Seven Days, October 1, 2025

HOME MAKERS

V ER MON T’S INDE P ENDE NT V O IC E OCTOBER 1-8, 2025 VOL.31 NO.4 SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Fall Nest inside!

‘I’m Not Well’

A young man’s battle with mental illness led to a spasm of violence in Milton

BY C O L IN F L AND E R S , PAGE 2 8

BUSINESS END

PAGE 18

Examining the Gryphon’s closure

FARM FOCUSED

PAGE 38

Meet the new chef at Philo Ridge

WITHOUT A NET

PAGE 45

Circus Smirkus fears bankruptcy

Do you suffer from Headaches?

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WEEK IN REVIEW

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SEPTEMBER 24-OCTOBER 1, 2025 COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY FILE: OLIVER PARINI

FOOL’S ERRAND

The Beta facility at BTV

For the second time this year, a tractor trailer got stuck in Smugglers’ Notch, aka Route 108 — despite signs and physical barriers meant to stop them. WTF!

HAMMER TIME

Beta Is Going Public Beta Technologies filed papers on Monday indicating it will make an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, a pivotal moment for the Vermont-based electric aviation company.

The filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission indicates that Beta will begin trading “as soon as practicable” but does not list the terms of the proposed stock offering.

The company hopes to trade under the symbol “BETA.” Beta has raised more than a billion dollars in private funding in recent years as it races to become one of the first U.S. companies to produce small electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. Amazon, GE Aerospace and others have invested in the firm, which is headquartered at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in South Burlington. Beta constructed a manufacturing facility there last year, though it is working to obtain certification of its aircraft from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The prospectus provides an

MELISSA PASANEN

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A Captain Veggie Man distribution in St. Albans

unprecedented look into one of the most dynamic tech startups ever launched in Vermont. The company, founded in 2017, now employs more than 800 full-time staff across its locations in Vermont, New York, Québec and elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Beta finished raising another $417 million through a private Series C funding round, led by a $300 million investment partnership with GE Aerospace. The disclosures made public on Monday, however, show how heavily Beta’s quest to bring its electric planes to market depends on attracting still more capital.

The company has been spending money at an astonishing rate, the prospectus indicates. Beta reported net losses of $176 million in 2023 and $276 million last year. It lost another $159 million during the first six months of 2025. The company reported having $174 million in cash as of June 30, before the deal with GE Aerospace.

Expenses are expected to increase over the next several years as

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Beta gets closer to commercial sales, according to the company. It reported $15 million in revenue during the first half of 2025, the majority of which came from contracts with the federal government and the biomedical firm United Therapeutics, whose CEO, Martine Rothblatt, has been a key Beta backer.

Beta leaders believe the company is well positioned to become the first to achieve FAA certification for an electric airplane, the prospectus states. The company’s prototypes, dubbed the Alia, have flown thousands of flights totaling more than 80,000 nautical miles. Companies such as UPS, Air New Zealand and United Therapeutics have placed advance orders for 174 planes, with options to purchase nearly 500 more.

Competition in the commercially unproven field of small electric aviation is fierce, however. That’s just one of the numerous risks that Beta outlined in its materials for investors.

Read Derek Brouwer’s full story and keep up with coverage at sevendaysvt.com.

A new South Burlington business, the Break Room, allows customers to smash things in a controlled environment. A unique way to relieve stress.

FIRST CLASS

Vermont students Nora Austin and Winslow Starks Solomon were named U.S. Presidential Scholars for their achievements.

Well done!

50

That’s how many people will lose their jobs when Hood closes its Booth Bros. dairy bottling plant in Barre, VTDigger reported.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “New Award for ‘Coolest Thing Made in Vermont’” by Alice Dodge. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce competition spotlights the state’s manufacturing sector.

2. “Jimmy Kimmel Returns to the Airwaves — but Not in Vermont” by Sasha Goldstein.

The local ABC affiliate initially declined to run “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the network started airing it again. (He’s back on now.)

3. “Report: Beta Technologies Leaders Plan to Take Company Public” by Derek Brouwer. A trade publication revealed that the fastgrowing South Burlington startup planned to file paperwork with securities regulators to offer stock. See story on this page.

4. “Kelli Perkins Named Burlington’s Director of Racial Equity” by Courtney Lamdin. If confirmed by city councilors, Perkins will become the third permanent director of the city department created in 2019.

5. “Burlington Seeks a Spot for an OverdosePrevention Center” by Courtney Lamdin.

Downtown is the most obvious location for a safe-injection site, but some city councilors are fiercely opposed to the idea.

TOWN CRIER

L O C A L LY

DUST BOWL

About a quarter of Vermont is experiencing extreme drought as dry conditions persist. Some thirsty trees and plants out there.

SOURCED

NEWS

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail Saw More Users Than Ever This Summer After years of flooding, the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is fully open, and people are taking advantage, the News & Citizen reported. There are ancillary benefits, too: Users are stopping in the 18 towns along the trail for food, drink, repairs or a place to stay, according to the outlet.

Read more at vtcng.com/ news_and_citizen.

THAT’S SO VERMONT

SHARE THE HARVEST By 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, a line of 100-plus people snaked around the From Scratch convenience store and deli in downtown St. Albans.

Yes, the store was giving away creemees to kids, but the bigger draw was the free, local produce from a project known as Captain Veggie Man. Evie, 9, licked a smiley face into her creemee as she and her brother Isaac, 10, waited with their dad, Matt Call. “I’m never opposed to free vegetables,” the 39-year-old St. Albans resident said. It helps stretch his budget, he added, and his kids happily tag along thanks to the promise of ice cream.

“I like veggies, too,” Evie piped up.

This is the sixth year that Captain Veggie Man has distributed thousands of pounds

of mostly organic produce throughout the summer and early fall. Local businesspeople Tim Camisa and Mike Rooney have spent an undisclosed amount of their own money buying up excess harvests from area farms.

They co-own Vermont Organics, which makes organic potting soil and fertilizer, and Rooney owns From Scratch.

“There’s food insecurity everywhere in our community,” Camisa said. “We wanted to help.”

During last weekend’s distribution, Captain Veggie Man executive director Jordan King, Vermont Organics employees and volunteers offered a cornucopia of fat cabbages, purple kale, tomatoes and even Vermont-grown celery — plus apple crisp kits with rosy McIntoshes.

Standing in the shade with her brother and two bags of vegetables, 11-year-old Olivia Marshall crunched into an apple. Her brother

Kayden, 12, was most excited about the carrots: “My mom makes the best soup with carrots,” he said.

The pair were waiting for their grandmother, Linette Bushey. The 68-year-old from Milton said she lives on a fixed income and treasures the fresh vegetables.

Since Bushey learned about Captain Veggie Man on Facebook a few years ago, she has returned many times. After she goes through the line, she jumps in to help hand out vegetables — adding a Captain Veggie grandma to the crew.

MELISSA PASANEN

INFO Learn about future Captain Veggie Man events on Facebook.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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Julia Maguire

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

9 days of concerts

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

workshops, lectures, master classes & Irish sessions Let Nature Soothe Your Soul Let the Music Feed Your Imagination

PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH

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Take advantage of the exchange rate: $1 CAD = 73¢ US $35 concert costs just $25 US WITH THE SUPPORT OF

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly C I R C U L AT I O N : 3 5 , 0 0 0 Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc. every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction.

Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec.

DELIVERY TECHNICIANS Joe Abraham, Harry Applegate, James Blanchard, Joe Bouffard, Pat Bouffard, Colin Clary, Elana Coppola-Dyer, Matt Hagen, Penny Libercent, Nat Michael, Frankie Moberg, Dan Nesbitt, Dan Oklan, Ezra Oklan, Matt LaDuq Perry, Danielle Schneider, Andy Watts, Tracey Young With additional circulation support from PP&D. SUBSCRIPTIONS 6- 1 : $158. 1- 1 : $250.

Please call 802-865-1020, ext. 132 with your credit card, contact circ@sevendaysvt.com or mail your check to: Seven Days, c/o Subscriptions, 255 S. Champlain St., Ste. 5, Burlington, VT 05401 Seven Days shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement.

If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Seven Days may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Seven Days reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.

©2025 Da Capo Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

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9/29/25 11:35 AM

TOWER POWER

[Re “Tower Above Lake Willoughby Approved,” September 22, online]: We need the towers, desperately. Just paint them green and put a big red light on top.

If they can put those silly towers up that they try to make look like trees, they could paint these towers green. Good luck!

Kate Young

NEWPORT

THE REAL NET ZERO

There is an error in “Regulators Seek Rare Audit of Burlington Electric Department” [September 1]. You state that BED general manager Darren Springer “has been pushing to achieve net-zero impact — in which greenhouse gases emitted equal the amount removed from the atmosphere.” That is the most commonly understood definition of net zero and basically the definition you will find if you google “net zero,” but it is definitely not what BED is pushing to achieve.

BED adopted a similar-sounding but very different goal. BED’s website does not refer to net zero but rather “net-zero energy.” BED states that its “goal is to eliminate fossil fuel usage in heating and ground transportation.” While admirable, this is not the same thing as offsetting greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere with greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere. If our planet could achieve net zero, global warming would stop, albeit with delay. If our planet could achieve netzero energy, global warming would only be slowed.

One could argue that BED obfuscated the two so that it could continue to operate the McNeil Generating Station, with its documented high greenhouse gas emissions and low efficiency, while still claiming to be taking the high road environmentally.

The whole mess that is now BED is something we should have expected when former Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger hired a lawyer friend with no technical expertise or industry experience to run our electric utility.

Clifford Morgan

BURLINGTON

ENOUGH, ALREADY

Gov. Phil Scott has agreed to help Burlington as it continues to struggle with growing safety issues [“Scott Vows to Help Burlington Amid Public Safety ‘Crisis,’” September 11, online]. I hope

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Come prepared to laugh!”

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he will use his influence to keep the overdose-prevention site out of the downtown area. Scott has an opportunity to stop this “magnet” that is sure to draw still more drug dealers and violence to Burlington [“Location Unknown: Burlington Has the Money to Open an Overdose-Prevention Center. Now Comes the Hard Part: Where to Put It,” September 24].

The citizens of Burlington are suffering from an increasing degree of compassion burnout. We can’t take much more!

Trudy Richmond

BURLINGTON

WEBB WISE

I grew up on Shelburne Farms and, though not a Webb, was so blessed to be able to live there as a “free-range” child of the late ’60s and early ’70s. It did much to inform my creative work today. We were very close with the Webb family, and I have many happy memories of a truly magical childhood spent in the fields, forests and buildings of the farm while it was still a private holding. Being just a teenager at the time of the start of the farm’s transition, however, I had little understanding of the financial jeopardy the farm was facing, nor of the enormous responsibility Alec and Marshall and all their siblings were about to take on in order to save it.

I have just finished reading the wonderful cover story by Melissa Pasanen [“A New Heyday,” September 17] and wanted to congratulate her and Seven Days for a most excellent piece of writing! I can’t wait to share it far and wide. You really captured the struggles and triumphs that the

family has grappled with in making the monumental decision to embrace a vision of sustainability and education for the organization, the property and the historic renovations needed to fulfill those first steps of the process.

Thank you so much for this very moving article and for taking the reader down the long and complicated path this family has had to create and manage in order for the farm to lift itself up from the ashes of the burnt-out Gilded Age past into the present organization that embodies a more holistic and sustainable ethos that can help redirect the values and practices of social responsibility into a truly golden future for generations to come.

You did a masterful and inspiring job of weaving so many strands together into a delightful and inspiring read.

Bravissimo!

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ANOTHER VIEW OF GMT

In direct contrast with my lived experience, the cover story [“Out of Service?”

July 16] makes bus riders out to be a desperate, pitiable bunch and characterizes the bus as an unsafe last resort.

For example, the author claims that “today’s bus passengers typically lack other ways to get around.” He cites an 8-year-old survey indicating that 75 percent of riders did not own a car but doesn’t address whether that is any different today than in the year he refers to as Green Mountain Transit’s “peak”: FEEDBACK

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An Evening of Bluegrass & Storytelling

9/18/25 9:54 AM

Tuesday, October 14, 6:30-8PM Phoenix Books, Church Street, Burlington

Robert Fuller Book Launch & Signing Event Music by

Julie & Donny Gould Storytelling from 7 to 7:30pm Q&A and book signing 7:30 to 8pm Complimentary lite snacks and soft drinks.

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contents OCTOBER 1-8, 2025 VOL.31 NO.4

THE MARQUIS THEATRE PRESENTS

FOOD+ DRINK 38 A New Season

Marc St. Jacques helms the reopened dining room at Charlotte’s Philo Ridge Farm

‘I’m Not Well’

A young man’s battle with mental illness led to a spasm of violence in Milton

BY COL IN F L AN D E R S

28

NEWS+POLITICS 14

FEATURES 28

Remote Control

Book ’Em, Lou

Burlington Bans Public Nudity

ARTS+CULTURE 44

State employees push back against Gov. Scott’s plan to make employees who work at home return to the office

Cabot and Danville school boards feel pressure to act on state senator’s advice

A Vendor Withheld Inmates’ Money for Months

STUCK IN VERMONT

A Burger Walks Into a Bar

At the retooled Broken Hearts Burger in Fairlee, the Heartbreaker still holds center stage

HOSTED SATURDAY, BIG GUYS T NMEN OCTOBER 18! ENTERTAI BY

MUSIC FROM THE 80S, 90S AND 2000S GREAT MUSIC, PRIZES AND A LOT OF FUN!!

NO MUSIC TRIVIA KNOWLEDGE NEEDED! EASY TO PLAY

FREE TO PLAY

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COLUMNS

COVER DESIGN REV. DIANE SULLIVAN • IMAGE COURTESY

School Speculation

38

NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S BINGO

A perennial political candidate talks with noteworthy authors on his new TV show

Keep on Truckin’

14

Theater review: The Garbologists, Vermont Stage

The Gryphon’s Fall

A businessman asked Burlingtonians to save his downtown restaurant while he racked up debts elsewhere

Online Thursday

Circus Smirkus Says It Must Raise $400,000 to Avoid Bankruptcy Poets and Scientists Team Up to Tackle Climate Change Parallel Lives

Book review: What We Leave Behind, Sue Halpern

True to Forms

11 Magnificent 7 12 From the Publisher 39 Side Dishes 50 Movie Review 56 Soundbites 60 Album Review 93 Ask the Reverend

SECTIONS 24 Life Lines 38 Food + Drink 44 Culture 50 On Screen 52 Art 56 Music + Nightlife 64 Calendar 74 Classes 75 Classifieds + Puzzles 89 Fun Stuff 92 Personals

Three abstract artists’ works resonate in Waterbury

In Burlington, Volunteers Counter Vandalism Before a New Mural’s Completion

SUPPORTED BY: Deb Fleischman transformed her driveway into an interactive ribbon installation called “Kelpy.” People are welcome to walk through the 765 blue and green satin ribbons, which resemble a kelp forest. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger experienced “Kelpy” at 24 North Street in Montpelier with Fleischman and students from nearby Main Street Middle School.

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MONDAY-SATURDAY SUNDAY 10AM-8PM 10AM–6PM Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age or older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry significant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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COURTESY OF ALEXA HERRERA CONDRY

LOOKING FORWARD

MAGNIFICENT

FRIDAY 3

Sketchy Details No one draws a blank at Junction Arts & Media’s annual TWIST: TWIn STate Comics & Zine Fair in White River Junction. The Upper Valley’s only convention of its kind boasts hundreds of magazines, chapbooks, prints and stickers handmade by local artists, as well as students and alums of the neighboring Center for Cartoon Studies.

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

BY RE BE CCA DRISCOL L

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 67

FRIDAY 3-SUNDAY 5

WRITINGS ON THE WALL Downtown Brattleboro gets a technicolor makeover with Sucka Punch Graffiti Jam, a nod to the expressive art form and hip-hop culture. Juniper Creative Arts cofounder Will Kasso Condry maintains that “jams like this keep us young,” so absorb the youthful vibes with interactive art-making activities, a community mural wall, high-energy DJ sets and a Saturday evening block party.

SEE ART LISTING ON PAGE 55

OPENS FRIDAY 3

Axed Out Fact: Real life is often stranger than fiction. Spooky season kicks off with psychological drama Lizzie Borden: A Chilling Tale of Family, Secrets and Suspicion at QuarryWorks Theater in Adamant. The riveting production — based on Sharon Pollock’s play Blood Relations — explores the enigmatic life of the 1800s Massachusetts woman accused of brutally murdering family members with an ax.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

SATURDAY 4

If You Build It They will come ... to the Construction Fest in Burlington! Families step into a world of imagination and discovery at the Church Street Marketplace, where the people and machines that shape our cities get some well-deserved limelight. Hands-on activities include hard hat decorating and building with giant foam blocks, while a “fashion show” of vehicles takes rubbernecking to a whole new level.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 65

SATURDAY 4 & SUNDAY 5

Note for Note Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do! Traditional a cappella singing gets its moment at the New England Sacred Harp Convention at Burlington City Hall Auditorium. Vocalists from across the region join in the community-driven singing style, which uses distinctive shapes in musical notation to inspire easy sight-reading, perfect for beginners who want to dip a do — er, toe — in.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

ONGOING

COURTESY OF TIMOTHY M. SCHMIDT

A Bill of Will SATURDAY 4

Funny Bones KCP Presents brings world-renowned Chicago improv enterprise the Second City to St. Johnsbury Academy’s Fuller Hall. This 65th anniversary show delivers the troupe’s trademark brand of sketch comedy that has solidified it as the nation’s premier laugh factory. Expect “Saturday Night Live”worthy humor based on rigorous character development, not cheap jokes.

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 61

The Twelfth Night Show at Weston Theater at Walker Farm is Shakespeare as you’ve never experienced him before. The wildly entertaining original production — born out of the company’s 2022 writers’ retreat — reimagines the Bard’s classic comedy as a piece of modern metatheatre, in which four bandmates are tasked with staging a one-of-a-kind production in order to save their beloved playhouse.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 66

BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM. SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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The Struggle Is IRL

I can see both sides of Vermont’s return-to-office debate — the subject of a news story, “Remote Control,” in this week’s issue of Seven Days.

Starting December 1, state employees who are working remotely will have to show up at the office in person at least three days a week. What used to be a standard, unquestioned requirement of holding a job has become a deal-breaker for a significant portion of Vermont’s labor force.

Proponents of the plan lament the workplace learning and collegiality that has been lost since the pandemic made this kind of arrangement possible and then routine. They’re also worried about the economic decline of towns that used to host office buildings filled with people who would go out for lunch, buy gas and maybe pick up a few things at the local store.

On the flip side: Those working from home are liberated from the oftentimes senseless chore of commuting and its accompanying greenhouse gas emissions. The seemingly impossible search for affordable housing has led many Vermonters to settle far from their offices, in towns that benefit from having residents who work where they live. Remote employees find accessible childcare and other services in those places, and the resulting business bolsters rural Vermont.

Like so many local employers, Seven Days has faced the same dilemma since the coronavirus sent us all home five and a half years ago. Although the paper never required reporters or sales reps to work at the office, even before March 2020, they all had desks at our Burlington HQ. In truth, we never imagined we could produce the newspaper without toiling together in the trenches — until we had to. Instead of poring over hard-copy pages, looking for errors or misplaced ads, now we scrutinize the paper — very carefully — on our respective screens.

Quite a few people still gather in the office on Monday and Tuesday, when we ready the paper to be printed. Wednesday is also busy, packed with story-planning meetings. But on Thursday and Friday, the main office is pretty empty. In an adjacent room, a gaggle of news reporters is almost always hard at work, sitting close enough to hear each other’s phone conversations and compare notes. This is what most rookie reporters missed in school and today crave: a working newsroom full of experienced writers from whom they can learn on the job.

Other employees, though, aren’t getting enough of that hands-on,

MOST ROOKIE REPORTERS ARE LOOKING FOR A WORKING NEWSROOM

FULL OF EXPERIENCED WRITERS FROM WHOM THEY CAN LEARN ON THE JOB.

CATHY RESMER

JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR SEVEN DAYS. I’M PROUD TO BE AMONG THE MANY WHO SUPPORT

EXCEPTIONAL REPORTING AND MUCH NEEDED GOOD HUMOR. Sherry Osborn, Hinesburg SUPER READER SINCE APRIL 2020 From left: Derek Brouwer, Lucy Tompkins, Sasha Goldstein and Alison Novak in the Seven Days newsroom

in-real-life mentoring. The arrangement works OK — for a while — if there’s no turnover. But in order to truly understand Seven Days, newbies need to know what their colleagues do and feel a connection to them. And, increasingly, they drive home to St. Albans and Vergennes — too far away to get together with coworkers after hours.

The urban-rural migration makes sense. From January to August, the median price for a house in Chittenden County was $605,000, compared to a statewide average of $450,000, Anne Galloway reports this week in Nest, our quarterly real estate supplement. Across the board, the price of Vermont homes has almost doubled in the past decade.

Last Wednesday I hosted a party for staffers at my place in Burlington to celebrate Seven Days’ 30th birthday. The icing on the cake … was newsprint gray. Custom baker Erinn Simon cooked up a confection that looked exactly like a stack of newspapers, down to the rough paper.

Everyone who sent me a thank-you email noted how fun it was to be together. Maybe even essential.

Paula Routly

Welcome, new Super Readers!

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

Kate Baldwin John & Diane Bennink David Berry Jeanne Choquette Steven Oakland & Susan Deppe

Wilda Routhier & Bonnie Rivers C. Ronald & Alice Siegriest Robert & Fran Pepperman Taylor

Susan Murray Gary Nelson David Edward & Elinor Peters Diane Peters

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year: Maria & Frederick Barrett Dale Devino Susan Dwelle Dwight Everest Rich & Theresa Feeley Jonathan Gibson & Eliza Mabry

Sarah Hartwell Bruce Hiland Susan Jenal Karl Jensen William Keithcart Richard Kimler Richard Landsman

Amy McVey Jane & Delmont Neroni Susan Oldenburg Diane Peters Frances & David Thomas

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

LUCY TOMPKINS

Make your contribution today! sevendaysvt.com/super-readers Or send a a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402.

Cake from a recent staff party, by Erinn Simon

Need more info? Contact Gillian English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

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news

MORE INSIDE

INMATES’ MONEY MISSING FOR MONTHS PAGE 16

BURLINGTON

GRYPHON OWNER’S FINANCIAL WOES

Burlington Bans Public Nudity

PAGE 18

B Y C O URTNE Y L A MDI N courtney@sevendaysvt.com FILE: MATTHEW THORSEN

MATT MIGNANELLI

Naked Bike Ride

Remote Control State employees push back against Gov. Scott’s plan to make employees who work at home return to the office B Y K E V I N MCCAL L UM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

W

hen Brendan O’Brien was offered a job with the State of Vermont nearly three years ago, a big part of the position’s appeal was the opportunity to work from home. His work as an environmental consultant had required lots of outof-state travel, and now he wanted more time at home with his wife and daughter.

He accepted a post with the Department of Environmental Conservation managing grants to upgrade drinking water systems that would more effectively remove pollutants.

The money wasn’t great, but the benefits were decent. And working full time 14

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

from his home in Buels Gore, a remote unincorporated area in the mountains south of Camel’s Hump, saved him money on gas and other car expenses.

So O’Brien felt blindsided when Gov. Phil Scott announced in August that he will require all state workers to return to the office at least three days a week beginning December 1.

“I consider this a total betrayal of the terms under which I accepted my position,” O’Brien said.

He’s not alone. Many state workers are livid about Scott’s order, denouncing it as a politically motived decision that ignores what they say are the efficiencies

and improved job satisfaction that come with remote work. They predict that the mandate will lead to mass departures from state service, particularly of younger workers who have embraced remote work as a normal part of modern employment.

“The world of five or six years ago is not the world that we live in today,” said Steve Howard, executive director of the Vermont State Employees’ Association, which represents about 6,000 people in the state’s workforce. More than 3,500 union

LABOR

REMOTE CONTROL

» P.16

Burlington city councilors on Monday banned nudity in public places, putting an end to a long-standing, if unwelcome, practice that is a quirk of Queen City living.

Walking streets and sidewalks in the buff will net offenders a $100 fine.

The penalty can be upgraded to $500 if the behavior continues, according to the ordinance, which goes into effect in late October.

Councilors passed the ordinance on a 9-2 vote, with Councilor Gene Bergman (P-Ward 2) absent.

Councilors Melo Grant (P-Central District) and Marek Broderick (P-Ward 8) voted no over concerns that the rules would be used to target unhoused people and infringe on events such as the annual Naked Bike Ride at the University of Vermont.

Council President Ben Traverse (D-Ward 5), who spearheaded the measure, said the ordinance is aimed at the few people who are “monopolizing our public spaces and not allowing other people to enjoy it.”

“It’s an important tool in the handful of those occasions that we need it,” he said.

Public nudity has long been tolerated and even celebrated in Burlington in its “Keep Vermont Weird” spirit. But some people have become less accepting of the practice.

Earlier this year, dozens of businesses wrote an open letter to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak demanding a ban on public nudity, among other steps, to curb antisocial behavior. This summer, a naked person wandered onto a school playground, according to Traverse.

Nudity is banned on school grounds, but “we did not have the tools to stop this individual before they got to the playground,” he said.

“That’s really what this ordinance is about.”

The new rules create a blanket ban on “public indecent exposure,” which is defined as displaying one’s “genitals or anal region” in public, whether or not the person is acting in a lewd manner. Disrobing in public is already illegal, as is being naked at city parks and beaches. ➆

V I L L A G E AT AU T U M N P O N D

School Speculation

MINUTES FROM BU R L I N G T O N ,

Cabot and Danville school boards feel pressure to act on state senator’s advice

BY ALISON N OVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

I

n late August, state Sen. Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) called Cabot School Board chair Chris Tormey and vice chair Ellen Cairns with some advice: If they wanted to give local families full school choice in the future, they should consider voting soon on whether to shutter their tiny high school.

The Senate minority leader told them that he had watched Cabot’s August school board meeting, in which members discussed the possible closure of their high school, which has just 10 to 12 students per grade. When the General Assembly reconvenes in the new year, Beck continued, it may well pass legislation that would narrow students’ educational options if the Cabot high school closes.

Currently, when a school district does not operate a certain grade level, it is required to pay for families to send their children to any public or private school that has state approval. Beck told Tormey and Cairns that he believed the legislature may change that next year and require districts that close a school to designate just three public schools to receive their students. Parents would have to choose one of those if they want the district to cover tuition.

In Cabot’s case, that would rule out sending students to two nearby private, or “independent,” schools in the region: Lyndon Institute and St. Johnsbury Academy, where Beck has taught social studies for 27 years.

Furthermore, Beck told the Cabot School Board members, the legislature might make that provision retroactive to January 1, 2026. Tormey and Cairns took that to mean they would need to vote on the question before year’s end.

Days later, Beck conveyed a similar message to Clayton Cargill, chair of the Danville School Board. Cargill attempted to find other legislators to corroborate Beck’s intel, but his effort was unsuccessful.

EDUCATION

Instead, he said, “every instance of it having been said originat[ed] with Senator Beck.”

Still, Cargill wasn’t willing to dismiss the advice outright.

Cargill characterized Beck as “a gorilla at the Statehouse” and a “man who knows things and wields clout. “When he brings me information, it’s usually good,” Cargill told Seven Days in an interview.

Beck’s warnings have instilled a sense of urgency and pressure in the two rural communities. Both are already concerned about the fate of their small high schools in light of sweeping legislation passed in June that aims to change the way Vermont schools are funded and governed. The legislation, known as Act

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73, recommends regional high schools and calls for minimum class sizes of 18 students for grades 9 through 12.

The Cabot School Board has created a survey to ask residents whether they want the high school to remain open — or close at the end of this school year. One question asks whether a vote should take place before the end of the calendar year “in order to ensure that Cabot’s students can take advantage of the ‘full high school choice’ option” that Vermont’s current tuitioning system permits.

The survey cites Beck’s warning to the local school board members.

“Obviously it’s impossible to know now whether Senator Beck’s prediction will turn out to be accurate,” it reads, “but we felt it important to include that possibility here.”

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news Remote Control « P.14

CORRECTIONS

A Vendor Withheld Inmates’ Money for Months

For about five months, nearly 350 inmates in Vermont prisons were unable to access money that they or family members had deposited into accounts to pay for calls, messages and entertainment on state-approved tablets.

The Vermont Department of Corrections blamed the delay on the state’s old tablet provider, ViaPath, which failed to transfer the inmates’ money to a new provider who took over in April.

Inmates finally received their missing cash last week, only after Seven Days repeatedly asked about the issue.

“Being a state agency, and as high up as they are, I just find it hard to believe that it took them that long,” the mother of one inmate, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, told Seven Days.

All told, 337 inmates were unable to access more than $7,800 of their own money. Some had only a few cents in their account, while others had several hundred dollars, according to Haley Sommer, a department spokesperson.

The state was able to replenish the inmate accounts with its own funds once it got data, on September 19, from ViaPath about who was owed what, Sommer said. But ViaPath has yet to actually fork over the money.

“We understand this delay was disruptive for some incarcerated individuals and their loved ones, and we apologize for any hardship it may have caused,” the department said in a statement.

The issue dates to April, as the state was preparing to change tablet providers from ViaPath to ICSolutions.

Both companies provide the service at no cost to the state; instead, they charge inmates fees for the services they provide, such as video streaming or email messaging.

ViaPath was supposed to provide the state with a spreadsheet detailing the amount of money each inmate had in their accounts, along with the cash.

Then the state was to route the information to ICSolutions, which would fill the new accounts. But ViaPath did not provide the info and stopped responding when contacted by corrections officials, according to Sommer. ➆

16

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

Northwest State Correctional Facility

Vermont State Government Workers Living in Other States

SOURCE: VT DEPT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

B Y S AS H A G O L D S T E I N sasha@sevendaysvt.com

members have signed a petition opposing the governor’s order, and Howard has blasted Scott for pursuing a top-down policy Howard says makes no sense.

The state’s most recent employee satisfaction survey, released in September, shows that workers appreciate the flexibility of being able to work from home.

Roughly nine out of 10 employees agreed that working remotely improves their job performance and promotes work-life balance and also indicated they can collaborate with colleagues well from home.

“Why do an employee-engagement survey if you’re just going to ignore what your employees are telling you?” Howard asked.

Scott has been clear about the reasons he thinks most state workers ought to spend at least a few days a week in a state office building. That will bring more “consistency and predictability” to the organization, he said in a video message to employees.

“The reality is, we need to get together more in person across departments and agencies,” he said. “It’s not hard to see that something has been lost when we only see each other on the screen.”

Scott’s leadership team has been working overtime to quell the revolt and convince workers and the public that the new requirement is in everyone’s best interests.

“This approach will provide a consistent balance across agencies and departments and increase interactions between teams, and result in more effective collaboration, communication, and connection,” spokesperson Amanda Wheeler wrote in an email.

Administration Secretary Sarah Clark, who is largely responsible for implementing the change, told employees the new hybrid schedule sought to strike a balance between workers’ preferences and the expectations of the people they serve.

“Vermonters value access to their government, a visible presence in the communities we serve, and insight into how we work collectively in service to them,” Clark wrote.

In his video message, Scott stressed that he didn’t make the decision lightly and values the flexibility remote work offers employees. That’s why he’s allowing a hybrid schedule instead of ordering everyone back to the office full time, which was the expectation before the pandemic.

But even three days in the office is too much, many workers say. They have gotten so accustomed to the rhythms and benefits of remote work that they recoil at the prospect of returning to the office even part time.

Number of staffers in each state <5

5-11

11-40

40-150

≥150

Does not include temporary workers, nor three permanent staffers living in Québec

Adam Jacobs, an energy analyst in the Department of Public Service, said Scott’s order has prompted him to consider looking for other work. He lives in Winooski and views remote work as key to achieving a work-life balance. Scott’s back-to-office mandate is a “one-size-fits-most policy” that doesn’t suit his growing family, he said.

“We have a 3-year-old son with another on the way in February, so a 40-mile commute isn’t going to work for us,” Jacobs said.

The time wasted commuting and its environmental impacts are the most common complaints. For others, it’s not the commute so much as the office environment awaiting them.

A data manager for the Agency of Human Services who only goes into the office once a week says spending two more days a week there isn’t going to make her more productive or collaborative.

The manager, who asked to remain anonymous because she fears retaliation, now reports to the Waterbury State Office Complex. But the work environment there is far from ideal. She works in one of the large, open circular spaces she calls “the turret.”

The room in the historic former hospital has high ceilings and horrible acoustics and is in disarray, she said. “Pretty much our turret is just full of broken chairs and broken office equipment and piles of trash,” she said.

Most of her work is done through

videoconference meetings on the Teams platform with the people she manages and other members of state government, she said. Driving to Waterbury won’t accomplish much in the way of team building, she said.

“I’m just going to be sitting there with my headphones on in Teams meetings in that loud turret all day,” she said.

Other workers question whether the state has enough office space, given the sale or pending sale of properties such as the Zampieri State Office Building in Burlington, which once hosted more than 400 workers but is now empty.

The new policy creates a particular conundrum for full-time employees who live outside Vermont. Their numbers have risen 42 percent, from 528 in 2020 to 753 in 2024, according to data from the state Human Resources Department.

It’s not clear how many of those workers were hired with the understanding they could work remotely and how many were longer-term employees for whom expectations changed during the COVID19 pandemic.

A large number of out-of-state workers live in adjacent states: 289 in New Hampshire, 230 in New York and 52 in Massachusetts, according to state data. Many live just over the border from Vermont.

Dozens of workers, however, live in more distant states, including California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Florida and South Carolina. They obviously will not be able to comply with

Scott’s order without relocating, said Doug Farnham, the state’s chief recovery officer. Farnham is leading a task force of agency managers trying to iron out details of how the return-to-office mandate will affect individual workers.

One question is whether to create exemptions for employees facing long commutes, he said, either in terms of distance or commuting time. The state will likely exempt workers from the in-office requirement during bad weather or when workers are not feeling well but are healthy enough to work.

But for workers in distant states, Farnham sees a bigger challenge. Vermont is unlikely to give these employees a blanket exemption, although they’re likely to be given more time to comply with the return-to-office order. For future hires, a system could be implemented to ensure state jobs are offered to Vermont-based workers first, Farnham said.

“We do strongly feel that you should have a connection to Vermont if you are going to serve Vermonters,” he said.

IT’S NOT HARD TO SEE THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN LOST

WHEN WE ONLY SEE EACH OTHER ON THE SCREEN. G O V. PHIL SCOT T

Some lawmakers are getting an earful from constituents. Rep. Tom Stevens (D-Waterbury) said the rollout of the policy was botched and called it the latest example of the administration’s “habit of shooting first and aiming later.”

“With a large number of employees having been hired as remote workers, one might think to ask them what the financial and familial challenges would be before announcing such a change,” he told Seven Days.

Howard said he’s frustrated the new policy was announced without consulting the union and that potential exemptions are being decided by a group of managers without union input. The secrecy around the process has deepened workers’ distrust of the administration and spawned speculation about the real motives behind the effort, Howard said.

Some feel that Scott may just be following the lead of Donald Trump,

who ordered most federal workers back to the office in one of his first acts as president, or Elon Musk, who has strict office work policies at his private companies Tesla and X. Others feel Scott may be trying to prompt state employees to quit ahead of tighter state budgets on the horizon.

Another theory holds that Scott is listening to business owners in Montpelier and other cities with state offices who want workers back to boost local businesses. Some also speculate that Scott is just trying to fill empty state office buildings.

Farnham, the recovery officer, said floods that damaged state offices in 2023 and 2024 delayed return-to-office efforts. But in planning for the returnto-office initiative, managers discovered that remote-work practices varied widely among departments and even among people with similar job responsibilities, he said. Further, the state has no way of knowing how many people work remotely or how often.

Farnham declined to say whether some employees have abused their remote work privileges, but agreed the workforce’s productivity overall was “excellent.” He did note, however, that some remote workers haven’t been to their office for more than a year, which makes team-building tough.

While some supervisors have embraced remote work, others believe in-office work is more valuable.

“That’s why we wanted to set something in the middle,” Farnham said.

Farnham said he is a bit of an introvert and values the quiet time he spends working from home. But there have been plenty of occasions when he needed in-office mentoring from colleagues, such as when he worked in the tax department and someone had to look over his shoulder to explain complex corporate tax forms. The compromise policy is meant to allow workers to benefit from both work environments, he said.

For O’Brien, the DEC environmental analyst, that middle ground doesn’t work. As it is, he travels to Montpelier once a month for meetings with colleagues. To go in three days a week, he’d have to buy a second car, he said. O’Brien said he and others might support the new plan if they felt more in-office time would improve their performance, but they do not.

O’Brien said he knows some might see employees’ position as self-serving, but he just wants to be financially able to do a job he loves that is important for the environment.

“It’s not about being able to show up to work in your pajama pants,” he said. ➆

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9/25/25 12:17 PM

news

The Gryphon’s Fall

A businessman asked Burlingtonians to save his downtown restaurant after he racked up debts elsewhere

S

everal days before the Gryphon closed last month, the Burlington restaurant’s owner, Tom Chadwick, called a meeting with his small staff. The gathering was unusual: Chadwick lived out of state and was no longer a regular presence at the dinnerand-drinks spot that he opened in 2014 at the southeast corner of Main and St. Paul streets.

But employees weren’t surprised by his dire message. For months, Chadwick had been complaining that sales were suffering as a result of downtown construction work that closed traffic for weeks at a time. He’d made public appeals for customers and solicited donations online.

He trimmed the restaurant’s operating hours and asked employees to accept wages through Venmo instead of direct deposit. He told the Burlington Free Press in June that diners were staying away because downtown Burlington, which has also been beset by growing problems of homelessness and open-air drug use, had come to resemble a “dystopian cesspool of a failed city.”

“I’m in small-business hell,” Chadwick told the paper.

During the August 31 meeting, three employees recalled to Seven Days, Chadwick explained that he might soon need to shut down and file for bankruptcy. Yet he asked his workers to stick with the Gryphon in hopes that the restaurant could survive until October, traditionally its most profitable month. Chadwick promised to “do everything possible” to ensure that even if the Gryphon closed, employees would get paid on time for their work, server Fiona Medeiros said.

Less than a week later, however, Chadwick shuttered the Gryphon and told employees that he could not make payroll. Medeiros, a University of Vermont student, would not be paid for 62 hours of work, leaving her without $2,500 that she was counting on to pay rent.

Outward appearances suggest the Gryphon was the latest casualty of what has been a difficult time for small businesses downtown. It is not the only restaurant to close, and some others that remain have been vocal about their financial distress. But the picture is more complicated. The Gryphon’s financial health deteriorated at the same time that Chadwick was contending with intensifying efforts to compel him to pay millions 18

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

FILE: MELISSA PASANEN

B Y D E REK BR OUW ER • derek@sevendaysvt.com

BUSINESS

The Gryphon

of dollars in restitution stemming from allegations that he had mishandled clients’ money in his separate work as an investment adviser.

Seven Days reviewed hundreds of pages of court records and business filings and interviewed state regulators and former employees to better understand the Gryphon’s demise. These records show that Chadwick was making key decisions about the restaurant’s fate as he lost legal battles to fend off the other, unrelated debts. On the day before Chadwick closed the restaurant, a judge in New Hampshire ordered him to begin making monthly payments toward one of his multimilliondollar obligations.

A bankruptcy filing halts that repayment process. The shuttered restaurant owes $75,000 in local, state and federal taxes, while Medeiros and 11 other employees are collectively owed $25,000 in unpaid wages and tips, bankruptcy papers indicate.

Chadwick told Seven Days by email that the Gryphon’s failure was caused solely by construction-related disruptions. He did not respond to other questions about the circumstances surrounding the abrupt decision to close the restaurant.

Chadwick, 55, of New London, N.H., opened the Gryphon 11 years ago in the 115-year-old Vermont House building with

his then-wife, Paige. The restaurant boasted an upscale dining room with casual fare, making it a favorite stop for guests headed to shows at the nearby Flynn. In the years that followed, the Chadwicks also took over a well-known New London restaurant called Peter Christian’s Tavern and the attached Edgewood Inn. At the same time, Chadwick ran an investment management and financial advisory firm called Chadwick & D’Amato, which worked primarily with elderly and retired clients from Vermont and New Hampshire. He initially placed much of his clients’ money into an investment fund that he also controlled. Chadwick kept client money in that fund, earning additional management fees, even though the fund underperformed, without disclosing his conflict of interest, according to the findings of an independent arbitrator who later mediated one client’s claims against Chadwick.

His mismanagement of client funds grew “particularly egregious” in 2019 and 2020, the arbitrator found. Chadwick placed large amounts of his clients’ money into a single, exceptionally risky investment product. The product, a double-leveraged real estate fund, tanked at the pandemic’s onset, and his clients lost millions overnight. In awarding $1.2 million to a former client in 2022, the arbitrator who reviewed

the chain of events described Chadwick’s investment decisions as “unhinged.”

At the same time, state securities regulators in Vermont and New Hampshire each took enforcement action against Chadwick.

In June 2023, the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation accused Chadwick of “widespread investment adviser fraud” in connection with the risky real-estate fund and sought more than $11 million in restitution for his clients.

While New Hampshire regulators were investigating, they discovered that Chadwick had recently transferred ownership of his New Hampshire businesses and real estate via his divorce. Regulators also told a New Hampshire judge that Chadwick had sold some real estate and made cryptocurrency transfers. Convinced that he was improperly “dissipating” his assets, the regulators obtained a court order to stop Chadwick from making further financial moves.

Vermont regulators settled with Chadwick in December 2023. More than 20 Vermont clients had been affected by his investment decisions, including an 84-year-old Strafford woman who lost nearly $350,000 that she needed to pay for assisted living and a retired Reading couple who are out $900,000. As part of the settlement with regulators, Chadwick agreed to pay $1.6 million in restitution to Vermont clients within 60 days.

Chadwick settled separately with New Hampshire in April 2024, agreeing to pay more than $4.8 million in restitution to his clients in that state. In neither settlement did he admit wrongdoing.

However, Chadwick never made any of the agreed-upon restitution payments.

Nearly a year after Vermont settled its case, state regulators took $339,000 in proceeds from other enforcement cases to provide partial compensation to Chadwick’s Vermont clients. The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation declined to discuss the case but pointed to provisions in state law that allow the department to compensate victims of financial misdeeds who demonstrate that they are unlikely to receive the full amount they’re owed.

But the State of New Hampshire and at least one former client turned to the courts to pressure Chadwick to pay.

Last fall, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that Chadwick could

RECORDS SHOW THAT CHADWICK WAS MAKING KEY DECISIONS ABOUT THE RESTAURANT’S FATE

AS HE LOST LEGAL BATTLES TO FEND OFF THE OTHER, UNRELATED DEBTS.

and complained that city officials had not taken steps to help. Chadwick then launched a GoFundMe campaign soliciting $50,000 in contributions to help keep the restaurant afloat.

The fundraiser brought in just $1,800, though its 21 donors included U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a frequent patron who owns an apartment in the same building. He chipped in $200.

Chadwick told the Burlington Free Press that business had dropped by 30 percent in the first half of 2025. Employees who spoke with Seven Days agreed that business was down. “Absolutely there was an impact,” Medeiros said.

Many of the employees stayed with the restaurant during the difficult final stretch. The small staff was tight and ran the business without much on-site presence from Chadwick. “It was a special job,” Medeiros said. “We all really cared, and we all tried.”

“I trusted if we just hung in until October that things would turn around,” she said.

Chadwick reduced the restaurant’s hours and staffing, employees said. He instituted purchasing limits that left employees struggling to order enough food for diners, said one longtime manager, who asked not to be named for

fear of further jeopardizing his ability to collect unpaid wages.

By then, Chadwick was spending much of his time in Florida, three of the Gryphon’s employees believed.

When Gryphon employees said that Chadwick met with them in person on August 31 and encouraged them to carry on, an important hearing before a New Hampshire judge was just days away.

On September 4, the judge took testimony on the state’s motion to compel Chadwick to begin making periodic payments toward the restitution he owed. Chadwick submitted financial documents to the court showing that the Gryphon had turned a $98,000 net profit during 2024 but had lost $25,000 so far in 2025.

During the hearing, Chadwick did not mention that he was considering bankruptcy, New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation director Eric Forcier said. At the hearing’s conclusion, the judge ordered Chadwick to begin paying $300 per month toward restitution pending further proceedings, senior staff attorney Brian Linares said.

The next day, September 5, Chadwick told employees he was closing the Gryphon and would file for bankruptcy, three employees said. He filed three separate bankruptcy petitions in the days that followed: for himself, the Gryphon and the holding company that owned the restaurant’s real estate.

The petitions portray the businesses and Chadwick as broke. He listed no personal income and only $115 in cash on hand against nearly $10 million in debts. The restaurant entities Chadwick owned had used equipment and real estate equity worth about $683,000 but liabilities totaling $875,000.

Chadwick checked a box indicating that no money would be available to distribute to unsecured creditors, including the financial misconduct victims.

The timing of the bankruptcy filings “heightens our sensitivities and concerns” that Chadwick might be managing his assets in a way aimed at avoiding paying restitution, Forcier said.

The Gryphon employees who spoke to Seven Days said they don’t know if they will ever be paid for their work. “I definitely felt a little bit taken advantage of,” Medeiros said.

Caroline Moino, 26, a server and manager-on-duty, said she is owed more than $4,000 for three weeks of work. The Gryphon’s final weeks included the busy return to school. Moino said she earned more than she ever had since joining the Gryphon staff in 2022.

“I was very excited to get that paycheck,” she said. ➆

Mementos Kept, Memories Kindled

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reasonably pay $11,000 per month to a former client after a lower court judge reviewed Chadwick’s finances, including the Gryphon’s balance sheet. The Gryphon had turned a net profit of nearly $200,000 in 2021 and at least $150,000 in 2022, the judge wrote. In addition, Chadwick received housing, a car and a $30,000 salary from Peter Christian’s Tavern, which he still managed in 2023 even though the business had been transferred to his ex-wife.

Then New Hampshire petitioned a court for help enforcing its $4.8 million restitution order against Chadwick.

Five days later, on April 8, the Gryphon posted a public plea to customers on its social media accounts. The open letter said the Main Street reconstruction project threatened to sink most downtown businesses, including the Gryphon,

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In Danville, meanwhile, the uncertainty is “drastically affecting our ability to message properly about this enormous, rapidly unfolding situation,” Cargill said. “We don’t know so many things right now, and we are being pressured to capitulate in advance.”

Beck told Seven Days his communication with Cabot and Danville school board members was a good faith effort to make them aware of potential legislative changes.

Several versions of the education reform bill included a provision about designating three public schools in the event of a school closure, he noted. That stipulation was removed when a conference committee reconciled House and Senate versions of the bill; Beck served on the committee and was instrumental in stripping the provision.

“I fully expect it to come back into the conversation next year,” Beck said.

But at least one prominent legislator says there are still so many unknowns that no school board should rush to act based on one lawmaker’s speculation.

“Trying to predict the future of Act 73 is a fool’s errand,” said Rep. Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall), chair of the House Education Committee, the body that first introduced the three-publicschools provision.

An 11-member redistricting task force — which Beck serves on — has until December to create as many as three possible maps for new, larger school districts. Once the legislature settles on a map, Conlon noted, the state’s current school districts and supervisory unions will cease to operate, meaning any decisions a school board makes now would likely be rendered moot.

“Closing now and going to [school] choice could be something that’s quite temporary,” Conlon said.

Rep. Leanne Harple (D-Glover), a teacher at Hazen Union High School in Hardwick, agrees. She said that when Tormey, the Cabot chair, asked for her opinion on Beck’s comments, she warned him that “anything [the school board] chose to do now could be undone.”

“To instill this fear in people at this point is really premature,” Harple said.

“When this bill passed, it was to protect public education, and now, to try to scare public schools into closing knowing they would probably [send students to] private schools ... it doesn’t sit right with a lot of people.”

Others suggest it isn’t appropriate for Beck to share his suppositions about the future of education reform with the school boards. Not only is Beck working to create new school districts, he is employed by a school that could gain students if Cabot and Danville close.

Currently, public school districts pay St. Johnsbury Academy $24,600 annually per student; Lyndon Institute charges $25,202 per student.

Sue Ceglowski, executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, declined to comment specifically about Beck’s speculation. But she said her association expects members of the redistricting task force to “operate with the utmost integrity, accountability,

WE DON’T KNOW SO MANY THINGS RIGHT NOW,

AND WE ARE BEING PRESSURED TO CAPITULATE IN ADVANCE. C L AY T O N C A R G I L L

neutrality and a genuine commitment to the common good.” School boards shouldn’t be making consequential decisions based on speculation, she added.

Neil Odell, a longtime school board member in Norwich and board member of advocacy group Friends of Vermont Public Education, took it a step further.

Beck’s warning “just feels like a move to be able to funnel more kids into St. Johnsbury [Academy],” Odell said. “It doesn’t pass the smell test.”

In June, fellow Friends of Vermont Public Education board member Geo Honigford filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee about Beck and Senate Education Chair Seth Bongartz (D-Bennington), alleging that the senators worked to shape the education reform bill to financially benefit independent schools to which they have strong ties.

At least one additional complaint was made to the ethics committee about Beck’s conduct during the education reform debate this year, according to emails reviewed by Seven Days. It is unclear what, if anything, will come of those complaints given that all

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proceedings are confidential. But at the time Honigford filed his complaint, Beck dismissed it as a baseless “political jab.”

Odell said Beck’s recent calls to school boards reinforce for him that Honigford’s complaint “definitely had merit.”

But Beck argues that Cabot and Danville students wouldn’t necessarily choose to attend St. Johnsbury Academy. Furthermore, he said, St. Johnsbury has had a steady enrollment of about 1,000 students for 30 years, and that likely won’t change, whether or not Cabot and Danville close their high schools.

Data provided by St. Johnsbury Academy headmaster Sharon Howell

show that the school’s enrollment has fluctuated between 901 and 994 students in the past six years. Since the 2020-21 school year, the number of private-pay boarding students has declined while publicly tuitioned day students have increased by more than 100.

Beck, in an interview, stood by his decision to warn the school boards of the potential changes, saying it would have been “irresponsible” if he hadn’t.

“Does that put additional pressure on them? Is there some discomfort there, especially in the context of redistricting? Yes, I fully admit that there is,” Beck said. “But I think not making them aware of what’s probably likely is not really responsible, either.” ➆

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2012. He subsequently notes that many riders are under 18, over 60, disabled, university students and/or university staff — however, none of these demographic markers precludes someone from having access to a car.

Next, despite the incredible diversity of GMT riders, the author only profiled riders who fit a narrative of dependency, solely interviewing senior citizens and addicts.

Finally, the author claims that ridership “has been sagging for more than a decade,” but a closer look at the numbers shows that ridership was actually stable for years — 2.65 to 2.75 million annual riders — until the pandemic. Since a post-COVID-19 crash, GMT has posted substantial increases each year and has nearly completely rebounded to prepandemic ridership numbers.

I can’t help but feel the author missed the mark here. While GMT’s historical management and planning decisions are certainly relevant, the much more newsworthy story is that the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the state legislature are withholding the funding required to support public transit in Chittenden County, causing service

BATHROOM PROBLEM

[Re True 802: “Shrine On: The Beatification of Seven Days’ Office Restroom,” September 3]: As another “lapsed Catholic” who is also very left-leaning and passionately believes in equity and belonging, I am dumbfounded by Pamela Polston’s casual mocking of an entire religious tradition held sacred by millions worldwide, especially by a journalist and place of supposed journalism. How would this go over if your bathroom were filled with Jewish or Muslim artifacts and artwork?

A giant Star of David? And it’s amusing to you that an HR consultant calls this “an HR nightmare”? I guess there’s no concern that anyone with views different from your own might like to work at Seven Days or has any chance of being hired.

A community that likes to see itself as inclusive and progressive does itself no honor when it gleefully mocks something that is sacred to so many, including Christianity. Yes, Catholic and other religious institutions and humans have done horrific things in the world in the name of religion.

Equally, they sustain people in times of misery. None of the religious traditions asks us to tear down others. People and leaders do that. And you, apparently.

You make yourselves part of the problem and part of what feeds the polarization 22

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

reductions and hampering progress toward climate goals.

Marty Gillies

BURLINGTON

IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH

[Re “Jimmy Kimmel Returns to the Airwaves — but Not in Vermont,” September 23, online]: The ramifications of the recent actions against late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel go beyond canceling critics of the current administration and threats to the First Amendment and the overreach of the Federal Communications Commission.

This has great potential to affect the upcoming midterm elections by laying the groundwork to silence the campaigns of the opposition to the Republican-led government.

This is effectively maintaining power by stealing the election.

Nexstar Media Group’s explanation and timeline of action is not logical, even in the quick communications we have today. It takes time for consumer feedback to affect decisions. Chair Brendan Carr’s admission of coercion is on record. The remarks of alleged offense

that exists in our society today. You’re handing people on the right a “gift.”

“See? We’re cool if we make fun of what people hold sacred, as long as it’s only Christians.” How can I take seriously any effort at journalism from you or others who think this is OK? Beyond the pale.

Raquel Aronhime

BURLINGTON

CATHOLIC APPROACH

As a liberal thinker, I just loved how you stick it to those Catholics and their hilarious faith: “Shrine on: The Beatification of Seven Days’ Office Restroom [True 802, September 3]!

Thought you might need some more headlines for the kooky and kitschy décor found in your other Seven Days office restrooms! It’s all in fun, right?

I’m sure that no one could take offense at these headlines and the good-natured fun had by displaying objects of their faith in a room where you shit!

• “HOW KEMOSABE!: Painting the Seven Days Office Restroom Red” • “Oy Vey! You Call This a Restroom?: Taking a Semitic Break in the Seven Days Office Restroom” • “Finding Your Inner Piece: The Buddha Lives in the Seven Days Office Restroom”

are on record — as well as the business dealings.

The silencing of the political commentary of Colbert and Kimmel demonstrates how easily even an “independent” agency and corporations can be controlled, despite law and regulation designed to prevent this.

Once the fourth estate voices are silenced, the only perspective Vermonters and U.S. residents will have will be the government-approved one. History repeatedly shows the consequences that such silencing has on those who are governed.

Free speech is the foundation of a free society.

Free speech is the enemy of authoritarianism.

A free society cannot exist under authoritarianism.

September 23, online]. Will not watch anything on ABC again. Disney package, etc. canceled.

Lisa Harmon

Winnie McCormick

Very disappointed that the Vermont ABC affiliate, WVNY, caved to Temper Tantrum Trump [“Jimmy Kimmel Returns to the Airwaves — but Not in Vermont,”

Editor’s note: On Friday, Nexstar Media Group changed its position, allowing its ABC affiliates to resume airing the show. Read the Seven Days online story titled: “Vermont ABC Station Gets OK to Air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’”

WINOOSKI

DONE WITH ABC

• “All Employees Must Wash Their Left Hand!: Sharia in the Seven Days Office Restroom” • “What’s Up With the Little Red Dot? Shiva the Destroyer of Worlds Inhabits the Seven Days Office Restroom” • “Jesus Moves Me in Mysterious Ways: Born Again in the Seven Days Office Restroom” Understanding that your collection of kitsch is curated on a continuous basis, to whom can we contribute eagle feathers, Stars of David, prayer rugs, menorahs, prayer flags, murti, communion chalices, etc. for your ironic amusement and future articles?

Seriously, folks, sometimes the room you have to read is bigger than your own.

Scott Tobias

BURLINGTON

‘MOCKERY IS MEAN’

It was in poor taste for Seven Days to brag about turning your bathroom into a bald expression of anti-Catholic animosity [True 802: “Shrine On: The Beatification of Seven Days’ Office Restroom,” September 3]. I was nodding along as I read the catalog of its contents until I got to the description of a Last Rites box, adorned with a snarky note.

Linda L. Ryan

HIGHGATE CENTER

OLD NEWS

I never watch Jimmy Kimmel, but I wanted to see him when he returned to TV [“Jimmy Kimmel Returns to the Airwaves — but Not in Vermont,” September 23, online]. I was upset I could not see him in Vermont because of the stance of the affiliate stations. One needs a complete viewing — not later clips.

In the 1950s, newscasters gave the news. Then editorial comments followed.

They were not mixed together, and discussion did not include bickering and shouting.

WILLISTON

Say what you will (if you must) about popular piety and its often over-the-top interpretations of religious dogma, but I’d hope that people at Seven Days would pause to consider how this bathroom would feel to a visitor who has a family member in hospice where last rites are imminent.

To me, this is punching down. It is not a reasoned (let alone trenchant) critique of organized religion. No. It is jeering at how everyday people seek solace and meaning in life’s worst moments.

Particularly in a region that was home to late and truly great Sister Janice Ryan, I would ask Seven Days leadership to consider how religious people seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world and to change it with constant acts of charity and kindness. You have a beef with their beliefs?

Mockery is mean.

Larry Rudiger

BURLINGTON

Editor’s note: Seven Days used to host an open house in conjunction with the South End Art Hop in early September. The late Sisters Janice Ryan and Elizabeth Candon stopped in one year and were delighted by the punching nun puppets and laughed at the bathroom décor. Both women had great senses of humor.

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Alexandra Fischer

AUGUST 9, 1997SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 NEW YORK, N.Y. Alexandra Elizabeth Fischer (née Stetter) passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025, in New York City. She was 28.

Among countless admirable qualities, Alex

most exemplified selfless care for others. Those fortunate enough to have known Alex experienced firsthand the time, effort and energy that she invested in each and every relationship, no matter how seemingly fleeting. She was a shoulder to cry on and an unwavering cheerleader.

No burden was too trivial for Alex to help ease with a tender hug, a thoughtful care package or a kind note.

Alex was a native Vermonter, born in Burlington and raised in Montpelier.

She attended Montpelier High School, graduating in 2015. In school, Alex was an avid debater in the classroom and a force to be reckoned with in every sport, every season. Her art graced the halls long after she departed them and brought many a smile to the faces of those who followed in her footsteps,

Glenn Spence

OCTOBER 10, 1957-SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 WATERBURY, VT. Glenn Spence, 67, of Stowe and Waterbury, Vt., passed peacefully in his sleep on Friday, September 19, 2025. Born in Burlington, Vt., on October 10, 1957, he attended Burlington public schools and SUNY Morrisville, N.Y. He was predeceased by his beloved parents, David and Lorraine Spence.

Glenn was committed to his communities and participated in Waterbury Rotary, Waterbury Youth Soccer, Waterbury Little League and Waterbury Youth Basketball, both as a coach and on various boards. He built strong friendships through his work for Ben & Jerry’s and his career in the restaurant industry. Glenn enjoyed sharing his love of classic cars and live music.

Glenn is survived by his sons, Dustin and Owen Spence. They gave him much pride and joy, and he will be greatly missed by them. Dustin’s family includes his wife, Jessica Sperling; stepdaughter, Loralie Greiner; stepson, Alex Greiner;

24

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

particularly her younger sister.

She attended Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., graduating with a degree in public policy in 2020.

On campus, Alex dedicated herself to her friends, her academics and the rowing team. There, she formed lifelong bonds of friendship, met her future husband, Eric, and found a second family during her semester abroad in Copenhagen.

Alex began her professional career as a management consultant in Boston. After two years as a regular passenger on the train between Boston and New York, Alex moved to Manhattan and into an apartment with Eric. There she proved that she was a master hostess with a signature warm style. Among her happiest moments were when she would fill the apartment with close friends,

and daughter, Lucy, who was Glenn’s biggest fan.

He leaves behind his sister Linda Randall and her husband, Mason “Randy,” of Connecticut; their children, Jessica and Jacob, and their spouses and children; and his sister Jeanne Spence Cotter and her children, Kelsey and Kevin, and his family. His family includes his best friend of 47 years, Patti Spence Martin, her siblings and their families.

You couldn’t help loving Glenn’s tie-dye presence around his communities, where he was supportive of many events and organizations. If you ever met him, you immediately liked him. He was the friendliest, kindest and most accepting person in every room. He never, ever said goodbye. Not on the phone, not in person.

It was always “peace.”

An outdoor, tie-dye celebration of his life will be held on October 13, 2025, noon, at Camp Meade, Middlesex, Vt., with a party to follow. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund.

good cheer and a delicious home-cooked meal.

She constantly sought out opportunities to bring joy to others. She inevitably became the “social chair” at work, joined the New York Junior League and filled her friends’ calendars with constant opportunities to spend time together.

She took unceasing pride in seeing joy radiate from friends’ faces and bringing light to all those in her orbit.

Alex was married to Eric in Waitsfield, Vt., in October 2024, surrounded by family and friends. She and Eric looked forward to building their lives, relationship and family together.

Alex is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Eric Fischer; parents, Jeff and Jean Stetter; and sister, Meredith Stetter. Throughout her life, Alex displayed a fierce loyalty to her family.

They will miss Alex so deeply.

Her influence will live on in the countless happy memories she created for all those who knew her. Her family and loved ones hope to be able to carry on even a fraction of her immense spirit and aspire to move through every day with the same compassion for themselves and others that Alex exemplified.

A memorial service was held on Friday, September 26, 2025, 11 a.m., at Grace Church, 802 Broadway, New York, followed by a visitation from 1 to 4 p.m. at Greenwich Village Funeral Home, 199 Bleecker Street.

Alex’s family will host a celebration of life in Alex’s honor in Vermont in the coming months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kellogg-Hubbard Public Library in Montpelier or the Family Center of Washington County.

Laura Rose

DECEMBER 29, 1957SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 COLCHESTER, VT. Laura Lynn (Hayden) Rose, born December 29, 1957, in Burlington, Vt., died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on September 19, 2025.

Raised in Essex Junction, she spent her life in Colchester as a devoted paraeducator, deeply respected by students and staff.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Donald Rose; sons, Aaron and partner, Erin Hoefel, and Kyle and wife Amanda; granddaughter, Kay; brothers, Dennis and partner Diana Davis, Chris, Steve and wife Cyndi, Tom and wife Joyce, and Gary and wife Sue; sisters Cindy Hayden and partner Michael Reilly, Lindy Bushey, and Nancy Saulniers and husband Bob; and brother-in-law Jay Friend; she was predeceased by her parents, Ray and Alice Hayden, and sister Brenda Friend.

Laura cherished her family, including many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and extended family, sharing a close bond filled with love. Her gift was family: holidays, cookouts, game nights, four-leaf clover hunts and time at the beach.

Laura’s family would like to send a special thanks to the kind and caring staff and volunteers at the McClure Miller Respite House.

Please join her family for a celebration of life on October 24, 2025, noon to 4 p.m., at the Eagles Club, Milton, Vt. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.

Paul Chapman JUNE 10, 1953SEPTEMBER 20, 2025 PALMETTO, FLA.

Paul Marvin Chapman, 72, of Palmetto, Fla., died on September 20, 2025. He was born on June 10, 1953, in Albany, N.Y., the son of Marvin and Margaret Chapman.

Paul worked on the family dairy farm in Williston, Vt., and later held a variety of occupations, including cement mason, ski instructor, small business owner of the Rusty Damper Chimney Sweeps and member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carla Hebert Chapman; his daughters and their spouses: April and Jeff Thompson, Alysia and Nathan Beaman, and Amber and Joseph Desrochers; his grandchildren: Riley Thompson and his partner, Abby, Ella Thompson, Anna Rishforth, Thomas Rishforth, Fiona Beaman, Seamus Beaman, Sophia Desrochers, and Bridgette Desrochers; and great-grandson Theo McLaughlin.

Paul was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Constance Chapman Dumas.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be published and held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Audubon Society.

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Dr. Ted B. Flanagan JULY 11, 1929-SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

Dr. Ted B. Flanagan, 96, of Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 18, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born with boundless curiosity, Ted built a life defined by both scientific achievement and deep personal connection. He was born in Oakland, Calif., and earned his PhD in chemistry from the University of Washington, where he studied under B. S. Rabinovitch. He pursued postdoctoral research at Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, and Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island, N.Y., before moving to Vermont in 1961. That year, he joined the University of Vermont, where he launched what would become a pioneering career in chemical physics.

Over more than four decades at UVM, Ted distinguished himself as a prolific researcher, publishing more than 400 papers and earning continuous support from the National Science Foundation — an extraordinary testament to the impact and significance of his work. Twice a Fulbright Research Scholar, he was also named University Scholar in the Physical Sciences (1985-86) and received an honorary doctor of philosophy degree from Uppsala University in Sweden in 1992. His work advanced the fields of hydrogen, catalysis and thermodynamics, leaving an indelible mark on physical chemistry and inspiring colleagues worldwide. He was a generous collaborator and formed strong relationships with his colleagues around the world, often traveling to their labs for extended periods with his family in tow. As his colleague and friend Dr. Charles Novotny once said, “Ted was one hell of a scientist.”

Beyond the lab, Ted cherished above all his 70-year marriage to Joyce, with whom he shared a life full of love, laughter and adventure. Together, they traveled widely and built lifelong friendships. He was a supportive father, always helping his children to fulfill their dreams. He was an early advocate for healthy living and exercise and loved physical activities of all kinds. He also enjoyed creating cartoons to use for teaching and to entertain his family and friends and was known for making “the best oatmeal cookies.” In addition to traveling with Joyce to be together with his children, grandchildren and their family of friends, and taking many trips to various locations around the world, he and Joyce enjoyed spending time at their camp on Lake Champlain in Addison, where Ted delighted in visiting with neighbors and friends. He also cherished his home and neighbors on Cliff Street, past and present, and so many friends in the greater Burlington area, as well as his caregivers who were with him and Joyce in the last two years.

Ted is survived by his devoted wife, Joyce Flanagan; son Christopher Flanagan; daughter, Jennifer Tanau, and her husband, Marian Tanau; his grandchildren, Maxwell and Hannah Tanau; and his two cats, Jasper and Jasmine. He was predeceased by his beloved son Jonathan Flanagan.

His legacy endures not only in his scientific contributions but also in the wisdom and humor he shared with those closest to him.

A celebration of Ted’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your charity of choice.

Leslie Day

DECEMBER 14, 1961SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT. Leslie Joanne Day, 63, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., after a long and determined battle with breast cancer.

Born on December 14, 1961,

Jacques Trahan JUNE 19, 1931SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 BURLINGTON, VT.

It is with great sorrow, but infinite love, that we share the passing of Jacques Clement Trahan, 94, of Starr Farm Beach, Burlington, Vt. Jacques passed away peacefully, Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Our Lady of Providence Residential Care Community in Winooski, Vt. Jacques was born on June 19, 1931, in Burlington, Vt., the son of Anatole and Eva (Lacoste) Trahan. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Burlington in 1950 and went to Burlington Trade School, training to become a master tool and diemaker. He then worked at the Sikorsky Plant in Stratford, Conn., producing helicopter blades. In

in Lake Placid, N.Y., to Alice (Sears) Day and Thomas G. Day II, Leslie carried the spirit of her hometown throughout her life. Although she made Burlington her home beginning in 1984, Lake Placid — with its natural beauty and deep family roots — always held her heart.

A graduate of Lake Placid High School, class of 1980, Leslie’s love for theater, athletics and community life took shape early. She pursued that passion at SUNY Plattsburgh, studying theater while honing her leadership skills through the Greek organization for excellence in theater, Alpha Psi Omega; the Student Technical Association; the College Theatre Association; and the Campus Arts Council, before embarking on a lifelong career in the performing arts.

Leslie’s contributions to the Burlington arts community were profound. She

was a founding member of IATSE Local #919, where she devoted herself to leadership and mentorship over decades of service. Her artistry and technical mastery illuminated countless productions at the Flynn Theater and with the Vermont Mozart Festival, First Night Burlington, and numerous other venues and events. Leslie’s dedication to her craft was evident in her attention to detail and her love of light, color and collaboration. Her talents took her around the world with the Trisha Brown Dance Company, and later with her beloved Salzburg Marionette Theater, companies and communities she cherished deeply.

Leslie is survived by her life partner of 32 years, Sheryl Eddy; mother, Alice Day; brothers, Thomas Day III (Patty) and Terrance Day; niece Kailee Day; sistersin-law, Susan Eddy (Beth Rogers) and Stacy Gordon

(Dusty); nephew, Thomas Gordon; niece Katrina Gordon; and cousins Ed Decker (Becky), Marty Decker and many other cousins.

She was predeceased by her father, Thomas Day II; uncles Roland (Rolly) Sears Jr. and Robert (Bob) Sears (Andrea); aunt Anita Decker; and by our much-loved companion, Leko, “truly the best dog ever.”

A celebration of Leslie’s life will be announced at a later date, offering family and friends the opportunity to gather, share memories and honor her life. Interment will be in the North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Leslie’s memory to your favorite performing arts organization.

Leslie’s brilliance, humor and generosity touched the lives of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

1957, he was hired by IBM of Essex Junction, Vt. As one of the earliest hires, he worked at IBM as a mechanical engineer for 32 years.

Jacques served honorably in the Vermont Army Air Corps during the Korean War on a PT 110 Air-Sea and Rescue boat. One of Jacques’ great passions was working on the water as part of an Air Force Army Rescue Team. Indeed, he was happiest when he was either on the water or working on a vessel that would take him there. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus for 67 years.

After the war, he became reacquainted with his childhood sweetheart, Jean Williams, who lived across the street. Jean often retold the story of how, on their first date, he presented her with a jar of pickles. They were married at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington on April 14, 1956. Jean passed away on February 6, 2023, the very day after celebrating their 67th year of marriage at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

Jacques spent his offhours enjoying his family on Lake Champlain at Starr Farm Beach and taking cruises around the world with his lovely bride, Jean. In retirement, Jacques and Jean

rested in the warm winters of central Florida, where they made many close friends.

Jacques and Jean had 10 children, resided on North Avenue in Burlington, Vt., and were lifetime parishioners of St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral in Burlington. They often said they were defined by their faith and their wealth was in their children. Family is the nucleus of society.

Jacques is predeceased by his brothers, Claude, Normand and Bruno; and his daughter Jean Eva, lovingly referred to as “Baby Jean.”

He is survived by his nine children: Claude Trahan (Victoria), Anne-Marie Horne (Douglas), Jacqueline Trahan, Lawrence Trahan (Cindy), Daniel Trahan (Holly), Mark Trahan, Timothy Trahan (Cyndee), Elizabeth Trahan and Michelle Trahan-Jones; his 20 grandchildren: Maria Olson, Nicole LaRoche, Austin LaRoche, Adam Trahan, Jessica Harrison, Major Gregory Trahan, William Trahan, Christopher Trahan, Jacob Trahan, Megan Trahan, Kathryn Trahan, Jason Trahan, Adeline Trahan, Julian Trahan, Luke Kranz, Shelby Barwin, Gabrielle Kranz, Isaac Kranz, Noah Jones and Emrys Jones; and his 15 great-grandchildren: Henrik Olson, Ollie Olson, Ava Olson, Justus Bowen, Jaiden

Trahan, Olivia Trahan, Liam Trahan, Kameron Trahan, Makayla Harrison, Alexander Trahan, Miles Trahan, Lilly Trahan, Nora Trahan, Emma Trahan and Eleanor Kranz.

His family is grateful to the caregivers and staff of Our Lady of Providence and University of Vermont Home Health & Hospice, who provided him with comfort, dignity and loving care.

Jacques often said that there are not enough laughs in this world. One of his key claims to fame was a stunt with buddies creating “Champagne on Champlain,” featured in the book Champlain Valley Memories: Volume III. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Jacques on Friday, October 10, 2025, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 29 Allen St., Burlington, VT. Burial will follow at New Mount Calvary Cemetery on Plattsburg Ave., Burlington, VT. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, October 9, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to the following nonprofit organizations: St. Joseph Cathedral Parish (stjosephcathedralvt.org/giving) and Vermont Catholic Charities (vtcatholiccharities.org).

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lifelines

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Travis Jacobs

OBITUARIES

Beverly “Bev” Bowman Chiarella

MARCH 25, 1936SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 WEEKI WACHEE, FLA. AND RUTLAND, VT. Beverly “Bev” Bowman Chiarella, 89, of Weeki Wachee, Fla., and formerly of Rutland, Vt., passed away at Sturgill Hospice House in Brooksville, Fla., from natural causes on September 24, 2025. Bev, the valedictorian of Watertown (Mass.) High School, class of 1953, was also an alumna of Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y., class of 1957. Bev completed a BS in medical technology and excelled in helping the most vulnerable patients.

She had a lifelong zest

APRIL 22, 1936-SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 BRIDPORT, VT. for education and learning, with a desire to achieve as a businesswoman. Bev was co-owner of family pharmacies in Rutland (Shangraw’s Pharmacy and Town House Pharmacy) and Kinderhook, N.Y. (Kinderhook Pharmacy).

Bev’s dedication to excellence, along with her ability to multitask and prioritize efficiently, made her an unstoppable dynamo. Bev spoke her mind freely and had the courage of her convictions.

She had the uncanny ability to bring out the absolute best in others. Even at her busiest, Bev took the time to lend support with carefully chosen, wise words and a gentle tone. Occasionally, as she’d readily admit (often with a laugh), Bev could be a bit blunt but softened up with her very next sentence.

Bev’s unwavering presence created a positive ripple effect in countless lives. She was a person of many talents. An accomplished cook, baker, hostess and seamstress, she often created beautiful clothes.

Bev painted a room like a professional and had a keen eye for interior decorating and (always symmetrical) design.

She could identify a classic car at 50 yards and packed a dishwasher like nobody’s business. Musically, Bev lent her beautiful alto voice to many

performances of Handel’s Messiah with Rutland’s Grace Congregational Church choir.

Bev filled many roles: devoted wife and business partner, mother, daughter, grandmother, coworker, and friend.

In later years, she relished the nickname “Rockstar,” given by her filmmaker sonin-law, Jim. Bev was featured in a documentary about the Bennington, Vt., to Chatham, N.Y., “Corkscrew Subdivision” of the now defunct Rutland Railway.

Walter P. Bowman and Olean S. “Lee” (Schook) Bowman became proud parents of Beverly Kathryn on March 25, 1936. Bev grew up predominantly in Columbia County, N.Y., surrounded by loving extended family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins. She loved animals, including Irish setters Penny and Tessie. The family settled in Canaan, N.Y. Bev also leaves pieces of her heart in Chatham, Kinderhook and Rochester, N.Y.; Watertown, Mass.; Rutland Vt.; Littleton and Evergreen, Colo.; and Weeki Wachee, Fla. In addition to her parents, Bev was predeceased by brother John Oliver Bowman and her own infant sons, Joseph Chiarella and Peter Samuel Chiarella. Bev leaves

68 years of wonderful memories with her loving husband, Samuel Chiarella, whom Bev met on a blind date to a Sadie Hawkins Dance. Who knew the casual toss of a train pass would change her life? Bev is also survived by daughters Marilee C. Jones and her husband, James R. “Jim” Jones, of Colchester, Vt.; Anne C. Marx of Parker, Colo., and her partner, Richard Brenner; and “D3” Jennifer A. Hart of Rutland, Vt. Bev took special pride in her grandchildren: Dr. Chiara M. Evans and her husband, Troy Sun, and Samuel R. Evans and his partner, Dr. Antoinette Acbo.

The family thanks Dr. Walter Szydlowski; the staff at Oak Hill Hospital; Bev’s “sister” Linda; the trio of Dee, Ron and Scott for help around the Chiarella home; Sturgill Hospice House; and Brad Hart of Tossing Funeral Home, Rutland, Vt. In this next chapter of Bev’s rewarding life, she brightens Heaven with her own brand of grit and grace.

We’ll remember Bev at the sound of a train whistle, the sight of periwinkle blue and the smell of Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass perfume.

A graveside service is planned at Canaan Cemetery, 1354 County Route 5, Canaan, N.Y.

a stay-at-home mother, caring for her children.

In the late ’90s, Kathy began a 20-plus-year retail career at Expressions on Church Street in Burlington. Kathy loved meeting new people.

Her people skills made her a fantastic salesperson.

In 2000, Kathy found Robert Root. They have been inseparable since and enjoyed many wonderful years together in South Burlington.

Everyone who knows Kathy seems to remember her as smiling. She had a fantastic sense of humor — she always had something witty and funny to say.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Florence and Neil Parks; sister Susan Baker; brother Stephen Parks; and former husband, Stephen Hutchins.

She is survived by her partner and love, Robert Root; her children, daughter Emily LaMothe and son-in-law Todd LaMothe, son Boyd Hutchins, and daughter Deborah Snider; sisters Zoe Ann Parks, Janice

Gilbert and Carolyn Claxton; brothers James and Daniel Parks; three grandsons, Evan, Cedric and William LaMothe; as well as with an aunt and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Kathy’s friendships were numerous; there are so many lifelong friends.

We will miss her smile, sweet laughter and beautiful energy that filled the rooms she entered. The world simply isn’t the same without her in it.

We carry forward her legacy of seeing the beauty, joy and humor in life.

A celebration of life for Kathy will be planned in the near future.

For a full obituary, please see the Caledonian-Record or heidrickfuneralhome.com/ obituaries/kathleen-hutchins.

Kathleen Marie (Parks) Hutchins

JUNE 7, 1949SEPTEMBER 20, 2025 ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y., AND SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT. Kathleen Marie (Parks) Hutchins, age 76, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025, with her family by her side.

The oldest of eight siblings, Kathy was born on June 7, 1949. Kathy attended Saint Johnsbury Academy, graduating in the class of 1967.

In March 1968, Kathy married Steve Hutchins. Kathy was a dedicated mother and wife. She spent many years as

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Travis Beal Jacobs, Fletcher D. Proctor Professor Emeritus of American History at Middlebury College, the son of Albert C. and Loretta Beal Jacobs, died at his home in Bridport, Vt., on September 16, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones.

He graduated from Deerfield Academy and Princeton University ’58 cum laude. Planning to attend Columbia Law School, at the last minute he switched to the graduate program in American history for his PhD. In 1965 he joined the faculty at Middlebury College and soon began teaching a popular two-semester lecture course on 20th-century American history. He served as department chair for 17 years. “One of the first … chairs to embrace the College’s aspirations in minority recruiting,” he was ”certainly the most conspicuously successful.” His publications include America and the Russo-Finnish Winter War, 1939-1940; coediting Navigating the Rapids, 1918-1971, the diaries of Adolf A. Berle, an FDR brain truster; and Eisenhower at Columbia. He also edited the Middlebury College General Catalogue: Bicentennial Edition, 2000, a who was who and who’s who of the college. He received several Earhart Foundation Fellowships; taught in Tunis on a Fulbright; served on the Presidential Studies Quarterly editorial board; and attended many Salzburg Seminars on American Studies. He retired as Fletcher D. Proctor Emeritus of American History in 2008.

He spent many summers on Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown, Mass., many of them at his family’s Stanford White house at Green Pastures on Katama Bay. Since 2014 he spent time throughout the year at Chazy Lake in the Adirondacks.

An early member of Middlebury Town and Gown, he regularly attended the lunches until his health faded, and he delivered a handful of talks. He also enjoyed the Addison-Bridport Horse Thief Society. He was president of the Henry Sheldon Museum during the capital campaign that led to the Paris Fletcher Community Center; he remained a strong supporter of its Research Center, with its valuable Vermont history collections, and in 2021 he established the J. Robert Maguire Research Fund. He leaves unfinished a study of the late Vermonter Robert T. Stafford, former governor, U.S. congressman and U.S. senator. Early in the 21st century, he and his traveling companion, Constance Carroll, took a series of trips to Europe, ranging from France to Hungary; from Italy, Sicily, Tunisia and Malta to Russia and Finland.

His family is grateful for assistance from Addison County Home Health & Hospice and UVM Oncology.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two older sisters and two former wives, one Eleanor T. Morison, the mother of his sons, T. Beal Jacobs Jr. and Holmes M. Jacobs, who own Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury. He had three grandchildren whom he lovingly adored, Jackson, Piper and Sally Jacobs.

A memorial will be held on October 18, 2025, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury, Vt.

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Roger Omer Gibeault JUNE 30, 1932SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 SHELBURNE, VT.

Roger Omer Gibeault, a longtime Burlington, Vt., resident recently of Shelburne, Vt., died on September 23, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House, surrounded by his family. Roger was predeceased by his first wife, Yseult “Hazel” (Dubois) Gibeault, in 1986. Roger is survived by Mary McGinley, his beloved wife of 29 years; his children, John (Beeb), Paul (Mandy) and Louise Beaudoin; and sister, Pauline Dubois. Roger also leaves behind his grandchildren, Charlotte (James), Sage,

Paula, Andy, Nicole and Alex; great-grandchildren, Victoria (Owen), Hailey and Addison; stepchildren, Joseph Hotung, Patrick Hotung (Lisa), Ann Hotung and Ellen Hotung (Steve Boyd); and stepgrandchildren, Alex and Nicole.

Roger was born in Addison,

Lynne Lavon Walther

AUGUST 22, 1942-SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 NORTH MIDDLESEX, VT. Lynne Lavon Walther passed away on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing facility in Berlin, Vt. Her spirit left her body on a stunning autumn afternoon, and her departure was attuned with the changing of the seasons; the migration of geese overhead; and the bright, luminous sunlight that shone on colorful falling leaves and reflected from flowing rivers nearby. Her sons, Jamie and Rich Does, were at her side, and they, along with Lynne’s adoring and supportive husband, Robert Lincoln, and many close friends, had been blessed to spend precious and sacred time with Lynne every day and evening during the 13-day-long vigil leading to her final transition.

She lived her last days as she had lived her life: with humor, patience, persistence, strength, courage, openness, grace, radiant smiles, love, and appreciation for and kindness to her family, friends, and the many wonderful health professionals and caretakers who helped her through her dying process.

Lynne was born on August 22, 1942, in Chicago, Ill. She attended Rockford College, where she met her first husband, Richard B. Does.

She earned two master’s degrees, in both English and education, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She taught English briefly at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt. She and her family lived in East Lansing, Mich., before moving to Vermont in

Vt., in 1932 to Eloise Charette Gibeault and Ernest Alfred Gibeault. They spoke only French in the home, and he first learned English in a one-room schoolhouse in Addison. As a boy, he worked on the family farm and loved to fish in the waters nearby.

Roger graduated from Vergennes High School and Moreau Barber School in Montréal. He was drafted in 1954, served two years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. For six years he worked as a barber with brother-in-law Camile Dubois.

For 27 years Roger was employed by the company that is now Champlain Cable. As supervisor of technical services, he oversaw a laboratory and the technical paperwork needed to operate it.

1969. She spent her early years there running Hobbit Hill Nursery School at her home in Colchester, raising her boys, gardening, and taking care of a small farm with a few horses, goats, chickens, cats and dogs.

She later moved to Burlington, where she lived for many years.

She also lived in Montpelier and Middlesex, where she spent more than 30 years with her wonderful husband, Bob, whom she married in 1999.

She created a diverse and meaningful work life, including as a psych assessment technician, director of the Church Street Center for Education and director of volunteer services at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility.

Lynne retired as a policy and implementation analyst for the State of Vermont Department of Corrections in Waterbury, where she was influential in the development and implementation of restorative justice programs.

Lynne was a strong athlete, and for many years during her forties, she trained and raced with a local chapter of the U.S. Masters Swimming organization, setting records for her age group in several events throughout New England and beyond. She swam in some triathlons, and in 1986 she swam six miles across Lake Champlain. She loved to ride horses, canoe, hike, bike, camp and crosscountry ski, inspiring and supporting her sons in their athletic, outdoor and adventurous lives, as well.

She was a generous and concerned friend and neighbor and often gave her time, care and support to people in less fortunate circumstances, even as she gracefully and stoically endured challenging health

Roger was a devout Catholic in belief and action.

As a boy and young adult, he served Mass. Later, he was president of Vermont Cursillo, a lay program emphasizing prayer, study and action to bring God’s love and grace to daily interactions with others. In 1986 Roger cofounded Vermont Dismas House, a halfway house for prisoners returning to the community, where he continued his involvement for nearly 40 years. For 14 years Roger and his wife, Mary, held an annual plant sale at their home and donated proceeds to Dismas House.

Roger was energetic and active in causes he believed in. He volunteered at the Chittenden Community Correctional Center for 30

issues associated with the longterm side effects of a difficult cancer treatment that she courageously faced in 2003. Lynne worked with Dismas House, supporting former prisoners’ healthy transitions back into society; served as a mentor for young people in central Vermont; volunteered at an equine therapy program for challenged youths, and donated time to a gleaning program, where she helped harvest surplus food from farms for donation to organizations addressing hunger, among many other selfless efforts.

Lynne shared her sense of humor, inquisitive mind and adventurous spirit with many close, longtime friends from many walks of life.

She was very fond of the inclusive and inspiring services and community at Christ Church, Presbyterian in Burlington, where she served as a deacon for several years.

Lynne was also a prolific reader of books and writer of letters, frequently sharing her thoughts, experiences, memories, insights, humor and kindness in eloquent words to her husband; sons; grandchildren, Graham, Natalie and Finn Does; sister, Marsha; brother, Scott; other relatives; and an ever-growing group of friends — always noting what she loved and appreciated about them. She also enjoyed music and dance.

She is survived by her husband, Bob Lincoln, who cared for her with great love and humor; her sister, Marsha Kremer of Argyle, Wisc.; her sons; and her grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, Marshall Walther and Lavon Welter Walther, and her brother, Scott Walther.

In Lynne’s memory, please be kind to each other, to yourselves and to those who are in need; nurture and celebrate your creativity; and find time to commune silently with nature and your own inner love and light, where perhaps her spirit will find a way to meet and touch your heart again and again.

Roger devoted his time to wife Mary, family, friends and the causes he believed in.

Family and friends are invited to call on Friday, October 3, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 4, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 72 Church St., Shelburne, VT. Interment will be on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 1 p.m., at Resurrection Park Cemetery, 200 Hinesburg Rd., Burlington.

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

years, where he taught classes to help prisoners make better decisions by examining and changing their thoughts and behaviors. As a widower of his first wife, Roger welcomed immigrant refugees on their way to Canada into his home. Later in life, Roger and his wife, Mary, volunteered for community causes in Vermont and in Brownsville ,Texas, where he and Mary wintered for many years.

Roger was an avid gardener with a green thumb, an activist for social justice and an avid reader. He loved sailing, which he took up in his sixties, and enjoyed watercolor painting. Roger delighted in travel with Mary, and they enjoyed trips to Europe, Mexico and El Salvador.

Bonnie Marie Bean JULY 3, 1950SEPTEMBER 13, 2025 RANDOLPH CENTER, VT.

Bonnie Marie Bean, 75, died on September 13, 2025, at the Menig Extended Care Facility in Randolph Center, Vt., surrounded by family members.

Bonnie was born on July 3, 1950, in Brattleboro, Vt., to parents Constance Howard and Harding Powers.

After an earlier marriage to Doug Bouvier and divorce, Bonnie married David Bean in 1994. She and David lived in Shelburne, Vt., until his death in April 2018.

After 38 years of service as an emergency communications specialist with the Burlington

(Vt.) Police Department, Bonnie retired in July 2014.

Bonnie is survived by her children, Charmaine Bouvier, Blaine Bouvier (Ryan), Lisa Bean (Bryant) and stepdaughter Stacie Chenery; siblings, Russ Hanson, Jerry Hanson and Sherri Smith; sistersin-law, Sara Aulis (Christopher) and Mary Ellen Bean (Timothy); nephew, Ryan Aulis (Nicole); and niece, Kristen Cooper (Mark).

Bonnie was known for her welcoming smile, hospitality and love of family outings in Maine.

A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 11 a.m., at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Colchester, Vt. A burial will follow in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Day Funeral Home.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Nancy King Bouffard Please join us for a Celebration of Life in loving memory of Nancy King Bouffard December 6, 1939August 6, 2025 Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon The Inn at Grace Farm 117 Highbridge Road Fairfax, Vt. A reception will follow from 2:30-6 p.m. Please stop by and share a memory.

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COURTESY

‘I’m Not Well’

Aaron LaRoche in 2018

A young man’s battle with mental illness led to a spasm of violence in Milton

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B Y CO L I N FL A ND ER S • colin@sevendaysvt.com

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

COURTESY OF WCAX-TV

olice Sgt. Paul Locke had no particular destination. He was simply driving where his mind led him, the way he had spent thousands of hours patrolling the town of Milton over the past 25 years, with only the patter of disc jockeys and squawk of his police radio for company.

But when he stopped at the intersection of Railroad and Main on this windy April evening, something caught his attention: tendrils of smoke snaking like an SOS into the sky.

Locke, 48, pulled to the side of the road and looked up at the second-story window.

He knew the unit well — by now, all the cops in Milton did. Inside lived a 38-yearold recluse whom police had tried to coax into receiving psychiatric treatment on more than a dozen occasions. The man always refused. To avoid aggravating the situation, officers always backed away.

Now something there was on fire, and Locke feared the worst. He radioed for backup, then climbed the wooden stairs that led to the man’s porch and knocked.

“Aaron, it’s police!” he said. “Your house is on fire! You’ve got to come out!”

Over the next four hours, the situation would escalate into a full-blown crisis that

Police in Milton on April 23

would leave one man dead and another wounded. It would offer a fresh reminder of the potential consequences of leaving mental health issues untreated for so long that they show up in ways demanding a response from police officers — even familiar ones, desperate to help.

_ The changes were gradual at first — the odd facial expression or curious comment.

But by summer 2020, Real LaRoche had

To report this story, Seven Days reviewed more than 50 police reports, along with hundreds of pages of documents recovered from Aaron LaRoche’s apartment, and interviewed several people who knew him.

come to recognize that something was seriously wrong with his son.

Gone was the affable and outgoing Aaron, who once enjoyed long summer

days trout fishing with his father. As an adult, he had trained his wiry body in dance classes and earned a black belt in karate. Now he was distant and withdrawn.

After living in Colorado for a year, Aaron had moved back in with his parents in Winooski in late 2019 and had taken to walking around the house in a zombielike trance. Real would catch him shaking his head at times, as if disagreeing with some unseen person.

Real, 72 and rail-thin, with wispy white hair, had retired early from a career at IBM, later GlobalFoundries, to help care for his chronically ill wife, Julie. His caregiving duties made it difficult to keep close tabs on Aaron, their youngest son.

He was also careful not to pry. So he left Aaron alone, believing that his son, his best friend, would eventually confide in him.

Real was encouraged that fall when Aaron announced that he had found an apartment. The father grew more hopeful still the following year when Aaron began dating a woman he had met at Walmart through their COVID masks.

But soon after, Aaron’s demeanor began to darken. Over many months, he avoided weekly hangouts with his older brother, Ryan, and showed up to family gatherings subdued or agitated. He got into vicious political arguments with strangers online.

Finally, in summer 2023, Aaron told his parents he had been hearing menacing voices and experiencing visions of torture.

“Just evil, evil stuff,” Real recalled.

Mental health experts agree that catching someone in the early stages of a psychotic break can prevent them from spiraling into catastrophe. But the LaRoches were skeptical of mainstream medicine. They feared that Aaron would land in some “mental health gulag” for the rest of his life, Real said. So they set out to find a spiritual “healer” who could help Aaron address his problems.

Before they could schedule the first session, Aaron shut himself away from the world.

A note he typed on his computer in August 2023, following what would be his final visit to his parents’ house, reflected increasingly delusional paranoia. He believed his mother was moving abnormally and thought his father was talking strangely, “as if speaking with an AI bot.”

A few days later, Aaron asked Real to pick up groceries for him. When his father arrived in Milton to deliver them, Aaron declined to let him inside.

“I’m not well,” he told his father through the door.

“What’s the matter?” Real asked.

“I’m too afraid,” Aaron responded.

Real returned to his car and drove home, crying the entire way.

LUKE AWTRY

2023, and, for a time, Aaron seemed engaged, his father said.

Then he started to miss appointments, and before long, he was refusing to see Mowery at all. (Mowery did not respond to a request for comment.)

By this point, Aaron was convinced that the key to banishing the internal voices wasn’t treatment but figuring out who was speaking.

His unpredictable behavior had cost him his job, and so he spent his days scouring the web for information. He printed pages from news and government websites, highlighting certain words as if in search of hidden, deeper messages. He fed his hypotheses into AI chatbots and meticulously documented his symptoms.

He compiled all of his findings in a 30-page document that he titled “Adversarial Harrowing” and sent it by email to Milton police, urging them to investigate.

He called the department a few weeks later and spoke with an officer who gently told him that the only way to quiet the voices would be to see a doctor. Aaron found the suggestion offensive. I am not sick, he responded. I am being attacked.

What don’t you understand?

_

_ The first “healer,” who practiced something called the “Mace Energy Method,” met with Aaron over Zoom for only a few months. The man, Eric Mace, informed Aaron’s parents that their son wasn’t committed enough to the process.

Undeterred, the LaRoches turned to a former paramedic named Anthony Mowery, who ran a mental health business out of a ranch in Tennessee.

Mowery described himself as a practitioner of “quantum healing,” a pseudoscientific approach that promotes wellness through the principles of quantum physics. Popularized by alternative medicine guru Deepak Chopra, the method claims that people can overcome mental and physical pain by intentionally shifting internal energies.

Mowery told Aaron’s desperate parents that he could help dispel the voices in their son’s head through hours-long virtual sessions involving hypnosis and tuning forks. The two met throughout winter

_

Real LaRoche

COURTESY

Sgt. Locke, whose boyish, goateed face belies his long years as a cop, watched with growing dismay as the smoke rose from Aaron’s apartment. Firefighters had arrived within 10 minutes and determined they needed to get inside. One of Aaron’s neighbors called the building owner, Fay Pelletier, who drove over.

Pelletier, who is in his late sixties, took ownership of the three small apartment buildings at 74-78 Main Street years ago from his parents. Aaron was one of six tenants there and lived in a two-bedroom unit on the second floor, accessible by a set of wooden stairs in the back.

Pelletier had grown fond of Aaron, whose remote job at an international solar company provided him a healthy income that allowed him to pay his rent months in advance.

The two spoke occasionally on the phone and exchanged best wishes by text over the holidays.

There were occasions when Aaron wouldn’t let Pelletier into his apartment, but the landlord still had a soft spot for his tenant and was deeply worried about his safety. With police and firefighters on the scene, he sent an urgent text asking Aaron to call him.

“It’s very important,” Pelletier wrote.

“Complain to the police station,” Aaron responded. “I am under mind control.”

“You need to open up the door they’re gonna kick the door in because the smoke,” Pelletier wrote.

Aaron replied: “I’ll kill them.”

Aaron LaRoche dancing with his mother in 1996

Locke sighed as Pelletier, the landlord, described Aaron’s threat to shoot firefighters. Then the sergeant asked everyone to step away from the porch while he considered his options.

It wasn’t the first time Aaron had threatened violence. But the warnings had always been in the abstract, and there was no evidence he owned guns. His father didn’t think so, and Aaron had consistently denied having any.

Locke’s few semi-coherent conversations with Aaron had been respectful, and the officer didn’t believe he would hurt anyone. The sergeant wasn’t about to wager a life on it, though, so he hastily made a plan: Police would remove Aaron from the apartment so that firefighters could put out the source of smoke before it threatened neighboring homes.

Locke recruited two other officers for the job. The men geared up, then headed toward the stairs.

_ After Aaron emailed police his 30-page report last summer, the Milton department began receiving calls from neighbors who could hear him screaming about torture and from old friends disturbed by his increasingly erratic social media postings.

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A memorial to Aaron at Real LaRoche's house

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the status of the investigation he had requested or simply to scream and mutter before hanging up.

His physical appearance began changing as well. On video calls with his parents, he appeared exhausted and disheveled, his neatly cropped brown hair grown into a shaggy mop.

Real had come to accept that Aaron needed medical attention. But his wife Julie’s health was worsening, and he barely had enough time anymore to deliver Aaron’s groceries each week, much less figure out how to persuade his son to accept help.

Last fall, the state’s mental health system got involved. Aaron’s growing number of police interactions prompted outreach workers at Howard Center to conclude that he was incapable of making informed decisions about his care. They persuaded a judge to issue what is known as a mental health warrant, which would allow police to take him to the hospital to be evaluated, whether or not he was willing.

Some 500 mental health warrants have been issued in Vermont over the past two years, and all but a handful were carried out without issue. But Aaron’s case posed a unique challenge.

Although judges have the power to grant police officers permission to forcefully enter a home to take someone into custody, they can be reluctant to exercise it, given the risks involved. And because a person’s state of mind can yo-yo, mental health warrants in Vermont expire after 72 hours.

That gave Milton officers only a brief window to convince Aaron to leave his home voluntarily. The judge had not agreed to let them enter the apartment otherwise.

When police arrived on October 8, with mental health workers in tow, Aaron agreed to speak through his window. He appeared responsive and polite, though he would close the window shade at times to scream, then open it up again and apologize.

But he refused to open the door and insisted that he did not pose a threat to himself or anyone else. Police tried to serve the warrant again the following day, with similar results, and it expired soon after.

A pattern would emerge over the following months: Aaron would call or text the police station 10, 20, even 30 times a day, then refuse to open the door when Locke and other officers arrived.

Police found themselves engaged in an Excalibur-like challenge to coax him from

A sign in Aaron LaRoche's window

the apartment. No matter how much they cajoled or pleaded, Aaron wouldn’t budge.

Police officers showed up one day to find handwritten signs in the windows that read “mind control” and “I need a nurse.” Aaron’s social media posts became increasingly unhinged. The voices in his head — which he said included those of Celine Dion and the girlfriend he had met at Walmart, who eventually filed a restraining order against him — began telling him to shoot himself.

Then, in February, Aaron posted online that the voices were encouraging him to “seek a lethal weapon” so that he could “go on a mass shooting and kill kids.”

That post prompted an alert to the Milton Town School District and more visits from authorities.

It also led to a second mental health warrant. In an affidavit in support of this latest request, an outreach worker wrote that Aaron did not seem to understand that he was experiencing the effects of mental illness.

“I fear that if he does not receive treatment, his psychosis will continue and he may cause serious harm or death to others in his community,” said the affidavit, which was quoted in a police report.

The warrant was granted. Again, Aaron refused to answer the door, and again, police decided they had no justification to force their way in. Aaron’s comments, while frightening, did not contain a specific threat toward any specific person or place. And he continued to deny that he owned firearms.

Aaron emailed police the following morning to request that officers call or email if they wished to speak with him again.

“I believe I have the right to manage my condition, and I often feel I have more knowledge about it than others,” he wrote. “To achieve effective collaboration, I cannot engage in a process that feels hostile or punitive, especially concerning a condition I am already managing.”

Frustrated, police began to build a criminal case for disorderly conduct related to Aaron’s online posts and incessant phone calls. But they were discouraged by local prosecutors, who argued that citing Aaron with a misdemeanor would not get him the treatment he needed.

Deputy State’s Attorney Sally Adams suggested that officers instead seek a third mental health warrant — this time with an added stipulation that they could forcibly enter his home.

_ Barely 20 minutes had passed since Locke noticed the smoke on April 23, 2025. Now two officers — one carrying a shield, the other wielding a sledgehammer — bracketed Aaron’s door, and the sergeant stood beside them, waiting to give the go-ahead.

Locke had forced his way into homes to arrest people accused of violence or selling drugs. He had learned that those situations were somehow easier to prepare for mentally, because when you go in expecting danger, you’re ready when it finds you.

PARENTING IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THE WORLD TOU U G H E S T JJOBS O B S IIN NT HE W ORLD

Police outside Aaron LaRoche's apartment after the standoff

COURTESY OF WCAX-TV

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This was different. Locke didn’t want to arrest Aaron. He was there to help. Although Locke expected some resistance, he believed that the situation would end peacefully — and, with any luck, get Aaron to the hospital.

A swing of the sledgehammer splintered Aaron’s door with a loud bang. But the door barely opened and wouldn’t budge when the officer struck it again.

It was barricaded from the inside. The police would need another way in.

That’s when a figure appeared in the doorway, and Locke realized he was staring down the barrel of a gun.

which staffers had to listen to, in case one contained something important. During one police visit, he threw bananas off his porch in a fit of rage and berated mental health workers.

Then, on April 22, a rare glimmer of hope: Aaron texted 911 to say he needed an ambulance. Perhaps this was the chance to get him help. But when Locke drove over to the apartment, Aaron refused to come outside.

A day later, he placed a wad of dollar bills into a bowl and lit it on fire inside his apartment. It sent wispy fingers of smoke into the air above Railroad and Main.

_

_

A month earlier, Milton police had decided not to pursue the local prosecutor’s recommendation of breaking into the apartment by force to get Aaron to see a doctor. Instead officers spent March and April trying to convince him to leave of his own accord — or, at the very least, to quit tying up their phone lines.

Their reluctance to employ force was understandable. In recent years, law enforcement officers in Vermont have been repeatedly accused of mishandling cases involving people in distress.

Some officers were criminally charged.

That’s why many departments, including Milton’s, now work closely with trained mental health providers to try to de-escalate sticky situations.

But in Aaron’s case, even the professionals at Howard Center were throwing up their hands. They were wary of going to his apartment unless there was a true emergency.

Aaron’s behavior deteriorated further in early March after his mother, Julie, died from a stroke. His phone calls to the police department became incessant.

One night, he left 20 voicemails, each of

The first bullet caught Locke in the vest.

The second hit him in the lower back as he spun away. A third missed.

The shock of pain mixed with Locke’s disbelief that Aaron had pulled the trigger. The wounded officer rose to his feet and wobbled down the stairs as the officer with the riot shield shoved it in the doorway to cover his escape.

Locke mentally assessed his injuries and determined he would survive. The bullet had gone straight through his back and out the front of his hip. But his mind raced as he was hoisted into the ambulance.

He worried the third bullet might have caught someone on the ground. (It didn’t.) His next thought was of his wife, who would soon receive the phone call every law enforcement spouse dreads.

He wanted the next voice she heard to be his, so Locke grabbed his cellphone while EMTs worked to stop his bleeding. He told his wife to meet him at the hospital with fresh clothes.

Don’t drive too fast, he said: “I’m going to be OK.” ‘I'M NOT WELL’

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_ After shooting Locke, Aaron retreated into his apartment, and the other officers took cover.

Aaron’s violent reaction had given police all the justification they needed to use deadly force. But they held out hope for a different ending and, over the next few hours, attempted to talk Aaron into surrendering.

At times he appeared in the window to survey the army of police vehicles that had descended on his street. Among them: the Vermont State Police tactical team, which had assumed control of the crisis.

Pelletier called Real and described what had happened.

Real couldn’t stomach the idea of standing outside his son’s apartment waiting for a resolution. So he stayed at home in Winooski, where a police officer sat with him as the standoff dragged on.

At 10:48 p.m., Aaron texted his father.

“They were breaking in, I was in fear for my life,” he wrote.

“They will not hurt you,” Real responded. “You did some damage. You’re on the news. Please let these people help you.”

Police had decided by then that they needed a better idea of what awaited them inside Aaron’s apartment. So they tossed in several flash-bang devices, then flew a small drone equipped with a camera through the entryway.

The drone’s camera found Aaron in the bathroom, lying in a pool of blood. He had shot himself in the head.

The voices were finally quiet.

Sgt. Paul Locke

A tattoo that Sgt. Locke got to memorialize the shooting

_ Six months later, Locke’s career is in doubt.

The bullet that pierced his hip caused lasting nerve damage, and he’s confined to part-time, light desk duty while doctors try to determine whether he’ll ever get back on the road.

He could retire tomorrow with full benefits. But being a cop is how he understands his place in the world, he said during an interview, and he would prefer to go out on his own terms.

Locke’s scars aren’t only physical. He can’t bear to read the investigative reports from the shooting or watch his body camera footage. The veteran officer hasn’t even worn his uniform since that day. He has met with a therapist who specializes in working with first responders. But Aaron’s death weighs on him.

A tattoo on Locke’s forearm now memorializes the day he was shot. Beneath the date 32

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

is a sword with wings representing Saint Michael the Archangel, who is considered a spiritual warrior and protector. “I think he was looking over me,” Locke said.

Cleaning out Aaron’s apartment, Real and his older son found thousands of pages of documents Aaron had amassed during his period of isolation. Among them was what appeared to be an undated, handwritten receipt confirming the purchase of two handguns from a private seller.

Evidence of Aaron’s distress lingered weeks later when Pelletier asked his usual handyman to stop by the apartment. Aaron had plastered the walls with stickers containing cryptic scrawls. When Pelletier drove the handyman home, the worker said he wouldn’t return the following morning.

“It’s too much for me,” he told Pelletier.

“This guy was really hurting.”

Real does not blame the police for what happened. Yet he struggles to comprehend how Aaron went from being “on top of the world” to meeting the end that he did.

An urn containing Aaron’s ashes is now part of a small shrine Real erected in the living room of his Winooski home. He plans to spread them on a mountain, per Aaron’s wishes.

Sitting at his kitchen table one day last month, Real said he has come to believe that someone had “hacked into” Aaron, likely through one of his devices, to punish him for poking around where he shouldn’t have been. Real has fed passages of Aaron’s writings into AI chatbots to mine clues from his son’s ramblings.

The grieving father recently hung on his fridge the obituary of Scott Garvey, a 55-year-old man who was fatally shot by Vermont State Police in July, three months after Aaron’s death, while experiencing a mental health crisis.

Police say Garvey had made threatening comments and scared his neighbors, leading to an hours-long standoff. It ended when troopers entered Garvey’s home, then shot and killed him because they believed he was holding a gun. He was unarmed.

Garvey’s family said he had moved to Vermont a week earlier to seek mental health services for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

“They say, ‘Well, yeah, mental problem,’” Real said. “What kind of mental problem? Was he born with it? Did it just come on to him?”

Aaron was never evaluated by a doctor, so it is impossible to know what affliction he had. Even a formal diagnosis may not have provided the clarity his father seeks.

A few weeks before his death, Aaron sent a letter to Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George asking for help.

“The pain I endure is not just physical; it is a daily battle against what feels like conscious and deliberate torture,” Aaron wrote. “I feel trapped in a cycle of fear and despair, longing for relief and understanding.”

The letter, dated March 31, wound up stuffed into a mailbox at the Burlington criminal courthouse. By the time it finally reached George’s desk, Aaron LaRoche was dead. ➆

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Book ’Em, Lou

A perennial political candidate talks with noteworthy authors on his new TV show FILE: BEAR CIERI

B Y K E N PI CA RD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

sex workers. Meyers interviewed Urbina in June about his 2019 book, The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier, concerning the more than 50 million people worldwide who work at sea on freighters, commercial fishing vessels or recreational cruise ships, often in horrendous conditions.

In October, Meyers will have arguably his most impressive interview subject to date: Anthony Fauci, renowned physician, immunologist and public health policy adviser to several presidents. They will discuss Fauci’s 2024 memoir, On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service.

I’M INTERESTED IN PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES. L O U I S M EY ER S

Louis Meyers

L

ouis Meyers can seem like a holdover from a bygone era in broadcasting, when television interviewers had a more formal and reserved style. As host of “Meet the Author,” a monthly talk show on Town Meeting TV in Burlington, Meyers never makes himself the center of attention.

Invariably dressed in a navy suit and tie, he presents a serious, near-expressionless visage, like that of David Brinkley or Jim Lehrer. One almost expects the show to air in black and white.

Each month, the Shelburne physician, who’s also a voracious reader, sits down with an author to discuss some meaty book and how it came to be. Meyers, 70, is neither a journalist nor employed by a

MEDIA

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network affiliate; semiretired, he works part time as a hospitalist at Rutland Regional Medical Center. Yet somehow he’s managed to secure an impressive lineup of guests since launching the show in January.

Among them is Nicholas Kristof, twotime Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and op-ed columnist for the New York Times.

“Please call me Nick, because I’m aging and graying each time you call me ‘Mr. Kristof,’” the reporter implored Meyers during their September 19 interview about Kristof’s 2024 memoir, Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life.

“What is it about the New York Times that ... sustains you?” Meyers asked him.

“There is an enormous commitment to covering important things around the

world,” Kristof replied. For example, he said, during the Iraq War a single reporter’s drive from the Baghdad airport to downtown cost the newspaper $10,000 for security protection. While readers didn’t know about that investment, Kristof said, “It was important for understanding the world and what our soldiers were going through.”

“Meet the Author” has also featured Karen Tumulty, longtime political columnist for the Washington Post and author of the 2021 biography The Triumph of Nancy Reagan; Terri Thal, Bob Dylan’s first manager and author of 2023’s My Greenwich Village: Dave, Bob and Me; and Ian Urbina, a Pulitzer Prize-winning member of the New York Times investigative team that broke the 2008 story about then-New York governor Eliot Spitzer’s patronage of

How does a medical doctor with no journalism training convince prominent authors to appear on an obscure community-access television show? In short, by extending them or their agents an invitation. In Kristof’s case, Meyers simply emailed him directly.

“Why not? The worst they’re going to say is no,” said Meyers, who has yet to be rejected. “I tell my authors that people all over Vermont will have an opportunity to see this.”

Technically, that’s true. “Meet the Author,” which is produced by CCTV Center for Media & Democracy in Burlington, airs at various times throughout the month on Town Meeting TV, a regional government-access channel serving 25,000 cable subscribers in Chittenden County. CCTV is also a member of the Vermont Access Network, an association of 24 community media access centers that serve 100,000 cable households statewide. Comcast subscribers across the state can watch “Meet the Author” on channel 1087; the show is also available to more than 1,500 media access centers around the U.S. It can be streamed online, too, through CCTV and YouTube.

Even in Vermont, Meyers isn’t a household name, despite his TV presence and his multiple campaigns for elected office. Since

migraines and prostate problems were no match for the Green Monster.

A few months after ending his Congressional campaign, Meyers resurrected “Health Care Today” on Town Meeting TV but gave it up after 10 episodes because he wasn’t attracting guests with national reputations.

With his latest program, Meyers seems to have found a more workable formula.

Even prominent and award-winning authors appear willing to give him an hour of their time for a remote interview that promotes their books.

Meyers has a slow and methodical interview style, which reflects his more than three decades as a primary care physician. Soft-spoken and patient, he does something that interviewers

SCREENSHOT

moving to the state in 2012 from Alexandria, Va., the moderate Democrat has lost three bids for a seat in the state Senate. In 2022, he ran in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives, losing to now-Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.).

A native of Bethesda, Md., Meyers remembers taking a Myers-Briggs personality test in high school, which suggested that he might do well as a journalist. Instead, Meyers pursued a graduate degree in social work, then worked as a probation officer for several years before going to medical school.

What do his varied life pursuits all have in common?

“I’m interested in people and their stories,” he said. “It’s why I became a primary care physician.”

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Louis Meyers (right) interviewing New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof

“Meet the Author” isn’t Meyers’ first foray into broadcasting. For two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, he hosted a live call-in program on WDEV in Waterbury and other Vermont stations.

On “Health Care Today,” Meyers regularly featured guests with impressive medical credentials, including physicians and researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. On one show, Meyers interviewed two women cardiologists from the Cleveland Clinic about women’s heart health; on another, he discussed migraines with the chief of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The show ended its run in 2022 when Meyers launched his bid for Congress. At the time, he said, WDEV listeners weren’t as engaged on health care topics as he had hoped, as evidenced by the show’s sparse number of callers. “[Sportscaster] Brady Farkas would come on after me to read the news and say, ‘I have four free tickets to the Red Sox this weekend,’ and the phones would light up,” the doctor lamented. Evidently,

frequently neglect: He listens to his subjects and lets them talk without interruption.

“He’s a good interlocutor. You go on some people’s show, and they do all the talking,” said Hinesburg author Bill Schubart, whom Meyers interviewed in February about his 2017 novel Lila & Theron. Though Schubart initially felt that their conversation was “a little all over the place,” he said, “I think he’s finding his feet, and that’s a good thing. He’s an honest guy.”

Meyers, who said he looks up to such interviewers such as PBS’ Charlie Rose, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour and NPR’s Terry Gross, may not be as polished as the seasoned journalists he tries to emulate.

Still, for readers in search of an in-depth discussion, his disarming manner and egoless delivery on “Meet the Author” may be just what the doctor ordered. ➆

INFO New episodes of “Meet the Author” air throughout the month on Town Meeting TV and can be streamed at cctv.org.

Build Your Next Skill Scan to learn more SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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CELEBRATING

RICH TARRANT

Guided by values and driven by purpose, his contributions made a lasting impact on Vermont and the lives of many Vermonters.

B Y E M I LY B R A D BU RY F O R G BI C

W

hat compels a person to give away tens of millions of dollars? For Rich Tarrant, was it growing up modestly as the child of Irish-American immigrants? Being given a shot at college through a basketball scholarship? The professor at St. Michael’s who gave the young athlete a key to the cafeteria so he could feed his growing body and mind?

Or the IBM executive who took a chance on a recently cut Celtics draft pick who knocked on his door without an appointment, looking for a job? Maybe it was all of it, or maybe it’s just who he was.

“He believed you do the right thing even when no one is looking,” said his son, Jerry Tarrant. “That was how he went about his life. It was evident in everything he did—the way he ran his businesses, the way he showed up for his family, and later in his philanthropy.”

The public milestones of Rich Tarrant’s life do not begin to adequately portray who he was or the impact he had on Vermont. His true legacy is etched into the lives of hundreds of Vermonters. A humble, generous, deeply intelligent man, Rich believed intensely that those who are given the privilege of opportunity, have a deep responsibility to give back.

“Rich had a heart of gold and he used his hardearned wealth to make a lasting impact,” said his friend and colleague, Frank Cioffi, President of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation.

“Sometimes it was difference-making and sometimes it was just kindness,” agreed Lauren Curry, the longtime executive director of The Richard E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation, established in 2005 to help meet basic needs, create opportunity, and improve the lives of people in Vermont. “He gave in ways that deeply impacted peoples’ lives.

And he did it again, and again, and again.”

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Born in 1942, Rich was a self-made man in every sense. But for a basketball scholarship at St. Michael’s College where he studied mathematics, he likely would not have gone to college-–and almost certainly would not have landed in Vermont.

Following a storied basketball career in which he led the Purple Knights to multiple titles, was named to the All-American team, and was drafted by the Celtics, in 1965 Rich took a job selling computer hardware for IBM in Northern Vermont.

“IBM opened Vermont to the world and the world to Vermont,” said Frank. “Rich took it to the next level. He cultivated all that incredible talent and created many Vermont millionaires with the sale of IDX. He kickstarted new business ventures utilizing technology and he redefined entrepreneurship and dynamic innovation in Vermont.”

IDX sold to GE for $1.2 billion in 2005.

Rich acknowledged the impact of the sale in a 2017 interview. “It had such an in-depth team of leaders and people,” he said. “Some stayed with GE, others transitioned out pretty shortly and then went on to found other companies or become angel investors.”

IDX’ers, he said, “popped up everywhere,” bringing their talent to companies including Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, dealer.com, and Marathon Health which Rich himself founded.

“He thought that was terrific,” said Jerry.

“The beauty of selling a company is that people can branch off into other entrepreneurial efforts. He thought that was very important to our community here.”

“Vermont has lost one of our greatest visionaries,” said his friend and fellow Saint Michael’s alumnus, Ernie Pomerleau, after Rich’s passing.

A FATHER FIRST While the business community celebrated his leadership and success, his family during those years simply remembers a hard-working man and endlessly supportive father.

“People knew of him from his basketball career and IDX,” said his son, Brian Tarrant, “but to us he was just a dad who’d go out back and shoot foul shots. He was very present.”

Tarrant had five children with his first wife, Amy (Fayette) Tarrant—Jerry, Rich Jr., Brian, Ellen, and Audrey. His children recall dinner table conversations centered around athletics in their early years.

“Our parents held us accountable for our successes and our mistakes,” Jerry said. “Dad would come home and say, ‘What did you do to make yourself better today?’ He never cared about grades or who made the winning shot. He cared about effort.”

“He instilled the importance of hard work and dedication,” agreed Audrey (Tarrant) Williams, the youngest of the siblings. “But he always brought jokes and humor to the table too.” She recalls waking up Saturday mornings–chore day–to rock n’ roll music and her father singing and dancing around the house.

Eventually, those dinner conversations shifted to business. Brian, who was born the year Rich started IDX and in college by the time it was sold, says that regular conversations around the dinner table seeded his interest in entrepreneurism. “People would say to him about IDX, ‘I had that same idea years ago,’ and he’d say, ‘But they never did it. You have to be a doer. Do your homework, do your due diligence, and then get after it.’ By the time I got to business school, I felt like I’d heard it all already.”

Together, the brothers–Jerry, Rich Jr., and Brian–have founded a number of businesses.

“I think my dad found that pretty unique,” Jerry said. “He wasn’t necessarily proud of the companies; he was proud of how we talked about our ideas and moved them forward. Mostly he was proud of how we are with our families.”

S P O N S O R E D A N D P R O D U C E D B Y T H E G R E AT E R B U R L I N G T O N I N D U S T R I A L C O R P O R AT I O N

Rich Tarrant surrounded by family on his 80th birthday.

THE SISTER PAT STORIES

society,” Deb said. “It wasn’t just charity. It was an investment in people.”

Rich Jr. recalls countless acts of unseen generosity. “He paid for college tuition, bought a car for a single mother, paid for a child’s health care. These are not the headline stories, but they are the ones that make me the most proud to be his son.”

When IDX sold to GE in 2005, Tarrant was 63. His children were successfully launched.

He had met and married Deborah (Messner) Tarrant. For many, that may have marked the beginning of a long, happy retirement.

But for Rich, it was the start of another INVESTING IN chapter as a philanthropist that would prove to have an equally profound impact on Vermont.

PROBLEM SOLVING That same year, he established The Richard In a 2016 interview, Rich said, “The concept E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation, which of philanthropy doesn’t cross my mind all that has invested tens of millions of dollars into much. I think of it more as a nonprofit investVermont and Vermonters. ment in solving problems.”

Although Deb and Rich lived in Florida That mindset shaped his approach to givfor the past 20 years, “Vermont never left his ing–thoughtful, hands-on, and always focused heart,” says Deb. “He wanted to give back to on outcomes. One of the clearest examples is the place where he’d found his success.”

The Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education While some of Rich’s larger gifts, including at the University of Vermont (UVM). the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski, It began in 2005, when Rich and Deb the Tarrant Recreation Center at St. Michael’s visited Milton Middle College, and the Tarrant School. Deb recalls him Institute for Innovative taking an interest in a Education at the Univergroup of boys who were sity of Vermont, are wellsitting separately from the known, the full scope of rest of the class. his impact on Vermont “They were students was invisible to most. we would now call ‘atAmong the most risk,” Deb said. “It really meaningful contributions bothered him that they were those made in partwere apart from the other nership with Sister Pat students. His idea was to McKittrick, a nun at the DEBORAH TARRANT give them laptops so they Our Ladies of Providence could learn in non-tradiConvent in Winooski. tional ways. Maybe instead of reading a history “It was important to him to invest in people in the most direct way possible,” Lauren book and writing a paper, they could go out and interview a veteran and produce a podcast.” said. “He worked with Sister Pat to support Understanding that laptops alone would individuals in the community. She bought dennot solve the problem, the Foundation parttures for a person on public assistance whose nered with experts at UVM’s College of Educainsurance only covered removing teeth, not tion and with educators working in schools to replacing them. She helped families escaping design a strategic, research-based solution. domestic violence get set up in a new home.

“He never needed to be the smartest person She bought I don’t even know how many winter coats. Sometimes she just took someone in the room, but he wanted the smartest people on his team,” Jerry added. who was lonely out to lunch.”

Over 15 years, the Institute partnered with 83 “He really believed in helping people find schools across Vermont, supporting more than their path to becoming productive members of

“Vermont never left his heart.

He wanted to give back to the place where he’d found his success.”

800 educators in their efforts to create learning opportunities that felt more personalized, relevant, engaging, and effective for their students.

Dr. Penny Bishop, Director of the Tarrant Institute, recently reflected on the impact of the Institute. “These contributions are now rooted firmly in the educational soil of Vermont. The legacy of the Tarrant Institute lives on in the courageous acts of hundreds of Vermont educators, who learned alongside us to take risks and to innovate. It lives on in the thousands of students whose school experiences have been dramatically improved. And it lives on in the teacher education curriculum, influencing the practices of brand-new teachers as they enter the field.”

“That’s how he was,” Frank said. “It didn’t matter if he was giving away $1 million or $5,000, he agonized over whether it would make a difference.”

The Richard E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation is a spend-down foundation, meaning it will distribute its entire corpus rather than exist in perpetuity. The recently launched documentary, Gone Guys, which explores the disengagement of boys and young men from school, work and society over the past 50 years, will be the foundation’s final project.

On the day Rich passed away, the film won Best Documentary Feature at the Vermont Film Festival. “He was thrilled,” Deb said. “Not about the award, he didn’t care about awards.

He was thrilled that the message was getting out there.”

A GOOD STEWARD “I asked him once what he wanted when it was all said and done,” Lauren said. “He answered, ‘I’d like to feel that we were good stewards of the resources that were given to us. To those who are given much, much is expected. I want to know we lived up to that responsibility.’

It’s so important to me to look at this body of work and say, yes boss, we were.”

Rich’s family and friends all say he would never have sought out recognition for his philanthropy in his lifetime. In fact, in its 20 years, the foundation never put out even one press release. “He cared zero about his legacy,” Lauren

said. “It was always about not leaving money in the bank when there was work to do.”

In fact, he took great joy in recognizing others, more than once putting someone else’s name on a building instead of his own. One of those is the Gucciardi Fitness Center at UVM. Richard and Mary Anne (aka “Mama Gooch”) Gucciardi were passionate supporters of UVM Athletics, often hosting large Italian meals for entire teams. UVM Athletic Director, Jeff Schulman, vividly recalls talking with Rich about his gift to the facility.

“Rich was the lead donor to the project and therefore able to name it as he chose,” Jeff said.

“He was so proud to be able to name it after Richard and Mary Anne. They were beloved members of the community and exactly the type of unsung heroes Rich believed should be honored.”

That said, Rich’s legacy is one worth celebrating.

Jeff says he is incredibly proud that a new event center at UVM will bear the Tarrant name. “Many of us had to encourage him to call it the Tarrant Center,” he said. “But it’s hard to imagine anyone who has made a bigger commitment or had a greater impact on the UVM Athletics community than Rich Tarrant.” The Tarrant Center will transform the existing athletic complex into a modern facility for sporting events, as well as academic, cultural, and social programming.

“Rich was always looking for the next impactful way to contribute,” Frank said. “I know a lot of people with financial wealth, and I can count on one hand those who spend their time thinking about how they can give it away to improve others’ lives in the most meaningful way, and then do it. The world needs more people like Rich Tarrant.”

Deb agreed. “Rich made every person feel like the only person that mattered,” she said.

“He connected with everybody. He was so intelligent, so perceptive, and so tuned into people. And, he had a wonderful sense of humor, it was a big part of who he was.”

To his children, it was how he showed up as a father and grandfather, and the values he instilled in them that matter above all else. “He believed that if you had financial success, you should give that way,” Jerry said. “If not, it is equally important to raise a good family, good citizens who will be members of our community.”

“He was a great father, a great grandfather,” he said. “That’s it.” 

GREATER BURLINGTON INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION

Rich Tarrant Sr. passed away at his home in Florida on August 12, 2025, just days after his 83rd birthday. In recognition of the incredible impact Rich had on Vermont and Vermonters over his lifetime, the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC) produced and sponsored this tribute.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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food+drink

A New Season

Marc St. Jacques helms the reopened dining room at Charlotte’s Philo Ridge Farm B Y J O R D AN BAR RY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

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» P.40

Rib-eye steak with blistered Jimmy Nardello peppers, spiced squash and beef vinaigrette

COURTESY OF JESSICA SIPE

A NEW SEASON

BEAR CIERI

W

hen Philo Ridge Farm reopened to the public this summer after a year-and-ahalf-long closure, it brought back a market stocked with farm-grown produce and meat, as well as one of Vermont’s most elegant dining rooms and a vine-draped terrace overlooking fruit trees and pastures. It all felt familiar — especially the beloved chocolate chip cookies and cheddar-chive buttermilk scones served from the market’s coffee counter.

Behind the scenes, much is new. The 500-acre organic, regenerative farm in Charlotte is now a nonprofit, continuing its research into sustainable farming practices while establishing itself “as a multi-generational community asset,” married founders Diana McCargo and Peter Swift said in a March newsletter.

A new executive director, Bryan Flower, leads the organization. And since March, executive chef Marc St. Jacques has been driving the food and beverage program, putting the farm’s bounty to work in everything from delicate plates of Swiss chard and mint ravioli with chile lamb ragù to a killer potato salad.

St. Jacques leads a team of roughly 10 in the kitchen, working daily with the farm’s growers, livestock managers and butchers. The chef grew up in Montréal and Toronto and has cooked all over the U.S., from Las Vegas to New York’s Hudson Valley.

From those experiences, he’s developed what he called a “personal cuisine,” pulling from European-centric fine-dining and family traditions. At Philo Ridge, the result is “fine countryside cooking,” he said.

St. Jacques moved to Vermont when his wife, Debbie Lee, became Burton’s chief marketing officer in October 2024. After a five-year run at Brooklyn’s Bar Bête, which he still owns, he was planning a bit of a break.

“I was looking forward to playing golf and hanging out with my kid,” he said.

Around the same time, Philo Ridge was hiring its first executive chef since December 2023. St. Jacques saw the

CHEF MARC ST. JACQUES Position: Executive chef and director of food and beverage at Philo Ridge Farm Location: Charlotte Age: 49 Education: Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y. Experience: Most recently chef-owner of Bar Bête in Brooklyn What’s on the menu? Spiced lard-fried pecans ($5); ham plate with savory doughnuts ($15); roasted carrot and hazelnut salad with husk cherries and Jasper Hill Farm’s Bayley Hazen Blue cheese ($15); tomato-braised lamb shank ($39)

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Westford Provisions baker Allyson Konrad with pumpkin crumble muffins

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On Instagram: Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

The small kitchen team bakes fresh muffins and cookies daily and makes breakfast, bagel and deli sandwiches to order throughout the day. Harris emphasized that all sandwiches cost $10 and come with kettle chips.

A cooler displays meals packaged to go. The rotating menu might include

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MELISSA PASANEN

The former country store just off the Westford Town Common reopened in June as WESTFORD PROVISIONS. It has gradually expanded its offerings over the summer, culminating in the launch of a deli, a bakery and prepared meals in mid-August.

KIMBERLY HARRIS and her business and life partner, JIM SALIMENO, have stocked their retail store at 26 Common Road with many locally produced and specialty food and beverage products, from beer to bread. The store also hosts RUBY’S ICE CREAM, serving Gifford’s Ice Cream from Maine; and the BLACK ORCHID COFFEE bar, brewing organic Equal Exchange beans and a wide array of organic herbal, black and green teas.

Harris, 56, is also a co-owner of Nusantara, an Essex store that sources handmade items from around the world.

She described Westford Provisions as “a foodie version of Nusantara,” but her focus there is closer to home.

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Westford Provisions

empanadas, curried tofu wraps, beef chili, and roasted, herbed chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and maple carrots.

“It’s comfort food,” Harris said.

“We’re making meals for busy couples, families and older people, too.”

Follow Westford Provisions on Instagram.

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» P.43 SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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BEAR CIERI

A New Season « P.38 posting, met McCargo and Swift, and “fell in love very quickly” with the Charlotte farm, he said. His drive, he joked, got in the way of golf.

As fall takes hold, Philo Ridge is serving dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.

Wednesday and Thursday are reserved for events, both private and those open to the public, such as an upcoming Harvest Dinner on October 23. This month also marks the start of hot lunch service — a weekly changing menu of soups, sandwiches, pot pies and pasta available Wednesday through Saturday — and family-style Sunday brunch.

St. Jacques sat down with Seven Days in the Farm Commons Barn last week to chat about his time on the farm, losing interest in tasting menus and meat doughnuts.

What’s it like to be part of this new chapter, with the farm now a nonprofit?

I was very fortunate that my grandparents had a 150-acre farm outside of Toronto.

When Diana [McCargo] spoke about Philo Ridge, it was often in the same context as what I had experienced.

There’d be days where you’d sit in the dining room and have Thanksgiving dinner or Sunday supper. You had to sit a little straighter and behave. Then there’s days where things were coming off the grill, we’re sitting at a picnic table, and Grandpa was hosing us down after the watermelon. We want to bring a lot of those different experiences.

Philo Ridge has always been the same thing, trying to push research and development and education. The food and beverage program is just an extension of those things. I think [becoming a nonprofit] hasn’t changed anything. We’re just moving forward and trying to reach all those goals.

Have people been happy to have this space back in action?

There are these very sweet moments where people come in and are excited that the chocolate chip cookies are back. It’s actually a different chocolate chip cookie, but they’re still excited. They feel like they have ownership in this property, which is great.

What’s new this month?

As of October 12, we’ll be starting brunch.

It will be family style. Families like to get together in big groups, and we thought, What a lovely way to pass food around a table.

There will be an egg section, a vegetable 40

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Spinach and bread dumplings with Philo Ridge Farm pears, crispy sage and brown butter

section and a meat section, all farm-focused.

And Laura [Tutko], our pastry chef, is incredibly talented, so we’ll have a beautiful pancake and some baked goods.

Do you have a go-to brunch order?

I know what I make the most at home right now: Parmesan soft-scrambled eggs for my daughter. But I’m pretty straightforward: eggs and bacon. I love a fried egg. I love scrambled eggs. I’ve made a tremendous amount of omelettes in my life. In general, I’m not a one-plate eater. I want to eat as many things as I can.

I’m with you on that. It seems like the “Let Us Cook for You” option on the dinner menu is designed with that in mind. How does that work?

About half of our guests order that [instead of à la carte]. The idea was to take our visitors to the farm, curate the experience for them. It’s an opportunity for us to experiment and be creative, with surprises and off-menu items.

Is it a set number of dishes?

No. We ask funny little questions, like “How hungry are you?” The servers come

back and go, “Well, I think they’re an eight.” And I’m like, “I don’t know what an eight means. Were they very excited?”

Then we decide.

We do some check-ins, but at this point we know what two people can eat.

It’s great for larger tables. In any restaurant, somebody comes in and wants to eat the whole menu. But if there are five of you, that’s probably not the right move because you’ll get one tiny little bite of something. So we’ll give them two turnovers instead of one and omit something else.

food+drink Is that more in line with the fine-dining, tasting menu-style cooking you’ve done in the past?

The thing about tasting menus that I lost interest in was that I didn’t want to have everybody eating tiny little plates of food.

We don’t want to be too precious.

I often talk about elbows. People sometimes go to restaurants and never move their elbows off their bodies because they’re so tight. I want people to reach for things and feel excited about sharing and passing a plate of food.

In an old interview, you said you “believe in micro-seasons,” rather than the four seasons. Are you still thinking that way here on the farm?

That was a long time ago. [Laughing.]

Actually, the opposite happens here for me. I don’t think I’ve thought about a season once since I’ve been here. All the produce just gets dropped off. We’re at the mercy of Jeremy [LeClair], our grower — which he loves. All the meat that comes in is very specifically timed. It’s much more reactionary than philosophical.

Those reactions must change as it gets colder, right?

There are things that just naturally happen. You want to eat higher acid in the summer. You want a little more olive oil.

The other day, we were cooking, and I said, “Hey, hand me some butter.” Nobody had butter on their station, which has got to be a first for me.

Are there ingredients that you’re using more than you have in the past?

I’ve been fortunate to work in a lot of butchery-driven restaurants. With those, you’re using the premium cuts — the steaks, the lamb chops, the pork chops — then think, I’m gonna use this offal or something specifically for braising, like a shank. But with our livestock program, there’s all this other stuff. We have to figure out what we’re doing with it, and that’s exciting.

Also, Jeremy has a lot of eggplant planted this year. I have never cooked this much eggplant in my life. It’s a lot of moussaka for staff meal.

What’s coming out of the garden right now?

We’re still holding on to tomatoes, which I’m almost at the point of being sick of. If you want to talk about seasonal cooking, that’s one of our silly little philosophies: When something’s in season, use it ’til you never want to eat it again.

What do you like to do outside of work, now that you’ve settled into Vermont life?

I have, in my opinion, the greatest 6-yearold of all time, who will soon be 7. We spend a lot of time being together. We go to Pho Hong [in Burlington] every Saturday morning after soccer or swimming.

I HAVE NEVER COOKED THIS MUCH

EGGPLANT IN MY LIFE. MAR C S T. JAC Q UE S

Before we go, I have to ask you about the dish I’ve been calling “the meat doughnuts.” I can’t stop thinking about it.

Yes, I’ve heard you call it that. [Chuckling.] It’s a ham plate with savory doughnuts, based on the classic Italian prosciutto with zeppole.

I was thinking about what rings true in Vermont and thought about orchards and cider doughnuts. Mike [Kirk, the farm’s meat and butchery manager] makes these beautiful hams, and I wanted to have a charcuterie element that felt like New England cuisine.

We have more beef fat than we know what to do with, so we put some of that in the fryer, and it gives a beautiful, rich flavor. It’s interactive. The guest gets to build their bite. It’s salty; it’s sweet; it’s spicy. It’s fun. ➆ This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO Philo Ridge Farm, 2766 Mt. Philo Rd., Charlotte, 539-2912, philoridgefarm.org

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RESTAURANTS

A Burger Walks Into a Bar At the retooled Broken Hearts Burger in Fairlee, the Heartbreaker still holds center stage

1840 W. MAIN ST. RICHMOND, VT

STORY & PHO TO S B Y CO RIN HIRS CH

Some burgers you can taste with your eyes.

That was the case with the one I photographed at Broken Hearts Burger in Fairlee a few weeks ago, resisting its beefy aroma and lacework of crispy onions as I posed it this way and that. Finally, I tucked in: Each bite was like velvet, punctuated by pickles and the ooze of melted American cheese.

Housemade Jump Back sauce — a tangy blend of ketchup, mayo and a proprietary SPONSORED BY touch — trickled down my hands. It took serious willpower not to finish it in one go.

BURLINGTON BEER COMPANY This is the Heartbreaker, a burger meticulously crafted in 2022 by Matt Walker for the burger shop he opened in his hometown, and one that quickly took STEINS UP — on a life of its own. Ground daily from local OKTOBERFEST AT chuck, short rib and brisket and wedged into a house potato bun, the double THE KITCHEN TABLE AWAITS! smashburger eventually came to dominate each service.

BBCO ON TAP GAMES & TRIVIA Online reviewers called it the best burger in Vermont. Walker estimates that MUSIC TRADITION BAVARIAN EATS some days he turned out more than a hundred Heartbreakers as well as scores of the restaurant’s superlative shoestring fries. That pace relegated him to the Session 1 Tickets Session 2 Tickets kitchen and “very far away from what DOORS OPEN 1:00PM had been my career for the last 20 years,” TAPS FLOW FROM 1-5PM said the 46-year-old, who spent decades Session 1 Tickets Session 2 Tickets managing bars.

“When we first opened, our goal was Session 1 Tickets Session 2 Tickets to create something special and singular,” Session 1 Tickets Session 2 Tickets Walker said. “The volume had gotten so huge, we found the quality slipping.

Session 1 Tickets Session 2 Tickets Overwhelmingly, it felt like fast food.”

By last winter, Walker knew it was time Session 1 Tickets Session 2 Tickets Session 1 Tix Session 2 Tix for a pivot. He shuttered Broken Hearts Burger in January for a retool, removing the peg-letter menu board and repainting the white walls in cool tones. When Broken Hearts reopened in April 2025, gone were the takeout window, the creemees and the hot dogs. Three booths and a jukebox remained — but the counter had been recast as a sleek, underlit bar with a handful of royal-blue stools and a shimmering backdrop of gin, whiskey and amari.

The Heartbreaker also remained ($20 including fries) but nonchalantly so, listed alongside a longer rota of a dozen or so ever-changing small and large plates, cocktails, beer, and wine.

Walker calls the new Broken Hearts Find 100+ new job postings weekly “punk dive bar meets steakhouse meets from trusted, local employers in tropical cocktail bar.” Its roughly 20 seats Seven Days newspaper and online. are mostly reservation-only, allowing for a more manageable pace. “We really wanted See who’s hiring at the freedom to cook and serve the food and jobs.sevendaysvt.com. drink on a daily basis the way we wanted to,” said Walker, whose staff numbers roughly six people, about half of last year’s peak season.

The newly minted cocktail list taps Walker’s experience as a bar manager at places such as Misery Loves Co. in Winooski

Clockwise from top: Matt Walker in Broken Hearts Burger; a Scotch egg; the Heartbreaker burger

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and the Richardson in Brooklyn. In sleepy Fairlee, diners can now sip a Japanese whiskey highball ($11), a sesame-kissed amaretto sour ($13) or one of a changing lineup of old-fashioneds.

On a late-July night, the sweet, sultry burn of a rum old-fashioned (Jay’s Old Fashioned, $16) was a robust chaser for the 7-ounce Bar Burger ($25), a slightly heftier, more poised cousin to the Heartbreaker.

Other dishes on the expanded menu rotate weekly but might include a comforting, sausage-armored Scotch egg ($12), a bowl of battered shrimp with garlic aioli ($13), or a 14-ounce, fork-tender Delmonico ($36) sheathed in melted gorgonzola and dusted with togarashi.

Non-meat-eaters can still land the Gord ($18), a filling spinach-and-Romano cheese veggie burger named for Walker’s uncle, a lifelong vegetarian.

But while I might return for an amaretto sour and latest deep cut of local beef, the Heartbreaker is what continues to pull many back to Broken Hearts. Walker estimates that the onion-rich double smashburger still accounts for 60 to 70 percent of orders.

“People are so passionate about that burger,” he said. ➆

INFO

Broken Hearts Burger, 192 Route 5, Fairlee, brokenheartsburger.com. Reservations urged, with limited space for walk-ins.

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Planning a luncheon for your office or business meeting?

Owner Sandra Tan at T & M Asian Market

T & M Asian Market Opens in Williston’s Taft Corners SANDRA TAN opened T & M ASIAN MARKET

at 40 Taft Corners Shopping Center in Williston on September 7. She told Seven Days she aims to bring fresh specialty vegetables, packaged ingredients from Asia and prepared Chinese takeout foods to the area. The latter include roasted duck and dim sum from Boston.

Tan noted that a recent construction boom has added several residential buildings and hotels near her new store.

“We need more Asian culture in this neighborhood,” she said.

The market’s name combines the initials of her surname and that of her 21-year-old son, ALVIN MA, who helps her run the store.

Shelves hold a variety of condiments, such as Korean hot pepper paste and pickled ginger, ramen noodle packets,

and candy. A cooler is stocked with mustard greens, daikon root and bunched cilantro, while freezers offer dumplings, microwaveable mango sticky rice and cuttlefish.

The store took over the former home of the Williston location of SHELBURNE MEAT & FISH MARKET near several resale shops, including Once Upon a Child.

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Tan said she hopes families who shop there might also visit T & M Asian Market. In anticipation, she also carries some nonedible merchandise related to the popular Labubu doll line.

Learn more on Facebook. ➆

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culture this reflection propels in Marlowe is an irrational unwillingness to haul away people’s trash, an impulse she has to overcome to keep her job.

The play’s sweetest moment occurs at a bar when Danny and Marlowe have something to celebrate. Suddenly they can stop guarding themselves from each

THEATER

WHAT WE KEEP AND WHAT WE THROW AWAY IS

A STRONG DEFINITION OF A LIFE.

Keep on Truckin’ Theater review: The Garbologists, Vermont Stage B Y A L E X BROW N • alex@sevendaysvt.com

T

he premise of Lindsay Joelle’s The Garbologists is so strong that the 2021 play can coast on it for almost a third of its tidy 90-minute run time. Two New York City sanitation workers are running their route, and the Vermont Stage production presents their 19-ton truck, front and rear, on a stage piled with garbage. The two characters are poles apart, but they just might prove that compassion can take root anywhere.

Danny is the seasoned vet, a hardy specimen of the working class and nonstop talker who pauses only to laugh at his own jokes. Marlowe is the fish out of water, a character created to be the least likely member of the NYC sanitation department. She’s got a master’s degree in art history from Columbia University, a 44

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withering gaze and no apparent reason to dabble in manual labor. He’s white; she’s Black. He’s experienced; she’s young. They hit the nothing-in-common jackpot.

They’re sharing a truck cab and stopping to load bag after bag of trash while dodging the perils that may lie within, including knives, needles and unknown fluids, all of which can emerge with a careless squeeze. Danny wants to teach Marlowe the fine points, but she’s sure she knows all she needs to know. The play sends them bumping up against their differences while we wait to see if they’ll overcome them.

They do, of course, because 90-minute plays tick off their milestones neatly, and these two characters don’t waste time with depth when they can be joking, slinging garbage bags and spooling out plot points

to try to make up for the clichés in their personalities. Impulsively, each discloses a sad story from their past. These elicit genuine sympathy, but they are events from past times about unknown people, so the characters’ bridge is built of biography, not deep connection. For viewers, Danny’s and Marlowe’s pains aren’t part of what happens onstage, so it’s hard to be transported by their stories.

Below the surface, the play has a quiet concept that’s not fully explored.

Marlowe’s decision to ace the sanitation department exam stems from a personal reason she has to contemplate what is saved and what is discarded as trash. The notion wafts like a metaphor too abstract to drive the play, but what we keep and what we throw away is a strong definition of a life. Unfortunately, the only change

COURTESY OF LINDSAY RAYMONDJACK

Ebonie Marie and John Davy in The Garbologists

other. Only when their tension dissolves do we realize how tightly they’ve maintained it.

Overall, the play’s setting is its most engaging element. Joelle captures some on-the-job details of a sanitation worker’s day, and one of the best things about the play is seeing what’s hard and dangerous about a usually invisible job. Director Tekla Stark concentrates more on the banter than the labor, though, and the actors never enact the rhythm and effort of true hard work. Marlowe will lift a bag casually and drop it in the truck, then shuffle toward Danny to toss off a line. We don’t see what the work feels like physically because the actors handle hauling garbage like stage blocking, not a job demanding muscle and energy.

Stark is keen on getting the jokes to hit, keeping the two-hander pace up. The humor in The Garbologists often strains to achieve the frothiness of a sitcom, and the effort shows. Though many jokes take too long to set up, the play has laughs, and it set last Thursday’s audience chuckling.

Ebonie Marie portrays Marlowe’s inner strength with a cool, sardonic detachment.

It’s impressive and easily withstands Danny’s mile-a-minute chatter, but one doesn’t get the sense that Marlowe is built of anything more than armor. That may suit the character’s sorrow, but it leaves her awfully hollow.

As Danny, John Davy starts out with a honking laugh too big even for a garbage truck, but he soon dials down the bluster to hint at inner needs. Danny is written as KEEP ON TRUCKIN’

» P.49

ARTS NEWS

Circus Smirkus Says It Must Raise $400,000 to Avoid Bankruptcy

Circus Smirkus’ 2025 Big Top Tour, “Game On!”

Citing “significant financial strain,” Circus Smirkus has sent an email to its supporters asking for donations to bridge a “short-term funding gap that must be addressed immediately” in order to continue operations and avoid bankruptcy.

“We want to be transparent — this is a moment of real uncertainly around the future of Smirkus,” reads the email, signed by board president Kate Hayes and executive and artistic director Rachel Schiffer.

In a follow-up email, the pair told Seven Days that the organization needs to raise $400,000 by the end of the year to avoid bankruptcy. “Early responses to our fundraising and outreach campaign have been positive,” they wrote.

In addition to summer camps for kids at its Greensboro headquarters, 38-yearold Circus Smirkus operates what it says is the only tented traveling youth circus in the country. Each summer roughly 30 “troupers,” selected by audition, rehearse in Greensboro for about three weeks before caravanning to nearly 20 New England towns. Performers this year ranged from 12 to 18 years old. Families pay to join the tour, a beloved tradition for many.

Responding to a request for further details, Hayes and Schiffer said the circus suffered significant revenue loss when it canceled an “unprecedented” 12 shows on its Big Top Tour this summer. Eleven of those cancellations followed a July 22 rigging accident in which an 18-year-old aerialist was injured when he fell during a performance in Massachusetts. He was treated in a hospital, then released to recuperate at home, according to Circus Smirkus.

Regarding lost revenue, Hayes and Schiffer told Seven Days, “As an arts nonprofit in the Northeast, we rely heavily on earned revenue and philanthropic efforts, and when we experience significant

revenue shortfalls in a short amount of time, it impedes our ability to course correct in real time to remain solvent and meet our financial obligations.”

Circus Smirkus has not been fined or sued as a result of the accident and “is appropriately and adequately insured for the scope of programming” it offers, Hayes and Schiffer wrote.

The nonprofit has lost money in each of the past three fiscal years, according to its public tax forms, known as 990s. In fiscal year 2024, it reported a $144,000 loss, which represented 5 percent of its revenue, while listing assets worth $2.7 million.

Lost ticket revenue this year is the primary cause of the organization’s current financial straits, but the circus also shouldered increased operational expenses and high tariffs on a tent it imported from Italy in the spring, Hayes and Schiffer said.

The September 16 email, with the subject line “Help Us Turn a Challenge into a Defining Moment,” invited “Circus Smirkus Friends and Family” to “Shape the Magic Moving Forward.”

It made no direct mention of the July accident but said, “We’re beginning a strategic reassessment of how we operate, deliver our programs, and allocate our resources … We’re not simply weathering a storm, we’re charting a better course forward.”

Last Friday evening, after this story was published online, Schiffer sent another email to supporters to say $100,000 had been raised toward the goal, a figure she called “an encouraging start.”

“We are working with a pared down staff to support ongoing operations and relying on our board to help fill critical need gaps,” she continued. ➆

INFO

Learn more at smirkus.org.

See What’s Next.

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

COURTESY

B Y M ARY AN N L I C KT EIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

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PULITZER PRIZE PULITZER PRIZE & & TONY TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

culture POETRY

Poets and Scientists Team Up to Tackle Climate Change B Y M ARY A NN LI C K TE I G • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

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From top: Alison Hawthorne Deming, Nalini Nadkarni, Jane Hirshfield, John Elder and Jody Gladding ALL PORTRAITS COURTESY OF POET. ALISON HAWTHORNE DEMING COURTESY OF BEAR GUERRA.

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At the recent Northeastern Old Growth Conference in Ripton, where participants discussed the urgency of protecting wildlands and old-growth forest ecosystems, several scientists opened their speeches with poems.

Poets often write about nature, and scientists, seeking to reach audiences beyond those of scholarly journals, often turn to poetry, observed Neil Shepard, a conference presenter and board member of the nonprofit Sundog Poetry.

The interplay between these two disciplines will be the focus of a symposium at Champlain College on Friday, October 3, when Sundog Poetry presents “Environmental Poetry in the Time of Climate Crisis.”

Leading scientists and poets will gather for an afternoon of poetry and prose readings, followed by a panel discussion.

The goal, Shepard said: “to heighten awareness of our ecological plight.”

Sundog Poetry, founded in 2013, is a statewide organization that supports poets and promotes poetry by staging readings, workshops and an annual contest for emerging Vermont poets.

This is its first symposium.

The free event, which has a $25 suggested donation, has reached capacity and has a wait list.

Headliners include Alison Hawthorne Deming, a poet, essayist and editor who has published two books of poetry this year: The Gift of Animals: Poems of Love, Loss, and Connection and Blue Flax & Yellow Mustard Flower. Deming earned an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a professor emerita at the University of Arizona. She will moderate the discussion among her fellow featured speakers: John Elder, Jody Gladding, Jane Hirshfield and Nalini Nadkarni.

Elder is a retired Middlebury College professor who taught in the English and American Literatures and Environmental Studies departments. Each of his past four books incorporates

discussion of poetry and descriptions of the Vermont landscape into a personal narrative.

Gladding, an East Calais poet and translator, has published five books of poetry and 40 translations from French. She has taught in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program and directed writing at the Vermont Studio Center. Her most recent poetry collection, I entered without words: Poems, is about the convergence of language and landscape.

Hirshfield is a poet, essayist, translator and editor who is considered one of American poetry’s leading spokespeople for biospheric concerns. She is a former chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and the founder of Poets for Science.

Nadkarni is a tree canopy ecologist who has spent four decades dangling among branches to study how forests inform our daily lives. The professor emerita of biology at the University of Utah advocates for “tapestry thinking” — weaving ecological values into the worlds of sports, religion, social justice and the arts. Nadkarni hosts “TreeNote,” a two-minute feature broadcast on NPR. A session for high school and college students immediately before the symposium will include classes and an opportunity for students to read their own environmental poetry.

The ultimate goal of bringing scientists and poets together, Shepard explained, is to convert raw data and raw emotion into meaningful action. “We thought it would be nice to bring people together from different disciplines and have them talk across whatever we imagine the borders are between the arts and sciences,” he said, “and maybe also give us a renewed sense of commitment to our one and only planet.” ➆

INFO

“Environmental Poetry in the Time of Climate Crisis,” presented by Sundog Poetry, Friday, October 3, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Champlain College in Burlington. Free; $25 suggested donation; wait list only. Watch a live stream and learn more at sundogpoetry.org/ecopoetics.

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BY J IM S C H L E Y • schley@sevendaysvt.com

A

s a journalist, Sue Halpern specializes in technology and NEW FALL HOURS politics. In her frequent assignMon-Sat 8-4 • Closed Sundays ments for the New York Times, the New Yorker and the New York Review 2638 Ethan Allen Hwy, New Haven of Books, Halpern has covered events greenhavengardensandnursery.com and phenomena that many people find @greenhavengardensvt weirder than fiction: Silicon Valley, corpo802-453-5382 rate intrusions into our privacy, cyber weapons and the neurological impacts of online immersion.

12V-greenhaven100125.indd 1 9/29/25 11:18 AM But she has hasn’t abandoned imaginative writing. Her third novel, What We Leave Behind, scrutinizes not the big superstructures of modern existence but family life and the interior experience of personal crisis.

Halpern, who received her doctorate in political theory from Oxford University, has been a Rhodes Scholar and Guggenheim Fellow. She is scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College and lives in Ripton with her husband, the writer and environmental activist Bill McKibben.

Halpern is the author of four nonfiction books, including the best-selling human-and-labradoodle memoir A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home (2013) and Four Wings and a Prayer (2001), about monarch butterflies, which was adapted into a documentary film. Her previous novels are Summer Hours at the Robbers Library (2018) and The Book of Hard Things (2003).

What We Leave Behind has an unusual structure, with two almost entirely selfcontained sets of characters and plots — either of which, in a simpler novel, would suffice to make a story.

Melody Marcus is a high school student whose adoptive mother, Delia, has been killed by a boulder falling onto a highway. Melody’s sense of being an adopted child is fundamental to her selfperception and her closeness with an also-adopted best friend, Lily; they share a kinship as castaways, abandoned by anonymous birth parents. While she was close to Delia, Melody is sullen and withdrawn with her father, Eddie, who’s been shattered by the loss of his wife and copes with his grief by submerging himself in work instead of parenting.

In a second plotline — not really secondary, since it’s effectively equal in emphasis and duration — Candace Milton is an HR executive in her mid-forties, 48

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Book review: What We Leave Behind, Sue Halpern

The sections told from Melody’s point of view read like young adult fiction.

This isn’t necessarily a problem, though the continual references to brand-name products and celebrities can be tiresome; the youth-y slang of Melody and her chums may sound, at times, like how an adult novelist thinks teenagers talk now.

But importantly, Halpern shows how her younger characters have only a partial grasp of the longer-term repercussions of what they’re going through.

Of course that’s true: Tragedies such as the death of a parent can only be understood in breadth and depth retrospectively. Isn’t this one of the reasons we read novels, which convey us through time?

The Candace sections have more gravitas; this grown-up character’s weariness with her vacuous corporate job and the strain of her largely solitary daily life call forth Halpern’s most graceful and insightful writing.

By the time we reach the novel’s conclusion, which is momentous for Melody and less so for Candace, the connection between their two stories seems more incidental than profound.

And yet all of us, all the time, are living in parallel to one another, only meeting in glancing moments. In the middle of What We Leave Behind, it seems probable that the two plots will become one: Surely Candace will turn out to be Melody’s biological mother, with the inevitability of a Hollywood tearjerker. Yet this isn’t the choice Halpern makes. What Melody learns, due to an accidental discovery by her friend Lily, is stranger and thornier.

What the two stories share in their different contexts (the trials of high school for Melody, the corporate hustle for Candace) is a fascination with how relationships begin and build over time.

For both Melody and Candace, presentday friendships help them understand their pasts. We carry what came before in every step we take. In a twist on this novel’s title, the stories of Melody and Candace are testaments to what we never leave behind. ➆

BOOKS

Sue Halpern

WHAT THE TWO STORIES SHARE IN THEIR DIFFERENT CONTEXTS IS A FASCINATION WITH

HOW RELATIONSHIPS BEGIN AND BUILD OVER TIME.

working in a hyperactive tech firm. She has never married, which she attributes to her own parents’ conjugal nightmare.

Candace’s best friend is a gay personal trainer named Paul. Candace and Paul witness a near-drowning, and they help rescue a stranger named Tom, who falls through thin ice while chasing a dog.

In the weeks that follow, with the avid encouragement of Paul, Candace warily considers the possibility of romance with the likable Tom. These parallel plots overlap, though only slightly, through a few encounters between Candace and Melody’s father.

Halpern’s alternating storylines are certainly enjoyable to follow. Her characters are well realized and appealing. But does the dual narrative cohere?

INFO What We Leave Behind by Sue Halpern, Harper Perennial, 352 pages. $18.99.

Keep on Truckin’ « P.44 a pile of superficial working-class attributes, and Davy can’t dig much deeper, but he does make him lovable, even when mansplaining.

Danny and Marlowe give us a story to listen to, but we can’t stop watching what scenic designer Chuck Padula has wrought: the cab end and hopper end of a full-size sanitation truck. The lights work, including the revolving caution

EBONIE MARIE PORTRAYS MARLOWE’S INNER STRENGTH WITH A FROM WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND “Go on,” Melody said. She was suspicious. Anything to do with genetics or, more specifically, her genes made her uncomfortable. She was happy to believe that she just appeared in the world without biological parents.

She knew it wasn’t true, but she wanted it to be true, and why complicate her life?

“Phil says that with just a small amount of saliva, a milliliter, he will be able to construct an entire family tree and medical predispositions. It’s breakthrough stuff.”

Melody handed the test tube back to her friend. “First of all, isn’t that what Ancestry and 23andMe do already? And second, as you of all people know, I have no interest in knowing that I come from a long line of axe murderers with, I don’t know, macular degeneration.”

“Macular degeneration?

Where did you get that from?”

“I don’t know, Lil. I probably saw an ad for some drug on TV. Or in People. You know how they have all those drug ads next to stories about Jen and Brad and Angelina.”

Lily laughed. “So your ancestors murdered their victims before they lost their sight?”

“Very funny. You know what I mean. I am happy not knowing. Eddie and Delia are my parents. They’ve been my parents for as long as I can remember, and that’s enough for me. And to tell you the truth, it feels kind of creepy, like disrespectful to Delia, to go searching for my birth mother right now. Like I’d be trying to erase her from the picture.”

COOL, SARDONIC DETACHMENT.

light on top of the cab, and a semiconvincing hydraulic compactor makes the trash disappear.

With both the front and back of the truck wedged on the stage, the design is heavy on the willing suspension of disbelief — scenes at the back alternate with scenes in the seats. Yet it’s truly fun to play along with the idea that a huge garbage truck is sitting in front of us. The entire stage holds trash bags and refuse, piled on what are supposed to be New York residential streets, oddly missing modern dumpsters. Sound effects are hit and miss, and the production doesn’t attempt the snowstorm the characters discuss; the play demands a lot of viewer imagination in return for the spectacle of the truck.

The Garbologists is a great idea for a play, but without full, vibrant characters and a story that transforms them, it can only stand on its comedic banter, and here your favorite workplace TV series has it beat.

Joelle makes her flashiest grab for our heartstrings by sketching Marlowe trying to heal from grief. That tender story doesn’t have time to grow inside a speedy comedy, but the simple respect Danny and Marlowe develop for each other expresses the vital social truth that our differences are far less important than our similarities. ➆

INFO The Garbologists, by Lindsay Joelle, directed

by Tekla Stark, produced by Vermont Stage.

Through October 12: Thursdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m., Black Box Theater at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. $34-54. vermontstage.org

Job of theWeek

Commercial Kitchen Appliance / HVACR Tech KC Mechanical Get the scoop from CEO Sam Ruback

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

This role isn’t your average “wrench-turning” job — you’ll be solving problems in real time for schools, restaurants and health care facilities that can’t afford downtime. Commercial kitchen equipment is diverse, from hot-side ranges and fryers to cold-side refrigeration and dishwashers, so no two days are ever the same. The challenge is staying sharp, resourceful and safe while working independently in the field. It’s important because our customers literally rely on us to keep their operations running — without reliable food service, a school lunch program or a hospital kitchen can’t function.

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Another unique aspect is that our work spans both the hot and cold sides of the kitchen — we’re equally comfortable troubleshooting a walk-in cooler as we are installing a commercial oven. That range of skills sets us apart in the region. For many of our techs, the most rewarding part is the independence and variety. You’re trusted to manage your own day, you get a take-home van, and you’re not stuck in the same place every shift. Just as important, you see the direct impact of your work. When a school cafeteria can serve lunch again or a restaurant can open for dinner service because you fixed their equipment, that’s a win you feel right away. On top of that, we invest in our people with training, benefits, and a supportive team culture where everyone’s name and contribution matters.

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

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on screen One Battle After Another ★★★★★

I

think it’s fair to say that when beloved big-idea director Paul Thomas Anderson made his first adaptation of a novel by beloved big-idea writer Thomas Pynchon, 2014’s Inherent Vice, he failed to hit a cultural nerve. While the movie has its fans, its stilted, highly literary screenplay feels inert on the screen.

One Battle After Another is something else again. A very loose adaptation of Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland — Anderson uses the term “inspired by” — this thrilleresque drama may have been released at the exact moment for maximum relevance.

Already, young people on social media are mining it for its kinetic imagery of political resistance.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays an action dad with no special skills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic about aging radicals.

The deal

Will you like it?

One Battle After Another is a big, bold, visually exciting movie, even when you can’t see it in IMAX or as it was shot, in VistaVision. Anderson fills the whole screen with deftly orchestrated action in a real-feeling world, assisted by skilled production design. It’s an invigorating reminder that movie thrills don’t have to have the weightlessness of CGI or martialarts wire work.

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COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

A revolutionary leftist group called the French 75 frees immigrants from detention centers, blows up cell towers and bombs federal offices. Front and center is a bold, theatrical operative who calls herself Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), assisted behind the scenes by her explosivespecialist boyfriend, Pat (Leonardo DiCaprio). He doesn’t know about Perfidia’s perilous side entanglement with army officer Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn).

When the French 75 goes south, Lockjaw helps Perfidia flee to witness protection. Pat disappears into a false identity, “Bob Ferguson,” with the couple’s infant daughter.

Sixteen years later, Bob is a grouchy fortysomething stoner raising teenage Willa (Chase Infiniti). The now Colonel Lockjaw mounts an urban invasion to hunt down father and daughter, believing that Willa is actually his — and that her existence is the only thing standing between him and membership in a white supremacist sect called the Christmas Adventurers Club.

A devoted dad, Bob can’t let Willa be harmed. But his days of fighting the power are long gone.

REVIEW Not for nothing does Anderson show Bob watching The Battle of Algiers, the progenitor of leftist action movies. One highlight of One Battle After Another is a panoramic set piece in which regular people mobilize against the military invasion of a sanctuary city, ending in a skateboard-assisted rooftop chase. Another is a car chase on a hilly road, equally immersive and old-school in its approach.

While the setting has a drab realism, the characters loom larger than life. Penn’s sweaty, twitchy Lockjaw is a memorably nasty creation, teeming with urges he can’t avow. A few years ago, it might have been tempting to dismiss him and his power broker friends as satirical caricatures. Now they barely seem like exaggerations.

As for Bob, he’s no Liam Neeson-style action dad, more of a hapless everyman — and comic relief — than the story’s hero.

The task of humanizing the revolution falls to a no-nonsense Regina Hall, as a surviving French 75 member who hides Willa among pot-growing nuns; and Benicio Del Toro, as an unflappably chill community organizer who comes to Bob’s aid. The little dance Del Toro does while being frisked by cops is a throwaway delight.

Taylor plays a revolutionary icon perfect for dorm-room posters — who

could forget the vignette of a very pregnant Perfidia spraying the desert with bullets?

But Perfidia’s motivations remain foggy, perhaps because she’s been detached from the historical context that shaped her inspiration.

Pynchon’s Vineland is explicitly about the jarring transition from the ’60s to the Ronald Reagan era. The Perfidia character (Frenesi in the book) represents what was lost in the process — youthful freedom with an anarchic, chaotic edge. By contrast, One Battle After Another takes place in a nowish period that features both cellphones and pay phones. A voice-over informs us that “nothing much has changed” in the 16 years since Willa’s birth.

While Anderson clearly didn’t want to make a period piece, removing that vital context robs the central plotline of its emotional pull. In the film’s world, revolution and reaction seem to happen in rapid succession, or even simultaneously — hence the exhausting repetition implied by the title.

That premise may be more relevant to today’s rapid news cycle than Pynchon’s ambivalent nostalgia could possibly be.

With Infiniti playing an inspirational Gen Z heroine, One Battle After Another looks more to the future than the past. Yet it also

taps into ’60s iconography to make armed revolution look exciting and viable.

Anderson has certainly made the most fun leftist movie in a while, but his expansive tale never explores why, as Perfidia acknowledges at one point, the revolution “failed.” For better or worse, the movie is all high, no hangover.

MARGO T HARRI S O N margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY… THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (2008; Kanopy, PLEX, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Roku Channel, Tubi, rentable): For a more historical view of violent leftism than One Battle presents, try this kinetic German period piece about the exploits of the Red Army Faction in the 1970s.

HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE (2022; Disney+, Hulu, Kanopy, rentable): On the contemporary side, Daniel Goldhaber’s story of fictional eco-activists is both a message movie and an exhilarating thriller.

EDDINGTON (2025; rentable): It’s impossible not to compare One Battle with Ari Aster’s small-town drama about COVID-19 lockdown turmoil. Both feel like an auteur’s sprawling, sometimes-tortured effort to make sense of what’s happening in the U.S. right now.

NEW IN THEATERS ANEMONE: Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean play estranged brothers who have a fraught meeting in the woods in this drama cowritten and directed by the star’s son, Ronan Day-Lewis. (121 min, R. Majestic) BONE LAKE: A couple’s remote getaway goes awry in this erotic horror-thriller from director Mercedes Bryce Morgan, starring Alex Roe and Maddie Hasson. (94 min, R. Majestic) GOOD BOY: A retriever named Indy stars as himself in Ben Leonberg’s horror-comedy that explores a haunted house from a dog’s point of view. Humans Shane Jensen and Arielle Friedman costar. (72 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic)

A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEYHH Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie play a dating couple who step into the surreal in this romantic fantasy. (108 min, R. Bijou, Stowe) THE CONJURING: LAST RITESHH Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) investigate one last case of demonic activity. (135 min, R. Majestic, Sunset; reviewed 9/10) DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLEHHH1/2 Slayers fight demons in a new venue in the adult animation. (155 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Paramount) DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALEHHH1/2 In 1930, a public scandal threatens the Crawleys’ social position.

(123 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe)

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHERHHHH1/2 Paul Thomas Anderson directed this saga of an aging exrevolutionary returning to action, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. (161 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Savoy, Star, Sunset, Welden; reviewed 10/1) THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2H1/2 The reboot of the horror series about mysterious, murderous home invaders continues. (96 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Sunset) WEAPONSHHHH The bizarre disappearance of every kid in an elementary school class rips their town apart in this psychological horror film. (128 min, R. Sunset; reviewed 8/13)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

KILLING FAITH: In 1859, a woman recently freed from slavery seeks a faith healer for her seemingly possessed daughter in this supernatural thriller starring DeWanda Wise, Guy Pearce and Bill Pullman.

Ned Crowley directed. (108 min, R. Essex)

ELEANOR THE GREATHH1/2 June Squibb plays a nonagenarian who makes an unexpected friend in Scarlett Johansson’s feature directorial debut, also starring Erin Kellyman. (98 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Savoy)

PREDATORS: David Osit’s documentary takes a hard look at the phenomenon surrounding the popular 2004-07 TV series “To Catch a Predator.” (96 min, NR. Savoy)

GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE: In an animated spin-off of the Netflix family series, the title character (Laila Lockhart Kraner) road trips to “Cat Francisco” to save her dollhouse from a cat lady (Kristen Wiig).

(98 min, G. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

BETWEEN THE LINES (VTIFF, Fri only)

HIMHHH1/2 A promising football player (Tyriq Withers) gets the chance of a lifetime to train with a famous quarterback (Marlon Wayans) in this horror movie. (96 min, R. Majestic, Paramount; reviewed 9/24)

GONE GUYS (Savoy, Fri-Sun & Thu 9 only)

THE LIFE OF CHUCKHHH1/2 This Stephen King adaptation from director Mike Flanagan follows the life of an ordinary guy in reverse chronological order.

(110 min, R. Catamount)

PUPPY LOVE (Playhouse, Wed 8 only)

THE LONG WALKHHHH In this adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, young men in a dystopian world compete in a grueling contest. Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson star. (108 min, R. Essex, Majestic; reviewed 9/17)

SPIDER-MAN (re-release; Essex, Fri only)

THE SMASHING MACHINE: Dwayne Johnson plays mixed-martial arts champion Mark Kerr in this biopic written and directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), also starring Emily Blunt. (123 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden) TAYLOR SWIFT: THE OFFICIAL RELEASE PARTY OF A SHOWGIRL: The pop icon gives fans a look behind the scenes of her album The Life of a Showgirl. (89 min, NR. Fri-Sun only at Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset, Welden)

CURRENTLY PLAYING THE BAD GUYS 2HHH In the sequel to the animated hit, a squad of reformed villains gets pulled back into the life of crime. (104 min, PG. Sunset)

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER 3D RE-RELEASE (Essex, Fri-Sun only) CLAIM THE LANE: BECOMING ROXY (Savoy, Wed 8 only) THE DEVIL’S REJECTS 20TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Mon & Wed 8 only) HAMILTON (Capitol) THE PALESTINE EXCEPTION (Savoy, Sun only) PARIS, JE T’AIME (Catamount, Wed 8 only) THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Majestic, Fri & Sat only) SPIDER-MAN 2.1 (Essex, Sat only) SPIDER-MAN 3 (Essex, Sun only)

THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (VTIFF, Sat only) YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (Catamount, Wed 1 only)

OPEN THEATERS *BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com *CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.com ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com. *PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com *STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com *WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com

TICKETS + INFO

VTIFF.ORG VTIFF.ORG

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art

True to Forms Three abstract artists’ works resonate in Waterbury

Clockwise from top left: “Signal: Great Sound” and “Horizontal Mystery Signal: Unseen” by Cynthia Kirkwood; “Mr. Bitterman”

by Terry Ekasala; “Earth Day” by Grace DeGennaro

B Y A M Y L I L LY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

PHOTOS: COURTESY

O

n the paper roll that serves as a guest book at the Phoenix in Waterbury, one visitor wrote, “Nice gallery! So trusting!” Indeed, visiting an exhibition in the high-ceilinged room can be a solitary, freeing experience of seeing art. Founding director and head curator Joseph Pensak monitors the gallery through cameras while perched in his most recent enterprise, TREEHOUSE — an upstairs store, coworking space and small-business enclave across Main Street.

TREEHOUSE also serves as an overflow exhibition space for the current show at the Phoenix, “Primordial Forms: Cynthia Kirkwood, Terry Ekasala, Grace DeGennaro.” A welcome alternative to the practice of putting extra pieces in storage, the arrangement allows visitors to see the artists in a different context and alongside others whose work Pensak sells.

Kirkwood, Ekasala and DeGennaro — of Montpelier, East Burke and Yarmouth, Maine, respectively — are all established artists. The show’s guest curator, Kirkwood, brought in DeGennaro. Pensak added Ekasala to the mix, he said during a recent visit, and wrote the curatorial essay.

The former Presbyterian minister unites the trio’s work under the biblical rubric of “the language of origins” and, without explicitly mentioning childbirth, names “feminine power” as the ancient origin of creativity.

In truth, these abstract artists’ works gain interest simply from juxtaposition. Kirkwood and DeGennaro are 52

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

fully invested in symmetry, the province of meditation and mandalas. Each of their works invokes calmness through flat geometric shapes centered on uncluttered canvases (Kirkwood) or concentrically placed in a square format (DeGennaro). Ekasala’s work, by contrast, has a disruptive energy and gestures toward representation. Her organic forms are devoid of footing of any kind — let alone centering — and roil with emotion.

Among Kirkwood’s exploratory concerns in her works, which date from 2022 to 2025, is color. “Horizontal Mystery

Signal: Unseen” (30 by 48 inches) has a richly layered and reworked maroon background. The named colors of “Two Seeds: Lilac and Chartreuse” (30 by 24 inches) are slightly haloed on their pink background; the painting is one of two

ART SHOWS Middlebury College

MUSEUM of ART that use marble dust, which adds a nubbly texture to the paint.

A Middlebury College fine arts graduate, Kirkwood has lived and exhibited around the world but grew up in Bermuda from the age of 3. One imagines that those formative years among the island’s pink-sand beaches still impact her use of color.

According to her artist bio, forms and compositions come to Kirkwood intuitively and, “rather than depicting something, they are objects in themselves — mysterious seeds, doorways, keys, offerings — channeling beneficial energy.”

In that light, the vertical violet bar cupped by two coral-pink half circles against a sky-blue background in “Signal: Great Sound” has a different presence from a similar composition in pale yellow, chartreuse and pink in “Linden,” named for a tree. Titles are key.

Kirkwood also contributed a set of six ink-and-watercolor works on 11.25-by-7.5-inch paper from her series “Mystery Semaphore.” Each seems to signal something different with its central column of abstract line drawings bordered by daubs of color. That so many of her titles include the word “mystery” or “signal” indicates the extent to which Kirkwood follows a subconscious directive while creating. As she said in a 2005 interview with Bermuda’s Royal Gazette, “If you know what you’re doing and it’s easy, it’s not creative.”

While Kirkwood’s forms have dreamily blurred edges, DeGennaro creates precise, almost mathematical constructions. Her juxtaposition of color and her concentric constructions on square 16- or 34-inch canvases bring to mind Josef Albers’ “Homage to the Square” series. In fact, DeGennaro has announced that she is doing a fall residency at the Josef & Anni Albers Foundation in Connecticut.

The Maine artist, however, cited different inspirations in a recent interview with Decor Maine: specifically, two architectural plans of religious structures from 16th-century Rome: Donato Bramante’s Tempietto and Michelangelo’s unrealized San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.

Both consist of a circle within a square.

“Circles symbolize the cosmos, and squares delineate the spatial directions of our physical world,” she said in the Decor Maine interview. DeGennaro’s subject is nothing less than the universe and humans’ attempts to grasp it through archetypal forms, symbolism and sacred geometry.

Among her works at the Phoenix, which date from this year and last, is “Bright Faith,” in oil and cold wax on linen.

The composition is like a Russian doll of circles and squares: a small, central blue

circle inside a yellow square contained in a light blue circle that rests on a bright red square canvas. Atop all is a hexagonal grid of lines created with alternating black and white dots. The grid intersects with each of the layered shapes at precise points, and the dots evoke beads, suggesting a meditative state.

From DeGennaro’s controlled geometric minimalism to Ekasala’s improvisational paintings is such a leap that, thankfully, Ekasala receives her own wall. Her six paintings on view (and seven more at TREEHOUSE) date back to 2020 and range from small, imaginary portraits in acrylic on paper to large abstractions in oil on linen.

In Ekasala’s statement for her solo show at the BCA Center in Burlington in 2023 — the year she also won the Vermont Prize — she wrote, “Letting go and allowing intuition to take over is when the best work happens.”

“Reversing Tears” (54 by 58 inches) appears to be a case in point, an intuitive layering of suspended globular forms and swaths of energetic brushwork that gesture toward spatial depth but don’t actually define it. Color draws the eye here, from the dark oranges, browns and blacks of the right side to the luminous white bulb that dominates the upper-left center.

Ekasala was formerly a figurative painter, particularly during the 1990s when she lived in Paris. In many of her works at the Phoenix, she explores the threshold between representation and abstraction. “Air I Breathe” suggests a view of bulbous treetops against a divided sky of blue and yellow; “Key Hole,” in pinks, greens and a crown shape reminiscent of fairy tales, is composed around a small, old-fashioned keyhole shape backlit by an oval of yellow.

Most figurative are Ekasala’s portraits, such as “Mr. Bitterman,” a red, fist-waving, scowling figure in acrylic on 13-by-11-inch paper. Painted in 2023, it inevitably calls to mind a certain current U.S. president.

“Boom,” meanwhile, appears to express emotion rather than a likeness, its explosion of jagged red lines substituting for a face in three-quarter profile. Whether that emotion is the surprise of sudden realization or something more sinister is indeterminate.

“Primordial Forms” rewards viewers by uniting three deep thinkers, artists who have persisted through years of experimentation and whose recent work is refreshingly idiosyncratic. ➆

INFO “Primordial Forms: Cynthia Kirkwood, Terry Ekasala, Grace DeGennaro,” on view through October 20 at the Phoenix in Waterbury. thephoenixvt.com

LE PETIT SALON THE AN THE JOURNEY JOURNEY OF AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ROOM ROOM EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY FROM PARIS TO VERMONT

FROM PARIS TO VERMONT Through December 7 midd.art/petit-salon

c. 1775, France, Sèvres Sevres Manufactory; Manufactory; designed

by Pierre-Adrien Pierre-Adrien One of a Pair of Vases with Covers, c.

1775, France, designed by Paris, pictorial pictorial decoration decoration attributed attributed to Morin, decoration decoration attributed Nicholas Petit, Petit, Pâris, to Jean-Louis Jean-Louis Morin, attributed to to Nicholas probably gilded

by Etienne-Henry Etienne-Henry Le Guay; soft-paste soft-paste porcelain, porcelain, height: 7/8 inches. probably gilded by Le Guay; height: 12 12 7/8 inches. Collection Collection of of the Metropolitan Metropolitan Museum Museum of of Art. Gift of the Samuel Samuel H. H. Kress Kress Foundation, Foundation, 1958 (58.75.77a-b). the Art. Gift of the 1958 (58.75.77a–b).

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DARIA BISHOP

art OCT. 1-8 PUBLIC ART

In Burlington, Volunteers Counter Vandalism Before a New Mural’s Completion B Y A L I C E D O D G E • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

CHRIS JEHLY: “Terrestrial/Estrangement,” an exhibition of watercolors picturing the historic flooding from Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C. in 2024. Extra Special With Cheese, Burlington, through October 4.

Info, extraspecialwithcheese@gmail.com.

ALANA BIGOS: New work by the mixed-media crochet artist. Island Arts Gallery, North Hero, through October 31. Info, 598-6698.

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Above, from left: Ben Hardy, Wendy Hakken, Anita McVey, Braden McVey and Lucy Gordon painting the “Building Blocks” mural in Burlington

Graffiti at 266 Main St.; below: the mural on Sunday

INFO “Building Blocks” by Clark Derbes is at 266 Main St. in Burlington. missionmurals.org

‘ANIMATION LOOPS’: Short animations by Vermont and New Hampshire artists, including Delfi Strazzolini, Sierra Carson, James Underwood, Margaret Bone, Miranda Matthews and Ellie Liota, among others.

Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, through October 31. Info, info@uvjam.org.

‘FRACTURE POINT’: An exhibition of contemporary visual art by 10 artists questioning the societal stresses that impact stone industry laborers and their families. Vermont Granite Museum, Barre, through October 31. Info, 476-4605.

COURTESY

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

timeline: The project has come together only in the past month, and a contract with the building owner was finalized just two weeks ago. “I get excited to make it happen,” Badolato said. “This one’s at Mach speed, but I think it’s really important.”

Badolato approached Derbes, whose recognizable geometric, op-arty style has been seen around town on murals at the former Moran Plant, next to Curtis Lumber and on parked tractor trailers in the South End. Derbes has recently started working as an educator with ReSOURCE’s YouthBuild program, which teaches job skills to 16- to 24-year-olds. Some of them are helping with the mural, both in its creation and ongoing maintenance.

Derbes’ design features horizontal and vertical stripes along the building’s south side, as well as cubes that seem to float off existing windows and the spare, rectangular façade’s details. It’s simpler than some of his past compositions, but at 3,461 square feet — 15 feet high — it’s striking. He and artist Daniel Cardon will complete the project’s upper reaches this week using scaffolding.

“There were a lot of factors to consider,” Derbes said. One was creating “a simple enough design that a lot of people could work on it together and have it be a fluid experience.” Ease of restoration following damage was another.

Organizers anticipated that the painting might be tagged, though no one expected it to happen within hours. But on Sunday, another 60 volunteers — including the mayor’s chief of staff, Erin Jacobsen, and about half the members of the city council — came out and painted over the damage. (Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak helped paint on Saturday.)

Badolato said on Sunday that while the vandalism was deeply disappointing, she was heartened by the show of unity from undeterred volunteers. While the tagger is likely one individual, Badolato said it’s clear to her that many people are passionate about combating vandalism and putting their energies toward something positive: “They all just channeled the love and showed up.” ➆

ALICE DODGE

Watching paint dry has never been so dramatic. Over the weekend, artist Clark Derbes and more than 90 volunteers painted “Building Blocks,” a bold new mural of blue cubes and lime-green stripes at 266 Main Street in Burlington, on the corner of South Union Street. On Saturday, they made good progress on the project’s first coat. By Sunday morning, the mural was vandalized with graffiti.

Before the weekend, the building — which is owned by Fidium (formerly Consolidated Communications) and counts Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies among its tenants — had seen better days.

Its large, blank expanses of brick have long been a canvas for graffiti, giving the impression that the building is as vacant as its neighbor, Memorial Auditorium.

“Everyone’s seen that building go downhill for a while,” said Jill Badolato of Mission Murals, who is leading the project.

Parents from Edmunds Elementary School, concerned that their kids’ playground across Main Street looks out on this grim façade, approached her and asked what they could do. Badolato’s response: “All right, let’s dust off Mission Murals and make it happen.”

Badolato formed Mission Murals in 2020 to facilitate and raise money for murals through a partner nonprofit, which can receive tax-deductible donations. Mission’s first project, a mural at the food shelf now called Feeding Champlain Valley, raised about $22,000, which covered costs and supported the food shelf’s operations.

Even before 2020, Badolato was known as an instigator of murals — her forte is finding artists, coordinating with property owners and community members, and organizing volunteers. From the silos at Dealer.com on Pine Street to the Outdoor Gear Exchange mural on Cherry Street, she’s had a hand in much of Burlington’s public art.

For “Building Blocks,” Mission Murals partnered with the Edmunds Elementary Parent Teacher Organization. By the time volunteers started on Saturday, they had raised about $7,200 of the original $10,000 goal for the project. They are hoping to surpass that goal, having spent thousands more on paint following the weekend’s vandalism.

Raising the money has been an impressive feat, especially considering the

JIM WESTPHALEN AND DUNCAN JOHNSON: “Reclaimed,” an exhibition exploring the resonance of renewal through photographs by Westphalen of vanishing rural architecture, and mixed-media works

by Johnson in reclaimed wood. Edgewater Gallery on the Green, Middlebury, through November 15. Info, 989-7419.

ART AT THE AIRPORT: JAMES BARTLETT: A collection of digital collages focused on themes of nature, passion, community, exploration and finding inner peace.

Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through December 8. Info, 865-7296.

ART AT THE AIRPORT: KARI MEYER: A display of acrylic landscape paintings that draw on the Japanese ideals of wabi-sabi. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, South Burlington, through December 8. Info, 865-7296.

VERMONT PASTEL SOCIETY: An exhibition of works by nine Montpelier-area pastel artists. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery, Jericho, October 2-November 9.

Info, 899-3211.

KAREN BECKER: Abstract paintings and mixedmedia monoprints paying tribute to birds and animals affected by the global climate crisis. CX

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

Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, October 2-December 27.

Info, 257-7898.

BRYCE BERGGREN: “Assemblage,” an exhibition of mixed-media works by the VTSU-Johnson faculty member. Closing Reception: Thursday, October 2, noon-2 p.m. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Vermont State University-Johnson, through October 3. Info, 635-1469.

‘FINDING HOPE WITHIN’: An exhibition of drawings, mixed media, poetry and narrative writing by incarcerated artists at Vermont correctional facilities, including a recent series of broadsides made from inmates’ discarded clothing and bedding and letterpress printed in collaboration with artists outside the system. Reception: Thursday, October 2, 5:30 p.m. Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College, through November 14. Info, 443-5397.

JUANCARLOS GONZÁLEZ: “Vermont Female Farmers,” a series of photographs celebrating the women behind Vermont agriculture. Reception and artist talk: Friday, October 3, 4-6 p.m. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Middlebury, through January 3. Info, 388-2117.

‘COURTING THE MUSE’: The 2025 Vermont Watercolor Society’s annual awards exhibition, featuring works by some of the group’s 250 members. Reception: Friday, October 3, 4:30-7 p.m. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier, October 2-December 29. Info, 279-5558.

‘HEART OF BARRE: CREATING COMMUNITY AFTER THE FLOODS’: A multimedia art installation by painter Dierdra Michelle and poet/community organizer Shawna Trader honoring the strength and resilience of Barre residents in the face of back-to-back floods. A series of 20 portraits are accompanied by poetry, interviews and audio recordings. Reception: Friday, October 3, 4-7 p.m.

Vermont Statehouse, Card Room, Montpelier, through January 29. Info, heartofbarre@gmail.com.

ARA 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: The Art Resource Association celebrates its 50th anniversary with an exhibition of artwork by members, posters, newsletters and newspaper articles. Reception: Friday, October 3, 4-8 p.m.; remarks by cofounder Pat deGogorza at 5 p.m., Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier, October 3 -31. Info, kmuellerarts@aol.com.

‘FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND DRAWINGS: MARKING 20 YEARS OF CCS, 2005-2025’: An exhibition of original art and prints that introduced the school to the world. From its first brochures to a one-of-a-kind diploma, the show features work by cartoonists Seth, Ivan Brunetti, Alison Bechdel, Alec Longstreth and Laura Park, with artwork from a new brochure by Seth to mark the anniversary.

Reception: Friday, October 3, 4-8 p.m. Center for Cartoon Studies, White River Junction, October 3-31. Info, 295-3319.

PHIL KNOLL: “Phil Knoll Saves the World,” a collection of ballpoint pen drawings on paper by the Great Barrington-based artist.

Reception: Friday, October 3, 4-8 p.m. Hexum Gallery, Montpelier, October 3-November 14.

Info, hexumgallery@gmail.com.

‘SHOW 69’: A salon-style showcase of multiple works by each of the gallery’s member artists. Reception: Friday, October 3, 4-8 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, October 3-26.

Info, info@thefrontvt.com.

‘GUIDING QUEST: GAME HISTORY’: A curated selection of artifacts, games and consoles for visitors to play while learning about the history and evolution of game design. Closing reception: Friday, October 3, 5-7 p.m. Champlain College Art Gallery, Burlington, through October 3. Info, 800-570-5858.

explore inner landscapes and the subconscious, curated by Newton Gallegos. Reception: Friday, October 3, 5-7:30 p.m. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, through November 22. Info, 222-0909.

brand, during the Vermont Craft Council’s open studio weekend. Caron Designs, Windham, Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, October 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, lisa@carondesigns.com.

YEN YEN CHOU: “An Ever Changing View,” works by the Taiwanese artist. Reception: Friday, October 3, 5-8 p.m. Kishka Gallery & Library, White River Junction, October 3-November 22. Info, info@ kishka.org.

OPEN STUDIOS SATURDAY: An opportunity to meet artists working in disciplines including wood and ceramic sculpture, gourd art, pysanky, beading, glass, assemblage art, DIY furniture refinishing, fiber, weaving, stone carving, painting, and folk art.

Visitors may also wander or picnic in the sculpture park of this 12-acre property. Shelburne Pond Studios, Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

Info, kastockman@aol.com.

DARRELL PETIT AND SEAN KERNAN: “Light & Stone,” photographs by Kernan capturing the production and movement of Petit’s monumental granite sculptures over the course of 20 years.

Reception: Friday, October 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, West Rutland, October 3-31. Info, 438-2097.

‘THE LOCAL COLOR’: An exhibition of saturated works celebrating the autumn foliage by more than 60 artists from Vermont and New Hampshire.

Reception: Friday, October 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, October 3-November 8. Info, 457-3500.

SAGE TUCKER-KETCHAM: “Patterns in Nature,” a solo show of new process driven oil paintings and studies exploring color, pattern and light observed on daily walks and reimagined in a timeless space. Reception: Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ATM Gallery, Shelburne, October 4-25. Info, atmgallerydirector@gmail.com.

‘DREAMING … THE WAY I SEE IT’: A group show of works by 20 artists celebrating dreams. Special recognition will be given to Josiah Marceau and his pen and graphite drawings at the potluck reception, for which visitors are encouraged to bring something to share. Potluck reception: Sunday, October 5, 4-7 p.m. The Satellite Gallery, Lyndonville, October 2-November 3. Info, 229-8317.

FRANCES KORNBLUTH: “Paintings of the 1950s,” a show of rarely seen early abstract expressionist works on canvas by the painter, who is known for gestural paintings of Monhegan Island, Maine.

Reception: Friday, October 10, 5-7 p.m. J. Kenneth Fine Art, Shelburne, through December 31. Info, 540-0267.

ART EVENTS ‘SOUND EXPERI/ENCE/MENT’: A communal response session with dancer and singer Polly Motley, held in response to the installation “Neon National Anthem (Red)” by Nicholas Galanin. The Current, Stowe, Thursday, October 2, 11 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 253-8358.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model.

T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Thursday, October 2, 7-9 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

SUCKA PUNCH GRAFFITI JAM: A three-day festival of graffiti and hip-hop culture, presented

by Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in partnership with Juniper Creative Arts and Stone Arch Properties. Live painting by local, regional and international artists, block party on Saturday night, DJs and hands-on activities for all ages. 11 Arch Street and various Brattleboro locations, October 3-5. Info, 257-0124.

130TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: A party to mark the anniversary of the institution’s 1895 founding and recognize its new name — the T.W. Wood Museum — with a 5:30 p.m. champagne toast followed by remarks from art historian Paul Worman at 6 p.m. and drawing of winners from the “Art Collecting” scavenger hunt at 6:30 p.m.

T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Friday, October 3, 5-7:30 p.m. Info, 222-0909.

MAUREEN O’CONNOR BURGESS: “Ink, Paper, Scissors,” new collagraphs by the printmaker.

Reception: Friday, October 3, 5-7 p.m. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, October 3-31. Info, 295-5901.

ARTIST TALK: JEANNIE PODOLAK: A discussion of the artist’s background as a public school teacher and her current work as a printmaker. Doors at 6 p.m., talk at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A. Brandon Artists Guild, Friday, October 3, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 247-4956.

‘THE VOICE OF HUMAN INSTINCT’: An open-call exhibition showcasing works by local artists that

OPEN STUDIO: An invitation to the studio of Lisa Hickey, founder of the creative craft kit and jewelry

GERALD K. STONER SEASONAL OPEN STUDIO: Self-guided tours of the outdoor sculpture garden, with works in metal by the artist, along with atmospheric Halloween vignettes woven among the sculptures. Gerald K. Stoner Sculpture, Underhill, Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, October 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 324-3897.

LIVE PAINTING DEMO: CYNTHIA ROSEN: A casual opportunity to see the artist create new work and answer questions in the gallery, where her show “Across the Spectrum” is currently on view. Bryan Fine Art Gallery, Stowe, Saturday, October 4, 2-4 p.m. Info, 760-6474.

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, October 5, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

‘ART MAKING ON THE LAND WALKING TOUR’: An introduction for first-time visitors and a fresh way for return visitors to engage with the art on view.

Registered participants will receive an email if the tour is canceled due to inclement weather. Info and registration at coldhollowsculpturepark.com. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, Sunday, October 5, 1:15 p.m. Free; RSVP required. Info, info@ coldhollowsculpturepark.com.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any 8v-HexumGallery100125.indd 1 medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, October 6, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

9/30/25 11:19 AM

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, October 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 343-8172.

ARTIST TALK: ERIC TOBIN: “History Unframed: The Bryan Gallery and Jeffersonville’s Art Legacy,” the last in a series of talks about the history of art and culture in the town, moderated by Barbara Bertocci and featuring the noted plein air painter.

Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, Wednesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 644-5100. ➆

CALLS TO ARTISTS ARTS CONNECT JURIED MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION: Inviting applications for the annual show, which features works by established and emerging artists. Artists are invited to submit up to three works, in any media, created within the past three years. The exhibition runs from December through April.

Apply online at catamountarts.org. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury. Deadline: November 1. Info, eknarey@catamountarts.org.

‘FRESHLY CUT’ CALL FOR CONCEPTUAL ART: Seeking submissions of conceptual artwork on floral themes for a November exhibition.

Artists may submit images of one to three pieces at seaba.com. The Vaults, Burlington.

Deadline: October 26. Info, director@ seaba.com.

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It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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55 7/3/23 5:21 PM

COURTESY

music+nightlife

Mile End Parade at POP Montréal

S UNDbites News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY C H R IS FAR N S W OR TH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

On the Border: Soundbites Goes International for POP Montréal “Gotta say, you look a little worse for wear,” the border patrol agent said, an accusatory tone I knew all too well creeping into his voice. “Good time tonight?”

I hastily glanced in my rearview mirror, taking stock. My hair was wild after an hour of driving through Canadian farmland with the windows down. Clad in a denim jacket (when in Rome, right?) and a black TEKE::TEKE shirt with a not-unsubstantial amount of crumbs from the burger I stuffed down my gullet on my way back to America, I wasn’t exactly at my most presentable.

I’d taken off my press badge, but I still had the POP Montréal wristband on, as well as about five different ink stamps on either hand.

“I, uh, I went to POP?” I replied with

GUIDE 56

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

the desperation of a bad character actor in a cop show who’s asked for his alibi.

“POP Montréal,” I repeated, as if the name of the music and arts festival was what the man in the bulletproof vest wanted from me.

Surprisingly, he flashed a grin. “I have no idea what that is,” he said.

It being almost 1 a.m., his smile unnerved me. Was it genuine, or did he smell blood in the water? I’d had my vehicle searched at the border before (always on the American side), and it wasn’t an experience I wanted to go through again. The extra hours it would keep me from my warm bed felt like an impending prison sentence, so I started to blurt out what I’d been doing in Montréal. Unfortunately, it started thusly: “OK, what you have to understand first is that POP isn’t like any other music festival, right? There’s, like, so, so much going on. I honestly don’t know where to start, man. Music, comedy, dogs. There’s

a film fest part of it, but I didn’t catch any of those. I also ate a lot, but that doesn’t matter — why am I bringing that up? You don’t care, right? I got interviewed a few times, but I doubt they’ll use it because my French absolutely sucks. Do you have to know French?”

His expression didn’t change, but in my mind I was signing myself up for a body cavity search.

So I just started gushing. I told the

officer that I’ve only been going to POP Montréal for a few years, but it’s been going strong for 24 years as one of the coolest, most indie music fests in North America. I added that every time I go, I come back with a bunch of new artists to obsess over.

I regaled him with a breathless account of catching THANYA IYER at La Sala Rossa. A Montréal singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Iyer and the

KEEP POP-ING POP Montréal (popmontreal. com) might be over, but the City of Lights has a ton of other festivals coming up.

Here are some highlights: FESTIVAL SPASM has been going strong since 2002 and features the best in scary, spooky, sexy and just plain weird short films.

Running October 22 through November 1, it’s an ideal Halloween getaway. Check it out at spasm.ca.

If POP whetted your appetite for a killer music fest featuring some of

BADBADNOTGOOD. For details, visit mpourmontreal. com.

Too highbrow for horror movies and rock and roll?

Don’t sweat it. FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL BACH MONTRÉAL touts itself as

the biggest and up-andcoming acts from Canada and elsewhere, try the mammoth M FOR MONTRÉAL, which celebrates its 20th anniversary from November 19 through 22. Highlights include Digable Planets, the Besnard Lakes and

the premier North American celebration of classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach. From November 15 through December 7, the sprawling event features 30-plus concerts at dozens of venues across the city. Learn more at festivalbachmontreal.com.

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

GRAMMY NOMINATED BATON ROUGE

BLUESMAN KENNY NEAL with Carly Harvey & The Dave Keller Band

try to explain Palestinian hiphop outfit DAM. So I went off about all the other amazing facets of POP, even though I’d only been able to catch a sliver of the awesomeness.

I gushed about the rooftop concerts spread throughout the Mile End neighborhood, from the Rialto to the Ubisoft building, and the magic of an early autumn view of the cityscape.

“I couldn’t make everything, of course, but there’s Art POP, film screenings,” I continued, curious if I sounded as rambling as I felt. The border cop remained impassive.

“There’s fashion shows, too. It’s a dog fashion show, actually.”

“A dog fashion show?” he responded, smirking.

“At Entrepôt 77! Ever been?” I asked, feeling immediately dumb. “It’s incredible. Also, have you heard of DO MAKE SAY THINK? Toronto indie band with two drummers. Two drummers is the way to go—” The border agent raised his hand to politely let me know he got the gist.

He handed my passport back, and I snapped out of my fatigue-induced internal dialogue.

“Welcome back,” he said. “Have a good night.” ➆

OCTOBER 4TH

Hosted By Shelburne Farms 2009 North Gate Road Shelburne, Vermont 10:00 A.m ~ 3:00 P.m Free 3:00 P.m ~ 5:00 P.m.

Ticketed Rock & Roll Show

CHARLES ANTOINE MARCOTTE CHRIS FARNSWORTH

band dropped a set of future folk, a diaphanous, ethereal sound that could turn earthy and tangible at any moment, complete with swirling synths, harp, horns and tittering, almost Michel Pagliaro free-jazz beats. at Théâtre Rialto “It reminded me a little of when old sci-fi shows would try to guess what music in the 25th century would sound like, only I think Thanya is what that music would actually sound like. Does that make sense?”

I asked the officer. Thanya Iyer His only reply was a slight raising of his eyebrows. I pushed on, trying to build some momentum.

I told him of the legend of MICHEL PAGLIARO, the now 76-year-old rocker who charted in England in the ’70s with tunes such as “Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy” and whose hit song in Québec, “J’entends frapper,” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

At his packed show at Théâtre Rialto, with a long mane of white hair and a bushy beard, clad all in black with a Telecaster hung over his shoulder, Pagliaro was the picture of the stately rock star, sounding to my American ears like a cross between JOHN FOGERTY and ELVIS COSTELLO. I thought about explaining my T-shirt, which (under the aforementioned crumbs) proudly bore the name of TEKE::TEKE, a Japanese Canadian psychedelic, surf-garageexperimental outfit that performed at the fest alongside Toronto electronica act HOLY FUCK. But one thing you learn as a music writer is that when you start listing off all the cool-as-hell bands you know that someone else doesn’t know, it only takes a name or two and the word “experimental” before that person’s eyes glaze over. I wasn’t even going to

This article is part of a travel series on Québec.

The province’s destination marketing organization, Bonjour Québec, is a financial underwriter of the project but has no influence over story selection or content.

Find the complete series plus travel tips at sevendaysvt.com/quebec.

Indigenous Musicians Preservationists Storytellers Exhibitors Artists & Crafters Food Vendors

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY ROCKS IS HELD ON HOMELANDS OF THE WESTERN ABENAKI PEOPLE PROCEEDS TO ABENAKI HELPING ABENAKI’S FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS 4t-IPDrocksfoundation092425.indd 1

9/23/25 1:24 PM

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

57

9/29/25 12:34 PM

music+nightlife Burlington hard-rock outfit PHANTOM SUNS have dropped a new single, “Out of Body,” and an accompanying video.

The video features the band jamming out on the shores of Lake Champlain beneath pink clouds as the sun sets. It’s a gorgeous, idyllic setting that somehow doesn’t feel incongruous with the heavy drama of the track. The song is off the band’s latest LP, Radiolaria. Check out the video on YouTube.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Shows to Watch Out For

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Listening In (Spotify mix of local jams) 1. “BUNKERPUNCH!” by Sad Turtle 2. “CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT”

by Ali McGuirk 3. “TRIED TO TELL EM’” by Flywlkr 4. “RUBY” by Kat Wright 5. “CORDYCEPS” by

Phantom Suns 6. “WANNA GO OUT?” by

Grace Palmer 7. “INTERSTELLAR LOW WAYS” by

Michael Chorney

Scan to listen sevendaysvt. com/playlist

1. CLAUDIO SIMONETTI’S GOBLIN at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, 10.25 2. LIL TECCA at L’Olympia in Montréal, 11.7 & 11.8 3. NATALIE MERCHANT at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe, 11.12. SOLD OUT; and at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H., 11.14. SOLD OUT

6

2

COURTESY OF ANDY KROPA

58

to comment, citing displeasure with previous Seven Days coverage of the church and its pastor.

Sweet Jesus.

Saxophonist, composer and bandleader extraordinaire AVERY COOPER has released a trio of new singles under his solo project, COOP. “I Don’t Need Noboday,” “Fly-a-Funk” and “Orange Crocs” all hit streaming services recently as sort of an unofficial mini EP. Cooper, who Phantom Suns performs with a ton of local acts such as the DISCUSSIONS, SATYRDAGG, ALL NIGHT BOOGIE BAND and CHICKEN FAT INJECTION, comes flying out of the gate on the tracks, vacillating between rootsy jam rock, bigband funk and jazzinflected soul.

All three are available now on Spotify and other major streaming services. Cooper next performs with his jazz trio on Thursday, October 9, at Foam Brewers in Burlington.

C HRI S FARN S W O RT H

COURTESY

On Sunday, South Burlington music venue Higher Ground was scheduled to host something called Praise Party, a free event targeted at young adults.

Organized by Ignite Church in Williston, a conservative Christian institution coled by senior pastor Todd Callahan, the evening was billed as “a night of praise & worship” on the event flyer.

A story last week by local online media outlet the Rake Vermont highlighted the church’s connection to slain far-right activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk. Callahan had hosted Kirk on his podcast, and Ignite helped organize an appearance of the Turning Point USA cofounder in Burlington in 2021. The church held a vigil for Kirk after he was assassinated last month.

The Rake story also prominently mentioned the Higher Ground event, which ignited outrage toward the nightclub on social media. Why, people wondered, would the area’s biggest and most prominent music venue, particularly one that hosts the annual Winter Is a Drag Ball and posted support online for the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020, book an event with an organization with such ties and admiration for Kirk — who, by comparison, referred to Floyd as “a scumbag”?

As online ire crescendoed last Friday, the show was canceled and removed from Higher Ground’s website. It’s not clear who pulled the plug — the nightclub or the church. Higher Ground did not respond to requests for comment.

A representative of Ignite refused

4. THE DISCO BISCUITS at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, 11.19 & 11.20 5. CURSIVE at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, 12.13 COURTESY OF EBRU YILDIZ

On the Beat

COURTESY

FILE

Ignite Church

Vermont hip-hop producer RICO JAMES has once again teamed up with rapper MRKBH to drop the single and video “Ishmael (Pt. 2).” Taken from MRKBH’s EP Righteous Gemstones, Pt. 2, the track is one of five James produced for the Rhode Island rapper. They’re all streaming on major services, and the video is up now on YouTube.

6. MARIA BAMFORD at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington, 12.18-12.20

7

7. NEKO CASE at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington, 1.11

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

CLUB DATES

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

COURTESY OF JORDAN ASHLEIGH

live music WED.1

‘Are You Now or Have You Ever Been’ with Paddy Reagan (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Bad Penny Pleasuremakers (ragtime, blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Deltron 3030 (hip-hop) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. SOLD OUT. Groove Is in the Hearth: Olivia Lurrie (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 6 p.m. Free.

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

MON.6 // THE LOWDOWN [COMEDY]

Who’s Laughing Now? Comedian

MAGGIE MAXWELL (pictured)

trained in sketch comedy and improv in New York City with the Upright Citizens

Brett Hughes (country, Americana) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram (blues) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $46.98.

live show “Would You Rather? With Andre and Maggie” has launched “The Lowdown,”

Michael Arnowitt (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Neighbors, Sunny Delight, Porttitor, Yabai (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Sean Rowe, Derek Sensale (singer-songwriter) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $24.70.

when she moved to Burlington last year. The cohost of the popular and long-running a comedy series featuring some of the best and brightest of Vermont’s jokesters. Hosted

by Maxwell, the next installment features standups HILLARY BOONE, SCOTT GOYETTE, MADDIE MCLENNON, NIC SISK, MIKE THOMAS and BRIAN THOMPSON on Monday, October 6, at

the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge in South Burlington.

Soda Plant Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m.

Free.

Steven Yardley (indie) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.3

B-52.0s, Zepptunes (B-52s, Led Zeppelin tribute) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $20/$26.

The Blackburn Brothers at Retro Live (live music) at Retro Live, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 6:30 p.m. $20.

Burning Monk (Rage Against the Machine tribute) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10.

Colin McCaffrey, Jess O’Brien, Paul Miller (singer-songwriter) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Connor Young, Addison Daniels (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7:30 p.m. $15-$30.

Dancin’ In the Streets: Dead Not Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Dark Star Project (Grateful Dead tribute) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

D. Davis (jazz) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Fitter Happier (Radiohead tribute) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $19.84.

Freeway Clyde (jazz, psych) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

FYSPOT (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

The Hokum Brothers (Americana) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m.

Free.

Mean Waltons (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Moonbird (covers) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Paul Asbell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Sophie’s Body, silverlined, Assorted Fruit (grunge) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

Tall Juan (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $12/$15.

Strange Synth Night (synth) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Third Wheel (folk) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Tallgrass Getdown (folk, bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $12.19.

SUN.5

Ali McGuirk, Aubrey Haddard, Jess & Brendan (indie, soul) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $19.84.

Brigade, so it makes sense that she would want to gather a crew of funny folks together

Frankie & the Fuse (indie pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m.

Free.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

Free.

Shattering, Kitbash, the Nick Tansey Band (indie, shoegaze) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10.

SAT.4

Lily Mae, Hannah Roberts, Jonny Hugh (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5/$10.

Ethan Regan, the Man the Myth the Meatslab (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $26.42.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Waking Windows Presents: Van Chamberlain, Cosmic the Cowboy, Remi Russin (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m.

Free.

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

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

Pink-802, Tinkerbullet (Blink-182 tribute, punk) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette & the Fire Below, Brian K & the Parkway (folk, Americana) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Irish Night with RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

Autumn Grooves: Ali T (indie pop) at American Flatbread Stowe, 6 p.m. Free.

Pointe Noir Cajun Band (Cajun) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Stereolab, Dorothea Pass (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Dead Not Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $9.09/$11.52.

Andriana & the Bananas (indie pop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Nora Kelly Band (bluegrass, folk rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

She Was Right (acoustic) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

THU.2

PINKLIDS, roaches, Kitbash (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Blue Fox Trio (blues) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Boomslang Forever (hip-hop) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Eggy (pop, jam) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $47.50.

Comatose Kids (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. $10.

Doctor Gasp (folk, horror) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $10.

Double Tiger (reggae) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $22.52/$29.75.

Hip-Hop for Flood Relief (hiphop) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Jester Jigs (rock) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Joshua Glass (singer-songwriter) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Julia Randell (indie) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Live Music Saturdays (live music series) at Moondog Tavern, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free.

Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads (David Bowie tribute, reggae) at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $25/$30.

Chris Peterman Duo (jazz) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Dan Liptak, Nic Cannizzaro (neo-classical) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 7 p.m. $15-$30.

Darrell Scott (singer-songwriter) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $46.19/$51.96.

Learning To Fly: Student Spotlight Showcase (student showcase) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $14.09.

Myra Flynn (soul, R&B) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6:30 p.m. $25.

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

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

MON.6

The California Honeydrops (R&B, soul) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $37.24.

TUE.7

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Izzy Jones, Kiley Latham, Hannah Roberts (singersongwriter) at Monkey House, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

The Kilans, the Leatherbound Books (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Lily Seabird, Thomas Dollbaum (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

TUE.7 SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

» P.61 59

TRU That

Fall into a New Home

music+nightlife

REVIEW this

Twin River Urology is a small, independent urology practice now accepting new patients.

Tom Gershwin, Wellspring (SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL, VINYL)

Despite jazz trumpet’s evolving innovations within the gleeful, flurryfingered mathematics of Dixieland, bebop and fusion, many of its practitioners possess a tenderness that occasionally surfaces and, in mellow fashion, proves just as virtuosic.

The days are shorter, the air is crisp, Think Miles Davis and Kind of Blue and autumn is the perfect time to and Sketches of Spain. Chet Baker, of find a home you’ll love. Whether course. Wynton Marsalis’ Soul Gestures you’re looking to sell your current in Southern Blue trilogy and fellow New Michael R. Curtis, MD house or find a place to build new Orleanian Terence Blanchard’s A Tale memories, our team is here to help Michael Gaffney, PA of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina) you through every step. Let us guide — with the Crescent City works edging twinriverurology.com you home. into territory that might be thought of as conceptual.

Fall is in the air.

On the recently released Wellspring, Vermont trumpeter Tom Gershwin Is a new home in your future?

White River Junction embodies those qualities with a flowing November 1st, accepting melodicism, along with an exhilaration 802-225-6425 and tone associated with Pat Metheny’s most major insurances.

Info@GreenLight-RealEstate.com guitar-as-trumpet synth exercises on early works such as Travels and Offramp.

Gershwin’s inspiration for his 8v-TwinRiverUrology100125.indd 1 9/26/25 8v-GreenLightRealEstate100125 11:02 AM 1 9/29/25 6:43 PM new album is literally a wellspring not far from his home in the woods of the Northeast Kingdom — an area he frequently hikes and relies on for its restorative properties. It’s the sort of environment that lends itself to compositions that explore evocative possibilities in a fashion as timeless and eternal as the swirling waters of the wellspring therein.

Gershwin, whose previous releases include Our Season, Live at Mighty Fine and Sweet Pastimes, wrote the songs for Wellspring with the participation of his core band in mind. That includes longtime collaborators/friends Perry Smith (guitar), Mike Bjella (saxophone) and drummer Colin Stranahan. New bassist David Ambrosio joined for the recording sessions, which took place at the Clubhouse in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Gershwin coproduced with Stowe engineer George Walker Petit, and the album captures an in-the-moment atmosphere with warm but crisp polish and fine ensemble performances.

To hear Wellspring for the first time

802-296-7370

in early autumn is almost an ideal listening and imprinting experience.

“Let Be” kicks off the set; it’s a lovely tone poem that at once introduces the aura of the journey.

On the title cut, the trumpeter’s long, ascending solo, with its trills and extended runs, suggests a literal jog through his woods, climbing hills and barreling down trails amid falling leaves until — behold! — there’s the wellspring!

With supportive flourishes from the band, the piece exults in the nourishing beauty of the natural world.

The centerpiece of Wellspring is the lengthy “Passages,” which starts with Gershwin’s beautifully mournful meditations accented by Bjella’s pastoral and eerie harmony lines and splashes of woody percussion. The song then subtly shifts gears. There’s a playful call-and-answer segment between Gershwin and Perry, followed by a masterful guitar solo of single-note runs and chordal chops before the piece flows into a wistful coda.

A trio of shorter, lovely, meditative pieces follows. “Belong Here,” “Embers” and “& You” seem to capture the main essence of Gershwin’s vision for the record. Only the penultimate track, “Counter Earth’s Tone,” with its fractal freneticism, is out of place. Perhaps Gershwin is reminding us that nature’s never completely calm and can’t be taken for granted.

In any case, Wellspring concludes with the hymnlike feel of “Still,” a fine farewell after a mesmeric and gorgeous effort in musical spell casting.

Wellspring is available on CD and vinyl at tomgershwin.com and is streaming on major services.

RICK KOSTER

GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED: 60

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

4t-alchemist092425 1

ARE YOU A VT ARTIST OR BAND? SEND US YOUR MUSIC! DIGITAL: MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM; SNAIL MAIL: MUSIC C/O SEVEN DAYS, 255 S. CHAMPLAIN ST., SUITE 5, BURLINGTON, VT 05401 9/22/25 3:22 PM

GOT MUSIC NEWS? MUSIC@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

COURTESY OF ELIZA CALLAHAN

live music TUE.7 CONTINUED FROM P.59 The Local Honeys, Reid Parsons (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $21.91.

Red River North (country) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

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

Groove Is in the Hearth: Nathan Byrne (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

MON.6

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.7 // LILY SEABIRD AND THOMAS DOLLBAUM [INDIE]

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

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

We’re So Folked New Orleans singer-songwriter

THOMAS DOLLBAUM

Shakedown Citi (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $9.09/$11.52.

turned heads in 2022 with his debut Wellswood, composed of a sort of Southern gothic-

Shawn Mullins (singersongwriter) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $39.12.

All Night, dropped on September 26, heralded by the ascendant folk-rock single “Angus

djs

LILY SEABIRD, whose recent LP, Trash Mountain, has received rave reviews from the likes

THU.2

Tuesday, October 7, before heading south together.

DJ Paul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Lucas, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.3

DJ Eric LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

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

Friday Dance Party with NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

folk brew brimming with equal parts Arthur Russell and Bon Iver. His latest EP, Drive Valley.” He’ll be joined for a monthlong East Coast tour by Burlington singer-songwriter of Rolling Stone and Paste. The two troubadours play Radio Bean in Burlington on

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m.

Free.

TUE.7

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

open mics & jams WED.1

Open Celtic Jam (open jam) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Moscow Mill Studios, East Calais, 6 p.m. donation.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Taylor Swift Album Release Listening Party (DJ) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

The Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.4

Open Mic (open mic) at Brookfield Old Town Hall, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.2

FRI.3

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.5

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

WED.8

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy WED.1

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Whose Live Anyway? (comedy) at Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $55-$77.50.

THU.2

HAVEN (DJ) at MothershipVT, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m.

Free.

Todd Glass (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

Kate Kush (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10.

Open Mic with Artie (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m.

Free.

FRI.3

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m.

Free.

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

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

Free.

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

DJ JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

SAT.4

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

Free.

WED.8

Katie Martucci, beccs, Emma Cook (singer-songwriter) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

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

SUN.5

Sprezzatura (jazz) at Original Skiff Fish + Oysters, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

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

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Comedy Open Mic (comedy) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 8 p.m. Free.

Todd Glass (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $25.

SAT.4

KCP Presents: The Second City (comedy) at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 7 p.m. $11.40-$43.20.

Todd Glass (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $25.

MON.6

The Lowdown (comedy) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $19.84.

TUE.7

Open Mic Comedy with Levi Silverstein (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.8

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.1

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (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 Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

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

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

THU.2

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Line Dancing & Two-Step Night (dance) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Chicken Sketch-Atore: Halloween (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Trivia (tribute) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 7 p.m. Free.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

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

Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

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

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

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

TUE.7

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m.

Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m.

Free.

Tuesday Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m.

Free.

WED.8

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

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

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

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

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

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.3

Creemee Dreemee Puppet Slam (puppet show) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

61

2025 LAKE CHAMPLAIN

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL & RACES

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS, FUNDRAISERS, DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PADDLERS, WHO TOGETHER HELPED RAISE

A GROSS TOTAL OF

$266,004 After expenses are covered, the net proceeds will directly support cancer survivors in our community through the programs of Dragonheart Vermont and Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont.

PRESENTED BY

62

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

SILVER AND BRONZE SPONSORS HAT SPONSOR

FRIENDS AND BANNER SPONSORS Allen Pools and Spas Almartin Volvo Appletree Bay PT Concept 2 Dostie's Frameshop Drop The Racquet Goss Cars

Green Mountain Surgery Green Mountain Railroad Hilton Garden Inn Hornet Watersports Inspired Closets JA Morrissey Northeast Delta Dental

PC Construction Rowley Fuels Runway Auto Sherwood Real Estate Stewart's Shops UHAUL Vermont Gas Systems

IN KIND SPONSORS Burlington Telecom Casella Waste Chocolate Thunder Security Services Cole's Cookie Co Fast Signs FOAM Brewers Got that Rental Gordon Stamp and Engraving Green Mountain Bagel

Hall Communications Icon Promotions Jeff Ferland Jericho Market Last Resort Farm McKenzie Country Classics Main Street Landing Milton Rental Minuteman Press

MS Septic Pete's RV Radio North Remax North Professionals UHaul Riverside Ave. Village Frame Shoppe and Gallery WCAX Zach Rhoads Zumba

BUSINESSES DONATING HIGH VALUE GIFT CERTIFICATES TO THE PICK YOUR PRIZE RAFFLE Arrowhead Golf Course Art Works Frame Shop Axel’s Gallery & Frame Shop BETA Technologies Bridgeside Books Burlington Country Club Catamount Outdoor Family Center Claire Wong Clarke Demas & Baker Attorneys at Law Darn Tough Echo Leahy Center Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Gills Point S Tire & Auto Service Green Mountain Athletic Club Guy’s Farm and Yard

Hornet Watersports Hotel Vermont Jay Peak Lake Champlain Transportation Maxi’s Restaurant Mountain Lake Plastic Surgery Nan Patrick Knows Pet Food Warehouse Petra Cliffs Climbing Center Pizza 44 Play It Again Sports Poorhouse Pies Pure Barre Rocky Ridge Golf

Run Vermont Smugglers' Notch Resort Solmate Socks Spare Time Bowling Sprucewood Dental Associates Terry Cycling The Alchemist The Essex Resort & Spa The Lighting House The Links at Lang Farm Ursa Major Vermont Comedy Club Woodware Zero Gravity SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

63

calendar O C T O B E R

WED.1 activism

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

Free. Info, 779-9021.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: Mercy Connections facilitates this five-week training for prospective mentors seeking to provide guidance, encouragement and support to women affected by the criminal justice system. Mercy Connections, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 846-7063.

business

CENTRAL VERMONT JOB FAIR: Time for a new gig? Curious and career-minded individuals meet with prospective employers and partner state agencies face-to-face. Berlin Mall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 476-2600.

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS BIZ BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m.

Free; preregister. Info, 870-0903‬.

1 - 8 ,

crafts

FIBER ARTS NIGHT: Knitters, crocheters and weavers make progress on projects while soaking up creativity and connection. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 5:30-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 223-3338.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists.

BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 448-3780.

etc.

CHAMP MASTERS TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Dealer.com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, cdmvt47@ yahoo.com.

2 0 2 5

participants in gentle stretches supported by seats.

10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

language

ELL CLASSES: Fletcher Free Library invites learners of all abilities to practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

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

music

food & drink

FALL SHIRE CHOIR: Neighbors band together and raise their voices in sweet harmonies, taught by ear. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 6-7:30 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale. Info, wilsonheidiann@gmail.com.

health & fitness

ME2 CHORUS REHEARSAL: Conductor Stefanie Weigand leads vocalists ages 16 and up in a stigma-free, supportive environment created for people with mental illnesses and their supporters. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, phoenix@ me2music.org.

COMMUNITY COOKING: Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

NOAH KAHAN: SOLD OUT. The critically acclaimed Vermont singer-songwriter performs straight from the heart at this Folk & Fairways benefit concert and golf tournament. Proceeds support the Busyhead Project Fund. Spruce Peak at Stowe, 6 p.m. Info, 652-0777.

SILO SESSIONS: TAYLOR ASHTON: A shape-shifting musician with a distinctive baritone voice performs intricately

crafted meditations on love, life and memory. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 7-9:30 p.m. $18-20. Info, musicforsprouts@ gmail.com.

ST. J BLUEGRASS JAM: Players and fans get together for some old-time picking and fiddling.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Free; donations accepted. Info, 748-2600.

SUNDAY MORNING: An eclectic band plays a rich range of tunes, from soft piano jazz to banjo-driven country with an occasional Latin twist. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: Cyclists roll through a pastoral 20-mile trail ride, then enjoy artisan eats, including Vermont’s award-wining cheddar. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, noon4 p.m. $120. Info, 730-0161.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: With a new design every year, this sprawling labyrinth presents a fresh challenge for fall revelers. Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $15-30; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 397-8574.

GUIDED SHORT TRAIL HIKE: Green Mountain Club staff lead hikers on a 0.7-mile trek, offering up useful tips and tricks along the way. Dogs welcome. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 2-3 p.m. Free.

Info, 244-7037.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m.

Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

KERRY NOONAN: Feeling spooky?

In “Fall and Halloween Legends,” a Champlain College professor and folklorist provides an in-depth overview of autumnal traditions throughout history. Milton Grange, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 893-1604.

theater LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE! All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper.

Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

Listings and spotlights are written by Rebecca Driscoll. Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

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

64

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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

‘COME FROM AWAY’: Northern Stage mounts the Tony Awardwinning musical telling the stirring true story of a small Newfoundland town that hosted 7,000 stranded travelers on 9/11. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $10-100. Info, 296-7000.

‘ORANGE JULIUS’: The school’s theater department raises the curtain on Basil Kreimendahl’s memory play about a dying Vietnam vet and his trans adult child. Ages 14 and up. Royall Tyler Theatre, University of Vermont, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10-22. Info, theatreanddance@uvm.edu.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: Artistree Grange Theatre stages

this musical satire set in a dystopian future where water — in all its forms — is worth its weight in gold. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7-9 p.m. $35-40. Info, 457-3500.

words

sounds of sorrow. The Current, Stowe, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 253-8358.

film

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

BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES: Concerned community members share thoughtful dialogue about homelessness — and society’s response to it — at this four-part analysis of Kevin Adler and David Burnes’ When We Walk By. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

THU.2

‘CANDIDE’: Opera Company of Middlebury artistic director Douglas Anderson introduces a special screening of the company’s 2021 production of Leonard Bernstein’s comic operetta. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:309:30 p.m. $20-40. Info, 382-9222.

business

GROW YOUR BUSINESS: Shelburne BNI hosts a weekly meeting for local professionals to exchange referrals and build meaningful connections. Connect Church, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m.

Free. Info, 377-3422.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: Neighbors connect with representatives from the Burlington Electric Department and get illuminating info about its services.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

STORIES OF COURAGE & CONNECTION: National Domestic Violence Awareness Month kicks off with an intimate, community-driven evening of courageous personal tales told by locals.

Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

crafts

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

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

environment

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged.

Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

etc.

NIGHT OWL CLUB: Astronomers and space exploration experts discuss the latest in extraterrestrial news with curious attendees.

Presented by Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372.

SOUND EXPERI/ENCE/MENT: Performer and teacher Polly Motley guides cathartic responses to the prompt “scream until we can’t breathe,” focusing on alternatives such as lullabies and

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: Footage of paleontological digs from around the globe tells a compelling story of scientists working as detectives to answer questions about an ancient and mysterious ocean world. Dealer. com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

Info, 864-1848.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Astrophiles witness history in the making — from launching rockets without fuel to building the Lunar Gateway — in this 2024 documentary narrated by Chris Pine.

Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET: Locavores delight in handmade products, live music, hot food and a new beer tent. Vergennes City Park, 3-7 p.m. Free.

Info, vergennesfm@gmail.com.

games

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

CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all abilities select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, THU.2

» P.66

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

COURTESY

FAMILY FUN

OCT. 4 & 5 | FAMILY FUN

MUSIC TIME: Little patrons ages birth to 5 sing and dance with legendary local musician Linda Bassick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 878-6956.

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.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

WED.1

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

Info, 223-3338.

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: Museumgoers embark on an immersive journey to create stories using techniques such as storyboarding, sketching and stop-motion moviemaking. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

LIBRARY LITTLES: A weekly program brings babies, toddlers and their caregivers together for songs, stories, play and community building in a nurturing environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

TEEN DROP-IN: Patrons ages 12 to 18 pop by to chat with teen services librarian Miriasha, play card and board games, and build community. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 2:15-3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

THU.2

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

a radio-style play with projected imagery tucked among the trees. Shelburne Farms, 6 p.m. $12-20; free for kids 2 and under. Info, treewild.inc@gmail.com.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

Core Memory You’ll reap an exuberant weekend of autumnal delights at Billings Farm & Museum’s annual Harvest Celebration in Woodstock. Fall merrymakers from 1 to 100 have a bushel of fun celebrating the sights, smells and sounds of the season with traditional activities such as sunflower seed harvesting, corn shelling and natural dyeing. Old-fashioned cider pressing, horse-drawn wagon rides and woodstove cooking demos amp up the old-timey feels, while pumpkin bowling (it’s a real thing!) yields a more modern diversion. Want to tap a toe or two? Do-si-do the day away at traditional barn dances backed by the talents of acoustic Americana duo Shady Rill.

HARVEST CELEBRATION Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock.

Regular admission, $14-23; free for members and kids under 3. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members.

Info, 862-9622.

Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

Info, 878-4918.

chittenden county

barre/montpelier

MEALTIME MAGIC: TIPS TO HELP WITH PICKY EATERS: Chiropractor and nutritionist Dr. Gregory Giasson dishes on creative ways to introduce new foods and safely involve kids in the kitchen.

Essex Free Library, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: Little ones and their caregivers use song and dance to explore the changing seasons and celebrate everyday joys. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

Info, 846-4140.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu!

Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

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

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

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. Info, 223-3338.

FRI.3

stowe/smuggs

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

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

Free. Info, 888-3853.

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

chittenden county

‘BORDERLANDS: 1001 NIGHTS WITH MOON’: This enchanting outdoor theater event reimagines the timeless story One Thousand and One Nights as

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Youngsters and their caregivers delight in beautiful books, silly songs, creative crafts and unplugged play in the library’s cozy children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

outside vermont

‘MAGIC ROCKS!’: Illusionist Leon Etienne brings sleight-of-hand tricks and laugh-out-loud comedy to the stage for a family-friendly evening of wonder and whimsy. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 6:30 p.m. $25-58. Info, 603-448-0400.

SAT.4

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

CONSTRUCTION FEST: A world of discovery and imagination awaits at this jubilee of building, featuring a “fashion show” of vehicles, touch-a-truck activities and an opportunity to decorate your own hard hat. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 863-1648.

chittenden county

‘BORDERLANDS: 1001 NIGHTS WITH MOON’: See FRI.3.

barre/montpelier

MEET TEDDY THE THERAPY DOG: Animal lovers pop by the library to make friends with a very good boy, learn about his therapy duties and see some of astounding tricks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, noon-12:45 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30-4 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

seminars

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: NAMI Vermont hosts an informative weekly seminar for individuals with a loved one who is struggling with mental health.

6:30-9 p.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 876-7949, ext. 100.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies.

United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m.

Free; donations accepted. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

SPOOKY STOP-MOTION ANIMATION: Tim Burton would be proud! Creators learn to use Dragonframe software and props to bring eerie tales to life. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

health & fitness

talks

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

‘WHERE THE TREE ENDS AND YOUR HEAD BEGINS’: Late American scholar Gloria Anzaldúa’s multispecies meditations, drawings and sound ground practitioners. Axinn Center, Starr Library, Middlebury College, 5:15 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3136.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

MANDARIN CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Volunteers from Vermont Chinese School help students learn or improve their fluency.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

lgbtq

POP-UP HAPPY HOUR: Locals connect over drinks at a speakeasy-style bar, hosted by OUT in the 802. Lincolns, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

music

FLOW SINGING: Singers both new and seasoned intertwine music and mindfulness while learning a sequence of five or six songs by ear. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, patricia@juneberrymusic.com.

SIERRA HULL & JOHN CRAIGIE: The Grammy-nominated mandolin virtuoso teams up with the legendary Portland singer-songwriter for a folk performance of epic proportions. See calendar spotlight. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $42.50-52.50.

Info, 603-448-0400.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: Pedal lovers cycle through scenic trails and drink in the views with stops at four local breweries. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $85. Info, 730-0161.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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calendar

TALKING ARCHAEOLOGY: Experts share details about Lake Champlain’s history and dive deep into the discoveries, artifacts and unique stories they’ve uncovered. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 475-2022.

tech

CYBERSECURITY & AI EDUCATION: Industry experts discuss the latest trends and practical ways to keep organizations safe from threats. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-8822.

NEXT STEPS WORKSHOP: aiVermont hosts this hands-on session for educators to deepen their understanding and practice of AI in the classroom. Lunch provided. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $45; preregister. Info, 540-0761.

theater

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.1, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: Shaker Bridge Theatre presents Jonathan Spector’s Tony Award-winning play about how to build consensus in a community where no one can agree on the facts.

Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 7 p.m. $25-45. Info, 281-6848.

‘FIRST SHOW: THE TRUTH REMIXED’: An evening of bold, funny and heartfelt performances features a mix of short scenes and poems that explore the concept of truth in all its beautiful forms. Hepburn Zoo, Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $5. Info, 443-5601.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: Vermont Stage mounts Lindsay Joelle’s timely comedy about finding common ground in unexpected places. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-54 sliding scale. Info, 862-1497.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: A suburban family buckles under the pressure of mental illness and grief in this Tony-winning pop-rock musical. See calendar spotlight.

Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30 p.m. $15-48. Info, 229-0492.

‘ORANGE JULIUS’: See WED.1.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

OCT. 2-5 | THEATER Rock Steady

a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, info@ruralartsvt.org.

When Rolling Stone refers to something as “an emotional powerhouse with a fire in its soul and a wicked wit that burns just as fiercely,” you know it’s going to be good.

Montpelier’s Lost Nation Theater stages poignant Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, an epic grand finale to the company’s 2025 season. Told against an electrifying pop-rock score, the show zooms in on one woman’s struggle with bipolar disorder and its impact on her family. Though the subject of mental illness is a somber one, the production shines bright with moments of humor, honesty and, ultimately, hope.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’ Thursday, October 2, through Saturday, October 4, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, October 5, 2 p.m., at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. See website for additional dates. $15-48.

Info, 229-0492, lostnationtheater.org.

TENS FESTIVAL: The Parish Players raise the curtain on seven 10-minute plays ranging from hilarious to heartwarming. Eclipse Grange Theater, Thetford, 7-9 p.m. $10-25. Info, 785-4344.

‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: Mistaken identities and romantic misadventures abound in this new play following four band members tasked with staging a one-of-a-kind production to save their playhouse. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 2 p.m. $25-88.

Info, 824-5288.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See WED.1.

words

TOM VERDE: A writer and journalist reads from his new book, Queens of Islam, which profiles 15 women who wielded political

power across a millennium of Islamic history. The Norwich Bookstore, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

FRI.3

bazaars

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE: Deal seekers browse a trove of secondhand scores. Richmond Congregational Church, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Info, 434-2053.

FAIRFAX RUMMAGE SALE: Treasure hunters shop a wide array of gently used clothes, books, toys and a white elephant. Fairfax Community Center, 1-6 p.m. Free.

Info, 849-6313.

community

‘COCOON’: Listeners take in true stories told live without notes, inspired by popular storytelling phenomenon the Moth. Virtual option available. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 8-10 p.m. $515; cash bar. Info, 443-3485.

STORIES OF COURAGE & CONNECTION: National Domestic Violence Awareness Month kicks off with an intimate, community-driven evening of courageous personal tales told by locals. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

crafts

FIRST FRIDAY FIBER GROUP: Fiber-arts fans make progress on projects while chatting over snacks. GRACE, Hardwick, 10:30

dance

‘THE INSTITUTE FOR FOLDING’: An interdisciplinary work explores our human relationship to knowledge through movement, language, live sound and 30 sheets of cardboard.

First Congregational Church, St. Albans, 7:30 p.m. $20. Info, info@ vermontdance.org.

LINE DANCING: Instructor Patti Bourbeau gets bodies in sync to the beat of pop and country songs. BYO water bottle. Gihon Valley Hall, Hyde Park, 6 p.m. $10.

Info, gihonvalleyhall@gmail.com.

etc.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: Paranormal historian Holli Bushnell highlights haunted happenings throughout Burlington.

199 Main St., Burlington, 8 p.m. $25. Info, mail@ queencityghostwalk.com.

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION: Community members wish library director Jennifer Murray a happy next chapter after years of dedicated service. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

fairs & festivals

FALL FESTIVAL: ‘RESILIENT PATTERNS’: Vermont Humanities celebrates National Arts and Humanities month with a special series highlighting stories of hope and resilience.

See vermonthumanities.org

Baby Gear Exchange

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

for full schedule. Various locations statewide, 1:30 p.m.

Various prices. Info, jpelletier@ vermonthumanities.org.

MONTSHIRE AFTER DARK: OKTOBERFEST: Suds lovers flock to an adults-only, hands-on night at the museum accented by live accordion music, Bavarian sausages, apple strudel, and glasses of Märzens and festbiers. Ages 21 and up. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 6:30-9 p.m. $20. Info, 649-2200.

TWIST: TWIN STATE COMICS & ZINE FAIR: Art aficionados browse a diverse selection of works by local cartoonists and magazine makers. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 295-6688.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.2.

MEDIA IN THE MOVIES: ‘BETWEEN THE LINES’: Joan Micklin Silver’s snappy 1977 dramedy follows the staff of an alternative newspaper outlet whose carefree days are numbered when a major publisher takes over. This journalism film series celebrates Seven Days’ 30th anniversary. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.2.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.2.

food & drink

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET: An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6 p.m. Free; cost of goods. Info, rfmmanager@ gmail.com.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.2, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.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.

Info, 878-4918.

health & fitness

THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Anne Greshin leads a low-impact, evidenced-based program that builds muscle, keeps joints flexible and helps folks stay fit.

Waterbury Public Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 241-4840.

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

preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

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

PAIN CLINIC: A sound-based tuning fork session is designed to ease chronic or acute pain.

Biofield Tuning Clinic, Colchester, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, btclinic@biofieldtuning.com.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 747-8300.

‘THE BERNSTEIN SONGBOOK’: Opera Company of Middlebury celebrates the full range of Leonard Bernstein’s theatrical genius, from his beloved Broadway hits to his operatic masterworks. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $6188. Info, 382-9222.

BLUES TRAVELER: SOLD OUT. The Grammy-winning rock band hooks listeners with crowd-pleasing favorites pulled from its 14 studio albums.

Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $55-75. Info, 775-0903.

LANE SERIES: ALEX CUBA: Fiercely individualistic yet deeply rooted in Latin and Caribbean rhythms, a lauded singer-songwriter brings expressive vocals and a charming stage

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

presence. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5-32. Info, 656-4455.

PUULUUP: Performing on talharpas — a nearly extinct bowed lyre — the Estonian “zombie-folk” duo fuses Nordic roots with loopers, modern effects and cascading vocals. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7-9 p.m. $10-40. Info, 728-9878.

SPRUCE PEAK UNPLUGGED: SIERRA HULL & JOHN CRAIGIE: See THU.2. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $45-60.

Info, 760-4634.

Seeking Donations Help local families by donating your gently-used baby equipment! We collect high chairs, strollers and more for social service organizations.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.1.

Learn more:

bit.ly/424hxNG

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.2.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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Looking for

ANNA MORRIS: The Vermont Institute of Natural Science director of wildlife ambassador programs edifies attendees about rodenticides — or deadly wildlife poisons — and their impacts on ecosystems. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, akane@fairbanksmuseum.org.

WE’RE NOT LIKE OTHER STUDIOS

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to do?

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT FOR EVERYONE FALL LECTURE SERIES: JAMES JONES: A local author, publisher and rail historian regales listeners with “Vermont’s Island Line Revisited.”

Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2-3 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members.

Info, 395-1818.

Find events and classes online at sevendaystickets.com

YOGA, FITNESS, SOCIAL LOUNGE

100 DORSET ST., S. BURLINGTON INFO@KULAVERMONT.COM

Mutual aid initiatives Paid & by-donation After Hours Social Lounge events Esoteric, scientific, community building workshops Pilates, yoga, breathwork, meditation, & more!

WAM!: Invited artists present one or more chosen works and speak to their practice, background, motivations, challenges and current path.

A Q&A follows. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@ gmail.com.

Visit kulavermont.com or stop by the studio to see our amazing first month intro rates!

tech

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MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

theater

‘THE 39 STEPS’: A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft drive the Lamoille County Players’ rendition of Patrick Barlow’s Tony Award-winning stage adaptation. Hyde Park Opera House, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 888-4507.

Laser Treatments Neuromodulators • Peels Tattoo Removal • Hair Removal Treat Sunspots & Redness

‘CLUE’: The Shelburne Players bring Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard and the rest to life in the board game turned cult-classic flick turned stage play. Shelburne Town Hall, 7-9 p.m. $15-25. Info, 343-2602.

‘CLUE’: Mystery and mischief await at Boddy Manor in the FRI.3

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Borderline Players’ stage version of the 1985 whodunit featuring murder, blackmail and one sinister dinner party. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $10-25. Info, 748-2600.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.1.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See THU.2.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: See THU.2.

‘LIZZIE BORDEN: A CHILLING TALE OF FAMILY, SECRETS AND SUSPICION’: This gripping psychological drama based on the play Blood Relations pulls viewers into the terrifying story of one of history’s most infamous truecrime characters. QuarryWorks Theater, Adamant, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 229-6978.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: See THU.2.

‘ORANGE JULIUS’: See WED.1.

TENS FESTIVAL: See THU.2.

‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: See THU.2, 7:30 p.m.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See WED.1.

words

‘ENVIRONMENTAL POETRY IN THE TIME OF CLIMATE CRISIS’: SOLD OUT. A moderated panel discussion, poetry and prose readings, and writing workshops accentuate this eco-focused affair hosted by Sundog Poetry.

Champlain Room & Terrace at Champlain College, Burlington, 1:30-5:30 p.m. Wait list available.

Info, hello@sundogpoetry.org.

MEET ME AT THE BOO-KSTORE: Ghouls night out! Costumed bookworms build connections — both platonic and romantic — at an after-hours mixer featuring spooky themed activities, raffles and refreshments. Ages 18 and up. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 8-9:30 p.m. $13. Info, 448-3350.

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activism

PUBLIC TRUTH-TELLING SESSION: The Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission invites marginalized locals impacted by state systems — past or present — to share their stories. Winooski High School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, vtrc@ vermont.gov.

bazaars

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE: See FRI.3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

FAIRFAX RUMMAGE SALE: See FRI.3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

FALL CRAFT MARKET: Artful options to gift or bring home include baskets, ceramics, decorative and wearable fiber, glass, jewelry, and items in leather, metal, mixed media, paper or wood. Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Free. Info, 362-1405.

MAKER’S MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers,

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distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Free. Info, 528-7951.

OCT. 2 & 3 | MUSIC

community

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

crafts

CRAFTY ADULTS: AUTUMN LEAVES BANNER: Creative patrons construct vibrant fall décor for the library. All materials provided. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-3 p.m.

Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

VERMONT SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL: Fiber fanatics flock to a jubilee of farm animals, spinning classes, herding demos and craft vendors. Tunbridge World’s Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-10; free for toddlers. Info, vtsheepandwoolfest@gmail.com.

dance

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy, laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See website for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $520 sliding scale. Info, 225-8921.

‘UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (OF MANGOES, DANCING AND ME)’: Rachel Frida Siegel choreographed this anti-diet dance and theater performance about eating disorders, patriarchy, capitalism and racism. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 2 & 5-6 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

Info, 777-2627.

etc.

75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Neighbors help the fire station mark its semisesquicentennial of service to the community with barbecue, bagpipes, a flag raising ceremony and “day in the life” tours.

Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 425-3111.

BEAUX-ARTS BALL: Guests don arty costumes and masks for a rousing sidewalk procession, followed by cocktails, dinner and live jazz tunes from Blue Room Quintet. Studio Place Arts, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $50; cash bar.

Info, 479-7069.

BEER & BURGERS FUNDRAISER: A chance to meet with rescued farm animals punctuates a foodand-fun-filled afternoon benefiting the sanctuary. Merrymac Animal Sanctuary, Charlotte, 2-5 p.m. $40. Info, 448-2377.

CIDER PRESSING & FROST BARN OPEN HOUSE: Fresh fruit transforms into a delicious drink at this fall-focused afternoon of live music, crafts and other harvest-season libations. Robert Frost Stone House Museum, Shaftsbury, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 447-6200.

FRIGHT BY FLASHLIGHT: Adventurous attendees become experts in vintage ghost-hunting techniques and scholars of paranormal lore. Ages 12 and up.

Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, 6 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, 413426-7572.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

MONTPELIER FALL FESTIVAL: Fabulous food, live music and games for all ages abound at this annual community shindig.

Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, noon-4 p.m. Free.

Info, festival@mrpspie.org.

ROVER ROUNDUP: An inaugural day of community building, education, and lots of barks and wags offers up fabulous food, live music, contests, demos — and adoptable puppies! Leashed dogs welcome. Mad River Valley Dog Park, Warren, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10-20 suggested donation. Info, 496-3350.

film

COURTESY OF SPENCER & BETHANY SHOWALTER

FRI.3

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.2.

Sierra Hull

Badass Bluegrass

‘FROM EARTH TO EARTH: THE LOST ART OF DYING IN AMERICA’: This 2024 documentary short showcases the beauty and significance of natural burials, while exploring the contentious subject’s path to legalization in Vermont. A Q&A with Vermont Forest Cemetery founder Michelle Hogle Acciavatti and a potluck dinner follow.

Capital City Grange, Berlin, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 225-8921.

An NPR Music YouTube video of Sierra Hull’s recent Tiny Desk Concert boasts countless effusive comments, ranging from “American treasure” to “absolute ripper” and “best in the world.” The six-time International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year and two-time Grammy nominee lives up to those accolades at two regional performances with troubadour extraordinaire John Craigie, at New Hampshire’s Lebanon Opera House and Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe. The acoustic masters promise next-level Americana and bluegrass music, accented by picking prowess, heartfelt storytelling and boundary-pushing innovation.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.2.

SIERRA HULL & JOHN CRAIGIE

FOMO?

Thursday, October 2, 7:30 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House. $42.50-52.50. Info, 603-448-0400, lebanonoperahouse.org. Friday, October 3, 7 p.m., at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe. $45-60. Info, 760-4634, sprucepeakarts.org.

FULL HARVEST MOON CIRCLE: Community members link up to reflect, share and set intentions for the month ahead. KULA: Yoga, Fitness, Social Lounge, South Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. $10-22 suggested donation. Info, info@ kulavermont.com.

GROWING IN PROCESS OPEN STUDIO: Artist Mira Cabrera sets up paintings among the vines for patrons to peruse while imbibing.

Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, growing.in.process@gmail.com.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY ROCKS: A celebration of Native cultures includes music and drumming demonstrations, artisans, and performances by Baton Rouge bluesman Kenny Neal and Vermont’s own Dave Keller Band. Coach Barn at Shelburne

Farms, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-15; free for Indigenous people. Info, ipdrocksfoundation@gmail.com.

fairs & festivals

CROSSROADS POSTCARD & STAMP SHOW: More than 15 dealers display their collections at an annual Upper Valley Stamp Club gathering.

Mid-Vermont Christian School, Quechee, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

Info, lapointejvt@gmail.com.

DEAD CREEK WILDLIFE DAY: Naturalists of all ages honor the outdoors with a range of family-friendly activities including decoy carving, nature walks, face painting and birdhouse building. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 759-2398.

ENERGY FAIR: The Williston Energy Committee presents an enlightening event featuring a wide range of electric vehicles, solar companies, and local weatherization and heat pump contractors. Maple Tree Place, Williston, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, energy@willistonvt.org.

FALL DOG PARTY: Four-legged friends and their humans lap up an afternoon of romping, raffles, lawn games, chili dogs, maple sweets and tunes. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, noon-4 p.m. Free.

Info, 800-449-2580.

KINTOBERFEST: An annual autumnal event offers a refreshing selection of beer, live music, art vendors and games. Grand Isle Recreation Park, noon-5 p.m.

Free. Info, 222-0197.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.2.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.2.

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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

EDGEWATER GALLERY PRESENTS

THROUGH NOV 1ST, 2025

EARTHEN GESTURES a duo exhibition of

SARA KATZ & NICHOLAS BERNARD EDGEWATER GALLERY AT THE FALLS 1 MILL STREET, MIDDLEBURY

EARTHEN GESTURES ON VIEW THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST EDGEWATER GALLERY AT THE FALLS 1 MILL ST, MIDDLEBURY GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday: 10AM – 5PM Sundays: 11AM – 4PM or by appointment

One Mill St and 6 Merchant’s Row, Middlebury Vermont 802-458-0098 & 802-989-7419

edgewatergallery.com

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‘THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR’: The late, great Robert Redford stars as a bookish CIA researcher in Sydney Pollack’s political spy thriller from 1975. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET: Dozens of stands overflow with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: More than 35 vendors showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies, backed by sets of live local music. Champlain Islands Farmers Market, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, champlainislandsfarmersmkt@ gmail.com.

CHICKEN PIE TAKEOUT: Traditional chicken and biscuits accompanied by squash, green beans, cranberry sauce, coleslaw, and apple crisp make for a to-go meal to remember. The Old Meeting House, East Montpelier, 4, 5 & 6 p.m. $20; preregister.

Info, 223-6934.

NORTHWEST FARMERS MARKET: Locavores stock up on produce, preserves, baked goods, and arts and crafts. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 242-2729.

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.

Info, cfmamanager@gmail.com.

games

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new

strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

health & fitness

STEPS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: Individuals and teams don purple gear and walk, run or roll to end domestic violence and promote safety, health and wellness in the community. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $35-40; preregister. Info, 658-3131.

music

AMPERSAND: Six chamber vocalists perform a stirring program titled “Nuestra Señora: Taking Inventory in 1589 Mexico,” featuring works by Lupus Hellinck, Nicolas Gombert and Andreas de Silva. Old Round Church, Richmond, 4-5:15 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, contact@ weareampersand.net.

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.3.

BELLWETHER: With individual members hailing from Orkney, Scotland; Somerset, England; and Boston, Mass., this international folk trio brings a fresh perspective to traditional music. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University-Johnson, 7 p.m. $10-25; free for VTSU community, families with children and students. Info, 748-2600.

‘THE BERNSTEIN SONGBOOK’: See FRI.3, 2-4 p.m.

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE & BRAD MEHLDAU: Two of the most respected artists in the genre’s history join forces for a high-octane performance of contemporary jazz. Flynn Main

genre bending strings with

Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $48.75-69.75. Info, 863-5966.

DIANA FANNING: An acclaimed concert pianist gives a stunning solo concert marking 50 years of teaching at the college. Robison Concert Hall, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:309:30 p.m. $5-15. Info, 443-6433.

JEFFERSON STARSHIP: Formed in 1974 from the remnants of Jefferson Airplane, this band finds roots in both the ’60s psychedelia and ’80s arena-rock scenes. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7-9 p.m. $49-69. Info, 775-0903.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD CONCERT SERIES: TOURNESOL: The sixpiece band delights with vintage French and Italian classics, jazz manouche, and swing standards.

Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m.

Free. Info, 985-2753.

THE MAMMALS: A veteran folk quintet plays high-energy, fiddle-driven dance tunes and thoughtful original songs. Knoll Farm, Fayston, 6:30-10 p.m. $30.

Info, 496-5685.

NEW ENGLAND SACRED HARP CONVENTION: Vocalists from across the country converge for two days of events centered on shape note singing. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 881-9331.

OFF STAGE SERIES: WILL PATTON QUARTET: Hot swing, jazz and bluegrass tunes fill the room when this local outfit takes the stage for a deft blend of genres. Rockers Pizzeria, Vergennes, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 877-6737.

SOGGY PO’ BOYS: New England’s own ambassadors of New Orleans sound bring their high-energy mix of traditional jazz, Caribbean tunes and brass-band grooves to local listeners. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-25. Info, 387-0102.

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: Light fare and succulent desserts fill up tanks while local bands serenade the crowd with dynamic toe-tappers. See meetinghouseonthegreen.org for lineup. Meeting House on the Green, East Fairfield, 5 p.m. $10; free for kids under 12. Info, 827-6626.

SUSPICION’: See FRI.3, 2-4 & 7:30-9:30 p.m.

outdoors

words

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.1.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.2.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: World-class musicians from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and beyond take to Eastern Townships stages for nine days of concerts and workshops. See celticharmonies.ca for full schedule. Various Québec locations.

Various prices. Info, 450-2923456, ext. 227.

seminars

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION: Curious creatives and multimedia enthusiasts get a tour of the facilities and check out available gear. The Media Factory, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

theater

‘THE 39 STEPS’: See FRI.3.

‘CLUE’: See FRI.3.

‘CLUE’: See FRI.3.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.1, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See THU.2.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: See THU.2, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘LIZZIE BORDEN: A CHILLING TALE OF FAMILY, SECRETS AND

programs that benefit people with Down syndrome. Battery Park, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $10.

Info, info@vermontbiz.com.

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: See THU.2.

‘ORANGE JULIUS’: See WED.1.

crafts

TENS FESTIVAL: See THU.2.

‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: See THU.2, 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See WED.1, 7-9 p.m. and 3 p.m.

CELEBRATION OF SALVADORAN WRITING IN TRANSLATION: New England Review hosts a virtual reading in honor of a special folio guest-edited by Alexandra Lytton Regalado titled “The Sharpened Will of Us All.” 1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 443-5075.

JESS ALEXANDRIA: The Vermont author signs her new book, Frost and Sunshine, packed with magic, traditional faerie lore, martial arts and spicy romance. Phoenix Books, Essex, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

USED BOOK SALE: Bookworms peruse a wide array of like-new titles to replenish their “to read” stack. Proceeds benefit Ilsley Public Library. Middlebury United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Free; cost of books; cash or check only. Info, 388-4095.

WRITE NOW!: Lit lovers of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.5 bazaars

FALL CRAFT MARKET: See SAT.4.

community

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY BUDDY WALK: Community members raise awareness and funds for

OCT 3 - Puuluup (Estonian Zombie-Folk) OCT 18 - Swan Lake - Grand Kyiv Ballet OCT 28 - The Fretless / Väsen NOV 8 - Leroy Preston (of Asleep at the Wheel) DEC 6 - Celtic Christmas w/ Cassie & Maggie DEC 12 - Nutcracker - Grand Kyiv Ballet DEC 14 - Windborne - Music of Midwinter

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.1, 1-3 p.m.

etc.

GROWING IN PROCESS OPEN STUDIO: See SAT.4.

fairs & festivals

MARKET DAY: Local farmers, artisans, crafters, cooks and bakers display their offerings for a special day of shopping, eating and community building. Brookfield Old Town Hall, noon-3 p.m. Free.

Info, abelisle2@comcast.net.

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

THE FRETLESS & Tues ER OPERA VERMONT PRESENTS Oct B M E Väsen V NO 28 15 WILLIAM GRANT STILL’S 14 & AT FRI S

71 N Main St • Randolph

FULL CALENDAR AT CHANDLER-ARTS.ORG

A BAYOU LEGEND WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

Conductor Cailin Marcel Manson 70

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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Featuing Soprano Janinah Burnett as Aurore 9/30/25 6:17 1:08 PM

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

TAP TO TABLE: AN AUTUMN MARKET: Locavores enjoy handmade arts and crafts, food and drink, and live music against a seasonal backdrop of changing leaves. Stewart Maple Marketplace, Cuttingsville, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, taptotablevt@gmail.com.

VERMONT SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL: See SAT.4, 10 a.m.4 p.m.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.2.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.2.

PALESTINE ISRAEL FILM SERIES: ‘THE PALESTINE EXCEPTION’: Jewish Voice for Peace presents a special screening of a 2024 documentary following U.S. students as they organize protests against the Israel-Hamas war. A discussion follows. Savoy Theater, Montpelier, 1 p.m. $8.50-12. Info, 229-0598.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.2.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.2.

food & drink

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: Area growers and bakers offer local and global fare against a backdrop of live music. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, info@downtownwinooski.org.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.2, 1-4:30 p.m.

health & fitness

CROP WALK FOR HUNGER RELIEF: With a two-mile trek through town, walkers and donors raise money for global relief efforts and local organizations working to address food insecurity. Middlebury Town Green, 1 p.m. Funds raised; preregister.

Info, office@midducc.org.

JIMMY FUND WALK: Good Samaritans get moving to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Burlington High School, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Funds raised; preregister.

Info, 866-531-9255.

JK5K: Folks run, jog, swim or walk their dog to benefit injured and ownerless animals in Lamoille County. Peoples Academy, Morrisville, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $35; preregister. Info, 888-7911.

KARUNA COMMUNITY MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m.

Free; donations accepted.

Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

NEW LEAF SANGHA MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators alike sit together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.

music

‘EUREKA DAY’: See THU.2, 2:30 p.m.

‘THE GARBOLOGISTS’: See THU.2, 2 p.m.

‘LIZZIE BORDEN: A CHILLING TALE OF FAMILY, SECRETS AND SUSPICION’: See FRI.3, 2-4 p.m.

‘ORANGE JULIUS’: See WED.1, 2 p.m.

‘THE BERNSTEIN SONGBOOK’: See FRI.3, 2-4 p.m.

‘THE TWELFTH NIGHT SHOW’: See THU.2.

GRG TRIO: An electric jazz threepiece features veteran Vermont musicians Jeff Guerin, John Ryan and Keith Gibson. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 4-6 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, plainfieldartsvt@gmail.com.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See WED.1, 3 p.m.

NEW ENGLAND SACRED HARP CONVENTION: See SAT.4.

SAM ROBBINS: An “old soul” singer-songwriter adds an upbeat edge to the storyteller-troubadour persona.

Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 3 p.m. $30. Info, 457-3500.

outdoors

BREWSTER RAMBLE: Activities such as an ecology hike, a 5K trail run and a Fun Run/Walk afford the perfect opportunity for folks to get outside, learn about the land and connect with neighbors. Brewster Uplands Conservation Trust, Jeffersonville, 8:30 a.m.-noon.

Free; preregister. Info, 262-3765.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See SAT.4.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Techsavvy library staff provide oneon-one guidance and support in 30-minute sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m.

Free. Info, 863-3403.

theater

‘THE 39 STEPS’: See FRI.3, 2 p.m.

‘CLUE’: See FRI.3, 2-4 p.m.

‘CLUE’: See FRI.3, 3 p.m.

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.1, 5 p.m.

CUTTING-EDGE STAGED READING SERIES: ‘BLOOD OF THE LAMB’: Middlebury Acting Company mounts a reading of Arlene Hutton’s electrifying thriller about a pregnant woman who finds herself detained in an airport with an unexpected adversary. A talk-back with the cast follows. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 4-6 p.m. $15. Info, 382-9222.

SIERRA HULL & JOHN CRAIGIE SIERRA R HULL RA L

‘NEXT TO NORMAL’: See THU.2, 2 p.m.

BELLWETHER: See SAT.4.

Alexander Twilight Theatre, Vermont State University-Lyndon.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD CONCERT SERIES: BRETT HUGHES TRIO: The local honky-tonk legend and his friends deliver infectious energy and affecting lyricism.

Shelburne Orchards, noon-2 p.m.

Free. Info, 985-2753.

FALL F FA LL LEAVES LEAV A ES AREN’T THE ONLY AV L LY THING TO T SEE THIS SEASON

TENS FESTIVAL: See THU.2, 2-4 p.m.

words

BANNED BOOKS WEEK READ-IN: In protest of censorship, bookworms unite at the store for an hour of silent literary enjoyment.

Drinks provided. The Norwich Bookstore, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

JEFFREY AMESTOY: The former chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court presents his new book, Winters’ Time, chronicling a captivating chapter in the state’s legal history that intertwines national celebrity with small-town justice. Windsor Vermont Historical Association, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 828-1414.

AND FRIDAY, JOHN JOH HN CRAIGIE CRA R RA IGIE OCT. 3,

sat. september 27th 7pm

friday,7PM october 3rd, 7pm

TEDDY THOMPSON

SATURDAY, OCT. 11, 7PM sat. october 11th 7pm

sat. septemberr 18th 7pm

sprucepeakarts.org sp p r u cepeaa kaa r ts.oo r g | bboxoffice@sprucepeakarts.org oxx off fii ce@spp r ucc e p e akarr t s .org | 80 802.270.4634 0 2 .22 70.44 633 4

MON.6 crafts

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

Info, 223-3338.

dance

ECSTATIC DANCES: A free-form boogie session allows participants to let loose in a safe space under the full moon and around the crackling fire. Dreamland, Worcester, 7-9 p.m. $10. Info, 505-8011.

fairs & festivals

FALL FESTIVAL: ‘RESILIENT PATTERNS’: See FRI.3, 6 p.m.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.2.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.2.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.2.

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: Players grab their daubers for a competitive night of card stamping for cash prizes. Burlington Elks Lodge, 6 p.m. Various prices.

Info, 862-1342.

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talks

language

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m.

Free. Info, 223-3338.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party.

Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 622-0692.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

SUNSET & FULL MOON MANSFIELD HIKE: Adventurers join up with the Green Mountain Club for a challenging ascent to the summit for stellar views. BYO headlamp. Underhill State Park, 5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, tnuovo@aol.com.

québec

RENEE SEACOR: In “Bringing Catamounts Home: Reimagining the Northeast’s Wild Future,” the Mighty Earth rewilding director explores the past, present and possible future of these extirpated big cats.

Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, renee@mightyearth.org.

words

ELI CLARE: A Vermont author and activist launches his new release, Unfurl, which deftly blends poetry and creative nonfiction. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, 872-7111.

MEGAN MAYHEW-BERGMAN: An author, speaker and teacher shares tips on writing environmental stories. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626.

SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

TUE.7 activism

A BIG BEAUTIFUL TOUR ABOUT THE BIG UGLY BILL: Panelists outline local consequences of recent federal decisions, chart a path forward for protecting Vermonters and tell listeners how they can help. Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Middlebury, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-2328.

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle.

10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

CRAFTERS DROP-IN: Community members converse and connect through knitting, crocheting, mending, embroidery and other

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See SAT.4.

FAMILY burlington FUN SUN.5

SAT.4

« P.65

mad river valley/ waterbury

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

SATURDAY STORY TIME: Stories and songs help children develop social and literacy skills. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

chittenden county

JESSICA BATTILANA: An awardwinning writer and recipe developer introduces King Arthur Baking’s new children’s cookbook, Sweet & Salty, featuring more than 80 recipes, from giant chocolate chip cookies to pizza party buns. The Norwich Bookstore, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

brattleboro/okemo valley

FALL FESTIVAL: Merrymakers enjoy wagon rides with Farmer Fred, fresh cider pressing and succulent barbecue cooked up by the local fire department.

President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $12. Info, 672-1195.

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‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

MASKS ON! SUNDAYS: Elderly, disabled and immunocompromised folks get the museum to themselves at a masks-mandatory morning. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 864-1848.

HARVEST CELEBRATION: Fall fans delight in scenic wagon rides, pumpkin bowling, lawn games and a traditional barn dance, complete with a caller.

See calendar spotlight. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $14-23; free for members and kids under 3. Info, 457-2355.

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

creative pursuits. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

LIVE IN THE ORCHARD CONCERT SERIES: MUSIC & MOVEMENT WITH MISS EMMA: The local legend leads little ones and their caregivers in joyful song and dance to explore the changing seasons and celebrate everyday moments. Shelburne Orchards, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 985-2753.

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. Info, 891-2014.

mad river valley/ waterbury

MELISSA PERLEY: An award-winning Vermont author, cellist and sheep farmer reads her latest book, The Violin Family Plays New Music, followed by a music performance and a themed craft for little listeners. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

Info, 496-7280.

dance

SWING DANCE PRACTICE SESSION: All ages and experience levels shake a leg in this friendly, casual environment designed for learning. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

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

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.2.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.2.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.2.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.2.

food & drink

EMPTY BOWLS DINNER: A scrumptious meal of locally made soups served in handcrafted vessels raises funds for Spectrum Youth & Family Services. Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5-7:30 p.m.

Various prices; preregister. Info, events@spectrumvt.org.

upper valley

HARVEST CELEBRATION: See SAT.4.

MON.6

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

STORY ARTISTS: Wee ones ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers read a selection of books by a featured author, then make art inspired by the theme. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary listens to kiddos of all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

GRACE LIN & DEBBI MICHIKO FLORENCE: An evening of inspired readings from The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon and Last Chance Academy awaits littles. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

Info, 496-7280.

TODDLER TIME: Kids ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Neighbors show off their skills at an evening of friendly competition playing European tabletop staples such as Catan, Splendor and Concordia. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Info, ken_boring@yahoo.com.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.2.

GAMES GALORE: Library patrons of all ages gather for bouts of board and card games. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

health & fitness

BEGINNER TAI CHI: Newbies learn how gentle movement can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range of motion.

Virtual option available. Unitarian Universalist Church, Springfield, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, jo@jobregnard.com.

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 862-5630.

QI GONG: Students of this age-old Chinese technique learn how

The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free.

Info, 649-1114.

TUE.7

burlington

to combine mindful movement and breath to strengthen their bodies and quiet their minds.

Waterbury Public Library, noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP: Fluent or still learning, language lovers meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

music

AMY GRANT: A singer-songwriter known for putting contemporary Christian music on the map strums her way into listeners’ hearts. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $76.2586.75. Info, 863-5966.

FLOW SINGING: See THU.2, 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

PIERRE BENSUSAN: The French acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist and composer brings his dynamic playing style to Vermont listeners. All Souls Interfaith Gathering,

WED.8

burlington

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

‘ANIMATIONLAND’: See WED.1.

LIBRARY LITTLES: See WED.1.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.1.

barre/montpelier

MINECRAFT MEETUP: Fans of the sandbox game from ages 7 to 12 gather with fellow enthusiasts to play on the library’s private server. Snacks provided.

Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 5-6:15 p.m. Free.

Info, 863-3403.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with the local musician. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.3, 2-6 p.m.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading, singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.3.

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.1.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.1.

HISTORY FOR HOMESCHOOLERS: Homeschooled children ages 7 to 12 link up for educational activities that focus on a new theme each month. Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, 1-3 p.m.

Free; preregister. Info, 479-8500.

HOMESCHOOL BOOK GROUP: Kids ages 10 to 15 who learn at home bond over books. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

upper valley

SENSORY STORY HOUR: A DRAFT HORSE ADVENTURE: Now that’s what you call horsepower! Young learners get an up-close experience with the farm’s friendly residents, followed by a thrilling wagon ride through idyllic pastures.

Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $10-12. Info, 457-2355.

brattleboro/okemo valley

LEGO CONTEST & EXHIBIT: Families marvel at a showcase of original creations by imaginative young builders at this annual awards ceremony.

Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124. K

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT

& Shelburne, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $3035. Info, 985-3819.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See SAT.4.

seminars

SPOT THE SCAM: KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS & TRIVIA: AARP Vermont sheds light on common scammer tactics, practical prevention strategies and what to do if you’re targeted. Saint Albans Museum, St. Albans, 1-3:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 866-227-7451.

TENANT SKILLS WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity brings renters up to speed on the fundamentals of tenant rights and responsibilities. Noon-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 660-3456.

talks

‘LIVING SYSTEMS: CONVERSATIONS ON ECOLOGY & THE NATURAL WORLD’: The Cutler Memorial Library presents a riveting three-part series exploring human beings’ connection to nature. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 6 p.m. Free.

Info, 454-8504.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in one-on-one sessions.

Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

words

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of eight weeks, bookworms analyze Vladimir Nabokov’s 1969 novel Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ nereadersandwriters.com.

DANNY DOVER: A retired piano technician and poet shares selections from his new collection, Flamingo Nation, which takes readers on a journey to destinations as far-flung as Kathmandu.

The Norwich Bookstore, 7-8 p.m.

Free. Info, 649-1114.

WRITING CIRCLE: Words pour out when participants explore creative expression in a low-pressure environment. Virtual option available.

Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

WED.8 activism

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: See WED.1.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free.

Info, 878-4918.

crafts

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts can bring a project to this monthly meeting.

Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

Info, gmc.vt.ega@gmail.com.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.1.

etc.

‘TAKE FLIGHT’: An evening of exhilarating entertainment, globally inspired flavors, craft beverages and a silent auction makes for a memorable Vermont Youth Orchestra fundraiser.

Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 5:30-8 p.m. $80. Info, 655-5030.

TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 233-4157.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.1.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

québec

CELTIC HARMONIES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: See SAT.4.

seminars

FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: See THU.2, 6-8:30 p.m.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.1.

food & drink

health & fitness

FOMO?

language

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online:

QUEER WRITERS’ GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly to discuss their work, write from prompts, and give each other advice and feedback. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

music

FALL SHIRE CHOIR: See WED.1.

ME2 CHORUS REHEARSAL: See WED.1.

60 Lake St., 1st Floor, Burlington

BETWEEN THE LINES — OCTOBER 3, 7 P.M.

!

K EE

SW

I TH

From director Joan Micklin Silver (a Village Voice writer before her Hollywood career), Between the Lines (1977) spotlights the offices of a fictional Boston alt-weekly before it’s sold to a major publishing company. Supposedly based on the Boston Phoenix — where screenwriter Fred Barron worked — the film features an all-star cast, including a very young Jeff Goldblum.

INTRODUCED BY DAN BOLLES, CULTURE COEDITOR

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.1.

‘MILK’: Bellows Falls Pride hosts a special screening of the 2008 film about America’s first openly gay man voted into public office, introduced by Winooski interim Mayor Thomas Renner. Bellows Falls Opera House, 6:30 p.m. $6.

Info, 463-3964, ext. 1120.

In celebration of Seven Days’ 30th birthday, come watch these flicks on the big screen with us!

words

SETH STEINZOR: A Vermont author celebrates the release of his new book, The View From the Other Side of My Head: My Education in Shamanic Trance, in conversation with mental health clinician Wendy Halley. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 872-7111. ➆

lgbtq

Tickets: $6-12 Info: vtiff.org

‘COME FROM AWAY’: See WED.1, 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘DEPECHE MODE 101’: A live-album documentary film captures the final leg of the band’s 1988 U.S. tour with D.A. Pennebaker’s signature fly-on-the-wall style. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7-9 p.m. $8. Info, 387-0102.

ELL CLASSES: See WED.1.

A Journalism Film Series

theater

film

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.1.

MOVIES

WOMEN’S HIKING 101: The Green Mountain Club hosts an informative workshop on the basics — including experiences women have faced in the outdoors and how to handle them — followed by a virtual hike of the center’s Short Trail. 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS: The preeminent humorist and social satirist shares witty words from his latest essays, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $7191. Info, 603-448-0400.

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

Media in the

PRESENT

BLACK BOX DIARIES — OCTOBER 10, 7 P.M.

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

Shiori Ito directs Black Box Diaries, a 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary about her own sexual assault — and the fallout from her very public accusation, which rocked Japanese society and changed the country’s antiquated sexual assault laws. As both victim and journalist investigating her own case, Ito captures her tumultuous and ultimately triumphant journey, going behind the headlines to reveal what it has been like to walk in her shoes.

INTRODUCED BY DEREK BROUWER, NEWS REPORTER

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9/26/25 1:47 PM

classes THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $21.25/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE).

NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

arts & crafts

Want to memorialize a loved one?

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9/25/25 6:48 PM INSPIRING ART CLASSES AT

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

life lines

Post your obituary or in memoriam online and in print at sevendaysvt.com/lifelines. Or contact us at lifelines@sevendaysvt.com or 865-1020 ext. 142.

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10/19/22 9:56 AM

WINGSPAN STUDIO. MAKE IT A COLORFUL FALL! Beginners Drawing starts Oct. 13! Plein Air Workshop, Oct. 11 and 12.

Boost your creativity with artist Maggie Standley in her magical Burlington South End studio and outdoors. Maggie has held residencies at Vermont Studio Center, Shelburne Museum and Glen Echo Park, with murals in Vermont, Houston, San Juan and Mexico. Learn pro techniques and creative exercises and unleash your artistic voice.

Sign up today! Dates: Plein Air Workshop, Oct. 11 & 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Beginners Drawing, 7 weeks starting Oct. 13, 5:307:30 p.m. Location: Wingspan Studio & School, 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: 802-233-7676, maggiestandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

dance

Enchanted Makers’ Market, Psychic Readings, Food Trucks, Alcohol for 21+, DJ & Dancing

Friday, October 17 | 6-9 pm Oakledge Park Upper Shelter

food & drink

FREE Admission FREE Parking

( w / optional donation (w/ donation))

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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BEGINNING SWING DANCE CLASS SERIES: You’ll get moving to big band and swing music, learn how to communicate through lead-and-follow connection, and get lots of practice with six-count footwork. This class is great for beginning-level swing students with any amount of experience (or no experience), and no partner is necessary. For more information and to register, visit vermontswings.com/events/category/classes. Dates: Four Tue., Oct 7-28, 7-8 p.m. DJ dance follows, 8-9:30 p.m. Cost: $15/class; $50 for the four-week series; $40 for students. Location: North Star Community Hall, 20 Crowley St., Burlington. Info: 802-8648382, contact@vermontswings. com, vermontswings.com.

9/29/25 6:40 PM

ERITREAN/ETHIOPIAN COOKING: MEAT & VEGGIE SAUCES: Learn simple techniques to prepare global food that is rich in flavor. Eritrean/Ethiopian cooking relies on a diverse range of herbs and roots to develop characteristics quintessential to the cuisine. In this hands-on class, we’ll start with a fresh salad to tide us over as we make three dishes (curried chicken, spiced lentils and collard greens) that will be served with injera, the spongy sourdough flatbread unique to

both countries. Date: Fri., Oct. 17, 6-8:30 p.m. Cost: $70. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, 13 Jolina Ct. Info: 802-434-3445, sevendaystickets.com.

martial arts AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Introductory classes begin Oct. 7. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. The dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and find resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/ bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs.

Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington.

Info: bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

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.

sports & fitness THE ONE-NIGHT STAND: A SINGLE EVENING OF BIKE-CARE BASICS: The One-Night Stand at Old Spokes Home will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you confidence

in either getting what you need at the bike shop or figuring out how to deal with it on your own.

Date: Thu., Oct. 2, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $55.46, incl. fees. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-8634475, events@oldspokeshome. com, sevendaystickets.com.

RAR ONE-NIGHT STAND: A SINGLE-EVENING WORKSHOP ON BIKE-CARE BASICS FOR W/T/NB FOLKS: The 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. A collaboration between Old Spokes Home and RAR Champlain Valley, this class is reserved for folks who hold women/trans/nonbinary identities. Date: Wed., Oct. 8, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $55.46, incl. fees. Location: Old Spokes Home, 331 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: 802-863-4475, events@oldspokeshome.com, sevendaystickets.com.

wellness FORTIFY: A FALL RESET TO BUILD IMMUNITY AND RESILIENCE: This interdisciplinary fall program focuses on building immunity and resilience through daily practices, food choices, supplementation, movement and breathwork.

Dates: Wed. evenings, Oct. 15Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. Cost: $247.

Location: Online. Info: Create Change Lab, 802-242-2681, sevendaystickets.com.

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

= TICKETED CLASS

Humane 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

Society

Tom Foolery AGE/SEX: 5-year-old neutered male ARRIVAL DATE: August 25, 2025 SUMMARY: Tom Foolery is a former stray with a big

purrsonality. Bold, bright and full of confidence, he’s the kind of cat who makes his presence known, whether he’s exploring every corner of the room, chatting with you about his day or demanding a little playtime. Tom is independent by nature, but don’t let that fool you — he has a sweet side that he shows when he feels like it! He’d love to find a home where he can enjoy his independence, plenty of engaging toys and puzzles, and safe access to the outdoors. If you have a cat-savvy home where this special boy can thrive, visit Tom Foolery at HSCC!

of Chittenden County

DID YOU KNOW? Cats need enrichment, too! Providing stimulating activities such as interactive playtime, high places to climb to, window perches and food puzzles can help mitigate a variety of common behavior concerns like hyperactivity and ankle biting.

Sponsored by:

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Tom has no known history living

with cats or dogs. He may be happiest in a home without young children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

Jobs »

NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

NEW STUFF ONLINE EVERY DAY! PLACE YOUR ADS 24-7 AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS. SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com & Stromberg guitars + Gibson mandolins & banjos. These brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN)

Buy y & Sell e

PETS & SUPPLIES OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE Purebred, limited registration, ready to go Oct 1. $1,500. Comes w/ Vermont health certificate. Call or text 802-486-0866.

WANT TO BUY WANTED: OLD MOTORCYCLES I pay cash & pick up. Any condition, as is. 19201980 Harley, Kawasaki Z1, KZ900, H2, Honda CB750, BMW, Indian, Norton & more. Call for a fair offer: 800-220-9683.

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico

Community C ommunity mmuni y

ANNOUNCEMENTS OPERA LOVERS COMMUNITY Chat about favorite singers, recordings, opera houses, etc. If you sing, that’s a plus! Call 802-497-0912.

Musicians M cians & Ar Artists ts

MUSIC LESSONS GUITAR INSTRUCTION All styles/levels.

Emphasis on building

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

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

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strong technique, thorough musicianship, developing personal style. Paul Asbell (Big Joe Burrell, Kilimanjaro, UVM & Middlebury College faculty, Seven Daysies winner). Info, 802-233-7731, pasbell@ paulasbell.com.

Rentals R e als & R al Est Real Estate Esta

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT THAYER BEACH IN COLCHESTER — BEACH ACCESS BLISS! 263 Holy Cross Rd. Unfurnished 4-BR, 2-BA, 1,930 sq.ft. Beach access across the street!

The updated kitchen is only 2 years old & features stainless-steel appliances, quartz countertops & a tile backsplash. HDWD throughout the 1st floor, w/ wide windows providing natural light. A garage gives extra storage, w/ plenty of space in the finished basement.

This home is situated on the Colchester bike path, w/ the Rossetti Natural Area across the street!

The deck off the back provides a place to enjoy the trees surrounding the house. Minutes from Burlington & an easy commute downtown or to UVM. This beautiful house won’t last! $3,980.

Info, 802-735-8003, crossholy54@gmail.com.

BURLINGTON HILL SECTION, SINGLE ROOM FOR RENT Furnished 1-BR at 27 Latham Ct. Single furnished room w/ a shared BA. No cooking, NS & no pets. Sheets & towels provided. On the bus line. $200/ week or $867/mo. Call 802-862-2389.

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

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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

4-week combo: $42

BURLINGTON HEATED 2-BR NOW $1,500, HEATED 3-BR NOW $1,700 31 S. Willard St. Unfurnished 2-BR, 1-BA, 903 sq.ft. Good-size 2nd floor 2-BR, avail. now. We pay building heat & cold water; tenants pay utils. $1,500/mo. Also, very roomy 3-BR avail. now, We pay heat & cold water; tenants pay utils. $1,700/ mo. W/D in basement for 3-BR apt. Good locations.

Info: 802-318-8916, jcintl0369@gmail.com.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS 4,600-SQ.FT. COMMERCIAL SPACE IN MONKTON Freshly painted 4,600-sq. ft. workshop w/ a bright, open floor plan, separate office & 2 additional workrooms. The space incl. a kitchenette (tenant provides fridge), ample lighting, storage racks, & extensive electrical infrastructure w/ 110v, 220v & 3-phase power. Heated w/ oil (4 zones) & move-in ready, this flexible space is perfect for small businesses, artists or craftspeople.

Conveniently located in Monkton, just minutes from Burlington, Hinesburg, Vergennes & Middlebury. Inquire for more details & a virtual tour. $3,000. Info, 802-636-0127, northstar propertiesvt@gmail.com, northstarproperties vt.tenantcloud.com/ listings.

HOMES FOR SALE BEAUTIFUL TINY HOUSE ON WHEELS IN S. ROYALTON 1-BR, 1-BA, 200 sq.ft.

We are selling our thoughtfully designed tiny house, a perfect home for those looking to downsize without sacrificing comfort & beauty. Finished in 2023, this tiny house has provided warmth & comfort throughout all seasons in central Vermont. Basics: 26’ x 8.5’ trailer, highway safe. Full 120VAC electrical panel, mini-split heat & AC unit, radiant-heat floors.

Galley-style kitchen w/ butcher-block countertops, electric stovetop, oven & stainless-steel sink. Propane instant water heater for shower, kitchen sink, laundry & BA sink. Full BA w/ tiled shower & composting toilet. Primary loft w/ queen-size mattress; secondary loft w/ net hammock. $89,000.

Info, 916-221-1712, jack. vorster@gmail.com.

HOUSEMATES SHARE SOME COMPANY, SHARE A HOME Active retiree in Bristol who enjoys walking, gardening & cooking for friends is seeking a housemate to share a bit of company & some meals, in addition to light household assistance. $400/mo.

A gentle dog would be considered! Familiarity w/ memory loss is a plus but not a must. Info, 802-863-5625 or info@ homesharevermont.org, or visit homeshare vermont.org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req.

EHO. BURLINGTON CAN BE AFFORDABLE! 1-BR, 1-BA. Host in her 80s w/ a knack for interior design & a love for good food & good books is seeking a housemate to drive her to the grocery store, lend a hand in the garden & share some cooking/meals (on a flexible schedule). $300/ mo. Interview, refs. & background checks req.

EHO. Info, 802-863-5625 or info@homeshare vermont.org, or visit homesharevermont.org for application.

Services rv es

ELECTRONICS AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote & see how much you can save: 1-844-588-6579. (AAN CAN)

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

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

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

Buying or Selling this Fall?

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Those w/ brain fog, fatigue & post-concussion symptoms feel changes within weeks! You CAN feel like yourself again.

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HOME & GARDEN

(1699) Contractor Tools & Equipment

AUCTION CLOSES: Tues., Oct. 7 @ 10AM PREVIEW: Wed., Oct. 1 from 11AM-1PM ITEMS LOCATED: Rutland, VT 05701

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This auction features over 480 lots of a wide variety of professional-grade tools, contractor equipment, and office essentials. Don’t miss your chance to bid on high-demand items built for serious work and lasting value.

TREE SERVICE Experienced & insured THCAuction.com  802-888-4662 arborist looking to engage w/ the greater & other pests. Locally reduction? New, energycommunity to provide owned & affordable. Call efficient windows may tree services such as 12v-hirchakbrothers100125 1 12:26 PM for a quote, service or an be the answer!9/26/25 Call for a pruning, tree removal inspection today: 1-833consultation & free quote & hedge trimming. Free 237-1199. (AAN CAN) today: 1-877-248-9944. estimates. No job too (AAN CAN) small. Call, text or email 24-7 LOCKSMITH Andrew: 508-789-8669, We are there when andrew.worringham00@ you need us for home gmail.com. & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & PROTECT YOUR HOME running quickly! Also, Home break-ins take key reproductions, less than 60 seconds. lock installs & repairs, Don’t wait! Protect your vehicle fobs. Call us for family, your home, your your home, commercial assets now for as little & auto locksmith needs: as 70 cents a day! Call 1-833-237-1233. (AAN 1-833-881-2713.

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Financing avail. Call Hearts’ programs help Call now: 1-833-4231-888-292-8225. (AAN veterans find work 2558. (AAN CAN) CAN) or start their own business. Call 24-7: PEST CONTROL NEED NEW WINDOWS? 1-855-402-7631. (AAN Protect your home from Drafty rooms? Chipped CAN) pests safely & affordably. or damaged frames?

Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders Need outside noise

Vehicles

CARS & TRUCKS

LEGALS »

Calcoku SEVENDAYSVT.COM/CLASSIFIEDS »

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

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Extra! Extra!

Post & browse ads at your convenience.

There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES? Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

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No. 913

SUDOKU

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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CALCOKU

Open 24/7/365.

Complete the following puzzle by using the 6 photos per ad online. numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

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Sudoku View and post up to

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Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

Difficulty: Hard

BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers 2 6one3to nine.

5 The 7 same 9 numbers 1 8 4 cannot be repeated in a row or column.

7 9 1 8 6 4 2 5 3 ANSWERS 5 ON 8 P.78 4 2 1 3 6 9 7 H = MODERATE HH = CHALLENGING HHH = HOO, BOY! 6 5 2 4 3 8 7 1 9 9 4 8 7 2 1 5 3 6 CAPITAL-GRAMS 1 3 7 6 9 5 8 4 2 ANSWERS ON P. 78 » 3 2 9 1 5 6 4 7 8 4 1 6 9 8 7 3 2 5 8 7 5 3 4 2 9 6 1

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

7/31/24 4:41 PM

77

Legal Notices

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

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

I represent Lawrence Catering, LLC. The company is currently in the process of winding up its business. I have been authorized by the company to administer that winding up. If you would like to submit a claim for amounts due to you from Lawrence Catering, LLC, you may do so by sending your claim in writing to: Pease Mountain Law PLLC P.O. Box 279 Hinesburg, VT 05461-0279

3 Stop signs locations. (a) The following locations are hereby designated as stop sign locations: (1)-(258) As written.

(259) Reserved. At the intersection of Clarke Street and Pearl Street, causing traffic on Clarke Street to stop.

(260)-(324) As written.

Your claim must commence within 5 years after publication of this notice. If your claim is not received within that 5-year period it will be barred pursuant to 11 V.S.A. §4108.

Your claim must include copies of all billing documents in support of your claim.

Dated: September 23, 2025 /s/ Michael T. Russell Michael T. Russell Pease Mountain Law PO Box 279 Hinesburg, VT 05461-0279 Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: October 1, 2025 CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— § 3; STOP SIGN LOCATIONS Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approval Date: 9/17/2025 Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner, Technical Services Published: 10/01/25 Effective: 10/21/25 It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows: That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, § 3 Stop sign locations, of the Code

Location: 930 Main St, Fairfax, VT 05454 Jessica True, unit #55: household goods Cary Snow, unit #9: household goods Contents sold as is, and need to be removed within 48 hours at no cost to Stuff-It Self-Storage LLC. 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. Stuff-It Self-Storage LLC reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

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

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— SECTION 7; NO-PARKING AREAS. SECTION 16; BUS STOPS.

/ER: BCO Appx.C, Section 3 9/17/25 ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN, CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SELF STORAGE, LLC

Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approval Date: 9/17/2025 Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner, Technical Services Published: 10/01/25 Effective: 10/21/25

In accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien, Champlain Valley Self Storage, LLC shall host a private auction of the following units on or after October 11, 2025: Location: 2211 Main st Colchester , VT Contents: household goods Savanna Culver: #923 Billy Jo Ducharme: #910 Jocelyn Holcomb: #606 Location: 78 Lincoln St. Essex Jct. , VT Contents: household goods Matthew Norris: #062 Zhenya Ford: #074 Jason Mckee: #044

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows: That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, Section 7 No-parking areas and Section 16 Bus stops, designated of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905.

Section 7 No-parking areas.

No person shall park any vehicle at any time in the following locations: (1)-(79) As written.

(80) On the east side of Pine Street beginning 25 feet south of entrance to Champlain Elementary school and continuing south for 50 feet.

(80) Reserved.

(81)-(550) As written.

(551) On the west both sides of Pine Street from Sears Lane to Flynn Avenue.

(552)-(591) As written.

Enforcement of Lien, Stuff-It Self-Storage LLC shall host a live auction of the following unit on 10/7/25 at 4:30PM:

Section 16 Bus stops. (a) The following spaces are hereby designated as bus stops:

Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register. CVSS,llc reserves the right to reject any bid lower than the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as defined by statute. 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.

PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM P.77 2 1

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

4

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(1)-(21) As written.

(22) On the east side of Pine Street starting twenty (20) feet south of the crosswalk in front of Champlain Elementary School and extending south one hundred sixty (160) feet, to be effective Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., holidays excepted. On the east side of Pine Street starting thirty (30) feet south of the southern driveway entrance to Champlain Elementary School and extending south one hundred and sixty-five (165) feet, to be effective Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., holidays excepted.

(23)-(25) As written. (b)-(c) As written. ** Material stricken out deleted. *** Material underlined added.

TD: BCO Appx.C, Sec 7, Sec 16 9/17/25 CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— 7 NO-PARKING AREAS. 25 TAXICAB STANDS. Sponsor(s): Public Works Commission Action: Approved Date: 9/17/2025 Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE Senior Transportation Engineer & Planner, Technical Services Published: 10/01/25 Effective: 10/21/25 It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows: That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, §7 No-parking areas and §25 Taxicab stands designated of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows: 7 No-parking areas.

No person shall park any vehicle at any time in the following locations: (1)-(441) As written.

(442) Two spaces on the north side of Pearl Street at the head of St. Paul Street. On the north side of Pearl Street beginning at George Street and extending east 60 feet.

(443)-(591) As written.

25 Taxicab stands.

The following locations are designated as taxicab stands: (1)-(7) As written.

(8) On the north side of Pearl Street ninety-five (95) feet east of George Street extending twenty (20) feet east from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Reserved.

(9)-(10) As written. ** Material stricken out deleted. *** Material underlined added.

BCO Appx.C, Section 7 & 25 9/17/2025 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-04861 In re ESTATE of RICHARD C. BOURDEAU NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: RICHARD C. BOURDEAU, late of Winooski, 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: September 24, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Launa L. Slater Executor/Administrator: Clint Walker c/o Launa L Slater, Wiener & Slater PLLC, 110 Main St. Suite 4F, Burlington, VT 05401

Phone Number: 802-863-1836 Email: launa@wsvtlaw.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/1/2025 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05402-0511 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION FRANKLIN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​ 24-PR-01272 In re ESTATE of Bruce Curtis NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Bruce Curtis, late of Fletcher, 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: 9/24/2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ David Curtis, Jr. Executor/Administrator: David Curtis, Jr. 145 South Main St., Suite 204 Haverhill, MA 01835 Phone Number: 617-415-3553 Email: david@curtisinjurylaw.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/1/2025 Name of Probate Court: Franklin Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 17 Church Street, St. Albans, VT 05478 STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-05321 In re ESTATE of Robert J. Resnik NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Robert J. Resnik, late of Burlington, Vermont.

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court.

The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: September 24, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Maureen Cannon Executor/Administrator: Maureen Cannon c/o William E. Drislane, Esq, BPF, PO Box 174, Essex Junction, VT 05452 Phone Number: 802-879-6304 Email: wdrislane@bpflegal.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/1/2025 Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227?pw 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. ZAP-25-6; 250 South Union Street (RM, Ward 6) 250 South Union, LLC / Cynthia Secondi Proposed appeal of administrative approval of ZP-25-222 for existing retaining wall and additional parking.

2. ZAP-25-7; 190-194 College Street (FD6, Ward 3) Pomerleau Family, LLC / Bridget Conry Proposed appeal of administrative denial of ZPS-2524 for retention of installed signage.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/drb/ agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities.

Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 21-PR-05802 In re ESTATE of: Carl Lavnikevich NOTICE TO CREDITORS To the creditors of: Carl Lavnikevich, late of Burlington, Vermont I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court.

The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 09/26/25 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Jodi Quigley Executor/Administrator: Jodi Quigley 167 Macrae Road, Colchester, VT 05446 Phone number: 802-578-3378 Email: vtelderguardian@gmail.com Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/1/2025 Name of Probate Court: Chittenden County Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street / P.O. Box 511, Burlington, VT 05401 TOWN OF ESSEX FY2026 PEARL STREET METERING MANHOLE PROJECT The Town of Essex invites you to prepare a Bid for the Town of FY2026 Pearl Street Metering Manhole Project. Work associated with this Project is to be completed by November 23rd, 2025. Work includes the installation of a force main metering structure and appurtenances within the City of Essex Junction for the Town of Essex. Bid packages are available at the Town Public Works Office, 5 Jericho Road, Essex Center or by e-mail to dgregoire@essex.org. Sealed bids will be received at the Town of Essex Public Works Office or mailed to the Town of Essex, Department of Public Works, 81 Main Street Essex Jct., VT 05452 until 10:00 AM on Friday, October 17th, 2025.

Questions can be directed to the Town Public Works at (802) 878 – 1344.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.:​25-PR-05146 In re ESTATE of Karen Lapan NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Karen Lapan, late of Winooski, Vermont

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ kez2EU1llS

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.

PUBLIC HEARING WINOOSKI MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025 AT 6:00 PM

Dated: September 28, 2025 Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Connor Lapan Executor/Administrator: Connor Lapan 165 West Allen St., Winooski, VT 05404 Phone number: 802-363-0272 Email: clapan@protonmail.ch Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 10/1/2025 Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont - Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OCTOBER 16, 2025, 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 Public wifi is available at the Essex municipal offices, libraries, and hotspots listed here: https:// publicservice.vermont.gov/content/ public-wifi-hotspots-vermont 1. Consent Agenda Item – Final Site Plan Amendment – Kana Properties LLC is proposing 8 more units on the third floor of the building addition that was previously approved (PC 2023-15) located at 1 Kana Lane (Parcel ID 2-010-074-000) located in the High Density Residential (R3) and Business-Design Control Overlay (B-DC) Districts.

2. CONTINUED FROM 04/03/2025 – Conceptual Review - Dousevicz Inc. is requesting a conceptual discussion of a project at 21 Upper Main Street (Parcel ID 2-090-001-000) located in the Mixed Use-Planned Unit Development (MU-PUD) and the Business-Design Control (BDC) Overlay Districts to construct two 4-plex residential buildings (8 units) or 1 8-unit building.

Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at https://www.essexvt.org/182/CurrentDevelopment-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.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025, 1:30 – 3:00 PM CENTER FOR CRIME VICTIM SERVICES ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING Physical Location: the conference room at 60 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT To attend virtually by Zoom, see link below Agenda A) A Brief History of CCVS by departing Board Chairman, Robert Paolini, Esq. B) Comments by Executive Director, Jennifer Poehlmann C) Words of Wisdom from Survivors D) Victims Compensation Program Report E) Restitution Unit Report F) Financial Annual Report G) Grants Overview H) Training and Outreach Overview I) Changes Impacting Vermonters J) Question and Answer Period Attend by Zoom using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88549114936 Meeting ID: 885 4911 4936 One tap mobile +13092053325,,88549114936# US To join by phone: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

Winooski City Hall 27 W. Allen Street, Winooski, VT 05404 • Attend in person: Winooski City Hall (27 W Allen St) • Attend online: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/84364849328 • Attend by phone: 1 646 558 8656 • Webinar ID: 843 6484 9328 The Winooski City Council will hold a Public Hearing on October 6th at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers to consider revisions to the City’s Chapter 29 Tree Ordinance.

The current ordinance, adopted in 2019, conflicts with state statute changes made in 2020 regarding Tree Warden authority and Shade Tree Preservation Plans.

The proposed revisions resolve these conflicts and establish a Shade Tree Preservation Plan for Winooski.

All interested persons are invited to attend and provide comment. For more information, contact Jon Rauscher, DPW Director (email: jrauscher@ winooskivt.gov phone: 802.655.6410 TOWN OF UNDERHILL NOTICE OF EXAMINATION OF PREMISES AND PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING WINTER MAINTENANCE OF THE NORTHERLY PORTION OF TOWN HIGHWAY #2, A CLASS 3 TOWN HIGHWAY KNOWN AS MOUNTAIN ROAD Pursuant to the requirements of Title 19, Chapter 7 of the Vermont Statues Annotated, the Town of Underhill will conduct an examination of the premises on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM. A public hearing will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM to consider whether safety considerations for the traveling public and Town employees warrant ceasing winter maintenance on the northerly +/-1.1mile portion of Town Highway #2, Mountain Road, a Class 3 highway, which is the portion northerly of the winter parking area. Additionally, the Selectboard will consider the erection of a gate across Town Highway #2 to be located near the northerly end of the winter parking area. All interested parties are hereby notified of the following: 1. An inspection of the premises at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 18, on Town Highway #2, Mountain Road, to be held at the winter parking area located approximately 1.7 miles northeast of the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road. The portion of the Class 3 Town Highway to be considered may be described as follows: Starting at or near the northern end of the winter parking area, located approximately 1.7 miles up Mountain Road from Pleasant Valley Road which will be the terminus for winter maintenance and the location of a proposed gate to be erected. The highway will not be maintained during the winter months from that point northerly to the terminus of Town Highway #2. The length is approximately 1.1 miles. For the safety of the public, the gate will only be used to prohibit vehicles from accessing the highway during the winter months when the highway will not be maintained.

2. A public hearing on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM will be held at the Underhill Town Office located at 12 Pleasant Valley Road Underhill as well as virtually using the GoToMeeting virtual platform. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony from all persons abutting, owning or interested in the matter of winter maintenance of the northerly +/-1.1-mile portion of Town Highway #2 and the erection of a gate, as described above.

Persons wishing to comment, provide testimony or give evidence regarding winter maintenance or the erection of a gate may do so during the hearing, or by filing comments, in writing, prior to the hearing.

If, after examining the premises and hearing from any and all interested persons, the Selectboard judges that based upon safety considerations for the traveling public and Town employees of the Town of Underhill warrants not maintaining this northerly +/-1.1-mile section of Town Highway #2 (Mountain Road) and the erection of a gate thereon, it will be so ordered.

Dated at Underhill, Vermont this 11th day of September 2025 /s/ Patricia H. Richards Patricia Richards, Selectboard Vice-Chair SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

79

BEAR CIERI

Exhibiting at the Tech Jam Paid Off

A

“

t NDI, we develop optical measurement and electromagnetic tracking solutions for medical instruments.

For eight consecutive years, we’ve proudly exhibited at the Vermont Tech Jam, an event that continues to be invaluable for both talent acquisition and industry exposure. At the 2024 Tech Jam, we connected with a promising candidate who is now a successful hire — further proof of the event’s impact. We also appreciate the opportunity to engage with the technical community and find inspiration among the many innovative companies showcasing their products.

Vermont is an incredible place to live and work, and Tech Jam fosters a deep sense of pride in both the state and its thriving business community.”

Recent hire Eli Ekoja with Ania Januszczyk

Ania Januszczyk

FREENET! EV

HR Business Partner NDI (Northern Digital Inc.)

FOR THE FULL LIST OF EXHIBITORS VISIT: TECHJAMVT.COM. WANT TO EXHIBIT? EMAIL: TECHJAM@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

October 25 HULA, BURLINGTON 80

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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81 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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

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

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

HIGHWAY CREW!

TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

Desktop Support Technician

Visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu & select “View Current Openings” Visit jobs.plattsburgh.edu & select “View Current Openings” Keep our roads safe, clear, and SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence SUNY Plattsburgh is an AA/EEO/ADA/VEVRAA committed to excellence moving! Love the outdoors? through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all. through diversity and supporting an inclusive environment for all.

Big machines? Teamwork?

The Town of Warren is looking for a Highway Maintenance 2h-PlattsburghStateDESKTOP100125_converted 1 9/30/252h-PlattsburghState100125.indd 1:40 PM 1 9/30/25 1:41 PM Worker to join our crew.

Compensation based on experience with a range of $26-$28.

You’ll: • Operate plows, loaders & graders • Maintain roads, signs & drainage • Tackle Vermont weather like a pro You Bring: • Valid driver’s license (CDL a plus) • Heavy equipment experience (or willing to learn) • Positive, safety-first attitude Why Join Us? • Full-time + benefits • Competitive pay • Great crew & mountain views daily

MULTIPLE POSITIONS OPEN!

CLIENT SERVICE ASSOCIATE

Are you our next Guest Services Representative? Buyer? Produce Associate?

Salary range: (depending on experience and qualifications): $50,000 – $70,000 Job purpose: To provide outstanding service to Rock Point’s clients and to be a supportive and reliable team member.

Duties and responsibilities:

Scan to see all open positions!

• Make a meaningful impression on our clients by connecting with them over the phone and in person in a welcoming and professional manner.

• Onboard new clients, resolve service requests, help prepare for meetings, maintain and organize client files and handle day-today client inquiries.

STAFF CURATED BENEFITS Apply online at healthylivingmarket.com/careers

Early Childhood Educator

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Pine Forest Children’s Center (PFCC) has provided high-quality, play-based early childhood education in Burlington’s South Apply today: End since 1988. We are currently hiring for rcampbell@warrenvt.org multiple positions, including licensed preschool Questions? Call Andrew at teachers (full-time or part-time) and early childhood educators to join our infant–preschool teams. At PFCC, we value 802-496-2945. imagination, curiosity, and integrity, and believe children learn best through emergent, play-based experiences connected to their community and natural world. Our teachers collaborate to design 4v-TownofWarren091025.indd 1 9/4/25 1:44 PM engaging, child-led curriculum, partner closely with families, and receive strong professional development support to grow in the field.

• Provide general office support by answering phones, managing supplies, and coordinating meetings and events.

• Be a good team member and be willing to pitch in wherever help is needed.

• Follow all compliance procedures as well as all regulatory requirements.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies: • Client service experience • Ability to interact with empathy and sincerity • Clear and effective communicator

Pay: $20–$26/hour plus a $1,000 sign-on bonus

• Willingness to ask questions

Benefits include: health savings account, dental, vision & life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, ongoing training, and more.

• Capacity to resolve conflicts professionally

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to Julie LaFountaine at julie@thepineforest.org. PFCC is an equal opportunity employer.

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• Support advisors with client-related needs, including financial plans and Investment Policy Statements (IPS).

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• Flexibility to handle multiple demands and competing priorities • Detail oriented with strong organizational skills Send resumes to: info@rockpointadvisors.com

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9/25/25 4:40 PM

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

82 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

“Whatever experience you come with is valuable, and I cannot imagine you not loving it here.”

2026 Legislative Internship Would you like to learn about Vermont’s legislative process and track policies related to climate change, affordable housing, transportation, environmental justice, clean water, forests and wildlife?

Vermont Natural Resources Council is seeking a paid Legislative Intern to assist VNRC and our partners, Vermont Conservation Voters and the Vermont Planners Association, in advancing legislation through the Vermont State House, January-May 2026. Visit vnrc.org/join-our-team for more information and to apply.

– Sadie Gaffin, Service Coordinator Great jobs in management and direct support at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance with premium as low as $30 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous sign on bonus and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for seven years in a row. Join our team today!

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HIGHLIGHTS • • • • •

Lead and grow LRC’s fundraising strategy and donor base Oversee communications, campaigns, and events Collaborate with a passionate team making real impact Enjoy a generous benefits package and flexible work environment Learn more about our mission at lrcvt.org.

COMPENSATION •

32-40 hours per week with an hourly wage: $30.00–$35.00

BENEFITS Generous benefits package, including: • • • • • •

$13,113 annually to allocate toward medical, dental, vision, supplemental insurance, or retirement 27 paid days off + 17 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.

THE GRIND GOT YOU DOWN?

Search fojorbs at a variety of

VermontTownCareers.org

Get a sense of service and a paycheck Vermont municipal employees work in different locations, doing a wide variety of things, but all agree on why it’s such a rewarding career.

You can make a real difference in your local community, while enjoying pay, benefits, and a work/life balance that’s hard to find in other sectors today.

CAMPAIGN BY VERMONT LEAGUE OF CITIES & TOWNS

Lamoille Restorative Center is an equal opportunity employer.

We value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants.

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Discover Great Jobs in Our Cities & Towns!

You’ll play a key role in expanding LRC’s impact through strategic fundraising, major gifts cultivation, marketing, and community engagement. The ideal candidate is a strong storyteller, strategic thinker, and community connector with experience in nonprofit development.

For full description and to apply, please visit: advancevermont.org/jobs

9/30/25 1:38 PM

Director of Development Lamoille Restorative Center (LRC) is seeking a mission-driven, relationship-focused Director of Development to lead fundraising, donor relations, and communications for a respected nonprofit advancing restorative justice in Vermont.

Program Manager

8/4/25 4:09 PM

Perk up!

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

Follow us on Facebook /sevendaysjobs for the latest postings

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

83 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

IT/AV Technician The Clerk’s Office for the United States District Court is seeking a qualified individual with excellent analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills capable of functioning in a dynamic, teamoriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont.

Full federal benefits apply.

TRIVIA HOSTS Seeking responsible, engaging, quick witted and charismatic individuals to host weekly trivia night programs and other events! We’ll provide everything needed to run a successful trivia night, including proper training.

Hosting is a great way to earn some fun money, entertain a crowd, and become a “local celebrity.”

Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the official Position Announcement available from any U.S. District Court office (Burlington and Rutland) or the court’s website.

WWW.VTD.USCOURTS.GOV

E.O.E.

We are looking for hosts in the following areas: COLCHESTER • ESSEX MILTON • STOWE Compensation: This is a part time position. Competitive pay with opportunity to host additional accounts.

To apply, please email resume to: INFO@PUBGEEKS.COM.

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Web Developer/Analyst Wanted Join VSAC’s IT team and help build and maintain internal web applications that support critical business operations.

REQUIREMENTS 3+ years of full stack development and SQL Server experience Proficient with APIs, Git, SSRS and modern development tools Strong communication, problem-solving and time management skills WHY VSAC? Purpose-driven work, competitive salary ($), and excellent benefits — all while helping Vermonters access higher education.

9/11/25 6:14 PM

SERVICE COORDINATOR

Apply now: vsac.org/careers

Vermonters for Criminal 4t-VSAC092425.indd 1 Justice Reform (VCJR) is seeking a Service Coordinator to join our team!

Provide case management and related services for people living with substance use disorders. Some driving required with mileage reimbursement provided.

Job Type: Full-time in person (Burlington, VT). Anticipated starting salary: $43,000 $45,000 per year, plus benefits for full-time 40 hour per week employment.

Please request a full job description or submit a cover letter and resume to Jess Kirby via email at jess@vcjr.org.

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Animal Care & Control Officer

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Graduate Nurse Residency Program

Do you want to help animals and their people, even when life circumstances get difficult? We work out of several Chittenden County police departments while working closely with social services and community justice organizations.

Good communication skills, emotional maturity, and the ability to self-regulate in difficult circumstances are key to success in this position. Must be able to pass a law enforcement background check and have a clean and valid driver's license.

This is a part-time position 24 hours/week. Monday through Thursday. Shifts are either 9:30am to 4:30pm or 10am to 5pm with a 1 hour lunch (unpaid). Paid training opportunities. Pay Range: $22/hour.

For more information, please email info@heartwildliferemoval.com, and write “Animal Control Position” in subject title.

1 9/22/254t-HeartWildlifeRemoval100125.indd 2:42 PM

Build your skills – with support.

Kickstart your nursing career with the support you need at our not-for-profit, rural critical access hospital.

Apply for our Summer 2025 program on the Medical-Surgical Unit. Receive hands-on training with experienced preceptors, exposure to diverse patient populations, and education on essential nursing skills in a mentorship-driven atmosphere. Why NVRH? Collaborate with a dedicated team, gain valuable experience, and enjoy work-life balance in a welcoming rural community while making a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.

9/22/25 3:34 PM

9/25/25 2:41 PM

Accounting and Payroll Manager The Town of Waterbury seeks to hire an Accounting and Payroll Manager.

The primary role of the position is to complete business functions, including accounting for all revenues and expenses, and executing weekly payroll.

The position is a critical part of overseeing necessary upgrades to the Town’s software and information systems related to business functions. The position reports to the Municipal Manager.

Requirements: Enthusiastic new graduates with a Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Nursing and eligibility for a Vermont or multi-state Compact RN license. Benefits Include: Competitive compensation, student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and more. About Us: Located in St. Johnsbury, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital serves over 30,000 people in a picturesque, bustling community.

This is a full-time, hourly position. The anticipated pay range is up to $35 per hour with a comprehensive benefit package, including low cost health insurance and a defined benefit pension plan. The complete job description can be found at: waterburyvt.com/departments/finance.

Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

The position is open until filled.

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Please send resumes and cover letters to: Thomas Leitz, Municipal Manager, tleitz@waterburyvt.com.

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9/8/25 2:23 PM

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

84 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Watershed Specialist Join the Vermont Land Trust as a Watershed Specialist. We are seeking a Watershed Specialist who can:

Executive Director

• Evaluate and protect ecological features on VLT-conserved lands through GIS analysis, field assessments, and ecological reporting to support easement design and surface water protections.

The Vermont Bar Association is seeking candidates for the position of Executive Director. This is a leadership, policy & administrative position responsible for leading, managing, and executing the affairs of the 2,250-member Vermont Bar Association under the direction of the President and the Board of Bar Managers. The ideal candidate will have a JD degree or otherwise be licensed to practice law (preferred but not required), and have administrative, personnel, and budget management experience. Prior experience with the legislative process is desirable, as the Executive Director is the VBA’s voice in the legislature as well as with the other branches of Vermont state government. The ability to liaison with other professional organizations, county bar associations, civil legal service delivery agencies and the Vermont Supreme Court is required.

• Plan and advance restoration projects — including riparian plantings, instream wood additions, and wetland restoration — by collaborating with landowners, VLT staff, and external partners.

• Lead and coordinate the Vermont Process-Based Restoration Network, managing communications, events, and partnerships to scale up restoration efforts statewide.

Learn more and apply at vlt.org/employment. The position will remain open until October 28, 2025. The annual starting salary is $67,200, plus a cafeteria allowance of $25,561 to pay for health care and other benefits.

The Vermont Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Project Manager

Interested candidates should submit a letter expressing in detail why they are interested in the position. The letter should be accompanied by a current resume, the names (and contact information for) three references, 9/29/25 5:30 PM and a writing sample. Candidates with questions about the position or the process may send them to Josh Diamond at jdiamond@dinse.com.

Salary Range: $100,000 - $150,000 plus benefits, range based upon successful applicant’s qualifications.

For more information and to apply, please visit: vtbar.formstack.com/forms/ed_recruitment.

Care Coordinator/Case Management Case Managers support older Vermonters in the community to stay as independent as possible in the environment of their choice by promoting health, rights, independence, and economic well-being.

For job description and details regarding our generous benefits package, visit: miltonvt.gov/employment.

The deadline for applications is October 30, 2025.

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This position is based in our Barre CVCOA office, combined with in-home field visits.

Pay Range: $24-$26 per hour.

For the full job description and to apply, please visit: cvcoa.org/employment.

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle 4t-CVCOA100125.indd 1 9/25/25 2:20 PM Brown is amazing!

She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only Copley Hospital in Morrisville/Stowe, VT is hiring imagine how many a Chief Operating Officer (COO). job connections she has facilitated for This is a rare chance to join a mission-driven, high-performing community hospital with a nationally respected orthopaedics program. local companies in Reporting to the CEO, the COO will drive quality, safety, and growth the 20 years she has while fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. been doing this.”

The Town of Milton’s Public Works Department has a great opportunity for a fulltime Project Manager to join our team. The Project Manager is responsible for administrative support functions in the Department of Public Works. The Project Manager provides essential management support (project planning, project coordination and tracking), grant writing, customer service to the public (residents and stakeholders) and clerical duties to assist the Highway and Water/Wastewater Superintendents, as well as external professionals, in implementing and managing municipal projects.

9/29/253v-TownofMilton100125.indd 3:40 PM 1

9/25/25 4:29 PM

You’re in good hands with...

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Live and work in the heart of Vermont’s four-season playground near Stowe – enjoy skiing, hiking, mountain biking and more. Working at Copley brings impact, purpose, and lifestyle together.

Apply today and help shape the future of healthcare in Vermont!

For more information, please visit copleyvt.org/careers.

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CAROLYN ZELLER, Intervale Center, Burlington

Get a quote when posting online.

Contact Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

J O B S . S E V E N D AY S V T. C O M

9/25/25 6:45 PM

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

85 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Stoneledge Studio

Village Wine & Coffee

Barista Village Wine and Coffee is looking for a few talented Baristas. We are the heart of Shelburne and have been building community with coffee and wine since 2005.

A good work ethic and the ability to work well with others is important.

Interest and love of coffee is essential.

A minimum of 1 year experience as a working barista is helpful.

This is a great job for anyone in college, grad school or in a gap year.

Email: vwacvt@gmail.com

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is a boutique interior design studio based in Vermont, known for its modern farmhouse interiors that fuse warmth, authenticity, and global inspiration. The team offers personalized design services from their Burlington studio, working with clients across New England and beyond. Each project reflects a thoughtful approach that balances function and beauty.

Front of House We are looking to fill a part-time front of house position with a bright, positive, and motivated individual with previous experience in the service industry. Position entails working in a fast-paced setting, working well under pressure, taking orders and maintaining attentiveness to all guests’ needs and having a teamoriented personality that can also work independently and professionally. The rate is $15 plus tip.

We are currently hiring for 2 positions: OPERATIONS MANAGER The Operations Manager at Stoneledge Studio plays a key role in maintaining efficiency across core business functions. This role is responsible for managing internal operational systems, ensuring accurate billing, and procurement workflows, and providing financial visibility that supports team productivity and company profitability.

DESIGN ASSISTANT The Design Assistant supports the design team by assisting with project documentation, material sourcing, studio organization, and administrative tasks. This is a developmental role with exposure to technical platforms and interior design processes.

Please send a resume to: chiuhos@asinglepebble.com

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For full details visit: 7dvt.pub/StoneledgeJobs.

Committee Assistants Legislative Editor The Legislative support offices are currently hiring.

The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work.

You will be part of a highly professional and collegial team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at legislature.vermont.gov.

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The Donor Relations Specialist plays a key role on Age Well’s dynamic Development & Communications team, advancing fundraising and donor engagement initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Major Giving and working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer and department staff, this position supports the organization’s mission by strengthening donor relationships, managing town funding efforts, and overseeing CRM database systems.

This donor-centric role helps cultivate and steward individual donors, manage town funding across Age Well’s service area, and ensure accurate and effective use of fundraising data. The specialist contributes to donor cultivation strategies, stewardship activities, and campaign execution while maintaining the integrity and functionality of Age Well’s donor database.

Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree required.

- Minimum of two years of administrative experience, preferably in a nonprofit setting.

- A cover letter is required to be considered for this position.

Benefits: We offer a very generous benefit package, including substantial time off, retirement plan eligibility on day 1, and we are an organization that supports employee wellness and work/life balance.

Salary $45,000-$47,000.

For more information, please refer to our website: www.agewellvt.org/about/careers

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Trim carpentry experience is a plus. Competitive pay DOE ($35–$50/hr) with benefits including insurance and 401K match after one year.

Please send resume to jobs@newwestbc.com.

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Join Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling Vacations; an award winning, Vermont based, active travel company and be part of our high performing, international team. We offer deluxe, smallgroup bicycling and hiking tours worldwide at a variety of levels and 9/30/25 11:34 AM paces. Positively impacting people's lives through active travel We’re looking for a Donor experiences is what we’re all about!

Relations Specialist to join our team!

New West Building Company is a general contractor based in Stowe, VT., and is seeking skilled carpenters.

IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT TECH

To apply, please send cover letter and resumes to: mika@stoneledgestudio.com.

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Skilled Carpenters

We're seeking a detail-oriented and service driven professional to join our team as an IT Systems Support Technician. In this role you'll be responsible for the day-to-day support and administration of the end-user PC-related environment as well as front-line support for our reservation, content management, and guest online portal applications. As the first line of support, this position requires empathy, patience, and strong problem-solving skills.

The successful candidate will have a strong history of providing exceptional customer service.

Qualifications Include: • Associates degree in Information Technology or equivalent work experience • Strong PC and laptop skills including provisioning, Windows 10 and 11 Operating System knowledge, security setup, etc. Ability to work in IT support desk environment and tracking work details in IT ticketing system, ServiceNow. Basic familiarity of PC Networking (wired and wireless) as well as the use of VPN Software.

• Experience and/or familiarity with the following types of applications is preferred but not required: Microsoft 365, CoPilot, Customer Reservation, Call Center platforms, Customer Data Management, etc.

BENEFITS: Medical, Dental & Vision; HSA & FSA; Life & Disability; Accident, Hospital & Critical Illness; Pet Insurance; Vacation, Sick and paid Holidays; 401(k) with Company Match; Employee Assistance Plan; Education Assistance; and Employee Discounts & Travel Deals.

COMPENSATION: The salary range for this position is $50,000.- $72,500.

Send resumes to: nvoth@vbt.com.

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9/17/25 4:41 PM

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

86 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistant (Grant Funded)

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) seeks a grant-funded Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistant (30-month term) to serve the municipalities of Shelburne, South Burlington, Winooski and Essex Junction.

This position will advance economic mobility by addressing systemic barriers, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and promoting equity. The hired individual will work with municipal leaders, CCRPC staff, community members, and nonprofit partners to co-design and implement strategies that expand access to housing, workforce development, financial security, and other pathways to economic well-being, especially for historically underserved populations.

Salary range: $70,000–$100,000, with excellent benefits.

Location: Based in municipal offices across the four participating communities, with some remote flexibility.

Application deadline: We will begin reviewing applications on September 30, 2025.

For complete details, including responsibilities, qualifications, and application instructions, visit: ccrpcvt.org/jobs The CCRPC is an equal opportunity employer. At the CCRPC, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

GO HIRE.

PART-TIME ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Job Recruiters:

Clean Energy Group (CEG) is seeking an experienced and self-motivated individual with bookkeeping skills to join our team. A strong candidate will have evidenced experience with bookkeeping/accounting and be meticulous with details and accuracy. Additional details below.

• Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

5v-CCRPC092425 1

9/22/25 2:35 PM

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE • • • • • • • •

Experience in and knowledge of bookkeeping and generally accepted accounting principles Advanced Excel ability Familiarity with Sage accounting software and Paydata/Assure payroll platform helpful but not required Detailed-oriented and thorough Excellent written and verbal communication skills Personable and enjoys working on a small team, while also capable of independent, self-directed work Able to maintain utmost confidentiality Ability to work onsite from CEG’s office in downtown Montpelier

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

•

Part-time position averaging 15 hours per week – work schedule can be flexible based on individual preference, workload, and organizational needs Salary commensurate with experience starting at $24/hour

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site.

Get a quote when you post online or contact Michelle Brown: 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION: •

Job Seekers:

jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Interested in applying? Please send a resume and a letter of interest to Anna Whitlock at careers@cleangroup.org. The letter of interest should be between 4-6 sentences and include why you are interested in this position and highlight your specific qualifications based on the job description.

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7/3/23 5:07 PM

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SEVENDAYSJOBS, SUBSCRIBE TO RSS, OR BROWSE POSTS ON YOUR PHONE AT JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

NEW JOBS POSTED DAILY! JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

87 OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

Join our Culinary Team!

Line Cooks Needed Line Cook hours: 2pm to close.

Part/Full-time positions available

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE.

Wage range: $15-$25 plus tip sharing. Looking for someone who is self motivated and focused with positive personallity.

Teamwork-oriented and not afraid of working under pressure.

Competitive wages.

Please send a resume to: chiuhos@asinglepebble.com

JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

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Commercial Kitchen Appliance/ HVACR Tech

9/29/25 12:41 PM

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

KC Mechanical – Commercial Kitchen Appliance Solutions, Colchester, Vermont KC Mechanical is looking for an experienced Senior Service Technician to join our growing team. This role is for someone with broad technical expertise who can handle complex service calls, lead projects, and mentor junior technicians. Work includes commercial kitchen equipment, refrigeration, dish machines, and hot-side appliances. This is an exciting field for anyone with HVACR experience!

Requirements: • Vermont Natural Gas License • EPA Universal Certification • 5+ years as a service technician • Strong troubleshooting across electrical, refrigeration, and gas systems Preferred: • Special Electrician’s License (Vermont) • LP (Propane) License • Experience mentoring technicians and working with institutional clients Benefits: • Leading hourly pay with overtime and on-call pay • Health insurance (single coverage at no cost), HRA, life insurance, SIMPLE IRA with match • Dental coverage (optional, low cost) • Holidays, floating holidays, ETO, sick time, paid lunch, appointment time • Tool loan program, company vehicle, training opportunities • KC Mechanical pays for certification renewals (Natural Gas, Propane (LP), EPA, Electrical)

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

We are currently hiring for the following positions: Property Manager Receptionist /Administrative Assistant: Serves as first point of contact for our customers in the Property Management office. This role greets applicants and the general public at the main office, collects rent payments, provides administrative support to the Leasing Specialist, the Property Managers, and the Director of Property Management. Pay $20.00 to $22.00 per hour, with a $1,500 Sign On Bonus.

Maintenance Technician: Performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies. Current

rotation is once every 6-7 weeks. Pay $24.00 to $26.00 per hour, with a $1,500 Sign On Bonus.

For more info about these career opportunities please visit: burlingtonhousing.org.

Interested in our career opportunity? Send a cover letter & resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org.

Human Resources 65 Main St, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401 BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Send resumes to: info@kcmechanical.com 9t-BurlingtonHousingAuthority100125.indd 1 6t-KCMechanical100125.indd 1

9/29/25 2:42 PM

9/29/25 11:52 AM

See What’s Next.

Looking for a job, a degree, a collaborator or professional contacts?

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Taking the FIRST Step (11 a.m.)

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CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.77) CROSSWORD (P.77)

fun stuff HARRY BLISS

“Would you like to round up today so I don’t have to move back in with my parents?”

JEN SORENSEN

SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

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fun stuff KRISTEN SHULL

ISAIAH LEGETTE

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY REAL OCTOBER 2-8 fantasies before sleep. Be on high alert for intimations from the Great Mystery. PS: Some satoris could be gems you already half-knew.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): You are eligible to be named “the Most Brilliant and Effective Complainer” for October. If you want to secure this prestigious award, spend time organizing plans for changing what’s amiss or awry.

Decide which irritating off-kilter situations are most worthy of your thoughtful attention.

Figure out how to express your critiques in ways that will engage the constructive help of others. And then implement a detailed strategy to compassionately achieve the intriguing transformations.

LIBRA (SEP. 23-OCT. 22)

In ancient Egyptian myth, the goddess Maat ruled truth, divine law, harmony and moral order. After death, each person’s heart was weighed against Maat’s feather of truth on a scale in the Hall of Judgment. If the heart, which embodied the essence of a person’s actions in life, was equal in weight to the feather, the deceased was assessed as virtuous and cleared to continue to the glorious afterlife.

If it was heavier … well, I’ll spare you the details. Maat’s scales were not symbols of punishment but of fairness and justice. That’s also your special power right now, Libra. You have subtle insight into every choice.

You understand that your wisdom is best used to bless, not censure. My hope is that you will foster gentle clarity and offer forgiveness to all, including yourself. Lay down the old guilt! Let grace be the law!

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In Zen Buddhism, satoris are sudden flashes of illumination that are fun and clarifying. I’m happy to tell you that you’re in a phase when these sweet breakthroughs are extra likely to visit you. They may barge in while you’re washing dishes, in the grocery store checkout line or during your

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): On certain

medieval maps, an island paradise known as Hy-Brasil had a fuzzy presence west of Ireland.

Did it truly exist? If so, it was said to be a blessed land that could restore lost youth and offer extravagant happiness. The place was thought to be rarely visible and only under certain magical or auspicious conditions. I suspect you Geminis are within range of an experience like this. It won’t appear in a specific location but as a state of mind that settles over you. Don’t chase it. Allow it to find you.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): A stalactite is a stony formation that hangs like an icicle from the ceiling of a cave. It forms over long periods as mineral-rich water drips down and incrementally deposits hard calcium carbonate through precipitation. This marvel is an example of earth’s creativity at its most leisurely.

A 4-inch-long stalactite might take a thousand years to make. With that as your seed thought, Cancerian, I invite you to attune yourself to the slowest, deepest, most ancient parts of your soul. Important developments are unfolding there. A wound that’s ripening into wisdom?

A mysterious yearning that’s finally speaking in your native tongue? Be patient and vigilant with it. Don’t demand clarity all at once. Your transformation is tectonic, not flashy. Your assignment is to listen and be receptive.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): When bilingual speakers engage in the behavior known as “codeswitching,” they may begin a sentence in one language and finish it in another. Or they may

move back and forth between two different languages as they deliver a discourse. Why do they do it? To enrich their meaning, to dazzle their audience, to play and experiment. In a larger sense, we could say that code-switching happens anytime we swivel between different styles of presenting ourselves: from formal to casual, serious to humorous, cheerful to skeptical. I bring this up, Leo, because you are in the heart of the code-switching season. Have fun!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): In the Arctic, polar bears move through the world not by sight alone but also through scent trails that stretch miles across the ice. Their sense of direction is olfactory, intuitive and primal. If I’m reading the omens correctly, Virgo, your navigation system will also be more animal than logical in the coming weeks. I advise you to trust subtle cues — like goose bumps, a sweet or sour taste in your mouth, or an uncanny pull toward or away from things. Your rational mind might not be fully helpful, but your body will know the way. Sniff the trail.

Access your instincts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The I Ching is an ancient divinatory book compiled in China more than 2,500 years ago, Amazingly, it’s still quite useful. In accordance with astrological omens, I call your attention to one of its oracles: “Work on What Has Been Spoiled.” It tenderly counsels us to be brave as we repair what’s broken. But it’s crucial that we make the correction with patient grace, not blame and anger. The good news, Scorpio, is that you now have an uncanny ability to discern what’s out of tune, what’s crooked, what has been wrongfully abandoned. I hope you will offer your genius for reweaving. A frayed friendship? A neglected dream? A forgotten promise? You can play the role of restorer: not to make things as they were, but to render them better than they’ve ever been.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In an-

cient Egypt, the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet wielded both intense heat and nourishing warmth. She had the power to destroy and heal. When outbreaks of chaos threatened, she incinerated them. Once order and balance returned, she served as a physician. I dare you to summon your inner Sekhmet, Sagittarius.

Give your bold attention to an obstacle that needs to be crushed or an injustice that needs to be erased. If necessary, invoke sacred rage on behalf of sacred order. But remember that the goal is not merely combustion. It’s transmutation. Once the fire has cleared the way, unleash your gorgeous cure.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Nepal, there’s a tradition among Sherpa mountaineers. Before ascending Mount Everest, they perform a ceremony led by a Buddhist monk or lama. It’s a way to honor the sacredness of the mountain, ask for grace during their climb and return from the journey in good health.

As you eye the peak ahead of you, Capricorn, consider making similar preparation. Ritualize your intention. Direct it with clarity and care.

Bless your journey before you surge forward.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When people

call something “glamorous,” they usually mean it has an elegant, captivating style. Its beauty is sophisticated and luxurious. But the original meaning of “glamour” was different. It referred to a deceptive magical enchantment designed to disguise the truth, whipped up by a conjurer or supernatural being. That’s the sense I want to invoke now, Aquarius. You have been seeing through the glamour lately — of the media, of consensus reality, of false stories. Now it’s time to go even further: to actively tear down illusions and dismantle pretense, preferably with tact. When you see through the spell, don’t just call it out — transmute it into clarity.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Pisces-born Nina Simone (1933-2003) started playing piano when she was 3 years old. At age 12, her debut concert was a classical recital. She developed a yearning to become the first Black female classical concert pianist. But her dream collapsed when the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music refused to let her study there. Then came the plot twist. She redirected her disappointment ingeniously, launching a brilliant career as a singer, composer and pianist that won her global fame. The rebuff from the Curtis Institute was ultimately a stroke of good luck! It became a catalyst for her greatness. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to designate a frustration that you will use to fuel future success.

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025 9/30/25 12:0291 PM

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com WOMEN seeking...

ONE STITCH AT A TIME Widow, 75, Shelburne. Warm, thoughtful and family-oriented. Retired PhD in social work, lover of gardening, knitting, books and quiet evenings by the fire.

Nonsmoker, nondrinker, progressive, and active in nature and community.

Seeking friendship and companionship with openness to a deeper connection.

Diane50, 75, seeking: M, l SPONTANEOUS, JOYFUL, REALIST I am looking to have a partner interested in companionship, occasional adventures traveling, hiking, watching TV/movies, listening to live music, hanging with family and friends. Conversations.

Lots of hobbies but open to hearing or sharing yours. I belong to the 251 Club. Love weekend road trips. I’d like to meet someone who is also a hard worker but can enjoy downtime, too.

Sunset_Seeker, 61, seeking: M, l SEEKING FUN AND ADVENTURE The world is full of adventures just waiting to be had: a long hike and walk to a waterfall, a fabulous show, a great meal, a beautiful ski. All these are adventures I like to go on. Care to join me? wildflower762, 54, seeking: M, l DOWN-TO-EARTH NATURE LOVER Looking for sincere, real spirituality connected to nature, and friends for hiking and exploring the outdoors.

Theotherside, 51, seeking: M, NC, NBP, l

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W = Women M = Men TW = Trans women TM = Trans men Q = Genderqueer people NBP = Nonbinary people NC = Gender nonconformists Cp = Couples Gp = Groups

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

NOT A FAN OF FAKES Trusting my heart to you will take some time, but if you’re patient it will be worth it. I’m a romantic woman who loves to watch sunsets. I have a big heart and tend to trust people. Honesty is what I expect and deserve. I’m a one-man woman, and I want a one-woman man, nothing less. Patty802, 67, seeking: M, l

SPIRITED AND CURIOUS, NO DRAMA Hi! I’m looking for someone to share life’s adventures with and a relationship that brings out the best in each other.

No drama on either end. Kindness, truthfulness and appreciation for the beautiful things in life are a must.

Friendship first, and then let’s see where it goes! genX25, 57, seeking: M, l

FULL OF STARS My friends tell me I’m the nicest and most Zen person they know. I love music, art and history. Oh, and maybe you and/or your pets. I use “y’all” in unexpected places. I do not have a Dick Cheney tattoo. Tell me about you.

NotAngryMittens, 52, seeking: M

SOMEONE TO LAUGH WITH I am looking for interaction! I’m very social. I miss fun. I miss sharing life experiences. I have a wicked sarcastic sense of humor. Be forewarned! I can make a joke (usually a bad one) about anything. Hard no to anyone that supports the orange monster. If you are interested in chatting, send me an email.

Yikestheworldisnuts, 65, seeking: M, l

OUTDOORS, ACTIVE, SEEKS CONNECTIONS I enjoy most outdoor activities including hiking, biking, XC/downhill skiing, gardening, training my horse.

I am happy dancing under the stars or kayaking at sunrise. While I enjoy creative travel, I also enjoy each of Vermont’s seasons at home. I still work full time but make plenty of time for fun. Life is OK alone but more fun when shared. NEK026, 63, seeking: M, l HOMEBODY AND TYPE 2 FUN Hi there! Looking for my forever mealprep partner. Ideally someone to join me on my newly discovered type 2 fun activities as well! Reach out if you want to dry heave up a mountain together. pinecone802, 28, seeking: M, l UNPRETENTIOUS, CARING WORD LOVER Outdoorsy retired journalist seeking intelligent, irreverent soul to share mutually enjoyable pursuits. For me these include music — roots, alt-folk, blues; cold winters, summer sun, hiking, skiing, cycling. I’m drawn to those who don’t take themselves too seriously.

My son, grandkids and Labrador Nina mean everything. Treading lightly after losing my life partner, seeking friendship that may evolve into something deeper. elkaytee, 68, seeking: M, l NEW IN TOWN, SEEKING COMPANION I am seeking a kindred spirit — someone to explore with. I love the outdoors — hiking, skiing, paddling — and I love cultural things: art galleries, vintage shops, indie films.

I like going out for coffee, shopping, music and also hanging out at home watching TV with my pup. I am healthy and active and seek the same. newVTher, 63, seeking: M, l AUTHENTIC, CREATIVE, CURIOUS Active and social introvert new to and smitten with the North Country looking for a like-minded partner to continue exploring it with. Mom to three adult children, all out on their own. Passions include yoga, hiking, gardening, learning, reading and creating. Scienceminded, politically liberal, spiritually grounded and emotionally available for friendship and, if we’re a fit, more. annwithane, 55, seeking: M, l

LIVING MY NEW LIFE I am recently — in the last year — living as a single woman again. My life is good but not full. There is a void. A companion, a friend maybe. It would be fun to have someone to do things with, be it a walk, go to flea markets, antiques shops, museums, road trips, movies. Newlife2025, 64, seeking: M, l EXPLORING THIS LIFETIME MOMENT Interested in meaningful conversations and activities. Accepting of differences.

Require quality time outdoors daily. INFJ, 65, seeking: W LIVING WITH PURPOSE Seeking a true partner for the best that is to come. itry, 44, seeking: M CURIOUS, CREATIVE, CARING, HOPEFUL I’m a teacher, mother to two, well traveled but at heart a homebody, caring, creative, intelligent, fit, and open-minded. Looking for a committed relationship with a man who’s kind, fun, smart, and open-minded, with a great sense of humor. Relationships unfold slowly, starting with friendship and allowing things to go where they will. Physical chemistry depends on strong communication and emotional intimacy. Helen, 66, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

SEX WITH OLDER MEN Just looking for good, old-fashioned M2M sex. Bear37bear, 55, seeking: M, TW BRIT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS I am a searcher. I admit to screwing up a couple of relationships by not being attentive enough, but these things are never one person’s fault. I like being with a special woman very much and would like to try again before I kick the bucket. greytail2020, 79, seeking: W, Cp, Gp, l LISTENER, HAPPY I’m a busy retired guy who enjoys spending time outside. I love sailing, biking, hiking and skiing. Being outside is calming and nourishing. All of these activities are best when shared. I like talking with people and expanding my circle of friends while also learning more about myself. I’m a good listener, honest, caring, loyal and a happy, grateful man. PlayOutside2, 60, seeking: W, l

NATURE AND YOU AND ME Fit, environmentally conscious, politically moderate, autumn/Halloween loving, adventuring, trail running/ hiking, natural (from nature) magic male looking for someone to spend time with who has some of the same interests. You enjoy being in nature, don’t smoke, are educated by self or by institutions/self, are self-sufficient, are conscientious, are considerate, and have a sense of magic in the world. chinaski, 55, seeking: W PEACEFUL, KIND, EASYGOING PATIENT FREEDOM I like kind and polite people. I’m a simply humble, very human and tranquil person. Dolcevita099999, 35, seeking: W, TW, Cp, l AUTHENTIC, ACTIVE AND FUNNY I am a pretty simple human being who enjoys the little things. I enjoy physical activity and being outside.

A trail run through the woods is my idea of a good start/end to the day. I hope this helps. If you want to know more, you have to “buy” the book — or at least borrow it from the library.

Liveoutside, 45, seeking: W, l LAID-BACK, ROMANTIC, OLD-SCHOOL GENTLEMAN Hi, I’m a 56-year-old man looking for a special someone to share good times with. I am an honest, hardworking man, and very romantic. I’m a onewoman-only guy. The right woman would be treated with respect and kindness. Stardad, 56, seeking: W, l CREATIVE, ACTIVE, NATURE-LOVING MAN I work with my hands most days.

With wood, metal, sometimes stone.

Mostly I love the work and process of building, though my greatest work has by far been constructing the temple within. Meditation. Yoga, hermeticism. Processing feelings, refining heart’s desires. Connecting the great wealth and wellspring of divinity that exists within. Seeking kindred spirit for creative adventures.

Mysticworks, 37, seeking: W, l HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY I live in the small town of Groton, so I need to branch out a bit. I am more of a listener than a talker.

GrotonDave, 69, seeking: W LOVE, PLAYFUL AND FUN Let’s have fun and enjoy each other’s presence. Flirtforever1234, 37, seeking: W HEY Hi, if you’re interested.

Pikem19, 20, seeking: W DRENCHED IN LIFE, STILL CURIOUS Coming up as an artist and writer, I love to investigate and learn new things.

My often outdoors life keeps me pretty active and fit. Is there someone as curious as myself (who is also nimble, fit and smart) to hang out with from time to time? I’d enjoy a stimulating companion for adventures, conversation, Sunday brunch and warm connection.

SentientBeing, 79, seeking: W, l LET’S MAKE PLANS Hi. My name is Jonnie. I live in the middle of nowhere, N.Y., I work in Vt. I see things from a different view and angle.

Time is important to me not because it moves forward but because of what is created in that moment. I love music, like a good conversation and anything.

I’m easy to talk with. Ttys. Jonnie74, 50, seeking: M, W, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp

CHECKING THIS OUT Checking this out. Tallguyvt84, 41, seeking: W, l LAID-BACK, OLD-SCHOOL Just lost the love of my life to cancer.

Money-wise, I am not rich. I am honest, caring, loving, always making my partner happy. I don’t like being alone.

I am looking for a woman who does not care about what I don’t have, but more what I do have, and that’s love and honesty. indian, 69, seeking: W LIFE-LOVING, FUNNY, CONSIDERATE After 55 years of traveling the world for business, I have landed in the Mad River Valley and am loving it! I love all the seasons (well, not mud season). I still work as a consultant and occasionally travel, but mostly work via Zoom. I am in search of someone to attend the theater, festivals, and to dine out with. Alan70, 69, seeking: W, l DIRTY HANDS, CLEAN SOUL I am a hardworking, genuine person. I am kind of old-fashioned. I have way too many hobbies: I enjoy working on vehicles and small engines, working on firewood, maple sugaring, welding, and four-wheeling. In the winter I like snowmobiling and snow plowing. I am looking for a committed relationship with a down-to-Earth country girl.

Blacktruckman, 29, seeking: W, l

GENDER NONCONFORMISTS

seeking...

ADVENTURE, CREATIVITY, NATURE, COMMUNITY, LOVE Join me for woods, water, volunteering, karaoke, or crafting! Me: nonbinary male ADHD extrovert who loves wildlife and most people. I like alone time, but miss sharing a bed (and life). No kids but would happily adopt/etc.

You: open-minded, active, curious, tough, cuddly and communicative. You have goals but can be spontaneous.

Learning Spanish or ASL? Practice with me. WildWeirdWonderful, 41, seeking: W, Q, NC, NBP, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

ADVENTUROUS, WHIMSICAL AND SILLY Brand new to Vermont living, from the West Coast! Looking for love in hopefully the right place. Always up for a good time and wanting to find someone who loves yacht rock, movies and going on the wackiest side quests. YachtRockGal, 27, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, NBP, l TRANS WOMAN LOOKING Hello, trans woman in my 30s simply looking for hookups and friends with benefits. If you’re a woman or trans woman and interested, message me.

TransRebecca, 32, seeking: W, TW, l

COUPLES seeking...

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES We are older and wiser, discovered that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple for threesomes or foursomes.

We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Are you interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen, 69, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

i SPY

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

SERENDIPITY AT THE CHARLOTTE POST OFFICE Shared “good mornings” and my serendipitous day. You responded “how much you needed that” and parted with a great smile. I hope you see this; serendipity rules. Please get in touch here. When: Monday, September 30, 2025. Where: Two Brothers Pizza.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916442 RE: THE INSTRUCTOR Perhaps you could describe a little more about the person in that shirt — I may have been he. You have me at a disadvantage, as I am on the go a lot and don’t remember the encounter.

I do, however, go through Hinesburg sometimes. When: Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Where: Hinesburg.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916437 BREWSTER RIVER PHOTOGRAPHER You were tall, with a beard and tattoos.

You directed me to the best path to the gorge. Then you showed me your new lens that you had just picked up, still in the package. You left in your truck before I could get your name. When: Saturday, September 20, 2025. Where: Brewster River. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916436 GREEN HAT AT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT In ER waiting room, I spotted you across the way. You had dark, curly hair and were wearing a green cap and joggers. I was sitting under the TV on the wall, wearing a black sweatshirt and brown pants, with a face mask on. You and I made eye contact a couple times. I thought you were cute! Let’s swap germs? When: Sunday, September 21, 2025. Where: Emergency Department Waiting Room.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916435

SAVORY PASTRIES? We discussed pastries and your regular attendance; the baristas knew you by name. I ordered the almond cake, and you missed out pumpkin cake. I felt a connection then and then caught a glimpse of you at Barr Hill. Unfortunately, I was waiting for someone else — I think I would have said hi otherwise.

When: Saturday, September 20, 2025.

Where: Birchgrove Bakery, Montpelier.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916434 BEAUTIFUL REDHEAD MONTPELIER Red curly hair, beautiful smile and eyes!

Maybe you are a driving instructor?

As you were in the passenger seat and the guy driving looked confused.

I was the older dude who nodded as I crossed the street, and the car you were in drove by. Wowed, for sure! When: Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

Where: Montpelier on Taylor St., Sunny day. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916433 TATTOOED WOMEN. BANANAS. It was probably around 1:30. You had a baseball hat; many tattoos, including throat; black hoodie; bananas and hard-boiled egg. I noticed you because we crossed paths, like, four times. I also had bananas, and we were both grabbing a single hard-boiled egg at the same time. When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Where: City Market. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916432 ART HOP FRIDAY FOOD TABLE We chatted oh-so-briefly around a food table. You were wearing white pants with a red flower pattern. I was with my wirehaired dog. Would have liked to talk more but just wasn’t the right time/place. Hope you enjoyed your evening. When: Friday, September 5, 2025. Where: South End Art Hop. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916429

Ask REVEREND 

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

Dear Reverend,

I love my sister dearly, but I hate going out to eat with her.

Whenever we go to a restaurant, she’s rude to the waitstaff. She’s snippy, never says “please” or “thank you,” and sometimes even snaps her fingers to get the server’s attention. It’s incredibly embarrassing for me, but I don’t know how to make her stop. Help!

Disconcerted Diner

(MAN, 38)

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN AT MOE’S WILLISTON You sat at the last booth on the main window side, facing PetSmart on your right-hand side looking out. I was sitting two booths up, facing you, with PetSmart on my left if I was looking out. Too shy to approach you when I was leaving. You had a red top on with white top underneath.

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

Where: Moe’s Southwest Grill, Williston VT. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916430 REVO CASINO This is a long shot, like our gambling.

Playing that silly cat game — hopefully you won after I left. Should’ve gotten your number. When: Thursday, September 11, 2025. Where: Revo Casino and Social House, Lebanon, N.H. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916431

KIND PHOTOGRAPHER Photographer I met today, handsome and healthy. I am wondering if you are single? I was surprised you were not waiting for someone when you talked with me while I worked on my project.

If you can say where we were and what my project was, maybe we can continue our conversation and you can have someone to go with you. When: Sunday, August 31, 2025. Where: outdoors.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916424

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN WHITE Beautiful blond woman in white dress, white shoes with a red scarf tied around her. You were walking in Middlebury and then sitting in the park. I smiled as I drove by in a work truck. Tried to come back just to tell you how beautiful and confident you looked, sitting there. You were gone.

You are stunning! When: Thursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Middlebury.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916417

LOWE’S ESSEX MST ASSOCIATE Who’s that MST Associate at Lowe’s in Essex with the blond pony tail? Always enjoy seeing her when I’m shopping at the Lowe’s in Essex. When: Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Where: Lowe’s Essex.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916423

MAKING WAY AT SHAW’S BERLIN We shopped, passed, then met face-toface in a narrow aisle where I stopped my cart to let you through. You (tan brimmed hat, wavy light hair, slim) and I (older man with white goatee) spoke. Your gracious remarks and open face caught my attention. I was intrigued and I’d like to meet and talk more. When: Friday, September 5, 2025. Where: Shaw’s, Berlin. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916428

LOWE’S You were shopping for mini blinds or shades. Later, you were at the selfcheckout at the same time I was. As we were walking out you kindly offered to help me carry a long bulky item to my car. I wish I had accepted your help so we could have talked a bit. If you see this, please respond. Thanks! When: Saturday, August 23, 2025. Where: Lowe’s in Essex. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916421

THE INSTRUCTOR You were wearing a black shirt with “Instructor” on it and held the door open for me at the store in Hinesburg. I meant to say more, but the moment slipped by too quickly. If you see this, I’d love to continue the conversation that didn’t quite start.

When: Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Where: Store in Hinesburg.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916427

SHANNON AND DWEEB My heart speaks your name in every moment. You are the softest light in my darkest hours, the calm in the chaos, the dream I never dared to wish for. Loving you feels like breathing — effortless, essential, infinite. With you, even silence feels like music, and time slows just to let me stay in your arms a little longer. When: Sunday, September 29, 2024. Where: Cambridge.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916420

IRISH JERRY IN ESSEX We were introduced in July at a show in South Hero. You asked if I’d like to meet up at another show and I said I’d like that, but you had to leave in a hurry and we didn’t exchange info.

Would be nice to see you again! An rud nach fiu e a lorg, ni fiu i a fhail. When: Saturday, July 5, 2025. Where: South Hero. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916426 SHAW’S B., those are some mighty fine legs you have! When: Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Where: Shaw’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916422

Dear Disconcerted Diner,

I’ll go out on a limb here and assume that your sister has never worked in the hospitality industry. If I ran the world, some kind of service job would be a prerequisite to becoming an adult. Call me crazy, but I think it helps make a person a better customer.

You could certainly stop going to restaurants with your sister, but that wouldn’t be much fun. I imagine you have already gone out of your way to make up for her rudeness by being extra nice, apologizing or leaving a big tip — but you shouldn’t have to bear the burden of her bad behavior.

Leading by example apparently hasn’t worked, so for any change to happen, you’ll need to take a direct approach. Your sister’s lack of

SILVER FOX, MAPLE STREET POOL I noticed you noticing me, and I wanted to give you notice that I noticed you back. When: Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Where: Maple Street Pool with your son. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916419 SHOPPING AT MICHAEL’S To the lovely lady shopping at Michael’s today: You smiled at me when you saw me, and I thought you were beautiful. I wish I hadn’t been too shy to talk to you. When: Thursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Michael’s.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #916418

DEDICATED RECYCLER FOR HELPFUL SHOPKEEP I stopped by your store on the way back from a bike ride and asked a question about recycling. The lights kept going out. Was it a sign? A helpful poltergeist?

Maybe you were just being friendly, but on the off chance you were interested, let me know where we met and we can keep the banter going over a coffee!

When: Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Where: while you were working at a store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916416 PIZZA AND PLAY? A couple who loves our weekly slice at Two Brothers Pizza, where service is nice! Hey, with your charming light, join us for some fun and a magical night?

If you’re down for laughter and a little spice, let’s join up after you’re done with your slice? When: Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Where: Two Brothers Pizza.

You: Woman. Me: Couple. #916414 HONEST, FAITHFUL, LOYAL No offense to anyone! How you live your life is your business, but I would love to know: Are there men out there who still believe in the old-fashioned ways?

Loyalty, honesty, faithfulness, and dating women your own age because you feel secure in your age and you don’t need a young girl to feel like a man. When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: everywhere.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #916413 TO THE RACE CAR DRIVER To the man who helped me through a tough time: You made me laugh and actually had me believing that maybe not all guys are jerks. We talked for many months. Then you just blew me off, and I heard it was because you were dating someone. Why couldn’t you just be honest? I only asked you for your friendship. Dishonesty sucks! When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: Thunder Road. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916412

general politeness is slightly less concerning than the snapping. That shit’s gotta stop for sure. The next time she does it, call her out. A simple “You know that’s rude” might be enough to do the trick.

If not, the next time she invites you out to eat, decline the invitation.

When she asks why, lay it on her and tell her that she acts like a jerk at restaurants. It may be uncomfortable, but somebody’s gotta do it. You’ll be doing her a favor, because the only person she’s really embarrassing is herself.

Good luck and God bless,

The Reverend What’s your problem?

Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

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I’m an independent alternative to the classic male. Seeking independent alternative female for inside/outside adventures of all kinds. No TV or online presence beyond email. #L1886 I’m a 44-y/o bi male seeking a male, female or bi couple for casual sex. I am clean, easygoing and anything goes. No judgment here. Let’s talk. Call/text. #L1877 I’m a SWM, 60s, 5’7”, 165 lbs. seeking slim males who enjoy a nice, long, slow, relaxing blow job or a regular one, if desired. NSA, just pleasure. #L1882

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Male looking for female, age 59 to 69. I am disabled but still get around on my own. Looking for someone to hang with, since I am all alone and hate it. My partner passed from cancer. #L1888

Perverted tales. Hedonistic confessions. Bold, erotic and sensual? Titillating? Incredible and luscious? Yes, please!

Extreme, deviant, obscene perversity helps incite lust. I am eager to hear from all you perverts. Confidential. Very few limits. I dare you to shock me. #L1889

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking a male. I am a widow of five years.

Looking for companionship. Love music, reading and knitting, crocheting and playing card games, etc. #L1887

I am looking for an 81-y/o woman. #L1884

Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a fit, tender and unassuming female counterpart (58 to 68) for woodland walks, shared meals and scintillating conversation.

Won’t you join me? #L1885

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SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 1-8, 2025

I’m a 19-y/o male college student seeking a kind, curious, adventurous woman around my age. I enjoy meditating, being outside and long conversations.

Looking for someone I can value and appreciate who can help me to value and appreciate life. #L1881 I’m a 43-y/o male seeking a woman, 30 to 50. Adventure seeker building an off-grid cabin in Newport. I’m 5’8”, redheaded, fit, living between western Mass. and Vt. I like to cook, bathe, hike, camp and travel. Seeking fit, fun-loving, cuddly companion for potential future. #L1880 I have the dreams; you have the sugar. Let us maybe travel a bit and figure out what this country needs. F, 24, seeking someone intellectual, active and financially afloat. #L1878

Internet-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness letters. DETAILS BELOW. I’m a 74-y/o male. It’s been a long, long time without feeling a woman’s touch. I miss sex.

I would love to meet a single, divorced or widowed woman in her 70s or 80s. Did I mention I miss sex? Phone number, please. #L1879

I’m 65 y/o and gay. Male, seeking my partner/lover and best friend.

Gregarious and fun-loving.

Laughter and a sense of humor are the cornerstones of my life.

As Jimmy Buffet says, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!” #L1875

Divorced white female, 66 y/o.

Looking for a single male, 45 to 60, who is tall, not big. Who is loving, caring and fun to be with. I like being outdoors. I am disabled and use a wheelchair.

I am loving, caring and honest and don’t play games. Like animals, and I am easy to get along with. I live in Winooski.

Hope to hear from someone soon. #L1876

I’m a 72-y/o Eastern European woman with a young lifestyle.

Seeking a man, age not important. I am a writer, and I like studying foreign languages. I would like to meet a man from Germany, France or Spain/South America to practice language skills. I am not expecting romance; friendship would be sufficient. #L1872

Bist du mein B.G.G. (Big Gentle German)? 40, ehrlich, kreativ und naturluver. Suche liebevollen, bewussten DEU Mann für zweisprachiges Leben zwischen VT und DEU. Ich bin liebevoll, gesund und bereit.

Du und Ich: Lass uns die Welt mit unserer Liebe verändern. #L1873

Single M, 60, youthful blond, blue-eyed appearance, wanting mutual attraction with F, 45 to 60, for connection/intimacy.

Dinners, talks, walks, nature, TV, entertainment, day trips, overnights, spontaneity, hobbies, more. Ideally seeking BDSM kinky playmate, openminded, curious to explore kinky side and fantasies. #L1870

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Peak Foliage,

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

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