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VE RMO NT ’S IN DEPE NDEN T VO IC E JANUARY 7-14, 2026 VOL.31 NO.18 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

With With trouble trouble brewing beyond beyond Dry Dry January, Vermont’ s craft beer industry Vermont’ s craft brewers braces for an an uncertain uncertainfuture future brace for BY BY JJO ORRDDAN AN BAR BARRY, RY, PAGE PAGE 3300

BALANCING ACTS

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A 2026 legislative session preview

ON THE BEET

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Winter farmers markets thrive

RENTAL DISAGREEMENT

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Phoenix gallery sues Waterbury landlord

Do you suffer from

We are not hapless beings caught in the grip of forces we can do little about, and wholesale damnations of our society only lend a further mystique to organization. Organization has been made by man; it can be changed by man. — William HollingsWortH WHyte

Headaches? Eye Strain? Neck Pain? Dizziness? Dry Eye?

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WEEK IN REVIEW DECEMBER 31, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY ALISON NOVAK

Sens. Scott Beck and Seth Bongartz (at left) on the conference committee in June

SENATE PANEL: NO ETHICAL LAPSE HERE

The Senate Ethics Panel has dismissed complaints against Sens. Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) and Seth Bongartz (D-Bennington), who both have ties to Vermont’s historic private academies, after finding their conduct did not represent an ethics violation under the Vermont Constitution or Senate rules. Such ethics complaints and the panel’s findings typically are kept confidential. But in these instances, the complainants shared their correspondence with Seven Days. The first complaint, made in June by Friends of Vermont Public Education board member Geo Honigford, alleged that Beck and Bongartz pushed for provisions that would directly benefit St. Johnsbury Academy and Manchester’s Burr & Burton Academy while serving on a conference committee hashing out the details of Act 73, the sweeping education law passed last session. Beck has taught history at St. Johnsbury Academy for decades, and Bongartz served as chair of Burr & Burton’s board of trustees for 15 years. As two of three senators on the committee, the men spent what some observers considered an outsized amount of time working to ensure that certain independent schools made out favorably under the legislation. The second complaint, filed in July by Essex Westford school board chair Robert Carpenter, alleged ethical violations only against Beck. In a July 9 email to the ethics panel, Carpenter questioned why Beck didn’t openly dis-

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) helped swear in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on New Year’s Day. His revolution, indeed.

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

FLYING IN

1. “Upper Pass Beer to Move From Tunbridge to Burlington” by Jordan Barry. The brewery will take over for Simple Roots Brewing — which closed in December — and expand into an adjacent storefront, with a planned taproom opening in February.

Members of Vermont’s Air National Guard assisted during the attack on Venezuela, Sen. Peter Welch told NBC5. He said no Vermonters were injured in the action.

NEW FACES

Gov. Phil Scott appointed two Republicans — one in the Senate, one in the House — to vacant legislative seats. Just in time for the session.

TOPFIVE

2. “Welch, Sanders and Balint Condemn Military Action in Venezuela” by Matthew Roy. Vermont’s Congressional delegation called Trump’s decision to attack the country and capture its leader “illegal.” 3. “Tim Ashe to Run for State Auditor of Vermont” by Hannah Bassett. The former Vermont Senate leader and current deputy auditor announced he is seeking the post this year. 4. “A Story on Alcohol Abuse Hits Close to Home for One Reporter” by Colin Flanders. Reporting on Vermont’s heavy drinking caused our reporter to rethink his own alcohol use. 5. “Life Stories: Remembering the Vermonters Who Died in 2025” by Seven Days staff. We reported on the interesting lives of six unusual Vermonters who died last year.

TOWN CRIER

L O C A L LY

SOURCED

NEWS

A ‘Dairy Town’ No More

LEAVING TRACKS

Seven migrants were caught trying to illegally cross the border from Canada into Vermont during the week of Christmas. Even in the cold and snow…

Waterbury may be home to a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream plant, but the milk used in the frozen treat isn’t coming from any cows in town, the Community News Service reported. Over the past decade, the three remaining commercial dairies in Waterbury have been driven out of business by high overhead costs. Read more at vtcommunitynews.org.

THAT’S SO VERMONT

Among the tens of thousands of documents that the federal government released last month related to the late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein is an August 2020 tip to the FBI from someone who lives in Essex, N.Y. The person’s name is redacted, but, based on the description of this tipster, it’s clear who it is: Sandy Lewis. For decades, the cantankerous — but at times generous — former Wall Street maverick has lived full time in the Adirondacks, where he owns an organic beef farm — a property that is now for sale. The FBI’s Epstein document says the tipster described himself as someone who had worked “with prominent business figures

such as Leslie Wexner” — once a major client at Epstein’s money management firm — and been “pardoned by a U.S. president.” Lewis, who was convicted of financial crimes while working on Wall Street during the 1980s, was pardoned by president Bill Clinton in 2001 and later exonerated by a judge. The tipster told the FBI that he was in touch with an Epstein victim who “knew about criminal activity which happened in multiple states, on airplanes, etc.” The person said there were “films of men recorded,” including of “Epstein, President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump.” Reached on Monday, Lewis couldn’t recall the name of the Epstein victim who had contacted him — or whether he’d actually called in the tip. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if I did,” said Lewis, who turns 87 later this month.

Wexner, a billionaire businessman who created the Limited, Bath & Body Works, and Victoria’s Secret, was a client of his, Lewis acknowledged, but he never met Epstein — or Trump, for that matter. “God knows, I never spoke to him,” Lewis said of Epstein, “but I certainly heard about him.” In 2018, Lewis was the subject of a Seven Days cover profile, in which he detailed a troubled childhood. As an adult, he’s taken a particular interest in helping kids, especially those in difficult circumstances. That, perhaps, is why the Epstein case, in which young women were trafficked for sex, has touched a nerve for Lewis. “I’m for children, and I’m not for this kind of thing at all,” he told Seven Days. “And I think this is just dead wrong all the way around.”

FILE: GLENN RUSSEL

true802 DROPPING A DIME ?? ? ? ??

close or recuse himself from education reform negotiations due to a conflict of interest. In letters to Honigford and Carpenter dated December 15, ethics panel chair Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden-Southeast) cited a memo on the ethics panel’s website that states Senate rules “prohibit members from voting on questions in which they have an ‘immediate or direct interest.’” But, Ram Hinsdale wrote, a question is only of “direct personal interest” if it pertains to a legislator personally, “such as a motion to censure the legislator.” And a question is only of pecuniary interest if it “provides benefits to a specific individual or corporation” and is not “a matter of general public interest.” Because Act 73 relates to transforming Vermont’s education governance — “a matter of general public interest” — Beck and Bongartz’s involvement in the bill does not represent a conflict of interest, Ram Hinsdale’s letters state. Bongartz said he “was never remotely concerned” about Honigford’s complaint, calling it “total nonsense.” “It’s disappointing that somebody would try to weaponize the ethics system for purely political purposes,” he said. Beck, meanwhile, wrote in a text message that the ethics panel’s decision “supports and demonstrates that I effectively represent the interests of all of the communities that I serve.” Read reporter Alison Novak’s full story at sevendaysvt. com.

PASSING THE TORCH

That’s how many daily high temperature records were set in Burlington in 2025, the ninth-warmest year on record.

Sandy Lewis

SASHA GOLDSTEIN SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

The project – producing articles, books and presentations on current, historical, social psychological and philosophical issues. Please submit resume and cover letter to histphilﬂ@gmail.com* Include date, place of birth, citizenship, state, county of permanent residence. No photos. Your résumé gets mine. *re-run with correct email address

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

Colin Flanders, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Lucy Tompkins A R T S & C U LT U R E  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  

Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler

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

Kaitlin Montgomery

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Julia Maguire

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

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly C I R C U L AT I O N : 3 5 , 0 0 0 Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction. Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec. DELIVERY TECHNICIANS Harry Applegate, James Blanchard, Joe Bouffard, Pat Bouffard, Colin Clary, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Matt Hagen, Jay Kramer, Penny Libercent, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Matt LaDuq Perry, Danielle Schneider, Andy Watts, Tracey Young With additional circulation support from PP&D. SUBSCRIPTIONS 6- 1 : $158. 1- 1 : $250. Please call 802-865-1020, ext. 132 with your credit card, contact circ@sevendaysvt.com or mail your check to: Seven Days, c/o Subscriptions, 255 S. Champlain St., Ste. 5, Burlington, VT 05401 Seven Days shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement. If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Seven Days may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Seven Days reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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‘LAST WORD’

[Re Life Story: “Activist Brenda Churchill Was a ‘Fierce’ Advocate,” December 24]: Brenda Kai Churchill saw through the noise with unflinching clarity — she was someone whose innate sense of selfpreservation, strength and justice shaped everything she touched. She showed up — always. Invite her anywhere and she would come, ready to share her story and truly listen to yours. Brenda owned her choices completely. Not everyone agreed with them, but she had a gift for helping you understand what mattered and why. She loved to dance, savored a good party or coffee,

‘TASTELESS COVER’

The cover on the year-end issue [December 24, 2025] was grotesque.

and transformed even chance encounters at the market into moments of genuine connection. She was a terrible joke teller — as am I. We’d try to outdo each other, always ending in the kind of laughter that deepens friendship. We stood together on protest lines and at Statehouse functions, including crucial conversations with Gov. Phil Scott about LGBTQ Vermonters’ rights. Brenda was a fierce comrade who understood that justice doesn’t come easily — so she

& 17 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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HOLD MY BEER.

VERMONT’S INDEPENDENT VOICE DECEMBER 24, 2025-JANUARY 7, 2026 VOL.31 NO.16

SEEKING INTELLECTUAL JOINT VENTURER

Mike Campo

BARNET

The puppy and the sad snowman were cute. The spouting and dripping blood, not so much. Really inappropriate and tasteless cover. Not up to your usual standards. Mike and Pat Weisel

UNDERHILL

Horrible!!!! I had to tear it off so I could stop looking at it. What was the point? Lisa Adler

BARNET

We love Seven Days and have always been supporters, but last week’s cover left us disturbed. The illustration of a cute puppy ripping the arm off a snowman and the snowman spurting blood was disturbing, pointless and disgusting. That is not how we want to be greeted by our favorite newspaper. There are enough terrible images in our world these days. This felt gratuitous. August Burns

MIDDLESEX

I read your publication frequently and enjoy most all that is written. I, however, was quite dismayed by the December 24 edition’s cover of a bloody snowman and puppy. It’s completely tasteless for the holiday season and insensitive to young children who see it as they walk out of grocery stores and other venues. A bloody snowman?? Maybe another

DOUBLE ISSUE!

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

month, but not the Christmas holiday season. What was the purpose, anyway? Please apologize to your public with an appropriate article explaining your decision to publish this. Vivianne Farmer

WATERBURY CENTER

I was very disheartened to see the cover of your December 24 issue. Seriously? A blood-spurting snowman and a dog carrying off the blood-dripping snowman’s arm? Please explain any possible rationale for this art on the cover of your newspaper. Jeanne Zimmerman SOUTH BURLINGTON

Culture coeditor Dan Bolles responds: While Harry Bliss’ cartoon was undoubtedly dark, our editors also found it both very funny and apropos of closing the book on a difficult year. The snowman, wearing a 2025 top hat, was an apt, if gruesome, representation of our collective feelings about the past 12 months, and the dog, wearing a ’26 collar, a fitting illustration of our mindset heading into an uncertain New Year: unbowed by the challenges ahead, willing to get dirty and, as always, still wagging our tails.

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became an unwavering voice to advocate, educate and fight. Her vision for LGBTQ equality leaves a profound legacy. Like all true warriors, she held her ground when it mattered most. In these challenging times, we carry forward what she taught us: that courage means showing up, speaking out and never backing down. M. Sebastian Araujo

MONTGOMERY

OH, F*CK

Why the fuck do you tolerate your junior staff racing to the bottom of journalistic wit by embracing this degenerate trend [“Read a F*cking Book,” December 17]? I’m all for creative, controversial and challenging journalism. However, “Read a F*cking Book” is offensive and distracting and betrays that the author probably has not read enough good books to appreciate a meaningful placement of the word “fuck” or “fucking.” Is the author of this article truly interested in promoting the value of reading, or is he instead perhaps experiencing an intellectual deficit or hasn’t yet experienced the epiphany of soul-stirring fucking? Yes, I have observed the creep of the variations of “fuck” into casual conversation; however, it grates, is a poor substitute for any number of more nuanced adjectives or adverbs, and, sadly, suggests a certain existential resignation, ultimately dragging the quality of discourse and editorial content down, down, down, as well as the cachet of the word and idea of fucking. Encourage your editorial staff to reach high, challenging themselves to produce superior work in 2026.

Kudos on continuing to continue! Looking forward to Seven Days in the New Year. Nick McDougal

LINCOLN

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MCNEIL IS NECESSARY

[Re “Report IDs Options to Reduce McNeil Emissions,” November 28, online; Feedback: “Time to Close McNeil,” December 10; Feedback: “View From the Overpass,” December 17]: The opinion frequently expressed in Seven Days, urging the prompt closure of the McNeil Generating Station, is harmful to our shared goal of making Vermont’s electricity carbon-neutral. The output of Vermont’s growing solar installations is only a few percent of their installed capacity at this time of year due to short day length, frequently overcast weather and snow accumulation on panels. There is no doubt that solar can and should contribute more to our electricity supply. With the incorporation of FEEDBACK

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

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Seven Days reserves the right to edit for accuracy, length and readability.

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Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age 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.

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It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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contents JANUARY 7-14, 2026 VOL.31 NO.18

GREENLEAF CENTRAL

LCOMES 2026! WEThe future is green FOOD+ DRINK 38 Cold Hardy

Vermont’s winter farmers markets offer veggies, meats and community connection

NOW WELCOMING

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With trouble brewing beyond Dry January, Vermont’s craft beer industry braces for an uncertain future

COLUMNS

BY JORDAN BARRY

COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE SEAN METCALF

NEWS+POLITICS 14

FEATURES 30

Working Capitol

Farm Porch Politics

In a tight budget year, state lawmakers plan to tackle education reform and health care costs

Scott Appoints Veteran Prosecutors to Supreme Court In Legislative Limbo

Five Burlington charter changes approved by voters are languishing in the Vermont Statehouse. Why?

STUCK IN VERMONT

A case for pleasantries, plurality and a path forward

ARTS+CULTURE 44 Page 32

14 Gray to Run for LG, and Ashe for Auditor Welch, Sanders and Balint Condemn Military Action in Venezuela Online Thursday

Short takes on five Vermont books

Nonprofit Seeks Stories of Vermonters Lost to Addiction for Brattleboro Art Show Soovin Kim Leads Performances of Rare Beethoven String Trios Vermonter Mel Robbins Nominated for Golden Globes Podcast Award

11 Magnificent 7 13 From the Publisher 39 Side Dishes 48 Movie Review 54 Soundbites 58 Album Review 85 Ask the Reverend

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

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SECTIONS 22 Life Lines 38 Food + Drink 44 Culture 48 On Screen 50 Art 54 Music + Nightlife 60 Calendar 66 Classes 67 Classifieds + Puzzles 81 Fun Stuff 84 Personals

Phoenix Falling?

Owners of a popular art space in Waterbury say their landlord is trying to force them out. They’re suing to stay.

We have

Un-Thor-gettable

A posthumous show brings together an eclectic selection of photographer Matthew Thorsen’s work SUPPORTED BY: Delia Robinson has spent her 80-year lifetime painting canvases and making whistles. A third-generation whistle maker, she learned how to sculpt them from her mother and has created thousands of whistles. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger visited her eclectic home studio in Montpelier to get a musical tour.

Find a new job in the classifieds section on page 75 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com. 1076 Williston Road, S. Burlington 862.6585 | WindjammerRestaurant.com

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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FRIDAY 9

Kellogg’s Brand Rolling Stone describes veteran singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg’s sound as “John Prine fronting the Heartbreakers.” If that piques your interest, head to Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe, where the Grammy-nominated troubadour paints a metaphoric portrait of life with his preferred mediums of music, humor and storytelling.

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 61

BY RE BE CCA D RI SCOL L

SATURDAY 10

HERO’S WELCOME She crushed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”; now the Vermont expat headlines Tina Friml’s Big Apple Comedy, an unmissable night of laughs at Town Hall Theater in her hometown of Middlebury. Discover why the comedian — who includes jokes about having cerebral palsy in her sets — won the Seven Daysies award for best standup comic in 2025. SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 59

FRIDAY 9

Catch Some Ray Hepcats, get hip to this timely tip: Jazz at the Junction is back! Northern Stage hosts the Ray Vega QuARTet for an evening of blistering-hot tunes at Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction. The swingin’ four-piece — captained by the eponymous Burlington musician — jump-starts 2026 with a program of timeless works by genre greats John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 61

SATURDAY 10

Triple Play The Hopkins Center for the Arts launches its Recital Series with back-to-back performances by the Horszowski Trio at the new Morris Recital Hall in Hanover, N.H. The boundary-pushing chamber music ensemble — “destined for great things” according to the New Yorker — stirs souls with works by preeminent American conductor Leonard Bernstein and pioneering Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SUNDAY 11

Tapping In SUNDAY 11

Talk the Walk Satisfy your New Year’s resolutions to be more creative and more active with a Poetry Hike hosted by the Vermont Land Trust at Brewster Uplands in Jeffersonville. Bring a winter-inspired verse — your own or someone else’s — to share along the three-mile trek, ending with snacks and warm beverages. When it’s time to rhyme / ice can be nice / but maybe still bring / a traction device!

Acclaimed tap dance company Subject:Matter will have you shuffle ball changing in your seat with Fred Astaire-level gusto at Next Stage Arts in Putney. The inventive, energy-packed performance showcases brand-new material developed during the group’s on-site residency and acts as a bridge between its past, present and emerging work. SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

ONGOING

Jolly Ranchers Vermont printmaker and instructor Ashley Stagner’s solo show “The Cowboy Series” at Artspace 106 at the Men’s Room in Burlington explores themes of identity and gender with sensitivity and nuance. The collection of monochromatic woodcut prints reimagines — and challenges — the archetypal image of the American cowboy through a contemporary and deeply personal lens. SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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Hamid Rahmanian (Iranian, born 1968), Kay Kavous and the Flying Throne [detail], from Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings, 2015, digital print on metallic paper, 13 x 19 inches. Purchase with funds provided by the Barbara P. and Robert P. ’64 Youngman Expendable Art Acquisition Fund, 2015.244. © Copyright Hamid Rahmanian.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Tough Love Some Seven Days readers didn’t like the cover illustration on our end-of-year Double Issue. Drawn by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, it depicted the year 2025 as a snowman spurting blood where his left arm should be. In the foreground, a dog wearing a ’26 collar trots away with the snowman’s bloodied, mitten-covered stick-arm in her mouth, leaving a trail of gore behind her wagging tail. Sparing no exclamation points, seven people submitted letters to the editor, describing the image as grotesque, tasteless, horrible, disturbing, pointless and disgusting. To add awkwardness to insult, I knew I’d soon be talking with each of them. One of my jobs here is managing the Feedback section, which means I edit and verify every letter to the editor the paper publishes. Seven Days only accepts signed ones that include the writer’s real, full name and town of residence. Occasionally people try to cheat — very funny, “Ben Dover”! — so I spend hours each week contacting folks to make sure they are who they claim to be. My methods aren’t foolproof; a voicemail greeting with the person’s name is usually enough. But there is a side benefit to the exercise: Lots of people pick up the phone, or call me back, and I end up talking to readers from all over the state. Almost always, even the unhappy ones are pleasantly surprised to hear from me. That was the case with all seven cover complainants in this week’s Feedback section. Those who didn’t praise the paper in their letter did so on the phone. Lisa Adler of Barnet — “Horrible!!!!” — let me know that she deeply appreciates our work. Mike Campo, also of Barnet — “grotesque” — left me a voicemail saying, “This is the first time I’ve ever wanted to make a negative comment about Seven Days. We love you guys.” Encouraged, I moved on to a couple of missives about Burlington’s McNeil Generating Station, a reliably controversial issue, and a third about the limitations of solar power here. All three authors make excellent points about increasing demands on Vermont’s energy supply in winter. One, Carl Bielenberg, is a Bradford inventor and engineer who does a lot of work in Africa. I first heard his name 40 years ago, when I was living in Uganda and the people there were using his ram press to extract sunflower oil. We chatted for half an hour about his company, Village Industrial Power, as well as heat pumps, EVs, forest management, East Africa and artificial intelligence. I also reached Anders Holm, who has lived in net-zero homes for the past 20 years.

Let’s hope the State of Vermont’s energy policy experts are reading their letters as carefully as I am. Along similar lines, Tom Keefe of West Cornwall shared his unique perspective on the ongoing pollution problems at the Vorsteveld Farm in Panton — in his letter and on the phone. He took the opportunity to let me know he had been sick over the holiday and so missed the chance to pick up a hard copy of the Double Issue. At least he couldn’t hate on the cover! The last trio of letters in this week’s issue — the first of 2026 — were submitted after the Vermont Air National Guard was deployed to the Caribbean but before the unexpected U.S. invasion of Venezuela. And yet each remains relevant. One, from Adam Hart of Duxbury, argues that Seven Days erred by divulging that Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing was going to Puerto Rico. Another believes, as state Rep. Troy Headrick does, that Vermont should have more say in the matter of its Guard troops engaging in “unauthorized wars.” I’d settle for Congressional approval. Every week our Feedback section showcases real readers trying to make sense of Vermont and the world. They bring different politics, expertise and experience to the table. I hope you appreciate their varied views as much as I do.

EVERY WEEK OUR FEEDBACK SECTION SHOWCASES REAL READERS

TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF VERMONT AND THE WORLD.

Paula Routly P.S. Join the conversation by writing your own letter to the editor. There’s a link to the form at the bottom of every story on sevendaysvt.com.

If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, become a Super Reader! Look for the “Donate” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to: SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

For more information on making a financial contribution to Seven Days, please contact Gillian English: VOICEMAIL: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 EMAIL: SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

TIM NEWCOMB

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COURTS

Scott Appoints Veteran Prosecutors to Supreme Court B Y C O LI N F L A NDE RS colin@sevendaysvt.com COURTESY

Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher

Working Capitol In a tight budget year, state lawmakers plan to tackle education reform and health care costs

BY HAN NAH B ASSET T, COLIN F L AND E R S , K E VIN MC C AL L UM & AL IS O N NO VAK

awmakers returned to Montpelier this week facing mounting pressure to solve the state’s affordability crisis — even as the resources they need to tackle the problem are drying up. Top priorities include addressing the rising property taxes and soaring health care costs that are squeezing many Vermonters’ household budgets. With revenues largely flat and in some areas declining, legislators will have to reform the systems responsible for driving up costs. That process began last year with a law intended to overhaul school governance and financing. Since the law was enacted, a task force ordered to draw consolidated school district boundaries has balked at the task, and Gov. Phil Scott branded the effort a failure. Now the ball’s in the legislature’s court.

STATEHOUSE

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

As the reform debate rages, the question remains: How will lawmakers avoid a 12 percent property tax increase forecast for 2026? The state will also need to address the loss of $65 million in federal health insurance subsidies, which threatens to make insurance unaffordable for 30,000 Vermonters. “If last year asked a lot of us, this year will ask even more,” House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) said Tuesday. “This session will be tough, but so will our resolve.” Affordability isn’t the only high-priority issue. Lawmakers are likely to consider persistent backlogs in criminal courts. And, after five lawmakers took a controversial trip to Israel, a new bill would require members of the General Assembly to disclose the funding sources for such travel. Here’s a look at some of what’s going to be hashed out this year. K . M.

BUDGET BLUES

State officials have warned that Vermont’s financial outlook for the year is, in a word, bleak. “It’s going to be a very tight budget year,” Gov. Scott told reporters last month. “We’re going to do the best we can without raising taxes.” The loss of federal funding is a particular concern. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-ChittendenCentral) said during a budget preview in December that many of the federal actions seem intended to harm the most vulnerable: denying aid to flood victims, deporting hardworking immigrants, and reducing food and heating assistance to the poor.

WORKING CAPITOL

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Gov. Phil Scott has nominated two people to serve on the Vermont Supreme Court: Christina Nolan, who served as U.S. Attorney in Vermont during President Donald Trump’s first term, and Michael Drescher, a longtime attorney in the federal prosecutor’s office. If confirmed by the Vermont Senate, they will fill seats previously held by justices William Cohen and Karen Carroll, both of whom retired last year. Nolan, a Vermont native who lives in Burlington, served as a state prosecutor before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2010. She was appointed to lead the office by Trump in 2017 and served for four years before stepping down when president Joe Biden was sworn in, as is common during transitions of power. In 2022, she ran for U.S. Senate as a Republican, losing the primary to Gerald Malloy. She now works in private practice at the law firm Sheehey Furlong & Behm. She said in a statement that she was “humbled” by the governor’s confidence. Trump has yet to nominate someone as Vermont’s U.S. attorney this time around, so, for the past year, the job has largely fallen to Drescher. A career bureaucrat, the Hinesburg resident has served under both Republican- and Democratic-appointed prosecutors — including Nolan — during a nearly 25-year tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. But in January, Bidenappointed Nikolas Kerest resigned, and Drescher was elevated from first assistant to acting U.S. attorney. That left him to carry out some of the Trump administration’s controversial directives, including several high-profile immigration cases. Federal law limits how long someone can serve as an acting U.S. attorney, and Drescher’s clock expired in November. He immediately reverted to his old job of first assistant and is now leading the office of roughly 50 staffers in that capacity. He called an appointment to the state’s highest court an “extraordinary privilege.” ➆

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In Legislative Limbo

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ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW WINTER

Five Burlington charter changes approved by voters are languishing in the Vermont Statehouse. Why? BY COURTN E Y L AMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

GIVE THESE ITEMS THEIR DAY. I FEEL LIKE BURLINGTON VOTERS DESERVE AT LEAST THAT. CI T Y COUNCIL PRESIDE NT B E N TRAVERSE

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Lawmakers say charter changes take time to review and that some of Burlington’s issues should be addressed statewide, not by the city. The gun measure, in particular, appears to lack the votes to get out of committee. The logjam is frustrating to city officials, who say state lawmakers shouldn’t let their personal opinions quash the will of Burlington voters. At least one city councilor is concerned about putting more charter changes on the ballot, because they might just get added to the pile. With the legislature now convened, city officials plan to put on the pressure. Their message is clear: Lawmakers should at least bring the matters to a vote. “Give these items their day,” City Council President Ben Traverse (D-Ward 5) said. “I feel like Burlington voters deserve at least that.” The Queen City is one of nearly 90 Vermont municipalities that abide by a charter, which establishes basic rules

of governance. Burlington’s charter, for instance, describes election procedures, the process for appealing property assessments and the duties of various city officials. One quaint section requires the Board of Health to inspect all dairy barns before a farmer can sell milk. Altering that passage or any other requires holding two public hearings and a citywide vote before sending the change to the legislature in the form of a bill. Such a bill must be sponsored by a legislator, pass both the House and Senate, and be signed by the governor. Known as Dillon’s Rule, the oversight system dates back to the 19th century, when a ruling by Iowa Supreme Court justice John Dillon concluded that cities and towns “derive their powers and rights” from the legislature. In modern lingo, it means a municipality can’t change its charter without the state’s say-so. Burlington voters have approved 14 charter changes in the past five years. Nine have crossed the finish line. Apolitical measures, such as one that increased the size of the city’s Airport Commission, tend to sail through. But those taking firmer policy stances have faced headwinds. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has vetoed two: a 2021 measure to ban no-cause evictions and a 2023 initiative to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. The Democratic-controlled legislature overrode the noncitizen-voting veto, just as it did when Scott rejected similar bills in Winooski and Montpelier two years earlier. An effort to overturn the eviction bill veto failed by one vote in the House. Lawmakers subsequently reintroduced the bill, and it’s now before the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, which reviews all municipal charter changes. Also awaiting action are charter changes that would give the city’s police commission more say in officer discipline, allow

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ince 2021, Burlington voters have agreed to ban guns from bars, protect renters from no-cause evictions and adopt a new police oversight model. All three changes to the city’s charter were approved overwhelmingly — but none has taken effect. Instead, they’re stuck in Montpelier, where lawmakers and the governor must sign off before they can become law. The three measures are among the five charter changes Burlington has pending in the Statehouse. Only one is likely to pass before the 2026 session ends.

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POLITICS

Gray to Run for LG, and Ashe for Auditor B Y H AN N AH B AS S E T T & K EVI N M C C AL L U M KEVIN MCCALLUM

Molly Gray

Two veteran politicos have announced they are seeking statewide offices: Former lieutenant governor Molly Gray hopes to reclaim her seat, and former Vermont Senate leader Tim Ashe is running for auditor. Gray, a Democrat, announced her candidacy on Monday at a Burlington coffee shop, surrounded by friends, family and supporters. “I’m running for lieutenant governor to help protect the fundamental rights of every Vermonter, to stand up for working families and to help lower costs across the state,” she said. In 2020, Gray emerged at the top of a crowded primary field of Democratic LG candidates — including Ashe — and went on to easily defeat Republican Scott Milne. She entered the 2022 Democratic primary for Vermont’s lone U.S. House seat and lost to Becca Balint. After her LG term, Gray became the executive director of the Burlingtonbased nonprofit Vermont Afghan Alliance, which supports resettled Afghans. Ashe, too, is positioning himself for a return to elective office. The former Burlington city councilor was first elected to the state Senate in 2008. He led the chamber as president pro tempore from 2017 to 2020, when he left the legislature and ran for LG. Auditor Doug Hoffer hired Ashe as his deputy in 2021. Both men are Democrats/Progressives. Ashe said his nearly five years as deputy auditor have given him insight into the impact that the office can have across the state, including among policy makers in Montpelier. “Vermonters deserve excellence from their state government,” Ashe wrote in his announcement. “I intend to use the tools of the Auditor’s office to help make sure they get it, by ensuring taxpayer-funded departments and programs deliver results.” ➆ Tim Ashe is the domestic partner of Seven Days cofounder, publisher and editor-in-chief Paula Routly. In keeping with Seven Days’ conflict-of-interest policy, Routly is neither assigning nor editing stories about this race or about the auditor’s office.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

“This session will be more like a horror movie than a Hallmark holiday film,” he said. Last month, the Department of Taxes projected that education property taxes could rise 12 percent this year. Officials cited the usual suspect: inflation, particularly in terms of health care costs. Also contributing is lower tax revenue, driven in part by a sharp drop in consumer confidence, which leads to less spending. Fewer tourists visiting from Canada also contributed to the negative fiscal outlook. Tom Kavet, the legislature’s economist, told lawmakers last month that communities closest to the border saw 36 percent fewer visitors; traffic in towns farther away was down by half that. The decline in tourism has translated into a $2 million hit to the meals and rooms taxes for 2025. State leaders hope to offset the potential property tax hike. When property owners were facing a potential 6 percent increase last year, lawmakers found $77 million elsewhere to buy down the amount to 1 percent. Due to continued cost increases, lawmakers and Scott would now have to pull a nearly $200 million rabbit out of a hat to repeat that feat. The state’s general fund revenue was higher than expected in the first half of 2025, largely due to personal income taxes rising, so analysts upped their revenue projection by $77 million. Tax revenues from goods and services were soft, however, likely because regular folks — those not benefiting from robust stock market returns — have curtailed their spending, Kavet noted, in part due to flagging consumer sentiment. “It’s not a happy picture,” he said. K . M.

BACK TO SCHOOL REFORM

Education reform, which monopolized much of last year’s legislative session, will remain front and center in 2026. Many of the provisions in Act 73 — the bill passed last year calling for transformations to school governance and financing — are contingent on the legislature drawing a map that consolidates the state’s 52 supervisory unions and 119 school districts into much larger units. Only then can the state implement a foundation formula, a funding mechanism that allots a set amount of money for each student. A redistricting committee charged with proposing new school governance structures has recommended a different tack: creating five cooperative education service regions that would allow existing school

FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

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THIS SESSION WILL BE MORE LIKE A HORROR MOVIE THAN A HALLMARK HOLIDAY FILM. S E N. P H IL BAR UT H

districts to share resources for things such as special education and business operations. The task force, in a 160-page report, also called for voluntary mergers of school districts and, in the longer term, regional high schools — a proposal that would require restoring state funding for school construction. Gov. Scott has panned the task force’s recommendations and urged the legislature to move forward with new maps. The governor has used the forecasted average 12 percent tax hike to bolster his case that sweeping, not incremental, reform is necessary. Senate President Baruth and House Speaker Krowinski appear willing to work with the governor, writing in separate op-eds in December that moving forward with Act 73 is critical to achieving affordability and equitable learning opportunities. Baruth also plans to introduce legislation that imposes a cap on school budget growth for the next two fiscal years to control rising costs and tax rates until the reform efforts produce a new funding model. On Tuesday, Baruth told his colleagues that the pattern of buying down the property tax increases was expensive, unsustainable and threatened funding for roads, housing, mental health and other services. “We are essentially cannibalizing the General Fund to pay for the growth in the Education Fund,” Baruth said. Educational leaders, meanwhile, have in recent weeks begun speaking out forcefully against the top-down transformation called for in the law.

Rep. Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall), the House Education chair, said his committee will dive into recommendations from the redistricting task force, as well as other education reports produced in the off-session. “Everything remains up for debate,” Conlon said. He believes that Vermonters won’t get behind the Scott administration’s education reform plan unless the governor himself does a better job engaging with Vermonters and “making the case” for why it’s necessary. Senate Education Committee chair Seth Bongartz (D-Bennington) said he also wants to hear different perspectives before making any moves. This fall, his committee visited school districts across the state, which gave him a greater appreciation of the “heroic efforts” schools are taking to support students, he said. The visits convinced him that bigger schools aren’t necessarily better for all students. Still, Bongartz said, he feels a sense of urgency to find a solution this session for bringing down education spending. The answer, he believes, lies at least in part with moving to a foundation formula. “We have to figure out a way to develop efficiencies and hold costs to levels that Vermonters are going to be able to sustain,” Bongartz said. A .N .

LINGERING AILMENT

Vermonters continue to face some of the highest health care costs in the nation. This year, the committees that oversee health care will grapple with two major blows from Washington, D.C.: the loss of federal insurance subsidies and new Medicaid rules. The subsidies, which were at the heart of the government shutdown last fall, provided $65 million in annual federal support to Vermont. Without them, annual premiums will double or even triple in 2026 for many of the 30,000 Vermonters who purchase their own health insurance. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” meanwhile, adds a strict work requirement for obtaining Medicaid that state officials fear will prevent otherwise eligible people from getting coverage. Many may end up uninsured, leading to unpaid hospital bills that could drive up costs for everyone else. The bill is expected to decrease federal Medicaid spending in rural areas by $137 billion over 10 years, according to KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. Fewer Medicaid dollars could further jeopardize the future of Vermont’s struggling rural hospital system.

C. F.

SEEKING A ROCKET DOCKET

Simmering concerns over public safety will demand attention this session. Rep. Martin LaLonde (D-South Burlington), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said his panel will hold oversight hearings focused on the state court system’s yearslong attempt to resolve pandemic-related backlogs. He said he’s particularly interested in whether the state can glean lessons from the special Chittenden County docket for repeat offenders with five or more pending cases. Created by Gov. Scott this fall, the docket seeks to quickly resolve cases that might otherwise remain pending for years, contributing to a perception that repeat offenders go unpunished. The Scott administration and judiciary officials are expected to share results of the Chittenden initiative during the first month or two of the session, LaLonde said. He noted that the docket has had a dedicated prosecutor, judge and team of mental health professionals, confirming what lawmakers have known for years: Investments are needed to ensure cases get resolved in a timely manner. “We know it’s a tough budget year, but nevertheless, we’ll be looking at properly resourcing the criminal justice system,” LaLonde said. His committee will also take another look at Vermont’s system for handling people who are accused of crimes but deemed incompetent to stand trial because of their mental state, as well as bills addressing voter intimidation and animal cruelty. In addition, the committee will consider several changes to Vermont’s voyeurism laws. The first would create a new crime covering cases of sexual extortion. Currently, state law prohibits the disclosure of sexual images without someone’s consent but does not criminalize the threat to do so.

The other measure would address the statute of limitations for certain crimes. This change comes in response to a case Seven Days covered last year involving a local film professor who secretly recorded two young women — one of whom was 17 — and yet was never charged criminally because more than three years had passed before the women learned their images had been posted to porn sites. C .F.

TRIPPING LAWMAKERS

Five Vermont lawmakers sparked public outrage when they went to Israel last September on a trip paid for by the Israeli government. The public only learned of the junket through social media posts. The controversy isn’t going away. The Vermont-New Hampshire Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace has announced it filed ethics complaints against each of the legislators. And on Tuesday, pro-Palestine protesters in the Statehouse called on the five to resign. Two of the lawmakers who took the trip proposed legislation that would increase transparency around legislators’ travel. Reps. Will Greer (D-Bennington) and Gina Galfetti (R-Barre) have prepared a bill that would require public servants to file a disclosure with the state ethics commission within 30 days of embarking on a trip. The disclosure would list the purpose, destination and associated costs — including transportation, lodging and food. Officeholders would specify which expenses were paid personally, by the state or by outside sources, including associations, political committees or individuals. “The disclosure is important because it gives our constituents an opportunity to engage with us before we undertake the travel, so that we can make their voices heard while we’re doing our work,” Galfetti said. Officeholders would be able to file the form within a month of

KEVIN MCCALLUM

“The federal government really pulled the rug out from under us,” said Sen. Ginny Lyons (D-Chittenden-Southeast), chair of the Senate Health Care Committee. Lyons was unsure what Vermont can do to mitigate these losses but said “all options must be on the table.” That might include rearranging the state’s health insurance risk pools to better spread out costs, she said. The state will get a cash injection in 2026 from the Rural Health Transformation Fund — a five-year, $50 billion program approved by Congress to appease Senate Republicans who were wary of the Medicaid cuts. Vermont will receive $195 million from the fund this year. Those dollars can’t be used to backfill the lost federal subsidies, however. Vermont has proposed using the money to build out its primary care workforce, improve access to recovery housing and invest in nursing homes, among other initiatives. Lawmakers will also keep tabs on the state-led process to transform Vermont’s hospital system. Those efforts led to the widely publicized report last year that called on some Vermont hospitals to consider shutting down their inpatient units. The work is now in the hands of the Agency of Human Services, which must develop a statewide plan. Hospitals have been told to submit proposals by mid-January that spell out how they would restructure to become more sustainable. The submissions will almost certainly include proposals to shutter certain services. Rep. Alyssa Black (D-Essex), chair of the House Health Care Committee, said its members will aim to hold the agency accountable in meeting its deadlines. “If we don’t move very quickly, there will be nothing left to transform,” Black said.

Protesters at the Statehouse

beginning a trip and would be required to supplement the information weekly for travel longer than 30 days. Greer and Galfetti began drafting the legislation last fall, when controversy erupted over their participation in the “50 States, One Israel” conference. Reps. Sarah “Sarita” Austin (D-Colchester), Matt Birong (D-Vergennes) and James Gregoire (R-Fairfield) also took the trip. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid $6,500 per person for related expenses. Currently, state legislators are not required to disclose travel or related gifts, such as airfare or lodging. Greer and Galfetti’s pending bill draws on existing travel disclosure rules in other states. Completed disclosure forms would be made publicly available on the Secretary of State’s website, similar to campaign finance reports. Lawmakers could face investigation by House or Senate ethics committees if they failed to comply, according to Galfetti. Greer hopes that the expanded disclosure requirements would foster more positive dialogue between legislators and the public, which he felt took a hit after the trip to Israel. “I don’t want any legislator to have to come back from a trip and feel that their motives have been questioned in a way that undermines trust in their constituents and the institutions that their constituents depend on,” Greer said. H.B .

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Gallery Talk with Artists John Killacky & Jordan Douglas WEDNESDAY JANUARY 14, 2026 6 PM

news POLITICS

Welch, Sanders and Balint Condemn Military Action in Venezuela S TO RY & PHO TO B Y M AT THE W ROY matthew@sevendaysvt.com

Protesters on Church Street

Do We Say Goodbye? Grief, Loss, and Mourning, BCA Center Exhibition, 2025 | P: Renée Greenlee

135 Church Street Downtown Burlington Wed-Fri: 12-5 pm Sat: 12-8 pm

Do We Say Goodbye? Grief, Loss, and Mourning is supported in part by the Maslow Family Foundation. Programmatic Partners: Vermont Association of Psychoanalytic Studies (VAPS) and Middlebury College. Hospitality sponsor: Lake Champlain Chocolates. Burlington City Arts is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council & the National Endowment for the Arts.

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FIBER IS SUPERIOR!

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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Vermont’s Congressional delegation wasted no time in condemning President Donald Trump’s decision — made without consulting Congress — to attack Venezuela and apprehend its president. Americans awoke on Saturday to the news that overnight, U.S. troops had hit several sites in the South American country and apprehended President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They are facing drug and weapons charges in the U.S., and the president asserted the U.S. will “run” Venezuela. “Nicolás Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator, and Venezuelans have suffered greatly under his regime,” U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said in a statement. “That does not diminish the fact that President Trump has zero authority to use military force to remove the leader of another sovereign country. This unilateral military action was reckless, illegal and taken without any congressional briefing, approval or oversight.” U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called the action unconstitutional and unwise. “Trump’s attack on Venezuela will make the United States and the world less safe,” Sanders asserted. “This brazen violation of international law gives a green light to any nation on earth that may wish to attack another country to seize their resources or change their governments. This is the horrific logic of force that Putin used to justify his brutal attack on Ukraine.” U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) called the actions “illegal, unconstitutional and reckless.” “Has [Trump] learned nothing from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya?” Welch asked. “This could lead us into another forever war, risking the lives of U.S. service members and hurting the economy.” Welch said bringing Maduro to federal court in New York City to face drug charges was a “Trumpian hypocrisy,” noting that Trump recently pardoned the former president of Honduras, who was convicted of trafficking tons of cocaine to the U.S. ➆

In Legislative Limbo « P.15 the city to determine how much notice tenants should receive of impending evictions, let the city draw its own voting maps and ban guns in bars. The gun ban is identical to one that voters approved in 2014 but went nowhere in Montpelier. The issue resurfaced after a man was fatally shot on Church Street in 2024 following an altercation in a downtown bar. The city also saw a spate of gun violence in 2022. Each measure passed with 60 percent or more of the city vote. Nearly 87 percent of voters favored the gun measure. In an interview last week, Rep. Matt Birong (D-Vergennes) said the Gov Ops committee that he chairs will take up the voting map measure this year. But he wouldn’t commit to hold hearings on any of the other charter changes this session. He declined to share his own position on most of them, saying he would need to review the legislation. Birong said he’s wary of taking up the gun control and renter-protection bills because he thinks those issues are better addressed on a statewide level instead of on a “fragmented” town-by-town basis. Legislative review is “part of the process,” Birong said. As for the gun bill, Birong said he doesn’t have the votes to get it out of his committee. The measure, sponsored by Burlington resident and Senate Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-ChittendenCentral), already passed in the Senate, but Scott has vowed to veto it. That gives Birong pause. “I struggle with dedicating committee time to a bill that we know is going to be vetoed,” Birong said. He wouldn’t say whether he thinks any of Burlington’s other charter changes would meet the same fate. Local officials think Birong’s reasoning is bunk. Mayor Emma MulvaneyStanak, a former state representative, said taking up a measure such as the gun bill could inspire policy changes elsewhere. The ballot item’s overwhelming approval underscores “the absurdity of how undemocratic this is” to not even call the question, she said. “Explain to me how democracy is working in the state of Vermont when a community cannot take something that is so fundamental to public safety into their own hands,” she said. House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) said she’d rather find a compromise or wait until she has the votes than call a question knowing it will fail. But Councilor Gene Bergman (P-Ward 2) said the charter changes are effectively dead already as they languish in committee, sometimes for years. Lawmakers

MATT MIGNANELLI

My favorite Leunig's...

We love coming to Church Street to see the lights and have oysters and martinis… a magical evening. — Robert and Alison, Lincoln 6h-RFuller011725.indd 1

need to debate tough issues and go on record with their votes, he said. Otherwise, “they get to skate. They get to not have to deal with it at all,” Bergman said. “That’s outrageous. It’s a failure of leadership, and it really pisses me off.” Baruth, who has successfully pushed for other gun-control measures, wants Krowinski to be more forceful in shepherding it through. He planned to hold a press conference this week to pressure lawmakers. In an interview with Seven Days last month, Baruth said the speaker should consider reassigning members of Birong’s committee to ensure a favorable vote — a rare move but one Baruth said would be justified in this case. Krowinski balked at the suggestion, saying she doesn’t rule with an iron fist. She pledged to push for hearings on Burlington’s charter changes this session, the gun bill included. Of all of them, the voting map bill has the best chance of making it out of committee, Krowinski said. Birong said he and his committee members haven’t yet discussed what other charter changes, if any, will be a priority this session. His committee already has a lot on its plate, he said, listing bills related to state employee pensions, flood response and Vermont’s Open Meeting Law, among others. Even if the charter changes make it out of committee, Council President Traverse isn’t optimistic about their chances. Democrats and Progressives, who may be more likely to support the bills, hold 90 seats in the House — not a veto-proof majority. Traverse thinks Scott would likely veto the police oversight charter change and those related to tenant protections. The politics in Montpelier make Traverse reluctant to take up more charter

changes, though he did vote to put one on the Town Meeting Day ballot. The measure would enshrine the city’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the charter, much like the other city departments. Traverse worries that if Burlington voters pass it, the measure could meet the same fate as some of the other charter changes, particularly if Vermont Republicans latch onto the national rhetoric against diversity initiatives. “It would be really unfortunate if it gets to Montpelier and ends up having a demoralizing effect on folks who are doing this important work,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.” The Burlington council is considering other charter changes, too, though not for the March ballot. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak has proposed increasing the city’s borrowing limit in order to address deferred maintenance and capital projects. She has also floated the idea of exempting a portion of a home’s assessed value when calculating property taxes, which would reduce some residents’ tax bills. Councilors will decide next week whether to add an advisory question about the issue to the March ballot. Despite the backlog in Montpelier, Mulvaney-Stanak says the city should continue attempting to amend its charter, not just to advance policy goals but also to clean up outdated language. Councilor Bergman agrees. Charters are a statement of a city’s values, he said. If lawmakers disagree with how Burlington wants to address gun violence, renter protections and other issues, they should provide alternatives. “It’s not enough to just say no,” he said. ➆

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adequate (and costly) battery capacity, it could substantially cover our spring and summer loads. It will, however, do little to meet our fall and winter needs. Winter demand is growing due to fast adoption of heat pumps and EVs, both seen as necessary to reduce carbon emissions. Heat pumps and EVs are both less efficient at low temperature, compounding the problem. We are fortunate that McNeil is still operating, especially now that it is only running in the winter, when it is profitable. About 100 years of forest regrowth are needed to sequester the carbon released by wood-fired power generation. This is much better than the millions of years that were needed to sequester carbon in fossil fuels. McNeil was built with the expectation that its waste heat would be used to heat Burlington, or at least the University of Vermont and its medical center. Before we rush to close McNeil, we should revisit these opportunities.

production, but not reliably during the winter months. As such, solar must be an important part of a thoughtful mixture of production, particularly as we as a nation become more and more dependent upon electricity in our daily lives. Having been net-zero for almost 20 years due to solar panels is living proof solar is important, but looking at my array output in December makes it clear solar is part of a bigger puzzle. Anders Holm

FERRISBURGH

TRUTH ABOUT TROMP

[Re Feedback: “Time to Close McNeil,” December 10]: Closing McNeil? The big question that everyone has to ask themselves is: What baseload renewable 24-7 generating source are you going to replace the McNeil Generating Station with? It won’t be intermittent solar, even with battery backup, or offshore wind off the East Coast. Every decision we make to get off fossil fuels must be weighed against other options. Maybe a nuclear plant in Chittenden County, which is carbon-free, but leaves us with nuclear waste for hundreds of years. Just give it some thought!

Like John 8:32 in the Bible tells us, “The truth shall set you free.” As usual, Seven Days tells us the truth of what we want/ need to know: that University of Vermont president Marlene Tromp is living with a collection of family members, likely rentfree, in the UVM president’s house [“The Cats Whisperer,” December 10]. The UVM Vermont Quarterly magazine recently did a piece on Tromp, telling us only that she would be living in the UVM house “with her son and members of her family,” which in an untransparent manner provided us with less than we would have wanted to know, and it all sounded weird and surreptitious. Luckily, in her Seven Days story, reporter Anne Galloway stripped the carcass down to its feathers, telling us that Tromp would be housed at UVM with her ex-husband, son and sister. I wonder if any other ride-alongs can get a free bed in Tromp’s family fraternity, and did UVM know when it hired Tromp as president that she’d be inviting members of her circus to set up camp with her, on both UVM’s and the public’s dime?

Barry Bernstein

Daniel G. Cohen

Carl Bielenberg

BRADFORD

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVES

EAST CALAIS

SOLAR HAS LIMITS

I read with great interest the cover article regarding the role of solar power in the energy mix [“Star Power: Ripton Writer and Activist Bill McKibben Has Surprisingly Sunny News for Our Gloomy Times: The Solar Age Has Dawned,” November 26]. I have owned two net-zero homes in Vermont due to solar arrays and am an ardent proponent. Those of us who have powered our homes in Vermont are all aware of an extremely predictable annual cycle, with excess power being put back into the grid around the summer solstice and a large deficit surrounding the winter solstice, even if snow is not an issue. Solar homes can be net-zero based on the total annual 20

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

BURLINGTON

GOOD FOR GALLOWAY

[Re From the Publisher: “Deep Digger,” December 10]: Anne Galloway? Twenty pounds of talent in a 10-pound sack.

results in clearly visible pollution but far worse invisible pollution that only appears when organizations like CLF do the hard work testing and documenting the runoff. I’ve done underwater archaeology with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, and we sail in the lake just north of Arnold Bay; we used to swim on hot days but now avoid contact with the water as much as possible. It’s not OK to “foul the nest,” and there is nothing sacred about farms and farming; while sometimes picturesque, their oversize potential to do harm is one of the greatest threats to the long-term health and attractiveness of our beloved state. The solution is not rocket science; it’s part of the moral, political, ecological and social responsibility that civilized people recognize and respect. Tom Keefe

WEST CORNWALL

PROTECT OUR ‘BROTHERS AND SISTERS’

Our elected officials and Vermont Air National Guard senior leadership informed us of the 158th Fighter Wing being mobilized. This is legitimate information for the public to know. They have our backs. Meanwhile, in [“Vermont Air National Guard Is Heading to Puerto Rico to Join U.S. Buildup in the Region,” December 12], reporter Kevin McCallum revealed the destination was Puerto Rico, according to an unnamed source he quoted: “‘I’m just not supposed to say,’ the person said.” McCallum and Seven Days, you have divulged sensitive information with regard to this mobilization. Why? Operations Security, aka OPSEC, is a systematic process used to protect sensitive information. Those are our brothers and sisters headed out the door. God bless them and their families. Before you print your next findings, could you ask yourselves: Is what I’m doing helping these folks? Or could this be something better left unsaid? Adam Hart

DUXBURY

Patrick Mullikin CLAREMONT, CA

KEEP FARMS ACCOUNTABLE

Thank you and the Conservation Law Foundation for taking on the thankless task of holding the Vorsteveld Farm accountable for polluting Lake Champlain [“Groups Sue Panton Farm Over Water Pollution,” December 16, online]. These renegade “farmers” clearly do not care about the common public or the health of their neighbors; their sloppy, incompetent work

KEEP GUARD HOME

[Re “Congressional Delegation Opposes VTANG’s Deployment to Caribbean,” December 14]: Vermont’s Congressional delegation is correct that the deployment for aggression against Venezuela puts Vermonters at needless risk; undermines the U.S. Constitution, which assigns warmaking powers exclusively to Congress; and risks further escalating tension with Venezuela and its neighbors.

In light of Congress’ repeated failure to uphold its constitutional prerogative, the Vermont state legislature’s National Guard Caucus should rally around the Defend the Guard Act introduced in the Vermont House by Rep. Troy Headrick. This bill would prevent deployment of the Guard to combat where Congress has not authorized U.S. participation. Overseas combat deployments sacrifice the Vermont National Guard’s availability for critical missions here at home. In July 2023, after the floods that devastated many Vermont communities, the Vermont National Guard showed up in a majority of Vermont’s communities to assess damage and communicate needs, distributed drinking water, conducted search-andrescue operations, and helped keep Vermonters safe. When the Vermont National Guard is deployed to unauthorized wars, it is not available to serve the urgent needs of the people of Vermont. Deployment to foreign combat can also take a real toll on Vermont National Guard members, many of whom signed up to serve the people of Vermont and the United States — not to fight unconstitutional wars. If Congress will not act to protect the Vermont National Guard and the people of our state, then Vermont must. Defend the Guard offers a lawful, bipartisan way forward. Isaac Evans-Frantz

BRATTLEBORO

BERNIE IS A ‘HYPOCRITE’

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has once again proven himself a hypocrite in Seven Days: “Congressional Delegation Opposes VTANG’s Deployment to Caribbean,” [December 14]. Let’s not forget that Sanders supported bringing the F-35s to Vermont, as multiple local news sources, including Seven Days, have been reporting since at least 2016. What did you think was going to happen, Bernie? That the Vermont Air National Guard would just happily fly F-35s four days a week over the Burlington area, disrupting and traumatizing residents, and never be deployed to a military action? Bernie, you are so quick to criticize President Donald Trump and his administration for stoking “endless wars,” but when will you hold yourself to account for your own role in America’s endless warmongering? You say you will do everything you can to prevent “yet another war,” so why don’t you start by admitting the role you’ve played in the United States war machine? Ethan Stein

BURLINGTON

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Elaine Mackenzie

JUNE 4, 1961DECEMBER 17, 2025 ESSEX JUNCTION, VT. In loving memory of Elaine Mackenzie, 64. Elaine Mackenzie, age 64, passed away peacefully in her sleep, leaving behind a loving family and a life marked by service, compassion and quiet strength. Though her absence will be felt every day, her influence will continue through the people, causes and creatures she cared for so faithfully. Elaine was the devoted mother of three and a beloved stepmother to a stepson she raised as her own. To

her, family was never defined by labels — only by love, commitment and showing up every day. She gave her children roots, wings and plenty of honest advice along the way. One of her favorite phrases was “Life’s not fair,” meant

Irving Lawrence Pollander SEPTEMBER 8, 1929DECEMBER 18, 2025 JEFFERSONVILLE, VT.

Irving Lawrence Pollander, much-loved patriarch of the Pollander clan, died at the age of 96 in St. Albans on December 18, 2025, with family at his side. He was born in Graniteville, Vt., on September 8, 1929, to Lawrence Peter Pollander and Bertha (Reynolds) Pollander, shortly after Lawrence suffered a devastating industrial accident in the granite quarry. They returned to Jeffersonville to be closer to family support as Lawrence recovered. Growing up in Cambridge during the Great Depression in a crew of incredible storytellers, Dad inherited the ability to converse with anyone, anywhere, any time. He told many stories about how hard life on the farm was but often said, “We didn’t know we were poor — because everyone else was, too.” He and his younger brother, Robbie, roamed the fields and woods and were both avid hunters and fishermen, skills and passions he passed along to future generations. Graduating from Cambridge High School in 1947, he enrolled in the Vermont State School of Agriculture, graduating in 1950. He joined the U.S. Army, serving in

to encourage resilience and perseverance through life’s challenges. Now, many are left repeating those words in a more somber tone, holding on to the wisdom behind them. Inspired by her eldest daughter’s deployment to Iraq, Elaine became deeply involved in the American Legion Auxiliary and proudly served in many distinguished roles. She was department president in 2010, National Executive Committee Woman in 2011, held multiple department chairmanships and served as a district president. Elaine approached this work with dedication, integrity and heart — always advocating for others and believing strongly in community and

Korea from 1954 to 1956, and returned to marry Beverly (Rooney) Pollander in 1956. He had a distinguished career with Metropolitan Life until he tired of the corporate world and decided to start a sawmill. In 1964 he was hired by IBM, “retiring” in 1990. He then started his handyman business, tackling odd jobs for any lady in town who needed help — lawn mowing, rototilling, stacking wood, fence mending and hanging storm windows, often accepting lunch or dinner in lieu of payment. Gardening was important to him — he was renowned for his annual potato and buttercup squash crops, supplying many area church and community suppers with vegetables. Every kid — and animal — he ever met made him grin. He loved to tease kids to see if he could get them to laugh, and he had a pocketful of tricks to intrigue them with. He always had some goodies in his pocket for Leisa’s horses, and he kept a box of dog treats on top of the refrigerator for canine guests. He was an incredible history buff; the Civil War and anything

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

responsibility. She selflessly stepped away from work that meant so much to her to care for her father, a final testament to her character and priorities. Elaine’s commitment to making the world a better place extended to her professional life as vice president of a small environmental company. For more than 30 years, she worked tirelessly to support environmental responsibility and sustainability, believing deeply that even small efforts could make a meaningful difference. After medically retiring, she finally allowed herself time to focus on her own health — something she had long put aside for the sake of others.

to do with railroads fascinated him. Somewhere he unearthed a railroad repair car and restored it — he ran it on the defunct St. J & LC railroad tracks for many years until the tracks were removed, even running it to Cambridge Junction for happy hour at Robbie’s Wildlife Refuge. He is survived by his children and their spouses: Leisa Pollander and Ed Conrad and Barry and Linda Pollander, all of Jeffersonville, and Lori and Matt Malloy of Johnson; four grandchildren and their families: Kaylee Pollander and Matt Walter (Nyssa and Caspian) of West Virginia, Peter and Veronika Pollander (Clayton) of Fletcher, Rachel and Tyler Barnett (Lucas and Laura) of Craftsbury, and Lindsey and Mike Ludwig (Brynlee, Brody and Bryson) of Florida; as well as two sisters-in-law, Betty Pollander of Jeffersonville and Geraldene Rooney of Shelburne. He also leaves many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents; the mother of his

Elaine’s heart extended naturally to animals — how could it not? Her favorite breed was simply “rescue.” She leaves behind Miranda, her faithful pit bull who loved car rides and gave endless face kisses; and her cat, Mr. Kitty, who insisted on morning pets over coffee — provided Elaine’s many children or grandchildren weren’t around to steal the attention first. In addition to her many accomplishments, Elaine earned an associate’s degree in business management, exemplifying her dedication to growth and her talent for balancing life’s many demands. Elaine will be remembered for her laughter, her

children, Bev; his beloved partner, Nancy Rooney; his brother, Robbie; and three very best buds: Tink Kittell, Greg Edwards and Larry Rooney. There are so many people to thank — his “girls” at Robbie’s who would notify us if he didn’t show up for his daily check-in; the staff of Family Practice Associates, especially Dr. Donald Miller; the staff of Lamoille Home Health, especially Chantal Henn; and his private duty aides: Guyla, Nicki, Kara and Erica — with your love and care he was able to stay home as long as possible. Per his explicit instructions, there will be no visitation or funeral, preferring a celebration of his life to be held at Robbie’s Wildlife Refuge. Please join us there on Saturday, January 17, 2026, noon, for laughter, hugs, tears and stories to honor an exemplary man. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Eagles Green Mountain 3210, PO Box 326, Jeffersonville, VT 05464, in support of the Robbie Pollander Scholarship Fund; Lamoille Home Health, 54 Farr Ave., Morrisville, VT 05661; or the Villa Rehab Center, 7 Forest Hill Dr., St. Albans, VT 05478, in support of the residents activity fund. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

strength, her compassion and her unwavering love for her family. Elaine leaves behind her mother, Janice Spencer; children Cassandra Reyes, Christine Sprout and Ben Sprout; stepson, Ryan Doorey; her loving grandchildren, Sachi, Angelo, Valentina, Kaimana and Adeline; two brothers, Wayne and Jonathan; and her uncle Robert Grier. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, 1 p.m. at the American Legion Post 91, located at 8 South St., Colchester, VT. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the American Legion Auxiliary or the Vermont Humane Society.

Leo “Lee” Alberry

NOVEMBER 1, 1941-DECEMBER 18, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT. Leo “Lee” Alberry passed away on December 18, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, December 27, 2025, 10 a.m., at Christ the King Church, 136 Locust St., Burlington, VT. Arrangements are under the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. For a full obituary or to send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

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James Leveillee JULY 31, 1966DECEMBER 18, 2025 ESSEX, VT.

“It was always more fun when we did it together anyway.” — Mr. Fox An inspired creator of fun and bright light to everyone who knew him, Jim was an artist from a young age who spent his childhood drawing and making things. He attended Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, R.I., in order to play hockey but loved creating art and design for the school yearbooks. Jim studied at Rhode Island School of Design during summer sessions as a high school student and played on the RISD hockey team (Go Nads) for two years, while there as a painting major. Jim finished his undergraduate degree at Hampshire College, where he met his wife, Karyn, in a campus softball game. He made her an eclectic mix tape he called Birds and Poets, his beautiful handwriting

Claire Turcotte Fortin FEBRUARY 18, 1936DECEMBER 22, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT.

Claire Turcotte Fortin, 89, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on December 22, 2025. She was a loving mother of four, whose positivity and strength inspired all who knew her. She never complained and was always up for an outing or a game of cards. Claire had a natural elegance, always stylishly dressed with quiet grace. Claire was born on February 18, 1936, in Manchester, N.H., the daughter of Alpheda and Leo Turcotte. She married the love of her life, Rudolph “Rudy” Fortin, on September 22, 1956, in Manchester. Claire and Rudy made their home in Claremont, N.H., for several years, where they raised their four children: Gary, Linda,

meticulously listing the tracks, including ambitious selections for a new friend, like “When Will We Be Married” by the Waterboys. When Karyn went away to British Columbia for the summer, Jim wrote her a gorgeous letter every day. They were married for 32 years. Jim was a voracious reader and loved libraries. At Hampshire, he relished his low-stress work-study job at the college library. There he found time to read, do the NYT crossword and listen to albums on the third floor. Jim was a lover of many genres of

music, especially that which was off the beaten path, and his life with Karyn always had a soundtrack. After graduating from Hampshire, Jim and Karyn moved to San Francisco. Jim was a lifelong cyclist, from BMX racing as a boy to road cycling as an adult. While living in San Francisco in the ’90s, he was thrilled to be part of the Anchor Steam cycling team, riding across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin on the weekends. He loved films and not only excelled at remembering movie lines but also had a gift for working them into almost any conversation you had with him. He starred in Bay Area friends’ student films, including The Pugilist and This Fucking Apartment. In the late ’90s, after the birth of their daughter, Karyn and Jim moved to Essex, Vt., where they found the rustic log cabin that would become their home, Jim saying to Karyn, “This is it” as they drove up the driveway for the first time. Jim was the best dad and

Michele and Randy. In 1972 they moved to Jericho, Vt. Claire worked in the banking industry for many years, retiring from Chittenden Bank in 1999. After retirement, she devoted much of her time to quilting, painting and entertaining friends at their family home. Claire started a long-arm quilting business, Jericho Quilts. In 2005, Claire and Rudy moved to Colchester, Vt., making it their final home. In 2013, she went on a trip of a lifetime with her good friend Pam Gagnon, to South Africa. She went on a safari and visited Mozambique and Cape Town. Claire was predeceased by her beloved husband, Rudy, in 2010, and her son Gary in 2023. She is survived by her daughters, Linda Fortin of Colchester and Michele Goodman of Jeffersonville; her son Randy Fortin and his wife, Christina, of Williston; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dennille and Ryan Richard (Rowan and

was the household’s full-time parent for the first five years. The kids spent their days navigating obstacle courses, creating art, building things, hiking, taking trips to the library and town pool, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, listening to music, and reading books, frequently joined by young cousins and friends. He was happily the only guy in a moms’ group during these years, an example of how a man can choose to show up for the everyday needs of his family with love. One of Jim’s proudest moments was when a woman downtown remarked at his ability to deftly change his baby’s diaper while keeping his toddler entertained. Jim was also a caring dad to the family’s dogs, chickens, sheep and goats, picking up loads of hay each weekend in the old Volvo wagon. Their home on 10 acres gave rise to a vibrant series of annual events, including Ten Acre Egg Hunts, the Rides of March sledding parties, pie parties, Halloween haunted forests, solstice gatherings,

step-grandchildren McKenzie, Madeline and Michaela), Dusty and Jen Austin (Cameron, Adrien), Emily and Jonah Cantor (Elise), Jessica and Tyson Gillespie (Avery, Kinsey), Katelyn Blades, and Ryan Goodman and his girlfriend, Logan Tallman, and step-grandchildren Olivia and Evan Mead. She is also survived by her sister, Doris Lawrence. A talented and devoted quilter, Claire expressed her creativity and love through countless handmade pieces, many of which will continue to bring comfort and warmth to her family for generations to come. She will be remembered for her kindness, patience and strength. In keeping with Mom’s wishes, there will be no visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on January 8, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in South Burlington, Vt., with burial to follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Claire’s memory are invited to donate to Homeward Bound: Addison County’s Humane Society, 236 Boardman St., Middlebury, VT 05753. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral. com.

wiffle ball tournaments, epic luge runs and more. Jim was a passionate winter luge builder and racer, known for start hills with ladder steps and a relentless pursuit of the perfect banked turn. An extreme amount of snow shoveling was required to both build the luge and keep the long driveway navigable, which he happily did. Passionate about furniture design and fine woodworking, Jim worked as a builder and cabinetmaker for most of his life, while continuing to make drawings, paintings and woodcuts. Jim was a great person to visit a museum or see a film with because his love of the arts was contagious. Jim’s laugh was the best — it’s hard to think of him without hearing it in your head. He appreciated funny movies and comedy and had a gift for finding humor in everyday things, referring to himself as “the comedian’s best friend,” because his laugh was easily won. He had a way of moving that was athletic and

Didier Delmas

AUGUST 24, 1954-DECEMBER 22, 2025 CADOURS, FRANCE Longtime Burlington photographer Didier Delmas died on December 22, 2025, in Cadours, France, from complications of von Hippel Lindau Syndrome. He was 71. Born in Villefranche de Rouergue, Didier briefly studied architecture in Toulouse before leaving school to pursue his dreams in photography. Self-trained, he first worked as an archaeological photographer for Toulouse’s Musée Saint-Raymond before opening his first studio, focusing on hard-to-photograph metal and glass. His early fine arts photographs are in the permanent collections at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, and the Galerie Le Château d’Eau, Toulouse. During summer visits to the U.S., Didier photographed campus life for Middlebury’s French School. When in 1983 he was awarded a photography contract for the Joy of Gardening Cookbook, he settled first at Shelburne Farms and then in Burlington. For nearly 20 years he

graceful; was raised a hockey player but was a surprisingly beautiful skater. He brought that quality to many sports; was fond of risky moves; enjoyed diving catches and jumping the tennis net backward; and was a proud member of the Buckners wiffle ball team, formed to benefit the Travis Roy Foundation. An enthusiastic and dependable wedding reception dancer, Jim was able to perform seldom-seen moves like the Cossack Dance. Really, he saved more than one wedding from being an awkward dance party. Later in life he became the kinetic lead singer in a band called Cabin Fever. Jim will be enormously missed by his wife, Karyn, and children, Feora and Bryce, as well as many other friends and family members. Jim died of a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease at age 59. Karyn regrets not making Jim write his own obituary while he still could — it would have been much better. There will be a celebration of life in the summer of 2026.

excelled in advertising and catalog photography. His fine arts giclée prints were sold through Frog Hollow and elsewhere. Retiring from photography in 2001, Didier pursued a second dream of studying philosophy. After completing a bachelor’s in cinema studies at Burlington College, he went on to earn a master’s and a doctorate at McGill University, specializing in 17th-century visual culture. Didier is survived by his father, Bernard Delmas; his sisters, Marilyne (Roger) Négro and Christine Delmas, and their children, all of southwest France; as well as by his ex-wives, Gretchen Amussen of Paris and Nancy Welch of Hanover, N.H. His death is also mourned by the many Vermont friends who affectionately called him “Chef Didier” and remember him as a gifted chef and generous host. A celebration of Didier’s life was held on December 31, 2025, in Cadours before his ashes were laid to rest alongside his mother and grandparents in Villefranche. Vermont friends are invited to send remembrances of Didier, to be translated and shared with his family, to nwelch@uvm.edu. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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OBITUARIES Eveline R. “Evie” (Boulanger) Corey

DECEMBER 7, 1936-DECEMBER 28, 2025 WILLISTON, VT. Eveline R. “Evie” (Boulanger) Corey, age 89, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., following years of loving companionship and devoted care in her home at Williston Place Independent Senior Living from her daughter Kim. Evie was born on December 7, 1936, the ninth of 11 children, in Orleans, Vt., to Joseph Louis Boulanger and Gwendolyn (Gilson) Boulanger. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Richard Phillip “Dick” Corey; her eldest daughter, Robin E. Corey; her parents; and her eight brothers: Francis, George, Raymond, David, Leo, Phillip, Joseph and Richard Boulanger. Proud of her Vermont roots, Evie carried with her the resilience, strength, humility and deep sense of family learned while growing up in the Northeast Kingdom. As a young woman, she moved to Burlington and went to work at General Electric. It was there, between the comings and goings of an elevator, that she noticed a handsome young man who would soon change her life. On February 6, 1960, Evie married Dick Corey of Burlington, beginning a partnership that would span more than five decades. Together, they raised four children, first in South Burlington and later in Shelburne. A devoted wife and mother, Evie had a gift for making a house a true home, always placing her family before herself. She found joy in gardening, classical music and playing the

piano. She was known for her daily four-mile walks and her enjoyment of a round of golf, and when fresh snow fell, she could often be found gliding through the neighborhood on her cross-country skis. For many years, she shared her voice in the Saint Catherine’s Church Choir. After her children were grown, Evie worked as a bank teller at the Howard Bank branch in Shelburne. Evie is survived by her daughters Kimberly A. Corey of Colchester and Heidi L. Corey of Rutland; and her son, Daniel R. Corey, and his wife, Beth Harrison, of Colorado Springs, Colo. She is also survived by her sisters, Rita (Boulanger) Hilliard of Springfield, Mass., and Catherine (Boulanger) Bechert of Parkland, Fla.; her sister-in-law, Kathy (Lysaght) Boulanger of Shelburne; and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the University of Vermont Health Network Home Health & Hospice; the McClure Miller Respite House; Williston Place; and Evie’s independent caregivers, particularly Ms. Dhyanna Lucia, for their tireless, compassionate care and support. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11 a.m., at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church in South Burlington, Vt., with interment to follow at Resurrection Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester or to UVM Health Network Home Health & Hospice. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Beverly Ann LaRocque SEPTEMBER 17, 1944DECEMBER 12, 2025 WINOOSKI, VT.

Beverly Ann LaRocque, born in Burlington, Vt., on September 17, 1944, embarked on her final journey to the next life on December 12, 2025. She was 81 years old. Beverly will be known for her “one-of-a-kind” personality, her love for butterflies and nature, and her love and devotion to her extended chosen family. She is survived by her sons, Christopher, Roderick,

Michael and Paul; and by her grandchildren, Corey, Brian, Faith, Yana and Andrew. Her sons would like to express their deepest thanks

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and appreciation to Jimmy and Kim Walters of Winooski and Carol Berthiaume of Fairfax for always being there for Mom. Beverly was predeceased by her best friend, Joanne Cardinal-Devino, of nearly 70 years and now back together again! She was also predeceased by her father, mother and younger sister. At Beverly’s request, a celebration of life will be held in 2026 when the weather permits. Arrangements are in care of LaVigne Funeral Home & Cremation Services. To send condolences to her family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

Judith Ann (DeSpirito) Cooley JANUARY 21, 1944OCTOBER 17, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT.

With love in her heart and her loving family at her bedside, lifelong Vermonter and longtime Shelburne resident Judy Cooley peacefully entered eternal life at the McClure Miller Respite House, at age 81. Her spirit lives on in her two children, James Davis and Daniel Cooley; four grandchildren, Riley Davis, Clementine Cooley, Penelope Cooley and Gwenyth Cooley; two siblings, Fred DeSpirito and his wife, Paula, and Donna Bird; and extended family and many friends from all walks of life. We are all blessed to have learned lots of valuable lessons from this legend who left her legacy of love in our hearts and imprinted her selflessness on our souls. Most importantly: She taught us how to love. She loved with her whole heart, unconditionally; she loved fiercely, as her family creed was family first. She was always there when you needed her the most, even if you didn’t know how much you needed her. She was our biggest fan and our loudest cheerleader. She was honest, hardworking and took pride in her work, even if it was as simple as keeping a clean house. She was

approachable and an active listener whose passion and compassion for people carried over into grocery store checkout lines, where strangers would often bend her ear, to which her free therapy was always appreciated. She loved God and nature, especially birds. She was a skilled calligrapher and a champion disco dancer who lit up every wedding with her moves. There was always music playing in her home and a Thomas Kincaid calendar on her wall. She enjoyed painting and watching Bob Ross for hours to calm her restlessness and learn new techniques. She spoke her mind, used colorful language as her paint and talked with her hands like strokes of her brush. She made sure you could “taste her love” in every bite of her amazing meals and that family always sat together for dinner, the dinner table was a place filled with laughter and love, and no one ever left hungry. A lover of life, she was a mother to everyone and called everyone “sweetheart” — a fitting retirement for a woman who now sits next to our Heavenly Father. Born in Burlington during World War II to Fred DeSpirito and Irene Mongeon, Judy didn’t see her father until he returned from overseas when she was 2 years old. Proud of her Italian heritage and New York City roots, Judy fearlessly competed in the Miss

Vermont Pageant in 1963, where she performed, “Give My Regards to Broadway.” Judy had so many interesting professions throughout her long life. In her younger years, she worked for the Singer Sewing Company, Champlain Ferry and Burlington City Hall under then-mayor Bernie Sanders. Her love for children led her to several schools, including Shelburne Middle School, Pine Crest School, the Gailer School and the Waldorf School. Later in life, she worked part time at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company before finding joy at the Christmas Loft, where she was affectionately known as “Elf” Judy for spreading her Christmas cheer all year round. A likely excuse to send us personalized ornaments year after year. We can all honor Judy’s legacy by living life the way she did, the way God intended love to be. Be kind, be patient, lead with your heart unconditionally, family first, and befriend a stranger in the checkout line. At Judy’s request, instead of sending flowers, plant them. A memorial service will be held this summer at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Burlington, followed by a celebration of life on Lake Champlain, with a date and time to be announced by her family. Love you to pieces, Mama Mia.

Robert D. Rachlin

JULY 22, 1936DECEMBER 27, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT. Robert D. Rachlin, 89, died peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at his home in Burlington, Vt. His wife, Catharine, to whom he was married for over 45 years, was by his side. Robert was born in West Hartford, Conn., in 1936, the son of Pauline and John C. Rachlin. He was predeceased by his sister Eleanor Kooby. Robert was a graduate of Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. In 1959, he relocated to St. Johnsbury, Vt., where he became partners with John Downs. The later addition of Allen Martin established the law firm of Downs Rachlin & Martin (DRM), which grew over the years to become the largest law firm in the state of Vermont. Robert had a distinguished legal career, representing a wide range of clients and interests over a period of more than 60 years. In keeping with his

lifelong commitment to social justice, he provided pro bono legal services to detainees held in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Robert was also a gifted concert pianist, performing throughout New England as a founding member of the Vermont Chamber Group; an accomplished instrument-rated pilot and flight instructor who flew his own plane for years; and a talented linguist with a working knowledge of numerous languages, including German, French, Spanish, Russian, Greek and Hebrew. He was an adjunct lecturer, Department of German and Russian at the University of

Vermont, and visiting associate professor at the Vermont Law School. Robert was an active member and participant in the Burlington Chabad community. He devoted many years to the study of Torah and Chassidic thought. All who knew Robert were struck by his approachable and inquisitive nature, as well as his extraordinary intellect and lightning-quick wit. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Catharine, and their daughter, Julia; his four children from a previous marriage: Deborah, Paul, Rebecca and John; 10 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Burial was held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Ahavath Gerim Cemetery in South Burlington. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Services. To send condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

degrees from Trinity College and became a paraeducator at Gertrude Chamberlin Elementary School, helping children in and outside the classroom. Pat enjoyed entertaining and always welcomed friends and family in her home. She hosted an annual Truffle Party around the holidays for more than 25 years, rolling fancy

chocolates, an event that became legendary. Pat was an accomplished artist, painting weekly for years with a small group of friends who called themselves the Monet Mamas. Pat traveled extensively, mostly with her husband, visiting 43 states, seven Canadian provinces, 18 European countries, four African countries, and two each in Asia and South America. Pat loved to cook and was notorious for making everything delicious. She was always happy, smiling and upbeat and loved her family dearly. We will be having a celebration of Pat’s life in the summer of 2026. Date and place to be determined. Please send her daughter an email with your contact information if you’d like to be included, so we don’t miss anyone: robinpyle920@gmail. com.

Patricia Burgmeier

MARCH 16, 1943DECEMBER 15, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT. Patricia Tobin Burgmeier, loving wife, daughter, mother and friend, passed away at 82 years old on December 15, 2025, surrounded by her husband of 61 years, James Burgmeier; her son, Glenn; her daughter, Robin; their spouses, Gillian Klein and Matt Pyle; grandchildren Colton, Alison and Emily; and her beloved dog, Ginger. Pat was born on March 16, 1943, and was predeceased by her father, John R. Tobin, and mother, Carol Tobin (Cummings). Pat was cofounder of the Other Paper, the South Burlington weekly newspaper. She earned bachelor’s and master’s

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Rita Marie Ricord Bortz MAY 12, 1941-NOVEMBER 24, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

She was born May 12, 1941, the first of three daughters, to Maurice and Fernande Ricord in Winchendon, Mass. She excelled in school, taking secretarial courses in Murdock High School. Nearing graduation, she took a federal government test, passed and with her mother’s blessing took a bus to Washington, D.C., to start her secretarial service with the U.S. Navy. She enjoyed living in a women’s boardinghouse where she met people whom she considered wonderful friends. In 1960 she met a mysterious man, Adam Bortz. They dated and became good friends. On March 19, 1961, she agreed to his request that she marry him. On a rainy morning on August 26 they were married in her church, right across from her apartment. They moved to their first apartment in Bethesda, Md. Two years later they welcomed their first child, a boy they named Tor David. Adam was working in architecture and received an offer to move to Vermont in 1966. The three of them moved to Burlington the Fourth of July weekend. Early in September the two of them signed the Book to become members of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington. Rita stayed home to care for Tor. Less than a year later they bought land in Underhill Flats and had a home shell erected on it during the summer. Their second son, Karl Fredrik, was born on his father’s birthday. They moved into the unfinished interior on Labor Day weekend. Rita stayed home. When Adam came home from work they would work on completing all of the interior, including hardwood floors. Less than a year later their third son, Seth Jonathan, was born. Now Rita still wanted a daughter, but they had to be creative. They had UU Society friends who belonged to a group called Room for One More. With their advice, Rita and Adam applied to adopt. They’d gotten the boys the regular way, but their daughter, Kirsten Laura, came by “stork.” The family of five went to the adoption agency to meet her and take her home. Her sons were very excited about having a sister. The family’s picture appeared in the Burlington newspaper. Rita was itching to get back to being a secretary but stayed home until all of her children were attending Jericho schools all day. She found offices that needed a secretary, and those offices soon realized that she was a real gem who was very efficient. Among the offices she served were the office of Camp Abnaki and Thomas and Alexander, Attorneys, in Burlington. She served at Knight Consulting Engineers for several years. But Adam had to find work outside Vermont, so they left Tor here and moved to the Utica, N.Y., area with the other three children. Adam worked for a large engineering/architectural firm. Rita applied to

them and was accepted as temporary secretary to the president. That job became permanent when that secretary returned, but they found her so efficient that they made her the secretary to the landscaping division of 11 engineers. Adam started his own business, which enabled them to return to Vermont in 1999. Rita found that the American Cancer Society of Vermont was needing a secretary, so she applied. There she started as their efficient main secretary and was switched later to be the secretary to the man who was searching for the money to build a new Hope Lodge in Burlington. Meanwhile, she joined the Champlain Valley Quilt Guild, ’cause she now had her own sewing room where she could create her quilts. With the guild she worked herself up to serving as their president, then moved on to being chair of the Community Quilts Committee, which was responsible for meeting the community’s need for donated quilts. When Hope Lodge was nearing completion, she recruited quilting friends to provide a quilt for each of the bedrooms and was there officiating as those quilts were placed on their beds. The director stated that having a different quilt on each bed “turned it from a house to a home.” And Rita was proud to have one of her quilts displayed on a prominent wall. They moved to Mayfair Park in 2005. Unfortunately, while in the hospital in December 2024 for a problem, she was notified that she had pancreatic cancer. What a blow to her and her large family! Her husband took training by Age Well to be her caregiver. Although she fought it as best she could for months, she was informed that the chemo was no longer working. Devastated as she was, she signed up for home health care and had a wonderful nurse. She continued deteriorating until Thursday, November 20, when she decided she wanted to go to the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester. There she was well taken care of as she suffered her last days. She died on Monday, November 24, at 12:28, with some of the family there. She is survived by a sister, Rosemarie Goodrich, and her husband, Leston; by her husband of 64 years, Adam Franklin Bortz III; sons Tor David Bortz and his wife, Lorena Bortz, Karl Fredrik Bortz and his companion, Tracy Whitcomb, and Seth Jonathan Bortz and his wife, Lisa CushingBortz; and daughter Kirsten Bortz Harty and her husband, Otis Paul Harty. In addition, there are those nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, whom she adored. Her memorial service will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vt., sometime in the late spring or early summer of 2026. Following it, her ashes will be placed in their Memorial Garden on the western side of the property. Obituary by her favorite husband. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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OBITUARIES Margaret Bojanowski JULY 7, 1980DECEMBER 14, 2025 MIDDLEBURY, VT.

Margaret Susan (Allard) Bojanowski, age 45, passed away tragically of natural causes at her home on Sunday, December 14, 2025, in Middlebury, Vt. Margaret’s life was defined by compassion, strength, and her fierce commitment as a mother, wife, sister, niece, friend and lifelong horsewoman. Her love for family and horses was the cornerstone of her life and career. Margaret was an enduring champion of all things equestrian and a tireless educator and cheerleader for riders of all ages. She brought wisdom, patience and grace to every interaction — whether mentoring a young rider, tending to a horse in need or quietly

supporting others behind the scenes. Margaret grew up in South Burlington, Vt., and went on to graduate from Alfred University. Her early career started at horse farms in Virginia, followed by teaching and training in horse barns at Cornell University, where she met her husband, Andy. Together they moved to southern Oregon, where

Joanne M. Henderson JULY 3, 1932-JANUARY 1, 2026 MONTPELIER, VT.

Joanne M. Henderson, of Montpelier, Vt., passed away at Central Vermont Hospital on January 1, 2026, with her loving sons, Chip and Marshall, by her side. Also present was Pamela Root, her close friend. The family would like to thank the many other friends who were of such great support during a difficult time. Joanne was born on July 3, 1932, in Vandergrift, Pa., to Russell Mohney and Ruth Adams Mohney. She once described her childhood and teenage years there as idyllic. On May 3, 1958, Joanne married Graham Henderson, also from Vandergrift. They had a son, Chip, and moved to Montpelier in 1964 when Graham accepted a position at National Life Insurance. Their son Marshall was born soon afterwards. Before marriage, she worked for TWA Airlines in Philadelphia. In Montpelier, Joanne volunteered at the KelloggHubbard Library, where she met many close friends. She also enjoyed knitting,

they managed a horse farm, before moving back to Vermont, where their daughter, Nova, was born in 2010. As a family they found great pleasure in building their life at Eddy Farm. Andy and Margaret were married in the South Meadow and hosted countless celebrations and community events throughout the years. Margaret was a devoted mother and found true joy watching Nova in the saddle and on the ice. Nova was the light of her life and carries her spirit. To all who knew her, Margaret was made for Eddy Farm, seemingly handpicked by Doris Eddy herself. Margaret immediately became the farm’s heart and soul, the thread that connected all members of the community. She cared very deeply for the farm horses and loved and knew each one as if it were her own. She

and she made countless prayer shawls for those in need of a warm hug. Tennis was her sport of choice, and in 1973 Joanne won the doubles Labor Day Tennis Tournament in Montpelier. She was an avid reader and was primarily interested in fiction. Those who knew her well are aware that she loved to hear and learn about the lives of others far more than she wanted to talk about herself. An endearing nickname from her son Marshall was “Curious George.” Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Graham Henderson; her parents, Russell and Ruth Mohney; and her sister, Ruth Mohney. Joanne is survived by her sons, Chip Henderson (Leslie Kriebel) of Stow, Mass., and Marshall Henderson of Montpelier, Vt.; and her special nephew and niece, Tom Wehe (Kris) of Monroe, Wash., and Hilary Zerbe of Seattle, Wash. Arrangements are in the care of Guare & Sons Funeral Home of Montpelier, Vt. Burial will take place at the Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier, Vt., on January 8, 2026, 1 p.m.

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always put the horses’ comfort and care first and went to great lengths to ensure an exceptional quality of life for all of them. She was an outstanding teacher and mentor, bringing together people of all ages, capabilities and backgrounds on the farm. Margaret could meet people where they were and especially found great joy in teaching therapeutic lessons to members of the Counseling Service of Addison County. She also delighted in watching her “lesson kids” compete at local events, whether it was lead line or three-foot fences. The impact she had on so many people is aweinspiring and a testament to the kind, brilliant teacher that she was. One of her earliest students, Alicia Odell, became her dearest friend and assistant farm manager. Together, Margaret and Alicia worked tirelessly

to make improvements to the farm facilities and lesson programs. The legacy of their partnership is apparent in the high-quality instruction and top-notch horse care, which are hallmarks of Eddy Farm. Margaret would be so proud to know Alicia will carry on the torch as farm manager. Margaret is survived by husband Andrew D. Bojanowski and daughter Nova Rose Bojanowski of Middlebury, Vt.; brother Gregory Allard and partner Kathleen Stutzman of Waterbury, Vt.; aunts Susan (Towne) Schaefer of Vergennes, Vt., Sandra Towne of Randolph, Va., and Abigail (Towne) Vietze and Robert of Warren, Vt.; uncle Makey Towne and Ellen of Breckenridge, Colo.; uncle Mike Allard of Bennington, Vt.; Linda Allard of Bennington, Vt.; Anita and husband Jim Frechette of

Holly Sullivan

DECEMBER 21, 1947-NOVEMBER 22, 2025 CHARLOTTE, VT. Holly Sullivan died on November 22, 2025. She grew up in New York City and made her home in New York. Holly earned a bachelor’s in studio art and a master’s in urban and environmental studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She served as executive director of a domestic violence and rape crisis agency before becoming senior planner with the Hudson River Valley Greenway, a New York State agency focused on environmental protection and sustainable development. An artist, Holly described creativity as deep focus where time seemed to fall away. Though life pulled her from studio work, art remained central to her identity. Early on, she was an avid weaver and created a sweater coat from hair shed by their rescued white German shepherd, Wolfy. In her forties, Holly took up running, competing in multiple marathons. She became a dedicated hiker and winter mountaineer, completing all Adirondack 46 high peaks in summer and winter — an achievement requiring exceptional preparation and resilience.

Bennington, Vt.; in-laws David and Sandy Bojanowski of Ithaca, N.Y.; sisters-inlaw Julie Bojanowski of Ithaca, N.Y., and Stephanie Bojanowski of Buffalo, N.Y.; and many cousins. Margaret was predeceased by her mother, Libby Towne, in 2011; her father, Mark Allard, in 2023; her dog JonJon; and her horse Caruso. A memorial celebration of her life is being planned for January 10, 2026, noon, at the American Legion in Middlebury. Interment will be arranged privately. Donations in memory of Margaret may be made to Eddy Farm School for Horse and Rider (1815 South St. Extension, Middlebury, VT 05753, givebutter.com/ eddyfarm) or the Counseling Service of Addison County (89 Main St., Middlebury, VT 05753, csac-vt.org/donate. html).

She loved winter hiking for its solitude and stark beauty. Her experiences included Mount Whitney, the Highlands of Scotland and peaks in the Andes. In 2002, Holly met Craig Reynolds on an Adirondack hike. They became close friends, then a couple. In 2005, Holly moved to Charlotte and became director of the Charlotte Family Senior Center. She lived in Vermont for nearly 18 years. Holly and Craig gardened, camped, hiked and sailed on Lake Champlain. She regularly hiked and skied with the Women of UVM. To her daughter, Holly’s greatest influence was personal. She raised her child vegetarian for ethical reasons, shaping respect for animals. As her daughter became vegan, Holly became vegan as well out of compassion for animals. Holly deeply loved her cats, Rufus and Henry, and took great joy in their companionship. Holly valued purpose, integrity and living by one’s principles. Her legacy lives on through the values she passed down, the people she influenced, and the lasting impact of a life shaped by intention and depth. She leaves behind two daughters, Jill and Alana, and a beloved sister, Jayne.

Suzanne Chant

Michael, Chris, Chris and Robert. She also leaves an in-law family to whom she became as close as siblings: Catherine Chant and Stephen Belitsos, Barbara and Paul Colton, Elizabeth Chant and Jill Burley, Paul and Anne Chant, Daniel and Jodie Chant, and Kirsten Chant;

nieces Sarah, Margaret, Emily, Libby, Jacqueline and Jessica; and nephews Brady, Thomas, Luke, Drew and Ethan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Chant; brother, Joe St. Pierre; sister Connie Rawson; brother-in-law Timothy Chant; and nephews Andrew and Ronny. She was born on September 29, 1951, the second eldest of four, to Joseph and Katherine (McCloskey) St. Pierre. She was born in Darby, Pa., grew up in Colonia, N.J., and studied English and French, graduating from Newark State College (now Kean University). Suzanne met Steve, the love of her life, in the early 1990s on the online network Prodigy, where both were early personal computer

users. Suzanne and Patrick relocated from New Jersey to Vermont to share life’s adventures with Steve and Ariel. Gerry joined in on vacations and many special times. Besides being a loving wife, proud mother, caring sister and affectionate grandmother, Suzanne was a poet, an artist, a quilter, an avid reader and a lover of music. She loved traveling near and far with her partner in creativity, Steve. They loved driving around New England, holding hands, trying their luck at diners, auctions, craft fairs and bookstores. For many years, they would take an annual summer break from work and family and go to Moosehead Lake in Maine, each with a pile of books for

entertainment. In retirement, they discovered the joys of cruising and islandhopping in the Caribbean, even taking back-to-back cruises one year that gave them a full month at sea. In other years, they got their break from Vermont winters in St. Kitts and Nevis and Bonaire. Suzanne and Steve were crazy in love from the day they met. They delighted in their passions for words, art, music, their children and each other. She was loved by many others for her intelligence, her generosity, her strength, and her sometimes-gentle and sometimes-fiery spirit. She will be missed by everyone who knew her. A memorial service is planned for spring.

revolved around the family farmhouse, a couple of barns, an ancient trampoline, a half-built treehouse and a

pack of friends. He attended Jericho Elementary School, Browns River Middle School, Mount Mansfield Union High School and the University of Vermont, but Nolan also learned many lessons on the road — living abroad in Vietnam in second grade and in Morocco in middle school — where he learned to bravely try new things, communicate with limited language skills and embrace new cultures. Nolan’s contagious smile twinkled from his eyes and lit up every room he entered. He was loved deeply by his family and friends, and he loved them back with all of

his heart. Yet love was not enough to keep Nolan here. On December 21, 2025, he took his own life. Despite his easy smile, constant kindness and sweet humor, Nolan was struggling to navigate the complexities of being a young adult in 2025, as well as layers of sorrow about which we can guess but never know. As we move forward, we will focus on all that was beautiful and loving about Nolan. We’ll continue to tell the funny stories of his adventures and find comfort in our memories of his warm love. We encourage you to do the same. Keep Nolan’s

memory alive by treating yourself to a spicy snack, taking a run for him on a powder day at Bolton Valley, or planting a sunflower in the spring to remember the warmth and color that he brought to all our lives. For Nolan’s full obituary, please visit cremationsocietycc.com. We will celebrate Nolan’s life with a memorial service on Sunday, January 11, 2026, 3:30 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

his greatest gifts, lightening any moment while still honoring its depth. A lover of music, Dan found meaning and connection through sound. Songs

were never just songs to him but reflections of life, love and spirit. He was deeply philosophical, always curious about the bigger questions and profoundly spiritual, carrying a quiet faith and reverence that guided the way he lived and loved. Above all else, Dan was devoted to those he loved. His presence was steady and grounding, and his love was generous, unwavering and true. To be loved by him was to be known deeply and cherished completely. He is survived by his beloved wife, Christy Casey; mother-in-law, Diann Varricchione; son, Patrick Casey, and former daughterin-law, Jaclyn Crowley;

daughter, Colleen Gaydos, and husband Thomas Gaydos; grandchildren, Riley Gaydos, Emilia Gaydos, Adeline Gaydos and Layla Casey; sister Mary Steiger and husband George Beato; sister Kathleen Casey and husband Adam Crogan; nieces and nephews, Casey Tracy and husband Adam Tracy, and Erin Steiger, Kiley Schmoldt and Aidan Schmoldt; grandnephews, Lewis Tracy and Miles Tracy; and grandniece, Quinn Tracy. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law David Steiger; son, Andrew Casey; mother, MaryLou Casey; father, Daniel J. Casey; and father-in-law, David Varricchione. A Mass of Christian Burial

will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11 a.m., at Saint Michael the Archangel Chapel, 1 Winooski Park, Colchester, VT. The family will be available to greet guests beginning at 9:45 a.m. A private burial will follow for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dan’s honor to the Edmundite Campus Ministry at Saint Michael’s College or to the National Scleroderma Foundation. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences to the family, please visit readyfuneral. com.

SEPTEMBER 29, 1951DECEMBER 25, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Suzanne Chant, 74, of South Burlington, Vt., died on December 25, 2025, alongside family and friends, after a long illness. Suzanne is survived by her children, Gerry Canavan and wife Jaimee Hills, Patrick Canavan, and Ariel Chant and partner Will Willoughby. She was “Susu” to grandchildren Hannah, Zoey, Dalton and Connor and step-granddaughters Jalyn and Peyton. Suzanne leaves her sister Kathy and husband Richard Yawarski; sister-in-law Gail St. Pierre; brother-in-law Marty Rawson; nieces Heather, Eileen, Elizabeth, Katie and Colleen; and nephews

Nolan Borch APRIL 29, 2004DECEMBER 21, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

Nolan burst onto the scene in Burlington, Vt., on April 29, 2004, and was promptly squeezed into a Florida Marlins’ onesie and toted off to the Little League field for opening day festivities. He was immediately absorbed into the active lives and loving hearts of his older brother and sister, Foster and Brianna, and his parents, Jennifer and John. Jericho, Vt., was Nolan’s home, and his childhood

Daniel F. Casey

OCTOBER 11, 1959JANUARY 2, 2026 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT. Daniel F. Casey, 66, of South Burlington, Vt., beloved husband, devoted father and grandfather, brother and friend, passed away on Friday evening, January 2, 2026, surrounded by love. He leaves behind a world forever changed by his presence. Dan was a man with a big soul, one who drew people in and made them feel seen, understood and safe. He was fiercely loyal, deeply wise and endlessly thoughtful, often offering insight that lingered long after conversations ended. His perfectly timed sense of humor was one of

Judy Marie Cruz

SEPTEMBER 28, 1954JULY 25, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT. Judy Marie Cruz died on Friday, July 25, 2025, at her home in Burlington, Vt., after a short illness. She was born in Burlington on September 28, 1954, the daughter of the late Henry C. Francis and Pauline (Gilmond) Francis. Judy was married on October 1, 1974, to Lawrence Cruz. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1972, where she met the love of her life and husband, Larry. Judy was an avid reader, spending endless hours either finishing or starting another novel. She particularly enjoyed her yearly trips to the Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., where she experienced many wonderful and unforgettable trips with her family. She will be forever remembered as a devout wife and mother, a great listener, and possessing a generous heart. Judy leaves behind her loving husband for 50 years, Larry, of Burlington; two sons, Cory Cruz of Burlington and Casey Cruz along with his wife, Heather, of St. George; two grandchildren, Jordan Pellerin and Brendan Cruz; two great-grandchildren, Killian Pellerin and Ollie Cruz; and cousin Paula Paquette of Milton. A celebration of Judy’s life will be announced at a later date. Donations in Judy’s honor should go to St. Jude Hospital for children’s cancer research.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Barbara Moquin

MARCH 26, 1935-DECEMBER 21, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT. Barbara Moquin, age 90, of Shelburne, Vt., passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025, at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. Barbara was born on March 26, 1935, to Andrew Nichols and Alida Mildred Buckley. Afterward, Alida remarried to Jay Buckley, who was always kind to Barbara. Barbara’s siblings were her half-sisters, Wallita and Beulah Davis. At a young age, one of Barbara’s teachers noticed she was losing her eyesight. With great courage and love, her mother made the difficult decision to send her to the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, where Barbara lived during the school year and returned home only for holidays, traveling by train from Essex. She thrived at Perkins, was well liked by her peers and became a house leader before graduating. After returning to Vermont, Barbara met the love of her life, Norman Moquin, whom she married on October 3, 1959. Together, they built a life in Burlington near Norman’s business, Moquin’s Bakery, before settling in Shelburne on land gifted by Barbara’s parents, next to the family farm. This home became Barbara’s lifelong sanctuary. Barbara and Norman adopted their son, Christopher, when he was very young. Tragedy struck when Norman passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack while Christopher was only 16. Despite this profound loss, Barbara remained steadfastly independent. Rather than relying on government assistance due to her blindness, she believed she was capable of working and did so with pride. She was employed as a secretary at Simpson, Brown, Pastore and Zais, later continuing with Pastore Financial Group, where she remained a loyal and dedicated employee well into her mid-eighties. Later in life, Barbara endured another serious hardship when she was struck by a passing car while retrieving her mail, sustaining injuries that caused lifelong pain. True to her nature, she rarely complained and would take only an occasional aspirin when the pain became severe. Barbara was blessed with her beloved grandson, Christopher, whom she cherished deeply. She traveled independently, often flying alone to North Carolina to spend Christmas with her family. Sadly, while visiting during the holidays, Barbara suffered the devastating loss of her son, Christopher, who passed away unexpectedly. Even through

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such immense grief, Barbara often said, “I lived one heck of a good life.” Fiercely independent to the end, Barbara was determined to live on her own until her passing. She shared her life with many dogs over the years, forming especially close bonds with them. Her last and most treasured companion was Stryder, lovingly nicknamed “Honey Pot Pie,” who remained close to her heart until the very end. Barbara was deeply devoted to her faith and her church family at the First Baptist Church of Burlington, where she served on the governing board and helped in any way she could. Her faith was not only something she believed in but also something she lived — through kindness, resilience and unwavering trust in God. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Nichols and Alida Mildred Austin; her husband, Norman Moquin; and her beloved son, Christopher Moquin. She is survived by her grandson, Christopher; her niece, Gail Holmes, of Vermont; and extended family and friends who were deeply touched by her strength, humor, faith and enduring love. Barbara will be laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery, where she will be buried alongside her son Christopher’s ashes and next to her husband, Norman. Funeral service will be on January 16, 2026, 2 p.m., at the First Baptist Church, located at 81 St. Paul St., Burlington, VT 05401. The family of Barbara Moquin extends their heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center, the McClure Miller Respite House, and all who provided care, friendship and support throughout her life. Barbara’s life was a testament to courage, faith and perseverance. She inspired everyone who knew her to live fully, love deeply and face life’s challenges with grace. INSPIRE — A Reflection of Barbara’s Life I — Independence: She lived life on her own terms, with strength and dignity. N — Never gave up: Through loss and hardship, she persevered. S — Strong: Her determination knew no boundaries. P — Perseverance: Blindness and loss never defined her limits. I — Inspiring faith: Her devotion to God guided her life. R — Resilience: She met every challenge with courage and grace. E — Enduring love: For her family and all she held dear.

Martha Boyce Colyer MARCH 26, 1953DECEMBER 31, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT.

Martha Boyce Colyer of Colchester, Vt., wife of Lawrence (Larry) Keyes, died on December 31, 2025, at home in the presence of family. Martha was born in Albany, N.Y. She attended the Albany Academy for Girls. She received a BA in art from Elmira College in Elmira, N.Y., where she met Larry. She completed an MA at the College of Saint Rose. After graduating she began her teaching career at the Bement School in Deerfield, Mass., and continued at the Montessori School of Albany. After a series of international adventures in the late 1970s (midnight crossing from East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie; and in Britain, a mistaken identity as a member of the Baader-Meinhof gang) and travel (Britain, Holland, Germany), she married Larry to move to Montréal. After three years in Québec, both were ready

Phyllis Russell

1937-2025 PROCTOR, VT. Phyllis Russell of Proctor, Vt., passed away on December 31, 2025, after an extended illness. For a complete obituary, please visit aldousfuneralhome.com.

to return to the States, and they chose to move to the Burlington, Vt., area, where they made their home for the past 40 years. Martha taught art at Richmond Elementary School for 10 years. She had a second career teaching basic skills to adult learners and new Americans at Vermont Adult Learning. Martha was predeceased by her parents, Elizabeth (Baggerly) and Paul Colyer. She leaves her husband, Larry Keyes; his brother Philip; Phil’s wife, Laura; and their children, Tor and Christopher. She leaves her sister, Nancy Buckley; Nancy’s children, Peter, Elizabeth, David and Sarah;

and eight grand-nieces and -nephews. She also leaves her cousins Joanne, Betty, Liz and Andrea. Martha and Larry were married for 43 years and were together for much of 10 years prior to getting married. For Larry, Martha was his “Lebensgefährtin,” “the person with whom I traveled through life.” Martha has many lifelong friends from childhood and from teaching. Many are far away, but she maintained a regular correspondence with cards, calls and emails. Margaret Sansone, Michèle Dominy, Cassie Keith, Leslie Knauf, Carmine Sargent, Lee Hollister and many others. The family would like to thank the staff of the University of Vermont’s Cancer Center and UVM Hospice. A very special thanks to Margaret Sansone … who, with Larry, took loving care of her during her last days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lund Family Center in Burlington or a charity of your choice, especially those that help children and families.

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PAULA ROUTLY

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Seven Days on the press in Mirabel, Québec

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

11/21/23 6:28 PM

FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

NEW BEER

RESOLUTIONS With trouble brewing beyond Dry January, Vermont’s craft beer industry braces for an uncertain future

Hand-pulled Heady Topper at the Alchemist

B Y JOR D AN BAR RY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

group of regulars sat around the bar at Simple Roots Brewing in Burlington on a Saturday in mid December and toasted the New North End brewery’s final days. They shared memories of bringing their newborn babies for their first trip out of the house, of hosting events with the tasting room’s garage door wide open, of selling strawberries to owners Kara Pawlusiak and Dan Ukolowicz for a sour. Whenever a new customer walked through the door, fill-in bartender Ian Treu asked the same question: “We’re down to one beer. May I pour it for you?” All but two customers said, “Yes, I’ll have the ... beer.” “Good choice!” came the chorus from around the bar. That keg of Zero Gravity Craft Brewery’s Conehead Haze had some heavy lifting to do: It was all the beer left in the brewery. Simple Roots’ own Good Neighbor IPA and American Dream cream ale had run out not long after its last big party in October, a month after the brewery announced its closure. By December, customers were taking scissors to rolls of labels, snipping off mementos of the brewery’s 11-year run to 30

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frame or give as holiday gifts. The branded glassware was almost gone, too — the result of a successful liquidation sale. Melissa and Ed Donahue stopped in that day during a visit from Nashville, Tenn., to buy a few glasses for their daughter and son-in-law, who live nearby. “They used to come in to get away from their kids,” Ed joked. “We thought we’d give them at least the memory,” Melissa said. “There was a lot to love about this place.” Simple Roots closed for good a few days later, on December 18. The Burlington brewery is among the latest casualties in an industry-wide slowdown that’s claimed more than 800 craft breweries around the country in the past two years. Simple Roots’ owners had been thinking about their exit strategy for about a year, Pawlusiak said. With more people working remotely post-pandemic, fewer stopped into the taproom on their way home on a Thursday or Friday night. Tourism is down in Burlington, and the whole state has seen a sharp decrease in Canadian visitors since President Donald Trump took office last year.

FACING NEW CHALLENGES, VERMONT BREWERS MUST CHOOSE WHETHER

THEIR PINT GLASSES ARE HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL.

Simple Roots started carrying Athletic Brewing’s nonalcoholic beer for customers who were changing their drinking habits, but Pawlusiak still noticed a “decline of beer consumption on many fronts,” she said. This week, as many Vermonters swear off booze for Dry January after holiday gluttony, Vermont craft beer is at an inflection point following decades of prosperity. In response, some brewers are doubling down on the flagship beers that got them where they are. Others are developing and investing in new products, including nonalcoholic beer, to meet customers’ changing tastes. As distribution in a crowded, risk-averse market becomes trickier, many breweries are using their taprooms to create community spaces where the beer — ideally, more than just one — might not be the only reason someone walks through the door. Facing new challenges both in and outside the industry, Vermont brewers must choose whether their pint glasses are half empty or half full. What they decide — and what they do about it — will shape Vermont’s craft beer landscape for years to come.

COURTESY OF WINTER CAPLANSON/NEW ENGLAND FOOD AND FARM FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Dan Ukolowicz and Kara Pawlusiak at Simple Roots Brewing

The Alchemist

LIGHTNING IN A CAN

The first canning run of the Alchemist’s Heady Topper came two days after Tropical Storm Irene flooded the brewery’s original Waterbury brewpub in 2011. The unfiltered double IPA sold out in days and achieved rarified cult status. Beer nerds flocked to the internet to share their scores and opinions on BeerAdvocate and Facebook. Fans stalked the Alchemist’s delivery trucks to City Market in Burlington on distribution days. This reporter once paid $19 for a can in a Brooklyn bar, so novel was finding it out of state. Propelled by Heady Topper and others, the hazy, juicy New England IPA became the biggest thing in beer, with Vermont

as its mecca. Over the next decade-plus, Vermont’s craft beer industry enjoyed an explosion of growth, expanding from fewer than 25 breweries statewide in 2011 to 77 today, the highest number of breweries per capita in the country. On the heels of lofty accolades and awards — Hill Farmstead topped RateBeer’s global brewery rankings eight times before the website went dark last year — Vermont became a destination for beer tourists. Traffic backed up on the “IPA Highway,” as the winding roads between Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro and Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield came to be called. But Alchemist cofounder Jen Kimmich knew Vermont’s craft beer boom wouldn’t last forever.

“Everything is cyclical,” Kimmich said. She and her husband, John, met while working at Burlington’s trailblazing Vermont Pub & Brewery in their early twenties. That was during the first Vermont craft beer surge of the mid-1990s, when the likes of Long Trail, Otter Creek and Magic Hat ruled the local scene. Nationwide, the industry grew “at a euphoric rate of 50 percent” in 1994 and 1995, the New York Times reported in 2000, and craft brewers were “heady as prom queens with their local popularity.” Many took that confidence beyond their home states, expanding far and fast at great expense. Others jumped on the hype train but never really figured out how to make good beer. Long Trail Brewing’s Blackbeary Wheat and Harpoon’s UFO Raspberry are downright savory compared to some of the sickly sweet fruit beers that came before them. By the time the Kimmiches opened the Alchemist’s first restaurant-brewery in Waterbury in 2003, a wave of small brewpubs and midsize regional breweries had just gone out of business. Big fish retreated to their small ponds. “Craft beer was popular, but it wasn’t a boom,” Kimmich said. “It was just, ‘OK, if you make good beer and focus on your local market, this is a good business to get into.’” Indeed it was. Vermont’s independent breweries produced 200,000 barrels of beer in 2011. By 2024 that number had grown to 350,000 — a whopping 21.8 gallons for each of Vermont’s roughly 501,000 adults of legal drinking age, the

Vermont Brewers Association reports. That’s 174 pints per person, per year. But the hangover from all those hazy IPAs, cherry sours and pastry stouts may finally be setting in. For the first time in 20 years, the national Brewers Association trade group reported more brewery closures than openings in 2024. Craft beer production in the U.S. was down nearly 4 percent from the previous year. Beer as a whole, including large domestic producers such as Anheuser-Busch and Coors, was down 3.1 percent. Volume is down in the wine and spirits worlds, too. Numbers for 2025 won’t be out until spring, but they’re projected to show more of the same, due to growing health concerns about alcohol consumption, increased competition and rising prices. Garin Frost, owner of Hinesburg’s Frost Beer Works, is “amazed we’re not seeing more breweries going out of business,” he said, noting that many are in a “hangingon” phase of minimizing losses. Vermont has so far been spared the worst of the slowdown — three breweries, including Simple Roots, closed last year, but two new ones opened. Still, local brewers understand the Green Mountains’ vaunted beer scene is not immune to the issues plaguing the industry. “If I were in business-consultation mode,” Frost said, “I’d be like, ‘The longer you hang on, the more you’re going to lose.’” Frost, who has a degree in economics, acknowledged that his business’ net operating income has declined 8 percent due to increased prices from vendors, who are passing on the cost of the tariffs implemented last year by Trump — another layer of uncertainty brewers face as they order aluminum cans or Canadian malt. “We’re super fortunate that we’re capable of absorbing that,” Frost said. With an efficient crew of four employees, Frost Beer Works produces 7,000 barrels per year of mostly tropical, hazy IPAs such as Lush, Plush and Double Shush. The brewery has no debt and no plans to grow. It’s stable and sustainable, Frost said. For many breweries, just making those hazy pints is no longer a guarantee that people will show up. You need only glance at your local bar’s tap handles or a grocery store beer cooler to understand that we’ve hit peak IPA. As much as brewers appreciate the nuance of Citra versus Simcoe hops, most drinkers can’t tell the difference. And some of those bandwagon beers just don’t taste good. It’s brutal when what you’re expecting — a nice citrusy buzz — goes down like NEW BEER RESOLUTIONS SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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FILE: LEE KROHN

New Beer Resolutions « P.31 weirdly chewy bong water with handfuls of grapefruit pith steeped in it and gives you a three-day hangover. “We had a real crisis of consumer confidence the last four years,” said Bob Montgomery, Hill Farmstead’s director of brand quality. “There were too many breweries making mediocre and bad beer.” Customers who found out the hard way after shelling out for one too many gnarly four-packs are now looking for predictability, not novelty. High-quality flagship beers have become more popular than ghost pepper stouts and zucchini bread milkshake IPAs — real things, unfortunately.

FIDDLE AROUND, FIND OUT

Fiddlehead Brewing founder Matt Cohen loves a flagship beer. Fiddlehead IPA comprises 85 percent of sales at his Shelburne brewery, which has been bounding up the leaderboard of the largest craft breweries in the country. In 2024, Fiddlehead ranked 23rd of nearly 10,000. It was responsible for just over 30 percent of the craft beer made in Vermont: 108,143 barrels of the reported 353,032 barrels statewide. Where other breweries aspire to Heady Topper-like cult status, Fiddlehead has thrived by becoming ubiquitous. “If you want to be successful in craft beer today, it’s a volume game,” Cohen said, leaning back in his chair in a sleek conference room at Fiddlehead’s corporate HQ, hands casually clasped behind his head. Those who’ve only been through the barn doors to Fiddlehead’s rustic taproom attached to Folino’s Pizza on Shelburne Road might not realize just how huge the brewery is. The taproom’s 15-barrel system produces small-batch offerings that mainly stay on-site, such as Snowflake Bentley black lager and Festival Bier, served in a 20-ounce boot. On the sprawling campus behind it, a 60-barrel system cranks out 11 batches a day. A new canning line upgrade is able to fill 500 cans per minute. Out in the world, Fiddlehead mainly sticks to three beers: the 6.2 percent flagship IPA and the higher-alcohol Second Fiddle and Mastermind double IPAs. But they come in many packages, including draft, tallboy four-packs, 12-packs of 12-ounce cans and single 19.2-ounce cans. Fiddlehead’s beer is sold in 10 states, from bodegas in Brooklyn to national chain restaurants. The brewery’s biggest account is Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, which doesn’t seem to bother Cohen, a Yankees fan. 32

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Kegs at Fiddlehead Brewing in 2017

IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN CRAFT BEER TODAY,

IT’S A VOLUME GAME. MAT T COH E N

Cohen, 51, has remained Fiddlehead’s sole owner since he launched on New Year’s Eve 2011. His dark beard’s a bit grayer now, but his rascally grin has persisted, especially when he rattles off that he owns the brewery’s property and has no investors and no debt. Fiddlehead has 100 employees and did $40 million in sales last year. Vermont has a strong tradition of midsize regional breweries, dating back to the glory days of Catamount, Long Trail, Otter Creek and Magic Hat, where

Cohen brewed for more than a decade before leaving to start his own brewery. Fiddlehead represents a successor to those breweries but also an evolution. Initially, Cohen set out to be a regional, if not national, draft-only brand — “the first of its kind,” he said. When the pandemic hit, restaurants and bars closed. Not wanting months-old beer to flow once things reopened, he bought back every drop of Fiddlehead from his wholesalers in March 2020. “It cost us over a million dollars, and all that beer was dumped,” Cohen said. He immediately put aside his draft-only goal. Fiddlehead ramped up its canning and hit grocery store shelves, boosting its revenue 25 percent that year. Big beer will always be cheaper, especially if you’re willing to take a lower

margin, as Cohen is, to keep the price down. He’s not giving up on craft, he said, joking that the industry has decided the line is “whatever Sam Adams is doing.” But he’s not precious about it, a lesson he took from Magic Hat, which was similarly unconcerned with catering exclusively to beer snobs. “We hunt where, traditionally, craft brewers don’t,” he said, listing chain restaurants such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili’s, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse as examples. “If that’s where people are eating, that’s where you need to be serving your beer.” What he is precious about — and rightly so — is quality. Cohen believes Fiddlehead is the largest brewery in the country that demands its beer remain in cold storage, from transport to storage to retail coolers. He said customers are quick to narc on places that don’t follow the “store cold” instruction emblazoned on every can, sending frantic emails when they find warm beer at a convenience store in New Jersey. In Vermont and beyond, Cohen thinks the industry “is in desperate need of a correction.” He predicted the bubble’s pop back in 2014, telling Seven Days that the “endless thirst for craft beer” would eventually change. “I don’t think there’s going to be room for all the little tiny players,” he said at the time. Closures mean there are great deals out there on used brewing equipment right now, he said. He got one on Smuttynose Brewing’s tanks last January when they were auctioned off after the New Hampshire brewery consolidated with Mass. Bay Brewing — the parent company of Harpoon, Long Trail, Otter Creek and the Shed. The new tanks will help Fiddlehead keep up with the additional 10 percent the company grew last year. When the national Brewers Association releases its 2025 rankings this spring, Fiddlehead should land comfortably in the top 20. “The craft beer world is on fire, and most people are running for the hills,” Cohen said, grinning. “I’m running right in.”

TAPPING IN

Foam Brewers has put out a lot of different beers since it started in 2016: The consumer rating website BeerAdvocate lists 775. The Burlington brewery crushes an 8 percent double IPA, but it’s just as likely to brew a saison made with oats and 100 pounds of local elderberries, a strawberry sour that raised money for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, or a fresh-hopped session IPA made with Vermont’s own Champlain Valley Hops, straight out of the field, all of which have been poured at its waterfront taproom in recent years.

PHOTOS: JORDAN BARRY

Foam’s 9,000 barrels per year place it just under the threshold for a midsize craft brewery, of which there are about 200 in the U.S. That’s just fine by its owners. Foam has the capacity to do more, said cofounder Dani Casey, 40. Its Hinesburg production brewery could keep up with 15,000 barrels per year. “But we don’t want to get out over our skis,” said Todd Haire, another of Foam’s five cofounders. Both Casey and Haire were colleagues of Cohen’s at Magic Hat, as were several other members of the current Foam team. While Fiddlehead strives to meet drinkers where they are, Foam had endeavored to entice them in with a diversified approach to both its beer and the business as a whole. Now, as the craft beer industry’s pendulum swings, said Haire, 57, “We’re just like, ‘Holy smokes, let’s focus.’” Despite its brewers’ experimental tendencies, Foam has streamlined what it distributes. The bulk of what’s available in stores are year-round hits Tranquil Pils, Dead Flowers IPA and Built to Spill double IPA. Its taproom is where Foam’s eclecticism shines through. The brewery’s playful, industrial-looking concrete wonderland of a space overlooking the Burlington waterfront — and outside of the city’s troubled downtown core — has become a live music venue as much as it is a brewery, a trend followed by other Vermont breweries, such as the Alchemist in Stowe and 14th Star Brewing in St. Albans. Among its sculptural metal swirls and concrete bar, Foam can draw an “intergenerational assortment of heavily tattooed punks” for a Common Ground reunion show, as Seven Days reported in a September story about Foam’s growing role in the local music and arts scene. The attached brunch restaurant, Deep City, catches the overflow and hosts private events of its own — an important income stream that Casey expects to grow this year. The taproom accounts for half of the company’s overall business, she said, which tracks with a Brewers Association report that taproom sales are outpacing distributed sales in many markets. To maintain that figure, Foam’s cofounders are investing in their team to keep them engaged and excited about beer, even in a fickle time for the industry. Every other Friday, the taproom is home to Brew Club. At 10 a.m., staffers from all departments trickle in for a lesson on a beer style led by one of their coworkers. Or they skateboard in. In November, sales director Russ Mead presented on the West Coast IPA, the older, more refined cousin of the New England IPA. As he loaded his slides onto a digital menu board

Foam Brewers employees at Brew Club

“brewery business casual” — aka a gray coat over his flannel — cranked up surfrock tunes and began his lesson with one on music history. Eventually, he moved on to beer. By the time he got through a “definitive-ish history of IPA,” with West versus East Coast comparisons, the group had grown to a dozen. The full foodpairing buffet and old-school toy prizes Mead supplied probably helped. So far, 20 of the brewery’s roughly 50 employees have delivered beer style presentations. Eventually, the team will vote on the best one and Foam will brew the winning style. It will join the ever-evolving menu on Lake Street, where Foam offers more than just beer: a low-alcohol lemon-lime spritzer; lion’s mane mushroom “functional beverages,” a growing wellness trend that claims to offer health benefits beyond hydration; blueberry wine from the brewery’s Natural Hack natty wine project; batched cocktails; and CBD tea from Taunik, a cannabis beverage brand run by some members of the Foam team. The margins are slim on many of these new products, Vermont Brewers Association executive director Emma Arian said, but “they get butts in seats at taprooms,” and help keep a brewery top-of-mind with customers who might be changing their drinking habits this month and beyond.

RUNNING DRY

Nonalcoholic beers in the Zero Gravity taproom cooler

above the bar, two colleagues in sunglasses and hoodies coasted around the taproom, handing out six-packs. One of the beers was from Oregon’s Rogue Ales & Spirits, which had declared bankruptcy and closed

its six taprooms exactly a week earlier. Its ironic name? Dead Guy Ale. The spirit inside Foam, by comparison, was alive and well. Mead, dressed more seriously than his delivery guys in

Taprooms are typically quieter the first month of the year, when teetotaling is the trend. But Zero Gravity Craft Brewery got a jump on Dry January. In early December, the brewery’s first batch of Green State Zero and Conehead Zero hit the market. Nonalcoholic beer isn’t a new thing for the Burlington brewery: Zero Gravity was the first in the state to tap that market when it launched its separate-but-affiliated Rescue Club line, now defunct, in January 2021. There’s still some Rescue Club out there, Zero Gravity CEO and cofounder Matt Wilson said. But the new line — which capitalizes on the popularity of Green State Lager and Conehead IPA flagships and is brewed off-site — will soon be in 13 states and Washington, D.C. The move is emblematic of two big trends in craft beer: nonalcoholic beers and contract brewing, wherein a brewery with extra capacity produces beer for another brand. Often, the arrangement is a boost for new or small breweries to expand their production without investing in new equipment. Zero Gravity, which entered the top 50 U.S. craft breweries by volume for the first time in 2024, has plenty of capacity. But NEW BEER RESOLUTIONS SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF WINTER CAPLANSON/NEW ENGLAND FOOD AND FARM

New Beer Resolutions « P.33 NAs are a different beast. The technology used to make them is often proprietary, and, unlike most craft beer, nonalcoholic beer needs to be pasteurized, which adds a layer of complication — and makes it expensive to produce. The address on Zero Gravity’s new nonalcoholic cans is Stratford, Conn., the home of contract brewing giant Two Roads Brewing. (You might recognize it as the out-of-state locale where Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ Sip of Sunshine has been brewed since 2014.) “Ultimately, we couldn’t really achieve a great margin making it in-house,” Wilson, 48, explained. They also couldn’t keep up with demand. “We had been selling everything that we could make here,” Wilson said, but it was only enough for three states. Going dry, it seems, is more than a January thing. A July 2025 Gallup poll found that only 54 percent of U.S. adults said they consume alcohol, the lowest number since the analytics company started tracking alcohol consumption in 1939. It’s not just Gen Zers, though they’re the usual scapegoat. Young adult drinking numbers have declined over the past decade, but decreases in every age category, Gallup’s report said, “coincide with recent research indicating that any level of alcohol consumption may negatively affect health.” But the sober-curious don’t want to get burned by a crappy NA any more than they did while shelling out for an unknown triple IPA. Instead, breweries are — you guessed it — leaning into their flagships. Rescue Club’s nautical branding clearly separated it from Zero Gravity. The brewery’s new nonalcoholic cans are instantly identifiable as brand staples: Cone Head Zero is emblazoned with a shining hop, and Green State cans have Vermonty pines in a forest of silver, white and green. “They tell a very clear message about what you’re getting,” Wilson said, and are part of Zero Gravity’s efforts to expand those popular lines with products such as the juicy, multi-hopped Conehead Haze and Green State Light, a sessionable light lager. The NAs taste like their boozy brethren, too. Green State Zero is as easy as a summer day on Lake Champlain, just like the 4.9 percent pilsner that inspired it. This reporter double-checked the label after taking a sip of Conehead Zero, just to make sure it wasn’t the 5.7 percent Citrahopped original. Nonalcoholic beer is in a euphoric growth phase of its own: The category was up 23 percent from January to August of last year, according to the Beer Institute. Burlington’s Switchback Brewing is going all in, too: The company 34

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Beers at Lucy & Howe Brewing

Jesse Cronin

just announced that it’s investing in a Sustainable Technologies BrewVo NA de-alcoholization system of its own, rather than continuing to have Switchback N.A. made in Toronto. Switchback cofounder and president Bill Cherry estimated the BrewVo tech would carry a multimillion-dollar price tag when he spoke with Seven Days last year. The company is planning to serve as a contract brewing location for the Northeast, so we could see a lot more NAs from Vermont breweries soon. Nonalcoholic beverages as a whole were “one of the only categories still seeing steady growth,” Marc Gelsomino said last April, though he was quick to note that it’s “pretty straightforward to show growth from zero.”

It remains to be seen whether the NA hype is just a case of manufactured scarcity, like the IPA lines of yesteryear. But Gelsomino, the beer and wine manager at Winooski’s Beverage Warehouse, was impressed with the early response to Switchback N.A., which launched in February. Customers were calling to ask for it, just like they did when the Burlington brewery’s flagship unfiltered ale first hit 22-ounce bottles in 2012.

HOWE IT’S DONE

On a Friday night in early December, Jericho Ale & Bean looked more like a church supper than a brewery. Mismatched tables were pushed together in two long rows, packed with people by 5 p.m. for Hook & Peel’s

Detroit-style pizza pop-up. Half of the 50 or so people sipped pints of Lucy & Howe Brewing’s Bread and Chocolate stout and Underwater Space Helmet IPA. The other half weren’t old enough to drink. That’s an increasingly common demographic split at many small Vermont breweries, which have embraced collaborations and events that draw drinkers and nondrinkers alike to help pad their bottom lines, from Kraemer & Kin’s pumpkin carving in North Hero to yoga in the mezzanine at Two Heroes Brewery in South Hero to Burlington Beer’s silent disco paint-alongs. Tunbridge’s Upper Pass Beer will follow that community-minded template when it moves its operations and opens a new taproom in the shuttered Simple Roots space in Burlington next month (see Side Dishes, page 39). “Breweries here are total community spaces,” Vermont Brewers Association’s Arian said. “It’s not like raging nightclubs. It’s like, ‘Here’s our section of toys for the kids.’” Lucy & Howe is among the best examples. If someone pukes in the taproom, it’s much more likely to be a carsick toddler than an adult who’s had too many 10 percent imperial stouts. And that’s just fine for Jesse Cronin. The setup for his Lucy & Howe nanobrewery is on the second level of a 100-plus-year-old former general store, and the 3.5-barrel system is the max the floor can hold without collapsing. “It puts a limit on my over-exuberance,” Cronin said with a signature easy laugh. The capacity is already double what it was when the bespectacled brewer started

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in May 2020 at his JeriThe Vermont Brewcho home. His story is a ers Association is common one from the currently working with current craft boom, kind the legislature to make of: He joined a homethat easier for small brewing club while brewers. The proposed teaching kindergarten in legislation — based on Austria, telling people he was systems in Maine and New Support the businesses doing it to learn German. Hampshire — would allow who support our work. “My wife was like, ‘You malt beverage manufacturers honeywaxbarmiddlebury.com are so full of shit. If you want to self-distribute up to 5,000 10 Dorset Street South Burlington to make beer, just go barrels annually withmake beer,’” he recalled. out jumping through A few years later, the current hurdles. A after moving back to majority of the brew-16t-your.indd 1 7/9/24 16t-honeyWaxBar010726 5:24 PM 1 1/5/26 3:31 PM Vermont and staying eries in Vermont make home with their kids, less than that cap, that’s what he did. based on 2024 producCronin, like so many tion data. others, learned the Arian has asked professional brewing Cronin to testify at the ropes at Magic Hat. Statehouse and told him Now his brewery that he’d need to wear a Let’s make your shares space with coldbutton-down shirt and brew biz Brew House tie. “I’m not sure he has real estate dreams Coffee at Jericho Ale & one,” she joked. come true in 2026! Bean. In a back room, The change might J ESSE CRONIN Cronin, 49, brews 130 help a few folks ride Robbi Handy Holmes 802-951-2128 barrels per year pretty out the slowdown, robbihandyholmes@vtregroup.com much by himself. The retail coolers and crash, bubble burst — whatever you small bar in the taproom out front are the want to call it. only place you can get his small-batch, “We’re all assuming the word ‘correc8h-robbihandiholmes010726.indd 1 1/2/26 12:54 PM mostly European-inspired beer. tion’ is accurate, which kind of leaves If Cronin were to distribute his the door open for hope at the end of it,” own beer, he’d have to create a distinct Cronin said. “Fingers crossed on that.” wholesale company, keep a second set of Cronin said he’s achieved his goals for books and pay licensing fees that amount Lucy & Howe so far: to control his own to $1,200 per year. That’s not worth it for quality and direction, not take on debt, and the five cases he’d have available to send connect with his Jericho community. He out every time he brews. When the beer has a small and dedicated taproom staff is only available at the taproom, it’s extra and is on year two of paying himself $350 important that customers show up. per week. But he wouldn’t do it again if he For about a year, Lucy & Howe had to start now. Fourteen-hour packaghad boosted its production through a ing days are hard. So is all the paperwork, contract brewing arrangement for its especially when that $350 works out to 5 IPAs, which were distributed by VT bucks an hour. Still, when there’s a group of teachBeer Shepherd. But the upfront cost of contract brewing wrecked Cronin’s ers decompressing at a table on a Friday cash flow. Brewing his own, he can stag- afternoon, or parents who come in every ger expenses — cans one week, grain week with their kids and order the same another, then hops. flight, “there’s a lot of value there that I “I’m not in a position where I’ve got didn’t anticipate,” Cronin said. “There are $20,000 to play with,” he said. intense struggles, and there are intense He’d already decided not to renew when bright spots, and I find myself trying to VT Beer Shepherd closed unexpectedly decide which carries more weight on any last summer. After that seismic shock to given day.” Vermont’s small brewers, which Beer On a Tuesday in early November, Shepherd had specialized in, “my phone Cronin brewed a batch of Weeping Over AI meets didn’t ring, and I didn’t call anybody,” the Unicorn. The low-alcohol brown Neurodivergence January 15, 2026, 5:30pm Cronin said of his decision not to pursue a pub ale is one he makes to honor his late AI is reshaping how we learn, work, and Generator 40 Sears Lane communicate — but what could that mean new distributor. uncle-in-law, who loved easy-drinking, for neurodivergent thinkers? Join us for a $15 advance / $20 day of (cash only) But having some beer out in the world crisp, malt-driven British beers. It’s a sort conversation that explores firsthand (Students free w ID) would be nice, he said, especially at retail- of anti-IPA, the kind of thing you’d drink neurodivergent experience, clinical insight, Pizza and Soft Drinks ers that have supported him in the past at, well, your local community-focused and hands-on AI tool design. Purchase tickets at: aivermonvt.org and don’t mind if it’s a Genuine Moment taproom. The Ruth and Peter Metz Family Foundation David and L.J. Stiller saison one week and Resting Brewer Face A month later, on pizza night, that’s Maggie Eaton and Ron Yara American amber another. exactly what people did. ➆

WHICH ... LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR HOPE.

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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Farm Porch Politics A case for pleasantries, plurality and a path forward B Y L U C A S FAR REL L SARAH CRONIN

ast July, my neighbor came over to help me dig a hole to bury our dog, Elvis. He was 13 — a big, polar bearlike Maremma who had spent his life guarding our goats and, in many ways, us. He’d been fighting ailments for years, but this time he couldn’t get up — and as much as it hurt to admit, we knew it was time. Elvis had been with us since before we had kids, since before we even knew how to run a farm. He’s woven into the fabric of our lives, into this land, into Big Picture Farm itself. He is part of us, part of our identity. My neighbor — an excavator, a Trump voter, a husband and father — had been out fishing, but when I called, he came right over. He knew Elvis, knew what he meant to us. He dug the hole quietly, then told me I could use the mini-excavator he’d left to fill it in when we were ready. Then he left us in peace. We vote differently, my neighbor and I. We know that. It’s no secret. And yet, over time, we’ve quietly, consciously, built a relationship that avoids politics in favor of something deeper and more durable: the neighborly act of showing up for one another. We talk about the weather. We ask about each other’s kids. We bemoan property taxes, the condition of our gravel roads, the drought’s effect on our wells. We likely disagree on nearly everything politically, but that’s beside the point. I’ve helped him in crises, too. What we share is a grounded kind of goodwill, the kind that comes from face-to-face conversation and shared work. It starts with pleasantries. And I mean that literally: “Pleasantry” comes from the Latin placere — to please — and later evolved to mean agreeable, lighthearted exchanges that set a tone for friendship and understanding. When you’re sitting on a porch and someone walks by, you might comment on the sky, or the wind, or the mud. It’s not empty talk; it’s the beginning of shared context. Anthropologists even have a term for this kind of exchange — phatic communion — small talk that quietly reaffirms our shared world. These rituals — weather observations, nods of recognition, even the simple act of waving to a neighbor on a dirt road — are tools of social cohesion. (Vermont Public’s “Brave Little State” even devoted an episode to it: “Ode to the Vermont Wave.”) At a time when we have fewer chances for real

ESSAY

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

connection, such gestures become a kind of architecture of neighborliness. It seems almost silly to have to remind ourselves to engage in these small courtesies. But they’re precisely the faculty our screens have quietly stolen from us. Online, we express without exchanging; we broadcast without listening. The wave, the nod, the brief talk about the weather — these are small acts of reciprocity. They train us in presence. They remind us that attention is not performance but care. As philosopher Simone Weil put it, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” After graduate school, and before farming, I taught writing for a stint at Middlebury College. I used to begin with poet Gerard Manley Hopkins’ weather journals. Every day, he described the same cloudy skies of northern England with

newly rich language. You’d think talking about an overcast sky day in and day out would dull the senses, but it sharpens them. The more we describe the weather, the more we observe and the more nuanced our language becomes. It’s the same with our interactions. The more we engage — in pleasantries, in neighborly dialogue — the better we get at reading one another, understanding difference and responding in kind. I also loved introducing my students to artist Roni Horn’s project “Weather Reports You,” which asked people across Iceland to give a weather report not of the sky but of themselves — their moods, their hearts, their outlooks. Because when we talk about the weather, we’re often talking about ourselves. We’re locating our identities in a shared environment. That’s the power of pleasantries: They let us be different, together.

We need that now more than ever. Journalist Ezra Klein has written compellingly about how politics has become nationalized, professionalized and algorithmically polarized. Social media has pushed us to the extremes. We used to have identities — familial, local, vocational — and then talk politics. Now politics is identity. And when identity is at stake, disagreement feels like war. Even within families, partisan divides can cut deep. The old pluralism, the idea that a political party could contain multitudes, is gone. We’ve traded community-level nuance for broadcast-level rage. And as Klein points out, we’re lonelier and angrier for it. We’re also watching different realities. On one side of the aisle, people consume one set of facts; on the other, a completely different narrative dominates. It’s not just that we disagree on policy; we disagree on what’s even happening. When local news

outlets thrived, we shared a default reality with our neighbors. We read the same headlines. Now, with fragmented digital media ecosystems, we have to work — intentionally, deliberately — to step out of our echo chambers. We have to take our news with the awareness that it’s not the whole picture. We have to cross-reference, to seek out perspectives that challenge us. It might seem exhausting, but it’s part of what we have to do to be a good neighbor, to keep finding middle ground. Political theorist Hannah Arendt wrote about the space between — that fragile, vital arena where individuals come together to think, speak and act in concert. Politics, she argued, depends on that space: the shared world that exists between us. When we fail to engage it, we

AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE FEWER CHANCES FOR REAL CONNECTION, PLEASANTRIES BECOME A KIND OF ARCHITECTURE OF NEIGHBORLINESS.

fall into what she called thoughtlessness, a kind of moral and civic sleepwalking where we stop seeing one another as full participants in the world. In our polarized age, thoughtlessness thrives in the scroll, the algorithm, the outrage cycle. What we need instead is thoughtfulness: deliberate attention to that space between us. Pleasantry, listening and dialogue aren’t trivial; they’re the groundwork of pluralism itself. That’s why, last fall, it felt especially heartening to gather with neighbors on the wraparound porch of our friends’ farmhouse in Brattleboro. Jordan and Corina live between us and our kids’ school. We drive by their place every day and watched, over the past few years, as they painstakingly renovated a collapsing farmhouse into something quietly beautiful. They kept the character intact, right down to the porch. They moved here during the pandemic, and now they’re doing a different kind of renovation — imagining where the Democratic Party in Vermont might go from here. They’ve started talking to people, inviting in voices not always heard. The group they’ve assembled is eclectic: small-business owners, teachers, doctors, developers, farmers, retirees, parents, volunteers and a large group of our elected officials. At our last meeting, more than 120 people gathered. This is a new and growing coalition. The porch itself shaped the conversation. Wide and weathered, it’s the kind

you find all across Vermont, boards worn smooth by boots and so many seasons. Its architecture allows it to hold contradiction naturally: private yet public, sheltered yet open, a place for both taskwork and reflection. It reminds me that the best spaces, like the best politics, can hold difference without fear, can make room for multitudes. That’s the kind of politics we need — rooted, inclusive, face-to-face. Call it farm porch politics: not shouting across the ether, but sitting shoulder to shoulder, looking out at the same horizon. Seeing it differently, perhaps, yet believing together that there’s still beauty in what our future can hold. It’s one thing to talk about shared ground in the abstract, another to feel it beneath your feet. I was reminded of that the day we buried Elvis. In his favorite spot against a large fieldstone, in the stretch of grass overlooking the barns we can see from our bedroom window — he’s still here. He’s everywhere. He shaped the identity of this place; it’s infused with his spirit. Our kids, 5 and 8, are infused with his spirit, too. Their sense of who they are doesn’t come from an algorithm or a national political party. It’s being formed right here, in the actual world: in the work of feeding hay to the goats, in the sound of the brook after a storm, in the ritual of collecting eggs for breakfast and playing with friends in leaf piles. That’s what roots us. That’s what steadies us. This morning they are collecting pine cones knocked down by last night’s windstorm. They plan to make a wreath for their bedroom. Watching them — so attuned to this land, so responsive to the rhythms of weather and season — I see how identity takes shape in relation to place. We should be deeply offended by the idea that a feed, a platform or a political campaign could tell us who we are or what we care about. Our identities aren’t manufactured; they’re cultivated, over time, in place, through attention. In the end, that’s the kind of politics Vermont needs most: the kind that listens, that takes in all perspectives, that gathers people together on the porch as the light fades and says, Let’s find middle ground, let’s get some work done — but first, let’s talk about this sunset. ➆

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lucas Farrell is a farmer and a poet. He owns and operates, along with his wife, Louisa Conrad, Big Picture Farm — a goat dairy and farmstead confectionery in Townshend. He is the author of two books of poetry, The Many Woods of Grief (University of Massachusetts Press) and The Blue-Collar Sun (Green Writers Press), winner of the 2020 Sundog Poetry Book Award, selected by Vermont poet laureate Mary Ruefle.

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food+drink Roasting root vegetables

Cold Hardy

Vermont’s winter farmers markets offer veggies, meats and community connection STORY & PHO TO S BY S UZANNE P O D H AIZE R

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green cabbage the size of a softball, one carrot — lumpy, but a vibrant hunting-vest orange — a sprig of broccoli bursting into flower, eight perfectly reasonable scallions, a generous handful of sage and flat-leaf parsley, some stems of red and green celery, a golden pansy.” I inventoried this harvest from my unheated hoop house on January 1, 2022. I’m a semiserious gardener, not a professional vegetable grower. Yet by providing just a modicum of shelter from the wind and snow, I manage to keep hearty plants going throughout the cold months. Nevertheless, I’m still taken by surprise whenever I walk into a winter farmers market and see the bounty at my fingertips: storage crops tumbled in rustic wooden crates; oyster mushrooms in pastel jewel tones; cold-hardy pale pink or crimson radicchio; and custom medleys of shoots, sprouts and frost-sweetened winter greens. Meat vendors tote coolers laden with pork, beef, duck and chicken — and, if shoppers are extra lucky, cartons of eggs that cost less than the ones at the grocery store. Then

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

River Holmes and Joseph Pica of Mother Moon Coffee at the St. Johnsbury Winter Market

there are pastries and prepared foods, photos and paintings, jewelry, and steaming beverages to warm cold fingers. “I would be shocked to hear of someone

who went to a winter farmers market for the first time and wasn’t surprised” by the offerings, said Andrew Graham, farmers market specialist at the Northeast Organic

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Farming Association of Vermont and manager of the Vermont Farmers Market Association. “Surprise is the default.” Not only is the sheer number of winter markets growing — 24 Vermont farmers markets now offer at least some gatherings from November through April — but the variety of goods that can be found at these cold-season pop-ups has also radically increased. “More and more farmers are investing in season-extension infrastructure,” Graham noted. That means that the volume and diversity of winter produce available at markets during the snowy season will continue to grow. Around the state, winter markets take very different shapes. Some, like the ones in Dorset, Brattleboro and Shelburne, are held weekly year-round. Many, including in St. Johnsbury, Norwich and Bennington, are twice a month. Another 10 or so end after the holidays and pick back up in May or June. Some have live music and other entertainment. Northfield’s offers online preorders and pickup rather than a shoppable market. During the pandemic, the Burlington Winter Farmers Market was held outside, in the same Pine Street location as the summer market. Three years ago, the winter market moved indoors to Burlington Beer’s Lumière Hall event space. The Flynn Avenue venue boasts exposed-brick walls, a built-in sound system and “really moody lighting,” market director Georgie Rubens said. Plus, she added, Burlington Beer donates the space, charging only a nominal cleaning fee. Now that shoppers have gotten used to the new location, which is very close to the South End City Market, and perhaps due to some encouraging Saturday weather in 2025, attendance is booming, Rubens said. In November, around 1,400 people showed up for the pre-Thanksgiving market, and she estimated that the regular twice-monthly markets draw nearly 1,000 attendees. What do the flocks find when they arrive? Many kinds of cheese, rotating prepared foods from around the globe, cranberries, cannoli, colorful variations on sauerkraut, wool sweaters and plenty more. Rubens has been loving the pie and ice cream from Shelburne’s Sisters of Anarchy, whose recent cold-weather flavors include

COLD HARDY

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Upper Pass Beer to Move From Tunbridge to Burlington The brewery at 1127 North Avenue in Burlington won’t be vacant long. On January 1, Simple Roots Brewing owners KARA PAWLUSIAK and DAN UKOLOWICZ announced that Tunbridge’s UPPER PASS BEER would take over the space Simple Roots occupied from 2016 until it closed in December. Upper Pass managing partners IVAN TOMEK and CHRIS PERRY told Seven Days that they plan to reopen the taproom after receiving necessary permits, hopefully in February. They’ve been looking to expand for a few years, Perry said. Simple Roots’ New North End spot had “a nice little vibe in a nice little neighborhood.” “We saw how the market was changing,” he continued. “Instead of doing a big production factory, we thought, It will be nice to have a community brewpub.” While the microbrewery began at Perry’s Tunbridge farmhouse in 2015, its First Drop American pale ale, Cloud Drop double IPA and other core brews have been produced by ZERO GRAVITY CRAFT BREWERY since the end of 2023. That relationship will continue, Tomek said. Meanwhile, the new location will

allow Upper Pass to bring back some of the small-batch suds it used to brew regularly in Tunbridge, such as sours, lagers and barrel-aged beers. Perry, 51, and Tomek, 58, have also signed a lease on a storefront adjacent to the brewery to expand production space. Upper Pass had a South Royalton tasting room for several years, but it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Burlington, the partners plan to host food truck pop-ups and live entertainment. “It can’t just be about the beer,” Tomek said, acknowledging current challenges facing the beer market. “It’s gonna be the beer, the atmosphere, the little bit of food, and a little bit of live music now and again.” “We just want to pick up where Dan and Kara left off,” Perry said.

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Cold Hardy « P.38 cocoa with homemade marshmallows, cinnamon snickerdoodle, and elderberry. Digging your farmers market ’fit? Keep an eye out for Jacob Zhao of Burlington’s Stoplight Photography. He’ll snap your picture on instant film while you shop, and you can take the print home with you. For many years, Kyle Doda of 1000 Stone Farm in Brookfield sold mushrooms, kale, pea shoots, eggs and squash at the Burlington and Montpelier winter markets. “We needed the [off-season] cash flow to pay bills,” he explained. In 2024, he and his wife, chef Betsy Simpson, opened the Farmers’ Hand, a 30-seat restaurant and tasting room inside their on-farm cider house. Now, the revenue from lunches and dinners fills their cold-weather earnings gap. For vendors, Graham explained, winter market revenue is nearly always lower than on a fine summer day. However, that cold, hard cash is no less critical. “It’s really important for folks just to know that they’re earning income steadily over the winter,” he said. While you’ll no longer find Doda selling his wares at the Burlington Winter Farmers Market, he believes his years of early morning produce washing and slushy drives were worth it. “Even though winter markets require extra effort on everybody’s part, having access to local food year-round is really important,” he said, pointing out that winter markets are crucial to the local farm economy and to Vermonters at large. Graham agreed, noting that farmers markets “are a very important access point” for those who rely on food assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Through the Crop Cash program, administered by NOFA-VT, people who receive SNAP benefits and spend some of those dollars at a farmers market can receive up to $20 worth of coupons to purchase produce, plus an additional $20 in coupons that can be used on a wider array of goods. At some markets, Graham noted, these purchases account for more than 50 percent of a given day’s sales. To Rubens, the benefits of winter markets extend far beyond the dollars spent and earned, although those are vital and “stabilizing” for farmers, she said. Scaleddown versions of their summer cousins, indoor markets “are the purest form of community,” she explained. “It’s calmer, and I see a lot more interaction happening. I see people slowing down and taking their time in a really different way.” This is true not just for customers, who can dig into conversations with growers and producers, but also for the farmers and 40

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Storage crops

What to Make With Your Winter Farmers Market Haul Slaws

Cabbage is the obvious slaw fodder, but it can be combined with — or supplanted by — other winter vegetables. Raw or cooked carrots, beets, rutabaga and winter squash can all be grated or chopped and used as slaw ingredients. Kale and other greens can be shredded and mixed in raw, or they can be lightly wilted and then added. For garnish, consider chunks of apple, dried fruits, nuts or seeds, croutons, breadcrumbs toasted in browned butter, or your favorite cheese. What about the dressing? Storebought mayo, homemade aioli and vinaigrette variations all work.

Stuffed stuff

Fritters

Shredded vegetables, combined with a bit of batter and fried, make a solid base for sunny-side-up or poached eggs, or even a full-on Benedict with hollandaise. They’re also nice on their own or with a flavorful sauce.

Slow-cooked fare

If you don’t already have All About

Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking by Vermont author Molly Stevens, it’s a perfect guide to winter cooking. Braising tougher cuts of meat can convert them into incredible stews, perfect taco fillers or classic entrées from nearly every world cuisine. The useful technique can be used to prepare mushrooms and veggies, too.

Wraps Hollowing out a baked potato or sweet Chioggia beet and Gilfeather As with braised dishes, it’s almost universal potato, or using the natural cavity of a winter turnip soup at Cloudland Farm to take savory fillings and cover them in squash, makes a perfect “boat” for stuffing some sort of flour-based wrap, whether with a fun filling. Cooked grains, browned buttery piecrust, fluffy bao buns or knish dough. From family-size ground meats and sautéed mushrooms are all great candidates pot pies to handheld pastries, dumplings and empanadas, these for the base of a stuffing. A classic holiday bread dressing could items are impressive to showcase and fun to eat. work, too. Tourtière in process

Crêpe with ham, apples, cheddar and mushrooms

food+drink artisans. At winter markets, Rubens said, “There’s more time for vendor-to-vendor connections.” She referenced a business collaboration that grew from conversations last year between Julian Hackney of Burlington’s Young at Heart Ginger Beer and Bob Lesnikoski of Fletcher’s Vermont Cranberry. While the value of winter markets is clear, a key question remains: What do you make with all the onions, squash, roots, leaves and meats? Chef Mike Borraccio, who grew up in a restaurant family outside Detroit, moved to Vermont in 2021 to take a job at Cloudland Farm in North Pomfret. There, owners Bill and Cathy Emmons raise animals, grow vegetables and operate a 50-seat restaurant on the former site of an ancestor’s blacksmith shop. At Cloudland, Borraccio serves a different menu every night the restaurant is open, with 72 percent of the food coming from the property, a few select ingredients — such as lemons and olive oil — from around the globe, and the remainder sourced from local producers and vendors at the Norwich Farmers Market. This includes dried beans, popcorn, herbs and

vegetables from Hurricane Flats Farm in He also has hundreds of cookbooks to which he can turn. Plus, it’s often the South Royalton. Although plenty of Vermont restaurants case that one crop can be swapped in for showcase local ingredients year-round, another: A recipe for carrot fritters can be Borraccio may be the uncrowned king of morphed to use winter squash, rutabaga cooking with seasonal goods: “I’ve done or the chef’s beloved Gilfeather turnips, probably 400 to 500 menus,” he guessed. Vermont’s state vegetable. A dish of wilted On a Friday in January, greens might be as good the three-course prix with kale as it is with chard, fixe dinner at Cloudland collards or cabbage. featured a Chioggia beet Graham is also a cooksalad with blue cheese, book aficionado, but he apples and bone marrow has a different approach vinaigrette followed by a to coming up with coldweather dishes. “Talk to classic strip loin with root your mom, talk to your veggies and beef jus, then flourless chocolate cake. grandma and grandpa, talk The next night, the menu to your brother, and talk was housemade bread to your friends about reciK YL E D O D A with a cheddar spread pes,” he suggested. “Don’t and ramp-crab apple jelly, make the internet your braised beef with crispy onions and horse- first stop.” Another sociable idea: Frequent radish, and pumpkin trifle with yogurt restaurants such as the Farmers’ Hand and mousse. Cloudland Farm to see how chefs who also How does Borraccio stay creative work- grow, harvest, pickle and preserve make use ing with limited ingredients? For one thing, of their hard-won goods. he draws on dishes from his family’s Italian Closer to home, Graham suggested, roots, looking to simple, rustic preparations get involved in regular group meals if you of legumes and vegetables for inspiration. can. “At NOFA, I’m privileged to work

somewhere with a potluck culture,” he said. “People talk and say, ‘This is a really great use of cabbage, or of parsnips.’” Lastly, when you visit a winter market — where the vendors may have more leisure to chat than they do when summer throngs are lining up — query the growers and producers about what they like to make at home with their produce, as well as with what they get from the folks at the neighboring booths. And if you find yourself sitting down at a market to spoon up some chili or chicken and dumplings, start a conversation with the stranger across the table. Could they point you to a favorite recipe? Maybe someday you’ll even share a meal. Rubens said community connection is one of the forces driving the Burlington market’s recent growth. “We really lean into being a ‘third space’ where people can come together and gather,” she said. “And in these darker times, we’re experiencing people’s gratitude in a whole different way.” ➆

HAVING ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD YEAR-ROUND IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

INFO Find a winter market near you (or far enough away for a road trip) at nofavt.org/farmersmarkets/map.

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COURTESY

COURTESY OF JENNA RICE

Smash burger and fries at Gondolas Downtown

Gondolas Opens Year-Round Burger Joint in Downtown Morrisville

Nora Rice at Seasoned Skillet

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

COURTESY OF JENNA RICE

SIDEdishes « P.39

Seasoned Skillet to Serve Comfort Food in Randolph Hartland native NORA RICE will open SEASONED SKILLET by the end of January or early February at 29 North Main Street in Randolph. The casual, bistro-style dinner menu will feature seasonal, locally sourced comfort food similar to recipes developed for The Vermont Farm to Table Cookbook, which Rice, 25, coauthored with her sister JENNA RICE and published last year. Nora Rice completed a six-month Chefs Academy culinary course at Ashburton Cookery School in Devon, England, in 2019. She cooked in Italy, Ireland and Montana before returning home to Vermont and launching mobile catering business Roaming Roots

CONNECT Follow us for the latest food gossip! On Instagram: Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Nora Rice’s butternutsage gratin

Kitchen. Rice said she was looking for a place for a restaurant when she learned of the vacancy created by Short Notice, which closed in October after a little more than two years in business. The chef described her planned menu as “homestyle comfort food with a bit of a twist,” displaying “influences from places all over the world” while remaining rooted in Vermont ingredients.

Seasonal dishes might include butternut-sage gratin, braised short ribs, chicken pot pie, maple-bourbon crème brûlée and tiramisu. Seasoned Skillet will serve dinner Thursday through Sunday. Rice said customers will order at the counter and food will be delivered to their table. She plans to offer live music one night a week.

M E L I S S A PAS AN E N

You no longer have to wait until summertime to enjoy a GONDOLAS smash burger. As of early December, the folks behind the seasonal Morristown snack shack are slinging all year long at GONDOLAS DOWNTOWN. The original snack bar, five miles away, will continue to open as usual from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The new restaurant at 28 Portland Street in Morrisville offers smash burgers with CABOT CREAMERY cheddar, hand-cut beef-tallow fries, poutine with turkey gravy, specialty coffees and maple milkshakes made with a special blend from KINGDOM CREAMERY OF VERMONT, owners LOUIS FERRIS III and HALEY HAMAN told Seven Days. Service is takeout only for now, but they plan to add limited seating and online ordering soon. Customers had been asking for yearround service since Gondolas opened in June 2024, said Ferris, 29. But the former Mountain View Snack Bar isn’t winterized. “When we found this spot right in the middle of the village, we knew we wanted to bring a little more energy to this corridor,” he continued. The downtown location wasn’t previously a restaurant, though it has a lot of history, said Haman, 30, as the former Starfire Jewelry store. “Now we’re sparkling down here,

we hope this is the next landmark people remember,” she said. Gondolas Downtown offers a streamlined menu compared with the snack shack. No creemees are served, but maple shakes are constantly churning, with optional Oreo cookies and chocolate or strawberry syrup mixed in. Customers can also add a dollop of maple shake to their coldbrew coffee, Haman said.

J . B.

Peak Makaya Coffee Co-op Opens Essex Junction Retail Shop PIEVY POLYTE, an artist and founder of

the PEAK MACAYA CO-OP Haitian coffee cooperative, opened a retail store and art gallery at 46 Pearl Street in Essex Junction in early December, selling his art plus bagged coffee and cocoa from Haiti. The shop also offers free beverage tastings among his paintings, which Seven Days described in 2024

as “color-drenched … landscapes and narrative scenes depicting his native land.” Polyte, 39, moved to Vermont from Haiti in 2016 following the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. He said his goal is to help his community rebuild and thrive by importing and selling Blue Mountain coffee and cocoa beans grown in the same region. Proceeds from the shop support schools, nutrition education and medical services in Polyte’s home region of Peak Makaya. Coffee from Haiti is known for its low acidity; minimal bitterness; and rich, fruity flavor, Polyte said. “Where we grow the coffee, there are so many fruit and nut trees,” he explained, listing mango, pineapple and orange. EARTHBACK COFFEE ROASTERS in South Burlington currently roasts the coffee beans, but Polyte hopes soon to do his own roasting and offer workshops on roasting green beans at home. Learn more at peakmacayaco-op. com.

M . P.

COURTESY

food+drink

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8/26/24 9:41 AM

culture Short Takes on Five Vermont Books Seven Days writers can’t possibly read, much less review, all the books that arrive in a steady stream by post, email and, in one memorable case, a charm of finches. So this occasional feature is our way of introducing you to a handful of books by Vermont authors. To do that, we contextualize each book just a little and quote a single representative sentence from, yes, page 32. ➆

Everything Alive: Poems

The Pacifist Lyn Bixby, Rootstock Publishing, 282 pages. $19.99.

“It’s a dangerous time to be a leader.” It is 1968. Lisa Thompson is doing “a back-to-the-land thing” on her family’s Vermont farm when her brother, an anti-war activist who has been drafted, resists induction, suffers an “accident” and dies. Lisa navigates a labyrinth of corruption and lies as she takes on the U.S. Army and the FBI to find and confront her brother’s killer. The historical thriller is the debut novel of northern Vermont author Lyn Bixby, who himself protested the Vietnam War and then was drafted, weeks after graduating from Maine’s Colby College in 1969. The combat death of a classmate served as the book’s inspiration. After his discharge, Bixby became a journalist who shared a 1999 Pulitzer Prize. A newspaper editor and a war veteran assist the protagonist in his pageturner, which Kirkus Reviews calls “hard to put down.” The story may get a bit complicated as its narrative threads converge, as the Kirkus reviewer says, but Bixby has clearly followed an author’s most basic directive: Write what you know.

Molly Johnsen, Green Writers Press, 75 pages. $16.95.

My apartment is pointing distance away. Honey, she crouches down, you were alone. An aging father’s aching back at his sister’s funeral. Sex advice at a clinic amid a declaration of desire. A broken body and the promise of rebirth. These are some of the settings and themes of Everything Alive, a collection of poetry that moves through trauma and recovery with a mixture of confessional, raw honesty and wry humor. Addison County poet Molly Johnsen’s debut centers on a devastating car accident and the renewed sense of mortality she felt in its aftermath. As she navigates her new reality and tries to make peace with a bruised body and reeling mind, Johnsen documents the process of survival through her descriptive yet stripped-down poems. A strong first collection from the writer and middle school teacher, Everything Alive serves as a treatise on finding one’s way out of the dark.

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Breaking Bread and Drinking Martinis: Tales of Sharing and Sharing of Tales

Moving to My Dog’s Hometown: Stories of Everything I Didn’t Know I Wanted

Peter F. Langrock, Onion River Press, 180 pages. $18.95.

Betsy Vereckey, Rootstock Publishing, 244 pages. $18.99.

I try to avoid restaurants that serve a stingy martini.

Never did I think I’d want to move to a small town in New England.

Trial lawyer and former Addison County state’s attorney Peter Langrock has argued hundreds of court cases over his 65-year career and drunk many hundreds more martinis over the same period. Thankfully, Langrock seems to keep the two activities appropriately separated. The founder of one of Vermont’s oldest law firms has written two previous books about his legal accomplishments. This memoir shines a light on the gustatory adventures of a man who derives great pleasure from food, drink and partaking of both with others. Langrock’s epicurean tastes are wide-ranging. He describes dining on horse steak in Québec, harvesting and cooking porcupine liver in Vermont, and making friends over oysters in New York City’s Grand Central Station. His taste in dining companions is equally open-minded, including a legal colleague he calls an “equal opportunity bigot.” Regarding cocktails, Langrock is more particular. From his first sip at age 16 of “that marvelous and crazy drink,” only a large, strong gin martini will do. MELISSA PASANEN

The premise of Betsy Vereckey’s memoir, out this month, is so absurdly precious that Hallmark Channel execs would pass on it as too cloying: Reeling after a divorce, a successful career woman retreats from The City to a charming New England town. But all she knows about the place is that it’s where her dog was born. Several misadventures later, she realizes she’s right where she always belonged. (Cue snowflakes falling on an illuminated town green. Roll credits.) I mean … come on, right? And yet! The former journalist’s collection of stories about moving from New York City to Hanover, N.H. — yes, the hometown of her Glen of Imaal terrier, Ronan — is far more entertaining and insightful than its setup would suggest. Vereckey writes with a reporter’s observational eye, an essayist’s heart and a divorcée’s skewering wit. Inspired by the love of a dog, this is a feel-good story with some bite. DAN BOLLES

Freedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be Alex Zakaras, Yale University Press, 336 pages. $38.

Freedom requires access to a broad range of secure and desirable options. A decade ago, it would have been superfluous to write a book expounding on the importance of freedom, equality and the rule of law. That was before the second Trump administration and its authoritarian assaults on the foundations of democracy. In Freedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be, University of Vermont political science professor Alex Zakaras proposes a “radical version of liberalism” that takes aim at this country’s massive inequalities in wealth, opportunity and power. Zakaras’ “liberalism” refers not to the political left but to an ideology that prioritizes individual freedom and equality and the tools that ensure them, including constitutions, fair elections and a free press. In the book and at a January 14 reading and talk at Phoenix Books in Burlington, he offers a bold vision that addresses Americans’ current economic and political anxieties and describes a more egalitarian and humane future. At times, Freedom for All is vague and lacks in-depth examples of conflicting freedoms, such as those inherent in vaccine hesitancy versus the demands of public health. Nevertheless, its solutions-based approach is sorely needed. KEN PICARD

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

culture ART

Nonprofit Seeks Stories of Vermonters Lost to Addiction for Brattleboro Art Show B Y K E N P I C ARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

Eric Gillespie of Londonderry, N.H., was an empathetic soul, caring, sensitive and introspective. A lover of music, video games and comic books, especially Batman, Eric “gravitated toward the underdogs” and felt other people’s pain acutely, according to his family. Yet he struggled with his own pain, both physical and emotional, after returning from a 14-month Army deployment to Iraq in 2007 with post-traumatic stress disorder. Eric died in March 2022 at age 38 of a fentanyl overdose after an eight-year battle with opioid addiction. After his death, his mother, Joanne Gillespie, heard about the Into Light Project. The nonprofit was founded in 2019 by North Carolina sketch artist Theresa Clower, who had lost her own son, Devin Bearden, to an accidental overdose in 2018. She coped with her grief by creating graphite pencil sketches of her son — and later, of others lost to addiction. Into Light now aims to create art exhibitions in every state, honoring Americans who’ve died of substance-use disorder. Each show, the 18th of which will open in Vermont later this year, features hand-drawn graphite pencil portraits and profiles of the deceased, drawn by a team of commissioned artists and penned by professional writers. When Gillespie read some of the stories on the nonprofit’s website, she wept and decided immediately that she wanted Eric included in last fall’s exhibition in New Hampshire, where he grew up. “We have all borne that stigma of a loved one who died of a drug overdose,” said Gillespie, a former South Burlington resident who now lives in Newark, Del. “So when someone asks you what were they really like, that’s therapeutic in so many ways.” Vermonters now have an opportunity to honor their own loved ones who succumbed to addiction. Beginning on July 11, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center will host “Drug Addiction: Real People, Real

Stories,” an exhibition that runs through November 1. To create the exhibition, Into Light Project is inviting Vermonters to complete an online questionnaire and upload a photo of someone who died as a result of substance-use disorder. There’s no cost to the family, and at the exhibition’s conclusion, each will receive the framed original portrait and written profile. The project will also create reproductions of all the drawings on brushed metal for future displays, with the life narratives permanently posted on the nonprofit’s website. To help the writers compose the profiles, families go to the nonprofit’s website and answer a series of questions, among them: “How would you describe your loved one?” “What skills, talents or abilities did they have?” “How long did they live with the disease of addiction?” And “What goals or plans did they have for their future?” The aim of the project is to humanize addiction, raise awareness of the stigmas associated with it and educate the public that substance-use disorder is a disease, not a moral failure. The Brattleboro show will have space to feature 25 Vermonters, on a firstcome, first-served basis. “Rather than have our loved ones forever defined by the disease of addiction and the cause of their death,” Clower, the group’s founder and CEO, wrote on the nonprofit’s website, “we wish to portray them in their entirety, both the light and the dark.” ➆

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“Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories” will be on display from July 11 to November 1 at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Vermonters wishing to include their loved one in the exhibition can visit intolightproject.org.

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culture Soovin Kim

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Soovin Kim Leads Performances of Rare Beethoven String Trios B Y AM Y L I L LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

COURTESY

Before Ludwig van Beethoven composed his 16 string quartets — considered by musicians and composers alike as among the greatest pieces of music ever written — he wrote five string trios. This was in the late 1790s, a time musicologists call the composer’s early period. The trios are performed comparatively less often but not because they’re somehow jejune. Instead, according to violinist Soovin Kim, “The trios are no less inventive [or] beautiful than the quartets but much more difficult to play.” Kim is on faculty at New England Conservatory and Yale School of Music and founded the summertime Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival in Colchester. “One simple reason is he’s basically trying to write string quartets with only three players, so often a musician is playing two notes at a time,” Kim continued. “So everyone is very busy.” Kim and two equally distinguished colleagues will perform all five string trios — a particularly rare occurrence — at two off-season Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival concerts this weekend. Joining him are violist Jessica Bodner, a member of Harvard University’s quartet in residence, the Parker, and on faculty there; and acclaimed cellist Marcy Rosen. The latter teaches at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and, like Kim, serves as artistic director of several festivals and concert series. Kim, Bodner and Rosen already have one Beethoven trio in their repertoire: They performed String Trio in G Major, Op. 9, No. 1 at the 2021 festival to a small, socially distanced crowd. That’s when they discovered they had “an amazing chemistry,” as Kim put it, and the idea for a cycle was hatched. It takes time to prepare such a performance, however. The three musicians have rehearsed together four to six hours a day for 10 days straight — an order of magnitude

above rehearsal time for summertime concerts. And while Kim has performed all five trios before — back in 2000, with a trio that included late violist Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet — the others have not. The first concert will feature Serenade in D Major, Op. 8 — a work for violin, viola and cello but without the larger musical structures that define the trios. The serenade includes six discrete movements, ranging from jaunty marches to dances such as the minuet and polonaise. That “fun” piece, as Kim described it, contrasts with the other half of the program, String Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 3, another six-movement work that was inspired by Mozart’s sole string trio, written six years before.

COURTESY OF JENNY SHERMAN

PODCASTS

Vermonter Mel Robbins Nominated for Golden Globes Podcast Award B Y K E N P I C ARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

Mel Robbins, the self-help guru and New York Times best-selling coauthor of the 2024 book The Let Them Theory, has been nominated for the first-ever Golden Globe Award for Best Podcast. Robbins, 57, who lives in southern Vermont with her husband, Christopher Robbins, is creator and host

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

The second concert covers the string trios of Op. 9: in G Major, No. 1; in C Major, No. 2; and in C Minor, No. 3. The first, in G Major, will actually be performed last to showcase its fast-paced, virtuosic finale. “The last movement is a barn burner,” Kim said. “It’s a great way to end.” Beethoven wrote all five string trios in his mid-twenties in a span of four years, and he never wrote another. That’s one reason to go hear them as a group; another is that the composer’s penchant for breaking rules is already evident in these early pieces. But “the simplest reason is that [Beethoven] is so easy to enjoy,” the violinist said. “Some music — like Ravel, even Mozart

of the award-winning “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” one of the world’s most popular, with more than 40 million followers. The

Golden Globe Awards ceremony airs this Sunday, January 11. “The Mel Robbins Podcast” regularly addresses such self-improvement topics as creating healthy relationships, reaching one’s goals and career ambitions, and coping with anxiety, stress and physical ailments. The Kansas City native and Dartmouth College grad has spoken publicly about her own diagnoses of dyslexia, anxiety and ADHD. An attorney and former New York public defender, Robbins first came to national prominence with her 2011 TEDx talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” which has been viewed nearly 44 million times. In 2017 Robbins published The 5 Second Rule: The Fastest Way to Change Your Life. The Let Them Theory, which Robbins cowrote

— is not going to appeal to people who are seeking out a visceral, rock-music experience. It’s too refined and subtle. With Beethoven, you’re getting everything: loud, hair-raisingly fast, fun, powerful, serious, meditative, thrilling. “That’s why Beethoven has lasted,” he added. “It just never gets old.” ➆

INFO Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival: Beethoven String Trios, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, Part 1: Friday, January 9, 7:30 p.m.; Part 2: Sunday, January 11, 4 p.m. $49; $25 for people under 30 and music educators; $5 for students. lccmf.org

with her 25-year-old daughter, Sawyer, has sold more than 8 million copies since its December 2024 release. This is the first year the Golden Globes, which has traditionally recognized outstanding movies and television series, is honoring a podcast. Robbins is vying for the inaugural award against other popular podcasts “Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard,” “Call Her Daddy,” “Good Hang With Amy Poehler,” “SmartLess” and NPR’s “Up First.” ➆

INFO The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony airs Sunday, January 11, at 8 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+. “The Mel Robbins Podcast” is available at melrobbins.com and major streaming services.

culture

Phoenix Falling?

Owners of a popular Waterbury art space say their landlord is trying to force them out. They’re suing to stay. B Y K E N PI CA RD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

ARTS NEWS

Joseph Pensak at the Phoenix

and recording artist. When the business per month, as evident from the building’s opened in 2023, he partnered with Anne leases. Decker, a Waterbury musician, composer Pensak said he has invested more than and founder of the nonprofit TURNmusic, $50,000 of his own money in the spaces, which regularly hosts concerts through- which included his entire life savings and a out Vermont, often featuring emerging $10,000 loan, which he is still paying off, for composers and contemporary chamber noise attenuation, a PA system, museumensembles. quality lighting and other improvements. Pensak also curates the Hesterly Black, He said he created the Phoenix and on the second floor of the historic building, surrounding spaces “for the common good with Black, who is herself an artist, musi- of the community … as a cultural hub for cian and attorney. According to emails Waterbury which didn’t exist before we included in the couple’s complaint, it was started it.” Black’s role as an attorney that became Since word spread about the December a sticking point for Mermel. While the email, Pensak and Black have received an tenants sought to resolve outpouring of emails and the rent dispute in person, letters of support from Mermel balked at the Waterbury residents idea of any meeting that and businesses as well involved attorneys, includas Vermont arts organiing Black, even though she zations and educators. is co-owner of Pensak’s Several were included as businesses. TREEHOUSE, exhibits in the lawsuit. J O S EP H P EN S A K Pensak’s coworking and “When I think of the retail space at Elm and Main streets, is not vibrant cultural life of Waterbury, top of the affected by this dispute. list is the Phoenix and its connected studio Reached by phone, Mermel declined and art space, the Hesterly Black,” wrote Dr. to answer questions about the lawsuit or William Ellis, director and music professor what plans, if any, he has for the build- at Saint Michael’s College. “An art gallery ing, saying he has been traveling out is more than paintings on a wall, after all. of state and had yet to read the tenants’ In the right hands, it is a gathering place complaint. But in a prepared statement, to foster community and creativity, to help he said: “Whitehill Invention Five LLC define and distinguish a town’s cultural served lease terminations, after months identity, and be a space where all people of notices, alleging multiple independent are welcome.” monetary and non-monetary defaults at Dr. Kyle Saulnier, director of jazz activi5-7 Stowe Street [in Waterbury]. A court ties at Middlebury College, described the hearing is scheduled. We will comply with action as “abrupt and frankly, cruel.” all court orders, but we won’t try this case “The Phoenix is not only a performance in the press.” space; it is becoming a cornerstone of However, soon after his phone conver- Vermont’s local creative economy and is a sation with Seven Days, Mermel forwarded gathering place that strengthens commuan email sent to all Radio Vermont clients, nity connection and vitality,” Saulnier in which he alleged numerous factual wrote. “Its loss would cause significant errors in press accounts published in harm to artists, neighboring businesses, the Waterbury Roundabout and the and the broader cultural life of Waterbury Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus about the and the State of Vermont.” dispute. In it, Mermel claimed that he has Mermel is no stranger to controversy. not been served with the complaint and As VTDigger reported in October 2023, the is not evicting his tenants. (A copy of the former U.S. Senate candidate, who sought lease termination email is included in the the Republican nomination in 2022, was complaint.) He also claimed that past-due fired from his position as president and rent and “additional rent amounts” exceed director of the Ethan Allen Institute, $120,000. a conservative think tank. At the time, “There are significant non-monetary Mermel described the nonprofit board’s defaults concerning supposed subleases, action as “retaliation” for his calls for insurance, staffing, security, and fire greater financial transparency. safety,” Mermel added, raising “signifiDespite the bad blood, Pensak has cant concerns about the physical safety asked his supporters in the community of the occupants of the leased premises not to engage in character assassination of 5-7 Stowe Street and our employees in or personal attacks against Mermel or his our adjoining headquarters at 9-11 Stowe business. Street.” “You can express your dismay,” he said, By phone, Pensak said he was flabber- “but we’re not about canceling anyone.” ➆ gasted by Mermel’s assertion that he is owed $120,000. Pensak noted that rent on INFO all the spaces in the building totals $3,000 Learn more at thephoenixvt.com.

FILE: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

THIS COMPLETELY RUINED OUR HOLIDAYS.

he fate of the Phoenix, an art gallery, music hall and community center in downtown Waterbury, is in limbo after the building’s new owner sent the tenants an email in late December canceling their leases and requesting their keys back due to alleged unpaid rent. If successful, the action would force the Phoenix and other commercial tenants of the two-story historic building to vacate the property almost immediately. On December 22, Joseph Pensak and Anna Black, co-owners of AMPS, the parent company of several Waterbury businesses at 5–7 Stowe Street, including the Phoenix, Waterbury Studios and the Hesterly Black art gallery, received the email from the building’s new owners: Radio Vermont Group Acquisition, Whitehill Invention Five LLC and Myers Mermel. Mermel, who lives in Manchester, is co-owner, along with Caroline McLain and Scott Milne, of Radio Vermont, which owns WDEV Radio and its building at 9 Stowe Street immediately next door. In September they bought the building at 5-7 Stowe Street, which is also home to the studio of artist and furniture maker T.R. Risk. Black and Pensak, who are married and live in Waterbury, have filed suit, claiming breach of contract by their new landlord — their leases aren’t due to expire until 2027

and 2028 — and disputing the owner’s claim of unpaid rent. In a complaint filed on December 30 in Washington County Superior Court, the tenants allege that they made all required rent payments on time and in full, totaling $9,000, but that Mermel never cashed or deposited the checks. Photos of those checks were attached to the complaint. The threat, which the plaintiffs characterized as “an eviction notice,” nearly derailed a New Year’s Eve dance party scheduled at the Phoenix — that is, until Superior Court Judge Daniel Richardson issued a temporary restraining order until a hearing can be held on the dispute later this month. The judge also barred the building owner from enforcing newly proposed “building rules and regulations” against the tenants and subtenants. One rule would require the tenants to get all scheduled events preapproved by the landlord. While Judge Richardson didn’t weigh in on all the merits of the case, he noted that the plaintiffs “have made out a strong claim for breach of contract and wrongful termination.” A court hearing is scheduled for January 15. “This completely ruined our holidays,” said Pensak, who received the email three days before Christmas. Pensak, cofounder and head curator of the Phoenix, is also a songwriter

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

COURTESY OF A24

on screen Marty Supreme ★★★★★

A de-glammed Timothée Chalamet plays an aspiring table-tennis champ in Josh Safdie’s breakneck period comedy.

REVIEW

emember when everyone was predicting that Adam Sandler would win an Oscar for his role as a New York jeweler and sports gambler in Uncut Gems, the sixth film from the fraternal directing duo of Josh and Benny Safdie? Probably you don’t, because the movie was released on the cusp of 2020. Pandemic Oscars didn’t materialize for the Safdies, but this year they returned with separate award-season efforts. While Benny’s fact-based sports drama, The Smashing Machine, got a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences, Josh’s Marty Supreme keeps gathering buzz — including, this week, a win for star Timothée Chalamet at the Critics’ Choice Awards. While everyone has opinions about the not-so-lovable title character, Marty has undeniably made his mark.

The deal

In 1952, young New Yorker Marty Mauser (Chalamet) is determined to make the sport of table tennis happen. His plan involves winning the British Open, turning on the postwar U.S. to the joys of competitive Ping-Pong, selling balls with his name emblazoned on them and (of course) profiting. But first Marty needs airfare to London, which he steals at gunpoint from his 48

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

uncle’s shoe store, where he’s been resentfully employed. His strong showing at the tournament does nothing to uncomplicate his life. His antics on the court get him censured; he still needs cash; and he’s now entangled with a faded movie star (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her coldblooded pen magnate husband (Kevin O’Leary). Meanwhile, the sweetheart (Odessa A’zion) whom Marty left at home is pregnant with his child and married to someone else. To all these challenges Marty brings his inimitable skill set: quick wits, quicker tongue, a genius for the sales pitch and an allergy to accountability.

Will you like it?

Some viewers have complained about the anachronistic soundtrack of Marty Supreme: Safdie alternates between jazzy, period-appropriate fare and ’80s new wave classics such as Alphaville’s “Forever Young.” One could also quibble with millennial turns of phrase in the screenplay he cowrote with Ronald Bronstein, such as “You seem really invested.” But Safdie’s freewheeling approach to the period piece feels like a choice. While Marty is loosely based on real table-tennis player Marty Reisman, he would fit right into 2026. Thrive, even. The film shares a

theme with last year’s big Oscar winner, Anora: the time-honored American tradition of climbing the social ladder by scheming, conning and hustling. Both movies are deadpan comedies of errors with breakneck pacing. Both follow an underdog protagonist on a wild quest to grab and keep a piece of their dream by any means necessary. And both quests reach similar conclusions, conveying the filmmakers’ jaded view of the fate of dreams under capitalism. The big difference is that we know Marty intimately by the end of Marty Supreme, while Anora rarely drops her many masks. Be assured: To know Marty is not to love him. He lives in grubby chaos, and so does the film. Parts are so frantically paced, with the camera breathing down Marty’s neck as it races to keep up with his mounting misadventures, that we may long for a return to the carefully composed, comparatively leisurely tabletennis sequences. If you don’t mind stories that are basically nightmarish pileups of bad decisions, though, Marty Supreme is a great one. The editing and production design are immersive, the dialogue has a triumphant comic snap, and Chalamet’s performance is fully committed. When Marty boasts, “I could sell shoes to an amputee,” he takes his place in a long

line of fictional con men, and the story has a sweep and heft that remind us of the blistering character studies of Hollywood past. None of the supporting characters — who also include Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Abel Ferrara of Bad Lieutenant fame as a grumpy lowlife — are that complex. But they all have their moments, especially Géza Röhrig as a Holocaust survivor who tells a story that throws everyone else’s pettiness into relief. While many indie filmmakers these days treat restraint and subtlety as the prime virtues, Safdie heads in the opposite direction. One subplot involves Paltrow’s character starring in a comically bad kitchen-sink production on Broadway. When a side character remarks that Marty’s situation has more juicy drama than the play, we can’t help but agree. Marty Supreme is for people who don’t need their sports movies to be uplifting. Every time we don’t think Marty can get any more shameless, he does, and his chutzpah draws gasps of laughter. When consequences catch up to him, the result is less redemption than poetic justice. But there’s still a certain power in watching a relentless striver gracefully accept his limitations for the first time in his life. The expressions that flit over Chalamet’s face in a few seconds say it all: Every winning streak comes to an end. MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY… UNCUT GEMS (2019; HBO Max, rentable):

If you liked the frenetic pace, New York ambience and despicable hero of Marty Supreme, this is for you. “THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT” (seven episodes,

2020; Netflix): Or, if you’re more just into watching niche competitions in midcentury settings, try this miniseries with Anja Taylor-Joy as an unlikely chess champion. MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982; rentable): Marty Supreme showcases the same infectious intro from Les Paul and Mary Ford’s “How High the Moon” that sets the scene for Richard Benjamin’s charming comedy set in 1954 New York. Coincidental choice or not, the two movies have parallels, including the key role played by a relic of old Hollywood (Peter O’Toole here).

Greenland 2: Migration

THE SECRET AGENTHHHH1/2 Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Golden Globe-nominated Brazilian drama, set in 1977, follows a young dad (Wagner Moura) as he flees political persecution. (161 min, R. Partizanfilm) SENTIMENTAL VALUEHHHH1/2 Sisters confront their estranged father in this drama from Joachim Trier. (133 min, R. Catamount; reviewed 12/3)

Friday Jan. 16th 7:30PM

Hosted By Pierre Vachon

SONG SUNG BLUEHHH Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a married Neil Diamond tribute band in this fact-based drama directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow). (133 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse) THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTSHHH1/2 A ghost pirate leads SpongeBob to the ocean’s depths in this family animation, with the voices of Tom Kenny and Clancy Brown. (96 min, PG. Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

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WICKED: FOR GOODHHH Outcast witch Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flies high in the conclusion of the Broadway musical adaptation. (138 min, PG. Essex, Majestic)

JANUARY 16, 4 & 7 PM

ZOOTOPIA 2HHH1/2 Disney’s animated critters return for another mystery. (108 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Welden)

NEW IN THEATERS

Art Monaghan

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

The only time it’s OK to talk during a movie!

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER: Three estranged families in different parts of the world must face their differences in this anthology drama from Jim Jarmusch, starring Tom Waits, Adam Driver and Mayim Bialik. (110 min, R. Savoy [all week], VTIFF [Fri & Sat only])

A BRIGHTER SUMMER DAY (Catamount, Tue only)

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION: In the sequel to the 2020 disaster film, a family must trek across a frozen wasteland. Sounds like another January day in Vermont. Morena Baccarin and Gerard Butler star; Ric Roman Waugh directed. (98 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL (Catamount, Wed 14 only)

IS THIS THING ON?: Sports and standup comedy help a troubled couple (Will Arnett and Laura Dern) navigate their midlife crises in this comedy-drama directed by Bradley Cooper. (124 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Savoy) THE PLAGUE: An anxious 12-year-old boy struggles with hazing at a water polo camp in this psychological thriller written and directed by Charlie Polinger, starring Everett Blunck and Joel Edgerton. (98 min, R. Partizanfilm)

LABYRINTH 40TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Thu-Sun only) METROPOLITAN OPERA: I PURITANI (Essex, Sat only) ORWELL: 2 + 2 = 5 (Marquis, Wed 14 only) THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (Partizanfilm, Wed 7 only)

(* = 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

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ANACONDAHH A group of midlife friends (including Jack Black and Paul Rudd) sets out to remake the 1997 giant-snake thriller of the same name in this action comedy. (100 min, PG-13. Big Picture, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

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

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASHHHH Pandora faces a conflict between different Na’vi tribes as James Cameron’s sci-fi adventure saga continues, starring Sam Worthington and Zoë Saldana. (195 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Welden)

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

MARTY SUPREMEHHHH1/2 In the 1950s, a young man (Timothée Chalamet) sets out to be a table tennis champion in Josh Safdie’s acclaimed comedy-drama. (150 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Stowe; reviewed 1/7)

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THE HOUSEMAIDHHH1/2 A young woman’s dream job has a dark side in Paul Feig’s adaptation of Freida McFadden’s thriller, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. (131 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Welden)

21+ Event

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STARSHIP TROOPERS (Catamount, Fri only)

PRIMATE: A pet chimpanzee ruins a tropical vacation in this horror flick from Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down), starring Johnny Sequoyah. (89 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Star)

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

STAND UP COMICS ROAST MOVIES LIVE!

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

12/10/25 4:42 PM

art

Un-Thor-gettable

A posthumous show brings together an eclectic selection of photographer Matthew Thorsen’s work B Y A LICE D OD GE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

That volume of photographs is why what’s on view at the S.P.A.C.E. gallery may seem somewhat random — because it is. It’s not meant as a full career retrospective, or a selection of themed works, though there are a few distinct groups of images in the show. A series of curling black-and-white prints Thorsen took in the 1990s in Asia and France is nailed onto framed backgrounds taken from handwritten travel journals. There are tiny photos of the word “OK” spray-painted on pavement

HE SHOWS US A NARRATIVE WE DIDN’T KNOW WAS THERE,

ONE THAT REMAINS UNRESOLVED.

n Kelly Link’s short story “Stone Animals,” a couple moves into a haunted house. There are no ghosts or apparitions and nothing malevolent in the house itself. They just know, with certainty, that some of their objects — a mug, a garden sculpture, the cat — are now haunted. The same kind of charge comes through in the photos on display in “Seven Year Itch: Matthew Thorsen Basement Treasures,” which opened last Friday and runs through January 24 at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington. Thorsen’s distinctive eye and the way he framed some of the pieces give them a spooky, uncanny vibe, like the things in Link’s story. “We’re itching to feel his

REVIEW

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

energy again and then see his process and his artwork and how he saw the world,” gallery director Nikki Laxar said. Thorsen shot photos for Seven Days for 23 years, beginning just after the paper started in 1995, and was named its first (and still only) staff photographer in 2014. He became especially known for his portraits of musicians, artists, politicians, comedians, farmers and misfits of all sorts. His early black-and-white images, with thick black borders, set an edgy and artistic tone for the publication that has informed its identity for three decades. Thorsen died of cancer on January 1, 2019 — seven years and one day before the show’s opening. Seven Days art director Diane Sullivan was married to Thorsen; they were

partners for two decades. She hadn’t been thinking about a show until plumbing work in her basement forced her to start moving parts of the massive archive Thorsen left behind. “I’m the keeper of the treasures,” she said during the show’s installation, “and it’s time to share them and get them out.” To call Thorsen prolific would be a vast understatement. Sullivan said he didn’t go anywhere without a camera — “only the shower, and sometimes in bed.” And before digital photography, he made prints of everything. “There’s tubs and tubs and tubs and tubs and tubs and tubs of them,” Sullivan said, in addition to all of the digital images and works he framed himself, often in beat-up or kitschy frames he found in thrift stores.

or sidewalks by utility workers. A few 1990s band images and a multimedia display are taken from the Burlington nonprofit music org Big Heavy World’s 2011 traveling exhibition of Thorsen’s work, “Sound Proof.” And there’s a whole wall of tacked-up, loose black-and-white prints, some of them recognizable from Seven Days stories past. However, stripped of context, many of the singular works on view retain a haunted quality. That isn’t because the artist is no longer with us. It’s because he so successfully shows us a narrative we didn’t know was there, one that remains unresolved. In one black-and-white image from the 1990s, a child holding a helium balloon stares down at a dead deer on the sidewalk. On the back of the frame, Thorsen has written, “An old woman comes out of the butcher shop and said she and children can hear the souls of dear[sic] after they had died. The dear said they did not want to be shot.” His misspelling only adds to the creepiness. A color still life from the year 2000 pictures a pair of red candles that can only be described as flaccid; another, from 2001,

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a crushed blue garbage bin. It’s unclear what has happened, exactly, but both convey an enticing wrongness. When he was a child, Thorsen’s parents bred and raised monkeys in their house, and sold them for use in medical

testing — a history that, Sullivan said, “definitely scarred him forever.” Thorsen loved animals of all kinds. Images of monkeys do appear in some of the pieces in the show, but more than that, he seems to have absorbed their energy: joyful and a little dangerous. Thorsen delighted in transgression. One suite of photos, actually taken by Sullivan, pictures the photographer peeing in odd places, under glittery lettering proclaiming “Freedom for my peepole.” Another image, this one labelled “Piece of Shit,” is, well, exactly that, on a sidewalk where the word “Potty” has been written into the cement. Seven Days received hundreds of remembrances about Thorsen after his death from people he had photographed, many of whom recounted his otherworldly energy, his kindness, his sense of humor and, above all, how he made them feel seen in a new way. Looking at his work — a small sliver of the tens (or likely, hundreds) of thousands of photos he took — allows even those of us who didn’t know him to see his personality reflected in the way he pictured the world. Sullivan said that, as Thorsen was dying, she promised him she’d take care of his artwork, “and I think part of that is showing it,” she said, despite the daunting size of the archive. While she’ll always be grieving, she’s happy to reconnect with Thorsen’s work and wants the rest of the community to have an opportunity to remember him. “It’s more of a celebration,” she said. “Like, What a hoot that guy was!” ➆

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INFO “Seven Year Itch: Matthew Thorsen Basement Treasures,” on view through January 24 at the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington. spacegalleryvt.com

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

1/25/24 12:23 PM

art JAN. 7-14 COURTESY PHOTOS

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS ‘ECHO’: A show of works from the owner’s personal collection that explore pattern, structure and repetition, including paintings, works on paper and sculptural pieces by Samantha Bittman, Morgan Blair, Corydon Cowansage, Daniel Dove, Kerry O. Furlani, Elizabeth Powell, Amber Renaye, Eric Shaw, Geoffrey Todd Smith, Matthew J. Stone and Mark Dean Veca. Hexum Gallery, Montpelier, through January 30. Info, hexumgallery@gmail.com. ART AT THE AIRPORT: KELLY O’NEAL: A show of painterly photographs that seek to convey a sense of place through color and shape. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through April 14. Info, 865-7296. NAOMI MOSER: “Broken Character,” an exhibition of video work exploring themes of femininity and performance in an AI landscape. Extra Special With Cheese, Burlington, January 9-February 7. Info, extraspecialwithcheese@gmail.com. RICK HARLOW: “Portraits of Energy,” pointillist abstract paintings that draw on traditional cultural knowledge from Indigenous Colombian peoples to celebrate the notion that everything is alive. Reception: Friday, January 9, 4-6 p.m. Michael S. Currier Center, Putney School, January 9-February 20. Info, 387-5566. ROB HITZIG: “Planting Confusion, Sowing Doubt,” a solo show of new works by the Montpelier artist which introduce biomorphic forms into his established geometric visual language through large-scale sculptural constructions. Reception: Friday, January 9, 4:30-7 p.m. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier, January 9-March 27. Info, 279-5558. ‘DAILY ARTISTS’: A show of artists who made art daily in 2025 — each selects pieces that reflect their year of accomplishments. Reception: Friday, January 9, 5-7 p.m. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, January 9-February 7. Info, 457-3500. ‘SENSUAL TURNS’: A group show of works by Bonnie Morano, Jenny Kemp and Elizabeth Powell, who also curated. Reception: Friday, January 9. 6-8 p.m. The Phoenix, Waterbury, January 9-March 13. ‘ART HISTORIES/ART FUTURES’: An exhibition juxtaposing different approaches by artists who draw on a range of histories to envision a shared future. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., January 10-July 25. Info, 604-646-2808. ‘WORK IN PROGRESS’: An exhibition of in-process paintings, changing throughout the month, by the six artists who make up the collective: Tina Olsen, Ellen Cone Maddrey, Gayle Robertson, John Loggia, Liza Cassidy and Mary Therese Wright. Open discussion with the artists: Thursday, January 15, 3-6 p.m. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, January 8-31. Info, 118elliot@gmail.com. ‘ALL THE COLORS HUMANS HAVE NOT YET NAMED’: A color-themed exhibition that aims to dispel the lingering weight of winter with works by more than 40 artists, including Kathy Black, Mindy Fisher, Greg Gorman, Marla Ianello, Chris Jeffrey, John Killacky, Cathy Osman, Gaal Shepherd, Piper Strong and Anne Walker. Reception: Friday, January 16, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., January 9-February 28. Info, 603-448-3117. ‘ZERO CELSIUS’: A show of artwork that explores the textures, tensions and transformations of winter, presented at the gallery and at Sugarbush Resort, and featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography and digital media. Reception: Saturday, January 17, 5:30-7 p.m. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield, January 7-April 23. Info, 496-6682.

“Meanwhile”

EXHIBITION

In From the Cold If you’d prefer to survey the beauty of winter from inside a warm, cozy gallery, get yourself to the Front in Montpelier for Elizabeth Nelson’s solo show, “Meanwhile.” The West Glover artist’s vast, icy expanses, informed by time spent in the unfamiliar landscapes of Iceland and Norway as well as many Vermont winters, seem ready to slide off the wall and melt onto the gallery floor. Many of the large-scale scenes are painted on Yupo, a translucent surface that captures Nelson’s gestures as well as the puddles and drips the paint makes on its own; her process is as much a conversation with her materials as any snowy trek is a dialogue with nature. Layers of whites, grays and browns give way to tumultuous, crashing green waves and azure oceans as Nelson’s glacial vistas progress inevitably toward spring.

‘ELIZABETH NELSON: MEANWHILE’ On view through February 1 at the Front in Montpelier; artist talk on Sunday, January 25, at 4 p.m. thefrontvt.com

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

“Forward Into Spring”

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

ART LISTINGS ARE WRITTEN BY ALICE DODGE. LISTINGS ARE RESTRICTED TO ART SHOWS IN TRULY PUBLIC PLACES.

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

FIND ALL ART SHOWS + EVENTS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

CALLS TO ARTISTS 2026 SUMMER ARTS FEST AT JAY PEAK: Seeking performing artists in all disciplines, including music, dance, theater, circus, spoken word and experimental performance, for the first annual Arts Fest, a one-day showcase of regional talent on July 25. Submissions will be juried. Please submit inquiries and work samples via email. Jay Peak Resort. Deadline: May 15. Free. Info, 327-2198. 2027 SOLO EXHIBITION PROPOSALS: Now accepting proposals for 2027 solo shows, which typically feature three or four artists showing concurrently in AVA’s large exhibition galleries. The organization is committed to showcasing artists from diverse backgrounds with strong ties to Vermont and the broader New England region. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H. Deadline: March 31. Free. Info, 603-448-3117. CALL FOR MURALISTS: Healthy Roots Collaborative, a program of Feeding Champlain Valley, seeks an artist or design team to create and install an original mural that highlights northwest Vermont’s agricultural heritage and strong community network. The mural will be prominently displayed along the Missisquoi and Lamoille Valley Rail Trail on the warehouse located at 101 Casino Rd. in Sheldon, Vt. Open to all artists 18 and older. Request full application requirements via email. Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, St. Johnsbury to St. Albans. Deadline: January 31. Info, pjenkins@cvoeo.org. ‘FROM VERMONT, WITH LOVE’: An invitation for a juried show of works that speak to the nature of love, including love for Vermont. Works will be on display during the month of February as the inaugural exhibition for the new venue. SEABA Center, Burlington. Deadline: January 30. Sliding entry fee; $20 if work is selected. Info, director@seaba.com. MINI-MASTERPIECES SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER: Seeking contributions of small-scale, display-ready artworks to support exhibitions and programs through an upcoming benefit auction. Register at miltonartistsguild.org. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery. Deadline: January 12. Free. Info, 999-0516. ‘THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES: PERSPECTIVES ON ART’: Seeking submissions of 8-by-10 framed or mounted photographs of the Chaffee building. All photos will be for sale, with half of proceeds benefiting the artist and half supporting the organization. The public will vote in the contest through February 26; winning images will be made into cards to sell in the gift shop. Works must be dropped off or mailed to the art center. Apply in one of four categories: youth (12 and under), teen (13-18), amateur or professional. Limit three images per artist. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland. Deadline: January 16. Free; $5 per entry in professional category. Info, info@ chaffeeartcenter.org.

ART EVENTS LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Thursday, January 8, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

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, January 11, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014. FIGURE DRAWING: Artists at all levels of experience are invited to draw from a live model. Drawing boards and easels provided; participants bring drawing materials. 18-plus; preregistration required. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Sunday, January 11, 2-4 p.m. $15; $5 for current VSC residents. Info, 635-2727. PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, January 12, 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, January 13, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-5901. EXHIBITION TOUR: ‘ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MINERAL’: An exploration with curator Elizabeth Rice Mattison of the exhibition “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Making Colors in Europe, 1400–1800,” which looks at artistic production in the early modern period through the lens of its distinctive colors and closely guarded recipes for pigments, dyes and glazes. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Wednesday, January 14, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free; space limited. No registration required. Info, 603-646-9660. ➆

What’s Your Plan? The people who choose to live at Wake Robin are forever looking forward. Whether it’s making new friends in this Life Plan Community in Shelburne, Vermont, cultivating activities and hobbies, or receiving the support that grows with your needs, it’s time to start exploring all that Wake Robin has to offer. It’s never too soon to start planning.

But wait, there’s more!

103 additional art listings

are on view at sevendaysvt.com/art. Find all the calls to artists, ongoing art shows and future events online.

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music+nightlife

COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY

New Year’s Eve celebration at the SEABA Center

S UNDbites News and views on the local music + nightlife scene B Y CHRI S FARNSWO RT H • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

I love the smell of a new year in the morning! You get this teensy window of a tabula rasa, a fresh start, even if it’s purely symbolic. I mean, it’s not like debt disappears, fascists suddenly fuck off or Harambe returns from the dead to lead us all into the light. (Where are my Harambe cultists at?) No, the turd sandwich that was 2025 still happened, and a quick flip of the calendar doesn’t erase the unsavoriness of the previous year, as much as we might wish it were so. And yet, hope remains — if you allow it to penetrate the armor of cynicism. It would be seductively easy to look at the state of the music industry and the very act of creating music in 2026 and throw your hands in the air. Existential threats surround, from a largely broken streaming model to all-time-high concert ticket prices to the horror movie-like creep of AI slop. Times are hard out there for those just trying to rock out. And yet… Music, and the human reaction to it, transcends late-stage capitalism. One note of your favorite song lights up the hippocampus and amygdala, engages 54

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

JOHN JAMES

Please 2026, Don’t Hurt ’Em: Predictions for the Year in Music

John McCaughley of Deer Tick at Billsville House Concerts in Manchester Center in 2024

the limbic system, and floods the body’s motor system. That’s the power of music; it’s encoded in our brains and bodies. There are even studies that show listening to WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major helped people suffering from epilepsy by reducing spikes of tension that lead to neuron activity. If that’s not sorcery, I don’t know what is. While tech bros who couldn’t summon a note from a recorder in fifth grade are trying to hijack the industry and devalue the art, they’re no match

for an ancient spell that calls back to our earliest evolutionary memories. Nonetheless, it’s obvious the coming year will present both lingering and new challenges to musicians and fans. To help guide us once more into the breach, I’ve prepared a series of predictions and resolutions. Some are informed by years of experience and research, some are straight vibes, and some are just to make me look stupid come December.

2026 Predictions

As I rub my scrying orb (hey now!),

images come to me like the murky answers of a Magic 8 Ball. What will 2026 hold for the Vermont music scene? The changing topography of the live music ecosystem will continue to be a big story. 2025 was a turbulent year for music venues in the Green Mountains, with Nectar’s, Despacito and ArtsRiot all closing in Burlington and Bent Nails Bistro leaving Montpelier to become Bent Nails Roadhouse in Middlesex. The New Year will continue to pose all sorts of challenges for live music spots (see Ken Picard’s story on the Phoenix gallery and music hall in Waterbury on page 47) and issues such as soaring insurance costs and rapidly declining alcohol sales (see “New Beer Resolution” on page 30) aren’t just going to disappear. Vermonters have already started responding, though. Shows in unconventional venues like houses and barns, along with underground raves and DIY mini music fests, emerged to fill the void with some regularity in 2025, and I foresee that trend accelerating. Consider the growing scenes at the Burlington Odd Fellows lodge, the Underground — Listening Room in Randolph, Billsville House Concerts in Manchester Center, Stage 33 Live in Bellows Falls, the What Doth Life collective in Windsor and many other independent outfits across Vermont. I think 2026 will be the year of the DIY venue. Less DIY, but no less exciting, is what the folks at the South End Arts + Business Association are doing on Pine Street in Burlington. SEABA took over the old ArtsRiot site in October, sparking hope in the community that what was once a South End music hot spot might return. The new space made its public debut on New Year’s Eve with performances by the likes of DWIGHT + NICOLE, KAT WRIGHT, BOB WAGNER, and members of the WOOD BROTHERS; the event doubled as a fundraiser for a new sound system for the club. With Wagner, BRIAN NAGLE of Waking Windows, and photographer and frequent Seven Days collaborator LUKE AWTRY coming on board to handle booking and all things music, it’s looking like a big year at the SEABA space. Stay tuned for more news on the endeavor in the coming weeks. My other prediction is that we’ll see more AI-produced music, even among local artists. My disdain aside, AI music is here, and it’s not going anywhere. Expect legal challenges and backroom corporate deals as AI swallows more and more SOUNDBITES

» P.56

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

I DONATE FOR A VERY FUNDAMENTAL REASON —

SO IT KEEPS COMING!

– Gillian Franks, Essex Junction FILE: LUKE AWTRY

SUPER READER SINCE AUGUST 2020

Welcome, new Super Readers! Rough Francis

On the Beat

New band retraction! (Sorry, I always wanted to type that.) Burlington punk-rock crew ROUGH FRANCIS announced last year that they would be rechristening the band to reflect an increasing push into hardcore music. It was also a way for founding members JULIAN, URIAN and BOBBY HACKNEY JR. to distance themselves a little from DEATH, the protopunk band their father and uncles formed in Detroit in the late ’60s. Rough Francis originally formed as a tribute to Death before branching out with their own original material and

becoming stars in the punk world in their own right. As much as I love Rough Francis and support them doing whatever feels authentic to their art, I have to admit that I didn’t really get the idea. It takes a lot of work to make people remember your name. Unless you’re literally PRINCE, don’t mess with that. Fortunately, the band seems to have arrived at a similar conclusion. It announced on social media over the weekend that it will remain Rough Francis. A recent trip to Lamu, Kenya, ON THE BEAT

Eye on the Scene Last week’s highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

» P.56

These wonderful people made their first donation to Seven Days in the last month:

Gilman Allen Will Anderson Micah Barritt Ann Barton Robert Bernstein Robert Blodgett Kathleen Butts Karen Cady Helen Carr Alex Chute Linda Coleman Cynthia Coy Paul & Sharon Corologos Melinda Donnelly Marie Eddy Amanda Ellison Elizabeth Ferries Karen FitzGerald Martha Flanigan Douglas Friant Cheryl Haller George & Madelyn Hamilton Margaret A Handler

Catherine Harris Logan Hegg Gordon Hoare Susan Holson Jane Horowitz Timothy & Maria Jamieson Ramona Janowetch Steven Kappel Maxwell King Stephen Kiernan Beth Kirkpatrick Mark Klinedinst Aileen Lachs Travis Lea Catherine Paris Cathy & Steve Lucey-Peisch Rick Ohler Molly Orshoff Bonnie Reid Martin Harold McCann Mike Mahaffie Kirsten Merriman Shapiro Gary Moore

Maureen Morrissey Teresa Mungazi Jeffrey O’Donnell William Orleans Patricia Olszewski Olivia Piepmeier Bill Pierson Linda Prokopy Donna Quinlan Shelley Richardson Allan & Daniel Ryan Christine Saracco Barbara Sawyer Dan Schick Linda Schick Eric Schulz Torrin Silver Dave Simmons Dana Stevens Donald Tripp Bryan Wemple Hugh Williams Michael Wriston

Join these generous folks and other Super Readers who donate monthly to:

THE FLUFFY BUS AT HIGHLIGHT NEW YEAR’S EVE, WATERFRONT PARK IN BURLINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31: It was the chilliest New Year’s Eve in recent years, and

Burlington City Arts’ Highlight celebration at Waterfront Park was ready for it. Options abounded to keep the body temperature up: Take a break at one of the nearby indoor venues, make open-fire s’mores with Miss Vermont, circle up at one of the many blazing firepits or hang out at the Fluffy Bus. Also known as Fluffy the Floating Cloud Bank, it’s a 40-foot school bus outfitted with a sound system, elevated DJ booth, dance floor and more than 14,000 programmable LEDs nestled in the cloudlike designs wrapping its frame. The art car was originally built to transport a convoy to Nevada’s annual Burning Man festival. What makes Fluffy a good hang on a cold day is the 17-foot “poofer mast” — a propane-powered vertical flamethrower operated by a large red “BLAST” button. While TWO SEV was on the decks, I made my way to the controls and lit up the area with a few blasts. The heat from the poofer is intense and brought back to life my uncovered fingers and face. I climbed down and danced my way back into the park.

Make your contribution today! sevendaysvt.com/super-readers Or send a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402. Need more info? Contact Gillian English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

2v-SRthanks010726.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

1/6/26 1:09 PM

On the Beat « P.55 gave the Hackneys new perspective and helped them decide to stick with their original name. To celebrate the New Year with the (not) new name, Rough Francis throw down at Radio Bean in Burlington on Sunday, January 11, with DJ COLLIN HAGOOD and surprise guests.

COURTESY

music+nightlife

Listening In (Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “REINA” by Phantom Suns 2. “MONA LISA’S EYES ARE BLUE” by Danny & the Parts 3. “DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL” by Omega Jade

FREEWAY CLYDE, led by Tony Award-

winning composer, saxophonist, guitarist and producer MICHAEL CHORNEY (VIPERHOUSE, Hadestown), is an explosion of psychedelic, acid-jazz and rock fusion that debuted in 2023 with the excellent record Sunflower. One of the band’s members, and a frequent Chorney collaborator, MATT LAROCCA, has taken to reimagining Freeway Clyde’s music. After leading an acoustic version of the band called DRIVEWAY WILSON, LaRocca, artistic adviser and project conductor with the VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, has now launched CARPORT ANNIE. “In Carport Annie, I reimagine and recompose the brilliant melodies and harmonies that Michael writes for Freeway Clyde,” LaRocca wrote by email. “The wild psychedelic and rocking soundscapes of Clyde are turned into beautiful waltzes and more.” Featuring LaRocca on piano and viola, SADIE BRIGHTMAN on piano, BROOKE QUIGGINS and STEFANIE TAYLOR on violin, and JOHN DUNLOP on cello, Carport Annie’s debut, Carport Annie Plays Freeway Clyde, is available now on major streaming services. Stowe singer-songwriter DAVID KARL

Soundbites « P.54 data (in other words, music made by humans) and aggregates them into tools for AI producers to use. With streaming giants such as Spotify all too happy to platform AI music, it’s only going to get more difficult to ascertain what’s real and what’s been slapped together with machine learning. I think this only adds to the appeal of live music. As streamed music becomes less authentic, the experience of seeing a group of actual people perform actual songs onstage grows more attractive. While there’s no putting the AI genie back in the bottle, I predict some silverlining side effects. Finally, some quick-fire, perhaps less thought-out predictions for 2026: 1. Dead Boomer Hologram Tours! I’d pay every dollar I have to see the 56

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

4. “THE RED BALLOON” by Connor Young 5. “SWEETNESS” by Holding Napoleon 6. “IN ANOTHER LIFE” by Troy Millette & the Fire Below 7. “HARD TRUTH” by Konflik, Reks

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

Michael Chorney

ROBERTS is one of the scene’s hardestworking troubadours. When not hosting open mics or emceeing songwriter showcases, he plays coffeehouses, breweries and dives all across the Green Mountains. He’s also a prolific recording artist. Roberts released a trio of singles back in October, including the song “The Devil and Daniel Webster.” He’s not showing any signs of slowing in 2026. Later this month, Roberts drops

holographic EAGLES have a fight onstage. It’d just be DON HENLEY trying to sue the projector for royalties. 2. Every genre becoming protest music as America descends further and further into fascism. Are you ready for angry jamgrass? How about a 23-minute ambient track about the dangers of media consolidation? The era of feelgood, escapism pop is about to wash up dead onshore, methinks.

2026 Resolutions

“Plastic Love,” followed by a single release every month of the year. Check out loveshackrecords.com for more information. Vermont singer-songwriter and folk artist JASON BAKER is back with a new single. A throwback to the days of folk singers such as PETE SEEGER and WOODY GUTHRIE, Baker’s songs are often political in nature. His latest single is no

4. Listen to fewer guitar solos and more scat breaks and/or rapping animated animals. 5. Any band with the words “beach” or “wolf” in its name must be chased from the venue with pitchforks and torches. 6. No more smoking weed before hardcore shows. I already look too old to be there; standing quietly in the corner and eating a bag of chips while the kids mosh is a bad look for Unc.

2. More sousaphone players in bands. Somehow I will manifest this into reality.

7. Per requests from a few of our older readers and my own mother, I will use exactly 15 percent fewer f-bombs in Soundbites. Not including this fucking one.

3. Uncover the truth of the Brattleboro Crystal purported to lie beneath the town.

8. I will meet “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC at his show this summer in Essex Junction and

1. Rethink streaming options. Less Spotify, more Bandcamp. Stay tuned!

exception. “Revolution Right Now” is a protest song that finds Baker seething at the wealth inequality in America and the uncertain state of the Union. “Criminals and wealthy men with racists and fake Christians have taken over these United States,” Baker sings on the track. “Now terrorists are on the loose / In business suits and shiny shoes / Helped by those who don’t know right from wrong.” “Revolution Right Now” is available on major streaming services and at jbakervt.com. ➆

become his best friend, before making an album together where we spoof only NOAH KAHAN and PHISH songs. Do you know how hard it will be to “Weird Al” a song like “Golgi Apparatus”? 9. I’ll be nicer to tribute acts that combine multiple bands into one. But only the ones I don’t hate. And even then, I don’t know. This might be a failed resolution, y’all. 10. Stop eating the chicken tenders at venues. What am I, 5? (I already broke this resolution twice as of the first week of January.) Will I manage any of these? Judging by last year’s attempts, it’s not looking good. But let 2026 be a year of wild hope in the face of savage challenges. I’ll see you out there at the shows, Vermont. Happy New Year! ➆

live music WED.7

COURTESY

CLUB DATES

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

Dead Not Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $12.19.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

THU.8

Megagroove Providence, R.I., power trio

grooves played by, as singer and former Mission of Burma member Peter Prescott put it, “goofy white guys entranced by rhythm.” With Prescott’s signature gruff-throated voice and the telepathic rhythm section of drummer Keith Seidel and bassist Niels LaWhite,

P(x3) & John Ferrara (funk, hiphop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Minibeast create a sort of post-punk, space-age funk fusion, equal parts Krautrock and Fela

Zach Nugent (Grateful Dead tribute) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

its atmospheric depth and experimental themes. The band swings through Brattleboro on

FRI.9

58) open the show.

Ali McGuirk & Friends (R&B, soul) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. The Balconiers (jazz, funk) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free. Barbacoa (surf rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. Boneyard Boogie (funk) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Campfire Jack (folk, rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free. Chad Hollister (Americana, folk) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. Corey and Friends (rock) at the Saint John’s Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Danny & the Parts, Ides of Marge (Americana) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. David Karl Roberts (singersongwriter) at the Clubhouse Grille, Jay, 5 p.m. Free. Electrostatic Cats (folk, rock) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free. The Event Horizon (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.10

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

MINIBEAST are all about angular

Kuti. The band dropped its latest LP, The Maze of Now in early 2025, a record praised for Saturday, January 10, to play the Stone Church. Local punks the VERMEN (see review on page

The Jeff Salisbury Band (blues) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

YY Zeppelin (Rush, Led Zeppelin tribute) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Band (blues) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8 p.m. Free.

Zach Nugent (Grateful Dead tribute) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 6 p.m. Free.

Lara Cwass Band, Three Piece Meal (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

SAT.10

LowDown Brass Band (hip-hop, funk) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. Info, $25/$31. The Lowmen (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. Mono Means One with John Ferrara (prog, fusion) at Stowe Cider, 8 p.m. $17.20. Paul Webb (piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Radio Cowboy (singer-songwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free. Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. Ted Perry Trio (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Ali T (singer-songwriter) at the Clubhouse Grille, Jay, 5 p.m. Free. Après-Ski: Maple Run Band (Americana) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. Back in Black (AC/DC tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $26.42. Be-er, Dad?! (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free. Collin Cope & Michael Hartigan (folk, jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free. Dave Grippo - Bruce Sklar Quintet (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. D.Davis & Marc Gwinn (jazz, blues) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Duke Davis (singer-songwriter) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free. Duo Dulce (classical) at 10 Green Street, Vergennes, 6 p.m. Free. EDW Band (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free. The Event Horizon (covers) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $10. Fifth World, Bullzeye, Commitment in Pain, Our Lady of Burning Thorns, Violent Protest (metal) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 6:30 p.m. $10. Good Gravy, Otter Creek (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $12.19. HiFi (funk) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free. Kyle Erickson & the Burnout (Americana) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10. Left Eye Jump (blues) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free. Liquid Light (jam) at the Bullwheel Bar, Jay Peak Resort, 4 p.m. Free.

GAYBAR (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Zalewski Quartet (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Rough Francis, DJ Collin Hagood (punk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $15.

SAT.10 // MINIBEAST [INDIE ROCK, PUNK]

Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Two Sev, JP Black, Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Madigan Linnane (folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Tommy Crawford (singersongwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Everything Yes, Three Piece Meal (jazz fusion) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $16.16.

The Availables (acoustic) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

The Lowdown Brass Band (hip-hop, reggae) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 7 p.m. $18.92.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

SUN.11

Adlai Waxman (piano) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 6 p.m. Free.

Jazz with Alex Stewart and Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Neon Ramblers (bluegrass, covers) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Second-Saturday Synthfests (synth) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 6 p.m. $10.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Stevie B (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Repelican, Remi Russin (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10.

Grace Palmer, Emma Cook, Emma Greenwood (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Minibeast, the Vermen (indie rock, punk) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $20/$26.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Matt Payne, DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free. Mr Cheng, DJ Chaston, DJ Aras (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. A Very Kate Kush Birthday Party (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

TUE.13

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.14

TUE.13

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free. Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15. Giovanina Bucci (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10. Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

WED.14

Charlie Uffleman, Kiley Latham, Julia Randall (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10. Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free. Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

djs

The Mid Week Hump with DJs Fattie B and Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams WED.7

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.8

Old Time Jam (open jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Open Mic Night (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. Open Mic with Dee Davis (open mic) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

SUN.11

THU.8

DJ Kyling (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.9

Aidan, Lucky Luc (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Deep Freeze Dance Party with DJ Tubadub (DJ) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.12

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.13

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. OPEN MICS & JAMS

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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music+nightlife

REVIEW this The Vermen, Dawn of the Vermen (SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL)

Job of theWeek EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Craftsbury Saplings

Get the scoop from Melissa Jacobs, Executive Director for Craftsbury Saplings.

What are some specific challenges of this position and why is it important? We serve 19 children daily, ages 15 months to 5 years old. Working with children is deeply rewarding, but it is also hard work that does not always receive the recognition it deserves. As both an educator and administrator in an early childhood program, you must be nimble, flexible and empathetic throughout the day. It is essential to meet children where they are, whether in terms of their developmental milestones, how they are feeling on a given day or what they may be experiencing in their lives outside of school. Children arrive with a wide range of needs, and it is our responsibility to truly see them, hear them and offer consistent support. This work requires staff to show up ready to be selfless, patient and present. Having loving, responsive adults during these early years is critically important, as it builds a strong foundation of trust, security and lifelong learning.

Tell us something completely unique or interesting about Craftsbury Saplings. Saplings is truly centered in our unique rural community — its people, landscape, food and farms. We see our community show up in our classroom daily. That might include a visit from a parent to read a story to the children, visiting the farms that surround us on the landscape or a visit to the elders to share music at the senior residence across the road. Our local food culture is important. Growing and preparing food, along with eating together, are integral to our curriculum. The children in our classrooms, even those as young as 1 year old, help prepare meals; they harvest, peel, mix, knead and chop the food that they will eat. Connecting to nature is a core value for Saplings and our teachers. We teach children to notice and explore the outdoors while they play with friends and teachers.

Apply for this great local job and many more: jobs.sevendaysvt.com

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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I’ve always thought that Vermont is just a little behind the times, with trends taking root later than in other places or simply not at all. So maybe it’s no surprise that when three veteran musicians of diverse sonic backgrounds relocate to the Green Mountains and team up deep in their middle age, the result is an album that feels like it was unearthed from a time capsule buried 30 years ago. Dawn of the Vermen, the debut album from the Vermen, hits like a dustedoff remnant of the ’90s and its anything-goes altrock landscape. Did I listen to the album, then spin the Empire Records soundtrack, trying to pinpoint the source of that nostalgia tickling the back of my brain? Sure did. I didn’t find what I was looking for, though, because to their credit, the Vermen aren’t re-creating anyone else’s sound. Their influences, like their experiences, are varied and complex, from indie to punk to chamber pop. That they came together now to create something that feels so naturally of the past probably says more about their nostalgia than my own. The southern Vermont three-piece is made up of Matt Sharff on bass and lead vocals, Ed Powers on drums, and Jim Roberto on guitar. The Vermen bill themselves as “grizzled and stewed veterans of punk rock’s inglorious past,” and Dawn of the Vermen offers a thoughtful post-punk journey marked by internal reflection over obvious emotion. Their first single, “Shame Machine,” kicks off the album, an energetic calling card full of distorted

riffs and propulsive beats. The track is also the record’s lyrical high point. “We were born impure/ Going to die unclean / Damn dirty apes built a shame machine” ain’t much, but it’s at least a more interesting and cohesive statement than the collection of overused clichés that make up the rest of the songs. Compare that to the line “running on fumes / walking on eggshells” from the last track, “Cover’s Blown,” and it’s clear the band put its best foot forward with “Shame Machine.” Lackluster lyrics aside, there’s interesting work happening on Dawn of the Vermen, from the swingy honky-tonk vibe of “Throw the Game” to the slowed-down “Long Way Round,” where Sharff ’s vocals simultaneously evoke Trent Reznor and Bruce Springsteen. Then there’s “Satellite,” the highlight of the album — a trippy, stripped-down answer to Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” without the bombastic flair. The Vermen have musical chops, no doubt, and their aesthetic vision — leading with post-punk and psychedelic rock and blending in a dash of grunge — is familiar and fun. Those lyrics, though, are the hurdle the band can’t quite clear with this debut effort. There is beauty in simplicity, to be sure, but when every other line is a hackneyed bromide you’ve heard a thousand times before, it’s impossible to connect to the band’s own point of view. As it stands, Dawn of the Vermen feels like a solid album of B-sides from a band still searching for its A-side. Dawn of the Vermen is available at thevermen.bandcamp.com and on major streaming services. The Vermen play the Stone Church in Brattleboro this Saturday, January 11. TORI PRESTON

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: ARE YOU A VT ARTIST OR BAND? SEND US YOUR MUSIC! DIGITAL: MUSIC@ SEVENDAYSVT.COM; SNAIL MAIL: MUSIC C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 S. CHAMPLAIN ST., SUITE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401

WED.14

COURTESY

open mics & jams

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

WED.14

SpeakEaZy Storytelling Open Mic (storytelling open mic) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. Free.

Music Trivia (music trivia) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

THU.8

Alex Falcone (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $25.

FRI.9

Alex Falcone (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $25. Adam Strauss: Before I Forget (comedy) at Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $22/$25.

Trivia (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday (trivia) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.8

Trivia with Brain (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free. Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 4:30 p.m. $11.99.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.8-SAT.10 // ALEX FALCONE [COMEDY]

FRI.9

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Mummy Jokes First finding success in the Portland, Ore., comedy scene,

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

standup ALEX FALCONE not only won Portland’s Funniest Person in 2018 but even had an ice

➆

that he shares with actor and wrestler Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson. Between popping up

cream flavor named after him by Oregon’s Salt & Straw — an honor he is happy to point out on episodes of “Portlandia” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Falcone somehow managed to write a best-selling young-adult romance novel about a mummy titled Unwrap My Heart, all while racking up more than 300 million views on his YouTube page. He performs at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington this Thursday, January 8, through

Fighting Game Community Biweekly with WNFC (gaming) at Lumière Hall, Burlington Beer, 4 p.m. $5. Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Karaoke (karaoke) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 8 p.m. Free.

Alex Falcone (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

MON.12

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. Free.

SAT.10

TUE.13

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

WED.7

Tina Friml’s Big Apple Comedy (comedy) at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 8 p.m. $10.

Trivia (trivia) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.7

comedy

Next Stop Comedy (comedy) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $29.81.

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

CONTINUED FROM P.57

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.10

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.11

Boots & Burgers (line dancing) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 6 p.m. $10.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.13

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 Night: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ (trivia) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free. Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.14

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 (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

Saturday, January 10.

Heading North this Winter? Find our stories about Québec for Vermont travelers in print and at: sevendaysvt.com/quebec. SPONSORED BY:

GUIDE 4H-quebecpreview091725.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

9/16/25 8:14 AM

calendar J A N U A R Y

WED.7 activism

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

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. ‘WOMEN, WORTH & WEALTH: HOW YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM SHAPES YOUR FINANCIAL SUCCESS’: Money and spiritual life coach Colleen Smith provides practical tools to create more clarity, confidence and ease in one’s business. Noon-1:30 p.m. $20; free for members and first-time attendees. Info, 503-0219.

crafts

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’

7 - 1 4 ,

Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 999-0516.

preregister. Info, cdmvt47@ yahoo.com.

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.

food & drink

dance

‘CHRYSOLATION’: Freestyle pioneer Chrybaby Cozie and members of the renowned Bomb Squad take audiences from Daryl Roth Studio Theater to the Top of the Hop with powerful hip-hop evoking the origins and evolution of the New York City street-dance style. Daryl Roth Studio Theater, Hanover N.H., 7:30-9:30 p.m. $30. Info, 603-646-2422. MOVEMENT MATTERS WITH DANIEL MIRAMONTES & COMPANY: A facilitated workshop dives into material exploration and pushes toward expansive physicality. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-2808.

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;

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.

2 0 2 6

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

COMMUNITY COOKING: Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691. CUPPA ON CAMPUS: Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the property. The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m. Free. Info, 821-0741.

music

ST. J BLUEGRASS JAM: Players and fans get together for some old-time picking and fiddling. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

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

health & fitness

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.

holidays

JACK KELLY: Phoenix Books hosts the award-winning author and historian in an illuminating talk about his new book, Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

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.

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: A herd of friendly prehistoric creatures brightens up the dark winter’s night while visitors stroll or snowshoe their way through the gentle Science Park loop. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $1821; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

language

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their vocabulario with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

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

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848. ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 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.

THU.8

‘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.

‘KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: DETERMINING THE RIGHT KPIS FOR YOUR BUSINESS’: Finance consultant Alison Abry discusses this pertinent measure of a business’s successes or failures. Ladies Social Group, Essex Junction, 3:30-5 p.m. $20; free for members and first-time attendees. Info, 503-0219.

‘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.

crafts

games

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of every experience level get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

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.

business

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.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to makerspace tools and equipment. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.

environment

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722. FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 233-4395. WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion guides attendees in a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, andreamarion193@gmail.com.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.7.

music

ALLISON MANN & COLIN MCCAFFREY: Two Vermont musicians interpret folk and jazz standards with sensitivity, humor and candor. Haybarn Restaurant and Lounge, Plainfield, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, eat@haybarnrestaurant.com.

outdoors

RIDING WITH RESEARCHERS: Avian aficionados join the institute’s research team out in the field as they look for raptors and attempt to trap and band hawks. See calendar spotlight. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $115-128; preregister. Info, 359-5000.

words

EVENING BOOK GROUP: Bookworms spend a few minutes sharing a favorite title with the group, then take notes to build up their to-read list. Essex Free Library, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313. MORNING BOOK GROUP: Readers swap thoughts on Matt Haig’s best-selling novel The Midnight Library. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

FRI.9

business

APLOMB CIRCLE: This monthly circle offers a safe, structured space for senior leaders to connect, share and learn from one another. Hula, Burlington, 9 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 540-8153.

crafts

FIBER ARTS FRIDAY: Knitters, crocheters, weavers and felters chat over passion projects at this weekly meetup. Waterbury Public Library, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.8. ‘FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER’: Jim Jarmusch’s 2025 dramedy follows estranged siblings who are forced to confront unresolved tensions with their emotionally distant parents. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

JAN. 8 | OUTDOORS ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.8. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.8. ‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.8.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.8, 10 a.m.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

holidays

‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.7.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons

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. JAZZ AT THE JUNCTION: RAY VEGA QUARTET: Swingin’ cool cats strut to a spirited program of original compositions, timeless classics, and works by jazz masters such as John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $28-60. Info, 296-7000. LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘BEETHOVEN STRING TRIOS’: Violinist Soovin Kim, violist Jessica Bodner and cellist Marcy Rosen bring to life the full cycle of the composer’s celebrated works. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5-90. Info, 846-2175. SARASA ENSEMBLE: A collective of international instrumentalists and vocalists performs “Patron Lobkowitz,” featuring riveting works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn and Christoph Förster. Brattleboro Music Center, 7-9 p.m. $25. Info, 257-4523. SPRUCE PEAK UNPLUGGED: STEPHEN KELLOGG: The troubadour’s unique mix of music, humor and storytelling covers the full spectrum of human emotions. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $31.75-42.45. Info, 760-4634.

FAMILY FUN Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages. • Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun. • Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.7

burlington

‘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.

chittenden county

PLAY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 build with giant blocks and read together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Attendees ages 6 and up use magazine pictures

COURTESY

IN-PERSON MORNING MEDITATION: Expert Zac Ispa-Landa helps participants gain tools to quiet their minds, slow down and reset. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 8-8:45 a.m. Free. Info, 825-1815.

and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

Raptor Rapture

words

Ornithophiles know: Frosty Addison County is a hot spot for wintering raptors, particularly red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, and even that elusive salt-and-pepper showstopper, the snowy owl. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s Riding With Researchers outing offers a chance to observe these talonted predators in a rare and exhilarating way: from a vehicle piloted by the center’s knowledgeable staff. Adventurers on this snowy safari wise up on bird identification, behavior and ecology while crisscrossing the region. If you’re lucky enough to see a feathered friend humanely trapped and banded for long-term surveillance, you’ll get an up-close demo of proper handling techniques.

RIDING WITH RESEARCHERS Thursday, January 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., beginning at Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, including transport to Addison County. See website for future dates. $115-128; preregister. Info, 359-5000, vinsweb.org.

and words to create a collage to take home. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members. Info, 862-9622.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

barre/montpelier

chittenden county

stowe/smuggs

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581. FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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.8

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of

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. PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. STORY TIME: Little ones ages 2 to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 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.

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos under 4 to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP: Blocks, toys, books and songs engage little ones 24 months and younger. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

FRI.9

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. 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.

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: A broad selection of used, rare and antique titles goes on sale to benefit the library. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of books. Info, 773-1860.

SAT.10

community

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music SAT.10

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chittenden county

LEGO BUILDERS: Mini makers explore and create new worlds with stackable blocks. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.

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 FRI.9 SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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calendar SAT.10

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and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

dance

‘HIVE’: POSTPONED. A new contemporary dance performance created by five queer Vermont artists features intricate choreography, theatrical elements and copious amounts of hot pink. Contains partial nudity. River’s Way Movement Studio, Montpelier, 7-8:15 p.m. $1030 suggested donation. Info, riverswaymovement@gmail.com. SATURDAY SWING DANCE: Folks jive and jitterbug the night away to jazz, big band and contemporary tunes played by Vermont Swings All-Star DJs. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, free lesson, 7 p.m.; music, 7:30-10 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382. ‘A SPELL FOR REMEMBERING’: An evening of dance works led by artist-in-residence Daniel Miramontes explores the dynamic interplay of collaborative experimentation and co-creation. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 443-2808.

etc.

JAM SATURDAY OPEN HOUSES: Upper Valley creatives enjoy introductory presentations by area experts and media workshop activities that reflect their interests. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.8. ‘FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER’: See FRI.9. MET OPERA IN HD: ‘I PURITANI’: The silver screen lights up with the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Vincenzo Bellini’s final masterpiece about love torn apart by the political rifts of the English Civil War. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 1-4:45 p.m. $10-24. Info, 382-9222. ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.8. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.8. ‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.8.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of vendors showcase their finest farm-fresh produce, meats, unique crafts and baked goods. Burlington Beer, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

JAN. 11 | MUSIC

health & fitness

MARTIAL ARTS WORKSHOP: Adults and teens discover how flowing, circular movements cultivate core strength, fitness and resilience. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington, 1-2:15 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 951-8900.

holidays

BEARY MAGICAL LIGHTS TOUR: Festive music accentuates this glowing winter paradise, complete with special 3D glasses that transform illuminated displays into shimmering teddy bear shapes. Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Shelburne, 3:30-6 p.m. $10. Info, 985-1319. ‘DINO LIGHTS: A WALK THROUGH THE AGES’: See WED.7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION FOR ALL: Native French speaker Romain Feuillette guides an informal discussion group for all ages and abilities. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.9. OFF-STAGE SERIES: DUO DULCE: Vermont Symphony Orchestra members John Dunlop and Laura Markowitz perform stirring works on cello and violin. 10 Green Street, Vergennes, 6-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 877-6737. RECITAL SERIES: HORSZOWSKI TRIO: A dynamic three-piece brings emotional depth and energy to works by Leonard Bernstein and Bedřich Smetana. Morris Recital Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H., 5 & 7:30 p.m. $35-45. Info, 603-646-2422.

outdoors

KILLINGTON PEAK HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for a difficult, moderately paced trek to the summit in pursuit of stunning views. BYO snowshoes and microspikes. Email for start time. Bucklin Trailhead, Mendon. Free; preregister. Info, burlington@ sectionhiker.com.

québec

LE VENT DU NORD: In “The Voices of the Wind,” a leading force in Québec’s progressive francophone folk movement performs traditional French Canadian

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

COURTESY

100 YEARS OF BROWNELL LIBRARY KICKOFF PARTY: Snacks, games and activities for all ages commemorate the library’s 100th birthday. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

games

SUN.11

Two’s Company Legendary cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich once mused, “The cello is a hero because of its register ... when it enters, it’s like a great orator.” Vermont Cello Duet demonstrates the power of this sonorous, humanlike voice — times two! — for listeners at Plainfield Town Hall Opera House. Rising stars Sierra Hiner and Ines Horozovic met in 2022 at a University of Vermont chamber music class, where their teacher, fellow cellist Emily Taubl, inspired and guided the young musicians toward pursuing this passion. Now, the pair performs everything from works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonio Vivaldi to Taylor Swift medleys.

VERMONT CELLO DUET Sunday, January 11, 4-5 p.m., at Plainfield Town Hall Opera House. $20 suggested donation. Info, plainfieldartsvt@gmail.com, plainfieldartsvt.org.

tunes with a contemporary twist. Salle Pauline-Julien, Montréal, 8 p.m. $20-48. Info, billetterie@ pauline-julien.com.

sports

THE NICK ZECCHINELLI FAMILY SHRED-A-THON: Skiers and riders hit the slopes to support Adaptive Sports Partners’ year-round programming for people with disabilities. Jay Peak Resort, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $20-120; preregister. Info, info@ adaptivesportspartners.org.

tech

CODING CLUB: Participants put on their thinking caps and get some hands-on experience with the BBC micro:bit — a pocket-size computer that makes learning fun and interactive. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

words

ARA FITZGERALD: A New York City artist and author reads from her new book, Slow Dancing is Easy, in conversation with local writer Dian Parker. The Tunbridge

General Store Gallery, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 889-3525. FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.9. THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. WRITE NOW!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

dance

‘HIVE’: See SAT.10, 2-3:15 p.m. SUBJECT:MATTER: An acclaimed tap dance company dazzles with dynamic works created during its on-site residency. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 2 p.m. $10-20. Info, 387-0102.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.8. MET OPERA IN HD: ‘I PURITANI’: See SAT.10. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., 1-4:45 p.m. $10-22. Info, 603-646-2422. ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.8. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.8. ‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.8.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.8, 1 p.m.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

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.

words

FOOD FOR TALK COOKBOOK CLUB: Cooking enthusiasts chat about award-winning chef and restaurateur Nite Yun’s My Cambodia: A Khmer Cookbook. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov. WINTER SUNDAY SERIES: NADELL FISHMAN & JANE SHORE: Two local poets entertain listeners with selections from their collections. Adamant Community Club, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 454-7103.

lgbtq

MON.12

music

COLLAGE COLLECTIVE: Creatives of all experience levels cut, paste and make works of wonder. Virtual options available. Expressive Arts Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 343-8172.

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 622-0692.

‘JAZZ FOR JUST BASICS’: Veteran local musicians merge their talents to raise funds for Vermonters in need. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 4-6 p.m. By donation. Info, 798-6717. LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘BEETHOVEN STRING TRIOS’: See FRI.9, 4 p.m. NEKO CASE: The Grammynominated indie singer-songwriter takes listeners on an evocative and unforgettable musical journey. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $50-71. Info, 863-5966. TRACY GRAMMER: An acclaimed folk artist shows off her clear vocals, dexterous guitar picking and virtuosic violin playing. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. $20; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 878-5745. VERMONT CELLO DUET: Two talented string musicians present a dynamic program for longtime classical music lovers and neophytes alike. See calendar spotlight. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4-5 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, plainfieldartsvt@ gmail.com.

outdoors

MT. ABRAHAM VIA BATTELL HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for a difficult, moderately paced trek to the summit in pursuit of stunning views. BYO snowshoes and microspikes. Email for start time and meeting place. The Long Trail. Free; preregister. Info, jillghiker@gmail.com. POETRY HIKE: The Vermont Land Trust invites verse lovers to share their seasonally inspired works during a relaxed trek of the property. Refreshments provided. Brewster Uplands Conservation Trust, Jeffersonville, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 262-3765.

crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

etc.

MEDIA MAKER MONDAY: Upper Valley creatives and their guests share projects, network with other artists and engage in peer feedback sessions. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.8.

discussion. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 825-1815.

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.

talks

FEMALE FOUNDERS SPEAKERS SERIES: ‘WOMEN’S HEALTH’: Attendees walk away with something encouraging at this discussion spanning topics from health care to everyday practices that keep folks feeling good. Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. $15. Info, nicole@ vcet.co.

words

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for lit lovers to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-1132. SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.8.

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.

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. TUE.13

4000 Mountain Road • Stowe, Vermont • 800.451.8686 • Topnotchresort.com

8/15/24 11:06 AM

POP THE QUESTION on the cover of Seven Days!

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

health & fitness

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

MONDAY NIGHT LIVE: The Burlington Dharma Collective hosts an inspiring monthly talk, meditation and group

Either way, you deserve nothing less than Topnotch.

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MAH JONGG MONDAYS: Tile traders gather for friendly bouts of the ancient game of skill, strategy and luck. St. Albans Free Library, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

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.

Find your best self when you unwind at The Spa at Topnotch. Truly relax with a massage, facial, salon service and simply sitting poolside. Or get in shape with fitness classes or a round of tennis or pickleball.

4t-topnotchresort082124 1

TUE.13

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.8. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.8.

Relax. Rejuvenate. Renew.

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

Are you planning to propose? Why not declare your love for all the world — or at least Vermont — to see? On February 4, Seven Days will publish a real marriage proposal from a reader on the cover of our Love & Marriage issue. To be considered, go to sevendaysvt.com/proposal by Friday, January 23, and tell us a little bit about you and your special someone. The winning entrant will have their proposal on the cover, a great engagement story to tell, and, with any luck, a lifetime of love and happiness. Disclaimer: Seven Days is not responsible for unsuccessful marriage proposals, unsuccessful marriages, or readers’ love and/or happiness. 4t-popthequestion2026.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

12/15/25 12:50 PM

TUE.13

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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.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.8. ‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.8. ‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.8. ‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.8.

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 ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630. TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 304-0836.

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.

seminars

TENANT SKILLS WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity brings renters up to speed on the fundamentals of tenant rights and responsibilities. 5-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456.

talks

COURTESY OF EBRU YILDIZ

calendar

JAN. 11 | MUSIC

DR. ALI KOSIBA: In “Forest Hydrology: How Forests Cycle, Absorb and Store Water,” a University of Vermont assistant professor explains how trees work together to reduce soil erosion and downstream flooding. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 229-6206.

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. DEBORAH LEE LUSKIN & ELLEN B. ROCKMORE: Two talented authors read from their riveting new books, Reviving Artemis and The Given-Up Girl, respectively. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114. 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.14 activism

VERMONT WOMEN’S MENTOR TRAINING: Mercy Connections facilitates this five-week program for prospective mentors seeking to provide guidance, encouragement and support to women affected by the criminal justice system. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-7164.

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.

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Case in Point

and feedback. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Neko Case brings her unique blend of lyrical storytelling and powerhouse vocals to the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. A founding member of Canadian supergroup the New Pornographers and a full-time Vermonter since 2009, Case gains fans and wins over critics with her authenticity and has been called “essentially peerless” by NPR. More than two decades into her career, she continues to delight both on the stage — she has a Broadway musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise in development — and on the page, with her best-selling memoir, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You.

seminars

SUSTAINING THE RENT WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity helps tenants financially prepare and access resources to meet their housing needs. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456.

NEKO CASE

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.7.

Sunday, January 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $50-71. Info, 863-5966,

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.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.7.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘NO DIRECTION HOME: BOB DYLAN’: Viewers take in part one of Martin Scorsese’s 2005 music documentary chronicling the famed folk singer’s unusual evolution. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. $8. Info, 387-0102.

etc.

food & drink

YARN & YAK: See WED.7.

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.

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.7. CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.7.

health & fitness CHAIR YOGA: See WED.7.

REAL TALK ABOUT SEX: ‘WAYS TO MAXIMIZE

sports talks

PLEASURE’: 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.

WINTER ZOOM SERIES: JOHN RAGOSTA: In “Thomas Jefferson: A Leader,” a historian dives into the fraught legacy of one of America’s most important founders. Hosted by Vermont Humanities. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626.

language

words

ELL CLASSES: Fletcher Free Library invites learners of all abilities to practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

ALEX ZAKARAS: A local author and University of Vermont professor discusses his radical new book, Freedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

lgbtq

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: See WED.7. ➆

QUEER WRITERS’ GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly to discuss their work, write from prompts, and give each other advice

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

unconditional love. Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 879-0313.

FRI.9

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FAMILY barre/montpelier FUN

children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

SAT.10

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. 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. FLYNNZONE KIDS HOUR: ANIMAL DANCE: Families join the Burlington performance and production company for a peek into the creative process of choreography. The Flynn, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-5966. MARTIAL ARTS WORKSHOP: Participants ages 7 to 12 discover how flowing, circular movements cultivate core strength, fitness and resilience. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 951-8900. STORIES WITH GEOFF: Little patrons of the library’s satellite location enjoy a morning of stories and songs. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

FRENCH STORY TIME: Kids of all ages listen and learn to native speaker Romain Feuillette raconte une histoire. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. KINGSTON’S AUTISM SWAGGER SQUAD VT: Neurodiverse children and their caregivers have fun, build community and support one another in a group setting. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. READ TO CHEWY THE THERAPY DOG: Little tykes of all ages flock to the beloved pup for 15 minutes of stories and

KIDS TRADE & PLAY: Neighbors swap or shop gently used clothing, shoes, books and toys. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 337-8632.

champlain islands/ northwest

DAD GUILD PLAY GROUP: Fathers (and parents of all genders) and their kids ages 5 and under drop in for playtime and connection. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 524-1507.

northeast kingdom

WEEE! DANCE PARTY: Little ones and their caregivers express themselves through movement at this free-wheeling, DJ-driven bash. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 2-3 p.m. $5 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 533-2000.

SUN.11

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. DAD GUILD PLAY GROUP: See SAT.10. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GROUP A: Tabletop role-players ages 9 to 14 practice their craft with Andrew, the library’s dungeon master. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 12:15-3:15 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403. SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, kvonderlinn@echovermont.org.

chittenden county

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

Fur-ever Seven Days Pet Memorials Do you want to memorialize your pet in the pages of Seven Days? Visit sevendaysvt.com/petmemorials to submit your remembrance. 4h-petmemorial010726.indd 1

& Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

barre/montpelier

DANCE, SING & JUMP AROUND: Live traditional music energizes an afternoon of circle and line dances taught and called by Liz Benjamin. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 223-1509. GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender-nonconforming kiddos under 12 and their families build community and make new friends at this joyful monthly gathering. See outrightvt.org for full schedule. Various locations statewide, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 865-9677.

MON.12

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Bookworms ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers enjoy a fun-filled reading session with an artistic twist. 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 strategic game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. TEENS TRY SOMETHING OLD: Trying new things is so last year! Patrons ages 13 to 18 gather to play records, attempt some cross-stitching, battle friends in a game of Shut-the-Box and embark on other activities of yore. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.

northeast kingdom

TUE.13

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. BUILD IT BIG! RIGAMAJIG WORKSHOP: Budding engineers ages 7 to 12 work together to create towers, forts, vehicles and anything else they can dream up with the library’s building tool. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403. 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, Burlington, 5-6:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with the local musician. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN: Kiddos express their inner artist using mediums such as paint, print, collage and sculpture. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. STORY TIME: Youngsters from birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.9, 2-6 p.m. THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.9.

WED.14

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.7. LIBRARY LITTLES PLAYGROUP: 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. MAGNATILE MASTERPIECES: Architects ages 3 and up build imaginative creations with magnetic toys. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403. STEAM SPACE: Youngsters in grades K through 5 explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Infants and their caregivers enjoy a slow, soothing story featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. GAME ON!: Kids take turns collaborating with or competing against friends using Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140. PLAY TIME: See WED.7.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.7.

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.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.7. 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, 2233338. K

Pancho Sanza 2015-2025

The Third Amigo: A beacon of unconditional love Pancho, our beloved walking companion, marriage counselor, napping instructor, alarm clock, weather forecaster, court jester, and occasional connoisseur of cashmere, was our beacon of unconditional love and will be missed by no one more than us. Love, The WatSter Family SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

1/6/26 9:53 AM

MORE CLASS LISTINGS ONLINE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $21.25/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

arts & crafts

JR. CHEF CULINARY SERIES AT THE ESSEX: The Essex Resort & Spa is excited to announce two hands-on Jr. Chef series designed for the young baker: Baking I — Fundamentals and Baking II — Advanced Techniques. Students ages 12 to 16 will roll up their sleeves and dive into the essential skills and techniques of the pastry arts. Each series runs for six weeks. Dates: Baking I — Fundamentals, Tue. starting Jan. 13; Baking II — Advanced Techniques, Mon. starting Mar. 9. 4-6 p.m. Cost: $400. Location: The Essex Resort & Spa. 70 Essex Way. Info, 802-878-1100, essexresort.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, davis studiovt.com. VISUAL JOURNALING FOR SELFREFLECTION: Participants will experiment with art materials, trying techniques and creating personal journal pages with the invitation for self-reflection. We will be using watercolor, collage and mark-making, and other art tools in a relaxed and welcoming setting at the North Hero House Event Barn. Discounted room rates available if you’d like to spend the night. Date: Jan. 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $115. All materials, lunch, coffee, tea & water, & morning snack incl. Location: North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 3643 Route 2, North Hero. Info: Carol Egan, 802-8818596, sunjoy.carol@gmail.com. WOODWORKING CLASSES: HIGH WORK STOOL IN CHERRY AND ASH: Participants will learn design and joinery techniques that will get them started in chair making. Designed to accommodate beginning woodworkers, this class will also challenge those with experience. We will rough out parts with various machine tools and then spend a lot of time shaping parts on the shaving horse using hand planes and spoke shaves. After two days, students will go home with a graceful yet sturdy high work stool in cherry and ash. Dates: Jan. 31 & Feb. 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $450, incl. materials. Location: Workshop of Timothy Clark, cabinetmaker & chairwright, 2111 Green St., Waltham. Info: 802-989-3204, tim@timothyclark.com, timothyclark.com. GREEN MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS: FIVE-WEEK INTRO TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS: During this five-week intensive, smallgroup class, we’ll explore the fundamentals of digital photography with longtime professional photographer and educator Kurt Budliger. We’ll delve into what makes an image good — or, dare I say, great. Most importantly

away from alcohol didn’t feel like giving something up but gaining something better? Join us for Beyond Alcohol, a small, guided kava education experience for people exploring Dry January. In this intimate workshop, you’ll learn what kava is; how it supports calm, clarity and social ease without dulling awareness; and why quality, preparation and dosage matter. The session includes guided tasting, questions and reflection in a relaxed setting. Space is limited to 10 participants. Date: Sun., Jan. 18, 4-6 p.m. Cost: $55. Location: Mesmer Kava, 47 Maple St., Burlington. Info & tickets: mesmerkava.com.

language we’ll learn practical skills and techniques for making better and more personally expressive and meaningful images regardless of whether we’re using a smartphone or a state-of-the-art professional-level DSLR camera. The class will feature five in-person sessions utilizing slideshow presentations, hands-on practice activities, and the sharing of and feedback on student work made during the week. Yes, there will be assignments ... but no grades. The only way to learn and improve as a photographer is by doing photography. Topics covered include how digital cameras work; smartphone versus compact versus digital SLR; what makes a photograph great; controlling exposure, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, histograms, exposure and compensation; reading and using light (types, quality and character) for more engaging images; photographic composition and design; the visual language of photography; sharpness and depth of field; better portraits; landscape and nature photography basics; and an introduction to post processing using Adobe Lightroom Classic. Dates: Every Sat., Jan. 17-Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost: $595. Location: Kurt Budliger Photography Gallery & Studio, 961 Route 2, Middlesex, on the green at Camp Meade. Info: 802-272-5328, info@ kurtbudligerphotography.com, greenmtnphotoworkshops. com.

food & drink BEYOND ALCOHOL — A GUIDED KAVA EDUCATION EXPERIENCE: What if stepping

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

AFLCR FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLASSES: Your local Alliance Française offers both traditional language and culture classes year-round, with an emphasis on speaking, as well as specialty courses. Many online and in-person options exist. Our Winter Session runs seven weeks starting Jan. 12. For a full listing, visit our classes page at aflcr.org. Dates: Jan. 12 through Feb. 27, mostly evenings & afternoons. Cost: $215. AFLCR members receive a 10 percent discount. Location: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, 43 King St., Burlington. Info: Marc Juneau, 802-777-9365, education@aflcr. org, aflcr.org. ALLONS-Y! JOIN WINGSPAN’S WINTER FRENCH CLASSES & PRIVATE LESSONS: Parlez-vous français? Start the year with an interactive, supportive, fun French class at Wingspan. Whether you’re brushing up or starting fresh,

small-group classes and privates help build real-world French with confidence. Instructor Madame Maggie brings extensive experience; having taught hundreds of students, holding a VT Professional Educator’s License in French, and drawing on lived time in Paris and Yaoundé, Cameroon. Her teaching reflects language acquisition best practices, enriched with everyday vocabulary, culture and customs. Private lessons tailored to fit your goals. Join us! Open doors to travel, connection, new experiences! Location: Wingspan Studio & School, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: 802-233-7676, maggiestandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

martial arts AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY — GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: Beginners’ classes five days a week. Free workshop on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. The dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and find resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/ bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

spirituality SPARKLE UP YOUR AURA FOR THE NEW YEAR!: Let’s start the New Year with an upshift! 2026 is a “1” year and a perfect time to clear the cobwebs from our energy fields with sound tools (Solfeggio pipes, crystal and metal singing bowls, drums, rattles, chimes, bells) and chanting and tonings, journeying with holy helpers and light beings with the elk drum, using the divine color rays with light and sound! Date: Jan. 11, 1-5 p.m. Cost: $88. Location: 236 Wild Apple Rd. New Haven. Info: Maureen A. Short, 802-453-4433, maureenseventeen@gmail.com, lightheart.net. TAROT/ASTROLOGY INTENSIVE: Deepen your knowledge of the tarot, the astrology of the tarot and corresponding personal birth chart astrology. Instructor Sherri Glebus has been a practicing intuitive tarot reader, astrologer and teacher for 25 years. Sacred Connections at Back Roads Farm (sacredconnections.earth) is a retreat venue where you can find massage, a pottery gallery, yoga, a working greenhouse farm and an outdoor Finnish sauna. Overnight rental available. One-bedroom apartment with kitchen, living room, hot shower, Wi-Fi and sauna access. Preregistration is required. Date: Jan. 17, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cost: $150 for fullday class + sauna use; $250 for class + 1-hour private follow-up session or reading w/ instructor.

wellness

Location: Back Roads Farm, Cabot. Info: 802224-6756, sglebus@gmail.com, sherriglebus.com.

sports & fitness BIKE BASICS: A three-week series for folks who would like a little more time, detailed instruction and hands-on experience. With a 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio, this class is designed to empower participants by helping them understand and care for their bicycles. Dates: Thu., Jan. 15, Jan. 22, & Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $150. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: sevendays tickets.com.

FLOW SINGING: A presence practice of community singing, flow singing lowers stress, increases lung capacity, creates connections and supports healthy thought patterns. Sing four to six songs with harmonies and layers over a month; somatic awareness helps you find your voice. All are welcome; songs are gently taught by ear. New songs each month! Preregister at juneberrymusic.com/ flow-singing.html. Dates: Tue., 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., or Thu., 7-8:30 p.m. Cost: $80 for 4 weeks. Location: Heineberg Community Senior Center, 14 Heineberg Rd., Burlington. Info: Patricia S. Norton, 802-478-4440, patricia@juneberrymusic.com, juneberrymusic.com. BAKE, MOVE AND BLOOM: PREPARING FOR LABOR AND POSTPARTUM: Expecting a baby? Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to help you feel supported and strong through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. All stages of pregnancy are welcome. Come as you are and leave feeling nourished, grounded and part of a caring community. Date: Sat., Jan. 24, 2-4 p.m. Cost: $35. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

WINTER BIKE COMMUTING CLINIC: Need tips and tricks on how to make winter cycling more pleasant? This clinic will feature four panelists who ride all year round. They’ll share information about their winter bikes and favorite gear and general advice based on what they’ve learned over the years. Mon., Jan. 12, 6 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com. RAR BIKE BASICS-FOR WNTB: A three-week series of the popular single-evening bicycle care clinic for folks who would like a little more time, detailed instruction and hands-on experience. With a 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio, this class is designed to empower participants by helping them understand and care for their bicycles. This class is reserved for women/trans/nonbinary identities. Dates: Wed., Jan. 14, Jan. 21, & Jan. 28, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $150. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

= TICKETED CLASS

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

Humane

Society

Jade AGE/SEX: 12-year-old spayed female ARRIVAL DATE: September 16, 2025 SUMMARY: Jade is a truly lovely cat with a gentle spirit and

so much heart to share. Jade is diabetic but stable on her oral medication, and she’s looking for a calm, loving home that can continue her veterinary care and provide the security she needs to flourish. She loves a sunny napping spot almost as much as she loves gentle pets. Jade may be an older gal, but she still has little bursts of playful energy, chasing toys or exploring her space. If you could be the one to give this special girl the retirement home of her dreams, come meet Jade at HSCC!

of Chittenden County

DID YOU KNOW?

Senior cats need love, too! While the average lifespan of cats is 12 to 18 years, some cats can live well into their twenties. No matter how long they’re with you, a senior cat like Jade is sure to enrich your life, and they’ll be so grateful for your love and kindness.

Sponsored by:

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Jade has lived with other cats and

enjoyed their company. Jade may prefer a home without dogs and young children. Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday-Wednesday 1-5 p.m., Thursday-Friday 1-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com Info, 802-238-9574, reedobrien@aol.com.

Buy y & Sell e

HOME & GARDEN BERNINA Q16 LONGARM QUILTING MACHINE W/ ADJUSTABLE TABLE & ACCESSORIES The Bernina Q16 Longer Quilting Machine is a high-quality, computerized sewing machine designed specifically for quilting. Made in Switzerland by the renowned brand Bernina, this machine is perfect for quilting enthusiasts looking for precision & ease of use. The adjustable table allows for customized positioning while the included accessories provide everything you need to create beautiful, intricate quilts w/ ease. Great condition, used very little. Please see photos online & email w/ any questions prior to purchase. Stitch count reads 220886. $5,900.

FIREWOOD FOR SALE Hardwood cut +/- 16 in., incl. black walnut, white ash & cherry. Can deliver within 20 miles of Georgia. Price per cord, 4 by 4 by 8 feet. $290. Info, 802-238-7658.

Musicians M cians & Ar Artists ts

MUSICIANS & BANDS Community C ommunity mmuni y

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL CHURCH ELDER Religious & spiritual. Info, 802-417-6360, spirit@jesushn.life, churchatprison.com.

➆

FOGEATERS NEW ALBUM We are Fogeaters. Listen to our new album, American Gothic: Songs of Toil, Hardship, and the American Experience, on all platforms! Info, 802-578-6062, realfogeaters.com.

MUSIC LESSONS GUITAR INSTRUCTION All styles/levels. Emphasis on building strong technique, thorough musicianship, developing personal style. Paul Asbell (Big Joe Burrell, Kilimanjaro, UVM & Middlebury College faculty, Seven Daysies winner). Info, 802-233-7731, pasbell@ paulasbell.com.

CLASSIFIEDS KEY appt. appointment apt. apartment BA bathroom BR bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer refs. references sec. dep. security deposit W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

Rentals R e als & R al Est Real Estate Esta

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT BURLINGTON/ DOWNTOWN: 131 Church St. Brand-new 1- & 2-BR apts. for rent. Avail. now. Amenities: A/C, keyless entry, W/D in unit & more. Effi cient & cozy. Rent starting at $2,200/mo. + utils. Call 802-391-9089.

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact: HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Buy & Sell, Community, Musicians & Artists, Vehicles 1-week combo: $12 All print combos include 2-week combo: $22 30 days free online! 4-week combo: $42

Rentals & Real Estate 1-week combo: $25 2-week combo: $45 4-week combo: $85

Services 1-week combo: $15 2-week combo: $25 4-week combo: $45

1-, 2- & 3-BR BURLINGTON APTS. AVAIL. NOW, NO PETS, 1-YR. LEASE Unfurnished, 1-BR, 1-BA apt. on Hyde St., $995/ mo. Tenants pay all utils.; we pay cold water, haul the trash & take care of the driveway. Heated 2nd-floor 2-BR, $1,950/mo. Tenants pay utils. Heated 2nd-floor 3-BR w/ laundry, $2,250. Call 802-318-8916 or email jcintl0369@gmail. com. NEWLY RENOVATED IN S. BURLINGTON Nice 2-BR upstairs apt., close to everything. W/D, 2 porches, shared backyard. $2,100/ mo. incl. utils. Lease & deposit. Info, 802-7346469, carpentier2iby@ gmail.com. S. BURLINGTON, VT., NOW LEASING! 339 GARDEN STREET APTS. 339 Garden St., S. Burlington, VT 05403. Unfurnished 2-BR, 2-BA, 1,109 sq.ft. Now leasing 2-BR apts. Sign a lease today! Free on-site parking. In-unit W/D. 1st month’s rent free. Get a $250 Healthy Living gift card at move-in! Rates between $2,590 & $2,641. Info, 802-3992586, catamountrun@ redstonevt.com, 339gardenst.com.

AVAILABLE

FEB.

2026

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CHEF-OWNER/ OPERATING PARTNER — NEW RESTAURANT BUILD IN CHARLOTTE, VT Operator wanted — Charlotte, Vt. Seeking an experienced restaurant operator for a fully rebuilt historic tavern at 2760 Spear St., Charlotte. 120-seat destination opportunity (80-seat house + 40-seat barn under construction) serving a strong, year-round local market. Owner is a developer/ builder & will assist w/ fi t-up. Flexible lease or partnership structures avail. $18,000. Info: 802-999-2995, jonathantmaguire@ gmail.com.

HOUSEMATES LIVE THE ISLAND LIFE! 1-BR, 1-BA in S. Hero. Active, outdoorsy mom w/ a 10-y/o kid offering a home to share in the beautiful Champlain Islands. Share a warm family atmosphere & share some time w/ a fun-loving kid on occasion! 30 mins.

from UVM. $650/mo. $650/mo., all utils. 3v-ChamplainHousing010726 1 A well-behaved pet incl. A small dog would would be considered. be considered. Info, W/D, shared BA. Info, 802-863-5625, ric@ 802-863-5625, ric@ homesharevermont.org. homesharevermont.org. Visit homeshare See homeshare vermont.org for info & vermont.org for info & application. Interview, application. Interview, refs. & background refs. & background checks req. EHO. checks req. EHO.

people, tons of places to

explore. Our historical Seven Days | 1/3 page ad | 12/31/25 publishing (150+-y/o) 3-BR, 2-BA

LOVELY HOUSEMATE IN S. BURLINGTON Attractive 1-BR, 1-BA townhome in S. Burlington to share w/ well-traveled senior woman who enjoys film, volunteering, exercise & educational events. Hoping to find a housemate to cook a couple of meals each week & enjoy dinner together!

VACATION RENTALS

BAHAMAS VACATION IN BEAUTIFUL ELEUTHERA Tired of winter already? Eleuthera is a “fun in the sun” kind of place. Pink sand beaches on the Atlantic side & white powdery sand on the sea side. Friendly

house overlooks Governor’s Harbour, the “capital” of Eleuthera, w/ gorgeous sunsets from our porch. Book now for the best times! $200/ night. Call for more details. Info, 802733-8018, seagrace@ charter.net.

➆

1/2/26 11:23 AM

Services rv es

HEALTH & WELLNESS INTEGRATIVE HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING Kickstart 2026 w/ me as your board-certified wellness coach! We will connect over 3 months for 6 sessions. This package is flexible,

HEALTH & WELLNESS »

Calcoku SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, fill the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

17+

3÷

11+

numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

5 6x

3÷

2 8 4 9 3

315+

48x

6 2

7 4 8

4 9 3

1 6

Open 24/7/365.

1 7 4

CALCOKU

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

No. 926

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column 4and5each89-box 1 square 3 2contains 6 all 9 of 7 down the numbers one to nine. The same numbers 1 6 2 8 9 7 3 5 4 cannot be repeated in a row or column.

3 9 7 5 4 6 2 1 8 ANSWERS ON P.70 2 9 H3H = CHALLENGING 8 4 1 6HH5H = HOO, BOY! H =7 MODERATE 6 8 3 2 1 5 7 4 9 5 4 1 6 7 9 8 2 3 FAMILY EXPANSION ANSWERS ON 9 P. 70 3 »5 7 2 1 4 8 6 2 7 6 4 5 8 9 3 1 8 1 4 9 6 3 5 7 2

crossword 5 6 2 3 1 4

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

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.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Difficulty: Medium

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

5 Difficulty - Hard

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Legal Notices

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PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1326-2 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C1326-2 from State of Vermont Agency of Transportation, VTrans Environmental Section, 219 North Main Street, Barre, VT 05641 was received on December 2, 2025 and deemed complete on December 9, 2025. The project is generally described as construction of a 74-space park and ride facility featuring a bus shelter, bike rack, landscaping, lighting, pavement markings and associated stormwater treatment. The Project is locat ed on Jasper Mine Road just west of the I-89 Exit 17 southbound interchange in Colchester, 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 “4C1326-2.”

such person or their agent pursuant to protocols and/or directives established by the police department; or (bii) Signs or placards so designed and situated as to give reasonable notice.

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO UNLAWFUL ENTRY INTO A MOTOR VEHICLE ORDINANCE 6.11 Sponsor: Councilor Traverse, Ordinance Committee Public Hearing Dates: First reading: 11/17/25 Referred to: Ordinance Committee Rules suspended and placed in all stages of passage: Second reading: 12/15/25 Action: adopted Date: 12/15/25 Signed by Mayor: 12/16/25 Published: 01/07/26 Effective: 01/27/26

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 21, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250. vermont.gov/documents/party-statuspetitionform, 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.

It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows: That Chapter 21, Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended by amending Article 1, In General; Section 21-45, Unlawful trespass; as follows: 21-45 Unlawful trespass. (a) It shall be unlawful for a person who, without legal authority or the consent of the person in lawful possession, enters or remains on any land or in any place as to which notice against trespass is given by: (ai) Actual communication by the person in lawful possession or their agent or by a law enforcement officer, community service officer, community support liaison, urban park ranger, parks patrol, the city’s contracted private security, or any other city official authorized to enforce the city’s ordinances, acting on behalf of

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below. Dated this December 17, 2025. By: /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan

PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM P.69 1/2/26 3:43 PM

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(c) A violation of this section shall be a civil matter and enforced in accordance with the provisions of 24 V.S.A. section 1974a and section 1977 et seq. A civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) may be imposed for a violation of this section. The civil penalty may, at the discretion of the prosecuting official, be eliminated or reduced upon the successful completion of a restorative or reparative justice program through the community justice program. In lieu of further process and prosecution, persons ticketed for violations of this section may pay a waiver penalty under the schedule set out below: Waiver Penalty: First offense: The waiver penalty shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). Second offense, within a six-month period: The waiver penalty shall be three hundred dollars ($300.00). Third offense or more, within a twelve-month period: The waiver penalty shall be four hundred dollars ($400.00). Each time that the violation occurs will constitute a separate violation of this section. Any law enforcement officer, community service officer, community support liaison, urban park rangers, parks patrol, or any other city official authorized to enforce the city’s ordinances, can enforce this section. * Material stricken out deleted. ** Material underlined added. Ordinances 2025/Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle/BCO Ch. 21, Article 1 Sec. 21-45 12/5/2025 CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO SIDEWALK INTERFERENCE BCO CHAPTER 27, ART. I ORDINANCE 6.10 Sponsor: Dept. of Permitting and Inspections, Ordinance Committee Public Hearing Dates: First reading: 11/17/25 Referred to: Ordinance Committee Rules suspended and placed in all Stages of passage: Second reading: 12/15/25 Action: adopted Date 12/15/25 Signed by Mayor: 12/16/25 Published: 01/07/25 Effective: 01/27/26

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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(b) It shall also be unlawful for a person to enter the motor vehicle of another and know that the person does not have the legal authority or the consent of the person in lawful possession of the motor vehicle. Notice of trespass shall not be required under this subsection.

It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows: That Chapter 27, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and is hereby amended by amending Article I, In General, Sec. 27-21, Penalty; to read as follows: 27-4 Unnecessary interference with use of sidewalk. No person shall unnecessarily occupy, obstruct or encumber, or cause to be unnecessarily occupied, obstructed or encumbered, a sidewalk so as to interfere with the convenient use of the same by the public. ***

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

27-21 Penalty. A violation of any provision of articles I, III, IV and V of this chapter shall be a civil offense punishable by a civil penalty of from fifty dollars ($50.00) to five hundred dollars ($500.00). The waiver penalty for purposes of the municipal complaint (civil ticket) shall be equal to the waiver penalty established pursuant to 4 V.S.A. § 1102(d) for violations of Subchapter 12 of Chapter 13 of Title 23 for each offense. Each day the violation continues shall be a separate offense. All law enforcement officers All municipal employees authorized to issue municipal complaints are authorized to issue a municipal complaint for a violation of this chapter.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

* Material stricken out deleted. ** Material underlined added.

/s/ Harry C. Parker, Esq., Administrator Parker Law, PLLC 38 Community Lane, Suite 4 South Hero, VT 05486 harry@parkerlawvt.com

WW/ks/Ordinances 2025/Sidewalk Intereference/ BCO Ch. 27, Art. I Sec. 27-21. 12/5/2025 ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1351(REMANDED)-1 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C1351(Remanded)-1 from Allen Brook Development, 27 Commerce Ave., South Burlington, VT 05403 was received on November 26, 2025 and deemed complete on December 15, 2025. This permit specifically authorizes the following amendment to the planned unit development (PUD) approved in Act 250 Land Use Permit 4C1351(Remanded): 1) Convert Units 1 - 14 from footprint lots to individual zoning lots; 2) Convert units 4 and 5 from a duplex dwelling to individual single-unit dwellings on footprint lots; 3) Convert units 7 and 8 from single-unit dwellings to a duplex dwelling on footprint lots; and 4) Convert units 16 and 17 from a duplex dwelling to individual single-unit dwellings on footprint lots. The total number of dwelling units in the PUD remains at 23 dwelling units, with 15 single-unit dwellings and 8 duplex dwellings. The roadway and utilities have already been constructed as laid out in LUP 4C1351(Remanded). The project is located at 203 Belwood Ave. in Colchester, 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 “4C1351(Remanded)-1.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 21, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/documents/ party-status-petition-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 Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below. Dated this December 17, 2025. By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT, PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-07075 In re ESTATE of PETER F. BEAKES

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To the creditors of: Peter F. Beakes, 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 this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: December 17, 2025

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court, 175 Main Street , Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION LAMOILLE UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-03621 In re ESTATE of Eileen Murphy NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Eileen Murphy, late of Eden, VT I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 12-18-25 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Stephanie Russell Executor/Administrator: Stephanie Russell 31 Barnum Street, Milton, VT 05468 Phone number: 802-598-0152 Email: selr370@gmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Name of Probate Court: Lamoille Unit Address of Probate Court: 154 Main Street, Hyde Park, VT 05655 ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0969-7 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C0969-7 from Bittersweet Village Condominium Association Inc., P.O. Box 207, Williston, VT 05495 was received on December 5, 2025 and deemed complete on December 17, 2025. The project is generally described as construction of stormwater upgrades in compliance with threeacre stormwater regulations. Improvements involve the retrofit of an existing wet pond to a gravel wetland, as well as the construction of a new gravel wetland in the middle of Bittersweet Circle. The Project is located at Bittersweet Circle & Honeysuckle Lane in Williston, 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 “4C0969-7.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 27, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining

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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.

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OFFICIAL WARNING ANNUAL MEETING JERICHO UNDERHILL PARK DISTRICT The legal voters of the towns of Jericho and Underhill in the County of Chittenden and the State of Vermont are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Deborah Rawson Memorial Library (project room) in Jericho, Vermont on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM to act on the following articles:

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Article 1. Election of a Moderator

Dated this December 19, 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

Article 3. Shall the District authorize the Trustees to borrow money for the temporary needs of the District?

TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JANUARY 15, 2026, 6:30 PM

Proposed budget is $116,665.00

Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: Join Online: Zoom Meeting ID: 821 7131 4999 | Passcode: 754119 Join Calling (audio only): 888-788-0099 1. Site Plan – Shenk Enterprises and Black Bay Ventures XIV, LLC are proposing a 41,250 square foot warehouse and associated parking at 55 Thompson Drive (Parcel ID 2-072-011-000) located in the Resource Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I). 2. Site Plan Amendment – Equitas Life Sciences LLC is proposing to update existing exterior lighting in the parking area at 5 Oliver Wight Dr (Parcel ID 2-072-004-002) located in the Resource Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I). 3. Continued from August 7, 2025 - Prelim Subdivision – Pinewood Manor Inc is proposing a Planned Unit Development-Residential (PUD-R) located at 18 & 30 Timberlane Drive (Parcel ID 2-084-001-000 & 2-085-001-001) in the Medium Density Residential (R2) District, consisting of 10 single family homes on individual lots. Single family lots will be accessed via 20’ wide shared private drives. 4. Continued from September 4, 2025 Preliminary/Final Review – Ely Family, LLC is requesting a Minor Subdivision and Site Plan Amendment for 45 River Road (Parcel ID 2-024006-001) located in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) District. The minor subdivision proposes footprint lots associated with the proposed duplex and the existing commercial building. The site plan amendment proposes to construct an 18’x55’ addition to the River Road Beverage & Redemption building in the rear. Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at essexvt.gov/applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email communitydevelopment@essex.org with any questions. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view the complete Agenda, at https://essexvt.portal.civicclerk.com or the office notice board before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard and other agenda items. TOWN OF JERICHO PUBLIC HEARING ON CAPITAL BUDGET AND FIVE-YEAR PLAN On Thursday, January 15th , 2026, at 6:00 pm at the Jericho Town Hall, 67 Vermont Route 15, Jericho, Vermont. The Town of Jericho Selectboard will hold a public hearing to solicit comments on a proposed FY 2027 Capital Budget and Five-Year Plan draft. The public is invited to attend and offer comments on the proposed budget and plan. Copies may be obtained from the Town Administrator’s Office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. or at www.jerichovt.org.

Article 2. Act on Report of Trustees

Article 4. Adoption of a budget Article 5. Other business thought proper when met.

Dated at Jericho, Vermont, December 15, 2025, Livy Strong Chair Dave Williamson Vice-Chair Donna Pratt Treasurer Bruce Blokland Secretary Kim Spaulding Paula VanDeventer Chris Greenwood CITY OF BURLINGTON NOTICE OF FIRST AND SECOND PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR MARCH 3, 2026 ANNUAL CITY ELECTION Pursuant to the requirements of 17 V.S.A. Sec. 2645, the first public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Burlington City Charter will be held on Tuesday, January 20 th, 2026 during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting which begins at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in Contois Auditorium, 2nd Floor, City Hall, Burlington, Vermont and will also be streamed via Zoom. When: Jan 20, 2026 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94879129061 Webinar ID: 948 7912 9061 Pursuant to the requirements of 17 V.S.A. Sec. 2645, the second public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Burlington City Charter will be held on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in Contois Auditorium, 2 nd Floor, City Hall, Burlington, Vermont and will also be streamed via Zoom. When: Jan 22, 2026 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92764227810 Webinar ID: 927 6422 7810 The following charter amendment is proposed to be voted on at the Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Annual City Election. “Shall the Charter of the City of Burlington, Acts of 1948, No. 298, as amended, be further amended as follows?: § 374 Enumerated: Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (a) The City of Burlington shall form an Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (“REIB”) and establish a Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. (b) The REIB Director role shall be a permanent position in the City, selected and hired in accordance with City of Burlington Human Resources policies

LEGALS » SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Legal Notices [CONTINUED] and procedures, and shall report directly to the Mayor. (c) The REIB Office shall be under the supervision, direction, and control of the Director, subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council. (d) The Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging administrative officer shall have all of the powers, duties, and responsibilities as are provided in the Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Director position description. (e) Subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council, the Mayor and REIB Director shall develop and implement a comprehensive racial equity, inclusion, and belonging strategy for the City of Burlington. (f) In furtherance of this work, the REIB Director shall, subject to the orders and ordinances of the City Council, have the following rights, powers, and duties, and implement such alongside all City departments: · To work on behalf of the City to advance equity and social justice by championing diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism. · To develop, coordinate, implement, and administer racial equity and inclusion strategies and projects for the City. · To provide consultation and recommend to City departments, the Mayor’s Office, and City Council policy and program changes to better advance racial equity and inclusion in the City. · To enhance representation in City government through decision-making bodies, community engagement initiatives, and policy development processes for folks who hold underserved community identities. · To coordinate and facilitate constituent engagement in the City that encourages inclusive spaces for engagement with City government.” * Material underlined added The official copy of the proposed charter amendments will be posted in the Clerk Treasurer’s office and on the City’s website for public viewing by January 10th, 2026. Should any revisions be made to the proposed charter change amendments, they will be posted by February 11th, 2026. ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0329-21C-1 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C0329-21C-1 from Glavel, Inc., 50 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401 and Allen Brook Development, 31 Commerce Avenue, South Burlington, VT 05403 was received on December 3, 2025 and deemed complete on December 19, 2025. This permit specifically authorizes the extension of the construction timeframe for completing components of the project previously approved under Act 250 Land Use Permit (LUP) 4C0329-21C-1. Construction of the previously approved second bunker, second silo pad and silo was not completed within the original permit’s construction window, and an administrative amendment to extend the deadline was not submitted by the required deadline. This amendment does not propose any changes to the project as previously reviewed and approved. The project is located at 131 Red Pine Circle in Essex, 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 “4C0329-21C-1.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 21, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

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 Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below. Dated this December 23, 2025. By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov BURLINGTON PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE BURLINGTON COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ZA-26-02 DOWNTOWN FORM CODE Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. §4441 and §4444, notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Burlington Planning Commission to hear comments on the following proposed amendments to the City of Burlington’s Comprehensive Development Ordinance (CDO). The public hearing will take place during the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, with the hearing starting at Time Certain 6:45pm. You may access the hearing/meeting as follows: The meeting will be held in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room at City Hall (149 Church Street) and online via Zoom To join virtually from a Computer, please click this URL to join, and enter the Webinar ID if prompted: Link: https://zoom.us/j/97941883790?pwd=bGZB NzNyV1liL3p5NkhIL2dqUFIzdz09 Passcode: 658929 Webinar ID: 979 4188 3790 Passcode (if needed): 658929 To join virtually by phone, dial this number and enter the Webinar ID when prompted: Number: +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 979 4188 3790 Pursuant to the requirements of 24 V.S.A. §4444(b): Statement of purpose: The purpose of the proposed amendment aims to address challenges related to fence height in the Downtown Form Code districts by: • Increasing the allowable fence height from four feet to six feet only when the fence is used to enclose an alleyway or a loading dock located within an alleyway. • Allowing chain-link and welded wire fences along the frontage line when located within alleyways or used to enclose loading docks within alleyways. Geographic areas affected: This amendment applies to properties located within Burlington’s Downtown Form Districts. List of section headings affected: The proposed amendments modify the following sections of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance: • ZA-26-02: Modifies Article 14, Sec. 14.6.8 Site and Landscape Standards The full text of the Burlington Comprehensive Development Ordinance is available online at www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPI/CDO. The proposed amendment can be reviewed in hard copy posted on the first floor of City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington or online at https://www.burlingtonvt. gov/DPI/CDO/Amendments The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services,

facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact the City Planning department or 711 if you are hearing or speech impaired. TOWN OF RICHMOND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD (DRB) AGENDA JANUARY 14, 2026 AT 7:00 PM THIS IS A HYBRID MEETING WITH ON-SITE AND REMOTE ACCOMMODATIONS. Note: Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 312(a)(2), this meeting will be held in the three following locations: (1) in person; (2) electronically via Zoom; and (3) by phone call. You do not need a computer to attend this meeting. Calls can be placed by using the “Join by Phone Call” number below—this is a toll-free number. Your participation in this hearing process is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. For more information or accommodations to improve the accessibility of this meeting, please contact Danté DeNault at (802) 556-4959 or ddenault@richmondvt.gov. Join In Person: 3rd Floor Meeting Room A, 203 Bridge Street, Richmond, VT 05477. Join Electronically via Zoom: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/89057870483. Join by Phone Call: +1 (305) 224-1968 (US) // Meeting ID: 890 5787 0483. PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEMS: Materials: https://www.richmondvt.gov/calendar/ meeting/development-review-board-1-14-26. 1. SKP2025-09 Patricia Gilbert Parcel ID: BE0345 Project Description: Applicant seeks input to further subdivide 345 Beatty Lane, an existing 23.1-acre lot into four (4) lots of 1.1 acres (Lot 1), 1.4 acres (Lot 2), 6.9 acres (Lot 3), and 13.7 acres (Lot 4). STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-07478 In re ESTATE of Elmer L. Arnold NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Elmer L. Arnold, late of Williston, VT I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 12/30/25 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Corey F. Wood, Esq. Executor/Administrator: Lawrence Arnold c/o Corey F. Wood, Esq. 34 Pearl Street Essex Jct, VT 05452 Phone number: 802-879-6304 Email: cwood@bpflegal.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-07368 In re ESTATE of Marshall Cummings NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Marshall Cummings, late of South Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 12/30/25 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Corey F. Wood, Esq. Executor/Administrator: Cora Gauvin c/o Corey F. Wood, Esq., 34 Pearl Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 Phone number: 802-879-6304 Email: cwood@bpflegal.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0258-4 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C0258-4 from Treetop Park Association, Inc., P.O. Box 1201, Williston, VT 05495 was received on August 7, 2025 and deemed complete on December 30, 2025. The project is generally described as the after-the-fact removal of dangerous trees and associated stumps, along with the replanting of shade trees and grasses to secure the slopes. This work was carried out within a 0.5 acre area located off of Bayberry Lane adjacent to Units 1-26 of Treetop Condominiums. The project is located off of Kennedy 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 “4C0258-4.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before January 28, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/documents/ party-statuspetition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing. For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below. Dated this December 30, 2025. By: /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov PROPOSED STATE RULES By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

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). _____ Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) Amendments. Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P047 AGENCY: Department of Public Service CONCISE SUMMARY: The Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) regulate the design and construction of residential buildings to require adequate thermal insulation, low air leakage, effective and efficient mechanical, ventilation, electrical, service water-heating and illumination systems and equipment to enable effective use of energy in residential buildings. This is an update to the RBES to allow the 2020 Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards as an option for the purposes of complying with Vermont’s residential building energy code. This update allows adherence to the requirements in either the 2020 RBES or 2024 RBES for compliance purposes with no substantive changes to the 2020 RBES or 2024 RBES as originally adopted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Brittney Wilson, Department of Public Service 112 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-828-2811 E-mail: brittney.wilson@vermont.gov URL: http:// publicservice.vermont.gov. FOR COPIES: Ben Civiletti, Department of Public Service 112 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-622-4388 E-mail: benjamin.civiletti@ vermont.gov. _____ Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) Amendments. Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P048 AGENCY: Department of Public Service CONCISE SUMMARY: The Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) regulate the design of building envelopes for adequate thermal resistance and low air leakage and the design and selection of mechanical, ventilation, electrical, service water- heating and illumination systems and equipment in commercial building construction. This is an update to the CBES to allow the 2020 Vermont Commercial Building Energy Standards as an option for the purposes of complying with Vermont’s commercial building energy code. This update allows adherence to the requirements in either the 2020 CBES or 2024 CBES for compliance purposes with no substantive changes to the 2020 CBES or 2024 CBES as originally adopted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Brittney Wilson, Department of Public Service 112 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-828-2811 E-mail: brittney.wilson@vermont.gov URL: http:// publicservice.vermont.gov. FOR COPIES: Ben Civiletti, Department of Public Service 112 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-622-4388 E-mail: benjamin.civiletti@ vermont.gov. TOWN OF RICHMOND, VERMONT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO 24 V.S.A. §4384(a), THE TOWN OF RICHMOND SELECTBOARD WILL BE HOLDING THE SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026, AT 7:00 PM, IN THE RICHMOND TOWN CENTER MEETING ROOM AT 203 BRIDGE STREET TO RECEIVE COMMENT REGARDING THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE UPDATED TOWN PLAN.

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TOWN PLAN UPDATE DRAFT SUMMARY: PURPOSE: THE TOWN OF RICHMOND IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEW/ UPDATED TOWN PLAN EVERY EIGHT YEARS AND POSSESS AN ACTIVE TOWN PLAN IN ORDER TO UPDATE OR AMEND CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS. THE CURRENT TOWN PLAN WAS APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018 AND EXPIRES ON NOVEMBER 5, 2026. THIS NEW TOWN PLAN DRAFT, IF ADOPTED, WOULD FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF 24 VSA §§§§4302, 4382, 4384, 4385. GEOGRAPHIC AREA AFFECTED: The Town of Richmond and Environs. SECTION HEADINGS: Introduction, Technical Plans and Associated Maps (Sections below), Implementation Plan, Appendices. Technical Plan sections include the following: (1) Community Development, (2) Economic Development, (3) Education, (4) Emergency Resilience, (5) Energy, (6) Future Land Use (FLU), (7) Historic Resources, (8) Housing, (9) Natural Resources, (10) Transportation, (11) Utilities and Facilities. THE FULL TEXT OF THE DRAFT TOWN PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION ON THE TOWN OF RICHMONDS WEBSITE AT WWW.RICHMONDVT.GOV AND AT THE RICHMOND TOWN CENTER OFFICES AT 203 BRIDGE STREET BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00am and 4:00pm, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE RICHMOND PLANNING/ZONING OFFICE AT 802-336-2289 or koborne@richmondvt.gov POSTED: 12/30/2025 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-06901 In re ESTATE of Mary A. Fleiter NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Mary A. Fleiter, late of Colchester, Vermont I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: December 30,2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ James A. Badger Executor/Administrator: James A. Badger 89 Pinecrest Drive Essex Junction, VT 05452 Phone number: 802-878-2032 Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: January 7, 2026 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION ORANGE UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-07466 In re ESTATE of Martha Pickett NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Martha Pickett, late of Chelsea, 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

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forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: Thursday, September 18, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Loretta May Pickett Executor/Administrator: Loretta May Pickett P.O. Box 66 Burlington, VT 05402 Phone number: (802) 865-6326 Email: acusick-loecher@sheeheyvt.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 1/7/26 Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont - Orange Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 5 Court St., Chelsea, VT 05038 BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227 pwd=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09 Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227 Passcode: 969186 Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 1. ZAP-25-10 ; 457 Saint Paul Street (RC, Ward 5) Group Five Investments, LLC / Jill Badolato Appeal of administrative approval of ZP-25-566 for exterior alterations. 2. ZAP-25-11; 20 Pine Street (FD6, Ward 3) Diocesan Charitable Trust / Cathedral Immaculate Conception Parish Charitable Trust / John Franco Appeal of issuance of notice of zoning violation, ZCPT-25-12, related to unpermitted tree cutting. Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/ drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard. The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505. The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142). STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-07108

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four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: December 31, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Odette Bonvouloir & Celine Riley Executor/Administrator: Odette Bonvouloir & Celine Riley c/o Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer 30 Main St., Suite 500, Burlington, VT 05401 Phone number: 802-864-0880 Email: mbucci@primmer.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Probate Division, Chittenden Unit Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CALEDONIA UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-07525 In re ESTATE of James Cilley NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: James Cilley, late of Groton, 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: 1/2/26 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Corey F. Wood, Esq Executor/Administrator: Caren Slayton c/o Corey F. Wood, Esq. 34 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT 05452 Phone number: 802-879-6304 Email: cwood@bpflegal.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Name of Probate Court: Caledonia Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 1126 Main Street, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON JANUARY 22, 2026 AT 9:00 AM Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on January 22, 2026 at 9am EST at 205 Route 4A West, Castleton, VT 05735 (unit C142), 3466 Richville Rd, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (unit 20), Springfield, VT 05156 (unit S107), and online at www.storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien Unit # Name C142 Marissa Alexander 20 Lauren Rossics S107 Julie Spaulding

Contents Household Goods Household Goods Household Goods

In re ESTATE of Monique Bonvouloir

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:25-PR-07318

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In re ESTATE of Geraldine Nagle

To the creditors of: Monique Bonvouloir, late of South Burlington, Vermont

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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

To the creditors of: Geraldine Nagle, late of Colchester, Vermont

LEGALS » SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Legal Notices I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period. Dated: 12/20/2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Keith Nagle Executor/Administrator: Keith Nagle C/O Norman C. Smith Law Office, 76 Lincoln St., PO Box 24, Essex Junction, VT 05453 Phone number: 802-288-9088 Email: john@normansmithlaw.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 01/07/2026 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Probate Division

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING, INC. Pursuant to Title 11B, § 14.07 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated, notice is hereby given that articles of dissolution for Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Inc. (the “Company”) have been filed with the office of the Secretary of State for the State of Vermont. Notice is hereby given that all unknown creditors of and claimants against the Company are requested to present their claims to the Company. Except as otherwise provided by law, claims will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years of publication of this notice. All claims must be submitted in writing, with a description of the basis for the claim (including the amount owed, the date the debt was incurred,

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 802-9890097. The Shelburne support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne. Contact is support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@residenceshelburnebay.com. The telephone support group meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, or visit alz.org for more info. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900. 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

SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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 in Burlington & 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. 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

a description of the product or services provided to the Company) and supporting documentation, if applicable. Written claims must be mailed to the following address: VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING, INC. c/o Paul Frank + Collins P.C. One Church Street P.O. Box 1307 Burlington, VT 05402-1307 TOWN OF WESTFORD DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 and the Westford Land Use & Development Regulations, the Westford Development Review Board will hold a public hearing at the Westford Town Offices (1713 Route 128) & via ZOOM on Monday, January 26th, 2026 at 7:00 PM to review the following application:

Applicant: Christopher King Property Location: King Property – Cambridge Road (approx. 14.9 acres) Zoning Districts: Rural 10, Water Resource Overlay This proposal is a request for site plan approval to construct an accessory structure greater than 1000 square feet. Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 985 3274 2848 | Passcode: 6spVTH For more information call the Town Offices at 878-4587 Monday–Thursday 8:30am–4:30pm & Friday 8:30am-1:00pm Dated January 5, 2026

Application: Site Plan Review

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

accepted. Meetings are held on the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo., 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please register at allsoulsinterfaith. org. (More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.) HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2:30-4 p.m. Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, Burlington. Email us for more information: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org. 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. 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. 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 in Waterbury 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.

75 JANUARY 7-14, 2026

ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST YOUR JOBS AT: PRINT DEADLINE: FOR RATES & INFO:

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM Boat Launch Stewards

NOW HIRING

Vermont & New York

Youth Program Coordinator VWW is seeking a Youth Program Coordinator to provide support for the day-to-day coordination and implementation of youth programming. The position pays $20-23/hour and comes with a comprehensive benefits package. If you are inspired by our mission of promoting economic justice by advancing gender equity and supporting youth along their career journeys, visit bit.ly/3YkUgVd to apply.

Spend your summer by the water! Seeking multiple stewards to engage boaters, inspect watercraft, and deliver informational messages about invasive species on Lake Champlain. More information: neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers. To apply: send cover letter & resume: jobs@neiwpcc.org.

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.

Executive Director

LEAD CARDIOPULMONARY REHAB CLINICIAN Join our Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab program!

This position is PART-TIME, Mon/Wed/Fri—no weekends. Accepting applications from Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Exercise Physiologists, Respiratory Therapists, and Physical Therapists For more information or to apply visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

Maintenance Technician

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• Offering a $1,000 hiring bonus • Full Time 40 Hours Pay Rate $27.00 Are you looking to learn new skills or to start a career? Are you

Scan the QR code below to text your contact info and looking to join a supportive team and a dynamic company? We Mosaic Vermont, located in are so sure you will love it at HallKeen Management that we are experience or email us at admin@smithmcclain.com. Barre and serving Washington offering a $1,000 hiring bonus for the right candidate. All bonuses County, seeks a collaborative and Come build with us! to be paid per company policy. Will entertain employees looking communication-focused Executive to relocate to Vermont. Director who will advance Mosaic’s Responsibilities of Maintenance Technician are quite diverse mission in partnership with an 4t-Smith&McClain020525.indd 4t-SmithMcClain110525 1 1 1/31/25 9:33 11/4/25 1:59 AM PMincluding but not limited to Apartment turnovers, grounds amazing staff, a strong Board of keeping, various janitorial duties, painting, appliance, Directors, committed community electrical, heating, plumbing and safety equipment repair and partners, and local and federal replacement and provide assistance at other company properties governmental entities. Mosaic works when needed. The qualified candidate must have reliable to prevent sexual and gender-based transportation and have the ability to assist in carrying appliances AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM MANAGER violence and facilitate individual and and climb ladders as needed. community healing. The Agricultural Program Manager leads Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s (VHCB) nationally recognized farmland Please e-mail resume to Diane Finnigan at Key responsibilities for the conservation program, managing purchase of development rights dfinnigan@hallkeen.com. Executive Director include leading initiatives, federal and state funding partnerships, and strategic and supporting staff and volunteers land protection efforts. This role oversees the full project lifecycle, by fostering a collaborative from application through closing, while championing environmental work environment and ensuring 4t-HallKeenManagement121025.indd 1 12/5/25 10:48 AM stewardship, farmland access for new farmers, and Vermont’s effective operations, fundraising working landscape. The position supervises program staff, ensures and fiscal management, and public grant compliance, and represents VHCB with land trusts, agencies, representation of the organization. and federal partners to advance conservation policy. Mosaic is rooted in accountability, VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we strongly access for all people, community encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. change, justice, and liberation. To learn more, visit vhcb.org/careers For information on how to apply: mosaic-vt.org/about/job-openings. To apply, send cover letter/resume by January 16 to: jobs@vhcb.org

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

76 JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Registered Nurse, Infusion Therapy Department Make a Real Difference in the Community!

Town Clerk & Treasurer The Town of Essex is receiving applications for full time employment as our Town Clerk & Treasurer. Under the direction of the Deputy Town Manager, the Town Clerk & Treasurer will perform various levels of work in areas such as the maintenance and recording of official municipal records, land records, issuing various licenses and official specialized documents, working elections, processing liquor licenses, independently providing information to the general public and Town departments , collection of tax and utility bills and all other work as required. This position will also have degrees of responsibility with the treasurer functions, accepting and posting payments and reconciling daily cash receipts. For full job description, visit: essexvt.bamboohr.com/careers The Town of Essex will consider any combination of education and experience that allows for successful performance in this role. The Town’s goals include hiring the candidate who is best able to meet the objectives of the position. We, therefore, encourage persons with non-traditional skill sets and experiences to apply, even if candidates believe they do not meet 100% of the qualification and hiring criteria described. The preferred requirements for this role can be found in the job description linked above. The approximate salary range is $75,000-$90,000 per year with the actual starting salary based on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time non-union exempt position. The Town of Essex offers a competitive benefits package to include: Generous vacation and sick accruals, VMERS C Retirement Plan, MVP Health Insurance, health savings accounts, employer paid Dental and Vision insurance, Short Term Disability, Life and AD&D Insurance and optional ICMA-RC 457 and Roth IRA Retirement plans. Full summary of benefits found at essexvt.bamboohr.com/careers. Submit applications online at essexvt.bamboohr.com/careers. Paper applications available at Essex Town Offices, 81 Main St, Essex Junction., VT 05452. Position open until filled. We are an E.O.E.

LOOKING FOR A COOLER OPPORTUNITY? Find 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers in Seven Days newspaper and online.

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com Visit Facebook/sevendaysjobs for the latest postings

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Director of Early Childhood Programs We’re seeking a collaborative, mission-driven leader to coordinate our Early Childhood licensure and endorsement programs and support professional learning across Vermont. The Director oversees all aspects of program development and improvement to ensure high-quality, inclusive learning opportunities for Vermont’s early childhood workforce.

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) is seeking a compassionate Registered Nurse to join our dynamic Infusion Therapy Department in St. Johnsbury, VT. The Opportunity: Provide direct patient care in a rewarding role serving 15-20 patients daily. Administer IV therapies, coordinate care, and educate patients in our collaborative, patientcentered environment. WHAT YOU NEED: RN License (VT or compact state) BSN degree

2+ years RN experience Current BLS certification

Why NVRH? Student loan repayment Tuition reimbursement Competitive pay/comprehensive benefits

Free gym membership 401(k) with company match Serve 33,000+ community members

Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

If you’re an educator at heart who is excited to work with 4t-NVRH102925.indd 1 10/27/25 4:51 PM higher education partners, contracted instructors, candidates seeking licensure, and their The Director of Finance will VT-HEC colleagues, we’d love work closely with the Senior to hear from you. Management team to meet To see the full job NEKCA’s strategic goals and description and promote NEKCA’s Core Values, apply, use QR code: mission, and vision throughout the agency. The ideal candidate is a strategic and analytical thinker. This Director oversees financial operations, ensures compliance, and guides financial strategy to support the organization’s mission and sustainability. The Director of Finance must have the ability to think and act independently and needs to understand the comprehensive sets of programs and grant requirements that fund our nonprofit agency. The Director of Finance works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, agency auditors, funder grant managers, and the agency leadership team.

Director of Finance

Senior Accountant

Join the Vermont Land Trust as our Senior Accountant. Apply your accounting expertise to help protect Vermont’s farms, forests, and natural areas! We seek a collaborative, experienced accounting professional who can show strong discernment and attention to detail. The starting salary for this full-time position is $86,800, with a generous benefits package. Learn more and apply at vlt.org/employment. Applications will be accepted until January 19, 2026. The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We honor and invite people of all backgrounds and life experiences to apply.

Director of Development & Communications The Director of Development & Communications leads NEKCA’s fundraising and communications strategies with the goal of growing a strong community of supporters who are partners in funding and advocating for the Northeast Kingdom where all generations can grow, prosper, and thrive. This position plans and develops consistent and impactful touch points with external stakeholders throughout the year, building community trust and implementing marketing strategies that help meet agency fundraising goals, primarily charitable giving, but can include program enrollment, anti-poverty advocacy, and more. This position has a strong focus on fundraising and is responsible for raising the resources that are needed to fund NEKCA’s vision. The Director supervises the development team, serves as a member of the organization’s senior management team, and oversees all strategy related to development and external communications. Scan QR Code for full details and to apply:

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1/2/26 3:56 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day? Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT to continue BHA’s success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low-income families and individuals.

Kitchen Manager

The Roots Farm Market is a farmerowned, local grocery and farm market with an in house kitchen. We are looking for a motivated, highly organized individual with an understanding of kitchen operations and menu prep to join our team. The 10/29/19 12:12 PM ideal candidate will coordinate all of the workings of the kitchen, ensure that daily and weekly production goals are met, keep track of kitchen ordering and inventory, and serve as point person for kitchen staff shift coverage, feedback, and stocking needs reported by kitchen staff. Pay rate: ~$24/hour. Send resumes to: karin@therootsfarmmarket.com

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We are currently hiring for the following positions: Assistant Property Manager: Serves as a critical member of our property management team. This position is responsible for assisting the team of Property Managers in the day to day operations of BHA’s property portfolio. The Assistant Property Manager will assist with leasing apartments, move in and move outs, maintaining accurate tenant files and assist with tenant complaints, collection of rents, lease violations, property inspections, vacant unit checks, delivery of resident notices and certifications, and other duties related to property management. 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, nonbenefited position. Candidates must meet the physical requirements of the position

THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN? See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

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. For more info on our benefit package and these career opportunities please visit: burlingtonhousing.org

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVE

Interested in our career opportunity? Send a cover letter & resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org. Burlington Housing Authority Human Resources 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401

77 JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) seeks a Vermonter to join his statebased Senate team as an Outreach Representative. This position serves as an extension of the Senator, acting as his eyes and ears throughout the state, meeting with people to understand their struggles and share the senator’s vision of making government work for working people. The position requires regular travel throughout Vermont to build trust and relationships with Vermonters who are too often ignored or taken for granted by those in power. That means meeting regularly with seniors, students, veterans, union workers, and the poor. A successful candidate will be equally at ease meeting with a worker on a job site, organizing a youth event, or speaking at a press conference. The Office looks for individuals who are excited to try new things and problem solve, are organized and communicative, thrive in an ever-changing environment, and have a deep understanding and love of Vermont. An ability to think strategically and act in a fast-paced environment is strongly preferred. The Senator’s office is an equal opportunity employer. The office does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or uniformed service. The office is committed to inclusion and encourages all individuals from all backgrounds to apply. The starting salary is $70,000. To apply, please send your resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample to outreachjob@sanders.senate.gov by January 20, 2026 and indicate OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVE in the subject line.

Perk up!

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Trusted, local employers are hiring in Seven Days newspaper and online. Browse 100+ new job postings each week.

1/6/26 10:38 AM

Follow @SevenDaysJobs on Twitter for the latest job opportunities

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

78 JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Customer Service Representative Hourly Wage: $31.86 Stowe Electric Department is looking for an experienced Customer Service Representative. This position plays a critical role in providing top-quality service to Stowe Electric customers. Reporting to the Business & Communications Manager, responsibilities include answering phones, greeting customers, taking payments, managing accounts, and answering customer questions. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, excellent attention to detail, the ability to multi-task, outstanding customer service skills, and a friendly demeanor. Outstanding Benefits Package Includes: Paid Time Off, Low-Cost Health Insurance, Employer-Provided Dental Insurance, $100k Life Insurance, 401(a) & 457(b) Retirement Plans, Summer Hours, Annual Health & Wellness Reimbursement, 12.5 Paid Holidays, Excellent Work Environment. For full description go to: stoweelectric.com/jobs. To apply, send resume to HR@stoweelectric.com.

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GO HIRE.

Title Search/Real Estate Professional

Job Seekers:

Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C., Burlington, VT Sheehey Furlong & Behm, an established, growing law firm located near the Burlington waterfront, is accepting applications for a Title Search/Real Estate Professional. This unique position is for either an attorney or paralegal with demonstrated Vermont real estate experience to provide assistance and support in a busy medium-sized firm with a variety of residential and commercial real estate needs. The position will involve travelling to perform residential and commercial title searches at town clerk’s offices throughout Vermont (mileage reimbursed), preparing reports and opinions on title and drafting property descriptions, working with title insurers and title insurance policies and forms, and researching and analyzing state and municipal permit and compliance issues. The position will also involve drafting conveyance and closing documents, including but not limited to deeds, tax forms, and settlement statements. If the applicant is an attorney, the position may also involve contract negotiation and drafting, conducting closings, and working on other real estate related matters including commercial leasing and permitting. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years’ experience related to title searches/real estate, at least a Bachelor’s Degree, and be detail-oriented and organized with strong communication and writing skills. Candidates with a law degree but less experience will be considered, provided they have demonstrated skills and experience in conducting title searches. Salary will be commensurate with experience and education, and will include a generous benefits package.

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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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Forward cover letter and resume to hiring@sheeheyvt.com, subject “Title Search/Real Estate Professional.” 12-jobsgohire-snowboarder20.indd 1 6t-SheeheyFurlongBehm010726.indd 1

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11/30/21 12:37 PM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

79 JANUARY 7-14, 2026

Program Manager:

Deputy Director Of Communications & Legislative Affairs

20 hours/week, Monday thru Thursday 10 am – 3 pm. Develop new activity groups, community trips, and educational workshops for older adults, schedule/coordinate health care clinics. Recruit/ support volunteer group leaders, conduct community outreach to older adults in Chittenden County, partner with community service providers. Work with Director and volunteers to plan and carry out fundraising events. Supportive work environment, variety of work activities, lots of laughter! $20-$25/hour based on experience.

Montessori-Inspired Early Ed Program Seeks Executive Director Craftsbury Saplings Community Children’s Center is seeking a creative, caring, and collaborative Executive Director to lead our mission-driven early childhood program. We are looking for someone who recognizes early childhood as a critical foundation for lifelong growth, values respect and belonging, and brings joy, curiosity, and optimism to their work. The Executive Director (ED) role is a full-time position, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, strategic direction, financial health, and organizational culture of the center. The ED is both the visionary and operational leader of Craftsbury Saplings.

Cook: 10 to 12 hours/week. Plan, shop, prepare delicious, nutritious lunch for 30 older adults Mondays & Wednesdays. Experience with older adults, familiarity with Older Americans Act requirements a plus. Supportive work environment, volunteer assistance, lots of laughter! $20-$25/hour based on experience.

The Legislative support offices are currently hiring. The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work.

Contact: Andrea Viets, viets@heinebergcsc.org and specify which job you are applying for.

You will be part of a highly professional and collegial 4t-HeinebergCommunitySeniorCenter010726.indd 1 team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

To apply, please visit craftsburysaplings.org/employment

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Phlebotomy

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at

Apprenticeship Program

legislature.vermont.gov.

INVEST IN YOURSELF Our apprenticeship program is a paid opportunity to become a phlebotomist with no experience required.

Outreach Counselor Upper Valley

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is hiring a student Outreach Counselor in our Talent Search program in Upper Valley Vermont (Orange and Windsor Counties). Do you enjoy working with middle and high school students? Are you energized by the enthusiasm of teenagers? As a VSAC Talent Search Outreach Counselor you’ll help students explore the possibilities their future can hold & help them create a plan to get there. This position supports students from middle school through high school graduation, along with their families, by providing education, career, and financial aid information and counseling to help them reach their postsecondary goals.

APPLY NOW jobforward.org/ phlebotomy

Highway Department – Maintenance Technician I

REGISTRATION DEADLINE Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Town of Milton Salary Range $23.50 to $24.90 per hour

Community Service Officer City of Burlington Salary Range $28.65 to $31.92 per hour

• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training • Direct patient care • Team environment • Full Benefits • Dedicated support during the 5-week program • Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam

Questions? Call or Email 802-399-8243 lida.hope@jobforward.org

Business & Communications Manager Stowe Electric Department Salary Range $90,000 to $115,000

The University of Vermont Medical Center (“UVMMC”) will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based upon their age (40 and older), ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, place of birth, race, religion, genetic information, sex, and sexual orientation. UVMMC will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required by Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30, Title 21 Vermont Statutes Annotated, Labor, Ch. 13, Labor, and the Vermont State EEO Plan.

Salary $46,000 - $48,000 plus excellent benefits, PTO, and 9 weeks off in summer. Visit VSAC.org/Careers for full job description and to apply today.

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT MICHELLE BROWN: MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

80 JANUARY 7-14, 2026

DIRECTOR OF LEARNING ENGAGEMENT Marketing and Fundraising Specialist North Branch Nature Center (NBNC) seeks a Marketing and Fundraising Specialist (MFS) to join our outreach and fundraising team! This position collaborates with other staff to achieve twin goals: driving program enrollment by marketing and advertising NBNC’s many natureconnection programs; and enhancing and managing key components of our fundraising initiatives. The MFS will build, maintain, execute, evaluate, and refine NBNC’s marketing efforts, using a variety of channels to inspire engagement. They will also manage our constituent database and our business partnership and municipal giving programs, and support other fundraising activities. This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package and a great work environment! Learn more and apply at NorthBranchNatureCenter.org/ Employment.

Vermont Network’s Amplify Leadership Lab Are you energized by creating engaging learning opportunities for adults, collaborating with a values-driven team, and igniting meaningful change? The Vermont Network’s Amplify Leadership Lab to Uproot Gender-Based Violence is seeking a Director of Learning Engagement to join our team. As the Director of Learning Engagement, you will play a key role in designing and delivering impactful training and leadership development experiences that support people working to end violence, strengthen community support for survivors, and build the collective leadership capacity of those working to create a violence-free world in Vermont and beyond. Our ideal candidate is a strong project manager, skilled in facilitation and training design who is equally at home creating, hosting, supporting, and delivering learning opportunities in person or virtually. At the Vermont Network, we prioritize the wellbeing of our staff, take our culture seriously, think big, and orient toward what is possible. We welcome candidates who share this vision. This position is grant funded for at least two years. All positions are hybrid – Waterbury and Home Office. Minimum of 3-4 years of advocacy, facilitation, and/or training design experience. Submit a cover letter and resume to Jamie Carroll, Director of Administration and Grants at jamie@vtnetwork.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. More information about this position and a full job description can be found at vtnetwork.org. Visit amplifyleadership.org for more detailed information.

Outreach Counselor Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is hiring a student Outreach Counselor in our Talent Search program in southeast Vermont (Windham and Windsor Counties). Do you enjoy working with middle and high school students? Are you energized by the enthusiasm of teenagers? As a VSAC Talent Search Outreach Counselor you’ll help students explore the possibilities their future can hold & help them create a plan to get there. This position supports students from middle school through high school graduation, along with their families, by providing education, career, and financial aid information and counseling to help them reach their postsecondary goals. Salary $46,000 - $48,000 Excellent benefits, PTO, and 9 weeks off in summer Apply at: Visit VSAC.org/ Careers for full job description

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“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.” CAROLYN ZELLER, Intervale Center, Burlington

Market Development Associate Community Heart & Soul® is a national nonprofit organization whose namesake program engages residents and local leaders to shape the future of their communities. We’re looking for a talented market development professional to help expand our partnership base across the U.S.Basedin Shelburne, VT we seek candidates with strong business acumen who enjoy building relationships. This role works closelywith ourVP of Market Development to connectwith community foundations and local leaders across the countrywho want to bring the Heart & Soul process to their communities. Travel: About 30% nationally, mostly during spring andfall. You might be a great fit if you: · Have experience in building partnerships in business or nonprofit work. · Communicate clearly and comfortably with a wide range of people · Enjoy representing an organization and its mission · Have experience with HubSpot as a CRM and Marketing tool What we offer: · Competitive salary, benefits and paid time off · Support forlearning and professional growth Salary range based on experience: $70,000 to $85,000. Apply online: communityheartandsoul.org/careers.

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Get a quote when posting online. Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL JANUARY 8-14 TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): As far back as the 19th century, daredevil college students in the UK have reveled in the practice of “night climbing.” They clamber up chapels, spires, towers and bridges under cover of darkness. Why? Mainly for adventure, mischief and altered perspectives. In the coming months, Taurus, you may be ready for your own symbolic version of night climbing. If that sounds fun, seek out vantage points you’ve never accessed. Experiment with possibilities you’ve dismissed as off-limits or outside your range. Be safe, of course, but also be joyfully exploratory. I bet the view from the frontiers will change you in inspiring ways.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

The coming months are ripe for sacred audacity: boldness with a conscience and courage guided by kindness. Imagine you’re a Benevolent Initiator, whose superpower is to kindle beginnings without causing disruption and unease. Practice brilliant, incremental nudges and tweaks rather than grand interventions. If you’re hesitating to say what needs to be said, deliver a modest version now and a stronger one later. Make gradual momentum your ally. Homework: Identify a future scene you want to generate and take three elegantly simple steps toward it.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): The mystics drone

on endlessly about letting go. But I’m here now to praise the art of holding on fiercely, tenderly, with full commitment. Some treasures deserve your passionate grip. Some people warrant your loyal devotion. Especially in the coming months, dear Aries, I invite you to devote yourself to your exciting dreams with ardent intensity. No surrender! Relentless perseverance! Uncompromising faith in the beauty and truth you love! What looks like stubbornness to outsiders will actually be fidelity to a vision others can’t yet see.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): In the coming

months, I’m confident you will see and understand subtleties that most people miss. You’ll be a maestro at tuning in to nuanced subtexts in conversations and hidden openings in stale situations. Everyone else may assume that familiar situations will never change, but you will have the power to tease out creative possibilities. You might even decode seemingly contradictory truths with such aplomb that you surprise yourself. Use this superpower with as much kindness as you can, Gemini. Some discoveries may tempt you toward clever mischief, but I hope that instead you will choose inspired guidance. Your expanded spectrum, if spiced with compassion, can consistently reveal your next leap.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): The honeyguide

bird of Africa has a lucrative arrangement with humans. It calls out to honey hunters, leading them through brush to wild beehives built into trees. The people harvest the honey, and the bird eats the leftover wax and larvae. This cooperation is passed down over generations and benefits both species. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your future in 2026. You will have extra power to notice where mutual benefit is possible, even with unexpected allies. They may be able to guide you toward resources you couldn’t find alone, and you will have value to give in return. Keep an ear out for signals that say, “Come with me, and we’ll both gain.”

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris took years to build. Work began in 1163 and continued till 1345. Gen-

erations of architects, masons and artisans contributed to the project, and those who began it didn’t live to see it completed. Yet they labored with devotion, trusting that the holy beauty they facilitated would endure beyond their lifetimes. I hope you’re inspired by this story, Leo. It’s an apt metaphor for you. In the coming months, you could and should lay stones for creations you may not see fully accomplished for months or even years. I encourage you to redefine and refine what faith means to you and summon it in abundance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Ready to decom-

mission your inner censor? Interested in dropping the mask, relaxing your guard, and rewilding your gorgeous but slightly inhibited self? That’s what I recommend. Here are ways to fully enjoy the liberating grace period of the coming months: 1) Don’t deny yourself pleasures that would be healthy to indulge. 2) Shed taboos that were smart safeguards once upon a time but are no longer. 3) Reevaluate why you treat certain fun activities as questionable. 4) Be brightly compassionate toward aspects of yourself you regard as wounded or inferior. 5) Be receptive to rebellious urges.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): In 1839, French artist Louis Daguerre perfected the daguerreotype, an early type of photography. The images were so detailed that you could count the threads in a subject’s clothing. The only downside: They required minutes of perfect stillness to capture. A slight twitch or squirm could blur the picture. People held their breath and resisted the urge to fidget, hoping to preserve the magic moment. In this spirit, Libra, let’s make the long exposure your power metaphor during the coming months. The most useful truths will reveal themselves best if you give them time to develop. In conversations, resist filling every silence. In projects, don’t rush the pace. Have patient fun lingering on the threshold as the mysteries coalesce and clarify. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1907, Scorpio artist Pablo Picasso painted “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” It was a work so radically different from his earlier art and from the era’s norms that even his friends were stunned. Some called it ugly; others, incomprehensible. Yet

the painting became a foundation of cubism and reshaped modern art. Dear Scorpio, I suspect you may be on the verge of your own “Les Demoiselles” phase in 2026: unveiling novel approaches and innovative changes so original that they rattle comfortable assumptions. Don’t be discouraged if the initial responses don’t bring you appreciation. The root-shaking breakthroughs you’re consorting with may take others a while to recognize and welcome.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You

Sagittarians are often drawn to teaching. You have a predilection and a passion for sharing what you have learned from your adventures and explorations. Many of you also possess a related gift: helping people make the journey to where enlightening lessons can best occur. You have a knack for opening their minds and clearing the way so they can awaken to new ways of seeing and imagining the world. I hope you will provide both of these blessings in abundance during the coming months. Your ability to inspire and educate will be at a peak.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Safety isn’t

the opposite of adventure. It’s the infrastructure that lets adventure be expansive. Keep that in mind in the coming months, Aquarius. You will be wise to cultivate cozy bravery. You should relax deeply and nurture your strength. Build the support system for your future boldness. Then, in the second half of 2026, you will be well prepared to launch a phase of experimental fun and exploratory learning. For best results, surround yourself with love and care. Decide who best supports you and make it attractive for them to support you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): High in the Andes Mountains, farmers have for centuries made chuño, a freeze-dried potato that can last for years. They leave the potatoes outside overnight to let the freezing temperatures draw out the water. In the daytime, the strong sunlight and dry mountain air evaporate residual moisture. By this process, a perishable food becomes a long-lasting staple. I propose we make the chuño your symbol of power, Pisces. The coming months will be an ideal time to build reserves. I hope you will turn what you have grown and developed into resources that will nourish you well into the future.

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WATCH HER LATEST VIDEO! Delia Robinson has spent her 80-year lifetime painting canvases and making whistles. A thirdgeneration whistle maker, she learned how to sculpt them from her mother and has created thousands of whistles. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger visited her eclectic home studio in Montpelier to get a musical tour. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

1/6/26 2:09 PM

NATURE I value spirituality, kindness, respect, honesty, wisdom, humor. Reflections, 60, seeking: W, l

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WANT TO RESPOND?

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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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i SPY

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THE OFFICIAL END It’s time to face my fear. / I’ll never forget that early love you showed. / The look on your face where we first met. / How you made me feel / you loathed my existence. / Nothing more than a body. / Life’s too short to stay in torture. / Please don’t try to pull me back. / You know I’d die for you a million times. When: Monday, October 13, 2025. Where: Cambridge. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916522 ICE SAVE To the three people who helped me in an icy parking lot after Beethoven’s 9th. A big shout-out. Great to know there still is kindness in the world. When: Thursday, January 1, 2025. Where: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916600 NYE - ECHO Saw you at ECHO NYE around 9:30. You were near the front left of the stage. I was near the back wearing a brown checked coat. We caught eyes, but I had to leave. If you’re single, it’d be great to find out more about you. When: Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Where: ECHO. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916521 BOLTON VALLEY LONG SHOT It being the New Year and all, I figured I would take a long shot. On Labor Day 2025, I was trail running at Bolton Valley and met a fellow crazy person doing the same. We had a short conversation on the way down and in the parking lot. It would be great to reconnect. When: Monday, September 1, 2025. Where: Bolton Valley. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916520 KELLY, 58, SHELBURNE AREA? Someone showed me your profile. I’m wondering if you might be feeling adventurous? You’re super cute, and I’m super curious. When: Friday, January 2, 2026. Where: online. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916519

FLY GIRL FLYING You were in a Subaru, with a trout plate: FLYGRL, driving north on 89. Sensible haircut. Eating carrot sticks or some other sensible snack. I saw my best possible future flash before my eyes, embodied by the scene in your car. Teach me your sensible ways and also maybe your fly-fishing tips and tricks? Kindly, an aspiring fly girl. When: Sunday, December 28, 2025. Where: 89 North (Waterbury to Burlington). You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916518 BTV NARROW CATCH! This is a long shot for sure, but it may be worth a shot! We both barely made the flight into BTV last night and were equally relieved. I had to catch my Uber, and you were working on yours. Hope you made it home safe. If you see this and remember, let me know! When: Sunday, December 28, 2025. Where: BTV Airport. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916517 SNAKE MOUNTAIN HIKER, TAKE TWO You: getting out of your car to hike with a friend and her dog. Me: finishing a hike with a friend. When: around noon. You said hello. I looked up, surprised, and said hi back. Your eyes made me want to ask you out right then, but I chickened out. Can we have a second chance? When: Saturday, December 27, 2025. Where: Snake Mountain. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916515 LONG TIME NO SEE It was early afternoon, and I was leaving the store and you were heading in. We said, “Long time no see!” and you wished me a Merry Christmas. I can’t remember where we first met or if you are married, but if this sounds familiar and you wish to follow up, let me know. When: Saturday, December 20, 2025. Where: Milton Hannaford. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916512

Ask REVEREND Dear Cindi Leu,

BACKWARDS WALKER AT THE YMCA I noticed you doing your own thing on the treadmill at the YMCA. Walking backwards and sideways. Very sweet. I was intrigued. We had a nice conversation. Your smile is delightful. You mentioned that I was fit. Wish I had returned the compliment. How about we continue the conversation over coffee or in the sauna or after an exercise class? When: Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Where: YMCA. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916513 MOON CIRCLE BEAUTY Met you at a moon circle in the NEK. I was new to the space. You were clearly a regular. I admired your ink, your face and your long, silver hair. We talked about astrology, herbalism and energy. You patiently listened to me vent. You were both whimsical and grounded. Thank you, kind stranger! I’m still intrigued. When: Saturday, October 4, 2025. Where: Rootstock Retreat. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916511 JERICHO COUNTRY STORE While we were ordering sandwiches at the Jericho Country store, I was taken by how kind, patient and considerate you were with the gentleman who was with you. I had driven to look at a camper. My daughter now lives in Jericho. Maybe we could have lunch. When: Friday, October 18, 2024. Where: Jericho Country Store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916510 LAUGHING AT MARIA BAMFORD You: cute, bald, and bearded. Me: also cute, hot pink blazer with my guy bestie. You were so familiar, and I couldn’t figure out why! You were clearly on a date, so I don’t want to overstep, but solve the mystery for me! Have our paths crossed before? When: Thursday, December 18, 2025. Where: 6 p.m. Maria Bamford show at the comedy club. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916509 GORGEOUS MUSTACHE! The lights on Church were twinkling when I saw you. Do they twinkle? Sparkle? It doesn’t matter because you were — big brown eyes, curly hair and a mustache few could pull off. Let’s take turns being sick. Let’s cherish each other’s idiosyncrasies as we grow old together. My heart twinkles, sparkles, goes up in flames for you. When: Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Where: Church and Bank. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916508



Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

I know that I’m lucky to have people in my life who give me gifts, but I don’t know what to do with the things that I don’t really want or need. I’ve always thought it was rude to get rid of a gift, but I just have too much stuff. Help!

Cindi Leu

(WOMAN, 53)

I’m a sentimental fool, and I tend to hold on to things that people give me even when I have no use for them. I still have notes that people passed me in eighth grade, for goodness sake! But I’ve been working on it. Something that I’ve found helpful to keep in mind: The only thing you’re obligated to do when someone gives you a gift is to say thank you. After that, it’s yours to do with as you see fit. You can donate it, regift it, sell it — whatever floats your boat. If it makes you feel better to hang on to the gift for a while before offloading it, just be sure to keep it somewhere in view. Otherwise it’s likely to get forgotten and wind up adding to your collection of closet clutter.

CANELÉS CO-OP ENCOUNTER We met at the co-op’s baked goods. I was charmed. You gracefully accepted the suggestion to try a canelé. I got tongue-tied. Would you be interested in a coffee? I am glad to be a friend. When: Monday, December 22, 2025. Where: by the canelés. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916514 PREMIUM KINDNESS, WAYSIDE MONTPELIER Me: woman, tallish, black coat, stood behind you at register, total eavesdropper. You sat next to a veteran at end of bar. I admired that you listened with genuine interest, asking questions as he shared his story. You inquired about the increase of insurance premiums; you covered the next few months. Your kindness improved my outlook on humanity. Coffee/ lunch? When: Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Where: Wayside in Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916507 BAREFOOT LOVER I saw you where it all started, realized my heart is still yours. To know you again is how I find closure, I am certain. Any other cure must be rarer than true love. Success is meaningless without someone you love to share it with. Send a message, walk with me or know I am here, loving you. My COLO. When: Monday, September 1, 2025. Where: our grounding place. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916506 MET ON MAPLE You were walking up Maple, crossing S. Union. I was heading down Maple. You had a pretty cool-looking pup (white with pale brindle patches). We both looked back after crossing paths, but the timing was off and I didn’t catch your eye. Would love to say hi over a dog walk sometime. When: Thursday, December 11, 2025. Where: Maple and S. Union. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916505 HELPED ME FIND GINGERBREAD HOUSE To the handsome guy in Target around 4 or 5 p.m. who helped me locate the rest of the gingerbread houses, I would love to thank you with a drink or a coffee. You had a middle school-aged boy with you. Me: blond hair, green cardigan. When: Sunday, December 7, 2025. Where: Target in South Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916503

‘RASP-BERRY BERET...’ The lady works in the City Market store, tends the self-check lane with grace and style, and returns a warm-enough smile to rekindle hope after long winters alone. If you’re interested enough to see if the lyrics go on for us, the neurounique woodcarver and sometime harmonica jammer would love to share drinks at the Archives. When: Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Where: City Market. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916502 BUSING FOR STRANGERS You: Whimsically stylish with your upturned hair and oversized sunglasses – having lunch with your daughter, perhaps. You’re confident, clearly not afraid to take the initiative, and you know your way around a pair of chopsticks. Me: Tomten lookalike popping in for my twice weekly bowl of don. I generally dine alone but would happily make an exception for you. When: Friday, December 5, 2025. Where: Sakura. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916501 BEAUSOLEIL & RICHARD THOMPSON You were sitting next to me in the balcony at the concert. You had a glass of red wine and talked about how great Louisiana is. You had a sweet voice. I was going to invite you to have dinner with me, but I lost sight of you as the theater emptied after the concert. When: Friday, November 21, 2025. Where: Lebanon Opera House. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916500 9PM CHAT AT CHECKOUT We have spoken briefly, twice, at a S. Burly grocery store. You remembered that I once lived in Connecticut, and I remembered you lived Monkton. How was your recent climbing adventure in KT? As a fellow naturalized Vermonter, you have me curious. Snowy hike sometime? When: Monday, December 1, 2025. Where: Trader Joe’s, South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916499 ME TOO I think about you all the time, too. Honestly, I thought you had gotten cold feet and did not want to continue with our dreams — everything we planned together last year. When: Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Where: now. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916498

There are plenty of thrift stores who donate their proceeds to charity. Pick one that you like and make it your designated drop spot. That’s an easy way to make sure the gift will keep on giving. If you choose to regift the item, you should give it to someone in a different circle of people than the original gift-giver. You don’t want Aunt Sandy seeing the Chia Pet she gave you on Cousin Bob’s windowsill. Whatever you decide to do, it really is the thought that counts when it comes to gifts. Even when the item is gone, the fact that someone cares about you remains. And that’s the best gift of all. Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com. SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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 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 68-y/o woman seeking a 60- to 70-y/o gent. Must enjoy comedy movies, occasional deep conversations, deep thinking and cats. Must be located in the Northeast Kingdom. #L1904 Fireman seeking female friend with fire down below. Feed the fire — let’s burn. #L1902 I’m a 31-y/o man, fit, 6’1” tall, dark skin, looking for a woman between 45 and 70. I like to work out, do outdoor activities, cook and craft, and learn new skills. I have a lot to teach. I’m independent and respectful. #L1899

If you are a gentle and kind man and would enjoy written intercourse for play and fun with a lady wordsmith, write! I have snail mail only. No strings attached! #L1901 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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SEVEN DAYS JANUARY 7-14, 2026

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. Openminded, 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

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. 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 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

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 Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a fit, tender and unassuming female counterpart (58 to 68) for woodland walks, shared meals and scintillating conversation. Won’t you join me? #L1885 I’m a 43-y/o male seeking a woman, 30 to 50. Adventure seeker building an off-grid cabin in Newport. I’m 5’8”, redheaded, fit, living between western Mass. and Vt. I like to cook, bathe, hike, camp and travel. Seeking fit, fun-loving, cuddly companion for potential future. #L1880 I’m a 44-y/o bi male seeking a male, female or bi couple for casual sex. I am clean, easygoing and anything goes. No judgment here. Let’s talk. Call/text. #L1877

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Dream Board Blueprint: Craft Your Vision That Actually Manifests

Low Lily

Neon Ramblers

Story Songs of the 70s With Tom DiMenna

SUN., JAN. 18 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION - UPPER VALLEY, NORWICH

SAT., JAN. 10 LADIES SOCIAL GROUP, ESSEX JUNCTION

SAT., JAN. 10 AFTERTHOUGHTS, WAITSFIELD

SUN., JAN. 18 CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON

Tracy Grammer - Folk Singer, Songwriter & Storyteller

Lil’s Sunday Supper Club!

Comfort Food That Loves You Back Featuring Chef Ariel Voorhees LOW

'From Rails to Trails' Film Screening

Winter Bike Commuting Clinic

Heloise & the Savoir Faire with DJ Cooley SOLD

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RAR Bike Basics - for WTNB

Salt Season: A Nightlife Arts Spectacle

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'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

TURNmusic presents Michael Prentky’s 'sad boy:ADD:apocalypse'

THU., JAN. 15 HIGHLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS, GREENSBORO

SAT., JAN. 24 THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

'The Basics' Cake Decorating Class

Bake, Move, and Bloom: Preparing for Labor and Postpartum

THU., JAN. 15 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

SAT., JAN. 24 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

April Patterson Clemens & Cobalt Tolbert w/ Beth Monroe, Dave Wrong & Melissa Anthony

Hula Story Sessions: Spectrum Youth & Family Services

FRI., JAN. 16 THE UNDERGROUND - LISTENING ROOM, RANDOLPH

THU., JAN. 29 HULA, BURLINGTON

Rhinestone Rodeo

NWSWD Repair Café

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