Seven Days, June 17, 2026 by Seven Days

WEEK IN REVIEW

JUNE 10-17, 2026

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LIGHTS OUT

Aryeh Moskowitz with attorney Robert Kaplan

The safety concerns of some residents paused a battery project that would have stored electricity in Vergennes. Small city, notso-bright lights.

That’s how many people showed up for bagels, co ee and a hike with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on a rail trail in Castleton on Saturday.

1. “Pizzeria Ida Announces Move to Manhattan” by Dan Bolles. e co-owners wrote in a social media post that their pizza “deserves a shot in a real food town.”

MAN CHARGED WITH STALKING MULVANEY-STANAK

A Burlington man has been charged with stalking Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak after a series of run-ins culminated in the mayor hiding from him in a locked bathroom at a downtown bakery last week, court documents say.

In court on Monday, Aryeh “Ari” Moskowitz, 40, pleaded not guilty to charges of stalking and aggravated disorderly conduct. He was released on conditions that he not contact the mayor, nor come near her home, car or place of employment.

During the hearing, Moskowitz’s attorney, Robert Kaplan, said the police afﬁdavit describes a “passionate constituent wanting to speak with an elected representative, in this case the mayor of Burlington.”

“ is really has the tenor of a public official who can’t handle dissent,” Kaplan said. “We have strong First Amendment rights in this country to speak our minds and to petition our elected representatives. And I get that the mayor finds this annoying, but it is certainly Mr. Moskowitz’s right to engage a political official about political matters.”

After the hearing, Kaplan alleged that the case has been brought to “suppress political dissent.”

“Mr. Moskowitz is a proud supporter of the State of Israel and a Jewish American who’s experienced discrimination at

DOWNHILL ACTION

city hall from people who work in city hall,” Kaplan said. “His efforts to reach out to the mayor to redress this conduct have been rebuffed at every turn, and the mayor has no interest in dealing at all with citizens who disagree with her.”

In a statement, Mulvaney-Stanak noted that there’s been a nationwide increase in recent years of “threatening and harassing behavior directed at elected ofﬁcials and public servants.

“ is trend is deeply concerning — not only for those who serve, but for the health of our civic institutions and public life. We cannot accept this behavior as an unavoidable part of public service,” she wrote. “Disagreement, criticism, and vigorous debate are essential in a democracy. Our community is strongest when we engage with one another respectfully, even when we disagree.”

Moskowitz has angrily accosted the mayor in public.

As she walked with her 11-year-old daughter in the Trout Parade, he got “uncomfortably close” and called her “pathetic” and an “asshole,” she said in a court document.

He’s threatened to protest at her home, she said, and she’s made sure she has working security cameras there and doesn’t allow her children to answer the door. She said her family had made an “escape plan.”

Read Sasha Goldstein’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

A women’s World Cup ski event will return to Killington Resort in November, back where it belongs. Last year it was held in Colorado.

BIENVENUE

The Haskell Free Library & Opera House opened a new entrance for Canadians on their side of the border. Check it out.

SWEET SURRENDER

Vermont led the nation in maple syrup production for the third consecutive year, with more than 3 million gallons of the sticky stu . You’re welcome, America.

2. “Stowe Police Ofﬁcer Shoots Bear After Restaurant Cooler Break-In” by Aaron Calvin. A bear took a jug of sauce and was “rummaging through the frozen chicken patties” at the Matterhorn before it was killed.

3. “Man Accused of Stalking Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak” by Sasha Goldstein. See story on this page.

4. “Burlington High School Prepares to Move Out of the Old Macy’s” by Mary Ann Lickteig. After ﬁve years in a former department store, BHS is graduating to shiny new digs.

5. “An AI Video Targets Rep. Balint — and Spurs Debate About the Tech in Campaigns” by Kevin McCallum. Vermont’s congresswoman called a video on social media “offensive.” Mark Coester, who hopes to unseat her, said it was satirical.

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

Old White Meeting House Restoration Literally Moves Forward

Dozens of people in South Hero turned out last week to watch the Old White Meeting House being moved ahead of a planned restoration project, the Islander reported. e centuries-old structure inched along on steel girders that served as makeshift rails. e building’s foundation will be restored, while some additional plans will require more funding. “It’s freaking exciting,” said Sandy Gregg, who is helping fundraise. “It’s on the move.”

MOBILE ART

On a Saturday in mid-May, a group of nine local artists rode colorful bicycles they’d created down the streets of Brandon. en they locked them up on the main drag as a semipermanent art installation that’s intended to provide a splash of color for the summer and promote alternative forms of transportation such as bikes, trikes and scooters. ese “Art Bikes,” as they’re known, were initially intended to be available for people to pick up and use as a bike share. But they’ll have to stay on the racks for now, according to Jeff Dardozzi, who helped lead the project. Finding insurance coverage that would allow the public to ride the

bikes around town has been a challenge, he said, though he remains hopeful.

Dardozzi, an architect and builder, is executive director of ReBHS, a nonproﬁt that is looking for ways to renovate the historic Brandon High School building into a community arts hub. In 2024, the org received a $15,000 grant for the “Art Bikes” project from the Vermont Arts Council’s Animating Infrastructure program.

Because reusing, repairing and recycling is central to the project, the artists teamed up with Tim Mathewson, owner of Little City Cycles bike shop in Vergennes. He donated some bikes and helped the group with welding and getting the two-wheelers up and running. e artists, meanwhile, designed and painted the bikes.

ere’s even a community tricycle, which was assembled by the local library’s Teen Advisory Group and Joe Schine, an arts educator in Middlebury. e teens worked with Schine to combine their artistic visions into a single working tricycle, aimed at making the project more accessible for those who might have trouble riding a bike.

is fall, the bikes will be auctioned off to commission another group of artists to create a new set of bikes.

“Hopefully it just is something that other communities start doing as well,” Dardozzi said. “It would be great to have an Art Bikes organization with cultural bikes littering the landscape.”

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

Ian Curry

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Elizabeth M. Seyler

Cecilia Luce

& VIDEO

GOOD EXPLANATION

[Re “Bid Trouble: The Flood-Prone Federal Building in Montpelier Is Being Auctioned Off. Some Worry Potential Buyers Aren’t Getting the Full Story About Its Flaws,” June 10]: Well done, Hannah Bassett. You managed to take a really complicated problem and make it understandable. Thank you for that reporting.

Jeff Glassberg WALTHAM

you eat it with and the people you get it from.

That’s why Ida’s departure doesn’t faze me. I’ve been doing Friday-night pizza for 35 years, but I’ll take kind folks over great ’za any day of the week. Now let’s dig in!

John Musci SOUTH BURLINGTON

NOT FUNNY

Eva Sollberger DESIGN

SO LONG, IDA

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

Tim Newcomb’s cartoon from the June 3 issue implies Gov. Phil Scott has approved nuke plants to power data centers he has also approved. While I would like to believe Newcomb is just yanking our collective cranks, the very idea makes me edgy. I read Seven Days weekly. My wife gets the daily newsletter. I listen to Vermont Public, read VTDigger and watch WPTZ news, yet I cannot recall any mention of data centers in the past year.

John James

Je Baron

Does Newcomb know something we don’t know?

MARKETING

Colby Roberts

PLANT

Robyn Birgisson

Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Gillian Comito

Julia Maguire

Gillian English

Olivia Fleming

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

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

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

[Re “Pizzeria Ida Announces Move to Manhattan,” June 9]: On Monday, June 8, the owners of Pizzeria Ida posted on Instagram: “8 years in business in vermont and we are maxed out and need a larger market. our product deserves a shot in a real food town.”

I had the opportunity to eat at Ida a couple of times when it first opened. Although I did enjoy the experience, myself and the other food rubes I was with (let’s call us “froobs”) were deﬁnitely not sophisticated enough to truly appreciate the skill that produced such a masterful combination of bread and cheese. Ida has truly brought the Olive Garden breadstick to a whole new level. I tried to go back to Ida a couple of times, but my wallet, quaking in fear, wriggled up my butt in a desperate attempt to escape.

With the problems data centers create and the very public pushback from a ected communities, this doesn’t seem like something that should be joked about.

Richard Dana RICHMOND

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DELIVERY TECHNICIANS

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

I can see how the larger population in New York City might o er more opportunities, as there is only a thin slice (!) of the population that can both a ord such a delicacy and would actually be willing to pay for it.

So, good luck to Ida. I hope you are able to escape Vermont and ﬁnd the audience you so desperately need.

The sooner the better, I’d say.

Gordon Rowe HUNTINGTON

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‘RESPECT’

ON TOP

[Re “Pizzeria Ida Announces Move to Manhattan,” June 9]: Pineapple, anchovies, sweet corn: The debate over appropriate pizza toppings may rage on forever. One thing that goes great on any pizza? Respect.

Look, this city is spoiled for choice when it comes to pies. And I believe that a slice of pizza is only as good as the people

Editor’s note: Newcomb was referring to Gov. Scott’s May 28 veto of a bill that would have regulated AI data centers. According to a story on WCAX-TV, “While there are no current plans or proposals for a data center in Vermont, lawmakers said the goal of the House measure was to make sure any future centers are properly sited, that electric rate payers don’t pay too much, and that there are enough environmental protections. In his veto, Scott said Vermont already has substantial regulatory authority through Act 250.”

RODEO HURTS ANIMALS

[Re “Vermont’s Youth Rodeo Team Prepares for a Trip to Nationals,” June 5]: As a former bareback bronc rider, pathologist and large animal veterinarian, I have both the experience and autopsy proof that rodeo injures and kills animals. Dr. Robert Bay from Colorado autopsied roping calves and found hemorrhages, torn muscles, torn ligaments, damage to the trachea, damage to the throat and

CORRECTION

Last week’s news story “Bid Trouble,” about plans for the federal building in Montpelier, misidentiﬁed one of the experts at Stone Environmental. His name is Dan Voisin.

damage to the thyroid. These calves never get a chance to heal before they are used again.

Dr. C.G. Haber, a veterinarian with 30 years of experience as a U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspector, stated, “The rodeo folks send their animals to the packing houses, where I have seen cattle so extensively bruised that the only areas in which the skin was attached was the head, neck, legs, and belly. I have seen animals with six to eight ribs broken from the spine and at times puncturing the lungs. I have seen as much as two and three gallons of free blood accumulated under the detached skin.”

Animals and humans share the same pain and fear centers in the brain. The fear center is the amygdala. The pain centers are the prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus. Animals feel pain and fear the same as humans!

I’m a former state criminal lawyer. We prosecutors have all had cases where criminals abused and tortured animals before abusing or killing humans. What are we teaching our children when we cheer as a calf roper knocks down and drags by the neck a bawling calf? Kids cry at rodeos. Time to end animal abuse at rodeos.

Peggy Larson WILLISTON

TAX ‘FAIRNESS’ QUESTION

I was interested in Clifford Morgan’s letter [Feedback: “‘Income Sensitivity’ for Some,” May 20]. Though I have never heard any discussion of the matter, would not the fairness doctrine dictate that if you have received a subsidy on your property taxes while your home continues to appreciate with the market, it would only

be fair to repay some of that subsidy upon the sale of the home?

For instance, an owner who has received property tax help on their home valued 20 years ago at $150,000 and now worth $450,000 (not an unusual case) should be required to repay some or all of that help upon sale. Does not the fairness doctrine suggest that is reasonable?

David Stewart SOUTH BURLINGTON

‘ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS’

[Re “Senate and House Approve Key Education Bills, Paving Way for Governor’s Signature,” May 29, online]: Too bad you can’t or won’t answer the big questions on every tax-paying homeowner’s mind: How much is the tax rate going to be? Is it going up, and at what percentage? Is the state homestead going to remain the same or not? When are the state people going to give us answers that matter to us now, not three years from

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Let’s build toward your

BY KEN PICARD

Siblings Lucy and Steve Boyajian were born and raised in a historic brick building by

Armenian genocide, and their father worked in the mills. Seven Days Eva Sollberger visited their old house with them and heard their memories of the neighborhood.

Frank Ciofﬁ honored his daughter’s memory by adopting Frankie, her autistic son. Now he’s planning a future for the child and others like him.

We thoughtfully develop personalized skin plans with products, treatments, timelines, and periods of rest. All designed to give your skin the best possible results.

Schedule your treatment and skin plan today. Your skin is as unique as you.

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

WEDNESDAY 17 & THURSDAY 18

Living Out Loud

Pups and their people pack Dog Mountain to honor the legacy of Stephen and Gwen Huneck at the annual Founders Celebration Dog Party in St. Johnsbury. Canine contests, an agility course and a doggie walk of fame — complete with puparazzi photo ops — keep pooches occupied, while humans revel in live tunes, food truck eats and bespoke caricatures by artist Kaio Scott.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SATURDAY 20

In Tune

Banjos and fiddles and bass, oh my! You’ll find all these instruments and more at the Rattling Brook Bluegrass Festival at Belvidere Recreational Field, where Green Mountain outfits take the stage to demonstrate their folky prowess. An impressive lineup of acts — including crowd favorites Boxcar Breakdown, Otter Creek, and Beg, Steal or Borrow (pictured) — sets the tone for unbeatable Vermont summer vibes.

New York Times best-selling author and former Vermont cartoonist laureate Tillie Walden draws a crowd for the release of her new graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia, at the Norwich Bookstore and Burlington’s Phoenix Books. e work of historical nonﬁction chronicles life in 19th-century New England through the eyes of two women who deﬁed societal norms to live openly as a couple.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

OPENS FRIDAY 19

Normal Is an Illusion

Creepy and kooky collide in Lamoille County Players’ rendition of macabre Broadway musical e Addams Family at Hyde Park Opera House. Familiar faces from the morbidly inclined cartoon clan confront their ultimate nightmare when deadpan daughter Wednesday falls in love with a shockingly conventional young man. Dun dun dun dun, snap, snap ... Is it stuck in your head now?

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

SATURDAY 20

Let Freedom Ring

Burlington’s sixth annual Juneteenth celebration unites neighbors for a joy-ﬁlled commemoration of the ofﬁcial end of slavery in the U.S. e theme “Freedom: Yesterday’s Legacy, Today’s Promise, Tomorrow’s Hope” honors Black history and culture with activities ranging from poetry and music performances to a community dinner and thoughtful opportunities for activism.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SATURDAY 20

Here Comes Treble

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

At Middlebury’s Town Hall eater, virtuosic jazz stalwarts the Miles Donahue Quartet trace a century of soundscapes used for — and in many cases made famous by — the silver screen. Listeners settle in to their choice of candlelit cabaret tables or traditional theater seating for a repertoire of timeless TV and movie music helmed by the veteran horn player.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SATURDAY 20

e Outsiders

If you’ve ambled along Stowe’s recreation path or shopped in the village center, chances are you’ve noticed something more than the usual trees and benches: big sculptures. At the Summer Opening Festival, nonproﬁt arts center the Current launches the 35th year of town-wide outdoor exhibition “Exposed” with music, refreshments, a guided walking tour and artist talks.

SEE ART LISTING ON PAGE 54

B

RICKS

Ursa & The Major Key - Halvorson’s - Top Bloc

Red Hot Juba - Ken’s Pizza and Pub - Leahy B

Fly-By Ride - Church Street Tavern - Opera

Barbacoa - Gaku Ramen - City Hall Block

Green Kettle Band - Halvorson's - Top Block

Ali T - Ken's Pizza and Pub - Leahy Block

Free to attend. All are welcome. ome hungry, come thirst y, come happy, and come ready to part y!

he part y pops up on a different block of the Marketplace. Think patio dining, ing in the street, cold drinks, good friends, and warm summer nights.

Presidential Performance

I’m worried about the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as it was called when I lived in suburban Maryland, 10 miles west of Washington, D.C. I was a tween when it opened in 1971, gleaming white marble on the outside, chandeliers and red carpets on the inside. You couldn’t miss the rough-hewn bust of the building’s namesake. The 8-foot-tall, 3,000-pound bronze was directly across from the Opera House, where I attended many a dance performance. In those days performing artists were actively defecting from the Soviet Union, which trained the best ballet dancers in the world. I came away from watching Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova together on that stage, thinking: I want to do that, too.

In short, it’s been deeply disturbing to imagine the place under the thumb of President Donald Trump as he commandeered Kennedy’s living memorial, appointed himself chair of the board of trustees and renamed the building after himself. I’ve followed the alarming news of diminishing audiences and growing deficits, staff departures, artist cancellations, and a proposed two-year closure for renovations. While Trump hosted mixed-martial arts ﬁghts over the weekend on the South Lawn of the White House, the National Symphony Orchestra, to which my parents were decades-long subscribers, could soon be homeless.

I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder to be an American. Embarrassing as it was, democracy worked. That’s what I took from the night, anyway.

Similarly, last month a federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to remove Trump’s name from the building. In the ruling, he argued that only one entity could change its honoree: the U.S. Congress, which authorized the construction and dedication of the Kennedy Center in 1964.

The letters were supposed to come o the wall by noon on Saturday, and Washingtonians gathered outside to bear witness. Tarps obscured the façade at that hour, but the Associated Press has since conﬁrmed the Kennedy Center complied. Still, its board of trustees quickly appealed the federal court ruling. A higher court might reach a different conclusion about the legality of Trump’s takeover.

I WITNESSED A HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL POWER CHECK AT THE KENNEDY CENTER ON AUGUST 8, 1974.

In a June 13 story, the New York Times quoted Cathleen O’Malley, a former manager in the programming department. She warned that those “nursing a fantasy that the Kennedy Center will spring back to life when these letters come down are missing the breadth and depth of damage that has been done over the last 16 months.”

I thought this country was better protected against the whims of a domineering leader. In fact, I witnessed a historic presidential power check at the Kennedy Center on August 8, 1974. That’s the night Richard Nixon resigned the presidency, and, along with a packed Opera House, I heard his speech during a performance by the U.S.S.R.’s preeminent folk-dancing troupe.

Personally, I have a bone to pick with the archivists. In fact-checking my memory of this experience, I could not verify that Moiseyev performed at the Kennedy Center on August 8, 1974. Searching online, including the performance history of the Opera House, I couldn’t ﬁnd any mention or record of the show. Good thing I kept the program! Fifty-two years later, it’s right there in black and white.

Turns out a souvenir from my ballet days was also a harbinger of a di erent career — in publishing — and the enduring power of print to accurately document history.

One minute we were watching the Moiseyev Dance Company perform “Polovetsian Dances” while the orchestra played Alexander Borodin; the next, the sound system was broadcasting live audio of Nixon announcing that he would step down in the wake of the Watergate scandal. The news generated an eruption of applause and a spontaneous full-house standing ovation that lasted longer than any I’ve witnessed since.

Even at the young age of 14, I remember wondering how the Soviets backstage would interpret this display — which they might perceive as disloyalty — in the nation’s capital. Would someone explain to them why the audience was clapping wildly during intermission? That their president had broken the law — or at least stood by while others did — and was opting to leave o ce rather than serve out his term in shame.

Paula Routly

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COURTESY PHOTOS

‘The Vermont Way’

Seven Days’ ﬁnal “Ways & Means” story considers whether the Vermont legislature’s tradition of civility and compromise can endure

BY HANNAH BASSETT • hbassett@sevendaysvt.com

The last days of Vermont’s legislative session had all the ingredients of a bitter ending.

For months, Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic lawmakers had sparred over the future of the state’s education system, pushing the session weeks into overtime and ﬂirting with a budget ﬁght that threatened to shut down the government.

But when a compromise finally prevailed and adjournment neared late in May, the tone inside the Statehouse shifted. Party leaders did not dwell on the conﬂict. They lauded their legislative process — and their relationships with one another.

House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington), closing out six years leading the chamber and more than a decade in the Statehouse, fought back tears as she told colleagues that “at a time when political discourse across this country seems to reward division, we can show Vermonters

that it is possible to govern and to do so through patience, through collaboration and a willingness to listen.”

Scott, who had warned he would veto the budget if lawmakers did not adopt his vision for education reform, didn’t in the end. He said the session showed “how government can work when very di erent opinions and very di erent voices come together to listen and learn with respect and civility.”

The speeches were about more than a polite ending to a di cult biennium. After months of friction over one of the state’s most consequential policy debates, they were declarations of faith in a culture that many in Vermont politics believe still sets the state apart.

For more than a year, Seven Days ’ “Ways and Means” series has examined how the state’s part-time legislature sometimes succeeds and sometimes stumbles as it attempts to meet the challenges of

BURLINGTON Burlington City Council Approves Budget

BY AARON CALVIN calvin@sevendaysvt.com

After months of working to ﬁnd spending cuts and new revenues, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on Monday presented the city council with a $112.6 million budget for the ﬁscal year that begins July 1. And by a 10-1 vote, the council approved the spending plan, with Councilor Evan Litwin (D-Ward 7) casting the lone no vote.

e ﬁnal budget differs little from what the mayor initially proposed in May. It includes $150,000 for additional police and private security in Burlington’s Central District, which includes the Old North End and downtown neighborhoods, and $1 million for marketing and promoting downtown and waterfront events.

For Mulvaney-Stanak, it was the third straight year she’d faced a multimillion-dollar gap between spending and revenues. But, she said, her administration has found cuts that have brought stafﬁng levels back to where they were a decade ago.

e ﬁscal year 2027 spending plan is $5.5 million more than the councilapproved budget last year. Councilors also unanimously approved a 6 percent increase in municipal property taxes. is means the owner of a home valued at $365,000 — the median value in Burlington — will pay $3,211 next ﬁscal year, an increase of $191.

e “Ways and Means” project details the inner workings of the Vermont legislature and explores how well it represents the interests of citizens. e series is funded by Vermont philanthropists through the nonproﬁts GroundTruth Project and Journalism Funding Partners. AND

lawmaking in the 21st century. For this ﬁnal installment, we look at the noteworthy Statehouse culture — imperfect and threatened as it is.

While Congress lurches from shutdown threats to partisan deadlock and

Since the ﬁscal year 2023 budget, the amount of municipal property taxes paid by the median homeowner in Burlington has grown by $844, according to the city.

One area of disagreement leading up to the budget vote concerned the city’s gross receipts tax. e levy on meals, alcohol and entertainment was raised from 2 percent to 2.5 percent in 2024, and Mulvaney-Stanak’s initial budget proposal this year called for keeping the increase in place. Some Dems wanted to rescind it, while Progs argued it’s become a necessary revenue source.

In the end, Progs agreed to eliminate the category of admissions for ticketed events — such as concerts, sports games, plays or movies — from the tax entirely. at will cost the city an expected $105,000 in revenue over the next year, according to Katherine Schad, the city’s chief administrative ofﬁcer. ➆

‘THE VERMONT WAY’ » P.16

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak

‘It Is Like a Big Family’

Vermont students reflect on their experiences attending tiny high schools

BY ALISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

Olive Estrin has attended Twinfield Union School since kindergarten. The modest, low-slung building serves just over 300 students, from prekindergarten through 12th grade, who live in the towns of Plainfield or Marshfield.

By almost any measure, Twinfield Union is tiny. Estrin, 17, has just 25 students in her graduating class. The physics teacher also teaches film — and woodshop, too.

“When someone walks down the hallway, I know who they are,” Estrin said in an interview this spring. “I know who they’re dating. I know who their best friend is.”

Several years ago, Estrin thought about transferring to a larger high school, where she knew there would be more course offerings, extracurricular activities, social opportunities. She was offered a spot at Spaulding High School in Barre, a school with almost six times the number of high school students as Twinfield.

Ultimately, though, she decided to stay put. That meant having to work a little harder to get what she wanted out of the experience. In order to take Advanced Placement biology, she drove 45 minutes to Cabot School every morning of her senior year because that was the closest place it was offered. She practiced and competed with Montpelier High School’s gymnastics squad, since her school lacked a team.

Still, Estrin said it was all worth it to preserve the strong connections she’d made with classmates and teachers.

“Even though we’re not all best friends here,” Estrin said, “it is like a big family.”

Estrin’s experience attending a small, rural high school isn’t unique in Vermont, which since the mid-1990s has seen birth rates drop steeply to the lowest in the country. Federal standards classify more than 76 percent of the state’s schools as rural, according to a report from the National Rural Education Association — a percentage that hasn’t fluctuated much in recent decades. Vermont high schools

Where are Vermont's young people?

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Seven Days is delving into the far-reaching ramifications of the declining number of young Vermonters

Got a tip or feedback? genzero@sevendaysvt.com

have an average size of 361 students, according to state data, well below the national average of around 850. A handful of public high schools have fewer than 100 students, and only two boast more than 1,000: Essex and Champlain Valley Union, both in Chittenden County. Many of the smallest are on larger campuses that also serve elementary and middle school students.

State lawmakers seemed to embrace the idea of preserving small, local elementary schools when they considered education reform this year. But the education bill passed last month calls for “comprehensive, regional high schools.”

Larger high schools, the bill asserts, “provide expanded and more equitable access to academic programming, career and technical education, co-curricular opportunities, and specialized staff,

‘The Vermont Way’ « P.14

many state legislatures have hardened into winner-take-all battlegrounds, Vermont has largely maintained a governing culture built on personal relationships, bipartisan cooperation and institutional trust. The state’s citizen legislature, small communities and grassroots politics have helped preserve norms that have eroded elsewhere.

Some call this “the Vermont Way,” a phrase popularized by former governor Jim Douglas and later adopted as the title of his memoir. Douglas describes the tradition as rooted in civility, accessibility, local participation and a willingness to compromise in pursuit of practical results.

But Vermont is not walled off from the forces reshaping American politics. The partisan invective that corrodes national politics is crossing into the state as well, carried through unreliable sources of information and a public discourse that favors conflict over compromise.

The question hanging over the Statehouse is whether, or how long, the Vermont way can hold on.

IN GOOD COMPANY

In the weeks leading up to adjournment, lawmakers hung around long after committee hearings ended, as they typically do each year. They lingered in the Statehouse cafeteria, gathered in shared rental houses and filled the restaurants in Montpelier’s downtown, where conversations often stretched well beyond the workday.

That closeness is not incidental. It’s one of the defining features of the citizen legislature’s DNA.

In a small state filled with tightly bound communities, lawmakers run into neighbors at the grocery store, school plays and the transfer station. Douglas, who served as a state representative, secretary of state, treasurer and then as governor from 2003 through 2011, said this familiarity “tempers the rhetoric and vitriol that might otherwise exist.”

Vermont changed dramatically during Douglas’ half-century in politics, shifting from a Republican stronghold in the 1970s to one of the country’s most reliably Democratic states today. In an interview, Douglas, who now is executive-in-residence at Middlebury College, asserted that the governing culture has largely endured. Political opponents in the Green Mountain State, he said, can still accept that “just because someone has a different opinion doesn’t mean that that person is evil or wrong.”

The structure of the state’s part-time citizen legislature reinforces that ethos. Lawmakers have few private spaces and

fewer buffers. Many with home districts far from Montpelier share houses or apartments in the capital to avoid long daily commutes while the legislature is in session. That allows unlikely relationships to flourish.

This biennium, for example, a group of early bird Republican lawmakers welcomed Rep. Shawn Sweeney (D-Shelburne) to share breakfast in the Statehouse cafeteria, despite their party differences. The group talked shop, but they also simply enjoyed one another’s company, Sweeney said. The Republicans occasionally teased him — encouraging him to finish the milk from his

That culture extends to how power is shared. Democrats and Progressives hold a majority in the legislature. Yet Republicans continue to chair committees in both chambers. The arrangement, which is traditional, is not required by House or Senate rules. In practical terms, it means the majority cedes a margin of influence in favor of institutional trust.

Krowinski and Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) say they base their collaborative relationship on constant communication and share an expectation that

OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE HERE IS BETTER THAN IT IS IN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL ARENA BUT NOT AS GOOD AS IT USED TO BE.

JIM DOUGLAS

cereal bowl so he would “have a stronger backbone” — but, Sweeney recalled, it was all in good fun.

Sweeney knows that some colleagues take him to be a “Republican sympathizer” because of the breakfasts. He sees it differently: as one small way to bridge partisan divide.

“Every time that I got up and I went to my committee room, it gave me hope that we can get back to listening to each other, even if we disagree on things,” Sweeney said. Conflicts between lawmakers are best resolved through conversation, not public confrontation, according to Krowinski, the House speaker.

“Our work here is not dissimilar from the dynamics of family or any other workplace,” Krowinski said.

Keep your word, never lie and remember that everyone is a potential ally — even members of other parties.

There are limits to bipartisan cooperation and politeness. On the campaign trail, Vermont Democrats and Republicans blame each other for legislative failures and missteps.

And the “play nice” spirit doesn’t always prevail, Baruth said. He pointed to contentious political maneuvering around a bill that would have banned the use of masks by federal immigration agents. On the final day of the session, Republican senators used a rarely invoked procedural move to block a vote on the bill despite an earlier agreement struck in a conference committee that reconciled House and Senate differences. Frustrated lawmakers angrily accused one another of not honoring their usual process.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) said the legislature functions best when trust is matched by political balance. After years of Democratic supermajority control that, in his view, sent the legislature “off in the puckerbush,” Republican gains in the 2024 election restored what he sees as a healthier equilibrium with a greater emphasis on consensus building.

Democrats and Progressives still control both chambers of the legislature but lost their veto-proof supermajority amid a statewide backlash over property tax hikes. That forced the majority to temper its ambitions and pursue a more moderate approach to governing.

Despite the adjustment, concern has grown about polarization in Vermont politics.

“Our political discourse here is better than it is in almost any other state or federal arena,” Douglas said, “but not as good as it used to be.”

lawmakers should act professionally, ethically and with the future of Vermont’s communities in mind.

“It’s really not some secret formula, but I think that is happening less and less in other parts of the country,” Krowinski said. The speaker told Vermont Public that her decision not to seek reelection — a move that caught many by surprise — was driven by a desire to spend more time with her family following the deaths of her mother and a close friend.

Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) said he learned early that personal trust functions as a kind of currency in the Statehouse. He said former Democratic legislator Bobby Starr, who served more than 40 years, offered him simple advice:

Part of the problem, according to the former governor, is the changing nature of the citizen legislature’s rhythms. When Douglas was in House leadership in the 1970s, lawmakers adjourned in March. This year, the session stretched nearly into June. The longer the session, he said, the harder it is for working Vermonters to serve and the more legislative service becomes a full-time identity.

Meanwhile, polarizing sources of information, including social media, and declining trust in institutions have ushered more corrosive political behavior into the state.

This year, those influences surfaced during the debate over Act 181, a sweeping overhaul of Vermont’s land-use law intended to accelerate housing construction. Supporters saw it as necessary modernization; critics, particularly in rural communities, warned that it could fundamentally alter the character of small towns.

Rep. Shawn Sweeney having breakfast with legislative colleagues in the Statehouse cafeteria in 2025

As opposition to the law grew, online groups urged members of the public to contact Rep. Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury), who chairs the House Committee on Environment. Sheldon said she was flooded with messages, including veiled threats warning that her “time was up.”

Concerned by the escalating rhetoric, Krowinski and McCoy issued a rare joint statement in May.

“Vermont is a small state, and it is imperative to remember that we are all neighbors trying to make a better future for the next generation,” they wrote. “If we do not change course, and address the decline in civility in our discussions, we will slowly lose the sense of community that is unique to our state.”

Sheldon, who is not running for reelection, said the episode did not drive her decision, which she was considering before the session began. But it signaled to her that harmful political rhetoric from the national scene is “bubbling over into Vermont.”

Her advice to rising lawmakers is to focus on the work in front of them and to remember that the day-to-day practice of governing still depends on patience, attention and the willingness to keep going.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

When Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) won a seat in the U.S. House in 2006 after serving for decades in the Vermont legislature, he tried to bring a collaborative spirit.

“Frankly, I think the success I’ve had is significantly related to that,” Welch said, alluding to his efforts to bridge partisan divides.

But the culture and rhythms of Montpelier did not easily translate to Washington, D.C. In Vermont, he said, politics rarely felt like a zero-sum game. In Congress, relationships have proven harder to build, and the institution itself no longer encourages them. Lawmakers once moved their families to Washington and spent time together outside work. Today, most return home whenever they can, leaving fewer opportunities for the kind of informal conversations that often lead to bipartisan compromise.

Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said she noticed the difference almost immediately when she went to D.C. after eight years in the Statehouse.

“The divisions in Congress start in the architecture itself,” she said.

Members of different parties enter committee rooms through separate doors. Staff sit divided by party. Lawmakers often work through lunch rather than gathering informally. The opportunities to build relationships across ideological lines are fewer.

Balint said she has tried to connect with Republicans through bipartisan caucuses and shared activities, including a softball team, but acknowledged that bonds don’t form as easily in D.C. as they did in Montpelier.

Both Balint and Welch said changes in political communication, such as the 24-hour news cycle and the virality of social media, make meaningful discourse about national policy harder to achieve. Increasingly, they note, the same influences are showing up in Vermont.

“I think generally Vermonters often think we are immune from some of the effects of national politics,” Balint said. “This is just not true.”

Just last week, Balint found herself in new-for-Vermont territory when an AI-generated video began circulating on social media featuring a fake version of her. A Republican challenger, Mark Coester, reposted the clip on social media. The distorted video was the first of its kind to draw broad attention since state policy makers passed a law in March prohibiting “deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media” in elections, unless it met a narrow set of criteria and disclosure requirements, including satire.

Balint called the video “fake” and “deceptive” in a fundraising email, warning it was “exactly the kind of thing that can confuse voters and damage our democracy if we don’t call it out right away.”

At the same time, Douglas noted, students have grown more cautious about speaking freely, wary of backlash or ridicule. He teaches at Middlebury College.

For Baruth, who is not running for reelection, the ideal is: Stay open enough to have good-faith disagreements and resist the urge to isolate within party ranks. When he addressed his chamber for the final time last month, his voice caught as he told his colleagues he loved them all more than he could say.

When attention shifted across the hall a few hours later for the House adjournment and the official end of the biennium, that same mix of strain and trust carried into the chamber as Gov. Scott entered to speak.

“Even with all the headwinds, I’m optimistic about our future because I believe Vermonters are practical and independent people who recognize the difference between the partisan politics we see in Washington and the work we need to do here at home,” Scott said. “How we do it and how we treat each other still matters to them, and it still matters to me.”

For now, at least, that tradition is hanging on. And in Vermont, many lawmakers believe it is worth protecting. ➆

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Burlington

to Pay $150K in Excessive Force Case

BY AARON CALVIN calvin@sevendaysvt.com

‘It Is Like a Big Family’ « P.15

which are often not sustainable at smaller scales.”

The reality, though, is more nuanced, according to Mara Tieken, an education professor at Bates College in Maine who studies rural schools. Research, she said, shows there’s no optimal school size, with beneﬁts at both small and large ones.

e teen being detained in 2021

e City of Burlington will pay $150,000 to settle a lawsuit ﬁled by the mother of a Black teen with disabilities who was roughly detained by police and sedated with ketamine by city EMTs during a 2021 incident.

e boy’s mother, Cathy Austrian, had spoken publicly about her son’s experiences in the years before she ﬁled the lawsuit in 2024. In a statement last ursday, she said the ofﬁcers “ignored that my son, who was only a child, was in need of support.

“Instead, the public safety ofﬁcials in our home that day disregarded their obligations to the public, violated their own procedures and policies, and escalated the situation into an extremely dangerous and damaging medical emergency,” she said.

e boy was 14 in May 2021 when police responded to his Burlington home after his mother reported that he had stolen vape pens from a nearby gas station. e teen had “a documented history of complex trauma and behavioral and intellectual disabilities,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, which represented the family.

When he wouldn’t relinquish the last e-cigarette, the ofﬁcers pinned the teen to a bed, took it from him, and then handcuffed him and pinned him to the ﬂoor on his stomach.

“Instead of … decelerating and disengaging from the encounter, the two ofﬁcers again responded with disproportionate force, treating the 14-year-old as if he were an imminent and serious danger to their person,” the lawsuit said.

EMTs who arrived on scene consulted with a doctor before injecting the boy with ketamine — a sedative used to calm agitated patients — and taking him to the hospital.

e incident drew national attention in 2022 amid debates in Burlington over police use of force following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Austrian said her son’s treatment at the hands of police and paramedics, which she alleged was racially motivated, underscored the need for more police oversight in the Queen City. ➆

A school may offer a wide array of classes, sports or clubs, but that doesn’t mean every student has easy access to them, Tieken said. Transportation or parents’ inﬂexible work schedules might get in the way. At the same time, certain classes, such as driver’s education, may be easier to participate in at smaller schools.

“Having a principal who knows your name and is willing to go out of their way to ensure that you have access to the robotics class — or the teacher that really deeply knows your family” — are important, too, she said.

The real experts on small high schools, of course, are those who attend them. Seven Days traveled to two, in Rutland and Orange counties, and interviewed more than a dozen students about their experiences. The teens at these schools spoke of feeling a strong sense of place, close-knit relationships and a lack of anonymity. They described, as well, the ways they’ve had to get creative in order to achieve their goals.

‘Can’t Slip Under the Radar’

Proctor was once home to the world’s largest marble company, but business went bust in the 1970s. The town’s middle and high school — a white marble rectangle with a shiny burgundy entryway — pays homage to its storied past.

The building, which serves around 115 students in grades 7 through 12, is more than 70 years old but has been well maintained thanks in part to an endowment from former governor Mortimer Proctor, who was once president of the Vermont Marble Company. The money helps the school ﬁx up the building as well as pay for student enrichment and training for teachers.

Reagan Phelps, a senior, has been attending Proctor schools since ﬁrst grade. Even with fewer course o erings, Phelps was able to take three Advanced Placement classes during high school. Each had around 10 kids.

“Teachers encourage us to speak our minds” and challenge each other, Phelps said. “One downfall of having a discussion with a smaller class is less perspective.”

Phelps is grateful for the “intensive support” she’s gotten from teachers. Because students “can’t slip under the

I THINK SINCE I’VE ATTENDED HERE, I’VE BECOME A MUCH BETTER STUDENT.

LANCE ZORNES

radar” at Proctor, they grow comfortable reaching out for help, she said.

Being in a small school also means it’s sometimes easier to make an impact, Proctor senior Maura Thompson said. She recruited a group of peers and started a mentoring program that involves weekly visits to nearby Proctor Elementary for activities with children in grades 4 through 6. The idea is to create a smoother transition between schools for the younger students.

In elementary and part of middle school, Thompson attended bigger schools in Rutland City before moving in with an adult brother in Proctor for a year. She later moved back to Rutland — less than a 15-minute drive from Proctor — but chose to stay at Proctor High School through the state’s public-school choice lottery.

“The biggest misconception about small schools is, there aren’t as many opportunities,” Thompson said. But she disagrees: “You just need to be willing to take that step and bring the opportunities to you.”

While Proctor doesn’t have the wide range of sports teams that larger schools do, athletics still feature prominently for many students. Senior Aaron Brock captained teams in all three of his sports: baseball, basketball and soccer. To boost the teams’ numbers, Proctor invites students from neighboring private and public schools, including Rutland Area Christian School and Killington Mountain School, to play on its teams. Many of

Brock’s friendships have been forged on the playing ﬁeld, he said. School sports also bring the broader community together.

“When there’s a game, the parking lot is always full,” Brock said.

Because the small-school teams need players, students are never cut — and sometimes get the chance to play varsity at a younger age. That happened to junior Lindsey Gearwar, who moved up to varsity softball when she was in eighth grade. She said the experience instilled in her maturity and commitment.

Everyone comes together when tragedy strikes, Gearwar said. A beloved teacher died unexpectedly two years ago, and school sta set up a memorial inside his classroom that students could visit.

“Because we were so small, I feel like we were able to … really bond and grieve together,” Gearwar said.

That familiarity appeals to junior Olivia Outslay, a self-described “ﬁfth-generation Proctorian” whose grandparents taught at the town’s elementary school.

“You get to see how people change over time … You really get to know them inside and out,” Outslay said. “I joke around with my principal. The janitor knows my name. That’s cool.”

‘What You Get Is Pretty Good’

Ninety-two miles northeast of Proctor on the border with New Hampshire is Blue Mountain Union School, a pre-K-12 school in the town of Wells River, which has fewer than 500 residents. When the students, who come primarily from Ryegate, Groton and Wells River, want a little more hustle and bustle, they drive 35 minutes to Littleton, N.H., or Montpelier, an hour in the other direction.

At a school that serves 120 high school students, class options are limited,

From left: Lindsey Gearwar, Maura ompson, Reagan Phelps, Olivia Outslay and Aaron Brock

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sophomore Jasmine Ormiston said. But students can take classes online through the Vermont Virtual Learning Collaborative, an organization that partners with most school districts in the state to offer several hundred classes taught by licensed teachers.

Ormiston has used the service to take both precalculus and a health class. Vermont high school students can also take college classes for credit through a separate state-funded program called Dual Enrollment. Senior Evan Farquharson said he’ll enter the University of Vermont this fall with 28 college credits under his belt.

Farquharson, who plans to become a high school history teacher, has been attending Blue Mountain since preschool. His parents also attended the school. He said he likes having deep roots where he lives, the comfort of knowing everyone he passes in the hall and the relationships he’s forged with teachers — not just within the confines of the school building but also in the community.

Ezra Woodward began attending the school last year after being homeschooled. Woodward, a self-described introvert, thinks the smallness of Blue Mountain made the transition easier. She’s found a close group of friends through the school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance, and the school helped her enroll in a college-preparatory program called Upward Bound.

Lance Zornes, a senior from a military family, had attended bigger schools in Texas and Kentucky before coming to Blue Mountain in 2022. He said there’s a notable difference between educators elsewhere and the ones he’s had in Vermont.

“I feel like the teachers care more, and they just really get up in your grill and make sure you’re doing all right,” Zornes said. “They suggest different ways to get your work done and be more efficient. I

think since I’ve attended here, I’ve become a much better student.”

Educators also enjoy the tight bonds they form with the students, according to Neil Emerson, who teaches a potpourri of classes, including social studies, driver’s education and electronic journalism. Taking on multiple roles is part of the deal at a school

such as Blue Mountain, he said.

Emerson said he and his wife, a special educator at the school, decided to move from Chittenden County to Ryegate before they had their first child because the communityfocused feel of a small school appealed to them. Emerson’s daughter graduated this year from Fairfield University in Connecticut, and his son is a fourth-year apprentice with a local electrical company. Emerson, meanwhile, just finished his 22nd year at Blue Mountain and remains just as passionate about small schools.

When it comes to legislators calling for regional high schools, “I think they’re wrong,” Emerson said. “I don’t think they get it.”

Juniors Jacob Roberts and Grady Souliere said Emerson’s electronic journalism class is their all-time favorite. They’ve gotten to interview local shopkeepers, film high school athletic competitions and report for WYKR, the local radio station.

Roberts, who is also studying plumbing part time at St. Johnsbury Academy, said volunteering to coach elementary students in basketball and soccer at the school has been another highlight.

“It’s a lot of fun to work with the kids because they’re the future of your school,” he said.

Souliere, who’s been at Blue Mountain since kindergarten, said the school’s familiar rhythms suit him well.

“I’ve never, ever wanted to leave,” he said. “You know what you’re going to get, and what you get is pretty good.”

The Next Chapter Estrin, the Twinfield student, is getting ready to leave. She graduated from Twinfield on Saturday and will spend the summer working with kids at Sunrise Gymnastics in Berlin. This fall, she’s headed to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Estrin is excited about what comes next but plans to cherish this time before what she and her friends call “the great separation.”

“It’s a scary thing for all of us,” she said. “I don’t think any of us are really ready for it.”

Estrin said she worried when applying to colleges that her experience at Twinfield would put her at a competitive disadvantage. Nationally, rural students enroll in college at significantly lower rates than their suburban and urban peers. But she was accepted to every one of the schools to which she applied.

She wrote her college essay about a topic she knows well: what it’s like to attend a small school. ➆

Clockwise from top left: Ezra Woodward, Jacob Roberts, Grady Souliere, Jasmine Ormiston and Chloe Longmoore at Blue Mountain Union School

Olive Estrin and her friend Jazmin Bickford

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FEEDback

« P.7

now? How about asking and answering those questions?

Goody for Woodstock. Having that info doesn’t help the rest of us. I think we have waited long enough for the people in office to fix this mess and for reporters to get the answers from them. Stop being polite, and ask the hard questions. The voters need answers. At 80, I really don’t have time for this.

Next question you might ask: Do we really want to copy state education operations like those in New Jersey?

Sue Anne Stager WARREN

SUPERFUND FOLLY

For goodness’ sake, Burlington replaced its high school because a little gas was emanating from the building materials. Now there is a plan to build housing on one of the worst Superfund sites in Vermont [“Housing Planned for Property Near Burlington’s Pine Street Barge Canal,” May 26, online]. It’s unbelievable. Think of the potential lawsuits!

Brooke Hadwen BURLINGTON

WELCOME NEWCOMERS

Vermont has always been at its best when we choose openness over fear and abundance over scarcity. Reading Seven Days’ recent reporting on Migrant Justice [“From Farm to Front Line,” May 27] and the farmworkers who keep our dairy economy alive, I was reminded once again how much of our state’s future depends on the people who come here seeking safety, dignity and the chance to contribute.

The work being done across Vermont — from rapid-response networks to farmworker-led labor standards — is not just morally right; it is economically essential. Our hospitals, schools, farms and small businesses all rely on newcomers. And the national picture makes this clearer than ever. According to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, conflict-driven displacement reached 32.3 million people in 2025, the highest ever recorded. At the same time, federal pathways for legal immigration have constricted dramatically, leaving states like ours feeling the strain.

Vermont cannot afford to lose the very people who help our communities thrive. When we welcome refugees, international students and migrant workers, we are not doing charity — we are investing in our shared future. We are choosing to remain the kind of state that believes in opportunity, fairness and the simple truth that people are our greatest resource.

In moments like this, Vermont’s example matters. Let’s continue to lead with compassion, clarity and the confidence that our best days are ahead — if we remain a place where newcomers can put down roots and help build what comes next.

Gabriel Lajeunesse MONTPELIER

Lajeunesse serves on the board of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

LEGAL IMMIGRATION IS OK

[Re “‘We Don’t Have New Families’: Schools and Employers Are Feeling the Impact of Trump’s Crackdown on Refugee Resettlement,” April 22; Feedback: “Immigration Is an Opportunity,” May 27]: President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown does not affect legal immigration.

The U.S. issues approximately 1 million green cards annually. Roughly half of these are new immigrants entering from abroad. The other half are individuals who were already residing in the country and are adjusting their status.

Additionally, we have approximately 2 million to 2.5 million temporary visa holders (e.g., agricultural and specialized workers, international students, and exchange visitors) at any given time.

A portion of the authorized arrivals consists of individuals admitted through specific humanitarian programs, such as refugee resettlement and temporary legal admittance.

Instead of reacting to anti-ICE hysteria, consider visiting the USAFacts authorized immigration report or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s immigration statistics portal.

The illegal immigrant crackdown is on unvetted entrants who snuck or were transported across our borders, mostly during the Biden administration.

According to the independent Pew Research Center, the unauthorized immigrant population reached an all-time high of 14 million in 2023.

Jack Scully COLCHESTER

NO ‘FOREST ENGINEERING’

[“Burning Question: Federal Officials Are Drafting an Ecological Restoration Plan to Bring Prescribed Fires to an Addison County Forest,” May 27] repeats many dubious claims made by advocates of cutting and burning intact forests in Vermont.

These advocates contend that oak forests are “fire-adapted” and need to be burned to “renew” them. This is a baseless claim.

Although oaks have been uncommon for thousands of years in today’s Green Mountain National Forest, they can be found on some dry, southfacing slopes. But there is no credible evidence that they need recurrent burning to persist.

Indeed, large fires were rare in Vermont before European settlement. Then, in the 1800s and early 1900s, settlers cleared the old-growth forest and left flammable slash and scrub, which repeatedly burned. As forests have grown back over the past century, significant wildfires are once again rare.

Despite this, we are told that wildfires are not only a major threat in Vermont but also are increasing. The supposed solution is prescribed burning.

There is no credible evidence that the threat is real. But even if wildfires were a serious danger, as in parts of the West, we are learning that the most effective way to respond is by making homes less flammable, not by cutting and burning backcountry forests.

The term “forest engineering” accurately describes this kind of management. These projects are not “renewing” natural ecosystems. Instead, they are creating artificially engineered landscapes that require perpetual, intensive human intervention to maintain them.

The public is forced to pay to cut and burn our own national forest.

Michael Kellett LINCOLN, MA

GROK: NOT A CHATBOT

Grok, the raven who lives in our woods, Noisy at this time of year, Wings spread wide and beak out stood; Though dark, he brings me good cheer.

Who is he calling? Why does he waste His baritone voice in our forest? Over and over with no lack of grace; Alone, not part of a chorus.

He quotes not the poets, nor Shakespeare, nor Kant, Yet he brings back memories of yore. I’m glad that he’s chosen my forest to haunt; Perhaps he’s lost his Lenore.

Low-pitched his squawk, from his now leafy lair, Is it to me that he wishes to talk? Does he know that I’m here, does he sense, does he care?

I hear you, old Raven Grok.

Jim Lengel

DUXBURY

lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS OBITUARIES

Lee E. Kelley

SEPTEMBER 9, 1934JUNE 9, 2026

ST. ALBANS, VT.

As expected, Lee E. Kelley died — this is for you, Lee.

Lee E. Kelley, age 91, passed away on June 9, 2026, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., with his family by his side.

As usual, Lee greets you with a smile and the statement “beautiful day,” talks current events and some tales, and then wishes you well and to be positive.

Lee was born on September 9, 1934, in Montpelier, Vt., to the late Levi E. Kelley and Ruth E. Kelley. Lee was predeceased by his wife, Hilda Goodhue Kelley, whom he married in 1962; his stepson Stephen E. Hurlbut; his older brothers, Frank, Jerome and David Kelley; and his younger sister, Nancy Kelley Dos Santos.

He is survived by his three biological children, Kim Kelley and Keith Kelley of Phoenix and cherished youngest daughter Kathleen Nelson and her husband, Rick, of Phoenix. He is also survived by his stepson Timothy Hurlbut, Esquire, and his significant other, Lisa Root; grandson, Kyle

Marjorie Suanne Sugar

SEPTEMBER 14, 1942MAY 30, 2026

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Marjorie Suanne Sugar, who died on May 30, 2026, at the age of 83. Margy grew up in the greater Washington, D.C., area, followed by 30 years in Vermont (Brattleboro, Johnson and Jericho) and ﬁnally 25 years in Birmingham, Ala.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Samuel J. Sugar and Naomi V. Sugar, and her sister and best friend, Diane Sugar.

Taylor, and Kyle’s wife, Emily, and their child, Calvin, of St. Albans, Vt.; and a beloved granddaughter, Desiree Hurlbut of Los Angeles. Lee leaves close friend Leslie Kiley; his good friend and brother-in-law, Toni Dos Santos of Los Angeles County; Toni’s children, Kelly and Toni; other nieces and nephews, Dave, Mike, Susan, Ian and Kevin Kelly; and his sister-in-law, Martha Kelly, and her daughters, Kathleen and Christina.

Lee is survived by Steve Hurlbut’s partner of many years, Dr. Kate Moran, PhD, professor at University of Victoria, British Columbia, and president and CEO of Ocean Network Canada. Thank you to his nephew Michael Kelley of Swanton,

She is survived by her children, Joshua R. Diamond (Catharine Diamond) and Seth L. Diamond (Brooke Diamond); her beloved grandchildren, Hannah

Vt., for care and attention during Lee’s last years.

Lee attended Montpelier High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force at an early age. Lee was employed as a Burlington and St. Albans police ofﬁcer, had numerous positions at the Saint Albans Messenger, and ended his working career as a Vermont state alcohol and drug abuse counselor.

Lee’s hair turned white at a very early age; however, he died with a full head of white hair. He is well known by acquaintances as the whitehaired guy who ran up and down Fairﬁeld Hill, waving to people as they passed.

Lee and Hilda raised Steve and Tim Hurlbut at Stanley Court in St. Albans City. Lee, along with Hilda, always emphasized education to the boys. Lee’s mantra was “One thing they can’t take away from you in this world is your education.” Steve was an engineer, attending the U.S. Air Force Academy and the University of Vermont, obtaining an engineering degree, then attending the University of Rhode Island and graduating with a postgraduate degree in ocean engineering before practicing ocean engineering with an emphasis on

Diamond, Naomi Diamond, Ari Diamond and Zachary Diamond; her brother, Dr. Mark Sugar; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

roughout her life, Marjorie dedicated herself to education and service. She worked as an elementary school teacher, special educator and librarian. She especially loved her time at the Stern Center for Language & Learning in Vermont and teaching English to Russian immigrants in Alabama.

Marjorie had a deep love of reading and painting and shared these passions with her children and grandchildren. She captured

John Charles Heaslip

DECEMBER 16, 1962-MAY 28, 2026

CHARLOTTE, VT.

John Charles Heaslip, 63, of Charlotte, Vt., passed away peacefully on May 28, 2026, surrounded by family. Born on December 16, 1962, in Puerto Rico, John lived a vibrant life ﬁlled with adventure, humor, and deep devotion to his family and community.

research and computer programing until his demise at a relatively young age. Tim has a business/accounting degree from UVM and a law degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Tim has practiced law for more than 45 years in St. Albans.

At Lee’s request, there will be no visitation, and his family will conduct a celebration of his life privately and at their convenience. His ashes will be scattered with his wife Hilda’s ashes in a location which is the best spot in Franklin County, which is, however, required to be a family secret.

Based on Lee’s love and respect for the community, as expressions of sympathy or celebration of his life please consider a deductible contribution to Hard’Ack, Inc., c/o Tim Hurlbut, 375 Lake Rd., St. Albans, VT 05478.

Assisting Lee’s family is the Heald Funeral Home of St. Albans. Rett has a story about Lee’s ﬁrst attempt to contract Heald’s services, as Lee said: “To pay for his last trip.”

To send Lee’s family a message of condolence, kindly go to healdfuneralhome.com.

the family history in photography, genealogical trees and stories and wove Yiddish expressions like Mushuganna and Ish Kabibble into her daily life — a tradition carried on by her family. She will be remembered for her lifelong curiosity and wit, her dedication to her grandchildren, and the many lives she touched through her kindness and teaching.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the Stern Center for Language & Learning.

May Marjorie rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.

From a young age, John was known for his adventurous spirit. He spent his youth skateboarding and building ramps in his parents’ driveway, longboarding down Main Street in Burlington, and was one of the early pioneers to snowboard

Tuckerman’s Ravine in New Hampshire in 1982 on an original wooden Burton snowboard.

Above all, John’s greatest passion was his family — his wife, Bonnie, and his children, Jack and Kendra. He was a devoted and active father who loved sharing his passions with his kids. He taught them how to ski and snowboard, faithfully attended their games and recitals, and instilled in them the importance of being self-sufﬁcient and capable.

John found great joy on the water. He spent much of his life boating on Lake Champlain, where he was most at peace. Whether cruising the lake on a sunny day, enjoying quiet mornings on the bay, or pulling his kids on a tube or water skis, the lake was his sanctuary and the place he felt most content.

John was a true jack-of-all-trades who could tackle just about any home project — from tiling and plumbing to electrical work and boat repairs. He took great pride in mowing his lawn and keeping his property looking its best. He was also a dedicated community member, serving as a longtime volunteer with Shelburne Rescue, where he became an EMT, and as a volunteer with the Shelburne Fire Department.

He will be remembered as a devoted family man with a fantastic sense of humor and a gift for storytelling. John was hilarious, quick-witted and loved making people laugh. He could hold anyone’s attention with his engaging tales, and his warmth and larger-than-life personality meant everyone who met him enjoyed his company.

John is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie Heaslip; children, John “Jack” Heaslip and Kendra Heaslip; soonto-be son-in-law, Ken Krofel; mother, Colleen Heaslip; brother Jay Heaslip and wife Tina; brother Jeff Heaslip and Deb Fennell; sister, Jan Monteith, and husband Neil; and many nieces and nephews.

John’s adventurous heart, infectious laughter and loving presence will be deeply missed by his family and all those whose lives he touched.

Celebration of Life for Buddy Manning will be held on June 28. e service will begin promptly at 2 p.m. at the Old Lantern in Charlotte. Come gather and pay tribute to Buddy.

Nancy Edna (Chase) Fitch

OCTOBER 2, 1941JUNE 3, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

The journey of life begins as a seed and ultimately returns to the earth. In between, a beautiful life blooms like a wildflower.

Many such wildflowers can be found in a garden in the North End of the Green Mountain city of Burlington, Vt., that is filled with wonderment and delight. Statues of various creatures, from bunnies to frogs to lizards and reptiles to birds and little bugs – not to mention many a magical fairy – are scattered throughout the yard. A black raven swings in the wind; an owl surveys the territory; birdhouses hang everywhere. And in August: a teddy bear picnic. And that does not even include all the real-life creatures that call the yard their home. Flowers abound on the ground, in an old shoe, shooting out of little houses.

There is even a pond with fish. So much is going on — and every day the neighborhood children stop by to see what is happening and what new elements have been added. They point and laugh and smile.

The architect of this front and backyard sanctuary was Nancy Edna (Chase) Fitch of Port Leyden, N.Y., who passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 84 on June 3, 2026. It all grew out of one of her son’s high school biology projects in the 1980s and flourishes still today as a

Quincy Sinclair McDougal

JANUARY 11, 1992-MARCH 23, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.

Quincy Sinclair McDougal died unexpectedly on March 23, 2026, in Fayetteville, N.C.

Quincy was born at home in Bristol, Vt., on January 11, 1992, to Mary E. Arbuckle and Nicholas U. McDougal. He grew up with his older brother, Nick, in South Lincoln, exploring the meadows, streams and forests of Addison County. They made regular childhood visits to extended family on the coast and mountains of Maine, where Quincy was the youngest of a large and adventurous group of cousins.

Quincy attended the Lincoln Community School and the North Branch middle school before first venturing beyond the Green Mountains to attend the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. There, he developed his passion for athletic achievement and competed on both the lacrosse and football teams. Quincy left a lasting impact on Hotchkiss faculty and classmates, who describe his tenacity and fearlessness, his warmth of soul, and how he was a “friend who always had your back.”

must stop on many a neighborhood walking foray. The yard is listed as a Backyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Nancy spent countless hours working on the yard throughout the year.

Her love for the garden and her connection to the community through the garden was chronicled in a beautiful article in Seven Days entitled “Fairy Tale,” written by Rachel Mullis. The headline notes: “A Secret New North End Garden Delights Anyone Lucky Enough to Find It.”

“When I was really little, my mother would take me into the woods and we would look for wildflowers,” Nancy said in the article. “That was always my favorite thing.”

Many people, young and old, would write little thankyou notes that Nancy held on to — and they also brought gifts to be placed in the garden.

“It is a living demonstration,” wrote Rachel Mullis, “of what it means to spend 60

years in one place and tend to that place like a family member, bringing joy to oneself and the community alike.”

“It is just my lifetime of interest,” Nancy said. “I just like to do this.”

The notion of being a steward of the land could also be seen in Nancy’s interest in Native American art and history, which, like her walks in the woods with her mom, she developed a few years later as a teenager. She loved to learn about Native American culture and enjoyed collecting Native American art and artifacts.

Soon after graduating from Port Leyden, Nancy married Harold “Boots” Fitch of Boonville, N.Y. The two would have celebrated their 66th anniversary in October. They have two sons: Darren and Damon. With their first child, Darren, born in 1961, they moved to Wappingers Falls, N.Y., where Boots began a career with IBM. A few years later they moved to Burlington, Vt. They would have their second child,

took his dad for a glider ride above the Mad River Valley ski slopes where his dad first taught him to “snowplow” as a kid.

Quincy successfully balanced high school athletics and academic achievement and was admitted to Amherst College, where he regretted having to pick just one sport. He chose lacrosse and continued to thrive in the comradery and competition of team sports while majoring in economics and psychology. At Amherst, as at Hotchkiss, Quincy forged friendships that would endure through the years and across the diverging paths of life that followed

After helping Amherst Lacrosse reach the NESCAC championship game in an 18-3 2015 season, Quincy graduated and entered the fast-paced world of finance, working as an analyst for firms in New York, then Boston. Over the course of his twenties, he established himself in his field but found himself seeking other ways to direct his energy, ambition and immense capacity for hard work.

Quincy’s drive and headfirst pursuit of his interests would be a defining part of his life, and during his grade school years his interest in aviation led to participation in the Flight Experience for Youth program at Sugarbush Soaring in Warren, Vt., where he worked as line crew in exchange for flying lessons. He achieved his private glider pilot certification at age 15 and

Pausing to reflect on his career, Quincy threw himself with characteristic focus and determination into a developing interest in road and gravel bicycling. In August 2021, he headed west to begin his next adventure and departed from the Canadian border near Whitefish, Mont., to ride the 2,400 mile Continental Divide bike route, arriving in October at the Mexican border in Columbus, N.M. He bicycled to higher elevations than he’d piloted a glider as a teenager and reported back to Vermont when cell service allowed with descriptions of glaciers,

Damon, in 1971. The couple remained in Burlington. Boots and Darren still live in Burlington — and Damon now lives just a short distance away in South Burlington.

Nancy and Boots spent many years running a local sporting goods store called the Outfitters, with locations in both Burlington and Essex Junction, Vt. Sports have been a big part of Fitch family life, with both sons being active in local sports such as hockey, soccer, tennis, bowling, and track and field.

After moving to Burlington, Nancy became an avid tennis player herself. She played on a 4.5 adult women’s tennis team that made it to Nationals in the 1990s — and has represented Vermont in the National Senior Olympics on numerous occasions. Oh, and not to mention, the “Fitch Family Tennis” outings were said to be legendary — and very intense. In later years, Nancy switched from tennis to pickleball, which she played up into her eighties.

wildfires and desert, and of encounters with bear, elk and antelope.

Since childhood, Quincy had been inspired by the idea of military service, specifically the Special Forces. In 2022 he enlisted in the Army National Guard as an 18X and was assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). In the following years he excelled in Special Forces Assessment and Selection, completed the rigorous Special Forces Qualification Course, and in summer 2025 invited his family to the ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., in which he officially donned the Green Beret. Quincy described having “found his tribe” in this new brotherhood of service members.

Quincy achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and chose to specialize as Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He trained hands-on in life-flight choppers and emergency rooms, delivering babies, responding to emergencies and becoming an expert at saving lives.

Throughout his lifetime of achievements, Quincy was to those who knew him a good hang, a thoughtful and caring friend, brother, teammate, cousin, nephew and son. Never boastful, a quiet leader among his peers, always conscientious and attentive toward his relationships old and new.

Quincy is survived by his parents, Nicholas U. McDougal and Mary E. Arbuckle; his brother, Nicholas C.A. McDougal; his aunt, Jane O. McDougal; and the large extended Arbuckle family in Maine and beyond. He is survived by his wife (separated), Storm Bowen, who remembers their adventures together fondly. He is also survived by his current partner, Diana Gibson, whom he looked forward to making a life with in Utah.

All are invited to a celebration of Quincy’s life on Saturday, July 11, 2026, 2 to 5 p.m., at his mother’s home, 444 French Settlement Road in Lincoln, Vt.

Despite her fear of flying, Nancy traveled extensively all around the U.S., Canada and even a couple of times in Europe. The cross-country trips included numerous train trips to the West Coast, as well as a family crosscountry trip via van that was highlighted by a thrilling river rafting trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In more recent years, Nancy and Boots participated in numerous cruises.

There is no service planned at this time, but we will likely have a remembrance event in a few months.

Alas, the keeper of the garden has been whisked away to a new journey in the afterlife. She is now amongst her beloved fairies alongside God, where she can watch over her garden forevermore from above. She remains very much alive in the hearts and memories of her loved ones, her friends and the many people who still walk by the garden every day.

IN MEMORIAM

Donna Marie Paquette

1955-2026

Donna Marie Paquette, lovingly known as “the Dance Walker,” passed away peacefully at Birchwood Terrace in Burlington, Vt., on June 4, 2026, at the age of 70. May Donna Marie’s memory bring comfort to all who knew her. Her light will continue to shine through the love she shared with others and the inspiration she provided to many. Please join us for a Celebration of Life on June 28, 2026, noon to 4 p.m., at the Clothier, 28 N. Main St. in St. Albans, Vt.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Margaret Harrington Tamulonis

JANUARY 25, 1943MAY 29, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Margaret Harrington

Tamulonis, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, actress, activist, volunteer and storyteller, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2026, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., after a long illness. She was surrounded by the love of her family. She was 83. Born in New York City on January 25, 1943, Margaret was the daughter of Patrick Harrington, a decorated Irish patriot, and Margaret Keenan Harrington. She inherited from her parents a ﬁerce sense of justice, intellectual curiosity and a belief that one person could make a difference. Raised alongside her older brother, Timothy, Margaret displayed an early

Louis Provost

FEBRUARY 19, 1937MAY 16, 2026

WINOOSKI, VT.

Louis Provost, whose kind heart and welcoming table were known to all, passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 89. Louis was born on February 19, 1937, in Burlington, Vt., to Joseph and Alice Vincent-Provost. Growing up in Winooski, Vt., he was the cherished only son among ﬁve loving sisters, a dynamic that shaped his life profoundly and fostered his unique understanding and appreciation of women and womanhood. He often bragged about having ﬁve sisters and how much he loved them.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

love of literature that would shape the course of her life. Margaret spent many years as a respected member of New York City’s off-Broadway theater community as an actress, playwright and director. She held her ﬁrst professional role in a 1961 New York City production of e Trojan Women by Euripides, presented by the Ancient Drama Company. Over the decades, she built a distinguished career in New York’s offBroadway and experimental

theater communities, originating roles in productions in theaters like e American Place eatre, the Women’s eater Project, INTAR and eater for the New City. She collaborated with playwright María Irene Fornés on several productions and originated the role of Julia in Fornés’ groundbreaking Fefu and Her Friends, now recognized as a landmark work of American theater. Among the roles she most cherished over the years were Clytemnestra in Iphigenia in Aulis, Rosaura in Life Is a Dream, Julia in Fefu and Her Friends, and Lan in Rochelle Owens’ He Wants Shih. During her theater career, one of her plays was produced off Broadway while she was starring in a different play in a theater several blocks away.

In her ﬁnal stage role as the Doorkeeper in Euripides’ Helen (developed by the UVM Classics Department) in 2018, Margaret made her last entrance walking backward

onto the stage. ose who knew her might smile at the symbolism.

Her gifts extended well beyond the theater. A lifelong advocate for peace and social justice, Margaret dedicated decades to activism and public service. Her work began in 1965 when she worked alongside her friend Dorothy Day through the Catholic Worker Movement and continued throughout her life as an active member of numerous peace movements. After settling in Vermont, she hosted the public-access television program “Nuclear Free Future” through the CCTV Center for Media and Democracy. roughout her life, she remained curious about the world. After leaving the stage, she received a master’s degree in education while in her ﬁfties and taught English as a second language, making and maintaining friends from all over the world. Suddenly feeling idle, she studied the

cello and raised Pygmy goats. Poetry and literature were her lifeblood, and she wrote a sonnet a day for much of her life in Vermont. She was also a member of the Emily Dickinson International Society and happily participated in the Dickens Universe.

At the center of Margaret’s life was her enduring love story with her husband, Lenny. Fifty-six years after they married, they remained deeply devoted to one another, sharing a love of literature, humor and nature. Together they built a life rich in purpose, adventure and affection. From the stages and streets of New York City to the ﬁelds and forests of Vermont, their marriage stood as a testament to friendship, partnership and a love that only deepened with time.

Margaret wished for more time, as all who loved her wished for more time with her. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of artistry,

advocacy, service and love. Her life touched countless people through the theater, volunteer work, activism and her family.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Lenny; her daughters, Margaret and Cybele; their partners, Melanie Jannery and Oren Ritterband; her grandchildren, Joseph, Evelyn, Grant and Aleph; her brother, Dr. Timothy Harrington; and a wide circle of relatives, friends, fellow artists and community members whose lives were enriched by her presence. Her family ﬁnds comfort in knowing that she lived fully, loved deeply and remained true to her convictions until the end. e family would also like to express their deepest and utmost heartfelt thanks to the doctors and nurses and all the staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center for the extraordinary compassion, care and support they gave to Margaret and her family.

One of his many parttime jobs as a young adult found him delivering milk for Gamelin Processing. As a young boy, he would climb to the top of Leclair Street to go to the Richard Farm, where he would help milk the cows, load up the cart and attach the horses to deliver the milk to the processing center downtown.

A proud veteran, Louis served in the Air National Guard. During one of the initial training drills, he was working with a partner to put out a fire when his teammate panicked and left him to fight the blaze alone. He fought through and freed himself from the flames. is fight resulted in Louis sustaining severe burns on his hands. Many procedures followed to restore and heal his hands. Despite this setback, Lou

returned to the Air National Guard to serve for nine years. Louis’ career as an educator spanned over 30 years, during which he was a dedicated teacher and innovator. Starting his teaching career in the Northeast Kingdom at Derby Line and Barton, he then returned to Winooski in 1961, where he worked for the Winooski School District for the remainder of his education career. At Winooski’s JFK Middle School and Senior High School, he not only enlightened students in the classroom but also helped develop the Winooski Learning Media Center for current and future minds. During his time there, he was granted a sabbatical from the Winooski School District to attend Boston University, where he earned a master’s degree in higher education. Lou also served on the Visiting Committee (1987 to 1990), assessing public schools throughout Vermont to ensure the highest standards of education were being met statewide.

A man of diverse interests, Louis loved the outdoors, whether he was tending to his garden, coaching sports, hiking, spending time at Lincoln Gap, cross-country skiing or enjoying the serene beauty of Lake Champlain. He was a passionate mentor, an original member of the Winooski JCs and a lifelong parishioner at St. Francis Xavier Parish, where he served Mass from grade school through college.

From 1965 to 1966, Louis and an accomplished crew of family and friends spent their time outside of work building the house that would be home to generations to come. He held an immeasurable amount of pride and love for the home and all that it brought to the family.

Louis went on to marry his soulmate, Marlene Sue Collins, on August 1, 1959, in Montpelier, Vt. eir union was a testament to love and partnership, showing people what true love truly looks like over 67 years of marriage.

Together, they built a family ﬁlled with love and lots of laughter, welcoming four children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren into their lives.

In May 2000, Lou and Marlene packed up their slide-on camper to venture across the lower roads and provinces of Canada, headed west from Ottawa to the Pacific Ocean. Destination: Alaska. Alaska may have been the destination, but the journey was filled with pulling over to appreciate views and wildlife and forming a deeper connection with each other and nature. Gradually, they added provinces of the West to the provinces in the East on their list of places visited. Their goal to visit every province in Canada was completed by 2010.

Louis is survived by his wife, Marlene; sisters Rita Gilbert and Lena Lynch; forever friend Roger Frenette; children and grandchildren (and their loving partners);

great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and countless amazing friends.

A service to celebrate Louis’ life will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, 9:30 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Parish, located at 3 Saint Peter St., Winooski, VT, followed by a gathering to share food and memories together at the Dumb Luck Pub and Grill in Winooski. Friends and family are invited to join in honoring his legacy and to share in the memories of a life beautifully lived. Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Services. To send condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneralhomes. com.

Louis George Provost will be deeply missed but forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His life was a testament to the power of love, education and community, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire.

Ronald Sarquiz

AUGUST 9, 1961MAY 23, 2026

RANDOLPH, VT.

It is with great shock and sadness that we share the news of Ron Sarquiz’s unexpected death on May 23, 2026. He died of complications related to a heart attack. Ron will be remembered most for the way he approached life — with passion, intensity and zest. He was a spiritual seeker who embraced the mysteries of life. He was an active participant in the early days of Men Alive, a men’s

community organization in Vermont. He enjoyed his work as a psychotherapist and cherished his

Dieter Gump

MARCH 28, 1933JUNE 7, 2026

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Dieter (“Poppi” to all his grandchildren) was born on March 28, 1933, in Saranac, N.Y. He grew up in Montclair, N.J. Both his father and mother were PhD chemists that emigrated from Germany just prior to his birth. His family were proud members of the Religious Society of Friends.

Dieter was an accomplished research physician and professor. After graduating from Johns Hopkins Medical School, he was focused on getting an infectious disease position in a location where he could enjoy the outdoors year round. He was fortunate to find that in a position at the University of Vermont and remained in Vermont throughout the rest of his life. While at the UVM Medical School, he was a productive researcher (100-plus publications), highlighted by his lead on a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. During the Vietnam War, Dieter joined the Air National Guard as a flight surgeon and fondly recalls assisting the pilots, the “Green Mountain Boys,” in Burlington, Vt., with their medical needs.

After retiring from the University of Vermont in 1995, he continued his medical career as a volunteer at a hospital in Chogoria, Kenya (close to Mount Kenya). In addition, he volunteered in other medical roles and was happy to clear trails as a volunteer for the Green Mountain Club. He traveled extensively and was hiking

connections with friends and family.

Ron was born in California and made his way to Vermont in his twenties. He returned to higher education and was proud of earning his graduate degree from Antioch New England College in counseling psychology. While attending Antioch, he also chose to marry and raise a family.

Ron was a natural athlete. He played baseball and tennis and enjoyed hiking, backpacking and biking. He happily made his way to playing pickleball, where he became part of a strong

and cross-country skiing well into his eighties. He was an avid bird enthusiast and could name all the birds in Vermont and many on his travels worldwide.

Dieter was a lifelong learner with a curious mind. Dieter was an engaged and enthusiastic conversationalist with a great sense of humor. He was always eager to talk passionately and extensively about subjects of interest to him or others.

He is survived by his children and their spouses: Laura (Ned) Gardner of Morristown, N.J.; Jamieson (Cheryl) Gump of Tyngsborough, Mass.; and Brooks (Linda) Gump of Skaneateles, N.Y. He is also survived by a brother, Frank (Betse) Gump of New Jersey, and a sister, Linda Marshall of Ohio; five grandchildren; four nephews; three nieces; and three great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Dieter was predeceased by his wife, Valerie.

At Dieter’s request, there will be no funeral service. Those who wish may make a contribution in his memory to Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482.

community. He was a beloved player and is fondly remembered for his boisterous voice and kind soul.

Ron moved to Randolph, Vt., five years ago and created a new community. While living in Randoph, he found solace being close to nature. Ron was fortunate to experience peace toward the end of his life. The people closest to him noticed a shift in his appreciation of the beauty of the seasons, the rhythm of his days, and the contentment of watching his family grow and change. He was especially proud of his daughter, Fern, and the

Anthony Piers “Tony” Washburn

JUNE 20, 1935-JUNE 6, 2026

HYDE PARK, VT.

Anthony Piers “Tony” Washburn passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Copley Hospital, with his loving wife at his side.

Tony was born on June 20, 1935, in Morrisville, Vt., to Newton and Alice Washburn. He spent most of his youth with his step-grandparents at their small farm and used-parts yard in the Mackville section of Hardwick. He was a very inquisitive boy; he invented things, wrote poems and taught himself to play the fiddle. The guitar and mandolin were soon to follow.

In the early 1950s he joined the U.S. Air Force and became an airplane mechanic, serving in Morocco and Knoxville, Tenn. While in Knoxville, he played in local bands and had the chance to play with the up-and-coming country singer Don Gibson, Gene Autry’s sidekick Smiley Burnett, and many other current and future Grand Ole Opry stars. As much as he loved the music scene, he contracted a virus that took away his voice for an extended period. Having experienced the rough life of a musician, he decided to come back to Vermont to explore other paths.

generosity of her heart and spirit.

Ron is survived by his daughter, Fern; her mother, Michelle; his son, Ron; his mother, Laura; his sister, Pam, and her son, Dylan; his brother, Rich, and his daughters, Sarah and Ashley and her husband, Jacob, and their children, Sloane and Hayes. He also leaves behind other family members, including his father, Ron. He will also be missed by many friends who were like family, especially his close friend Steve.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held on Saturday,

fiddlers’ contests and won more than a few. In the 1960s he was a guitarist, fiddler and vocalist with the Esquires, a very popular local big band. Music was to remain a lifelong passion, and he mentored many young musicians. The Lambert family in Morrisville were lifelong friends. Tony encouraged brothers Don and Ted to pursue their musical talents, and both have spent their lives making good music.

Tony didn’t finish high school but completed his GED. He then decided to attend college to become a music teacher. Along the way he switched majors and became an industrial arts teacher. He taught at Craftsbury Academy throughout the 1970s. He also had a lifelong obsession with cars and operated RFD Autos for a number of years in the big yellow barn in Hardwick. His was one of the first area auto shops to bring rust-free southern cars to northern Vermont. After selling his business to the Greensboro Garage in the mid 1980s, he took a position as a shop teacher in Cabot, then went on to the Vermont Corrections Department as shop teacher in the Newport prison until his retirement.

September 12, 1 to 4 p.m., in the Esther Mesh Room at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Randoph. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations on behalf of Ron can be made to St. John’s Church to help support their small shelter for the unhoused In Randolph, Vt. Checks can be sent to St. John’s Church Emergency Fund, PO Box 278, Randolph, VT 05060.

Arrangements are in the care of Guare & Sons Funeral Home in Montpelier. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at guareandsons.com.

There he found a musical home until his retirement in 2013.

In the 1980s Tony was fiddler with Rick Norcross of Rick and the Ramblers. He also played a bunch of shows with the rising country star Randy Travis. In 1986 he was an original member of the WDEV Radio Rangers, airing a 15-minute old-time radio show every Saturday morning for 25 years. He wrote the Radio Rangers’ theme song as well. He played as a guest with countless musicians and bands. He was a member of Buck’s Run (a bluegrass group) and Cold Country, with which he toured Ireland. Tony was a songwriter and recorded several of his compositions, including “Hangover City,” “Nighttime Finds Me Lonesome,” “Love’s Coming Through” and “Which Bridge Should I Take, Which Bridge Should I Burn.”

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 32 years, Linda “Lynne” Washburn; his daughter, Michelle Foster, and grandson, Leon; stepson, Jim Densmore (Jenn), and step-grandsons, Garrett and Connor; brother, Leslie Washburn (April); niece Leah; and many other dear nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, Mark Washburn, and stepdaughter, Donna Densmore.

Yet even while taking on construction jobs and mechanic work, he continued to pursue music, playing with local bands. He made a name for himself and was a sought-after fiddler and guitarist. He participated in many

In the early 1970s he started the RFD 3 band with Danny Coane and Larry Miller. It became a very popular bluegrass and country band. They played for a few years before adding Kathy Coane on bass and Tony’s son, Mark Washburn, on drums. Mark had his father’s musical talents and was a gifted drummer. After RFD 3 disbanded, Tony joined Bernie and Linda Lussier in the Craftsbury Vibrations in the mid-1970s.

Tony was a teacher and mentor to many young people. His family encourages you to mentor a young person and help guide them to their passion. Calling hours took place on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the des Groseilliers Funeral Home in Hardwick. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10 a.m., at the United Community Church on Main Street in Morrisville, followed by burial at the Plains Cemetery (off Garfield Road) in Hyde Park and a reception at the Morrisville VFW. Condolences and memories of Tony may be shared with his family at dgfunerals.com.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Dale Alan Bushey

JANUARY 25, 1959JUNE 8, 2026

WILLISTON, VT.

It is with great sadness that we announce that Dale Alan Bushey, 67, of Williston, Vt., passed away on June 8, 2026, peacefully surrounded by his loving family, at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, after a long battle with interstitial lung disease.

Born in Burlington, Vt., on January 25, 1959, Dale was the son of the late Linwood and Dorothy (Lahaie) Bushey. He was predeceased by his son, Justin Joseph Bushey, who passed away in 2003.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Jacobs) Bushey; and his beloved daughter, Amber Bushey, and her husband, Mark Gaworecki, of Essex, Vt., and their sons, Emmett and Evan Gaworecki. He leaves behind his siblings, Judy (Richard) Hosking of Essex; Virgil Bushey of Florida; Charles Bushey of Washington; and Robin Plouffe and her partner, Ken Bouchard, of Essex. He also leaves many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all of whom left an indelible mark on his life.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

gardening, the outdoors and, in his later years, spending time with his grandsons.

Dale was known for his green thumb, speciﬁcally his vegetable gardens, which provided a veritable bounty of vegetables for family, friends or passersby. He was extremely proud to pass on his love of gardening to his grandsons, with whom he enjoyed entering prize-winning vegetables into competitions at the Champlain Valley Fair.

Dale spent many years working for his family farm, Ormond Bushey & Sons, and was a founding employee of the Lowe’s store in South Burlington, where he was employed until his passing.

He will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, towering bonﬁres and very unique sense of humor.

Dale’s family wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. James Dougherty, Dr. Charlotte Teneback and the entire staff at McClure Miller Respite house, who were so caring during his stay.

John Patrick O’Neil

JULY 2, 1948-JUNE 6, 2026

JEFFERSONVILLE, VT.

John Patrick O’Neil of Jeffersonville, Vt., passed away at home in the loving arms of his wife on Saturday, June 6, 2026, after a long battle with leukemia that he fought with courage and dignity.

John was born on July 2, 1948, to Edward and Dorothy (Deso) O’Neil, in St. Albans, Vt., where he and his older brother, Skip, were raised. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in St. Albans and went on to earn his BA in mathematics from the University of Vermont in 1970. Shortly after graduating from UVM, he met his wife, Eugenia Currie. ey married on September 26, 1975, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.

In 1978 John joined IBM, embarking on a long and successful career there. His dedication and steady

William “Bill” H. Letters

presence earned the respect of colleagues and friends alike. In retirement, he discovered a passion for woodworking, becoming skilled and creating pieces that will be treasured reminders of his craftmanship.

A Green Mountain boy, John loved Vermont deeply, and he and Genie saw no reason to leave the state they called home. ey settled brieﬂy in Underhill, then moved to Essex, where their children, Stephanie Ferree and Gregory O’Neil, were born, raised and educated. Shortly

before retirement, John and Genie built a new home in Jeffersonville, where John could ski every day of the winter at his beloved Smugglers’ Notch. In warmer months, the two became passionate pickleball players, spending their summer days playing with friends on their driveway court and at venues nearby. John was, above all else, a devoted and loving husband to Genie. She and their children and grandchildren were his entire world. Calm, patient, wise and deeply caring, he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife, Eugenia; daughter, Stephanie Ferree, and spouse Eli; son, Gregory O’Neil; grandchildren, Connor and Emily O’Neil; stepgrandchildren, Ronin and River Ferree; and brother, Skip O’Neil, and his wife, Judy. Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Highlands Day Lodge at Smugglers’ Notch Resort.

Dale grew up on his family farm in Essex, spending many hours working the ﬁelds. He met the love of his life, Kathy, and they were married on February 4, 1984. ey welcomed their daughter, Amber, and their son, Justin.

Over the years, Dale built a life centered on family, the New York Yankees, the Dallas Cowboys, his great love of

A graveside service will be held on June 26, 2026, 11 a.m., at Deer View Cemetery in Williston, followed by a celebration of life at the Holy Family Parish Center in Essex. All are welcome to attend, and, in tribute to Dale’s impeccable sense of fashion, the family requests that everyone wear their ﬁnest Hawaiian or island style.

In lieu of ﬂowers, the family requests donations to the Justin Bushey Memorial Scholarship at the Center for Technology, Essex or the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

JANUARY 10, 1956MAY 24, 2026 WHITING, VT.

Marshall “Mac” Cummings

1976-2025

Mac-a-Palooza will be a Celebration of Life for Marshall “Mac” Cummings. Please join our family to reminisce on the life, LOVE and legacy of our beloved hippie.

Where: Dorset Park, South Burlington

When: June 27, 2026, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with a Gathering of Remembrance at 1 p.m.

Food for purchase to support the foodie community Mac loved so much.

Food Trucks: e Hive Cafe (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Palmer Lane Maple (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Drinks: Drinks and water from the Hive Cafe; NO alcohol permitted at the park

Bring: Lawn chairs, picnic blankets and HUGS.

William “Billy” or “Bill” H. Letters was born on January 10, 1956 and died on May 24, 2026, forever 49 years old. Billy was a tried-and-true Vermonter, hardy, resourceful and chock-full of grit. He was a dear friend, conﬁdant, mentor, scholar, musician, master beer brewer, gardener, artist and gentleman — a kindred soul for all of us. His heart was so much bigger than most, and he put everyone ahead of himself, always. He knew how to listen … just listen, and helped many of us appreciate the small things and forgive the hard things. He was a caring, compassionate and kind soul. Billy had a gift … Billy was the gift for so many of us.

Music was a big part of Bill’s life. He was a wildly talented and under-recognized drummer. You may have seen him keeping the beat in the Gamblers if you were into country music or making people get out of their chairs and dance in Sundog or the New Nile Orchestra. And he could keep a good jazz rhythm, too, as so many people heard at Woody’s Restaurant in the

early 1990s in the So-Called Jazz Sextet. ere was even a really good Funktet band for a while.

For many years, Bill worked for Counseling Service of Addison County and was dedicated to helping people with mental illnesses. He treated even the most difﬁcult clients with respect and compassion. He worked at many other landmark businesses such as A&W, Otter Creek Brewery, and Two Brothers Tavern. At Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury, he found his forever extended family that stuck by him and cared for him even after he made the decision to ﬁnally “retire.” Bill was also a wonderful cook and gardener. He was particularly fond of growing hot peppers. He enjoyed introducing friends to the beauty and subtle taste differences of

what many consider only on the heat index. For years, he supplied the Jamaican apple pickers with a taste of home they longed for. ey called him “PepperMon,” which made Bill very happy.

So, how do we ever close the chapter on such a beautiful and meaningful soul? We don’t, ever. We take the lessons of love, loyalty and compassion that he instilled in us, and we pass them along to those we love so that our world may be a better place. Tell the people in your life how much you love and appreciate them. Great people are hard to come by, and when they do cross your threshold, grab them and hold on tight. Bill, you were and always will be one of a kind, and we will never, ever forget you. ank you for making all of our lives so much richer.

While Billy is survived by many friends, we would like to take a moment to recognize his dear friend Nina. Above everyone else, Nina has stood by Bill’s side for more than 30 years, through thick and thin, loving him, looking after him and caring for him. We are so deeply appreciative for her love and support of our dear friend. A celebration of life will be scheduled soon, and we will keep everyone posted.

Gary Eley

JULY 7, 1944-JUNE 8, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Gary Eley died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. He was 81 years young.

Gary was a doer, always actively fixing something, building something, creating another new business. He was a man in motion. Gary was a truly caring person. He would go out of his way to help people in need. He constantly thought of ways to solve a problem, whether his or someone else’s. He would come up with different ways to solve a problem others had not considered.

He was the minister of All Saints Episcopal Church in South Burlington for 20 years. He especially loved the youth groups, talking with the kids, taking them on camping trips and exposing them to new ideas.

After he left the ministry, he became a CFA and started his own financial investment firm. His first clients were his parishioners. He wanted to provide for their financial security in their retirement years. He was a truly honest man. I have never known him to tell a lie or shade the truth. His word was solid.

After he sold his business to his partners, he retired and started Hickory Golf Workshop, repairing antique golf clubs. It was a small but worldwide business that he ran from his garage. It gave him great joy as well as purpose in his retirement.

He fell head over heels in love with his grandchildren, Bo and Lane, over the last 7 years. He was the grandfather we all dream of having. It was a true love affair. Gary leaves behind his wife, Sidney, of 42 years; three daughters, Sarah Libbrecht, Whitney Eley and Emily Eley and her husband, Matt Kobzik; grandchildren, Bo and Lane; and many dear friends.

A service is being planned for early August. Email RSVP to ske411@gmail.com.

Rebecca Thomas 1940-2026

Becky died on April 5, 2026. She was rooted in the Burlington, Vt., area, where she flourished as a mother and early American antique dealer.

Becky worked at the Shelburne Museum, served on a local school PTO board and donated time to theater productions at Champlain Valley Union High School. She was raised in Maine.

Allie Langdon Duda

MARCH 28, 1987-JUNE 8, 2026 MORRISTOWN, VT.

A creative spirit with a deep love for her family and friends, Allie died unexpectedly after years of living with complex mental health illness compounded by substance-use disorder, neither of which she chose.

Allie’s early childhood in Wolcott, Vt., was filled with many happy moments with her sisters, Emma and Molly, and her parents, Sara Pennock and Richard Duda.

Annual trips to visit family at the ocean in Rhode Island or Lake Anna in Virginia, camping on Cape Cod, and being with friends were some of the highlights. Allie adored all the family pets, especially Chloe and Sophie, her two dogs. She had two very special mentors who inspired and encouraged her to develop her

Ralph C. Dodge

JULY 8, 1935-APRIL 27, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Educator, social activist and world traveler Ralph C. Dodge, age 90, died peacefully at home with his family by his side on April 27, 2026, following a brief illness. Ralph was born in 1935 to Ralph Eugene Dodge and Lona Nutt Dodge in Island Pond, Vt. Ralph graduated from Brighton High School in 1953 and proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received his teaching degree from Keene State College and completed graduate studies at the University of Vermont. Ralph was a teacher and team leader at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington for 27 years. Ralph was the consummate professional throughout life. His deep regard for the welfare of others shaped relationships in the classroom and beyond. Ralph was an organizer, a leader and an advocate for

Lavenia Medeiros

OCTOBER 17, 1950MAY 15, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Lavenia Medeiros was born on October 17, 1950, in San Francisco, Calif., to her devoted parents, the late Raymond R. Medeiros and Rosanna M. Medeiros.

the teaching profession. He promoted collective bargaining in its formative years to improve teachers’ working conditions, class size and professional standards. As a problem solver, Ralph earned the respect of all — the administration, the school board and the teachers. He pioneered the concept of agency shop in Burlington and helped bring the issue to the Vermont State Supreme Court. Ralph’s role as chief negotiator for the Burlington Education

Lavenia is survived by her life partner of 27 years, Robert Trainor; her three adult children, Rhonda Roberts, Russell Goodwin and Jim Goodwin; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

love of visual art. We hope they know how important they were to Allie.

As a young adult Allie became fascinated with archeology and spent a summer in Washington state digging for wooly mammoth bones. In time she discovered that photography was the medium through which she saw the world most clearly. She pursued this passion at the University of Miami, traveled to England for a semester and received a Certificate in Photography from Maine Media College in Rockport, Maine.

Allie’s spirit lives on in her three wonderful children. She knew she could not provide them with the opportunities to achieve their hopes and dreams

Association influenced professional negotiations in Burlington and Chittenden County for over 20 years. Ralph filled his life with learning and adventure, from running rapids through the Grand Canyon to watching tigers from an elephant’s back in Nepal or trekking in the Amazon rainforest. His journeys took him to over 60 countries. Generous with his time and talents, Ralph loved sharing his culinary skills with family, friends and colleagues. His bon vivant spirit enlivened every gathering.

Ralph invested in what he loved. He was a lifelong ticket holder of UVM men’s hockey. He was an avid skier and organized group ski trips to the Canadian northwest. Fascinated by the undersea world, he learned to scuba dive. Captivated by Africa’s grandeur, Ralph organized and escorted small group safaris for 25 years so he could share the experience with others. Wherever he traveled, Ralph

She was a beloved sister to Melody Minardi, Ramona Waters, Mary Means, Roland Medeiros, John Medeiros, Valerie Medeiros and Lillian Medeiros, and she was preceded in death by her sister Diana Lacerda.

She brought warmth, light and a vibrant spirit to everyone who knew her throughout her life’s journey from the West Coast to New England. Lavenia graduated from Smith College with a degree in English literature, nurturing a lifelong passion for reading, learning and the written word. For the past 15 years, she faithfully served her

and consequently chose an adoption plan for each of them, one of the most selfless acts of a mother’s life.

Words don’t adequately describe our gratitude for Dawn Tatro’s belief in Allie and the extent to which she went to support Allie in finding her sobriety.

She will be greatly missed by those who loved her and will always be remembered as the bold and beautiful light that is Allie.

Contributions can be made to Jenna’s Promise, PO Box 575, Johnson, VT 05656 or The Breakfast on Us Program, c/o Claudia Niles, PO Box 475, Morrisville, VT 05661.

A private celebration of Allie’s life will be held at a future date.

carried a Polaroid camera to gift photos to children and elders, from Ethiopia to India and China. He always sought ways to build relationships.

Ralph is survived by Kathleen, his beloved wife of 57 years, of Burlington; son, Ralph Henry Dodge, and wife Lylene of Flagstaff, Ariz.; son-in-law, Ernest Underwood, grandson, Myles Underwood and wife Kathleen, and great-grandson, Eli Underwood of Hampton, N.H.; and brother, Eugene Dodge, and wife, Carol, of Island Pond, Vt.

Ralph was predeceased by his daughter, Cynthia Ann (Dodge) Underwood, and sister, Lona Dodge Thibodeau.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful nurses and social workers at UVM Home Health & Hospice for their care, kindness and support.

To send condolences and share memories, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

A celebration of life in September will be announced.

community as a local crossing guard at Flynn Elementary School, where her bright smile and caring presence welcomed and protected countless children each day.

Lavenia shared her love of life in many ways with all who knew her. She was an extraordinary gourmet cook and a remarkably talented artist. The paintings and heartfelt greeting cards she lovingly created and gifted to family and friends will forever be cherished and adored by all who loved her.

The family is planning a celebration of life to be held in the near future.

Love, Dad

Frank Ciofﬁ honored his daughter’s memory by adopting Frankie, her autistic son. Now he’s planning a future for the child and others like him.

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

Since your passing, the question that haunts me is: Are you at peace? I can only pray that you are and pledge to help to finish your work here. If you are not at peace, then may this letter be helpful in carrying you to eternal peace and love. Over the past ten years I’ve thought of you every day, many times a day. I see you in the places and people you loved and most especially in the deep blue eyes, mannerisms, reactions, and expressions of your beautiful son, Frankie. How blessed we are for that gift.

— From Frank Cio ’s letter to his daughter, Alexa Rose, on the 10th anniversary of her death

“Marching band!” Frankie Cio boomed, his voice echoing through the lobby of Hotel Vermont in Burlington. The hotel sta paid no mind to the outburst, as Frankie and his grandfather, Frank Cio , are regulars for brunch most weekends at the hotel’s upscale restaurant. Frankie, who is 12 and has autism, is verbal but not conversational. He and

Cio (pronounced “co ee”) waited on a couch for their table, dressed in matching head-to-toe black, save for Cio ’s straw fedora and Frankie’s wispy blond ponytail.

Frankie gave his grandfather a bear hug, pressing his lips hard into Cio ’s cheek and smothering his face in kisses.

“Papa,” as Frankie calls him, seemed

to bask in the exuberant display of a ection.

“Who’s the most beautiful boy in the whole world?” Cio asked.

“Me!” Frankie answered with a gleeful high-pitched howl, his eyes scanning the ceiling.

“Marching band!” he blurted again. Days earlier, Cio promised to take Frankie to a Memorial Day parade, same as last year.

“That’s his mission this weekend,” Cio said. “And he’s going to ride me on it until we’ve accomplished it.”

Without warning, the boy leaped into Cio ’s lap, landing on his slightly built grandfather with enough force to knock the older man’s hat to the ﬂoor. Frankie, at six feet tall and nearly 180 pounds, already dwarfs his grandfather. (One of Frankie’s physicians predicted he will reach at least six foot ﬁve.) Cio reacted to the love fest with a smile that seems set permanently on bemused.

Usually a gentle giant, Frankie can be a handful. At 13 months, he was kicked out of daycare for biting another child. “I didn’t want him traumatized, so I threw him a graduation party,” Cio recalled, laughing.

As they waited for a table, Frankie pulsed with energy, one hand rhythmically ﬂapping a short strip of leather as part of a “stimming” routine that he uses to calm himself. Minutes later, he

Frankie and Alexa Rose Ciofﬁ

Frankie and Frank Ciofﬁ at the Memorial Day parade in Vergennes

fell suddenly still when he spotted the necklace around his grandfather’s neck — “Mama’s chain,” he calls it. Frankie gently fingered the pendant, which holds ashes of Alexa Rose, Cioffi’s daughter. The last time Frankie saw his mother, he was 2.

Alexa Rose died on April 9, 2016, the result of years of opioid abuse. Her death not only instantly transformed Frankie’s life but Cioffi’s, as well. Soon after, he announced to his then-wife that he planned to formally adopt Frankie as his son — and in doing so swapped the delights of a doting grandfather for the endless responsibilities of a parent. (Frankie’s biological father hasn’t been part of the boy’s life.) Cioffi has never regretted his decision, even though it cost him his second marriage and likely erased any fantasies of a relaxing retirement.

Two months later, the second shoe dropped: Doctors diagnosed Frankie with autism, a condition that can be challenging to manage under the best of circumstances. It would be up to Cioffi, then 61, unmarried and working as president of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, to ensure the boy’s care beyond childhood.

Cioffi soon grasped the magnitude of the diagnosis. If Frankie hears a loud noise, he may cover his ears in panic — or bolt into traffic. He cannot bathe, dress or use the toilet by himself. Frankie has to be sedated in a hospital just to get his teeth cleaned. While Cioffi hasn’t flinched in the face of Frankie’s need for around-the-clock care, the question of what will happen to the boy when he’s gone has kept him awake at night.

Cioffi is acutely aware that time is not on his side. He and his first wife, Jovana Guarino, Frankie’s grandmother, are both 71. Divorced for more than 30 years, they co-parent the boy from separate condos in the same South Burlington complex. They know that Frankie will never live independently without a caregiver — and that they won’t be around forever. By the time Frankie reaches his mid-twenties, his grandparents will be in their eighties.

The prospects for long-term care for adults with profound autism have improved since the days when Vermonters like Frankie were segregated from society and warehoused in institutions, often in abysmal conditions. Even today, though, the options are limited.

Vermont has no facilities for adults with profound autism or Down syndrome who cannot live alone. They either live with their families or sharedliving providers, caregivers who take people with disabilities into their homes.

Cioffi has never regretted his decision to adopt Frankie, even though it cost him his marriage and likely erased any fantasies of a relaxing retirement.

Some 600 Vermont families face the same heart-wrenching problem as Cioffi: how to care for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability when their state services end at age 22.

As Cioffi anguished over Frankie’s future, he followed the same networking instincts that have guided him for decades as a mover and shaker in Vermont, a troubleshooter trusted by governors, policy makers, and leaders of the state’s largest businesses and organizations. His search led him to Hannah Schwartz and an endeavor called Riverflow Community, a sharedliving arrangement that she was starting in Monkton. Riverflow is redefining the lives of adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities — or, as its caregivers refer to them, “friends.”

Cioffi, a master at making deals and friends, was all in. He saw in the nascent project a way to provide Frankie with

way neurotypical people can… He memorizes everything he sees and hears — people, places, sounds, everything.

“‘Sesame Street’ is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and viewers like you,” Frankie said, unprompted, parroting the cadence and intonation of a PBS voice-over. Frankie was “scripting,” Cioffi explained — repeating words and phrases he’s heard in movies, TV shows, even past conversations. Cioffi was careful not to laugh because it upsets the boy.

Autism is a complex and lifelong neurological condition that affects how a person communicates, learns, interacts and behaves. Its symptoms and severity can vary greatly. People with autism may struggle to pick up social cues, have difficulty maintaining conversations or be completely nonverbal. They may rely on rigid routines, order and repetition, or develop intensely focused interests. Some people with autism become artists, doctors, mathematicians and business leaders. Others, like Frankie, are unlikely to ever live independently. Until he adopted Frankie, Cioffi’s only exposure to the condition was seeing Rain Man, the 1988 movie starring Dustin Hoffman as an autistic savant.

“I didn’t know a thing about autism,” Cioffi recalled. “I thought you take a pill for it, and you’re OK.” Cioffi’s father assured him that the boy would outgrow it.

an eventual home as a grown-up and to be part of a wider effort to help dozens more Vermonters like him. Through his adopted son, Cioffi had found something new and important to fix. Said Alex Demoly, vice president and Cioffi’s righthand man at the economic development nonprofit, “Frankie is what gets him up in the morning and keeps him going.”

Frankie makes me smile and laugh internally every day. But autism is so perplexing to try to understand and it is the most formidable challenge that I have ever attempted to navigate. Frankie is like a person sitting at a computer screen with 50 windows open at the same time. He is actively engaged in every window, but he rarely can attend to just one simple thing in the

At school and during summers, Frankie has personal care assistants to help with routine daily tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating. But three nights a week and most weekends, such as this one, Cioffi is on his own with Frankie. When a waiter arrived with the boy’s breakfast — blueberry pancakes, bacon and toast — Cioffi cut it up into bite-size portions. Frankie snatched the bacon and inhaled it, licked the plate clean, then scarfed down his toast before turning his gaze to Cioffi’s potatoes.

Cioffi had barely touched his own food by the time the bill arrived, but he shrugged it off. He repeated the day’s schedule for Frankie to confirm the routine that the child expected: First, they would visit the Marcelle Melosira, a University of Vermont research vessel that’s docked at the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Next, they would stop to look at the moose mural on the side of the ECHO building, then drive to a beach in the South End to see the ducks before returning to Cioffi’s condo.

Hannah Schwartz

Frankie had never been on a boat until three years ago, when former senator Patrick Leahy and his wife, Marcelle, for whom the vessel is named, heard from Cioffi how much Frankie loved the boat and invited him aboard. Cioffi’s late parents were longtime friends of the couple from Patrick Leahy’s days as Chittenden County state’s attorney in the 1960s and early ’70s. Visiting the “Marcelle boat,” as Frankie calls it, has since become one of his favorite activities.

On the drive there, the nursery rhyme “This Old Man” played over and over on the car stereo, while Frankie sat in the back seat watching Despicable Me in Spanish on his iPad, rewinding and fast-forwarding rapidly through the film. Occasionally, he stuck one end of the tablet in his mouth to allow the sound to reverberate in his head.

At ECHO, Cioffi rolled down the window so that Frankie could look at the boat. Seconds later the boy announced, “Window up,” and Cioffi drove off. After similarly perfunctory visits to the moose mural and the ducks, Cioffi began a circuitous route home.

Autism affects Frankie’s social and communication skills but not his intelligence. Frankie never looked up from the iPad as he rode but always seemed to know where he was. He called out familiar landmarks, such as “Papa’s office” on lower Main Street or his pediatrician’s house on South Union Street, as if following a mental map.

Back at the condo, Frankie lay down on a bed in his playroom, absorbed in his video, his toys neatly arranged beside him. The condo was set up primarily to accommodate Frankie’s needs. Cioffi still owns his house in St. Albans, called the Hill Farm, where Alexa died, but Frankie won’t enter some of the rooms there.

“Sweetheart, do you want privacy?” Cioffi asked. Frankie said nothing. “Yell to me when you want to go to the bathroom.”

“This is what I do all weekend,” Cioffi explained, neither bragging nor complaining. “I take showers at midnight. I work when he’s sleeping. But when he’s up, I’m on.”

Unlike Cioffi, Guarino said she knew from the time Frankie was six months old that the child was neurodivergent, meaning that he learns, processes and communicates differently than what society deems “normal.” It was little things, she said. Frankie didn’t make eye contact as a baby and was slow to raise his head. When she picked him up, his body creaked like an old man’s. (Frankie has joint hypermobility,

also known as being double-jointed.) In daycare, she watched him scan the room methodically from floor to ceiling, as if memorizing every detail.

Yet she also saw flashes of brilliance. At 18 months, Frankie would watch runners on the bike path behind Guarino’s condo and chase after the ones wearing colorful sneakers. As the runners rounded a bend and disappeared from view, rather than running faster to catch up, Frankie backed up and stared through the trees, triangulating to the spot ahead where the runner would reappear.

Cioffi’s sister Carol Spillane remembers when Frankie was 2 and Guarino claimed he could read. His great-aunt was skeptical, given the boy’s age. But when they were out walking together, Frankie stopped at a road sign and read every letter out loud. That was amazing , Spillane remembers thinking.

Madeline Nemeroff, who worked as Frankie’s aide from 2021 to 2025 while she was a nursing student at UVM, remembers sitting at the dinner table with him while checking her grades on her laptop. Once, when she got a bad grade and was feeling down about it,

Frankie “reached across the table and grabbed my hand,” she said. “I never said a thing. He picks up on everything.”

At Guarino’s condo, where Frankie spends several weeknights, the boy experiences a very different parenting style than Cioffi’s. Guarino, whom

I didn’t know a thing about autism. I thought you take a pill for it, and you’re OK.

FRANK CIOFFI

Frankie calls “Nona,” plays Bach and Vivaldi for Frankie, lets him paint and sit outdoors for hours listening to the birds. Four days a week, she brings him to the gym to work out with a trainer. But from the moment he walks into the house, his electronic devices are turned off.

“I’m the disciplinarian. I am the one who sets the parameters,” she said. “When he comes here, he’s in the army.”

Guarino acknowledges that Frankie will likely never live independently or get married. On the plus side, she figures, he probably will never smoke, drink, run with the wrong crowd. Or do drugs.

The best part about parenting Frankie? Guarino didn’t hesitate.

“He looks exactly like my daughter,” she said.

After your third car accident, you said to me, “Dad, it wasn’t my fault.” I looked at you and said, “Honey, when you drive into the rear end of another car, it is your fault. You didn’t mean to do it. That’s why they call it an accident.” We both laughed and after your broken hands were [cast], we went in search of a new car to give you a goal to get better soon. What neither of us knew that day was that the prescription you were given would open the door to opiates slinking their way into your life.

Alexa Rose was born to Cioffi and Guarino on November 21, 1985, three years after their son, Mike. She was a “pretty normal kid,” Cioffi recalled, a member of swim and basketball teams and initially not much of a partier. Cioffi, a workaholic known for putting in 16-hour days, somehow found time for his kids, taking them hiking, camping and skiing, according to Guarino and his siblings. After Alexa graduated from South Burlington High School, she spent a semester at Johnson State College (now Vermont State University—Johnson) before dropping out.

Cioffi said he was oblivious to her substance abuse until Christmas Day 2012, when he gave each of his kids $800, and Mike’s cash went missing. Soon after, more money disappeared from Cioffi’s parents’ home. When one of the grandchildren set up a hidden camera in their grandparents’ house, Alexa was caught stealing. Baffled as to why his daughter, then 26, needed money, Cioffi sat her down, and she came clean: Recreational use of the opioids she had been prescribed after her car crash in her early twenties had devolved into a full-blown habit.

Cioffi called a physician friend at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans who was an expert on addiction medicine. They got Alexa into rehab for two weeks, but it wasn’t long enough. When Cioffi’s physician friend told him that Alexa might relapse eight or nine times before she recovered, he was stunned.

Frankie wasn’t Alexa’s first child. Several years before she died, she became pregnant. Her boyfriend at

Love, Dad « P.31

Frankie with Patrick and Marcelle Leahy From left: Frank, Frankie and Alexa Rose

Alexa Rose, age 6

Frankie, age 10

the time wasn’t ready to be a father, according to Cioffi, “and she was doubting whether or not she could successfully be a mom.” Alexa stayed sober throughout the pregnancy, then chose the family who adopted her baby. Afterward, she fell into a depression and soon relapsed.

One day in 2016, when she stopped answering Cioffi’s phone calls and texts entirely, he drove to her Colchester condo and found her and her boyfriend “totally out of it.” Frankie was elsewhere at the time. Alexa later moved back into Cioffi’s house in St. Albans because she no longer felt safe in her own home. Cioffi remembers every stinging detail about her final day.

I asked if you could watch Frankie while I went to the store to get diapers and baby food, but you were too sick to get out of bed. I asked if you needed to go to the hospital and you said, “No, I just need to sleep.” I brought you some Tylenol and a ginger ale and Frankie and I went to the grocery store.

When we came back home an hour later, the house was quiet. I changed Frankie’s diaper, gave him a snack and then put him on the kitchen floor to play with some toys. Then I went into the first floor bedroom and saw you. You were near lifeless. My heart stopped. I screamed, and then screamed your name. You didn’t move.

The medical examiner determined that Alexa, 30, died from acute bronchial pneumonia brought on by chronic substance abuse. That night, Guarino took Frankie to her home, and Cioffi sat down with Merrill Reynolds, his second wife, who had no children of her own.

“You didn’t sign up for this, but I’m going to adopt him,” Cioffi recalled saying. “If you can’t do this, you’ve got to tell me now.” The couple divorced shortly after.

Cioffi’s siblings, who all live within walking distance of each other near the Hill Farm, knew their big brother was heartbroken. Yet none was surprised by the sacrifice he would make.

“Frank always comes through,” said Rob Cioffi, his younger brother. “He’s just wired that way.”

Even as a youth, Cioffi was a leader and problem solver: student council

a job he’s held ever since. From behind the scenes there, he’s helped expand some of Vermont’s largest businesses, including IBM, Ben & Jerry’s, Dealer. com, and Beta Technologies. Cioffi also serves on at least half a dozen state and nonprofit boards. Yet he shies away from the limelight.

Susan “Sam” Andersen has known Cioffi for 35 years and worked with him at GBIC for a decade before her retirement in December. She said she could readily cite any number of Cioffi’s accomplishments at the nonprofit. “But if I were to mention them, he’d call me up and read me the riot act.”

One day, about four years ago I talked with a friend whose daughter has special needs, and he told me what he and his wife were doing to plan for her future. Then he looked at me and asked, “What’s your plan?” That night I tossed and turned unable to sleep. I woke up sweating with immense anxiety about Frankie’s future. We had to create a plan for Frankie’s future and perpetual care in a world without me and Mom, and we had to move on it as quickly as possible.

Cioffi initially approached the problem of Frankie’s future the way a real estate developer might. For a time, he considered buying a Burlington nursing home, then converting a few floors to serve adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. He abandoned the plan when he learned that the state would consider it a psychiatric facility and refuse to license it.

president in high school, then a member of the student government at UVM. In the 1970s, when the UVM Board of Trustees voted to abolish coed housing on campus, Cioffi, still in college, lobbied the legislature to change the university’s charter to grant two students voting seats on the board. Behind Cioffi’s desk hangs a 1977 photo of him standing beside thengovernor Richard Snelling as the legislation was signed into law. Cioffi remains UVM’s longest-serving trustee, having been reappointed by four governors.

Cioffi had already built a lucrative career in real estate when thengovernor Howard Dean appointed him state commissioner of economic development in 1995. Three years later, Cioffi became president of Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation and Cynosure, its nonprofit real estate arm,

Demoly, vice president at GBIC, offered to help Cioffi solve the puzzle in their spare time. So in summer 2023, the two men assembled a team of interns to research shared-living communities throughout New England, and they began touring them.

Cioffi wasn’t along when the team visited Heartbeet Lifesharing, a licensed residential community in Hardwick. But one of the interns later described it to Cioffi as “kinda hippie-ish,” a cross between a 1970s-era Vermont commune and a kibbutz. Cioffi was intrigued. “Find me the woman who started Heartbeet,” he told Demoly. That woman was Hannah Schwartz.

Cioffi and Schwartz met for dinner at Hotel Vermont and talked for hours until the staff kicked them out. When Cioffi

Levi Wicke and Connor Henesy in the kitchen at Riverflow Community

From left: Duncan Caffry, Hannah Schwartz and John Burger chasing a wayward chicken at Riverflow

Love, Dad « P.33

left, he recalled, his head was spinning. There was still much he didn’t know about disability care. But he saw a viable path forward.

For most of the 20th century, Vermont had a place for people like Frankie after their families were gone or were unable or unwilling to care for them: the Vermont State School for Feebleminded Children, which opened in Brandon in 1915. Later renamed the Brandon Training School, the facility was considered a humane alternative to the state’s poorhouses and poor farms. Girls and women from Brandon Training School were hired out as domestic help to provide much-needed revenue.

Many of Brandon Training School’s 2,324 “inmates,” as they were called, were subjected to forced sterilization during Vermont’s eugenics movement of the 1920s and ’30s. Prior to the school’s closure in 1993, disability rights advocates documented a wide range of abuses that included violence, the use of straitjackets and other restraints, isolation in unheated rooms, and the withholding of food as punishment. When residents of Brandon Training School died, they were buried across the street at Pine Hill Cemetery in plots separate from the rest of the cemetery, ostracized in death as they had been in life.

Schwartz’s parents dedicated their lives to ensuring that disabled people never meet a similar fate. Her mother is a social worker. Her father is a civil rights lawyer who advocates for people with disabilities. He was instrumental in shutting down Pennhurst State School and Hospital in Pennsylvania, a filthy and overcrowded institution notorious for horrific violence, abuse and neglect. It closed in 1987.

When Vermont closed the Brandon Training School, the state made a commitment, known as the Brandon Promise, to come up with dignified alternatives to institutionalization for Vermonters with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The state’s answer was so-called shared-living providers, under which the state provides tax-free stipends to people who take those with disabilities into their homes.

“They created one option in 33 years and did nothing else,” Schwartz said about the model, which she sees as deeply flawed: Although caregivers may be generous and kind, the person with the disability has virtually no autonomy. Once the caregiver dies, retires or tires of the arrangement — the average stay is three years, Schwartz said — the person

Frank always comes through. He’s just wired that way.

ROB CIOFFI

gets moved to another home. “They’re the disposable part of that story,” she said.

After graduating from Goddard College in Plainfield in 1999, Schwartz used some of her inheritance to buy a 150-acre farm in Hardwick to start Heartbeet, a community for adults with developmental disabilities. She based it on an approach known as the Camphill movement, in which people who are neurotypical and neurodivergent live together in small homes shared with others, raising their own food and sharing daily responsibilities. There are more than 100 Camphill communities worldwide, including Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Pennsylvania, where Schwartz grew up and her parents worked.

Schwartz left Heartbeet in 2019 to manage Mansfield Hall, a dorm for Burlington-area college students with special needs. When Cioffi met her, she

was planning a new Camphill community in western Vermont.

In December 2023 Schwartz and Cioffi visited the Camphill Village in Pennsylvania. A week after their return, she called him to say that she had found a house and 30-acre property in Monkton. Though the house had been vacant for years, the bones were solid. And with eight large bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, the floor plan was ideal.

Schwartz was planning Riverflow with three other families whose adult children have developmental disabilities. Among them was Elizabeth Campbell of Shelburne, whose son, Jesse, has Down syndrome regression disorder. Like Cioffi, Campbell was motivated by grief — her husband had died in 2021 — and worry over her son’s future.

“For me to go to my death knowing that his fate was to be a guest in a series of strangers’ homes would be terrible,” Campbell recalled. So a few years ago, she and other Vermont parents of adults with significant disabilities founded the Developmental Disabilities Housing Initiative. They were the driving force behind the 2022 passage of a state law, known as Act 186, that funds innovative housing programs for people with disabilities. Riverflow was awarded one of its first grants, for nearly $170,000.

At the time, Cioffi knew little about disability housing but a great deal about navigating state agencies and raising money. He secured a separate $300,000 grant through the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Riverflow opened to its first five residents in October 2024, just 10 months after Schwartz and the group of parents purchased the Monkton property. They set up a nonprofit, which received its Act 250 land-use permit to expand on April 9 of this year, the 10th anniversary of Alexa’s death.

Cioffi enlisted a lobbying firm and secured an additional $2.8 million in the 2026 state budget for similar housing initiatives elsewhere in the state. He now

serves on Riverflow’s board of directors and is trying to raise money for improvements, which, unlike residents’ care, are not covered by Medicaid. Demand is intense: Before it opened, Riverflow received 75 applications for five spots.

Schwartz’s wife, River Parker, manages the property and recently built a greenhouse where the “friends” and an equal number of live-in staff, or “householders,” will grow vegetables year-round. There’s a working apple orchard, sheep and chickens, for egg production. Schwartz’s goal is to produce most of Riverflow’s food on-site, as she did at Heartbeet.

The main house has the relaxing air of a bed-and-breakfast, with a long dining room table and a spacious living room where residents lounge on comfy couches. In a basement woodshop, the friends make cutting boards, candle holders, coasters and picture frames. Each bedroom is bright, airy and personalized.

Riverflow is taking shape in stages as funding becomes available. When it’s finished, 50 Vermonters will live there. And while many disability-related organizations are severely short-staffed, Schwartz receives a steady parade of qualified applicants.

Because Riverflow is licensed for adults only, Frankie is years away from moving into his “forever home,” as Cioffi calls it. But he loves to visit, calling it his “playdate with Hannah.” For a boy who never had playdates — or friends — that feels to Cioffi like a major step forward for Alexa’s son. His son.

Cioffi’s 10-year anniversary letter to his daughter offers a lesson in grief and a reminder that tragic loss can also serve as a catalyst for growth and fuel for a higher mission. His search for Frankie’s forever home, Cioffi wrote, renewed his own ability to “focus on what matters most.”

Alexa Rose, inscribed on your gravestone are the words: One Love, One Heart, Rest in Peace. Your life continues to create profound purpose, you brought incredible lives into the world and your soul created the means for enlightenment and love to live on forever.

May those suffering with grief find hope, promise and purpose.

PHOTOS: CALEB KENNA

In the garden at Riverflow Community

Nourish to Flourish

Common Roots is building a more resilient local food system through organic farming, nutrition education and food access programs

Carol McQuillen was teaching kindergarten and first grade at Orchard School in South Burlington when she started noticing what she called “the crash.” “The kids would go to breakfast and get sausage on a stick covered in grease, tater tots, hot chocolate and Pop-Tarts. This wasn’t the fault of the nutritional staff, but it was a barrier to learning and concentration,” McQuillen said. By 9:30, her students lost focus.

“Sadly, the highest-need kids in general are the ones that rely on school breakfast, so that wasn’t a good trajectory for their day and habits,” she added.

McQuillen described this problem in 2007 when she began meeting with 35 other South Burlington teachers, parents and health professionals about school food.

She and her team realized that children needed to learn how to nourish themselves as a basic life skill. “Nutrition education is an important part of building lifelong healthy habits,” McQuillen said.

to the creation of Common Roots, a South Burlington nonprofit that connects organic farming, food access and nutrition education to help build a healthier local food system.

When Common Roots became a nonprofit in 2009, the country was in the throes of the Great Recession, a time of increased need. Simultaneously, local educators, parents and community members were becoming increasingly concerned about nutrition, food access and community health.

later, in November 2019, just a few months before the pandemic.

During lockdown, Carmolli would bring a paper menu out to people’s cars so they could check off the items they wanted, after which volunteers “shopped” for them and brought food to their cars. Now, post-pandemic, people shop inside the food shelf with the help of volunteer guides.

On a Saturday in early May, people lined up outside the food shelf to check out the free plant starters that Common Roots had supplied. Their faces lit up when they saw the beginnings of tomatoes, chard and lettuce. One woman thoughtfully selected a large bagful of spring scallions from the Common Roots table. “I can make my favorite foods with these,” she said.

Carmolli is proud of the quality of what’s on offer there. “We get some of the best produce available anywhere,” he said. “The freshness and quality of the food Common Roots provides are exceptional, and our food shelf would be a very different place without their partnership. Just because someone needs a little help accessing food doesn’t mean they should receive lower-quality food.”

They made a plan for healthier school lunches that the school board accepted, but the participants soon realized that healthier school meals alone would not solve the deeper challenges affecting children’s health, nutrition and access to quality food. That realization would eventually lead

In its early years, Common Roots helped address food insecurity through a weekly food-share program that served 40 South Burlington families. When the South Burlington Food Shelf opened in November 2019, just months before the pandemic, Common Roots became one of its key partners, providing fresh produce,

prepared meals, nutrition education and ongoing support.

Today, Common Roots teaches children and families how to grow, prepare and enjoy healthy meals; provides Farm to School nutrition education in more than 70 classrooms; grows food on two urban farms; supports local food shelves with fresh produce and prepared meals; and operates a community farmstand that helps connect residents with locally grown food.

“The challenges facing families today are not isolated problems,” said executive director Rob Fish, who took the helm in 2026. “Food security, nutrition education, public health and local agriculture are all connected. Common Roots works at the intersection of those issues, helping create a stronger and more resilient South Burlington.”

RETHINKING FOOD ACCESS

When Common Roots formed in 2009, there was no food shelf in South Burlington. One way the organization fed families was through a partnership program with local schools.

McQuillen worked with South Burlington school administrators and child advocacy teams to select 40 households to be candidates for a foodshare program. “More than 40 families needed our help, but this was all we had the capacity for,” McQuillen explained.

The food shelf opened a decade

For many families, access to fresh food is only part of the story; even when produce is available, low-income households are likely to rely on cheaper, less nutritious items and may skip meals.

That’s why, in addition to donating plant starters and fresh produce to the food shelf, Common Roots employs an executive chef, Anthony Jones, who, with interns and volunteers, makes ready-made nutritious meals for people to take home. Interns and volunteers at the food shelf explain the meals, side dishes and farm-fresh produce.

Said one food shelf participant: “What stood out to me wasn’t just receiving food. It was getting fresh vegetables and meals that felt healthy, welcoming and dignified. It made a real difference for our family.”

In 2025, 748 households representing 1,736 individuals, including 487 children, received support through the South Burlington Food Shelf. Common Roots contributed more than 16,000 pounds of certified organic produce and prepared meals, valued at approximately $90,800.

FROM SOIL TO PLATE

Farmers at the Common Roots farm in South Village grow vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, peas and peppers, all of which show up at the South Burlington Food Shelf; in meals created by the Common Roots chef; and at

Carol McQuillen

the nearby farmstand. Anyone can shop there or purchase a Nourish Card, which is loaded with prepaid credits. The card provides a revenue source that the farm can rely on.

“The farm plays an important role in providing food for that particular region,” said Anson Tebbetts, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. “It feeds two audiences: one that has enough income to purchase the food and another that provides food for those who are in need.”

Beyond food access, Common Roots also contributes to the strength of the state’s local food economy. The organization often describes its work as a system that connects soil to plate. By producing food locally, training future farmers and food-system professionals, supporting local purchasing, and keeping food dollars circulating within the region, the organization helps build greater community resilience.

This time of year, you’d have a difficult time driving up to the farm without running into Colin O’Brien, the farm manager. During the spring and early summer, he works long hours — sometimes arriving by 7 a.m. and staying until after 8 p.m.

O’Brien graduated from Saint Michael’s College in 2019 with a degree in environmental studies. He worked at Pitchfork Farm in Burlington’s Intervale until 2022, when he started at Common Roots. Since his arrival, O’Brien has grown the Common Roots farm, hiring two dedicated staff members and

managing interns and volunteers. The harvest has expanded as well, with additions such as a strawberry field and an apple orchard.

The farmstand, O’Brien said, is a pretty special thing. The average distance food has traveled by the time you purchase it in a grocery store is 1,500 miles, but he can count the steps it took to bring food to the stand from the farm — on foot, without using fossil fuels.

“Every season we’re balancing soil health, food production, education and community needs,” he said. “What makes Common Roots unique is that everything we grow supports a larger mission. The food doesn’t just leave the farm. It becomes meals, education,

“Common Roots feeds two audiences: one that has enough income to purchase the food and another that provides food for those who are in need.”

— Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets

READY TO GET INVOLVED?

Visit commonroots.org for information on how to volunteer or donate, or join Common Roots at its upcoming Nourish to Flourish fundraiser at the Wheeler Homestead on June 23 at 5 p.m. to gather in support of food equity, nutrition education and a healthier community for all.

food shelf donations and opportunities for people to connect with where their food comes from.”

The farm is also a classroom, and groups from local schools often come for tours. Every semester, the farmers welcome a group of interns from the University of Vermont. That’s how Common Roots board chair Noah Gilbert-Fuller first discovered the organization.

As an intern, he helped with classroom education at South Burlington schools, and he remembers watching kids who had never even seen a carrot learn to like those vegetables.

PARENTS OFTEN SEE THE IMPACT CONTINUE AT HOME

“My children like trying new foods at school with their friends. I’ve seen an increased interest in food, nutrition and cooking at home,” said Morgan Rainville, whose sons participate in Common Roots’ Farm to School program.

That program is provided at no cost to the South Burlington School District. Common Roots raises private philanthropic support and community donations to ensure that every elementary school student can participate in hands-on nutrition education regardless of school budgets. With the help of interns, staff and volunteers, Common Roots has provided more than 180,000 nutrition education experiences for children through Farm to School and helped middle school students prepare more than 15,000 meals for their families through its Farm to Go culinary program.

“Not too many students are actively on a farm these days,” Tebbetts said. “So this kind of education must occur so people understand what it takes to grow our food.”

After his internship ended,

Gilbert-Fuller continued to volunteer with Common Roots, helping out wherever he was needed. When he graduated from UVM with a degree in public policy, he got a job in the water quality division in the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

EVERYONE CAN PLAY A ROLE

Common Roots has come a long way since McQuillen first became concerned about the quality of school food and the long-term health impacts of poor nutrition. Nearly two decades after founding Common Roots, she’s encouraged by the growing collaborations among farmers, schools, food service professionals, community organizations and families. It’s a good sign for the future of food education and food access in Vermont.

In the South Burlington School District, director of nutritional services Rhonda Ketner has earned statewide recognition for sourcing one of the highest percentages of local food in Vermont schools, with approximately 26 percent of purchases coming from local producers. Students now have access to Vermont-raised beef, local eggs, apples, maple syrup, cheese and other locally sourced ingredients.

“All the time, kids are faced with commercials for sugary cereals and other highly processed foods,” McQuillen said. “But we can make a difference in our community by giving kids and families access to nourishing food and showing them how to prepare and enjoy it.”

Director Fish said that, as Common Roots enters its next chapter, the organization is focused on ensuring that every aspect of its work remains sustainable and accessible. “Our goal is to strengthen the systems that support healthy communities, from the farm field to the classroom to the dinner table,” he said.

There are lots of ways to help.

“Farmers, volunteers, schools, donors, businesses and families all have a role to play in building a healthier food system,” he said. “The need for this work has never been greater, but what’s encouraging is how many people want to be part of the solution.” n

Colin O’Brien, Common Roots farm manager

Common Roots in South Burlington

food+drink Much Kneaded

Once upon a time, the process of buying a loaf of organic Red Hen Baking bread went something like this: You’d drive to the wholesale bakery on a lonely stretch of Route 100 in Duxbury and, upon arrival, honk the black rubber bulb of a bike horn.

“[It would] scare the person making dough in the next room,” recalled Randy George, who opened Red Hen with his now-wife, Eliza Cain, in 1999. “They’d jump up, wash their hands and sell a loaf of bread.”

The system has become more sophisticated over the intervening 27 years — now involving a computerized point-of-sale register and utterly devoid of abrupt, loud noises — but it’s still not perfect. Since Red Hen opened a new café on Montpelier’s Main Street on May 1, the spot has been so busy its line sometimes spills onto the sidewalk.

“We’re meeting with an architect next week,” Cain said. Together, she explained, they’ll create a better workﬂow for the space.

Red Hen’s move to Montpelier wasn’t in the owners’ long-term plans; it was a work-around to problems caused by

FOOD LOVER?

delays in a construction project. Nevertheless, the crowd of visitors on a recent sweltering Tuesday afternoon suggests the combination of well-crafted sandwiches, iced co ee drinks and creemees — served in homemade cones pressed from freshly milled ﬂour — is something the city needed.

For 18 years — between the days when Red Hen primarily sold its breads wholesale and the recent opening of its Montpelier location — the bakery was located on Route 2 in Middlesex at the retail hub known as Camp Meade. There, it grew into a popular breakfast and lunch

spot, known for its maple-frosted cinnamon buns ($5.15) and buckwheat coconut chocolate chip cookies ($4.12), as well as hearty soups, salads and sandwiches. Some patrons drove from Waterbury, the Mad River Valley or Montpelier to order smoky sliced turkey and local baby greens layered with housemade cranberry chutney ($14.94), while others hopped o nearby Interstate 89 for a cozy PB&J made with Brattleboro’s Sidehill Farm jam ($5.84).

In August 2025, seeking additional space for both the bakery and the eatery, George, 56, and Cain, 58, signed a lease on another Middlesex building, the former home of food delivery biz Farmers to You, at 31 Welch Park. As time passed and permitting delays accrued, they realized the lease at Camp Meade would end before their new location was ready. Hoping to stay open, they looked around for solutions.

Half the problem was solved when Woodbelly Pizza, the new Camp Meade tenant, agreed to share the wholesale bakery space with Red Hen until its building project is completed in September. The other part of the solution lay in a large vacant storefront on the Capital City’s main drag. Formerly the home of RabbleRouser Chocolate & Craft (which also had roots at Camp Meade), the 4,000-squarefoot space was one of the only locations in town ample enough to meet Red Hen’s needs, and it was ripe for the plucking.

The Montpelier spot started as a stopgap, but once George and Cain found it, the concept of a downtown eatery became a permanent addition to the business plan.

“We signed a long lease,” Cain noted. While the future Middlesex location will serve folks who arrive via the nearby highways and byways, the Main Street café is accessible to stroller-pushing parents, gaggles of teenagers seeking after-school ice cream and those who might never have made a detour to visit Camp Meade.

It’s been just over a month, but Montpelier residents and regular visitors are already attached to Red Hen’s cinnamonand-honey-laced iced lattes ($6.70) and loaves of fresh bread. “The comment cards lately [say], ‘We hope you stay here,’” café manager Hannah Connor said.

Connor, a culinary school-trained pastry chef, has worked for Red Hen

Red Hen Baking’s bustling new café ﬁlls a niche in the Capital City STORY & PHOTOS BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

BAKERIES

Pastries and an iced Bella Mina latte

e dining room at Red Hen Baking’s new café

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Entrées & Exits: Sweetwaters and the Archives Team Up; Langdon Street Tavern Closes

In Burlington, two downtown businesses have launched “a new neighborhood collaboration.” Over the weekend, the ARCHIVES announced that its customers can now order food from nearby SWEETWATERS and have it delivered to the bar.

“It’s a simple idea, but one we think makes downtown a little more connected and your visit a little more enjoyable,” a social media post explained.

Customers playing arcade games or drinking cocktails in the bar at 191 College Street can scan a QR code to place an order for items such as a Shirt Sleeve wrap or Sweetwaters smash burger, which staff from the restaurant at 120 Church Street will walk over when it’s ready. Ordering is currently available from when the Archives opens until 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

After a nine-year run, Montpelier’s Langdon Street Tavern closed its doors on Thursday, June 4. The owners of the casual restaurant and bar at 14 Langdon Street announced the news on social media. They did not give a reason for the closure when Seven Days reached out for comment, though WCAX-TV reported that the landlord “is ending the lease over a rent dispute.”

The former McGillicuddy’s Irish Pub became Langdon Street Tavern in

May 2017 and was a popular place for trivia, karaoke and watching sports. It’s the second nightlife spot to close on the street since last fall, when Bent Nails Bistro moved to Middlesex, becoming BENT NAILS ROADHOUSE

“Through COVID, the flood, and everything in between, this place kept going because of you,” the goodbye post said, calling out its “bartenders, the regulars, the first-timers who became family, and everyone who ever pulled up a stool and made this place what it was.” ➆

CONNECT

From left: The Archives; outdoor dining at Sweetwaters

Langdon Street Tavern

on and off since 2008, when she helped develop the bakery’s selection of croissants and other sweet and savory treats. In her current role, she’s been instrumental in helping George and Cain meet the challenges of the ever-changing business climate. She encouraged them to launch a walk-up creemee window when the Middlesex café was closed during the pandemic and helps solve all sorts of logistical quandaries, with the aim of keeping customers happy and coming back for more.

“My favorite part of what I do is problem solving,” she said. “It’s never stagnant.”

Bill Dorigan, a Middlesex resident, has been a Red Hen regular since he moved to Vermont 12 years ago. Although he misses being able to drop in for breakfast sandwiches and scones closer to home, he makes frequent visits to the new shop. Dorigan’s favorite thing about the bakery is the warm customer service, which he enjoys as much as the locally sourced ingredients and morning caffeine.

“There are days when maybe I’m not in such a good mood,” he said. “Having the staff person at Red Hen look me in the eye, smile, and treat me with courtesy and, often, humor makes all the difference.”

Faithful Red Hen customers will find in Montpelier much of what they loved in Middlesex. Aromatic fig anise rolls ($3.40), ham-and-Swiss croissants ($6.18), Vermont Salumi jambon-beurre sandwiches on crisp baguettes ($13.39), and loaves of dense, seeded Sprouternickel ($8.24) are all available, along with flour, jam, clothing, art and bakery merch.

In addition to having more elbow (and laptop) room for customers, the new café is objectively prettier than the old one. High ceilings and copious windows, decorated with images of wheat, give the two rooms an airy vibe. Exposed brick walls are adorned with photographs of grain farmers and hands shaping dough, plus work by area artists. “The whole [Red Hen] thing is using our hands to create beauty through food,” Connor said. “We can also have beauty on our walls.”

As a parent, she’s excited about the return of a designated space for the tiniest Red Hen patrons. The Middlesex Red Hen once had a special children’s area, but it was sacrificed when the spot got too busy to spare the room. In Montpelier, there’s ample space for play, with a squishy floor mat, books, toys and games.

One thing there’s no room for: online to-go orders, which used to make up 50

percent of Red Hen’s business. The new kitchen is too small to accommodate the onslaught of takeout when there are so many people wanting to dine in. Those who miss that convenience will need to wait until the new Middlesex operation is up and running.

That effort will happen in two steps: First, baking will move out of Camp Meade, ceding the entire space to Woodbelly, and start up again at Welch Park. The closure, George estimated, will last for a day or two. Once the baking is comfortably humming along, he and Cain will set their sights on opening the second café.

When Red Hen launched at Camp Meade, George recalled, there wasn’t any other retail in the area. Once people discovered the bakery, that small stretch of road became a destination. Now, there’s a yoga

FAITHFUL RED HEN CUSTOMERS WILL FIND IN MONTPELIER MUCH OF WHAT THEY LOVED IN MIDDLESEX.

studio, a wine shop and Woodbelly, plus Bent Nails Roadhouse across Route 2. Just a third of a mile down the road is the Roots Farm Market, which offers farm goods, groceries, charming gifts and potted plants.

While Red Hen’s next Middlesex location doesn’t have those surrounding attractions, the team believes the new bakery-café combo will create its own draw.

People always said, “‘You should open another location,’ and I never wanted that. But here we are,” George said with a smile. In truth, he hadn’t originally imagined having an eatery at all.

When he and Cain started the bakery, George was 29, and making bread was “all I knew how to do.” All the couple could afford to launch was a wholesale bread business on a shoestring. But even then,

he recalled, “The thing that really excited me the most about bakeries I’d worked in before was how they can connect with the community. Bakeries have a special place in people’s hearts.” Opening their original retail space and lunchtime restaurant, he said, “completed the picture, somehow.”

For Montpelier, which suffered business closings after a devastating flood in 2023 — and a near miss in 2024 — a once-vacant space is thriving again.

“It seems like a welcome booster shot to the town,” Dorigan said.

“I think Montpelier was craving something like this,” Cain agreed before Connor chimed in: “And ice cream never hurts.” ➆

INFO

Red Hen Baking, 60 Main St., Montpelier, 802-223-5200, redhenbaking.com

A creemee in a homemade cone

A maple-frosted cinnamon bun

Red Hen Bakery’s new café in Montpelier

Can Do

Rookie’s sparkling Vermont Maple Lemonade hits the market in a new package

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Jenny Rooke estimates that Vermonters have ordered Rookie’s Root Beer products on draft more than a million times since she and her husband, Dave, launched their small-batch soda biz in 2005.

As of early May, Rookie’s fans have a new, more portable option: 12-ounce cans of the Burlington company’s sparkling Vermont Maple Lemonade.

e summery drink is refreshing and balanced, tart and then sweet as its carbonation gives way to a maple ﬁnish. It’s nonalcoholic, but it’s also really good with a shot of gin. A month in, the cans are ﬁnding their way to coolers at graduations, lakeside picnics, mountaintop hikes and the kiddie

ey’re for sale around the state, from

Jake’s ONE Market in Burlington to Cask & Cork in Waterbury to Chapman’s General in Fairlee. I found singles in the cooler and four-packs on the shelf in the nonalcoholic room at Beverage Warehouse in Winooski ($10.99 for four). I cracked a cold one in the car on a hot morning, grateful for an onthe-go taste of Vermont to cool me down.

Notably, the Rookes’ ﬁrst canned beverage isn’t their root beer, the drink for which they’re best known. Big Soda megacorps have made sure of that through exclusive contracts with many restaurants, bars and retailers aimed at quashing competition from other soft drink purveyors.

“Coke and Pepsi have blocked us from so many things in town — major things,” Jenny said. Canning the root beer with such a limited potential market would be ﬁnancially irresponsible, she added. “We don’t have the money to ﬁght them.”

But those companies don’t make sparkling maple lemonade.

Van Duyn, who spearheaded a “Lemons to Lemonade Fund” for people with terminal illnesses. en called lemon mapleade, the drink took off and started replacing Rookie’s ginger beer tap lines around the state as the brand simpliﬁed its lineup. Of the Vermont establishments that currently carry Rookie’s, 48 offer draft root beer, 13 have maple lemonade draft lines and 62 sell the cans.

From lemon mapleade to maple lemonade, the recipe hasn’t changed: 100 percent juice from Florida lemons, carbonated water, a touch of cane sugar and dark, wood-ﬁred maple syrup from Brigham Hill Maple in Essex — the Rookes’ neighbors at the Burlington Farmers Market for 15 years.

by Burlington’s Zero Gravity, with 48-barrel batches that dwarf the 15-barrel capacity of the Rookes’ home operation. (The couple will keep making Rookie’s Root Beer there and selling it in kegs, as they always have.)

For now, Zero Gravity is making 800 cases of the maple lemonade every 13 weeks. at connection is “a full-circle moment,” Jenny said. In 2005, American Flatbread Burlington Hearth — where Zero Gravity got its start — was the ﬁrst place to sell Rookie’s on draft, thanks to then-bartenders Matt Wilson and Jeff Baumann, now CEO and general manager, respectively, of the Pine Street beer hall.

“ ey can’t say, ‘No, no, little girl’ to that,” Jenny said with a laugh. “If you google it, it’s not a thing. We have something that doesn’t exist.’” e couple made their ﬁrst batch of sparkling maple lemonade in 2018 for the celebration of life of close friend Maggie

Rookie’s has offered canned products in the past, in the form of 32-ounce crowlers sold out of their garage brewery in the New North End.

“But we killed the crowler machine during the pandemic,” Jenny said.

When restaurants closed, the biz had 500 gallons of root beer ready to go. So Dave, 50, ﬁlled crowlers, and Jenny, 51, donned a dinosaur costume, bringing them around the neighborhood for driveway dance parties. e arrangement was so popular the machine couldn’t keep up. It had quadrupled in price when they went to replace it, so they didn’t.

The new cans are brewed and packaged

When Jenny tasted the ﬁrst can batch at Zero Gravity, “I cried,” she said. “ is has been 21 years in the making, and it’s a big deal.” She and Dave run Rookie’s full time, along with their Whoa Nellie Kettle Corn truck, which they launched in 2022.

“We’ve been the little guys forever,” Jenny continued, “ﬁghting our way and trying to ﬁnd our place without getting kicked down by the big guys.”

With this good idea, the big guys should watch out. ➆

INFO

Learn more at facebook.com/ rookiesrootbeer.

Jenny Rooke with cans of Rookie’s sparkling Vermont Maple Lemonade at Beverage Warehouse

Let the Sunshine In

With In Defense of Sunlight, Calais author Rowan Jacobsen builds a case for the health beneﬁts of the sun

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Over more than two decades as a journalist and author, Rowan Jacobsen has left his cozy Calais home to report from war-torn Myanmar and to face rifletoting drug-lord lackeys in the Amazon. But his latest book, In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure , released on Tuesday, puts him in a di erent kind of risky position: at odds with decades of mainstream American health care advice.

The majority of Jacobsen’s previous books have focused on food, from the James Beard prize-winner A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America in 2007 to Wild Chocolate: Across the Americas in Search of Cacao’s Soul in 2024, which earned an award from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. He has also completed prestigious sciencewriting fellowships at MIT and the

Nova Institute for Health and published articles in Scientiﬁ c American and MIT Technology Review. In Defense of Sunlight, Jacobsen’s 10th book, thoroughly investigates the arc of the sun’s reputation, from elixir of wellbeing to a lethal force from which we must hide like Dracula at dawn. In 1926, he reports, esteemed medical journal the Lancet lauded sunbathing as “one of Nature’s greatest aids to maintaining and acquiring proper health.” By the 1950s, the sun’s rays had become the object of “quasi-religious demonization,” Jacobsen writes.

Skin cancer is the reason, of course. While Jacobsen, 58, acknowledges that the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer, he argues that we have overstated the risks of sun exposure and thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

“More people die each year from choking than from melanoma, yet there’s no national smoothie campaign to try to get those numbers down, no celebrity doctors

on the ‘Today’ show demonstrating how to safely eat a steak,” he writes.

Jacobsen asserts that our disproportionate fear of the sun, compounded by modern-day inside living, deprive us of a free, easily accessible health tonic. He outlines a growing body of research that demonstrates that, for most people, the risk of moderate sun exposure is far outweighed by its beneﬁts, ranging from lower blood pressure to reduced chronic inﬂammation.

Even public health professionals in Australia, the country with the world’s highest rate of skin cancer, agree, Jacobsen writes. In 2023, a consortium including cancer specialists and dermatologists stated, “Completely avoiding sun exposure is not optimal for health.”

Jacobsen talked with Seven Days about how he landed on the subject of sun exposure, why the majority of Americans are still in the dark about the beneﬁts of sunlight and how to survive a Vermont winter.

Your previous books have explored oysters, honeybees, apples, truffles and wild chocolate. You’ve also published articles about the intelligence of sperm whales and bioengineering the scent of extinct flowers. How do those two aspects of your career, food and science, fit together?

For a long time, I’ve worn these two hats, where my books were food-focused and most of my magazine writing was on science topics. But a lot of my food writing was actually science and nature writing in disguise. It was always about exploring our relationship with the natural world and our place in that natural world. [This book] was kind of a natural transition, because I think of light as the other nutrient besides food that we all have exposure to.

How did you land on sun and health as a book subject?

I was doing a science-writing fellowship at MIT when I started seeing studies indicating there were beneﬁcial aspects of sun exposure. In Sweden, women who sought out sun had much better longevity than women who avoided the sun. Studies in the UK showed that ultraviolet light could reduce blood pressure and lower risk of all the cardiovascular diseases. There were also studies in mice showing that sun exposure could rev up the brain and improve mood. Others showed that when sun hit skin, it triggered a release of endorphins in the brain.

Most of what I’d heard about the sun had to do with skin cancer. I remember checking: I know sun’s bad for you, but how bad for you? That’s when I really went down the rabbit hole.

Let’s start with how good it is for us. Sunlight seems to do a few di erent things. It reduces inflammation throughout the body, and, as we know, inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases. As we age, our levels of chronic inflammation tend to go up, and regular sun exposure seems to dampen that down. It creates stress on the body and triggers our natural repair mechanisms. Like moderate exercise, a temporary natural stressor kicks the system into getting o its ass and dealing with it. You need that every day, just a little fire drill. And sunlight is energy, which our body uses to make things like vitamin D, famously, and nitric oxide, which lowers blood pressure, among other things. [Note: Jacobsen presents evidence in his book that vitamin D in supplement form fails to provide the same health benefits.]

Sunlight also triggers all these signaling molecules that help the body stay on its regular diurnal cycles. You want your whole metabolism, your energy production to rev up in the morning for the day and then get quiet at night. Standard maintenance happens at night, activity during the day, and light hitting skin and eyes is how the body knows. You don’t want to have your maintenance guys taking out the trash and fixing the computers when you have to actually use the computers.

Why don’t we hear much about the upside of sun exposure?

It’s never been anyone’s job to look at the benefits of the sun and tell people about them. So much of science, the things that get heard, are the things that have some mechanism for getting the word out: a foundation or a nonprofit. Individual scientists don’t have much ability to get the word out.

There are all these well-funded entities whose task is to reduce rates of skin cancer. They’re doing their job by warning people about skin cancer. It’s not their job to think about how big the risk of skin cancer is in the greater scheme of things. When you do look at that, it’s kind of shocking to see how small skin cancer is in terms of mortality rates.

But very fair redheads do have a much, much higher risk of melanoma, so the recommendations are essentially written for them. The assumption was everyone else can just do the same thing, and it won’t hurt. Public health recommendations need to be super simple, or people get confused.

And Vermont does have among the highest melanoma rates by state. Yes. If you look at the top 10, it includes Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Washington State — almost all northern states with high percentages of old white people. In Europe, the highest rates are all the Scandinavian countries. Mediterranean countries have lower rates, partly due to darker skin tone and partly due to more steady, regular sun exposure.

You make the point in the book that even as skin cancer rates have risen, the modern world has turned many people into moles (the subterranean animals, not the moles a dermatologist checks). That seems, ironically, to make us more susceptible to skin cancer.

Melanoma is more common in office workers than in outdoor workers. It’s much more common in people that have fair skin. It’s not associated with lifetime cumulative sun exposure, but it is associated with sunburns early in life.

The formula for melanoma is: Have really fair skin, work in an office where you never really see the sun, and then go to Jamaica on vacation and fry yourself for a week.

Your book title is a deliberate echo of Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food, and you wrote a seven-word rule similar to his. Yours is: “Get sun. Not too much. Go outside.” Is that all there is to it?

It’s complicated, but all the experts agree: Don’t burn. Make it regular.

When you have regular, moderate amounts of exposure, your body knows to expect it and knows how to deal with it. Morning is great, not only because it gets your metabolism jump-started, but that morning light is very gentle and an alert for your body that the other stuff’s coming. And you want to get as much of your skin in the game as you can, so your face and hands aren’t the only ones doing the work of absorbing the rays. Run around naked in your yard. Vermonters are good at that. Midday, the woods are great. You’re not going to get too much UV. A mix of wavelengths is bouncing off the leaves and being filtered. That is basically how we evolved in the forest 2 million years ago.

But what the heck do we do in Vermont in the middle of winter?

Oh man, I wish I had an easy fucking answer. I try to ski or skate every day. It’s a challenge. Go on vacation to a place with more light if you can, but don’t get burned. It doesn’t mean lying on a beach. Just somewhere where you can be in shorts and a T-shirt helps a lot.

The other thing is augmenting your UV exposure with devices. Tanning beds are bad news, but there are new devices coming on the market that are approved specifically for giving you safe shots of UV. One is designed to be the perfect wavelength to make vitamin D, and you just do it for 60 seconds. But the sun is a full-spectrum medicine; it’s like the whole food. The light devices are maybe a protein shake. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO

In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure by Rowan Jacobsen, Scribner, 288 pages, $29.

Rowan Jacobsen gives free readings on Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m., at the Norwich Bookstore, norwichbookstore.com; Saturday, June 20, 6 p.m., at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, northshire.com; and Tuesday, July 14, 7 p.m., at Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, galaxybookshop.com.

June 20-October 25, 2026

4T-ShelMuseum061726 1

Supported by Norman Rockwell The Craftman (detail) 1963 Oil on canvas 47 1/4 x 38 1/4 in Collection of Shelburne Museum, gift of Polycor and Rock of Ages Corporation 2024-12 1 Photography by Andy Duback

Stage Kisses

Theater review: Shakespeare in Love, Vermont Repertory Theatre

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

In Vermont Repertory Theatre’s lush, vigorous production of Shakespeare in Love, the problems keep coming for one William Shakespeare, as if the playwright needed a taste of his own plots. Our hero suffers from writer’s block, lovesickness, debt, pesky theater owners and one big instance of gender disguise. As it turns out, these are precisely the conditions necessary to write Romeo and Juliet, and we watch Shakespeare discover his play as he finds a romance powerful enough to stir his imagination.

Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard won the 1998 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the movie of the same name, and Lee Hall adapted it for the stage in 2014. It’s a story about putting on a play that expresses a deep truth every theater artist knows: All through rehearsals, it just isn’t clear that the thing is going to work. And yet when the curtain rises, a little miracle occurs.

Everybody wants something from Will Shakespeare. Theater owner Philip Henslowe is owed a long-promised script; without it, he can’t sell tickets to get ruthless moneylender Hugh Fennyman off his back. Acting eminence Richard Burbage is equally impatient for the play he’s commissioned. It’s a bad time for Will to lose his muse.

He’s making pathetic progress on a new comedy, and his playwriting rival, Christopher Marlowe, mocks his working title (Romeo & Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter) while dispensing friendly and quite good advice on what’s missing from his stalled sonnet. Marlowe’s rule-the-roost confidence contrasts with Shakespeare’s shabby career to date. The play’s essential joke is that the nonentity scurrying from woe to woe is on the brink of … everything.

Shakespeare in Love bounces the viewer from one set of dilemmas to another, and director Michael Fidler steers 20 actors through complex comic paces. The shallow stage of the Isham Barn Theatre in Williston presents challenges, but Fidler organizes action cleverly, amplifying the story with movement. The impressive actors hide the underlying precision necessary to convey a hilarious shambles, and they resist the temptation to overplay, presenting characters with human foibles rather than cartoon shortcuts.

The overstuffed story whirls through all the social strata of 1593 London. Viola, reckless spirit and daughter of a wealthy merchant, has seen Shakespeare’s plays performed at court and adores his verse and the stage itself. But she can have no place there — men play all the women’s roles. Plucky Viola disguises herself to audition

state of theater making in the 16th century. We can forgive various inaccuracies, the largest of which is the notion that Shakespeare struggled to concoct the plot of Romeo and Juliet. For it and virtually all his plays, he borrowed a story; his gift was for language and character, with plots merely the mechanism to trigger emotion.

Vermont Repertory Theatre has assembled a strong cast, gleaming épées, neat tech tricks and four live singers to deepen the mood with period music. The artistry simply glows. The peak is the work of costume designer Lyn Feinson and the 11 people credited with building the show’s superb Elizabethan attire. Character-defining hats, spectacular gowns and doublets to die for make the show a pageant.

Each member of the cast proves that there are no small roles. Indeed, this big scaffold of a play needs comic polish everywhere to hold up larger parts and produce its pleasant illusion of lightness. Merrill Cameron makes all of Viola’s setbacks funny, and Connor Kendall is a stalwart Will. Their fine work rests on an ensemble that hits perfect beats and works smoothly, whether as courtly dancers or sword fighters.

for the still formless role of Romeo and impresses Will.

Her disguise works so well that when they meet again at a ball, he makes no connection except a brand-new one: He’s in love. Wouldn’t you know, a balcony is involved. Their story soon parallels what will be Romeo and Juliet’s, with furious sword fighting to match the CapuletMontague battles and an arranged marriage designed to yank Viola away just as she and Will have found love.

Scenes from Romeo and Juliet develop from the vicissitudes of Will’s romance, and the play within the play finally takes shape when enough villains have been tricked and rules broken for the tragedy to be staged. Fidler’s elegant direction strikes its finest note here, as all the actors appear to the audience, lining the two-level upstage balcony to watch the death scene. They become a portrait of a theater audience — engaged, touched, alive.

The production sails on scheming, wordplay and gentle humor. It runs a little long, almost too crammed with delightful moments. Theater in-jokes abound, and Shakespeare quotes fly, generally way out of context. A charming dog has an impressive stage debut as Spot, as in “out, damned.”

Many of the characters are real, and the story is fairly accurate about the ragtag

With enchanting magnificence, Sean Macquinor plays the illustrious Burbage. Kyle Ferguson, as top-billed Ned Alleyn, shows an actor’s vanity tempered by admiration of what Shakespeare is creating. Brad Coolidge is serene and witty as Marlowe, and Kathryn Blume fully imperial as Queen Elizabeth. Peter Carlile is suitably desperate as Henslowe the theater owner, and Christopher Ziter, as moneylender Fennyman, delicately shows theater’s intoxicating pull on the hardest heart.

Sabrina Sydnor produces an archetypal Nurse, and Jayden M. Choquette renders a villain’s frustrations with a fine, funny edge. All the other performers in this talented cast contribute with pop-eyed takes, aristocratic flourishes, knowing looks or dumbfounded staggers. Some have to be bad actors, and they’re really good at it.

The play reminds us that Shakespeare was always writing on deadline. That pressure has long cooled, leaving behind the work of an unmatched imagination. As Will tosses out ideas and Marlowe, ever over his shoulder, bats them back, we get a look at a writer inventing language. To do that, he had to live. ➆

INFO

Shakespeare in Love, stage adaptation by Lee Hall, original screenplay by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman, directed by Michael Fidler, produced by Vermont Repertory Theatre. Through June 20: Wednesday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, 2 p.m., at Isham Barn Theatre in Williston. Sold out. vermontrep.com

From left: Kush Sharma, Benjamin Villa, Peter Carlile, George Sullivan and Christopher Ziter in Shakespeare in Love

Geoffrey Gevalt Wins 2026 Herb Lockwood Prize

BY DAN BOLLES • dan@sevendaysvt.com

Hinesburg journalist, photographer and editor Geoffrey Gevalt is the winner of the 2026 Herb Lockwood Prize in the Arts.

Gevalt accepted the award, which comes with a $10,000 prize, on Saturday in a ceremony at the BCA Center in Burlington.

Gevalt, 74, spent the majority of his career as a journalist for, among others, the Associated Press, Boston Business Journal and the Burlington Free Press He left the field in 2006 and founded the Young Writers Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping teenage artists and writers find their voice and improve their writing. The program grew out of a feature in the Free Press that Gevalt started in 2003.

Its centerpiece now is a website to which kids can submit a wide range of writing and art for publication. The best is republished by local media outlets and featured in the monthly digital magazine the Voice and in an annual anthology. In 20 years, the Young Writers Project has worked with more than 100,000 kids.

Gevalt handed control of the project to Susan Reid in 2018. He’s currently the managing editor of the nonprofit digital news organization the Hinesburg Record.

In a speech at the ceremony, Charlotte author Stephen P. Kiernan, a longtime colleague of Gevalt’s at the Free Press praised his former editor.

“With the Young Writers Project, he created a new art form,” Kiernan said. “The foundation he built continues to teach kids a way to express themselves, to find their voice, how empowering it is to have an interested and respectful audience.”

In a phone interview, Gevalt said he was shocked to learn he’d won the prize.

“I felt unworthy,” he said of being honored for his role at the Young Writers Project. “It’s not an uncommon human reaction of feeling like it wasn’t just me;

it was hundreds of people and organizations that helped make it happen and, of course, the thousand of kids who made it special.”

He added: “It was the best job I’ve ever had.”

Gevalt said he plans to use some of the prize money to hire an editor for his long-gestating novel. But the bulk will go toward supporting a recently established summer fellowship for young journalists at the Hinesburg Record with a goal of making it a year-round appointment.

‘We have transformed it from a sleepy, 10-times-a-year printed publication to a really vibrant online weekly that we actually update every day,” Gevalt said of the Record. “And it’s gaining traction; the community is noticing it.”

Todd Lockwood established the Lockwood Prize in 2014 in memory of his brother, late Burlington artist Herb Lockwood. According to its mission statement, the award highlights “the pinnacle of arts leadership in Vermont by honoring the state’s most influential artists” who “produce significant work in the areas of visual arts, music, writing, drama, dance, film, and fine woodworking — and who encourage other artists to do the same.”

The Lockwood Prize is among Vermont’s highest arts honors. Nominations are submitted through an anonymous network of artists throughout the state. Nominees don’t know they’re being considered for the award until Lockwood informs them that they’ve won it. Past winners include artist Will Kasso Condry (2025), musician Michael Chorney (2024), poet Kerrin McCadden (2022) and dancer Hannah Dennison (2020). ➆

Learn more at geoffreygevalt.com and herblockwoodprize.org.

June 19

Kyle Stevens

June 26

Steve Hartmann

July 3

DJ Matt Parillo

July 10

Ryan Sweezey

July 17

Mike Macdonald

Sat. 6/20 - BURLINGTON

“Arm in Arm” w/ Erin Bundock 10 am-1:30 pm, SEABA Center seaba.com

Fri. 6/26 - MONTPELIER

“EveryBuddy” w/ Talvi Ekis 5-8 pm, Kellogg-Hubbard Library

& Joy is a community art project celebrating Queer joy, vitality, & community through quilts. Learn more about the project and ﬁnd events at riotcraftstudio.prideandjoy.com

Presented by: Supported by:

Geoffrey Gevalt

Memory Lane

Lucy and Steve Boyajian reminisce about growing up by the Burlington-Winooski

Bridge

At nearly 100 years old, the Burlington-Winooski Bridge will be replaced — construction is anticipated to start in 2027. Perched next to the bridge that connects the two towns is a historic brick building that has served many purposes since the 1800s: a blacksmith shop, a grocery and a secondhand store. For decades, 495 Colchester Avenue was also the Boyajians’ family home.

STEVE IS ALMOST AS OLD AS THE BRIDGE THAT HE GREW UP BESIDE.

is 85. The family sold the house in 1986, and the building underwent an extensive restoration 10 years ago. Randall and Kathleen Brisson, the current owners, jacked up the structure 10 feet to repair its rotting foundation, added a new ﬂoor and returned the building to its pre-1927 position. The upper ﬂoors are now rental units; the bottom levels are occupied by the Boardroom café and retail store.

the country’s food, culture and language. Steve, who is almost as old as the bridge that he grew up beside, said the family was “pretty much shunned” in their Ward 1 neighborhood. No one could pronounce their last name, and Armenia was never mentioned in school. Many immigrants moved to the area to work in the mills, but Armenians were in the minority.

Nevertheless, Lucy said their parents often expressed gratitude to the United States and treasured their freedom here.

to Burlington to work in the textile mills. He bought the brick building in 1922 and was later joined by his wife, Paris, who was orphaned at age 12 during the genocide. In 1927, floods devastated the state and washed out the existing bridge. When a new bridge was built in 1928, it was higher than the old one, and the street and sidewalk had to be raised to meet it. The first floor of the Boyajians’ home was buried and became a second basement.

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger met with Lucy and Steve in their former home to hear their memories of living in this historic space.

She spoke about ﬁlming the episode.

How did you learn about the Boyajians?

Where did you ﬁnd the historic photos used in your video?

Sarkis Boyajian ﬂed the Armenian genocide and came

Three Boyajian siblings were born and raised in this home: Edward, who died in 2009; Steve, who is 92; and Lucy, who

I was working in my front yard one afternoon when Steve drove by. He was visiting his old neighborhood, and we started chatting. I later met up with him and Lucy and learned a lot about their Armenian heritage.

Lucy recalled that the home felt like a “Little Armenia” — the family preserved

Many of these photos were taken by the late Louis L. McAllister, who ran a Burlington-area photography business until his death in 1963, and are used with permission from the University of Vermont’s Special Collections. We are lucky this bridge has been so well documented over the years — especially before and after the ﬂood — and that the Boyajians happened to live next to this important landmark. ➆

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her award-winning video series, “Stuck in Vermont,” since 2007. New episodes appear on the Seven Days website every other ursday and air the following night on the WCAX evening news. Sign up at sevendaysvt.com to receive an email alert each time a new one drops. And check these pages every other week for insights on the episodes.

Episode 769: e Boyajians’ Burlington

Lucy and Steve Boyajian

on the Rails.

Riverﬂow Community

Get the scoop on this position from Riverﬂow

Associate Director River Parker

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

Riverflow is a nonprofit therapeutic residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), based on the belief that every human being is worthy of dignity, love and a meaningful life. Being a Householder means bringing yourself wholeheartedly to a lively and multifaceted role. It requires the special skill of juggling a multitude of tasks that come with overseeing the physical, social and mental well-being of Friends with IDD — including fostering relationships with families/guardians, personal hygiene care, managing care and advocacy with medical providers, and supporting the pursuit of personal goals — as well as the administrative work that goes with medication management, licensing, vehicle fleet oversight and scheduling. is is a dynamic position that takes a well-rounded, skilled individual who loves engaging with a diversity of tasks and can move with grace through the unexpected.

What is unique & rewarding about Riverﬂow?

Riverﬂow Community is an inspiring place to work. Whether you have experience in the ﬁeld of disability or not, our core values of compassionate communication, radical acceptance and collaborative leadership orient new community members and guide our work.

Riverflow is not a typical 9-5 job, but rather a deep exploration of what genuine inclusion can look like. Being part of Riverflow Community is more than a job; it’s a lifestyle, a revolutionary act, a commitment to justice and dignity for our most vulnerable fellow human beings. Even on the hardest days, I feel both grounded and lifted up by the people around me. At Riverflow, we are first and foremost friends and community members. With that as our foundation, everything else falls into place.

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

on screen

doesn’t show enough spaceships or aliens. Spielberg has already demonstrated that he knows countless ways to create a sense of wonder, starting with a simple reaction shot. What does not spark wonder, however, are scenes of Margaret using her talent to disarm cops and federal agents, all of whom react with misty-eyed astonishment to her knowledge of their innermost selves.

While Blunt clearly has fun with her role, these moments feel like they belong in a high schooler’s earnest skit about how to replace war with love. In a more tightly plotted ﬁlm, or one with stronger spectacular elements — Project Hail Mary comes to mind — the wide-eyed optimism might have passed muster. But in a movie that is largely conversations, car chases and live TV broadcasts (the whistleblowers’ medium of choice, despite the present-day setting), the corniness is hard to ignore.

Disclosure Day ★★★

The ﬁrst time I saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind, my world opened up. At 10, I carried around actor Bob Balaban’s diary of the ﬁlm’s making, obsessed with every detail. Decades later, rewatching the movie at Colchester’s Sunset DriveIn, under the stars, I discovered it had lost none of its power to pose the thrilling question: What’s out there?

So I wouldn’t say I was the worst possible audience for Disclosure Day , director Steven Spielberg’s return to the theme of human-alien contact. If nothing else, I hoped for a taste of the magic of an old-school high-concept sci-ﬁ movie, à la Interstellar. What I got was a little di erent.

The deal

Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) wants to release information about extraterrestrial contact that his employer, private company Wardex, has concealed for many decades in collaboration with the U.S. government. As the world braces for possible nuclear war, Daniel and his girlfriend (Eve Hewson) go on the run with a cache of ﬁles and a mysterious alien device. Wardex head Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) uses a similar device to pursue them via telepathic means.

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, meteorologist Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) suddenly starts speaking an unknown language on live TV. She also appears to have gained a preternatural empathy, enabling her to voice the deepest emotional needs of anyone she encounters. Ba ed by her transformation, Margaret is sure of one thing: She doesn’t trust the federal agents on her trail. So she, too, goes on the run, drawn inexorably toward Daniel and his group of whistleblowers.

Will you like it?

Disclosure Day has passionate fans who respond to the ﬁlm’s themes of empathy and spiritual connection. More power to them — we need more empathy in the world. For me, though, the movie felt interminable for a simple reason: too much shoe leather, not enough wonder.

“Shoe leather” is a screenwriting term for mundane procedural activities that are best elided, such as the detailed orders we watch Scanlon give his underlings in scene after scene. David Koepp’s screenplay (from Spielberg’s story) is stu ed with point-by-point exposition and connective tissue we don’t need to see. Yet somehow it all ends up on-screen, killing the momentum of what otherwise might have been an

REVIEW

absorbing political road-trip thriller in the Close Encounters vein.

Given the overall retro feel of Disclosure Day, it seems fair to compare the two ﬁlms and their many plot parallels: Both are less about extraterrestrials than bureaucratic e orts to conceal them. Both have two hapless civilian protagonists who embark on converging odysseys because of an alien encounter. Both mix seriousness with moments of goofy comedy.

Yet Close Encounters enthralls us with total immersion. Our brains stay engaged through long scenes in which, for instance, the government transports equipment to Devils Tower National Monument, because those scenes are crisply edited and shot and scored for maximum impact.

Disclosure Day has a similar puzzlebox structure, with stakes that gradually emerge. But its action drags, because Spielberg gives us theological debates and cat-and-mouse chases without the atmosphere of mystery that might have breathed life into them. Too many choices just feel o , starting with the ﬁlm’s opening — for no good reason — at a pro wrestling tournament. Even the score by 94-year-old John Williams fails to create a sense of the numinous.

The problem isn’t that Disclosure Day

Because Margaret and Daniel are tools of an alien agenda, the line “Why am I doing this?” pops up with surprising frequency in Disclosure Day. That lack of organic motivation doesn’t exactly add up to relatable characters. More importantly, it may prompt audience members to wonder why they’re doing this.

In the 19th century, people believed instantaneous communication would bring about world peace. Disclosure Day assigns a similar role to empathy. As we slog through the execution of its convoluted plot, though, we may start to wonder if that laudable notion is just as dated.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

ARRIVAL (2016; Kanopy, Paramount+, Pluto TV, YouTube Primetime, rentable): Amy Adams plays a linguist learning to communicate with aliens in a sci-ﬁ thriller that explores the empathy theme with more nuance.

CONTACT (1997; Howdy, YouTube, rentable): Jodie Foster gives a bravura performance in Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of Carl Sagan’s novel about first alien contact, which offers plenty of wonder and tearful moments.

THE VAST OF NIGHT (2019; Prime Video): e special effects in Disclosure Day are not a strong point, but perhaps they didn’t need to be. Oklahoma ﬁlmmaker Andrew Patterson proved it’s possible to capture some of the magic and mystery of Close Encounters on virtually no budget with his indie about a ’50s alien sighting.

Colin Firth plays a villian equipped with alien technology in Steven Spielberg’s well-meaning but plodding sci-ﬁ thriller.

NEW IN THEATERS

THE CURRENTS: A stylist faces the consequences of an impulsive decision in this Swiss-Argentine drama. (104 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD: The aging outlaw (Hugh Jackman) contemplates his conscience in a fresh take on the mythos from director Michael Sarnoski (Pig), also starring Jodie Comer and Bill Skarsgård. (123 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm)

THE PYTHON HUNT: Xander Robin’s documentary follows an invasive python removal contest in the Everglades. (91 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! This documentary from Carl Deal and Tia Lessin chronicles the eventful career of journalist Amy Goodman, host of “Democracy Now!” (98 min, NR. Catamount [all week], Savoy [all week], VTIFF [Thu & Sat only])

TOY STORY 5: Electronics are the threat in the latest installment of Pixar’s animated series in which living toys confront big problems. With the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack. McKenna Harris and Andrew Stanton directed. (102 min, PG. Bethel, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

BACKROOMSHHHH In Kane Parsons’ debut horror feature, an interdimensional portal appears to open beneath a furniture store. With Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. (110 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 6/3)

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2HH1/2 A journalist (Anne Hathaway) reunites with her one-time boss from hell (Meryl Streep) in David Frankel’s sequel. (119 min, PG-13. Majestic; reviewed 5/6)

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. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 6/17)

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSEHH1/2 Nicholas Galitzine plays He-Man in a new live-action adaptation of the Mattel sci-fi adventure franchise. (132 min, PG-13. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Welden)

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

POWER BALLADHHH1/2 John Carney (Once) cowrote and directed this comedy-drama about a wedding singer (Paul Rudd) seeking credit for the tune that a boy-band idol (Nick Jonas) made into a hit. (98 min, R. Big Picture; reviewed 6/10)

SCARY MOVIEHH With plenty of fodder for parody in current horror cinema, the long-lived comedy franchise returns to the beginning. Anna Faris and Regina Hall star. (95 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

THE SHEEP DETECTIVESHHH1/2 Sheep set out to solve the murder of their shepherd in this mystery-comedy-family flick. (109 min, PG. Capitol, Majestic, Welden)

STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGUHH1/2 Pedro Pascal reprises his TV role as a bounty hunter adventuring with an unusual apprentice. (132 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Sunset, Welden)

STOP! THAT! TRAIN!HHH Ginger Minj, Jujubee and RuPaul Charles star in a drag-tastic disaster parody about heroic stewardesses aboard the Glamazonian Express. (92 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Savoy)

TUNERHHHH A piano tuner (Leo Woodall) with extreme sensitivity to sound discovers he’s an ace safe cracker in this crime thriller from Daniel Roher, also starring Dustin Hoffman. (109 min, R. Savoy)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (VTIFF, Sat only)

HARD BOILED (VTIFF, Sat only)

MR. HULOT’S HOLIDAY (Catamount, Wed 17 only)

NIGHT TIDE (Partizanfilm, Wed 17 only)

OCEAN’S ELEVEN 25TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun & Wed 24 only)

PAPER MOON (Partizanfilm, Sun only)

THE WICKER MAN (Catamount, Fri only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

REVIEW

Pride of Place

A new wing at Southern Vermont Arts Center houses two different visions of Vermont

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

IDesigned by architect Brian Mac of Richmond’s Birdseye, the new wing juts out perpendicular to the center’s main building, historic white clapboard Yester House, contrasting it with rich, rusty brown corten steel siding punctuated by tall, narrow windows.

“The building’s been conceived around the view, with the thought that that’s what has pulled Vermont artists here for generations,” said Amelia Wiggins, the center’s executive director, on a recent tour. A sight line stretches all the way from Yester House’s lobby into the new wing’s airy stairwell and straight through the newly donated collection to floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Battenkill Valley and Green Mountains.

Outdoor spaces also take full advantage of the vista, including an expanded seating area for the art center’s café and, on the wing’s other side, a rentable 250-seat patio for events. An outdoor walkway mounted on 40-foot piers leads visitors over the hillside to gawk at the scenery from above. At its end, a massive steel rain chain directs water to a trail of boulders below.

From the exterior, the new architecture has at once an Alpine vibe and a ruralindustrial one. The rain chains, the metal gratings and especially the silo-like form that contains the center’s new elevator seem to reference a working farm, while the building’s lines and volumes emphasize the surrounding mountain landscape.

n art, how a landscape looks is often more important than where it actually is. Painters have long depicted their surroundings as mythical grottoes or imagined battleﬁelds, divorcing elements of the terrain from more authentic, humbler stories. For Vermont Country Store proprietor Lyman Orton, by contrast, real places are the whole point. He has spent years collecting and showing works about Vermont that were made there, largely in the early to mid-20th century. The resulting exhibition, “For the Love of Vermont,” has traveled across the state since 2023.

Now, his collection ﬁnally has a home of its own: in Manchester, at Southern Vermont Arts Center’s newly opened 12,000-square-foot, two-story wing .

The interior is cozy but crisp. Wood extends from the ﬂoor to the walls and ceiling of the addition’s lobby; whiteand-gray marble stairs glow softly from side lighting as they descend to the lower level. Alternately, visitors can step into the elevator, which also ascends to Yester House’s second-ﬂoor galleries, a marked advance toward making the whole facility accessible.

“For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection” is on the main ﬂoor, in a space that feels much more like a midcentury-modern living room than a white-box gallery. Paintings and works on paper are displayed on wood-paneled walls, with angled shelves o ering space for explanatory text from the collection’s catalog. Visitors can sit in clusters of upholstered chairs and co ee tables in front of those big windows and in the room’s three display areas.

About 90 of the collection’s 300 works are on view at any time and will rotate periodically, Wiggins said. They’re organized by theme, as they were in the traveling exhibition and catalog: “Farms and Barns,” “Country Fairs,” “Churches,” “Auctions,” “Village Life.”

There’s no disputing these are accomplished paintings, some by artists who worked in the area or were founding

“For the Love of Vermont: e Lyman Orton Collection”

e new Southern Vermont Arts Center addition

members of the art center. Rockwell Kent’s almost fantastical views of Mount Equinox in summer and winter seem right at home here, as does Paul Sample’s more modest but quietly beautiful “Vermont Schoolhouse,” in which a viewer can practically feel the stick-season air. Cecil Crosley Bell presents crowds of people — in the park, at the fair — verging on cartoons, as does Kyra Markham with “Family Restaurant,” which gets weirder the more you look at it.

The artistic merits of each work, however, can get lost when one considers them collectively. The overall message is nostalgia for a specific, perhaps even simplistic, version of Vermont based in farming, religion and frequenting the general store.

It’s a different story in the new Van Degna Gallery on the building’s lower level. The expansive space will replace the 26-year-old Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum, which has developed leaks and other problems, in hosting temporary exhibitions and contemporary art at Southern Vermont Arts Center. Its inaugural show, curated by Danny Volk, is “Troubleshooting: Making Photographs With Dona Ann McAdams.”

The Sandgate photographer, who won the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts last year, presents prints from several bodies of work, spanning decades. There are images of AIDS protesters and “Nuclear Survival Kits,” photos of queer activists and homeless shelters. There are works made in collaboration with mental health patients and with performance artists.

Though many of McAdams’ earlier images were shot in New York City, newer ones offer a participatory, inclusive

and complicated look at Vermont. She pictures Somali Vermonters in Burlington as well as Sandgate dairy farmers. Her portraits of Norman Rockwell’s models, who gathered for a reunion in Arlington in 2016, show the realities of aging and life in contrast to the original illustrations. Yet Rockwell and McAdams also both capture essential pieces of each person’s character, decades apart.

Shots of racehorses taken at the Saratoga Race Course in New York offer intimate views of how people care for the animals. “Suzy’s Barn” is the only barn pictured, and it’s on fire — a comment on the community-mindedness of firefighters more than on the quaint character of the landscape.

Somehow, the folks at Southern Vermont Arts Center have accomplished several seemingly impossible tasks in one neat, steel-clad package. They’ve pulled off a major museum expansion in only 18 months, without exceeding a $13.5 million construction budget raised entirely from private donations — no mean feat. They’re facilitating public access to an important historical collection and gaining space to accommodate contemporary exhibitions. Finally, they’ve embraced two different visions of how art can define a place or challenge that definition, without contradiction. They might just make everyone happy. ➆

INFO

“For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection,” on permanent view; and “Troubleshooting: Making Photographs With Dona Ann McAdams,” through January 3, at Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester. svac.org

“Mount Equinox, Summer,” 1921-40, by Rockwell Kent

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

‘FREDERIC CHURCH IN VERMONT’: A major exhibition of more than 40 drawings, oil sketches and finished paintings created by the 19th-century artist during or as a result of his visits to Vermont over 30 years. Reception: Wednesday, June 17, 5-6:30 p.m. Middlebury College Museum of Art, through August 9.

JOHN STOMBERG: “World Repair,” recent paintings inspired by problems from potholes to the justice system and that, in the spirit of the ancient Jewish concept of tikkun olam, pose the question, “Can we fix the world?” Reception: Thursday, June 18, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., June 18-August 15.

ANNA MCNEARY: “Hand Me Down,” a collection of recent work combining textiles and printmaking in soft sculptures and works on paper and positioning clothing and fabric waste as ephemera that hold traces of the human past, present and future. Extra Special With Cheese, Burlington, June 19-July 25.

EDWARD KINGSBURY III: Large, abstract paintings and intricate drawings by the Keene, N.H., artist, who sees his art practice as a form of prayer and seeks to create abstract representations of God. Reception: Friday, June 19, 5-7 p.m. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, June 19-August 9.

DEBBIE BARTON: Works made using quilting, collage and journaling to reflect the Springfield artist’s love of rural New England, nature, train travel, vintage fabrics and untold stories. Reception: Friday, June 19, 5-7 p.m. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, June 19-August 9.

MC NOYES: Paintings made using watercolors the artist makes himself from powdered pigments and gum-arabic solution, based on daily observations of the Bellows Falls Canal. Reception: Friday, June 19, 5-7 p.m. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, June 19-August 9.

‘NORMAN ROCKWELL: AT HOME IN VERMONT’: An exhibition examining how America’s beloved illustrator shaped an enduring vision of Vermont — and, by extension, the nation — during his years living and working in Arlington from 1939 to 1953. Shelburne Museum, June 20-October 25.

ANNE DAVIS: “Lap Love,” 13 vibrant acrylic paintings of feline and canine friends, presented by Studio Place Arts. Morse Block Deli & Taps, Barre, June 20-September 12.

DOUG TRUMP: A show of abstract, mixed-media paintings by the Marlboro artist. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 1-3 p.m. CX Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, through September 26.

‘HABITER LA FRONTIÈRE/LIVING ON THE BORDER’: An exhibition that explores the daily lives of communities living along the Canada-United States border through testimonies, historical archives and artistic interventions. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 2 p.m. Colby-Curtis Museum, Stanstead, Québec, June 20-May 23.

VERMONT WATERCOLOR SOCIETY HUB SHOW: Works in the vibrant medium by 27 local artists from the Burlington/St. Albans hub of the organization. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 2-4 p.m. Winemakers Gallery at Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne, June 20-July 30.

‘CALL OF THE LOON’: A group show of works by 27 local artists celebrating the distinctive bird and the 50th anniversary of the Vermont Loon Conservation Project with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 2-5 p.m.; talks by Eric Hanson and Eloise Girard, 3-4 p.m. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, through June 21.

MILES GREENBERG: Two immersive video installations, “Truth” and the U.S. premiere of “Le Miroir,” by the New York City-based artist, whose work is centered on movement, endurance and emotional transformation. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 6-7 p.m.; artist conversation with Rachel Moore, 4-5 p.m. The Current, Stowe, June 20-October 17.

‘EXPOSED’: The 35th annual outdoor sculpture exhibition, with works sited at the art center and

Wish You Were Here

From billion-dollar ballrooms to the homelessness crisis to Montpelier’s water mains, the world is broken. John Stomberg is obsessed with the idea of fixing it. The longtime art historian and scholar has been director of Dartmouth College’s Hood Museum for the past 10 years. Now retiring from that distinguished career, Stomberg is ramping up his own art practice. In “World Repair,” a solo show of paintings at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H., he’s bringing together Jewish philosophy, Japanese ceramic techniques and Pink Floyd, naturally. He explores the concept of tikkun olam — the actions needed to repair the world — with gold lines that mend disparate areas of color. That’s a nod to kintsugi, the Japanese technique of repairing broken pottery with the melted metal. In a reference to the Floydian song lyric “Well, you wore out your welcome with random precision,” his sharp, geometric forms vacillate between chaos and exactitude. While we’re sure Stomberg will always be welcome in the Upper Valley, we wish him well in his next chapter. Shine on, you crazy diamond. ➆

‘WORLD REPAIR: RECENT PAINTINGS BY JOHN STOMBERG’

On view June 18 to August 15 at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. Reception, Thursday, June 18, 5-7 p.m.; artist talk, Friday, July 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m. avagallery.org

throughout Stowe Village by Christopher Curtis, Miles Greenberg, Tomokazu Matsuyama, John Matusz, M. Julian Isaacson, Scott Boyd, Marcel Regueiro, Eva Tellier, Christopher Yockey and Duy Hoàng. Opening festival: Saturday, June 20, 5-7 p.m.; walkabout and artist talks, 5 p.m.; celebration, 6 p.m. The Current, Stowe, June 20-October 17.

‘AT SIXES AND SEVENS: SCULPTURE AT THE BUNDY MODERN’: An exhibition of works by 10 collegelevel professors of art and sculpture, including one site-specific indoor and one outdoor piece by each. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 5-8 p.m. The Bundy Modern, Waitsfield, June 20-September 6.

HUGH TOWNLEY: “Grand Finale,” an exhibition of works by the late artist and former Brown University sculpture professor, who was instrumental in the gallery’s development. Reception: Saturday, June 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. BigTown Gallery, Rochester, June 20-October 25.

AL LARSEN: “This is not a dinosaur,” an exhibition of drawings, posters and pen-plotted paintings by the artist and musician that ask what it means to make something real in an age of endless generation. The show opens alongside Critters Encore, the first Some Velvet Sidewalk record in 29 years. Reception and album release party: Friday, June 26, 5:30-8 p.m. Champlain College Art Gallery, Burlington, June 24-July 26. Free.

VISUAL ART EVENTS

ARTIST TALK: HARVEY STEIN: A lecture by the acclaimed street photographer and author of 10 books on photography, who shares images from current and past projects, takes questions, and signs books. Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. Free.

ARTIST TALK: JOHN O’CONNOR: The internationally shown artist discusses his practice, including his work with the experimental art and technology collective NonCoreProjector as well as his collaboration on an ongoing multimedia project, “Superspreaders,” with author Rick Moody. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Wednesday, June 17, 8-9 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, June 18, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation.

‘JUNETEENTH JUBILATION’: “A Gathering of Spirit, Story, Creative Expression, and Celebration,” a program of performances and activities featuring storyweaving with Djeli Celestia, Afrobeat band Sabouyouma, a dance party with DJ cRAIG, arts and crafts for kids, and live painting led by Juniper Creative Arts. The Alchemist, Stowe, Friday, June 19, 2-8 p.m. Free.

‘FREE SELF-EXPRESSION’: An open forum in which the public is invited to celebrate community by sharing performance, music, reading, speaking, dancing, and take-home art and writing. Canal Street Art Gallery, Bellows Falls, Friday, June 19, 5-8 p.m. Free.

COMMUNITY PUPPETRY WORKSHOP: A workshop and building session with Bread and Puppet Theater alum Uriel Najera to create a giant Statue of Liberty puppet and other performance elements that will be part of the “Brattleboro Goes Fourth” July 4 parade. Materials provided. Register at 118elliot@gmail.com or 917-239-8743. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

‘ART AND CONVERSATIONS OF FREEDOM’: An exploration of ideas of freedom through discussion, art making and theatrical games, including free materials to create an artwork during the workshop. Warren Public Library, Saturday, June 20, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free; register at warrenlibrary.com.

ARTIST TALK: MILES GREENBERG: The performance artist and sculptor discusses his process, practice and the ideas behind his immersive video installations with curator and executive director Rachel Moore. The Current, Stowe, Saturday, June 20, 4-5 p.m. Free; RSVP strongly encouraged.

‘ALL ABOARD’: A dynamic show about all kinds of transportation, including works by 20 artists, on view in the Main Gallery. Reception: Saturday, June 27, 4:30-6 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, June 24-August 14.

CARRIE CAOUETTE-DE LALLO: “Unwanted Gifts,” a show looking back at things the artist has received or given over the years, on display in the SecondFloor Gallery. Reception: Saturday, June 27, 4:30-6 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, June 24-August 14.

MICHELE JOHNSEN: “Abstracted,” tiny mixed-media works on display in the Quick Change Gallery. Reception: Saturday, June 27, 4:30-6 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, June 24-August 7.

REBECCA PADULA: “Square Roots,” layered abstractions capturing the rhythms, seasonal shifts and beauty of life in rural Vermont. On display in the Third-Floor Gallery. Reception: Saturday, June 27, 4:30-6 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, June 24-August 14.

DARCIE LYNN TREDWELL: “INTERESTING,” oil, acrylic and mixed-media paintings, on view in the Milne Room (please consult the library’s calendar for availability). Closing reception: Tuesday, June 30, noon-2 p.m. Aldrich Public Library, Barre, MondayFriday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through June 29.

SUMMER OPENING FESTIVAL: An opening celebration for the annual “Exposed” outdoor sculpture exhibition, including recognition of Christopher Curtis and the late John Matusz, followed by a guided walking tour through Stowe Village with artist talks at select sculpture sites from 5 to 6 p.m.; live music, refreshments and complimentary food on the lawn, 6 to 7 p.m. The Current, Stowe, Saturday, June 20, 5-7 p.m. Free.

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, June 21, 1-3 p.m. Free.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, June 22, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation.

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘WHEN THE WORLD WEARIES AND CEASES TO SATISFY, THERE IS ALWAYS THE GARDEN’: Artists are invited to submit works in any medium for a JulyAugust group show that expresses the importance, beauty, frustrations, color and rituals of gardening. Submit at form.jotform.com/260973314031046. Deadline: Monday, June 22. The Satellite Gallery, Lyndonville. $20; $10 for each additional entry. ➆

“Tikkun Olam” by John Stomberg

music+nightlife

S UNDbites

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

PERRY FOREVER

A Toast to a Late Burlington Rocker

Death is one of life’s greatest teachers. OK, that came out like a goth kid reading at a poetry open-mic night. I swear this isn’t a sad column! Bear with me for a minute, friends, and let’s talk about mortality, music and memory.

My recollection of the ﬁrst funeral I attended is hazy. I was 7 years old and had, at best, a tenuous grasp on the concept of death. I knew that our ﬁrst family pet, Charlie the cat, hadn’t come home one day. My mom was sad but seemed relatively at peace with it. She told us that Charlie had lived a good, long life and was o to the great litter box in the sky. My dad was warm but more curt: “Nothing lasts forever, Chris.”

We got a new black cat a year later, and yeah, we named him Charlie II. Clearly, the Farnsworth clan played fast and loose when it came to contemplating mortality.

One of my father’s business associates died a few months later. I recall a rainy fall day in New Jersey, long lines of cars outside the cemetery and umbrellas gathered around the grave like a cluster of black balloons. A priest spoke for a few minutes; there was some nodding during Bible verses. And my dad was ﬁdgeting, clearly wanting to be anywhere other than a funeral.

On the drive home, an EAGLES song played on the radio. I don’t recall the tune, though my Lebowski-esque hatred for the band had started so early, it’s possible I just blocked it out.

Only then, brieﬂy, did I see the emotion in Dad’s eyes. And I remember being supremely confused: This song sucks! How could it possibly elicit a tear from the man I have never seen cry?

I thought about that moment a lot on Saturday as a few hundred people and I gathered at the SEABA Center

in Burlington to celebrate the life and legacy of MATTHEW STEPHEN PERRY. My best friend and longtime bandmate, Perry died in March at age 49, sending a shock wave through the Queen City and beyond.

There have been several memorials and gatherings in the months since,

including packed-house celebrations at the Other Place and Finnigan’s Pub — two of the many establishments where he had tended bar. They were lovely a airs that honored Perry the consummate Burlington Guy, the bartender that everyone loved, the social butterﬂy who connected so many disparate friend groups.

But Perry was also a great songwriter, a magnetic front man and one of the hardest-rocking musicians this town has ever seen. First with the LESTONS, then with PARTY STAR and eventually with our band together, DINO BRAVO, Perry established himself as a vital piece of the local music ecosystem.

That legacy had to be honored. So along with other former bandmates, friends, family and loved ones, we threw an absolute rager of a rock show in Perry’s memory.

Experimental musician JABE LEDOUX opened the celebration with a percussion performance on the venue ﬂoor. After handing out shakers, Ledoux led the crowd in a 10-minute groupbeat exercise that brought a welcome summer-camp feel to the proceedings.

One of Perry’s favorite Vermont singer-songwriters, JESSE TAYLOR (see page 60), kicked off a block of acoustic sets, including a rendition of MY MORNING JACKET ’s “Wordless Chorus” that had many — including yours truly — crying through wide grins. Next up: SEAN HOOD ’s EASTERN MOUNTAIN TIME and LILY SICKLES , who performed a stirring set together.

EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE IRISH DRINKING SONGS BAND, a St. Patrick’s Day-only ensemble with which wPerry played for years, capped the first segment. Those who had experienced the band before were ready, but the uninitiated were shocked to have tinfoil-wrapped hot potatoes flung at them from the stage. As one of the flying taters smacked a very confused woman in the crowd right in the head, I thought to myself, This is exactly what Perry would have wanted.

And Perry was present everywhere, with his image projected on a screen above the stage, on numerous prints around the club and on plenty of people’s T-shirts. I walked around the venue, trying desperately to remember names of people I hadn’t seen since the Obama administration, and heard people telling their favorite Perry stories. The tales ran the gamut from epic times at music festivals to wild benders at the bar to

Jesse Taylor

e Jazz Guys

encounters at the beach. All bore one underlying theme: Perry’s heart was utterly indefatigable; his capability for empathy, love and support for his friends, unmatched.

Drum ace DAN RYAN took the mic and spoke of Perry as an older brother-like influence. I was moved enough to hop onstage to tell the story of my last meal with Perry before he died. Here goes:

We were having lunch at his favorite spot, the Old Post in South Burlington, when Perry told me with absolute seriousness that I was no longer his favorite person. To be clear, he went on, I was still his best friend, but the top slot in his life now belonged to his fiancée, Star

trio the WET ONES! took the stage. They were followed by an all-star lineup including Ryan and Dino Bravo drummer JEFF LABOSSIERE; Dino Bravo and ZEUS SPRINGSTEEN bassist JOSH SHEDAKER; DAD?! guitarist (and my brother) PAT FARNSWORTH; IAN GREENMAN from WORKINGMANS ARMY on vocals; and JESSE TAYLOR BAND. Taylor sang a version of the MILEY CYRUS smash hit “Party in the U.S.A.,” a Perry favorite that he’d often use to signal closing time at the OP. Photographer, musician and allaround scene workhorse LUKE AWTRY and I joined to play a mini-set of some of Perry’s favorite songs as the PERRY’S PLAYLIST BAND.

Davidson. And, of course, I was behind his cat, Carol, as well. At the risk of sounding cocky, I handled the news like a champ and, as I relayed to the crowd, was quite happy to be No. 3 in his life.

In a short but sweet recorded message played over the PA, Davidson drew plenty of laughs and tears as she recalled the three separate occasions Perry proposed marriage to her, despite her saying yes each time. For the final one, Perry popped the question in a full Santa outfit on Thanksgiving, presenting a ring from a pillowcase — after pulling a bait and switch with a GUNS N’ ROSES pin first.

“That’s what you got with Perry,” Davidson said. “Sometimes you weren’t entirely sure what he was about to do, but without fail, it would always be the right thing.”

After the stories were done, things got appropriately loud as surf-rock

Hard-rocking powerhouse BLUE

BUTTON were up next and, as always, absolutely destroyed the stage with front man JASON COOLEY’s full-throttle energy and a sea of guitar riffs courtesy of ERIC OLSEN (SWALE) and JAMES BELLIZIA (HELOISE & THE SAVOIR FAIRE, BE-ER).

Perhaps the most unexpected reunion came as the JAZZ GUYS, the onceupon-a-time darlings of Burlington indie rock, hit a Vermont stage for the first time in almost two decades. Fittingly for a band that hasn’t been particularly active in recent years, the first song was mostly the fellas trying to figure out who was out of tune. Bellizia turned to me after five minutes to ask if all the tuning was a bit. I’m still not totally sure — such is the legacy of the Jazz Guys’ antics. Either way, the band sussed it out and launched into a ferocious version of “The Best Five Minutes of Your Life.”

SOUNDBITES » P.58

4T-sppac061726 1 6/12/26 8:46 AM

Perrypalooza

music+nightlife

On the Beat

A tradition that started in France in 1982, Make Music Day has grown into a global event observed in some 2,000 cities in more than 120 countries. The goal? Producing free music in nontraditional venues. Originally called Fête de la Musique, the onetime pet project of France’s Ministry of Culture is now an international holiday happening every summer solstice. It returns this Sunday, June 21.

Vermont has celebrated for more than a decade. The now-defunct Burlington nonproﬁt Big Heavy World coordinated shows around the state, from porch jams to bands playing in churches. In Big Heavy’s stead, a new organization has stepped in: the Randolph Make Music Committee, spearheaded by musician and producer VINCENT FREEMAN, owner and operator of the Underground, a recording studio and listening room in Randolph. Together with Chandler Center for the Arts and White River Craft Center, the committee is on a mission to grow Make Music Day in Vermont and make getting involved easier than ever for performers and venues.

“I’m so excited to connect with town leaders to help spread the word,” said Freeman, who has been involved with Make Music Day since 2019. “We want to show the other communities what we’ve done in Randolph for the last seven years and how to make the day really work.”

Make Music Day is a labor of love for the studio owner. “I’ve been performing music since I was 10,” he said. “Raising awareness around musicians, getting folks to leave their house and see shows — those are important things to me.” Freeman is originally from Germany

Soundbites

Suddenly it was 2005 again, when the Jazz Guys were selling out Nectar’s and getting banned from the Church Street Marketplace after convincing the folks at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival that their name actually meant they played jazz.

The end of the night was all about Perry’s songs. His three bands played in succession, giving a chronological rundown of our friend’s work. From the twisted humor of the Lestons’ “Hu n’ Paint” to Party Star’s gorgeous “Sine Wave” to Dino Bravo’s hard-rock anthem “Pop Music,” the full range of Perry’s songwriting was on display. His songs are funny, sad, introspective, and above all else, they fucking rock. My ears were

and grew up around what he described as a “European street-festival music culture.” He hopes to cultivate something similar in the Green Mountains.

The beauty of Make Music Day is that anyone can join in by registering at makemusicvt.org. Those interested in attending can also ﬁnd an interactive map of shows around the state, from Bennington to Bethel, Windsor to Winooski.

Beﬁtting its status as the epicenter of Vermont’s Make Music Day, Randolph boasts some great options. Highlights include the teenage seven-piece soulpop outﬁt MINC at Randolph Town Park, as well as an entire hip-hop festival at Polestar Cannabis. AVI SALLOWAY’s ALL THE RIVERS band headlines the day’s events at Chandler Center for the Arts.

Beyond Randolph, there’s an open jam session at the North Hero Public Library; the rock band DAHG plays at Temple Sinai

ringing the whole next day. He’d have loved that.

As the night closed with a stage full of musicians, all hand-picked by Perry over the years to be his bandmates, I looked around the venue. I saw the tearstreaked smiling faces, the raised glasses and the voices screaming his name to the heavens, and I thought of all those black umbrellas at my father’s coworker’s funeral when I was a kid.

No rainy cemetery, dreary procession of cars or Latin uttered over a mound of earth would su ce for Perry. Burlington sent its favorite son into the cosmos with the loudest rock show we could manage. My pops was a wise man who taught me many things, but he was wrong about death. Some things are forever.

Perry forever. ➆

in South Burlington; MÉLANGE perform at the Middlebury Green; RICH GRUMBLE plays folk music at Maple Co ee in Putney; and the Bethel Bandshell hosts SPENCER LEWIS, TONY STRAT and LUMINOUS CRUSH. For the full schedule, visit makemusicvt.org.

It’s been about a year since the legendary Burlington rock club Nectar’s closed for good. The building sits empty on Main Street still, a sad relic of the city’s rich musical history. While there’s no news on a Nectar’s rebirth, many of the musicians who were such a big part of its history are throwing a party to toast the good days.

“The Nectar’s Experience 1975” goes down on Sunday, June 21, at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, with a stacked lineup of Queen City scene veterans: PAUL ASBELL, CHUCK ELLER, JEFF SALISBURY, DAVE GRIPPO, JIM BRANCA,

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “ELEGANCE” by Cady Ternity and OJ Mountain

2. “THE INTERNET HAS RUINED EVERYTHING” by Luminous Crush

3. “RACING QUICK” by conswank

4. “CRUMBLE” by Freddie

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

BLUES FOR BREAKFAST, SETH YACOVONE and plenty more.

The show promises to be a wonderful throwback to the days of the N-ZONES and the X-RAYS. Look for an interview with the originator himself, NECTAR RORRIS, at sevendaysvt.com for more history and thoughts on the future of the club — if it has one, that is!

In the meantime, turn back the clock and catch Nectar’s at Higher Ground ... which is a really, really weird sentence to type. Just a thought for the folks at Higher Ground: Maybe serve gravy fries that night?

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Losambe

“HI HO LOVE HOLD ON” by Grace Palmer

“NITELITE” by Tom Pearo

“RIVERSIDE” by the Wormdogs

An All the Rivers rehearsal in Burlington in February FILE: DARIA BISHOP

« P.57

Dino Bravo

CLUB DATES

WED.17

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

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

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

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

Junaco, Paper Castles, Mad (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10/$15.

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

Zach Nugent’s Dead Set (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

THU.18

12 Rods, Cady Ternity (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15.

Ali McGuirk (R&B, rock) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

CombustOmatics (rock) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

e Discussions (jazz fusion) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Gnomenclature (rock) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Ratboys, Shallowater (rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20.

Reed Turchi (roots, blues rock) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Shane’s Apothecary (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Soul Porpoise (soul, funk) at Halvorson’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Donation.

e Toxhards (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

FRI.19

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

Alice Grace, Izzy Jones, Fuzzy Bones (indie) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Assorted Fruit, the Leatherbound Books, Dog Water (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Ben Kogan Band (Americana, bluegrass) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

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

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.

Native Son From his stint as a guitarist in the War on Drugs to a glittering solo career, Philadelphia’s KURT VILE has been one of indie rock’s “it” musicians for the better part of a decade. Infusing his music with shades of Pavement’s slacker-rock bonhomie and the introspective singer-songwriter instincts of John Prine, Vile has gone from early career lo-fi wizard to one of the most influential artists in his field. His most recent record, Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me, is a love letter to his hometown, a theme proudly introduced in the lead single, “Chance to Bleed.” Backed by his band the Violators, Vile performs at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on Friday, June 19. Toronto alt-country band the SADIES open the show.

FRI.19 // KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS [INDIE ROCK]

Organized Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

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

Django Soulo (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Extinction A.D., Epicenter, Goblet, Alchemy, Jeopardy (metal) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 7 p.m. $15.

IncaHoots (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Jerborn (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Juneteenth Concert with Solomon Hicks (blues) at Retro Live, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 7 p.m. $20.

Juneteenth Jubilation with Sabouyouma, DJ Craig (Afro-funk, DJ) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 3 p.m. Free.

Kiley Latham & Co (indie pop) at Afterthoughts, Waitsﬁeld, 8 p.m. $10.

Kurt Vile and the Violators (indie rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $41.

Mad Mojo (blues, rock) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 6 p.m. Free. Rhythm on 90 (funk, pop) at Stowe Cider, 7 p.m. $20/$22.

Rigometrics, Lee Ross (rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $15/$18.

SAT.20

14th Anniversary Party with Nowhere Washington, Barbie-NBones (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 1 p.m. Free.

90 Proof (covers) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Andriana & the Bananas (indie pop, rock) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

Breakin’ Strings (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $20.

ChetFest (Americana) at Wayside Farm, Brookﬁeld, 5 p.m. $25.

Dave Sollazo and the Bridge (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

DSM-5 (rock, blues) at the Den, Williamstown, 8:30 p.m. $5.

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

Father Before Me, KennedyPark, Steppin’ on Razor Blades, Model 97 (punk) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

Future Mailmen, Van Garrison’s Famous Words (indie rock, jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

High Summer (soul, R&B) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Justice 3 (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free. Los Lorcas (folk, poetry) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10. e Pachyderms, Yabai!, Tyler Elden, Izzie Jones (indie) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

Quadra (covers) at the Old Stage at the Double E, Essex, 7 p.m. $20.

Smokey Newﬁeld Project (covers) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 6 p.m. Free.

Soulshine Revival (Allman Brothers tribute) at Shelburne Vineyard, 7 p.m. $10.

Tim Fitzgerald (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Vermont Jazz Ensemble (big band) at Lost Nation Brewing, Morrisville, 7 p.m. $25.

A World of Piano: Geoffrey Keezer (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 8 p.m. $30.

SUN.21

Bloodroot Gap (bluegrass) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsﬁeld, 3 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Brunch (bluegrass) at Madbush Falls, Waitsﬁeld, noon. Free.

Folk Bitch Trio, Georgia Harmer (indie folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20.

e Nectar’s Experience 1975 (blues, rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 5:30 p.m. $30.

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

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

Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.22

Bob Recupero (singer-songwriter) at North Hero House Inn & Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. Free.

TUE.23

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.

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

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’

Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Pony Hustle (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Izzy Jones (singer-songwriter) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Up North (bluegrass) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsﬁeld, 5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.24

e Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. Bluegrass & Pizza (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

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

Old Saw, Wren Kitz, Echoes (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10/$15.

djs

WED.17

DJ Chalango, DJ Tarzana Salsa Night (salsa DJ) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

THU.18

Afro-Latin Dance Night (DJ, dance) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10/$25.

DJ Two Sev, JP Black, 1Q, Lucky, Chaston (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

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

ursday Night Social Club with Kate Kush (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10.

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl ursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.19

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

DJ Log (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10.

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

DJ Two Sev, Ron Stoppable, Burly Bear, Chaston (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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.

e Kwame Vibe (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.20

Crypt Goth Night (DJ) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8 p.m. Free.

Mr Cheng, Ara$, DJ Raul, Matt P (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Roost.World (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. Sparkomatik (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $20. Tobin Ellsworth (DJ) at Afterthoughts, Waitsﬁeld, 8:30 p.m. Free.

COURTESY

TUE.23

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

open mics & jams

WED.17

Jazz Jam with Nina Towne (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 6 p.m. $10.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.18

Open Mic (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.21

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

MON.22

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

TUE.23

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

WED.24

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.17

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

THU.18

Comedy Open Mic Night: Unfiltered Summer Edition (comedy) at Frost Beer Works, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

Sam Salem (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

Strapped-In: A Queer Comedy Showcase (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $15.

FRI.19

Sam Salem (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

Wit & Wine (comedy) at Shelburne Vineyard, 8 p.m. $12.

SAT.20

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5 p.m. $5/$10.

The Lowdown (comedy) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15.

Sam Salem (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $25.

SUN.21

Mick Foley (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

TUE.23

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

WED.24

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.17

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

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

Summer Lovin’

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

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

MON.22

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 CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

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

TUE.23

Karaoke with DJ Vociferous (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Soul and R&B outfit HIGH SUMMER know how to fill a stage.

The Burlington ensemble creates a massive funky sound beneath the soaring vocals of singer Miriam Bernardo. After nearly a decade on the scene playing any stage big enough to fit their sprawling crew, High Summer finally dropped their debut record, For the World, last year. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait so long for a follow-up: The group released two new Bandcamp-exclusive singles in May, including the jazzy, groove-driven track “Keep the Light On.” Both are sneak peaks of a forthcoming sophomore LP. Catch High Summer at Foam Brewers in Burlington on Saturday, June 20. SAT.20 // HIGH SUMMER [SOUL, R&B]

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

THU.18

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

Don Mahogany Third Thursday Trivia (trivia) at Butter Bar & Kitchen, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Karaoke (karaoke) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

Trivia Night with College (trivia) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.19

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.

Storyweaving with Djeli Celestia (storytelling) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 2 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Taylor & Harry (trivia) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.20

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

SUN.21

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 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.24

Dads’ Night Out: Trivia Night (trivia) at Colatina Exit, Bradford, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 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 & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

www.vycc.org/event-the-east-monitor-barn-raiser/

THURSDAY,JULY9,20265:30-8:00PM VYCCCampus|1949EastMainSt.|RichmondVT

calendar

JUNE 17-24, 2026

WED.17

agriculture

WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER

FRED: The site’s resident farmer and storyteller demonstrates historical agricultural tools and techniques, including sheep shearing, rye harvesting and cider pressing. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, noon-2 p.m. Regular admission, $4-12; free for kids under 6.

business

‘HOLDING STEADY: WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE PRACTICE OF CARE’:

An interactive session invites female-identifying entrepreneurs to step off the metaphorical hamster wheel and discover practical strategies for self-care and decision-making. Hosted by Women Business Owners Network of Vermont. Noon-1:30 p.m. $20; free for members and first-time attendees; preregister.

‘MEASURING RURAL AMERICA’S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT’:

The Center on Rural Innovation hosts a live webinar exploring how small communities are creating jobs, solving real-world challenges and shaping the future. 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

community

PASSEGGIATA: Inspired by an Italian social ritual, locals take to the streets for a communitybuilding stroll of the pedestrian promenade. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

PASSEGGIATA WATERBURY: Neighbors adopt a timeless Mediterranean tradition of civic engagement and social bonding during an evening

amble. Downtown Waterbury, 5-8 p.m. Free.

crafts

PRIDE & JOY: CRAFTING

EVENT: Contribute to a collective quilt designed by local artist Susan Smereka for display at an upcoming auction in support of Outright Vermont. River Arts, Morrisville, 5-8 p.m. Free.

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.

CHAMP MASTERS

TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Dealer.com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

EXHIBIT UNVEILING

CEREMONY: A new permanent exhibition honors former senator Patrick Leahy and Marcelle Leahy for their commitment to environmental stewardship.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 1:30 p.m. Free.

GUIDED TOURS: Guests get to know the personal histories of rescued farm animals at an educational walk-through highlighting the nuances of lifelong care. Merrymac Animal Sanctuary, Charlotte, 2-3 p.m. $25.

MUSEUM TOURS: A guided tour charts a course through regional history, uncovering

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Seven Days calendar writer

Rebecca Driscoll selects and writes calendar spotlights. To help process the hundreds of event submissions we receive each week, some listings are compiled with the help of AI. Driscoll reviews, edits and verifies every entry before publication.

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

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.

the archaeological secrets hidden beneath the waves. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS

FARMERS MARKET: Talented artisans and vendors showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies. South Hero St. Rose of Lima Church, 3-6 p.m. Free.

COMMUNITY COOKING:

Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Pathways Vermont Morgan’s Place Peer Support Center, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS:

Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the future of the property. The Creative 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 while tuning in to live local music. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free.

holidays

JUNETEENTH WINOOSKI: Neighbors celebrate Black culture and community with live performances, tasty treats, kids’ activities and information about resources. Rotary Park, Winooski, 5-8 p.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: Lunch breaks transform into global conversation circles as participants hone their multilingual abilities. See kellogghubbard.org for details. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon. Free.

SPANISH

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

lgbtq

THE ALL-INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: A weekly get-together and listening party celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with feelgood tunes, dancing and drinks. Doma Bar, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

music

BLUE VIOLIN: In “Thunderstruck: A Classic Rock Tribute,” the conservatory-trained virtuoso plays the music of Queen, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin with the intensity of a full band. Bennington Theater, 7 p.m. $15.

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.

SABRINA & THE JAZZCATS: Music lovers revel in celestialthemed jazz standards and classic pop songs peppered with stories about the legendary artists who made them famous. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 6:30 p.m. $15.

québec

‘DI SHVEGERINS’: Performed in Yiddish, Michel Tremblay’s groundbreaking play captures the humor, struggles and resilience of working-class women in 1960s Montréal. The Studio, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $30-50.

seminars

THE ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA WORKSHOP: An informative evening examines the critical elements of photography and videography, covering topics from exposure to depth of field. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

‘HOW TO INVEST IN VERMONT’: Keeping capital close to home, potential philanthropists learn how to back small businesses and affordable housing developments through impact investing. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

A STUDY OF ‘THE ODYSSEY’: Curious minds and classicists convene to get a read on one of the oldest works of Western literature. Stowe Free Library, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players block, chop and lob in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership.

WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS:

Lake lovers embark on a unique aquatic adventure by rowing and sailing a traditionally rigged wooden craft across the water. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 4-7 p.m. $60 suggested donation.

talks

DEEP DIVES SERIES: Listeners plunge into the depths of local maritime history at a biweekly lecture series featuring illuminating presentations by archaeologists, educators and researchers. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

Worthen Library, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘THE BAKE OFF’: Vermont Stage explores the “ingredients” necessary to create a new play through a showcase of three short works paying homage to Arthur Miller’s classic drama The Crucible Ages 13 and up. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-54 sliding scale.

‘RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH’: More than 30 iconic songs fuel a musical tribute celebrating the enduring legacy of the rebellious country music legend. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 2 & 7:30 p.m. $61-89.

‘SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE’: Vermont Repertory Theatre mounts a sumptuous stage adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s Academy Award-winning film imagining the inspiration behind Romeo and Juliet. Isham Barn Theatre, Williston, 7:30 p.m. $20-30.

words

TILLIE WALDEN: The New York Times best-selling author and former Vermont cartoonist laureate celebrates her new nonfiction graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia, in conversation with fellow artist Dan Nott. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.18

business

THE CAREER SHOW: ‘SMALL TOWNS BIG CAREERS’: A live broadcast takes an entertaining and informative look at generating success and happiness in the workplace. Hula, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free; preregister.

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL JOB FAIR: Time for a new gig? The Vermont Department of Labor offers a meet and greet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

community

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

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: HUDOST: An award-winning musical duo treats listeners to a lunchtime performance of eclectic Americana, global rock rhythms and refined folk melodies. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free.

outdoors

THE BIRCHWOOD GARDEN

OPENING: A public green space named for its hundreds of white birches offers stunning views of the Green Mountains and colorful rhododendrons in full bloom. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Montgomery Town Library. The Birchwood Garden, Montgomery Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $7; free for kids 12 and under.

WORTHEN SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: EVA SOLLBERGER: SOLD OUT. The Seven Days senior multimedia producer reflects on two decades of sharing unique local stories in her long-running video series “Stuck in Vermont.”

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.

STORY JAM: Upper Valley community members recount an unrehearsed five-minute true story from their lives. Junction Arts

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun

Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.17

DADS’ NIGHT IN: JACKBOX

GAMES: Fathers log on for a virtual game night hosted by Dad Guild. 8:45-10 p.m. Free.

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’

EXHIBIT: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: Young explorers take an unforgettable journey through a hands-on prehistoric world where life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

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 slow-paced social hour featuring songs, rhymes and restorative connection. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 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

‘LITTLE THINGS’: A power-hungry principal faces a revolt from fifth graders fighting to save recess in this original musical staged by local teens. Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, 7 p.m. $10-25.

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

JUN. 19-21 | FAMILY FUN

You Oughta Know

At Barre Opera House, an intergenerational cast featuring rising stars from Acorn Youth Arts channels the grungy spirit of the ’90s in the Tony- and Grammy Award-winning Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical. Inspired by the artist’s seminal album of the same name, the contemporary family drama pulls back the curtain on the Healys — an outwardly “perfect” household — to reveal hidden traumas, addiction, and mental health and identity issues. The lyrics of humanist hits such as “Ironic,” “Hand in My Pocket” and “Head Over Feet” propel the characters as they confront their struggles head-on and, ultimately, find healing in the process.

‘ALANIS MORISSETTE’S JAGGED LITTLE PILL: THE MUSICAL’ Friday, June 19, 7 p.m.; Saturday, June 20, 2 & 7 p.m.; and Sunday, June 21, 2 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $10-50 sliding scale. Recommended for ages 13-plus. Info, acornyoutharts@zohomail.com, barreoperahouse.org.

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, $1821; free for members and kids under 2.

STORY TIME: Early literacy takes center stage as infants and toddlers engage in a melodic mix of books and songs. Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

THU.18

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

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.

BLACK DAD HANG: Dad Guild staff member Marlon Fisher hosts a casual monthly gathering for Black fathers looking to build community and connect with others. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga helps toddlers and their caregivers find their flow through a playful blend of song, movement and stretching. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

EXTEND A STORY TIME: Little learners ages birth to 8 and their caregivers book it to the library to learn about 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.

PERLER BEAD OPEN STUDIO: Crafty kids ages 7 and up mix, match and fuse beads to create their own designs or follow a pattern. Essex Free Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

SUMMER SOLSTICE: All ages celebrate the longest day of the year by making their own sun collage masterpiece. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

‘LITTLE THINGS’: See WED.17.

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.17, 2-8 p.m.

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

stowe/smuggs

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

mad river valley/ waterbury

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

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

northeast kingdom

‘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.

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and

A rehearsal of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill

& Media, White River Junction, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘SUPPORTING RECOVERY, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY’:

Vermont Public host Jane Lindholm moderates a conversation about the state of addiction, recovery and peer support in Addison County. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

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.

TREETOP GOLDEN HOUR: An after-hours evening among the birds invites visitors to slow down and savor the beginning of summer in a peaceful forest setting. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 5:15-7 p.m. $10; free for kids 3 and under; preregister; cash bar.

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

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

Cameras positioned in nests, underwater and along the forest floor capture a year’s worth of critters coming and going. Dealer. com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

‘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.

‘NEW CLOTHES’: Brattleboro theater group Vermont Suitcase presents its locally made comedy following a pair of swindlers who trick an emperor out of his gold by posing as fashion designers. A discussion with the filmmakers follows. Hooker-Dunham Theater and Gallery, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. Free.

‘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.

‘STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!’: SOLD OUT. VTIFF and Seven Days host screenings of Carl Deal and Tia Lessin’s 2025 documentary following the life and career of trailblazing journalist Amy Goodman. See calendar spotlight. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. Wait list available.

‘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.

PIZZA BY THE POND: A woodfired oven delivers all-you-caneat pies while local musicians regale diners with irresistible toe-tappers. BYOB. Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen, 5 p.m. $23-34; free for kids 6 and under; preregister.

VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET: Locals delight in fresh organic produce, artisan cheeses, meats,

Playing Hardball

JUN. 18 & 20 | FILM

Vermont International Film Foundation and Seven Days present Steal This Story, Please! at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. The gripping 2025 documentary follows Amy Goodman, the American broadcast journalist, investigative reporter and host of news show “Democracy Now!,” as she dives headfirst into the most consequential issues of our time. Lucky viewers who nabbed tickets to Thursday’s sold-out shows are treated to a post-screening Q&A with VTDigger’s David Goodman, Seven Days consulting editor Ken Ellingwood and the film’s subject, who maintains that “Independent media is the oxygen of a democracy.” Amen to that.

‘STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!’

Thursday, June 18, 4 & 7 p.m. (sold out); and Saturday, June 20, 1 p.m., at the Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, in Burlington. $6-12. Info, 802-660-2600, vtiff.org.

baked goods, crafts and live music. Vergennes City Park, 3-7 p.m. Free.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free.

CHESS FOR FUN: Players select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free.

DADS’ NIGHT OUT: BOARD GAME

NIGHT: Local fathers bust out a personal favorite or jump into a new tabletop adventure at an evening of camaraderie and

friendly competition. Guardian Cards & Comics, St. Albans, 5:30-7 p.m. Free.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6.

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

PEER SUPPORT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Beginners wanted! Players get lost in the fantasy-filled tabletop role-playing game while focusing on teamwork, connection and

coach Andrea Marion leads a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

SEATED TAI CHI: Adina guides at-home participants — including those with limited mobility or difficulty standing — through a sequence of slow, connected movements. Sponsored by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

SUMMER SOLSTICE NATURE

MEDITATION: Mindful practitioners awaken their five senses by tuning in to the sights and sounds of the wild. BYO blanket or cushion. American Society of Dowsers, Danville, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free.

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.17. MANDARIN CONVERSATION

CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

SPANISH CONVERSATION

GROUP: Conversationalists of all levels practice the Romance language in a welcoming environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

music

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.

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: ADAM EZRA GROUP: An Americana singer-songwriter and his bandmates bring down the house with a rockin’ folk music performance to remember. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free.

MAPLE STAPLES: A local duo gets toes a-tappin’ with fancy guitar picking and upright bass slapping while local food trucks serve up tasty treats. Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton, 6-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

community building. Morgan House, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

SOLARPUNK BOOK CLUB & GAME NIGHT: Neighbors dream up a socially conscious, ecological future with readings and a short round of Solarpunk Futures. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY

MINDFULNESS: Volunteer

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. outdoors

THE BIRCHWOOD GARDEN OPENING: See WED.17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

québec

‘DI SHVEGERINS’: See WED.17. seminars

HISTORY CLASS: ‘ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE IN AMERICA’: A low-pressure series designed for curious minds gets the gears turning with thought-provoking

Amy Goodman

conversations and new perspectives. Stowe Free Library, 5-6 p.m. Free.

sports

BIKE & GEAR REPAIR SERIES:

Cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts breathe new life into battered packs and weary frames at a hands-on mending session dedicated to waste reduction. Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington, 4-8 p.m. Free.

tech

TECH HELP: Users with digital dilemmas seek expert guidance about everything from smartphone settings to e-book downloads. Norwich Public Library, 1-4 p.m. Free.

TECH MEET-UP: Franklin County digital devotees talk shop over

specialty brews and artisanal pastries at this monthly networking opportunity. Catalyst Coffee Bar, St. Albans, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘THE BAKE OFF’: See WED.17. ‘CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION’: The Parish Players present Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker’s quietly profound stage play about four Vermont strangers in a community center acting class. Eclipse Grange Theater, Thetford, 7 p.m. $15-25.

‘DRIVER, LENDER (OR, A FICTIONALIZED BIOGRAPHICAL PRELUDE TO ADAM DRIVER’S BRIEF STINT AS SHYLOCK ON BROADWAY)’: Goddard Institute of Dramatic Arts presents the

world premiere of Leo Kurland’s play exploring whether an actor can truthfully and tastefully perform a role in an identity that is not their own. Haybarn Theatre, the Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $5-30 sliding scale.

‘A FAULT IN THE PLAN’: The Gospel Hollow Players raises the curtain on a story about a small town facing big decisions and the unexpected forces that intervene.

Calais Town Hall, 7 p.m. $20.

‘HAMLET’: The Prince of Denmark faces manipulation and revenge in the Green Mountain Shakespeare Festival’s production of the Bard’s timeless tragedy. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7 p.m. $20.

‘KRAPP’S LAST TAPE’: Samuel Beckett’s darkly humorous

one-act play follows an aging man who is grappling with the youthful ambitions of his 39-year-old self. Unadilla Theatre, Marshfield, 7:30 p.m. $15-30.

‘RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH’: See WED.17, 2 p.m.

‘SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE’: See WED.17.

words

MORNINGS, MUFFINS & MYSTERIES: Lit lovers link up to discuss the month’s twisty page-turner. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. NO PRESSURE BOOK GROUP: Bibliophiles share whatever recs they like at this low-key Zoom hangout hosted by Waterbury Public Library. 7-8 p.m. Free.

TILLIE WALDEN: The New York Times best-selling author and former Vermont cartoonist laureate celebrates her new graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia, about an openly lesbian couple in 19th century Vermont. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister.

FRI.19

community

PLAINFIELD COMMUNITY

CONVERSATIONS: ‘PSYCHEDELICS’: The Society for Psychedelic Advocacy, Research & Knowledge hosts locals for a thought-provoking dialogue about psychoactive substances. Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield, 5 p.m. Free.

dance

DANCE PARTY & OPEN HOUSE: A new intentional living community invites prospective residents to learn the ins and outs of cohousing at a weekend of building tours and boogying down. Threshold Village, Montpelier, 6-10 p.m. Free. etc.

JANE AUSTEN WEEKEND: ‘EMMA’: A leisurely weekend of literary-inspired diversions includes a Regency-style dinner party, English country dancing and afternoon tea. Governor’s House in Hyde Park. Various prices. MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.17.

Stress?

Not here!

Independent living means leaving the hassles behind and living the life you love. Spacious apartments, private balconies, lovely cottages — each of our communities has something unique to offer.

Independent, Assisted & Memory Care Living

lcbseniorliving.com/communities

Middlebury | 802-231-3645

S. Burlington | 802-489-7627

Shelburne | 802-992-8420

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.18.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.18.

‘NEW CLOTHES’: See THU.18. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. $5-10.

‘REBECCA’: Lawrence Olivier and Joan Fontaine star in the 1940 thriller about a woman who must face the truth about her new husband. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 7 p.m. $8-15.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.18.

food & drink

FLATBREAD FRIDAY: See THU.18.

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET:

An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free.

SOUTH END GET DOWN: Local food trucks dish out mouthwatering meals and libations while live DJs and outdoor entertainment add to the ambience. Coal Collective, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.18, 10 a.m.

MAH-JONGG: It’s not just for old ladies! Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a rousing game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free.

health

& fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Seated stretches stir mindful motion as students utilize acupressure and meditative techniques to cultivate a grounded mental state. Virtual

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

option available. Springfield Town Library, 10-11 a.m. Free.

GUIDED MEDITATION

ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available. Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

MINDFULNESS WORKSHOP: Nikki

Fraser-Ruiz guides participants in resetting their internal compasses at weekly sessions focused on foundational grounding techniques. Mosaic Vermont, Barre, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

holidays

FREEDOM DAY: In honor of Juneteenth, the museum opens its historic house, exhibitions and grounds to visitors free of charge. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.17.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free.

music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-8 p.m. Free.

DRUM CIRCLE WITH JEAN

JACQUES MAURY: From mastering basic techniques to building a shared rhythmic vocabulary, an all-abilities music-making session drums up a deep mind-body connection. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6-7 p.m. Free.

sports

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CLASSIC: Local business owners and individuals hit the links in support of area nonprofits Northwestern Medical Center and Northwestern Counseling & Support Services. Champlain Country Club, Swanton, 9 a.m. Various prices; preregister.

OPEN DINGHY SAILING: Skippers with previous 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.

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.

JUN. 20 | CLIMATE CRISIS

Grape Expectations

There’s no denying that global warming has affected nearly every facet of the natural world, but less discussed is its impact on the food and drink we enjoy. At Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, curious minds convene for Wine & Climate Change: A Conversation and Wine Tasting, featuring local vintners Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber in a candid chat with retired geologist and wine writer David G. Howell. The experts unpack how rising temps have reshaped the winemaking map — so much so that our own Champlain Valley could soon become the next federally recognized wine region. Is that cause for celebration or pause?

WINE & CLIMATE CHANGE: A CONVERSATION AND WINE TASTING Saturday, June 20, 6 p.m., at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. $30-50; preregister. Info, 802-257-0124, brattleboromuseum.org.

talks

BILL BADGER: In “Railroad Stations in Rutland and Alfrecha” the Rutland Railroad Historical Society president discusses how the transit system was influential in defining and developing the region. A Q&A follows. Light refreshments provided. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: They’re creepy, and they’re kooky! Witchy Wednesday Addams falls in love with a so-called “normal” young man in this macabre hit musical. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20.

‘THE BAKE OFF’: See WED.17.

‘DANCING AT LUGHNASA’: BarnArts presents an outdoor staging of Brian Friel’s Tony Award-winning memory play unspooling a narrator’s childhood recollections of his five lively aunts in 1930s rural Ireland. King Farm, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. $15-20.

‘RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH’: See WED.17, 7:30 p.m.

‘SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE’: See WED.17.

SUMMER SERIES: ‘PENELOPE IN FIRST PERSON’: Performer Keely Eastley channels Homer’s famous heroine to recount her side of epic poem The Odyssey, told through moments of magical realism. Sandglass Theater, Putney, 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

‘TRAILBLAZING!’: The Dogteam Theatre Project presents a benefit showcase of diverse new works by emerging professionals. Seeler Studio Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

words

WALKING BOOK CLUB: Bibliophiles lace up their sneakers to clock miles and chapters at a mobile session pairing physical activity with audiobooks. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free.

SAT.20 bazaars

BOOK SALE & BRIC-A-BRAC

MARKET: Treasure hunters support local arts programming at a barn-filling fundraiser featuring 3,000 organized titles, as well as knickknacks and baubles. Homer Knight Barn, Island Arts Center, North Hero, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

MAKERS MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

climate crisis

WINE & CLIMATE CHANGE: A CONVERSATION AND WINE

TASTING: La Garagista winemakers Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber join geologist David G. Howell for a conversation about global warming and its effects on local terrain and viticulture. A tasting follows. Ages 21 and up. See calendar spotlight. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 6 p.m. $30-50; preregister.

community

‘DRIVER, LENDER (OR, A FICTIONALIZED BIOGRAPHICAL PRELUDE TO ADAM DRIVER’S BRIEF STINT AS SHYLOCK ON BROADWAY)’: See THU.18.

‘A FAULT IN THE PLAN’: See THU.18.

‘HAMLET’: See THU.18.

‘KRAPP’S LAST TAPE’: See THU.18.

‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’: William Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy gets an irresistible refresh in director David Dubov-Flinn’s reimagining set amid the American Revolution. Bennington Theater, 7 p.m. $25-30.

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. dance

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy, laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See capitalcitygrange.org for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale.

Caleb Barber and Deirdre Heekin

Business + AI Summit

DANCE PARTY & OPEN HOUSE:

See FRI.19, noon-4 p.m.

SUMMER SOLSTICE SACRED

CIRCLE DANCE: A lesson in contemporary and traditional dances from around the world helps community members welcome warmer weather and embrace new beginnings. A potluck follows. Burlington Earth Clock, Oakledge Park, 3-4:30 p.m. Free.

‘TRACES’: Dancers celebrate the environment and the start of summer with an improv-driven performance in the great outdoors. Downtown Burlington, noon-2 p.m. Free; preregister to participate. etc.

FOUNDERS CELEBRATION DOG

PARTY: Folks and their furry friends flood the pooch refuge for a fête in honor of Stephen and Gwen Huneck. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, noon-4 p.m. Free.

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.17.

HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR:

Aesthetes cultivate inspiration at a self-guided exploration of the property. Mad River Valley Arts Gallery, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $40.

POTTERY SALE: Conscious shoppers upgrade their kitchen cabinets with handmade ceramics at a pop-up benefit for local nonprofits Migrant Justice and Outright Vermont. Claude Lehman Pottery, Burlington, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR

REENACTMENT: A colonial-era militia demos musket firings, openfire cooking and crafts in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY MORNING:

Visitors with sensory processing differences experience the Circus Building in a light and sound-adjusted environment

before the museum opens its doors to the public. Shelburne Museum, 8:30-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

WALKING TOUR OF MIDDLEBURY:

Locals learn about the town’s bustling history from the 1780s to the 1980s on this one-mile trek narrated by Todd Goodyear. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, 2-3 p.m. $12-20.

fairs & festivals

250TH AMERICA THETFORD FAIR & AUCTION: Celebrators don 1800s costumes for a history-filled day complete with artisan vendors, games, demonstrations, live tunes and a facial hair competition judged by celebrity barbers. Thetford Green, 10 a.m. Free.

PLEX ARTS FESTIVAL: A grassroots, volunteer-organized summoning of creativity features projects, performances and presentations across disciplines. Various Old North End locations, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. $15 suggested donation.

VERMONT POWERSPORTS EXPO:

Top dealers and organizations from across New England showcase the best in motorcycles, offroad bikes, quads, side-by-sides and outdoor gear. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-30; free for kids under 6.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.18.

‘DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS’: Carl Franklin’s 1995 film noir follows a Black war hero in 1940s Los Angeles who is hired to find a mysterious woman. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 p.m. $6-12.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’:

See THU.18.

‘HARD BOILED’: John Woo’s 1992 action thriller follows a toughas-nails cop who teams up with an undercover agent to shut down sinister mob activity. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12.

THE MET LIVE IN HD: ‘EUGENE ONEGIN’: A lovestruck heroine and an aloof aristocrat weather a storm of missed connections in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s adaptation of the Russian literary classic. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 1 p.m. $10-24.

‘NEW CLOTHES’: See THU.18. Williamsville Hall, Newfane, 7 p.m. Free.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!’:

See THU.18, 1 p.m.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.18.

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET: Live local music lends flair to dozens of stands overflowing with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS

MARKET: Talented artisans and vendors showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies. Grand Isle St. Joseph’s Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

JANE AUSTEN TEA: Regency revelers jam out at a Victorian-style tea party while learning about the teatime traditions of the writer’s era. Governor’s House in Hyde Park, 2 p.m. $48; preregister.

JOLOFF & A DRUM CIRCLE:

Shidaa Projects invites merrymakers to fill up their cups with a traditional Ghanaian meal and lively communal beats. First

Church in Barre, Universalist, 3-6 p.m. $9-18.

MARSHFIELD FARMERS MARKET: Locavores find much to do at a weekly outdoor offering complete with live music, skill shares, vendors and community resource swaps. Old Schoolhouse Common, Marshfield, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

NORTH END GET DOWN: The local auto shop transforms into an open-air block party packed with food vendors, live tunes, local artisans, face painters and a mobile bar. Brian’s North End Automotive, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free.

NORTHWEST FARMERS MARKET: Locavores 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 SOLSTICE ADVENTURE

DINNER: Nearby farms and producers bring the bounty for a multicourse ode to fresh seasonal ingredients. Head Over Fields, 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

HU CHANT: ANCIENT MANTRA FOR A MODERN WORLD: Eckankar in VT invites community

members of all faiths, traditions and walks of life to a 20-minute group chant, followed by quiet contemplation and spiritual conversation. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free.

SUMMER SOLSTICE NATURE

MEDITATION: Mindful participants awaken their five senses by tuning in to the sights and sounds of the wild. BYO blanket or cushion. Milarepa Center, Barnet, 8:30-10 a.m. Free; donations accepted.

holidays

JUNETEENTH: Neighbors gather for a celebration of Black history, joy and community, featuring local musicians, vendors and businesses. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 1-9 p.m. Free.

lgbtq

RUTLAND COUNTY PRIDE

FESTIVAL: LGBTQ+ community members and allies show their colors at an annual celebration of queer identity. Downtown Rutland, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.19.

ASHLEY JANE’S HOOTENANNY: The local country-and-western outfit keeps the hoedown hopping all evening long. McIndoes Academy Community Center, McIndoe Falls, 6 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

BURLINGTON FILM AND STAGE

MUSIC ORCHESTRA: Dr. Yutaka Kono conducts the community ensemble in “From Oz to a Galaxy Far, Far Away,” a concert bringing to life beloved music of the silver screen and theater.

The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

JUNETEENTH TWILIGHT SERIES: A2VT: A Burlington group

synthesizes their native African musical and dance traditions with Western pop and hip-hop influences. Burlington City Hall Park, 6 p.m. Free.

MILES DONAHUE QUARTET: Jazz aficionados soak up an evening of brass-forward tunes charting a century of music made famous by the silver screen. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $15-50; cash bar.

RATTLING BROOK BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL: Music lovers bust out their lawn chairs for a familyfriendly outdoor celebration packed with string-band twang and local eats. Belvidere Recreational Field, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. $20; free for kids under 12.

TONE FOREST: A contemporary jazz trio draws inspiration from the natural world to weave swing, samba, baião and other musical traditions into a sonic tapestry. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-26.

outdoors

BIRD WALK: Nature lovers scan the canopy for native avian species while discovering how local maple producers help maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. Jed’s Maple Products, Derby, 8:3010:30 a.m. Free; preregister. LET’S GO BIRDING: Binocularwielding beginners and seasoned birders alike spot diverse species by sight and song, then examine real nests and skulls up close. Snacks provided. Wright Park, Middlebury, 9-11 a.m. Free.

STARGAZING: Expert Carl Malikowski helps budding astronomers uncover the mysteries of the universe through the lens of a telescope. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Regular admission, $4-12; free for kids under 6.

Now get that worm! New and experienced avian admirers take a stroll to observe the area’s flying, feathered friends. BYO binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7 a.m. $5-15 suggested donation; preregister.

québec

‘DI SHVEGERINS’: See WED.17, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

seminars

‘LEARN TO IDENTIFY PLANTS

USING INATURALIST’: Budding botanists convert their smartphones into high-tech field guides by mastering the photographic skills needed to name flora in the wild. Ilsley Public Library Temporary Location, Middlebury, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

sports

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See FRI.19, 5:05 p.m.

talks

ELSA GILBERTSON & MARK

BROWNELL: In “Before and After the Battle of Hubbardton,” two site experts illustrate what was happening in the area in July of 1777. Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site, 1-2 p.m. Regular admission, $1-5; free for kids under 6.

GLENN FAY, JR.: The local educator and author delights with little-known facts about Ethan Allen and his brothers. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Techsavvy library staff provide oneon-one guidance and support in 30-minute sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free.

theater

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’: See FRI.19, 2 p.m.

‘THE BAKE OFF’: See WED.17, 2 p.m.

‘CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION’: See THU.18, 2 p.m.

‘DANCING AT LUGHNASA’: See FRI.19, 4 p.m.

‘DRIVER, LENDER (OR, A FICTIONALIZED BIOGRAPHICAL PRELUDE TO ADAM DRIVER’S BRIEF STINT AS SHYLOCK ON BROADWAY)’: See THU.18.

‘A FAULT IN THE PLAN’: See THU.18, 2 p.m.

‘HAMLET’: See THU.18, 2 p.m.

‘KRAPP’S LAST TAPE’: See THU.18, 2:30 p.m.

‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’: See FRI.19, 2 p.m.

‘RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH’: See WED.17, 2 p.m.

SUMMER SERIES: ‘PENELOPE IN FIRST PERSON’: See FRI.19, 5 p.m.

words

SUNDAY AFTERNOON POETRY: DEDE AVERY & CINDY HILL:

Two decorated poets lift spirits with inspired readings from their collections. Refreshments provided. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 2-4 p.m. Free.

MON.22

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. etc.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.17.

fairs & festivals

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Sweets

lovers savor summer’s beloved fruit with homemade pound cake, vanilla ice cream, beverages and tunes by the Vergennes City Band. Vergennes City Park, 6-8 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.18.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.18.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.18.

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.

MINDFULNESS WORKSHOP: Nikki

Fraser-Ruiz guides participants in resetting their internal compasses at weekly sessions focused on foundational grounding techniques. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

language

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.17.

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.

ST. JOHNSBURY BAND: The nation’s third-oldest community band regales locals with dynamic tunes during a weekly ice cream social. Caledonia County Courthouse, St. Johnsbury, 7:30 p.m. Free.

VERGENNES CITY BAND: Attendees get comfy on lawn chairs and blankets while local instrumentalists ages 12 to 90 perform rousing works. Vergennes City Park, 7 p.m. Free.

québec

‘DI SHVEGERINS’: See WED.17.

seminars

COMMUNITY SKILL SHARE: Folks learn something new and have fun at informal seminars spanning topics from gardening to poetry to drumming. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

‘HOW TO BUILD A HOME IN YOUR BACKYARD’: Property owners examine the benefits of adding a neighborhood-scale housing unit to their land. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-7 p.m. Free.

sports

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS: See FRI.19.

tech

AI AFTER HOURS: JON MCNEILL: The author, entrepreneur and former Tesla president shares insights about the explosive growth playbooks of companies such as SpaceX and Lululemon. A Q&A and a book signing follow. OnLogic, South Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

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.

TUE.23 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. etc.

NOURISH TO FLOURISH FUNDRAISER: A joyful summer evening features farm-fresh tastings, live music and an auction to benefit food equity and education programs for local families. Common Roots, South Burlington, 5-9 p.m. $100.

film

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

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.18.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.18.

‘ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK’: Kurt Russell stars as merciless mercenary Snake Plissken in this 1981 dystopian sci-fi about the lawless isle of Manhattan. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

‘GONE GUYS’: The eye-opening documentary spotlighting the struggles of young men draws on Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 nonfiction book, Of Boys and Men. A panel discussion follows. Brighton Town Hall, Island Pond, 6 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.18.

‘WILD RESCUE 3D’: See THU.18.

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.

games

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.17.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free.

PAUSE-CAFÉ MARDI: Francophones and Frenchlanguage learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5-7 p.m. Free.

music

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.

québec

‘DI SHVEGERINS’: See WED.17.

Sollberger’s

Siblings Lucy and Steve Boyajian were born and raised in a historic brick building by the Chace Mill and the BurlingtonWinooski Bridge. eir parents ﬂed the Armenian genocide, and their father worked in the mills. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger visited their old house with them and heard their memories of the neighborhood.

seminars

LIVING WELL WITH DEMENTIA WEBINAR

SERIES: EARLY SENSORY

CHANGES: Individuals with dementia offer insight into how changes in the brain can affect taste, smell, touch and hearing at this virtual series hosted by the National Council of Dementia Minds. 2-3 p.m. Free.

sports

DAD GUILD OPEN GYM

BASKETBALL: Local fathers hit the hardwood for weekly sessions of full-court exercise and casual competition. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free.

MEET THE LAKE MONSTERS:

Appearances by local baseball players accentuate an evening of sports-themed activities, food and drink specials, and giveaways. Burlington Beer, 5-7 p.m. Free.

talks

NANCY JEAR WAPLES: An associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court unpacks how the U.S. Constitution guides highstakes judicial decision-making. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 5:30 p.m. Free. 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.

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff field questions about devices of all kinds in face-to-face chats. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free.

ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP:

Adult services librarian Megan Robinson lends a hand with smartphones, laptops and e-readers in 30-minute sessions. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister.

theater

‘RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH’: See WED.17, 7:30 p.m.

words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP:

Over the course of nine weeks, readers analyze the works of father-and-son authors Kingsley and Martin Amis, two influential British novelists of the postwar era. 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

EVENING BOOK GROUP:

Bibliophiles share their read on Abdi Nor Iftin’s memoir, Call Me American chronicling his journey from civil war in Somalia to life in the U.S. Virtual option available. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7 p.m. Free.

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.

READING GROUP: A four-part community discussion breaks down Molly Crabapple’s new book, Here Where We Live Is Our Country, exploring Bundism, a Jewish socialist movement that emerged in Europe in the late 19th century. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

ROBERT DEGREE: A Colchester author launches The Planted Seed: A Book of Hope, his new novella about an unbreakable mother-son bond, in conversation with fellow writer Jennifer Gennari. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister.

WRITER’S CIRCLE: Creative sparks fly as participants tackle curated prompts and read their latest drafts aloud in a collaborative environment. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont Morgan’s Place Peer Support Center, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.24 agriculture

WEDNESDAYS WITH FARMER FRED: See WED.17.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free.

PASSEGGIATA: See WED.17.

PASSEGGIATA WATERBURY: See WED.17.

crafts

YARN & YAK: See WED.17. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.17.

etc.

GUIDED TOURS: See WED.17.

MUSEUM TOURS: See WED.17.

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.

film

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

‘MAN WITH A PLAN’: John O’Brien’s 1992 cult classic zooms in on real-life Tunbridge dairy farmer Fred Tuttle’s unlikely political campaign. A Q&A with the filmmaker follows. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

food & drink

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: See WED.17. COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.17.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.17.

DANVILLE FARMERS MARKET: See WED.17.

MARKET ON THE GREEN: See WED.17.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.17.

REAL TALK ABOUT SEX: ‘TRANSCENDENT OR PSYCHEDELIC SEX’: A monthly Zoom gathering facilitated by certified sexuality educator Sarah Goodrich allows for frank, respectful conversations about the topic. 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister.

RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.17.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION

GROUP: Practitioners sharpen their skills and connect with neighbors at a bimonthly meetup facilitated by a native speaker. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10-11 a.m. Free.

LANGUAGE LOUNGE: See WED.17.

lgbtq

THE ALL-INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: See WED.17.

music

CAPITAL CITY BAND: See WED.17.

MUSIC ON THE HILL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Pack a picnic and revel in vibrant performances at this weekly celebration of seasonal sounds. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE SWINGIN’ SEVEN: A dynamic Burlington band plays hits from the Great American Songbook while listeners enjoy their lunch outdoors. Burlington City Hall Park, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free.

québec

‘DI SHVEGERINS’: See WED.17.

seminars

A STUDY OF ‘THE ODYSSEY’: See WED.17.

‘YOUR PODCAST, YOUR WAY’: Creative voices ready to start a new audio project map out conceptual frameworks at this seminar designed to turn ideas into reality. The Media Factory, Burlington, noon. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

sports

ALS ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER GAME: Families fill the ballpark to try their luck at a 50/50 raffle, watch the Ice Bucket Challenge and root for the home team, all to benefit Vermonters affected by Lou Gehrig’s disease. Centennial Field, Burlington, 6:35 p.m. $9.50.

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.17.

WHALEBOAT WEDNESDAYS: See WED.17.

theater

‘RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH’: See WED.17. ➆

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 10AM-4PM

RAIN OR SHINE!

Fenton Chester Arena LYNDON CENTER, VT

Thank you to our generous community benefactors

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Site design, garden design

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FAMI LY

color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

FRI.19

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

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.

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

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.

barre/montpelier

‘ALANIS MORISSETTE’S JAGGED LITTLE

PILL: THE MUSICAL’: Acorn Youth Arts mounts the Alanis Morissette jukebox musical exploring family, love, mental health and queer identity. See calendar spotlight. Barre Opera House, 7 p.m. $1050 sliding scale.

‘LITTLE THINGS’: See WED.17.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free.

middlebury area

STORY TIME: Lake-centric stories, coloring and crafts anchor little ones at a weekly maritime-themed reading circle. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

QUECHEE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL: Adventure seekers get blown away by airborne carriers at this high-altitude happening complete with crafts, kids activities and tasty fare. Quechee Green Park. $5-25; free for kids 3 and under.

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.18.

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.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!’: Grammar, science and civics take center stage in this high-energy stage production of the classic animated TV series, performed by Weston Theater’s talented Young Company. Various southern Vermont locations, 4 p.m. Free; preregister.

SAT.20 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

DADS’ NIGHT OUT: SOBER SATURDAY NIGHTS: Fathers get together for a casual, substance-free night of food and games. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

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.

FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION:

FATHER’S DAY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP:

Dad Guild invites rad dads to face off in a multi-sport decathlon featuring lawn games, darts and Mario Kart. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 6-10 p.m. Free.

SUMMER CHALLENGE KICKOFF:

Bookworms of all ages launch their seasonal reading goals at a morning of craft projects, story times, and meet and greets with local baseball players and authors. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

chittenden county

FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION:

DADS & KIDS PINBALL: Dad Guild hosts fathers and their kiddos for a morning of free play across dozens of flashing arcade machines, with ear protection provided for those who need it. The Pinball Co-op, South Burlington, 9 a.m.-noon. Free.

SING WITH ELIZABETH: Pint-size vocalists and their caregivers burn off morning energy with new and classic kids’ songs. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-11 a.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

‘ALANIS MORISSETTE’S JAGGED LITTLE

PILL: THE MUSICAL’: See FRI.19, 2 & 7 p.m.

‘LITTLE THINGS’: See WED.17, 2 & 7 p.m.

ROOTS SPROUT CLUB: THE BUSY POLLINATORS: Young gardeners and nature lovers make a mini oasis for local butterflies and bees. The Roots Farm Market, Middlesex, 10 a.m.-noon. $10 per family.

mad river valley/ waterbury

DR. FRANCOIS CLEMMONS: The renowned singer and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” character entertains little music makers with a fun-filled reading and a themed craft. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11-11:45 a.m. Free.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

QUECHEE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL: See FRI.19.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.18.

SCIENTIFIC SATURDAYS: Participants explore the wonders of the natural world, from the life cycle of plants to the mysteries of animal habitats. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m. Free.

THE WARM UP: An indoor beach party invites all ages to cannonball into summer with tropical playlists, surfing lessons, watergun battles and games. Jay Peak Resort, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $25.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!’: See FRI.19, 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.

COMMUNITY PUPPET WORKSHOP & GROUP SHOW: Bread and Puppet Theater alum Uriel Najera leads crafters of all ages in constructing a giant Statue of Liberty to be featured in the town’s Independence Day parade. Materials provided. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

GOAT SNUGGLES: Rolling hillsides provide the backdrop for a 40-minute cuddle session with the cutest farm animals around. Big Picture Farm, Townshend, 10-11 a.m. $20; preregister.

SUN.21 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

DINOMAN: ‘DINOSAURS!’: A family entertainer uses magnificent props and inflatable characters to give kiddos ages 5 and up a unique view of the Mesozoic era. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GROUP B: Tabletop role-players ages 9 to 14 practice their craft with Andrew, the library’s dungeon master. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 12:15-3:15 p.m. Free; preregister.

FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION:

FATHER’S DAY FIESTA: Dad Guild ends the holiday weekend on a high note with a magic show, a grilled cheese bar, caricatures, family portraits and airbrush tattoos. The Soda Plant, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

TWEEN GROUP: A new program for queer and gender-creative youths ages 10 to 12 offers space to make new friends, join in fun activities and build community. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free.

chittenden county

‘BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS!’: A live raptor demonstration from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science reveals how modern masters of the air got their wings. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free.

FATHER’S DAY FISHING DERBY: Anglers of all ages and abilities cast their lures in a friendly competition for prizes and trophies. Lunch provided. Chittenden County Fish & Game Club, Richmond, 8 a.m.-noon. Free.

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

‘ALANIS MORISSETTE’S JAGGED LITTLE PILL: THE MUSICAL’: See FRI.19, 2 p.m.

‘LITTLE THINGS’: See WED.17, 2 p.m. upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

QUECHEE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL: See FRI.19.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.18.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!’: See FRI.19, 1 p.m.

GOAT SNUGGLES: See SAT.20.

MON.22

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

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 adventures of a lovable ogre and his cast of misfits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free.

chittenden county

‘WELCOME TO THE LOFT!’: Youth patrons ages 13 to 18 hang out and make new friends over games, crafts and snacks in the library’s teen-only space. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free.

HOMESCHOOL GAME CLUB: Home learners ages 11 and up roll the dice on new friendships and test their tabletop strategies at a relaxed social gathering. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.noon. 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.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free.

TUE.23

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

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

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.17. 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.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

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.19.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!’: See FRI.19, 1 p.m.

WED.24

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

‘DINOSAUR SAFARI’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

MAGNATILE MASTERPIECES: Future architects ages 3 and up build imaginative creations with magnetic toys. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 10-10:45 a.m. Free.

READ TO A DOG: See WED.17.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.17.

MAKE & BUILD: Young creators unleash their imaginations at a weekly hands-on crafting session. Essex Free Library, 2:303:30 p.m. Free.

SWITCH IT UP!: See WED.17.

barre/montpelier

‘THE SPORT OF KINGS’: Curious minds meet live raptors up close and discover the tools and training techniques used in falconry. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.17.

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See WED.17.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.17.

upper valley

‘CREATIVIDAD SILVESTRE/WILD CREATIVITY’ EXHIBIT: See WED.17.

STORY TIME: See WED.17.

northeast kingdom

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN WITH KATY TESSMAN: Wee ones shake out their wiggles and sillies to upbeat, encouraging kids’ tunes packed with positivity. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free.

brattleboro/okemo valley

‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!’: See FRI.19, 11 a.m. & 4 p.m. K

Vermont Public’s Corporate Circle is a coalition of local businesses who support local journalism, quality entertainment and educational resources in Vermont and beyond. Thank you to these local businesses for becoming founding members of our Corporate Circle.

For info on joining Vermont Public’s Corporate Circle, email sponsorship@vermontpublic.org

This fun summer civics project for K-8 students is back — with a new set of 25 activities.

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

1-DAY ART WORKSHOPS AT ALYSSA DELABRUERE

Beaver Meadow Rd., Roxbury. Info: Dug North, dugnorth@ gmail.com, dugnorth.com.

spirituality

APPRENTICESHIP IN

NEW THIS YEAR

Take a tour of a local newsroom or news studio and complete Activity No. 20: Talk to a Journalist Free tours of Vermont Public, WCAX, and Seven Days are available for Good Citizen Challenge participants. Register at goodcitizenvt.com/tours

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!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS Participants do an activity and submit the evidence at goodcitizenvt.com to earn stars. Each star is an entry into drawings to win prizes including $50 gift cards to Phoenix Books, and the grand prize — a trip to Washington, D.C. The deadline is Labor Day, September 7. Get more info and submit

STUDIO & GALLERY: Summer art workshops — join the fun! Pastel, collage, oil and plein air. All workshops are small group, beginner- to advanced-friendly, and materials are included. Pack a lunch, bring a friend or join solo! Gather - Connect - Create. Collage: Fri., Jun. 26, Still Life and Flowers; Sat., Jul. 18, Landscape; u., Aug. 27, Trees. Pastel: Sat., Jun. 20, Landscape; u., Jul. 16, Trees and Pathways; Sat., Aug. 22, Flowers. Oil Painting: Sat., Jun. 27, Vermont Landscapes; Sat., Aug. 15, Gardens. Time: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cost: $125 per workshop; all materials incl. Sign up for one or several.

Location: Alyssa DeLaBruere Art Studio & Gallery, Arts Village at Camp Meade, 961 Route 2, Middlesex. Info: 802-3233355, alyssadelabruere@gmail. com, alyssadelabruere.com/ middlesexclasses.

home & garden

GARDENING WORKSHOP AT THE VERMONT ZEN CENTER: No matter your degree of experience, join us on Sat., Jun. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to learn the origin of Zen gardens and some of the principles unique to Zen gardening practice. e tour of the diverse gardens at the Vermont Zen Center will demonstrate various ways that these ancient principles are expressed. We will learn, through direct experience, how to work in the Zen gardening tradition with intention, mindfulness and skill: cultivating, planting, pruning, weeding and raking rivers of stone. Refreshments follow. Date: Sat., Jun. 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $60. Location: Vermont Zen Center, 480 omas Rd., Shelburne. Info: Jhana Piche, 802-310-4074, info@vermontzen.org, vermontzen.org/gardening_ course.html.

language

AFLCR FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLASSES: Don’t let the summer pass without taking a French class! Choose from our traditional language and culture courses or an engaging option: French Club for Beginners, La chute by Albert Camus or one of our fun magazine clubs. Sign up soon to reserve your spot! Dates: Classes start the week of Jun. 29

or Jul. 6, mostly evenings & afternoons. Cost: $215 for 7 weeks; 90 min. classes; $194 for AFLCR members. Location: Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, 43 King St., Burlington or online. Info: 802-777-9365, education@aﬂcr.org, aﬂcr.org.

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE WAY OF HARMONY WITH INTERNAL POWER: Beginners’ classes five days a week. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and find resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@ burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE

WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

nature

BUSHCRAFT & FRICTION FIRE

SKILLS WITH DUG NORTH OF THE HISTORY CHANNEL SHOW

‘ALONE’: Join Vermonter Dug North from Season 12 of the History Channel’s survival show “Alone” for a full day of wilderness skills training in Roxbury, Vt. Learn to use a knife safely, the essentials of ﬁrecraft and the fundamentals of the bow drill method for creating ﬁre using friction. No tools or prior knowledge required. Ages 16 and up. Date: Sat., Jun. 27, 10 a.m. Cost: $180; materials provided. Location: e Nest: Off-Grid, 1911

SHAMANISM: A rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition, beginning Sep. 25-27 in St. Albans. For five weekends over the course of a year, enter the heart of a living Earth with the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition. e PMT, designed by don Oscar Miro-Quesada, offers a rich tapestry of Andean ancestral wisdom and global resonance, weaving a shamanic tradition that serves the needs of the current day. Realign soul with cosmos, self with community and spirit with nature. Are you ready to answer the call to heal? Dates: First weekend, Sep. 25-27; first day, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Cost: $1,375 incl. attendance at five 3-day weekend sessions. Scholarship support avail. Location: Northwest TV access station, Franklin Park West, St. Albans City. Info: omas Mock, 802369-4331, thomas.mock1444@ gmail.com, heartofthehealer.org/ event/the-pachakuti-mesatradition-foundationalapprenticeship-with-thomasmock.

sports & ﬁtness

SMART CYCLING WORKSHOPS WITH E-BIKES: Worried about riding near cars? Unsure how to teach your children safe cycling habits? Newish to biking? Smart Cycling is a workshop series to help you get started. Learn the skills and gain confidence to ride safely on the road and with traffic through hands-on training with our league-certified instructor. Rental bikes available.

Dates: Mon., Jul. 6, 13, & 20, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $165. Location: Local Motion Bike Rentals, 1 Steele St., Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

THE ONE-NIGHT STAND: BICYCLE CARE CLINIC: Having a basic understanding of your bike and knowing how to care for it is empowering! e One-Night Stand at Old Spokes Home will cause neither regret nor shame; instead, it will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you conﬁdence in either getting what you need at the bike shop or ﬁguring out how to deal with it on your own. Wed., Jun. 24, 6-8 p.m. $37.5060, sliding scale. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-8634475, sevendaystickets.com.

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

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

Bolo

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: May 16, 2026

SUMMARY: If you’ve been searching for a loving and meaningful relationship with a canine companion, look no further than beautiful boy Bolo. is handsome young lad is full of youthful energy and zest for life (and a little mischief!). He can be a bit reserved when encountering novel people and experiences, but give him the time and patience he needs to feel safe, and he quickly warms up to show you his gentle, soulful side. Bolo is all about tumbling around in the grass, lounging in the sunshine, face kisses and belly rubs galore. Once this boy lets you into his inner circle, rest assured you will forevermore have a loyal companion by your side.

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Bolo is dog-social. He has no known history with cats. We think Bolo would prefer a home without young children, but he may do well with older kids who can be respectful of his needs.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday-Wednesday 1-5 p.m., ursday-Friday 1-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

HSCC can facilitate dog-to-dog introductions! If you’re interested in adopting a dog and you already have one at home, we can introduce your dog to a potential new pal at HSCC to see if they get along before you take them home.

Buy y & Se

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

YARD SALE

WHERE: Black Hills Angus Farm, 754 Hinman Rd., Glover, VT. (Route 16 to Shadow Lake Rd. to Hinman Rd., at the top of the hill.) WHAT: Assorted small farm supplies/ equipment, assorted garden & potting supplies & tools, garden cart in excellent condition, Weber gas grill in good condition, American Girl doll Kaya w/ accessories in very good condition, ﬁling cabinets, books, dishware, cookware, camping gear, large Coleman coolers, & much more. Sat., Jun. 27, & Sun., Jun. 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Rain or shine.

GARAGE SALE

2 weekends, Fri.-Sun., Jun. 19-21, & Jun. 26-28.

HOME & GARDEN

AIR CONDITIONER FOR SALE

New A/C for sale due to my landlord not authorizing window A/C units. $200 cash. Call 802-999-2896.

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

Prepare for power outages today w/ a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a free 5-year warranty w/ qualifying purchase. Call 1-866-3810627 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (AAN CAN)

MISCELLANEOUS

ALUMINUM FRAME DOCKS

Aluminum docks: (4) 10 by 4 feet, (1) 15 by 4 feet, (3) 15 feet by 28 inches. 22 galvanized steel poles w/ foot plates. Decking: (11) 5 by 4 feet & (9) 5 feet by 28

KEY

SPACIOUS TINY HOUSE FOR SALE

is fi fth wheel-style trailer offers a 34-ft. length & a split-level fl oor plan, giving a feeling of spaciousness. It also has a generous amount of storage space. W/ a little work, this could make a cozy home, studio, offi ce or guest room. Totally roadworthy & ready to move to your desired location. Come check it out! Located in Calais, Vt. $30,000. Info, 802224-6090, chefelektra@ gmail.com.

PETS & SUPPLIES

SPHYNX KITTENS FOR ADOPTION

2 female Canadian Sphynx kittens for adoption. Come spayed/neutered w/ 2 distemper shots & microchip. Ready to go home in early Aug. S. Hero. $3,100. Info, 516-521-2943, lilwrinklessphynxes@ gmail.com, lilwrinkles. com.

by Little Artsy Faces & a live demonstration of timber-frame cutting by our own crew. Beer & root beer provided by Stone Corral (cash bar), burgers & hot dogs provided by Cravens Food Truck (on us), w/ vegan & healthier options by Lucky Star (on us). Other activities will include a piñata busting, cornhole, Giant Jenga & a bounce house! Please follow the link to RSVP so we know how much food & drink to have on hand. Spread the word, & we look forward to seeing you soon! When: Sat., Jul. 11. Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: 22 Varney Hill Rd., Starksboro, VT. Info, gregg@ vermontframes.com, vermontframes.com/ landing-pages/50thanniversary-invitation.

SLAVIC LIFE

e Slavic Life Movement is an organization dedicated to the preservation & evolution of Slavic culture.

supportive environment immersed in nature w/ uninterrupted time & quiet space to work. Private room & studio space, nourishing home-prepared meals, walking trails. Nestled in the northern Taconic Mountains of southwest Vermont. Info, 802-325-2603, lawlorschmidt@icloud. com, artistretreat chagawoods.com.

desired. $2,400. Email mmsmith765@gmail. com.

3-BR APT. IN MIDDLEBURY, HEAT INCL.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

399 E. Main St, Middlebury, Vt. Unfurnished 3-BR, 1-BA, apt. w/ ofﬁ ce. $2,300/ mo. Heat, water, trash, lawn mowing incl. in the rent. You pay electricity. W/D in unit. Off-street parking (3 spaces). 1st mo. rent & sec. dep. due upon signing lease. Security payable in installments. Credit & background checks req. Avail. Nov. 15. Text 802-349-7464.

Auction Closes: Tues. | Jun. 23 | 10AM Sporting Goods Auction Closes: Wed. | Jun. 24 | 10AM

Communit y ommuni

ANNOUNCEMENTS

IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY — JOIN US FOR A CELEBRATION

We’re celebrating our 50th year as timber framers serving the Northeast, & we’d love to have you join us! is family-friendly event is open to all, & there’s no fee. We’ll have live music provided by Rowan, magic by Marko the Magician, face painting

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact:

HUD Ofﬁce of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

‘DOPE IS DEATH’ FILM SCREENING In the ‘70s, communities in the South Bronx faced an opioid epidemic, poverty, police violence & corruption, & governmental neglect. So they did something about it. is is the true story of how Dr. Mutulu Shakur, stepfather of Tupac Shakur, along w/ fellow members of the Black Panthers, Republic of New Afrika, the Young Lords & white allies, combined determination, love & radical politics to create the fi rst acupuncture detoxifi cation program in America in 1973. Note: is fi lm contains footage of IV drug use & police violence. Join us for an evening of learning, sharing & community building as we watch Mia Donovan’s Dope Is Death , which tells this story. Discussion, resource sharing & ear acupuncture will follow. Optional potluck snacks. Sat., Jun. 20, 5 p.m. $25-$45, sliding scale. is event is cohosted by Kula Yoga, Fitness, Social Lounge & Community Acupuncture SoBu & is a fundraiser for our educational scholarship for ear acupuncture training. Info, 802-4042131, info@casobu.org, casobu.org/events.

ARTIST RETREAT FOR WRITERS & PRINTMAKERS

Chaga Woods on Green Hill Artist Retreat offers writers & printmakers a comfortable &

ists

HOUSE FOR RENT W/ LAKE/BIKE PATH ACCESS

MUSIC LESSONS

PIANO, VOICE, TROMBONE, SONGWRITING LESSONS

Awarded for lifetime achievement from Who’s Who in America, Scott omas Carter is avail. for lessons at Music & Arts on Wed. & Sun. Call 802-651-1013.

SUMMER PIANO LESSONS

Play on a beautiful baby grand in the South End of Burlington. All ages, kids through adults. All abilities & genres of music. Info, randal. pierce@gmail.com, randalpiercemusic. com/about.

FIREARMS & SPORTING GOODS 12v-hirchakbrothers061726.indd 1 6/15/26 12:31 PM

Unfurnished 3-BR, 1-BA, 1,600 sq.ft. Great home near Lake Champlain w/ bike path access, private beach access & kayak storage. Located in Burlington’s New North End near the Rock Point hiking trails. is 3-BR, 1-BA home has a full kitchen w/ granite countertops, DW, W/D, LR, home ofﬁ ce or sun porch/workout area w/ access to the back yard. Storage space for bikes, etc., in garage. Cats negotiable. $3,400/ mo. Everything incl. except Wi-Fi. Please contact Elizabeth at esperer28@gmail.com. ere is a rented apt. on the garage side of the house. It is a 1-BR/1tenant efﬁ ciency that is completely separate from the main house w/ its own private entrance.

BURLINGTON HILL SECTION, SINGLE ROOM FOR RENT

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

NEW NORTH END 2-BR, 3-LEVEL CONDO AVAIL. JUN. 15

Furnished 1-BR at 27 Latham Ct. Single furnished room w/ shared BA. No cooking, NS & no pets. Sheets & towels provided. On the bus line. $200/ week or $867/mo. Call 802-862-2389.

S. BURLINGTON 3-BR TOWNHOME FOR RENT

Avail. now. Dead-end street; next to Ethan Allen Park w/ immediate access to bike path to Intervale & waterfront. On North Ave. bus line. 1 mile to Leddy Park & beach. New ﬂ ooring throughout w/ﬁ nished basement. W/D in basement. Front porch & back deck. Parking for 2 cars + visitor space. Affordable 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

Unfurnished 1,780 sq.ft. 3-BR, 2.5-BA. Beautiful, cozy 3-BR townhome for rent. Sunny, south facing. Close to newly developed S. Burlington downtown, 10 min. to downtown Burlington & UVM Medical Center. Eco green fl ooring, gas fi replace, private patio area, ceiling fans + air, etc. Bonus room on 1st fl oor great for a home offi ce + garage. Large basement for storage & more! Main BR has en suite BA. Best school district in Vermont. Extra parking space + snow & trash removal, lawn care, & more. (No

PREVIEW: Mon.|Jun. 22 | 11AM-1PM 131 Dorset Lane, Williston, VT

roommate situations according to HOA rules.) Utils. not incl. NS, please. 1-mo. sec. dep. $3,400/mo. Info: kerinrosestudio@gmail. com.

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR SALE

BURLINGTON OFFICE

SPACE FOR SALE OR LEASE

117 St. Paul St. Beautiful 3rd-fl oor offi ce condo on the top fl oor, above American Flatbread. Looking for new tenant/ owner who will love the space as much as we do. 2,600 sq.ft. + shared lobby; 600 sq.ft. of attic w/roof access. Lease: $54,000/year, utils. incl., parking avail. Sale: $450,000. Info, 802-363-4746, bren@ sasarchitects.com.

CENTRAL VERMONT SCREEN-PRINTING SHOP FOR SALE

Custom screen-printing & embroidery business avail. for purchase. Located in central Vermont, company has strong, well-established customer base from Vermont, New Hampshire & beyond. Great turnkey opportunity for aspiring entrepreneur/small business owner. Current owners will provide transition support & training as needed. Contact biz4salevt@ gmail.com for more info.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

INDOOR BOAT, CAMPER, VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT STORAGE IN RYEGATE, VT. Now taking reservations for winter storage (2 bays left). Indoor storage bays avail. for boats, campers, trailers, vehicles & equipment. 34 feet long by 9.5 feet wide by 10.5 feet high. Dry gravel-ﬂ oor bay. Covered indoor storage. Lockable bay doors. Easy access from paved road. Level/spacious area for access into bay. Seasonal or year-round storage. Info, 802-4176432, karynbjilk@yahoo. com.

HOMES FOR SALE

CENTRALLY LOCATED NEIGHBORHOOD CONDOMINIUM IN COLCHESTER 233 Abigail Dr., Colchester, VT 05446. 3-BR, 2-BA, 1,464 sq.ft. Beautiful condominium on a private drive in Colchester. Close to Malletts Bay, Winooski, Burlington, S. Burlington, Williston & Essex. $525,000. Info, 802-210-5175, johnsonbecca@kw.com, johnsonbecca.kw.com.

HOUSEMATES

GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN S. BURLINGTON Attractive townhome to share w/ welltraveled senior CLASSIFIEDS

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

CLASSIFIEDS » Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online. Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

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

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

CALCOKU BY JOSH

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

REYNOLDS

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle. Difficulty - Medium

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ON P.78

hands-on experiences in a nurturing environment. Now enrolling 3-year-olds (Tue. & u.) & 4-year-olds (Mon., Wed. & Fri.).

woman who enjoys ﬁlm, volunteering, exercise & educational events. Hoping to ﬁ nd housemate to cook a meal or 2 each week & enjoy dinner together! $650, utils. incl. Application, interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO. Info, 802-863-5625, ric@ homesharevermont.org, homesharevermont.org.

Children must be age 3 or 4 by Sep. 8, 2026, depending on class. Info, admin@mary elizabethpreschool.com, maryelizabethfarm school.com.

ELECTRONICS

WIRELESS HOME INTERNET

Connect to the best wireless home internet w/ EarthLink. Enjoy speeds from 5G & 4G LTE networks, no contracts, easy installation, & data plans up to 300 GB. Call 855-873-2215. (AAN CAN)

are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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.

the mowing to us. A high-quality lawn without the high price. Free quotes. Over 24 years’ experience. Email skyhorse205@ yahoo.com or call or text 802-355-4099.

POTWIN EPOXY

Put a new surface on that old cement ﬂ oor. Call 802-236-6189.

PEST CONTROL

Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable. Call for a quote, service or an inspection today: 1-833-237-1199. (AAN CAN)

STOP HOME BREAK-INS

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. e purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. e public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/SOS/rules/ . e 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.

gov URL: https://sos.vermont.gov/opr/about-opr/ telehealth-registrations-and-licensing/. FOR COPIES: Emily Carr, Ofﬁce of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State, 89 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-828-1505 E-Mail: emily.carr@vermont.gov.

INVITATION TO BID

Greenprint Partners, acting as Project Manager, seeks qualiﬁed contractors for Vermont Manufactured Housing Community (MHC) Stormwater Improvements for the location listed below. Federal Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, MinorityOwned contractors and suppliers, and Small Businesses are strongly encouraged to submit a bid proposal.

Project Description: is project consists of stormwater improvements to meet the Vermont Stormwater Rules.

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

TIME-SHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS

YOU DESERVE RELAXATION

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70 cents a day. Call 1-833-881-2713. (AAN CAN)

Location of the work is as follows:

Bid Opening ursday, July 9, 2026

CHILDCARE & ELDERCARE

NOW ENROLLING AT

MARY ELIZABETH FARM SCHOOL

e Mary Elizabeth Farm School is now enrolling for fall 2026. Our nature-based preschool offers young children opportunities to learn, explore & grow through

Wesley Financial Group, LLC, time-share cancellation experts. Over $50 million in time-share debt & fees canceled in 2019. Get free informational package & learn how to get rid of your time-share! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 888-960-1781. (AAN CAN)

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

A recent survey says that most Americans

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. Liscensed & insured. You can schedule by phone, 802-304-8916, or visit us at tara@ ahhhmassage.org.

HOME & GARDEN

CLEAN CUTS LAWN CARE

Messy lawns? We can help maintain the perfect lawn. Leave

NEED NEW WINDOWS?

Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energyefﬁ cient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-2489944. (AAN CAN)

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).

Rules for Out-of-State Telehealth Licensure and Registration. Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P013

AGENCY: Secretary of State, Ofﬁce of Professional Regulation CONCISE SUMMARY: ese rules govern the licensing and registration of out-of-state healthcare professionals practicing with Vermont patients via telehealth only. ese rules create the permanent system mandated by Act 4 (2023) to replace a system currently operating on an interim basis. e rules provide for eligibility requirements, standards of practice, and mandatory disclosures by out-of-state telehealth professionals. ese rules do not apply to practice via telehealth by professionals who hold regular Vermont credentials. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Emily Tredeau, Ofﬁce of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State 89 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05620 Tel: 802-828-1505 E-Mail: emily.b.tredeau@vermont.

• Fernwood Manor Mobile Home Park – US Route 2, Bolton, VT (Quest Number 9502030)

Schedule: Construction is scheduled to begin in Summer 2026 and be substantially completed by late Fall 2026.

e construction work involves installing the following: stone swale, level spreader, ﬁlter strip, conveyance piping, road repair and grading.

is project is subject to Davis Bacon wage rates compliance and Build America Buy America provisions.

Any interested subcontractors and suppliers should visit the following website after June 10, 2026 for information on obtaining bidding documents: www. questcdn.com under Greenprint Partners or https:// www.greenprintpartners.com and click on Bidding opportunities.

For additional information, please send an email to the construction project manager: vyates@ greenprintpartners.com

CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNITS

will be sold on or about July 2, 2026 at 10:00 am to satisfy debt. Any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

Unit # Name Description 54 Josh Alderman Household Goods 71 Antoinette Senesac Household Goods Location: Milton Ministorage, 3-11 Chrisemily Lane, Milton, VT. 05468 BID 13. Questions: Scott 802-893-7952

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR RECONCILED IT, INC. HAS RESOLVED TO DISSOLVE THE COMPANY AS OF APRIL 10, 2026.

Pursuant to 11A V.S.A. § 14.06, the entity will be entering its wind-down phase and be making distributions to creditors.

Final claims against the Company must be submitted to Barski Law PLC, 9332 N. 95th Way, #109, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 or by email at cbarski@ barskilaw.com. Claims may be submitted by letter and must include a brief description or explanation of the debt with supporting documents for consideration.

Claims must be received by no later than October 30, 2026. Claims will be barred if not received by this deadline.

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON JUNE 25, 2026 AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage

EST at 615 VT Route 7, Danby VT 05739 (D42), 130 Tanconic Business Park, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (M229), 681 Rockingham Rd, Rockingham VT 05151 (R09), 2517 Charlestown Rd, Springfield, VT 05150 (S23), 3446 Richville Rd, Manchester Center, Vt 05255 (20) 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

LISTER’S RECORDS OF NOTICES POSTED

We hereby certify that the Notices to Taxpayers of the time and place of holding the Grievance Meeting for 2026 and in the form as set forth on the opposite page were signed by us this day duly posted in the Town Clerk’s Office and in four other public places in said Town of Colchester to wit:

Town Clerk’s Office - 781 Blakely Rd. Dick Mazza’s General Store - West Lakeshore Dr. Colchester Post Office - Malletts Bay Ave. Burnham Memorial Library – Main St. Simon’s Quick Stop – 6387 Roosevelt Hwy

Dated at Colchester in the County of Chittenden this 12th day of June 2026.

Geri Barrows

Charlotte Gardner

Angela MacDonald

Listers of the Town of Colchester

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS

Agreeably to the provisions of Title 32, Vermont Statues Annotated, Section 4111, notice is hereby given that the undersigned Listers within and for the Town of Colchester have this day completed the abstract of individual lists of persons, co-partnerships, associations and corporations owning taxable property in said town on the first day of April, 2026; that they have this day lodged the same in the office of the clerk of said town for the inspection of taxpayers; that on the 26th day of June, at 9:00_o’clock in the fore noon, the undersigned Listers, to hear grievances of person, co-partnerships, associations and corporations aggrieved by any of their appraisals or by the acts of such Listers, whose objections thereto in writing shall have been filed with them as prescribed by statute, and to make such corrections in said abstract as shall upon hearing or otherwise be determined by them; and that unless cause to the contrary be shown, the contents of said abstract will, for the year 2026 become the grand list of said town and of each person, co-partnership, association or corporation therein named.

Given under our hands at Colchester, in the County of Chittenden, this 12th day of June 2026.

Geri Barrows

Charlotte Gardner

Angela MacDonald

Listers Town of Colchester

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026, 5:00 PM

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227pw

d=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09

Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227

Passcode: 969186

Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or+1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

1. ZP-26-192; 371 Main Street (I, Ward 8) Champlain College / Frances Smyth

Proposed change of use from a dormitory to a sorority house.

Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at https:// burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/ or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color,national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities,and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

JULY 2, 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. Site Plan – GLC Lyon Associates LLC is proposing

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.

to add a residential triplex at 58 Center Road (Parcel ID 2-057-010-000) located in the High Density Residential (R3) and Business-Design Control Overlay (B-DC) Districts.

Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at essexvt.gov/applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email community-development@ 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.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-02432

In re ESTATE of WILLIAM O. SEARS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: William O. Sears, late of Milton, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 06/12/2026

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Paul Sears

Executor/Administrator: Paul Sears 401 Water Tower Circle, Suite 101 Colchester, VT 05446

Phone Number: 802-863-5538

Email: rstaudinger@vtlawoffices.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 06/17/2026

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden County Probate Unit

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street Burlington, VT 05402

PUBLIC HEARING

COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on July 8, 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-26-16 JCME 142 PROPERTY LLC: Conditional Use Application to amend a previous Site Plan and Conditional Use approval for a Car Wash (Use 3.330) in the GD1 and GD1C Districts. Amendment is to relocate two existing vacuum islands to the north side of the property to facilitate on-site circulation. No other changes are proposed at this time. Subject

property is located at 142 Heineberg Drive, Account #37-016002-0000000.

b) FP-26-20 SUNDERLAND FARMS COMMUNITY LLC: Final Plat Application to amend a Final Plat Approval for a Major Planned Unit Development in the GD3 District. Proposed amendment is to 1) add the Wright & Morrisey lot to the Sunderland Farms Community PUD; and 2) Construct six 12-unit multi-unit dwellings on Lots 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, and 27. Proposed project includes the extension of private infrastructure to serve the new dwelling units. Subject property is located at 242 Severance Road and 0 Roosevelt Hwy, Account #04-0300130000000, and #04-032003-0000000.

June 17, 2026

NOTICE OF SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE CHIMNEY CORNERS SELF STORAGE 76 GONYEAU ROAD, MILTON VT 05403

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid. This sale is being held to collect unpaid storage unit occupancy fees, charges, and expenses of the sale. The entire contents of each self-storage unit listed below will be sold, with the proceeds to be distributed to Chimney Corners Self Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), late payment fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale.

Contents of each unit may be viewed on July 8th, commencing at 9:00 AM. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self- storage unit. Bids will be opened one half hour after the last unit has been viewed on July 1st. The highest bidder on the storage unit must remove the entire contents of the unit within 48 hours after notification of their successful bid. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Chimney Corners Self Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

The contents of the following tenant’s self-storage units will be included in this sale:

Austin Fox – 325

Abigail Thielman – 302

Nicolas Roussin – 819

Timothy Aikey – 320

Lynn Haze – 245

Matthew Borden – 341

Leila Jeanne Comegno - 118

Armand Leggett – 705

Adam Gordon – 606

Ryan Ploof – 801

Paul Domina – 631

Sabrina Redzic – 613

Johnathan Choquette – 207

Sean LaRock – 910

Jason Dominy – 601

John Yasaitis – 329

Pam Martin - 622

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. Both in-person & Zoom options avail. In-person meetings are held at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room in Burlington. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil.org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont.

We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont. org for info.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE

Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality. Thu., 4-5 p.m., at Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, Burlington. Email us for more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: GILLIAN COMITO, 802-341-3060 GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Senior Institutional Giving Manager

The Senior Institutional Giving Manager is a vital member of CVOEO’s Philanthropy and Communications team and works closely with CVOEO’s Executive Director and the Chief Philanthropy & Communications Officer. The Senior Institutional Giving Manager leads the full range of activities required to prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals to government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Duties include proposal writing for both unrestricted operating revenue, restricted projects, and special campaigns; and engaging in prospect research to sustain and grow funding sources and submitting timely and accurate reports for grant-funded projects.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, business, or related field and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience with nonprofit grant writing and fund development, including at least two (2) years’ experience with writing state and/or federal grants. Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment; effective verbal and written communication skills, bilingual abilities are a plus!

This is a hybrid position (3 days/week in office) based in Burlington VT.

Starting salary range $80,622 - $85,655.

We are one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont!

Join us to find out why! Please Apply on our website: www.cvoeo.org/careers

5h-CVOEO061026.indd 1 6/5/26 3:37 PM

Development & Communications Coordinator

The Joint Urban Ministry Project/ JUMP manages an Outreach Center that assists thousands of Vermont households and individuals in need each year in practical, thoughtful ways.

This role supports JUMP fundraising initiatives, donor communications and social media presence to help achieve annual fundraising goals while helping to build strong relationships with faith communities, donors, and community partners.

Part-time, 20-25 hr/wk; $25/hour

Benefits: Semi-flexible schedule, professional development opportunities, paid time off.

For full job description & to apply: bit.ly/jumpjobopen2026

3v-JUMP060326.indd

OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Community Heart & Soul is seeking an energetic, highly organized professional to serve as the communications hub and operational backbone of our growing national organization. This full-time position works directly with the President and supports staff, trustees, partners, and coaches across the country.

Responsibilities include:

-Communications management and customer service

- Executive scheduling and travel coordination

- Event and meeting logistics

- Database and CRM administration

- Office operations and vendor coordination

- Board and partner support

- Seed Grant administration

We’re looking for someone who is:

- Detail-oriented and highly organized

- A strong writer and communicator

- Comfortable juggling multiple priorities

- Proactive, resourceful, and self-directed

- Proficient with Microsoft 365 and Zoom

- Experience with HubSpot, event planning, nonprofit organizations, or executive support is a plus.

What we offer:

Salary range is $60,000 to $68,000 based on experience. Full-Time • Shelburne, VT

To apply, submit a cover letter and résumé to: https://www.communityheartandsoul.org/careers/ Learn more at: https://www.communityheartandsoul.org/

River ow Community is Hiring!

River ow is seeking individuals interested in caring for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a community setting. River ow is a vibrant lifesharing community where everyone lives and works together, pursuing meaningful, digni ed lives.

We are currently hiring for these positions: - O ce Manager (nonresidential) - Householders (Residential House Managers)

To learn more and apply, visit our website: river owcommunity.org

HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS!

At Lund, we believe in building a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference every day. We believe that when our staff thrives, our children and families thrive. Whether your passions and professional experiences lie in direct service work or behind-the-scenes operations, and whether you’re looking for full-time work, part-time, or substitute positions, there’s a place here for you to bring your talents, creativity, and heart to the work we do serving Vermont children and families.

Early Childhood Individual Assistant: Part-time, the Hourly Rate is $24/hr

Substance Use Case Manager – Middlebury: Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $25/hr

Residential Life Coordinator: Full-time, $60,000 - $65,000 per year

Weekend Residential Shift Supervisor: Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $27/hr + shift differential as eligible

Early Childhood Teacher: Full-time, the Hourly Rate is $25/hr

For full job postings and to apply, visit QR Code:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation seeks a motivated economic development professional to lead the organization and grow the region's economy. This full-time, salaried position reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for providing business assistance, project management, grants management, and collaboration with local, regional, statewide, and federal partners. Visit centralvermont.org/ job-listings for job description.

To apply, send your resume and a cover letter to fkenney@centralvermont.org by 4:00 p.m. on June 26, 2026.

Master Plumbers & Apprentices

Ward's offers excellent benefits & paid time off. Full or part time What we are looking for:

· Customer Service Skills

· Conventional house and some commercial plumbing applications

· Gas Certification/License (Master Plumbers)

· Hydronic and Boiler experience (Master Plumbers)

· 5+ years of residential service experience (Master Plumbers)

· Desire to learn and grow in your profession

· Ability to pass pre-employment requirements

· Clean driving record with valid drivers license

· Master Plumber's License and Back flow License (Master Plumbers)

Email your resume and cover letter to our recruiting office: wardsmechanical@wardsvt.com. PLEASE, NO PHONE CALLS.

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN OR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Make an IMPACT at NVRH.

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) in St. Johnsbury seeks a Medical Lab Technician or Medical Technologist to support patient care through high-quality lab services in our state-of-the-art lab and our expanding services.

Highlights: Generalist lab testing • Routine & STAT work • QC, maintenance & specimen collection (phlebotomy as needed)

Requirements: Associate’s (Bachelor’s preferred) • ASCP or HHS certification • Generalist skills

Why NVRH? Competitive pay + shift differentials • Loan repayment • Excellent benefits • 401(k) match • Free gym membership

Live in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Hike, ski & enjoy year-round outdoor living.

Apply: NVRH.org/careers

LEGAL ASSISTANT

BURLINGTON, VT

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.” 4t-Sheehey061026.indd 1

Hazardous Waste Facility Operator

Come do good work with a great team!

Full-time, $26.06 – 33.80/hr + generous benefits (paid leave, retirement plan with match, 100% medical/dental/vision for employee & family).

Location: Berlin, VT

See CVSWMD.org for details.

Transform lives, empower families, and find your purpose with Easterseals Vermont.

TODAY: eastersealsVT.org/careers A career with

Director of Development & Community Engagement

HSCC is looking for an individual passionate about animals (and their people) to join our senior leadership team! The Director of Development & Community Engagement is responsible for HSCC’s fundraising, communications, and community engagement efforts. They are charged with implementing and overseeing a strategic fundraising plan for the organization, building influential relationships, and directing HSCC’s branding efforts - all in service of HSCC’s mission and long-term

fundraising track record and a demonstrated ability to manage a team of two or more people - we want to hear from you! Apply: https://www.hsccvt.org/Join-Our-Team

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

We are currently looking for a motivated go-getter who is ready to learn and grow within our Property Management department. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Property Management team, where you can gain a deep understanding of our business, make a difference in people’s lives every day, and advance your career.

Who We Are: Burlington Housing Authority serves the greater Burlington community with housing that is affordable, rental assistance, and support services. Our mission is to provide lowincome, vulnerable members of our community access to safe, affordable housing and retention support services in ways that encourage stability, improve quality of life, end homelessness, and foster vibrant neighborhoods.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

Housing Retention Specialist: Provides assistance to residents who have barriers to maintaining housing and/or subsidy. The Housing Retention Specialist works with residents in Chittenden County for the most part and will occasionally provide support to neighboring regions. The Housing Retention Specialist works collaboratively with community service agencies and providers in addition to Section 8, Property Management and Inspection Staff and reports to the Director of Housing Retention and Services.

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.

Work Location and Other Requirements: These positions are in person in Burlington, VT. A valid driver’s license along with reliable personal transportation, with vehicle insurance and registration, is required to carry out the duties of this position.

Qualifications: While all applicants need to demonstrate a passion for supporting our residents and helping advance Burlington Housing Authority’s mission, we recognize that some applicants may not possess all qualifications listed. We are willing to consider individuals who demonstrate comparable life experience and education in lieu of specific requirements, and/or the will, ability, and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work (or related field) with two to five years of direct service experience, including experience with mental health and substance use supports.

• Must have experience with diverse and vulnerable populations.

• Effective verbal and written communication and knowledge of the social services network in the greater Burlington area.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and internet navigation preferred.

• Excellent organizational skills required.

• Must be adept at fostering positive and collaborative relationships with staff, residents, vendors & community agencies

• Must have a patient and compassionate approach to working with the most vulnerable populations

Total Compensation: Base wages Pay range is between $24.00 - $26.00 per hour. This is a full time position with benefits.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance (BHA covers between 80% to 83% of the premium for employees) or a $6,000 opt-out payment in lieu of health insurance

• Health Reimbursement Account. BHA pays 90% of the deductible as the insurance is being used. That’s up to $2,880 for single enrollment and up to $5,760 for two-person and family.

• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts

• Dental and vision insurance (Voluntary plans offered at a discounted group rate.)

• Short and long term disability coverage (BHA pays 50% of discounted group rate)

• Basic life insurance and accidental death (provided at no cost to employees)

• Retirement plan is a defined contribution plan. BHA makes annual contribution equal to 10% of base wages

• Section 457 plan. BHA employees can contribute to this retirement plan

• Employee Assistance Plan

• Generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays.

• Annual Performance Bonus

Interested in this career opportunity? Send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org

Human Resources

Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401

Find more info about these career opportunities at burlingtonhousing.org

BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Enjoy working outside?

Like working with a small crew? Willing to learn and apply your knowledge?

Attention to detail with good communication skills?

Come and learn residential construction and be rewarded for your hard work.

Non-smoker, needs transportation and will work Monday to Thursday schedule with 3 days off.

E-mail resume and cover letter to davidcone211@gmail.com for consideration.

2v-DCConstruction060326.indd 1 5/29/26 12:34 PM Store Team Member (Closing Shifts)

We are seeking an energetic go-getter who’s ready to tackle the various tasks we have each day. This position is front facing and requires engagement with customers and store team members throughout the day. We value attention to detail, a sense of humor, and a willing attitude. Tasks may include stocking, organizing, cleaning, handling vegetables, watering plants, merchandising, pricing, etc. This store team member will also be responsible for managing the tills and closing the store at the end of the day.

Benefits & Compensation:

• $19/hour

• Accrued Paid Time Off

• 15% employee discount

• Staff lunch & drink and seconds vegetables

For full description and to apply: 7dvt.pub/storeteammember

Business Operations Manager

Join our mission-driven team!

We are seeking a Business Operations Manager to oversee financial and human resources operations. Ideal candidates have 3+ years of experience in nonprofit or business administration, a bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required, proficiency in QuickBooks Online, and a passion for natural resource stewardship.

This is a 25-30 hr/week position based in Newport, VT. To apply, email your cover letter and resume as a single PDF to sarah.damsell@ orleanscountynrcd.org. Applications received by Monday, June 22nd, will receive priority review.

Full details at orleanscountynrcd.org.

Director of Court Diversion and Pretrial Services

Lamoille Restorative Center (LRC) is seeking a Director of Court Diversion and Pretrial Services to support and oversee the overall operation of these programs: Adult and Juvenile Diversion, Tamarack, Pretrial Services, Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program (YSASP), Civil DLS, Pre-Charge and Victim Services. The Director supervises the restorative programs team providing effective and efficient delivery of participant services. Restorative practices are applied to empower collective community care by addressing the needs of the person harmed, the community, and the person who caused harm.

This position is ideal for someone with excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills. The person should understand trauma-informed and victim-centered practices in Vermont’s legal and human service systems.

Learn more about our mission at lrcvt.org.

COMPENSATION

40 hours per week with an hourly wage: $30.00–$31.33

GENEROUS BENEFITS PACKAGE, INCLUDING:

Field Technician 1

$2,500 Sign on bonus! Pay range is $20-22/hour, based on experience. Yearround position with PTO & comprehensive benefits.

The Environmental Services (ES) Field Technician I performs operational functions related to emergency response, hazardous and non-hazardous spill clean-up, and hazmat decontamination work.

For job description & to apply, visit: 7dvt.pub/fieldtech 2v-RepublicServices050626.indd 1 5/1/26 4:39 PM

EDUCATORS

Join our team! VEEP/NHEEP is seeking enthusiastic energy educators to bring programs to schools across VT and NH. This is a great job for someone who is passionate about making education accessible to all and inspiring our communities to make changes for greater climate resilience. If you love talking to all kinds of people, tinkering with equipment, and helping make the invisible visible, this is the job for you!

For full job description and to apply: 7dvt.pub/veep

Phlebotomy Apprenticeship Program

Invest in yourself!

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

Installation Technician

Bristol Electronics is a small, family-owned and operated business that began in 1972 selling televisions and consumer electronics. Today, we specialize in solar energy systems, battery backup solutions, and cold-climate heat pump installation and repair. We take pride in treating our employees like family and creating a supportive, team-oriented work environment.

We are currently seeking motivated individuals to join our installation and service team. This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside a knowledgeable and collaborative group while building a career in rapidly growing industries. We are willing to train the right candidates and also welcome applications from experienced installers.

Apply: solarchasers@gmavt.net

• $13,113 annually to allocate toward medical, dental, vision, supplemental insurance, or retirement

• 27 paid days off + 22 paid holidays

• Paid family medical leave

• Annual training stipend

• Life insurance

• Pre-tax dependent care deductions

Please submit a cover letter and resume to: info@lrcvt.org

The position will remain open until it is filled. Lamoille Restorative Center is an equal opportunity employer.

We value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants.

8-LamoilleRestorativeCenter061026.indd 1 6/5/26 3:52 PM

- Guaranteed, paid employment on day one of training

- Direct patient care

- Team environment

- Full beneﬁts

- Dedicated support during the 5-week program

- Paid Certiﬁed Phlebotomy Technician Exam

Registration deadline: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Apply: www.jobforward.org/phlebotomy

Questions?

Call: 802-497-6968

Email: lida.hope@jobforward.org

JUNE 17-24, 2026

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

The Vermont Department of Health is seeking an energetic, talented, and mission-driven Staff Attorney with at least three years of legal experience. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys a diverse and challenging workload, brings broad legal expertise, and demonstrates a strong commitment to public health, human services, and public service. For more information, contact Sarah Gregorek at sarah.gregorek@vermont.gov. Location: Waterbury. Department: Health. Status: Full Time. Salary and benefits will be based upon qualifications and experience in accordance with the State of Vermont Attorney Pay Plan. Job ID #55152. Application Deadline: July 5, 2026.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE I, II – NEWPORT

The Vermont Department of Health’s Newport Local Health Office is seeking a collaborative and community-focused Public Health Nurse to serve as the Family & Child Health Coordinator and School Liaison Nurse. This dual role supports healthier outcomes for children, adolescents, and families through prevention-focused public health work centered on collaboration, health equity, and community engagement. Preferred qualifications: BSN. For more information, contact Susan Graves at Susan.Graves@vermont.gov. Location: Newport. Department: Health. Status: Full Time. Hiring for one position, PH Nurse I or II, Salary range $34.38-$56.98. Job ID #55054 or #55119. Application Deadline: July 12, 2026.

Senior Accountant

ABOUT THE ROLE

The City of Montpelier is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join our Finance team. This position plays a central role in maintaining the city’s financial integrity — from managing the annual audit process to overseeing daily accounting operations and ensuring accurate, transparent financial records.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Annual audit & fiscal year-end

Coordinate and manage the annual audit, including year-end transactions, reconciliations, and schedules.

• Banking & reconciliation

Record ACH bank transactions and reconcile all bank accounts monthly. Grants & debt tracking

Track all grants, debt, and related expenditures; compile and submit related requisitions.

• Daily accounting operations

Oversee daily accounting functions and ongoing maintenance of the city’s financial records.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The successful candidate will bring: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or

equivalent experience, with knowledge of Government and/or Fund Accounting

Experience in Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, and general office operations

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word, and experience with accounting software

• Strong independent judgment, decisionmaking skills, and ability to work with the public and outside agencies

• Experience with annual municipal audits (preferred)

COMPENSATION

• $80,000 – $85,000 annually, based on qualifications

BENEFITS

• Health, dental & vision insurance, short & long-term disability, life insurance, VMERS Group C defined benefit plan, and generous leave time

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your cover letter and resume by June 26 to: Tanya Chambers, Human Resources Director at tchambers@montpelier-vt.org

The City of Montpelier is an equal opportunity employer.

PALS Facilitator

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired is looking for someone to run our bi-weekly support groups for our blind and visually impaired clients in Chittenden and Franklin Counties as well as our statewide virtual support group. The Program Facilitator emphasizes independence, skills training, and emotional support to people coping with a visual impairment.

This is a part-time position 10-15 hours per week, with a starting pay of $27.07 per hour. Interested applicants must be able to work well in a group setting and have a Bachelor’s Degree in either Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, or the equivalent.

Experience with blindness is preferred.

Please visit our website for more information: vabvi.org Email dnorris@vabvi.org to apply.

Finance Manager

The Town of Royalton is looking for a part-time Finance Manager who will play a critical role in maintaining Royalton’s financial integrity — from planning the town budget to managing the audit process and ensuring accurate, transparent financial records.

Town employment offers meaningful work, a collaborative environment where everyone pitches in, and an office culture built on respect, professionalism, and service to our community.

Job Duties:

- Plan Town budget, monitor fund reserves, and provide status reports to the Selectboard

- Act as Town Benefits Administrator managing Town employee benefits

- Responsible for monthly account reconciliations, adjusting journal entries, and audit preparation

Skills Required:

- Associate’s degree or at least 5 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting

- Knowledge of intergovernmental relations, finance, accounting, and budgeting relating to municipal management

The Town of Royalton offers excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, 14 paid holidays, as well as a retirement plan. CV and cover letter can be submitted to the Town Administrator via email: townadmin@royaltonvt.gov

5v-TownofRoyalton061726.indd

5h-StateofVT-HR061725 1

Case Manager & Front Desk Associate

CVCOA currently is hiring for a case manager and for a front desk associate. We are looking for new team members who work well with others, are comfortable with computers, are strong communicators and are enthusiastic to learn and grow as professionals.

Pay Range: Case Manager $24-$26 per hour. Front Desk Associate $20-$22 per hour. Generous benefits for all positions include retirement, health insurance, and paid time off.

For the full job descriptions and to apply, please visit: Cvcoa.org/employment

Elite Residential Finish Carpenters

We are seeking a highly skilled Residential Finish Carpenter with 12+ years of frame-to-finish high-end residential carpentry experience who takes pride in precision, professionalism, and exceptional workmanship.

Are you tired of being self-employed where you're somehow the carpenter, accountant, salesperson, estimator, recruiter, therapist, IT department, snow removal crew, and collections agency… all before lunch? At Housewright, we actually have qualified people whose full-time job is handling those extra hats — so you can focus on what you do best: building exceptional work.

JOB LOCATION: Hanover, NH and Upper Valley VT and NH

REQUIREMENTS: 12+ years of experience in High End residential finish carpentry.

• Precision: Makes extremely accurate cuts and tight, clean joints.

• Tool Mastery: Expert with hand tools and finish carpentry power tools.

• Joinery Skill: Uses strong, precise joints like miters, coped joints & dovetails.

• Design Awareness: Understands proportions and reads plans accurately.

• Material Knowledge: Knows how different woods and materials behave.

• Quality Work: Installs trim, cabinetry, doors, and details with flawless results.

• Proficient: Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, and to convey instructions to others.

• Collaborative: Ability to work cooperatively & collaboratively with co-workers.

HOURLY WAGE: $30.00–$38.00/hour starting base pay. Comprehensive Benefit Package

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE

• Equivalent to approximately $43.00–$56.00+ per hour when companypaid benefits are included.

• Housewright invests an additional $13.00–$18.00+ per hour in benefits on top of hourly wages. Compensation and benefits are tailored to each candidate and are based on experience, demonstrated skill level, qualifications, certifications, and the responsibilities of the position offered.

YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION: https://housewright.net/careers

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

LOCATION: Burlington, VT

HOURS: Full Time, Salaried (Exempt)

– GRANT FUNDED FOR 1 YEAR WITH POTENTIAL TO EXTEND

UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by AFT union in NH/VT & MSEA union in ME

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Digital Content Creator helps bring PPNNE’s voice to life by creating engaging, high-impact content for our social media channels - especially for younger audiences. This role creates and appears in content across various PPNNE locations, helping connect people to care, services, and accurate sexual health information. The DCC plans and launches both organic and paid campaigns, tracks performance, and stays current on social trends and best practices. This position also plays a key role in building our online community, advancing patient access, education, and retention, encouraging donations and advocacy, all in support of PPNNE’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality, patientcentered healthcare.

YOUR DAY- TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be the voice & face of PPNNE on social media, creating and appearing in content that brings our work to life.

• Create fun, engaging content (videos, reels, posts, graphics, captions) tailored for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more.

• Collaborate with teams across PPNNE to capture stories and film content at health centers and offices.

• Plan, design and launch paid social campaigns that help connect people to care, education, advocacy, and ways to get involved.

• Keep a monthly content calendar and post consistently across channels.

• Track what’s working and use insights to keep improving and growing our reach.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Pay Range – Compensation is based on years of direct relevant experience; candidates with 2 -6 years of experience can expect to earn between $48,847 –52,865/year. Benefits eligible position

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience creating social media content for brands and representing them online.

• Comfortable being the face and voice of our channel, including featuring yourself in videos and posts across all media platforms.

• Comfortable discussing on camera the full range of services PPNNE offers.

• Deep understanding of how to engage 18 to 24-year-olds online, as well as understanding of audience segmentation to reach donors and supporters.

• Proficient in video production, photo editing, as well as in creating reels, stories, and posts across multiple platforms.

• Experience using Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite.

• Ability to travel frequently to PPNNE health centers and administrative locations across ME, NH, and VT to create content.

• Interested applicants please submit a cover letter and resume by visiting our website at https://jobs.lever.co/ ppnne

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

Assistant Property Manager: The Assistant Property Manager serves as a critical member of our property management team. This position is responsible for assisting the team of Property Managers in the day to day operations of BHA’s property portfolio.

The Assistant Property Manager assists with leasing apartments, move in and move outs, maintaining accurate tenant files and assist with tenant complaints, collection of rents, lease violations, property inspections, vacant unit checks, delivery of resident notices and certifications, and other duties related to property management.

Work Location and Other Requirements: This position works in person at our various buildings in Burlington. 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.

Knowledge and Experience:

• High school degree or equivalent.

• Prior experience with property management, customer service, and/or working with the public is preferred

• Knowledge of HUD, LIHTC, and the affordable housing industry is preferred

• Outstanding organizational skills, strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and follow through on all tasks

• Must be adept at fostering positive and collaborative relationships with staff, residents, vendors and community agencies

• Must have a patient and compassionate approach to working with the most vulnerable populations

Total Compensation: Base wages Pay range is between $22.00 - $24.00 per hour. This is a full time position with benefits.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance (BHA covers between 80% to 83% of the premium for employees) or a $6,000 opt-out payment in lieu of health insurance

• Health Reimbursement Account. BHA pays 90% of the deductible as the insurance is being used. That’s up to $2,880 for single enrollment and up to $5,760 for two-person and family.

• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts

• Dental and vision insurance (Voluntary plans offered at a discounted group rate.)

• Short and long term disability coverage (BHA pays 50% of discounted group rate)

• Basic life insurance and accidental death (provided at no cost to employees)

• Retirement plan is a defined contribution plan. BHA makes annual contribution equal to 10% of base wages

• Section 457 plan. BHA employees can contribute to this retirement plan

• Employee Assistance Plan

• 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

Town Planner

WESTFORD, VERMONT

Part-time: 20 hours per week

POSITION SUMMARY

The Town of Westford is seeking an organized and motivated individual to serve as a part-time Town Planner.

This official acts as the professional guide for the municipality’s growth and land use, balancing development with the Town’s rural identity. This role also supports the Planning Commission with regular meetings and action items.

Visit https://westfordvt. us/careers-rfps for full advertisement and application process. 3v-TownofWestford061026.indd

15-20 hrs/week in Montpelier Vermont Humanities is searching for a person to be part of day-to-day development activities including gift processing and acknowledgement, data integrity and collection, and project management tasks aligned with the creation of fundraising appeals, publications, & weekly eblasts.

• Starting hourly wage: $24-$28

• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time

• Employer 6% 403(b) contribution after 6 months

Please apply at: vermonthumanities.org/jobs

Stone Fabricator/ Installer

We are a premier stone fabrication and installation company serving residential and commercial clients across Vermont. From custom granite countertops to quartz vanities and marble accents, we bring top-tier craftsmanship into our clients' spaces. We are seeking a detail-oriented Stone Fabricator/Installer to join our team, working split time between our local fabrication shop and ﬁeld installations.

Full job description and to apply: https://7dvt.pub/anstoneworks

Private Care Nursing Professional

Shelburne, Vermont

Family seeking a personable, dependable, and professional caregiver to join our private in-home care team supporting an active adult male living with a C2 spinal cord injury (tetraplegia).

For more information and to apply, please vist: 7dvt.pub/nursing

Executive Director

Artistree Community Arts Center is a nonproﬁt organization dedicated to providing joyful, meaningful, and accessible experiences in the visual arts, movement, theatre, music, and more for community members of all ages and abilities. Through year-round classes, workshops, performances, gallery exhibitions, camps, and special events, Artistree nurtures creative expression and builds community through the arts. A core tenet of our mission is equitable access to the arts regardless of ﬁnancial circumstances.

Executive Director

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and strategic direction of the organization, including programs, administration, ﬁnance, and external relations. Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Founder, the ED ensures the e ective execution of Artistree’s mission through sound organizational leadership, operational excellence, and meaningful community connection.

• Communications & Community Engagement: Serve as the principal spokesperson and representative for Artistree. Serve as a visible advocate for the arts and Artistree’s mission across the Upper Valley and beyond; build relationships with artists, educators, funders, community partners, and civic leaders to elevate Artistree’s regional proﬁle. Support marketing e orts with clear messaging about Artistree’s mission, impact, programs, and events.

This role serves as the primary public representative of Artistree, cultivating relationships with donors, partners, and the broader community to advance the organization’s visibility, impact, and long-term sustainability. As the organization’s sole senior leader for sta , the ED also maintains close and consistent engagement with team members across all functions, ensuring clarity of roles, accountability, alignment with organizational goals, and a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities

Experienced Prep Cook

2v-KrisOwens061726.indd 1 6/16/26 10:41 AM

We are looking for an experienced professional to join our team! The Roots Kitchen is a production kitchen, and new team members will be involved with food preparation, cooking, packaging and labeling, kitchen organization, and cleaning. Our ideal candidate will be an effective communicator with a can-do attitude and ability to work well in individual and team settings. Reliability and positivity a must!

Compensation

• $18-22 per hour depending on experience

• 15% discount on store items

• Accrued Paid Time Off

• 2nd quality vegetables

• Shift lunch & drink

For full description and to apply: 7dvt.pub/prepcook

2v-RootsFarmMarketExperiencedPrepCook061726.indd 1 6/15/26 5:13 PM

• Strategic Leadership & Vision: Develop and implement longterm strategic plans in collaboration with the Founder and Board to reﬁne and grow the Center’s artistic, educational, and community programming. Work closely with the Founding Executive Director and Board to set priorities, annual budgets, and provide timely updates on organizational performance.

• Program Oversight & Development: Partner with artistic, education, and program directors/instructors to maintain and enhance program excellence and outreach e orts, including classes, camps, performances, exhibits, and special events. Promote program innovation, community responsiveness, and equitable access in all o erings.

• Resource & Financial Management: Oversee budgeting and financial planning; ensure sound financial practices and compliance with nonprofit standards. Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, and community partners to support organizational fundraising and secure and diversify revenue streams.

• Operational and Sta Leadership: Provide leadership to sta , and foster a positive workplace culture rooted in inclusion, respect, collaboration, and artistic exploration. Oversee day-to-day operations of Artistree’s campus facilities and programs. Maintain, develop, and enhance operational systems, policies, and procedures to support e ciency and sustainability.

Qualiﬁcations & Experience

Required

• Ten+/- years of demonstrated leadership/management experience in a nonproﬁt arts organization, cultural institution, museum or related ﬁeld with diverse program o erings.

• Strong strategic, ﬁnancial, HR & operational management skills.

• Proven track record in fundraising, revenue generation, budget development/control and developing community partnerships.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills.

• Passion for community arts, creative education, and inclusive access to the arts.

Preferred

• Experience in arts management and arts education, gallery/ exhibition management, performing arts administration, and/or music and theatre operations.

• Background in program development that engages diverse audiences.

• Experience working with cross-sector stakeholder groups.

• The ideal candidate will exhibit core competencies in: visionary and strategic thinking; inclusive leadership and teambuilding; community and donor relationship development; ﬁnancial and operational stewardship; fundraising; e ective communicator and advocate for the arts.

Work Environment & Commitment

• This position is based in South Pomfret, VT, and may require occasional evenings and weekends for events, performances, and community engagements.

• Commitment to Artistree’s values of accessibility, inclusion, and artistic empowerment.

• Compensation Range: This is a full-time, exempt position, with salary range $85,000 - $100,000 plus a competitive beneﬁts package.

How to Apply

Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to info@artistreevt.org. Applications will be evaluated as they are received, with interviews to be scheduled after July 1.

To learn more about Artistree, please visit: artistreevt.org.

The Career Show

THU., JUN. 18

HULA, BURLINGTON

Tillie Walden in Conversation with Jason Lutes: 'Charity and Sylvia'

THU., JUN. 18

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Eric Winter Farewell Group Ride

FRI., JUN. 19

HINESBURG TOWN FOREST PARKING LOT - HAYDEN HILL EAST

Juneteenth Concert with Solomon Hicks

FRI., JUN. 19

RETRO LIVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY

ChetFest

SAT., JUN. 20

WAYSIDE FARM, RANDOLPH CENTER

Vermont Jazz Ensemble

SAT., JUN. 20

LOST NATION BREWING, MORRISTOWN

Early Birders Morning Walk

SUN., JUN.21

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Supernova: I Choose You Hosted by Lizzie Murderz!

SUN., JUN.21

STANDING STONE WINES, WINOOSKI

'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

TUE., JUN. 23

BRIGHTON TOWN HALL, ISLAND POND

Robert Degree: 'The Planted Seed' Book Launch

TUE., JUN. 23

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

WED., JUN. 24

The One-Night Stand: A Single-Evening Clinic in Bicycle Care

OLD SPOKES HOME COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, BURLINGTON

Deborah Lee Luskin: 'Into the Wilderness'

WED., JUN. 24

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Book Club: Turning Pages with Mary

THU., JUN. 25

PHOENIX BOOKS, ESSEX

'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!'

THU., JUN. 25 - SUN., JUN 28

VARIOUS LOCATIONS, VT

Rest, Relax, Recharge: Energy-Clearing with Aromatherapy

THU., JUN. 25

LADIES SOCIAL GROUP, ESSEX JUNCTION

West Windsor, VT Music Festival

FRI., JUN. 26 - SUN., JUN 28

22 BROWNSVILLE-HARTLAND RD, HISTORIC TOWN HALL

June Bird Monitoring Walk

SAT., JUN. 27

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON

Vermont Renaissance Faire

SAT., JUN. 27

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX JUNCTION

Blockprinting Botanicals

SAT., JUN. 27

HORSFORD GARDENS & NURSERY, CHARLOTTE

Fairbanks Unlocked

SAT., JUN. 27

FAIRBANKS MUSEUM & PLANETARIUM, SAINT JOHNSBURY

fun stuff

HARRY BLISS & STEVE MARTIN

JULIANNA BRAZILL

fun stuff

JEN SORENSEN

RUSTY EPSTEIN

GEMINI

(MAY 21-JUN. 20)

Eastern monarch butterflies migrate annually from the American Midwest to central Mexico. The individuals who start the journey from Nebraska or Wisconsin die long before they reach the oyamel fir trees of Mexico. So do their children and their grandchildren. Their great-grandchildren finish the trip, though they have never been to the destination. Somehow they know where to go, navigating thousands of miles to trees they’ve never seen. Let’s apply this as a metaphor for you, Gemini. I suspect you are carrying navigational wisdom you didn’t realize you possessed. Inherited knowledge, encoded deep in your secret places, is ready to guide you. So pay attention to inexplicable certainties. Trust the directions that arrive without logical explanation.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Aries mathematician Paul Erdős lived without a permanent address, traveling the world to collaborate with other mathematicians. He owned little, claiming “property is a nuisance.” His life was structured around doing mathematics and helping others do mathematics. He published over 1,500 papers, more than any mathematician in history. Was his minimalism a form of deprivation? I prefer to think it was liberation from everything that didn’t serve his purpose. What would your life be like if you eliminated things that don’t serve your deepest purposes, Aries? In the coming weeks, you have permission to be ruthless about your priorities. What

are you maintaining out of habit rather than conviction? What burdens masquerade as responsibilities?

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): A friend told me about the creative writing class he took with renowned poet Brenda Hillman. “I recall being in class,” he said, “and having the thought, Wow, this teacher works far harder at teaching than I do at learning.” Dear Taurus, please don’t indulge in a similar laziness anytime soon. Your educational opportunities are currently richer than usual. To extract the full benefit, you must match the verve and vigor of your teachers. (PS: The teachers may or may not think of themselves as teachers. They could even be animals, rainstorms or ancestors.)

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): A large earthquake doesn’t relieve stress evenly along a fault. Instead, it creates zones where stress is reduced and others where stress increases, making future ruptures more likely. So the stress is redistributed, but not uniformly. According to my reading of the omens, Cancerian, you recently experienced a metaphorical shake-up. I suggest you identify where stress has grown and where it has dissipated. Your next moves should account for this new distribution of pressure. Some areas of your life are now more vulnerable, while others have become more stable. Read the landscape accurately before proceeding.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Songbirds such as zebra finches practice their melodies while asleep. Their vocal muscles move in ways that mirror daytime singing. These replay patterns help young birds learn their songs and adults maintain and refine their tunes over time. I suspect that you are engaged in a similar type of learning, Leo. You are enhancing skills and uncovering insights while asleep and dreaming. Bonus! Even when awake, you’re absorbing clues on a subconscious level. Your deeper intelligence is gathering information you will need for your upcoming breakthroughs. Hooray for mysterious help!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Architects who design concert halls know that perfect sound

isn’t achieved through perfect smoothness. The best acoustics come from strategic irregularities, textured walls and angled surfaces that distribute vibrations in pleasing ways. Too much uniformity creates dead zones and echoes; too much chaos creates muddle. Pleasing resonance arises from organized complexity. In my estimation, Virgo, your life is currently too smooth in some areas and too haphazard in others. You may need more strategic irregularity. Consider introducing productive unpredictability into relationships that have become too routine. Add inventive structure to efforts that have become shapeless. Don’t aim for either total order or complete randomness. What will generate maximum beauty?

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Have you ever been ambushed by unexpected bursts of gratification emerging from subtle miracles? Maybe a loved one finally grasps a truth you’ve been trying to convey for eons. Or you feel balanced in a situation that once made you feel lopsided. Or you grasp, with shivers of awe, that you got uncanny spiritual guidance at a key crossroads. I foresee at least three such blessings for you in the coming weeks. To ensure you recognize them, don’t get distracted in the pursuit of splashy bonanzas and gaudy prizes. Be nimbly alert for subtle breakthroughs.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Emily Dickinson rarely left her family home but bequeathed us a marvelous body of lyrical work as she roamed through vast inner worlds. Sci-fi novelist Octavia Butler rose early to write before long shifts at low-paid jobs, imagining visionary futures during her limited hours to be creative. Lucille Clifton raised six children while shaping poems of distilled, luminous insight, showing us how to summon fierce originality from a life crowded with responsibilities. Moral of the story: Buoyant power can flourish even when circumstances are limited. This lesson may be relevant for you in the coming weeks. If conditions seem imperfect or incomplete, trust that your resilience and adaptability can compensate for external obstacles. I have faith in your ability to generate useful beauty.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Our tongues are primed to heal astonishingly

fast thanks to dense blood vessels, saliva’s repair proteins and a rapid immune response. Wounds that would take more patience elsewhere can heal here in days. I suspect that your psyche now possesses your tongue’s high level of healing power. So I hope you will launch a phase of accelerated repair. Call on every possible form of therapeutic assistance, please!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Now is an ideal time to clear out old romantic karma from the past. Please consider performing a DIY ritual to release painful memories, leftover grudges and long-standing hurts that keep tugging at your intimate connections. The coming weeks will also be a favorable phase to discard rigid beliefs about gender and dismantle anything that blocks you from experiencing full-bodied sensual and sexual delight. Expect to be freed from at least some energies that have limited your ability to explore fun and vigorous ways of savoring your desires.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I suggest you adopt a new honorary title such as “Charm Weaver” or “Emissary of Radiance” or “Beauty Whisperer.” Why? Because I hope it will help inspire you to stir up delightful play and lyrical mystery wherever you wander. For instance: Infuse your conversations with sparkling harmony and sly, graceful humor. Burst into whimsical songs, fling out extravagant compliments, pose clever questions that spark fresh ideas, and call attention to systems and relationships in your world that are functioning wonderfully well. Many perks will flow your way as you do.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Is there a dream from childhood that you’re ready to revive on a higher octave? Think of something you longed for before the world told you to be boringly realistic: an art you wanted to practice, a way you wanted to live or the kind of person you hoped to become. The question isn’t “Can I go back and do it exactly the same?” but “What is the mature, wiser, present-day version of that dream?” You might write in your journal: “The childhood dream I’m ready to lift to a higher octave is ___,” and then add, “If I took one concrete step toward it, what would it be?”

WOMEN seeking...

OUTDOORSY AND ARTISTIC EMPTY

NESTER

Retiring soon, ready to start an exciting new chapter. My perfect weekend is 80 percent fresh air and 20 percent relaxation. I love staying active outside, whether that’s playing pickleball, hiking, paddling or skiing. I’m looking for a best friend. I want someone to share the joy of little, quiet moments and the excitement of traveling to new places and learning new things together. GritandGlow, 56, 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

PLAYFUL, ZINGY, JOIE DE VIVRE

Accidental Vermonter by way of New York, bringing insatiability for culture, banter and pleasure. I had a beautiful love with my first husband, who passed away too young. Looking for companions for shows, meals, baseball games, music, movies. Up for casual, consensual fun. More relevant answers: martini; Mets, Guardians and Lake Monsters; oysters, roast chicken, rich chocolate ice cream. FranFineinVT, 41, seeking: M

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

NICE LADY, FUN TO BE WITH

Nice woman searching for friendship and (lucky you) a nice, movingforward relationship! Love history, antiquing, spontaneous adventures, walking the beach in Maine, dinners in and out, cooking dinners together, movies, and just being together! betsn2 78, seeking: M

THOUGHTFUL, INDEPENDENT AND SLIGHTLY FERAL

Lawyer, mom and recovering peoplepleaser. I love good conversation and people who don’t take themselves too seriously. Equal parts deep conversations and dumb jokes. Usually spending time with my daughter, hanging out with my dogs or enjoying a quiet weekend at home. Bonus points if you can make me laugh and take a joke. Eastcoastgal 43, seeking: M, l

WHOLESOME LAUGHTER AND FUN

Seeking kind, authentic and consciously open-minded companionship. Let’s check out local music events and farmers markets this summer as we get to know each other! Friends first, and then who knows? Among other things, I like country walks, labyrinths, cribbage and playing country/bluegrass music with friends. RoseAngel 67, seeking: M, l

THOUGHTFUL DAHLIA

Kind explorer who is thinking about art and literature. Also how to do better with this world (Aquarius). Openminded and community oriented. Friendly, social, extroverted introvert. Loves nature, animals, quiet as well. Willow18 44, seeking: M, l

SEEKING KIND M FOR COMPANIONSHIP

80-plus-y/o woman feels like 16. Seeking a companion for fun, interesting activities: dining in or out, watching wellreviewed movies, thoughtful Scrabble games, sharing books. Must like felines. Foodie a plus. Cora 85, seeking: M, l

OVERFLOWING CREATIVITY

My day begins with coffee; feeding the dogs and birds; then letting life’s journey choose its course. I had a very busy career, and now that I have retired, I have trained myself to walk through my days casually. Not an easy transition, but I love this stage of life. Becky 68 seeking: M, l

LOOKING FOR SOULMATE

Hello, I am a very spiritual woman — you could call me an empath. I desire to meet a gentleman who could possibly be a true Renaissance man. Honesty and loyalty and kindness are what I seek. Plumerea 68, seeking: M, l

WISE WOMAN WISHES FOR COMPANIONSHIP

Seeking a positive, honest person who is confident, independent, kind, loves the outdoors and being active, but also appreciates music of many genres, people from other cultures, likes to explore new places and ideas, is creative, is environmentally friendly and kind to creatures big and small. Floralgirl 68, seeking: M, l

KIND, GENEROUS

Rediscovering myself. Hopeful to find kindness and friendship in others. Hope 36, seeking: M, l

HOPELESS ROMANTIC LOOKING FOR LOVE

Looking for something tangible. Someone that is understanding of chronic health issues, that doesn’t define me. I live pretty modestly. I love hard and fast as long as the vibe is right. I’m not into long distance or a man that wants me to pay for everything or has any addiction issues. I have adult children who live with me. Lostandlonley 51 seeking: M, l

LAID-BACK, OLD SCHOOL, SLOW

I am a woman looking for a man. tytyty, 52, seeking: M

SUNSHINE IN VERMONT

I’m looking for someone with the same values. I love to laugh and have a lot of fun. I like camping, traveling, playing cards and board games, watching movies, and having campfires in my backyard. I love to entertain and am a very happy person. I’m honest, loyal, loving and caring. Carolyn 72, seeking: M, l

WARM, CURIOUS, ENJOYS LIFE

Insightful, kind and a lifelong learner. Retired registered nurse, widow, and proud mom and grandmother. I’m looking for a genuine man to enjoy life with — someone who appreciates connection, conversation and shared experiences. I love music, travel (recently enjoyed the art and culture of Oaxaca), cooking, entertaining, and the simple joys of sunsets, beautiful views and beach walks. bluehydrangea 83 seeking: M, l

HERE FOR LAUGHS AND LOVE

I’m the kind of person who laughs easily, shows up when it matters, and believes the best connections feel natural — not forced. I love good conversations, spontaneous plans and quiet moments that actually mean something. If you’re genuine, kind and ready for something that could turn into more, say hi. Let’s see where it goes. dawniegolucky, 50, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

DON’T YOU DARE READ THIS

Ha! It worked. I’m 57, with two kids who live with me. I’m a pretty laid-back guy, moderate politically; my liberal friends think I’m too conservative and my conservative friends think I’m too liberal. I’m looking for that special someone to share my life with, though certainly up for fun and casual times along the way. VTsearching, 57 seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR LOVE!

I’m Allen from southern Vermont. Is this really what it comes down to? I’m just looking for a loving and caring woman with similar interests who I can share a good conversation with. I really enjoy being outside in nature and at the beach. If you think we are a match, please reach out! Allen_75 50, seeking: W, l

NEW TO VERMONT

New to Vermont. Love the outdoors, both winter and summer. Love new adventures. I have two dogs and a cat that are very social. Looking for someone who enjoys fur babies just as much. Foodie, love to cook and travel.

NYC2Waterbury, 59 seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR LOVE IN VERMONT

35-y/o guy who’s a little shy at first but outgoing once you get to know me. I enjoy cooking, baking, puzzles, working out and exploring new hiking trails. Looking for a serious relationship built on kindness, laughter and genuine connection. If you enjoy good food, meaningful conversations and a little adventure, we’ll probably get along great. Must love dogs! FromPlainsToTheMountains, 35, seeking: W, l

LIVE, LAUGH AND MUSIC

I’m new to this area from the NEK. Went through a divorce. Trying to start over and meet someone with a sense of humor and a love for music; down-to-earth and outgoing but also a homebody and an adventurer. roadkill, 51, seeking: W, l

LET’S HAVE SOME FUN

5’10,” 155 lbs., looking for a top.

Jckwells802, 32, seeking: M, Cp

FINALLY FREE TO MOVE ON Hi. I am a very kind and sweet man. I did my best. I love people, good coffee, sports and good food. I love women who are open to share their bodies once they are happy in life. I am laidback, social and love adventure and travel. I am optimistic for love very soon. Shanty68, 58, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK, OLD-SCHOOL GUY

I’m getting older but still feel young in my heart. I’m looking for a woman to feel young with. I am mindful and adaptable. I take life slow; I don’t take myself too seriously. Cool days, warm dinners, vintage records, breezy Hawaiian shirts and hand-shaken drinks are truly my delights in life. All this and more can be yours, too! Edb9432, 44, seeking: W, l

FUN, AFFECTIONATE, THOUGHTFUL LISTENER

Looking for a friend, lover, life companion. Honest and authentic with myself and others. Enjoy dancing, singing and fun adventures. Also relaxing with a book and music. Love walks in the woods. Romantic and affectionate. Patient listener. Kind, empathetic, value human rights and dignity of all. Resonate with this description? Send me a message. I’d love to connect with you! Autumn63, 62, seeking: W, l

HIKER, READER, DOG LOVER

Professional with an active life and a thoughtful temperament seeks a genuine connection. I spend my time running, hiking, climbing, reading and exploring with my dog. Equally happy in the mountains, at a bookstore, or sharing long conversations over coffee. I’m looking for someone kind, curious, grounded and interested in building something real together. Alec_Ray, 30, seeking: W, l

INTELLIGENT, KIND, YOUNG AT HEART

ISFP enjoys walks, biking, camping, hiking and baseball. Prefer going to versus watching sports on TV. Kind, honest, funny, faithful, loving and romantic. Love books, NPR, TV, movies, plays, art in general. A work in progress. Looking for a woman with similar qualities for social interaction and then seeing where it leads. Father of two daughters and a son. Animal lover. Homebody, yet a traveler. fireinthehole, 58, seeking: W, l

OUTDOOR LOVER

I enjoy being outdoors, whether it be walking, hiking or working in the woods. Going to the beach and hiking in the mountains are two of my favorite things to do. During the winter you’ll find me snowshoeing, hiking or cross-country skiing. I love cooking and gardening. I am looking for someone who shares the same interests. Hikerplus 67 seeking: W, l

FIT, FUNNY, OUTDOORSY

Road and gravel bicycler, hiker, vegetable gardener, cross-country skier, snowshoer, reader, music listener, not a TV-er. Warm and loving to the right person. Searching for a woman who enjoys similar things, who can be warm and open. Hiker48 77, seeking: W, l

HONEST, DEPENDABLE MAVERICK

I’m not saying I’m glad you’re single, but I’m happy you’re here. I promise I’m more interesting in person. ptink, 57, seeking: W, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

NERDY, CREATIVE ENM

I am AFAB femme in an open marriage. I am demisexual and need to get to know someone before jumping into bed. My ideal match would be someone who wanted to make a connection with me,and who got along alright with my (straight male) spouse. Being able to all hang out, play games and fool around sounds lovely. Wordynerd, 42 seeking: M, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP

LIFE SHAPED BY LABYRINTH

NB, queer, kinky, shy author and historian seeks friends, fellow artists and/or sex partners of all genders. Let’s make silly puns, talk about our creative work and bike around Burlington. If you want to hear about the imaginary, magical Vermont town of Hardship, the historical queers I keep finding or Jareth as role model, hit me up. ModernWizard 47 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, 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 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

COUPLE LOOKING, HUSBAND WATCHING

We are a very happy couple who enjoy all things sexual. We experiment when we can and are looking to add a few things. We have toys and different BDSM/kink items. We are looking for an African American man that my wife can pleasure and also, separately, a female for my wife. I will be there, but not touching. ExploringCoupleVT 46, seeking: M, W, Cp

ENJOY MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

Looking for a gentleman to lay some pipe to my beautiful wife. We are a happily married couple of 18 years and are eager to live out our fantasy. We will be staying in the Stowe area June 26 and 27 and are hoping to find another guy to help me give her an encounter she will never forget. Tommy2tonevt, 42, seeking: M

MUGGY?

You: glasses, top-of-the-line swoopy mullet, brand-new linen shorts, penchant for swimming, ﬁres, jokes. Me: mostly no glasses, hair I cut myself (proud of it!), cargo shorts with too much in them, currently interested in one-upsmanship and commitment to the bit. I was wondering: What do you call a dinosaur that loves humid weather? When: Sunday, June 14, 2026. Where: Montpelier, VT. You: Woman. Me: Genderqueer. #916606

WATER LINE CUTTER

I cut in front of you in the water line. You almost grabbed my shopping cart. You had salt-and-pepper hair and a great laugh. (I made you laugh twice.) I have long, brown hair and was wearing a black tank top, green shorts and dark framed glasses. Didn’t see a wedding ring, so wondering if you’re available. When: Saturday, June 13, 2026. Where: South End City Market. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916605

UDDERLY CAPTIVATED AT GAS STATION

To the beautiful lady who was wearing Holstein leggings and trying not to let me see you checking me out — and who smiled at me as she pulled out of the lot: Moo! When: Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Where: South Village Mobil. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916604

TATTOOED DAD AT SHAW’S

You were there with your two kids. You said you liked my tattoo, and I said I liked yours, too. I thought you were very handsome and didn’t see a ring. When I pulled out you said, “Have a great day.” You had a red vehicle. If you are indeed single, I’d love to meet. When: Friday, June 5, 2026. Where: Shaw’s, Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916602

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

MOMS RUN THE WORLD

To the woman off Route 128 mowing the lawn with a baby on her lap: You rock! When: Monday, June 1, 2026. Where: off Route 128. You: Woman. Me: Genderqueer. #916603

MILTON DOLLAR STORE

Just after 2 p.m., you were in front of me at checkout. You bought a lot of hangers. I wish that I had said hello, but didn’t. Turns out we were parked right next to each other, too. You: white Kia. Me: blue Toyota. Hope to see you again. Enjoy the weekend. When: Saturday, June 6, 2026. Where: Milton Dollar Store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916601

BJORN BY THE CASTLE, CONTINUED

I dreamt about you last night. You were one of the only truly kind and deeply authentic people in this building full of bullies. I hope you ﬁnd a woman who appreciates your authenticity, encourages you in your dreams, and is gentle with you when life and people demand far more of you than you have to give. When: Saturday, June 6, 2026. Where: in my memory. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916600

YOUR IDIOSYNCRASIES WERE SHOWING

Your predilection for paper straws was nearly palpable from the porch. I’d love for you to expound on this — over chai at Front Seat, perhaps? When: Friday, June 5, 2026. Where: the Genny, Craftsbury. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916598

STARFISH HAIR CLIP

I was tall with a blue running jacket; your white starﬁsh hair clip reminded me of the coast. I kick myself for not saying hello. Last Friday night in May. Interested in getting a coffee? When: Friday, May 29, 2026. Where: Specs, Winooski. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916597

BJORN BY THE CASTLE

B, living here has been miserable without you. I miss hearing about Schrödinger’s cat and knowing you were only just downstairs. We sat on your bedroom ﬂoor and thanked God for each other. You called me a badass, but I was only human. Please arrive to me with a bottle of ketchup and your handsome and goofy faces. — Bro When: Saturday, June 6, 2026. Where: in my memory. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916599

SPANKED PUPPY

Hello. It was 6:30; I was getting takeout. From the door, you were second from the end on the other end of the bar. Me: old bald guy, blue coat. When: Friday, May 29, 2026. Where: Spanked Puppy. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916596

‘CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS’

You: behind me in the “15 items/less” line. You: petite, 40ish cutie that caught me off guard. We: both annoyed at the lady with full-size cart loaded with groceries in the express line. You rolled your eyes when I turned to you — I turned back around too quickly! Me: black shirt and jeans. Tried to restart the conversation with, “ is is why we can’t have nice things.” When: ursday, May 28, 2026. Where: Shaw’s, Colchester. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916595

WATERFRONT HIDE-AND-SEEK

I was down at Perkins Pier on Memorial Day around 5:30pm. I was playing a ukulele and wearing a hat with the Norwegian ﬂag on it. You and your daughter listened to me and watched me play, then invited me to look for sea glass and play hide-and-seek with you. It was great! Meet up at Perkins Pier for a picnic? When: Monday, May 25, 2026. Where: Perkins Pier. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916594

I LOOKED LIKE YOUR EX

I sat on the rocks of Perkins Pier watching the late sunset fade into night, your running steps coming up behind me. Passing me, you stopped. “Lua?” you excitedly inquired, then, “I’m sorry, you just look so much like my ex-girlfriend from high school.” I am, unfortunately, not your ex-girlfriend from high school, but maybe I could be your next. When: Friday, May 22, 2026. Where: Perkins Pier. You: Woman. Me: Trans woman. #916593

De E ly B d,

Rev end,

I was never a morning person — until I turned 50. I’d love to be able to sleep in sometimes, but no matter what I do, I’m up before the sun rises. I enjoy getting things done in the morning, but my husband is the complete opposite. He’ll hit the snooze button a dozen times if he can, and he gets grumpy if my puttering around wakes him up. How do we reconcile this?

SUPER MODEL IN CAMO TANK

You were in a black Crosstrek; I was in a white van. We locked eyes at the light in front of Lowe’s in Essex. Gosh dang, you’re a supermodel. I’d love to take you out and get our chat on. When: Monday, May 4, 2026. Where: Lowe’s, Essex. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916591

CURLY-HAIRED CARPENTER

I spy a carpenter. You were chopping wood on a porch in a white T-shirt. I slowed down for a closer look, but I didn’t want to drive by twice in case you noticed me. Your curls caught my eye, and I’ve always had a thing for handymen. Can we take a walk sometime? When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Where: on Lime Kiln Road in Charlotte. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916590

I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY

I don’t wish you any ill will; I’m glad you cut things off. / It’s something I couldn’t do myself. / But I still think of you every single day. / I miss the girls, too. / When you think of me, please remember the good stuff. / It’s getting easier instead of harder / To live without you. / Be well, my long-lost werewolf. When: Sunday, May 17, 2026. Where: Cambridge. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916589

SHOPPER SEEKING SHOPPER

We were at Shaw’s near closing time. You apologized sweetly for stepping near my cart, though it was absolutely ﬁne. Your look was kind and open. I smiled. We passed each other later, but I was out of gas from the week and couldn’t speak (and was starstruck from our ﬁrst encounter). Can we shop together? When: Friday, May 1, 2026. Where: Shaw’s, Randolph. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916588

TANGLED AT THE BARRE RESOURCE

While shopping, we encountered each other three times, with you continuously excusing yourself. I responded, “You’re ﬁne,” and you quipped it was “because you worked out.” “I like your cattitude,” I responded. I looked you in the eyes and saw your very nice hair, and you were holding a large assortment of tangled yarn skeins. Extremely curious about you. Friend? When: Monday, May 4, 2026. Where: Barre ReSOURCE. You: Man. Me: Man. #916587

WAKE ROBIN BLONDE

You were leaving Wake Robin in a Black Tacoma. I watched you in my rearview through Shelburne Village. What’s your story? When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Where: Shelburne. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916592

COSTCO SHARED GLANCES

You were the pretty lady sitting in the eye care department. I was the guy checking you out (when I wasn’t checking out big-screen TVs). Pretty sure I caught you checking me out, too. You looked familiar. Have you seen me before? If you’re not another stalker, reply here and tell me your name. When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Where: Costco. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916586

AN OVERLY EMPOWERED UNWED MOTHER

Bullying and verbally assaulting your disabled child and disabled neighbor was intentionally malicious, indefensible and lacking integrity, as was spreading untrue gossip throughout the building. e impulsive choice you made to immediately ﬁle a police report — despite not having witnessed the situation — rather than having a simple conversation with me was irresponsible and damaging. In the words of Stormzy, do better! When: Friday, April 24, 2026. Where: Winooski. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916585

PRETTY LADY AT CROW BOOKSHOP

I went to Crow Bookshop to see if they were hiring. While there, I was left speechless at how pretty you were. I awkwardly complimented your sweater and hastily left. I wish I was able to get to know you a little better, either romantically or just as friends. When: ursday, April 16, 2026. Where: Crow Bookshop. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916584

CLADDAGH

In the café around 10:30 a.m., you were sitting by the windows sharing a bit of food with a young girl companion (a daughter, maybe?). I caught an intriguing detail that sparked my curiosity: a claddagh ring worn in a rather intentional way. I should have inquired. Maybe you’ll grant a chance to amend my error. When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Where: City Market South. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916583

Everyone’s internal clock is different, but it’s extremely common for people to wake up earlier as they get older. Studies suggest that, starting in midlife, the average amount of time a person sleeps decreases by 30 minutes every 10 years.

ere are many reasons for this, including hormonal, physical and lifestyle changes.

resist the temptation to spring out of bed. You may not fall back to sleep, but allow your body time to chill. Give yourself an hour to stay cozy and relax. Lounging can sometimes be just as good as sleeping in.

Adjusting your circadian rhythm is no easy task, especially if it’s only now and then. When you know you want to try to sleep longer in the morning, stay up later the night before. Instead of winding down after dinner, go for a walk. Keep the lights bright longer than usual. Basically, stay active until it’s time to hit the sheets. If you still wake up with the sun,

When you’re up and at it before your husband, I don’t imagine you’re vacuuming, but be mindful of keeping your activities quiet. Set up the coffeepot and prep breakfast at night so you aren’t banging around in the kitchen. If you watch a show or listen to something, keep the volume low or use headphones. You could even get out of the house to run an early morning errand, work in the garden or take another walk.

With a little common sense and planning, you should still be able to get your worm while your hubby gets his Zs.

Good luck and God bless,

The Rev end

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

We are a 68-y/o bi couple looking for one or two goodlooking, friendly male friends, 50-plus, with adequate physical assets to help rock my wife’s world individually or collectively. Discreet ﬁrst meeting to determine compatibility is very important. No creepy people, please. #L1942

I’m a gay man, 58, seeking a gay man, 50s. Cigarette smoker, 180 lbs., 6 ft., seeks like for fun, friendship, foolin’ around. #L1945

42-y/o female time traveler, house builder, plant tender, sequin wearer with two young companions seeks affectionate, nimble, energized and conﬁdent male, 35-50, up for woods roaming, swimming, porch sitting, hard manual labor and cracking up with nothing more than what’s in our pockets.#L1941

Male unicorn seeking maiden for sharing fantasies in the magical kingdom. #L1934

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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

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. Phone number, meet in person. #L1943

I’m a SWM, 73, seeking a female. I am creative, smart, clean and good looking. Seeking a woman 70-plus who wants to play once or twice a week. #L1939

DWM, 71, looking for female to start a relationship with. I enjoy dining in as well as out, country drives. Looking for fun and honest people. I’m retired and happy, just something missing. Phone number, please. #L1937

I’m a SWM, late 60s, 5’7”, 165 lbs., seeking slim males, 18 y/o and up, who are quick comers for oral sex and a rim job. Body hair a plus. Phone number, please. #L1938

Trans man looking for someone to go on adventures with. Big fan of reading, writing and video games. I look forward to long-form letters and heartfelt romance. Let’s see where the wind takes us. #L1936

Int net-Free Dating!

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

Male, 23. Super into Asians. Already have a girlfriend but looking for something casual on the side. I like going out for fruity cocktails and playing golf. Hope you’re OK with my pants being tighter than yours. #L1935

Ambitious guy who loves business, travel and living life differently. Big on loyalty, laughs and connection. Looking for a girl who’s affectionate, wild, supportive and ready to run off to a Mexican dream life. No clothes needed, just avocados and mangoes. #L1932

All-smooth M, mid-50s, twinkish youthful appearance, seeking avid butt muncher to use mouth, ﬁngers, toys for long sessions. Very responsive to erotic sensual play, open-minded, curious to explore turn-ons, kinks, fetish, fantasies. Seeking M or F. #L1931

I’m a gay male, 70 y/o, seeking an 18-plus male or males. I’m 180 lbs. and 5’9”. I’m into spanking and wearing and using adult diapers. Looking for the same. #L1933

I’m a 21-y/o male seeking a 20-plus but preferably 45-plus woman. She must like a little weed. Have to be funny and smart; anything else a plus. Sixfoot goddesses, please reach out. I like plants and hanging out. #L1927

I’m a SWM, 73, active, ﬁt, settled, living the good life. Seeking fun girl, 65-75 y/o. A cat lover is a plus. Race or disability not important. Phone and picture are. #L1929

I’m a gay male, mid-60s, seeking a gay male in his 70s and uncut. Trimmed, passionate, virgin. Enjoy nude activities together, nature walks, cuddling, etc. for intimate times. Let’s talk and hopefully meet. #L1930 I’m a 31-y/o man, tall, dark, long hair, very athletically toned. I like to dance, create music, enjoy Mary Jane and all of the culture’s movies. I am a fan of the expression of love, and I am just looking for my person. Hopefully a short female who takes care of herself well and is willing to take me on as a challenge. #L1928

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