Seven Days, July 22, 2026

VE RMO NT ’S IN DEPE NDEN T VO IC E JULY 22-29, 2026 VOL.31 NO.46 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

COPS AND ROCKERS Intrigue in ChittCo sheriff race

PAGE 14

SWEET SPOTS

PAGE 38

Home bakeries on the rise

DRAWING FIRE

PAGE 44

Charity & Sylvia stirs controversy

Dizzy?

Anxious in crowds?

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Experience: Graduate of Champlain College & Vermont Police Academy.

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WEEK IN REVIEW JULY 15-22, 2026 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

STICKY FINGERS

State police are looking for a man who allegedly stole a pint of maple syrup from a farmstand in Dummerston.

Tacky move.

Rendering of new condos planned at Bolton Valley Resort

COURTESY OF ARTESA CONCEPTS

FISHED OUT

After takeoff, a float plane crashed into Seymour Lake in the Northeast Kingdom town of Morgan.

Boaters helped rescue the pilot, who was uninjured.

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TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “FBI Most Wanted Suspect Captured in Alburgh” by Ian Curry. Nitish Kaushal, who was captured near the Canadian border, could face a life sentence for his alleged involvement in crimes that include extortion and murder.

2. “Teen Cyclist Killed in Collision With Minivan in Burlington” by Alison Novak. Shiloh Skalka was riding an e-bike southbound on Pine Street last Thursday when she was fatally injured in a crash with a minivan, police said.

3. “A Luxury Stowe Mansion Is Being Auction With No Minimum Price” by Sasha Goldstein.

The 10,000-square-foot home comes with a heated pool, indoor sports barn, an underground tunnel and a sledding hill.

4. “Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Plans to Shut Down

by End of Year” by Ian Curry. The philanthropic arm of the brand says it will shut down at year’s end unless it wins a court battle with its parent company over funding.

5. “Fortified by Chocolate Milk, Monument Farms Tackles Its Future” by Melissa Pasanen. Vermont’s dairy sector continues to struggle, but at the century-old family farm in Weybridge — now the state’s largest milk bottler — a fourth generation rises.

TOWN CRIER

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PAGING DR. FREUD

Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) went viral for saying top Trump officials have “weird, intense, homoerotic feelings towards men” after they instituted testosterone testing for soldiers.

SOURCED

NEWS

Former Copley Staffers Create Green Mountain Birth Center Since Copley Hospital’s Birthing Center closed in November, many of the nurse-midwives have continued to provide perinatal care to area parents with the establishment of the Green Mountain Birth Center, the Hardwick Gazette reported. The nonprofit group hopes to open a freestanding center in Waterbury by 2028. In the meantime, staff will begin to see patients at a Morrisville clinic.

Read more at hardwickgazette.org.

THAT’S SO VERMONT

BACK TO THE LAND

COURTESY

The Sacred Soil facility

IAN CURRY

HALF COCKED

Trump’s White House now says it will impose 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods.

Québec tourists were just starting to return.

COURTESY

though DesLauriers anticipates that some will become second homes. She said the prices, which have not been determined, will reflect the costs of construction.

The homes will be about 30 minutes from the professional hubs of Burlington and Montpelier. The resort already has a hotel and some condos that were built decades ago.

The new construction should be a welcome addition in Chittenden Lindsay County’s tight real-estate market, DesLauriers DesLauriers said.

DesLauriers’ late father, Ralph, established the resort in the 1960s. When she was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, she said, only a few families with kids her age lived in the area year-round. Since DesLauriers and her siblings bought the resort back in 2017, she said, that’s changed.

“Now it’s a vibrant year-round community with kids and new community spaces like free music on the lawn, outdoor grilling and an outdoor pool,” DesLauriers said.

Construction of a new residential neighborhood is under way at Bolton Valley Resort. Nordic Peaks, the first building project at the resort in 30 years, will feature 32 condos and townhomes available for purchase.

“This has been many years in the making and represents a huge milestone as we think of what Bolton Valley is capable of.

It’s a really big and exciting moment,” said Lindsay DesLauriers, a member of the family that owns the ski area.

She is stepping down as the resort’s president and CEO to focus more on long-term development there.

Following a yearslong permitting and design process, the resort broke ground on the slope-side housing development about a month ago.

Tucked into the woods near some of the Nordic ski trails, the new neighborhood will feature 16 one- to two-bedroom condos and 16 three- to four-bedroom townhouses, the first of which will be available for move-in later this year. The rest are expected to be completed by 2029.

The units were designed as year-round residences,

High from the bankruptcy case involving Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese, VTDigger reported.

A new facility in Whitingham is offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional casket burial or cremation. Sacred Soil, which began operations earlier this month, specializes in what’s known as “natural organic reduction,” a biological process that turns human remains into nutrient-rich, fertile soil — essentially, compost.

Sacred Soil calls the process “terramation.” It begins by

laying the deceased in an airtight vessel filled with natural materials such as wood chips, alfalfa and hemp straw, as well as a mixture of fungi and natural bacteria. Over the course of four weeks, the controlled environment and mix of natural microorganisms break the body down into soil, which is then naturally sterilized and cured for 30 days. When the process is complete, families receive a cubic yard of soil that can be used for planting.

“The process is gentle, quiet and natural,” said Chris Wasley, founder of Sacred Soil.

For decades, Wasley’s wife, Andrea, has run a funeral home in Connecticut that specializes in traditional casket funerals and cremation. Wasley said he and his wife wanted to be able to offer clients an eco-friendly choice.

Natural organic reduction isn’t yet allowed in Connecticut, but the process is legal in 12 states, including Vermont, which approved it in 2023.

Natural organic reduction is not to be confused with natural, or “green,” burial, which involves burials without the use of embalming chemicals

or nonbiodegradable caskets.

Vermont legalized natural burial in 2015.

Only a handful of natural organic reduction facilities exist in the United States, and Wasley said his is the first to offer the service in the Northeast. Wasley hopes to partner with other funeral homes interested in offering it.

“This service is in line with people that love gardening, recycling and going green,” Wasley said. “It really is a ‘going green’ movement.”

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

IAN CURRY

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KILLINGTON, NOT WOODSTOCK

There is some misinformation in [“Playing With Fire?” July 15]. Killington is the smallest municipality in Vermont with a career fire department, established in 2023. It is true, though, that Woodstock is the closest fully staffed department, as the selectboard in Killington refuses to hire a second man for my shift, so we only have five paid firefighters across three shifts.

Elizabeth M. Seyler

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7/20/26 9:07 AM

Mark Foote

 Cecilia Luce

KILLINGTON

D I G I TA L & V I D E O    Eva Sollberger DESIGN   Don Eggert   Rev. Diane Sullivan   John James  Jeff Baron SALES & MARKETING    Colby Roberts    Robyn Birgisson   Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery     Gillian Comito ,  &   Julia Maguire   &   Sam Hartnett   Tatum Kosow A D M I N I S T R AT I O N   Marcy Stabile    &  Matt Weiner   Andy Watts     Gillian English    Olivia Fleming, Norah Khan 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

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NOT AN ‘EXCHANGE’

The new operator of Burlington’s so-called “needle-exchange program” claims there will be “a renewed focus on safe syringe disposal, including increased collection opportunities” [“Vermont CARES Will Take Over Needle-Exchange Program in Burlington,” June 25]. The previous program was intended to provide clean needles to prevent disease transmission in the interest of public health and harm reduction. It was marketed to the public emphasizing the word “exchange,” arguing that clients would bring in old needles and exchange them for new ones.

However, this facility never actually operated as an exchange; it simply gave away needles with no demand for turning in used ones. The used, contaminated needles often get discarded in public places. IV drug users make the decision to engage in the well-known risks associated with that activity, but innocent children and pets using public spaces have made no such decision yet are now subject to the disease risks, as well. That is not a good harm-reduction strategy or public health policy.

If the taxpayers of Vermont are going to lay out over half a million dollars for this relocated, rebranded program, potentially tainting another neighborhood with the drug activity typically associated with such a facility, there at least ought to be a demand for some truth in advertising. Please stop referring to these programs as “exchanges” and temper the claims that widespread distribution of needles necessarily promotes public health.

Richard Lachapelle

HUNTINGTON

©2026 Da Capo Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

6

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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7/17/26 12:38 PM

most expensive health care in the country, perhaps? The lack of affordable, trustworthy childcare? Rising rent and slumlords such as the Handys, Bissonettes and Boves?

Also, the implication that the West Coast is the only place where artificial intelligence is taking jobs is pretty silly. Last I checked, AI is being used in Vermont, too. And the average home cost here is not all that lower than the West Coast. Pretty out-of-touch perspective.

Maggie Homer

SOUTH BURLINGTON

TOWNS ‘DISSENT’

[Re “Empty Desks: Enrollment in Vermont’s K-12 Schools Is Dropping at an Alarming Rate. Communities Are on Their Own to Deal With the Problem,” February 18]: On July 8 we attended a special meeting of the Washington Central Unified Union School District. The agenda was to Enjoy the full dining room menu, consider the recent petition to amend our fine wines, specialty cocktails, Articles of Agreement, but it soon became craft beers and more. apparent that the real agenda was to replace the current representational model of democracy codified in the articles with 1076 Williston Road, S. Burlington tyranny from the majority.

862.6585 | WindjammerRestaurant.com With the open support of the majority of the board, the petitioners are certain to achieve their ends and once and for all 7/20/26 9:41 AM remove the towns of Calais and Worcester8v-Windjammer(patioad)072226 1 as parties to the Articles of Agreement — replacing the vested interests of our small towns with the interests of the Route 7 - Charlotte, VT district voters in the largest towns. This will complete the decade-long agenda of the former board chair and her allies. In truly Orwellian language, the petitioners celebrate this strategy as “democratic” and an example of “district unity.”

We dissent.

As we clearly conveyed through our vote in February, the citizens of Calais and Worcester want our children to receive the benefits of a rural education. If we lose our local schools, then we will organize and educate our kids through home study.

Once this affordable and decentralized

Join us on the patio this summer!

‘VOTE CORRECTLY’

[“Young People Want to Leave Vermont Over Affordability Concerns, Poll Finds,” July 14, online] states that the reason young people want to leave Vermont is because of the cost of housing, which is primarily due to taxes, meaning property taxes. This is brought on by a severe drop in student enrollment. But that’s not really the issue.

The issue is our failure to adapt to the reality that we need far fewer teachers and far fewer school districts. This won’t happen as long as Democrats have the majority in the legislature because of their ties to the teachers’ union. The fact of the matter is, we need a change in our political composition in Montpelier. Gov. Phil Scott, as good as he is and as thoroughly as he understands the situation, can only do so much without a cooperative legislative body. All we need to do is vote correctly.

Tom Heins

ESSEX JUNCTION

VETO POWER

[Re “The Other Bills,” June 10]: While Vermonters are worried about rising costs, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed three bipartisan bills that would have reduced expenses for taxpayers and ratepayers.

The data center bill (H.727) would’ve ensured that any data centers built here didn’t increase Vermonters’ electric bills, didn’t increase PFAS pollution, and minimized both climate pollution and water use. Unfortunately, the administration thought it was too strict, and the aspect that the administration objected to the most would’ve created impact fees to help pay for Vermonters to transition off of expensive fossil fuels.

S.218, which Scott vetoed, would’ve saved taxpayers and property owners money by creating a voluntary education program for salt spreaders about best management practices.

H.710 would have allowed some solar to be built more cheaply, bringing lower-cost electricity to Vermonters. The governor’s veto surprisingly cited wind generation. Any expansion of a wind project would still go through the normal Public Utility Commission process. Wind wasn’t discussed because there is no new wind generation on the table.

Additionally, Scott’s objection regarding wind was never raised in committee. If it had been, we likely could have adjusted the definition to exclude wind specifically, but that feedback was never offered. His veto wasted taxpayer dollars as a result of his lack of participation in the process.

By vetoing these bills, Scott rejected opportunities to make Vermont more affordable.

Anne Watson BARRE CITY

Watson is a Democratic/Progressive state senator representing Washington County and chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee.

NEWCOMB IS ‘OUT OF TOUCH’

[Re Newcomb, July 15]: Does cartoonist Tim Newcomb know there are more places to live in the United States besides Vermont and the West Coast? It’s an interesting take to poke fun at the young people wanting to move somewhere else, instead of actually discussing the causes behind what is driving our young people to leave. The

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contents

THE

JULY 22-29, 2026 VOL.31 NO.46

GREEN

AWAKENING BUrlinGton'S seasON staRts hERe

FOOD+ DRINK 38

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July pICks

Standing Out

From sourdough to cookies, self-serve bakery stands — and one porch — bring treats to Vermont roadsides

1g Pre-Rolls BOOPA $4.20

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CHURCH ST. MARKETPLACE, RED SQUARE ALLEY, 30 THORSEN WAY

BurlinGton, verMont COLUMNS 11 Magnificent 7 13 From the Deputy Publisher 39 Side Dishes 50 Movie Review 60 Album Reviews 93 Ask the Reverend

28 COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE ROB DONNELLY

Teen Cyclist Killed in Collision With Minivan in Burlington Power Surge

14

A spike in the use of e-bikes and faster e-motos by children is causing communities to worry — and strategize

NEWS+POLITICS 14

FBI Most Wanted Suspect Captured in Alburgh

New Sheriff in Town?

A progressive activist is challenging an incumbent lawman to become Chittenden County’s next sheriff

STUCK IN VERMONT

Online Thursday

FEATURES 28 Deep Pursuits

Gary and Ellen Lefebvre have turned their quest for Lake Champlain shipwrecks into a community service and art form

ARTS+CULTURE 44 Drawing Comparisons

A biographer claims that Vermont cartoonist Tillie Walden borrowed too much in her new graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia.

Others disagree.

SECTIONS 22 Life Lines 38 Food + Drink 44 Culture 50 On Screen 52 Art 56 Music + Nightlife 62 Calendar 74 Classes 75 Classifieds + Puzzles 89 Fun Stuff 92 Personals

Craftsbury Chamber Players Toasts 60 Years With New Season, Historical Exhibit Frozen Hearts

Review: Vernal Thaw: A Novel of Love at a Slant by Frances Cannon

Out of the Blue

A Middlebury gallery mounts a retrospective of architect Tom Cullins’ paintings and photos

Radio Rekindled

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

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Featured in the new PBS documentary, From Rails to Trails, the Island Line Trail is the longest rail trail over water in the world. It is a must see!

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We rent ebikes for the 10-mile-trip out to the Causeway.

We have

We also offer Segway tours and Vermont gifts and souvenirs at our shop downtown or online at

Former 99 Neighbors MC maari’s new LP is a blast from the past and a glimpse of his future

Todd Hanley grows about 300 colorful varieties of daylilies in his hilltop Richmond garden, and most of them are hybrids that he created himself. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger got a tour and learned how to cross-pollinate a few daylilies.

NEW HOURS

AllThingsVermont.com

Find a new job in the classifieds section on page 81 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

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LOOKING FORWARD COURTESY OF JONATHAN TERRELL

MAGNIFICENT MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

BY RE BE CCA D R ISCOL L

OPENS THURSDAY 23

Wedding Crashers A royal death spoils a wedding celebration in the Bard’s criminally underrated comedy Love’s Labors’ Lost, staged by the Green Mountain Shakespeare Festival at the Plainfield Town Hall Opera House.

Thought to be penned in the 1590s for the queen herself, the early work boasts Elizabethan-era puns, high-society satire and an unconventional ending you don’t see in the average rom-com.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

SUNDAY 26

GREAT SHAKES The Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green series presents a double bill of epic proportions at Shelburne Museum: one-man blues-fusion band Shakey Graves and lo-fi indie sensation Dope Lemon.

The former heats it up with catchy originals combining folk, country and rock traditions; the latter cools things down with a dreamy performance of chilled-out, psychedelic sounds.

SATURDAY 25

Run for It Folks run, ride, bid and feast to fund local projects at Glover Day, the annual town-wide celebration featuring Bread and Puppet’s Dixieland jam band, art exhibits, an auction, a barbecue, and a signature rubber duck derby. Don’t miss the Runaway Pond Road Race, a community tradition commemorating the historic 1810 breach of Long Pond.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SATURDAY 25

Fairy Thee Well

Shakey Graves

Cosplayers, suit up! Wands, wings, crowns and capes are welcome at Highland Center for the Arts’ Vermont Fairy Festival in Greensboro. The magical spree invites fae, wizards, trolls, gnomes and pixies to take to the air on circus lyras, try their hand at brewing potions, flutter and flip to live music by Brass Balagan, and embark on a trail hunt in search of wee woodland houses.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

SATURDAY 25

Veterans Affairs At BigTown Gallery in Rochester, “Art, Opportunity and the GI Bill Generation” celebrates the life and work of late artist Hugh Townley. Hood Museum of Art outgoing director John Stomberg helms the evening, using stories and select works from the current exhibit to explore how the military education benefits catalyzed decades of postWorld War II creators.

FRIDAY 24

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 54

COURTESY OF ROBYN VON SWANK

Curly Cues Higher Ground Presents knows what Vermonters want: to distract themselves with a pitch-perfect performance by pop-culture parody master “Weird Al” Yankovic. At the Champlain Valley Exposition’s Midway Lawn in Essex Junction, expect spot-on spoofs of classic hits featuring the lyrical prowess that’s made Yankovic the No. 1 comedy recording artist of all time.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 65

SATURDAY 25

Sweet Sounds The Maple Roots Festival serves up more than just sweet treats at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in Montpelier. The sixth annual summer shindig boasts 12 straight hours of live music by noteworthy local acts such as High Summer, Bob Wagner, Hot Pickin’ Party and Mikahely, as well as local food and beverages, activities to keep littles smiling, and, of course, maple creemees.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

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FROM THE DEPUTY PUBLISHER

Summer School

PAULA ROUTLY

Everybody needs a vacation, but the news never stops. she asks them, while tabling, “Do you have what it takes Luckily, Seven Days has a crew of capable interns this to be a Good Citizen?”

Olivia herself is always up for a challenge: At Warren’s summer, bringing fresh energy and perspectives as they fill the seasonal gaps in multiple departments. rainy Fourth of July parade, she managed to keep our Culture intern Cecilia Luce has a story in this week’s paper Good Citizen stickers and pocket Constitutions dry. On about a controversy surrounding former Vermont cartoonist June 25, she woke up at 4 a.m. to cover my weekly 6 a.m. laureate Tillie Walden’s new graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia prize-drawing appearance on WCAX-TV’s “Channel 3 This (page 44). Cecilia grasped the Morning.” She’ll do a repeat nuances of the conflict at the performance next week. heart of the story, according Olivia said being part of a to her editor, Carolyn Fox: “It local news organization — and took a certain doggedness to watching the reporters, editors get people to go on the record and designers work — gives her because it was a tricky topic, hope, despite all the negativity in the national news. Also, the and Cecilia dove right in.”

Since mid-June, Cecilia Bay Area native said, “It makes has written stories about me feel more connected to local films, a new EcuadorVermont.” ian restaurant, a politically Norah, a political science major from Rochester, N.Y., timely Eugène Ionescu play started on Monday and will at Unadilla Theatre and the From left: Olivia Fleming, Tatum Kosow, Norah Khan, Ian work on the Good Citizen Vermont Green FC women’s Curry and Cecilia Luce team semifinals match. A Challenge through Labor Day. rising junior at NorthwestMarketing intern Tatum ern University in Evanston, Kosow, University of Vermont Ill., where she writes for the Class of 2027, has been helping Daily Northwestern, Cecilia us prepare for the Daysies — is a local: Her family lives both the big reveal of our bestin Burlington. She grew up of-Vermont winners on August reading Seven Days and its 5 and the party on August 7. parenting publication, Kids The New York City native is VT, and entered many of our coloring contests. In fact, also helping us understand where her UVM peers get their Cecilia got her first byline in Kids VT — at age 8 — when news — and how we might entice them to read Seven Days. she won a 2014 book review contest.

Will these experiences help them get hired somewhere “Clearly this internship has been a long time coming,” postgraduation? We hope so. It’s been gratifying to see past she quipped. interns end up at the Portland Press Herald, the Boston News intern Ian Curry grew up in the Philippines. A Globe and Vanity Fair. rising senior English major at Middlebury College, he was Best of all, last summer’s news intern, Sam Hartnett, inspired to become a reporter after witnessing courageous found his way back to Seven Days in June as our ticketing journalists in that country, such as Nobel Peace Prize manager and sales associate. For this summer, at least, he’s winner Maria Ressa, stand up to the murderous regime of not the youngest one in the office. former Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte.

His first assignment for Seven Days was covering down- Cathy Resmer town Burlington in the wee hours for our June 24 cover story, “24 Hours on Church Street.” Last week he wrote If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, two of the most popular stories on our website — about the become a Super Reader!

Alburgh arrest of one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives Look for the “Donate” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your and the impending closure of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. address and contact info to: “I like being in the thick of it,” Ian said of his experience so far.

SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164 Seven Days is hosting two more Midd Kids through the BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164 MiddWorks for Vermont program: Olivia Fleming and Norah Khan, both of whom are focused on the 2026 Good Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualified charitable contribution?

Citizen Challenge, our youth civics project.

Contact Gillian English: A history major, Olivia wanted to spend the summer getting kids excited about civics. No surprise: This former 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM camp counselor is good at it! I’ve seen kids light up when

OLIVIA SAID BEING PART OF A LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATION GIVES HER HOPE,

DESPITE ALL THE NEGATIVITY IN THE NATIONAL NEWS.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

13

DARIA BISHOP

news

PUBLIC SAFETY

Teen Cyclist Killed in Collision With Minivan in Burlington B Y A LI S O N NO VA K alison@sevendaysvt.com SASHA GOLDSTEIN

Memorial for Shiloh Skalka on Pine Street

Kevin Bloom

New Sheriff in Town?

2026

ELECTION

A progressive activist is challenging an incumbent lawman to become Chittenden County’s next sheriff B Y CO L I N FL A ND ER S • colin@sevendaysvt.com

T

he provocative lawn signs began popping up this spring: “STOP EVICTING CHILDREN.” They carried the message of a new candidate for Chittenden County sheriff, who, if elected, would be responsible for enforcing court-ordered evictions of renters, including families.

But Kevin Bloom, a 32-year-old Burlington audio producer who identifies as transgender and uses they/them pronouns, has a different vision for the office.

They believe sheriffs — who, unlike police officers, aren’t required to hold law enforcement certifications — have untapped potential as agents for social change. That’s especially true when it comes to evictions, which Bloom argues are inextricably linked to public safety.

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Eviction reform is a central part of Bloom’s campaign. Their signature proposal is a jobs program that would connect tenants

I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT ABOLISHING EVICTION. I’M JUST TALKING ABOUT USING IT APPROPRIATELY. K E VIN BL O O M

who are behind on their rent with employers willing to help pay off their debts.

It’s an ambitious vision for an office traditionally tasked with serving civil

paperwork, transporting prisoners and enforcing court-ordered evictions — the type of unglamorous work that keeps the court system running. But Bloom notes that state statute charges sheriffs with one additional duty: to “preserve the peace” in their community.

“The person you vote for is the person who decides what that means,” Bloom said.

Sheriff Dan Gamelin, the incumbent, isn’t convinced. He describes evicting people as difficult but legally mandated work that, if mishandled, can exacerbate problems. (In 2023, Gamelin was the subject of a Seven Days cover story about the rising rate of evictions in Vermont.)

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN?

» P.16

A teen who was injured when a minivan hit her as she rode an electric bike last Thursday died later that day, Burlington police said.

Shiloh Skalka, 16, was riding southbound on Pine Street near Locust Street shortly after 1 p.m. when she was struck by a 2018 Dodge Caravan that was traveling in the same direction.

The vehicle was driven by 79-year-old Douglas Knapp, a well-known local folk artist who goes by Dug Nap. Skalka, who was wearing a bike helmet, was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center and later succumbed to her injuries.

Skalka was a rising junior at Burlington High School, according to a message sent to Burlington families late Friday afternoon by superintendent Tom Flanagan.

“Our hearts are with Shiloh’s family, especially her twin brother, Kaz, as well as her friends, classmates, teachers, and everyone whose life she touched,” Flanagan wrote.

By Monday, a memorial at the crash scene had grown to include flowers, photos of Shiloh and messages written to her.

Paying her respects, Nora Slish, 16, said she had known Shiloh since they were 3 years old. Shiloh was incredibly smart, a talented artist and loving friend who “laughed with her whole body,” Nora recalled through tears.

Shiloh worked at Starbucks and had recently begun to play polo. Friends called her “Shi Shi,” and “she really loved cats,” Nora said. “She was really good with them.”

A photo Nora had taken of her friend earlier this month atop Mount Philo, where they were camping and watching the sunset, was prominent at the memorial. Shiloh is looking at the camera, smiling, the reddish glow of the setting sun lighting her face.

“I want people to know she was loved,” Nora said.

The crash is currently under investigation. The police department asks that witnesses contact Det. Padric Hartnett at 802-540-2351. ➆

ELAINE HANEY

Power Surge

for VERMONT SENATE Proud

Democratic Democratic Endorsers:

All 7 Democratic Burlington City Councilors Burlington Rep. Abbey Duke Essex Junction Rep. Lori Houghton Essex Town Rep. Rey Garofano Winooski Deputy Mayor Bryn Oakleaf Attorney General Charity Clark

A spike in the use of e-bikes and faster e-motos by children is causing communities to worry — and strategize

F

BY ALISON N OVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

rom his post at the intersection of North Street and Elmwood Avenue this spring, Burlington School District crossing guard Richard Hillyard noticed a worrying trend: children as young as 9 or 10 were riding to and from school on electric bikes and electric scooters. Some wore helmets and obeyed the rules of the road; others did not.

Hillyard shouted warnings when he saw children riding recklessly, such as by weaving from the street onto sidewalks and back again. Often, the riders had accelerated halfway down the block by the time his words came out.

WE HAVE THIS LAWLESS BEHAVIOR

THAT’S DISREGARDING OTHER USERS OF BIKE PATHS. B U R LI NG T ON CIT Y COU N CILOR M A R K BA RL OW

On a Tuesday afternoon in May, he was ushering students across the street, telling them like a doting grandfather to do their homework. He watched an elementary school-age boy zip up the sidewalk on an e-bike, his little sister sitting behind him, clinging to his waist. Neither wore a helmet.

“It’s the Wild West,” Hillyard lamented.

The crossing guard isn’t the only adult who has identified an emerging problem in kids’ unsafe use of both e-bikes and e-motos, a faster electric vehicle with no pedals that resembles a small motorcycle.

Officials in Chittenden County towns including South Burlington, Colchester and Winooski say they’re worried, too.

E-bikes have been around for years and have been hailed by environmental and biking advocates as an eco-friendly alternative to cars and a means of making cycling more accessible. But the proliferation of more powerful electric conveyances and their growing use by children

has prompted communities to take action.

Some towns have clarified their regulations on social media and posted restrictions along bike paths. Others whose ordinances don’t address e-bikes or e-motos are considering adopting rules.

Vermont’s statutes do set some basic limits. Riders must be at least 16 years old to ride e-motos and class 3 electric bikes. Class 3 bikes can achieve speeds of 28 miles per hour compared to 20 mph for less powerful class 1 and 2 bikes.

Vermont also prohibits e-motos on recreation paths; those vehicles can go as fast as 55 mph.

Burlington City Councilor Mark Barlow (D-North District) said he regularly hears from constituents about unsettling encounters with young people riding e-bikes and e-motos. He has personally been “flipped off” by young riders on the city’s bike path when he’s asked them to slow down. “This is new, uncharted territory for everyone,” he said.

“We have this lawless behavior that’s disregarding other users of bike paths, and also on the street and sidewalks,” Barlow said. “I think it’s got to be handled through adult intervention.”

Young people have been seriously hurt in accidents on e-bikes, e-motos and e-scooters in Vermont as well as around the country. Last week, 16-year-old Shiloh Skalka, a Burlington High School student, was fatally injured while riding an e-bike in Burlington; she was hit by a minivan as they both headed south on Pine Street.

Police are investigating the accident. The young woman was wearing a helmet, and there is no evidence thus far that the electric bike was a factor in the collision.

(See story on page 14.) The accident was one of at least six involving an e-bike that the city’s police have responded to this spring and summer, according to police Sgt. Dwayne Mellis.

PUBLIC SAFETY

POWER SURGE

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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5/1/26 10:44 AM

news FILE: JAMES BUCK

CRIME

FBI Most Wanted Suspect Captured in Alburgh

COURTESY

B Y IA N C U RRY • icurry@sevendaysvt.com

16

An Indian national on the FBI’s Most Wanted list was captured in Alburgh last Thursday near the Canadian border after someone spotted the fugitive on a security camera trying to enter their barn.

Nitish Kaushal, 26, also known by his alias, “Lala,” is accused of being a member of a transnational criminal syndicate known as the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group, or Bhagwanpuria OCG. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the group originated in Punjab, Nitish Kaushal India, but has thousands of members across the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

An arrest warrant filed with the U.S. District Court Central District of California says Kaushal was apprehended on racketeering charges and could face a life sentence for his alleged involvement in extortion, kidnappings, murders, and international drug and weapons trafficking on behalf of Bhagwanpuria OCG. Kaushal appeared in a federal courtroom in Burlington on Friday, shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit.

Speaking through a Punjabi interpreter and represented by a federal public defender, Kaushal confirmed to Judge Kevin Doyle that he was the subject of the arrest warrant.

Kaushal was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol officers within a mile of the Canadian border, according to a motion for detention filed with the U.S. District Court of Vermont.

Kaushal was spotted by a concerned citizen in Vermont after they saw him on their security camera looking into their car and entering their barn, the records say. When Border Patrol officers found Kaushal, he gave them a fake driver’s license from New Jersey with a different name. His fingerprints, and a distinctive lion tattoo, later exposed his true identity.

According to the arrest warrant, Kaushal was directly involved in the assault and extortion of a man accused of stealing a load of cocaine from the Bhagwanpuria OCG gang in California.

Kaushal and his associates demanded $50,000 from the man in retribution for the alleged theft. The arrest warrant also describes how Kaushal’s fellow gang members were involved in smuggling automatic weapons and cocaine from California to locations across the U.S. ➆ SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Dan Gamelin in 2023

New Sheriff in Town? « P.14 And he says the office has become more robust and financially stable under his leadership. Handing the reins over to someone without any law enforcement or civil service experience would be a mistake, he said.

The race for the Democratic nomination comes at a time when Vermont sheriffs are under increased scrutiny amid several high-profile scandals. And with no Republicans in the running, the winner of Chittenden County’s August 11 primary will likely prevail come November.

The candidates are a study in contrasts.

Bloom grew up in Sherborn, Mass., a Boston suburb, before attending the University of Vermont, where they majored in creative writing. They now help run a local music studio called SpIcY wOrLd, work for an audio software company and serve as front person for the psych-rock band the Dead Shakers.

Since announcing their bid last September, Bloom has received the backing of a number of well-known progressives, including Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Ben Cohen. They’ve also protested against federal immigration authorities. When Vermonters clashed with police during a botched U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in South Burlington in March, Bloom was captured on video shouting at a federal agent: “I’m the next sheriff in this county!”

Gamelin, meanwhile, was born and raised in Winooski and has spent nearly

his entire adult life in uniform. He joined the Chittenden County Sheriff ’s Office as a 22-year-old deputy in 1982, not long after graduating from Champlain College with an associate degree in criminal justice.

Forty years later, when his longtime boss, then-sheriff Kevin McLaughlin, decided not to seek reelection, Gamelin sought the post and won uncontested.

When he recounts his first-term accomplishments, Gamelin sounds more like the head of a thriving business than a sheriff ’s department. “I have no liens, no loans and no leases,” he said. “I owe nobody any money here. We operate a really tight, efficient sheriff ’s office.”

Such an enterprising mindset is practically a job requirement for Vermont sheriffs. While their offices receive some tax dollars to pay their salary and those of the deputies assigned to transport prisoners to court hearings, sheriffs otherwise raise most of their revenue through contract work. That has traditionally meant patrolling a town part time or providing a deputy to watch over highway construction sites.

Since taking office, Gamelin has inked a new contract with the town of Charlotte, which his deputies now patrol in addition to Jericho, Westford and Underhill. He provides security at Chittenden County’s criminal courthouse. He’s also aggressively expanded the department’s private security portfolio.

He counts among his clients Goldman Sachs, Vermont Rail System, Champlain Housing Trust and Burlington Housing Authority. He also works with Hannaford and Barnes & Noble, where he said his

deputies have helped prevent more than 1,000 thefts and made more than 250 arrests.

The businesses and organizations pay about $90 an hour to have one of Gamelin’s deputies stationed nearby. Sometimes the sheriff picks up shifts himself.

The increased business has allowed him to hire eight additional full-time deputies, for a total of 22. He’s also been able to upgrade or replace aging equipment. Seventeen of the department’s 25 cruisers have been replaced since he took office — at a cost of about $70,000 each.

The private security contracts have also helped line Gamelin’s pockets. State law allows sheriffs to keep up to 5 percent of their department’s contracts, so long as that does not exceed half of their statemandated salary.

Gamelin, whose salary is $116,000, took in the maximum additional amount of $58,000 last year.

Gamelin has expanded his department at a time when other local police agencies are struggling to keep pace with the demand for their services. He said businesses that are interested in his security services call frequently, though he’s wary of taking on many more at this time.

“I don’t want to get over my head,” he said.

Bloom has seized on the practice.

Providing security at construction sites is one thing, Bloom said, but deploying armed agents of the state as rent-a-cops for corporations is another.

What’s worse, Bloom argues, is that the

sheriff has been expanding this part of The concept appears unprecedented: his business at the same time he’s been Bloom could point to no program of its pulling back in areas that could argu- kind in the country, let alone one run ably provide more public good. Sheriffs by a sheriff ’s office. To make it work, were once in charge of giving rides to Bloom said they would likely hire an people who are released from prison, but established social services agency to departments across the state, including run the program.

Gamelin’s, stopped doing so a few years “I’m very confident that this would ago. As a result, inmates released from not only get off the ground but be very some of Vermont’s more rural prisons can successful,” Bloom said. find themselves without any way to get Gamelin is highly skeptical, in part home — or even to the closest bus stop. because many of the eviction cases that Gamelin countered that it was the land on his desk involve large sums of Department of State’s Attorneys and unpaid rent. “We’re not talking $200,” he Sheriffs that made the decision to stop said. “We just did one the other day that providing the rides, not him personally, was $18,000, so the landlord was clearly in part because the transports do not trying to work with that tenant.” fall under the statutory duties of the Bloom has earned the endorsement role. of a few smaller landlords. But some Bloom said they would resume the of the county’s bigger housing providpractice. “Maybe we could ers, including the Handy start to use the sheriff and Bissonette families, are backing Gamelin. The for things other than as a private security business and Handys’ rental company personal enrichment grift,” donated $1,000 to the sherBloom said. iff ’s reelection campaign, For Bloom, that begins while four Bissonettewith tackling Chittenden owned companies have County’s housing crisis. kicked in a combined $4,000.

Bloom argues that the Gamelin, who has carried sheriff is perfectly positioned out evictions for most of his to prevent evictions. The shercareer, rejects the idea of DAN GAME LIN iff must deliver paperwork any conflict of interest, even notifying tenants that their though the big landlords landlord is taking them to court and return frequently hire his department to serve later to notify the tenant when a judge has their legal papers. He said the Handys and ruled against them — giving them 14 days Bissonettes are old friends supporting to vacate the property. If the tenants don’t him personally. He also rejected Bloom’s leave, the sheriff forcibly removes them. attempt to paint him as a child-evicting Data from Vermont Legal Aid show bully. Any time he is evicting a family, he that three out of four evictions occur said, he coordinates with social service because of nonpayment of rent. Bloom organizations. points this out to bolster their idea for “It’s the worst part of my job,” Gamelin a rent-relief jobs program. The current said, “but I have no choice.” eviction process, which can take months, Even Bloom acknowledges that evicis a “raw deal” for both tenants and land- tions will be necessary at times. “I’m lords, Bloom argues. not talking about abolishing eviction,” Bloom recalled speaking with land- Bloom said. “I’m just talking about using lords who owned a duplex and recently it appropriately.” had to wait nine months to evict a tenant Bloom’s call to change the office who had stopped paying rent. “That is from within is a familiar message in their retirement income,” Bloom said. “All liberal Chittenden County, where the that lost revenue — it’s sunk.” state’s attorney has spent a decade Bloom said they would initially seek to trying to reduce the number of people enroll a group of local businesses in need behind bars. The August vote will show of employees into the jobs program. The whether local voters are open to the employers would agree to pay a livable idea of an unconventional reformist in wage and to offer a hiring bonus that the sheriff ’s post. would be given to the landlord to help Gamelin insists that the sheriff’s office pay down some of the debt. is not the place to be testing out unproven While Bloom said employers have policies. Bloom should run for the legisbeen reluctant to publicly back the idea lature if policy making is the goal, the before the election, some have been sheriff said. receptive behind the scenes, excited by For Bloom, those duties are simply the the prospect of getting connected to a starting point. “pool of applicants who will show up for “The sheriff can be whatever we want every shift.” it to be,” Bloom said. ➆

PARTY the

BRICKS on

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Last month, a 13-year-old riding what was apparently mischaracterized as an e-bike in a police report was airlifted to the University of Vermont Medical Center after colliding with a car on a rural road in Swanton. A photo from the crash scene indicates the teen was actually riding an e-moto, according to Jack Mandeville Evans, a program specialist at bike advocacy organization Local Motion. The boy suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Dr. Rebecca Bell, a pediatric ICU doctor at the University of Vermont’s Golisano Children’s Hospital, said e-bikes have “sort of exploded on the scene.” Last year, for the first time ever, several young riders were admitted to the UVM Medical Center for their injuries. Since then, the frequency of serious pediatric e-bike injuries — typically orthopedic trauma requiring surgery — has increased. This summer, Bell has seen more children who were injured on e-bikes than on conventional bikes.

Given these trends, Bell stressed the importance of educating parents and kids about the risks of e-bikes. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no e-bike use for children under age 12. Those who do ride should be limited to the least powerful e-bike, known as class 1. A rider should wear a helmet rated for higher speeds than conventional cycling headgear and shouldn’t use a cellphone while in motion, Bell said. Parents should set clear rules, reminding kids that e-bikes are heavier and faster than human-powered bikes and have more potential for injury to both riders and pedestrians.

Before getting on an e-bike, “young people need to be very competent in riding a typical bike, [be] able to stay in control [and know] the rules of road,” Bell said. “Late elementary school is too young.”

Sgt. Gregory Short, who leads South Burlington’s community services unit, said that last year he would see the occasional young person riding an electric bike or e-moto. Since spring, he said, “we’re seeing more and more reckless operation.” Riders, typically in the 10-to14 age range, are operating at unsafe speeds, racing, and even doing wheelies and doughnuts on busy roads, he said.

By definition, e-bikes have a motor with less than 750 watts of power. But some young people have learned how to convert them into e-moto-like vehicles by swapping in a higher-wattage motor and replacing pedals with fixed pegs, Short said.

So far, the South Burlington Police Department has focused on education.

Officers stop young people they see riding unsafely, explain why it’s dangerous and

send them on their way with a warning.

Under certain circumstances, such as for repeat offenders, officers have issued tickets and contacted the rider’s parents, Short said.

Near the end of the school year, the South Burlington School District sent a flyer to families that explained the differences between classes of e-bikes and e-motos. Short followed up with a visit to South Burlington’s middle school to chat informally with students in the cafeteria, giving them a chance to ask questions and stressing “the importance of riding with a helmet and not doing wheelies at 4:30 on Dorset Street.” He is planning to resume his outreach when the new school year begins.

“This issue is not going away,” he said.

“It’s about continuous education, making sure kids and families know we’re paying attention.”

South Burlington’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee, meanwhile, is discussing several new e-bike measures, according to Erica Quallen Towle, deputy director of capital projects for the city’s Department of Public Works. To spread awareness, the city launched a community outreach campaign. Officials are posting about e-bikes and e-motos on social media, and the city recently put up signs along its recreation paths, including one that advises a 15-mph speed limit and another that prohibits electric vehicles over 750 watts.

School resource officer Jaime Bressler, a corporal in Colchester’s police department, is also trying to educate families.

Bressler began calling parents of e-moto riders to let them know that the devices are illegal for kids under 16. Some told her they had not known that. Others indicated that they’d rather have their kids riding an e-moto than staying inside using their electronic devices. The school district recently banned e-motos from school property after officials noticed that kids were riding them onto campus this summer. The selectboard has begun discussing updating its ordinance related to e-bikes on sidewalks and rec paths.

Burlington’s Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department recently posted signs that say “No e-motos, motorcycles or unauthorized vehicles” on the city’s bike path. The idea came about after a statewide webinar in June hosted by Local Motion to talk about the challenges that e-motos pose. Mandeville Evans, the Local Motion staffer, acknowledged that e-bikes also come with risks but said his organization focuses on e-motos because of their greater power and speed.

“E-motos are advertised as a lifestyle purchase for adrenaline-seeking people … they are designed to prioritize adrenaline over safety,” Mandeville Evans wrote in

SASHA GOLDSTEIN

An e-moto belonging to a 14-year-old Burlington boy

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E-MOTOS

Max speed: Class 1 and 2: 20 mph; class 3: 28 mph

Max speed: No limit

Max motor power: 750 watts

Age limits: Must be 16

Age limits: None for class 1 and 2; must be 16 for class 3

Allowed on bike paths? No

Allowed on bike paths? Yes Must be registered? No

Must be registered? Yes Need a license? Yes SOURCE: LOCAL MOTION

an email, “and both of those factors contribute to their users using them in ways that push the limits and are unsafe.”

Next year, Local Motion plans to lobby for state legislation that would impose penalties for tampering with an e-bike to make it go faster and would require retailers to differentiate e-bikes from e-motos in advertising. Currently, some e-motos are falsely advertised as e-bikes, which makes it difficult for parents and kids to know what they’re purchasing, Mandeville Evans said.

Such legislative changes would be minor compared to a New Jersey law passed this year. It mandates that e-bikes be registered with the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission and requires riders to be at least 15 and have either a special e-bike license or a valid driver’s license.

Local Motion opposes such stringent measures, which Mandeville Evans said create unnecessary barriers.

Local enforcement efforts are clearly not reaching everyone. Last Wednesday,

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two 14-year-old boys fished off Perkins Pier in Burlington, their e-motos parked nearby. The rising ninth graders from the New North End asked not to be named but said their parents had purchased the vehicles for them online in the spring.

One of the teenagers said his e-moto had a 6,000-watt engine; the other said his was 6,500 watts — more than six times the wattage of an e-bike. The boys said they always wear helmets and slow down when they see families. Still, they said, sometimes people on the bike path yell at them. One boy characterized the naysayers as “haters.”

In the several months since they got their e-motos, the teens said, they’d each logged upwards of 1,000 miles.

They’d seen the “no e-motos” signs on the bike path but continued to ride there and weren’t worried about being pulled over.

E-motos make it easy to get around and they’re fun to ride, the boys said.

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CALAIS

PARKWAY PROBLEMS

With the recent opening of the Champlain Parkway, I’d like to offer some ideas to enhance this new “experience” [“Road Not Taken,” July 8].

First: When traveling north on Route 7, the sign that shows which lanes exit to I-189 need to be shifted to the left (west) so the arrows are over the lanes. The old signs were awfully misplaced, and they almost fixed this. It causes confusion and a crush of cars into the right-most lane.

Second: Why did they keep the “scaffold” signposts? They cause so much visual clutter, and I thought this would be the chance to finally get rid of them. Next time you drive on Route 7, just observe this. It causes slowing and unnecessary traffic. Probably too late.

Third: When you drive west on I-189, one sign says “Burlington or Shelburne” and the other sign just says “Champlain Parkway.” Why would anyone who doesn’t already live here go that way? Where does it go? You wouldn’t think it goes to Burlington. Is this on purpose? Are they assuming everyone uses Google Maps? WTF? Finally: It was great to see the road race on the parkway before it opened. Why not shut down the road one Sunday a month in the summer? Or every Sunday? Set up basketball nets or street hockey? Let it fill with bikes and walkers. It would be great for the community.

Tim Guiterman

GEORGE V. KRANICHFELD, CONTINUED…

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. This is the second and final batch of feedback about our July 1 cover story, “Pleading Their Case.”

Over her now-long tenure, and with a supporting public, George has built what she calls an “accountability court” that helps offenders get their lives back on track and become productive and useful members of society. We all win!

Sarah George is just getting started.

Please vote for her on August 11.

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

educational model gains traction, we hope it will serve as a multiplier to declining enrollment and exacerbate the unaffordability of consolidating Vermont schools across the state.

Unless education is returned to local control, Vermonters will take it back ourselves.

Mark Smith

HUNTINGTON

Sarah George

WHAT IS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE?

In his article about the contest for Chittenden County state’s attorney, Colin Flanders describes restorative justice as “a victim-involved process that focuses more on mediation than punishment.”

Restorative justice is not mediation. Mediation is a facilitated process designed to help parties reach a mutually acceptable resolution. It typically involves compromise and does not require an admission of responsibility or a commitment to change.

Restorative justice, by contrast, begins with the recognition that at least one party has caused harm. That person is expected to acknowledge the harm, take responsibility for their actions and work to make amends. Accountability in restorative justice is active, unlike purely punitive responses in which the state imposes consequences. Restorative responses seek to understand and address the needs and wishes of the person who was harmed.

Although restorative responses may include dialogue between the harmed and responsible parties, participation by the victim is voluntary, and there is never pressure to take part. Restorative

responses can be interwoven with punishment, but punishment becomes a last resort rather than the default option.

Sarah George recognizes that punishment is costly and does little to change behavior for the better. Her desire to find effective responses to harm, including restorative responses, is what makes her a courageous prosecutor and the right choice for Chittenden County state’s attorney.

Robert Sand

BURLINGTON

‘WE ALL WIN’

Sarah George believes in accountability and justice for all of us. For that to happen, there needs to be compassion and empathy in the courts.

Accountability begins within each and every one of us saying to ourselves: “I am responsible for my own life and behavior, and only I can fix what is broken in my world.” But that’s a daunting and challenging task, which is why we may need help from others, including judges and lawyers who have the skills to help fix what is broken — for example, a drug or alcohol problem.

BURLINGTON NEEDS BRAM

The primary for the position of Chittenden County state’s attorney is the most important election in the state this year.

No Republican can win the general election, so the primary will decide who wins.

Running again is Sarah George, whose soft-on-crime philosophy has contributed to turning Burlington, once the “Queen City,” into a virtual cesspool of vagrants, drug addicts and repeat offenders. George is such a bad prosecutor that the former attorney general took on murder cases that she refused to prosecute. She has repeatedly let aggressive and disruptive protesters off the hook, even when they trespassed on private property and had to be dragged away by the police. I hear from folks all over the state about how they avoid Burlington for fear of being attacked, having to witness a fatal overdose or stepping in human feces. Why do the county’s citizens keep voting for her? Do voters want to see our once-beautiful city defiled? Or, like most voters, do they just check off familiar-sounding names in the “down ballot” races?

Now there is a good alternative to George: Bram Kranichfeld is an experienced prosecutor who previously served in the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office. Kranichfeld is now the state’s

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attorney in Franklin County, having been appointed to fill that vacant position by the governor. Kranichfeld is a resident of Burlington, with a young family. He has a real stake in seeing Burlington return to its former status as a lovely place to visit or reside.

Crocker Bennett

HINESBURG

‘ACADEMIC’ ARGUMENT

As academics who study the criminallegal system, we enthusiastically endorse the reelection of Sarah George. She has paired accountability with evidencebased policies to promote a more effective, fiscally responsible and equitable legal system.

On cash bail, which George’s opponent proposes reinstating, research shows it disproportionately harms the poorest defendants without reducing court absences. Even brief pretrial detention due to inability to pay can cost people their jobs and housing, increasing instability that contributes to reoffending. It is also expensive: Vermont spends more than $100,000 annually to incarcerate one person, without evidence that cash bail improves public safety.

What does work is investing in court resources. George’s advocacy for addressing the post-COVID-19 case backlog led to the creation of the accountability court, which has significantly reduced that backlog while integrating social services.

This approach reflects research showing that many low-level offenses are linked to poverty, homelessness, addiction and mental illness.

The candidates also differ on prosecuting charges from non-safety-related traffic stops. Research shows that these stops disproportionately affect Black

Bram Kranichfeld

drivers, although white drivers are more likely to be found with contraband.

Declining to prosecute charges from these stops has been shown to reduce racial disparities while allowing law enforcement to focus limited resources on traffic safety.

These examples illustrate how research can guide prosecutorial policy.

Sarah George has demonstrated a commitment to data-driven approaches that promote equity, fiscal responsibility and public safety.

Stephanie Seguino

BURLINGTON

Kathy Fox

SOUTH BURLINGTON

LAWYER FOR GEORGE

I practiced criminal law in three states, including 25 years in Vermont, mostly in Chittenden County. I have been a prosecutor, public defender and private attorney. George is one of the best prosecutors I have seen. She has greatly strengthened the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office. The office takes all crime seriously.

It works hard to minimize its effect on the community. Doing this successfully

requires creativity and insight into people — virtues that George possesses.

George vigorously prosecutes the most serious crimes, keeping people in jail who are truly dangerous. Jail space is limited and must be used for the most threatening cases.

George’s bail decisions reflect this fact and the fact that the Vermont Supreme Court has made it clear that the norm is release without bail. In murder and a few other cases, defendants can be held without bail because of the risks they pose. As I know personally, George does consider this.

I support her reelection wholeheartedly.

Robert Backus

BURLINGTON

But George’s self-proclaimed “empathy” trait clouds any responsible vision of the duties of her office. She is on record espousing the view that shoplifters, graffiti vandals and other “property-only” criminals are somehow the victims of society’s failure to them, a perverse interpretation of the rule of law and our bedrock principle of individual responsibility.

George would make a good social worker, but that’s not what we want or deserve for a state’s attorney. Her tolerance for anarchy that she justifies with her personal concept of socioeconomic injustice is contrary to the rule of law and the oath of office that all state’s attorneys are subject to.

Bob Cain

SOUTH HERO

LAWYER FOR KRANICHFELD

As a practicing Burlington attorney for over 40 years, and a co-owner of an iconic Church Street building on the National Register of Historic Places that was repeatedly tagged by graffiti vandals throughout the tenure of Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, I can vouch for her abject failure to execute her oath to uphold the rule of law.

The pervasive and long-standing graffiti vandalism that has plagued our city is an obvious sign of inner-city decay.

After George repeatedly failed to prosecute graffiti vandalism to our building, we spent thousands installing video surveillance cameras. The cameras caught the vandals red-handed. We turned the rock-solid proof over to the Burlington police, but George refused to prosecute. A single prosecution resulting in a jail sentence would have spread like wildfire among the small squadron of graffiti vandals, with resulting instantaneous effect.

NO CONTEST

The contest between Sarah George and Bram Kranichfeld seems to be a reprise of the challenge Ted Kenney mounted four years ago, sensing that George was vulnerable because of trepidation over public safety. The soft-on-crime slur commonly hurled by Republicans against Democrats didn’t work even in that context. Now that public safety trepidation has subsided substantially, any plausible rationale for replacing a seasoned state’s attorney who is doing a good job falls apart instantly under scrutiny. No one is pro-crime — least of all a state’s attorney like George working consistently to move the arc of the moral universe toward justice. I understand that Kranichfeld wants the job and sees a potential opening, but George is doing the job and deserves our continued support.

Michael Long

BURLINGTON

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Donald Joseph LeBlanc OCTOBER 20, 1955-JULY 6, 2026 COLCHESTER, VT.

Donald Joseph LeBlanc, 70, of Colchester, Vt., passed away peacefully on Monday, July 6, 2026. He spent his final days surrounded by the love of his family and friends.

Donald was born on October 20, 1955, in Newport, Vt., to Norman and Celine (Bonneau) LeBlanc. He was raised in various communities throughout Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

Donald married Cathy Ste. Marie in North Troy, Vt., on July 28, 1984. Together, they shared nearly 42 years of marriage and built a life centered on their love of family.

Donald was a hard worker and spent 29 years working at IBM as a maintenance technician and later drove for O’Reilly Auto Parts. A natural tinkerer, he spent countless hours at his work benches fixing or reinventing things. Things were never truly broken unless Donald couldn’t fix it.

He had many passions, including hunting, snowmobiling, searching for shark teeth, traveling, and spending time near the water, whether on a beach vacation or at the family camp on Lake Champlain. He enjoyed sharing brewskis with his friends and telling stories using his unique sayings, affectionately known as “Donny-isms.”

Living with ALS was extraordinarily difficult, and Donald faced its devastating challenges with courage and remarkable strength. Even as his disease progressed, he remained determined to live life to its fullest. In his final months of life, he was able to go on one last hunting trip, take several snowmobile rides and spend quality time with loved ones in his garage.

Donald loved his family immensely. His greatest joy was to see both daughters graduate from college and to walk them down the aisle at their weddings. He was ecstatic to become a Pepere, and nothing brought him more happiness than spending time with his granddaughters.

Donald is survived by his wife, Cathy; daughters, Chelsea LaFramboise and her husband, John, and Lindsay Campbell and her husband, Joey; granddaughters, Callie LaFramboise and Makenna Campbell; father, Norman LeBlanc; sisters, Lucy Bathalon and her husband, Paul, and Gloria Blake and her husband, Bill; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Celine (Bonneau) LeBlanc; father-in-law, Paul Ste. Marie; brother-in-law, Peter Ste. Marie; and nephew Aaron Demers.

A funeral mass will be held on August 31, 2026, 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Grace Church in Colchester, followed by a celebration of life at the Main Barn at Lang Farms in Essex Junction. Feel free to wear something camo in his honor.

His family and friends will be participating in a fundraiser for ALS in September. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to their Walk to Defeat ALS team, Don’s Dears.

Please use the following link if you wish to donate: web.alsa.org/goto/donsdears.

22

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Barbara Ann (Jensen) Stearns SEPTEMBER 25, 1928-JULY 14, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

Barbara Ann (Jensen) Stearns passed away on July 14, 2026, in Burlington, Vt., at 97 years of age.

Barb was born on September 25, 1928, in West Hartford, Conn., where she resided until leaving to attend the University of Vermont.

Successful and active in college life, she graduated with a BA in English in 1950.

While at UVM, Barb met a young engineer, Burdett “Bud” Stearns, whom she married in 1951. Life took them many places, including stays in Illinois, Washington State, New Mexico and New York.

Along the way, their children — Kimberly (1952), Julia (1953) and Harland (1955) — were born. Barb and her family resettled in Vermont in 1966. Barb had strong people skills, which she applied as a schoolteacher, school counselor and, after receiving a MS in educational counseling (UVM, 1974), as a mental health practitioner with the

Jeffrey Robert Wells

AUGUST 18, 1956-JUNE 2, 2026 SATSUMA, ALA. Jeffrey Robert Wells, 69, formerly of Essex Junction, Vt., and Jacksonville, Fla., passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026, at Springhill Hospital, near his home in Satsuma, Ala. Jeff grew up in Essex Junction, Vt., and graduated from Essex Junction High School, Class of 1974. Jeff greatly enjoyed performing with the band and several choruses and singing at many weddings.

Jeff worked in retail the whole of his professional life.

His stores included Grand Union, Mr. G’s, Mac’s Market, and many years with Publix Supermarket in Jacksonville, Fla., and Saraland, Ala. He retired from Publix Supermarket in 2022 to spend more time with his family.

Jeff was the son of Robert and Beverley (Burleson) Wells. He married his best friend, Penny Hempstead Wells, on October 6, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. He is preceded in death by his beloved parents and his

Encouragement Center (Colchester, Vt.) and Networks (Burlington, Vt.). She “retired” at age 70 but never did slow down. She loved talking with people, participating in book clubs, writing poetry, playing tennis, sailing, swimming and spending time at her cottage on Bald Hill Pond.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Julia Sexstone and husband Alan; grandsons, Sean and Graham Sexstone; granddaughters, Shannon and Shayla Dickerson; and great-grandchildren, Colin, Stella, Leah, Russell, Vincent, Crosby and Owen Sexstone. Her daughtersin-law, Teresa and Colleen, held a special place in her heart. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Burdett Stearns; son, Harland; and daughter Kimberly.

A memorial service will be held in late August at a time and place to be announced. All who knew and loved her are welcome to attend. Instead of flowers, please consider contributing to JUMP (Joint Urban Ministry Project), a Burlington organization with which Barbara actively worked for many years.

cherished daughter, Lindsay Hempstead.

He is survived by his wife, Penny Wells; sons, Jeremy Wells, Brian (Jen) Wells and Ben (Holly) Hempstead; sister, Wendy Bilodeau; nieces, Leslie Langevin and Kelsey Bilodeau; and treasured grandchildren, Ariel Treadway, Hunter Hempstead, Chloe Hempstead, Jason Wells, Gavin Wells, Kingston Hempstead and Regina Hempstead.

The family of Jeff wishes to extend their sincere thanks for the many prayers, well-wishes and condolences that they have received through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the donor’s choice of charity in Jeff’s honor. The family will have a Celebration of Life for Jeff at a later date.

A lengthier obituary embracing more of Jeff’s life may be found at: dignitymemorial. com/obituaries/saraland-al/ jeffrey-wells-12912104.

Jeff will be deeply missed, but the laughter he left behind will never be forgotten.

Dr. Edwin Joseph Guilfoy Jr.

JULY 23, 1947-JULY 17, 2026 HUNTINGTON, VT. On the evening of July 17, 2026, our dear husband, father and grandfather passed on to be with his Creator.

Our family is grateful that his passing was peaceful, while at home on his beloved farm and surrounded by loved ones. He lived a full and beautiful life with many interests, adventures and friends. Family, the farm and his faith were his great passions. He will be remembered especially for his determination, generosity, humility and humor. Our thanks to all who have supported our family and to the University of Vermont Home Health & Hospice for the tireless care and support over the years.

The family is taking time with planning a celebration of life at a future time.

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Alexander Read Cronin

into every room he entered.

A “one of one,” he had a quick wit, a generous spirit, and a restless, inventive mind that seemed always to be solving, building or imagining something new. Whether working with motorcycles,

remote-control cars or drones, he carried a lifelong fascination with motion, mechanics and speed.

Read was, above all, devoted to the people he loved.

As a father, he delighted in sharing his passions with his daughter, Teddy, as well as with his niece and nephew, Saffron and Misha. He was never happier than when teaching, guiding or simply spending time together — whether taking “one more loop” in the Gator, heading out for another round at the target range, fixing a two-stroke motor just by the sound of it over a long-distance call or waiting patiently in the woods for the elusive big buck.

Though the forest always felt like home, Read spent the

last two decades of his life in Montecito, Calif., where he immersed himself in the daily rhythms of raising Teddy, honing his knife-making skills and giving generously of himself. Read was warm, funny and deeply feeling — a devoted father, son, brother, uncle and friend and deeply loved by those fortunate enough to know him.

He is survived by his parents, Ted and Susie Cronin, of Montecito; his brother, C. Wright Cronin (Rebecca Weisman), of Richmond, Vt.; his daughter, Teddy Cronin; his niece and nephew, Saffron and Misha Cronin; and his beloved dog, Lexi. His family will be honoring him in a private ceremony in October in the Adirondack woods.

College in 1977 and Bowling Green State University in 1979 as a first-generation college graduate. She was a savvy businesswoman who

worked primarily in the travel industry, including airline management and airport parking. While always an Ohio girl at heart, she lived in Indiana, Wyoming, Arizona, California and Florida. She loved three things above all: her beloved friends and family, listening to music (about which she had a dazzling amount of knowledge), and sitting in the sun. In all her roles and in every state, she gathered friends, who she made laugh, lifted up and encouraged. She inspired devotion and deep connection, and she will be dearly missed by countless people.

She is survived by her

sister Marlene Tromp; her brother-in-law, James Spearman; and her nephew, Jacob Hans Tromp-Chacko.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, noon, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect St., Granville, Ohio. She will be interred beside her parents in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville in a private ceremony. The ceremony will be followed by a Rock and Roll Celebration of Mary’s life from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge and Welsh Hills Room at the Burton D. Morgan Center at Denison University, 150 Ridge Rd., Granville, Ohio.

On May 30, 1956, she married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Vernon L. Merchant. Together for 71 years, Suzanne and Vernon raised four children.

She had a passion for crafting, a love of babies, and, more importantly, a quick wit and sense of humor which

brought out the best side of all around her. Her greatest joy was decorating for Christmas and the celebration of the season and all that it brought.

Suzanne was a regular attendee of Ignite Church in Williston, Vt., and cared deeply for her church family. She had many wonderful friends and deep relationships that brought her great encouragement, and she was never ashamed of sharing her love of Jesus with anyone that crossed her path. Suzanne shared her love of Jesus with arms wide open, even in her last breath.

Along with her parents, Suzanne was predeceased by her loving husband of 67 years, Vernon, in 2023, and her sister Clair Phillips in 2012. Suzanne is survived

by her four children: Tim and Kelley Merchant, Steve and Lynn Merchant, Judy and Joseph Senesac, and Kris and MJ Merchant; and her sister Rita and Bob Gauthier. She also leaves behind a legacy of seven grandchildren, whom she loved more than life itself: Abigail and her husband, Winston; siblings Lily and Levi and his wife, Kelley; and siblings Brooke, Bethany, Bridget and David.

Visiting hours will be on Friday, July 31, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m., at LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Services, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT. There will also be a celebration of her life on Saturday, August 1, 10 a.m., at Ignite Church, 1037 South Brownell Rd., Williston, VT. To send condolences to her family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

APRIL 12, 1978-JUNE 25, 2026 MONTECITO, CALIF. Alexander Read Cronin was born in 1978 in Littleton, N.H., just over the border of Vermont — a place that shaped his lifelong love of woods, water and things with wheels. He grew up surrounded by nature and family, spending his early years hunting in Vermont and the Adirondacks, fishing in Lake Champlain, camping in the Boundary Waters, and tinkering with anything powered by an engine or a spark.

Known to many as “Adirondack Red,” Read brought a singular presence

Mary Lynne Tromp OCTOBER 23, 1957JULY 12, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

Mary Lynne Tromp, at an ever-glamorous 68, of Burlington, Vt., passed away at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., on July 12, 2026, after a two-year battle with glioblastoma.

Born in Painesville, Ohio, on October 23, 1957, to Hans and Eileen (Saari) Tromp, Mary was beloved by people in every corner of the country and across her life. She graduated from Kirtland High School in 1975, Lakeland Community

Suzanne J. Merchant JANUARY 19, 1936JULY 14, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

Suzanne J. Merchant, loving wife and mother, peacefully went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Cathedral Square Assisted Living Facility in Burlington, Vt. She was 90 years old.

Suzanne was born on January 19, 1936, in Winooski, Vt., to Austin and Lillian (Langlais) Feeney. Suzanne was employed by IBM Corporation, moved on to the University of Vermont Medical Center, and spent the last of her working years at her favorite position, as a receptionist at Hickok and Boardman.

Douglas W. Smith Douglas W. Smith, 77 years of age, passed away in the early morning hours of July 12, 2026. Doug was an active participant in the aviation community and a beloved grandfather to his three grandchildren, Sienna, Crew and Winnie.

Doug began his career as a psychologist in New South Wales, Australia, but quickly realized he wanted to pursue his passion for aviation. He returned to the U.S. to obtain additional ratings and licenses to become a professional pilot and began his aviation career as a flight instructor in Vermont. He later flew for Basler Airlines in Wisconsin, served as chief flight instructor at Auburn University and became a Delta Airlines pilot for 30 years. Upon retiring from Delta, he flew for Air India, founded the Vermont Flight Academy and worked to create the four-year Professional Pilot Technology degree at Vermont State University. Doug also served as an FAA designated flight examiner.

Beyond aviation, Doug was an avid writer, sailor, model train enthusiast and genealogist who enjoyed preserving family stories.

Doug is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dianna (“Dee”) Smith; and his three children, Corbin Smith, Hans Smith and Rachel Keyser; as well as William Keyser, Lauren Smith and his three grandchildren. He will be dearly missed as a vibrant, active and loving man who embraced life to its fullest.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a gift in his name, please consider donating to the Vermont Alzheimer’s Association, the Vermont Diabetes Association or the Vermont Flight Academy.

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.

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OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Steven F. Oakland

JANUARY 26, 1951MAY 20, 2026 COLCHESTER, VT. Steve Oakland, 75, of Colchester, Vt., died at home on May 20, 2026, after living with esophageal cancer for more than five years.

Steve was born on January 26, 1951, in Canton, S.D., the fourth of five sons of Lewis and Gladys (Lewis) Oakland.

The family lived on a farm at Worthing, S.D., and Steve attended a one-room school through the third grade.

The Oaklands then moved to Canton, where Steve flourished academically and musically. He was a four-year All-State Band member (first trombone at least twice) and valedictorian of his high school class.

Steve earned BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

He received his PhD on May 24, 1980, from Iowa State University, Ames, with a co-major in biomedical and

electrical engineering. The same day, he married Ames native Sue Deppe. They commuted between Rochester, Minn., and Iowa City for several years, then moved to Vermont after Sue’s medical school graduation in 1983.

Since 1997, they have lived on the shore of Lake Champlain.

Except for a year teaching computer science at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Steve spent his entire career at IBM, first in Rochester, Minn., then in Essex Junction, Vt. Among other projects, he worked on voice recognition and developing and testing

Georgia Dolan Jeffers

SEPTEMBER 3, 1933JULY 2, 2026 SHELBURNE, VT. Georgia Dolan Jeffers, 92, of Shelburne, Vt., died of natural causes in Colchester, Vt., at the McClure Miller Respite House on July 2, 2026.

She was born in Hartford, Conn., to Eva May Fox Dolan and Vincent Dolan and attended school in Manchester, Conn., before studying at UCONN and marrying John “Jeff” Jeffers on September 10, 1955, at the Manchester Country Club in Manchester, Conn.

Georgia and Jeff moved to Cape Cod, where Jeff was stationed in the U.S. Air Force for five years, before returning to Manchester, Conn., to start their family. They then moved to East Lyme, Conn., where they lived for six years, followed by a brief time in Medfield, Mass., before moving to Vermont in 1968.

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microchips. During his career he filed about 40 patents and received several awards, including an IBM corporate award in collaboration with colleagues.

From an early age, Steve was happy when playing piano, and he shared his gifts on keyboard and voice throughout his life. He was organist for the weddings of three of his brothers. At First United Methodist Church in Burlington, he and Sue sang and played in choir, praise band and countless ensembles, including a vocal quartet, the Psalter Shakers.

Under director Betty Burbank, these groups traveled regionally to share music with small churches and other groups.

Steve substituted on piano and organ and, for a time, directed the choir and handbell choir. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played and recorded a five-part handbell piece for Advent (youtu. be/xn3P1D6wRm8?t=768).

He was church treasurer and served on the District Committee on Ministry and in other roles. Steve and Sue were active in the Walk

People often commented that Georgia was the most positive person they’d ever met, and she was.

Georgia was a homemaker when her daughters were small, then joined the VOTEC department at the University of Vermont to start a long career in office management and grant administration at UVM once the girls were in school full time. Georgia loved to work and loved her coworkers, and she worked past retirement, to 80, before fully retiring to care for her husband, who was facing health challenges.

Georgia had a strong spiritual side and was devoted to her church community all her life. She had an unwavering moral compass, always looked for the good, and was compassionate and generous with everyone she

to Emmaus community as musicians and leaders, and Steve served on the board, managed the database and edited newsletters. He also assembled and published the community’s 2015 songbook.

Steve was a lay member of the New England Annual Conference of the UMC and its predecessor, Troy Conference, for many years.

For the last eight years of his life, he served on the conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry. Steve treasured all of these ministries and the people with whom he worked, prayed, played and sang.

Steve loved musical theater, public radio, outdoor dining, sunsets, walking and biking, time with loved ones, making music, and traveling. Favorite trips included many parts of North America; Australia; Germany (Oberammergau Passion Play); England (John Wesley tour); and hiking, biking and kayaking in New Zealand.

In late March 2020, as COVID-19 shut down the world, Steve began hosting a weekly Zoom gathering with his four brothers and their

came to know. She loved everything beach: the water, shell collecting, sailing and beach walking. She also enjoyed skiing, camping, gardening, picking fruit and putting up preserves. Mostly she loved people and enjoyed lifelong friendships with people from all periods of her life.

Weekly, she was often on calls with friends she knew from high school and early married life, with many friendships lasting 60, 70 and 80-plus years. She loved to make friends and “adopted” the Ashooh family in Shelburne as an honorary grandmother to their three kids, whom she loved as her own “grands.” She loved welcoming friends and friends of friends and family into her home.

spouses. This connection was an important source of support for him after his cancer diagnosis in March 2021.

Steve was predeceased by his parents, Lewis and Gladys Oakland; his father-in-law, Robert Deppe; and several cousins. He is survived by his wife, Sue Deppe, and his brothers and their wives: Dick and Lanea Oakland of Madison, Wis.; Dave and Mary Jane Oakland of Ames, Iowa; Jerry and Barb Oakland of Marion, Iowa; and Dan and Jenny Oakland of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by his motherin-law, Carol Deppe of Ames, Iowa, and Sue’s siblings: Linda Deppe of Milwaukie, Ore.; Barbara Deppe and Karl Beuschlein of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; Michael Deppe and Rachel Richardson of St. Paul, Minn.; and Roberta Deppe and Andrew Gibson of Portland, Ore; and their families.

Sue and Steve appreciated the superb care Steve received from Dr. Marc Greenblatt and team at the University of Vermont Cancer

Georgia is preceded in death by her daughter Holly; husband, “Jeff,” sister, Linda Warner (Ed Warner); and her parents; and is survived by her daughters Robin Jeffers, Jill Jeffers Ruppenkamp (Steve Ruppenkamp) and Penny Jeffers (Anne Grignon); granddaughter, Emily Van Ravestein (Braden Van Ravestein), and their sons, Braden, Jack and Nash; grandson, Dylan Levins (Elissa Sanford); nephews, Mark Chambrevich and Jonathan Chambers; his daughters, Amy and Sarah; and Georgia’s beloved neighbors the Ashoohs: Mike, Sarah (Nilson), Josh, Lena and Samara.

A church service for Georgia will be held on Monday, August 24, 2026, 11 a.m., at the North Avenue Alliance Church in Burlington, Vt. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the McLure Miller Respite House or the Christian and Missionary Alliance missions, c/o North Avenue Alliance Church, in honor of Georgia.

Center. The family thanks UVM Home Health & Hospice, Loving Home Care, PruneauPolli Funeral Home, and the wonderful crew at the Vermont Forest Cemetery, where Steve’s natural burial service was held on May 27, 2026.

During his life, Steve’s quiet faithfulness, humility and kindness drew many people to him. He was, and is, deeply loved. Now his body helps to sustain a beautiful forest on a hillside in Roxbury, and Steve is with God. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, 2 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 21 Buell St., Burlington, VT. Dress comfortably for the weather; the sanctuary is not airconditioned. A reception will follow.

Those wishing to donate in Steve’s memory might consider one of the following: First United Methodist Church, Burlington, Vt. (umcburlington.com), the Vermont Food Bank (vtfoodbank.org) or the Vermont Forest Cemetery (cemetery.eco).

Peter D. Chiacchieri BURLINGTON, VT.

Peter D. Chiacchieri of Burlington, Vt., passed away at home on Monday, June 15, 2026, of natural causes.

Services are being arranged for October 2026.

Marcia Mary Morrell

kindness and love of learning inspired generations of students.

On July 11, 1970, Marcia married her high school sweetheart, Doug Morrell.

While she studied abroad in Scotland, they faithfully maintained a long-distance relationship. Doug proposed over hamburgers and chocolate milkshakes the day she returned home, marking the beginning of nearly 56 years of devoted marriage filled with love, friendship and joy in even life’s simplest moments.

A charter member of Evangelical Covenant Community Church, Marcia lived her faith through compassion, humility and service.

She loved reading, volunteering at the Richmond Public Library, traveling, tea and, above all, her family. Affectionately known as “Biza” and “Mummi,” she treasured every moment with her six grandchildren.

Marcia is survived by her beloved husband, Doug; her daughters, Catherine and Sherri, and their husbands; her sister, Carolyn; six cherished grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Marcia’s life will be held on August 8, 2026, at Camel’s Hump Middle School in Richmond.

Doors open at 1 p.m., with an informal service beginning at 2 p.m. Please join us to gather, share memories and celebrate her life. All are welcome. In place of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in Marcia’s memory.

continued his film work while serving as director of media operations at the University of Vermont. There, he embraced emerging classroom technologies to support professors and students. He eventually made his home in Charlotte with his wife, Doreen Kraft.

Together, they raised a daughter and shared a rich life filled with family, creativity, travel and adventure.

His passions were vast and deeply held. Marvin loved baseball, classical music, art, gardening and a long-standing poker group with close friends. Marvin’s love of the ocean led him to

become an avid sailor and scuba diver. In later years, he took up piano, painting and sculpture, eager to explore new creative outlets. A lifelong vegetarian, he made one notable exception: a Hebrew National hot dog.

Marvin’s bold, progressive spirit was underscored by a lifelong commitment to learning, questioning, creating and imagining the future. Proud of his Jewish heritage, deeply engaged in politics and world affairs, he was endlessly curious about how others lived and viewed the world.

Above all, Marvin loved his family.

He is survived by his wife, Doreen Kraft; his children, Aryeh Fishman, Damian Rose, and Shaina Beckwith (and her husband, Brandon Beckwith); his grandchildren, Ori and Elyse Fishman; his siblings Karen Goldman and Harold Fishman; and his sister-inlaw Carol Fishman.

Marvin was laid to rest on July 13, 2026, in a green burial near his cherished home. A celebration of his life will be held in October, with details to be announced.

MARCH 31, 1948JUNE 24, 2026 RICHMOND, VT.

Marcia Mary Morrell of Richmond, Vt., was welcomed into her Heavenly Father’s arms on June 24, 2026, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family. She was 78.

Born on March 31, 1948, in Syracuse, N.Y., to John and Mary Morris, Marcia was known for her warmth, gentle spirit, unwavering faith, and remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcomed, valued and loved. She graduated from West Genesee High School in 1966 and earned a degree in mathematics from Elmira College in 1970, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

After beginning a career at the Federal Reserve Board, she devoted herself to raising her family before finding her true calling in the classroom.

She taught at Camel’s Hump Middle School for more than 20 years, where her patience,

Marvin Philip Fishman OCTOBER 9, 1937JULY 11, 2026 CHARLOTTE, VT.

Marvin Fishman — a filmmaker, artist, activist, beloved father and grandfather, and lifelong Yankees fan — passed away peacefully on July 11, 2026, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. He was 88 years old.

Born in Brooklyn to Abraham and Pauline Fishman, Marvin attended Brooklyn College and the University of Chicago Law School before discovering his true passion in journalism and documentary filmmaking. As a cofounder of Newsreel, he used his craft to support the anti-war movement during the Vietnam era. Later, he contributed his talents to Burlington’s sister city project in Nicaragua, producing films that highlighted humanitarian efforts in the midst of the Contra War. After relocating from New York City to Vermont with his first wife, Laura, with whom he had two sons, Marvin

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OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES Matthew Andre Tanner MARCH 1, 1974-JULY 6, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

Matthew Andre Tanner, beloved brother, husband, father and friend, passed away on July 6, 2026, after being overcome by a sudden and unexpected medical event. He was 52 years old. Born in Atlanta, Ga., on March 1, 1974, to parents Amos and Ella Tanner, Matthew was the middle sibling to older brother Andrew and younger sister Angela. After several years in Atlanta, the family moved to Colorado, where at age 5 Matthew would lose his father, Amos, a World War II Navy veteran. His mother, Ella, remarried to Matthew’s stepfather, U.S. Army soldier Jay Hope. The family would spend four years living at his duty station near Frankfurt, Germany, before moving to Jay’s home state of Vermont in 1984. The family lived in Duxbury and Bolton before settling in Burlington in 1986.

In high school Matthew began developing his interests in media production and theater, participating in the Drama Club and collaborating with friends on numerous video projects through the Mayor’s Youth Office. Matthew earned genuine fascination and respect from classmates for his unabashedly unique style choices, like a Dwayne Wayne haircut with extra bangs, carrying a gum pouch and wearing his famous kilt. Matthew was revered for his charm and quick wit. He went on an unchaperoned trip to Paris, France, with several friends his senior year. Matthew graduated high school with the Class of 1992 and entered adulthood, but his childlike sense of playfulness, imagination and hope would never leave him.

As a young adult, Matthew studied at the Community College

of Vermont and Burlington College, taking courses in advertising, design, public relations, mass media, film and creative writing.

These would inform many projects throughout his life, such as camera work on the Sundance awardwinning film Frozen River (2008); a dramatic acting role as a fugitive slave in “The North Star” (2014); assisting production of the PBS series “The Endless Feast” (2007); and others. Matthew also helped produce service announcements and commercials for things like public transportation, the Vermont Lake Monsters, the American Cancer Society and Recycle North.

Matthew became well known locally as the cohost and producer of “Matty and Stech Variety Hour,” which ran on cable public access for many years and formerly featured the late Josh Bridgman. The live callin show featured many guests and could be unpredictable and hilarious while also fostering discussion and debate on serious topics such as police conduct, local and national politics, racism, corruption, human rights, and constitutional law. In 2013 Matthew was proud to receive the Robert L. Chapman Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Public Access Television for his work on this show.

Matthew’s activism included serving as an HIV/AIDS educator for Vermont CARES, an outreach worker for Spectrum Youth & Family Services, a panelist for the Vermont Department of Health, and a member of Uncommon Alliance, a nonprofit that hosted forums to foster dialogue between community members and police.

Matthew earned a living at various jobs through the years, including bartending and restaurant work at Ponderosa Steakhouse, Asiana House, Gaku Ramen, the

Garage, the Archives Bar and Arcade, and El Cortijo Taqueria. For a number of years, he served as a production assistant for in-studio news broadcasts at WCAX-TV. In the 1990s, Matthew spent two years in Portland, Ore., where he enjoyed fun times and made many friends.

Of his many loves and friends, his relationship with Anne Marie Costa was his deepest and most important. Together with Anne Marie, Matthew would become a foster parent to two nephews and a niece and stepfather to Anne Marie’s three children, forming a beautiful, blended family of eight bound by love and dedication.

Matthew and Anne Marie were married at Oakledge Park in July 2002. In May 2004 they were blessed by the birth of their son, Furious Joseph Tanner, whom Matthew lovingly referred to as “Bunny.”

The years Matthew dedicated to his marriage and the children that gave his life so much purpose were challenging, rewarding and filled with love. Although they divorced in 2008, Matthew and Anne Marie maintained their friendship and love for each other eternally, and Matthew continued to refer to Anne Marie as his wife until the end.

Matthew leaves behind his son, Furious Tanner; brother, Andrew Tanner; sister, Angela Santos; nephews, Miles Tanner, Justin Tanner and Omari Santos; nieces, Nico Tanner-Garrett and Ella Santos; stepdaughter, Uma Costa-Mangina; stepson, Ozazl Costa-Mangina; and stepfather, Jay Hope. He was predeceased by his parents and stepson Pan Costa-Mangina, whom we miss.

To anyone who knew Matthew, he was an irreplaceable shining light.

He accepted people for who they really were, understood their flaws and loved them without judgement.

He was someone who would really listen to you and remember what you said the next time you met. He made people feel good about themselves, and he was endlessly entertaining.

He lived his life passionately and unapologetically. There will never be another person like him.

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Shane Terry Lander

MAY 15, 1961-JULY 20, 2026 COLCHESTER, VT. Shane Terry Lander of Colchester, Vt., lost his battle with cancer, surrounded by the people he loved, on July 20, 2026.

He was born in Burlington, Vt., in 1961 to Forrest and Bonnie Lander and grew up in Essex Center, Vt. Shane had a bit of a wild side in his younger years, but once he met Tina and started a family, he spent the rest of his years devoted to them.

Those who earned the love and dedication of Shane were rare but chosen. Being chosen

by Shane’s love was not something to be taken for granted. It was earned, and you wore it like a proud badge of honor, where you knew, without a doubt, that he would take the shirt off his back to support you as much as he could.

Charlene R. Bohl SEPTEMBER 5, 1948JULY 9, 2026 MIDDLESEX, VT.

Charlene R. Bohl of Middlesex, Vt., passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Burlington, Vt., at the age of 77. She was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Charles and Winifred Bohl and grew up in Ohio and Illinois.

During her short illness, she was supported by her family and a community of friends. The family expresses deep-felt gratitude for the support of these friends, along with the caring and dedicated staff at the Central Vermont Medical Center and the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Charlene deeply loved her family and friends. She is survived by her two children and their families, Dana Gould of Boston, Mass., and Stephanie Sotkin of Salt Lake City, Utah;

Shane was a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather to his loving wife, Tina Lander; children, Casey Hansen (Dan), Lisa LaBelle (Ross) and Nicole Richer (Steve); and 10 grandchildren and their partners. He was also a dedicated friend to Rick and Lori Langlais, who embody what it means to love and support someone until the very end.

Shane was preceded in death by both his parents and his niece Becky Lander. He was survived by his brothers, Reed Lander (Penny) and Brian Lander (Linda), and nieces and nephews.

Our family invites friends and family to a celebration of life that will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, 2 p.m., at his home in Colchester. The address is 25 Camp Kiniya Rd., Colchester, VT. Please reach out to Casey Hansen at 802-355-3746 with any questions.

her granddaughter, Hannah Sotkin, also of Salt Lake City, Utah; and her partner, Eric Young, of Middlesex, Vt., and his family. She is also survived by her brother and his family, Charles Bohl of Cedarburg, Wis.; and her cousins Heidi Lewis of Somerville, Mass., and John Lewis of Seattle, Wash., and his family.

The family is planning a gathering to celebrate her life and honor her memory on August 8, 2026, 1:30 p.m., at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to the Green Mountain Club and the Central Vermont Humane Society. To continue honoring her memory, her family hopes you spend some time enjoying the great outdoors with loved ones.

Her full obituary is available online at pruneaupollifuneral home.com.

PAULA ROUTLY

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Burlington

V

2%

stowe

98%

95%

Non-STR homes

STR homes

ludlow

27%

5%

73%

22%

78%

Share of housing used as short-term rentals in four Vermont communities

12K

ABOUT THE DATA

Vermont's short-term rental market surged after the COVID-19 pandemic 10K

Total active listings

8K

6K

4K

2K

2018

In some tourism-dependent communities, including Stowe, the concentration of short-term rentals is now 20 percent or higher.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

DATA FROM AIRDNA AS OF DECEMBER 2025

Short-term rental figures cited in this article come from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. The organization uses data from AirDNA, which analyzes listings on websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo to estimate the number of active short-term rentals in a community at specific moments in time.

The data include only entire homes — such as houses, apartments and accessory dwelling units — that were listed as available for short-term rental during the reporting period. They do not include individual rooms rented within occupied homes. Totals reported by municipalities with their own short-term rental registries, including Burlington, Stowe and Woodstock, may differ slightly because of different registration requirements and methodologies. The state — and most towns and cities — define short-term rentals as rooms or residences rented for at least 14 days per year but fewer than 30 consecutive days.

Gov. Phil Scott and Alex Farrell

KEVIN MCCALLUM

ermont Housing Commissioner Alex Farrell looked out over a conference room packed with people who had come to defend — and grow — the state’s short-term rental industry.

It was a Thursday in March, and snow still lingered on the slopes of Mount Mansfield as vacation-rental owners, property managers, property-rights lawyers and software vendors met in Stowe for the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance’s annual statewide conference.

As Vermont’s housing shortage deepened and vacation rentals came under increasing scrutiny, they gathered to find out how Gov. Phil Scott’s administration viewed their business.

Farrell tried to allay their concerns.

“There’s a reason you don’t hear us at the state level saying short-term rentals are the problem that is driving our housing shortage,” he said. Because they are not, he told the audience: Short-term rentals have become a bogeyman that distracts attention from Vermont’s failure to build enough homes.

In fact, recent data from the company AirDNA, which analyzes listings on rental platforms including Airbnb and Vrbo, show only 3 percent of all residences — or about 11,000 dwelling units — in Vermont are in use as short-term rentals.

But just outside the conference doors, local officials in Stowe were dealing with a different reality. In their town, a surge in short-term rentals was making it more difficult for residents and local workers to find homes or apartments. And Stowe is not alone. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Vermont homes have been added to the vacation-rental market; the statewide data mask sharp local differences. In some tourism-dependent communities, including Stowe, the concentration of short-term rentals is now 20 percent or higher.

“Stowe needs to make a demonstrable change in the way that we manage housing, or we will no longer have a community,” Josi Kytle, a local resident and short-term rental owner who advocates for stricter regulation, said in an interview.

As Vermont’s housing shortage has intensified, more communities have confronted the same question: How much housing should be reserved for tourists rather than year-round residents? In the absence of statewide standards or regulations, municipalities have been left to answer that question and find their own solutions.

The result is a growing patchwork of policies across Vermont, with some cities and towns aggressively restricting vacation rentals while others have opted for lighter oversight or none at all. Woodstock,

Woodstock

for example, has put a roughly 5 percent cap on the number of residences in its historic village that can be used as shortterm rentals. In the ski town of Ludlow, where the concentration of such rentals surpassed 20 percent late last year, officials are in the early stages of considering whether to adopt a registry and other light regulations. Meanwhile, the state’s largest city has limited most short-term rentals to owner-occupied properties. Just outside Burlington, communities such

as Winooski and South Burlington have created regulations, including registries, to monitor the industry, even though they host relatively few short-term rentals.

Nearly all of these policies have generated heated local debates, bad feelings and, in Burlington, a lawsuit by short-term rental owners. The gamut of arguments in defense of short-term rentals runs from fundamental property rights to the tax revenue these businesses generate.

Wade Treadway, a Woodstock real estate broker and chair of the town’s Development Review Board, said many short-term rental owners rely on the added income to pay their own tax bills or hold on to generational homes, while the guests they host spend money at local restaurants, cleaners, contractors and other small businesses.

Residents who press for regulation object not simply to the overall numbers but to the way a concentration of vacation rentals in one place can leave them feeling like they no longer know their neighbors. Sometimes, as in Stowe, anger about short-term rentals is exacerbated by evidence that out-of-town investors are turning homes into vacation rentals and reaping the financial rewards.

Some properties can go for more than $1,000 per night during peak seasons, giving owners a financial incentive to cater to visitors instead of year-round tenants.

A push for statewide rules briefly looked promising in 2021, when lawmakers drafted a statewide short-term rental framework that aimed to impose uniform registration and reporting requirements.

Gov. Scott vetoed the bill, saying additional regulations would reduce the number of housing options. A separate bill that would HOUSING CRUNCH SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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have introduced a statewide registry did not advance out of committee this past legislative session.

Vermont’s town-by-town approach reflects the broader national landscape, according to Jorge González-Hermoso, a senior researcher at Urban Institute.

While some states have adopted uniform baseline requirements — such as registries, tax registration systems or safety standards — most continue to leave decisions about licensing, occupancy limits and other restrictions to local governments, allowing communities to tailor rules to their own housing markets.

State policy makers are also acutely aware of the rental industry’s importance to Vermont’s $4.2 billion tourism economy.

According to Airbnb, by far the largest rental platform, its Vermont properties contributed $416.5 million to the state’s gross domestic product and generated $29.1 million in state tax revenue in 2025 alone.

And, as Tourism Commissioner Heather Pelham said at the Stowe conference, “Visitors need to stay somewhere.”

She offered the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail as an example: Some of the towns along the trail have no hotels; vacation rentals allow those communities to share in the dollars that tourists spend.

Seven Days set out to look at the ways four communities are confronting the tension between capitalizing on the tourism economy and preserving housing for full-time residents. Even where restrictions have come to pass, the vacation-rental industry has continued to make gains.

HARD CAP: STOWE

One weekend in mid-June, anonymous flyers appeared on car windshields in the parking lots of Stowe hotels and businesses. “Tourists — Boycott Body Lounge,” it read. “The owner Beth Gadbois Does Not Support Short Term Rentals and Tourism in STOWE.” The fight over short-term rentals had gotten personal.

Gadbois, vice chair of the Stowe Selectboard, is a fierce advocate for limits on vacation rentals in her town. She won her seat in 2025 by defeating a 14-year incumbent who had been the board’s staunchest defender of the short-term rental business.

“I’m an easy target. I have a store, and you can pick on me, but this was a statement to the whole board because we’re all aligned,” Gadbois said last week, describing the board’s unanimous support for regulating short-term rentals.

The flyers were only the most recent salvo in the bitter debate over short-term 30

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Stowe needs to make a demonstrable change in the way that we manage housing, or we will no longer have a community.

J O S I K YTL E

rentals in Stowe, where such properties constitute a quarter of the housing, the median home value is roughly $1 million, and workers in the town’s hospitality and restaurant businesses have trouble finding and affording apartments or other homes.

A housing needs assessment last year made clear that new construction alone would not solve these problems because much of it is being snapped up as second homes or vacation rentals.

Last fall, Benjy Adler, co-owner of local chainlet the Skinny Pancake, closed his Stowe location because he couldn’t adequately staff it. “If this town wants a sustainable tourist industry, it needs housing in town, not people driving from an hour away,” he said at the time.

No one wants to ban short-term rentals in Stowe, Gadbois said, but voters have shown repeatedly that they want “regulations and moderation.”

In second home-heavy Stowe, permanent residents made up 33 percent of homeowners in 2012 — but that number had declined to 27 percent by 2024, according to the housing needs assessment.

“It is no longer about thriving; it’s about surviving,” Josi Kytle, the Stowe rental owner who strongly supports regulation, said of her community.

She said she understands how the short-term rental business fits in. “It’s a valuable, necessary part of our housing stock, our economy, our life, my livelihood and other people’s livelihood,” she said.

Kytle herself relies on the income from

two short-term rentals to afford to live in Stowe and subsidize her nonprofit work.

She grew up in town and remembers it as a community with a healthy mix of full-time residents and second-home owners. She had classmates whose families lived yearround in condominium developments that were built to appeal to snowbirds.

Then, she said, “investors bought them and took them off the long-term property market and put them to use as short-term rentals.”

The purchase of Stowe Mountain Resort by multinational ski corporation Vail Resorts in 2017, followed by a flurry of all-cash sales during the pandemic, accelerated these changes.

“The COVID blur really changed things. I think at least a couple hundred people bought an escape house here,” said David Sullivan, a longtime Stowe resident.

“There’s a fear of losing the sense of community,” echoed a fellow resident, Terrie Wehse. “There’s a fear of my road turning into hotel rooms even though they’re houses.”

In response, town officials in 2024 proposed new safety requirements and created a registry of all short-term rentals. From the jump, a coalition of rental owners, property managers and propertyrights advocates fought back. That year, they forced a town-wide vote on whether to create a registry. Voters supported one by a wide margin.

The registry confirmed what outside data had already shown: About 1,000

residential units — a quarter of all the homes in town — are vacation rentals, although the number includes units that are part of larger resort hotels. The registry also showed, for the first time, that nearly 80 percent of those properties were owned by people who lived outside of Stowe, with almost as many owners based in Massachusetts as Vermont.

“I wasn’t surprised because I knew that there were plenty of out-of-state people.

It’s what Stowe’s been about forever,” Wehse said. “But I think since Airbnb and COVID, it just is out of hand.”

Earlier this year, the selectboard decided it had seen enough and proposed to cap the number of short-term rentals at 850. Current owners would be allowed to keep their rentals until the property was sold or turned into a longer-term home.

This would put a near-total freeze on the creation of new short-term rentals until the target number was reached through attrition.

But once the proposal became public, homeowners flooded the town’s rental registry, fearful of being locked out once the cap took effect — even if they didn’t have immediate plans to rent. The number of registrants ballooned from about 1,000 to more than 1,600, nearly 40 percent of the town’s housing stock.

“People acting in their own self-interest are making it more difficult to roll this out in a way that’s fair to everyone,” selectboard chair Ethan Carlson said.

Sullivan, the longtime resident, rents out rooms in his home during holidays and other peak tourism seasons so that his family can afford to live in town. No one is forcing him to stop renting, but he’s concerned about what will happen when he tries to sell his home.

“I can’t — in five years, when it comes time to retire — turn around and sell my property to someone from Boston and say, ‘This is my income from our short-term rental’ to help the sale,” Sullivan said.

Rental licenses can be transferred within families. If the town doesn’t see the number of short-term rentals dip below the cap in the next two years, a lottery system will be created to allow 25 new rental licenses to be issued in addition to those already operating in an effort to not completely shut out wouldbe rental owners.

The selectboard could approve the proposal as soon as Wednesday, July 22. It would take effect in September.

Major resorts in the town — including Spruce Peak, von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort and Topnotch Resort — successfully lobbied to be exempted from even registering because their units function more like hotels than neighborhood homes. That will shave a few hundred

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It’s not just resort towns that worry about the impact of short-term rentals.

Burlington, Vermont’s biggest city, has had some of the strictest rules in the state for the past four years.

A 2022 ordinance requires that most short-term rental hosts live on the same property as the units they rent to others.

In addition to 12 percent in state taxes, each Burlington booking pays a 9 percent local tax, money that’s used to bolster the city’s housing trust fund.

Short-term rentals make up a tiny fraction, under 2 percent, of the city’s housing stock. But the intent of the ordinance was to increase the number of landlords who use their properties for long-term rentals, one way to bolster the city’s very short supply of homes and apartments.

The Chittenden County rental market has long been well below the 5 percent vacancy rate considered healthy.

“There was meaningful competition going on between short-term rentals and long-term renters, and our priority was long-term residents,” said Miro Weinberger, who was the mayor of Burlington at the time.

Calling it too “draconian,” Weinberger opposed — and vetoed — an initial ordinance that allowed no exceptions to the rule that hosts live on-site. He relented once exemptions and the tax to fund affordablehousing construction were included.

Predictably, perhaps, 12 owners of Old North End vacation rentals sued the city, arguing that Burlington’s regulations conflict with state law and that their “pre-existing, lawful, non-conforming” businesses should be allowed to continue.

Four years later, the city and the rental owner group are still stuck in legal wrangling. In the meantime, those rentals can continue to operate.

Despite the restrictions and added expenses, the number of Burlington short-term rentals has increased since the

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vacation rentals from the registry, assistant town manager Will Fricke estimated.

But other concerted lobbying efforts have proven less effective. Last December, for example, Airbnb called on its Stowe hosts to speak out against the proposed regulations. The company’s email messages warned that the selectboard was “considering significantly stricter restrictions that could limit your ability to continue hosting,” and the company needed hosts’ help to “protect fair, reasonable STR rules in Stowe.” At the end of March and in early April, some residents received texts asking them to participate in a two-minute “Stowe Issues Survey” paid for by Airbnb that polled them on housing and vacation rentals.

The Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance, which has its own Stowe chapter, asked the selectboard to make the shortterm rental license transferable by sale; to set a percentage cap rather than a hard number; and to wait for the completion of a short-term rental economic impact report commissioned earlier this year.

But the selectboard declined to incorporate any of the alliance’s suggestions.

Airbnb, which spent nearly $30,000 on lobbying efforts in Vermont in 2023 and 2024, increased its spending to more than $76,000 in 2025 and the first half of this year. Britte McBride, a public policy manager for Airbnb, has attended public forums where the cap ordinance was debated. She also spoke at the shortterm rental conference, emphasizing the economic value the industry provides to Vermont.

Carlson suspects the cap ordinance will likely be met with a legal challenge.

And a plaintiff might have plenty of help — the short-term rental conference in March included a session about grassroots advocacy and property-rights law led by a high-profile California lawyer who specializes in the field.

Public opinion, though, seems to be firmly in favor of the regulations.

“I had a couple of my best weeks ever in June,” Gadbois, the target of the boycott that month, said of the response to her local business.

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ordinance was passed, from about 200 in 2022 to about 300 now, according to city officials. And that could very well be an undercount. Seven Days reported in 2023 that a number of owners were flouting the rules, and it’s possible some still are. The city Department of Permitting and Inspections does not have the personnel to conduct investigations and has paused issuing penalties for violators while the legal challenge plays out in court, department Director Bill Ward said. But he believes “most people have complied.”

While it’s impossible to know how large the number would have grown without the ordinance, short-term rental advocates such as Julie Marks, executive director of the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance, point to the increase in Burlington as evidence of the policy’s failure.

Meanwhile, the hefty tax levied on shortterm rentals has buoyed the city’s affordablehousing efforts. Since the city started taxing the industry in 2017, Burlington has raised $1.7 million. In the last fiscal year, the tax generated nearly $300,000, about a quarter of the amount contributed annually to the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

I would far prefer us to be working towards a world where we make it easier to build enough housing so that both markets can be served.

M I R O W EI NBER GER

The tax is a “vital tool” to create and preserve affordable housing, according to Will Clavelle, an assistant director at the Community and Economic Development Office. The housing trust fund provides grants and loans for building and maintaining long-term affordable housing, lowincome households and shelters. Last year’s short-term rental tax revenue, for instance, nearly covered the cost of a $305,000 Champlain Housing Trust supportive-housing project on St. Paul Street.

Weinberger, who now leads the nonprofit Let’s Build Homes, still believes intervention in the short-term rental market was 32

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Lucas Jensen

necessary. But in his new role, he is looking at the problem more broadly and sees the debate much like state officials do: as an unfortunate symptom of Vermont’s inadequate housing supply.

“I would far prefer us to be working towards a world where we make it easier to build enough housing so that both markets can be served,” Weinberger said.

Burlington’s quest to regulate the industry helped give birth to what is now Vermont’s foremost short-term rental lobbyist organization. Lucas Jensen, a landlord who operates a vacation rental out of his home near Battery Park, as well as 10 longterm rentals in the city, connected with Marks, who founded the alliance in 2021, while protesting the proposed regulations.

Jensen was a founding board member.

Initially, short-term rentals made it affordable for people “to come into Burlington and to visit, stay and spend in the city,” Jensen said.

But now that he is passing along all of the taxes to his lodgers, and with Airbnb covering fewer fees than it once did, he said that’s a more expensive proposition. He still nets a few thousand dollars each year, he said, and uses that revenue to subsidize his long-term rental operations.

Marks, meanwhile, recently sold the Elmwood Avenue apartment building where she had lived in one unit while renting two others short-term. Keeping up with the costs of maintaining the 200-year-old building had become “unaffordable” on top of the expense of complying with Burlington’s regulations and paying the additional taxes, she said. She sold the building for $749,000, twice what she’d paid for it five years earlier.

LIVING LAWS: WOODSTOCK

Woodstock began regulating short-term rentals before many people had ever heard the term.

In 2002, the town adopted one of Vermont’s first short-term rental permitting requirements in response to noise nuisance complaints from neighbors.

Three years later, Woodstock village — a compact, historic municipality within the larger town — established similar rules.

Officials limited the frequency of rentals (with exceptions during foliage season) and set standards for parking, permitting and safety measures.

Since the village created its first stand-alone short-term rental ordinance in 2019, officials in Woodstock town and village — which have nearly a combined 2,000 homes, occupied and vacant — have repeatedly amended their policies, leaving the two communities to operate under overlapping but distinct policies.

In 2024, Woodstock launched a Lease to Locals program that offered landlords as much as $9,000 to convert their properties to seasonal or year-round rentals for local workers. That same year, the town and village established a cap on short-term rentals — 110 registrations, split equally between owner- and nonowner-occupied properties — though voters in the town later repealed the cap, leaving only the village under the new rules.

Jeffrey Kahn, vice chair of the Board of Village Trustees, said the leasing incentive program was only a part of the solution. While landlords converted

about a dozen properties into long-term rentals, the town is no longer funding the program, Kahn noted, allowing owners to eventually add those units to the shortterm rental market if they choose. The community also needs significantly more housing if it is to meet the needs of tourists and residents, he said.

Laura Powell, a former selectboard member, told Seven Days that the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance mobilized rental owners in 2024 to oppose further regulation in Woodstock, but the effort backfired: Village residents became more aware of vacation rentals operating in their neighborhoods and pushed for tighter oversight. Part of the response was driven by the concern that out-of-state investors would create too many short-term rentals in the village.

“I believe there is a market for shortterm rentals,” Powell wrote in an email.

“But I think that privilege should be enjoyed by primary homeowners.”

Nowadays, by the time a short-term rental application reaches Wade Treadway and his colleagues on Woodstock’s Town Development Review Board, the hard questions have already been answered. Fire safety inspections have been completed. Parking plans have been reviewed. Occupancy limits have been established. Most hearings last only a few minutes before the board votes to approve each proposal.

For Treadway, whose time in town government spans three decades, that’s a sign the system is working.

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“One of the beautiful things about living in Vermont is that we’re small enough to where changes can take place as changes are needed,” Treadway said. “None of it is totally cast in stone.”

Treadway said Woodstock residents’ fears about investors buying neighborhoods, party houses disrupting quiet streets and homes disappearing into the vacation market largely haven’t materialized. Instead, he’s seen many longtime residents use the income from short-term rentals to allow them to stay in one of Vermont’s more expensive communities.

One neighbor transformed an old chicken coop in the middle of an apple orchard into a tiny guesthouse. Visitors sleep in the outbuilding, then walk into the owner’s house to use the kitchen and bathroom.

“People absolutely go nuts for it,” Treadway said. The income, he added, helps her pay the annual property taxes.

Village land use coordinator and zoning administrator Emily Collins said Woodstock is just shy of the village’s cap of 100 short-term rentals. According to AirDNA, Woodstock town and village had 95 total active listings as of December, with a median monthly revenue of roughly $3,000.

The town, which recently began using a new software system to regulate and track short-term rentals, is focused on building a complete registry to more fully understand the nuances of the market and who exactly is benefiting from the industry. One of the features identifies active listings that have failed to register with the town.

Rather than relying primarily on complaints from neighbors, staff can now contact owners directly through emails, phone calls and public outreach before considering enforcement for unregistered properties.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to comply,” Collins said.

HANDS OFF: LUDLOW

With roughly one in five homes available for short-term use, Ludlow has one of the highest concentrations of vacationrental homes in Vermont. Unlike Stowe, Burlington and Woodstock, however, the Okemo ski resort town in Windsor County has largely avoided a bruising political fight over whether the business should be curtailed.

That doesn’t mean the issue has been ignored. The town first considered regulations in 2019 with broad discussions 34

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One of the beautiful things about living in Vermont is that we’re small enough to where changes can take place as changes are needed.

WAD E TR E AD WAY

The “11 Gables” short-term rental in Ludlow

about safety and a rental registry. The effort regained momentum after a 2024 condominium fire, progressing to public meetings and a formal hearing on draft rules. But in a community where tourism has long been the dominant industry and second residences are in high demand, the recurring debate has focused more on oversight than on limiting the number of short-term units.

Noah Schmidt, who owns a property management company in Ludlow, attended the March conference in Stowe, eager to keep up with the most recent technology and industry trends. As a Ludlow Selectboard member and planning commission chair, Schmidt has seen little evidence that restricting short-term rentals would significantly increase housing for year-round residents.

Much of the town’s vacation housing stock, he argued, was built specifically to serve seasonal visitors — not the local workforce. He supports a short-term rental ordinance that creates a local registry and establishes health and safety requirements. But broader restrictions would do little to change the town’s housing market, he said, which was further constrained by flooding in July 2023.

Instead, additional regulations would make it harder for people such as Schmidt or his three employees to afford to live in the area as the cost of living continues to increase.

Several small businesses that depend on the tourism economy described shortterm rentals as part of a broader network of commerce that keeps jobs and money flowing through the community.

Joel Neto, who founded Nordview Cleaning in 2023, now oversees nine employees serving more than 80 shortterm rentals, including 34 in Ludlow.

Vacation rentals account for roughly onethird of his clients, which also include commercial and residential properties.

But the short-term rentals generate the most revenue, Neto said. Guests typically pay cleaning and maintenance fees as part of the booking. And short-term property clients typically require many more visits than a residential home, he said, creating steady work for cleaners, laundry services and maintenance workers.

Brian and Caryll Maylor, who launched the vacation rental-cleaning and property services company VelocityMaids last year after careers in the cruise and hospitality industries, said many of their clients live out of state and rely on local service providers — from landscapers and cleaners to electricians and plumbers — for upkeep.

The Maylors said they support one provision in the proposed ordinance, which would require absentee owners to designate a local emergency contact.

They said the rule would likely create additional demand for companies such as theirs, which already offers emergency response visits. Beyond regulation, they argued that Ludlow’s larger challenge is attracting visitors outside of ski season; more year-round attractions and better hospitality would strengthen the broader local economy that depends on tourism.

“If we all do a good job, every one of us wins,” Brian said.

Andrew and Jillian Demers spent four years restoring a historic three-family home in downtown Ludlow that once operated as a boardinghouse; Calvin Coolidge briefly lived there as a teenager.

Long-term renters occupied two of the units when the Demers first took over, but they have since converted all three units to short-term rentals as their family of eight splits its time between Ludlow and their primary home in coastal Connecticut.

Catering to visitors allows the Demers to keep a closer eye on the property while preserving the flexibility to gather their extended family there throughout the year.

The clientele also fuels more than the lodging market, Andrew said. Unlike yearround residents, who likely own winter gear to last several years, visitors often arrive needing supplies such as mittens, skis or other equipment, he said, creating more frequent business for local retailers.

“They come in with very, very open wallets,” Andrew said.

Though Andrew said he supports regulations, he questioned why requirements should only apply to short-term rentals instead of all rental properties. In

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his view, “a renter is a renter,” and safety standards should be the same regardless of how long someone stays. He said he would support a rental ordinance, “but not one that discriminates against and targets short-term rentals.”

The debate entered its next phase on Monday night, as the selectboard prepared to send the latest draft ordinance to a joint public hearing with village trustees. Rather than revisiting the broader question of whether Ludlow should regulate short-term rentals, board members spent much of the meeting wrestling with details — fees, inspection schedules, insurance requirements and parking standards — repeatedly describing the proposal as a work in progress that would continue to evolve with public input.

Jean Strong, who served on several Ludlow town boards and rents her home seasonally, said she believes the town needs regulations but understands why previous efforts have stalled. With so many vacation rentals already woven into the community, she said, crafting rules that protect neighborhoods without placing unnecessary burdens on owners has proved more difficult than many expected.

“Maybe in hindsight, it would have been good to have done something sooner,” Strong said. “But it’s been too complicated.”

As she left the meeting, Strong said she was more optimistic than she had been in a long time, pointing to new planning staff and a willingness among officials to refine the proposal. She only wished residents had more advance notice to study the ordinance, ask questions and stay engaged — the kind of informed public process she believes a town so deeply shaped by short-term rentals will need if it hopes to get the rules right. ➆

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HISTORY

Deep Pursuits

Gary and Ellen Lefebvre have turned their quest for Lake Champlain shipwrecks into a community service and art form

T

he research vessel R/V Amazon had just left its dock on Malletts Bay in Colchester on a sweltering July morning when the captain, Gary Lefebvre, recognized a familiar object on sonar in 30 feet of water. Several hundred yards offshore were the scattered remains of a 1930 Ford Model A Roadster that plunged through the ice in December 1936, drowning its two passengers.

Guided by multiple sonar units and a digital chart of Lake Champlain, Lefebvre, 68, maneuvered the 27-foot pontoon boat over the wreckage, then lowered a trolling motor, which uses GPS to keep the vessel in place. Moments later, Ellen Lefebvre, Gary’s wife and first mate, dropped a remotely operated vehicle into the water.

As Gary piloted the ROV to the debris field with a handheld controller, a limegreen video image of an old radiator appeared on computer screens in the cabin. Partially coated with zebra mussels, it sat near the car’s battery, wheels and rear axle.

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A 1926 Model T in 170 feet of water off Split Rock Point in Essex, N.Y.

“This thing was in beautiful shape when we found it,” Gary lamented. But just weeks after the Lefebvres located the car, in 2012, a sailboat seeking safe harbor during a storm snagged it with its anchor and tore it apart.

Of the more than 5,000 underwater objects that the Lefebvres have discovered

and documented in the past 14 years, the Roadster is neither the oldest nor the most impressive, but Gary has an understandable attachment to it. It’s among the first wrecks he ever found in Lake Champlain using the advanced scanning technology aboard this private research vessel. And, as he learned later, one of the two people

OWEN LEAVEY

Gary and Ellen Lefebvre aboard the R/V Amazon

who died when the car went through the ice was James Sullivan of Winooski, Gary’s great-uncle.

Though theirs is a hobby built on tragedies of the past, the Lefebvres have turned their nautical pastime into a free community resource of sorts. Over the years they’ve helped the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes locate, identify and monitor some of the lake’s roughly 300 known shipwrecks. They’ve assisted the U.S. Coast Guard and searchand-rescue teams in finding the bodies of drowning victims. And, using their highresolution underwater cameras, they’ve captured digital videos and photos of underwater objects that are inaccessible to even deepwater technical divers.

The Lefebvres use a process called photogrammetry, which involves shooting thousands of photos of the same object from different vantage points. They then load those images into a computer, which stitches them together to create detailed, three-dimensional renderings that are invaluable to archaeologists, historians and even members of the public.

Because the Lefebvres post their images on social media almost daily — Gary also uses newspapers.com to explore the history of each wreck — they receive occasional messages from people who have personal connections to those disasters. Ellen said she was on the bow of their boat one day, eating lunch near Schuyler Island, when a diver emerged from the water and asked, “Are you Ellen?” He had recognized her and the vessel from their videos.

While the Lefebvres use equipment that costs tens of thousands of dollars, most of their work gets no compensation beyond the thrill of making new discoveries. As Gary put it, “There’s a story behind every one of them.”

The two lifelong Vermonters live on Malletts Bay, next door to the house where Gary grew up. He sports the bushy white beard and squinty gaze of a seasoned mariner. Ellen, 65, has sun-bleached hair and the slim, tanned physique of someone who regularly stands on the deck, hauling lines and pulling ROVs out of the water.

When Gary was a kid, he worked for Earl Kelly, who owned the now-defunct Kelly’s Boat House in Colchester. One day, Kelly told him about an underwater spot on Malletts Bay littered with anchors, bottles and other decades-old debris.

Gary and his friends took some discarded docks and old inner tubes, paddled out to the spot, and started scavenging. Gary got good enough to dive 20 feet down and hold his breath for up to two minutes.

He and his friends would come home with bloodshot eyes but plenty of cool antiques, and he was hooked.

GARY PILOTED THE ROV INTO THE SUNKEN VESSEL, ITS HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATING

PREHISTORIC-LOOKING FISH SLEEPING INSIDE.

Ellen Lefebvre readying a remotely operated vehicle

Above: A photo of the paddle wheel from the Phoenix, which sank in Lake Champlain in 1819. Below: The Lefebvres used a process called photogrammetry to create a 3D rendering of that area of the steamboat.

COURTESY

Gary had an idea where the elusive boat might be. So he drove to Brattleboro, bought a used pontoon boat, installed sidescan sonar and began surveying the bay — where he eventually found it. Though the boat didn’t contain any of the liquor bottles he’d hoped for, Gary recovered a piece of bronze hardware that, as he determined from an old marine catalog, was a nautical rail cap discontinued in 1921.

The rail cap “just started the ball rolling,” Gary said. Soon thereafter, he and Ellen found the Roadster, whose age he determined from one of its headlights.

The Lefebvres have since discovered or photographed other sunken cars of similar vintage, including a 1926 Model T in remarkably good condition in 170 feet of water off Split Rock Point in Essex, N.Y. The Lefebvres kept scanning Malletts Bay, identifying more than two dozen wrecks and other unknown objects, which Gary would flag on his digital chart and return to later. They eventually expanded their searches to Shelburne Bay, the waters off Valcour Island and the broad lake, taking different routes each time.

Some of the couple’s historically important discoveries hadn’t shown up in the Whole Lake Survey, a 10-year joint project of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and Middlebury College. The survey started in 1996 with the goal of mapping

the entire lake bottom and identifying and cataloging shipwrecks and other cultural artifacts that were at risk of destruction by zebra mussels and human plunderers. By its completion in 2006, it had documented more than 80 previously unknown wrecks, the most significant being the Spitfire, one of Benedict Arnold’s gunboats from the Revolutionary War. But the Lefebvres knew from their own scans that the Whole Lake Survey didn’t find everything that lies beneath.

In August 2020, they located the paddle wheels from the Phoenix, a 146-foot steamboat that caught fire and foundered on September 4, 1819 — one of the earliest and most significant steamboat wrecks in U.S. history.

The Lefebvres were also involved in the first-ever deepwater dive to the Sarah Ellen, a 73-foot, two-masted commercial schooner that sank in a winter gale on December 19, 1860, claiming two lives.

After the Lefebvres created a 3D rendering of the Sarah Ellen and posted it online, they were contacted by a descendant of Joseph LaPlante, the sole survivor of that disaster.

As it turned out, Gary had attended school with her.

The Lefebvres don’t just work on Lake Champlain. In 2023, Art Cohn, director emeritus of the maritime museum, asked for their help on a research project he was overseeing on New York’s Seneca Lake.

Using various forms of sonar, Cohn had discovered at least 44 previously unknown shipwrecks from the early to mid-19th century. Those wrecks sat in more than 600 feet of water, making them inaccessible to divers.

The sonar images offered Cohn little information about the vessels, so he hired the Lefebvres to bring their boat and ROVs to Seneca Lake to photograph them, then use photogrammetry to create 3D models of each one. Their renderings were so vivid and informative that they were used on posters to promote the Erie Canal bicentennial in 2025.

“It may have been the most productive I’ve been on a project — ever,” Cohn said.

As for the Lefebvres’ contribution, “It’s priceless from an archaeological point of view.”

Not all the Lefebvres’ finds are centuries old. The day a reporter joined them on their boat, the broad lake was too choppy to visit the Phoenix’s paddle wheels. “Lady Lake Champlain is in need of some serious anger management,” Gary said, swinging the boat around and returning to Malletts Bay. Instead, he brought us to a more recent wreck: a 22-foot cabin cruiser that went down in September 1975 and now sits in 73 feet of water. Gary stopped above the wreck and turned on

OWEN LEAVEY

Gary got his scuba certification in 1978 and spent decades as a technical diver, reaching depths of 170 feet before retiring from the sport two years ago. For 40 years he made industrial machinery at Hazelett Strip-Casting, about a mile from his house, and dabbled in real estate development, auto refurbishing and professional offroad racing.

In 2012, Gary talked to a diver friend who was searching for the wreck of a bootleggers’ boat that had sunk in Malletts Bay in the 1920s. During Prohibition, liquor smugglers from Canada often used the bay because its accessible sandy beaches made it easy to transport the illegal goods. The smugglers were rumored to have either scuttled their boat or gotten into a shoot-out with federal agents during which their vessel caught fire and sank.

the trolling motor while Ellen lowered a cluster of 5,000-lumen underwater lights and an ROV. Gary piloted the ROV into the sunken vessel, its headlights illuminating more than a dozen large, prehistoric-looking fish sleeping inside. Known as burbot, they’re nocturnal, rarely seen near the surface and thus difficult to catch.

Though anglers frequently ask him for

the location of this wreck in hopes of snagging one of those prizes, Gary stays mum. As with nearly all the wrecks they’ve surveyed, historic or otherwise, the Lefebvres keep certain details on the down-low. ➆

INFO Find more of Gary and Ellen Lefebvre’s underwater images on YouTube and Facebook.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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food+drink

PASTRY ON THE PORCH

Backdoor Bakery, 315 Bridge St., Huntington, 802-434-3422, backdoorbakeryvt.com

PHOTOS: MELISSA PASANEN

Pop-ups start at 8 a.m., usually on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, May through October, but not on July 25.

Accepts cash, Venmo and checks.

Kristen Ward at Bittersweet Bakery

Standing Out

From sourdough to cookies, self-serve bakery stands — and one porch — bring treats to Vermont roadsides B Y J O R D AN BAR RY & ME LISSA PASANEN • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com, pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

V

ermonters are very familiar with self-serve roadside stands bursting with peak-season farm and garden harvests: piles of zucchini and sweet corn, punnets of blueberries, clutches of backyard chicken eggs. But the finely trained noses of Seven Days’ roving food writers have sniffed out a new breed of roadside stand — and one farmhouse porch — offering a bounty of self-serve fresh-baked goods.

From Grand Isle to Cornwall, surprisingly credentialed and passionate bakers are kneading, shaping and baking breads, pastries and cookies for passersby.

All these small, home-based cottage bakeries accept cash or Venmo, and some take checks — but none accepts cards.

Please, just don’t try to pay with your own excess zucchini.

Backdoor Bakery and Dean Menke (inset)

M . P.

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Four cyclists came spinning down Bridge Street in Huntington and braked upon encountering an unexpected sign on the side of the unpaved road: Backdoor Bakery.

“Whoa! Whoa!,” called one. “Where’s the bakery?”

It was around 11 a.m. on a late-May Saturday when the quartet of friends slowly cycled down the short driveway of the 1880s farmhouse to investigate.

On the wide porch, a few pastries sat on a covered tray. The bikers nabbed the last two almond croissants ($6), a rhubarb turnover ($5) and a gluten-free/dairy-free oat bar ($4).

A steady flow of customers had already made short work of the roughly 175 freshly baked breads and pastries that Dean Menke had made in his licensed home kitchen for one of his bimonthly porch pop-ups. They open at 8 a.m., generally the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, through October. He also takes preorders and runs a community-supported bakery share through the winter.

“That just melted in my mouth,” cyclist Chris Ouellette of Shelburne said after inhaling an almond croissant. His pal Bill Skiff of Williston took a bite of the turnover and praised its “perfect sour-sweet rhubarb tang.”

Locals know to bring their own mug for coffee ($3) and show up early to get the widest choice among the dozen or so different baked goods Menke, 58, makes for Backdoor Bakery.

They might include light, fluffy cinnamon rolls ($4.50), punchy triple-ginger scones ($4), focaccia ($4) with seasonal toppings such as ramp pesto, and sourdough loaves ($7). The culinary school-trained chef makes his own laminated STANDING OUT

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BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Chef JOSUE CHANDUVI has opened the first few phases of CAMPO, his multifaceted food destination at ZENBARN in Waterbury Center. Chanduvi, 34, leases the restaurant space at 179 Guptil Road.

So far, he has renovated an office into a creemee window; launched an outdoor snack shack-style menu, which includes some Latin American fare; and started cooking dishes such as paella on a custom-built, 10-foot-long Argentinean grill called a parrilla. The spacious outdoor dining area is anchored by a long bar table welded to a fire truck.

By the end of the summer, Chanduvi said, he and his team of 13 will add breakfast, a bakery and indoor seating.

Campo also does on- and off-site event catering. Zenbarn continues to run the bar and the venue’s entertainment schedule.

Chanduvi’s varied background includes owning two businesses in Plattsburgh, N.Y., where he was raised with the culinary influences of his Peruvian mother and Cuban father. He also owned Grandma’s Spanish Kitchen in Burlington, served as executive chef at the VON TRAPP FAMILY LODGE & RESORT in Stowe, and, most recently, was a district manager for Five Guys.

The chef-owner said his menus will

feature as many local ingredients as he can source. The creemee window, for example, uses Vermont’s only organic base, from MILLER FARM in Vernon, plus RUNAMOK MAPLE syrup from Fairfax.

Campo’s menu includes a BOYDEN FARM burger raised in Cambridge with a Peruvian verde sauce; barbecued pork ribs with rice and a cucumber-pepper salad; and empanadas filled with Cuban picadillo.

Chanduvi said he aims to provide “healthy, affordable, local” food that is accessible to “townies” and visitors.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Campo offers $15-per-person barbecue packages, which might include barbecue chicken, potato salad, slaw and cornbread.

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Old Spokes Home

Less than 18 months after founding GLAZED DONUTS in her Essex home, RACHEL LEE has announced plans to share space with LEO & CO. in the Essex Experience.

Lee, 36, has put her bakery on hiatus while she builds a new dedicated doughnut kitchen in the market and café at 21 Essex Way. She hopes to start frying fresh doughnuts there in

7/13/26 2:07 PM

a full service, nonprofit bike shop

Glazed Donuts in Essex Will Share Space with Leo & Co.

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Standing Out « P.38

Kristen Ward making chocolate chip cookie dough. Below: Bittersweet Bakery cinnamon rolls

M . P.

I BRAKE FOR BAKERIES Bittersweet Bakery, 262 Route 2, Grand Isle, 802-922-8074, bittersweetbakeryvt.com

The shed is stocked daily May through October and, with less variety, through the winter. Accepts cash, Venmo and checks.

itself by offering many frozen, ready-tothaw or take-and-bake options. I bought single-serve cups of lemon cheesecake ($6) and peanut butter pie ($6) and a bag of six large chocolate chip cookie dough balls ($14) from the freezer case. By the time I got home, the cups had thawed and were ready for my eager spoon, delivering tangy, citrusy mouthfuls and silken,

Brown butter shortie cookies and a boule loaf at Crumb & Clover

Crumb & Clover

40

COURTESY

chocolate ganache-drenched peanut butter-cup vibes, respectively.

A month or so later, I remembered the cookie dough and threw the frozen balls onto a sheet pan. They baked up into paragons of homemade perfection beyond my normal reach — with 99 percent less effort.

I already knew that particular stretch of Route 2 in Grand Isle had one worthy baked goods stop from Seven Days’ previous coverage — DonnaSue Bakes+Cooks pie-forward roadside stand.

I had somehow not previously noticed Bittersweet Bakery, although I later learned the shed opened in 2022.

Owner Kristen Ward, 33, grew up baking at her grandmother’s and mother’s elbows. In 2020, she resolved to combine her business degree, entrepreneurial drive and love of baking when her work and daycare commute effectively consumed any time she had to enjoy her first child.

Bittersweet has morphed a few times over its six years to fit into what Ward

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

described as “the seasonality of life.” Her original preorder delivery model broke down once she was loading two kids, her pregnant self and baked goods into the car. Her husband, Josh, who owns a construction company, built her a sweet little self-serve shed.

Ward now juggles raising her trio of kids, running a licensed home bakery and helping with the construction biz. This summer, she’s focused more on refrigerated and frozen than fresh-baked offerings. Her shed’s fridge holds creamy lemon shortbread bars and single-serve carrot cakes (both $6), and the freezer bursts with cookie dough, cheesecakes, pillowy take-and-bake cinnamon rolls ($15), and ice cream sandwiches ($6) made with housemade salted-caramel ice cream and brown sugar cookies.

Regrettably, I left my second visit to Bittersweet Bakery without tasting an ice cream sandwich. When I head back, I promise I’ll start signaling far in advance.

M.P.

GOOD TO THE LAST CRUMB

Crumb & Clover, 13339 Route 116, Hinesburg, crumbclover@gmail.com, @crumb.and.clover on Instagram The stand is stocked by 8 a.m. most weekend mornings through October but will not be open July 24-25. Accepts cash and Venmo.

When Sarah and Matt Fidler launched the Crumb & Clover self-serve stand at the end of their Hinesburg driveway last summer, the first note they got from a happy customer praised not only their cookies but also the tin-roofed shed, which Matt had built. The customer liked it so much, they paid Matt to build another.

MELISSA PASANEN

MELISSA PASANEN

I took a small risk earlier this year when the “open” banner hanging from a cute bakery shed on Route 2 in the Champlain Islands caught my eye and I spontaneously decided to make a quick turn: It is my professional duty to investigate all promising roadside eating opportunities, and I did check my rearview mirror.

Unlike many other roadside bakery stands, Bittersweet Bakery distinguishes

MELISSA PASANEN

puff pastry dough and uses local eggs and the family’s own backyard raspberries and apples.

This is the second summer of what Menke called the 2.0 version of his cottage bakery. Its first run, from 2007 to 2014, started with customers coming around to the home’s back door to pick up their goods, hence the name.

Menke, who works part time as a chef-instructor at the Essex Resort & Spa, restarted his “hobby gone bad,” in his words, at the request of his 15-year-old son, Henry, who fondly recalled the regular neighborly buzz of bakery customers on the porch. “He asked us to bring back community,” Menke said.

“We moved here in 2007 and didn’t know anybody,” Menke’s wife, Patti Delaney, said. “Now, we know everybody.”

food+drink “We were a little worried that maybe we had made an Amish shed business instead of baking business,” Matt, 38, joked. “We took that off the menu.”

What is on the menu are breads such as sourdough baguettes ($4), round boule loaves ($7) and challah ($10); their version of “New English” muffins ($5 for 4); and cookies, including double chocolate chip ($5 for 2) and my new favorite indulgence: brown butter shorties ($5 per jar of 9 to 10 small cookies).

The delicate, rich and nutty, melt-inyour-mouth shortbread rounds are rolled in marigold sugar and, as if that weren’t compelling enough, charmingly packaged in a jelly jar. That could be useful to keep them fresh if I could resist eating the whole jar at one go.

Sarah, 37, brings the professional background to the couple’s “passion project,” with a Culinary Institute of America baking and pastry degree and a decade under her belt so far as Ben & Jerry’s global research and development chef. But her husband, who works for the Lake Champlain Land Trust, has an equal fervor for baking.

The couple’s appetite for the activity exceeded their appetite for its output, which led to Crumb & Clover. “There’s

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people.” When the couple moved in 2021 from Arizona to Vermont, Rachel said, they couldn’t find doughnuts they loved near their home. She started fine-tuning a recipe with the valuable — and eager — taste-testing services of the family’s four kids.

Soon after its debut, Glazed became known for its buttery, egg-enriched brioche dough and flavors such as Maple Crunch, with maple glaze and maple sprinkles; and strawberry frosted, made with local strawberries. Follow the new bakery’s progress on Instagram @glazedvt. ➆

COURTESY

August to bring to the Essex farmers market before opening for weekend hours, ideally in September, depending on staffing. Leo & Co. offerings remain unchanged.

A brick-and-mortar location was in Lee’s “dreamed-for, hoped-for” five-year plan, she said. Unexpected demand for her freshly fried doughnuts, combined with the need for a temperature-controlled kitchen in which to make the rich brioche dough, sped up the timeline. A message from the husband of Leo & Co. owner KAYLA SILVER came at an opportune moment, and Lee soon signed a deal with Silver to share the space.

Lee started the business in February with the support of her husband, Jordan Lee. “Since we got married,” Rachel said, “we’ve been doughnut

only so much we can eat, but we wanted to bake more,” Sarah said. The couple also saw an opportunity in Hinesburg, where there are few places to buy freshly baked goods. “There’s nothing you can really sink your teeth into,” Matt said.

Busy with two full-time jobs and two kids, the Fidlers currently bake to fill any preorders and stock their stand only on weekends from spring through fall.

They’re baking at a small enough scale that they don’t need a Department of Health inspection, but that may change soon: The couple are working on a bakery expansion and have started offering bread through nearby Dig Dig Farm.

On top of deploying sourdough in baguettes, the Fidlers use excess starter to make their compact, craggy New English muffins and to add a subtly tangy note to some cookies. The sourdough combined with different dark chocolates in the chocolate chip cookies “amplifies that tart fruity flavor,” Sarah said. She said it also yields a moist, more tender peanut butter cookie that makes perfect ice cream sandwiches.

Somehow, I think we can take her word for that.

Trays of treats at Glazed Donuts

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stand, I found it filled to the brim with goodies. My son chose a savory breakfast muffin ($6) with local bacon, Cabot cheddar and herbs. I opted for a cinnamon roll with vanilla-bean glaze ($7). Both were hefty, so we split them between afternoon snack and breakfast the following day. We nibbled on a half loaf of cinnamon-swirl bread ($9) throughout the week. All three had a light sourdough tang, balanced perfectly with their other flavors.

A family of bears, whose movements have been well documented on Vergennes’ Front Porch Forum, have visited Green Mountain Girl, too. But they didn’t get any treats: The stands are empty at night, so the bears just played in the tree above them.

They won’t get any if they come rummaging through my trash, either. We ate every bite.

J.B.

JORDAN BARRY

Amanda Anderson with daughters Noelle and Olivia at Green Mountain Girl Sourdough stand

Standing Out « P.41

NEIGHBORHOOD NOOK Green Mountain Girl Sourdough, 51 Booth Woods, Vergennes, thegreenmountaingirl.blog.

Open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Accepts cash and Venmo.

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

COURTESY PHOTOS

Tucked away on a cul-de-sac off a one-way residential road, Green Mountain Girl Sourdough’s front-yard farmstand isn’t easy to stumble upon. But I couldn’t miss it: A sign pointing the way goes up every weekend across the street from my house.

Friday through Sunday, Amanda Anderson fills two “bread huts” with sourdough goods from her licensed home bakery. For a little over a year, Green Mountain Girl Sourdough has been her full-time job.

On the left of the seasonally decorated front-yard setup is a first-come, first-served stand stocked with loaves, savory breakfast muffins, cinnamon rolls and other sourdough treats. The hut on the right is for preorder pickup on Friday but turns into a pantry stand on Saturday and Sunday, offering soup mixes, granola, breadcrumbs, breakfast casserole kits and croutons.

Anderson, 38, attended the New England Culinary Institute before she ultimately got a teaching degree. During her 15 years as a preschool teacher, she often baked and cooked with her

From left: Toasted s’mores cookie bars and homemade Pop-Tarts-style pastries at Green Mountain Girl Sourdough

classes, including making Chinese pork buns and honey-oat rolls for families at Thanksgiving.

“It became known around the community that I liked to cook, and I cooked a lot,” Anderson said. She started selling sourdough through word of mouth, popping a table outside her house for orders. The setup evolved to a single bread hut, then the two.

Now her daughters, Olivia, 11, and Noelle, 9, help when they’re home — and tag along to source ingredients from local farms, like a recent blueberry-picking

trip to Sweet Roots Farm & Market in Charlotte. They also like to eat leftovers, though Anderson donates most of what she doesn’t sell to the Teen Food Pantry at Vergennes’ Commodore Club.

Olivia Gluten-John, Anderson’s 4.5-year-old rye sourdough starter, gets a weekly workout, producing up to 35 loaves between staples such as sesame or cinnamon-swirl and specials like roasted strawberry-toasted walnut. Once a month, Anderson makes 250 bagels.

On a Saturday-afternoon stroll to the

FAIR SHARE

Lemon Fair View Homestead, 4048 Route 125, Cornwall, 802-349-0764, @lemon_fair_ view_homestead on Instagram.

Open 24-7. Accepts cash, Venmo and local checks.

Starting a farmstand was on Kaitlin and Steve Rheaume’s to-do list when they moved to their property on the BridportCornwall border a decade ago. The high school sweethearts wanted to make things from scratch and involve their four kids in the DIY of homestead life.

They put stand plans on pause while the kids were young. But Kaitlin, a nurse, baked sourdough loaves regularly as a hobby, sharing the results with friends.

When her grandma Joy died in 2023, Kaitlin vowed to honor her by doing things that bring her, well, joy.

“This was one of them,” Kaitlin, 36, said. “Baking bread, having a farmstand — I really felt it in my heart.”

She and Steve, 38, “are pretty spontaneous people,” she continued. They built a small stand on a whim. On May 1, 2025, they filled it with eight loaves and sold out. For the next month and a half, they doubled their output each weekend.

Now, Lemon Fair View Homestead is on its second, much larger farmstand.

The Rheaumes’ licensed home bakery produces up to 275 sourdough loaves per week, wholesaling to six accounts in Addison County and Richmond. The business is Steve’s full-time job.

I first purchased one of Lemon Fair View Homestead’s crusty boules at the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op earlier this spring but hadn’t yet been to the

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A baked sourdough loaf at Lemon Fair View Homestead

sliced honey-oat sourdough ($13.50) for PB&Js, and a bag of sourdough pancake mix ($10) for weekend breakfast.

Even when they’re sold out of bread, the Rheaumes keep their stand open at all times so neighbors can grab a gallon of Monument Farms Dairy milk or local beef from the freezer when nearby stores are closed.

“Nobody works the same hours; nobody has the same schedule,” Steve said. A few recent theft issues made them reconsider leaving it unlocked. “But we always want to be an option for people,” he said.

So it will remain 24-7 for now, all year round, bringing joy.

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hillside homestead. When I parked in the driveway on a recent Friday morning, I was greeted by the sound of poultry pecking nearby. Inside the spacious shed, I browsed crafts from local entrepreneurs of all ages before zeroing in on the tall black cabinet filled with fresh loaves up for grabs. (A separate cabinet for preorders is clearly labeled.)

Preordering is the best way to guarantee you’ll get cheesy dill, buttery steakhouse sourdough or whichever of the Rheaumes’ 20 options you prefer. But I found plenty of flavors when I stopped by without preordering. I chose a plain sourdough round ($10) to make BLTs, a loaf of

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culture

Drawing Comparisons A biographer claims that Vermont cartoonist Tillie Walden borrowed too much in her new graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia. Others disagree.

B Y CE C IL IA L UCE • cluce@sevendaysvt.com

Cleves acknowledges her appreciation and enjoyment of Walden’s work but says she is not satisfied with the attribution she has received.

“She has adapted my book without credit or compensation, and claimed my research for her own,” the letter reads.

As first reported by Publishers Weekly and Comics Beat, Cleves said Walden’s book uses the same facts and narrative structure as her biography.

HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING IS CUMULATIVE.

IT RARELY BEGINS WITH A SINGLE RESEARCHER OR ENDS WITH A SINGLE BOOK. FILE PHOTO OF TILLIE WALDEN: ROB STRONG

C O C O M O S EL EY

S

ince its release on June 16, former Vermont cartoonist laureate Tillie Walden’s new graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia, has generated a lot of buzz, both locally and nationally. But the response hasn’t all been positive.

Vermont Humanities selected the book, which tells the story of the state’s first documented openly gay couple, as the Vermont Reads book of 2026, and a New York Times review called the work “intensively researched and beautifully rendered.” But in an open letter posted on social media on June 29, Canadian historian and author Rachel Hope Cleves claimed that Walden’s graphic novel is an unauthorized adaptation of her 2014 biography, Charity & Sylvia: A SameSex Marriage in Early America. Cleves’ allegations have sparked a discourse about scholarly ethics and the line between artistic interpretation and appropriation.

Both Cleves’ and Walden’s books focus on the tale of two women, Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, who lived together for 44 years and ran a successful tailoring business in early 19th-century Weybridge. Cleves’ book, 44

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

published by Oxford University Press, was based on eight years of her original research in “at least twenty different archives” across the country, according to her letter, including the Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury.

(The museum houses the Bryant and Drake archives, which include letters, diaries and a silhouette, the only known depiction of the two women.) Walden’s graphic novel, which she wrote during her term as cartoonist laureate from 2023 to 2026, was created with support from Vermont Humanities and Tille Walden released by graphic novel publisher Drawn & Quarterly.

Cleves learned of Walden’s project in 2024, she told Seven Days, and was initially supportive. She received an advance copy of the graphic novel in spring 2025 but “did not have the capacity” to read it at the time, she said. Cleves added that she was not aware it would have the same title and similar cover art to her own — both book covers show the women’s silhouettes.

In her open letter, posted on Bluesky and Instagram,

BOOKS

Ellery Foutch, an associate professor of American studies at Middlebury College and president of the Henry Sheldon Museum board of trustees, said this claim surprised her. Foutch, who specializes in 19th-century American art and material culture, told Seven Days by email that Cleves’ biography follows a “fairly strict chronology,” while Walden’s graphic novel is told through a series of vignettes. Foutch also wrote that Walden’s work combines archival research with “empathetic imagination in order to illuminate the gaps or absences in the historical record.”

Though the chronology of the two works differs, they contain many of the same scenes.

Drawn & Quarterly, based in Montréal, has defended Walden’s research and citation methods and denied that the work is an adaptation, saying it does not simply “illustrate” Cleves’ book. Walden, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has remained silent.

Cleves said her work included transcribing and decoding Drake’s entire diary, since much of it was written in shorthand, and going through tax and real estate records in Weybridge. The final product is a work of narrative nonfiction that has been praised for its extensive research and for Cleves’ ability to weave facts into a story.

Walden, a Norwich resident, also visited the Henry Sheldon Museum archives and pored over more than 900 pages of letters, poems and journal entries stored there, as Seven Days reported in 2024. She references Cleves’ book in one paragraph in the afterword, citing it as “the formidable, endlessly informative history on [the women’s] lives written by Rachel Hope Cleves,” without which her “job would have been much harder.” A more detailed bibliography on the graphic novel’s website mentions Cleves’ book more than 50 times and notes that Walden’s research process included reading the book twice and beginning to sketch as she read.

DRAWING COMPARISONS

» P.46

COURTESY

A photo of the Craftsbury Chamber Players from the 60th anniversary exhibition

JULY 31 - AUG 2

CABOT,VT

MediSun

Double Tiger

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Craftsbury Chamber Players Toasts 60 Years With New Season, Historical Exhibit

BY AMY L IL LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

The Craftsbury Chamber Players, a summer chamber music festival group founded in 1966, only performed in Craftsbury during its first four years. The Players then moved its concerts to the Hardwick Town House and eventually expanded to the Burlington area — currently the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester — while retaining its original moniker.

Yet Craftsbury is still the Players’ spiritual home. Music director and cellist Fran Rowell and her sister, Mary, a violinist, live there and host festival musicians in their houses; their stepmother, the late pianist Mary Anthony Cox, was a festival cofounder. Since the 1980s, many seasons have opened with an outdoor concert on the town green, Craftsbury Common.

This summer, the town’s historical society is honoring the group’s 60th year with a small exhibition in the Babcock House Museum called “The Music Plays On.” The Rowells, along with society cochair Peter Nelson and board member Wendy Turnbull, recently met Seven Days at the tiny museum for a tour. A wall of the main room displays festival memorabilia: photographs of the four founders and other performers, posters and programs, printouts of pull quotes from newspaper coverage over the years. The display — the result of months of sorting through numerous boxes by historical society affiliate officer Susan Houston — also fills a second room.

The sisters, now in their mid-sixties, seemed to hold the whole history of the Players in their heads. They spontaneously rattled off historical minutiae, such as the fact that the Players’ initial 25-year lease of the Hardwick Town House, which the group helped restore, cost a dollar. They recalled that one of the four Juilliard- and Yale University-trained founders, violinist Ann Rylands, was thrilled to be asked

to help judge the town’s fiddle contest.

(Another wall of the museum’s main room is dedicated to Craftsbury’s now-defunct fiddle and banjo contests, and a third to the town band.)

The Craftsbury Chamber Players formed when a group of Manhattan academics who summered near Caspian Lake requested that their Juilliard friends come up to play. There was no performance space in the Greensboro area, so the group chose the dining hall at Sterling School in Craftsbury Common. (The boys’ prep school would later become a college that closed this spring.)

Photographs from the first season show the female musicians in floorlength gowns. What they played, according to an original program on display, was similarly formal: a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart sonata and a Felix Mendelssohn trio bookending a 20th-century work by Zoltán Kodály. The program set a pattern that Fran, who took over the directorship from Cox in 2014, continues to this day: well-loved standards with a modern work to challenge audiences in between.

At this season’s opening concert, on July 15 in Colchester, the Rowell sisters and visiting musicians performed a Joseph Haydn quartet and a Robert Schumann sonata on either side of Derrick Skye’s “American Mirror,” from 2017. Per Skye’s score, violist Kenji Bunch asked the audience of about 50 to hum during the first part and clap during the second, which they readily did.

Among Vermont’s summer chamber music series, perhaps only the 75-year-old Marlboro Music festival predates the Craftsbury Chamber Players. Even the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t interrupt its CRAFTSBURY CHAMBER

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COURTESY OF DRAWN & QUARTERLY

culture Drawing Comparisons « P.44 “It is not possible for me to overstate how important Rachel Hope Cleves’ book on the subject was to this project,” Walden wrote.

Cleves told Seven Days that because Walden’s book is also titled Charity & Sylvia and because Walden’s platform as a cartoonist is larger than Cleves’ as an academic, it has become more difficult for readers to find her biography.

Alison Bechdel, who served as there are so few published works about the Vermont’s third cartoonist laureate and is women. Although Walden’s graphic novel best known for the “Dykes to Watch Out is a unique medium, she said, Cleves’ book for” comic strip and Fun Home graphic is the original and definitive source on the memoir, said she sympathizes with Cleves, subject. though she thinks the reason Walden’s Beyond Walden’s original artistic interbook has garnered so much attention has pretation, Bechdel noted that the cartoonto do with its accessible format as much ist also invented dialogue, since as its content.

Cleves’ book does not include “[Cleves] is right. Tillie’s book is going to supersede her book,” Bechdel told Seven Days. “That is, I think, as much a commentary on our postliterate era as anything else.”

Walden’s graphic novel Rachel Hope Cleves has been extremely popular since it hit the shelves; many any fictionalized scenes or local bookstores are sold out, and conversations. it already has a wait list of 31 people at the Coco Moseley, executive director Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. of the Henry Sheldon Museum, wrote The controversy has raised questions in an email to Seven Days that Walden about what constitutes an adaptation spent “considerable time” at the archives versus a new work inspired by previous studying “the textures of everyday life — works. Glynnis Fawkes, a Burlington how people spoke, what they wore, what cartoonist who has written numerous they ate, what sat on their tables, what historical books in both categories, said they read, and how they moved through the distinction has to do with how many their community.” These details, Mosesources an artist consults and what infor- ley wrote, were essential to building mation those sources provide. the visual aspects of Bryant and Drake’s One of Fawkes’ books, Charlotte Brontë lives.

Before Jane Eyre, was inspired by multiple The Henry Sheldon Museum released sources. Fawkes wrote in an email that her a statement in support of Walden, noting academic background helped guide her as that “archives exist to be studied, intershe blended published factual evidence, preted, questioned, and reimagined” by including “letters, biographies, and different scholars. The museum expressed historical objects like Charlotte’s writing its belief that both Cleves’ and Walden’s desk,” with what she was “imagining and works are valuable in their own rights inventing,” such as facial expressions and and that Walden sufficiently cited Cleves conversations. for the inspiration and information she Fawkes explained that the case of the provided. Moseley wrote in an email two Charity & Sylvia books is unusual, since that she believes both books can work in

Panels from Tillie Walden’s Charity & Sylvia

tandem to provide a fuller understanding of Bryant and Drake.

Ideally, Moseley wrote, readers of Walden’s popular graphic novel would seek out Cleves’ scholarship to learn more about the history. “Historical understanding is cumulative,” she wrote. “It rarely begins with a single researcher or ends with a single book.”

CLEVES’ ALLEGATIONS HAVE SPARKED A DISCOURSE ABOUT SCHOLARLY ETHICS AND THE

EVA SOLLBERGER

LINE BETWEEN ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION AND APPROPRIATION.

Daylily Days Todd Hanley

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Todd Hanley grows about 300 colorful varieties of daylilies in his hilltop Richmond

In a statement on Bluesky, Drawn & Quarterly wrote that “there is no way the two books can be mistaken for the other” and expressed hope that “the lives of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake continue to be told and shared in a myriad of ways.”

Cleves responded by commenting on the post: “You took my title, cover, and story and buried a one-sentence acknowledgement in the back,” she wrote. “The rest of your statement is hand-waving.”

Vermont Humanities executive director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, who originally brought the idea for the graphic novel to Walden, wrote in an email that Cleves’ work is “very different from Tillie’s creative, artistic version of the women’s story that works to fill in the gaps in the archival record by imagining a fully realized world for early 19th-century Weybridge and a rich interior life for the two women.” He also wrote that Cleves’ book is one of the primary supplemental materials endorsed by Vermont Humanities for Vermont Reads 2026 and that he garden. Most are hybrids that he created himself; 12 of those are registered with the American Daylily Society. For more than 20 years, Hanley has volunteered with Lyric Theatre, and he has named some of his flowers using musical theater references: “No Day but Today” (from Rent), “Fields of Clover” (from Seussical) and “Ultra Clutch” (from Hairspray).

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva

encourages readers to seek it out. The Vermont Humanities website references Cleves’ work and notes that it “first unearthed the story.”

“The story of Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant and their community is rich and deep,” Ilstrup wrote. “It can clearly support the many different forms that contemporary community engagement can take today in 2026.”

Cleves said she will not take legal action against Walden or her team but would like Drawn & Quarterly to be transparent about the factual and narrative origins of Walden’s graphic novel. She told Seven Days that her main concern is not the existence of Walden’s book — in fact, she praised the artwork and creative choices — but rather the fact that the online bibliography that extensively cites Cleves is not readily accessible to readers and that Cleves’ contributions are not noted in the novel’s marketing.

“I just wish that they had been ethical about the appropriation of my work,” Cleves said. “If I had my druthers, they’d stop marketing it as historically original and they’d put that information up front so that buyers could know, instead of burying one sentence in the very back.”

Foutch offered a broader view: Citations can take various forms, she wrote, as long as information is accessible to readers.

“The most important aspect of citation,” Foutch wrote, “is that it credits its sources in such a way that future readers or researchers have the ability to identify and locate the original sources.” ➆

INFO Learn more at charityandsylvia.com, rachelhopecleves.com, henrysheldonmuseum. org and vermonthumanities.org.

Sollberger got a garden tour and learned how to cross-pollinate a few daylilies.

Hanley opens his garden to the public every summer for Daylily Days. You can visit on July 24, 25 and 31, and August 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 382 Williams Hill Road in Richmond. ➆ Seven Days has been airing the award-winning video series “Stuck in Vermont” since 2007. Watch the new episode on sevendaysvt.com this Thursday or on the WCAX-TV evening news on Friday.

Craftsbury Chamber « P.45

COURTESY PHOTOS

longevity: Reviving an idea from a 1968 photograph on display of the Players on a parade float, the group performed outdoor concerts on the back of a flatbed truck. Some musicians’ tenures are remarkably long. Mary has played 40 seasons; Bunch, 28; violinist Katherine Winterstein (the Vermont Symphony Orchestra concertmaster), 25; and Fran, 20.

Audiences are equally loyal. Connie Gallagher and his violinist wife, Nancy, have been attending Burlington-area Craftsbury Chamber Players concerts since the 1980s, long before the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival appeared on the local scene.

“When the season starts, we feel like we’re at home,” Gallagher said. “Every year, we wonder what they’re going to play.”

Five of the season’s six weekly concerts, repeated in Colchester and

Hardwick, remain. Highlights include Calais soprano Mary Bonhag singing Susan Botti’s Bird Songs on Wednesday and Thursday, July 29 and 30.

The Craftsbury Chamber Players’ longevity will continue, thanks in part to an unexpected gift for its 60th anniversary: a check from the former chamber music series Scrag Mountain Music in Marshfield, which divided its assets between five Vermont music groups when cofounders Bonhag and Evan Premo dissolved it last year.

And, as Fran quipped, “There’s no reason to stop.” ➆

INFO Craftsbury Chamber Players next performs on Wednesday, July 22, 7:30 p.m., at Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester; and Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m., at Hardwick Town House. $10-25; free for kids. ccpvt.org “The Music Plays On” is on view through October at Babcock House Museum in Craftsbury. craftsburyhistoricalsociety.org

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7/13/26 9:42 AM

VERMONT

HABITAT

STAMP

Photos of the Craftsbury Chamber Players from the 60th anniversary exhibition

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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COURTESY

culture

LIKE THE PROTAGONIST, THE WRITING IS

AT ITS BEST WHEN IT IS ALLOWED TO LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS. Frances Cannon

Frozen Hearts

Review: Vernal Thaw: A Novel of Love at a Slant by Frances Cannon B Y K AYE PHIPPS

V

ernal Thaw, by Vermont- and Edinburgh, Scotland-based author and illustrator Frances “Franky” Cannon, is a commendable experiment in autobiographical fiction. The novel aims to study the author’s polyamorous heart by dissecting it while it’s still beating. Prepare to witness — with increasing concern — as she prods inside her own chest cavity, pinching shut various arteries and chambers as she operates. Watch as her rosy cheeks go from pink to blue to gray before your very eyes. Proceed to scream out: “For the love of God, why?!” over and over again, all while she dissociates by persistently directing your attention to the safest details of her life, such as her favorite albums and bakeries. And do make sure to enjoy her sketches as she fades — they are quite good.

Unlike a typical story of queer self-discovery, Vernal Thaw begins with our protagonist’s sexuality already fully realized. Franky (a fictionalized version of the author) is an adjunct professor in creative writing who lives a life of unrestricted romance, with multiple partners across multiple genders. Yes, it’s a fun and sexy approach to love. But it’s also depicted as affectionate and wholesome and honest. It comes naturally to Franky.

For her, polyamory just works.

BOOKS

48

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Then, both slowly and suddenly, Franky finds herself in a barren tundra of monogamy. It is a lonely frontier, ruled by a domineering queen in high-waisted slacks. This woman sits rigidly upon an icy throne, a glass of cognac in one hand and a loaded pistol in the other. Vera is her name, and whenever it is uttered, a baby bird in Russia contracts scoliosis. This woman is the novel’s irresistible heartthrob.

Almost immediately upon getting involved with Vera, a neurosurgeon in Burlington whose two main hobbies are conquering mountains and drawing baths, Franky agrees to a vow of exclusivity. She justifies this as simply “trying out” monogamy. In the same way that a married couple might try to rekindle things by opening up their bedroom to newcomers, Franky opts to spice down her own life by cooking only with celery salt, forever.

To the sadness (and confusion) of her other two staple paramours, Franky announces she must sever ties with them both. Even Franky herself doesn’t seem all that sure why this new relationship has taken precedence over all of her other joys in life. She has no choice but to obey the call of Vera. We can only wave awkwardly from the beach and mumble good luck as she marches dutifully into the cold, black sea.

Like the protagonist, the writing is at its best when it is allowed to love without limits. Cannon has a beautiful

way of lingering on the subjects of her affection. When she describes someone with fondness, even the Abominable Vera, one feels the author could swim in those paragraphs forever. Cannon naturally channels the time-freeze effect of staring too long at a crush, as when she lovingly notes someone’s “mismatched socks and banjo” or Vera’s bashful fear of dancing. Whenever the plot rushes ahead, at groupchat pacing, the reader may be reluctant to let go of those paused heartbeats.

It’s hard to care about dialogue or changes in scenery when we’re still pining for Franky’s keepsake memories, even the troubling ones. This longing is not unlike the simmering remorse that Franky herself endures throughout the novel, a feeling that she seems incapable of acknowledging. You may experience your own version of Franky’s dread — a sense of being trapped with no way out, no solution except to delude yourself into believing this cage has been home all along.

Readers will likely react to this book differently depending on their own life experiences. Those who know all too well the hypnotizing allure of a radioactive lover will find camaraderie in Franky’s story. For those privileged enough to have never lived through such a nightmare, reading this book may instead feel similar to shouting at a horror movie: “Hey! Don’t go in there! Can’t you see? She has a gun! She hates your entire CD collection! She only wears turtlenecks.

Run.” Despite how severely Franky deteriorates when she’s handcuffed to a single partner, Cannon never depicts polyamory as some enlightened evolution of monogamy. Rather, any suffering that Franky endures from this relationship is partly from an emotionally manipulative partner and partly from the repression of one’s sexual and romantic inclinations.

As it turns out, a heart is still a heart, no matter for whom, or for how many, it beats. ➆

INFO Vernal Thaw: A Novel of Love at a Slant by Frances Cannon, Set Margins’, 284 pages. $24.95.

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The Odyssey ★★★★

T

hese days, there’s nothing as heartening to a cinephile as seeing a crowd at the theater.

After months of hype and social media battles, people actually turned out for Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s The Odyssey — even though Vermont has no theaters offering IMAX, the format in which the film was entirely shot.

On the rainy Saturday of opening weekend, early screenings at Essex Cinemas’ large-format T-Rex Theater were approaching sold-out territory, suggesting that locals prioritized catching this spectacle on the biggest screen possible. Even in the more modest-size theater where I saw it, people applauded as the credits rolled.

REVIEW

The deal

Twenty years ago, Odysseus (Matt Damon) sailed off to attack Troy, leaving behind his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), to look after his kingdom and raise his son, Telemachus (Tom Holland). Now the Trojan War is long over, but the king still hasn’t returned. Every night, his home is full of suitors for Penelope’s hand, one of whom (Robert Pattinson) tries to persuade Telemachus that a changing of the guard is inevitable. Unconvinced, and encouraged 50

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

by a faithful servant (John Leguizamo) who insists Odysseus lives, Telemachus sets out in search of news of his father.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the uncharted sea, an exhausted and depressed Odysseus is shacked up with the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron), who plies him with lotus flowers to help him forget how he lost his entire crew on the way back from Troy. Until he confronts his past, he can’t put himself on the pathway home.

Will you like it?

It’s easy to forget what made Hollywood’s golden-age epics feel epic. Not only were they filmed in large formats and shown on large screens, but they were also shot on location with casts of thousands, creating a visceral sense of scale.

Ever since 2000’s Gladiator, filmmakers have tried to recapture that sense of bigness using CGI crowds on CGI backgrounds. The technology is wizardly, but our brains crave something more — and the proof, I think, is how satisfyingly epic The Odyssey feels.

The locations are real, as is the terrifyingly small warship in which Odysseus and his crew weather the wrath of sea god Poseidon. While the production didn’t eschew digital effects (the monster Scylla, for instance), many of its key marvels were

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL

on screen

Wisdom is the first casualty of war in Christopher Nolan’s new take on Homer’s epic.

produced practically, including the 8,800pound Trojan horse and the man-eating Cyclops (played by Bill Irwin with help from puppetry and animatronics).

Nolan reveals the Cyclops gradually, with a horror director’s instinct for withholding. When a giant hand swoops from the darkness of a cave to seize a crewmember, we feel the same primal terror that ancient audiences might have felt listening to bards sing Homer’s poem. Rapper Travis Scott plays such a bard in the film, reminding us that The Odyssey began its life as a thrilling adventure tale performed live.

That’s not to say the passage of millennia doesn’t matter. Nolan’s screenplay reshapes Homer for modern tastes in myriad ways. He keeps the gods off-screen except for Athena (Zendaya), who behaves more like a facet of Odysseus’ psyche than a political player in her own right. This Odysseus struggles with trauma from a war he knows was fought to secure economic advantage, despite the official rationale of reclaiming Helen (Lupita Nyong’o). Flashbacks to the sack of Troy, interspersed through the film, emphasize its wanton brutality. And the witch Circe (a wonderfully sly and quiet performance by Samantha Morton) is on hand to make an explicit connection between that violence and male appetites.

Nolan conveys the Greeks’ cultural unity by having all the actors speak flat, modernized, American-accented dialogue.

It’s no poetry, but it does the job. While the star-studded casting can be distracting, and most of the characters are fairly simple archetypes, the performances are strong.

Damon’s Odysseus is a crusty, flawed hero but a hero nonetheless, tormented by fate, the gods and his own choices until he reaffirms his mental and physical prowess and earns a happy-ish ending. Pattinson makes his scheming suitor despicable enough for us to yearn for his comeuppance, and the well-orchestrated battle scenes satisfy our cravings for derring-do.

Yet the movie’s overall mood is elegiac, with several characters invoking the idea that the end of civilization draws nigh.

Ludwig Göransson’s score reinforces that anxiety; in place of the expected symphonic grandeur, he uses ancient instruments and synthesizers to create a needling sense of foreboding.

Like so many great powers, the Greeks in this movie fret about an invading other, the “people from the sea,” only to discover the real danger lurks within their own corruptible hearts. The relevance to our current moment is hard to ignore.

Whatever one thinks of Nolan’s take on The Odyssey, he has managed to steer it between the Scylla of fight fests like 300 and the Charybdis of a less rousing, more academic rendering. The record box-office take confirms that audiences still crave larger-than-life stories with lifesize concerns at their core. “Go big or go home,” the saying goes, but this Odysseus does both.

MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY… JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963; Roku Channel, Tubi, YouTube, rentable): Nolan has said he drew inspiration from Ray Harryhausen’s pioneering stopmotion visual effects for this early Greek mythology spectacle.

THE RETURN (2024; Paramount+, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Ralph Fiennes plays Odysseus and Juliette Binoche is Penelope in this version that removes the monsters and mythology and focuses on the hero’s homecoming.

O BROTHER, WHERE ARE THOU? (2000; SlingTV, YouTube TV, rentable): Ethan and Joel Coen put their own spin on Homer’s classic with this loose comic rendering set in the 1930s, starring George Clooney as an escaped convict and trickster.

COURTESY OF A24

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) SUPERGIRLHHH Milly Alcock plays Superman’s cousin on a road trip across the galaxy that becomes a revenge quest. (107 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic; reviewed 7/1)

The Invite

NEW IN THEATERS HADESTOWN: THE MUSICAL: Live recordings from the London production of Anaïs Mitchell’s stage show bring the Vermonter’s Tony Award-winning fusion of dystopia and Greek mythology to the screen for just five days. Brett Sullivan directed. (141 min, NR. Capitol, Essex, Partizanfilm, Savoy) MOTOR CITY: In this retro action thriller set in Detroit, an ex-con (Alan Ritchson) seeks vengeance on the gangsters who framed him for a crime. Potsy Ponciroli directed. (103 min, R. Sunset)

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) 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. Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

MAN WITH A PLAN (Savoy, Wed 29 only)

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) 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)

HONEYJOON (VTIFF, Fri only) JACK LONDON’S MARTIN EDEN (Catamount, Tue only) MISSING (Partizanfilm, Wed 22 only) PLAYTIME (VTIFF, Sun only) PRICKLY MOUNTAIN AND MY DESIGN/BUILD LIFE (Savoy, Sat only) SK8 JOHNSBURY GATHERING AND FREE FILM (Catamount, Sat only)

OPEN THEATERS (* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available 8v-jobfiller-career2021.indd 1 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

GET OFF OF

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

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, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Welden)

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

7/30/218V-VTIFF072226 1:54 PM 1

7/21/26 6:08 PM

COPPER! AND START SAVING MONEY NOW.

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

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, Sun only)

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)

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com.

FORASTERA (VTIFF, Sat only)

ROSE OF NEVADA: In Mark Jenkin’s science fiction film, a fishing boat that vanished for 30 years reappears in a Cornish village with mystical powers.

George MacKay and Callum Turner star. (114 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

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)

Find 100+ new job postings weekly from trusted, local employers in Seven Days newspaper and online.

THE FIFTH ELEMENT (Essex, Sun & Wed only) THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (VTIFF, Thu only)

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)

Work it out with Seven Days Jobs.

FACING THE WIND (Savoy, Mon only)

NIGHT NURSE: A naïve retirement community nurse finds herself getting close to a mysterious patient in this erotic thriller directed by Georgia Bernstein. (95 min, R. Sunset)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

What’s next for your career?

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

We will replace copper lines to internet-based services (VoIP and SIP). You don’t have to lift a finger.

Just let our team get to work.

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

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.

(Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 5/20)

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

THE ODYSSEYHHHH 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. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 7/22)

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

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

802-771-2100 (BURLINGTON) 207-561-655O (BANGOR) 800-338-4084 (TOLL-FREE) WWW.MYCVS.IO

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

BURLINGTON | VERMONT BANGOR | MAINE

*WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com 4T-CVS031826.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

51

3/13/26 5:30 PM

AMY LILLY

art

COURTESY

Out of the Blue

A Middlebury gallery mounts a retrospective of architect Tom Cullins’ paintings and photos B Y A M Y L I L LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

B

urlington architect Tom Cullins just turned 84 and has pursued painting and photography for nearly all those years. “Tom Cullins: Abstractions,” a retrospective at the Jackson Gallery at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, includes 59 of his watercolors, mixed-media paintings and photographs. But even that number seems inadequate to explore Cullins’ approach to abstraction — studies in the interplay of color and texture, lines and curves, surface and perspective that nevertheless feel grounded in place.

“I look at something that’s realistic, and something in my mind makes it abstract. I can’t explain it,” Cullins said by phone from the Greek island of Kea, where he and his wife, Kelly, have vacationed every summer for more than 30 years.

While at the architecture and design firm TruexCullins, where he became a senior partner and principal at 33, Cullins shaped much of Burlington’s built environment. (Picture the concrete Cathedral Church of St. Paul, the brick residences at College and Battery streets, and the largely glass IDX Student Life Center at Champlain College, among others.)

In the 1980s, Cullins left Burlington to become chief architect at the IDEA Center, an international architectural firm based in Athens, Greece. His designs from that time include the award-winning Petroline administrative headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a minimalist reimagining of mosque-like forms and volumes.

Cullins’ experience in Arab cultures helped him

REVIEW

52

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

survive when Hezbollah militants hijacked a 1985 flight from Athens on which he was a passenger. He became an effective spokesperson for his group of eight hostages and arrived home safely after 17 days.

Cullins retired from TruexCullins in 2006, giving him more time for his art practice — although art was never an escape from architecture.

It’s “all part of the same process,” Cullins said. He has been painting since age 5, when his mother put a paintbrush in his hand to distract him during an illness. With what he described as his “old-time” Nikon 35-millimeter slide camera, he took photos throughout his career that have won him 18 national awards from the American Institute of Architects.

“Abstractions,” which includes several watercolors of building façades, leaves no doubt as to Cullins’ ability to render scenes and figures in perspective — not surprising for an architect who learned his craft long before computer-aided design took over hand-drafting. Even in these realistic works, however, abstract forms prevail.

“Leunig’s Bistro,” from 2009, shows the downtown Burlington eatery sliced with thin triangles of white sunlight. “Leunig’s,” from the same year, renders the façade and its interior spaces on the same plane in flat, rectangular sections of pink, yellow and gray striped with angled light.

Mediterranean sun and cerulean seas infuse Cullins’ airy, abstract compositions evoking Greece, including watercolors from 2008 to 2009 and 2017 to 2018. (Many of his works have no titles.) In one painting, blocks of variously hued blues and gray-browns are divided by

Clockwise from top: An untitled watercolor; “Toy Soldier”; “Leunig’s”

thin lines of exposed white paper, some slanted like sail rigging, while curved blue- and brown-hued forms suggest a domed church, a distant hill or a gently cresting wave.

One mixed-media composition in watercolor and acrylic features three distinct horizontal bands in shades of blue separated by the white of the paper. With diagonal slices of azure and black slashing between them, Cullins creates a progression from roiling seas to a calm, opaque indigo, suggesting a distant rainfall and the onset of night.

Cullins shows a distinct interest in texture in watercolor and acrylic paintings. His drybrush watercolor surfaces evoke the myriad effects of light. A thick dollop of blue acrylic paint accents the center of a painting. The mottled

COURTESY

ART SHOWS

MEDITERRANEAN SUN AND CERULEAN SEAS INFUSE CULLINS’ AIRY, ABSTRACT COMPOSITIONS. red-brown mixed-media surfaces of “Earth Study” capture the texture of soil.

Likewise, his photographs are so focused on a close study of texture that it’s difficult to tell Cullins has switched mediums. Extreme in their cropping — a group of 13 are mounted on small rectangular panels — the photos are abstract compositions that, after long looking, occasionally resolve into the recognizable: a slice of boat hull, a section of green marble tile, spilled water, chipped paint.

A series of watercolors depicting a Barre granite quarry from 2013 presents a naturalistic subject that nonetheless appears geometric and abstract. During one of his four residencies at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, the artist connected with another participant who was photographing the quarry. Cullins brought the artist’s photos to Greece that summer as inspiration for watercolors.

In black, white and shades of brown, each layer and section of cut stone is realistically rendered in finely painted lines.

Yet Cullins’ use of light and shadow, water and reflection serve to fool the eye into abstraction. Opaque turquoise water at the base of one quarry wall appears flat; in other works, viewers must puzzle out whether the waterline is a blocky shadow, a translucent layer or a mirror of the cut stone above.

Cullins hasn’t sought out public exhibition opportunities; his last one was at the BCA Center in Burlington in 2014.

But Jackson Gallery manager Ellie Friml, herself a tapestry artist, has had a lifelong interest in Cullins’ work and his “designer’s eye for composition.” Her parents, a designer draftsman and a model maker, both worked with TruexCullins.

Architect Rolf Kielman, who joined Truex shortly after Cullins, once called his colleague’s Petroline headquarters a work of “abstract elegance.” No less could be said of his artwork. ➆

INFO “Tom Cullins: Abstractions,” on view through August 8 at the Jackson Gallery at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. townhalltheater.org/ jackson-gallery 2V-middcollart072226 1

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

53

7/17/26 12:22 PM

ALICE DODGE

art JUL. 22-29 OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS CLASS OF 1986 EXHIBITION: “Spring Reunion,” a seasonal exhibition showcasing recent works by John Aicher, Monica Carroll, Cynthia Kirkwood, John Moyers, Elizabeth Needham and Phoebe Twichell Peterson in the building’s second-floor gallery.

Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College, through August 5.

ARTIST TALK: RONA LEE COHEN: An artist tour and discussion of “Carrying On,” a series of loose, mostly abstract paintings inspired by Joan Mitchell.

Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts, Brattleboro, Saturday, July 25, 4 p.m. Free.

ZACH SHAW: “Happy to Be Here,” abstract mixedmedia paintings presented by Studio Place Arts. Pearl Street Pizza, Barre, through September 19.

BOOK ARTS EXPERIENCE: A behind-the-scenes preview of the Book Arts Guild of Vermont’s retrospective exhibition, including an opportunity to handle some of the books, see works not in the exhibition and hear insider stories from the artists.

Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, Saturday, July 25, 4-6 p.m. Free.

‘FORM AND FUNCTION SHOP’: An exhibition of functional pottery and glassware by Chris Archer, Whitney Barrett, Robert Burch, Robert DuGrenier, Nicholas Kekic, Almut Yakovleff and Andy Snyder. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, through October 11.

‘ART, OPPORTUNITY AND THE GI BILL GENERATION’ WITH JOHN STOMBERG: An evening celebrating the life and work of Hugh Townley while reflecting on American artists whose careers were shaped by the GI Bill, with remarks by John Stomberg, outgoing director of the Hood Museum of Art. BigTown Gallery, Rochester, Saturday, July 25, 5-7 p.m. Free.

‘AMAZING ANIMALS’: Works by local artists depicting pets, livestock, wildlife or creatures from their imaginations. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, July 24-August 22.

‘THE SUMMER FISH TOUR’: A juried show featuring artwork of trout, minnows, sunfish, tuna, koi, catfish and more as portrayed by 29 local artists in a range of mediums. Reception with live “fishy” music: Friday, July 24, 5-7 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, through September 25.

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 26, 1-3 p.m. Free.

‘REIMAGINED III: THE ART OF RECYCLING’: The third annual exhibition showcasing works that include recycled materials. Reception: Friday, July 24, 5-7 p.m. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, July 24-September 4.

‘DIVISION OF LABOR: WORK IN THE UNITED STATES’: An exhibition that explores how artists have visualized labor in the U.S. from the 19th to the 21st centuries, especially the transition from agriculture to industry to office work, and how visual depictions of labor impact understandings of class, race and gender. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., July 25-November 7.

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. Reception: Saturday, July 25, 12:30-3 p.m.

Kishka Gallery & Library, White River Junction, July 25-August 29.

HANNAH AND CHARLES CIERI: “Liminal,” an exhibition of woodworking and pottery hosted by the Cambridge Arts Council as part of the Paracosm pop-up series in the Sugarhouse gallery, on view through the Jeffersonville Art Jam. Reception features live music from the Green Mountain Skillet Lickers. Reception: Saturday, July 25, 4-6 p.m. Visions of Vermont, Jeffersonville, July 25-August 10.

PHIL GODENSCHWAGER: “Bringing It All Together: From Then to Now,” a retrospective of the Randolph artist’s works, including a six-sided glass gazebo, a presidential-themed putting green, sculptures, ink drawings and cartoons, and documentation of large-scale public sculptures. Reception: Saturday, July 25, 5-7 p.m. Chandler Gallery, Randolph, July 25-September 6.

‘ACTIVE OBJECTS: ART, CRAFT & DESIGN’: A show that asks viewers to consider objects as active participants in human experience, with works by Johannes Michelsen, Farhad Mirza, Stanton Sears, Ellen Shattuck Pierce, Amara Hark Weber and Susan White, alongside a juried selection of pieces by SVAC artist members selected by Stanton Sears.

Reception and member party: Friday, August 7, 6-8 p.m. Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, July 29-September 27.

JOANN DIMICK: “Ten Years Painting in Watercolor,” a solo show featuring local scenes of farms, flora and fauna. See Facebook for more information. Closing reception: Sunday, August 30, 4-7 p.m. White Water Gallery, East Hardwick, through August 30.

Character Study Fine artists and graphic designers typically walk different paths — the former often focus on deep meaning and personal expression; the latter, on client needs and clear visual communication. Those roads intersect at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield, where “The Silent Type” features works by five Vermont artists — Tina Christensen, Leslie Fry, Michael Jager, Susan Smereka and Elise Whittemore — who have all worked as graphic designers or been influenced by the field. The paintings, prints, sculptures and other pieces they present all demonstrate lessons learned from their more commercial cousins.

Jager’s “Love Hue” juxtaposes intense blocks of color for the sole purpose of aesthetic appreciation. In the translucent “portrait,” Smereka’s feathery layers of printed paper and plastic stitched together don’t tell a whole story but instantly convey a gauzy, ephemeral mood. Fry’s cast resin sculptures each start with the same object — a mannequin-like hand — and iterate it, creating unique cuffs and color combinations. Christensen situates boldface type as though it were a figure within an abstract landscape. And Whittemore’s prints emphasize the rich textures that graphics gain when realized with ink on the page.

‘THE SILENT TYPE’ On view through August 27 at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield. madrivervalleyarts.org

VISUAL ART EVENTS 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, Thursday, July 23, 12:30-2:30 p.m. By donation.

GRAND OPENING: A celebration of the new gallery, which features works by regional artists and Dartmouth alums and Inuit sculpture from Dorset Fine Arts of Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada. Kyle Timothy Fine Art, Hanover, N.H., Thursday, July 23, 4-6 p.m. Free.

FREE SHELBURNE SUMMER NIGHTS: A series of free after-hours events with live music, food trucks, gallery access and family activities, featuring Myra Flynn (July 23) and the Ray Vega Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble (August 27). Shelburne Museum,

PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY THURSDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

“Love Hue” by Michael Jager, in collaboration with Solidarity of Unbridled Labour

EXHIBITION

GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE!

54

ARTIST TALK: CONSTANCE JAQUAY: A presentation and workshop on family mapping by the Los Angeles-based experimental movement artist, filmmaker and physical playwright, this season’s first artist-in-residence. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, Saturday, July 25, 2-3 p.m. Free.

Thursday, July 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

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 23, 7-9 p.m.

Free; $15 suggested donation.

CURATORIAL TALK: MADELEINE SARAISKY ‘26: A discussion with the museum’s Class of 1954 intern of “I Remember Who I Am When I’m With You,” her student-curated exhibition examining a range of photographs and prints that depict interpersonal relationships. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Friday, July 24, 4-4:45 p.m. Free.

COLLAGE WORKSHOP: ‘EXPRESSING THE SORROWS OF OUR WORLD THROUGH COLLAGE’: Death doula Jackie Proulx leads a group in exploring individual and collective grief through the medium, grounding the exploration in writing by Francis Weller. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, Saturday, July 25, 1-3 p.m. $35.

VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS:

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

ART HISTORY TALK: SAM THURSTON: A discussion with the artist of the history of artist-run galleries and associations in the United States. The Front, Montpelier, Sunday, July 26, 4-5 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 27, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation.

ARCHAEOLOGY TALK: ASHLEY OFFILL: “Excavations and Exhibitions: Digging Into Archeology and the Art Museum,” a lecture by the Hood Museum’s curator of collections exploring the instrumental role of archeology in forming many early museum collections and the legacies of archeological objects in the modern museum.

Hybrid program. Howe Library, Hanover, N.H., Wednesday, July 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; register online for Zoom link.

CALLS TO ARTISTS ART’S ALIVE FALL PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW: Seeking photography of any subject matter — landscape, portrait, experimental, etc. — for a show that runs September 25 to December 10. Contact Mariah at mariah@mainstreetlanding.com. Deadline: September 1. The Gallery at Main Street Landing, Burlington.

FY27 ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Now accepting applications for activities that enhance mastery of an artist’s craft or skills or increase viability of their business. Apply at vermontartscouncil. org. Deadline: September 7. Vermont Arts Council, Montpelier.

‘MADE IN THE MOUNTAINS’: Vermont artists of all levels are invited to submit 12-by-12-inch works in all mediums for a community-centered art exhibition. Works should be priced between $50 and $250; 40 percent of proceeds support Corner School’s arts programming. The show opens on September 20 and runs through mid-October.

Contact vtcornerschool@gmail.com for submission form. Deadline: September 4. Granville Corner School. Free.

‘TRANSITIONS’: Established and emerging artists are invited to submit one or two works in any medium on the theme for a September-to-December exhibition. Register at jerichovt.org. Deadline: August 28. Jericho Town Hall. ➆

= ONLINE EVENT OR EXHIBIT

Job of theWeek

JULY 31 — AUGUST 1, 2o26

GRANTS & CORPORATE RELATIONS MANAGER AGE WELL

DOWNTOWN

BURLINGTON

Get the scoop on this position from AGE WELL’S Chief Advancement Officer Sara Wool.

Cate Great

2026 PERFORMER

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

The Grants & Corporate Relations Manager plays a key role in helping Age Well grow the resources needed to serve thousands of older Vermonters each year. The position requires someone who enjoys both strategy and storytelling — identifying new funding opportunities, building relationships with foundations and corporate partners, and translating our work into compelling proposals that inspire investment. It’s a challenging role because funding is increasingly competitive, but it’s also incredibly rewarding because every grant secured directly supports programs that help older adults remain healthy, independent and connected to their communities.

What is unique & rewarding about AGE WELL? Vermont is one of the oldest states in the nation, and that means the work we do today will help shape what aging looks like tomorrow. Age Well is more than Meals on Wheels — we’re leading innovative initiatives that connect health care and community services, expand caregiver supports, combat isolation, and help communities become better places to grow older. It’s an exciting time to join an organization that’s helping redefine healthy aging across Vermont. At Age Well, you don’t have to wonder whether your work matters — you can see the impact every day. Grants and partnerships make it possible to deliver meals, provide care coordination, support caregivers and create new programs that improve lives across northwestern Vermont. We are truly growing older together!

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

2v-JOTW072226.indd 1

7/21/26 6:46 PM

4T-BCA072226 1

7/13/26 5:04 PM

RUNWAY AT THE FALLS FOR

HOPE

FINE ART AND FASHION FOR A CAUSE, OVERLOOKING MIDDLEBURY FALLS.

FRIDAY AUGUST 21ST 6:00PM - 8:00PM

EDGEWATER GALLERY AT THE FALLS 1 Mill Street, Middlebury, VT 05753

TICKETS: $15

Wine + Light Refreshments Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit HOPE, supporting its essential work to strengthen and serve our community.

802.458.0098 • info@edgewatergallery.com www.edgewatergallery.com 4T-edgewater072226 1

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

55

7/20/26 4:18 PM

LUKE AWTRY

music+nightlife Sam Paulino, aka maari

Going from a major label to essentially being a DIY indie artist seems like an intense transition. How have you navigated that?

These last few years have been amazing for woodshedding. I’ve had to do a lot more by myself. I made all the beats on this album; I recorded everything. I’ve directed videos and shot teasers and planned single releases … I don’t have any infrastructure, but I’m totally free.

I maybe didn’t realize the full scope of the workload I was taking on after leaving Warner, so I’m just finding new ways to keep people paying attention and caring about my music. One day, I’d love to be back on a major label, but I’ve learned so much from being on my own.

Radio Rekindled Former 99 Neighbors MC maari’s new LP is a blast from the past and a glimpse of his future B Y CHRIS FAR NS W O R TH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

W

hen Burlington’s 99 Neigh- a birthday cake in the music video for his bors called it quits in 2023, it 2024 single “Eyes Wide Shut.” felt like the end of a specific Yet the new maari record, fittingly era in Vermont hip-hop. titled 99 Radio, Vol. 1, finds the rapper and Though the collective only existed for producer embracing his roots. It includes five years, its success — including signing cameos by his former bandmates, such to Warner Records in as rappers Conswank 2019 with Chance the and Damor (formerly Rapper’s manager — known as Hanknative), put down a marker for showing that the 802 Green Mountain rap. connection remains But the group’s strong. experience on a major 2026 is shaping label was a rough ride, up to be a big year for and the band felt presPaulino. He performs sured to sound like an album release show SAM PAU LINO something it wasn’t. opening for funk star Founding member Thundercat at BurlSam Paulino, aka maari, bemoaned how ington’s Waterfront Park on Thursday, the label wanted to make 99 Neighbors July 30. He’s also fresh from winning the into a “boy band.”

2026 Black Music Action Coalition Music When members of the group went their Maker Grant, which not only helped fund separate ways, there was a sense of finality his new record but also put legendary pop to the split. Paulino, 29, even included a and R&B producers Jimmy Jam and Terry scene of him blowing out a “99” candle on Lewis (Janet Jackson) on his speed dial.

I FEEL LIKE I FINALLY HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS

TO STEP UP TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.

56

a long way, so having them on this record, it feels like a new and improved 99 Neighbors vibe.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

“I feel like I finally have the proper tools to step up to that next level,” Paulino said in a recent interview with Seven Days from his home in Essex, flanked by his two Chihuahuas. “I understand the industry, and I understand what I want from my music much more now.”

Now that it’s been a few years since the split, are you all starting to drift back into each other’s orbits, musically?

By the end, it was for the best that we parted ways with that kind of boy-band aspect the label was trying to put on us. We each had to find our own vibes.

But we all still work and hang together.

JuJu [Julian Segar-Reid] is actually on his way over here now — you’re probably going to hear my dogs go nuts in a minute.

And it was awesome having Swank and Hank on the single. I had “99 F°” and knew Swank’s voice needed to be on it.

I mean, we made our last record in 2021; I was 24 years old. We’ve all come

As a newly indie artist, winning the Black Music Action Coalition grant must have been a massive help.

One hundred percent! My old manager sent me a link to apply, but I never thought I’d get it, to be honest. I sent a track last October and kind of forgot about it. Then I’m in the gym in February and got a call saying I was a finalist, and could I fly out to Los Angeles tomorrow? There was a ceremony with LL Cool J and Flavor Flav and Jon Batiste.

And, of course, that was when we had that massive snowstorm. I was literally at the airport when my flight got canceled. I was sick to my stomach over it, man. I got to accept the award over FaceTime, but that was a tough one, for real.

The grant was huge for me, though. I paid for the album, got some studio plugins and gear, paid for the music videos, and I’ve still got about a grand to put toward more promotion. And now I’m talking with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis all the time. I send them tracks.

On top of featuring some of your old bandmates, the new record is a concept record of sorts — a longform, radio-like experience. It’s even narrated by a DJ. Was that always the intention, or did the concept develop as you recorded it?

I love radio. My mom is in radio — she’s Chantal from 95 Triple X — so radio has always been a big part of my life. With 99 Neighbors, we started “99 Radio” on Twitch, and then it got picked up by Amazon. But it withered away after we disbanded. So I wanted to do this record as a concept using “99 Radio” as the theme — sort of bring it back, in a way.

RADIO REKINDLED

» P.58

COURTESY

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Happy Spangler

LIVE SINCE 1955

2026

On the Beat

We’re coming up on the last weekend of July, which means it’s time for the Ramble, the massive one-day block party held this Saturday, July 25, throughout Burlington’s Old North End. Now in its 22nd year, the festival celebrates the spirit and creativity of the community with live music, art shows, flower farm tours, pop-up boutiques, dance parties and even potato printing. That’s right: You can carve a potato into art.

I feel like the promo could stop there, but there’s plenty more to do at the Ramble. Plant swaps, karate demos, chess tournaments and lots of incredible food options round out one of my favorite annual Burlington events. Oh, and music. Because that’s what we do in this li’l corner of the paper, right?

In addition to porch shows and unannounced pop-up performances, musical options abound. Ratsmission on North Winooski Avenue has a loaded lineup, including HAPPY SPANGLER and NOAH KESEY. THE STEPH PAPPAS EXPERIENCE is set to play a picnic at Pomeroy Park, and COVEN, TUB TIME and JUGGLECYCLE throw down at Taco Gordo in a fundraiser for

local musician KEVIN BLOOM’s campaign for Chittenden County sheriff.

Believe me, that is just the tip of the iceberg, folks. Head over to theramble. org for more information — you don’t want to miss the epic bike ride or community photo. Ramble on!

You ever get one of those emails that makes you ask yourself, Seriously, what year is it? That’s how your Friendly Neighborhood Music Editor was feeling after getting a message announcing that Burlington indie-rock royalty CHIN HO! were not only putting out an album, their first of new material in decades, but that the band had been signed to Southern California label Pacific Records. I honestly thought I’d eaten an edible for breakfast by accident. But nope, turns out that the band is back and ready to relaunch. Chin Ho! are set to release The Mystery of the Curse of the Chin Ho! Mystery Curse next month, 25 years after their last proper record.

I’ll be catching up soon with the band, which has booked a show at Higher Ground in November, so stay ON THE BEAT

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Cyrille Aimée . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9/11

Tesla Quartet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10/2

Ballaké Sissoko & Piers Faccini .

9/25

Trio Bohémo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10/16

Tesla Quartet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10/2

Gabriela Martinez . . . . . . . . . . .

11/6

Fraser | San Miguel Fraser . . . . .

10/9

Lorelei Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . .

12 /11

Trio Bohémo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10/16

Dom Flemons and The Traveling Wildfires . . . . . . .

10/23

Gabriela Martinez . . . . . . . . . . .

11/6

Còig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12 /4

Lorelei Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . .

12 /11

10/2 Tesla Quartet

» P.58 11/16 Gabriela Martinez

COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY

9/25 Ballaké Sissoko & Piers Faccini

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Presented in partnership with Burlington Baroque Festival, Eric Milnes, Director

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

Handel’s Oratorio: Israel in Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9/20

Note: This performance is is not included in package deals

2026 Fall Sessions Sponsors

and thanks to our anonymous donors

with Grant Support from: Vermont Community Foundation | Vermont Humanities | Vermont Council on the Arts

2 0 2 6 FA L L S E S S I O N S T I C K E T S | A R T I S T I N F O :

Chin Ho!

UVM.EDU/LANESERIES LAN.262.26 Lane Series 2026 FALL Sessions 7D Ad (July 15th Issue): 1/2 vertical: 4.75" x 11.25"

2v-uvmlaneseries071526 1

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

57

7/13/26 11:48 AM

music+nightlife Radio Rekindled « P.56 Part of it is, ironically, that I think this record has a lot of radio appeal. I went through my underground rapper phase with the last few records, and I think I’m coming full circle now to find my sound. I’m a pop artist at the end of the day.

Getting on the Thundercat bill at the Waterfront should help. How did that gig come about?

Dude, it’s just like the situation with the grant — you gotta shoot your shot. I called the folks at Higher Ground to see if I could open the show. It took some dedication and follow-through, but I got on the bill. And that’s what I tell anyone asking how to navigate this business: Just send it, homie. Shoot your shot. ➆

(Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “BET ON THE FEELING”

by Dari Bay 2. “IS IT TRUE?” by Willverine,

Stephanie Wilson 3. “NYUKI” by A2VT 4. “IT’S A SHAPE” by Cosmic the

Cowboy

Cricket Blue

On the Beat « P.57 tuned. In the meantime, the first single from the new album, “Tractor, Pull,” is streaming on YouTube.

Burlington folk duo CRICKET BLUE announced that their new album, Sweet Animal, is due out on September 18. The band, which wonderfully describes itself as “indie chamber folk to make you weep into your tomatoes,” also released an advance single from the record.

“Ella I,” is a gorgeous, haunting song that functions as a tribute to singer and guitarist LAURA HEABERLIN’s late grandmother as well as a meditation

on death. Dripping with the signature harmonies of Heaberlin and fellow songwriter, vocalist and guitarist TAYLOR SMITH, the track is a tantalizing appetizer for a hotly anticipated album.

“Ella I” is available on major streaming services now. You can catch Cricket Blue live on Friday, July 24, at the Monkey House in Winooski, with folk singer GILLIAN GROGAN. Burlington rapper and producer

NASTEELUVZYOU is dropping a new record

on Sunday, July 26, via his own label, AfterLyfe Music. CE 2: Man’s Mission features a slew of rappers hopping on Nastee’s tracks, including Connecticut

Shows to Watch Out For

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Of Monsters and Men

4. LCD Soundsystem at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine, September 9

MC CAMBATTA and Boston’s AKROBATIK, as well as Nastee’s brother and frequent collaborator, Burlington artist KONFLIK. The record hits the same day as the album release show, a blowout at Zenbarn in Waterbury Center, where Nastee and Konflik open for Oakland rap group SOULS OF MISCHIEF. Check out zenbarnvt.com for more information on the show and to purchase tickets.

The record will be available at afterlyfemusic1.bandcamp.com.

C HRI S FARN S W O RT H

7. Five for Fighting at Paramount Theatre in Rutland, September 22

Helmet COURTESY PHOTOS

6. Of Monsters and Men at Shelburne Museum, September 20

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

sevendaysvt. com/playlist

3. Rush at the Bell Center in Montréal, September 2&4

INFO

58

Scan to listen

2. Helmet at Lark Hall in Albany, N.Y., August 28

5. Marcus King Band at the Flynn in Burlington, September 15

99 Radio, Vol. 1 is streaming now on major services.

7. “RED BARON” by EVNGwear

1. Kaki King at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, August 20

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

Thundercat, maari, Thursday, July 30, 7 p.m., at Waterfront Park in Burlington. $54.50. highergroundmusic.com.

5. “WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE” by Tom Pearo 6. “(FOR REMEMBERING WHO YOU ARE)” by Amelia Devoid

COURTESY OF JEFF WEEKS

The Vermont hip-hop ecosystem seems to have grown and changed since 99 Neighbors first hit. What is your view of the current scene?

It’s the best it’s been so far. When we were coming up, it felt like it was just us and a few other heads like Jarv and Charlie Mayne and a few others. It had been years since VT Union and A_Dog, and we were sort of the first up here to hit Soundcloud and ride that wave.

But I feel like the scene is in a really creative place; it’s flourishing. I love seeing rappers like Flywlker hit a wave of their own. I feel proud of what we did. We had to trailblaze, and I think you can see the results of that in the scene now.

But we need a big connecting event.

A hip-hop Waking Windows would be sick. I’ve been talking with [Iggy Pop and Rough Francis drummer] Urian Hackney and Luis Calderin and a bunch of other people for years. I want to get more hip-hop on the waterfront. Every now and then the city will sort of “allow” a hip-hop show on the waterfront, but it’s been hard. I feel it’s disrespectful to hip-hop to be excluded — dare I say even a little racist? We tried to do a show at City Hall Park a few years ago, and people were like, “There’s going to be riots, and people will be shot.” Like, c’mon, man. That’s fucking nonsense.

Listening In

Kaki King

CLUB DATES 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.

Having a Ball Comedian JENSEN

JORDAN

is tired of courage being attributed to

symbol of vulnerability and friendship,” she said in a viral clip from her act. “They’re codependent!

Instead, she suggests, “the vagina should be the

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

was raised by “a pack of lesbians” and worked

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

construction before becoming a standup, has

Mike Mac (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m.

Free.

from femininity to throwing away her dad’s

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.

Nickel & Dime (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m.

Free.

When they get cold, they have to go uppies.” symbol of strength: It stretches like a Patagonia

Paul Asbell Trio (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $20.

black hole!” The New York native, who says she

Ryan Sweezey (singersongwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

The Samples, Arty LaVigne & Friends (rock) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 6 p.m. $25.

a no-holds-barred style, taking on everything

Saru, Cal Humberto, Cecilia (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $5/$10.

Viagra after his funeral to getting dumped by her therapist. Her Netflix special, Take Me With

VT Bluegrass Pioneers (bluegrass) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

You, debuted in 2025, and she hosts the popular

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

podcast “RIP Jordan Jensen.” She comes to the Flynn in Burlington on Friday, July 24.

SUN.26

Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at Madbush Falls, Waitsfield, noon.

Free.

FRI.24 // JORDAN JENSEN [COMEDY]

THU.23

Bob Cotton (blues) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.24

Bob Wagner Trio (roots rock) at Shelburne Vineyard, 7 p.m. Free.

Alternate Take (jazz) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Cola, Parking, Mimi Fang (post-punk) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $25/$31.

Amanda McCarthy (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Eugene Tyler Band (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

April Patterson Clemens (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8:30 p.m.

Free.

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

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

Johanna Rose & the Dreamboats, the Bandit Queen of Sorrows (folk, blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

King Garbage, C.Shreve the Professor, 3rd Chamber (funk, soul) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10.

Kraatz Carromato (folk) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Laura Fedele-Rasco (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Mary Kate Brennan (singersongwriter) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Saru (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $10.

Mad River Distillers 15th Anniversary Bash with the Steepwater Band, Jaded Ravins (rock, Americana) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. $17.

Margot Miller, Alice Shroeder, MomDad, Royle (indie) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

strictly male characteristics. “Balls should be a

Jazz Cafe: Moose and Friends (jazz) at Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Shane Murley Band (folk, rock) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

COURTESY

live music

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

Paper Castles, Osage Orange (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Charlie Rice (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

Free.

Radiator, a.drift, Vile Remains, Burial Woods (punk, electronica) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

Cody Sargent Trio (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Ryan Harrison (acoustic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Jeffrey Foucault (singersongwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$25.

Similar Kind, Baby Fearn (indie pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Bretton Kyle (rock) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 5 p.m. Free.

Joe Marcinek Band (jazz, jam) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15/$20.

St. Silva (ambient) at Big Lake Recording, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Chris Bell Trio (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m.

Free.

King Garbage, C.Shreve the Professor (funk, soul) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Cloudbelly (indie) at Stowe Cider, 8 p.m. $10/$15.

Kyle Chadburn & the Earthbound Spirits (folk-rock) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Bob Gagnon (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Corey & Friends, Robin Gottfried (rock, blues) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Cricket Blue, Gillian Grogan (folk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10/$12.

Seth Yacovone (blues, rock) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Summer Concert Series: Garth Live! (tribute) at Maple Tree Place, Williston, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

David Ramirez (singersongwriter) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $20/$25.

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

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

The Milkhouse Heaters (Americana) at Bravo Zulu Lakeside Bar, North Hero, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Nick Bredice (acoustic) at Stowe Cider, 5 p.m. Free.

Owsley’s Owls (Grateful Dead tribute) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $18/$25.

Sticks & Stones (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 7 p.m.

Free.

The Devon McGarry Band (rock) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 2 p.m. Free.

DJ Summerjam Reggae Fest (reggae) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 2 p.m. Free.

Downtown Boys, Jesse Taylor Band, Colin Hagood (punk, indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15/$17.

DoYeon Kim (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 8 p.m. $30.

Three Piece Meal (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

DSM-5 (covers) at Alburgh Oasis, 6:30 p.m. $10-$15.

SAT.25

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

Acid Wash, Sift (jam) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Andrew Glynn Book Release Party (indie) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10.

Andriana & the Bananas (indie pop) at the SEABA Center, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free.

Ava Brennan, Ashna Hille, Izzy Jones (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 3:30 p.m. $10.

Blue Fox Trio (blues) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Brian Leven (acoustic) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

Hannah Frances (singersongwriter) at Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $20/$26.

Hell Priest, Archdruid, Swine Christ (metal) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

The High Breaks (surf rock) at Shelburne Vineyard, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Lou McNally (folk) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Cluckin’ & Pluckin’ with Uncle Jimmy Trio (rock, country) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 1 p.m.

Free.

Déjà Nous (jazz, swing) at Shelburne Vineyard, 1 p.m. Free.

Eaglemania (Eagles tribute) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 6 p.m. $40.

Madigan Linnane (singersongwriter) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Sandalwood, Grace Palmer, Goodtree (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

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

Slippers (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.27

Kaleo, Vincent Lima (indie rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $49.

TUE.28

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.

LIVE MUSIC

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

» P.61 59

music+nightlife

REVIEW this

Freddie Losambe, Homeboy Megachurch (SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Like any genre tag, Christian hip-hop can be a little misleading. Sure, there are artists such as Lecrae and Trip Lee who wear their theological heart on their sleeve. You hear their music and say, “Yes, this is religious music.”

Burlington rapper and producer Freddie Losambe’s catalog is full of spiritual themes and references while simultaneously more ideologically complex than purely devotional music. The endlessly prolific artist — his Bandcamp discography runs longer than the average Wikipedia article — has a deep, classically refined flow.

As he shows on his latest record, Homeboy Megachurch, he’s a highly literate lyricist who doesn’t come off as pretentious or overwrought, even when he’s referencing Bible verses.

“What’s the point of being rich if you gotta be humble?” Losambe raps on “Crumble.” It’s a lyric that could pass for a G-funk-era track, but in this case, Losambe isn’t flexing or even doing the rap version of humblebragging — he’s musing on absolution and grace and asking questions about being righteous in a world that no longer seems to recognize the concept.

“I hope you learn from my example that dignity and class don’t dictate your compassion / That’s how taking care of people became my passion,” he raps on “Hank McCoy,” a track shouting out social workers and the “helpers” that Mister Rogers talked about.

“I hope a bridge builder will be my legacy,” Losambe repeats over the track’s coda.

As a multi-instrumentalist, Losambe has made Homeboy Megachurch a sonically erudite record, moving in and out of ethereal cloud rap, classic boom-bap beats and even non-hip-hop styles such as indie rock. It’s an impressive album and another feather in the cap of one of Vermont’s most intriguing rappers.

Homeboy Megachurch is available at freddielosambe.bandcamp.com and on major streaming services.

Lewis Franco, Open Field

Phil Cohen, Ravine

Singer-songwriter and jazz guitarist Lewis Franco’s catalog has a timeless quality to it, moving effortlessly through eras of the genre. His latest LP, Open Field, is no exception, with 12 tracks that jump and jive right out of the speakers.

Produced by another of Vermont’s most talented musicians and songwriters, Colin McCaffrey, Open Field is the kind of record that will send you walking into a gin joint with a swagger. This is not jazz that you quietly bop to; Franco’s music has a kinetic power.

Even when he leans into down-tempo numbers, as on the soulful “Find Another Way,” there’s an element of playfulness in Franco’s vocals as he rings starbright notes from his guitar.

The Missing Cats, his longtime backing band, are all over the album, as are some special guests and friends, such as singer-songwriter and fiddler Susannah Blachly and members of Vermont bands Heavy Nettles and Jaded Ravins.

Open Field puts Franco’s melodic and endlessly classy tunes front and center and allows his guitar chops to shine. Though the songs range in subject matter from free will and God to politics and memory, a welcome breeziness runs through the record. Even “The Thought Never Entered Your Mind,” about a romantic partner forgetting an anniversary, has an undercurrent of humor and lightness.

Franco continues to deliver sonically lush and thematically rich songs. Open Field is both a throwback to the sounds of the past and a timely reminder of just how good those sounds can be.

Open Field is available on major streaming services.

It’s almost impossible to tell now, but Burlington was once bisected by a massive ravine, a remnant of the Winooski River’s prehistoric path to Lake Champlain.

In the late 19th century, the ravine was filled in, but vestigial reminders of the old gully remain, if you know where to look.

Singer-songwriter Phil Cohen centers his new album on the ravine as a portal to some proper apocalyptic doom-folk music. Fittingly titled Ravine, the album is a collection of songs Cohen wrote while recording his last LP, 2024’s I Put the Day Away. He tracked the songs to a portable tape machine, giving the new record a wonderfully lo-fi, DIY feel. Ravine shines as a true bare-bones record.

Queen City residents might find the album something of an Easter egg hunt, with song titles such as “dual churches (where would we be without bob blanchard?),” a reference to a popular local historian; and “murder mart (original location),” which name-checks an infamous downtown convenience store.

But within those bite-size tunes (the songs rarely go past the two-minute mark), Cohen supplies tender, intimate vocals and a stripped-down folk sound that edges toward a rustic Appalachian tone. This 20-minute album of slightly tremulous, no-frills American folk is laced with nostalgia and conveys a musician watching his home change around him in muted alarm. Take “(filling in the) midtown motel,” on which Cohen sings, “The gutters don’t have punks at all / the big time is getting pretty small.”

Ravine isn’t simply a portrait of a fading Queen City. Cohen uses the metaphor of the city’s geological gap to explore loneliness and impermanence, leaning on lost history to elevate the record from a mere “lost track” compendium to a moving meditation on change.

Ravine is available at philcohen.bandcamp.com and on major streaming services.

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

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

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

say you saw it in

60

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

mini2col-sawit2024.indd 2

7/31/24 4:50 PM

THU.23 // KING GARBAGE [FUNK, SOUL]

live music

Karaoke (karaoke) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free.

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

TUE.28 CONTINUED FROM P.59

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Dale and Darcy (acoustic) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

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

Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Trivia Night with College (trivia) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7 p.m. Free.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country, bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

FRI.24

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

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Moonbird (R&B, soul) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

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

The Wire Jays (bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

SAT.25

WED.29

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

COURTESY

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

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

SUN.26

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

Free.

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

Trash Lords Zach Cooper and Vic Dimotsis started making music together in 2005, before forming the band

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

KING GARBAGE in Asheville, N.C., three years later. The duo creates a nigh-undefinable mix of styles, evolving from grindcore

and noise rock into a sort of gothic take on funk and soul music. While they might be obscure to the masses, Cooper and

Ken Clark Duo (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Dimotsis have been a force in pop music for years, writing and producing hits for the likes of SZA, the Weeknd and Travis Scott, and winning a Grammy for their part in Jon Batiste’s 2022 Album of the Year, WE ARE. Check out King Garbage

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

Kyle Chadburn & the Earthbound Spirits (folk rock) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 5 p.m.

Free.

on Thursday, July 23, at the Monkey House in Winooski, along with North Carolina MC C.SHREVE THE PROFESSOR and local

MON.27

Starkweather Superjams (jam) at Halvorson’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m.

Donation.

Tiberius, Peddle, Rusty & the Big Jump, Jensen Alley (indie, punk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10.

djs THU.23

Rusty K Boose, Two Sev, JP Black, Lucky Luc, Chaston (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m.

Free.

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

reggae and dub act 3RD CHAMBER. SAT.25

DJ LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m.

Flowstate: A Night of Dance Music with Barbie Mode, Elkamista, Fever Dreams (house) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 8 p.m. $15.

Mr Cheng, DJ Chaston, DJ Aras (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 5 p.m. Free.

Queer Takeover (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10.

TUE.28

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Diplodocus (dance, DJ) at Pierson Library, Shelburne, 11 a.m.

Free.

FRI.24

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

open mics & jams

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

WED.22

DJ GAYBAR (DJ) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m.

Ecstatic Dance Vermont (DJ) at Capital City Grange, Berlin, 7 p.m. $10 donation.

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

Free.

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

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.23

Old Time Jam (open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Amber deLaurentis (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.26

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

VT Synth Society Meetup (synth open jam, discussion) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.27

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.

Open Mic (open mic) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Variety Extravaganza (open mic) at the Hive on Pine, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.28

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

Open Mic (open mic) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.29

HOT DAMN! A Nightlife Arts Open Stage (open stage) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m.

Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy 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.

THU.23

Comedy Open Mic Night: Unfiltered Summer Edition (comedy) at Frost Beer Works, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

Molly Kearney (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

SAT.25

Comedy Night (comedy) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Kevin McDonald Is Being Forced to Improvise (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15.

Kevin McDonald Superstar! (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

Next Stop Comedy (comedy) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $25.

TUE.28

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

WED.29

Coached Ensembles (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.22

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.

THU.23

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

Free.

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.28

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.29

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 Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail Country Line Dancing (line & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Free. ➆ Center, 7:30 p.m. Free.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026 61

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WED.22 agriculture

GARLIC HARVESTING & CURING: Gardeners 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: 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.

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: 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

2 2 - 2 9 ,

amble. Downtown Waterbury, 5-8 p.m. Free.

crafts

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free.

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.

etc.

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 the archaeological secrets hidden beneath the waves. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Free.

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.

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.

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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.

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: Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the future of the property. The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m. Free.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: 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.

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.

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film See what’s playing in the On Screen section.

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

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free.

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

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: Lunch breaks transform into global conversation circles as participants hone their multilingual abilities.

See kellogghubbard.org for details. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon. Free.

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: 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

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: 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.

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.; South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1:15 p.m. Free.

JAZZ CAFÉ: Fans of the genre savor a showcase of live tunes performed by professional and up-and-coming Vermont musicians in an intimate setting.

Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m.

Free; donations accepted.

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.

state. A Q&A follows. The Hub CoWorks, Rutland, noon-1:30 p.m. $27; preregister.

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.

seminars

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: 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.

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 lineup. Shelburne Farms, 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

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.

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.

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

‘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.

sports

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Vermont 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.

outdoors

‘CREATING AN ALL-PURPOSE SALVE FOR FAMILY & PETS’: Health coach Marie Frohlich teaches budding herbalists how to transform common garden flora into soothing skin remedies.

Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

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.

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

BEACH READ BOOK FAIR: Bibliophiles unite for a sizzling summer evening celebrating all things spicy and steamy with a curated selection of adult romance novels. 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6-8 p.m. Free.

LARA CALL GASTINGER: An artist and botanical illustrator shares her new guide, A Perpetual Journal Practice: Building a Connection With Nature Through

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

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.

THU.23

agriculture

CROPS & SOILS FIELD DAY: Autonomous weeding robots and precision agriculture technology take center stage at the 19th annual outdoor showcase of cutting-edge farming research.

Borderview Farm, Alburgh, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $30; free for farmers; preregister.

PASTURE WALK: Curious minds learn about pastured livestock and engage in conversation with organic dairy farmers, then settle in for a shared meal. Northwind Farm, Walden, 4:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

community

DISABILITY JUSTICE DAY: Attendees celebrate belonging, dignity and community with a dance party, a resource fair and a joyful parade. Colburn Park, Lebanon, N.H., 4-6:30 p.m. Free.

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.

JUL. 23 | MUSIC

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 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.

fairs & festivals

SHELBURNE SUMMER NIGHTS: The museum opens its exhibits to one and all while the lawn overflows with local food vendors, games and live music. Shelburne Museum, 5-7:30 p.m. Free.

film

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

‘THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION’: History buffs take in Episode 2 of Ken Burns’ new six-part PBS documentary series exploring the nation’s founding struggles.

A discussion with Burns follows.

Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 6 p.m. $25.

‘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

FAMILY FUN Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun.

• Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

COURTESY

Art, providing instruction, inspiration and examples from her own work. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

In Full Swing It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy at the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro, where cool cats experience the room-filling energy of decorated jazz vocalist Charenee Wade.

Hailed by the New York Times as “an heir to the legacies of Betty Carter and Carmen McRae,” the soulful songstress transports listeners back to a time when the Great American Songbook reigned supreme. Expect a red-hot mix of standards, Motown grooves, original compositions and songs from the pioneering repertoires of jazz poets — all perfectly in the pocket with propulsive piano, bass and drums by swinging Vermont trio Ambassadors of Light.

CHARENEE WADE Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m., at the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro. $20-60 sliding scale.

Info, 802-254-9088, ext. 1, vtjazz.org.

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 through a surreal world of bug-eyed 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.

‘THE HIDDEN FORTRESS’: Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 adventure epic zooms in on two peasants who unknowingly escort a THU.23

science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

WED.22

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.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: Curious minds dive into the

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: Young explorers take an unforgettable journey through a hands-on prehistoric world

burlington

Charenee Wade

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.

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 End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon.

Free.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Nonmobile infants and their caregivers embark on a slowpaced social hour featuring songs, rhymes and restorative connection.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

‘BUT WHY?’ LIVE: ‘WHAT ARE FOSSILS?’: An interactive taping of the beloved Vermont Public podcast unearths the mysteries of local paleontology through audience-posed questions and expert insights. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30 p.m. Free.

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME WITH CHRISTINE: Wee bookworms wiggle, sing and turn pages at an interactive session led by the former early childhood educator. Wild Meadows Books & Café, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free.

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: Teens ages 13 to 18 pop by the library to pick up the

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ingredients needed 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 handson crafting session. Essex Free Library, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: An education-focused exhibition showcases drawings interwoven with narratives from the infant-toddler centers of the municipality of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Winooski School District. Free.

WED.22 SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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princess and her general across enemy lines. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12.

‘JACK LONDON’S MARTIN EDEN’: A poor sailor falls for a high-society lady in this 2021 adaptation of the classic autobiographical novel. A discussion with director Jay Craven follows.

Maple Corner Community Center, Calais, 7 p.m. $15.

‘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.

‘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

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.

LAWN GAMES: Folks ages 18 and up engage in some friendly competition with lawn darts, Tetris Tumble XL and other fun-filled offerings. Light refreshments provided. Essex Free Library, 6:307:30 p.m. Free.

LIBRARY AFTER HOURS TRIVIA: Brainiacs battle for digital display-board glory and bragging rights at a test of knowledge hosted by library staffer Adrian Tans. Snacks provided; BYOB. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 7-9 p.m. $5 suggested donation.

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MAH-JONGG: All experience levels convene to match tiles for winning combinations in both American and Chinese variations of the game. Shelburne Town Offices, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister.

COURTESY

THU.23

OPENS JUL. 23 | THEATER Existential Crisis

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.

At Off Center for the Dramatic Arts in Burlington, new local entertainment company Steal Fire presents French playwright Jean-Paul Sartre’s 1944 existentialist drama No Exit … with a twist. As a trio of deceased strangers — played by William Wilder, Catherine Grace and Marielle Rousseau — toil together in their inescapable afterlife, onstage camera work by Chris Acosta fuses live theater with cinematography in real time. This cutting-edge production literally puts the three souls under the lens, providing intimate glimpses of their anguished introspections and revelations. As Sartre famously coined, “Hell is other people.”

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.

‘NO EXIT’

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

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.22.

Thursday, July 23, and Friday, July 24, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 25, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 26, 2 p.m., at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts in Burlington. See website for additional dates. $25-30. Info, info@stealfire.com, stealfire.art.

Catherine Grace

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. See ballardparkny.org for lineup.

Ballard Park, Westport, N.Y., 7 p.m. Free.

CHARENEE WADE: Drawing on the vocal legacies of Betty Carter and Carmen McRae, the renowned songstress plays off the band’s swingin’ moods. A Q&A follows.

See calendar spotlight. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $20-60 sliding scale.

CLASSICAL ENCOUNTERS SERIES: See WED.22. Kestrel Coffee Roasters, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free.

DIANA FANNING: An acclaimed pianist takes the stage with Point CounterPoint faculty for an enchanting repertoire of works by Manuel de Falla, Witold Lutosławski and Maurice Ravel. Proceeds benefit Point CounterPoint. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $75-125.

FEAST & FIELD MUSIC SERIES: Farm-fresh foods and live tunes are on the menu at a weekly pastoral party in the orchard.

See barnarts.org for lineup. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $5-25.

KING ME: A local cover band performs high-octane rock and pop hits while local food trucks serve up tasty treats. Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton, 6-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: TRAMPLED BY TURTLES: A bluegrass-influenced folk band from Minnesota pumps up the crowd with its high-energy contemporary sound. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free.

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL: ‘DVOŘÁK IN AMERICA’: Violinist Philip Setzer, violist Dillon Scott, Festival Young Artists and the Hesper String Quartet perform works by the acclaimed 19th-century Czech composer.

Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 7:30 p.m. $15.30-76.50.

MAPLE TREE PLACE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: GARTH LIVE: A rousing tribute act captures the spirit and sound of American country singer-songwriter Garth Brooks. Maple Tree Place, Williston, 6 p.m. Free.

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.

ORGANIZED DEAD: A Vermont instrumental band reimagines the Grateful Dead’s catalog in a funky, improvised format centered on the iconic Hammond B3 organ.

Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 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. Church Street

Marketplace, Burlington, 5:30-8 p.m. Free.

PIZZA BY THE POND MUSIC NIGHTS: A wood-fired oven delivers all-you-can-eat pies while local musicians regale diners with irresistible toe-tappers. BYOB. Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen, 5-8 p.m. $23-34; free for kids 6 and under; preregister.

THURSDAYS BY THE LAKE: BARBACOA: A Vermont band brings West Coast sounds to the Green Mountains with a performance of soul-fueling surf-rock tunes. Union Station, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

outdoors

NATURE JOURNALING: Expert Clare Walker Leslie teaches participants how to observe the wilderness with a keener eye by documenting their observations in writings and drawings. Pratt Forest, Duxbury, 4-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

sports

CSA RIDE: Whether or not they participate in the share program, cyclists pedal to the Intervale Center to learn ways to carry farm-fresh cargo on two wheels.

Old Spokes Home, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free; preregister. && 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.

talks

‘ALL ABOUT ADUS’: A panel of experts fleshes out the benefits and drawbacks of accessory dwelling units, as well as state and local regulations and the design and build process. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30 p.m. Free.

BEHIND THE YELLOW WALLPAPER SERIES: AMY OLIVER BEAUPRE & ALEXANDRA WEIMER: From pigments that caused sickness and fatalities to printing production and conservation, two experts illuminate how the home décor staple relates to art on a broader scale. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, 12:30-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘CONFLICT OF INTEREST LIVE!’: Montpelier media host Kevin Ellis migrates his podcast to the stage to interview national and local guests about hot-button topics including housing, culture, education and politics. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7 p.m. $10.

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.

theater

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: A Russian Jewish family reckons with tradition, love and oppression in this beloved musical presented by Opera North.

Blow-Me-Down Farm, Cornish, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $34-72.

‘GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES’: Physical scars map the history between two childhood friends in Rajiv Joseph’s drama staged by Monday Nights Theatre. Grange Hall Cultural Center, Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. $15-35.

‘INTO THE WOODS’: See WED.22.

‘LOVE’S LABORS’ LOST’: A king and his friends face romantic temptation in the Green Mountain Shakespeare Festival’s take on the Bard’s early comedy.

Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7 p.m. $20.

‘NEWSIES’: Extra, extra! Local performers stage the inspiring musical following a group of newsboys that rallied against two large publishers. The Opera House at Enosburg Falls, 7 p.m. $18-30.

‘NO EXIT’: Steal Fire mounts a multimedia staging of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist drama depicting a torturous afterlife in which three deceased characters are locked in a room together for eternity. See calendar spotlight.

Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25-30.

‘OEDIPUSSY’: Burlington troupe the Fools Jacket launches Mickey Western’s new musical space odyssey blending sci-fi laughs with cosmic questions.

Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $33-99 sliding scale.

‘RENT’: See WED.22.

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

‘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

JULY POETRY SALON: MADELINE WILSON & JOANNA EASTON: Two local wordsmiths share their latest verses and discuss their craft before the floor opens for attendees to recite their own works. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6-8 p.m. Free.

MEETINGHOUSE READINGS: Authors Catherine Tudish, Ivy Schweitzer and Rena Mosteirin 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.

FRI.24

conferences

NATIVE AMERICAN ELDERS AND YOUTH GATHERING: Indigenous leaders and scientists from around the world gather to care for each other and the Earth.

Virtual option available. See sunray.org for full schedule.

Sunray Peace Village, Lincoln.

Various prices; preregister.

NEW ENGLAND VETERANS ADVOCACY CONFERENCE: A full-day program helps prepare attorneys and accredited representatives to advocate more effectively for veterans navigating the benefits system.

Vermont Law & Graduate School, South Royalton, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free; preregister.

dance

BURLINGTON CONTRA DANCE: No partner or experience is necessary when Luke Donforth calls the steps and Atlantic Crossing provide the tunes. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. Burlington St. Anthony’s Parish Hall. Beginner lesson, 6:45 p.m.; music, 7-10 p.m. $5-12 cash or check; free for kids under 12.

environment

CLEAN UP DAY: Volunteers sweep away litter and debris to eliminate potential triggers for neighbors in recovery while beautifying urban landscapes.

Gilbrook Natural Area, Winooski, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister.

etc.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.22.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.23.

BIG-SCREEN BLOCKBUSTERS: See THU.23.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.23.

‘HONEYJOON’: Lilian T. Mehrel’s layered 2025 dramedy follows a mother and daughter who travel to the Azores islands for a grief anniversary. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.23.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.23.

food & drink

FLATBREAD FRIDAY: See THU.23.

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.

MOOS & BREWS: While sipping on local beer and craft cocktails, guests ages 21 and up get cozy with Jersey cows, have a go at shaking cream into butter and hop on a horse-drawn wagon ride. See calendar spotlight.

Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 5:30-8 p.m. $20-25.

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 BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET: Locals stock up on fresh produce, score homemade goods and connect with neighbors at a brand-new trailside marketplace. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport Recreational Path, South Burlington, 5-7 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.

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

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.23, 10 a.m.

health & fitness

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

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence.

Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

Now Open thru Monday, September 7

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.

SCAN ME

language

A DAY INTO ROAR ALL WITH PACKED SAURS! DINO

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.22.

THINGS

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.

3D FILMS DAILY 4T-echo072226 1

WRJ PRIDE: DRAG & DANCE: An LGBTQ+ community celebration brings the heat with a lively drag performance, followed by an opportunity to boogie down in support of Upper Valley mutual aid org Cobra Lily Collective.

Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, noon-11 p.m. $15 suggested donation.

AUGUST 12 7/20/26 4:15 PM

And on the seventh day, we do not rest.

Instead we bring you...

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 mindbody connection. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6-7 p.m. Free.

HELEN GILLET: A solo cellist loops her voice and strings to build a one-woman band, weaving classical, jazz and funk into a seamless performance. Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 8 p.m. $25.

HIGHER GROUND PRESENTS: ‘WEIRD AL’ YANKOVIC: The accordion-toting comedic musician brings his world-famous song parodies to the stage for an unforgettable performance.

Midway Lawn, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 7:30 p.m. $69.50; free for kids 12 and under.

FRI.24

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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3/2/21 6:43 PM

calendar FRI.24

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JERRY JAM: A stacked lineup of jam bands celebrates the life, music and good vibes of Jerry Garcia for a delighted crowd of Deadheads. 759 Mitchell Rd., Concord, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. $169; preregister. && MIDDLEBURY CARILLON SERIES: Bells ring out across the campus in weekly performances by a rotating cast of extraordinary carillonneurs. See middlebury.edu for lineup. Middlebury Chapel, 6 p.m. Free.

MUSIC IN THE ALLEY: LA LOVO: Afro-Latin grooves collide with rock-and-roll energy as the soulful outfit delivers danceable rhythms and heartfelt lyrics.

Jack’s Alley, Waterbury, 6-9 p.m.

Free.

SKYLARK: The trailblazing Vermont string quartet performs a selection of jazz, classical, American folk and Celtic tunes.

Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 7 p.m. $25-30.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: DANA AND SUSAN ROBINSON: Cabot’s own roots duo plays songs old and new with driving guitar lines, banjo beats and pitch-perfect harmonies.

Burlington City Hall Park, 12:301:30 p.m. Free.

FLORA & FAUNA CANOE TOUR: See WED.22.

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.

theater

‘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.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: See THU.23.

FOOD & ART FRIDAYS: FREE PILE PRODUCTIONS: A multimedia collective from Massachusetts stages a puppet performance while attendees feast on woodfired pizza from Fat Dragon Farm.

BYOB and blanket. Sable Project, Stockbridge, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $525 suggested donation.

‘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, 7:30 p.m. $15-30.

‘INTO THE WOODS’: See WED.22.

‘LOVE’S LABORS’ LOST’: See THU.23.

‘MORALITY DEMONOLOGY’: A brand-new, politically charged production of puppetry evolves over the course of the summer.

Paper Mache Cathedral, Bread

66

poignant 2025 drama by Lucía Aleñar Iglesias. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12.

JUL. 24 | FOOD & DRINK

‘NEWSIES’: See THU.23.

‘NO EXIT’: See THU.23.

‘OEDIPUSSY’: See THU.23.

MOVIE NIGHT ON THE GREEN: ‘DIRTY DANCING’: No one puts Baby in a corner at this outdoor screening of the classic 1980s romance flick featuring an unforgettable soundtrack. Danville Town Green, 8:30 p.m. Free.

‘RENT’: See WED.22.

‘ROMEO AND JULIET’: Monday Nights Theatre raises the curtain on William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers and feuding families. Grange Hall Cultural Center, Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. $15-35.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.23.

words

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.23.

‘A WOMAN IN PARIS’: Charlie Chaplin’s 1923 romantic drama follows a “kept woman” who runs into her former fiancé and finds herself torn between love and comfort. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 7 p.m. Free.

BOOK LAUNCH: Contributing poets combine voice, verse and political observation in readings from new regional literary collection The Country in the Mirror: Poems of Protest and Witness, followed by an open mic session for attendees to share their own protest poems. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-3 p.m. Free.

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.

SAT.25 bazaars

BTV MARKET: Shoppers seeking something different explore a diverse showcase of wares by local artists, makers and food vendors.

Burlington City Hall Park, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

MAKERS MARKET: Browsers 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.

conferences

NATIVE AMERICAN ELDERS AND YOUTH GATHERING: See FRI.24.

dance

‘DANCE FOR DEMOCRACY!’: Party people exercise their right to move at a DJ-fueled fundraiser for the American Civil Liberties Union. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation; cash bar.

etc.

DREAM TEMPLE: AN OVERNIGHT GONG CEREMONY: A continuous, seven-hour sound performance

by Bridget Stone invites participants to drift between sleeping and waking states to mark the Galactic New Year. Farmsprung Gatherings, Waitsfield, 8 p.m. $170; preregister. && GUIDED TOURS: See WED.22.

MONTHLY SWAPORTUNITY: Collectors and enthusiasts trade, sell and showcase their nerdy goods, from vintage video games to rare figurines. Old Town Cafe & Comics, Williston, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

COURTESY

outdoors

and Puppet Theater, Glover, 7 p.m. $15 suggested donation.

An Udder Triumph What do you call a cow in an earthquake? A milkshake! Fortunately, Dad jokes are not on the menu at Billings Farm & Museum’s Moos & Brews after-hours event in Woodstock.

The adults-only romp around the property fuses barnyard bliss (think: cuddling up to doe-eyed Jersey calves) with epicurean delights by Vermont purveyors. Libations, food truck fare and award-winning cheeses provide fuel for activities such as ice cream churning, giant bubble blowing and dancing to live music. Seeking a more leisurely end-of-week pace? Wander the gardens, bask in the scenic glory from a horse-drawn wagon ride and explore the museum’s cozy quilt exhibition.

MOOS & BREWS Friday, July 24, 5:30-8 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. $20-25.

Info, 802-457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

fairs & festivals

GLOVER DAY: Pride of place shines bright as the community comes together for the historic Runaway Pond Road Race, a Bread and Puppet Theater show, food truck offerings, kids’ activities, and live music. Glover Town Green, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

MAPLE ROOTS FESTIVAL: Outdoor music fans congregate for 12 hours of local food, craft beer, maple creemees, kids’ programming, and performances by the likes of Bob Wagner and High Summer. Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier, noon-midnight. Free; preregister.

MOUNT INDEPENDENCE 250: A homecoming commemoration boasts history-filled activities for all ages, including a reading of the Declaration of Independence,

a roll call of regiments, guided walks and period skill demonstrations. Mount Independence State Historic Site, Orwell, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $1-8; free for kids under 6.

ONE WORLD MARKET: Dozens of local artists, makers and chefs anchor an annual neighborhood bash packed with live tunes, lawn games, bouncy houses and free ice cream. ONE Community Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Free.

SHELDON OLD HOME DAY: A parade, a barbecue, and live music

by Old Man Garage Band and Green Mountain Chorus celebrate the history of the town. Various Sheldon locations, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free.

VERMONT FAIRY FESTIVAL: Fae, wizards, gnomes, pixies, trolls and other fantastical creatures gather

for an enchanted afternoon of whimsical activities. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, noon-4 p.m. $5-15.

WESTFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 250TH EVENTS: Fife and drum music, a musket talk and demonstration, a wreath laying, and free exhibits celebrate the nation’s anniversary. Westford Common, 1-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.23.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.23.

‘FORASTERA’: A teenage girl’s idyllic summer vacation in Mallorca is cut short when her grandmother abruptly dies in this

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.

GREEK MINI-FESTIVAL: Preordered authentic fare — including chicken souvlaki, gyro, falafel and spanakopita — fuels a cultural celebration with live music and dancing. BYO chair or blanket. Dormition Greek Orthodox Church, Burlington, 4-8 p.m. $5-25.

MARSHFIELD FARMERS MARKET: Locavores find much to do at a weekly outdoor offering complete with live music, skill shares, vendors and community resource SAT.25

» P.68

FOMO? Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

art Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

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

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

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

= ONLINE EVENT = GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

FAMILY FUN WED.22

« P.63

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

ALYX THE MAGICIAN: A nationally touring illusionist blends sleightof-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: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

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.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

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, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free.

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.

THU.23

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.22.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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, 1111:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

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.

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.

stowe/smuggs

GRAB & GO KIT: BOBA TEA: See WED.22.

mad river valley/ waterbury

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

SB NITE OUT: YOUTH FUN RUN: Pintsize pacers lace up for a noncompetitive loop around the park before joining the city’s outdoor community celebration packed with live local music and food trucks. Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington, 5:45 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

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.

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.

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.22.

KIDS FARMERS MARKET & CRAFT FAIR: Selling produce they grew and crafts they made, young vendors step behind the stalls to run their own market. Norwich Public Library, 2-4 p.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.22, 2-8 p.m.

‘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.

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.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: Putters of all ages hit the artist-designed course for some lighthearted competition, whimsy and thrills.

Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro. $4-5.

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.

FRI.24

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.22.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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 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

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.22, 9 a.m.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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 a.m. Free.

TIE-DYE PARTY: A colorful handson workshop invites participants to transform simple T-shirts into oneof-a-kind wearable art using twisty techniques. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks.

FRI.24

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» P.72

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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.

SUMMER BERRY ADVENTURE DINNER: Guests roam fields and forage for bounty that will be incorporated right into the evening’s family-style feast.

Adam’s Berry Farm, Charlotte, 6-9 p.m. $185.

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.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: Pupils of all abilities prepare to protect themselves using basic techniques at this introductory seminar. Oom Yung Doe VT, Burlington, 6-6:45 p.m. Free.

language

FRENCH BOOK SWAP: Francophiles refresh their personal libraries by trading up to three well-loved works for new titles.

Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.24.

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: In collaboration with the Music for Food Project, quartets take the stage for an unmissable season finale performance benefiting Feeding Champlain Valley. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. By donation of nonperishable food items.

HELEN GILLET: See FRI.24.

Persons Auditorium, the Campus at Marlboro Music, 8 p.m. $20-40.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE WOLFF SISTERS: A trio of siblings raised on Bob Dylan and the Band assumes the spotlight for an evening of rock, folk and Americana storytelling. Knoll Farm, Fayston, 6 p.m. By donation; preregister.

SUNDOWN SESSIONS: Local bands take the stage for idyllic summer-evening concerts backed

by Barge Canal sunsets. See thepineryvt.com for lineup. The Pinery, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

outdoors

BRANDON AREA GARDEN TOUR: Green thumbs get inspired, garner advice from pros, and take in the sights and smells of the region’s flower and vegetable plots. Various Brandon locations, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $25-30.

COMMUNITY PHENOLOGY: Nature lovers sharpen their observation skills to study seasonal shifts at this guided outdoor stroll ending in shared discoveries. Rock Point Center, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister.

DRAWING INSECTS: FROM SPECIMENS TO LIFE: Attendees learn about the wonderfully biodiverse world of bugs through close observation and sketching at this workshop combining art and ecology. Rock Point Center, Burlington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. By donation; preregister.

JULY BIRD MONITORING WALK: Avian aficionados monitor meadows and forests for the telltale flap of feathers. BYO binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7:30-9 a.m. $5-15 suggested donation; preregister.

WRITE NOW!: Authors of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m. Free.

SUN.26 bazaars

SIP ‘N SHOP: Treasure hunters indulge in craft bevvies while browsing local art and artisanal goods to the beat of live music. Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, noon-5 p.m.

Free; cost of food and drink.

conferences

NATIVE AMERICAN ELDERS AND YOUTH GATHERING: See FRI.24.

dance

‘FOREST’ DRESS REHEARSAL: Audience members stroll down a quiet dirt road to witness site-specific choreography and theatrical scenes blooming among the trees. Various Bradford locations, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. $20.

environment

SUNDAY CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged.

Top of Church St., Burlington, 10 a.m. Free.

seminars

etc.

INTRO TO DAVINCI RESOLVE: Media buffs learn how to configure their workspace, import and organize files, and fine-tune to create a finished product. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

BEST POOCH IN THE NOOSK: A celebration of all things canine showcases the cutest fourlegged visitors at the farmers market. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

theater

LAMPLIGHT SERVICES & OLD HOME DAY: A concert by the Danville Town Band, a light supper and a Civil War talk by historian Howard Coffin commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Old North Church, Danville, 5:30-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

‘EXIT THE KING’: See FRI.24.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: See THU.23, 5:30 p.m.

‘GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES’: See THU.23.

JERRY JAM: See FRI.24.

‘NO EXIT’: See THU.23, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

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THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages.

Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

WEEKLY BIRD WALK: Featheredfriend seekers join expert Lachlan Ziegler for a morning trek to sharpen their identification skills.

Rock Point Center, Burlington, 8-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

THE HOWARD LEVY 4: The Grammy Award-winning harmonica virtuoso and pianist leads an extraordinary quartet in a performance of jazz, Latin, blues, world music and original compositions. Virtual option available.

Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-28.

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.

award-winning autobiography, Unconventional: A Memoir of Entrepreneurism, Politics and Pot, chronicling her decade-long journey building one of California’s first licensed cannabis retail operations. Franklin Town Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

‘THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST’: See FRI.24.

‘INTO THE WOODS’: See WED.22.

‘LOVE’S LABORS’ LOST’: See THU.23.

‘NEWSIES’: See THU.23.

‘OEDIPUSSY’: See THU.23.

‘RENT’: See WED.22, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

JAMIE ANDREA GARZOT: A Vermont author shares her

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

EXHIBIT DOCENT HOURS: See WED.22.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.23.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.23.

‘PLAYTIME’: Jacques Tati’s nearly wordless 1967 comedy follows the lovably old-fashioned Monsieur Hulot into a baffling modern Paris. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street

Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 3 p.m. $6-12.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.23.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.23.

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.23, 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, 5:306:30 p.m. By donation.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME DAY: LGBTQ+ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 1-6 p.m. Free.

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects.

Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

music

BEN & JERRY’S CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: SHAKEY GRAVES AND DOPE LEMON: A double bill features the Texas singer-songwriter known for his raw one-man band setup and the Australian indie-rock musician from pop group Angus & Julia Stone. Shelburne Museum, 6 p.m. $54.50; free for kids 12 and under.

BETHANY CONNER: A soulful singer-songwriter entertains with her powerful pipes while attendees enjoy fare from local

food trucks. Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Free; cost of food and drink.

BRAINTREE BLUEGRASS BRUNCH: BEN KOGAN BAND & RED SKIES: Live music by two local acts, bike rides, tasty treats and family fun abound at this high-energy summer series.

Braintree Hill Meetinghouse, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

JERRY JAM: See FRI.24.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY MUSIC SERIES: MARK TAYLOR: A rising Nashville star takes the stage with his 1990s-inspired repertoire of feel-good country-pop tunes. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, 5 p.m.

Free.

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL: See SAT.25, 2:30 p.m.

PEET FARM MUSIC SERIES: REMEMBER BAKER: A local band performs a scrumptious blend of folk, Americana and bluegrass with tight vocal harmonies and energetic playing. BYO chair or blanket. Peet Farm Greenhouses, Cornwall, 5 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

SAINT-GAUDENS CONCERT SERIES: THE FISCHERS AND THE JENNINGS: Four accomplished musicians dazzle with a program of classical works for violin, piano and cello. Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Cornish, N.H., 2 p.m. Regular admission, $10; free for kids 15 and under.

SUNDAY CLASSICAL: SKYLARK: The trailblazing Vermont string quartet performs a selection of jazz, classical, American folk and Celtic tunes. BCA Center, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free.

SYLVIA PARKER: A retired University of Vermont music professor and pianist performs a recital of much-loved classical and jazz tunes by composers such as George Gershwin, Franz Schubert and Scott Joplin. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 4 p.m. $25-30.

TWILIGHT ON THE TAVERN LAWN: KWARTETTO MAMBO: A quartet weaves African, Latin, and jazz influences through original compositions and inventive takes on classics. BYO chair or blanket. Putney Tavern Lawn, 6-8 p.m. Free.

VILLAGE HARMONY: Young virtuosos offer a globally influenced program of tunes spanning from South Africa to the Balkans.

Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 4 p.m. By donation.

WESTFORD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SOUL PORPOISE: A soulful band lays down organ-driven funk with gritty vocals à la Joe Cocker and Ray Charles. Westford Common, 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

outdoors

DRAWING INSECTS: FROM SPECIMENS TO LIFE: See SAT.25.

politics

CHITTENDEN DEMS GRILL & CHILL: Neighbors join Democratic candidates for a community-

building cookout complete with burgers and hot dogs, cold beverages, and lawn games. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 4-7 p.m. $25100; free for kids under 18.

sports

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.

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.

DR. ALEXANDRA GARRETT: In “The Effect of the Revolutionary War in Vermont,” a Saint Michael’s College assistant professor sheds light on the conflict’s impact on the Green Mountain State. Brick Meeting House, Westford, 2 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

theater

‘EXIT THE KING’: See FRI.24, 2 p.m.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: See THU.23, 5:30 p.m.

‘THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST’: See FRI.24, 2 p.m.

‘INTO THE WOODS’: See WED.22, 2 p.m.

‘LOVE’S LABORS’ LOST’: See THU.23, 2 p.m.

‘NEWSIES’: See THU.23, 2 p.m.

‘NO EXIT’: See THU.23, 2 p.m.

‘RENT’: See WED.22, 2 p.m.

‘ROMEO AND JULIET’: See FRI.24, 2 p.m.

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

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

‘THE UPSIDE DOWN WORLD CIRCUS’: The troupe’s 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

ANTHONY C. WOOD: The former Weston Theater chair shares the remarkable story behind his acclaimed new book, Servant of Beauty: Landmarks, Secret Love and the Unimagined Life of an Unsung New York Hero, in conversation with former New York Public Library president Bill Kelly.

Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 7:30 p.m. $21-61.

film

MON.27 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.

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.23.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.23.

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.

‘JURASSIC PARK III’: An unexpected plane landing startles the island’s new inhabitants in this 2001 blockbuster threequel starring Sam Neill, William H. Macy and Téa Leoni. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free.

etc.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.23.

dance

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.22.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.23.

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

ITALIAN BOOK CLUB: Intermediate and experienced Italian speakers read and discuss Veronica Raimo’s acclaimed autobiographical novel Niente di Vero, about her unconventional childhood in Rome. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free.

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.22.

music

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.

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

CANDIDATE FORUM: Community members wanting to make an informed decision this election cycle hear directly from the folks running for Franklin County sheriff. Richford Town Hall, 6 p.m. Free.

ST. JOHNSBURY BAND: The nation’s third-oldest community

MON.27

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Fresh local foods, close-knit friends, and a stress-free lifestyle — our community is not what you expect. Add a little care, and great Assisted Living can mean greater independence.

Write your next great chapter!

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sports

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, 6:35 p.m. $7.50-19.50.

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.

COLE LEFAVOUR: An activist, author and first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Idaho legislature shares their new book, In the Arms of Mountains: A Memoir of Land, Love and Queer Resistance in Red America. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 5:30 p.m. $28.95; includes copy of the book.

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for bibliophiles to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

TUE.28

agriculture

PASTURE WALK & PICNIC: Curious minds step off the beaten path for a guided trek digging into what’s happening both above and below ground, then sink their teeth into a succulent spread.

Shelburne Farms, 3-5:30 p.m.

Free; preregister.

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.

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.

dance

FULL MOON ECSTATIC DANCE: A free-form boogie session allows participants to let loose in a safe outdoor space around a crackling

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fire. Dreamland, Worcester, 7-9 p.m. $10-20.

parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-7 p.m. Free.

etc.

music

‘PHILADELPHIA II’ OPEN HOURS: See THU.23.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.23.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.23.

‘JACK LONDON’S MARTIN EDEN’: See THU.23. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $15.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.23.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.23.

food & drink

FOOD TRUCK POP-UP: A diverse selection of local favorites rolls up with a wide variety of sweet and savory eats. Three Rivers Path Trailhead Pavilion, Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, St. Johnsbury, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free; cost of food and 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.

PIZZA SOCIAL: Epicureans scarf down dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired oven, followed by a tour of the certified-organic vegetable farm. Evening Song Farm, Cuttingsville, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $1030; free for BIPOC and kids 3 and under; preregister.

games

BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER: Katharine Bodan leads players in a thrilling social deduction game of lies and logic, in which no one is ever truly ruled out. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free.

BOARD GAMES FOR ADULTS: Locals ages 18 and up enjoy the library’s collection or bring their own to share with the group.

Light refreshments provided.

Essex Free Library, 6-7:30 p.m.

Free.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m.

Free; donations accepted.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.22.

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

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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.

CARLOS OCASIO & FRYDADDY: Helmed by the lauded singer-songwriter and guitarist, the longtime band gets listeners out of their chairs with original and classic blues, Latin, and rock tunes. Fairlee Town Common, 6:30 p.m. Free.

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE: THE WORMDOGS: A Burlington fivepiece blends bluegrass, rock, country and “freak folk” into an unforgettable outdoor performance. BYO chair or blanket.

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

‘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.

PUBLIC LEARNING SESSION: Locals join the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival producing team for an info session about this year’s ticketing platform, Eventive. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 & 7:30 p.m. Free.

theater

‘RENT’: See WED.22.

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.

CINDY ELLEN HILL: A Middlebury writer, musician and gardener launches her new gothic novel, Leeds Point, following a woman accused of witchcraft in early colonial New Jersey. Hugo’s, Montpelier, 6-8 p.m. Free; cash bar.

EXPLORING IRISH LITERATURE: Bookworms dissect the wit and grit of the Emerald Isle through monthly discussions spanning titles from ancient mythology to modernity. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free.

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.29 agriculture

WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER FRED: See WED.22.

community

PASSEGGIATA: See WED.22.

PASSEGGIATA WATERBURY: See WED.22.

conferences

EZ BREEZY BIKE RIDES: Cyclists gain confidence at this funfilled, casual group loop around the Queen City. Local Motion, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

SUMMER REGIONAL EVENT: Vermont Tourism Alliance hosts industry professionals for an afternoon of networking, panel discussions and updates about the future of the state’s visitor economy. The Harborvale, Burlington, 2-6 p.m. $25 suggested donation; preregister.

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See MON.27.

crafts

sports

talks

‘A POLICY BRIEFING ON TRAFFICKING, SEX WORK & WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS’: A panel of experts and advocates separates myth from fact and explores policies that improve safety for everyone. Light refreshments provided. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free; preregister.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one meetings. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

YARN & YAK: See WED.22.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.22.

environment

WATERSHED EDUCATION: The Lake Champlain Watershed Basin Program presents a dynamic demonstration mapping out how pollution flows from human actions to our rivers and lakes.

Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

etc.

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.22.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.22.

fairs & festivals

ESSEX COUNTY FAIR: The second oldest event of its kind in New York shifts summer into high gear

with traditional horse and tractor pulls, demolition derbies, live music, and high-flying acrobatics. Essex County Fairgrounds, Westport, N.Y., 8 a.m. $15; free for kids under 3.

outdoors

food & drink

‘PHILOSOPHY OF FASCISM’: See WED.22.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: See WED.22.

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.22.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.22.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: See WED.22.

MARKET ON THE GREEN: See WED.22.

VEGAN IN VERMONT: Folks following a plant-based diet connect with others, explore recipes, and listen to guest speakers Allan and Travis Walker-Hodkin.

Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister.

WEDNESDAY WINE DOWN FARMERS MARKET: See WED.22.

health & fitness

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this American Red Cross donation event. Greater Burlington YMCA, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.22.

RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.22.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.22.

SPANISH CLASS: See WED.22.

lgbtq

THE ALL-INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: See WED.22.

music

BORROW THE BONES: A Vermont folk and Americana duo performs original music with themes of growth and love. Middlesex Bandstand, 6:30 p.m. Free.

FLORA & FAUNA CANOE TOUR: See WED.22.

seminars

STOP THE BLEED CERTIFICATION: Community members ages 16 and up acquire the necessary skills to mitigate uncontrolled bleeding in an emergency. Milton Fire Department, 6-7 p.m. Free.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.22.

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See MON.27.

WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS: See WED.22.

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.

theater

‘INTO THE WOODS’: See WED.22.

‘RENT’: See WED.22, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

words

MEMOIR WORKSHOP: See WED.22.

PAUL TREMBLAY: The New York Times bestselling author celebrates the release of his new sci-fi horror novel, Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep, about a gamer who is hired to remotely pilot a brain-dead man across the country. The SuperStore, Williston, 6-9 p.m.

Free; preregister. ➆

CAPITAL CITY BAND: See WED.22.

CITIZENS CONCERT BAND: Picnickers enjoy patriotic music performed by the 30-member ensemble of brass, percussion and woodwind instrumentalists.

Westford Common, 7 p.m. Free.

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: MAX MCNOWN: A self-taught busker turned chart-topping phenom brings his folk-country storytelling and coming-of-age anthems to the stage. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free.

MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.22.

OVER THE HUMP SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: VT BLUEGRASS PIONEERS: Four local stalwarts of the genre honor the hard-driving tradition of first-generation bluegrass with passion, heart and soul. Huntington Recreation Field, 5:30-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

SUMMER LIVE MUSIC SERIES: See WED.22.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.22.

TOWN OF SHELBURNE CONCERT SERIES: See WED.22.

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

It’s Time to Take the Challenge!

This fun summer civics project for K-8 students is back — with a new set of 25 activities.

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.

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!

Get more info and submit entries at goodcitizenvt.com

FROM THE GOOD CITIZEN HALL OF FAME The Malikians at Champlain Elementary completed activity No. 13, “Organize Support for a Cause.” The team organized an information fair at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, where they raised almost $200 for New Farms for New Americans.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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UNDERWRITTEN BY

PARTNERS

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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FAMILY FUN FRI.24

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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

‘1776’: Town Hall Theater Young Company stages a musical retelling of how the founding fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $10-25.

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.22.

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom ‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.23.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See THU.23.

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.25

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

FAMILY ART SATURDAY: Families get creative at a drop-in activity inspired by works featured in the center’s current exhibitions. BCA Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $10 suggested donation; preregister.

cutest farm animals around. Big Picture Farm, Townshend, 10 a.m. $12-20; preregister.

GOAT SNUGGLES: See SAT.25.

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

SPLASH DANCE: DJ CRWD CNTL: 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

chittenden county

barre/montpelier

‘ROXABOXEN’: This stage adaptation of Alice McLerran’s beloved children’s book invites families to watch ordinary objects transform into treasures as a group of friends builds an imaginary kingdom. QuarryWorks Theater, Adamant, 2 & 5 p.m. Free.

middlebury area ‘1776’: See FRI.24, 2 p.m.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

northeast kingdom ‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.23.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See THU.23.

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME WITH CHRISTINE: See WED.22.

‘HOW TO BE A FRIENDLY PIRATE!’: Budding buccaneers practice navigation and map-reading skills at a high-seas adventure combining comedy, music and science. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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.

barre/montpelier

‘ROXABOXEN’: See SAT.25, 2 p.m.

middlebury area ‘1776’: See FRI.24, 2 p.m.

STORY TIME WITH A THERAPY DOG: Young patrons practice their literacy skills by reading aloud to four-legged listener Callalily Brown, followed by gentle pats and photo ops. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2 p.m. Free.

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.

brattleboro/okemo valley

upper valley

GOAT SNUGGLES: Rolling hillsides provide the backdrop for a 40-minute cuddle session with the

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See THU.23.

brattleboro/okemo valley

SUN.26

NATURE ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP: An outdoor exploration led by Lake Champlain Basin Project educators combines art and science to help kids ages 8 to 12 see the environment through a sharper lens. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

northeast kingdom

MON.27

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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.22.

chittenden county

DINO SLIME: Elementary schoolers in grades 1 to 5 brew gooey prehistoric concoctions and dub them with official scientific names. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

PAJAMA STORY TIME: Little patrons don comfy attire to wind down the day with cozy readings and soothing songs. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-6:30 p.m. Free.

TEEN DINO NUGGETS: HOT ONES!: A taste test of spicy sauces turns ordinary chicken nuggets into a fiery culinary challenge for middle and high school students. 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.26, 1-3 p.m.

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

The Last Catamount

...I watch as it spends almost an hour on one tiny patch of dirt on the forest floor. Based on the amount of time and work it spends on such a tiny piece of land, I’m guessing that little patch of dirt must have some serious problems. It actually gets down on its hands and knees to administer aid of an almost intimate nature: digging through the dirt with its bare hands, shaping the loose soil, running its fingers through the leaves to brush them aside. Perhaps they’re suffocating the ground in some way. And all this intensive care it gives to just one very tiny spot of dirt on the forest floor. I ask myself why, and I can only believe it must love everything out here: the trees and the leaves, and the moss, and the ferns, and the coolness that swings through the branches, and the small tangles of vines that crawl along the soft dirt, and the creeks and ponds, and all the pools of misplaced water. The Other loves all of that, and I love all of that. So how is it that I’ve come to where I now find myself? As fascinating as the Other may be, I know full well that I only came to watch because it’s the first step of every hunt. Such a terrible thing I must do. Because even as I find myself drawn to the Other and its curious ways, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my littles alive. That much is certain...

Now in bookstores and catamountmountainpress.com

Story and full-color photographs by Mark Lavine, local author of Windekind and ForeverChild.

Support your local independent Vermont bookstores!

72 3h-CatamountPress072226 SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026 1

ISBN: 979-8-9947471-2-4 $14.00, free shipping 7/21/26 4:10 PM

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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.

human, Cindy. Essex Free Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.22.

TUE.28

burlington

THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

rutland/killington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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

‘BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS’: A live raptor demonstration from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science reveals how modern masters of the air got their wings. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11:15 a.m. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1-2 p.m. Free.

‘ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS’: Middle schoolers fix their eyes on the 2009 animated adventure flick following beloved characters Manny, Sid and Diego through an underground lost world. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3 p.m. Free.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

READ TO CHEWIE THE THERAPY DOG: Literacy and licks collide as students sharpen their skills alongside a four-legged listener and his

Your paper.

Your community.

Your choice.

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: Viewers grab snacks and settle in for a family flick at this monthly summer screening series. Stockbridge Meeting House, 6 p.m. Free.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

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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.24.

WED.29

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

READ TO A DOG: See WED.22.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.22.

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME WITH CHRISTINE: See WED.22.

MAKE & BUILD: See WED.22.

‘MOSAIC OF MARKS, WORDS, MATERIAL’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

OUTDOOR PLAY TIME: See WED.22.

SWITCH IT UP!: See WED.22.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.22.

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.22.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.22.

upper valley Support the businesses who support our work.

PHOTO CREDIT: MPOON

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.22.

‘OKLAHOMA!’: Students from Northern Stage’s Summer Musical Theater Intensive mount Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical about farm girl Laurey Williams and her two rival suitors. Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $25-38.

STORY TIME: See WED.22. K

finding a new path ...

10 Actors go . . .

INTO THE WOODS “You Have to take the Journey!”

Your Gu r

id e: J e s s e H a w k e s

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: J

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lostnationtheater.org lostnationtheater.org

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directed by Kianna Bromley

July 22-Aug July 22-Aug 2 2 SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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MORE CLASS LISTINGS ONLINE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSES

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $21.25/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE).

NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

arts & crafts AMERICAN WOODCOCK ONE-DAY WOODCARVING WORKSHOP: 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., Jul. 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cost: $50. Location: Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington.

Info: 802-434-2167, 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: 802-425-2700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

layered tastes of Malaysia — a true melting pot of cultures.

Come hungry; leave happy & inspired. (All foods may contain gluten, soy, peanuts, coconut & seafood. No substitutions will be made.) Date: Sat., Aug. 8, 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. Cost: $75. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com.

demonstration-style class will showcase a variety of dishes, including mango salad, Filipino adobo, pancit and a Filipino version of stir-fried shrimp, all commonly enjoyed in this style of communal dining. Throughout the session, participants will receive detailed recipes, culinary insights and practical tips. Date: Sat., Aug. 22, 4-5:30 p.m. Cost: $30. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com.

FARMYARD CUPCAKE DECORATING CLASS: Join us for this in-person workshop at our space in downtown Waterbury! In this workshop, we will decorate four farmyard animal cupcakes

food & drink BOODLE FIGHT: A FILIPINO SHARED-TABLE EXPERIENCE: A boodle fight is a Filipino communal dining tradition where a large spread of food is laid out on banana leaves and everyone eats together using their hands (kamayan). This

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: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

MALAYSIAN STREET FOODS: Join culinary instructor Evelyn Sun for a flavorful journey through the street foods of her hometown, Ipoh. Learn to make beloved flaky roti canai served with Evelyn’s Malaysian chicken curry; watch Evelyn demonstrate a street food favorite, mee goreng (fried noodles); and finish with a refreshing local favorite, ice cendol. Discover the bold,

Eva Sollberger’s

Supported by:

Watch at: sevendaysvt.com/stuckinvt 74

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

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:

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. The 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: Thomas Mock, 802369-4331, thomas.mock1444@ gmail.com, heartofthehealer.org/ event/the-pachakuti-mesatradition-foundationalapprenticeship-with-thomasmock.

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

= TICKETED CLASS

WATCH HER LATEST VIDEO! Todd Hanley grows about 300 colorful varieties of daylilies in his hilltop Richmond garden, and most of them are hybrids that he created himself.

Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger got a tour and learned how to cross-pollinate a few daylilies.

7/21/26 11:21 AM

Humane

Society of Chittenden County

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 »

Lady Grey AGE/SEX: 5-year-old spayed female ARRIVAL DATE: May 27, 2026 SUMMARY: Meet Lady Grey! This former stray is a spirited

lady with a quirky personality — lively, playful and affectionate on her own terms. She might not be described as easygoing, but that’s OK! Lady Grey would love to find a cat-savvy home where she can let her inner lioness roar with lots of interactive play and environmental stimulation such as toys, perches and maybe even controlled outdoor access. Visit Lady Grey at HSCC to meet her and see if she could be your new best friend!

DID YOU KNOW? If you have a particularly active or restless cat, food puzzles are a great way to keep them entertained and prevent destructive behaviors.

Some great options include treat mazes, feeder balls and interactive treat dispensers.

Sponsored by:

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Lady Grey has no known experience living

with cats, dogs or children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday-Wednesday, 1-5 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 1-6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS. SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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

PETS & SUPPLIES Buy y & Sell e

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES S. BURLINGTON ESTATE SALE High vintage sale, estate clean-outs.

Household, antiques, midcentury, collectibles, art, rugs, BR furniture, DR table sets, clothing, jewelry & much more. 340 Dorset St. Fri., Jul. 24, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., & Sat., Jul. 25, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., rain or shine.

GARAGE SALE New paint sprayer, food processor, sewing machine & jewelry.

Garden supplies, canoe, like-new wheelbarrow.

Lots of miscellaneous items. Jul. 24-26, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 713 Route 12, Northfi eld.

LOST DOGS 2 black & white terriers disappeared from the side of Route 2 in Williston/Richmond on Jun. 26. May have been taken out of the area. Please call w/ any information: 802-917-2242.

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.

➆

CLASSIFIEDS KEY appt. appointment apt. apartment BA bathroom BR bedroom DR dining room DW dishwasher HDWD hardwood HW hot water LR living room NS no smoking OBO or best offer refs. references sec. dep. security deposit W/D washer & dryer EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, 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 advertising for

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Community C ommunity mmuni y

ANNOUNCEMENTS SLAVIC LIFE The Slavic Life Movement is an organization dedicated to the preservation & evolution of Slavic culture.

Rentals R e als & R al Est Real Estate Esta

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT BURLINGTON LOCATION! LOCATION! 168 North Ave. Unfurnished, 2-BR, 1-BA, 825 sq.ft. Bright & sunny upstairs apt., freshly painted, w/ wood floors & new appliances.

The apt. is on the bus line & is close to downtown, the colleges & the hospital. Short walk to Battery Park, dog park & beautiful Lake Champlain!

Pet friendly. $2,075.

Call or text Rocky at 802-598-9877 or email lisaspizza@gmail.com.

NEW NORTH END 2-BR, 3-LEVEL CONDO AVAIL. NOW Dead-end street; next to Ethan Allen Park w/ immediate access to bike path to Intervale & waterfront. North Ave. bus line. 1 mile to Leddy Park & beach. New flooring throughout w/finished basement.

W/D in basement. Front porch & back deck.

Parking for 2 cars + visitor space. Affordable

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 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

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

4-week combo: $42

utils. Minimal garage storage. No pets (sorry).

1st mo. rent & 1-mo. sec. dep. req. at lease signing. Could be rented furnished if furniture is desired. $2,400. Email mmsmith765@gmail. com.

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 APT. FOR RENT IN WINOOSKI — KHOURI LN. 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 flooring & 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. now. Sec. dep. + first mo.’s rent. Images online. For more info, schoolic@gmail.com, classifieds.sevendaysvt. com/vermont/ rentals-real-estate.

BEAUTIFUL APT. FOR RENT IN WINOOSKI — HOOD ST. 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 floor w/ beautiful inside stairs that lead you 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. Unfurnished, 1-BR, 1-BA, 511 sq.ft. Sunny & charming 1-BR apt. nestled on the 2nd floor of this historic Queen Anne brick building in Winooski. The LR occupies the Victorian tower, offering a dramatic circular floor plan. Stained glass, HDWD, 9-foot ceilings, + arched & bay windows add to its Victorian aura.

Heat, HW, snow removal & 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. 125 Kennedy Dr. Unfurnished top-floor 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 floors, open LR/DR w/ bar seating at the kitchen counter. A French door leads to a private screened porch. The

Your paper.

Your community.

Your choice.

Support the businesses who support our work.

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. There 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

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

SATURDAY, July 25

@

9AM

Doors Open @ 7:30AM Over 100 Vehicles!

Bid Online or In Person

298 J. Brown Drive, Williston, VT

THCAuction.com  802-878-9200

1-, 2- & 3-BR APTS. AVAIL. NOW IN THCAuction.com  802-888-4662 BURLINGTON, VT. 118 Hyde St. Unfurnished 903-sq.ft. on Benson Village Trust’s fulfilling, resilient 1-BR, 1-BA, $950. + utils. website at benson success. Curated 12v-Hirchak(auto)072226 1 7/17/26 11:09 AM Also a 1-BR in Winooski villagetrust.org.Letters sessions for your unique at $1,050 + utils. 2-BR of interest are due Jul. 31 needs. Hourly rate negoin Burlington for $1,750. at midnight. Email info@ tiable by case. Email Heated. We pay cold bensonvillagetrust.org emmabeadiscenza@ water; tenants pay w/ questions. gmail.com. utils. 3-BR avail. now for $1,850. Heated. We pay cold water; tenants pay utils. Laundry on-site w/ 3-BR. Info, SHARE HOME W/ 802-318-8916.

ENGAGING SENIOR STOWE APT. FOR RENT 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 Monthly rent is TBD. Benson Village Trust (BVT), a 501c3 notfor-profit 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. The store business owner will lease a newly constructed & outfitted store/deli/café building from BVT to create a thriving small business in a dynamic rural community on Lake Champlain. Please find the complete general store business opportunity prospectus

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026 16t-your.indd 2

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

7/9/24 5:24 PM

HOUSEMATES

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Attractive S. Burlington townhome to share w/ well-traveled senior woman who enjoys film, volunteering & educational events. Hoping to find a housemate to cook a meal or 2 each week & enjoy dinner together! $650, all utils. incl. A small dog would be considered. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application.

Interview, refs. & background checks req.

EHO.

SLIDING-SCALE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE $25-$50: You decide!

Acupuncture can help a variety of issues, such as pain anywhere in the body, menstrual problems, stress, insomnia & more. We have helped thousands of people feel better.

Learn more or schedule on our website: casobu. org. Email: info@casobu. org.

Services rv es

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

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.

LEGALS »

Calcoku SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

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

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Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

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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.

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column 7each5 9-box 1 square 3 6contains 8 9all of2 down and the numbers one to nine. The same numbers 6 2 3 4 1 9 5 7 cannot be repeated in a row or column.

4 8 8 4 9 2 7 5 6 3 1 ANSWERS ON P.78 1 6 7 8 5 2 3 4 9 H = MODERATE HH = CHALLENGING HHH = HOO, BOY! 3 8 4 6 9 7 1 5 2 2 9 5 1 4 3 7 8 6 OPENING SEQUENCE 1 6 7 8 4 2 9 3 ANSWERS ON P. 5 78 » 4 7 2 9 3 6 8 1 5 9 3 8 5 2 1 4 6 7

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Difficulty: Medium

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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6 photos per ad online.

7

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Sudoku View and post up to

say you saw it in

mini-sawit-white2024.indd 1

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

7/31/24 4:41 PM

77

Legal Notices PROPOSED STATE RULES By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231). _____ NOTE: The five rules below have been promulgated by the Agency of Human Services who has requested the notices be combined to facilitate a savings for the agency. When contacting the agency about these rules please note the title and rule number of the proposed rule(s) you are interested in.

• Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment Rule, General Provisions and Definitions (Part1).

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P020 • Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment Rule, Eligibility Standards (Part 2).

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P021 • Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment Rule, Nonfinancial Eligibility Requirements (Part 3).

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P022 • Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment Rule, Financial Methodologies (Part 5).

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P023 • Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment Rule, Eligibility-and-Enrollment Procedures (Part 7).

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P024

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

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services CONCISE SUMMARY: These proposed rules amend parts 1-3, 5 and 7 of the 8-part Health Benefits Eligibility and Enrollment (HBEE) rules. Parts 1,2,3,5 and 7 were last amended effective January 1, 2026. Substantive revisions include: newly requiring certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees demonstrate compliance with work and community engagement rules as a factor of eligibility; reducing the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to one month for Adult coverage group enrollees and two months for all other enrollees; restricting non-citizen eligibility for both Medicaid and Qualified Health Plan premium tax credits and adding a new category of “eligible non-citizen” to clarify which individuals remain eligible; adjusting the renewal period from 12 to 6 months for Medicaid enrollees in the Adult coverage group; shortening the annual open enrollment period from November 1st-January 15th to November 1st - December 15th. All of these substantive revisions are required by federal law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Emily Belanger, Agency of Human Services 280 State Drive, NOB 1 South, Waterbury, VT 05671-1010 Tel: 802-760-0118 Fax: 802-241-0450 E-mail: emily.m.belanger@vermont.gov URL: https:// humanservices.vermont.gov/rules-policies/ health-care-rules.

FOR COPIES: Jessica Ploesser, Agency of Human Services, 5 Pilgrim Park, 1st Floor Suite 2, Waterbury, VT 05671-1010 Tel: 802-241-0454 Fax: 802-241-0260 E-mail: jessica.ploesser@vermont. gov.

ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0190-9A 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C0190-9A from Beta Technologies, Inc., 1150 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403 and 30 Community Drive, LLC, 88 Technology Park Way, Suite 2, South Burlington, VT 05403 was received on June 24, 2026 and deemed complete on July 9, 2026. The project is generally described as interior renovations of the existing building as well as construction of a +/- 12,735 square foot building expansion. Exterior

improvements include new loading dock doors with associated new pavement, new loading dock ramp, new landscaping with snippet park, new sidewalk and pedestrian paths, and parking lot modifications. Several utility relocations are also proposed as part of this work. The project is located at 530 Community Drive (Lot 8A of Technology Park) in South Burlington, Vermont.

The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont. gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0190-9A.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before August 5, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion.

Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/documents/party-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 14, 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

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Burlington Technical Center is pleased to announce that we are offering the following Career and Technical Education Programs of Studies for the 2026-2027 school year: Automotive Science and Technology Aviation and Aerospace Technology Design, Engineering & Fabrication Design & Illustration Digital Media Lab Health Sciences Academy Homeland Security & Criminal Justice Introduction to Health Care Education Training & Leadership Adult and Continuing Education Programs More information can be found on the BTC Website: https://btc.bsdvt.org/programs Admissions process: Tour: In conjunction with the student’s sending school, plan a visit to BTC’s programs.

Apply: Fill out the online application on the BTC website https://btc.bsdvt.org/application/.

Interview: Meet with the teacher/s of the desired program/s.

Decision: Grade level, attendance records, GPA, discipline records, prerequisite skills for desired program, willingness to follow safety instructions, results of the interview with the teacher, and ability to learn in a respectful and inclusive environment are all considered in the admissions decision. A determination will be made about admission to BTC in a timely manner.

Burlington Technical Center and Burlington School District offer additional services to students with limited English language skills and those with disabilities to ensure they have access to these programs. Individuals wishing to obtain information about the existence and location of accessible services and facilities should contact the 504 Coordinator (information below).

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator: Sparks, Director of Equity Burlington School District 150 Colchester Avenue Burlington, VT 05401

7 5 6 2 120x 8 4 1 6 23 8 2÷ 2 9 2÷5 1 4 7 9 3 4-

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

Calcoku

Difficulty: Medium

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

Burlington Technical Center/Burlington School District 150 Colchester Ave Burlington, VT 05401

The Burlington Technical Center and Burlington School District do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or marital status in the admission process, access to activities, nor in access to employment.

PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM P.77

78

ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION (AS REQUIRED BY THE 1979 GUIDELINES FOR ELIMINATION DISCRIMINATION IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS [34 CFR PART 100., APP. B, IV-O])

504 Coordinator: Kellie Klasen, Executive Director of Student Support Services Burlington School District 150 Colchester Avenue Burlington, VT 05401 *Please note that marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity are protected classes that are required by VT State law, not Federal Law. End of notice.

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

SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS

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 # C111 D54 R58 S15 S76

Name Phil Courcelle Sean Gilbert Amber Mcdaniel Jennie Shaw Zach Beam

»

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Contents Household Goods Household Goods Household Goods Household Goods Household Goods

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​26-PR-00816 In re ESTATE of CAROL E. STRONG NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Carol E. Strong, late of Colchester 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: February 23, 2026 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater Executor/Administrator: Patrick Strong 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: 7/22/26 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402-0511 ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C0436-40A 10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111 Application 4C0436-40A from Picnic Loop Development, LLC, 4302 Bolton Valley Access Road, Bolton Valley, VT 05477 and Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Company, 26 Wentworth Road, Bolton Valley, VT 05477 was received on July 6, 2026 and deemed complete on July 15, 2026. The project specifically authorizes the extension of approved construction hours for the development authorized under Act 250 Land Use Permit 4C0436-40, known as the Picnic Loop Development, to grant addition time to winterize new buildings prior to winter conditions arriving, in consideration of the short construction season that exists in this location. The approved construction hours are extended from Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with no construction on Sundays or federal holidays.

This permit amendment replaces Act 250 Permit 4C0436-40, Condition #12. The project is located at 3980 Bolton Valley Access Road in Bolton, 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 “4C0436-40A.” No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before August 11, 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

Open 24/7/365.

Post & browse ads at your convenience.

District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont.gov.

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Kaitlin Hayes at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this July 16, 2026.

By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov NOTICE OF APPEAL: ALLEN BROOK COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION APPLICATION: 26-ENV-00066 NOTICE OF APPEAL Appellant Allen Brook Development Incorporated (“Allen Brook”), by its attorneys, Gravel & Shea PC, pursuant to V.R.E.C.P. 5, and Act 250 Rule 31(A) (3), hereby appeal to the Vermont Superior Court, Environmental Division the Judgment, including without limitation, the July 8, 2026 Memorandum and Decision and Order on Motion to Alter by the District #4 Environmental Commission, and the underlying April 7, 2026 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order (together, the “Decision”) denying an application for a 5-lot commercial subdivision on an existing irregularly shaped 109.5-acre lot (previously designated as Parcel B) within the existing Saxon Hill Industrial Park in Essex, Vermont, along with the proposed construction of a roadway, supporting infrastructure and a 33,600 square foot warehouse on one of the newly-created lots (the “Project”). See Decision linked at https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/ Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C0329-24,4C0347-6.

A copy of the Decision can also be obtained by contacting the undersigned.

As the applicant, Allen Brook has party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(A) and may appeal the Decision to the Environmental Division under 10 V.S.A. § 8504(a). Pursuant to the above-cited statutes, Allen Brook has standing to file this appeal.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: In order to participate in this appeal, you must enter an appearance in the Vermont Environmental Court within twenty-one (21) days of receiving this Notice of Appeal. Notices of Appearance should be mailed to or delivered in person to Vermont Superior Court—Environmental Division, 32 Cherry Street, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401. Additional information can be found at: https://www.vtcourts.gov/environmental/ environmental-appeals /s/ Matthew B. Byrne Matthew B. Byrne, Esq. Robert H. Rushford, Esq. Gravel & Shea PC 76 St. Paul Street, 7th Floor, P.O. Box 369 Burlington, VT 05402-0369 (802) 658-0220 mbyrne@gravelshea.com rrushford@gravelshea.com Attorneys For Appellant TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 6, 2026, 6:30 PM Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: Join Online: Zoom Meeting ID: 821 7131 4999 Passcode: 754119 Join Calling (audio only): 888-788-0099 1. Final Subdivision – John and Carolyn Leo are proposing an 8-lot commercial subdivision located at 15 Leo Drive (Parcel ID 2-005-004-203) located in the Industrial (I1) and Scenic Resource Preservation Overly (SRPO) Districts. The parcel at 15 Leo Dive is 17.68 acres.

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Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at essexvt.gov/applications.

Please call 802-878-1343 or email communitydevelopment@essex.org with any questions.

This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view the complete Agenda, at https://essexvt.portal.civicclerk.com or the office notice board before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard and other agenda items.

COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on August 12, 2026, at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations. Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road. a) CU-26-17 HANDY INVESTMENT GROUP & NOAH MARKWOOD: Conditional Use Application to amend a previous Site Plan approval for a multi-use commercial property in the General Development Four (GD4) District. Proposed amendment is to change the use of Units A and B (2,000 sf) to Automobile Repair and Service (Use 3.311). No site modifications are proposed at this time. Subject property is located at 25 Raymond Road, Account #16-008000-0000000.

July 22, 2026 TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 113, Section 105-109 of the Colchester Charter, and Section 1-4 of the Colchester Code of Ordinances, the Colchester Selectboard will hold a public hearing on August 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM for public comment on amendments to Chapter 6.5: Fees for Permits and Licenses Generally.

The Colchester Selectboard will also hold a second public hearing at the same meeting on August 11, 2026 at 6:35 PM for public comment on amendments to Chapter 9: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, Chapter 12: Traffic, and Chapter 13: Streets and Sidewalks of the Code of Ordinances.

A summary of the proposed amendments to Chapter 6.5 are as follows: inclusion of a proposed increase in Zoning Compliance Certificate fees, and a new Table 6a outlining the Planning and Zoning fee schedule.

A summary of the proposed amendments to Chapters 9, 12, and 13 are as follows: inclusion of language to align with existing state statute that expressly lists where electric bicycles, motorassisted bicycles, and motor-driven cycles are allowed to operate in Colchester.

The hearings are currently scheduled to take place at the Town of Colchester Town Offices, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, Vermont, in the Outer Bay Conference Room on the third floor. Alternatively, you can email comments to TownManager@ colchestervt.gov with “Citizens to be Heard – Electric Bicycle Ordinance” or “Citizens to be Heard – Zoning Compliance Certificates” in the Subject and include your name. As with in-person Citizens to be Heard, we ask that you SHARE YOUR ADDRESS. The email will be shared with the entire Selectboard prior to the meeting and included in the information packet at the next meeting.

You may watch the Selectboard meeting on live stream TV: http://lcatv.org/live-stream-2.

A complete set of the proposed changes to Chapter 6.5 and a memo explaining the purpose are available here: https://clerkshq.com/ Content/Attachments/Colchester-vt/260811a_1. pdf?clientSite=Colchester-vt A complete set of the proposed changes to Chapters 9, 12, and 13, and a memo explaining the purpose are available here: https://clerkshq.com/ Content/Attachments/Colchester-vt/260811a_2. pdf?clientSite=Colchester-vt Copies of the proposed ordinance updates are

LEGALS » SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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Legal Notices [CONTINUED] available at the Town Clerk’s office at 781 Blakely Rd. If you have questions regarding these amendments, contact the Town Manager’s Office at (802)264-5509.

For publication no later than July 27, 2026 (15 days prior to Public Hearing).

TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CAPITAL BUDGET PROGRAM FOR FY 2027-2032 Pursuant to 24 V.S.A., Chapter 117, Section 4430 and 4443 and Section 602 (4) of the Town of Colchester’s Charter, the Town of Colchester Selectboard will hold a public hearing on August 11, 2026, at 6:40 PM at the Colchester Town Office, Outer Bay Conference Room, 3rd Floor, to consider

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

adoption of the FY 2027-2032 Capital Budget Program for the Town of Colchester. You may watch the Selectboard meeting on livestream TV: http://lcatv.org/live-stream-2 Residents are welcome to participate in the hearing in-person. Alternatively, you may email comments to TownManager@colchestervt.gov with “FY27-FY32 Capital Budget Program” in the subject line. As with in-person Citizens to be Heard, we ask that you SHARE YOUR NAME and ADDRESS. The email will be shared with the entire Selectboard prior to the meeting and included in the information packet at the next meeting.

Copies of the Capital Budget Program are available at the Town Clerk’s office at 781 Blakely Rd. or at this link: https://clerkshq.com/ Content/Attachments/Colchester-vt/260811b_1. pdf?clientSite=Colchester-vt

Support Groups A CIRCLE OF PARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS Please join our professionally facilitated peer-led support groups designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802-498-0607, pcavt.org/ family-support-programs.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Call the Vermont statewide anonymous hotline: 802-802-2288.

Alcoholics Anonymous holds daily meetings all over Vermont, both in person & online. For meetings & events throughout Vermont, see aavt.org.

ANXIETY RELIEF GROUP Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing & exploring your feelings w/ others through gentle socialization & self-expression, building up what makes you centered & strong. Wed., 4-5:30 p.m.

Online, email us for the Zoom link & more info: morgansplace@pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont.

We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington.

Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont. org for info.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality.

Thu., 3:45-4:45 p.m., at Morgan’s Place, 50 S. Willard St., Burlington. Email us for more info: morgansplace@pathwaysvermont.org, pathwaysvermont.org/programs/ peersupportcenter.

FCA FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP Families Coping With Addiction (FCA) is an open community peer support group for adults (18+) struggling w/ the drug or alcohol addiction of a

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

loved one. FCA is not 12-step-based but provides a forum for those living the family experience, in which to develop personal coping skills & to draw strength from one another. Our group meets every Wed., 5:30-6:30 p.m., live in person in the conference room at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington), &/or via our parallel Zoom session to accommodate those who cannot attend in person.

The Zoom link can be found on the Turning Point Center website (turningpointcentervt.org) using the “Family Support” tab (click on “What We Offer”).

Any questions, please send by email to tdauben@ aol.com.

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2:30-4 p.m. Morgan’s Place, 50 S. Willard St., Burlington, VT. Email us for more information: morgansplace@pathwaysvermont.org, pathwaysvermont.org/programs/ peersupportcenter.

KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@ vcsn.net.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program of Gifford Medical Center sponsors a weekly meeting of its “Living Through Loss” grief support group. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the past year or so is warmly invited to attend the free weekly meetings every Fri., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

For info, contact the Rev. Tim Eberhardt, Gifford’s spiritual care coordinator, at 802-728-2107.

NARCANON BURLINGTON GROUP Group meets every Mon. at 7 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Suite 301, Burlington. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Info: Amanda H., 338-8106.

HUNTINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA AUGUST 6TH, 2026 Development Review Board: Thursday, August 6th, 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 Physical Location: Town Offices 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 APPLICATION REVIEW 7:15 PM Sleepy Hollow Resort 427 Ski Lodge Dr. Parcel ID# 005120 Conditional use Permit Review: 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 • Approval of Minutes • Mail • Member Business • Adjourn

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

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Narcotics Anonymous is a group of recovering addicts who live without the use of drugs. It costs nothing to join. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Held in Burlington, St Albans, Morrisville, Barre & Stowe.

Info, 833-436-6166 or cvana.org.

NEW (& EXPECTING) MAMAS & PAPAS & EVERY PRIMARY CAREGIVER TO A BABY Drop-in play every day: The Children’s Room in Waterbury is open Mon.-Fri. for anyone w/children ages 0-6 to come & play. Check the TCR calendar for hours & school closure days. Caregiver & Baby Circle: Weekly drop-in on Mon., 11 a.m., at the Children’s Room. We are pleased to offer a weekly gathering for babies (0-18 mos.) & their caregivers, sponsored by Good Beginnings & hosted by the Children’s Room. Nature Explorations: Tue., 10-11:30 a.m., at various trailheads in the area.

Get outside for some fresh air & fun! Every week we go to a different trailhead or natural area to explore. Ages 0-6; carriers are helpful for little ones. Email childrensroom@huusd.org to sign up; enrollment is always open. Music & Movement: drop-in, Wed., 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We begin by singing songs & moving together & allow time at the end to play w/ instruments, as well as time for adults & kids to socialize. Ages 0-6. Exploration & Art Fridays: drop-in, Fri., anytime from 9 a.m.-noon at the Children’s Room in Brookside Primary School. We’ll be engaging in different hands-on explorations & using various mediums every week — sometimes combined. Come to TCR to explore, play & create! For info, email childrensroom@ huusd.org.

PARKINSON’S MUTUAL AID GROUP For individuals & caregivers dealing w/ the challenges of Parkinson’s, we meet to share resources & practical ideas for improving quality of life.

This in-person group is free & open to the public.

Every 2nd Tue. of the mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Old Meeting House, 1620 Center Rd., East Montpelier.

Please contact admin@oldmeetinghouse.org or 229-9593.

RECOVERY DHARMA Recovery Dharma uses Buddhist practices & principles to help people recover from all kinds of addictions & addictive behaviors. This peer-led, nontheistic group offers opportunities to deepen understanding, explore personal inquiry & connect w/ others. We meet every Wed., 6-7 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Burlington (the Red Door Church, 21 Buell St.). Enter through the administrative office door (at far left when viewed from Buell St.). We also meet on Thu., 1-2 p.m., at the Turning Point Center, 179 N. Winooski Ave.,

Burlington. No meditation experience required; all are welcome. Email rd.burlington.vt@gmail.com for more info.

SMART RECOVERY SMART Recovery is a mutual support group where, through open confidential discussion, we help each other & ourselves w/ recovery from any type of addictive behavior. Regardless of whether your recovery goals include abstinence, reduction in use, or harm reduction, you are welcome here. You determine your goals; SMART provides tools & support to help you achieve them.Our approach uses self-empowering skills that help you build & maintain motivation; cope w/ urges; manage thoughts, feelings & behaviors; & live a balanced life. For the latest information about in-person & online groups, go to meetings.smartrecovery.org.

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 12-step recovery group. Do you have a problem w/ sex or relationships? We can help. Info: Visit slaafws.org or saa-recovery.org for meetings near you.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT HOPE Works offers free support groups to women, men & teens who are survivors of sexual violence.

Groups are avail. for survivors at any stage of the healing process. Intake for all support groups is ongoing. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule an intake to become a group member, please call our office at 864-0555, ext. 19, or email our victim advocate at advocate@sover. net. Visit hopeworksvt.com for more info.

STEPS SUPPORT GROUP Steps offers a weekly support group w/ drop-in options for those who have experienced or who have been affected by domestic violence. Women’s Support Group meets virtually every Tue., 5-6:30 p.m. Gender Inclusive Support Group meets virtually every Thu., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Both groups offer a safe, supportive & confidential place to connect w/ others, heal & recover. For more info, call us at 658-1996 or email steps@stepsvt.org.

STUTTERING SUPPORT GROUPS We offer 3 monthly National Stuttering Association (NSA) stuttering support groups for adults, teens & school-age children (7-12).

Meetings take place monthly at UVM & by Zoom.

Contact burlingtonstutters@gmail.com for more information.

SUICIDE HOTLINES IN VT Brattleboro, 257-7989; Montpelier (Washington County Mental Health Emergency Services), 2290591; Randolph (Clara Martin Center Emergency Service), 800-639-6360.

81 JULY 22-29, 2026

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

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) GILLIAN COMITO, 802-341-3060 GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Athletic Support Technician

VEGETABLE FIELD CREW Full description & to apply: trilliumhillfarm.com/ employment

AcAdemic SucceSS coAch Visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu & select “View Current Openings” SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence

The Facilities Department at through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for a full-time Athletics Support Technician.

10/29/191-TrilliumFarm071526.indd 12:12 PM 1 7/13/26 2h-SUNYPlatts072226.indd 12:58 PM 1 7/20/26 11:23 AM Successful candidates will join 7spot.indd 1 a team that maintains Athletic Facilities throughout the year.

Join the Flynn & be part of a team striving to make the The position is Monday-Friday, Make an IMPACT at NVRH. community better through the arts. All backgrounds 8:30am-5:00pm with the need encouraged to apply. Part-time, hourly, non-exempt position. for overtime and working off Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) hours/days at times. Pay rate for in St. Johnsbury seeks a Medical Lab Technician or this role is $19-$21/ hr.

Medical Technologist to support patient care through high-quality Apply: bit.ly/4wM1EYU lab services in our state-of-the-art lab and our expanding services.

The Flynn Center is seeking dependable, customerfocused Security Staff to help provide a safe and welcoming Highlights: Generalist lab testing • Routine & STAT work • environment for patrons, artists, staff, and visitors. Duties QC, maintenance & specimen collection (phlebotomy as needed) 2v-StMichaelsCollegeFTCUSTODIAL070622.indd 7/17/26 1 12:31 PM include monitoring assigned areas, managing venue access, Requirements: Associate’s (Bachelor’s preferred) • responding to emergencies, and assisting patrons. Evening ASCP or HHS certification • Generalist skills and weekend availability is required. Previous security experience is preferred but not required.

Why NVRH? Competitive pay + shift differentials • Loan repayment •

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN OR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

SECURITY STAFF

CARPENTER

For job details and to apply, please visit: flynnvt.org/About-Us/ Employment-and-Internship-Opportunities.

Birdseye is seeking an Experienced or Lead Carpenter with 8+ years’ experience to join our team in the Woodstock, Vermont area.

4t-Flynn071526.indd 1 Why Birdseye? Work on projects that bridge the gap between architectural vision and master craft.

Employee Ownership: We have been employee-owned since 2005.

Your hard work directly translates to shares in the company’s success.

Respect for the Trade: We provide an annual tool stipend, comprehensive health/dental/ vision, and a culture that values precision over speed.

The Work: You will execute complex detailing, high-performance building envelopes, and finish carpentry.

Compensation: $32–$36/hour + ESOP shares + 401(k) match.

Submit resume and a brief letter of interest to jobs@birdseyevt.com.

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7/20/26 3:12 PM

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

No phone calls or emails, please. E.O.E.

Youth Programming Coordinator

The Schoolhouse Learning Center is hiring!

7/9/26 4t-NVRH061726.indd 12:34 PM 1

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

6/15/26 3:16 PM

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.

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

82 JULY 22-29, 2026

SECURE HOUSING COACH

Join PCC’s Rapid Response Team!

Do you enjoy solving problems, helping others, and working in a fast-paced environment? As a member of PCC’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), you’ll be the first point of contact for clients seeking support.

As an RRT member, you’ll answer client phone calls and emails, troubleshoot issues, resolve requests whenever possible, and connect clients with the right experts when additional support is needed. You’ll collaborate closely with teammates and cross-functional partners to provide responsive, high-quality service.

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.

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

LAOB is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

We’re looking for someone with: • Strong communication and customer service skills • Excellent attention to detail and organization • The ability to prioritize multiple requests • A collaborative mindset and eagerness to learn

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

www.lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org

Join our team!

Position Highlights • Hybrid position based near Winooski, VT • Monday–Friday schedule with rotating evening coverage until 8:00 p.m.

• Occasional travel to client sites (2–3 trips per year)

2v-LakeChamplainWaldorfSchool070126 1

If you’re passionate about helping clients and working as part of a collaborative team, we’d love to hear from you. To learn more about PCC, our benefits, and to apply for this role, please visit us at pcc.com/careers.

6/30/26 8:49 AM

SOCIAL STUDIES FACULTY (FT)

No phone calls, please. AA/EOE.

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7/20/26 2:47 PM

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 office 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 Office 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 office 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 Staff – July 2026” to hiring@vtlegalaid.org. Please tell us how you heard about the position.

Creativity.

Innovation.

Diversity.

Compassion.

Drive.

Small classes, experiential learning, serving grades 6 through 12.

Apply today: vermontcommons.org/careers Untitled-10 1

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

7/20/26 11:11 AM

PERK UP! Browse 100+ new job postings from trusted, local employers.

Visit us at Facebook/ sevendaysjobs

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Email resume or inquiry to

Gene@johnsonwoolenmills.com.

2v-JohnsonWoolenMills072226.indd 1

U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Sheehey Furlong & Behm, an established, growing law firm located near the Burlington waterfront, is accepting applications for a legal assistant. The successful candidate will be detailoriented, possess strong written and verbal skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in MS Office applications is required. Legal experience is preferred, but we will train the right applicant. The anticipated pay range for this position is $24 - $30 per hour. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.

Forward cover letter and resume to hiring@sheeheyvt.com, subject “Legal Assistant.”

IS HIRING

7/21/264t-Sheehey061026.indd 2:24 PM 1

83 JULY 22-29, 2026

Case Administrator

BURLINGTON, VT

Full-Time | 40 hours/week

Competitive, above-market wages. Collaborative, mission-driven team.

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

LEGAL ASSISTANT

Manufacturing Cutter The Manufacturing Cutter cuts fabric and prepares patterns that support our stitching team's daily production. This hands-on position requires accuracy, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain efficient production flow.

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY!

The Clerk’s Office for the United States Bankruptcy Court is seeking a qualified individual with excellent analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills capable of functioning in a dynamic, team-oriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full federal benefits apply.

Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the official Position Announcement available from court locations in Burlington and Rutland and the court’s web site: WWW.VTB.USCOURTS.GOV

E.O.E.

6/4/264t-USBankruptcyCourt072226.indd 5:16 PM 1

7/21/26 10:10 AM

(with great benefits) Since 1986, Dismas of Vermont has served more than 2,300 people moving out of incarceration and trauma using a model that centers reconciliation, community, and compassion.

Office Manager / Bookkeeper

Create a more just, safe, and productive Vermont with us.

The 4x4 Center is a dedicated automotive shop specializing in off-road vehicles and accessories. We’re a small, hands-on team that takes pride in quality work and great customer relationships. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for an organized and detail-oriented professional to keep the back office running smoothly.

Assistant House Director - Hartford Philanthropic Associate - Rutland

2v-Spectrum070126.indd 1

1 6/29/264t-Dismas072226 2:24 PM

Kitchen and Facility Manager

COOK

FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND $23/HOUR PLUS TIPS. Work in a first floor, big bright kitchen. Must have full availability - nights, days, weekends. Night shifts end between 9:30-11.

Applying in person is best: Ken’s Pizza and Pub, 71 Church St, Burlington.

2v-KensPizza072226.indd 1

This hybrid role supports both the day-to-day administrative operations of the shop and our bookkeeping needs. You’ll work closely with shop leadership to support the continued growth of the business.

• 30-40 hours per week, with flexible scheduling • Mostly on-site requirement, some remote work may be possible • Compensation commensurate with experience

Complete position descriptions and to apply: www.dismasofvt.org/about-us/now-hiring.html

Scan QR code to apply.

Apply: kim@the4x4center.com

Director of Public & External Affairs

7/17/26 4t-4x4Center072226.indd 10:15 AM 1

Do you love food and find joy in feeding others? This PT position prepares meals for Shabbat, holidays and student programs, maintains our kosher kitchen and keeps shared spaces welcoming and delicious.

Hospitality experience is preferred. Kashrut knowledge is not required but must have a willingness to learn new things. Friday afternoon and some early evening availability is required as are Jewish holidays. Pay: $25 to $30 per hour, based on experience.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Visit QR code to apply:

7/21/26 4t-UVMHillel072226.indd 2:25 PM 1

Full Time / Part Time

7/17/26 1:13 PM

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.

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.

1 7/17/26 4t-VTArtsCouncil070126.indd 12:52 PM

6/29/26 12:35 PM

YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

84 JULY 22-29, 2026

Cabinet Painter/Finisher Join our small team of dedicated craftspeople.

Job Duties: • Sanding cabinet parts • Painting w/spray finishing equipment • Maintaining organized workspace • Ordering materials and communicating with team members Desired: • Experience with sanding, painting, and spray finishing equipment (training available for the right candidate) Send resumes to: ben@woodenhammer.net

Do you want to join the sunshine family?

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.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR We are hiring for an Office Administrator in our Waitsfield, VT Headquarters.

Starting range: $24-$27/hour

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.

Apply: jess@lawsonsfinest.com

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

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GOT A CASE OF THE

Intake Specialist/ Paralegal Legal Services Vermont is looking to fill a full-time position for an Intake Specialist/Paralegal. We are an innovative non-profit law firm that provides civil legal services to a broad spectrum of low-income clients in a high-volume practice. Our advocates represent individual clients, participate in court clinics and staff our helpline to screen new clients and provide legal advice. Working closely with Vermont Legal Aid, we help low-income Vermonters resolve their civil legal issues.

We are seeking an Intake Specialist/Paralegal who will focus on screening requests for legal assistance.

Duties include talking with potential clients by phone or in person, reviewing incoming requests for legal assistance, assessing basic legal issues, and conducting intake screenings for new cases. The position will also include coverage in our front office, located in Burlington, as well as other work on our statewide legal helpline, handling mail and other correspondence and messaging, coordinating with other staff members to support clients, providing information and advice to clients under the supervision of an attorney, supporting advocates with case activities, and assisting with other daily operations.

We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal, spoken communication and writing skills, the ability to handle a large workload, a demonstrated commitment to community engagement and public interest work, the ability to work empathetically with low-income and 11-LegalServicesVermont072226.indd 1

SUNDAY SCARIES?

marginalized communities, and a collaborative work style. Qualified candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree, be proficient in Microsoft Office applications and be comfortable with online office management systems, office machines and telephone systems, have the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and be sensitive to the diverse language and cultural needs of our clients.

Find a job that makes it easier to sleep at night.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and culturally competent staff to serve our increasingly diverse client community.

We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our client communities.

Base starting salary is on the LSV Lay Advocate/ Paralegal scale, currently starting at $55,041, with salary credit given for relevant experience, and an excellent benefits package. The position is in-person in our Burlington office, with limited remote work options.

Application deadline is August 5, 2026. Your application should include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references, sent as a single PDF. Send your application by e-mail to Sam Abel-Palmer at sabel-palmer@legalservicesvt.org with the subject line “LSV Hiring Opportunity.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.

7/21/26 2:31 PM

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85 JULY 22-29, 2026

Legislative Counsel Support Specialist The Office of Legislative Counsel is seeking a motivated professional for the position of Legislative Counsel Support Specialist.

This position provides administrative services to the Office of Legislative Counsel and nonpartisan committee services support to the Vermont General Assembly through the Office of Legislative Counsel. The anticipated pay for this position will be between $47,850 $71,800 with a comprehensive benefits package.

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at legislature.vermont.gov.

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.

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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.

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Distribution and Receiving Coordinator The Distribution and Receiving Coordinator is responsible for the efficient receipt, organization, and distribution of food and related products in support of the organization’s food assistance programs. Following established policies and procedures, this position ensures that food is received, stored, and distributed accurately and safely while providing excellent customer service to clients. The Coordinator also works closely with volunteers to support daily operations and maintains organized, clean, and efficient distribution and receiving areas.

Requirements: Associate’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience required. Strong organizational, communication, and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office, are essential. A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel throughout the service area are required. Starting wage: $23.65 per hour.

Visit the www.cvoeo.org/careers to view the full job description and submit your application. We are one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont! Join us to find out why!

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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.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Join the Vermont Land Trust as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. Apply your relationship and organizational skills to help protect Vermont’s farms, forests, and natural areas! We’re looking for an experienced executive assistant to: • Advance the President’s external impact and cultivate and steward donor relationships

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

• Act as central hub for Board coordination & institutional accountability • Exhibit exceptional organization, judgment, and professionalism

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.

• The starting salary for this full-time position is $61,800.

This position offers excellent benefits including paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, and retirement.

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules.

Please apply directly at gisu.org, click on Career Opportunities!

The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We honor & invite people of all backgrounds & life experiences to apply.

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Our benefits package includes: • Annual cafeteria allowance of $26,839.20 to cover healthcare premiums and other benefits.

• 6 weeks of combined time off, plus 12 days of sick time annually.

• 403b retirement plan with employer match.

Learn more and apply at vlt.org/employment. Applications for this position will be accepted through August 23, 2026.

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

86 JULY 22-29, 2026

Home Provider 47 Year old man - Seeks non-smoking home provider in the Burlington area, without young children.

Join our dedicated team of instructors!

Open positions for the 2026/2027 School year The Stern Center for Language and Learning is an education-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the power of learning. If you’re an educator who wants to explore new ways to make a difference in the lives of individual students each day, these rewarding positions may be your next step.

He enjoys playing basketball, watching sports, lawn mowing, camping, Karaoke, boating and fishing.

Experienced provider preferred. Tax free stipend, training, clinical support, and respite provided.

Call Brittany - 802-798-9115

SPECIAL EDUCATOR

This role focuses on delivering individualized instruction in reading, writing, and/or math using a multisensory approach. Candidates must hold a valid Vermont Special Educator license and have at least two years of experience in Special Education. The position requires strong collaboration and communication skills, enthusiasm for one-to-one instruction, and knowledge of assessment and interpretation.

ORTON-GILLINGHAM (OG) INSTRUCTOR

This position involves providing structured literacy instruction using Orton-Gillingham and/or Wilson approaches, as well as developing individualized learning plans. Candidates should be certified in Orton-Gillingham or have relevant training, along with strong organizational and communication skills and experience with research-based interventions.

These positions are located in Chittenden County, VT. Flexible full-time schedules. Salary range: $54,000– $57,000 annually. Training in Orton-Gillingham and/or Wilson, and/or Special Education certification strongly preferred.

Apply today by sending a cover letter and resume to hcastillo@sterncenter.org.

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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.

GO HIRE.

Full description and apply: 7dvt.pub/colchester

AIDE FOR YOUNG MAN WITH AUTISM

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Seeking responsible, creative, kind, spirited, initiative-taking individuals to help my son to continue to improve his living, recreation, 7/21/26 2:31 PM and communication skills.

The Stern Center for Language and Learning is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Thu and/or Fri, 10am-6pm, starting week of 8/31, $25/hr.

For details, go to: kieselstein autismprogram.com/ join-our-team.

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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: 802-341-3060 gcomito@sevendaysvt.com.

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Finance Administrator

PROGRAM MANAGER

The Vermont Arts Council is hiring a part-time Finance Administrator to provide operational dayto-day support for the Council’s finance functions, ensuring timely accounts payable, payroll and other finance and human resource related activities are accomplished with great attention to detail and promptness.

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.

If you are interested in working in support of Vermont’s creative sector, the Vermont Arts Council wants to hear from you.

For more information and to apply, visit: vermontartscouncil.org/about/the-organization/ employment

Start Date: ASAP or no later than September 1, 2026.

Apply by July 31 via ph-int.org/about-us/vacancies 5h-PH-International071526.indd 1

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Grants & Corporate Relations Manager The Grants and Corporate Relations Manager is responsible for developing, securing, and managing Age Well’s portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government funding. This position leads grant strategy, proposal development, funder stewardship, compliance, reporting, and prospect research to support the organization’s fundraising goals. Working collaboratively across departments, this role identifies new funding opportunities, cultivates funding relationships, and serves as Age Well’s primary grant professional.

Salary: $58,000 - $62,000 Annually

87 JULY 22-29, 2026

7/13/26 1:08 PM

Kids and Fitness is HIRING!

We are seeking both Lead and Assistant Infant and Preschool Teachers at both of our sites in Essex and South Burlington.

We are an upbeat, positive group of educators who are passionate about caring for children and modeling an inclusive, kind, safe environment for all.

We are eager to help train the right candidates.

Email Sarah Chamberlain, K&F Director, to apply.

SarahC@edgevt.com

GENEROUS SIGNON BONUS

Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, English, or a related field preferred.

FREE EDGE MEMBERSHIP

• Three or more years of grant writing, grants management, nonprofit fundraising, or related experience.

SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNTED CHILDCARE

• Demonstrated success securing foundation, corporate, and government funding.

• Strong knowledge of public and private funding sources.

• Excellent writing, communication, organizational & project management skills.

• Experience with donor management/CRM systems; Bloomerang preferred.

4+ WEEKS PTO IN FIRST YEAR & PAID HOLIDAYS

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Benefits: We offer a very generous benefit package, including substantial time off, retirement plan eligibility on day 1, and we are an organization that supports employee wellness and work/life balance.

We are proud to have been awarded a Worksite Wellness Award two years in a row and Best Places to Work four years in a row.

For more information, please visit us at: agewellvt.org/about/careers

AST. TEACHERS STARTING PAY: $20/HR

Assistant teachers need 3 ECE or Fundamental credits; Lead teachers require 21 ECE credits.

LEAD TEACHERS STARTING PAY: $24/HR

edgevt.com/join-the-team/ e dg gevt.com//j /join-the-team//

SarahC@edgevt.com SarahC@edg gevt.com

(802) 879-7734 ext. 1112

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YOUR JOBS AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM FOR FAST RESULTS, OR ATTENTION RECRUITERS: POST CONTACT GILLIAN COMITO: GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

88 JULY 22-29, 2026

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.

• Must be adept at fostering positive and collaborative relationships with staff, residents, vendors & community agencies

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.

Total Compensation: Base wages Pay range is between $24.00 - $26.00 per hour.

This is a full-time position with benefits.

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.

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:

• Must have a patient and compassionate approach to working with the most vulnerable populations

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

• 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.

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CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.77) CROSSWORD (P.77)

fun stuff HARRY BLISS

JULIANNA BRAZILL

“Remember that time we thought about having kids, for like, 30 seconds?”

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fun stuff

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JOIN THE SUPER READERS:

sevendaysvt.com/super-readers Need info? Contact Gillian English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com. Or send a note (and a check) to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402 90

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL JULY 23-29 TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Nobel Prize-

LEO

(JUL. 23-AUG. 22)

Oak trees produce far more acorns than could ever grow into trees.

Squirrels bury thousands and forget many of them, preparing the way for the next generation of forest.

The trees succeed through strategic overproduction. I invite you to adopt their method, Leo. In the coming weeks, overproduce. Make more than you can track. Release more than you can manage. You don’t need to be perfect, just abundant. PS: This expansive capacity is yours to explore with delight and confidence; I guarantee it.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Authentic love

songs are rare. Much of contemporary music leans toward infatuation, sex, heartbreak and fury, while few artists seem interested in singing unabashedly about unique expressions of tenderness and enduring devotion. In the months ahead, Aries, your inner life will be gloriously out of step with that trend. Your heart is poised to wake up in sometimes surprising ways. Even if you’re not a trained vocalist, you may feel regular urges to express your passion and adoration in song.

If I could give you a gift, it might be a curated playlist packed with the most radiant love songs of the past 60 years, so you’d have a soundtrack worthy of the lush emotions that I suspect will bloom in you.

winning Taurus physicist Richard Feynman kept a notebook titled “Things I Don’t Know About.” When he came across a question he couldn’t answer, he added it to the collection.

I recommend a similar discipline for you now, Taurus, but with a twist. Keep a log of “Beautiful Mysteries I Don’t Really Need to Solve.” Rejoice that not every paradox and puzzle needs resolution. Savor the fun fact that some riddles enrich your life precisely because they remain open-ended. Hooray for not knowing! My theory is that some of your finest qualities will flourish in the presence of productive uncertainty.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): In the early days of radio broadcasting, engineers sometimes spoke of “tuning the receiver.”

Even when a station was transmitting clearly, a listener might hear static until their radio dial was adjusted to exactly the right frequency. The message was present and clear; the challenge was homing in on it. There’s a similar phenomenon going on in your life, Gemini. Useful information, fun inspiration and interesting possibilities may be circulating in your vicinity. But you will need to adjust your attention so you can actually receive it. To bring the signals into focus, listen differently. Or pose alternate questions. Or pay attention to sources you don’t usually notice.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Neuroscientists

have found that remembering the past and imagining the future rely on many of the same brain networks. That overlap helps explain why vivid visualization may influence our emotions and behavior. When we repeatedly simulate alarming scenarios about what could conceivably happen, our brains treat them much like memories. This makes us prone to spotting “threats” in places that may be relatively safe. The good news is that the coming months will be an excellent time to retrain this habit, Cancerian. More than ever, your imagination can be a precision instrument you use to recalibrate yourself away from fear and toward possibility.

Fantasize about wonderful possibilities with the same intensity that in the past you have dwelled on scary speculations.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): In the 19th century, Virgo naturalist Alexander von Humboldt helped launch the modern science of ecology. While exploring South America, he came to a revolutionary conclusion that’s obvious to us now: Nature isn’t a collection of separate objects but an intricate web of relationships. Mountains shape the weather.

The plants and pollinators rely on each other.

Underground mycelial networks perform many services for the trees. I propose that you channel your inner Humboldt, Virgo. Shift your focus away from isolated problems and instead observe the larger systems. Solutions may be elusive when you’re bound to a narrow view but strikingly clear when you perceive the wider pattern. If you’d like to take bold action, rely on the spacious perspective.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): The coming months will be a favorable time to triple your devotion to the art of rowdy fun. I urge you to attend more revels and celebrations than usual and always be ready to energize social functions with infusions of festive wit and gleeful conviviality. You will also have extra power to inject buoyant amusements into your intimate liaisons. Therefore, dear Libra, I designate you to be the Party Maestro of the Zodiac. I hope you will carry out your role with maximum exuberance, ingenuity and joy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): What if I told

you that your most personal and potent dream can come true — but only through months of persistence, disciplined sacrifice, and stretches of bewildering but fascinating uncertainty?

Would you reorder your priorities to chase it with every ounce of creativity you have? Or would you set it aside in favor of a safer and easier possibility? Between now and the end of October, I predict the moment will arrive to choose one path or the other.

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

some occasions, you just don’t have the power to act with impeccable integrity and do the totally right thing. Doing the partially right thing may, however, be a useful and compassionate option. I bet this will soon be helpful advice for you. Blunt truth: There are moments when the “perfect” ethical, emotional or practical choice simply isn’t available: The

timing is off, resources are thin, or someone else’s limits block the ideal outcome. In those situations, waiting around for the flawless solution is a kind of paralysis that keeps you stuck in guilt or indecision. Instead, you can aim for the best available good.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In botany

and gardening, there is a practice called “companion planting.” Certain plants thrive when grown near each other because they share nutrients, repel or distract pests, or improve soil and microclimate. Here’s an example: Indigenous peoples of the Americas planted the “Three Sisters” together: Corn gave beans a living trellis, beans added nitrogen to the soil, and squash shaded the ground to hold moisture and deter weeds. This principle may be useful for you to contemplate now, Capricorn. The people, tools and influences you place near one another will influence your productivity and well-being. By blending complementary energies, your efforts will flourish without strain.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Author Alain de Botton observed that “the person we marry is always far more remarkable, frightening, and complex than we quite realized when we first declared our love.” Rather than feeling alarmed by this revelation, I invite you to find it thrilling as you apply it to your best allies. The fact that they contain mysteries you haven’t yet plumbed means the relationships aren’t likely to grow stale. There are undiscovered depths in those you may think you know completely.

My advice: Approach even your most familiar intimacies as ongoing discoveries.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Do you ever fear or distrust your own desires? Are you suspicious of achieving “too much” success?

Do you ever feel starved for hope but belittle yourself for wanting it? Do you go emotionally blank in the face of possibilities that should thrill you? If so, the coming weeks could bring healing and a breakthrough. You will have a chance to perform a rare kind of exorcism — not of garish demons or foolish ghosts but of the quiet defeatism and lack of faith that dull your brilliance. Seize this moment, dear Pisces!

Purge the automatic doubts that the world has trained you to mistake for wisdom.

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Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking...

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I like movies, theater, comedy, music, books and effortless conversations, both deep and stupid. You too?

Let’s go for a walk to see if we vibe. firewatcher3000, 53, seeking: M

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SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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 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 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 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 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 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

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 VIBRANT AND ALIVE! 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 museums, kayaking and grilling/cooking. I’m looking for a man who is active, too. I’m in southern Vermont, but not too far!

Let’s connect. 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...

TASTY ENGLISH MUFFIN British import for a few years now.

Looking for my lady. I see myself as laid-back, communicative, open to try anything at least once, GSOH, soccer guy, educated and curious about the world. Would love someone with personality, depth, calm; who can joke about anything; chill, smart and kind.

Bonus points for a nice pair of eyes.

FranklyFrazzled, 43, seeking: W, l DOWN TO EARTH, GENUINE, CURIOUS I’m a down-to-earth guy who loves the simple things in life. My ideal evening is sitting outdoors, watching the sunset with a good glass of wine and sharing a great conversation. Looking for someone special to share those peaceful, romantic moments with.

CatchTheSunset, 62, seeking: W, l EXCITED TO LIVE I think it’s funny that Seven Days has this, so I had to try it out.

RaccoonLover, 22, seeking: W

KNOB BOBBER I’m a very discreet bottom bi guy that truly loves to make a guy feel special in many ways. Whatever it takes to make him feel needed and appreciated is what I give him. I do love my protein shakes.

Pokeypop, 60, seeking: M, W, TW

LOOKING FOR SINCERITY Greetings. I am a physically fit 74-y/o man who owns a vegetable farm. My wife of 50 years has passed away. I know that I can never replace her, but I also need to have someone to hold and talk to. VEGFARMER, 74, seeking: W, l

MY SISTER WROTE THIS AD This is Michael’s sister. I talked him into letting me write this. His wife died last winter, and he really needs someone to play with. He’s 75, healthy, funny, active, loves the outdoors and somehow knows a little about everything.

If you’re independent and want a coconspirator, say hello. A skier gets bonus points! norton, 75, 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

FUN, LAID-BACK, NERDY, FUNNY Looking for kind, funny and sweet.

Someone with good humor that loves music. Someone who likes to have fun but also can cuddle and watch a good movie or laugh endlessly at a bad one.

I like going to music festivals, eating food in hotel rooms. Playing music.

Being a dad. Playing board games and TRPGs but find it hard to find time.

Movingrightalong, 43, seeking: W, l I AM PRETTY EASYGOING Hi, my name is Kenneth. I am looking for a long-term relationship. Funloving, caring person. I enjoy a lot of hobbies. I like to have campfires at night. I like to slow dance. I like to go out to bars once in a while. Watching movies and TV shows; relaxing; I like to bake, cook. Love doing stuff out. kenneth1984, 41, seeking: W, l 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-y/o male. 35, 35, seeking: W, TW, l TOWN MAN SEEKS TOWN WOMAN Church Street town man seeks town woman to discover eligibility for positive conditional neural convergence through shared experience. Participation in candidate selection will be conspicuously transparent and cooperative, as well as expedient in prosecution toward its conclusion. As an amateur philologist, I know many words. “Low-key, highintensity”; self-aware; work-at-home professional since 2005; lesser nood. bubbac, 54, seeking: W, 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

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

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

i SPY

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

VERMONT GREEN CUTIE I’ve seen you at Vermont Green FC soccer games. Brown hair with blond highlights. Daughter about 10. Both wearing flower warm-up jerseys. You are beautiful! I watch from the standing area above your seats. I was wearing the current warm-up shirt and tan VTG hat, like everyone else. Was going to introduce myself tonight (Sunday) but you already left. Dinner? When: Sunday, July 19, 2026. Where: Vermont Green Game. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916633 VERMONT BREWERS FESTIVAL To the pretty lady who approached me to talk about the World Cup: I would love to talk more about Cabo Verde over dinner. When: Saturday, July 18, 2026. Where: Burlington.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916632 WILLOW, LOOKING FOR STRANGE CANDIES You are absolutely stunning. I didn’t have the courage to say anything. I was working behind the counter and you said you’d return and tell me what the possum candy tasted like. I wish you had, so I could have asked you out. I overheard your friend call you Willow. I’m still curious about you and the possum candy. When: Friday, July 10, 2026.

Where: Whizbang’s Candy Store, Church St. You: Genderqueer. Me: Man. #916631 STRIKING BEAST OF A MAN You were riding your bicycle down Pearl Street. I felt a sudden spark when you greeted me with a simple hello. You had thick ginger frazzled dreadlocks. You had a strong smell of natural spice and body aroma. You were wearing a pink skin-tight John Pork bodysuit. We should meet up sometime. Your bike had rainbow tassels.

When: Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Where: Pearl St. You: Man. Me: Man. #916630

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

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

WHITE SHIRT, RED PANTS/SKIRT? West side of the street, between Community Health Centers 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: N. Winooski Ave. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916629

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

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

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

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

DR ASKED, WHY SO FAMILIAR? Years ago, I missed my chance. You asked why I looked so familiar. Then 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

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

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

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. This morning your daughter blew bubbles for me with her fabulous new bubble wand, and it made my day.

Thank you both. When: Sunday, June 28, 2026. Where: the Winooski River.

You: Group. Me: Woman. #916614

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

Ask REVEREND 

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

I’m addicted to a game on my phone. I don’t want to say what it is because I think it’s embarrassing.

I don’t even tell my friends that I play it. It doesn’t really interfere with my life, but I definitely spend too much time on it. I even occasionally spend real money in the game. I feel stupid that I waste so much time playing, but it’s fun, and I just can’t quit. Help!

Pixie Lated

(NONBINARY, 32)

Dear Pixie Lated,

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

I’m going to air a little dirty laundry here.

In 2009, one of my nieces started playing a Facebook game called YoVille (now YoWorld). It’s like FarmVille or FishWorld, where you have a little avatar that decorates houses and such. Part of the game is that you need “neighbors” to earn coins. My niece asked her sisters, my sisters and me to sign up. Like a good aunt, I did.

It’s 17 years later, and they all quit playing a long time ago. Me? I still sign in for a little bit every damn day. I just can’t leave my millionaire mini-me to wither and die! I think it’s dumb, too, but playing a game on your computer or phone is just another form of entertainment. The games are designed to get you hooked, but as long as they don’t disrupt your daily responsibilities, what’s the harm?

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 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.: Thank 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

If you want to quit playing entirely, you could go cold turkey and delete the app from your phone. If you enjoy the game but want to limit the time you spend on it, there are lots of ways to make that happen.

Pick an amount of time you can feel good about “wasting” on the game. Start with 30 minutes, and break it into three 10-minute sessions throughout the day. Set a timer when you start playing, and when the beeper goes off, you gotta stop, no matter what. Or you can remove the game from your phone without deleting all the data.

That way, you can redownload it when a real craving strikes and keep your progress. Most phones also have a way to set daily app time limits. You can find instructions online.

The world is a shit show right now, and playing a game to relax is nothing to be embarrassed about, but it’s pointless if it causes you more stress. If you need help finding balance, check out gamequitters.com.

Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend

What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

93

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 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

52-y/o woman seeking a man.

You care about your health and clean up good. Emotions aren’t a foreign language. You’re comfortable in your skin and know better than to let a good thing go. Am I dreaming? Make your move, Romeo. #L1960

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

Looking for someone 65 and up to go on boat trips, RV camping, gardening, dinners and road trips. I go up to Maine with my boat and cruise the coast for a few weeks, spend time in my gardens (I have large gardens), love to cook at home or go out. I am retired and looking for some company to spend time with.

Thank you. #L1959

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

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Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

94

SEVEN DAYS JULY 22-29, 2026

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

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. Older gentlemen, bi-bottom, seeking well hung bi-top. No drugs, no alcohol, just clean fun.

Burlington only. Phone or text. #L1957 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 The 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 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 We are a 68-y/o bi couple looking for one or two good-looking, 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

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THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

One LoVermont Freedom & Unity Festival 2026

CSA Ride!

THU., JUL. 23 OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

FRI., JUL. 31 PRANSKY FARM, CABOT

Jerry Jam

Jonathan Colman's Dungeon Crawl

FRI., JUL. 24 759 MITCHELL RD., CONCORD

FRI., JUL. 31 LOST NATION BREWING, MORRISTOWN

Flowstate: A Night of Dance Music | Elkamista + Fever Dreams

Vermont Psychic Expo

July Bird Monitoring Walk

James Kochalka | Reading Is Golden

SAT., AUG. 1 CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX JUNCTION

FRI., JUL. 24 THE PHOENIX, WATERBURY

SAT., JUL. 25 BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

American Woodcock One-Day Woodcarving Workshop SAT., JUL. 25 BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

SAT., AUG. 1 PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

SOLD OUT

Madison Murphy Barney | 'Our Ancestors Want Us to Be Mushrooms' MON., AUG. 3 PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Nancy Tavares Story Hour | Reading Is Golden

Michael Freed-Thall | 'The Queen of New York'

SAT., JUL. 25 PHOENIX BOOKS, ESSEX

THU., AUG. 6 PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Farmyard Cupcake Decorating Class

Selina Alko | 'Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume'

TUE., JUL. 28 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

The One-Night Stand: A SingleEvening Clinic in Bicycle Care WED., JUL. 29 OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

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