Seven Days, December 24, 2025

V ER MON T’S INDE P ENDE NT V OIC E DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026 VOL.31 NO.16 & 17 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

DOUBLE ISSUE!

The stories behind the stories PAGE 14 Remembering Vermonters who died in 2025 PAGE 36 The year’s best bites and sips PAGE 50 / Author Tim Brookes says farewell PAGE 58 Artists to watch in 2026 PAGE 62 / Vermont music unwrapped PAGE 66

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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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 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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COMPILED BY MATTHEW ROY & JOHN JAMES

The last year A PATIENT APPROACH

PAGE 17

Young Vermonters are drinking less

EATING WELL

PAGE 26

Neurodivergent health care at All Brains Belong

PAGE 32

How cancer altered a food writer’s habits

AND

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

HISTORY LESSON

PAGE 14

PAGE 14

VERM ONT’S INDEP ENDENT VOICE FEBRUARY 19-26, 2025 VOL.30 NO.21 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R M O N T ’ S I N DE P E N DE N T V O I C E FEBRUARY 12-19, 2025 VOL.30 NO.20 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

EXPOSED

Overdose is the leading killer of homeless Vermonters.

But a shift from motel rooms to tents presents new dangers.

BY DEREK BRO UWER & LIAM ELDER-CO NNO RS, PAGE 2 6

BRAVO, BRATTLEBORO

PLEASED TO MEAT YOU

PAGE 32

A guide to southern VT’s hip arts hub

INSIDE

PAGE 34

Waitsfield’s 5th Quarter butchery expands

SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE

5

TOGETHER FOREVER

RANDY RETIREES

PAGE 26

A love endures in sickness and health

LABOR OF LOVE

PAGE 32

AARP VT’s sex ed seminar for seniors

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

PAGE 32

BY C O LI N F L A ND E RS , PA G E 2 6

3

FULL DISCLOSURE?

PAGE 52

A Q&A with Leslie Jones

BEYOND BURRITOS

PAGE 14

Statehouse ethics protocols lag

TALKING TRASH

PAGE 38

Tasting new Mexican restos in VT

Protestors turn to tax resistance

MONEY FOR NOTHING

PAGE 26

GROWING CONCERN

PAGE 28

Inside Vermont’s unclaimed property office

11

SCARE TACTICS

PAGE 30

Barre’s new café and bar

V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 5, 2025 VOL.30 NO.18 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Vermont’s loggers and sawmills are disappearing — and that’s bad news for forests B Y J O N AT H A N M I N GL E, PA GE 28

WHERE THE HEART IS

PAGE 36

An ugly history told in dance

BREAKING THE MOLD

PAGE 14

Unhoused couple was embraced by BTV

ORDER UP!

PAGE 34

Super sculptures at the Arcana Workshop

Vermont’s general stores are essential. Here’s how they’re adapting to stay in business.

PAGE 26

2

ON LOCKDOWN

PAGE 36

Café Mamajuana’s new diner

WAFFLINIS FTW

PAGE 34

New book marks pandemic anniversary

8

TAKE IT TO THE BANK

PAGE 38

The Pinwheel reborn in Esse

Kids VT Money Issue inside!

The

Good Life

Thrifty BUSINESS

ReSOURCE’s growing reuse empire looks a lot like Vermont STO RY DER EK B R O U W ER | P H O TO S DA R I A B I S H O P • PA GE 28

SPRING NEST INSIDE!

4. “‘I’m Not Well’: A Young Man’s Battle With Mental Illness Led to a Spasm of Violence in Milton” by Colin Flanders. Aaron LaRoche was leading a normal life until his behavior started to change. No one — not his family, friends or the police — was able to help him as he withdrew from the world.

Twenty-fi e years ago, Vermont established civil unions for gay couples and ignited the national campaign for marriage equality B Y M A RY A N N L I C KT EI G, PA GE 24

B Y H A N N A H F EU ER , PA GE 26 Stan Baker and Peter Harrigan at their civil union reception in 2000

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

PAGE 20

9

BY DESIGN

PAGE 34

UVM Climate Kitchen looks to the future

Anti-Trump crowds turn out statewide

DAIRY DILEMMA

PAGE 48

An art deco tour of Montréal

LAND OF THE FREE?

PAGE 14

Polluting Panton farm looks to expand

15

DRAFT DREAMS

PAGE 22

Feds target legal immigrants in Vermont

SWITCHING IT UP

PAGE 15

State rethinks home values and ed funding

PAGE 38

A new entrant in the N.A. beer boom

Time to pick your favorites

GOOD RECEPTION Harwood’s school cellphone ban is a success

Summer fun for the whole fam

PAGE 14

REASSESSING THE PROBLEM

PAGE 34

CVU alum closes in on the NFL

IN THE WEEDS INSIDE!

PAGE 14

Forgoing implants post-mastectomy

PAGE 34

Donwoori Korean’s new Winooski digs

LOCAVORE MOVEMENTS

Farm-centric indie-folk musical premieres

7

OENOPHILE FUN

PAGE 15

Reform disenfranchises rural districts

Bar Renée opens in Burlington

PAGE 15

HANNAH

BASSET

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JUNE 25-JULY 2, 2025 VOL.30 NO.39 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JUNE 11-18. 2025 VOL.30 NO.37 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JUNE 18-25, 2025 VOL.30 NO.38 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ROTTEN NEWS

Financial struggles at City Market PAGE 14 | A million free meals to Vermont kids PAGE 15 Mentorship is the recipe for local chefs PAGE 28 | Seven new Vermont restaurants and bars PAGE 34 Jericho Settlers evolves farm-to-table biz PAGE 42 | King Arthur Baking’s new podcast PAGE 48

BY ALICE DODGE, MICHEL HELLMAN, J.P. KARWACKI & JEN ROSE SMITH

IER

s t representative elected Vermon full of ambition.

Two newly use reality. the Stateho a dose of deli ered headed to ral session Their inaugu STORY BY

From foodie adventures to “the coolest street in the world,” follow our guide to Montréal neighborhoods worth exploring PA G E 2 6

TO EENEY GO & MR. SW

T, PAGE

AND

Learning Curve As they revamped the state’s education system, Vermont legislators navigated the long-standing conflict between public and independent school

28

B Y H A N N A H B A S S ET T & A L I S O N N O VA K, PA GE 26

FROM THE HEARTH

PAGE 22

Gardener’s Supply files for bankruptc

PAGE 38

Firing up the Montpelier farmers market

NICE ADDITION

SUM BLUNDER

PAGE 44

Town Hall Theater fêtes new win

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JUNE 4-11, 2025 VOL.30 NO.36 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

OUT OF SERVICE?

PAGE 34

New app issues flood ale ts

Fewer passengers, reduced schedules and soaring costs have left Green Mountain Transit and its riders searching for a new route

AND

CHECKERED FLAG

LOOMING DISASTER

PAGE 50

Art show interrogates democracy

AROUND THE BLOCKS

PAGE 14

FEMA cuts worry flood-prone towns

PAGE 32

An interview with artist Mary Azarian

THE MEAL DEAL

HIGHER ASPIRATIONS

PAGE 36

PAGE 30

New tech for cannabis purity, potency

What a food writer really eats

MICHELIN MENU

PAGE 32

Québec’s Green Star restaurants

STRIKE UP THE BANDS

BESST BE THE LOCaLS’ GUIDE TO VERMONT

PAGE 14

Dead-icated

BY CH R I S FA R N SW O R T H , PAGE 28

9. “The Good Life: Modern Anxieties Fuel a New Wave of Vermont Homesteaders” by Hannah Feuer. Decades after the back-tothe-land movement, a new generation embraces self-reliance by growing and preserving their own food in an increasingly interconnected world.

Back-to-School Issue inside!

TENT CITY

BORN TO

RUN

It’s been 30 years since the Grateful Dead’s demise.

But for fans and tribute bands in Vermont, the music never stopped.

At Thunder Road International Speedbow in Barre, stock car racing is a family affair

Burlington has more homeless encampments than ever.

Two men are tasked with keeping them under control.

B Y KEN P I C A R D, PA GE 26

B Y DER EK B R O U W ER • PA GE 24

Free internet-powered pay phones PAGE 14 | Reaching across a growing political divide PAGE 15

Russian strongman finds sanctua y in VT

A dairy farm turned distillery

LITTLE HELP? PAGE 18

IN THE GROOVE

PAGE 33

PAGE 52

VE RM ONT ’S I NDE P ENDE NT VOI CE SEPTEMBER 10-17, 2025 VOL.31 NO.1 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

A New Heyday

How the family behind Shelburne Farms bootstrapped a crumbling Gilded Age estate into a beacon of sustainability education

BY M E L ISSA PASANE N , PAGE 2 4

PAGE 26

STATE OF PLAYS

PAGE 38

Vermont Stage carries on

GRAND IDEALS

PUMP THE BRAKES

PAGE 62

HOME COOKIN’

PAGE 32

Vermont’s driver ed shortage

Grace Potter’s music fest returns

PAGE 34

Woodstock Inn goes hyper-locavore

THE MUSIC MAN

SCENE SAVER

6

Music’s on tap at Foam Brewers

Tales from Noah Kahan’s Stowe show

A guide to the fest’s weird and wonderful offerings

PAGE 30

PAGE 32

SATISFIED NOW?

PAGE 42

Hamilton star at Dartmouth Arts Weekend

LET’S DANCE

A Vermont water system buoys its digital defenses PAGE 14 / High hopes for UVM’s BioLabs PAGE 15 PAGE 54

Remote tech workers are putting out fires PAGE 32 / Out to Lunch matches members over meals PAGE 38

SAT 10/25 • GUIDE INSIDE!

PRESENT MOMENT

Repeat offender crackdown could crowd VT prisons

THE

STUPID GOOD

PAGE 36

Dining in at the Wise Fool

70+

LOCAL IDEAS INSIDE!

STAR P WER

PAGE 42

PAGE 14

GOOD HANG

PAGE 30

Doma Bar opens in Burlington

A MESS OF MESSIAHS

PAGE 36

’Tis the season for holiday concerts

PAGE 34

OH, THE HORROR!

PAGE 40

PAGE 32

VT’s first Break Room is a smas

Joe Citro’s new short story collection

RESTO REDUX

4

PAGE 45

UPHILL CLIMES PAGE 14

THEY’RE NEXT

PARCS AND RECS

PAGE 34

Expert tips for visiting Montréal

MM-MM MANCHESTER

PAGE 40

The Crooked Rams food is worth the drive

14

IN THE GROOVE

PAGE 56

High Summer release debut LP

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

PAGE 35

IN THE MARKET

PAGE 40

Kitchen Table expands to S. Burlington

CALENDAR BOYS

HAVE A SNOWBALL

Winter Kids VT inside!

13

NOVEMBER 7-16

GUIDE INSIDE

PAGE 46

Meet the “Men of the Mad River Valley”

Efforts to improve spawning in Swanton

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

13. “Beta Soars in Stock Market Debut. Can It Reach New Heights?” by Derek Brouwer. Vermont’s high-flying electric aviation startup made a big impression in November during its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange. But there are hurdles ahead.

14. “Stepping Up: Vermonters Respond to Trump With Chalk, Lawsuits and Food Donations” by Seven Days staff. As President Donald Trump seeks to remake America, residents have found ways big and small to counter the administration’s actions and repair harm.

FISH BE DAMMED

The Reading Issue

BY A NNE G A L L OWAY, PA G E 28

SNURF’S UP

PAGE 36

PAGE 15

The Cats Whisperer Ski & Snowboard exhibits in Stowe

Ski-town dining both fine and unfuss

B Y DER EK B R O U W ER , PA GE 26

Updates at fi e Chitt Co. eateries

12. “Home Hacks: The Unrelenting Housing Crisis Inspires Creative Solutions” by Rachel Hellman. Co-ops, community partnerships and tiny homes are just some of the ways Vermonters are trying to address the state’s immense housing need.

PAGE 31

STOWE TWO WAYS

Vermont’s high-flyin electric aviation startup scored $1 billion in this week’s stock market debut.

Will that be enough to take off?

PAGE 34

Rutland cops at fault in trainee’s death

BY SE VE N DAYS STAFF, PAGE 2 6

BY KE N PI C AR D, PAGE 2 2

FIELD DAZE

NEAR AND DEER

Farmed venison in Middlebury

ALL THE RAGE

PAGE 15

other aid and rants, foodresponding. a, immig nters are ed Canad has assail Here’s how Vermo Trump this year. targets

Ripton writer and activist Bill McKibben has surprisingly sunny news for our gloomy times: The solar age has dawned

Tussle over turf at CVU

PAGE 32

VT artist scores with “Scary Monsters”

Beta Technologies Lands on Wall Street

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Jessie Tornabe, 17, of Burlington, donated to the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont

BY A LI S O N NO VA K , PA G E 2 8

STAGING PROTESTS

Local theaters join national resistance

WITHOUT A NET

Circus Smirkus fears bankruptcy

Ski areas contend with droughts and deluges

Vermont GOP mulls changes PAGE 14

PAGE 14

HOLIDAY SHOPPING HANDBOOK

VE R MO NT’S I NDE P EN DE NT VOI CE DECEMBER 3-10, 2025 VOL.31 NO.13 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

VE R M ONT ’S IND EP E NDEN T VO IC E NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 3, 2025 VOL.31 NO.12 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

VER M ONT ’S I NDEP E NDE NT VOIC E NOVEMBER 19-26, 2025 VOL.31 NO.11 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 34

PAGE 38

BON HIVER

Goods, services delivered to wary migrant farmworkers

2025

Gift Guide

PAST ACCOMPLISHMENT

FARM FOCUSED

Meet the new chef at Philo Ridge

Winter fun in Québec

B Y KEV I N M C C A L L U M , PA GE 26

SUPPLY DROPS

2025 Gift Guide inside!

PAGE 15

Burlington historian David Blow honored

PAGE 18

Examining the Gryphon’s closure

PAGE 26

BALANCING ACT

WILD SUCCESS

Meet Generator director Meg Hammond PAGE 26 / AI is revolutionizing health care in Vermont PAGE 29

Madaila’s smash debut album turns 10

ARRESTING DEVELOPMENT

GROWING GAINS

‘I’m Not Well’

A young man’s battle with mental illness led to a spasm of violence in Milton

BUSINESS END

PAGE 36

The political agili y of the nation’s most popular governor is being tested by the second Trump administration

VE R MO NT ’S I N DE P EN DE NT VOI CE NOVEMBER 5-12, 2025 VOL.31 NO.9 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Flick Tips

In conversation with VTIFF headliner John Waters

10. “Dead-icated: Vermont’s Love Affair With the Grateful Dead”

by Chris Farnsworth. Thirty years after Jerry Garcia’s death and the Dead’s final concert, fans and scores of tribute acts keep the band’s music alive in the Green Mountains.

11. “Bern Rekindled: In a New Trump Era, Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Against Oligarchy Is Resonating With Americans Once Again” by Kevin McCallum. We dispatched a reporter to cover Sanders’ barnstorming tour in the Midwest, where his enthusiastic audiences were huuuuuge.

B Y C O L I N F L A N DER S , PA GE 28

OFF THE EATEN PATH

Dining and drinking in Bedford, Qué.

RIGHT DIRECTION?

Dem women boost gender parity at the Statehouse

PAGE 50

VER MON T’S I NDE PE NDE NT VOI CE OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 VOL.31 NO.8 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Dirty Rotten Scoundrel

Vermont’s bold investment in childcare is largely paying off

PAGE 30

Vermont’s “farm-to-closet” movement

EMERGING TREND

Remembering Robert Resnik

VER MON T’S I NDE PE NDE NT VOI CE OCTOBER 22-29, 2025 VOL.31 NO.7 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 28

PAGE 36

PAGE 40

Meet Vermont’s snowboarding prodigies

As its 40th annual festival opens, the Vermont International Film Foundation helps fi l a cinematic void in Burlington

American Flatbread’s next generation

SWEATER EQUITY

PAGE 15

BTV debates overdose-prevention site

PAGE 15

Now Showing

LOVIN’ THE OVEN

PAGE 52

Put to the Test HARD TO PLACE

PAGE 56

VER M ONT ’S I NDE PE NDE NT VOIC E DECEMBER 17-24, 2025 VOL.31 NO.15 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Wildbranch Cider, Barr Hill team up

SLICK SEASON

DRAWING INTEREST

Tattoo tourism in the Northeast Kingdom

Fall Nest inside!

V E RM ON T ’S IN DE P E ND EN T V OI CE DECEMBER 10-17, 2025 VOL.31 NO.14 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 34

PAGE 34

La Reprise revives Burlington wine bar

B Y A L I S O N N O VA K, PA GE 24

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Nepali Vermonters care for aging family members — and get paid

VE R M ON T’ S IND EP END ENT VOI C E OCTOBER 15-22, 2025 VOL.31 NO.6 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

VE R M ON T’ S IND EP END ENT VOI C E OCTOBER 8-15, 2025 VOL.31 NO.5 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Should lawmakers disclose free travel?

TWO IN THE BUSHEL

OENOPHILE ENCORE

PAGE 14

HOME MAKERS

THE TECH ISSUE PAGE 14

OH, SNAP

Feds cut food assistance

PAGE 14

PAGE 14

LODGING COMPLAINTS

1

CLOUDY FUTURE

ARTS PREVIEW

RESPECTING THEIR ELDERS

BY C HE LS E A E D G A R, PA G E 2 6

PAGE 42

Peter Sarsgaard at Middlebury film fest

Trump cuts threaten Vermont’s solar industry

PERFORMING

The seaso ’s best music, theater, dance & more

Vermont International Film Festival Guide inside!

Argentine cartoonist and Upper Valley resident Liniers turns ordinary life into extraordinary comics

LIGHTS, CAMERA...

PAGE 36

Upscale farm dinners in Chester

Winooski schools superintendent Wilmer Chavarria was detained by U.S. border officials in Jul .

He’d been an advocate for those on the margins long before then.

30th birthday issue

Sonido Mal Maiz heat up Art Hop

BLISSED OUT

PAGE 31

Montréal touts former red-light district

V ER M ONT ’S IN DEP EN DENT V OI C E NOVEMBER 12-19, 2025 VOL.31 NO.10 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PROSECUTION COMPLEX

New book on lawyer who hunted Nazis

TOURIST THIRST TRAP

PAGE 56

Nectar’s closes after 50 years

VER M ONT ’S IN DEP E NDE NT VOIC E DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026 VOL.31 NO.16 & 17 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 39

S T O RY K E VI N MC C A LLUM | P HO T O S JE B WA LL A C E - BRO D E UR PA G E 2 6

10

STAGES OF GRIEF

PAGE 14

VE R MO NT ’S I N DE P EN DE NT VOI CE SEPTEMBER 3-10, 2025 VOL.30 NO.50 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

VER M ONT ’S I NDEP E NDEN T VOI CE AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 VOL.30 NO.48 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SOMEBODY FEED HIM

Phil Rosenthal comes to the Flynn

Hydropower facilities such as the one at Green River Reservoir are being pressed to make waterways healthier — which could mean less green energy

PAGE 38

Bubble tea pops in BTV

Burlington Square is fina ly opening

GUIDE INSIDE

Power Drain

BOBA BOOM

PAGE 36

Retro arcade opens in Middlebury

HIGH-RISE HOPES

ART HOP

State puts homeless crisis on towns

READY PLAYER ONE

FOOD DRINK CULTURE SHOPPING SERVICES RECREATION

PAGE 32

VE R MO NT ’S I N DE P EN DE NT VOI CE OCTOBER 1-8, 2025 VOL.31 NO.4 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Vermont immigrants afraid to leave U.S.

HIGH AND RYE

PAGE 28

VE R MO NT ’S I N DE P EN DE NT VOI CE SEPTEMBER 24-OCTOBER 1, 2025 VOL.31 NO.3 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Vermont Land Link matches farmers and landowners PAGE 38 | New app runs on shared good vibrations PAGE 46

WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

PAGE 14

VE R M ON T ’S I ND E P EN D EN T V OI C E SEPTEMBER 17-24, 2025 VOL.31 NO.2 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

HOMELAND INSECURITY

Psychics offer otherworldly ties PAGE 28 | Remembering community organizer Nathan Suter PAGE 35

8. “‘If We Don’t Have It, You Don’t Need It’: Vermont’s General Stores Are Essential. Here’s How They’re Adapting to Stay in Business” by Seven Days staff. The state’s 70 remaining general stores face myriad challenges but are precious to their communities. A cohort of Vermonters is working to revitalize them.

A FINE LINE

Border tension at Haskell Free Library

V ER MO NT ’S I ND EP E ND ENT V OI CE AUGUST 13-20, 2025 VOL.30 NO.46 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

VE RM ONT’ S INDE PE NDE NT VOI CE AUGUST 6-13, 2025 VOL.30 NO.45 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ALL THE

2025 WINNERS INSIDE!

PAGE 50

Ladies first at Stowe Jazz Festival

PAGE 14

rising

7. “Queen City Squeeze: Burlington’s Money Woes Are Forcing Difficult Decisions” by Courtney Lamdin. The city government has grown larger and costlier to sustain. Officials are considering whether city hall can deliver the same services with less.

PAGE 14

BY DAN BOLLES, PAGE 26

Sisters filmed while undressing describe the harm it caused

daysiEEs daysi

V ER MO NT ’S I ND EP E ND ENT V OI CE JULY 30-AUGUST 6, 2025 VOL.30 NO.44 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 56

What to see and do at the Burlington Discov Discover Jazz Festival

Pain, confusion for South Sudanese Sudanese° Vermonters

Vermont cartoonists Harry Bliss and Alison Bechdel interview each other about their new books

VIOLATION OF TRUST

V ER MO NT ’S I ND EP E ND ENT V OI CE JULY 23-30, 2025 VOL.30 NO.43 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

12

Goat snuggles in Barnard PAGE 36 / Reptilian reverie in Montpelier PAGE 52

STORY DEREK BROUWER | PHOTOS LUKE AWTRY, PAGE 24

AGAINST THE CURRENT

PAGE 15

Burlington Electric’s $1M mistake

SAX APPEAL

Comfort dogs at BTV PAGE 5 / A catamount comeback? PAGE 14 Sue Wear, pet detective PAGE 30 / Bernie the bee guy PAGE 33

PAGE 52

Potter releases lost record

Drawn Together

New issue inside!

MONTPEL

N MR. BOUTI

FINDING GRACE

PAGE 36

Breadseed Farm’s no-till model

REFUGEE REVERSAL

SUMMER LIVIN’

What’s in the new ed bill?

YOU DIG?

PAGE 34

Choir helps people with aphasia

Shweebee aims to be the next great yard game PAGE 39 | Burlington Farmers Market returns PAGE 44

SPELLING IT OUT

PAGE 15

SINGING PRAISES

Meet Lake Champlain’s lakekeeper PAGE 33 | A hater’s guide to Burlington creemees PAGE 36

PAGE 52

Nectar’s to close for the summer

FINAL VERDICT

Meet the winners of the 2025 Best of the Beasts photo contest

B Y R A C H EL H EL L M A N , PA GE 26

Burlington’s Community Sailing Center sails on PAGE 20 | What’s new in Québec this summer PAGE 28

CHANGE OF SCENE

PAGE 30

Surgeon sues hospital over son’s overdose

ALL OVER THE MAP

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MAY 28-JUNE 4, 2025 VOL.30 NO.35 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MAY 21-28, 2025 VOL.30 NO.34 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

CUTTING SCHOOL

PAGE 40

5. “Exposed: Vermont Doesn’t Track Homeless Deaths. So We Did” by Derek Brouwer and Liam Elder-Connors (of Vermont Public). Overdoses are the leading killer of homeless Vermonters. But as they shift from living in motel rooms to tents, there are new dangers.

6. “A New Heyday: How Shelburne Farms Went From Gilded Age Estate to a Beacon of Sustainability Education” by Melissa Pasanen. Once private, Shelburne Farms is today open to all.

After the loss of a founder, the nonprofit looks to a sustainable future for itself and the world.

PET PROJECT

Co-ops, community partnerships and tiny homes: Vermonters pursue innovative solutions during an unrelenting housing crisis

BY KE N PI C AR D, PAGE 2 4

SOJU SOJOURN

PAGE 32

V ER MO NT ’S I ND EP E ND ENT V OI CE AUGUST 20-27, 2025 VOL.30 NO.47 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

FLAT AND HAPPY

PAGE 50

aking Windows

HOME HACKS

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JULY 9-16, 2025 VOL.30 NO.41 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

A toast to the final

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JULY 2-9, 2025 VOL.30 NO.40 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ROCK THE ROTARY

PAGE 32

Enosburg Falls’ wunderkind chef

Preview

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E JULY 16-23, 2025 VOL.30 NO.42 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

BY C O URT NE Y L AM DI N, PAGE 2 6

BUZZWORTHY BISTRO

PAGE 15

Summer

Woodworker Sparky Potter has created some of Vermont’s most iconic signs.

After half a century, he’s sold the business — but isn’t hanging it up just yet.

Burlington’s money woes are forcing difficult decisions about the size of g vernment

BY D A N BO LLE S , PA G E 2 6

DEBATE TEAMS

A Marquee Career

Queen City Squeeze

From Vermont to “The onight Show,” the Middlebury-born comedian with cerebral palsy is having a moment.

Just don’t call her an inspiration.

Lobbyists at center of ed reform

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MAY 14-21, 2025 VOL.30 NO.33 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MAY 7-14, 2025 VOL.30 NO.32 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R MO N T’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E APRIL 30-MAY 7, 2025 VOL.30 NO.31 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

PAGE 15

Tina Friml Can’t Lose

3. “Vermont’s Hangover: The Green Mountain State Has Long Had a Drinking Problem. It’s Time to Talk About It” by Colin Flanders. Vermonters like to hit the bottle, which leads to hundreds of premature deaths annually. As health concerns mount, new efforts aim to curb consumption.

Building Consensus

From This Day Forward

Decades after the back-to-the-land movement, modern anxieties are fueling a new generation of homesteaders in Vermont

PROTEST MOVEMENT

PAGE 30

1. “Tent City: Burlington Has More Homeless Encampments Than Ever. Two Men Are Tasked With Keeping Them Under Control”

by Derek Brouwer. Tents have sprouted all over Burlington. The tricky task of managing thorny problems, complaints and safety largely falls to two park rangers.

2. “Axed Out: Vermont’s Loggers and Sawmills Are Disappearing — and That’s Bad News for Forests” by Jonathan Mingle. A robust wood-products industry helps keep forests healthy in a changing world. But the future of logging has hit the skids.

Scott’s Trump take irks some Vermonters PAGE 14

If We Don’t Have It, You Don’t Need It

Find your best buds inside!

PAGE 14

Vermont’s crowded cannabis market

Brace for another VT health care hike

PAGE 14

MEASURED RESPONSE

Queen City approves $152 million sewage bond

Axed Out

PAGE 43

Brandy Melville riles BTV

BUMPY ROAD

Fed cuts threaten local food movement

INSURING DISASTER

Migrant arrests roil dairy industry

A BAD FIT?

PAGE 34

Adventure Dinner’s new digs

CUE THE WATER WORK

Main St. construction hurts BTV businesses

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E APRIL 9-16, 2025 VOL.30 NO.28 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

ETHICAL EXEMPTION

PAGE 54

Lily Seabird on her new record

ALARM ON THE FARM

FOXY LATTE

PAGE 28

Remembering Gary Chassman

MONEY & RETIREMENT

BY A LI S O N NO VAK, PAGE 30

COMIC TIMING

PAGE 36

Sampling sweet stuff in Québec

THE LAST CHAPTER

Vermonters giving away inheritances

Zoie Saunders would prefer to lead Vermont’s schools from behind the scenes. But she can’t escape the spotlight.

MAPLE MÉLANGE

PAGE 14

IN DA CLUBHOUSE

PAGE 18

After fl floods, concerns arise

B Y KEV I N M C C A L L U M , PA GE 24

PAGE 50

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E APRIL 2-9, 2025 VOL.30 NO.27 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MARCH 26-APRIL 2, 2025 VOL.30 NO.26 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MARCH 19-26, 2025 VOL.30 NO.25 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

˜ e Green Mountain State has long had a drinking problem. It’s time to talk about it.

HOME INSECURITY

DOGE targets housing protections

WHAT’S IN THE WATER?

Bern Rekindled

PAGE 14

A Public Education

YEAR OF THE DOGS PAGE 36

In a new Trump era, Bernie Sanders’ crusade against oligarchy is resonating with Americans once again

RICH KIDS THESE DAYS

PAGE 15

Seven Days cover stories that attracted the most online readers in 2025

B Y J O E S EX T O N , PAG E 26

PAGE 5

Rough Francis roar on new EP

OMFG, BTV

Stories of grit and grace from UVM men’s soccer’s championship run

Howl Bier opens in Winooski

PAGE 14

POLITICAL PUNK

PAGE 38

Ta-Nehisi Coates comes to the Flynn

LUSCIOUS LAGERS

PAGE 31

Québec’s ice skating trails

DOUBLE DUTY

B Y E R I K E S C K I L S E N, PA G E 2 4

The Roots Farm Market expand

LUTZ OF FUN

PAGE 15

Some state legislators also hold local offi office

ICE BREAK ER

Council Dems conducted business in text threads

Vermont’s Hangover

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

Scott proposes education funding plan

Coach Meghan Sweezey carves out space for girls and women in Vermont hockey

BRANCHING OUT

PAGE 38

Couple opens on-farm restaurant

DIY

Blue-collar cred propelled John Rodgers to Vermont’s No. 2 offi office.

Is he Gov. Scott’s heir apparent? B Y KEV I N M C C A L L U M , PA GE 24

Scott’s ed reform plan looks familiar

How USAID cuts affect Vermont

PAGE 14

20 blacksmithing with a backyard forge

V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E MARCH 12-19, 2025 VOL.30 NO.24 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SOBERING TREND

PAGE 38

16 A Vermont aesthetic inspires retailer Addison West

pays … attention

Man at Work

V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E MARCH 5-12, 2025 VOL.30 NO.23 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

HE’LL BE BACH

Soovin Kim to perform rare solos

Our Vermont legislature series kicks off

V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E FEBRUARY 5-12, 2025 VOL.30 NO.19 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

25

BY KEN PICARD, PAGE 26

PAGE 36

Burlesque fest’s future uncertain

THE YEAR IN COVERS

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E APRIL 16-23, 2025 VOL.30 NO.29 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

NO TEASING?

PAGE 32

Burlington mulls leash law for cats

14 When owners are away, Vermont Home Watch

WINTER NEST INSIDE!

V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 5, 2025 VOL.30 NO.22 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Majestic opens in BTV’s South End

TOPFIFTEEN

HOOKED ON A FELINE? PAGE 15

10 Color meets pattern in a designer-renovated Burlington home

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E APRIL 23-30, 2025 VOL.30 NO.30 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E JANUARY 15-22, 2025 VOL.30 NO.16 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

VE RMON T ’ S I N D E PE N D E N T VOI C E JANUARY 8-15, 2025 VOL.30 NO.15 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

BACK TO THE WALL

Exiled from their homeland, Afghan muralists the ArtLords continue their “artivism” in Vermont

WINTER 2025

6 A proposed housing development faces resistance in Shelburne

Developing Stories V E R M ONT ’S I ND E P E ND E NT V OI C E JANUARY 22-29, 2025 VOL.30 NO.17 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Offbeat exercise classes PAGE 28

PAGE 14

home design real estate

20

FIT BITS

TOWER POWER Residents of embattled high-rise say it’s safer

DOUBLE ISSUE!

The stories behind the stories PAGE 14 Remembering Vermonters who died in 2025 PAGE 36 The year’s best bites and sips PAGE 50 / Author Tim Brookes says farewell PAGE 58 Artists to watch in 2026 PAGE 62 / Vermont music unwrapped PAGE 66

15. “Inside ReSOURCE, Where Thrifting Is a Booming Business”

by Derek Brouwer. Vermont’s largest nonprofit reuse chain is capitalizing on the vintage tastes of young people and serving as a haven from the inflated prices of new products.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

5

Around the world, red underwear is worn in the new year for luck.

We’re here if you don’t want to take chances in 2026.

DOUBLING DOWN.

 & --

Paula Routly

  Cathy Resmer   Don Eggert, Colby Roberts NEWS & POLITICS  Matthew Roy   Sasha Goldstein   Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page   Hannah Bassett, Derek Brouwer,

Colin Flanders, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Lucy Tompkins A R T S & C U LT U R E  Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox  

6h-Li'vress122425.indd 1

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[Re “The Montréal FAQ: Nine In-theKnow Vermonters on Their Favorite Ways to Experience the City,” December 3]: You’ve done a few write-ups about Montréal, but you never mention the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, maybe © SHAWN CCF | DREAMSTIME

BRA FITTING, LINGERIE & LOUNGEWEAR Mon-Sat 11-6 Sun 12-4 | 802.857.5065 | www.shoplivresse.com Located in The Essex Experience | 21 Essex Way, Suite 413, Essex

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston   Jen Rose Smith    Alice Dodge   Chris Farnsworth   Rebecca Driscoll   Jordan Barry, Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard  Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

MUSIC IN MONTRÉAL

Place des Arts

 

Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler D I G I TA L & V I D E O    Bryan Parmelee    Eva Sollberger /  Jeff Baron DESIGN   Don Eggert   Rev. Diane Sullivan   John James  Jeff Baron SALES & MARKETING    Colby Roberts    Robyn Birgisson   Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka,

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Julia Maguire

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N   Marcy Stabile    &  Matt Weiner   Andy Watts     Gillian English CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Erik Esckilsen, Anne Galloway, Steve Goldstein, Amy Lilly, Bryan Parmelee, Suzanne Podhaizer, Samantha Randlett, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Xenia Turner, Casey Ryan Vock CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Sean Metcalf, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur FOUNDERS

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

Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec.

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS Harry Applegate, James Blanchard, Joe Bouffard, Pat Bouffard, Colin Clary, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Matt Hagen, Jay Kramer, Penny Libercent, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Matt LaDuq Perry, Danielle Schneider, Andy Watts, Tracey Young With additional circulation support from PP&D. SUBSCRIPTIONS 6- 1 : $158. 1- 1 : $250.

Please call 802-865-1020, ext. 132 with your credit card, contact circ@sevendaysvt.com or mail your check to: Seven Days, c/o Subscriptions, 255 S. Champlain St., Ste. 5, Burlington, VT 05401 Seven Days shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement.

If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Seven Days may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Seven Days reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.

the best orchestra in North America. The conductor is the young, dynamic Rafael Payare. The orchestra performs in the state-of-the-art Montréal Symphony House in Place des Arts, on rue SainteCatherine. This orchestra is fantastic!

Also, you don’t mention the lively jazz scene. I recommend catching a set at Diese Onze on rue Saint-Denis.

Nancy Haiduck

BURLINGTON

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Thank you for your wonderful article celebrating Meyer Schapiro and Phong Bui, which I read with a sense of delight [“Common Ground: Curator Phong Bui Honors Art Historian Meyer Schapiro in Brattleboro,” November 26].

In the early ’80s I was a new administrator at Columbia University, and office space in Low Library, the main central office building, was in short supply. I was asked to share a small private office suite then occupied exclusively by professor Schapiro and his longtime assistant, Dr. Miriam Bunim. My incursion into their heretofore private and very academic space was initially met with understandable disdain, but their generous natures soon accepted me as an officemate and sometimes unofficial student. There I suddenly became witness to a wondrous world of art, learning and intellect. My special office arrangements ended after a few years but sparked a lifelong interest in art history.

Bill Scott

©2025 Da Capo Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

6

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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HINESBURG

HOLIDLAOY F US FROM AL

DANVILLE CAN PAY

Ian Robertson

ELMORE

It is excruciating to read article after article about cherished, essential Vermont institutions — public schools, birth centers, Seven Days, you name it — closing, shrinking or forcing costs onto their employees due to the skyrocketing price of health insurance [From the Publisher: “What I Should Have Said,” December 3].

And it’s about to get so much worse.

Earth to Vermont legislature: How many encyclopedias’ worth of writing on the wall do you need to see before you get to work on the universal single-payer health care system we thought we’d be getting 15 years ago?

“But how will we pay for it?” How will we pay for what we have now? The fact is, we are paying already, every day, with pounds of our flesh. Get your best people on the case and start figuring it out before Vermont drops dead!

Sonia DeYoung

BURLINGTON

‘EMBRACE ABUNDANCE’

[Re “Vermont Faces a 12 Percent Increase in Education Taxes,” December 1, online]: Another year, another double-digit tax hike. Vermonters know the story: wages flat, bills climbing, politicians punting.

Committees meet, maps are drawn, schools close — but the root causes go untouched. Health care eats nearly a quarter of education budgets. Housing shortages drive families away. Demographics tilt against us.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Scarcity isn’t destiny. Vermont can embrace abundance. Rahm Emanuel’s call to make education our lodestar resonates here.

❄

❄

[Re “Danville Residents Vote to Keep ❄ School Open,” December 8, online]: If Danville residents value their high school and community and want to keep their middleburymarquis.com school open, they should have a town 65 Main St, Middlebury VT bonus tax to keep it open. Subsidized 802-388-4841 schools don’t need to be a part of my state taxes when they are not necessary, especially when my taxes are predicted to go up 8V-marquis122425.indd 1 another 10 percent this year. Community INDIE 12/12/25 4:50 PM is a very good thing that keeps crime down MOVIES IN and fosters cohesiveness, but the times BURL INGTON! they are a-changin’.

❄

❄

Seven Days was accused of “fearmongering” in a recent letter [Feedback, November 26]. If so, the paper is in good company.

U.S. Marine Corps general John Kelly, former chief of staff for President Donald Trump, stated that Trump “certainly falls into the general definition of a fascist” and “prefers the dictator approach to government.” Was he fearmongering?

Conservative columnist George Will wrote that “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal …

The killing of the survivors by this moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans.” Is Will fearmongering?

Attorney Gen. Pam Bondi is prosecuting Trump’s perceived enemies, including John Bolton! The list goes on of a neverbefore-seen demolition of barriers by Trump. May we complain?

In my nearly 70 years, I have seen a lot of things but nothing close to the behavior of this POTUS, a man who instigated a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol and then pardoned thugs who assaulted the police.

Resistance from honest conservatives still occurs but has no real effect because nearly every GOP moderate has been driven out of Congress. Over the past 10 years, I have watched in amazement as the majority of conservatives and Republicans have left their previous moral convictions behind. Am I fearmongering?

I am not a member of the far left.

I reside in the vast ideological chasm between the far left and far right. Many of us are in a state of shock and sorrow that the American presidency could have fallen to such a low level.

SINGLE PAYER OR DIE

❄

‘STATE OF SHOCK AND SORROW’

❄

HAPPYS❄

❄

MONTPELIER

❄❄

❄

❄

Gabriel Lajeunesse

❄

Imagine a system that doesn’t just shuffle students between districts but equips them to thrive in the real world.

We should be training welders, electricians, coders and builders. We should be investing in technical education and the trades, raising a generation that can literally construct Vermont’s future.

That’s how you tackle affordability — by empowering people to earn, create and stay rooted here.

The abundance agenda is about optimism. It says Vermont can be more than a place of rising costs and shrinking opportunities. It can be the state that proves education reform isn’t about cutting — it’s about building. Let’s stop managing decline and start imagining growth.

F

Bruce Finney

COLCHESTER

CAPITALISM IS NOT THE ANSWER

I read, with tears, Courtney Lamdin’s article on the status of the Chittenden County homelessness crisis as winter sets in [“Frozen Out: With Few Places to Go, Unhoused People in Burlington Prepare to Hunker Down in Tents for a Long, Cold Winter,” November 12]. I see the struggle, even as so many people are trying to make FEEDBACK

» P.31

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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contents DEC. 24, 2025-

JAN. 7, 2026 VOL.31 NO.16 & 17

FOOD+ DRINK 50 Decidedly Delicious

Dig into our favorite bites and sips of 2025

50

1076 Williston Road, S. Burlington 862.6585 | WindjammerRestaurant.com

COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE HARRY BLISS

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5/8/25 4:17 PM

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS

COLUMNS

WITH GREAT DEALS

10 Magnificent 14 12 From the Publisher 93 Ask the Reverend

SECTIONS 14

36

66

NEWS+POLITICS 14

FEATURES 36

ARTS+CULTURE 58

Backstories

Life Stories

The Things He Left Behind

Behind the scenes of Seven Days’ most memorable stories this year

Remembering Vermonters who died in 2025

STUCK IN VERMONT

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Fifty years after making Burlington his home, British author Tim Brookes examines what it means to leave

Net Flick and Net Loss

The year in film: theaters, streaming and the rise of FOMO viewing

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Ones to Watch

Standout Vermont artists to keep an eye on in 2026

The Vermont 2025 Music Scene Unwrapped

Another year is coming to a close, and it’s time for the annual “Stuck in Vermont” video reflecting on 2025’s most memorable moments. Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger talks with her mother, Sophie Quest, about the highlights.

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

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MAGNIFICENT

FRIDAY 26

In-Flight Entertainment

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

COURTESY OF ASHLEY CHAPPELL

BY RE BE CCA DRISCOL L

WEDNESDAY 31

POP-CULTURE PROWESS New York City standup Marina Franklin knows how to properly ring in 2026: with two back-to-back shows at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. Known for her wildly successful comedy special “Single Black Female” and thought-provoking podcast “Friends Like Us,” the veteran entertainer leaves a lasting impression with her self-proclaimed “viciously likable” presence.

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 70

WEDNESDAY 31 & THURSDAY 1

Guitar Heroes Since 1999, punk-rockers Gogol Bordello have been playing high-octane shows around the globe, but lucky for us they’re spending New Year’s right here in Vermont, at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. The revolutionary collective — led by Eugene Hütz, an expat of Burlington and Ukraine — says goodbye to 2025 with performances so electrifying, breakers might blow.

SEE CLUB SPOTLIGHT ON PAGE 69

Avian admirers gather invaluable intel during the Hunger Mountain Winter Bird Count across Waterbury fields, forests and backyards. The all-day event harks back to 1900, when an ornithologist proposed a gunless alternative to the traditional Christmas hunt. Now in its 126th season, the community science project helps collect crucial census data for conservation organizations.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

SATURDAY 27

Near and Deer After Christmas, the spirit of the season lives on at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain’s Reindeer Live in Burlington, where Vermont Reindeer Farm connects its antlered charges with animal lovers of all ages. Come for the photo ops; stay for fun facts about what makes Santa’s sleighpowering critters so well adapted for cold and snow.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

WEDNESDAY 31

Early to Bed Prone to yawning by 8 p.m.? Nightlife not really your bag? Head to Norwich, where Montshire Museum of Science offers New Year’s at Noon Noon. Revelers desiring that classic countdown experience — 12 hours earlier than those party animals in Times Square — delight in hands-on, family-friendly activities, culminating in a sparkling, balloon-filled ring-in to remember.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 78

WEDNESDAY 31

Fancy Free 2025 was a doozy doozy. Time to shake it off at the Adventure Dinner New Year’s Eve Dance Party in Colchester.

Disco balls and decadent décor set the mood for a foodiefocused, fueled-up fête, complete with a bottomless snack spread, rotating bites and a retro shrimp tower. Glasses of regular and NA bubbly at midnight start 2026 on a high note.

COURTESY

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

LOOKING FORWARD

WEDNESDAY 31

THROUGH SUNDAY 4

Northern Exposure

Slow and Steady

It’s a fact: St. Johnsbury does the holidays right. First Night North takes revelry to the next level with a town-wide celebration spanning eight hours and 18 venues. Expect the unexpected, including tarot readings, hypnosis acts, planetarium shows, karaoke, puppetry and even an obstacle course. Shuttles run continuous loops around town so you won’t miss a moment.

Southern Vermont Arts Center’s “Into the Abstract” exhibit in Manchester highlights the works of Paul Gruhler and Neha Vedpathak, artists separated by generations but united in their artistic vision. Their methods — from Gruhler’s layering of color to Vedpathak’s time-intensive “plucking” technique — result in bold, abstract works that challenge modernity’s obsession with speedy output.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

WEDNESDAY 31

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Aria Ready?

WEDNESDAY 7

“New Year’s Eve at the Opera” delivers sonic chills and thrills at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington. Accomplished visiting and local talent — including sparkling soprano (and Vermont Public host) Helen Lyons — hit high notes out of the park in excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte and other evergreen masterpieces.

Light on Their Feet

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

WEDNESDAY 31

Harlem Lite Feet takes center stage when dance pioneer Chrybaby Cozie and members of the renowned Bomb Squad present Chrysolation in Hanover, N.H. The powerful two-part performance takes audiences from Daryl Roth Studio Theater to the Top of the Hop with seemingly weightless movements evoking the origins and evolution of the New York City street-dance style.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 76

Soule Food

ONGOING

Town Hall Theater cordially invites you to Middlebury for a funk-tastic toast to 2026 at New Year’s Eve With Soule Monde.

The dynamic duo features keyboardist Ray Paczkowski and drummer Russ Lawton, who conjure irresistibly groovy sounds. Bonus: An early countdown awaits attendees between 9:30 and 10 p.m. — aka “Ripton midnight.”

Bear in Mind

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

THURSDAY 1 & FRIDAY 2

Cloud Nine Want to usher in 2026 with some restorative classical music? The Green Mountain Mahler Festival’s orchestra and chorus satisfy that wish with two performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s enduring Ninth Symphony at Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester. Daniel Bruce conducts the annual affair, replete with stirring solos by Stefanie Weigand, Erik Kroncke and other talented vocalists.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 74

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Shelburne’s iconic Vermont Teddy Bear Factory invites guests to take a festive trek with the Beary Magical Lights Tour.

Inside, a twinkling path through the production floor showcases where furry friends come to life.

Outside, a winter wonderland of dancing lights, projections and an interactive story walk await, made merrier with 3D glasses that transform ordinary bulbs into un-bear-ably cute shapes.

HOLIDAY

HOLIDAY Party Dresses

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

Party Dresses

ONGOING

Dream Weavers December is an appropriate time to muse on memories of the year that’s passed and visions of the year ahead. In Shelburne, Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery’s group exhibit, “Variations on a Dream,” taps into the shifting moods of winter with contemplative works spanning styles and mediums by noteworthy artists from across the region.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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12/13/25 4:19 PM

Turning the Page on 2025 When I was a little girl, I made calendars. I’d turn a blank 8.5-by-11inch sheet of paper sideways, measure the width and divide by seven.

Using a pencil and a ruler, I’d draw longitudinal lines to mark the days of the week. The harder part was planning the number of lateral rows required for each month, which of course vary from four to six.

I wish I could attribute this early obsession to an interest in astronomy — my dad’s profession — or Pope Gregory, who “invented” the modern calendar in 1582. But I think the truth is that I have a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This can be a real advantage in pursuits of perfection for which the practical result is just good work.

As a grown-up weekly newspaper publisher, I find comparable comfort perusing the 51 issues of Seven Days that we produced in 2025.

On page 5 of this week’s Double Issue, you’ll find thumbnail images of every paper from this year — an infographic that, at a glance, handily sums up the past 12 months of life in Vermont.

News cover standouts include U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders railing against the oligarchy and the second Trump presidency on a postinaugural tour of the Midwest, a story counting deaths among homeless people sleeping rough in Burlington’s winter, a clear-eyed explanation of the Queen City’s financial crisis, and Gov. Phil Scott signing an education reform bill surrounded by beaming lawmakers who haven’t smiled much since.

National politics definitely shaped the year here at home, from federal job cuts and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns to presidential remarks that tanked Canadian tourism overnight. Luckily, since July we have had a full-time reporter, Lucy Tompkins, on the immigration beat. The state has been overwhelmed, too, by a confluence of systemic problems in education, health care and housing development. That gave reporters Kevin McCallum and Alison Novak plenty to write about, but it also spurred us to look at our representative government writ large — the goal of a special project we dubbed “Ways and Means.” In the able hands of Hannah Bassett, it will continue through the end of the 2026 legislative session.

Of course, there’s more to Vermont life than news — thank God — and Seven Days has been writing about all of it since we started the paper 30 years ago. If you missed our big Birthday Issue, it’s available on our new website, launched inconveniently in the same week.

Ambitious, memorable culture covers include Mary Ann Lickteig’s colorful history of Vermont’s landmark civil unions legislation, Melissa Pasanen’s deep dive on Shelburne Farms, a funny and well-observed trend piece by Chris Farnsworth on Vermont’s obsession with Grateful Dead cover bands, and Dan Bolles’ rising-star profile of comedian Tina Friml. Culture coeditor Carolyn Fox had the idea of facilitating a compelling conversation between Vermont cartoonists Harry Bliss and Alison Bechdel for the cover of the Cartoon Issue.

Dan and deputy news editor Sasha Goldstein wrangled the midsummer Connections Issue, for which we collected stories on a theme. We publish a bunch of special issues that are perennial — animals; wellness; love and marriage; money and retirement; and summer, winter and performing arts previews, to name most of them — but this idea was new.

Readers expect Seven Days to weigh in on recent developments

SEVEN DAYS, ONE YEAR 2025 BY THE NUMBERS *

688

3

News stories

238

Food features, reviews and news

Number of “Future Voter” stickers, designed by kids and submitted through Seven Days’ Good Citizen Challenge, that will be printed and distributed by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office

74

Reviews of local albums FILE: LUKE AWTRY

Seven Days 2025 staff photo at the Champlain Valley Fair

staff enjoys a well-deserved holiday in news, food, arts and culture, and break. These pages contain the annual we do. But I love it when we deliver a “Backstories” feature, in which Seven cover story that totally surprises with Days writers reveal some of the funny, its subject matter, writing style or interesting and noteworthy things that expertise. Joe Sexton’s action-packed befell them on the job in 2025. Also in “Year of the Dogs,” detailing how this end-of-year edition are six reported the University of Vermont’s men’s “Life Stories” about fascinating soccer team won the 2024 NCAA Vermonters who died this year and, in championship, was one of those. Ditto some cases, didn’t get the recognition Jon Mingle’s inside look at Vermont’s they deserved. logging industry and Derek Brouwer’s Did I mention recommendations for thorough documentation of the rise of New Year’s Eve and best-of lists in local Beta Technologies, published the day after the Vermont company went public food, film and music?

Seven Days does it all. We’ll continue on the New York Stock Exchange. Derek to produce this award-winning also dove into the business of thrifting newspaper for as long as Vermonters with an unexpected cover story about read and support us, advertisers ReSOURCE, which has grown into a promote their businesses in our pages, multimillion-dollar operation. and the news keeps coming. See you And I’m only scratching the surface again on January 7, 2026!

— literally! Inside every issue of Seven Days is a trove of original, deeply reported, well-written stories, as well Paula Routly as useful tidbits, wordplay, recommendations, event listings, digestible food If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, news, great graphics, become a Super Reader! moving obituaries and Look for the “Donate” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your informative ads, including address and contact info to: the personals, classifieds and legal notices. It’s a ton SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 of work to produce — and BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164 an honest reflection of our shared community at its For more information on making a financial contribution to Seven Days, please contact best.

Gillian English: I hope you can spend some time with this VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM Double Issue while our

30

Years since Pamela Polston and Paula Routly started Seven Days

1

Publisher of the Year award from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia won by Paula Routly

49

Other awards Seven Days received from regional and national news organizations

554

New Super Readers who have given to Seven Days so far this year

116.9%

4:59:56

How long it took Seven Days’ five-person relay team to run the Vermont City Marathon

68,000+

Number of views of “Stuck in Vermont” episode 742: “Fern’s Maximalist Paradise,” a look inside Fern Crete’s Burlington home. Said one YouTube commenter: “The man, the music, the beautiful dog, the house — the sheer vibes of awesomeness. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this tour.”

The increase in Super Reader and philanthropic support for Seven Days in 2025

* And still counting!

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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2025

FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

BACKSTORIES

Canteen Creemee chef-owner Charlie Menard with a fried chicken box in 2019

Behind the scenes of Seven Days’ most memorable stories this year

BY SE VE N DAYS STAFF

W

hile reporting my first story as an intern at a small Vermont newspaper, I was kidnapped. Well, not really — I was 19, so technically no longer a kid, and my so-called ’napper was a very kind community member who’d driven me to interview her friend about a deeprooted Vermonter who had just died.

That chat, however, dragged on for seven exhausting hours and involved three locations. Also, lunch. (As any kidnappee knows, you should avoid going to a second location, much less a third.) By the time I was returned to my car with a very full notebook, it sure felt as though I’d been snatched and, mercifully, set free.

That early assignment taught me essential journalism lessons. First and foremost: Always have an exit plan.

Close second: Reporters never know quite where the day will take them.

Even those with the best-laid plans should be prepared to get swept up by their story, lose all control, follow new threads, scrap everything, start again and still meet their deadline.

If you think today’s news cycle is full of dramatic twists and turns, you should hear the behind-the-scenes sagas of

getting the news, as I do every week as a Seven Days editor. These are the Backstories we share with readers at the end of each year — reporters’ personal accounts of what went into their most memorable bylines.

The tough stuff tends to leave a lasting memory. Kevin McCallum sweat bullets as a vote in Congress upended his cover story about U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Alison Novak tried every trick in the book to get a reluctant source — Vermont Education Secretary Zoie Saunders — to open up. And Chris Farnsworth is still scarred from writing about Seven Days’ house band. (Sometimes it’s the stories you least expect.)

Other assignments brought more welcome surprises. After narrowly avoiding arrest near the U.S.-Canadian border, Lucy Tompkins found quirky respite at a hobbit house. Colin Flanders got a thrilling view of history as he reported on the release of Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi. Pamela Polston offended a bishop but then found a path toward redemption.

From complicated interviews to chance encounters, these stories shed light on the dogged and sometimes scrappy reporting that takes place daily at Seven Days. It’s the kind of work on which a strong community and democracy depend — and which AI could never replicate.

A reporter’s job involves more grunt work than glory, but there’s consolation when things go sideways: We’ll always have good Backstories to tell.

IF YOU THINK TODAY’S NEWS CYCLE IS FULL OF DRAMATIC TWISTS AND TURNS, YOU SHOULD HEAR THE

BEHIND-THE-SCENES SAGAS OF GETTING THE NEWS.

News you use.

If you depend on trustworthy local news from Seven Days, keep it coming by supporting your paper.

Donate today and become a Super Reader: sevendaysvt.com/donate.

C A R O LY N F O X

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

MOST INCREDULOUS SOURCE

“Vermont Chefs, Restaurateurs and Bar Named 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalists” Industry folks refer to the James Beard Foundation’s annual Restaurant and Chef Awards as “the Oscars of the food world.” But some chefs pay more attention to such recognition than others — and food journalists tend to pay more attention than the chefs do, at least first thing in the morning on announcement day.

That’s how I found myself congratulating Charlie Menard, owner of Canteen Creemee in Waitsfield, for making the semifinalist list in the Best Chef: Northeast category. I sent him a text asking for comment at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22, roughly 20 minutes after the list was posted on the foundation’s website.

He hadn’t heard the news. I’m not sure he’d even woken up yet.

“Woah” is all he had to say until the afternoon, when we chatted by phone.

Even then, he was having trouble believing me.

“I was like, Nah, this is fake,” he said, chuckling. “Then I realized that Seven Days probably had alerts set up for this sort of thing.”

I did, but only because I’d been caught off guard by the announcement’s timing in the past. We get plenty of press releases about gold medal-winning cheeses and beers, but the James Beard Awards are among the only national food and drink accolades we report on.

JAN

22

They’re just that big of a deal. While Vermont doesn’t get as many nominations as Boston or New York, it’s exciting to be the first to break our local version of the news.

I had prewritten a draft of the story the night before with background on the state’s previous contenders. All I had to do was fill in the semifinalists’ names and upload a photo or two. We published online at 10:27 a.m. and updated the story with Menard’s surprised comments at 1:30 p.m.

His skepticism was warranted: Canteen Creemee is known for, well, its creemees.

They’re over-the-top and delightful but not the sort of cuisine the awards historically recognized in the Best Chef categories. As Menard told me, he thought he’d left the Beard-bait part of his career behind when he swapped a fine-dining “executive chef” title for “owner of a snack shack” in 2016.

Since a public reckoning in 2020 with how the awards are decided, the Beards have been surprising us all. They seem more representative of U.S. food trends — burgers and fried chicken included. I’ve stopped trying to predict which Vermonters will be semifinalists, though it’s fun to guess.

Menard didn’t make the whittled-down list of final nominees announced on April 2. But I had an alert set for that morning, too, and you can bet I would have texted him right away.

JO RDAN BARRY

2025backstories

DOUBLE DUTY

Some state legislators also hold local office PAGE 14

Ideally, Seven Days reporters turn in their cover stories a week before publication.

That editing timeline was not going to fly with my story about U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Fight Oligarchy” tour. Vermont’s senior senator and former presidential candidate planned to barnstorm through Nebraska and Iowa on Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22.

My job was to follow him, fly home and crank out the cover story by Monday so editors could shape the final product that would hit the streets on Wednesday, February 26.

I didn’t just blow that deadline, I obliterated it. Thanks a lot, Congress!

My weekend with Bernie revealed that, in addition to inspiring supporters, the goal of his Midwest rallies was to pressure Republicans in purple districts to stand up to President Donald Trump and party

FEB

26

BIGGEST EYE-OPENER

“Vermont Has a Drinking Problem. It’s Time to Talk About It.” Like many, I have a complicated relationship with alcohol. After avoiding it for most of my youth, I fully welcomed its warm embrace when I got to college and over time developed what experts would consider a problem — albeit one that was easy to overlook, since everyone around me was in the same boozy boat.

In adulthood, I’ve found what I consider a happy medium. I drink socially but mostly only on weekends and always in moderation. On the rare occasions I reach for a weeknight beverage, I usually have what feels like a good excuse, such as completing my first run in months or surviving a stressful day at work. Pretty benign, right?

I’d thought so, until an assignment to write about alcohol use in Vermont forced me to reexamine my habits.

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Bern Rekindled B Y KEV I N MCCA LLUM, PA GE 24

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Remembering Gary Chassman

PAGE 30

Barre’s new café and bar

PAGE 36

An ugly history told in dance

KE VI N MC C ALLU M

The story was straightforward: alcohol was a part of my routine, Vermont drinks a lot, leading to same as exercising or doing launa lot of issues. This wasn’t exactly dry. Determined to confirm that it news to me. What was eye-opening wasn’t, I decided to give up drinkwas how skewed my perception of ing for about a month. Thankfully what constitutes “safe” drinking had I found it relatively easy, though become. there were times when I grabbed That’s partly due to the fact that a beer out of the fridge without Americans were told for decades thinking, only to sheepishly put that drinking in moderation may be it back. healthy. A growing body of research None of which is to say that I now casts doubt on that idea, finding came away from the experience that even moderate drinking poses believing that no one should ever The Green Mountain State has long had a drinking problem. It’s time to talk about it. significant health risks, especially touch alcohol. I still do — regularly, as we age. in fact — accepting that the health And yet I also realized that I had risks posed by booze are a worthnever really considered the queswhile trade-off for a night of laughHOME INSECURITY MAPLE MÉLANGE COMIC TIMING tion of why I was choosing to drink. ter and pool with friends.

How often was I turning to But I have been trying to think alcohol to quell anxious thoughts a little more deeply about my decior deal with stress? Too often, given watching movies always feels a bit more sions involving it, even if that means that scientists say using booze in such a celebratory with a couple of beers in the switching to mocktails every now and manner can alter the brain in ways that mix. then — a choice I have yet to regret in the increase anxiety — something I surely The more I pondered all this, the morning.

C O LI N FL AN DE RS don’t need. And what about falling more I began to notice how unconscious back on alcohol purely out of boredom? my drinking habits had become — as if, at After all, a Friday night spent at home some point, I had simply accepted that BACKSTORIES » P.16 V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MARCH 19-26, 2025 VOL.30 NO.25 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

“In a New Trump Era, Bernie Sanders’ Crusade Against Oligarchy Is Resonating With Americans Once Again”

As the evening dragged on, it looked like the conservative holdouts might stand their ground. At one point, Republican leaders pulled the bill from consideration, and lawmakers started heading for the exits.

Minutes later, in a chaotic scene, Speaker Mike Johnson reversed himself and called for the final vote.

Trying to figure all that out by watching C-SPAN and calling and texting D.C. staffers — who weren’t sure themselves what the hell was happening — was nerve-racking.

In the end, Sanders’ pressure campaign hadn’t been as strong as the one by Trump, who had personally twisted the arms of Republican doubters. The vote at 8:22 p.m. was 217-215. My story needed a speedy rewrite to clarify that Sanders’ considerable weekend efforts had not changed the course of history — yet.

That may sound simple. But when reporters, editors, proofreaders and page designers are all in separate locations using email, text and conference calls to communicate confusing, last-minute changes to a front-page story, it’s not.

Ultimately, James negotiated with the patient printers for an 11 p.m. drop-dead deadline, after which the paper would face financial penalties. They got the pages, with three minutes to spare.

V ERMON T’S I N D EP EN D EN T V OI CE FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 5, 2025 VOL.30 NO.22 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

DARNDEST DEADLINE

That’s because missing this deadline sets off a cascade of painful inconveniences, some of which can be costly. In addition to requiring a number of Seven Days employees to work late, failing to send the pages by the appointed hour can cause delays for printing press operators, truck drivers and our 16-member local delivery crew.

On some Tuesdays, such as Election Day, deadlines can be extended. But this Tuesday In a new Trump era, Bernie Sanders’ crusade against oligarchy is resonating with Americans once again proved impossible to predict.

Republicans and their THE LAST CHAPTER FOXY LATTE SCARE TACTICS razor-thin majority were facing a revolt by conservatives who weren’t thrilled leadership ahead of a controversial budget about Trump’s plan to give massive tax resolution. breaks to the wealthy, slash crucial social The House of Representatives started programs and send deficits soaring. They debating that very resolution on Tuesday liked the tax breaks, of course, but a few and seemed poised to vote on it. We couldn’t fiscal hawks wanted more program cuts very well write a story about Sanders’ effort to pay for them. to block a Republican budget bill and then Around 5 p.m., when U.S. Rep. Becca not say whether it succeeded. That left us Balint (D-Vt.) was still on the House no choice but to monitor the vote and, if floor blasting Republicans for caving needed, do a last-minute rewrite. to Trump and selling out their own Typically, Seven Days production constituents, it was still unclear if a vote manager John James uploads pages to would be called. our printer in Québec by 7 p.m. Delaying The one set for 6:30 p.m. was postponed things past that hour turns the usually to give Republican leaders time to whip up jovial James into Jack the Ripper. additional support.

Vermont’s Hangover

BY COLIN FL ANDERS, PAGE 26

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DOGE targets housing protections

PAGE 36

Sampling sweet stuff in Québec

PAGE 52

A Q&A with Leslie Jones

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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Backstories « P.15

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

“Burlington Democrats Talked Shop — and Gossiped — on Group Text” Burlington City Council meetings can get crowded, but reporters always have a seat at the “media table.”

Located behind the U-shaped row of councilor desks, the table gives us media types a place to commune and kvetch. It also provides a perfect view of councilors’ laptop screens. And for someone who’s professionally nosy, it’s hard to not sneak a peek.

Doing so at a meeting in January landed me a story that not only exposed a questionable practice by councilors but also highlighted a loophole in state law.

On the night in question, council Democrats introduced a resolution to remove the 87-officer cap on the police department roster, an issue that has divided

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the council since the 2020 vote to slash the size of the force. Dems argued that the limit was hurting recruitment.

Progs said the move would be p e r f o r m a t i ve because the city hadn’t succeeded in hiring up to the existing cap.

As the debate wore on, I looked up from my laptop and saw an animation playing on a computer belonging to Councilor Sarah Carpenter (D-Ward 4). The clip was of a smiling pig hanging out a car window, with a caption that read “Weee!”

It appeared to be part of a text thread that was getting longer in real time.

I wondered: Were the Dems texting each other, holding some sort of meeting within a meeting? If so, I thought, that could be a violation of Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, which gives the public a right to know what elected officials say and how they make decisions. There was only one way to find out.

Cursing myself for leaving my camera and zoom lens at the office, I took a few covert snapshots with my phone. The pictures showed that the Dems weren’t just sending GIFs of farm animals. They were coordinating their talking points as

the debate played out on the council floor.

Later, I would request a year’s worth of these text messages, which confirmed that the Dems frequently discussed substantive issues in the group chat.

Back at the meeting, I did some quick math. With one vacant seat, the 12-person council was down to 11 members. A conversation among six councilors — a voting majority — had to be illegal.

Or so I thought.

Turns out that a true majority, known as a quorum, is calculated using the total number of seats, including vacancies. With a council of 12, that meant a seven-person text thread would be illegal, but not a sixperson one.

I still had a story. It featured transparency advocates who said the law didn’t intend to allow voting majorities to deliberate in private. And we printed a handful of the texts, some of which were pretty unflattering. Readers got to learn what their elected officials say when they think no one’s looking. By now, they should know I always am.

C O U RT N E Y L AMDI N

MOST RELUCTANT SUBJECT

“Education Secretary Zoie Saunders Doesn’t Seek the Spotlight — but Can’t Escape It”

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Council Dems discussed business in text threads PAGE 15

meeting there. I used that coincidence to finagle an in-person interview in the capitol building’s cafeteria. Saunders was friendly and polite, but she immediately stopped me when I asked personal questions such as where she lived or the age of her kids.

Toward the end of the interview, which Saunders had generously let go well past the 30-minute mark, she explained that she wasn’t trying to be elusive; she was just protective of her children. As a mom, I understood that instinct. But I also felt that, as a public figure about whom many in Vermont had questions, Saunders could have been more forthcoming.

I was eventually able to get enough information from Saunders and those who knew her to produce a thorough-enough profile. But when we asked to photograph Saunders for the cover, we were again met with resistance. Saunders’ comms person told me that she wanted to know the headline of the story first. Divulging that would have been against Seven Days policy, so the photo shoot fell through. We ended up relying on candid shots from photographer Jeb Wallace-Brodeur. The pictures were perfectly adequate. It would have been nice, though, to get something a little more personal.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

ALISON NOVAK

V E R M O N T ’ S I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E MARCH 26-APRIL 2, 2025 VOL.30 NO.26 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

In March 2024, Vermont’s publiceducation establishment bristled when Gov. Phil Scott announced Zoie Saunders as the state’s new education secretary. People expressed skepticism about Saunders’ lack of experience as a teacher and school administrator and her very un-Vermonty professional background as an executive at a for-profit charter school company in Florida. When lawmakers declined to confirm Saunders, the governor appointed her on an interim basis anyway.

A year into Saunders’ tenure, my editors and I decided it would be a good time to see how she was coping with the less-than-warm welcome to Vermont, what she’d accomplished so far and what she still hoped to achieve.

From the start, Saunders was a reluctant subject. I began asking for a sit-down interview with the secretary in December 2024 but received the brush-off from her communications person. In February, I asked again to interview her in person and to shadow her for a few hours. Instead, I was offered a 30-minute virtual interview.

Dissatisfied with that option, I found out that Saunders would be testifying at the Statehouse on the same day I planned to cover a committee

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A Public Education

Zoie Saunders would prefer to lead Vermont’s schools from behind the scenes. But she can’t escape the spotlight.

BY ALISON NOVAK, PAGE 30

FULL DISCLOSURE?

PAGE 14

Statehouse ethics protocols lag

BEYOND BURRITOS

PAGE 38

Tasting new Mexican restos in VT

TALKING TRASH

PAGE 54

Lily Seabird on her new record

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FOR YOUR PATRONAGE IN THE YEAR 2025.

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COURTESY

I grew up in Montréal, and writing stories about Québec has been an added perk of reporting for Seven Days. I’m a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. Ditto my two children, Iris, 13, and Sayge, 16. Just one problem: My passport expired years ago, and I never got proper Canadian documents for my kids. So when our Québec editor said she’d like me to write about Montréal’s art deco buildings — and it coincided with the February school break — I jumped at the chance to do some international multitasking.

I decided to bring both kids and juggle my reporting around getting our passport paperwork together and processed. I had to time it just right.

Luckily, the city’s 1928 Pharmacy Building, with its original brass doors and filigree grilles, was on my building tour list. Still a pharmacy, it offers passport photos while you wait.

After that, my American husband kept the kids occupied while I interviewed a soft-spoken architectural historian on the newly restored ninth floor of what used to be Eaton’s downtown department store. I took in the bright parquet floors, the black marble and the dozens of diners having enthusiastic conversations in French. It was hard to hear in the sonic din, and I worried about the quality of my recording.

But transcribing would be a problem for another day.

We had to get the kids to my parents’ house on the West Island — a half hour’s drive from the city — in order to take full advantage of a night at the deco-themed Hôtel HONEYROSE. My reporting tour would resume in the morning.

We woke to a blizzard. I set out on foot, which turned out to be a lovely walk through the old city, though many of the deco buildings had seen better days.

Moorish-inspired Dominion Square was an empty WeWork; Ogilvy’s, with its handcrafted brass reliefs, was long abandoned. I even trekked up the steep hill to Maison Cormier, scurrying past the Russian embassy and its 12-foot barbed wire-topped fence. By the end of my walk, my notebook was sodden and unreadable; every photo I took showed a gray edifice blurred by snow.

I had just enough time to tour the HONEYROSE, collect the kids and get to my cousin’s house — Canada requires someone to vouch for you by signing the passport application — before seeking out architectural gems in Old Montréal, accompanied by children already thoroughly cold,

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New Years Day

tired and bored. And we hadn’t even gotten to the passport office.

The following day, we lined up in a sad, otherwise empty suite in a building tucked behind the expressway, ready for a long wait: The internet predicted eight hours.

And yet, something magical happened.

Our passports were processed quickly, efficiently and with a smile. At last, we were deserving of the jealousy my friends expressed after the 2024 election, of the freedom to flee in the night.

Heartened, we drove all the way to the East End’s 1931 Montréal Botanical Garden building. We arrived to find its murals masked by construction fences, mountains of snow heaped over its fountains. Even I had had my fill of elaborate façades.

Across the street, in the decidedly un-art deco 1970s Olympic complex, the chattering monkeys and exotic birds of the Montréal Biodôme welcomed us into the warm air of its tropical jungle. None asked for our passports.

ALICE DODGE BACKSTORIES

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DEEPEST DOT CONNECTING

“Company Founder Helping Design Detention Center Runs Other Programs Facing Legal Claims” Vermont School for Girls and Mount Prospect Academy, a residential program for boys in New Hampshire. The latter school, it turned out, was facing hundreds of lawsuits from current and former students who alleged physical and sexual abuse.

I struck up a correspondence with a New Hampshire reporter and enlisted him to help me get court records relating to some of those lawsuits. I also tracked down a lawyer who represented some of the victims and was willing to share details of their lawsuits.

All of this would have been enough for a meaty story. But then I found another

BEST VIEW OF HISTORY

Mohsen Mahdawi outside the courthouse

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“Palestinian Activist Mahdawi Released From Prison” Journalism has been described as the “first rough draft of history.” Impressive as that may sound, it can feel like an overstatement to those who toil away in the ranks of local news. You mean to tell me that in 2125 someone will care about the latest budget proposal from the University of Vermont Medical Center?

Still, there are moments when the cliché rings true and we notebook toters feel less like extras in a low-budget movie and more like actual scribes, capturing moments that could be mentioned in history books a century later. (If books still exist by then.)

That’s how I felt standing outside the Burlington federal courthouse among a scrum of local and national reporters in April, waiting for Mohsen Mahdawi to emerge.

The 34-year-old Columbia University student had been arrested by federal immigration authorities for speaking out against Israel’s war in Gaza. The U.S. government wanted to keep him locked up while his immigration case proceeded, arguing that Mahdawi posed a risk and his release would undermine foreign policy interests.

But Mahdawi’s attorneys maintained that

Jeff Caron

connection that made me gasp out loud: a recent VTDigger article reporting that Caron had founded a for-profit company called the Sentinel Group, which had signed a contract with DCF in 2024 for up to $10.7 million to run a small, temporary

FILE: COLIN FLANDERS

In March, a Bennington Banner article caught my eye.

It detailed the arrest of an employee at the residential Vermont School for Girls for sexually abusing a 15-year-old student. I wasn’t familiar with the Bennington school, which serves primarily young women in the custody of the Department for Children and Families, so I started googling. When I quickly turned up other news stories about teachers and staff there being arrested for abusing students, I thought it could be a bigger story.

My sleuthing led me to a man named Jeff Caron, who I learned ran both the

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his arrest and weeks-long detention were a gross violation of constitutional protections, and they asked a judge to set him free. Deeming the government’s evidence flimsy at best, Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford swiftly ruled to let Mahdawi go, noting that his prolonged imprisonment would have a chilling effect on protected speech.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

As I jockeyed for position outside the courthouse afterward, I briefly reflected on the magnitude of the moment. Here was a ruling that could have major implications for the Trump administration’s controversial crackdown on student protesters, and it came in Vermont, of all places.

juvenile detention facility in Middlesex and to help the state design a new one to replace the embattled Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center. The Digger story didn’t mention Caron’s connection to the Vermont School for Girls or Mount Prospect Academy.

As I wrapped up my reporting, I contacted Vermont officials to ask whether the state was aware of the issues plaguing Caron’s schools before it signed a contract with him. They didn’t answer directly, instead pointing out the complexity of running a program for youths in crisis. It appeared they were sticking with Sentinel.

What started as a potential story about wrongdoing at one small school became a larger one about the state’s role in contracting with a business owner with a concerning track record. I just had to connect the dots to write it.

ALI S O N N O VAK

Loud cheers erupted as Mahdawi left the courthouse with a keffiyeh draped across the shoulders of his gray suit. He held up peace signs and hugged friends before taking a microphone to address the government that had imprisoned him for the past several weeks.

“I am not afraid of you,” he said, adding that Crawford’s “very brave decision” to let him walk free should give people hope that America’s justice system still works.

Several other high-profile detainees were released from prison in the following weeks. They included Rümeysa Öztürk, whose case also played out in Burlington.

In his written ruling, Crawford noted that this was not the first time America had seen “chilling action by the government intended to shut down debate.” He referenced the Red Scare and McCarthy era and wrote that court decisions played a role in bringing an end to the “moral panic that gripped the nation and its officials” during those periods.

“The wheel of history has come around again, but as before these times of excess will pass,” he wrote.

Eight months later, they haven’t; each new week seems to raise fresh existential questions for America’s democracy. But perhaps Crawford’s comments will one day seem prescient, and we will look back on the Mahdawi case as an important moment in this nation’s history — a moment I was gratefully there to witness.

C O LI N FL AN DE RS

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Tina Friml

FILE: OLIVER PARINI

Something I love about journalism is how one good story can lead to another, often when you least expect it.

In April, I was in New York City following around expat comedian Tina Friml for a cover profile before her run of homecoming shows in Burlington later that month. In a fortuitous twist, Friml had booked “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and just happened to be taping while I was in town. I couldn’t tag along for her set at NBC Studios, but Friml had invited me to crash the watch party with her friends and family later that night at a mocktail bar in the East Village. “It’ll be fun!” she’d texted. “And there’ll be some Vermont folks there, too.”

Indeed, the first person I encountered by the bar was local singer Josh Panda, looking ever the rocker in a sleeveless T-shirt and leather jacket. On a stool next to him was his bandmate in the Grift, Clint Bierman.

In my nearly two decades of covering Vermont music and arts, and many years performing prior to that, somehow I had never crossed paths with Bierman, a fixture in the Addison County music scene since the 1990s. We joked about having to come to Manhattan to finally meet, which was doubly ironic since we’re now basically neighbors: He lives in Middlebury; I’ve been in Vergennes for five years.

We chatted about what we’d been listening to lately, local and otherwise, before the conversation turned to ... the Shweebee.

“I’m sorry, the what?” I said with a confused chuckle, not sure I’d heard him correctly.

“The Shweebee!” Bierman chirped.

“It’s the yard game I invented.”

I slugged back my mocktail and looked him dead in the eye: “Tell me more.”

You see, I am something of a yard game aficionado. If it’s objectively dumb, has a silly name, requires a weirdly specific skill, and can be enjoyed on a lawn or a beach while holding a beer, there’s a good chance I’ve played it, own it and/ or have spent an embarrassing amount of time getting good it. Cornhole? Polish horseshoes? Kan Jam? Mölkky? Game on.

Shweebee, Bierman explained, involves throwing a disc at or between a

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COURTESY OF SARAH NELSON

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POP THE QUESTION on the cover of Seven Days!

Clint Bierman

pair of poles topped by red Solo-like cups and includes a proprietary mechanism for ejecting said cups into the air when the disc strikes. The goofy name is a contraction of “Should we be” — as in: “Should we be playing Shweebee?” In short, I loved everything about it. And I knew we had to write about it.

My duties as an editor sometimes limit my availability to write, so I passed the idea on to reporter Ken Picard when I got home. He followed up the next month, as Bierman was putting Shweebee into production, and had a blast doing it, calling the game “serious backyard fun.”

Sadly, I still haven’t had a chance to play Shweebee myself. Here’s hoping Bierman and I won’t have to meet up in New York City again to rectify that.

DAN BOLLES BACKSTORIES

» P.20

Are you planning to propose?

Why not declare your love for all the world — or at least Vermont — to see?

On February 4, Seven Days will publish a real marriage proposal from a reader on the cover of our Love & Marriage issue.

To be considered, go to sevendaysvt.com/proposal

by Friday, January 23, and tell us a little bit about you and your special someone.

The winning entrant will have their proposal on the cover, a great engagement story to tell, and, with any luck, a lifetime of love and happiness.

Disclaimer: Seven Days is not responsible for unsuccessful marriage proposals, unsuccessful marriages, or readers’ love and/or happiness.

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Backstories « P.19

HOTTEST TAKE

so categorically unless you’re also capable of talking shit about it when the need arises.

In Philly, people don’t go around saying, “I love cheesesteaks.” Someone would throw a traffic cone at you if you did that. People in Philly love or hate particular cheesesteaks, and they talk about them with a fierce pedantry that, in my view, is the mark of real devotion.

At an editorial meeting in the spring, I was running my mouth about all the things that can go wrong with a creemee when I noticed culture coeditor

Carolyn Fox giving me a terrifying and specific look, the one that means Can you write 1,200 words about this? I could, as it turned out. But this discussion about creemee worship turned into an even more interesting discussion about other talismanic subjects that might lend themselves to the hater’s guide treatment.

Covered bridges: What if we admitted to ourselves that they’re sometimes underwhelming?

Swimming holes: Some are pristine and yet somehow not excellent, while others are grimy but magical — should we not review works of nature in the same way that we review works of art made by people?

State parks, summits: Like the creemee, these things are basically good, but why should we let their basic goodness stop us from rendering nuanced judgments in print?

Stay tuned for more hater’s guides in 2026, assuming my editors are still convinced that a hater’s guide can, in fact, be an act of love.

After we’d retrieved our belongings from the conveyor belt, I introduced myself, but the bishop, seeming slightly flustered by our chance encounter, wasn’t interested in chatting with a reporter.

I decided to start my story by describing that intimate moment. Because there’s no photography in federal courthouses, my art director commissioned an accompanying illustration that depicted a cross going through the X-ray machine. As much as the hearing was about the survivors, I reasoned, it was also a story about human vulnerability writ large.

Reaction to my choice was decidedly mixed. I heard

from the leader of a clergy abuse survivors’ network who said he appreciated the story. But I also heard from a therapist who works with abuse victims and objected that the scene was dramatized “like the opening of a movie.”

“It seemed inappropriate to me,” the reader wrote.

A third reader took issue with my physical description of the bishop as having a pale, thin neck and noting that his “buzzed, military-tight” hair had “a bald circle in the center.”

Pointing out the bishop’s bald spot, according to this reader, “came across almost cruel.”

“A Hater’s Guide to the Burlington Creemee Scene” When I moved to Vermont seven years ago, I was confused by the way people talked about ice cream. My confusion wasn’t just about the word “creemee,” although I was, and remain, irritated by the cuteness of the double double vowels. What baffled me was that everyone seemed to hold the creemee in unshatterable regard, as if no creemee could be a bad creemee — as if creemees were somehow beyond analysis.

“I love creemees,” says almost everybody in Vermont.

I find this Chamber of Commerce-ass enthusiasm appalling. I believe that you can’t claim to love anything

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FILE: DIANE SULLIVAN

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FILE: SARAH CRONIN

MOST REVEALING SECURITY CHECK “Burlington Bishop Hears Sex-Abuse Survivors’ Stories”

Courtrooms are separated by invisible dividers. The plaintiff, prosecution and family of the aggrieved sit on one side. The defense and its attendant loved ones sit across the aisle.

The security line to get into the courthouse has no such split, which is how I found myself standing behind John J. McDermott, bishop of Burlington, on my way to cover a hearing in his diocese’s bankruptcy case. It was as close as I’d get to the senior priest who would be seated at the front of the room.

This particular hearing was not some procedural matter involving assets and debts, like so many in the case. Attorneys for the clergy sex-abuse victims who had claims against the church had struck a deal with the diocese and the judge: As part of the bankruptcy process, victims would have the chance to address the judge and McDermott directly.

I decided to cover the hearing as if I were a fly on the wall, a journalistic approach that Seven Days refers to as a “dispatch.” The goal is to bring readers into a scene — to describe how things looked, smelled and unfolded — without the distraction of context or commentary. It’s harder than it sounds.

I hoped to capture the emotional intensity of direct contact between the bishop and victims of the church’s abhorrent past. I wanted the survivors who chose to speak to be at the center of the story. It was their moment.

Then I realized the man next to me in line for the metal detector was putting his pectoral cross on the X-ray conveyor belt. I kept one eye on McDermott, curious to see how he conducted himself, a fish out of water. He wrote his name in the visitor log without any honorifics.

He subjected his cross to inspection. He checked the video board in the lobby to figure out which courtroom to enter.

C HE LS E A E DGAR

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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BIGGEST BREAK FROM TRADITION

“Two Rookie Reps Headed to the House.

Here’s What They Learned.”

It was mid-April when I watched Rep. Michael Boutin (R-Barre City) walk off the House floor. Representatives were debating the year’s major education reform bill, and I was keeping a close eye on Boutin and Rep. Shawn Sweeney (D-Shelburne) to see how the first-year legislators would vote. An early exit was not what I’d been expecting.

By then, I’d spent dozens of hours shadowing Boutin and Sweeney for a story about what it’s like to serve as a rookie in Vermont’s citizen legislature.

I’d watched both representatives navigate the Statehouse’s maze of traditions: caucus meetings, floor speeches, cafeteria seating.

Much of what I observed felt timeless, as if the legislative process remained barely touched by modern advancements.

I descended from my perch in the chamber’s balcony to find Boutin in his committee room, snacking on Easter candy and reviewing his notes. As I sat down next to him to talk about his stance on the education bill, he casually opened a tab on his laptop that made my eyes widen.

Boutin was using ChatGPT to help decide his vote on the highest-profile reform effort of the session. The night prior, he’d spent $20 to unlock the artificial intelligence tool’s premium features, which let him upload the 150-page bill for analysis.

“I threw it into ChatGPT and had it summarized for me,” Boutin said. “I shouldn’t tell you that, but that’s what I did.”

He turned his screen toward me and scrolled through the prompts he’d fed the chatbot: requests to compare the House bill

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with the Scott administration’s proposal, explain the tax impact on Barre City and produce timelines that other lawmakers admitted were hard to parse from the dense text. It had turned hours of reading into minutes of scrolling. While a live stream of the ongoing floor debate played quietly from his phone, Boutin told me the bot’s answers hadn’t changed his vote but helped him understand the bill’s moving parts.

The admission wasn’t dramatic. He wasn’t breaking any rules, at least to my knowledge. To anyone walking by, it looked like a legislator reviewing notes and having a snack as a reporter watched. But it felt like a turning point. Boutin said this was the first time he’d used artificial intelligence to analyze a bill — and likely not the last.

Suddenly, I could see the impact ChatGPT and generative AI like it were poised to have in Vermont’s citizen legislature. Here was a first-year representative in a building defined by tradition and paper — reaching for a tool born far outside that world to make sense of consequential legislation.

When I began reporting the story in January, I thought I would document the rites of passage that shape a first term. And in many ways, I did. The final story showed readers how Boutin and Sweeney learned procedures, deciphered committees, and figured out when to speak and when to stay quiet. But that moment in April, with Easter candy wrappers on the table, showed me something else: Even in one of Vermont’s oldest institutions, the future can arrive quickly and quietly, one prompt at a time.

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BIGGEST TWIST

FILE: COURTNEY LAMDIN

Backstories « P.21

“South Sudanese Vermonters Pay Price of Trump Visa Ban” My beat covering Burlington politics can be exhausting. So when I had the chance to write a human interest story over the summer, I jumped on it.

The story was about Chiengkuach Majok, who had fled his native South Sudan during the brutal civil war two decades prior. He was one of the “Lost Boys,” a group of children who made the perilous journey, on foot, to a refugee camp in Kenya. Some of the survivors resettled in America, including Vermont.

Now a U.S. citizen living in South Burlington, Majok was trying to reunite with his wife and four children, who were still in Kenya. His wife had recently gotten a visa to travel here. But three weeks before the family’s departure, the U.S. announced

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it was barring entry to South Sudanese passport holders. Majok was devastated, as were his friends whose families were also stuck overseas.

The story would show how even local people could become ensnared in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. But a last-minute twist of fate made for a much different tale than I had envisioned.

During an interview at their Dorset Street home, Majok and his friends took turns describing the painstaking process of applying for visas and their shock when their lives got put on hold. They showed me videos and pictures of their children.

My heart ached for them.

I filed the story on July 3, the Thursday before the piece would go to press.

The following Monday, I called Majok to

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

MOST FRUITFUL CONNECTION

From left: David Thuom, Chiengkuach Majok, Jurkuch Atem and Atem Deng

“As Encampments Surge in Burlington, Two Men Address Problems” Seven Days was about to shut down for Christmas last year when an email from a coworker caught my eye.

In it, Gillian English explained that Burlington urban park ranger Neil Preston had just stopped by the office. He wanted the newspaper to know about a homeless person who was willing to discuss his experience living on the city’s streets. Preston provided the man’s name — David — and said he was living in the lower dugouts at Calahan Park.

“Preston said he thinks the guy has an interesting story,” Gillian wrote.

I knew “the guy.” In fact, I’d been worried about him for a long time. David, a bearded man in his sixties struggling with alcoholism, had lived in a sober house that shuttered with little notice just before Thanksgiving 2021. I published a story then about the closure, describing how David and his neighbors had been turned out on the streets in wintertime.

David and I stayed in touch for many

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Neil Preston

months after that. Our hope was that I would eventually write a story about his life as a homeless man in Burlington. At my request, he managed to compile a folder of bank statements and brought them to Seven Days so I could see how he was spending his money. I later accompanied David to a medical appointment at a homeless health clinic, but clinicians refused to let me inside, despite David’s consent.

Then he vanished. David stopped answering his phone; later, the phone line was disconnected. I wrote to local officials who I thought might know him. I called his probation officer but never heard back.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

As time passed, I looked for his name in spreadsheets of death certificates.

As soon as I saw Gillian’s email that day in December, I pulled on my coat and drove to Calahan Park. I spotted crumpled tent fabric in a baseball dugout near some malt liquor cans — but no David. After the holiday break, I visited the dugout three more times. Each time, the snow drifts had grown taller, but the business card I’d placed next to the tent remained untouched.

As my search for David resumed, I also became curious about the other guy, Preston. He’d dropped by the office just to

fact-check a few details — and my story imploded. Majok’s family had been cleared to fly, he said, and he was driving to Boston to pick them up.

I was genuinely happy for Majok, but I started to panic. The story was going to press the following day. How could I possibly salvage it?

Thankfully, my editors decided to hold the piece for a week, giving me time for fresh reporting. The original headline, “American Dream Deferred,” became “Nobody Knows the Future” — less poetic, for sure, but a more accurate summation of the men’s plight. And I didn’t have to do a full rewrite, as I’d initially feared. I was able to keep most of the story intact, revealing only at the end that Majok got his long-planned reunion. Because I hadn’t been there myself, I asked Majok to describe the moment when he saw his family at the airport, the food they ate on their drive home and what they planned to do in the days to come.

It wasn’t the ending I’d expected, but it was the right one.

C O U RT N E Y L AMDI N

say someone might want to talk to the man living in the dugout across town? Government employees don’t do that.

Actually, no one does that.

I emailed Preston while standing in the empty dugout. Soon we started talking, and I learned that David wasn’t our only shared acquaintance. Preston had served as a groomsman in the wedding of two other homeless Burlingtonians whom I’d previously gotten to know and interviewed.

Preston, I realized, surveyed Burlington each day from an unusual vantage point. His task was to enforce rules at city parks at a time when those parks had also become “homeless shelters.” Over the summer, seven months after we met, Preston and his bosses agreed to let me tag along with him and fellow park ranger Daniel “Jake” Payne as they performed their challenging work.

Meanwhile, David and I finally reconnected by phone. David explained that he was taking care of an ailing family member at her home outside the city. He said he didn’t get back to Burlington often; we haven’t met up since.

David and Preston have, though. This fall, after my story about the park rangers ran on the cover of Seven Days, they met for lunch and sent me a photo. Both were smiling.

DE RE K BRO U W E R

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MOST SURREAL OVERNIGHT

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“As U.S.-Canadian Goodwill Dries Up, the Haskell Is an Oasis”

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I promised Heather that I would be careful not to let Roly Poly sneak inside the house behind me, then I drove to the Haskell. There, things took an even stranger turn.

As I explored the outside of the building before the film screening, I accidentally triggered a fleet of Canadian and U.S. border agents who said I had illegally ventured into Canada and back. Moments later, I was on the phone with my new editor, Matthew Roy, telling him that I was about to be arrested.

LUCY TOMPKINS

I knew the Airbnb I booked for an overnight reporting trip to Newport would be quirky. The listing, called “Hobbit Home!,” featured photos of a cottage-like house with a round wooden door, plus a selfie of the host wearing elf ears. But I didn’t know just how surreal my visit there and back again would get.

As the paper’s new immigration reporter, I was traveling north to attend a film screening at the Haskell Free Library & Opera House. The building straddles the Vermont-Québec line and had recently become embroiled in tensions around border security and tariffs.

I planned to observe how library visitors had been affected by these political changes.

I chose the hobbit house as my home base not because I’m a J.R.R. Tolkien fanatic but for the glowing reviews of its host, Heather. She sounded warm and welcoming, Heather and the kind of person who Roly Poly wouldn’t be annoyed playing by my questions about the area as I poked around for stories and sources.

As I pulled into the driveway, Heather appeared from the woods to welcome me. A baby raccoon, no bigger than a rabbit, waddled along at her heels.

Heather struck up a conversation without acknowledging the raccoon crawling onto her booted foot, as if this were totally normal.

I tried my best to maintain eye contact and answer her questions. I wondered if Heather was some kind of elvish animal whisperer. Eventually I couldn’t bear it anymore.

“I’m sorry, I have to stop you,” I said.

“I am extremely distracted by the baby raccoon.”

“Oh, yes!” Heather replied. “This is Roly Poly.”

She told me the story: Roly Poly’s mother was killed by a car, leaving the baby raccoon orphaned. Heather took her in and bottle-fed her. Now, she was trying to get Roly Poly to live independently, though the creature still slept in a nearby shed and cried for Heather at the front door every morning.

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It thankfully didn’t come to that, and I spent the evening with about a dozen filmgoers watching the movie Sorry, Baby, as planned. But it took a while for my heart rate to settle down. I’d unwittingly experienced the very border tensions I was there to observe, and that became the lede of my story.

The next morning, I woke up at the hobbit house to find Heather outside building teepees from tree branches, Roly Poly in tow. Originally from Montréal, Heather had already returned from her daily bike ride, which follows a path north from Newport, along Lake Memphremagog and across the border into Québec.

She wasn’t part of the story I was there to report, but just as I’d hoped, she helped me understand how ordinary cross-border life is for many Vermonters — and what could be lost if political rhetoric continued to alienate our northern neighbors.

Roly Poly was the cherry on top.

L U C Y T O M PK I N S BACKSTORIES

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FILE: PAULA ROUTLY

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MOST DIVINE INTERVENTION

“Shrine On: The Beatification of Seven Days’ Office Restroom” For Seven Days’ 30th Birthday Issue, which featured the paper’s own history, deputy news editor Sasha Goldstein asked me to write about the distinctive office bathroom. That’s because the room, painted Pepto-Bismol pink, is brimming with religious art and objects primarily from my personal collection. Over the years, new staffers and visitors alike have marveled at the room, finding it both tongue in cheek and cheeky — though not purposely offensive.

Three readers, however, were appalled and didn’t hold back in letters to the editor.

“A community that likes to see itself as inclusive and progressive does itself no honor when it gleefully mocks something that is sacred to so many, including Christianity,” wrote one. Another suggested that “sometimes the room you have to read is bigger than your own.” A third summed up his distaste succinctly: “Mockery is mean.”

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As a writer and editor at newspapers for more than 30 years, I learned to take negative feedback in stride. People are entitled to their opinions, and we will not always agree. But this brief article elicited an unusual, personal letter to me from on high, as it were: the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

The Most Rev. John J. McDermott takes his faith seriously, as one would expect. On the whole, he found our display of Catholic imagery inappropriate and disappointing.

While acknowledging that I wrote “in a spirit of jest” and that the bathroom’s essential quality is kitsch, he proposed that I study the lives of the saints in order to understand their enduring influence on the planet’s billion-plus believers.

Bishop McDermott was especially disturbed that I was in possession of a last rites box. In the past, when dying at home was more common, I surmised, Catholic households likely had one of these at the ready; it contains items essential to a priest’s sacrament for a sick or dying person. To the bishop, these cabinets represent a “belief in the mercy of God and eternal life,” he wrote. To display such a box in a pink bathroom did not exactly meet this standard.

For several weeks I mulled over how — or whether — to respond to the bishop.

Finally, I decided to gift him with the last rites box as a gesture of goodwill.

I carefully removed the fragile antique from the bathroom wall, dusted it, drove to the diocese in South Burlington and rang the bell outside the locked door. I told a female voice on the intercom that I had a present for the bishop. A nice woman named Susan came to let me in, saying he was in a meeting. I began to explain.

“Perhaps you heard about this?” I asked.

“Oh, yes, I did,” she said sweetly. I told her I was not a Catholic but appreciated the artwork. Murmuring agreement, Susan

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

MOST CURSED STORY

“Soundbites: Enemy of the People Rock the Presses” Seven Days turned 30 this year, and my assignment was to write about four of my coworkers and their band. My dog as my witness, I actually said out loud, “Diane is going to be a problem.”

“Diane” is art director Diane Sullivan, one of the longest-serving employees at the paper, who for decades has fronted acts like the Dirty Blondes and Everybody’s Favorite Irish Drinking Songs Band. She’s a supernova of energy and booze-soaked abandon onstage. She and production manager John James, designer Jeff Baron and digital production specialist Bryan Parmelee formed the band Enemy of the People in 2019.

Ordinarily, interviewing people I know well would be something to avoid. But our self-reflective Birthday Issue aimed to tell the story of the paper and the people who make it, so we threw all the rules out the

The bathroom at Seven Days

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Enemy of the People with “Potty Mouth” Sullivan at the wheel

window and leaned into the conflicts of interest.

Conducting an interview with friends typically goes off the rails, and this was no exception. But after a chaotic hour, I had plenty of good information and

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

profanity-laced quotes. I wrote my story, and everybody involved seemed happy.

Except Diane.

When she saw the story, as part of the paper’s weekly assembly, Diane emailed culture coeditor Carolyn Fox: “I get that

said she’d just returned from Rome. We both gushed over the stunning visuals of the Vatican.

The following day I received a short thank-you email from the bishop. He said he would make sure the box found a home — he refrained from writing appropriate home. He wished me God’s peace. I wrote back and expressed my hope that whoever inherits it could shore up the sagging wooden structure and replace its outdated components. I refrained from asking what happens to holy water gone bad.

PAME L A P O LS T O N

Chris is taking artistic liberty with the quotes here. But I def don’t use the word ‘fucking’ like that.”

Carolyn was quick to point out that Di had similar problems with another Birthday Issue story that mentioned her. But I was still rattled. I thought to myself, Did I embellish? I know how Di talks; maybe I filled in some blanks?

Diane is one of the Queen City’s coolest rockers. For years she’s been bringing dirty, loud rock and roll to Burlington, such as the perennial St. Paddy’s Day banger “Fuck You, I’m Drunk.” She’s also a perfectly lovely and talented colleague. While she might be comfortable getting potty-mouthed with me, she doesn’t shout profanities down the phone at work. I could see why she objected to so many attributed to her in print.

A quick check of the tape confirmed that her quotes were accurate and the f-bomb count was correct.

“Um, maybe take out some of the ‘fucks,’ I guess?” I said to Carolyn.

She suggested a few other tweaks to allay Diane’s concerns without detracting from the story. Sometimes it’s harder to write about what you know than what you don’t.

C HRI S FARN S W O RT H

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FILE: KEVIN MCCALLUM

Colin Ash of Catamount Solar installing panels

8 02-349-8 40 9 6h-MIAX061825 1

MOST SATISFYING SHOT

“Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy Has Solar Installers Scrambling and Fearing for the Future” My very first job in SEP journalism, more than 25 years ago, was at a tiny paper in Eastern Washington. I was responsible for almost everything except selling the ads and operating the printing press.

That included taking photographs, something I had never done. Looking back on the pictures I snapped then, I cringe. More often than not, I failed to capture the most dramatic moments of devastating fires, deadly traffic accidents and exciting rodeos.

Digital photography did not yet exist, so I never knew if I’d captured a newsworthy image until I got back to paper’s darkroom and developed the film. On deadline, I had to print whatever I had.

Once it was the county’s “Cattleman of the Year,” positioned in such a way that a pair of mounted steer horns seemed to grow out of his head. He was displeased.

When I moved on to larger papers, I eventually put down my camera bag and ceded the shooting to award-winning staff photographers.

Now those days are over. Like everyone, I’ve got a camera in my pocket, and, increasingly, Seven Days and other cash-strapped media outlets are asking reporters to take their own photos when possible. The pros we employ when it matters most are among the best I’ve worked with: Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Caleb Kenna, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur.

But I am rarely without my Canon digital SLR and Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone.

17

Something about the process of composing and capturing fleeting moments helps me see all the angles of a story. For example, while reporting on how solar companies are grappling with the elimination of tax credits, I could have just interviewed half a dozen executives.

But they’re not the ones doing the real work; the installers are. Good photojournalism is about getting as close to the action as possible.

That’s how I found myself in North Pomfret, watching a crew from Catamount Solar dancing atop a farmhouse roof. I asked the foreman if I could go up with the guys. I expected him to say “Hell, no,” but instead it was: “Go ahead. You’re not on our insurance.”

I propped a ladder against the house, slung my camera around my neck, climbed up to the peak, and scampered over to where Devin Perkins and Collin Ash were installing the home’s new PV array.

From my precarious perch, I saw clearly as they hauled up the panels, fit them into place, connected the wiring and bolted them down. It was physically demanding, dangerous work, even on that warm September day.

I must have taken 200 photos, but none was quite right. Then, for just one second, Ash reached up toward a bolt he still needed to fasten. As he did so, his image reflected off the panels beneath him, and I knew I had my shot. Click.

KEVIN MCCALLUM BACKSTORIES

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UNCANNIEST TIMING

“Driver Ed Classes Are Hard to Get Into for Vermont Teens” I rummaged frantically through my cluttered glove compartment in search of a valid insurance card for my 2018 Subaru Outback. Without it, my daughter, Manya, who had just turned 16, wouldn’t be allowed to take her road test.

Nervous that she hadn’t yet mastered parallel parking, Manya had implored me to arrive early at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Montpelier, an hour from our house, just so she could practice. Now, I was the one sweating bullets as the DMV examiner waited outside the car.

For fuck’s sake! I thought. I just spent the last week interviewing driver ed instructors about this stuff. You’d think I would have come prepared.

After a quick phone call to my wife, I had a digital copy of the insurance card

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“Hudak Farm in Swanton Raises the Bar for Cider Doughnuts” Vermont can feel like a very small place. On average, the six degrees of Kevin Bacon are cut by half in the Green Mountain State. And for anyone with a people-intensive job, those degrees of separation shrink even further.

After 35 years in Vermont and almost 25 as a journalist, I am no longer surprised when I’m out reporting and encounter a friend of a friend, or when someone says, “Did you write that article about so-and-so a few years ago? She was my daughter’s favorite camp counselor.”

So it was far from shocking when I followed the scent of cinnamon into a back room at Hudak Farm in Swanton and met the self-proclaimed “Hudak Doughnut Ho,” who quickly informed me that he was friends with several Seven Days colleagues.

(I found out later that he’d even officiated the 2010 wedding of deputy publisher Cathy Resmer and her wife.)

Chalk that up to the standard smallVermont world. But about 20 minutes later, things got more interesting.

on my phone. The DMV examiner gave it a cursory glance, then told Manya to get behind the wheel. I handed her the car keys, then watched as they pulled into traffic on State Street and disappeared from view. My work there was done.

When I was studying journalism in college, I was often told to “write what you know,” a suggestion that’s held up well over my more than two decades at Seven Days. When my kids were little

FILE: MELISSA PASANEN

SMALLEST WORLD

Middlebury Union High School student Max Breckenridge (left) and George Rooney

and I needed story ideas for Kids VT, our parenting magazine, I often drew from my own experiences as a dad: finding daycare, determining appropriate screen time for toddlers and overcoming the difficulties of breastfeeding — my wife’s, not my own.

So when it came time to brainstorm stories for the fall’s back-to-school coverage, my idea was a no-brainer. Due to limited space, Vermont teens struggle to get into driver ed classes, and Manya, one

Cider doughnuts at Hudak Farm

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I had watched the doughnut machine and its operator work their magic to produce the best cider doughnuts I’ve ever tasted. (Sorry, you’ll have to wait for their seasonal reappearance next September.)

In the farm store, I started chatting with

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

customers. After one couple offered some good doughnut commentary, I scribbled down their names.

Deep in the cobwebs of memory, something clicked. I asked them tentatively if they’d had a preemie baby in the

of the oldest kids in her grade, didn’t stand a chance as a ninth grader in the state’s largest high school. In January we enrolled her in a private driving academy, whose teacher turned out to be a good source for statewide information.

As I waited in the DMV office for Manya’s return, one of my editors emailed me notes to review. It was surreal, living the story in real time.

When my car returned to the DMV parking lot, Manya climbed out, expressionless. I looked at the DMV examiner, who gave me an encouraging nod and a thumbs-up. She had passed.

As Manya drove us home, she explained how she’d botched the parallel parking portion of the test, which cost her three points. That was her only deduction, though, and drivers can lose up to 20 points and still get their license. Which got me thinking: What does a driver have to do to fail a Vermont road test? I bet this examiner has been on some scary rides.

But that’s another story for another day.

KE N P I C ARD

Burlington neonatal intensive care unit 28 years ago.

Lynda Ulrich and Chuck Verderber confirmed that we had shared the intense experience of hovering over our tiny, fragile newborns in incubators — for weeks in our case, months in theirs.

We talked briefly, and thankfully, about how our kids are now full-grown, thriving adults.

That alone would have made for sweet serendipity, but a few minutes later, a young woman working at the farmstand piped up, “Excuse me, but were you all talking about being in the NICU in late summer/early fall 1997?”

It turned out that she had also been born preemie about a week after we left the hospital. Lynda and Chuck were still there with their daughter and instantly remembered Eliana Pacheco and her family.

Pacheco is an analyst for National Life Group, but she’s been working for Hudak Farm since 2015 and still helps out on busy summer and fall weekends. “I love the cider doughnuts,” she texted me a couple of weeks after the end of Hudak’s doughnut season. “I have a bag of them in my freezer for emergencies.”

My brain must be too full of names, or I might have thought of doing that.

ME LI S S A PAS AN E N

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“Wilmer Chavarria Is Leading — and Advocating for — Winooski Students” During the first two years that Wilmer Chavarria was superintendent of the Winooski School District, I spoke with him occasionally and was struck by the way he stood up for the diverse student body and spoke out against what he perceived as injustice.

He’d been born in a refugee camp and grown up in Nicaragua, and I was interested to learn more about his path to becoming a school leader. In early June, I emailed him to ask if he’d agree to be featured in a back-to-school cover story.

His reply? “That sounds fun. Let’s do it.”

I had long-standing plans to take a break from work in July to travel to Thailand with my family before my daughter went to college. I logged five or six hours with Chavarria in the lead-up to my trip, peppering him with questions about his upbringing, education and leadership style. I knew he was also traveling in July, to see his mother in northern Nicaragua.

We made plans to resume our conversation when we were both back in town.

During my travels, I tried to disconnect from work but would occasionally check email to make sure I wasn’t missing anything important. On my family’s last day in Thailand, we were relaxing at the

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airport hotel in Bangkok, preparing for an epic day of travel, when I saw Chavarria’s name pop up in my inbox. “Update on My Immigration Detention,” the subject line read.

My heartbeat quickened as I scanned Chavarria’s message to his school board, on which he’d cc’d me. He wrote of the “verbal and psychological ordeal” he and his husband, Cyrus Dudgeon, had been subjected to 12 hours before, when Chavarria, a U.S. citizen since 2018, was stopped by immigration agents at an airport in Texas, on his way home from Nicaragua. It was clear from the message that this was newsworthy.

First, I emailed Chavarria to express my concern for what had happened to him. Then I forwarded the correspondence to my editors, who alerted our new immigration reporter, Lucy Tompkins. As I prepared to board the plane from Bangkok to Singapore, Tompkins broke the story. By the time I arrived back on U.S. soil, Chavarria’s detention was national news.

When he and I met up again in early August, we had a lot more to talk about.

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BEST ANECDOTE WE DIDN’T PRINT

“Vermont International Film Foundation Helps Fill a Cinematic Void in Burlington” One of the most valuable journalism lessons I’ve learned is that you can judge the quality of your story by the caliber of the material left on the cutting-room floor. If the anecdotes, examples and quotes that don’t fit are brilliant, the ones that do are even better.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy to leave things out. I mourned, but agreed, when an editor deleted the tale of how Vermont International Film Foundation supporters managed to hand-deliver a film festival T-shirt to then-president Bill Clinton — and alarm the Secret Service in the process.

The tale required several words, and it wasn’t central to the story — but it was oh, so good.

Here, rescued from the dustbin of deletions, is the anecdote: In the early 1990s, VTIFF director

Lorraine B. Good’s husband, Karel Samsom, was heading to Washington, D.C., with VTIFF supporter Bill Stetson for a Business for Social Responsibility national meeting. Good sent along a pink festival T-shirt and directed the men to give it to the president. They didn’t even know if Clinton would attend the event, but he spoke at a breakfast meeting, then mingled with the group. Stetson, who had served as Vermont environmental chair for Clinton’s 1992 campaign, introduced himself to the president. “He had questions about Vermont and said, ‘How’s Howard [Dean]?’ — that sort of stuff,” Stetson recalled. “And then I thought, I don’t have the T-shirt.”

Luckily, his wingman had him covered.

“Karel yells out, ‘Hey, Bill!’ And of course, I’m Bill and Bill Clinton’s Bill. So we both wheel around,” Stetson said. The Secret Service snapped to attention. “I

OCT

BEST COMMUNION

“Migrants Have Food, Services and Holy Communion Brought to Farms” I was 8 years old when my parents moved our family from Seattle to Guanajuato, a city in the highlands of central Mexico.

The plan was to live there for a year, maybe two. My sister and I enrolled in a Spanish-speaking school. I remember drawing pictures in the back of the classroom because I didn’t understand anything the teacher or my peers were saying.

Within a few months, though, we were fluent, and I was ordering everyone to call me Lucía. We ended up staying for three years.

Twenty years later, my Spanish isn’t as good as it used to be, but it has been helpful as I’ve set out to cover Vermont’s immigrant communities for Seven Days. Recently it came in handy while reporting a story about the network of mobile services and vendors that caters to migrant workers on farms in the northern part of the state.

I spent the day visiting dairy farms with Rev. Luis Barrera Hernandez, a

Bill Clinton in 1993

could see them reaching into their coats,” Stetson said. “And Karel winds up and throws the pink T-shirt through the air.”

The arc of the swag, Stetson said, is seared into his memory, a pink missile soaring over

FILE: LUCY TOMPKINS

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The T-shirt

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Rev. Luis Barrera Hernandez leading a service on a farm

Catholic priest who holds religious services on the farms so that undocumented workers don’t have to risk an encounter with U.S. immigration agents every time they go to church.

As we drove through Vermont’s dairy country on a rainy afternoon, he explained the unique challenges of building relationships with workers whose presence in Vermont is usually temporary. Barrera Hernandez was born and raised in Colombia but speaks excellent English, so we settled into a Spanglish banter.

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© JOE SOHM | DREAMSTIME

Backstories « P.27

“You’re not working con comunidades estables,” he told me. “Es una población on the move.”

I was relying on the priest to introduce me to inhabitants whose lives are largely hidden from view. It’s my job as a reporter to understand their lives and how shifts in politics and policy affect them.

Knowing Spanish makes that task easier, but it’s just a foot in the door. The real work is in building trust with communities whose experiences have not often been reflected in our paper — or who fear having their names published at a time

the crowd in slow motion. “I reach up, grab it, pull it down and say, ‘Mr. President, I have a gift.’”

MARY AN N LI C KT E I G

when speaking out can lead to detention or deportation.

We pulled up to a farm where Barrera Hernandez planned to hold mass in a barn. I took a seat in the back of the small room and, before the mass began, introduced myself to some of the workers in Spanish and explained why I was there.

The man sitting next to me leaned over and asked where I learned Spanish, a question that turned into a conversation about his hometown in Veracruz and his excitement about an upcoming Mexican holiday, Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

He said something I didn’t quite understand about the way children dress for the parades on that day. When I looked confused, he pulled up a photo on his phone. “You remember this, right?” he asked me in Spanish.

It was the kind of easy, informal exchange that’s only possible when you speak the same language. He told me that his name was Agustín. We stopped talking during the service, but after it ended I asked if he’d be open to a formal interview.

Agustín agreed and became a source for my story. Then he invited me back in a few weeks for the Virgen de Guadalupe festivities. He was planning to cook tamales for everyone. It would be great, he told me, if I would come and write about it.

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PRESENT MOMENT

2025 Gift Guide inside!

P.7

2025

THE

FILE: COURTNEY LAMDIN

Marc Voeller and Freyja at their campsite on the Burlington waterfront

it all much worse. The system itself is intolerant enough of the weaker and less fortunate among us, but now our leaders are intentionally exacerbating the issue instead of helping.

On the streets of Burlington, if property owners continue to escalate rents and there is a continuous flow of tenants who will pay the ever-increasing rents, the issue will only become worse. The majority of us are one or two paychecks away from homelessness ourselves, and we avoid that realization like the largest monster under the bed. Not us, we think.

We’re college-educated and work hard at two jobs. Meanwhile, the mainstream continues to dismiss or ridicule Sen. Bernie Sanders and socialism.

Joseph Petrarca

BURLINGTON

[Re “Different School of Thought: A Group Tasked With Redrawing School District Maps Has Suggested an Alternative Scenario, Rankling the Scott Administration,” November 26]: The simple truth is this: The task force fulfilled its mandate far better than any top-down map ever could.

It listened.

Commentary casting the panel as a political containment strategy or quiet rebellion is rooted in misinformation and outdated assumptions. It relies on a persistent myth — that Vermont can fix education costs by drawing bigger maps and dissolving local boards. That theory appeals to those far from the towns whose schools would close, but it is not grounded

in rural reality or in the evidence from years of consolidation. Across Vermont, communities were clear: Forced consolidation is not reform. It is a blunt tool aimed at the wrong target.

Property taxes are rising because of inflation, health care costs, specialeducation obligations and long-term state underfunding. Merging districts does nothing to address these pressures, and if the hard-line version of Act 73 proceeded, young families would leave or avoid Vermont entirely. Act 73 assumed that mega-districts with 4,000 to 8,000 students would save money. If that were true, Act 46 would have done so. It did not. Research confirms what former education secretary Rebecca Holcombe has stated plainly: Consolidation shifts who decides, not the costs they must manage. The task force refused to repeat that mistake. Its Cooperative Education Service Areas model preserves local control, keeps schools open and promotes shared services without coercion. It reflects Vermont’s geographic diversity and democratic values.

The task force did its job. Now Montpelier must do the same: Respect local voices, keep schools open and adopt reforms grounded in evidence, not ideology.

Eric C. Pomeroy

PEACHAM

LEARN FROM ACT 46

[Re “Different School of Thought: A Group Tasked With Redrawing School District Maps Has Suggested an Alternative Scenario, Rankling the Scott Administration,” November 26]: As a former member of the Vermont Board of Education, I remember well the promises made during Act 46: Mergers would bring “opportunities, equity and efficiencies.” The implication was that mergers would save money.

Years later, a statistical analysis by a former Vermont student at Yale University confirmed what many suspected: The savings never came, and per-pupil spending disparities remain. Vermont reorganized districts without addressing the real cost drivers.

As the legislature reviews Act 73’s recommendations and the December 3 health care briefing, the parallels are striking. The Act 73 task force spent months reviewing whether large, forced mergers would save money. Its conclusion? The research does not support that assumption. Yet the administration criticized the task force for not producing predetermined consolidation maps — even though the evidence pointed elsewhere. This is politics overruling data.

VERM O NT’ S I NDEPENDENT VO I CE NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 3, 2025 VOL.31 NO.12 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

headway and offer help, as a huge pile of Band-Aids delivered to a war zone. The Band-Aids are needed, but the real issue is the war chewing up people and spitting them out dead and wounded.

We are facing massive levels of suffering as a direct result of the capitalism in which we have so much faith. The increased levels of racial hatred and the intolerance of minorities, the homeless, the poor and immigrants being promoted by the president and Republicans make

TASK FORCE ‘LISTENED’

HOLIDAY SHOPPING HANDBOOK

Gift Guide

70+

LOCAL IDEAS INSIDE!

STAR P WER

Ripton writer and activist Bill McKibben has surprisingly sunny news for our gloomy times: The solar age has dawned.

B Y K E N PI CA RD , PA G E 2 2

FIELD DAZE

PAGE 14

Tussle over turf at CVU

GOOD HANG

PAGE 30

Doma Bar opens in Burlington

A MESS OF MESSIAHS

PAGE 36

’Tis the season for holiday concerts

MCKIBBEN IS A HERO

Thank you for featuring one of my heroes, Bill McKibben, who has kept his finger in the dike of the climate crisis for decades and never quit sounding the alarm [“Star Power: Ripton Writer and Activist Bill McKibben Has Surprisingly Sunny News for Our Gloomy Times: The Solar Age Has Dawned,” November 26]. What sweet justice that now people around the world are turning to the sun, away from fossil fuels and the criminals who still cling to the “hoax” while destroying life on this planet to line their pockets. Victory is within our grasp, thanks to those who have never given in or given up.

Sally Ballin

SOUTH BURLINGTON

CONSERVATION IS KEY

Thanks for giving Bill McKibben the spotlight [“Star Power,” November 26].

He has proven to be one of the most durable and focused writers on climate change in this country, quick to notice and spread the news about the solar revolution replacing fossil fuels.

But I would like to point out that a new source of clean energy is only part of the change we need. In this, I would point to Amory Lovins, who began

What makes this more astonishing is that, on the same day, members of the governor’s administration told lawmakers that regionalization and shared services are exactly what Vermont needs to lower health care costs. Vermont now has the highest per-person health care costs in the nation, with Vermonters spending 19.6 percent of their income on care and hospitals facing multibilliondollar deficits.

If regional collaboration is the right strategy for health care, why force top-down consolidation in education — especially when the evidence suggests it won’t save money and may harm rural access?

writing about energy about the same time as McKibben but focused on the greatest source of new power: energy conservation. As much promise as solar energy has, it will do nothing to change our future if we handle it as wastefully as we do all other energy.

This, of course, goes against the basic economic assumptions this country has built into every aspect of our daily life. To change that would be even more challenging than replacing our source of energy.

Brian Carter

SALISBURY

CHARLOTTE COMING AROUND

[Re “Star Power,” November 26]: I was thrilled to see Seven Days upon returning from Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C. I first saw Bill McKibben’s reporting on the new age of renewables in the New Yorker and immediately sent it to several friends as the most hopeful thing I’d read in months. In addition to the good news, your story delved deeply into McKibben’s background and approach to activism. It was inspirational.

Closer to home and also inspirational, the Charlotte Selectboard recently voted unanimously to proceed with the Town Energy Modernization Project. With more solar and heat pumps, this will essentially eliminate the town buildings’ reliance on fossil fuels and save taxpayers $700,000 over the next 25 years.

It was a gutsy vote, expertly marshaled by board chair Lee Krohn, driven by the need to secure federal subsidies that expire at the end of the year. It could be the end of the “Charnot” era in town.

John Quinney

CHARLOTTE

Act 46 taught Vermont a costly lesson.

Act 73 points toward a better path. Health care reform should follow the evidence, too — not political conclusions in search of justification.

Sean-Marie Oller

BENNINGTON

THINK CREATIVELY

The newest education debacle is upon us [“Different School of Thought: A Group Tasked With Redrawing School District Maps Has Suggested an Alternative Scenario, Rankling the Scott FEEDBACK

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Linda Kelliher Samets

MARCH 8, 1946-DECEMBER 9, 2025 CHARLOTTE, VT., AND NEW YORK CITY Linda Kelliher Samets of Charlotte, Vt., and New York City passed away peacefully in Lincoln, Mass., on December 9, 2025, following complications from recent surgery. A beloved wife, mother, sister, artist, horsewoman and friend, she was 79.

Linda was born on March 8, 1946, in Lowell, Mass. The fifth of nine children, she attended Concord-Carlisle High School, where her artistic gifts emerged. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), which nurtured her creativity and helped set the course for her career and life. After college, Linda worked at an advertising agency in Boston before moving into a graphic design role at WGBH. After moving to Vermont, Linda opened a one-room design studio

in Burlington. At the time, she had been turned away from local agencies that told her that her work was too unconventional. But Linda knew better. She trusted her instincts.

And so, she created her own place, her own path and, eventually, her own company.

Over the decades that followed, Linda, together with her partner in life and business, Yoram, transformed her small design firm into Kelliher Samets Volk (now KSV), a nationally recognized marketing agency with offices in New York and Burlington.

Her creativity, intuition, professionalism and humanity influenced generations of designers, writers and strategists.

Beyond her work at KSV, Linda was dedicated to numerous community organizations in Vermont, including Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Special Olympics, Burlington City Arts and the Gailer School.

Linda had a deep love for animals and often said she preferred their company over that of most people.

While she always had dogs and cats at her Charlotte home, her greatest passion was for horses. For many years, she owned and operated Windrunner Farm, a 30-horse barn in Shelburne, and she continued riding four or five days a week well into her seventies. For Linda, riding served as both a grounding influence and a source of joy.

After retiring from KSV, Linda’s life revolved around her family, horses and her home in Charlotte, where she lived for over four decades.

Though she described her daily routine in retirement as “puttering,” in reality it was action-packed: She walked three miles a day (tracked carefully), painted in her home studio, cooked dinner for herself and Yoram every night, and enjoyed cards, dominoes and any TV show with enough horses in it. On Friday evenings, she and Yoram brought Shabbat into their home, lighting candles and saying prayers, finding purpose in something bigger than themselves.

In addition to her husband, Yoram, Linda is survived by her daughter, Alex Samets, of Baltimore, Md., and her son, Theo Samets, of Los Angeles. She took great joy in seeing her children become the adults they are today. In recent months, she looked forward to

becoming a grandmother and spending more time in Baltimore.

She is also survived by her sisters Mardie Luppold of Shirley, Mass., and Leslie Luppold of Concord, Mass.; her brothers David (Christine) Luppold of Concord, Mass., Jonathan (Denise) Luppold of Maynard, Mass., and Jay (Deborah) Luppold of Concord, N.H.; her brother-in-law, Robert Marquis of Concord, Mass.; her sister-in-law Carole Smith of Portland, Ore.; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Linda was predeceased by her sisters Priscilla Marquis and Deborah Luppold and by her brother Richard Luppold.

Family and friends are invited to gather in celebration of Linda’s life on Sunday, January 18, 2026, 1 p.m., followed by lunch at 2 p.m., at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 188 N. Prospect St., Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Linda’s memory may be made to Ohavi Zedek Synagogue (ohavizedek.shulcloud.com/ payment.php?donation_type_ id=6552893), a community she valued deeply, or to the Graham Equestrian Center (zeffy.com/ en-US/donation-form/in-lovingmemory-of-linda-kelliher-samets).

To share a memory or to offer a condolence on Linda’s tribute page, please visit deefuneralhome.com.

Want to memorialize a loved one?

Kenneth Hebert DECEMBER 3, 1926DECEMBER 15, 2025

Kenneth Hebert, 99, died peacefully on December 15, 2025, from natural causes, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Mark’s Church in Burlington, Vt. Inurnment and military honors will immediately follow in New Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

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

IN MEMORIAM

We’re here to help. Our obituary and in memoriam services are affordable, accessible and handled with care.

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Share your loved one’s story with the local community in Lifelines.

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lifelines SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

JULY 3, 1942DECEMBER 24, 2004

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

“Love is love and not fade away.”

—Buddy Holly Missing you.

Love, Maury

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FILE: DIANA BOLTON

P.31

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‘ANOTHER ILLEGAL ALIEN TEARJERKER’

Administration,” November 26]. We have a governor who seems to have an idea of how to fix it, so a committee is created to study and come up with a way to solve the problem of financing education.

When it doesn’t come up with the plan of his dreams, he calls it “a failure.” Why doesn’t he just create a plan and submit it to the legislature for consideration? If a committee is created and doesn’t come up with your design, it is not a failure; its solution simply does not match your way of thinking.

If the biggest driver of education costs is health insurance, why not start by addressing this problem? The state employees have a health insurance plan.

Why not consider having teachers statewide join this insurance plan or create one of their own? It would be a large pool of people and could lower the costs by the numbers of people being insured.

Vermont has a history of community schools that widely serve as the centers of towns and villages, with the buildings often serving multiple functions for the communities. Undoing these historical functions is changing the complexions of the towns.

Moving some functions from school to school is much more practical than moving busloads of children to the services. It’s time to be creative. Are we serving our children, or are we serving health insurance companies?

My hope is that the legislature works independently of Gov. Phil Scott and Education Secretary Zoie Saunders and takes the time to make and keep our state education system strong and independent.

Carmine Sargent

SOUTH BURLINGTON

PROTECT REFUGEES

[Re “Asylum Angst: Volunteers Helping Asylum Seekers in the Northeast Kingdom Face a Perilous New Immigration Landscape,” August 27]: As a refugee, I have navigated the complexities of undergoing background checks and interviews to be admitted to the U.S., while also applying to college. Memories of residing in a small apartment, where my parents sacrificed their comfort, form the essence of my commitment to education. This country gave me the opportunity to repay my family’s sacrifices. For this reason, I raise my voice for those children waiting in refugee camps in uncertainty, dreaming of the same chance I was given. Refugees strengthen our communities by working, attending our churches and schools, and paying taxes.

Some facts: • In Vermont, immigrants and refugees contributed $171.3 million in state and local taxes and $332.7 million in federal taxes in 2023. (Vera Institute of Justice) • In 2019, 188,000 refugee entrepreneurs generated $5.1 billion in business income, contributing $25 billion in taxes.

(New American Economy) • And refugee entrepreneurs employed more than 240,000 people nationwide, including U.S. citizens. (American Immigration Council) I extend my gratitude to U.S. Sens.

Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint for their ongoing advocacy on behalf of these hardworking families. I urge you to support robust investment in foreign assistance and refugee protections in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations to begin realigning our nation’s spending priorities away from

Surprise! Yet another illegal alien tearjerker in Seven Days [“Standing By: Vermonters Who Fear Deportation Are Lining Up Legal Guardians for Their Children,” September 24]. If your business model needs modern-day slaves to milk warehoused animals that never go outside, never feel the sunshine and run MORE FOR LESS • 802-503-9373 through vats of formaldehyde to control BLESSEDEACHDAYVT@GMAIL strawberry hoof warts, then maybe, just maybe, you should be in another business. Or we could pay a few cents more 12v-MoreforLess121025.indd 1 12/16/25 4:55 PM for organic dairy products.

As for all the folks aiding and abetting these criminals, just try and work in Mexico or Canada or any other country without a permit! It’s Adios, muchacho, right back to the U.S. border. These large farm operations, referred to as “cowschwitzes” (animal concentration camps) hereabouts, are beating up the land and are responsible for the massive algae blooms in the lake every summer.

Slaves, cruelty, pollution — who could defend that?

Steve Merrill NORTH TROY

?

HARDWORKING NEW AMERICANS

[Re “Vermont Afghans on Edge Following Shooting of Guard Soldiers in D.C.,” November 28]: Deportations from New England are up tenfold in 2025. Do we really believe that all of these 10,000-plus immigrants posed a threat to national security and our local safety? The president of the U.S. calls an entire nationality “garbage.” He blames all Afghans for the horrific act of one individual. He would have us believe that our neighbors are bad people, that they are here to go on welfare, deal drugs, commit crimes and destroy the sense of (white) America. History shows how this can play out — pogroms, ethnic cleansing, even genocide. That is not the America we know and love. Many of us know our Somali and Afghan neighbors to be hardworking folks committed to raising their families in a country of peace and fairness. Let’s stand by these new Americans and remind our local, state and federal officials that we value these newcomers’ humanity and their presence here in our communities.

Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER for a taste of this week’s flavorful food coverage.

It’ll hold you over until Wednesday.

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Bruce Wyatt

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BY DALE • THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL • CATHEDRAL SQUARE CORP. • CCTV & TOWN MEETING TV • CCV • CEDAR KNOLL COUNTRY CLUB • CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY • CENTRAL VERMONT ADULT BASIC EDUCATION, INC. • CENTRAL VERMONT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL • CENTRAL VERMONT COMMUNITY RADIO • CENTRAL VERMONT COUNCIL ON AGING • CENTRAL VERMONT REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION • CENTRAL VERMONT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT • CERVANTES DOG TRAINING • CGW CREATIVE • CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE • CHAMPLAIN COMMUNITY SERVICES • CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST, INC. • CHAMPLAIN ISLAND FARMERS' MARKET • CHAMPLAIN MARINA • CHAMPLAIN TOXICOLOGY • CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL • CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EQUIPMENT • CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION • CHAMPLAIN WATER DISTRICT • CHANCELIGHT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THERAPY & EDUCATION • CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS • CHARLOTTE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH • CHEEKS LUXURY SKIN CLINIC • CHEF'S WAREHOUSE • CHELSEA FLEA MARKET • CHITTENDEN SOLID WASTE DISTRICT • CHRIST THE KING • CHRISTOPHER HAESSLY • CHRISTY SPORTS • CHROMA OPTICS • CHURCH HILL LANDSCAPES •

CHURCH STREET MARKETPLACE • CHURCH STREET TAVERN • CIRCUS SMIRKUS • CITY LIGHTS • CITY MARKET/ONION RIVER COOP • CITY OF BARRE • CITY OF BURLINGTON • CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION • CITY OF MONTPELIER • CITY OF NEWPORT • CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON • CITY OF ST. ALBANS • CLAUSSEN'S FLORIST, GREENHOUSE & PERENNIAL FARM • CLEAN ENERGY GROUP • CLIMATE ECONOMY ACTION CENTER OF ADDISON COUNTY • CLOSE TO HOME • COCHRAN'S SKI CLUB • COHEN CAMPS • COLCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT • COLDWELL BANKER HICKOK & BOARDMAN • COMMON DEER • COMMON GROUND CENTER • COMMON ROOTS FARM • COMMUNITY BANK N.A. • COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS • COMMUNITY HEART & SOUL • CONANT METAL & LIGHT • CONE EDITIONS PRESS, LTD. • CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION • CONTEMPORARY DANCE AND FITNESS STUDIO • CONVERSE HOME • COOL MOTION SPORTS • COPLEY HEALTH SYSTEMS • COUNSELING SERVICE OF ADDISON COUNTY • COUNTY CLERK LAMOILLE • COVER HOME REPAIR • CRAFTSBURY COMMUNITY CARE CENTER • CREATIVE GARDENS AND NURSERY • CREATIVE MICRO CORPORATION • CROSBY MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS • CROTHERS ENTERTAINMENT & PRODUCTIONS, LLC/HIGHER GROUND PRESENTS • CROW'S PATH • THE CUBAN AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY • CURB • CVOEO • CVS-COMMUNICATIONS VIRTUAL SERVICES • CYCLEWISE • CYNWARK CORP •

GIRLS NITE OUT PRODUCTIONS • GLOBALFOUNDRIES • GMP FILMS • GOLDEN DOG FARM • GOOD NEWS GARAGE • GOVERNOR'S INSTITUTES OF VERMONT • GRAM CENTRAL • GRAND ISLE GOPHERS • GRANITE CITY ELECTRIC SUPPLY • GRAYSTONE GROUP ADVERTISING • GRAZERS • GREAT EASTERN RADIO • GREATER BURLINGTON INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION • GREATER BURLINGTON MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER • GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA • THE GREEN HOUSE ARTIST • GREEN LEAF CENTRAL • GREEN LIGHT REAL ESTATE • GREEN MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR GIFTED EDUCATION (TDI) • GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL • GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB • GREEN MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL — GMFF • GREEN MOUNTAIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY • GREEN MOUNTAIN HERNIA SPECIALIST • GREEN MOUNTAIN HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM • GREEN MOUNTAIN LINEN • GREEN MOUNTAIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL • GREEN MOUNTAIN SUMMER INSTITUTE • GREEN MOUNTAIN TECH CAREER CENTER • GREEN MOUNTAIN YOUTH SYMPHONY • GREEN UP VERMONT • GREENHAVEN GARDENS & NURSERY • THE GREENHOUSE DISPENSARY • GREENWAY INSTITUTE • GRUNTS MOVE JUNK • GTO SALON • HACK CLUB • HACKETT'S APPLE ORCHARD • HAGAN ASSOCIATES • HALFORD MOTORS • HALL COMMUNICATIONS • HALLKEEN MANAGEMENT • HALVORSON'S CAFÉ • HARBOUR INDUSTRIES, INC. • HARDWICK DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP • HARGER HOWE & ASSOCIATES • HAYMAKER BUN COMPANY • HAZELBUDS CLAY COMPANY • HEALTH RESOURCES IN ACTION • HEALTHY LIVING • HEART WILDLIFE REMOVAL • HEARTS YOU HOLD • HELLBROOK SOLAR • HEN OF THE WOOD — BURLINGTON • HERBMONT • HEXUM GALLERY • HEY BUD DISPENSARY • THE HIGH BAR/RAVENDEL LLC • THE HIGH COUNTRY • HIGH MOWING SEEDS • HIGHER ELEVATION • HIGHLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS • HIGHLAND SUGARWORKS • HINESBURGH PUBLIC HOUSE • HIRCHAK BROTHERS, LLC • HMC • HOME BASE, INC. • HOMEPORT LTD. • HOMESHARE VERMONT • HOPE • HOPE WORKS • HORIZONS ENGINEERING • HORSFORD GARDENS & NURSERY • HOSMER POINT SUMMER CAMP • HOTEL CHAMPLAIN • HOTEL VERMONT • HOUNDSTOOTH • HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS ALLIANCE OF VERMONT • HOWARD CENTER • HP HOOD LLC • HULA • HUMANE SOCIETY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY • HUMBLE HEART HOMESTEAD • HUNGER FREE VERMONT • HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP • IDLETYME BREWING COMPANY • INDIGO • INNOVATION ADVERTISING • INSPIRED CLOSETS • INTEGRATIVE ACUPUNCTURE • INTERSECT MEDIA • INTERVALE CENTER • INTRACK INVESTMENT • INVEST EAP • IPD ROCKS FOUNDATION • ISLAND GIFT CRAFT SHOP • ISLE LA MOTTE VINEYARD • J.A. MORRISSEY • JAMIE TWO COATS' TOYSHOP • JANET S. MUNT FAMILY ROOM • JANITRONICS • JAY PEAK RESORT • JCOHEN FINANCIAL • JEAN HELD • JENNA'S PROMISE, SUBSTANCE USE ADDICTION SUMMIT • JERICHO COUNTRY STORE • JILL KOPEL • JL CUTS • JNG CLEANING & JNG CONSTRUCTION • JOB ELEPHANT • JOHN COHN (FIRST ROBOTICS) • JOSH HUMMEL • JOY OF HOME • JUANA'S GARDEN • JUDI'S ICE CREAM • JUDY'S HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS • JULBO, INC. • JUNCTION ARTS & MEDIA — WHITE RIVER INDIE FILM FEST • JUST KIDS SKILL CAMP • KAREN PIKE PHOTOGRAPHY • KATE’S FOOD TRUCK • KC MECHANICAL, INC. • KCP PRESENTS • KEEWAYDIN FOUNDATION • KERR ADVERTISING — EASTRISE • KESTREL COFFEE ROASTERS • KILLINGTON RESORT • KILLOOLEET • KING STREET CENTER • KINGDOM COUNTY PRODUCTIONS • KISS THE COOK • THE KITCHEN TABLE • KNOLL FARM • KOB KITCHEN • KRIA BOTANICALS • KULA • L'IVRESSE LINGERIE • LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM • LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHOCOLATES • LAKE CHAMPLAIN COMMUNITY SAILING CENTER • LAKE CHAMPLAIN WALDORF SCHOOL • LAKE CHAMPLAIN YACHT CLUB • LAKE MOREY RESORT • LAKE POINT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • LAKESIDE ELECTRIC, INC. • LAMOILLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION • LAMOILLE COUNTY PLAYERS • LAMOILLE FAMILY CENTER • LAMOILLE REGIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT • LAMOILLE RESTORATIVE CENTER • LANDMARK COLLEGE • LAREAU FARM • LARKIN HOSPITALITY • LAUGHING RIVER YOGA • LAWSON'S FINEST LIQUIDS • LEMON ZESTY • LENNY'S SHOE & APPAREL • LEONARDO'S PIZZA • LESLIE BLACK • LESLIE FRY • LETGOYOURMIND SUMMER STEM CAMPS • THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY • LEUNIG'S BISTRO • LEWIS CREEK BUILDERS • LIGHTING HOUSE • LILAC RIDGE FARM • LITERACY SPARK • LITTLE & CICCHETTI ATTORNEYS • LITTLE CITY GREENS • LOCAL FAMILY • LOCAL MOTION • THE LODGE AT SPRUCE PEAK • LORI P. HOLT, BROKER • LOST LANTERN SPIRITS • LOST LANTERN WHISKEY • LOST NATION THEATER • LOVE WINS PHOTOGRAPHY • LUND CENTER • LUX BARBER AND BEAUTY • LYDIA BROWN • LYRIC THEATRE COMPANY • MAD RIVER GLEN • MAD RIVER PATH ADVENTURES • MAD TACO • MADELEINE'S BAKERY • MAGIC MANN • MAHANEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS — MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE • MAIN STREET LANDING CO. • MAITRI HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN • THE MAKERY • MANDARIN • THE MANOR • MANSFIELD COMMUNITY FIBER, INC. • MAPLE CITY DINER • MAPLE RIDGE MEMORY CARE & SENIOR LIVING • MARIPOSA COLLECTIVE • MARK D KNOTT, DDS, PLC •

1,088

34

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Sincerest thanks to the

A DV E R T I SE R S who supported Seven Days in 2025.

We wouldn't be here without you!

DAILY PLANET • DAKIN FARM • DANFORM SHOES / BAY CORP. • DARTMOUTH HITCHCOCK • DARYL COSGRO • DATA INNOVATIONS • DAVIS STUDIO • DELTA HOTEL BURLINGTON • DENNIS MORTON STUDIOS • DESIGN SIGNS • DESTINATION IMAGINATION • DI STEFANO LANDSCAPING • DISMAS OF VERMONT • DISTINCTIVE LANDSCAPING • DIZZY DOZEN • DOME CITY • DONWOORI KOREAN • DOUSEVICZ INC. • DRAGONHEART VERMONT • DUMB LUCK PUB • DUNKLEY'S GYMNASTICS • E.B. STRONG'S • EAGLE ISLAND, INC • EARL'S CYCLERY & FITNESS • EARTH + SALT • EASTERSEALS OF VERMONT • EASTRISE CREDIT UNION • ECCO • ECHO LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN • ECOBEAN • ECOTONE LANDSCAPES AND TREE CARE • THE EDGE • EDGEWATER GALLERY • EDWARD WILLARD • EFFICIENCY VERMONT • EGO SALON • ELEMENTAL MASSAGE • ELEVATE MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE • ELEVATE YOUTH • ELLI PARR • EMERALD GROWS • EMERALD VISIONS • EMPOWER WELLNESS • ENGELBERTH CONSTRUCTION • EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF VERMONT • ERIN DUPUIS - VERMONT REAL ESTATE COMPANY • ESMOND COMMUNICATIONS • ESSEX CHIPS • ESSEX EXPERIENCE — DOUBLE E PERFORMANCE CENTER • ESSEX JUNCTION RECREATION & PARKS • THE ESSEX RESORT & SPA • ESSEX WESTFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT • EVERNORTH • EVERYBODY WINS! • EXPLORE COMMUNICATIONS-LCB SENIOR LIVING • EYES OF THE WORLD • FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER • FANCY'S • THE FARMHOUSE GROUP • FARRELL DISTRIBUTING • FERRO JEWELERS • FETCH THE LEASH • FINDING OUR STRIDE • FIRE & ICE RESTAURANT • FIREFLY ARTS COLLECTIVE • FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST • FIRST NIGHT ST. JOHNSBURY • FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF BURLINGTON • FLEMING MUSEUM • FLEX REAL ESTATE • FLOURISH BEAUTY LAB • THE FLYNN • FLYWHEEL INDUSTRIAL ARTS • FOAM BREWERS — DEEP CITY • FOOD FOR HOPE • FORBIN'S RESERVE + FORBIN'S FINEST CULTIVATION • FOUR QUARTERS BREWING • FOUR SEASONS DERMATOLOGY • FRANCIS SCHWARZ • FRANKIE'S • FRENDLY GATHERING • FRESH BUBBLE TEA & JUICE • FRIENDS OF THE MAD RIVER • FRONT PORCH FORUM • FURCHGOTT SOURDIFFE GALLERY • FUSE • FUSION PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • GARDENER'S SUPPLY COMPANY • GILWEE GROUP • GIRL SCOUTS OF THE GREEN AND WHITE MOUNTAINS • GIRLINGTON GARAGE •

MARKOSKI'S MOVE & HAUL • MARQUIS THEATER & CAFÉ • MARVELL SEMICONDUCTORS INC. • MARY JANE JUNCTION • THE MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL ON GAMING AND HEALTH • MATER CHRISTI SCHOOL • MCCAIN CONSULTING • MEACH COVE FARMS • MEADOWMOUNT SCHOOL OF MUSIC • MEDIA FACTORY • MEDIAHUB • MEETING HOUSE FURNITURE RESTORATION • MEN'S ROOM • MENTOR VERMONT • MERCY CONNECTIONS • MIAX, LLC • MIDDLEBURY ACTING CLUB • MIDDLEBURY ACTING COMPANY • MIDDLEBURY ACTORS WORKSHOP • MIDDLEBURY AGWAY • MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE ARTS • MIDDLEBURY FESTIVAL ON THE GREEN • MIKE'S SHED STORE • MILLER ADVERTISING AGENCY • MILNE TRAVEL • MILTON ARTISTS GUILD • MILTON CAT • MILTON REMEDIES • MILTON TOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT • MINUTEMAN PRESS • MIRROR MIRROR • MITZVAH FUND • MJS CONTRACTING • MODERN DESIGN • MONKEY DO PLAYGROUND • MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CENTRAL VERMONT • MONTPELIER ALIVE • THE MONTPELIER BRIDGE • MONTPELIER PERFORMING ARTS HUB • MONTPELIER ROXBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL • MONTSHIRE MUSEUM • MORE FOR LESS • MORNING DEW LANDSCAPING • MORRIS STRATEGIES • MORSE FARM SUGARWORKS • MORTON BOSTOCK • MORWAY'S MOVING & STORAGE • MOTODOG TRAINING • MOUNT MANSFIELD ACADEMY • MOUNT SNOW • MOUNTAIN LAKE PLASTIC SURGERY • MOUNTAIN TIMES • MOUNTAIN VILLAGE SCHOOL/RED CLOVER CAMP • MOVING LIGHT DANCE • MSK • MT. MANSFIELD MEDIA • MUSIC CONTACT INTERNATIONAL • MUSICAL BEARS, LLC. • MYERS WASTE • MYTI • NANCY JENKINS REAL ESTATE • NANCY KISONAK • NATIONAL LIFE GROUP • NCSS • NDI • NEAGLEY & CHASE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY • NECANN • NEDDE REAL ESTATE • NEIWPCC • NEK BROADBAND • NEKCA • NEW ENGLAND CHIMNEY SUPPLY • NEW ENGLAND NEWSPAPER & PRESS ASSOCIATION • NEW ENGLAND’S ODD AND UNUSUAL SHOW • NEW FRAMEWORKS • NEW WEST BUILDING COMPANY • NIGHT EAGLE WILDERNESS ADVENTURES • THE NINE INDOOR GOLF LOUNGE • NINNY & GOAT CO. • NOFA-VT • NOMAD COMMUNICATIONS & PRESS C/O MASCOMA BANK • NORTH BRANCH NATURE CENTER • NORTH COUNTRY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION • NORTH COUNTRY HOSPITAL • NORTH STAR SPORT • NORTHEAST KANNABIS LLC • NORTHEAST KINGDOM HUMAN SERVICES • NORTHEAST KINGDOM WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT • NORTHEAST WILDERNESS TRUST • NORTHERN BASEMENT SYSTEMS • NORTHERN STAGE • NORTHFIELD SAVINGS BANK • NORTHLANDS JOB CORPS • NORTHSTAR LEASING • NORTHWEST CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER • NORTHWOOD SCHOOL • NORWICH SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES • NORWICH UNIVERSITY • NPI • NVRH • OAK AND EMBER LANDSCAPE • OASIS DAY SPA • OCEAN STATE JOB LOT • OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER — VERMONT • OH MY DOG • OHAVI ZEDEK SYNAGOGUE • OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT • OKTOBERFEST VERMONT, LLC • OLD BRICK STORE • OLD SPOKES HOME • ONCALL BUILDING SERVICES • ONE ARTS COMMUNITY SCHOOL • ONE DAY IN JULY, LLC • ONE LOVERMONT • ONEDIGITAL • ONION RIVER OUTDOORS • ONTA STUDIO — NINJA SCIENCE CAMP • OPERA COMPANY OF MIDDLEBURY • THE OPERA HOUSE AT ENOSBURG FALLS • OPERA HOUSE AT ENOSBURG FALLS • OPTICAL CENTER • ORCHARD VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL • ORLEANS COUNTY NATURAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT • OTTER CREEK AWNINGS • OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE • OUTRIGHT VERMONT • OWL'S HEAD BLUEBERRY FARM • PACEM SCHOOL • PALMER'S SUGAR HOUSE • PAPA FRANK'S • PARAMOUNT THEATRE • PARK ADVERTISING • PARK SQUEEZE • PATHWAYS VERMONT • PATIENT CHOICES • PATRICIA A HANNAFORD CAREER CENTER • PAUL WINTER • PAUL, FRANK AND COLLINS • PAWS AT HOME • PAYMORE ELECTRONICS • PCC • PECHAKUCHA NIGHT BURLINGTON • PEREGRINE DESIGN BUILD • PERRYWINKLE'S • PET FOOD WAREHOUSE • PETRA CLIFFS • PH INTERNATIONAL • PHILO RIDGE FARM • PHISH — THE WATER WHEEL FOUNDATION • PHOENIX BOOKS • PHOTOGRAPHIC TV — VERMONT BURLESQUE FESTIVAL • PIECASSO • PINCKNEY HUGO GROUP • PINCRAFTERS • PINE FOREST CHILDREN'S CENTER • PITCHER INN • PIVOT MARKETING • PIVOT MARKETING • PLACE CREATIVE COMPANY • PLANET HARDWOOD • PLANET MASSAGE • PLANNED PARENTHOOD • PLATFORM ENVIRONMENT DRILLING & REMEDIATION SERVICES • PLATTSBURGH STATE UNIVERSITY • POLESTAR CANNABIS • POMERANTZ CABINETRY • POMERLEAU REAL ESTATE • THE POP • THE PORTABLE MINI GOLF COMPANY • POZE CATERING • PRESERVATION BURLINGTON • PRESERVATION TRUST OF VERMONT • PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VERMONT • PREVENTIVE MEDICINE • PRIDE OF BRISTOL BAY • PRIME ENGINEERING • PRO HEALTH MANAGEMENT • PROHIBITION PIG • PROJECT ALL TOGETHER NOW • PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE • PRUDENCE BAIRD • PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO RESEARCH • THE PUTNEY SCHOOL • PÊCHE MEDICAL + WELLNESS • QI VETERINARY CLINIC • QUARRY HILL PRESCHOOL • QUINCY HOTEL OF ENOSBURG FALLS • RAD RAGS • RADIANCE MEDICAL AESTHETICS & WELLNESS SPA • RADIO NORTH GROUP • THE RADIO VERMONT GROUP • RAGS & RICHES • RAIL CITY MARKET • RAILYARD APOTHECARY • RAINBOW PLAYSCHOOL • RANCH CAMP • RED HEN BAKING CO. • RED HOUSE BUILDING, INC. • RED WAGON PLANTS • REDSTONE • REGAL BEAST PORTRAITS •

REIB — RACIAL EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING, CITY HALL • REISS BUILDING & RENOVATIONS • RESNIKPALOOZA • RESOURCE • REST STOP • RESTED MIND • REVISION MILITARY • RICHMOND FAMILY MEDICINE • RIDGELINE REAL ESTATE — REALTOR JULIE DANAHER • RISE UP REFILL • ROBBI HANDY HOLMES • ROBERT FULLER • ROBIN LLOYD — GREEN VALLEY MEDIA • ROCK POINT ADVISORS • ROCK POINT COMMONS • ROCK POINT SCHOOL • ROCKSTAR REAL ESTATE COLLECTIVE • ROCKY RIDGE GOLF CLUB • ROKEBY MUSEUM • RON CARTER • ROOTS FARM MARKET • RUSSELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY • RUTLAND COUNTY SOLID WASTE DISTRICT • RUTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS • S.D IRELAND COMPANIES • SA BUNDITZ, FAMILY COACH • SAFE & SOUND GALLERY • SAGE MOUNTAIN • SAINT ALBANS MUSEUM • SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE • SAINT MICHAEL'S GRADUATE PROGRAM • SALT + GROVE • SALTWATER COLLECTIVE (DELTA DENTAL) • SAM MAZZA • SARDUCCI'S • SATORI VERMONT • SAXON HILL SCHOOL • THE SCALE POKE BAR • SCHOOL OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS • THE SCHOOLHOUSE LEARNING CENTER • SCOTT & PARTNERS ARCHITECTURE • SCRAGG MOUNTAIN MUSIC • SCRATCH BUILDERS • SEABA • SELECT DESIGN • SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS • SERENITY CENTRAL OF NEW ENGLAND • SHAMAN'S FLAME • SHEEHEY FURLONG & BEHM P.C. • SHELBURNE COUNTRY STORE • SHELBURNE FARMS • SHELBURNE MIND BODY MEDICINE • SHELBURNE MUSEUM • SHELBURNE ORCHARDS • SHELBURNE PLAYERS • SHELBURNE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH • SHELBURNE VINEYARD • SHERWOOD REAL ESTATE • SHIDAA PROJECTS INC. — CULTURAL CAMP • SHINY PENNY • SILVER MAPLE CONSTRUCTION • SIMPLY READY • A SINGLE PEBBLE • SKIDA • THE SKINNY PANCAKE • SLATE • SMITH & MCCLAIN • SMITH-ALVAREZ-SIENKIEWYCZ ARCHITECTS • SMUGGLERS' NOTCH RESORT • SNOWFLAKE CHOCOLATES • SOLID WOOD PROMOTIONS • SOMETHING BORROWED • SOULSHINE POWER YOGA • SOUTH BURLINGTON ENERGY FESTIVAL • SOUTH BURLINGTON RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT • SOUTH BURLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT • SOUTH HERO LAND TRUST • SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT CENTER • SPECTRUM DAEP • SPEEDER & EARL'S • SPLASH AT THE BOATHOUSE • SPORTS & FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC • THE SPOT • SPOT ON THE DOCK • SPRAYED ON SYSTEMS • SPRUCE PEAK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION • SRH LAW • ST. ALBANS DOWNTOWN • ST. JOHNSBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • STARBIRD EVENTS • STARK MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION • STERLING COLLEGE • STERLING MOTORWORKS • STERN CENTER FOR LANGUAGE & LEARNING • STEWART'S SHOPS CORP. • STONELEDGE STUDIO • STORYWORKZ • STOWE BOWL • STOWE CHILDREN'S THEATRE • STOWE CIDER • STOWE FARMERS MARKET • STOWE LAND TRUST • STOWE LIVING • STOWE PERFORMING ARTS • STOWE STREET CAFÉ • STOWE STREET EMPORIUM • STRAM CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE • SUGARSNAP • SUNDAY DRIVE DISPENSARY • SUNDIAL SOLAR • SUNDOG POETRY • SUNSET LAKE CANNABIS/LAKE EFFECT VERMONT • SUPPLY • SWAE SKIN DERMATOLOGY • SWEENEY DESIGNBUILD • SWEETSPOT CANNABIS DISPENSARY • SWITCHBACK BREWING CO. • SYLVAN LEARNING • TANGO, EL CAMINO • TANK RECORDING STUDIO • THE TARGETED RESUME • TATA HARPER • TAUNIK • TCI TECHNOLOGY • TEACHERS TREE SERVICE • THE TECH HANDYMAN • TERESA CELEMIN ART • THOMAS HIRCHAK CO. • THREE PENNY TAPROOM • THRIVE HYDRATION & WELLNESS • THRIVEWELL INFUSION • TIMBER TENDER • TIMBERLANE ADULT DENTISTRY & PERIODONTIC • TIMBERLANE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTIC • TIMBERLOCK • A TIME TO HEAL • TINA'S HOME DESIGN • TINY THAI RESTAURANT • TOM BANJO AZARIAN • TOPNOTCH RESORT AND SPA • TOURTERELLE • TOWN OF ALBURGH • TOWN OF BRISTOL • TOWN OF COLCHESTER • TOWN OF ESSEX • TOWN OF FAIRFIELD • TOWN OF FERRISBURGH • TOWN OF HUNTINGTON • TOWN OF JERICHO • TOWN OF LINCOLN • TOWN OF MILTON • TOWN OF MORRISTOWN • TOWN OF NORTHFIELD • TOWN OF RICHMOND • TOWN OF ROYALTON • TOWN OF SHELBURNE • TOWN OF ST. GEORGE • TOWN OF STOWE • TOWN OF WARREN • TOWN OF WATERBURY • TOWNE PARK • TR4R HEALTH & WELLNESS, CORP. • TRADEWINDS • TRAPP FAMILY LODGE • TRILLIUM HILL FARM • TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH • TRIVALLEY TRANSIT • TROWEL TRADES SUPPLY • TRUE 802 CANNABIS • TRUEX CULLINS ARCHITECTURE • TUKTU • TURNER TOYS • TURNING POINTS NETWORK • TURNMUSIC • TWIN RIVER UROLOGY • TWINCRAFT SOAP CO. • TWO RIVERS-OTTAUQUECHEE REGIONAL COMMISION • U.S. COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS • U.S. DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF VERMONT • U.S. PROBATION DISTRICT OF VERMONT • U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BECCA BALINT • UMIAK OUTDOOR OUTFITTERS • UNDERHILLJERICHO FIRE DEPARTMENT • UNION BANK • UNION BANK KELLY DEFORGE • UNITARIAN CHURCH OF MONTPELIER • UNITED WAY OF ADDISON COUNTY • UNIVERSITY DINING SERVICES • UNIVERSITY MALL • UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER • UNTAPPED • URBAN MOONSHINE NATURAL PRODUCTS • US SHERPA • USADWEB • UVM CANCER CENTER • UVM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION • UVM DIVISION FOR INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE • UVM FOUNDATION • UVM FRIENDS OF HORTICULTURE FARM • UVM HEALTH NETWORK • UVM HOUSING • UVM INSTITUTE FOR AGROECOLOGY • UVM LANE SERIES •

UVM OFFICE OF CLINICAL TRIALS RESEARCH • UVM OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH • UVM RUBENSTEIN SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES • UVM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS • UVM VACCINE TESTING CENTER • UVM VCHIP • UVM VERMONT CENTER ON BEHAVIOR AND HEALTH • UVS MORETOWN • VABVI • VACD • VALLEY MEADE DISPENSARY • VALLEY PLAYERS • VALLEY VISTA • VBK LAW • VBSR • VBT DELUX BICYCLE VACATIONS • VCJR • VEDA • VERMONT ABENAKI ARTISTS ASSOCIATION • VERMONT ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING • VERMONT ADULT LEARNINGBURLINGTON • VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL • VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS — VACD • VERMONT AUTO ENTHUSIASTS • VERMONT AWARDS & ENGRAVING • VERMONT BALLET THEATRE SCHOOL • VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION • VERMONT BOOK SHOP • VERMONT BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (VERMONT BJJ) • VERMONT BREWERS ASSOCIATION • VERMONT CAMP ASSOCIATION • VERMONT CANOE AND KAYAK • VERMONT CAPTIVE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION • VERMONT CARE PARTNERS • VERMONT CARES • VERMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • VERMONT CHEESE COUNCIL • THE VERMONT CHORAL UNION • VERMONT CIDER LAB • VERMONT COALITION FOR PALESTINIAN LIBERATION • VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION • VERMONT COMPOST COMPANY • VERMONT CONNECTOR • VERMONT DAY SCHOOL • VERMONT DEPARTMENT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION • VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (GREEN MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION CAMP) • VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS, PARKS AND RECREATION • VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — WIC • VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES • VERMONT DERMATOPATHOLOGY • VERMONT EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP CENTER • VERMONT EPSCOR • VERMONT FARM SHOW • VERMONT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION • VERMONT FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE • VERMONT FOODBANK • VERMONT GARDEN DESIGN • VERMONT GENERAL ASSEMBLY — OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE HUMAN RESOURCES • VERMONT GRANITE MUSEUM • VERMONT GYNECOLOGY • VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY • VERMONT HITEC • VERMONT HOUSING & CONSERVATION BOARD • VERMONT INTERIOR DESIGN • VERMONT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - VTIFF • VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS • VERMONT LAND TRUST • VERMONT LEAGUE OF CITIES & TOWNS • VERMONT LEGAL AID, INC. • VERMONT MAPLE FESTIVAL • VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR MAKERS' ASSOCIATION • THE VERMONT MARSHMALLOW CO. • VERMONT MECHANICAL • VERMONT MORTGAGE COMPANY • VERMONT MUNICIPAL BOND BANK • VERMONT NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL • VERMONT NETWORK • VERMONT NETWORK AGAINST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE • VERMONT ODYSSEY OF THE MIND • VERMONT OXFORD NETWORK • VERMONT PARKS FOREVER • VERMONT PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR NETWORK, INC • VERMONT PROGRAM FOR QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE, INC. • VERMONT PROGRESSIVE PARTY • VERMONT PUB & BREWERY • VERMONT PUBLIC • VERMONT PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY AUTHORITY • VERMONT RAIL SYSTEM • VERMONT REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY • VERMONT RIDE NETWORK • VERMONT SALT CAVE SPA • VERMONT SELECT LLC • VERMONT SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL • VERMONT STAGE COMPANY • VERMONT STAR SOLAR & CONSTRUCTION • VERMONT STATE COURTS • VERMONT STATE CURATOR'S OFFICE • VERMONT STATE HISTORIC SITES • VERMONT STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY • VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY • VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY • VERMONT STUDIO CENTER • VERMONT STUDIO CENTER • VERMONT SUICIDE PREVENTION SYMPOSIUM • VERMONT SUSTAINABLE JOBS FUND • VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • VERMONT TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL (VCET) • VERMONT TELEPHONE CO. - VTEL • VERMONT TENT COMPANY • VERMONT TIRE & SERVICE, INC. • VERMONT TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION • VERMONT TURNKEY REALTY • VERMONT WOODLANDS ASSOCIATION • VERMONT WORKS FOR WOMEN • VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS • VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION • VERMONT-NEA • VERTEK • VIATRIS • VIDA WELLNESS • VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER & LIGHT • VILLAGE TAVERN • VILLAGE WINE & COFFEE SHOP • VINS — VERMONT INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCE • VIP • VLCT MUNICIPAL ASSISTANCE • VNLA - GREENWORKS • VPA • VSAC • VSEA • VSO • VTDIGGER • WAITSFIELD FARMERS MARKET • WAKE ROBIN • WAKE ROBIN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION • WANAKEE • WARREN MILLER ENTERTAINMENT • WASHINGTON COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES • WATER WANDERINGS • WATERWORKS • WATERWORKS FOOD & DRINK • WELL HEELED • WENDELL’S MEDIA • WESTAT/NAEP • WESTON THEATRE COMPANY • WHALES TAILS VERMONT • WHEELS FOR WARMTH • WHISTLEPIG WHISKEY • WIDEWAIL • WILD LEGACY CANNABIS • WILLIAM LAWRENCE CAMP • WILLISTON FAMILIES AS PARTNERS • WILLISTON HOT YOGA • WINDJAMMER HOSPITALITY GROUP • WINDOWS & DOORS BY BROWNELL • WINOOSKI HOUSING AUTHORITY • WINOOSKI ORGANICS • WINOOSKI PTO • WINTERLAND HAZE • WISE • WNCS/THE POINT • WND&WVS • WONDERFEET • WOODCHUCK THEATRE COMPANY • WOODEN HAMMER • WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT • WORLDIE INC • YELLOW HOUSE COMMUNITY • YESTERMORROW DESIGN/BUILD SCHOOL • YMCA • ZEB CARLSON • ZENBARN FARMS • ZERO GRAVITY BREWING • ZINNIA JEWELRY SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

35

Life Stories

‘She Was Such a Fierce and Approachable Advocate’ BRENDA CHURCHILL, May 6, 1957-January 13, 2025

BY AL IS O N N O VA K • alison@sevendaysvt.com COURTESY OF KEITH GOSLANT

Remembering Vermonters who died in 2025 B Y SEVEN DAY S STAFF

I

n October, Seven Days writers observation is this, as told by author and and editors took a field trip to the former Times obit writer Margalit Fox: Vermont International Film Foun- “Obits have next to nothing to do with dation Screening Room in Burl- death and, in fact, absolutely everything ington to watch the 2016 documentary to do with life.”

Obit, about the obituary writers at the It seems as if that should be obvious, New York Times. If you haven’t seen it, doesn’t it? It’s right there in the name of you should. It’s a fascinating film about this package: Life Stories. And yet the journalism and writing, and, specter of death can somegiven the subject matter, it’s times obscure the objective. surprisingly entertaining.

When a writer is able to lift For our purposes, the that veil, an obituary can screening was inspiration tell us so much about what for our annual Life Stories it means to be alive. package, in which we This year, Seven Days recount the lives of a handwriters present the stories ful of Vermonters who died of a remarkable crossin the past year. Unlike the section of Vermonters.

Times’ obit section, which Some, such as trans rights is primarily populated by advocate Brenda Churchill famous people and others and author Jay Stevens, you who had an impact on the might have heard of. Others, national or global stage, such as Weybridge farmer Seven Days’ Life Stories tend Roger Wales, civil rights to focus on local people who activist Sister Sankofa, art might not have been houseteacher Jan Danziger, and hold names but whose lives former rock-and-roll roadie reflect some piece, big or Todd “Highway” Sica, kept MARGALIT FOX small, of what it is to be a lower public profiles but had Vermonter. no less effect on the people Summing up a person’s entire and communities around them. Each existence in 1,500 or so words is an was an important part of the fabric of intimidating task, as is interviewing Vermont and helped make this a better grieving families and friends and piec- or more interesting or simply kinder ing together a coherent narrative from place. often hazy recollections. Obit offers no Thanks, as always, to the families and shortage of helpful insights on the art friends of the deceased for sharing their of writing obituaries — and it is very stories with us.

DAN BOLLES much an art. But the most important

OBITS HAVE NEXT TO NOTHING TO DO WITH DEATH AND, IN FACT,

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING TO DO WITH LIFE.

36

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Brenda Churchill and Madeleine Kunin

T

estifying in front of the Vermont legislature in 2017, Brenda Churchill made a matter-offact case for why a law should be passed requiring all single-occupancy bathrooms to be marked as gender neutral.

“It is just good business to provide a neutral place where people of any gender can take care of their most basic human needs,” said Brenda, who had begun living publicly as a transgender woman at age 56.

“This bill applies to everyone and hurts no one.”

After coming to advocacy later in life, Brenda was driven by an abiding belief in treating all people with dignity and respect.

At a time when activism could often feel performative, she operated with “no pretense,” said Keith Goslant, who served alongside Brenda as a legislative liaison for the LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont.

“She had a sense of compassion for those around her,” Goslant said, and always thought about how she could improve the “mundane, everyday details of life” for others.

That work was the focus of her later years, until Brenda died unexpectedly of natural causes on January 13 at age 67.

Born outside Syracuse, N.Y., in 1957, Brenda was close to her father, whom she called “Pa,” and spent lots of time outdoors, fishing and hunting with him. She studied forestry at Syracuse University and moved to rural Enosburg Falls in 1989, initially to help a friend who was opening a manufacturing company in St. Albans.

Brenda was married three times prior to transitioning and had two adult children by that point. She waited to transition because she was afraid of losing family, friends, her job and her home, she said in 2017 legislative testimony in support of a resolution against hate crimes. But when she came out, her worries did not materialize — which she credited to living in a state with strong protections for transgender residents.

Goslant met Brenda after the 2016 election, when a coalition of LGBTQ-focused organizations began meeting regularly to figure out how to respond to the incoming Trump administration. Though Brenda, who was recently retired from a career in customer service at FairPoint Communications, hadn’t done much advocacy work, she was motivated to preserve protections for LGBTQ people in Vermont, given the hostility at the federal level. She jumped right in.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Her knack for walking into a room and quickly connecting with strangers was “astounding and inspiring,” Goslant said.

Starting in 2018, she also set up an “Ask Me Anything” stand at farmers markets around the state to provide passersby with information about the transgender community that was grounded in her own experience, Goslant recalled.

She was funny, too. When Goslant told Brenda that he thought she should be the “face” of the bathroom bill as they tried to build support in the legislature, she quipped, “I’m not sure that was the look I was going for.”

Brenda’s political engagement was wide-ranging. She lobbied administrators at the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles to allow people to denote a third, nonbinary gender on their driver’s licenses, a change that was made in 2019.

She also worked to pass a law allowing Vermonters to amend their gender identity on their birth certificates.

She happily took on the grunt work of municipal government, too, serving as a selectboard member, zoning administrator and justice of the peace in Bakersfield. In 2022, she was appointed to the Vermont Commission on Women, a nonpartisan advisory group, by House Speaker Rep. Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington).

“Being the first at anything opens doors for those who follow,” Brenda said at the time of her appointment. “I am grateful to be the first transgender woman commissioner to open that door. It is up to all of us to hold them open.”

In 2022, Brenda ran unsuccessfully to represent Franklin County in the legislature. Her odds in that race, as a Democratic candidate running against an incumbent in a Republican-leaning district, were not good, said Jim Dandeneau, former executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party.

Still, “she knocked on a ton of doors, talked to a ton of people and really put herself out there in a fearless way,” he said. Brenda also worked to recruit other Democrats in Franklin County and LGBTQ candidates across Vermont to run for state office.

Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, said Brenda reached out to her in 2015, after Hallquist announced in the media that she was transgender. At that time, Brenda had not yet transitioned publicly. The two became fast friends, bonding over their love of craft brews and downhill skiing.

In January 2018, Hallquist said, the two attended a youth rally in Montpelier and were both moved by a performance by Muslim Girls Making Change, a quartet of young women who spoke out about

Brenda at Gov. Phil Scott’s bathroom bill signing

Sarah Chapman with Brenda

BEING THE FIRST AT ANYTHING

OPENS DOORS FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW. BR E ND A C H UR C H IL L

the Islamophobia they faced. Brenda had been needling Hallquist about running for governor; after hearing the powerful performance, Hallquist decided to throw her hat in the ring. Later that year, she secured the Democratic nomination, becoming the first transgender candidate in the U.S. to be nominated for a governorship by a major political party.

Brenda became a volunteer on Hallquist’s campaign, then was hired as outreach director, driving Hallquist to engagements across the state. The pair, who were about the same age, were often mistaken for each other, Hallquist said.

They joked that the confusion was good for both of them.

“I said … ‘As long as we do a good job, we get credit for each other’s work,’” Hallquist recalled.

Hallquist said that, even later in life, finding a partner was important to Brenda.

While visiting family in upstate New York, Brenda walked into a brewery in North Syracuse in 2022 and struck up a conversation with Sarah Chapman, a bartender more than two decades her junior. The two soon fell in love. They

Brenda Siegel and Brenda Churchill

enjoyed trying out local restaurants and watching movies cuddled up on the couch.

During their years together, Sarah said, Brenda spent lots of time tending to her elderly parents, who both died in 2024.

Sarah described Brenda’s mother and father, who’d adopted her as a baby, as loving, open-minded people who weren’t phased when their son became a daughter.

Brenda’s style leaned girly, Sarah said.

She had a collection of wigs in different colors and cuts, loved beaded bracelets, and wore butterfly stretch pants and a purple sweatshirt emblazoned with the word “Princess” in glitter.

Sometimes Brenda worried about being “presentable” as a woman, Sarah said, but “to me, she was the most beautiful human I had ever met.”

Brenda’s hobbies were eclectic. She was part of a community of Jeep enthusiasts, or “Jeepers,” who meet up for off-road adventures. She was a skilled skier who, in her younger years, taught lessons at Smugglers’ Notch Resort. She loved action movies, techno music, the color orange, chicken wings and beer — predominately IPAs but the occasional sour in the summer and stout in the winter, Sarah said. After Brenda died, two memorial services were held: one at Van Hassler Brewing in Liverpool, N.Y., and another at Zero Gravity brewery in Burlington.

Though Brenda split her time between Bakersfield and Syracuse, her heart was in the Green Mountain State, Sarah said.

“She loved — and I mean this with a capital L — loved Vermont,” Sarah said. It wasn’t just the state’s coffee, maple syrup and beer that enamored Brenda but also its creative spirit and liberal politics.

“Vermont is a state that has often shown the rest of the United States where to go and how to get there,” her email signature said.

Brenda Siegel, executive director of End Homelessness Vermont, met Brenda Churchill during a 2018 candidate boot camp through Emerge Vermont, an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office.

“The Two Brendas,” as Brenda called herself and Siegel, bonded during their time advocating in the Statehouse.

“She just had a kindness and a belief in the Democratic Party, Emerge, the power of really caring for one another,” Siegel said. “Her friendships … were extremely genuine.”

Brenda also volunteered at Outright Vermont, an organization that supports queer youths, serving as “a visible trans elder in a state where folks, especially transfeminine folks, were not always seeing a lot of [trans]adults who were thriving and living their lives,” said Dana Kaplan, the organization’s executive director and a transgender man.

“She was such a fierce and approachable advocate … a humble leader [who] was never the loudest voice in the room but had a really clear perspective, was capable, deeply consistent and would always follow through,” Kaplan said. “She was such a people person, and that helped her get into rooms where things were happening.”

For Brenda, standing up for others came naturally.

Interviewed on a public-access TV program in 2017, Brenda shared an Alice Walker quote that she said hung on her refrigerator and served as a mantra: “Activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet.” ➆ LIFE STORIES

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Life Stories «P.37

Todd ‘Highway’ Sica Was ‘Like a Human Version of a Pit Bull’ TODD “HIGHWAY” SICA, August 12, 1961-July 14, 2025

BY D E R E K BR O UW E R • derek@sevendaysvt.com

T

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Highway in 2001

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advice. He once took two quarreling teens to the mall cafeteria and wouldn’t let them leave the table until they shook hands; another time, he watched out for cops as two other teens settled a disagreement by trading blows atop a downtown parking garage.

So Highway told fish tales and offered extrajudicial solutions, but both were ways of seeking and showing love, according to those who knew him best.

“He was like a human version of a pit bull,” Ashby said. “If you fed him and treated him right, he was good to you. But if you crossed him, you know…”

Most people didn’t know Highway’s real name: Todd Gerard Sica. He was born in New Jersey in 1961, the eldest of his mother’s eight children. In childhood he survived a life-threatening condition called hydrocephalus, in which spinal fluid built up in his brain.

Most children in the ’60s with the diagnosis did not survive, but Sica’s mother “hunted down doctors” who could treat her son with emerging techniques, Weeks said. For the rest of his life, he lived with implanted surgical shunts that drained the excess fluid from his brain.

His mother moved the family to Vermont in 1977 following a vacation on which she found herself enchanted. Highway split his time between his mother’s house in Vermont and his father’s place out of state. He began picking up odd jobs, a lifestyle he’d never give up. Highway worked in concert security, as a highway flagger and as a stagehand at the Flynn.

His work as a roadie for rock bands provided the fodder for many of his seemingly far-fetched stories. Highway talked of palling around with megastars when he went on tour with the likes of Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Phish in the ’80s and ’90s.

Weeks politely dubbed her older brother a “storyteller” before shedding the f e s t i v a l

holy s— t! nominate a pothole for our crater contest p. 39

FILE: MATTHEW THORSEN

he man everyone knew as “Highway” was not tall, that much is true. The precise distance from Highway’s heels to his head remains a matter of perspective, however.

“Probably about five foot,” his ex-wife, Sherry Dupee, estimated. His sister Noel Weeks pegged Highway at five foot, five inches, with the qualifier that, for a time, he was as wide as he was short. “Maybe, like, five-two,” old friend Leo Ashby said. In a 2001 profile, Seven Days copublisher Paula Routly simply described Highway as “short.”

A quick check of Highway’s driver’s license might put the matter to rest — except Burlington’s most beloved roadie apparently never had one during his 63 years of life.

Maybe it’s crass to belabor a dead man’s stubby stature. But Highway was a man of his words, and in order to hear them, to really appreciate their wit, their force, their undeniable tallness, you first have to try to see him — there on some downtown corner, probably Church Street, or in City Hall Park, taking into confidence one of the wayward teens who called him “dad” or straightening out someone who was up to something crooked. Neckless, mustachioed, wearing his leather jacket, jeans and a beret, with his ears pierced and every body part but his face tattooed, speaking in a roughed-up New Jersey accent: “It’s either my way or the highway. And since I’m Highway, it’s my way.”

“I have either been there, done that, seen it, been part of it, heard about it or been connected to participants of whatever it was.”

“Sometimes I think two kids should kick the shit out of each other — just once, to get it over with, get it out of their system, awright?”

Life could seem bigger around Highway, a legendary figure in Burlington who trafficked in tales of adventure and street wisdom gleaned from his life on the road.

He cultivated that romantic mystique even as he was too earnest to adopt the truly detached attitude of a drifter. Instead, Highway appointed himself the watchman over Church Street for much of the ’90s and 2000s. He took a particular interest in the well-being of young people whom others dismissed as delinquents. He handed them condoms, discouraged the use of hard drugs and dispensed practical, nonjudgmental

euphemism for affectionate straight talk. “I say storyteller to be kind,” she said, “but he was a bullshit artist.”

And yet, Highway made Weeks wonder.

He boasted to his family about knowing Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. They rolled their eyes, until Highway took his mother backstage during a show to meet the band, “and they’re like, ‘Hey, Highway!’” Weeks recalled.

IF EVEN A SMALL FRACTION OF HIS STORIES WERE TRUE,

HE LIVED AN AMAZING LIFE.

N O EL WEEK S

Then there was the time Highway showed up on Sally Jessy Raphael’s daytime talk show, being interviewed in the audience about his tattoos. No denying that one — he was right there on television.

“If even a small fraction of his stories were true, he lived an amazing life,” Weeks said.

Highway’s onetime girlfriend and longtime friend Susan Chadwick counts herself a believer. “A lot of people think it was just storytelling, but I know it was true,” she said.

Yet the riddle of Highway goes all the way down to the nickname itself, the one he wanted everyone to use, all of the time.

“He told me that someone called him that because he’s always traveling, always on the highway,” Chadwick said.

And here’s Dupee, Highway’s partner for 16 years: “I do know how he got that one. Him and another guy were traveling to a gig. I don’t remember what state it was in.” The two men made a $100 bet, she said.

“Whoever got there first got the money.”

Sica’s coworker went to the airport and took a plane. “Highway decided he was going to stick his thumb out and hitchhike to wherever they were going,” Dupee said.

Sica got there first, and their manager at the jobsite, a guy named Frank, dubbed him Highway.

Both women met him at his favorite haunt, the streets of downtown Burlington.

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Chadwick said she and Highway watched over the loitering teens together, taking them under their wings, before their short-lived romantic connection became a decades-long friendship.

For Dupee, Highway began as a story told by her youngest son, a rowdy teen who “didn’t listen for beans” and was one of the street kids Highway adopted. “My youngest son always said, ‘If you ever have trouble with me and you can’t get me to listen, go find Highway.’”

So one night, Dupee said, she did. Then she brought Highway home to talk to her son. Eventually the teenager went to bed; Highway and Dupee stayed up until 6 a.m. talking on her living room floor.

They married on the summer solstice of 2003 on the steps of city hall, during a farmers market. Highway’s friend’s bull mastiff served as ring bearer, and Dupee’s friend’s pug served as flower girl. Their wedding photos included strangers who were shopping for vegetables.

The couple moved to Florida, to both Carolinas, to Las Vegas, to Hawaii. “About every year, he was like, I’m so sick of this.

I got to get out of here. I’m never coming back to Vermont,” she said, “and two months later we were back in Vermont.”

Dupee figured Highway related so well to teens who today might be called “at-risk youths” because he could relate to their restlessness and the longing to belong that tends to lie beneath.

“He craved family, and he craved belonging,” his sister Weeks said.

Filling that need eluded him in some ways. Highway and Dupee split in 2019

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when, according to Dupee, her husband was struggling. “He was having some trouble with the shunt that was in his head, and he was acting really weird,” she said. “Things went from bad to worse. I walked out the door.”

“Feeling kinda crappy, The person I love more than anyone has left my life,” Highway wrote on his Facebook page around that time. “This is an excruitiatly [sic] painful way to learn a lesson.”

Highway’s health continued to decline.

He developed rectal cancer but was careful about how much he information shared.

He moved into an apartment in Decker Towers, where his friend Chadwick lived, and found an audience for his stories at the bus stop/smoking shelter out front.

“He was just making the best out of what he had,” Ashby said. “He accepted his fate.”

Weeks was surprised when death struck her older brother. “Our last conversation, he had told me his cancer was in remission,” she said.

Highway was found in his apartment, face down on the floor, Weeks said. The official cause of death was listed as stage III cancer. Weeks suspects something swifter took his life, perhaps a heart attack or stroke. Because officials had ruled out foul play, his family opted not to ask for an autopsy.

We’ll never know for certain what killed Highway. But the truth was never really the point. ➆

LIFE STORIES

» P.40

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Life Stories «P.39

T

he summer before his junior year at the University of Vermont, Jay Stevens shared beers with a carny at the Last Chance Saloon in downtown Burlington. A farm boy from Weathersfield with a ravenous curiosity, Jay was fascinated by the nomadic lifestyle the carnival worker described to him. By last call, he’d made a decision: He would put college on hold and quite literally run away to join the circus. To his parents’ horror, that’s exactly what he did.

That mercurial spontaneity would come to define Jay, who, following his yearlong circus stint, became a celebrated writer, journalist, poet and all-around Renaissance man. He’s perhaps best known for writing what is likely the defining book on acid, Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream, as well as books on drumming and rhythm with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. Jay was a kind of modern-day shaman with a slick Italian wardrobe and sick sense of humor.

At his heart, the self-described “warrior scholar” was also a good ol’-fashioned Vermonter. He traveled far and wide and lived a big life, but his ancestral family farm in Weathersfield Bow was forever his North Star, always guiding him home.

Jay died on February 19 at age 71 from a heart attack, after years of living with Lyme disease and diabetes. At his funeral, friends and family read poems he had written for them, played songs he had composed and traded notes on the specifics of his infamous shaggy-dog stories.

A gifted and prolific storyteller, Jay was notorious for adding details to his yarns over the years — and not everyone got the same version.

There was the tale Jay loved to tell about the old Weathersfield police chief, a former Golden Gloves boxer who refused to call for backup in hopes that he’d get to fistfight some perps. Sometimes the brawling cop kept a pet bear in his backyard that he’d wrestle on occasion, but sometimes the bear wasn’t in the story. If anyone pointed out the inconsistency, Jay would reply with pure, deadpan humor: “Oh, I didn’t mention the bear? The bear’s the best part.”

“Dad was obsessed with strange characters,” said Jay’s son, Zach Stevens. “He loved weird people, in the best sense of that word.

“I think that’s honestly what got him into journalism and writing books,” Zach continued. “The idea that he could entrench himself in someone’s life and spend years hanging out with these weirdos he loved so much, it intrigued him on a seriously deep level.”

Jay’s first passions were typical of a young boy raised on a farm. Born in 1953 to Karl and Patsy Stevens, Jay grew up 40

‘He Was a Fearless Investigator’ JAY KARL STEVENS, November 11, 1953-February 19, 2025

BY C H R IS FAR NS W O R TH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

hunting, riding horses, shooting, skiing and playing sports. A long line of taciturn Yankees and New England mystics, the Stevenses have been farming their land in “the Bow,” as they call it, since the beginning of the 19th century.

Jay didn’t care much for farming himself — with the exception of making maple syrup, a family tradition he considered to be an ancient and alchemical process. By the time he headed off to attend UVM in the early 1970s, his world had opened up to politics, Taoism and philosophy. Those interests ignited a burning curiosity and wanderlust that wouldn’t be contained by his home state for much longer.

He met his future wife, Sara DeGennaro, in a UVM philosophy class when, in that most Vermont of traditions, he gently ribbed the flatlander on her choice of winter clothing.

“I was a Connecticut girl, so I was wearing a down jacket,” Sara recalled of their first encounter. “He was in a blue jean jacket with a vest — very Vermont, like the kids at bus stops in February wearing shorts — and he took one look at my fancy coat and said, ‘Well, you must be from out of state.’”

After college, Jay fully indulged his desire to roam. He traveled with Sara to Mexico and South America, hanging with poets and Marxist guerrillas while working odd jobs and freelance writing.

In an interview from the ’90s with musician and fellow Windsor County resident Davey Davis on the public-access

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

television show “Far and Wide,” Jay spoke of this time in his life as a period of great research.

“A writer studies people,” he said.

“That’s why they have crazy résumés with odd jobs.”

In the video of the show, Jay muses about his craft and career with the effortless cool of a bohemian intellectual, reclining in an Adirondack chair and sipping wine, black sunglasses obscuring his eyes.

Even as he’s being interviewed, his storytelling talent is evident. Between little smirks and jokes, he dazzles and educates with his answers, which feel like spells cast by a woodland philosopher-wizard.

Like any good conjuror, Jay spent years studying his grimoire, extensively researching the world of lysergic acid diethylamide — more commonly known as LSD, the drug that supercharged the counterculture movement of the 1960s. He focused his keen intellect on the subject and published Storming Heaven in 1987.

Newsweek called it “the most compelling account yet of how these hallucinogenic, or psychedelic, drugs became an explosive force in postwar American history.”

In Storming Heaven, Jay merged his talent as a social historian with his gift for storytelling. Weaving his research into a breathtaking narrative, he used what he called the “curious molecule” discovered

by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann as a framing device to document a country roiling with sociopolitical changes and evolving perspectives, especially around drug use. A literary high-wire act, the book darts from early acid advocates such as Brave New World author Aldous Huxley and actor Cary Grant to cultural figureheads such as serial killer Charles Manson and beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

Jay was sure his book could never be made into a film, as America was in the throes of the so-called “War on Drugs” and the subject matter was too controversial.

“But God, think of the soundtrack!” he claimed a Paramount executive once said to him of adapting Storming Heaven to the big screen.

The book caught the attention of Grateful Dead drummer Hart, who hired Jay to cowrite 1990’s Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey Into the Spirit of Percussion with Fredric Lieberman.

Jay also worked on the following year’s Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm, which Hart coauthored with Lieberman.

Following Jay’s death, Hart posted a tribute online. “He was a fearless investigator who was brilliant beyond belief,” Hart wrote, and “singular in the pursuit of knowledge, from the big bang to stem cells.”

Jay and Sara were married and living in New York City when he got his first book contracts. As advantageous as it was for an up-and-coming writer to live in the city, the Bow was calling him home.

“Jay always used to like to tell everyone it was my idea,” Sara said. “And I was a little sick of the cities; we’d lived in LA and New York. But I think he was ready to do it, too.”

In 1985, he and Sara moved into a farmhouse on the family land, across from his childhood home, where his parents still lived. While returning home made sense for starting a family, the move came with trade-offs.

“Coming back to Vermont kind of killed his career,” said Zach, who was born not

COURTESY PHOTOS

long after his parents relocated. His sister, Alexandra (Ali for short), followed a few years later. “He never talked about it implicitly or seemed to really care, but eventually we all understood what he had sacrificed to come home.”

After working with Hart and contributing to a 1996 anthology called The Sixties, Jay never published a book again. But he never stopped writing, and he worked as a freelance journalist. Boxes and boxes of his poetry, prose and unfinished novels remain for Zach and the family to go through, once their grief has eased. Zach feels certain they’ll attempt to publish some of Jay’s work posthumously.

A WRITER STUDIES PEOPLE.

THAT’S WHY THEY HAVE CRAZY RÉSUMÉS WITH ODD JOBS. JAY S T EV ENS

Back on the farm, Jay enjoyed sugaring with his father and passing down the tradition to Zach and Ali. He collected books, maintaining a personal library of more than 10,000, by Zach’s estimation.

With Davis and other friends he called his “Orphics,” Jay recorded albums — spoken-word poetry over beats, synths and ambient guitars. He founded a media and marketing company called Applied Orphics and established a pet project called Rap Lab, a program that paired at-risk youths with poets and musicians. And for reasons no one quite understands, he was a magnet for cats, both at home on the farm and, according to family lore, on a visit to the Oracle of Delphi in Greece, where he was mobbed by felines.

Your paper.

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Jay’s previous life as the world’s preeminent LSD scholar would sometimes intrude on his kids’ classic Vermont upbringing. Zach remembers an infant Ali vomiting on Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s chest, as well as visits to the farm from philosopher and ethnobotanist Terence McKenna, an advocate for the use of natural hallucinogens.

Jay himself was an active researcher IS NOW AVAILABLE! who had certainly sampled LSD and loved a good storytelling session while This version smoking a joint with friends. But he evenof everyone's Made tually grew tired of the association with favorite property entirely drugs. Fans of Storming Heaven would trading game in USA! often approach and ask if he had any acid celebrating the on him.

Vermont side of For Jay, returning to Vermont was a the Lake Champlain valley chance to reconnect with the land. He is a fundraiser for arts took a page from one of his favorite beat programming and education poets, Gary Snyder, who wrote, “Find by cathedralarts.org. your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.”

Sponsored by area schools, Zach’s wife, Lauren Ballard, remembusinesses and arts organizations. bered her father-in-law’s love of the Support the businesses land, as well as his deep knowledge of its SCAN FOR who support our work.

DETAILS denizens.

“He knew about all of the animals living there, the woodchucks and the C AT H E D R A L A R T S . O R G coyotes and the foxes,” Lauren said. “He once spent a stormy evening telling me about his three near-death-by-cow experiences, and it was like being inside of a8v-your.indd 2 1 11/12/25 11:06 AM 7/9/248v-cathedralchurchofstpaul111925.indd 5:23 PM Poe story.”

In 2015, Jay was diagnosed with Lyme disease, following years of mysterious joint swelling and failed attempts to understand what caused it. Combined with a subsequent diagnosis of diabetes, he finally started to slow down. But he still relished in telling tales and spitballing ideas for novels he’d never write.

After Jay’s death, his friend and fellow writer Matthew Ingram found solace reading Drumming at the Edge of Magic for the first time. Ingram was struck by a section of the book about West African drummers. “I was looking out for signs of my friend and his elegant turns of phrase,” Ingram wrote on his blog, and he found a line that made him think of Jay. It reads: “The Yoruba say that anyone who does something so great that he or she can ACADEMICS never be forgotten has become an Orisha.”

“He loved the idea of being a good RE ADVENTU ancestor,” Zach said. He, Lauren and their two daughters are planning to leave ChitSPORTS tenden County and move back to the Bow CAMPFINDERVT.COM to continue the Stevenses’ long connecTS AR G IN RM O RF PE tion to their homeland.

Powered by Seven Days, this Zach said he knows it’s what his father directory of summer camps SCOUTING would have wanted — “to pass on a legacy and school-year programs will to the warrior scholars we’re raising and ANIMALS help your family plan academic to the land he himself had inherited.” ➆

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COURTESY OF ANDREAS JOHN/IN THE HANDS OF BEAUTY

S

handa Williams’ commitment to dismantling racism and healing its resulting trauma had driven her to speak up, to organize study groups, to sue the State of Vermont and to start an annual finance symposium for women. By summer 2023, she was prepared to walk across hot coals.

Shanda organized a July event called Stomp Out Racism, which centered on firewalking. The benefit was intended to raise awareness and money for the Vermont Kindness Project, a Montpelier enterprise she cofounded to help heal intergenerational trauma. Firewalking and conquering racism share a common theme, said Ginger Cloud, the Barre counselor and firewalk instructor who was to teach that day. Walking barefoot over embers, she said, is about listening to the fire, breaking boundaries and doing the unthinkable.

“There’s elements of overcoming,” Cloud said. “We’re taught from a very young age, most of us, to fear fire, and so there’s this coming into [a] relationship with something we’ve been told to fear.”

Shanda intended to shed her shoes and participate, said Abbi Jaffe, who helped organize the event. “And she wanted you to, too,” Jaffe added, laughing. Jaffe was a little fearful, she admitted, “but I was gonna try at least.” She was spared when the summer’s historic flood washed out the road to the venue, forcing the firewalk’s cancellation.

Nothing, however, seemed capable of extinguishing Shanda’s zeal. The Montpelier woman, who described herself as a changemaker, reparations activist, equity strategist and BIPOC community advocate, moved to Vermont from Connecticut in 2017. She brought personal experience of being slighted because she was Black.

She arrived with a vision of a better world and the dogged persistence to work toward it — weaving together a network of collaborators in the process. As Jaffe summed up, “We would do it together.”

“Through my faith in possibility and love for humanity,” Shanda wrote in an online biography, “I aim to build bridges for people to embrace change through the power of healing racialized trauma, one person at a time.”

And that’s what she endeavored to do, up to the day she died in January, at age 50, of an enlarged heart. The exact date she died is unknown.

During her time in Vermont, Shanda organized Juneteenth celebrations, wellness days, and groups to study Resmaa Menakem’s book My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies.

She built a roster of allies and a reputation for bringing her true self to any situation.

“She wouldn’t show up to a room and conform to what seemed to be the norm

‘She Was a Force’ SISTER SANKOFA, aka Shanda Delores Williams February 6, 1974-January 2025

BY MARY ANN L IC K TE IG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

COURTESY OF TYLER HANSON

Life Stories «P.41

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Sister Sankofa at the Vermont Statehouse in 2023

there, so she always stood out,” said Jess Laporte, who, along with Shanda, was a codirector of Community Resilience Organizations in Montpelier. Standing out could mean boldly calling out racism or joyfully raving about a fabulous chair massage while everyone around her adopted the hushed tones expected in a spa.

Shanda owned and operated SD Communications and Marketing Consulting Group, which offered social justice programs, networking events and consultation for small businesses. She started a financial empowerment symposium for women, which prompted Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation to name her its 2023 Innovator of the Year.

Shanda’s “Money Matters: Financial Liberation and Wellness” series ran for three years — the last symposium just three months before she died.

Shanda brought the same energy to her avocations. She sang with three gospel choirs and performed with Unadilla and Lost Nation theater companies, starting at the latter as a box office volunteer. “She got our attention immediately,” said Lost Nation producing artistic director Kathleen Keenan.

Shanda had a “take-charge, let’s-get-it-done, positive energy and spirit,” Keenan said.

“So we invited her to be on our board,” founding artistic director Kim Bent added.

But it was her determination to create a more equitable world that defined Shanda, who last year changed her name to reflect her mission. She chose Sister Sankofa and, though she had not yet made it her legal name, she gave her friends one year to get used to using it.

“She was empowering herself to be in her own power ... to be called by it,” Jaffe said. “‘Sister,’ for her, was like a spiritual teacher.” Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan tribe of Ghana that translates to “go back and get it.” It suggests learning from the past to inform the future, reaching back to move forward.

Shanda Delores Williams was born on February 6, 1974, in Hartford, Conn. She was the daughter of Barbara Ann (Calloway) Williams and Henry C. Williams Jr. and the younger sister, by four years, of Donnamarie. Her mother was a social worker and minister, and her father was a computer programmer and consultant.

Her parents divorced when she was 3.

She and Donnamarie lived with their mother but remained in touch with their dad and learned a strong work ethic from both, said Rev. Donnamarie Brown, a Methodist minister. Their mother worked two jobs, she said: “We were the latchkey kids, you know: Come home, do your chores, make sure to start dinner before Mom got home, have your homework done.”

Donnamarie left home to have a baby when Shanda was 10 years old, leaving her

COURTESY OF WAYNE FAWBUSH

Sister Sankofa performing with Lost Nation Theater in 2021

comes this marvelous creature soaring to the sky as a blaze of fire, just burning so bright. I was humbled to hear all the things that my sister successfully had done.”

Sister Sankofa served on the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission and on the boards of directors of the People’s Health & Wellness Clinic in Barre and the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir.

She helped create the Paij Wadley-Bailey Community Garden in Montpelier, a space to reconnect BIPOC people with the land and to grow food to be given away. An apple tree has been planted there in her honor.

OUT OF THE ASHES COMES THIS

MARVELOUS CREATURE SOARING TO THE SKY. R E V. D O NNAMAR IE BRO WN

COURTESY OF ABBI JAFFE

Sister Sankofa at WGDR in 2023

alone with their mother, who had mental illness. “Later on in life, my sister and I had a really good talk,” Donnamarie said, “and I found out that she was actually upset with me for leaving home and leaving her behind.”

Shanda entered foster care at age 16.

She sang in the choir and twirled flags with the marching band at Bristol High School, then studied public relations at the University of Connecticut. She couldn’t afford to finish her degree, Donnamarie said. She gave birth to two children whom she gave up for adoption, one while she was in high school, the other while in college, her sister said. In recent years, she considered doing genetic testing to try to find them.

Shanda started a cleaning company when she was in her twenties. After later working in banking and insurance for 15 years, she left the field because of discrimination, her sister said. She had been overlooked for jobs. Her experience, Donnamarie suspects, motivated Shanda to speak out against unfair practices and start working more with people and less with corporations.

She followed a romantic partner to Vermont. The relationship ended, leaving her unhoused for three months. Donnamarie wasn’t always in close touch and learned much about her sister’s years in Vermont after she died.

“She built a new life,” Donnamarie said, “like the phoenix. Out of the ashes

“She was a force,” said Chrys Tsang, who met Sister Sankofa in a meeting to plan the garden. She knew so many people, cared about them and tried to improve their lives, Tsang said.

She worked for Good Samaritan Haven, a nonprofit that serves people who are homeless. Sometimes, she took people into her own home, even though it was just a one-bedroom apartment.

Jaffe, her friend and collaborator, described her as warm and real. “She dreamed. She had vision, but it wasn’t without the capacity to work towards it. It was: What are the steps to get there? What are you doing today to do it?”

Sister Sankofa didn’t so much invite people to work with her as assign them a task. “She would call me on a Saturday morning and say, ‘We are going to the farmers market to pass out flyers for the My Grandmother’s Hands groups,’” Jaffe relayed in the eulogy she delivered at Sister Sankofa’s celebration of life. “A couple summers ago,” Jaffe continued, “she said ‘Abbi, you will give a speech on the Statehouse lawn at the Race Against Racism event about these groups.’”

She saw people’s strengths, and she called on them. “She made big asks,” Laporte said. You don’t push people past their comfort zones without hearing a lot of no’s, Laporte added. “I think that she experienced a lot of discouragement, but she still continued to be courageous and make those asks.”

Sister Sankofa’s resilience defied injustices woven into American culture, Laporte said. “She was a fat Black woman living in America, so she had a number of

systemic things that she was always overcoming. And they were real, and they were happening here in Vermont.”

Black people experience housing and employment discrimination in Vermont, and they are incentivized not to call it out, said Laporte, a Black woman who was born and raised in Lamoille County. “I bit my tongue in a staff meeting just today,” she said, but Sister Sankofa consistently spoke up. “The thing that people are most scared of are an informed and an engaged Black person who is willing to talk about what is happening. And that was definitely Sister Sankofa.”

In 2019, she sued the State of Vermont for employment discrimination after she was fired from her job as a clerk at the Washington County Courthouse in Barre.

The sole Black employee at the time, she was subjected to a hostile work environment, she claimed, in which her supervisor would “constantly bully and scream” at her while white coworkers purposefully undermined her work.

She won a $60,000 settlement.

Sister Sankofa, it could be said, was a victim of the very system she was trying to change. “It is truly unnatural for somebody to be dead at 50 years old,” Laporte said.

“Her body, health-wise, suffered from the constant stress — the stress of racism, the stress of being a woman, the stress of being low income and needing to make things work.”

Her work wasn’t finished. She and Anna Adachi-Mejia had just submitted a proposal to the State of Vermont to create a campaign to attract BIPOC tourists. Sister Sankofa, who was learning to snowboard, wanted to be the face of outdoor sports in Vermont.

Two lists of goals hung in her apartment.

Numbered one, two and three on a large magnetic whiteboard were: “Homestead w/ children & animals,” “Multi-cultural center” and “Travel.” Attached with a magnet was a photo of Oprah Winfrey that appeared to have been clipped from a magazine. “She wanted to be on ‘Oprah,’” Jaffe said. Another magnet pinned these words, written in all caps: “LEARN WHO YOU ARE. UNLEARN WHO THEY TOLD YOU TO BE.” More courageous than firewalking, Jaffe suggested, was Sister Sankofa’s ability to discuss racism with her peers. Jaffe recalled her telling fellow members of one board of directors that they should consider their response to race by studying My Grandmother’s Hands. And they did.

Sister Sankofa saw the best in people, Jaffe said, “and knew the best wasn’t racism, so called it out when she saw it. But it wasn’t like, And you’re bad. It was like, You can do better! Try again! It was always like a Let’s do this. Let’s do this better.” ➆ LIFE STORIES

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

» P.44 43

Life Stories «P.43

‘He Was Not Bound by Convention’ ROGER WALES, November 25, 1936-March 21, 2025 hildren often did a double take when they saw Roger Wales.

With a fluffy white beard and ruddy cheeks, the Weybridge farmer bore such a striking resemblance to Santa Claus that he once graced a Beau Ties of Vermont holiday catalog cover with his grandson on his knee.

If Roger had actually been Santa, he might have swooped through the sky on a MacGyvered, 1970s-era Ford tractor, or maybe driven a team of goats, dairy cows and Brahman cattle pulling a hay wagon full of practical presents.

Physical similarities aside, Roger was not one to dash around chortling hearty “Ho, ho, ho’s!” He cared deeply for family and friends but expressed himself with classic New England reticence. The three surviving sons from his blended family with second wife, Martha Winant, recalled how he responded kindly but with characteristic reserve when they awoke scared in the night as youngsters.

Shawn Wales, now 62, remembered running to his dad after one bad dream: “He didn’t say a word to me but went over to the freezer and got a lime popsicle.”

Asa Winant, 53, confirmed that his stepdad always promised lime popsicles would keep nightmares away: “I took it as absolute truth.”

Roger had that kind of understated authority with everyone, no matter their age. Asa recalled how neighbors would drop by and “he’d always help them figure out the solution to whatever they were dealing with: how to get something running again, or how to switch from one crop to another. He never made a big deal about it.”

Roger also set high expectations for everyone, no matter their age. “There wasn’t a lot of screwing around with Roger. He demanded your best attention,” Asa said. When he assigned a chore, echoed Roger’s 27-year-old granddaughter, Addison Wales, “You knew to go and do that just like he told you.”

But Roger didn’t always provide in-depth detail on how to complete a task. Like his father before him, “They kept a lot of stuff close to themselves,” said Roger’s second cousin Harvey Smith, “but if you asked them a question, you’d get a good answer.”

Roger was born to Leonard and Leslie Wales in the family farmhouse on Thanksgiving Day — November 25, 1936. He and his younger brother, Erle, 44

COURTESY PHOTOS

C

BY ME L IS S A PAS ANE N • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Martha Winant and Roger Wales in the late 1980s

WHEN OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT DESPAIR, ROGER WOULD LOOK AT THE MESS AND SAY,

“THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.” ROGER WATE R MAN

represented the seventh generation of Wales on the farm. In March, at age 88, Roger fell at home and hit his head, likely due to an aneurysm. He later died at University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

Roger’s grandmother and Harvey’s grandfather were siblings. They were two of 11 children, and Harvey recalled the Weybridge farm where Roger grew up “always crawling with family and friends.” In middle school, Roger’s dad arranged for him to stay with a Middlebury family so his son could attend the town school without the twice-daily round trips that were impractical for busy farmers.

Roger shared a bedroom with classmate Bill Mraz during the week, and Mraz came home with Roger on the weekends. The pair cemented a lifelong friendship fishing in Otter Creek, hunting and trekking through the woods, skeet shooting (a sport in which Roger was

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Roger in 1956

later state champion), and racing cars up Snake Mountain on the old carriage road. During high school, the two built an alcohol still in a basement science lab. “Just for our own use,” Mraz said matter-of-factly.

Roger was always up for learning new things. When the Middlebury High School ski team coach needed a jumper, Roger volunteered. After graduating from what was then the Vermont School of Agriculture in Randolph, he headed west to attend the Montana School of Mines and then Montana State University, where he was on the ski team. Roger told Martha that he took so many classes at MSU he had to run between them. He also did a stint with the Air National Guard in Texas. For the Vermont farm

boy, “It was all an adventure,” Harvey said.

The two worked together for several years starting in the late 1960s when Roger ran the family dairy. Harvey recalled his cousin applying some of what he learned in Montana in an unexpected way: using dynamite to clear tree stumps from his fields. “He was always experimenting, thinking outside the box,” Harvey said.

Roger cut timber from the farm to build one of the area’s first bedded-pack barns, where the cows were free to roam and their bedding and manure composted under them through the winter. He was an early adopter of artificial insemination for breeding, corn silage for feed and labor-saving round bales over the traditional square ones. The farmer used electric polywire to fence cattle in “when nobody thought it would work,” said Addison County farmer Roger Waterman. His dad worked for Roger and named his son after the man who became a mentor and second father to Waterman.

Not every trial brought success.

Harvey recalled Roger doing a lot of research before landing on what he thought was a good way to seal fermented feed in his new bunker silo. “It pretty much froze solid,” Harvey said.

But Roger took losses with equanimity. “If he regretted anything, he never showed it,” Waterman said. “He used to say, ‘Woulda, coulda, shoulda, shit.’”

And he never let perfect be the enemy of good enough, Waterman said, recalling Roger’s magician-like ability to conjure mechanical fixes from what others considered junk, often excised from hulking corpses of old machinery.

By the early 1970s, Roger and his first wife, Joyce Hallock, had divorced, leaving him with their three young sons.

He sold the dairy herd but continued to farm the family’s 266 acres: haying and tending Brahman cattle for beef, growing buckwheat and potatoes, and raising vegetables to sell at the newly launched Shelburne Farmers Market.

Roger was 39 and Martha 27 in 1976 when she spied him across the room at Middlebury’s Fire & Ice restaurant, where she waited tables. “It was love at first sight for me,” Martha recalled. “He was so intriguing and kind of quiet, had a really strong presence and a twinkle in his eye.”

COURTESY OF VERMONT CREAMERY

LAST MINUTE?

WE HAVE GIFT CARDS.

Steve and Roger Wales in their goat dairy circa 2012

From left: Asa Winant, Carlos Cortes and Roger on Culebra, Puerto Rico, circa 2002

For their first date, Roger invited Martha and 4-year-old Asa to the farmhouse for dinner of steak, potatoes and peas with his three sons, Steve, Shawn and Scott, then 9, 13 and 15, respectively.

It didn’t take Roger long to ask Martha — whom he quickly dubbed “Tootsie” — to marry him, but she was gun-shy after her failed first marriage. For 19 years Roger quietly persisted, repeating his proposal regularly with “Tootsie, are you ready now?” Martha said.

One day in 1995 when she demurred yet again, Roger calmly said he was done asking. A couple months later, Martha turned the tables and proposed. “He said, ‘Yup,’” she recounted, and walked out the door without so much as a hug.

Twenty minutes later, he returned with a marriage license.

After they married, Roger became more involved in Martha’s successful catering business. He called himself “the systems manager” and also served as bartender, grill man and vehicle maintenance guy. Her husband’s logistical help was invaluable if occasionally exasperating, Martha recalled. She’d wrestle for months, for example, with how to feed

200 people in an apple orchard, and Roger would come up with a plan in five minutes.

“It didn’t matter what the situation or problem was,” Waterman said. “He could sort it down to the essential elements and come up with a solution like nobody else I’ve ever met.”

Around 2000, Roger and his sons Shawn and Steve started raising goats and shipping milk to what is now Vermont Creamery in Websterville.

Maybe some real Vermonters wouldn’t milk goats, as the saying goes, but the smaller, cleaner animals worked for their family.

“Roger didn’t care what everybody else was doing,” Waterman said. “He was not bound by convention.”

The goat dairy allowed the trio to run a farm business together for about 15 years. Shawn and Steve live independently in the farmhouse where their dad grew up but have navigated learning disabilities for their whole lives. “Roger was thinking of his kids all the time,” Harvey said. “He didn’t talk about that, but I could just see the things he was doing.”

In 2023, Roger’s oldest son, Scott, died unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 60. Her husband didn’t talk about that, either, Martha said, but he felt the loss profoundly.

Despite being a man of relatively few words, Roger could connect with anyone and easily made lifelong friends.

He once had an extended conversation with Pablo Picasso’s son Claude over the course of a wedding they both attended.

On a trip to Montana decades after Roger had left, he and Martha visited members of the family for whom he’d 8 SO. MAIN ST, worked when a student.

ST. ALBANS Among Roger’s close friends was 524-3769 Carlos Cortes, whom he and Martha met on Culebra. The couple took their first RAILCITYMARKETVT.COM trip to the low-key Puerto Rican island in the winter of 1990 and returned annually for almost 30 years. Culebra became12v-railcitymarket121824.indd 1 12/13/24 3:17 PM a surprise paradise for a man who had previously owned neither bathing suit nor shorts. The first time Roger snorkeled, Martha recalled him marveling, “Oh, my God. You know what’s under there?!’”

During the slow catering and farming seasons, the couple escaped to their warm-weather refuge for up to two months. They hosted friends for Roger’s expertly mixed margaritas, and he spent days deep-sea fishing with Cortes, a local of his sons’ generation.

Cortes said Roger applied himself to learning about sport fishing but never took it too seriously. “He was always telling me, ‘If it was all about catching, we’d go to the supermarket and pick it up. We’re fishing. We don’t have to catch anything,’” Cortes said.

No matter how bad a squall they might land in or how sticky a situation was, Roger remained calm, his friend said. Once when they were doing a 11/17/25 10:32 AM construction project together, RogerGG12V-adagio112625 1 saved Cortes from tumbling off the edge of a cliff by quickly throwing wheel blocks under the front tires of his truck.

“When other people might despair,” Waterman said, “Roger would look at the mess and say, ‘This is what we need to do: boom, boom, boom.’”

After Roger fell in March, Waterman said he felt lucky to be at his hospital bedside during his final hours.

Among the many lessons Waterman said he gleaned from his friend and mentor, probably the most important was to appreciate what you have.

“For some people, the glass is half empty and for some, it’s half full,” Waterman said. “For Roger Wales, sometimes the say you saw it in glass wasn’t very big but it was always full.” ➆ LIFE STORIES

» P.46 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026 12v-sayyousawit.indd 1

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Life Stories «P.45

L

inda “Jan” Danziger, an art teacher who taught in central Vermont for nearly half a century, had a gift for convincing people to try new activities — painting, music, theater, poetry — that they might have believed were beyond their natural abilities.

“She was never pushy or anything,” said Jane Youngbaer, a longtime friend and former colleague at Twinfield Union School in Plainfield, where Jan taught for 43 years. “With a smile on her face, she would say, ‘I think you would be good at this.’”

Jan was always smiling, drawing people into her orbit because she created beautiful and inviting spaces. Those included her home, which was known for its gorgeous interior design and festive holiday décor; her sumptuous gardens, which she meticulously mapped out in journals each year; and her art class at Twinfield, which, for many students, was more than a place to learn new art techniques and mediums.

It was a haven for those who didn’t fit in elsewhere.

“School isn’t always wonderful for everybody, so my mom’s room was where the kids would go to hang out and find solace,” said Jan’s daughter, Kim. “They all loved her.”

Jan, who died of natural causes in July at age 82, was a joiner and a doer. For years she volunteered at Cutler Memorial Library in Plainfield, applying her artist’s eye to make it more attractive and useful to patrons.

She served as longtime president of the Vermont chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honor society of women educators. And she helped found and was deeply involved in Destination Imagination, an international competition in which students solve challenges using science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Said Alex Shepard, Kim’s longtime life partner: “Jan was always zipping off to something.”

She was never known to gossip or speak a harsh word about anyone. Yet for all her love, support and encouragement of others, Jan was deeply private and wouldn’t share her own pain with those closest to her. This was especially true after her son, Matthew, died at 47.

For Jan, “If you don’t talk about the issues, they do not exist,” said Sandy Wells, her best friend of 50 years. “You keep a smile on, and everything is golden.”

Jan was born Linda Lanser in 1943 at Fort Bragg, N.C., the oldest of three children. Her father, Roland Lanser, had been a U.S. infantryman in Germany during World War II and, upon his return, moved the family often. They finally settled in Littleton, Colo., where Jan’s mother, Vivian Lanser, worked as a special education teacher and Roland became a

46

‘She Believed Everyone Has an Artist Inside Them’ LINDA “JAN” DANZIGER, May 18, 1943-July 18, 2025

BY K E N P IC AR D • ken@sevendaysvt.com

professor of education at the University of Denver. When Jan enrolled at the university, she majored in art education.

It was there, in 1960, during her first fall semester, that Jan met Jeff Danziger.

He was an art major who would go on to become a nationally syndicated political cartoonist — and her husband.

“She was very sweet, very shy but also very determined,” Jeff recalled about his first impressions of Jan. He proposed to her “almost immediately” after their first date, though the couple waited until he graduated in 1965 to marry.

Within a year, the Danzigers decided to buy some land. Through a national real estate catalog, they found a defunct farm in Plainfield with a house, barn and orchard on 50 acres, plus gorgeous views of Camel’s Hump. The cost: $8,500.

In 1967 Jeff was drafted and spent four years in the U.S. Army, including nearly a year in Vietnam. Matthew, the couple’s first child, was born in 1969 while Jeff was still away. Upon his return, Jeff began teaching art at U-32 Middle & High School in Montpelier, while Jan taught in Barre and East Montpelier before getting hired at Twinfield in 1972. Two years later, the Danzigers adopted Kim, then an infant, from Cambodia.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Though Jan and her friend Wells both taught at Twinfield, they met through their husbands. As a political cartoonist, Jeff often worked with Wells’ first husband, the late Stephen Terry, who was then managing editor of the Rutland Herald.

The couples occasionally had dinner together at the Danzigers’ home, which Wells said was “like something out of a museum.” During the winter holidays, decorations and candles in every room recalled a Hans Christian Andersen story.

The two women spent a lot of time together, initially through the Plainfield Little Theatre, which put on Gilbert and Sullivan plays each year. They also served on the library board — Wells as chair, Jan as treasurer — and volunteered in leadership roles with Delta Kappa Gamma.

Through the latter, Jan created an arts retreat in Plainfield, introducing women to painting, mosaics, pottery and writing haiku. Several years ago, the now-annual retreat was renamed the Jan Danziger Arts Day in her honor. Said Wells, “She believed everybody has an artist inside them.”

When Jeff decided to move to New York City in 1980 to pursue a full-time career as a cartoonist, he and Jan divorced.

“She was willing to let people do what they wanted to do,” he said. It was an amicable

parting, and Jan remained close to Jeff and his family for the rest of her life.

“She was very sweet and diplomatic,” Kim said. “She didn’t like confrontation at all.”

“Jan would never admit that [she and Jeff ] had split up and kept her wedding rings on,” added Wells, who only learned of the divorce through her ex-husband. “I was like, ‘You don’t need to keep this secret from me. I’ve already been through this!’” she told Jan. “But we still had each other, so life went on.”

Indeed, for years the two women often traveled together: to England for a theater trip, to China on a three-week trip for Vermont educators, and to Maine and the Adirondacks in the summer. They performed in a musical trio, with Jan on cello and Wells on flute. And they played cards, at which Jan was “ruthless,” Wells said.

After her divorce, Jan bought a rundown brick house in Plainfield village and restored it. The restoration was so stunning that when Wells remarried, in 1992, Jan hosted her reception.

“It was gorgeous … She pulled out all the stops,” Wells recalled. “That’s the kind of thing she was really good at.”

At Twinfield, Jan excelled as an educator. In 1986 she received the Outstanding Educators Award from the University of Vermont College of Education. Two years later, she invited students to make re-creations of famous artworks from around the world, then hung them throughout the building. The “Children’s Museum of Great Art,” as Jan dubbed it, made such an impression that then-governor Madeleine Kunin came to Twinfield to present her with an award while the Vermont Youth Orchestra played.

“It was a big, big deal,” Kim said.

Among the kids who contributed art to the children’s museum was Yung Oh Le Page, then a recent transfer student.

Like Jan, Le Page had been a military brat whose family relocated often. He struggled in school and had a troubled relationship with his father and stepmother. When Le Page’s father kicked him out of the house, Jan invited the teenager to move into her house.

“I got to witness what real parenting was, just seeing how she supported Kim,” he said. “She was like another mom to me.”

Now 54, Le Page went on to become an artist and educator himself, getting his first art job at the Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York City. “I found my calling,” he said, “and Jan definitely had a big part in that.”

He wasn’t the only one. After Jan’s death, several former students posted memories of her on Facebook. Many

COURTESY PHOTOS

Jan Danziger with her husband, Jeff

WE READ SEVEN DAYS EVERY WEEK

AND IT’S TIME WE SUPPORTED IT. YOU ROCK!

– Michelle Sault, Colchester SUPER READER SINCE DECEMBER 2025

Jan and her son, Matthew

MY MOM’S ROOM WAS WHERE THE KIDS WOULD

GO TO HANG OUT AND FIND SOLACE. K I M D A NZ IG ER

described her as the best art teacher they’d ever had.

“Every time I pick up a pencil or paint brush, I hear Jan’s quiet encouragement,” wrote Stephanie Carter Caplan, of Belhaven, N.C. Isaiah Quittner, now a Burlington artist, remembers how Jan not only paid for art supplies out of her own pocket but also provided him and others with a “safe space” to pursue their creativity. As he wrote, “She always left the light on for anyone who needed it, in this community and beyond.”

In 2015, Jan retired from teaching at 72. A year later, her happy-go-lucky persona was upended when her son,

Matthew, whom the family thought had beaten throat cancer, experienced a sudden brain bleed and died soon after.

“I think she truly believed that if you’re good, then good things happen to you, and if you’re bad, then bad things happen to you,” Shepard said. Matthew’s death “shattered that notion of the world.”

Kim remembers her mom making a point of the fact that she never cried afterward.

“She never told me, but I could tell it was hard for her,” she said.

As Jan’s health deteriorated in the last few years, she reached a point at which Kim and Shepard no longer felt comfortable with her living alone in her Plainfield house. For a time she lived in a Shelburne retirement home — until COVID-19 hit, when Kim invited her to move into their house in Burlington’s New North End. There, she kept a modest art studio with her cello and landscape paintings.

Jan, who never drank, smoked or tried drugs, was very much of a “bygone era of white-picket fence America,” Shepard recalled.

“She was proud of the fact that she never even had coffee,” he added. “Her ‘wild night’ was a cup of caffeinated tea.”

Thus he and Kim chuckled at a memory from Jan’s final days in hospice, when she reluctantly agreed to a shot of morphine to ease her pain. Moments later, she looked around, perked up and said, “I feel quite good!”

“I bet you do!” Shepard recalled saying. “That’s a lot stronger than a cup of tea.”

When Jan died, “It was about as peaceful as it could have gone,” Shepard noted.

Or, as Jan might have considered it, a befitting end to a beautiful life. ➆

Welcome, new Super Readers!

These wonderful people made their first donation to Seven Days this month:

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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food+drink

Posole at El Comal

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

Decidedly Delicious Dig into our favorite bites and sips of 2025

B Y JORD A N BA RRY & MELISSA PASAN E N • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com, pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

T

he job of covering Vermont’s vibrant culinary scene is never bland. As food writers, we crisscross the state seeking to taste as much as we can. And we’re constantly impressed with the seemingly boundless creativity and energy of local farmers, artisans, chefs and hospitality professionals.

2025 served up ample fresh takes on food and drink, as well as crave-worthy classics begging to be shared. As is always the case for this annual recap, it was a struggle to narrow down our “best of” candidates to seven each that represent the breadth of what we’ve especially loved over the past 12 months.

From Oaxacan posole to an elegant French onion tarte tatin, with pit stops for Mumbai street food, maple halvah-topped creemees and locavore spirits, here are this year’s favorites — a Seven Days-style baker’s dozen with a doughnut double-up thrown in for good measure.

Because you should always make room for one more doughnut, right?

M . P.

Soul-Soothing Soup El Comal, 28 Taft Corners Shopping Center, Williston, 764-0279, elcomalwillistonvt.com

Apparently, it’s an annual tradition for me to celebrate chicken soup. Last year I sang the praises of the matzo ball soup at Leo & Co. in Essex. This year, it’s the deeply restorative posole from El Comal, a small Williston eatery that two Vermonters with Oaxacan roots opened in January.

Cayetano Santos and his business partner, Casimiro De Jésus Martínez, buy corn, beans and dried chiles from Indigenous farmers, and their small team crafts every dish from scratch.

That includes the laborious process of making fresh masa daily for tortillas and the crunchy totopos that come with the posole.

Santos told me that the restaurant sources one corn variety just for the posole. The housemade broth is filled with plump, chewy, hand-peeled heirloom kernels and tender, shredded, locally raised chicken. Fresh, crunchy vegetables top it, and I add fresh lime juice and El Comal’s smoky, guajillo chile-based red salsa with a generous hand.

Every sip warms body and soul, like Mama’s penicillin does the world over.

EVERY SIP WARMS BODY AND SOUL, LIKE MAMA’S PENICILLIN DOES THE WORLD OVER.

M.P.

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COURTESY OF KEVIN BARRY

Top Dog 10 Green Street, Vergennes, 10greenstreetvt.com

I’ve had lots of occasions to visit 10 Green Street since the sweet wine bar and furniture showroom opened in December 2024 — it’s walkable from my house.

One summer night, co-owner and La Montañuela winemaker Camila Carrillo introduced me to Vino Freddo, a new chilled red from West Pawlet’s Farmer Wines. She poured me a glass of her Florecita Rockera sparkling coferment on my birthday. On several Sunday mornings, Carrillo’s husband and co-owner, Nathan D’Aversa, has gathered a crowd to watch Premier League soccer. (Go Gunners.)

The most surprisingly delightful visit, though, was for a hot dog. In July, Carrillo recruited her mom to make Colombian hot dogs, a popular street food where her family is from. They sold out in two hours.

Mine was the most loaded dog I’ve ever had. Topped with pink sauce, mustard, mozzarella, pineapple sauce and crushed potato chips — with optional quail eggs and pickled onions — it was all at once savory, sweet, crunchy and a little drippy. I smiled the whole time I ate it, which wasn’t very long, to be fair.

The Little City is lucky to have 10 Green Street — and now Castel’s Jerk Joint, with its excellent Jamaican food — to spice things up.

J. B .

DECIDEDLY DELICIOUS

» P.52

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112 LAKE STREET, BURLINGTON VT

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Colombian hot dog at 10 Green Street

112 LAKE STREET, BURLINGTON VT

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FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Decidedly Delicious « P.51

Farm to Flame The Shepherd’s Hearth, Danville, theshepherdshearth.com. Note: The Shepherd’s Hearth is on winter break and will post 2026 public event dates in the spring.

M . P.

Wild Times Wilder Wines, 210 College St., Burlington, 540-1048, wilderwinesvt.com

2025 was the year of the wine bar. Bar Renée, Wilder Wines and La Reprise all opened in Burlington in the spring, each with its own personality. I love them all.

The surge of places to drink good wine from good people is great for Vermont’s wine world.

My favorite sip from the three was Wilder Wines’ lambrusco spritz. The lower-alcohol option is a combination of its namesake Italian sparkling red wine, Ghia nonalcoholic aperitif, grapefruit 52

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

A duck egg frittata from the Shepherd’s Hearth

Halvah and tahini sundaes at Holy Halvah

MELISSA PASANEN

I showed up at the Capital City Farmers Market in Montpelier early on a mid-June morning eager to see what the Shepherd’s Hearth team would whip up.

Make that fire up.

The market vendor makes everything on-site with ingredients sourced almost exclusively that day from their fellow farmers and food producers. Intrinsic to the operation is a Brazilian-style, 6.5-foot-high, custom-welded grill on wheels. Chef Jesse Kaufman, who runs the itinerant food business with his wife, Lucia, cooks the menu over the live fire.

Plenty of vendors at Vermont’s many markets serve good food, from farmers griddling breakfast sandwiches and juicy burgers to entrepreneurs sharing global dishes of their native lands. But Kaufman’s menu is on a different level.

As one appreciative customer said, the fare could easily have been served at any of the state’s farm-to-table destination restaurants. That Saturday, the menu included a duck egg frittata with bacon-leek sausage and fromage blanc; smashed, Greek-style beef meatballs with butter-roasted carrots; and miso-maple chicken with bok choy.

I’ll have to wait until next year’s outdoor cooking season to see if Kaufman repeats a favorite of Em Virzi of Northfield’s Union Brook Farm, whose eggs and sausage starred in the fluffy, yolk-bright frittata. “‘Give me more chicken hearts’ is not what I normally say when someone feeds me chicken hearts,” Virzi said with a grin.

Sipha Lam at Wilder Wines

juice and a Castelvetrano olive — all served over pebble ice, the unequivocal best kind.

Owner Sipha Lam mentioned the drink in January, when we reported on her tiny natural wine shop’s move and expansion to College Street. When she opened her gorgeous new bar and slightly larger retail shop in May, the spritz was the first thing I tried. (I’d been dreaming about it the whole time.)

Since then, I’ve enjoyed stunning glasses of rosé with nectarine-ricotta toast in Wilder’s cozy couch-chairs; picked up bottles of Mexican wine and Spanish vermouth; and learned a thing or two from the smart, welcoming staff. The spritz isn’t exactly a winter drink, but I’m sure things will keep sparkling there into 2026.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

J. B .

The Sweetest Thing Holy Halvah, 28 North St., Bristol, holyhalvahvermont.com

I first tasted Rebecca Freedner’s version of halvah, the sesame-based Middle Eastern confection, at the Shelburne Farmers Market. For a uniquely Vermont spin, she’d sweetened it with her Lincoln neighbor’s certified-organic maple syrup.

As people caught wind of how good the crumbly, melt-on-your-tongue Holy Halvah was, the business took off.

Earlier this year, after Holy Halvah had outgrown her home kitchen, Freedner rented a production space in downtown Bristol. As the weather warmed, inspiration struck. Freedner and her partner, Shaun Dedrickson, had always suggested customers try halvah crumbled over ice cream. Why not put

their advice into action with a seasonal creemee stand?

I practically drooled into the phone as Freedner described plans to top local dairy creemees with shards of her original white sesame halvah or a newer version made with black sesame tahini. The sundaes could also be gilded with warm, maplesalted tahini drizzle; maple whipped cream; and caramelized bananas.

When I finally got to spoon a sundae into my mouth, it was better than I could have imagined: a savory-sweet, creamy delight shot through with ripples of texture.

Holy Halvah is available year-round at local stores for DIY halvah sundaes. For Freedner’s inspired creations, hang tight until she starts swirling again in May.

M.P.

Comfort Food From Our Kitchen to Yours

food+drink

NOW OPEN!

Peace on Earth Peace Burger at Afterthoughts, 8 Route 17, Waitsfield, 261-7465, peaceburgervt.com

FILE: JORDAN BARRY

For our Food Issue in June, we took a road trip. Well, several road trips — six of us headed out for movable feasts at recently opened restaurants around Vermont. I went to Waitsfield for a really excellent burger.

Aaron Zurcher opened his bar-side burger joint in January at Afterthoughts, conveniently located above Valley Meade cannabis dispensary, in case your munchies need a jump start.

Peace Burger is fast-food inspired, serving rip-offs of American classics. But it’s way better than what you can get at a drivethrough. And there are crinkle fries!

The burgers are made with ground beef from nearby 5th Quarter — which had its own banner Burgers and fries at Peace Burger year, expanding and rebranding as the new owner of Mad River Taste Place and landing local meats on pretty much every menu everywhere.

Zurcher is a genius at topping combos and ratios, original or otherwise. This summer, I had the Roundup: a double smash patty with bacon, American cheese, crispy onions, pickled jalapeños and barbecue sauce. Pickle burgers, Thanksgiving turkey burgers and Caesar-inspired Brutus burgers with hot Calabrian chile sauce are reasons for me to make return trips.

This winter, sled down the mountain and grab yourself a burger. You can thank me later.

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TO OUR CUSTOMERS & FRIENDS Thank you all for another busy and fun holiday season!

Every year at this time we're filled with gratitude from the support we feel from our community. Wishing you all

J. B .

a happy & healthy holiday

Barfly Dreams

season and the best for 2026.

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

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

Cue the tiny violins to play a lament for the food writer who wants very much to become a regular somewhere but is always bustling on to try the next new place instead. If she were to have her wish, however, you might find her hanging out with a glass of Sancerre and a crunchy gem lettuce salad with radishes, candied pecans and shaved Gruyère at the beautifully tiled bar of La Reprise. The wine bar, store and restaurant rose like a phoenix from the ashes of Dedalus this year.

Chef Brian Popov’s menu is succinct but always on point. Pastas are perfectly al dente and sauced with skill, seafood is handled with the delicate touch it requires (but Clockwise from left: Papardelle, Clos Sainte Magdeleine rosé, is so rarely accorded), and tomato toast, Oddero “Convento” red wine, steak tartare and halibut at La Reprise vegetarian mains never feel like second-class citizens. The expansive wine list comes with expert guidance from the staff, led by La Reprise owner Ari Sadri.

One summer’s eve, Sadri suggested a glass of crisp, salt-kissed Clos Sainte Magdeleine rosé to pair with a fat slab of toast slathered with garlic aioli and juicy tomato pulp, then crowned with sheer ribbons of ham. I would belly up to the bar for that any day of the week.

M . P.

DECIDEDLY DELICIOUS

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Decidedly Delicious « P.53 From left: Beth Herbert, Nevin Taylor and Tyler Akabane in the Bliss Farm barn kitchen

How Now, Brown Spirits?

High Drive Distillery, 2703 Bridgman Hill Rd., Hardwick, 472-8889, highdrivedistillery.com.

Available at 802 Spirits stores around Vermont.

The 250 acres of organic corn, rye, oats and barley fields sprawled over Nick and Taylor Meyer’s Hardwick hilltop look much as they did for the 40 years it was a dairy farm. But in the barn, the brothers have swapped cows for booze.

They’ve filled the former milking parlor with shiny tanks and a hybrid copper still. Barrels full of whiskey slumber, awaiting release.

FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

FILE: JORDAN BARRY

An Evening of Bliss Bliss Farm, 74 High St., Chester, blissfarmvt.com

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

FILE: JORDAN BARRY

J . B.

Hudak Farm, 599 St. Albans Rd., Swanton, 527-1147, hudakfarm.com. Note: Hudak makes cider doughnuts only in September and October.

Mr. Creemee, 377 Pine St., Burlington, mrcreemee.com

FILE: MELISSA PASANEN

This one’s not just a best bite of the year, it’s a best night of the year.

On Fridays and Saturdays from June through October, Beth Herbert and Nevin Taylor host dinners on their small Chester farm. The barn beckons with string lights and fresh-picked flowers. Herbert brings in squash and peppers and herbs from the garden, and Taylor — a chef with all the chops in the world — transforms it into dinner for 30.

I was at Bliss Farm on an extra-special night in July, when the couple’s friend and Somerville, Mass., mushroom man Tyler Akabane showed up with heaps of yellow chanterelles, lobster mushrooms and chicken of the woods.

People get a little worked up about Boston encroaching on the Green Mountains, but it’s nice to experience an injection of energy from its big-city food scene every once in a while — especially when our local industry folks have ties there as strong as Taylor and Hebert’s are.

As the team prepped mounds of mushrooms in the barn’s kitchen, with a pizza oven glowing right outside, the vibe was all Vermont. I chomped into a crostini with chanterelles, whipped ricotta and corn, sharing BYOB beer with tablemates-turned-friends under the setting sun.

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Double Doughnuts

Hudak Farm’s cider doughnuts

Mr. Creemee doughnut sandwich

The Seven Days food team has a welldocumented love affair with doughnuts.

This year, we’re indulging in a twofer.

My pick was an exceptional, fromscratch cider doughnut freshly fried in lard at Hudak Farm in Swanton, available in September and October. Not only is this one of the few places to find the Vermont fall classic prepared without the aid of a packaged mix, but the gingerbread-house farm store and quirky antique fryer make a visit there a slam dunk.

It’s a tease to get readers excited about something they can’t taste until next September, though. So allow us also to shout out the recently opened Mr. Creemee on Pine Street in Burlington, an expansion of Little Gordo Creemee Stand on South Union Street. (The latter is now under the Mr. Creemee umbrella and open year-round, too.)

On top of churning out housemade creemees, Mr. Creemee bakes fresh pastries, including delectable doughnuts such as eggnog crème-filled and strawberry cheesecake. My fellow food writer, Jordan Barry, described the doughnut creemee sandwich as “a fluffy yet structurally thoughtful cinnamon-sugar doughnut sliced in half and stuffed with a creemee swirl” — an all-seasons treat.

M.P.

Corn, barley, clover and rye, some of the ingredients grown at High Drive Distillery

I first sampled High Drive Distillery’s spirits in May, when Juniper Bar & Restaurant bar manager Kate Wise texted about a new gin I had to try. She’s a trustworthy source when it comes to booze, so I stopped in for a refreshing Crimson and Clover cocktail as soon as I could.

The drink’s name nods to one of High Drive’s very Vermonty botanicals: the state flower. Red clover grows in fields all over the farm and was a favorite snack for the dairy cows. Tasting the smooth, floral gin again with Nick and Taylor in their future on-farm tasting room — after which I sampled their now-released bourbon and not-yet-on-the-market rye — I wondered briefly what the cows would think. A few sips later, I thought, Moo cares?

J.B.

food+drink

TRACKS TAVERN

No Fooling The Wise Fool, 260 North St., Burlington, wisefoolvt.com

A BROOKSIDE HIDEAWAY BELOW THE PITCHER INN

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

Elliot Sion grew up in Manhattan amid the city’s glorious culinary smorgasbord, raised on the cooking of his Jewish-Egyptian-Syrian family and halal street carts. The Wise Fool restaurant — which the former Honey Road chef opened in Burlington’s Old North End this year with his Becca Christie and Elliot Sion wife, Becca Christie — honors both with its affordable yet high-quality menu of the Middle Eastern diaspora.

Generous family platter combos star Sion’s excellent marinated chicken shawarma, herby falafel or spiced kofta made with local beef.

Chunky fries crunch satisfyingly, and griddle-freckled, housemade laffa bread is soft and flaky.

Do not miss the fatayer — though I highlight them to my own detriment, since the kitchen makes a limited number daily. The small, triangular, savory Lebanese pies are made with laffa dough, filled with cheese or kofta beef, and served with a lemon wedge. The cheese version, with its savory mixture of creamy Bulgarian sheep’s milk feta, herbs and fried onions, is especially good. Race you there.

M . P.

Club Sandwich

FILE: JORDAN BARRY

Garam Tava Club, pop-ups in Chittenden and Addison counties, @garamtavaclub on Instagram

Katherine Patel told me she hasn’t run out of things to do with vegetables, but if she did only one thing — the Bombay Frankie — I’d be fine with it.

Patel launched her Garam Tava Club pop-up and catering biz in March. In the fall, she held regular events at Tandem in Bristol and Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg.

The Frankie is her most popular item, a “cult classic” street dish from Mumbai, Patel explained, of roti filled with Bombay Frankie (right) and other dishes from Garam Tava Club richly spiced potato; shredded carrot, cabbage and onion; green chutney; and fresh chile vinegar. Patel rolls each flatbread by hand and cooks them on a tava, the flat steel stovetop pan that gives her business its name.

My first bite of the handheld wrap reminded me of the approximately 10,000 achari paneer kati rolls I ate at the Kati Roll Company on MacDougal Street while slogging through grad school at New York University. But it was better: fresher, spicier, crunchier, and wrapped in roti that’s somehow pillowy and chewy at the same time.

I’ll follow Garam Tava Club wherever it goes next year. Nothing snaps you out of winter doldrums quite like vibrant Western Indian flavors and blaring Bollywood music.

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J. B .

DECIDEDLY DELICIOUS

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Decidedly Delicious « P.55

Winging It

A plate of hot and cold bar selections, including Misty Knoll wings, at Stone Soup

Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup, 211 College St., Burlington, 862-7616, stonesoupvt.com

LOVE SCOTCH?

TRY AMERICAN SINGLE MALT AT

FILE: MELISSA PASANEN

Chicken wings are everywhere, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when someone told me that Burlington’s best could be found on the hot bar at Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup. Turns out, these chicken wings come with a pedigree, an intriguing backstory involving recipe secrets. But mostly, they are just really good and unlike any other wing around.

MORE FOR LESS • 802-503-9373 The daily wing roast is expertly BLESSEDEACHDAYVT@GMAIL handled by Stone Soup co-owner Avery Rifkin, who follows a recipe that his business partner, Tim Elliott, 12v-MoreforLess121025.indd 1 12/16/25 4:55 PM “borrowed” many years ago from the late, legendary Five Spice Café. The bronzed wings come out with sticky, caramelized skin. Bittersweet molasses balances a soft buzz of heat from loads of black pepper and sambal chile sauce.

Elliott fervently believes that recipes belong to everyone, and he’ll gladly share this one with anyone who asks. It’s

easier, though, to just fly by Stone Soup and grab a dozen.

M.P.

Work of Tarte Café Monette, 97 N. Main St., St. Albans, 782-8079, cafemonettevt.com

Each year, a restaurant opens that we just know will be good. This year, I wasn’t psychic — I met the Café Monette team for a preview a couple of months before the St. Albans spot launched. Under the auspices of interviewing Adam Monette, Tyler Comeau and Henry Long about their teacher-student mentorship, I sampled their R&D versions of housemade pâté and Toulouse sausage.

After the chic, French-ish restaurant threw open its garage doors in August, I learned they’d held back a real banger: the onion tarte tatin. It was sumptuously savory, with a quenelle of Boursin cheese atop layers of silky caramelized onions atop flaky pastry. I’d like to eat it several times, with different glasses of damn cool natty wine from the carefully curated list. (Gut Oggau? Get outta here.)

The service was great, the produce was local, there were baguettes for the road, and Café Monette’s trio of partners seemed to be having a bunch of fun through the window in the open kitchen. Good, indeed.

J.B.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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culture

The Things He Left Behind Fifty years after making Burlington his home, British author Tim Brookes examines what it means to leave B Y T I M BR OOKES

F

ew things make you consider your values more than having to condense 50 years of possessions down to 250 cubic feet for shipping back to the country of your birth, where you’re planning to return.

I’m thinking of Tim O’Brien’s book about Vietnam, The Things They Carried, but now that the transatlantic movers have come and gone, I’m looking at the things I didn’t pack, the things I’m leaving behind.

If I were more sentimental, I would try to find a way to take everything; if I were less so, I would take pretty much everything to the dump. No, I’m on the cusp, asking the questions many people my age ask: What, exactly, has value? What do you believe in? What can you do with your past, your future?

I’m asking these questions in this public forum because two other questions come up that may involve you, too: Why would someone cross the Atlantic to make this city, Burlington, and this state, Vermont, his home? And why, after half a century, would he decide to leave?

Tim Brookes in Burlington in 1974

ESSAY

I.

58

The author, equipped with the hair of the day, stands outside the Sewards restaurant that used to be on the corner of Main and St. Paul.

He is holding what is called a Pig’s Dinner, having just discovered the American love of All You Can Eat and Then Some. Note the relative lack of trees. In the early 20th century, Burlington was almost invisible from the air under its tree cover. The rise of the automobile and the arrival of Dutch elm disease left Burlington a hot, dusty town. All the plantings since then, here and all over the city, say a lot about who we are. Who you are.

COURTESY

I arrived in Burlington on August 11, 1974, by bus from Montréal. I had just turned 21, and by absurd luck I had landed a teaching job at the University of Vermont. What really stayed with me from those first months were the sky, the houses and the snow.

For the first two weeks, every day was cloudless, the sky a deep and precise blue I had never seen in humid England.

Everything — roofs, trees, cupolas — stood out against it as if etched. I spent those two weeks wandering the city by foot, attracted especially to the Hill Section — not because of its affluence but because every house was, and is, different, sporting eccentric turrets and improbable porches painted in colors I had never seen on a house, especially in England, where uniformity is a virtue.

And a few months later, on New Year’s Eve, it snowed the most perfect snowfall

I had ever seen, fat flakes descending in stately silence.

To me, the houses said, You can do anything here. The sky said, There will always be hope. The snow said, This is a season you have never known before. You

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

will play indoor tennis and indoor soccer, you will go sledding with your daughters, and even though you will have to dig out your car and shovel your driveway, you will love the Vermont winter as the gift of a season you never knew existed.

II.

Sorting through the things I didn’t ship and now have to sell, give away or throw out — it’s a life review.

Even though I don’t own much clothing, it’s amazing how little of it I

actually wear. Going through the closet, I find things I’ve moved from house to house for years and never even thought of wearing. How did I understand my own tastes so poorly? How did I get things so wrong?

At the other extreme, nothing has had more use than my oldest possession, the white duvet my mother gave me when I went away to college in 1973, which moved with me more than 20 times, an essential, almost transcendent object.

When either of my daughters fell ill, I laid them on the couch and tucked the duvet, increasingly ragged, around them. In sixth grade, Maddy, sick all year, wrote a personal essay for school in which she said, “I lie under the white blanket, which we claim has magical healing properties.”

Now it is in the garage, used as padding when I transport my Endangered Alphabets carvings. On my workbench next to it, all my little plastic boxes of nails and screws. Every nail, every screw, is a project waiting to happen — now a project that will never happen.

would never have tried journalism, which means I would never have spent the rest of my life in a spirit of exploration and inquiry. Nobody would ever have told me my writing was funny, so I would never have developed my career at National Public Radio, writing short personal essays, telling jokes, looking at my country of choice with the amused distance of the Englishman. Without these unexpected possibilities (which local papers in England would never have offered), I would have remained a precious, pretentious would-be poet and short-story writer, revolving slowly in the stale atmosphere of my own thoughts.

And I would have, quite possibly, never learned to appreciate the world and its people.

All those things added up, somehow, to a belief that if something didn’t exist

WHY WOULD SOMEONE CROSS THE ATLANTIC TO MAKE THIS CITY, BURLINGTON, AND THIS STATE, VERMONT, HIS HOME?

III.

AND WHY, AFTER HALF A CENTURY, WOULD HE DECIDE TO LEAVE?

IV.

Now I’m throwing out evidence of achievement. Division I soccer championship medal. Division I soccer championship jacket. Cricket trophies.

(Yes, even in Vermont.) Shelves of my own books and articles in magazines and newspapers. Various citations and commendations. I’m glad I had them, but now they can get tossed. I know who I am.

I know what I’ve done. I’ve always been more interested in what I’m going to do next — an American perspective.

V.

Or is it? Well, at one point it was. What drew me to America — what made me an evangelist for America in the face of my English friends’ sarcasm and mockery — was that spirit of optimism and hope that I saw in the cloudless sky, the homes of many colors. Where did that go, that sense of endeavor and purpose?

For me, it started to ebb in the ’80s, when the country was rebranded by credit-card companies and Mercedes commercials and, well, TV evangelists as the world’s capital of debt spending.

COURTESY OF TIM BROOKES

Someone who has never visited Burlington, or someone who has never left Burlington, has no idea how unusual a city she is. Let me give you two examples, one broad, one specific.

A city’s people make that city. Yet the city also attracts its people, and Burlington, and more broadly Vermont, attract people who attract, through a thousand activities I was glad to know were going on, even if I didn’t take part: sculpture in the woods and toy duck races on the lake, traditional musicians from Québec and women’s rockapella groups, tours of haunted houses, ax-throwing contests, crystal chakra alignment and Reiki healing, museums of everyday life and baseball games with cryptids, silos repainted as giant kaleidoscopes, political protests involving giant puppets, a chocolatier making Gay Bars and a brewer making beer infused with apricot, a film series accompanied by the odor of roasting garlic and a city clerk climbing over a chain-link fence to protest an arms maker.

But nobody would ever have known most of the things were going on but for the Vanguard Press, the state’s not-foranything-like-a-profit news and arts weekly, the down-at-heel stepfather to Seven Days. And, frankly, it was the Vanguard that set much of my life’s course when I started working there in 1983 after UVM ritually fired all its part-time instructors.

If it hadn’t been for the Vanguard, I

you could just make it happen. I started a monthly arts magazine at Vermont Public Radio; I started the Endangered Alphabets Project even though it occupied an intellectual niche nobody else knew existed. All on long hours and a zero budget, the Vermont way.

The brief flowering of a decade and a half slowed, then began to reverse.

James Watt and drilling in wilderness areas, the back-door Americanization of Rupert Murdoch, the Clarence Thomas hearings and the character assassination of Anita Hill — the tide turned with what the poet Matthew Arnold called a “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar.”

And just as Arnold predicted, more and more over the following decades we found ourselves “on a darkling plain / Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, / Where ignorant armies clash by night.”

VI.

As I was working on this essay in Muddy Waters, the Burlington coffee shop where I’ve been going to write for 30 years, a gent of roughly my age saw me writing with a pen, in a notebook — today’s new retro cool — and introduced himself. We exchanged one-paragraph life stories, and he shook his head in disgust. One of his best friends, he said, was moving back to Australia because of the political climate.

“We’re driving away our best people,” he said.

VII.

The fact is, I’m not leaving Burlington, Vt.: I’m leaving America. As a 72-year-old who has to pay for his own health insurance, disaster is only one significant medical event away. As a green card holder who was once welcomed for his skills and potential contribution to the country, I may be only one expression of opinion away from deportation. And to my own astonishment, living in Cambridge, England (where I plan to move and set up my own quirky shop), seems richer in excitement and possibility than living in the country where I came, half a century ago, in search of those infusions of energy and hope.

So in the end, what I’m leaving behind is you, and I don’t feel good about that. I wish I could help. I wish I could throw a life belt off the stern of my ship as it departs, for one of you. As it is, all I can do is say, Hey, thanks for everything. I mean it.

And good luck. Good luck. ➆

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

We cover the arts!

Our culture reporters bring you the best of Vermont’s vibrant scene each week. Keep the coverage coming by supporting your paper. Donate today and become a Super Reader: sevendaysvt.com/donate.

Tim Brookes was born in London in 1953. He was educated at the University of Oxford and moved to Burlington in 1974. He has worked as a singer-songwriter-guitarist, a soccer coach, a tour guide, a newspaper deliverer, a teacher, writer, editor and publisher. He has written 23 books; more than 1,000 articles, columns, reviews and radio essays; and created three board games. He is the former director of the Professional Writing program at Champlain College and the founder of the Endangered Alphabets Project.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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on screen Net Flicks and Net Loss

The year in film: theaters, streaming and the rise of FOMO viewing B Y M ARG OT HAR RI S ON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

Weapons

COURTESY OF A24

60

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

A

couple of weeks ago, I received a press release I hoped was parody: Netflix was buying Warner Bros. But when I checked the New York Times, there it was in black and white: The streaming giant was set to acquire the venerable studio and HBO Max for $83 billion.

For older moviegoers who will never get used to seeing Amazon’s name on the MGM lion, the news was a blow. For many in Hollywood, too. Whatever you think of streaming services — their convenience is undeniable — they are gobbling their competition at an alarming rate.

In a December 6 follow-up story, the Times talked to Hollywood players who were reeling from the announcement.

Michael O’Leary, chief executive of theater trade organization Cinema United, put it bluntly: “Theaters will close, communities will suffer, jobs will be lost.” Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos assured investors that Warner Bros. movies would still have exclusive theatrical runs. But industry observers quoted in the story wondered how long that could last.

Netflix’s big move looks even more ominous in light of an earlier Times story.

On November 14, Brooks Barnes reported that “Hollywood Falls to New Lows.”

Over the preceding three months, 25 new dramas and comedies had bombed in theaters, including star-studded films that were pegged as award contenders, such as After the Hunt, Christy, Die My Love, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Bugonia. Sure, maybe some of these movies just weren’t that great. But audiences didn’t seem interested in leaving the couch to find out.

Meanwhile, people did go to theaters to see well-loved classics such as Back to the Future on the big screen, to sing along to the enormously popular KPop Demon Hunters (which initially had a streamingonly release on Netflix) and to enjoy their favorite anime series in movie form.

(According to Box Office Mojo, the year’s 17th most popular film is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — The Movie — Infinity Castle, ahead of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.)

Horror and horror-adjacent movies, such as Weapons and Sinners, were

alive, however, such as Montpelier’s Savoy Theater and St. Johnsbury’s Catamount Arts. This year’s impeccably curated Vermont International Film Festival offered an advance look at a bounty of exciting fare, and VTIFF screens such films year-round. Finally, newly opened Partizanfilm shows new indie and foreign films and repertory fare around the corner from the old Roxy, catering to cinephiles for whom the theater experience remains irreplaceable.

Traditionally, for this end-of-year roundup, I bestow honors on movies in various categories with cutesy names. This year, I find myself wondering, Why bother?

Most readers are still waiting to stream the award-worthy films of 2025 — or to buy tickets when those films get a bonus theatrical run after their big wins.

So this year, I’ll simply point out some 2025 movies I think are worth your time, whenever and wherever they happen to be available. Then, because we all know negativity drives engagement, I’ll add a few of my least favorites.

Movies That Took Me Back

Bring Her Back

additional exceptions to the disappointing box office pattern. So were movies that generated social media chatter, such as the timely One Battle After Another and the new Superman. And parents still take kids to theaters: Nine of the 10 top-grossing films of 2025 could be classified as family or family-friendly fare.

The conclusion seems hard to deny: These days, the average person goes to movie theaters for FOMO. If people aren’t debating a movie on your social feeds and the kids aren’t clamoring to see it, you’re likelier to wait for streaming.

The result is a vicious cycle — fewer

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

people seeing new movies in theaters means fewer movies reaching theaters — and a strange phenomenon of people lamenting on social media that “No one makes original/good/edgy movies anymore.” Or … maybe you just didn’t notice their one-week run at your local multiplex because you were too busy arguing over whether Zack Snyder or James Gunn understands Superman better?

Vermont is no exception to these trends. Since Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas closed in downtown Burlington, it’s become harder to see indie and prestige films. Smaller art houses keep the tradition

This year reminded us that period pieces don’t have to be stuffy. Take Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet (check local theaters), which transports us to the time of William Shakespeare to steep us in the reverent calm of a sylvan setting. Instead of the biopic you might expect, it tells an intimate, heartbreaking story of family life and the women whose deeds history didn’t record.

Sinners (HBO Max, video on demand) is a horror movie, yes. But it’s also writerdirector Ryan Coogler’s meticulous imagining of life in a small town in 1932 Mississippi, layered with history and lore, and his love letter to Black musical traditions. Somehow a movie about one wild night at a juke joint becomes an epic that echoes into our present.

Nia DaCosta’s Hedda (Prime Video), which screened at VTIFF but not in local theaters, updates Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler to 1950s England with a sumptuous gloss worthy of Douglas Sirk. Tessa Thompson’s diva turn earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Three Globe noms also went to The

Secret Agent, a Brazilian drama set in 1977 that is partly a tense thriller about corrupt cops and political refugees and partly an ode to the heyday of movie palaces. Like Coogler with Sinners, director Kleber Mendonça Filho achieves a rare degree of immersion in his setting. I was amazed by the wealth of buried memories the film unlocked with its feathered hairstyles, smoky interiors, craggy character actors, and clack-clack of typewriters and movie projectors. If you love the cinema of the ’70s and missed this one at VTIFF, try to catch it at the Savoy or elsewhere.

Sorry, Baby

COURTESY OF A24

Movies That Took Me Aback

Every year I see a lot of horror movies, but only a few make a strong impact. Weapons (HBO Max, VOD) was a fun watch. But Bring Her Back (HBO Max, VOD) hit me harder with its double whammy of grossout body horror and heartstring-tugging emotional drama.

Speaking of body horror, if you loved The Substance, don’t miss The Ugly Stepsister (AMC+, Disney+, Hulu, VOD), the feature debut of Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt, which retells the Cinderella story from the title character’s perspective. This is uncensored Brothers Grimm, with a new feminist spin. Set in the 19th century, the movie has a gossamer dreaminess that only makes the shocks more shocking.

The Tim Robinson cringe comedy Friendship (HBO Max, VOD) didn’t entirely land with me, yet it was weird enough to be memorable. Same with another movie about the hazards of male bonding, Lorcan Finnegan’s bizarre parable The Surfer (Disney +, Hulu, VOD), starring (who else?) Nicolas Cage. While Eddington (HBO Max, VOD) and Bugonia (VOD) took a more direct approach to satirizing toxic internet subcultures this year, one might argue that the obliqueness of Friendship and The Surfer was more effective. Time will tell.

The Long Walk

reaffirming the good parts of life (a best friend, a great sandwich) without denying the bad parts.

Movies That Take Economic Instability Dead Seriously

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After

I’ll go to bat for The Conjuring and its first sequel, but The Conjuring: Last Rites (HBO Max, VOD) is only for people with a real investment in the fictional version of the demon-hunting Warren family.

The draggy Honey Don’t! (Peacock, VOD) is simply not the comic neo-noir one might hope for from Ethan Coen. Jurassic World: Rebirth (Peacock, VOD) plays like a desperate effort to appeal to every demographic at once.

On the art-house side, I was frustrated with the repetitive, styled-to-perfection vision of maternal depression in Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love, but the film resonates with some viewers in a big way. To each their own!

I Didn’t Bother, Honestly

This year I skipped most of the superhero movies — excepting only Gunn’s fun take on Superman (HBO Max, VOD) — and Wicked: For Good. Most sequels these days feel like they’re made primarily for fans rather than casual or first-time viewers, and when you’re not a fan, your opinion isn’t much use to those who are.

COURTESY OF MURRAY CLOSE | LIONSGATE

Sentimental Value (check local theaters), from Norwegian director Joachim Trier, is a sad, funny, wonderful movie about one family’s secrets and lies, with gripping performances and a layer of commentary on the power of film itself. Recipient of eight Golden Globe nominations, it’s sure to have an Oscar presence.

A well-deserved Globe nomination also went to writer-director-star Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby (HBO Max, VOD), which had a brief local run over the summer. The plot pivots on an off-screen sexual assault, which may have kept viewers away. But at its heart, this is a bittersweet comedy about healing and

Movies That Weren’t for Me

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Movies That Are Just About People, and That’s Enough

One Battle After Another

who allows himself to be cloned and repeatedly killed off in the broad but funny Mickey 17 (HBO Max, VOD) from Bong Joon-ho (Parasite). Awaiting a Christmas release is Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, in which a laid-off manager in a dying industry sets out to improve his chances of getting hired by murdering the competition. The movie’s blend of dark comedy and sentiment may alienate some U.S. viewers, but it’s visually enthralling, with a final scene that couldn’t be more timely.

Class conflict showed up outside prestige films, too. The uneven horror comedy Companion (HBO Max, VOD) envisions an AI underclass. In the effectively bleak Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk (VOD), young men are willing to die for a chance at prosperity. Even Disney’s smash hit Zootopia 2 had a few things to say about ethnic and colonial oppression.

On My List

Another (VOD), which seems poised to sweep the Oscars, filled viewers with unabashed revolutionary fervor.

Meanwhile, two notable Korean directors adapted novels about working stiffs into blistering economic satires. Robert Pattinson plays a prole

Among the touted films I haven’t yet managed to see are Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme (Christmas wide release); Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee (Christmas limited release); Cannes Film Festival-honored Sirât (likely 2026 wide release); the recent Netflix releases Nouvelle Vague, Train Dreams and Jay Kelly; and the current and upcoming VOD releases It Was Just an Accident, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and Blue Moon.

Wishing you great movie experiences in the New Year — because yes, great movies are still out there. ➆

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art

Ones to Watch Standout Vermont artists to keep an eye on in 2026

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

W

COURTESY PHOTOS

e’ve seen a lot of art shows this year. While solo exhibitions give us the chance to dive deep into one artist’s work and devote many words to it, group shows don’t always allow us to discuss everyone’s art, or at least not in as much detail as we’d like. So we wanted to shine a little more light on seven artists from group shows we covered in 2025.

They practice in all kinds of media, from photography to ceramics, and are well worth watching in the New Year.

Emily Piccirillo emilypiccirillo.com

All that glitters is not gold — in March, silver works of art took over the main gallery of Studio Place Arts in Barre in celebration of the organization’s 25th anniversary. One of them, Emily Piccirillo’s “Below Zero,” interpreted the theme as a painting of bare trees silhouetted against a muted, gray winter sky. Like many of Piccirillo’s works, the canvas was not traditionally stretched but suspended from a metal frame that protruded a few inches from the wall. A handful of cords along its edge pulled the painting tight, like a skin over a drum.

The Burlington artist’s portfolio is a series of variations on that painting’s form: skies, trees, frames. Many pieces feature deep azure skies of summer, puffy white clouds or growing thunderheads.

Some are monumental and singular, such as “Crush,” which pictures an archetypal cloud in a blue sky; others, such as “Flush,” present multiple views of the sky over time, as the sun sets. Piccirillo’s style looks almost photographic in its accuracy, but her skies are suffused with painterly luminosity. Many of the canvases are also painted with saturated color on the back, giving a glow to the walls behind them.

Jordan Douglas

jordandouglasphotography.com

REVIEWS

Aimée Papazian aimeepapazian.com

In May, I was struck by Aimée Papazian’s installation “Which End Is Up? II” in “Signals” at K. Grant Fine Art, the final show before the Vergennes venue’s closure.

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Arkansas, where she lived before a 2022 move to Burlington. The piece evokes feeling disconnected from a discombobulated world during the pandemic.

Many of Papazian’s installations are murmurations of things: A public sculpture in an Arkansas library is a swarm of ceramic keys that seem to undulate and rise into the air above a stairwell. Others are literal word clouds: 3D versions of cursive text, looping and barely legible, suspended in front of a wall. One of the latter, installed in her studio for Burlington’s South End Art Hop, looks perfectly elegant but says, “shhhhh, just another asshole.”

“Crush” by Emily Piccirillo

This fall, Jericho photographer Jordan Douglas was everywhere. Soon after I saw his work in Calais’ Art at the Kent, we met when he organized the Rachel Portesi exhibition at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, where he teaches photography.

Shortly afterward, his photos were included in “Do We Say Goodbye? Grief, Loss, and Mourning” at BCA Center in Burlington.

(Catch it by January 24 if you haven’t yet.)

Douglas has made hundreds of photographs of objects that belonged to his parents, many in the form of contact grids featuring multiple images. At the Kent, he showed photos shot while cleaning out his late father’s house and studio; at BCA, the mementos were from his mother.

Both collections convey the absurdity of knowing and not knowing one’s parents, a feeling so familiar to those mourning their loss. Some objects, such as scissors or pencil stubs, are generic but communicate the absence of a hand. Others — a worn-out toy truck, an oil can — are inscrutable. Among his mother’s items is the Star of David she wore as a child in Nazi Germany, a weighty reminder of the trauma our stuff can hold.

“Imposter Syndrome Lullaby”

by Aimée Papazian

“Things of My Mother, Contact Grid #1” by Jordan Douglas

Chiara No

Papazian’s tiny ceramic trees, houses, birds and cars marched across topographic-style shelves that protruded from the wall and even the ceiling, as though the denizens of an architectural model had gone off on their own adventure.

The installation in Vergennes was a version of one Papazian presented at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., as part of “New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024,” which showcased regional artists. Papazian represented

Last month, Chiara No closed a solo show at Field Projects in New York City, and in January she will open a two-person show at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Connecticut. But I saw her work in a 22-artist exhibition at a Waitsfield venue:

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

chiara-no.com

ART SHOWS

“Idol (The Sybil)”

by Chiara No

“Earthen” at Mad River Valley Arts in June.

The Johnson artist contributed ceramic bells representing demons and inspired by terra-cotta artifacts from ancient Boeotia, in present-day Greece.

The bells are part of a larger body of work investigating the intersections of myth and domesticity.

No’s figures, meanwhile, capture the unnerving quality of antiquities at the juncture of art, function, spirituality and superstition — objects we don’t really understand but that spark a deep feeling of recognition and reverence. They have many eyes or many breasts, animal elements, and finely detailed decoration. Yet No also updates these figures, giving them brightly colored sandals or, in the case of “Idol (The Sybil),” a jaunty mortarboard hat with many tassels.

“Cochran's” by James Secor

The artist makes rugs — which she describes on her website as protective barriers and objects of transition — as well as a series of rug-beaters with metal handles in shapes that suggest words.

Her practice as a whole combines lightness with intellectual depth and offers a new way of looking at the ancient.

James Secor jamessecor.com

I have known James Secor for a decade, since we were both members of the Front gallery collective in Montpelier.

It’s been tremendous to see his work and painting career take off — including at “Spaces & Places,” which I viewed in July at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery.

The palette of Secor’s places grabs you right away. Cotton-candy pink, ONES TO WATCH

» P.64

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3/1/24 3:10 PM

art DEC. 26-JAN. 7

COURTESY

ALICE DODGE

“The Sound of Crows” by Julia Jensen

“Across oceans” by Veronica Y Pham .

Ones to Watch « P.63 butter yellow, sherbet orange or ICEE turquoise are often at the fore, but they sit cohesively alongside muckier browns and grays and dark greens. Texture plays an even more important role. Stripes abound on pavement, on clothing and in shadows; the Montpelier artist scrapes one color back to reveal a different hue underneath or builds layers that vibrate at the edges with an unexpected shade of something else.

All of this is in service of scenes that vary from landscapes to towns to interiors and are always some level of weird. Secor’s figures often share space while staying solitary — lost in a phone, a TV show or their own thoughts. He sketches from life, which you can see in his compositions: The light on his landscapes is stark and bright, the angles a little off. Objects many

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS ELIZABETH NELSON: “Meanwhile,” a solo show of paintings and drawings by the West Glover artist, who is known for her icy, expressive landscapes. Reception: Friday, January 2, 4-7 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, January 2-February 1. Info, info@thefrontvt.com.

‘ZERO CELSIUS’: A show of artwork that explores the textures, tensions and transformations of winter, presented at the gallery and at Sugarbush Resort, and featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography and digital media. Reception: Saturday, January

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painters avoid — power lines, parking meters, highway barriers — tend to be the most beautiful parts of the picture.

Veronica Y Pham . veronicapham.com

I first saw Veronica Y Pham’s work in .

September, in the Art at the Kent show in Calais. But an art listing of hers caught my eye months earlier: In April, she taught a Vietnamese papermaking workshop at Generator Makerspace in Burlington to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.

While I wasn’t able to make it to the event, I was so glad to encounter her work in person later in the year. The Burlington artist contributed several installations at the Kent: Downstairs, she stretched a handmade mulberry-twine net back and forth across a small hallway. It cast shadows on the walls and ceiling, adding to the building’s own textures. Another

17, 5:30-7 p.m. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield, January 7-April 23. Info, 496-6682.

ART EVENTS ASSETS FOR ARTISTS: ‘CULTURAL ORGANIZING FOR ARTISTS’: A Zoom workshop with interdisciplinary artist and cultural strategist Shey “Rí Acu” Rivera Ríos on ways artists can collaborate with local organizations, municipalities and other partners on projects that strengthen community well-being. Register at assetsforartists. workshops. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier,

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

sculpture presented dishes, teapots included, made solely from diaphanous paper fibers.

Upstairs, her installation “letters, gia đình ba” took over a full room of the museum. Vertical paper banners moved in the breeze. Looking closely, you could see watermarks of missing script, written in Vietnamese and not quite legible. Pham . traced her father’s handwriting when she made the paper, both erasing his words and letting the light shine through them.

Her use of the material makes the work poetic and poignant without our needing to know what’s been said.

Julia Jensen

juliajensenstudio.com

Vermont has more than its per-capita share of landscape painters, whether they moved here for the setting or were moved to paint by it. Setting out to see three holiday shows of small works this

Sunday, December 28, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ vermontartscouncil.org.

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 28, and Sunday, January 4, 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 29, and Monday, January 5, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation.

Info, 222-0909.

month, I expected lots of scenic views by accomplished painters. Julia Jensen, whose work is on view at Edgewater on the Green in Middlebury, is one of the best.

The artist, who splits her time between southern Vermont and Nantucket, has a juicy approach to paint, creating works with a loose, gestural style. She maintains depth and density — the paintings are worked and considered — while conveying a quick, expressionistic hand. Paintings teeter on the border between landscape and abstraction.

In “The Sound of Crows,” on view in the Edgewater small-works show despite its 40-by-40-inch size, a blurry pewter sky communicates humidity. Zippy streaks of yellow across a field of green create an absurd contrast yet still look exactly accurate. The artist’s confidence in what she’s seeing comes through loud and clear, making her scenes both believable and magical — just like Vermont. ➆

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-andwitness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, January 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation.

Info, 343-8172.

‘UNDERSTANDING COLOR’: A hands-on workshop with Sabrina Fadial exploring color in gouache, watercolor, pencil or collage. Open to all levels.

T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Tuesday, January 6, 7-9 p.m. $15 suggested donation.

Info, 222-0909. ➆

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

THE WORK OF PAPER

GALLERY WILL BE

CLOSED -

DEC 25TH JAN 6TH

Inviting artists to submit work that explores paper as material or concept.

SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: JANUARY 15TH, 2026 SHOW DATES: FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 28TH, 2026

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US AT info@ edgewatergallery-vt.com

SCAN FOR SUBMISSION FORM One Mill St and 6 Merchant’s Row, Middlebury Vermont 802-458-0098 & 802-989-7419

Juror: Danny Volk, Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art at the Southern Vermont Arts Center 2H-edgewater122425 1

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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music+nightlife

You wanted lists? You got ’em! ✔

THE VERMONT 2025

MUSIC SCENE

UNWRAPPED

BY C H R IS FAR NS W O R TH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

L Greg Fre

eman

Abbie Morin of Hammydown

Rough Francis

66

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

ike Indiana Jones famously said: “It ain’t the years; it’s the mileage.” 2025 has come and nearly gone, and let’s just say it left a mark. No, I’m not talking about America’s ongoing flirtation with fascism, bird flu, Diane Keaton dying, the bleaching of the coral reef, Saudi Arabian comedy festivals or even NBA betting scandals.

Who has time to think about all that when the Vermont music scene has just experienced a roller coaster of a year?

It was a rough one for live music venues, particularly in Burlington, which saw several crown jewels exit stage left. I’m still struggling to wrap my head around the fact that when I walk downtown to survey the city’s nighttime music offerings, my path no longer leads to Main Street and its neon, rotating marquee. Without the Nectar’s sign glowing in the night, it almost feels like the city’s “open” sign has been turned off.

ArtsRiot headed for the great venue in the sky as well, closing after years of upheaval and a carousel of owners.

By the time the South End club finally folded, it felt like it had actually been dead for years — the Abe Vigoda of clubs.

(What, too soon? RIP, Abe!) And speaking of death, we’ve had our share this year in the local music scene.

We lost legendary soundman Sergei Ushakov in February in what felt like a harbinger for the end of Nectar’s. A pair of folk musicians with long-running radio programs who left an outsize mark on the state, Robert Resnik and Jon Gailmor, both died in 2025. So did writer Jay Stevens, who wrote books on drumming with the Grateful Dead’s

Mickey Hart (see page 40). And the so-called “Godfather of Freak Folk,” Michael Hurley, who recorded some of his best work while living in Vermont in the 1970s and maintained connections here, died in April.

And RIP to Rough Francis. No, the Burlington punk rockers haven’t broken up or taken an ill-advised flight instead of getting on a bus — aka the Buddy Holly Maneuver. They just decided to ditch the name and work on different material.

Why, you say? Uh, reasons? As of press time, they’ve yet to announce their new moniker, but who says no to Rougher Francis, eh? What’s that? Everyone?

OK, fair. I’ll leave it to the professionals.

Either way, 2025 was it for Rough Francis, at least in name.

Despite all that, it was a banner year for local music. Indie acts Greg Freeman and Lily Seabird dropped big records garnering lots of buzz abroad, and bands such as Robber Robber, the Dead Shakers and the Wormdogs released some of their finest music.

The Green Mountain heavy hitters showed up as well. Grace Potter released Medicine, produced by T Bone Burnett; Neko Case dropped the excellent Neon Grey Midnight Green; and Noah Kahan … well, he’s still riding on Stick Season, but hey, he’s headlining Bonnaroo in 2026, so there’s that!

That’s just scratching the surface.

So I’m here to unwrap it all for you — you know, sort of like Spotify but without any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ads or investments in weapons developers!

Behold, the Vermont 2025 Music Scene Unwrapped. ➆

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Best Albums of the Ye

ar

, Greg Freeman Burnover se, Neon Grey 2. Neko Ca n Midnight Gree n, ow 3. Hammyd Former You Losambe, 4. Freddie e or m Never , ird ab 5. Lily Se ain nt ou M h Tras y, nt Ca 6. Caitlin es Night Owl Envi ve Do g in the Mourn d I’m Not Sad as Hell an I’m s, stle Ca r pe Pa 7.

It Anymore Going to Fake No School 8. Asterisk, hing Will Land onnell, Somet 9. Page McC ’s What I Call ers, Now That ak Sh ad De e 10. Th mbz 4 Kidz!

Missiles & Bo

1.

MUSICIANS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Acqua Mossa

Best Singles of the Ye

ar

1. Robber Ro bber, “Talkbac k” 2. Grace Po tter, “Oasis” 3. James Ko chalka Supers tar, “Good Frog 4. Willverin ” e, “do I do it fo r you?”

5. Jarv, “Rap 101” 6. Acqua M ossa, “Dirt” 7. Tom Gers hwin, “Belong Here” 8. COOP, “I Don’t Need Nob od ay” 9. Repelican , “Cloud Gets Fu ll” 10. Astral U nderground, “Your Father Is/Was a Vam pire”

Best Music Podcasts and Radio Shows

1. “Abstract VT ,” hosted by Abbey B.K. 2. “3SOME,” ho sted

by Fattie B 3. “Everyday Sunshine,” Abbey B.K. hosted by the Purple Shaman on W RUV 4. “The Soun ds of Burlington,” ho sted by Tim Lewis on WBK M 5. “Golden Hou r,” hosted by Tr avis Card and Shaun Machi a 6. “Rocket Sh op Radio Hou r” (RIP) on Big World, WBKM Heavy 7. “Load-In Th rough the Ba ck,” hosted by Millette and Pa Troy ul Varricchione 8. “Music to Go to the Dump By,” hosted by Najman on W Joel DEV 9. “Blues for Breakfast,” ho sted by Charlie on WIZN Frazier 10. “Cultural Bunker” host ed by Melo Gr WRUV ant on

FILE PHOTOS BY MATTHEW THORSEN AND LUKE AWTRY; PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREG FREEMAN AND ROUGH FRANCIS

Chris’ Arbitrary Aw a r d s

rden

Community Ga

(singer-songwriter, podcaster) Favorite Musical Moment of 2025: the Vermont’s Rising Creatives Workshop, hosted by Grand Point North and Senator Rocket of Eat Vermont. “The workshop gave me the chance to reconnect more deeply with familiar faces and also meet new people who have since become friends — and podcast guests. Sharing in the collective power of music and art was truly moving.”

Tim Lewis

(Burlington super fan, radio host) Favorite New Band of 2025: Coven.

“I’ve seen them several times and have been blown away every time.

Discovering Coven this year is one of my many highlights — I can’t say enough great things about them.”

Jon Ehrens

(Repelican, Vermont Public producer)

YETI MANE

Get Best Record to an ic er High to: Am E, s by YETI MAN ie ud St l Classica rchy to: ia tr Pa e th to Smash ng So st Be and Bri Lucas 2.

Violet Crimes by e” M n Ow : “Don’t the Woods to to Get Lost in ojekt Pr a ae ng 3. Best Song r Island” by Pa pe ni Ju on w “Sno oken Up: ish Hadn’t Br 4. Band I W en rd Community Ga cord: iss the ’90s” Re 5. Best “I M Phantom Suns Radiolaria by

1.

Abbey B.K.

Favorite Live Show of 2025: the Spirit of Vermont Festival. “Two of my favorite Burlington bands were scheduled back-to-back: Emerald Ground Water and Rockin’ Worms. A welcome change from the late-night black boxes that typically host these kinds of sounds.”

Luke Awtry

(musician, photographer) Favorite Live Show of 2025: Ohio underground rapper Blueprint, live at Green Door Studios in Burlington. “That dude blew me away.”

Ben Roth

(musician, DJ, radio host) Favorite Musical Memory of 2025: “The Burlington Electronic Department’s ‘Crop Ritual’ show in September was an astonishing experience.”

The Ultimate Vermont Mixtape Check out a Seven Days playlist celebrating 30 years of local music.

Scan to listen.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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7 Ways gets you through the week: 1. Trustworthy local reporting 2. Piping-hot food news 3. Thoughtful obituaries 4. Must-do events 5. “Stuck in Vermont” videos 6. Eye-opening personals 7. All the fun stuff: horoscopes, crosswords and Ask the Rev.

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68

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

S

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

COURTESY OF ALISON CLARKE

live music FRI.26

Carol Anne Jones & Will Patterson (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Dan Parks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

Free.

Lumos Live: A Vivaldi & Mozart Candlelight Experience (classical) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 6 p.m. $25-$70.

Mean Waltons (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

SAT.3

Forest Station (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Country Road (Americana) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Bob Gagnon (jazz) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Giovanina Bucci (singersongwriter) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 8 p.m.

Free.

Ethan Snyder (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Shanty Rats (sea shanties) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

No Chain, Casper Electronics, Massage Envy, Skin Tight, Burrows, Missandri (punk, techno) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Lazer Dad (tribute) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 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.

SAT.27

Andy Morse & Friends (roots rock) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Dale and Darcy (Americana) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

Dave Keller Band (swing, R&B) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

The Fairie Godbrothers (Americana) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Fool & the World, Autumn Chamberlain (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m.

Free.

George Murtie (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

Free.

George Nostrand (acoustic) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Greaseface, Court Etiquette (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Happy Spangler, Nancy Druids (indie rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Hard Scrabble (bluegrass, folk) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Jason Corbiere’s Blue Christmas (blues) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Planning for Burial, Wolf Girlz, Coffin Flop (shoegaze, post-metal) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $17.77/$23.32.

WED.31, THU.1 // GOGOL BORDELLO [PUNK]

Returnables (rock, blues) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

New Year’s Revolution Ukrainian American Eugene Hütz

North Beach Dub Allstars (Sublime tribute) at Red Square, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

’90s Queen City scene. After moving to New York City, he formed the sprawling Romani-

Ponyhustle, the Tenderbellies (folk, country) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $20.

Toast & Jams, Los Songoros (Latin) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 10 a.m. Donation.

Purple: A Tribute to Prince (tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $40/$45.

SUN.4

started his punk-rock career as front man for the Burlington band the Fags in the early punk powerhouse GOGOL BORDELLO, famed for their raucous live shows and Hütz’s raw,

unbridled energy. Recently the group has returned to its hardcore roots, releasing in October the powerful “We Mean It, Man!,” the lead single and title track of its forthcoming album. The singer still haunts his old scene regularly, and he and Gogol return to Vermont for a two-night New Year’s Eve run at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1.

Jester Jigs (rock) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Krishna Guthrie (folk, rock) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Mad Mojo (blues, rock) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

McMaple (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Organized Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Sabouyouma (Afrobeat) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 3 p.m. Free.

Waves of Adrenaline (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.28

Kirk Flanagan and Lars Murdock (acoustic) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Milton Busker (folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

MON.29

The Sara Whitehair Band (pop) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

TUE.30

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Eastern Mountain Time, GOOD BABY (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Sam Sheldon (singer-songwriter) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Shacket (bluegrass) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.31

Adam McMahon Trio (blues, country) at Red Square, Burlington, noon. Free.

Barbie N Bones (rock) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $13.39.

Bella’s Bartok Strange Ones Ball, the DiTrani Brothers (indie rock, post-punk) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8:30 p.m. $42/$50.

Clive (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:59 p.m. $15.

Gogol Bordello (punk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $53.46.

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.

Jerborn (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 4 p.m. Free.

New Year’s Eve with Kyle Chadburn and the Earthbound Spirits (folk rock) at Jay Peak Resort, 8:30 p.m. $30.

Quadra, Fran Briand (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m.

Free.

Sticks & Stones (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

THU.1

Dale and Darcy (Americana) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m.

Free.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Wolfman Jack (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 5 p.m. $18.99/$26.

Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m.

Free.

TUE.6

Gogol Bordello (punk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $53.46.

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.2

Christine Malcolm, Sweet Cicely (folk) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Devon McGarry Band (folk rock, Americana) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m.

Free.

The High Breaks (surf rock) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Diamond (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Ponyhustle (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

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

WED.7

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

Levitation Jones, Lemondoza, Symbiosa, Pawpa, Mvlleus (EDM) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, LIVE MUSIC 7:30 p.m. $19.68.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

» P.70 69

music+nightlife live music

TUE.6

WED.7 CONTINUED FROM P.69

open mics & jams

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

EXPLORE MORE

djs FRI.26

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

VT Synth Society Meetup (synth open jam, discussion) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

No Fun Ugly Sweater Soirée (No Fun Intended) (DJ) at Specs, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Two Sev (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Two Sev, JP Black, Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.27

Jah Red (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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.

Saturday Supreme with NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.

TUE.30

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

SHOP LOCAL FOR YOUR OUTDOOR GEAR & APPAREL

WED.31

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Eric LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free.

Mr Cheng (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11:59 p.m. Free.

89 Main St. Montpelier, VT onionriver.com | (802) 225-6736

New Year’s Eve Daytime Disco (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

NYE Rave (DJ) at the Phoenix,

What’s next for your career?

6v-OnionRiver122425 1

12/16/25 1:16 PM Waterbury, 9 p.m. $15-$20.

1 12/15/25 6v-ChurchStMarketplace122425 12:51 PM

NYE with DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10 p.m. $15.

THU.1

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.2

Work it out with Seven Days Jobs.

Find 100+ new job postings weekly from trusted, local employers in Seven Days newspaper and online.

DJ Eric LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 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.

Two Sev, JP Black, Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

SAT.3

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.

70

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6h-jobfiller-career2021.indd 1

7/30/21 1:03 PM

SUN.28

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

THIS WINTER

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

MON.29

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.30

TUE.30

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.31

Highlight: Family-Friendly Comedy (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 1, 3 & 5 p.m. $20.

Marina Franklin (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8 & 10:30 p.m. $45/$55.

THU.1

Live, Laugh, Lava: A Comedy Open Mic (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.3

New Year, New Jokes (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $11.99.

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Roast of 2025 (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m.

Free.

TUE.6

THU.1

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.

FRI.2

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.4

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.5

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.7

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

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.

SAT.27

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

TUE.6

SUN.28

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m.

Free.

WED.7

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon.

Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Moscow Mill Studios, East Calais, 6 p.m.

Donation.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy FRI.26

Home for the Holidays: Improv (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.99/$11.99.

SAT.27

Home for the Holidays: Standup (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

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.29

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.

COURTESY

SAT.27 // SABOUYOUMA [AFROBEAT]

TRUE TO THE CONSUMER. TRUE TO THE FARMER. TRUE TO THE ART. 132 Church Street, upstairs

true802cannabis.com

From Africa, With Love Seven-piece Afro-funk collective SABOUYOUMA bring the sounds of West Africa to the Green Mountains. Centered on

Guinean balafonist Ousmane Camara’s striking melodies and Senegalese percussionist Assane Coly’s mystical rhythms, the group effortlessly melds funk, jazz and reggae in a high-energy and intensely danceable cross-cultural sound. The band performs at the Alchemist Brewery in Stowe on Saturday, December 27.

802.540.1420

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m.

Free.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia)8v-true802-070523.indd 1 at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.30

FRI.2

TUE.6

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.31

Citizen Cider Trivia Night (trivia) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

New Queers Eve (drag) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $32.06.

New Year’s Eve Karaoke (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m.

Free.

THU.1

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m.

Free.

SAT.3

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.4

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m.

Free.

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon.

Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5:30 p.m.

Free.

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.5

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.

7 5 1

7/3/23 5:21 PM

top news stories

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m.

Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m.

Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.7

Citizen Cider Trivia Night (trivia) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m.

Free. ➆

➆

12/15/25 1:13 PM

Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age or older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry significant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law.

It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m.

Free.

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calendar

DECEMBER 26, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

FRI.26 dance

CONTRA DANCE: Tea for Three provide the tunes and Ben Sachs-Hamilton calls the steps at this Queen City Contras soirée. Wear clean, soft-soled shoes. Shelburne Town Hall, beginner lesson, 6:45 p.m.; dancing, 7-10 p.m. $5-12. Info, info@queencitycontras.com.

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.

$17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

Info, 864-1848.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer. com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

games

‘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.

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,

‘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

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 10 a.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

health & fitness

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

‘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.

Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $18-21; free for members and kids under 2.

Info, 649-2200.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 10.

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

food & drink

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.

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.

games

music

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.

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.

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’: 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.

SAT.27

community

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

crafts LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See FRI.26.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

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.

holidays

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.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

REINDEER LIVE: Vermont Reindeer Farm brings its antlered charges along for an up-close visit. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

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.26.

outdoors

BIRD MONITORING WALK: Avian aficionados monitor the meadows and forest for the telltale flap of feathers. Bring your own binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 8-9:30 a.m. Free; $10-15 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 434-2167.

CADY HILL FOREST TRAILS HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for an easy, relaxed trek in pursuit of stellar views. BYO snowshoes. Call for start time. Cady Hill Forest, Stowe. Free; preregister. Info, 310-5926.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages.

Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

WRITE NOW!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.28

community

MOBILE PET FOOD SHELF: Animal lovers in need stock up on pet products, with no residency or income requirements. Winooski Senior Center, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 655-6425.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A dropin meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See FRI.26.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

food & drink

PUPS & PINTS: Brew hounds head to the taproom, four-legged friends in tow, for beers and hot dogs supporting local animal nonprofit Green Mountain Pug Rescue. Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 540-6965.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See FRI.26, 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.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME DAY: LGBTQ+ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 1-6 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 622-0692.

COURTESY

holidays

Rhythm Nation Nonprofit cultural organization Shidaa Projects teams up with Lost Nation Theater for their third annual New Year’s Eve collaboration, “The Beat Goes On!” at Montpelier City Hall. A day of revelry and rejoicing includes a youth drumming workshop led by award-winning Ghanian performer Samuel Maama Marquaye and a musical showcase featuring local artists Christopher McWilliams, Denise Ricker and Lotta Sutter. At 6 p.m., the main-event concert combines the talents of both groups to usher in 2026 with participatory dancing, backed by uplifting rhythms and positive energy to charge up the year ahead.

‘THE BEAT GOES ON!’ Wednesday, December 31, 1-8 p.m., at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. Free; donations accepted; reservations recommended. Info, 229-0492, lostnationtheater.org.

outdoors

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See FRI.26.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

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.

SHELBURNE FARMS ADVENTURE HIKE: Lovers of the outdoors join the Green Mountain Club for an easy, relaxed trek to take in stunning lake views. BYO snowshoes.

Call for start time. Shelburne Farms. Free; preregister. Info, 310-5926.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26.

tech

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Were you gifted some newfangled tech? In one-on-one sessions, savvy staff help set up devices and share access to the library’s digital resources. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-6 p.m.

Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26, 2 p.m.

words

SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

MON.29 crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

DEC. 31 | HOLIDAYS

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.

FRI.26

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

TUE.30

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, ongoing, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

Info, 864-1848.

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.

Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

barre/montpelier

northeast kingdom

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Youngsters and their caregivers delight in beautiful books, silly songs, creative crafts and unplugged play in the library’s cozy children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

SAT.27

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Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, nliuzzi@southburlingtonvt.gov.

READ & PLAY: Kiddos 5 and under discover the magic of libraries through picture books, singing and creative fun.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

READ TO CHEWY THE THERAPY DOG: Little tykes of all ages flock to the beloved pup for 15 minutes of stories and unconditional love. Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 879-0313.

northeast kingdom

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

chittenden county

COMIC BOOK CLUB: Kiddos collaborate to create their very own comic book to print and take home. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

KIDS CHESS CLUB: Players ages 5 and up face off and discover new strategies.

No formal instruction provided. South SUN.28 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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calendar MON.29

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TUE.30

community

of one year and the promising start of another. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

DEC. 31 | HOLIDAYS

NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECTACULAR: This festive end-of-year soirée includes live music, a champagne toast, a balloon drop, raffle prizes and a silent art auction to benefit the center. SEABA Center, Burlington, 8 p.m. $30-100. Info, 859-9222.

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.

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH SOULE MONDE: Power drummer Russ Lawton and organ wiz Ray Paczkowski lead an avant-funk fête with a mercifully early New Year’s countdown between 9:30 and 10 p.m. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7-10 p.m. $10-20. Info, 382-9222.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: See SAT.27, 4:30-6 p.m.

CRAFTERS DROP-IN: Community members converse and connect through knitting, crocheting, mending, embroidery and other creative pursuits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY PHOTOGRAPHY

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See FRI.26.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 304-0836.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26.

language

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

tech

TECH BREAKFAST: Coffee and waffles fuel free-flowing discussion about supporting Vermont’s technology sectors. Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington, 8-10 a.m.

Free; cost of food. Info, 253-6843.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26.

words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of seven weeks, bookworms analyze Helen DeWitt’s The Last Samurai, which was named one of the New York Times’ “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.” 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@nereadersandwriters.com.

POETRY GROUP: A supportive drop-in group welcomes those who would like to share and listen to verse. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.31

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See FRI.26.

health & fitness

NEW YEAR’S EVE 5K: On your SPECIAL HOLIDAY DROP-IN TECH mark! For the 45th year, Central SUPPORT: See SUN.28. Fletcher Vermont Runners hosts a legendFree Library New North End ary road race through downtown.

Branch, Burlington, noon-2 p.m.

74 SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

HIGHLIGHT Wednesday, December 31, noon-12:30 a.m., at various Burlington locations. $18-40; free for kids under 5. Info, 865-7166, highlight.community.

NYE RUN/WALK TO HIGHLIGHT: As 2026 nears, put your best foot forward by pounding a one-mile, 5K or five-mile path along the wintry waterfront. Stick around afterward for Highlight New Year’s Eve festivities. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 717-254-0994.

holidays

ADVENTURE DINNER NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE PARTY: Festive food and drink — including a midnight glass of bubbly — meet wild, end-of-year abandon on the dance floor. Don’t miss the shrimp tower. Adventure

‘THE BEAT GOES ON!’: Shidaa Projects and Lost Nation Theater throw a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party complete with drums, dancing and rousing rhythms.

See calendar spotlight. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 1-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; reservations recommended. Info, 229-0492.

FIRST NIGHT NORTH: The whole community celebrates at a New Year’s Eve party packed with music, comedy, tasty treats and fireworks. See catamountarts. org for full schedule. Various St. Johnsbury locations, 4 p.m.-midnight. $25-75; free for students under 18. Info, 748-2600.

ZACH NUGENT’S DEAD SET: A Grateful Dead tribute act brings groovy, heartfelt vibes to this annual New Year’s Eve celebration that includes a buffet dinner and celebratory cocktails. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m.-midnight. $20-25. Info, 533-2000.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26, noon & 5:30 p.m.

Burlington City Arts welcomes 2026 with Highlight, the Queen City’s hope- and heartfilled New Year’s Eve party. The epic shindig spans venues from Vermont Comedy Club to ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, offering something special for everyone in the fam. Since 2018, this deeply creative tradition has enticed locals and visitors alike with vibrant music performances, arts events, food specials and unforgettable fireworks displays, reflecting the resilient and colorful spirit of the city. This year’s lineup chases away the cold with shape note singing, a Moth story slam, performances

by Circus Smirkus and Good Clean Fun, and a music-filled Waterfront Fest complete with fireside s’mores.

Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $49. Info, sas@ adventuredinner.com.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4-7:30 p.m.

theater

Make It Count

Refreshments follow at the City Center. Onion River Outdoors, Montpelier, 2 p.m. $10-20; preregister. Info, 225-6736.

NYE DANCE PARTY: Revelers ring in 2026 right at this all-ages bash bursting with soul, hip-hop, funk, and R&B tunes spun by local DJs. The Tillerman, Bristol, 8:30 p.m.-midnight. $15-20; cash bar.

Info, 643-2237.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4:30-7 p.m.

HIGHLIGHT: Revelers ring in 2026 across the city with music, art, circus performances and fireworks — a year-end highlight, indeed.

See highlight.community for full schedule. See calendar spotlight.

Various Burlington locations, noon-12:30 a.m. $18-40; free for kids under 5. Info, 865-7166.

‘NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE OPERA’: Visiting and local performers give voice to arias from beloved works, including Giuseppe Verdi’s “La forza del Destino” and Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas.”

Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 3-6 p.m. $10-35. Info, 864-0471.

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS: Ooh! Aah! Dazzling sparkles light up the night sky, marking the end

THU.1 holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4:30-7 p.m.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4-7:30 p.m.

music

GREEN MOUNTAIN MAHLER FESTIVAL: Daniel Bruce conducts the ensemble in Ludwig van Beethoven’s enduring Ninth Symphony. Proceeds benefit Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 3 p.m. $20-30. Info, 999-3731.

outdoors

FIRST DAY HIKES: Vermont State Parks’ gates open for adventurers to kick off the New Year with family-friendly treks. See vermont. gov for details. Various locations statewide. Free; preregister. Info, 888-409-7579.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26, 2 p.m.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

FRI.2

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: See FRI.26.

crafts

FIRST FRIDAY FIBER GROUP: Fiber-arts fans make progress on projects while chatting over snacks. GRACE, Hardwick, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, info@ruralartsvt.org.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

holidays

CABOT VILLAGE 12TH NIGHT CELEBRATION: Merrymakers hit up a dozen dazzling events across four venues and two days — think music, dancing, storytelling, a show from Modern Times Theater, bonfires and a sunset lantern parade. See calendar spotlight.

Various Cabot locations, 7-9 p.m.

Free. Info, 793-3016.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4:30-7 p.m.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4-7:30 p.m.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: See FRI.26.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See FRI.26.

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

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: See FRI.26.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.26.

GREEN MOUNTAIN MAHLER FESTIVAL: See THU.1, 7 p.m.

tech

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.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26.

SAT.3

community

defenders of democracy amid an unprecedented wave of book bans. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

games

D&D & TTRPG GROUP: See SAT.27.

dance

holidays

SUN.4

BEARY MAGICAL LIGHTS TOUR: See SAT.27.

film

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4:30-7 p.m.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘THE LIBRARIANS’: Kim A. Snyder’s stirring 2025 documentary follows a courageous group of librarians who become unlikely

words

WRITE NOW!: See SAT.27.

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy, 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.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

CHESS CLUB: See SAT.27.

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: See SAT.27.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

theater

CABOT VILLAGE 12TH NIGHT CELEBRATION: See FRI.2, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See SUN.28.

film

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4-7:30 p.m.

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

music

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.26.

outdoors

crafts

MANSFIELD FULL MOON HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for a difficult, moderately paced trek. BYO snowshoes and microspikes.

Email for start time. Underhill State Park. Free; preregister. Info, tnuovo@aol.com.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES: ‘THE LIBRARIANS’: See SAT.3.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See FRI.26, 1 p.m.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): See SUN.28.

NEW LEAF SANGHA MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: See SUN.28.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

WINTER LIGHTS: See FRI.26, 4-7:30 p.m.

music

RIBBON SING FOR CONNECTION: Attendees vocalize songs connected by an idea while also connecting with singers from around the world through a live online loop. 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, patricia@ juneberrymusic.com.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See FRI.26, 2 p.m.

MON.5 crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: See MON.29.

MON.5

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Happy Holidays from your friends at The High Bar

and a heartfelt thank you for your love and support in 2025.

Wishing you peace, joy, and good vibes this holiday season!

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

2h-thehighbar122425 1

159 Pearl Street, Essex Junction Sun - Thurs, 10:00AM - 7:00PM Fri - Sat, 10:00AM - 8:00PM 802-404-3842 | ATM on-site

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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calendar MON.5

« P.75

etc.

MEDIA MAKER MONDAY: Upper Valley creatives and their guests share projects, network with other artists and engage in peer feedback sessions. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: See MON.29.

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: See SAT.27, 4:30-6 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See FRI.26.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See FRI.26.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Neighbors show off their skills at an evening of friendly competition playing European tabletop staples such as Catan, Splendor and Concordia. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, ken_boring@yahoo.com.

space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 870-0903 .

crafts

YARN & YAK: See WED.31.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See SUN.28, 5-7 p.m.

dance

‘CHRYSOLATION’: Freestyle pioneer Chrybaby Cozie and members of the renowned Bomb Squad take audiences from Daryl Roth Studio Theater to the Top of the Hop with powerful hip-hop evoking the origins and evolution of the New York City street-dance style. Daryl Roth Studio Theater, Hanover, N.H., 7:30-9:30 p.m. $30. Info, 603-646-2422.

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.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

GAMES GALORE: Library patrons of all ages gather for bouts of board and card games. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

language

health & fitness

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.31.

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: See MON.29.

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: See TUE.30.

lgbtq

TAI CHI: See TUE.30.

health & fitness

holidays

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party.

Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 622-0692.

TUE.6

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: See TUE.30.

FOMO?

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

language

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: See TUE.30.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH CONVERSATION: See TUE.30.

music

FLOW SINGING: See THU.1, 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

words

art

BRITTANY VIKLUND: From bucket lists to little luxuries, the Vermont author of The Little Book of Winter offers 70 savvy ideas for conquering the cold months.

Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8 p.m. $3. Info, 448-3350.

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

WRITING CIRCLE: See TUE.30.

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

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 10.

= ONLINE EVENT

76

food & drink

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.31.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.31.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See FRI.26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

language

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their vocabulario with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented

by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

Info, programs@damlvt.org.

music

ST. J BLUEGRASS JAM: Players and fans get together for some old-time picking and fiddling.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

JACK KELLY: Phoenix Books hosts the award-winning author and historian in an illuminating talk about his new book, Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350. ➆

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS BIZ BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

CABOT VILLAGE 12TH NIGHT CELEBRATION Friday, January 2, 7-9 p.m., and Saturday, January 3, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., at various Cabot locations. Free. Info, 793-3016, cabotarts.org.

Sandglass Theater

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.31.

words

business

Cabot Arts keeps the holiday merrymaking going a little longer at the Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration, where all events are family-friendly and free.

Harking all the way back to the Middle Ages, this two-day nod to the traditional end of Christmas and the birth of a new year features eclectic events from concerts and storytelling to bonfires and crafts. Festival highlights include a performance by Modern Times Theater; a classic crankie show from Tom Azarian; puppetry by Sandglass Theater; and central Vermont’s own morris dance team, the Midnight Capers. Saturday’s sunset lantern parade leads to a community dinner hosted by hunger-relief org Neighbors in Action.

sports

WED.7 activism

The Magic Number

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: See WED.31.

COURTESY

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: See TUE.30.

JAN. 2 & 3 | HOLIDAYS

COURTESY OF SUSAN ROBINSON

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See FRI.26.

crafts

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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DARREN PERRON

12/3/25 4:01 PM

IT’S SNOW JOKE!

For local news that matters to you WATCH VERMONT'S OWN CHANNEL 3 WEEKDAYS AT 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.

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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SAT.27

FAMILY FUN

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SUN.28

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

chittenden county

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes.

All supplies and instruction provided.

Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

MON.29

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

SLED DOGS LIVE: Kids get up close and personal with the amazing huskies of Vermont’s own October Siberians.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

upper valley

chittenden county

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, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

STORY TIME: Youngsters from birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

Info, 878-4918.

burlington

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.

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.

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

mad river valley/ waterbury

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.26, 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.

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.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.26.

TUE.30

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

and a kid-friendly countdown get little ones excited for 2026. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11:30 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 863-3403.

northeast kingdom

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.26.

all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 878-6956.

chittenden county

SAT.3

mad river valley/ waterbury

NOON YEAR’S EVE FAMILY CELEBRATION: Can’t wait for midnight?

No problem! A fun-filled morning of stories, songs, crafts and dancing counts down to 2026. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

upper valley

NEW YEAR’S AT NOON: Families usher in 2026 without staying up late at a holiday fête featuring hands-on activities and a balloon-filled countdown.

Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-noon. $12-16; free for kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

THU.1

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

FRI.2

barre/montpelier

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, 12-12:45 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

SATURDAY STORY TIME: Stories and songs help children develop social and literacy skills. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

SUN.4

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

MASKS ON! SUNDAYS: Elderly, disabled and immunocompromised folks get the museum to themselves at a masks-mandatory morning. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 864-1848.

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

DROP-IN: See FRI.26.

chittenden county

MUSIC TIME: Little patrons ages birth to 5 sing and dance with legendary local musician Linda Bassick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 878-6956.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: See FRI.26.

upper valley

TODDLER TIME: See MON.29.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: See MON.29.

TUE.6

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

chittenden county STORY TIME: See TUE.30.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.26, 2-6 p.m.

THE NEST: See TUE.30.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: See TUE.30.

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

LEGO CLUB: See FRI.26.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

burlington

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.26.

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See FRI.26.

burlington

barre/montpelier

WED.31

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

chittenden county

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: See SUN.28.

MON.5

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.26.

WED.7

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See FRI.26.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.31.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.31.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036. K

chittenden county

STORY TIME: See FRI.26.

NOON YEAR’S EVE SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: A joyful music session

READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary listens to kiddos of

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Since we moved to Burlington in 2022, Seven Days has been our go-to source for learning about restaurants, cultural events and the community — not just in Burlington, but around the state. Because I get the daily email updates, I am often the one suggesting to longtime Vermont friends places to go and things to do — from drinks at Fox Market in East Montpelier and the opening of The Majestic in Burlington, to an art gallery opening in Kents’ Corner and snowshoeing at Blueberry Hill in Goshen.

Susan Gallagher with husband Sean

say you saw it in say you saw it in

Your paper.

Offering up in-depth coverage Your community. of Vermont’s vibrant arts, culture, Your choice. and food and drink scenes every week.

Whaddya know? Tell us: sevendaysvt.com/culture-tip. Advertise: 802-864-5684 or sales@sevendaysvt.com.

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7/9/24 5:21 PM

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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12/9/25 5:26 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).

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: 802-4252700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

DRAWING TO PAINTING: WINGSPAN’S INSPIRING ART CLASS. KICK THE YEAR OFF WITH CREATIVITY! A fantastic class for those wanting a comprehensive painting adventure!

Structured activities in color, value and form spark brainpower,

coating a cake, getting nice smooth edges, and some rosette piping. You’ll go home w/ 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 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: 203-4000700, sevendaystickets.com.

best practices. She attended La Sorbonne/SciPo, did graduate work in Francophone Africa and holds a Vermont French teacher license. Private lessons available.

Make this the year. Allons-y!

Dates: Session starts Jan. 6.

Cost: $275/8-week session, 1.5-hour classes. Location: Wingspan School & Studio, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: Maggie Standley, 802-233-7676, maggiestsandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

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.

language

martial arts 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 of internal energy.

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.

food & drink

AFLCR FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLASSES: Your local Alliance Française offers both traditional language and culture classes year-round, with an emphasis on speaking, as well as specialty courses. Many online and in-person options exist. Our Winter Session runs seven weeks starting Jan. 12. For a full listing, visit our classes page at aflcr.org.

Dates: Jan. 12 through Feb. 27, mostly evenings & afternoons.

Cost: $215. AFLCR members receive a 10 percent discount.

Location: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, 43 King St., Burlington. Info: Marc Juneau, 802-777-9365, education@aflcr.org, aflcr.org.

‘THE BASICS’ CAKE DECORATING CLASS: In this workshop, learn the basics of filling and crumb

FRENCH CLASSES: JOIN WINGSPAN’S NEW YEAR SESSION TO BOOST YOUR

building creative and technical skills. Held in inspiring Wingspan Studio. Learn professional artist Maggie Standley’s step-by-step painting process and color-mixing secrets and create three paintings! Includes two optional Open Studio Saturdays and all materials, except you bring the sketchbook. Sign up today!

Dates: Jan. 5-Feb. 9, 5:30-8 p.m.

Cost: $425 for seven 2.5-hour classes. Location: Wingspan Studio & School, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: 802-233-7676, maggiestandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

LEARNING ADVENTURE!: Start the year off with bursts of brain power and support, whether you’re a newbie, brushing up or continuing your French journey!

Three levels. Fantastique gift, too! Encouraging, small-group classes in person or virtually.

Madame Maggie has taught hundreds of students and brings language-acquisition

wellness

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

= TICKETED CLASS

SEVEN DAYS IS SEEKING A

News Reporter Want to work for a thriving statewide weekly that cares about journalism, not clicks? Award-winning, locally owned Seven Days newspaper has an opening for a seasoned news reporter interested in finding stories that matter.

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.

This is not an entry-level job. The salary is $48-58K, depending on experience, and comes with health insurance and 401K in a fun, stimulating environment.

To apply, send your résumé, three clips and a cover letter to newsjob@sevendaysvt.com.

If you’re from out of state, tell us how you’ll get up to speed.

If you’re applying from Vermont, tell us what Seven Days could be doing better.

Seven Days is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

No phone calls

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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se.

or drop-ins, plea

12/16/25 4:32 PM

Humane

Society of Chittenden County

Hopscotch at HSCC in July

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

HAPPY TAIL

Hopscotch was a stray cat, brought to us after he’d been hit by a car. He’d suffered severe trauma and needed an urgent leg amputation. We were able to take Hopscotch in, provide critical medical care and support his long recovery.

As Hopscotch got better, it became clear that he was extremely shy and fearful — he wouldn’t even interact with staff. But after months in our care, an adopter came to us looking for a cat that wouldn’t mind her busy work schedule. Good news: Hopscotch didn’t want attention! Just a safe, warm place to call home. He now has his own room with everything a cat could ever want, plus a pet cam to catch his silly antics! His new paw-rent is happy to share her home and her heart with a sweet, gentle soul. She tells us: “Hopscotch and I are doing well. He is a VERY chatty little guy! Even though he still hides when I come into the room to feed him or give him treats or clean the litter box, he will sometimes sit there inside the door and let me stand about six feet away and chat with him. Usually though, it’s him being all chatty back-and-forth with me while I sit in the living room out of his sight.

Hopscotch at home

Sponsored by:

“Every day, I feel truly blessed to have him here with me even if it’s from a distance. I just want to thank all of you that took a chance on him and gave him a chance to have a life filled with love, safety and I hope happiness.”

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS. SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

81

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

partnership structures avail. $18,000. Info: 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

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.

say you saw it in

appt. appointment apt. apartment BA bathroom BR bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer refs. references sec. dep. security deposit W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

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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, 7/31/24 4:54 PM 339gardenst.com.

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

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APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 @ 10AM

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS 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, yearround local market.

Owner is a developer/ builder & will assist w/ fi t-up. Flexible lease or

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 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

NEED EXTRA CASH?

Services rv es

CONSIGNMENTS WANTED

CREATIVE SERVICES

One piece or a lifetime collection!

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.

ELECTRONICS SERVICES

FINANCIAL & LEGAL SERVICES

Robbi Handy Holmes • 802-951-2128 robbihandyholmes@vtregroup.com Client focused Making it happen for you!

12/10/25 10:28 AM

THCAuction.com  802-888-4662

12/12/25 9:21 AM

Your paper.

Your community.

Your choice.

?

Support the businesses who support our work.

HOME & GARDEN SERVICES

GET TAX RELIEF Do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS or state in back taxes?

Get tax relief now!

We’ll fight for you! Call 1-877-703-6117. (AAN CAN)

Let’s make your real estate dreams come true in 2026!

EMAIL US: FFL@THCAuction.com16t-RobbiHandyhomes122425.indd 1 or Call: 802-888-4662

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for16t-your.indd 2 a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN) GET DISABILITY BENEFITS You may qualify for disability benefi ts if you are between 52 & 63 years old & under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now: 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)

Happy New Year!

DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JAN. 23, 2026 ALSO SEEKING SPORTING GOODS FOR CONSIGNMENT

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AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote & see how much you can save: 1-844-588-6579. (AAN CAN)

Services 1-week combo: $15 2-week combo: $25 4-week combo: $45

WINTER FIREARMS ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS LOCATED: WILLISTON, VT

WANT TO BUY

Rentals & Real Estate 1-week combo: $25 2-week combo: $45 4-week combo: $85

NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames?

Need outside noise reduction? New, energy-effi cient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-2489944. (AAN CAN) 24-7 LOCKSMITH We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs: 1-833-237-1233.

(AAN CAN)

7/9/24 5:24 PM

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind its work.

Fast, free estimate.

Financing avail. Call 1-888-292-8225. (AAN CAN) PEST CONTROL Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable.

Call for a quote, service or an inspection today: 1-833-237-1199. (AAN CAN)

Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER for a taste of this week’s flavorful food coverage.

It’ll hold you over until Wednesday.

SUBSCRIBE AT

sevendaysvt.com/enews

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LEGALS »

12/21/20 6:09 PM

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.

10+ 3÷

Show and tell.

Sudoku View and post up to

Post & browse ads Complete the following puzzle by using the at your convenience.

6 photos per ad online.

numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

11+ 108x

16x

5

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6+ 1

Difficulty - Medium

2 3 9

No. 925

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

1

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3

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BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that 1 each 8 row 5 across, 4 7each3column 9 6 down and each 9-box square contains all of 4 3one 7 6 The 2 same 9 numbers 1 5 the numbers to nine. cannot be repeated in a row or column.

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Extra! Extra!

There’s no limit to ad length online.

Love playing games with us?

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: Hard

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

2

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Open 24/7/365.

2 8 6 2 9 1 8 5 4 3 7 ANSWERS 2 ON5P.843 9 4 8 6 7 1 H = MODERATE HH = CHALLENGING HHH = HOO, BOY! 9 7 1 3 5 6 8 2 4 8 6 4 7 1 2 3 9 5 SIX-E-SOMETHINGS 3 4 2 5 6 1 7 8 9 ANSWERS ON P. 84 » 5 1 6 8 9 7 2 4 3 7 9 8 2 3 4 5 1 6

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

83

Legal Notices IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905.

Enforcement of Lien, Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC shall host a private auction of the following units on or after January 16, 2026: Location: 485 Nokian Tyres Dr. Colchester, VT Contents: household goods Robert Rushford: #2103 Peggy Marcelino: #2188 Christopher Keast: #2284 Danielle Bean: #2379 Annie Wohland: #2119 Location: 78 Lincoln St. Essex Jct. VT Contents: household goods Alex Gettens: #298 Auction pre-registration is required, email info@champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register.

CVSS,llc reserves the right to reject any bid lower than the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as defined by statute. Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

PROPOSED STATE RULES By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now

also available online at https:// secure.vermont.gov/SOS/rules/ .The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231). _____ Green Mountain Care Board: Rule 3.000: Hospital Budget Review.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P044 AGENCY: Green Mountain Care Board CONCISE SUMMARY: This proposed hospital budget review rule amends the existing rule to conform to statutory amendments made with the passage of Act 49 (2025), Act 62 (2025), and Act 68 (2025). These Acts set forth revised standards and processes by which hospital budgets are reviewed, established, and monitored by the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). The proposed rule also streamlines

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

and simplifies certain parts of the hospital budget review process.

The proposed rule clarifies hospital budget submission obligations, the process for requesting that information be exempt from public inspection and copying, and the Board’s ability to disclose this information. The proposed rule revises the Board’s process for exempting hospitals from public hearings, the process for reviewing mid-year budget performance, the process for reviewing significant deviations from established budgets, and the process for reviewing hospital applications for budget adjustment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Angela Pellegrino-Wood, Green Mountain Care Board, 112 State St. 5th floor Montpelier, VT 05602 Tel: 802-461-5740 E-Mail: Angela.Pellegrino-Wood@vermont. gov URL: https://gmcboard.vermont.gov/hospital-budget-review.

FOR COPIES: Mark Hengstler, Green Mountain Care Board, 112 State St. 5th floor Montpelier, VT 05602 Tel: 802-249-0519 E-Mail: Mark.

Hengstler@vermont.gov.

PUBLIC HEARING COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on January 14, 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) SP-26-15 and CU-26-09 TOWN OF COLCHESTER: Site Plan and Conditional Use Applications as required under §7.04-C(4)(d) and §7.04-D to construct a temporary bridge crossing Indian Brook and associated Class II Wetlands in the Water Protection District (WPD).

Proposed temporary bridge to facilitate access to properties while the Creek Farm Road bridge is replaced. Disturbance to be 2,600 square feet and area will be restored at conclusion of project.

Subject properties are located at 1078 and 0 Creek Farm Road, Account #11-007003-0000000 and #11-005003-0000000.

December 24, 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 # Name Contents R09 Matthew Quinn Household Goods

PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM P.83 2 4

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3

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Calcoku

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

6

84

Support Groups CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP A CIRCLE OF PARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS Please join our professionally facilitated, peer-led support groups designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Call the Vermont statewide anonymous hotline: 802-802-2288.

Alcoholics Anonymous holds daily meetings all over Vermont, both in person & online. For meetings & events throughout Vermont, see aavt.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias.

They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.

Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston caregiver support group meets in person on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Old Brick Church in Williston. Contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@ cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@ burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury. Contact is Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@residenceottercreek.com or 802-989-0097.

The Shelburne support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne. Contact is support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@residenceshelburnebay.com. The telephone support group meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call).

Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, or visit alz.org for more info. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

ANXIETY RELIEF GROUP Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing & exploring your feelings w/ others through gentle socialization & self-expression, building up what makes you centered & strong. Wed., 4-5:30 p.m. Both in-person & Zoom options avail. In-person meetings are held at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room in Burlington.

Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@ dragonheartvermont.org for info.

85 DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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

Drop-in & Shelter Youth Coaches On Call Respite Youth Development Coordinator

Office Manager

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

NOW HIRING

Burlington Basic Needs Program Director

LEAD CARDIOPULMONARY REHAB CLINICIAN

Scan QR code to apply.

2v-Spectrum121025.indd 1

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.

12/8/25 5:10 PM

Outreach Counselor

Join our Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab program!

This position is PART-TIME, Mon/Wed/Fri—no weekends.

Accepting applications from Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Exercise Physiologists, Respiratory Therapists, and Physical Therapists

7spot.indd 1 Leading construction company is seeking Carpenters and Lead Carpenters in the Addison & Chittenden County area.

10/29/19 12:12 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.

Scan the QR code below to text your contact info and For more information or to apply Vermont Student Assistance experience or email us at admin@smithmcclain.com. visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Corporation (VSAC) is hiring a Come build with us! student Outreach Counselor in Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org. our Talent Search program in southeast Vermont (Windham and Windsor Counties). Do you Enrollment 4t-Copley122425 1 12/12/254t-SmithMcClain110525 4t-Smith&McClain020525.indd 5:11 PM 1 1 1/31/25 9:33 11/4/25 1:59 AM PM enjoy working with middle and Support Associate high school students? Are you energized by the enthusiasm We are seeking a Digital Marketing Manager to play a Pivot Marketing is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Enrollment of teenagers? As a VSAC Talent key role in telling our story and reaching more families Support Associate to support our college and university clients. This Search Outreach Counselor who are seeking a school like ours. Perform and manage hybrid/remote role requires someone comfortable making a high you’ll help students explore the day-to-day digital marketing activities, create compelling possibilities their future can hold volume of phone calls and speaking with prospective students daily. content, help grow inquiries and enrollment, and support & help them create a plan to get You’ll provide phone, live chat, and email support; assist with client development and fundraising. there. This position supports onboarding; and help prepare enrollment reports. We offer flexibility, students from middle school Qualifications supportive leadership, and optional office space in Burlington, VT. through high school graduation, - 3+ years of experience in digital marketing. along with their families, by Key Requirements: - Strong skills in social media management, content creation, and email marketing. providing education, career, and • Comfortable making frequent phone calls and talking with - Experience with Google Analytics, Google Ads, and SEO best practices. financial aid information and customers/students - Excellent writing and storytelling ability; strong eye for design and photography counseling to help them reach • Customer service, recruitment or enrollment experience a plus. their postsecondary goals.

• CRM or live chat experience a plus Salary range and benefits: Salary $46,000 - $48,000 - This is a 75% role (30 hrs/week) and offers a salary range of $45,000-$50,000 Compensation & Benefits: Excellent benefits, PTO, and per year, and offers a full health plan or stipend Salary: $40,000–$50,000 9 weeks off in summer - School vacations and some summer time off Health benefits + 401(k) - Meals at school while working Apply at: Visit VSAC.org/ Flexible scheduling Careers for full job description Please send your resume and cover letter to: marketingrps@rockpoint.org Send resumes to: info@pivotmarketingvt.com

Digital Marketing Manager

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12/12/25 4t-PivotMarketing1217&2425Combo.indd 11:59 AM 1

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Registered Nurse, Infusion Therapy Department

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.

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.

Make a Real Difference in the Community!

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) is seeking a compassionate Registered Nurse to join our dynamic Infusion Therapy Department in St. Johnsbury, VT. The Opportunity: Provide direct patient care in a rewarding role serving 15-20 patients daily. Administer IV therapies, coordinate care, and educate patients in our collaborative, patientcentered environment.

WHAT YOU NEED: RN License (VT or compact state) BSN degree

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

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!

Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

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10/27/25 4:51 PM

Join us at Lake Champlain Waldorf School to deliver a holistic and developmental approach to education.

Phlebotomy Apprenticeship Program

INVEST IN YOURSELF Our apprenticeship program is a paid opportunity to become a phlebotomist with no experience required.

APPLY NOW

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Controller Hardwick Electric Department Salary Range $115,000 to $125,000

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator B City of Barre Salary Range $29.07 to $31.55 per hour

Office Manager Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission Salary Range $49,000 to $67,000

REGISTRATION DEADLINE Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Open Positions:

• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training

• Part Time 1:1 Support Professional • Preschool Assistant Teacher

• Direct patient care • Team environment • Full Benefits • Dedicated support during the 5-week program • Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam

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LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY?

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$2,000 SIGN ON BONUS External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign-on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect gross pay, prior to applicable tax withholdings and deductions required by law. Current University of Vermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions apply.

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Questions?

Call or Email 802-399-8243 lida.hope@jobforward.org The University of Vermont Medical Center (“UVMMC”) will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based upon their age (40 and older), ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, place of birth, race, religion, genetic information, sex, and sexual orientation. UVMMC will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required by Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30, Title 21 Vermont Statutes Annotated, Labor, Ch. 13, Labor, and the Vermont State EEO Plan.

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Are you looking for an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative place to work?

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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.

The Town of Essex is an E.O.E.

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.

Full position description: www.vtafghanalliance.org

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

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JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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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INTERESTED IN LAUNCHING YOUR CAREER?

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Northlands Job Corps offers FREE hands-on skills training, education, and housing for income eligible 16-24 year olds.

You can earn your high school diploma or GED, train in 8 different in-demand careers, and receive job placement assistance all right here in Vermont, for free. You can live on campus or commute from home. Our programs are self-paced with one-on-one instructor support and work-based learning to get first-hand experience in your chosen field. Your new career starts now! Reach out to Gene Woodcock at 802-877-0121 to schedule a tour of our beautiful campus and start your application today!

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Application Portal

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

WE ARE

DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

HIRING WE ARE

HIRING

TOUR COORDINATOR

Join our Burlington-based team!

Create unforgettable group travel experiences for choirs, bands, dragon boat teams, and special OPEN POSITIONS interest groups around the world.

Shelter Co-Manager, Case Manager,

OPEN POSITIONS

Shelter Support Lead Coordinator, Shelter Support Salary: 50k

Housing Case Manager Full-time and great benefits Shelter Co-Manager Join us in work that makes a difference every day. including health insurance.

The more travel experiences the Create a safe and welcoming space for people Join us in work experiencing homelessness in Central Vermont.

We language a plus, better, second thatfull makes offer and part-time work hours, includinghandling logistics and requires a difference overnights.

Locations in Barre City, Barre Town, excellent customer service.

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Training & Benefits provided! every day.

Learn more & apply: jodi@music-contact.com

www.goodsamaritanhaven.org/jobs

www.goodsamaritanhaven.org/jobs

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Senior Accountant Join the Vermont Land Trust as our Senior Accountant.

Apply your accounting expertise to help protect Vermont’s farms, forests, and natural areas!

Assistant Professor, Finance Deputy Title IX/VI Coordinator Programmer Analyst, Information Technology Services

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.

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.

THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN?

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See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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.

Maintenance Technician: Performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies.

Current rotation is once every 6-7 weeks. Pay $24.00 to $26.00 per hour, with a $1,500 Sign On Bonus.

For more info on our benefit package and these career opportunities please visit: burlingtonhousing.org Interested in our career opportunity?

Send a cover letter & resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org.

Burlington Housing Authority Human Resources 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401 BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

JULIANNA BRAZILL

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL DECEMBER 25-31 Be resourceful as you trade a bit too much independence for just the right amount of interdependence.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

A newly planted orchard spends its first year growing roots, not fruit.

Underground and unseen, the real work happens. I surmise that’s like what you will be doing in the coming months, Capricorn: mostly invisible stabilization and preparation. If anyone asks you what you’re producing, smile inscrutably and say, “Depth.”

Be committed to the quiet, hidden work rather than any showy song and dance. As my rough and rugged spirit guide Esther likes to say, “You don’t got to prove nothin’ to nobody!” The nourishment you will be storing up will sustain later abundance.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In the Brazilian

rainforest, cecropia trees and Azteca ants have a special relationship. The trees’ hollow branches serve as nesting spaces for the ants and offer them sugar-rich food. In return, the ants aggressively defend the trees from herbivores and predators, protecting them from damage. This mutualism benefits both species. The trees get protection that enhances their growth, while the ants gain shelter and nutrition. In the coming months, Aries, I invite you to seek symbiosis that’s equally vigorous.

Enjoy the fun challenge of reducing your solo struggles as you rouse collaborations that boost your power and everyone else’s. The goal is intelligent alliance, not compromise.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): When potters center clay on a wheel, they typically use one hand inside the vessel to apply steady, controlled force. The other hand remains fluid, guiding and stabilizing the outer rim of the spinning clay. This balanced use of pressure — one hand firm and bracing, the other adapting minutely to the shifting clay — helps bring the lump into perfect symmetry. I propose you make this a prime metaphor in the coming months, Taurus: control meeting surrender.

You will be crafting a new balance between security and surprise. Too much rigidity, and the form cracks; too much flow, and it collapses.

Practice the middle art.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Poet Audre Lorde spoke of how caring for herself was the exact opposite of being selfish. It was the foundation of her ability to serve and inspire other people. My Aunt Sophie used to say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” Educator Stephen Covey advised, “Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.” Poet Vironika Tugaleva writes, “Learning to love yourself is essential and life-changing.” Everything I just said should be your keynotes in the coming months, Gemini. Boost your self-care to sublime levels.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): A remarkable species of jellyfish can circumvent the aging and death process that affects all other animals. Turritopsis dohrnii converts its mature, specialized cells back into stem cells, essentially recycling its own body into youth. The process may repeat indefinitely, making the animal theoretically immortal. In the coming months, Cancerian, your emotional wisdom will also show amazing regenerative power.

Challenging and intriguing situations will be opportunities for you to initiate stunning acts of renewal. Like the jellyfish, you won’t merely manage change but will use it as a catalyst for vigorous growth. Have you ever before been blessed by such wildly rejuvenative powers of metamorphosis? I don’t think so.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): According to ancient Egyptian myth, the sun god Ra rode a celestial boat across the sky by day. Each night, he plunged into the underworld to wrangle with chaos so he could rebirth light in time for the dawn. That’s your mythic assignment for the coming months, Leo: not to be nonstop luminous but to renew and nurture your radiance in the dark. Your courage will lie in feeling and learning from your doubts without identifying with them. Your magnetism and wisdom will deepen as you descend. You won’t be less golden for passing through shadow.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): In medieval monasteries, scribes added whimsical drawings called drolleries into the margins of sacred manuscripts. These marginalia included scenes such as frogs playing harps, nuns chasing rabbits, and fantastical creatures engaged in playful or absurd activities. How should we interpret these seemingly prankish additions?

Scholars disagree. In any case, I recommend you experiment with drolleries of your own, Virgo. Inject improvisation into duty. Add ornament to order. The coming months will reward your serious play. You’ll accomplish more by enjoying the work than by obsessing on perfecting it. A touch of friskiness may even improve efficiency. So when you edit, doodle; when you analyze, wink.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Italy’s Orto Botanico di Padova is the world’s oldest botanical garden still in its original location.

Since its inception 480 years ago, it has been a center for botanical research, education and conservation. Its layout is striking, a square inscribed in a circle, symbolizing harmonious order. In the coming months, Libra, you will be wise to associate yourself intimately with a similar wonder: an enduring source of beauty and revelation that you can both serve and benefit from.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Astronaut Chris Hadfield has spent 166 days orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station.

In the microgravity of outer space, he says, motion is very smooth; objects and people float. He marvels at how everything is always moving, and yet the pace itself is tranquil and unhurried. I foresee you enjoying a lot of this

kind of grace in the coming months, Scorpio: momentum without mania; constant fluidic movement that’s never hectic or rushed. What a great privilege! I expect you will rack up many flowing accomplishments.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Kyo-

to’s famous moss gardens, caretakers practice artful arrangement rather than total removal of shed foliage. They use delicate tools to gather trees’ cast-off leaves and arrange them on the moss to create visual harmony rather than bare tidiness. This approach reflects the Japanese aesthetic principles of embracing imperfection. Supposed “flaws” become part of the beauty of the garden. I propose that you regularly adopt a metaphorically comparable approach in the coming months, Sagittarius.

Integrate rather than edit. Be creative with what’s changing form. Treat so-called messes and unexpected plot twists not as blemishes but as rich textures that feel meaningful and inspiring.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Engineers

may engage in “stress testing.” They evaluate a system’s hardiness and reliability by subjecting it to pressure or force. I suspect that life will bring you a benevolent version of this trial in the coming months, Aquarius. That’s a good thing! It’s not meant to break you but to prove how much resilience you have developed.

Situations that might have formerly cracked your confidence will affirm and reveal your upgraded endurance. Take note of your composure and congratulate yourself for it. You will have every right to exult in the vivid evidence of how much you’ve grown.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Piscean author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source.” Apply her counsel dynamically during the coming months, dear Pisces. Be the great replenisher. Make yourself into a fountain of beauty as you share lavishly. Nurture tenderness and adoration with unexpected flowers, gorgeous music in the midst of the routine and affection expressed through artful thoughtfulness. Be brilliant and persistent in ensuring that love thrives. Your elegant generosity and fond attention should enrich everything you touch.

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WATCH HER LATEST VIDEO! Another year is coming to a close, and it’s time for the annual “Stuck in Vermont” video reflecting on 2025’s most memorable moments. Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger talks with her mother, Sophie Quest, about the highlights.

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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.

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MEN seeking...

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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 WWe 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

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

Ask REVEREND Dear Rae Deyonce, the

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

Last year pretty much sucked all around, and I want to make a New Year’s resolution to do more to spread light and love. What are some practical suggestions that anyone can do to effect positive change in our political climate in the coming year?

Rae Deyonce (WOMAN, 41)

If you really want to make a positive change in the political climate, you could run for office. But that’s not a very practical option for most people.

To be able to spread light and love, you need to be sure you have enough to share. Make your own physical and mental health a priority in order to keep your good-vibes tank full.

To that end: Make sure you’re getting enough quality sleep, and even though it’s cold, bundle up and get outside every day for fresh air. Exercise is key, but remember that dancing around your living room counts.

Avoid the seasonal lure of simply cozying up on the couch when it gets dark at four o’clock.

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

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

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

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

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

YOU CAN STEAL MY HEART I saw you on the news and just wanted to reach out. You were wearing a white ski mask and white gloves at the Lowell General Store around 2 a.m. Saturday. I am very curious who you are. I was wearing a state trooper outfit and driving a green SUV. Would love to connect with you. Hit me up. When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Lowell General Store.

You: Man. Me: Man. #916484

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

SEA SHANTIES IN CALAIS What a scene in Calais. To the man in the gray sweater: Thank you for picking up my tab, very sweet. I had no idea until after you left. The bartender passed along your card and a few kind words. But after receiving it, I misplaced it and can’t recall its contents.

Figure this is worth a shot. Lowlands, away! When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Whammy Bar, Calais.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916483

I spy… … a curious reader who is thrilled to see their neighbors connecting on these pages! Help Seven Days keep this entertaining service alive. Donate today and become a Super Reader: sevendaysvt.com/donate.

As for taking action, start small by being extra nice to the people around you. Spend more time with your friends and family. Check in on your neighbors. Make it a point to pay someone a compliment every day. Give your coworker a ride to the mechanic. You get the picture.

Once you get your good-juju juices flowing, kick it up a notch and find ways to get involved in your community. Donating money is always great, but giving your time is priceless. There are plenty of places, from food shelves to animal shelters, that could use a hand. Also, remember to vote on Town Meeting Day and in other local elections — and encourage those around you to do the same.

Here’s hoping that putting in a little extra effort will make 2026 feel a whole lot brighter.

Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend

What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

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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

Vibrant, adventurous 29y/o woman seeking a private benefactor to help repair or replace my broken-down conversion van. No obligations expected. Simply looking for kind financial support to regain reliable living. Not ready to give up the dream! #L1903 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. #L1899 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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Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

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SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW.

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 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

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

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

Open-minded SWM, 60s, 170 lbs., 5’8”, seeks similar for friendship and more. Openminded, intelligent, liberal, slim males into fun activities and exploring various types of fun. #L1894 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

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 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’m a 44-y/o bi male seeking a male, female or bi couple for casual sex. I am clean, easygoing and anything goes.

No judgment here. Let’s talk.

Call/text. #L1877

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below:

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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.

December Bird Monitoring Walk SAT., DEC. 27 BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

'The Basics' Cake Decorating Class

LOW TIX

THU., JAN. 15 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

New Year's Eve at the Opera

AI Meets Neurodivergence

WED., DEC. 31 CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON

THU., JAN. 15 GENERATOR MAKERSPACE, BURLINGTON

New Year's Eve Spectacular at the SEABA Center

Low Lily

NYE RAVE

Story Songs of the 70s With Tom DiMenna

SUN., JAN. 18 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION - UPPER VALLEY, NORWICH

WED., DEC. 31 THE SEABA CENTER, BURLINGTON

WED., DEC. 31 THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY

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Beethoven's Ninth

Bake, Move, and Bloom: Preparing for Labor and Postpartum

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Bob Marley B-Day Bash!! Featuring Mighty Mystic Presented by One LoVermont

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Winter Renaissance Faire

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Tracy Grammer - Folk Singer, Songwriter & Story-teller

Joe's Big Band Winter Burner

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SAT., FEB. 7 ST. JOHN'S CLUB, BURLINGTON

Comfort Food That Loves You Back Featuring Chef Ariel Voorhees

Lieder by the Lake - Burlington Schubertiade

SUN., JAN. 11 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

SUN., FEB. 8 COLLEGE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON

'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

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