Seven Days, December 3, 2025 by Seven Days

Trump has assailed Canada, immigrants, food aid and other targets this year. Here’s how Vermonters are responding.

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

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TO THE CUBICLES

100,000

That’s approximately how many bulbs illuminate the 30-foot Christmas tree on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.

A judge denied a request from the state employees’ union to block Gov. Phil Scott’s return-to-o ce order. The mandate began this week.

KNOCK ON

VU: ED TAX HIKE FORECAST

Vermonters will face an 11.9 percent average increase in education property taxes next year unless lawmakers again step in to soften the ﬁnancial blow, according to a forecast from the Vermont Department of Taxes. e projection is likely to put even more pressure on lawmakers to reform education funding in Vermont.

Last year Gov. Phil Scott signed Act 73, which aims to transform how schools are funded and governed in response to declining enrollments and rising costs.

Its most thorny provision calls for the forced consolidation of districts in an effort to save administrative expenses. A task force was set up to outline the new districts. But instead of doing that, it recommended achieving savings by setting up regional partnerships to collectively fund services such as special education and transportation, drawing the governor’s ire.

On Monday, Scott called the projected tax hike “totally unacceptable” and urged lawmakers to stay the course on a true transformation plan.

“To achieve the outcomes we’ve all agreed are important, the legislature must follow through on the commitments made in Act 73,” Scott said in a written statement. “ is legislation charts a new, more affordable, and higher quality course. When implemented, it will reduce unneces-

sary and duplicative overhead and bureaucracy to ensure more of every dollar actually reaches our kids.”

To offset the potential tax hike for the coming year, the legislature would have to funnel millions of additional general fund dollars into education. at has happened in each of the past two years, helping to ultimately wrest the 18.5 percent increase projected in 2023 down to 13.8 percent and the 5.9 percent projected in 2024 to 1.1 percent. at latter reduction was achieved largely by spending $118 million in general fund cash. If the same amount were allocated again, next year’s 12 percent increase would come down by roughly 5.8 percent, according to Sarah Clark, secretary of administration.

e cost drivers for the potential tax increase are the same as they have been for years: higher health care costs, inﬂation and increasing needs of facilities, Education Secretary Zoie Saunders said.

Legislative leaders pledged to press forward with the reform efforts.

“We’ve seen this movie again and again over the last handful of years,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) said in a statement. “ is pattern absolutely cannot continue.”

Read Kevin McCallum’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

At more than 60 libraries around Vermont, people can borrow a meter to test the moisture in their ﬁrewood. Drier wood burns hotter — and with less smoke.

OPEN BOOKS

Thanks to a 2024 law, nearly 100 former Vermont foster children have requested their case records from the state, Vermont Public reported. Laudable transparency.

POWER PLAY

State o cials plan to review the ﬁnances of 14 municipal electric utilities after irregularities came to light in Hyde Park and Burlington.

TOPFIVE

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

A Grave Misunderstanding in South Burlington

Members of the South Burlington Sexton Committee, who oversee two city-owned cemeteries, have been investigating the correct spelling of one on Airport Road: Eldredge or Eldridge? A sign out front says “Eldridge Cemetery” but its namesake is John Eldredge, the Other Paper reported. e committee eventually voted to be consistent and use the historically accurate one.

RAMBLING ROSE

Rose Polyakova is a runner. e Shelburne resident favors half-marathons, which to the average ﬁt person seem doable. To challenge herself, she decided to race the 13.1-mile distance in every state. And just for good measure, she’d run the states in the order in which they joined the Union.

Next month, barring injury or an act of God, the 55-year-old ex-banker will hit the ﬁnish line at the Maui Oceanfront Half Marathon in Hawaii, which became the 50th state in 1959.

Has she succeeded in her serial state test? Well, not precisely.

“Liberties were taken,” Rose admitted from the parlor of the Heart of the Village Inn, an

upscale bed-and-breakfast she owns and operates with her husband, Anatoly — Toly for short.

Fifteen years ago, living in Maryland, Rose

didn’t even jog — to her, a run was something you get in a stocking. en a friend asked her to join her in a half-marathon at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., in 2011. “I wasn’t a runner; I didn’t love Disney,” she said. “But I liked hanging out with my friends.”

Rose ﬁnished the race and ran 13 “halves” that year, with little regard to order. “I kind of got hooked,” she conceded. Ya think?

at’s when she decided to get organized. From then on, she stuck to the order of admission for the states, beginning with the 14th, Vermont, and the Mad Marathon

in Waitsﬁeld in 2012. “I just fell in love with Vermont,” she said. “We joke that I called Toly at home in Silver Spring, Md., and said, ‘Hey, sell the house. We’re moving to Vermont.’”

e couple, who’d met while Toly was still living in his native Ukraine, moved to Vermont in 2014 and took over the inn the following year. Pointing at a multicolored U.S. wall map that displays her race progression, Rose said she runs for her health, not for personal best times. She’s more concerned about the costumes she wears than what’s on the digital time display.

“I was a Rockette in New York,” she said. What about her adopted state? “Oh, a friend and I were mad cows because we ran the Mad River half in Waitsﬁeld.”

STEVE GOLDSTEIN

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

Rose Polyakova STEVE GOLDSTEIN

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Bryan Parmelee

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron SALES & MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Maguire

SMASHING FAILURE

Before I retired, blithely ignorant statements about recycling in the media made me want to reconﬁgure my laptop with a Louisville Slugger. Seven Days reporter Ken Picard’s remarks about the new Break Room in South Burlington [“Going for Broke,” November 5] — “And lest anyone feel guilty about adding to Vermont’s sole landﬁll, all broken objects are separated into recyclables, e-waste and general trash”— triggered my dormant swing response.

educating the public and local media about responsible waste management for decades, it’s truly disheartening. Though my computer remains safe, my faith in Seven Days’ fact-checking is, sadly, a little bit battered.

Michele Morris JERICHO

Morris is the former director of marketing and communications for the Chittenden Solid Waste District. She retired at the end of October.

THANKS, BCA

[Re “Mourning in America: BCA Center Art Show Explores Private and Public Grief,” November 5]: Thank you for bringing attention to Burlington City Arts’ current exhibit, “Do We Say Goodbye?,” which I found to be deeply moving and a compelling reﬂ ection on our most profound — and also most ordinary — human experiences of death, grief and loss.

Marcy Stabile

Andy Watts

Gillian English

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Sean Metcalf, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

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I can’t imagine any item leaving the Break Room in recyclable form. Even worse, Picard has now taught his teenage kids that smashing a still-working flat-screen TV to tiny bits is “without consequences.” Tell that to the local businesses that salvage significant value from discarded electronics in repair training programs, refurbishing and resale, or harvesting and marketing hard-to-find parts on the global reuse marketplace.

Recycling — selling raw materials as commodities to be re-formed into new products — is always the last stop in value extraction, and it has its own rules for what can and can’t be processed by the people and complex machinery that accomplish that work. Smashing anything to “a mangled mess of glass, plastic and electronics” renders it virtually worthless to anyone but the landﬁll operator.

Given the fraught state of the world and the enormous lift of publishing Seven Days every week, this may seem trivial. To the professionals who have been

One of the artists featured in this show has offered another important contribution to our community. As part of Great Streets BTV’s Main Street Project, Lydia Kern was commissioned by BCA to create a piece of public art. Her “Anthology” is the stunning result. Across from the Flynn and framing one of the entrances to City Hall Park, this beautiful sculpture glows with the colors of a sunset over the lake and is vibrant with pressed flowers contributed by many community members. At different times of day and in different kinds of weather, the light shines through the colorful resin in glorious, meditative and even playful ways. In a post on Instagram, BCA describes “Anthology” as a reflection on “transformation, interdependence and participation” — all things that can serve us well during these complicated times. I encourage folks to visit this uplifting public artwork! And thanks to BCA for remembering the importance of beauty in our daily lives.

Celia Cuddy BURLINGTON

Editor’s note: Turn to page 52 for a review of Lydia Kern’s latest exhibition, at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester.

Smashing a TV screen at Break Room in South Burlington

A LAWYER’S VIEW

I want to respond to David Stewart’s letter [Feedback: “You Forgot the Word ‘Illegal,’” October 29]. Firstly, being undocumented is not a criminal offense; it is a civil violation, just like when we get a parking ticket. Under Section 208(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 USC 1158[a]), anyone who is inside the United States, regardless of their current immigration status, or who arrives at a port of entry or between a port of entry (I believe that Stewart called it an “illegal” entry), is entitled to seek asylum in the United States.

Secondly, the current administration is going out of its way to terrorize and target a vulnerable community, not just “criminals.” As an immigration attorney, I have clients who are lawfully seeking an immigration benefit, have zero criminal history and are beloved members of our communities who have been arbitrarily detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The administration is targeting all immigrants, regardless of their status. It has also stripped my clients of a lawful status that they had (parole/temporary protected status) that allowed them to work, thereby creating thousands of “illegal” noncitizens whom they could then remove.

Finally, I ask for empathy for our community members who made the tough decisions to leave their homes to come to the U.S. seeking safety and opportunity. I would ask we who are born here in the U.S. to think about what would cause us to make this kind of decision and to extend grace, empathy and respect to our friends and neighbors here who have bravely done so.

Kristen Connors ST. ALBANS

BAD POLICY FOR VERMONT

Thank you for covering Gov. Phil Scott’s mandate requiring state employees to return to office [“Remote Control: State Employees Push Back Against Gov. Scott’s Plan to Make Employees Who Work at Home Return to the Office,” October 1; “Distant State Workers Get Nine Months to Relocate,” October 3, online; “Employees’ Union Asks Judge to Block Return-to-Office Mandate,” November 20, online]. This decision deserves renewed attention as its impacts on workforce stability, customer service and state resources become clearer.

A recent Vermont State Employees’ Association survey found that only 21 percent of state employees plan to stay with the state for at least five years — down sharply from 85 percent in the most recent State Employee Engagement Survey.

Meanwhile, some departments will move into newly leased spaces, adding costs for rent, furniture and equipment despite ongoing budget challenges. This is especially concerning given that remote

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hope in growth

Feds Sue Secretary of State Over Voter Data

Vermont Afghans on Edge Following Shooting of Guard Soldiers in D.C.

Vermont Still Without a Permanent U.S. Attorney

Crooked Path

The Montréal FAQ Nine in-the-know Vermonters on their favorite ways to experience the city

ARTS+CULTURE

Think

Spread Those Wings

STUCK IN VERMONT

e r c

S u c c e s s a n d F i n a n c i a l S e c u r i t y

A c r o s s V e r m o n t

Uncompromising

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK COMPILED BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

FRIDAY 5 & SATURDAY 6

LAUGH FACTORY

You might recognize Dulcé Sloan from her stint as a senior correspondent alongside Trevor Noah on Comedy Central’s “ e Daily Show.” Now the fast-rising standup star brings her sharp wit and fabulous style to Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington, where attendees ﬁnd out why she’s hailed as a top act to watch by Variety, Rolling Stone and Time Out Los Angeles.

SEE CLUB LISTINGS ON PAGE 62

FRIDAY 5

Winter Wunderland

e Lane Series rocks Burlington with a rare “small hall” performance by Weimar cabaret icon Ute Lemper at the University of Vermont Recital Hall. Lemper — considered the greatest living interpreter of the ﬂamboyant form of entertainment harking back to 1920s Germany — delivers Broadway-caliber renditions of songs by composer Kurt Weill, as well as other notable voices of the era.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

THURSDAY 4

Golden Guys

What do you get when you mix Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Duke Ellington and roots supergroup Mr. Sun? A cracking-good time! Feel the spirit of the season at Richmond Congregational Church when the high-octane four-piece calls upon jazz music’s central ﬁgure for inspo, playing his artful reinterpretation of the world’s most hummable holiday soundtrack, e Nutcracker Suite

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

SATURDAY 6

Bake It Easy

At the Gingerbread Festival at Tracy Hall in Norwich, a gallery of handcrafted houses designed by local volunteers boasts serious curb appeal. Tiny-home hunters can bid to leave with one; proceeds beneﬁt the Family Place parent-child center. A learning nook with gifts and resources for kids, cookie demos and decorating, and other festive activities complete the holiday happening.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 75

SATURDAY 6

Merry Moment

AVA Gallery and Art Center’s Holiday Exhibition Open House in Lebanon, N.H., beckons aesthetes, connoisseurs and collectors to a showcase of ﬁne art and crafts created by gallery members. Artist demos and open studios offer the perfect opportunity to grab a gift for that someone special — or keep for yourself. (It’s called self-care, right?)

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

transforms the town into a Rowe Field.

River of Light Lantern Parade bustling mecca of illuminated cheer. e enchanting evening commences at Brookside Primary School, where marching bands set the tone for a procession of paper lanterns made by area students and community members. e spectacle concludes with hot cocoa and live entertainment at Dascomb

Saxophonist Jeff Cofﬁn and Tuvan throat-singing Béla Fleck & the Flecktones in Burlington to present “Jingle All the Way.” e rollicking reunion tour — helmed by the beloved banjoist — features the group’s jazz-infused holiday classics, including a clever rendition of “ e Twelve Days of Christmas” performed in 12 different keys and time signatures.

Holidays

on the

Marketplace

is back & brighter than ever!

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

What I Should Have Said

No one would ever describe me as a shy person, but put a microphone in front of my face, or on my lapel, and I clam right up. Like so many people, I struggle with public speaking. The only way I can manage my anxiety leading up to a talk is to prepare — some would say over-prepare — by writing the whole thing in advance. No amount of practice can wean me from the script because I don’t trust myself to improvise in front of a crowd. When all eyes are on me, a panic rises up through my gut and chest to my head, where it anesthetizes my brain. That’s how it feels, anyway.

Then comes the Q&A, for which there is no preparation. In June, after a 45-minute talk I gave at the Worthen Library in South Hero, the ﬁrst question from the audience was one nobody had ever asked me: “What would you do with unlimited resources?”

It was a softball, lobbed right across the plate. I’m not even sure my answer counted as a swing. It was certainly a miss. I stammered something about the implausibility of such a scenario, like I couldn’t even imagine it. Then: “Maybe we’d add another Burlington reporter.” And: “We’d ﬁnd ways to help Vermont’s smaller community media outlets to shore up the state’s increasingly fragile local media ecosystem.”

Now, after thinking about it for ﬁve months, I’m ready to give a more thoughtful answer.

Every week Seven Days rustles up the money to publish one of the best newspapers in the country. While our reporters and editors are caught up in the swirl of writing stories, compiling calendars, fact-checking and proofreading, the sales sta is bringing home the bacon it takes to publish their work. The number of ads — and obituaries and legal notices — they sell determines the number of pages in the paper. And the information in those advertisements is as useful to readers as the local journalism it winds up next to.

This arrangement has worked for decades — and still will as long as business owners believe there is value in aligning their brands with a trusted local news source that is informative, inspiring, clever, fun and, in the end,

DON EGGERT

Paula Routly speaking at the Worthen Library in South Hero in June

THE FIRST QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE WAS ONE NOBODY HAD EVER ASKED ME: “WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH UNLIMITED RESOURCES?” RESOURCES?”

helps start the ﬁre in the woodstove. The ads are meant to drum up business, of course. They are also an investment in the community we share and that Seven Days connects and reports on. TikTok is not going to organize the Vermont Tech Jam or Burger Week.

Visitors from out of town often squeal with delight when they ﬂip through Seven Days and remember what a real newspaper, fat with ads and compelling stories, looks like. But the truth is, the paper has shrunk a bit this year because there are fewer ads, especially in the help-wanted section and from local restaurants and retailers. We now rely on foundations, philanthropists and the donations of our Super Readers to help pay the bills, but every week is an uphill battle.

Among the biggest expenses is providing health insurance to our employees. In October we learned that if we stuck with the same plan and employee contributions, the company’s annual costs would go up a whopping 36 percent in 2026 — from $308,000 to $420,000. Seven Days just can’t a ord that.

To reduce the increase, we’re switching carriers and making another painful change: We’ll continue to help our employees pay their premiums — to the tune of 90 percent of the cost — but everyone will receive the same amount, regardless of their family size or status. Several of our longtime sta ers are scrambling to ﬁgure out how to insure their spouses and kids.

What would I do with unlimited resources? I’d soften the edges of this grueling and relentless endeavor and devise ways to make practicing local journalism rewarding and sustainable, so that it was something people of all ages and economic backgrounds could a ord to do. There would be rigorous training for rookie reporters — maybe even a summer camp for teenage journalists. We could o er short sabbaticals between big stories to recharge and get new ideas. And compensation enough so that reporters could a ord to live in the city they cover — that goes for the rest of the sta , too. In short, I’d put this Vermont institution on forever-solid ﬁnancial footing.

If you ﬁnd that vision compelling, help us get there. Buy an ad. Send a contribution using the information on this page. Make a tax-deductible gift from your donor-advised fund to one of our ﬁscal sponsors, Journalism Funding Partners or the GroundTruth Project. Need help? We can walk you through the process.

I forced myself to give that talk at the Worthen to spread the message: This free newspaper is worth paying for.

Paula Routly

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VT AFGHANS FEAR REPRISALS

IMMIGRATION

Special Deliveries

As migrants hunker down on farms to avoid Border Patrol, helpers bring them food,

& PHOTOS BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

As snow fell on a recent Sunday evening, Rev. Luis Barrera Hernandez climbed into his Subaru Forester and drove along winding roads to a Franklin County dairy farm.

Barrera Hernandez was dressed in glowing white vestments and had packed the necessities: a chalice, some candles, a silver cruciﬁx and a handful of communion wafers in a plastic food container. A cupholder beside him held a small plastic bottle with “holy water” imprinted in gold across the front.

Barrera Hernandez, 60, arrived in Richford in 2024 with an assignment from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington to serve as priest in four area churches — and to hold Spanish-language masses for the hundreds of Hispanic farmworkers and their families who live in the area. For a short while he drew many congregants to

these special masses. But as immigration enforcement ramped up in early 2025 under the Trump administration, he found himself preaching to empty churches.

IT’S EASIER AND SAFER TO DO THE MASSES HERE. IT’S A BENEFIT FOR US. WE DON’T HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES AT RISK. AGUSTÍN

“People are afraid to leave the farms because you could run into Border Patrol anywhere up here,” Barrera Hernandez said. He has resorted to bringing the Mass to them, holding services in barns,

Winooski Second Grader in ICE Detention in Texas

BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

A Winooski student in the second grade is in immigration detention in Texas after he and his mother were detained while traveling over the holiday weekend, according to district superintendent Wilmer Chavarria.

Winooski School District ofﬁcials called the 7-year-old boy’s home when he didn’t show up for school on Monday. ey learned from his father that he had been unable to contact the boy and his mother after they left home last ursday. e family is originally from Ecuador.

e boy, who attends JFK Elementary, is the ﬁrst Winooski School District student to be detained by immigration ofﬁcials this year, Chavarria said.

“We’re in a bit of a rush mode to make sure they don’t get separated,” Chavarria said.

e school activated its “rapid response” protocol to try to locate the child and help his family with legal support. ey were able to ﬁnd the boy and his mother in a family detention facility in Texas and speak with them brieﬂy over the phone.

e district is giving the child’s father, who is still in Winooski, $1,000 from an emergency fund paid for by private donations, Chavarria said.

mechanical shops, workers’ living rooms and kitchens. In doing so, Barrera Hernandez joins a growing network of mobile health care providers, vendors, drivers and personal shoppers who cater to people who are largely confined to the farms where they live and work.

This system isn’t new: Vermont’s dairy farms have increasingly relied on migrant workers, mainly from Mexico, for more than 20 years. The jobs are attractive in part because housing is provided and the work is year-round rather than seasonal. It’s estimated that about 1,000 migrant farmworkers tend to cows and crops in Vermont, and many have brought family members to live with them. As this workforce has grown, so has its list of basic requirements. Nonproﬁts, entrepreneurs and the priest help the group meet its needs.

e student’s father told Seven Days that the family had been in the U.S. for three years and Winooski for about two months. ey were in the process of applying for asylum, said the father, who asked for anonymity. e family lived in Minnesota before relocating to Vermont.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said in Spanish. He doesn’t know where or why his wife and son were detained.

Winooski is Vermont’s most diverse school district, and Chavarria, a native of Nicaragua, has been an outspoken supporter of immigrant students. e district passed a sanctuary schools policy earlier this year aimed at restricting immigration agents’ access to school grounds.

Chavarria, who is a U.S. citizen, was also detained by federal agents in Texas while returning from a July visit to his family in Nicaragua. ➆

Rev. Luis Barrera Hernandez leading a service on a farm

On the Mend?

At a crucial time for ailing rural hospitals, Randolph’s Gifford Medical Center finds hope in growth

STORY & PHOTOS BY LEXI KRUPP

When Michael Costa assumed the role of CEO at Gifford Medical Center a year ago, the Randolph hospital was losing more than $1 million each month. Most nights, only a third of the hospital’s beds were occupied. Meanwhile, primary care offices were booked solid, with more than 600 patients on waiting lists.

Those problems were underscored in a bombshell report released just a few days before Costa took over. The report, commissioned by the state and prepared by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman, said Vermont’s health care system faced an immediate existential crisis. It called on four rural hospitals to prepare for the day when they could no longer sustain their inpatient beds — Costa’s new employer among them.

HEALTH

“My spouse heard about it on the radio and said, ‘That’s not your hospital, is it?’

And I said, ‘Yep, that’s Gifford,’” Costa recalled.

A year later, Costa has accepted some of the report’s less controversial suggestions, trimming staff, cutting underutilized services and collaborating with other hospitals. Yet he has challenged

the prognosis of a slow, painful death, seeking instead to position Gifford as an indispensable part of the state’s health care system by serving as a “pressure release valve” to the region’s bigger, overburdened providers.

It is a strategy that can’t be replicated at every community hospital in the state and won’t be the answer to all of Gifford’s financial woes. But for now, the approach seems to be paying off: The hospital is busier than it has been in years and projects to be back in the black in 2026.

“What I’m most happy about, though, is consistent progress,” Costa said. “If you take a look at our finances, they’ve gotten better each and every month for six straight months.”

Costa knows his way around a spreadsheet. For years he worked in Vermont state government as part of the health care reform office and also headed up the state’s Medicaid program.

“That led to me being like, I have all these opinions about health care. I’ve never actually worked for a place that takes care of people,” he said. “That’s bananas.”

Gifford Medical Center

POLITICS

Feds Sue Secretary of State Over Voter Data

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas for refusing to turn over the state’s voter registration database.

The suit was filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Burlington by the department’s Civil Rights Division. It claims Copeland Hanzas, in her official capacity, violated the National Voter Registration Act when she declined a request in August to share voter data with the Department of Justice.

“This proceeding arises from the Attorney General’s investigation into Vermont’s compliance with Federal election laws,” the suit says.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Department of Justice said it had sued Vermont and five other states.

“Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

At the time of the initial request, Copeland Hanzas, a former Democratic lawmaker, said state law did not allow her to share personal information about voters. She also noted that elections are conducted by states, not federal agencies.

“The policy of my office is very clear: our office has no plans to share Vermont voter data with the federal government,” Copeland Hanzas said in an August 13 press release.

In a September follow-up letter to Copeland Hanzas, the feds sought the name, date of birth and address, as well as a drivers’ license number or last four digits of a Social Security number, for every registered voter in the state.

Copeland Hanzas responded with a letter indicating that state law does not allow her to turn over “personally identifying information” about voters. She also noted that the feds did not provide sufficient assurance that the data would be kept confidential.

On Tuesday, Copeland Hanzas’ office had no comment on the merits of the suit. Attorney General Charity Clark said in a statement that her office “looks forward to defending Secretary Copeland Hanzas in this case.” ➆

Special

Deliveries « P.14

Nowhere is this truer than in rural Franklin County, home to 89 dairy farms and the heart of Vermont’s dairy industry. Here, the air often smells sharply of manure, and hillsides at night are dotted with the lights of milking parlors that run 24-7.

But Franklin County borders Canada, meaning U.S. Border Patrol vehicles marked with their distinctive green stripe are a regular sight. While dairy farms have been largely spared from immigration raids so far, undocumented workers risk an encounter with federal immigration officers any time they leave the farm.

On top of that, the work is demanding, with 12-hour shifts six days a week. Few workers have cars, and because they usually intend to live in Vermont for just a few years, they have less incentive to integrate into the community outside the farm.

“It’s a world apart,” Barrera Hernandez said.

Some locals have spotted opportunities in these realities. A handful of people work full time as personal shoppers for the workers, buying groceries, cellphones, clothes, winter boots — anything they need, for a fee. Others make a living as raiteros — hired drivers who transport workers from place to place.

Vendors from nearby states fill vans with tortillas, Mexican breads, sodas and cookies that workers can’t find in local stores, mimicking the mobile street vendors common in Mexico. One vendor also has a system the workers use to transfer money back home.

Even health care comes to the farms.

In 2010, Bridges to Health formed in response to a need for greater access to health care among migrant farmworkers in Franklin County. The project is part of the University of Vermont Extension’s migrant health programs and has since expanded statewide.

Eight community health workers around the state help farmworkers make medical appointments, navigate health insurance paperwork and get rides to meet with their doctors.

The team has seen a surge in the number of families on farms, which historically attracted almost exclusively single men. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of children served by the team jumped from 33 to 141.

Most of the time, farmworkers must leave the farm to see a doctor, but Bridges to Health helps run an annual vaccination drive that visited 15 farms this fall, according to Naomi Wolcott-MacCausland, the program lead.

“When we see that there are collective needs on a farm, that’s when we work a

little bit outside of the system to try to bring health care access to the farms,” WolcottMacCausland told a Statehouse committee last month. “They often say, ‘Yeah, there’s no way I would have gone off the farm to do this, but I’m glad that I have that protection.’”

In the spirit of these other service providers, Barrera Hernandez, a native of Colombia, has learned to operate as a kind of church on wheels.

After the Border Patrol in April detained eight Franklin County dairy workers near Berkshire, attendance at his Spanish-language masses dropped off, he said. The arrests sparked fears of a broader crackdown, although it turned out to be a one-time event.

Border Patrol agents were responding to a tip about several men with backpacks who looked like they might have just crossed the border illegally. The men were, in fact, migrant laborers from a nearby farm who had been working in a sugar bush near the border. When one of the men fled toward the farm, agents gave chase and entered a home where they discovered and detained more undocumented workers.

Afterward, one of Barrera Hernandez’s regulars, a farmworker named Agustín, stopped attending church. He shared his fears with Barrera Hernandez, and soon the priest began holding regular services at the farm instead.

“For us it’s easier and safer to do the masses here,” said Agustín, who asked that his full name not be used because he is undocumented. “It’s a benefit for us. We don’t have to put ourselves at risk.”

Agustín, 36, has worked on Vermont farms for more than a decade, he said, although he hopes to return eventually to his home in Veracruz, Mexico. In the meantime, he sends money home to his parents and younger brothers, who depend on him.

“We come here just to work,” he said. “I think anyone who has the opportunity to come here does it to help their family get ahead and have a better life.”

For now, he shares a house on the farm with nine other workers and tends to the

dairy cows six days a week from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On that snowy Sunday evening, Barrera Hernandez gathered his parishioners in a cramped meeting room next to a milking parlor. He stood at the head of a long wooden table cluttered with papers and binders, clearing a space where he set down his chalice and crucifix.

Eleven men and women filed into the room and sat around the table in a tight circle. Most were farmworkers, though a Puerto Rican couple had driven up from St. Albans with their year-old baby.

The couple, Wilmary González Alvarado and Jorge Rodriguez Maldonado, attended Barrera Hernandez’s Spanish language masses at churches in Highgate and Enosburg Falls earlier this year. They were excited for an opportunity to worship in Spanish but often found themselves alone in the pews.

“We were really worried because the community was not coming,” said González Alvarado, 36, who works as a cook for Head Start in Burlington.

When the priest began ministering on farms, the couple followed him. In these gatherings, they said, they’ve found a greater sense of community.

The worshippers bundled in winter coats took turns standing to read passages of scripture in Spanish. Barrera Hernandez preached a message of solidarity among the working class. Bouncing her baby on her lap, González Alvarado led the group in song, her voice rising over the hum of the milking parlor fans.

Down the road, the church was empty and dark. ➆

Editor’s note: Interviews with Rev. Luis Barrera Hernandez, Agustín and González Alvarado were conducted in Spanish.

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

Sec. of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas

The makeshift service

Vermont Afghans on Edge Following Shooting of Guard Soldiers in D.C.

BY COLIN FLANDERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont’s Afghan community is reeling from news that a fellow national has been accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., killing one of them.

Molly Gray, executive director of the Burlington-based Vermont Afghan Alliance, said there has been a palpable anxiety among local Afghans, who have been filling WhatsApp group chats with comments that reflect their collective shock over the November 26 attack.

“They’re outraged that this horrible act of violence occurred, and they’re deeply worried that they may be blamed,” Gray said in a phone call last Friday.

Officials say Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, of Washington State, drove across the country to the nation’s capital and shot two West Virginia National Guard members who were deployed there. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, has since died, officials say, while 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.

Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. in 2021 as part of a Biden-era program to resettle Afghan nationals whose work on behalf of the U.S. government made them targets of the Taliban. Officials say he was part of one of the CIA’s “Zero Units,” which were used for night raids and secret missions to combat terrorist groups.

Lakanwal applied for asylum during the Biden administration, and his application was approved this year, national media outlets reported.

President Donald Trump has used the attack to justify escalating his ongoing immigration crackdown. In an address after the shooting, he vowed to “reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that same day that it was pausing the processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals. The Department of Homeland Security then said it had started a review of all asylum cases that had been approved under former president Joe Biden. And the agency’s director vowed to conduct a “rigorous reexamination” of every green card recipient from “countries of concern,” a list that includes not only Afghanistan but also 18 other countries from which travel is currently restricted.

The immigration statuses of some 600 Afghans who have resettled in Vermont since 2021 could now be in jeopardy.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott expressed support for Afghan refugees, saying he believes “we’ve done the right thing and should continue to welcome vetted refugees to Vermont and encourage them to pursue citizenship.” He denounced blaming all Afghans for the actions of one person.

The governor was also supportive of the fed’s plan to reexamine the program, saying in his statement that it’s “reasonable and prudent for the federal government to investigate to be sure there are no additional security concerns or vulnerabilities in our systems.

“It is important that America have a secure, compassionate, legal immigration system that prioritizes protecting our allies when they need us most,” the governor wrote.

Trump’s response to the attack has reverberated across refugee communities nationwide. Groups that work with Afghans say many are now worried about leaving their houses out of fear of getting scooped up by immigration authorities or harassed by their neighbors.

In a statement, the Vermont Afghan Alliance strongly condemned the “horrific” act of violence. But it also called on Trump to not punish the entire Afghan community for the “act of one individual.”

“The President’s response is deeply harmful, and spreads misinformation about Afghan allies and veterans who risked everything for this country,” the statement said.

Gray, in a phone call, added that she fears the U.S. is hurtling toward another post-9/11 world, in which Muslims, and particularly Afghans, will be targeted.

“It is deeply, deeply concerning,” she said. ➆

Members of law enforcement at the shooting site near the White House

So far, the larger hospitals have taken them up on the offer.

He became the leader of a group of community health centers in the Northeast Kingdom before working at Gifford, a 25-bed community hospital that’s more than a century old.

Many of the problems Costa inherited had been brewing for years. The number of patients admitted to the hospital dropped during the pandemic and never recovered as more complicated cases were transferred to bigger hospitals. Meanwhile, the rollout of a new electronic health records system caused billing issues that meant Gifford wasn’t consistently paid for the care it provided. And the cost of hiring temporary staff, along with medical equipment and drugs, soared.

“When they’re full in their ER, they’ll give us a call and ask if we have capacity to take a patient,” said Rogers, who has been working at Gifford for decades, since she was a teenager. “Patients have to agree, but it seems to be working out.”

Over the past year, Gifford has doubled the average number of overnight inpatients from eight to 16. That includes people who live close by and others from farther afield in Vermont and New Hampshire.

And the hospital feels different. “Some of our most experienced team members have come up to me and been like, ‘We used to be busy like this all the time,’” Costa said. “‘Our lab used to do orders like this all the time.’”

These changes aren’t just meant to bring the hospital more business. They’re also aimed at ensuring people can get quality care close to home.

I DON’T THINK THERE’S A FANCY HOSPITAL ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME BETTER CARE.

SOPHIE CRANE

Right now they often can’t, according to Randy Garner, a longtime funeral director in Randolph and a former board member of the hospital. “We’ve noticed an uptick in the past several years of local residents going to far-off places for their final days,” Garner said last year.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to Albany, N.Y.; Boston; Providence, R.I.; Hartford, Conn.; Manchester, N.H. Why? Because critical care access at Dartmouth was not available.”

His initial stab at reforms was to make cuts. In his first few weeks, Costa laid off two administrators and several clinicians: a urogynecologist and two chiropractors. He said those reductions were chosen to have as little impact on the community as possible — other chiropractors in the area could pick up Gifford’s patients, while remaining urologists and gynecologists on staff could care for patients who had gone to the subspecialist.

He spoke at a community meeting about Gifford’s future weeks after the Oliver Wyman report became public. Nearly 300 people turned out on a stormy Tuesday evening at the nearby Vermont State University campus to share their overwhelming support for the hospital. Gifford has been part of the community since 1903.

He also worked to overhaul the hospital’s scheduling practices to allow more patients to get primary care appointments. The care doesn’t necessarily make money for the hospital, because primary care has a low reimbursement rate from insurance companies. But Costa thinks if those patients have existing relationships with Gifford, they will be more likely to choose it for profitable specialized services when the need arises.

Costa’s most important strategy might have been convincing bigger hospitals such as Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., and the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington that Gifford could accept more transfers of patients needing hospital-level care.

“It really was a messaging change,” said Dessa Rogers, a nurse who oversees Gifford’s emergency department and the inpatient unit. “This is what Gifford can do; these are the kind of patients we can take care of; these are the kind of specialists and services that we have.”

“I don’t think there’s a fancy hospital anywhere in the country that would have given me better care,” said Sophie Crane, who had given birth at the hospital a few months before.

A father brought his 12-day-old infant.

“Coming to the community forum was not the first outing we planned for our son,” he said. “I think it says something about how important we feel Gifford Birthing Center is to us.”

Others said they wouldn’t be alive if it were not for the hospital.

Going forward, Costa thinks Gifford could play a bigger role in reducing wait times for routine procedures such as mammograms or colonoscopies, which are often backed up for months at bigger hospitals. At the UVM Medical Center, the wait list for a colonoscopy has more than 3,000 patients, according to testimony from the hospital president earlier this year.

Not so at the Randolph hospital. “Gifford, for the most part, can get you in quite quickly,” Costa said.

A busier hospital means busier staff, and Gifford has long relied on expensive travel workers to get by — a trend Costa is also trying to reverse.

This summer, the hospital started a yearlong training program to hire nurses straight out of school and provide further clinical experience, simulated scenarios, online classes and mentorship. A class of eight new nursing graduates now works at the hospital.

That has allowed more experienced nursing staff to move to specialties such as the birthing center and the emergency department, reducing the need for travel workers, Costa said. “It really is this virtuous cycle.”

The hospital has a similar plan to serve as a training ground for primary care doctors fresh out of medical school. The new residency program, which will involve other community hospitals, has already received accreditation and state funding, and its first cohort should be enrolled within the next few years.

All of these efforts are aimed at helping the hospital cover its costs without raising prices.

“You can’t ask your customers to pay more — your patients to pay more — each and every year, forever,” Costa said.

That’s exactly what has been happening in Vermont in recent years. Price hikes were the default solution to fix budget holes at the state’s hospitals. The tendency has led to health insurance premiums that are now

the most expensive in the country by some metrics.

This year, hospitals have shown more restraint in their budgets after pressure from state regulators and lawmakers.

Still, that’s come at a cost. Many hospitals have started closing patient services in response to financial challenges. In Morrisville, Copley Hospital shuttered its labor and delivery unit at the start of November, along with prenatal and postpartum care, leaving some residents without a place to receive pregnancy care or give birth within an hour’s drive. The inpatient psychiatry unit at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin closed at the beginning of the year, stranding patients in severe mental health crises. And Rutland Regional Medical Center said it will close hospital beds designated for kids as soon as the end of the year.

The upcoming expiration of many Obamacare subsidies could create even more problems. Some Vermonters will face stunning increases in their health insurance premiums as of January — as much as $2,500 more each month.

Insurers expect nearly 5,000 people in Vermont who currently have a health plan to decide to join the ranks of the uninsured next year. Many more are likely to lose insurance when changes to Medicaid policies go into effect after 2027. More uninsured patients means more unpaid medical bills.

“The hospitals aren’t being paid, the red ink gets broader and deeper, and it’s already pretty red,” Green Mountain Care Board chair Owen Foster told state lawmakers in October.

“There’s so many headwinds coming at rural hospitals,” Foster added in a recent interview, citing aging infrastructure, lack of providers and declines in quality of care.

He’s not sure whether Gifford’s strategy will ultimately be enough to keep every small hospital in the state afloat. In part, that’s because improving health care financing is not as simple as attracting more patients.

“Even if you get more patients, if they’re Medicaid patients, you’re going to be losing money,” he said.

And he doesn’t think there are enough patients to go around, nor staff to take care of them.

Costa is more optimistic about the future of hospitals such as his.

“The curious thing about public policy and health care in 2025 is that there are many things changing, but nothing has changed the need for health care services,” he said.

“How would we practically solve that problem if these hospitals were to go away or radically change?” ➆

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story appeared in Daybreak, a newsletter serving the Upper Valley.

Michael Costa

COURTS

Vermont Still Without a Permanent U.S. Attorney

BY COLIN FLANDERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

Nearly a year into his second term, President Donald Trump has yet to nominate someone to serve as Vermont’s top federal prosecutor, leaving the office vulnerable to legal challenges that could disrupt criminal proceedings.

“Everyone in our court community is thinking about this issue seriously because it affects the integrity of the entire system,” Alejandro Fernandez, Vermont’s chief federal public defender, told Seven Days

Vermont’s lone U.S. attorney position was last held on a permanent basis by Biden appointee Nikolas Kerest. But Kerest resigned on January 20, as is typical during presidential transitions of power.

The Burlington office has since been supervised by second-in-command Michael Drescher, who was elevated from his role of first assistant to acting U.S. attorney.

Under that title, Drescher has dutifully carried out some of Trump’s more controversial directives. He argued on behalf of the government in the highprofile immigration cases brought by Moshen Mahdawi and Rumeysa Ozturk this spring. And he heeded U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s call to pursue the death penalty against 21-year-old Teresa Youngblut, who is accused of killing a Border Patrol agent.

But the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, passed in 1998, limits how long someone can serve in temporary capacities. Acting U.S. attorneys typically get 210 days, though those elevated during a presidential transition, such as Drescher, get up to 300 days.

The clock ran out November 16, and the following day, Drescher’s title was reverted back to first assistant.

The district court that covers all of Vermont is now one of just two districts out of 93 in the country without an acting, interim or permanent U.S. attorney.

Trump could change that by nominating someone to the role, but it is unclear whether he plans to any time soon.

Traditionally, presidents nominate U.S. attorneys based on recommendations from both a state’s senior U.S. senator and the senior member of their own party. In Vermont, that’s Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Gov. Phil Scott, respectively.

Trump has not consulted the governor about the position, according to a Scott spokesperson. Sanders’ office did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether he has offered up any names.

A spokesperson for Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who serves on the committee that questions and votes on U.S. attorney nominees, said he was aware of the vacancy and was working with Sanders to address it.

Vermont’s U.S. Attorney’s Office did not provide answers to an emailed list of questions. But Drescher continues to lead the office as first assistant.

Whether that’s allowed under the Vacancies Act is an open question at the heart of a series of legal challenges now winding their way toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

The challenges stem from Trump’s attempt to install his preferred choices into U.S. attorney positions elsewhere in the country through questionable legal maneuvers. Some legal scholars say the moves appear to be designed to skirt the typical appointment process, and defense attorneys have argued that the appointments are unlawful and therefore undermine the legality of cases involving those prosecutors.

District courts have so far reached differing conclusions about whether first assistants such as Drescher can perform the duties of a U.S. attorney indefinitely, according to Anne O’Connell, a professor at the Stanford University Law School who is considered an expert on federal appointments.

O’Connell believes the Trump administration has a strong argument. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have delegated certain functions to subordinates when a top position is vacant, O’Connell noted. And while that is a workaround to the Vacancies Act, it can sometimes be necessary to keep the government operating as intended. President Biden, for instance, was able to get just about one-third of all U.S. attorneys confirmed by the end of his first year in office.

“On the other hand, Congress presumably did not intend such vast delegation in enacting the 1998 Act,” O’Connell wrote in an email.

That was the opinion of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which on Monday ruled that Alina Habba had been serving unlawfully as the U.S. attorney in New Jersey.

The three-judge panel said the Trump administration had violated the Vacancies Act to keep Habba in charge beyond what’s legally allowed. Lingering questions over her legal authority had already delayed some cases.

As an HR professional for more than 20 years, I know how challenging recruitment can be. When I post a job, I want it to reach all Vermonters who are interested and searching for the right opportunity. Seven Days makes that possible. eir postings are seen statewide, so I know I’m connecting with candidates everywhere. Posting a job is as easy as 1-2-3. I simply send an email to Michelle Brown on Friday, and it’s live on their site on Monday. e Seven Days staff are super responsive, helpful and customer-centric.

ANNA GRADY VP of Operations and Administration, Vermont Community Foundation, Burlington

FEEDback

and hybrid work have proven successful and support local economies.

Vermonters should care because high turnover is costly. Replacing a skilled employee can cost 50 percent to 200 percent of their annual salary. If the return-to-o ce mandate drives just 300 employees to leave, replacement costs could reach $10 million to $40 million.

Rigid in-office policies will only increase turnover, recruitment expenses and vacancy rates, resulting in poorer state services at higher taxpayer cost. In contrast, maintaining ﬂexible hybrid options aligns with the governor’s broader goal to address Vermont’s demographic challenges and expand the state’s workforce by attracting new residents and creating opportunities for young Vermonters.

As the Vermont Futures Project notes, remote workers “revitalize rural areas, promote innovation, and strengthen local economies.” Vermont should embrace this future, not retreat from it.

Serena Parnau BURLINGTON

‘TIME TO RESIST’

The October 29 Seven Days cover perfectly illustrates the challenge facing Gov. Phil Scott’s administration as it seeks a “balancing act” during this ﬁrst year of the Trump administration (read: regime). Unfortunately, it also shows the continued tendency of the media to normalize this country’s slide into authoritarianism. It does so by showing half of the people as MAGA supporters and half as “blue” voters when, in fact, Vermont is one of the bluest states in the country. It chose Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by a 2-1 margin in 2024.

I can credit Gov. Scott’s efforts to deﬂect negative attention from Vermont. However, his approach seems a bit misguided, if not deluded. This is illustrated by the recent decision of “the regime” to deny disaster aid to Vermont.

I’d also like to note that this approach doesn’t directly acknowledge those of us in Vermont who are being targeted by the hateful actions of the Trump regime. Those include the LGBTQ community, people of color, immigrants and many others. We do not have the luxury of laying low.

Finally, I’d like to note the article’s anonymous quote from a Scott administration o cial: “This is not a time to resist. This is the politics of appeasement.”

No — it damned well is the time to resist! Democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the Constitution are all under relentless assault.

We should all remember how well appeasement works when dealing with authoritarian wannabes. Just think of Neville Chamberlain. We know how that worked out.

Glenn Reed WILDER

RESPECT FOR EARLY EDUCATORS

Thank you for the excellent article on Vermont’s investments in childcare [“Growing Gains: Vermont’s Bold Investment in Childcare Is Largely Paying Off,” November 19]. I want to add some context to the section on the “professionalization bill” and honor the concerns of my colleagues quoted in the article. As an early childhood educator serving on the Advancing as a Profession

and stability our profession deserves — a system we can be proud of.

Staci Otis SPRINGFIELD

‘ADS

SHOULD BE ADS’

WE FOUND EACH OTHER

Loved the story on Seven Days personals [From the Publisher: “The Personals Touch,” November 19] and just wanted to add my own. I’m 80 years old and found my current partner, former giant pumpkin grower Steve Minor, through Seven Days personals. They are not just for the young but also for the “not dead yet” folks like us. Our ﬁrst date was at Muddy Waters on Main Street in Burlington. We will be going back there on our two-year anniversary on December 15. Yahoo, Seven Days! You guys continually renew our faith in humanity!

Cynthia Close BURLINGTON

SHOUT-OUT TO JOHNSON WOOLEN MILLS

[Re 7D Brand Studio: “Burlington Police Department, Mayor Work Together to Improve Community Safety,” November 12]: Ads should be ads, and articles should be articles. Printing content paid for by Pomerleau Real Estate in the same layout as a regular Seven Days article is misleading. I appreciate that Seven Days is distributed free of charge and that it must therefore generate revenue through advertising. But publishing a piece sponsored by one of Burlington’s biggest landlords posing as a news story compromises this publication’s journalistic integrity.

The “article” itself reads like a recruitment ad for the Burlington Police Department. It mentions that retention has “long been di cult for the department” and in U.S. law enforcement generally but does not ask why that is the case, as real journalism would. It’s unclear who even wrote the story; there’s no byline.

GROWING GAINS

Task Force, I had the privilege of helping shape the workforce recommendations in the Early Childhood Educators Profession Bill and witnessing firsthand the thoughtful, deliberate work behind them.

Change can feel uncertain, especially in a ﬁeld that has endured so much instability. This bill looks to the future workforce while honoring and supporting those already in the ﬁeld. It provides extensive supports and transition provisions to help current educators succeed during the shift. The changes are deliberately paced to ensure they are sustainable, well supported and manageable for everyone involved.

To recruit and retain the educators who make Vermont’s childcare system thrive, meaningful professional recognition is essential. With $125 million in public investments, some level of individual accountability is expected. This bill gives early educators a chance to design a licensure system that truly reflects the respect, career pathways

The anonymous author acknowledges that 19 of the 20 individuals — 95 percent — with whom Burlington’s police interact most frequently are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. They write that this highlights the need for “broader responses and resources” without naming the obvious one: housing for all.

As Burlington’s second-largest landowner, Pomerleau Real Estate has benefited financially as housing prices have skyrocketed. This increase in the cost of housing is also largely responsible for the rise in homelessness — people live outdoors when they cannot a ord other options. The Pomerleaus personally profit from spreading the belief that escalating police presence, rather than making housing a ordable for everybody, is what is needed to address public drug use and crimes of desperation. That must be why they paid several thousand dollars for this pro-BPD pu piece.

Sam Bliss BURLINGTON

Editor’s note: Pomerleau Real Estate is one of many clients that have commissioned and paid for “native advertising” campaigns like this one since 2017. All are tagged as paid content and include the logo of the underwriter. The font and byline, if there is one, di er from other Seven Days content.

[Re “Glad in Plaid: A Complicated Burlington Businessman Aims to Revive Johnson Woolen Mills,” December 13, 2023]: I recently contacted Johnson Woolen Mills regarding repair of my 50-year-old coat. Gene Richards responded and said they’d be happy to repair it. I remembered he used to be director of the Burlington airport; now he owns Johnson Woolen Mills. I picked up the coat at his house in a few days, and there was no bill included. I suggested I’d like to send a $25 check to give to that person as a bonus. He said that o er was very kind but totally unnecessary. I was very touched by this gesture, as this is my favorite garment of all time!

My point in writing this is that supporting local businesses does matter. It keeps dollars in our communities and helps secure people’s jobs.

Also, I just bought a set of summer tires from my local mechanic and said I wanted product made in the USA. I’m all set for spring. When I get exceptional customer service, I want to tell them so!

Pete Saile BURLINGTON

Gene Richards

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Ann Lorrain

FEBRUARY 22, 1930-NOVEMBER 20, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Ann E. Lorrain, 95, of Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, at her apartment at Cathedral Square Assisted Living in Burlington. Ann was born in Springfield, Mass., on February 22, 1930, to Wilfred and Rose Williams. She graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1947 and then worked at Massachusetts Mutual Insurance. Ann met her husband, John, in 1947, and they married on November 19, 1949. They lived in East Longmeadow, Mass., before moving to John’s hometown of Burlington, Vt., in 1957.

people and big dogs. She was always interested in each person’s story. She was always willing to “lend an ear.”

Ann was predeceased by her husband, John; her sisters Eleanor Cranson and Marjorie Seraﬁno; her nieces Linda, Irene and Cyndi; her beloved cousin and partner in crime, Lois Pixley; and her dearest friend, Josie Zirk.

Ann worked at the Elks Club for 15 years and at the Ethan Allen Club for 26 years, where the dining room was named in her honor upon her retirement.

After retiring, Ann and John spent summers in South Hero and winters in Sebring, Fla., before moving to the Heineberg Senior Housing center in Burlington.

One of Ann’s favorite pastimes was dining out. Ann also loved creating dried ﬂower arrangements and traveling most anywhere. Many a rural drive was peppered with “John, please pull over, see those dried ﬂowers over there?” Ann loved

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Robert Harry Whyte

1937-2025

ere will be a celebration of life for Robert Harry Whyte on Saturday, December 13, 2025, 2 to 5 p.m., at the Copper at 100 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT. Please pass the word, and all are welcome.

Ann is survived by her children, Diane Winters of Lyons, Colo.; Mark Lorrain and fiancée Penny Caussade of Colchester, Vt.; Peter Lorrain and wife Marie Segersteen-Lorrain of Burlington; Suzanne Pearl and her husband, Tom, of St. Albans, Vt.; Paul Lorrain and his wife, Mary, who are always on the road; and David Lorrain and his fiancée, Regan Noveskey, of Dripping Springs, Texas. Ann was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was a beloved “Auntie” to her many nieces and nephews.

She will be dearly missed by her many friends from Vermont, Florida, Colorado and the Lakeview Terrace gang: the Trahans, Desautels and Osborns.

A very special thanks to Dr. Gramling, Dr. Sokol, and the very loving staff at Cathedral Square and Bayada Hospice.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations in Ann’s memory can be made to the Cathedral Square Activities Program.

A celebration of life will be held in summer 2026.

Everett Thomas Pierce

JUNE 24, 1947-NOVEMBER 28, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Everett omas Pierce passed away peacefully on November 28, 2025.

Tom was born on June 24, 1947, to Yvette A. and Everett T. Pierce in Stamford, Conn., where he was raised. After graduating from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont, he returned to Connecticut for his ﬁrst job in advertising in New York City during the “Mad Men” days. Vermont had spoiled him, so he returned to the Green Mountains to work with Fayston Company, which owned and managed Glen Ellen ski area. In 1977 he partnered with Michael Kehoe to open a ﬁne men’s clothing store on the corner of Church and College streets in the city of Burlington, where they had a partnership for 42 years. After Michael retired in 2020, Tom rebranded the business, naming it MK Clothing, with partners Sadie and Hagen Peyser, who are longtime friends.

Tom was grateful for the world-class care he received from Dr. Peter Gunter and his wife, Paulette abault; Dr. Kreager Taber; Dr. Steve Ades; and Dr. Michael Stutzman; along with the entire staff at the UVM Medical Center, especially the Oncology, Radiology and Emergency Room departments.

Tom thanks the many friends who supported him through his ﬁnal days, especially Dr. William and Barbara Ryan, Clare and Sam Wool, and, most especially, Meg and Luke McGovern.

Tom served on many boards over the years, including the associate board of the University of Vermont Medical Center, Friends of the Vermont State House and the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum of Art. He also served multiple positions in the Society of Colonial Wars in the state of Vermont through his 13th-generation descent from his namesake, omas Pierce, of Charlestown, Mass.

In 2021 Tom served as the cocurator of works by Vermont’s 19th-century landscape artist Charles Louis Heyde, with an accompanying book, featuring the paintings that were highlighted at the UVM Fleming Museum of Art.

He is survived by his sisters, Sheryl Pierce (Scott Terres) of Naples, Fla., and Meredith (Gerald) Bailey of Jeffersonville, Vt.; and nephews, Collin Bailey of Burlington, Vt., and Ryan Bailey of Steamboat Springs, Colo.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, 10 a.m., at the Catholic Center on the Redstone Campus at UVM in Burlington. Please wear your ﬁnest haberdashery attire to honor TP, a city of Burlington iconic businessman, art enthusiast and loving friend to all those whose lives he touched throughout his stellar career and wonderful lifetime here among the gardens and Green Mountains that he loved so dearly. A reception will follow at the Burlington Country Club.

Burial will be private in Stamford, Conn., where Tom will be laid to rest in the Pierce family plot.

Donations may be made in Tom’s name to the Catholic Center at UVM, a place where he found great solace and comfort. He attended services there weekly and was a steadfast volunteer for the center. e address is 390 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401 or online at uvmcatholic.com/in-memory-of.

Gary Breault

DECEMBER 11, 1948NOVEMBER 10, 2025

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.

Gary Allen Breault, 76, passed away on November 10, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was born in Burlington, Vt., on December 11, 1948, the son of Mary (Mailhotte) Breault. Gary joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18 and was honorably discharged in 1970. Gary was predeceased by his mother, Mary Breault;

sister, Jacqueline Brown; and brothers Gerald Breault and William Breault. Gary is survived by his brother Paul Breault and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on December 12, 2025, 1 p.m., at New Mount Calvary Cemetery, Burlington, Vt., with military honors.

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

Malcolm Floyd Severance

OCTOBER 9, 1924NOVEMBER 24, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT.

Malcolm Severance, age 101, passed away on November 24, 2025, a few miles from his birthplace in Colchester, Vt. Born in 1924 to J. Herbert Severance and Juanita Bombard Severance, he leaves behind daughter Lyn Severance (Bill Harvey) of Burlington, Vt.; son Mark Severance (Sarah Whitney) of Colchester; daughter Dawn Severance (George Schildge) of Colchester; four grandchildren, Jill Severance, Raychel Severance, Jackson Harvey and Henry Severance; along with seven nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Gladys Severance, his wife of 66 years, and his three sisters, Wilma Patton, Joyce Sweeney and Jean Lawrence.

It’s hard to think of Malcolm without thinking about the University of Vermont. He was a student, an economics professor, an administrator, a department chairman, a trustee on two different occasions and a benefactor. He is acknowledged as the creator of the UVM School of Business, now known as the Grossman School of Business. At age 90, he completed and published A Pursuit of Excellence: A History of the University of

David Leary

AUGUST 18, 1953NOVEMBER 14, 2025

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.

David “Dave” Leary passed away in his home on November 14, 2025, after years of declining health. He was 72 years old. Dave was born in Burlington, Vt., to Tom and Bonnie Leary. After graduating from Burlington High School in 1971, he attended Champlain College, Castleton State College and the University of Vermont. He explored various career paths in his life; in his later years he worked in sales at Jeffords Steel and enjoyed a

Vermont School of Business Administration

After retiring from UVM in 1986, he ran two banking schools, served four terms in the Vermont legislature as a representative from Colchester, and served on numerous boards and town and church committees. He knew about hard work, and given that he could never sit still, he got a lot of work done. Malcolm and Gladys stretched to buy 45 acres in Colchester in 1961, where they built the home they would live in for the rest of their lives. In 1969 he bought the 40 acres that would eventually become the Severance Corners Village Center. He lived the concept of “land rich, cash poor.” Retirement gave him time to travel — in Australia and New Zealand; he rafted the Colorado River, toured China, went on safari in Kenya, took a spartan cruise up the coast of

postretirement job at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Dave was an avid golfer and a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and

Norway and saw the Northern Lights in Alaska, in addition to numerous trips to Europe. He was a graceful skier, skiing the Rockies, the Sierras and the Alps, but he loved Stowe and often reminisced about how much harder the Nosedive was at Stowe before they took out the seven turns at the top.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Converse Home and the wonderful group of nurses and social workers at UVM Home Health & Hospice for their care, kindness and support. We are also very grateful for the caregivers from Home Instead, who made it possible for Malcolm to happily stay in his home for six years.

For those who would like to honor Malcolm, memorial donations may be made to the Vermont Symphony Orchestra or the Malcolm and Gladys Severance Graduate Excellence Fund through the University of Vermont Foundation.

To send condolences and share Malcolm stories, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

Visiting hours will be on Friday, December 12, 2025, 4 to 6 p.m., at Corbin & Palmer, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction, VT.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church at 81 St. Paul St., Burlington, VT, with a reception to follow at the church.

the San Francisco Giants. He loved watching the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team play whenever he could catch them on TV (Go, Huskies!). His hobbies included photography and fishing.

Dave was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his two brothers, Tim (Erin Swezey) and Kevin (Karen), as well as nephews Patrick, Keenan and Brent, and niece Jessica. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Dave’s ex-wife, Carolyn Lawrence, for her kindness and support over the years. A graveside service will be held next summer.

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For this story, Seven Days spoke with seven Vermonters, businesses and organizations who are pushing back against Trump 2.0.

Trump has assailed Canada, immigrants, food aid and other targets this year. Here’s how Vermonters are responding.

No U.S. state voted against Donald Trump by as wide a margin as Vermont. Yet the ramiﬁ cations of his second presidency in the Green Mountains have been swift and stark.

Economic and social ties with Canadians have frayed. Small businesses have had to ﬁnd the money to pay new tari s. Low-income residents have navigated delays and cuts to food beneﬁts. Nonprofits have scrambled as their federal grants were rescinded without notice. Undocumented immigrants — including migrant workers on farms and construction sites — have been apprehended, locked up and deported. Trans people, many of whom had found acceptance in Vermont, have endured the federal government’s attempts to strip them of their civil rights.

These changes have challenged values held dear by many Vermonters.

threatened to withhold funds from any group — local governments, universities, nonprofits — that doesn’t conform to his social vision and has deployed National Guard troops to cities whose policies he doesn’t like.

The administration’s aggressive and often vengeful actions are changing the playbook for resistance.

Some organizations have dropped or disguised their diversity, equity and inclusion programs to avoid the hammer of federal funding cuts. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has picked his battles with the president carefully, drawing criticism from all sides.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been pressing his “ﬁght oligarchy” message at cross-country rallies for much of the ﬁrst year of Trump’s second term, trying to galvanize voters in conservative and swing districts.

Residents across Vermont have poured into the streets for several No Kings rallies. They’ve flown rainbow flags and donned inflatable unicorn costumes to express displeasure with the president’s expansive exercise of executive power.

Others have camped at the Burlington International Airport to monitor Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials who were escorting immigrant detainees onto commercial flights. Vermont journalist and author Garrett Graff has issued sharp warnings about the administration in his Doomsday

seven Vermonters, businesses and organizations who are pushing back against Trump 2.0. Some are lending a hand to people who’ve been a ected by cuts to food aid or immigration crackdowns. Others are trying to preserve social ties or simply sticking up for their customers and employees.

Then there are those engaging in solo acts of protest, such as Burlington resident Meg Wallace, who explains how she uses sidewalk chalk to scrawl messages of resistance.

Their actions amount to much more than just yelling at the TV — or, worse, turning o the news altogether.

DEREK BROUWER

Scenario blog under headlines such as spoke with

Seven Days

Jessie Tornabe

OBJECTION! Vermont Asylum Assistance Project

On Halloween night, immigration attorney Andy Pelcher raced home from Vermont’s only women’s prison to seek an emergency court action.

Minutes before, he had met a 24-yearold woman from Peru who was swept into detention during a routine immigration check-in. She was being held without beneﬁt of a bond hearing — a widespread tactic of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Pelcher and fellow attorney Nathan Virag ﬁled a habeas petition challenging the detention late that night, asking a federal judge to intervene. On November 17, Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled the woman’s detention unlawful, and days later an immigration judge granted her bond. She was released and returned to her family.

Pelcher and his colleagues at the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project have emerged as a potent check on the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement tactics in the state. Despite having zero previous experience litigating in the federal courts, this small, pro bono legal aid organization has been taking on the administration directly — and winning.

The Peruvian woman was the third person Pelcher had helped free through a habeas corpus petition, which asks a federal court to review the legality of a person’s incarceration. This approach — used by the ACLU of Vermont to free Mohsen Mahdawi and Rumeysa Ozturk from detention earlier this year — bypasses the immigration court system, which is housed within the Department of Justice and inﬂuenced by the president’s priorities.

“We have struggled to ﬁnd relief there,” Pelcher said of the immigration courts. “But federal courts are not constrained by that reality.”

The asylum project’s attorneys have brought and won a modest number of habeas cases — fewer than 10 so far — as each one requires immense time and resources for a small team pitted against the vast resources of federal law enforcement. They haven’t proceeded alone, though. The group partners with attorneys at other organizations, including Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Center for Justice Reform Clinic, the ACLU of

Vermont, and AALV, a social-services organization for immigrants — all of which have also successfully brought habeas litigation as part of a growing playbook.

But the asylum project, which had barely gotten o the ground when Trump took o ce, has rapidly grown into the largest immigration-law practice in a state that has never had a very deep bench. Its attorneys have picked up their expertise on the ﬂy.

Jill Martin Diaz, who left the Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Center for Justice Reform Clinic to launch the nonproﬁt asylum project in early 2024, started this year with just two paid staers focused on helping people apply for asylum. But the group has since outgrown its name and that narrow mission.

“We’ve been bringing habeas petitions when we feel there’s capacity and the law is on our side,” said Martin Diaz, the group’s executive director. “And it’s been working. It’s amazing.”

As Trump’s crackdown escalated in Vermont, the group also has helped to channel outrage over his policies into a wildly successful fundraising effort, netting more than half a million dollars for a legal defense fund for immigrants

in Vermont, $200,000 of which so far has been awarded to its own o ce.

The project now has 10 sta members, plus a team of volunteer attorneys. The past few months have been a whirlwind, as the team has sought to expand and train its sta while putting out daily ﬁres.

Outside of the work in detention facilities, the lawyers continue to help people apply for asylum, obtain work permits and make progress toward permanent residency. Several work specifically with unaccompanied minors and youths who were abandoned or abused by their parents.

“We’re taking this moment to set up the legal infrastructure we’ve wanted for a decade,” Martin Diaz said. “Now it’s a priority, but we were underprepared to meet this moment.”

Compared to the scale of detentions and rapid deportations across the state, their e orts are still somewhat scattershot. Every day, they turn down requests for legal help because of a lack of capacity, Martin Diaz said. In mid-November, the group paused taking on new cases for two weeks to let workers catch their breath and plan for the future.

“If my scrappy little project is going to be talking a big game, being very public

about it, ﬁling lawsuits against Donald J. Trump as a defendant … We just need to have a clean house,” Martin Diaz said. “This is new for everyone.”

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the team gathered for an all-sta meeting at their cramped o ce in a coworking space that overlooks an auto lot in Burlington’s Old North End. Some sta ers joined via teleconference, their faces visible on a laptop propped on the table.

Martin Diaz asked everyone to take turns sharing a recent victory.

On the laptop screen, Pelcher chimed in. The judge’s decision on the Peruvian woman’s successful habeas case happened to come down on his client’s birthday, he said. He called her to deliver the happy news.

“I said, ‘The District of Vermont has a birthday present for you,’” Pelcher recalled. His teammates celebrated by snapping their ﬁngers in unison.

The following day, Pelcher’s client was released from prison and returned to Connecticut with her family. Whether she’ll be allowed to stay in the country is another matter, but she’ll now be able to face that uncertainty from home.

LUCY TOMPKINS

From left: Suhaila Abdo, Sarah Nettleton, Leah Brenner, Devon Ayers and Jill Martin Diaz

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CHALK IT UP: Meg Wallace

Meg Wallace firmly believes in attending protests and sending money to liberal causes. But months into Trump’s second term, those actions left her feeling unfulfilled.

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

“In Vermont, it just feels like you’re protesting against nothing sometimes,” said Wallace, 62, of Burlington. “Everyone there agrees with you.” Her $10-a-pop donations, meanwhile, seemed insignificant compared to the cash poured into political machinery by certain American billionaires. “You feel so powerless under this administration — this regime.”

Then Wallace heard about a nationwide day of protest that called for sidewalks everywhere to be covered in pro-democracy messages. On August 2, she grabbed a pail of chalk and hit the streets near her home in Burlington’s Old North End. When she stepped back to admire her messages that day — “No Kings,” “Be brave and kind” and an expletive in Spanish aimed at U.S. immigration authorities — something clicked. “I can

do this every day,” she thought to herself, “and no one can stop me.”

“It made me feel a little less impotent,” she said.

Wallace has since spent nearly every day hunched over Queen City street corners and bus stops creating multicolored messages of dissent that have become a regular feature in her neighborhood.

The low-tech posts, which Wallace touches up and replaces frequently, range from straightforward appeals (“Save Our National Parks”) to probing, provocative questions. “What kind of leader starves their people?” one asked. “Can we agree slavery is evil?” posed another.

One stand-alone factoid read: “Undocumented workers paid $7,900,000+ in VT. taxes, 2022.”

Wallace, who is slight, bespectacled and fond of large straw hats, has a bachelor’s degree from the Tyler School of Art & Architecture in Philadelphia, where she focused on metals. And while she does not consider her chalk creations to be

FULL PLATE: Capstone Community Action

In late October, Liz Scharf noticed the food pantry at Capstone Community Action in Barre was running low on supplies. Scharf, a Capstone director, typically has no problem keeping the shelves stocked. She orders most of Capstone’s food from the Vermont Foodbank in twice-monthly deliveries, in the first and third weeks. Local farms provide additional produce.

But October spanned five weeks instead of four, creating a longer-than-usual wait for the first delivery in November. More importantly, the government shut down on October 1 and was threatening to suspend SNAP benefits. The food shelf had to bridge the delivery gap just as clients surged, anxious that their federal food assistance might disappear.

So, Scharf placed extra orders with Amazon, the food wholesaler Sysco and a farm in East Montpelier to ensure that Capstone could serve the influx of people filling the lobby. Her usual 32-hour workweek stretched closer to 40. Scharf worked with staff members to sort community donations and set up a new intake process to move people through the building efficiently.

“I said, ‘Let’s literally put the action in community action,’” Scharf said. “That’s what we were doing.”

To her relief, the extra efforts worked. In early November the food shelf received twice as many visitors as it usually does, but not a single person was turned away, Scharf said.

Capstone, like similar agencies in Vermont, has spent much of the past year adapting to rising food insecurity and demand. Higher living costs and tightened eligibility rules for federal SNAP benefits have pushed more Vermonters to seek help. Capstone staffers have placed more orders, overhauled logistics and worked longer hours at its food shelf to accommodate the need. So far, they’ve succeeded.

People in central Vermont have turned to Capstone for local assistance since the nonprofit was established in 1965. Today it is one of five organizations comprising the Vermont Community Action Partnership, which helps people improve their wellbeing and financial stability. In addition to its food shelf, Capstone offers job training, housing support services, financial coaching, weatherization assistance, Head Start and a variety of workshops.

Capstone’s services were a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 floods, which damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in Barre. More recently, inflation and rising health care and housing

art, exactly, she strives to make them eyecatching, knowing that they’re more likely to be read that way. She sets out each day with a foam pad for her knees and a five-gallon bucket crammed with dusty containers holding fresh chalk and worn stubs.

Kneeling on the pad in her widebrimmed hat, Wallace more resembles a gardener pulling weeds than a provocateur with a point to make. She begins by squirting water to create an outline of the words — she prefers thick, uppercase

letters — then traces them using wet chalk.

Wallace relies on vibrant, Day-Glo colors and sometimes reserves certain shades for specific phrases, such as a particular orange hue that she often pairs with “melon felon.” She then adds a contrasting color to create a simple drop shadow that makes the words seem to pop off the pavement and finishes by using a wet paintbrush to give the chalk a smooth polish.

“I have done this for so many bloody days that I’ve gotten better at the technique,” she said. “It’s not difficult.”

It is time-consuming, however. Wallace said she has spent hundreds of hours on the project and estimates that she has used well over 1,000 pieces of chalk. She’s had to buy chalk online after exhausting the local supply.

She is still coming to terms with the impermanence of her creations. “It pisses me off when I make something really elaborate and the next day it rains,” she said. And yet it is the ephemeral nature of the messages that makes what she’s doing legal. Marking the sidewalk permanently, such as with paint, could be considered vandalism under some interpretations of city ordinances.

She encounters occasional pushback. Small cohorts of “angry white men” have yelled at her or filmed her from passing cars, while someone — she has an idea who — has purposefully defaced her work by pouring water and stomping on it. “It was the same boot print,” Wallace said.

That only deepened her resolve. “You want to smudge, ‘Jesus was a refugee’?” Wallace asked. “Fine, I can just rewrite it. I have a lot of chalk.”

Wallace said she has also been reported to police and the city’s Department of Public Works. An employee of the latter department came by one day, took a photo and told her to take care. “They don’t give a rat’s ass,” she said. “It’s sidewalk chalk.”

The overwhelming response has been positive, she said. Neighbors have applauded her efforts, while immigrant families have thanked her.

“Part of it is a public service announcement, and part of it is giving people a bit more heart,” Wallace said.

Wallace plans to take a break from the venture this winter. But she vowed to return with her chalk bucket come spring, registering her displeasure one letter at a time.

COLIN FLANDERS

costs have brought more people through the organization’s doors. Annual visits to its food pantry jumped more than 40 percent from 2023 to 2024, surpassing 8,000.

The flow of visitors swelled further this fall, when changes to SNAP benefits, known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT, kicked in. New work requirements and tightened eligibility rules for noncitizens took effect under the budget bill that Trump signed into law.

The Department for Children and Families estimates that new work requirements could jeopardize benefits for roughly 4,000 people, 6 percent of Vermont’s 63,000 3SquaresVT participants. People experiencing homelessness, for example, must now follow SNAP’s standard proof-of-work rules. Thanks to a three-month grace period, the changes did not immediately cut off benefits for most. Scharf anticipates that 15 percent of SNAP participants who now use the food shelf will eventually lose their benefits due to the new restrictions to be phased in over the next two years.

Nearly 120 households — mostly those of refugees and asylum seekers — were immediately impacted by the citizen eligibility changes. Eighty-six of them lost benefits entirely.

Although Capstone and other food shelves have absorbed much of the increased demand this year, anti-hunger advocates caution that these networks were designed

to be stopgaps during emergencies such as a job loss or flooded house — not as a replacement for grocery stores or federal programs. For every meal the Vermont Foodbank distributes to partners such as Capstone, 3SquaresVT provides nine.

Scharf has about $90,000 to spend on food this year — and she stretches every dollar. Nearly everything she buys from the Vermont Foodbank comes at a deep discount. Some items cost nothing; groceries donated to the food bank by retailers are passed along free of charge.

But the financial squeeze is tightening. Federal cuts have eliminated U.S. Department of Agriculture grants that provided Capstone up to $25,000 in recent years to buy local food, leaving a hole the organization can’t easily fill. The nonprofit has already dipped into its reserves just to keep staff paid and is waiting to learn whether it will retain the Community Services Block Grant that anchors much of its work.

Scharf described 2025 as the most challenging of Capstone’s 60 years. She said the organization shifted from its usual five-year

strategic plan to a six-month contingency plan to navigate uncertainties.

“We didn’t know to what extent or how grim it might become,” Scharf said.

The food shelf has been buoyed, if only temporarily, by emergency measures. During the shutdown, the Vermont Foodbank provided a one-time infusion of $5,352, drawn from the $250,000 allocated to it by the Vermont Emergency Board. And in Barre City, municipal leaders scraped together $25,000 to fund $25 grocery gift cards meant to help residents bridge the gap during the time that 3SquaresVT was offline. Community donations, food drives and fundraisers have eased some of the strain, but none of the efforts provides lasting relief.

For now, Scharf and her colleagues are doing what they can: ordering more food, streamlining intake systems and working longer hours to meet the need. Late last month, that meant securing 160 turkeys from a local Kiwanis club and Walmart for Thanksgiving.

Scharf says the outpouring of support feels quintessentially Vermont. The same generosity carried Capstone through the pandemic and the 2023 floods.

“Unfortunately, it often takes something bad to happen to see the good come out of people,” she said. “But we’ve seen a lot of it.”

HANNAH BASSETT

HANNAH

BASSETT

Meg Wallace

Liz Scharf

REPRESENTS

THE $5 DONOR: Jessie Tornabe

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Jessie Tornabe spotted the news on Instagram: Seven weeks before dozens of high school students were to arrive on Vermont State University’s Castleton campus for the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont summer arts program, the federal government withdrew the $30,000 grant it had approved.

For each of the past 10 years, the arts institute, known as GIA, had received $20,000 to $30,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This year, however, the NEA terminated awards for projects that did not align with Trump’s priorities. The money represented a small fraction of the two-week program’s total budget, “but $30,000 is significant,” said Elizabeth Frascoia, executive director of the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, which runs it.

In response, the Governor’s Institutes launched an emergency fill-the-gap campaign.

Jessie, a 17-year-old senior at Burlington High School, decided to contribute “almost immediately,” she said. She had attended GIA in 2024 and made some of her closest friends there. The immersive experience pulled her out of her shell, put her onstage to sing and recite poetry, and gave her the courage to apply to Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

“GIA made me connect with other people who made me feel like I mattered and like my music mattered and like I could change the world,” she said. “I just felt like it was super important for kids who were younger than me to have that same experience.”

Jessie works as a cashier at Shelburne Market, where she composes song lyrics on the back of register receipts when business is slow. She typically divides her paycheck among her college savings account, clothes shopping at TJ Maxx and iced chai lattes at Starbucks.

She sent $5 to support GIA. “I want to donate more but this is all I can donate rn!” she wrote in her accompanying note.

Jessie was one of 110 donors who helped the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont raise $52,235 before GIA started in June. The program drew 172 students, the most in its 42-year history. Like previous participants, they studied a range of creative arts, including theater, writing, visual arts, film, dance, photography and fashion. Each student picks two classes to focus on.

When Jessie participated, she studied poetry with poet and clarinetist Toussaint St. Negritude and songwriting with performer and educator Andy Gagnon. A soft-spoken girl who tugs the cuffs of her sleeves over her hands as she speaks, Jessie continues to heed the advice she got from Casey Greenleaf, a singer, songwriter and producer who was a resident assistant. “Be bigger,” Greenleaf told her. “In my singing, in my writing, in my expression. Just put it out there, because somebody in the world will care and relate,” Jessie recalled.

When they are not in class, participants attend workshops run by staffers, alumni, guest artists or other students. Artists entertain each evening. Among those whom Jessie saw was Vermont-raised Myra Flynn, who performed with her band before they all sat on the edge of the stage to talk to students about their career paths. When Jessie’s session ended and the curtain closed on the farewell ceremony, she and the other students sat in a circle and took turns standing to talk about their experiences. “My friend Kat was holding my arm,” Jessie said. “We were sitting there in tears.” Jessie knew she couldn’t speak. If she could have, she said, “I think I would have said, ‘This was the first time in my life that I felt connected to every single person in a room.’”

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

WATERSHED DIPLOMACY:

The Memphremagog Science & Education Center

The Memphremagog Science & Education Center opened in July in Newport with a mission to deepen ties between residents of Vermont and Québec who live in the watershed of Lake Memphremagog. The timing has, to put it mildly, posed challenges.

This year, Trump has belittled Canada and imposed crippling tariffs that have

knowledge and skills and tools that they need to understand that watershed and how those impacts flow,” said John Aldridge, the nonprofit group’s education director.

The international tensions, however, put the kibosh on much of the summer’s cross-border programming.

The organization had hoped that schoolchildren from Québec would come to about half of the 33 outings it planned on its floating classroom, the Northern Star. It also wanted Canadians to visit Newport for the grand opening of its downtown science center.

But Canadians, irked by the president’s rhetoric, stayed home.

Canadian politicians have urged compatriots to boycott U.S. travel. In April, the Canadian Association of University Teachers strongly recommended that its members stay away from the United States for now.

That’s when Aldridge decided that if the Québécois weren’t going to come to Vermont, he’d go to them.

“First and foremost, thank you so much! I have struggled this past year without a car, but this van will carry us into the next chapter. It will help me start my career off as a new hairdresser. Some day I’ll teach my kids how to drive with it.”

~ Leanna and Family recipients of a 2010 Toyota Sienna

disrupted trade. He has said, falsely, that much of the fentanyl flooding American cities flows across the northern border. He has ridiculed Canada’s sovereignty, too. In response, many Canadians are staying at home instead of traveling south across the border and have stopped buying goods such as Vermont-distilled spirits.

Political tensions aside, Vermont and Québec share a stunning, border-straddling glacial lake that draws tourists in both countries. Lake Memphremagog is also the drinking water source for more than 200,000 Québécois. Building understanding about the lake’s cleanliness and ecology remains a mutual interest on both sides of the border — and the chief focus of the education center.

“It’s essential for us to empower the students in our region with the

In October, he packed up all his educational gear and headed over the border to Magog, Québec, to a private elementary school that was still interested in his message of shared environmental responsibility.

About 80 Canadian elementary school students learned about the challenges of keeping a border-spanning lake clean. They played with the center’s watershed model, sprinkling powdered cocoa into the water to simulate how waste moves downstream. They used digital microscopes to view water samples and played “cyanobacteria tag” to better understand how dangerous algae blooms can proliferate when excessive nutrients run into the lake.

“I think of myself as a member of a watershed that is binational,” Aldridge said. “So I feel it is my civic duty to not let those borders prevent us from doing the meaningful work that we intend to do.”

KEVIN MCCALLUM

Magog Montessori School students exploring a Lake Memphremagog watershed map

TARIFF TRIUMPH?

Terry Precision Cycling

The most formidable threat to Trump’s tariffs can be found in a three-room office suite behind a Burlington coffee shop.

Terry Precision Cycling, a Vermont company that makes cycling saddles and apparel for women, is one of five small businesses across the country that joined forces in April to challenge the legal basis of the president’s “Liberation Day” trade policies. Their lawsuit has managed to push the new tariffs to the brink. Federal judges have twice concluded that Trump lacks the legal authority to impose sweeping fees on imports from almost anywhere in the world without Congressional approval. Last month, the case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, where several conservativeleaning justices voiced skepticism about the president’s authority to decree the levies on his own. The high court is expected to issue a decision soon, potentially voiding Trump’s cornerstone economic policy.

Terry Precision Cycling president Nik Holm has taken on the tariffs from the company’s tiny headquarters on Maple Street. Its suite is tucked inside an industrial-chic building called the Karma Bird House, among a kava bar, a vintage clothing boutique and Kestrel Coffee Roasters. The office has space for five workstations and a conference table that’s flanked by display racks of synthetic bike shorts and jerseys.

How did a plucky Vermont bike-apparel brand wheel its way to the center of a legal battle whose outcome could shape the global economy for years to come?

By not worrying too much about the politics, Holm said.

Unlike Ben & Jerry’s, Terry Precision Cycling has not made political activism part of its brand, even though its raison d’être — making cycling more accessible to women — is infused with social purpose.

Yet Holm quickly recognized last spring that the abrupt tariff hikes posed an “existential” threat to Terry’s business.

Terry produces many of its products overseas. Its gender-specific saddles are made in Italy and Taiwan; factory workers in China, Vietnam, El Salvador and the Philippines produce its shorts, jerseys and accessories. The company has long contracted with a cut-and-sew manufacturer in Washington State, but the raw materials for its U.S.-made products are sourced from El Salvador, Guatemala, Europe and China — and therefore also subject to tariffs.

New tariffs added anywhere from $10 to $60 to the cost of Terry’s cycling shorts and tops, Holm said. The company had few options to navigate such steep price hikes.

With just 18 employees, Terry doesn’t have the capacity — or cash reserves — to stockpile inventory in hopes that tariffs will be temporary. Jacking up the price on riding shorts from $165 to $199, as Terry did this year to offset import fees, risks losing customers and pricing newer riders out of the sport.

Holm anticipates tariffs will cost the company more than $200,000 this year. Terry is likely to end 2025 in the red. The hit to the company’s bottom line could nearly double in 2026, he worries. “If our case doesn’t go our way, we’ll have to operate as a leaner and more efficient team next year,” he said.

Taking on the tariffs, he said, “was about survivorship.”

Holm, 36, had only been company president for a few months when Trump announced the new global tariffs. But he was able to immediately grasp the stakes

founded the firm in 1985, the first company to create bicycle frames designed specifically for women’s body geometry. Soon Terry developed a women’s saddle, called the Liberator; expanded into apparel; and dropped bicycle frame manufacturing.

Terry sold her namesake company in 2009 to Liz Robert, a former CEO of Vermont Teddy Bear. Robert relocated Terry from New York to Burlington. She retired last year, and Holm took over.

In April, as Holm was scrambling to respond to the new tariffs, he got an email that was going around to small businesses. A Texas law firm, the Liberty Justice Center, was looking for companies that might be willing to challenge the legality of the president’s actions.

That was on a Friday. Holm quickly put the question to Terry’s board of directors, which deliberated during a meeting the next day and during a second meeting that Sunday. Holm said the board didn’t flinch at the idea of joining such a contentious legal fight.

The resulting case, V.O.S. Selections, Inc., et al. v. Trump, was carefully crafted to avoid accusations of mere partisanship. The Liberty Justice Center has a libertarian bent and is best known as the firm behind the landmark Janus decision in 2018 that allowed government workers to opt out of paying union dues, thus undercutting union power.

Terry, of course, was far from alone in its financial distress. The new tariffs have posed challenges across most industries and to businesses of all sizes, including many in Vermont. In Holm’s estimation, though, Terry presented an “ideal” example of the harm that the fees were causing. “We’re a global company — small, niche — that is highly impacted by this,” he said. “And we also produce in the U.S.”

for the business. A Massachusetts-born graduate of Northern Vermont University in Johnson, Holm joined Terry about a decade ago. His first role at the company focused on production planning, working with factories around the world to schedule and oversee the manufacturing and transportation of Terry’s goods. In that role, he learned about the global system for classifying trade products and the associated duties for each. Terry was already paying about 32 percent in tariffs on its synthetic tops shipped from most overseas manufacturers when Trump imposed additional tariffs — as high as 145 percent more for Chinese goods and 30 percent for imports from other countries.

Holm is slim and soft-spoken and often rides his bike to work. He took over a company with a rich history in pioneering women’s cycling. Georgena Terry had

Holm listened to a live stream of the Supreme Court’s recent oral arguments from his brother’s house in Hyde Park after dropping his first grader off at school.

The company hasn’t turned its fight against Trump’s tariffs into a publicrelations crusade. Holm has given a few interviews, but Terry hasn’t tried to enlist its customers in the fight or displayed tariff costs on its price tags. The company published a statement on its website after the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in its favor last May.

“We are proud to have played a role in standing up for small businesses,” the statement said. “This isn’t just a win for Terry. It’s a win for the cycling industry and the communities we serve.”

Whether that victory is lasting, however, is in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

DEREK BROUWER

Nik Holm

Terry Precision Cycling

STAYING POWER: Woodstock’s Protesters

Fresh off an Oval Office meeting during which he famously dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vice President JD Vance brought his family to the Mad River Valley for some skiing in March. Hundreds of Vermonters lined roads around ski resorts with not-so-subtle protest signs, including “Go ski in Russia” and “Making America Greatly Ashamed.” One banner bore the ultimate Green Mountain jab: “Vance Skis in Jeans.”

Protests have been loud and vigorous around the state since Trump’s inauguration. More recently, locals who oppose the president have donned costumes depicting frogs, T. rexes and unicorns during October’s record-setting No Kings protests.

But a group in Woodstock has trumped them all, holding a protest every single day since February 7.

That was the date, Linda Machalaba said, that she couldn’t take it anymore. The retired teacher explained how she was so appalled by the president’s flurry of executive orders, particularly those that cut funding for the National Institutes of Health and USAID, that she decided to do something.

“I’m not a political person,” Machalaba said last month in Tribou Park, holding a “Democracy” sign in a snow flurry. “I was just very, very upset!”

Machalaba, 75, was all alone that first day.

“It just seemed strange that no one was protesting,” she said. “I just kept thinking, Am I the only one?”

She wasn’t. Someone Machalaba knew spotted her and vowed to join her the next

day. Others followed suit. She was never alone again.

For the past 300-plus days and counting, the loosely organized group has been protesting at the same spot on Central Street from noon to 1 p.m., rain, shine or snow. The triangle-shaped park exudes small-town America. On the tourist town’s main artery, it features a flagpole, a cannon and a Civil War memorial and is ringed by tidy historic homes with white picket fences.

When Seven Days stopped by, most of the passing drivers waved back to the protesters, smiled or flashed their headlights in support. Some honked, though a sign discourages doing so out of respect for neighbors.

Kitty O’Hara, a semiretired artist, hung a sign around her neck so that she didn’t have to hold it aloft for an hour. “No one is safe,” it read. O’Hara helped other protesters make placards using a material that’s more durable than the flimsy poster board and cardboard some had started with.

Standing in one place for an hour can be cold and uncomfortable in November. The protesters had to perch on snowbanks last winter, she said.

“It seems like the worse the weather is, the more supportive people are of us,” O’Hara said.

As at many such events in Vermont, few young people regularly participate in the Woodstock protests. O’Hara said she’s not sure if that’s because of the demographics of the town or because young people have jobs while retirees have more time to protest.

Steve Smith isn’t retired. The local physician held up the first of a series of three signs that read, in order: “If you didn’t want” ... “83,000 vets fired” … “We’re on the same side.”

That represents the number of veterans who lost their jobs during the early rounds of federal staffing cuts pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Smith, 67, said he believed that most people, regardless of party affiliation, support that pro-veteran message. His goal, he added, is to remind people that authoritarianism requires fear and that “courage is contagious.”

“We’re not going to overpower Trump,” he said. “We’re going to outlast him.”

KEVIN MCCALLUM

PHOTOS: KEVIN MCCALLUM

Steve Smith

Kitty O’Hara

Linda Machalaba

The Montréal FAQ

Nine in-the-know Vermonters on their favorite ways to experience the city

BY JEN ROSE SMITH

For those of us who make regular, cross-border trips to Québec, it’s the frequently asked question, one that comes like clockwork — from friends and friends of friends, from neighbors and the neighbors’ second cousins, from acquaintances or sundry Seven Days readers: “I’m going to Montréal. What should I do?”

Our series on Québec travel has supplied some excellent answers, spanning ice skating rinks, museum exhibits, and neighborhoods such as Verdun, Shaughnessy Village, and Chinatown. But to settle the No. 1 FAQ, we combed our contacts for Vermonters who have explored the city through their particular areas of expertise — as chefs, bartenders, arts-lovers, travel professionals and more. Here’s what they said.

SEE THE SIGHTS

When Sydney Baker moved from Europe to Vermont in March to work at University of Vermont’s Office of International Education, she was motivated, in part, by the proximity to Québec. “I’m a Vermontbased Montréal enthusiast,” said Baker, who once lived in the city for six months, moonlights as a travel writer and posts about Québec travel on her Instagram account, @sydbakescreates.

For travelers getting to know the city, she recommends heading to the hip PLATEAU to see its plentiful street art and cafés, and strolling the cobblestone streets of the 17th-century OLD PORT neighborhood. In warmer months, she likes to hop one of its public RIVER SHUTTLES (oldportofmontreal.com/activity/ river-shuttles) to ÎLE-SAINTE-HÉLÈNE and sprawling PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU. It’s also a pleasant walk or bike from the Old Port along the 1824 LACHINE CANAL to reach ATWATER MARKET (marchespublics-mtl. com/en/markets/atwater-market), whose 1933 clock tower is among the city’s many art deco treasures. (For more, check out Alice Dodge’s art deco tour of Montréal from earlier this year: “Deco Delight,” April 9.)

In winter months, especially, it helps to have some indoor stops on your itinerary, Baker noted. She recommends the eclectic MCCORD STEWART MUSEUM (museemccord-stewart.ca/en) as a “starter museum for the area,” particularly its permanent exhibit on Indigenous cultures.

The history-focused POINTE-À-CALLIÈRE (pacmusee.qc.ca/en) museum delves quite literally into the city’s origins. “It’s an archeological site where you can actually see remains, right where the founding of the city took place,” she said, adding that its hands-on “archeo-adventure” area is particularly good for visitors with kids.

For a more contemporary take on city history, she suggests the small MEM – CENTRE DES MÉMOIRES MONTRÉALAISES (memmtl.ca/en) in the Quartier des Spectacles, where the free exhibition “By and For: 30 Years of Sex Worker Resistance,” from sex worker advocacy group Stella, l’amie de Maimie, runs through March 15. (For more on Montréal’s history of sex work, see this summer’s article by Karen Gardiner: “Sex in the City,” August 13.)

EAT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

What defines Montréal gastronomy for chef Micah Tavelli, of Burlington’s Majestic café and bar, is its fusing of thoughtful food with unfussy vibes. “It’s more like a dinner party than dining out at a ﬁ ne-dining restaurant,” he said of celebrated small-plates eatery MON LAPIN (vinmonlapin.com, dishes CA$6-66), which spent two consecutive years atop

the Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list. Tavelli went there for his most recent birthday, his second visit. “Every bite that we had was exciting and something I’d never thought of,” he said. The laid-back energy extends to his newest ﬁnd, the Mile End neighborhood’s MOLENNE (molenne. com, mains CA$30-36), which opened in February with a focus on Canadian seafood and Québécois meats — and where Tavelli particularly enjoyed a dish of fried enoki mushrooms. “It was absolutely stunning,” he said, “young chefs that are breaking out and doing their own thing.”

Another Montréal dining fan is Cara Tobin, chef and co-owner of HONEY ROAD

IN WINTER MONTHS, ESPECIALLY, IT HELPS TO HAVE SOME INDOOR STOPS ON YOUR ITINERARY.

and the GREY JAY in Burlington, who started making regular trips with her children, ages 6 and 10, a couple of years ago. “We wanted them to experience something di erent, and we wanted to eat good food,” she said. The kids have been warmly welcomed at every restaurant they’ve visited, she said, including the upscale JOE BEEF (joebeef. com, mains CA$41-71), which is widely credited with transforming the city’s restaurant scene. “It’s an incredible experience. They’re still doing an amazing job,” Tobin said. “My 10-year-old was eating snails and caviar and foie gras.”

That was a special-occasion meal. On more typical trips, Tobin and family head to Chinatown for pineapple buns from one of the neighborhood’s many bakeries; comforting Chinese classics at MON NAN (facebook.com/restaurantmonnan, mains CA$18-30); or dim sum at KIM FUNG (kimfung.ca, dim sum plates CA$7-12), where she loves the spareribs, dumplings, and sticky rice enclosed in a lotus leaf. Another pro move, in warmer months, is to delegate one parent to grab takeout — or a bag of Montréal bagels — while the other takes the kids to a nearby park until the food arrives. “There’s a park or play structure on every other corner,” Tobin said. “No one’s freaking out, and it works out nicely every single time.”

While it’s hard to sum up the food scene in a city as diverse as Montréal, GUIDE sevendaysvt.com/quebec

is article is part of a travel series on Québec. e province’s destination marketing organization, Bonjour Québec, is a ﬁnancial underwriter of the project but has no inﬂuence over story selection or content. Find the complete series plus travel tips at sevendaysvt.com/quebec.

Joe Beef

Old Montréal

Tobin did observe that its cuisine is often flesh-forward. “There’s hidden meat in everything,” she said, recalling a salad she once ordered, when craving something light, only to watch it arrive graced by a mound of fried duck livers. But Andrew Wild, a regular visitor to Montréal and the founder of Burlington’s plant-based protein business MIGHTY MUDITA , says there’s plenty of excellent, meat-free options up there — meals that showcase the city’s thrilling cosmopolitanism.

“There’s an exceptional array of vegan and vegetarian offerings,” he said, pointing to Thai, Lebanese and Indian eateries as standbys. One favorite stop is family-owned and -operated Syrian eatery SHAM (shamvegan.com, mains CA$24-38), where he appreciates generous portions of traditional dishes on an all-vegan menu. “To have plant-based protein options, like shawarma, is very special and very delicious,” he said. “It’s also just a beautiful setting — a really great atmosphere.”

Having tasted his way through most of Montréal’s Ethiopian restaurants, he and his wife have become regulars at the Plateau’s QUEEN SHEBA (restaurantqueensheba.ca/en, two-person sharing platters $44-45). The menu includes plant-based classics such as shiro wat, made with chickpea flour, and berbere-spiced lentils. Wild is a fan of the vegan sharing platter that features a little bit of everything atop a generous disk of injera bread. “It’s exceptional food, at a very reasonable price,” he said.

EXPLORE ART

Seven Days visual art editor Alice Dodge got a creative head start at the VISUAL ARTS CENTRE (visualartscentre.ca), in Montréal’s Westmount neighborhood where she grew up. “It’s similar to the BCA Center in Burlington,” she said. “They’ve got a gallery and gift shop, and

they also do classes — that’s where I started doing summer camp-type classes as a kid.”

It’s still worth a stop — perhaps while visiting the adjacent Notre-Dame-deGrâce area that Dodge explored for a neighborhood guide released last spring (“All Over the Map,” June 11). But for Vermonters dipping a toe into the city’s wide-ranging art scene, Dodge recommends starting at the MONTRÉAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (mbam.qc.ca/en) for its permanent collection that includes works by Canada’s Group of Seven artists, whose landscape paintings helped spark the country’s first major national art movement in the 1920s and 1930s, as well as paintings by Jean-Paul Riopelle.

“Riopelle is probably the most famous Québec artist … lots of big, abstract expressionist works,” she said, adding that visitors might also seek out the bold, striped canvases of Guido Molinari, an influential contemporary artist born in Montréal in 1933. This winter, Dodge is looking forward to taking in the exhibit “History Is Painted by the Victors,” a solo show through March 8 dedicated to works by interdisciplinary Cree artist Kent Monkman, who combines monumental grandeur with playful and subversive imagery.

Conveniently for travelers, the museum’s location on historically tony Sherbrooke Avenue puts it within easy walking distance of a handful of well-established galleries, including LA GUILDE (laguilde.com/en), GALERIE ERIC KLINKHOFF (klinkhoffart.com), and GALERIE COSNER (galeriecosner.com).

Beyond that Golden Square Mile neighborhood lies a quirkier side of Montréal art. The main location of the MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (macm. org/en) remains closed for renovations until 2028, but its small temporary (and

Experience: Licensed Naturopathic Physician, State of Vermont and Washington State; Residency in Integrative Oncology, Seattle Integrative Oncology, WA; Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University Kenmore, WA; International President of Naturopathic Medical Student Association; B.A. Eastern Washington University

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Montréal Museum of Fine Arts

LEFT TO RIGHT: JANNA NIETZEL, MS. RD, CDN • KOREY DIROMA, ND ZAIRY BRAZEAU, ND • RONALD STRAM, MD

somewhat hard-to-find) location at Place Ville Marie often features interesting shows, Dodge said. Its group exhibition “In Praise of the Missing Image” explores themes of colonialism using photography, sculpture and video through March 8. Other stops Dodge recommends include the contemporary art nonprofit PHI (phi. ca/en), whose current exhibitions in the Old Port include the immersive “swell of spæc(i)es” by Josèfa Ntjam and the “Sensory Oversoul” installations from Japanese artist collective Keiken. And, in the canal-side Griffintown neighborhood, she likes ARSENAL CONTEMPORARY ART (arsenalcontemporary.com), a shipyard turned private art center with a focus on Canadian artists.

VISIT A NORDIC SPA

With their cycles of heat and cold, Nordic spas are a province-wide specialty, and there are good ones within city limits, said Jovial King, founder of both Urban Moonshine and the SILT BATHHOUSE that remains in development after a planned Burlington location fell through. She’s

also a regular at Québécois spas. When she’s seeking quiet and introspection, she visits the Old Port’s indoor SCANDINAVE SPA (scandinave.com/vieux-montreal, thermal circuit from CA$70). “The whole thing is silent,” she said. “It puts you sort of into a deeper place.”

On convivial trips with girlfriends, she heads instead to nearby BOTA BOTA (botabota.ca, thermal circuit from CA$60), a floating spa on a converted barge with indoor and outdoor spaces. “It adds a touch

of self-care or fun to a trip to Montréal,” she said. “I recommend going in off hours because it is a spectacular facility and can get really crowded at peak times.”

Surprisingly tranquil for its urban location is the indoor-outdoor STRØM NORDIC SPA (stromspa.com/en, thermal circuit from CA$69) on Nun’s Island in the St. Lawrence River, which is perched at the edge of a small lake. “It’s very sweet, it’s very peaceful, and it’s a bit understated,” King said. “It’s probably the one I frequent the most.”

CATCH A SHOW

“What makes the Montréal music scene so interesting is that it’s beyond eclectic,” Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth said. “The city just tends to go out for stuff … whether it’s folk, bluegrass, metal, hip-hop or whatever, you’re going to find a really strong strain of support behind it.” If music is everywhere, where do you start? Farnsworth tunes into Québécois cultural outlets such as CULT MTL (cultmtl.com), which he describes as “kind of like Montréal’s Seven Days,” and checks the websites of indie landmark CASA DEL POPOLO (casadelpopolo.com/ en), whose multiple sister venues host shows from jazz to rock. He also looks to concert promoter BLUE SKIES TURN BLACK (blueskiesturnblack.com) as a cultural curator. “They’re always booking great music,” he said. “Kind of like Montréal’s Waking Windows.” (RIP.)

Scrolling through the calendars of favorite venues is fruitful, too. “ CLUB SODA (clubsoda.ca) is historically one of the great East Coast venues,” Farnsworth said. “It’s just a great rock club.” Other standbys include indie-focused THEATRE FAIRMOUNT (theatrefairmount.

Strøm Nordic Spa

com), wide-ranging music hall L’OLYMPIA (olympiamontreal.com) and THEATRE ST-DENIS (espacestdenis.com/en/theatrest-denis) for shows that lean highbrow.

The packed, year-round music festival schedule is as diverse as the city’s music scene itself. “Find your kind of festival, and they’ll have it,” said Farnsworth, who has been making annual trips to September’s wide-ranging international music festival POP MONTRÉAL (popmontreal. com), with shows in small venues spread across the city. “One of the weirder ones I’ve been to is DISTORTION PSYCH FEST (distorsionpsychfest.com),” he said of July’s psychedelic and experimental rock event. “You’re not going to know any of the bands … but it’s a great place to find something really cool and hip.”

HAVE A DRINK

Montréal wasn’t always big on cocktails, said Sam Nelis, a veteran bartender and owner of Winooski café-bar SPECS, who spent childhood summers in Montréal and attended Concordia University. “It was always a little bit more of a wine town,” he said. “Then a few bars really put it on the map.”

Among the slinkiest veterans of that first wave is ATWATER COCKTAIL CLUB (atwatercocktailclub.com, cocktails CA$13-35), where you step through an unmarked, graffitied door into a dim room with lush décor. “They got Montréal on the radar in a more continental way,” he said.

The same owners are behind another of Nelis’ favorite Montréal cocktail bars, MILKY WAY (milkywaycocktails.com, cocktails CA$13-75), which is hidden above a pizza place in the Verdun neighborhood. It feels younger and more playful than the original, with a menu that includes tiki-inflected items such as the Cooler Kids (CA$30), a tequila drink for two that comes in a bowl garnished with a flaming “volcano.”

Both are speakeasy-inspired, a trend going strong in Montréal. But not every great Montréal cocktail bar requires the contrivance of slipping past an intentionally battered door. Nelis, who worked at Caledonia Spirits before starting Specs, also recommends the drinks at PUB BISHOP & BAGG (bishopandbagg.com, cocktails CA$10-21), in Mile End, a wood-lined British-style pub whose vast collection of gins includes bottles from Finland, South Africa and, yes, the Green Mountain state. “You can go in and taste a huge plethora

of spirits in the same category,” Nelis said. “That’s really cool, and it’s something that doesn’t exist in Vermont.”

About that wine scene Nelis mentioned. You can’t just hit a liquor store to find the best bottles in Montréal, said Alex Leopold, owner of Burlington wine bar and shop BAR RENÉE, who visits often. “Some of the most exciting wines are of such small production that they fall into the hands of restaurants and bars before they trickle down to the [provincial alcohol distributor] SAQ,” he said. And for Leopold, going out is the key to Montréal’s wine culture anyway. “Québécois food and drink … are rooted in connecting with each other, your city and the folks around you,” he said.

In fact, Leopold’s favorite places to drink wine in Montréal are mostly restaurants, such as VERDUN BEACH (barverdunbeach.com, wine by the glass CA$13-17, dishes CA$3-38), a convivial Verdun eatery inspired by guinguettes , historic, open-air French watering holes known for affordable and plentiful white wine. “It’s a pretty space that always has a lot of energy, for full meals, a quick glass or digging into the extensive wine list,” Leopold said. In summer months, its patio tables spill across Wellington Street.

Another highlight is the Plateau bistro ROUGE GORGE (rougegorge.ca, wine CA$630, dishes CA$8-39). “It feels just like a neighborhood bar in Paris,” Leopold said. “You can peruse their online wine list, which is very extensive. It’s kind of eclectic but rooted in natural wines, both ones that are clean and precise and more avant-garde as well.”

Don’t be afraid of asking lots of questions of the sommelier or server, Leonard counsels, adding that he’s found Montréal wine people to be particularly open to such chats. “It can be fun and interesting and illuminating,” he said. “Just being casual and having fun with it — these places exemplify that for me.” ➆

When Adam LaPerle bought Bristol Discount Beverage & Redemption in 2006, it was a small-volume store without many o erings, primarily a beer and wine redemption location. But LaPerle had a vision for more. Over the years, he increased his stock of local products, and six years ago he contracted with the state to sell spirits under the 802Spirits brand.

“We built up the space and reputation of our business, and I knew what worked and had the sta . By the time we added liquor, we had everything in place, and it was a natural ﬁt,” LaPerle said. “It made us more of a one-stop shop for people.”

As an 802Spirits store owner, LaPerle works with the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery to stock and sell liquor products to consumers. The state takes care of the purchasing, and LaPerle and his employees ring up customers. The money from those purchases goes right back to Vermont via LaPerle’s local business and the state’s General Fund.

LaPerle has lived in the Bristol area for years, and his kids attend the local high school. He grew up in Middlebury and studied at the University of Vermont. While at UVM, he worked

SHOP LOCAL, SIP LOCAL

Stores such as Bristol Discount Beverage and Five Corner Variety show how sales from 802Spirits stores support businesses and communities

at Beverage Warehouse in Winooski. After graduation, he worked at Otter Creek Brewing, where he got to know another side of the business as a sales rep, then he worked for another Vermont distributor, G. Housen.

“I realized what I really liked best was the customer-facing aspect and the community,” LaPerle said. So he bought his own store in Bristol.

A few years later, a local health food store closed, and LaPerle started getting requests to stock more food.

He bought a freezer and filled it and his shelves with items you wouldn’t traditionally find in a beverage store, such as Misty Knoll Farms chicken and Vermont Smoke & Cure products. “It’s nice to find ways to work with more local businesses,” he said.

LaPerle views Bristol Discount Beverage as a community hub. “I am in the store every day, and I’m very much part of the community. That was my vision when I bought the store,” he said.

He does his best to give back, too, including supporting many local sports teams, advertising in the Addison County Independent and sponsoring its “Student of the Week” posting.

Hannah Chauvin, director of communications and legislative a airs for the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, described Bristol Discount Beverage as a perfect example of the 802Spirits agency store model. The model gives local business owners a reliable revenue stream that helps them stay open, hire sta and reinvest in their communities. Instead of liquor revenue going to out-of-state corporations, customers can shop at a store owned by their neighbors.

“When you see that 802Spirits logo, you can know that it is a locally owned business where the money is going back to your community,” Chauvin said.

Local Stores, State Partnership

While most Vermonters are familiar with that 802Spirits logo, they may not know how the brand works with the state and local business owners to beneﬁt their communities. The Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery oversees the sale of liquor at its 80-plus liquor stores. It contracts with locally owned businesses and gives them its 802Spirits brand, acting as a wholesaler.

Duncan Harvey, who has owned Five Corner Variety in Essex Junction since 2007, said he has “always had a good relationship with the state.” The other day, he said, he ran out of register paper unexpectedly, and the

Adam LaPerle, owner of Bristol Discount Beverage & Redemption

David Lucia and Vilas Gentes at Five Corner Variety in Essex Junction

department was able to help him out on short notice.

“You can call them or email them, and they get back to you quickly, and they have great communication,” he said.

Every 802Spirits liquor store is independently owned and operated. When people shop there, the money that they spend stays local: It supports jobs, small businesses and the community.

Five Corner Variety and Fairgrounds Beverage, with his business partner, Colby Benway. Benway, who also lives in Essex Junction, joined Harvey as a partial owner in 2022 after working with him at Five Corner Variety for 10 years.

Max Overstrom-Coleman’s Eggnog

This holiday season, enjoy this recipe from Max OverstromColeman, owner of Wolf Tree in White River Junction. The bar was a ﬁnalist for the 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar.

The proﬁts of liquor sales go to Vermont’s General Fund, which funds the operation of state government, emergency preparedness, public safety, state parks, trails, beaches and

When you see that 802Spirits logo, you can know that it is a locally owned business where the money is going back to your community.

HANNAH CHAUVIN

anything else without a designated fund. These funds are vital, especially in emergencies or other unforeseen situations.

As with running any business, there are challenges, but there is a lot that shoppers can do to help these businesses and the local economy.

“It’s as important as ever to shop local and keep your dollars in our community,” Chauvin said.

‘More Than Just a Typical Liquor Store’

Harvey is the epitome of a local business owner — he’s lived in Essex Junction his whole life. He graduated from Essex High School, went to UVM and has been doing business in Essex since he graduated.

He currently owns two liquor stores,

“It’s given me a little more time to spend away from the store and with my family,” Harvey said. While the business can be hard, he noted, with its long hours, he’s always enjoyed it. “If I didn’t, I would go do something else,” he joked.

Harvey takes great pride in his role in the community, keeping his store open for 12 hours daily, seven days a week. “Whether people need that last-minute tank of gas, cigarettes, vodka — we take it pretty seriously to be open and provide that service,” he said.

He also makes an e ort to be part of the community he serves. Harvey advertises in local publications, runs bottle drives to support kids’ sports and sponsors school events, such as the annual Albert D. Lawton Basketball Tournament.

“We’re more than just a typical liquor store. Of course, we have all the liquor, beer and wine, but we carry basic groceries to help people out in a pinch, so they can get some essentials,” he said.

With a sta of four full-time and four part-time employees at each store, Harvey o ers health insurance and a 401k with a match. “That helps me ﬁnd and retain good employees and help out local people,” he said, noting that he’s committed to o ering beneﬁts even as property taxes and electricity and overhead costs rise.

It’s the support of the community, Harvey said, that keeps his business going. “I’m very appreciative of the people that have shown up and supported us instead of going to chain stores over the years. It makes a di erence.” 

THIS

ARTICLE WAS COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR BY:

INGREDIENTS

• 12 farm-fresh eggs

• 1 pound granulated sugar

• 1 cup bourbon, preferably Old Grand-Dad

• 1 cup cognac, preferably Pierre Ferrand 1840

• 1 cup aged rum, preferably Myers’s

• 1 quart whole milk

• 1 quart heavy cream (spring for the best you can ﬁnd)

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. Separate the eggs.

2. Whisk the yolks and sugar together until the mixture ﬁrms up and the yolks’ bright orange color fades to a more opaque pale yellow.

3. Slowly add the spirits, milk and cream while continuing to whisk air into the batch.

4. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt together to sti peaks.

5. Whisk the egg whites into the mixture.

6. Bottle and store in the refrigerator until chilled, the longer the better.

7. When ready to serve, pour into a chilled glass and top with freshly grated nutmeg.

Consuming raw eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.

Servings: 25 to 30

Craig Colburn, manager at 116 Wine & Spirits in Hinesburg

A Crooked Path

rough constant evolution, Manchester’s Crooked Ram serves up creative fare worth the drive BY

The ﬁrst time I dined at a restaurant while wearing mittens was October 16, 2025. It was closing weekend at the Yard, a seasonal outdoor eatery in Manchester, and both sta and customers were shivering despite a blazing wood-ﬁred oven and an abundance of classy knitwear, some of which was surely procured from the town’s wealth of upscale outlet shops.

Despite knowing it would be uncomfortably chilly post-sunset — I couldn’t score a reservation earlier than 6:45 — I was irresistibly drawn to a blueﬁn tuna tostada drenched in green mole ($21); crab mixed with yuzu kosho aioli and piled on deeply toasted milk bread ($26); and a cast-iron skillet of cavatelli in caramelized onion béchamel sauce ($29), straight from the oven’s belly. After all, this menu was on the verge of disappearing forever.

that it was easier to ﬁnd exquisite Vermont ingredients at restaurants in New York City than in Manchester, and he and his family hoped to help move the needle. Since opening, the spot has pivoted as dizzyingly as the prima ballerina in a performance of Swan Lake. From its start as a bottle shop, the Ram shifted to a kitchenless eatery running on a pair of induction burners and a sous vide machine, then to pandemic-era socially distanced outdoor dining and, ﬁnally, to its current indoor-outdoor split. For the moment, there are also morning café o erings. Through it all, the Ram has maintained its reputation as a spot that supports local producers, provides sta the freedom to blossom in their jobs, and treats diners to creative fare that’s worth a drive (and some shivers).

At the helm of the culinary team is chef Tiara Adorno, 35, a Johnson & Wales University graduate who spent three years at then-Michelin-starred Spruce in San Francisco. After taking some respite from kitchens and tending bar in Ludlow at what was then called Homestyle Hostel, Adorno was in the midst of lining up ﬁnancing to open her own Manchester restaurant, she explained, when the pandemic altered her plans. Unsure what to do next, she dropped o a résumé at the Ram.

There, Adorno started pouring beer and wine but soon jumped into the kitchen as sous chef. By July 2021, she was running the show.

From a ﬁnancial perspective, closing and waiting out the pandemic “wasn’t an option,” Campbell explained. “We needed to get to a [full-service] restaurant model to survive.”

When he looks back, he said, he sees how that challenging era changed the Ram’s fortunes for the better. The team bonded over struggles, and city folk who escaped to Manchester loved dining in the freshly built outdoor pavilion at a time when little else was open. “It was this romantic idea that we could be an outside restaurant,” he said.

By my next visit to Manchester, a month later, the restaurant had reverted to its indoor, colder-season incarnation, the Crooked Ram. In the dining room, with nary a parka in sight, a friend and I agonized over which dishes to order from the petite and enticing menu, eventually settling on almost all of them.

FOOD LOVER?

It would be hard to tell from the current setup, in which cooks work together calmly in a contemporary open kitchen, that the Ram wasn’t always a restaurant.

Thanks to some prohibitive regulations, the spot began its life in 2017 as a wine shop. The business is owned and operated by Peter Campbell, 44, a project manager with a background in ﬁne art and music, not food service. Campbell had observed

Adorno’s indoor and outdoor menus are propelled by produce from Mighty Food Farm in Shaftsbury, her main source of vegetables. As its offerings change, dishes shift slightly in answer. Then, every few weeks, she makes more sweeping alterations.

SUZANNE PODHAIZER

Cavatelli in caramelized onion béchamel sauce at the Crooked Ram

Alli Ford and Tiara Adorno

SIDEdishes

UP FOOD NEWS

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Pizza 44 to Add Second Spot in Shelburne

The owners of PIZZA 44 on Pine Street in Burlington will open a second pizzeria at 4066 Shelburne Road, next door to ARCHIE’S GRILL and the SCOOP ice cream shop, both of which they also own. Co-owner TIM WILLIAMS said the new restaurant should open by mid-December. Smaller than the original, it will launch with a limited menu before ramping up.

Pizza 44 opened just over seven years ago at 703 Pine Street, in the same building as QUEEN CITY BREWERY. It serves New York-style pizza baked in a woodfired oven, as well as cast-iron-baked thick-crust pies, which are a fusion of Sicilian and Chicago deep-dish styles. Other offerings include housemade meatballs and oven-roasted chicken wings.

“People like it and have been asking us to do it in Shelburne,” Williams said.

Each of the three co-owned establishments in the Shelburne Road complex will have its own entrance,

but they will be connected physically and benefit from shared resources and staffing, he said.

City Market Closes Downtown Burlington Café for the Winter

For the second winter in a row, the café in CITY MARKET’s downtown location at 82 South Winooski Avenue will close due to safety and security concerns. The co-op informed members in a December 1 email of the temporary winter closure, starting Wednesday, December 3. While acknowledging the inconvenience, the email stated, “Safety remains our highest priority, and we believe this is the best way forward as we take the time to reassess the space and re-open, tentatively in March, when we feel that it is safe for our customers and staff.”

In a follow-up email, the co-op’s director of community and marketing, CHERAY MACFARLAND , told Seven Days ,

Assorted pies and dishes at Pizza 44

Adorno builds her dishes on a backbone of European techniques and Vermont ingredients, layering in bold ﬂavors, colors and textures from the rest of the world. By doing so, she avoids a common “global” pitfall in which each dish is plucked wholesale from a di erent region, resulting in a menu that feels like a game of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

Stratton Mountain, tentatively slated to open in January. There, she’ll be in charge of pastries, sandwiches, ready-to-eat prepared foods and frozen dishes that can be enjoyed at home or in a rented ski chalet.

The opening of the bodega will represent yet another signiﬁcant shift in the Ram’s business model. When he hired Ford, to make the best use of her talents, Campbell agreed to add a café — complete with breakfast sandwiches, pastries and a full co ee bar — to the business model. When the new spot opens, the Ram’s pastries and other breakfast items will shift over to Bondville, freeing up more space for the preparation of the evening meal.

Although he’s anticipating pushback on the change, as faithful morning patrons will no longer be able to enjoy the restaurant’s fresh-pressed juice or orangescented almond croissants without leaving Manchester, Campbell is sure the team is making the right move.

On my second dinnertime visit, I encountered the prettiest salad I’ve ever eaten. Piled on one side of an earthenware dinner plate, the dish was composed of radicchio leaves ranging from shell pink to rich burgundy, cubes of roasted beet, blushing pink apple wedges, and bits of blue cheese and walnut ($18). The scarlet-tinged lyrics of Taylor Swift’s “Maroon” ran through my head as I ate.

WE’VE HAD QUITE THE JOURNEY, GIVEN ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT WE’VE MADE.

TIARA

Adorno’s classical training shows on a charcuterie board ($35), which on one evening featured a lush, rosy liver parfait sprinkled with sea salt; strands of zingy pickled fennel; spicy mustard with caraway; smoked pork loin; fresh Concord grapes; and dark, seedy crackers from the pastry chef.

I’d ordered a wonderful chocolate-dipped cannoli ice cream sandwich ($13).

So is Adorno. “We keep going, and we keep growing,” she pointed out. “While it’s special to see the café busy and buzzing, it’s challenging for us to prepare for evening service. Space is pretty tight in the kitchen.”

Soon, Ford, who’s also 35, will run the kitchen at the Bondville Bodega, the team’s forthcoming

Another standout was buttery hamachi crudo layered with slices of pickled pear and finished with herby olive oil and drifts of almond and garlic purée ($24). This arrived along with seared red cabbage perched atop a slick of tahini, then adorned with a generous portion of crunchy cashew salsa macha and brassica shoots ($18).

grab-and-go spot at the foot of

At the moment, Adorno explained, that gussied-up cabbage is one of several plant-based dishes available. The chef’s bestie and housemate, Alli Ford, is vegan and gluten-free, and Adorno wanted to make sure there was something on the menu for her.

“Part of being a professional restaurant is taking [customers’ dietary] parameters into account and creating something so that they can have a great experience,” she said. The same holds true for sta ; Ford, who attended culinary school with Adorno, also happens to be the Ram’s pastry chef.

Despite the fact that she doesn’t consume butter, milk or eggs, Ford o ered up a swoon-worthy sweet potato Basque cheesecake festooned with tufts of homemade marshmallow ($13), which ended my indoor meal. Outdoors, despite the cold,

ADORNO

Hamachi crudo

Farro risotto

afternoon operations to Bondville, she continued, will give everybody some breathing room. “Alli will have all the space she needs. She’ll be able to ﬁll up the freezers with croissants, and she’s always had ideas about amazing sandwiches and wraps, so for that to shine in its own space will be very exciting,” Adorno said.

Giving each sta er room to grow and evolve with their passions is part of the Ram’s mission. Campbell and Adorno credit the business’ strength to its deft and committed leadership, including bar manager Beth Horton, general manager Emily Shore and wine director Kim Demeo, all of whom have been working together since the pandemic. During that period, “All of this amazing talent came to the area, and we just kind of found each other,” Campbell said.

“We’ve had quite the journey, given all of the changes that we’ve made, and

this is the most complete and strongest that the restaurant has ever felt,” Adorno added.

“Restaurants are really a sacred space in communities,” Campbell mused.

“Outside of sports or religion, [eating together] is one of the last communal things we do together in public, and how you practice hospitality has to be a reﬂection of that. We’re trying to introduce moments of beauty into everyday life.”

After delighting in Adorno’s woodﬁred mushroom and salami pizza ($28) outdoors, her housemade lumache pasta in a deliciously smoky tomato-and-Parmesan broth ($35) indoors, and a host of Ford’s perfectly crafted ﬂaky pastries and breakfast dishes across many Manchester mornings, I’m eager to see where the next bend in the road will lead. ➆

e Crooked Ram, 4026 Main St., Manchester, 417-5049, thecrookedramvt.com

Vermont Winter Farmers Markets

Farmers Market | 10:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Capital City Farmers Market | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Champlain Islands Farmers Market | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Chelsea Holiday Market | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Dorset

the Crooked Ram Cannoli ice cream sandwich

Spread Those Wings

Stone Soup’s sweet-and-spicy chicken wings owe a debt to another legendary Burlington restaurant STORY & PHOTOS BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

One recent Thursday lunch hour at the Stone Soup hot bar, I was in line behind a woman ﬁlling her plate when she paused suddenly and doubled back for a takeout container. As she scooped about half a dozen deeply caramelized chicken wings into a plastic tub, she said, “My 8-year-old daughter loves them — even though they’re a little spicy.”

Another devoted fan, about 30 years older, had alerted me to what he called “the best wings ever” at the downtown Burlington ﬁxture o cially named Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup. Little did I know that the wings owe their exceptional character to another exceptional character in Burlington’s historic culinary ﬁrmament: Five Spice Café co-owner Jerry Weinberg, who died in 2019.

But first things first: Yes, the wings — labeled simply “Misty Knoll Chicken Wings” for the New Haven poultry farm where they are raised — are special. With sticky skin bronzed to the edge of burnt sugar and fall-o -the-bone tender meat, the wings read sweetly tangy at ﬁrst, partly from molasses in the recipe, before they perform a stealth ﬂip into mildly tingling heat, thanks to sambal chile sauce and abundant black pepper.

Like everything else on the Stone Soup bar, they are $16 per pound. If you pile your plate with just a pound of wings, you’d get

about 12 to 13, Stone Soup co-owner Tim Elliott said.

When queried about the secret to the wings, Elliott, 57, immediately noted that he’s adamantly opposed to secrets in the kitchen. A large wooden box behind the Stone Soup counter holds all the restaurant’s recipes on laminated cards, and anyone who asks can snap a photo. Over his long cooking career, Elliott has developed the philosophy that “no one owns a recipe,” he said. “I’ll give mine away freely, and I’ll also take your ideas.”

lost. “It was just like, This is too good,” Elliott said. “I just had to.”

The recipes sat, unused, in notebooks for close to a decade after Elliott and business partner Avery Ri in opened Stone Soup in 1997. “In desperation for variety,” he said, he remembered the Five Spice recipes and decided to dust them o .

Elliott also vividly remembered how protective Weinberg was of his recipes. Hobbs and the couple’s daughter, Cheryl Carmi, were Stone Soup regulars, and Elliott recalled hiding in the dish area “terriﬁed” about their reaction the ﬁrst time the pair came in when the Five Spice Hunan noodles and the wings were on the menu.

“But they welcomed it with open arms,” he said with relief. “They were just really glad — glad to eat them, so glad that somebody else was making them.”

The wings quickly went from an occasional special to a hot-bar staple. Stone Soup now sells about 1,000 a week.

NO ONE OWNS A RECIPE. I’LL GIVE MINE AWAY FREELY, AND I’LL ALSO TAKE YOUR IDEAS.

TIM ELLIOTT

The unwitting source of the wing recipe had a very di erent perspective.

From 1993 to 1997, Elliott worked at the pan-Asian Five Spice Café on lower Church Street for Weinberg and Weinberg’s ex-wife, the late Ginger Hobbs, who owned it from its 1985 launch until they sold it in late 2006. Shortly thereafter, a ﬁre destroyed the building. The restaurant never reopened, leaving devoted fans bereft of Evil Jungle Prince curry, Indonesian wings and Five Spice fritters.

When cooking at Five Spice, Elliott developed a huge respect for Weinberg and the work he put into developing his recipes, he said. The young cook did not have quite as much respect for his boss’ “heavy threats to not steal them.”

Elliott secretly copied down some of his favorites, including the “Indo” sauce for the wings. He had no speciﬁc plans for them at the time but didn’t want the recipes to be

Elliott credits his foresight (and disregard for authority) for saving the recipe, which he calls “ingenious” for its technique of puréeing a gallon of raw onions with an equal amount of oil as the sauce base. (The recipe is nothing like the one labeled Indonesian Wings on the blog Five Spice Café: Recipes From the Vault. “As far as I know, my dad only once knowingly gave out an accurate recipe,” Carmi noted dryly.)

Misty Knoll Farms also gets credit, Elliott said, as does Ri in. He is “the tender of the wings,” who cooks them daily, carefully stirring the pans at least four times during their 80-minute bake.

Elliott has no regrets about stealing the recipe, though he knows it may entail a “very uncomfortable meeting with Jerry Weinberg in the afterlife,” he added, only half joking. “I really loved that man, and if I had to face him on this, I would crumble a little bit. I feel bad because I know how he felt.”

Carmi believes it will be OK.

“I like to think that, in whatever atheist-Marxist-Jewish afterlife where my dad is hanging out,” she said, “there’s a reasonably curmudgeonly amount of gratitude and happiness that delicious food is still being served up and there are still folks who remember the Spice.” ➆

“One Dish” is a series that samples a single menu item — new, classic or ﬂeeting — at a Vermont restaurant or other food venue. Know of a great plate we should feature? Drop us a line: food@sevendaysvt.com.

INFO

Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup, 211 College St., Burlington, 862-7616, stonesoupvt.com

Tim Elliott with the Stone Soup recipe box

A plate of hot and cold bar selections, including Misty Knoll wings, at Stone Soup

“We have multiple security incidents almost daily at this point and deem it necessary to close as the holidays are some of our busiest shopping days.”

MacFarland also elaborated on the announcement that the downtown store would temporarily close its public restroom at the same time. In April, the co-op added a security code to access the bathroom. MacFarland said the closure is “largely” due to a needed plumbing upgrade. Operating a café requires a bathroom, so the café closure offers the opportunity to do the necessary work, she explained.

City Market is among many downtown businesses that have struggled to manage fallout from the persistent drug crisis, as reported previously by Seven Days. Last winter, the café at the South Winooski Ave. store closed for the month of January for safety concerns. It reopened with limited hours (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and never returned to its original schedule, which had mirrored the store hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The co-op has multiple security managers on staff and hires reinforcements from private companies.

Prophecy Chocolate’s Café Is Now Open in Morrisville

PROPHECY CHOCOLATE has reopened its café in Morrisville, to which the company relocated production of its bean-to-bar

chocolates a year ago from Hardwick. The café at 27 Winter Street has been open Sundays and Mondays since August, owner MATEO BLOCK said.

The 100 percent vegan café menu includes cacao drinks brewed with coconut milk or water. Hot chocolate made with water is traditional in many countries where cacao is grown. “The full, natural, whole cacao is rich and creamy in and of itself,” Block, 35, said.

Prophecy also serves hot and cold beverages made with macambo and copoazu, which Block described as rare botanical relatives of cacao, such as coffee macambo lattes and matcha macambo. Block sources macambo directly from farmers in Peru and Mexico, as he does with his cacao; copoazu is more typically grown and consumed in Brazil, he said.

In addition to his handmade chocolates, Block sells snacks he makes with macambo and copoazu seeds. He recently won gold in the International Chocolate Awards for his Umami Macambo, roasted with tamari, and silver for his maple-glazed copoazu.

The Prophecy Chocolate café also serves a rotating selection of homemade savory tamales filled with beans, corn and squash or cilantro and pumpkin seeds, made with masa from South Royalton’s MOON AND STARS. Block also crafts sweet masa tamales with freshly made chocolate. ➆

CONNECT

Shoppers leaving City Market in June

Mateo Block of Prophecy Chocolate

culture

By Design

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

Fred Noyes, principal of Frederick Noyes Architects in Brookline, Mass., enjoys vacationing at the family ski house in Killington that his father, the modern architect Eliot Noyes, designed in 1960. Perched on a hill, the modest home’s shed roof echoes the downhill slope; the open-plan interior, divided only by a massive cement-andexposed-stone chimney, looks out through a wall of sliding glass doors to a deck and the woods beyond.

“It has such a warmth to that one space, and it’s so simple,” Fred, 81, said by phone. “After you ski, you fall on those couches and relax in front of this big ﬁre. You’re part of the landscape.”

Eliot, who died in 1977, may not be as well known as other architects responsible for modernism in the U.S., such as Walter Gropius, Eero Saarinen and Frank Lloyd Wright. Yet he was “one of the pivotal

ﬁgures of 20th-century architecture and design,” said Devin Colman, director of the University of Vermont historic preservation program and a specialist in modern architecture.

Just how pivotal is evident in the 2023 documentary Modernism, Inc.: The Eliot Noyes Design Story, which will be screened on Wednesday, December 10, as part of the Architecture + Design Film Series at Burlington City Hall Auditorium. Fred will attend the screening and speak about his father in a discussion moderated by Colman. Brattleboro’s 118 Elliot gallery also hosts a screening that day, and the ﬁlm will be available to stream on the series website.

Directed by Jason Cohn, who previously made a documentary about designers Charles and Ray Eames, Modernism, Inc. largely tells the story of Noyes’ main — and completely revolutionary — job: design consultant at the burgeoning IBM

corporation. There, he essentially invented the art of branding, immersing himself in every aspect of the company and deﬁning its entire presence from the inside out. As the ﬁlm makes clear, Steve Jobs’ approach to Apple would not exist without Noyes.

“Back then, they didn’t have words like ‘marketing’ or even ‘brand.’ They called it all ‘design,’ and they meant everything by it,” one interviewee in the ﬁlm notes.

One tangible artifact is Noyes’ sleek, colorful IBM Selectric typewriter from 1961, which replaced single-letter strike arms with a rotating ball and eliminated the carriage return. By the mid-1960s, it commanded a quarter of the world market in electric typewriters. It’s held in the Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian Institution and other museums around the world.

Noyes graduated from the Harvard School of Design in 1938, a year after

Bauhaus founder Gropius arrived to lead it. He worked for Gropius and Marcel Breuer’s short-lived firm after graduation and became the ﬁrst director of the new industrial design department at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1948, he settled his family in New Canaan, Conn., and the rest of the so-called Harvard Five soon followed him there: Breuer, Philip Johnson, John M. Johansen and Landis Gores.

Noyes had a knack for spotting talent. He launched the Eameses’ careers and brought in Paul Rand, the so-called “father of graphic design,” and London-born designer Ivan Chermayeff to redesign corporate logos. Eventually, that exclusive design-world coterie generated a backlash. In one of the ﬁlm’s most riveting moments, hippies overrun the 1970 meeting of the International Design Conference in Aspen, Colo., which Noyes led, protesting corporations’ lack of attention to the unmoneyed class and the environment.

Eli Noyes ﬁlmed that footage. Eliot’s oldest son, who died last year, became an Oscar-nominated film animator and pioneer in clay animation. He’s one of three of the four Noyes children who speak about their dad in the ﬁlm, most memorably about what it was like to live in the family house in New Canaan. (They had to cross an outdoor courtyard to reach the bathroom — in all weather.)

The Noyes children all attended high school at the Putney School. Their father designed a dorm there in 1961, followed by a Killington neighbor’s ski house in 1962 and another in Stratton in 1964. Fred recalled helping his father design the chimney for the latter house while still a junior in college.

Noyes’ Vermont ties are not in the ﬁlm, but his legacy in the Green Mountains includes something larger than his four works of architecture: IBM opened a plant in Essex Junction in 1957, and it lasted until 2015, when GlobalFoundries took it over.

Noyes e ectively inﬂuenced “the lives and work of generations of Vermonters,” noted Andrew Chardain, a senior architect at Birdseye building company in Richmond, who founded the Architecture + Design Film Series in 2014 with Lynda McIntyre and Karen Frost. Neither Modernism, Inc. — the series’ 100th ﬁlm — nor the increasingly rare perspective of a midcentury-modern architect’s son should be missed. ➆

INFO

Modernism, Inc.: e Eliot Noyes Design Story, Wednesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m., at Burlington City Hall Auditorium (with Fred Noyes and Devin Colman) and 118 Elliot in Brattleboro; or screen from home same day only. Free. adﬁlmseries.org

Eliot Noyes in front of the Killington ski house

FESTIVALS

Think Small at Brattleboro’s Festival of Miniatures

STORY & PHOTO BY ALICE DODGE adodge@sevendaysvt.com

We say it’s the little things that matter during the holiday season: cookies for a friend, a meal with a neighbor, an extra bit of sparkle. But this year, Brattleboro takes the expression literally with its Festival of Miniatures — an event that’s shaping up to be huge.

The first-ever fest, which runs through December, started out as a simple idea to bring more people downtown by adding dollhouses and miniature scenes to holiday shop windows, according to festival producer Nancy Vitale. But Melany Kahn, the force behind the event and the daughter of acclaimed painters Emily Mason and Wolf Kahn, is so thoroughly connected to the local arts community that once she started asking people to participate, the scale snowballed.

In addition to mini scenes in 84 shop windows — including tiny versions of actual stores — visitors can take in a fairy garden workshop and a flash fiction contest at Brooks Memorial Library, a gingerbread barn and mini cookie contest at Retreat Farm, Sandglass Theater’s performance of Fritzi’s Flea Circus, and a “Museum of Things Tiny and Found” at Latchis Gallery. The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center hosts a Mad Hatter Tea Party complete with kindergarten chairs and tables, demitasse tea service, and model trains. There’s even a New England Youth Theatre production of Little Women

At the heart of the festival is the “Painted Lady” Victorian-style dollhouse, on view in the front window of Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts. A team of volunteers has been working since summer to

refurbish the stately micro home. To furnish it, Kahn solicited contributions of miniatures from more than 100 notable area artists. The house will be auctioned off, with proceeds to support the festival organizer, Downtown Brattleboro Alliance. Furnishings include hand-blown glass chandeliers by Marta and Josh Bernbaum, a table by Bruce Berg, woven rugs by Steven Rose and Sara Coffey, tiny baskets by Ezra Distler, and pottery by Natalie Blake. Lily Lyons contributed stainedglass windows; Robert DuGrenier made glass lightning rods for the roof. There are tiny versions of Stephen Procter’s normally giant urns on the porch.

The walls are decorated with photos by Rachel Portesi, Elena Lyakir and Cathy Cone. Louisa Conrad made a tiny drawing of a goat; Diedre Scherer supplied a woven painting and Keira Zagaeski, itsy-bitsy origami cranes. And there is a plethora of tiny framed paintings by the likes of Eric Aho, John Loggia, Michael Abrams, and, of course, Emily Mason and Wolf Kahn.

The Victorian, as well as the other dollhouses the volunteers have been working on, viewable elsewhere downtown, are just chock-full of intriguing tiny objects.

“Mouseton Abbey,” where crocheted mice explore their class differences in fancy dress, has a teeny mousetrap with a little cat for bait. A glass greenhouse, donated by New Jersey’s Sunflower Glass Studio, grows elegant wee orchids. Melany Kahn’s own childhood dollhouse, on display for inspiration in the volunteers’ dollhouserenovation workshop, even has its own Ouija board. On a tour, Vitale reacted with delight whenever she saw something new, at one point exclaiming, “Oh, my gosh, I didn’t see the dentures!” Downtown visitors looking closely will no doubt feel similar joy in discovering these small wonders. ➆

INFO

Brattleboro Festival of Miniatures runs through December 31. brattleboro.com/ miniboro

Projections on Church Street and illuminated sculptures in City Hall Park bring the brightness to Burlington this winter!

Learn more at: burlingtoncityarts.org/events

This Holiday Give Her What She Really Wants

She wants to be pampered.

She wants luxurious facial treatments. She wants to look younger. Give her what she wants with a gift certificate to Cheeks Luxury Skin Clinic. Advanced face treatments, elite products and concierge care.

Want to make her happy? Give her what she wants.

A bedroom inside the Victorian dollhouse

culture Crossing the Isle

Walking to Law Island with Teage O’Connor

Vermont’s severe summer drought caused problems for farmers, boaters and people with wells. But it also led to some new adventures. As Lake Champlain’s water receded, Vermonters explored islands that were suddenly accessible by foot. Social media was awash with images and videos from their trips to Law and Mosquito islands.

Law Island is a nine-acre nature area west of the Colchester Causeway and is usually reachable only by boat. It o ers rustic camping sites, windswept blu s and a trail that loops around the island. Conserved in 1994 by the Lake Champlain Land Trust, Law Island is now owned and managed by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger joined naturalist educator Teage O’Connor on a trip to the island. In early November, they crossed about 30 feet of shallow water to reach it; since then, the lake has reclaimed more land. Thanks to rain and snow,

YOU COULD SPEND A LIFETIME ON THIS ISLAND, EXPLORING IT FROM THE GEOLOGY UP TO THE VEGETATION AND MIGRATORY BIRDS.

TEAGE O’CONNOR

much of the state is no longer experiencing extreme drought conditions. Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about ﬁlming the episode.

Why did you want to visit Law Island?

Tell us about crossing to the island. Just a few days earlier, in late October, you could walk to Law Island without getting your feet wet. That would have been a great time to make this video! By early November, you had to cross about 30 feet of shallow water. Some intrepid explorers had placed rocks and logs in the shape of a bridge. I would like to thank the builders of the mighty “log bridge” for keeping my feet dry.

O’Connor, on the other hand, was wearing sandals and wading through the 52-degree water. Like the animals he studies, he is a bit wild at heart.

This was a very unusual summer, and like many Vermonters I was in awe of Lake Champlain’s receding shoreline. I’ve lived here for 21 years and have never seen so much exposed sand. I’d been spotting a lot of posts on social media about Law Island, but I didn’t get out there myself until early November, when a reader emailed my editors suggesting a story. O’Connor knows the island well and was the perfect companion for this adventure. I met him back in 2020 when, for another video, we followed Burlington birds on a “crow safari.”

Seems like you had an ideal guide. O’Connor is deeply curious about the natural world, and spending an afternoon exploring with him was eye-opening. He found fox and deer tracks, spotted a pair of ravens, cooked up some white cedar tea, and explained how the cli s of shale were formed hundreds of millions of years ago. O’Connor has been visiting the island since 2009 and even spent his honeymoon camping there! As he put it, “You could spend a lifetime on this island, exploring it from the geology up to the vegetation and migratory birds.” ➆

755: Law Island

Teage O’Connor

deadlines

DECEMBER 17 & 24 ISSUES

Per holiday tradition, Seven Days will not be published December 31, 2025. e ﬁrst issue of 2026 will be published on January 7.

Events taking place December 17January 7 must be submitted no later than Tuesday, December 9, at noon at: sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Deadline for classiﬁeds, classes & jobs: Monday at 3 p.m., 12/15 (in print only) sevendaysvt.com/classiﬁeds

Deadline for retail advertising: Friday noon, 12/12 802-864-5684, sales@sevendaysvt.com

on screen

Sentimental Value ★★★★★

It’s increasingly unusual to see a movie that’s just about people being people — no high concept, no mystery, nothing designed to generate social media chatter. Norwegian director Joachim Trier ( The Worst Person in the World ) excels at making such ﬁlms, and they’re always absorbing. His latest, Sentimental Value (cowritten with Eskil Vogt), won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and is considered an Oscar contender. See it at Montpelier’s Savoy Theater (ongoing); or at four Burlington screenings on Wednesday and Thursday, December 3 and 4, 4 and 7 p.m., presented by the Vermont International Film Foundation at the Film House at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center.

REVIEW

The deal

Sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) grew up in an old house built and continuously inhabited by the family of their father, Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård). A renowned ﬁlm director with a roving eye, Gustav abandoned the family before his daughters were grown. Agnes is now happy with a family of her own, while Nora has become a well-known stage and TV actress who struggles with paralyzing anxiety.

When their mother dies, Gustav returns to ask a big favor of Nora. He wants her to star in his fi rst fi lm in 15 years: the story of a young mother who dies by suicide. And he wants to film it in their ancestral home, where he lost his own mother at age 7 in precisely that way. Nora wants nothing to do with the project or her father. But American movie star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) meets Gustav at a retrospective and is so taken with the sensitivity of his work that she signs on, bringing Netflix on board with her.

The family home becomes a stage on which past collides with present and truth with ﬁction. As the sisters clear out their belongings, Gustav rehearses the glamorous outsider Rachel for a role that he insists is not based on his actual mother.

Will you like it?

There’s something beguilingly 19thcentury-novelistic about centering a story on a family home. Sentimental Value opens with a narrator (Bente Børsum)

reading an essay in which the younger Nora whimsically imagines the house as a person, inviting us to see it as a character as the camera explores its rooms — and reveals a fatal, obviously symbolic rift running through the structure.

That’s a foretaste of things to come, because Trier never does nostalgia or whimsy without death and heartbreak. Don’t confuse him with Sweden’s Lasse Hallström, who gets a knowing namecheck in the script as Scandinavia’s most internationally bankable modern ﬁlmmaker.

From its charming prologue, Sentimental Value plunges us straight into the turbulent psyche of the adult Nora, as her panic attack delays a high-proﬁle opening night with a full house. It’s a scene that anyone who’s done theater will ﬁnd nightmarishly stressful. And Reinsve, who can be winsome and tragic and everything in between, plays it superlatively.

We soon learn that Nora, who describes herself to her married lover (Trier regular Anders Danielsen Lie) as “80 percent fucked up,” uses her art as a safety valve for her unmanageable emotions. Gustav does something similar, coyly refusing to admit his script is autobiographical when it’s clearly an e ort to grapple with the unknowns of his past and present.

Father and daughter are more alike than Nora wants to admit — a spiritual kinship highlighted by their stark di erence from the celebrity who stumbles into their midst. Fanning is funny and touching as the over-earnest American ingenue. Horriﬁed when Gustav casually reveals she’s standing on his mother’s death site, she begs him to explain why he didn’t ditch the house and its bad vibes long ago.

Trier tells the story in episodic scenes that start and end abruptly — an approach that may initially seem artless. But these blunt, unheralded transitions work to confuse the boundaries of reality and fiction until they blur entirely. In one scene of Nora weeping in a bedroom, for instance, the camera eventually pans out to reveal she’s on a set.

Sentimental Value raises provocative questions about what it means to make art-house cinema in the age of streaming, as well as exploring how artists cannibalize their own experience. The Borg family doesn’t ditch bad vibes — they live with them and use them, though sometimes they ﬁnd a degree of peace.

Quieter than the histrionic Nora, younger sister Agnes is just as important to the story, and Lilleaas’ radiant performance anchors a scene in which the sisters come to terms with each other and their

past. Sentimental Value has no shocking twists, no water-cooler moments, but that scene demonstrates why it doesn’t need them. As sophisticated as it’s sentimental, the movie will send you out misty-eyed and thoughtful.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (2021; Kanopy, Tubi, rentable): Reinsve also starred in Trier’s previous ﬁlm, about a free-spirited millennial facing maturity, which snagged two Oscar nominations.

OSLO, AUGUST 31ST (2011; Kanopy, MUBI, rentable): e house at the center of Sentimental Value also appears at a key moment in Trier’s portrait of one day in the life of a young man (Lie) struggling with recovery from opiate addiction.

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (2017; Netflix): Noah Baumbach is another expert in telling stories about dysfunctional arty families. In this dark comedy, Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler play brothers still trying to reconcile themselves to the egomania of their sculptor dad (Dustin Hoffman).

Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters estranged from their ﬁlmmaker dad in Joachim Trier’s sophisticated drama.

NEW IN THEATERS

DHURANDHAR: Aditya Dhar directed this actionpacked underworld saga, starring Ranveer Singh. (212 min, NR. Majestic)

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

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

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

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

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

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

CURRENTLY PLAYING

DIE MY LOVEHHH Jennifer Lawrence plays a writer and mother experiencing a mental breakdown in this drama from Lynne Ramsay, with Robert Pattinson and Sissy Spacek. (118 min, R. Catamount; reviewed 11/12)

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

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

PREDATOR: BADLANDSHHH1/2 An outcast Predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) finds an unusual ally (Elle Fanning). Dan Trachtenberg (Prey) directed. (107 min, PG-13. Essex)

RENTAL FAMILYHHH1/2 Brendan Fraser plays an American actor in Japan who gets a most unusual gig in this comedy-drama from writer-director Hikari. (103 min, PG-13. Capitol, Majestic)

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

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERYHHHH Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc for a new comic whodunit, directed by Rian Johnson. (140 min, PG-13. Majestic, Savoy)

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

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

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (Catamount, Fri only)

ANGEL’S EGG 2025 REMASTER (Partizanfilm)

CAN’T LOOK AWAY (Catamount, Sun only)

THE DAYTRIPPERS (Savoy, Mon only)

A FACE IN THE CROWD (Catamount, Wed 3 only)

FULL TIME (Catamount, Wed 10 only)

INTERSTELLAR (Big Picture, Thu only)

KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR (Essex)

KINGS OF THE ROAD (Partizanfilm, Wed 3 [members only] & Thu only)

KISS ME DEADLY (VTIFF, Fri only)

THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (Partizanfilm, Wed 3 [members only] & Thu only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: THE MAGIC FLUTE

HOLIDAY ENCORE (Essex, Sat only)

THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (VTIFF, Sat only)

THE S WORD (Savoy, Tue only)

TOUCH OF EVIL (VTIFF, Sat only)

WEDDING CRASHERS 20TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Thu only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul Winter's Solstice Celebration

With the Paul Winter Consort and vocalist Theresa Thomason

Saturday December 13, 2025 at 3pm and 7:30pm Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, VT

Seven-time Grammy-winning Paul Winter Consort, with beloved vocalist Theresa Thomason, will present the timeless music of their legendary New York Winter Solstice Celebration, in a joyous and profound celebration of this season of renewal.

Tickets: cathedralarts.org

Hamnet

art

By Any Other Name

Roses and religion play parts in Lydia Kern’s solo show at St. Mike’s

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

This time of year, the secular and the religious often seem at odds. Spiritual signiﬁcance can be the entire reason to celebrate holidays, wholly beside the point or, often, uncomfortable to talk about, depending on whom you ask. Yet somehow, culture has thrown a Bible story, a pagan solstice festival, an obscure Turkish saint and late-stage capitalism into a blender and arrived at a coherent understanding of the song “Santa Baby.” Perhaps the true meaning of Christmas is the magic of making meaning at all.

Though Lydia Kern’s artwork is not overtly religious, one can’t help but consider it through a devotional lens in its current context: “Torch Songs,” a solo show at McCarthy Art Gallery at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. That she can seamlessly incorporate aspects of the spiritual, medical and botanical into her work without any seeming conﬂict between them is, perhaps, a minor miracle.

Roses abound in this show, appearing in some form or another in just about all of the works. Like their perfume, roses as a symbol can seem cloying or too obvious a marker for love and purity, but Kern — a longtime Burlington artist who now lives in New York City — is adept at wielding them with subtler shades of meaning.

“Rose Ladder (Ode to Ocean Vuong’s Fire Escape and Jacob’s Ladder)” is a simple hanging ladder, crafted from dried long-stem roses lashed together with embalming thread, a frequent material for Kern. The title refers both to a William Blake drawing of angels ascending to heaven and to “The Weight of Our Living: On Hope, Fire Escapes, and Visible Desperation,” a 2014 essay by Ocean Vuong, in which he recounts the aftermath of his uncle’s suicide. Like ﬁre escapes as Vuong describes them, Kern’s ladder is contradictory: a structure intended to ensure safety but too fragile to use.

These particular dried roses, with their long, straight stems, have a nostalgic feel to them, as though they are mementos of proms or performances past. Kern’s ladder would indicate that ascension might only be possible for those willing to break physical ties to the past, as Vuong’s relatives encourage his uncle’s ghost to do in the essay. Climbing these thorny rungs would be painful, too — a thought that might leave the viewer unable to move forward or, in other words, in limbo. Vuong articulates

of a rose over a small vial of crushed rose dust, both suspended in swirling resin.

Felt hammers, springs and wooden levers from a piano frame the image, and a small, burnt candle stub above it reinforces the devotional feel.

In medieval Christian practice, reliquaries were used to both honor and enshrine something — usually a saint’s body part or lock of hair, or a sacred object such as a splinter from the cross — and, importantly, as a physical portal to the spiritual world. Pilgrims would sometimes open a door to reach inside the reliquary and touch the relic, bolstering their prayers with physical contact.

Kern’s sculpture, likewise, o ers both an image of the rose as an ideal to contemplate and its physical essence. Here and in the other reliefs on this wall, the piano parts seem a bit clunky and odd at ﬁrst, but the symmetrical way Kern has arranged them reads as though they are bones splayed out for a dissection. Thinking about them as the mortal vessel for music — the physical thing that creates a spiritual experience — relates them to the rose as a container for scent, memory and meaning.

what any ﬁre escape, including Kern’s ladder, signiﬁes:

“We are capable of disaster. And we are scared.”

“Reliquary for a Rose,” one of four pieces that incorporate roses and piano parts, centers a photonegative

The same parts tell a slightly di erent story with “Torch Song (lifeline, timeline),” which uses as its main component the piano’s wide pin block. Instead of the piano strings that once ran through the metal tuning pins, Kern has wrapped thread up and down between them, tracing a line like the peaked one on an electrocardiogram. As well as photonegatives of roses, she hangs tiny brass bells, dried roses and Lake Champlain rocks from the wooden frame on ribbons, some wrapped many times around the roses as though to mummify them. Here, the roses seem much more like bodies — though the piece also locates them as points on a timeline or a musical score. Kern layers a medical understanding of the corporeal on top of the metaphysical one in many of her works, including “A Severe Gentleness” and “Longterm Quick Fix,” both of which incorporate MRIs of her own brain. In the former, Kern duplicates and ﬂips the scan on overlapping mirror-image transparencies that eerily resemble a pair of eyes. She visually carries the line of the spinal cord down into transparencies of roses and, in turn, down into actual branches of dried amaranth — also known as “love lies bleeding.” The reddish plant takes the

place of delicate lungs, underscoring the body’s fragility.

“Untitled (like a river, like a waterfall)” also overlaps black-and-white images printed on transparencies, mounted in a layer of resin, but with a more abstract effect. Here, a larger image of the Falls of Lana in Salisbury — coincidentally, perhaps, near Satans Kingdom — seems to spill down the wall in a cascade of negative images of roses. The images come to rest in a bowl full of rosewater placed on the floor. The inclusion of scent is innovative and enhances an already physically luscious show, but the waterfall imagery gets a little pixelated, blurry and lost in the transparent layers of material. A clearer version of this piece might foreground the rosewater more, asserting it as a distillation of something holy.

only freestanding sculpture, it’s roughly the scale of a patio table, with a hole in the center of its colorful, glassy surface. Individual dried roses radiate from there, each encased in a saturated background. Below that layer, two more glass ones seem to ﬂoat: The roses are silhouetted in rose dust in one and white acrylic in the other; its base is a mirror, facing up.

Kern’s sculpture “New Order” acts as the centerpiece of the show. The

The sculpture is like a stainedglass rose window in a cathedral, but rather than looking up to witness divine glory, here you look toward the Earth. And instead of Jesus sitting in judgment at its center, there’s a simpler image. If you look down through the hole, you see, resting on the mirror, the roses not as blooms but as a pile of seeds — the most basic form of life eternal. ➆

“Torch Songs,” by Lydia Kern, on view through December 12 at McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester. smcvt.edu/mccarthy-art-gallery

us do the "heavy lifting" to help you pave the way toward a happy, healthy, well-behaved puppy!

Clockwise from left: “New Order”; “Reliquary for a Rose”; “A Severe Gentleness”

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘ALL THE COLORS HUMANS HAVE NOT YET NAMED’: Seeking submissions of 2D and 3D works for a curated exhibition celebrating bold, expressive use of color. Apply online at avagallery.org. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H. Deadline: December 22. $25 submission fee. Info, 603-448-3117.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

MAEDEH ASGHARPOUR: Works exploring the psychological aspects of migration and the emotional void of feeling uprooted. The artist, who is also the South Burlington city curator, has previously shown work internationally, including in Iran, France and Colombia. South Burlington Public Library Art Wall, through January 31. Info, 846-4140.

MAGGIE NEALE: “Internal Wanderings,” an exhibition of abstract, colorful works on silk and canvas. Reception and artist talk: Thursday, December 4, 4:30-6 p.m. CVMC Art Gallery, Berlin, through January 10. Info, 371-4464.

‘SHOW 70’: A show featuring the 23 co-op gallery members as well as a holiday art market. Friday, December 5, 4-7 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, December 5-28. Info, info@thefrontvt.com.

‘ANNUAL MEMBERS’ 10 BY 10 SHOW’: An open-call exhibition showcasing works 10 by 10 inches or smaller in all mediums by museum members. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-7:30 p.m. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, through January 24. Info, 222-0909.

CARA ARMSTRONG: “Windows and Horizons: Light, Dwelling and Memory,” digital drawings that explore the relationship between neuroscience and architecture using drawing as a form of research. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-7:30 p.m., with artist remarks at 6 p.m. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, through January 24. Info, 222-0909.

‘FRUITION’: An end-of-the-year pop-up featuring works by Liz Buchanan, Lawrence Keyes, Nina Friscia, Darcy Feralio, Lauren Giannullo, Philip Gaglia, Jane Ploughman, Eliza Nichols and Tracy Cianciola. The majority of the artwork, monotypes, wood block prints and artists’ books were made in classes, workshops or during rented time at the studio. new new art studio, Burlington. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-8 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, December 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 373-7096, susansmereka@gmail.com.

‘FROM SNURFING TO SNOWBOARDING, 1965 TO 1985’: An exploration of the early history of the sport, including photos, patents, product catalogs and personal artifacts, many of which come from the archive of Paul Graves, one of the sport’s earliest pioneers. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-8 p.m. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, Stowe, December 5-October 18. Info, 253-9911.

HUBERT SCHREIBL: “From the Alps to Vermont,” images from the acclaimed photographer’s more than 50 years chronicling the evolution of skiing and snowboarding, especially at Stratton Mountain Resort. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-8 p.m. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, Stowe, December 5-October 18. Info, 253-9911.

‘ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT’: A group show exploring size and scale in painting, with works by Mary Therese Wright, Gayle Robertson, Tina Olsen, Ellen Cone Maddrey, John Loggia and Liza Cassidy, accompanied by “All Under One Sky,” the collective’s contribution to the Brattleboro Festival of Miniatures. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-9 p.m. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, through December 31. Info, 118elliot@gmail.com.

MEMBERS HOLIDAY SHOW: A group show of prints, including inexpensively priced ones, by studio members. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-7 p.m. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, December 5-31. Info, 295-5901.

EXHIBITION

Little Pictures From the Big House

If you’re catching the Brattleboro Festival of Miniatures this month (see page 47), don’t miss “Ray Materson: Common Threads” at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. The show’s seven embroideries — each only a few square inches — have a remarkable history. Materson struggled with addiction and, in 1987, was sent to a Connecticut prison after committing several robberies; he was released on parole in 1995. While there, he remembered watching his grandmother pass time through needlework and requested a sewing needle from a guard. Materson painstakingly extracted colored threads from knitted socks, embroidering them onto scraps torn from bedsheets. His scenes are strange and detailed: “3 Sisters” shows old-fashioned ladies watching as their city burns; “Invasion,” aliens on Mars. All pack a wide breadth of psychological complexity into a confined space.

‘RAY MATERSON: COMMON THREADS’

On view through March 6 at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. brattleboromuseum.org

‘VARIATIONS ON A DREAM’: A group exhibit highlighting paintings by David Smith on an autumnal theme, alongside works by Bonnie Acker, Miriam Adams, Elizabeth Allen, Robert Bent, Annelein Beukenkamp, Kate Longmaid, David Maille and many others. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5-7 p.m. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery, Shelburne, December 5-January 31. Info, 985-3848.

‘SMALL WORKS’: An exhibition of little works and small things by represented and invited artists. The show runs in conjunction with Brattleboro’s Festival of Miniatures; a grand Victorian dollhouse furnished with miniature artwork created by more than 100 local artists will also be on display. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5:30 p.m. Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts, Brattleboro, through January 11. Info, 251-8290.

‘ABSTRACT^2’: A show of abstract photographs by Lisa Dimondstein, Julie Parker and Sandra Shenk based on an exploration of the work of abstract sculptor David Stromeyer at the Cold Hollow

the top of a fridge and planted, and the transplanted soil from the site where Abraham Zapruder filmed the assassination of president John F. Kennedy. Reception: Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ATM Gallery, Shelburne, December 6-28. Info, atmgallerydirector@gmail.com.

JOHN CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: “Threshold,” a show of mixed-media sculptural works that embrace impermanence, imperfection and incompleteness and grow out of the artist’s Los Angeles roots and aesthetic. Reception: Saturday, December 13, 1-3 p.m. CX Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, December 5-April 26. Info, 579-9008.

ART EVENTS

ESSEX ART LEAGUE: A group of Vermont artists and enthusiasts who meet monthly for presentations, critique sessions and discussions. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, Thursday, December 4, 9-11 a.m. Free ($25 annual dues after two free meetings). Info, howekit0@gmail.com.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Thursday, December 4, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

‘LOW LIGHT AND CVOEO’: A pop-up art show and donation drive with works by 20 local artists. Seeking donations of lip balm, lotion, winter coats, gloves, warm socks and sleeping bags. Visitors will receive 10 percent off one art item with a donation. Donate December 1-3 or bring your donation to the sale. Hidden Pearl, Burlington, Friday, December 5, 6-9 p.m., and Saturday, December 6, noon-5 p.m. Info, nicolechristmanart@gmail.com.

HOLIDAY EXHIBITION OPEN HOUSE: Open studios and demonstrations held alongside the annual holiday exhibition of fine art and handmade crafts created by AVA members. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 603-448-3117.

ARTIST TALK: KAREN BECKER: A discussion of the artist’s work and current exhibit, which includes pastels, watercolors, monoprints and drawings. CX Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, Saturday, December 6, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 257-7898.

FAMILY DAY: An invitation to explore the gallery and studio spaces with festive art activities for all ages. The Current, Stowe, Saturday, December 6, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, mail@thecurrentnow.org.

ARTIST TALK: JONATHAN RYAN STORM: A walking tour and discussion with the artist of his outdoor exhibition, “Time Was a River, Too,” which includes reproductions of his large, vibrant paintings in the museum’s window bays. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Saturday, December 6, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124.

BOOK SIGNING: JACK ROWELL: The longtime Vermont photographer signs copies of Jack Rowell: Photographs a new 114-page coffee-table book of black-and-white and color images. Studio Place Arts, Barre, Saturday, December 6, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 479-7069.

Sculpture Park in Enosburg Falls. Reception: Friday, December 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m. River Arts, Morrisville, through January 9.

ALICE ECKLES: A show of 50 paintings, including recent and retrospective fantasy landscapes, flowers and abstracts by the retired art teacher. The artist will be present in the gallery during wine tastings on Saturday, December 6; Thursday, December 11; and Saturday, December 20, 1-5 p.m. Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne, through December 31. Info, 985-8925.

MEMBERS HOLIDAY EXHIBITION AND SALE: Works of fine art and handmade craft created by AVA members from across New Hampshire and Vermont. Reception and Holiday Party: Saturday, December 6, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., through December 30. Info, 603-448-3117.

ABBY MANOCK: “The Potato and the Grassy Knoll,” a project born of both an old potato rescued from

CAT ART SHOW & SALE: Feline-themed works in various mediums, with proceeds from sales benefiting Elmore SPCA and local artists. Chapter One Coffee & Tea, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Sunday, December 7, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Info, kim@heyimkim.com.

SOCIAL SUNDAY: An opportunity for children and caregivers to stop in and complete a 15- to 30-minute activity during the two-hour workshop. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, Sunday, December 7, 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 8, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

CARVING CIRCLE: A space for printmakers to carve, glue or incise blocks together. Studio tools available; no printing takes place. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, Tuesday, December 9, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-5901. ➆

“3 Sisters” by Ray Materson

music+nightlife

Late Summer

After eight years on the scene, Burlington soul band High Summer ﬁnally drop their debut LP

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

For almost a decade, Burlington groove and soul outfit High Summer have been a study in paradox. For one, when the sprawling, eight-piece band launched from the Radio Bean stage in 2017, it felt like it had been on the scene forever. Indeed, its members are all established vets who’ve been in scores of Queen City acts between them, including Japhy Ryder, Steady Betty and Barika. This new collaboration was something both familiar and exotic.

For another: Eight years after debuting their massive, highly danceable brand of music, High Summer were curiously silent — aside from their gigs, which tend to be sporadic but come in bunches. They’d released no albums, singles or music videos. The only online trace of the group even existing was some live footage on YouTube.

“Practically speaking, we were sort of invisible as a band,” saxophonist Jacob Deva Racusin admitted in a phone conversation last week. “We realized we needed to ﬁnally document our work. We had to have an enduring artifact.”

High Summer have done just that, at last. This Friday, December 5, the band will issue its debut LP, For the World, followed by a release party on Saturday, December 6, at Foam Brewers in Burlington. But even here lies another paradox.

With studio tracks recorded at

keyboardist Andric Severance’s home studio and live ones cut over several sessions at engineer Ben Collette’s Tank Recording Studio in Burlington, the record is a hybrid. It’s neither a studio album nor a live album. And it’s also both.

Whatever you call it, For the World is a clear demarcation point for the band, a monument around which to rally and evolve. And while the album’s creation took almost a decade, Racusin said the band had a good reason for waiting.

“Honestly, we just weren’t ready,” he said of earlier attempts to record High Summer. “We’re not really a studio band. We’re an eight-person band that wants to get a live audience moving. It’s just so hard to translate that sort of energy onto tape — it’s high craft, slow burn.”

Racusin said the band had to grow into its true self first. When High Summer started gigging around the area, it played a mix of covers and originals, like many groups. But with ﬁve songwriters in the

band, it took High Summer a while to fuse and develop a sonic identity.

“This is easily the most collaborative project I’ve ever worked on,” Racusin said. “We wanted the sound of a unit, not individuals, so we had to work through that period to develop a signature sound.”

It’s safe to say they’ve reached that point. Take the single “Burn Down,” for example. With funky, bass-driven verses; stabs of organ; teasing guitar licks; and a horn-heavy, soaring chorus, the song displays High Summer’s hallmarks: groove for days, a powerful vocal melody from singer Miriam Bernardo and screw-tight dynamic shifts.

In order to properly capture that vibe, the band decided to ﬁnish its debut in front of a live audience at the Tank. While For the World is not a traditional live record — the small in-studio audience wore headphones, listening in as the band tracked the songs live — the very presence of a crowd took the album over the top, according to Racusin.

“It changed the temperature in such a cool way,” he said. “Seeing Miriam make eye contact with someone and blow them a kiss or a stray hoot or cheer after a song — I remember playing and really reacting to that. So it absolutely colored how we all played on the record.”

Racusin sees the Tank sessions as transformative. “We were a di erent band leaving the Tank than when we came in,” he said.

The band, which also includes bassist Jon McCartan, drummer Jason Thime, guitarist Al Teodosio, percussionist Matt DeLuca and saxophonist Matt Davide, has evolved over its eight years to become the lean, mean groove machine heard on For the World. In their earlier years, High Summer were prone to overly complex arrangements and acts of instrumental prowess, but they’ve reﬁned and refocused their music.

They let the title track breathe, feeding a slow-burning ﬁre of funk and soul beneath Bernardo’s powerhouse vocals. The song presents a uniﬁed front, a big band working in near-telepathic union, as opposed to a sprawling jam.

Forging that kind of connection was a natural process, Racusin explained, pointing to the band members’ long histories together and tight-knit bond.

“The whole ethos of this band is love. It’s a love fest,” he said. “We’re all old friends with so much shared love for one another. And that love keeps us creative, because the vital sign of a band is whether or not you’re making new music.”

High Summer are indeed doing that. Racusin said they’ve already written much

High Summer

On the Beat

Some of the best musicians from the Green Mountains’ folk and bluegrass scene are banding together to help feed hungry Vermonters this winter.

CHAD HOLLISTER, KRIS GRUEN, BOW THAYER and the VT BLUEGRASS PIONEERS headline the FEED VT benefit concert on Sunday, December 21, at the Haybarn Theatre at the Creative Campus at Goddard in Plainfield. Billed as “an inspiring evening of music, community and love to help feed Vermont families in need,” the show funnels all proceeds to the nonprofit Capstone Community Action’s Food Shelf in Barre. The organizers ask attendees to bring nonperishable food items. Find the wish list at capstonevt.org, where you can also follow a link for tickets.

Burlington punk band VIOLET CRIMES have joined forces with singer BRI LUCAS, formerly of the rock band EMBERS IN UMBRA, to release the new single “Don’t Own Me.” The hard-charging pop-punk rager is an anthem for the ﬁght to restore and protect women’s reproductive rights.

“Does my body make you nervous?” Lucas sings on the track. “My autonomy so disturbing? Oh well, you don’t own it.”

The song came about after Lucas reached out to Violet Crimes singer AMY KLINGER. Fueled by the U.S. Supreme

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “CHRISTIAN MINGLE” by the Pyros

2. “DO I DO IT FOR YOU?” by Willverine and Emmy McDonnell

3. “TRAINING DREAM” by Seth Yacovone Band

4. “THE BREEZE” by Fisher Wagg

5. “RAYTHEON’S QUARTERLY PROFIT REVIEW” by the Dead Shakers

6. “IT CAN ALL BE GONE” by Jamie Lee urston

7. “MAY IT ALWAYS BE SO” by Spencer Lewis Scan to listen sevendaysvt.

Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, they joined forces to write the track with Violet Crimes drummer JASON DEAN and recorded it with producer RYAN

Chad Hollister

music+nightlife

COHEN at Robot Dog Studio across the lake in Mineville, N.Y.

“I once benefited from medical intervention during a miscarriage,” Lucas wrote in a press release for the single. “I decided to write a punk-rock song about this era of women’s rights and our ongoing struggle for bodily autonomy.”

Lucas wanted to sing with another female vocalist on the track and immediately thought of Klinger and Violet Crimes.

“Working on this song literally and figuratively gives us voice at a time when it’s easy to feel powerless,” Klinger said in the press release. “Plus, having the chance to sing a great, earworm-worthy song with a powerhouse, high energy vocalist like Bri is an absolute privilege.”

All profits from “Don’t Own Me” will be donated to the Center for Reproductive Rights, a global organization. Stream the track at violetcrimesvt.bandcamp.com and watch the making-of video filmed at Robot Dog on YouTube.

Snow is falling, bells are jingling — you know what time it is. And so do Vermont musicians! The wave of holiday shows and albums has started to roll in.

Kick off the festive month on Thursday, December 4, at Richmond Congregational Church with a performance from bluegrass and jazz act MR. SUN. The quartet, led by ace fiddler DAROL ANGER and mandolin virtuoso JOE K. WALSH, performs its interpretation of DUKE ELLINGTON’s interpretation of PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY’s The Nutcracker Suite. (Mr. Sun also recorded their version in 2023 at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Mass.) Check out valleystageproductions.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Burlington band EMALOU & THE BEAT have dropped an entire new holiday album titled Simple Things. Recorded live last year at Burlington’s Tank Recording Studio — on the winter solstice, no less — the record features classics such as “Let It Snow” and “White Christmas,” alongside originals and new arrangements of traditional tunes. The band celebrates the vinyl release of the record with two holiday shows: Friday, December 12, at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub and Friday, December 19, at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge in Burlington. Visit emaloumusic.wordpress.com to learn more.

BULL’S HEAD, the solo project of folk songwriter ANDY SAMARA, has a new EP out titled Joy to the World. The album

Eye on the Scene

Last week’s highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

THE DISCO BISCUITS, BERN GALLERY SMOKE SHOP IN BURLINGTON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20: Cannabis culture and the jam-band scene have always been intertwined — and the connection is stronger than ever since Vermont legalized recreational use. Exhibit A: Aquatic Ape, a live hash-rosin vape cartridge produced by Burlington’s Bern Legacy in collaboration with the prolific Philadelphia EDM/jam band the DISCO BISCUITS. The name derives from a song written by bassist and cofounder MARC BROWNSTEIN and pertains to the strain of cannabis used: GG4, aka Gorilla Glue. On a Thursday afternoon in late November, bookended by the band’s two-night run at South Burlington’s Higher Ground Ballroom, Brownstein, keyboardist ARON MAGNER and drummer MARLON B. LEWIS visited Bern Gallery Smoke Shop to celebrate the collab with fans. While attendees left the photo op with signed posters and huge smiles, band members left with bags filled with product. After that haul, I’m sure a very good second night was had by all, onstage and off.

features three traditional, public-domain holiday classics; BOB DYLAN’s “Must Be Santa”; and Samara’s own original yuletide composition, “Same Light as the Kings.”

“As a lukewarm fan of Christmas music, and hater of contemporary

Christmas originals, it feels fun to release this small collection,” Samara wrote in an email. He compiled the songs after recording them over the years as holiday gifts to friends. Give Joy to the World a listen at bullshead.bandcamp.com.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

of the follow-up to For the World , promising it won’t be another eight years before the next album drops.

The band plans to perform some of the new material alongside the album tracks at the Foam Brewers release. It’s not easy to find stages that fit a band as expansive as High Summer, though Racusin hopes finally having an album out will make booking shows easier for the outfit.

“It’s been a learning experience for me. I haven’t put a record out in a long time, and the industry has

WE’RE NOT REALLY A STUDIO BAND. WE’RE AN EIGHTPERSON BAND THAT WANTS TO GET A LIVE AUDIENCE MOVING.

JACOB DEVA RACUSIN

really, really changed,” he said with an exasperated laugh. “I’ve had to devote a lot of time that I’d usually spend writing music to getting a grip on social media and promotion.”

Now that the record is done and the release show is nigh, Racusin is ready for the next stage of the band’s evolution. With an album in tow and a bigger presence on the web, High Summer are ready to stop being Vermont’s best-kept secret and step into the sun. ➆

INFO

High Summer Album Release Show, Saturday, December 6, 8 p.m., at Foam Brewers in Burlington. Free. foambrewers.com

For the World is available at highsummervt.com and on major streaming services this Friday, December 5.

Aron Magner (left) blowing glass

On the Beat « P.57

Violet Crimes COURTESY

Cannabis Dispensary

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.3

Dead/Not Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $12.19.

Honeywell (jam, rock) at South Mountain Tavern, Bristol, 7 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

PORTTITOR, Via Brennan (emo) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

THU.4

AMPED! (rock) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. Donation.

Dan Parks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Evan Warner (singer-songwriter) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Jaded Ravins (Americana) at South Mountain Tavern, Bristol, 7 p.m. Free.

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Local Spotlight: Jane Boxall in Freeway Clyde (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7 p.m. $15/$20.

SPATTIK, Back Pocket Beer (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

FRI.5

The Balconiers (jazz, funk) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Clive (funk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. $10.

Dan Blakeslee’s Christmas Show (holiday music) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Fisher Wagg, the Eyetraps, the Leatherbound Books, Better Things (indie rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Halyard (funk, rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

Hullabaloo (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jamie Lee Thurston Christmas Party (country) at Village Café & Tavern, North Ferrisburgh, 7 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Band (blues) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8 p.m. Free.

Trash and Treasure

Native Vermonter and current western Massachusetts singer-songwriter and multi-multi-multi-instrumentalist Matt Lorenz has a knack for turning salvage into art with his project the SUITCASE JUNKET. He’s a one-man avant-garde sound wizard who can take discarded guitars found in dumpsters and a horde of homemade instruments and create a massive sound, throat-singing and all. Lorenz’s live shows are somewhere between a science experiment and a psych-rock rave-up. He returns to his home state with a show at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge in South Burlington on Saturday, December 6. Maine singer-songwriter LOUISA STANCIOFF opens.

Leddy Moss, A Band Called Sundown (indie folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10. Lixx (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Madaila (indie pop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Mean Waltons (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free. Moon Hollow, Morrissey Blvd, Clay Pigeons (Americana, folk) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $15/$20.

The Moore Brothers (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

The Natural Selection (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

The Rustics (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free. Satyrdagg, COOP (jazz, folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Sed One, I Rhymes, DJ Kanga (hip-hop) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone Band (blues, rock) at Moogs Joint, Johnson, 7 p.m. Free.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free. Strange Synth Night (electronic) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10.

Too Many Zooz, Muscle Tough (dance, jazz) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $32.06.

Tropidelic, the Quasi Kings, the Palmer Squares (reggae, rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.

TURNmusic Presents RayVegaQuARTet (live music) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30.

Western Skies (folk rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

The Zajac Brothers (the Band tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $41.11/$46/28.

SAT.6

Acid Wash, Soundhound (jam) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10.

Burton Stonerook (country) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Charlie Mayne, Mysunderstood, Maari (hip-hop) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10.

Diamond Special (rock) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Emily Darcy (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Evan Warner (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

HiFi (electronic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

High Summer (soul, jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Jatoba, Armchair Boogie (jam, bluegrass) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $25/$31.

Jensen Alley, Rose Asteroid (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10.

Joe Agnello & Friends (jam, rock) at the Bullwheel Bar, Jay, 4 p.m. Free.

Josh Panda (singer-songwriter) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

Just Me (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Magnetic Horse (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Michael Tarbox and Wojcicki (blues, roots) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 7 p.m. $20.

Moondogs, Guess Method, DJ Taka (rock, DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Morrissey Blvd, Comatose Kids (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Organ Fairchild (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $12.19.

Pink Talking Fish, Strange Machines (tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $32.06.

The Pyros, Remi Russin (indie rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

The Ruminations (indie) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Small Change: A Tribute to Tom Waits (Tom Waits tribute) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

The Suitcase Junket, Louisa Stancioff (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $19.84.

Vermont Blues Society Annual Meeting & Concert (blues) at the Double E Lounge at Essex Experience, 6 p.m. $26.50.

Zach Nugent’s Dead Set (Grateful Dead tribute) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.7

The Besnard Lakes, Gold Dust (indie rock) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 6 p.m. $20/$26. Great Lake Swimmers, Abe Partridge (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $32.06.

Mary Ester Carter (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Mephiskapheles, Tsunamibots (ska) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Murray’s Law (jam) at Double E Performance Center’s T-Rex Theater, Essex, 8 p.m. $24.39. Rock and Roll Playhouse: Music of the Grateful Dead & More (kids, Grateful Dead tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 11 a.m. $20.88. Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free. Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m. Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

TUE.9

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. Bruce Sklar and the Sklarkestra (jazz, funk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free. Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Pony Hustle (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. Joseph Terrell, Jordan Tice (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $12/$15.

WED.10

Four Calling Birds (folk) at the Tillerman, Bristol, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

SAT.6 // THE SUITCASE JUNKET [INDIE]

music+nightlife

live music

WED.10 CONTINUED FROM P.61

Mike Chapman (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Perry Donovan & Friends (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

djs

THU.4

JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

MEGH, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.5

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.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

SAT.6

DJ Ara$, Mr Cheng (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Kanganade (DJ) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. Free.

DJ NewCity (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Dusk (DJ) at Tunnel Books, St. Johnsbury, 4:42 p.m. Free.

Kate Kush (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10.

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

TUE.9

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.3

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.

THU.4

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m. Free.

SUN.7 // MEPHISKAPHELES [SKA]

Devil Horns

What do you get when you cross Satan with a horn section and a pair of Vans? None other than New York City ska band MEPHISKAPHELES. Skanking their way out of the East Village scene in the early ’90s, they’ve remained a force in the punk and ska scenes with songs such as “Demon Weed” and “Satan on the Beach.” If you like your trombone with a side of pentagram, Mephiskapheles might be the Faustian deal you’re looking for. They play on Sunday, December 7, at Afterthoughts in Waitsfield. Vermont surf-rock androids the TSUNAMIBOTS provide support.

FRI.5

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.7

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.8

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free. Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.9

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.10

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.3

Santa Babies (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $6.99. Standup Open Mic (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.4

Live, Laugh, Lava: A Comedy Showcase (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Strapped-In: A Queer Comedy Showcase (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15.

What Else, What Else? (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.5

Comedy Night — Open Mic (comedy) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 8 p.m. Free.

Dulcé Sloan (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

Improv Comedy Night with the Kingdom Kids (comedy) at Gary Library, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. $15. Morgan Jay (comedy) at Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $32-$53.

Rusty DeWees: THE LOGGER – A Holiday Show to Benefit Jenna’s Promise (benefit) at Jenna’s House, Johnson, 6:30 p.m. $30. Wit & Wine Comedy Night (comedy) at Shelburne Vineyard, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.6

Dulcé Sloan (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

SUN.7

Drag Brunch (drag) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 11 a.m. $22.99.

TUE.9

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.10

Holidaygasm Party (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Valley Improv Holiday Extravaganza (comedy) at Sawtooth Kitchen, Bar and Stage, Hanover, N.H., 8 p.m. $10.

karaoke, etc.

WED.3

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 Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.4

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.5

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.6

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.7

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.8

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday (trivia) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia with Brain (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.9

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.10

Citizen Cider Trivia Night (trivia) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

Ratland, Three Cheers for the Unqualiﬁed

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

It likely won’t shock anyone to know that, statistically, Gen Z shows less conﬁdence than previous generations. A recent study by health care provider Cigna revealed that while 48 percent of American adults rated their mental health as “good,” only 33 percent of Gen Zers surveyed felt they were doing OK. Planet’s cooked, fam.

Ratland released their debut the year after completing a monthlong residency at Radio Bean. To celebrate their run at the Burlington club, they created a mini documentary of the experience called “Ratland: The Movie,” in which Lussier and Jarecki’s adorable chemistry is on full display, from tender onstage hugs to scenes of them interacting with the band’s dog mascot, Otis, whom the record immortalizes with the song “Little Man Dressed as a Dog.”

For those reading and muttering, “Yeah, no shit, Sherlock,” I’m sure we could collectively list reasons for the drop in generational rizz. But I’d rather take a page from Burlington folk duo Ratland, whose debut LP, Three Cheers for the Unqualiﬁed, serves as a warm, encouraging hug.

Featuring songwriters and selfdescribed best friends Bobby Lussier and Jasper Jarecki, the band gets right to it, opening the album with a title track that reaches out with a steadying hand.

The ﬁlm perfectly captures the resolute optimism of Ratland and their folk-pop songs, with stirring performances of album tracks, onstage comedy skits and scenes of the band’s fans expressing their appreciation. It’s one big tender love-in, much like the record. And while Gen Xers like myself have blackened little hearts, su used with cynicism and the pointless urge to sco at real emotion, Ratland’s aggressive positivity on Three Cheers for the Unqualiﬁed doesn’t come across as contrived or even sappy to my jaded sensibilities.

“Our eyes get bloodshot with the doubt / that we’ll never be what’s right / it’s time to clear all that shit out and ﬁnd the light,” Jarecki sings over a gentle acoustic arrangement. “You’re good enough, you’re tall enough, / you’re fast enough to live, to hide, to thrive.”

That shot of folk serotonin runs through the 11 tracks, a feel-good vibe that sends an amorphous message of self-acceptance and self-love. Even on “The Fabled Glory Finish Line,” a tune that questions the nature of commitment while taking a hard look at a failed relationship, Ratland aren’t moping. It’s a song about accepting faults and moving on, with the telling line “Shouting to myself that good love’s not a waste of time / we all just want to come alive.”

Perhaps it’s because the band presents its idea of love and companionship without any qualiﬁers; no one on the album demands love or laments its lack as some sort of tragedy. Love exists. It’s there for you; grab it or don’t. (But Ratland really think you ought to do it, guys.)

Just listen to them on the album’s coda, “We’re Just Glad to Be Loved by You,” which is almost a thesis for the record. “All my friends are at my door, / singing a song I’ve heard before,” the song goes. “Nobody’s mad and we’re all in tune / Singing, ‘We’re just glad to be loved by you.’”

Three Cheers for the Unqualiﬁed is available at ratlandtheband.bandcamp. com. “Ratland: The Movie” can be seen on YouTube.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Job of theWeek PRODUCTION TEAM MEMBER

What are some speciﬁc challenges of this position, and why is it important?

e Sunset Lake Cannabis Production Team is responsible for crafting and packaging a wide variety of products with our sun-grown cannabis, from prerolls and hand-trimmed ﬂower to topicals and vape carts. Working with natural materials means adjusting to variations in ingredients and following our comprehensive SOPs to ensure product consistency from batch to batch. Although production tasks can be repetitive, that structure creates a lowerstress work environment and offers a variety of tasks from day to day.

Tell us something completely unique or interesting about working for Sunset Lake Cannabis?

Sunset Lake is a farmer-owned company that prioritizes sustainability. As Vermont’s first Climate Neutral Certified cannabis farm, we use sustainable, regenerative agriculture techniques. Sustainability also extends to our workers: We start workers at $22 per hour and offer 401k eligibility after one year. Cannabis is a truly versatile plant and can offer a wide range of experiences, from having fun with friends to tapping into natural creativity to a variety of therapeutic uses. It can be inhaled, consumed or used topically to achieve your desired goals. Seeing products all the way through from seeds to finished products on display at Vermont’s best dispensaries is a rewarding experience. Producing a wide variety of products and splitting work between our production facility and the fields during harvest means you won’t get bored. Plus we offer free product samples and a generous employee discount at our dispensary, Lake Effect Vermont!

Apply for this great local job and many more: jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Sunset Lake Cannabis

Get the scoop from Kelly Duignan, Director of Operations at Sunset Lake Cannabis

YOUTH TALENT SHOW FOR VERMONT’S RISING STARS

December 6, 2025

NOON, HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT

Introducing

THESPECTACULAR

This year, we welcome some of Vermont’s most talented young performers to Higher Ground. Seven Days and Kids VT received more than 40 auditions, and the show’s lineup is very exciting!

The performers, ages 7 to 16, have many talents, from singing and dancing to demonstrating yo-yo tricks — the ﬁrstever act of its kind in the Spectacular Spectacular’s 11-year history!

Scan this QR code to buy tickets at highergroundmusic.com.

1. Malhar Zach Sengupta 11, South Burlington

Performing standup comedy

2. Jenna Sweeney 14, Georgia

Singing an original song, “Merry Christmas From Me”

3. Lindy Moynihan 9, Underhill

Performing a lyrical dance to the song “Surrender” by Natalie Taylor

4. Alyce Ayer 12, Bolton Valley

Performing “Riptide” by Vance Joy

5. Yvette Shedrick 11, Waterbury

Singing “Death of the Invader” from Princess Ida

6. Henry Leitz 12, Jericho

Performing a guitar solo

7. Uliana Alekhina 9, Vergennes

Singing “Snowman” by Sia

8. Adim Benoit 13, Montpelier

Playing “Piano Man” by Billy Joel on the piano

9. Grace Castillo 10, Jericho

Singing “Taco’s Tirade” by Inanimate Insanity

10. Ella Twiggs

11, Shelburne

Performing on the piano

11. Violet Chamberlin

12, Colchester

Performing an original spoken-word piece

12. Lily Ryersbach

16, Starksboro

Singing “Zombie” by the Cranberries

13. Eva Tarrant

14, South Burlington

Singing an original song, “Georgie”

14. Julian Trahan

15, Colchester

Performing a guitar solo

15. Lila Crowley

13, Middlesex

Singing “Shy” from Once Upon a Mattress

16 & 17. The Amazing Dual Bow Duo

Amelia Quante, 12, Underhill

Jax Washburn, 12, Jericho

Performing “Dragonhunter” by Richard Meyer on cello and bass

18. Molly McCarthy

13, St. Albans

Singing an original song, “Still Enough”

19. Theophilus Parkinson

7, Burlington

Performing y o-yo tricks

20. Polina Alekhina

13, Vergennes

Singing “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia

21. Poutine

a band from Shelburne featuring Eli Bart, 15

Jack Blazawicz, 14

Frank D’Amore, 14

Thomas Schramm, 15

Performing an original song, “Returns”

calendar

DECEMBER 3-10, 2025

WED.3

activism

2026 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: VERMONT’S CREATIVE SECTOR ADVOCACY PRIORITIES: Community members join arts and culture leaders for a morning exploring policy insights and priorities, offering a road map for the year ahead. 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 828-3291.

COTS PHONATHON: Volunteers lend a hand with the nonprofit’s longrunning fundraising effort, which supports half of its annual budget. 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 864-7402.

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Neighbors gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

agriculture

FARMER SUPPORT

WEBINAR SERIES: VERMONT HEALTH CONNECT

ENROLLMENT: Reps from the Office of the Health Care Advocate review health insurance options — including Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur eligibility — then answer questions to help navigate

enrollment. Hosted by Rural Vermont & NOFA-VT. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 419-0056.

bazaars

LOCAL ARTISAN & MERCHANT

MARKET: Shoppers sip and snack their way through an eclectic bazaar, made merrier by WhistlePig drink specials and food by Vermont chef Matt Folts. Last Stop Sports Bar, Winooski, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, laststopvt@gmail.com. business

VERMONT

WOMENPRENEURS BIZ

BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 870-0903‬.

crafts

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 999-0516.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3780.

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.

STUDENT ART AUCTION:

Drawings, paintings, photographs, ceramics and other creations go on sale to benefit the students. Vermont State University-Johnson. Free. Info, 888-398-8878.

WINTER CELEBRATION: The Vermont Council on World Affairs lets loose at a public, catered reception complete with guest speakers and a silent auction. Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 557-0018.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: A pop-up artisan holiday market, puppet shows, tea parties, festive storefront window displays and tiny treats at restaurants make for a memorable monthlong fest. See brattleboro.com for full schedule. Various Brattleboro locations. Free. Info, coordinator@ brattleboro.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Listings and spotlights are written by Rebecca Driscoll Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET:

Festive folks flock to a one-stop gift destination featuring handmade jewelry, ceramics, paintings, fiber arts and household goods. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 728-9878, ext. 104.

BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: A European-style outdoor market boasts handmade crafts and gifts, music, twinkling lights, spicy sausage sandwiches, hot mulled wine, and live performances. Green Park, Brandon, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 805-242-6875.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: A week of holiday fun features such delights as a fancy gala and the Running of the Bells race. See vtfestivaloftrees.com for full schedule. Various St. Albans locations. Free; fee for some activities. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@ gmail.com.

HOLIDAY ART MARKET: Shoppers sip award-winning IPAs while browsing unique wares made by local artists at this intimate market replete with a cozy vinyl DJ set. Red Clover Ale, Brandon, 4-9 p.m. Free. Info, 465-8412.

‘SENTIMENTAL VALUE’:

Joachim Trier’s 2025 showbiz drama explores the reconciliatory power of art. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art. film

See what’s playing in the On Screen section. music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

listeners in a festive mood with “A Guaraldi Holiday,” highlighting the beloved works of composer Vince Guaraldi. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7-9 p.m. $5-30. Info, 443-6433.

ROOMFUL OF TEETH: A Grammy Award-winning vocal project mines the potential of the human voice. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $38.71-58.50. Info, 760-4634.

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.

STUDENT RECITALS: Music undergrads assume the spotlight for solos, duets and group performances, spanning genres from classical to jazz. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040. québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: This five-time Tony Award-winning musical follows a teenager with a rare condition who endeavors to make sense of her family life and romantic relationships. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 1 & 7:30 p.m. $75-80. Info, 514-739-7944.

‘KISSES DEEP’: A young man consumed by high fashion channels his creativity and obsession into a singular mission — to restore the tarnished reputation of his mother — in the English premiere of Michel Marc Bouchard’s poignant play. Centaur Theatre, Montréal, noon. $22-71. Info, 514-288-3161.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR & FOOD DRIVE: The school’s staff council hosts more than 40 vendors made up of faculty, alumni, retirees and students. Donations benefit Feeding Champlain Valley and Rally Cat’s Cupboard. Grand Maple Ballroom, Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 656-4493.

RECYCLED WREATH MAKING: Crafty creators use repurposed books and other materials to construct an eco-friendly holiday adornment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

language

ELL CLASSES: Fletcher Free Library invites learners of all abilities to practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

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

ISAIAH J. THOMPSON TRIO: An award-winning jazz pianist gets

THU.4

activism

COTS PHONATHON: See WED.3. CREATIVES AT THE TABLE: GETTING INVOLVED IN LOCAL & STATE GOVERNMENT: A panel workshop brings together current and former legislators with deep roots in the arts for a conversation about pathways to public service. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 828-3291.

WORLD AIDS DAY: A performance by certified chiropractic neurologist and singer-songwriter Dr. Taronte Venable closes out an allday program engaging neighbors in understanding, compassion and hope. A 12-by-12-foot section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display from noon to 8 p.m. Rockingham Free Public Library, Bellows Falls, 6:15 p.m. Free. Info, bellowsfallspride@gmail.com.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: All ages and abilities knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of every experience level get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to makerspace tools and equipment. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.

environment

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

words

ALAN WEISMAN: An awardwinning environmental journalist dives into his new book, Hope Dies Last, in conversation with professor Rachelle Gould. University of Vermont Alumni House, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0802.

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: Wordsmiths who delight in nonfiction convene for company, accountability and support in achieving their writing goals. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, nathaniel.eisen@gmail.com.

JUDITH ENCK: The founder and president of Beyond Plastics shares her new book, The Problem With Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late, in conversation with professor David Bond. Bennington College, 7 p.m. Free. Info, beyondplastics@bennington.edu.

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-2345. etc.

NIGHT OWL CLUB: Astronomers and space exploration experts discuss the latest in extraterrestrial news with curious attendees. Presented by Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372.

PARTIZANFILM OPEN HOUSE: Burlington’s newest movie theater opens its doors to the public for the first time, offering light refreshments and a glimpse into its freshly constructed auditoriums. Ticketed film screenings follow. Partizanfilm, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, cinema@ partizanfilm.org.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3. film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘GONE GUYS’: The eye-opening documentary spotlighting the struggles of young men draws on Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 nonfiction book, Of Boys and Men. A panel discussion follows. Peoples Academy, Morrisville, 6 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 888-4600.

HIRSCHFIELD INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES: ‘MEMORY OF PRINCESS MUMBI’: Damien Hauser’s stirring 2025 sci-fi drama explores what life looks like in 2093 after a war bans modern tech. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 443-6433.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: Footage of paleontological digs from around the globe tells a compelling story of scientists working as detectives to answer questions about an ancient and mysterious ocean world. Dealer. com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SENTIMENTAL VALUE’: See WED.3.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Astrophiles witness history in the making — from launching rockets without fuel to building the Lunar Gateway — in this 2024 documentary narrated by Chris Pine. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain,

Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523. CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all abilities select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 233-4395.

MAHJONG PLAYING GROUP: Cracks, dots or bamboo? Neighbors engage in the tile-based game of skill, luck and strategy. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 985-5124.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

health & fitness COMMUNITY

MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion guides attendees in a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, andreamarion193@gmail.com.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.3.

CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR!: Audience members turn into performers at “Un-Silent Night: An Epic Holiday Sing-Along,” a fully interactive, participatory show to remember. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $38.71-53.15. Info, 760-4634.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Ebenezer Scrooge encounters a trio of

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun

• Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

DEC. 4 | WORDS

ghosts in Weston Theater’s reimagined version of the classic Charles Dickens tale, complete with audience participation and live music. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 824-8167.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.3. 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.

MR. SUN: A roots music supergroup calls upon Duke Ellington’s reinterpretation of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite for inspiration at this wildly inventive string performance. Richmond Congregational Church, 7-9 p.m. $20-30. Info, 557-7589.

NOONTIME ADVENT CONCERT: Joyful Christmas compositions by César Franck, Marcel Dupré and Andrew Carter ring out on an 1875 pipe organ, played by church music director Robert Ludwig. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Middlebury, 12:15 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7200.

WINOOSKI HOLIDAY POP-UP

SHOP: Onion City shoppers channel the spirit of the season with drink specials, live music and tastings. Downtown Winooski, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, info@ downtownwinooski.org.

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.

The Page Master

It’s no secret that we love a good page-turner — and even more so when it’s born from the imagination of Vermont author and Seven Days film critic Margot Harrison. Bibliophiles book it to Phoenix Books in Burlington for the launch of her new work of magical realism, The Library of Fates, where romance, fantasy and fate take center page. The Vermont Book Award finalist opens up in an illuminating dialogue with local “bookstagrammer” Via Reads, unfurling the many mysteries of the mesmerizing tale. Find out why USA Today best-selling author Jesse Q. Sutanto dubs the novel “an utter delight.”

MARGOT HARRISON

Thursday, December 4, 7 p.m., at Phoenix Books in Burlington. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350, phoenixbooks.biz.

WED.3 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: Museumgoers embark on an immersive journey to create stories using techniques such as storyboarding, sketching and stop-motion moviemaking. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring

interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

LIBRARY LITTLES: A weekly program brings babies, toddlers and their caregivers together for songs, stories, play and community building in a nurturing environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

QUEER FAMILY PLAYGROUP: LGBTQ+ families and allies with little tykes ages

birth to 5 drop in for playtime and connection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: Let the search begin! Participants pick up sticker boards at Homeport, then explore participating businesses to find hidden flakes. Santa ornament prizes available while supplies last. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

STEAM SPACE: Youngsters in grades K through 5 explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

MANDARIN CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TEEN DROP-IN: Patrons ages 12 to 18 pop by to chat with teen services librarian Miriasha, play card and board games, and build community. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

THERAPY DOG MICK VISIT: An English setter registered with Therapy Dogs of Vermont doles out companionship, acceptance and unconditional love. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

Margot Harrison

lgbtq

POP-UP HAPPY HOUR: Locals connect over drinks at a speakeasy-style bar, hosted by OUT in the 802. Lincolns, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

music

FLOW SINGING: Singers both new and seasoned intertwine music and mindfulness while learning a sequence of five or six songs by ear. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, patricia@juneberrymusic.com.

JAZZ GUITAR ENSEMBLE & POST

BOP ENSEMBLE: Joe Capps and Ray Vega conduct the students in lively works by Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Garrett and Charles Mingus. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

JON MCBRIDE’S BIG EASY: The New Orleans swing played by the high-energy, genre-busting band gets listeners groovin’ on the dance floor. College Hall Chapel, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 7-10 p.m. $20. Info, 798-6717.

québec

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.3, 8 p.m. talks

HEALING COMMUNITIES TO HEAL THE WORLD SERIES: ‘HEALING AFTER AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN’: Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Center for Justice Reform hosts a virtual discussion about what happens when communities lose their industry and identity. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 847-529-1724.

theater

‘THE JOURNEY OF THE SAINT’: Olga Sanchez Saltveit’s directs César de Maria’s rollicking adventure filled with deception and mystery, told by a traveling theatre troupe. A talk-back follows Friday’s performance. Wright Memorial Theatre, Middlebury

College, 7:30-9 p.m. $5-15. Info, boxoffice@middlebury.edu.

‘PETER & WENDY’: Northern Stage mounts a fresh new adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s beloved Peter Pan, guiding audiences on an unforgettable journey to Neverland. See calendar spotlight. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $10-100. Info, 296-7000.

‘SPIKE HEELS’: A volatile young woman, a smooth-talking lawyer, a neurotic writer and his elusive fiancée punctuate Theresa Rebeck’s romantic dramedy exploring themes of sexual harassment, love and loyalty. Hepburn Zoo, Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College, 7-9 p.m. $5. Info, 443-6433.

words

MARGOT HARRISON: A beloved Vermont author launches The Library of Fates, her mesmerizing new novel in which romance, fantasy and books intertwine, in conversation with local “bookstagrammer” Via Reads. See calendar spotlight. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

FRI.5

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.

etc.

THE JAMMY AWARDS: Locals don their classiest paJAMas at this annual end-of-year celebration for the media center. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688. STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3.

OPENS DEC. 4 | THEATER

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

“All children, except one, grow up,” begins J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, an ageless tale that has captured the hearts and minds of readers for more than a century. Northern Stage maintains that magic with its soaring production of Peter & Wendy at Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction. The fresh stage adaptation — reimagined and directed by theater ace Eric Love — takes audiences on an unforgettable journey to Neverland, where whimsy and wonder await. Professional actors and local talent bring to life Barrie’s beloved characters in what Love calls “a version that feels timeless but also alive in the here and now.”

‘PETER & WENDY’

Thursday, December 4, and Friday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 6, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 7, 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, December 10, 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., at Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, in White River Junction. See website for additional dates through January 1. $10-100. Info, 296-7000, northernstage.org.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.4.

‘KISS ME DEADLY’: A doomed hitchhiker stirs up a deadly whirlpool of intrigue in Robert Aldrich’s 1955 sci-fi masterpiece. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.4.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.4.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.4.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.4, 10 a.m.

GAME NIGHT: Players drop in for some friendly competition with fun-filled board and video games using the center’s consoles. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

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: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691. holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.3.

DECEMBER 17 & 24 ISSUES

Per holiday tradition, Seven Days will not be published December 31, 2025. e ﬁrst issue of 2026 will be published on January 7.

Submit your event listings early!

Events taking place December 17January 7 must be submitted no later than Tuesday, December 9, at noon at: sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Deadline for classiﬁeds, classes & jobs: Monday at 3 p.m., 12/15 (in print only) sevendaysvt.com/classiﬁeds

Deadline for retail advertising: Friday noon, 12/12 802-864-5684, sales@sevendaysvt.com

BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: See WED.3, 4-7 p.m.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON:

Downtown transforms into a winter wonderland when shops stay open late, local businesses offer giveaways and raffles, and succulent smells fill the air. Various Hanover locations, N.H., 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 603-448-1203.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Middlebury Acting Company brings Charles Dickens’ socially conscious, heartwarming story of redemption and community to life. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. By donation. Info, 382-9222.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC NIGHT: Neighbors come together for festive songs, readings and refreshments to usher in the spirit of the season. United Reformed Church, New Haven, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 877-2486.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.3.

FESTIVE FRIDAY: JINGLE & MINGLE: Shoppers stroll the marketplace to check out festive window displays and vote for their favorites. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.4.

GALA EN BLANC: A whitehot evening celebrates the season with delicious appetizers, cocktails and mocktails, gambling for charity, and live music and dancing. St. Albans City Hall, 6-11 p.m. $40-70. Info, vtfestivaloftrees@gmail.com.

JOHN DOYLE & CATHIE RYAN:

In “An Irish Christmas,” two of Ireland’s most beloved musicians share songs, stories and memories from the Emerald Isle. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10-28. Info, 387-0102.

NORTH COUNTRY CHORUS: Accompanied by a chamber ensemble, the 80-member vocal group lifts spirits with George Frideric Handel’s timeless oratorio Messiah. Wells River Congregational Church, 7:30 p.m. By donation. Info, president@ northcountrychorus.org.

POSTCARD CLUB: A new holiday tradition invites folks to slow down and create some handcrafted snail mail joy. Completed postcards will be stamped and mailed to loved ones. Daydream Art Supply, Burlington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

‘SCROOGE’S CHRISTMAS’: The Lamoille County Players’ 73rd season concludes with Ken Jones’ adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale of spirits past, present and future. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 888-4507.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS IN STOWE: A weekend of magical festivities includes a children’s lantern parade, a Santa stroll and a charming marketplace. Various Stowe locations, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 730-3573.

VERMONT PHILHARMONIC: Listeners get into the holiday spirit with part one of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah oratorio, ending with the iconic “Hallelujah Chorus.” St. Augustine Church, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $5-25. Info, 223-9855.

WESTON WINTER CABARET: Former troupe members take to the stage for a spirited seasonal spectacular to benefit the Weston Young Company. BYOB. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 7 p.m. $29-59. Info, 824-5288.

‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’: Two World War II veterans move their songand-dance act to Vermont to win over a pair of sisters in this 1954 holiday classic starring Bing Crosby. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. $810. Info, 457-3500.

WINTER FAIR: A European-style bazaar highlights handcrafted items from local makers, as well as crafts, activities, games and live music. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2827.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.4.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

Happy Humbug

DEC. 7 | HOLIDAYS

music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 747-8300.

LANE SERIES: UTE LEMPER: Billed as the world’s greatest living interpreter of Weimar cabaret, the singer makes a rare “small hall” appearance honoring Kurt Weill on the 125th anniversary of his birth year. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5-40. Info, 656-4455.

québec

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.3, 8 p.m.

sports

MIDDLEBURY MEN’S ICE HOCKEY:

A community celebration honors Addison County police, fire and emergency services personnel with touch-a-truck opportunities, meet and greets, free ice cream, and raffles. A Panthers matchup against Amherst College completes the evening. Kenyon Arena,

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

Breakthrough ketamine-assisted therapy for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain, offering relief even when standard treatments don’t work.

“Christmas is my time to howl,” Yankee storyteller Willem Lange declares. At 90 years young, the author, media personality and all-around local treasure continues to deliver holiday cheer at Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier with his inimitable telling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story. This year’s performance marks half a century of the annual tradition — unbroken even by the pandemic, when a virtual version kept the train going. Lange’s love for the enduring tale of redemption and community shines through every beat of the spirited production, which the raconteur hopes to share for many winters to come.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY’ Sunday, December 7, 2 p.m., at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. $10-20. Info, 229-0492, lostnationtheater.org.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

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

Willem Lange

Middlebury College, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, joephasideas@gmail.com.

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

‘BROADWAY DIRECT 20TH

ANNIVERSARY SHOW’: Big-city talent meets a little-city stage in this annual favorite showcasing high-octane hits from the Great White Way. Vergennes Congregational Church, 7 p.m. $10-20. Info, 877-6737.

‘THE JOURNEY OF THE SAINT’: See THU.4.

‘PETER & WENDY’: See THU.4. ‘SPIKE HEELS’: See THU.4, 7-9 & 10-11:30 p.m.

SAT.6

bazaars

GOOD TRADE MAKERS MARKET: Shoppers delight in a marketplace featuring more than 90 small businesses from across the country. Hula, Burlington, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $8. Info, hello@ goodtrademakersmarket.com.

community

RIVER OF LIGHT LANTERN

PARADE: Live music by local acts keeps the beat during a lantern-lit procession through town, culminating in a bonfire,

tasty treats and entertainment. Various Waterbury locations, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 363-3404.

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

dance

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.

‘I LOVE WHAT YOU’RE DOING’: The sixth edition of this unique and

informal evening of dance features premieres, excerpts, works in progress and live explorations in various styles. A Q&A follows. Dance and Movement Center, Barre, 7-8:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, revelingemma@ gmail.com.

etc.

CELEBRATING THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Panthers host a communityfocused evening featuring opportunities for fans to learn about local programs, meet representatives and take part in activities. Kenyon Arena, Middlebury College, 6:30-9 p.m. Free; donations of canned goods and winter clothing accepted. Info, joephasideas@gmail.com.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.4.

MET OPERA IN HD: ‘THE MAGIC FLUTE’: The Metropolitan Opera’s colorful, kaleidoscopic 2006 production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s masterpiece returns for an encore on the silver screen.

Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1-3 p.m. $10-22. Info, 603-646-2422.

‘THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER’: A fanatical serial killer hoodwinks a widow into helping him find a stashed windfall in this lyrical 1955 film noir. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 3-4:35 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.4. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.4.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.4.

‘TOUCH OF EVIL’: Orson Welles’ 1958 noir thriller follows a Mexican official who is targeted in a Texas border town by the crime family he’s trying to put behind bars. The Screening

calendar

FAMI LY FU N

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Infants and their caregivers enjoy a slow, soothing story featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

GAME ON: Kids take turns collaborating with or competing against friends using Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

READ TO A DOG: Bookworms of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Emma the therapy pup. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sbplkids@ southburlingtonvt.gov.

barre/montpelier

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

TWEEN GROUP: A new program for queer and gender-creative youths ages 10 to 12 offers space to make new friends, participate in fun activities and build community. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 865-9677.

chittenden county

LEGO FUN: Kids relax and tap into their imagination while building creations that will be displayed at the library. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: Little ones and their caregivers use song and dance to explore the changing seasons and celebrate everyday joys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

FRI.5 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.3.

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.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

chittenden county

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

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.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

THU.4

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.3. BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

STORY TIME: Little ones ages 2 to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos under 4 to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP: Blocks, toys, books and songs engage little ones 24 months and younger. Waterbury Public

MUSIC TIME: Little patrons ages birth to 5 sing and dance with legendary local musician Linda Bassick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TEEN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Students in grades 6 to 12 participate in a rapid-fire, shootand-edit showcase. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

mad river valley/ waterbury

DINNER WITH KEKLA MAGOON: An acclaimed Vermont author reads from her New York Times best-selling book The Secret Library followed by a delicious meal

Author Ken Jones - Produced by special arrangement with Heuer Publishing LLC of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

and conversation about her writing process. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, inklingschildrensbooks@ gmail.com.

middlebury area

FAMILY FULL MOON HIKE: Adventurers grab a headlamp and join an after-dark exploration of the trails to learn more about nocturnal animals, followed by a fun-filled story time with hot cocoa and snacks. Recommended for kids ages 4 to 8. Salisbury Mills Preserve, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-1007.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME:

Youngsters and their caregivers delight in beautiful books, silly songs, creative crafts and unplugged play in the library’s cozy children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

outside vermont

‘WATER FOR ELEPHANTS’: Lebanon High School’s Wet Paint Players raise the curtain on a musical adaptation of the beloved tale about a young veterinary student who joins the circus. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. $5-10 suggested donation. Info, 603-448-0400.

SAT.6

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.3.

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: A range of themes and rotating activities promote school readiness and foster creativity. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SANTA VISITS: Little ones tell the big man their Christmas wishes, then pose for festive photo ops. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

chittenden county

SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR: Budding young comedians, singers, dancers and magicians perform their hearts out at a live talent show hosted by Kids VT. Higher Ground

Ballroom, South Burlington, noon-2 p.m. $7. Info, 652-0777.

TOY SWAP: Families save money on holiday shopping and find like-new treasures for the whole family. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9 a.m.4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

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, noon-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.

middlebury area

MUSEUM OF THE MULTIVERSE: ‘INSECTS!’: Middlebury College entomology students invite costumed visitors to interact with live bugs, ask questions, play games and collect prizes. McCardell Bicentennial Hall, Middlebury College, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, gpask@middlebury.edu.

WINTER FESTIVAL

FUNDRAISER: A fun and festive evening featuring a pasta bar, a silent auction, magic by Tom Joyce and live tunes by Remember Baker raises funds for the Bristol Elementary Class of 2032. Holley Hall, Bristol, 4-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, besclassof2032@gmail.com.

upper valley

GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL: A joy-filled day of cookie decorating, kids’ activities and handcrafted holiday houses made by local volunteers beckons merrymakers of all ages. Proceeds benefit the Family Place. Tracy Hall, Norwich, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 649-3268.

HO-LED-DAY STUDIO: Kiddos ages 5 and up craft an ornament and then make it dazzle with the power of electricity. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $5. Info, 649-2200.

outside vermont

‘WATER FOR ELEPHANTS’: See FRI.5.

COOKIE SWAP CONTEST: Holiday tunes by the Grace Wallace Quartet set the tone for crafting edible masterpieces fit for the season. Top of the Hop, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College,

Hanover N.H., noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2422.

SUN.7 burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE

MONSTER’: See WED.3.

‘ORCHESTRAPALOOZA’: Gifted musicians of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association’s three ensembles perform holiday masterpieces spanning classical to contemporary, including favorites from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 4 p.m. $21-24. Info, 863-5966.

BANNED TOGETHER:

Celebrate your freedom to read! Teens and tweens ages 10 to 14 chat about their favorite banned books — or anything else they’re reading. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

KIDS TRAIN: All aboard the Big Blue Express! Kids and kids at heart take a trip around the top block’s towering tree. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-1648.

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.

SANTA VISITS: See SAT.6.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

chittenden county

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:302:30 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

mad river valley/ waterbury

GEORGE WOODARD: A Vermont filmmaker and author reads The Christmas Calf, his book about a young boy helping a baby cow at midnight on Christmas Eve. A holiday craft follows. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 496-7280.

upper valley

HO-LED-DAY STUDIO: See SAT.6.

outside vermont

‘WATER FOR ELEPHANTS’: See FRI.5, 1 p.m.

» P.76

Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

Learn

game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

holidays

‘WOMEN OF TIBET: THE GREAT MOTHER’: Tibetan Association of Vermont hosts a community-building screening of Rosemary Rawcliffe’s documentary film about the mother of the 14th Dalai Lama. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, tibetanassociationvermont@ gmail.com.

‘AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS’: The Nativity story is told from the perspective of the common people in this annual holiday tradition mounted by Opera Vermont. Brandon Congregational Church, 5 & 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 772-5601.

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.3.

CÒIG: SOLD OUT. A Nova Scotian folk quartet presents “A Cape Breton Christmas,” showcasing holiday music with lively instrumentals and stirring vocals. First Congregational Church, Lebanon, N.H., 7:30 p.m. Info, 603-448-0400.

‘A CELTIC CHRISTMAS WITH CASSIE AND MAGGIE’: A Canadian sibling duo performs classic holiday hymns with a twist, ancient carols and an ode to Vixen, Santa’s most mysterious reindeer. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7-9 p.m. $10-45. Info, 728-9878.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES LAUNCH: The 16th annual season kicks off with a double screening of La Liga and Stories to Save Us: The Saltmarsh Sparrow — two powerful short films that highlight the vision of local storytellers. A Q&A follows Saturday’s screening. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 3 p.m. $12-15. Info, 457-2355.

food & drink

INNDULGENCE TOUR: Country inns invite foodies to taste their way through the Okemo Valley, sampling everything from savory pies and homemade soups to decadent chocolate cake. Various southern Vermont locations. Various prices. Info, 228-5830.

games

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of

FAMI LY FU N

MON.8

burlington

n t .

G a s a n d g r o c e r y g i f t c a r d s a r e

i n h i g h d e m a n d , a n d e v e r y g i f t m a k e s a d i f

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.3.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

STORY ARTISTS: Wee ones ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers read a selection of books by a featured author, then make art inspired by the theme. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

POKÉMON CLUB: Players trade cards and enjoy activities centered on their favorite

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: Thirteen makers display their unique wares and get seasonal shoppers in the gifting mood. GreenTARA Space, North Hero, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; donations of nonperishable food items and winter coats accepted. Info, 355-2150.

BAKED GOODS SALE & OPEN

HOUSE: Neighbors enjoy a delicious assortment of treats and warm drinks while viewing the historic hall’s beautifully restored windows. Proceeds support ongoing restoration efforts. Ferrisburgh Union Meeting Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, unionmeetinghall@gmail.com.

BELLA VOCE: Joined by the Northern Bronze Handbell Ensemble, the singers offer a dazzling suite of carol arrangements and jubilant holiday compositions in “Joyous Sounds of the Season.” McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30 p.m. $10-35 sliding scale. Info, 654-2000. BRANDON WINTER VILLAGE: See WED.3, 4-7 p.m.

strategic game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little kids ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.9

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.3.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Festive folks browse an array of local goodies including crafts, ornaments, baked goods and pine cone wreaths. Proceeds benefit the Trinity Outreach Committee. Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 399-7958.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See FRI.5, 2 & 7 p.m.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See THU.4, 3:30 p.m.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.3. FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS WITH A TWIST: Families admire a seasonal display of decked-out trees, then vote for their favorite and enter a raffle to take one home. Black River Academy Museum, Ludlow, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 228-5050.

A FOREST OF LIGHTS: See THU.4.

HOLIDAY ART FAIR: Pottery, paintings, prints and more attract shoppers looking to buy local this season. Strafford House Pottery, Orwell, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, lynn@lynnaustinart.com.

HOLIDAY ARTISAN SALE: Craft enthusiasts browse the wares of

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.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN: Kiddos express their inner artist using mediums such as paint, print, collage and sculpture. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

34 talented artisans, including potters, wood turners, painters and weavers. Barrett Memorial Hall, South Strafford, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, barrett.hall. strafford@gmail.com.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR & LUNCHEON: Treasure hunters peruse craft vendors, “Granny’s attic” and books, then enjoy a scrumptious lunch. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; add $10 for lunch. Info, 862-5630.

HOLIDAY CABARET: Attendees enjoy savory and sweet treats, jazzy seasonal tunes by Speak Easy Prohibition Band, and performances by BarnArts vocalists. Barnard Town Hall, 7-10 p.m. $35-250; cash bar. Info, info@ barnarts.org.

HOLIDAY CARDS TO PRISON: Good Samaritans come together to create joyful, loving messages for incarcerated citizens. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: More than 35 talented vendors and crafters convene to display their goods, just in time for the gifting season. Westford Elementary School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, westfordvtpto@gmail.com.

HOLIDAY JASPER HILL

FONDUE NIGHT: Festive foodies channel the ’70s retro vibe with an evening of out-ofthis-world cheese and platters packed with dippable goodies. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 6-9 p.m. $75. Info, sas@adventuredinner.com.

HOLIDAY LIGHTED TRACTOR

PARADE: Families line the streets for an illuminated procession of festive floats, tractors, trailers and machinery. Various Manchester locations,

STORY TIME: Youngsters from birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.5, 2-6 p.m.

mad river valley/ waterbury

WATERCOLOR FOR KIDS: Artist Pauline Nolte leads little painters in grades 2 to 4 in exploration and expression. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies

2 and under learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

5:30 p.m. Free. Info, john@ manchestervermont.com.

HOLIDAY MAKER MARKET: Gift givers peruse local artists’ handcrafted jewelry, unique wearables, prints and other bespoke creations. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 540-0761.

HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET DAYS: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 528-7951.

HOLIDAY MARKET: A unique treasure-filled boutique offers curated handcrafted wonders, from toys to tableware. Viva Marketplace, South Hero, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Free. Info, 373-2321.

JOHN DOYLE & CATHIE RYAN: See FRI.5. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30-10 p.m. $20-30. Info, 349-3364.

THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW: Beloved local musicians Kat Wright and Brett Hughes present their annual extravaganza of honky-tonk holiday cheer. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6 p.m. $35. Info, 782-2810.

MAPLE CORNER HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Pottery, woodwork, art, knitwear, jewelry and other unique treasures make shoppers merry. Maple Corner Community Center, Calais, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, ljrschutz@gmail.com.

THE MORETOWN ARTISANS’ SALE: Local potters and painters sell their wares, Girl Scouts serve up chili and cornbread, and a raffle benefits the Moretown PTO. Moretown Elementary School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, klauger@ hotmail.com.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.5.

WED.10

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.3.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE

MONSTER’: See WED.3. LIBRARY LITTLES: See WED.3.

QUEER FAMILY PLAYGROUP: See WED.3.

SNOWFLAKE HUNT: See WED.3.

STEAM SPACE: See WED.3. chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.3. GAME ON: See WED.3.

HAFTY CRAFTY: Kiddos ages 6 and up partake in a fun-filled hands-on activity making festive paper luminaires. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

NORTH COUNTRY CHORUS: See FRI.5. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 3 p.m.

PANTON ART LEAGUE HOLIDAY

ART & CRAFT SALE: Eleven artisans peddle everything from paintings and pottery to felted goods and note cards. Panton Town Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, treehouse@gmavt.net.

POSTCARD CLUB: See FRI.5.

RICHMOND HOLIDAY MARKET:

Locavores take in a variety of more than 40 unique crafters and a silent auction to benefit Toys for Kids. Richmond Congregational Church, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 318-5360.

‘SCROOGE’S CHRISTMAS’: See FRI.5.

‘SLAPHAPPY SANTA CHRISTMAS

SPECTACULAR’: A festive showcase of swing, rock and blues tunes features a stellar lineup of 11 gifted musicians. Ages 18 and up. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 6:30 p.m. $30-50 sliding scale. Info, 798-6717.

TARTAN TERRORS: A Celtic group from Toronto blends the energy of a rock show with humor and step dance at this holiday spectacle titled “XMAS.” Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $38.7158.50. Info, 760-4634.

‘THIS TIME OF YEAR’: Irish singer-songwriter Maxine Linehan performs her wildly popular holiday show about love, loss and memory. Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, 7:30 p.m. $25-125. Info, 362-1405.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS IN STOWE: See FRI.5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

VERMONT HOLIDAY MARKET: More than 125 jewelers, potters, woodworkers, artists and other craftspeople

PLAY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 build with giant blocks and read together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.3.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.3.

HOMESCHOOL BOOK GROUP: Kids ages 10 to 15 who learn at home bond over books. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

upper valley

SENSORY STORY HOUR: CHICKENS: Little learners gather for a hands-on adventure exploring which animals lay eggs, then enjoy a farm-fresh tasting. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $10-12. Info, 457-2355. K

convene to sell their goods. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10; free for kids under 12. Info, info@vtgatherings.com.

WESTON WINTER CABARET: See FRI.5.

WINTER FAIR: See FRI.5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.4.

WINTERMARKET: A Bavarianinspired, indoor-outdoor artisan extravaganza features more than 60 makers, live music, sleigh rides and toasty fires. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 533-2000.

the centuries and from Québec to New Orleans. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 877-2211.

VERMONT FIDDLE ORCHESTRA:

String and flute players present a fantasia of all things folk, from Scottish jigs to Appalachian reels, featuring English ritual dance fiddler Laurel Swift. Barre Opera House, 7-9 p.m. By donation. Info, 229-4191.

YOUNG TRADITION TOURING

Vermont Country Store, Weston, noon-3 p.m. Free. Info, 824-3184.

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.

GROUP: An auditioned ensemble of teenage musicians and singers performs a diverse program showcasing musical influences from Scandinavia, Québec and New England. Gary Library, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 7-8 p.m. $20. Info, 798-6717.

outdoors

USED BOOK SALE: Lit lovers peruse a wide array of like-new titles to replenish their “to read” stack. Proceeds benefit Ilsley Public Library. Middlebury United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of books; cash or check only. Info, 388-4095. 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.7 bazaars

GOOD TRADE MAKERS MARKET: See SAT.6.

community

XMAS LIGHTS RIDE: Cyclists of all ages and abilities become mobile decorations in a family-friendly slow bike parade. Holiday karaoke at the Poultney Pub follows. Analog Cycles, Poultney, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@analogcycles.com.

lgbtq

QUEER CRAFT FAIR: Community members browse more than 80 vendors’ prints, pottery, jewelry, clothing and herbal goods. A low-sensory, fully masked hour is offered at 10 a.m. Old Labor Hall, Barre, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, vtqueercraft@gmail.com.

WINTER HIKING 101: Want to hit the trails but not sure where to start? The Green Mountain Club hosts an informative workshop on seasonal basics, including important gear and how best to prepare, followed by an optional trek. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See WED.3, 7:30 p.m.

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.3, 2 & 8 p.m.

sports

LIBRARY LOUNGE: Free coffee and tea, light refreshments, and time spent chatting with neighbors make for a cozy afternoon of community building. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

MY DENTIST’S SON: Need a little reminder about how magical the world can be? Participants gather to swap mystical experiences at a facilitated storytelling circle. Ferrisburgh Town Offices & Community Center, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, connect@ mydentistsson.com.

crafts

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.5.

CATAMOUNT BLUEGRASS NIGHT: LOW LILY: A Brattleboro band brings its signature soundscape of fiddle, folk, bluegrass and Americana to the stage. Alexander Twilight Theatre, Vermont State UniversityLyndon, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

VERMONT MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME CEREMONY: Fans flock to an inaugural induction event honoring nine influential racers with Vermont ties. Vermont SportsCar, Milton, 7 p.m. $90; cash bar. Info, vtmotorsportshall@gmail.com.

theater

‘BROADWAY DIRECT 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW’: See FRI.5, 3 p.m.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.3, 1-3 p.m. etc.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3.

film

‘THE JOURNEY OF THE SAINT’: See THU.4.

‘A MASQUED MURDER’: Green Mountain Cabaret presents a sequin- and suspicion-filled anniversary performance to die for. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 8 p.m. $20-25. Info, 540-3018.

CONCERT CHOIR & CATAMOUNT SINGERS: A varied program spans everything from works by Claudio Monteverdi to American composer Scott Joplin’s extended suite of choruses from Treemonisha. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

KINHAVEN WINTER CONCERT: A joyful 30-minute program from talented musicians at the Kinhaven Music School gets listeners in the mood for cozy season. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 824-8167.

STUDENT SHOWCASE: Nine ensembles share the results of three months of study, rehearsal and collaboration with a mix of standards, Latin jazz, samba percussion and spirited tunes from the Blue Note era. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 254-9088.

VA-ET-VIENT: The all-female Francophone fiddlers lead listeners on a musical journey through

‘PETER & WENDY’: See THU.4, 6:30 p.m.

‘SPIKE HEELS’: See THU.4, 2-4 p.m.

words

LAURA SHORTSLEEVE: Fantasy! Romance! Say no more. The acclaimed author signs copies of her 2024 book, Fiona, about a leprechaun living in the Isles of Ireland. Bear Pond Books, Stowe, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 253-8236.

MEL ALLEN: The editor emeritus of Yankee magazine greets visitors and offers highlights from his new book, Here in New England: Unforgettable Stories of People, Places and Memories That Connect Us All. The

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.4.

‘CAN’T LOOK AWAY: THE CASE AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA’: A 2025 documentary exposes the dark side of social media and its devastating impact on young users. A community discussion follows. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 4-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.4.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.4.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.4.

WOODSTOCK VERMONT FILM SERIES LAUNCH: See SAT.6. food & drink

INNDULGENCE TOUR: See SAT.6.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.4, 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.

OPEN HOUSE: An afternoon of relaxation, zen and connection includes guided tours, light bites, a signature mocktail, and makeand-take self-care favors. The Essex Resort & Spa, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 764-1452.

holidays

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY’: Beloved Yankee storyteller Willem Lange performs his 50th-anniversary reading of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale. Virtual option available. See calendar spotlight. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 2 p.m. $10-20. Info, 229-0492.

ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS: Traditional hymns sung by the Cathedral Choristers, the Adult Choir and special guest vocalists culminate in the splendor of Herbert Howells’ “Magnificat.” Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. Info, 864-0471.

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.3, noon-4 p.m.

BELLA VOCE: See SAT.6, 3 p.m.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: See FRI.5, 2 p.m.

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS

CONCERT: A seasonal offering of joyful works features local singers and the town’s own band. The Opera House at Enosburg Falls, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 933-6171.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: See WED.3.

HOLIDAY ART FAIR: See SAT.6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET DAYS: See SAT.6.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: The festively decorated museum beckons visitors for tasty treats, engaging exhibits, antique toys and kids’ activities. Milton Historical Museum, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 893-1604.

HOLIDAY SALE: Shoppers flock to the museum to peruse wreaths, books and clothing. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 877-3406.

THE KAT & BRETT HOLIDAY SHOW: See SAT.6. The Big Picture Café and Community Hub for the Arts, Waitsfield. Info, 496-8994.

MILTON COMMUNITY BAND:

A high-spirited holiday concert includes special guest the

Eagle Mountain Brass Quintet, sing-along carols and a narrated musical rendition of “The Night Before Christmas.” Milton Middle/ High School, 2-3:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 578-3467.

NORTH COUNTRY CHORUS: See FRI.5. Peacham Congregational Church, 3 p.m.

PLATTSBURGH STATE GOSPEL

CHOIR: Voices soar in “Soulful Christmas,” a holiday concert featuring tunes from popular 1920s-era series and films such as “Downton Abbey.” E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall, SUNY Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. $8-25; free for kids under 4. Info, gospelchoir@plattsburgh.edu.

POSTCARD CLUB: See FRI.5.

RANDOLPH SINGERS: The local choir presents a diverse program featuring classical compositions and traditional Christmas tunes. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 4 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 728-9878.

‘SCROOGE’S CHRISTMAS’: See FRI.5, 2 p.m.

TED PERRY TRIO: The three-piece delights with classic holiday songs and a variety of heartwarming music, with help from guest vocalist Ryan Montbleau. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 5:30 p.m. $30-40. Info, 382-9222.

VERMONT HOLIDAY MARKET: See SAT.6.

VERMONT PHILHARMONIC: See FRI.5. Barre Opera House, 2 p.m.

WINTER HOLIDAY MARKET: A heated greenhouse makes for a cozy marketplace bursting with handmade gifts by local artists and makers. Red Wagon Plants, Hinesburg, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 482-4060.

WINTER LIGHTS: See THU.4, 4-7:30 p.m.

THE YULETIDE IS GAY QUEER HOLIDAY ART MARKET: Folks shop small at this gathering of local LGBTQ artists and makers, featuring unique offerings ranging from jewelry and ceramics to clothing and bumper stickers. Spiral House Art Collective, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, spiral.house.collective@ gmail.com.

music

PAUL ASBELL: A veteran bluesman serenades local listeners with his steel-string strains, interspersed with readings from his new book, Stages: Ruminations, Rants and Reminiscences on a Life in Music. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 2-3:45 p.m. Free. Info, 899-4962.

outdoors

CANTILEVER ROCK HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for an easy, moderately paced trek in pursuit of stellar views. Underhill State Park, noon. Free; preregister. Info, 899-9982.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See WED.3, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.3, 2 p.m.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Techsavvy library staff provide oneon-one guidance and support in 30-minute sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

TECH SUNDAYS: BASICS FOR BEGINNERS: Participants learn the first steps in computing, including how to use a mouse, navigate the virtual landscape, and understand symbols and vocabulary. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See THU.4, 2 p.m.

MON.8 agriculture

RECORDKEEPING FOR ORGANIC VEGETABLE & OTHER CROP GROWERS: A lunchtime webinar for the agricultural community explores various ways to document organic production practices. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, zea@nofavt.org.

crafts

COLLAGE COLLECTIVE: Creatives of all experience levels cut, paste and make works of wonder. Virtual options available. Expressive Arts Burlington, 6:309 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 343-8172.

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section. music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

education

ALL IN VERMONT WORKSHOP: Educators learn about a statewide, place-based learning opportunity for students that encourages the study of community lore in partnership with local historical societies. Hosted by Vermont History. 3-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 479-8522. etc.

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this American Red Cross donation event. Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Berlin, 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 800-733-2767.

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.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.4.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.4.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.4.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.4.

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: Players grab their daubers for a competitive night of card stamping for cash prizes. Burlington Elks

Lodge, 6 p.m. Various prices. Info, 862-1342.

health & fitness

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

holidays

ILLUMINATION NIGHT: Hot cocoa and holiday songs pave the way for an annual lighting ceremony. Gary Library, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 798-6717.

POSTCARD CLUB: See FRI.5.

WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS

NETWORK OF VERMONT HOLIDAY

PARTY: Members and nonmembers alike celebrate the year’s end with light appetizers, festive drinks and great conversation.

Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister; cash bar. Info, 503-0219.

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.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See WED.3, 7:30 p.m.

talks

DR. JOSHUA FARLEY: In “Rethinking Economics: Evolution, Community and Transition Towns,” an ecological economist discusses an urban agro-ecology project that transforms turf grass lawns into edible native ecosystems.

Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-8168.

words

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for lit lovers to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-1132.

TUE.9

business

CEDRR DECEMBER MIXER:

Chamber & Economic

Development of the Rutland Region members and friends eat, drink and win prizes at a catered shindig. Heritage Family Credit Union, Rutland, 5-7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 773- 2747.

community

CURRENT EVENTS

DISCUSSION GROUP:

Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN MEMORY CAFÉ:

Those living with dementia and their caregivers gather to make friends and have fun. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER

COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

CRAFTERS DROP-IN: Community members converse and connect through knitting, crocheting, mending, embroidery and other creative pursuits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

etc.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.4.

‘GONE GUYS’: See THU.4. Welden Theatre, St. Albans, 6-8 p.m. Info, 527-7888.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.4.

‘THE S WORD’: Washington County Mental Health Services hosts a community screening of a powerful documentary about hope, connection and the importance of talking about suicide. A panel discussion follows. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-6328.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.4.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.4.

‘THE VOICE OF THE HUDSON’: Joseph Dadey’s stirring documentary tells the story of eight teenage boys who paddled from the source of the Hudson River in the Adirondacks to its mouth in New York City. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

games

CHESS TIME: Neighbors partake in the ancient game of strategy. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the 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

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.3.

BÉLA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES:

The pioneering banjo player reconvenes the original lineup of his Grammy Award-winning band to present jazz-infused holiday classics in “Jingle All the Way.” Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $53-200. Info, 863-5966.

GIFT WRAPPING SESSION: All of the necessary supplies — including paper, name tags, scissors, garnishes, tape and tissue paper — are provided at this social holiday affair. Red Poppy Cakery, Waterbury, 4 p.m. $35; preregister. Info, 203-400-0700.

POSTCARD CLUB: See FRI.5.

TREE-LIGHTING & HOLIDAY

FESTIVITIES: Merrymakers join Gov. Phil Scott for a magical evening ushering in the season, featuring local entertainment, refreshments and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 595-4381.

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.

music

INTERPLAY JAZZ JAM NORTH: Instrumentalists tune in for a night of melodies, bringing six to eight copies of sheet music to pass around. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 578-8830.

québec

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: See WED.3, 7:30 p.m.

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.3, 8 p.m. seminars

TENANT SKILLS

WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity brings renters up to speed on the

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

fundamentals of tenant rights and responsibilities. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456.

talks

‘ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION OF BARN SWALLOWS IN NEW ENGLAND’:

An online presentation hosted by Vermont Land Trust covers the history of these aerial insectivores and provides tips for creating and enhancing their habitat. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister; donations accepted. Info, 262-3765.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP:

Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff answer questions about devices of all kinds in face-toface sessions. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

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.10

bazaars

LOCAL ARTISAN & MERCHANT MARKET: See WED.3.

business

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS

BIZ BUZZ BURLINGTON: A monthly networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect over coffee and snacks. Deep City, Burlington, 9:45-11:15 a.m. $10; preregister. Info, info@vtwomenpreneurs.com.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

SLEEPERS RIVER WATERSHED

WEIRS: Folks gather to share stories, photos and memories related to these dam-like concrete structures found around town. Danville Historical Society, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 239-4159.

crafts

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts can bring a project to this monthly meeting. Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, gmc.vt.ega@gmail.com.

YARN & YAK: See WED.3. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.3. etc.

STUDENT ART AUCTION: See WED.3.

TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 233-4157.

fairs & festivals

BRATTLEBORO FESTIVAL OF MINIATURES: See WED.3.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘KALEIDOSCOPE EYES’: Ayo Alston’s MFA film focuses the lens on themes of African dance, identity and spiritual fluidity. A Q&A follows. Vermont State University-Johnson, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 635-1469.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM

SERIES: ‘WATTSTAX’: This 1973 music documentary zooms in on the 1972 Watts Summer Festival, featuring unforgettable performances by Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Staples Singers and others. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7-9 p.m. $8. Info, 387-0102.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.3.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.3. REAL TALK ABOUT SEX: A monthly Zoom gathering facilitated by certified sexuality educator Sarah Goodrich allows for frank, respectful conversations about the topic. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sarah@ goodrichsex.com.

WHOLE HEALTH CONNECT

SERIES: A DIFFERENT KIND OF TASTING WORKSHOP: Food and nutrition anthropologist Melanie Narciso digs into the concept of “attentive tasting” — savoring not only the physical but also the biological, cultural and spiritual dimensions of food. Osher Center for Integrative Health, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, oshercenter@uvm.edu.

holidays

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET: See WED.3.

HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET: Live music by the Ides of Marge sets the tone for this seasonal collection of handblown glass, jewelry, leather goods, prints and other

unique treasures. Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free. Info, einsteins165@gmail. com.

KCP PRESENTS: ‘THE NUTCRACKER’: Ukraine’s Grand Kyiv Ballet presents its sparkling rendition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas spectacle. Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, 7-9 p.m. $24-58; free for students. Info, 748-2600.

POSTCARD CLUB: See FRI.5.

‘WINTER TALES’: A fresh twist on a cherished Vermont Stage tradition includes a heartwarming mix of funny, moving and unexpected stories, paired with seasonal songs. Hot cider and cookies provided. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-54 sliding scale. Info, 862-1497.

language

ELL CLASSES: See WED.3.

lgbtq

QUEER WRITERS’ GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly to discuss their work, write from prompts, and give each other advice and feedback. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

outdoors

SHORT TRAIL HIKE: See SAT.6, 2-3 p.m.

québec

‘KISSES DEEP’: See WED.3, 8 p.m. sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.3.

talks

ALEC EWALD: In “Voting Rights and Access to the Ballot,” a University of Vermont professor illuminates the history and impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Vermont and Kellogg-Hubbard Library. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, raderca2015@ gmail.com.

theater

‘PETER & WENDY’: See THU.4, 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.

words

FFL BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP: Readers assemble virtually to discuss Julia Alvarez’s 2024 magical realism novel, The Cemetery of Untold Stories. Hosted by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: See WED.3.

POETRY POTLUCK: Folks who are well versed in meter and rhyme gather to swap dishes and words in a welcoming environment. Wandering Vine, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@ catamountarts.org. ➆

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

DRAWING TO PAINTING! JOIN

WINGSPAN’S INSPIRING ART

CLASS: A fantastic class this winter for those with drawing or other experience who are ready to venture into painting! Structured activities in color, value and form will spark brainpower, building creative and technical skills. Focus on acrylics and explore other media. Learn professional artist Maggie Standley’s step-by-step painting process and colormixing secrets to create three paintings. Includes two optional Open Studio Saturdays and all materials, except you bring the sketchbook. Sign up today! Dates: Mon., Dec. 8-Feb. 2, 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.

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you. Now enrolling youths, teens and adults. Join and restore your faith in humanity. Info: 802-425-2700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

food & drink

EDIBLE GIFTS FEATURING CHEF

Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

BUCHE DE NOEL CLASS: In this workshop, we will learn how to make and decorate a buche de noel for the holidays. We’ll enjoy a slice of the demo cake, then you’ll take your whole cake home ready for a festive evening or to freeze until the holidays! Date: u., Dec. 18, 6 p.m. Cost: $85; $15 for additional decorators. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

language

FRENCH CLASSES: JOIN

WINGSPAN’S WINTER SESSION:

ARIEL VOORHEES: In this hands-on class from chef Ariel Voorhees of Gather Round Chef Service, we’ll make a selection of savory edible gifts: snackable treats and ingredients that travel well and spread joy. Date: Sun., Dec. 14, 3-5 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendays tickets.com.

HOLIDAY HOUSE DECORATING CLASS: In this workshop, we will decorate a gingerbread or sugar cookie holiday house! Kit options include assembled or build-your-own. Date: Fri., Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m. Cost: $60; $15 for additional decorators. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St.,

maggiestsandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

martial arts

Start the year off right, whether you’re a newbie, need a brushup or are continuing your French language journey! ree levels to choose from; encouraging, small-group classes. Makes a fantastique gift, too! In person or virtually. Instructor Maggie Standley brings vast experience: She attended La Sorbonne/SciPo, did graduate work in Francophone Africa and holds a Vermont French teacher license. For an individual approach, take private lessons! Nurture brainpower and open doors to friends, travel, experiences. 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,

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.

music

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Beginners’ classes five days a week. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and find resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/bathrooms and a safe space

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:307 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: 802448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals &

Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Lake

AGE/SEX: 5-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: October 7, 2025

SUMMARY: Lake is a gentle soul ready for a fresh start. He hasn’t always been treated with the kindness he deserves, but Lake still carries a spark of hope in his heart. Once he feels safe and gets to know you, he’s an absolute darling. He lights up during playtime, especially when he can romp freely in the yard. He’s happiest outdoors, soaking up the sunshine, and afterward he’s all about the cozy cuddles. Lake is looking for a calm, patient home where he can take things at his own pace, a place ﬁlled with gentle voices, steady routines and plenty of love. He needs someone who will give him time to blossom and discover that humans can be kind and consistent. If you have a soft spot for shy sweethearts, Lake just might be your new best friend!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Lake has experience living with other dogs. He is currently seeking a home without cats or young children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

HSCC can facilitate dog-to-dog introductions! If you’re interested in adopting a dog and you already have one at home, we can introduce your dog to a potential new pal at HSCC to see if they get along before you take them home.

Buy y & Se

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

ESTATE SALE

Online sale: artwork, antiques, modern furniture, rugs, clothing, tools, building materials, plumbing, tools, snowblower. Visit estatesalesofvermont. com through Dec. 3.

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS

Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg guitars + Gibson mandolins & banjos. ese brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN)

Communit y ommunit

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEDDING OPEN HOUSE & VENDOR MARKET

Sun., Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the venue, meet local wedding & event professionals, gather inspiration for your wedding or event. All are welcome. Already booked event elsewhere? A place to meet, get inspired & search out key vendors. Admission is free. Register at boydenbarn.com to be eligible for door prizes. Presented by Green Mountain Gatherings. Info, 802-598-5509, boydenevents@gmail. com, boydenbarn.com.

SPORTS CARDS & COLLECTIBLES EXPO

Vendors wanted: sports cards, Pokémon, coins, stamps, video games, vintage toys & more.

Local crafts welcome! May 9 at Highgate Sports Arena. Tickets & table reservations: 518-353-4216, magnummike maniacal@yahoo.com, wrestlerage.com.

MUSIC LESSONS

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

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

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.

for Reiki, massage, meditation, sound healing, acupuncture, somatic & craniosacral therapy. Quiet, candlelit, fully furnished treatment room. Email mariposacollectives@ gmail.com.

COMMERCIAL SPACE

AVAIL. NOW IN FORT ETHAN ALLEN, COLCHESTER

AUDITIONS & CASTING

AUDITION FOR THE SHELBURNE PLAYERS’ SPRING SHOW!

Auditions for A Shadow on the Wall: Mon., Dec. 8, & Tue., Dec. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Pierson Library in Shelburne. Info, 802-343-2602, theshelburneplayers@ gmail.com, shelburne players.com/auditions.

MUSICIANS & BANDS

UNITED CHURCH OF UNDERHILL SEEKS OCCASIONAL ACCOMPANIST

e UCU is seeking a musician to play in person; piano, organ or both; hymns, responses, etc. for Sunday morning worship services 1-2 times/mo. for approximately 2 hours, + additional time for personal rehearsal. ere may be a few special events per year. Must possess a willingness to collaborate w/ our bell choir, recorder ensemble, vocalists & other musicians. e incumbent will be paid per diem w/ compensation commensurate w/ experience. Please email Michele at worship@ ucu.church, united churchofunderhill.com.

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact:

HUD Ofﬁce of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

1-, 2- & 3-BR

BURLINGTON APTS. AVAIL. NOW, NO PETS, 1-YR. LEASE

Unfurnished, 1-BR, 1-BA apt. on Hyde St., $900/mo. Tenants pay all utils.; we pay cold water, haul the trash & take care of the driveway. Heated 2nd-ﬂ oor 2-BR, $1,500/ mo. Tenants pay utils. Heated 2nd-ﬂ oor 3-BR w/ laundry, $1,700. Call 802-318-8916 or email jcintl0369@gmail.com.

NEWLY RENOVATED IN SOUTH BURLINGTON

Nice 2-BR upstairs apt., close to everything. W/D, 2 porches, shared backyard. $2,300/ mo. incl. utils. Lease & deposit. Info, 802-7346469, carpentier2iby@ gmail.com.

BURLINGTON

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR RENT

BHA has a low wait list for apts. w/ a subsidy in Burlington. Income limits do apply. 1-BR & efﬁ ciency apts. avail. now. Rent based on income. Parking may be avail. at some properties. Apply today by calling Burlington Housing Authority at 802-864-0538. “Affordable housing for all.” Equal Housing Opportunity.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

ESSEX JCT., VT., HEALING ROOM FOR RENT

Healing room for rent 2 days/week at Mariposa Collective in Essex Jct. Avail. Fri. & Sun. $120 full day; $60 half day; $480/mo. Ideal

Multiple commercial units avail. for lease within the historic brick buildings at Fort Ethan Allen. Options incl. single private offi ces, multiroom offi ce suites & garage-style spaces ranging from 100-1,800 sq.ft. Both 1st-fl oor & 2nd-fl oor layouts are offered, w/ high ceilings, generous natural light & classic architectural character. Monthly rates range from $425 to $2,200, depending on size & configuration. e property provides off-street parking & convenient access to Route 15 & I-89, serving Colchester, Burlington & Winooski. e campus-style setting hosts a diverse mix of professional & commercial uses, offering fl exibility for various business needs. Several units are avail. now w/ adaptable fl oor plans & straightforward leasing options. Call 802-922-6251 or email rentals.jerichomgmt@ gmail.com.

1,000-SQ.FT. OPEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT, ALL-INCLUSIVE Spacious 1,000-sq.ft. open-concept area avail. in our building. Perfect for a small business, studio or collaborative workspace. All utils. & amenities are incl. in the price — just move in & get started! Located right off I-89. $1,693. Call 802-655-3544 or email duteauc@ freedompharmacyvt. com.

WORCESTER COFFEE SHOP, BAKERY, RESTAURANT FOR LEASE.

Turnkey ready! Commercial cafe/ bakery/restaurant for lease. Just 12 mins. from Montpelier, the space has large windows w/ gorgeous mountain views. It has a fully stocked kitchen w/ full-size coffee brewer, espresso machine, grinder, large commercial convection oven, commercial standing mixer, prooﬁ ng oven, 5 refrigerators, 8-burner gas stove & hood. We will train the coffee side of the business if needed or rent the space to

whatever you would like: bakery, restaurant, wine bar, music venue? You can rent it as is or change to your own creative endeavor. e rent is $1,800/mo. w/ a yearly lease. Additional seating on large front lawn w/ picnic tables. Great to host markets or community events. On-site parking, too. Can be seen on Instagram, Google or Facebook at Black Crow Coffee in Worcester. Info, 727254-8959, gbblue11@ yahoo.com.

PAINTING STUDIO FOR RENT IN ORWELL, VT. Serene, bright & spacious painting studio avail. Jan. 1. 20-by-30foot open ﬂ oor plan w/ 11-foot ceilings & plenty of ventilation. Located in Orwell, Vt., less than 30 mins. from Middlebury. $930/mo., heat & electric incl. 12-mo. lease. Contact john@hubglass.com to schedule a viewing.

how much you can save: 1-844-588-6579. (AAN CAN)

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

HOME

GARDEN

CREATIVE

Seer ices

3D PRINTING RAPID PROTOTYPING/LASER ENGRAVING & CUTTING

Small, local 3D printer shop specializing in 3D printing of engineeringgrade glass-filled & carbon fi ber filaments for precision-fi t components. Large-format capabilities. Laser cutting w/ 15-by-19-in. cutting area. Reasonable prices. Info, 802-310-3162, jim@gmavt.net.

ELECTRONICS

AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET

If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote & see

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

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)

GET TAX RELIEF

Do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS or state in back taxes? Get tax relief now! We’ll ﬁght for you! Call 1-877-7036117. (AAN CAN)

GREEN MOUNTAIN SHINE — BOOK NOW FOR SPECIAL SPRING 2026 PRICES! Vermont winters are long. So why not give your home something to look forward to? Green Mountain Shine is your local, family-owned window, gutter & exterior cleaning service serving Addison & Chittenden. Streak-free, eco-friendly cleaning. Book online now for spring 2026 & get special early-bird offers! Spots ﬁll

R R eal Estate ent als &

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, fill the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:

CALCOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ON P.86

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

1-833-237-1199. (AAN CAN)

MOVING & HAULING

OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

MOVING

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24-7 LOCKSMITH

We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs: 1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN)

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE?

You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind its work. Fast, free estimate. Financing avail. Call 1-888-292-8225. (AAN CAN)

PEST CONTROL

Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable. Call for a quote, service or an inspection today:

Markoski’s has established a local reputation for being a team of friendly professionals who treat their customers like family. Based out of Chittenden County, we go across Vermont & out of state. Please inquire at markoskismoving.com.

CITY OF BURLINGTON

NOTICE OF PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE

AMENDING

BURLINGTON CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 20 (MOTOR VEHICLES & TRAFFIC) AND CHAPTER 27 (STREETS & SIDEWALKS), RELATING TO PARKING REGULATIONS

City Council meeting to access a copy of the ordinance).

First reading: 09/29/25; referred to the Ordinance Committee

Adopted: 12/01/25; Published: 12/03/25; Effective: 12/23/25

PROPOSED STATE RULES

and Kehoe Education Centers. Day use rentals of Buck Lake and Kehoe would increase to $300 per day for partnering organizations, and $600 per day for private entities.

Vehicles

Notice is hereby given that on December 1, 2025, the City Council of the City of Burlington adopted an ordinance amending provisions of B.C.O., Chs. 25 & 27, generally relating to parking regulations. The amendments fit into the following categories:

CARS & TRUCKS

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS II

1 owner, 2 fobs. Valid inspection Nov. 26. In St. Johnsbury. Info, 802424-0001, karenbudde@ atheist.com.

(1) Those authorizing the Public Works Commission to delegate authority to the Director of Public Works to make limited, temporary changes to parking regulations where reasonably necessary in the interest of public safety or to comply with state and federal disability access laws;

(2) Those updating parking regulations to reflect the City’s current practices and needs, including, for example, by updating language about accessible parking, the identity of the parking enforcement officer, and the designation of the Public Works Commission as the City’s traffic commission, and by addressing the circumstance that not all metered parking zones have individual parking meters; and

(3) Those affecting towing rules, including by clarifying circumstances where vehicles may be towed, and by requiring owners of vehicles towed for excessive outstanding parking fines to fully pay down fines to recover their vehicles.

This synopsis of the ordinance is being published pursuant to City Charter § 49.

The full text of the ordinance is available for review at the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office, City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or on the City’s website at https://burlingtonvt.portal. civicclerk.com (refer to the December 1, 2025

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).

10 V.S.A. Appendix §15a, Fees for the use of Fish and Wildlife Department Lands and Facilities.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P041

AGENCY: Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Fish & Wildlife CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendments would update Green Mountain Conservation Camp (GMCC) tuition rates from $250 to $300 per week and modify the Day Use and wedding facility rental fees at Buck Lake

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Hannah Smith, Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive - Davis 2, Montpelier VT, 05620-3802 Tel: 802-461-8187 E-Mail: hannah.smith@vermont.gov URL: https:// www.vtfishandwildlife.com/about-us/ commissioners-office/commissioners-rules. FOR COPIES: Alison Thomas, Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive - Davis 2, Montpelier VT, 05620-3802 Tel: 802-371-9975 E-Mail: alison.thomas@vermont.gov.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0331-43

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 4C0331-43 from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, 1200 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403 and City of Burlington, 1200 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403 was received on November 17, 2025 and deemed complete on November 20, 2025. The project is generally described as demolition of the vacant Aviation Deli structure. No new construction is proposed, and existing utilities will be capped. The project is located at 1223 Airport Drive in South Burlington, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0331-43.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before December 17, 2025, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/ documents/party-statuspetition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250. Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this November 25, 2025

By: /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan

Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTYFIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— § 7; NO-PARKING AREAS.

Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approval Date: 11/19/2025 Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE Senior Transportation Planner, Technical Services

Published: 12/03/25 Effective: 12/23/25

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, § 7 No-parking areas of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

§ 7 No-parking areas.

No person shall park any vehicle at any time in the following locations:

(1)-(563) As written.

(564) Reserved On the west side of North Avenue between Strong Street and Canfield Street.

(565)-(591) As written.

** Material stricken out deleted. *** Material underlined added.

ER/: BCO Appx.C, Section 7.

11/19/25

CITY OF BURLINGTON

IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION—

§ 3; STOP SIGN LOCATIONS AND,

§ 4; LOCATION OF YIELD-RIGHT-OF-WAY SIGNS.

Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission

Action: Approval

Date: 11/19/2025

Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE

Senior Transportation Planner, Technical Services

Published: 12/03/25

Effective: 12/23/25

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rules and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, § 3; Stop sign locations, and §4; Locations of yield right-of-way-signs of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

§ 3 Stop sign locations

The following locations are hereby designated as stop sign locations:

(1)-(324) As written.

(325) Sixty (60) feet in advance of the east entrance to the one (1) lane Queen City Park Road Bridge causing westbound traffic on Queen City Park Road to stop.

(326) Sixty (60) feet in advance of the west entrance to the one (1) lane Queen City Park Road Bridge causing eastbound traffic on Queen City Park Road to stop.

§ 4 Locations yield right-of-way signs. Yield-right-of-way signs are authorized at the following locations:

(1) Reserved. Sixty (60) feet in advance of the east entrance to the one (1) lane Queen City Park Road Bridge.

(2) Reserved. Sixty (60) feet in advance of the west entrance to the one (1) lane Queen City Park Road Bridge.

(3)-(19) As written.

** Material stricken out deleted.

*** Material underlined added.

ER/: BCO Appx.C, Section 3 & 4. 11/19/25

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— §17; DESIGNATION OF PARKING METER ZONES.

Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission

Action: Approval

Date: 11/19/2025

Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE

Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner

Technical Services Published: 12/03/25

Effective: 12/23/25

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows: That Appendix C, Rules and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, §17 Designation of parking meter zones., of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

§17 Designation of parking meter zones.

(a) As written.

(b) Thirty (30) minute zones . The following streets or portions of streets are hereby designated as thirty (30) minute parking meter zones:

(1) - (2) As written.

(3) Reserved On the north side of Buell Street in the first two (2) parking spaces west of Orchard Terrace.

(4) - (30) As written. (c) - (g) As written.

** Material stricken out deleted.

*** Material underlined added.

ER/: BCO Appx.C, Section 17. 11/19/25

CITY OF BURLINGTON

IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— §12; NO PARKING DAY TIME OR WEEKDAYS EXCEPT BY TRUCKS LOADING OR UNLOADING AND, §12-1;NO PARKING EXCEPT VEHICLES LOADING AND UNLOADING

Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approval

Date:

Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE

Senior Transportation Planner, Technical Services

Published: 12/03/25

Effective: 12/23/25

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, § 12 No parking daytime or weekdays except by trucks loading or unloading, and §12-1 No parking except vehicles loading or unloading of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

§ 12 No parking daytime or weekdays except by trucks loading or unloading.

(a) No vehicle other than a truck actually engaged in loading or unloading shall, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except Sunday, and for no more than thirty (30) minutes, use the following parking spaces:

(1)-(28) As written.

(29) Reserved In the parking space on the north side of Bank Street in the second space east of Church Street.

(30)-(56) As written.

(b) As written.

§ 12-1 No parking except vehicles loading or unloading.

No person shall park a vehicle at the following locations unless engaged in loading or unloading the vehicle:

(1)-(9) As written.

(10) Reserved. In the first two parking spaces on the south side of Bank Street, directly west of Center Street, 8am-12pm Monday through Friday, for a maximum of thirty (30) minutes.

(11)-(54) As written.

** Material stricken out deleted.

*** Material underlined added.

/CEM: BCO Appx.C, Section 12,12-1 10/29/25

Request for Proposals (RFP) Inspection & Compliance Alignment Project

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, in coordination with Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Vermont State Housing Authority and the Vermont Community Development Program, is seeking proposals from qualiﬁed consultants to assess and align inspection and compliance systems across Vermont’s affordable housing portfolio. This project will include evaluating current practices, developing streamlined procedures, and recommending system improvements to enhance efﬁciency and consistency.

The full RFP is available at vhcb.org/resources/procurement.

Proposals are due Friday, December 5, 2025.

VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We strongly encourage proposals from diverse consultants and teams.

6h-VHCBlegalnotice110525.indd 1 11/3/25 10:42 AM

SECTION 00 1113

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

FROM:

THE OWNER (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS OWNER ):

A. Town of South Hero

B. Address:

South Hero Town Office

333 US-2

South Hero, Vermont 05486 AND THE ARCHITECT/ENGINEER (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ARCHITECT/ENGINEER):

AES Northeast Address:

Chase Mill, 1 Mill St. Suite 370 Burlington, VT 05401

DATE: DECEMBER 2, 2025

TO: POTENTIAL BIDDERS

Your firm is invited to submit an offer under seal to Owner for construction of a facility located at:

South Hero Town Office 333 US-2

South Hero, Vermont 05486

Before 2 pm local standard time on the 8th day of January, 2026, for:

Project: South Hero Town Office

Architect/Engineer’s Project Number: 5379.

Project Description: Construction of a new Municipal Town Office for the Town of South Hero, of wood construction, 2 floors, approximately 5,500 square feet in total. Scope to include demolition of the existing town office, and site improvements.

Bid Documents for a Stipulated Sum contract may be downloaded from the Architect/ Engineer’s website: https://aesnortheast.com/. Refer to other bidding requirements described in Document 00 2113 - Instructions to Bidders and Document 00 3100 - Available Project Information.

Submit your offer on the Bid Form provided. Your offer will be required to be submitted under a condition of irrevocability for a period of 45 days after submission.

The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any or all offers.

END OF SECTION 00 1113

WARNING POLICY ADOPTION

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Board of School Directors gives public notice of its intent to act on local district

policies dealing with the following at its meeting scheduled on December 16, 2025:

Code E3 Financial Reports and Statements - Repeal

Code E6 Safety and Security - Repeal

Code E7 School Crisis Prevention & Response - Repeal

Code E12 Motor Vehicle Idling - Repeal

Code E1 Fiscal and General Financial

Accountability - Adopt

Code E5 Emergency Closings - Adopt

Code E10 Travel and Expenses - Adopt

Code E2 Budgeting - Reaffirm

Code E4 Risk Management - Reaffirm

Code E8 Public Bidding-Contracts - Reaffirm

Code E9 Petty Cash - Reaffirm

Code E11 Sale of Property Other Than Real Estate Building - Reaffirm

Code E13 Fund Balance Policy - Reaffirm

Code E14 Food Service Operations - Reaffirm

Code E15 Use of Video Surveillance - Reaffirm

Code E16 Flag Policy - Reaffirm

Code E17 Non-Discriminatory Mascots and School Branding - Reaffirm

Code E18 Access Control & Visitor Management - Reaffirm

Code E19 Fire and Emergency Preparedness

Drills - Reaffirm

Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Office of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.

RFP FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES

Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth are seeking proposals from Architectural firms for the development and new construction of 40 affordable rental apartments in one building in the South End Coordinated Redevelopment District of Burlington, Vermont. Qualified applicants will have comparable experience as well as knowledge of affordable housing, multi-family and condominium construction, publicly funded projects, and federal regulations. To obtain a copy of the RFP including submission requirements and specific project information, please contact Jack Turvey at Evernorth at jturvey@evernorthus.org. Proposals including all attachments must be submitted by 12:00 PM on Friday, December 5th 2025. Minority-owned, women-owned, Section 3 businesses and locallyowned businesses are encouraged to apply.

Legal Notices

INVITATION TO BID

Engelberth Construction seeks qualified subcontractors and suppliers for the City of Burlington Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) Building Project, located in South Burlington, VT.

Project Description: The project consists of constructing a new +/-43,000sf pre-engineered metal building and a +/-4,000sf structural steel material storage building, both to be located at the Northwest corner of the airport property along Airport Parkway in South Burlington, VT.

Schedule: Construction is expected to begin Spring of 2026.

The construction work contains but is not limited to the following scopes of work: concrete, masonry, structural steel, carpentry, doors/frames/ hardware, GWB assemblies, interior and exterior finishes, specialties & equipment, metal building systems, fire protection, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, site work, and landscaping.

Funding: This project is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and will adhere to the Federal and City of Burlington procurement and contracting guidelines, including Davis Bacon wage rates and City of Burlington Livable Wage Ordinance, Compliance with FAA Buy American, Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO), City of Burlington annual Pre-Qualification, and BTV Badging Qualification.

Federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Minority-Owned subcontractors and suppliers, and Small Businesses are strongly encouraged to submit a bid proposal.

Any interested subcontractors and suppliers should contact Engelberth Construction by sending an email to: Preconstruction3@Engelberth. com

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 24-CV-00916

NORTHCOUNTRY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, v. TINA MCGRATH, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LEO W. RICH, SR., and ALL OCCUPANTS RESIDING AT 35 GROVE STREET, CITY OF ESSEX JUNCTION, VT Defendants.

NOTICE OF SALE

By virtue and in execution of the Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure by Judicial Sale dated June 24, 2025, for a breach of a Mortgage dated October 31, 2019, and recorded in Book 1024, Pages 677-691 in the Town of Essex Land Records (the “Mortgaged Property”); and for the purpose of foreclosing the same, the Mortgaged Property will be sold at public auction on December 23, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mortgaged Property, 35 Grove Street, Essex, more particularly described as follows:

Being all and the same land and premises conveyed to Leo W. Rich by Warranty Deed of David R. Farnham and Ruth M. Farnham dated January 22, 1975, and recorded in Volume 117 at Pages 388-390 of the Town of Essex Land Records.

Being a lot of land with trailer and addition thereto located on the easterly side of Grove Street, the dwelling house being known and designated as No. 35 Grove Street, said lot contains 3/16 acre, more or less.

Patricia Rich spouse of Leo W. Rich, joins in this mortgage to permit the above-described marital property to be mortgaged to NorthCountry Federal Credit Union.

TERMS OF SALE: The Mortgaged Property will be sold “AS IS WHERE IS” to the highest bidder for cash or wire funds only. The sale of the Mortgaged Property is subject to confirmation by the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Civil Division. The Mortgaged Property

Support Groups

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS

Please join our professionally facilitated, peer-led support groups designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt. org/family-support-programs.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Call the Vermont statewide anonymous hotline: 802-802-2288. Alcoholics Anonymous holds daily meetings all over Vermont, both in person & online. For meetings & events throughout Vermont, see aavt.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a

related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston caregiver support group meets in person on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Old Brick Church in Williston. Contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury. Contact is Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@residenceottercreek. com or 802-989-0097. The Shelburne support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne. Contact is support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@ residenceshelburnebay.com. The telephone support group meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, or visit alz.org for more info. For

will be sold subject to unpaid taxes, municipal assessments, and superior liens, if any.

The public sale may be adjourned one or more times for a total time not exceeding 30 days, without further court order, and without publication or service of a new notice of sale, by announcement of the new sale date to those present at each adjournment or by posting notice of the adjournment in a conspicuous place at the location of the sale. Notice of the new sale date shall also be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the mortgagors at the mortgagors’ last known address at least five days before the new sale date.

Defendant Tina McGrath, Administrator of the Estate of Leo W. Rich, Sr. and all Occupants residing at 35 Grove Street are entitled to redeem the Mortgaged Property at any time prior to the sale by paying the full amount due under the Mortgage referenced above, including the costs and expenses of the sale.

MORTGAGED PROPERTY DEPOSIT: A nonrefundable deposit for the Mortgaged Property in the amount of $10,000.00 shall be paid by the high bidder by cash, certified check or bank draft to Prozzo Auctions, which shall hold the deposit until the closing. The balance of the purchase price for the Mortgaged Property shall be due and payable within the latter of 10 days from the date of confirmation of said sale by the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Civil Division, or 45 days from the date of public auction. If the balance of the purchase price for the Mortgaged Property is not paid within the period set forth herein, the deposit shall be forfeited and shall be retained by Plaintiff herein as agreed liquidation damages and the Mortgaged Property may be offered to the next highest bidder still interested in the Mortgaged Property.

PURCHASE AND SALE CONTRACT: The high bidder for the Mortgaged Property shall be required to sign a no contingency contract of Purchase and Sale at the public auction, agreeing to purchase the Mortgaged Property in its “AS IS WHERE IS” condition, as a result of being the successful and high bidder at the sale.

OTHER TERMS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT SALE:

Inquiries can be made to Prozzo Auctions, 207 N Main St, Rutland, VT 05701; (802) 773-2691.

Dated: November 12, 2025.

NORTHCOUNTRY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION By: /s/ Alexandra E. Edelman Alexandra E. Edelman, Esq. Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC 30 Main Street, Suite 500 P.O. Box 1489 Burlington, VT 05602-1489 (802) 864-0880 aedelman@primmer.com

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-06926

In re ESTATE of Philip Varricchione

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Philip Varricchione, late of Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: Wenesday, November 26, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Ann Varricchione Garner

Executor/Administrator: Ann Varricchione Garner P.O. Box 66, Burlington, Vermont 05402 Phone: (802) 865-6326

Email: acusick-loecher@sheeheyvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 12/03/2025

Name of Probate Court: State of VermontChittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

ANXIETY RELIEF GROUP

Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing & exploring your feelings w/ others through gentle socialization & self-expression, building up what makes you centered & strong. Wed., 4-5:30 p.m. Both in-person & Zoom options avail. In-person meetings are held at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room in Burlington. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP

Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m., in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils, 802-877-3742.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE

Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality. Thu., 4-5 p.m., at Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, Burlington. Email us for more info: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org.

DISABILITY SUPPORT GROUP

Our group is a space for mutual support, open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled or having a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical or cognitive, this group is for you! The group meets every Mon., 1:15-2:15 p.m., at Fletcher Free Library’s Pickering Room & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held on Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., via Zoom. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

FRESH START: A TOBACCO/VAPE QUIT WORKSHOP

Join a free 4- or 5-week group workshop facilitated by our coaches, who are certified in tobacco treatment. We meet in a friendly, relaxed & virtual atmosphere. You may qualify for a free limited supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Info: call (802) 859-5913 or email quittobaccoclass@uvmhealth.org to get signed up, or visit myhealthyvt.org to learn more about upcoming workshops.

GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held on the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo., 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending please register at allsoulsinterfaith. org. (More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.)

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP

This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2:30-4 p.m. Vermont Wellness Collaborative (125 College St., 3rd Floor). Email us for more information: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS/PAINFUL BLADDER SUPPORT GROUP

Interstitial cystitis (IC) & painful bladder syndrome can result in recurring pelvic pain, pressure or discomfort in the bladder/pelvic region, & urinary frequency/urgency. These are often misdiagnosed & mistreated as a chronic bladder infection. If you have been diagnosed or have these symptoms, you are not alone. For Vermont-based support group, email bladderpainvt@gmail.com or call 802-735-5735 for more info.

KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@vcsn.net.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program of Gifford Medical Center sponsors a weekly meeting of its “Living Through Loss” grief support group. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the past year or so is warmly invited to

attend the free weekly meetings every Fri., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For info, contact the Rev. Tim Eberhardt, Gifford’s Spiritual Care Coordinator, at 802-728-2107.

MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS

Are you questioning the role marijuana plays in your life? Check out Freed From Weed, a free Marijuana Anonymous 12-step group. Mon., 7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church (Red Door Church), 21 Buell St., Burlington. Contact: jointsession@newenglandma.org.

MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP

Area myeloma survivors, families & caregivers have come together to form a Multiple Myeloma Support Group. We provide emotional support, resources about treatment options, coping strategies & a support network by participating in the group experience w/ people who have been through similar situations. 3rd Tue. of every mo., 5-6 p.m., on Zoom. Info: Kay Cromie, 655-9136, kgcromey@aol.com.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Vermont offers several Connection Peer Support Groups & Family Support Groups that meet virtually &/or in person throughout the state. All groups are confidential, volunteer-led & 100% free. Find a group that suits your needs at namivt.org/support-groups.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP

Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

Narcotics Anonymous is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, St Albans, Morrisville, Barre & Stowe. Info, 833-436-6166 or cvana.org.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS & EVERY

PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY

Drop-in play every day: The Children’s Room is open Mon.-Fri. for anyone w/children ages 0-6 to come & play. Check the TCR calendar for hours & school closure days. Caregiver & Baby Circle: Weekly drop-in on Mon., 11 a.m., at the Children’s Room. We are pleased to offer a weekly gathering for babies (0-18 mos.) & their caregivers, sponsored by Good Beginnings & hosted by the Children’s Room. Nature Explorations: Tue,, 10-11:30 a.m., at various trailheads in the area. Get outside for some fresh air & fun! Every week we go to a different trailhead or natural area to explore. Ages 0-6; carriers are helpful for little ones. Email childrensroom@huusd.org to sign up; enrollment is always open. Music & Movement: drop-in, Wed., 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We begin by singing songs & moving together & allow time at the end to play w/ instruments, as well as time for adults & kids to socialize. Ages 0-6. Exploration & Art Fridays: drop-in, Fri., anytime from 9 a.m.-noon at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We’ll be engaging in different hands-on explorations & using various mediums every week — sometimes combined. Come to TCR to explore, play & create! For info, email childrensroom@huusd.org.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS (OA)

A 12-step program for people who identify as overeaters, compulsive eaters, food addicts, anorexics, bulimics, etc. No matter what your problem w/ food, we have a solution! All are welcome, meetings are open, & there are no dues or fees. See oavermont.org/meeting-list for the current meeting list, meeting format & more, or call 802-863-2655 anytime!

PARKINSON’S MUTUAL AID GROUP

For individuals & caregivers dealing w/ the challenges of Parkinson’s, we meet to share

resources & practical ideas for improving quality of life. This in-person group is free & open to the public. Every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Old Meeting House, 1620 Center Rd., East Montpelier. Please contact admin@ oldmeetinghouse.org or 229-9593.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

The Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group meets online on the 2nd Tue. of the mo., 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Whether you are newly diagnosed, dealing w/ a reoccurrence or trying to manage the side effects of treatment, you are welcome here! More info: Andy Hatch, group leader, ahatch63@gmail.com.

RECOVERY DHARMA

Recovery Dharma uses Buddhist practices & principles to help people recover from all kinds of addictions & addictive behaviors. This peer led, non-theistic group offers opportunities to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry & connect w/ others. We meet every Wed. from 6-7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Burlington (the Red Door Church, 21 Buell St.). Enter through the administrative office door (at far left when viewed from Buell St.) We also meet on Thu., 1-2 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. No meditation experience required; all are welcome. Email rd.burlington.vt@gmail.com for more information.

SMART RECOVERY

We welcome anyone, including family & friends, affected by any kind of substance or activity addiction. SMART Recovery is an abstinence-oriented program based on the science of addiction treatment & recovery. Online: Sun., 5 p.m. Info: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/1868. Face-to-face: Thu., 1:15 p.m., & Fri., 5:30 p.m., at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County. Family & Friends online, Mon., 7 p.m. Info: meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/6337. Volunteer facilitator, Bert: 399-8754. You can learn more at smartrecovery.org.

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT

HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence. Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover.net. Visit hopeworksvt.com for more information.

STEPS SUPPORT GROUP

Steps offers a weekly support group w/ drop-in options for those who have experienced or who have been affected by domestic violence. Women’s Support Group meets virtually every Tue., 5-6:30 p.m. Gender Inclusive Support Group meets virtually every Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Both groups offer a safe, supportive & confidential place to connect w/ others, heal & recover. For more info, call us at 658-1996 or email steps@ stepsvt.org.

STUTTERING SUPPORT GROUPS

We offer 3 monthly National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering support groups for adults, teens & school-age children (7-12). Meetings take place monthly at UVM & by Zoom. Contact burlingtonstutters@gmail.com for more information.

SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT Brattleboro, 257-7989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 2290591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR WOMEN Group for women who have experienced intimate partner abuse. Facilitated by Circle (Washington Co. only). Please call 877-543-9498 for more info.

SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE: SOUTH BURLINGTON This group is for people experiencing the impact of the loss of a loved one to suicide. 1st Wed. of each mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at the Comfort Inn & Suites, 3 Dorset St., S. Burlington. Info: Bob Purvee at 922-4283 or ripurvee1@yahoo.com, or Aya Kuki at 881-3606 or ayakokuki@gmail.com.

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP

The Compassionate Friends international support group for parents, siblings & families grieving the loss of a child meets every 4th Tue. of the mo., 7-8:30 p.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd., S. Burlington. Call/email Alan at 802-233-0544, alanday88@ gmail.com, or Claire at 802-448-3569.

TRANS & GENDER-NONCONFORMING SUPPORT GROUP

As trans & GNC people in the world, we experience many things that are unique to our identities. For that reason, the Transgender Program hosts a support group for our community on the 1st & 3rd Wed. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., virtually, & on the 2nd & 4th Wed. of every mo., 6:30-8 p.m., at Pride Center of Vermont. The Trans & GNC support group is for Vermonters at all stages of their gender journey to come together to socialize, discuss issues that are coming up in their lives & build community. We welcome anyone whose identity falls under the trans, GNC, intersex & nonbinary umbrellas & folks questioning their gender identity. Email safespace@pridecentervt.org w/ any questions, comments or accessibility concerns.

TRANS PARENT GROUP

This support group is for adult family members & caregivers of queer &/or questioning youths. It is held on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., online; & on the 3rd Mon. of every mo., 6-7:30 p.m., at Outright Vermont, 241 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. This group is for adults only. For more info, email info@outrightvt.org.

TRANSGUARDIANS SUPPORT GROUP

We will be in community w/ parents of trans kids of all ages & supporting each other w/ storytelling, listening, learning & love. If we want to protect our trans kids, our 1st line of defense is uplifting their parents & guardians! This is a peer-support group & will be facilitated by Alison & Shawna. 4th Tue. of every mo., 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Rainbow Bridge Community Center. Contact 622-0692 or info@rainbowbridgevt.org or go to rainbowbridgevt.org.

TRAUMA SUPPORT GROUP

Our group is a space for mutual support for everyone who is living w/ mental/emotional trauma. The group meets every Fri., 2:15-3:15 p.m., at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Admissions Advisor • Admissions Assistant

Receptionist/ Patient Care Coordinator

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate

• A strong communicator in person, via email and phone

• Loves animals and the people who care for them

Full-time position consisting of four 10 hour shifts per week. Pay range is $20-$25 and includes the following benefits:

• 40 hrs paid personal/sick time per year

• 80 hrs paid vacation time/year

• 52 hrs paid major Holidays/year

• $2,600 contribution towards healthcare premium per year

• Simple IRA with matching up to 3%

• Staff Lunches 2-3 times/week

Serious applicants must submit a cover letter telling us why you’re the right person for us, a resume and 3 references. One reference must be from a direct supervisor.

Send a full cover letter with your resume to: therese@Qivet.com

Automotive Tech Instructor

The Northlands Job Corps Center has a need for an Automotive Tech Instructor to join our school. This is a full time, year round position that o ers a competitive wage, major medical insurance plan, dental, vision, 401K and more. Northlands Job Corps provides career training to students 16 to 24 years of age who come to our center to gain valuable skills and start a career. Our students are mostly from the Northeast US and about 40% are from Vermont. We are probably the most diverse school in the state and our success, as measured by our students’ performance, is one of the best in the country. The ideal instructor would be someone who wants to be in a teaching role, ASE certiﬁed or willing to be certiﬁed, understands employment skills as well as automotive, and desires to run their own shop. Our program includes classroom instruction, hands on experience in our automotive shop and work based learning opportunities with local businesses. Class sizes are small to allow for one-on-one support.

Care Coordinator/Case Management

Case Managers support older Vermonters in the community to stay as independent as possible in the environment of their choice by promoting health, rights, independence, and economic well-being.

This position is based in our Barre CVCOA office, combined with in-home field visits.

Pay Range: $24-$26 per hour.

At Northlands we build success that lasts a lifetime. Our current openings are online. Please contact us to learn more: 7dvt.pub/NJCorpsAUTO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lead Okemo Valley TV / WLUD into its next chapter. We are a small but vibrant community-based multi-media organization, headquartered in Ludlow.

Important qualiﬁcations include:

• Familiarity with non-proﬁt administration & ﬁnancial management

• Leadership qualities and management background

• Background in digital media, audio-video, radio, and/or TV production

• Resourcefulness and technical aptitude

Salary: $60-70K range, commensurate with experience. Modest beneﬁts package: including health, dental, retirement, & PTO.

Send resume & cover letter describing your interests & qualiﬁcations to board@okemovalley.tv. Review of applicants will begin in early December and will continue until the position is ﬁlled. okemovalley.tv

For the full job description and to apply, please visit: cvcoa.org/employment

Registered Nurse, Infusion

Restoration Nursery Coordinator

Join Friends of the Mad River as the Restoration Nursery Coordinator to help support clean water, protect ecological integrity, and build resilience in our watershed community. Lead the launch of a small-scale native plant nursery in the Mad River Watershed. The Restoration Nursery Coordinator will be responsible for collecting source plant material, coordinating volunteers, growing native plants, and developing operational systems for the nursery.

When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package.

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR IV – MONTPELIER

Position Specifics: This is a full-time temporary position, funded by grants until July 2027. Starting salary $52 - $55,000. Benefits include sick leave, paid vacation & holidays, retirement plan, HSA contribution, & professional development.

The full position and directions to apply can be seen at friendsofthemadriver.org/work-with-us

Solar Sales Consultant

Hellbrook Solar is seeking a motivated Solar Sales Consultant to support our growing residential and commercial work across Vermont. This is a commission-only, 1099 contractor role suited for someone who thrives with autonomy and can manage the full sales process from ﬁrst outreach to contract signing.

What You’ll Do:

• Generate your own leads and pursue leads provided by Hellbrook Solar

• Serve as the main client contact through contract execution

• Collect site information & coordinate accurate, timely proposals

• Educate customers on system options and guide them through decision-making

Preferred Experience:

• Residential or commercial solar sales experience in Vermont

• Ability to build proposals using solar design software (OpenSolar, Aurora, etc.)

• Understanding of PV systems, inverters, racking, and general electrical components

Why Hellbrook Solar:

• Competitive commission-based compensation

• Diverse scope of work: residential and commercial solar, EV chargers, battery storage (ESS), and standby generators

• Ability to sell a full suite of energy-resiliency solutions to homeowners and businesses

• Strong operational support and high-quality installations

If you’re a self-driven salesperson interested in clean energy and home/business resiliency solutions, we’d like to hear from you. jacob@hellbrook.io

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for finance, leadership, and public service? The Department of Public Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Financial Director to lead our Administrative Services Division. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a senior financial leadership role within our organization, which plays a crucial role in setting energy policy for the state and regulating utilities. Apply today to help us achieve positive change for Vermonters. For more information, contact Carol Flint, at carol.flint@vermont.gov. Department: Public Service. Location: Montpelier. Status: Full Time – Limited Service. Rate of Pay: Minimum $45.13 Maximum $71.15. Job ID #53875. Application Deadline: December 10, 2025.

Executive Director

Executive Director, Vermont Journalism Coalition (part-time)

THE VERMONT JOURNALISM COALITION IS SEEKING ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Founded in June 2025, the nonprofit coalition represents more than 40 newspapers, television stations, radio stations, and digital news organizations across the state. It seeks to support and sustain its member news outlets and advocate for the principles of journalism.

The executive director will be charged with building the coalition into a robust institution that provides educational, public policy, business, legal and logistical support to its members. The ED should be equally comfortable communicating with members and allies, testifying at the Vermont Statehouse, administering a nonprofit and securing financial support. Most importantly, the ED should bring an energetic, entrepreneurial and self-directed approach to fighting for Vermont journalism and those who produce it.

Supervision: The ED will report to the Vermont Journalism Coalition’s nine-member board of directors, though they should be comfortable working independently to achieve the board’s goals.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of Vermont and significant experience in at least one (and preferably more) of the following fields: journalism, nonprofit administration, advocacy.

Workplace: This is a remote position, but the ED should be prepared to spend time in Montpelier, particularly during the January-May legislative session, and to travel elsewhere in Vermont, as needed.

Hours and compensation: This position is currently envisioned as 20 hours a week, paying $40,000-$45,000 a year, though this could evolve over time. The position could work well for somebody engaged in freelance journalism or other contract work.

Start date: Early January 2026.

How to apply: Please send a resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in this work to contact@vermontjournalism.com. The position will remain open until filled, but the hiring committee will begin reviewing applications Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

County Clerk

Lamoille County is accepting applications for County Clerk. If you are interested in serving Lamoille residents and working at the historic Lamoille courthouse, the County clerk position presents a unique opportunity to make a positive impact.

Schedule: Part-time in-person (up to 15 hours/week with occasional additional hours if needed)

Location: Lamoille County Superior Courthouse, 154 Main Street, Hyde Park, VT

Pay: Based on experience relevant to the position

Benefits: 12 paid holidays & health and dental insurance

Responsibilities: The County Clerk works independently, providing administrative and financial processing support to the Assistant Judges in their roles as administrators of County property and the County budget and fulfilling statutory responsibilities, including those related to certain elections.

For more information, submit inquiries, cover letters, and resumes to: recruitcountyclerk@proton.me

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.”

ZELLER, Intervale Center, Burlington

The Legislative support oﬃces are currently hiring. The nonpartisan oﬃces are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work.

You will be part of a highly professional and collegial team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at legislature.vermont.gov.

BINDERY/MAILING DEPARTMENT

Minuteman Press seeks energetic detail oriented individuals that would like to learn a new trade in a dynamic atmosphere. Candidates should have good communication skills, have dexterity and be willing to learn how to run several pieces of equipment. Experience in the print and mail field would be helpful but we are more than willing to train the right people. Good starting wage $20+/hour, and a flexible schedule along with paid vacations, sick time, company match IRA and a chance to work with a great bunch of people.

Contact: Jon@ minutemanvermont.com

We are seeking applicants for a Warehouse & Showroom Manager who can perform occasional tailgate deliveries. A clean driving record and physical ﬁtness are required and any of the following are a plus:

• Interest in Wood

• Customer Service

• Forklift Experience

• Computer Experience

Alternating 4-day/5-day work weeks. We are an EOE and provide a comfortable work environment.

Please send resumes to: peter@planethardwood.com provide resumes

2v-PlanetHardwood111925.indd

Production Team Member & Deputy Director of Sales

Are you passionate about sustainable agriculture? Do you want to work in the Cannabis industry?

SUNSET LAKE CANNABIS is on a mission to provide

Vermonters with sustainably harvested, sun-grown cannabis. Our farm focuses on cultivating premium cannabis flower and crafting high-quality products while preserving the land and enriching our communities. We are currently hiring for two positions: Production Team Member and Deputy Director of Sales!

Production Team Member: You will become an expert in the entire process of turning raw materials into finished products - hand-trimmed cannabis flower, prerolls and blunts, vape carts, THC and CBD tinctures, CBD topicals, and more! Qualified applicants should have previous experience working in a fast-paced team environment. Fast hands, excellent time management, and communication skills are valuable assets to our team.

Deputy Director of Sales: You will create and develop partnerships with retail licensees and promote the sale of Sunset Lake Cannabis and Sunset Lake CBD products. You will also work with our team to implement compliance systems and ensure that all distribution of Sunset Lake Cannabis is compliant with Cannabis Control Board rules and guidance. Qualified applicants should have experience in B2B Sales and managing CRM software and inventory tracking systems.

Schedule and compensation vary by position.

Deadline to apply: December 12, 2025.

For complete job descriptions and how to apply, visit: sunsetlakecannabis.com/careers 5v-SunsetLakeCBD120325.indd

Leading construction company is seeking Carpenters and Lead Carpenters in the Addison & Chittenden County area.

We offer a rewarding work environment with comprehensive compensation packages ranging from $65,000/yr to $95,000/yr based on experience. Benefits include paid holidays, 3+ weeks paid time off, 401k, employer healthcare contribution, profit sharing, bi-annual bonuses, and more.

Scan the QR code below to text your contact info and experience or email us at admin@smithmcclain.com Come build with us!

NEK Delivery Driver Wanted

Want to be a hero every Wednesday? Need some cash? Get paid to drive through beautiful Vermont scenery while delivering Vermont’s most beloved newspaper! We are looking for a driver to deliver Seven Days weekly in the Orleans County (NEK) area.

Only requirements are a clean driving record (no major violations), availability on Wednesdays, a reliable vehicle (preferably station wagon style or larger), ability to lift 15 pounds and a positive attitude. If you can check all these boxes, then we want you to join the Seven Days Circulation team. Familiarity with the region is a plus. We pay hourly plus mileage reimbursement. Papers can be picked up locally. Regular trips to Burlington not required. Email circ@sevendaysvt.com. No phone calls, please.

Seven Days is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Human Resources Director

$87,500 - $95,500 w/ an Excellent Benefits Package

The Town of Colchester is seeking a collaborative and experienced Human Resources Director to oversee and manage the Town’s human resource functions. This position plays a key role in maintaining a positive workplace culture, supporting employee engagement, and ensuring compliance with all applicable labor laws and regulations.

The Human Resources Director will lead recruitment and hiring for full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees; administer employee benefits and insurance programs; coordinate open enrollment and claims; support collective bargaining; and manage compensation and classification studies. The position also assists with policy development, training, and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of professional human resources experience, along with a relevant bachelor’s degree or additional related work experience totaling at least nine years. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills, the ability to manage confidential information with discretion, and a commitment to supporting Town employees and management alike.

Job Description available at: colchestervt.gov/321/Human-Resources

To apply, please submit resume and cover letter to townmanager@colchestervt.gov

Position open until filled. The Town of Colchester is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

GO HIRE.

Job Recruiters:

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Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

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MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sundog Poetry seeks a parttime Managing Director. This position is the sole staff role and requires a professional who can work independently while collaborating closely with the Board of Directors. This remote, part-time position offers schedule flexibility. Full job description: sundogpoetry.org/ managing-director Questions? hiring@sundogpoetry.org E.O.E.

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.

WE’RE HIRING

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.

Student Outreach & Support Coordinator

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 $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,

3h-PlattsburghState120325b.indd

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Seven Days on the press in Mirabel, Québec

fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

KYLE BRAVO

JULIANNA BRAZILL

JOHN KLOSSNER

SAGITTARIUS

(NOV. 22-DEC. 21)

The world’s oldest known musical composition is the Hurrian Hymn No. 6. It was discovered etched on clay tablets in Syria, dating back to 1400 BC. When finally decoded and performed, it revealed harmonies that still resonate with modern listeners. Your projects in the coming months could share this timeless quality, Sagittarius. You will have an enhanced power to bridge your past and your future. A possibility you’ve been nurturing for months or even years may finally ripen into beautiful completion. Watch for opportunities to synergize tradition with innovative novelty or deep-rooted marvels with sweet, breezy forms of expression.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Here are two of your birthrights as an Aries: to be the spark that ignites the fire and the trailblazer who doesn’t wait for permission. I invite you to embody both of those roles to the max in the coming weeks. But keep these caveats in mind: Your flame should provide light and warmth but not rouse scorching agitation. Your intention should be to lead the way, not stir up drama or demand attention. Be bold and innovative, my dear, but always with rigorous integrity. Be sensitive and receptive as you unleash your gorgeous courage. In my vision of your

future, you’re the wise guide who inspires and includes, who innovates and reflects. You fight for interdependence, not dominance.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Here’s a key theme: microdoses of courage. You don’t need to summon splashy acts of epic heroism. Subtle rebellions against numbness and ignorance may be all that’s required. Your understated superpowers will be tactful surges of honesty and gentle interventions in challenging transitions. So be brave in ways that feel manageable, Taurus. Don’t push yourself to be a fearless warrior. The trembling truth-teller is your best role model. As an experiment to get started, say yes to two things that make you nervous but don’t terrify you.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Your inner ear contains three canals filled with fluid. They act like gyroscopes, telling you which way is up, how fast you’re moving and when to stop. Your ability to maintain your balance depends on their loyal service. Without them, you couldn’t orient yourself in space. Moral of the story: You stabilize yourself through constant adjustment. Let’s make this a metaphor for your current assignment. Your ability to remain poised, centered and grounded will require ongoing adaptations. It won’t work to remain still and fixed. You will have to keep calibrating and adapting.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Let’s extol the value of productive confusion: the disorienting state when your old maps no longer match the territory. Your beloved certainties shudder and dissipate, and you don’t know what you don’t know. This isn’t a failure of understanding but the ripe precondition for a breakthrough. The caterpillar doesn’t smoothly or instantly transition into a butterfly. First it dissolves into chaotic goo and simmers there for a while. Conclusion: Stay in the not-knowing a little longer.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Coffee from Java, orchids from Iceland, and grapes from Vesuvius, Italy: What do these bounties have in common? They flourish in the extra-fertile soil created by volcanic eruptions. The molten lava that initially leveled everything in its path later cooled and became a repository of

rich nutrients. I expect a milder version of this theme for you, Leo. Events and energies that at first cause disruption will eventually become vitalizing and even healing. Challenges will lead to nourishment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Gardeners in Japan spend years training bonsai trees to grow into elegant shapes. The process requires extraordinary patience, close listening and an intimate relationship with an ever-changing life form. I invite you to approach your current projects with this mindset. You may feel tempted to expedite the growth that’s unfolding. You might feel pressure to “complete” or “optimize.” But the flourishing of your work depends on subtle attunement, not brute progress. Pay tender attention to what wants to emerge slowly. Tend to it with care. Time is your collaborator, not your enemy. You’re weaving lasting beauty.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): The Swedish concept of lagom means “not too much, not too little, but just right.” It suggests that the best option may be in the middle rather than in the extremes. Yes, sometimes that means an uneasy compromise. But more often, it’s how the power and virtue come fully alive and thrive. Many people don’t like this fact of life. They are fixated on the delusion that more is always better. In the coming weeks, Libra, I invite you to be a connoisseur of lagom. To do it right, you may have to strenuously resist peer pressure and groupthink.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In Bangkok markets, elderly women sell caged birds. Why? For the specific purpose of releasing them. Those who buy a captive sparrow or dove immediately open the cage door and let the creature fly away in a symbolic gesture of compassion and spiritual aspiration. It’s a Buddhist act believed to bring good karma to the person who sets the bird free. I invite you to imagine yourself performing this sacrament, Scorpio, or perhaps conducting an actual ritual with the equivalent purpose. Now is a fun and fertile time to liberate an outdated belief, a conversation you keep replaying or a version of yourself that’s no longer relevant. Take your cue from the signs that appear in the Bangkok market: Letting go is a form of prayer.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m taking a risk here by urging you cautious Capricorns to at least flirt with the Finnish tradition of drinking alcohol at home alone in your underwear with no intention of going out. I’m certainly not encouraging you to get so hammered that you can’t safely wander outdoors. My point is to give yourself permission to celebrate your amazing, mysterious, beautiful life with a bout of utterly uninhibited relaxation and totally indulgent contentment. I authorize you to be loose and free and even slightly irresponsible. Let your private pleasures reign supreme.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the Quechua language, the word ayllu refers to a kinship system not just of people but of animals, ancestors, dreams and nature. To be aligned with one’s ayllu is to live in reciprocity, in the ongoing exchange of care and meaning among the entire web of life. “We belong to what we love,” the Quecha elders say. Aquarius, I believe you’re being asked to focus on your ayllu. Who or what comprises your circle of belonging? Which beings, places and unseen presences help weave the pattern of your treasured destiny? Whom do you create for — not as audience but as kin who receive and answer your song? As you nourish your connections in the coming weeks, pay special attention to those who respect your idiosyncrasies. It’s not your birthright to simply fit in. Your utter uniqueness is one of your greatest gifts, and it’s your sacred duty to give it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In Yoruba cosmology, the divine spirit Oshun presides over rivers, love, beauty and sweet water. But her sweetness isn’t a weakness. It’s a sublime power, as evidenced by how her waters once restored life to the barren earth when every other force had failed. You Pisceans are now channeling extra strong currents of Oshun energy. Your tenderness is magnetic. Your imaginative flourishes are as valuable as gold. And your love, when rooted in your sovereign self-respect, is healing. But don’t let your nurturing be exploited. Choose wisely where you share your bounty. The right people will honor your flow, not judge it or try to change it. Your duty is to be uninhibitedly yourself and let your lyrical truths ripple freely.

is past summer’s drought was stressful for many Vermonters, but it also opened some new pathways. As Lake Champlain’s waters receded, Law Island became accessible by foot. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger explored the island west of the Colchester Causeway with naturalist educator Teage O’Connor.

WOMEN seeking...

HONEST, LOYAL COUNTRY GAL

I am not into game-playing, cheaters or addicts! Looking for friendship, compatibility and honesty! I have a small homestead; looking for someone who is interested in this way of life.

I also am active: I like to hike, swim, walk, ride horses, backcountry ski. outdoorwomantoo, 66, seeking: M, l

OLD-WORLD, CONTEMPLATIVE, ARTISTIC CAREGIVER

I enjoy my relaxed, reclusive existence but also love to play dress-up, flaunt some bling and go out. I patronize and participate in the arts. Caring for specialneeds animals makes my heart sing. I’m a fierce advocate for the voiceless. Today’s high point was the return of “my” pileated woodpecker at the suet feeder. I feel one with nature. Deja 74, seeking: M, l

SOFT HEART. MUD EVERYWHERE. HELP.

Short, cute girl-next-door with a practical streak, a quiet wit and a small farm full of animals convinced they run the place. I love my peaceful life, but it’d be even better shared. Hoping to meet a kind, steady man who appreciates warm evenings, easy laughter, and a little mischief now and then. Leah50 50, seeking: M, l

VIBRANT, ADVENTUROUS, GROUNDED

Outside-the-box thinker with an adventurous spirit looking for a curious, open-minded, healthy man. Snowdrop14, 47, seeking: M, l

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

FUN LOVING, YOUNG AT HEART

I have been called sweet, but I hold my ground when I feel betrayed and misunderstood. Any activity near or on water fills my soul. Have traveled both in the States and abroad. Looking for fun male partner to take advantage of all things Vermont and beyond. Lifesjourney, 57 seeking: M, l

LOOKING FOR A FRIEND

I’m honest, caring and thoughtful. melriv66, 59, seeking: M, l

SEXY, FUN, ADVENTURES, CUDDLES, MORE

Sensual, fun woman looking for a partner in crime to go on adventures with and to have fun sexy times. This could lead to a long-term relationship or just someone to hang with or both. Let’s see what happens and go from there! Live music, dancing, dinners out as well as snuggles and kisses and sexual fun. Let’s explore! FunGal, 57, seeking: M, l

LET’S PLAY TOGETHER

Sixtysomething single female seeks sixtysomething male to have endless adventures. Imagining paddling on smooth waters, biking with a tailwind, skiing powder, hiking to top of Camel’s Hump at sunrise and everything in between. Indoors fine dining and indie concerts. Satisfying wanderlust with many trips across the world. Let’s have fun together. VTLOON 65, seeking: M

INSIGHTFUL, GROUNDED, STRONG, DISCERNING, COMPASSIONATE

On here for a moment to see potential connections with other men. onceuponariverjen, 36, seeking: M, l

YOUTHFUL OLD SOUL AWAKENING HEART

Youthful old soul; awakened heart, discerning mind welcomes aligned connections to nurture conscious, kind, harmonious peace promoting culture. Aiming to grow chosen beyond nuclear family with a life partner. Inquisitive, playful, kind, adventurous, content, open. Let’s drink tea, walk, watch, listen, sing, dance. Seeding mindful, low throughput, liberation oriented community. youthfuloldsoul, 50, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

THOUGHTFUL, OUTDOORSY, SWEET TOOTH!

My passions include my family and friends, a healthy lifestyle, and enjoying the great outdoors through hiking, cycling, running, XC skiing and paddling! Also love baking, volunteering, craft beer, travel, live music and dancing. Looking for an active, thoughtful guy! hikerbaker 45, seeking: M, l

SOMEWHAT FEISTY

I know the world best through reading, writing and listening; the NEK woods and trails. A clumsy but enthusiastic Nordic skier, cheerful gardener and admirer of others’ gardens, with a tendency to laugh at inappropriate moments. Petite, decently educated, cancer survivor. Maybe your way of knowing the world can widen mine? Larch, 57 seeking: M, l

PEACE-MINDED SOUL SEEKS SAME

Creative live-music lover looking for some new people to go to shows with, take a hike with, get some coffee, take a road trip or just hang with my dogs. Looking for friends to start, and if something else should spark, to just go with it. Sugarmags68 56 seeking: M, TM, l

NOT A POET

I worked on these three haiku for awhile: Friends call me JLew / I love to dance. I’ve got moves / that will split your pants // “I wish I could work / on a farm with you” is my / highest compliment. // Dragonfly days and / firefly nights, the best world / a North Woods delight. JLew, 54, seeking: M, l

ONE STITCH AT A TIME

Widow, 75, Shelburne. Warm, thoughtful and family-oriented. Retired PhD in social work, lover of gardening, knitting, books and quiet evenings by the fire. Nonsmoker, nondrinker, progressive, and active in nature and community. Seeking friendship and companionship with openness to a deeper connection. Diane50, 75, seeking: M, l

SEEKING FUN AND ADVENTURE

The world is full of adventures just waiting to be had: a long hike and walk to a waterfall, a fabulous show, a great meal, a beautiful ski. All these are adventures I like to go on. Care to join me? wildflower762 54, seeking: M, l

NOT A FAN OF FAKES

Trusting my heart to you will take some time, but if you’re patient it will be worth it. I’m a romantic woman who loves to watch sunsets. I have a big heart and tend to trust people. Honesty is what I expect and deserve. I’m a one-man woman, and I want a one-woman man, nothing less. Patty802, 67, seeking: M, l

FULL OF STARS

My friends tell me I’m the nicest and most Zen person they know. I love music, art and history. Oh, and maybe you and/or your pets. I use “y’all” in unexpected places. I do not have a Dick Cheney tattoo. Tell me about you. NotAngryMittens, 53, seeking: M

MEN seeking...

COLLEGE STUDENT SEEKING CONNECTION

I like hiking, gardening, reading and taking walks. I tend to take things slowly in romantic relationships, and I’m looking for something that could last. Seeking a woman around my age to have fun and share this phase of life. slithy_tove 19 seeking: W, l

SIMPLE LIFE

I’m undergoing the next rediscovery of life. Working on a simple, minimalist existence. Always up for a beer at one of Vermont’s great breweries and for the natural splendor the Northeast has to offer! My children are grown, live elsewhere and have babies of their own. I visit as frequently as possible, and we communicate almost daily. LifeInMotion, 58, seeking: W, l

PEOPLE TELL ME THEY LIKE ME...

And that I am a lot of fun. Let’s talk, and you decide? Good looking, Fun, wellendowed/well-traveled/well-educated/ well-off former Brooklynite seeks: fun, laughter, touch of sensitivity and sexuality, and sharing good food and good stories from someone I’ve never met before. I found a new home — literally and figuratively — here. Looking for companionship and sex with chemistry. I am sweet, honest, loyal, creative, kinda weird (crush on Drew Barrymore), open-minded, looking for similar. HappyhelpfullGuywithALOTofPHONES, 40 seeking: W, Cp, l

EASYGOING, CARING, KIND, LONELY

Would like to meet a woman for friendship. Go places together and do things together. Enjoy riding back roads, looking for wildlife to take pictures of. Eaglelover, 83 seeking: W, l

I THINK THIS IS FREEDOM!

I am a grounded man, showing up consistently for the things that matter: my health, my kids and my spirit. Cultivating faith each day, watered with optimism. I have a full life and want to include that special person. I am looking for that someone who appreciates the inside person, with all their quirks, beauties and challenges. Into things “S”: Skiing, sobriety, stoked, sailing, sauna, skinny-dipping, soccer, sun, sensuality. waterandsky 50, seeking: W, l

SWEET AND QUIET

Down-to-earth, quiet man in search of a companion-for-life to warm up and spice my evenings and nights. Jeveuxdatevermont, 55, seeking: W, l

OPEN AND HONEST

I would characterize myself as a peaceful-minded soul with positive outlooks in all things, who is not the serious type but one who looks at the dips as learning lessons and highs as a gift and who has lots of laughs and chuckles in the meantime. lookingforward 82 seeking: W, l

TIME FOR NEW FRIENDS

Time to meet other adventurers! I spend my winter days on my skis as much as possible. Alpine and Nordic. Looking to find someone to share fun with. I haven’t gone dancing in years, but I would love to find someone to converse with, laugh with and have the support of a friend. I’m quiet, observant, caring. jetalone 68, seeking: W, l

MISS ME YET?

Single dad. Been cheated on, shared custody. Show me what it’s like to be needed and to need. soloisboring 43, seeking: W, Cp, Gp, l

NEW TO BURLINGTON

Looking to find that “one” but also enjoying the journey getting there. rcg2504 49 seeking: W, l

OLD SCHOOL, KIND AND POLITE

Older guy looking for a clean, wellgroomed man who likes to have fun. I enjoy long, slow sex that feels romantic. Man with a foot fetish is a plus; willing to paint toes and any other thing that makes you freaky. Metoo 62, seeking: M, TM, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp

CRAZY CAT-LOVING POET GUY 57-y/o artist, woodcarver and poet is seeking laid-back friends of all sorts to hang out with; and a 25- to 55-y/o woman with a creative soul and open heart to explore the possibilities with together, however far your heart desires to go. Dan_o_Shanter 57, seeking: W, l

LAID BACK, OUTDOORSY

Back in Burlington and wondering why I ever left. Excited to spend time enjoying everything the state has to offer. I enjoy hiking, craft beer, long walks, and spending time with friends and family. I’m a genuinely nice guy and looking for someone who respects that. I am in good shape, liberal politics. Looking for an honest partner. MattyW 36 seeking: W, l

NEW TO VT

While I have owned property in Vermont for 20 years, I’m finally living here permanently. I’ve worked in a corporate environment for 30 years and looking forward to getting back to my roots. Looking to fill my house with laughter and love. NewVermonter, 52, seeking: W, l

ACTIVE, KIND, ADVENTUROUS

Looking for a long-term partner who wants to share in travel, adventure, winter sports and a healthy, positive lifestyle. funnyfarm 53, seeking: W, l

INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS

Physically fit, intellectually curious, nature-loving, Ph.D., retired, Caucasian male with many interests looking for a woman to share a long-term relationship. Bonus if you enjoy backcountry hikes, dancing or home-brewing. PerpetualCuriosity 69, seeking: W, l

OUTGOING INTROVERT SEEKING FELLOW ADVENTURER

Howdy! I’m an active and adventurous man seeking like-minded ladies to share in this beautiful journey called life. I would love to meet someone that I can have a deep emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical connection with. Open, honest communication and kindness matter. If any of this sounds interesting to you, then let’s chat. Be well. Letstakeitoutside 53, seeking: W, l

CAREFULLY AS MENU HAS CHANGED 74-y/o M seeks relaxed, humorous sex-plus partner/companion. St. J/ Littleton area. Longtime divorced, mostly celibate. Masturbating is yearning/ memories. I need insightful, generous woman touching, give/receive. I have herpes, vasectomy, hearing loss. All respect for preferences and boundaries. Remote areas off-grid DIY homesteader, antiques picker, accomplished hoarder, acoustic musician, poet, builder, recluse. Sex is both nutrient and gateway. LTR/ LAT if chemistry match ignites love. Northcountrypicker, 74, seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

ADVENTUROUS, WHIMSICAL AND SILLY

Brand-new to Vermont living, from the West Coast! Looking for love in hopefully the right place. Always up for a good time and wanting to find someone who loves yacht rock, movies and going on the wackiest side quests. YachtRockGal, 27 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking...

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are older and wiser, discovered that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple for threesomes or foursomes. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Are you interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen 69, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

THINKING OF YOU

I hope that somewhere in your thoughts, you remember me and our love, and maybe, even for a moment, you miss me, too. My love for you is still pure and deeper than anything I’ve ever felt. You’ve moved on, and I’m trying, but it’s hard. I think of you day and night and will never forget what we shared. When: Saturday, November 29, 2025. Where: in my memories. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916493

JAPANESE 4RUNNER

I thought your door was broken, and you had to crawl over — turns out the steering wheel is on the right! I missed an opportunity and should have offered my number. Would appreciate a second chance! When: Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Where: Colchester Post Ofﬁce. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916492

IT CAN’T RAIN ALL THE TIME

I have to say, I’m genuinely taken by your proﬁle. I’ve found myself rereading it a few times over the past couple of weeks. I usually just browse and keep to myself, but yours made me pause, and now I’m actually contemplating paying the $7 just to say hello.

LOL. When: Sunday, November 23, 2025. Where: in a different light. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916491

THE GREEN SPACE

It’s all because of Goose. Your smile melted my heart. We were both there on purpose. I didn’t run. You didn’t want me to. We still ignore what upsets us the most. You’re so bossy. I’m always late. en you forgot me, but I still showed up. Let’s not give up on each other, please. When: ursday, October 9, 2025. Where: the Green Space. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916490

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

ICE-COLD RUNNER

You: running in freezing weather, dropped in for an early morning coffee. Me: suggested you order ﬁrst because I’m a mensch. Let’s go for a run together — maybe when it’s above freezing? When: Friday, November 21, 2025. Where: Kru Coffee. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916489

BEAUTIFUL SMILE AT COSTCO TONIGHT

It was closing time, and you and I passed. I smiled and said hello, and you smiled this radiant smile and said hi back. We checked out next to each other. I waited outside the store to say hello again and see about asking you out, but I missed you somehow. I would love a chance to chat! When: ursday, November 20, 2025. Where: Costco. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916488

VIOLIN MAN MEETS VAN GIRL

I was driving my colorful van, and you were playing violin at the U-Mall stoplight. Ummm, hello, gorgeous? It was music to my ears! I rolled down my window to listen, and you yelled, “I like your van!” My heart thumped. We lovingly looked into each other’s eyes while you played. Gosh darn that light turning green — grrrr. Let’s get married! When: Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Where: University Mall. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916487

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: ursday, November 13, 2025. Where: Hannaford in Williston. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916486

YOU CAN STEAL MY HEART

I saw you on the news and just wanted to reach out. You were wearing a white ski mask and white gloves at the Lowell General Store around 2 a.m. Saturday. I am very curious who you are. I was wearing a state trooper outﬁt and driving a green SUV. Would love to connect with you. Hit me up. When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Lowell General Store. You: Man. Me: Man. #916484

SEA SHANTIES IN CALAIS

What a scene in Calais. To the man in the gray sweater: ank you for picking up my tab, very sweet. I had no idea until after you left. e 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

DADDY VISITING — WE CHATTED IN LINE

You were the next person after me at the checkout. You noticed all my fresh veggies; you said, “I’m coming to your place for dinner.” I wanted to invite you so badly, but I knew you were married. I waited in my car to give you my cell. I want you over for dinner! You are visiting. You were wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. When: Saturday, November 8, 2025. Where: Market 32, Rutland. You: Man. Me: Man. #916482

AQUA ZUMBA CUTIE

You: young, dark-haired man, late 20s/ early 30s with a beard, at the Wednesday evening aqua Zumba class at the Y. Surrounded by older women, locked in on the pulsating beats of Missy Elliot. Me: green sports bra, having my post-workout sauna session. If interested, I’d like to get to know the handsome demographic outlier in that class. When: Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Where: Burlington YMCA. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916480

CHILLING AT THE Y

You: black top and bottom, small gold hoop earrings, silver ring on your right middle ﬁnger. Where: sauna at the Y. Me: I was the hot guy. When: Sunday, November 9, 2025. Where: GBYMCA. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916481

De Heat Mis

ROSIE, WHERE ARE YOU?

Tell your daddy that this is his last chance to get his daughter in a ﬁne romance! Adventuring, loving, being cared for and connected for so long. Is it not time to say someday we will look back at this and it will all seem funny? When: Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Where: everywhere. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916478

WHEN AND WHERE?

You said to keep moving — so here I am. / But this time, you better show up in time. / Don’t leave me waiting in the echoes again. / I keep dreaming of you, again and again. / Let’s make it real — no ghosts, no delay. / Just us, meeting where hearts ﬁnally stay. / Tell me, how are we meeting? When: ursday, October 30, 2025. Where: my dreams. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916477

GREEN STATE HOTTIE

I stopped at Green State to get a preroll for my peeping drive. Hottie in the ball cap picked a ﬁre sativa they said they grew there. I was pretty lit while driving there so I sat in a chair there. I could see you watching me. Was there something there? e peeping drive would have been lit with a passenger. When: Saturday, October 18, 2025. Where: dispensary. You: Man. Me: Man. #916476

CITY MARKET TRIPLE TAKE

Pulling into the downtown parking lot at 5:40 p.m. You were walking across the lot to your car. You did a triple take and we made eye contact all three times, so it must be real. You: stunning, mid-late 20s, probably ﬁve-foot-sevenish, brown hair half tied back. I think you drove a white Honda/Subaru. I was in the old black SUV. When: Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Where: City Market downtown. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916475

GNEISSGUY

I regret, and I do want to be saved. / is light I hold is true, not brave facade or wave. / When and where could we meet, to mend what is frayed? / You heard me silent, thought I’d fade, / But I stayed, adrift, awake, unscathed. / Not false light, but love engraved. When: Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Where: now. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916472

Every year around the holidays, I visit and stay with my sister for a few days. I love spending time with her, but she keeps her heat so low that I freeze my butt off at her house. I’ve tried to drop hints about being cold, but she says she gets too hot if the temperature is any higher. How do I get her to heat it up when I’m there without being a jerk about it?

PHO HONG PHLIRTATION

You commented how nice it was of me to buy everyone dinner. I said I’m the nicest person I know. Are you single? Maybe we grab a drink? When: Saturday, October 25, 2025. Where: Pho Hong. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916470

JERSEY BOY

You were behind me in line when my poodle was trying to beeline it out the door of Petco with his treat, like a thief. You looked handsome and familiar — perhaps we met in the ‘90s at LBI one of those summers. I’m glad you gave me your name; wish I had your number. When: Saturday, October 25, 2025. Where: Petco in Barre. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916471

JULIO’S MONTPELIER ISPY MOMENT

You were with a group of ladies near my table. As you were leaving, you were excited about seeing the next iSpys. You asked to see my copy of Seven Days. I was happy to let you look. You wondered if you would be in the iSpys. Here you are, Sweetheart! If you can ﬁnd me, let’s have dinner! When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Where: Julio’s, Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916468

GLITCH(ES)

Wild Wabbit, / wonging for wesoltution / Birdshot wanced my wear / Wost in your dark hole / My heart forever stole. When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Where: Milton Hannaford’s. You: Man. Me: Man. #916464

SWEETLAND

I was trying to ﬁgure out how to pay for the corn. You helped by ﬁnding the right code to put in the register. I wish I had gotten your name. I’d love to meet again and have dinner. When: Saturday, October 11, 2025. Where: Sweetland Farm store, Norwich. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916462

CUTE MAN DRIVE-BY

I was at the No Kings protest on Saturday. You drove by in a black pickup truck hauling a trailer. You stopped and told us all thank you for being out there. I was in a tan and pink ﬂannel — thought you were very handsome. When: Saturday, October 18, 2025. Where: Enﬁeld, N.H. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916461

No heating system is cheap. Is it possible your sister is keeping the temperature low to cut costs? Perhaps offering

When you stay at someone’s house, you play by their rules. Simple as that. However, a host should want their guests to be comfortable. It’s a ﬁne line, but if you’re too cold and she’s too hot, we’ve got a bit of a “Goldilocks and the ree Bears” situation on our hands. You’ve dropped hints, but maybe you need to take a more direct approach and be speciﬁc. Ask if the thermostat could be bumped up by just 2 degrees, and promise that if she gets too toasty it can come right back down. It sounds like she’s a stickler, but it’s worth a shot.

to throw a few beans toward the heating bill would encourage her to crank it up during your stay. If neither of those options seems feasible, your best bet is just to be practical. You know that you’re going to be cold when you visit your sister, so be prepared. Dress in layers. Invest in a good pair of lightweight long johns. Pack whatever clothes keep you cozy: knit caps, big socks, an extra sweater or two, a fuzzy robe. You don’t want to walk around her house wearing a parka, but it’s not hard to get comfortably bundled up for the indoors.

Here’s another idea: If you give her a holiday gift this year, make it a big, furry throw blanket — one you can cuddle up with to make your visit feel just right.

Good luck and God bless,

your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

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! #L19001

Healthy, active, ﬁt, fun, adventurous Mad River male. Seeking a female friend with similar qualities. #L1900

I’m a 31-y/o man, ﬁt, 6’1” tall, dark skin, looking for a woman between 45 and 70. I like to work out, do outdoor activities, cook and craft, and learn new skills. I have a lot to teach. I’m independent and respectful. #L1898

30-y/o lady ISO independent, slightly sarcastic, progressiveminded man. Someone who can entertain complex emotional and ethical thoughts. No boys necessary: Clean up your own mess. I’m a skier, thru-hiker and nature lover. #L1897

Imagine all the wonderful things you could have spent that $5 on. Hmm, yeah, inﬂation. Might as well see what I’m all about. No sales tax. Seeking Y/O/U. #L1898

I’m a 72-y/o SWF seeking a 60- to 70-y/o man. I live in Woodstock, Vt. I want a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, would meet in person. #L1891

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PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above.

readers

I am a 49-y/o woman seeking a 38- to 52-y/o man. I am ready to meet a life partner to grow a kind, conscious family with. Are you ﬁt, curious, ecologically and socially attuned? Let’s meet for tea, a pedal or hike. #L1896

I’m a 70-y/o male, 6’1”, 265 lbs., seeking a woman between 60 and 79 y/o who smokes cigarettes. I am looking for a long-term relationship. Drives, meals, cuddles, watching movies. #L1893

Open-minded SWM, 60s, 170 lbs., 5’8”, seeks similar for friendship and more. Open-minded, intelligent, liberal, slim males into fun activities and exploring various types of fun. #L1894

I’m a 65-y/o woman seeking a ﬁt, 45- to 70-y/o man. I am a woman with a lot of energy! Clean houses. Love the outdoors, swimming, rides and Maine. I’m 5’2”, 130 lbs. Love to laugh! #L1892

Very discreet bi guy loves the outdoors: camping, hiking, ﬁshing, etc. Looking for other guys with similar interests to share fun times and have good times with. Hit me up! #L1890

Male looking for female, age 59 to 69. I am disabled but still get around on my own. Looking for someone to hang with, since I am all alone and hate it. My partner passed from cancer. #L1888

Int net-Free Dating!

Perverted tales. Hedonistic confessions. Bold, erotic and sensual? Titillating? Incredible and luscious? Yes, please! Extreme, deviant, obscene perversity helps incite lust. I am eager to hear from all you perverts. Conﬁdential. I dare you to shock me. #L1889

I’m a SWM, 60s, 5’7”, 165 lbs. seeking slim males who enjoy a nice, long, slow, relaxing blow job or a regular one, if desired. NSA, just pleasure. #L1882

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking a male. I am a widow of ﬁve years. Looking for companionship. Love music, reading, knitting, crocheting and playing card games, etc. #L1887

I’m a 19-y/o male college student seeking a kind, curious, adventurous woman around my age. I enjoy meditating, being outside and long conversations. Looking for someone I can value and appreciate who can help me to value and appreciate life. #L1881

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a ﬁt, tender and unassuming female counterpart (58 to 68) for woodland walks, shared meals and scintillating conversation. Won’t you join me? #L1885

I’m a 43-y/o male seeking a woman, 30 to 50. Adventure seeker building an off-grid cabin in Newport. I’m 5’8”, redheaded, ﬁt, living between western Mass. and Vt. I like to cook, bathe, hike, camp and travel. Seeking ﬁt, fun-loving, cuddly companion for potential future. #L1880

I have the dreams; you have the sugar. Let us maybe travel a bit and figure out what this country needs. F, 24, seeking someone intellectual, active and financially afloat. #L1878

I’m a 74-y/o male. It’s been a long, long time without feeling a woman’s touch. I miss sex. I would love to meet a single, divorced or widowed woman in her 70s or 80s. Did I mention I miss sex? Phone number, please. #L1879

I’m a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) Required conﬁdential info:

(MORE)

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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.

'The Basics' Cake Decorating Class

WED., DEC. 3

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Homemade Éclairs From Scratch

THU., DEC. 4

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

THU., DEC. 4

PEOPLES ACADEMY, MORRISTOWN

RAR Bike Basics Workshops - for WTNB

FRI., DEC. 5

OLD SPOKES HOME COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, BURLINGTON

Reindeer Cake Decorating Class

FRI., DEC. 5

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Rusty DeWees: THE LOGGER – A Holiday Show to Benefit Jenna’s Promise

FRI., DEC. 5

JENNA'S HOUSE, JOHNSON

TURNmusic Presents Ray Vega QuARTet

FRI., DEC. 5

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

French Macarons Workshop

Featuring Small Oven Pastries

SAT., DEC. 6

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show

SAT., DEC. 6

CONTOIS AUDITORIUM, BURLINGTON

Vermont Holiday Market

SAT., DEC. 6

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX JUNCTION

SAT., DEC. 6 & SUN., DEC 7

MCCARTHY ARTS CENTER, COLCHESTER

A Masqued Murder

SAT., DEC. 6

Bella Voce 'Joyous Sounds of the Season' Holiday Concert

MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BURLINGTON

Mephiskapheles and Tsunamibots

SUN., DEC. 7

AFTERTHOUGHTS, WAITSFIELD

Gift Wrapping Session

TUE., DEC. 9

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Holiday Flowers and Wine with Blossom LLC

THU., DEC. 11

LEO & CO., ESSEX

Sex With Jenna: Dating Show

THU., DEC. 11

OFF CENTER FOR THE DRAMATIC ARTS, BURLINGTON

Holiday House Decorating Class

FRI., DEC. 12

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

The Kat & Brett Holiday Show

FRI., DEC. 12

BURNHAM HALL, LINCOLN

PB&J Holiday Party with Angelique Francis Band at Retro Live

SAT., DEC. 13

RETROLIVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY

The Ladybug Transistor with Giant Day and Chris Ziter

SAT., DEC. 13

STANDING STONE WINES, WINOOSKI