Seven Days, July 15, 2026 by Seven Days

BURNING

Rutland firefighters push to nix residency rule

DA RY K NGS

As Vermont milk producers struggle, fourth-generation Monument Farms in Weybridge succeeds by keeping it all in the family

BY MELISSA PASANEN,

PAGE 28

emoji that

SKY HIGH

327

That’s how many trees two men cut down to build an illegal mountain bike trail in the Mount Mansﬁeld State Forest, according to the AG’s O ce.

BURLINGTON COUNCIL APPROVES PLAN FOR BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM

The UK’s version of the Blue Angels put on a surprise show over Lake Champlain on Monday morning.

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows were visiting Beta Technologies.

RUN SUPPORT

Kaiden McCarthy made history as the highest-ever Vermonter drafted in Major League Baseball when the Atlanta Braves selected him No. 48. Congrats!

ALL WET

TOPFIVE

MIXED SIGNALS

A hiker’s phone sent out a false alert of a plane crash on Mount Pisgah after he dropped the device, sparking a large emergency response. Whoops!

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS Monthslong Elevator Outage Frustrates Waterbury Renters

e lone elevator at the Green Mountain Seminary apartment complex in Waterbury has been out of service since February 1, a major inconvenience for the three-story building’s residents, some of whom are elderly or disabled, the Waterbury Roundabout reported. e 16 units house 39 residents, but one recently moved out because of the outage. Property managers blame an elevator company for ever-shifting answers on a repair time, the outlet reported.

GOING, GOING…

A 10,000-square-foot Stowe mansion on a property that includes a heated pool, indoor sports barn, sledding hill and an underground tunnel has hit the market — and the owners are willing to hand it over to the highest bidder. e eye-popping property at 1084 Wade Pasture Road will go up for sale in what is known as an absolute auction, meaning there’s no minimum price.

e 11.6-acre estate includes a swimming pond, an outdoor athletic court and sports ﬁeld, a heated three-car garage, a 1,300-square-foot guest apartment, and a “wellness wing” complete with sauna and custom locker room. It also boasts “four secret

rooms and a reinforced concrete vault,” the listing says. An antique red Stowe Mountain Resort gondola is perched atop the private driveway, and the home has dazzling views.

“Somebody’s gonna get a great deal,” said John Torrey, the president and CEO of Integrity Luxury Real Estate Auctions. e property was completed in 2024 and is owned by Adam and Sarah Hergenrother. Both have real estate backgrounds, and Adam has started several businesses — he’s “bootstrapped his way to building a billion dollar organization,” his website says. Neither Hergenrother was available to comment. But in June 2025, before going the auction route, they listed the home for $15.8 million. eir property tax bill last year was about $61,000.

“What you have here is a seller who’s taking a bold approach to maximize exposure,” Torrey told Seven Days. “ is is a great way to let the market determine what the property is worth, because in the high luxury world, things aren’t moving as fast as they are with some of the other types of properties.”

e live auction is open only to registered bidders and will be held July 22 in person and on the property, Torrey said. e entire process is “typically very quick,” he added.

“Someone’s going to get an amazing opportunity to name their own price,” Torrey said. “What is that price? We don’t have any idea.”

SASHA GOLDSTEIN

e McNeil Generating Station in Burlington

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

Hannah Bassett, Aaron Calvin, Colin Flanders, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Lucy Tompkins

Ian Curry

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

‘BETTER

THAN JUST WORDS’

[Re “Colchester Cornucopia,” July 8]: I am a 76-year-old native Vermonter and remember my parents bringing us to the vegetable stands run by the Lomartire and Brigante families. My grandparents always talked about them, too. I was in my

This follows several cranky letters to the editor, including one that asked, “Where are the voices of the residents a ected by the center?” [Feedback, March 12, 2025].

Safe Recovery’s o ce has now shuttered. As a neighborhood resident and parent who lives near the program o ce, I’d like to offer my gratitude for Safe Recovery and what it provided for the neighborhood.

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Elizabeth M. Seyler

Cecilia Luce

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Eva Sollberger DESIGN

Don Eggert

The sta at Safe Recovery spent years o ering lifesaving harm-reduction services as well as access to treatment, education, safe and sterile supplies, counseling, peer support, vaccinations, and legal support. They o ered these services without undue barriers or coercive agreements, undoubtedly reducing the number of overdose deaths in Burlington. The presence of these services and the level of care, compassion and good humor shown by the sta made the neighborhood safer for all of us.

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Gillian Comito

Julia Maguire

Andy Watts

Gillian English

Olivia Fleming

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Erik Esckilsen, Anne Galloway, Steve Goldstein, Rick Koster, Amy Lilly, Suzanne Podhaizer, Tori Preston, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Rachel Stearns, Xenia Turner

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

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

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction. Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec.

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS

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

late ﬁfties and shopped at Dean Brigante’s exclusively because I saw him working hard all the time. After a diving accident, I started shopping at Paul Mazza’s because I could not walk. Kaity Mazza is my special helper at the location on River Road in Essex, and the produce is the best. I have high regard for those who work hard physically and have the mental toughness to keep a business going.

Thank you for the wonderful cartoon article. So much better than just words.

Jeffrey Lefebvre COLCHESTER

NIX ‘MODERN WORLD’

Congratulations on leaving out “This Modern World” from your Cartoon Issue [July 8]. Let’s hope the omission is permanent, as over the past several months it has not been funny. The Orange Clown is real and not humorous!

David Keenan ESSEX

Thank you to Safe Recovery for the countless lives you’ve quietly saved while the press debates whether human survival is worth as much as the quarterly ﬁnancials of a Church Street storefront. Thank you for keeping needles o my kids’ playgrounds, for keeping my neighbors alive, and for providing a place where you consistently reminded people that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Kate Paarlberg-Kvam BURLINGTON

‘REFRESHING’ REVIEW

Having perused the often hyperbolic carping about the Supergirl ﬁlm, I found it refreshing indeed to read Margot Harrison’s discerning observations about the DC Studios movie [Movie Review,” July 1].

Milly Alcock deserves kudos aplenty for her interpretation of the title character as a funky but deceptively empathetic ﬁgure (especially in contrast to the recent depiction in a TV series and even more so in opposition to that of her cousin Superman in his recent reinvention as a muscle-bound Boy Scout).

SUBSCRIPTIONS 6-

$158.

$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.

Editor’s note: Sorry, but the omission of “This Modern World” was a production error.

PROPS FOR SAFE RECOVERY

[“Vermont CARES Will Take Over Needle-Exchange Program in Burlington,” June 25] said very little about the Howard Center Safe Recovery program itself, except to repeat the narrative that it “faced complaints from neighbors about drawing people with substance-use disorder to its Clarke Street o ce for years.”

Given the paltry box-office performance of the stand-alone Supergirl, the plucky Australian actress may not get to reprise her role in full, but perhaps she might have another shot at it in a cameo during the forthcoming cinema epic

CORRECTION

In “Waitsﬁeld’s 5th Quarter Hot Dogs Are an All-American Home Run,” published July 1, the list of retail stores included one that does not stock 5th Quarter hot dogs: Burlington’s City Market.

EMILY

Man of Tomorrow: She could be shown modifying her suit into something more representative of her unselfconscious, down-to-earth persona.

Doug Collette SOUTH BURLINGTON

PRO TURF

[Re “School Board Backs CVU Artificial Turf Field Project,” July 1, online]: Champlain Valley Union High School is the pinnacle of high school sports in Vermont, but its facilities have never matched that reputation. I transferred to CVU for its

athletics and was underwhelmed from day one. We held lacrosse practice in the parking lot. Our soccer team played playoff “home” games at South Burlington because our field was too wet. It was never a field we could rely on.

I went on to play Division I soccer at the University of Vermont, and I can tell you that the current field doesn’t prepare CVU athletes for the next level, either. Nearly every college program in the Northeast plays on turf. It’s not just about staying dry. Turf gives you a level, predictable surface, and athletes who spend half the season on rutted, waterlogged grass

are learning a different game than the one they’ll play in college.

Last week the school board voted 8-3 to move forward with the Community Field Project, a field funded entirely by private donations at no new cost to taxpayers. Opponents have raised environmental questions, which the district commissioned a study to address, and the project still faces town review. That process should play out. But this debate has gone on for two decades. Meanwhile, athletes have been practicing in parking lots the whole time. I hope this one finally crosses the finish line.

CVU athletes give championship-level effort, and the community deserves a field to match.

Joe Parento MONTPELIER

WHY NOT RECYCLE TIRES?

As I read [“The Dump Next Door: Vermont Is Littered With Junk-Strewn Properties. Neighbors Seethe as Cleanups

SAY SOMETHING!

Seven Days wants to publish your rants and raves.

Your feedback must... be 250 words or fewer;

• respond to Seven Days content;

• include your full name, town and a daytime phone number.

Seven Days reserves the right to edit for accuracy, length and readability. Your submission options include: sevendaysvt.com/feedback

• feedback@sevendaysvt.com

• Seven Days, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402-1164

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Playing With Fire?

Rutland ﬁreﬁghters want to remove a residency requirement to help recruitment. Opponents say that poses a safety risk.

Vermont Too Expensive, Poll Finds

Always Together

Cambridge mourns Ecuadorian

siblings Yazmin Yupangui and Sandro Lala, whose bond deﬁned their lives until the very end

‘Planet Hank’ Sues AG Clark Over AI Video Investigation

FEATURES 27

Squad Goals

Fans rally to support the inaugural season of the Vermont Green FC women’s team

ARTS+CULTURE 38

Bound to Bond

A Minnesota reader forges friendships with a Hyde Park book group

With Ionesco’s Exit the King, Unadilla Theatre

Reﬂects on America

Between the Lines

eater review: e Understudy, Dorset eatre Festival

Life on Neptune Book

Catherine Tudish

Modern Math

Sculpture Is “At Sixes and Sevens” at the Bundy Modern

Not Just Child’s Play

DRINK 34

Pastry Days, Gaucho Nights

In Quechee, Two Bistro & Café melds the ﬂavors of two South American countries

COLUMNS

catastrophic ﬂooding. After meeting

survivors in July 2024, Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger revisited them this month. e

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:

✓ Vote independently and privately

✓ Use accessible voting equipment

✓ Get help voting if you need it

✓ Request accommodations at the polls

✓ Cast a ballot free from discrimination

✓ Vote early, by mail , or from home

✓ Vote from a nursing home, hospital , or

residential facility

✓ Vote if you are homeless

✓ Vote if you are incarcerated

✓ Vote if you have a guardian

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

FRIDAY 17 & SATURDAY 18

e Revivalists

SATURDAY 18

SKIN’S THE LIMIT

e oft-overlooked artistry of ink gets its moment at Bennington Museum’s Exhibition some skin is encouraged. e gallery trades traditional frames for ﬂesh as models and artists share the stories behind their permanent masterpieces and body-art enthusiasts enjoy scavenger hunts, music, food and a chance to vote for their favorite tats.

Tattoo Living , where showing

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 48

THURSDAY 16

Monster Smash

Four decades after ﬁrst plugging in, platinum-selling Big Head Todd & the Monsters enthrall listeners at Spruce Peak’s WhistlePig Pavilion in Stowe. e tight-knit rock outﬁt known for its chemistry both on and off the stage lights up the night with a bevy of blues-drenched bangers, including the 1993 chart-topper “Bittersweet” — so perfectly emblematic of that era.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 58

At long last, Burlington’s Great Streets BTV revitalization initiative has come to a close, and it’s time to toast the Main Street Block Party. To mark this new fresh downtown sidewalks transform into cultural corridors with live local tunes, public art tours, business pop-ups and large-scale prints

pressed by actual steamrollers.

Vermont Brewers Festival takes Burlington’s Waterfront Park by storm with a whopping 40 participating breweries serving up more than 200 specialty beers. e hophead (see what we did there?) with early-access VIP perks, unlimited NA pours for designated drivers and at-par ticket pricing for our thirsty Canadian neighbors.

Lamoille County Field Days brings old-fashioned family-friendly fun to Johnson. From high-stakes pig races and heavy ox pulls to dainty pinky lifting in Aunt Jane’s Tea Party Tent and memorable moments on the midway, the quintessential fair packs endless agricultural amusement into three dizzying days.

MONDAY 20

Little White Way

Colchester-born stage stalwart Merritt David Janes and his cohort of showbiz vets bring theatrical ﬂair to Duxbury’s Moose Meadow Lodge with “Broadway in Vermont.” A rollicking lineup of classic show tunes and originals — peppered with behind-thescenes industry anecdotes — wins over picnickers’ ears and hearts.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

TUESDAY 21

at’s All Folk

e Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green series continues with a resonant performance by acclaimed Americana duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at Shelburne Museum. Blending intricate instrumentals with poignant vocal harmonies, these modern acoustic-music pillars remind audience members why Rolling Stone magazine dubbed them “protectors of the American folk song.”

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

Good Points

The American Press Institute news summit last month in Pittsburgh was unlike any journalism conference I’ve attended.

A two-day, invitation-only event, it brought together editors and publishers from around the country, as well as leaders from nonprofits, foundations and universities, to discuss the impact of local journalism — how we define, measure and explain it.

Because the number of journalists in the U.S. has dropped by more than 81 percent since 2002, there have been a lot of opportunities to study what happens to a community when its news outlets disappear. According to Rebuild Local News, a nonprofit that aggregates this research and advocates for solutions, the closure of local newspapers causes a decline in civic engagement and an increase in government waste and corruption. It leads to more political polarization, too, because residents turn to more partisan national news sources.

But how can we tell whether local media is doing its job well? We know the presence of a local newspaper increases community connection, but how do we quantify and track that? How do we show that our work is having a positive impact? If we want local media to survive, we need to figure out how to make a case for it — fast.

We measure the project’s impact by the number of kids who have participated, which is roughly 1,000 since we started it in 2018. Also by the number of activities completed — 838 this summer and growing daily — and what the kids say about their experiences.

In June, 8-year-old Rowan Frederick Young of Derby Line went to the Haskell Free Library & Opera House, which sits on the border between Vermont and Québec. “I thought it was cool that the library has books in French and English,” he said in his entry. “I asked my mom to download a language app on my iPad so I can start learning French.”

WE MEASURE THE GOOD CITIZEN CHALLENGE’S IMPACT BY THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED: AROUND 1,000 SINCE 2018.

API didn’t bring in celebrity speakers to answer those questions for us. Instead, its staff brought together attendees doing innovative work and structured sessions so that we’d talk with and learn from each other.

They asked a couple dozen attendees to facilitate smallgroup conversations about promising projects. That’s how I wound up leading two sessions about the Good Citizen Challenge, the youth civics project that Seven Days and Kids VT organize with support from the Vermont Community Foundation and the Canaday Family Charitable Trust. The Challenge encourages K-8 students to learn about and get involved in their communities, while introducing them to reputable sources of local news.

We give kids 25 fun, educational activities to attempt. Easy ones, such as borrowing something from a library and reading a community newspaper, are worth one star. The most difficult activities — talking with a local journalist, taking a three-day screen break, raising money for a local charity — are worth three stars. Every star earned is an entry in prize drawings. We raffle off $50 gift cards to Phoenix Books every week. At the end of the Challenge, we give away a free trip for two to Washington, D.C.

Another 8-year-old, Theo Moore of Burlington, organized a mini farmers market with his friends to sell homemade baked goods and produce from his garden. He wanted to help pay for a mural project at his school, J.J. Flynn Elementary. “We were able to donate $200!!” he told us.

Scarlet Martin, 10, of Hinesburg went on a group tour of WCAX-TV Channel 3, one of our Challenge partners. “I saw a meteorologist preparing the weather report and then going live on TV. Then I went to the control room.” She learned that “it is important to plan, prepare and check each story.”

I can’t divulge anything about the people in my small groups at the API summit, but I can say that, in the first one, the leaders of two entities from the same city started talking about working together on a similar youth civics program.

I asked them to let me know if it gets off the ground — that would be more evidence of Seven Days’ impact.

You can find more information about this summer’s Good Citizen Challenge, and submit entries, at goodcitizenvt.com.

Cathy Resmer

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

Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualified charitable contribution?

Contact Gillian English: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Mini farmers market crew, from left: Clara Moore, Jude Vivori, Theo Moore and Luke Vivori

COURTESY

PUBLIC SAFETY

Playing With Fire?

Rutland ﬁreﬁghters want to remove a residency requirement to help recruitment. Opponents say that poses a safety risk.

BY IAN CURRY • icurry@sevendaysvt.com

Since the late 19th century, Rutland has required its ﬁreﬁghters to live in or near the city. The rule was created before cars were widely available, when emergency responders walked to work and needed to get to the station quickly in case of an emergency.

The rules have loosened over the years — since 1976, Rutland firefighters have been allowed to live up to five miles away from their station — but now the Rutland City Firefighters Association wants to remove the residency requirement altogether as a way to widen the pool of potential recruits. That will require changing the city charter, a process that involves an as-yet-unscheduled citywide vote, then approval by the legislature and governor.

Just 13 Vermont municipalities have career, aka paid, ﬁreﬁghting departments.

Of those, only three — Rutland City, Barre City and Hartford — still have residency requirements for full-time employees.

But several have debated such policies in

WE KNOW TIMES CHANGE, BUT SOME THINGS DON’T CHANGE IF YOUR HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN.

RUTLAND CITY ALDERMAN

BARRY BEAUCHAMP

recent years, with similar arguments about the pros and cons.

Those in Rutland who are opposed to removing the requirement say it remains

Young People Want to Leave Expensive Vermont, Poll Finds

BY IAN CURRY • icurry@sevendaysvt.com

an important way to keep o -duty ﬁreﬁghters nearby; eliminating the rule could lengthen emergency response times.

“We know times change, but some things don’t change if your house is burning down,” Alderman Barry Beauchamp told Seven Days.

Rutland City Fire Chief William Lovett is also opposed, but he’s open to a compromise that would expand the allowable radius up to 15 miles. He noted that the city is surrounded by volunteer departments that typically don’t have on-call ﬁreﬁghters sleeping at the station.

That means he can’t always be sure how many of those volunteer firefighters will be able to help the city. “That’s why the city kept the five-mile radius — they knew

More than 40 percent of Vermonters are considering leaving the state, with some 60 percent of residents between the ages of 18 and 34 saying they will “likely” move away within the next ﬁve years, according to a poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire. Six in 10 of those who will probably leave said they want to move somewhere with cheaper housing and a lower cost of living. About 50 percent said they were seeking lower taxes. Overall, the online poll, which surveyed 981 Vermonters from across the state and from a variety of political and educational backgrounds, found that 86 percent of Vermonters ﬁnd the state at least somewhat unaffordable.

Vermont’s results stand out compared to the other New England states polled by UNH. In neighboring New Hampshire, only 21 percent of residents between the ages of 18 and 34 said they wanted to move away within the next ﬁve years.

e ﬁndings capture the scale of Vermont’s cost-of-living woes and the challenge they pose to an aging state that wants to attract younger residents. Since February, Seven Days has documented these demographic shifts in a series titled “Gen Zero” that examines why we have fewer young people — and the ramiﬁcations.

In April, young Vermonters told Seven Days that the rising costs of housing, health care and childcare have left them locked out of traditional milestones such as buying a house and starting a family.

Vermont’s birth rate has lagged behind the national average for years. e state’s fertility rate is 41.5 per 1,000 women of childbearing age, well below the national average of 53. at’s led to a sharp decline in enrollment at Vermont public schools, from 98,000 in 2005 to 73,000 in 2025. e drop-off has made the per-pupil cost of educating Vermont’s children, and hence property taxes, more expensive, Seven Days reported earlier this year. ➆

From left: Ivan Sweet, Kyle Robillard, William Tracey and Dylan Flood

Always Together

Cambridge mourns Ecuadorian siblings

Yazmin Yupangui and Sandro Lala, whose bond defined their lives until the very end

BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

Yazmin Yupangui loved flowers — tulips, especially. The 11-year-old girl would watch their petals slowly unfurl when she put them in water, blooming before her.

And she loved her older brother, Sandro Lala. She’d bounce on the trampoline while he played soccer in the yard of their Cambridge home. In the evenings, they’d walk down the road to the Cambridge Village Market to buy bags of spicy Takis corn chips that stained their fingers red.

IMMIGRATION

When Sandro, 25, wasn’t working with his dad as a roofer, he and Yazmin biked along the country roads near their house — Sandro pedaling behind his little sister so he could keep an eye on her.

He was watching out for her until their final moments. On July 1, the siblings were part of a group fishing at a favorite spot along the Lamoille River when Yazmin fell into the water. Sandro dove in after her.

They never resurfaced. First responders recovered their bodies in the days that followed.

Sandro’s selfless action did not surprise their father, Luis Lala. The siblings were always together, he recalled in an interview conducted in Spanish with Seven Days “Por eso se fueron los dos,” he said, meaning: “That’s why they both left us.”

Another, eerily similar tragedy struck the next day just 10 miles up the same river. The water was running high from recent rainstorms when Robert Coreno, 39, jumped in to help his 10-year-old daughter. He held her long enough for a neighbor to paddle out in a kayak. She was rescued; he was not.

“It was just a tragic coincidence,” said Lt. Charles Winn, commander of the Vermont State Police underwater recovery team, which responded to both accidents.

Coreno had just moved to Fairfax as part of a big blended family, according to a GoFundMe page created to raise money for his survivors, including three children. Yazmin and Sandro, too, were part of a blended family. They shared a house in Cambridge with family members.

A room in the home has been converted into a memorial to the siblings. Their photos hang on the wall above a table covered with bouquets of flowers, showing a smiling Yazmin posing in a ruffly turquoise dress. She had long black hair that hung almost to her waist. It was often braided in elaborate styles she found on YouTube and asked her mom to re-create.

MARY RUSSIN-DENSMORE

She’d recently finished sixth grade at Cambridge Elementary School and was headed for middle school in the fall.

Yazmin was a “bright light,” school principal Kim Lesny said in a written statement. “She will be remembered for the joy she brought to those around her, and her loss is being deeply felt by classmates, staff members, and our entire school community.”

At the Cambridge Village Market, a donation bin is collecting money for the family. In a Facebook post, the owners said they’d match up to $5,000. A separate GoFundMe has raised more than $90,000.

Mary Russin-Densmore, the store’s evening manager, said donations at the

people would be able to get here quickly,” Lovett said.

Departments with full-time staff have protocols in place for emergencies of different sizes. During severe situations, the Rutland department calls all off-duty firefighters. Ideally, everyone would respond, Lovett said, but that’s not always the case — creating a tricky situation for bigger blazes. While a city such as Burlington can depend on what’s known as “mutual aid” from professional departments in the surrounding suburbs, Rutland doesn’t have that luxury. The nearest fully-staffed department is 40 minutes away in Woodstock, noted Kyle Robillard, president of the Rutland firefighters’ union.

Calling on nearby volunteer departments can help, Lovett said, but there’s less certainty about the number of people who will respond.

The tussle in Rutland over the residency requirement also highlights a recruitment problem confronting fire departments across Vermont. Volunteer departments have typically been a training ground from which career departments can draw new employees. But the number of volunteers is shrinking — from about 900,000 nationally in 1984 to roughly 635,000 in 2023, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. That trend is expected to continue, as 26 percent of firefighters in towns with fewer than 25,000 residents are over the age of 50.

Vermont has no state-specific data on volunteer and career firefighters, according to Michael Skaza, chief of training for the Vermont Fire Academy. But the number of Vermonters holding an entrylevel “Firefighter 1” certification has dropped precipitously, from 3,054 in 2012 to just 849 in 2024, according to data from the Division of Fire Safety.

“Across the country, we’ve seen downward trends in firefighter recruitment, and that transfers through to enrollment levels,” Skaza said. “Obviously, if there’s fewer people entering the service, there’s fewer people taking the training.”

This has resulted in fierce recruiting battles. In Montpelier, Fire Chief Derek Libby said he has watched his hiring pool shrink to just a handful of qualified candidates. That’s a far cry from his own experience 30 years ago, when hundreds of applicants used to compete for a single career firefighter position.

In late April, Montpelier and a few other local departments were looking to fill full-time positions, “and I bet you I could list off every candidate that was on everybody’s interview list because those

10 to 20 people are putting their names in everywhere,” Libby said.

Rutland City’s fire department is currently staffed with 30 full-timers, many of whom started their careers as volunteers in nearby departments and later moved to the city. Robillard, the union head, said open positions only attract two or three applicants with the experience and certifications necessary to work as a career firefighter in the city of more than 15,000 people. That previous training has been key since 2010, when Rutland City stopped paying the salaries of prospective firefighters while they get certified at the Vermont Fire Academy.

“It became easier and less expensive to hire firefighters from volunteer departments,” Robillard said at a June meeting of the city’s Charter and Ordinance Committee, the Rutland Herald reported. “Effectively, we haven’t hired a Rutland City resident in years.”

But many of those volunteers are already settled in other towns, where kids may be in school or a spouse works, he said. Requiring them to relocate, especially with such an overheated real estate market, is a lot to ask.

Other professional fire departments have struggled with the issue of residency. Hoping to drive recruitment, St. Johnsbury removed its requirement in 2021. But that led to problems, according to Fire Chief Bradley Reed.

“Firefighters were responding to calls and realizing that ... you have off-duty members who were living far enough away that they weren’t able to come back,” Reed said.

Last year, St. Johnsbury reinstated a rule that specifies firefighters must live within 11 miles of town.

THE FIRE DOESN’T KNOW IF IT’S IN BURLINGTON OR MONTPELIER. IT BURNS THE SAME; IT’S JUST AS DEADLY.

DEREK LIBBY

Woodstock, meanwhile, became a professional department in 2020 — the smallest Vermont municipality to do so. At the time, the town debated whether to include a residency requirement for its members. Fire Chief David Green said they decided against a new rule, given the cost of housing in the area.

Montpelier does not have a residency requirement, much to the chagrin of Chief Libby. He was previously deputy chief of operations in Burlington, which boasts the state’s largest department, with about 100 full-time employees.

Moving to Montpelier was a big adjustment for Libby: leading a department of just 18 full-time employees who serve about 8,000 residents and responded to around 2,200 calls last year — a number that is expected to increase. The fire station, which also provides the city’s ambulance service, has a minimum staffing requirement of three people. Without a residency requirement, he has firefighters who live too far away to provide emergency backup when the team needs help.

As a result, Libby relies on a mix of volunteer and career firefighters from nearby mutual aid partners more often than he would like.

“The fire doesn’t know if it’s in Burlington or Montpelier. It burns the same; it’s just as deadly, and I’m throwing one or two people at it,” Libby said.

Back in Rutland, union chief Robillard is bracing for some retirements on the horizon. “This will be a really telling cycle of what the applicant pool is going to look like,” he said.

Removing the residency requirement, Robillard said, would be an easy way to test whether it gives the department a recruiting edge.

“These careers are unlike any others; you have to be competitive in the market,” he said. “If you’re looking for people to come prequalified, you need to entice them.”

CALEB KENNA

Kyle Robillard

LEGAL

‘Planet Hank’ Sues AG Clark Over AI Video Investigation

BY COLIN FLANDERS colin@sevendaysvt.com

A new Vermont law targeting deceptive political advertisements created with artificial intelligence tools is facing its first legal test from the man who posted a fake video of U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.).

Hank Poitras, who has gained notoriety for filming arrests in Brattleboro and posting them on the internet under the moniker “Planet Hank,” has filed a federal lawsuit arguing that Vermont’s “synthetic media disclosure law” is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit, filed last week by attorney Brady Toensing, the former vice chair of the Vermont Republican Party, focuses on the response to a June 7 video Poitras posted to his social media accounts.

The AI-generated video mocks Balint while promoting one of her Republican challengers: Mark Coester, a logger from Westminster. The video depicts Balint making arrogant statements and includes a scene of Coester scooping the congresswoman up in a backhoe and dropping her into a dumpster.

On June 12, Poitras received a letter from the office of Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, a Democrat, notifying him that he was under investigation for potential violations of the law. Passed in March, it generally requires that political attack ads running within 90 days of an election disclose that they were generated by AI when that’s the case and they promote “materially false information.” The law exempts satire and parody.

Poitras’ lawsuit seeks monetary compensation and asks a judge to grant a preliminary injunction to prevent Clark’s office from investigating further. Poitras, a disabled combat vet who served in Iraq, “has a critical view of incumbent Vermont politicians and has used artificial intelligence and other digital tools to lampoon and criticize such politicians,” the lawsuit says. “He intends to continue to do so in the future, especially in the election season.”

The lawsuit argues that Poitras’ Balint video is exempt from Vermont’s AI law because it is obviously satirical. ➆

store have been pouring in. She has known their family for years.

“To think that those two aren’t gonna walk through that door again really upsets me,” she said last week while working behind the counter.

Yazmin was born in New York City in 2014, about a month after her mother, Maria Yupangui, migrated alone to the United States from Suscal, a small town in Ecuador.

They moved in 2021 to Cambridge, where Yazmin was happiest when playing outside — floating on her back in the pool, searching for crayfish under rocks in the river while her brother fished, running around the yard with her dog, Toby.

Sandro was her stepbrother. But the two had a bond like blood. He was born in Ecuador but came to the U.S. several years ago to join his father in the roofing business.

Yazmin’s mother described her as an energetic and curious girl who was content with the smallest things. She’d light up over a flower or a little piece of chocolate. She loved animals and had several pet birds over the years, including a blue parakeet and a parrot, who she named Selva, Spanish for “jungle.”

When Yazmin’s father and brother would come home from work at the end of the day, they’d often find her in the kitchen. “Do you want to eat?” she’d ask.

Yazmin could whip up smoothies and pancakes. For a cooking competition at school, she taught her classmates to make tacos from scratch — showing them how to prepare the masa dough for tortillas and flatten it into rounds. She was especially fond of beef tongue tacos.

“Mommy, don’t worry,” Yazmin used to say. “You have your own personal chef.”

She and Sandro would often pile onto a cushion in the living room with their younger brother, Erick, who is 5, to watch movies. Sandro happily tolerated Yazmin when she tugged on his ears or tied his hair into little ponytails.

He was patient and smart, his parents said. In his free time, he taught English to his other sister in Ecuador over the phone.

“Whatever he promised, he delivered,” said Maria Acosta, Sandro’s cousin.

When his father was detained in an immigration raid on his way to work last November, Sandro stepped up to care for his siblings and stepmother.

“He said, ‘Don’t worry, he will come back, and I will take care of you,’” Yupangui recalled. The elder Lala was released about a month later after a federal suit challenged the legality of his detention. Yazmin wrote a letter to the judge, asking for her father to be freed.

Young as she was, Yazmin served as her mother’s interpreter and often talked about saving money so she could buy them all a house and a plane ticket to fly her grandmother up from Ecuador. She understood that forces beyond her control kept the family splintered, but she wanted to make them whole.

Yazmin saved her birthday money in a piggy bank next to a stuffed capybara in her bedroom, which is decorated with her artwork of sea creatures. A Bible she received at her confirmation ceremony in April sits on a pink dresser.

“She always dreamed big,” Yupangui said of her daughter. “Of owning land, houses, animals, gardens and fruit trees.”

One of her dreams was that the family could travel to Ecuador together — an impossibility for immigration reasons.

Last year, Yazmin flew there by herself for the first time. She bonded with her grandmother and learned about the place where her mom grew up, which she had only heard about in stories.

“It was as if she wanted to experience what life was like there now compared to what it used to be,” her mother said.

Soon, Yazmin will be accompanied by her brother for her second, and final, trip to Ecuador. The family is sending their bodies there, where they will be buried together. ➆

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

Yazmin Yupangui and Sandro Lala

Ballaké Sissoko & Piers Faccini

FEEDback

« P.7

Drag on for Years,” July 1], one thing popped out: tires. So many tires. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, as well. We just generate so many used tires. It made me think: Why not have a redemption program, like we do for lead-acid batteries?

A deposit could be added to the price of tires, which would then be used to buy them back and recycle them once they are worn out. To avoid cross-state issues, Vermont mechanics and tire shops would be required to participate, and customers would only get the deposit back when they switched out their tires at one of these shops.

GEORGE V. KRANICHFELD

Voters are paying close attention to the race for Chittenden County state’s attorney. Incumbent Sarah George is being challenged by a former colleague, Franklin County State’s Attorney Bram Kranichfeld, in what many view as a referendum on law enforcement in the Burlington area. Our July 1 cover story, headlined “Pleading Their Case,” generated a lot of feedback, with more to come next week.

FORGET FIREWORKS. TRY FIREFLIES!

Jacob Flanigan BURLINGTON

GEORGE IS TOUGH ON CRIME

The article marking Sarah George as one of the most progressive prosecutors in the country fails to mention that she, by any standard in Vermont, has prosecuted more murders and serious crimes than any prosecutor before. She has chosen to put the resources into serious crimes.

[Re “Less Bang for the Buck: Some Vermont Towns Can’t A ord the Skyrocketing Cost of Fourth of July Fireworks,” June 24]: As communities grapple with the rising cost of ﬁreworks displays, it’s worth remembering that nature o ers its own spectacular light show, completely free.

Find a meadow or field with tall grass, head out around 9 p.m., and watch the fireflies put on their nightly performance. Unlike traditional fireworks, these displays come with quiet, allowing friends and families to enjoy conversation while taking in the show. If you still miss the booming soundtrack, you can always play a recording of fireworks while watching fireflies illuminate the darkness with their tiny lanterns.

I have had the privilege of working in Sarah’s o ce as a lawyer, volunteertraining her child protection sta , and have seen how Sarah manages her o ce. I spent over a year in her o ce and, in my interactions with her, always came away in awe of her terriﬁc ability to train and support her sta . She is upbeat at times when serious matters with horrible human consequences could put a gloom and doom on any prosecutor’s o ce.

Look closely, and you’ll discover that not all fireflies flash alike. Each species has its own distinctive flash pattern and timing. Their lights also vary in color, from pale yellow and amber to yellowgreen, bright yellow-green, orange and even bright green.

The best part? Nature’s ﬁreworks don’t last for just one evening. You can enjoy them on July 3, 4, 5, 6 and many warm summer nights beyond.

Vermont is home to approximately 15 known species of fireflies. Learn more about them at vtbugeyed.blogspot. com/2026/06/ﬁreﬂy-night-event-farmupstream-150.html.

As we celebrate our nation’s independence, perhaps we can also celebrate the remarkable natural world around us. Instead of marveling only at displays inspired by the sounds and ﬂashes of war, take time to be awed by one of summer’s gentlest wonders.

Observing insects may just become the new birding.

Bernie Paquette JERICHO

It is disingenuous to criticize her for not requiring cash bail and not more aggressively pursuing nonviolent crimes. Incarcerating these people would only be for a short period of time and, when they are then released, would leave them less able to address the problems that led them to commit their crime in the ﬁrst place — and more likely to commit more crimes.

Trine Bech SHELBURNE

MEASURING BIAS

After reading the article on the Chittenden County state’s attorney contest, I wondered if there was a bias toward one candidate in the story, so I applied a tool learned in a college election analysis course many years ago.

While subjective, it is simple: Each mention of a candidate is assigned a score of -1 if it seems to cast a candidate unfavorably, 0 if it is neutral and +1 if favorable.

The results of my analysis: Sarah George received 101 mentions; 10 were negative, 51 neutral and 40 positive, resulting in a +30 rating.

Bram Kranichfeld received 57 mentions; 11 were negative, 23 neutral and 23 positive, resulting in a +12 rating. As George’s performance is the key campaign issue, the gap in mentions would be expected. Readers can draw their own conclusion regarding the di erence in +/- ratios.

Brian Norder MORRISTOWN

KRANICHFELD CAN DO THE JOB

Sarah George says the biggest myth about her is that she avoids prosecuting cases. Unfortunately, she hasn’t backed up that claim with a single piece of data. The state tracking system can’t measure how often she declines to charge, so instead of pulling her own case ﬁles or comparing them against police arrest logs, she told Seven Days her office prosecutes “the vast majority of times,” unveriﬁed.

George’s key endorsement comes from out of state: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Bram Kranichfeld’s comes from home: Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, whose job is representing Vermont’s interests statewide and who’s chosen the candidate she believes will actually serve them best.

Kranichfeld spent years in the Chittenden County o ce and has run Franklin County’s o ce since 2023. He knows what the job requires because he’s doing it.

Chittenden County needs a state’s attorney who adjusts to what’s actually happening on the ground, not one locked into an ideology regardless of the evidence. Our family will be voting for Bram Kranichfeld, and we hope you do, as well.

DON’T BLAME SARAH

Thank you for the piece on our choice for state’s attorney. It helped me decide who will get my vote on August 11, Sarah George or Bram Kranichfeld. I also learned a great deal. I learned that Bram’s approach, backed by some who profess to be “ready for a change,” is in reality returning to past costly failures that in the long run did not serve our community. If you are a fiscally responsible person, consider how expensive it is to incarcerate an individual, even for one day.

If you are a compassionate person, consider Sarah’s diversion program and the accountability courts she has implemented. Both are working to increase public safety, reducing repeat offenses through direct social services and freeing her office to attend to violent crimes.

On Sarah’s watch, violent crime is down. I learned that Bram is of the opinion that the practice of setting cash bail punishes poor people, while saying he supports it. What? His defense of the latter refers to defendants skipping trial dates, which oversimplifies the realities of their lives. Sarah knows what people are experiencing, and she brings to court direct support services.

While I agree with our city council president’s statement that “there’s no single person to blame” for the challenges of post-COVID years, I was confused by his next statement doing just that, blaming Sarah. We all need to be a part of the solution. That is why I am voting for Sarah George on August 11.

Linda Kosiba BURLINGTON

‘HEADLINES MATTER’

I was disappointed to see the biased subtitle on your cover story: “Bram Kranichfeld says he should be Chittenden County’s next state’s attorney. Reform-minded incumbent Sarah George objects.”

“Aspiring” and “reform-minded” don’t carry equal weight. You identified Bram Kranichfeld as aspiring, while you identified Sarah George as reformminded. It may be that Kranichfeld is also reform-minded. In a reformminded place like Vermont, sound-bite headlines matter.

Glenn Fay BURLINGTON

WHAT THE TASER?

I am gobsmacked by the reaction of Bram Kranichfeld to the incident of him and his children being threatened by men with Tasers. He did not call the police because “even if they had shown up,” he did not believe Sarah George would prosecute.

Something is seriously wrong with you. These are your children. This is how you protect them and anybody else’s children they may go on to threaten? If you think this is how to illustrate your beliefs about law enforcement and Sarah George’s office, it’s blown back on you big time, buddy.

I’m voting for Sarah George.

Jean Wright BURLINGTON

JOB DESCRIPTION

As someone who worked as a deputy state’s attorney for over 16 years under three very effective state’s attorneys, I have some understanding of the job. It should not be political, which I know sounds odd, given that it’s an elected position. Running an effective campaign is a poor indicator of success. The job is to enforce the laws fairly and impartially, not to decide policy and enforce laws selectively.

To be good at the job, the office has to try cases — hard cases, not just slam dunks — and learn what it takes to win them. The defense bar in Chittenden County is experienced and skillful. Yes, most cases resolve by plea bargain, but whether these bargains are good or bad is a reflection of the office’s skill and willingness to try a case.

No prosecutor wants to put anyone in jail; it’s always a last resort. But if it’s off the table and everyone is only focused on what is best for the defendant, the system fails. Only the prosecutor represents the people. Whether the office is doing a good job is reflected in whether people involved feel heard. Does the prosecutor’s office invite others to build trust in the system to produce a fair outcome — or undermine it?

This includes working closely with the police, who investigate and build cases. If they don’t trust the state’s attorney to do their job, the system falls apart. Open communication and respect are vital. Focus on electing an effective prosecutor.

Carolyn Hanson BURLINGTON

I

ON SEVEN DAYS’ EXCELLENT, IN-DEPTH REPORTING, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO LOOK FOR

CULTURAL

Welcome, new Super Readers!

ese wonderful people made their ﬁrst donation to Seven Days this week:

Elizabeth Baker

Alice Christian

Barbara Edwards

Caren Friedman

Sarah Gilmore

Sandra Maccarrone

Margaret Merrill

Mark Smith Steephill Designs Inc.

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year:

Chris E. Anderson

Judy Beningson

Sally Cavanagh

Angie Chapple-Sokol

Abigail Clay

Therese Cleveland

Brett Cluff

Steve Grover

Renee Kievit-Kylar

Doug Kievit-Kylar

Larry Kupferman

Michael Marchand

George Martin

Carroll Maxwell

Ellen McKay

Mufﬁ e Milens

Fred Pond

Janet St. Onge

Nic Stark

Susi Taylor

Becky Tharp

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

Make your contribution today! sevendaysvt.com/super-readers

Or send a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402.

Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualiﬁed charitable contribution? Contact Gillian at 802-865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

Grant, Underhill

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Elbert Howard “Shorty” Ne

SEPTEMBER 22, 1930JULY 8, 2026

ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Elbert Howard “Shorty” Neff, 95, of Essex Junction, Vt., and past winter resident of Florida for 39 years, passed away on July 8, 2026. He chose to spend his ﬁnal moments peacefully at home, surrounded by family.

Born on September 22, 1930, Shorty was the biological son of Katherine O’Neil and Carl Neff and was lovingly raised by his aunt and uncle, Ruth (O’Neil) and omas G. Parizo. He grew up attending Essex Junction schools before answering the call to serve his country in the Korean War, where his leadership skills shone as a platoon leader and tank commander.

Upon returning home, Shorty married Jean Harriet Lunderville, with whom he shared 56 wonderful years until her passing in 2006. In their early years, they lived in Essex Junction alongside Jean’s

William Henry “Bill” Valiquette

JANUARY 5, 1950JUNE 8, 2026

SPRING HILL, FLA.

William Henry Valiquette passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026, at the age of 76 in Spring Hill, Fla. He was born on January 5, 1950, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. After attending Mount Royal Catholic High School, where he was a member of the curling team, his family relocated to Vermont, and he graduated from Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington. Bill proudly served for six years in the Vermont National Guard and spent nearly 40 years as a driver for Benways Taxi, where he became a familiar and friendly face to many.

A devoted son, brother, uncle and friend, Bill shared a close bond with his family. One of his greatest expressions of

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

mother, Minnie Merchant Lunderville. Shorty worked 32 years with New England Telephone & Telegraph, eventually retiring from Verizon as an in-house lobbyist in 1986. Deeply invested in his community, he spent much of his career involved in local politics and volunteering on numerous municipal and recreational committees.

Beyond his career, Shorty was a man who loved people and always had a story to tell. He was thankful for the many friends and adventures he and Jean shared during their retirement. He took

love was caring for his mother during the ﬁnal decade of her life, allowing her to remain in the home she cherished. ough he never married or had children, he touched the lives of family and friends with his kindness, generosity and unwavering devotion. ose who knew him best recognized the caring heart beneath his sometimes quiet and awkward exterior.

An enthusiastic sports fan,

immense pride in sharing his love for golf with Jean and their granddaughter, Ava. For the past 10 years, Shorty was blessed with the companionship of his special friend, Pearl Belanger of Florida. He leaves behind his two daughters, Pamela Neff and her husband, Butch Greenwood, of East Randolph, Vt., and Catherine Neff and her husband, Michael Garvey, of St. George, Vt.; and his granddaughter, Ava Neff Lalancette, and her husband, Joe Henderson, of Sandpoint, Idaho.

e family offers special thanks to Dr. Paul Unger, Dr. Kevin Carey and the hospice team of the University of Vermont Medical Center for their dedicated care. And many thanks to the crew at the Essex Bakery for keeping a watchful eye and bringing joy to Dad for over 20 years.

A memorial celebration of Shorty’s life will be held at a future date. In lieu of ﬂowers, contributions may be made to McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446.

Bill faithfully followed the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He delighted in knowing every statistic and loved calling family to discuss the latest game and memorable plays.

Bill is survived by his sisters, Maxine Wardle of Toronto, Ontario, Meg Donnelly of San Diego, Calif., and Kathryn Valiquette of Colchester, Vt.; his brothers, Jim (Joan Kornecki) Valiquette of Mooers Forks, N.Y., and Stephen (Karen) Valiquette of Spring Hill, Fla.; along with several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Gertrude Valiquette.

Bill will be remembered with love, gratitude and respect. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

A private family service will be held, with interment beside his parents at Calvary Cemetery in Rutland, Vt.

Michael Marceau

FEBRUARY 11, 1960-JUNE 25, 2026 MILTON, VT.

It is with great sadness we announce the unexpected passing of Michael Marceau while he was attending the annual meeting of the American Society of Engineering Education.

Michael was born in February 1960, the son of Dr. J. Edward Marceau and Jacqueline (LeMay) Marceau. e family lived in Shelburne, Vt., during his early years and then purchased land and a house on Hinesburg Road in South Burlington, where he grew up. He attended South Burlington schools and graduated from South Burlington High School. Many summers were spent cutting and baling hay on his parents’ property. is was where his love of John Deere tractors was born, and it was a passion he continued for life. He attended the University of Vermont and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering.

While a graduate student at UVM, he was a lecturer in electrical engineering, which would eventually lead him to a second career.

available for whatever help his students needed to succeed.

He was employed by the IBM Corporation from 1988 to 2002, working as a product yield characterization engineer.

In 2002 he was able to pursue his love of teaching and went to work at Vermont Technical College (now Vermont State University) at both the Williston and Randolph campus. He served as his department chair from 2003 to 2011. For the next 24 years he dedicated himself to providing a high quality education for his students. He stayed current with emerging technologies, teaching techniques and being

In September 1994, he married Mary Lavigne at St. Benedict’s in North Hero. ey made their home in Milton. ey enjoyed traveling around the country attending conferences, visiting with family and friends, going to railroad museums, and exploring the back roads of Vermont looking for locations of former train stations. Michael was an avid collector of model trains and Rutland Railroad memorabilia. Another interest was planting and maintaining an apple and pear orchard located on family property in North Hero. In the fall, it’s all hands on deck to help with the picking, sorting, washing, chopping and pressing of the apples to make cider. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lavigne; mother-in-law, Dorothy Lavigne, brothers-in-law Richard Lavigne and Peter Lavigne (Cindy); sisterin-law Margaret Lavigne; brother, Frank Marceau (Moni); sisters, Sue Enna and Michelle Marceau, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom he felt great affection for.

Michael is predeceased by his parents, J. Edward and Jackie Marceau; father-in-law, J. Arthur Lavigne; and brother-in-law David Enna.

Michael will be remembered as a man of great compassion, kindness and generosity. In lieu of ﬂowers, please consider making a donation to the Rutland Railroad Association, 79 Depot St., Center Rutland, VT 05736, or visit the support page at rutlandrailwaymuseum.org and donate via GoFundMe.

A funeral mass will be on Friday, July 31, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. Rose of Lima Church, 501 Route 2, South Hero, VT.

Want to memorialize a loved one in Seven Days?

Post your remembrance online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/ lifelines. Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com or 8651020, ext. 10.

A celebration of life in honor of Michael J. Blanchard will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m., at Hotel Vermont, located at 41 Cherry Street, Burlington, Vt. Parking is available at the parking garage attached to the hotel. Entrance on Cherry Street.

Michael J. Blanchard

OBITUARIES

Arthur Charles Hessler

FEBRUARY 22, 1941JUNE 25, 2026

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Arthur Charles Hessler — scientist, teacher, leader, and beloved husband, father and grandfather — passed away on June 25, 2026. Those who knew him will remember his intelligence, leadership and generosity and will miss his sometimes wicked sense of humor.

Arthur was born in Burlington, Wis., in 1941. The only child of Arthur S. and Esther (Markham) Hessler, he enjoyed an idyllic childhood exploring the woods and waters of rural Wisconsin before graduating from Burlington High School. As one of his classmates said to him in recent years, “You belonged to a different tribe” — a tribe focused more on social outlets than on studious pursuits. He found his calling, however, and completed a bachelor’s degree in biology at the

Tristram Gray Chase Jensvold

AUGUST 3, 1978APRIL 16, 2026 NASHVILLE, TENN.

Tristram (aka T, Tris, TJ) Gray Chase Jensvold was born in Burlington, Vt., on August 3, 1978. Shortly after his birth, he and his parents moved to Danville, Vt., where T spent his first years living on the Danville Morgan Horse Farm, later moving to a log cabin overlooking Joe’s Pond.

Tristram attended Danville schools and learned to ski at Burke Mountain. He was athletic and loved riding snow machines, horses and mountain bikes; snow and water-skiing; snowboarding; sailing; and other outdoor activities.

Tris graduated from Mount Mansfield Union High School in 1996. He attended Champlain College and then went into sales. He was

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Curiosity led him to Eastern Michigan University, where he earned a master’s degree while working with a faculty member who had similar research interests. More importantly, he had the good fortune to meet Mary Katherine MacMichael, who became his wife following a brief courtship and moved with him to Vermont after Arthur received a National Defense Fellowship that supported his doctoral studies in tissue regeneration at the University of Vermont.

disarmingly charming and a very successful salesperson. He was quick, witty and fearless.

T was an avid traveler who inherited his love of exploring the world from his grandmother (Barbara Winthrop Coffin Jones). From a young age, he spent much of his time sailing and camping on her beloved islands in Malletts Bay, and she also

Following the completion of his doctorate, Arthur began his teaching career at Saint Michael’s College, an initial two-year appointment that became a 27- year commitment. He enjoyed working with his students at Saint Michael’s in both the classroom and the lab and was awarded by the faculty with the college’s first recognition of Excellence in Teaching. Shortly thereafter he left the classroom to become the college’s first associate academic dean. In 1998 he accepted the position of dean of the college and vice president of academic affairs at Bridgewater College in Virginia, where he managed student affairs, directed academic programming and expanded learning opportunities for students. He became heavily involved in the accreditation of academic programs and enjoyed working with both the faculty and his administrative colleagues. Early in his years at Saint Michael’s, he and Kathy were blessed with the birth of daughter, Amy, and son, John.

introduced him to the joy of travel, a passion that stayed with him throughout his life. His adventures took him from the breathtaking Swiss Alps to Dubai for business to tropical destinations around the globe and to countless places across the United States. Wherever he went, he embraced new experiences and carried a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the world.

Tris moved to Southern California in the mid-2000s, where he met his wife-to-be, Daniella Dimase, daughter of Jose and Mirella Dimase of Rome, Italy. They were married in an Italian castle north of Rome in 2009. T moved back to Vermont in 2016 and lived in Danville for several years before moving to Nashville, Tenn., in 2023.

Tristram lived life to the fullest, had few boundaries and took many risks.

As much as he and Kathy enjoyed living in Virginia, they returned to Vermont in retirement to spend time with their children and their now adult grandchildren, Joshua and Katherine Kelley and Jackson Hessler, who knew him as “Grandpa Heart,” the instigator of shenanigans. In retirement, Arthur was an avid reader and a dedicated member of several community organizations. He hopes to be remembered for his service to his church and his neighborhood and wishes to thank Ken and Eileen (MacMichael) Behmer for adopting him into their extended family following his marriage to Kathy. Arthur’s dear wife, Kathy, passed away in December 2025, just one day after they celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. As she said shortly before her passing, “We have had a very good life together.” And so it was.

A celebration of Arthur’s life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11 a.m., at All Saints Church in South Burlington, Vt.

He was intense, funny and tough, with a huge heart. He loved deeply and was a good, loyal friend. He adored all animals, particularly horses and dogs. For the last eight years he lived with his best bud Paco, an American hunt terrier.

Tristram is survived by his mother, Candis Chase Leopold (James Leopold) of Malletts Bay, Vt,; his father, Christopher Jensvold (Betsy Bamford) of Jericho, Vt.; and his sister, Kaetlin Jensvold (Hal Reuling), and their children, Henry Reuling and Summer Grace Reuling, of Northern California. He also leaves many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and wonderful friends.

Tristram was loved by many, and he is very missed.

Donations in Tristram’s name may be made to Turning Point of Chittenden County, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, or the Humane Society.

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Fuller

1946-2026

Friends, neighbors, former colleagues and coworkers are invited to help remember and celebrate the life of Robert Fuller. Contribute an anecdote or memory you have about Robert (the greatest storyteller of them all!) by sharing it on the open mic during the ceremony or writing it down for the memory basket.

Join the family on Saturday, July 25, 2026, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Old Lantern, 3260 Greenbush Rd., Charlotte VT 05445. Ceremony at 1:30. RSVP, if you have not done so already, to alirobt2026@gmail.com to help us prepare.

Allen Samuel Daniels

1934-2026

Allen Samuel Daniels, 92, who valued truth, experience, and loving life and family, died on July 4, 2026, in Burlington, Vt. He grew up in Reading, Pa., where he and his wife, Marjory, raised their daughter, Jennifer. He later moved to Vermont to be near his daughter; son-in-law, Rick; and three grandchildren, Stella, Ruby and Benjamin, bringing joy, pride and laughter. His advice: “Keep your mind alert by staying active, and when you’re down, get up and do it over again.” His smile, jokes and dapper style charmed every room.

Peter Thomas McCaffrey

1958-2026

A memorial Mass will be held for Peter Thomas McCaffrey on August 23, 2026, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Christ the King Church, 136 Locust St., Burlington.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Lyndon “Lyn” B. Carew Jr.

NOVEMBER 27, 1932JUNE 27, 2026

SHELBURNE, VT.

Lyndon “Lyn” B. Carew Jr., PhD, passed away on June 27, 2026 at the Arbors in Shelburne, Vt. Lyn was born on November 27, 1932, in Lynn, Mass. He graduated from the Essex Agricultural Institute in Hathorne, Mass., in 1950 with top honors and received a BS cum laude in genetics and poultry science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1955 and a PhD in animal nutrition, biochemistry and endocrinology from Cornell University in 1961. Teaching was his great love. Lyn taught over 20,000 students at the University of Vermont during his career in human nutrition, foods, animal science and poultry science, including his very popular introductory course, Fundamentals of Nutrition. He loved the classroom and

Jessica Helen Pagliuca

JULY 10, 1978-JULY 2, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Jessica Helen Pagliuca passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 2, 2026, eight days before her 48th birthday.

Jess was dearly loved by family and friends, who will miss her kind and gentle spirit. She never ceased to surprise us with her creativity, most often presented as gifts for those she loved. She took great pride in her son, Khalil, who brought great joy to her life.

Jess devoted her life to working with people, young and old. As the Albany, N.Y., YMCA’s afterschool program director, she earned national accreditation for

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

won many teaching awards. He believed that at UVM he had achieved the best career possible, surrounded by wonderful people, too many to mention, but they know who they are. Because the students in his large 250-student class stayed the same age each year, Lyn commented that “he always felt he never grew old while he was teaching.” He continued teaching until he was 78 and remained in contact with students and the UVM community well after that.

her program. And, as the activities director at Mansﬁeld Place, she enhanced the program with her enthusiasm and organized numerous activities to bring the community together. During COVID-19, she would take the time to visit people individually in their rooms to stave off loneliness, playing games,

In 1980, Lyn developed the first computerized, online, college-level nutrition course in the world, well ahead of developments in the computer field. is program evolved from an 8-inch floppy disk-based program to a sophisticated World Wide Web program in the 1990s, used by people around the world.

He was a freelance nutrition journalist at the Shelburne News and South Burlington’s the Other Paper and wrote monthly columns on human nutrition. In 2010, he wrote a book, Musings of a Vermont Nutritionist, based on these columns.

After retirement he continued weekly conversations in Spanish with several local groups and developed a fair ability to play the ukulele. He adored friends he met through these activities, especially Chris and Jim Runcie and Cindy Messenger, as well as those in the Charlotte and Hinesburg groups and too many others to mention. Abrazos a todos

Lyn is survived by his daughters, Leslie of Charlotte and Audre of Williston, the most precious gifts of his life. He is also survived by his exwife, Lynn Harrington Carew. Lyn also leaves his dearest friend and love of his life for many years, Alida Lund, who was a wonderful support and shared many great experiences with him; as well as many dear colleagues, students and friends, especially Fran Alster Kinghorn, who shared over 20 years of fun-ﬁlled, productive scholarly and research work at UVM and who was a big part of his life right until the end. He had many fond memories of times spent with longtime friends Geoff and Dr. George Osol.

Please join us for a celebration of life on September 13, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m., in the Livak Ballroom in the Davis Center at UVM. In lieu of ﬂowers, please consider a gift to your favorite local charity, as Lyn had done for most of his life. For a full obituary please visit gregorycremation.com or gb774.app.goo.gl/ecjnb.

Nancy Fitch

1941-2026

A remembrance event will celebrate the life of Nancy Fitch on Saturday, August 15, 2026, 3 to 6 p.m., at the Palmer Maple Sugarhouse in Shelburne, Vt. is is an informal event giving people a chance to share stories of a beautiful life. Bring your favorite snack or dessert to share. Donations in Nancy’s honor can be made to BreakthroughT1D for Damon’s Fall Diabetes Walk. For details, contact Damon Fitch at dsﬁtch@aol.com.

painting nails and making sure no one felt forgotten.

It was always a joy to see her come through the door with her cheery “Hellooooo!” and a warm hug. At her mom and dad’s home, she would visit their gardens and loved creating beautiful bouquets. Jess loved family gatherings and cherished our family’s connection, especially at anksgiving, when she always encouraged everyone at the table to share what we were grateful for, and, for her, it was always family.

Jess loved music, and we will miss the way she could harmonize beautifully with any song.

We will miss you forever, dear daughter, mother, sister, auntie and friend. May you rest in peace.

Family and special friends include her son, Khalil

Young; parents, Lee and Sam Hemingway of Hinesburg, Vt.; brothers, Joshua Pagliuca and his partner, Allison Fode, of North Ferrisburgh, Vt., Amos and his wife, Paula Hemingway, of Jericho, Vt., and William Hemingway of Burlington, Vt.; sisters, Melody and Carly Pagliuca of Burlington; aunts, Donna Pagliuca of San Marcos, Calif., and Dolores Gentner Ryan of e Villages, Fla.; uncles, Robert Gentner of Lady Lake, Fla., James Hemingway of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Gerry Hemingway of Lucerne, Switzerland; cousin, Jordan Hemingway of London, England; and special friends Kathy Anderson and Beth Kilduff of Leeds, Mass., and Derek Fagan of Burlington.

An event to honor Jess’ life will be held at a later date.

Dennis Willmott

1945-2026

ere will be a Celebration of Life for Dennis Willmott on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. It will take place at Meach Cove Farms, 291 Bostwick Farm Rd., Shelburne. Light refreshments will follow. Please carpool if possible.

OBITUARIES

Claudia Elizabeth Bagiackas

JULY 16, 1948-APRIL 12, 2026 WOODBURY, VT.

Claudia Elizabeth Bagiackas left this world on April 12, 2026. She was born on July 16, 1948, in Plainfield, N.J., into a large Catholic family of seven full of love. These roots of family and spirituality remained important, and she carried them with her through a full life.

After Mount Aloyisius College and Duquesne University, she settled with her high school sweetie in northeast Ohio. It was there she was introduced to Montessori education. This interest drew her and a young family to Bergamo, Italy, to study and become AMI-trained teachers.

They returned to Ohio and bought a beautiful 10-acre farm that had been lovingly planted and cared for. It was here they cut their teeth on rural life, instilling in their children a lifelong appreciation for the work of building a homestead.

on her own and started a new life working at Goddard’s Social Ecology Program. She also met Paul Council, eventually moving into a little cabin on a ledge in Woodbury and settling into a 30-year relationship.

Her work put her in contact with people from all over the world interested in studying the ideas of Murray Bookchin. She was a tireless advocate, helping so many find their way to central Vermont to study.

At this time she was introduced to Buddhism. She traveled to Ladakh, India, making lasting connections. The teachings drew her to a local group practicing a weekly sangah, a ritual she continued for 30 years.

They called it “Euterra,” meaning “Good Earth,” and opened it up in the summers as a camp for local kids, creating a place to expose another generation to the skills of raising food and caring for the land.

Eventually her educational career led her to Connecticut, where she and her husband ran the Montessori School of Northeast Connecticut. In this time she received her master’s in social ecology from Goddard College’s off-campus program.

This was pivotal because it exposed her to the unique community that had been built by the presence of Goddard.

She eventually moved to Marshfield, Vt.,

Claudia was also a landscape artist who painted and sold work of her favorite places around central Vermont and curated art shows to support other local artists.

One of her most enduring legacies was the founding of Central Vermont Montessori in Barre. Inspired to start the school by the birth of her grandchildren, she and her brother Michael shepherded the school in its early growth. Their careful vision built a school now in its 27th year.

Claudia would have turned 80 on July 16. Her work here touched many people. If you were one of them, raise a glass this Thursday to a woman who lived a full life and helped so many to realize their dreams.

She was predeceased by her parents, Socrates and Elizabeth Bagiackas; brother Michael; and big sister Mab. She is survived by three siblings, Jean Moretti, Kitty Connaughton and Thomas Bagiackas; her first husband, Gordon Maas, and his wife, Maureen; three children, Ian, Zoe and Tyler; grandchildren, Althea, Sophie, Eliza, Asa, Remy and Sunjae; and the love of her life, Paul Council.

Dr. Jay E. Keller

JUNE 3, 1916-JULY 11, 2026 SHELBURNE, VT.

Dr. Jay E. Keller died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 110 years old. He was born on June 3, 1916, in Albany, N.Y. Jay was moved to Vermont at age 9 and lived in the Donnelly Boarding House. Jay attended Burlington schools, graduating salutatorian from Cathedral High in 1934. After an accelerated undergraduate degree, Jay earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1940.

Five days later, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington, Jay married Pauline Cecilia Murphy, whom he met at the cathedral. Pauline predeceased Jay on August 15, 1992, after 52 years of marriage and eight children.

Jay later married Marie DiCiaccio in St. John Vianney Church in South Burlington on February 6, 1999. Marie died on January 28, 2024, at age 104.

at the Red Cross. Jay also volunteered at the Hospice of Champlain Valley and was selected as volunteer of the year in 1997. Jay also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and in the repair shop at the Shelburne Museum. Jay was a guide at the Shelburne Museum for 22 years. He often greeted museum attendees on the Ticonderoga lake cruiser, the same boat he worked on as a deckhand when he was a teenager.

At 102, Jay moved into the independent living section of the Residence at Shelburne Bay, where he stayed until his death over seven years later.

In 1941, after completing a year of residency, Jay enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 1943, he was given an honorable discharge from the service for a medical condition and returned to Essex Junction, where he had a general practice of medicine. After the war, Jay trained in New York City as a surgeon and returned to Vermont as a general surgeon and eventually as a partner in Keller, Cain and Shea, and finally as a member of the Surgical Associates of the University Health Center. He retired in 1983 at age 67.

Jay was an active member of St. John Vianney Parish in South Burlington, the Ethan Allen Club and the Burlington Country Club. He was a blood donor and volunteer

Want to memorialize a loved one?

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

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

Dr. Keller is survived by his eight children, their spouses and their families: Dr. David (Natalie) Keller, Dolores (Robert) Luke, Patricia (David [deceased 2000]) Baker, Michael (Dolly [deceased 2012]) Keller, Marilyn Keller (Sean Gilligan), Mark (Brenda Pitmon) Keller, Pauline (Charles) Clark and Timothy (Chaoxia Cheng) Keller. Jay has 18 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Dr. Keller is predeceased by two sisters: May Keller Russell and Frances Keller Brown. Gifts in his memory may be directed to the Inspire a Life Fund at Rice Memorial High School, 99 Proctor Ave., South Burlington, VT 05403, or to UVM College of Medicine Development and Alumni Relations, 61 Summit St., Burlington, VT 05405 (802-656-4014).

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. Catherine of Siena church in Shelburne. LaVigne Funeral Home is handling arrangements. To send condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

Post your obituary or in memoriam online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/lifelines Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com or 8 802-341-3060

Main Street Block Party

Squad Goals

Fans rally to support the inaugural season of the Vermont Green FC women’s team

STORY & PHOTOS BY CECILIA LUCE • cluce@sevendaysvt.com

Leah Soule never expected to be a soccer fan. The Burlington resident said she has been an “actively anti-soccer person” her whole life. She tried to play the sport as a kid but was deterred because she hated running.

“I was like, This sucks, and I literally never tried to watch it again,” Soule said.

But this year, one of Soule’s friends convinced her to enter the lottery for season tickets to the Vermont Green Football Club women’s team. Its inaugural season in the preprofessional USL W League kicked off in May. Soule won tickets for herself, two of her friends and her husband and has been to every home game this season.

“I went to the first game, and then I got completely sold,” she said. “I was moved. Like, deeply moved.”

SPORTS

I HAVE HAD THE SUMMER OF MY LIFE.

LEAH SOULE

At the Green’s semifinal match against Asheville City SC on Saturday, it was easy to see how Soule became a convert. The packed-to-capacity stands at the University of Vermont’s Virtue Field were a sea of sage, emerald and olive. The crowd included many fans, like Soule, wearing official Green jerseys; others had tie-dyed their own T-shirts. (A few attendees also wore England or Norway kits in honor of the FIFA World Cup match at the same time, periodically checking the score to report back to the crowd.) Some shirts bore the slogan “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports,” a phrase coined by the female athlete-founded brand Togethxr. Each time the Green made a successful play, the crowd created a drumroll by stomping on the bleachers, adding to the steady rhythm of drums, played by a group of fans, that pulsed throughout the match.

Fan support may have given the team the edge it needed in a close game. The Green won 1-0 and will play in the finals against Salmon Bay FC in Seattle this Saturday, July 18. To celebrate the victory, a small army of children rushed the field after the game to greet the players and get autographs.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the women’s team would attract such a devoted following. The men’s team has become a phenomenon in Burlington since its founding in 2022, regularly selling out games and, last season, going undefeated en route to a United Soccer League USL League 2 championship. Even without the boost from this summer’s World Cup, the Green have sparked soccer fever in Burlington.

Kate Gleason, a fan from South Burlington, said she was on vacation the last time the Green won the national championships, so she hopes she’ll have a chance to witness them win this year. Gleason has gone to Vermont Green men’s games for about three years and was excited to support the women when they officially joined the league. Gleason said her favorite part about going to games is the atmosphere, especially the commentary from stadium announcer Tom Mientka-Proctor — who’s been known to rib refs and opposing players over the PA — which she finds hilarious.

Soule’s husband, Henry Bartsch, also said he enjoys the vibe at Vermont Green games.

“I’ve lived in Vermont all my life, and it’s definitely felt insular at times,” Bartsch said. “I’ve never experienced something like this, where everyone’s together and we’re just having fun.”

Soule echoed his sentiment. Though she grew up in Saint George, she only recently moved back to Vermont and said the soccer community at Virtue Field has made her feel confident in her choice to return.

“I have had the summer of my life,” she said.

Vermont Green cofounder Sam Glickman said women’s season tickets sold out before the season began and there have been “incredible crowds” all summer. He said it’s been gratifying to watch fans “show up in the same way that they showed up for the men.”

Glickman added that “the best football clubs are a reflection of the community that supports [them],” which

is why the Vermont Green strive to cultivate a positive fan experience and support social and environmental causes.

At every home game during the regular season, Glickman said, a different local nonprofit speaks to the crowd at halftime. This Friday, July 17, for example, Migrant Justice will take the pitch during the men’s team’s home playoff game.

The team’s climate justice initiatives include sustainably sourced merchandise and a partnership with 1% for the Planet. This means it donates 1 percent of annual revenue to environmental nonprofits, most of which are based in Vermont.

To fans like Soule, the action on the field is just as important as the fervor in the stands. She said watching the players — who are mostly college athletes, including several from Vermont — initially drew her into the community.

“They’re so athletic and strong and powerful,” she said.

Even as a recent soccer convert, Soule said the rules have been easy to learn, and she’s quickly come to appreciate the beautiful game. In fact, she’s starting paying attention beyond state borders and recently found herself looking for soccer shirts on retail website Poshmark.

“A couple weeks ago, I was like, Wait, isn’t the World Cup happening? That’s soccer; maybe I’d like that,” she said. Now, the big question is what she’ll do after the World Cup ends.

“I gotta watch the English Premier League now,” Soule said. “That’s year-round.” ➆

INFO

Vermont Green FC Women play Salmon Bay FC in Seattle on Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m. Stream the game at sportsengineplay.com. Learn more about the team at vermontgreenfc.com.

Banners supporting the Green and their social mission lining the field

A young fan getting an autograph from a player

SDA RY K NGS

As Vermont milk producers struggle, fourth-generation Monument Farms in Weybridge succeeds by keeping it all in the family

ix hours into his June 25 delivery route, Dan Sunderland pulled his 22-foot Monument Farms Dairy truck into a South Burlington Shell station.

The Shelburne Road Variety convenience store was the driver’s 16th stop since he’d left Monument’s Weybridge bottling plant around 5:30 a.m.

Slugs from a massive red co ee cup, occasional smoke breaks and a quickly chugged pint of Monument Farms chocolate milk powered the wiry 53-year-old through his list of restaurants, cafés and retail stores. Sunderland had maneuvered his dolly of stacked milk crates around bakers rolling bagels and baristas pulling espresso. He had greeted City Market loading dock workers by name in Burlington and wheeled a large delivery into a refrigerated shipping container at Beta Technologies’ airport headquarters.

At the Shelburne Road gas station, cashier Karen Bell said she’d seen some new customers since the convenience store across the street became a Stewart’s Shop and replaced Monument Farms milk with its in-house brand.

One of those patrons, Bell reported, said his son will only drink milk from the Weybridge dairy. The cashier is a fan, too. Despite living on a tight budget, Bell said, “I’m going to choose Monument even if it’s a little more expensive. It’s fresher, and it’s local.”

For almost 100 years, Monument Farms has counted on loyal customers such as Bell to choose its milk. That

allegiance has helped build the farmstead dairy producer into an $11 million business currently run and owned by six members of its founding family. Amid a steady ﬂow of mostly bad news for Vermont’s shrinking dairy sector, Monument plugs on, seemingly as solid as the marble monument on the Weybridge green after which it was named.

But as the fourth-generation owners prepare to fully take the reins, they face hard decisions about how to steer

their complex agricultural operation through headwinds that include an aging labor force, changing consumer tastes and retail consolidation — such as the Stewart’s purchase. The list of challenges is inherently longer for Monument than for similar-size Vermont dairy farms because the owners have a role in every step: from raising most of the feed for their herd to bottling and selling all of its milk.

Monument Farms is sort of a dinosaur — or, more positively, a unicorn — in the dairy industry. The operation is unique in New England for its focus on selling only milk and cream from every drop produced by its 580 conventionally raised Holsteins: no organic or grass-fed certiﬁcations, no super-premium ice cream, no $35-a-pound cave-aged cheese.

Adding to that singular approach, according to Cornell University dairy economist Christopher Wolf, is the fact that Monument bottles all of its milk at its own plant and runs its own trucks to deliver close to 40,000 gallons a week to about 500 accounts, mostly west of the Green Mountains between Enosburgh and Rutland. And unlike many farms that process some of their milk into their own products, Monument does not belong to a farmer co-op that will buy any excess unprocessed milk.

Monument is not only the state’s largest farm-bottler by far; as of the spring closure of Barre’s HP Hood plant, which

Loading milk for delivery

STORY MELISSA PASANEN | PHOTOS CALEB KENNA

e Monument Farms machine shop on the old Hamilton farm in Weybridge

bottled the milk of many farms under the Booth Bros. label, it is now also the largest bottler of fluid milk in Vermont. Though its annual 2 million gallons make up less than three-quarters of a percent of the state’s total milk production, Monument is the most widely sold Vermont milk brand in terms of both geographic distribution and the diversity of retailers, from chain grocery stores and pharmacies to co-ops and corner markets.

It’s getting harder for a business of our size to do what we do.

JON ROONEY

That distinction hits third-generation co-owner Jon Rooney two ways: He’s proud to be the last man standing, so to speak, but also a little worried.

Compared to the mid-1980s, when Jon joined the family biz, “It’s getting harder for a business of our size to do what we do,” he said. “Margins have shrunk.”

The advantage of Monument’s vertical integration means “we’re more in control of our price than most dairy farms,” he explained, “but we’ve also got a lot more invested into it.”

Deeply Rooted

The tiny Addison County town of Weybridge does not have a general store, but it does have Monument Farms Dairy. Two old milk cans and cheery window boxes of flowers flank the front door of the low-slung, barn-red building, which houses offices, the bottling plant and the company store. It sits across from the green that hosts the company’s namesake monument, erected in honor of a 19th-century native son and U.S. senator, Silas Wright.

Jon, 67, is often the first to arrive, around 2 a.m. He climbs deeply grooved wooden stairs to the small break room to put on the first of roughly 30 daily pots of coffee. In addition to the dairy’s 50 employees, his neighbors, fellow farmers and the town road foreman regularly stop by for a morning cup.

“This is the town gathering place,” said Dan James, Jon’s 40-year-old nephew and a fellow owner. “This is where people come to start the day.”

Later, during its afternoon hours, the store will do brisk business in neighborly connections, along with gallons of milk

and pints of chocolate milk. In addition to its own products, the Monument Farms store sells eggs from Maple Meadow Farm in Salisbury and Cabot Creamery cheese and sour cream, which it also delivers six days a week by the company’s fleet of a dozen trucks.

The dairy has been a fixture since 1930, when Marjory and Richard James established Monument Farms on about 25 acres on what is known as Weybridge Hill. They milked 15 to 20 cows and bottled milk in the cellar of their house, just north of the company’s current headquarters.

Their daughter Millicent grew up washing milk bottles at a time when every small dairy bottled its own milk, she recalled in a 2006 interview with the Burlington Free Press. Photos hanging in the company store show her in braids circa 1945, standing next to a delivery truck filled with blocks of ice.

During her childhood, the family began buying more farmland and accompanying houses and barns in the Lemon Fair Valley. Over the decades, Monument amassed about 2,700 acres, making it the town of Weybridge’s largest landowner.

Millicent and her husband, Jim Rooney, joined the farm business in 1959, and she managed the company’s bills until 10 days before she died in 2014 at the age of 86. Her brother, Steve, ran the farm side of the operation until his death in 1999.

Sunderland, the route driver, remembers the matriarch well. Mrs. Rooney, as everyone but close family and friends called her, was kind but firmly professional. “There was no profanity around Mrs. Rooney, ever,” he recalled. If someone let a curse word slip, “She would go up one side of you and down the other.”

Today, the business is owned and run by the third generation — Millicent’s son, Jon Rooney, and Steve’s sons, Peter and Bob James; and by fourth-generation Jameses — Peter’s son, Tyler, and Bob’s sons, Dan and Ben. They all live within a couple miles of the family business.

Jon lives in the big brick house where he grew up, directly across James Road from the Monument building. His mother is buried alongside two centuries of ancestors in the Weybridge cemetery, a twominute walk from the dairy plant.

Even in death, Jon said, “We don’t go far.”

All in the Family

Every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m., the six owners and their business manager, Chris Anderson, meet in the group office a couple steps up from the break room. It contains six desks and many teetering

Millicent James in 1945

From left: Bob James, Jon Rooney, Peter James, Ben James, Dan James and Tyler James at the Weybridge monument

piles of equipment manuals, parts catalogs, stacks of printed reports, and a book or two on fly-fishing, one of Jon’s hobbies.

Anderson’s desk is noticeably the neatest. The 71-year-old former banker came out of retirement to help “for six months” after the company’s longtime accountant died suddenly in 2019 at work — “in this chair,” Anderson said, gesturing to his seat.

Family members have largely taken ownership of distinct parts of the operation. They credit their ongoing success — and the fact that everyone still speaks to each other — to the divide-and-conquer approach, mutual respect, and a sense of humor.

“None of us is overly high-strung,” Jon said, “and we’re always ready to laugh.” Of his first cousins, he continued, “We’ve either played together or worked together our whole lives. They’re the people I feel most at ease with.”

“Our dynamic works well,” agreed Dan, the eldest of the fourth-generation owners. Sure, sometimes they disagree on minor daily decisions about personnel or whether to buy a new or used piece of equipment, but they work through it. “There are definitely days we butt heads, but generally we all get along,” he said.

Jon, who runs the processing plant, is currently taking a turn as company president and serves as its de facto spokesperson. His cousin Peter, 71, supervises the herd manager and oversees field work alongside his 37-year-old son, Tyler. Peter’s 65-year-old brother, Bob, oversaw distribution and the machine shop until his two sons, Dan and Ben, took over those roles. He’s since become a utility player.

“Now it seems like he mostly mows lawns around here,” Dan joked about his dad.

That Wednesday, June 10, Dan had to miss the meeting to cover for a driver who had called out sick. The remaining five and Anderson talked through a loose agenda, hearing each other out with a generous dose of good-natured ribbing.

After Peter listed field-work machinery issues, Jon tossed out, “Whiner.” When Jon offered up his home-baked oatmealraisin cookies, Bob teased, “You start knitting, too, Jon?”

Each member of the older generation brought different experience and expertise when they joined the business full time.

Jon earned a degree in dairy science from the University of Vermont and later worked in quality control for HP Hood. His ginger beard and mustache are frosted white, and he wears a small army of pens neatly clipped across the breast pocket of his collared Monument shirt. Of everyone

There are definitely days we butt heads, but generally we all get along.

DAN JAMES

in the family, he’s traveled farthest. After a heartbreaking split with a girlfriend, he signed up for a Peace Corps stint in Guatemala and returned, he said, with the tendency “to view things a bit more liberally.”

Peter, who has the tanned, muscled forearms of a man who has spent long hours working outside, said he was always drawn to the outdoors and to animals. He went on to study dairy management and animal science before returning to the farm. He always knew he belonged there, he said. He still recalls his excitement when his grandfather took him and his cousin Pam, one of Jon’s two sisters, to Middlebury’s Lazarus department store to buy green work boots, the kind “everyone else wore.”

His younger brother, Bob, balding with deep-set dimples and a quick laugh, worked in the Middlebury Kraft Swiss cheese plant (now an Agri-Mark/Cabot facility) before starting as a Monument route driver out of high school.

In the June 10 meeting, the five owners present took turns sharing updates on their departments while the others asked questions or offered ideas. After they hashed out the pros and cons of expanding the calf barn versus building a new one, Tyler summarized: “The good option is really expensive. The less good option is less good.” If it rained that afternoon, his dad suggested they crunch some numbers together.

A brief check-in on a couple of milk donation requests seemed to cue adjournment. It was 7:20 a.m. and time to get the day’s real work rolling.

Anderson, the business manager, said he’s constantly impressed by how the six manage “so many moving parts, keep track of them all and work together in a positive direction.” Would it be easier if they gave up one of those moving parts — say, the first step of raising feed, or the last, distribution? Maybe, he said, but it’d mean giving up other things, too.

Unlike most of Vermont’s conventional dairy farms, whose milk is priced through a federal system, “They control the whole chain as much as you can control that,” Anderson said. “Sure, they could just milk cows and sell to a co-op like Agri-Mark, but they take a lot of pride in doing what they do.”

Cultivating a New Generation

On an early June afternoon, the outdoor crew was finishing up the season’s first cut. Monument grows about 1,900 acres of hay and corn for its full herd of about 1,100, buying only the grain ration. Tyler,

Mike Warner, Lee Brace and Steve Warner in the milking parlor

A weekly Wednesday meeting at Monument Farms Dairy

the fourth-generation field guy, navigated a machine called a merger, lifting the fragrant hay into neat windrows for easier collection.

Sometimes, the lanky, chestnutbearded farmer said, he brings his 4.5-year-old son along on field work, as his dad, Peter, did with him. It’s too soon to count on a fifth generation, but the three members of the fourth are firmly entrenched at Monument.

Tyler began pitching in on field work when he was a teen but left Vermont to study wildlife ecology in Maine. “I loved the farm, but I needed a little break,” he said. When the woman he later married wanted to move to New York City, Tyler — whose only big-city experience was going to a Boston Red Sox game — tagged along and landed a gardening manager job in Central Park.

After two years, the couple returned to Vermont, and Tyler settled in at Monument for the long haul. “I always knew I’d have something to come back to,” he said. He’s since won grant funding for a no-till drill, which plants seed while preserving soil structure and biodiversity, and he’s working with Audubon Vermont to count endangered songbirds on the farm.

Unlike Tyler and Ben, who studied diesel mechanics on scholarship in Ohio, Dan never left Weybridge. In high school, Dan recalled, a teacher “pulled me aside and yelled at me for not going to college.” The prospect of debt deterred him, he said.

A practical sort, he decided to join the family biz because “there was stuff to be done,” he said. Like his dad, Bob, he started by driving a delivery route before taking over supervision of the distribution system. He was instrumental in moving the company from carbon copies to a computerized order system.

Dan acknowledged that he occasionally yearns for a job “you can go home from and not think about.” Time off is scarce. “In this business, the milk keeps

coming, and you have to get rid of it,” he said.

His brother, Ben, took just two days off around the May 29 birth of his new baby before returning to his domain: the machine shop, a few minutes’ drive from company HQ on the old Hamilton farm that Monument bought in the 1950s.

Like all six owners, Ben, 38, said he started helping out as soon as his “feet could hit a pedal on the lawn mower.” On the quiet side, he’s clearly more comfortable with his head under an engine hood than talking about his affinity for repairing things.

Ben, Tyler and their wives have four young kids between them. Dan’s not married, but he’d like to be. He bought Ben’s eldest a T-shirt that reads: “My uncle’s single. Ask Mom for details.”

Theo, Tyler’s preschooler, insists he wants to be a farmer. When they go out together on the tractor, Tyler said, “I let him hold the wheel.”

Milk Money

The sweet, faintly pickled scent of haylage mingled with pungent cow manure as massive fans whirred to cool the cows in the newest of Monument’s free-stall barns on a hot June day. The animals roamed through the structure, raising their hooves nonchalantly to step over the automated alley scraper as it made its rounds.

Of all the moving parts of the entire operation, feeding and caring for the herd costs the most per gallon of milk, Jon said. A few years ago, the owners bit a huge financial bullet when they decided to invest $2 million to build an additional barn to grow the milking herd to about 800 cows.

The new barn was an especially big bet, but it’s the kind of decision, similar to the calf barn expansion debated during the Wednesday meeting, that the business

Rockwell, The Craftman (detail),

faces regularly. It was potentially risky, the family knew, but they felt pretty good about it.

Unfortunately, the wager has yet to pay off.

The additional milkers were intended to meet pent-up demand from a roster of customers eager to stock Monument milk and cream. When New York convenience store company Stewart’s Shops bought Jolley Associates in late 2024, it replaced Monument Farms at 28 Vermont Jolleys with its store brand. The switch blew a 7 percent hole in Monument’s revenue. To fill it, the dairy emptied its customer wait list, eliminating the demand for more milk. Herd expansion plans have slowed for now, though the new barn does house some cows.

Another big-ticket item has required a lot of coddling to earn its keep: Monument’s 11-year-old, $1.3 million anaerobic digester, the most complex mechanical system on the farm, has been “problematic,” Jon said diplomatically. “Almost everything in the whole system has had to be replaced at least twice.”

Despite those headaches — and with a lot of attention from Jon’s cousin Bob — the digester does generate and capture methane from the herd’s manure and puts out almost enough power to meet the electricity needs of the farm and plant. It also produces clean bedding from the undigested plant fiber in the manure, saving the farm almost $50,000 annually on sawdust.

Against operational trials such as these, Monument has one solid advantage over many dairy farms, at least for now: its workforce.

Over the past several decades, the steadily shrinking number of Vermont dairy farms has provided Monument with a supply of experienced employees who grew up on or worked for now-defunct farms. It is the rare Vermont dairy of its size that has never employed migrant workers.

“We joke that Monument is where farmers come to retire,” herd manager Randy Palmer said. Palmer and his assistant herdsman, Nathan Bingham, both came to Monument from their own family farms. Bingham, 44, gestured to neighboring fields, which his family farmed until selling their herd 19 years ago; Palmer, now 60, joined Monument 20 years ago, after running his own 80-cow farm for almost two decades.

Sprinkled across its acreage, Monument owns seven houses and apartment buildings that it rents affordably to employees, a valuable asset at a time when labor and real estate markets are equally tight.

The Monument job came with housing

for Palmer and his family, along with a 401k retirement savings account and health insurance. “After paying for my own, I realize how big that is,” he said.

In the parlor, Steve Warner prepped milking machines for the next round of cows. The 69-year-old grew up on a 50-cow dairy in a small town northwest of Albany. “It’s tough to make a living on 50 cows nowadays,” he said.

Warner has worked at Monument for seven years alongside his younger brother. He likes the job, and the bosses are fair, he said. The perks are pretty good, too: Warner and his brother live in companyowned housing, he said, “and my grandkids are always after me to bring them chocolate milk.”

But, like Palmer and the Warner brothers, many Monument employees are close to or beyond retirement age. With the average employee age 50, Jon often asks himself: How do we expect to keep going?

More Than Milk

Monument Farms doesn’t technically play in the value-added category, but its cocoarich, velvety chocolate milk is prized by fans such as Steve Warner’s grandkids as if it were an award-winning artisanal cheese.

Four days a week, the chocolate run starts around noon, after milk has been mixed with cocoa, two kinds of sugar and vanilla flavoring, plus the cornstarch and a seaweed-derived thickener called carrageenan that ensure its silky texture.

Flavored milk flows from a stainlesssteel tank through pipes along the ceiling into the bottling line, which fills half gallons first and then, after a quick switchover, pints. As if the empty bottles are ascending to heaven, they rise to meet the nozzles, which shoot them full of chocolate milk before a capper seals them with a twist.

Monument has made chocolate milk for as long as Jon can remember, at least

Our chocolate milk does seem to be our calling card.

TYLER JAMES

since the early 1960s. Today, it bottles 6,000 gallons weekly, about 13 percent of total production — and could easily sell more.

“Our chocolate milk does seem to be our calling card,” said Jon’s nephew Tyler.

Just as the long-ago decision to make chocolate milk likely involved discussion and operational change, the family is now considering how its product mix might shape the dairy’s next 50 years.

Producing more chocolate milk would require more tank space. But that addition would need to be part of a long-overdue plant upgrade for which, Jon said with a sigh, “I’ve got to summon the energy somewhere.” Processing still falls squarely on the 67-year-old’s shoulders, the only major aspect of the operation lacking a next-generation heir.

Any renovation would include new equipment with more automation — a major investment, but a potentially beneficial one for the company’s aging workforce and future staffing needs. “No way it should take eight people to do what we do in a day,” Jon said.

But before the owners start pricing out a possible project, they need to map out the future, a task that requires time the busy, hands-on guys rarely have to spare.

The cost of another major infrastructure investment may justify breaking from

From left: Rick Coursey, William Grace and Ray Barrows on the bottling line

PHOTOS: CALEB KENNA

a century of tradition to broaden Monument’s line beyond milk and cream. At the same time, the owners can’t afford to sacrifice the quality and value for which they’ve become known.

Monument milk retail prices currently start at about $3.99 a gallon — generally more expensive than most store brands, but not by much. Monument milk is likely to be the cheapest 100 percent Vermont milk on the shelf, since the state’s other farmer-bottlers with any significant distribution are organic.

At City Market’s two Burlington stores, the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op and Montpelier’s Hunger Mountain Co-op, Monument milk is the store brand. For 20 years, Monument has packaged gallons under the Vermont Co-op brand for those three accounts. Half gallons of Monument whole milk are the top seller in City Market’s perishables category; Vermont Co-op whole milk gallons rank third. (Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar is No. 2.)

Cheray MacFarland, City Market’s director of purchasing and marketing, said Monument allows the Burlington co-op to offer an affordable local milk. She called the company “one of our most reliable vendors: consistent, communicative and supportive.”

As far as other products that might fit Monument’s brand, customers frequently ask if they would consider developing a creemee mix, Jon said. But restaurants, bakeries and local chocolatiers, such as Lake Champlain Chocolates, already guzzle all the cream the farm can produce — especially during the summer, when cows make less milk fat in the heat, he explained.

Much as it makes his head explode to think about the processing plant’s future, Jon recognizes that the family is lucky to have a reason to think ahead.

“If we had no one else coming along, it would be hard to justify growing the business at all,” he said.

The Bottom Line

That Monument has chugged along slowly and steadily, achieving 3 to 4 percent annual growth over the past 30 years or so, is an anomaly. Thomas Dairy, a similarly historic dairy in Rutland, sold its herd more than 20 years ago, though it kept bottling milk from other farms until it closed in 2020. Stowe’s Mansfield Dairy brand endures thanks to an arrangement with Monument, which bottles 6.5 percent of its own milk under the Mansfield label.

The odds are not in favor of nonorganic farms that hitch their wagon to fluid milk. It is dairy’s lowest-margin product due

to strict regulations, a short shelf life and intense price pressure in the store cooler. Even for a producer such as Monument that sells direct and theoretically controls its own pricing, there’s no escaping the fact that many retailers draw customers by selling milk at razor-thin margins.

On top of that thorny economic equation, Monument has assumed a significant extra workload. Dairy farming is already a 24-7 job, and Monument’s fieldto-store model gobbles up extra energy and resources. The all-in-house approach has both competitive advantages and liabilities.

“It’s what I love about the business, but it’s also kind of the problem,” fourthgeneration owner Tyler acknowledged. “We could farm some of it out, but that’s not what we do, not our identity.”

That identity is one of Monument’s biggest assets. “Usually, you don’t know where your milk comes from. It’s a comingled bunch of milk,” said Wolf, the dairy economist. For a locally rooted brand such as Monument, he continued, “The strength is the story that goes along with the milk that the consumers can put a name and a face to.”

Sam Smith, farm business director at the Intervale Center in Burlington, is working with fourth-generation Monument owners Tyler, Ben and Dan on a business transition and planning process through the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program.

Monument has succeeded over the decades, Smith said, thanks to a deep bench of family members with diverse skills and a strong commitment to the legacy business. He sees “a lot of capacity in this next generation,” he said, but there’s still much work to be done to figure out how to upgrade and scale the operation and develop management expertise to replace senior family members.

Bob has stepped back more than any of the other third-generation owners, but when he and his wife take rare vacations, they still often drive only 17 minutes to a New Haven campground.

“If something happens,” Bob said, “we’re just a phone call away.”

Dan, Ben and Tyler hope to allow their elders to enjoy some retirement years — unlike Monument’s previous stewards, who essentially died on the job. Whether there are three or six family members involved day-to-day at Monument Farms, the family knows that its bottom line depends on retaining loyal customers like Karen Bell, the Shell station cashier, who are willing to spend a little more money on milk direct from a 96-year-old family farm in a tiny Addison County town. ➆

I didn’t come up through Montpelier. I came up through Vermont’s classrooms, a selectboard table and a small business built from scratch. I’ve sat at living room tables and talked with business owners across the state and I heard the same thing everywhere. People are tired of being talked at. Policy moves at the speed of trust. Let’s build it together.

Pastry Days, Gaucho Nights

In Quechee, Two Bistro & Café melds the ﬂavors of two South American countries

HIRSCH

When Paula Fernandes and Adrian Abate were putting the finishing touches on Two Bistro & Café in May, they had little sense of Quechee’s appetite for eating chimichurri, chorizo sausage and chocolate all in one place.

But on a Tuesday night in July, when many restaurant dining rooms would be sleepy at best, all 26 or so seats were ﬁlled — a pattern that has recurred night after night.

“We’ve had a lot of repeat customers, which is what I’d hoped for,” said Fernandes, who was juggling roles as owner, host and server as she dashed to check on a four-top. A colleague followed her carrying a plate of chicken Milanese, garlic wafting in its wake.

Fernandes is a native Brazilian who has run My Brigadeiro, a pâtisserie in nearby

FOOD LOVER?

Hanover, N.H., for 12 years. She launched Two Bistro & Café with Abate, her Argentinean-born partner. Their concept was to mash up their two culinary backgrounds: the grilled meats of Argentina and the more complex, often seafood-based dishes of Brazil, backed by a supporting cast of pastries, chocolates and desserts.

They set up shop in the former digs of Chef Brad’s CrazySide, an eclectic culinary compound on Route 4 where burgers, tacos and other food truck vittles were sometimes served inside a pastel-hued school bus. Chef Brad Pirkey closed his food truck in 2025, but the bus remains parked on a hill behind the restaurant, its colors beginning to fade. The main building now holds a bakery and a cozy dining room, with a more elegant and modern vibe.

Abate and Fernandes — who met in their teens when Abate was studying food chemistry in Brazil and reconnected decades later — leased the place last June and spent close to a year revamping it. They kept the dining room’s rustic beams but added their own ﬂourishes, such as bold black-and-white swirls along one wall and a chandelier made of hundreds of tiny glass teardrops.

By day, the dining room is a cozy breakfast-to-lunch café with a front counter that turns out lattes, cappuccinos, and scores of croissants, éclairs, and other sweet and savory pastries ($6 to $19), including the Brazilian cheese bread pão de queijo ($3.75) and flaky Napoleons piled with ricotta cheese, a baked egg and prosciutto ($13). Empanadas ($10 for two) are of the Argentinean persuasion, with braided shells and gently seasoned ground beef or spinach-and-mozzarella ﬁllings. The bakery case also contains chocolate tru es from My Brigadeiro.

From lunch onward, the meat-fueled ethos of Argentinean asado and Brazilian churrasco culture comes to the fore. The X-tudo burger ($24) is loaded with smoky Calabresa sausage, bacon, ham, cheddar and a fried egg on house-baked brioche. Abate pounds chicken breast thin for peppery Argentinean-style chicken Milanese ($23). Patrons carry in their own wine bottles (the restaurant is BYOB, with a $10 corkage fee per person) to wash down heartier plates such as simply grilled picanha steak topped with caramelized onions ($28) and grilled swordﬁsh glossed

STORY & PHOTOS BY CORIN

A grilled swordﬁsh special

Paula Fernandes and Adrian Abate

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

The Stone Pour to Open in Vergennes With Cocktails and Food

The Little City is getting a new restaurant and bar with something for everyone.

Billed as both a “family dining experience” and a cocktail lounge, the STONE POUR will occupy the subterranean space at 35 Green Street in Vergennes that was long home to Bar Antidote until its closure in October 2024. (BIG HEART SOCIAL held its grand opening in the building’s separate upstairs spot on Saturday, July 11.)

The Stone Pour’s “modern American” menu will be similar to Antidote’s o erings, co-owner JENNIFER STONE said, including popular tru e fries. Familiar favorite cocktails such as blood-orange martinis will appear alongside handcrafted drinks including honey-lavender whiskey sours, butterﬂy pea ﬂower vodka martinis, blackberry-coconut margaritas and mocktails with nonalcoholic spirits.

The mom of four wants to “make sure that we’re inviting families in and that they have equal parts in the experience,” Stone said. The Stone Pour will serve lunch, dinner and Sunday bu et brunch, all with an a ordable kids’ menu.

At night, the restaurant will become a cocktail lounge with a “modern speakeasy vibe,” Stone said, featuring

cozy couches, a curtained-o “VIP area” with Antidote’s old booths and martini ﬂights. Live entertainment such as karaoke and DJ dance nights will help ﬁll the nightlife hole left by the closure of City Limits in 2023.

Stone has professional bartending experience and will run the bar. She spent the past 15 years working as a social worker with the Vermont Department for Children and Families, but “I’m at a place now where I want to make my dream come true,” she said.

While Stone lives in Shoreham, the former Antidote “was my girlfriend hangout spot,” she continued. “I knew this was where we needed to be.”

Stone and business partner PHIL PEDLIKIN are currently looking for a chef to lead the kitchen while they refresh the space. The Stone Pour is targeting a late-August launch.

O the Record Vinyl and Co ee Shop Coming to Bristol

For almost two years, ANDY WOHL has served burgers and other pub classics with his food biz, OFF THE HOOK, at

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

Evenings

with a book or a friend

Enjoy

Bristol’s SOUTH MOUNTAIN TAVERN. In August, he’ll open a second business a few doors down.

OFF THE RECORD will occupy the space at 25A Main Street, most recently home to Hermit Thrush Fiber. There, Wohl will sell vinyl and coffee drinks, using beans from Middlebury’s LITTLE SEED COFFEE ROASTERS

“It’s two of my passions that came together,” said Wohl, 32. “I’ve always enjoyed a slow morning: sunrise, cup of coffee, throwing on a record, just hanging out.”

The Bristol resident has worked in kitchens since he was 14, including time on the festival circuit with Burlington’s AHLI BABA’S KABOB SHOP and stints at Middlebury’s the MAD TACO and FIRE & ICE RESTAURANT. Wohl will continue to run Off the Hook, which serves dinner Wednesday through Friday nights at the popular bar and live music venue.

Little Seed owners MAGGIE and ANTHONY GERAKOS are some of Wohl’s best customers at the tavern, he said, and teaming up with them was an easy decision.

“They really care about the community, and they’ve been helping me with everything along the way,” Wohl continued.

Off the Record will serve espresso drinks, drip coffee and cold-brew in summer but no food.

As a kid in Cranford, N.J., Wohl spent “every single cent” he made on records, he said, starting with $1 Beatles and Talking Heads records he picked up at a carpet store. His new shop’s name is a throwback to one that operated in Cranford in the 1970s and ’80s.

While the vinyl selection at Bristol’s Off the Record will reflect Wohl’s eclectic taste in music, he’s also happy to source specific albums for customers. Follow @offtherecordvt on Instagram for updates. ➆

with butter ($38). Rice, yucca fries and salads serve as sides, along with nutty, toasted Brazilian farofa ($5) and Tropeiro beans topped with a fried egg ($9), a glorious, wildly salted and filling mash of pinto beans, bacon, crumbled sausage and fried onions.

Though the owners originally aimed to debut a separate dinner menu, Fernandes said the challenge of finding front-of-house staff forced them to put those plans on hold. Instead, the establishment evokes the CrazySide spirit by parking a food truck out front with a street-food menu. In the garden there, the more formal lunch and dinner dishes take new forms. That chicken

Milanese, for example, is layered onto brioche with melted cheddar and a smear of chimichurri sauce ($22) for a two-fisted affair that’s both decadent and messy.

By the time you leave, sated on pastry and fingers glossed with chimichurri, the name makes sense: two owners, two cuisines, two kitchens (inside and outside), and nothing lost in the division. ➆

An earlier version of this story appeared in Daybreak, a newsletter serving the Upper Valley.

INFO

Two Bistro & Café, 1 Quechee Main St., Quechee, 802-369-2114, twobistrocafe.com

Side Dishes « P.35

Pastry Days, Gaucho Nights « P.34

Andy Wohl outside Off the Record

Bound to Bond

A Minnesota reader forges friendships with a Hyde Park book group

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

Books typically transport readers figuratively to a di erent place and time, where they get to know — again, figuratively — characters both real and imagined. But for members of a Hyde Park book discussion group, literature has fostered actual human connection. Their story starts in 2022, when the world was navigating a new COVID-19 variant that had infected far more people than any that had come before. In Blaine, Minn., about 18 miles north of Minneapolis, Fran Megarry was looking for a book group that met remotely. Her hometown library had struggled to get virtual groups going, she said, so she searched online and found one hosted by Lanpher Memorial Library in Hyde Park. At first, she thought that meant the Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

She soon realized it was Hyde Park,

Vermont, a Lamoille County town of about 3,000 residents. Megarry, now 84, had never been to Vermont. A list of books the group had read was posted on the library’s website.

“I really have enjoyed many of those books,” Megarry remembered thinking, so she emailed library director Amy Olsen to ask if she could join.

SHE FIT RIGHT IN, INSTANTLY. LUCIA CARLUCCI

Olsen was taken aback at first. The library trustee who started the group in 2012, Fran Aronovici, had just died. Here, “out of the blue,” Olsen said, was another Fran.

Megarry attended her ﬁrst meeting that November. “I don’t remember the book, but I do remember the people and how kind they were,” she said. Discussion ﬂowed, and everyone participated.

Soon, her children knew not to call on

the third Tuesday of the month between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Megarry has missed only a few meetings. Once pandemic restrictions lifted, she attended an in-person meeting of a local group at her hometown library, she said, “but I was so embedded with the Hyde Park group that I didn’t want to give that up.”

The Hyde Park meetings typically draw about a dozen participants. The gatherings are now held in person, but Olsen said she decided to continue the remote option because it’s more inclusive. Local members use it in the winter or when they’re traveling, but Megarry is the only participant who doesn’t live in Vermont.

“She fit right in, instantly,” longtime member Lucia Carlucci said. Each month, when members gather in a circle in front of the ﬁreplace in the ﬁction section, Megarry

is there, too, appearing on the screen of a laptop set on a podium. She brings warmth and kindness, Carlucci said. The library’s videoconferencing camera allows Megarry to see the room as well as a close-up of whomever is speaking.

In September 2023, when Carlucci led the discussion about The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate, she wanted to bring the group Cocoa Oatmeal Raisin Pooperoos, cookies mentioned in the book. She didn’t want Megarry to feel left out, so she baked two batches and mailed a box to Minnesota in advance. She did the same when she made scones for the discussion of Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime, which is set in London.

The group has introduced Megarry to books she likely wouldn’t have discovered otherwise, including Vermont Humanities’ annual Vermont Reads selections, such as Gather by Norwich author Kenneth M. Cadow. “I always look forward to that,” Megarry said.

And she always learns something, she continued. At one meeting, a member mentioned mud season, she said: “And then someone else talked about, I think she said it was ‘twig season,’ and I said, ‘I’m not familiar with those.’ … It was very fun.”

As this year’s February meeting was wrapping up, the Vermonters asked Megarry about the turmoil in MinneapolisSt. Paul, where she now lives. Some 3,000 federal immigration agents had arrived in Minnesota, and in January, agents fatally shot U.S. citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were everywhere, Megarry told the book group. They sat in the parking lot of the Mexican supermarket where she shopped. She protested ICE activity, but it was di cult to know how to help those who were targeted.

“When we said good night to her,” Carlucci said, “a couple of us said to Amy, ‘Can’t we put a box together of stu and send it to her, and she can share with people in her neighborhood?’ I said, ‘I’ll bake.’ … And somebody else said, ‘I’ll get maple syrup.’ And somebody else said, ‘I’ll get local honey.’”

Book group member Gina Jenkins knit red hats, symbols of resistance inspired by those that Norwegians began wearing in 1941 to protest Nazi occupation. Olsen contributed Lanpher library ornaments; pencils and book bags emblazoned with

Fran Megarry (front row, second from right) and the Lanpher Memorial Library book discussion group

With Ionesco’s Exit the King, Unadilla Theatre Reflects on America

BY CECILIA LUCE • cluce@sevendaysvt.com

Perched on a hilltop along a dirt road in Marshfield and surrounded by lush gardens and roaming cattle, Unadilla Theatre holds a special, if rather hard to find, place in Vermont’s summer theater landscape. For 45 years, audiences have sought it out as much for its rustic charm and idyllic setting as for its diverse programming. Unadilla’s offerings run the gamut from classics by the likes of William Shakespeare and Gilbert and Sullivan to more modern and pointedly political works.

One example of the latter opens this month: Exit the King, by Romanian French avant-garde playwright Eugène Ionesco, running from Friday, July 24, to Sunday, August 2, at Unadilla’s Festival Theatre. Though it premiered in 1962, the absurdist dramedy’s themes of power, mortality and legacy especially resonate today, according to director Jim Phinney.

The third work in Ionesco’s four-play “Berenger Cycle,” Exit the King centers on 400-year-old King Berenger the First, whose health — and kingdom — is failing after centuries of rule. Ionesco based the script on his own near-death experience and fear of death, Phinney said. He projects this (with many absurd twists) onto the King, who is forced to accept the reality that his reign is not permanent and confront what it will mean for the world to move on without him.

Zephyr Teachout, who succeeded centenarian founder Bill Blachly as Unadilla’s artistic director last year, said she and Phinney deliberately chose to produce Exit the King this summer in light of current American politics. It’s all in the name: The United States is celebrating “the 250th anniversary of the rejection of kings,” Teachout said, and many Americans continue to reject the notion of autocracy through nationwide “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration.

She added that King Berenger’s emotional journey speaks to the nation’s “geriatric politics” and concern over America’s aging leaders.

As a professor of law at Fordham University in New York City and former candidate for governor and attorney general of New York, Teachout specializes in the study of corruption. She noted that

a key source of corruption is the inability of authorities to acknowledge that public interest isn’t always the same as their self-interest.

“We have so many people who are clinging, grasping on to their own power,” Teachout said. “People are choosing to hold on to that power until they die because they cannot imagine the world without their own unique wisdom in it.”

Phinney said he hopes audiences recognize that same struggle in King Berenger and draw connections to the challenges of the present day. The most important reason to create theater, he said, is because you “believe that it has relevance to either the microcosm of your community or to the macro-level, timeless issues of the day.”

Even after more than 60 years, Exit the King maintains its relevance, Teachout said, in part because of how Ionesco balanced the play’s heavier themes with his flair for farcical comedy.

“One of the best, most powerful historical tools against tyranny is humor,” she said, “so we do well to remember that.”

Another tool is community, which Unadilla has cultivated for nearly half a century through a unique theatergoing experience. The Festival Theatre has a “rough-hewn, almost unfinished” vibe, Phinney said, with electrical wires visible from the house and an earthy smell. He and Teachout both nodded to the irony of producing a show as a commentary on national politics in a secluded, small-town theater. But no place is isolated from these issues, and Exit the King aims to get people thinking about them.

“I feel like you never regret going to the theater, like something happens in the dark,” Teachout said. “The experience of absurdism about a corrupt monarch in a barn should not be missed.” ➆

INFO

Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jim Phinney, produced by Unadilla Theatre. July 24 through August 2: Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m., at Unadilla Festival Theatre in Marshfield. $15-30. unadilla.org

Burlington's most beloved familyowned kitchen store is looking for new owners to steward it through its next generation. KISS THE COOK has been on Church Street for 35 years, is profitable and provides a wonderful lifestyle, supported by longstanding loyal customers. It also has nationwide customers with an online business poised for tremendous growth. This is an exceptional opportunity to participate in Burlington's future through an established, sustainable business in the heart of the community. For information, contact bill@kissthecook.net.

fix and feather with Nest Notes — an e-newsletter filled

Audience members at Unadilla’s Festival Theatre in 2023

Between the Lines

Theater review: The Understudy, Dorset Theatre Festival

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

Before the house lights go down at the Dorset Theatre Festival production of The Understudy, the set itself has a chance to destabilize the audience. On the large stage, vertiginously tilting walls are topped by a slanting beam. Perspective is undermined even before a balding, gray-haired man darts onstage with a gun, making his own shooting sound effects. His first words — delivered straight to viewers by an actor playing an actor in an empty Broadway theater — are the beginning of a puzzle. “Oh, it’s not real,” Harry says dismissively of the prop gun he’s been brandishing. And we’re off: What is real in this snappy, hilarious, unpredictable play?

THEATER

The setting is a rehearsal to prepare an understudy for a role he’ll probably never perform before an audience. The play in question is worth all of Broadway’s production opulence, but its sets and lighting effects are merely surreal background for our story. Two actors and a stage manager have a simple professional job to do, but collaboration won’t be easy. They’re natural enemies, each

personifying what another considers most atrocious about theater today.

Roxanne, a stage manager who’s always in control, is thrown for a loop when her long-lost fiancé, who skipped out two weeks before their wedding, shows up as the understudy she must prep. Harry’s a luckless actor whose understudy job leaves him peering at a career he still can’t quite have. Onstage opposite him is the show’s second-billed star, Jake, who will slide into the starring role should Brad, the unseen mega-celebrity, ever have to miss a show. Jake isn’t so much an understudy as a working actor grooming for the next level, but despite his trainer-toned biceps and success in an action film, he is stuck in the shadows with neither big money nor big prestige.

Each arrives as a bundle of competing confidence and insecurity. Roxanne stayed in theater as a stage manager, abandoning her acting career after Harry abandoned her. Jake craves validation through the quality of roles he can land, but what does it say if a guy like Harry could double for him? Harry’s career is sputtering, and one reason is the cultural obsession with film celebrities who now gobble up stage roles

several bananas. The theatrical reality of a grand set fights the unreality of actors stumbling through an abbreviated rehearsal. Above it all, Harry’s job is being paid not to act. An understudy’s paycheck is earned by canceling every other engagement for one that likely never comes.

Playwright Theresa Rebeck has a knack for creating unusual circumstances that force characters to face their shortcomings. Her crackling dialogue mixes wit, big concepts and keen human observation. This show looks at the ugly intersection of art and commerce, including the notion that movie stars are more real than ordinary people.

Rebeck is Dorset’s resident playwright, and she’s updated her 2008 hit play to fit current times. The Understudy still floats in a make-believe Broadway, where an easy joke about a tech’s incompetence is both off and oft-repeated and eavesdropping seems to be the point of going offstage. Rebeck’s story is so polished it gleams, though its depth is in the wordplay, not the characters. It’s the laughs that linger. As a director, Rebeck demonstrates a brilliant attention to rhythm and space.

As Harry, Jeffrey Bean turns the opening scene into a combination character revelation and killer standup. Bean plays Harry as the most regular of regular guys, summing up an action film as people yelling, “Get in the truck!” He gives us a Harry yearning to act — and yearning to stay cool about it.

as a career afterthought while producing a box-office miracle.

The Understudy spans one rehearsal with a thousand interruptions. All of theater’s delicate mechanics fracture before our eyes as Harry overthinks, Jake demands fidelity to his blocking and Roxanne yells futile instructions to the tech booth. We’re in a play wrapped around a play, and the scenes inside break off almost immediately. Until one takes hold. When it comes to life, the actors begin to play with it and their attention clicks. They’re finally making something.

The play they’re doing could only be a hit on Broadway in an alternate universe, but in this satire that’s the point. A fictional long-lost script by Franz Kafka carries his trademark nightmare of dehumanization into a three-hour meditation on despair. But with A- and B-list celebrities, even gloom can fill seats. Feel free to detect the parallels between Kafka’s dystopia and show business; humiliation, isolation and unseen power infect them both.

The play runs on pure absurdity. With only slivers of the Kafka script performed, we can barely piece together a play that includes both a castle and a trial plus

W. Tré Davis has just the right swagger to play Jake, an actor still discovering his own star power. Davis’ physicality gives Jake action-film cred, while his open concentration exerts a gravitational pull on other actors to draw them close in a scene.

Elizabeth Heflin plays Roxanne as someone born to solve problems and very weary of her success at it. She’s got a headset and clipboard, but none of it helps when Harry arrives to dig up the past and Jake tempts her toward a future.

The Understudy contrasts acting skill with acting success, and its cynical conclusion is that audiences love fame more than meaning. But it’s also a love letter to theater in which the nature of a play as play sweeps everyone up, including the audience. Rebeck wraps multiple layers of stage artifice and truth around wonderfully funny characters. Showbiz may oppress them, but it can’t quite stop them from wanting to pretend. ➆

INFO

The Understudy, written and directed by Theresa Rebeck, produced by Dorset Theatre Festival. Through July 19: Wednesday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m., at Dorset Playhouse. $67-74. dorsettheatrefestival.org

Elizabeth Heflin and W. Tré Davis in The Understudy

intellectual freedom messages; and a sticker that said, “I tried to form a gang but it turned it into a book club.”

The group also sent $250 in cash, which Megarry used to buy milk, diapers, meat, cheese and vegetables for 15 people who were afraid to leave their apartments.

In a March 5 email she wrote thanking the group, Megarry concluded, “How lucky was I to meet you all and get to know you over the years via Zoom. I really must visit.”

Two months later, on the third Tuesday in May, she walked into the library for the first time.

“It was unbelievable,” she said. She had flown to Boston with her daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Mark Traeger, the day before and driven to Hyde Park. Book group member Helen Whitney, who was out of town, had insisted they stay in her house, just around the corner from the library. Spring flowers bloomed in Whitney’s enormous garden, Heather said: “The whole place looked like a Hallmark movie.”

Carlucci stocked the kitchen, and Whitney left them copious notes about how things worked and told them not to be alarmed if people walked their dogs through the yard.

Three book group members took Megarry and her children out to dinner, and the next night she finally met the rest of the group face-to-face.

They gathered an hour early for pizza.

“It was almost giddy,” Olsen said. “People were just giggling and laughing and just telling stories and having a great time together.”

Megarry, a nonfiction fan, led the discussion on the book she had selected: Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar. She and her children left for Boston the next morning.

When the June meeting rolled around, a box of cookies and brownies as big as bricks arrived at the library. Megarry had ordered the treats from Two Sons Bakehouse in Hyde Park as a thank-you.

That day happened to be her birthday. She didn’t realize that anyone in the group knew that, but when the meeting opened, the other members sang to her. Then they got down to business and discussed the book Twice by Mitch Albom, with Megarry back in her usual spot: on a laptop screen on the podium.

“So close,” Carlucci said, “but yet so far.” ➆

Lanpher Memorial Library

Fran Megarry and Heather Traeger in Hyde Park

Bound to Bond « P.38

culture Life on Neptune

Book

review: A Thousand Souls, Catherine Tudish

BY MARGOT HARRISON • margot@sevendaysvt.com

The fictional town of Neptune could be dozens of places in Vermont.

It has a population of 1,043 and “fourteen white clapboard houses and a white church surrounding the village green,” according to the mail carrier who narrates the title story in Catherine Tudish’s new book, A Thousand Souls.

Those souls are the subject of this “novel in stories” from the central Vermont author, known for her 2005 story collection Tenney’s Landing and her 2007 novel American Cream. While not all of the 14 stories in Tudish’s latest work take place in Neptune, all focus on its residents, adding up to a larger narrative of intertwined lives.

Many literary portraits of small towns give pride of place to the angst or depravity hiding under the placid surface. A Thousand Souls , by contrast, features little dramatic heightening or sustained

conflict. These people’s lives are genuinely quiet, yet Tudish makes that quietness resonate profoundly.

Typical of her subtle approach, the title story — the first to give us an overview of Neptune — doesn’t appear until about halfway through the book. In it, mail carrier Stewart Prime, the novel’s most contemplative narrator, muses on the strange course of his life:

I drive a rural mail route, which gives me a lot of time to think.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how a tiny thing — a worn-out gear, say, or a word misspoken — can change a person’s life forever.

The theme of great change arising from “tiny things” has obvious relevance to both Stewart’s life — he was orphaned

by a freak Ferris wheel accident — and those of many folks on his daily route. Rather than open the novel on that book club-friendly motif, however, Tudish allows us to discover it for ourselves first. Her storytelling method is one in which emotion accumulates almost imperceptibly until it snowballs (snow is another frequent motif) into our awareness. Case in point: We may initially be underwhelmed by the first story in A Thousand Souls, “Keepsake,” a man’s reminiscence of meeting his dad for the first time as a boy. Isaiah Collier’s discovery that he was born from a fleeting affair — his father has a family down South — supplies the boy’s first knowledge of “love, what it can give you and what it can take away.”

But that simple revelation develops more dimensions in the fourth story, “Wish You Were Here.” Here, the protagonist is Isaiah’s aunt in Baltimore; grieving her brother, she finds letters that unearth the existence of his out-of-wedlock son. Wondering whether to tell the widow, she reflects that “It was terrible to know about [the letters] and say nothing, more terrible to reveal them.” The novel’s last story, “The Weight of Snow,” serves as a bookend that draws Isaiah’s motif of the giving and taking powers of love to a touching conclusion.

Marital infidelity appears often in A Thousand Souls, as does the question of whether a child’s origin determines the course of their life. (Isaiah becomes a model family man, to the consternation of some Neptune residents.) Death, aging and grief are also well represented. Several stories focus on Isaiah’s friend Zeb and his symbiotic relationship with his daughter Tory — both perhaps what we’d now call neurodivergent — as they grapple with loves and losses, piecing broken lives back together through patience and routine.

Close-knit as Neptune may be, Tudish has no truck with the myth of Vermont’s insularity. Neptune is no self-contained “tiny kingdom,” as a visitor imagines it in “The Weight of Snow,” but a place that sees frequent departures, arrivals and sentimental returns.

In “A Thousand Souls,” Stewart speaks dismissively of outsiders, as old-time Vermonters are wont to do: “From time to time, a stranger shows up in Neptune. They’re like those birds that get blown

FROM ‘A THOUSAND SOULS’

A THOUSAND SOULS IS A BOOK FOR READERS WHO APPRECIATE GENTLE YET WEIGHTY TRUTHS.

off course by hurricanes.” But one bigcity transplant (herself the protagonist of another story, “Search and Rescue”) tempts him to alter his beloved routines. Meanwhile, the narrator of “Crossing” envies a childhood friend’s escape from Neptune even as she reﬂects wryly on her own inability to leave.

Some newcomers hail from farther away, testing the town’s tolerance for newness. In “Twelve Mountains,” the teenage Tory falls in love with a Hmong refugee. In “Catching Sheri Lightheart,” the town’s well-liked lawman — whose “sheri ng style is what you might call selective,” the narrator notes — helps undocumented farmworkers evade the feds.

Out here in the sticks, the mail still means something. Not as much as it did years ago, but people get an occasional letter or, more often, postcards and birthday cards. ey look forward to their magazines and small packages. People know what time I’ll pull up to their mailboxes in my righthanded Jeep, and some of them watch for me — the old, the lonely, the hopeful. Any day could bring a treasure, or a disappointment. ere’s more to it than delivering the mail, of course. I carry a chainsaw in the back for clearing fallen branches off the road, jumper cables, shovel, ﬁrst-aid kit, a few cans of Fix-a-Flat. I’ve been at this thirty-two years, since my stint in the army. I drive the same roads six days a week, and I never get bored. to our own.

between ﬁrst- and third-person narration, and the shifting keeps us engaged. Two of them experiment with form: “Boy Two” is epistolary, while “Twelve Mountains” features a Greek chorus of town busybodies. Overall, Tudish’s style is notable not for innovation but for accretion: She builds an intricate facsimile of life from soothingly mundane details and secondhand stories that her characters use to make sense of their current dilemmas.

“Catching Sheriff Lightheart,” for instance, traces the evolution of the menu at Neptune’s Red Onion Café. In “Search and Rescue,” we learn why the protagonist’s late husband called certain rural vehicles “shit barges.” In “French Lessons,” the narrator revisits her dad’s family lore in an e ort to understand his present behavior.

In more than one story, food has healing and bonding powers. In “The Book of Consolation,” for instance, Isaiah’s mom brings a pie to a recently bereaved mother: “Such a foolish equation, she thinks. You have lost your only child. And here is your pie.” Yet that humble o ering makes a di erence, paired with a listening ear.

A Thousand Souls is a book for readers who appreciate such gentle yet weighty truths. The stories’ wealth of details and rapid sliding around in time can make for a dizzying reading experience; I found myself taking notes to keep track of the characters’ web of connections. But it’s a nourishing read, too, as we grow to know these people — and sometimes their ancestors and progeny — better with each reappearance.

Isaiah’s children, for instance, are the focus of “Boy Two,” which consists of a young woman’s revelatory letter to her brother. In a postscript, she declares her intention not to send the missive, wondering if “Maybe I was writing it for myself, after all, to fi x us in this place and time.” That’s a fine description of what Tudish’s own stories do: They “fix” their characters in a fictional world that feels poignantly close

RENT KAYAKS, CANOES, SUPS, AND SAILBOATS AT YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR LAKE DAY FUN!

Crafts for a Cause, All Summer Long.

Find an event near you to participate! All Pride & Joy crafting events are free and all-ages.

Pride & Joy is a community art project celebrating Queer joy, vitality, & community through quilts. Learn more at riotcraftstudio.prideandjoy.com

Author events on Saturday, July 18, 1 p.m., at Phoenix Books in Burlington (with Brett Ann Stanciu); Wednesday, August 5, 6 p.m., at the Literary Arts Bridge, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. (with Peter Orner); and Friday, August 14, 6 p.m., at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester (with Brett Ann Stanciu).

A ousand Souls by Catherine Tudish, Acre Books, 224 pages. $20.

COURTESY

Catherine Tudish

on screen

Maddie’s Secret ★★★★

I’m always most intrigued by the movies that are toughest to write capsule blurbs for. Case in point: the indie ﬁlm Maddie’s Secret, currently playing at Partizanﬁlm in Burlington and the Savoy Theater in Montpelier. Comedian John Early wrote, directed and stars as the female title character. The title itself nods to the 1986 TV movie Kate’s Secret, in which Meredith Baxter — queen of Lifetime reruns — played a woman with bulimia. All this might lead you to expect a broad drag-based comedy, perhaps deliberately designed to o end modern sensibilities. (Making light of eating disorders? Way out of bounds.) But Maddie’s Secret, which premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, is something else again.

The deal

Millennial vegetarian Maddie Ralph (Early) works as a dishwasher at an LA food-content company called Gourmaybe with her sassy friend Deena (Kate Berlant). One day, Maddie’s husband, Jake (Eric Rahill), posts a video of her preparing one of her own recipes. It goes viral, catapulting Maddie to on-camera stardom.

But even as Maddie celebrates healthy eating, she has a secret: She’s insecure

about her body, with a history of bulimia tied to her toxic relationship with her chain-smoking, meat-loving mom (Kristen Johnston). The stress of auditioning for the coveted role of consultant to the food-themed TV show “The Boar” starts Maddie down a dangerous road of binging and purging, with some big lies to Jake along the way. Can she deal with her issues before she dance-aerobicizes herself to death?

Will you like it?

Some viewers ﬁnd it di cult to process a parody or pastiche that shows no contempt for its subject — that, in fact, takes its subject seriously. Those viewers may struggle with Maddie’s Secret, as will anyone expecting gags and belly laughs. Rather than skewer recovery melodramas, Early deploys their comfortingly familiar story beats with a ection. The ﬁlm’s gentle humor bu ers the uncomfortable truth at its core: Despite foodie culture and body positivity, eating disorders persist.

Early’s performance as Maddie — who, the script makes clear, is a cis woman — lacks the theatrical exaggeration traditionally associated with drag. Fans of the cult Canadian sketch series “The Kids in the

REVIEW

genres, Maddie’s Secret has uneven pacing, with some sections wandering from vignette to vignette. Once Maddie is sent to an inpatient recovery program, however, the movie locks in, committing to the Girl, Interrupted tropes. As fellow patients who are the Pink Ladies to Maddie’s Sandra Dee (in the words of an acerbic nurse), Leah Hennessey, Emily Allan and Vanessa Bayer sink their teeth into the roles with so much comic panache that we may be startled to find ourselves tearing up. Maddie’s confrontation with her mom in therapy is hyperbolically horriﬁc, yet it ends with a perfect line reading by Johnson that grounds it in reality.

That’s typical of Maddie’s Secret; just when we’re ready to write it o as one thing, it mutates into something else. In a hyperconscious age, when YouTube media critics dissect the stylistic conventions underlying every story, perhaps it’s inevitable that parody would become the new sincerity. Horror comedies such as the popular “Widow’s Bay,” for instance, celebrate genre clichés more than they debunk them.

Hall” will recognize the actor’s approach: Female mannerisms are always subtle and secondary to the character’s individuality.

Shy, blond and prone to pastels, Maddie is a “good girl” who would rather eat her dark side than confront it. Her early scenes with Berlant — whose “bad girl” lesbian character never fully gels — have some of the silly, stagy line readings of traditional parodies. Yet the better we know Maddie, the more nuanced and sympathetic she becomes. There’s relatable truth in her dysfunctional coping strategies: repressing her self-hatred so she can be a role model, wrapping herself in a web of lies rather than tell Jake she doesn’t want kids because she’s terriﬁed of becoming her mother.

Cinematographer Max Lakner gives Maddie’s Secret a lush prettiness more reminiscent of midcentury melodramas than of ’80s TV movies. Shades of pink and magenta and dramatic lighting abound, though corny montages, expressive slow motion and freeze frames don’t get short shrift, either. The movie has some surreally grotesque moments, as when Maddie’s mom torments her by mailing her boxes of juicy steaks. (They come from the “Rutland Meat Company,” which isn’t the only Vermont shout-out in the movie; Jake gives Maddie a cradle handcrafted by a friend he met at Middlebury College.)

Like many films that mix tones and

Maddie’s Secret is melodrama without guilt — just a little wink and nudge so we all understand this is real-life trauma with better lighting and the rough edges sanded o . We crave the softening and sweetening of Lifetime movies, Early suggests, the way we crave food with a pretty presentation. But we can still draw nourishment from the harder truths beneath.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

JOHN EARLY: NOW MORE THAN EVER (2023; HBO Max): Early’s comedy special features both standup and song performances.

SHOWGIRLS (1995; PLEX, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Tubi, rentable): e director has cited Paul Verhoeven’s notorious campfest about an aspiring dancer as an inspiration for Maddie’s Secret, along with the ﬁlms of Douglas Sirk, John Waters and (of course) vintage “problem of the week” TV movies.

“THE BEAR” (five seasons, 2022-2026; Disney+, Hulu): Beloved and debated by foodies and drama fans alike, the model for “ e Boar” chronicles the transformation of a Chicago sandwich shop into a fine-dining restaurant. It just finished its final season.

Comedian John Early wrote, directed and plays the title character, a foodie struggling with an eating disorder.

NEW IN THEATERS

GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS: A Midwesterner (Zoey Deutch) will go to any lengths to get revenge on her fiancé for cheating with a celeb in David Wain’s (Wet Hot American Summer) comedy. (93 min, R. Partizanfilm)

THE ODYSSEY: Christopher Nolan offers his take on the Homeric epic of a weary warrior (Matt Damon) trying to return home. With Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson. (180 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

BACKROOMSHHHH In Kane Parsons’ debut horror feature, an interdimensional portal appears to open beneath a furniture store. “Everything Must Go” edition features bonus footage. (110 min, R. Sunset; reviewed 6/3)

DISCLOSURE DAYHH1/2 Steven Spielberg returns to science fiction with this thriller in which humanity makes contact with aliens. Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor and Colin Firth star. (145 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 6/17)

EVIL DEAD BURNHH1/2 A widow’s visit to her in-laws doesn’t go well in this standalone horror sequel to Evil Dead Rise. Souheila Yacoub and Hunter Doohan star. (110 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Sunset)

THE INVITEHHHH A dinner party holds big surprises for two couples (Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) in Wilde’s remake of Spanish comedy The People Upstairs. (107 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Savoy)

LEVITICUSHHHH Religion-inspired homophobia is the monster in this Australian horror film about two teenagers (Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen) in love. Adrian Chiarella directed. (88 min, R. Partizanfilm)

MADDIE’S SECRETHHHH John Early wrote, directed and plays the title character in this gentle parody about a foodie influencer struggling with an eating disorder. With Kate Berlant and Eric Rahill. (98 min, NR. Partizanfilm, Savoy; reviewed 7/15)

MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD: Sasha Waters’ documentary chronicles the life of the poet who was also a queer icon. (91 min, NR. Savoy)

MINIONS & MONSTERSHHH1/2 The Minions cause chaos trying to make a monster flick in 1920s Hollywood in this animated comedy featuring the voices of Pierre Coffin, Allison Janney and George Lucas himself. (90 min, PG. Big Picture, Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden)

MOANAHH Catherine Laga’aia plays the title character in this live-action version of the 2016 Disney musical, also starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Thomas Kail. (115 min, PG. Bethel, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

OBSESSIONHHHH1/2 A young man makes the mistake of wishing on a charm that his crush would fall in love with him in Curry Barker’s horror film. (Capitol, Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 5/20)

PRESSUREHHH1/2 Brendan Frazer plays Dwight D. Eisenhower in this period thriller about the 72 hours preceding D-Day, also starring Andrew Scott and Kerry Condon. (100 min, PG-13. Catamount)

ROMERIA: A young woman (Llúcia Garcia) discovers secrets about herself in her mother’s diary in this Spanish drama directed by Carla Simón. (114 min, NR. Savoy)

SUPERGIRLHHH Milly Alcock plays Superman’s cousin on a road trip across the galaxy that becomes a revenge quest. David Corenswet and Eve Ridley costar; Craig Gillespie directed. (107 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic; reviewed 7/1)

TOY STORY 5HHH1/2 Electronics are the threat in the latest installment of Pixar’s animated series in which living toys confront big problems. (102 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden)

YOUNG WASHINGTONHH1/2 This historical epic focuses on the first U.S. president’s (William FranklynMiller) role in the French and Indian War. (125 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR (Savoy, Sat only)

ASK E. JEAN (VTIFF, Fri only)

EVIL DEAD 2 (Catamount, Fri only)

MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN (VTIFF, Sun only)

THE NEVERENDING STORY (Partizanfilm, Sat only)

ONCE WERE WARRIORS (Catamount, Wed 15 only)

THRONE OF BLOOD (VTIFF, Thu only)

TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (Partizanfilm, Wed 15 only)

UNDERLAND (VTIFF, Sat only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

BETHEL DRIVE-IN: 36 Bethel Dr., Bethel, 728-3740, betheldrivein.com

*BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info. Closed through April 29.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

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

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

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

SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com

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

ClassicalSunday

The high note of your weekend, with classical music in the BCA Center gallery

Sundays 10 am

July 12: Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival

July 19: Kenneth R. Meyer

July 26: Skylark

burlingtoncityarts.org/events

Special support from the Concert Artists Fund of the Vermont Communtiy Foundation. 4T-BCA071526 1 7/6/26 3:27 PM

The Odyssey

REVIEW

Modern Math

Sculpture is “At Sixes and Sevens” at the Bundy Modern in Waitsﬁeld

BY ALICE DODGE •

adodge@sevendaysvt.com

The idiom “at sixes and sevens” is one of those old-timey sayings that’s familiar but has fallen out of use. Unrelated to the meme-based viral phenomenon of middle schoolers waving their arms around and yelling “six seven” — but not that far o — it refers to something in a state of confusion or disorder. It’s thought to be derived from the moment of having bet everything on just two numbers in a game of dice — and lost.

It’s a ﬁtting title for the summer show at the Bundy Modern in Waitsﬁeld. Harlow Carpenter, who studied

with noted modernists Walter Gropius, Josep Lluis Sert and Marcel Breuer, designed the brick-and-glass cube in 1962, early in his career. Sitting perfectly next to a reﬂecting pool and within an expansive lawn, the gallery and sculpture park is nonetheless incongruous in Vermont. Such formal architecture in a rural setting reads as a monument to a worldview that shaped society but never quite accounted for the di erent voices within it.

This year, Wendell and June Anderson, who own and run the Bundy Modern, invited 10 sculptors working in higher education to install at least one indoor and one

THE MOST BASIC MATERIAL LITERALLY GAINS A VOICE.

outdoor work. Many of the artists are emerging on the national stage and fully immersed in current academic theory and practice. June said they each spent from a day to more than two weeks installing the works. “Their commitment to the form is intense,” she said.

Gregory Gómez, the show’s lead curator and organizer, recently retired as chair of sculpture in the College of Fine Arts at Boston University. He asked the artists to respond to modernism, from its core principles to its promises and failures. The resulting works are installed alongside the Bundy’s “legacy” collection of modernist-era outdoor sculptures. The new pieces aren’t altogether irreverent, but rather balance admiration of their artistic forbears with well-considered critiques.

David Snyder, another BU faculty member, presents two of the most arresting works. “Clown Tower,” which confronts viewers as they walk into the gallery, rises 16 feet, nearly hitting the gallery lights. The rickety-seeming, sca old-like structure is covered in little red ﬂags and looks like a concrete roller coaster engineered by beavers on meth. Inside it, black forms reminiscent of grand architecture rest at angles. Circus-like yellow and red paint seen through their windows is symbolic of ﬂames within.

The sculpture reads as a commentary on the possible imminent collapse of our political system and ties it to the wider failures of democratization as a modernist project. Modernists believed that new industrialized materials and technologies would increase access to homes and goods for more people — yet the movement also imposed a top-down vision of progress that alienated many and ushered in an era of displacement, shoddy construction and cheap ﬁxes. Snyder accentuates the sense that the tower’s underlying structure — whether rhetorical, political or architectural — is slapdash at best.

Left: “Clown Tower” by David Snyder; Above: “Tide Rock” by Anina Major

Contrast that with Snyder’s other piece, “Belfry,” a boxy wooden edifice sited at the edge of the Bundy’s field. It’s rough but solid, as no-frills as a New England church. Standing under the structure, one can look up through a square opening in the ceiling and barely see, through a dark void, its underlying careful construction. Though modern architecture borrowed many of its forms from buildings such as New England churches, it abandoned much of the knowledge that made them possible. Here, Snyder offers a quiet space to honor such craft.

A strong material sensibility runs throughout the show. In “Net (Pond),” Paloma Izquierdo, also of BU, combines a steel grid with rocks and traditional Japanese glass fishing floats in the middle of the Bundy’s reflecting pool. The floats transform the steel into something diaphanous; the rocks seem to bubble up from below. Inside the gallery, “Railing (Pond)” is a glass cylinder mounted to the wall like a handrail and filled with pond water. Both create a symbiosis between what’s manufactured and natural, rigid and fluid.

Next to the pond, Anina Major’s (Bennington College) glazed ceramic “Tide Rock” rests atop a stone bench. Its woven texture and its form, a little like a squashed basket, echo Izquierdo’s piece with a gridlike structure that references traditional modes of making. The sculpture’s mottled, mirrorlike glaze seems to reflect the natural world around it, like a humbler, sustainable, feminist take on a skyscraper.

Where modernism often took a whatyou-see-is-what-you-get approach, a few of these works offer an element of surprise. “Thresholds of Shadow & Light” by Oscar Rene Cornejo, of Cornell

University, is a simple, minimal structure of square, dark timbers — except, June said, at 5:45 p.m. That’s when, seen from the gallery entrance, an otherwise nondescript sliver of horizontal glass is illuminated by a moment of sunlight “like an electric, neon explosion of light that is prismatic,” she said. “It has a whole rainbow.”

Constanza Alarcón Tennen, of Tufts University, delivers the unexpected through sound. Inside the gallery, three hanging clay balls, a single hand resting on each, are attached to bellows that the viewer can pump to create eerie tones. Outdoors, spherical ceramic vessels likewise create fleeting notes as the wind blows across them. Here, the most basic material literally gains a voice.

Wellesley College’s Daniela Rivera Clerfeuille gives us three flags. One is of standard weight and manufacture; another, hand-dyed cotton, already wearing thin and likely to disintegrate by the end of the season. The third is oversize, hung low and weighted. It doesn’t get off the ground, but makes a loud crinkling noise in the wind, as though trying to fly. All are emblazoned with the word “Truth.” How we read it, the works seem to say, depends on how the wind blows. Situated near older, abstract constructions that sought to reflect singular, sweeping ideals, this summer’s installations show up instead with an emphasis on plurality, diversity, humor and consideration for the world around them, with just a dash of chaos. ➆

INFO

“At Sixes and Sevens: Sculpture at the Bundy Modern” on view through September 6 at the Bundy Modern in Waitsfield. bundymodern.com

“Thresholds of Shadow & Light” by Oscar Rene Cornejo, seen through “ML 16” by John Matusz

art JUL. 15-22

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

MARY TAPOGNA: “It All Fits,” a solo show of works by the Lyndonville mosaic artist, including religious and secular portraits, functional works, and other inventions. Kishka Gallery & Library, White River Junction, through August 29.

NIKKI LAXAR: “Borrowed Instincts / Salvaged Selves,” a collection of hand-cut collages by the Burlington artist, created from monoprinted papers and repurposed imagery. Foam Brewers, Burlington, through August 31.

VICTORIA BLEWER AND DIETLIND VANDER SCHAAF: “Near Enough to Dream,” hand-colored photographs and encaustic paintings that evoke memory, atmosphere and emotion. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, Middlebury, through September 6.

ART AT THE AIRPORT: MIKE SIPE: Photographs of Scotland’s Highlands and islands, from Edinburgh to wild places and dramatic coastlines. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through September 22.

ART AT THE AIRPORT: NATASHA BOGAR: Images that explore the interplay between light and shadow in nature. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through September 22.

ART AT CITY HALL: CALEB KENNA: “Our Working Lands,” photographs that explore the connection between land, labor and perspective using portraiture and aerial images. Burlington City Hall, through October 6.

ART AT THE AIRPORT: MATT LARSON: Paintings inspired by ecological patterns and natural processes. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through November 10. ‘WINGS, WATERS, WAYS’: A group show asking how artists perceive birds and waters, how each has shaped the other, and how humans interact with both. Reception: Thursday, July 16, 3-5:30 p.m. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, through October 31.

MARY LYNN BURKE: “Sensitive Seeds,” an exhibition of abstract mixed-media paintings on linen, canvas and paper based in a belief that a symbiotic relationship with nature can support our search for belonging. Reception: Friday, July 17, 6-8 p.m. The Phoenix, Waterbury, July 17-December 31.

‘FOR THE LOVE OF LIGHT’: A group exhibition exploring the theme of light. Reception: Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.-noon. Jericho Town Hall, July 15-August 31.

MAGGIE NEALE: “Expressions in Color Musings,” abstract paintings exploring vibrant color by the central Vermont artist, who is also known for her works on silk and in fiber. Reception: Saturday, July 18, 3-5 p.m. The Tunbridge General Store Gallery, July 18-September 7. Free.

‘THE BELLOWS BROTHERS’: Works by fourthgeneration St. Johnsbury photographer Robert C. Jenks, whose great-grandfather established Jenks Studio in 1886, and by Maine photographer James Kipfer. Reception: Saturday, July 18, 4-6 p.m. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, through September 30.

‘ANIMALS’: A group show of small sculptures, drawings and paintings of our fellow creatures by artists Linda Mirabile, Emilia Olson, Anne Davis, Delia Robinson, Georgia Landau, Susan Bull Riley, Helen Rabin, Janet Van Fleet, Cynthia Ross, David Klein and Juliana Fechter. Reception: Sunday, July 19, 2-4 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, July 19-March 1.

CANDACE JENSEN AND SARAH LA PUERTA: “Scriptive,” an exhibition of calligraphic illuminations and works on paper and parchment on a range of themes, from chthonic poetry and systems of magic to mundane horrors and news cycles.

Bloom and Bust

What happens when we wilt? Montpelier artist Alisa Dworsky examines the biological process with “Phase Change,” a solo show at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. Delicate watercolor-and-ink studies of flowers show blooms as they lose their buoyancy, drying out and curling over but gaining dimension as they do. Her “Closed Loop” drawings ponder the transformation through abstraction, borrowing the bouquet’s changing colors in lines that seem to trace patterns of circulation as they hang on for a while and then stop. Her biggest and most direct experiment, the installation “Phase Change 1,” is a 10-foot-tall bell of nylon fabric, yellow and orange like a daffodil, hanging from the ceiling and counterweighted by water. As the liquid evaporates, the piece slowly collapses onto the floor. The works, Dworsky says in her artist’s statement, address one of summer’s hard truths: “the desire to preserve something of the garden, and the failure to hold a moment of bloom.”

‘ALISA DWORSKY: PHASE CHANGE’

On view through July 26 at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. highlandartsvt.org

Reception: Sunday, July 19, 5-8 p.m. Aleshire Gallery, Brandon, July 19-September 20.

HEIDI BRONER: “Animal, Mineral,” a solo show by the Calais painter spanning 20 years of work, including images of the Maine coast and people in urban settings. Reception: Friday, August 7, 4:30-7 p.m.; artist remarks, 6 p.m. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier, through September 25.

VISUAL 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, July 16, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation.

‘FREE SELF-EXPRESSION’: An open forum in which the public is invited to celebrate community by sharing performance, music, reading, speaking, dancing, and take-home art and writing. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, Friday, July 17, 5-8 p.m. Free.

ARTIST TALK: BARBARA BOSWORTH: The MassArt professor emeritus and Guggenheim fellow discusses her decades spent using a largeformat camera to explore relationships between people and the natural world. Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, Friday, July 17, 5:30 p.m. $15; $10 for VCP members.

RIBBON CUTTING: A celebration of the new art supply department and new management at the gallery and frame shop, including refreshments, raffles and door prizes. Guests in tropical outfits may win the best-dressed award. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery, Waterbury, Friday, July 17, 5:30 p.m. Free.

ARTIST TALK: LILI KOBIELSKI: The Vogue photographer talks about her experience shooting fashion at the Kentucky Derby, followed by a book signing and derby-style cocktails. Books available to order with registration online at svac.org. Yester House Galleries, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, Saturday, July 18, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

TATTOO LIVING EXHIBITION: An in-person showcase of tattooed body art. Models and artists

share their stories and work, and visitors enjoy food, live music, open galleries and a chance to vote for their favorite tattoos. Bennington Museum, Saturday, July 18, 6:30-9 p.m. $10; free for members and kids 17 and younger.

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, July 19, 1-3 p.m. Free.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, July 20, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation.

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, July 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation.

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘REIMAGINED III, THE ART OF RECYCLING’: Seeking submissions of indoor and outdoor works made from recycled materials for a July-to-September group show, the third annual incarnation of the exhibition. Email images to info@chaffeeartcenter.org.

Deadline: Wednesday, July 15. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland. ➆

“Dying Flowers: Daffodils 3” by Alisa Dworsky

theWeek

ADVOCATE - WISE

Get the scoop on this position from WISE’s Advocacy Director Bailey Ray

What are some speciﬁc challenges of this position and why is it important?

Advocates work with and across various systems and institutions to support survivors of relationship violence. Access to resources, care and critical information can be incredibly challenging for survivors. e work of advocates is to understand options, partner with community resources and support survivors in choosing the path that feels best for them. While we cannot always single-handedly smooth the way forward or guarantee ideal outcomes, we can assure survivors that they don’t have to do it alone. We are a staff of 21. e position is based in Lebanon, N.H., and the Program Advocate needs to be able to respond to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center within 45 minutes.

What is unique & rewarding about WISE?

WISE is the only advocacy organization in New England with a service area in two states, which reﬂects the Upper Valley’s spirit of inclusion. Visitors to our Program Center will also likely ﬁnd food and a dog or two running around at any given time, because we know what makes life sweet! WISE runs on community power. We live and work within the communities we serve and are grateful for the dozens of volunteers who offer their time, expertise, compassion and energy to help support survivors and raise awareness of this work. When we work from within the community, we strengthen it, nurture it, and bear witness to the amazing resilience of our friends, neighbors and loved ones each day. ere’s truly nothing like it.

local

music+nightlife

Not Just Child’s Play

From kids’ music to sonic healing, songwriter Raphael Groten does it all

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

It’s no secret that building a career as a musician these days is increasingly di cult. Beyond the age-old ﬁnancial instability, today’s industry demands that songwriters also be content creators and, essentially, small-business owners who book their own gigs and sell their own merch. These modern expectations present signiﬁcant hurdles to making musical dreams come true.

“Being a recording artist has to be one of the only jobs that you have to pay

TALK IT OUT: A TODDLER’S TAKE ON G’RAPH

To help review a few of G’Raph’s most beloved kids’ songs, Seven Days brought in an expert: food writer Jordan Barry’s 3-year-old son, Ollie, who is a big fan. Here, Ollie and music editor Chris Farnsworth take a listen.

“MONSTER TRUCK”

CF: I like how G’Raph brings in actual kids to sing along on this one. And the way he does a sort of Muppet voice when he sings. Kind of a combination of Rafﬁ and Tom Waits, you know what I mean?

OLLIE: [Wearing monster truck shorts, playing with a monster truck.] Which monster truck song is this monster truck song?

CF: Hmm. I think it’s the only monster truck song—

for,” musician Raphael Groten observed recently. “You have to pay for the studio, pay for musicians, pay to promote it … I’ve joked before that musicians are basically T-shirt salesmen!”

Groten, 52, knows all about the grind. And after decades in the music business, the Lincoln resident has figured out a way to make it work, combining his many musical modes into a career that deﬁes easy categorization but pays the bills.

A lifelong musician from a musical

OLLIE: Monster trucks don’t say “roar.”

CF: Well, be that as it may, Ollie, the song clearly says, “ e monster truck goes ‘roar.’” Are you insinuating there’s a deeper meaning or that G’Raph is being contrarian?

OLLIE: [ inks for a moment.] is monster truck says ROAR!

CF: Oh, wait, so you’re saying it does say “roar”?

OLLIE: He’s a DUCK! [Squeals with glee.]

CF: Wait, the truck is a duck? Lyrically, where are you getting that? I see that the truck is “stuck in the muck” and “out of luck”…

OLLIE: He’s a duck.

“I CAN EAT A RAINBOW”

CF: is is one of those tunes that works on multiple levels. It encourages kids to eat their veggies and fruits, but there’s this underlying theme of multiculturalism, I think. Or am I reading too much into

Craigslist ad for a kids’ music teacher, he decided to leap into the world of children’s music.

He created a persona, the inimitable G’Raph, and built up to being one of the most successful kids’ musicians in the state, at one point performing for more than 250 kids a week at 11 di erent schools and libraries. But Groten has simultaneously cultivated his solo artistry, releasing eight records under his own name, including several with classical guitarist and producer Will Ackerman, the Grammy-winning founder of Windham Hill Records.

Groten’s musical career also encompasses a third mode: sound healer and shaman. Along with music and life partner Rebecca Kodis, he performs what he dubs “music as medicine,” a practice of using vibrational frequencies created by instruments such as gongs and tuning forks to help induce relaxation and aid in meditation.

Combining his adult contemporary work with his career as G’Raph and as a sound healer, Groten’s entire life now revolves around music.

family, the native New Yorker graduated from the University of Vermont in 1996 with a minor in music and formed several well-regarded bands in the early aughts, including Latin-funk ensemble Saudade and “psychotropical” jazz act Guagua, with guitarist Geo Kim.

While he loved playing in those bands, Groten had two young children and needed to build a stable career. He did so mostly through carpentry, contracting and design work. But in 2009, after seeing a

that? Maybe it’s just asking if we can eat a rainbow. Can you eat a rainbow, Ollie?

OLLIE: [Tapping his ﬁngers on his water bottle.] No. I can eat a rainbow cookie. I have crumbs on me!

“THE MINOR ABC’S”

OLLIE: Who sings this?

CF: It’s still G’Raph, Ollie.

OLLIE: From music class yesterday?

CF: Your mom said that was in December, but yes, that’s him.

OLLIE: I like G’Raph! [Proceeds to sing an incomprehensible combination of letters and numbers as fast as he can.]

CF: OK, that’s a good critical take. Now we’re getting somewhere.

OLLIE: ere’s a G’Raph “Don’t Pick Your Nose” song! [Immediately picks his nose.]

CF: You know, I honestly think we’re on the same page here. Good record. [Picks his nose.]

“I’d love to pretend there’s some sort of big plan, but all the approaches are really just one approach,” Groten admitted. His graying dreadlocks framed a face with an easy smile and the patient eyes of someone who spends a lot of time around kids. “I used to fantasize about focusing on a single genre, like just being a Latin-jazz guitarist or something, but I don’t think I could really limit myself like that. I love funk. I love nature sounds. I love kids’ music. So why not just, you know, make those things?”

Perhaps due to that very inclination, Groten ﬁnds that all three of his musical

Raphael Groten

COURTESY

Ollie Barry

On the Beat

Is Boston the new City of Brotherly Love? It sounds far-fetched, but not long after Beantown’s summer ﬂing with Scottish soccer fans, last week the uno cial capital of New England went gaga for singer-songwriter NOAH KAHAN.

On Saturday, the Vermonter became the ﬁrst artist to headline four consecutive sold-out shows at Fenway Park. During the ﬁnal performance, Kahan’s mother, Lauri Berkenkamp, surprised her son onstage to let him know he was being inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame, joining the likes of BILLY JOEL and PAUL MCCARTNEY. During the Fenway run, noted Boston sports luminaries such as New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, former Patriot Rob Gronkowski and Red Sox legend David “Big Papi” Ortiz all made on-screen cameos. (Which reminds me of that time my parents took me to see JIMMY BUFFETT in concert when I was 13, and he had tennis star Andre Agassi on a giant screen singing “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”)

Not to be outdone in the Kahan lovefest, the whole Commonwealth of Massachusetts said, “Hold my Sam Adams” and designated July 11, 2026, as Noah Kahan Day. Careful, Vermont. Mass is making moves on your boy. Better name a rest stop after Kahan — or is it time for a Ben & Jerry’s ﬂavor? Considering some of his fans’ inability to control their bowel movements, it should be a dairy-free ﬂavor. I’m just looking out for the stadium custodians of the world.

Incontinent Busyheads aside, it’s been a hell of a month for Kahan. His latest record, The Great Divide, released in April, was certiﬁed platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, making it the fastest

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “LONG DISTANCE DRIVER” by Greg Freeman

2. “SHOP/TALK” by Eastern Mountain Time

3. “LOOSE TOOTH” by Clever Girls

4. “IRON FIST” by Connor Young

5. “SUP BUD” by Flywlkr

6. “DIMENSIONS IN BLUE” by Vermont Jazz Ensemble

7. “1000WAYS2DIE” by rivan

Scan to listen

sevendaysvt. com/playlist

Americana or folk record in history to achieve the feat, and only the second record of 2026 to hit the million-copiessold mark.

Hopefully, readers heeded my recommendation a few weeks ago when I reviewed the new DARI BAY album, Surprise Wish. The second full-length LP from the Burlington indie-rock project of ZACK JAMES, who also plays with ROBBER ROBBER, UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA and the DEAD SHAKERS, is already one of my favorite records of the year. Rhythmically hypnotic and delightfully scuzzy, it stands tall in a crowded ﬁeld of excellent indie rock currently coming out of Burlington.

Concerts Summer Summer Concerts

Noah Kahan at Fenway Park

music+nightlife

pursuits often inform each other. With his kids’ music, Groten strives to make songs that are entertaining to tykes and their parents, even if they’re about eating rainbows and how not to pick one’s nose.

Take “Monster Truck,” a cut from his 2021 kids’ album, Happily Ever Now While the song features Groten singing in a comically gruff voice, as well as doing his best Donald Duck impression, the tune’s rhythmic sophistication stands out. Indeed, there are hints of funk, jazz, reggae, bossa nova and folk all over the album. That fusion works both ways, according to Groten.

“One of my favorite things to do on G’Raph albums is make animal sounds,” he said. “If I’m making one of my solo adult records and it makes sense to start calling like a bird or howling like a coyote, I’ll do it. Why not? No one wants to be in a box.”

Groten became interested in sound healing after one of his sons was injured in a car accident in 2002. Playing guitar for his son while he recovered in the intensive care unit sparked a deeper curiosity about the connection between music and the body. He attended the Center of Light Institute of Sound Healing and Shamanic Studies in Ascutney and also started playing music at UVM Medical Center and took holistic health classes. After years of

NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN A BOX.

RAPHAEL GROTEN

studying the sound/body connection, he eventually released the album Potential in 2021. He described the record as “world medicine groove” and a sort of thesis on his views of using sound to treat maladies.

He’s influenced by the work of Swiss physician Hans Jenny, who in the 1960s introduced the concept of cymatics, which posits that sound is not merely an auditory experience but an actual structural force.

“They did all these studies showing the effects of vibrations on water,” Groten explained. “Well, our cells are mostly

water. What do you think happens to them when we sing? Sound can do so much for our bodies.”

Groten said he tries “not to overexplain or demystify the way sound affects our physiology,” however. “Because, deep down, people already know. We’ve all had that experience when a song changes your mood, for better or for worse.”

His weekly Music Time gigs can certainly change a listener’s mood. Groten, as his G’Raph persona, cohosts the sessions with Kodis, who performs under the moniker Beccazoo, every Tuesday morning at

the Pierson Library in Shelburne. The duo also often plays nondenominational music on Sundays at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. It’s an experience Groten cherishes.

“I love playing for kids, but playing in schools and bars is very similar, really,” he said with a laugh. “They’re barely paying attention; they might throw up; they want to touch my guitar … It’s all a blast, but I really love playing at All Souls because people are deeply listening with open hearts and being visibly moved.”

Groten shows no signs of slowing down. After releasing Shine, a 2025 duet album with his oldest son, Oliver ReckordGroten, the musician has a new release with Kodis coming out under the name Wandering Roots. Scheduled for release at the end of this year, the record continues to blend the artist’s different musical lives: It mixes his multigenre singer-songwriter approach with strains of new-age healing music.

Ultimately, whatever form the music takes, Groten uses it to spark “emotional states,” he said. “Whether that’s onstage with a ton of musicians, or vibrating tuning forks to clear my head, or in a library full of kids, the mission remains the same.” ➆

INFO

Music Time with G’Raph and Beccazoo, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., at Pierson Library in Shelburne. Free. raphaelgroten.com

To celebrate the album’s release, Dari Bay play a hometown show on Friday, July 31, at the North Star Community Hall in Burlington. Joining the fun are Columbus, Ohio, indie project VILLAGERRR and fellow Green Mountain musician and producer BENNY YURCO. Check out daribay.com for ticket info.

Vermont-born singer-songwriter LILLIAN LEADBETTER is gearing up for the release of her sophomore LP, The World to Come, due out in August. The folk and Americana artist recorded the new album in Nashville, where she lives when she’s not in Burlington.

Leadbetter has released a trio of singles in advance of the record: the gentle acoustic ballad “Untethered Alchemy,” the Appalachian-tinged “Move the Moon” and the slowshuffling, MAZZY STAR-esque “Fourth of July.” All three tracks are available on streaming services and at lillianleadbettermusic.com.

All-around ambient-music guru TOM PEARO is back with a new single, a cover of “What the World Needs Now Is Love.”

Recorded live at Big Lake Recording in Burlington by musician and producer DAN ROME, the tune is a highly chilled-out

instrumental take on the BURT BACHARACH and HAL DAVID classic. Pearo’s usual suspects, drummer DAVE DECRISTO and bassist LUKE AWTRY, back him up, moving through the tune with a delicate kind of psychedelic sprawl. (Disclosure: Awtry

is a frequent freelance photographer for Seven Days.) The song hits streaming services on Wednesday, July 15, and you can watch a video of the trio performing it live on YouTube. ➆

Lillian Leadbetter

Raphael Groten and Rebecca Kodis

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.15

All Night Boogie Band (R&B, blues) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 5 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

Blu & Exile (hip-hop) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8 p.m. $20.

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

Historically Close Friends Presents: Le Jazz Hot! (jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

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.

Melissa Chilinski, Elijah Berlow (bluegrass, folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

She Was Right (pop) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

The Third Wheel (covers) at Halvorson’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Donation.

THU.16

Ali McGuirk (soul) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Bob Wagner Trio (roots rock) at Shelburne Vineyard, 7 p.m. Free. Compa & Friends (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15.

COOP (funk, jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Devon McGarry Band (Americana) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Jeff Wilson (singer-songwriter) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5.

Jesse Agan (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Lincoln Sprague (piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Miracle Blood, Tsunamibots, Corrupt World, Wolfhand, Miles of Fire (metal) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 7 p.m. $10. REDadmiral (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

Soaking Wet, Magic User (punk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Summer Concert Series on the Patio (live music series) at Folino’s Pizza, Williston, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.17

90 Proof (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Blue Rock Boys (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

The Bressetts (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Get a Grip

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.

When he gathered some of his closest friends and musical collaborators for a jam one night in 1999 at Red Square in Burlington, saxophonist and bandleader Dave Grippo created an institution of groove. For close to 30 years, GRIPPO FUNK

FRIDGE, pabgaf, creedbratton, i want my 50 dollars (metal) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10/$15.

George Nostrand (acoustic) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Mikahely (singer-songwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 12:30 p.m. Free.

BAND and their massive sound have been a fixture around the Queen City and beyond, often collaborating with members of Phish and Soulive. This Friday, July 17, they join forces with one of their more frequent partners, Trey Anastasio Band vocalist and trumpeter JENNIFER

HARTSWICK, to play the Old Stage at the Double E in Essex on Friday, July 17.

Dancing in the Streets: Sugarshack (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Dead Man Strumming (Grateful Dead tribute) at River Roost Brewery, White River Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Gentlemen Brawlers, Fool & the World (indie) at Stone Church, Chester, 8 p.m. $25/$31.

Get Up With It, Mojohand (jazz, blues) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 5 p.m. Free.

Glam Cowboys (indie) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Grippo Funk Band, Jennifer Hartswick (funk, soul) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 7 p.m. $20.

Joe Adler (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10.

Lavendair (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Live Music and Hot Pizza at Wood-Fired Fridays (music series) at the Clubhouse Grille, Jay, 5 p.m. Free.

Longfriend Timefriend, We’re Here! to Kill, Shy Husky, Better Things (indie) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. Donation.

The Mammals (folk) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8 p.m. $25.

Myra Flynn (soul, R&B) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Paper Prince (folk) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Pluto Rising (new wave, soul) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Porch Sessions: Willverine (electronic) at the SEABA Center, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Rose Asteroid (rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Shiny New Toyz (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $10.

Sibling Reverie (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Tiffany Pfeiffer Trio (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

The Wormdogs, DD Island (bluegrass, folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Yarn (Americana, rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $20/$23.

SAT.18

21 Songwriters (singersongwriter) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 1 p.m. Free.

Bizarre Bazaar in the Veranda, Clive (jam) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Christian Sands (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 8 p.m. $40.

Dan Parks (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Electrostatic Cats (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Fabiano Do Nascimento (Latin, jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $18/$25.

The Faerie Godbrothers (folk) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free. Free Range Band (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Hullabaloo (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jaded Ravins (Americana) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

JJ Gotti, YRMKD, W.T.C., YC, Sadboy, Julius, Bonfils, MXPLE (hip-hop) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. Donation.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free.

Mango Safari, Boban, Magnolia (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

Matthew Lee (singer-songwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Michael Wilbur, DJ Aims (funk, jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Moe Reen, Louisa Stancioff (country, folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 4 p.m. $10.

Official Claire, C.B. Spencer, Perry Donovan (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 1:30 p.m. $10.

The Outcrops (rock, blues) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 3 p.m. Free.

Phantom Suns, Fall District, Doom Service, Yes, Machine (rock, punk) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $10.

Porch Sessions: Matt Hagen (acoustic) at the SEABA Center, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free.

Sara Whitehair Band (indie, dance) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Season of Yes, Blue Northern (roots, blues) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Sed One, DJ Ron Stoppable (hip-hop, reggae) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

The Skatalites, the Attractors (ska) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $34/$42.

SlipBizkit (Nü metal tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $25.

Soulshine Revival, Swim the Current (Allman Brothers tribute) at Lost Nation Brewing, Morrisville, 8 p.m. $20.

Troy Millette (Americana) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Wax Monkey (jam) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

SUN.19

Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at Madbush Falls, Waitsfield, noon. Free.

Mango Safari, Boban, Ides of Marge, Magnolia (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

The Milkhouse Heaters with Phil Henry (folk, Americana) at Stage 33 Live, Bellows Falls, 7 p.m. $15/$20.

Myra Flynn (soul, R&B) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. $26.75.

Peter Rowan (bluegrass) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $46/$50.

Sara Whitehair Band (folk, rock) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. Social Distortion (punk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. SOLD OUT. Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

TURNmusic Presents Skylark String Quartet (contemporary string ensemble) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 6:30 p.m. $15-$30. Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.20

Dimmer Triplets (folk, blues) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free. Fan Club, Abyecta, Dead Street Dreamers, Corrupt World (punk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

TUE.21

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. Dale and Darcy (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Folk Therapy, HEMU (folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Hard Scrabble (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Queen City Cut-Ups (country, bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Irish Night With RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

L’Eclair, Two Sev, DJ Rice Pilaf (psych, funk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. $17/$20. Nora Kelly, Nora & Eliza (alt-country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Raised by Hippies (rock) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.17 // GRIPPO FUNK BAND, JENNIFER HARTSWICK [FUNK, SOUL]

COURTESY

Johnny Rawls & Dave Keller, Tribute to Soul

(THIRD STREET CIGAR RECORDS, CD, DIGITAL)

Jeez, summer’s creeping along with no relief from cruel gas prices. How many of you have had to alter or even cancel vacation plans because of this?

I’m no travel agent, and I don’t have any bo o ideas about a ordable destinations. But I do have one remarkable and inexpensive itinerary that’s well within your budget.

You’ll be visiting Memphis, Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, Philly and selected spots across the Deep South. Your mode of transportation?

The new album Tribute to Soul

spontaneously sat in with Rawls at a Vermont festival in 2010. Rawls, 75, received early tutelage from Joe Tex and Z.Z. Hill and spent years as music director for O.V. Wright. Rawls has released many recordings on his own and won several Blues Music Awards and Living Blues Awards.

Your tour guides are Mississippian Johnny Rawls and Montpelier’s Dave Keller, two highly accomplished and much-revered artists who’ve recorded this joyful celebration of old-school soul music from the times and places where it ﬁrst blossomed.

The perhaps unlikely pair are close friends with established solo careers whose partnership began when Keller

Keller, a generation younger, is a New Englander who was infected with the blues in his early twenties. He worked with Ronnie Earl, Mighty Sam McClain and gospel organist Brother Bob White and, over the course of many solo releases, has earned four Blues Music Award nominations. Since their ﬁrst meeting, Rawls and Keller have performed hundreds of exuberantly received gigs together; Tribute to Soul is their ﬁrst collaborative album. The impetus for recording was an inspired concept — to highlight obscure tunes by criminally overlooked singers who lacked only a lightning bolt from Lady Luck to have achieved bigger success.

Tex, Hill and Wright are covered, along with Tommy Tate, James Carr, Benny Latimore, Little Johnny Taylor, Willie Hightower and Jimmy

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED:

Hughes. If these names aren’t familiar to you, well, that’s sort of the point. Rawls and Keller are not just contemporary soul stars; they’re also fanboys and archivists — and sharing their knowledge is a ﬁne gesture that should open a lot of ears and hearts.

Across 11 taut and punchy tunes, Rawls delivers passionate vocal melodies like a Chautauqua tent preacher sipping from a secret bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Keller’s wasp-sting guitar lines and support vocals are equally powerful. The Vermont musician’s touring band — keyboardist Ira Friedman, bassist Alex Budney and drummer Jay Gleason — provide a sweat-dripping studio foundation, with Paul Johnson (tenor and baritone saxophones), Ben DeLong (trumpet) and Travis Geiman (trombone) adding sonic exclamation points.

There isn’t a weak cut on the record, but it’s worth noting “I’m Qualiﬁed,” a call-and-response strut written by Rick Hall and originally recorded by Otis Clay that sets the tone in exuberant fashion. The lament “Hold On to What You’ve Got,” by Tex, with its melancholy arpeggiated piano and Rawls’ spokenword lyrics, o ers experiential “been there/lost that” wisdom. And “Neighbor, Neighbor,” a Jimmy Hughes tune, serves as a cocky warning to those who ought to be minding their own business.

You’ll ﬁnd your own favorite moments, of course. That’s what going on vacation is all about. Fasten your seat belt. Tribute to Soul is cued up and ready to blast o . Have a great trip!

Tribute to Soul is available at

New Release Radar

Five recent or upcoming releases from Vermont artists BY

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

1. Willverine, SURF EP, Spotify (July 10, indie, electronica)

2. Phil Cohen, RAVINE, philcohen. bandcamp. com (July 1, indie, folk)

3. McAsh, FSTVL SZN, Tidal (July 4, ska, punk)

4. Chris Clark, ACROSS A CARNIVAL, chrisclarkband. net (August 7, singersongwriter)

5. Grace Potter, TRESPASSER, gracepotter. com (August 21, roots, pop)

davekeller.bandcamp.com. Keller plays Shelburne Farms on Wednesday, July 15. RICK KOSTER

Two years ago the village of Plainfield was hit by catastrophic flooding. After meeting flood survivors in July 2024, Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger revisited them this month. e owners of 28 properties are awaiting FEMA buyouts, and one group of locals plans to build a new neighborhood on higher ground.

WED.22

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

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

GYMSHORTS, POLKAROBICS, the Eyetraps, the Skizm (punk, indie) 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.

Mike Mac (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Shane Murley Band (folk, rock) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Soul Porpoise, Geoff Kim, the Project (funk, soul) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 5 p.m. Free.

Twisted Teens, Tattler (rock) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $22/$28.

WED.15

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

THU.16

DJ GAYBAR (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m.

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

Two Sev, JP Black, Calvin, Chaston (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.17

DJ CRWD CTRL (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Fattie B (DJ) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 5 p.m. Free.

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

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. Ecstatic Dance Vermont (DJ) at Capital City Grange, Berlin, 7 p.m. $10 donation.

Emo Night (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9 p.m.

$10/$15.

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

Kiley Latham, Skipipop (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Stay on the Grass

As a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in the 1960s, PETER ROWAN has been at the forefront of bluegrass music nearly since its inception. The multi-instrumentalist and singer went on to form some of the most influential acts in the genre’s history, including teaming up with Jerry Garcia and David Grisman in Old & in the Way. Rowan helped push the boundaries of bluegrass, introducing progressive-rock and reggae influences into the lexicon and ushering in variants such as jamgrass. He’s still an in-demand collaborator, recently partnering with the likes of Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle. Rowan performs on Sunday, July 19, at the Stone Church in Brattleboro.

SAT.18

Chaston, Aras, Raul, Matt P (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

DJ Chia (DJ) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free. Sparkomatik (EDM) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10/$15.

TUE.21

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

open mics & jams

WED.15

Jazz Jam with Nina Towne (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 6 p.m. $10.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.16

Open Mic (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.19

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

MON.20

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

Open Mic (open mic) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.21

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

WED.22

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.22

Standup Class Performance (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia,

karaoke, etc.

WED.15

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke in the Alley (karaoke) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia (trivia) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 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.

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

THU.16

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

Don Mahogany Third Thursday

Trivia (trivia) at Butter Bar & Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke (karaoke) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 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.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.15

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.16

King Dumb (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5.

Rory Scovel (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

TUE.21

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

Sketch Show Class Performance (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Sex With Jenna: Dating Show (dating show) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $18.

SUN.19

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

Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

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

MON.20

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

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

TUE.21

Karaoke with DJ Vociferous (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 (trivia) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.22

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

Trivia Night with College (trivia) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.17

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

Emoji Nightmare Presents: Lip Sync Lalapalooza (lip sync) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.18

Emoji Nightmare Presents: Snatch Game (game show) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

Queer Speed Dating (speed dating, dance party) at the Filling Station, White River Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Charlie-O’s World Famous Drag Show (drag) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, January 28, 7:45 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke in the Alley (karaoke) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Cam (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 Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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

SUN.19 // PETER ROWAN [BLUEGRASS]

calendar

JULY 15-22, 2026

WED.15

agriculture

WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER

FRED: The site’s resident farmer and storyteller demonstrates historical agricultural tools and techniques, including sheep shearing, rye harvesting and cider pressing. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, noon-2 p.m. Regular admission, $4-12; free for kids under 6.

community

PASSEGGIATA: Inspired by an Italian social ritual, locals take to the streets for a community-building stroll of the pedestrian promenade. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

PASSEGGIATA WATERBURY: Neighbors adopt a timeless Mediterranean tradition of civic engagement and social bonding during an evening amble. Downtown Waterbury, 5-8 p.m. Free.

conferences

ALZHEIMER’S & CAREGIVING

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE:

Experts unpack the complexities of neurodegenerative disease, brain health, caregiving and advance planning. Courtyard Marriott Burlington Harbor, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

crafts

CRAFTEREVENING: VEGETABLE & FRUIT PRINT TOTE BAGS: Eco-friendly fashionistas transform produce into designs at this hands-on opportunity to customize a new canvas carryall. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels

makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free.

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.

dance

THE JUNCTION DANCE FESTIVAL: An annual celebration of movement showcases a spectrum of styles through performances, film screenings and free workshops. See thejunctiondancefestival.org for full schedule. Various Upper Valley locations, White River Junction. Various prices. etc.

CHAMP MASTERS

TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Dealer.com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

EXHIBIT DOCENT HOURS:

A trained educator guides visitors through “Fragments: Voices of the American Revolution on Lake Champlain,” exploring archaeological history through an immersive VR experience and 3D-printed models. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 1-3 p.m. Free.

GUIDED TOURS: Guests get to know the personal histories of rescued farm animals at an educational walk-through highlighting the nuances of lifelong care. Merrymac Animal Sanctuary, Charlotte, 2-3 p.m. $25.

MUSEUM TOURS: A guided tour charts a course through regional history, uncovering

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

Seven Days calendar writer

Rebecca Driscoll selects and writes calendar spotlights. To help process the hundreds of event submissions we receive each week, some listings are compiled with the help of AI. Driscoll reviews, edits and verifies every entry before publication.

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

Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m. Free.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET:

the archaeological secrets hidden beneath the waves. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

QUILT EXHIBITION BIRTHDAY

PARTY: Visitors mark a four-decade fiber-arts milestone with tours, artist meet and greets, a community stitching project, and a slice of birthday cake. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $1423; free for members and kids under 3; preregister.

fairs & festivals

DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTY: Listeners grab takeout from their favorite Winooski restaurant and head to the park for free activities and live tunes. Rotary Park, Winooski, 5-8 p.m. Free.

MIDDLEBURY SUMMER

FESTIVAL ON-THE-GREEN:

A seven-day fête features live tunes in every genre, family-friendly programs and dancing in the street. See festivalonthegreen.org for full schedule. Middlebury Green, noon-1 & 7-9:45 p.m. Free.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS

FARMERS MARKET: Talented artisans and vendors showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies. South Hero St. Rose of Lima Church, 3-6 p.m. Free.

COMMUNITY COOKING:

Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS:

Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the future of the property. The Creative

Villagers connect over live music and family-friendly activities at a weekly gathering featuring Northeast Kingdom produce, artisan wares and culinary creations. Danville Town Green, 3:30-7 p.m. Free.

MARKET ON THE GREEN: Shoppers feast their eyes on fresh produce, prepared foods and artisanal goods as they enjoy live local music. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Free.

PEAK PAIRINGS: Foodies dig into regional wines and cheeses at a celebration highlighting local agricultural network the ACORN Food Hub. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister; cash bar.

WEDNESDAY WINE DOWN

FARMERS MARKET: Folks uncork happiness while browsing local produce and products, sipping vino, and enjoying live music by noteworthy outfits. Shelburne Vineyard, 5-9 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free.

FUNCTIONAL BALANCE WITH LYNNE: Experienced personal fitness trainer Lynne Wells leads an integrative class designed to help participants steady their steps, sharpen their agility and build everyday strength. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6-8 p.m. $10 suggested donation.

RECOVERY DHARMA: Folks struggling with addiction gather weekly for an evening of meditation, topical readings and open discussion in a supportive environment. First United Methodist Church, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: Lunch breaks transform into global conversation circles as participants hone their multilingual abilities. See kellogghubbard.org for details. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon. Free.

from the soulful pop musician. BCA Center, Burlington, 5 & 6:30 p.m. Free.

CAPITAL CITY BAND: The long-running community ensemble hits all the right notes at a weekly gig on the green. College Hall, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

HIGHER GROUND PRESENTS:

JACK WHITE: The 12-time Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter and front man for the White Stripes proves why he’s an alt-rock icon. Midway Lawn, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 7:30 p.m. $69.50; free for kids 12 and under.

MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER

CONCERT SERIES: Outdoor music lovers pack a picnic and revel in vibrant performances at this weekly celebration of seasonal sounds. See artistreevt.org for lineup. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 6:30 p.m. Free.

OVER THE HUMP SUMMER

MUSIC SERIES: DUNCAN

MACLEOD: A Vermont outfit specializing in blues and soft rock performs original material and hits by artists such as Little Feat and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Huntington Recreation Field, 5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

SKOUT: A Nashville duo known for standout guitar playing and emotionally rich songwriting blends indie-folk and pop traditions at an outdoor performance to remember. Middlesex Bandstand, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES: Weekly performances by top local acts, authentic tacos from Las Hermosas, summery bevvies and sweet treats make for the perfect hump-day capper. See thetillermanvt.com for lineup.

The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Local bands get in the groove while listeners enjoy green grass, refreshments and an evening breeze. See downtownsaintalbans.com for lineup. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 5:30-8 p.m. Free.

lineup. Shelburne Farms, 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

WEDNESDAYS ON THE WATERFRONT: THE SHADY TREES: A four-piece Vermont band gets bodies moving with its blend of funk, rock and reggae, sprinkled with some twang. Newport Waterfront, 6 p.m. Free.

outdoors

FLORA & FAUNA CANOE TOUR:

A weekly guided voyage around Lake Champlain invites nature lovers to dip their paddles into local ecology and conservation basics. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. $25.

NATURE JOURNALING: Artist and naturalist Lorna Dielentheis teaches participants how to slow down and observe the natural world through sketching and writing, followed by an optional group reflection. Rock Point Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. By donation; preregister.

politics

‘WORKING TOGETHER: CONNECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY’: A mixer-style session links the area’s business community with candidates running to represent Rutland County in state races. Light refreshments provided. The Hub CoWorks, Rutland, 8-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

seminars

THE ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA:

An informative evening examines the critical elements of photography and videography, covering topics from exposure to depth of field. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

‘PHILOSOPHY OF FASCISM’: The Vermont Center for Social Research invites learners to embark on an eight-week course dissecting the ultranationalist political ideology that emerged in the 20th century. Materials provided. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

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.

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

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.

lgbtq

THE ALL-INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: A weekly get-together and listening party celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with feelgood tunes, dancing and drinks. Doma Bar, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

music

ART AMPLIFIED: MOSS CYCLE AND THEA WREN: A dynamic double bill showcases soundscapes by local composer Bryan Parmelee, followed by a performance of unforgettable melodies

THE IDA MAE SPECKER BAND: Backed by a group of legendary local musicians, a third-generation fiddle player infuses traditional American folk music with original energy. Dartmouth Green, Hanover, N.H., 5:30 p.m. Free.

TOWN OF SHELBURNE CONCERT SERIES: Local acts provide the soundtrack for a weekly picnic and dance sesh on the courtyard lawn. See shelburnefarms.org for

A STUDY OF ‘THE ODYSSEY’: Curious minds and classicists convene to get a read on one of the oldest works of Western literature. Stowe Free Library, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

SUSTAINING THE RENT WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity helps tenants financially prepare and access resources to meet their

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

housing needs. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players block, chop and lob in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership.

WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS:

Lake lovers embark on a unique aquatic adventure by rowing and sailing a traditionally rigged wooden craft across the water. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 4-7 p.m. $60 suggested donation.

talks

DEEP DIVES SERIES: Listeners plunge into the depths of local maritime history at a biweekly lecture series featuring illuminating presentations by archaeologists, educators and researchers. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

ISAAC EVANS-FRANTZ: In

“Protecting Our Families and Voices: A Continuum of Civic Action in Uncertain Times,” a local leader discusses steps community members can take to safeguard their rights when democratic norms feel fragile. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, noon. Free.

theater

‘THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE’: An 1850s Colorado silver mine boom — and bust — sets the scene for a tragic, factual love story staged by Opera North. Blow-Me-Down Farm, Cornish, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $34-72.

‘MY LADY OF WHIMS’: Vermont Suitcase presents a stage adaptation of the 1925 silent film about a wealthy councilman’s daughter whose bohemian behavior causes headaches for her father. Hubbard Park, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

‘THE UNDERSTUDY’: Dorset Theatre Festival mounts Theresa Rebeck’s backstage comedy about the chaotic rehearsal process for a Broadway production of a fictitious Franz Kafka play. Dorset Playhouse, 2 & 7:30 p.m. $62-68.

words

MEMOIR WORKSHOP: Vermont writer, educator and farmer Kate Youngdahl-Stauss helps folks pen their life story in their own authentic voice at this five-part

generative seminar. Granville Corner School, 5:30-7 p.m. Free.

ROOPIKA RISAM: A Dartmouth professor of digital humanities shares her new book, Data Empire arguing that information has always served as the foundation of global power. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.16 business

CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH WBON: The Women Business Owners Network convenes members and nonmembers for conversation and connections, encouraging them to bring a book, podcast or online course that they have found helpful. Maple Tree Place, Williston, 9-10:30 a.m. Free.

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL

JOB FAIR: Time for a new gig? The Vermont Department of Labor offers a meet and greet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

community

MONTPELIER RAMBLE: Locals take to the streets for a weekly community-building stroll in the heart of the Capital City. Downtown Montpelier, 5-7 p.m. Free.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: From clicking needles to looping looms, participants hook into a mission of goodwill by creating handmade winter wear for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free.

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

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.

dance

THE JUNCTION DANCE FESTIVAL: See WED.15.

QUEER COUNTRY LINE DANCING: Seasoned pros and beginners alike hit the dance floor for an evening of two-steppin’ boots, beats and inclusivity. Warren

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

JUL. 18 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Summer Fling

The annual do-good, feel-good Summervale celebration at Burlington’s Intervale Center hits all the right notes with live music, local food tastings, kids’ activities and opportunities to strengthen community connection. Helping hands of all ages make their mark by planting 100 trees along the Winooski River to sustain and protect water quality and wildlife. For outdoor enthusiasts, a gear and clothing repair pop-up helps resuscitate rides and rags that have seen better days, while e-bike demos prove that cycling is in everyone’s wheelhouse. Lawn games, arts and crafts, educational exhibits, and snow cone making complete a day of fun with an impact.

SUMMERVALE

Saturday, July 18, 4-8 p.m., at the Intervale Center in Burlington. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, chelsea@intervale.org, intervale.org.

Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

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.

etc.

‘PHILADELPHIA II’ OPEN HOURS: History buffs handle artifacts and

WED.15

DADS’ NIGHT IN: JACKBOX

GAMES: Fathers log on for a virtual game night hosted by Dad Guild.

8:45-10 p.m. Free.

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: 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,

test their rowing skills aboard a replica gunboat that brings the living and working conditions of Revolutionary War soldiers to life. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 2-4 p.m. Free.

SHIPWRECK TOUR: What lies beneath? Spectators view real-time footage of a sunken craft transmitted from a robotic camera. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10:30 a.m.noon. $25-45; preregister.

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.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: Young explorers take an unforgettable journey through a hands-on prehistoric world where life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life. 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.

THIRD THURSDAY TWILIGHT

SERIES: Shoppers stroll historic streets, explore local businesses, and connect with the makers, artists and entrepreneurs who bring creativity to the community. Various Vergennes locations, 4-7 p.m. Free.

fairs & festivals

FRENDLY GATHERING: Positive people, unite! Gatsby’s Revenge, Neighbor and Satsang headline a weekend of live acts, camping

‘DISNEY’S MOANA JR.’: Very Merry Theatre stages the heartwarming coming-of-age musical about a strong-willed girl who must discover the truth about her heritage in order to save her village. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon. Free.

READ TO A DOG: Young readers ages 3 and up sharpen their literacy skills and gain confidence by sharing stories with a patient, four-legged listener named Willow. Fletcher Free Library New North

and outdoor adventures. See frendlygathering.com for details. Timber Ridge, Windham. Various prices; preregister.

MIDDLEBURY SUMMER FESTIVAL ON-THE-GREEN: See WED.15. film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: Cameras positioned in nests, underwater and along the forest floor capture a year’s worth of critters coming and going. 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.

BIG-SCREEN BLOCKBUSTERS: Cinephiles escape the summer swelter with weekly screenings of hit films from Jurassic Park to Jumanji. See paramountvt.org for lineup. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $5.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: Join scientists on a journey

End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Nonmobile infants and their caregivers embark on a slow-paced social hour featuring songs, rhymes and restorative connection. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

through a surreal world of bugeyed giants and egg-laying mammals. 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.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: A highstakes investigation into the underwater realm reveals how humanity’s future hinges on the fate of the ocean’s toothiest inhabitants. 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.

‘THRONE OF BLOOD’: A warhardened general and his wife work to fulfill a prophecy of power in Akira Kurosawa’s groundbreaking 1957 drama based on Macbeth. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: Dedicated wildlife rehabilitation teams rescue and release injured and orphaned animals back into nature in this heartwarming documentary short. 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.

food & drink

AFTERNOON TEA & ETIQUETTE

TALK: Refined guests enjoy a proper English setup — complete with warm scones and clotted cream — while learning about the tradition’s history. The Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 3 p.m. $48; preregister.

BILLINGS AFTER HOURS:

MIXOLOGY WORKSHOP: Guests ages 21 and up shake, stir and sip their way through farm-fresh cocktails inspired by seasonal flavors. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 5:30-7 p.m. $110-225; preregister.

FLATBREAD FRIDAY: A rotating soundtrack of live local music sets the tone for this weekly fresh-air feast for all ages. The Wheeler Homestead, South Burlington, 4-6:30 p.m. Various prices.

VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET: Locals delight in fresh organic produce, artisan cheeses, meats, baked goods, crafts and live music. Vergennes City Park, 3-7 p.m. Free.

games

CHESS FOR FUN: Sharp minds select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6.

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE:

Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

PEER SUPPORT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Beginners wanted! Players get lost in the fantasy-filled tabletop role-playing game while focusing on teamwork, connection and community building. Morgan House, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

SOLARPUNK BOOK CLUB & GAME

NIGHT: Neighbors dream up a socially conscious, ecological future with readings and a short round of Solarpunk Futures. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free.

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.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY

MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion leads a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

SEATED TAI CHI: Adina guides at-home participants — including those with limited mobility or difficulty standing — through a sequence of slow, connected movements. Sponsored by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP:

Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free.

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.15.

MANDARIN CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

music

BALLARD PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Outdoor music lovers claim their spots on the lawn with blankets and chairs to catch live performances by noteworthy regional acts. Ballard Park, Westport, N.Y., 7 p.m. Free.

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS: The platinum-selling Colorado rock quartet takes the stage with a repertoire of bluesdrenched originals spanning four decades. The WhistlePig Pavilion, Stowe, 6 p.m. $10-55; free for kids under 5.

THE FAERIE GODBROTHERS: Listeners get their bodies moving at a high-energy performance of classic covers and imaginative originals. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FEAST & FIELD MUSIC SERIES: THE WORMDOGS: A Burlington five-piece blends bluegrass, rock, country and “freak folk” into an

STARTS JUL. 18 | MUSIC

Organic Material

The New Yorker dubbed the Marlboro Music Festival “the classical world’s most coveted retreat.” Now in its 75th season, southern Vermont’s chamber music mecca continues to inspire at Persons Auditorium with a month of open rehearsals and performances that pull back the curtain on collaborative musicianship. Unlike most showcases, preplanned programs are tossed out the window in favor of more fluid decisions made by the artists on-site. In fact, of the 250ish works explored throughout the season, only a quarter actually make it to the stage. One thing is certain: You’re getting the very best stuff.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 19, 2:30 p.m. (SOLD OUT), at Persons Auditorium, the Campus at Marlboro Music. See website for additional dates. $20-40. Info, 802-254-2394, marlboromusic.org.

unforgettable outdoor performance. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $5-25.

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: LARKIN POE: A Grammywinning sister act creates its own brand of gritty roots-rock flavored with some Southern soul. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free.

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL:

‘SETZER AND THE SOUND OF DREAMS’: Artistic director Philip Setzer helms a varied program of dreamy works, including a musical curio by Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Barber’s elegiac

“Adagio for Strings.” Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 7:30 p.m. $15.30-76.50.

ON THE DOOR RADIO: A laid-back summer series features tantalizing food-truck fare and a rotating pair of local DJs backed by sunset cocktail vibes. The Pinery, Burlington, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

PARTY ON THE BRICKS: Each week, different local outfits — including Red Hot Juba and Barbacoa — set the tone for a weekly outdoor bash on the marketplace. See churchstmarketplace.com for lineup. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 5:30-8 p.m. Free.

RYAN SWEEZEY: An acoustic singer-songwriter blends classic rock and ’90s alternative influences to deliver memorable,

catchy originals while attendees enjoy fare from local food trucks. Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton, 6-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

THURSDAYS BY THE LAKE:

BLUES OVER EASY: Downtown listeners dance to the soulful grooves of local music scene stalwarts, including guitarist Paul Asbell and vocalist Gina Coleman. Union Station, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

politics

CANDIDATE FORUM: Vermont Coalition for Independence Reconnection & Liberation hosts state Senate candidates for a thought-provoking public health

forum on innovative solutions to tackle digital and online threats to children. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

seminars

CREATE A TITLE SEQUENCE WITH AFTER EFFECTS: A hands-on introductory workshop breathes life into static designs as participants learn the keyframing, text animation and compositing skills needed to build a complete motion graphics scene. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

sports

WOMEN’S PICKUP FLAG

FOOTBALL: Female-identifying athletes try for touchdowns and make strides at a casual weekly game for all ability levels. University of Vermont Rugby Pitch, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

tech

TECH HELP: Users with digital dilemmas seek expert guidance about everything from smartphone settings to ebook downloads. Norwich Public Library, 1-4 p.m. Free.

TECH MEET-UP: Franklin County digital devotees talk shop over specialty brews and artisanal pastries at this monthly networking opportunity. Catalyst Coffee Bar, St. Albans, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Free; preregister.

From left: Jonathan Leibovitz, Jonathan Biss and Annie Jacobs-Perkins

theater

‘A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING’:

A dazzling musical theater revue features the timeless songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein, from tender ballads to high-energy ensemble numbers. QuarryWorks Theater, Adamant, 7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

‘THE UNDERSTUDY’: See WED.15, 7:30 p.m.

‘UNFORGETTING SERVICES: DIRT

CHEAP ORATORIA’: A participatory “grief ritual” hosted by Bread and Puppet Theater includes music, movement, silence, parading, a sermon and a burial of “rotten ideas.” Bread and Puppet Museum, Glover, 4:30 p.m. By donation.

words

BOOK LAUNCH & READING:

Lit lovers celebrate the release of Susan Atwood and Jesse LoVasco’s new graphic fiction book, The Soul Dragon, chronicling one woman’s quest to find meaning in life. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

JASPER CRAVEN: A Northeast Kingdom native and freelance reporter launches his new book, God Forgives, Brothers Don’t examining the toxic masculinity of military education, in conversation with fellow writer Garrett Graff. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free; preregister.

MEETINGHOUSE READINGS:

TOMÁS Q. MORÍN & ADAM

GIANNELLI: Two acclaimed authors sit down with moderator William Craig to discuss their works as part of the 38th edition of the grassroots literary series showcasing outstanding and emerging voices. Meetinghouse, Canaan, N.H., 7 p.m. Free.

MORNINGS, MUFFINS & MYSTERIES: Bookworms link up to discuss the month’s twisty

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

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

music + nightlife

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

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

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

page-turner. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. NO PRESSURE BOOK GROUP: Bibliophiles share whatever recs they like at this low-key Zoom hangout hosted by Waterbury Public Library. 7-8 p.m. Free.

ROBERT MELLO: A retired Vermont Superior Court judge and author lets his love of history shine in his full-length biography, Moses Robinson and the Founding of Vermont. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

FRI.17 activism

‘KEEPING THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY IN VERMONT’: Author Dan Nott and other local leaders share the stage to explore the past, present and future of democracy. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free. dance

THE JUNCTION DANCE FESTIVAL: See WED.15. etc.

100TH ANNIVERSARY BBQ & LAWN PARTY: Neighbors celebrate a century of local literacy with an afternoon of games, tasty treats and custom T-shirt making. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-7 p.m. Free.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.15.

STACKS & SIPS SILENT AUCTION: Crafts, artwork, gift certificates to local and regional businesses, and other unique offerings pull attendees in for an evening of friendly bidding, live music and a tapas dinner. Proceeds benefit the Montgomery Town Library. Phineas Swann Inn and Spa, Montgomery Center, 6-9 p.m. $25-30.

THE SUMMER PARTY: The museum stays open late for a lively waterfront function featuring libations, lawn games, crafts and live music. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 5-8 p.m. $50.

fairs & festivals

FRENDLY GATHERING: See THU.16.

LAMOILLE COUNTY FIELD DAYS: Step right up! Amusements, arts and crafts, live animals, and midway rides are fair game at a classic summertime celebration. Lamoille County Field Days Fair Grounds, Johnson, 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m. $15-40.

MAIN STREET BLOCK PARTY: Community members celebrate the culmination of Burlington’s Great Streets BTV revitalization initiative with live music, tours of new public art, steamroller printmaking and family-friendly activities. Various downtown Burlington locations, 1-9 p.m. Free.

MIDDLEBURY SUMMER FESTIVAL

ON-THE-GREEN: See WED.15.

VERMONT BREWERS FESTIVAL: Cheers! A two-day sipping soirée boasts 40 participating breweries and more than 200 specialty beers, as well as live music, lawn games and food vendors. Waterfront Park, Burlington, 5:309:30 p.m. $60-65.

film

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

‘ASK E. JEAN’: Ivy Meeropol’s 2025 documentary explores the life of columnist E. Jean Carroll, from her early days as Miss Cheerleader USA to her rise as a trailblazing journalist. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.16.

BIG-SCREEN BLOCKBUSTERS:

See THU.16.

‘THE BOOKSHOP’: A woman decides to move against local opposition and open a book store in this charming 2017 period drama by Isabel Coixet. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 7 p.m. $8-15.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’:

See THU.16.

‘SAFETY LAST!’: Pianist Peter Tavalin plays a live score to accompany this 1923 silent comedy featuring Harold Lloyd as a store clerk whose perilous publicity stunt backfires. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. $10.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.16.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.16.

food & drink

FLATBREAD FRIDAY: See THU.16.

FREE NATURAL WINE TASTINGS:

Oenophiles sip through a scrummy selection of vinos curated around a seasonal theme, from rosés and skin-contact whites to bottles perfect for summer cookouts. Cork Market, Stowe, 4-6 p.m. Free.

FRIED CHICKEN & PICKIN’: A family-friendly dinner series puts smiles on faces with local food, live bluegrass bands and fun at the farm. BYO chair or blanket. Maple Wind Farm, Richmond, 5-7:30 p.m. $15-35; preregister.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET:

An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free.

SOUTH END GET DOWN: Local food trucks dish out mouthwatering meals and libations while live DJs and outdoor entertainment add to the ambience. Coal Collective, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

games

ADULT RUMMIKUB: Strategists gather to test their mental agility with this classic numbers-based tabletop challenge. Essex Free Library, 1-3 p.m. Free.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.16, 10 a.m.

MAH-JONGG: It’s not just for old ladies! Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a rousing game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Seated stretches stir mindful motion as students utilize acupressure and meditative techniques to cultivate a grounded mental state. Virtual option available. Springfield Town Library, 10-11 a.m. Free.

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.

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available. Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

WEEKLY MEDITATION: Expert Zac Ispa-Landa shares tools to quiet the mind, slow down and reset. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 8-8:45 a.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.15. lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free.

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.

DRUM CIRCLE WITH JEAN

JACQUES MAURY: From mastering basic techniques to building a shared rhythmic vocabulary, an all-abilities music-making session taps into a deep mind-body connection. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6-7 p.m. Free.

‘KLEZMER FIRE: A MYSTICAL SHABBAT EXPERIENCE’: Attendees pack a picnic for an evening of Middle Eastern and Eastern European music performances punctuated by storytelling, communal sing-alongs and mesmerizing fire dancing. Living Tree Alliance, Moretown, 6-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation.

MUSIC IN THE MEADOW: THE LEGENDARY COUNT BASIE

ORCHESTRA: An 18-time Grammy-winning ensemble carries the torch for the iconic pianist and bandleader with a captivating showcase of jazz’s timeless power. The von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort Concert Meadow, Stowe, 7:30 p.m. $16.70-58.50.

‘QUARTET CONVERSATIONS’: The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival explores the history of the form with a live performance and a lecture by musicologist Nathaniel Lew. South Burlington

Public Library & City Hall, 1:15 p.m. Free.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: JOHN DALY BAND: Heartfelt melodies and meaningful lyrics thread through original acoustic tunes while listeners enjoy their lunch outdoors. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free.

SUMMER MUSIC AT GRACE: FREVO: Vermont’s eclectic classical crossover quartet presents a set list of chamber, jazz, Latin and contemporary music. Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, 7 p.m. By donation.

VICTORIAN TEATIME CONCERT: History hits a high note at this casual afternoon performance of music from the 1800s. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

outdoors

FLORA & FAUNA CANOE TOUR: See WED.15.

seminars

CRANKIE PERFORMANCE & WORKSHOP: Visual artist Delia Robinson teaches participants ages 12 and up how to use story, song and panoramic scrolls to create a unique theatrical experience. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 1:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

sports

OPEN DINGHY SAILING: Skippers with sailing knowledge celebrate the end of the week with a nautical adventure. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 4-7 p.m. $40 suggested donation; preregister.

talks

‘A SYSTEM MAP’ PRESENTATION: Multidisciplinary artist, writer and speaker Kirsten Hurley shares her two-page paper distilling life philosophies into the language of logic. Hubbard Park, Montpelier, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: They’re creepy, and they’re kooky! Witchy Wednesday Addams falls in love with a so-called “normal” young man in this macabre hit musical presented by North Country Community Theatre. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $21-31.

‘THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE’: See WED.15.

‘EXIT THE KING’: Whispers of whimsy thread through a monarch’s dying day in this production of Eugene Ionesco’s absurdist dramedy. Unadilla Theatre, Marshfield, 7:30 p.m. $15-30.

‘A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING’: See THU.16.

‘MORALITY DEMONOLOGY’: Audience members take in a brand-new, politically charged production of puppetry that evolves over the course of the summer. Paper Mache Cathedral, Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 7 p.m. $15 suggested donation.

‘MY LADY OF WHIMS’: See WED.15. The Rest Stop, South Hero, 5:30 p.m. ‘THE UNDERSTUDY’: See WED.15.

SAT.18

bazaars

ISLAND ARTS ARTISAN MARKET: Shoppers browse a variety of homegrown goods and handmade wares at an all-day boutique showcasing regional creators. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

MAKERS MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

community

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free.

crafts

SATURDAY ZENTANGLE WITH JULIA DAVENPORT: Participants learn how to slow down, pick up their pens and draw intricate patterns as a form of meditation. Essex Free Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister.

dance

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy, laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See capitalcitygrange.org for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale.

THE JUNCTION DANCE FESTIVAL: MAIN SHOWCASE: Regional artists take the stage to exhibit new original pieces, giving audience members a firsthand look at the range and depth of the Upper Valley’s dance scene. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 2 & 7 p.m. $15-25; preregister.

THE JUNCTION DANCE FESTIVAL: See WED.15.

SARAH ROSE DANCE: Five performers conclude their CHIMERA Art Co-Lab residency with an hourlong choreographic exploration of geometric shapes set to an original sound design by Ross Daniel. Farmsprung Gatherings, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $7-75 sliding scale.

etc.

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.15.

WALKING TOUR OF MIDDLEBURY:

Locals learn about the town’s bustling history from the 1780s to the 1980s on this one-mile trek narrated by Todd Goodyear. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, 2-3 p.m. $12-20.

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY GEM, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW:

The largest event of its kind in the state features interactive identification tables, lapidary demonstrations and a vast market of natural specimens. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $3-5; free for kids under 16.

FRENDLY GATHERING: See THU.16.

LAMOILLE COUNTY FIELD DAYS: See FRI.17.

MAIN STREET BLOCK PARTY: See FRI.17, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

MATTHEW LYON DAY: Speakers, reenactors, original music, vendor booths and family-friendly activities honor the Vermonter imprisoned for violating the Sedition Act after publicly criticizing president John Adams. Fair Haven Village Green, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

MIDDLEBURY SUMMER FESTIVAL

ON-THE-GREEN: See WED.15, 7-10 p.m.

SUMMERVALE: Locavores find much to do at the annual outdoor fest centered on food, music, community and conservation. See calendar spotlight. Intervale Center, Burlington, 4-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

VERMONT BREWERS FESTIVAL: See FRI.17, noon-4 & 5:30-9:30 p.m.

VON TRAPP FOOD & MUSIC FESTIVAL: Regional eats, craft lagers and live tunes mark an inaugural outdoor celebration backdropped by unbeatable mountain views. The von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort Concert Meadow, Stowe, noon-8:30 p.m. $40-125.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.16.

‘THE BLACK PIRATE’: Composer Jeff Rapsis plays a live score for this 1926 silent swashbuckler flick starring Douglas Fairbanks as a young man seeking revenge for his father’s death. Brandon Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’:

See THU.16.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.16.

‘UNDERLAND’: Rob Petit’s 2025 adventure documentary voyages beneath the surface of the earth to capture worlds rarely seen

by human eyes. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.16.

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET:

Live local music lends flair to dozens of stands overflowing with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: Talented artisans and vendors showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies. Grand Isle St. Joseph’s Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

MARSHFIELD FARMERS MARKET: Locavores find much to do at a weekly outdoor offering complete with live music, skill shares, vendors and community resource swaps. Old Schoolhouse Common, Marshfield, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

NORTHWEST FARMERS MARKET: Browsers stock up on produce, preserves, baked goods and other treasures to the beat of live music. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

ST. JOHNSBURY FARMERS

MARKET: Growers, bakers, makers and crafters gather weekly at booths centered on local eats. Pearl St. & Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

games

CHESS CLUB: Proficient players of all ages face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m. Free.

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.

NATIONS & CANNONS: Dungeon master Evan Hoffman leads players in a Revolutionary Warthemed Dungeons & Dragons game. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.17.

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES: FOLK, ROOTS & AMERICANA MUSIC FESTIVAL: A lively lineup of talented acts includes the Mammals, Michael Veitch Band and Doozy Jane. BYO blanket or lawn chair. Robertson Paper Company Field, Bellows Falls, 4-7 p.m. $28-32; free for kids under 12.

DAVID FEURZEIG: In “Play Every Town,” the prolific classical pianist continues a statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. St. Mary’s in the Mountains, Wilmington, 2 p.m. Free.

HILL FEST: LIVE AT THE LANTERN: Roots, country and Americana tunes echo across the countryside at an all-day summer gathering featuring a mix of

OPENS JUL. 22 | THEATER

Careful the Things You Do

Lost Nation Theater’s season continues with Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical masterwork Into the Woods The Montpelier troupe transforms its city hall digs into a living storybook to present the darkly humorous hit intertwining the plots of beloved Brothers Grimm characters. In a move befitting the intimate space, director Kianna Bromley reimagines the twisty tale of Cinderella, Rapunzel and other folkloric figures as a cast of 10 performers, rather than the usual 20. Expect witty wordplay, laugh-out-loud physical comedy, soaring harmonies and thought-provoking lyrics that remind viewers — as the show’s penultimate number voices — “No one is alone, truly.”

‘INTO

THE WOODS’

Wednesday, July 22, 7:30 p.m., at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. See website for additional dates. $15-50. Info, 802-229-0492, lostnationtheater.org.

regional and touring acts. The Old Lantern Inn & Barn, Charlotte, 1-8 p.m. $20-40; preregister.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL: Artistic directors Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss present a series of classical music concerts and open rehearsals over five weekends. See marlboromusic. org for details. See calendar spotlight. Persons Auditorium, the Campus at Marlboro Music, 8 p.m. $20-40.

MUSIC IN THE PARK: KING

ME: A local cover band performs high-octane rock and pop hits while vendors sell picnic-approved eats. Isle La Motte Recreation Field, 5 p.m. Free.

‘SONGS OF RESISTANCE, SOLIDARITY & HOPE’: Patti Casey, Krishna Guthrie, Will and Dan Lindner, and other Vermont music scene stalwarts perform original tunes and classics from the American folk canon. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $5-20.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE WORMDOGS: A Burlington five-piece blends bluegrass, rock, country and “freak folk” into an unforgettable outdoor performance. Knoll Farm, Fayston, 6 p.m. By donation; preregister.

TWILIGHT SERIES: HIGH

SUMMER: An eight-piece groove and soul band from Burlington performs a dynamic mix of originals and covers while listeners lounge on the lawn. Burlington City Hall Park, 7:30 p.m. Free.

WAVES OF ADRENALINE: A contemporary folk outfit dazzles with a mix of Vermont-inspired originals and covers of classic hits by the likes of Patsy Cline and the Beatles. Dick Wright Public House, Franklin, 6:30 p.m. Free.

outdoors

INSECT POLLINATOR WALK: Equipped with nets, cameras and binoculars, nature enthusiasts examine diverse bug habitats and contribute their findings to real-world data atlases. Rock

Point Center, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. $5-10 suggested donation; preregister.

NATURALIST-LED HIKE: Wildlife guru Gene O. Desideraggio leads participants on a fascinating exploration of local plant and animal life. Ages 5 and up. Mad River Glen, Waitsfield, 2-3:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

WESTFORD GARDEN TOUR: Green thumbs get inspired, garner advice from pros, and take in the sights and smells of the area’s flower and vegetable plots. Westford Common Hall, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $30.

seminars

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION:

Curious creatives and multimedia enthusiasts tour the facilities and check out available gear. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

sports

FIFA WORLD CUP: THIRD-PLACE MATCH: Soccer fans gather for an epic watch party on the big screen. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 5 p.m. Free.

talks

RAD HISTORY: ‘PARKS AND THE COMMONS’: All questions and perspectives are welcome at this discussion about the history of public parks and how they have interacted with private property throughout the centuries. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

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

music + nightlife

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

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

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS

The cast of Into the Woods

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: See FRI.17.

‘EXIT THE KING’: See FRI.17.

‘A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING’:

See THU.16, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘MY LADY OF WHIMS’: See WED.15. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7 p.m.

‘THE UNDERSTUDY’: See WED.15.

words

BRETT ANN STANCIU &

CATHERINE TUDISH: Two decorated local authors launch their new books, Call It Madness and A Thousand Souls, respectively. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

TOM LINDENFELD: The son of late local legend Peter Lindenfeld shares stories, slideshow

images and readings from his father’s memoir, A Century in the Making: A Hundred-Year Journey From Refugee to American Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 2 p.m. Free.

WRITE NOW!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m. Free.

SUN.19

dance

THE JUNCTION DANCE FESTIVAL: See WED.15.

etc.

EXHIBIT DOCENT HOURS: See WED.15.

fairs & festivals

LAMOILLE COUNTY FIELD DAYS: See FRI.17, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.16.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.16.

‘MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN’: Director Terry Jones’ quirky 1979 farce features the famously anarchic British comedy troupe in a brazen satire of

dogma and faith. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 3 p.m. $6-12.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.16.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.16.

food & drink

ROYALTON FARMERS MARKET: Twenty local vendors offer everything from fresh produce to prepared foods to artisan goods while kids’ activities, live music and workshops build community. South Royalton Town Green, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

STOWE FARMERS MARKET: An appetizing assortment of fresh veggies, pasture-raised meats, milk, berries, herbs, beverages and handcrafted wares tempts

shoppers. Stowe Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET:

More than 25 area growers and bakers offer local and global fare against a backdrop of live music and activities. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.16, 1 p.m.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY

MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted.

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. NEW MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

GATHERING: Certified instructors lead hourlong sessions of the ancient contemplative practice rooted in compassion and generosity. Hood Plant, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. By donation. music

CHRIS AND ISSY:

Stress?

A local acoustic duo covers feel-good hits by the likes of Dave Matthews Band and Tom Petty while attendees enjoy fare from local food trucks. Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton,

2:30-4:30 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

JUNCTION SONG CIRCLE:

Traditional tunes in any language are welcome at this instrumentfree community music group.

Greater Hartford United Church of Christ, Hartford Village, 2-4 p.m. Free.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY

MUSIC SERIES: ALBANNACH:

Drumming, piping and soulstirring didgeridoo collide at an outdoor concert by the raucous Celt-rock faves. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, 5 p.m. Free.

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL:

‘UNBOUND: RISING STARS’:

Festival Young Artists bridge the gap between their conservatory training and the professional concert stage with boundary-pushing solo performances. Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 7 p.m. Various prices.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL:

See SAT.18, 2:30 p.m.

RHIANNON GIDDENS: The Grammy-winning cofounder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops shines a light on the overlooked voices that shaped American music at a performance spanning traditions from folk to opera. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $40.

RIVER RHYTHMS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Good tunes and good times meet at this outdoor music series complete with a beer garden and local food vendors. Juana’s Garden, Montpelier, every 14 days, 4-8 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

SAINT-GAUDENS CONCERT

SERIES: ADRIENNE TAYLOR:

A former cellist of the Boston Public Quartet performs tranquil classical works with expressive

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

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

music + nightlife

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

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

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

depth. Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Cornish, N.H., 2 p.m. Regular admission, $10; free for kids 15 and under.

SUNDAY CLASSICAL: KENNETH R. MEYER: Fans delight in the impressive strumming of a New York musician described by the Washington Post as “a thinking man’s guitarist.” BCA Center, Burlington, 10-11 a.m. Free.

WESTFORD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: JACOB GREEN: A “swamp blues” musician channels the Louisiana bayou with gritty slide guitar riffs and captivating melodies. BYO blanket or chair. Westford Common, 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

outdoors

MOTHS IN THE MORNING: Birds of Vermont Museum executive director Erin Talmage sets a nighttime cloth trap to reveal winged creatures rarely seen in daylight the next morning. Red Wagon Plants, Hinesburg, 8:30-10 a.m. $5 suggested donation; preregister.

sports

FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL: Soccer fans gather for an epic watch party on the big screen. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 3-6 p.m. Free.

SUNDAY POLO MATCH: Pack a tailgate picnic and prepare to experience the fast-paced thrill of the traditional equestrian team sport. Amdez Polo Club, Shelburne, 3 p.m. $10-20.

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: Green Mountain State batters step up to the plate while sports fans of all ages root, root, root for the home team. Centennial Field, Burlington, 5:05 p.m. $7.50-19.50.

talks

‘THE ART OF STRUGGLE: ANTI-EMPIRE TALKS’: Bread and Puppet Press presents a thought-provoking summer speaker series featuring topics including capitalism, Western imperialism and war. See breadandpuppetpress.org for full schedule. Paper Mache Cathedral, Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 5:30-7 p.m. $5.

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: See FRI.17, 3 p.m.

‘EXIT THE KING’: See FRI.17, 2 p.m.

‘A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING’: See THU.16, 2 p.m.

‘THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST’: Oscar Wilde’s hilariously vicious social satire of Victorian England follows two young men who lead double lives in order to escape their obligations. Unadilla Theatre, Marshfield, 2 p.m. $15-30.

‘MY LADY OF WHIMS’: See WED.15. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 2:30 p.m.

‘THE UNDERSTUDY’: See WED.15, 2 p.m.

‘THE UPSIDE DOWN WORLD CIRCUS’: The troupe’s spectacular summer show mystifies and dazzles with colorful puppetry, towering stilters, papier-mâché

beasts and a riotous brass band. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 3 p.m. $15 suggested donation.

words

BACK ROADS READINGS:

‘CELEBRATING THE POETRY

OF DAVID BUDBILL’: Poets and actors honor the late Vermont writer’s legacy with recitations and scenes from his stage plays, backed by live instrumentation from Budbill’s longtime musical collaborator William Parker. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 3 p.m. Free.

JANA MILBOCKER: An acclaimed author presents her new book, Gardens of the Gilded Age, with a richly illustrated talk exploring green spaces created for families such as the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers. Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, Manchester, noon-3 p.m. $55-65.

‘OUR PLACE AS NATURE’: An evening of poetry presented by Monday Nights Theatre delivers lively recitations of noteworthy writers’ works that interrogate the complex relationship between humanity and the wild. Crumb Factory, Montpelier, 5 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

WRITERS FOR RECOVERY BOOK

PARTY: Individuals affected by addiction give voice to their original works featured in the nonprofit’s eighth anthology, One Imagined Word at a Time Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 6:30 p.m. Free.

MON.20

agriculture

LOCAL FOOD IN PRACTICE:

RESTAURANT & FARM

PARTNERSHIPS: A behindthe-scenes look at restaurant sourcing strategies offers farmers and chefs a chance to bridge the gap between agricultural production and kitchen operations. Shelburne Farms, 4-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

HAND-STITCHING GROUP: Embroiderers, cross-stitchers and other needlework aficionados chat over their latest projects. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free.

dance

BEGINNING-LEVEL LINE

DANCING: No partner or experience is necessary when Sid McLam teaches learners how to step in sequence. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30-8 p.m. $10. etc.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.15.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.16.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.16.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.16.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.16.

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.

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.

health & fitness

MEDITATION: Beginners and veteran practitioners alike gather to quiet mental chatter and boost physical well-being at a weekly mindfulness session. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.15.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

music

‘BROADWAY IN VERMONT’: Colchester native and Great White Way veteran Merritt David Janes gathers talented friends to sing favorites from classic and contemporary musicals. Moose Meadow Lodge, Duxbury, 6 p.m. $30-45.

ONION RIVER CHORUS

REHEARSAL: The non-auditioned community ensemble conducted by Richard Riley invites interested vocalists to join in spirited song. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. Free.

ST. JOHNSBURY BAND: The nation’s third-oldest community band regales locals with dynamic tunes during a weekly ice cream social. Caledonia County Courthouse, St. Johnsbury, 7:30 p.m. Free.

VERGENNES CITY BAND: Attendees get comfy on lawn chairs and blankets while local instrumentalists ages 12 to 90 perform rousing works. Vergennes City Park, 7 p.m. Free.

politics

‘WORKING TOGETHER: CONNECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY’: See WED.15, 4-6 p.m.

talks

PETER BOOTH: A member of the Jericho Wastewater Task Force shares how a community wastewater system works and why it could play an important role in the town’s future. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

words

ANIME GROUP: Fans of Japanese animation and comics convene weekly to swap ideas, read stories and connect over shared interests in hand-drawn media. Pathways Vermont Morgan’s Place Peer Support Center, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

TUE.21 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.

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, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

EVENING ZENTANGLE WITH JULIA DAVENPORT: See SAT.18. Essex Free Library, 6-7 p.m.

WATERCOLOR DROP-IN: Painters bring their own supplies to a weekly, instruction-free session to brush up on their skills in a communal setting. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

education

EDUCATOR DAYS: The museum thanks academic professionals working in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire with free access to grounds and exhibits. Shelburne Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free; preregister. etc.

‘PHILADELPHIA II’ OPEN HOURS: See THU.16.

film

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

‘AMERICAN GRAFFITI’: Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard drive this 1973 comedy about high school grads cruising the strip. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.16.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.16.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.16.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.16.

food & drink

MILTON FARMERS MARKET:

Locally grown goods, fresh eats and handmade crafts take root weekly all summer long. Bombardier Park West, Milton, 5-8 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

‘BUILDING BRAIN HEALTHY

HABITS’: AARP Vermont and the Alzheimer’s Association cohost a

research-based education session for adults of all ages who want to protect their cognitive health. Essex Area Senior Center, Essex Junction, 2-3 p.m. Free.

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.

COMMUNITY STRESS RELEASE

SEMINAR: The slow, deliberate movements of tai chi help practitioners feel calm, steady and energized. Wear comfortable clothing. Oom Yung Doe VT, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.15.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. PAUSE-CAFÉ MARDI: Francophones and Frenchlanguage learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-7 p.m. Free.

music

BEN & JERRY’S CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: GILLIAN WELCH & DAVID RAWLINGS: A dynamic duo conjures the sounds of hardscrabble America in a manner the New Yorker calls “at once innovative and obliquely reminiscent of past rural forms.” Shelburne Museum, 7 p.m. $56; free for kids 12 and under.

CABOT ARTS SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: A rotating cast of area musicians presents six weeks of sonorous entertainment, accompanied by mouthwatering food-truck provisions. BYO chair or blanket. See cabotarts.org for lineup. Cabot Village Common, 6 p.m. Free.

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘AMERICAN ORIGINAL’: Barrierbreaking composer George Walker’s music comes alive at this performance by violist Dillon Scott and the Festival Young Artists. Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 7 p.m. $15-30. THE ROZATONES: A six-piece outfit fuses up-tempo rhythms with spicy melodies at a potent performance of soulful acid-rock. Fairlee Town Common, 6:30 p.m. Free.

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE: LOS SÓNGOROS: A multinational ensemble blends traditional rhythms and contemporary flair at a high-energy showcase of Cuban and Brazilian dance music. BYO blanket or chair. Legion Field, Johnson, 6 p.m. Free.

VERMONT’S FREEDOM & UNITY CHORUS: Singers come together for a weekly rehearsal inspiring positive change through the

power of music. Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

seminars

BRAVERY BOOST: Participants share personal triumphs and setbacks while exploring how neuroplasticity affects courage at this monthly gathering led by Ken Boring and Judi Byron. Waterbury Public Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

FINDING HOUSING WORKSHOP: Attendees build an apartment-search tool kit with guidance from the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘AN INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY BY WAY OF EXISTENTIALISM’: A lowpressure, just-for-fun class invites knowledge seekers to flesh out the big questions that have animated philosophic inquiry for thousands of years. Stowe Free Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

sports

FELLOWSHIP OF THE WHEEL

ENDURO: New and experienced mountain bike riders gather in the spirit of sportsmanship for a casual racing night. Bolton Valley Resort, 4:30-7:30 p.m. $15-20; preregister.

talks

‘QUARTET CONVERSATIONS’: The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival explores the history of the form with a live performance and a lecture by musicologists Evan A. MacCarthy and Nathaniel Lew. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff field questions about devices of all kinds in face-to-face

chats. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free.

words

BURLINGTON

LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of five weeks, readers analyze W. Somerset Maugham’s 1944 novel The Razor’s Edge about a World War I veteran who rejects a conventional life in search of spiritual meaning. 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

DEEP CUTS BOOK CLUB: Bookish types bond over Fran Ross’ 1974 satirical novel, Oreo, about a biracial girl from Philadelphia searching for her father in New York City. The Norwich Bookstore, 6 p.m. Free.

READING GROUP: A four-part community discussion breaks down Molly Crabapple’s new book, Here Where We Live Is Our Country, exploring Bundism, a Jewish socialist movement that emerged in Europe in the late 19th century. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

WRITER’S CIRCLE: Creative sparks fly as participants tackle curated prompts and read their latest drafts aloud in a collaborative environment. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont Morgan’s Place Peer Support Center, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.22 agriculture

GARLIC HARVESTING & CURING: Green thumbs head into the greenhouse to get their hands dirty learning the finer points of cultivating the pungent crop. Landry Park, Winooski, 5:30 p.m. Free.

WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER FRED: See WED.15.

cannabis

CANNABIS ACCOUNTING

101: Experts from Cultivate Consulting break down tax and accounting nuances for licensed cannabis farms and businesses. Hosted by Vermont Growers Association. 4-5 p.m. $5-10 sliding scale; free for members.

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.

PASSEGGIATA: See WED.15.

PASSEGGIATA WATERBURY: See WED.15.

crafts

YARN & YAK: See WED.15.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.15.

etc.

EXHIBIT DOCENT HOURS: See WED.15.

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.15.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.15.

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.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: See WED.15.

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.15.

CRÊPE NIGHT: Foodies enjoy sweet and savory French pancakes picnic-style at this monthly community meal benefiting local nonprofits. Scott Farm Orchard, Dummerston, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $12-25.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.15.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: See WED.15.

MARKET ON THE GREEN: See WED.15.

WEDNESDAY WINE DOWN FARMERS MARKET: See WED.15.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.15.

RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.15.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Practitioners sharpen their skills and connect with neighbors at a bimonthly meetup facilitated by a native speaker. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10-11 a.m. Free.

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.15.

SPANISH CLASS: Speakers brush up on their language skills en español with help from course instructor Benjamin Swain. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

lgbtq

THE ALL-INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: See WED.15.

music

BEN & JERRY’S CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: TROMBONE

SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE:

SOLD OUT. A seasoned band of musical brothers performs an intoxicating blend of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop and Caribbean-influenced originals. Shelburne Museum, 7 p.m. Wait list available.

CAPITAL CITY BAND: See WED.15.

CLASSICAL ENCOUNTERS SERIES: Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival student musicians perform a sparkling showcase of works for string

quartet. Wild Meadows Books & Café, Williston, 10:30 a.m.; Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11 a.m.; and South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1:15 p.m. Free.

MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.15.

OVER THE HUMP SUMMER

MUSIC SERIES: BLUES OVER EASY: Hillside listeners cut loose to the soulful grooves of local instrumentalists, including acclaimed guitarist Paul Asbell. Huntington Recreation Field, 5:30-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

SONIDO MAL MAÏZ: A psychedelic Latin outfit captivates audience members with a blend of traditional and modern Central and South American tunes. Middlesex Bandstand, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES: See WED.15.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.15.

TOWN OF SHELBURNE CONCERT SERIES: See WED.15.

WEDNESDAYS ON THE WATERFRONT: STUDIO TWO:

Four fabulous Berklee College of Music alums transport listeners back to the swingin’ ’60s at this tribute to the Beatles’ early years, complete with vintage music equipment. Newport Waterfront, 6 p.m. Free.

outdoors

FLORA & FAUNA CANOE TOUR: See WED.15.

TREE ID & NATURAL HISTORY

TOUR: Master naturalist Gene O. Desideraggio guides attendees in identifying native species. Red Rocks Park, South Burlington, 5 p.m. $10-15; preregister.

politics

POST-LEGISLATIVE SESSION DISCUSSION: Vermonters hear

insights about how policy outcomes may impact businesses and communities across the state. A Q&A follows. The Hub CoWorks, Rutland, noon-1:30 p.m. $27; preregister.

seminars

‘PHILOSOPHY OF FASCISM’: See WED.15.

sports

WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS: See WED.15.

theater

‘INTO THE WOODS’: Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical intertwines the plots of multiple Brothers Grimm fairy tales to explore the darker side of “happily ever after.” Recommended for ages 12 and up. See calendar spotlight. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30 p.m. $15-50.

‘RENT’: Young bohemians in New York City struggle with their careers, relationships and the effects of the AIDS epidemic in this hit Broadway musical staged by Weston Theater. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 7:30 p.m. $25-94.

words

LARA CALL GASTINGER: An artist and botanical illustrator shares her new guide, A Perpetual Journal Practice: Building a Connection With Nature Through Art, providing instruction, inspiration and examples from her own work. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. MEMOIR WORKSHOP: See WED.15. ➆

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.15.

FAMI LY

‘ESCAPE FROM ISLA NUBLAR!’: Teens in grades 6 and up hunt down clues and solve puzzles throughout the library before a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex arrives on the scene. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-5 p.m. Free.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: Teens ages 13 to 18 pop by the library to pick up the ingredients necessary to make their own drink at home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9 a.m. Free.

MAKE & BUILD: Young creators unleash their imaginations at a weekly hands-on crafting session. Essex Free Library, 2:303:30 p.m. Free.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’

EXHIBIT: An educationfocused exhibition showcases drawings interwoven with narratives from the infant-toddler centers of the municipality of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Winooski School District. Free.

OUTDOOR PLAY TIME: Fun with water, sand, sidewalk chalk, stories and songs helps little ones ages birth to 5 make new friends. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free.

SWITCH IT UP!: A weekly gaming session on the library’s Nintendo Switch engages elementary students in friendly competition while nearby parents learn more about navigating digital boundaries. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free.

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, 2-6 p.m. Free.

DINOMAN: A family entertainer uses magnificent props and inflatable characters to give kiddos a unique view of the Mesozoic era. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: Aspiring innovators examine biological designs of the natural world to better understand and solve human engineering challenges. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $18-21; free for members and kids under 2.

STORY TIME: Early literacy takes center stage as infants and toddlers engage in a melodic mix of books and songs. Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

THU.16

‘WHAT’S NEW WITH VERMONT ABLE? EXPANDING

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES’: Vermont Developmental Disabilities

Council executive director Kirsten Murphy leads this virtual workshop about the program that allows families to save for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing federal benefits. 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

burlington

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga helps toddlers and their caregivers find their flow through a playful blend of song, movement and stretching. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

DINO GARDENS: A terrarium-making program invites kids ages 6 and up to design and build a miniature landscape using live plants, natural materials and a healthy dose of imagination. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-5 p.m. Free.

DINO-MITE STORY TIME: Tots ages birth to 5 dig into the prehistoric past at a morning of dinosaur-themed rhymes, music and stories. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free.

‘DISNEY’S MOANA JR.’: See WED.15. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, noon.

EXTEND A STORYTIME: Little learners ages birth to 8 and their caregivers book it to the library to experience low-cost, hands-on ways to make literacy more fun at home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’

EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

PERLER BEAD OPEN STUDIO: Crafty kids ages 7 and up mix, match and fuse beads to create their own designs or follow a pattern. Essex Free Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

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.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

SUMMER CRAFTYTOWN: Aspiring artists tackle a rotating menu of tactile projects to explore new techniques, then bring home a finished masterpiece. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.15, 2-8 p.m.

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.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor,

Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

stowe/smuggs

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

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.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

northeast kingdom

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

‘CARDTOPIA’: The center’s studio space transforms into a giant interactive cardboard building, complete with secret chambers, tunnels and a ball run. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, noon-4 p.m. Free.

FRI.17 burlington

BURLINGTON FNG: Self-identified LGBTQ+ and questioning youths ages 13 to 19 gather weekly to socialize in a supportive environment. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

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.

FAMILY CONCERT SERIES: Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival student string musicians perform a sparkling showcase of works, followed by sweet treats for little listeners. Lake Champlain Chocolates Flagship Store, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free.

FAMILY FRIDAY WITH LINDA BASSICK: Caretakers and wee ones enjoy a weekly morning mashup of muffins and music played by the local legend. Pingala Café North Avenue, Burlington, 9-9:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

‘DISNEY’S MOANA JR.’: See WED.15. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY LEGO BUILDERS: Weekly sessions invite creative minds to stack, connect and build their way to structural masterpieces using interlocking blocks. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15. ‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’

EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

MUSICAL MUNCHKINS: Littles ages birth to 6 find their groove at an interactive morning of song, dance and instrument play led by Miss Andrea. Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

SPANISH STORY TIME: Hola, amigos! Toddlers and their caregivers listen to stories and learn some new words. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:3011 a.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free.

middlebury area

STORY TIME: Lake-centric stories, coloring and crafts anchor little ones at a weekly maritime-themed reading circle. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

upper

valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.16.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Youngsters and their caregivers delight in beautiful books, silly songs, creative crafts and unplugged play in the library’s cozy children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free.

SUMMER COMIC BOOK CLUB: Young minds work together to create their own comic book at this seven-week program encouraging collaboration and creativity. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

SAT.18 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

DADS’ NIGHT OUT: SOBER SATURDAY NIGHTS: Fathers get together for a casual, substance-free night of food and games. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

PARTIZANFILM JR.: ‘THE NEVERENDING STORY’: A boy finds a book that takes him on an adventure through the magical land of Fantasia in this epic 1984 fantasy flick. Partizanfilm, Burlington, 12:10 p.m. $6-8.50.

SPLASH DANCE: DJ CRAIG MITCHELL: Kids and their caregivers soak up some serious summer fun at a DJ-fueled dance party amid the park’s interactive fountain. Burlington City Hall Park, 1-3 p.m. Free.

chittenden county

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

UNEARTH A CRYPTID: MEET CHAMP!: Everyone’s favorite mascot surfaces for photo opportunities, anchoring a session of themed trivia and hands-on crafts. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

stowe/smuggs

CHILDREN’S INSTRUCTIONAL

AFTERNOON TEA: Tots don their finest dress-up outfits for a spot of history and sumptuous snacks, including mini sandwiches, warm scones and bite-size sweets. The Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 1 p.m. $20-48; preregister.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.16.

FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: Aspiring heroes quiz a local first responder, inspect real rescue gear and hear tales of firehouse life. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. brattleboro/okemo valley

GOAT SNUGGLES: Rolling hillsides provide the backdrop for a 40-minute cuddle session with the cutest farm animals around. Big Picture Farm, Townshend, 10 a.m. $12-20; preregister.

SUN.19

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GROUP B: 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.

TWEEN GROUP: A new program for queer and gender-creative youths ages 10 to 12 offers space to make new friends, join in fun activities and build community. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free.

chittenden county

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY GEM, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW: See SAT.18.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15. ‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

THE POWER OF PLAY SERIES: CREATE YOUR OWN STORY CARDS: Infants and toddlers get a head start on reading at an interactive workshop demonstrating how the literacy tool can help build foundational skills. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free.

middlebury area

GIANT LAKE CHAMPLAIN MAP TIME: An interactive map centers history and ecology as little learners play games tracking canal boats and recounting Revolutionary War naval maneuvers. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10-11 a.m. Free.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.16.

brattleboro/ okemo valley

GOAT SNUGGLES: See SAT.18.

MON.20

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

CROWDSOURCED VT: ‘SHREK’:

Aspiring filmmakers ages 10 to 18 join local production teams to help re-create scenes from the 2001 animated fantasy flick following the hilarious adventures of a lovable ogre and his cast of misfits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

chittenden county

FAMILY CONCERT SERIES: Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival student string musicians perform a sparkling showcase of works, followed by sweet treats for little listeners. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11:15 a.m. Free.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLOSAURUS!:

Imaginative minds ages 6 to 11 use recycled materials to construct their very own dinosaur. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 p.m. Free.

TEEN ROCK PAINTING:

Imaginative kids ages 13 to 18 transform ordinary stones into colorful creations. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free.

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. middlebury area

GIANT LAKE CHAMPLAIN

MAP TIME: See SUN.19, 1-3 p.m.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/ WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

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.

TUE.21 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

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.

chittenden county

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15.

HIEROGLYPHS: CREATE A CARTOUCHE: Patrons ages 9 and up unravel cryptic, centuries-old messages and design their own ancient Egyptian nameplates. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

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.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.15.

THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/ WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

FARM FRIENDS PLAY CLUB: A hands-on, screen-free summer drop-in program invites children ages 3 to 9 and their families to spark new connections and forge art out of everyday materials. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Regular admission, $14-23; free for members and kids under 3; preregister.

LEGO TUESDAYS: Youth architects tackle construction challenges or follow their own blueprints at a creative building session complete with snacks. Norwich Public Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading while singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.17.

WED.22 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

DINOSAUR CRAFTERNOON: Kids ages 5 and up excavate their inner artist at an afternoon of custom prehistoric crafts, including dino-themed jewelry making, Shrinky Dinks and Perler Bead creations. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-4 p.m. Free.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

READ TO A DOG: See WED.15.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.15.

‘BUT WHY?’ LIVE: ‘WHAT ARE FOSSILS?’: An interactive taping of the beloved Vermont Public podcast unearths the mysteries of local paleontology through audience-driven questions and expert insights. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30 p.m. Free.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.15.

MAKE & BUILD: See WED.15. ‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

OUTDOOR PLAY TIME: See WED.15.

SWITCH IT UP!: See WED.15.

barre/montpelier

ALYX THE MAGICIAN: A nationally touring illusionist blends sleight-of-hand tricks with comedy at this family-friendly show designed to spark wonder. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.15.

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.15.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.15.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/ WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.15.

STORY TIME: See WED.15.

northeast kingdom

STEPHANIE THOMAS: A local author invites families to journey into the Kingdom of Noise at a reading of her imaginative new children’s book, Leo and the Dragon of Sound. Barton Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. K

B PARTY

RICKS

to Take the Challenge!

This fun summer civics project for K-8 students is back — with a new set of 25 activities.

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

Brothers Levi and Noah Fiorentino of South Burlington went to the library and checked out passes to the Rokeby Museum. They completed activities No. 1, “Visit the Library,” and No. 14, “Visit a Historical Site or Museum.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS Participants do an activity and submit the evidence at goodcitizenvt.com to earn stars. Each star is an entry into drawings to win prizes including $50 gift cards to Phoenix Books and the grand prize — a trip to Washington, D.C. The deadline is Labor Day, September 7. Get more info and submit entries at

Students who complete all 25 activities will earn the title of “Distinguished Citizen” — and will be honored at the Statehouse. Submit activities as you go to win weekly prizes!

AMERICAN WOODCOCK ONE-DAY WOODCARVING WORKSHOP: SESSION 2: anks to high demand, Dave is able to offer a second session. Carve and paint an American woodcock with Dave Tuttle during this one-day carving class. Wood blank and paint provided. All levels welcome. Great for adults and teens. Younger kids need parental permission. Great skill building for Scouts and 4-H. Bring mask, tools, gloves and lunch. (Contact us if you will need tools or gloves.) Date: Sat., Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Cost: $50; members of the museum or GMWC get a $10 discount. Location: Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington. Info: 802-434-2167, museum@ birdsofvermont.org, sevendaystickets.com.

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Stay connected to your creative practice this summer. Seasonal camps, classes and workshops offer ﬂexible, supportive ways for art making full of joy and inspiration! Come as you are and use the time to reset, focus and have fun. Now enrolling youths, teens and adults. Info: 802-4252700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

food & drink

FARMYARD CUPCAKE

DECORATING CLASS: Join us for an in-person workshop at our space in downtown Waterbury! In this workshop, we will decorate four farmyard animal cupcakes to take home and one to enjoy during the class. Select from a variety of ﬂavor options. Cake kits can be gluten-free, vegan or both. Please disclose all allergies in the ticket registration. Note: We are not an allergen-free facility. Date: Tue., Jul. 28, 5:30 p.m. Cost: $45; bring a plus-one, $15. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203400-0700, sevendaystickets. com.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.:

Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

spirituality

APPRENTICESHIP IN

SHAMANISM: A rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition, beginning Sep. 25-27 in St. Albans. For ﬁve weekends over the course of a year, enter the heart of a living Earth with the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition. e PMT, designed by don Oscar Miro-Quesada, offers a rich tapestry of Andean ancestral wisdom and global resonance, weaving a shamanic tradition that serves the needs of the current day. Realign soul with cosmos, self with community and spirit with nature. Are you ready to answer the call to heal? Dates: First weekend, Sep. 25-27; ﬁrst day, 6:30-9:30

p.m. Cost: $1,375 incl. attendance at ﬁve 3-day weekend sessions. Scholarship support avail. Location: Northwest TV access station, Franklin Park West, St. Albans City. Info: omas Mock, 802-369-4331, thomas.mock1444@gmail.com, heartofthehealer.org/event/ the-pachakuti-mesatradition-foundationalapprenticeship-withthomas-mock.

sports &

THE ONE-NIGHT STAND: A SINGLE-EVENING CLINIC IN BICYCLE CARE: Having a basic understanding of your bike and knowing how to care for it is empowering! e One-Night Stand at Old Spokes Home will cause neither regret nor shame; instead, it will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you conﬁdence in either getting what you need at the bike shop or ﬁguring out how to deal with it on your own. Date: Wed., Jul. 29, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $37.50-60, sliding scale. Location: Old Spokes Home, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: 802-863-4475, sevendays tickets.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

Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Kahuna

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: June 8, 2026

SUMMARY: In Hawaiian, kahuna means an expert or a skilled practitioner. is brindle boy deﬁnitely lives up to his name! Kahuna is a professional at swimming in kiddie pools (he even holds his breath and dunks his head in), fetching tennis balls, and giving the best snuggles. He doesn’t always understand how big he is, but he approaches life with vim and vigor and a can-do attitude. He’d love to ﬁnd a family to join for adventures and plenty of cuddles at the end of the day. He has so much love for the world, and it is a gift to be on the receiving end.

DID YOU KNOW?

A “sniffari” walk is a great way for dogs to burn off excess energy! Dogs enjoy the freedom of getting to explore at their own pace and sniff all the wonderful smells they encounter. It requires a lot of brainpower, which makes this activity a great option for mental exercise.

PETS & SUPPLIES

AKC LABS

FREE STUFF

y & Se

clothes, & toys from infant on. Appliances, household items, books, custom jewelry, planters & so much more! Fri., Jul. 17, through Sun., Jul. 19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 991 Jerusalem Rd., Bristol.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY AUCTION

FREE GRAND PIANO

Free 1930 Mason & Hamlin grand piano.

Elderly but still plays & sounds rich & beautiful. Call Victoria at 802-855-8278.

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

GARAGE SALE

New paint sprayer, food processor, sewing machine & jewelry. Garden supplies, canoe, like-new wheelbarrow.

Lots of miscellaneous items. Jul. 17-19 & Jul. 24-26, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 713 Route 12, Northﬁ eld.

SUPER GARAGE SALE

Join us for our summer sale! Tons of extra-small & small clothes, baby

Fri., Jul. 17, 5-8 p.m., rain or shine. 107 Route 12, Randolph. Get all the info & T&C at rumorhasitvt.com.

MR. BRUNELLE’S GARAGE SALE

Huge garage sale. Selling lots of arts & craft supplies, as well as books, furniture, medical items, toys, dishes, tools & much, much more! Sat., Jul. 18, & Sun., Jul, 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine. 135 Raceway Rd., Jericho.

MOVING SALE IN WINOOSKI

We’re selling trinkets, collectibles, vintage games, clothes, kitchenware, jewelry, DVDs, VHS, books, furniture & more! Find us on the lawn at the corner of Main & Mansion. Sat., Jul. 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

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

Cute female AKC Labs for sale. Chocolate & black. Born May 28. Info, 802-928-3312, vtdave1@gmail.com.

SPORTING GOODS

CANOE FOR SALE

Barely used Old Town Penobscot 164 canoe. A few scuffs. 80 pounds. 16 feet, 3.96 in. long. Owner’s manual, 2 oars & seat attachments incl. Sells new for $1,600. Asking $1,000/OBO. Call 781-690-2229 or email katiejholson@gmail. com.

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, gender identity, age, marital status, disability, presence of minor children in the family, receipt of public assistance, citizenship, immigration status, or status as a victim or survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertis-

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STOWE APT. FOR RENT

M & Ar t ists

u icians

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

SHELBURNE TOWNHOUSE APT. FOR RENT

2-BR, full cellar, rear deck, W/D hookups. No pets. NS. Nice neighborhood. Offstreet parking. $1,850/ mo. Avail. soon. Refs. req. Call 802-598-9396 or email jbloom2899@ gmail.com.

BEAUTIFUL APTS. FOR RENT IN WINOOSKI

& rubbish collection are incl. 3/4-BA. Well-lit parking lot for 1 car. Great location! Near I-89, the bus line, downtown Winooski, CCV, St. Mike’s College, UVM & Burlington. Also near a welcoming full-service laundry. No pets, NS. (Note: 1 of the owners is a licensed real estate agent, & we do not accept online applications. Applications are given once you have a chance to view the apt. Photos show the apt. as previously vacant. A viewing will be as currently occupied.)

$1,800. Info, 802-3437707, edesany@hotmail. com.

1,333-SQ.FT, 3-BR, 2-BA CONDO IN S. BURLINGTON, $2,800/ MO.

266 Maple St., Stowe, Vt. Unfurnished 3-BR, 2-BA unit avail. immediately. Flexible lease terms avail. Close to Stowe Village & the bike path, w/ laundry & parking on-site. $3,100. Call 802-253-7339 or email laurie@stackpolefrench. com.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

RUTLAND COUNTY NEW GENERAL STORE LEASING OPPORTUNITY

SLAVIC LIFE e Slavic Life Movement is an organization dedicated to the preservation & evolution of Slavic culture. M & Ar t

ists u icians

MUSIC LESSONS

SUMMER PIANO LESSONS

Play on a beautiful baby grand in the South End of Burlington. All ages, kids through adults. All abilities & genres of music. Info, randal. pierce@gmail.com randalpiercemusic.com/ about.

ing for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels they have encountered discrimination should contact: HUD Ofﬁce of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092

1st apt.: 61 Khouri Ln., Winooski. 1-BR, 1-BA, $1,800/mo. Beautiful location w/ large yard, large LR, kitchen, full BA. BR fi ts queen-size bed perfectly. New fi xtures, beautiful fl ooring & tastefully painted. Duplex w/ your own private entry & private parking. Parking & plowing incl. NS & no pets. Surrounded by plenty of beautiful green space. Near colleges, hospitals & public transportation. Heat not incl. Avail. July 15. Sec. dep. + fi rst mo.’s rent. Images online. For more info, schoolic@ gmail.com, classifi eds. sevendaysvt.com/ vermont/rentals-realestate. 2nd apt.: 26 Hood St., Unit 26 B, Winooski. $1,800/mo. Beautiful 1-BR, 1-BA. Very large beautiful yard, large LR & kitchen. 1-family dwelling w/ your own private entry & private parking. Parking & plowing incl. NS & no pets. Located on the 2nd fl oor w/ beautiful inside stairs that lead to your apt. Heat not incl. Avail. Aug. 1. Images online. For more info, email schoolic@gmail. com.

SUNNY, STUNNING & CHARMING 2ND-FLOOR

VICTORIAN 1-BR APT. IN WINOOSKI FEATURING

HISTORIC TOWER LR 85 East Spring St.

125 Kennedy Dr. Unfurnished top-ﬂ oor 3-BR, 2-BA end-unit condo in S. Burlington. 1,333 sq.ft. Less than 10 mins. from the UVM Medical Center, restaurants & grocery stores. Bus stop right outside the neighborhood’s entrance. Bamboo wood ﬂ oors, open LR/ DR w/ bar seating at the kitchen counter. A French door leads to a private screened porch. e 3 BRs have generous closets; there’s also a large linen closet in the hall & another closet adjacent to the bar seating. Lots of storage! Primary BR w/ its own BA. Main heating source is a propane Rinnai unit located in the LR. Electric baseboard in each BR & BA if needed. 1 assigned parking spot in a carport, which has extra enclosed storage great for bikes, tires & other seasonal items. 1 additional parking spot in the open parking is also incl. ere is also a neighborhood pool. Green walls in living space have been repainted to match others. Stainless-steel stove will also be installed before new tenants move in. Info, 802-338-1952, girouxm88@gmail.com

Monthly rent is TBD. Benson Village Trust (BVT), a 501c3 notfor-profi t community enterprise, is offering a unique opportunity for an entrepreneur passionate about good food, service & community to operate the Benson Village Store that will be located in the village center of Benson, Vt. e store business owner will lease a newly constructed & outfi tted store/deli/café building from BVT to create a thriving small business in a dynamic rural community on Lake Champlain. Please fi nd the complete general store business opportunity prospectus on Benson Village Trust’s website at bensonvillagetrust.org. Letters of interest are due Jul. 31 at midnight. Email info@ bensonvillagetrust.org w/ questions.

1-800-669-9777 hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 12 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633

800-416-2010 human.rights@vermont.gov

Unfurnished, 1-BR, 1-BA, 511 sq.ft. Sunny & charming 1-BR apt. nestled on the 2nd ﬂ oor of this historic Queen Anne brick building in Winooski. e LR occupies the Victorian tower, offering a dramatic circular ﬂ oor plan. Stained glass, HDWD, 9-foot ceilings, + arched & bay windows add to its Victorian aura. Heat, HW, snow removal

1-, 2- & 3-BR APTS. AVAIL. NOW IN BURLINGTON, VT. 118 Hyde St. Unfurnished 903-sq.ft. 1-BR, 1-BA, $950. + utils. Also a 1-BR in Winooski at $1,050 + utils. 2-BR in Burlington for $1,750. Heated. We pay cold water; tenants pay utils. 3-BR avail. now for $1,850. Heated. We pay cold water; tenants pay utils. Laundry on-site w/ 3-BR. Info, 802-318-8916.

Se e ces

COUNSELING

CUSTOMIZED SUCCESS COACHING

Whether you’re looking for support on a personal passion project, your local business model or simply navigating a life pivot, my skills as a creative generalist, business consultant & compassionate emotional guide help you to create fulﬁlling, resilient success. Curated sessions for your unique needs. Hourly rate negotiable by case. Email emmabeadiscenza@ gmail.com.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

CAREGIVING

Retired nurse avail. for private in-home light caregiving. NS & no heavy lifting. $30/hour, negotiable. Overnights, weekends & on call. Please call 802-4951954 & leave message.

YOU DESERVE RELAXATION

Join me in my studio for a relaxing holistic massage. Deep tissue or Swedish relaxation. Hot stone & aromatherapy are incl. Afterward, enjoy a complimentary herbal consultation & a warming herbal tea. Liscenced & insured. You can schedule by phone, 802-304-8916, or visit us at tara@ ahhhmassage.org. CLASSIFIEDS KEY

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

CLASSIFIEDS » Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online. Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

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

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

CALCOKU BY JOSH

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

REYNOLDS

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle. Difficulty - Hard

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ON P.70

CHARGING JOE

ANSWERS ON P. 70 »

IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS

3905

Enforcement of Lien, Champlain Valley Self Storage,LLC shall host a private auction of the following units on or after August 1, 2026: Contents: household goods

Location: 2211 Main St Colchester VT 05446

Jake Nickerson: # 716

Brittany Trayah: #546

Ashleigh tillson: #881

Location: 78 Lincoln St. Essex Jct, VT 05452

Samantha Ducharme: #146

Amy Zdorove: #018

James Lewis: #164

Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register. CVSS,llc reserves the right to reject any bid lower than the amount owed by the occupant or that is claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

HUNTINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

JULY 22ND, 2026

Development Review Board: Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026, 7 pm Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89027947592 ?pwd=rraLJDIfD7tUIxWmKbUKfq3p3VhubF.1 Telephone (toll-free): +16465588656, 89027947592#, *004384# US (New York) +16469313860, 89027947592#,*004384# US Meeting ID: 890 2794 7592 Passcode: 004384 Agendas and meeting materials can be accessed on-line at https://www.huntingtonvt.org Agendas and meeting materials posted 7 days prior to meeting date.

Any questions or comments should be directed to Alex Nicholson, Zoning Administrator at anichols@huntingtonvt.org.

7:00 PM

• Public Comment • Approval of Minutes • Mail

APPLICATION REVIEW

7:15 PM

Eli Enman 427 Ski Lodge Dr. Parcel ID# 005120

Zoning Permit/ Traffic Study: Applicant requests review of anticipated traffic impact for upcoming creation of Snow Farm Project. Discussion will center around impact of new traffic volumes and changes to the night skiing schedule and how they may impact the town and whether additional permits/ conditions will be needed to fulfill the applicant’s request.

Post Application Review • Member Business • Adjourn

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

ORLEANS UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-03345

In re ESTATE of SUSAN MOULTON

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Susan Moulton late of Newport Center

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: July 8, 2026

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa. L. Slater

Executor/Administrator: Joanne Hammond

Mailing Address:

c/o Launa L. Slater, Wiener & Slater, PLLC 110 Main Street, Suite 4F Burlington, VT 05401

Phone Number: (802) 863-1836

Email: launa@wsvtlaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 7/15/26

Name of Probate Court: Orleans Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 247 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C1040R-3A-1 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 – 6111

Application 4C1040R-3A-1 from Asch Enterprises, LLC, 2 Tigan Street, Winooski, VT 05404 was received on June 29, 2026 and deemed complete on July 6, 2026. The project is generally described as construction of a new 50 space parking lot along with associated lighting, landscaping and stormwater improvements. The project is located in E-Commerce Park at 687 Marshall Avenue 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 “4C1040R-3A-1.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before July 29, 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 Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this July 8, 2026.

By: /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944

stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0418-6A

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 – 6111

Application 4C0418-6A from City of Winooski, 27 West Allen Street, Winooski, VT 05404 was received on June 18, 2026 and deemed complete on July 2, 2026. The project is generally described as This permit specifically authorizes the reconstruction of an existing park space with a shared-use recreational path, trees, benches, and lawn space, as well as removal of an aging timber staircase. This project does not include creation of any buildings, lots, or driveways. The project is located at 2 Main Street in Winooski, 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 “4C0418-6A.”

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this July 8, 2026. By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 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

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 https://burlingtonvt. portal.civicclerk.com/ 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).

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0364-1A

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 – 6111

Application 4C0364-1A from Catamount Outdoor Family Center, 592 Governor Chittenden Road, Williston, VT 05495 and Town of Williston, 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT 04595 was received on June 18, 2026 and deemed complete on July 2, 2026. The project specifically authorizes a selection of trail upgrades that constitutes the first implementation phase for an overall trails plan for the Catamount Community Forest trail network, referred to as “The Plan.” The Plan features trail upgrades, reroutes, bridge/boardwalk replacements and drainage improvements for better sustainability and accessibility. The plan covers all 25 miles of trails and terrain areas, including sections proposed for closure when replacement sections are built. The sections selected for Phase 1 consist of upgrades to existing trails, located outside of archaeologically sensitive areas. See Exhibit 007 for a detailed, specific list of upgrades included as part of Phase 1. The project is located at 553 Governor Chittenden Road 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 “4C0364-1A.”

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this July 9, 2026. 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 CIVIL DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT CASE NO. 25-SC-02830

Daniel Turner, Plaintiff v. Robert St Francis, Jr., Defendant

SUMMONS AND ORDER FOR PUBLICATION

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO: Robert St Francis, Jr.

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The plaintiff has started a small claims lawsuit against you. A copy of the Plaintiff’s Complaint against you is on file and may be obtained from the office of the Clerk of the Court, Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division, Chittenden Unit, 175 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont. Do not throw this paper away. It is an official paper that affects your rights.

2. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM. Plaintiff’s claim is for money damages arising from plumbing work allegedly performed at 342 Chapin Road, Essex Junction, Vermont, which Plaintiff alleges caused a water leak and property damage.

3. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 42 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail Plaintiff a written response, called an Answer, within 42 days after the date on which this Summons is first published, which is July 15, 2026. You must send a copy of your Answer to Plaintiff Daniel Turner at the address listed in the complaint. You must also give or mail your Answer to the Court at Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division, Chittenden Unit,175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401.

4. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each claim. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

5. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT GIVE YOUR WRITTEN ANSWER TO THE COURT. If you do not send the Plaintiff and the Court your Answer within 42 days after first publication, you may lose this case. The Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff the relief requested in the Complaint.

6. YOU MUST MAKE ANY CLAIMS AGAINST THE PLAINTIFF IN YOUR REPLY. Your Answer must state any related legal claims you have against the Plaintiff. Your claims against the Plaintiff are called Counterclaims. If you do not make your Counterclaims in writing in your Answer, you may not be able to bring them up at all.

7. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you should ask the Court Clerk for information about places where you may be able to get free legal help. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still give the Court a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

ORDER

By entry dated June 22, 2026, the Court authorized Plaintiff to effect service by publication under V.R.C.P. 4(d)(1)and 4(g). The Court ordered that publication must be made using an online or print news service of general circulation that covers Swanton, Vermont.

This Summons and Order shall be published once a week for two successive weeks beginning on July 15, 2026, in Seven Days, an online or print news service of general circulation covering Swanton, Vermont, and a copy of this Summons

and Order as published shall be mailed to Defendant Robert St Francis, Jr. at PO Box 40, Swanton, VT 05488.

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON JULY 30, 2026 AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on July 30, 2026 at 9am EST at 205 Route 4A West, Castleton VT 05735 (Unit C111), 615 VT Route 7, Danby VT 05739 (D54), 681 Rockingham Rd, Rockingham VT 05151 (R58), 2517 Charlestown Rd, Springfield, VT 05150 (S15, S76), and online at www.storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien

Unit # Name Contents

C111 Phil Courcelle Household Goods

D54 Sean Gilbert Household Goods

R58 Amber Mcdaniel Household Goods

S15 Jennie Shaw Household Goods

S76 Zach Beam Household Goods

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, July 27th, 2026 at 7:00 PM to review the following application:

Application: Site Plan Review

Applicant: Casey Mathieu

Property Location: Mathieu Property – VT Route 128 (approx. 13.1 acres)

Zoning Districts: Rural 10, Rural 5, Water Resource Overlay

This proposal is a request for site plan approval to increase the footprint of a structure by more than 1000 square feet.

Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 968 2389 7988 | Passcode: 3jkLYZ

For more information call the Town Offices at 878-4587 Monday–Thursday 8:30am–4:30pm & Friday 8:30am-1:00pm

Dated July 13, 2026

NOTICE OF INVITATION TO BID: CHITTENDEN COUNTY RPC, LAKE FOREST CONDOS STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT SEALED BIDS DUE 1:00 P.M. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2026

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) invites qualified contractors to prepare lump sum bids for the construction of the Stormwater Management Improvement Project located on the Lake Forest Condominiums property off Lake Forest Drive in Burlington, Vermont, herein referred to as the Project. The Project includes all work necessary to provide stormwater treatment improvements contained on the design plans. The intent of the Project is to rehabilitate 3 wet ponds and provide additional phosphorus treatment using a proprietary filter system.

Sealed bids will be received by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission at 110 West Canal Street, Suite 202, Winooski, VT 05404 until 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 7, 2026. Bids sent via fax or email will NOT be accepted. Sealed Bids will be publicly opened by a CCRPC representative starting at 1:00pm, Friday, August 7, 2026 at 110 West Canal Street, Suite 202, Winooski, VT. Qualified disadvantaged (DBE) businesses are encouraged to submit proposals.

Potential bidders are required to attend a Mandatory Site Visit on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 at 9 a.m. to visit the project site prior to the submissions of bid to familiarize themselves

with the project site and surrounding area. All questions for the project shall be submitted to the project representative, Mr. Andres Torizzo by 1 p.m. on Monday, July 27th, 2026. A response to questions will be issued at least 7 days prior to the Bid Submission Date to all potential bidders who registered to obtain a copy of the Bid Documents.

Bid and Contract Documents: Please contact Mr. Andres Torizzo via email at andres@ watershedca.com to obtain electronic copies of the Bid Documents.

Published July 15, 2026

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION —

§9 FIFTEEN-MINUTE PARKING

Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approval Date: 03/18/2026

Attestation of Adoption: Madeline Suender, EI

Public Works Transportation Engineer, Technical Services

Published: 07/15/26

Effective: 08/04/26

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, §9 Fifteen-minute parking., of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

§9 Fifteen-minute parking.

(a) As written.

(b) No person shall park any vehicle, at any time, longer than fifteen (15) minutes at the following locations:

(1) – (28) As written.

(29) On the east side of North Champlain Street in the first two (2) spaces north of Peru Street between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Reserved.

(30) – (34) As written.

ER/: BCO Appx.C, Section 9. 03/18/26

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: GILLIAN COMITO, 802-341-3060 GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Scan QR code to apply.

DIVISION DIRECTOR

Lake Champlain Programs

Full-time in Grand Isle, VT

Seeking a collaborative and experienced leader to oversee activities that protect and improve the natural and human resources of the Lake Champlain watershed!

More information: neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers

To apply: send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to: jobs@neiwpcc.org

Director of Public & External Affairs

The Vermont Arts Council is hiring a Director of Public & External Affairs to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Council’s external affairs, public relations, events and community relations, communications, and marketing functions, ensuring these efforts work together to advance the organization’s mission, visibility, and sustainability.

2h-NEIWPCCDivisionDirectorLakeChamplainPrograms070826.indd

Program Support Generalist

Join a friendly team in an engaging workplace! This position provides office and program support for the Division of Faculty Affairs (DOFA), which includes the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office of CommunityEngaged Learning, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. DOFA is a collaborative environment that values continuous learning! Your typical day will include scheduling and promoting faculty development events, tracking enrollment, and providing logistical support for in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. You will also analyze participant demographic data, maintain databases, and support the Vice Provost's Executive Assistant in scheduling and other tasks.

For more information and to apply, please visit https://apptrkr.com/7273150.

Regional Facilitators

Each of the seven Regional Facilitators provide neutral, professional facilitation to assigned school district merger study committees operating under the statute requirements of H.955 while working closely with the Lead Facilitator.

The Regional Facilitators convene stakeholders, structure productive dialogue, ensure compliance with statutory participation requirements, manage timelines, and produce required reports. The Facilitators exercise impartial judgment including determinations of goodfaith participation and work collaboratively with VTLC, the Lead Facilitator, the Vermont Agency of Education, and local school district representatives. vtlc.org/regional-facilitator

A strategist, storyteller, and advisor, the right person for this role will use their creativity, vision, and voice to help shape the agency’s message, amplifying the impact of our work across external audiences and representing the Vermont Arts Council with integrity across all audiences.

If you are ready to speak up for Vermont’s creative sector, elevate the voice and brand of the Vermont Arts Council, and connect more people through the power of the arts, we want to hear from you. For more info and to apply, visit vermontartscouncil.org/about/ the-organization/employment

4t-VTArtsCouncil070126.indd

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Join The University of Vermont Foundation as our next Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and play a pivotal role at the center of a dynamic, missiondriven organization. In this highly visible position, you will partner closely with senior leadership, serving as a trusted advisor who helps drive strategic priorities, strengthen key relationships, and support impactful philanthropic efforts. This is an exceptional opportunity for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to contribute to meaningful work that advances the Foundation & University’s mission.

Please visit our website uvmfoundation.org to review a full job description.

The UVM Foundation is committed to building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.

Full

Cabinet Finisher/Painter

Join our small team of dedicated craftspeople.

Requirements include:

• Positive attitude

• Ability to maintain a clean & organized workspace

• Team player

• Attention to detail

• Patience

• Ability to lift 50 lbs

Desired:

• Experience with spray finishing equipment or other detailoriented painting/finishing work

Send resumes to: ben@woodenhammer.net

Youth Choir Director

Do you love music and enjoy working with children? St. Thomas Church in Hanover, NH is seeking a part-time Youth Choir Director to inspire the next generation of singers through our outstanding youth choir program. $45/hour.

Learn more at saint thomashanover.org.

Road Crew Position

Town of Burke, full time: “A renowned destination for outdoor enthusiasts.”

Seeking full-time team player for the Town of Burke Highway Department Road Crew. CDL Class B license required.

• Four day work week throughout the summer.

• Brand new garage with state-of-the-art repair bay & air quality system

• 100% Health Care provided

• Very competitive salary with vacation and sick time

Job includes physical labor, lifting, plowing, grading and requires some overtime. Highway winter maintenance & equipment operation experience preferred (Grader, Excavator, 10 Wheeler Plow Truck w/wing).

Applications can be picked up at the Burke Town Clerk’s Office or send a letter of Interest along with a resume to the Burke Town Clerk’s Office, 212 School St., West Burke, VT 05871. 802-467-3717 Or email to Burke@BurkeVermont.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Join the Flynn & be part of a team striving to make the community better through the arts. All backgrounds encouraged to apply. Part-time, hourly, non-exempt position.

SECURITY STAFF

The Flynn Center is seeking dependable, customerfocused Security Staff to help provide a safe and welcoming environment for patrons, artists, staff, and visitors. Duties include monitoring assigned areas, managing venue access, responding to emergencies, and assisting patrons. Evening and weekend availability is required. Previous security experience is preferred but not required.

For job details and to apply, please visit: flynnvt.org/About-Us/ Employment-and-Internship-Opportunities

No phone calls or emails, please. E.O.E.

The Schoolhouse Learning Center is hiring!

Join a creative, collaborative teaching team at our progressive, nature-based program

Lead Preschool Teacher

The Schoolhouse Learning Center is seeking full- and part-time lead teachers to assist the head teacher(s) in our nature-based, playbased learning environment.

Full-time, Long-Term Substitute Head Preschool Teacher

Co-lead a classroom of primarily four-year-olds alongside a team of dedicated teaching partners! This position has a high likelihood of continued employment following the substitute term.

Full descriptions & to apply: theschoolhouse.bamboohr.com/careers

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN OR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Make an IMPACT at NVRH.

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) in St. Johnsbury seeks a Medical Lab Technician or Medical Technologist to support patient care through high-quality lab services in our state-of-the-art lab and our expanding services.

Highlights: Generalist lab testing • Routine & STAT work • QC, maintenance & specimen collection (phlebotomy as needed)

Requirements: Associate’s (Bachelor’s preferred) • ASCP or HHS certification • Generalist skills

Why NVRH? Competitive pay + shift differentials • Loan repayment • Excellent benefits • 401(k) match • Free gym membership

Live in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Hike, ski & enjoy year-round outdoor living.

Apply: NVRH.org/careers

Youth Programming Coordinator

Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community is seeking a team player to coordinate activities that inspire and empower middle and high school-aged youth to make healthy choices and be changemakers for reducing substance abuse and improving health and wellness in their community.

• $21-24 hourly pay

• Opportunity for hybrid remote work

• Full-time with benefits

To apply, please visit: 7dvt.pub/coordinator

Learn more at: burlingtonpartnership.org

NFI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, E-Verify Employer

Join the WISE Team!

Since 1971, WISE has supported survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Upper Valley. We encourage and cultivate a dynamic environment that requires us to be an adaptive, flexible, and innovative team.

Development Coordinator – Advance our mission through donor engagement and fundraising support. Manage our donor database, strengthen supporter relationships, and help achieve the fundraising goals that sustain WISE’s impact.

Youth Violence Prevention Educator – Help build safer, healthier communities across the Upper Valley. Work with students, educators, and parents, provide prevention education, support youth leadership and survivor advocacy, and foster strong school partnerships.

Program Advocate - Work directly with survivors and the systems and communities around them. Advocates play a vital role in supporting people through survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy. When survivors have advocates, they are not alone.

PROGRAM MANAGER

International Sports Diplomacy Programs

PH International, a Vermont non-profit, seeks a full-time Program Manager to lead international sports-based exchange programs funded by the U.S. Department of State. Responsibilities include program planning, travel logistics, participant support, financial and grant compliance, and coordination with U.S. Embassies and global and domestic partners. The role includes domestic and international travel. The ideal candidate is highly organized, collaborative, detail-oriented & passionate about international education & nonprofit work.

Start Date: ASAP or no later than September 1, 2026.

To learn more and apply: wiseuv.org/how-to-join/careers. Join the Team at Mad River Barn! Mad River Barn is a beloved destination in the Mad River Valley, o ering a seasonal restaurant and full service catering operation. We take pride in serving high-quality food in a welcoming atmosphere while creating memorable dining experiences for both restaurant guests and catered events.

CLERICAL SUPPORT STAFF

Vermont Legal Aid seeks a highly organized individual who enjoys working as part of a team, with a desire to further our mission, for a full-time position in either Montpelier or Burlington, VT (preference for Montpelier).

Responsibilities include: general o ce management and front desk duties (answering phones, client contact, data entry, typing, ﬁle/document/database management), as well as supporting the work of one or more projects with multiple attorneys and paralegals. Experience as a legal assistant or formal clerical training is preferable. Proﬁciency with Microsoft O ce suite required. Fluency in French, Spanish, Swahili, Kirundi, Somali, Arabic, Nepali, or Burmese is a plus. For more information, visit vtlegalaid.org/about-vla/jobs

Base salary is $48,877 with salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Benefits include: Four weeks paid vacation, retirement, and excellent health benefits; possibility for law o ce study. Application deadline is July 22, 2026, or until filled. To apply, send cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as a single PDF file with the subject line “Support Sta –July 2026” to hiring@vtlegalaid.org. Please tell us how you heard about the position.

We're looking for an experienced, motivated Sous Chef who is passionate about great food, strong teamwork, and kitchen leadership. This is an opportunity to help lead a talented culinary team in one of Vermont's most beautiful communities.

- You'll work closely with the Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations for both the restaurant and catering events. You'll help develop seasonal menus, maintain exceptional food quality, and lead by example in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

- Assist in the development, planning, preparation, and execution of seasonal restaurant and catering menus

- Supervise, mentor, and train line cooks and kitchen sta

- Ensure consistent food quality, presentation, and portion control. Maintain food safety, sanitation, and health department compliance. Assist with ordering, receiving, and inventory management. Coordinate prep schedules and kitchen workﬂow to ensure e cient service.

Competitive salary of $60,000–$70,000 with comprehensive beneﬁts

Apply: adrienne@madriverbarn.com

For position details and application process, visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select “View Current Openings”

SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all. 3v-SUNYPlattsburgh071526.indd

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB

PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: GILLIAN COMITO, 802-341-3060 GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

5h-PH-International071526.indd 1

Be Part of the Team Behind Student Success

Schedule: Full-time, 12-month position

Pay: $26.59–$31.00/hour

Join the Essex Westford School District (EWSD) as our Executive Assistant to Instructional Leadership and help support the district leaders and initiatives that make a di erence for students every day.

In this role, you’ll provide executive-level administrative and project management support to our Executive Directors for Primary and Secondary Education, helping advance district initiatives that impact teaching, learning, and student success.

We’re looking for someone who is organized, proactive, detail-oriented, collaborative, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities with professionalism and conﬁdentiality.

EWSD o ers an outstanding beneﬁts package, including generous paid time o , medical and dental insurance, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement plan with up to a 6% employer contribution. Join a district committed to “Growing hearts and minds, for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one.”

Apply: ewsd.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5779209

CUSTODIAN Full Time

We Are Hiring! The Grand Isle Supervisory Union has an opportunity for a full-time, full-year Custodian to join their team!

This is a unique opportunity as the position is split between two school districts.

Grand Isle School: Hours 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

South Hero School: Hours 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Hourly Pay Rate: $18.70 - $23.68, based on experience

The Custodian is responsible for maintaining a clean, sanitary, safe, and orderly environment for students and staff. This role involves performing routine and comprehensive cleaning tasks, minor maintenance, and assisting with school activities and events. The ideal candidate is reliable, possesses a strong work ethic, and is committed to supporting a positive and effective learning environment.

This position offers excellent benefits including paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, and retirement.

Please apply directly at gisu.org, click on Career Opportunities!

caevt.org/jobs

NOW HIRING: PART-TIME DELIVERY DRIVER

JointhedynamicteamofdriversatFarmConnexand beacriticalpieceofthelocalfoodsystem.Farm Connexoperates7daysaweekandprovidesservices tofarmsandretailoutlets,keepingthewheelsturning forourlocalfoodsystemandeconomy!

Join the dynamic team of drivers at Farm Connex and be a critical piece of the local food system Farm Connex operates 7 days a week and provides services to farms and retail outlets, keeping the wheels turning for our local food system and economy!

Non-CDLboxtrucks,willingtotraintherightperson. Startingwageof$22/hour.

Non-CDL box trucks, willing to train the right person Starting wage of $22/hour

DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS)

Position Overview: The Director of Government Relations for the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) serves as the advocate for Vermont’s hospitals before state and federal policymakers. This role is responsible for shaping and advancing public policy initiatives that strengthen Vermont’s health care system, support member hospitals, and promote high-quality, accessible patient care across the state.

This position requires: knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes; the ability to build trusted relationships with hospitals, officials and stakeholders; and strong communication and analytical skills.

The Director works closely with association leadership, which includes the Senior VP of Policy and Strategy, communications team, hospitals, legislators, state and federal agencies, and external stakeholders to ensure that Vermont’s hospitals have a unified and effective voice in state healthcare policy development.

Key Responsibilities

• Advocacy & Policy Leadership: Experience working with or within state or federal government, regulatory bodies, legislative committees, or health care organizations preferred, with a strong understanding of Vermont’s health care policy landscape.

• Proven strategic thinking and advocacy planning capabilities and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced legislative environment.

• Stakeholder & Member Engagement: Excellent communication, writing, and public-speaking skills and ability to build and maintain high-trust relationships with policymakers and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, government, health administration, communications, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).

Salary Range/Working Conditions

• $80,000 – $120,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

• Based in Vermont with regular presence in Montpelier during legislative sessions.

• Occasional travel to Washington, D.C. for federal advocacy.

• Hybrid work environment. Must be available to be in-person during the legislative session.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

The Vermont Department of Labor is seeking a General Counsel (GC) to provide legal support to the Commissioner and other Department officials. This is the chief legal position of the Department, reporting directly to the Commissioner. The GC will manage a complex and varied workload providing legal advice on public policy matters and in areas of substantial financial impact, as well as may appear before legislative committees on bills of particular importance to the Department. For more information, contact Chris Winters at chris.winters@vermont.gov. Location: Montpelier. Department: Labor. Status: Exempt. Salary: Per The State’s Attorney Pay Plan. Job ID #54727. Application Deadline: Open Until Filled.

Assistant Planning & Zoning Director

Join the Town of Stowe in a key leadership role helping shape one of Vermont’s most vibrant communities. As the Assistant Planning & Zoning Director, you’ll oversee day-to-day land use permitting and development review and provide expert guidance to residents and applicants.

ROLE OVERVIEW

In this role, you’ll review development applications, interpret and administer land use regulations, conduct site inspections, investigate zoning complaints, and collaborate with municipal staff and volunteer boards. You’ll also play an important role in improving processes, supporting enforcement efforts, and delivering exceptional customer service to the public.

We’re looking for a collaborative, solutions-oriented professional with strong technical knowledge, sound judgment, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to serving the community with integrity and professionalism.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in planning, community development, public administration, or a related field, plus at least three to five years of progressively responsible professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Candidates must have working knowledge of Vermont’s Planning and Development Act (24 V.S.A. Chapter 117) and municipal zoning and subdivision regulations. Candidates must be able to confidently read and interpret site plans and construction drawings, apply land use regulations fairly and consistently, communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and work collaboratively as part of a close team.

Competitive pay: $81,267 - $91,520 based on qualifications.

Robust Benefits: Health and dental with low premium share and low out-of-pocket maximum, generous paid leave, VMERS B pension, employee assistance program and more!

More information can be found at stowevt.gov/jobs

Submit cover letter and resume to recruit@stowevt.gov

Review of applications will begin immediately, and position remains open until filled. The Town of Stowe is an E.O.E.

The Clinic Assistant (CA) is a direct patient care role that prepares patients and clinic spaces for a variety of appointment types. The CA manages administrative and clinical tasks including; charting, scheduling adjustments, phone calls, assessments, diagnostic tests, point of care lab testing, and procedures. At Student Health, we are a collaborative, patientcentered team. We believe providing compassionate, safe, and inclusive healthcare for our patients starts with ensuring our staff are treated with the same level of respect and care.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

This position is full-time, 10-month contract, and is eligible for benefits. The pay range is $25-$29 per hour.

• BCBS Health Insurance Plan

• Delta Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Tuition Remission

• 15 paid holidays

• Paid vacation and sick leave

• Retirement plan

• Possible relocation stipend

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• The CA prepares patients and exam spaces for appointments by setting up equipment, recording patient information, collecting vital signs, reviewing patient medications, and allergies. The CA looks for opportunities to improve workflow and patient experiences by communicating findings with coworkers.

• Performance of point of care lab testing will be conducted by the CA in a variety of appointment types to support proper diagnosis and treatment plans for patients.

• The CA will perform or assist with a variety of diagnostic tests including EKGs, Orthostatic Vital Signs, and specialty clinic intakes.

• Assist with procedures performed by nurse and provider staff such as; wound care, splinting, fitting of commercial devices, device implant/ removal, irrigation and debridement.

• Crucial to preventative health efforts in the community, the CA will complete a variety of questionnaires, participate in vaccination clinics, and work with the team at health promotion events within the community Apply online at https://apptrkr.com/7318682

Are you looking for an innovative, dynamic, and collaborative place to work?

Join us at Lake Champlain Waldorf School to deliver a holistic and developmental approach to education. Open Position:

• Preschool Assistant Teacher

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

The Town of Colchester's Planning & Zoning Department is hiring a Development Manager to lead development review, serve as Zoning Administrator, and assist department leadership. Responsibilities include DRB permitting, compliance inspections, and public guidance. Requires a relevant bachelor's degree plus two years of experience, land use knowledge, and strong communication skills.

Full description and apply: 7dvt.pub/colchester

Home Provider

47 Year old man - Seeks non-smoking home provider in the Burlington area, without young children.

He enjoys playing basketball, watching sports, lawn mowing, camping, Karaoke, boating and ﬁshing.

2v-TownofColchester070126.indd 1 6/26/26 12:05 PM

Experienced provider preferred. Tax free stipend, training, clinical support, and respite provided. Call Brittany - 802-798-9115 2v-WashingtonCountyMentalHealthServicesHomeProvider070126.indd

TOWN ENGINEER

The Town of Colchester is hiring a Town Engineer to lead design, construction management & capital planning for public infrastructure, including wastewater, stormwater, streets, and paths. Responsibilities span project management, consultant oversight, permitting, and field decisions. Requires a civil engineering degree and six years of relevant experience. Apply: HR@colchestervt.gov

Bridging Assistant & Employment Specialist

Join CCS in a rewarding position that supports youth in transition from high school and adults with disabilities This role supports our Bridging Program to aid in its continued success by helping students build skills in community engagement, independent living, and job readiness as they transition to adulthood This position also provides individualized employment supports to adults, including job exploration, job readiness, employer outreach, on-the-job training, and ongoing support to help people succeed in meaningful employment.

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance with up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, tuition assistance and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for eight years in a row. Join our team today! ccs-vt.org/current-openings

5h-CCS071526.indd 1

Town Manager

The Town of Randolph, Vermont (pop. 4,800) is recruiting for an experienced public sector manager to serve as its next Town Manager. Randolph is a vibrant, tight-knit community located in the hills of Central Vermont. Oriented around an active, outdoor lifestyle, Randolph has a strong sense of place and a large dose of civic pride. Vermont State University in Randolph and Gifford Medical Center provide diverse employment opportunities. Chandler Center for the Arts serves up national performers and community theater for the region. Randolph has it all for a weekend or a lifetime. For more information on the community visit randolphvibe.com

Randolph is at an inflection point and seeks a Town Manager who can provide strong, steady leadership to define and address community priorities. Growing the tax base, increasing housing opportunities, and delivering public safety services at a reasonable cost are top of mind as the Town recruits for its next leader. The hiring committee envisions a capable leader with a collaborative, engaging style; deep knowledge of local government; and the ability to inspire and maintain public confidence for Town initiatives.

The Selectboard envisions starting the next Manager with an annual salary between $125,000 and $145,000, depending on qualiﬁcations and experience.

Recruitment brochure is available at randolphtownvt.org

Recruitment is being managed by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Initial review of resumes is planned for July 31, 2026. To apply, please email resume and cover letter to Dominic Cloud at dcloud@vlct.org. For questions or information call or text (802) 309 – 1775

SECURE HOUSING COACH

The Secure Housing Coach helps people from historically marginalized and underserved communities navigate Vermont’s housing systems with dignity, clarity, and care. The Land Access Opportunity Board (LAOB) is hiring three full-time coaches to provide one-on-one, trauma-informed, culturally responsive support as participants work toward secure housing based on their own goals. In this role, you will help participants navigate housing programs, connect with housing and community resources, coordinate referrals for related needs, and advocate through complex systems. You will also work with partners across Vermont, contribute to a cohort of fellow coaches, and help identify barriers so systems can better serve communities. The position is based in Montpelier, with some remote work possible, and offers a $75,000 salary plus comprehensive benefits. Experience in social services, case management, housing navigation, trauma-informed practice, and/or work with marginalized communities is preferred. LAOB is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

To learn more, visit vhcb.org/careers

To apply, send cover letter and resume to: jobs@vhcb.org

Applications due July 29 by close of business

Role Overview

The Nursing role is a multifaceted position with different working assignments including nurse-led patient appointments, phone/walk-in triage, screening provider visits, point of care testing, public health, and administrative duties. Joining UVM’s Student Health Services brings you into a team that is focused on collaborative and patient-centered care. We believe providing compassionate, inclusive, safe, and comprehensive healthcare for our patients starts with a positive and respectful working environment for our staff.

Benefits & Compensation

This position is full-time, 10-month contract, and is eligible for benefits.The salary range for this role is $68,000-$78,000 for 10 months

• BCBS Health Insurance Plan

• Delta Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Tuition Remission

• 45+ days paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Retirement plan

This is a bargaining unit position.

Primary Responsibilities

• Wide variety of different functional assignments throughout each week.

• Clinical nurse visits: featuring independent practice and treatment protocols with available provider support and consult.

• Phone and walk-in triage: diverse opportunities to assess patient status or needs before selecting appointments and care from a variety of appointment types.

• A focus on direct patient care; point of care testing, assessments, procedures, and specialty clinics.

• Administrative nursing services: including case management and public health screenings and clearances for new and continuing students. Apply online at https://apptrkr.com/7318707

GO HIRE.

Job Recruiters:

• Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

Job Seekers:

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site.

Get a quote when you post online or contact Gillian Comito: 865-1020, sevendaysvt.com.

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

We are currently looking for a Housing Retention Specialist within our Housing Retention Services department. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Housing Retention Services team, where you can gain a deep understanding of our business, make a difference in people’s lives every day, and advance your career.

Who We Are: Burlington Housing Authority serves the greater Burlington community with housing that is affordable, rental assistance, and support services. Our mission is to provide low-income, vulnerable members of our community access to safe, affordable housing and retention support services in ways that encourage stability, improve quality of life, end homelessness, and foster vibrant neighborhoods.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

Housing Retention Specialist: Site Based: Responsible for supporting those who have mental health and substance use challenges and/or who have moved from homelessness to Bobbin Mill, Wharf Lane, and other BHA properties. The position works closely with property management and other site-based staff to identify challenges and respond with appropriate direct service and coordination of community services, with a goal of eviction prevention and facilitating a healthy tenancy.

Housing Retention Specialist – Site Based: Responsible for supporting those who have mental health and substance use challenges and/or who have moved from homelessness to Bobbin Mill, Wharf Lane, and other BHA properties. The position works closely with property management and other site-based staff to identify challenges and respond with appropriate direct service and coordination of community services, with a goal of eviction prevention and facilitating a healthy tenancy.

Permanent Supportive Housing Specialist: Provides assistance to community members within Chittenden County who are without housing and have significant medical/mental health barriers to locating and securing housing in Burlington Housing Authority’s service area.

Work Location and Other Requirements: These positions are in person in Burlington, VT. A valid driver’s license along with reliable personal transportation, with vehicle insurance and registration, is required to carry out the duties of this position.

Qualifications: While all applicants need to demonstrate a passion for supporting our residents and helping advance Burlington Housing Authority’s mission, we recognize that some applicants may not possess all qualifications listed. We are willing to consider individuals who demonstrate comparable life experience and education in lieu of specific requirements, and/or the will, ability, and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work (or related field) with two to five years of direct service experience, including experience with mental health and substance use supports.

• Must have experience with diverse and vulnerable populations.

• Effective verbal and written communication and knowledge of the social services network in the greater Burlington area.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and internet navigation preferred.

• Excellent organizational skills required.

• Must be adept at fostering positive and collaborative relationships with staff, residents, vendors & community agencies

• Must have a patient and compassionate approach to working with the most vulnerable populations

Total Compensation:

Base wages Pay range is between $24.00 - $26.00 per hour. This is a full-time position with benefits.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance (BHA covers between 80% to 83% of the premium for employees) or a $6,000 opt-out payment in lieu of health insurance

• Health Reimbursement Account. BHA pays 90% of the deductible as the insurance is being used. That’s up to $2,880 for single enrollment and up to $5,760 for two-person and family.

• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts

• Dental and vision insurance (Voluntary plans offered at a discounted group rate.)

• Short and long term disability coverage (BHA pays 50% of discounted group rate)

• Basic life insurance and accidental death (provided at no cost to employees)

• Retirement plan is a defined contribution plan. BHA makes annual contribution equal to 10% of base wages

• Section 457 plan. BHA employees can contribute to this retirement plan

• Employee Assistance Plan

• Generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays.

• Annual Performance Bonus

Interested in this career opportunity? Send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org

Human Resources, Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101, Burlington, VT 05401

Find more info about these career opportunities at burlingtonhousing.org

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

fun stuff

JULIANNA BRAZILL

HARRY BLISS

fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

PHIL JOHNSON

CANCER

(JUN. 21-JUL. 22)

Make a list of your five greatest pleasures. These are experiences that stir your senses, steady your pulse and remind you why love being alive. Write them down as if they were sacred prayers. Sing a spontaneous song of praise of them. Then set out on a quest to discover pleasure No. 6. This is a delight you have never tasted, touched or imagined before. Maybe it will come from saying yes to a possibility you usually decline. Treat this experiment as a form of worship and a way to boost your devotion to your healing life force.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In honor of the intensive homecoming phase of your astrological cycle, I have homework for you. 1) Make a prediction about how old you will be when you know precisely who you are. 2) Forecast the day when you will look in the mirror and recognize your face as an intricate portrait of every experience you have ever loved. 3) Imagine the dawn when the boundary between your own longing and life’s longing will dissolve, revealing they’ve always been the same current. 4) Predict when your heart will be as wild and free and brave as you have always wanted it to be.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Ornithologists studying migration know that some birds don’t fly directly to their destination. They

follow “leading lines.” These are geographical features such as coastlines and mountain ranges that provide orientation. Even when this means taking a longer route, the certainty of having a guiding landmark outweighs the efficiency of a straight line across nondescript terrain. I recommend the birds’ approach to you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Follow your own leading lines: practices and intuitions that provide lucid orientation even when they don’t offer shortcuts. The indirect path offers the surety you need.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): What’s an important truth you keep forgetting about? Maybe it’s a promise you once made to yourself, or an understanding that your younger self knew, or a wisdom your body keeps trying to communicate while your mind ignores it. What truth returns again and again in different guises: through synchronicities, seemingly random comments from friends, recurring dreams or the same lesson repeating in new situations? What crucial insights about life do you remember during crisis or ecstasy, only to abandon them once normalcy returns? Now is a favorable time to fully recover this lesson and install it firmly at the heart of your life.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): According to neuroscientists, the “default mode network” is the area of your brain that lights up when you’re daydreaming, drifting through thoughts and feelings, and letting your imagination roam around. This is when your deep self does crucial work: weaving memories into stories, making creative connections, rehearsing possible futures and forging your sense of identity. I mention this, Leo, because the coming days will be prime time for you to indulge lavishly in this healing and restorative activity. Don’t let a task-obsessed world shame you out of your reveries. Your genius will bloom from their slowly swirling flow.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Here are three gentle nudges: 1) One of your trusty tools or assets still seems to be working fine, but I suggest you look into the possibility that it will soon need repair. 2) Unless you act proactively to ease the strain on your system, a mini-breakdown could be on the horizon. 3) The monster hiding in your closet is hibernat-

ing, which makes this the perfect time to summon an exorcist before it rouses. Here’s the very good news, dear Virgo: Because you are reading this oracle, you are now armed with all you need to stave off turmoil and head in the direction of an exciting renaissance.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Researchers who study improvisational jazz have found that master musicians often anticipate each other’s ideas milliseconds before anyone actually plays the notes. Their brains become exquisitely synchronized through deep listening rather than rigid planning. Maybe more than any other sign, you Libras possess a similar aptitude in managing your intimate alliances and social connections. In the coming weeks, this superpower will be even more necessary and available than usual. I’ll provide a reminder: Pay less attention to what people claim to mean and more attention to the rhythms beneath their words. Let your intuition guide you. The subtly shared timing will generate elegant cooperation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “It’s bad luck to be superstitious!” is a delightful paradox that I enjoy playing with. It makes fun of our tendency to believe that invisible forces are constantly keeping score on our behavior. On one level, the phrase pokes at the way superstition multiplies anxiety instead of easing it. If you really believed it’s bad luck to be superstitious, then your belief about bad luck would itself be a superstition. So you’d have to avoid the very thinking pattern you’re using to feel safer. It exposes how easily the mind can tie itself in knots trying to control the uncontrollable. On another level, “It’s bad luck to be superstitious” is an invitation to examine which of your little rituals are entertaining and nourishing and which are cages. Keeping a lucky stone in your pocket is fine if it amuses you, but believing you’re doomed if you don’t carry the stone isn’t so fine. My advice: Notice when your charm or taboo is no longer a quirky companion but instead starts being a tyrant that shrinks your freedom.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Are you the type of Sagittarius who pushes open doors with “pull” signs on them? Do you get a secret kick out of opening boxes from the end that

says “open other side”? Maybe you even yak on your phone in designated quiet zones. If so, I’d like to suggest channeling your rebellious spark into grander acts. In the weeks ahead, you will be carrying some potent renegade energy. Used wisely, your radiant defiance could topple a stagnant situation that’s overdue for change.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Many healers favor the slow-and-steady path. They often meet with people once a week, trusting that even stubborn issues must be unwoven with patience and gentleness. But there are also bold experimenters who work differently. I know an acupuncturist who invites clients to live at her clinic for six days straight, offering a new treatment every two hours during the waking hours. She creates a healing immersion chamber. That’s the spirit I recommend for you in the coming weeks, Capricorn. You’re at the threshold of resolving a long-standing imbalance. What will serve you best isn’t dabbling at it but offering it focused, sustained, wholehearted attention until the shift activates.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You can refresh and boost your ambition if you give it a firm, precise adjustment sometime soon. Your raw vitality will surge back if you refrain from indulging in a careless habit that has been draining it. Your willpower and determination have been weakened by the fallout from an old misstep, but you now have the clarity needed to repair that error. Your libidinous energy is not as clear and potent as it could be, but it will become so once you get more honest about what truly excites you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): You’re like an arrow that has been shot from a bow and is three-quarters of the way to the target. You’re a delicious meal still simmering on the stove, or a pregnancy at seven months, or the last two weeks before a major election. When I tuned my inner vision to you, I glimpsed a honeybee wriggling a dance to show its coworkers where a stand of blooming lilac awaits. Have you ever been on the verge of speaking a new language with ease? That’s where you are now, Pisces: just before true fluency clicks.

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com

WOMEN seeking...

PERIPATETIC, CREATIVE, INDEPENDENT ARTIST

I’m considering relocating to Vermont or perhaps Canada. I’m applying for my certificate of Canadian citizenship based on my great-grandmother’s citizenship. I enjoy hiking and horseback riding in Vermont. Villanelle 70, seeking: M

INSERT SOMETHING CLEVER HERE

I miss having “a person” — you know, so when you see something really random you tell your “person.” Like someone with a British spiked mohawk walking through the commons of tiny-town Vermont at midday, or an indigo bunting at the feeder, or some guy blocking traffic because he’s washing windows with this long contraption reaching the third floor. incurablecreative, 47 seeking: M

OPENING UP TO NEW WAYS

I am a 70-y/o woman who has never allowed my self to be in a relationship with another. I want sweet, gentle sex. I want to travel and have adventures — maybe spend time with elephants. I like to laugh. I want to allow others to love me. I am learning that it takes two to tango! Pansy 70, seeking: W, l

I MAKE PRETTY THINGS

I’m capable, smart, funny, creative. Experienced a horrible breakup. Recovering. Looking for friends for now but open to more in the future. Yeah, I know: not sexy, but that’s OK. That’s my moment, and we’ll see what happens next. DeepThinker 47, seeking: M

WANT TO

RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

COMFORTABLE IN MY OWN SKIN

I’m ready to meet interesting people who like to be active and involved in real life. I’m honest and happy to be with on the ocean or in the mountains. Cooking and baking is more fun with someone who appreciates a good meal. I miss sharing my thoughts and feelings with a good man. Could this be you? Nativeislander 74, seeking: M, l

PASSIONATE INTELLECTUAL, CARING AND CAFFEINATED!

I spend my days and nights caring for others, and in my downtime I want to have fun! I love sci-fi and fantasy, both books and shows. I’m looking for a male partner to share life with. I’m a coffee enthusiast, morning person, animal lover. Kindness and sincerity are important to me, as is my sobriety. I also love Chinese takeout. Tordycat 47 seeking: M, l

HAPPIEST IN NATURE

I am content in nature, can garden all day, love to bake and spend time creatively to stay off of social media. Looking for someone to join me in outdoor adventures and romantic evenings. GardenFairy, 55, seeking: M, l

OUT OF THE BOX

Looking for a “thinker” who is not afraid of “doing.” My two favorite lines from an old Apple TV show (“Ted Lasso”) are “Be a goldfish” and “Be curious.” SPS 64, seeking: M

MORE SINCERE THAN CYNICAL

Thoughtful, creative, energetic and adventurous. I have an interest in human psychology, and I have dabbled in spiritual training. I live a wellexamined life, but I try not to get stuck there; I live a fun and adventurous life. msjane 53, seeking: M, l

BECOMING A HERMIT

Strong and independent but would love to share my life with a like-minded soul who values music, nature, rivers, reading on porches, building, adventures into the mountains or the hills. Not a city girl. Seeking someone who can resonate, listen, speak from the heart and see eye to eye. Also wrassle, play, jump off rocks and then eat yummy food. tea_time 37, seeking: M, l

MORE MARYANN THAN GINGER

Classic girl-next-door type. Widowed last year, I’m just now emerging, hoping to meet a partner for the next chapter. I’m loyal, caring, trustworthy, smart, fun-loving and funny. Seeking someone charming, witty, emotionally articulate, kind and communicative. Tall, dark and handsome works, too! I’ve learned the hard way that life is short; what matters most are our connections to other people. GalwayGirl 60, seeking: M, l

ACTIVE, ADVENTURE-MINDED WF

I want to meet friends and hopefully a long-term partner to travel and enjoy my upcoming retirement with. I am active, kind, generous, honest and am looking for similarly minded man to share life with. I like a good balance of home time with adventure and travel, whether near or far. LD4382, 61 seeking: M, l

HONEST, ACTIVE, BRIGHT AND KIND

Recently retired, I am seeking a male companion who enjoys engaging conversations, dining out, laughter, live theater and exploring the best venues that Vermont has to offer. Summer is my favorite season. Long walks, fireside chats, shared values and hugs a plus! After vacationing in France, travels near and far are on my bucket list. Ladyslippers 72, seeking: M, l

BE BRAVE AND SAY SOMETHING!

I’m an active, divorced woman who would like to meet a man who has similar values, honesty and kindness included. I enjoy a wide variety of activities, including gardening, visiting art museums, kayaking, bicycling and grilling/cooking. I’m looking for an intelligent man who is active, too. Let’s talk and see where curiosity leads! Take the next step and say hello. SweetKindIRL 62, seeking: M, l

FUN, FUNNY, CUTE, SMART, MODEST

I am a down-to-earth, lazy/hardworking, happy woman looking for a low-pressure guy to connect with and maybe become my forever man. These are a few of the things I still want to do with maybe you: dive the Elephant Cave in Greece, drink champagne on the beach in Nice, walk the Camino, see Penn & Teller live, float in the Ganges. Birdie_3 43, seeking: M, l

ORIGINAL FLOWER CHILD

Yogi, astrologer, naturist/nudist, meditator, author, free soul, overeducated woodchuck, herbalist, gardener. Fit and trim. Very physically active; quiet, not shy; avid listener. Interests include music, foraging mushrooms, quantum physics, remote viewing, much more. Best known in my neighborhood for excellent stacks of firewood. You’re emotionally mature, curious, physically fit, and enjoy both the great outdoors and exploring inner space. VintageShakti 71, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

AVERAGE JOE

I am a hardworking professional. I have found myself becoming all work and no play, which I would like to flip. I have a sense of humor yet am an enigma. Tend to be quiet at first, but once I am open, look out. My passion is cycling, and I try to do that as often as I can. Insert_ Clever_Name_Here, 57, seeking: W

LAID-BACK

I’m a 35-year-old male. 35 35 seeking: W, TW, l

DETERMINED CREATIVE

Considerate, pensive, creative, motivated, steadfast, self-realized (well, mostly). I’m more interested in personal evolution than in external reward — I’ve had both, and the former is much more fulfilling. Disciplined but also love impromptu fun. Serious and respectful but also goofy and a smart-ass. I’m intentional about food, fitness and health, language, knowledge, and playing outside. Want to come along? MrX 54, seeking: W, l

OLD-SCHOOL, HONEST VERMONTER

Helpful in everything. Honest. Can fix anything. Love hugs. Love to sing, dance; bingo, farmers markets, backroad adventures, gardening, farm work. Mechanic, body man, carpenter, mason, machinist; retired and tired. Break time. Need a friend to relax, travel, relocate away from the politics. usafspecops, 65, seeking: W, l

CONFIDENT, CHAOTIC AND STABLE GREMLIN

Young man looking to get up to crazy hijinks such as epic gaming (of the physical or digital variety), biking the causeway before it becomes an ice-skating rink again, hiking, and learning to wear skis without crashing out. I’m looking for friends to join me on these insane side quests and maybe find love along the way or something. MrSnowlington42 23, seeking: W, NBP, l

NEO-HIPPIE MUSICIAN LOOKING FOR LOVE

I’m new to Burlington and moved here in September. I came here to find musicians and seek my destiny. I’m a sweetheart and romantic, cuddly and nice. I’m 420 friendly. I like to trip and party generally, but I’m not into any shady drugs. I’m looking for someone who’s creative and smart. I love a good conversation. waldoguitar420 45 seeking: W, l

LIVE WELL — BEST MEDICINE

Hoping to share new moments with someone who has nice ways, a sense of humor and common interests. pleasantmac 79, seeking: W, l

OPEN-MINDED BOOMER FLOWER CHILD COMBINED

I’m looking to forge new circles after my divorce essentially disintegrated what I had built over the years with my ex-wife. I enjoy all sorts of conversation and human interaction but certainly miss the connection of touch. Open to the frequency of love: universal, Eros, Philatos or anything in between. Let’s chat and see where the path will take us. Mmmassageu, 62, seeking: W, TW, NC, NBP, Cp, l

ARCHITECT LOOKING FOR MY SHOPGIRL

In search of fun connections and good company. Let’s make some memories that actually stick. Tell me: What’s the best spot you’ve discovered lately? Is it just me, or is You’ve Got Mail romantic AF? — Architect looking for my shopgirl. JustMe3726, 34, seeking: W, TW, Cp, Gp

COMFORTABLE BEING ME

I am a positive, happy-living-in themoment person. I’m comfortable by myself but do miss sharing the day with someone else that I can discuss special day-to-day moments with. A cup of coffee, then climbing to the top of a mountain. Tennis, pickleball, sitting by the falls. A good book in the evening, after dinner that I would cook. Listener 74, seeking: W, l

NOT TOO SERIOUS

I’m the kind of person who works hard but doesn’t take life too seriously. I love to laugh, joke around and find the humor in everyday moments, but I also know when it’s time to be serious and professional. My two pups are a huge part of my life; if you’re a dog lover, we’ll already have something in common. Froil 48, seeking: W, l

SENIOR CITIZEN PET OWNER

Just great conversation, maybe watch a documentary movie together. One of the best I’ve seen: March of the Penguins, with Morgan Freeman narrating. Cat4503 74, seeking: W, l

DAILY INTIMACY, EVERYDAY LOVE

I thrive on deep affection, closeness, and intimacy every day — it is how I relax and feel most comfortable. I am looking for a genuine sweetheart to build a meaningful relationship with, starting as good friends and growing into something lasting. I truly hope to find the right partner to share my life with. JazzyMessi6 62, seeking: W

WHO’S OUT THERE?

I’m a Vermonter, born and raised, but have also lived all over the country and overseas. I recently moved back to the Green Mountain State after living in France for a few years. I’m 32 years old. I love music and being outdoors. I’m hoping to meet more folks and see where things go. Chump, 32, seeking: W, l

SEEKING SUN-KISSED BLOND BARBIE!

I’m the guy who’s always down for an adventure, new business, or killer vacation! I work extremely hard and play just as hard! I’m constantly searching for new things to do, see and create. Looking for someone to escape the rat race with me and risk it all! I know you are out there! Let’s go get it! Doggie1231 33, seeking: W

DON’T YOU DARE READ THIS

Ha! It worked. I’m 57, with two kids who live with me. I’m a pretty laid-back guy, moderate politically; my liberal friends think I’m too conservative and my conservative friends think I’m too liberal. I’m looking for that special someone to share my life with, though certainly up for fun and casual times along the way. VTsearching 57, seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR LOVE!

I’m Allen from southern Vermont. Is this really what it comes down to? I’m just looking for a loving and caring woman with similar interests who I can share a good conversation with. I really enjoy being outside in nature and at the beach. If you think we are a match, please reach out! Allen_75 50, seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

ADVENTUROUS, WHIMSICAL AND SILLY

Brand-new to Vermont living, from the West Coast! Looking for love in hopefully the right place. Always up for a good time and wanting to find someone who loves yacht rock, movies and going on the wackiest side quests. YachtRockGal, 28 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, NBP, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

KIND, GENEROUS

Rediscovering myself. Hopeful to find kindness and friendship in others. Hope 36, seeking: W, l

COUPLES seeking...

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS

Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits 62 seeking: W, Cp

ENJOYING LIFE

Seeking adventurous encounters with open-minded, respectful people. sunshines 49 seeking: M, W, Cp

ENJOYING FRIENDSHIP WITH OTHERS

We are older, experienced, in love. Our search is for other experienced people, older or younger, who enjoy becoming friends. Benefits are lovely, but friends are nice also. We kiss well, but we need to converse before our lips touch. Men, women, couples, please introduce yourselves. DandNformen, 70, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

WHITE SHIRT, RED PANTS/SKIRT?

West side of the street, between Community Health Center and Pho Hong. You were on the sidewalk, and I think you were with a dog. I was on my bike, rushing to make the light. You smiled at me, probably because I looked silly racing down the street, and I smiled back, albeit quickly. When: Monday, July 13, 2026. Where: North Winooski Ave. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916629

CRAWFISH LOVEBITES

You: look great in neon-pink mesh. Me: wondering how I can get a pink vest to wear to the Queer Arts Fest, too. If I volunteer, can we hang out? Now I gotta ask: Are we just doing a bit about a tick with a tit that got bit? When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Where: North Branch River. You: Genderqueer. Me: Woman. #916628

BLOND BADDIE B-DAY TRIP

Must enjoy nice hotels, balconies, rooftop pools, unforgettable views, eating like a local, dancing until closing time and getting lost in Montréal. Compensation includes pastries, cocktails, unforgettable memories and nonstop laughs. I already found my favorite blonde; now I just hope she’s ready! Let’s go ﬁnd each other in Montréal! When: Friday, July 24, 2026. Where: Montréal. You: Man. Me: Man. #916626

CUTIE WITH A BOOTY

A gorgeous blonde who somehow makes everything brighter. She’s always drifting, laughing, stealing bites of food, wearing the best outﬁts and smiling like she doesn’t have a care in the world. If you know a girl who turns ordinary weekends into unforgettable adventures, tell her I’m still looking for our next one together. Montréal? When: Saturday, June 13, 2026. Where: all over Vermont. You: Man. Me: Man. #916625

REDHEAD ON THE RUN

Beautiful redhead in a white MercedesBenz. You looked bored in the parking lot of the local thrift store. If you want to ﬁx that, I’ve got an oceanfront suite in York Beach. Want to run away with me for a few days? A little naughty never hurt anybody. When: Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Where: thrift store parking lot. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916627

JULY 3,4,5 BLONDE

I kept seeing this beautiful blonde on July 3, 4, 5. First, downtown Burlington with a purple blanket; then in Milton with pink blanket; and again at North Beach on Jet Skis. Same sparkling blue eyes, same amazing smile, genuine aurora. Either we’re destined to keep crossing paths, or Vermont is tiny. If your name starts with B., call me! When: Saturday, July 4, 2026. Where: downtown, Milton, North Beach. You: Man. Me: Man. #916624

LOST IN TRACTOR SUPPLY

You looked confused, so I asked if you needed help (even though I don’t work there). I helped you ﬁnd a “small gas can.”

You were beautiful and seemed kind, so I just assumed you weren’t available, but now I’m kicking myself for not chatting. When: Monday, June 29, 2026. Where: Tractor Supply, Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916623

PRETTY LADY ON MOTORBIKE

You: sitting pretty on your motorbike slightly after 5 p.m. at the south end of the intersection, waiting for the light to change. Me: on the northeast corner, waiting in the shade for the crosswalk signal, thinking: My goodness, that woman on that motorbike looks sweet. I’ve seen you before and know that you look good off your motorbike, too. When: Friday, July 3, 2026. Where: intersection of North St. and Elmwood. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916620

De

I’ve always been self-conscious about my body. I don’t wear things that show my arms because I think they’re ﬂabby. I love going to the beach, but I hate wearing a revealing bathing suit. I don’t like my legs, so I never wear shorts. I work out and eat healthy, but I still feel like my body is gross. I’m almost 50, and I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin. How do I get over it?

DR. ASKED: WHY SO FAMILIAR?

Years ago, I missed my chance. You asked why I looked so familiar. en I remembered why. You saved someone I stayed to comfort. I must have stood out, even with all you see. If only I had looked you square, instead of gesturing. Your smart care saved her years ago, right in front of me. I wanted to thank you. When: Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Where: your work. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916621

DRUM SO LOW

Dearest Lone Star, what do you call a freshwater crustacean’s parasitic, arachnid girlfriend? (Or, what do you call that parasite after it gets pinched in the North Branch River?) You: cool earrings, musing about fruit with butts. Me: trying to be a helpful guy about town. Find me at the Queer Arts Fest in a cute pink vest! When: Saturday, June 27, 2026. Where: Montpelier. You: Woman. Me: Genderqueer. #916619

SAID YOU LOOKED BEAUTIFUL

Felt weird about it, as it’s like a driveby compliment, but for some reason I felt compelled to do it. Hopefully that was OK. Would be fun if there was a mutual connection. Very — compelling — looking. When: Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Where: Essex. You: Nonbinary person. Me: Man. #916618

PRODUCE SECTION ATTRACTION

Around 5 p.m. you approached me to tell me you found me attractive. I shared that I found you attractive, too. I regret not taking the opportunity to get to know you. Your courage, humility, sweetness and pleasing aesthetic warmed and intrigued me. I’d like to see you again. When: Friday, June 26, 2026. Where: Brattleboro Hannaford. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916616

M. AND J.

You both felt like my brothers. M., I hope you had an amazing time visiting your friend; I found myself wanting to hear all about your trip. J., thank you for the wonderful, supportive and intelligent conversation about neurodiversity. May you both always have exactly what you need and want out of life. Be well, Sarah. When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Where: Rosewood. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916615

Und Cov ,

DAD AND DAUGHTER

Yesterday your daughter approached me as I sat on a bench by the river. She began talking to me, but I haven’t been myself at all lately thanks to a woman who’s been spreading vicious lies about me. is morning your daughter blew bubbles for me with her fabulous new bubble wand, and it made my day. ank you both. When: Sunday, June 28, 2026. Where: the Winooski River. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916614

LAST SEEN DANCING

You: male, leather hat, great smile. Me: female, red-and-pink ﬂoral dress. We danced a lot and had a good time. I left before the break and wished I had gotten your phone number. Will you be at the dance in Montpelier?

See you there? When: Friday, June 26, 2026. Where: Shelburne contra dance. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916613

SEARCHING FOR THE ELUSIVE SQUISH

We ran into you and your birthday kiddo last week while hunting for the elusive squishy toys that kids are going nuts for. We struck gold once, then struck out. I shared some other spot you might want to look. Did you have any more luck? I started wondering if I’d have any luck with you seeing this. Hopefully! When: Saturday, June 20, 2026. Where: University Mall. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916612

ROSEWOOD GUEST AND STAFF

S., M., J., I., J. and K.: ank you for the ways in which you supported and encouraged me during my stay. It makes me sad to know our paths will never cross again. I hope you’re all able to ﬁnd continued healing, support and companionship on this journey called life. Be well, Sarah. When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Where: Rosewood. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916611

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP

You were standing by the bulk goods with your child, and I was in the express line with mine. We exchanged a long look of …. recognition? Curiosity? Appreciation? I didn’t notice exactly what you were shopping for, but if you ever wanted to get together for coffee (or peanut butter), I am available. When: Sunday, June 21, 2026. Where: Hunger Mountain Co-op. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916610

TWO TURTLES TATTOOS

It was 6:30 p.m. Your hair was wavy and a little wet; you had a beach towel wrapped around you. I should have come said something before I got in the checkout line. Two turtle tats on your left arm. No way you see this. When: Monday, June 29, 2026. Where: City Market South End. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916617

SWEAT-Y-SAURUS REX

ere was a them/them from Montpelier / Who went to a swap to get skillier / en the air got quite moist / And they tried to foist / Off some puns on their friend to be sillier. You: have a bad habit of googling jokes. Me: boy howdy, fully willing to keep the bit going indeﬁnitely. See you at Queer Arts Fest! When: ursday, June 18, 2026. Where: Montpelier. You: Genderqueer. Me: Woman. #916609

SUN-KISSED BLONDE ON JET SKI

I’ve seen this girl near Ferry Dock Marina a few times. Near the waterfront, soaking up the sunshine, but she seems to disappear before I can introduce myself. Meanwhile, I’m always out on the Jet Skis, chasing sunsets and spending every possible minute on Lake Champlain. If you’re the blonde who loves the water, sunshine, adventure around the marina, hi! When: Saturday, June 13, 2026. Where: Ferry Dock Marina. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916607

MUGGY?

You: glasses, top-of-the-line swoopy mullet, brand new linen shorts, penchant for swimming, ﬁres, jokes. Me: mostly no glasses, hair I cut myself (proud of it!), cargo shorts with too much in them, currently interested in one-upsmanship and commitment to the bit. I was wondering: What do you call a dinosaur that loves humid weather? When: Sunday, June 14, 2026. Where: Montpelier, VT. You: Woman. Me: Genderqueer. #916606

WATER LINE CUTTER

Honey, nobody feels 100 percent conﬁdent about their body. Even the most conventionally good-looking people have something they’re insecure about. at’s just a fact of being human.

Back in 1995, I was 26 years old and probably in the best shape of my life. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time, and I felt weird about my body. Spencer Tunick, the artist famous for taking photos of large groups of naked people, was coming to town to do a shoot. So I signed up. When the day of the shoot came, I was petriﬁed. But I did it. And I’ll tell ya what: Being stark naked in public with about 100 other people of all shapes and sizes really snaps you out of any body insecurity.

I cut in front of you in the water line. You almost grabbed my shopping cart. You had salt-and-pepper hair and a great laugh. (I made you laugh twice.) I have long, brown hair and was wearing a black tank top, green shorts and dark framed glasses. Didn’t see a wedding ring, so wondering if you’re available. When: Saturday, June 13, 2026. Where: South End City Market. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916605

Put on a tank top and go out into the world. No one is going to run screaming from the sight of your fabulous arms. Buy yourself a bathing suit that feels comfortable and head to the beach. Slap on some shorts and get those legs out from under cover. (Please wear sunscreen when doing all of these things.)

It will feel weird at ﬁrst, but the more you do it, the more you’ll realize the only person worried about the way your body looks is you. Once you get past that, you’ll be free as a bird.

Remember: When you’re on your deathbed, you’re not going to be thinking about how glad you are that you covered up your arms all your life. So get out there and show some skin!

Good luck and God bless,

I’m not suggesting you have to do something that extreme. But when it comes to getting over being self-conscious about your body, sometimes the only way through it is to do it.

Soulful sojourner DWF seeks single man, 48 to 65, for walks, hikes, swimming or other outside activity. Hoping you’ve made peace with past relationships. I’m sensuously attractive. Italian/Celtic. Open to a “meet and greet.” #L1958

SWF, 60 y/o, seeking 30-plus-y/o male for adventures abroad and in bed. Would like to spend time with your chocolate starﬁsh, romance and travels of time. I enjoy hiking, camping, river swimming and meeting new friends. No creeps. #L1956

Male unicorn seeking maiden for sharing fantasies in the magical kingdom. #L1934

SWF, 72 y/o, seeking a man 60 to 70 y/o. I live in Woodstock, Vt. Looking for a serious relationship with a man. #L1943

Older gentlemen, bi-bottom, seeking well hung bi-top. No drugs, no alcohol, just clean fun. Burlington only. Phone or text. #L1957

I believe in love and friendship and USPS! 45, F, musicianer and medic, based in Adirondacks but working everywhere. Single, queer, sober. Busco amistades por correspondencia en inglés y español. ¿Qué tal si nos enviamos mixtapes, reﬂexiones y zines? #L1955

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LE ERS:

Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.

MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check (made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2 Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required! 3

23-y/o male seeking 23y/o lobster. Must be terrible at Minecraft and watch “Skibidi Toilet” all day. Also must make really funny horse jokes and make fun of her boyfriend’s spice tolerance. Must be a weirdo, too. #L1954

We’re a couple: male/female, 70 and 71, seeking a woman 60 to 70. Fun-loving couple looking for a woman for a nice threesome. We give pleasure and wish pleasure back. All will be pleased. Discreet ﬁrst meeting to determine compatibility is very important. #L1953

M, 23, looking for 22- to 25-y/o F who wants to help save this city and maybe save ourselves along the way. Would love to get some sun this summer and fall biking, hiking and exploring Vermont together. #L1951

You are my sunshine. I love your smile, your heart, your laughter and the way you make life feel like an adventure. No matter where life takes us, my favorite place will always be beside you — or in Mexico! #L1950

e guy who’s always chasing the next adventure; works harder than anyone he knows; lives for sunshine, road trips, Jet Skis and big dreams. He’s carefree, loyal, endlessly optimistic, gives the best hugs and somehow turns every ordinary day into an unforgettable story. #L1949

Int net-Free Dating!

I’m a 41-y/o female seeking a 31to 75-y/o male. I’m an intelligent, funny, bold, conﬁdent, outdoorsloving woman who enjoys reading and writing. I’m looking for a smart, fun, loyal, devoted, honest, hardworking, caring, sensitive gentleman. #L1948

I’m a youthful 65-y/o gay male seeking other gay men for honest and open friendships. I am outgoing, fun-loving and real. Desiring to connect on a more intimate and emotional level. Looking forward to hearing from you. #L1947

52-y/o SWM looking for SW. Ideal age 50 to 55. I like to go to Myrtle Beach. I like to go kayaking, back-road biking, take walks in the woods and camp. I would like someone who is willing to plan adventures together. #L1944

I’m a 65-y/o single white male, 5’8”, 200 lbs., looking for female 50 to 65 who is white, slender, a good looker, ﬁt, in good health; likes outdoor fun, camping, car rides, and plenty of foreplay and sex. #L1940

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)

We are a 68-y/o bi couple looking for one or two goodlooking, friendly male friends, 50-plus, with adequate physical assets to help rock my wife’s world individually or collectively. Discreet ﬁrst meeting to determine compatibility is very important. No creepy people, please. #L1942

42-y/o female time traveler, house builder, plant tender, sequin wearer with two young companions seeks affectionate, nimble, and conﬁdent male, 35-50, up for woods roaming, swimming, porch sitting, hard manual labor and cracking up with nothing more than what’s in our pockets. #L1941

I’m a gay man, 58, seeking a gay man, 50s. Cigarette smoker, 180 lbs., 6 ft., seeks like for fun, friendship, foolin’ around. #L1945

I’m a SWM, 73, seeking a female. I am creative, smart, clean and good looking. Seeking a woman 70-plus who wants to play once or twice a week. #L1939

Required conﬁdential info:

ADDRESS (MORE) CITY/STATE

MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402 OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

FOTW Trail Clinic

WED., JUL. 15

SAXON HILL TRAILHEAD, ESSEX

The One-Night Stand: A SingleEvening Clinic in Bicycle Care

WED., JUL. 15

OLD SPOKES HOME COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, BURLINGTON

Reception for 'Wings • Waters • Ways' Art Show

THU., JUL. 16

LOCAL MOTION BIKE RENTALS, BURLINGTON

Jasper Craven in Conversation With Garrett Graff: ‘God Forgives, Brothers Don't’

THU., JUL. 16

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Shiny New Toyz: EP Release Party | 'LORE'

THU., JUL. 16

14TH STAR BREWING CO., SAINT ALBANS CITY

FOTW Women's Ride

THU., JUL. 16

BOLTON VALLEY RESORT

Vermont Brewers Festival 2026

FRI., JUL. 17

WATERFRONT PARK, BURLINGTON

e Mammals

FRI., JUL. 17

AFTERTHOUGHTS, WAITSFIELD

Westford Garden Tour 2026

SAT., JUL. 18

WESTFORD COMMON HALL

Reading Is Golden: Cat Viglienzoni of WCAX

SAT., JUL. 18

PHOENIX BOOKS, ESSEX

Brett Ann Stanciu and Catherine Tudish: 'Call It

Madness' and 'A Thousand Souls' Signing Event

SAT., JUL. 18

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

The Junction Dance Festival Main Showcase

SAT., JUL. 18

BRIGGS OPERA HOUSE, HARTFORD

Sarah Rose Dance | CHIMERA Co-Lab Artists in Residence

SAT., JUL. 18

FARMSPRUNG GATHERINGS AT STOWELL BARN, WAITSFIELD

Soulshine Revival and Swim the Current

SAT., JUL. 18

LOST NATION BREWING, MORRISTOWN

TURNmusic Presents Skylark String Quartet

SUN., JUL. 19

THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY

Sizzle & Simmer: Everyday Cooking Summer Camp for Kids!

MON., JUL. 20

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Green Mountain Chamber Music Quartet Conversations

TUE., JUL. 21

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Fellowship of the Wheel Enduro

TUE., JUL. 21

BOLTON VALLEY RESORT

CSA Ride!

THU., JUL. 23

OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

Jerry Jam

FRI., JUL. 24

759 MITCHELL RD, CONCORD