyd, Peggy and Angelo Dorta, and Angie and Bill Meltzer, with whom he shared more than 70 years of friendship.

Roger retired from the Vermont Department of Health in 2009 after a long career in health care research.

He spent retirement exactly as he wished: surrounded by books, coffee, laughter and family. Despite many years of health challenges, he never lost his sense of humor or his ability to connect with others, and he always took time to express heartfelt gratitude for the love and care shown to him by the many helpers in his life.

Roger leaves behind his wife, Sandy, to whom he was married for 58 years; his son Sebastian and his wife, Tracy Harty; his son Seth and his wife, Kala; and two beloved granddaughters, Addie and Evie. He also leaves behind a large and loving extended family of in-laws, nieces and nephews.

His family would like to

thank the many doctors and nurses who cared for him over the years, especially Dr. Rick Dooley and nurse Julia Jacques at Thomas Chittenden Health Center.

His final years were spent at Maple Ridge Assisted Living, where he received warm and attentive care. The family is especially grateful to Amanda Champney, the very special person who, for the last eight years, provided both Roger and Sandy with devoted support and care and became an adopted daughter whom he loved dearly.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, 2 p.m., at the United Church of Underhill. Memorial contributions in Roger’s name may be made to the organization of your choice that reflects the values he held dear: his love of music, his intellectual curiosity, and his care and concern for others. Or just do something unexpectedly and irrationally generous. It’s what he would have done, after all. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

Sweet dreams, Pop-Pop. We love you.

Benson Mann and Frederic Sturgis Mann, Alison grew up in the Boston suburbs of Braintree and Weston. She was an encouraging and fun older sister to her two much younger sisters. An avid reader, Alison graduated from Bates College in 1956 with a major in English literature.

Following college, she worked

in rural Mexico as a volunteer with the American Friends Service Committee.

Alison met Bud Etherton after a dinner event at the Arlington Street Church in Boston, when he volunteered to wash the dishes, and she volunteered to dry them. They married in 1957 and moved to Pullman, Wash., for four years.

There they had their first child, Kirk, in 1960, and Bud earned his PhD in biology at Washington State University.

Bud’s early research and teaching positions enabled the young family to live in a variety of places, which Alison loved. They lived near the University of Edinburgh in Scotland; at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and near Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago, Ill. While at Vassar, Alison worked in the college’s placement office,

where she counseled students on finding meaningful summer jobs and internships.

This experience prompted her to earn a master’s degree in counseling from George Williams College while living outside Chicago.

The family moved to South Burlington in 1968 when Bud accepted a professorship at the University of Vermont.

Alison took a position supporting job placement at what is now the Vermont Department of Labor. In 1971, Bud and Alison’s daughter, Laura, was born. Alison grew to love living in Vermont. She joined multiple book groups and spent time cross-country skiing, canoeing, playing tennis and taking her daily two-mile walks around Mayfair Park.

She and Bud joined the First Unitarian Universalist Church and started English and

Scottish country dancing. In 1986 Alison started a career as a real estate agent, a job she continued for 30 years. She enjoyed getting to know towns all around Vermont as she worked with people to help them buy or sell their home.

In 2019, Alison and Bud moved to Wake Robin in Shelburne. Before moving there, Alison was a little intimidated by the impressive careers many Wake Robin residents had earlier in their lives, but once she and Bud moved in, what struck her most was the kindness of the community.

Alison is survived by her husband, Bud Etherton, of Shelburne, Vt.; son Kirk Etherton and daughter in-law Lucy Holdstedt of Somerville, Mass.; daughter Laura Etherton and son-inlaw Adam Marx of Portland,

Ore.; sister Heidi Mann of Cambridge, Mass.; sister Wendy Roberts and Charles Eggleston of Los Angeles, Calif.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Alison’s family, friends and neighbors loved her and will miss her.

The family would like to share their gratitude for the care and support that Alison and her family received from the Wake Robin community, including residents, providers and staff, as well as UVM Medical Center and Bayada hospice providers.

A service will take place in 2026. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to COTS, a nonprofit providing housing and homelessness prevention services in Vermont, at cotsonline.org/ donate. Please visit awrfh. com to share your memories and condolences.

NOVEMBER 16, 1943DECEMBER 1, 2025 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Roger L. Gillim, 82, passed away on December 1, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center after a brief illness.

Roger was born on November 16, 1943, to John and Byrl Gillim. A self-described “good Jewish boy from Brooklyn,” he left home at 16 to attend Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. There, he developed a lifelong passion for learning and intellectual inquiry. He studied abroad in the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, read Shakespeare and practiced countless string quartets at all hours, and made dear, lifelong friends along the way. As a graduate student at Ball State University, he met the love of his life, Sandra (Sandy) Herr. Graduate school didn’t stick, but Sandy did.

They married in October 1967, barely six months after they met, and remained inseparable for 58 years.

Rog and Sandy settled in New York City after marrying,

Alison Etherton OCTOBER 10, 1934NOVEMBER 21, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT.

Alison Mann Etherton, 91, passed away on November 21, 2025, at Wake Robin, a continuing care retirement community in Shelburne, Vt. Alison loved her family and friends and was always reading at least one book. She had a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed playing the piano, restarting piano lessons in her eighties. She enjoyed making and eating delicious food in good company. She valued kindness and public programs to increase access to education, housing, health care, parks and the arts. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, neighbor and friend.

Born on October 10, 1934, in Boston, Mass., to Helen

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

READ, POST, SHARE + COMMENT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LIFELINES

James D. Myers JANUARY 18, 1931DECEMBER 6, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

James D. Myers, 94, of Burlington Vt., passed away peacefully on December 6, 2025. Born on January 18, 1931, at home in Manheim, Pa. James was the son of the late Paul and Erla (Ritter) Myers. He was predeceased by two older siblings, Barry L. Myers and Nancy L. Tavella, both from Manheim, Pa. James never married, though his outgoing, loving and generous personality was loved by all. He was treasured as a father figure, a friend, a confidante and a creative inspiration.

James is survived by five nephews, three nieces, seven greatnephews and two great-nieces,

Lori Marie Bullock Sullivan

APRIL 18, 1962-NOVEMBER 29, 2025 TARPON SPRINGS, FLA. Lori Marie Bullock Sullivan, 63, beloved mother, sister and friend, passed away on November 29, 2025, in Tampa, Fla., surrounded by her family.

Born on April 18, 1962, in Rutland, Vt., Lori’s life was dedicated to the care and education of children — not only her two daughters and son but also the countless children she helped in her practice as a pediatric occupational therapist and volunteer.

Lori graduated from Assumption College and the Sargent College of Medicine at Boston University.

Early in her career, she provided her

Morris Pike

MAY 6, 1928-DECEMBER 4, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT. Morris D. Pike, aged 97 years, 7 months, of Shelburne, Vt., died on December 4, 2025. Raised in Stowe on Keewaydin Dairy Farm, he attended the University of Vermont, Yale Divinity School and Mansfield College in Oxford, England.

He was a Minister and Educator with the United Church Of Christ. He served as Associate Minister for the Richmond Hill Church in Queens, N.Y., before returning to Vermont to be the Minister for the Richmond, Vt., Congregational Church. He also was the supervisor of music for the Richmond schools. He then served as Minister of Education for the Vermont Conference, traveling extensively around the state working with community churches.

with whom he shared his talents and experiences. He took them on vacation and hiking through the woods, showed them New York City, and gifted them with elaborate gifts and plenty of love.

After graduating from Manheim Central High School, James enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving two years in Germany. His time abroad introduced him to the beauty of Europe and instilled a love for travel.

His travels took him to Italy, France, Africa, Spain and throughout the U.S. He learned the cultures and

services to children with learning disabilities at the Cove School in Winnetka, Ill. When she moved back to Vermont in 1989, Lori opened Sullivan & Associates, which served the needs of pediatric patients in northern Vermont.

As time passed, Lori discovered a love of horses, which she incorporated into her practice of hippotherapy, under the name of Hearts, Hands and Horses.

She helped many children with autism spectrum disorder and other neurological conditions. After moving to

studied the art of the people and returned with artifacts and style that set his home’s interior far above the norm.

He was a caregiver to animals of his own and those of others.

His art talent had taken on different forms throughout his life, from restoring old trunks, to basket weaving and even a small business he shared with his lady love, Ms. Irene Woodard.

Together they designed and created the Woodmyer Mouse Collection: miniature costumed mice of every category, selling them to Trapp

Florida, Lori continued to work with special-needs children, including those who were deaf.

Lori was an active member of the Baha’i faith communities in Vermont and Clearwater, Fla. With the latter group, she participated in a choir that was invited to perform recently at the Baha’i House of Worship for North America in Wilmette, Ill. Lori’s children were always her first love and priority.

From choosing a Montessori preschool education, through primary and high school,

Family Lodge, at street fairs and in shops.

Irene’s family — the Woodards, Smiths and Maxsons — became a large part of James’ life. Her loving children, sons-in-law, daughter-inlaw, grandchildren and more welcomed him into their lives, making him an honorary member of their clan. His close and very supportive friends, Linda Lamb and Bruce Erwin, were there to share the good times and offered never-ending help in his health decline. He also leaves behind his caring friends at Fern Hill — where James resided for more than 30 years — and his close friend, Marie Claire Ryan.

James’ ashes will be interred in the spring of 2026 at the family plot in Manheim, Pa. A memorial service in Burlington, Vt., will be announced in the spring of 2026.

Lori was deeply involved in making decisions and supporting them that would give them opportunities in a way she never had. That included travel to diverse places and inviting artists and musicians to teach and perform at the house she helped to design on Appletree Point in Burlington.

Lori is survived by her three children, Rachel, Louis and Madeleine, and their spouses, Daniel and Ayla; her sisters, Kelly and Stacia; brother, JR; and a large extended family in the Rutland, Vt., area.

A memorial service to celebrate Lori’s life will be held in Burlington, Vt., after the holiday season, to allow as many as possible the opportunity to join the family in honoring her beloved memory. More details to come.

IN MEMORIAM

Robert “Bob” Stowell 1955-2024

Almost a year has passed since you left us, and we miss you every day. During this — your favorite time of year — we hope you’re celebrating with the angels around a beautiful tree, surrounded by the largest Charlie Brown Village around.

Love, Peach, Tom and Todd

Ulla-Britt Segersteen Later, he served as Educator with congregations in Billings, Mont., and Hartford, Conn. His responsibilities broadened in scope with service to Center City Churches, Hartford, Conn.; the Central Atlantic Conference; and the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries (UCBM).

With the UCBM’s division of Education and Publication, he was on design teams as well as a writer for nationally used education materials, a workshop leader for church educators around the country and the Coordinator for Conference Resource Centers.

Morris was a longtime volunteer with Heifer International, part of his lifelong interest in world hunger issues. After retirement, locally he volunteered with the Joint Urban Ministry Project (JUMP), the Flynn Center and local schools and for a time was the children’s choir director at College Street Church. A resident of Wake Robin, he served on many of its committees, on the Corporation Board of Directors and as president of the Residents’ Association.

He is survived by his daughter

Laura and son-in-law Geoffrey Coombs of Cumberland, Maine; the Les Pike family of Stowe; the Lucene Pike family of Oregon/ Idaho; the Jeffrey Pike family of New Jersey; the Amanda Pike Kliber family of Wisconsin; the Stephen Pike family of Nebraska; numerous cousins; and his dear close friend Grant Crichfield of Burlington. He was predeceased by parents Ruth and Carroll; his brothers, Merton and Milton; former wife Ann; an infant son; and his daughter Lucinda.

Heartfelt thanks are extended to the nurses and all personnel of Wake Robin Cedar Skilled Nursing for their care and efforts during his time there.

A celebration of life will be held in spring 2026. Memorial contributions may be made to the Caroline Fund for Women in Need, 114 Loomis Street, Burlington, 05401.

1931-2025 A multilingual teacher and educator for over four decades, Ulla-Britt touched so many lives with her eternal optimism, brilliant mind, creative spirit and kindness.

A world traveler, she hiked, walked, biked and skied to explore the natural world to its fullest. Ulla-Britt loved visiting Vermont and considered it her second home. Ulla-Britt lived a long, positive life, and as she would say: “Live Today, Remember Yesterday, Dream About Tomorrow.”

— Forever in our hearts and minds, Marie Segersteen Lorrain & Peter Lorrain

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Next on the Nightstand

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Crown, 304 pages. $28.

A thoroughly enjoyable read by a debut author. Sybil Van Antwerp’s letters to family and friends are far from a meandering opus. Rather, they reveal a true development of her feelings of grief, guilt, forgiveness of self and others, and kindness. In this epistolary novel, you’ll recapture the familiar or learn for the first time the satisfaction of connecting with another via pen and ink.

Vermont booksellers offer recommendations for your next great read B Y D A N BOL L ES • dan@sevendaysvt.com

O

ver the years, I’ve developed relationships with the folks who work at my local bookstore, the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury. I’ve never actually introduced myself and couldn’t pick any of them out of a lineup — we book nerds are notoriously shy, after all. But thanks to an always-excellent staff picks shelf and sage recommendations on cards sprinkled throughout the store, I feel like I know them — and, sometimes, like they know me.

Meadow, for example, is always up on the coolest new speculative fiction, especially horror (my wheelhouse) and fantasy (my fiancée’s). When I’m stuck on what to read next or what to get my fiancée, she often comes through.

If I’m in the mood for something lighter, I’ll turn to Amy, whose tastes trend a little breezier and who shares my affinity for Richard Osman mysteries. For thrillers and crime fiction, I look for a Linda pick.

For something more highbrow and literary, that’s Becky. Something offbeat, Carol.

Point is: Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, bookstore staff picks are indispensable. So we asked staffers at three of Vermont’s many excellent indie bookstores for their favorite recommendations this year. Their choices include hard-nosed journalistic nonfiction, moving literary character studies, epic fantasies and at least one possible future kids’ lit classic. In other words, as at every great bookstore, there’s something here for every reader.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

E RI C A TAMBLI N I

THE ELOQUENT PAGE

70 N. Main St., Saint Albans City, 527-7243, theeloquentpage.com

Dinner With King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-Creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells and Tastes of Lost Civilizations by Sam Kean, Little, Brown, 464 pages. $32.50.

A fascinating exploration of how professional archaeologists and passionate amateur historians are using experimental or living archaeology to research ancient technologies and how they worked. Kean joins these people in flint-knapping, tanning, making and tasting garum, building scaled-down models of the pyramids and ramps to see if the stones could be moved, trepanning with stone tools, and more.

Interspersed with fictional vignettes putting those technologies into practice and depicting the sensations they evoked, this book entertains as it informs. Now I want to try some of those techniques!

D O N N A HO WA R D

Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell by Gabe Henry, Dey Street Books, 304 pages. $28.

This breezy history of English and its eccentric spelling covers the history of our many attempts to simplify our orthography — from Benjamin Franklin and Noah Webster through George Bernard Shaw and Upton Sinclair — nearly all of which failed. Webster’s book

on simplifying English destroyed his reputation, but he restored it and partially succeeded in his goals when he published the iconic An American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828, by sneaking some of his simplified spellings into the book. Will the computer age and texting achieve what centuries could not? A great gift for teachers, librarians and anyone who loves language.

D.H.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, Simon & Schuster, 320 pages. $28.99.

I was instantly invested in the characters of this beautiful and heartbreaking story of love and loss set in the British countryside during the 1950s and 1960s.

It explores the complexity of love and the past relationships that haunt us, layered with a mystery that keeps the pages turning.

A N N I E FO U RN I E R

The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces

by Seth Harp, Viking, 368 pages. $30.

Harp’s riveting exposé on the dark dealings carried out in Fort Bragg, N.C., in recent years and the corruption of top-ranking U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers. Drug dealing, murders, illegal weapons — a culture of corruption that started in Afghanistan and came back to the U.S. — are subject matter that demands to be read. This book will shock you!

A L I C I A ME RC U RE

The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers, Redhook, 384 pages. $29.

Cass, a book thief, returns to the magical bookshop where she was raised when she inherits it upon the murder of her former mentor. Now the bookshop is nearly empty and its magic failing, and nearly everyone wants to take the store and its remaining power for themselves.

A twisty tale of deceit, corrupting power, choices made and prices paid, in which everyone has a secret and a past. As Cass navigates the treacherous world of magical bookselling, she must decide how much she is willing to pay to discover who killed her mentor — and to restore the bookshop she still loves.

D.H.

THE BOOKSTORE

8 Conant Sq., Brandon, 465-8009, thebookstorevt.indielite.org

Twice by Mitch Albom, HarperCollins, 320 pages. $26.99.

Working at a bookstore, I find that enjoyable reads come with the territory.

Sometimes books land in my hands; other books “nudge” me as I walk by. Albom’s novel Twice did the latter. The plot centers on Alfie, accused of a crime he did not commit. To prove his innocence, he offers as evidence his life review written in a notebook. He discovered as a child that he had the ability to go back and relive any event in his life — but only once — and had

Commercial and Residential Cleaning

to live with the consequences. The only exception to this is love. Although I rarely find myself on the edge of my seat while reading, this story of second chances, human connection, hope, regret and love was spellbinding to the last sentence.

D OROTH EA L ANG EVIN

The Immortal Choir Holds Every Voice

by Margaret Killjoy, Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness, 102 pages. $17.

By turns haunting, hopeful and a badass romp, the much-awaited third installment of Margaret Killjoy’s Danielle Cain series will knock your socks off. Readers will love anarchist, demon-hunting Danielle’s adventures across the country alongside her friends. If you’ve ever gathered around a fire and told spooky stories, this book will feel like home. Think ScoobyDoo and his pals all grown up and hunting actual cryptids! Buy all three installments for the reader in your life who loved the TV show “Supernatural” and believes in prison abolition.

EL I F OX

Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Ballantine Books, 352 pages. $30.

A beautifully written celestial novel that enlightens readers on the significance of love in an unthinkably large universe. In the 1980s, our characters face misogyny and homophobia while persevering toward careers at NASA. While they train, they form unforgettable relationships that are written with such truth and complexity you’ll start to feel bonds with them yourself. From the book’s beginning to its emotional ending, Reid draws you into this world and never lets go. This tale of sacrifice, self-discovery and how love can change everything deserves to be your next read.

SIENNA M ANY

Entwined: Dispatches From the Intersection of Species by Bridget A. Lyons, Texas A&M University Press, 224 pages. $22.

I cannot say enough about loving this book. It’s a collection of 14 essays from Lyons’ lifetime of outdoor adventure and personal reflection. She weaves her own story into her research and insights about the natural world, ranging from surfing among bull kelp off the California coast to desperately seeking ibex while running the high Alps of Switzerland. A true naturalist and scholar, Lyons learns and teaches beautifully, never preaching, never spending too much time navel-gazing.

She’s earned the praise of heavy-hitting science writers Sy Montgomery, Carl Safina, and Vermont’s Leath Tonino and Bill McKibben. In paperback, with original black-and-white block-printed artwork by the author, it should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

BARBARA EBLING

FLYING PIG BOOKSTORE 5247 Shelburne Rd., Ste. 102, Shelburne, 985-3999, flyingpigbooks.com

Here in New England: Unforgettable Stories of People, Places, and Memories That Connect Us All by Mel Allen, Earth Sky + Water, 320 pages. $20.

For a healing dose of humanity and community, dip into Here in New England by Yankee magazine’s longtime editor Mel Allen. A Studs Terkel for the Northeast, Allen seeks out hidden histories that might otherwise get overlooked. Here he collects 45 short, vivid true stories of people, places and events that exemplify what makes New England unique, rendering both extraordinary and ordinary lives with respect and warmth. Packed with surprising, courageous, deeply individual stories, this is a love letter to our region and a wonderful gift.

E L I ZA B E T H B L U E M L E

Bog Queen by Anna North, Bloomsbury Publishing, 288 pages. $28.99.

Two stories weave together in this truly entertaining, hard-to-categorize novel. Is it a thriller? A ghost story?

A beautifully researched feat of historical fiction? Yes, yes and yes! A young forensic scientist discovers a two-millennia-old body in a peat bog, and readers are taken back and forth between past and present. A perfect gift for fans of historical fiction with a little bit of mystery.

E M I LY C O PE L A N D

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, Celadon Books, 288 pages. $27.99.

Best Offer Wins spins a dark, thrilling story of a young woman named Margo who will do whatever it takes to get her dream home so that she can live her dream life. However, the D.C. housing market is beyond intense, and she will have to take it to a new level for her offer to be accepted. I became almost as obsessed with this story as Margo was with this house. Obsession drives people to do crazy things, but how far is too far to get everything you’ve ever dreamed of?

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C A I T T S C HI DA

MORE FOR LESS • 802-503-9373 The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, Tor Books, 320 pages. $29.99.

BLESSEDEACHDAYVT@GMAIL I had the best time being repeatedly heartbroken by this book. By the end of the first chapter, I knew this was going12v-MoreforLess121025.indd 1 12/16/25 4:55 PM to be one of my top reads of the year, and the rest of the book did not disappoint. I recommend going in as blindly as possible because it’s so fun being dragged headfirst into this story, come what may. But what I can tell you is that it’s about a lady knight, fascism and propaganda, love, loss, and a little bit of magic. Buckle up and enjoy — you won’t regret it!

E M I LY BO W E RS

Afia in the Land of Wonders, written and illustrated by Mia Araujo, Scholastic Press, 304 pages. $24.99.

Araujo takes a well-known story — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — and completely transforms it into something modern and exceptionally beautiful. It’s about a girl who leaves her village and gets whisked to a fantastical court in which nothing is what it seems. I have no doubts that Afia in the Land of Wonders will go down as a modern classic.

Between the lyrically woven mythology and the vibrant full-color illustrations, this story should enthrall readers of all ages.

C .T.

Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, Candlewick, 160 pages. $17.99.

“Hansel and Gretel” meets “Thumbelina” in this new fairy tale in which a kindly shoemaker takes in a tiny girl he finds nestled in a boot in his shop. He raises her as his daughter until, in true fairytale fashion, the cobbler’s wife becomes jealous of the tiny girl and casts her out into the big, wide world. Lost Evangeline finds her way in this whimsical tale of courage and wonderful characters (including a sassy, self-involved cat).

Another magical, timeless, read-together treasure from DiCamillo (The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Puppets of Spelhorst).

E .B. & C .T.

SHOP LOCALLY FOR HIGH-QUALITY GIFTS!

89 Main St. Montpelier, VT onionriver.com | (802) 225-6736 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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Fully Booked

Bridgeside Books’ popular retreats bring authors and avid readers to Vermont inns B Y M ARY A NN L I CKTE IG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

COURTESY

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ovember does not flatter Vermont. Its bleak days, bare trees and gray skies do not generate images likely to lure tourists.

And yet, when Waterbury’s Bridgeside Books scheduled a reading retreat smack-dab in the middle of the month, people across the country clambered to get in. Attendance was capped at 35.

Reservations, which could only be made by calling the retreat site, Sterling Ridge Resort in Jeffersonville, opened at 1 p.m. on a Monday.

Meagan Bennett took time off from work to book slots for herself and a friend. Nicole Studer called 40 times in 60 minutes. Sterling Ridge has a single phone line. Sales and marketing manager Kirstin Salg took the first call, hung up and found 30 voicemails waiting. The retreat sold out in two hours.

The weekend-long event featured talks

by New York Times best-selling rom-com author Katherine Center and Vermont’s own Katy Farber, a genre-flexible Middlesex writer who has published nonfiction, a picture book, a middle-grade novel and, in September, her debut adult novel, The Board.

The retreat, not including lodging, cost $450 for breakfast, lunch, three books, a gift bag and all programming, which is spare by design: a Friday-night opening reception, the author talks, book trivia, a book swap — and nothing else.

“I love an agenda that includes hours of private reading time,” said Katherine Alix-Gaudreau, a theater director from Belfast, Maine.

So do hundreds of others. The Sterling Ridge retreat was one of two that Bridgeside Books held that weekend, bringing the store’s total to seven. Mixing readers, authors, books and cozy inns, the bookseller has learned, produces a winning attraction. Indeed, the prevalence of reading retreats popping up around the globe has prompted Condé Nast Traveler to name them “the must-try wellness break of 2025.”

The Sterling Ridge retreat guests, all women, came from New England, New York and as far as Ohio, Illinois and Florida. They are people who set lofty reading goals, join multiple book clubs and have three books going at a time: a physical book for home, a Kindle read for their lunch hour and an audiobook for the car.

Best friends came for a girls’ weekend and siblings for a sisters’ getaway.

Reading retreat participants with author Katherine Center (middle)

Many others came solo and instantly made friends. To break the ice, all they had to do was ask, “What are you reading?”

Billed as adult summer camp for bookworms, the experience felt a little like freshman orientation in college, when students get grouped by shared interests, said 30-year-old Nicole Maroney-Noce of Morrisville. Others felt like they’d been dropped into a Hallmark movie.

I LOVE AN AGENDA THAT

INCLUDES HOURS OF PRIVATE READING TIME. KATHERINE AL IX - GAUD R E AU

A fortuitous early snowfall set the scene: Log cabins and two ponds dot Sterling Ridge’s wooded hillside. Knotty pine planks line the walls and ceiling in the welcome center, where a hint of cinnamon hangs in the air and a mammoth elk head on the wall. A sign on the check-in desk advised guests that it was hunting season and they should wear brightly colored clothing when walking in the woods. For those without, “We have blaze orange bandanas and vests for you to use.”

Some retreat guests came to see a favorite author, others to curl up in a cabin and read. Bennett, firmly in the first camp, arrived from Washingtonville, N.Y., with 10 of Center’s books in tow for the author

to sign. The covers depict couples and flowers rendered in the palette of Tropical Skittles. Titles include What You Wish For, The Bodyguard, The Love Haters, Hello Stranger and Things You Save in a Fire.

“She is the queen of comfort reads,” said Bennett, a 52-year-old nanny and owner of a pet-sitting business. Center’s characters are ordinary people and her books are packed with emotion, Bennett added, “but real-life emotion, not like, Oh, this would never happen in real life. She’s very real and down-to-earth — and funny.”

Bridgeside Books teased its TikTok followers the day it announced that Center was coming. A camera panned along a bookshelf, “and one of Katherine Center’s books was either sticking out a little bit, or they moved it a little bit — without saying it was going to be her,” Bennett recalled.

“And I just went crazy, crazy, crazy.”

Bridgeside owner Katya d’Angelo developed the retreat format with store manager Jenna Danyew. “We just felt people were craving a deeper experience with authors and their books,” d’Angelo said.

They initially considered a one-night event where locals would gather and read, “like a digital detox,” d’Angelo said. But that didn’t seem enough, and they settled on a weekend that typically pairs a nationally known author with one from Vermont.

Their first retreat, in April 2024, featured central Vermont resident and New York Times best-selling fantasy author Katherine Arden and Stowe novelist Catherine Drake.

Since then, Riley Sager, Jo Piazza, Sarah Beth Durst and Vermont’s Sarah Strohmeyer have appeared. Colorado fantasy, sci-fi and romance writer Rebecca Thorne saw posts about the retreats on Instagram and commented favorably — so the store invited her to attend.

Thorne headlined a retreat at Waterbury’s Old Stagecoach Inn on that same mid-November weekend. Danyew and d’Angelo plan to host six or seven retreats next year, when visiting authors will include horror writers Paul Tremblay and Clay McLeod Chapman, novelist and Bustle magazine deputy editor Hannah Orenstein, Stowe romance writer Amber Roberts, and Vermont forester Ethan Tapper.

Danyew admits to having had her own starstruck moments around retreat authors. “Even just the fact that they say yes to our emails is always very exciting,” she said. Bridgeside is too small to attract many of them for a traditional bookstore appearance, she said, but the retreat offers an enticing package. Authors use the weekend to read, vacation or work.

“Jo Piazza was on a deadline when she was here,” Danyew said at Sterling Ridge.

“She had her laptop right outside and was writing her book while we all sat in here reading her previous book.”

Farber did the same. An assistant professor of education at Saint Michael’s College, she is working on a new thriller and used her time away from daily demands to write, talk to her agent and discuss the plot with trusted advisers. “I’m sitting there in that lovely cabin, just on the couch, brainstorming with them on Zoom,” she said.

That Saturday afternoon, as readers finished a hearty lunch of soup and crusty bread, Center told them about the arc of her career: how she wrote her first novel when she was in sixth grade and how, despite majoring in English and creative writing and winning the Vassar College fiction prize, it took her 20 years to get anything published. “And I was trying the whole time,” she said.

Now, despite her bestsellers and books turned into movies — 2020’s The Lost Husband stars Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel — she still can’t read negative reviews. “I’m easily discouraged. I am, like, one dirty look in the grocery store away from flinging myself on the ground,” she said, sounding as down-to-earth and funny as her characters.

COURTESY

Meagan Bennett, Katherine Center and Alyson Dembski

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

Katy Farber and Katherine Alix-Gaudreau

In Center’s first novel, the unpublished one from middle school that she has ordered to be burned upon her death, the members of English pop band Duran Duran are driving through her suburban Houston neighborhood when their stretch limo gets a flat tire and they knock on her door in search of a phone.

“And somehow,” Center told the women at the retreat, “in this one astonishing and magical afternoon, all five of them fell in love with me.”

Fiction is powerful, Center said. Writing that story gave her hope when she was an awkward 12-year-old wearing braces, headgear and a mullet. “I was so mean to myself at that age,” she said. “What genius to invent some fictional versions of world-famous rockers who could say all the kind and encouraging things to me that I refused to say to myself.”

Her books today, though more sophisticated, are not all that different, she said: “I’m just trying to lift us all up.”

Farber spoke at breakfast on Sunday morning. Her genre hopping irritates book marketers who like authors to stay in their lane, she said, but she feels compelled to follow her ideas.

A former public school teacher, she has written nonfiction about teacher burnout and its antidote; Real Talk for New Teachers: Tools for Building a Sustainable Career, coauthored by Penny Bishop, came out in June. Seeing dead salamanders on the road during her runs

prompted her picture book, Salamander Sky. The #MeToo movement sparked her forthcoming young-adult novel, What If It Wasn’t My Fault.

Farber writes, she told her audience, to fix the problems she sees in the world.

She dipped her pen into a new genre for The Board. Producing a thriller was a challenge, she said, but the central setting, a small-town New England school, was very familiar. To write the opening scene in which her protagonist attends a tense school board meeting, she simply channeled her own experience.

“Of course, nobody was as awful” as they are in the book, she said. “And nobody was murdering anybody.”

Farber signed copies of The Board for retreat guests, who then perused the book-swap table and quickly disappeared to pack their bags and depart. Stormy weather was moving in.

Bridgeside Books deliberately schedules its retreats during off-peak travel seasons — late fall and early spring — to boost Vermont businesses. “It’s a really nice bump for us,” Sterling Ridge’s Kirstin Salg said. Besides filling rooms that would otherwise remain empty, book lovers eat in area restaurants and take day trips.

Some even extend their stay.

While these less-appealing months are called “shoulder seasons” in the hospitality industry, locals don’t mince words.

Vermonters call them “stick season” and “mud season,” and with good reason. It rained all weekend during this year’s April retreat at Sterling Ridge. Co-owner Barb Salg apologized to guests, but those who come for book retreats are not typical tourists, she realized.

“They don’t ever get upset when the weather is bad,” she said, “because it gives them an excuse to stay in their cabin to read.” ➆

INFO Learn more at bridgesidebooks.com.

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December Past, December Future A short story BY MARGOT HARRISON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

SARAH CRONIN

DECEMBER 1986

Fiona Garrity didn’t believe in magic. Yet here she was three days before Christmas, crossing Harvard Yard in search of a magic book, because a snowstorm had grounded her flight home and she was tipsy and possibly in love.

“Normally, the professor locks the book in a safe in her office,” Luke had explained while they were sharing the bottle of Maker’s Mark in his room in Dunster House. “But last class, she got distracted and left it out. I bet it’s still there.”

Luke had been taking a seminar so special you had to be invited to it, taught by an imperious Frenchwoman named Odile Vernet on 28

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

the top floor of Boylston Hall. The daunting granite slabs of the old building rose above them now, black against the whirling snow. At nearly midnight, with most of the students already gone for winter break, the white paths through the Yard were undisturbed by footsteps. The unearthly glow of snow and sky made the night seem unreal.

Magical, Fiona teased herself as they stepped from the frigid outdoors into the warm silence of the building. This could only be a joke to her, a funny story to tell later.

Luke, though, was so sweet and suggestible, with his barrel chest and sensitive eyes and perpetual five o’clock shadow.

When Professor Vernet insisted her Library of Fates had the power to “choose”

books that would guide him through his life, he chose to believe it. Even when the professor claimed to possess a magical tome crafted by an eighteenth-century witch, he gave her the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe it’s his poet’s soul, Fiona thought.

They were both English concentrators, but Luke never seemed to question his choice the way she did — which was odd, when you considered that his dad was a baker and Harvard was giving him the full need-based aid package. Unlike her, he had nothing to fall back on.

But that was part of what she loved about him — the excitement of getting caught up in his flights of fancy. While her previous boyfriend, a law student, had described her

studies as “taking the path of least resistance to a dead end,” Luke embraced all her quirks as if they only made her more alluring.

They had to climb three long flights of stairs to the library, and she was out of breath at the top. “This better be good.”

The dark room felt different from the rest of the building — warmer, with a subtle hum in the air. When Luke switched on a lamp, Fiona saw an upscale Harvard version of coziness: tall bookshelves everywhere, moss-green carpet and curtains, a long seminar table in the center.

“What if the professor put the book back?” she asked, wondering if the carpet was soft enough for a make-out session.

“Bet she forgot. She flew to Paris that same night.” Luke was perusing a shelf between two bay windows. “Aha!” He tugged out a volume and brought it to the table. “She said we’re not supposed to try this until we truly know ourselves. Do you know yourself, Fiona?”

Fiona chose to ignore the question.

“Navel-gazing” was her dad’s term for selfexamination. Anyway, she was fascinated by the book itself.

It looked centuries old, bound in black with gilt bands around the spine. When Luke swept his fingertips across the cover and opened it, she shuddered without knowing why.

The book’s frontispiece was decorated with symbols of fate: constellations and women with spindles. “The Book of Obscure Nights,” Fiona said, tentatively translating the French title.

“The Book of Dark Nights.” Luke was starting to look a little worried, despite the hectic gleam in his eye. He leafed through the pages, which were covered with handwriting — different on each page, none of it legible.

“It’s some kind of journal?” Fiona asked.

“No, it was created for a parlor game of divination. Louis Quatorze’s granddaughter supposedly played it.” He pointed to a page that was blank except for a single printed line: Laissez-moi vous lire.

Let me read you.

The words sent a chill creeping under Fiona’s sweater. She didn’t want to be “read,” but she never refused a game or challenge. If there was a way to win, she’d find it. “What do we have to do?”

“Write a confession on a page. Something bad we did.” The furrow between Luke’s brows deepened. “Then, supposedly, it tells us our future in the form of a literary quotation.”

Fiona sat down and pulled the book to her. After 12 years of Catholic school, she could do confessions. “Won’t the prof notice if we deface her antique?”

But she didn’t hear what Luke replied.

Something about that empty page called to

her, with its rough, yellowed texture. She wanted to make her mark there.

She whipped out a pen, shielding the page from Luke’s view, and wrote: When I go home for break, I’ll tell Dad I won’t be applying for law school. Luke wants to study creative writing in Iowa after graduation, and I want to go with him.

She hadn’t even voiced her plan to herself until that moment — hadn’t dared.

But the book had yanked it out of her, and there it was in black and white. Her greatest sin: taking the path of least resistance, or so her old boyfriend would have said.

FIONA KNEW IT WAS HER IMAGINATION

THAT THE BOOK VIBRATED BETWEEN HER HANDS, AS IF ELECTRICAL CURRENTS WERE TRAPPED IN THERE. IT HAD TO BE. She hoped Luke wouldn’t peek, because she didn’t want him to be too sure of her feelings for him. But he just stared into space, still frowning. “Now close the book and open it again to the same page.”

Fiona obeyed. She knew it was her imagination that the book vibrated between her hands, as if electrical currents were trapped in there. It had to be.

When she opened it again, the sight of the page tore a gasp from her.

Words had materialized there — written in her own hand, each letter shaped in her distinct way. Yet she was sure she hadn’t written anything else. And certainly not this: I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.

A gust of wind buffeted the windows and wailed around the building. The lamp flickered. Fiona sat frozen, not breathing.

The sight of that page was taunting and violating, as if a supernatural force had seen into her heart, stolen something deeply personal to her, and twisted it into an ill omen.

The words rang a bell. Shakespeare, maybe? But she didn’t doubt the quote had been repurposed just for her, because it hit home. She was wasting time — with her studies, with Luke, and certainly with her plan to follow him to the middle of nowhere so he could get a degree in poetry, for God’s sake. Who does that?

She closed the book gently and handed it to Luke, suddenly aghast at her own foolishness. With his kindness and whimsy, he had intoxicated her and lured her to the edge of an abyss. Now she was cold sober.

The world was brutal, the job market cutthroat. If she wasted time in youthful self-indulgence, time would waste her, sooner or later. Her dad had been telling her so since she was old enough to understand, but she hadn’t listened. It had taken this freaky book (she refused even to think the word “magic”) to make the veil fall from her eyes.

This was a college romance, something to feel nostalgic about someday, not her real life. How could she ever have thought otherwise?

Luke was scribbling in The Book of Dark Nights. Fiona told herself she couldn’t afford to care about his confession or his prediction — he was no longer her concern.

But when he closed the book, reopened it, and glowered down at the page, she couldn’t help asking, “What does it say?”

Luke practically slammed the book shut.

He went to the shelf and returned it to its former spot. “You didn’t tell me yours.”

Fiona wondered why he was so angry.

Had the book informed him she’d returned to her senses? She switched off the lamp and then danced down the stairs after him, consumed with curiosity, nagging him to come clean. By the time they emerged again into the fiercely blowing snow, she had revealed her own prediction, though not the confession that precipitated it. She couldn’t let him know how close she’d come to devoting her life to him.

The Square twinkled with festive lights, improving her mood, and she slung an arm around Luke’s waist. She’d distance herself gradually, so as not to hurt him.

It bugged her that he was being so secretive, though. He’d always been an open book before.

“Tell me, tell me!” she chanted. But when he only shook his head, she tired of the game and broke free of him. “Have it your way. I’m going back to my room — early flight tomorrow, remember?”

As she was about to leave, Luke stretched his right hand out toward her, an unreadable look on his face. She waited for him to ask her to stay. But he just stood there, his hand grasping nothing, until she rolled her eyes and walked away.

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12/12/25 10:14 AM

DECEMBER 2016

The falling snow was so thick on the roads that Fiona Calder struggled to make it up the hill to the ski lodge.

“Why do you need the car today, anyway?” her daughter, Cress, complained DECEMBER PAST, DECEMBER FUTURE

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from the passenger seat, annoyed at having been hurried out of the restaurant.

“Where on Earth are you going?”

Fiona herself wasn’t sure she wanted to go anywhere during a snowstorm, but she couldn’t back out now. It was her whole reason for choosing Stowe this year over Aspen. “I told you, I’m seeing an old friend.”

“From Harvard?” Cress always looked sour when she spoke the name, as if her parents’ alma mater represented everything she disliked. Now she was in an especially foul mood, because they’d spent lunch arguing over whether she would apply to Harvard early decision next year, or at all.

Fiona slammed the gas pedal, making the rental Chevy Tahoe fishtail, but the burst of power carried it the final few yards into the parking lot. She pulled up to the lodge, where Stephen and Ian were waiting.

This was supposed to be a family getaway, no work or other distractions — Stephen had lectured her about that — but she had something to do tonight. She should be allowed to have something to herself.

“Harvard students can be poets and artists and foolish dreamers,” she told Cress. “You can have your fun and still get the right diploma. Remember that.”

Cress opened the door and stepped out, still scowling. She’d been such a sweet, innocent kid, with her hand-knitted scarves and paintings and collages, until she’d made some equally artsy friends who liked to rant about the evils of capitalism. Now Cress was determined to go to art school in San Francisco or skip college entirely. And ever since the presidential election, she’d been treating her mother like a mortal enemy.

Typical teenage logic. Fiona hadn’t voted for him, but her practice had clients whose corporations had contributed to the campaign, and apparently that was enough to damn her to the ninth circle of hell in her daughter’s mind. Meanwhile, Stephen, who had voted that way, somehow escaped the brunt of Cress’ wrath.

Her husband and daughter adored each other, so each of them blamed her for whatever they liked least about the other.

It wasn’t fair, but what was? “See you this evening, sweetie!” Fiona called stubbornly to her daughter, who was halfway to the entrance without having said goodbye.

Cress, short for the Shakespearean name Cressida, because the girl owed her existence to the Bard. The name was one of the few true whims Fiona had allowed herself since becoming a real adult.

She would have a spa day with Cress tomorrow, she vowed as she inched the Tahoe down the hill again, squinting to see the shoulder through flying flakes.

Buy her a fancy set of paints for Christmas. Mend the rift, make it up to her.

Maybe she could persuade her to apply early decision to Brown. Stephen had his heart set on Harvard, but Fiona had her own private reservations. She didn’t like to imagine her impressionable daughter wandering into the library on the top floor of Boylston Hall.

Cress might get her hands on The Book of Dark Nights, and who knew what it would tell her?

Fiona’s destination was a small town several miles from the resort, accessible only on winding country roads. The snow was slackening. But the wintry blue dusk cast a pall over bare woods and fields, reminding her of her nightmares.

They’d begun after she wrote in The Book of Dark Nights. Sometimes she was back in that creepy library, and the book was lost and she had to find it. Sometimes she was in a crowd of people, all trapped in a dark place. Luke was there, but she couldn’t reach him, only hear his frightened voice calling out to her.

They hadn’t been close since that December night at the library, and she hadn’t seen him at all since graduation.

Back then, without email or texting, it was easier for people to drift apart.

Later, she hadn’t looked him up on social media, restricting herself to updates in the alumni bulletin.

The Tahoe crested a hill, and the village appeared below her: a single street outlined by wan holiday lights. She couldn’t imagine living in such a desolate place.

As she rolled past the bakery-café, though, she thought it looked welcoming. According to the alumni bulletin, Luke had bought the place after returning home to care for his aged parents.

He was locally renowned for his crusty sourdough and apricot tarts, but he had never published poetry or married, as far as she knew.

She pulled into the driveway of a handsome fieldstone Victorian decorated with fir boughs — the local Quaker meetinghouse. To her surprise, the lot was nearly full.

So were the folding chairs inside.

People were milling around drinking coffee from a dingy carafe, talking in low voices. No one seemed to notice her, and why would they?

When Fiona saw the photo of Luke on the easel, she was surprised by the tears that flooded her eyes, breaking through her careful defenses. He looked older, of course, with a full beard. But the wistful gaze was the same.

Dead at fifty-one due to a faulty heart valve, after such an uneventful life.

When she saw the announcement in the

SARAH CRONIN

bulletin, the sad meaninglessness of it all had gripped her. That was when she’d resolved to attend the celebration of life, because she owed Luke that. She’d had strong feelings for him once, and in some small way, that made him part of her.

The room quieted. And as people started coming up to the podium to speak, she realized Luke’s life hadn’t been quite as uneventful as she’d imagined.

The manager of the food pantry called him an “angel” for his weekly donations.

HER NIGHTMARES HAD BEGUN AFTER SHE WROTE IN THE BOOK OF DARK NIGHTS.

SOMETIMES SHE WAS BACK IN THAT CREEPY LIBRARY.

Bakery regulars said he’d helped them through tough spots, offering fresh coffee and a sympathetic ear. He’d given jobs to people who were considered unemployable, taught cooking to the community, and volunteered with troubled youth.

People had traveled more than an hour to praise his kindness with tears in their eyes.

How very Christmassy, Fiona thought.

Her initial tears had dried, and sentimental outpourings always brought out her cynical side. But she couldn’t deny that her old boyfriend had turned out more successful than she’d expected, if one chose to measure success by the ability to draw a bunch of tearful townsfolk to one’s memorial. It was all very Dickens, and she was well aware of her own Scrooge-like qualities.

If I’d stayed with him, would I still be this person? Who would I be? So many times over the decades she’d asked herself the forbidden questions.

Forbidden because she wouldn’t change anything. She loved her life and her children, who owed their existence to her choices. And yet…

Of course, there was no “magic” in The Book of Dark Nights. Waking the morning after their trip to the library, she’d realized she must have been confused. Clearly, she herself had scribbled the Shakespeare quote in that crumbling book. Her subconscious had warned her away from Luke. It was the only explanation a rational person could entertain.

But the words rang differently to her now. I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.

Fiona had tried so hard to make good use of her brief time on Earth, to spend it sensibly. Yet she could feel time wasting her, day by day, eating away at her youthful sense of invincibility. Sooner or later, she would follow Luke, perhaps into the same dark place she’d seen in her nightmares. There would be no coming back.

On the podium, a woman with wild gray hair, wearing too many scarves, was rhapsodizing about a guest lecture Luke had given in her poetry class. He recited Keats so soulfully, etcetera.

Fiona wondered if the eulogies at her memorial would be as heartfelt as these.

Maybe not, because she’d held back so much of herself. The parts that weren’t sensible: the part of her that had loved Luke, the part that had scribbled a confession in the book, the part that had teased him to reveal his own prediction.

Now, for the first time, she grasped why she’d been so eager to know. Deep down, in her heart of hearts, she’d wanted to believe they were destined to be together.

She’d wanted his prediction to be something that would force her to reinterpret hers.

But he hadn’t told her.

The woman with too many scarves just kept talking. “In his will, Luke asked for a particular Keats poem to be read at his celebration,” she said, hooking a pair of glasses on her nose. “To my mind, it’s a touch morbid, but I think it conveys the almost unearthly power of love in Luke’s life.”

Fiona braced herself for something boring, her gaze wandering to a window. A flame-red sliver of sunset hovered on the horizon, supernaturally vivid against the snow-shrouded evening, like a promise of brighter days to come. Luke would have appreciated her metaphor, she thought.

The woman was reading: This living hand, now warm and capable Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold

RUDOLPH’S FAVORITE STOP

And in the icy silence of the tomb, So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights…

Fiona remembered this poem fragment from her long-ago studies. Keats had died so young that it seemed like an actual message from the tomb. Some said he’d written it to the love of his life, Fanny Brawne, to make her feel guilty after he was gone.

That thou would wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream again And thou be conscience-calm’d…

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And suddenly Fiona knew. She remembered the strange look on Luke’s face as they parted that December night, and12v-railcity122023.indd 1Commercial and 12/11/23 2:59 PM how he’d stretched out his hand to her.

Residential Cleaning This living hand.

This poem, or some part of it, had been his prediction from The Book of Dark Nights. That was why he’d chosen it to memorialize him. Perhaps he hadn’t understood its full meaning then, but she did now: He was dead early, and she was forever haunted by what might have been.

Red life would never stream in his veins again, and her conscience would never be calmed. Not quite.

But she would do what she could.

As Fiona stared at that fleeting bit of sunlight, resolutions formed in her head: She would give her kids more freedom to choose their paths. She would stop nagging Cress; she would make Stephen accept that sometimes things don’t turn MORE FOR LESS • 802-503-9373 out the way you imagined.

BLESSEDEACHDAYVT@GMAIL She’d thought life was a game to be won, so she’d collected plaques on her walls and daily planners full of meticulous 12/16/25 4:55 PM annotations, but life was … sitting here,12v-MoreforLess121025.indd 1 yearning after that last bit of sunset. It was grasping that she had wasted time, but it wasn’t too late to change. She was sure Luke would have wanted her to know that.

The final two lines of the poem rang in her head, sealing her fate, as she remembered how the man she loved had stretched out his hand to her in Harvard Square so long ago, reminding her they wouldn’t have forever:

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… see here it is— I hold it towards you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Margot Harrison is the author of The Library of Fates, which tells the story of The Book of Dark Nights, and five other novels. She is a film critic and consulting editor at Seven Days.

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33

food+drink

Alphabet Soup

MELISSA PASANEN

Ribollita from A Bowl of Goodness: Nourishing Poems With a Side of Soup

by Major Jackson

Poet Major Jackson pairs poetry with a side of soup in his forthcoming anthology B Y M E L I SSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

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34

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

Major Jackson cooking ribollita

COURTESY OF TIM GOLLINS

E

arlier this year, the New York Times published an illustrated essay by part-time Vermonter Major Jackson called “Finding Beauty in a Bowl of Soup.” It starts with an artist’s image of hands becoming almost one with the soup bowl they’re cupping.

The poet and Vanderbilt University professor describes a meal that took place years ago, when he spent his last few dollars on chicken noodle soup at Veselka, the legendary Ukrainian restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village.

“At first spoonful, I no longer heard other diners’ late-night conversations or song lyrics on the radio,” Jackson, 57, wrote. “My eyes closed. All was mute as though all my other senses had shut down.

I held the suspended spoon and relished a modest bowl of vegetables and shredded chicken commingled in a hot broth.”

Soup, he continued, remains his favorite dish: “The comfort wrought from a medley of ingredients thrown into a pot gives a home warmth. It is that feeling I aim for when writing poetry and that I relish when reading.”

The interweaving of poetry and soup presaged Jackson’s next book, A Bowl of Goodness: Nourishing Poems With a Side of Soup, an anthology due out from Storey Publishing next fall. Jackson told Seven Days that the New York Times piece was “mildly” adapted from the book’s introduction. But writing it also made him “rethink some of what I truly find compelling about soup, and that it is a gesture of kindness, as well as nourishment.”

Jackson taught at the University of Vermont from 2002 to 2020. He and his wife, poet Didi Jackson, now split their time between the small Windsor County town of Rochester and Nashville, Tenn., where they both teach at Vanderbilt.

Major Jackson said his new book will include 65 poems and 24 recipes, plus reflections on soup by novelist Ann Patchett, food critic Jeff Gordinier, author Michael Ruhlman and chef Jim Huntington, co-owner of Maple Soul in Rochester.

Seven Days asked Jackson about the intersection of soup and poetry, how he selected both soup recipes and poems for his book, and what really qualifies as soup, anyway. He also shared a preview of a poem by his wife that will be paired in the book with an Italian white bean vegetable soup recipe.

One of the lines in your 2012 poem “Why I Write Poetry” reads: “Because soup reminds me of the warmth of my grandmother and old aunts.” Clearly, you have deep appreciation for both poetry and soup, going way back. How did you arrive at the idea to pair them in a book?

I lived in one of those homes where food and cooking were overt expressions of care and love. Both of my grandparents loved to ALPHABET SOUP

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» P.36

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limited-edition merch, and more.

May Day Adds Sandwich Saturday Lunches in Burlington Sandwich lovers, rejoice! As of December 13, MAY DAY in Burlington’s Old North End will host weekly Sandwich Saturdays, offering a rotating menu of three sandwiches, fries, Bloody Marys, mimosas, beer and wine from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Owner MATTHEW PETERSON and chef AVERY BUCK will keep things simple with the restaurant’s new daytime offering: They’re working it themselves, and it’s bar-style service at the counter.

May Day served weekend brunch for several months after Buck joined in 2023, but it was a big undertaking, Peterson said. It didn’t make sense to bring it back after a flood-related closure that fall.

“This is an easy way to implement something we’d be hyped on as a guest,” Peterson said.

“We’re both pretty passionate about a good, tasty, big sandwich,” Buck added.

The first week’s menu featured Ave’s Hot Chicken, a fried chicken sandwich inspired by Dave’s Hot Chicken. Buck combined a replica of the national chain’s rémoulade sauce with his own Nashville hot chicken recipe and house chile crisp. Matty P.’s Meatball Sub offered classic pork-and-beef fennel meatballs topped with smoked MAPLEBROOK FARM mozzarella and basil.

An egg-and-cheese sandwich and May Day’s signature fries rounded out the menu.

Buck’s sous chef and team of young cooks are driving more of the dinner menu these days, he said. The 2025 James Beard Award Best Chef: Northeast finalist saw an opportunity

Ave’s Hot Chicken sandwich at May Day

to flex his creative muscles during the day, while growing the biz and offering something at a lower price point.

“It’s a good opportunity to let our hair down,” Buck said.

Peterson will be behind the bar, pouring May Day’s full wine lineup and opening “something special” to pair with the day’s menu. He’ll also serve daytime cocktails and drip coffee.

The duo expects to run Sandwich Saturdays through the winter, with holiday week schedules TBD.

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Mountain Valley Indian Cuisine to Open in South Burlington The owners of MOUNTAIN VALLEY RESTAURANT at 212 Main Street in Winooski have sold it and will open MOUNTAIN VALLEY INDIAN CUISINE at 10 Farrell Street in South Burlington in January. DHANBAHADUR CHHETRI and his wife, ROZEE PARDHA, had operated their original Indian/Nepali/Indo-Chinese restaurant in Winooski since 2022. The business will stay open there, without a name change, under new owner KABI ADHIKARI, Chhetri said.

Chhetri, 46, said the couple decided to sell their Winooski eatery due to the ongoing challenges of running the business through road construction. In August 2024, he told Seven Days that roadwork disruptions had sliced his sales in half.

In South Burlington, Mountain Valley Indian Cuisine takes over the previous spot of DOMINO’S PIZZA, which relocated earlier this year to the former Denny’s at 730 Shelburne Road. Chhetri SIDE DISHES

» P.38 4t-alchemist121725 1

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12/13/25 4:16 PM

Alphabet Soup « P.34

Are all the poems specifically about soup? And how did you find them?

Most of the poems are about soup, but a few poems are lyric meditations on ingredients (onions, bay leaves, stocks), family, loss and just every other imaginable topic that touches humans.

To my initial surprise, literary cookbooks and anthologies are their own genre; now, I collect them. The modernist poet and art patron Gertrude Stein’s partner penned The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book, which has a wonderful chapter titled “Beautiful Soup,” all about gazpacho. Students, faculty and alumni contributed to The Iowa Writers’ Workshop Cookbook, published in the 1980s. Then there is The Hungry Ear: Poems of Food and Drink, edited by my friend Kevin Young.

I surveyed a bunch of similar poetry and food anthologies. Some of the poems made it in, but many M A J O R JACKSON were tragically dated. So I researched poems online at literary journals, academic databases and poetry websites.

I gathered over 200 poems; then I faced the difficult task of selecting and narrowing my choices. My best hope is that I can follow up on this book with a second volume.

Many of the poems are public domain and famous, like William Thackeray’s “The Ballad of Bouillabaisse.”

Didi and Major Jackson cooking ribollita

RIBOLLITA

By Didi Jackson

In a Tuscan farmhouse I cook ribollita, a peasant soup of white beans, crumbled bread, and kale, as the campanile di San Biagio rings in the centuries.

Though not Catholic, maybe not even a Christian, I kneel in the shadow of this church and look deep inside the sleeves of a sweater I’ve worn too many months.

After taking his own life, the husband I knew burned in a box I chose from several boxes.

I also chose his clothes, the urn, and in the end asked for him

SOUP IS A GESTURE OF KINDNESS, AS WELL AS NOURISHMENT.

talk of aromatics, how to doctor an overly salted broth, whether or not bouillons or store-bought stocks are cheating. After eating too many of my black bean and potato-leek soups, I decided to order only soup from every restaurant I patronized, or to host soup parties. I even created an Instagram account to track my soup journey (@poet_soup).

How did you source and test the soup recipes?

I cooked my way through many that I found in cookbooks, including several from a “favorite recipes of celebrities” cookbook. Did you know Ronald Reagan’s favorite was hamburger soup? I could never get the soup to look like the photographs.

My family served as my primary audience. Didi’s favorite is my soupe au pistou, which I first tasted at Leunig’s [in Burlington] — a dish so good I was daunted to try my own hand at it. The trick, of course, is just-harvested vegetables and homemade pesto, though store bought is only a half grade below, in my opinion.

I could see I was wearing my family thin with obsessive

What advice might you give to Seven Days readers thinking about hosting a soup party?

Soup events are popular around the world. The town of Columbus, Ohio, hosts SoupFest, a popular fundraiser that addresses food inequities. My favorite commemorates the night a woman in Geneva, Switzerland, Catherine Cheynel Royaume, heard a troop of men scaling the town wall to invade the city. She poured the vegetable soup she was making on their heads. There’s an annual festival, L’Escalade, and a street named in her honor.

A soup party is very much like a festival. Consider your invitation list; soup parties are not for very serious people but those who enjoy the whimsy of the occasion. I recommend upbeat music that is suitable to the meal. If serving gumbo, for example, throw on some zydeco or your favorite jug band. There should be a variety of soups, say three or more. You might want to turn your soup party into a soup potluck.

Put as much attention into the accompanying sides, especially the bread. But the main feature is the soup, so consider the correct serving dishes. If cooking a rustic

36

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

COURTESY OF TIM GOLLINS

cook. My grandfather served in the military kitchen at Fort Bragg, N.C., a task that had him cooking for thousands of men before they shipped off to Europe. I have forgotten most of his army stories, but I have never forgotten his spirit of pride and dedication, nor the random cooking lessons he would bestow to me as a child.

The [book] idea emerged because I had a ton of books in my home in Mayfair Park [in South Burlington] and I wanted to get rid of them. Initially, I was going to set up a table and give them away; then I thought of selling them at the Burlington Farmers Market with jars of homemade soup whose label contained a poem on the back. I was going to name the business Poet Soup. Then I visited the University of Michigan to give a poetry reading and talk. At lunch, my friend poet Linda Gregerson suggested, while blowing on her homemade pea soup, “Major, skip the business.

Publish a cookbook with soup recipes and poems.”

to look like death, not a false life.

Yet here I am, considering a soup hundreds of years old, the golden altar of the Madonna de Buon Viaggio, and the sound of bells in the lower fields near our farm.

I know the path to the San Biagio like I know the roof of my own mouth, bells like foil between my teeth: electric.

The scent of footprints might confuse the dead, but each night I end up between the sheets, windows open in the last hour of lovemaking among bed bugs and common centipedes.

In my new husband’s arms, trafficking old scars, I hear the prune plums fall from the trees. I will collect and skin them in the morning.

soup like French onion, find an appropriate soup mug, and, vice versa, you will not want to serve a delicate tomato bisque in a stoneware crock. I only serve chilled fruit soups in fluted glasses. Presentation matters with soup; it’s part of the experience.

Your book includes a poem by Japanese American poet Garrett Hongo about his Hawaiian grandmother’s miso with a recipe for miso-halibut soup, and Joseph Millar’s poem dedicated to Navajo poet Luci Tapahonso, paired with beef stew. But is a stew really soup?

The stew versus soup debate has been ongoing among friends and family. I am on the side of: If it’s liquid, it’s soup. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

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Adapted from the forthcoming Bowl of Goodness: Nourishing Poems With a Side of Soup (Storey Publishing, fall 2026) by Major Jackson.

Serves 6 to 8 My wife and I traveled one summer to the medieval hilltop town of Montepulciano in Italy. We worked for three weeks on our poems in an old farmhouse, went for daily walks and then cooked in the evenings. We were thrilled to try this centuriesold Tuscan soup, described by food writers as a peasant dish of fresh vegetables and croûtes made from day-old bread.

INGREDIENTS • 2 cups canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed • 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 1 large onion, chopped • 1 leek, chopped • 2 carrots, peeled and diced • 2 celery stalks, chopped • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped • Salt and pepper, to taste • 2 potatoes, diced • 2 zucchini, diced (See testing note below.)

• 2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped (See testing note below.)

• 1 teaspoon sun-dried tomato paste (See testing note below.)

• 8 cups vegetable stock • 2 1/2 cups shredded kale or Swiss chard • 2 1/2 cups shredded Savoy or green cabbage • 6 to 8 slices of day-old bread (sourdough, ciabatta or baguette) • 3 garlic cloves, halved DIRECTIONS 1. Put half of the beans into a food processor and process briefly to a coarse purée. Set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large soup pot set over medium-low heat. Add the onion, leek, carrot, celery, garlic, a good pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper.

Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.

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Comfort Food From Our Kitchen to Yours another 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and cook, stirring continuously, for another 3 minutes. Stir in the bean purée and cook, stirring continuously, for another 2 minutes. Season once more with a good pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper.

4. Pour in the vegetable stock and stir in the kale and cabbage.

Increase the heat to medium and bring the soup to a boil.

Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for at least an hour and up to 2 hours, covered with the pot lid slightly ajar.

5. Toward the end of the cooking time, make the croûtes. Preheat the broiler. Rub the bread with the halved garlic cloves and toast on both sides. Place a croûte in the bottom of each soup bowl.

6. Stir the remaining beans into the soup and heat through gently for 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

7. Ladle the soup into bowls over the croûtes. Drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately.

SEVEN DAYS TESTING NOTES: In place of zucchini, feel free to use another seasonal vegetable, such as diced turnip or parsnip.

Similarly, a 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes can substitute for the fresh tomatoes. I did not have sun-dried tomato paste on hand, so I used a larger amount (1 tablespoon) of regular tomato paste. This soup benefits from liberal doses of salt and pepper.

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SIDEdishes « SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

P.35

said it will offer the same menu as the couple’s Winooski restaurant, which served tandoori chicken, meat and vegetarian curries, and Pardha’s handpleated momos. Unlike Domino’s, the small restaurant will offer on-site dining.

MEL ISSA PASANEN

COURTESY

A popular Burlington food truck has opened a year-round second location at an old Charlotte staple. After a few test runs this month, FARMERS & FORAGERS HILLSIDE will offer a regular schedule of Wednesday evening and Saturday morning meals at the OLD LANTERN EVENTS BARN starting January 7.

Chicken Francese over spaghetti, Hillside burger and All Eyez on Me cocktail at the Old Lantern

ups and events for the venue since he purchased it with a group of local investors from LISA and ROLAND GAUJAC in the spring. When FARMERS & FORAGERS DOCKSIDE wrapped up at the Burlington waterfront in the fall, the team moved its commercial kitchen to the Old Lantern at 3260 Greenbush Road.

Diners can expect Farmers & Foragers favorites such as cheesesteaks, lobster rolls, rotating po’boys and falafel pitas for Wednesday dinner, Bayer-Pacht said, as well as a new burger and poutine.

Head chef RYAN BRIGANTE — previously a co-owner of JUNIOR’S WINOOSKI — will also prepare seasonal dishes, including winter bruschetta, white bean and kale soup, and pasta specials such as chicken Francese over spaghetti.

“It’s a casual pub feel,” Bayer-Pacht said of the Old Lantern’s cozy back lounge, which serves as the dining room. Takeout is available, and optional reservations will be added soon.

On Saturday mornings, starting at 8:30, Farmers & Foragers Hillside will offer brunch while screening Premier League soccer matches. Dishes include a breakfast version of the food truck’s pork belly bánh mì, classic brunch items and sandwiches from the dinner menu.

Bayer-Pacht is planning World Cup and Vermont Green watch parties for the summer, too.

Other community events, such as a Holiday Bash with a FOAM BREWERS tap takeover on Thursday, December 18, will be announced on Instagram @farmandforagevt.

J.B.

FILE: MELISSA PASANEN

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Shoreham Inn Has Quietly Reopened Its Pub to the Public About 18 months after buying the SHOREHAM INN, KEVIN DRUMMOND and SCOTT SHATZER reopened the pub dining room of their bed-and-breakfast this summer.

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“We found it so welcoming, and the inn kind of quirky and charming,” Drummond said. “It just felt like home when you walked through the door.”

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Peter Orner

Gossip, Glamour and Grief Book review: The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, Peter Orner

B Y J I M SCHL EY • schley@sevendaysvt.com B Y J I M SCHL EY • SCHLE Y@SE VE NDAYSVT. COM

I

n Norwich author Peter Orner’s new novel, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, the titular character is Karyn “Cookie” Kupcinet, an aspiring stage and screen actress, shoplifter, and devotee of existential philosophy. Her dad is Irv “Kup” Kupcinet, one of the mightiest chatterers of his day, and her mother is Kup’s glamorous wife, Essee. These are historical figures — real people — whom Orner has colorfully placed among his fictional characters in a book that swoops back and forth between now and the boisterous era of tabloids, mobsters, film noir and screwball comedies. Alongside a celebratory satire 40

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

of mid-20th-century personality culture, Orner succeeds in telling a family story with a nearly insurmountable ache at its center.

What an extravagantly fabulous character Orner has found in Irv Kupcinet.

Known as “Chicago’s Town Crier,” a sort of Paul Bunyan of celebrity journalism, he published “Kup’s Column” six days a week from 1943 to 2003 and hosted the syndicated TV talk show “Kup’s Show” from 1959 until 1986. Characteristic of Kup’s vast self-regard is the title of his autobiography: Kup: A Man, an Era, a City (1988).

Orner embeds examples of the columnist’s rat-a-tat bulletins as he tracks sightings

of fashionable notables of all stripes and shapes: Among the guests at Joan Crawford’s Mental Health Ball at the Conrad Hilton Friday was crooner Vic Damone and Blackhawk Bobby Orr … A little birdie spotted a Dan Quayle. The ex-veep was in town yesterday keynoting the Illinois Bankers annual shindig at the Palmer House … Kermit the Frog, blah, blah … Kim Basinger, blah, blah, blah.

In fact and in the novel, Cookie Kupcinet

was found naked and dead on November 30, 1963, just days after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and from then to today, some have insisted there must be a link between the two deaths. Cookie may have overdosed, but a broken hyoid bone in her neck convinced the cops and coroner she had been strangled.

To magnify his story, Orner creates a second, made-up family. Lou and Babs Rosenthal are the grandparents of the novel’s narrator, Jed Rosenthal, and Orner makes them the Kupcinets’ closest friends and confidants, until the glamour couple inexplicably jettisons them after Cookie’s death.

A present-day sleuth investigating Cookie’s demise, Jed isn’t a hard-boiled detective but a self-described “swashbuckling” creative writing professor. Aimless in his teaching, he’s anguished over a “trial separation” (a phrase he dreads) from a woman with whom he’s “co-parenting” a young daughter and a hilariously perspicacious cat. Jed nosedives into researching Cookie’s life and death, trying to make sense of the decades-old cold case.

His family thinks his obsession with Cookie is insufferable, but he’s even more consumed by trying to understand why his grandparents Lou and Babs, utterly devoted to Cookie’s parents in their darkest hour, were banished from the Kupcinets’ lives.

The result of that never-explained “rift” has been a familial sorrow persisting through three generations.

Orner has published two previous novels, three collections of stories and two of literary essays, as well as edited books of investigative journalism about humanitarian crises in Haiti, Zimbabwe and the U.S. The current chair of Dartmouth College’s English and creative writing department, he holds both an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a law degree from Northeastern University — the latter relevant to his new book, which is crowded with lawyers.

Orner’s episodes slide around in time like an expertly shuffled deck of cards. In tempo and texture, his storytelling style here is as talky and brash as that of Grace Paley, Jimmy Breslin or Nelson Algren. He has barrels of fun with portrayals of Jewish gangsters, who evoke ruffians from the tales of Isaac Babel: Like Jews everywhere, Chicago Jews like to indulge in our connections to the Mob. Call it a point of ironical pride. We didn’t all used to

be orthodontists in Northbrook. You should have seen us back in the day when we were real tough. Warsaw ghetto tough. Don’t-fuck-with-us tough. In Kup’s Chicago, Kup writes, “As a columnist on the nightclub beat, I’m often in a peculiar position of figuratively rubbing elbows with the underworld.”

Peculiar position? Figuratively?

Himself a native of the city, Orner revels in the novel’s Chicago settings. And by interspersing fictional personages with real ones from across an American century, he’s able to populate Jed Rosenthal’s quest with cameo appearances by a panoply of luminaries: Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Lenny Bruce, Malcolm X, Lucille Ball, Saul Bellow, Sammy Davis Jr., Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, John and Yoko … even Robert Todd Lincoln, Haile Selassie, Margaret Mead and a pope! Kup knew them all. Orner also inserts period photos and newspaper tear sheets into his text at opportune moments, creating a mosaic of clippings and clues.

At the novel’s climax, the effect is somewhat as if handfuls of narrative have been

thrown up in the air to land where they will.

We arrive not at crowning illumination but at a pile-up, skidding more than gliding to an ending. The specific relationship on which the book’s “mystery” pivots seems pretty obvious, so the book’s supposedly key revelation has a muted impact.

But this isn’t a book to be read mainly, or merely, for plot. Orner is omnivorous in his appetite for phrases and details from his chosen times and places, hopscotching through a mazelike chronology from Chicago to Hollywood and back again in pursuit of his big shots and nobodies.

In its quietest, least rowdy and starstruck passages, Orner’s portrayal of Jed Rosenthal is about a search for the wellspring of friendships that are outside the spotlight. ➆

INFO The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter by Peter Orner, Little, Brown, 448 pages. $29.

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FROM THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST’S DAUGHTER Four days later, two goons, one cleanshaven, the other less so, knocked on the door of my great-grandmother’s house on Fargo Avenue. My great-grandmother Willa knew better than to be hoodwinked by their manners. When I knew her she was a savvy old bird with a helmet of white hair that could ram a hole in a wall.

At her ninety-seventh birthday party she told me, Don’t slouch. You look like a bum in a train station. But in 1946 Willa was newly widowed. Solly had no prospects: a gargantuan man-child who mostly moped around the house. Lou was still thousands of miles away, fighting a war that was supposed to be finished. Who was going to take care of Solly when she was gone? She’d live to be ninety-eight, but how could she have known that then?

Here were two men who accepted her offer of Frango mints with profuse thanks. They were goons, but they were Jewish goons.

How terrible could they be? At his mother’s insistence, Solly accepted the job at forty-five dollars a week. After they left, the clean-shaven goon came back and knocked on the door again. He handed Willa an envelope.

“The kid needs a couple of suits. Try Bradford’s on South State. Myles makes them big.”

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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culture

BY Last Words “STORM” ELLEN BRYANT VOIGT A writer reflects on the loss of a trio of Vermont’s major poetic and prose voices this year B Y J I M SCHL EY • schley@sevendaysvt.com

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CO

n October, Vermont lost three of its St. Johnsbury Academy for teachers of boldest and most prolific poets and English literature. prose writers: David Huddle of BurlAmong the great fortunes of my life ington, Ellen Bryant Voigt of Cabot has been knowing these three writers as and Baron Wormser of Montpelier. their reader, first and foremost, and as Seven Days has published obituartheir student and friend. Their deaths ies for each of them, providing came as one blow after another: biographical milestones David and Baron died on and accolades. What the same day, October 7.

I’d like to offer here Ellen died on October is a more personal 23. reflection from a David was born Vermonter who in 1942 in southern studied writing Virginia, served with all three and in Vietnam and Ellen Bryant Voigt hosted them for moved to Vermont readings in the in 1971 to join the University of Strafford Town House Forum Vermont’s English series, at Bookdepartment, where TH EM stock in Woodhe taught for 38 years.

AC AR stock and at the Frost My first encounter with THU R FO U N D AT IO N Place in Franconia, N.H., his writing was a quietly and where I was the director. I also edited intensely powerful family story called their work for the New England Review “Poison Oak,” published in New England when I was coeditor. More recently, for Review in 1979. David had a Chekhovian Tupelo Press, I edited Baron’s Legends way of revealing character through of the Slow Explosion, a teeming book of gestures and tics, and he knew how to portraits of 20th-century iconoclasts, and build up pressure beneath the sensuously edited David’s magisterial final descriptive surface of a narrative, four novels: Nothing Can like a volcano that rumbles Make Me Do This (2011), and trembles but doesn’t The Faulkes Chronicle explode. In all of his (2014), My Immacuwritings, there’s a late Assassin (2016) weathered courtliand Hazel (2019). ness. The man All three were himself was kindly particularly and gracious, David Huddle effective teachand he always ers, as I witnessed seemed at least slightly amused. firsthand. I was a As I picture him, graduate student in the MFA Program his mouth is on the for Writers at Warren verge of a grin.

CC Wilson College in North Yo u c a n “ h e a r ” OU Y R TE SY OF M OL LY CO FF E David’s pedagogical voice Carolina, where both David and Ellen taught fiction and — exacting and encouraging — in poetry workshops; with Baron, I codi- “Let’s Say You Wrote Badly This Morning,” rected the Frost Place’s Conference on a widely shared essay he first published Poetry and Teaching, where elemen- in the New York Times Book Review that tary and high school teachers learned compares writing to athletic training. “An techniques for bringing students to this instinctive response to painful experience mercurial art. For a couple of years, I was is to avoid the behavior that produced Baron’s guest presenter for the annual the pain. To function at the level of excelAdvanced Placement Institute he led at lence required for survival, writers like UR

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one minute a slender pine indistinguishable from the others the next its trunk horizontal still green the jagged stump a nest for the flickers

one minute high wind and rain the skies lit up the next a few bright winking stars the lashing of the brook one minute an exaltation in the apple trees the shadblow trees the next white trash on the ground new birds or the same birds crowding the feeder one minute the children were sleeping in their beds you got sick you got well you got sick the lilac bush we planted is a tree the cat creeps past with something in her mouth she’s hurrying down to where the culvert overflowed one minute bright yellow marsh marigolds springing up the next the farmer sweeps them into his bales of hay

From Headwaters: Poems. © 2013 Ellen Bryant Voigt. Used with permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

athletes must go against instinct, must absorb their failures and become stronger, must endlessly repeat the behavior that produced the pain.”

Ellen, too, was born in Virginia, in 1943, and was raised on a farm in the central Piedmont region. Her poetry is grounded in the fecundity of plant and animal life, even as its steadfast focus has been the drama of complicated human existence. As a child and youth, she trained as a pianist, and her lines are sinuous with musical cadences.

Never formulaic, her poems have a sculptural formality, even as she changed her

“TWO FOR THE REAPER”

BY DAVID HUDDLE 1.

When spring finally arrives, what we like to do just at dusk on the first warm day is drive slowly through the big Catholic graveyard between Willard and Prospect, Lindsey and Bess and Molly and I reading from our rolled-down car windows what we can make out from the gravestones, our voices saying aloud the words, our voices sounding out the names.

2.

As before you arrived, the teenagers who became your mother and father, before they even met each other, in the most private moments of their separate lives imagined you, so may it be after you’ve gone, your son smiling over how you pronounced a word, your granddaughter remembering your secret, that you liked to walk through the house naked after your bath.

From Glory River (Louisiana State University Press, 2008). All rights reserved.

method with each successive book. Case in point: Having become one of American poetry’s most skillful composers of shapely verse sentences, in her 2013 collection Headwaters she omitted all punctuation, requiring the reader to follow the phrasing with the closest kind of “listening.”

Ellen and her husband, Fran Voigt, moved to Vermont in 1969, and in 1976 she cofounded at Goddard College the nation’s first low-residency MFA program, a model now adopted across the country.

Ellen and Fran also cofounded the New England Culinary Institute. She was a

Baron Wormser

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“LEAVING” BY BARON WORMSER Not to be here anymore, not to hear The cat’s fat purring, not to smell Wood smoke, wet dog, cheap cologne, good cologne, Not to see the sun and the stars, oaks And asters, snow and rain, every form I take mostly for granted, makes me sad But pleased to be writing down these words, Pleased to have been one more who got the chance To participate, who raised his hand although He didn’t know the answer or understand The question. No matter. The leaving makes me sad; So much was offered, so freely and completely.

From Unidentified Sighing Objects (CavanKerry Press, 2015). All rights reserved. brilliant architect of new forms of adult education, and in 1982, when the Goddard MFA program moved to Warren Wilson College, Ellen ensured its continuity. That was her academic home for almost 50 years, and I was lucky to be her student there, apprentice to a virtuoso.

Ellen was the most challenging teacher I ever had. I’ve described her voice as “honeyed but sharpened with ginger.” She had no patience for writing that took the easier route, either in technique or emotional penetration.

But as stern as she could be, she was also supportive: During her term as Vermont’s poet laureate, from 1999 to 2002, she created a program called the Poet Next Door, which brought Vermont poets into classrooms around the state and provided each student with books they could keep. When she invited me to be a visiting poet, I felt lifted into a new role in the community — maybe not as indispensable as a firefighter, but useful, with a genuine civic responsibility.

For an immersion in Ellen’s teaching methods, seek out her two invaluable books about poetic composition: The Flexible Lyric (1999) and The Art of Syntax: Rhythm of Thought, Rhythm of Song (2009).

I knew Baron, born in 1948 in Baltimore, when he lived in Maine. His family homesteaded there for many years, and from 2001 to 2005 he was the state poet laureate. Baron and his wife, artist Janet Wormser, moved to Vermont in 2007, first to Marshfield, then to Montpelier.

Baron’s work is saturated with history, which he sifted and weighed to grasp today’s countless crises more firmly. In poems and prose, he could be fierce and satirical but also tender, fascinated by how we, as individuals, make our way through the tumult of society, knocked about but mostly not — or not always — knocked down. In person, he could seem aloof, but friends knew he was rapt in thought — one of those people who actually thought before speaking.

His lithe and searching 2006 memoir, The Road Washes Out in Spring, about his family’s decades of living off the grid, was recently rereleased, its lessons and provocations as fresh as ever.

While in his writing he was able to achieve a detachment like that of an ancient Chinese poet-sage, he was never disengaged. Until his death, he contributed literary and topical essays to magazines across the country; to his Substack, the Exciting Nightmare; and to the online journal Vox Populi.

During his Maine years, Baron was a librarian. By the time he came to Vermont, he’d become one of the nation’s preeminent instructors in teaching poetry. You can find Baron’s pedagogical verve in two superb guides he cowrote for classroom teachers: Teaching the Art of Poetry: The Moves (2000) and A Surge of Language: Teaching Poetry Day by Day (2004).

A poet’s work survives in readers’ minds and lives — by being read, read again, read aloud and passed along to others.

The poems on this page are from our three recently departed Vermont bards, each addressing the eventuality of death in an intrepid and inventive way. ➆

NOV 28 through DEC 31, 2025 Burlington Vermont

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EVA SOLLBERGER

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uring the annual fall salmon run, the fish return to their 16t-Railyard121725 1 12/16/25 3:12 PM birth rivers to spawn. In Vermont, landlocked Atlantic salmon get a bit of extra help with this process at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle. The native salmon population in Lake Champlain was eradicated more than a century ago, but restocking efforts that began in the 1970s have led to modest population growth.

Today, most of Vermont’s salmon are raised in fish hatcheries. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s five fish culture stations raise and release more than 1 million fish every year to boost IS NOW AVAILABLE! populations and provide anglers with This version fresh catches. of everyone's For the latest episode of “Stuck in Made favorite property Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimeentirely trading game dia producer Eva Sollberger visited the in USA! celebrating the Ed Weed station twice in November to Vermont side of watch a fish biologist tag, measure, weigh the Lake Champlain valley and observe salmon at the outflow trap at Hatchery Brook. She also observed is a fundraiser for arts fish culturists retrieve thousands of eggs programming and education from salmon at the by cathedralarts.org. brood-stock holdSponsored by area schools, ing facility. The businesses and arts organizations.

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Paige Blaker, a fish culture specialist and the manager of the Ed Weed station, explained her vetting process: “We wanna make sure that we have truly 100 percent ripe eggs and milt for use for fertilization.”

eggs fertilized this season will hatch around Christmas and be raised at the station throughout 2026. About 156,000 salmon will be released into Lake Champlain and several of its tributaries in spring 2027, when they are seven inches long.

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about filming the episode.

What drew you to this story now?

Nothing says “Happy holidays” like a video about fish spawning, am I right?

These fish eggs will hatch around Christmas, which is a nice present. I had no idea how much work was happening behind the scenes to restore the lake’s salmon population. It seemed like something people might be interested in.

Tell us about a fish called Bertha.

Many of these salmon swim upstream from the lake to the fish culture station where they were born, guided by their olfactory senses. How wild is that? As Blaker said, “The spawning season is always really special because a lot of the fish are ours. And if they’re coming back in great numbers, then it means that we did our job correctly.”

Bertha is a salmon who came back to Hatchery Brook three years in a row and provided thousands of eggs during her visits. Unlike Pacific salmon, which die after spawning, Atlantic salmon can spawn a number of times. Although Bertha didn’t return this year, her genetics will live on in her descendants, who are probably still swimming in the lake. ➆

What did you learn?

Working with fish is cold and wet. The salmon are not pleased about being removed from the water, and they thrash around quite a bit. It takes strength and dexterity to net them and lift them between tanks. The fish collected at Hatchery Brook swim upstream from the lake to spawn. They are given an aquatic anesthetic before they are examined, and not all of them are chosen for brood stock.

SCAN FOR DETAILS

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her award-winning video series, “Stuck in Vermont,” since 2007. New episodes appear on the Seven Days website every other Thursday and air the following night on the WCAX evening news. Sign up at sevendaysvt.com to receive an email alert each time a new one drops. And check these pages every other week for insights on the episodes.

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9/20/23 4:16 PM

on screen Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery ★★★★

M

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

ovie sequels with unwieldy names are rarely my thing.

For the Knives Out franchise, though, I’ll make an exception, because writer-director Rian Johnson has found a great groove with his comedic revivals of the Agatha Christie-style whodunit. Following 2019’s Knives Out and 2022’s Glass Onion, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is a Netflix production that is also playing at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier and Majestic 10 in Williston as of press time. Catch it on the big screen if you have a chance, because Steve Yedlin’s cinematography deserves it.

REVIEW

The deal

Young priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) used to make a living with his fists, but now he just wants to help people. Sent to a small town in upstate New York, Jud struggles with his role of assistant pastor to the fiery Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), who publicly humiliates any parishioner who doesn’t meet his strict moral criteria.

Wicks holds sway over a cultish core group of faithful, including his lawyer (Kerry Washington); the town doctor (Jeremy Renner); a right-wing sci-fi novelist (Andrew Scott); a disabled cellist (Cailee Spaeny); an online agitator (Daryl McCormack); and the intensely devout Martha (Glenn Close), who considers it her life’s work to uphold Monsignor.

But not everyone is happy with his reign.

During the Good Friday service, Wicks receives a fatal stab wound while seemingly alone in a closet — a classic locked-room murder. The local sheriff (Mila Kunis) calls in renowned private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Can he and Jud — a jaded atheist and a man of faith, respectively — put aside their differences and solve the case?

Will you like it?

In the Knives Out tradition, Wake Up Dead Man isn’t subtle about its messaging. If you had any doubts that Wicks represents a certain politician, and his bucolic burg is a metaphor for the nation writ large, Johnson’s screenplay dispels them with a lines about PINOs (priests in name only) and how the belligerent Monsignor could say or do “literally nothing” that would alienate his die-hard followers.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

Josh O’Connor plays an idealistic young priest and Daniel Craig reprises his drawling detective role in the whodunit pastiche.

The movie doesn’t offer any notable new insights into MAGA psychology. What it does offer is superb old-school entertainment: a carnival ride of plot convolutions, witty lines and gleefully hammy performances with, at its core, a surprisingly compelling meditation on the real meaning of faith.

Craig’s Blanc continues to be a treasure, with his dinner-theater Southern accent and serene insistence that he’s incapable of not solving a crime. In this outing, Blanc offers a helpful primer on locked-roommystery rules and delivers his climactic deduction from the church’s absurdly lofty pulpit. That setting is a perfect match for his natural pomposity — the kinder, more progressive twin to Wicks’ bombast.

But Jud is the story’s real protagonist, introducing us to the plot and players via voice-over well before Blanc appears.

While we know Jud’s narration may be unreliable — he was no friend to Wicks — O’Connor wins us over instantly. In films such as Challengers and La Chimera, the actor gave new life to the “lovable rogue” archetype. Here, his wry earnestness and flashes of temper add up to star-making charisma. We can believe Jud entered the priesthood to escape the mean streets, and

when he and Blanc argue about God, Jud more than holds his own.

With the exception of Close’s deliriously over-the-top church lady, the gallery of suspects isn’t as much juicy fun in Wake Up Dead Man as it was in the original Knives Out. Kunis seems lost as the unfunny sheriff. And the plot twists and turns, thick and fast as they come, won’t stop some intrepid viewers from guessing the killer.

This isn’t a movie to outwit, though — it’s a movie to savor, especially if you have fond memories of PBS’ “Mystery!” When Jud and Blanc aren’t in the towering gothic church, with its play of sunlight and shadows, they’re often traversing an avenue of tall pines, buffeted by mist, to the marble Wicks family crypt. The whole town is an Edward Gorey cocktail, with coziness and creepiness in perfect proportions.

And when Jud forgets all about the mystery to counsel a witness in need (Bridget Everett of HBO Max’s “Somebody Somewhere”), Wake Up Dead Man gains a new level of depth. We realize what was at stake in Jud’s conflict with Wicks: the power of religion to inspire love and healing rather than fear.

Wake Up Dead Man may not make any new converts to the church of Knives Out,

but for the already observant, the movie is a gift. This is how adult holiday fare should be: a little edgy, a little warm and fuzzy, and a lot escapist, wrapped up with a shiny nostalgia bow.

MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

KNIVES OUT (2019; Prime Video, rent-

able): The series opener takes us to a mansion where Blanc investigates the mysterious demise of a wealthy crime novelist.

GLASS ONION (2022; Netflix): Johnson

took aim at tech billionaires in the sequel, in which Blanc is invited to solve a murder mystery game at a quirky mogul’s private island.

EVIL UNDER THE SUN (1982; Britbox,

PLEX, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Roku Channel, Tubi, rentable): Knives Out clearly draws inspiration from star-studded Christie adaptations such as this one, in which Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) solves a murder on a sun-soaked island in the Adriatic. Look for Maggie Smith, James Mason and Diana Rigg.

PUPPY

NEW IN THEATERS Opening 12/19 AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH: Pandora faces a conflict between different Na’vi tribes as James Cameron’s sci-fi adventure saga continues, starring Sam Worthington and Zoë Saldana. (195 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Welden) DAVID: Angel Studios retells the biblical story of Goliath’s defeater in animated musical form. (115 min, PG. Capitol [ends Wed 24], Essex, Majestic) DRACULA: Radu Jude directed this new comic and musical take on the legend, set in modern Transylvania and starring Adonis Tanta. (170 min, NR. Partizanfilm) THE HOUSEMAID: A young woman’s dream job has a dark side in Paul Feig’s adaptation of Freida McFadden’s thriller, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. (131 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic) LA GRAZIA: Italy’s president faces crises in his last months in office in this drama from Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty). (133 min, R. Partizanfilm) THE SECRET AGENT: Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Golden Globe-nominated Brazilian drama, set in 1977, follows a young dad (Wagner Moura) as he flees political persecution during carnival season. (161 min, R. Savoy; also starts at Partizanfilm 12/25) THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS: A ghost pirate leads SpongeBob to the ocean’s depths in this family animation, with the voices of Tom Kenny and Clancy Brown. (96 min, PG. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Stowe) Opening 12/25 (check theater websites for updated bookings)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS ALWAYS ALIVE & CANTOS Y FLORES (Catamount, Mon 22 only) A CHRISTMAS STORY (Playhouse, Sat 20 only) ELF (Playhouse, Sat 20 only; Savoy, Sun 21 only) GREMLINS (Catamount, Fri 19 only) IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Big Picture, Sun 21 only; Playhouse, Mon 22 only; Welden, Tue 23 only)

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (Playhouse, Tue 23 only) THE POLAR EXPRESS (Playhouse, Wed 24 only) ROYAL BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER (Essex, Sun 21 only) TARGETS (Partizanfilm, Wed 24 only)

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

CURRENTLY PLAYING

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

BLUE MOONHHHH As Oklahoma! opens, Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) drinks away his sorrows in Richard Linklater’s period drama. (100 min, R. Catamount [ends Wed 24])

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

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

ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

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

11/17/25 5:19 PM

MARY JANE’S NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE (Partizanfilm, Wed 17 only)

SONG SUNG BLUE: Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a married Neil Diamond tribute band in this fact-based drama directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow). (133 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex)

SENTIMENTAL VALUEHHHH1/2 Sisters confront their estranged father in this drama from Joachim Trier. (133 min, R. Starts 12/26 at Catamount; reviewed 12/3)

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LOVE ACTUALLY (Playhouse, Fri 19 only)

OPEN THEATERS

HAMNETHHHH/2 William and Agnes Shakespeare (Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) grapple with loss in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. (125 min, PG-13. Majestic, Savoy; reviewed 12/10)

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IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (VTIFF, Fri 19 only)

MARTY SUPREME: In the 1950s, a young man (Timothée Chalamet) sets out to be a table tennis champion in Josh Safdie’s acclaimed comedy-drama.

(150 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Partizanfilm, Playhouse)

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2H1/2 Animatronic monsters are still haunting a pizza spot. (104 min, PG-13. City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount [ends Wed 24], Star, Welden [ends Thu 25])

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ZOOTOPIA 2HHH1/2 Disney’s animated critters return for another mystery. (108 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Welden)

THREE COLORS: RED (Catamount, Wed 17 only)

ETERNITYHHH A woman (Elizabeth Olsen) must choose a partner for the afterlife in this rom-com.

(112 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Partizanfilm)

Socialization and Training for pups under 17 weeks

WICKED: FOR GOODHHH Outcast witch Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flies high in the conclusion of the Broadway musical adaptation. (138 min, PG. Capitol [ends Wed 24], Essex, Majestic, Stowe)

ANACONDA: A group of mid-life friends (including Jack Black and Paul Rudd) sets out to remake the 1997 giant-snake thriller of the same name in Tom Gormican’s action comedy. (100 min, PG-13. Essex, Paramount, Welden)

ELLA MCCAYHH A young woman (Emma Mackey) becomes her state’s governor in James Brooks’ comedy. (115 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Capitol [ends Tue 23], Essex, Majestic, Stowe)

CAMP

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; reveiwed 12/17)

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A USEFUL LIFE (Partizanfilm, Wed 31 only) WHITE CHRISTMAS (Playhouse, Sun 21 only)

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

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art

Face to Face Jack Rowell’s new book of Vermont portraits captures half a century of change

BY PAME L A POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com PHOTOS BY JACK ROWELL

J

ack Rowell was just a little shaver when he plopped down $5 for a Kodak Instamatic in a New York City pawn shop.

“I think I was 7 or 8,” the Tunbridge native, now 70, recounted in a phone interview.

A few years later a neighbor loaned him a 35mm Petri, and, figuring it out on his own, he began shooting school activities and local figures — including his father, a logger. By age 13, Rowell had an inkling that photography would be his life; when an eighth-grade science teacher built a darkroom at school, the deal was sealed.

None of those earliest shots appears in his new book, Jack Rowell: Photographs, published by Randolph’s Korongo Books.

But the collection does include images from the Tunbridge World’s Fair, which Rowell began photographing in the 1970s. The annual event was notoriously freewheeling, replete with girlie shows, beer halls and drunken revelers. Many of Rowell’s images from that rowdier time were published in his 1980 book, Tunbridge Fair. For the current volume, he restored some damaged old negatives in Photoshop — which, like all aspects of the transition to digital technology, he taught himself.

Jack Rowell: Photographs is a 12-by-14inch hardcover featuring 121 black-andwhite and color images of Vermonters Rowell has encountered over the past halfcentury. Along with fairgoers and exhibitors, there are hunters, dancers, musicians, authors, trash haulers, carpenters, children with animals or creemees or fiddles. Some individuals could be described as “local color.”

Most of these pictures were shot on location around the Upper Valley and central Vermont, at cafés, lakes, woods, farms, concert stages. But some 50 exquisite studio portraits reveal both Rowell’s mastery of lighting and talent for putting his subjects at ease — including those posing in their birthday suits.

“I’m just an average guy,” Rowell said. “I think they can relate to that.”

The front of the book presents an introduction by Korongo publisher Sara Tucker 50

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

Clockwise from top left: “Santa Fred” (Fred Tuttle); Myra Flynn; Margaret Egerton; “Surge Milker” (Lawrence Harridan), all by Jack Rowell

and essays by Rowell’s longtime friend Chris Jackson and Sue Higby, executive director of Barre’s Studio Place Arts. An index and

credits appear at the back. In between, the book is text-free. Rowell claims he can’t write due to lifelong dyslexia. Yet his pictures themselves say plenty.

“I like interesting people,” he said.

“Everyone in the book has a good story.”

Rowell’s focus on a particular place and time recalls the work of Waterbury photographer Peter Miller, who died in 2023 at age 89. The latter’s Vermont People and other published collections showcase rural elders and a passing way of life in the state.

Asked about their similar ethos, Rowell

commented, “Peter and I got along really well. He was a hell of a good photographer, but his [images] are more cute farmers.”

The two actually had one cute farmer in common: Fred Tuttle. The Tunbridge dairyman starred in Man With a Plan, a 1996 satirical documentary by sheep farmerfilmmaker (and now state legislator) John O’Brien. Rowell shot stills for the movie and served as associate producer; several of his pictures of Tuttle appear in the new book, including one of him dressed as Santa Claus and looking suitably elfin.

ART SHOWS

From left: “Man on the Midway” and “Girl With a Book” (Lydia Ellen Brooke) by Jack Rowell

Though the age range of Rowell’s a carved stone stele like a scepter across subjects spans geezers to grandbabies, his her nude body. photos of senior citizens are particularly Tucker has known Rowell since their evocative. Margaret Egerton was a partici- school days and followed his career from pant in a 2010 memoir-writing project in the start. “When critics and fellow artists Randolph called the Hale Street Gang, led talk about his work, they use words like

by Tucker and photographed by Rowell. unforgettable and genuine,” she writes in Egerton, then in her late nineties, was “a the book’s introduction. character,” he recalled. “Everyone loved Indeed, authenticity runs like a current her.” throughout Jack Rowell: Photographs. It’s She was also a ham. Rowell includes clear the photographer did not helicopter in the book one large and four smaller in to document members of an unknown portraits in which the bespectacled, white- tribe; the fifth-generation Vermonter is, haired Egerton mugs for and always has been, one the camera, clearly having a of them. And as Tucker good time. These and other pointed out in an email, photos of the “Gang” were Rowell has lived through ultimately exhibited at five transformative shifts venues around Vermont in the state: “Through and New Hampshire. portraiture, Jack has Like the best art, captured an era of social JACK ROWE LL Rowell’s portraits pique change that began with the imagination and leave the viewer want- the cultural revolution of the seventies,” ing to know more. Case in point: his choice she noted. “Young and old, past and present for the book cover, a black-and-white photo exist together, in harmony. I think that’s from 1973 titled “Man on the Midway.” an important aspect of the work — its The weathered-looking gent, caught inclusiveness.” mid-stride, looks directly at the camera.

Rowell acknowledges the historical His light eyes, presumably blue, are some- significance of his work — particularly the how both kindly and steely. A cigarette is rural images. “This book covers a part of stuck firmly between his lips. The Blue Vermont history that has been ignored,” Seal Feeds cap and slightly soiled cloth- he said. “It’s an important document.” But ing suggest a farmer taking in the fair. The from his perspective, it’s also an artistic captivating portrait recalls Walker Evans’ one. He really likes taking pictures and has images of everyday life decades earlier. justifiable pride in being good at it.Asked While plaid-clad dudes with hanging why he’s drawn to portraiture, rather than bucks or a farming family reveal location landscape or architecture or anything else and livelihood, Rowell’s studio portraits in the visual world, Rowell didn’t hesitate. convey less information but more intimacy. “I’m used to landscapes. They’re boring; Though he has no use for the notion of they’re almost too easy,” he said. “Gaining celebrity, some of his photos have a flair for the trust of people, especially if they’re the dramatic, such as a time-lapse capture not used to being photographed — that’s a of singer-songwriter Myra Flynn flinging whole other thing.” ➆ her hair in an upward arc. Rowell’s friend Lorin Collins, with blond curls and blue INFO eyes, gazes heavenward and fairly glows in Jack Rowell: Photographs, Korongo honey-hued light. Sculptor Heather Milne Books, 144 pages. $125. Available in select Ritchie stares bewitchingly as she clutches bookstores and at korongobooks.com.

Every day you may make progress.

Every step may be fruitful.

Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path.

You know you will never get to the end of the journey.

But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

— WINSTON CHURCHILL

PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

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Winter Comes Alive at ECHO!

EVERYONE IN THE BOOK HAS A GOOD STORY.

echovt.org

Now thru January 31, buy or gift any ECHO membership and we will give a membership to a family in need.

REINDEER LIVE DEC. 27

SLED DOGS LIVE DEC. 29

NEW INTO THE LAKE EXHIBIT

DAILY LIVE ANIMAL DEMOS

SCAN ME

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DINOSAUR EXHIBIT OPENS JANUARY SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025 51 12/15/25 1:25 PM

COURTESY

art DEC. 17-26

FIND ALL ART SHOWS + EVENTS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

CALL TO ARTISTS EXHIBIT IN WATERBURY: The Town of Waterbury is seeking exhibitors to present works that entertain, inspire, inform, educate or possibly highlight the region during 2026.

Rolling deadline. Application and guidelines at waterburyvt.myrec.com/info/activities.

Steele Community Room — Waterbury Municipal Complex, ongoing. Info, laura@ lauraparette.com.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS ART AT THE AIRPORT: NANCY CHAPMAN: A show of oil paintings of landscapes based in memory. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through March 17. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE AIRPORT: TESSA HOLMES: An exhibition of photo-collages focused on intense color and a surrealist approach to the natural world. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South 11/17/25 10:32 AMBurlington, through March 17. Info, 865-7296.

LOVE SCOTCH?

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TRY AMERICAN SINGLE MALT AT

MARTHA ELMES AND ELLY BARKSDALE: “Swan Song,” an exhibition by the gallery’s cofounders.

The Satellite Gallery, Lyndonville, through January 31.

‘THE WORLD IN OUR MIND’: A show of illustrations in a variety of mediums 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, through January 29. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov.

‘INHABITING HISTORICAL TIME: SLAVERY AND ITS AFTERLIVES’: An exhibition of objects related to slavery’s impact and historical legacies, from a 19th-century jug by David Drake to contemporary artists’ explorations. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., December 20-July 11. Info, 604-646-2808.

ART EVENTS

“Sam Nordquist” by Tai Ericson

‘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.

READING ISSUE

VANESSA COMPTON: OPEN STUDIO: Original mixed-media and collage pieces, works on paper, large-scale works on vinyl, works in progress, and vintage fashion by the artist. 143 North Ave., Burlington, Thursday, December 18, 4-6:30 p.m.

Info, vanessa_compton@yahoo.com.

Like many muggles aspiring to wizardry, Bellows Falls artist Tai Ericson was heartbroken when J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, started speaking out against transgender people. That provoked a question many of us face in the Information Age: What do we do with the art of our heroes once they’re revealed as villains? With an X-Acto, glue and endless patience, Ericson turns his copies of the door-stopper series — as well as more than 300 books donated by fans of his project — into delicate, detailed portraits of trans people who have been murdered. Letters are dense in some areas and sparse in others to describe the shape of a nose or an ear; fragments of cover illustrations add pops of color. So far, the novels have been transformed into memorials for Ra’Lasia Wright and Sam Nordquist. If we’ve learned anything from Rowling’s stories, it’s that words have power: Ericson’s portraits remind us that these protagonists are ones who should be named.

MAD ARTS HOLIDAY PARTY: A chance to mingle with art lovers, become a member and see the exhibition of works by exhibiting artists. Mad River Valley Arts Gallery, Waitsfield, Thursday, December 18, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 496-6682.

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 18, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

‘FREE SELF-EXPRESSION’: An open forum in which the public is invited to celebrate community by sharing performance, music, reading, speaking, dancing, and take-home art and writing. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, Friday, December 19, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 289-0104.

Trans Figuration

TAI ERICSON Find Ericson’s work on Instagram, TikTok and at ericsonarts.com.

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 21, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, December 22, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909. ➆

Visit Our Tasting Room 11 Main St, Vergennes Fri & Sat 1-6pm lostlanternwhiskey.com

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE!

PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY THURSDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

ART LISTINGS ARE WRITTEN BY ALICE DODGE. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

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EDGEWATER GALLERY AT THE FALLS SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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music+nightlife

Hiroya Tsukamoto

guitar and play in a very simple, primitive way. I studied traditional music, and my mom is a teacher who plays a traditional instrument, so I’ll try to mimic the sound of traditional instruments with my guitar.

But I also like to use a loop pedal. It helps me write. I’ll just put down a bass line and then start developing new layers until a song starts to form.

IT’S JUST ME, A GUITAR AND A SUITCASE.

COURTESY

HI R OYA T S U K A M O T O

Folklore and Fingerstyles

B

efore he received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, before he played in the multicultural Boston band INTEROCEANICO, before all the solo albums and placing second in the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022, Hiroya Tsukamoto was just a kid from Kyoto, Japan, who wanted to play the banjo.

“It’s not really a commonly played instrument in Japan,” Tsukamoto, 39, said by phone from his home in New York City.

“That’s how I started to develop my style, though — it was a very formative experience for me.”

Then, as a teenager in the ’90s, Tsukamoto fell in love with the electric guitar and started playing in rock bands. But he never lost his affinity and talent for acoustic guitar and folk music.

His skill earned him an invitation to attend Berklee in 2000, and he left Japan for Boston. There he formed INTEROCEANICO with Colombian vocalist Marta Gómez. The group put out several albums in the early 2000s before Tsukamoto went solo. He’s since released five records, most recently 2023’s Little River Canyon, that showcase his virtuosic

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

playing, his orchestral sense of composition and his otherworldly synthesis of traditional Japanese folk with modern techniques.

Ahead of his performance on Saturday, December 20, at Radio Bean in Burlington, Tsukamoto spoke with Seven Days about his distinctive sound and style, as well as the pros and cons of touring solo.

Watching your right hand when you play is astounding — it moves so freely when you peel off a bunch of arpeggios on the guitar.

Thank you. The [fingerpicking patterns of ] banjo rolls add texture. I don’t play the banjo as much, but I still have one at home I’ll pick up. But I need to practice more!

Your style has so many elements.

What do you attribute that eclecticism to?

Well, there weren’t a lot of kids playing banjo where I was from in Japan, so when I switched to playing guitar, I started playing a lot of hard rock and heavy metal.

That’s actually what I still listen to when I’m driving to shows — I like to listen to really loud rock from the ’90s. I like to

You also use it extensively live, right?

I do. When I started playing solo, the music felt empty to me sometimes. I needed something to help me create a more orchestral sound, so I picked up the looper.

Japanese guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto synthesizes ancient folk music with modern techniques and virtuosic skill

BY C H R IS FAR NS W O R T H farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

incorporate it all into the way I play, even if it’s subconscious sometimes.

Live, you really emerge as a storyteller, both with the songs and the way you interact with the audience.

Has that approach always been part of what you do as a solo artist?

No, I developed that gradually. When I started playing solo, like, 12 years ago, I’d just get onstage and just play instrumental music. But I noticed that some people were getting bored in the middle. So at this folk festival one time, I saw this singer engage with the crowd, and it worked so well; it inspired me to do the same. I started to talk about why I had written my songs, but I also play Japanese folk music, so I’d speak about the culture and history around them.

You can hear it in your compositions, the way you’ll build a very traditional sort of backing track and then unleash all these techniques and soundscapes over them. Is it a balancing act of ancient and modern, or do you just pick up the guitar and let the influences filter out of you?

Sometimes, I just like to pick up the

It sounds like going solo changed how you play guitar.

Well, when you’re in a band and make a mistake, it’s harder for the audience to hear it. But you know it. So when I began to play by myself, I realized I was making too many mistakes. So I started doing really simple practices every single day. Just the basics, but every day, and now I don’t really make mistakes anymore. That frees me up to just play music and improvise. That was down to going solo, for sure.

Is it better or worse to be solo when touring?

It can get lonely sometimes, sure. It’s just me, a guitar and a suitcase. But I always make friends when I’m touring. People will reach out and take me hiking or show me trails; it’s really nice.

I’ve been doing this by myself for a while now, so I’ve established a circuit I play every year; I have my routine pretty worked out. But I also want to explore and find new venues. I haven’t been to Burlington in a while, so this will be interesting!

When it’s just you on the road, it can feel really freeing. I have a new album I just finished recording that’s coming out next year. If I want to perform those songs, I just do it. I don’t have to work it out with a band. And being all by yourself makes it easy to meet new people. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO Hiroya Tsukamoto, Saturday, December 20, 7 p.m., at Radio Bean in Burlington. $15. radiobean.com

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THE FINEST GIFTS AREN’T WRAPPED THEY’RE EXPERIENCED!

Vallory Falls

TICKETS & GIFT CERTIFICATES

Eaglemania 2/7/26 Väsen & The Fretless 2/14/26 Paula Poundstone 2/21/26 “Dirty Deeds” - AC/DC Tribute 2/28/26 Dervish 3/14/26 Kathy Mattea 4/17/26 The Del McCoury Band 4/25/26 The Ruth Moody Band 5/29/26 ... and more shows to come!

www. barreoperahouse.org • 802 476 8188 12/15/25 1:15 PM

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COURTESY OF MATTHEW BINGINOT

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On the Beat

The holiday hits from Vermont artists keep coming. In the wake of the recent release of yuletide tunes by EMALOU & THE BEAT, BULL’S HEAD and MATT HAGEN comes Richmond pop-punk outfit VALLORY FALLS with their entry, “It’s Christmas, Kid!” “It’s Christmas, kid, we don’t give a shit,” singer TRISTAN GILLISS belts out, painting a pretty bleak holiday picture in my favorite tradition of anti-jolly anthems, such as “Father Christmas” by the KINKS. If Vermont musicians keep writing such bangers, maybe we can finally retire “Little Drummer Boy” and “Jingle Bells”? (Because those songs suck.

That’s right, I’m coming for Christmas classics this week. Please write to Seven Days and challenge me if you dare, because those songs are trash. I know it.

You know it. Santa knows it. Why would anyone play a drum around a newborn?

It doesn’t make sense. Even DAVID BOWIE couldn’t make that song not terrible, for Kringle’s sake. Also, “Jingle Bells” has racist origins. Look it up.)

“It’s Christmas, Kid!” hits streaming services on December 20. It follows ON THE BEAT

Listening In (Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “CHRISTMAS SONGS ON THE MOON” by Matt Hagen, Grace Potter 2. “SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN” by Taryn Noelle & Friends 3. “O COME, O COME EMMANUEL” by Cricket Blue 4. “PUNCHING THE CHRISTMAS TREE” by James Kochalka Superstar 5. “CHRISTMASTIME WITH YOU”

by Carpenters Legacy 6. “BLUE CHRISTMAS (PIANO SOLO)” by Michael Crain 7. “SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS”

by Dwight + Nicole

Scan to listen

say you saw it in

sevendaysvt. com/playlist

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COURTESY

music+nightlife Eye on the Scene Last week’s highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

Want to memorialize a loved one?

Dr. William Tortolano

On the Beat « P.55

We’re here to help.

Our obituary and in memoriam services are affordable, accessible and handled with personal care.

Vallory Falls’ excellent EP released in the summer, Porch Lights & Field Guides.

The band says it’s working on its next album, due for release next summer.

One of the longest-running Christmas traditions in the area returns on Sunday, December 21, at the Saint Michael’s College chapel: DR. WILLIAM TORTOLANO performs his Christmas concert for the 65th year running. This year’s iteration is titled “Sing We Now Noel: 65.”

That’s right: When Dr. Tortolano, professor emeritus of fine arts and music at St. Mike’s, first started playing Christmas music on the chapel’s Casavant pipe organ, John F. Kennedy was preparing to succeed Dwight Eisenhower as president.

Tortolano, who turns 96 in January, has put together a program featuring organ solos of American folk melodies originally set to liturgical jazz harmonies by British pianist GEORGE SHEARING. There will also be selections from JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH and performances of the songs “Greensleeves” and “Simple Gifts.”

Share your loved one’s story with the Seven Days community in Lifelines.

life lines

Post your obituary or in memoriam online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/lifelines.

Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com 865-1020 ext. 121.

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7/30/24 2:58 PM

Olivia Lurrie

FOAM BREWERS HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA, FOAM BREWERS, BURLINGTON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13: It’s that time of the year when we’re inundated with ho-ho-holiday parties.

What better way to fill up your stockings than with the joy of seeing more than 20 bands playing holiday-inspired tunes? Such was the case at Foam Brewers’ Holiday Extravaganza on Saturday. Performances ranged from the likes of songwriters REID PARSONS and OLIVIA LURRIE to the ripping house band, aka local neo-soul/funk group POINT OF EVERYTHING, to full-on screamo renditions of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bell Rock” by SAVAGE HEN — always the final act because they sleigh the hardest of all. I met an older couple who came to Burlington from Atlanta on a whim because they wanted snow this holiday season, and they couldn’t have been more jolly after showing up at Foam and planting right next to the stage. They expressed to me that they have no community like this in Atlanta and that “it’s like seeing an entire year of live music in a single night.” As we head into the holiday break, let’s not forget how fortunate we are to have the musicians and music lovers that we do. Happy holidays to all, and to all a rocking and rolling good night.

The show is free and open to the public.

Cabot Arts will present its seventh annual Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration on Friday and Saturday, January 2 and 3. The weekend-long festival pays homage to the traditional end of Christmas, as well as Twelfth Night’s origins as a pre-Christian, Celtic and Roman tradition of midwinter festivities marking the death of the old year and the birth of the new.

The fest features theater performances, dance teams, Native American storytellers, scavenger hunts, puppets and plenty of killer local music.

TOM AZARIAN, KEITH MURPHY AND BECKY TRACY, FIFTH BUSINESS, and the RETURNABLES will perform at a variety of places around Cabot, including the Willey Building auditorium, the United Church of Cabot and the Den at Harry’s Hardware.

Admission is free, but check out cabotarts.org for more information.

C HRI S FARN S W O RT H

2026

SPRING SESSIONS

LIVE SINCE 1955

1/30 Badi Assad

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music+nightlife

CLUB DATES WED.17

Nate Pultorak’s Dulcimer Christmas Special (holiday music) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Donation.

COURTESY

live music

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.

Rhythm on 90, Wax Panther, Glam Cowboys (rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

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.

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.

THU.18

Carols for COTS! (holiday, fundraiser) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10-$50.

Devon McGarry Band (folk rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

populated by decorated veterans with long discographies as well as indie upstarts looking

to push boundaries. Trumpeter and composer CONNOR YOUNG occupies a middle ground.

The McGill University jazz performance grad holds down residencies in local jazz clubs, but on record Young likes to blur the lines. His 2024 album, From Me to You, mixes jazz with indie, folk and blues. He’s set to release From Me to You Vol. 2 in January. You can catch an early listen to some of those tunes as he and his band take the stage at Radio Bean in Burlington on Saturday, December 20.

Madigan Linnane (singersongwriter) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 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.

A Very Hairy Swalemess (indie rock, holiday music) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20.

Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

Vorcza (jazz, funk) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m.

Donation.

The Last Faculty (bluegrass) at Stowe Cider, 5 p.m. $10.

Blue Rock Boys (bluegrass) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.23

Lloyd Tyler Band (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Bob Cotton (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

Free.

Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m.

Free.

Almost SturCrazie (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m.

Free.

Monachino, Jarrett & Stats (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m.

Free.

House Band (indie) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (jazz, funk) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

moon ppl (funk, jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10.

The Bressetts (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Moonbird (folk) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Kraatz Carromato (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Chmura, Duffrey, B+, Hydroglyph, Kreesay (EDM) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.

Local Spotlight: Jane Boxall in Bad Smell (rock) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7 p.m. $15/$20.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

The Phil Abair Band (covers) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

The Moonlight Project, Blanchface (covers) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5.

The Discussions (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

EmaLou & the Beat Holiday Show (holiday, folk pop) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Satan’s Dogs (Phish tribute) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 6 p.m. Free.

90 Proof (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Shanty Rats (sea shanties) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.20

Allison Mann (singer-songwriter) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m.

Free.

FRI.19

Taylor Haskins’ Solo Solstice (classical, jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7 p.m. $30/$35.

Kyle Stevens (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

Free.

Evan Warner (singer-songwriter) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m.

Free.

Soule Monde with Rob Compa & Chuck Jones (jam, funk) at Stowe Cider, 8 p.m. $30.99.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

MON.22

Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Shakey Graves, Clover County (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m.

SOLD OUT.

Sparkomatik (EDM) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. $10.

Abbey B.K. (singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m.

Free.

Forever Young The Burlington jazz scene is continually evolving,

Adam Ezra Group, Griffin William Sherry (folk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Giovanina Bucci (singersongwriter) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m.

Free.

SUN.21 SAT.20 // CONNOR YOUNG & FRIENDS [JAZZ, BLUES]

Flint & Steale (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

The Fog (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m.

Free.

The Grift (pop, rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $15/$18.

Krishna Guthrie (folk, rock) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Paul Webb (piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads tribute) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $25/$40.

TURNmusic Presents Bruce Sklar Quintet with Nina Sklar (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30.

WiseAcres, Sunroom (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Andrew Richards (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Connor Young & Friends (jazz, blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Dead Man’s Waltz (Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band, the Band tribute) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $25/$31.

Grateful for Biggie (Grateful Dead, Notorious B.I.G. tribute) at Stowe Cider, 8 p.m. $25.69.

Halle B-Day Blues Jam (blues) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m.

Free.

Hiroya Tsukamoto (singersongwriter, Japanese folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

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.

The Cassarino/Grippo Holiday Revue (holiday music) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. $20.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Sammy B (rock) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.24

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.

In the Pocket with Taryn Noelle (holiday, jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.25

Magic User, Rangus (synth, punk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

FRI.26

Mirage (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Forest Station (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Ruminations (rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m.

Free.

Wheatus, Troy Millette & the Fire Below, Jerborn, Blake Matteson (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

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

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Carol Anne Jones & Will Patterson (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Sibling Reverie (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m.

Free.

Sleeveless Tease (pop, rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Sondido Mal Maïz (Latin, psych) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 3 p.m. Free.

Tim Brick and the Enablers (country) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Timothy James (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette & the Fire Below (folk rock, Americana) at Stowe Cider, 5 p.m. Free.

Zach Nugent (Grateful Dead tribute) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

djs WED.17

DJ Chalango, DJ Tarzana Salsa Night (salsa DJ) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.18

JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Lucas, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.19

Burly Bear, DJ Aras (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Dark Xmas DJ Set (DJ) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Frenetic (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m.

Free.

John’s Jukebox (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Two Sev, JP Black, Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Dan Parks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

DJS Free.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

» P.61 59

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Is Your Cat’s Heart Healthy?

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

It’s something of a cliché in music that, more often than not, a double album would have been better as a single volume. Think Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion, the Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, or Fleetwood Mac’s bloated but beloved Tusk. While those records have their defenders, consensus is that some editing and tasteful cuts would have improved them.

That’s why I’ve always been a fan of splitting up double albums. Sit on that second volume for a few months to make sure it’s something you really want to drop, the way Radiohead released Amnesiac half a year after Kid A. Sadly, some artists struggle to kill their darlings in the mixing booth.

Morrisville singersongwriter and guitarist Seth Yacovone seems to have run a pretty critical eye over his material for the two albums he dropped in 2025. SYBlings VOL 1 hit in April, followed by SYBlings VOL 2 this fall, marking Yacovone’s first releases in almost seven years. The blues shredder and former child prodigy recorded the tracks with former Rough Francis and current Iggy Pop drummer Urian Hackney at the Box studio in Burlington. The albums were among the final projects mastered at the Lane Gibson studio in Charlotte before it closed in 2024.

Each record features just eight tracks, an impressive feat of culling.

Yacovone had piled up more than 150 unrecorded songs since releasing Welcome in 2018. Straightforward blues and jam rock is the order of the day on the SYBlings records, focused on the interplay among Yacovone and his bandmates, bassist Alex Budney

and drummer Steve Hadeka. The trio has honed its dynamic to a fine science, with Budney and Hadeka expertly backing up Yacovone’s guitar heroics.

And those six-string flexes are all over the two albums. It’s easy to take Yacovone’s guitar prowess for granted because he’s been “that guy” in the Vermont scene for decades.

SYBlings should be the antidote to that: Yacovone’s guitar sings, wails and screams from track to track, showcasing both his giant, bluesy, Stevie Ray Vaughn influence as well as some rougher, more progressive traits. The guitar solo on VOL 1’s “I Want to Believe” is one of his finest, a fiery explosion of notes and delicious distortion.

Yacovone isn’t all pyrotechnics, though.

Over the years and records, he’s solidified into a distinctive singersongwriter who writes with a mix of a bluesrock growl, Grateful Dead-esque West Coast sprawl and subdued folk tendencies, all filtered through a tight, welldrilled trio. On tracks such as “Primordial Gold” on VOL 1 and “The Direction You’ve Flown” on VOL 2, Yacovone indulges his quirkier side, alternating between heavy grooves and melody-driven hooks.

If Yacovone had dropped SYBlings as a 16-track double record, would it have been better? Does that even matter in the age of streaming when albums get short shrift from listeners? Maybe, maybe not. But there’s not a lot of fat to these records, and both volumes can be listened to as self-contained recordings, even if it’s clear they’re companion pieces.

SYBlings VOL 1 and SYBlings VOL 2 are available on major streaming services. Seth Yacovone Band play Einstein’s Tap House in Burlington on Thursday, December 18.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED:

­

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REVIEW this Seth Yacovone Band, SYBlings VOL 1 & 2

6H-girlington091124.indd 1

60

music+nightlife

12/12/25 4:35 PM

ARE YOU A VT ARTIST OR BAND? SEND US YOUR MUSIC! DIGITAL: MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM; SNAIL MAIL: MUSIC C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 S. CHAMPLAIN ST., SUITE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401

djs

Nightmare Before Christmas Trivia (trivia) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m.

Free.

CONTINUED FROM P.59

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.20

COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Matt Payne, DJ Raul (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.

Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Roost.World (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.

Winter Solstice Rave (EDM) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 9 p.m. $15/$20.

TUE.23

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.26

MON.22 // VORCZA [JAZZ, FUNK]

A Fond Farewell Jazz-funk fusion trio

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.

THU.18

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Don Mahogany Third Thursday Trivia (trivia) at Butter Bar & Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

groove and high-level instrumental fireworks. The band has been laying down heavy jams

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

since spinning off from beloved ’90s Burlington act viperHouse. With a sound centered

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

on Ray Paczkowski’s fiery keyboard and organ work, Vorcza grew into one of the Green

VORCZA are a powerhouse of

Mountains’ funkiest touring bands. On Monday, December 22, at Zenbarn in Waterbury

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m.

Free.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Center, they play a celebration of life for Vermont musician Bob Brookens. Brookens, who

FRI.19

No Fun Ugly Sweater Soirée (No Fun Intended) (DJ) at Specs Café & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

died in September, was a Waterbury resident and music therapist who played saxophone

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Two Sev (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams WED.17

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.18

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m.

Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.21

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

with Chubby Checker.

MON.22

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.23

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

comedy WED.17

Bosom Buddies Birthday Bash (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $6.99.

THU.18

Bingo Comedy (comedy, bingo) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.20 Gary Simons (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Maria Bamford (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 & 8:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

FRI.19

Maria Bamford (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 & 8:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

SAT.20

Maria Bamford (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 & 8:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

SUN.21

Maria Bamford (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5 p.m. SOLD OUT.

TUE.23

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.26

Home for the Holidays: Improv (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5.99/$11.99.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

Green Mountain Cabaret (drag) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.21

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m.

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.22

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.23

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.

WED.24

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

FRI.26

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. ➆

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon.

Free.

WED.17

Citizen Cider Trivia Night (trivia) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

say you saw it in

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Winter Tested, Santa Approved.

mini-sawit-white2024.indd 2

7/31/24 4:41 PM

Give a Lenny’s gift card, the gift that always fits!

Lenny’s gift cards are always appreciated, always the right size and you can buy them in-stores or online.

Gift cards are redeemable in store only and cannot be redeemed online.

4h-Lennys121725.indd 1

Barre, Williston, St. Albans & Plattsburgh, NY M-F 10-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4

Shop: LennyShoe.com

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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12/11/25 12:41 PM

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THA Seven Days packs a whole city and state of social, cultural, political, economic, and agricultural news, events, opinions, and audio-visual food for thought into one dynamic booklet that I look forward to reading every week.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

MELANIE LOSCHIAVO • SARA LOURIE • MELANIE LOVELL • ROB LOWE • C.A. LOWE • MARY O'BRIEN & MARK LUCAS • KEVIN LUMPKIN • IAN LUTZ • JOHN FISHER & LAURA LYLE • SARA LYLIS • ANNE GRINNELL LYNN M. DEMETER LYONS • JONATHAN GIBSON & ELIZA MABRY • JANE MACAN • PETER MACAUSLAND • MARK & BONNIE MACBRIEN • DEREK MACDONALD • TYLER MACHADO • COREY MACK • SUSAN MACKENZIE LESLEE MACKENZIE • PETER MACONE • PAMELA MACPHERSON • MARILYN MADDISON • PRISCILLA & DONALD MADDOCK • SARA MADDOCKS • LINDA MAGOON • DAVID MAHER • MARIA & DENNIS MAHONEY CHERYL MALKIN • CHRISTOPHER MALONEY • RON MANGANIELLO • KATE MANSFIELD • BARRY MANSFIELD • MICHAEL MARCHAND • BARBARA MARION • BOB DUNCAN & JEAN MARKEY-DUNCAN C. ELIZABETH & PETER MARKOWSKI • TERRY MARRON • SUSAN MARTIN • BONNIE REID MARTIN • GEORGE MARTIN • LYNN MARTIN • ED MARTIN • RUX MARTIN • FELICIA & LEO MARTINEAU • JEN MARX CLAIRMONT MARY • SHELLY MASSON • JEFF MASTERS • JOAN MATHEWS • RYAN MATOS • ALAN MATSON • JEAN MATTHEW • CHRISTIAN MATTHEWS • BRETT MAXWELL • CARROLL MAXWELL • CINDY MAYNARD BOBBE MAYNES • MARK MCATEER • COLLEEN MCAULIFFE • KELLY MCCANN • MARIA MCCLELLAN • MARY MCCLINTOCK • DAVID MCCOLGIN • JOHN MCCONNELL • SUSAN MCCORMACK • PETER MCCORMICK SUZIE MCCOY • RICK MCCRAW • RUTH & BOB MCCULLOUGH • SHANNON MCDERMOTT • GEOFF MCDONALD • ELIZABETH MCDONALD • MARY MCDOWELL • LINDA MCGINNIS • BARBARA MCGREW • BARBARA MCGUIRE DONALD MCINTYRE • FRAN MCKAY • ELLEN MCKAY • SUZIE MCKENZIE • RYAN MCLAREN • HEATHER MCLEOD • SUSAN MCMILLAN • ALAIN MCMURTRIE • JONATHAN MCNALLY • MARK MCNALLY • ANDREW MCQUEENEY GLENN MCRAE • AMY MCVEY • PATRICIA MCWILLIAMS • RYANN MEAD • AMY O'MEARA • STEPHEN MEASE • KEVIN MEEHAN • JENN MEGYESI • SENA MEILLEUR • LUIS MEJIA • ALEX MELVILLE • JAMES MENDELL ROBERT MERCHANT • PATRICIA MERIAM • GRAHAM MERIWETHER • DEBORAH MERKE • LAURA MERRIAM EMILY MERRILL • ELIZABETH MERRILL • ALICE MERRILL • PATIENCE MERRIMAN • SARAH MERRITT • PIERRE VAN DER MERWE KATE MESAROS • SOPHIA MESLER • JULIE MESSENGER • CHARLES MESSING • IAN METCALF • CONNIE METZ JESSE METZLER • KATHERINE MEYER • JON & DEBORAH MEYER • LISA MEYER • MARIE DALTON-MEYER & LES MEYER LAURA & STUART MEYER • KATRINA MEYERS • COLIN MEYN • WAYNE MICHAUD • BARBARA MIEDER • JEFF MILCHEN MUFFIE MILENS • ANNE MILLAR • HOLLY MILLER • JERRILYN MILLER • RON MILLER • JEFFREY MILLER • LETHA MILLS BARBARA MINES • STEVE MINOR • RAYMOND MITCHELL • BONARD MOLINA • JANET MONDLAK • NANCY MONEY MK MONLEY • ALLISON MONRO • MICHAEL MONTE • TED MONTGOMERY • JEANNE MONTROSS K AT H A R I N E MONTSTREAM • MARYBETH MOONEY • JIM MOORCROFT • RONDA MOORE, D.V.M MARGARET MOORE • PAULA MOORE • MARIAN MOORE • BETTY MOORE-HAFTER • LINDA MORAN • JANE MORAN TANYA MOREHOUSE • NANCY & JOHN MORGAN • KEITH MORGAN • VICTORIA MORI • JOAN MORRIS • JIM MORRIS WILLIAM MORRIS • JOHN MORRIS • JANET MORRISON • BONNIE MORRISSEY • JAN MORSE • BETTY-ANN MORSE DANIEL & MARGARET MOSELEY • ROBERT – SALLY GULLION, COLCHESTER MOSHER • DAWN MOSKOWITZ • PATRICIA MOTCH • WILLIAM MOTSIFF MELINDA MOULTON • REBECCA MOYER • JULIE MUELLER • DOUGLAS B. 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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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D E C E M B E R

WED.17 crafts

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.

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.

1 7 - 2 6 ,

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.

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: 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.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the property. The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m.

Free. Info, 821-0741.

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.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

COURTESY

calendar 2 0 2 5

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: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m.

Free. Info, 244-7036.

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.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: A herd of friendly prehistoric creatures brightens up the dark winter’s night while visitors stroll or snowshoe their way through the gentle Science Park loop. See calendar spotlight.

Montshire Museum of Science,

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

ONGOING | HOLIDAYS Jurassic Park Life — and light! — finds a way. As the days grow shorter and December darkness takes hold, families find a radiant break at Montshire Museum of Science’s outdoor exhibit “Dino Lights: A Walk Through the Ages” in Norwich. A herd of 10 friendly prehistoric beasts, including a twinkling triceratops, a scintillating spinosaurus and a brilliant brontosaurus, awaits visitors ambling along the museum’s Science Park loop. These illuminated creatures of yore have been thoughtfully placed trailside so that timetraveling attendees encounter them in chronological order, beginning with a sparkling specimen that roamed the Earth 150 million years ago.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’ Open daily through January 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich.

Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Regular admission, $18-21; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200, montshire.org.

Norwich, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $18-21; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

postcards will be stamped and mailed to loved ones. Daydream Art Supply, Burlington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

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, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 228-5050.

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.

HOLIDAY TRIVIA NIGHT: Participants vie for prizes at this festive, family-friendly test of knowledge. Snacks provided.

Stowe Free Library, 5-6 p.m. Free.

Info, 253-6145.

POSTCARD CLUB: A new holiday tradition invites folks to slow down and create some handcrafted snail mail joy. Completed

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.

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

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

access resources to meet their housing needs. 5-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456.

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.

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, 7:30 p.m. $10-100. Info, 296-7000.

words

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.

THU.18

agriculture

FARMER SUPPORT WEBINAR SERIES: NOFA-VT, Rural Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid dig into tax questions tailored to the farming community. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 419-0056.

FAMILY FUN 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.17

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.

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, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

THERAPY DOG MICK VISIT: An English setter registered with Therapy Dogs

RECORDKEEPING FOR ORGANIC LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS: Considering going organic? Livestock certification specialist Kyla Parmelee and Martin Family Farm’s Samantha Walsh share their favorite systems and tools in a NOFA-VT webinar. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, zea@nofavt.org.

business

DECEMBER MIXER: Hors d’oeuvres, networking opportunities and a special guest speaker encourage warm community connections at this Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce event. Holiday Inn Express, St. Albans City, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15; free for members and young professionals. Info, 524-2444.

of Vermont doles out companionship, acceptance and unconditional love.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:3011:30 a.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.

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: Time for a new gig? The Vermont Department of Labor offers a meet and greet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000.

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.

crafts

environment

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.

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.

FLYNNZONE FAMILY NIGHT: THE ADMINS: The performing arts center’s own musical group takes to the stage for a rollicking seasonal sing-along. The Flynn, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

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.

chittenden county

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.

PERLER BEAD OPEN STUDIO: Crafty kids ages 7 and up mix, match and fuse beads to create their own designs or follow a pattern. Essex Free Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

PLAY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 build with giant blocks and read together.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

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: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines.

Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

THU.18

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage,

‘ELIO’: Pass the popcorn! Film buffs of all ages settle in for this 2025 animated flick about cosmic misadventures. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15-5 p.m. Free.

Info, 878-6956.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones ages 2 to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:30 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, 9:159:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE STORY TIME: Special guest Nora conveys stories, songs and silliness through the visual language. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu!

Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $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 THU.18

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.

» P.66

12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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

MEET TEDDY THE THERAPY DOG: Animal lovers pop by the library to make friends with a very good boy, learn about his therapy duties and see some of his astounding tricks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30 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.

mad river valley/ waterbury

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.

MRS. CLAUS BEDTIME STORIES: Mini merrymakers don festive pajamas for winter tales old and new. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 6:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 244-1441.

FRI.19

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

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

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.

SPANISH STORY TIME: Niñas and niños gather round for toddler-appropriate tales told en español. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages

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.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF KING WENCESLAS AND HIS PAGE EDITH’: The Vermont Suitcase Company presents a family-focused holiday play featuring carols, quick-paced physical comedy, stage magic and puppets. Vocal ensemble Heedless of the Gale open the show.

Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. $5-12.

Info, 387-0102.

SAT.20 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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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.

COURTESY

THU.18

DEC. 20 & 21 | HOLIDAYS

‘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.

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE’: Wong Kar Wai’s 2000 dark romance combines an achingly beautiful soundtrack with exquisite cinematography to tell the story of two neighbors forming a strong bond. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.18.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.18.

games

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.

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.17.

‘CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR’: Director of music Robert Ludwig leads a joy-filled community sing-along of favorite sacred and secular works fit for the season. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church,

66

SATURNALIA: A CELEBRATION OF LIGHT: Praise the sun god, Saturn! Folks of all ages learn about the ancient Roman winter solstice festival through crafts, board games and pizza. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 878-6956.

fairs & festivals

‘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.

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs.

Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523.

etc.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.18.

games

Fond Farewell

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.18, 10 a.m.

New Hampshire nonprofit Revels North, known for its year-round, all-ages celebration of the power of traditional arts, takes its final bow in December — but not before dazzling at Lebanon Opera House with three performances of “Midwinter Revels: A Scottish Celebration of the Winter Solstice.” The much-loved org raises the curtain one last time on the Tam Lin story, a centuries-old fairy ballad from the borderlands of Scotland, bursting with magical folks and female-focused bravery. This farewell production includes all the hallmarks that audiences have come to know and love, including “Lord of the Dance,” “Dona Nobis Pacem,” a mummers’ play and sing-alongs. So long, Revels.

MAH-JONGG: It’s not just for old ladies! Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a rousing game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free.

Info, 878-4918.

health & fitness

FRIDAY RECHARGE: Northern Kin Sauna and Guinep give guests FRI.19

‘MIDWINTER REVELS: A SCOTTISH CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’ Saturday, December 20, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 21, 11 a.m., at Lebanon Opera House. $18-56.50.

Info, 603-448-0400, lebanonoperahouse.org.

Middlebury, noon-12:45 p.m. Free.

Info, 388-7200.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

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 SENIOR DINNER: Residents ages 55 and up share a roast turkey dinner with all the fixings, or vegetarian shepherd’s pie, followed by scrummy desserts. ONE Community Center, Burlington, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, onegooddeedfundbtv@ gmail.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.17.

ROWAN: A traditional folk band plays resonant seasonal tunes in the Celtic, Appalachian and Americana genres. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 985-5124.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.17.

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.

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.

MANDARIN CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont

Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.17, 7:30 p.m. and 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

BEST OF 2025 LIBRARY STORYTELLING EVENT: The top local wordsmiths from host Samara Anderson’s tour spin bold and brave true stories on

the auditorium stage. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, anderson_samara@yahoo.com.

MORNINGS, MUFFINS & MYSTERIES: Lit lovers link up to discuss the month’s twisty page-turner. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

FRI.19

community

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TABLING: Curious community members connect with representatives from the government agency. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

» P.68

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.

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You should be as comfortable filing a 400-word, breaking-news post for sevendaysvt.com as you are reporting out a 4,000-word, magazine-quality investigative story for the cover of our print edition. We expect clean copy, well-developed pitches, solid sourcing and a competitive zeal.

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a refreshing boost with sauna access and a warming tent, paired with nonalcoholic recovery cocktails and live beats spun by DJs. KULA: Yoga, Fitness, Social Lounge, South Burlington, 7-10 p.m. $25-40. Info, 448-0854‬.

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.17.

THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA: A gospel group gets listeners clapping at this special Christmas concert combining standards of the season with selections from its Grammy-winning holiday album. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $51.15-85.25. Info, 760-4634.

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, 4-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 805-242-6875.

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. First Presbyterian Church, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $10-50; free for kids under 18. Info, 518-561-3140.

CANDLELIGHT: ‘CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS’: Listeso String Quartet performs 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.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17.

Marketplace, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-1648.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.18.

HOLIDAY KARAOKE: MCs keep the action moving at a joyful celebration of the season through song. BYOB. The Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield, 7-10 p.m. Free; preregister.

Info, info@valleyplayers.com.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.18.

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.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.17.

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.

theater

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’: See THU.18.

‘NIGHT FIRES’: A magical winter solstice dream play pulls viewers in with enchanting song, story and dance. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 4 & 7:30 p.m. $15-45.

Info, 382-9222.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

community

68

COMMUNITY STRESS RELEASE SEMINAR: The slow, deliberate movements of tai chi help meditative attendees feel calm, steady and energized. Oom Yung Doe VT, Burlington, 6-6:45 p.m. Free. Info, inst.wade@gmail.com.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.17.

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.17.

SAT.20

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

games

health & fitness

POSTCARD CLUB: See WED.17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

tech

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Baked items, 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.

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.

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.

WINTER CAROLS: Michael Zsoldos directs an original program of solstice-themed works highlighting local singers and musicians from BarnArts Chorale and Youth Chorale. First Universalist Church and Society, Barnard, 7-8:15 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, info@ barnarts.org.

food & drink

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW: Beloved local musicians Kat Wright and Brett Hughes present their annual extravaganza of honky-tonk holiday cheer.

Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7 p.m. $35. Info, 798-6717.

COMBUSTIBLE CABARET HOLIDAY HAPPENING: Cardboard puppet mayhem, bawdy burlesque, delightful drag and a too-hot-to-handle live band punctuate this naughty and nice experience. Ages 18 and up.

See calendar spotlight. Haybarn Theatre, the Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 p.m. $50.

Info, 279-8500.

FESTIVE FRIDAY: LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Participants don their brightest gear and fill the streets with color at this holiday fun run for all ages. Church Street

COURTESY OF BEN T. MATCHSTICK

FRI.19

DEC. 19 & 20 | HOLIDAYS

BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: See FRI.19.

The Naughty List

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17.

Revelers ages 18 and up don festive attire both fancy and kitschy for the Combustible Cabaret Holiday Happening at Haybarn Theatre in Plainfield, where the line between naughty and nice is deliciously thin. An incendiary evening of red-hot live music, provocative puppets, and burlesque and drag performances awaits attendees in search of something a bit spicier — and not family-friendly — this season. Master of ceremonies Stoph Scheer helms the inaugural showcase of more than 20 mischievous acts, including the folkloric yet au courant No Kings Krampus, that speak to the current political moment and the future of democracy.

COMBUSTIBLE CABARET HOLIDAY HAPPENING Friday, December 19, 8-10 p.m., and Saturday, December 20, 4-6 p.m. & 8-10 p.m., at Haybarn Theatre, the Creative Campus at Goddard, in Plainfield. $50. Info, 279-8500, combustiblecabaret.com.

laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See website for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $520 sliding scale. Info, 225-8921.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.18.

ILLUMINATED CROWNS: Light up the dark winter solstice by decorating a handmade headpiece that glows. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 878-6956.

fairs & festivals

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.18.

dance

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

crafts

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy,

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

film

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

BEARY MAGICAL LIGHTS TOUR: Festive music accentuates this glowing winter paradise, complete with special 3D glasses that transform illuminated displays into shimmering teddy bear shapes. Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Shelburne, 3:30-6 p.m. $10. Info, 985-1319.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.18.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘PRIME MINISTER’: This 2025 documentary chronicles Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as New Zealand PM, which redefined what global leadership looks like. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

COMBUSTIBLE CABARET HOLIDAY HAPPENING: See FRI.19, 4-6 & 8-10 p.m.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.18.

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 & CRAFT SHOW: Forget someone on your list? A variety of vendors help last-minute shoppers find the perfect handmade gift, while live music and a visit from Santa Claus set a festive tone. Judd Hall, Vermont State University, Randolph Center, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Free. Info, randfarmmarket@ yahoo.com.

THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW: See FRI.19. York Street Meeting House, Lyndon, 7-9 p.m. $35. Info, 748-2600.

MARKET ON MAIN: See FRI.19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

SAT.20

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‘MIDWINTER REVELS: A SCOTTISH CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: Revels North sets sail for a small Scottish island, where the songs, stories and dances of elfin folk, shape-shifters and other enchanters await.

See calendar spotlight. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 2 & 7 p.m. $1856.50. Info, 603-448-0400.

PROCRASTINATOR’S PARADISE HOLIDAY MARKET: Last-minute gift hunters find something for everyone on their list at this curated showcase of more than 25 local vendors, hosted

by Adventure Dinner. Meach Cove Farms Gathering Space, Shelburne, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.17.

SOCIAL BAND AND CHAMPLAIN CONSORT: In “Deep Midwinter,” a 25-member a cappella group joins forces with an early music ensemble to present a program of cold-weather carols from the Renaissance using period instruments. Richmond Free Library, 7:30-9 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, 355-4216.

SOLARIS VOCAL ENSEMBLE: Innovative string quartet Skylark joins the singers for an evocative program of holiday favorites titled “Holiday Cheer.” Waterbury Congregational Church, 7:30 p.m. $10-50 sliding scale. Info, 2446606.

THE SPRUCE PEAK LIGHTS FESTIVAL: Ice dancing performances, photos ops with Santa, a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks make for a holiday affair to remember. Spruce Peak Plaza, Stowe. Free. Info, 760-4634.

SUNDAY MORNING: An eclectic band brings the cozy nostalgia of Christmas to life with a family-friendly concert of classic hits and traditional carols. The Tillerman, Bristol, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, 643-2237.

‘VERMONT’S OWN NUTCRACKER’: Vermont Ballet Theater and School transports audiences to the Land of Sweets in a classic production propelled by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s captivating score. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 2 & 7 p.m. $22.20-52.

Info, 863-5966.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.18.

WINTERSHINE: A festival of holiday lights delivers cheer in spades with a dazzling fireworks display, live music, food truck offerings and bar specials. Jay Peak Resort, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 327-2198.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.19.

ANTJE DUVEKOT AND SETH GLIER: A thrilling double bill of contemporary folk singer-songwriters promises masterful, lyrical storytelling.

Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $1026. Info, 387-0102.

composer Dennis Murphy. A reception follows Sunday’s concert.

Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $25; free for kids 18 and under. Info, 476-2541.

outdoors

GUIDED NEW MOON MINDFULNESS HIKE: Locals take to the trails for this practice of slowing down, noticing and finding connection with the outdoors ahead of the holiday rush. BYO headlamp. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

etc.

SAUROPOD SOLSTICE: Attendees celebrate the longest night of the year with warm beverages, themed stories and fun-filled activities, followed by a stroll through the museum’s illuminated outdoor exhibit. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 4-6 p.m. Regular admission, $18-21; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

fairs & festivals

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.18.

MARKET ON MAIN: See FRI.19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.18.

MENORAH LIGHTING: Neighbors unite in the spirit of this joyful tradition to observe the beautiful nine-foot candelabra’s illumination. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

québec

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION: Curious creatives and multimedia enthusiasts get a tour of the facilities and check out available gear.

The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

talks

RAD HISTORY: KROPOTKIN IN AMERICA: Locals learn more about the 20th-century labor movement icon’s visit to the U.S. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

theater

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’: See THU.18.

‘NIGHT FIRES’: See FRI.19.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.17, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

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.

WRITERS’ WERTFREI: Authors both fledgling and published share their work in a nonjudgmental setting. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon.

Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

SUN.21 crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.17, 1-3 p.m.

ONION RIVER CHORUS: Director Richard Riley conducts the vocalists in “A Perfect Day,” a cantata written in 1994 by Plainfield 70 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET DAYS: See SAT.20.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

film

seminars

HOLIDAY FARMERS MARKET: Locavores peruse a variety of vendors’ delicious produce, wellness items, fine art, and other homemade goods and gifts befitting the season. Winooski Senior Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Free. Info, farmersmarket@ downtownwinooski.org.

HOLLYWOOD, VT SERIES: ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’: Festive outfits are encouraged at this screening of the 1954 holiday classic following World War II veterans who move their song-and-dance act to Vermont to win over a pair of sisters. Playhouse Movie Theatre, Randolph, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 728-4012.

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

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.

‘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.

Center for the Arts, Randolph, 2-4 p.m. $10-30. Info, 728-9878.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.18.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘PRIME MINISTER’: See SAT.20.

food & drink

BAKERY POP-UP: Breakfast sandwiches, pastries, hot drinks and house sourdough loaves bring joy to all who drop in. The Tillerman, Bristol, 8 a.m.-noon. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, 643-2237.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.18, 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.17, noon-4 p.m.

‘CAROLMANIA!’: Holiday spirit goes through the roof at this immersive sing-along spectacular, also featuring photos with Santa and an ugly sweater contest. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $48.34-63.85. Info, 760-4634.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.18.

HIGH DRIVE: A local Celtic music duo blends vibrant traditional tunes with holiday classics for a warm, joyful afternoon. Chandler

MIDDLEBURY ‘MESSIAH’ SING: A holiday happening since 1984, community members gather to perform selections from George Frideric Handel’s beloved oratorio. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 2-4 p.m. $5-25 suggested donation. Info, jeff.rehbach@gmail.com.

‘MIDWINTER REVELS: A SCOTTISH CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE’: See SAT.20, 11 a.m.

NEW NORTH END HOLIDAY MARKET: More than 40 artists and makers display their handmade goods, while attendees participate in ornament decorating, felting and a food drive for the North End Food Pantry.

Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, nneholidaymarket@gmail.com.

‘SING WE NOW NOEL’: Ninetyfive-year-old organist and founder of the college’s Fine Arts Department Dr. William Tortolano performs his 65th annual Christmas concert, featuring carols spanning myriad cultures and eras. Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 2 p.m. Free.

Info, 899-3564.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.17, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

SOLARIS VOCAL ENSEMBLE: See SAT.20. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 p.m. Info, 864-7704.

SOLSTICE IN THE SHIRE: Edible ornaments, delicious goodies, holiday beverages and an interactive performance of themed stories celebrate the shortest day of the year. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 382-9222.

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.

Holy Angels Church, St. Albans, 4-5:30 p.m. $10-80. Info, info@ vtchoralunion.org.

‘VERMONT’S OWN NUTCRACKER’: See SAT.20, 1 & 6:30 p.m.

WESTFORD MUSIC SERIES: SOCIAL BAND AND CHAMPLAIN CONSORT: In “Deep Midwinter,” a 25-member choral a cappella group joins forces with an early music ensemble to present a program of cold-weather carols from the Renaissance using period instruments. Westford Common Hall, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 734-8177.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.18.

patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

etc.

FIELD TRIP THROWBACK DAY: Get your permission slip ready!

Nostalgic young adult ages 16 and up relive their favorite museum memories from school trips of yesteryear. Student ID required.

Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5. Info, 649-2200.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION & COMMUNITY SING: Luminary making and a cookie swap precede a festive sing-along of holiday tunes led by local musician Rich Grumbine. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 2-4:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 387-0102.

film

music

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.18.

FEED VT: Kris Gruen, Chad Hollister, Bow Thayer and the VT Bluegrass Pioneers rock out for a righteous cause. Proceeds benefit Capstone Community Action’s Food Shelf. Haybarn Theatre, the Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 5 p.m. $35-45. Info, 821-0741.

JUNCTION SONG CIRCLE: Traditional songs in any language are welcome at this instrument-free community music group. Greater Hartford United Church of Christ, Hartford Village, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, mail. grantcook13@gmail.com.

ONION RIVER CHORUS: See SAT.20, 4 p.m.

outdoors

MT. HUNGER & WHITE ROCK HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for a difficult, moderately paced trek in pursuit of stellar views. BYO snowshoes and microspikes. Email for start time. Middlesex Trailhead, North Middlesex. Free; preregister. Info, jillghiker@gmail.com.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See SAT.20, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

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.18, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

‘NIGHT FIRES’: See FRI.19, 4 p.m.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.17, 2 p.m.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.18.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.18.

food & drink

BAKERY POP-UP: See SUN.21.

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: Players grab their daubers for a competitive night of card stamping for cash prizes. Burlington Elks Lodge, 6 p.m. Various prices.

Info, 862-1342.

health & fitness

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available.

Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

holidays

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.18.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.18.

language

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

words

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for lit lovers to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-1132.

MON.22 crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow

TUE.23

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TUE.23

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle.

10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: 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.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.18.

games

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

BOARD GAMES FOR ADULTS: Locals ages 18 and up enjoy the library’s collection or bring their own to share with the group.

Light refreshments provided.

Essex Free Library, 6-7:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 879-0313.

film

health & fitness

fairs & festivals

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.18.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.18.

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630.

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.

40 Catherine St., Burlington, 2:305:30 p.m. Free; cost of food. Info, anna.mays@gmail.com.

holidays

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.

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.17.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.18, 4:30-7 p.m.

POP-UP HOLIDAY DESSERT SALE: Specialty treats inspired by oldworld traditions of Italy, Lebanon, Persia and beyond entice sweet tooths of all ages.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.18, 4-7:30 p.m.

language

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.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.17, 2 & 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

The Residence at Otter Creek, The Residence at Quarry Hill, and The Residence at Shelburne Bay wish you and your family a joyous holiday and happy new year!

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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Century.” 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.

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.24 community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: Neighbors connect with representatives from the Turning Point Center and learn about its addiction-recovery services.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.17, noon-4 p.m.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW: See WED.17, 4-11 p.m.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.17, noon & 5:30 p.m.

THU.25

fairs & festivals

health & fitness

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

film

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: See FRI.19.

fairs & festivals

FRI.26 dance

CONTRA DANCE: Tea for Three provide the tunes and Ben SachsHamilton calls the steps for this Queen City Contras soirée. Wear clean, soft-soled shoes. Shelburne Town Hall, beginner lesson, 6:45 p.m.; music, 7-10 p.m. $5-12. Info, info@queencitycontras.com.

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.17.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the on screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: See FRI.19.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.17.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.18.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.18, 4:30-7 p.m.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.18.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.18, 4-7:30 p.m.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.18.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.18, 10 a.m.

language

FRENCH SOCIAL HOUR: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region hosts a rendez-vous over cocktails. Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown,

5:30-7 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, bbrodie@aflcr.org.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: See FRI.19.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.19.

outdoors

HUNGER MOUNTAIN WINTER BIRD COUNT: Citizen scientists scan the landscape for feathered friends, collecting census data to be used by conservation organizations. Various Waterbury locations, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, hungermountainwbc@gmail.com.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See WED.17. ➆

Holiday tip: Play within limits, protect your budget, and keep the season merry!

We’re here 24/7 via Live Chat & 1-800-GAMBLER. 23t-MassCouncilonGaming112625 1

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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PROMOTE THE 2026 VERMONT SECESSION DEBATE

calendar

It Has Support ALREADY in Both Senate and House

FAMILY FUN

FRI.19

« P.65

SAT.20

burlington

T-shirts $20: Text size(s) M-L-XL to 802-343-5493 and we’ll arrange for payment/delivery.

Order large for over sweaters.

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‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

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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 TEEN DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Tabletop role-players create characters and embark on cooperative adventures guided by a dungeon master. Snacks provided.

Essex Free Library, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

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Logo Meaning: Red=Nepal (Made in Nepal, Blue=US Sherpa (Authentic Sherpa Green=Vermont (Fair Trade, Mt Everest skyline)

owned, where they meet)

Mt Mansfield skyline)

“I was one in a million to be able to come to the US and to get a college education. For me the opportunity came with responsibility.”

Ongyel Sherpa US Sherpa Founder

shop in person or online 235 Main St, Ste 1 winooski, VT 05404 (802)857-5059 www.ussherpa.com

crafted in nepal for the active, caring and outdoor lifestyle 8h-USsherpa121725 1

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SCIENTIFIC SATURDAYS: Participants explore the wonders of the natural world, from the life cycle of plants to the mysteries of animal habitats.

Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

SUN.21

burlington

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.

to do?

SANTA VISITS: See SAT.20.

TWEEN GROUP: A new program for queer and gender-creative youths ages 10 to 12 offers space to make new friends, participate in fun activities and build community.

FIND EVENTS AND CLASSES AT SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

northeast kingdom

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

something

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‘THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF KING WENCESLAS AND HIS PAGE EDITH’: See FRI.19. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7-8:30 p.m. By donation; preregister.

Info, plainfieldartsvt@gmail. com.

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

Looking for

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barre/montpelier

3/30/21 2:49 PM

Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 865-9677.

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, 12:302:30 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

MON.22

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

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.23

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

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.

GAME ON: See WED.17.

MEET PETE THE CAT: Little library patrons hang out with the grooviest feline around at this special reading and meet and greet opportunity. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

Info, 846-4140.

READ TO CHEWY THE THERAPY DOG: Tykes of all ages flock to the beloved pup for 15 minutes of stories and unconditional love. Essex Free Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 879-0313.

SEASONS OF GIVING KIDS CRAFT WORKSHOP: Mini makers ages 2 to 16 create homemade wonders to gift to others this season. Materials provided. Essex Free Library, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.19, 2-6 p.m.

THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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.19.

WED.24

chittenden county BABY TIME: See WED.17.

FRI.26

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.17.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.17.

DROP-IN: See FRI.19.

chittenden county LEGO BUILDERS: See FRI.19.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.19.

LEGO CLUB: See FRI.19.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: See FRI.19.

upper valley

STORY TIME: See FRI.19.

northeast kingdom

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.19. K

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IT’S SNOW JOKE! is on Vacation!

Look for our first issue of 2026 on January 7!

Want to reserve advertising space? Contact sales@sevendaysvt.com.

HIRING? Promote your job openings with us throughout the holidays and into 2026 by contacting Michelle Brown at michelle@sevendaysvt.com or sevendaysvt.com/postmyjob.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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12/1/25 12:28 PM

MORE CLASS LISTINGS ONLINE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

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).

martial arts

NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

arts & crafts 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: 802-425-2700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

DROP-IN WINTER WORKSHOP WITH LEAF HARBOR ARTS: Come make lanterns to banish the darkness! 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 young at heart. Stop by for an hour or the whole afternoon.

Hope to see you there! Date: Sat., 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.

food & drink ‘THE BASICS’ CAKE DECORATING CLASS: In this workshop, learn the basics of filling and crumb coating a cake, getting nice smooth edges, and some rosette piping. You’ll go home with some great new techniques as well as a two-layer six-inch cake that serves eight. You can select your flavor in the questionnaire section. Gluten-free, vegan or

of internal energy. Join our community and find resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/ bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@ burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

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.

both available for cake kits.

Please disclose all allergies in the ticket registration. Note: We are not an allergen-free facility. Date: Thu., Jan. 15, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: $85. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, 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.

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.

wellness AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY — GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: Beginners’ classes five days a week. Free workshop on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. The dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development

PROSPERITY PATHWAY: A cozy, creative workshop where you’ll reflect, reset and design your vision for the year ahead. Craft a personalized vision board, set clear goals and leave inspired to make 2026 your most prosperous year yet. Date: Sat., Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost: $70.

Location: Ladies Social Group, Essex Jct. Info: 802-316-8885, sevendaystickets.com.

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

= TICKETED CLASS

You Wrote the Book.

Let Seven Days Help Market It. Seven Days is proud to be one of the few publications in Vermont that regularly reviews local authors. Now, your book can appear alongside our coverage for readers who are looking to add to their TBR list.

To learn more about our affordable print and digital options, contact bookpromo@sevendaysvt.com.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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Humane Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Ginseng & Bonsai AGE/SEX: 5-year-old neutered males ARRIVAL DATE: October 2, 2025 SUMMARY: Ginseng and Bonsai are a bonded duo who’ve been

through a big life change and are now ready to find the calm, patient home they’ve been waiting for. These two soft souls came into our care when their previous guardian’s lifestyle shifted. They were withdrawn at first, but their sweet personalities have begun to shine. Both boys are independent, gentle companions who will thrive in a quiet, predictable home with people who understand that trust takes time! Once they feel safe, Ginseng and Bonsai will reward you with the most special kind of love!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Ginseng and Bonsai have some experience

Services »

living with small dogs. They have lived with respectful female cats, though they do not appreciate the company of other males.

They have no known experience with kids.

Musicians & Artists »

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.

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Society of Chittenden County

DID YOU KNOW?

When it comes to shy cats, less is more!

Give your cat space but offer reassurance with your tone of voice and actions. Spend time with your cat without making them the center of attention, such as sitting nearby with a book, so that they can choose whether or not to engage.

Sponsored by:

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

77

Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

Buy & Sell, Community, Musicians & Artists, Vehicles 1-week combo: $12 All print combos include 2-week combo: $22 30 days free online!

4-week combo: $42

802-999-2995, jonathantmaguire@ gmail.com.

Buy y & Sell e

Musicians M cians & Ar Artists ts

Rentals R e als & R al Est Real Estate Esta

WANT TO BUY

MUSIC LESSONS

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. These brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN)

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.

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT CREATIVE

say you saw it in

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

mini1.75-sawit2024.indd 1

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

78

NEWLY RENOVATED IN S. BURLINGTON Nice 2-BR upstairs apt., close to everything.

W/D, 2 porches, shared backyard. $2,100/ mo. incl. utils. Lease & deposit. Info, 802-7346469, carpentier2iby@ gmail.com.

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!

Rates between $2,590 & $2,641. Info, 802-3992586, catamountrun@ redstonevt.com, 339gardenst.com.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

7/31/24 4:54 PM

appt. appointment apt. apartment BA bathroom BR bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer refs. references sec. dep. security deposit W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Services rv es

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CHEF-OWNER/ OPERATING PARTNER — NEW RESTAURANT BUILD IN CHARLOTTE, VT Operator wanted — Charlotte, Vt. Seeking an experienced restaurant operator for a fully rebuilt historic tavern at 2760 Spear St., Charlotte.

120-seat destination opportunity (80-seat house + 40-seat barn under construction) serving a strong, year-round local market.

Owner is a developer/ builder & will assist w/ fi t-up. Flexible lease or partnership structures avail. $18,000. Info:

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact: HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

BARD SEEKS PATRON Be you of noble heart?

Have you tales to tell?

Dost thou mess about, & hast thou found out?

Let us do this the oldfashioned way: Recount thy shenanigans to me, & you shall have melody & verse to light them.

Skilled at song; master at wordcraft. Terms negotiable. Info, bardic. services@proton.me.

#1720 Landscaping Equipment Online Auction Closes: Thurs. Dec. 18th @ 10AM Colchester, VT #1723 Conex Boxes, Trailers & Construction Equipment Online Auction Closes: Monday, Dec. 22 @ 11AM Waterbury, VT #1724 2018 Atlas Copco Diesel Generator Online Auction Closes: Monday, Dec. 29 @ 11AM Preview: Mon-Fri from 8AM-4PM 1878 Cadys Falls Road Morrisville, VT

Rentals & Real Estate 1-week combo: $25 2-week combo: $45 4-week combo: $85

Services 1-week combo: $15 2-week combo: $25 4-week combo: $45

Legal Notices PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO TICKETING AUTHORITY FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS IN CITY PARKS It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows: That Chapter 22, Parks, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended by amending Sec. 23, thereof to read as follows: A violation of the following sections of this chapter shall be deemed a civil offense: As written.

In addition, except as otherwise specified in subsection (g) of section 55 of chapter 20 of this code, a violation of any provision of the rules and regulations of the parks, recreation and waterfront department THCAuction.com  800-634-SOLD contained in Appendix D of this Code of Ordinances shall be deemed a civil offense. A violation of these AFFORDABLE TV & sections or the rules and regulations shall be punishINTERNET able by a civil penalty of from fifty dollars ($50.00) to 1 12/12/25 9:17 AM If you are overpaying12v-hirchakbrothers121725 for five hundred dollars ($500.00). The waiver penalty your service, call now for such offenses for purposes of the municipal for a free quote & see complaint (civil ticket) shall be fifty dollars ($50.00). how much you can save: Each day’s continued violation shall be a separate 1-844-588-6579. (AAN offense. The director of the parks, recreation and CAN) waterfront department, waterfront managers, city arborist, urban park rangers, seasonal operations supervisors and all law enforcement officers are authorized to issue a municipal complaint for a violation of this chapter. For the limited purpose of interim stewardship and pending completion of a long15 term planning process the land known as STOP OVERPAYING FOR Urban Reserve, bordered on the north by Kieslich AUTO INSURANCE Park, on the east by the railroad, on the west by Lake A recent survey says Champlain, and the south by the Community Sailing that most Americans Center, shall be considered a city park subject to this are overpaying for their chapter and the rules and regulations set forth in car insurance. Let us Appendix D. show you how much you can save. Call now for * Material stricken out deleted. a no-obligation quote: ** Material underlined added.

1-833-399-1539. (AAN Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER CAN) for a taste of this week’s flavorful food PROPOSED STATE RULES coverage. It’ll hold you over GET DISABILITY By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given BENEFITS until Wednesday. by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose You may qualify for of these notices is to give the public a chance to SUBSCRIBE AT disability benefi ts if you respond to the proposals. The public notices for are between 52 & 63 sevendaysvt.com/enews administrative rules are now also available online years old & under a docat https://secure.vermont.gov/SOS/rules/ . The tor’s care for a health law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on condition that prevents a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by you from working for a 25 persons or an association having at least 25 year or more. Call now: members.

1-877-247-6750. (AAN 24-7 LOCKSMITH PEST CONTROL CAN) To make special arrangements for individuals with 12V-BitClubFiller.indd 12/21/20 6:13 PM We are there 1when Protect your home disabilities or special needs please call or write the you need us for home from pests safely & GET TAX RELIEF contact person listed below as soon as possible. & car lockouts. We’ll affordably. Roaches, Do you owe more than To obtain further information concerning any schedget you back up & bedbugs, rodents, $10,000 to the IRS or uled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or running quickly! Also, termites, spiders & state in back taxes? Get submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please other pests. Locally tax relief now! We’ll fight key reproductions, call or write the contact person listed below. You may lock installs & repairs, owned & affordable. for you! Call 1-877-703also submit comments in writing to the Legislative vehicle fobs.

Call us for Call for a quote, service 6117. (AAN CAN) Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, your home, commercial or an inspection today: Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231). & auto locksmith needs: 1-833-237-1199. (AAN 1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN) _____ CAN) NEED NEW WINDOWS? Reportable and Communicable Diseases Rule.

AGING ROOF? NEW Drafty rooms? Chipped Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P043 HOMEOWNER? STORM or damaged frames?

DAMAGE? Need outside noise AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department of reduction? New, energy- You need a local expert provider that proudly Health efficient windows may stands behind its work.

CONCISE SUMMARY: The purpose of these be the answer! Call for Fast, free estimate. regulations is to protect public health through the a consultation & free Financing avail. Call control of communicable and dangerous diseases. quote today: 1-877-2481-888-292-8225. (AAN 9944. (AAN CAN) CAN)

VISIT: THCAuction.com

ELECTRONICS

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

?

HOME & GARDEN

➆

LEGALS »

Calcoku SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, fill the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

1-

12x

2÷

7+

numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

8 3 7

2 9

10+

3

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Difficulty - Hard

CALCOKU

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

5

4

2

1

6

3

2

1

3

4

5

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3

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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.

9

8 3 1 4 1 3 2 8 7 7 6

No. 924

Extra! Extra!

There’s no limit to ad length online.

Love playing games with us?

5 8 7

10+

2÷

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13+

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Open 24/7/365.

Post & browse ads Complete the following puzzle by using the at your convenience.

6 photos per ad online.

2÷ 1-

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Show and tell.

Sudoku View and post up to

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

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Difficulty: Medium

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH Place a number 1 8in the9empty 3 boxes 4 5in such 2 7 a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box2square 3 6 1 contains 7 9 all5of 8 the numbers one to nine. The same numbers 7 4 in5 a row 8 or2column.

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6 4 9 4 1 6 7 5 2 8 9 3 ANSWERS ON P.80 5 9HH7= CHALLENGING 6 8 3 H 1 HH4 = HOO, 2 BOY! H = MODERATE 8 2 3 4 9 1 7 6 5 6 7 8 5 3 4 9 2 1 UNIVERSITY SUBSTITUTES ANSWERS ON P. 802 » 3 1 9 6 8 4 5 7 9 5 4 2 1 7 6 3 8

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

3 6 5 2 4 1 crossword

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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Legal Notices

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

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along Bay Road and the Ti Haul Trail, in Shelburne, Vermont.

To the creditors of: Robert J. Beaulieu late of Essex Junction

These regulations require the early and prompt reporting of listed diseases so that the Department of Health may take any necessary protective action.

This rulemaking does the following:1) Modifies and reorganizes the lists of required reportable findings in humans and animals; 2) Changes the required reporting period for Brucellosis from “immediately” to “within 24 hours” and Rubella virus from “within 24 hours” to “immediately” 3) Adds information about how to report positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results; 4) Clarifies the reporting of blood lead results.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Natalie Weill, Agency of Human Services, Vermont Department of Health 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-8300 Tel: 802-863-7280 E-Mail: natalie.weill@vermont.gov URL: https://www. healthvermont.gov/laws-regulations/laws/ rules-public-comment/.

FOR COPIES: Jessica Schifano, Agency of Human Services, Vermont Department of Health 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-8300 Tel: 802-863-7280 E-Mail: jessica.schifano@vermont.gov.

The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont. gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C1366.”

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.

ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1366 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C1366 from Town of Shelburne, 5420 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482 was received on November 13, 2025 and deemed complete on December 8, 2025. This permit specifically authorizes the construction of a new sewage forcemain that runs from the Town of Shelburne’s Treatment Plant #2 on Turtle Lane, along the Ti Haul Trail to Bay Road, to Treatment Plant #1 on Crown Road. The project will consist of approximately 7,545 linear feet (LF) of 14” HDPE sewer forcemain installed via directional drill, 445 LF of 6” high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sewer forcemain installed via directional drill, and 3390’ of 12” polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sewer forcemain installed via open trenching, 3930’ of 4” PVC sewer forcemain installed via open trenching, approximately 2280’ of 6” PVC sewer forcemain installed via open trenching and cleanout vaults and all other necessary appurtenances. The Project is located at 53 Turtle Lane, 81 Crown Road, and

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 5, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont. gov/documents/party-statuspetition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@ vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

Dated: December 9, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater Executor/Administrator: James R. Beaulieu c/o Launa L. Slater, Wiener & Slater, PLLC 110 Main Street, Suite 4F, Burlington, VT 05401 Phone Number: (802) 863-1836 Email: launa@wsvtlaw.com

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-06365

Dated this December 9, 2025.

In re ESTATE of Robert E. Sheridan IV

By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In re ESTATE of ROBERT J. BEAULIEU NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Robert E. Sheridan IV, late of Hinesburg 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 10, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Robert E. Sheridan

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-06564 In re ESTATE of Paul Joseph Gervais

To the creditors of: Paul Joseph Gervais, late of 119 Colchester Point Road, Colchester, 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: 12/10/2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Pauline M. Gervais Executor/Administrator: Pauline M. Gervais 6 Northshore Dr., Burlington, VT 05408 Phone Number: 720-480-3755 Email: pmgervais52@hotmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/17/2025 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402

In re ESTATE of Carol E. Westing

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Carol E. Westing, late of Shelburne 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: 12/11/2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Kelly Gagnon

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Executor/Administrator: Trust Company of Vermont PO Box 1280, Brattleboro, VT 05302 Phone number: 802-231-2788 Email: kelly@trustcompany.com

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Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/17/2025 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-05207 In re ESTATE of Dorothea Douglas NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Probate Court — Chittenden County Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-05960

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Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/17/2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/17/2025

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-06293

Executor/Administrator: Robert E. Sheridan, V, Admin, c/o Timothy Hurlbut, Esq., 375 Lake Road, Suite 2A, St. Albans, VT 05478 Phone Number: (80) 527-7200 Email: tim@vtlaw.us

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS To the creditors of: Dorothea Douglas, late of Hinesburg, 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: December 4, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Melissa Monfreda Executor/Administrator: Melissa Monfreda 45 Top Road, Northfield, VT 05663 Phone Number: (802) 355-3103 Email: melissamonfreda@yahoo.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/17/2025 Name of Probate Court: Vermont -Superior Court, Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227p wd=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09We binar ID: 832 2569 6227 Passcode: 969186 Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or+1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 1. ZAP-25-9 ; 20 Pine Street (FD6, Ward 3) Diocesan Charitable Trust / Cathedral Immaculate Conception Parish Charitable Trust / John Franco Appeal of issuance of notice of zoning violation related to ZP-22-576.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential.

This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www. burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

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are accessible to people with disabilities.Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that properaccommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF BURLINGTON SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVES, INC.

The legal voters of the towns of Jericho and Underhill in the County of Chittenden and the State of Vermont are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Deborah Rawson Memorial Library in Jericho, Vermont on Thursday January 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to act on the following articles:

Pursuant to Title 11B, § 14.07 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated, notice is hereby given that articles of dissolution for Burlington Supportive Housing Initiatives, Inc. (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: BURLINGTON SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVES, INC. 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-04800 In re ESTATE of SANDRA G. SMITH NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: SANDRA G. SMITH, late of Burlington 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.

OFFICIAL WARNING ANNUAL MEETING JERICHO UNDERHILL LIBRARY DISTRICTТ

Article 1. Election of a Moderator Article 2. Act on the Report of Trustees Article 3. Shall the District authorize the Trustees to borrow money for the temporary needs of the District?

Article 4. Adoption of the budget Article 5 Shall the Trustees, upon the next renewal of the Delaporte CD, close the CD and transfer the funds to the Expansion account?

Article 6. Other business thought proper when met Dated at Jericho, Vermont, November 20, 2025 Sven Lindholm, Chair Margaret Gibson Linda Almy Sharon Lockwood Wayne Howe Vacant Seat Nancy Karlson Irene Bihun Eric Gildemeister The Board of Trustees, Jericho UnderhillLibrary District FACILITY MODIFICATION AT&T proposes to modify their existing facility (new tip heights 97.1’) on the building at 2 Main St., Middlebury, VT (20251012). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL SALARY STUDY SERVICES The City of Essex Junction has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Salary Study Services.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

Dated: December 11, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater

Proposals are due on January 16, 2026, at 4 p.m.

EST at the City Office, 2 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, Vermont, 05452 or via email to cdwyer@ essexjunction.org. Questions must be submitted

by January 9, 2026. All responses to submitted questions will be posted on January 20, 2026, to the City’s Invitation to Bid webpage. The anticipated award notification is January 30, 2026, with an agreed-upon start date as soon as possible.

Executor/Administrator: Debra Welker c/o Launa L. Slater, Wiener & Slater, PLLC 110 Main Street, Suite 4F, Burlington, VT 05401 Phone Number: (802) 863-1836 Email: launa@wsvtlaw.com

Information for bidders and the complete RFP may be obtained, without charge, on the City of Essex Junction webpage at www.essexjunction.org/news/ invitation-to-bid, at the City Office, or by calling (802) 878-6944. Questions concerning this

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/17/2025

RFP should be sent to Colleen Dwyer, HR Director, City of Essex Junction, at cdwyer@essexjunction. org.

The programs and services of the City of Burlington

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court

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

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Representative, reserves the right to waive any informalities in or reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, or to accept any proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Essex Junction.

PUBLIC HEARING COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on January 7, 2026, at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations.

Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road. a) FP-26-06, SP-26-11, & CU-26-05 HAZELETT STRIP CASTING CORP.: Final Plat, Site Plan, and Conditional Use Applications for a major Planned Unit Development to construct a 20-room Inn (Use 1.550) with associated Restaurant (Use 8.110) and Event Facility (6.150) uses. Existing marina and recreational uses to remain. Proposed project includes the 1) dissolution of the boundary line between 166 and 180 West Lakeshore Drive, and 2) construction of seven (7) buildings served by pedestrian ways, modified circulation, municipal sewer and water, and parking. Proposed project is supported by an off-site building and parking lot located at 135 West Lakeshore Drive approved under Site Plan Application SP-25-23. Subject properties are located in the Lakeshore One (LS1) and Shoreland Districts (SD). Subject properties are located at 166 and 180 West Lakeshore Drive, Account #65019002-0000000 and #65-020002-0000000.

December 17, 2025 NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON JANUARY 2, 2026 AT 9:00 AM Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on January 2, 2026 at 9am EST at 681 Rockingham Rd, Rockingham VT 05151 and online at www.storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien Unit # R09

Name Matthew Quinn

Contents Household Goods

NOTICE TO CHITTENDEN COUNTY RESIDENTS Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. 133 (c) Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the voters presenting the proposed budget for the county for the ensuing year will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at noon. Meeting at the Chittenden County Courthouse, 175 Main Street in Burlington Vermont. The following is a summary of the expenditures for the proposed budget:

The City of Essex Junction, through its Authorized

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP 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 802-9890097. 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.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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82 DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

TOUR COORDINATOR Join our Burlington-based team!

Create unforgettable group travel experiences for choirs, bands, dragon boat teams, and special interest groups around the world.

Salary: 50k Full-time and great benefits including health insurance.

The more travel experiences the better, second language a plus, requires handling logistics and excellent customer service.

Learn more & apply: jodi@music-contact.com

Project Advisor 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.

Office Manager

CVRPC is looking for a full-time office manager to join a great team of professionals in a public service organization. The salary range for this position is $49 to 67K dependent on qualifications. Fully funded benefits package. The strongest candidates will have experience with public entities and business management processes such as employee benefits, insurance, contracts, grants, payables, receivables, and public meeting coordination. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite and SharePoint required, and QuickBooks preferred.

Review of applications to begin January 5, 2026.

Further details available at: https://centralvtplanning.org/news/job-postings/

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12/11/25 1:22 PM

Automotive Tech Instructor

NEK Delivery Driver Wanted

The Northlands Job Corps Center has a need for an Automotive Tech Instructor to join our school. This is a full time, year round position that offers a competitive wage, major medical insurance plan, dental, vision, 401K and more. Northlands Job Corps provides career training to students 16 to 24 years of age who come to our center to gain valuable skills and start a career. Our students are mostly from the Northeast US and about 40% are from Vermont. We are probably the most diverse school in the state and our success, as measured by our students’ performance, is one of the best in the country. The ideal instructor would be someone who wants to be in a teaching role, ASE certified or willing to be certified, understands employment skills as well as automotive, and desires to run their own shop. Our program includes classroom instruction, hands on experience in our automotive shop and work based learning opportunities with local businesses. Class sizes are small to allow for one-on-one support.

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.

At Northlands we build success that lasts a lifetime. Our current openings are online. Please contact us to learn more: 7dvt.pub/NJCorpsAUTO.

Seven Days is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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FINANCE ASSOCIATE

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.

12/1/25 2:54 PM

• Offering a $1,000 hiring bonus • Full Time 40 Hours Pay Rate $27.00

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

or email hr@lewiscreekbuilders.com

For more information, please visit www.hannafordcareercenter.org/careers

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Maintenance Technician

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Apply online today: lewiscreekcompany.com/ employment

Compensation is a competitive base salary plus commission, with potential earnings ranging from $80,000 to $190,000.

10/29/19 12:12 PM

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.

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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.

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12/5/25 10:48 AM

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Student Field Work Position The Town of Essex Public Works Department is accepting applications from environmental science and civil or environmental engineering students entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of college in fall of 2025 for two summer 2026 field work positions. To submit a cover letter, application, and letter of recommendation, visit essexvt. bamboohr.com/careers.

Contact the Town of Essex Public Works Department for further information and/or application requirements at 878-1344 or Annie Costandi, Water Quality Director, at acostandi@essex.org or Lea Sanguinetti, Associate Engineer at lsanguinetti@ essex.org.

Executive Director The Alliance seeks a motivated and dynamic Executive Director to help shape the next chapter of the organization. Our ideal candidate will be a skilled fundraiser, communicator and nonprofit leader.

Guided by our strategic plan, our next Executive Director will work collaboratively with a diverse staff, board, team of volunteers and wonderful community partners to serve our community and lead Vermont Afghan Alliance into a sustainable future.

Salary: $75,000 – $85,000 How to apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume by email to jobs@vtafghanalliance.org no later than January 15, 2026.

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

83 DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

DIRECTOR OF ANESTHESIA

Outreach Counselor

Vermont Student Assistance We are hiring a Director of Anesthesia Corporation (VSAC) is hiring a to oversee all anesthesiology services and work as student Outreach Counselor in part of our independent CRNA model of care. our Talent Search program in southeast Vermont (Windham We are a thriving community hospital and continue and Windsor Counties). Do you to meet the growing demand for surgical services enjoy working with middle and with the addition of our fourth operating room. high school students? Are you energized by the enthusiasm Apply today! Qualified candidates will have 7-10 years of of teenagers? As a VSAC Talent experience as a CRNA. Leadership experience is preferred.

Search Outreach Counselor you’ll help students explore the possibilities their future can hold For more information or to apply & help them create a plan to get visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, there. This position supports Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org. students from middle school through high school graduation, along with their families, by providing education, career, and4t-Copley1217&1224 1 12/12/25 10:52 AM financial aid information and counseling to help them reach their postsecondary goals.

Courtroom Deputy Clerk

The Clerk’s Office for the United States District Court is seeking a Excellent benefits, PTO, and qualified individual with excellent 9 weeks off in summer analytical, organizational and Full position description: Apply at: Visit VSAC.org/ interpersonal skills capable of www.vtafghanalliance.org The Town of Essex is an E.O.E. Careers for full job description functioning in a dynamic, teamoriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full 3v-VSAC1217&1224COMBO.indd 1 12/12/25 11:59 AM 3v-VTAfganAlliance1217&1224COMBO.indd 12/12/25 1 1:47 PM federal benefits apply.

Salary $46,000 - $48,000

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.

WWW.VTD.USCOURTS.GOV

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

84 DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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.

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 is $24.00 to $25.00 per hour.

THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN? See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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

Assistant Professor, Finance Deputy Title IX/VI Coordinator Programmer Analyst, Information Technology Services For position details and application process, visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select “View Current Openings” SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

Interested in our career opportunity?

Send a cover letter & resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org.

SERVICE COORDINATOR 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.

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Burlington Housing Authority Human Resources 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401 BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

PERK UP! Browse 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers.

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NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

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Are you looking for an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative place to work?

FIN ANCIAL DIRECTOR IV – WATERBURY The Department of Health is seeking a Financial Director IV, responsible for directing all financial operations for the state’s public health agency, which has a $250 million annual budget. The director will lead a staff of 21 who manage payroll, contracting, sub-recipient grants, accounts payable, and financial accounting, and will participate in strategic decisions in budgeting, policy, and staffing.

For more information, contact Sarah Gregorek at sarah.gregorek@vermont.gov. Location: Waterbury.

Department: Health. Status: Full Time. Minimum Salary: $45.13. Maximum Salary: $71.15. Job ID #53909. Application Deadline: January 4, 2026.

OPEN POSITIONS

HIRING

Join us at Lake Champlain Waldorf School to deliver a holistic and developmental approach to education.

Open Positions:

Shelter Co-Manager, Case Manager, VR COUNSELOR I & II – BRATTLEBORO OPEN POSITIONS

• Part Time 1:1 Support Professional

Shelter Support Lead Coordinator, Shelter Support

The Brattleboro office of HireAbility Vermont is recruiting for a skilled rehabilitation/career counselor Housing Case Manager with the ability to support high school students and young adults with physical, psychological, or Shelter Co-Manager cognitive disabilities. The VR counselor would assist individuals in preparing for employment through Join us in work that makes a difference every day.

• Preschool Assistant Teacher

surveying their interests and skills, and facilitate career exploratory activities and work experiences.

Create a safe and welcoming space for people The position involves a close working relationship with local high schools in the area. For more Join us in work experiencing homelessness in Central Vermont. We information, contact Alicia White at alicia.l.white@vermont.gov. Location: Brattleboro. Department: that makes offer full and part-time work hours, including Disabilities, a difference overnights.

Locations in Barre City, Barre Town, Aging & Independent Living. Status: Full Time. Minimum Salary: $27.50. Maximum Salary: Berlin & Montpelier.

Training & Benefits provided! $42.94.

Job ID #53962, level I & 53978, level II. Application Deadline: December 28, 2025. every day.

www.lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org

www.goodsamaritanhaven.org/jobs

Learn more at: careers.vermont.gov

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer

www.goodsamaritanhaven.org/jobs

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Join the Vermont Land Trust as our Senior Accountant.

Apply your accounting expertise to help protect Vermont’s farms, forests, and natural areas!

We seek a collaborative, experienced accounting professional who can show strong discernment and attention to detail.

The starting salary for this full-time position is $86,800, with a generous benefits package.

Learn more and apply at vlt.org/employment.

Applications will be accepted until January 19, 2026.

The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We honor and invite people of all backgrounds and life experiences to apply.

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12/15/25 3:32 PM

SEEKING IMPACTFUL WORK?

We’re Hiring a Career Coach – Project Hire

Senior Accountant

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85 DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

• Two years’ combination of skills, experience and/ or education in human services or related field Town Administrator Town of Fairlee Salary Range $60,000 to $65,000

Seasonal Road Crew Employee with CDL

• Valid driver’s license, use of a personal vehicle, and an acceptable driving record • Full or part-time available • Starting at $21.58/hour

Town of Sharon Salary Range $18 to $28 per hour

Scan the code to learn more and apply.

Part-Time Transfer Station Attendant Town of Londonderry Salary Range $15 to $16 per hour

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

86 DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

IMMIGRATION

Drop-in & Shelter Youth Coaches On Call Respite Youth Development Coordinator Burlington Basic Needs Program Director Scan QR code to apply.

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2026 Mollie Beattie Intern Vermont Natural Resources Council seeks a summer intern to research and coordinate initiatives related to forest and wildlife conservation, land use planning, sustainable community development, water quality, and, if qualified, to assist our legal program.

This paid internship is ideal for a graduate-level student—or recent graduate—who intends to pursue a career in environmental science, natural resources policy, or environmental law.

Visit vnrc.org/molliebeattie2026 to learn more!

12/8/25 5:10 PM

Enrollment Support Associate

Pivot Marketing is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Enrollment Support Associate to support our college and university clients. This hybrid/remote role requires someone comfortable making a high volume of phone calls and speaking with prospective students daily.

You’ll provide phone, live chat, and email support; assist with client onboarding; and help prepare enrollment reports. We offer flexibility, supportive leadership, and optional office space in Burlington, VT. Key Requirements: • Comfortable making frequent phone calls and talking with customers/students • Customer service, recruitment or enrollment experience • CRM or live chat experience a plus

Send resumes to: info@pivotmarketingvt.com

Registered Nurse, Infusion Therapy Department

VERMONT LEGAL AID AND VERMONT ASYLUM ASSISTANCE PROJECT seek fulltime Staff Attorneys in northern and southern Vermont to staff 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 office, working in close partnership with VAAP staff, and will focus on affirmative-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 office, and will focus substantively on detained and defensive-posture immigration matters. See www.vaapvt.org/ openings for job description details.

Compensation & Benefits: Salary: $40,000–$50,000 Health benefits + 401(k) Flexible scheduling

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COMMUNITY LAWYERS

12/11/25 12:02 PM

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.

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

2+ years RN experience Current BLS certification

Why NVRH? Student loan repayment Tuition reimbursement Competitive pay/comprehensive benefits

Free gym membership 401(k) with company match Serve 33,000+ community members

WORKING TOGETHER FOR JUSTICE

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.

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WHAT YOU NEED: RN License (VT or compact state) BSN degree

VERMONT LEGAL AID

12/9/25 11:34 AM

ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

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87 DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

Business & Communications Manager Salary: $90,000 - $115,000 The Business and Communications Manager at Stowe Electric Department plays a pivotal role in overseeing critical business operations and communications strategies. Reporting to the General Manager, this role is responsible for oversight of the Customer Care team, insurance management, key business functions, policy development, and public communications/marketing. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment, possess strong leadership skills, and exhibit a commitment to upholding SED’s high administrative standards.

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.

Outstanding Benefits Package Includes: Paid Time Off, Low-Cost Health Insurance, Employer-Provided Dental Insurance, $100k Life Insurance, 401(a) & 457(b) Retirement Plans, Summer Hours, Annual Health & Wellness Reimbursement, 12.5 Paid Holidays, Excellent Work Environment.

For full description go to: stoweelectric.com/jobs.

To apply, send resume to HR@stoweelectric.com.

Digital Marketing Manager We are seeking a Digital Marketing Manager to play a key role in telling our story and reaching more families who are seeking a school like ours. Perform and manage day-to-day digital marketing activities, create compelling content, help grow inquiries and enrollment, and support development and fundraising.

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)

Qualifications - 3+ years of experience in digital marketing.

- Strong skills in social media management, content creation, and email marketing.

- Experience with Google Analytics, Google Ads, and SEO best practices.

- Excellent writing and storytelling ability; strong eye for design and photography a plus.

Salary range and benefits: - This is a 75% role (30 hrs/week) and offers a salary range of $45,000-$50,000 per year, and offers a full health plan or stipend - School vacations and some summer time off - Meals at school while working

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

Please send your resume and cover letter to: marketingrps@rockpoint.org

Leading construction company is seeking Carpenters and Lead Carpenters in the Addison & Chittenden County area.

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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.

12/12/25 1:15 PM

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.

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.

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12/9/25 11:29 AM

Scan the QR code below to text your contact info and experience or email us at admin@smithmcclain.com.

Come build with us!

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VERMONT TIRE BUY ONLINE AT SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM Buche de Noel Class

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Happy Holidays & Merry christmas

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show FRI., DEC. 19 MONTPELIER PERFORMING ARTS HUB

Handel's 'Messiah'

presented by Burlington Baroque and L'Harmonie des saisons FRI., DEC. 19 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PLATTSBURGH, NY

TURNmusic Presents Bruce Sklar Quintet Featuring Vocalist Nina Sklar FRI., DEC. 19 THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

To you and your family From all of us at Vermont Tire!

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

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Support a great cause when you buy the best winter tires. With every purchase of 4 Nokian Tyres winter tires we are donating a meal to the Girls & Boys Club of Burlington through the end of the year!

VERMONT TIRE & SERVICE The local tire store where your dollar buys more.

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fun stuff HARRY BLISS

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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fun stuff JULIANNA BRAZILL

WHEN THEY GO NATIONAL WE STAY LOCAL! With an exclusive hour-long newscast at 6pm, the Channel 3 News covers the most local news in our region.

CAT VIGLIENZONI

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL DECEMBER 18-24 TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): The sound

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

According to legend, the genius composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart heard entire symphonies in his imagination before he wrote down any notes. That’s a slight exaggeration.

The full truth is that he often worked hard and made revisions. His inspiration was enhanced by effort and craft. However, it’s also true that Mozart wrote at least five masterful works in rapid succession, sometimes with remarkably few corrections on the manuscript. They included his last three symphonies (Nos. 39, 40 and 41). I predict you will have a Mozartlike aptitude in the coming months: the ability to perceive whole patterns before the pieces align. Trust your big visions!

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Nine hundred years

ago, Sufi philosopher Al-Ghazali provided rigorous advice that’s not very popular these days. “To understand the stars,” he said, “one must polish the mirror of the soul.” Here’s my interpretation: To fathom the truth about reality, you must be a strong character who treasures clarity and integrity. It’s highly unlikely you can gather a profound grasp of how life works if your inner depths are a mess.

Conversely, your capacity to comprehend the Great Mystery increases as you work on purifying and strengthening your character.

Everything I just said is good advice for all of us all the time, but it will be especially potent and poignant for you in the coming months.

of a whip cracking is a small sonic boom.

The tip breaks the sound barrier, creating that distinctive snap. In my astrological reckoning, Taurus, life has provided you with the equivalent of a whip. During the coming months, you will have access to a simple asset that can create breakthrough force when wielded with precision and good timing. I’m not referring to aggression or violence. Your secret superpower will be understanding how to use small treasures that can generate disproportionate impacts. What’s your whip?

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Some Japanese potters practice yohen tenmoku. It’s a technique used to create a rare type of tea bowl with shifting, starlike iridescence on deep, dark glaze. The sublime effect results from a process that’s unusually demanding, highly unpredictable and hard to control.

Legend says only one in a thousand bowls achieves the intended iridescence. The rest, according to the masters, are “lessons in humility.” I believe you can flourish by adopting this experimental mindset in the coming months. Treat your creative experiments as offerings to the unknown, as sources of wonder whether or not your efforts yield stellar results. Be bold in trying new techniques and gentle in self-judgment.

Delight in your apprenticeship to mystery.

Some apparent “failures” may bring useful novelty.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): A fair-weather

cumulus cloud typically weighs over a million pounds and yet floats effortlessly. Let’s make that one of your prime power symbols for 2026, Cancerian. It signifies that you will harbor an immense emotional cargo that’s suspended with grace. You will carry complex truths, layered desires and lyrical ambitions, but you will manage it all with aplomb and even delight. For best results, don’t overdramatize the heaviness; appreciate and marvel at the buoyancy.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Every 11 years, the

Sun reverses its magnetic polarity. North becomes south, and south becomes north. The last switch was completed earlier this year.

Let’s use this natural phenomenon as your

metaphorical omen for the coming months, Leo. Imagine that a kind of magnetic reversal will transpire in your psyche. Your inner poles will flip position. As the intriguing process unfolds, you may be surprised at how many new ideas and feelings come rumbling into your imagination. Rather than resist the cosmic acrobatics, I advise you to welcome and collaborate with them.

scenario as a metaphor for you. In the coming months, you may reveal your best brilliance under uncommon conditions. Circumstances that seem unusual or challenging will highlight your true beauty and power. What feels extreme may be a good teacher and helper.

I urge you to trust that the right people will recognize your unique beauty.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): The sculptor

mythology, Proteus was a sea god famed for his ability to change his shape endlessly to evade capture. But now and then, a persistent hero was able to hold on to Proteus through all his transformations, whether he became a lion, serpent, tree or flame. Then the god would bestow the gift of prophecy on the successful daredevil. I suspect that in the coming months, you will have an exceptional power to snag and grasp Proteus-like things, Capricorn. As a result, you could claim help and revelations that seem almost magical.

Louise Bourgeois was asked why she worked so often with the image of the spider. She said it was a tribute to her mother, who was deliberate, clever, patient, soothing, helpful and useful—just like a spider. In the coming months, I invite you to embody her vision of the spider. You will have the wherewithal to weave hardy networks that could support you for years to come. Be creative and thoughtful as you craft your network of care. Your precision will be a form of devotion. Every strand, even fragile ones, will enhance your long-term resilience.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Researchers studying music theory know that dissonance — sounds that feel “wrong” or create tension — is in part culturally determined. Indonesia’s gamelan music and Arabic maqam scales are beautiful to audiences that have learned to appreciate them. But they might seem offkilter to Westerners accustomed to music filled with major thirds and triads. Let’s use this as our starting point as we contemplate your future in 2026, Libra. Life may disrupt your assumptions about what constitutes balance and harmony. You will be invited to consider the possibility that what seems like discord from one perspective is attractive and valuable from another. My advice: Open your mind to other ways of evaluating what’s meaningful and attractive.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States, Arizona bark scorpions are hard to see at night. Scientists who want to study them can find them only by searching with flashlights that emit ultraviolet light. This causes the scorpions’ exoskeletons to fluoresce and glow a distinctive blue-green or turquoise color, making them highly visible. Let’s use this

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Greek

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In Florence, Italy, the Accademia Gallery houses several of Michelangelo’s sculptures that depict human figures partially emerging from rough blocks of marble. They seem to be caught in the process of birth or liberation. These works showcase the technique Michelangelo called non-finito (unfinished), in which the forms appear to struggle to escape from the stone.

In the coming months, Aquarius, I foresee you undergoing a passage that initially resembles these figures. The good news is that, unlike Michelangelo’s eternally trapped characters, you will eventually break free.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): To prepare you for 2026, I’ve gathered three quotes that address your most pressing need and urgent mandate.

I recommend you tape this horoscope to your bathroom mirror. 1) “We cannot live in a world interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a hope. Part of the terror is to take back our listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.” — author Elaine Bellezza. 2) “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson. 3) “The ability to tell your own story, in words or images, is already a victory, already a revolt.” — Rebecca Solnit.

CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES & DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES: REALASTROLOGY.COM OR 1-877-873-4888

Eva Sollberger’s

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WATCH HER LATEST VIDEO! 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.

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MONTRÉALER LOOKING TO BRANCH OUT! I’m from Montréal, but I’m so touched by this website. I find the old-fashioned nature of a personal ad to be kind of beautiful. So in classic personal-ad fashion, I’m 29, F and a huge musichead, seeking similar. Must have an active Rate Your Music account and love long hikes up mountains and camping under the stars. Email me! myshka, 29, seeking: M, l WINDYDAY I’m kind, curious, fun, vivacious, friendly, love nature and being outside. Like new adventures and to meet different people and talk to them. windyday, 69, seeking: M 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 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?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online.

Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online. photos of l See 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

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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 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 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

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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

MEN seeking...

DECIDE, ACT, SUCCEED I am a well-mannered, well-groomed, educated, retired gentleman seeking the same for potentially regular NSA afternoon encounters at your place in the Burlington area. People describe me as friendly, generous, upbeat and, although a bit battle-worn, not unpleasant to look at. Insurmountable circumstances in my LTR dictate that I look elsewhere for physical affection. Let’s meet for coffee and chat. JayDee, 75, seeking: M, l 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

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 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 of 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-ness, sailing, sauna, skinny-dipping, soccer, sun, sensuality. waterandsky, 50, 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, 56, seeking: W, l OPEN AND HONEST I would characterize myself as a peaceful-minded soul with positive outlooks in all things. 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 CRAZY CAT-LOVING POET GUY 57-y/o artist, woodcarver and poet is seeking laid-back friends of all sorts to hang out with; and a woman with a creative soul and open heart (ideally between 27 and 57 y/o) to explore the possibilities with, however far your heart desires to go.

Dan_o_Shanter, 57, seeking: W, l 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

GENDER NONCONFORMISTS

seeking...

FRIENDS AND A REAL PARTNER Never seen the other side, but want to. Married twice, 56 years total, miss it a lot. Want adventures and real closeness. Working on MFA with ’60s psychedelic art with a spiritual focus.

Love to meet open-minded women, transwomen who haven’t had the package deal but are very feminine.

Love “Star Trek” and Star Wars. Hard left in politics. jemd, 82, seeking: NC, 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...

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires.

Jackrabbits, 61, seeking: W, Cp EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES We are older and wiser, discovered that our sexuality is amazingly hot!

Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple for threesomes or foursomes. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending.

She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Are you interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen, 69, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

i SPY

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

BAREFOOT LOVER I saw you where it all started, realized my heart is still yours. To know you again is how I find closure, I am certain. Any other cure must be rarer than true love. Success is meaningless without someone you love to share it with. Send a message, walk with me, or know I am here, loving you.

My COLO. When: Monday, September 1, 2025. Where: our grounding place.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916506 MET ON MAPLE You were walking up Maple, crossing S. Union. I was heading down Maple. You had a pretty cool-looking pup (white with pale brindle patches). We both looked back after crossing paths, but the timing was off and I didn’t catch your eye. Would love to say hi over a dog walk sometime. When: Thursday, December 11, 2025. Where: Maple and S. Union.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916505 HELPED ME FIND GINGERBREAD HOUSE To the handsome guy in Target around 4 or 5 p.m. who helped me locate the rest of the gingerbread houses, I would love to thank you with a drink or a coffee.

You had a middle school-aged boy with you. Me: blond hair, green cardigan.

When: Sunday, December 7, 2025.

Where: Target in South Burlington.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916503 ‘RASP-BERRY BERET...’

The lady works in the City Market store, tends the self-check lane with grace and style, and returns a warm-enough smile to rekindle hope after long winters alone. If you’re interested enough to see if the lyrics go on for us, the neurounique woodcarver and sometime harmonica jammer would love to share drinks at the Archives. When: Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Where: City Market.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916502

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 lookalike 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. 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 9PM CHAT AT CHECKOUT We have spoken briefly, twice, at a S. Burly grocery store. You remembered that I once lived in Connecticut, and I remembered you lived Monkton. How was your recent climbing adventure in 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

Ask REVEREND the

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

I have a conundrum about sending condolences to a high school acquaintance.

We didn’t know each other well but were in the same class for a few years, and I always respected him. I just found out through a friend that he lost his brother to suicide a couple of months ago. I saw on Instagram that he made a post about his brother, too, which I only just saw, as I hadn’t been on in a while. Would it be strange if I sent him a DM with my sympathies?

Connie Dolenz

(WOMAN, 22)

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 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 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

Dear Connie Dolenz,

Sending your sympathies to a person who has lost a loved one is never strange.

It doesn’t matter how well you know (or knew) the deceased or their survivors, and there’s no time limit. Simple words of support can be a great comfort to someone who is grieving.

When my husband passed away seven years ago, I got messages from all sorts of people — good friends and total strangers alike. One that stood out came from a woman I worked with back in the ’90s.

We were pals but not supertight.

We didn’t keep in touch after the job, but we were friends on Facebook.

She reached out to tell me that she had a dream in which my husband — whom she had never met — told her that he was OK.

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 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, “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

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 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 ATTRACTIVE BRUNETTE AT SHAW’S, COLCHESTER Attractive, statuesque brunette with your hair up, black puffer jacket, blue jeans and black boots. Saw you pushing your cart this afternoon. Would love the chance to meet for coffee some time! When: Sunday, November 16, 2025. Where: Shaw’s, Colchester.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916485 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

I spy… … 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.

She could have easily kept it to herself, thinking that was a weird thing to tell someone she hadn’t spoken to in a couple of decades. But I’m really glad she didn’t, because it’s a message I won’t ever forget.

So yes, you should absolutely send your old acquaintance a DM. You can keep it short and sweet or long and loose — just say it from the heart. It may mean more than you’ll ever know.

Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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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 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 LETTERS: Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.

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PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 17-24, 2025

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

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. 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

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

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below:

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(OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

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THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

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